{s.i.m.p.l.i.f.y}

my life has been way too busy lately. so my new motto is SIMPLIFY. I love to run my little etsy business, to be an aspiring photographer, to be a mom, a cook, do craft projects, etc. But, I keep biting off more than I can chew. I just get So excited about new ideas, that some times they take over. My latest craze is Avery's birthday party. It is a good thing that we don't have money and I am forced to budget, otherwise I might go a little overboard :) I am REALLY trying to simplify and remember it is just a LITTLE party. BUT, it is just so much fun to create!! I guess I could justify it by saying I am following the council on the apostles (president Uchtdorf's talk in the general relief society session, go read it if you haven't yet!!). Here is a sneek peek at what I have been working on.

Avery was so excited to take pictures this time because she got to eat a big lollipop. She is my candy monster!! This was my first time making an invitation like this, and it took me forever {deep breath, and s.i.m.p.l.i.f.y.} but I think it turned out pretty cute. (okay, I decided to take the invitation down because I haven't passed them out yet, haha. Here are just a few pics for now)

here it is again






My sweet friend Bridi let me use her cricut machine to make this. Again, I was so excited to make it but it took forever. Maybe I should have just bought a $5.00 sign from the store??

the picture doesn't do it justice

anyways, I'm having fun, but need to relax :).

Am I the only one, or do you guys get really excited about your hobbies, projects, or whatever some times too?

Leaves are falling all around

I just love this boy!

HaPPy Stinkin' hALLoWeEN!!

Here she is! Meet the cutest Lemon Meringue ever!!

The kids were SO excited. They ran from house to house and cleaned out the neighborhood in 20 minutes flat!
My Mom sent us these great halloween pumpkin faces. They are perfect for younger kids. Avery and Andrew LOVED making them. They got to pick out their own faces and push them into the pumpkin. The fun lasted about as long as their attention spans (which usually doesn't happen with pumpkin carving) and there was no mess to clean up!!

Sunday Drives

I love going for Sunday drives. Today we went to this gorgeous spot that we found last year. I remember the colors of the trees were AMAZING. I think we were a week too late this year though. : ( It was still beautiful and I love the crisp fall air and going on little walks with my family. These are the moments I cherish.

KiTChEn CuPbOArDs

Does anybody else have to go to their child's kitchen cupboards to find the food they need when cooking???? This is seriously the best stocked little tikes kitchen ever.
Avery loves to write  grocery shopping lists and recipes and then go shopping in my cupboards so she can cook in her kitchen.  It is so cute, but such a pain to put the groceries away 20 times a week. Whatever keeps her busy!

On another note, I ordered some more crochet hats. I LOVE these hats, they are so stinkin' cute. I found a different vendor and the quality is SO much nicer than the ones I ordered before. I only got a few of each color, but if you would like one, just let me know. I sell them on etsy for around $12.00. But If you ask nice I'll give them to you for $7.00 for just the hat or $9.00 with a bow :) I have light pink, bright pink, brown, black, red, and natural.

And the winner is...

Alissa! Good Guess Alissa! Avery is going to be Lemon Meringue, one of the Strawberry Shortcake characters. And she makes the cutest lemon meringue you have EVER seen I might add :) Her little red headed friend Emma is going to be Strawberry shortcake and her sister is going to be Blueberry Muffin. I didn't take any pictures at the ward party, so you'll have to wait until next week to see how cute she really is!



I was feeling a little unfestive (is that a word?) with our lack of Halloween decorations, so I made this sign last week and I think it looks so cute! I can't take all the credit though, I ordered a kit from myemmiecakes. I thought the price was a little steep at first (She unfortunately just raised her prices this week. I'm glad I ordered mine before) but once I added it all up, I couldn't have made it for much cheaper myself, if at all, once you buy all the tulle, ribbon, paper, etc.. I really want to make a cute Happy Birthday one for Avery next.

Halloween costume

We had our ward Halloween party on Saturday and only 1 person figured out what Avery's costume was (thanks Amie)!! I thought that the tights would give it away, but I guess not. My sister and I LOVED these characters when we were little. I had every single one of the dolls, the toothbrush holder, the trolley, etc.. My mom still has our collection and the grandkids play with them at her house. So, I want to see how many of you can guess what Avery's costume is. If you already know, don't say! Think 80s! 

Tasty Tuesday

This has been one of my favorite cakes since I was a little girl. I can remember sneaking bites of it when my mom wasn't looking : ) It is the perfect way to celebrate all that is fall time.

Apple Cake

4 cups chopped apples

2 cups sugar-pour over apples and set aside

mix:

2 eggs

3/4 cup oil

2 t vanilla

then add this to the apple mixture

mix:

2 cups flour

1 1/4 t baking soda

2 t cinnamon

1 t salt

add to apples mixture and stir as little as possible until all ingredients are incorporated

Bake 350* for 45-50 minutes

while still warm, pour glaze over top

butter 

lemon juice

powdered sugar

(I don't know the exact amounts, I always just do it to taste. But, here is a starting point:

 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, juice of 1 lemon, and 2 T butter)

It is SO yummy, you have to try it!

and since every post is better with photos, here are a few for your viewing pleasure :)

how cute is he?

I just had to post this picture. Couldn't you just eat him?

Sneak Peak

This is for you Loralee, but this is all your getting :) These were seriously the cutest outfits I have ever seen!! Thanks for letting me take pictures of your cute girls!

Fall is in the air

We went to our favorite place this weekend, Patterson's fruit farm. It is beautiful, you can pick apples and pumpkins, go on hayrides, and they have apple fritters and doughnuts that are so good Andy dreams about them. :) It has become a fun family fall tradition. The kids love it.

Getting ready for winter

Who doesn't love a cute winter hat with ear flaps??

Confessions on a fast Sunday

In my first ward at BYU, the bishopric had little "get to know you" interviews with everyone. During my interview, I remember being asked what the one calling I DIDN'T want would be. I told him that I didn't want to be a teacher because I hate being in front of people. Little did I know that those words would come back to haunt me. The next week I was asked to accept a calling as a Sunday school teacher. Ummm, okay. In EVERY BYU ward thereafter (both singles and family wards) I was called to be a sunday school teacher or a relief society teacher. The big guy sure does have a sense of humor! But, I actually learned to LOVE teaching and it became easier for me to speak in front of groups. I liked that it made me go out of my comfort zone and that it gave me so many opportunities to study the gospel and bear testimony.  During my summers at BYU, I worked as an EFY counselor and loved having the chance to teach the gospel and bear testimony to the youth. I also served a mission, once again, LOTS of opportunities. For about 8 years of my life, I never really had to seek out opportunities to bear testimony, they always just presented them self in various ways. And, I never really bore my testimony on fast sundays because I figured everyone had already heard enough from me. Well, for the last couple of years I have gotten out of the habit and it is getting harder and harder for me to find the strength to get up and bear my testimony. The longer I wait, the harder it gets. I don't feel that my testimony is weakening, but I do know that it is not being strengthened from the blessings of bearing it. Why am I telling you all this? because I wanted to let you know (and remind myself) that the pit in your stomach you feel before you go up to bear your testimony is nothing compared to the pit that remains after you ignore the promptings and don't get up. I may not be eloquent in speech or have amazing faith promoting stories to tell, but I do have a testimony of the restored gospel and it needs to be heard. Maybe not by you, but I need to let the Lord know that I know that He knows that I know!

Snap Happy

Ever since Avery was born, I have been really snap happy (as most moms are). As a result, my computer is LOADED with 1000s of pictures. The other day I was having so much fun looking at all the pictures and reminiscing. I started scrapbooking when Avery was born, so I have a few of the favorite pictures in there, but I realized that I loved looking at the "out takes" or not so perfect pictures as well. I have TONS of pictures just sitting on my computer, doing nothing. I've never been good at getting them printed, so I feel really overwhelmed by the idea of printing and putting them into albums. But I need to do SOMETHING with them. I need your advice. What do YOU do with your pictures? How do you organize them and stay on top of it? Do you leave them all on your computer or delete them? Where do I even start? Please share all your picture organizing tips!!! I need HELP!!!

A TRUE Ingersoll, a new love, and a funny

Andy had a dental convention in Columbus this weekend, so we all decided to tag along for a fun little getaway. Here are a few pictures from the Columbus Zoo. 5 bucks for the first person to say which picture shows the sign of  a true Ingersoll :)



And for my new love. I don't think I have ever seen a Lion up close like this before. They are Amazing, Beautiful creatures. They are so powerful and yet have such a calm sweetness about them. I seriously could have stared at the lion all day!!

Now for the funny


The other day Avery and I were cuddling in bed and talking. She randomly started naming of letters in the alphabet. I couldn't quite figure out what she was saying. "KLPQTULV!" she repeated. I finally asked her what she was saying and she said "I'm spelling out letters like you always do to Daddy!" I couldn't help but laugh!