Thursday, March 31, 2011

Childhood Favorites

When I was little these books were my go to books. I loved the beautiful illustrations and the stories that the told. We had a ton of the "Little Golden Book" series of books as well as almost all the Walt Disney books for that time.
This one was my favorite of all
I remember loving the book more than the movie
the colors were much more fun and the prince was cuter
I just adore this artist as well... Sheilah Beckett!
She also did that Snow White book above's illustration work
She's truly a WONDERFUL artist and still going while in her 90s!!

So we had Dave's Dad for 4 (really 2) days...

and it was so fun to have company again. We did some shopping, talking, and movies while Dave was at work. There was also a lot of eating out, more movies, some more shopping, and a trip to see the Mesa Temple. I just wish he had been able to stay a little longer.

If anyone wants to visit we've got a good blow up mattress that's available just give fair warning :)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Ballet

I love going to the ballet. I've seen "The Nutcracker" too many times to count and love it just as much every time. I've seen "Swan Lake" once with my mom and it was beautiful. I've seen "Romeo et Juliette" once and it was just as wonderful as the play. I'd love love love to see "The Sleeping Beauty" , "Cinderella", "Giselle", "A Midsummer's Night Dream", "Peter Pan", and "Don Quixote". Ballet has always been a part of my life, whether I'm doing it or watching it it's a delight.

A picture I took a few years ago of a ballet book I checked out and my ballet slipper

A picture I took a few years ago of my mom's point slippers
Me... 5 years ago? Yes that's a ballet calender in the background ha
I'd pull out some kid pictures of me in all my ballet costumes I had... but they're at my parents' house... oh well...

I LOVE LOVED this shoot
I'd kill to do a photo shoot like this
You can see it here and here


Here are some girls I did (I didn't draw them) based off of the ballets ---
Odette and Odile
from Swan Lake


Thursday, March 24, 2011

Alice in Wonderland

Here's a painting I did this last week:
I made all the characters my own and mixed the first two books a little.
“ Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." C.S. Lewis

“ Girls we love for what they are; young men for what they promise to be." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I want...


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Pictures to Sum Up

These, I think, sum me up -












I'm goofy, love to have fun, I love laughing and doing silly things, and photography is a favorite outlet of mine.
I love Dave, my family, dogs (especially riley), and my best friend

Oh... and I LOVE cupcakes! The best are at the Coco Bean which I doubt I will ever be able to have again :(
Why is it when people like Michael Jackson die it's all over the world, but when someone much more wonderful has passed I don't see even one facebook mention of it? Elizabeth Taylor you won't be forgotten by me! I think it's funny for someone who did have a very publicly published life (having been married 8 times as a Hollywood starlet probably helped) seems to be forgotten by this day and age. I think it was fate that I even watched her version of "Father of the Bride" two days ago.
These are my favorite films she did in order by date:
National Velvet
Life with Father
Little Women
Father of the Bride
Father's Little Dividend
Cleopatra
The Taming of the Shrew

I recommend all these movies, so go out and watch one of them to remember this beauty by!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Mama Mia!

I think Agnetha Fältskog from ABBA looks like my mom when she was growing up...
My mom's senior year picture was always one of my favs

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Please Be Out There Somewhere

I want a website that'll tell me recipes I can do based off of what things I tell it I have in my fridge and pantry... 
Like if I tell it I have eggs, milk, butter, flour and water it tells me I can make Pancakes. And if I included other items in that it'd not only list pancakes but give me my other options with the food I have AND not include recipes for things that include items I don't have... that's the worst!! I hate finding a recipe after searching through all the chicken recipes in all the cook books I own and thinking "oh I'm going to make this for dinner" and realize oh I'm missing one key ingredient other than chicken. It's such a let down after getting all excited...


If anyone knows of such a website or can make such a website let me know!!!

I Want...

This is my very very very favorite comic strip and I read it daily!! I LOVE the design, layout, topics, and relationships that make up "9 Chickweed Lane". So now that there is a book devoted to Gran Edna I need to have it. Following the time when the strip was devoted to what this book is about was delightful so I figure the book can only be that and more.
Get more info here

Monday, March 14, 2011

14 March 2011

An update is in order I guess since it has been a while now.... 1. There was a time when we thought we were going to be living in MINNESOTA!! Yes that's right. And Yes, I know how crazy would that be. When Dave told me he had an interview for up there I instantly thought of this movie --
Such a cute movie by the way
and I said to myself, it looks cold!!! I don't do so well in the cold, so to my relief they wanted someone with a little bit more experience so we're still in AZ.   2. I still don't have a job.  3. Two of my bridesmaids just got engaged, Camille (to Brandon) and Jennifer (to Dusty) are both getting married soon and it's so exciting (Emily has been engaged since 2009 I believe or early 2010 something like that at least, but I'm still very excited for her too).   4. We've been working on the paperwork for Dave so he can get his green card (or whatever it is so he's legal)  5. We teach a primary class filled with 3 little angels and 2 not so angels... but we love them anyways.
That's pretty much my life in a nutshell.

Oh and here's the trail to "New in Town" so if you haven't seen it (the movie) I recommend it (how can you not love Harry Conick Jr.)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Once upon a time is timeless

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

So I've decided, I want to adopt a grandpa....

.... I mean Beth March (Little Women) pretty much does it with Mr. Laurence, why can't I? I went to the temple today and like every time I do I see tons of darling old men and I just want to go up to one of them and ask if they'll be my grandpa. I really miss my grandpa and when I saw a girl about my age with her grandpa I got very jealous. So I'm determined, I need to adopt a grandpa.
“ That’s the thing with magic. You’ve got to know it’s still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you." Charles de Lint

Love Love Love

I'm a BIG fan of jazzy music and have fallen for Renee Olstead who I was looking up because she's in this old sit com I like called "Still Standing" and found out she had done some cds. So being who I am I dug a little deeper and fell in love.
She's got a fun voice to listen to
This is the album I have
I LOVE her version of "Summer Time"
Check her out!!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

and this is why I love itunes
... thank you for genius mixes

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Waitress Pies


So I watched Waitress the other day and wanted to eat ALL the pies that they had sooo I decided to look up what the pies were and this is what I got :
Cute film staring Kerri Russel


Pie #1: Blue Plate Special I DON’T WANT EARL’S BABY PIE or BAD BABY PIE – Quiche with egg and brie cheese with a smoked ham center (later referred to asBAD BABY QUICHE PIE by old Joe)
Pie #2: KICK IN THE PANTS PIE – Cinnamon spice custard (Today’s Special)
Pie #3: I HATE MY HUSBAND PIE - “You make it with bittersweet chocolate and don’t sweeten it. You make it into a pudding and drown it in caramel …”
Pie #4: SPAGHETTI PIE – has at home with husband
Pie #5: MARSHMELLOW MERMAID PIE – From when she was in her mermaid stage. Pie made for Dr. Mueller, and given later in the appointment to Dr. Pomatter. “Biblically good!”
Pie #6: FALLIN’ IN LOVE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE – made for Dawn
Pie #7: BABY SCREAMING IT’S HEAD OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND RUINING MY LIFE PIE – New York-style cheesecake, brandy brushed and topped with pecans and nutmeg
Pie #8: PEACHY KEEN TARTS – made for Dr. Pomatter
Pie #9: EARL MURDERS ME BECAUSE I’M HAVING AN AFFAIR PIE – “You smash blackberries and raspberries into a chocolate crust.”
Pie #10: I CAN’T HAVE NO AFFAIR BECAUSE IT’S WRONG AND I DON’T WANT EARL TO KILL ME PIE – “Vanilla custard with banana. Hold the banana …”
Pie #11: SPANISH DANCER PIE WITH POTATO CRUST – Joe orders at the Diner
Pie #12: NAUGHTY PUMPKIN PIE – brought to appointment for Dr. Pomatter, but unexpectedly with Dr. Mueller. Dr. Pomatter unexpectedly out of town with wife
Pie #13: STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE OASIS PIE – After Joe orders this one and Jenna tells him that it’s just a pie: “Just a pie! It’s downright expert. A thing’a beauty … how each flavor opens itself, one by one, like a chapter in a book. First, the flavor of an exotic spice hits ya … Just a hint of it … and then you get flooded with chocolate, dark and bittersweet like an old love affair …” – Joe
Pie #14: PREGNANT MISERABLE SELF PITYING LOSER PIE – “Lumpy oatmeal with fruitcake mashed in. FlambĂ©ed of course …”
Pie #15: LONELY CHICAGO PIE – Teaches Dr. Pomatter how to make this one
Pies #16 & #17: CAR RADIO PIE and JENNA’S FIRST KISS PIE – These are pies Jenna’s mom used to make that she fondly remembers.
Pie #18: OLD JOE’S HORNY PIE – Jenna states she is going to invent after a saucy story from Old Joe.

And here are a few actual recipes I found:

Marshmallow Mermaid Pie
9 graham crackers
1/2 C. sweetened, flaked coconut, toasted
5 Tbs. butter or margarine, melted
34 lg. marshmallows (8 oz.)
1/2 C. whole milk
1 1/2 C. heavy or whipping cream
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, grated

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine coconut and graham crackers in food processor until coarse crumbs form. Combine crumbs and butter with fork. Press to bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake 10 minutes and cool on wire rack. Heat marshmallows and milk in 3-qt. saucepan over low heat until smooth, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat. Cool completely (30 minutes.) In large bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold marshmallow mixture into whipped cream with grated chocolate. Spoon filling into cooled crust. Refrigerate pie at least 3 hours or overnight. Top with mini marshmallows, maraschino cherries and rainbow sprinkles.

Falling in Love Chocolate Mousse Pie
9-inch baked pastry shell
1 14-oz. can condensed milk (not evaporated)
2/3 C. water
1 (4 serving) pkg. chocolate pudding mix (not instant)
1 1-oz. square unsweetened chocolate
2 C. (1 pt.) whipping cream, stiffly whipped

In large saucepan, combine condensed milk, water and pudding mix; mix well. Add chocolate. Over medium heat, cook and stir rapidly until chocolate melts and mixture thickens. Remove from heat; beat until smooth. Cool. Chill thoroughly; stir. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into prepared pastry shell. Chill 4 hours until set.

I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie

1 pie crust
4 Tbs. butter
3 slices ham
8 green onions
1 C. brie cheese
1 C. parmesan cheese, grated
4 eggs
2 C. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover pie crust with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5 minutes more. Remove crust and reduce heat to 325 degrees. Julienne ham. Chop green onions. In skillet, saute ham until brown. Remove and set aside. Saute onion until tender. Remove with slotted spoon and combine with ham. Spread on bottom of pie crust. Spread brie over ham mixture and sprinkle with parmesan. Combine eggs, cream and nutmeg; pour over cheese. Bake 30 minutes or until set. Cool slightly, cut into wedges and serve.

Baby Screamin' Its Head Off In The Middle of the Night & Ruinin' My Life Pie
4 8-oz. cream cheese, softened
1 C. unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 C. sour cream
1/2 C heavy whipping cream
1 3/4 C. white sugar
1/8 . cornstarch
1 fl. oz. amaretto liqueur
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 C. chopped pecans
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Bring all ingredients to room temperature. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wrap outside of 9-inch springform pan with foil. Generously butter inside of pan. In large bowl,beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in sugar and cornstarch. Blend in sour cream and whipping cream. Add amaretto and vanilla. Stir in eggs and egg yolk one at a time, mixing thoroughly between each addition. Pour batter into pan. Place pan in another pan at least 1 inch wider and add water to outside pan (prevents cracks). Bake on center rack for 70 minutes. Turn oven off and let cool with door open for 1 hour. Remove cake from water and chill at least 3 hours before removing cake from pan. Top with crushed pecans and dust with nutmeg.

I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong & I Don't Want Earl to Kill Me Pie
2 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. melted butter
2 large eggs
1/3 C. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 C. milk, scalded
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 egg whites
1/2 C. white sugar

Mix crumbs, brown sugar and butter until well-blended. Press mixture into a 9-inch pan. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Beat eggs slightly in a large bowl. Add sugar and salt. Slowly stir in hot, scalded milk. Add vanilla. Strain mixture into pie crust. Sprinkle top with cinnamon. Bake on lower shelf 25-30 minutes, or until custard is firm. In larger glass mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 C. white sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie after custard is set, return to oven until meringue is slightly brown. Cool 15 minutes.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Magical Movies

When I was little I LOVED movies that had to do with magic, fairies, princesses or other things of that nature. So of course Disney movies were often watched growing up, but Disney wasn't the only supplier of these sorts. But it wasn't just those movies that caught my eye, they had to be focused on a girl who learned a great lesson in the end of it, they must've lived in an era in which I hadn't, and that was the true magic. A movie that could take me away to somewhere I'd never been, something I'd never experienced, and I was able to grow along with the characters as they faced their challenges, saw miraculous things, and learned a little bit more about growing up. One movie I loved, but we never owned was "Fairy Tale"
I did own the book though and loved looking through and reading it and ever so often renting the movie from Blockbuster when I had the chance to. This movie was beautifully constructed and full of wonderment and I hope to own it one day.
Here are some other movies that are just as wonderful as they follow young girls finding beauty in their world: