The one thing I like about Halloween

Halloween is NOT my favorite holiday. In fact, it's my LEAST favorite holiday! However, there is one thing that comes from Halloween that I truly enjoy: Ghosts in the Graveyard Dessert!

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/cooking-tips/cooking-videos/great-pumpkin-cake-255.aspx

So 'trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat'! And this delicious and creative treat is the trick!!

Now go on and dress up like a the crazy person you want to be and have a safe holiday!!

Dating with Class

As poor married college kids living in the most expensive place in the world, we have to make do and become creative with our dates and activities. Cheap and creative events are much more fun and memorable than the overly priced meals and movies at the theatre. So, can you guess where this classy dinner is from? That's right, we eat McDonald's in class! On the menu for a date with shaun consists of 2 Cheeseburgers with a side of fries and a Coke as well as a bacon angus burger with a side of fries and a coke. While partaking in this luxurious meal, we watched 2 episodes of Numb3rs, a thrilling and intellectual show that illustrates the usage of mathematics to solve crimes. Talk about a fun and cheap date! It's who you send it with that matters, not what you do!

Great Moments with Great People

Wow, life has been so FILLED with excitement, friends, and family!! First and foremost, on April 9th, 2011.... I GRADUATED FROM BYU-HAWAII!! My mom, my sister, my mom's best friend all flew from the mainland to visit Shaun and I and to see my graduation! Graduation went perfectly! I received so many leis, I barely could see! Candy, flowers, poptarts, bubblegum, scrapbooking supplies - every type of lei imaginable I was wearing! My family and so many of my friends came and supported me during this great moment! Just to let you know, Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke at the graduation. And of course, the weather was so great - sunny and no clouds! I have to give major props to a few people. For one, thanks Mom and Kari for, well putting up with me and traveling seemingly around the world to support me on one of the best days of my life. Connie, thanks for also traveling after some major surgery to support me and not to mention for your excellent photography skills! And Shaun, the love of my life, always there supporting me! Love you babe!

Well of course we traveled the island, ate some major waves, got sunburned a couple times, partook in some delicious Oahu treats, cooked a little, laughed alot. Overall, I had an amazing couple of weeks. If only life were like this all the time. I miss them already. Until next time.

Aloha Oe

premiere event

ALOHA~

It's official, I will soon be creating my own personal twist on a COOKING BLOG. Hopefully in the next month it will be up and running.

But for now, I am preparing to graduate and complete my bachelor's degree. Shaun and my brains are on the brink of withering away caused by overexposure to schoolwork. April 7th- the day I will be reunited with my mom, Kari, and Connie. Dear friends and family amongst with great food and celebration for a hallmark in my life.

Joy is in my soul.

L-O-V-E is T-I-M-E

Happy Post Valentines! The day started when Shaun helped me make valentine's cookies for my work. To me, that immediately made my day because even though he is UBER busy and tired, he took the time to help me. Unfortunately, since Valentine's Day was on a Monday - it meant our days were super busy! When I came home from work I was surprised by a beautifully cleaned home and a delicious dinner of homemade fetticini alfredo with garlic cheese bread. DELICIOUS!!! I gave Shaun a card with the Top 10 Reasons why I love him - it was pages long! And I could have written on forever! I love Shaun so much! My valentine for life!!!

Many requests for my cookies, so here it is:

THE BEST-ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES

Prep Time:
20 Min

Cook Time:
8 Min

Ready In:
3 Hrs

Original Recipe Yield 5 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Servings (24)

Original Recipe Yield 3 cups

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.

WHY DO YOU BLOG?!

HEY GUYS! I really need your help. I am writing a research paper about blogging. And I really need to know why YOU BLOG?!

Why did you start blogging?
What are your reasons for blogging?!
Why do you enjoy blogging?

THANKS!!!

Deck Da Halls

I love counting down to CHRISTMAS!!! 22 DAYS!!! I love the feel of warmth, extra love, and giving in the air. Not to mention the time I get to surprise family and friends with radical and creative gifts! That is my favorite part - giving! I don't really care if I get anything, well except for delicious caramels!! I have SOO much to do, like make Christmas Cards, get a Christmas picture of Shaun and I, and majorly Christmas Shop!!!


I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! I LOVE SEASONS! I really miss the snow, well I do but it's like I could run into a massive pile of snow and sled for like ten minutes then I would be over with snow! I was going through the good old photographic memories and found some with some WINTER SPIRIT! Aren't we such ice dancing royalty!!

Rededicate Your Life to Christ

This concept is so overwhelmingly deep and humbling for me. When I say this statement to myself, I am forced to deeply evaluate myself and how I have represented God in my life as well as how am I trying in my everyday life to learn and become like Jesus Christ. With school, work, activities, and trials - I tend to put all my focus and energy into these things when I REALLY should be putting on scripture study, deep, sincere praying, and constantly training myself to become Christ-like. This phrase has been a wonderful link to help me connect to my spirituality and to see clearly. I hope it does the same for you.

GOOODDDD FOOOODDDDD

So I have this friend who is a health nut! She gave me the recipe to this meal and it is OH SO GOOD! If I can make it and it still tastes awesome - so can you!

Cream Cheese-&-Pesto-Stuffed Chicken Breasts http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cream_cheese_pesto_stuffed_chicken_breasts.html

AND

ROASTED ASPARAGUS!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/roasted-asparagus-recipe/index.html

And The World Keeps Turning

ALOHA AMIGOS!!

Life is Life. School, school, SCHOOL SCHOOL!!! Work work work! Oh yea, Shaun and I went to KAUAI!!!! Way radical! We TOTALLY hiked 12 miles in one day at NA PALI COAST!! I recommend it to ALL! By the way Kauai is the best island of Hawaii!! We decided that! A land of beauty, kitties, and rad cliffs = perfection (hawaiian style)! Here are some random pictures of our travels! We seriously needed a VACATION and Kauai was the trick!!!

By the way, MY BIRTHDAY is 6 days away (OCTOBER 14th)!!!

SHOLOM FRIENDS!

Some Catching Up....

Hello dear friends!! I am quite a terrible blogger, I must say so myself. So here is the scoop on the life of Shaun and Kelly Nelson! First term has definitely begun! Shaun is taking 3 courses - yikes! I am still working away as a Career Adviser at BYU-Hawaii Career Services. Shaun and I were blessed and each had the opportunity to fly back to our loving homes : ) Our scheduling was terrible I have to admit! Shaun left first - for 2 1/2 weeks!! I was on the little island of Oahu all by my lonesome! But it gave me the time to earn the big bucks and become a work-out phene. Then Shaun came home, we were together for a couple of days then I left for 2 1/2 weeks!! Going home was truly a blessing for both of us. Even though we missed each other terribly!!!!We needed to go home for ourselves and we were both needed at home. The Lord blesses us in soooo many ways! Oh speaking about answered prayers - I lost my leather journal and so I prayed, and prayed and PRAYED. The Lord answered because Shaun called me one night to tell me he found it!! Thank goodness! The gospel is true people - don't forget it!!! Oh and officially Shaun and I not only have Church Callings (Shaun: Employment Specialist and Kelly: Ward Activities Committee member) but next week we have to give TALKS!!! I am sooo nervous! So much pressure to say the things the LORD wants you to say to His children. The talk topic: How to live in Harmony with the gospel : Any Suggestions!!?!?!?!?!?

BTW, I got my graduation extended!! (That is very good because I can now receive my certificate in professional mediation) : ) Being a certified mediator looks awesome on a application to law school!! Shaun and I will be graduating TOGETHER in April 2010! So since we are here only for 1 more year in Hawaii I am determined to make the HAWAII BUCKET LIST! We cannot leave Hawaii without any adventures! EVERYONE TELL ME WHAT YOU RECOMMEND WE SHOULD DO!! I am totally stoked to start making the bucket list and checking adventures off!!

Also, it was my BEST FRIEND'S CARRIE AKEMON'S 22nd BIRTHDAY August 6th, 2010 (last Friday). I love her so much as I wanted her to feel loved! I miss her all the time! She truly is one of the most amazing human beings that has ever been on this earth. I am truly blessed to have her as a best friend. She is the kindest, most generous, loving, funny, compassionate, country-loving, UK crazed fan I have ever met! It has been far too long since we have been together! I LOVE YOU CARRIE !!!


That's it for now!! So give me suggestions on things I should say in my talk and things to do on my Hawaii bucket list!

YOU'RE SELLING WE'RE BUYING!!!

So Shaun and I just moved into TVA and realized we own NOTHING!! So I don't know who is moving or not, here are a list of things we need to buy, and if YOU or SOMEBODY are selling Please let me know!!!
toaster
microwave
bowls
spatulas
serving silverware
mixing bowls
cookie sheets
silverware
silverware holder
paper towel holder
broom and dust pan
bookcase
coffee table
pots


that's it for now. PLEASE HELP!!!!

Life as we know it

Life in Hawaii is great. School, school, school; Work, work, work = our lives. The ocean is beautiful - everyday as we pass it by, biking along to begin our daily routines. Every once in a while we have some fun. A couple of months ago we had a Honolulu getaway. We had such a great time! But nonetheless, we are so blessed. Prayers were definitely answered- the tsunami came to us and caused no damage. You never think that will happen to you - that in a matter of hours you have to pack your life up and head for the hills and pray that your home, your community do not get too demolished. We were too lucky. Heavenly Father was truly looking out for us.

Counting down the days til my parents come visit Shaun and I in Hawaii! I miss everyone in the mainland - family, friends, the quad cities, Arizona, old hangout spots, even Idaho.

Shaun's 24th Birthday

My lack of posts are a great example of my horrible habit of keeping up to date and in touch! Sorry! So LOTS has happened - I will try to update you in a random series of updates!! First, if you don't know I held a surprise 24th birthday party the Friday after his birthday! It went really well!! Shaun was soo surprised, he STILL thought we were going to Honolulu!! Haha silly husband! Jeremiah and Michelle Taylor seriously made everything happen! THANK YOU FRIENDS!! They made the most amazing dinner (Shrimp Alfredo -Shaun's favorite) and an amazingly beautiful super man themed cake!!!! So many people came (even those we didn't invite and ate our food and left without saying a word to us!! Don't get me started) and thank you friends that came and celebrated Shaun's birthday!!! (His actual birthday I made him a cake - not as good or pretty as his superman one!!!)

tis the season for change

I know that we are not the best at calling or emailing our loved ones to fill them in on our lives, so this blog is to let you in on our lives. So Shaun and I have been very busy with our school work. We are SOO excited for the Christmas break, even though we will not be home on the mainland for Christmas! I know there are 24 hours a day, but it honestly does not feel enough.

Time has flown by, the Fall semester is coming to an end, the Thanksgiving season has passed and the Christmas season has begun, and Shaun and I have been married for around 7 months already. Wow, time has flown by. This Christmas is very unique for both Shaun and I - for it's my first Christmas away from home, away from my family, and our first Christmas married and in a warm place! We were sad at first, but now we see it as an opportunity to create The Nelson family holiday traditions (I don't know what they will be yet, but there will be some ;) ). I guess Hawaii will be our new home sweet home. SO Decorations are a must so I created a Christmas Countdown poster and put it on our door. I also got a gold "Merry Christmas" wreath and wreath holder as a welcomer to our home. Oh yeah, I got the stockings! Stockings are one of THE MOST IMPORTANT things about Christmas! It's a start. My mom called me yesterday and said she is going to send us some Christmas decorations and since we can't be home for Christmas dinner, she is sending a Sam's Gift Card to buy the ingredients and is going teach me how to make a Christmas dinner via phone! That made my day! Thanks Mom you are really the greatest!!

Other than that, Shaun and I have started making some good married couple friends! Which makes me VERY HAPPY! Especially when we didn't have any for months! Yesterday was great because for one, Michelle and Ashleigh both offered us rides to church! Where is all this love coming from?! Haha, well Michelle and Jeremiah are so kind and gave us a ride to church. I can't wait to hangout with them over break and do some hiking! Ashleigh and her husband stopped by and we are planning to go ice-skating and to dinner on Friday! We are very excited!! Something to look forward to! They are such a fun couple! Then Ashlin and Mika came over for dinner! What a great evening! So we are planning to hangout for the Christmas break!

Hopefully Shaun and I will be able to visit the Big Island and go to the temple, it's been way too long! Also, we might go to Mulaki (I don't if I said that right) to stay with my mom's friend. That would be great!

Tis the season for change friends and family! We love you!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

La Playa

Even though our lives mainly consist of school and work, we SOMETIMES have fun! Right behind our home is a beautiful beach, but we rarely visit it (sad I know)! But when we have a chance we go out and swim in the perfect temperature water! I think its one of the nicest beaches around for sure. Not that many people go to it, so its not crammed with people!

I am so grateful to live a walking distance away from one of the most gorgeous creations of God- the ocean. The ocean has always been a place of peace and beauty for me, a place where you can collect your thoughts and just reflect on life. Its the perfect place to take the time to find yourself. But as shown by our pictures, its a place to have tons of fun and be goofy!

Our Home

my college house. yes, thats where kelly and i live.Kelly has to wake me up by ramming a log into a bell every morning, its my alarm clock for my house. Hahaha ok so we WISH this was our house. It's actually one of the main attractions at Valley of the Temples, like 20 minutes from us. It was soo beautiful! We also saw crazy huge goldfish and one with a massive tumor on it, weird.

missing the mainland

Soo I know I am bad at updating this blog! Shaun and I have pictures and more stories to put up but we have been so busy - but they are coming so don't worry! Life is crazy busy for Shaun and I, especially Shaun. Being a business major means pretty much you are putting a life outside of school aside! Crazy! I am just preparing to graduate next semester! Way exciting! We miss the mainland SOOO incredibly much! We miss everyone back in the mainland for sure! Hawaii is great but life could be so much better with the family and friends around for sure. You guys are terribly missed by us - so come visit us! Shaun and I are tired of everything being overpriced and far away!! So send care packages if you love us hahah!

By the way, I have to announce that one of my best friends -Jen Retherford- is PREGNANT!!! I am so extremely excited! I know she and cragen will be awesome parents! I can't wait to meet the new addition (9 months from now!) I am just so sad I can't be there with her!

The Big 22

Hey Everyone! I finally was motivated enough to start up with our blog again! I guess when you get married, a blog is kind of part of the social requirement. Haha. Anyways, yesterday was my birthday and I turned the big 22! Seriously I feel way old! Shaun definitely pulled through on making the birthday special - season 8 of smallville, a massive box of chocolates, and an ipod nano (plus being an awesome best friend and husband who celebrated the bday with me!)! Thanks family for thinking about me and sending me some awesome stuff and really considerate cards and letters! Got some calls from a couple friends and a voicemail of both my mom and dad singing happy birthday- classic. I'm keeping that one saved for a long time! Oh yea, at work my bosses got me a fresh flower lei, cake and icecream! Definitely didn't expect that one! It was great cause Shaun was there to join in on some good food! Well that's all for now!