cute baby

Do I have the best job ever, or what?!

Fruit Trifle

This recipe is pretty quick & easy and a perfect summer dessert. It's also pretty healthy, so you can eat it guilt free! :)

Here's what you need:
1 Angel Food cake
1 pound of fresh strawberries, stemmed & sliced
2 bananas, peeled & sliced
1 pint of fresh blueberries
3 kiwis, peeled & sliced
1 container of fat free whipped topping
1 package of instant vanilla pudding

First, make the Angel Food cake. Or, if you buy an already-made one, skip this step :)

While the cake is baking, cut up the strawberries, bananas, and kiwis.

Then, because that won't take very long, take a break and love on your dog.

And make the instant vanilla pudding.

Then, after the cake cools, layer in a big glass bowl. First a layer of Angel Food cake, then layer 1/2 of the fruit, then 1/2 of the pudding, then 1/2 the container of whipped topping. Then repeat the layers, beginning with the cake and ending with whipped topping. I also added strawberries on the very top because we had plenty left over, and I thought it was pretty :)

Then serve & enjoy!!

It's delicious and refreshing! I'm thinking trying it next time with maybe some other fruits. I think peaches would be scrumptious!

Sunday Perfection

Today was "perfect"!

First, my mom finally decided to try yoga class with me! I had been trying to convince her to come forever because I knew she would like it and I thought it would be good for her because of her low back problems. For the past few weeks she's been totally set on not coming for whatever reason, but today she changed her mind.

Well, she loved it! She didn't just like it a lot, she loved it. And she can't wait to go back. And I'm so happy!! I think it will be so good for her. She can come the rest of this week free as my guest and then she's even going to join!!!! YAY! Tomorrow I think Kristen and I might finally give the hip hop cardio class a try. We'll see how that goes, considering I have no rhythm and can't dance, but apparently you don't have to be able to. So, we'll see!

Anyway, on the way home from yoga, Mom and I went to visit Kristen at her first day alone at her new job. She works at the cutest little coffee shop downtown called Perkfection.

And clearly, she loves her job!

Since it was Kristen's first day alone, of course the moms had to come for moral support. {My mom on the left, Kristen's on the right}

My mom got a hot beverage - chai tea - I don't know why because it was so hot outside!!

The first drink she made me! Iced chai tea. Delicious. I wanted White Chocolate but someone wouldn't make it for me. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.... and every other day that she works!

For not being a coffee drinker, Kristen's really good at her job! :)

Check back soon for the fruit trifle recipe! It's delicious!!!

I uploaded the pictures from the past few days and they were all of Tobey.

I guess it's because we love him.

{if you doubt that, please refer to this post from February}

ugh. what a horrible picture of me. I can't believe I just posted it.

Can you tell he's loved? I went in a few nights ago to say goodnight to my mom, and this was how I found them. He gets his own side of the bed and his own pillow, which he puts his head on like a real person. Most of the time he curls up right next to my mom so he has more like 3/4ths of the bed rather than 1/2.

In other Tobey news, he really needed a haircut. Like, he was past the cute, kind of fuzzy stage and was in the WOW he's really furry! You can barely see his eyes! stage. We were already a couple weeks behind in calling to schedule his grooming appointment and when I called on Thursday, they said his groomer was out and probably wouldn't be back until the beginning of August and the other groomer was trying to catch up so she probably couldn't get him until then either. So, with the temperature being nearly 100 lately and sure to only get hotter, my mom decided to save $50 and cut his hair herself.

He hates going to the groomer, so I had to see this.

Dan came over with the clippers and to be the extra set of hands. And brought Pete {the dog}.

He wouldn't say bark it, but I'm pretty sure he was thinking in his head that he was glad it was Tobey getting tortured cut and not him.

Mom said he did really good though. I'm sure it was just nice to be a little more cool in the hot summer sun. It's not quite as good as when Polly does it, but painless enough that mom has decided she's going to groom him herself every other time.

I for sure thought he was going to go crazy.

In non-Tobey-related news...

• My mom is coming to yoga with me tomorrow morning! I'm super excited! I've been trying to convince her to come forever. I know she will love it!
• Shelly is trying to convince me to read Twilight. Haven't decided if I'm going to give in to the pressure yet though, although she's definitely not the first one to suggest it to me.
• Kristen got a job at a coffee shop. Tomorrow I'm going to visit her at her first official day by herself.
• Kristen & I have been visiting churches. So far we have been to 2. We went with Hope & Brion today, but they had a special service so I still haven't been able to see what a regular service is like. I've visited a few times in the past year or 2 and I don't think I've ever seen a regular service. Oh well, maybe next Sunday!

Check back tomorrow... I'm planning to experiment with a trifle recipe.... if it goes well, I'll be sure to share it! :)

if it weren't for the mosquitoes, i'd have a garden.

my mom has the greenest thumb of anyone i know.

it's one of the things i love about her and one of the traits i wish i had gotten.

maybe i can learn it?

she knows everything about every type of flower.

at least it seems that way. i mean, she probably does.

and she can spend hours in the yard.

i can only spend minutes before i get eaten alive by mosquitoes.

i hope that someday when i have my own house, i can have it beautifully landscaped like her's.

if nothing else, i'll just pay her to do it.

actually, she'd probably do it for free.

stop & smell the roses

today

i am grateful for...

-baby giggles

-doggie barks welcoming me home each day

-& doggie kisses!

-my best friend with me for the entire summer

-sunshine :)

-DQ dates with mom & brownie batter blizzards

-my mom in general.. seriously, she's awesome

-fresh fruit

-good health & yoga class

-our cute, 4 year old neighbor Sydney, who left us a note & picture for when we take their mail inside this week while they're on vacation in Florida.. she's adorable

i am looking forward to...

-4th of july on the lake

-seeing all Kristen's little cousins that I haven't seen in 3 years!

-D.C. trip this summer

-time with grammy & bubby at the end of july

-my brother & Jamie's wedding

-hopefully going white water rafting

-my 23rd birthday :: in 2 weeks!!!!!! what?!

yesterday & today...

yesterday

I played with this cute baby. Mia of course. She's been sick for a week now, for the first time ever.

Yep, at almost 11 months old, she's never been sick. Despite being sick she was still happy & playful as usual. She only got grumpy when she was sleepy, but that's normal too. Hopefully she feels better tomorrow!

I also made some strawberry shortcake. Muy delicioso! Everyone should go to Meijer immediately.. the strawberries are on sale 2 for $5 and the shortcakes are on sale for a pack of 8 for $1... can't beat that! GO!

I played with Tobey outside which made for one very "HOT DOG!" The high was like 94 yesterday I think, and the heat index was around 100 I'm sure. Poor little guy needs a hair cut, I'm sure that'd at least help some!

today

The day started off great with none other than cinnamon rolls!! One of my faves. I have a recipe for homemade cinnamon rolls which are even more awesome, and I'll post it if I ever get around to actually making them.

Then Kristen & I went to lunch at Joe's Crab Shack. It's right across the river but neither of us had ever been so we went. It was pretty good and made me feel like a tourist! Also, the waitors & waitresses randomly get together and dance, which was probably the highlight of my entire meal.

Then we went to yoga. When we went on Monday there was a new teacher with a totally new routine. It kind of threw me off because I was finally getting used to the other one. But tonight it was awesome! We had Colleen, who was the teacher at our very first ever class, and the routine was a mixture of new & old stuff. I really liked it because it was familiar and yet challenging. Good stuff.

So, here's a gym update for those interested:
We've been going to the gym 4-5 times a week I'd say.
If we don't go to yoga {1 hr class}, we do cardio & weights {for about an hour altogether}.
On Monday we are going to do the hip hop cardio class.
So far it just hasn't fit into our schedules.
When I say "we" I am talking about me & Kristen.
I haven't been back to spinning. I kind of think it's evil.
I'm willing to give it another shot though, but usually I have to pick between spinning & yoga, and yoga wins every time.
For those asking about the yoga class, I think it's a combo of yoga & pilates, but I don't really know what the difference between the two is, so I just go with it.

I think that's it.

Happy Hump Day! :)

Here Comes The Bride!

**WARNING: lots of pictures!! :) **

Okay, I've finally sorted through most of the pictures from Hope's wedding! Here is just a peek into her wonderful day :)

I met her at the Springs Salon & Spa to get her hair done at 9:30...

The back:

Then we all went back to the church...

Kristen rearranged the cupcakes because her inner Kappa Delta event-planner came out..

Kristen, Hope, & me

We goofed around until Brion came with McDonald's for lunch...

Then it was time to start getting ready. Kristen helped Samantha {flower girl} tie the bow on her dress.

Then Melody & Spencer showed up!

And Hope did her make up..

Me & the Bride!

Before the wedding started we took a few pictures outside with just Hope, since Brion wasn't allowed to see her yet.

Then it was wedding time!!!!

Then we went back outside to take pictures with Brion...

And on to the reception...

Cheers!

Here's to a long & happy marriage! Congratulations, Hope & Brion! :)

**I couldn't decide which pictures to post...these are just a few of them. If you want to see more you can click on any of these pictures to take you to a set on flickr! :) **