Wii

Yes people I caved!! ::blushing with embarrasment:: Ryan has been wanting a video game console for quite some time now after his xbox got stolen by a certain someone who for their sake I will leave un named! Anyways.. I have been thinking and thinking about a good present to get him shoes-no, clothes-no, anything Boise- NO!, So I came to the genius thought of a Nintendo Wii!!

What guy doesn't like video games?? I know my man loves to play them so its the perfect present for him! Plus I can play it too and I do plan on getting as good as Ryan so I can beat him and all of his friends! ;] Did I get the Wii so that I could play it to? Maybe yes Maybe no?? So we went out and about last night grocery shopping for our fun weekend activities and I suggest that we go and look at them because Ryan has been asking for something of the sort.. so we walk into the store and before I know it Wii in hand, Call of Duty (so so dumb), 2 regular controlers and a excited husband later I nailed the perfect birthday present. Yes yes I know Wife of the Year! :]

So I hope I make his 22nd birthday a very good one we have lots of fun things planned.. Tonight we are having our family and friends over to ring in the new year with! We wouldn't want anyone else surrounding us to start off a brand new decade! Saturday I have an appointment to get my make up done at Bare Minerals (Ryan is so thoughtful and made me one so I can be sure and use it right) Then that night we have dinner out with our friends at The Sky Box which I am sure my hubby will love, and Sunday I am making him his favorite steak sandwhiches and have him a birthday cake from Schmidts of course! :] Thats birthday tradition! Hopefully this weekend goes off without a hitch but knowing this family we may have a few road blocks! So wish me luck I hope you all have a fabulous 2010 kick off and be safe!!

xoxoxo

Christmas

Santa Clause sure did come to the Barras house this year! I knew we had been extra good! :] Christmas Eve we started out at Little America with my amazing parents! After dinner Ryan and I went our own way for a  bit and drove past my Grandmas really good friend Shirley Foots house it is decked out every year and my Grandma ALWAYS took us to drive past it.. So since Grams isn't here to do that I thought I would carry the tradition on for her even if it is just Ryan and I. It was so cute like always and made me think about the good times I had with my Grandma. Then we went home to get our kiddies and all of the presents and headed out to my Aunt Joannes house. Once we got there we exchanged presents and chatted for a bit, then it was off to play games! We got back to my mom and dads around 9 or so and automatically whipped out Phase 10! We love that game! I was sick so I didn't last very long I think I was in bed by 11:00!! Of course my sisters boyfriend one (I blamed it on his old age and experience) but my sister just thinks he is good. Grr!! I hate to lose! The next morning we woke up and opened all of our presents!

                    Ryan and I got my dad a 100 piece ratchet set which was kinda pricey but he needed it, my sister Ry and I made my mom a picture collage frame with recent pictures of all of us! It turned out really cute and I almost kept it for my own house! We bought my sister a sonicare toof brush (not like she brushes her teeth anyway) and she loved it, and we got Clark a gift card to Ikea so he can get some stuff for his apartment! My parents gave Ryan and I money and we bought a t.v stand and wire so we can FINALLY get our surround sound set up. My sister gave us a gift card bought me a SUPER cute shirt and some matching earrings! :] Ryan spoiled me a little too rotten and bought me the big set of Bare Minerals makeup I have been begging for it for a year now! So its about time! LOL JK!! He also got me the new Mariah Carey perfume which smells SO SO good and a gift card to go get my belly button pierced and enough money to get some fab jewelry for it! Now that I have the card I am too scared to go and get it done so I will keep you peeps updated on that! He also got me a jewelry armoire and some candy! :) Oh how I love him. I got him an 8 drawer standing Craftsman tool set and filled his stocking with tools, candy, shaving razors, a new belt, a columbia fleece pull over, there was other stuff that I am not remebering at the moment! Ryans side of the family decided to draw names since it would be cheaper for people to buy presents for just one person instead of everyone so Kens girlfriend picked me and bought me a new widescreen Tom Tom!!

I love it! I always get lost so it is SO SO handy to have! and Peyton drew Ryans name since he is with his dad we haven't exchanged that yet! All in all we had a great Christmas this year and hope to make them better and better as the years come! I am so thankful for my parents they go above and beyond to keep us happy my seester who is so so funny and very caring and my husband who shows his love for me in more way then one! I am starting to love Christmas more and more each year I spend with him!! Sorry there are no pictures! :]

Husband Funnies...

So if you know my husband you know he is the most random funniest guy out there!! Some people don't know how to take his joking.. well to you people YOUR BORING!! :]

20 things I KNOW about my Hubby!

1. He's sitting in front of the TV - what is on the screen? NFL or some hunting show on Versus

2. You're out to eat - what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Catlina or Bleu Cheeese

3. What's one food he doesn't like? Mint and Chocolate.. I know thats candy but food wise he isn't too weird and picky thank god!

4. You go out to eat and have a drink- what does he drink? Spinner or Beer. (Blah)

5. Where did he go to high school? Riverton High School

6. What size shoe does he wear? 10 1/2 with Triple E width

7. If he could go to any one sporting event what would it be? Anything Boise is would love to go!!

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Meatball...

9. What would he eat every day if he could? Cereal

10. What is his favorite cereal? He LOVES them all...

11. What would he never wear? Skinny Jeans... anything tight or "queer" LOL

12. What is his favorite sports team? Boise State Broncos

13. Who did he vote for? Obama he isn't very polictical though..

14. Who is his best friend? Besides me.. probably Alex or his dad

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Probably whine

16. What is his heritage? Italian.. and Swedish I think...

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind? Red Velvet.. lol but I dont bake! (Eww)

18. Did he play sports in high school? Football

19. What could he spend hours doing? Working I swear he LOVES to work! More $$ for me! :] I am so lucky!

20. What is one unique talent? He can make me laugh at the drop of a hat

Tag 5 People: Anyone that wants to do it...

2009

Wow.. I cannot believe 2009 is already to its end! I have enjoyed every waking moment of this year and hope we have just as great if not greater in 2010 with a few little things added!! ;] Here is a list of 20 things that have happened to me in 2009

1. Bought my own house
2. Turned 20! No longer a "teen"
3. Bought a puppy! (cutest dog ever)
4. Learned what a "Wheel Barrow" was for
5. Got another new puppy
6. Celebrated 1 year of marriage with lovey
7. Learned how to shoot a hand gun. Bulls eye the 2nd try!
8. Had my tonsils out and visited hell!
9. Lost 10 lbs
10. Dressed as a cop for Halloween (despite my hatred for them)
11. Lost my job
12. Met a group of new friends
13. Bought a new handbag with my life savings
14. Dyed my hair brown (ahhh!!)
15. Spent Thanksgiving in Idaho
16. Went to Confession (to confess all my sins its a Catholic thing so take your judgement elsewhere...)
17. Waited until the last minute to Christmas shop
18. Learned who her true friends and family are
19. Told a very BIG secret
20. Done 1 positive and uplifting thing a day since Dec. 1st

I will continue to do at least one positive thing a day for many more years. "You must be the change you want to see in this world". I hope you all have enjoyed 2009 like I have. I could not ask for a better partner to have by my side to share all of these amazing experiences with! Through this year one thing we are leaving with is the knowledge of knowing who is and isn't there for us. I love my family and friends and am so blessed to have a man that would jump through a ring of fire just to see me smile. :] Happy 2010

Weekend before Christmas

First off let me just say I am so grateful for the family and friends that put out the effort to be apart of our life!! We had such a good weekend out with friends I can't even tell you how much fun it was! We started off the night with a winter bbq at our place and we gave them a little xmas gift. I gave the girls a cute set of 2 gloves and bought the boys a big box of nerds since.. they are nerds!! Then we hit the trax to go ice skating, while on the trax we stopped in the middle of the road for about 10 minutes and I really started to get worried I am so claustrophobic its not even funny plus I have seen the movie Pelham 123! I started to freak out a bit and knew I just had to talk myself out of getting sick and having a panic attack! It was horrible we had to exit off the trax where they had buses for people who needed them but we just decided to walk the 2 blocks to the Galliven center!! We eventually ended up finding out that the poor man was ran over.. Once we got there I was so ready to get out on the ice, I have my own ice skates and all! My Grandma Lo bought them for us girls awhile back it was such a fun gift!! While Ry paid I was putting my skates and just so excited to get out on the ice and show off my mad "skills". Well sure enough I put the boys to the test we raced!! I WON!  Duh.. Ryan said he let me win and Alex said that I cheated well anyone that was watching knew that I smoked Ryan and that Alex was the one cheating.. cutting through the middle wasn't obvious or anything. So I told them the story of when my mom worked at Channel 4 and she had to be a part of the Winter Games and they needed an extra speed skater for the 10-15 age group so my mom and dad thought it would be fun to throw me in and see how good I could. Since I am the track star of the fam I beat out everybody!!! Its such a great memory I have with my mom and dad and am lucky for how much they were involved in my life!

Well no one believed my story till a little later that night.. Ice skating was blast we did trains and even danced under peoples arms! We will defenitly make this a tradition and go again next year! Once we were all puckered out of skating we decided to see if trax were still working so we could get back on and get into the warm car! Once we got back to our trax station Alex had the bright idea to tell me "So we aren't on ice anymore wanna race on foot?" Really Alex? Really? Since his girlfriend was there I didn't want to make a fool out of him but he insisted on making fun of how fast my "little" legs could run. So I said OKAY. If your going to go there I will show you!! As you can imagine I SMOKED him! He had no chance if you ask him about it now he will still say I cheated! He is just upset that he was beat by a 5 foot girl! :p We went back to the house and watched a movie and passed out!

       Saturday Ryan and I were up and Adam at 8 o clock a.m getting ready to finish some Christmas shopping! We started out at Fashion Place mall, it was a mad house!! I gave Ry a few purse ideas and jewlery ideas and we moved on to Sears.. We got my dad a pretty nice "wrench" set I think.. and just shopped! It was great fun! We went home for a little R&R got some fried chicken and just hung out. Of course Alex and Bri wanted us to go to the bar with them!! We were so warm and relaxed at home that it took us awhile to decided plus we didn't want to spend the money when we could just drink at home! We decided to be good sports and just go! It ended up being a ton of fun and of course $100 later we were ready to go home! Sunday we laid around ALL day!! I am so lucky for everything and we are living each day to the fullest!

                                    "Were having too much fun today to worry about tomorrow!"

Dear Santa,

On my list this year are the following:

1. Toms Shoes
2. Coach purse :]
3. Rock N Revival Jeans
4. Jimmy Choos
5. Extensions
6. Eye lash extensions
7. Another Michael Kors watch
8. Diamond Earrings
9. Range Rover
10. House in St. Thomas

Well the last 2 might be stretching just a little above our means (a little) Yes Santa I live in a fantasy world but a girl can dream right?! I have been very very (despite what others may say) nice this year and deserve all of this. After all there is only 10 things in my list! :] 

My baby girl

Chewy our blue heeler/border collie is such a good girl and obeys very well! (most of the time) I got her for my 20th birthday and as a little house warming gift from my sweet husband!! Yesterday we took her in to get spayed there is SO many homeless puppies in this world I didn't want to create more!! So yesterday morning I took her into the clinic to have it done thank god my sis joined me for moral support! She is my little lady and really the first responsibility I have ever had except my house she is my pride and joy!!
I went to drop her off at the clinic and at first she did not dare go in and finally we got her to go in and I filled out some paper work and answered some questions and walked her back to her kennel!! It was heartbreaking she did not want to go into that for the life of her!! Once we got her in I said my goodbyes and rushed out before I could hear or cry or bark!! I called throughout the day to check on her and see how her progress was and she did just fine. Right at 4 I ran out of work to go and pick her up oh man was she happy to see mama or what!! At first she thought she could run straight up to me and it hit her that she was in a little bit of pain. So I lifted her up into the car and calmed her down a bit and off we went to Grandmas!

She was really droopy and just sleepy the whole ride there, once we got there all she wanted to do was see her wittle brudder Gussie!! He didn't want anything to do with her and went into the corner and pouted we think he knew she was in pain. I made her a bed in my room (old room) and shut the door so she could get some sleep. Ten minutes later I went to check on her and yep she was on the bed, she had jumped on the bed!!! She thinks she is a little baby or something because she always has to be on your lap or snuggling with you!! So I brought her down into the livign room so she could be apart of all the action and before I knew it she jumped onto the couch!! Her stitches started to bleed a little but over time she was fine! Daddy is home with her today and I hear she is recovering very well. Its weird to some people how much my dogs mean to me but they are just as much part of the family as a human being!! So I will live you with the cutest girl ever!!

Challenge

I am feeling the pressure to be a little more housewife like....! WELL news flash people. I AM NOT!! I never will be!! I hate to cook, I hate to craft, and I HATE to sit on my butt!!!! I always hear "Well at least I can cook" or "At least you eat well" Sorry peeps but I HATE to cook but I get the hint people.. I should at least try so I did! This is my first attempt at being a little more housewive ish....

Yes I made them ALL by myself and I am very proud of it! Derricks wife Jessica made these for their "cookies & punch" reception as I like to call it. So with my competetive attidude I figured if she can do it. I can do it!! Yummy they were so good!! Its pretty simple and real easy here is the recipe:

CAKE
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

FILLING
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)

FOR CAKE:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.

COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. (If using a dark-colored pan, begin checking for doneness at 11 minutes.) Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

FOR FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

COOKING TIP:
Be sure to put enough powdered sugar on the towel when rolling up the cake so it will not stick.

So there ya have it! ;] I cooked something! It may have been a sweet but my hubby isn't complaining! :] So call me a bad wife all you want I know who I am and what I am becoming and do NOT need anyones judgement! :] Have a good day.