My dad came to visit for Thanksgiving and while he was here we got a Christmas tree. And then we went shopping for our ward’s celebration of service activity. It was so much fun to shop and wrap presents for the kids we chose. We love Christmas and can’t wait to have our first family Christmas in North Carolina.

I made my first piece of clothing, ever! It was incredibly frustrating and rewarding when it was all done. I made it for a little girl in my ward. It has a bottom layer, top apron and ties on the side. Phew. I did it.

We did a mini session with Elaine Bella Photography. It was super cold, early and windy, but she got some good pictures. We got a wide range of emotions from Lexi–very happy, to very unhappy. I can’t wait to put some up in my house.

I just pre-ordered the last book in the Hunger Games series. I’m shaking with anticipation.

I am having a slightly obsessive love affair with cookinglight.com. What a glorious website for delicious dinners with most of the nutrition facts on the bottom of the recipe (I wish they had the amount of sugar). They also have great substitutes to make familiar meals more healthy.

Huzzah, a yummy way to cook at home and lose weight. I have only tried 1 recipe out of about 15 that I haven’t liked. Even Ryan has liked them, and he HATES healthy food. We have tried a lot of new ingredients and recipes. Thank you Internet.

I have not felt any desire to read recently, but a friend told me about a great new book.

I didn’t want to start any new projects since I’m about 3 weeks away from having a baby outside of me instead of inside, and this book was the perfect thing to fill my time. I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I finished. I bought the first one (anyone want to borrow?) but decided to be wait-listed at the library for book 2. Ugh, I don’t know if I can wait another day to read it…Amazon is calling me.

I just added a new widget to my blog. I made a list on Shelfari of all the books I own incase my friends would like to borrow something I have. Enjoy.

When I was little, I loved Pillsbury’s Confetti cake. I don’t know what it is about those mysterious candy/wax, colored things in the frosting, but they are delicious. I went to the store so I could make this childhood favorite, and I was totally bummed to learn that Pillsbury no longer makes their Confetti frosting. It is now Funfetti and is just lame-o sprinkles.

After googling around I found that Betty Crocker still makes the tasty frosting but they call it Rainbow Chip. I had to search a few stores but I found it.

And here is the fruit, or I guess cake of my labor. It was so good.

Please, everyone buy this frosting and show Pillsbury the error of their ways.

I normally love to read, but I haven’t been able to focus enough to read lately. That is until Splendor came out.

Maybe this book will help me get back into reading.