New Year's Goals

What a cliche. I know.

But a goal is simply a wish if not written it down.

I want to accomplish my goals this year. I never complete my goals.
Every year I tell myself I'm going to. But I don't.
Lame.

This year will be different.
I know it will.

1. Take one picture everyday-I saw this in a magazine. Take one picture for everyday of the year. 365 pictures total. 365 pictures to scrapbook at the end of the year. Its going to be hard because Travis and I don't have kids. Kids are easy to find something new everyday. :D

2. Do the 100 push up challenge- Ever see this site? Hundred push ups I can't do push ups to save my life and they are so good for you! So i want to do this challenge for sure!

3. Find ME time- Its not that I work a lot, I am only part time. But the problem is I work weird hours. Some days I won't work till 5 30 at night, then some mornings I have to be there at 6 am. So it throws me through a loop. I can never get my schedule right. Its hard to find me time because on my day off I am normally running errands and doing laundry. But I will find me time. I have to find it, for my sanity.

4. No more sleeping in until 10 30- Yes I LOVE sleep, maybe a little too much. But its so easy for me just to sleep the day away. And this goes with number 3, I need to find me time. Time to do my hobbies. Like drawing, and scrapbooking and blogging. I just need to find a decent hour, where i am not tired for the rest of the day but early enough where i can get stuff done.

5. Have more patients with my mother in law- This is a biggie, we have recently been just blowing up at each other. I am not one to yell. I have a very passive personality, but she has been bringing out the worst in me. And. I. Do. Not. Like. I just need to treat her with love and kindness. Kill her with kindness. It will be hard but I can do it.

6. Pray-This one needs no explanation.

7. Love- unconditionally. Everyone needs it. I just need to give it more. This one is more for work. I get very frustrated with customers.

It feels good to cook....

I never cook.
I would love to cook more, but we never have the stuff to do it, since its not our house and all.
Anyway little Miss Holly House Wife over here, (me) decided she wanted to cook a home made meal!
I know shocker huh?

For Christmas my mom made me a recipe book of all her recipes. Its been super cold out and I have been craving my mom's cream of broccoli soup. Oh its so yummy!
With a little bit of this and a little bit of that, I made it. :D
Here is the recipe.

What you'll need:
1/2 package frozen broccoli
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of flour
2 tsp. chicken boullion (in 2 cups boiling water)
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 cups of Half-n-Half

You first put the frozen broccoli in either a food processor or blender and finely chop.
Then you put that on the stove (medium heat) and cook until tender.

Melt the butter ( don't burn it) and add the flour, to make a paste.

Boil the water and add the chicken bouillon.
Add the chicken stock to the butter/flour paste.
Add the broccoli.
Bring to a boil.

Then add the half and half and salt and pepper.
Put on low and simmer!

The longer it simmers the better it tastes!

Thats it!
Add some french bread and your ready for a meal everyone enjoys. :D


My husband eats so much.
I had to make a double batch just so I can be sure he is full and happy.
He loved it :D

Zoo Lights!

I have been dying to go to Zoolights! The do it every year at the Point Definace Zoo and we haven't been able to go this year because of all the snow and our hectic schedules.
But I got off work early yesterday and we were able to go.

I was so excited! 

It was a little chilly but not as bad as it had been! We were worried it was going to rain on us but thankfully it didn't!

 

I thought it was a very cool tree. 

I love killer whales. I am not sure why, but I have always liked them!

 

Oh I loved the puffins!

This dear sweet man puts up with all picture taking.

 

Yeah for Zoolights! We had a wonderful evening!

There were so many families there. I love the way parents dress their kids when its cold out. It is so much like little Randy from a Christmas Story. I can't wait until Travis and I are ready to have kids. He is going to be such a good Daddy.

And yes I will dress my children like Randy when its cold out.

A Wonderful Christmas

I hope you all had a wondeful Christmas. I know I sure did.

Christmas Eve Travis and I went over to His sister's house. We wanted to see our nephew's and give them their presents because we knew it was going to snow again on Christmas and we wouldn't be able to go and see them for Christmas day.
 I love those boys so much. They loved their presents so much. I wanted to get them more but we are trying to save money so it was hard not to spoil them!

Uncle Travis and Henry.

 

Heidi and their beautiful Christmas tree

 

The whole family.  I love them so much.

 

My sweet Henry. He has this look that just kills you. I caught it on film..

 Christmas day we slept in, which was so nice not having any commitments.
After we woke up and showered, Travis and I went and got Steve, Travis' brother.

Travis was very excited about his picture of Charlie. I just need to finish it.
I am not sure if I told you but I also got him a pocket watch. He told me that he has always wanted one. I found the perfect one in Utah when I was visiting. I even got it engraved.
On the front it says: "Our First Christmas 2008"
Then on the back it says "Forver Yours, Shalee"
You should;ve seen his face! It was priceless, I wish I had my camera out but I was too excited to give it to him.

Then it came to the present Travis gave to me. I opened that one last. I had to! The best gifts are always opened last!

Me opening the box. I had NO idea. He is very good at keeping secrets!

 

He got me a riding jacket! Oh it is so nice! The smell of leather makes me melt!

I want to wear it all the time, but it has the protective armor in it. So its not practical for everyday wear.

The boys. Steve, Kym and my Travis.

Every year my parents always make gifts for everyone. Very creative family I have! Anyway my mom made Travis the coolest gift. She made him a calender of me. Its all baby pictures of me and it coordinates with the months. She worked so hard on that. Travis loves it so much.

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. I know I did.

Some Belated Utah Pictures

I went to Utah earlier this month and I have yet to post pictures from my wonderful trip.

Travis was unable to go, but it was nice for me to go and see my family. I hadn't seen them since August.

 

My Sweet little brother and I.

I can't believe he will be 13 in February! I was 8 years old when we adopted him. I can't believe how much he looks like all of us. 

 

My beautiful mom and brother.

We went out to eat at OutBack.

One of my favorite restuarants.

 

My mom's mom and her husband and my parents and I went out to Applebees for lunch before I left

I love my grandma and grandpa.

My gorgeous grandmother just battled pancreatic cancer and won!

She is one tough cookie!

 

My dad and I went out for Sushi.

Our favorite thing to do!
 

I love my mommy so much. 

She is the most beautiful and saintly woman I know.

She is my role model.

She is an amazing woman.

I hope I can be just as good of a mom she is to me.

I love my family,

They are beautiful.

Its Getting there...

So I worked on my husband's present some more yesterday and here is the progress.


Its a very slow process but I think its coming along nicely.

Sadly it won't be done by tomorrow, but I least Travis will be able to open the half-finished present.

All I am seeing is dots at this point. ;)


Merry Christmas eve!

On a different note...

On a completely different note...
Not a Christmas one.. ;)
but still a good note


I just recently joined this fantastic blogging community. Its called The Secret is in the Sauce


Its a wonderful place for new bloggers like myself to get some traffic and some criticisms to make my blog better. If your not already a member I suggest you should be!

Anway while browsing the site I stumbled across the Winner's Weekend.
Its this blog right here:Sunshine and Lemonade
Not only is she a fantastic blogger she has prizes every weekend!
This weekend's prize is a pair of movie passes, and a dinner gift card!

Oh how travis and I would love this! We are trying to save money for our house we are building.
So we never get to go out. I mean we can, its just that we don't want to.

If your intertested in winning stuff... which i assume you are.
Check it out!

Its starting to look a lot like Christmas.....

Why yes,
yes it is starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Its actually snowed a ton more since I've taken this picture. Its insane.

I have to walk to work because my little green truck can't make it out of the driveway.

haha oh well its beautiful out anyway




So i have been dying to get a christmas tree. Travis and I haven't had time to go get one but yesterday we took a walk with Charlie and Kimbo across the street.
There we found the perfect tree.
Its small but I think its perfect for our little room.

 When i was in Utah last week my mom bought me and travis a star. Its so cute!

So I told you I would update Travis' Christmas present and here is his eye.

That eye took me and hour and half to do! Oh man there is NO way I am going to be able to finish this by thursday.
I told him that I wouldn't be able to finish it and he said no problem that he knows I'll finish it anyway and that he loves me.
I have a wonderful husband.

 

Here is some holiday Kimbo for you.

What a silly puppy.

He sleeps so uncomfortably,

Oh well

:D

Travis' Christmas Present

So here I am only a week away from Christmas and I just barley started my hubby's present

Oh bother....

This is not a good habit i've been getting into...procrastinating...
blarg...

;)

So this is the picture I am doing. Its going to be a grid drawing. I was super nervous about drawing because I haven't done it in years! Haha so i took the easy route with a grid drawing.

I will update it again here soon. I have started on the eye and that took me over an hour to do... but i will do that tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Its only like the cutest movie ever...

I have officially found my new favorite Disney movie.




Its about this little German Shepard puppy, that goes on a search for his Person, after she's been kidnapped.

Won't give you any more info cause it'll spoil it but just know that I loved it! And its totally worth it to go see in the theater!





I honestly believe that they studied Charlie for this part. Their mannerism are so much a like.
I love it.




I saw it with my wonderful family over the weekend. I love them so much.
I am so glad I got to see them.

Feeling a lot better

Wow,

I am so sorry for all the negative posts lately. Travis and I have been having a stressful time right now. Not us as a couple but with our house and moving.

We are between a rock and a hard place.

Bleh.

Oh well,


we love each other and we know that we can get through anything.

Love always prevails

and I love him

He is my prince charming



He woke me up early this morning to wish me a Happy Engagment Anniversary.
One year ago today he propsed to me.

I thought that was so sweet of him.

So thoughtful.