The Coolest of Cool Recipe

I got an email to send a recipe to someone, which I did, but I don't know if I did everything right from there. So I decided to post my recipe. This is a recipe for Mint Julep. Now that everything is warming up and turning green, this non alcoholic mint julep recipe will keep you cool from the inside out. Make this your signature cocktail when having friends over for bar-b-qs. It will be a hit!

Mint Julep:

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp. fresh chopped mint leaves

2 cups crushed ice

1/2 cup prepared limeade

fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Cream

1) In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar and mint leaves. Stir and bring to a boil. Cook until sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and set aside to cool. After about an hour strain the mint leaves from the syrup.

2) Fill 2 cups or goblets with crushed ice. Pour 1/2 cup lemonade into each glass and top with a splash of the sugar syrup and cream. Garnish with a mint sprig and serve on a silver platter.

The hidden meaning of Davids Name

What David Means

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.
You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.
People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are very hyper. You never slow down, even when it's killing you.
You're the type of person who can be a workaholic during the day... and still have the energy to party all night.
Your energy is definitely a magnet for those around you. People are addicted to your vibe.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.


Wanna find out what your name means? Go to this website:

http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

Mckinleys name...

What Mckinley Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.
You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life.
You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip.
People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What Does My Name Mean?

What Abby Means

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous.
You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things.
Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times.



You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

Our weekly family read-a-thon

Because of our crazy work schedules and busy lives, David and I have always had a hard time having family home evening on Monday nights. Inevitably, something earth shaking will happen that cuts into our Monday night family time.
So, a while back, we started to have FHE on Sunday nights. Since we can't really go too crazy, with it being Sunday, we started reading a few chapters of a childrens book each week. It doesn't take the whole night and we can do it anywhere.(even at my work, if we need to.) It has been really fun. David and I have especially loved it. We have been reading Ramona Quimby Age 8, which is such a funny book. Mckinley just looks at us and wonders what the heck we are laughing at most of the time. We have kind of wondered if she has been enjoying it too, when last night, while David and I were cleaning the house, I noticed that our bedroom door was closed, and that Mckinley was in our room talking. So I quietly opened the door, and this is what I saw.




She was very busy reading a story to her little friends. I thought it was so cute I grabbed the camera and snapped a picture.

the pepe le pew family and the Snoog

Hi. We have a dog named Scooby. And on Thursday, Scooby got sprayed by a skunk. Sweet huh? I know, I know. It really is funny. But I was NOT laughing after working for 15 hours on Thursday and coming home to that kind of a mess. David and I had just sat down to watch 27 dresses.(the second attempt.) and all of a sudden, I smelled it. You know what I am talking about. There is nothing like the skunk smell. So I ran over to our back door to make Scooby go in the garage for a bit, but it was too late. He had already been sprayed. (I discovered this AFTER he was in the house. Genius.) So thanks to everyone that we told this story to who immediately started cracking up about the whole thing. Thanks for feeling our pain.(We could see it through the tears you were crying while laughing.) I have been having quite a difficult time seeing the humor when my entire house has smelled like a skunk for 3 days. However, The perfume has finally cleared the air a little bit, and we are beginning to get our appetites back. The funniest part about the whole thing was telling Mckinley about it. She has been saying that Scooby got bit by a "snoog." (And when she says it, she wrinkles her nose up. It's hilarious.)
Here is a picture of the real victim. Keep your distance friends, he's still pretty potent!

retrospective Mothers Day

You are the trip I did not take
You are the pearls I cannot buy.
You are my blue Italian lake
You are my piece of foreign sky.
--Anne Campbell

This Mothers day was a thought provoking one. Mckinley was sicker than she has ever been before with a bad cough, congestion and a fever that lasted all day and night. All she wanted to do was be held in the rocking chair with her blankies. So I stayed home from church with her and we rocked the day away. And as she was sleeping, I had time to myself to think back on the experience of becoming a mother. I think that David and I were pregnant on our honeymoon. (I'm really not kidding.) As soon as we found out, we were both so excited and scared to death, shocked. I thought David was going to either pass out or die when I told him. (he turned whiter than a ghost.) In spite of being so thrilled, I also was afraid that I would be missing out on time with just David and I. We only knew each other for like eight months by the time we got married. I was also planning to go to Tuscany for two weeks with my mom and sister that summer. This was big, because the farthest away I have ever been is Oregon. And there were so many other emotions, I had to grow up now and stop doing crazy things,(although I kept snowboarding for 2 1/2 months after I knew.) and I had to eat better and do all the things that mothers do. But as the pregnancy progressed I started to really love my baby, and I stopped worrying about everything. David and I have an eternity together, and a lifetime to explore the world. And for whatever reason, we needed McKinley right away. I want her to know someday that she is the greatest achievement of my life, and that no sacrifice has ever been too great to outweigh the joys of being her mother. We love her so much. Our lives would not be complete without her.

yard sale junkie

Yes. I confess. I am a yard sale junkie. I should probably apologize to my sweet, cute husband for the fact that I woke him up at seven am on Saturday morning and made him get out of bed and come with me to a yard sale. (fyi the yard sale didn't actually start til nine, but I wanted to scout out the goods.) Mind you, this was no ordinary yard sale. I don't just go to any old yard sale folks. This was a yard sale from a bed and breakfast up the street from my parents house. ( The Stratford Bed and Breakfast.) The selection was really good and I had really great success. (power of positive attraction, right Melissa?) I made a haul. Let me preface this by saying that I spent 25 dollars...and I am psyched about it. I got a set of eight vintage napkins, 2 really cute skirts, a porcelain tea set for McKinley, a bench(for 5 bucks, my favorite deal of the day) and 2 wicker chairs. (That are going to go on the side of our house with our fire pit.)
David and my dad ganged up on me, about the whole thing. ( my dad says that there is a difference between stuff and S***, but they're men and I don't expect them to understand.) Anyway, here are some pictures of the STUFF.


I did good didn't I! My one regret was that I hesitated in buying this really cute old wheelbarrow that had been turned into a flower planter. Somebody else got it:(

Graduation BBQ

My cousin Annie Graduated from Nursing school with her bachelors last week. She had a BBQ to celebrate the occasion. I am so excited that summer is coming! One of the many things I look forward to all year are the BBQs that we get to go to. I guess I just love food! Whether it's my Grandpa Jacksons Dutch Oven, or my Grandma Riddles hamburgers on the grill or the Holmgrens Flank Steak, it's the best time of year for hanging out with the family. Love it!

Mckinley got to play with her cousin Sadie who she absolutely adores. They were so cute playing together, I had to be the mommy paparazzi again.

I think that Mckinley is starting to figure out that she can't push her daddy around anymore.

May Day Concert

May first was May Day. Did you know that? I didn't until I played my violin in a May Day concert. It was a good concert. I played with In Jubilo which is a womens choir here in Cedar. My mother is the conductor of the choir and so I got saddled with accompanying them on one of their pieces. J/k mom. It was really fun. The choir is very good and they were fun to play with. I also got paid! That always makes playing an even sweeter deal.

I always love it when my husband is in the audience. For some reason it makes me feel like a movie star to have someone there just to watch me. I've been lucky. My husband hasn't missed a concert yet. So here I am being a movie star with my husband.

Bag Tag

Ok ladies and gentelmen, I am finally doing the bag tag. This was pretty fun. I had A LOT of junk in my bag. ( We did some spring cleaning before pictures, it wouldn't have all fit in the picture if we didn't. I'm a pack rat folks.)

So here's what I have:
2 diapers- some day my child will be potty trained.
wipes- which are actually all dried out. But they work just fine. I just have to get them wet again.
Notebook
Pen- a red jelly pen that doesn't work. Sadly, it had to be replaced.
Lip Gloss- Avon glazewear in Peach Fizz. This is good lip gloss because it is full color not colored in the bottle and clear on your lips.
Mints- wint-o-green. No gum because I have TMJ and it is noticeably worse when I chew gum.
2 Nature Valley granola bars.
My phone
Perfume- VS Halo. It's almost gone too:(
stamps
Book- Tolstoy's War and Peace. And book marked with my goals for the month, which is my best shot at getting these goals done. I read every day, so I look at my goals every day too.
credit cards and a sleeve that I made for them out of pictures of the Bahamas. This helps me to save more money because I want to go on a trip there this year, and when I get out my debit card, I look longingly at the pictures and hopefully decide not to buy things I don't need.
my wallet- I get more compliments on my flashy pink wallet than any clothing item I've ever had.
Business cards with a cute holder-I sometimes think I want to get some violin students so I got these business cards. If you want to get free business cards, go to vistaprint.com. They have a lot of different designs and they really are free! You just have to pay for shipping.



I also have a MILO BLING card and my U of U student ID.- I should get rid of it, since I have graduated now but it's such a funny picture. I crack up every time I see it.

That's it, that's what I go take on the world with. Here come the tags: Erica, and Sunni it's your turn.