- quick recipe of the week -

Hello everyone, and Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. Stay tuned for a post about my lovely weekend! 

But for now, let me introduce you to Vivian, from Dance for 5 . Vivian has an absolutely beautiful family! She is a Colombian Mormon living in Utah. She's a housewife, a dancer, loves all things pretty, party planner, decorator, crafter, world traveler, but above all, a mother! I love to read about her family's fun adventures, especially their travels!

 Isn't she gorgeous?

(Image credit Vivian)

Vivian is sharing a recipe that she came across with the very best intentions. You see, Vivian absolutely can't stand to see food go to waste, because she has seen and lived among poverty and hungry children who have to go without food for days. With this is mind, she is always trying to use up her food, rather than waste it. After searching for a way to use those over ripe bananas that she always has, she finally found this recipe through her good friend, Mandalina. Now she never has to waste those over ripe bananas again.

Banana Bread
1 3/4 c flour
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 c sugar
2 Tb milk
2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla scent
1/3 cup butter
3-4 ripe bananas

Mix all of the ingredients well. Pour into a loaf pan. For really fluffy banana bread, place the loaf pan in another pan filled about 1/2 inch of water. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

(Image credit Vivian)

(Image credit Vivian)

(Image credit Vivian)

Printable Recipe

Thank you so much Vivian! This sounds like a great recipe for those holiday get togethers! 

Don't forget to stop by Vivian's blog to say hi! She has quite a few other recipes that sound absolutely delicious!

- a sappier thankful post -

My lovely blogging friend, Tori, so kindly asked me to guest post for her! Please visit her blog, keep calm and carry on to read a sappier, but just as sincere post on what I am thankful for! And don't forget to say hi to Tori while you are over there. She's a cutie, she's so beautiful, and she is very talented too. Her adventures are so much fun to follow. You'll really like her, I promise. I did the minute I visited her blog!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

- be thankful -

I am so thankful this year for so many things...some big, and some small and petty, but all things that make me smile.

I am thankful for:

- a wonderful family and a very loving hubby -

- a daughter that brings me so much joy and happiness -

- a roof over my head -

- a job that I don't despise...hey, I even kind of like it most days! -

- a very nice car that gets me everywhere I need to go -

- the amazing friends that I have in my life -

- my physical and mental health -

- the wonderful vacations that I have been able to take -

- my camera and the joy that photography brings me -

- my warm, comfortable bed that I get to sleep in every night -

- the beautiful city that I live in - 

- my closet-ful of very nice clothes, and shoes, and bags (oh how I love online shopping) -

- the delicious food that is on my table every day -

- my education -

- the trials and tribulations that have shaped me into who I am today (okay, okay, there are some that I could have done without) -

- wine...good wine -
- music and the happiness it brings me -

- laughing and all of the good memories I have made while laughing -

- blogging and the world that has been opened up to me through my blog -

- random acts of kindness that have been sent my way -

- the grace and forgiveness that I have been given in my life -

~ Happy Thanksgiving  ~

- just a regular 'ole weekend... -

...with Mickey Mouse! 

We took Ellie to Disneyland for a 4 day family vacation to celebrate her birthday. We had a blast! A lot of people told us that she was way too young to go, and that she wouldn't remember the trip at all. Maybe she won't, but I am so glad we went. It was so much fun...with one little hiccup...

...we woke up in the hotel room Thursday morning to find a very sick little girl. Ellie NEVER gets sick. She has my immune system...strong. It also helps that she isn't in daycare yet, but she has maybe been sick twice, yes only twice, in two years. Well, we'll make that three times, because she woke up on Day 1 of our Disneyland trip sick, sick, sick. Runny nose, stuffy nose, coughing, and just plain miserable. We took the chance and took her to the park anyway, and she actually did pretty good. She was clingier than usual, and I'm pretty sure I no longer have feeling in my left arm from carrying her around the entire park, but she was a trooper, and she had a lot of fun. We only did a few hours at the park on Day 1, and then brought her back to the hotel to nap and stay quiet and warm the rest of the day. We made sure she got a lot of liquids and good, healthy food, and by Day 2, she was much better. By Day 3, you couldn't tell she was sick at all!

 Let me tell you...you never realize how fast and "scary" some rides at Disneyland are until you ride on them with a two year old! We took her on "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" thinking since it was in Fantasyland it would be safe for a toddler...turns out, it goes much faster than I ever remembered, and turned pitch black in some places, and was actually kind of scary! Poor Ellie started crying like crazy...it totally scared her! Parent fail huh? Sorry sweet girl!

She absolutely loved "It's a Small World"!

I will never forget the smiles we got out of her, and the absolute wonder we saw in her eyes! She took it all in, and loved every minute of the entire trip!

We even got to meet up with my sister and my cute nephew for part of the trip. He loves Disneyland too!

I'm not going to lie and tell you it's exactly easy traveling with a toddler. As well behaved as Ellie is, traveling with her still requires planning around her naps, her bedtime, and her meal times. We spent a lot of time in the hotel room waiting for her to wake up, we had to pack tons of stuff for her, and I definitely had to lug around a backpack full of snacks and drinks for her every day...but it was worth every minute. The memories we made were amazing, and even if she doesn't remember her first trip to Disneyland when she gets older, Matt and I always will!

- quick recipe of the week -

Another Monday, but it's a short week! Hooray for Thanksgiving week! I know I have A LOT to be thankful for this year!

We had a FABULOUS weekend...absolutely fabulous! Stay tuned to see a fun post about what we did!

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Mandey from Mama and the Dudes...if you haven't ever visited her blog, than you haven't seen possibly the most adorable, adorable twin boys ever. (I'm serious, you will die when you see them, they are so cute). She's here to share with you one of her favorite guilty pleasures, minus the guilt. She shares this recipe with everyone because she feels like everyone should be able to have their favorite foods without feeling bad! (Amen to that Mandey!)

Red Pepper Alfredo

(adapted from Cook This Not That cookbook)
10 oz dried fettuccine
1 1/2 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 flour (whole wheat to make it healthier)
1 cup skim milk
1/2 cup half and half
3/4 cup chopped bottle roasted red peppers
2 cloves garlic, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and Pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir int he flour and cook for a minute until the two are fully incorporated. Slowly add the milk and the half and half, whisking to help prevent lumps from forming. Add the red peppers and garlic. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth and uniform in color. Return to pan and stir in the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until the pasta is done. Drain the pasta and add directly into the saucepan. Toss evenly to coat.

- Add cooked shrimp or chicken, or some baby spinach for a little twist.

(Image credit Mandey)

Printable Recipe

Thank you Mandey, from Mama and the Dudes. This looks good, and healthy!

- we're leaving on a jet plane -

My amazing hubby surprised me and Ellie, on her birthday, with a 5 night family vacation in January! Woo hoo! I can not tell you how excited I am! We ALL need this vacation, and we will enjoy every single minute of it! 

Thank you so much Matt, I love you to pieces!

Yup, it's gonna be pretty fantastic!

- happy 2nd birthday to my sweet girl -

Dear Ellie,

Two years ago today, the world became a better place because you were born. You have blessed our lives in so many wonderful ways. Your smile, your laugh, the funny things you do to make us laugh....it all brings so much joy into our hearts.

You have grown so much in the past year. It's been simply amazing watching you grow. You are such a bright little girl, with an amazing memory, and an even more amazing vocabulary. The words you know simply amaze us, and you are always so proud of yourself when you learn new things.

You absolutely love dancing and music. You constantly ask us to turn on music so you can twirl. Oh, and the skirts...you insist on wearing your skirts every day so that you can spin around and dance. We just love to watch you dance.

You have such an adorable personality, and the best laugh ever. Your laugh is truly music to our ears. You are so loved by everyone around you. You are a beautiful little girl both inside and out. Your daddy and I are so blessed to have you in our lives.

(Image credit Nina)

Your amazing blue eyes shine when you smile. Your belly laugh is the best sound in the world. You make us so happy Ellie, and I hope we can make you just as happy as you make us. Thank you for bringing so much happiness into our lives.

(Image credit Nina)

You are a perfect girl, Ellie. Absolutely perfect! Happy birthday sweet girl. You will always be momma and daddy's little girl. We love you so much!