One Picture Thanksgiving

You guys, I was a really bad blogger this Thanksgiving. I took not ONE picture. Not one!!! I was photographed in one picture from the morning of Thanksgiving. I ran a half marathon with my friend.

 After the race I went home and got ready for the day. We headed up north to my Aunt's house for a spectacular dinner. (We stopped by the in-laws on the way up to say Hello). I ate my self silly and enjoyed company. It's not like I intentionally didn't take any photos I took my camera and my video camera with me. I just must have enjoyed myself so much being amongst my family that I didn't want to pull out my camera. I just relaxed and soaked in every moment! And most of all I was thankful!

Thankful for:
Family
Mia & My Hubby
Miracles
Gospel
Running
Great Friends

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving like I did.

Thanksgiving

 

 

 

I am thankful for.
-Family
-Candy
-Shopping
-Friends
-games
-movies
and much more. I am so thankful to have had such an amazing Thanksgiving week.

Thankful

 

 

Lets kick off thanksgiving week with thankful post number one. I am thankful for photos, specifically old photos. I find myself so often looking through all of our photos from when we were kids, I can't help but reminisce over the moments caught in just one photo.

Tidbits

Tidbits from our very happy Thanksgiving weekend

- Family reunion of 100+ people

-Pickle Ball, court pictured above. In our Family we like to call it old mans tennis.

-Late night "Pillow Talk" with all the girl cousins.

-Shopping

-Buying Levi Jeans, they are the best thing that have ever happened to me. Invest in them.

-Receiving unexpected texts from a boy that ask for it a month ago. Did I mention he is a junior in high school and I didn't respond because it'd actually be illegal to do so.

-Memorizing a picture slide show at 1 o'clock in the morning.

-Quoting the YouTube video from jimmy fallon. YOUUUU sneaky Mom!

-Playing cards.

-Eating delicious food.

-Spending time with the most incredible family ever.

-Having so many things to be thankful for!

Lets just say it was the best weekend ever and I was little sad to leave everyone, so we've just been heytelling each other everyday since then. Hope everyone else had as good of a Thanksgiving as I did. Lets be honest though... I bet my family beats yours cause they are the greatest and that's only one side. I just love me some family time. Can't wait till the next reunion, but until then.. we Heytell.

Much Love,

nicole

Be Grateful

November is such a great month. I love all the family oriented activities that go own this time of year. My personal favorite is the giant family reunion we have, I love getting together with all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I think my favorite thing about November though is that it gives us the opportunity to show our gratitude for so many things that in our daily life we tend to look over. I know you are all thinking (because I am thinking it too) that we should show our gratitude all year long, yes you are right we totally should. I truly am thankful all year long for the many wonderful things I have... especially for the people in my life like family, I just tend to think it rather than express it. Which is why November is so great, it gives us the opportunity to express our gratitude to the ones who deserve it most.

This brings me to my next thought.... the craft I made this weekend.  In my family we always use to have a thankful turkey? (yes that is what I am going to refer to it as) my brother made it in elementary and as you can imagine it isn't the most stylish thing. The idea of the thankful turkey though is something to hold onto. So we definitely used that thankful turkey for many years, and then we stopped. This year though I decided to bring out that thankful turkey in a way that was easier on the eye, hopefully you will all agree.

Didn't turn out too bad now did it!

Lets jut say I was quite pleased with myself and the craftiness I brought to our home. I should maybe consider quitting my day job, as well as school to pursue my crafty side. Yes I am proud and it is getting to my head, but guess what I don't even mind. Okay ya maybe I remember the time and season. BE GRATEFUL... I'll keep reminding myself that don't worry.

And here couple more things that would increase my gratitude towards my family (Mother)

Michael Jackson, The Experience.. from amazon for a steal of 20.98. Multiple uses... Family Home Evening, Friend gatherings, Laughs, etc. Most definitely would bring us together, just sayin'.

Justin Bieber Under the Mistletoe... also available for purchase at amazon in a CD/DVD Combo, Deluxe Edition for 16.59. This would definitely increase my Christmas Spirit which is lacking, and that isn't okay.. I need it to thrive.

Like I said, Michael Jackson The Experience and Justin Bieber Under the Mistletoe... It would increase my gratitude to like a 10. Think about it. Anywho, enough about me. Let's all be more thankful this month! Happy November.

A grateful heart is the beginning of greatness. -Elder James E. Faust.

Much Love,

nicole

Butternut Squash Soup

It's November. Can you believe it? This time of year goes by so quickly because of the Holidays. It will be Thanksgiving before I even have time to blink. Usually I dislike the winter months but I am kind of looking forward to the snow and the holiday season. Yes, it snowed last night here at my house and I am totally fine with it. Am I crazy? Ok, maybe just a little. But November brings me one of my very FAVORITE things.. Squash. Yep... squash! When I was growing up my dad would cook up a different kind of squash for Sunday dinner and this is when my love for squash began. My favorite squash? Butternut! Cook it with butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of brown sugar and you pretty much have heaven right there. But there is something even better... Butternut Squash soup. My dad usually makes it for Thanksgiving (it is one of the first courses on his elaborate menu) and it is literally to die for. I am not a fan of leftovers but I would re-heat this soup every day if I could.  This year I insisted on growing Butternut Squash in my garden for the sole factor of making it into this soup. To my delight I had a few squash just waiting to be picked as soon as the weather was turning cold. It really is pretty simple to make too...

Butternut Squash in all its glory. Get to peeling those squash!

 Cut off the bulb end

 Hollow out the bulb end and set aside... these will become your soup bowls.

 Dice the peeled squash and put into a large pot with stock and seasonings. Cook on medium heat for about 25 minutes or until the squash is soft and looks something like this...

 Cool it down just a little and throw it into your food processor for a quick puree.

 Heat back up in your pot. Whisk in your cream and cold butter. Adjust seasonigs as needed. Once it is warmed, put on low heat.

 Meanwhile, boil 10 C of water and place squash bowls into boiling water for approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from water.

 Immediately pour soup into squash bowl, top with whipped cream or sour cream and serve.

November is just not November without a bowl of this soup. Seriously delicious folks! I served this with some  Fabulous French Bread. Definitely a soulful meal to warm you up on those chilly nights!

ENJOY!!

XOXO,

Whitney


Butternut Squash Soup in a squash bowl
Adapted recipe from CEC Russ Barker

• 2 each butternut squash (approx 4" in diameter at bulb end) (if you want more than 2 squash bowls use more squash )
• 4 1/2 C chicken broth
• 1 T diced yellow onion
• 2 T ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pinch of Brown Sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 4 T cold butter
• 2 C Half & Half (May substitute with milk or heavy cream)
• 10 cups boiling water

• Peel squash with a potato peeler, cut off stem end. Remove all seeds, hollow out buld end and reserve. Dice remaining squash, place in stock pot with seasonings and broth and cook until squash is soft (approx 25 minutes). Saute onion until tender, then add. Chill slightly just enough to puree in food processor, then heat until hot. Whisk in cream. Add cold butter.
• Take squash bowls and place in boiling water for 3-4 minutes just until heated. Remove from water and drain. Place soup inside, garnish with dollop of whipped cream and a fresh cilantro leaf. Serve immediately.