Dublin Dean Bowler

We've added a new member to our family...no...it's not a kid...it's another boxer dog!!! Our new little pup is named Dublin Dean Bowler...but we are going to call him Dean for short. Charles now has a a friend to play with in the backyard. They are already getting along well. John and I have forgotten how noisy puppies can be at night.

Phat Girlz

John and I went down to Tucson on the weekend for Scott's Priesthood blessing. On Saturday while John, Nick, Scott, and my Dad went golfing...Kristen, my mom and myself watched a movie called "Phat Girlz". Phat meaning... Pretty Hot And Tempting. We found this movie in Alexis's movie collection. It was a very low budget film. After we watched the movie, phat girlz became our theme for the weekend. John and Nick were a little concerned I think. Anyway...this is where these pool pictures come from. Later on Saturday...we went to Nico's tacos... There's probably a good reason why I don't really ever go to Nico's tacos...John totally got food poisoned while we were there. Sunday was enjoyable. Scott had a lot of family and friends come to see him receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. All and all the weekend was a success.

Toffee Cookies

For those of you who truly know me, you know that I don't really like bread and cookies. Too many carbs and they make my stomach hurt. Anyway...we had a porcelain cookie jar for well over a year and it had never been filled with cookies. Yes...you are correct in thinking that I haven't made cookies in well over a year. Anyway...on Sunday morning, I got a wild hair and decided to make cookies. Our church starts at 2 pm, so I made them all morning long. When John finally woke up Sunday morning, there were cookies in the cookie jar. Not just normal cookies...probably the best cookies I've ever made. Which is pretty good for me considering I hardly ever bake. Here's the recipe:

Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
13/4 cups (packed) brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 1.4-ounce chocolate-covered English toffee bars (such as Heath), coarsely chopped
1 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped

Preparation
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl; whisk to blend. Stir chocolate and butter in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Cool mixture to lukewarm.
Using electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs in bowl until thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, then toffee and nuts. Chill batter until firm, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto sheets, spacing 2 1/2 inches apart. Bake just until tops are dry and cracked but cookies are still soft to touch, about 15 minutes. Cool on sheets. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

I'm telling you...these were the best cookies ever!!!

She Turns 29

What? How is she only 29 when I'm turning 26 this year? The math doesn't make sense to me either. Anyway... We finally downloaded the pictures from my moms Birthday that was a couple of weeks ago. We thought that this one was cute. There were real sparklers used on her cookie cake. Yikes!!! It was random.

Lightening Strikes

We were driving home and John and I took this picture. I think that it's cool.

He's A Keeper

John and I had this running joke while we were dating with the phrase "You're a Keeper". I bought a t-shirt from Target with the phrase, "I'm a Keeper" on it. Needless to say, I only wore it while doing yard work, while at the gym, or sometimes it served as a night shirt. A couple of days ago, it was raining and we let Charles come in and.....it was time for DRESS UP!!! Poor Charles. I would like to think he enjoys it. After all, it's better than being in the rain don't you think? I know that some people may think it's weird to dress up your dog...but we get such a kick out of it. We love you Charles!!!

Tag I'm It

I am: a wife, an aunt, a daughter, a granddaughter, friend
I think: I need to eat better
I know: I have a great life
I want: a swimming pool
I have: a cool dog named Charles
I wish: I had a Pepsi right now (I’m trying to give up soda)
I hate: cleaning the bathroom
I miss: Alexis. (my sister on a mission)
I fear: cockroaches
I feel: happy
I hear: music on my computer
I smell: pretzels I’m eating
I crave: Baskin Robin’s sundae with marshmallow topping
I search: for my phone daily
I wonder: what it would be like to visit Egypt
I regret: not eating breakfast this morning
I love: John
I care: about my family
I always: wash my hands (I’m a little obsessive compulsive)
I am not: drinking Pepsi for the time being
I believe: I can one day be on Gladiators (I’m being completely serious)
I dance: Monday nights, 5:45 pm, LA fitness, Latin Dance class
I sing: in the car all the time
I don’t always: eat vegetables
I fight: staying up past 10 PM
I write: to Alexis is England
I lose: keys
I win: solitaire on the computer
I never: listen to CD’s in the car (I’m a radio gal)
I listen:to everything
I can usually be found: at work or with John
I am scared: of getting lost
I need: a new phone
I am happy about: Our new house!!!
I tag: Robin, Susie, Linda, Danette, Kristen, and Christi

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

Happy Anniversary!!! John and I have officially made the one year mark. What a fun year this has been. It's crazy to think about how 1 year ago, we were in wedding mode. A lot of good things have happened to us this year. We are excited for year "2" coming up. Many fun things are in store! I'm very lucky to have John in mi vida. He's the best!...and he makes me the best! I went a little "Picture Crazy". Hope you don't mind.

Becky Biker???

Calories Burned Calculator
Estimate the calories you burned on your bike ride:
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Biking can help lower cholesterol levels.
So...I've decided that I want to start bike riding. Random. We live out by the mountains and there are so many paved trails. I'm not really much of a bike rider though. The last time that I was on a bike was over in Ireland and it was bad news bears. We had these crappy bikes from the 80's...and maybe I went down a hill so fast in the rain that I fell and bruised up my whole leg... maybe this is why I'm not too sure about the whole "riding a bike" thing again. I do however know that I'll have amazing looking legs and great endurance if I do decide to do it. Also...it's an enjoyable way to burn some extra calories!!!

Corolla Car Crunch

Isn't this car hilarious? I meant to take a picture of my car...but this car is just so much better. I love anything that is pink!!! So maybe...I've come to the conclusion that I'm not a very good driver. Recently I was at my parents house in Tucson and I backed out of thier driveway and ended up running into the fence. It was not a pretty site. Yesterday I got home from work...pulled into the garage...shut the garage door...and then heard a crunching like sound. Silly me...I didn't pull the car in far enough and the garage door came slamming down on the trunk of my car. I know what you're thinking...Wouldn't the garage door immedietly go back up once it felt that something was in the way? Nope...sure didn't. So now I have some indents of the garage permanetly indented on the trunk of my car. I keep telling John that I just need to be driven everywhere. He thinks I'm nuts!

Mercy Me

Over the weekend, my parents came up to Phoenix. John made us his yummy Navajo Tacos for lunch. Then later in the evening, my parents and myself went to a Mercy Me concert. For those of you who don't know who Mercy Me is, it's a Christian Rock group. They sing that popular song, "I Can Only Imagine". Anyway...I used to listen to them all the time on my mission. I had been to one of their concerts last year and was excited to go again this year. Last years concert was more enjoyable for me as a whole. They played way more music last year. This year was more of a sermon setting. I had a lot of fun going with my mom. We were amused by looking at everyone. It was interesting to me to see how different people worship. It made me gratful for my membership in the church and the way in which we worship.

Big Toe

Don't worry...this picture is not John's foot, although it would be funny if it were. John and I had quite the adventure last night. We just had a RV gate built put in and the guy who installed the fence, so kindly left the left over brick sitting out on our driveway. The brick couldn't stay there, so we had to take care of it. To make a long story short...John ended up running over his foot with the garbage can and we took hom to the ER to get it fixed. Three hours later...we were finaly seen by the doctor. Thankfully, he didn't break any bones or even have to have stitches. He did, however, have to get an injection in his toe. It was sad. Poor guy. John's very happy that he can still play golf with the boys this weekend.