You break it, you buy it.

My husband's been wanting something to hold his "cards" in, but did NOT want a bulky wallet. I don't blame him, those big wallets are annoying. So instead he grabs his driver's license, credit card, cash and his CDL something or other card and puts them in his pocket....a loss waiting to happen.

Well, I found some front pocket, slim wallets online but didn't want to hassle with shipping and waiting....not as patient as I used to be. Then I was at the evil walmart ( I say evil, because we usually try to avoid it like we avoid sin....it's dirty, poor service and overall a bad experience when we go, stand ye in holy places right?) and I was looking for men's front wallets/card holder thingies. Of course they have NO men's accessories except ties. Those won't work.

I head to look at the ladies wallets. I was trying to be resourceful, which I feel I'm pretty good at, and I opened the wallet you see below. Now, in the picture there are two pieces, in the store they were one. Oopsy.

I thought that the middle flap was not connected and being of the determined type....I yanked that thing right out thinking it was just stuck in there real good. In fact it was in there good, sewn in actually. But walmart quality=easy for me to rip out. And I've gotta be honest with you, I put it back together and slipped it back on the shelf thinking "whoops" then circled the men's clothing only to come right back, guilt stricken, pick it up and think "well, $7 is cheaper than the $17 I was going to pay AND I broke it so I need to buy it".

So I'm hoping Wade likes his new front wallet. And I feel good knowing I didn't damage merchandise then leave it for some girl to buy. Conscience is clear. Guilt is gone. Phew. :)

Popcorn perks at work

Why do I love the Old Maids so much?? Someone would make a killin if they just sold these yummy, crunchy, half popped Old women! ;)
Although I love those old maids, I love the popcorn just the same. Definitely a perk of working on the 3rd floor is having this glorious machine in our break-room!
Nothing quite like movie theatre popcorn at work! Yummy!

My bathroom REMODEL is done!

My favorite bathroom accessory: the toilet paper holder! Thanks to hobby Lobby for all the cute decor on the walls. My awesome husband did the tile in the shower and the floor. Check out this post for the before pics of the bathroom, it was tiny and cramped and yucky. This is 100 times better in my opinion. I just love it so much, the new white paneling/wanescoat/whatever it's called. And the grecian ivory paint (chosen by Wade...I couldn't for the life of me decide on a color and this is what he got...I LOVE IT). Basically it's all new with a cute new vanity that Wade brought home with him from Idaho (home depot special). Thanks to the hubs...he did it again! Made the old new again! Love him!!

 

 

 

Our 9 days...on VACATION!!!

Well of course we went to...Mt. Rushmore! (with a Sturgis dude next to us). love it.

 So this is a run down of our trip.  We drove to Rapid City, SD.  Crossed through the Badlands and drove and drove.  Wade is a great, enthusuastic driver!  Love him!  (actually Wyoming was LONGER drive and I got to do a lot of it too).

 We went to the OTHER face on the Mountain monument: Crazy Horse.  This is what it WILL look like when completed.

 This is what it looks like now...see the face and the hole for where the arm will be.  Yeah,  its a long process carving this guy and his horse in the mountain....because they won't use government funding to do so.  It is all based on donations and people coming to visit the place.  Crazy....horse..? 

We REALLY liked how we saw THOUSANDS (literally) of motorcycles while we were there.  Yup, we like that crowd, accidentally picked STURGIS week to go on our vacation to Rapid City.  It was actually pretty cool seeing all the motorcycles.  Pretty sure Wade wants a motorcycle now....but I kinda want one too. (to ride on the back of course, but I'm not sure I can look as tough as those chicks we saw riding on the backs...I can try). But seriously, the lady at the hotel said they average 500,000 bikers ride through during this week.  That's a lot of leather!

We went to a cute little park in Rapid City called Story Book park.  It had all these cool toys with giant replica's from stories (you name it, they had it...even three men in a tub? I don't remember that story growing up) Autumn loved them all...she wanted us to take her picture on everything, I made Wade sit on the Monkey swing with Autumn. What a trooper!

Then we made our way to North Salt Lake.  Drove ALL day across Wyoming, dang that's a wide state.  We played with my neices: Harley, Mylie and Quinn all week.  Then my mom and dad and Noah came and we had a blast.  The day after we got there was Quinn's 1st birthday!  She was so cute.  Wade and her had fun chatting!

 We went to Lagoon (regretfully, these are the only pics...) it was the 2nd ride and it was the Kiddie version of the Re-Entry or as it is called Egg drop.  It's where they take you up and then drop you like you are free falling.  Well, the kids wanted to go on it, so I got in line.  Wade wouldn't go with us.  this is me trying to telling him to "get over here...Now (with the pointer finger).  Didn't work.  So I stepped out and watched with Wade.  Good thing because it was by far the funniest ride to watch the screaming, bawling child that freaked out when the ride "dropped".  Oh wait....that was OUR screaming, bawling child.  Yup our 9 year old freaked out. We tried not to laugh but it was so dang funny.  Mylie who is 5 was looking at Autumn like "what is wrong with you?" not scared at all.

Then to the Hogle Zoo.  They are all Tigers?  or something...then with the Giraffe.  Then Quinn enjoying an ice cream cone! She's got this thing figured out!

Then before we left, I took Wade to Crown Burger in SLC.  You see, I love watching food channels.  And we enjoy Man Vs. Food on the Travel Channel.  Well this was on one day in ND and I told myself I am going to eat at this place when I go...and I did!  He made it look so good on TV.  It was a Pastrami Cheeseburger.  Pretty good, but Wade didn't think it blew his socks off.  I was just excited to go where the Man Vs. Food guy went.  :)

Then we went to Idaho Falls.  While we were there, we of course had to stop and check out Wade's handy log work at the Famous Dave's.  Look at those logs he coped!  Nice!! 

Sweet little Kallie Rae's blessing was on Sunday.  It was wonderful, I think someboday said there were 17 guys in the circle.  How blessed that little girl is to have so many priesthood holders hold HER in their arms!  It was fun to see the Hanson Family too!

 We also got to visit my Grandma Donna's grave in Shelley, man do I miss her bad!  She was one AMAZING woman!  My mom and dad pulled in right after we had left, so I didn't get a picture but they did! Love these two parents!

Then I cried driving back to ND thinking how much I love our Families!  What a good vacation.  Much needed and loved!  See you all at Christmas guys!

Going on Vacation! Finally!

We are totally going HERE:

And the next picture I post will be US standing in front of these Gents!

Then off to grand ol' Utah for some good family fun!

Next week I'll share the highlights! Until then....

Help! I'm a fingernail murderer!

Hi my name is Alexis and I bite my

Fingernails. I need help.

 

See my nails...:(  They are sad and they hurt sometimes too because I bite them so short.

I have one good pinky nail.  I'm so proud of it! But...I can't stop biting, I'm sure the pinky nail won't last long.

I stopped biting ONE time for my wedding so I'd have pretty nails. That's about the ONLY real time I stopped. Perhaps I should just get married everyday (not a bad idea since it was the most amazing day EVER).

 Any suggestions or home remedies that work?? Please comment on what I can do to quit. If this doesn't work then I'm going to Dr. Oz. :)

Who knew this grilled phenomena would be SO good!!

Grilled Pizza

I made this and took this picture seconds before I scarfed it down! If you've ever wanted to try this because 1. You've heard your friends did it or 2. Because it looks amazingly delicious....then do it!! It was super easy thanks to Miss Lara Tampas' amazing pizza dough and left over veggies from my Thai experience earlier this week.

Recipe?? Anyone?

"Awesome Pizza dough" compliments of South Annex cookbook

1 package of fast rising yeast

1 T sugar

1 T salt

3 1/2 C flour

2 T olive oil

1 C water

Heat oil and water together for two minutes in microwave.

Place TWO cups of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt into large bowl. When water is ready gradually mix it into flour mixture. Then gradually knead the remaining flour into dough until you have a smooth firm dough ball. Spray bowl and dough with cooking spray. Cover bowl with towel and let rise for at least ten minutes.

To grill. Use rolling pin to make 8-10 inch oval or round pizzas. It needs to be uniformly flat to grill evenly. Brush with olive oil on both sides.

Have grill heated. One side on high, the other side on low/medium. Place dough on the High heat side. Cook 3-4 mins. Until bubbly. Flip over onto Medium heat side, brush with olive oil (I mixed garlic and oregano in the oil) put shredded mozzarella cheese and toppings on then cover and let cook til cheese melts! Keep an eye on the bottom so it doesn't burn before the cheese is melted. My cheese didn't melt (because I put lots of toppings on) so I transferred it to an oiled cookie sheet and broiled it just until the cheese melted.

That's it!! Super quick really.

FYI my toppings were olive oil ( no tomato sauce, they say sauces can make grilled pizzas soggy), tomatoes, yellow and red peppers, red onion, spinach, chicken, mozzarella cheese.