thank you andrea

I might have changed my hair.

it's wednesday

I get to leave work early today to go with Lorien to see Andrea. I love going to Andrea's ... but I'm growing my hair out. I have to keep reminding myself.

Here are some things I'm super excited about today:

She & Him released their new album, volume 2, yesterday. I love these guys.



I found this really fun little place, the curiosity shoppe. They have some fun stuff that I want to buy.




The Manila Temple was the "temple spotlight" in the new Ensign (April). My little brother Adam is serving his mission in the Phillipines and this is his area temple (I'm not sure if he ever gets to go). I just love Elder Nielson, we miss him a lot.



I found this awesome little tidbit from the March Ensign, and also on one of my favorite blog-stalking blogs, The Polished Pickle. I want to be this kind of mom.
The tidbit: A woman expressed, "Last summer I complained to a friend that I was exhausted, having no fun, living like an automaton. Nonsympathetically, she countered 'What do you think this is? A dress rehearsal? This is your life, Carol. Fix it.' I expected a pat and a kind word. Instead, I got a splash of reality square in the face. She was, of course, right. I wasn't giving my life value, so I didn't feel it had value."
I love it.

And I secretly love these, but I can't decide if they're actually cute. I know for sure I could never pull it off. Unless I had a boy haircut again .....

Happy Wednesday!

springtime

I'm loving the weather lately, we've been spending tons of time outside. Brok gets so worn out from chasing his ball ... he usually ends up passed out on the cool tile of the kitchen floor.


Our dear friends Kate and Kenny went out of town this weekend so we had some wonderful visitors. Brok loves Hank (they used to be roommates), and is getting used to Ruby ... they even came with us on our Sunday hike.





(action shot)


Sunday hikes are the best.

Dear Luke,

Thanks.
Thanks for always being there to support me in everything.
Thanks for surprising me with wonderful treats for me to take to work.
Thanks for being sneaky with your surprises so I think I can do something nice for you but then it backfires and you're double nice to me.
Thanks for taking Brok to the park when I have to work a double and playing with him long enough that he almost dies. He loves that.
Thanks for driving by and looking at a million houses with me and just ignoring my pickiness and OCD behaviors.
Thanks for doing the dishes because you know I hate them.
Thanks for turning on my side of the mattress warmer when I'm on my way home from work.

Let's go on a camping trip.

Love,
Mindy

st patrick + etsy

In the early morning work hours I really love to look at other people's blogs. And I really love when these bloggers have rummaged through etsy to find me the cute stuff so I don't have to. So I browsed a little bit today, mostly because work was extra boring. Here are some St Patrick's Day themed items I found and love and want to order....

kelly green messenger bag the leather store



lucky necklace StephieMc



luck print raw art letter press



baby booties haloopajoop



earings silver cholla



onesie am studio art



Hopefully I can still find this adorable onesie when we have a little Seamus around ....

St Patrick

Maybe someday we'll visit Ireland. I would like to see some castles ...



Or live on a little farm in the country.



Or maybe Lucas could just get a celtic tattoo ... like the adorable Collin Farrell.



In the meantime, we'll just have to settle for the Young Dubliners.....

Rocky Road to Dublin

Happy St Patty's Day!

(thanks flickr and coolbuddy for pictures)

I love being an Irish wife.

Not much has been going on lately ... Tuffy was officially adopted and moved to New Mexico - his new parents send us email updates and he's loving his new home ...



We celebrated the end of phase 2 of our diet tonight by having a real dinner. I made some yummy creamy chicken and rice soup with Irish Soda bread (A - because we're Irish, and B - St Patty's day is practically upon us). It's a pretty big deal because it's my first Irish Soda Bread as an Irish wife. And it was SO good.

Brok and I enjoyed a wonderful spring hike today, we mostly just can't wait for Hobblecreek Canyon to open up again. He spent most of today basking in the sunlight on the porch.

And on our downtime, we've been watching a lot of 30 Rock reruns on Netflix. If you've never watched 30 Rock, I recommend starting at the beginning, immediately. Here is a wonderful clip of random Jack insulting Liz moments:

30 Rock

And here is Grandma Kane's recipe for Irish Soda Bread - it's really easy and really really good.

Irish Soda Bread

2 C flour (I used half whole wheat)
2 tbls sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbls softened butter
1 C buttermilk
1 tbls melted butter

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in softened butter to fine crumbs. Add buttermilk - only until moistened. Turn out, knead until smooth (about 1 minute). Roll it up, pat it (flatten in pan 1 1/2 " thick in a round ball) and mark it with a cross (press with floured knife). Baked on greased cookie sheet or other shallow pan. Remove from oven, brush with melted butter and dust with flour.

375* 30-40 min

lunch

Lately I've been having a really hard time figuring out good things to eat without processed sugars and starches (it's hard). But as I was enjoying my usual Fox News at work this morning, a commercial came on. A tuna commercial. I like tuna, but it can definitely get old. But check this website out - starkist - it has all kinds of different, easy recipes to make with tuna. The little packets are super convenient and have all kinds of different flavors ... I'm mostly excited to try the Mediterranean tuna salad, the lettuce wraps, and the smokin' tuna chili...