Joining in on Recipe Monday!

I too, love sharing and receiving new recipes! Thanks to my friend Megan, I will join in and TRY to post a recipe every Monday! ( or Tuesday, see I am already behind. . .)
This on is for Salsa Chicken, a great stuffing for burritos!

Chicken(3-4 breasts)
1 (4 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup salsa
1 oz taco seasoning
1 teaspoon cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
Place Chicken, tomato sauce, in a large skillet. Boil, add salsa, seasonings, and garlic. Simmer 15 minutes.
With fork, shred chicken, cook covered for 10-15 minutes. Add water if needed.
Fill in a tortilla with you favorite fillings!
Can add rice, beans, tomatoes, cilantro to chicken mixture.
Top with choice toppings(cheese, lettece, etc.)
Enjoy!!

STRIKE!

Well I must say there was a lack of STRIKES last weekend when we went bowling. We are not professional bowlers at all, we are the goofy, have fun, low scoring bowlers. John and I were a team, and were playing with a number of other couples! We had a great night!
John posing before he bowls for us! Go baby go!!
Our friends Bron and Megan. Its a small world, Megan and I attended Academy for Girls(before you are old enough for EFY) when we were in 8th grade and became great friends. Who would have thought we would met again several years later in Buffalo NY!
Stake conference was on Sunday which was very enjoyable. They addressed the 5 goals of the stake for the 2008 year! ( my interpretations)
1- temple attendance- attend the temple once a month
2- missionary work- Invite at least 2 people into your home to hear the missionary discussions
3- FHE- hold family home evening once a week.
4- charity and faith- Become more charitable, through selfless acts of faith.
5- I FORGOT THE LAST GOAL. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME OUT THAT ATTENDED??

John's Life vs. Sarah's Life

Well, I think the picture explains it well enough. This semester has been so tough. There is always a test or a lab project to be done. These poor boys are definately overworked! Poor John. Check out that Long hair! (if you look close, I accidently scratched John on the cheek! Sorry! Ouch!)
Well, I have been working like crazy, the hospital sure has picked up now that the weather has turned cold. I am still enjoying it, the people that I work with are fun although the health care system needs some major improvements. I am able to get past that because I know I am not going to be working their forever. On Wednesday at work we had a lovely surprise visit from a fellow Buffalo Bill. He was going around signing autographs. I thought it was so funny, you should have seen the line of female doctors following him around!

On these last few days off, I have enjoyed a few classes at the church. I went to an early morning pilates class which I am feeling the pain of sore muscles right now, and a Turkey basics and pie making class. My pie crust turned out really good, but I forgot to snap a shot! I am anxious to use my skills learned since I have never personally made a turkey before! I have been baking too, the smell of homemade pumpkin bread gets me so into the Thanksgiving and holiday mood! Last night we had our monthly book club meeting. We read the GIVER. I know it is read in Junior high but it was a nice read and made you think. We must have really enjoyed the book because book club lasted until almost ONE AM. We probably talked about the book for a 1/2 hour and then just enjoyed the company and chatted about life! I always love getting together as girls. I am so glad for such great friends!

It's November already!

WOW, Can I say that time is flying by?! John even thinks so too, which is great because the sooner the time goes by, the sooner the suffering stops! When I say suffering I am referring to the endless nights studying and studying and yep, more studying. I know I will soon join him, which kind of makes me nervous because I enjoy looking at John and knowing that I can sit here on my computer and NOT study and spend my time doing productive things like. . . . blogging.
Anyway, I can not believe it is November already. November in Buffalo means cold weather, and cold weather means summer clothes out and winter clothes in. That is just what I did.

It is depressing because taking all of my cute short sleeve shirts out was not fun and knowing that I would not see them until next April (the earliest. . . maybe more like June). Pulling out the long sleeves and the sweaters makes me miss Arizona knowing that at home I can still wear my summer clothes almost all year round.
On a more brighter note, I made a cake! Yes, baking and cooking is therapeutic for me. Believe it or not I have never REALLY made a cake before. Okay, I have but just a basic sheet cake or something kind of simple. I love decorating cakes, and making cheesecakes, but never I multi-layer large round cake, the whole she-bang type cake. But I did! I made a Pecan Caramel cake with Cream cheese frosting- Plus I added a little white chocolate to the cake too. It was fun! John was jealous because I made it for a church cake auction, and so he was not allowed to have any. The house smelt so good, it was hard not to sneak a piece. I think it turned out pretty well, I could not taste it, so I don't really know, but it looked good, and sold well too! I am looking forward to trying more REAL cake baking.

Happy Halloween

Happy Monday night FHE!
First of all, I know JOhn and I don't have kids yet, although we like to do some fun kiddy stuff. For example, We carved a wonderful pumpkin for FHE. I choose the design and I was being extra creative and choose the typical jack o lantern face, how often do you see one like that?

No too often.
John and I posing with our pumpkins!


It's kinda sad, this year on Halloween, There will be no costumes, no trick or treaters(according to last year), and I have to work. I know its a bummer! Thats why the least we could do was to carve pumpkins.
But hey, look on the bright side, I get Thanksgiving off, so everyone that is staying here in old of Buff, we have to get together for a BIG feast!

Craft Boot Camp in AZ

I made it safely back to Buffalo, to the cold weather and gloomy skies, from the sunny skies and warm weather of AZ! Myself, and my sister and her two boys spent the week back at home enjoying a week together with my parents! We called it craft boot camp, it seemed like each night we would do crafts and wake up early for more crafts! We had so much fun together, laughing, talking, shopping, eating, what girls do best! We had a great week, we did tons of crafts, played with my favorite nephews, got pampered, and just relaxed. While in AZ I received news that I have been accepted!! Accepted to what you may ask?. . . Yes, I am going back to school. Starting in January I will be hanging with John as we spend our nights studying, I am going to be a Women's Health Nurse
Practitioner!
Here are a few pictures that captured some memories!
The three ladies!
Grandpa and his boys!
Jackson was all over the place, climbing in the dishwasher and in the fridge!

Jessika and I working hard!
Caden posing at the pumpkin patch!
Regan and I spending time together! I miss all my friends!
Showing off our biggest project, the advent calendar! Its so big, I think they turned out pretty good, it is not quite finished yet, but almost!
The BOO blocks we made! More crafts!

Enter If You Dare

Since sometimes I can be a distraction to John while he studies for his 4 TESTS this week, I decided to distract myself with a project in the kitchen. I created and decorated this haunted house. It was so fun. I love projects like this, I think it is therapeutic for me, weird I know. John wants to eat it already, but I told him to just look. At least for a minute.


Last night John and I were able to get away for a little while together. I can not remember the last time him and I went out to dinner. So we did just that. We went out to one of our favorite mexican restaurants out here in Buffalo. We enjoyed our wonderful night together, and the yummy food.

Notice John is wearing a hat and we are wearing sweatshirts, that is because the weather has dipped down a little. It is a little nippy outside, it is definately fall weather here, the leaves changing color, and are beautiful!
(Countdown to AZ! Less than a week. I feel bad leaving John, I know he wants to come home too!)

ON CALL

Yes, today I was scheduled to work. However when you get a call at 530 in the morning asking if you would like to be on-call it is very tempting to say yes! Well, today I gave into that temptation and took on call. Normally I get called into work a few hours later but today I was lucky. NO WORK. I guess its okay, because come winter time, the hospital will be packed with a LOT of sick little kids so I will have to work.
The other night John came home from school a little early, and wasn't in the mood to study, so what did we do. . . We watched a movie called Stick It. It was about this tom boy girl becoming an awesome gymnast. I liked the movie, and john liked it too or at least watched it, maybe because it had cute girls in it. But man those girls were so buff. It was cool to watch them do all sorts of tricks. Maybe I will be one of those mothers who live vicariously through their children, and I will make them do gymnastics. (yeah right)

I also have been keeping busy by making some little cookies, I did them quickly so they did not turn out the best, but still kinda cute.

Someday maybe mine will look like these.
They don't even look like cookies they are so pretty.
Last night a few girls that are a part of the book club and myself went to the movies. (by the way I finished The Giver and I am anxious to discuss it)It has been a while since I have been there, $9.25 for a show. I think that is way too expensive, anyway, we saw the Jane Austin Book Club Movie. I totally loved it, I fell in love with each of the characters, and it was so fun going with our little book club!

Why I love general conference

I had to work on Saturday so I was unable to watch the general conference sessions but I had today off to watch and be edified by our prophet and apostles.
Top 7 reasons why I loved general conference and this sabbath day!
7- We got to sleep in.
6- We stayed in our Pj's the whole day and never left the house.(by the end of the day we were starting to go crazy being inside all day.)
5-Making and eating some very yummy cinnamon rolls.

4- Spending all day with my wonderful husband by my side.
3- We enjoyed snaking on some fresh picked carrots from our garden.

2- I got to play with John's long hair, I even got it in a pony tail.


And the number 1 reason why today was so awesome- We were able to listen to our wonderful prophet and feel of his love and the spirit that comes through hearing the Lord's word.

Enjoying the days off and nice weather

Can I please brag a little? Since living in Buffalo you may think I have minimal bragging rights, and although you may be right I think I am allowed to mention the weather lately. It has been so so nice. Sunny, not too humid with warm days and cool nights. It is great, I hope it lasts a while longer. The days are like high 70's-low 80's and it cools off to the 60's at night. Letting the open windows at night cool off the house. Who would have thought a year ago we were burried in snow!
Okay, I am done bragging. I will probably be eating my words come January when we are in the negative 30's while AZ is dipping down into the 50's. BURRRRRR!
Last night John and I went over to Braun and Megan's house. They are a new couple in our ward. He is a first year dental student and she is a nurse, she actually is going to work at the same hospital! We enjoyed a wonderful meal together, while getting to know each other, and having a great time. Oh, and something else that is really cool. I knew Megan already. Way back in the day, like in 1997 we went to Girls Academy(you may not know what that is, it is an all girl program before you were old enough for EFY), we became great friends when we were up there, she is even in a few of my pictures in my scrapbook. We were totally laughing about it. It is a small world.
This morning after John went off to school, I went off to my friend Alanna's house where Alanna, Stephanie and I enjoyed some yummy french toast together before heading off to the zoo. We had a great time at the zoo, it was a beautiful day. Although it is nothing like the San Diego Zoo, we enjoyed all the animals and the company. We met up with several people from the buffalo ward too.
Looks Fake huh? It's not, what a beautiful tiger, it was looking right at me!
A huge Python. It gave me chills just looking at it.
A beautiful tall giraffe.
Tonight John and I will meet up for a date on the couch as we watch the 1 hour office episode. We are excited about that. Its a cheap, yet fun date, and I get to be with my husband and that is what is important anyway.

You, Me, and Dupree Weekend!

The movie "You Me and Dupree" is about a newly wed couple when soon after they wed the husbands best friend moves in "for just a few days." The movie portrays how Kate Hudson feels about it and deals with Two guys in the house!. . . . Well that was my weekend!
One of John's best friends from AZ Ryan Beatty came to stay in Buffalo for a few days. He was up in New York city and took a detour home and stopped by good ol' Buffalo before going back home to AZ. It is always fun to have guests. Saturday John and Ryan went to Niagara Falls, but only to the American side, thee canadian border patrol did not let them through. Maybe it was the flirting that did not impress the female border agents. So next time we try to go to Canada I hope John is allowed because I am sure those Canadians will be watching.
Ryan and John enjoying a beautiful day at Niagara Falls!
Saturday night after work I joined up with the boys for a yummy mexican dinner. We went to Grandma Morra's in downtown Buffalo.
Sitting down at Grandma Morra's enjoying some yummy mexican food!It was quite delicious, then went downtown for a little nightlife in Buffalo. We enjoyed the beautiful night and a little dancing too!
Sunday after church we enjoyed a nice drive out to Palmyra to show Ryan all the sites. It is always a great excuse to go out to palmyra when people come to visit. There is such an amazing spirit there, and i love going out there and walking through the sacred grove.
You can tell it is fall around here, the leaves are starting to change colors, and the temperature is very nice!
Well Monday morning Ryan was supposed to leave early, but the airport refused to check him in due to his late arrival, oops! I guess it was a little hard to wake up before 5. . . So lucky for him, he got to stay an extra day. Maybe not so lucky because it was a lonely day with John at school and myself working. But Ryan safely made it to the airport and home this morning.

Vampire talk, Great food, Friends

Twilight.

Need I say more. The book Twilight has become quite the talk among family and friends, so the book club that I am a part of picked it. We all read it and got together last night to chat about what we thought. A few girls had read not only Twilight but had moved on to New moon and Eclipse, and I am heading in that direction.
I loved the book. It is very addicting and I love that is such an easy read. You don't have to think too much, just read and be entertained! Our book club meeting was tons of fun, talking maybe half the time about the book and the rest about whatever girls talk about! We enjoyed yummy food from everyone and stayed and chatted until late!
Modeling the wax vampire teeth that I shared with the girls at book club!
P.S.
A picture of the placemats I made. Cute little pumpkins.

So much fun, so little time!

The past few days my mother and grandma came out to visit. They had been to Germany vacationing together and stopped by Buffalo on their way home. They arrived Friday night and left Wednesday morning, so it was a quick trip. My grandma had never been out to Buffalo so we showed her a few of the major highlights! Here is a quick summary of our time together!

>Our quick day trip to toronto where we enjoyed the mid-evil dinner theater. Eating a four course meal with our hands, while watching a theater show, with real josting was quite the experience! We had tons of fun being treated like Lords and Ladies!
The grand entrance. The competition begins! We were cheering for the yellow knight!
My mother, grandma and myself in our crowns!
>Niagara falls, of course! My Grandma had never been. We showed off the Canadian side(the NY side is so disappointing), and enjoyed an afternoon shower on the maid of the mist!
The American falls!It was a beautiful day to go and see the falls!
Us girls on the Maid of the mist!
We also stopped by the huge Hershey store and tried some yummy fudge!
My mom and I giving the kiss a kiss!!
>We took a day to spend in Palmyra. We enjoyed Hill Cumorah, the temple, the Joseph Smith farm, sacred grove, and the book of mormon publication site. I had never been to the Grandin Building(book of mormon publication site), so that was very interesting to see how the book of mormon was published and the story behind it. I must say I have been out there numerous times, but my favorite part is the Joseph smith farm and sacred grove!
One of the first editions of the book of Mormon. It was in paragraph form.
A beautiful picture of the temple.-A quick little story about the Palmyra temple. It is the only temple that has a window where you can see inside the temple from the outside and look outside from the inside. President Hinkley was standing in the temple while it was being constructed and said he wanted to stand in the temple and look out a window straight into the sacred grove. So there is that one window in the temple that you can see straight out of into the sacred grove, "The Hinkley Window."
Three generations in the sacred grove. It was so beautiful!
>On our way home from Palmyra we stopped at the outlet mall. We were only in there for less than a hour, but I walked away happy. 4 shirts, and one pair of pants for $55!! What a deal!!
>While my family was in I had a few projects that I was able to use their assistance and guidance on. First the basement: I want to make it more inviting down there, so we made "curtains" or hanging sheets to close off half the basement(for storage and laundry), so the other half I can carpet and use as a craft room, office, or whatever!
Me showing off the basement. It looks so much cleaner now!(don't mind the crazy outfit, after church I just through on random pjs!)
Next, a few baby blankets, I bought the material a while ago, but needed some guidance, my grandma is good at sewing/crafts, so now I have blankets and burp cloths, for a girl and a boy! We just need to get started now!
One of the girl balnkets, the boy one is in camo. I think they turned out cute. (its hard to see, it's folded up)
I also wanted to make some cute halloween placemats. I got an idea from pottery barn kids, and am patterning mine off theirs! I am still working on those so no pics!
>We even had time to get some pedicures. There are so many salons here in Williamsville, so we took an afternoon, after our day at Niagara Falls to relax and get pampered! Oh, it was my grandma's first real pedicure too! A lot of firsts for her on this trip!
>And we were well fed of course. Not including all the food I made at home, we enjoyed some yummy buffalo pizza, the pancake house and one of our favorites the Cheesecake Factory!
John and I both enjoyed our time together with our family! We had so much fun doing all that we did, there is so much fun to do and so little time. Thanks again for the visit!

**Oh, this is for all my AZ friends! I am coming down October 20-27th so we have got to get together and do lunch or a girls night or something fun!! I can't wait!**