Giving Thanks...

Today we plan to share the holiday with both of our families. This will require a lot of will power to put away 2 full Thanksgiving meals. I have no doubt we can accomplish this task, I just don't know how we'll feel at the end of the day.

We have so much to be thankful for this holiday season, here are just a few...

• Our terrific family and friends.

• 30 Rock & Gossip Girls for contributing to some of our favorite nights.

• Our dog Jeffery, despite his snoring and hard broken habits.

• Mini space heaters!

• Beyonce, for she brings Brad joy.

• Cafe' Rio for providing our family dinner at least once a week.

• Making it through this treacherous semester.

• Answered prayers. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

*In honor of getting to meet our newest nephew today, compliments of Kami and Paul,

I thought I would post this old and random picture of us.

May The Holidays Begin...

I'm  a sucker for anything that has to do with the holidays...

I think this is because I know I only have about 1.5 months to get my greedy little hands on it! 

Let me share a few of our Christmas fave's!

First, and absolutely foremost...

White Fudge Oreo's!

Peppermint ice cream...

The more crunch, the better.

Home Alone...

Mom: "Say goodnight Kevin."

Kevin: "Goodnight Kevin!"

The Christmas scents from B&BW.

Specifically, Vanilla Bean Noel!

I've already got about a year's stock pile tucked away.

Brad's not too tickled about this, he thinks it's foul.

And a couple of Brad's favorites...

Hot chocolate...

May I suggest adding some vanilla soft serve ice cream to your hot
chocolate next time you're grabbing a cup at the gas station?

You'll thank me later!

 

And last but not least...

Apple pie, which I may attempt to bake this week...

If you have any good pie recipes, please send em' our way.

I'm ashamed that most of these "favorites" are food.

I guess that's kind of what the holidays are about!

{I said kind of.}

Traditions...

This year we're trying something new! We're making some of our very own Dutson-family-traditions. You see, this will be our 4th holiday season being married and sadly enough, we have yet to practice any sort of tradition.

We're both coming up with a tradition for each of the holidays. These traditions are sticking, so they better be good!

Let me share with you Halloween tradition #1

Brad's idea:

Thriller at Kingsbury Hall

{Leave it to Brad to recommend the dance production.}

So to Thriller we went. Such a good production,

and our company, Amy and Lee, weren't too bad either!

We're struggling to come up with Thanksgiving-ish traditions...

If you have any ideas, send them our way!

We Went To Hawaii...

A year and a half ago...

And I'm just now getting around to developing these pictures

we took with an underwater disposable camera.

Can you say procrastinator...?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Party Boy...

 We celebrated Jeffery's 3rd Birthday last week with a cheese burger from McDonalds.

About 3 years ago, Brad was trying every trick in the book to convince me into getting a dog. I've always loved dogs, but the thought of an indoor dog made me cringe. Accidents on the carpet, jumping on furniture, the smells...

I obviously buckled. After laying down some pretty strict rules, I agreed to getting a pooch. One night, I picked Brad up from the airport with our newest addition to the family sitting on my lap, Jeffery.

Now, I love him. I have personally broken every single one of those rules I laid out in the beginning. I'm a sucker for "The Jeffery".

Happy 3rd Boomer Boy!

Che[Mystery]...

In exchange for a passing grade in chemistry this semester, I would gladly...

1- Acquire the dreaded swine flu.

2- Give up Cafe' Rio for life.

3- Agree to a natural child birth.

You think I'm kidding...

Tis The Season

I really shouldn't be sharing recipes or giving any sort of cooking advice. I mean really, cooking is NOT my forte'.  But as the temperatures drop and being that it is already October, I though I might share this tasty and super idiot proof recipe with you.

3 Ingredients

{2} Boxes of spice cake
{2} Packages of chocolate chips

{1} Large can of pumpkin filling

 

{Okay okay, the recipe only calls for one bag of chocolate chips...
But who are we kidding, two is more tasty!}

 

Mix it up...

Bake at 350 degrees.
Large loaf {30} minutes

Small loaf {24} minutes

Ta-da!

 

Oh, almost idiot proof...
Don't forget to grease your pans!

Enjoy!

It Snowed Today...

I've been thinking a lot lately about who I am, and what I want to become. Not necessarily career wise, I'm talking about the person I am inside. Sometimes, I question myself. I worry I'm not smart enough. I worry that maybe I've offended someone. I worry I said the wrong thing or should have helped a friend in a different way. I worry that I could do more for those in need. I worry I should have done more in the short 24 hours I have been given that day.

Maybe everyone feels this stress. I don't know. Despite me worrying about these things, I do know that I am a good, caring and genuine person. As life get hectic, it's hard to remember all the things I am blessed with. Deep down, I know that I'm being my best self and that I try to become a better person everyday. I also know this is exactly what I should be doing, and it is good enough. It's good enough for me and it's good enough for the people who love me. I need to remember this.

I'm making a change starting today. I'm going to stop stressing the small things in life. I'm going to stop worrying that I might not be a good enough neighbor, good enough comforter, good enough wife, student, employee, driver, friend, sister, daughter....on and on. Although these are all admirable things to be concerned about, I will view them in a different way.  I will remember that as long as I'm trying to be my best self, every day, that's good enough. And I'm good enough.

Wish me luck with my new goal!

Photo via...

The Get Up Kids...

One more Birthday post...

The night before my birthday, my cool cat older bro Konrad surprised
me with tickets to one of my favorite bands, The Get Up Kids.

{Well, he tried to surprise me.}

Before the show, I spotted Matt Pryor, the lead singer...

Asked for a picture...

Got it.

Happy Birthday to ME!

We were really cool and wore ear plugs
to protect our precious ear drums.

I felt like a total dweeb, but for once

my ears weren't ringing after the show!

After the show, Kon and I got a quick
picturewith some of the band again!
If you don't know who The Get Up Kids are,
please do yourself a favor and download them ASAP!

Thanks Foof!

Birthday Bash With Friends...

Some fine friends of mine took me and Ms. Amy
out for our Birthdays this week.
We feel we're getting so old!

Much like Amy, some of my dearest friends in life
have shared a September Birthday with me.

It must be our Virgo nature.

{This is not to say I don't have some wonderful non-Virgo friends.}

We gathered at P.F. Chang's and shared
some delicious Chinese food.

Duard telling a super dramatic story...

So hard to open...
Look at Amy's face!

 

We were told we would get $100 if we ate our whole cake...
Didn't happen.

I'm so grateful for such exceptional friends
who also happen to be the best of company!
Thanks for a great night! 

Oh, and please learn from my mistake.
Don't forget your debit card at P.F.'s...
Someone (maybe the server, maybe not)
might snag it and use it at a local 
restaurant within a mere hour!
YIKES!

Brad's Watching The BYU Game, I Prefer To Blog...

Fun.

{Formerly known as The Format}

Aim and Ignite.

If you and I are good friends, chances are I've made you a c.d. or two. Along with the c.d., I've probably promised you, "it's the best mix/c.d. yet." I love sharing good music with my loved ones.

 I'll give you the same promise with this c.d. by Fun.

Highly recommended by me...

Do take a listen!

 You might convince me to burn it with the exchange of some Jr. Mints...

No News Is Good News...

Labor Day weekend, we caught up on some homework and some much needed sleep. The highlight of our weekend was eating at Cafe' Rio...TWICE. It was quite relaxing and uneventful. I liked it that way.

I've been spotting crowds of sunflowers along the road lately.  I pulled over the other night and picked a few to fill my new vase. Nothing's better than free flowers!

We're quite excited to catch up on our television series that are released on DVD this month. Specifically House, 30 Rock, Gossip Girl, & Entourage. We don't have a single functioning channel in this house, but you better believe we get really into "our" shows.

So far, school has been easier than we both anticipated. {KNOCK ON WOOD} Let's hope it stays that way!

My back has been KILLING me lately. No amount of icy hot, heating packs, or back rubs help.  I'm about to fall to the ground and never get back up. Dramatic, I know. I'll happily take any advice given at this point.


And that's the latest from the Dutson fam.

I Can't Stop Watching This...

Brad Back In The Day...

My mother in law just passed these gems on down to me!

Um...maybe I can't stop looking at them.

Maybe they make me want kids ASAP.

And maybe he's gonna kill me for posting these...

And now the goofy stuff...
{Shhhh...don't tell}


I sure hope our future children

inherit his killer looks and personality!

Do Come...

A friend of mine has put together a little boutique that will take place this weekend. It's actually not so little anymore! Lots of vendors, including myself, will be selling the cutest baby stuff around! Do come join us at this not so little boutique this weekend.

When: Saturday Aug. 29

Time: 6:00 - 8:00

Where: Greene's Residence

1184 W. Millbridge Lane

West Bountiful, Ut. 84087

Flyers have been scattered around Davis County.

Come early so you don't miss out! There will be catered food, 

giveaways and much more!

{Photo found via We Heart It}

Fall Also Brings School...

We both started school today. This displeases us both.
One day, it will pay off.
Brad will have his MBA & be a stellar business man.
And I will be a nurse, saving lives and stuff! ; )


Wish us luck!



{My campus just added a soft serve ice cream machine...at least I'm off to a good start!}

Maybe A Bit Premature...

I am sick of summer and so ready for fall!

Fall brings my Birthday, my favorite fall scents
from Bath and Body Works
and best of all, fall clothes!!!

Here are some things that I'm keeping in mind for
when that fall breeze comes rollin' in.
Which in my opinion, couldn't be soon enough!

I love all the flannel this year!
Ambercrombie & Fitch
{It brings out the Al Borland in us all!}

This bag would even fit my school books....
Urban Outfitters

This sweater, with pants of course!
Urban Outfitters

LOVE these new wayfarer Ray-Ban frames.
I have an appointment with the eye doc next week
and I think I'm leaning towards these!
Ray-Ban

And these ankle booties.
Jessica Simpson

(Anyone know where I can find a cute pair of brown booties...?
I swear I've searched high and low)

Okay, and maybe I just love this whole outfit.
Free People

I'm feeling a bit materialistic now...