Handful of Tangerines

Here's wishing you a sweet weekend full of fresh picked tangerines!

Mmm... I hope my mom's tree still has some.

{image via brown dress}

Happy Weekend!

Hello darlings! Happy Friday!

Husband and I are headed to the beach this evening to enjoy the warm weather (I heart CA), have a bonfire and celebrate a friend's birthday. And then tomorrow I'll be heading to a Relief Society conference. Not a bad way to spend a weekend if you ask me.

What are you up to? Sparkly plans and spikey heels? Or comfy plans and cozy blankets?

Weekends, Corn Dogs, and another reason I love my husband

My husband should be sainted for putting up with some of my hair brained schemes. Like last week when I wanted to throw a make-your-own-corn-dog party for my Sunday School class and he spent the week listening to my recipe ideas for everything from onion rings to deep fried snickers bars and then spent his Friday afternoon peeling potatoes for homemade french fries.

And then when I found out I had inadvertently planned this party for the same night as the other high school's Homecoming football game, and most (actually ALL) of the class wouldn't make it, he rallied his forces and managed to have 9 of our friends and family there half an hour later to help us eat the truck load of food that we had made and have our own little party playing Catch Phrase, Blockus Trigon and Ticket to Ride.

And instead of giving me grief for all of my extravagant and pointless planning, he just helped me do dishes. Lots and lots of really greasy dishes. See what I mean about the sainting? If Mormon's had saints, I would nominate my husband.

So here is what I learned this weekend:

1. Three onions make A LOT of onion rings.
2. Ikea does sell extra shelves for my bookshelf. Hallelujah.
3. If you are throwing a party for teenagers and expect them to show up, be sure to tell their mom's about it.
4. My in-laws will drop everything and come over for an insta-party if you use the words food and games. They are my kind of people.

Going Camping!

LA Weekend

My amazing weekend started a little early when my sister came into town on Thursday night and we got manicures and pedicures. It's been awhile for me and I don't think I've ever enjoyed a pedicure that much. Plus, I'm loving the OPI Russian Navy color that I got.



















Friday night, IKF and I stayed in and I got to try all of the recipes I've been itching to get to this week while he worked on a paper. I test drove the Apple Dumpling recipe, which got rave reviews. SO easy! SO delicious! I also tried a new Candy Cookie recipe that I'll post shortly. My Sunday School class couldn't get enough of the peanut butter cups in peanut butter cookies.

Afterwards we watched the FIRST Harry Potter movie, thus beginning our Harry Potter Movie Marathon leading up to the release of the next movie in November. I couldn't get over how cute Harry, Ron and Hermione were back then!

Saturday was the best, however. The inlaws organized a trip to the LA Temple and then the traditional dinner at Junior's afterwards. It was my first time in the giant, gorgeous, Los Angeles Temple. Going their and then eating at the famous deli afterwards felt like a right of passage. Plus I love my inlaws, we have a really good time together.

I got the potato pancakes. Dip them in sour cream and applesauce and you're in heaven. It had me missing Veselka like crazy though.

Sunday was church, naps and family! Aaaaaaand more baking. Because, that's what I do. Mom had all the right ingredients, so after a rousing game or two of Blockus3D, we pulled out the old stand-by: Chocolate Cover Cherry Cake. A few people opted to try the apple dunplings instead and were well pleased.

How was your weekend? Do anything different?

Next weekend I've got my fingers crossed for camping....

Weekend in Santa Barbara

IKF and I had plans to spend this weekend in Las Vegas with some friends, however, when our friends got sick we were left with a wide open weekend and no plans - Hence, Santa Barbara! It's nice to have family that live in beautiful places.

Saturday morning we woke up to a beauitful foggy day and I practicallly bounced IKF out of the house and downtown to the Farmers Market. Which is heaven.

We got bread, cheese, pluots, figs, black berries and the most delicious white raspberries. After a few laps around the market enjoying the fresh smells and hippy parade, we took our fresh finds down to the beach and ate them on the sand. It was basically a perfect morning.

Later on we checked out the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, which is currently featuring an exhibit on Contemporary Korean Photography.

After a visit to the turtles in the pond on State Street, we grabbed delicious burritos at the Sandbar.

After some afternoon downtown time, (read - movies, nap, games) we ventured out for a stroll down State Street and ended up enjoy delicious Indian Food at Spice Avenue.

With very full and very hapy tummies we went back to the house and I introduced IKF to one of my favorite all time movies: The Interpreter. Brilliant acting, spot on writing, engaging plot line, intriguing mystery. Sooo good.

Sunday featured lunch with the family clan and a leisurely drive home accompanied by Harry Potter Book 4 on CD.

How was your weekend friends?

Karate Kid and Wii

The highlights of my weekend were playing Wii with my husband and seeing the new Karate Kid movie, which I certainly recommend.

Jaden Smith is impressive. You just can't help but love that kid. The movie is predictable, but still loveable, and some of the scenery is nothing short of stunning. Have you seen it? What did you think?