~Wednesday SMILES~

Time for my Wednesday SMILES!!!

This week {and last} have been FULL of things making Michael and I SMILE!

Like....

Michael's younger Brother, Jesse, leaving on his mission!

It's not going to be the same without him at family gatherings...

BUT we are both so excited for him and this adventure!

Wisconsin is lucky to get to be the home of this hilarious kid for the next 2 years!!

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Our Christmas festivities being in full swing definitely makes me SMILE!!

We had the Annual Slack Christmas party {My mom's side}

this Saturday and it was absolutely fabulous, as always!

The food is fantastic, the company is fun,

and what would a Christmas party be without the appearance of these special guests...

The ladies and I had to take a turn sitting on Mr. & Mrs. Claus lap!

{Aren't my sisters and sisters-in-law gorgeous!?!}

 

 I look forward to this party every year,

it's definitely one of my favorite Christmas Traditions!

 Can't wait until next year!

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 Another Christmas Tradition that completely makes me SMILE is our

Annual Christmas party with our good friends the Hahn's!

This year was extra special with this adorable little one joining!

Morgan was suh-darn cute opening her present!!

 

{P.s. Can you believe Jenna made that freaking cute Sock Monkey beanie?!

That girl has got some major crocheting skillz!}

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Finding surprises, like this picture of my beautiful sisters, on my camera 3 days after seeing them...

 Most definitely make me SMILE!

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H&M has been on my SMILE Wednesdays often... {Seriously, they are my FAVE!}

This week they had me SMILING from ear to ear!

I have been on the hunt for some cute leopard ballet flats for a while now...

I have a hard time finding them in my size, that don't look too little girlish.

Well, for $12.50, I found the PERFECT pair at H&M!

I seriously cannot even tell you how excited I was when I saw they had them in 

Size 5!!!

{One more reason why I love them more than F21! :)}

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And finally when I saw this on it Pinterest, it seriously had me laughing out loud!

It's complete perfection!

Thanks Ryan, you're THE best!!

I'm so excited for all the CHRISTMAS SMILES to come this week!

I cannot believe it's only 4 days away!!

YAY!

2011 Has been a busy year...

... For my hair....

{But first, let me apologize for missing my SMILE Wednesday this week - with the flu at our house, Michael's little brother Jesse leaving for his mission, and it just being CRAZY at work... I wasn't able to do my post! But I promise next week will be bigger and better than EVER!} 

As I was saying... 2011 really has been a busy, and eventful year... one of the less important {but often} changes in 2011 has been my hair. After watching Katie Couric's 2011 Year-end Review Special last night... I felt inspired to do a Laura's 2011 Hair Year-end Review Special.

{And I can PROMISE you, it will be just as exciting as, if not more so then Katie's! :)}

We all know I have ADD, and absolutely zero patience for just about anything! Remember how I started out the year, absolutely set on growing my hair out?! So to help me get through the "Awkward stage" I got extensions...

 They were definitely fun, and I absolutely loved that I could do it curly...

But then the extensions became high maintenance, too much moolah, too much time and they started to shed?! HA! So, I took them out... My hair had actually grown quite a bit, and was the longest I've had my hair in forever....

 Well.... my ADD kicked in, and I started to get bored with my "medium" hair... so I decided it was time for a change and I cut it.....

 After about 5 weeks of that, I again, got bored, so I started looking for cute "Long pixie cuts" I found this adorable picture of Sienna Miller...

And thought, why not?! So I got it cut... REALLY short, probably the shortest my hair has ever been since I did a bowl cut in 5th grade! {And looked JUST like a little boy - Cute right?! NOT!} Anyway, it was short.

 I decided that a pixie cut, long or short, just wasn't for me {Pretty sure I didn't know how to style it right, it would have much cuter, if I weren't so special :)} So, again, I decided it was time to grow it... I needed to get back in my comfort zone, to hair that would cover my ears...

I've started to feel more comfortable with my length, and even have been rocking the bo-ho headband trend! {Which I've tried and FAILED many times before!}

 I really do like the style, and length that it is right now.... {Most recent picture}

BUT I'm starting to get that itch... As I see SO many cute LONG hair styles on Pinterest, Blogs or just at the store - I'm really thinking about growing it out again! As we were looking at pictures from the year for our Christmas cards, Michael pointed out one of the pictures where I had extensions and he said "You're a short-hair girl huh?!" But I've NEVER had my hair long, how will we ever know?! {Such a dilemma right?! HAHA!} So... I'm thinking it's time to give it a go...
I've decided that in 2012, I am growing my hair out! YEP, and I'm absolutely sticking to it this time! It's now on the World Wide Web, so it's pretty much Bible right?!



{Laura's Christmas *Wish* List}

1. Urban Outfitters Owl wrap watch

2. Tina Fey's Bossypants book

3. Madden Girl Rickki Boots

4. Fossil Stella Two-tone watch OR

5. Fossil Rose Gold watch

6. Nordy's Cross body two-tone bag

7. Fossil Medal bird necklace

8. Steve Madden Miidori Boot

9. Modcloth Alaskan Cruise Top

10. Miss Dior perfume

What can we all learn from this *wish* list?
{** meaning it is just WISHING, M & I set a budget...
 so I am just hoping for 2 or 3 of these items - I'm not greedy :)}

First- I have a minor BOOT obsession, I don't think I will ever have enough!

Second- I also might have a slight watch obsession,

I hadn't ever worn a watch until this past year,

And now I pretty much cannot leave the house with out one on!

And Third- My taste has gotten a bit more expensive over the years....

But just for the staple items in my closet, I'm still a gal that LOVES a good deal!

My Husband, the Saucier!

Some of you may have seen this on my Facebook page... but I have so much to share - I knew it needed a Blog post of it's own! Michael has been very hesitant of me sharing this on "My million Social Networking Sites" {HAHA!} He is a very private person and doesn't love his "Business out there"... BUT I am just SO proud and can be very persuasive :) Plus, this is HUGE for us and our future, so what better way to document it then my Blog! 

Remember how Michael graduated from Culinary school in June?? Well, he has his very first official Chef opportunity! And it's seriously AMAZING! Let me tell you about it....

The Mist Project 

The Mist Project is a Pop-up or Guerilla Restaurant... 

{In layman's terms: A restaurant that travels}

It is a set menu with... get this... 15 courses!

The restaurant is in Salt Lake City during the Sundance Film Festival -

Open from January 19th to February 19th.

It will be located at the Paradise Palm {A beautiful indoor garden store}.

The Executive Chef and Founder of this project is Gavin Baker. He is very talented, and has worked at so many amazing restaurants around the globe.... 

(Ahem -The Fat Duck in London {"Best Restaurant in the World" in 2005!!})

Gavin heard about Michael through one of his Instructors at school, he looked into some of the work he had done, was impressed with "His attention to detail"... He decided to meet with Michael and was very impressed with his passion and drive and invited Michael to be a part of the project, as the Saucier! "He is responsible for all of the stocks, reductions, and base sauces as well as producing the a la minute sauces during service at mist" {See his Bio, and all the details HERE}

Michael has been working with Gavin every single Saturday and Sunday for the last month or so, at least 8 hours each day training with Gavin in the test kitchen! {Along with working his normal 40 to 50 hour week at his normal day job!} I'm seriously SO dang proud of him!

Salt Lake Magazine is doing a weekly update on the project...

The first week: Michelin in our midst?

The second week: The Mountain of work behind Mist: Salt Lake

{This is where I got the picture above!

Yes, he is FAMOUS and suh-darn handsome!! :)}

For this event, you don't make reservations - and there is no way you will get in if you just show up... so how do you get to enjoy the INCREDIBLE food and UNIQUE atmosphere?!

Tickets for the Mist are sold HERE:

 {Dinner includes 15 courses for $150 a piece}.

Want to go, but $150 is a little steep?! I have some good news!

The Vintage Mixer Blog

Did a FANTASTIC post on the project AND is giving away dinner for 2!

Seriously, EVERYONE should enter this giveaway!!

I will cross my fingers that you win!!

I am so proud of Michael... He is so talented, and passionate, I know this is just the beginning - I'm so Blessed to get to be his partner through all of this! Cannot wait to see what is to come!

{SOURIRE...}

Is SMILE in French!

{But don't ask me to say it - I can only spell it :)}

 SMILING because this adorable, BIG boy turned 3 on Saturday! We had the pleasure of celebrating with him at his Birthday party that afternoon! Isn't this miniature THOR suh-darn cute?!

 He got so many super-duper fun toys, I think Uncle Michael and Uncle Jesse had more fun playing with them than he did! Maybe if he's a good boy, Santa will bring Michael his very own dart gun for Christmas?! :)

Michael & Mateo's facial expressions in this picture make me SMILE! They take their shooting dart guns seriously!  Both this little & big kid sure make me SMILE!

 I had to get in on the playing with toys fun too... Potential Halloween costume for next year?!

 This freaking adorable little boy absolutely makes both Michael and I SMILE! He is just too dang cute!

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Bowling with this extremely competitive {and talented} HOTTIE totally makes me SMILE! Just look at that form! He's hardcore - he even does the spin the ball thing! Watch out!

 I on the other hand, do not plan on quiting my day job anytime soon! I think my high was 72?! HAHA! I'm pretty much amazing!

 We had so much fun bowling with Michael's friends! Spending time with this handsome fella most definitely makes me SMILE, I just cannot get enough of him!!

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I FINALLY went to Zumba last night and totally and completely LOVE it!!! I've been wanting to go for so long, I've heard so many wonderful things about it... and it most definitely lived up to every single one! I was a bit nervous at first - but once we got going, I had a blast!
When I saw this on Pinterest... it most definitely made me SMILE! Seriously, I'm sure I looked RIDICULOUS! But I cannot wait to go again!

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And finally... What would my Wednesday SMILES be with out some sort of treat?! Chex Muddy Buddies totally had the Burtis' SMILING this week! My SIL, Holli, told me about the bags of Chex Mix Muddy Buddies that you can buy, PRE-MADE! I was on that like white on rice!

They were pretty dang good, BUT.... There really isn't anything as good as the real thing! So after finishing our 3rd bag of the pre-made stuff... I went all Martha Stewart and made a fresh batch - YUM! These are seriously one of my favorite treats!!



SONRISA...

... Is SMILE in Spanish {I Googled it :)}

This completely had me SMILING... Audrey showing Michael what she wanted for Christmas in the Black Friday ads... Michael kept teasing her, trying to get her to look at the BOY toys... she would give him a dirty look and say "No! I'm a guuuuuurrrrl!" These two are simply the cutest!!

P.s. Did you notice my parents Turkey in the background? He has his disguise on for Thanksgiving :)

Black Friday shopping with my sister Kat, SIL April and all the other thousands of crazies definitely had me SMILING!!! It was a complete success this year - we got pretty much EVERYTHING on our lists! And we were in and out in a quick 45 minutes!! Black Friday shopping is definitely my favorite sport! LOVE IT!

Sleeping in Friday then waking up to Miguel putting up our tree - absolutely made me SMILE!! I didn't even have to ask! Man, he is the best {and cute to boot!}

The finished product...

All our Christmas decorations are up! Our house looking AND smelling like Christmas - makes me SMILE every single day!!

And last, but certainly NOT least.... Double date night with the Hahn's to sushi and a movie makes me SMILE!! Especially because it's been over 6 MONTHS since our last double date!!! And even though we made the mistake of seeing The Muppets {We were pretty much all bored with in the first 5 minutes - and it's a 2 hour long movie!!} Thank heavens for popcorn, caramel apples, cinnamon roasted almonds and Starbursts for entertainment! HA!

                                                                       

I'm so excited tomorrow is December 1st! 

 I just know our December will be full of things to SMILE about!

{Delicious PINTEREST cookie recipe}

I'm a gal that LOVES her sweets...

And most of my favorite treats have 2 things in common:

MINT and CHOCOLATE

So when I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I knew I had to try it!!

Mr. Grinch's Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

{Recipe and photo from Pinterest via flickr.com}

OH MY HANNAH are these cookies DELISH and super duper EASY too!!

This will definitely be my go-to treat this December!!

INGREDIENTS:

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
6 to 8 drops green food color
1 egg
1 cup creme de menthe baking chips
1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolate chunks.

2. Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

If you love chocolate and mint, this is definitely the recipe for you!