How well do you know me?

A bunch of things you may or may not know about me:

1.  I don't know where to begin
2.  I was born in Washington
3.  I grew up in Lehi Utah...sort of...
4.  My family moved a lot
5.  I lived in Alaska,
6.  Arkansas,
7.  New York,
8.  Nigeria, Africa,
9.  Mumbles, Wales, Great Britain
10.  and now Arizona
11.  When I lived in Lehi, Utah it was a small farming community
12.  Now I think it is HUGE with too many people living too close together...Like Mesa...
13.  I used to ride horses
14.  I used to be a therapeutic horseback riding instructor, AKA Hippotherapy
15.  I love working with children who have special needs
16.  I especially loved/specialized in autistic children
17.  Someday in the far future I would love to open a Hippotherapy center
18.  I originally wanted to be an Occupational therapist
19.  Then I changed to Human Development
20.  Then I decided on Early Childhood Education
21.  But then I wanted to double major in Special Needs Early Childhood Education and Human Development
22.  But then I got married...and moved to Arizona
23.  Now I just want any degree
24.  I love going to school and learning
25   Originally I went to the University of Utah...GO UTES!
26.  I was accepted to BYU and decided it wasn't for me
27.  I did a study abroad while at the U
28.  I studied for 1 semester at the University of Wales in Swansea so I could live at home with my family
29.  I am now about 24 credits away from a bachelors degree...just waiting for life to calm down a bit so I can finish
30.  For now I fulfill my need for knowledge through library books and the internet
31.  I love finding craft and sewing tutorials online to try out
32.  My eyes change color with my mood
33.  If you had asked me 10 years ago if I would ever have a home birth I would have said, "Heck NO and are you CRAZY"
34.  Last November I had a home birth, it was FANTASTIC!
35.  I really love being a mother
36.  Sometimes I get really frustrated with my children...I still love them...a lot
37.  I am very surprised that we have not had any ER or Urgent Care visits with my kids
38.  I think I was a bit accident prone in my youth...I have broken more than Robert likes to hear about
39.  I was in a bad car accident when I was young, my youngest sister died at 13 months old.
40.  That experience changed me:
41.  I get a little crazy driving in the rain especially in August,
42.  I am obsessive about carseat safety...ask my husband I drive him crazy,
43.  and when my babies get to 12 1/2 months old I start to freak out about them dieing.
44.  I thank my Heavenly Father fore healthy, happy children who have all lived past 13 months old
45.  I have not been in any accidents since that one.  I thank my Heavenly Father for that too.
46.  I rode in an ambulance with the older gentlemen who hit us.
47.  He was a nice old man, turned out to be a friend of my family.
48.  His wife was very sweet too and for years after that brought us homemade chocolates every year at Christmas time.
49.  I'm not mad at him.  It was just an accident.
  Let's change the subject.
50.  When I was young and would tell my Grandma Biggs "I can't"  her response was, "Can't is a slugger too lazy to try," apparently I took it to heart.
51.  My theory for life is "How do you know you can't do something if you haven't tried."
52.  I also figure that if someone else can make it and sell it in a store, perhaps I could make it at home, that goes for cooking, sewing, and crafting.

53.   I recently tried crocheting again and was more successful than the last time, I made flowers for a headband for Katelyn.
54.  I like to sew
56.  I don't think I am a fantastic sewer
57.  I often rush through a project so excited to finish that I miss steps and it doesn't turn out as perfect as I would like.
58.  I don't like to use patterns
59.  If I do use a pattern I rarely follow all the instructions
60.  I have found I love machine quilting
61.  I don't think hand quilting is for me.  I'll leave that to the Amish and my wonderful Mother in law.
62.  My first job was sewing for my Grandma Biggs, she was a professional seamstress.
63.  My last job was working for SHARP, it is an alternative school for kids who get kicked out of their regular school.  I really enjoyed working there.
64.  I like to cook.
65.  I tend to not use recipes...I seem to have an overall issue with instructions...
66.  I like to try new things when cooking and see how much can be homemade
67.  The weirdest thing I have made from scratch is wanton wrappers...it began as a need for dinner and a lack of desire or money to go to the store and buy them.  They are pretty easy and VERY cheap to make.
68.  I really, really, really wish my home were spotless all the time
69.  But I really don't like cleaning all the time...so it's not spotless all the time
70.  I'm still trying to find a balance between having a clean home and not cleaning all the time
71.  I love my family
72.  I am enjoying watching my children grow and develop into awesome little people
73.  I look forward to the future with my family with joy and anticipation,
74.  I'm sure it will be full of trials but overall it will be wonderful.
75.  I think that is more than enough about me!

And that wraps up the month of me!  Now back to the family and our happenings!

Favorite Bread Recipe

I have been making bread for a very long time.  However I didn't start searching for really great whole wheat recipes until after I got married and have needed to do something with all that wheat we were storing up like the Prophet counseled...I mean no point in having it if you don't even know what to do with right? Right.   Anyway in my searching I have found a very good recipe for whole wheat bread.

Perfect Homemade Bread

www.everydayfoodstorage.net

Ingredients:

1 Tbs. Yeast	1 ¼ C. Warm Water
¼ C. Sugar	1 tsp. Salt
3 Tbs. Wheat Gluten	2 Tbs. Nonfat Non Instant Dry Milk
1 Tbs. Oil	1 Tbs. Vinegar
¼ C. Potato Flakes	2 ¾ C. Wheat Flour

 

Instructions:

If using a mixer: Add all the ingredients in the order listed.  Using a dough hook turn on mixer and let it knead dough for 12 to 15 minutes.

If making bread by hand: Add  everything except only add 1 cup of flour to yeast mixture and whisk together for 1-2 minutes until it looks a little stretchy and stringy.  Switch to a spoon and mix in the remaining flour adding a little at a time until you cannot add any more flour.  Turn out onto floured or oiled counter and knead for 5 to 10 minutes. 

If you are in a hurry shape into loaves, let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Or if you have time let dough rise until doubled, then shape into loaves, let rise again until doubled.

Bake at 375˚ for 25 to 35 minutes.

Favorite Goodies

Well, if you know me at all you know I love anything full of sugar.  I'll admit that sugar is my weakness.  But really I don't love everything full of sugar I just love homemade goodies full of sugar!  Here are a few of my favorite recipes that happen to be full of sugar.   (I really wish I had this many favorite vegetable recipes!)

Favorite Cookie Recipe- I can't pick which one I like better so you get both!

 Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Brandy Bond

These are my favorite cookies ever!  The recipe is based on Grandma Biggs’ Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

Ingredients:

1 C. Butter	1 C. Sugar
½ C. Brown Sugar	2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla	1 tsp. Baking Soda
¼ tsp. Salt	2 C. Oatmeal
3 C. Flour	1 ½ C. Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

Place the oven rack near the top of the oven.  Preheat oven to 375˚ to 400˚.

Cream butter, sugar, brown sugar and eggs. 

Add vanilla mix.  Add baking soda, salt and oatmeal, mix.  Add flour and then chocolate chips. 

Drop cookies on to cookie sheet. 

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden on peaks and edges.  Let cool for 30 seconds before transferring them to a cooling rack. 

Cornflake Cookies

Thomas Family: Ketchikan, Alaska

I first fell in love with this cookie when my family stayed at a fishing lodge in Ketchikan, Alaska in 1995.  The family that owned the lodge was kind enough to give us the recipe and I have been making them ever since. 

Ingredients:

1 C. Butter	¼ tsp. Salt
1 C. Sugar	1 C. Coconut-Optional
1 C. Brown Sugar	2 C. Rolled Oats
2 Eggs	2 ½ C. Flour
1 tsp. Vanilla	2 C. Cornflakes
¼ tsp. Baking Soda

 

Instructions:

Place the oven rack near the top of the oven.  Preheat oven to 375˚ to 400˚.

Cream butter, sugar, brown sugar and eggs. 

Add vanilla mix.  Add baking soda, salt, coconut and oatmeal, mix.  Add flour mix; and then add cornflakes. 

Drop cookies on to cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-11 minutes until golden on peaks and edges.  Let cool for 30 seconds before transferring them to a cooling rack. 

Favorite Pie Recipe-

Cream Pie  

Knighten Family

This is a recipe that has been handed down for many generations in the Knighten family. It is not your regular fluffy and light cream pie it is very dense and rich tasting.  Grandpa Knighten has told us the story of when he was a boy he would see his grandmother making this pie in a huge pie pan that one could barely wrap their arms around.  And when she dotted it with butter she used about a pound of butter!

Ingredients:

1 ¼ C. Sugar	1 tsp. Vanilla
1 C. Flour	1 ½ Pints Half and Half
Dash of Salt	1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 unbaked pie crust	Butter

 

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together except butter and nutmeg.  (No mixer required just a spoon or a whisk.)  Pour into an uncooked pie crust. 

Sprinkle 1 tsp. Nutmeg over pie and dot with about 2 Tbs. Butter cut into small pieces.

Bake in a 375˚ oven for 1 hour or until a knife inserted near the middle comes out clean. Serve hot or cold.

Favorite Brownie Recipe-

Frosted Marshmallow Brownies

http://bakingblonde.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/frosted-marshmallow-brownies/

Ingredients:

¾ C. Butter	1 ½ C. Sugar
3 Eggs	1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/3 C. Flour	½ tsp. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Salt
3 Tbs. Unsweetened Cocoa
3-4 C. Mini Marshmallows

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla beat until fluffy.In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa. Stir to combine. Add the flour mixture to creamed mixture. spread in greased 9×13 pan.Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with marshmallows, return to oven 2-3 mintues, or just until marshmallows are soft.
Remove from oven. Using a knife dipped in water spread the metled marshmallows evenly over bars.

Frosting:

6 Tbs. Butter	6 Tbs. Milk
1 ¼ C. Sugar
½ C. Mini Marshmallows or 5 Large
½ C. Chocolate Chips

Combine butter, milk and Sugar in medium saucepan and melt over med-low heat. Stir constantly until combined. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Add marshmallows and chocolate chips. Stir until marshmallows and chips are melted.  Remove from heat. Allow to cool and thicken slightly. Pour and spread over marshmallows on bars.
Allow to cool before cutting and serving.

My Favorite Craft Blogs

I feel like I have already posted about this.  If I have, sorry skip this and move on to the next post.
Here are my two favorite craft blogs.  I tried to pick a favorite but I can't.  I love that they are both moms and they enjoy making things for themselves and their kids.

I love:
baby tights pattern and tutorial  (I have made quite a few leggings and shorts for Katelyn from this pattern, they were essential to her "anti-diaper-removal-outfits" )
cute Buttercup bag pattern, haven't made it yet, but plan to
fold up and snap bib pattern, again haven't made it yet, but plan to

I love:
That she shows you how to make new clothes for you children out of your old clothes, what a great idea when you're trying to save money!
Lots of tutorials
Make your own patterns tutorial.  I have learned a lot from it.
The Shirt Dress tutorial, I have made it a couple times and it turns out SO CUTE every time!!
She talks about making your own swimsuits!!  I love my homemade swimsuit!!
Freezer paper stenciling, I didn't even know such a thing existed until she told me.  :)  Now I have a huge roll of the stuff...PLEASE come get some if you want to try it, I have what looks to be a lifetime supply.  :)
Tutorial on crib sheets...Have you seen how expensive crib sheets are, this is a way better option!  Note to self: you still haven't bought fabric for the crib sheets you need to make. 



I love how both women just go with it and don't always have a pattern.  (that's my style)  I also love that they make everyday clothes for their kids to wear.  Sometimes I forget that I don't have to just sew fancy church clothes for my kids: I can also sew them jeans and t-shirts too.  I love that they inspire me to just do it!

Do you have any great craft blogs?   If you do let me know, I'm always looking to expand upon my craftiness.

My most favorite person ever!

That would be my best friend, partner in crime, eternal companion, father of my children and all around awesome husband Robert! Today we are celebrating our 7 years of wonderful marriage!
 

WOW 7 YEARS!!

This is the first anniversary that we aren't together.  He's in Chicago for some work training and I miss him more than words can describe.  He is truly my best friend.  He is the only one I want to be with 24/7.   I tell him everything.  And wish he didn't have to work so we could do everything together.

Things I admire about him:
He is a hard worker
He is kind and loving
Once he puts his mind to doing something he gets it done no matter what
He is very good about doing my "Honey Do" list
He is willing to help everyone
He manages money extremely well
He is always willing to help me with my projects--building cabinets, putting up shelves refinishing cabinets, hanging pictures, even canning peaches! 

I can't believe we have been best friends for 11 years and we have been married for 7 great years.  I look forward to the years to come.  I know they will be great.

If you wanted to know how we started out check out Our Love Story.

Anyone need a reminder of what 28 candles look like?

Well, it's a lot of fire, that's for sure!

Don't you love how Michael strategically placed 4 candles in a row?  It makes the flames even more impressive don't you think?  It has been awhile since I have had more than two or three candles on my cake so to have all 28 was actually kind of fun!

The cake wasn't as pretty as Martha Stewart's cake but it sure tasted delicious and that is what matters.

On my birthday I was surprised and excited to get an Edible Arrangement delivered to my door!

We all enjoyed it for the next three days.  :)  I never thought of dipping apple slices in semi sweet chocolate but it was surprisingly good.  So thank you, thank you, thank you Dad, Mom, Josh Nikki and Joe for the delicious fruit arrangement.  We ALL LOVED it!

My week of birthday celebrations was fun and unfortunately will be ending soon.  Thanks to everyone for the cards, money, gifts, phone calls and visits it helped make my week wonderful.

My favorite homemade cake recipe

I love, love, love this cake!  The only thing better than eating this cake is eating this cake frozen!  It is dense like a brownie and topped with a fudge like frosting - SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!  You can bet this is the cake I will be having for my birthday tomorrow!

Click here for the cake recipe and here for the frosting recipe

My favorite vegetable recipe

Green Beans

From--Amy (in my Ward)

 Ingredients:

2 Tbs. Butter	6 Garlic Cloves Minced
2 tsp. Flour	½ tsp. Red Pepper Flakes (or less)
1 tsp. Fresh Thyme Leaves	1 ½ lbs. Fresh Green Beans
1 C. Low Sodium Chicken Broth	1 Tbs. Lemon Juice

 

Instructions:

In a skillet, sauté butter and garlic over medium heat stirring constantly until garlic is golden; 3-5 minutes. 

Stir in flour, red pepper flakes and thyme. 

Toss in green beans.  Add broth and increase heat to medium high.  Cover and cook until beans are partially tender but still crisp at center, about 4-7 minutes. 

Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally until beans are tender and sauce has thickened slightly.  About 4 minutes. 

Remove from heat and add lemon juice and salt and pepper as desired. 

My favorite craft of all time

My favorite craft of all time is probably scrapbooking.  It has evolved over the years from funky with lots of stickers...if you scrapbook then you know the 90's like pages I'm talking about to using lots of stamps, making things very elaborate, just throwing a few pictures on a page and writing the names underneath (I don't know if that is actually considered scrapbooking though) and now it is at 90% digital.

I now really love digital scrapbooking.  I have a back up copy should anything happen to the original printed page, I can do it any where with no mess, I think it takes up less of my time than it paper scrapping and it is much cheaper because all I pay for is to print it. My favorite scrapbook program is Photoshop Elements, it's the only one I have used and will probably ever use.   

My latest project was a book of Katelyn's first year.  (yes I know I'm behind, just because I said it goes faster doesn't mean I can keep up with it all)

Coming soon:

 One Month of 

Brandy's Favorites!  

Because I can and because its my birthday month I am going to do a bunch of post all about my favorite things!  

Things to look forward to:

*favorite bread recipe, pie recipe, cake recipe (homemade and not so homemade), cookie recipe

*favorite food blog

*favorite craft blog

*favorite kitchen appliance
*favorite child...haha, just kidding...sort of...

So stay tuned to learn way too much about me this month!