Two Hales here

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Goal # 16" Try two new recipes a month for 6 months

Two new recipes for July:

I was talking to Misti one evening about what they were having for

supper and she told me about the delicious teriyaki chicken

that Kevin makes. This inspired us to find a recipe online

(Misti didn't get back to me in time to do thiers,

although she called when we were making ours).

Of course like everything else online we had to do some

innovating to fit our criteria. Although it probably wasn't as good

as Misti & Kevin's, I give it a 2 thumbs up.

Teriyaki Chicken:

Good stuff

Praline Crunch (recipe came in some junk mail)

This recipe called for melting sugar in a heavy pan. Lorin

didn't know you could melt sugar. I told him it

is called carmelizing it, at least that is what my

mom called it. Lorin kept telling me it was

cooked long enough and I kept thinking it had granules

still, anyway I cooked it too long. Still it was really

very good. We will make it again and maybe Lorin should

be the one in charge of the sugar cooking.

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Goal #81: Go on a picnic with Lorin

4th of July picnic at Sheep Falls above Ashton. We didn't

hike down to the Falls because of Lorins bad back

and hip so we pulled off the dirt road, threw out a blanket,

and set up our little grill. There was no one else around and it

was so peaceful.

Lorin getting ready to set up the grill

Me reaping the benifits of Lorin's cooking

Now at this point I have to mention goal # 82 (Eat smores). I claimed

the goal complete, but felt cheated because of "cookie smores".

Now this is a smore !!!!!

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS !!!!!

Life is good

We finished and was just relaxing for

a while and noticed that a storm was moving in, and since

we were on a dirt road, with the car, decided we had better get on our

way so we didn't get stuck somewhere on the way out.

Pretty cool looking sky

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Goal # 98: Go shopping for a digital piano

Now I have to cheat a little on this one because one monday

when I came home from lunch with "the girls", Lorin said that

he wanted to surprise me. I said "ok" with a bit of wonderment in

my voice. He said he had been looking for a piano for me on the

internet and that he found one in Idaho Falls that we were supposed to

look at that day at 5:00. Long story short we bought it and

therefore I don't need to look anymore so I'm counting this goal done.

I'm Loving It !!!!!

It's always good when goals are this easy to do :) I love my husband !!

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Goal # 23: Pick one of my talants and work on improving it

I am living proof that "if you don't use it you lose it".

I will get it back, but it will take

a lot of practicing.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

More about goals

Recipes for the month of June:
Goal # 16

We went to Salt Lake on June 12th to get together with

Lorin's kids. Sean was up from Arizona with

his family, so everyone got together that Sunday.

We had a delicious lunch and I think this Grape Salad was my

very favorite of all the food. Yummy !!!

Anyway I decided it should be the recipe to try for June.

Excellent decision. It even turned out wonderful

when Lorin and I made it.

Trust me, it tastes so much better than it looks.

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Strawberry Crumb Cake

I believe I saw this on one of Tish's pinterest pages.

Thanks Tish. It really does taste delicious! We will try

this one again for sure.

We had it warm with ice cream on it. So good.

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GOAL # 45

Make a book of inspiring quotes and sayings.

I have been saving quotes and sayings on my computer

since I made this goal and finally accumulated enough

to make a book. I went online to a site called

Bookemon. I liked the easy way they had to put the book

together, and it was relatively inexpensive (much less than

the site I used for Grandma & Grandpa's anniversary book). Anyway I

worked for a couple of days putting it together using 9 different

categories, got it finished, and found out it is a site that other people

can go to and buy the book. Who would want to buy a book

called JaNele's book of quotes and sayings?!?!?!? I just

wanted to make a simple book for my collection. Out of curiosity

I looked it up and they want people to pay something like

50 something dollars for it. Ya right!!!!! My cost is much much less.

I really do like making books online. I think it is going to be

a hobby of mine. That will be goal # 53-finished.

I for sure have to get much better at proof-reading though.

You can look at it at www.bookeman.com anyway I think you

can look at it. If not I can give you my password if you are interested.

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Goal # 82

Eat Smores

After we got back from Salt Lake, Sean called and wanted

to bring his family here and stay for a few days. One day

we barbecued for supper and they bought some cookies

that had chocolate on them. We toasted marshmallows

and put them between two of the cookies and that was their

idea of smores. Although I counted this as my goal

I feel cheated and will definitely have to have the

real thing later this year.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

                                           Continuing on goal #16
                                     Try 2 recipes a month for 6 months

                                          Chicken and Citrus Salad
This is the best salad ever!!!! It is definetly my new all time favorite-Mmmmmm.
It called for raspberry vinaigerette dressing, so to be safe on the taste we ordered it from BYUI. I had eaten some from them and knew it was delicious. It is absolutely wonderful. We have made it 3 times so far. We will be making it again.

2nd recipe for the month of May

Cashew Chicken

I really enjoyed this recipe also. It is a recipe that Lorin had in the cupboard and apparently he and Linda had made it, but I had never made it so I'm counting it for a new recipe. It was really very good, but the second time we made only half a batch. We had a lot of left overs the first time.

This is how it looked in the pan

On the plate

It called for Chinese noodles on the top for a delicious taste treat.

It's very refreshing to find two recipes in the same month that are delicious.

Definetly two thumbs up

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Goal #35

Go through my shoes

Lorin decided to make me some shoe holders for my birthday present this year. So in a sense I had to go through my shoes. We measured all my shoes to see how big to make the bins for them. This was a much bigger project than we anticipated, and we had to take a break in the middle for him to have hernia surgery. He couldn't lift anything heavier that 15 pounds for 6 weeks, so needless to say it wasn't done on my birthday. They turned out wonderful and I love them.

I have 2 closets-this is in one of them

These are in the other

As you can see by the empty shoe bins I need to go shopping

Excellent !!!!!

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Goal #36

Go through my socks

I mentioned this goal to Lorin and while I was gone to lunch on monday with my friends he made me some seperators for the stocking drawer. Well that made it pretty easy to organize them. It's much easier to find the color I want now Thanks Lorin-you are awesome!!!

Before organization-messy-couldn't find the the one I wanted.

After organization-love it. All color co-ordinated

Yes, I do have a lot of socks

Monday, May 16, 2011

101 Goals in 1001 Days
1. Make a list of 101 thing / Done 8/28/10
2. Create a blog / Done 8/28/10
3. Lose 8-10 pounds / Done 05/25/2011 (126 to 116.5)
4. Keep the weight off / Working on it / Done 06/2011
5. Do my mending/altering/ Started 8/29/2010 / Done 11/30/2012
6. Polish my nails at least twice a month for six months
7. Take better care of hair and skin / Done 05/18/2011
8. Read scriptures regularly / Done 12/2010
9. Work out at least 4 times a week for 6 weeks / Started 8/30/2010 Done
10. Get a facial Done 6/12/2012
11. Get a pedicure / Done 12/29/2011
12. Get a manicure / Done 7/10/2012
13. Sew a new skirt / Done 4/27/2013
14. Sew a new shirt
15. Make a quilt to give away
16. Try 2 new recipes a month for 6 months / Done 8/29/2011
17. Write down my experiences when they happen / Working on it / Doing it-ongoing
18. Make a list of my talents / Done 12/19/2011
19. Contact each of my kids at least 2-3 times a month / Done
20. Reach my goal of meeting up with Tish on our “walk” /Started 8/30/10 / Done 9/26/11
21. Remodel my Jewelry / Done 12/1/2012
22. Go to the temple to do endowments once a month for at least 6 months / Done 06/22/2012
23. Pick one of my talents and work on improving it. Done/07/2011
24. Do this with each talent one at a time / Done 12/15/2012
25. Find parents for the children in my ancestry Done 02/12/2011
26. Clean up my PAF-ancestry files Done/02/09/2012
27. Start a Journal / Done-kept for over a year then changed to windows 7 and lost it
28. Finish the home movies that I’m making Done/4/2/2013
29. Make a list of movies I still want to make / Done 12/19/2011
30. Convert tapes to CD’s / Done 4/18/2013
31. Hang up pictures / Started 10/12/2010 Done 02/12/2011
32. Organize memory manager Started 01/10/2011 / Done 7/10/2012
33. Take Joseph’s things to him / I've tried to contact them 3 or 4 times
34. Shop for new clothes / Done/Shopped and bought 10/21/2010
35. Go through Shoes / Done 05/06/2011
36. Go through Socks / Done 05/25/2011
37. Go through sweaters / Done 8/24/2011
38. Go through pants; this includes giving unwanted things to charity / Done 8/24/2011
39. Clean my jewelry
40. Make more dish rags / Started 10/20/2011--Done/03/08/2012
41. Go golfing Changed to typing papers I wrote / Done 1/2013
42. Go to Disneyland / Left on 11/02/2010 Done
43. Go to Club 33 in Disneyland / 11/04/2010 Done
44. Ride the roller coaster / 11/05/2010 Done
45. Make a book of inspiring quotes and sayings / Started 10/06/2010 / Done 05/2011
46. Change Face book picture / Done 11/29/2010
47. Go through the things in the top of my closets / Done 02/23/2012
48. Organize CD’s and DVD’s Started 01/10/2011 / Done 12/3/2011
49. Use my Sage Day Spa card for whatever I need most / Done 06/12/2012
50. Find myself a Doctor / Done 05/18/2011 (Staying with Dr. Bagley for now)
51. Learn more about my camera / Done9/26/2012
52. Buy new make-up / Done 8/23/2011
53. Try a new hobby / 1/2013
54. Learn a new craft / On line scrapbooking/Started 9/21/2010 Done
55. Make something using the new craft I learn / Created and recieved an album/Done 10/05/2010
56. Finish my movie series DVD collections / Made a list 10/14/2011 / Done to date
57. Finish reading the “Doctrine and Covenants”/ Done 01/05/2011
58. Read the “Fire and the Covenant”
59. Find a place to shop with clothes that fit me that I like / "The Connection" 10/21/2010 Done
60. Go clothes shopping again and again and again
61. Go shopping for accessories i.e. Shoes, jewelry, purse, etc / Purse this summer/Shoes in October/Jewelry on line in December
62. Watch the movies we bought-with Lorin / Done 6/18,019,020/2012
63. Take parents out to lunch / Done 03/02/2011
64. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day for a week at a time 6 times / Done
65. Frame and find a place for some of the pictures I have / Done 10/05/2010
66. Donate a toy to a child at Christmas / Done 12/16/2011
67. Go to the distribution center and make something for charity / Done 05/05/2011
68. Break my habit of eating M&M’s / Started 8/28/10 Done 02/17/2011
69. Go on a vacation with Lorin / Disneyland 11/02/2010 Done
70. Decorate living room, sun room, and master bedroom Started 01/02/2011 / Done 3/2013
71. Buy frames and put up the family pictures that Lorin and I talked about / Done 2/22/2013
72. Send letters of appreciation to loved ones / Done 4/18/13
73. Track what I eat for a month / Started 8/29/2010 Done
74. Eat responsibly for that month Done /10/29/2010
75. Add to my lighthouse collection / 9/29/2012
76. Give “just because” gifts to friends and relatives / Done 7/2012
77. Get a haircut and color / Done 09/16/2010
78. Make a movie of places Lorin and I have been / Done 9/4/2012 Whew!!!!
79. Take pictures of beautiful sunsets and make a movie/collage/scrapbook page of them / Done 1/8/2012
80. Take pictures of night time lightning storm / I tried a couple of times but I don't have a good enough camera-
81. Go on a picnic with Lorin / 7/04/2011
82. Eat “smores” / Done 6/17/2011
83. Be working on the bed spread that I bought 6 years ago (counted cross stitch) / Done 5/3/2013
84. Re-read “I feel guilty when I say no”
85. Make a present for someone / Finished book for parents 10/29/2010 Done
86. Re-download the songs that are on my iphone and not in itunes / Done 12/3/2011
87. Go for ice cream with Lorin / Done 05/21/2011
88. Have Tish give me a copy of “book of Dad’s art” / Done 5/1/2013
89. Go someplace I’ve never been before Done 4/11/2011
90. Work harder as a Family History Consultant / Started 10/04/2010 / Finished contacting all the families we were in charge of / 7/10/2011
91. Finish scanning moms family history / Done 9/2/10
92. Make a CD of the scanned family history stories Done 3/2011
93. Work on the “Fowler” family history / Done 3/2013
94. Go to a movie with Lorin / Done 10/31/2010
95. Go to Bar J Ranch with Lorin / Done 9/07/2010
96. Help Lorin fix trailer to sell
97. Sing each day / Started 8/28/10 Done 02/17/2011
98. Shop for a digital piano / Lorin bought me a piano-don't need to look anymore
99. Find something to be thankful for and happy about each day. /Started 8/28/2010 Done 02/17/2011
100. Say a prayer of thanks at least once a week / Started 9/1/10 / Done 02/17/2011
101. Help Lorin fix Broom cupboard / Done 9/2010

Sunday, May 1, 2011

More Goals Woohoo!!!

Goal 89

Go somewhere I've never been

NORTH CAROLINA!!!

While in Ashville NC we visited the Biltmore Estates. Below is a map of the area which had all been landscaped because the land was bear when Mr Biltmore bought it; there were no trees nor foilage on the land at that time.

The drive into the actual house was about 15-20 minutes from the entrance.

We snapped a picture showing some of the beautiful foilage on the way to the house

It is huge!!!! Having been an appraiser I was very amazed at the detail of the structure both inside and out. Absolutely beautiful. One of the rooms inside (Banquet Hall) had a seven story ceiling, a 1916 pipe organ on about the third story recessed in, a triple fireplace on the other end of the room (first story), and tapestries from the fifteen hundreds. All in all it was massive inside and out.

When we finished our tour they took a picture of us just before we went outside.

A view of one of the gardens

A climbing Wisteria vine archway. It wasn't in full bloom yet, but still very pretty.

More garden area

The grounds were magnificent.

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One day Nick took us for a scenic drive winding around in the Blue Ridge mountains in the Smokey Mountain range.

You can see why they are called the smokey mountains. Makes you appreciate the clarity, and beauty of the mountains in this area.

At the end of the drive we were at the top on the highest mountain East of the Mississippi River. Notice it isn't much higher than Rexburg's elevation.

Standing at the top. Pretty, but again look how smokey the mountains are.

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Now for the real reason for the trip. Nick and Amy had a baby the end of January. We asked if we could come out and help and they decided it would be best to help after Amy went back to work. This is Jake. Sweet little baby.

Proud Grandpa!!

This is Maya-again proud grandpa!! Cute little girl.

Flowers outside of Nick's house. Everything was blossoming out while we were there.

Dogwood trees are very beautiful, some white, some pink, and I believe other colors too. While they are very pretty they are deadly on allergies. Oh My Gosh !!! My eyes were matted shut almost every morning. (My picture wouldn't go in right side up, but I wanted to show how pretty they were).

We had a fun time.

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Continuing on with goal # 16

Try two new recipes a month for six months.

Slow-Cooker Texas Chili

Lorin found this recipe on the internet and it sounded pretty good.

Ground up the meat (it calls for beef chuck but I talked Lorin into using ground beef) into very small chunks.

Put all the ingredients into the crock pot.

It didn't call for beans, but we added them anyway.

After 6-7 hours, some grated cheese, and topped with sour cream, yummmm. Finally found a keeper. We will make this one again.

#2 recipe for April

Turkey Lasagna

Mmmm looks so good. There were a few things we changed in the recipe like using sausage instead of turkey, we didn't have the correct cheeses, and a couple of different spices. Didn't really turn out very good. We ate it that night and Lorin ate some the next night, then we threw the rest away along with the recipe. Won't be making that one again.