. . . .

40 days!

Banana Ice Cream!!

A few weeks ago, or even maybe months, Catherine showed me a posting on a blog that was for something she thought I would enjoy. It was for one-ingredient ice cream. The one ingredient? Bananas!


Well, I had a few bananas that were turning brown so I stuck them in the freezer, for the purpose of testing this idea out.

Tonight I made banana ice cream!! It was SO good!!

I first had to peel the bananas which is very difficult while they are frozen. My thumb is still hurting from how cold it got.

Then I sliced them up and threw them in the food processor. I am sure a blender would work just as well.

I felt like it wasn't blending very well, so I added a little bit of milk (don't add too much or it will just be a milk shake). I'm not sure why, but I got the idea to add a tiny bit of vanilla too. I am glad I did! But, this being a "one-ingredient ice cream recipe", you can do without.

I processed it all together and oh my goodness!! Heaven!!

Growing up, I loved banana shakes. I would sometimes sneak down and simply mush a banana in to my ice cream. When I go to Cold Stone, I always get banana ice cream with bananas in it. Needless to say, I love bananas. Most people learn this about me fairly soon after meeting me.

I used 3 bananas, and it made a lot! I wound up putting about two-thirds in the freezer for another day!

The best part? I didn't feel an ounce of guilt while enjoying this heavenly treat. I mean, there is nothing in it that I should feel guilty about. Bananas? A tiny bit of milk? A tiny bit of vanilla?

I am very excited about this.

Dinner with the Newmans!!

Last Friday, KR and I went on a double date with the Newmans!! Leisl was my roommate last year in Northwoods and she got married to Andy over the Summer. I've missed living with her but I am so happy we're all married/getting married now! (Amanda and Zach- May 22nd and Sarah and Gabe- June 17th I think)

We first introduced them to one of our favorite restaurants: Pizza Pie Cafe! Unlimited salad, pizza of every flavor and dessert! We had a coupon too so it was great!
Afterward, we went to the BYU volleyabll game! KR and I hadn't even been to one all season yet! This is what we did almost weekly when we first met (well, not just us, the whole group would always go). It brought back some fun memories, and we had a blast cheering for the Cougars!

They had a blimp flying around, dropping out coupons for free ice cream. Well we were sitting up on the balcony seats and when it floated over to us, I saw one just hanging from it. I reached over and ripped it out! I took this picture right afterward, once it started floating away a little bit. See how close in my face it was??

Free ice cream? You would have done the same!

We had so much fun!

The game was LONG and we also wanted to stop by our friends Jared and Aimee's house for the Jazz game, so we left before we saw who won.

We have such great friends here! The one and only thing I will miss when we move is the people.

Wedding Plans!!

This weekend we made some more milestones in the wedding planning process! It feels good to be able to accomplish major things that have been previously stressing me out.
Saturday, we had a full day planned.
We went to the temple early in the morning. We only did baptisms because I am obviously not endowed yet. But it was the first time I had been in a long time, and the first time we had gone together. It was amazing. My heart just felt so full. I am so grateful for temples and I am grateful for a fiance to attend with.
I can't wait until we are married in the temple.



After the temple, we went to the mall to look at rings and suits for KR.
We found his ring!! It won't be a surprise at all, but we're still excited!

We shopped around some more, and then went to Bed Bath and Beyond to work on our registry. We had a blast picking out our plates and color schemes. This was the part that was originally overwhelming us, but Saturday, it just all came to us and we made a great team picking it all out.

After we stopped for Costa Vida pork burritos (yum) we went back to KR's apartment to watch the BYU game with the Bates Family! We looove hanging out with them! Even though BYU lost, and we were super sleepy (I admit I fell asleep. We were losing, so I wasn't as interested anymore), we had a good time.
After the game, we worked on more wedding plans. Every store that we had gone to informed us that it would be next to impossible to find a 3 piece suit in the Spring. We never even found anything to try on. Nothing was even close! So we looked online and on JCPenney's website,we found the perfect suit.

Monday we went to check out the suit and it was just as perfect in real life! We found a great shirt and tie to go with it and oh my goodness! KR looked SO handsome. He looked like a groom (very important, as opposed to looking like he was heading to church) and I couldn't stop smiling as I imagined him on our wedding day.
I am one lucky girl, I'm tellin' ya.
Oh and one more thing: every single item was on sale- 50% off or more! So we got a great deal!!

Tuesday, we went back to Target to work on our registry. We pretty much finished it off, with the exception of choosing our china.
But.
Then.
I started changing my mind about the color scheme we chose for our bedroom/bathroom. And the more he thought about it, I changed KR's mind too. So...
We have to undo all our bedding and linens. We have to go back to BBB and start over. It's ok, we're excited about our new color scheme, but it's just a hassle to go back. Oh well.
We're still excited.

So, things are still coming along. Of course we have plenty more to do, but we're just excited and enjoying this unique time in our lives!!

45 days to go. . . that's exactly one and a half months!!

Oh So Soon!

"There's nothing like when you are in love with someone and you create a life out of that love."





47 days until that life begins. . .

FIFTY DAYS!!

Only Fifty Days until I marry the King of my Heart!

50 Days!!
50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50

California Green!!

When KR and I went to California a couple of weekends ago, we were in love with how green the hills were. It was absolutely beautiful.

Utah has beauty in it's own way, but we sure miss the color green here!!

Bowling with the Dagsland's!

As we often do, we went up to Catherine and Brian's last weekend, and went bowling!! Of course, KR challenged them to a duel and losers had to buy ice cream. Well I actually bowled the best I think I've ever done and was winning up until the last frame!!! In the end, KR and I wound up buying ice cream, but at least we got to enjoy it too. The best part? It was Tillamook ice cream!!

Disney on Ice!!

When I was little, my parents took me to Disney on Ice. It was The Little Mermaid, my favorite!! I don't remember much, because I was so young. I do remember I loved it. Well, most of it. I was very afraid of Ursula. She was this giant mechanical octopus woman- at least she was giant in comparison to my child-sized self.
Anyway, KR took note of this when it came up in conversation. For Valentine's day, he gave me tickets to the Disney on Ice show!! It was such a complete surprise and so sweet!!
March 11th, we went and it was so fun! I just love Disney!

Of course my favorite part was the Little Mermaid. It was neat to see all the fish "swimming" around on the ice.

Ursula wasn't as giant as I remembered. But then again, I am a lot bigger now that I am an adult.

Then they performed the Lion King and it was just as wonderful! I love the music from this movie and they really incorporated it in to their performance. My favorite part was the wildebeast scene. It was neat to see the herd "running" around the ice, even though it almost made me cry when Mufasa died.

The Circle of Life!

The last performance was Tinkerbell. I had never seen the movie, so it was interesting to see what the story line was.

And . . . it wouldn't be Disney without a grand finale!! It was so fun!!

What a fun and special gift!! KR is so sweet to me and I am so bless to have him!!

Little Moments

Last night, KR and I were walking up to the ESA (story to come), and upon approaching these statues, I asked, "Is that Stockton?"
KR smiled at me and said, "Yes!" He then quizzed me on the second statues name. My response was, "Malone?"
His smile got bigger and he pulled me in for a hug.
"Do you know their first names?"
"Um...John Stockton and...C. .Carl Malone?"
His smile reached from ear to ear at this answer and he gave me a big kiss.

I love those moments when I impress him!

Side note: I have no idea how I knew that. I was pretty impressed with myself as well. KR says it's because I've been in Utah too long.
I think he's right.


57 days. . .

Basketball Champions!!

KR and Brian played in a church basketball tournament last weekend and they went all the way!! They even got championship rings!!
KR said he won it for me :)


I'm guessing he wouldn't be as good at sharing if he won an NBA Championship ring. . .

By Popular Demand. . .

I am posting the recipe for elephant ears. This is the recipe my family has been using for years. It's delicious!!
So, here you go, my lovely readers:

Navajo Fry Bread, aka. Elephant Ears:
4 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons powdered milk
1 1/2 cups hot water

Mix together, pat or use a rolling pin to flatten out to about the size of a pancake. Use a fork to poke a few holes in it so you won't get too many big bubbles (unless of course you like them; I love them) and fry in hot oil.

As a reminder, we've had them as tostadas, mini pizzas, even hamburger buns, and of course, with butter and cinnamon-sugar, jam, or honey.

Let me know what creative ways you come up with to enjoy them!!

Sweet Simplicity!

Yesterday, KR gave me two Dove chocolates. He said they were for each month we have left before we get married. My heart melted.

It was such a simple thing, but it was thoughtful and made me smile. I am so grateful for him and how sweet and loving he is.

To top it off:

60 days. . . . .

TWO MONTHS!

I am not sure why, but my count down likes to round down the months we have left until the wedding (e.g if there was 3 months and 3 weeks left, it would say, 3 months and just give the days)

It is completely incorrect though.
We have two months exactly- Today is March 8th and we get married May 8th.
61 days.

As slowly as I feel like it goes most of the time, and as antsy as I am for it to be here already, it really is coming very quickly.
Planning-wise, I am not ready at all. In fact, I woke up rather stressed this morning because two major things I thought were taken care of are giving me a tough time and I have had to approach the situation from several angles. I am still waiting for it to work out, but I know it will.
Other than the actual plans for the actual wedding and reception, emotionally and spiritually, and physically even, I am ready for it.

I want it to be tomorrow. I want to marry KR for eternity, and I am ready for it.
Most people try to guess the emotions I am experiencing, what with a wedding coming up in two months, and the most common prediction I hear is "nervous" or something related to being afraid.

I am not afraid.
I am completely the opposite.

KR and I work so well as a team and I cannot even make myself feel hesitant.
Believe me, I've tried.

Sometimes I think there must be something wrong; something I am overlooking.
"Maybe I am just caught up in it all and not really thinking about what's going to happen. Maybe that's why I haven't had any worries or fears."
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am "apprehensive" (the word my Grandma makes me use rather than scared) about a many, many things. Huge, fast roller coasters; slimy looking foods; creepy crawly bugs. The biggest thing, by far though, has always been change.

So when I am looking at the biggest change in my life and haven't been stressing or "apprehensive", I wonder what's wrong.

Recently, I have literally stopped and forced myself to really think about the enormity of this decision and change and how serious it is.
And all I do is end up smiling and I even get giddy.

I am not "apprehensive" at all. I am so confident in this decision and I have never been happier or more excited about something. Ever.


61 days. . . .

Disconnected Delight!

Just an update on other random recent events that we've been up to.

Our latest obsession is making Navajo Fry Bread, aka elephant ears. We've been pretty creative, I must say.
We've made mini bbq chicken pizzas on them, used them for hamburger buns, even made tostadas, and of course, classic elephant ears with cinnamon-sugar or jam. Yum!!

We've been attending basketball games. Go Cougars!! (The season just ended and we're ranked 14th!)

Having fun in between work and school and church and planning a wedding.

Oh and most exciting? We registered!!! I am pretty sure I already mentioned that but I had to include this picture of KR. Look what aisle we're in! haha.

We've been having so much fun planning the wedding and preparing for the first day of the rest of our lives together. We have been so blessed that so many things have fallen in to place and worked out so wonderfully. We're grateful for all the family and friends who have been so very helpful and supportive. This would be impossible without all of you!!


XOXO

Whirl-Wind Wedding Weekend!!

Because we had a few major things to do for the wedding, KR and I went to California for maybe a total of maybe 40 hours. It was SUCH a short weekend but we got a lot of things done so it was worth. Jen came too, so it was just fun to be home again with the whole family.

Friday night we got in and had a flower consultation. A close and wonderful family friend is doing our flowers and by the end of the meeting, I was SOOO jazzed and in love with what we're doing!! I seriously cannot wait!! She is so great and such a beautiful person inside and out and I am honored that she is willing to do my flowers for me.

Saturday morning I went for a dress fitting. I needed sleeves added and this was the main reason for coming home. The extermely talented seamstress doing my sleeves took measurements and listened to what I wanted and whipped out a mock sleeve made of muslin while we went cake testing!! This is pretty much the only thing I have pictures of from the whole weekend (it was FAST and I can't post the pictures of my dress of course. I know, I let myself down too).

The fabulous and fun friend doing our cake is incredible!! She's from our stake and we've been emailing back and forth and she seriously nailed it when she had a few options for us to try.

First off, look at this set up! I loved it! Now I've never been to a cake testing, but I felt pretty special. I don't think I imagined normal cake testings to be this intimate and formal and special looking. I imagine people going in to the bakery, leaning over the glass and having a few bites of each one they are interested in, while customers come in and out and the bell over the door chiming every 3 seconds. THIS was special.

She had three types of cake and four fillings and we were able to mix and match. She had chocolate, vanilla and spice cake (things we talked about previously in email). She then had Bavarian cream, buttercream and then Bavarian cream with bananas! and banana buttercream! She listened to what I said I liked and applied it and I was SO impressed!!

Not to mention, it was SOOO dang GOOD!! I always have a hard time eating beautiful or cute foods (like those Valentine's and Halloween cookies) and so I figure my gorgeous wedding cake will be the hardest to cut of all!! BUT! Knowing how delicious it will be, I think it'll be a little easier! Plus, she's been training me and working with me. "Heather, just cut the cake."

Oh and I loved that the ice in my cup just happened to be a heart! I had to take a picture! I think it was a sign :)

After approving the muslin sleeve Joann made for my dress, she got started on the actual sleeves. Meanwhile, we went to the beach and took some more engagement pictures. It was so beautiful and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to the beach!

MANY MANY more wedding plans have fallen in to place, which I shall blog about at a later time. But for now, I have to run. We're going to Catherine and Brian's again for the weekend (KR is going skiing tomorrow and playing basketball tonight).

Have a great weekend!!!!