Little I Love You's

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. This morning I had to leave the house very early to go to work. My thoughtful husband got up and loaded my equipment into the car for me in the cold and dark and started it so that it would be warm.

2. Because I had gotten up so early, when I got home from work I had a nap. (Oh, who am I kidding - I probably would have had a nap anyway. I love naps!) I thought I dreamed that someone kissed me on the forehead and whispered "I'm going grocery shopping..."

3. It wasn't a dream. I woke up to find that he had done the dishes while I was sleeping and restocked our kitchen.

4. And brought me these:

5. And this:
What a man! I think maybe, just maybe....he loves me!

Peaceful Pictures

I love Sundays. For me, they are a day to rest from the world and spiritually recharge. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a very visual person, so today I'm sharing some of my favorite artistic images - ones that help me feel closer to my Savior and that bring me peace.

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. In His Constant Care, by Greg OlsenHe cares for the sparrows. He cares for me. Oh, it is wonderful!

2. The Sacred Grove, by Greg OlsenI LOVE this painting. I love the majesty and strength of the trees as they bear silent witness to the sacred event that took place there.

3. The Washington D.C. Temple at Christmas (image courtesy of flickr) Growing up, almost every year my family would go to the Washington, D.C. temple to see the Christmas lights. As a child, I could feel the sacredness of that place, and that feeling grew each year as my understanding of the gospel plan increased. Scott and I were married in this temple and it is a very special place to me.

4. Angels, by Mark Mabry I'm moved by this portrayal of joy as the angels proclaim the birth of Christ. I read that the photographer intentionally left the shepherds out of the image, so as to convey the idea that the angels were proclaiming tidings of joy to all of us.

5. Christ In Red Robe, by Del Parson No matter where we live, we always hang this painting close to the center of our house, to remind us that Christ is the center of our life and our home.

Teddy Paws

My blogfriend Elaine's dog passed away last night. This is the second beloved canine family member she has lost in the last 3 months.

I've never actually met Elaine, or her dogs (but I've seen pictures - big, lovely brown-eyed, furry creatures that they were) but both times when I read on her blog that she had lost one of her doggies, I burst into tears.

I cannot even think of the day when we won't have our Teddy with us anymore. It already hurts too much and he's sitting right here curled up by my side, pressed against my leg as I write this.

Nope. Can't go there or I'll lose it.

So, today I'm thinking of my favorite things about my sweet, smunchable, smoochable little fluffiness.

Here are five favorite things about Teddy (it's really, really hard to pick only five - there are about a million and a half)...

1. His sensitivity. If one of us is crying, he jumps up and tries to lick the tears away. Likewise, when we're laughing, his ears perk up and he smiles that Pomeranian smile and is so delighted. He's very in touch with our feelings and wants to give comfort if anyone is unhappy or be part of the celebration when we're happy.


2. His softness. His fur is soooooo soft and silky. I could pet him all day long. (Well, I pretty much do.) He is like a living little teddy bear.

3. His playfulness. Teddy is a total lap dog, but he does love to play. When the mood strikes, he goes and gets one of his favorite toys (a pig, a puppy or a soccer ball) and drops it at our feet with an excited bark. When he gets really excited, he does what we call "bezerker"- running crazy figure eights around the house and furniture - tail down, mouth open with tongue hanging out and fur flying in the wind. Then when he's done, he jumps right back onto a lap for snuggles.


4. His hugs. When we hug him, he hugs back. He wraps his little head around our necks and just squeezes. It is the most heart-melting thing ever.

5. His paws. Teddy has the cutest little paws - they are tiny. And they smell like corn chips. Really, they do - they smell delicious! I love the pitter-patter sound they make when he is running around the house. I love how when I'm eating something tasty he will come and put a paw on me just to remind me he is there and might like some. I love how he uses them like little hands to hold his bones while he chews them. I love how he curls them all up in a ball while he sleeps. And I love when those little Teddy paws reach for me when he wants love.

By the way, I completely, 100% believe that we will be reunited with our pets in the next life.

Warm

It is soooooo cold outside! Brrrr! And judging from this map I just saw on weather.com, unless you live in FL or AZ, you're probably feeling it right along with me. So today I'm thinking of my favorite warm things.

Today's favorite things are...

1. Candles. When we were teenagers, my best friend, Rachel and I would burn candles and drip the hot wax on our hands to soften them (like we needed softer skin at 15!) and because we thought it was cool to make casts of our hands. Ouch! I can't believe we did that! Now I have a paraffin wax dip (much more humane) and I just use candles to make my house feel warm and cozy and smell good. Right now I'm burning Pumpkin Spice...
2. Scott's homemade hot cocoa. He first made it for me not long after we got married and ruined me forever on the powdered kind. It's amazing.

3. My faux fur blanket. Wraps me in luxury, keeps me warm and makes me feel like a princess. All for only $19.97 at Walmart!4. Panera's broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl. My girlfriend Angela and I both get this when we get together for a day of shopping and lunch. So now it always makes me think of her. Warms my tummy AND my heart! 5. Sweaters and boots. I literally cannot wait every year to haul these out of my closet and start wearing them. So, really, I shouldn't be complaining about the cold. And I'm not! Because without cold, we couldn't appreciate warmth.

What are your favorite warm things?

Answering Edward

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Turquoise. That's my favorite color every day and I do wear it a lot.
2. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. I have a fantasy of being able to play "Knights of Cydonia" at the Expert level of Guitar Hero. But we all know that's probably not ever going to happen.
3. The Phantom of the Opera. I'm dying to see the stage production again. Alas, it's not touring anywhere near me right now, but I'm happy to have the DVD!
4. Tourmaline. Because it comes in so many different, sparkly, beautiful colors!

5. Roses. Boring, I know. But I only like the really interesting, funky variegated ones like these:
Now, who gets the title of my post? ;D

Good Morning

Today's Favorite Things are...


1. Breakfast in bed. I awoke to the smell of sizzling sausage this morning and then opened my eyes to discover a handsome man bringing me a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and a bagel with (my favorite) veggie cream cheese. I am spoiled.

2. My heat bag. Unfortunately, I also awoke with a crick in my neck. My heat bag came to the rescue. I made this one with fabric that my mom gave me. (She knows me so well!) Recipe to follow...
3. Contact lenses. It is still miraculous to me, after all these years, that every morning I can stick a tiny, little piece of plastic in my eye and I can see! I was cursed with glasses in the 4th grade and endured many taunts of "four eyes!" until I was saved by contact lenses the summer before 9th grade. I have very rarely worn glasses on purpose in public since then.

4. Spanx.

5. A fenced in back yard. So I don't have to parade around the street in my jammies while Teddy completes his morning routine.

Heat Bags

For your bag - use a 10" x 24" piece of fabric. I like snuggly fleece. Fold in half, with right sides together, so that it measures 10" x 12". Sew 2 sides closed and turn right side out. You can also make long, skinny bags that are perfect for wrapping around the neck and shoulders - just use a piece of fabric that is 24" x 12" and fold it longways so that it forms a 24" x6" tube. (These, of course are approximate sizes and you can make them whatever size and shape you want!)

For your filling - get just plain, cheap popcorn (not microwave popcorn), put it in a big pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil the popcorn for 10 minutes (it will start to float) - this causes the popcorn to go "dormant" and won't pop in the microwave later. Lay out your boiled popcorn on a towel and let it dry completely. (I usually let mine dry for a couple of days.) I also always add herbal tea bags (2 or 3) to my heat bags make them smell nice and add aromatherapy properties. (Chamomile is great for stress and headaches. Peppermint is awesome for sore muscles and for energy. Lavender is calming and helps with sleeplessness and cramps.)

Put it all together - fill your bags about half-way with the popcorn. Just fill it loosly, you don't want it too tight in the bag. Cut your tea bags open and shake the contents into your heat bag. Sew the final end together.

To use - microwave for 3 minutes or so, depending on how hot you like it!

Minty Goodness

This morning I made Mint Brownies to take tonight to our Christmas Enrichment Night at church. I should have waited until the afternoon to make them - it's a wonder any of them made it over to the church!

We had a beautiful evening. The theme was The Attributes of Christ : Faith, Hope, Charity and Love, Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence and Obedience. Several different sisters shared their feelings and thoughts about Christ's example and how we can strive to follow Him. We sang Christmas hymns and it really helped me feel the spirit of this season in which we celebrate not only Christ's birth, but all that He has done and does for us. It was just what I needed.

Then we ate. (You can't have a girl's night at church without lots of yummy food!)

Today's Favorite Things are...

1. Mint Brownies. These little squares of decadent, creamy, rich, chocolaty, minty perfection are an essential part of the Christmas season for me. Recipe to follow...

2. Mint Foot Lotion. Sorry if it grosses anyone out to be considering both mint brownies and mint foot lotion in the same post, but I just put some mint lotion on my feet and am enjoying a mint brownie as I write this (washed my hands in between - don't worry) and I'm feeling very refreshed.

3. The fact that my mom and I can call each other a million times a day if we want to. Which we did today. Because we just kept thinking of things to ask/tell each other.

4. Spending time with my girlfriends. I am so blessed to be surrounded by good, exemplary women who have high standards and morals and are trying to live a virtuous life. This includes all of my friends, not just the ones who attend my church.

5. Spending time with my husband cuddled up on the couch under one blanket with Teddy all curled in a ball on our laps while we just veg, decompress, relax and watch one of our favorite TV shows.

And now, I present to you the best recipe ever for mint brownies:

Christmas Mint Brownies

Brownie

1 Cup flour
1 Cup sugar
1 stick butter, softened (I can never remember to get my butter out and put it on the counter to let it soften beforehand. My mom always does. But I nuke it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it. Just don't melt it completely.)
4 eggs
1 16 oz. can Hershey's Syrup (it's a miracle the Hershey's syrup makes it into the brownies every year instead of straight into my mouth.)

Mix all together and put in jelly roll pan. You know, a big cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. But don't overcook or they will be dry.

Mint Frosting

2 Cups powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened (Again with remembering to soften the butter...)
1 Tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. mint extract
3 drops green food coloring

Mix until smooth and spread on top of cooled brownies. It's going to make a thin layer, so I always make evenly-spaced little globs of icing in rows over my brownies and spread them together with a butter knife. Yeah, I'm OCD like that.

Chocolate Icing

1 stick butter
1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt together and when room temperature, spread on top of mint frosting. I drizzle it all over evenly (cough*OCD*cough) and then spread it with the back of a teaspoon.

How great is it that this recipe has 3 whole sticks of butter in it?