more evidence of my addiction to garage sales

 dining table and chairs: $7

centerpiece: $3

set of 4 formal dining chairs: $18

4 framed mirrors: $1

2 3D shelves: $1

faith sign: $1 (bought a brand new item from Deseret Book 

at a garage sale for $1, then returned it for store credit)

3 Willow Tree figurines: $1

temple painting: $16 (90% off at Deseret Book)

 frame: $0.50

cooking utensil holder: $0.50

garland: free as a prize at a girls' night at Roberts Crafts

fruit basket: $0.50

clock: $1

plaque: $2

twig bunch: $0.25

wreath: free at a Roberts Crafts girls' night out event

 Ikea coffee table: $5

centerpiece: $1.50

lamp: free

plant: $1.50
4 pillows: $1 (purchased from my aunt, so it's not gross!)

set of 5 vases (3 pictured elsewhere): $10

table: $7

3 white vases: $1.50

2 candles: $1

black scripture plaque: free at a Seagull Book girls' night out event

mirror shelf: $3

2 wall candles: $1

set of 5 vases (2 pictured elsewhere): $10

frame above the door: $2

shelf on the wall:$0.50

frame on the shelf: wreath: free at a Roberts Crafts girls' night out event

picture in the frame: $1 (bought a brand new item from Deseret Book 

at a garage sale for $1, then returned it for store credit)

shelf: $3 (It folds out to be a CD holder with shelves inside, but it looks so much cooler this way!)

quarter couture

 shirt: garage sale, $0.50

belt: Sexy Modest boutique, $4.00 after coupon 

 earrings: Provo boutique, FREE after women's expo certificate

skirt: garage sale, $0.50

 earrings: Provo boutique, FREE after women's expo certificate

 shirt: clearance at women's expo, $5.00

skirt: garage sale, $0.50

belt: clearance at Charlotte Russe, $2.00

giraffe print shoes: garage sale, $1.00

 dress: garage sale, $0.75

earrings: women's expo, FREE for giving them my email address

necklace, ring, and belt: garage sale, $0.50 each

purse: garage sale, $1.00

cardigan: clearance at women's expo, $10

dress: garage sale, $0.50

belt: Sexy Modest boutique, $4.00 after coupon

earrings: women's expo, $4.00

favorite recipes

Mexican Chowder

1 lb. ground meat (we really like chicken for this recipe)
2 tbs. vegetable oil
1 envelope chili seasoning
2 2/3 cups cold water
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes with liquid
1 (14.5-oz.) can red kidney beans with liquid
1 cup macaroni noodles
1 (16-oz.) can corn with liquid
grated cheddar cheese for topping

Brown the meat in the vegetable oil in a big pot. Add the chili mix, water, tomatoes, and beans. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the macaroni and cook for another 10 minutes, until macaroni is tender. Add corn and heat again until the corn is warm. Serve hot, topped with cheese. Serves 4.


Oriental Honey Salmon

1/3 cup honey
3 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
4 (6-oz.) pieces salmon

In a small mixing bowl, mix all the liquid ingredients. Place the salmon pieces in a small glass baking dish, and pour about a third of the sauce over the fish. Turn each salmon piece over in the dish, so that the sauce will cover both sides. Place the dish in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

Butter the bottom of a frying pan. Cook the salmon over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, until the meat is golden. Remove the meat from the frying pan and add the remaining cause to the pan. Cook mixture over low heat, stirring until the sauce comes to a boil. Return the salmon to the pan, heat for a few more minutes, and then serve immediately. Serves 4.

memory

When I was young, my family and I made up a little game we would play on the way to church when we lived in Oregon. Just as we were turning into the church's parking lot, we would all chant  "How many Mormons in a row?" and then count to see how many cars in a row were also turning into the church. 

This game was irrelevant in Utah, where almost everyone was Mormon and half of the ward walked to church. But now that we live in California, I always peek in the rear-view mirror to make a quick count.

manicures

I 

love

doing my nails.

Every once in a while, I'll try to do a one-color manicure, but by day two, I get antsy and just HAVE to add a little something extra. I get so excited when it's time to design something new!

more of what it's like in Modesto

People jaywalk all the time everywhere.

Collecting cans for their deposits is a part-time job for a lot of people.

There are ice-cream trucks and garage sales in January.

the reality of over-eating

I love ice cream.

So when I eat it, I naturally want to eat a lot of it. And then my stomach inevitably aches. While enduring these aches, I persuade myself to not scoop so much next time, and I agree with myself whole-heartedly every time.

But then the next time, as I lovingly pack scoop after scoop of ice cream into my mug, I begin to doubt my conviction that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. How could this delicious treat hold any malicious intent towards my stomach? Why shouldn't I add one more scoop to this collection of yumminess? Wouldn't that make it even yummier?

No. It's that one extra scoop that damns me.

What a weakling I am! How long will it take for me to learn my lesson?!