Dear Mom and Dad-
Guess what?

It's snowing. A lot.

I must say it does look kind of pretty with all the white snow on the green grass and trees.

Not sure your lilac tree would agree.

Like the pool that looks like it is our yard but it's really the neighbors?!? Not sure why they decided to put it right beside the fence... probably so I can just jump the fence and go for a swim.

Now if only it would stop snowing and go back to the 30 degree (90 Fahrenheit) weather we had 2 weeks ago.

Love-

your favorite daughter

Happy Birthday to YOU! part 2

It's that magical time of year again.... MY BIRTHDAY.

2 years ago I shared with you a bunch of things you could sign up to enjoy on your birthday (click here to check them out)

Today I will share with you a few more I have discovered. And as far as I know they are all good in the U.S. and Canada (unless otherwise noted).

Papa Murphy's
free cookie dough with the purchase of any pizza (and coupons throughout the year)

Orange Julius
free 16 ounce Julius Fruit Drink (and coupons throughout the year)

Pizza Delight (only in Canada- big in the east with only a few locations out west)
free meal ON your birthday (and a coupon when you sign up)

Lofthouse Cookies
coupon for free cookies (I haven't received mine yet for this year. hmmm...)

Michaels- The Knack
coupon for store discount during your birthday month (and coupons throughout the year)


Sign up today and have an even happier birthday whenever that blessed day arrives.

Please share if you know of any other birthday deals!

Dear Mom and Dad-

It has been a long time since I last "wrote" (even though I send you several emails a week!). My excuse for this past week is that it was SPRING BREAK!

As you know, I headed to Idaho and Utah where I was able to visit with a few friends. Not as many as I would have liked but that will just mean another trip in the near future!

One of the reasons I headed south was to attend General Conference. I got to go to both Sunday sessions and it was delightful. Thanks to my friends "presidential" connections we sat just 13 rows from the Prophet. So neat. I could make eye contact with the Quorum of the 12.
I so badly wanted to take pictures but since I was surrounded by family members of the people on the stand I was making eye contact with, I felt a little awkward.

After the morning session I was turning around to leave our row and who did I come face to face with? Sheri Dew. Oh my. I apologized and she kindly said "that's okay". (that may not have been her exact words but it was something to the effect of it being okay that I almost chest bumped her).

Don't worry- even after my brushes with fame I am still the same humble, wonderful daughter you remember.

Lots of love-
your humble, wonderful daughter

Dear Mom and Dad-


Last night my roommate and I went to the ward party- a Dessert Cruise. It was fun. And made me want to go on another cruise! When you came in they took your picture. You then could watch a movie in the primary room, do aerobics in the young women's room, golf in the relief society room, games and karaoke in the gym. Then came the dessert. mmm. I decided to make No Bake Peanut Butter Toblerone Cheesecake (click here for recipe).


I LOVE making desserts but something always goes wrong when I make something to take somewhere. Well I should have been smart and cut it up before- but I didn't. Someone (who will remain nameless) had to come get me to find out if they should take my dessert out of the pan. Apparently they have never used a springform pan before. So I removed the rim and she immediately began cutting it like squares. That kind of disturbed me since it was in a circular shape. And cheesecake. Whatever. It was really soft since it was supposed to be refrigerated and it had been sitting on the kitchen counter for over an hour. My roommate actually had to go get it from the kitchen because they hadn't brought it out and it was one of very few desserts she could eat (gluten free other than the crust).


I didn't have any until today. When I took it out of the fridge I realized that no one had eaten the crust. (you can see the pan in the picture where I cut the crust). It may look nasty but it was tasty. But with peanut butter AND toblerone- how could it not?? I think it is funny that the one time my crust isn't crumbly and falling apart it gets stuck on the bottom of the pan!


Back to the cruise... after eating desserts they had a Guess Whose Legs contest. 7 men hid behind a curtain on the stage showing nothing but their legs. I guessed 3 out of 7 right. Then there was a fun and entertaining "talent" show. The Elders played ukuleles and sang the Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World song. I wonder if both of them knew how to play or if one taught the other. All of the other numbers were wonderful. It was a great evening and you were asked about by several people.


I am sick again- the last time (only a few weeks ago) I was congested. This time it is my throat. I sound like a man and may possibly lose my voice. I am subbing the next 3 days for a friend while she goes to the Olympics. So if I don't lose it from that, all will be well.


Love-
Your sick daughter

Dear Mom & Dad-

Happy Valentine's Day!

(even though it was yesterday for you!)

I made these cookies for my primary class.

Gotta suck up on my first day of being their teacher.

Love-

Your sweetest daughter

Dear Mom & Dad-
Tonight was the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics. There is a whole lot of excitement buzzing throughout all of Canada.

All of the excitement made me realize I never shared with you the pictures I took of the Olympic torch. It was pretty exciting having it so close- just down the street. Since I had the day off, I had to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Here it is right before everyone showed up. (It reads Canada welcomes the world).
Here are some fun ladies that got all decked out. Sadly I forgot my maple leaf toque, sweatshirt, facepaint and ribbon at home. The flame is being passed- you can't really see it. The previous "runner" was in a wheel chair. As it passed right in front of me. Look at all the people!! And there it goes.

It was over pretty quick. But so neat. I sure wish I had the means to head to Vancouver to enjoy some events in person. Since I don't I will enjoy them from the comfort of the couch!

Let's go Canada!!

Love-

your proud to be Canadian daughter

Dear Mom and Dad-

Last Friday night 4 of your granddaughters, 1 grandson and 1 of your OTHER daughters sleptover. It was a delightful evening consisting of some delicious appetizers- such as Brontosaurus stew, Polar Bear Pancakes and Triceratops Soup. mmmmmm.

And thirst quenching beverages. We ended the evening with a Barbie movie and popcorn.

Saturday morning began with Elmo & Cookie Monster waffles. I had finished up a bottle of syrup 2 days before on my french toast and just assumed there was more in the storage room. But there was none to be found. Luckily I remembered a recipe I copied down this summer after having waffles at my friend Martha's house. So while I made the waffles, Kristi made the syrups and all feasted and enjoyed.

Apparently your granddaughters have requested that their mothers make the syrup for them so I promised I would share the recipe. Hopefully you will have an opportunity to try it in the Philippines. If not, I promise to make it for you upon your return.

It isn't healthy. But it is delicious.

Cinnamon Syrup (makes a BIG batch so you will likely want to half it)

1 cup corn syrup
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup evaporated milk

Heat everything except milk in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Then add milk.

*when you reheat syrup- don't bring to a boil.


I hadn't tried this next one before but Martha told me it was delightful so I copied it down as well. And boy, am I glad I did. So scrumptious.

Buttermilk Syrup

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon light corn syrup

Combine all ingredients in saucepan. Melt butter and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add:

1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla


Love-
your waffle-eating-everyday-until-the-syrup-is-gone daughter

p.s. these syrups would be a FABULOUS way to celebrate the upcoming Pancake Day- February 16th.

Dear Mom & Dad-
I went to the temple tonight. It was lovely- of course. Saw lots of familiar faces- and they all asked about you which I of course LOVE to talk about.
But unfortunately they also asked "Are you teaching?" To which I hate to talk about. Because I am not teaching. And I want to be. So I feel like a big loser. But the temple made it all better.

On my way home I swung by this place- It truly is delightful. So many fun things to dream of buying. Or wonder who in the world would buy (and eat!). They do have a selection of gluten free goods. Since my new roommate is celiac I thought I would try to buy some gluten free flour and pasta so I could make food that she could eat. I don't know yet what I am going to make- but be at peace as I will let you know what I make when I make it.
I am a little hesitant though since I made Puffed Corn Squares (rather than Puffed Wheat Squares) on Saturday. Luckily I had some before she came home. I was watching a movie when she arrived home so I told her they were available for her consumption. Well after the movie I went in the kitchen to find that she had eaten the ENTIRE PAN. I was shocked. And kind of mad. Don't people know that you should leave the last piece for the person who made it?

some people.

So what will she do if I make cookies, or banana bread. Or muffins. I would like to try some since I have never had gluten free cookies, banana bread or muffins.

Maybe I just need to be more charitable. Or like your grandson Taylor and shove as much in my mouth as I can in case it does all disappear before I finish swallowing. :)

Love-
your most charitable daughter