Cooking For Two

So, for those of you who know me best, you know that I am not much of a cook. This is no secret, and although I've never really tried to do anything about it, it really bothers me! I thought once I got married, I'd be cooking all the time. However, I just happened to marry someone who really doesn't care what we eat for dinner. So I cook only occasionally. Well, last night, I decided to make some spaghetti for dinner. I thought we had everything for it, which in theory, we did. I browned the hamburger and got the noodles going. We had some broccolli in the freezer that I don't remember buying... I got the broccolli steaming in the microwave. Then I decided to put the sauce in the meat. We had some leftover from lasagna I made a few weeks before. I poured it in and saw that there wasn't enough. So I pulled out some pizza sauce we had left over from the week before. Even after I added that, it still wasn't enough. The microwaved beeped, and I pulled out the broccolli, and to my dismay, many pieces were brown and rotten, so in the garbage they went. I HATE wasting food! I quickly put some bread in the oven and apologetically served this sad meal to Levi. He ate it and didn't say anything about how dry the spaghetti was. The thing that upsets me is that... I can cook! I just rarely have a plan in advance so I know what ingredients to have on hand. After this dinner, we watched a show on the Food Network called The Worst Cooks In America. While watching, I decided I want to make a change.

I now present to you my plan:

I am going to write out a menu a month in advance. It won't be too hard, because Levi is only home 2 nights during the week because of school (Sunday & Wednesday). On the weekends we are usually away from home and I don't cook. So I only have to plan for 2 nights. Here is what my first menu looks like:

Along with the menu, I have planned out my shopping lists to help me stay within a budget, and to keep me from buying things that will just go bad before we eat them. The first list at the top is what I will get on my first trip. These are things that will last the entire month or longer. Then, each week, I have a smaller list with items to go with the meals that are planned for that week. These are usually items that could go bad, and need to be eaten quicker:

I know this is not really interesting to anyone but me, but I really want to be successful at this. I plan to let you all know how each meal goes every week!

Wish me luck!



A New Year

I hope everyone had a great holiday season this year. It was so great for Levi and me! I had two weeks off from work which is one of the great perks of my job. Levi was able to take some time off too, so we enjoyed being together, especially while he was out of school. We spent some time at home, but we also spent a good part of the holidays up in Layton. We both had a great Christmas, too! Levi got everything on his list and then some! He looks very handsome is the argyle sweater he got, but I think he likes The Hangover T-shirt better. Levi got me a gorgeous diamond necklace that was completely unexpected. The guy sure knows how to pick out jewlery. Now I just need to find nicer clothes to wear with it! We are blessed to have such wonderful families who help us out, and with everything they gave us for Christmas, we will be able to buy our very own washer and dryer in a few weeks. I can't wait to have the freedom to do laundry when I want!

We also had a fun New Year's celebration, and as the new year approached, we all set new years resolutions. Mine was to take better care of my body and exercise more. I have really taken a liking for Yoga in the last year, so I have decided to really take my practice seriously. I found a yoga class that I now go to on Tuesday nights, and the other nights I practice at home. Yoga is amazing! If you think it's all meditation and finding inner peace, you are way off! It kicks my butt!! The best part is how after, you can feel so worked, yet relaxed, at the same time. I love it. There is one pose that I am working on and hopefully will be able to do soon. It is very hard for me because my arms are so weak! It is called "Crow" and it requires intense concentration. It also strengthens your arms, wrists, and shoulders.

I can do it!

Levi's resolution is to loose 18 pounds by the end of June. He has been getting up really early to go to the gym in the mornings to accomplish this goal. I really admire his commitment because I know there is no way I could do all that he does. He works full-time, goes to school at night, works out in the mornings, and still has time to be a good husband and friend to me! I just love him!

I hope you all have a great 2011, and that you also take an opportunity to challenge yourself to be better in some way. We love you all!

Holiday Pranks...

So the other night, Levi and I were just hanging out at home watching a movie. I went to the bathroom, and when I came out... this is what I found in the living room:

He almost got me.... :)

This past week, I have been working on this Hutch that my mother-in-law, Lisa, gave us. It was my first painting project, and it may be my last... Haha. I am very happy with the way it turned out, and it really completes the room.

We also put up our first tree since we've been married.

 

And look!

What's that?

Presents!!!

True Love

 There is a boy and a girl in one of my classes who are in love with each other. Everyday, they play together. He is always saying "I love you" to her. They sit together during circle time, holding hands. It's very cute, and very funny! Well, the other day, while I was conducting circle time, he was being very disruptive, talking to his "love". I finally had enough, so I told him to move to another spot on the rug, away from her. He did so reluctantly, but as soon as he sat down, he burst into sobs. He may have been upset because he got in trouble, but my first thought was he was crying because he was forced to leave the girl. And I thought to myself...

Now that's true love!

I just wanted to share this funny story with you. I hope it made you smile like it made me smile!

NAEYC in Anaheim

Last week I went to the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) Conference with my work. It was in Anaheim, so of course it was a good time! It was really funny because on the first day at the airport, one of the older ladies I work with was soooo excited and was going on about how it felt like we were going to girls camp. We all laughed and thought it was so funny. Well, as the days went on, I began to realize... it really was like girls camp. At first I didn't really want to go. I didn't really know anyone that was going all too well. I was not really too excited. But, then I began to find my place in the group, and found a few girls that I got along with really well. Also... having a curfew when we went to the beach so we could get a ride to the hotel felt a little "girls camp-y". Anyway, I ended up having a really good time! Here are a few pictures...

The second night there, we walked to Downtown Disney. We met this random musician who happened to also have a children's c.d. that we were excited about

 (because we're teachers... :))

Eating dinner at Downtown Disney

The next night, we went to the beach. We found some mini palm trees, and of course, had to have a picture with it!

Yum :)

You can't tell, but we are on the beach...

We went to Disneyland the last night. This is the Haunted Mansion, and during the holidays, they have it decorated for The Nightmare Before Christmas!

On Splash Mountain

Matterhorn!

This one's for Levi :)



Apologies :)

Wow, I am truly sorry for my lack of posts lately. It's not that I haven't thought about it, but I really just have no idea what to write about! Life is pretty much boring for us right now I guess. Levi is going to school and working full time, so he is only home on Monday and Thursday nights during the weeks. We enjoy going up to Layton on most weekends.

School started for me a little over a month ago, and it's going well. I already have a few kids I just love!

Other than that, not much has been going on. Things have been really nice and quiet lately. We took a fun trip up to Wyoming to visit Levi's sister Jordyn and her husband Bart. We went to see their new place, but also got to help celebrate Payton's birthday. I forgot to take my camera :(

Levi and I have been having alot of fun spending time alone down in American Fork. We are loving our new place.

This is our cute living room! I love our couch :) I also love my giant clock (Levi called it Goliath's Wristwatch) You can also see the New York Yankees Shrine on our wall... I'm too nice, but really, if it makes him happy... ;)

Another view of the living room.

And Another...

Here's the Kitchen. The counter tops and cupboards are dated, but I really like our kitchen :)

Our room. And yes, that is Janice's awesome quilt she gave us for our wedding on the bed!

This is the guest room. In the corner you can see the chaise from our couch.

Well, I hope this blog is everything worth waiting two months for (Deanne and Danica) I'll try not to go so long this time! I'll end with my favorite picture of Charlie. This is classic Charlie!



The Wedding folowed by The Anniversary

I don't know about everyone else, but this past weeek was a pretty busy one! It was also a very, very fun week. Levi's brother, Taylor, got married to Katie. I am so happy for the two of them, and I know they are going to have such a happy marriage. I can't wait to see the adventures they get to have now together. I also can't wait to be able to call Katie my sister-in-law, instead of "Levi's brother's girlfriend" :) It was such a beautiful wedding, take a look:

Payton waiting outside the temple

Katie looking stunning.

Seriously...I have never seen a more beautiful bride.

Brothers :)

The happy couple

Handsome Men

Levi and Me at the reception.

Other than the wedding, Levi and I also celebrated our 1st Anniversary on Saturday, the 14th. We celebrated the day by making our first major purchase as a couple. We bought a fabulous sectional couch and a 3d T.V. We are so excited! We can't wait to have people over! We then went to dinner at Tepanyaki, and enjoyed a piece of our wedding cake that my Dad so thoughtfully froze for us. It actually held up pretty good. We were suprised at how yummy it still was. We are so grateful for the people in our lives who have helped us get past our first year. Here's to many more!

Well, I thought I would end this post with a picture of Levi's favorite non-human person in the world, Charlie. Let's face it, he is everyone's favorite!