Long Lost Blogger

Sorry if you've missed me. 

It's been crazy around here. And it still is. 

As I am typing this there is a basket of laundry that needs to be folded and more in the dryer, everything from my shopping trip to Costco is still sitting on our kitchen table, our bathroom needs to be cleaned, Landon ate leftovers for dinner, and that's just the start of it. 

But after work today all I wanted was to do absolutely nothing. 

We just launched Crewcuts at our store today so there was a lot to do. 

Work has definitely kept me busy. 

For the first time ever, I am scheduled for a Saturday off this week and I'm so excited to be able to hang out with Landon for the day. 

Usually we just see each other in the morning and, depending on my work schedule, a couple hours at night. I think a trip to Omaha is in store, but I think this time we'll stick to I-80 and skip good ol' Beebeetown, Iowa. ;)

 I have so much to catch up on! I have some yummy recipes to share, pictures of the place with it's new coat of paint, pictures from Nauvoo, and some other randoms. I guess tonight I'll start with a recipe and some pictures our humble abode...

This recipe is from my sis in law Emily and it's so amazing! The best part...no peeling tomatoes and no cooking the salsa before you put it in the jars! It makes a huge batch (22-24 pints) so I made some with my friend Sara a few weeks ago and we each got 12 pints out of it. Of course ours are almost gone already. :)

Salsa

8 quarts chopped and drained tomatoes (about 20-22 lbs of tomatoes are needed)

3-4 quarts chopped onions (about 10 med onions)

3 large bell peppers

2-3 jalapenos

1 bunch cilantro (I would add 2 bunches, I LOVE cilantro!)

1 tblsp. cumin

1/2 cup sugar

2 tblsp. chili powder

1 tblsp. garlic salt

1/3-1/4 cup salt (to taste)

1 cup white vinegar

(2) 12 oz. tomato paste

28 oz. tomato puree

Water bath jars for 20 min.

SO yummy!

Here's a peek at our Halloween decor...

Sorry the pictures aren't the best. This is the bunting banner my mom and I made while she was here. You can't see in the picture very well, but I found a glittery black crow on sale at Michael's (there Halloween decor goes on sale pretty early, pretty much once October starts) that I put in my boxwood wreath. And just in case you need some ideas for places to get fun Halloween decor, here's a list of where the other things are from..

Metallic pumpkin and hourglass: TJMaxx, last year

Black wire spiderweb: Secret Haven in Fruit Heights

Black pedestals: Hobby Lobby

Mercury glass votives and black spiders: Pottery barn

Other pumpkins: produce section of the grocery store

Skull, eyeballs, orange spiders, cobwebs: Michael's

Fresh sunflowers: $6 at Trader Joe's! Love that place.