This AMAZING willow playhouse by wove was spotted on Etsy ($2,300). It is so pricey and I would only buy it if I were ridiculously rich, but we can all still appreciate it right!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Creamy Tomato and Rice Soup
-1 cup long-grain white rice-1 1/2 cups of water
-28-ounce can diced tomatoes
-1 large yellow onion
-6 cloves garlic, peeled
-1/2 teaspoon dried basil
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-2 sprigs fresh rosemary
-salt and pepper to taste
-15-ounce can tomato sauce
-1 cup chicken broth
-1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
-1 cup fat-free half-and-half
Heat the oven to broil.
In a small saucepan, combine the rice and water. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce to simmer and cook for 20 minutes. When the rice is done, remove it from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, drain the can of diced tomatoes by pouring them into a mesh strainer set over a medium bowl. Use a silicone spatula to press the tomatoes to extract as much juice as possible. Set the juice aside.
Transfer the diced tomatoes to a rimmed baking sheet. Add the onion, garlic, basil, and olive oil. Strip the leaves from rosemary sprigs and add them to the tomatoes and onions. Toss everything to coat well. Season with salt and pepper.
Broil the tomato mixture on the center rack for 4-minutes, then gently stir. Broil for another 4 minutes, or until the onions and tomatoes begin to brown.
Transfer the mixture to a blender, then add the reserved tomato juice. Puree until smooth.
When the rice is ready, add the tomato mixture from the blender and set over medium heat. Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth and balsamic vinegar. Heat until warmed through, then stir in the half-and-half.
Garnish with fresh basil & sour cream
So yummy.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
vegas shows
We are going to Vegas over Presidents Day weekend. I want to hit a show. Any recommendations? If not, we might go to "LOVE."
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
neither fish nor fowl
I am starting to appreciate graphic design more and more. I like this little poster of "Man Hat Tan" by Jim Datz of neither fish nor fowl.
Monday, January 26, 2009
100 things about me.
I always think these are a great little way to get to know someone. But if you are not in the mood... skip it!
1. When I was little, I was a huge tomboy and still have an extensive basketball card collection somewhere that I have no idea what to do with.
2. Some favorite movies growing up were "Adventures in Babysitting," "Harry and the Henderson's," & “Matilda”.
3. When I was little, I always played in the gully. One time my brother and I followed the gully stream under all of the roads all the way up to the zoo. We could see the giraffes on the other side of the underground tunnel! Where was my mom?
4. My first crush was on Nelson Fortier in third grade. I kissed him on the cheek on the last day of school and then ran away!
5. I LOVE going to movies.
6. I get anxious about being late, and I especially HATE making other people late.
7. I love playing soccer and lacrosse.
8. I played lacrosse for Utah State University and the University of Utah.
9. I am the Commissioner of Girls High School Lacrosse and sit on the Board of Directors.
10. My whole family can sing... except me. It is (was) so annoying that people assume I can sing because of it.
11. I love the outdoors. Mountains, Lake or Ocean... can't choose just one. I love them all.
12. One of my best memories is when all my siblings would blast "New Kids on the Block" or "Billy Ocean" and sing into our wire whisks.
13. The first kind of music I got into was musical soundtracks... "Annie," "Les Mis," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
14. The first CD I bought was Tom Petty "Heartbreaker."
15. I played soccer, lacrosse, and one year of basketball in high school.
16. My dad has Multiple Sclerosis
17. My father was a competitive runner and dove in college.
18. I love to play lacrosse with my two sisters Kate and Laura.
19. My husband Adam is one of the funniest people I know.
20. I married my high school sweetheart.
21. I'm pretty low maintenance with hair and makeup and household stuff.
22. I was a Chi Omega at Utah State University.
23. I have a habit of driving my car with NO music on at all and I barely notice it. I must like the silence.
24. I love trying to be creative. I lose my steam on projects fast though.
25. My favorite TV shows are Lost, Bones, The Office, Criminal Minds, Veronica Mars, CSI, and some other randoms.
26. Thrift shopping is my favorite.
27. So... sometimes I drive with music in my car but it drives Adam crazy because I literally will have the same CD in for months. I don't even notice.
28. I am 5'2."
29. Motherhood has been the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.
30. I got hit by a truck when I was seven.
31. I have never broken a bone.
32. I like being active: running, biking, whatever.
33. I love snowboarding but do not go nearly enough.
34. My sisters are my best friends.
35. My husband is an amazing golfer. I have a love/hate relationship with golf... but it makes him happy so I am thankful for that. I think everyone should have a passion like Adam's love for golf... well maybe not to that extreme. He recently drove to St. George (4 hours) to golf 18 holes and turned around and drove home that afternoon!
36. Hulk Hogan once brushed my arm in a store in Maui. He is gross.
37. I graduated from the U of U in Health Promotion and Education.
38. I have always been awful at math. I really NEVER tried though. I partially blame it on Ms. Landerous (4th grade) at Uintah Elementary School. She was a little heavy on the creative side, light on the math side. I am still unsure about long division!
39. I worked at a gas station with my friends ALL through high school. good times.
40. I had two scholarships to play lacrosse in college. Denver University and University at Albany N.Y.... didn't take either of them.
41. I have to chew gum at night when I am sleeping!
42. I absolutely loved Jr. High.
43. For some reason... every time I go to the dentist, I have at least six cavities! I brush AND floss. Thanks for NOT flouridating water.
44. I am generally a happy person. I'm especially happy if Adam is happy.
45. I have recently found a love for photography and graphic design.
46. I received a guitar for Christmas last year but I have still not given it the time of day.
47. I cannot do hair AT ALL. Poor Ruby.
48. I was the Sophomore Secretary in High School.
49. Me and my friends were such trouble makers in high school. Our favorite thing to do was to turn off people's house power... betcha didn't know that you could do that very easily from outside!!
50. I have been all over the U.S. and to Guatemala, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Next up is Europe.
51. I am fascinated by crimes, criminology, and serial killers. Is that weird. "Criminal Minds" (TV series) is so interesting.
52. Adam and I love Sushi.
53. Blueberries are one of my favorite foods.
54. The first concert I went to was Brittney Spears in high school.
55. I got my ears pierced my freshman year of college.
56. I was a summer camp counselor in Maine one summer. I love Maine.
57. I am such a bargain shopper. I hate paying full price for anything.
58. I have five siblings. Three sister and two brothers. I am the fourth.
59. My mom has 13 siblings! I don't even know how many cousins I have (on my mom's side)... somewhere in the sixties!
60. I want four or five kids.
61. I’ve never had a Big Mac or Whopper
62. I work from home for a retail lacrosse store, maintaining their website.
63. I used to do 8 back flips in a row on the trampoline.
64. My first car was a beater Ford Bronco.
65. Brownies are my weakness, so I don't make them.
66. I am not a cake person. I would rather have pie or cobbler.
67. Costco churros and polish dogs are a must.
68. In my dream house, I would have a well stocked underground bunker/safe-house. I never leave that detail out of my "dream house" thoughts. Is that strange?
69. I had bifocal glasses when I was really little because I had a lazy eye. I would hide my glasses, I hated them so bad. I had eye surgery when i was about 4 and bye bye glasses. Sometimes when I am day dreaming in a daze or really tired... Adam calls me "lazy eye" because my eye wanders a little!
70. My siblings teased me by calling me "Molly McButter" when I was little and I absolutely hated it.
71. I drink too much diet coke.
72. I hate sauna's but I love steam rooms.
73. In college I spontaneously dyed my hair black. It lasted for about a month.
74. I love Mexican food
75. I drive too fast.
76. I love taking l-o-n-g hot showers
77. I talk a lot. I have a very slight lisp that I never realized that I had until I heard my voice.
78. I oh so wish that there was no black tea in chai tea.
79. In college I discovered that one of the funniest things to do is run around in nude colored spandex at night.
80. The most fun thing I have ever done is run down a volcano Guatemala.
81. A few of the prettiest places I have been are Lake Atitlian in Pananchel (Guatemala), Manuel Antonio (Costa Rica), the top of Vail Ski resort in the summer (Colorado), Mayan ruins Tikal, Tulum & Chichen Itza (Guatemala, Mexico), & Lake Powell.
82. I love meeting new people and making new friends.
83. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I teach the 4 year olds in Primary.
84. My sister and I have really, really freakishly muscular calfs.
85. When I was 16, I hit a car and ran from the scene... a few days later, I found the guy and confessed. I just realized that the same guy goes to my church! Awkward.
86. I took piano lessons off and on for 6ish years when I was little... never practiced. I only know one simple "Ode to Joy" tune. One of my biggest regrets.
87. My mom is a twin and Adam's mom is a twin. Uh oh! We might be in for it.
88. I love candles.
89. K-Mart (photo booth) pictures make me happy.
90. I really like trying out new recipes... cooking and baking.
91. Sunflowers are my favorite flower.
92. I was born in Billings, Montana. My dad had a landscape architecture job there.
93. I am not a morning person.
94. I like being busy. I am never bored.
95. Growing up I would much rather play outside than read a book or watch a movie
96. I was brought up a BYU Cougar fan and know most of the word to the fight song. Now I am a U of U fan and know barely any of the song. I think the words are really stupid so i never bothered memorizing it.
97. Even before I had Ruby, I barely ever slept through the night and woke to my alarm clock. I rarely sleep good.
98. I rarely wear make-up.
99. Before I die I want to go sky diving, ride in a hot air balloon, and travel to Europe.
100. My name is Molly Ann {Claflin} Jones. I have always liked my name.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Outsourcing...UGH
While I am being a "Debbie Downer," I would like to vent about one more thing... OUTSOURCING to India. I have been trying to get my Adobe CS4 (Creative Suite 4) upgrade from Adobe since October and I just got it in the mail TODAY. When I bought it in September, CS4 was late in coming out so I bought CS3 with the promise that I could call Adobe in a month and get them to send me the upgrade in the mail. So... I waited then called and called. Each time I would speak to someone new with an extremely American name and an extremely THICK Indian accent. Hmmm... I am pretty sure your name is not Rachel or James! Long story short... I had to fax my receipt like 8 times until they received and processed it. And in the end, I am not even sure they processed it, I think it was just my attitude that made them finally help me!
Not only is the language barrier a reason why this was extremely frustrating and annoying for me. It is the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of competent people in the U.S. that are currently looking for jobs and here we are... outsourcing to India.
inversion... boo
This inversion in S.L.C. is literally making me sick. I have to worst headache and feel so nauseous. I am so tired of it, I am on the verge of wanting to move away from Salt lake City permanently! I just ran a few errands... work, Costco, & the Living Aquarium. I was gone for 3 hours and I feel so sick. I honestly feel like I was breathing through the tailpipe of a semi truck. Not to be a Debbie Downer but it is getting old fast and I need to vent. Ruby randomly threw up last night and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the air that caused it. All of the ozone, particulate matter and carbon monoxide needs to "poof be-gone!" {how do you like my 90's lingo}
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
petunia pickle bottom private sale
If you are a petunia pickle bottom girl (which doesn't sound too flattering), then you need to check out this outlet sale online. You might need to register first, but they will shoot you back with an invite email and you can shop away...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Etsy Tuesday
These vinyl wall decals by Tasty Suite are really great. Check 'em out! And they are local!
Blue Bell Bazaar has some really great vintage items.
La Vita Lola makes these luxury ($55) clutches lined in silk.
Monday, January 19, 2009
reminder!
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Whether you love or hate the holiday, you have to admit that any reason to have a party/celebrate/decorate... is a good one. This is your official reminder to start thinking about making your Valentine's.
Friday, January 16, 2009
where did the day go?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Apple Macbook Nano
Apple is incredible. What will they come out with next? It almost makes me want to always just hold out for the "next" cool thing because they are ALWAYS out-doing themselves. I will say this though... I LOVE my Apple iMac.
y water
A new entry in the bottled water world, Y Water, fresh out of Venice Beach ~ has a playful bottle designed by Yves Behar ~ and can be built into crazy structures. They are targeted at kids, and are organic, low calorie drinks chock full of vitamins and minerals! “Y Water’s attention-getting names—Muscle Water, Bone Water, Immune Water, and Brain Water—communicate the idea that the ingredients are the building blocks of healthier bodies.” And there’s the green angle too: bottles are 100% recyclable and 100% reusable as a creative developmental aid!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Etsy Tuesday
Ooh... these affordable moss terrariums ($38) by Made by Mavis would really give a fresh/organic/alive feeling to your home. Or mine!
I am liking these personalized note cards ($15) by Sweet Thoughts.
Gracious May has some ADORABLE shoes ($22.99). Notice how I have a little shoe fettish!
Monday, January 12, 2009
up and away
If and when I have a little boy... he will have one of these A-2 Bomber Jackets from Up and Away. They are SO adorable. They make them as small as 12 months!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
comcast demand
So I admit... I have been despising Comcast "ON Demand" lately... it just does not measure up to plain old DVR and being able to choose what you record. So, I haven't been watching regular t.v.. Instead, I rent t.v. seasons of Veronica Mars, Arrested Development, 24, Criminal Minds, etc. I work from home on the computer, so it is nice to have something other than Days of our Lives and other crappy soaps on in the background. Getting to my point... I have been pleasantly impressed by Comcast "ON Demand". I felt like working out the other night at home and I turned on the "Exercise TV" section of "ON Demand" and found some workouts with the "Biggest Loser" trainers and contestants. At first I thought it was kind of lame/boring and slow, then I got into it a bit more and started sweating. And the next day, my butt was so sore! So, I am sold and am diggin' "ON Demand" for now. Now, I have another exercise option on these frigid winter days. I STILL haven't been snowboarding and it hurts my heart. One of these days...
Thursday, January 8, 2009
oh my...
I would really love to have an organized wall like this in my house. And I really like this cool, inviting, robin's egg blue. So, you can basically consider this a future snapshot of my laundry room/office. I would love to have a big (not too big) open house with a simple similar look like this. The only thing this pic is missing is a flat screen tv right above the desk... for "multi-tasking" or course.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
sucre
My brother and sister-in-law just got back from a little holiday vacay in New Orleans. They brought us some delicious macaroons from this great "sweet boutique" called Sucre. They will ship to you so... check it out. I really want to try the peppermint bark...mmm. Ok, I will try to wait for next year. I NEED to get out of this "holiday treats" phase!.gif)
taylor swift - love story
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Etsy Tuesday
Oh my gosh, I SO want these Converse shoes for Ruby by Princess Patch come Valentine's Day.
Thread and Petal makes these great sweater pins & hair clips.
These are fun little affordable cards ($4) by May Day Studio. Valentines Day IS coming up!
Teas sets would be a fun little collection to have. Check out this unique one by Esther Coombs of England... where they really know how to DO tea!
Monday, January 5, 2009
KEEP CALM and CARRY ON
My brother and sister-in-law gave us (as well as everyone else they were gifting to) this framed poster for Christmas this year.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Matt White - Best Days
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