How to Pick the Perfect Watermelon ~ Mid Week Munchies

With summer upon us and watermelons every where in the grocery stores; I thought I would share my tried and true method for picking the perfect, sweet, juicy watermelon. If your like my house, we love watermelons!! Summer just wouldn't be the same without them, but who wants a yucky, mealy, no-good watermelon.

Tried and True Method: See these little black bits on the scar of the watermelon? Believe it or not...that's sugar. These sugar bits are juice that has made its way out of the watermelon. It tells you the watermelon is sweet and juicy. These sugar bits can also be found on the ends of the watermelon. The more sugar bits the better! I have never picked a watermelon with these sugar bits and EVER been disappointed.

Happy Summer Everyone.

Boy Talk

I thought it would be fun to keep track off all the little topics of conversation the boys and I had this weekend. Boys are a funny bunch and their conversations are even funnier. In no particular order:

BigFoot, Yeti, Sasquatch ~ what he looks like and catching him.
Snakes
Food ~ my boys starvation level at any given moment
Rio and Cars ~ the movies
Surviving in the Wild
BB guns
Beef Jerky
Firecrackers ~ how un-dangerous they are!
Matches
Ghosts in the Graveyard
Mavs vs Miami Heat ~ NBA Finals
Eagles ~ what is the best bird anyway?!
Indian Arrow Heads
Starting a Fire
How many days til their next Birthday(s)
Bedtimes

Can you tell they have summer on the brain?? To cap the weekend off Thomas found me this morning and begged one more time to light {his own} firecracker. Our neighbor gave him a single firecracker and you would have thought it was a brick of gold! Top of my to-do list this morning: check and make sure we have fire insurance!!

Wasatch Back ~ Ragnar Relay

Next weekend I am running in Utah's very own: Wasatch Back. A 195 mile relay race from Logan, Utah to Park City, Utah. 12 runners run consecutive legs varying in distance and intensity. I am runner 5 and will be running a total distance of 14.6 miles.

I was approached to join the team a few months back and I thought "there is NO way I have a 5 month old", but there was a little voice in the back of my head saying: "You can do it!" "You can do it!". Now my baby is 8 months and is isn't quite so depend on me. My amazing, supportive husband is going to tackle the three kids while I tackle the hills, running at midnight and staying up for 30 + hours.

I know it sounds crazy, but I am really excited!! I know almost all the ladies on our team (we live in the same neighborhood) and they are awesome! Plus, I imagine being together in a van non-stop for 30 hours I'll get to know them all even better!!

Follow me on twitter and I'll keep you posted on my legs of the race and the relay in general.

S'More Birthday

My little guy is turning 6 today and we are having a "camping party"!! Roasting hot dogs and s'mores, camping obstacle course, and of course the tent and scary stories!!

Quilt Market Fun-0-Rama and more!!

I recently got a smart phone and have a fun little app called Instagram! It alters your photos in fun little ways and I love it!! (high pitched at the end) I used my phone to take all my pictures of Quilt Market. So take a peek and enjoy.

 The owner of Pine Needles here in Ut, had a booth with her ah-mazing quilts.

 Moda Booth(s) was ginormous! It was set up like a county fair. I love it!!

 New line of paper doll fabric!!

 Pam Kitty Morning booth ~ strawberry a-go-go!!

 Crabapple Hill Studios ~ there booth was breathtaking. My favorite!!

 The famous Fabric Tree.

Sarah Jane Studios ~ another Utah designer.

Quilt Market is creatively overwhelming. You just fall in love and think things can be any better and then you turn the corner and your blown away all over again. Thank goodness Quilt Market will be back again in Salt Lake City. I heard again in 4 years, hopefully sooner.

Quilt Market Fun-0-Rama!!

Quilt Market came to Salt Lake City last month and I was lucky enough to be able to attend. Four years ago, it came for the first time to Salt Lake and I had an amazing experience. This year I knew what I was in for and Quilt Market did not disappoint!! I took lots of pictures, bought home lots of loot and got inspired for months worth of quilting and creativity.

Here are some of the lucky take-homes I snagged. The ewww-ing and ahhh-ing that must begin. I love little take-homes!!! Magazines, fabric collections, buttons, fabric, little patterns, inspiration and more.

Cute, cute, cross stitch from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery!

 Sarah Jane Studios New Fabric Collections ~ she's from right here in Utah!!

Photos and more to come all about Quilt Market!

Huevos Rancheros ~ Mid Week Munchies

We are soooo in love with Huevos Rancheros lately, and in honour of Cinco De Mayo, I thought I would share this tasty Mexican breakfast entree.

Ingredients:
Cheese
Avocado
Sour cream
Tortillas
Black beans
Eggs
Homemade Adobo Salsa

Adobo Salsa:
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 fresh tomato chopped
2-3 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 medium onion chopped
1 clove of minced garlic
salt/ pepper
1 diced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce

In a small stock pot, saute onions and garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil. When the onions and garlic are translucent, add tomatoes (fresh and canned), chipotle pepper and cilantro. Allow to simmer for 20-25 minutes and reduce liquid. While the Adobe Salsa simmers, fry your corn tortillas. One tortilla per Huevos Ranchero.

The Huevos Rancheros requires a layered process to perfection! (Sorry, I don't know why my pictures are sideways!)

 Begin my placing a spoonful of black beans on your plate.

Place your tortillas on top of beans.

Add your Adobo Salsa

Place perfectly cooked over easy egg!

Add your toppings: sour cream, avocado and cheese.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!