Home-- to do list

As mentioned in a previous entry we have a lot to work on in our 'new' home and the items listed below are the items that still need to be done. Items in burgandy... DONE!!!

• Outlets and switches: change to white
• New windows: 12 windows and replace slider with french doors
• New bedroom doors and closet doors: 8 doors 8 closet doors
• Frame in storage room doors
• Back yard overhaul
• Seal front landing
• Finish painting downstairs bathroom
• New cabinets in downstairs bathroom
• New cabinets in upstairs bathroom
• Retile upstairs shower
• Replace wood gate with chain link
• Stain railing in dining room
• Hang beadboard in kitchen
• Paint downstairs bathroom
• Paint upstairs bathroom
• New knobs on closet doors
• Fix the sprinkling system
• Oil cabinets in kitchen and uptairs bathroom

WOW! We have a lot to do! We need to get to work!

Happy Camper, I mean WORKER bee!

Today at work my new instruments arrived!!!! I ordered them a few weeks ago and have been thinking about them almost every day. AUH!!! I am so happy! It makes me so happy at work to have these beautiful, sharp, wonderful instruments! YEA!!!

French Peasant Bread

1 pkg. dry yeast
2 c. warm water
1 T. sugar
2 t. salt
1 T. dried onion
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. basil
1/2 t. Italian seasoning
4 c. flour
Oil
Cornmeal
Melted butter

Place yeast, warm water, sugar and salt in a warm bowl and stir until dissolved. Add seasonings, stir then flour and stir until blended. DO NOT KNEAD. Cover and let rise one hour or until doubled in size. Flour hands, remove dough from bowl and place in 2 rounds on an oiled cookie sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Let rise an additional hour. Brush the top with butter and bake at 425 degrees for 10 min. Reduce oven temp to 375 degrees and cook an additional 15 min. Remove from oven and brush with butter again. I like to serve it with a mixture of about 50/50 balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
Thanks Dana for this YUMMY recipe!

Chicken Avocado Salsa

6 small tomatoes (or 3-4 large tomatoes)
2-3 cups frozen corn
2 small cans green chilies
3 cups cubed chicken (cooked)
2 cloves garlic (finely chopped or pressed)
1 T. chopped cilantro
4 avocados (chopped)
4 limes (juice)
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper

Mix the above ingredients in a large bowl and serve with lime flavored tortilla chips. YUM YUM YUM! This is the easiest thing to make and every one will be begging you for the recipe!!
I will post a picture soon!

Master switch AND outlet... FIXED!!

My dad came to our rescue this week and after approximately 6 hours of intense labor the master bedrooms 3-way light switch and outlet are in PERFECT WORKING ORDER!! hallelujah!! We cannot thank him enough for all his hard work and know-how! What a dedicated father, after a full day of work he would show up and slave away, not to mention the reading up on the subject in his down time. THANK YOU DAD!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Electrican's in the House!!

Ever since we bought our home we have had a long list of things that need to be fixed or updated. One of those projects is changing all of the light switches and plugs in the house to white instead of bisque. To my delight, Jeff said that while I was gone to Kentucky he would change them ALL!! Well off I went and my dedicated husband began slaving away at changing the switches but to his dismay it ended up being a much bigger project than antisipated. He tried to pay his cousin to do it but that didn't work either (I can't blame him). So needless to say, since I have been home we have slowly been working on them together.
The light switch in our master bedroon has had us stumped for about 1 wk now!!! It is a 3 way and we have arranged the wires on the switchs in every possible arrangement and still it is not working correctly (keep in mind we live in a 4 level split-- master is on the top floor and fuse box is on the bottom)! AUGH!!!!
TODAY I HAVE GOOD NEWS!!! THE MASTER SWITCH IS FIXED... by yours truly (while jeff was off golfing no less:)) Oh, but one bit of bad news... now the plug located between the two switches (which has not been touched) is not working!! AUGH AUGH!!!!

Purses!!!

Well, here they are! Three new purses... what more could I want...? NOTHING;)

Purse Party

As mentioned in a previous blog entry I had a purse party last Thur.(HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHRYN!!). Let's just be honest here... I've never really been one that likes having these kind of parties because I just don't want people to feel obligated to purchase something! Well, this was once again the case! We did have lots of fun though and it was great to visit with all my girly friends! (THANKS EVERYONE FOR COMING!) The question you are all asking yourselves I am sure is... 'Well how many purses did Melissa end up buying?'
You will have to stay posted!! Pictures will follow soon. oh, i mean a picture, i mean pictures, i mean just 1 picture, i mean...

Tears Were Shed!

Pretty much since before Kathryn and Trevor moved to Kentucky I have been looking forward to going and visiting them! SO SO Sadly the 10 day excursion has come and gone!! We had so much fun together! I was comforted to find that the girls hadn't completely forgotten me. Meg was quiet for most of the car ride back to the house and then she was back to her happy friendly self the rest of the time!! I can't believe they have been gone for only 4 months, I swear it has been 4 years! Well, it won't be long I am sure and I will be back again! In fact just today Jeff said (with out me bringing it up:)) "If you want to can go over Christmas break"... HELLO, if I want??? Is that a question?
I LOVE YOU GUYS and I miss miss miss you already!!! I will be back soon!

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Lethal Luau

Cheers! A few weeks ago Jeff and I hosted a Lethal Luau mystery dinner. We all dressed the part and over dinner debated which one of us murdered 'our friend' Chase.


Preston and Ashley: BoJo the surfer dude (and THE MURDERER!!!) and Nadia the swimsuit model.


Kip and Chantel: Chief WikiWiki the ancient chief and Holly Day the powerful billionaire.

Jeff and I: Les Baggs and clumsy tourist and Leilani the hula dancer.

After the mystery was solved there was limbo...ing, of which Jeff (not flexible) gave it a good try and made it under once, Preston made it a little further and Kip can hold his own with the limbo! Chantel and Ashley however were the Champions!! Wow ladies we were all very impressed!!

Then there was hula...ing! I have such talented friends!! (not to mention good sports!)

We finished off the night with a friendly round of Ticket to Ride!

GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD TIMES!!! What more can I say!

Lunch Date

Three months after graduation and 1 new baby later, we finally made it out to lunch again. We meet at the Gateway, had lunch at Applebees, and then did some window shopping. It was great to catch up with each other. We are planning another get together soon! THANKS GIRLS YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!

photobucket

I really wish I could tell you that I went out and bought this dog or even better that some one just gave it to us! But I can't:( One of these days though!! Is is not the cutest thing you have ever seen?


I am having a purse party on Sept 20 (My sister's birthday!) at 7:00pm. I have been wanting to do this for a very long time and I am very excited! Everyone is invited!!!!!!!

I found all these fun random pics. on photobucket.com. I love it!!


This is brilliant;)

Girl Friends!

I have a lunch date with my girl friends from the hygiene program on Saturday. I am so excited to see them yet at the same time I feel a twing of sadness and fondness thinking about how much fun we had together. It is so bitter sweet to grow up and move on with your life! I love those girls and I love the memories that we have together! School is starting again soon and I am sad not to be there, to not be buying school supplies and not to be pushing myself and expanding my knowledge. I am a tad bit jealous of the girls that I talk to that are headed back.

I am so grateful for my friendships and for the connection I have with a great GIRL FRIEND!!

Japanese Chicken Wings

Japanese Chicken Wings

**I copied this recipe from a fellow blogger!! I tried it out and as promised is was delish! I made a few very minor changes noted in redish orange! -- The pictures don't do it justice it actually looked really good! and tasted even better! The above picture had been like tripled or quadrupled for a family gathering.

Ingredients:
3 lbs. chicken (2-3 breasts) cooked and cut into 1/2" thick strips (I cut raw chicken into 1/2" strips, you could also use raw chicken tenders.)
1 beaten egg
1-2 cups flour
1/4 cup shortening (I used enough vegtable oil to cover the chicken completly)

Put the flour in a large gallon size ziplock bag. Dip chicken in flour, take out, dip in egg, and re-coat with flour. Melt the shortening in a frying pan (or just use the veggie/canola oil) and fry the chicken in small batches until they are golden brown. (med. high heat) Put chicken in 9x13 baking dish when done. Cover with sauce mixture and cook at 350 degrees for 40 minutes to an hour; baste every 20 minutes. (I just flip the chicken this is what I did also)

Sauce: (I double this because I like the sauce on my fried rice)
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
3 Tablespoons water
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup distilled vinegar

Game Lovers

Jeff and I love to play board games and card games and we ran across a super fun game the other day, it's called Ticket to Ride. I think you have to get it at an actual game store but if you ever get a chance to play it, give it a shot! We sure enjoyed it!

Goals

I have been thinking a lot latley about all the things I need to be better about and how I have a lot to learn and improve on. Here are a few things I am going to work on over the next month:

1. Have a more positive attitude!
2. Be better about saying my prayers
3. Be kinder and more thoughtful to those around me
4. Read my scriptures!
5. Get more done around my house (Quit being such a lazy bum!!)
6. Think about possibly exercising someday:)

That is just the tip of the iceberg! I went to a funeral the other day and it inspired me to improve myself and to live a better life. I want to be a better me!!

Trip to the water park

Jeff and I went with his parents and little sister to Raging Waters for a family night. I wish I had a picture of the HUGE slides we went down! I love roller coasters and I was SO nervous. You of course have to go down the drop face first and you are literally off your mat for a second or so. SO SCARY but so fun! If you can't tell Jeff gets sun on a regular basis but it is usually on the golf course, with a polo on:)

Fruit Salsa

FRUIT SALSA WITH CINNAMON CHIPS

YUM YUM!!!

1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries

1 medium navel orange, peeled and finely chopped

3 medium kiwifruit, peeled and finely chopped

1 can (8oz) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained

1-1/2 tsp. sugar

CINNAMON CHIPS

10 flour tortillas (8 in.)

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refridgerate until ready to serve.

For chips, brush tortilla with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and cut into wedges. Place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 min. or just until crisp. Serve with the fruit salsa. P.S. the picture is of this recipe... doubled.

Beautiful Smile!

Finally after 19 months, JEFF'S BRACES CAME OFF!! Check out those pearly whites! Initially he got braces mostly because his hygienist wife really wanted to him to but after all was said and done he is SO happy with the outcome!! Jeff was a great sport about the whole thing and didn't complain a bit!!!

I love purses!!

All those that know me, know that I LOVE bags!! This one is my latest find:)

BBQ Chicken Pizza and Fruit Dip

INDIVIDUAL BBQ CHICKEN PIZZAS

Cooked chicken cut into strips
BBQ sauce
Shredded cheese: mozzarella and/or cheddar
Whole wheat pita bread

Spread desired amount of BBQ sauce on top of pita bread then put on strips of chicken then sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 8 min.
Dinner in done in about 15min. total.


FRUIT DIP

1 8oz. cool whip
2 6oz. flavored yogurts (i like strawberry)

Mix together and refrigerate till ready to serve. Serve with a variety of fruits

YAY!!! I made it!

I graduated from Weber State University in May of this year with my Bachelors in Dental Hygiene! As school will be starting here in a few weeks I am reminded that...I am so happy to be done with school!!!! Now we just need Jeff to get his bachelors!

I'm Baack!!

I was a blogger, took a short break and now I am Back!!! This blog will be much more exciting than my past assigned dental hygiene blog! I'm going to have to reconnect with my creative side and expound on my computer skills but I am going to give it my best shot!