Bananas

I have an interesting relationship with bananas. I cannot stand them, but I really, really want to like them. I know it sounds weird.

I don't like the flavor but it is the texture that really gets to me. They are mushy and slimy and just not appetizing. Also, the ruin otherwise delicious fruit salads. If you put in a banana every other fruit automatically tastes like banana. However, I still want to like them. They just seem so convenient and healthy. If you are running late you can just grab a banana and head out the door. Which is why it would be great if I liked them.

A few summers ago Karleigh and I tried to eat a banana and I was able to do two bites. Despite my hate for bananas I love banana bread.

Karleigh and I also made banana pancakes which were pretty good. But that's about all I can do. I also cannot stand banana candy, the smell of it also grosses me out. Which is too bad since Jonny loves banana flavored candy. This post was inspired by a fruit salad that was tainted by bananas, so was, sadly, not too enjoyable. So yeah, I really hate bananas. Why can't I like them?

Jonny's S'mores

On Saturday Jonny and I were trying to decide what to do and I was talking about s'more cupcakes that I had been wanting to try and then Jonny had a great idea... S'mores brownies! So I suggested that we go ahead and make them. I'm always looking for an excuse to bake/cook. We just made it up as we went and it turned out amazing! (I can say that because Jonny did most of the baking.)

What you'll need:

1. One 13 oz. jar of Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
2. One 2.3 oz. box of Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies brownie mix
3. 2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
4. Two eggs
5. One 14.4 oz. box of Honey Maid Honey Graham Crackers (3 plastic packages)
6. Six tablespoons of butter
7. 1/3 Cup of Sugar

We started with a graham cracker crust. Crust Ingredients: 1/3 cup of sugar, 6 T melted butter and 1 1/2 cups finely ground graham cracker (about 1 1/2 of the Honey Maid Graham Crackers plastic packages.)

Mix the sugar and ground graham crackers together, then add the melted butter (it's easier to mix the dry ingredients first).

Press the mixture firmly into a 9x13 pan. You can put parchment paper on the bottom of the pan to make removal easier, but it's not necessary.

Bake the crust for 7 mins at 350.

While the crust is baking, prepare brownie batter according to the instructions on the box.

Once the crust is done pour the brownie batter over the graham cracker crust and bake it according to the time and heat instructions on the brownie box.

Now comes the hard part. Let the brownies cool slightly, then spread about 1/2 to 2/3 of the marshmallow creme over the *warm* brownies. You still want the brownies to be slightly warm so the marshmallow creme will soften and spread easier.

Then, crumble more graham crackers (another 1 1/2 plastic packages) until you have cracker pieces that are roughly the size of a penny. Then, evenly spread the cracker pieces over the entire surface until thoroughly covered (may not use all of the crumbled pieces). You may need to press the pieces into the marshmallow creme a little bit, otherwise they may not stick.

Then cut, eat, and enjoy.

Six Amazing Years!

Yup Jonny and I have hit the six year anniversary! It has been an amazing six years. I love Jonny so much! I love that we know each other so well and that we are best friends. Over the past 6 years we have had a chance to do so much together. So here is to our six years together! Be warned: There are a lot of pictures.

His Senior Ball.

My senior ball.

CA road trip freshman year.

Freshman Masquerade

Wave runners in Tahoe.

Sky Ride at Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Hiking the Y.

Carpinteria with little Taryn.

4D movie at Sea World.

BYU @ UCLA

BYU Snow game.

Halloween 2007 Michael Scott and Pam Beasley.

My first ever snowman.

Festival of Colors 2008.

With the Boston and Tokyo.

One of several Red Sox games in Oakland.

Camping, boating trip with friends.

San Francisco

Halloween 2008

Looking for a Christmas tree. Nov 2008

Vegas on the way to San Diego

My graduation

Boogie Boarding Carpinteria 2009

Bridal Veil Falls

Karaoke at Studio 600

Homecoming 2009.

Halloween 2009.

"Christmas Eve" with Jonny's family.

New Year's Eve 2009-2010

Outdoor ice skating in Logan.

Laser tag

BYU Traditions Ball

So there it is in a nutshell. I tried to just pick the highlights. Also, I am missing a lot of pictures from the first two years, I think they are on the computer in Davis. Happy anniversary Jonny! I love you!

Happy Birthday Dear Mom...

Happy Birthday to you!

Today is my wonderful mother's birthday! I could not ask for a better mom. She has taught me so much and has always been there for me. She always know exactly where to find everything, I can look for forever and then she comes in and finds it in five minutes. When I make a new recipe I call her about five times to ask questions, to which she always knows the answers. Cleaning questions? My mom knows!

She is a great example and I hope to be a great a mother as she is. I know I can always count on her and I don't know what I would do without her. I love you mom! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you. Happy birthday!

Can I have this dance?

On Saturday Jonny and I went to the BYU Traditions Ball. Yup, we went to a ball. It was so much fun. I spent three weeks excited to go and it was worth it. They had it at the Hinckley Alumni Building. They had different activities on the different floors. There were hors d'oeuvres, dancing, dance instruction, pictures, comedy show and some other entertainment shows. They also had an area outside set up. The weather was perfect, it was just warm enough to be outside and not need a jacket. On the main floor they had a man playing the piano who is blind. He was amazing. Jonny and I started out with dance instruction where we learned some basic waltz steps. Then we got pictures taken, I'm excited to see them when they are done. Then we went to the comedy show. There was one girl who was really funny. She sang songs that she had written. The songs were hilarious and really catchy. Then we headed down to the dance. They had a great band and the music was perfect for dancing. They played a variety but they were all older style songs: swings, waltzes. Here are some pictures of us. I was a little nervous about my headband because it is so bold, but I ended up loving it! Jonny was a firm supporter of the headband all along.

This one is meant to show off the headband. We took several, the lighting was off so it made it kind of difficult but this one turned out well.

Like I said, we took a lot of pictures. I started to get frustrated!

We had so much fun. I'm so happy we went. I love getting to get all dressed up and going out with Jonny, and if we get to dance it is a double plus!