Keep Trying

Can't believe that July is right around the corner. I'm ready for summer to be over, it is SO HOT all the time. We are still living in St. George, hoping, praying, and waiting for some answers about our future. Boy, it's frustrating when things don't work out the way you planned the first time, not to mention plan B, AND plan C getting put on hold (yay for patience...and...more patience). If there is one thing I have learned in the past year: It is better to have the faith that sometimes good things fall apart so that better things can fall together because even though it doesn't seem like it now, everything will work out the way it's supposed to in the end.

July 2014 Visiting Teaching Handout

HERE is the link to print this month's handout! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY everyone :)

June 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

HERE is the link to print the JUNE 2014 Visiting Teaching Message :)

Hope you like!

Proud Wife

SO proud of my husband.

HOT weather here we come.

We are moving to St. George for the summer!

Tip: For those of you planning on moving soon...get a bigger trailer than you think you need. 

We upgraded our UHAUL at the last minute and we are SO glad that we did. 

I am so excited to be so close to my family again.
Here's to seeing old friends, family time, spending way too much time at the pool,
getting a tan (and probably a sunburn), trips to Vegas, hiking in Zion,
and of course enjoying long walks with our sweet little Riley :)

New Addition to Our Little Family

We finally got a puppy!!!!!!!!!!! It's been a LOOOOOOOONG time coming. 

We picked him out of a litter of five puppies when he was just 3 weeks old. 

As soon as I saw and snuggled him for the first time, I knew he was supposed to be ours. 

We were so lucky to be able to visit him and see him grow every week! 

He is the cutest (and the most spoiled) puppy in the whole wide world! We love him so much.

He is extremely smart too. He already knows his name and is pretty well potty-trained for his age. 

I am one proud momma. haha

three weeks old

four weeks old

five weeks old

six and a half weeks old!

Latest little project....

I have so many friends who are expecting babies really soon.

Here is what I have been making for their new little arrivals...

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Chocolate Chip Cookies

My husband says these are the best cookies he has EVER had. 

He literally begs me to make them every week. THAT'S how good they are.

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 C. salted butter, softened NOT melted

3/4 C. brown sugar

1/4 C. granulated white sugar

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 C. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 pinch of salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

> Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

>> In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, and sugars until fluffy and light in color.

>>> Add egg and vanilla. Blend.

>>>> Mix in flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda..

>>>>> Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough by the table spoon onto a lightly greased baking sheet.

BAKE 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges.

The tops will not brown, DO NOT cook longer than 10 minutes.

(I even think 10 minutes is too long. My cookies were done at 8 minutes.)

>>>>>> Immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool!

Makes about 3 dozen...try not to eat them all :)

ENJOY!

Conference Goodie Bag

Hello lovelies! This is a super cute and easy way to let your sisters that you are thinking about them!

HERE is the link to print the tags! 

I think it turned out pretty darn cute :) and all for under $5. 

Conference Goodie Bag contents:

Notebook: $1.50

Mini-Lemonade: $1.00

Popcorn: FREE (from my pantry) :)

Extra Gum: $0.75

M&M's: $0.50

CUTE pink bag: $0.33

April 2014 Visiting Teaching Message / Handout

Ha! I'm actually on top of it this month. I mean, its not quite April 1st yet and I'm getting this posted... MIRACLE, I know. Anyway, I hope you all like this handout! I am a little obsessed with leopard print at the moment, so of course, I just HAD to incorporate it into this month's handout. 

HERE is the link to PRINT :)

Because General Conference is coming up, (um...this weekend), 

I wanted to put together little Conference goodie bags for the new sisters I visit teach. 

I will post about it tomorrow! 

Happy Spring!

-Nicole

March 2014 Visiting Teaching Handout

Happy March everyone! I told you February would be over before we knew it!! haha Here's a handout for this month's message! I hope you all have a great month.

My Etsy Shop is now OPEN!

It's been quite a roller coaster, but my store is finally open and I can relax just a little! (Until of course, I get another crazy idea that I just HAVE to complete.) Anyway, check it out and let me know what ya'll think... click HERE to be redirected to my Etsy Shop :)

February 2014 Visiting Teaching Handout

I love the message this month! It's so good. PLUS, there is an excellent talk in January's Ensign called "Face the Future with Faith and Hope" by Elder Ballard. It was very uplifting and I think it fits hand in hand with the visiting teaching message for February!

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/01/face-the-future-with-faith-and-hope?lang=eng

HERE is the link to February 2014 VT Handout... it should print with a bleed (trim the white border away so that it looks like the whole paper was painted in watercolor!) 

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you all enjoy a day filled with flowers, chocolate, maybe a few strawberries covered in the aforementioned chocolate, and most importantly, lots of love and happiness.

Until next time,

Nicole

Ice Castles in Midway, Utah

Who knew these existed?! Ice Castles are so cool. I highly recommend checking them out.
http://www.icecastles.com/

Made from 20,000,000 pounds of ice!

 

 Olaf from Frozen was there! :)

Holiday Travels

Okay, okay, I know this is like a month late...but hey, does it have to be December for you to enjoy pics from Holland and Germany? I don't think so! So here you go...

THE NETHERLANDS

COLOGNE, GERMANY

Yes, yes we ate gelato in the middle of winter. And it was awesome.

DIY: Sharpie Mugs

Gifts are hard to find for EVERYONE on your list. Period. AND when you are a college student on a budget, that makes it even harder! Here's the solution: The Sharpie Mug.
This project has been trending all over the internet since it's debut on Pinterest a few years ago... Talk about super cute, classy and not to mention EASY. I finally tried it! I made these for our friends for Christmas this year, and I must say, I LOVE how they turned out.

1. Get a mug. (I prefer white mugs...)
Buy your mug(s) at the dollar store!!!! I'm not kidding about this one. You want the quality of glaze on the mug to be pretty poor so that when you bake your mug the glaze melts a little and bonds with your Sharpie artwork. (If you get a black mug, the Sharpie silver marker works well to decorate it.)

2. WASH your mug(s) in warm soapy water, rinse really well to make sure theres no soapy film left, and then Let them air dry COMPLETELY...Then DO NOT TOUCH your clean mug with your bare hands, the oil from your skin can make the Sharpie resist bonding with the glaze on the mug and make the Sharpie come off easier, and we don't want that! I used my rubbery dishwashing gloves to handle my mugs while I was drawing on them.

3. Get Creative!
Draw on your mug(s) with Sharpie permanent markers...
I only used a black Sharpie because I have heard that the colored Sharpies tend to fade and turn different colors after you bake them (red turns yellow, green turns blue)...If you are determined to use colored ink to decorate your mug(s), you can try BIC permanent markers, the tend to stay true to their color after baking, at least that's the rumor :) Once again, If you get a black mug, the silver Sharpie marker works well to decorate it. If you mess up (like I did many times!) just take a q-tip and a little tiny bit of rubbing alcohol or nail posh remover over the mistake, and it's like it never happened :)

4. Let it DRY.
After you have completed your work of art on your mug, let it dry for AT LEAST 24 hours. I let mine sit for a week just to be safe.

5. BAKE.
Bake your mugs in the oven (NOT a microwave oven or toaster oven haha). Place your mug in the oven. If you have more than one mug make sure they are evenly spaced on the rack. (The oven rack should be placed in the middle of the oven, not too high and not too low.) Turn the oven on to 425 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT and then set your timer for 30 minutes. You wan the mug(s) to preheat with the oven...When the timer goes off, turn the oven OFF, but leave the mugs in the oven until it cools down to room temperature. Your mug(s) will crack if they cool too quickly...

6. ENJOY your fabulous new personalized mug!

January 2014 Visiting Teaching Handout!

HERE is the link for January's Visiting Teaching Handout! 

Great message this month. I am loving this series on Christ.

Everyone, have a fabulous week and don't forget to get your VT visits scheduled!! February will be here before we know it. Why does time fly by so fast??

Oh and, HAPPY 2014! Here's to a wonderful and adventure filled new year...

xoxo,

Nicole

December 2013 Visiting Teaching Handout

Sorry I'm late in getting this up... I can't believe it's already the 5th of December. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving...I am getting ready to go to Germany and things have been crazy, as the Holiday Season always is!! This month's message is "The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: The Only Begotten Son." HERE is the link for the handout!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!
Hopefully I will have some fabulous photos of Europe to share when I get back!

Love, 

Nicole

Barton Avenue: Photography

Watch out world! I've got a new hobby!!! I got an early Christmas present this year from my amazing in-laws...a brand new Nikon D3200 DSLR camera. I can hardly believe it. I have been SO excited to practice with it and I was lucky enough to go visit my family this last weekend! So say hello to my adorable sister. Isn't she gorgeous??

NOVEMBER 2013 Visiting Teaching Message

Okay, so there is not a specifically designated visiting teaching message for this month, which means that it is up to all of YOU to choose a message from the conference talks that were given at General Conference last month... (Click) HERE, I have linked the interactive list of conference talks on the Church's website! GET INSPIRED.

My personal favorite was President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk titled: "Come Join With Us".  It was so positive and uplifting! Here is a little poster that I made with my favorite quote from this talk:

Have a fabulous weekend!