Classy!

My friend posted these pictures on his Facebook and I couldn't help but post them to show how classy BYU fans can be too!

My take on the whole thing: the game was good, ecstatic it wasn't a blow out, the Utes put up a good fight, there were shady calls both ways, BYU fans are not as mean as people said minus the one who assumed I was going to pour hot chocolate on him for being a Utah fan, Lavell Edwards sucks for a stadium but their cougar tails looked amazing and in the end it was a great "Holy War" game. I do think it's sad that Max Hall's unnecessary comments took away from the Y's victory and that his actions are what this game and he will be remembered for. I am sure what the Ute fans did last year was wrong but there is a time and a place for those sort of statements and I am pretty sure I wasn't the one who poured beer on his family, yet I was deemed "classless"? Well, I would rather lose than have Max Hall as my representative because in my book he is the definition of "classless".

Sorry to all my BYU friends, I still think you all are great!

Team JACOB!!!

So thanks to my dear friend Hannie and the girls of Private Design, I got to go see a pre-screen of New Moon last night. Let me just say that it was kind of, OK totally amazing. Love, love, LOVED it and can't wait to go see it again. By far way better than the first one. Thanks for a. getting a big budget and b. hiring a new director. It made all the difference.

Although I was a huge fan of Edward in the books, for some reason I can't get into him in the movies. Maybe it's Robert Pattinson, maybe it's his script, or maybe it's that no one could ever portray the perfection that Edward really is. Whatever it may be, in the books I can't get enough of him but in the movie I am ALL about Jacob. Seriously, I don't get mushy about movie stars and hot guys but when Taylor Lautner first takes off his shirt, definitely took my breath away. I think I would rather be "wolf girl" than "vampire girl" anyday.

So, I suggest you all go see it and then see it again because it's definitely worth it. Can't wait for Eclipse to come out in June! Han and the girls of Private Design are putting on an event for that too so let me know if you are interested and I will get the info to you once they figure it all out! It really is the Twilight party of the year!!!

Here's a pic to drool over...

Holidays...

Have I ever expressed how much I love, love, love, love, love the holidays? They make me so excited I can hardly contain myself!

My holidays officially began today thanks to Starbucks. Not only do the holidays at Starbucks mean the return of Christmas Blend coffee, cranberry bliss bars and the addition of a new drink; the Caramel Brulee Latte; they mean fun Christmas decor and the use of the word wish, my most favorite word in the entire English language. It just made me happy to be alive and although I was exhausted when I woke up this morning after a full day of work, cooking and cleaning yesterday in preparation for Bunco tonight, I perked right up. Thanks Starbucks for putting me in the holiday spirit!

I love everything that has to do with the holidays and this year I am especially excited because we are having two Thanksgivings, one on Sunday and one on actual Turkey Day so we can spend it with both Rod's family and my mom's. My mom told me a few months ago that she doesn't know anyone who loves Thanksgiving as much as I do and it's true, because I don't either. I don't know what it is, if it's the amazing food, the fact that I get to spend it with my big extended family who I love, the shopping, or if it's because it's the one trip I count on every year to be together with my parents and brothers. Something is magical about Thanksgiving though and I just love it!

Then after Turkey Day comes and goes, my most fave holiday is upon us. I love Christmas so much and everything that comes with it. I love to wrap and give gifts (I think because my love language is gifts), decorate, shop and reflect on the amazing friends and family I am lucky enough to have in my life. Mah Be even spent 9 hours and risked his life to put Christmas lights on our house because he knows how much I love the holiday season.

This year I am super excited because not only do I get to finally decorate and celebrate in a home I absolutely love, but we are having a Schlumni Alumni EX party, attending actual work Christmas parties, the Ugly Sweater Party, Progressive Dinner, multiple family parties, not to mention fondue and Christmas Day and New Years Day feasts. I truly love the traditions Mike and I have and while this holiday season is already super busy, it's doing things we absolutely love to do which is spend it with the people who mean the most to us.

All of this rambling post thanks to Starbucks! Seriously though, I am just beaming with excitement for them to begin! Happy holidays everyone :)

Happy 28th Birthday to Mah Be....

and my best friend. Thank-you for...

being my husband...

for making me laugh...

for your amazing group of friends and for sharing them with me...

for your tender heart...

for bringing so much joy into my life... for your ambition and drive to succeed... for being a cheeseball just like me... for giving yourself to others in need... for being amazingly sexy...
for always bringing a smile to my face...

for always taking care of me...

for loving me even when I am unlovable...

for never giving up on us...

for embracing my life and the people in it...

for being my other half,...
for teaching me that life doesn't always need to be so serious...

for all of our experiences together...

for introducing me to new things...

for forgiving me and holding on in the good and the bad... for being an amazing friend...
for cherishing me...
for growing with me and making me a better person...

for being my travel buddy...

for all our memories and good times...

for turning me into a football nut...

for letting me be a part of your life...

for being an amazing daddy to our dogs...

for making life worth living and for making our amazing life possible...

for choosing me to spend the rest of your life with...

basically for just being you and for loving me forever and always no matter what. You are the best and I am grateful for the love you continually bring into my life. I love you more than words can say and I hope 28 is the best year yet!

XOXOX...

Pumpkin Carving Fun!

Ricci Pumpkins 2009

Our holidays officially begin two days before Halloween with the Annual Pumpkin Carving Party at Bob and Toni's. I love Halloween decorations, spooky treats and especically pumpkin carving, and this party has it all. Toni and my mom have been best friends for years, so we have been going for as long as I can remember and it's the one party of the year I don't miss. In fact, thanks to this party, my mom and Rod reconnected and were married 5 years ago October 16th. Toni also made all the food at my wedding ceremony so her, Bob and the pumpkin party all really mean a lot to The Heim/Brown/Ricci clan.

Mom and Toni

Toni and Bob really are the best hosts and their home is a perfect place to have a party. They make sure no one goes hungry or thirsty by making three different types of soup and providing tons of appetizers, snacks, desserts and drinks. After everyone is stuffed from their amazing food, we all head out to the garage where they have tons of tables set up, a gutting station and every pumpkin tool and design you could ever need or want. Being with lots of family and friends is the best way to carve pumpkins, and having everything you need makes even the most untalented people, like me, great pumpkin carvers.

Look at all that yummy food!

Pumpkin Carving Central!Dessert, MMM...The best part about husbands, not having to gut your own pumpkins anymore.Mah Be and IRyan and Rod, Ryan really was happy to be there, not so happy to take a picture :)Nate, Zach and ColeSally Brown

Cheeseball-in up! Working Hard!Look at that talent!Nate's Madhatter that my mom swears looks like Grandma SeegmillerMy mom's Britney. Sorry, it's hard to take pictures of lit pumpkins.About 3/4 of the pumpkins that were carved! I did decide to contribute this year and tried my hand at "witch finger" cookies. They were a hit and are a good adult treat because they aren't too sugary. I think I needed to make them skinnier and longer though, because they looked a little fat.

This is what they were supposed to look like:

This is what they ended up looking like: (P.S. food photography is HARD!)

Oh well, you have to start somewhere right? Anyway, here is the recipe in case you want to make them next year. It's a huge pain to dye the fingernails but otherwise they are super easy to make and definitely a recipe worth saving.

1-1/4 cups PLANTERS Sliced Almonds, divided
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups flour

HEAT oven to 325ºF.
RESERVE 60 nuts for later use; process remaining nuts in food processor until finely ground. Beat cream cheese, butter, sugar, extract and salt in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in ground nuts. (Dough will be stiff.)
ROLL dough into 60 (3-inch) "fingers," using 1 Tbsp. dough for each. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray. Press 1 of the reserved nuts into dough in 1 end of each finger for the fingernail. Use sharp knife to make 3 crosswise slits in top of each finger for the knuckles.

BAKE 15 to 20 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 3 min. on baking sheet; carefully transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.

We had a great time again this year and every year it just keeps getting bigger and better. Thanks Toni and Bob for the great party and Happy belated Halloween every one! Hope it was great! Now bring on Turkey DAY!!!!