So many! We have to make more recipes like this to keep up with the trees...
The recipe was simple and easy to follow, we just felt that the honey water didn't quite sweeten it enough the first time around. It was still pretty sour! Refreshing, but sour...
Thank you for wishing me a Happy Birthday on Wednesday! It was a fun day for both Ashley and I. It's pretty cool we get to share our special day every year.
When we were little kids...D'awww.
Usually my mom would bake us a cake, however she's too busy relaxing in Hawaii with my dad and eldest sister's family. 😉 Erin decided to step up and make a two-layer cake in her place! Thank you, Erin!
Hawaii photos by my sister Andrea!
We made a French Vanilla cake, using applesauce instead of oil in the mix to make it slightly more healthy. The day it was baked, it tasted a little weird with the applesauce flavor...but the day after it was perfect! Just FYI if you ever use applesauce like we did.
We didn't get a photo of the cake, but here's a slice of it! Mmm mmm!
There was no short supply of other delicious food this day!
Ashley, her friend Lily, and Erin went to pick up the birthday goodies from Joe's BBQ - I was especially excited for their macaroni and cheese! It is one of my favorites!
They also went to Joe's Farm Grill to get Ashley's favorite - their Farm Veggie Burger!
Food = happiness in the Knudsen family!
My sister's friend and also someone who used to work with me through GMS, Amanda, also came over to join our festivities! She brought her adorable children and we all got to sit and talk before cutting the cake.
**Will add video later once I have it!**
Last but not least, I got another new game!
It's extra fun because I'm able to play with my nephew Andin!
I wish I would have gotten more photos, but we were too busy having a good time.
So, we're a quarter of a century old! I'm excited for all of the other adventures and experiences to come.
What are your plans for the rest of March? Anything exciting?
Well, February is almost over...Looks like I'm not keeping up with my New Year's resolution of updating more often! I'll try to be better with this. 😅
This month we celebrated my little sister's birthday! I can't believe she's 15 years old!! I remember when she was a little baby...she then grew into a troublesome toddler who would eat sticks of butter and try to breakout of the house and walk the neighborhood when we weren't looking...She's mellowed out for now. 😉
Birthday Girl at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Nov. 2015
We went to the trifecta of birthday goodies here in Gilbert - Joe's Farm Grill, Joe's BBQ, and Liberty Market. She chose a blueberry scone from Liberty, macaroni and cheese from Joe's BBQ, and a vanilla bean milkshake from Joe's Farm Grill. Of course, we like to support these local businesses while getting free birthday meals, so we also brought home sliced beef brisket, ahi tuna sandwich (featured on Food Network’s
“Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” w/ Guy Fier), beet salad and chocolate macarons.
We have also succeeded in cooking more this month. One of our favorite things to utilize is our AeroGarden 7 LED indoor, hydroponic garden. Isn't it beautiful?
We also bought a plant-based protein shake to make our mornings healthier! We add banana and a little peanut butter. I still don't love it, but I'm also used to scoops and scoops of ice cream in my shakes... 😋
The dilemma of our household in one photo. 😂 We are lucky to have such an amazing baker as our mother. That's her lemon poppy-seed cake for Hailey's birthday party!
Anyways, back to the planter...We are growing basil, thyme, parsley and mint. The basil is taking over, so we've been making pesto each week! We'll use some throughout the week on pasta (zoodles, actually - zucchini cut into noodles), paninis, salads, etc., then we'll freeze the rest so it doesn't go bad.
Here's how we made the pesto, adapted from Food Network's recipe here:
We throw it all in the food processor and adjust to our tastes! So far, so good!
Otherwise, we've been enjoying the beautiful weather as much as possible! It has been rainy all weekend, which we also love. We open up a few windows and breathe in the refreshing desert rain air. When it is sunny, we go for walks!
I hope everyone is having a great February as well! What have you been doing?
Wow, the holidays go by fast once they are finally here...2016 ended and 2017 is well on its way!
Let me catch you up on our holiday experiences:
December 25th - Christmas Day
We woke up around 8am and began opening presents one by one. We completely forgot about the stockings until after breakfast. Whoops...
It was fun to see everyone discover what has been sitting under the tree for them this whole time. Many thoughtful and exciting gifts!
I was ecstatic about my new games! I got six new games total! Thank you Mom, Dad, Jamie, Erin, Ashley, and Hailey for these goods!
Stardew Valley
Beach Buggy Racing
Ori and the Blind Forest
Never Alone
Minecraft: Story Mode
Pokepark 2
Our Xbox One collection is growing!
I'm so excited to play these new games!
After breakfast and stockings, we spent the day together - playing games and eating delicious food. We had tamales and played Charoodles (basically like charades with different props provided) with my Aunt Jamie. Watching everyone act out their cards was hilarious!
We FaceTimed with my siblings, nieces, nephew and brother-in-law as well! I was so happy to see everyone. Our FaceTime sessions can be chaotic, but they are fun and always make me laugh.
We also got to open even more gifts once my sister returned from Hawaii with my eldest sister's family presents. They got me a very cool toy that flies up into the air and lights up, we're going to take it to the park tonight to watch all of the colors. I'll have to show you guys asap.
We also opened our new Ticket to Ride game! I played with my boombox while they slowly took over Europe's railways. :P
Ashley was playing too (I know, she actually sat down for a longer game!) and took this photo.
(P.S.: She totally won! Maybe she'll play games like this more often? ;) )
January 2017 (so far):
Now it's already January 8th! In two months I'll be turning 25!! That is crazy...
My twin and I made lists of what we want to work on in 2017. We made individual ones and one for our whole family to add to that we wanted to work on together.
I want to:
- Update my blog at least once a week and on holidays
- Get in my wheelchair more often (I get in it everyday already, so this should be an easier one :P)
- Update social media more often (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook)
- Cook and bake more with my family (and of course I'll share the recipes we try)
As a family we want to:
- Do an activity together once a month
- Work on family history, pictures, etc. on Sundays
- Have the siblings cook a family meal at least once a week
- Eat outside more often (on the backyard patio, at the park, have picnics)
- Clean more often, together (surface and deep clean)
I hope each one of you have enjoyed the holiday season so far. I can't believe Christmas is THIS SUNDAY!! I can't wait!
We've been busy preparing and celebrating in different ways -
We decorated the house a few weeks ago. Check it out!
Decorating the tree and setting up our village!
A low quality video of our tree... :D
All the lights!
Our house has also been full of baking, baking, baking! My mom made peanut butter bonbons, pumpkin rolls, raisin-filled cookies, sugar cookies and cranberry bars. Mmmmm.
Pumpkin rolls! The best...
We all tried to help as much as we could! She's so sweet to make these every year.
We have also received so many delicious goods from our family and friends! Too many to post...
One of my favorites was what my Aunt Jamie brought us - homemade fudge and beautiful cookies! Look at that craftsmanship.
Yes, please.
My sister Erin was also here for a little while before leaving to spend time with Andrea and her family in Hawaii! Not a bad place to be, especially for Christmas! Build a sand-man for me! :P
*I know she took some photos, I'll have to get them from her or find them!*
It has been great having my other sisters out of school too. Ashley still works, but Hailey plays games with me while she chats with our cousin, Paige.
Here's a snapshot from our walk yesterday. I wasn't in the mood for the video I guess! :P Sorry, Ash. x)
So, what are you wishing for this Christmas? I'm excited to spend time with family and to get new video games for my Xbox One I got last year!
And lastly, for giggles, here's me trying to eat my brace yesterday... >:)
I'll post more of our festivities - Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, prepping for 2017 - very soon!
Thanks to all who have served and continue to serve for my freedom. I'm also grateful for the time I get to spend with my family today.
Here's what we've done so far:
First we enjoyed the cooler weather and shade in our backyard. I listened to music (per usual my first request was Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson) while Hailey read and Ashley did some stretches. Lola interrupted her multiple times by jumping on her stomach or laying down by her head. Rusty and Twiggy stopped by every so often to see what we were up to.
Meanwhile my sweet mom was making Grandma Rigby's apple bars and Aunt LaRue's pumpkin bars. She's baking for Albert Mueller's 100th birthday! What a fun and incredible celebration.
Grandma Rigby would make these and cut them into little squares then freeze them. She'd get them out to thaw a little and it would be the perfect cool, delicious treat. I don't think anything will ever top the apple dumplings, but these are so yummy!
Mmmm...Spice, cloves, cinnamon...Anyone want the recipe?
Along with Kelly Clarkson, I am on a Christmas music rampage! The minute it became available on Music Choice, I have asked to tune in. Do you think it's too early to listen Christmas music? I feel like Christmas will come quickly so it's fun to indulge!
On almost 24/7...(much to my family's dismay at times, ha!)
We also made nachos for a little snack! It's the easiest thing to make, but here's how we did it. :P
Step 1.) Lay all chips nicely on a plate. You want each chip with significant surface area exposed so that every chip can get great cheese coverage.
We used Food Should Taste Good Inc multigrain tortilla chips with flax seed, sesame seed, and quinoa. Then we destroyed any healthy aspect of the chip by layering and layering cheese!
Step 2.) Put away the chip bag before you fill up on the undecorated chips...
Like our bird snack clip?
Step 3.) Grate ALL the cheese and layer it evenly on the chips.
Step 4.) Blast your nachos with radioactive goodness AKA microwave in 10 second periods until the cheese is to your melty preference.
Step 5.) Either layer on your favorite toppings or put them in dipping bowls. We seasoned black beans and poured some salsa (we'd usually make our own, but we kept this very simple).
Step 6.) Enjoy!
It's a very healthy day because we also just ordered a buy one get one free deal through Papa John's...We did have salad this morning though, so don't judge too harshly. :P
