The Gem-O-Rama.

Do you watch the T.V. show Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel?

We do too.

A year ago, there was an episode about a treasure hunt in Trona, California. It looked like so much fun that we decided we were going to do it.

So a year later, we went.


















We dug through thick mud, piles of rocks, and scary red water (it's not water).

We were looking for what Jared and I called "the perfect specimen".
We found Hanksite and Pink Halite crystals.


















We had fun, got really dirty, and ate nasty food.
(We should have went to the Sizzler.)

It was like elementary school science camp all over again.



Mom, thanks for watching Hannah. You know we love you!

Butterflies And Benches.

Recently was the World Wide Day of Play.

All over the country you could get into fun places for free! We even saw that Nickelodeon went off the air in honor of it.

We went to the Botanical Gardens to see the butterflies.












There were 800 butterflies flying around.




















Hannah's pointer finger was very busy.































A few workers had a mini-heart attack when they thought she was going to grab a butterfly.
















But to be honest with you, she had just as much fun climbing on the bench.













Silly girl.

My Secrets.

I want to share my secrets with you.

These are things that make my life so happy. I use and love them.

Cooking-

• I use AllRecipes.com to find yummy recipes for anything. I use the recipes that have been rated 4 or 5 stars by more than 100 people. I always read the first 10 comments and follow their suggestions. My first attempt at making these recipes is usually successful.
• I love The Pampered Chef cooking utensils. My Target and Walmart tools break down much too soon. The Pampered Chef make sturdy and useful items that make cooking easier and more enjoyable. My favorite items are the pans, food chopper, micro scraper, and prep bowls.

Feet-

• The PedEgg has made my feet salon-smooth. I bought it at Target for $10 as a present to myself. In just one treatment my feet were so soft. It doesn't hurt and it's fast.

Groceries-

• I have cut my grocery bill in half! CouponSense.com helps me find the best deals, tells me when and where to use my coupons, organize my list, and alerts me when the specific products I use go on sale. I often get stuff for free too. There is a service fee each month, but to me it's worth it. I save and it makes shopping easier. You have to talk to an instructor to really get the hang of it. (AZ only)

Baby-

• For really bad diaper rash, Resinol is amazing. It's sooths Hannah's bum instantly and it heals fast. You can order it at most pharmacies with out a prescription. (Thanks Marie!)
  
• For nursing, I can't live without Mother Love cream. It doesn't stain your clothes, it goes on softly, and it heals you quickly.

Internet-

• I keep up with many blogs. New posts are sent to me through my RSS Feed (Google Reader). I am sent all new blog or website posts that I subscribe too. It makes using the Internet very user friendly.

Shopping-

• I buy most of my expensive items from Craigslist.com, Amazon.com, or Ebay.com. I first see what I want/need at the store and then order it for so much cheaper through one of these sources. Even clothes. Try the pants on at the store and get it for half as much brand-new online. It saves us a ton of money.
  

*This post was really fun to write. I want to know your secrets. Leave a comment or post it on your blog. I'll read about it using my RSS Feed. Wink.

Did We Forget To Mention...?

Oh, by the way...

We're having a baby...

In a few months and...

It's a boy!

Did we not tell you? Opps.



















He's the spitting image of Jared.