a week of photo updates

Wow!!! It has been quite the past couple of months. Thanks to all of you who prayed for my travels this past weekend. Things went very well and suprisingly enough, the flights were fairly bearable.

So thank you!
I thought in an effort to try and make up some time I'm going to do "A Week of Photo Updates" as there have been so many things I just haven't had time to post about over the past few months.

This first update is two-fold (but involves one of my favorite people). A couple weeks back I was able to travel to the Midwest to spend some time with both my in-laws in Minneapolis as well as my family in Mt. Vernon. During that time I attended a bridal shower for my brother's fiance (pictures to come later this week) and also hosted a baby shower for one of my best friends - Liz. Below are a few photos (and the invite) for Liz's shower. We did a "Sprinkle" theme where everything was either umbrella/rain or candy sprinkles. It turned out great and Baby Reasland and Liz were blessed with some great encouragement from other mom's and received some super cute gifts.

The next photo was taken in mid-March when Liz and her husband, Aaron, came to spend a week of fun in the sun with us. As with so many of our friends who live far away, although their visits are so much fun, it makes us wish we lived close to them! This group photo was taken at on our favorite Mexican restaraunts in Phoenix - Los Sombreros.

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on the road to....DC

whirl*wind [hwurl-wind, wurl-]
verb (used without object)
to move or travel quickly

It's official - I feel like I've been in a bit of a whirlwind lately. Not only am I preparing to head to DC tomorrow for a Raising Truly Great Kids Event, but I just returned from another event in Minneapolis on Tuesday. That's a 3 day turn around (and I still managed to go to the grocery store!)
Regardless of the pace of the past couple weeks, I'm really thankful for God's provision during it. I feel like we're still moving forward in our preparations for our little lady to come into the world and I'm getting to be a part of an incredible work God is doing through our parenting conferences. What more could I ask for?
If you think of me this weekend, please do pray for safe/comfortable travels this weekend. Although this isn't my last trip while pregnant (my brother is getting married at the end of the month), it is my last work trip.

Note: For those of you who may have thought that the above picture might possibly be me - think again!
Here's the top 5 reasons why it definetly is not me.
5) I don't travel that lightly. One carry on bag - seriously!? For those of you who know me, I have enough hair product to fill a carry on.
4) My mid-section does not look that good (ever). I'm 7.5 months pregnant in case you forgot.
3) I've pretty much officially moved to flats for my footwear. Although those shoes are quite cute!
2) I don't own a pair of red heels. Much to my husband's surprise I'm sure.
1) When traveling I NEVER look that cute. EVER. Although I wish :)

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the belly project...

Growing, growing and growing some more. Sorry it's taken me nearly 7 or so weeks to post another belly photo. One would think that it doesn't take all that much effort to take them but for some reason between being in the hospital, having guests in our home and flying to Iowa I've been a bit preoccupied. So, here's for all of you who have been wondering how she's growing...
Update on Mom - other than the very common pregnancy pains I'm feeling great! So much better than I was a couple of weeks back. Thanks to all of your prayer warriors out there. God really did do a miracle and we're all so thankful!

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Steph's Pick - White Chocolate Raspberry Scones

I came across this AWESOME recipe awhile back on a friend of a friend's blog (yes - I realize that tags me as a blog staulker) and can't get enough of these little treats. I figured it was time to spread the love and share the recipe with ya'll.

Raspberrry-White Chocolate Scones
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. firm butter or margarine
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 c. whipping cream
Additional whipping cream
Sugar
3/4 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries
2/3 cup white baking chips

Directions:
- Heat oven to 400 F.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, 3 Tbsp. sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender until mixture looks like fine crumbs.
- In a smaller bowl beat the eggs. Stir in whipping cream and extract.
- Add raspberries and white chips to the dry ingredients.
- Stir in wet ingredients to dry until mixed.
- Place dough on ungreased cookie sheet. Roll or pat dough into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges. Brush with whipping cream and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 18-23 min. or until golden brown. Allow to cool for a short time. Carefully seperate wedges and remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

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steph's pick - hanky pankys

Alright - I'll admit, this might be a strange "Steph's Pick" choice considering the fact that it's Good Friday :) But it's actually something that I've been contemplating posting over the past year or so but always wondered if it was appropriate. As I was watching Regis and Kelly this morning Kelly started talking about her favorite kind of underwear and sure enough - it was Hanky Pankys. She went on and on about how much she loves them and even had Regis put on a pair. So - that put me over the edge.
All that to say - my Steph's Pick this week is my favorite kind of underwear - Hanky Pankys. Now some might wonder how someone could love a certain kind of underwear so much - but believe me when I say - they are well worth the hype (and the price tag). I've found them in various boutiques around Phoenix but I also know that they're available at Nordstrom's (Nordstrom's Rack - half price) as well as Costco on special occassions.
They really are the best. I personally like their thongs the best - I was never a thong lover before finding these. The Hanky Panky thong is the most comfortable (one-size fits all) pair of underwear you could ever own. And they're pretty sexy too! Pick up a pair (or two) today.

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on the road to Iowa...and an update...

I apologize for the lack of blogging I've done lately. I'm hoping that you can give me a little grace as we've had a couple tough weeks in our home. Regardless, I wanted to send an update on the previous weeks happenings - hopefully this is a final update on all my fun medical problems :)
Last Wednesday, after a combination of chiropractic appointments and God's hand (obviously more God) I woke up with virtually no pain in my low right back. It was amazing. I didn't quite even know what to think so I took one more pain pill just to hopefully prevent the pain from coming back. But it hasn't!!! Although I have definetly had some uncomfortable times over the past few days it has been nothing in comparison to what the pain was like a week ago. Praise God!
Needless to say I left Phoenix on Thursday morning and traveled to Iowa. My best friends wedding went extremely well and I was so thankful to be there and be a part of it. Congrats to the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Nate Eagles! We love you!
I was blessed to be able to spend the night with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and our new niece, Adelyn, on Saturday night and on Sunday morning we got up and made our way to Mt. Vernon for my first baby shower. My mom and going to be sister-in-law, Amy, hosted the shower for me and it went by flawlessly. It was so fun to be able to celebrate this incredible gift God has blessed Alan and I with. It made me even more excited to meet our little one come this summer.
I'm now back in Phoenix and back at work.
Thank you for all of your concern and prayers! I'm so grateful for each one of you.

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a rough week

One might say that we've had a fairly rough week around the Flies household. After returning from a great conference in Lancaster, PA, last Sunday my back started to ache a bit and this small pain quickly turned into a debilitating pain that has launched us into a roller coaster of a ride.
After taking a couple days off from work I finally made my way to my OB's for some medication for the pain. After taking this medication for awhile with no luck we had no choice but to head into the ER on Tuesday evening for a more extensive look into what might be causing my pain. After spending the night in the hospital it was concluded that I was more than likely passing a kidney stone. They dismissed me and asked me to wait until it passed.
On Thursday I had another appointment with my doctor. After discussing my situation further with him he suggested I see an urologist which would only happen if I were admitted into the hospital. I was admitted on Thursday afternoon and just discharged last night. Throughout our time in the hospital we had a MRI done which concluded that it wasn't kidney stones after all but my uterus was sitting on one of my ureters which was causing my low right back considerable amount of pain.
So that's the story of my first hospital experience. I thought for sure I wouldn't be visiting the Family Birthing Center until our precious little girl came into this world, but my plans were obviously not God's. Right now we're praying for a small miracle and would ask that you would also do the same. My pain is still quite strong and I'm on heavy medication. Please join with us in praying for my uterus to lift off my ureter and the pain to go away.

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Steph's Pick - a Clothing Swap

Attention all you ladies who like a good bargain for new(ish) clothing! If you haven't participated in a Clothing Swap party, now is the time to host one! Some of my friends and I hosted our very first clothing swap party this past weekend and it was a blast! There's nothing better than getting rid of some of the clothes you have sitting around and getting some "new" clothes for FREE!
To give you a better idea of what a clothing swap is read the text I included on the evite we sent out:

You have a closet full of clothes but can't ever seem to find anything to wear. Before you hit the mall and spend a lot of money, try a clothes swap party! You and your friends can exchange used clothing and adopt great new looks without opening a wallet. Come join a group of Phoenix area gals for tea time and our first official Clothing Swap.
In order for the Clothing Swap to be a success here are a couple of logistics:
- Go through your own closet to pull out the clothes/accessories (no shoes please) you no longer wear. Include only clothing that someone can still wear in your clothes swap pile (if an item is questionable it probably means you shouldn't bring it). Please limit the amount of clothing/accessories you bring to 8 items.
- Wash, press and hang the garments so everyone can easily see the clothes for swapping.
- Arrange to have your items dropped off at Steph's House the weekend of March 7th. Whether it's you or a friend who invited you who drops them off, this will give us some time to organize everything for the party.

Looking forward to it!! We hope you can join us.

Try a Clothing Swap this spring! I can guarantee you won't leave empty-handed. For more specific info of how to organize a party of your own feel free to contact me.

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Steph's Pick - Menu Planning

Upon getting married and moving to Arizona I started getting in the habit of going to the grocery store at least 4-5x a week. I'd decide each day what I wanted to make that evening and I'd stop by Basha's to pick everything up. Although the grocery store was literally across the street from our first apartment I felt like I spent more time at the grocery store than doing things that I loved to do. After about 6 months of this and a thorough analysis of our budget I knew I needed to make some changes to my grocery shopping plans.

Since then I go to the grocery store once a week (generally on Sundays) and I always bring my list in hand. My list is formulated as I sit down that day and plan my menu for the week. This has helped me tremendously in multiple ways. First, I spend far much less time going to and from the grocery store (you know time=money). Second, I feel more prepared to cook for our family when I know what I've planned for that evening's meal. Finally, we are saving way more money - and in these economic times that is something to celebrate!

So ladies, it's as simple as that! I realize this may not be revolutionary to many of you - but it was to me! I'm appreciating the benefits of this specific home-tip more than I'll probably ever know.

For the very cute Menu Planning document shown below Click Here.

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Shiloh & Ian's Wedding

This past Saturday I got to play a small role in a local wedding. I was technically Ian and Shiloh's wedding coordinator - although as many of you know, I certainly don't do that for a living. Regardless, what an honor that they would entrust their big day into my hands.
What an incredible day it turned out to be! The love Ian and Shiloh have for one another and for the Lord Almighty is such an inspiration for all who know them. I know I personally felt very privileged to be able to witness the unification of these two and their families.
I just couldn't resist posting some of the photos that both photographers have posted on their blogs. Jeanette LeBlanc and Maggie McDonald - you girls hit it out of the ballpark! You captured the day so beautifully. These photos will help Ian and Shiloh and their families remember this day for the next 50+ years. Thank you!

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growing...

I know... can you believe it? Two Posts in one day!! I'm getting a little too carried away. Well - last week was incredibly busy as I was the wedding coordinator for a local wedding here. I'll be sure to post more about that later. Needless to say, I haven't gotten around to posting much.
Nevertheless, here is a 22 week belly update. I'm still trying to figure out if I like the photos with the belly uncovered or covered. For this week it will be covered :) The baby is growing.... along with her mom! This months fruit that resembles how big Baby Flies is = papaya!

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Steph's Pick - My GoodReads

Amidst all of the busyness in our lives I've gotten a chance to read some great books and thought it was time to bring back another "Steph's Goodreads" list. In no particular order...

1. The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy by Erika Lenkert. Hilarious pregnancy book! I just can't get enough of reading it. Although maybe not the most exhaustive in its information, it's a light-hearted read for any woman going through the fantastic 40-ish weeks called "pregnancy."
2. Escape by Carolyn Jessup. Although quite disturbing, this is one of the most interesting books I've read in awhile. It's Carolyn's personal and touching story of escaping the FLDS radical sect.
3. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Some might disagree with the fact that I'm even reading these teenybopper, vampire sucking tales but as much as I hate to admit it, they're pretty good!
4. The Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. Alright, I'll admit it, I have yet to even read this book - but it would be Alan's top pick if he were doing an "Alan's Goodreads." It's on my list of books to read and I'm really hoping to get to it sooner than later.
5. Deliver This by Marisa Cohen. Again, another very informative pregnancy book on the deliver options available. Not only does it give a closer glimpse into all techniques, it also dives into why the author suggests women choose the option they do. Super intriguing.

As the sun becomes warmer in AZ I'm sure I'll have another Goodreads list in a couple of months as one of my favorite things to do in the summer is to sit by the pool with an ice-cold margarita (this summer my drink of choice will be water) and a good book in hand. Cheers to great-reads!

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it's a....

Well - it's as official as it's going to be at this stage :) We recently had a couple ultrasounds with a friend and had our ultrasound at the doctors office this week and all predictions have come back the same - Baby Flies is a GIRL! Now I realize that this can certainly change over the next months but right now I'm dreaming of all of the cute pink things for our little baby girl.
I've already bought a couple things for the nursery. We can't wait!!

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our Babymoon

This past Tuesday evening we returned from our 6-day Babymoon in Oahu (for those unfamiliar with the term babymoon - think honeymoon - just before the baby). We both knew we wanted to do one last trip, just the two of us, before this little baby comes into the world. What better place than Hawaii?! Neither of us had ever been so we looked into our best options and settled on Oahu.
During our time on this beautiful island we spent time on Waikiki, Alan had a private surf lesson (thanks George!), we ate some incredible food, we toured the Polynesian Cultural Center, soaked in the sun on Kailua Beach, visited Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, hiked Diamond Head, explored the North Shore and snorkeled in Haunauma Bay. Just to name a few things. We also stayed at this unbelievable hotel called the Hotel Renew. If you're looking to go to the Waikiki area anytime soon we'd highly recommend it.
It really was a very restful yet fun time for the two of us as we celebrated what God has in store for our family in the next year.

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on the road to...Hawaii!!

We're off to Hawaii for our Babymoon tomorrow morning and couldn't be more excited! Alan just finished a trimester of classes and so it's time to celebrate! We'll take plenty of pictures and will be sure to post about our time away.

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Some Belly Pics...

I always thought I would be really good at remembering to take belly pictures during pregnancy - but I've even surprised myself. Weeks have flown by and as you can see - 5 weeks passed before I got around to taking my second round of them :) Here's the baby (and mom) at 14 weeks and then at 19 weeks. And for those of you who like a little more practical/visual illustration for how big our little peanut is - see below.

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Steph's Pick - a Diaper Bag

Alright - I have a confession - the very first baby item that I purchased was a diaper bag! Upon finding out that we would be adding to our family of 2 this coming summer I immediatly started thinking "Where am I going to find a cute/stylish diaper bag!?" I feel like I'm already off to a bad start with this mom thing! I know this may be the last thing on some of your lists in preparing for the birth of your first child but for the purse-lover in me I couldn't help but think that most of the diaper bags I have seen were just not cute. Just as I wouldn't want to go through the next few year's with any ugly purse - I wasn't about to do it with an ugly diaper bag :)
So I started my search early and was recommended by a friend to check out Skip Hop's options. Which is exactly what I did. And sure enough - I found a fairly gender neutral, cute and somewhat affordable bag that I actually liked. I bought it right away. I went with the Skip Hop's Studio Diaper Tote but they have plenty of other options.
For you moms out there looking for either a new diaper bag or your very first diaper bag, I'd totally suggest a Skip Hop Bag. I also found a great article on Parents.com with some other fun idea's. Check it out for yourselves!

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on the road in...IOWA

(Disclaimer: I realize this photo I am using to portray Iowa is so over-the-top typical but I couldn't find anything that illustrated my home state any better)
This past weekend we were finally able to travel to Iowa to see our little niece, Adelyn. Both of us have been so anxious to see her and couldn't wait to spend some good quality snuggling hours with this little 4-week old! This is exactly what we did. We were there Thursday - Sunday and during that time we played (as much as a newborn can play), fed, changed diapers, ate and slept with this little punkin and her incredible mom and dad. We tried to be as helpful as possible while there and always kept in the back of our minds that we'd be traveling back to our newborn-free home in a couple of days where we'd be able to get plenty of rest (at least for a few more months). Below you'll find some photos I took of the baby and the new family.

We love you three!

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on the road in...Edmonton

Wow! I'm already officially behind. The weekend following my time in Vancouver, Alan and I were both able to travel with Family Matters to Edmonton, Alberta. This trip, together with my time in Vancouver, amounted to a total of 8 days out of 14 in Canada!!! I think they should consider granting me citizenship (especially with their 1 year maternity policy!!!).
Regardless, we were in Edmonton for a large Canadian Christian Conference called Breakforth Canada. It was a great event - a huge success for our ministry - and I'm confident thousands of people were influenced by the incredible musicians and speakers that were there.
Next up... our time in the Midwest. Stay tuned :)

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Steph's Pick & a NEW Series!

There are very few cities that I've been to that can top the beauty of this British Columbia gem - Vancouver. Although both times I've visited have been for work purposes, I have still been awed at the splendor of God's creation when looking around this city. Hugging a spectacular bay by the Pacific Ocean and ringed by stunning, snowcapped peaks, Vancouver easily ranks as one of the world's most beautiful cities. It's no wonder it was even ranked as one of the three most livable cities by the 2008 Mercer Human Resource Consulting report. There is no question why. Alan and I are right now dreaming of when we might be able to actually go to Vancouver together - maybe the 2010 Winter Olympics? Would anyone care to join us? :) Do consider Vancouver for your next get-away trip. You won't be disappointed.

On a side note: Although I will try and continue posting my "Steph's Pick" each week, I thought it might also be fun to start a NEW Series - which I'm entitling "On the Road in..." After looking at our schedules for the next 6 months we realized that we have plans to travel around 10 times (between work and pleasure). This series will help you keep up with us as we travel the country (and continent in some cases).

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PurVine Wine Making Tour

This weekend, our friends, John and Denise, treated our small group to a wine making tour at a local wine making establishment in the Phoenix area - PurVine. We were treated to a great wealth of knowledge by the wine-maker himself, a tour of the facilities, some great wine (so says Alan), yummy appetizers and wonderful company! We had a fabulous time and would highly suggest it for other folks living in this area.

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Steph's Pick - Taco in a Bag

Since moving to AZ, I quickly realized that we were not in the Midwest anymore. So many things I would say would cause a confused reaction by AZ residents. Specifically, I've always been accustomed to buying taco-in-a-bag at sporting activities. It is such a great alternative to the standard hotdog or burger. However, Taco-in-a-bags are no where to be found here! And no one has even heard of them. So I'm slowing introducing this great idea to friends here in the Valley and I thought it was about time to include it as my "Steph's Pick."
Now for those of you readers who cook very little - don't be scared away - this is one of the easiest things you can possibly make. It's a great meal for on-the-go (picnic or camping) or during times when you want to make something with little clean-up.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
4 (2.5 ounce) packages Doritos (my favorite) or Fritos
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 chopped fresh tomato
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS
Place ground beef in a large skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat until browned. Drain excess oil. Mix in the taco seasoning and prepare according to the directions on the package. With the bags unopened, gently crush the corn chips. Snip the corners off the bags using scissors and slit open the bags along the side edge. Spoon equal amounts of the beef mixture, lettuce, tomato, Cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream into the bags on top of the crushed chips. Serve in the bag and eat using a fork.

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welcome niece, Adelyn Diane

Our niece was born this past weekend and we couldn't be more proud to announce her arrival. Adelyn Diane was born to Nick & Abby on January 12, 2009 at 5:03 pm, weighing 8 lbs, 3 oz and measuring 19 3/4 inches long! Mom, Dad and baby are all doing well and are at home adjusting to life with a newborn! We plan to visit them at the beginning of February and are already anxious for the departure day to arrive!!! Congrats Nick & Abby! We love you!

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I guess it's safe to assume that the above picture tells our story - maybe even a little bit better than we could ourselves :) Yes - you guessed it - we're pregnant and expecting our first child come July! We are currently 14 weeks along. I figured maybe the best way to tell you a little bit about this new found joy is to answer some specific questions. Let's just call it the "Top 5 Questions all Pregnant Couples are Asked"

5) When are you due? July 12th (yes - right in the middle of the 100+ degree heat in AZ - I'm sure it will be lovely)
4) Was this planned? Although always a bit of an awkward question - our answered would have to yes - kindof.
3) How have you been feeling? I was doing quite well until early December when I came down with a nasty case of the flu which launched into several weeks of a dull nausea. That has come to pass, which I'm grateful for. Not only was I nausious, but right from the beginning I was extremely tired. On most days I would come home from work just to take a 30-45 min nap and to head back in again. This was probably the most frustrating thing for me, as I'm a bit of a busy body and being hindered in my ability to physically go about my day because I was too tired was very frustrating. But all in all, it has been a great pregnancy. I can't complain.
2)) Are we going to find out if it's a girl or boy? Yes. We can't wait to find out if we're having a "little Alan" or a "little Steph." That will come in a few more weeks.
1) Do you have names picked out? Yes. We do have some idea's but will wait to seriously consider what name we'll choose until we find out the sex. However, our plan is to keep the name a secret until the little one arrives in July.

Alright - I think that's all for now.

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Steph's Pick - Personalized Gift Tags

Now I had every intention of posting this is a "Steph's Pick" far before Christmas came around but that obviously didn't happen! So I apologize in advance for giving you a bit of a belated suggestion. I also have to give credit where credit is due - my good friend, Nealy, did this very thing a couple years back which inspired me to use the idea this year.
Although I don't think really much explanation is necessary, I found this gift tag idea to be creative and very easy. Rather than buy gift tags at the store, I went through this past year's photos and printed off various ones that I cut out to personalize each gift we gave this Christmas season. Our family and friends got a good kick out of their photos and I have to admit, I had a great time chosing which photos to use.
So - the next time you have to wrap a gift, consider this personalized gift tag option. It would even work for Birthday gifts, Anniversary gifts, Baby shower gifts and the occassional "because I love you" gifts.

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a very Merry Christmas & a baby shower

This past week we had the privilege of being with our families in MN and IA to celebrate Christmas. It was such a blessing to be able to be with them during this very special time of the year. Our trip consisted of time with Dad and Ellen in MN, a road-trip to IA with Mom, Sara and Kyle, a baby shower for Baby Girl Flies (see photos below), some must needed R&R in Ankeny at Nick and Abby's home, brunch at the Machine Shed with Uncle Terry, Aunt Kathy, Gma Lebo, Todd and Rachel and the rest of the Flies clan, a fabulous dinner at Aunt Peggy's with Gma and Gpa Triggs and the Triggs family (including soon to be family, Amy Kastanek), spending the day with Gma and Gpa Folkerts in Mt. Vernon, a quick visit with HS friends, Kiri, Liz and Aaron, Christmas Eve at CBC in MV and some great home-cooking and rest with Mom and Dad Triggs. It really was a great week - and most certainly a VERY Merry Christmas!

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a P. Diddy White Out Christmas Party

Our dear friends, Mike and Michelle, hosted their 2nd annual Christmas party this past weekend. The theme was a P. Diddy White Out Party. By the picture I'm sure you can see what dress instructions were :) Mike and Michelle are great hosts -there was delicious food and drinks and great trivia games. It was a ton of fun!
The photo is of most of our small group (minus one couple).

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Steph's Pick - a White Christmas!

It's been 4 years since I moved to AZ. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I've lived in the desert that long. Although we love a ton of things about Arizona there are some things that we most certainly miss about the midwest. (Especially during this time of year.)
Specifically this past weekend as we decorated our home for Christmas I glanced out our glass door to see that the temperature was 75 degrees!!!! Can you believe it? 75 degrees just does nothing for my Christmas spirit.
Well this year we are blessed to be able to see both of our families over the holidays. We'll be in Minnesota and Iowa. And believe it or not, I'm praying for lots of snow!!! I can't wait to wear my Uggs, my winter jacket (which I only ever get out when traveling), and bundel up with a cup of hot cider and a good book. Here's to a White Christmas!!!

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Steph's Pick - a Christmas List

Ready or not - that time of year is just around the corner! Like usual, I've already been asked by a few people what I want for Christmas. Generally I have such a hard time trying to think of things that I want for Christmas. However, this year, thanks to a suggestion by my friend Michelle, I've been keeping a Christmas list in my purse for the past few months. That way anytime I come across something that I want I add it to the ongoing list. It's great! Much less stress.
That's why I thought I'd add this tip as my "Steph's Pick" for the week. Anything to help the holidays be less stressful and more joyful!

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Home from our cruise!

Well we returned safe and sound on Monday night from a great get-away weekend. As I said in my previous post, Jess and I have been talking about taking a vacation together for the past two years but just got around to doing it last weekend.
The weekend was filled with a ton of great memories - the best being the amount of rest and sleep that we got! It was unbelievable how exhausted both of us were. With an inside cabin room (no lights) you would have easily found us asleep at 9 pm each night!!!
We did have one stop - Ensenada, Mexico. Although we did get off the boat for a total of 45 or so minutes, the city itself wasn't much to write home about. The other days were spent poolside with a book in hand.
On Monday we were able to disembark around 8 am so we made arrangements to sit down at the Long Beach Starbucks while we waited for the LA traffic to die down. After waiting a couple hours we were off to UCLA to meet up with some old friends, Josh and Rochelle. While in Westwood we relaxed some more and enjoyed the last few hours of conversation before Rochelle and Jess dropped me off at LAX to fly home to Phoenix.
It really was an incredible weekend. Jess - thanks for taking time out of your crazy schedule to spend a weekend with me! You're the best!

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a cruise...

We've always talked about it - but we're finally doing it! My dear friend, Jess, and I are leaving from Long Beach, CA tomorrow morning for a short 3-day "Girls Weekend" cruise. It is sure to be a great time!!! I'll be sure to post photos as soon as we're back. Bon Voyage!!!

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Steph's Pick - Nutty Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Add this one to your holiday baking file.... mouth-watering Nutty Peanut Butter Caramel Bars. Don't they look heavenly :)

Ingredients:
8 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups pecan halves
14 ounces unwrapped caramels
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 ounces milk chocolate chips
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Beat in egg until well combined.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Pour into sugar mixture and beat until dough forms.Scoop out dough into a 15x10" baking pan and press it out to fill the pan. Scatter pecans evenly over dough. Bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Set on a wire rack.In a heavy small saucepan, add caramels and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.Drizzle caramel mixture over pecans. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let cool completely and cut into bars

If any of you make this treat - comment below. I haven't had a chance to try it yet. :)

(Recipe by Desert Culinary and Photo by Hostess of the Mostess & Desert Culinary)

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we're going to be an aunt and uncle!

I realize most of you know that Alan's brother, Nick and his wife, Abby are expecting in January. However, I thought I'd make the official "Flies Blend" blog announcment! Nick and Abby were in AZ this past weekend spending some time with us before the baby comes. I got a chance to take some maternity photos of the couple. These are just a few - but aren't they cute!!!
We can't wait to be an aunt and uncle. Nick and Abby - we couldn't be more excited for you two. You will be incredible parents.
(I'll post more photos of our weekend later this week)

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Steph's Pick - the Hotel Del Coronado

Please excuse the cheesy picture above (I just had to get that off of my shoulders before I go further). A couple weeks back Alan and I were privileged to be able to stay at one of the most beautiful resorts in this country - the Hotel Del Coronado. We loved it so much I just had to highlight it as my pick of the week.

Nestled on a beautiful beach in Coronado, California, this resort, built almost 120 years ago, has incredible history. Now I have to admit - I'm generally one to prefer new resorts with contemporary style; however, the Hotel Del is a totally different story. The entire property is immaculate and provides the perfect venue for fun, rest and entertainment. Check out their website: http://www.hoteldel.com/ for more information.

Although it may be a bit more expensive than staying at the Super 8 down the street, I can guarantee you that it is well worth it. Next time you find yourself in the San Diego area, splurge for a room at the Del (maybe even just one night?), you'll love it - I promise!

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I've been Tagged

I've been tagged and have answered the below questions with one-word answers. Enjoy.

1.Where is your cell phone? close
2. Your significant other? patient
3. Your hair? fro-like :)
4. Your mother? encouragement
5. Your favorite thing? coffee shops
6. Your dream last night? non-existant
7. Your favorite drink? wine/coffee
8. Your dream/goal? travel
9. What room are you in? living room
10. Your fear? God
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? midwest
12. Where were you last night? Edmonton
13. Something that you aren’t? quiet
14. Muffins? chocolate
15. Wish list item? new jeans
t16. Last thing you did? napped
17. What are you wearing? t-shirt
18. Your TV? small
19. Your pets? none
20. Friends? faithful
21. Your life? exhausting
22. Your mood? Same
23. Missing someone? family
24. Your car? Highlander
25. Something you're not wearing? shoes
26. Your favorite store? BR
27. Your favorite color? pink
28. When is the last time your laughed? today
29. Last time you cried? last week

Now I'm tagging Laura and Abby.

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Welcome Luke Henry

Some dear friends of ours, Jeff & Kristina, just recently welcomed their first baby into the world this past Saturday. I had the priviledge of taking some photos of the little guy and am in the process of designing his birth announcement. Isn't he just too precious??!! I'll post his announcement on iDesign upon completion.

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Alan's Two Cents - Extra money?

Some friends of mine and I have been talking about the economy and the recent volatility of the stock market. People are very concerned with the stability of the economy and the market. A lot of people are moving their money around from more riskier stocks/equities to bonds and CD’s, which are more “safe.” My question is…Why? My friends and I were all in agreement that if we had some extra money we would throw it into the market like now, yesterday, last week. Buy low. Sell high. Right? Well now is pretty low! You are getting a lot more bang for your buck right now! So if have some extra cash under your mattress or something…invest it! Don’t just take my word for it…how about Warren Buffett’s?! Read his recent Op-Ed in the NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/opinion/17buffett.html

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Mackenzie's Bridal Shower

I spent this past afternoon co-hosting a bridal shower for a dear friend of mine, Mackenzie. She, and her fiance, will be married at the end of November and this shower marks the beginning of all of the wedding festivities.
Didn't everything turn out great? I chose the "Something Blue" theme awhile back and just started adding components together throughout the past few months as we planned each part of the shower.

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Steph's Pick - a night of peace and quiet

Isn't it incredibly interesting how as a nation we worship the hurried lifestyle but at the same time so dislike our fast-paced lives? In one second we're encouraged to be involved in the church, community, politics, friendships, family, our careers, leadership, etc but at the same time our hearts yearn for just one night a week where we can be home and just relax. I'm often caught in the middle of this as I do like to have a fairly packed schedule (I'm weird - busy schedules a lot of the time energize me) but there is also an imaginary line that if I ever cross it - I just break. It's too much to handle.
In an effort to combat this tendency for our home to be too busy we started doing one night a week of peace and quiet. It's just one night that when we're home, we don't watch TV; we don't listen to music; we just be still. We enjoy one another's company and relax without having all of the noise in the background. It's been so incredible - so great that I would highly suggest that you implement this in your own home. You won't regret it. Hmmmm....Peace & Quiet - most definitely a Steph's Pick!

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steph's pick - DIY heating pad

Awhile back I was given a home-made microwavable heating pad from my dear friend, Nealy. It was one of the best gifts and I've used it so much since receiving it. (if you really want to know - I'm using it right now!) In light of how much I like it, I thought I'd post a step-by-step guide to making your own.

Microwave Heating Pad Directions:
No pattern is necessary, simply cut two pieces of cloth in the size/shape you wish your bag to be. Make sure to leave a seam allowance for yourself (about 1/2″). Some prefer regular square shape bags, others prefer tubes or more rectangular shapes. Experiment, whip up a few different sizes and shapes to try. These are really easy to make as well as cheap!

Filler Options:
Uncooked rice
Wheat
Feed corn ** (what Nealy used in mine)
Barley
Oatmeal
Beans
Flax seed

Fabric Options:
Cotton: (plain, prints, flannels, denims)
Alternate ideas: old socks (sew or knot end closed), washclothes, old towels
You can also choose to make cozy, removable & washable outer pouches. This is especially nice to do when giving as gifts.
Fabric Ideas: use old towels, fleece, velour knits, pretty fabric prints and flannels (don’t microwave anything other than cotton fabrics). The softer & fluffier & better!

Instructions for Making the Heating Pad:
Cut and sew the fabric for the heating pads the size and shape you want. Leave an inch or two open on one side so that you can fill bag with your choice of filler. Fill the bag about 1/2 to 3/4 full, more or less as you prefer. Don’t fill too full though, you want the bag to mold itself around your body when you apply it. Once bag is filled, sew opening closed either by hand or machine.

Directions for use:
Place in microwave and heat for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on size of bag.

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