the power of kindness

On Sunday, we talked about the power of kindness in a church lesson.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the busyness of everything that I'm doing that I forget to be kind.
I am going to try harder to be kind to my coworkers, customers, strangers, friends, and especially family and husband.  I want to be proactive about it, and go out of my way a little bit each day to be kind to someone.  I believe there is power in being kind.  I know because I have been on the receiving end numberless times.  Whether it's a smile, a compliment, a note, an act of service, a phone call, a text, a prayer, a conversation, a surprise, a treat, or a hug, it can make someone's day a little better.
If we were all a little kinder, the world would be a little better.

maggie

This past weekend, my family said goodbye to our Old English Sheepdog, Maggie.

I remember the first time we saw her at the pet store - she was a little fluff ball with one brown eye and one blue eye.  I cried when we didn't take her home right away.  I drew a picture of her and wrote a letter to my dad, saying I would love her and pick up her poo.

Maggie wasn't the smartest dog - we took her to obedience school when she was a puppy and she failed. She was too interested in all the other dogs to sit still.  She was kind of a spaz, always full of energy and happy.  One of my favorite memories is how she would run around the yard, and then scratch her back on the grass and kick her legs up in the air.

She was a part of our family for almost 15 years (which is realllllly old for a big dog).  I know she is having the time of her life in doggie heaven.  We miss you and love you Maggie!

diy: a leafy lamp

Are you enjoying this beautiful autumn as much as I am?? I love all the gorgeous leafy trees outside!  Here is a simple way to bring that magic into your home.  

 Gather a handful of leaves in a variety of shapes and colors.

Grab some clear scotch tape and tape away! (to the inside of the shade)

Voila!  An easy and free craft to add a little fall into your home.  :)

halloween recap

Last year - our first Halloween - we didn't do much.  We had only been home from our honeymoon cruise a few days and were getting settled into our new married life.  We were so high on being newlyweds, we didn't really care - we didn't even think about costumes!  We hung out at Dustin's parents' house and carved some pumpkins, and then watched "The Ring".  (That was my first time ever seeing it!)

This year we went over to my parents' house.  We had tons of fun Halloween food, and the witch's brew of course.  My mom was excited because this year she bought full-size candy bars for the trick-or-treaters.  She said she wanted our house to be the "cool house" to come to!  Haha.  My aunt and uncle brought their three little boys over and we took them trick-or-treating!  The husb and I dressed up as Hawaiian people and Dustin had fun playing his ukulele when we were walking.  It made me excited for when we have little Harpers of our own to take trick-or-treating!  Also - a comment about the weather - it was perfect.

Bubba wasn't too fond of his witch hat.  He would take it off and then try to attack it.

Aloha!  I want to go to there!

Hulk Hogan & Thor

The Rocker

halloween party

I think that the older I get, the more I love fall and Halloween.  I love decorating my home, baking fall goodies, enjoying the beautiful changing leaves, and partyin it up gangnam Halloween style! Here are a few fun pics from the party last weekend:

little red & the big bad wolf

pumpkin doughnut muffins

Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins!  I love fall baking and I love pumpkin so I was super excited to try this new recipe (from martha stewart).  It was a success!  The husband and all the coworkers raved about them.  Martha's description is the best: These muffins capture the essence of doughnuts with their cakelike interior and sugar-coated exterior. Flavored with pumpkin puree, they take on the feel of fall. So here you go:

Ingredients

• For The Batter

  • 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1 1/4 cups pure pumpkin puree (from a 15-ounce can)
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs

• For The Sugar Coating

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 12 standard muffin cups. Make batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions pumpkin mixture, and beat to combine.
2. Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup and bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Let muffins cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Working with one at a time, remove muffins from pan, brush all over with butter, then toss to coat in sugar mixture. Let muffins cool completely on a wire rack.

happy anniversary

Last week we celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary!  I can't believe it's been a year already, and yet at the same time it just feels like we've been married forever.  We are so happy and so in love!

Our anniversary was last Thursday - 10/11/12!  Dustin was on fall break so he didn't have school and I had to work but got off at 1:30.  (Normally on Thursday afternoons I leave work early to go play at the Grand, but I requested that day off from the Grand - I just didn't mention it to my boss. ;) )  My sweet husband brought me lunch and flowers at work!  

That afternoon, we went and did a session at the Draper Temple - where we were sealed.  That is my favorite temple!   It was touching being there and remembering our amazing sealing a year ago.  

Then Dustin surprised me and took me to the Roof restaurant in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  We had the best table in there with a perfect view of the temple.  And of course - that night we ate the rest of our frozen wedding cake!  And it was still moist and delicious!  We had the best cake at our wedding.  Seriously.  A little old lady from Murray made our cake - she is mostly retired, but she made our cake because we met with her and she liked us.  

Such a lovely anniversary!  I'm ridiculously lucky to be married to such a wonderful man who treats me so well and loves me so much.  Happy wedding anniversary to us! 

our temple

my husband spoils me with flowers and i love it