Emily West's E-log

Monday, June 4, 2012

Recipes from Pinterest

I saw these two recipes on Pinterest and I had to try them. I also had to stop myself from eating the whole things myself. They were Yummy. That's Yummy with a capital Y.

On the bread I substituted fresh garlic for mushroom because I'm not a mushroom fan. Also on the bread I bought a loaf from the bakery that was pre-seasoned with rosemary and olive oil.

Cheesy garlic, thyme pull apart bread

Mini apple pie roll ups.

The apple pie bites I'm sure would be better with homemade pie crusts but they're still yummers. Also, the recipe tells you to put them on parchment paper and then in the oven. Bad idea. The parchment paper smoked up my whole kitchen. I also learned that my smoke detector doesn't work...so blessing in disguise I guess!

Here are the links to the recipes
http://www.beantownbaker.com/2012/01/cheesey-mushroom-pull-apart-bread.html
http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/02/apple-pie-bites-recipe/

Saturday, June 2, 2012

The teachings of Jesus are a great treasure

This is the title of my Sunday School lesson for my 5-6 year olds tomorrow. The lesson suggested to have the children look around the room for a piece of paper hidden in a box. Since I had some extra time today I decided to make it a little more interesting. I'm sending the kids on a treasure hunt complete with a weathered, burned map. With help from my childhood memories and the internet I created this tutorial on how to make an awesome treasure map.

#1 With the kitchen faucet running and the 9 and the 1 already dialed on your cell, carefully burn the edges of a piece of paper.

#2 Lay the piece of paper on a cookie sheet. The internet recipe I found called for a cup of coffee or black tea. In true LDS fashion, I substituted hot chocolate. I didn't make mine quite dark enough though. Add lots of mix or cocoa. Pour the drink onto the cookie sheet. Just enough that the paper is soaked. Drain the remaining liquid left in the pan.

#3 Bake the paper in the oven at 200 degrees for 5 minutes

#4 Draw an awesome treasure map!

For those of you burning with curiosity, the treasure in this box is a picture of the scriptures.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Books

I had this sudden rush of anxiety the other day as I drove past Borders after Borders that were closing down. I thought, "Is this a sign of the end of the world? Will technology at some point fail and we'll be left with no books and no knowledge!?!?!" But then I just went home and turned on my Nook and forgot all about it.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Backyard Fun

Our backyard has been a multi-year project. Last year we built the planters, put in pavers, a BBQ and a fireplace. This year we're slowly working on landscaping. Travis and I spent an entire day planting and plumbing this planter box in the hot July heat! We had a lot of fun picking out the plants at the nursery and plotting out where they should go. It's starting to look great! Maybe by the end of summer 2012 we'll be ready for a BBQ party at our house!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Catch Up

It's been a while since I've posted so I wanted to briefly touch on many highlights that have happened in the last few months.

This weekend Travis turned 30 and I turned 28. I always love having our birthdays so close together because we can celebrate together for three days. Travis completely surprised me on Friday which was actually his birthday by asking if I could go to lunch with him. Little did I know that Travis had called my boss the week before and asked if he could actually steal me from work for the entire afternoon to celebrate our birthdays. So he took me to lunch at the mall where he told me I wasn't going back to work but that I was going to spend the rest of the day on a shopping spree! It was a perfect day and I loved being able to spend the day with Travis on his birthday as well.

We spent the next day with his family doing more shopping and because it was a big birthday for Travis, his mom completely spoiled him with a new couch (which I knew about) and a new iPad 2 (which I did not know about)! He obviously loved them both and I was so happy that he got to have such a special day.

We decided about a month ago that his present from me would be a new car that he really wanted. On his actual b-day I got him balloons, made him a special breakfast, got him a new key chain and packed him a special brown sack lunch with all his favorite snacks. I think the surprise shopping trip totally trumps all that and a new car though! He always finds a way to make every birthday I have better than any other I've had. He is my dream come true in every way.

We've also been enjoying spring weather in Las Vegas. There is a really great nursery here that has row after row of large trees and plants. We like to go there when it starts to get warm and dream about the plants we want to put in our backyard.

As you can see, the large planter in the backyard, where one day lots of plants will go, is currently Jane's favorite place to sun bathe. And this is just an adorable picture of Tuck.

Our dogs obviously got a little cabin fever this winter and had another big fight. It happens about once a year, pretty much like clock work. Usually we see it happen. It will be over a toy or a treat or their playing will get out of hand. A few weeks ago they just came in from outside and were both a bloody mess! I don't know what provoked it or what happened but they both got very hurt. We rushed them to the pet ER where they had to stay over night. We had to pick them up at 6am and I ended up staying home from work to take care of them. Jane usually walks away without getting too hurt but because we weren't there to stop them, she got some serious cuts and was whining and crying all day which is very unusual for her. They both had to get shaved to clean their cuts and both still have stitches. Its clearly just a little sibling rivalry because most of the time, we can't keep them apart. Normally when we come home and they're both laying right next to each other on the rug. They're taking some time apart right now and we can tell they've already started missing each other.

Our nephew Aidan came to visit this weekend as well. He stayed at Travis's mom's house but we had him over at our house to hang out for a while. The dogs L.O.V.E him and he lets them just lick and wrestle with him all day! Aidan also helped us get our lawn in shape for spring and earned a whopping $5 for mowing the lawn and pulling weeds. Not to mention scratching Tuck's belly and playing with Jane.

At work last week we held our Employee of the Year event which takes place on St. Patrick's Day. We all wear kilts and have a big Irish themed party. I organized a very nice breakfast and then the 12 nominees marched in a parade behind a bagpipe band all through the casino floor. We ended on the bridge in front of the hotel on the strip and named the winner. Then we opened the party to the public and it was an all day/night party! I stayed on the bridge all day and got confused for being a catholic school girl only about 20 times. :)

I don't like to mention the health problems I have too much 1. because it gets me down but 2. I haven't found a doctor yet that can give me a good reason that I have such bad asthma and allergies...no one mention that it could be dogs or you won't hear from me again. :) But for anyone who is interested, I'm going to be spending 7 days in Denver at National Jewish Health soon. They're the best respiratory hospital in the U.S. and many doctors have now recommended I go there. I sent all my medical paperwork there last week and should have an appointment soon. I'll keep you updated on what happens there. I feel optimistic about it and I don't feel like anyone has a good reason to worry, so let's not.

Other than that I feel ridiculously happy in life. I've been very aware over the last few months about how blessed I am and have been in life. I have such a wonderful husband who loves me, a great job where I feel valued and just an overwhelming sense of peace and happiness nearly all of the time. Travis and I often talk about and thank our Father in Heaven for the happiness we have together. We're incredibly and undeservingly lucky.