See a Cirque du Soleil Show

Earlier this month, I traveled to Las Vegas for the first time with Dakota and his family.  We scored some great tickets and got front row (technically second row) seats for the Zarkana Cirque du Soleil show.  It was incredible and I can't wait to go back and see more shows!

Send a Letter to Someone Outside the USA

I have a very good friend whom I met in ballet class when we were in junior high.  She now lives in Germany with her husband and brand new baby boy.  I sent them a little baby gift congratulating them on their new addition.  I'm so happy for them and know they will be incredible parents!

French Toast

Recipe Source: Pinterest
Made : January 5, 2014

Ingredients:

6 large eggs

1 1/2 cup heavy cream, half and half, or milk

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

pinch of ground nutmeg

pinch of salt

6 slices (1 inch thick) bread, preferably day old

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

pure maple syrup, for serving

Directions:

1. Whisk together, cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.

2. Place bread in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold bread slices in a single layer.  Pour egg mixture over break; soak 10 minutes.

3.  Turn slices over, soak until soaked through, about 10 minutes more.

4.  Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat.  

5.  Fry bread slices until golden brown. 

6.  Serve warm with syrup and powdered sugar.

Thoughts:  It was good, but still needs some tweaking.

Verdict:  Make again?  Probably.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

This was definitely something I would recommend everyone to do at least once in their lifetime.  Each day for an entire year, I wrote down something that I was grateful for.  Some days were awesome and created a list of things that I was grateful for.  Other days were hard and I really had to search for the good in that particular day.  But what I found out was that even on the hard days, I could find something good.

Do Ali Edwards' One Little Word Project

My word for 2013 was GRACE.  I want to live life full of gratitude and dignity, and I think for the most part, I did in 2013.  I so loved doing this project and learned how powerful one word can be.  Even though the year is over, grace is still going to be a huge part of my life.  I can't wait to see where it shows up again in my future!

Do project life – 2013

I’ve been scrapbooking since I was a junior in high school.  For 2013, I took a slightly different approach to documenting and embarked on Project Life.  I am so thankful I did!  While I’ve always taken lots and lots of photos, I only take them when something big happens.  Project Life forced me to document the little every day events that make up so much more of our life.  It has been so rewarding to see all of 2013’s blessings reflected back to me in one nice, neat (extremely large and heavy) scrapbook.  Project Life, I think you will be sticking around a little while longer.

50 of 101
Completed: January 3, 2014

40 Recipes | Overnight French Toast

Recipe Source: Pinterest
Made : December 29, 2013

Ingredients:
¼ cup butter, melted
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 loaf of French bread, sliced into 1 ½ inches thick
8 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
½ cup pecans, measured then chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
Maple syrup and powdered sugar to top (optional)

Directions:
1. In a small bowl combine brown sugar and melted butter and pour on the bottomw of a 9x13 baking dish.
2. Arrange slices of bread in the baking dish overlapping if necessary.
3. Combine milk, eggs, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl and pour evenly over bread slices.
4. Sprinkle chopped pecans over bread slices.
5. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4-12 hours.
6. in the morning, take the casserole out of the fridge for at least 10 minutes while you are preheating the oven to 350 degrees.
7. Bake casserole for 30-35 minutes.  If top starts browning too quickly place a foil loosely over the top of the casserole for the last 10 minutes or so.
8. Remove casserole from over and let it cool slightly before serving.  Serve with a dusting of powered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Thoughts:  I wanted more of a traditional French toast.  This was too eggy.  I really liked the idea of it though.  Still looking for something that is easy to make and doesn’t take too long in the mornings to prepare.

Verdict:  Make again?  Probably not.