COme oN OVER Conovers :)

Today we had a family reunion with the Conover family side. We hadn't seen them in forever...it was so great to see everyone.We did lots of visiting and catching up, played games, ate delicious food and yummy cotton candy which allowed for some fun pictures :). I loved taking pictures of the kiddies they were so fun and adorable, I think I need one of my own to take pictures of. Enjoy all the pictures!

Three Conover Brothers. My father in law is the youngest of five boys :).

Some of the cousins ...Kels, Greg, Chris, Cort, Marshall, Cam, Curt

Our Beautiful Nephew

Greg's oldest sister Val gave birth to Liam Ryan Lusvardi  at 4:50pm on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. He weighed 9 lb 7 oz and was 21 inches long. Liam is so cute. We are so glad we live so close to them so we can see him often and be his favorites ;)

(pictures taken by hospital photographer)

Here are the proud parents..... 

Valerie looks gorgeous, its hard to believe she just had a baby.  We love being an Aunt and Uncle and I love seeing Greg with his little nephew... he is going to be a great daddy.

Congratulations Val and Ryan!!!

Thanks for making us an Aunt and Uncle. We couldn't love him more.

Pickling

On Saturday my mother and sister in law canned pickles. We had tons of fun and decided every year we want to get together and  can one thing for our food storage. The recipe was really easy, didn't take very long and didn't make a huge mess. You should try it!!
 I'm excited to see how they taste. I will be the only one in my family surviving on pickles if we have no other food source :) Greg doesn't even let me kiss him after I have eaten a pickle :). My sister and I love them so much we usually not only eat a pickle but have to drink some of the juice too :)

Dill Pickles

12 Cup Water

4 Cup Vinegar ( apple cider)

1 Cup salt ( non-iodized)

Dill ( 2 or 3 Stalks) per qt. bottle

1 button garlic per qt. bottle

Grape Leaves 1 per qt. bottle

Cucumber ( we like the little ones)

While you are getting things prepared sterilize your jars and lids in boiling water for about ten minutes. Heat Solution of water, vinegar and salt. Fill each jar with cucumbers, clove garlic, dill and grape leaf. Pack the cucumbers tightly, but make sure they are not popping out from the top. Completely submerge jars in Canner Pot after it starts boiling, process for half an hour. Make sure the lids pop and are completely sealed. If not throw away that lid and reheat them in the canner pot with a new lid. Once completed place them on your shelf and a month later (this time frame is possibly shorter, but we couldn't remember so we went with the longer amount of time) they are ready to eat.

Looks Yummy! Enjoy..

Recreating An Outfit

I absolutely love emersonmade!!! And if  I could afford it I would buy so many things, but I can't.. so I decided to improvise and  I plan to recreate some of my favorite outfits from their website. Here is the first one I decided to conquer. I don't know if they sell the pants and shirt but their dandy flower is $38.00 and mine was $1.00. It was so easy to make.I have made two flowers. The last one I made was ten times easier and I think I like it more cause its flatter and isn't so bulky. Materials: Preferred color of felt, thread, needle, scissors (preferably fabric ones), pins for the back of the flower, fabric glue.

Trace about three or four different size circles....

I had to draw where I was going to cut because the first time I didn't and it didn't turn out so great....

After I was done cutting I cut a tiny piece of fabric off between each cut....

Then I sewed on the pin on the biggest circle...glued all the layers together and this was my result...

Third flower will be a charm because I like this way of making the flower better, but I want to use linen because it will be a little bit floppier. Sadly the store I went to they didn't have yellow linen.

Here is the first flower I made...

I didn't take picture of the process cause I used a tutorial I found online, but now I can't find it...sorry. With this I cut a long piece of fabric about 3 1/2 inches wide and like 3 feet long. I cut it like this... _|_|_|_|_ ( haha if that makes sense). Then when it was all cut I ran a piece of thread, not very tightly through the strip of fabric that we didn't cut into going in and out etc. . Then I tightened the fabric so it kind of rolled up. Put a piece of felt on the back with fabric glue and sewed on a pin. This one is cute from the front but it doesn't lay very good when you have it on your shirt.

If you are interested in making one and have questions don't hesitate to ask.  

Have Fun!!

I Graduated!!

FINALLY!!

I was debating at first whether or not to walk because most of my friends had walked in April, but I'm so glad I did. It was tons of fun and now I feel more like I actually graduated :). I got to sit next to a good friend of mines friend during commencement and one of my old partners during convocation. It was a great feeling to graduate!Although now I feel like I need to go get my masters. Oh well the right time will come. I need to just feel accomplished for finishing my bachelors. Sometimes being surrounded by so many amazing people at BYU its hard to see your own achievements cause they sometimes seem so minor compared to others. Since I'm not planning on going to school right away I'm going to do lots of projects to keep my brain working :). So keep your eye out for those.

Iam so grateful I had the opportunity to go to BYU it was amazing. I made lifelong friends that I will always miss and learned so many great lessons.

Ugh tears are coming. I'm going to miss this part of my life, but I'm so excited for the future!!

Alaska Girls Trip. 2

We were in Alaska for a whole week and took tons of pictures so I have been pushing off blogging about it because it is such a daunting task. So brace yourself for a lot of pictures!!

We... ate delicious seafood...

Took a plane ride over the ice fields...

Visited my Costa Rica dad on his cruise ship...went swimming, ate a ton of food at the buffet, got the grand tour...

Went whale watching  and saw humpback whales, killer whales and seals...

Visited with tons of family, most importantly my great Auntie Margaret who was so sweet and made us her famous cinnamon rolls which she hadn't made in six years....she loves us!!

Went to about every food place we had missed. Surprisingly I didn't gain 10 pounds. Breeze In was where we would always get donuts. In the south where my mom and sister live people don't even know what maple bars are so we had to stop cause they had been missing them. We also went to the Udder Culture for amazing sandwiches, Bullwinkle's where I always had my birthday parties, Superbear ( Juneau's equivalent of the Piggly wiggly)  and lots more...

Ate some amazing Salmon at the Salmon Bake...

Visited our Uncle Mike where Lauren and I played in the lake. When we were kids we spent alot of time over at Mikey's house. In the summer we would swim and catch fish and in the winter we would go ice skating. Sometimes I wish I was a kid again.

 When my sister was born all my moms friends were having babies as well. So they got together and took a picture. During our trip it just so happened that everybody was back in Juneau so we all got together and retook the picture

16 years ago...

 16 Years Later....

We had so much fun. I love spending time with family. I'm always sad when we have to all go our separate ways. Hope you enjoyed all the pictures!!

We're Back... Alaska Girls Trip.1

We both had tons of fun!!

greg enjoyed:  eating expensive steak . amazing Indian curry . Yankees game . food poisioning ;) . training
kayla enjoyed: spending time with family and friends . driving on Ninnis street ;) . amazing seafood . shopping . whale watching . flying over glaciers . girl time . reading hunger games .... I could go on forever.

Greg and I finally came home this weekend and it felt greg (oops I meant to say great...) to not be living out of a suitcase anymore. I felt like we were gone forever.

So my whole plan for both of us to take cameras didn't work out as planned.... Greg forgot his camera so he bought a camera while he was there and of course it's a little disposal film one and since I'm almost to unmotivated at the moment to blog about Alaska, I have my doubts that I will go develop those pictures anytime soon. So for the time being you will just have to see my pictures.

 Since we weren't originally planning on moving, my madre purchased my tickets to Alaska out of Phoenix so I flew into Phoenix first and stayed with my friend Mal Pal...we had lots of fun catching up on girl time, eating at restaurants I missed, playing with Alex, seeing old friends,  shopping...ah how I love shopping with girls more than Greg ( I love you sweetie...but a girl just needs another girls opinion) and Mallory never fails to tell me the truth so she is a great shopping partner.

After Phoenix I flew to Seattle and met up with my family. We had one full day in Seattle so we headed to our old stomping grounds, Bellingham, to eat at one of our favorite restaurants ....Taco Lobo

Every Wednesday before piano practice we would eat here. It was a fun family tradition I miss.

After Bellingham we drove back to Seattle and of course went to Pike Place market as it was closing :( , shopped, movie, bed, flying to Juneau in the morning.

Goodbye...

Greg and I are both traveling and are going to be on opposite sides of the continent. He is going to New York for training and I am going to Alaska with my mom, sister and aunts for a girls vacation with a little stop in Arizona and Seattle on the way..I'm really excited!! So Greg has one camera and I have the other and once we get back we will share with you our adventures.

I Did it....

I cut my hair and I love it....most of the time :) Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!

 Greg and I were able to hang out with a lot of good friends over the weekend. On Saturday we stopped for lunch and got a Jamba Juice, where we entertained ourselves with our camera... we know we are dorks, but we had fun so that's all that matters :).

 Hope you had a great weekend as well!!

Craving New Clothes

I feel like I haven't gone shopping for clothes in forever and am craving some new clothes. I definitely wouldn't buy these only cause they are insanely expensive but they are the cutest!! If I was a billionaire I would buy them all!!. Check out the Emersonmade site. If you can't buy them at least they give you cute ideas.

No Work For Greg

Yesterday Greg had the day off and it was glorious. We....

• slept in...ahh one of my favorite things to do with my hubby
• went swimming and did laps. which I decided is my favorite way of working out. I felt so full of energy afterwards and hyper.. I think I need to buy membership so I can go everyday.
•  job interview
•  Zupas.. I missed that place, it is so delicious. If you haven't already you need to try and mix the wild cauliflower and mushroom bisque soup together its the bestest.

• Gilgal garden


• hiked Ensign Peak which had an amazing view
• minature golfing

• sno shack
• relaxed and watched a movie

Swimming With Sisters

Friday I took two of my little sisters swimming. We had lots of fun!! I'm excited to be closer to them so I can see them grow up. If only my entire family could live in the same state... I would even take the same side of the United States. I decided that Greg is spoiled in the family department cause not only does his dad, mom and ALL his sibilings live in Utah, practically all his cousins, aunts and uncles live in Utah too. Ughh not fair!!!

Happy Fourth!

Cool picture huh?...I can't take credit for it, sadly I didn't take any pictures :( .
Yesterday we started out by celebrating Chady's birthdaywith a picnic in the park.  Afterwards we were able to go to the Stadium of Fire and see Carrie Underwood...she was amazing. It was such a touching night. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have to live in America. The last song they played was God Bless America and I kind of got teary eyed. It was so touching and I felt such an immense gratitude for all the people who have put their lives on the line for our freedom.
Hope you had great day celebrating too!!

Fat Free Chicken Dip :)

Tuesday my cute pregnant sister in- law...aka Valerie had a baby shower. We had lots of fun and she got some super cute stuff. Baby Lusvardi  is due August 8, he is coming so soon...yay!! Valerie is going to be such a good mommy.

For the shower we  decided to make a recipe that I had previously had at a family party. It is delicious, so I thought I would pass the recipe along for those of you who want to try it out for yourselves. I wouldn't necessarily recommend cooking it for a home meal cause it is probably not the healthiest, but it is great for parties, when you don't care what you are eating as much :)

6 Chicken Breasts

1 Cup Ranch

1 Stick of Cream Cheese ( I believe its 8oz.)

Frank's Hot Wing Sauce to your liking (We found it at Smiths, but I'm sure anywhere has it)

Boil the chicken until it shreds easily. Shred the chicken and mix all ingredients in pan over the oven. We tripled the recipe and ended up putting in the entire bottle of Hot Wing Sauce in, to give you an idea what we thought was good. Once all the ingredients are mixed and nice and hot we put it into a crock pot to keep it warm throughout the shower. Serve with bread or pita chips. Its delicious!!