Project 52

A few weeks ago Mr. Wonderful and I got to visit with Elder Sitati from the quorom of the 70 who said something that really stuck with me and impressed me as being very important. He said of marriage “This is the most important project of your whole life now. There is nothing greater.” This really impacted me—I work so hard on other ‘projects’ or feel unfulfilled when I don’t get time to work on them, but what effort do I put each day into my marriage? That is the most important thing. There is nothing greater. He said some other beautiful things, but that is what I wanted to focus on. I have found two other things that have impressed me lately.
First, I really liked this article. I used to read things like this all the time in my major, and I miss it. I really love scientific findings that support marriage.
Second, in keeping with the idea of marriage being a project, I came across Project 52. This is a really fun project that I am excited to start! It is a pledge to date your spouse! This is something I really want to do better at. Project 52 is great because they encourage you to stay home and not spend money, but at the same time make your home a more date-like atmosphere. I think it would be fun to hear what you do for your weekly dates if you want to join!

St. Patrick's Day

photo found here

I hope everyone had a fun St. Patrick's day today! Mine was good, even though it was one of those too frequent days where everything was better in my head then in actuality. We had a leprechaun visit our home and turn the milk green and leave some fun treasures hidden around our house. I had hoped the leprechaun would leave little green footprints...but I guess this was a clean leprechaun!
Today marked the beginning of Mr. Wonderful's spring break...so he still has to work, but no school for the rest of the week! The weather was BEAUTIFUL today, so we went to the park...I wished I had planned to have a picnic!
I had planned to have made Green Shamrock Rolls (my own little twist on this recipe) for breakfast with our green milk, but didn't have time beforehand so instead we had Lucky Charms which was just as fun and ate Green Shamrock Rolls as a snack later in the day.
I had planned to have Shamrock Sandwiches with Pot of Gold Soup and green kool-aid, and Clover Crispies for dessert...but since all the stores were sold out of shamrock cookie cutters by the time I was able to look for one, there weren't any shamrocks or clovers involved, but we still ate them anyway. :)
We also watched The Gnome Mobile, which is a fun St. Patrick's Day movie...although my very favorite is Darby O'Gill and the Little People.
I had also planned to make my Little Honey a new green shirt...but with a husband gone most of the day and no time to myself, it's pretty hard to get things done. So that didn't happen either. It's cut out at least...that's the hardest part!
Despite a couple disappointments, it was a fun day. How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Spring Flowers

I am in love with these flowers! They are made of crepe paper! I absolutely want to make some of these for our house. Lovely.

Shamrockin' Oreo Truffles

I have been wanting to make Bakerella's cake balls for quite some time, and today I discovered another amazing Bakerella find... Mint Oreo Truffles! Perfect for St. Paddy's Day. Check out her other St. Patrick's day creations here.

Girl Scout Cookies

This weekend I was very excited to receive the boxes of Girl Scout Cookies I ordered a month ago...only to be quickly disappointed at the small amount of cookies each $3.50 box contained. And...I wasn't too thrilled with the taste either. Of course I did try two types of cookies I hadn't before, which I won't be getting again. I still love Thin Mints and Samoas--absolute favorite, but unless I am supporting someone I know, I don't think I will be buying boxes of girl scout cookies again. I'll make them myself!
Here are some homemade girl scout cookie recipes you should try:
Samoas or for an easier version, Samoa Bars.
Do-Si-Dos
Tag-a-longs
and....last of all.

Thin Mints! I made these a month ago, when I couldn't wait to receive the cookies I had ordered. They were good, but they took a lot of time. It was my first experience with making cookies where the dough had to be put in the freezer. I might have done something wrong because the dough was pretty crumbly and so they don't look too great... I also think I would try a different type of chocolate to dip the cookies in. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. At first I didn't like them, but then they grew on me and I decided I really liked them after all. :)
This is the only recipe I've tried of these, but I'm excited to try the other ones!

Rainbow

I came across these colorful pancakes today...wouldn't this be so fun to do for St. Patrick's day? Or really for any occasion...I just thought leprechauns always have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...maybe somehow they go together?

Do you like them here or there?

Today is Dr. Seuss' birthday, and while it is a little late to celebrate right now...we are planning on having a Dr. Seuss night this weekend, complete with green eggs and ham! I found a few recipes that are all very different from each other. I might just try the simplest one, but the others look pretty good! you can find them here (this one has a couple different recipes), here, and here.

First Words

How fun is this idea? I love this idea of a simple first words book with familiar things my little honey loves. I would have to get some more blocks to do this though, we only have one for each letter of the alphabet. This idea, including pictures was found at Say Yes to Hoboken.

Come run with me!

I was a lucky winner thanks to Make it Work Mom...and won a free entry into the Run For Red Race! I am so excited...and I would love it if you came and ran with me! The proceeds benefit their disaster relief fund. So, come this Saturday! March 6th at 10:00 am in Provo! $20 adults; $15 students. Hope to see you there!!

If you like to sew...

...then you have to check out this cute website Obsessively Stitching! It has the most adorable ideas! Like this alphabet quiet book!