Simple Corn Salsa!

My friend Brittany gave me this recipe back when we lived in Missouri and it had become one of our family favorites.  I am not sure if I have posted this recipe before, but it is so good that it wouldn't matter if I posted it twice.   It is super simple, super tasty and a GREAT party snack.

Simple Corn Salsa:
1 can Red Beans
1 can Black Beans
1 can Pinto Beans
1 can Sweet Yellow Corn
1 can White Corn

1 Med Green pepper
1 bunch Cilantro
Zesty Italian Dressing

Drain corn and drain and rinse beans.  Combine in a large bowl with chopped med green pepper and 1/2 bunch minced cilantro.  Add about 1/3 bottle of Zesty Italian dressing and salt and pepper to taste.  Mix. Serve with tortilla chips and Enjoy!!  Be sure to refrigerate your salsa, it's even better the next day! 

Making Your Blog into A Book!

I have already started the process of putting my blog into a book and thought I would share this cool (and SUPER easy) website that does all the work for you.  All you have to do is download their FREE program, select "Make Blog to Book" and it does the rest for you.  You can even delete pictures and posts you don't want included as well as pick your layout.  Books range from about $20-$80 which I think is very affordable.  Click below to check them out! 

http://www.blurb.com/

AND just because I always do, here are a couple of pictures of Noah.  He is turning into a little MAN and I can't hardly believe it.  He is SO curious and so fun, and we love having him in our little family.

Have You?

Have you heard these songs??
Ok, so John Mayer may be a little sketchy...but I love this song. Tell me if you don't agree.

I am a new fan of this band...listen to the song and you will find out why. The Script- Breakeven

I consider myself a fan of Lady Antebellum and I love this song American Honey from their Album Need You Now.



If you have a minute check out these sweet tunes too:
Iyaz- Replay
Justin Beiber- Baby
La Roux-Bulletproof  (PS. I hope her hair style isn't the next big thing!)
Nick Jonas and the Administration-Olive and an Arrow


Have you Seen this??
Last weekend I went to see this with a few special ladies!  Megan, Whitney and Natalie. I liked it, for the most part.  I will say up front that I hated Anne Hathaways character as well as Taylor Swifts.  Seriously. Ugh. Have you seen it?  Tell me what you thought.




Have you read this?
Andy read this book and thought I too, would enjoy it...and of course he was right.  I love novels and especially loved this one!  I would definitley reccommend it!

Have you tasted this?

I only put this one on here because I am craving it, and we don't have a CPK anywhere near Idaho Falls!  So if you are close to one, go enjoy one of these babies for me...and tell me how much you loved it!

CPK Original BBQ Chicken Salad Chopped

Never To Early for A Countdown!

Maybe I haven't made a paper chain (yet), but I think it's time to officially start the " Welcome Home Andy" countdown.  I can't hardly believe it, but in approximately 11 weeks our favorite person will be coming home.  Just the though makes me teary!

Since it has been a while, I thought I would do an update on Andy.  Of course you all know that we had a wonderful Christmas as a family.  We were so lucky to have that time together.  Since being back in Afghanistan things have been very busy.  The runway project, which is Andy's largest project out there, is temporarily on hold until the weather cooperates.  Believe it or not, it has been cold and snowy there.  We are hoping that the runway can be finished by the time Andy leaves Afghanistan.  It would be neat for him to be able to see the complete product...and possibly to see a plane land.  I know that would be a sweet experience for him.

In the mean time, he has been busy with other projects around the area and is learning a lot.  We have been so blessed throughout this experience and I know the job experience alone, has been great for Andy.  We are SO looking forward to him coming home.  I know that Noah will enjoy giving his Daddy a real kiss instead of just kissing his pictures. 

Until then, 11 weeks and counting!
Love you Andy <3

Happy Valentines Day!

Nothing like spending Valentines Day thousands of miles apart.

Happy Valentines Day Andy.  You are the greatest.

Love, Me

Simple Acts of Service

'That which we persist in doing becomes easy to do; not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do has increased'

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I always seem to jinx myself.  Is that how you even spell that word?  This past Sunday I was thinking to myself...WOW, we have been here for almost 10 months and I haven't had to speak in church once!  Low and behold, right after church I receive a call from the bishop asking me to speak on Sunday.  What are the chances?!?! 

Anyway, I have been asked to give a 10 minute talk on the Importance of Service.  I have been thinking a lot about the topic and have some ideas of how I want to organize it.  But then I was thinking...I always get more out of a talk when the speaker can share personal experiences.  Don't you? 

So with that I am petitioning for your help!  I want to share examples of simple acts of service and how they has affected people's life.  SO, if you will - leave me a comment with a simple act of service that someone has done for you, or that you were able to do for someone else - and how it helped you in that certain circumstance.  It doesn't have to be long or profound...anything that touched you in someway will do. I would love to hear your experience and if it is ok with you, maybe share some of them as part of my talk.

Here are some acts of service from the past few days that I am especially grateful for:

* My little sister watching Noah for an hour so I could run errands.

* The SGT at Fort Knox tax center taking a few minutes to answer some of my questions over the phone.

* My mom putting Noah's laundry in the dryer for me.

Those are just a few.  Sometimes it's hard to think of them, because there are so many.  But try to jog your memory, I know we all have plenty of examples to share!  If you want to email me instead my email is melissa.stockhoff@gmail.com

And my THANKS to you, in advance :)

Happy Birthday Noah!

Today Noah officially turns One.  One year ago that I spent 48 hours in Labor.  One year ago when I thought a c-section was my only saving grace.  One year ago when this special little guy joined our family and we became Andy and Meliss + one.  It was a wonderful day, for so many reasons!   I can't believe it's already been a year. 

Today we had a fun little family gathering in honor of Noah.  We had a 'make-shift' dinner of Noah's favorite things to eat, which include Cheese, Fruit, Sandwiches etc.  Our menu was as such...CHEESE fondue with various breads for dipping, FRUIT of all sorts with yummy fruit dip, bite size PIZZA, SALAD and chicken salad SANDWICHES on croissants.  I know I enjoyed it, so I am hoping everyone else did as well.

I always tease that I should just buy Noah a roll of wrapping paper instead of gifts, since that's what seems to entertain him most.  BUT, we had a wonderful time and I know he will find hours of entertainment with all of his new toys, even if I unwrapped most of them! 

{I love his concentration in this Picture}

Obviously Noah loved the cake.  It was his first time ever having a slice to himself and you can tell he quite enjoyed it.  Hey, that's what birthday's are for, right? 

Is that Joe?

Yes my friends...here is Noah with his best impression of Joe Jonas.  Pretty striking isn't it?  haha (Andy and I got these glasses when we went to see Avatar.  They are 3-D glasses, and Noah loves them!)

 
Also, I finally finished this little project I have been working on for Noah's birthday!  Plush magnet refrigerator letters.  I already let him test them out and I think he likes them (he better anyway, they took me long enough to make!!)  I love how they turned out and will definitely be making more of them!! 

Latest Obsessions

Here are some of the things I have been obsessing over lately. 

Five crowns. We played this game a lot over Christmas, and Andy's Grandma even gave us one of our own. I love it and have gotten my familty hooked on it as well. So if you love a good card game this one is definitely a winner!

{Picture Courtesy of crystalbeutler}

Andy got me this necklace for Christmas this year.  I love it and wear it all the time.  Crystal is so talented and I wish I owned more of her jewlery.  Check out her Etsy shop HERE.  You won't be disappointed!

FALL DOWN TREE.

I heart Adam Records artwork.  I would have posted a few of my favorites, but I didn't want to break any laws! SO you will just have to see it for yourself.  If I could, I might buy one of every print. 

His style is unique and I love it.

Check out his website:  http://www.falldowntree.com/

His Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/falldowntree

or His Blog:  http://falldowntree.blogspot.com/

Lastly, I saw this video on YouTube.  Maybe some of you have seen it, but I can't get enough.  If I could buy it on Itunes, I would.  It's creative and awesome.