{Utah, St. Patrick's Day, Baseball, Family, Friends}

Cason and I went to Utah this past weekend.  He had to go for work, so I thought I'd make a trip out of it and go with him.  I left on Wednesday morning, but he didn't get there till Friday night...busy season stinks.

The past 2 years I have missed the traditional St. Patrick's Day celebration, so I didn't want to miss it again this year.  My mom put together a delicious green dinner.

Pasta Salad with green noodles

pineapple/sprite drink mixture with green sugar coated rimmed glasses and a fresh lime

delicious ham and cheese sandwiches. 

 I don't know the official name, but they were so yum!

My favorite guacamole chips.  And of course, olives.

green jello, and yummy green cupcakes.

The decor

All the sisters in our green.  It was so good to see all of them!  

Lindsay came up to my mom's one night and we chatted till 12:30am. 

I miss those days.   

We all went to lunch, a movie for the popcorn, shopping, and just hung out.

It feels like I still live there when I visit.  

We start right where we left off.  

Sweet Owen.

I think I am his favorite.  Right when he saw me he came right to me and laid his head on my shoulder.

So sweet!  I miss the little guy.

(I know he does that to everyone, but still.)

I also attended many baseball games in the FREEZING cold!  We bundled up in blankets, sleeping bags, and coats.  It was fun, but very chilly.

Jeremiah #17.  It was fun to see my brothers play.  

I sure miss seeing all their baseball and football games. 

And last but not least, I went to lunch and ice cream with my friends.  It was fun to see everyone!  

(Sorry for those that came that aren't pictured)

Those are all the pictures I took...Cason and I went to a work dinner, watched the BYU game and went on a ride up the canyon.  He wasn't there for long and mostly did work stuff.  (thats why he's not pictured)

We miss you family!  It was such a fun trip and we would go back tomorrow if we could.  

I love this shirt from J.Crew, and I wasn't about to spend $30 for a tee.  Maybe $15.  Yes $30 isn't much for a shirt from J.Crew, but when you're on a budget you make do by making your own. 

I wanted to make it myself, so I went to Target and bought two of the same shirt.

One shirt I used as the one I will be wearing, the other I cut up!  

Cut off the bottom of the shirt so you don't have to deal with that finished hem.   

Step 1:  Next, cut about a two inch strip from the bottom of the shirt.

 Take a threaded needle and weave it in and out of the shirt.  It doesn't have to be perfect, because that's what gives it the different sized ruffles.  

Your finished ruffle should look something like this.  

Step 2:  Attach the ruffle to the center of the shirt about one inch down from the neck.  Pin and then sew.

Step 3:  Next, weave the ruffle back to the neck of the shirt as shown below.  Pin, and then sew.

Step 4:  Then, weave the ruffle towards the sleeve, sew and then towards the neck again.  Sew.

Step 5:  Next, cut another long 2 inch thick strip and repeat step 1.

Attach just under the neck of the shirt, next to the top ruffle.  Sew along the neck of the shirt. 

Step 6:  you should have leftover ruffle from step 5.  

Fold the ruffle under and pin about 1/2 inch under the previous ruffles. 

Keep doing the ruffle thing until it is about 1/3 of the way down the shirt.  It is very repetitive.  

Tip:  Make sure all your ruffles are around the same length.  I ran out of ruffle on some of my layers, so just make new ones and make it look like it was supposed to happen.  

As you can see I used pink thread instead of the coral color of the shirt.  You really can't tell.  Plus the majority of your sewing is covered.  That is what is great about this shirt!  You can't see the mistakes!

Here is the finished product!!

Target shirts=$10

Thread=already had. But you can sometimes find some for $.99

Total=$11-$13

You save=$19

I say that's a steal of a deal!!

Try it out!

Have you seen it yet?  

Very cute and summery too!  

this link will show it all to you, or go to your local Target to take a closer look.  

PS...Why are maternity clothes so not cute, unless they are a fortune?  

Frumpy, make you look huge, no cute swimsuits, and just ug.

JAM RECIPE

Ps. A few of you asked for the jam recipe below...all it calls for is:

strawberries

sugar 

and

pectin 

There are directions in the pectin box that will tell you how to make it with whatever fruit you want.  

My mom makes hers differently, so I did it that way.

Here is that recipe:

2 cups pureed strawberries

4 cups sugar

1 box pectin (for this recipe make sure it is regular pectin.  They have low sugar pectin too)

Puree strawberries in a blender. (we dont like chunks around here...but if you do, don't puree.)  

Slowly add pectin while blending.

Pour in a pan and add sugar.  Mix until sugar is dissolved into strawberry mixture.

Jam will be grainy from all the sugar, so turn stove on low and cook strawberry mixture until sugar is dissolved.  Doesn't take long.

Pour in containers and jars and let sit for about 30 minutes.  Then put in freezer or fridge.

Enjoy!!  

Tonight I decided I would cross of one of my goals for the year.  I went grocery shopping (which I dread doing by the way) and strawberries were on sale, so I decided to make homemade jam.  It was so so so easy!!  I have watched my mom make it a few times, but never from start to finish.  I had fun doing it!  I even found these cute labels from Eat Drink Chic.  

Cason walked in from work and said, "What? Do you think the world is ending?"  I made too much for just the two of us.  

But hey, that's why it's called FREEZER jam right?!

Baby #1: 15.4 weeks

You asked for it so here it is.  I am now 15 weeks and 4 days pregnant.   Who's counting though right?!  It's crazy how you keep track of the days and weeks.. I used to think I'd forget how far along I was, but when you are pregnant, the baby is pretty much all that consumes your thoughts.  So it is pretty hard to forget!  

 I am realizing more now than ever that this life is a big waiting game.  You are always waiting for something to happen or the next big milestone

...or at least I am.

In high school you wait to see who is going to ask you to the junior prom,

you wait to see what college you are going to attend.

In college you wait to hear what grades you got,

you wait to see if you passed that test,

you wait for that Mr. Right to come along,

and you wait for the day to graduate.

And now in pregnancy,

you wait to hear the babies heartbeat,

you wait to find out the gender,

you wait for the first time you get to feel that little baby move inside,

you wait till you are 15 weeks and then you make it and then have to wait till you are 20 weeks, etc. and then you are so anxious to see what that little baby of yours looks like.

Then when the baby is born

you wait for that first smile, giggle and wave,

you wait for that first crawl and/or step, and then life isn't about you anymore.

It's about that little baby or little babies who aren't so much babies anymore.

It's all a big game!  This game of life.   It is all so amazing!  Heavenly Father is so amazing and smart and did and does things for a reason.  And those reasons I am so thankful for!

This big waiting game thing is quite an adventure!  You would think all this waiting would get old, but it exciting!  There is always something new, and I love it!

I can't wait to meet our little baby girl!