i heart ... engrish

my favorite website today is http://www.engrish.com/.

have you ever dreamed of working as a translator in japan? i think they're hiring.

i heart ... stephanie's chicken chili

this is my favorite soup! it's more like soup than "chili". what makes it great is sprinkling fresh cilantro on top!

Stephanie's Chicken Chili

1 tbles. vegetable oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
4 cups chicken broth
2 cans white beans (great northern)
1 cup frozen corn
2 cups chicken breast, cooked and chopped
1 can green chilies
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 teas. pepper
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 bottle of "herdez green chili sauce" (to taste)

first, saute the onion and garlic in the vegetable oil until tender. second, combine all ingredients in a crockpot or on the stove and heat through.

dish into bowls and top with:

tortilla chips

a dollop of sour cream
fresh cilantro

i heart ... oranges

... or more specifically, i love the navel oranges from my own backyard. they are 100% sweet, and better than any oranges you could find in any store!

i heart ... shelby ann!

happy birthday, shelby!!!

i heart ... coming home and finding this ...

... these sweet children playing in the backyard.

clayton, paulina, natalia

i heart ... cuddly babies

thomas

i heart ... crackers & co.

i love crackers & co.! who doesn't? today i went to crackers for brunch with my friends debbie & lesli. i got my favorite omelet - the new princess (broccoli [remember, i heart broccoli!], mushrooms, chicken and a cream cheese filling). to die for! and it might actually make you die because it can't be healthy. at least you'd die happy!

i heart ... the orange blossom candle from gold canyon

i love the orange blossom candle from gold canyon. it smells exactly like real orange blossoms! i have never found another product that has gotten that scent right. but now that i know gold canyon candles hires illegal aliens i am boycotting them - it's ruining my life! help! does anyone out there know of another orange blossom scented product that truly smells like orange blossoms???

i heart... babies just learning to crawl!

any day now he is just going to crawl away... and his mother's life is going to become much more complicated!

i see asu football in his future!

i heart... broccoli

... yes, i know that is weird. but it's true. i do love broccoli. and last night my mom made this yummy broccoli salad.

cherry tomato & broccoli salad

vinaigrette:

1 cup olive oil (add this at end)

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. dried mustard

2 tbls. whole grain mustard

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

pulse all ingredients in food processor, except olive oil. while processor is running add olive oil slowly.

vegetables:

1 lb. fresh broccoli

1 lb. cherry tomatoes

1 bunch green onions

1 cup black olives

blanch the broccoli for 30 seconds in boiling water; drain. run under cold water immediately.

pour vinaigrette over vegetables and toss.

i heart ... christmas!

okay, yes, christmas was 4 long weeks ago... but i didn't have a blog 4 long weeks ago!

here is the story of my family christmas in pictures. enjoy!

and so christmastime begins... with a visit from st. nick.

mccormick-stillman railroad park.

sierra juicing oranges for christmas brunch.

christmas eve. "mary's lullaby".

christmas eve. the (apparantly arab oilman) shepherd and wisemen.

christmas eve. thomas gets his stocking!

christmas eve.

christmas morning. finally they can open those presents!

the most special experience this christmastime was doing sealings with my family at the temple the day after christmas.

day after christmas at mountain view park.

the making of a new christmas tradition - a visit to the lego store!!!

and keeping up with old traditions, we made our pilgrimage to the temple lights.

our ? annual russell girls christmas soiree at matta's.

we spent new year's eve day at the phoenix zoo with the fam.

on new year's eve papa told stories by the fire.

new year's day is game day... and for my nieces that means nerts! i can never beat them at nerts... they are way too fast for me!

and the next day stephanie loaded up her family and took them back to utah,

thus marking the official end of christmas.

i heart ... thomas jefferson

Thomas Jefferson Moritz, that is...

(okay, and the other one too)

i heart... my new blog

...okay, i don't actually love it yet - it's more that i'm just excited about it. i'll love it after i figure out this blogging stuff. i hope.

i heart... coming home and finding this...

paulina and natalie. i had just come from the library. lucky girls! we got an early start on our valentine reading.

i love seeing natalie wear her CTR ring from primary.

natalie "reading" to me.