i love you ree drummond.

i just finished the pioneer woman's book, and i was so sad for it to end.  if i lived on a ranch in oklahoma, i think p-dub and i would be besties.  for all of my pioneer woman loving friends, i highly recommend it!  if you don't love her already, i still recommend it- you'll love her when it's over!

also a big thanks to p-dub for our new recipe this week...

behold pasta with roasted red pepper sauce.  the look of the pasta is somewhat deceiving, because it looks like kraft mac & cheese.  i love kraft mac & cheese.  something about that orange goodness really does it for me.  though this has that familiar orange tint, it tastes nothing like it.  it is quite delicious, when we're not worried about the large amount of heavy cream, we may work it in to our weekly rotation :o). 

a little of this and that.

jodi picoult is one of my very favorite authors.  her books are always well researched and beautifully crafted.  there are only a few of her books that i haven't read, and have been saving up.  i'm just not ready for the time to come when i know i don't have any of her books to fall back on.  i am officially down to two, since i just finished songs of the humpback whale. the book held my interest, though i wouldn't say it made my top five.  if you've never read her and are looking for some new material, try my sister's keeper, the pact, plain truth, or perfect match. so happy to still be reading!

besides reading lately, i have been doing a ton of crafting!! we have just a few things coming up... mother's day, 3 family birthday's, and my sister's graduation- just to name a few.  once all gifts are given out i can post more pics, but here are just a few things i can share now!

i made this for a dear friend graduating with her master's (i hope she doesn't suddenly start reading my blog ;))!  i'm going to give her this and a bottle of wine, in hopes of sparking some much needed relaxation after 2 years of hard work!

these crocheted coasters were a cinch once i got the hang of it.  i used the tutorial for how to crochet a five petal flower from little birdie secrets, and just extended it.  i have come to terms with the fact that things i make look home made, if you know what i mean.  each one of these 4 coasters looks a tiny bit different, but i'm ok with it, i think it adds charm :).

what would my weekend be without a little bit of organizing?!  the drawer in my vanity was driving me crazy because it was so crammed with stuff!  too many hair accessories to try to help me in my attempt to tame this beast.  i decided i needed a solution for this mess- behold the new headband holder!

did you know ryan made this vanity with his own two hands (and his dad's own two hands)?!  i love when i get an opportunity to brag about this man of mine, i'm one lucky gal!!

we needed a good breakfast to keep us going through all these weekend crafting (working for ry :() events!  i whipped up these cranberry oatmeal muffins, and they were a hit!

i also messed around with our camera this weekend, and found some fun old pics!  thought i'd share the fun with you!

this is the product of the millions of daisy seeds we planted before our wedding.  too bad this shot was taken on july 4th, a mere 3 weeks after our wedding!!  we loved every minute of our wedding, even if the flowers chose to make a very late arrival!

just an old favorite i'd forgotten about :).

i read another book!!

i really can't say enough about the help. it was one of those books that i savored each and every page, and was so sad for it to end.  i think it took me three days to read the last 20 pages.  i felt so connected to the characters, and the time period is one of my favorites.  if anyone is looking for a great read, i highly suggest it!!

on another note, i think i'll stick with this look for the blog for a while.  thanks for being patient as i keep changing it!

i read a book!

this is a really momentous occasion for me.  i haven't read a book for pleasure since starting usc in september (if anyone wants to know the details of why that didn't work out, i'm happy to share ;)).  reading is one of my favorite past times and i was so happy to get back into it.  a friend that i work with recommended the chosen, and thought i would enjoy it- especially due to my current employment situation.


The Chosen is set in the 1940s, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City. The story takes place over a period of six years, beginning in 1944 when the protagonists are fifteen years old. It is set against the backdrop of the historical events of the time: the end of World War II, the death of President Roosevelt, the revelation of the Holocaust in Europe, and the struggle for the creation of the state of Israel.

i really enjoyed the book, and it gave me a different glimpse of the culture i'm exposed to every day!

side note... i started the help and cannot put it down.  i savor every page, i love it so much!  i'm so happy to be back into the swing of reading :).