Quick Weekend Recap

This past weekend was again a busy one. I took the day off from work Friday since I was hosting a bridal shower and needed time to get everything ready at the house and run to the store to get everything I needed. Friday night we didn’t do much, Jace just helped me frost cupcakes and we watched a movie at the house. Then Saturday was the bridal shower. (See post here).

Sunday was pretty busy we had church then went to my parents ward to see my dad and little brother Ridge speak. They both did really well. Ridge is so funny. He asked us afterwards if he looked taller because he was standing on his tip toes the entire talk! He said his calves were burning but he just fought through it because he wanted to look taller. That kid cracks me up! After church we went up to my mother-in-law Janalyn’s for yummy dinner.

Now we’re back into the work week but last night was fun since I went to a Food group that has started up in my neighborhood. It’s fun because once a month everybody gets together and brings food to exchange recipes. There was lots of yummy food and it’s fun to get to know everybody better.

Haley Bridal Shower

This past Saturday I hosted my good friend Haley’s bridal shower and I believe it was a success. It was quite a bit of work but lots of fun to see everyone. My good friend Whitney was nice enough to help out and brought a sandwich platter from Costco that was yummy and my other friend Stephanie brought a huge veggie tray. Then Bree brought chips and dip and Bridget brought some cupcakes so thank you to everyone who helped contribute and I’m sorry if I forgot anyone.

I took Friday off from work so I would have time to run around and get the house and everything together. Jace was also super sweet and helpful in getting stuff together. He cleaned up the front porch and even weeded the front garden area that was looking pretty rough from the winter. He also stayed up Friday night frosting Strawberry cupcakes with me. I had read on Pintrest somewhere (I can’t find where I pinned it now to give credit to the source so I’m sorry…) that if you put the jar of store bough icing in your mixer and just beat if for a little bit, it will make the icing fluffier and double in size. I decided to try it and it was amazing! I hate using store bought icing because it’s so stiff and dense and impossible to spread but after I mixed it up a bit it was really light and smooth and so easy to work with. Would defiantly recommend trying it out.

The shower was right at noon so we had sandwiches and a bunch of appetizers and desserts. I just used Strawberry out of the box cupcakes (since the theme was red, white and pink). They were pretty good and I was excited about the icing trick! I also made some yummy apple dip and spinach dip along with the most delicious cranberry punch. Its so easy and everyone always likes it. I found the recipe here. Its a great holiday/party drink.

The Spinach dip recipe is one I’ve posted before here. Same with the Apple Toffee Dip. This stuff is delicious!

Then after everyone got some food I passed out questions that Haley’s fiancé Mike had answered earlier for me. It was fun to hear Haley and Mike’s answers. Then Haley opened up A LOT of lingerie and some cooking supplies. Then everyone chatted for a bit and filtered out. It was great seeing everyone and lots of fun to get together. I’m excited for Haley and Mike to get married in just a few weeks!

The party favors

Heart shapped teaspoons 

Setting the table up

People getting food

Waiting to open gifts

Whitney and I! 

Taryn, Bridget, Whitney, Haley, Hela and me (from left to right) 

Texas Roadhouse Winners!

This past weekend was a busy but fun one. Thursday afternoon I received a call from an unknown number and when I answered it, it was Texas Roadhouse in Bountiful. Jace and I had gone there earlier last week for Valentines and while we had been waiting we both filled out a drawing for “Dinner and a Movie Goodie Basket for Two!” I didn’t expect anything out of it mostly just something to pass the time while we were waiting. But surprise we won! To make it even crazier that we won, they asked me on the phone if I knew a Jace Packard. When I informed them I was married to him they said they had drawn his name first and called him but since he never returned their call they drew another name and it was mine! What are the chances the only 2 we put in there would both be drawn?

Bad picture, taken with my phone in a parking garage...But I wanted a picture of my prize before Jace opened the basket to steal the candy for the movie.

So Friday night we went and picked up the basket and headed out to Salt Lake to meet our friends Kody and Sabrina for dinner and Blue Iguana. It was good to go to dinner and catch up with them since they don’t live by us anymore. Saturday we did our typical clean the house day but I did a nice deep clean of the house (dusting base boards, blinds, touch up paint everywhere, etc.) since I have a bridal shower for my best friend Haley coming up this next weekend. Jace was nice enough to help me with everything even though I know he doesn’t care like I do :) That night we went to the Gateway to see “This Means War” with Reese Witherspoon. I loved it! I thought it was super cute and funny and I also love anything she is in. We also stopped by Z Gallery and I got some early birthday presents. A floor lamp that I actually want to put in my bedroom but looks good in the family room for now along with a new center piece to go on the coffee table. To make it even better they were both on sale for over 50% off! I love things even more when they are a good price.

On our way to our Saturday date night.

Sunday we had church and then went to my parents for dinner. My mom is out of town so my dad cooked steaks. They were delicious! Then we just hung out for a bit then came home and watched Greys Anatomy (it killed me Jace made me wait for him…) This week will be a busy one but it should be fun!

Parm-Breaded Pork Chops/Pina Colada

Well because I have my oven back I was pretty excited to make a real meal last night. So I found this recipe a few weeks back I’ve been wanting to try out of Taste of Home magazine (yes I’m like an old woman and subscribe to that magazine…) Its Parm-Breaded Pork Chops and it was delicious!

Parm-Breaded Pork Chops

Melanie Hogan-Taste of Home Magazine

Ingredients:

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 egg

2 Tbsp. 2% milk

1 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers (I used Ritz crackers)

3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

½ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

¼ cup butter, melted

6 boneless pork loin chops (can probably sub for chicken)

Directions:

Place flour in a shallow bowl. In a seperate bowl whisk egg and milk together. In a third bowl combine crackers, cheese, salt and pepper. Place butter in a 13 X 9in baking dish.

Dip pork in flour, egg mixture and finally cracker mixture then place in baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

To go along with the yummy pork chops I had some asparagus that I sautéed and seasoned in a fry pan along with some red potatoes that I sliced, seasoned and baked in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. It was such a yummy and easy dinner to prepare. So thankful to have my stove back!

Then while everything was cooking I decided I needed to test out the new Ninja blender. There is this amazing Pina Colada recipe I love from this blog. They are so simple and delicious and now with how fast my Ninja is, super quick to make as well. I must admit there was a major difference in how well it blended compared to my previous blender. I’m in love already!

The meal completed! (see the pina colada to the right) 

Not sure about this face Jace is making-but this is him trying out the blender...

Spaghetti Sauce-Stove Fixed!!

Last night we had the missionaries over for dinner. Because they like to be feed by 5pm and Jace and I both work it was a bit of a struggle trying to get everything together by 5pm. Also because our stove has been broken for about a month now, I resorted to my crockpot for some Spaghetti Sauce. It was also nice that it could cook all day while I was at work. I called my mom and asked her what she always uses and I was informed of the following:

Spaghetti Sauce in Crockpot

I used a mixture of sausage and hamburger (cooked and drained first)

I added 2 jars of Ragu sauce

Seasoned with garlic salt, garlic powder, onion salt, onion powder, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and the secret (according to my mom) was about ¼ cup brown sugar. I would never have guessed that on my own but I think it turned out really good.

Didn't take a picture until I cleaned up everything and it was in tupperware.

Then I rushed home a little early from work to throw some noodles on my handy stove top and a salad together. All in all it turned out pretty good for the minimal effort it took. But speaking of my oven being broken, Jace fixed it last night after the missionaries left!

A couple weeks ago when we realized unplugging it and trying all the blog recommendations out there wasn’t going to fix it, Jace determined that it was the control board that needed to be replaced. So he got online did some research and was able to order replacement parts for about $125. The parts finally came in yesterday and he was able to fix it and put everything back together. I won’t lie I was a little doubtful that he would be able to get everything back together but of course he proved me wrong and its back and working great! I will be happy to have my stove back since it’s been a little difficult trying to cook with a toaster oven and on a camper stove. Thanks again Jace for fixing it and saving us the money of paying someone else to do it!!

This is what the stove looked like after Jace took it apart 

He insisted I take pictures of the wires to help him put it back together...Not sure how he was able to understand it all but he did. Just looking at it stressed me out.

All fixed!! (Just needs to be cleaned now)

Valentines Day

So of course last night was Valentine’s day. Jace and I went to work then came home to spend time together. We exchanged gifts and my amazing husband got me a Ninja blender. I’m so excited to try it out to make different things. It came with a recipe book full of some really yummy looking recipes. Then I gave Jace a gift card to go out to lunch and a few different things for around the house. Jace is always wanting a dog so I got him a dog statue from Z Gallery-I think that’s a pretty good compromise :) Anyways after exchanging gifts we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse then came home and just relaxed the rest of the night.

My Ninja blender 

The dog statue I got Jace...

I know it sounds cheesy but to me Valentine’s day seems like just any other day with Jace. I just like coming home from school or work and spending time with him which is really all we did on Valentine’s day and even though it wasn’t a big fancy night it was all I really wanted to do for the night. Thank you Jace!

Weekend Update-Gelato and Boat Show

This past weekend we didn’t have a lot going on but it was still a good break from work and everything. Friday night Jace and I ran over to the gym after work then came home and watched our nephews for the night. We just watched movies and took them to Harmon’s for some gelato. It was a fun night.

Jace, Kayton and Noah eating gelato. 

Owen's sour face, he got lemon...

Kayton 

Noah-words can't describe how much this face cracks me up! 

Owen found a chair his size and he got pretty comfortable...

Then Saturday of course was our standard clean the house, wash the cars, Jace work on the Teryx, etc. kinda day. It seems repetitive but it’s nice to have a day that’s just for getting everything ready again for the week. Then we went to dinner at Chipotle, which has become our most recent favorite place to eat. Then we had an exciting night of running around doing errands. We got home and watched some Tivo-American Idol and Greys Anatomy (Jace acts like he doesn’t like it but gets mad if I watch an episode without him because then he doesn’t know what’s going on…)  Sunday was church in the morning and then Jace and I went down to the boat show. If only I had an extra $130K lying around…I’m defiantly in love with Master Craft by far but it was fun to walk around and look at all the boats there.

Jace checking out the boats... 

Me by my favorite...Master Craft of course

Then we went to my mother-in-law Janalyn’s for a yummy Valentines dinner. Since it decided to snow for about the first time all year, trying to get home was entertaining. We went up the hill in my good faithful Audi (I’m at 130,000+ miles on it and I’m going to cry the day it dies on me…) no problem to get to the plowed roads. We weren’t sure we could make it down the slick roads that weren’t plowed in Bountiful due to this video. So we made it but Jace’s younger brother Jedd was behind us and they didn’t quite make it. So Jace and his sister-in-law Bonnie had to help push the car along up the hill (I wasn’t very helpful since I was in high heel boots and kept falling down). We eventually all made it safely to the plowed roads and home. Not a very exciting weekend but a good relaxing one which is just the kind of weekends I enjoy! Then of course tonight is Valentine’s day. We wont be doing too much, just going to dinner and spending some time together.

New Couches

In an earlier post I had mentioned that we were getting some new couches. Well they arrived today! I’m so excited about them. Jace and I went and picked them up and got them all moved in and set up where we wanted. I think they fit the room pretty well but we defiantly need a different and bigger ottoman. I also want to get an end table to go in the corner of the two and put a lamp on it. Will have to look around and find what we like but the room is coming together. The room is coming more and more together how we want it to. The couches also make the mirror fit in the room well. We got the couches from Pier One here  in color Brownie. They are my early Valentines present from Jace, he is amazing!

The new couches, the coffee table looks too mini now ha.

Notice the burnt orange pillows match the mirror we just did.

But if anyone wants our sectional that was in our family room before its for sale for $450. It was my brother and sister-in-laws couch that they let us use. It is a 4 piece sectional in a mocha brown. The shorter end is 101”, the longer end is 140”, its 38” deep and the part where the foot jets out is 60” long. It’s in really good condition and a nice large sectional if anyone is interested just contact me and let me know.

The sectional

Weekend Update-Facials, Brio, Birthday Parties...

So this weekend was pretty busy but very productive and fun. Friday night after work Jace and I ran to the gym then came home and got ready to go to dinner with my roommate from college, Stephanie and her husband Ryan. We went to Brio in Fashion Place mall. (We actually had our wedding dinner at Brio-down in the Vegas location though). We try to get together as often as possible with them and were going on 2 visits in the last couple months so were on a roll right now! Anyways we had dinner with them which was yummy and good to catch up with them, wish they were closer to us!

Stephanie and I at Brio (notice my new emerald green pants I got this weekend-I love them!)

Then Saturday I got up and went to my friend Lindsey Cowdin’s down the street who dose facials. I’ve never had a facial before but it was amazingly relaxing and wonderful. I will defiantly be making it a regular thing! I would highly recommend Lindsey to anyone interested in getting one themselves. Then I ran home did some cleaning/laundry and got ready to go to a baby shower for a lady in my ward. After the baby shower I finished cleaning the house and Jace and I finished up the mirror project (talked about in my last post). Then we went to a birthday party for Kody our friends who use to be in the ward but moved away L It was good to see them. Then Sunday we had church and the superbowl of course. We went to my bosses’ house for a big super bowl party he had which was fun. Then we came home and Jace worked on some laptop work while I continued to work on this project (its taking awhile I know I’m slow…) I also caught up on my Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice for the week which was a must and now I’m ready for the new week. Don’t have much planned for this upcoming weekend but glad we had such a fun and busy one this past weekend.  

Mirror Project

So about a year ago Jace and I bought a huge mirror from our friends Fred and Jen that had been above their fireplace that they didn’t need anymore. We loved the size and shape of the mirror but the color of the frame didn’t quite go with our home but we couldn’t decide what color we wanted. We knew where we wanted to hang the mirror but needed to figure out what color to do. Then last week we ordered some new couches. They are chocolate brown and we found some great burnt orange pillows to go with them and then we both knew what color we wanted the mirror.

So I went to superior paint supplies last week and got some custom paint to match the pillows. Then this weekend we (mostly Jace) pulled apart the mirror and painted it the burnt orange. I think it turned out awesome and I love it. It’s defiantly a little bold on our red wall but I think it turned out great and it makes our family room more colorful. It was super simple and I’m loving it more and more every time I walk by it. So even though it sat in our house for over a year, we finally got around to it and it was worth waiting to figure out what we wanted I’m glad it’s up now.

The mirror before.

Jace working on the mirror.

The finished project, hanging on the wall!

Shred Chicken-Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Crockpot

So I’m still without an oven/stove (Jace is ordering replacement parts to the control board this weekend and hopefully fixing soon!) I looked through the 365 Days of Slow Cooking by Karen Peterson cookbook (it has all crock pot recipes). I have tried quite a few out of this cookbook (introduced to me by my sister in-law Marci-thank you!) And most have turned out pretty yummy. I tried the Chicken Alfredo Lasagna and it was ok, a little bland but pretty easy.

Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

365 Days of Slow Cooking-Karen Peterson

Ingredients:

6 lasagna noodles, uncooked

1 (16 oz) jar Alfredo sauce

2 T water

¾ cup chicken cooked and diced/shredded

8 oz. cottage cheese or ricotta cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

Break 2 noodles to fit into bottom of slow cooker. Layer a third of Alfredo sauce, half water, half of chicken over the noodles. Spread half of cottage (or ricotta) cheese and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Add another layer repeating with everything. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.

Like I said it was just ok, I wasn’t crazy about it-defiantly needs a little more flavor. I hate the flavor of Alfredo sauce from the jars so I need to add more flavor to that and I think possibly even a little flavor to the chicken. One thing I did try with this recipe is shredding chicken in my Kitchen Aid mixer. I had been told by my sister in law, Marci that you can shred chicken really easily in the Kitchen Aid food processor. But that is a lot more parts to take out and clean then the mixer so while I was on Pintrest one day I found this link. (Number 21) I’m sure lots of people already knew this but I didn’t and I tried it and it was the greatest thing ever! It was so quick and easy and shredded perfectly. I was pretty excited about it.

What the chicken looked like after shredding and the attachment I used.