you asked for it. you got it.

(Toyota)
32 weeks pregnant. In my polka dot pajama pants. So hot.

humble pie

Okay, am I the only one who felt bad about my feelings here after reading Stephenie Meyer's post on March 30th about why she is releasing her stupid novella (okay, I don't feel that bad)? I guess it sort of happened by accident, the whole writing the story in the first place thing. And I guess that it's pretty cool that you can get the story for free online (though Stephenie and her publisher [whom I picture as a lady villain- the girl-equivalent of the guy in the three-piece suit with an oily mustache counting stacks money in his NYC office and laughing maniacally and pushing orphans and stuff] both know that we are all going to buy it). And I guess it's almost cool that she's giving one whole dollar (yes, that is sarcasm) of each book sale to the Red Cross.

But, Steph (we already established that I can call you Steph, right?), I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that you really need to FINISH MIDNIGHT SUN!! Either accidentally or on purpose! (See?? We aren't unreasonable.)

Also, if Edward turned out to be a real person and you had him chained up in your basement, I wouldn't be mad at you. Just sayin.

brand new

Thinking about entering my 8th month of pregnancy a lot today. I know it's wrong of me to look forward to the end of this pregnancy so anxiously when all I should be feeling is blessed that I've made it this far! And I do feel blessed... tired and enormous... and blessed. I'm nearly 32 weeks along and I only made it to 28 with Avery (above with Klayton the day after she was born)!! So, despite the mood swings and the three-a-week doctor visits and the getting up off of the couch hips-first and did I mention the enormousness??... Anyway, despite all of that I am very grateful to still be cooking this little one. Did I mention that I'm 99% sure we have a name picked out? For that you will have to wait and wonder. :)

so love...ed

Did I mention that I married a wonderful guy? The most wonderful guy, in my book. He has been surprising me with gorgeous flowers a lot lately just so I know that he hasn't given up on me yet (well, that's how I see it. He says stuff about loving and appreciating me, but I'm pretty sure he's just counting down until baby is delivered and my sanity returns. Either way it's sweet), and these are the most beautiful yet. I'll have to think of some way to repay him... you know, besides making sure he has clean underwear and bearing his children and all of that ho-hum stuff.

bed head

Here's a little bedtime conversation with Avery for you. She is a sweetie.

lucky

How did I luck into the perfect husband? Seriously, I not only got the cute guy I had a crush on because he was funny and spoke French and played the guitar. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I also got the guy who would work his butt off for our family and bring me flowers and rub my back and run to Wendy's for me at 10pm after 13 straight hours of work and, honestly, not only run into the bathroom when I am puking my guts out (even in my third trimester!! bah!) and hold my hair, but also clean out the sink AND the puke that got in my hair before he arrived. haha I am sorry to share something so super gross, but it's totally something I always want to remember, however twisted that sounds. I keep joking that if he can survive pregnant me then he can handle anything, but, honestly, after hearing all of this, don't you believe it? Poor guy. Thanks for being my own personal Superman, K. Love you.

and the winner is

I think I have decided on a cake for Avery's third birthday coming up next month. I am SO OVER cake and frosting. Bo-ring. haha Perhaps it is because I am running super hot and cold about all sorts of food right now (Tuna: you are disgusting. Celery and peanut butter: I want to have your baby [technically I sort of AM having your baby since I feed you to this kid at least once a day]).
Anyway, Spring birthday + Outdoor party (please Idaho weather don't suck) = Ina Garten's fresh and delicious-looking Mixed Berry Pavlova.

I have been wanting to try my hand at a pavlova for the last year, and I think that this is the perfect occasion! Avery is a berry nut (like her mama) and meringue is like crunchy marshmallows (Which totally = PERFECT kid food. They LOVE marshmallows). My nieces beg me to make them meringue cookies all of the time, so I think all of the kids will enjoy this (as well as the adults). Plus it's super simple and fancy-looking.

So, what do you think? Pretentious toddler food? Or perfect birthday cake?

snacktime

Check out this delicious snack and the amazing, magazine-style layout that my friend and old college roomie, Katelyn, put together on her blog. Kate and her family are so wonderful and talented- her blog is a major source of inspiration (and quite a bit of jealousy :D) for me. She also has three beautiful girls, a loving hubby, enough housekeeping/cooking/sewing/dancing/singing/graphicic designing skills to star in a one-woman show, and a photography business.

i love grape jelly

I wonder... I know that my whole "special relationship" with the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer is a mystery to many (mystery is probably a nice way of putting it). But, really, if you can't relate to being completely sucked in by a great story, loving that feeling, and not wanting to let it go (okay, in my case it's pretty much holding onto it with a death-grip) then you are barely human. Seriously. Go get your pulse checked.
For me Twilight has been a huge source of that wonderful feeling for the last few of years, and I am honestly grateful to Stephanie Meyer for having written something that is so delicious. And I feel like I, alone, have probably bought her a vacation home in Majorca from the many copies of her books that I own, all of the movie tickets I've purchased, the t-shirts, the dolls (yes, I have an Edward doll. What's your point?), the games, even the (awesome) Twilight Graphic Novel (Volume ONE! As in, I will soon be forking over 15.50 for each future Japanimated volume!!) that just came out. So, Steph, I'd say we're even at this point. haha
Anyway, here's what I'm wondering this evening. I wonder if anyone else is as annoyed as I am by the announcement of the release of this "novella" by Steph coming this June. Seriously? Let me take just a moment to address Stephanie directly. Ahem.
Steph (I can call you Steph, right?), really. You said you were done with Twilight and its characters for a bit. I'm trying to respect your (insane. selfish. obnoxious.) feelings about not finishing Midnight Sun right now. I get it. You aren't worried about the millions that finishing that book would rake in. You have Majorca. There's food on the table. I get that. You want a Twilight break. I probably need one. Perhaps this is a healthy thing for both of us. But then you turn around and write a short story about THE MOST POINTLESS character you have ever created (besides Jacob. OOOOhhh Team-Edward-Twilight-nerd burn!!! haha)???!!! I mean, I love Eclipse. Every word. But do I want to read about Bree Tanner? No. Did I ever take my laser-focus off of Edward to feel sorry for her? Not really. I think you are an amazing author. I will read (and purchase) anything you write, including this. You've got me. Really, you do. But this whole thing is so dumb. I'll probably eat these words later and really enjoy your novella (Which, by the way, is a pretentious word. You and I both know that this is just a short story. What's wrong with just saying short story?), but let's get real. Finish a different story. Or a sequel to The Host. Or extend your break from writing. Whatever, it's your life. But I was a huge Harry Potter fan before I found you (I still love ya, Harry), and I still haven't purchased or read any of the spin-off junk little books that J.K. wrote to collect a few extra billion from her intensely loyal fan base. It has always just seemed like picking your fan's pockets to me. It's downright abusive. So, I'm just asking you, is that what this is? Seems an awful lot like The Tales of Beedle the Bard to me. We don't need it. Harry Potter still defeats Voldemort without Beedle's book, okay? And, though you have given the world a lot (namely Edward), do you really want to take advantage of all of the poor saps out there like me? Think about it.

Easter/Conference Eats

Breakfast: Croissant French toast with vanilla sauce and fresh berries.

**I was asked to post this recipe so I thought I'd add it in here. I got it from The Domestic Diva's Party Cookbook by Patricia F. Hemming and Keely J. Hemming. It's a great little cookbook to check out if you haven't already! Okay, here it is:

Croissant French Toast
Several Croissant halves per person
6 to 8 eggs, beaten
Prepare vanilla sauce first (below). It can be made up to a day ahead and refrigerated. Warm before serving. To prepare croissant French Toast, cut the croissants in half and dip in beaten egg. Cook on an electric griddle or in a fry pan until both sides are set. Top with berries if desired and serve with vanilla sauce.

Vanilla Sauce (hey, I never said this was good for you, only that it was REALLY good :D)
1 Tbs flour
4 egg yolks
1 Tbs vanilla
2 c whipping cream
1/2 c sugar
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

In a small bowl combine flour, egg yolks and vanilla; set aside. In a saucepan combine cream and sugar; bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir a small amount of cream mixture into the egg mixture. Return all to pan. Stirring constantly, bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for two minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla ice cream until melted. Serve warm.

It's definitely special occasion/company food. I'd go for the company scenario so you don't eat it all like we did this weekend! Hope you enjoy!**

Dinner: Broiled asparagus with lemon pepper and cedar plank-grilled salmon.
Easter/Conference Sunday: Delicious.

hunted

Today we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt with the Christensen family. Avery loves her cousins sooo much and has been looking forward to this day all week. Unfortunately, it's been howling wind and dumping snow here (PS I'm moving.) for the last few days, so we had to improvise a bit. We had lunch at my house first (ham, potatoes, rolls, salad [okay... it was JELLO salad...]: the works), then we took K's key to the church and hid eggs in the Relief Society room. haha. Hope that's not too illegal, but we figured it was for a good cause. Who wants to Easter egg hunt in the snow!? Here are the kids all lined up before heading to the church. Avery loved finding eggs!! Unfortunately, about one minute into the egg hunt, Avery ran full speed into a windowsill. I'm not sure what on earth she was thinking. I guess only of the eggs hidden behind the curtains. Anyway, she was bleeding from both nostrils and bawling for a while (poor kiddo. Don't blame her. A shot to the nose hurts worse than almost anything.), so that put a little damper on her egg-hunting. But don't worry, I eventually found the cure... Cadbury Eggs. Delish. haha

Afterward we went back to our house for fruit tart (my first one outside of class and, dare I say, my best yet!! Sooo yummy.) and playtime. We love our family and are so glad they braved the yucky weather to come play with us today!! Happy day before Easter!

thumb-body ith in trouble

Got the craving from remembering these. Found the recipe here. Whipped them up in this in less than no time. Seriously delicious.