Our Christmas card!




Merry Christmas from us! :)

You can see it a little bigger here.

My mom and I spent last Saturday making our Christmas treats! You can see pictures on my photography blog. I've already given away a lot - I decided Clark and I don't get any candy in our stockings, because we really don't need it, and we've had so many Christmas treats already! We had enough on our own, and then we had some friends leave a whole tin on our doorstep. Adding to the calories, I've been working at the front desk at work, and that is where all of the goodies are. So many of the businesses we work with sent us trays of chocolates and caramels! Not eating breakfast in this season is NOT a good idea!! I get way too hungry, and I get weak. :) It's coming fast!!

Clark writes a final tomorrow and then he's done the first module of the CASB program. He'll be so relieved to have a little time off. He's had classes going on since we got married, and the Christmas break will be the only break until tax season, which isn't a break! Poor guy. :( I can't wait until he's done, and he just got started on a 2-year program. Lucky guy!

If you're my friend on facebook, or read my photography blog, you've already heard about this, but if you haven't check out this post on my photography blog.

I'm giving away a family session with some prints to a family who could really use some Christmas cheer this season - please think of those around you and nominate someone who would really appreciate having a gift like this.

Merry Christmas! :)

I wanted to be done Christmas shopping before December hit, but it didn't happen. Then, the crazy snow storm hit and all I wanted to do was stay inside! I finally emerged and hit a few stores the other night, so I crossed a few things off my list, but I still have a bit more to do. Is it too late for online shopping??

I had big plans for Christmas treats, too, so I've been trying to set up a day of treat making with my mom and sisters, but so far we haven't nailed down a good time.

I cooked a roast the other day. I decided it was about time, since we've been married for almost 7 months roast-free (well we've eaten a lot of Nancy's, but I haven't cooked one).  We were going to have our own dinner, but then we got invited to a family one, so we decided to do that instead. However, I had put the roast in the fridge, and I wasn't sure about freezing it after it had been in the fridge for a couple of days, so I decided I had better just get it cooked (the sign says meat=2-3 days in fridge). I ended up using my crock pot, and Clark really wanted to cook it in Dr. Pepper. I've heard of pork done that way, but not beef, but I thought what the heck! So we dumped in a can. I promise that sometimes, I cook normal meals and nothing goes wrong. Anyway, nothing actually went wrong this time, either - the roast turned out really well and it tasted really good! So I'm that much closer to being domestic. Hallelujah.

I am working on another thing on my 101 list - the 'learn a word a day for 3 weeks' one, so I subscribed to Dictionary.com's word of the day emails. Some of the words I've been learning are seriously ones I have never heard of in my life. The first two days, they sent pretty normal words so I was worried that I wasn't going to be learning anything new, but check these out:

myrmidon
roborant
gallimaufry
nonplus
fatuous
bonhomie
ratiocination

The downside to learning these words is that there might just be a couple of them that would get me some really weird looks if I ever actually used them in every day speak. And that's pretty much the only place I would get to use them! :) But, if I'm ever reading a book with one of these words in it, I will have a better grasp of what the author is tring to get across without grabbing a dictionary, so that's great right? Haha

Clark and I got a Willow Tree nativity - and of course I had to take pictures! :) Check them out on my photography blog.

We put our tree up! I'm not showing pictures of the whole thing cuz it's not totally done yet. Our nephew helped me by putting on all of the balls - check out his handiwork:

After my introspective rambling post about ongoing learning, etc., I decided that one thing I needed to become better at was cooking/baking. So, I set out to make a chocolate pie tonight. Clark's grandma used to make chocolate pie and he says it's his favorite, so I figured I had better be the good wife and figure this out. And it was an adventure. A little.

First, I played it safe and used a frozen pie crust. I took that out of the freezer to thaw and started on the filling. Separating yolks from eggs? Got that down. :) Mixing in the milk slowly? I'm all over that. Everything was going well and I was feeling pretty good, until....

I used google to figure out how much chocolate there was in 2 oz., roughly. The forum I landed on had lots of answers - they all said 1 cup or maybe a bit more. For 8 oz. And I merrily dumped a cup and a half of chocolate in. So, I QUADRUPLED the amount of chocolate the recipe called for, in case you didn't want to do the math. I mean, it's pretty hard. ;) Seriously. Sheesh!

But it gets better.

So I decided to just go with it, and I made plans to water (?) it down with vanilla pudding or a lot of creamy something. Form what I could taste, it wasn't the worst mistake I'd ever made, and I figured it was rescue-able.

I finished the filling, feeling amazing about myself since I didn't scorch the bottom, and poured it into the pie shell. The RAW pie shell. Yes, I do continually amaze myself. So I scraped it back out, and luckily had another frozen pie shell. I baked that one and filled it up and voila! Chocolate pie in my fridge. The filling was actually really good - rich, of course, but good. :)

And that is the story of The Chocolate Pie.

This is a picture of somebody else's chocolate pie, but it was the closest to my pie I could find, and I wish I had this person's countertop:

::Update:: new pics added at the bottom

Sorry hon! I blogged about Clark's birthday but never put pictures up, so here is the birthday boy on the morning of:

Random Post! 

It's been six months since I got married, started a new job, graduated, left BYU, and moved to this crazy little town. So, things have settled down a bit. Lately I've been getting all thoughtful and deep :), and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I used to want to graduate (single) and get a good job, and I worked toward that, and it was kind of the big thing I was working on in life. Now I don't have such a big thing. I love my photography but now that winter is kind of here (hello way nice weather today) that's not so busy. I'm still working on that and reading in forums and blogs and learning and making big plans for next year, but I've always done that, so I need another 'big thing.' :) I've been going over my 101 in 1001 list, and there are some changes I want to make, but I haven't figured it all out yet. What the heck do I want to do now? I feel like I need to be doing something; setting goals and accomplishing them, and continuing to learn even though I'm done school, but I'm not sure where to start or what to do. And, it can't cost anything, because we're saving for our house. Or I would have been to three or four photography workshops already. :D

I'm trying to get running again, but I realized this week how hard it's going to be for the next few months. By the time I got home from work, had a quick snack, changed and was out the door it was dark already. Yuck! And it's dark until about the time I go to work, too, so getting up early isn't really an option. Luckily Clark's dad fixed our lovely elliptical so I've been using that. Thanks Doug! I have a 5K this Saturday, and then another one in 2 weeks, so I'm excited.

I've started reading more, which is part of the continual learning thing. I've just started Corrie Ten Boom's "The Hiding Place" which is really good so far. I just finished off "The Sunflower" which is one of my favorite books (that I own). Any good book suggestions?

I got a few of my wedding pictures printed, and I got some samples from the printer, so I have a bunch of different paper samples - metallic, linen textured, pebble textured, glossy, lustre - how to pick?!? I wish I could show them on here, but it's hard to show texture. And I can't take any pictures in the apartment because some short in the light fixture keeps burning through all the lightbulbs we're putting in it, and now we're out. :) I guess we'll just consider it mood lighting. Anyway, I love my pictures!!


Update:

The Town just posted the new position I've been hoping for - I've put in my resume and I'm crossing my fingers!

I have such an awesome job. I've been working on learning and configuring some new software so we can promote it to the community in the spring, and with that comes developing promotional items. I downloaded the trial of Illustrator (adobe.com)and started to learn, but with only 30 days to use it, I wasn't sure what I was going to do when the trial ran out.

Well, the guy across the hall had the whole creative suite! So, I did some investigating, and finally talked to the CAO, and he had it installed on his former laptop, so he gave it to me to use! (And, he's the coolest boss ever because he knows how to use these programs) Okay, so if you know anything about me, Photoshop, Lightroom, and anything Adobe is pretty much the coolest thing ever, and now I get to use these programs FOR MY JOB. It can't get much better than that!

I finally had my hair done! My roots had been growing for months and were like 3 inches long. Seriously. My hair was sooo blah. You'd think that I'd get my hair done more often, considering I notice such a drastic change every time I do. What a different color and a little trim can make. :)

I made an appointment the day before, so I wasn't sure who the Catherine girl I got was, or how good she was. I told her I wanted to go darker, so she pulled out the color book. Now usually I'm pretty good with a color book - I know what I want and it's not a problem. This time, however, I messed up. I picked a darker shade, but then let her do a lightener, and my hair as a third color. Oh boy. When she started drying my hair, I started having a mini panic attack inside. My hair was the same shade, if not lighter, than it was before she started. And I really wanted it darker, as did Clark (He LOVES it dark - the darker the better - hence my goth wedding hair). For my poor husband, spending over a hundred dollars on hair is unbelievable - I was wondering what he'd think when I paid to get it done twice. In a row. I debated saying anything, because I hate speaking up, but I knew I'd have to face Clark when I got home, too, so after a few minutes I finally told her it wasn't as dark as I had been hoping, and asked her how soon I could dye it again. She was super nice about it, and had another stylist cover one of her appointments so she could dye my hair over again. We ended up doing one color all over. I have some kind of interesting lighter chunks subtly showing through, but it's darker! And it didn't cost me $200. Phew!

I finally figured out my hair in Utah, but I haven't found 'my' stylist here yet. Suggestions??

To force myself to get out in the cold and run, I've signed up for two races coming up! Clark's Aunt Dixie told me she was running them and invited me to join, so she gave me the push I needed. :) One is a 4K, and the other's a 5K. I'm sure Dixie is running the 10K, but I don't think that's gonna happen for me this soon. She also reminded me that the marathon club in Lethbridge starts in January - I've always wanted to try it out but haven't ever lived up here while it was running. So, I'm thinking about doing that, too.

I kind of have a love-hate relationship with running. I hate when I haven't been running and have to start again, because it's hard and it sucks (so why did I stop, you ask?....not sure). But there's nothing better than going for that run when it isn't quite so hard, because you've been running regularly, and you just get to be outside in the sun and the fresh air, and you feel alive, and then when you push yourself to go a little farther than you thought you could, and you're sweating and tired at the end and it feels so good - yeah I'm sounding like a dork, but it's a good feeling. And it's addicting. So, I'm excited!

My mom is one of my best friends - I can't believe how many hours of talks she's endured, hours of driving to lessons and practices, hours of sitting through games and performances, and last minute late night cookie/costume/project making. She's been my biggest fan and support (besides my dad and Clark :)) and I'm so glad to call her my mom!

Doesn't he look like the real thing??

29 years ago today, Clark was born - lucky for me! I couldn't have married a greater guy. He's been working so hard on his schooling and at work and his church calling and the musical fireside he was just in  - he's been so busy but I'm so proud of him for balancing it all and still doing well in his classes. You're my hero, lover. ;)

This is Clark on his last birthday:

Okay so I've been a little bit lazy lately - Clark has spent a lot of time at the office, and it's easy to just kinda hang out on the computer and not really do anything. So, I decided to once again try to be domestic and cute, and copied these cookies from Bakerella.

Of course, mine look nothing like hers! Our local grocery store didn't have any Trix, so I used marshmallows and iced them. I used the same cookie dough, though. Anyway, here's my version:

Please excuse the photography - our kitchen is sooo dark - I gave myself a headache making the spiders!

I decided to not be a party pooper this year, so when a girl at work was trying to get everyone to dress up, I decided I would. Except that I couldn't think of a costume!! I was running late for work (Clark already left - he went at 7 am to STUDY!) and stil didn't have a costume. I scoured the Internet trying to find 'last-minute' Halloween costumes, but came up with nothing. We don't have a lot for materials around our place! Anyway, I went back into our room, frustrated that I hadn't come up with anything, and guess what I saw?? A blue and white dress I bought from American Eagle back in the day, but don't wear much cuz I think it looks like a little girl dress.....and shiny red flats....and it all reminded me of when I was in a play back in elementary - the Wizard of Oz! Haha so here's me as Dorothy:



Clark gave me this stuffed lion back when we were dating, and I thought it might help people guess what I was. :) One guy actually got it!

Our friend Ethan had the most hilarious costome - old school nerdy missionary?? Haha here's a pic of some of us at the office:





I'm not sure what we're going to do for the actual day - everyone around here is sick with the flu! Apparently it has really hit this town. Kids in school with diarhhea and puking...ugh. A girl at the office said on the news they were warning people about letting trick-or-treaters touch all the candy - they said to disinfect your doorknob a lot and hand the candy out instead of letting people rummage around in the candy with their hands. Sheesh maybe it's good we don't go out much! I also heard that the best place to get infected is the grocery store, and that's pretty much the only place we go around here, so I'll keep my hands washed!

I have been so bad at meals lately. Clark was in Calgary for the weekend for his CASB program, and I went and hung out at my parent's house for the weekend. I got back and knew that we didn't really have any food, but I was determined I was going to cook something.

Clark had to race off to a rehearsal for a church fireside, so I looked in my cupboards. Wow - I really had nothin'! Haha so I started flipping through a family cookbook and found this casserole recipe my great grandma used to make. It didn't take very many ingredients, and the only meat it called for was tuna, which luckily, I had 1 can of! So, I start melting butter and adding flour and then stopped, wondering if I actually had any cream of chicken (or cream of anytihng!) soup. I checked the cupboards - nope. So I utilized google, and get this - there are substitutes for cream of chicken soup! Lol, there are substitutes for anything! I wasn't actually totally surprised that there was a substitute - I was surprised that I had everything to make it. So, I made homemade cream of chicken soup substitute. And it wasn't too bad!

Now the casserole is in the oven, so we'll see how it worked out. Oh and of course halfway through the recipe I realized that my dear grandmother didn't remember to include a baking temperature or time, so I guessed on that, too. Story of my life - I'm a mess in the kitchen. I redeem myself with mashed potatoes. Thank goodness Clark is such a big fan! :)


Update: Okay, the casserole turned out!! And I'm not as much of a mess in the kitchen, as that I MAKE a really big mess in the kitchen. :) I guess I'm off to do clean up...

Clark did it! He finished off two accounting classes in the last month and starts the CASB program on Monday, right after he takes his last test Monday morning. What a guy - I don't know too many people who can finish a semester-long class in two weeks, let alone doing it twice in a row, but I guess he's always done better in school under pressure. ;)

Since he's been crazy busy working and finishing these classes, I really haven't seen much of him. Tonight we went with his parents to a show here in town called "Broadway gone Country." It was a bunch of country numbers, and really good! They even had some favorite songs like "Cowboy Take Me Away" - my theme song until I met Clark ;), and "Some Days are Diamonds" originally by John denver, but this guy mixed it up a little bit and it was amazing! He had a CD for sale outside, but neither Clark nor I had any cash - dang it. The John Denver song reminded me of my dad - I love that man.

Clark's back at the office tonight studying for the test. He got home 10 minutes before we left for the show and he left 5 minutes after we got home. It's just a little ironic that you marry someone to be with them more....only to be with them a lot less than you thought!

I used my new mop today, which was cool. You know how exciting your life is when you're excited to mop a floor! Then I went and broke a glass all over it. And the carpet. And we don't have a vacuum. Clark carefully scrutinized the carpet and picked pieces out, and he was going to go borrow his parent's vacuum, but he forgot and now it's late so I guess it'll get done on Monday sometime! We're not supposed to wear our shoes on the carpet - landlord rules - but I'm ignoring that rule until we get a vacuum over here.

I had another fun photo session today - Clark's cousin and her two kids. They were way cute and came up with lots of their own ideas for pictures. Her little girl was such a poser! Haha it was awesome. Hopefully she loves 'em! I ordered these cool CD cases today for giving discs to clients. I'm excited. I was going to do another sister session today, but my poor sister was really sick so we'll have to reschedule.

On Monday I should have some news on what Council decided about a new position in town. So, cross your fingers for me! :)

This looks like fun!

Check out this video, it's short:

So I just realized tonight that I'm a little busy with pictures! I am finishing up the editing on two shoots, I have a few more to start, and I am doing three more shoots this weekend! It's crazy but fun - Clark studies all night every night so I'm glad I have something to do. The weather hasn't been my favorite ever, so it's not exactly torture to stay inside, either. Anyway, I love family shoots and can't wait to shoot one tomorrow!

Check out the latest here. I just put up more pictures of my sister-in-law's family - cutest kids ever!


On another note...Thanksgiving was great! We got two Thanksgiving dinners - we spent Sunday with Clark's family and Monday with mine. I even made the mashed potatoes for Sunday - they weren't my moms but I think they were edible. So, I'm proud of myself. :)

In a few weeks (or more probably) I'll find out if I have a permanent job or not, so that's good but crazy. They have to decide whether they're going to create a new position, and then if they do, I'll have to apply and then actually land the job. No pressure!

Clark and I sold the Jeep. It was a sad day around here. We're looking at buying an old truck, which is cheaper and perfect for building a house in the spring! And, we know Clark's love is in good hands - his dad bought it. :)

Clark surprised me the other day with these!