my wedding dress rocks.

So far wedding planning has been very stressful. It's kind of hectic to plan the event, work, go to school, paint for my final show, TA for two classes, and have fun all at the same time. But this week--today especially--wedding planning was fun. I had my second fitting and my dress is actually starting to look like something. We started finalizing flowers, picked out a cake, and got invitation samples. But most of all, I love my dress. It keeps changing bit by bit and becoming more fantastic. Too bad you'll have to wait until December to see it...

gf lasagna

I've never really been a pasta person, but I have always like lasagna. I think it's because you can't really tell you are eating pasta...the noodles are wide and skinny and drenched in so much goodness that you can hardly tell you're eating it. In fact, I've always preferred the "schlop" part of lasagna, as I called it, which excludes the actual noodles. Go figure.

Well, this week I decided to try to make lasagna. Mike LOVES pasta and I never, ever make it because I dislike it so much. But, it turned out to be a deliciously huge success and I'm glad I tried it out. I must share this recipe because it's that good. You don't have to use gluten free noodles if you don't want to...

2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes

2.5 teaspoons garlic, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

3 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped

2 Tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped

black pepper

Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add garlic and cook for about a minute. Then add parsley, basil, and oregano. Stir in the crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 30-45 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust as needed.

2-2.5 cups freshly chopped spinach

14 oz. ground beef (the recipe called for Italian sausage, but I don't trust sausage to be gluten free)

1 10 oz box Tinkyada brown rice lasagna noodles

1 egg, beaten

15 oz. ricotta cheese

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 cups shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Prepare the marinara sauce and allow it to simmer while you prepare the rest of the dish. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Brown the ground beef. Add the ground beef and chopped spinach to the marinara sauce. Mix the ricotta cheese, chopped parsley, and beaten egg in a small bowl.

Spread 1/3 of the sauce mixture in a rectangular baking dish, 13×9x2 inches. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1/3 of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1/3 of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Okay so this lasagna was very spicy and delicious. By spicy I mean rich and flavorful, and full of the spices that it is drenched in--not a hot kind of spicy. It's also a great recipe if you are trying to use up old veggies (I think the sauce would be delicious with more vegetables in it. It called for mushrooms but I ignored it. Sick). Anyway, Mike and his roommates have devoured the entire pan in less than three days, so, I'd call it a success (especially since his roommates usually shun gf food). :)

nerd.

I just wanted to congratulate my nerdy little sister for getting 95% on her grammar test. Anyone who went to East high and took a class from Miss Lake knows that's a big and ridiculous deal!

Love and miss you Nat!

There is always someone lonely out there.

Tonight I randomly felt that I should share this with someone. Not sure who. This was written by a wise english teacher a few years ago, and shared with me my by my dear friend Cait. I hope it makes someone feel good.

"Never mistake aloneness for loneliness. In order to grow, you need
time away, away from the noises of the world, friends, comfort, and
all distractions to find what is important and fulfilling. These
alone moments build character and show the level of patience you are
willing to endure to find the spirit and wrestle with thoughts that tell
you you aren't worth anything or you can't do it right.

When you are lonely, you are saying, 'I don't have much meaning in my
life. Someone come and make me happy. I am unwilling to give because
I am feeling sorry for myself. You, world and all the people I know,
are responsible for entertaining me and proving to me that I am
worthwhile.'

Change these moments of loneliness into ones of aloneness. Alone, and
all by yourself, do as the Savior taught you to do: serve. This takes
courage and sacrifice of your self-centeredness. Endure being alone
to find that you are loved and have love to give. That decision made
in your heart will bring a glow to you that will attract others to
you. You won't be lonely because you will have yourself, those you
give to, and the Savior guiding you through."

Love.

t-shirt design.

I have such a crush on these.

I am a huge fan of gladiators.

I have been since before they were on everyone's feet.

And these ones are hip enough that I would wear them even if everyone else was wearing them, too.

via Anthropologie, of course.

So proud of this girl.

My sis-in-law Becca passed the {expletive deleted} nursing test yesterday!  I thought this picture adequately showed how excited I am for her--not only to be a real nurse sooner than we know it--but to be back with Tyler sooner than we know it, too.

Love you Becs!

Ghost of the HFAC.

I realized today that I am an entity.  Entire classes of BYU students have come and gone and I remain on campus, haunting the Harris Fine Arts Center.  I wander the halls, stare at art, and meander over to my studio in the Jesse Knight Building to paint, paint, paint.  I have witnessed the retirement of several professors in my art career, but still I remain.  I have spent countless hours in the same studio space and have watched BFA students come and go.  Final show after final show goes up in the HFAC and comes down from the same walls, yet somehow I still have not completed mine.  As our dear friend John Lennon once told us, "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."  So here's to you, Lenny--from the HFAC ghost.  I always knew you were smart.