Saturday, July 30, 2011

Strawberry Lemonade Bars


Have you heard about Pinterest? I'm sure you have...it's the new hipster thing to do apparently. I'm pretty much obsessed and LOVE pinning all sorts of things onto my boards. I make mood boards for my photo sessions, future home, crafts I want to do, and even things that make me laugh. I love collecting online recipes in one place...instead of just bookmarking them all in my favorites folder. So far, I've had great success! I wanted to try out this recipe for Strawberry-Lemonade Bars (a twist on the traditional lemon bar)...it sounded like the perfect summery treat! At first I was worried about it being too tart, but I think they turned out just right. YUM! 

Here is how mine turned out:

Recipe found HERE.

Strawberry Lemonade Bars
Crust
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt

Filling
1 cup fresh lemon juice
2-3 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup pureed strawberries (about 3/4 cup berries)
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan (or use the Baker’s Edge pan, if you have one).
Begin by making the crust.
In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until smooth and fluffy. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly. Pour into prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for about 17 minutes, until set at the edges.
While the crust bakes, prepare the filling.
In the bowl of a food processor, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, strawberry puree, sugar and eggs and process until smooth. Add in flour, baking powder and salt, then pulse until smooth.
Gently pour the filling over the hot crust when it has finished baking. Return pan to oven and bake for 23-26 minutes, until the filling is set (There will be a light colored “crust” on top from the sugar in the custard – nothing to worry about).
Cool completely before slicing and use a damp knife to ensure clean slices.
Store bars in the refrigerator, especially on a hot day.
Makes 24 bars.


Friday, July 29, 2011

lavender fields and friends!

Last night I had a shoot down in Mona, UT where there are the most beautiful lavender fields. I have wanted to do a session down there since the dawn of time, so I was pretty happy. Morgan was nice enough to be my chauffeur (since I am terrified of driving on the freeway) and we were able to snap a few pictures as the sun went down.  

 awww...aren't we darling?

In case you were wondering, this is what we're really like.

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Today I got to see my dear friends...the Meppen sisters! I hadn't seen them in a VERY long time and was so happy to finally reconnect. We all lived in Virginia during our amazing high school years (ha) and became wonderful friends. Emile used to drive me from seminary to school everyday in her amazing red truck (The Beast). I remember occasionally, when I didn't have play practice or some extracurricular activity, Em would drive me home after school and we would have cookies and watch 7th Heaven at my house. We even went to EFY together! Those were the good old days. :) Now we are all grown up and married...and in their cases, have beautiful children. It's amazing how fast time flies.




And just in case you noticed, yes I wore the same shirt two days in a row. Don't judge.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Jillian Michaels is my Nemesis

So for the past year or so I've been dealing with some health issues that have made it really difficult to stay physically active. I didn't have any energy and just felt really lousy. I'm so grateful that I've been feeling better lately...it really is a huge blessing in my life! I have started feeling so good in fact, that I'm able to work out again!

Here are some fun pics of Morgan and me on a little walk/jog around the streets where we live. It was fun to go out together! {Sorry for the terrible picture quality...my point-and-shoot camera is broken}






I also started working out with my friend Heidi doing the Jillian Michaels 30-day shred...and man is it intense. She is a beast of a woman. I better look like her when I'm done or I might throw that DVD off a cliff. ;)

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Camping

We had a Sheffer family campout last week and had a wonderful time! There was a beautiful stream running by the camp site and we had a blast playing in it, skipping rocks, and swinging on the rope swing. There is just something magical about camping in the summertime...I love watching the kids get ridiculously dirty and eating s'mores and just sitting around the campfire. I will admit, I have an intense irrational fear of being eaten by a bear, cougar, or moose (those things are fierce!) so I did stress out that night...but we made it without any large mammal sightings! Wahoo! :)

I've posted the pictures on my photo blog HERE

But here is a little video of my honey playing in the water...he's such a big kid at heart!


Thursday, July 14, 2011

Gypsophila



I love me some gypsophila (aka baby's breath). Bundle it all up, stick in in mason jar, and you're good to go. Instant sophistication.


Wednesday, July 13, 2011


My new hobby.

Like I need a new one, I know.

I put them up in my house and they make me so happy. :)

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Create

Lately I've been feeling just plain happy. I have so many things to be grateful for and decided that that was all I wanted to say. That I'm happy. That I love my husband and family. That I know God watches over us.

Lately I've felt this intense desire to create and design; to make something beautiful that wasn't there before. I want to feel productive and helpful and satisfied that I am somehow making good use of my time and talents. One of my favorite talks ever was by Dieter F. Uchtdorf entitled, "Happiness, Your Heritage." He says:

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty...The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."


So I'm going to try and make an effort of journaling the things that make me happy...the things that pass the time and bring me joy.

Today I'll go ahead and share a photo I took of the San Antonio temple. I know it might not be super amazing or ground breaking, but I love it.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

An old school book report with a few nuggets of wisdom

This week, I read this book:


It made me laugh. It made me angry. It made me happy. It made me cry. It made me want to learn how to knit.

In short, it was excellent. 

I admit, it took me awhile to get into it...I almost gave up a few times, but after page 50 I was hooked. I highly recommend it as a summer read.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"So this was it. You take a wrong step and you end up wearing yesterday's underwear, sitting on the carpet trying to teach yourself how to knit. And even that doesn't work. She never expected it to be so hard. Life." (p.172)
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"It just seems so unfair. Unreal. I just want to know why this happened to me."

"I don't know. But I do know it's not because you did something bad, if that's what you're thinking. It's not something you deserve. I think God cries when we're in pain; he cries with us and he supports us. But I also believe he stands back and lets us sort things out. Lets the doctors do their work. Lets your body heal itself."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then he welcomes you with open arms. God isn't really about the body, you know - he's about the soul."
(p. 305)
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"Praying isn't a form of divine insurance. It's just a way of communicating, just a way of opening your heart."
(p. 305)