About Us

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Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Lets see, we like camping, hiking, and being outdoors in general. I like taking photos (most of the time). We have one little girl Paige, and Ben is in school and works. Right know I'm home with Paige which is fun. Family photo taken by my friend Heidi Lee.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Zuppa Toscana Anyone!


OK Everyone I have had this copykat recipe sitting in my file's on my computer for years and I have been really wanting to try it. So about two weeks or so ago Ben and I made it! Oh this recipe is really close to Olive Gardens so much that we have made it twice in one month. We made it this last weekend for my brother Cody and his wife Lucy they loved it! I hope you try it and love it to. We made a few changes from the original recipe that I got off copykat.com so I guess we kind of made it our own.

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
(Ben & I made changes to this recipe to make it our own)

Makes
8
1 tsp. Fennel Seeds
1 1/2 C. spicy sausage links(about 2 links) Take out of casing and brown with the onion’s & bacon
5 medium potatoes, cut in half lengthwise, and then cut into 1/4" slices
3/4 C. onions, diced
6 slices bacon, diced
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 C. kale leaves, cut in half, then slice into big chunks
2 T. chicken base
2 qt’s. water
1/3 C. heavy whipping cream
Methods/steps.

Place onions, bacon & Sausage in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until onions are almost clear. Add garlic to the onions and cook an additional 1-minute. Add chicken base, water, and potatoes, simmer 15 minutes. Add kale and cream. Simmer 4 minutes and serve.
Be sure to use a very large pan, because a medium size will not hold everything. Use a good size stew pot.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

30 Day Shred


OK Girl's I started to do this workout last week and did it for two days I could hardly walk that's how good this worked, but then we went to Alamo and I fell off the wagon. So I started this again this week I read online you have to do this workout everyday to be effective and so I going to really try to do this everyday.I am going to do before and after photos of my body and do all the measuring as well so that I can document my progress so you all can see how well I did or not! I think this will help keep me motivated. Anyone want to join me in this challenge?

I got this off ehow.com hear is the link.
How to Do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred
By fancylad, eHow Member
Jillian Michaels - body to die forJillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is an awesome workout that will begin showing a difference in your body in about 5 days, and put you that much closer to a body like the super toned, super hot Jillian Michaels. This workout operates under the principle of muscle confusion, which means your development will not plateau, and you will see results fast. Muscles get accustomed to repetitive work-outs very quickly. Most people do not know this is happening, continue the ineffective work-out, and then get discouraged at the lack of progress. Work-outs like the 30 Day Shred use muscle confusion to tone and slim your body quickly and efficiently, and the end result is undeniably amazing.
Difficulty: Moderately ChallengingInstructionsThings You'll Need:
Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred
3 or 5 lb. dumbbells (free weights)

Step 1
Measurements are important so you can judge your results.Before you start Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, take your measurements. You'll be glad you did later. Measure each arm (thickest part), each thigh (thickest part), upper waist (smallest) and lower waist (at your belly button), and your hips (biggest part). Write this info down, or put it in Excel so you can come back to it after 30 days. This work-out will probably cause you to lose weight, about 10 lbs, but that can vary. You will definitely lose inches, however, and develop tone that will surprise you. The reason your weight doesn't drop as quickly is because you are developing muscle and reshaping your body.

Step 2
Get yourself a copy of Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred on DVD (or VHS), OR you can download online immediately. If you have your own DVD, it's easier to watch than on the computer, and you can also get it for a much lower price. The 30 Day shred DVD runs anywhere from $6 to about $14. The instant download is about $16, but you get the instant gratification of starting your workout immediately. It can be hard to view from your computer with all the up and down you need to do, and you may find it a pain to move the screen back and forth every 2 minutes so you can see where Jillian and the gals are in the program. Still, it's my preferred method.

Step 3
Save the gym fee, workout at home.Set aside a time of about 30 minutes each day to do Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred workout. You really need to do the program EVERY SINGLE DAY for results. It's very difficult in the beginning because you will be so sore, it will hurt to live. Jillian says work through the pain. Do not stop or wait until the soreness subsides, and you will be amazed at the change in your body in just a week.

Step 4
3lb are fine, 5 are better if you can hang.Start with 3 lb. dumbbells and work up to 5, or start with 5 if you think you can handle it. Jillian Michaels and the other fitness instructors are using 5 lb. weights in the video, but they are advanced trainers. I started with 5, but I've been going to the gym for years. However, that said, this work-out still kicked my butt, and I thought I was in pretty good shape. That's how hard core it is, but very effective.

Step 5
You know you've made it when you can do male push-ups.Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is designed in three levels to be done over the course of 30 days. Level 1 of the workout should be done for 10 days, Level 2 for 10, and Level 3 for 10. When you finally can complete Level 3 of this fitness program, stay there, or mix it up every once in a while. When I started Level 1, the first three days, I could not do everything. I had to severely modify it by using the weights only half the time each set (the other half I did without any weights at all), and doing female push-ups. On about Day 10, I could almost do the whole thing. Feel free to stay on Level 1 until you can master it, then move to Level 2. You do not have to move up every 10 days.

Step 6
The results are worth it!At the end of 30 days, take your measurements again, even if you are only on Level 2. You are sure to see a change of about 1 to 2 inches in most parts of your body. This will probably put you down a dress size. In addition, you will be stronger, more toned, and actually in shape. You'll be glad you let Jillian Michaels kick your butt.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Paige's Is One!

OK I know this is really late Paige turned One on March 27Th we had a small party and Jeff and his kids came thanks guys everyone else couldn't come except them and Grandma's and Grandpa's. This is the Cake I made her it turned out so cute!

I love the fact that she destroyed the cake and my mother in-law was screaming no Paige no she just wanted to let her have one taste and take it away. No way its her Birthday Cake she can do whatever she wants with it so she did. Thanks Heather for being a good sport!



We made Birthday Hats with the kids and had lots of fun and open gifts. I had to change Paige in to her new clothes so i could was hers shirt and pants. I forgot to bring an extra pare :). Oh I made Paige's Birthday shirt and Hat it was a lot of fun. If you haven't noticed yet her number on is backwards! I didn't notice this at all when I was making it Connie had to tell me that it was backward. Oh well I got it fixed now so I'll have to put up photos of it fixed.





Saturday, March 20, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Thank you!

I just wanted to say thank you to Grate Grandma Hopkin, Ben's Grandma. For making this dress for Paige! Sorry its taken me so long to get this up, but hear it is. Hope you like the photos even though they are not that perfect. Paige doesn't sit still for that long anymore so trying to fix my lighting was not a priority.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Oh Girls I'm in Love!

Today I was introduced to Shabby Apple Dresses click Hear

if you want to check out the website. I know this dress is way out of my price range, but oh a girl can dream right? $82 buck for a dress? I know it's a bit much, Ben would never let me buy this. I'm hopping that one of these days there will be a sell or even better yet Ben would surprise me for my birthday now that is wishful thinking indeed. Hear is another one that I love! This one is even more $92 ouch that one hurts.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Valentines Weekend

Since Valentines was on Sunday this year We decided to go see a movie that I have been wanting to see for a while Saturday night. Can you guess what it is?
Hint Hint....!

Ben's mom offered to watch Paige for us witch is really nice of her to do because the movie is 3 hours long. It didn't even seem that long to me the movie was that good! Well to me anyway. I normally don't watch this kind of move but everyone that I talked to loved the movie and it seemed we were the only two people that has not see this move yet! Well it was a good Valentines Day gift thanks Ben! (yes this is an improvement from the last few years, if you don't know my Ben he doesn't give me cards or flower very often just on our anniversary. So when he does give me something I really appreciate it!

I guess I'm the one that usually does the planing for valentines day so he just shows up and gets to enjoy. This year I wanted to surprise him with a weekend at the Sweet Heart Lodge, Yes I made this up I turned our room in to a hotel room well at least I tried to with what we had and I think it turned out really well. We Just had to may thing to do on Sunday so Ben took a rain check so I'm just leaving it up till we get a chance to do it. Hear are some photos I got the idea for the love Actually blog thanks! hear is some photos of what it looked like.:)
coming in to the room I called it Lover's Suite at the Sweet Heart's Lodge.

I got this free online and made it real big in photo shop so I could put it on the door.

Hear is the welcome letter telling him what to expect and complimentary services.

and our Lover's Suite I know its not as nice as a real lodge but I didn't have to spend money!