Home Sweet Home

Tomorrow morning I will be heading to L.A. for a delightful business trip. My flight leaves at 6:40am, and unfortunately when you travel for business, sweats are less than appropriate for such an early flight. Or ever. Bring on the diet coke, mascara and lip gloss.

As much as I would love to go directly to my hotel and take a nap, I will be heading straight to the Convention Center to begin my long day. Despite the early flight, I am looking forward to 70 degree weather, sunshine, palm trees, and extending my trip a day to visit with mom and dad. I will certainly miss P-town, but sometimes a girl just needs a break.

The one sad thing about missing church this Sunday is that I was supposed to team teach with the other RS president in EQ. The topic: dating and marriage; naturally. However, do I really want to be the one to tell boys to stop hanging out and start dating? I will leave that to my lovely first counselor who can take the heat. Bless her. I cannot wait to hear how that goes!

Until Wednesday, peace out Utah.

Friday I'm In Love

I have been coveting this darling cardigan (naturally) from BR. I just adore the navy and black together. Such a delight. I might just have to get it. Can you imagine how darling it would look with a black pencil? Ah.

Tears

So I read this quote a while back, and came across it again. I love it-mainly because I am usually not a person who is super emotional (and by that I mean, I just don't cry a whole lot). However, over Christmas break alone I cried twice. Twice. Once was watching Marley and Me (It's just so sad.) and then while reading Tuesday's with Morrie. Everyone should read this book. It will change your life.

Anyway, here is the quote:

"There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.
They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.
They are messengers of overwhelming grief…
and unspeakable love."
-Washington Irving

Peace Out 2010

2010 was great. Let's hope for a fabulous 2011.

Gotta love bagels...

Black Friday

Is any product worth this much effort? I just don't think so. I mean, do any of those people look happy? I understand you can't see their faces in this picture. But they look cold, and tired. I hate being cold and tired. And I just don't care that much. Are you planning to shop on Black Friday? I don't mind shopping on this day-but feel no need to get up at 4am to wait in line. I will go out around noon, and shop at the Park City outlets, and possibly pick up some signature items from fabulous stores such as Banana and JCrew. That is all I need.

Banana Pudding

I know I have already shared this recipe with some of you, but I feel like more should benefit from this treasure. Mom sent me this a few weeks ago (courtesy of the one and only Paula Dean-so we know it has to be good, right Aly?), and told me I HAD to make it. So I did. It was divine. Not only do I love banana pudding, I love the memories that go with it. We used to always make banana pudding together sophomore year, in the good old Foxwood-remember? Oh how I miss those days...

So instead of our fast/easy banana pudding that we made as starving students-here is something more sophisticated for our grown up lives. Enjoy my darlings!

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

Ingredients:
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Cheesmen Cookies
6-8 bananas sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5 ounce) box instant French Vanilla pudding1
(8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipping cream

Directions:
Line bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2 inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping or cream into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.