Pizza Party!

I did it! I'll admit, I was a tad worried about the homemade pizza. I guess I just grew up thinking what a horrible thing homemade pizza was when you could pick it up so much easier and faster. I don't ever remember having my mother make homemade pizza while I was growing up. I do, however, remember her always saying how hard it was to make a good pizza crust. "The outside is always burnt, and the middle is always doughy!!" But mine turned out delectible! I was so proud. :)



Before Product....(LOVE my heavy duty Pampered Chef pans. Got them for my wedding!)



And the After (Cheesy-Goodness) Product!



So there you have it! My pizza experience turned out to be a success. And mostly, I know it was a success because Tys liked it. Otherwise, it would have been a failure, even had I loved it. He's the pizza king. If anyone knows whether or not a pizza is good, it's him. Over and out!

Home with Mr. Clark

Last night was a nice little date night with Mr. Clark. He didn't have to work and I chose not to go to the gym. (It's starting to show after this last couple of weeks of choosing that.)  So, we ate Chicana for dinner (meat was a little chewy) and watched the Karate Kid. It was slightly lame-r this second time around, but still good. Then Tyson got out the Cookie Dough Ben & Jerry's, of which I was good and had only two bites despite the fact that I could have devoured half of it.

Mr. Clark and his red beard

I love home-date nights with the hubs. It's just nice. We don't get to spend a whole lot of time together during the week (that isn't sleeping, lunch, or the hour before sleeping), so I love those nights that we do get. And last night had sort of a warmcozyromantic feel to it because there was thunder rolling in the distance and big billowy clouds lurking. So I turned off all the lights, and just lit our lamps and candles. LOVE THAT.

Tonight I'm going to attempt to make homemade whole wheat pizza. Sounds goooood....but will it be? We know not. I've never made any type of homemade yeasty bread. Only banana or zucchini. But I'll let you know how this turned out tomorrow!

NieNie

I feel so incredibly inspired right now.

I have "met" the most amazing, and profound woman. I cannot even begin to explain the impact she has made in my life. Her name is Stephanie Nielson. Below is a picture of her a few years ago with her husband, "Mr. Nielson". She has four beautiful children. She is an amazingly dedicated, patient, and loving mother and wife. She works hard in raising her family to be close to eachother to their Heavenly Father, like she herself is.



In August of 2008, Stephanie and her husband Christian were in a near-fatal plane crash, leaving burns on 80% of her body. She was in a coma for 3 months, while her family waited anxiously near her hospital bed to see how she would recover. I found out about Stephanie from watching a short video about her on LDS.org, and soon was completely intrigued by her and her story and testimony.

She is an avid blogger, so I found her blog, and started back to the beginning. 2004. I went through her daily entries about her childhood and about her sweet children. She wrote about her new homes each time she moved and about the cities she was in. She wrote about her new shoes and the things she cooked for dinner. She wrote about her love for her husband and about their romantic marriage. She wrote about the crafts she and her children would make together, including the messes. She wrote about all these amazing things, and also very mundane things. Everything, however, seemed extraordinary through her words. I went through her most recent child's natural birth at home. About how they ate burritos there an hour afterward. I went through the crash with her and her family, while they updated her blog. I felt her grief as she woke up after three months and cried about what happened. I felt her happiness as she realized how many amazing friends and readers loved and supported her. She has well over 1,000 entries, and I read all of them...in two days!

She has the most incredible testimony of our savior Jesus Christ, and of the plan that our Father in Heaven has made specially for each one of us. She taught me amazing characteristics in a mother. How to love and cherish your children and the little things in life. She is so talented too! She can craft and create and cook like no one I've ever seen! Unless of course they get paid to do it and it's their full-time job. But she is such an exception. I read a bit of her sister's blog for a while during the time that Stephanie was in a coma, and she said something so profound. This will stick with me for a very long time...

                "I am starting to believe that there is no such
       as tragedy. There is only opportunity for growth,
       and should you accept it, the reward overcomes
       the sailing of the hardship."

No better compliment....

In the past few months....I've come to find out that there are few greater compliments, than someone telling you they absolutely LOVE some type of food you've made. About 7 months ago, I made this amazing delish carrot cake. Which, at that time, I have hardly any baking experience. It was the first thing I'd ever made from scratch. and everyone loved it! I've had requests for it since then, but haven't made it. Then during the Saturday session of General Conference this past weekend, I finally made it again. I couldn't have been happier as I sat and listened to everyone just going on about how they could eat this all day long, and how it was the best carrot cake they've ever had! So, by request, I'm making it again tonight for Steph's birthday, and again in a month for Levi's birthday. Such a great feeling!

Now, Just to clarify, this is NOT an actual photo of my carrot cake. It is round, and 3 layers, but it does NOT have the nuts. And, it's a rich cream cheese frosting instead. I also use whole wheat flour. (And you don't want me to disclose how many cubes of butter are in the cake.) Mmmm-mm!

Letter To Me-

Tyson and I were able to go to a Brad Paisley/Darius Rucker concert a couple weekends ago. It was sooo great. And, I think Brad Paisley has amazingly inciteful lyrics. As we stood in the grass cuddling and listening to the lyrics, one of his songs distinctly stood out to me and got me thinking. It's called "Letter To Me," and I wanted to rewrite the lyrics to fit me. I really wish I could actually send this letter to myself 4 years ago. I think I would have seen and lived life a little differently....

If I could write a letter to me
And send if back in time to myself at 17,

First I'd prove it's me by saying, look under your bed

There's a box of cookies and your journal that no one else would know you hid.

And then I'd say I know it's tough
When you break up after ten months
And yeah, I know you really liked him and it doesn't seem fair
But you'll forget him by tomorrow, and the amazing man you'll end up with is rare.

And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
Your best friend spread a rumor about you, and you still feel a knife
Sticking out of your back you're wondering if you'll survive

But you'll make it through this and you'll see

You're still around to write this letter to me.

Before you do something stupid with your friends,
Stop for a second and think about if you'd be doing that with your parents.
And when you get dressed, keep on that first pair of pants,
It doesn't make your butt look big, and you just need to give in and dance.

Each and every time you have a fight,
Just assume you're wrong and mommy's right.
And you should really thank Sister White and Wilson
They spend so much extra time
It's like they sees the diamond underneath
And they're polishing you til you shine.

And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
Tonights the bonfire rally but you're staying home instead
Because if you fail Algebra, mom and dad will kill you dead.
But trust me, you'll squeek by and get a C
And you're still around to write this letter to me.

You got so much up ahead, you'll make new friends
You should see your life and husband.
And I'd end by saying have no fear,
These are nowhere near the best years of your life.
I guess I'll see you in the mirror when you're a woman.
P.S. Go hug Nana every chance you can

And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
I wish you'd study French, I wish you'd take a cooking class.
I wish you wouldn't worry, let it be.
I'd say have a little faith and you'll see
If I could write a letter to me.

The Band Perry - If I Die Young

I absolutely love this song and video. It's beautiful...

Quick Catch Up

Just to quickly catch you up on any new recent events....

1. We did end up working in a rafting trip a few weeks ago after that disasterous one.

2. Had a great trip at the cabin for Labor Day weekend with the Mishlers and the Clarks.

3. Tyson has an interview at Costco tomorrow...his third and final one (say a prayer)!!

4. We're going to the Brad Paisley/Darius Rucker concert this Friday in Salt Lake...whoop whoop!!

5. We got a fish this weekend. Our first pet!

6. New Biggest Loser and Glee seasons started yesterday!!! (not that you care.)

7. Fall is moving in quickly and it's finally starting to get chilly.

My Favorite Coach Sue Sylvester Quotes!



In the Wise Words of Sue Sylvester:



"I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. I will let you fall in love with that kitty cat. And then, on some dark, cold night, I will steal away into your home and punch you in the face!"

"You'll be adding revenge to the long list of things you're no good at -- right next to being married, running a high school glee club and finding a hairstyle that doesn't make you look like a lesbian."

"I don't trust a man with curly hair. I can't help but picturing birds laying sulfurous eggs in there, and I find it disgusting."