Another round...

Evaluation: It is february and I haven't written anything...
Believe it or not a made a great efford to blog last year. It was a great year, I rather call it  "a very busy year." [work, blogging, trip to Texas, wedding, mariage (wonderful!) college (oh, college again), thanksgiving, Christmas, New year.]

In this year that just started, I've been thinking in ways to launch Max&Liliana's plans.
we do have plans! and they are AWESOME!

I can't believe it is October and summer has gone...

First day of October, the landscape will change from dull-dried colors to vibrant- oranges.
I have to make my beloved husband to get us a handy camera to take random pictures. I have been wanting to take a picture of the apples we bought the other day, they are a beautiful  red.
I am falling more for my self-learning nature and I like it. I taught myself crocheting  (like the little book), I literally did. It is so easy. I tried knitting but it resulted a tedious tasks for me.
Here it is link for some free patterns... http://www.crochetme.com/
I will post some pictures of my new scarf later...it is fabulous!

school...I need some motivation to do homework... candies won't work...

I started another semester at LDS Business College last week. This time I'm taking fundamentals of entreprenurship, financial accounting, nutrition,, temple marriage (that is my institute credit) and business lecture-series. Although I've been in school for just ten days, I'm needing a vacation already. Balancing life with now a home and an also very busy husband with school isn't easy task, especially waking early in the morning. Although I believe it is doable. I think I will do good in school. It is a relief that I mostly have to read and  write papers instead of making color boards and drawing floor layouts, which are fun of course, but so time consuming.

Bro. Ralph K. Little teaches fundamentals of entreprenurship. He is cool. so far I've unlearned that "that higher the risk, higher the reward" and I LEARN that to start a business I'd like to chose my risk "low risk, high reward". and Bro Little ilustrated as follows: let's laid a bar one yard from the floor and walk upon it, if I fall I'm still alive, I can try again; business translation: the bar is the enterprise and the height is the risk, so I invest time, resoursces, mone for sure, and maybe sales dont go wery well but I'm still in business and in a situation in whinch I can try again, step back or come up with another idea. Low risk, high reward, right. NOW lets put the same bar conectin to buidings, it is a high risk, big investment, maybe a loan, the reward is great... but if I fall...If my business do not success,  from that distance for sure die... which equals bankcrupcy...which isn't good at all. I like that thinking a little here, a little there, the scripture states:

2 Ne. 28: 30

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

Few things I want to share

Veinticinco cosas acerca de mi...

1.- Name: LILIANA
2.- I love my family, they are my best friends, they help, scold, advise, and have fun. 
3.- I enjoy to cook. Once when I was in high School I took a cooking class, the teacher was tough, like that program "Hell Kitchen", she would sand her nails and taste the dough. Isn't that nasty?
4.- Drawing is one of my passions. I don't know what lines have, but I love to draw lines, they are conscise, straight, have a start and an end. No complications! 
5.- I quitted sports early in life, not because I wasn't good all the opposite I was way good and I'm still, the reason was to keep the Sabbath holy. All competitions had place on Sundays.
6.- I play piano, I started old; I was 15 years old when I first started taking lessons. My teacher is the Best and we love to play duets. 
7.- I'm graduating this April From LDS Business College; my program Interior Design... and uncertainty it's been the current concept to ponder about. It has given me the chance to re-visit old dusted dreams and plans. It is like moving, people keep what is significant, important, functional, and memorable.
8.- My friends are a source of happiness in my life. Girl talk, you know, needed once a month.
9.- I dislike getting mad, it gives me headaches.
10.- I would like to be a triathlete, you know swim as a mermaid, bike like Amstrong and run like Forrest. 
11.- Goals: I want to get married in the Temple, not because I was told to do so. I want to marry the man I love, and together have the most amazing adventure in our hands, "life." That remained me of a letter I wrote when I was 14 years old. It was a very detailed letter to my 18 years old self and Mom lost it, she will probably find it while she organizes our family pictures. Good that I have a great memory. I should have written a draft on my journal. Anyhow, is in my brain.
12.- Another goal: Learn French. 
13.- One more goal: Community Service, I found fascinating the extreme emphasis Arq. Julio Sanchez Juarez one of my teachers at University, put on community. It feels so good to help and do things for others! By the way I have a bachelors degree in Architecture...fun uh!
14.- My dream house has to be by the sea shore, it can be any beach but the Antartica or Artic. 
15.- My most recent and worthy to mention scar was gotten on Summer 2008. I touched a motorcicle moffle. At the beginnig wasn't too bad, but two days latter I got a blister. Auch!
16.-If you want real mexican food, RED IGUANA is the place! and real tacos going northbound North Temple by Albertson's. 
17.- Sometimes I speak while I sleep, my sister makes fun of me... :(
18.- Braces, I couldn't escape from them...painful but worth the pain and weird looks. 
19.- Turtles are my favorite type of pet, because is the only type I've ever had.
20.- You like it or not, I'm a Twilight fan although I still need to read the last book. 
21.- My parents are crazy for each other, they are sweet.
22.- Two more and I'll be done. I live with my Brother and Sister. The best Roommates I've ever had.
23.- My favorite colour: dark purple
24.- I always wanted to be bionic woman, she was cool! self reconstruction capability. And she had a guy! No complications!!! hahahaha! One day I'll be married and I'll tell how I met my husband...I'm sure it will be awesome and out of serie...
25.- Soy morena y Mexicana... ;)

my last few days as a single woman...

"My last few days as a single woman" sounds as if it were a regreting statement, but it is not. I am happy and excited for this new adventure in life, what makes it diferent from the others is that I will not be alone; a skilled cute blue-eyed guy will be with me and then who ever comes along (kids of course).

Last Sunday was the last Temple-prep class and all four girls that were taking the class shared their testimonies about the temple, Cherrie testified about charity, Tiffany about preparation, and Nicole about teaching. As you can tell I was the last one and I could not talk too much. I was overwhelmed by that sweet spirit that testifies the truth I just know that temples are a blessing from God, and a manifesation of His love to His children, temples are everything.

LDS.org - Liahona Article - Enriching Your Marriage

LDS.org - Liahona Article - Enriching Your Marriage

LDS.org - Liahona Article - Enriching Your Marriage

10 days and counting down...

Family is getting here, Salt lake City. I'm very excited!

Food storage refilled; wedding preparatives are unfolding right, although there
 always are rushing details to fix at last minute. I can't wait to see what will happen on these ten days...

Our-True-Identity

Our-True-Identity

Our-True-Identity
Elder F. Uchdorf ... is my favorite.

Wedding plans

Weddings, what a stressful task. What is funny to me is that getting married is the easy and cheapest part. The party is the expensive part. two weeks ago I was overwhelmed with worries and concerns about the wedding. I talked to Max and my parents about my feelings, that really helped me to cheer up and to feel their support and love. Adversity is always present  its manifestations are endless and necessary to grow in life. Max and my family are the most important in my wedding day.
Yesterday, I found my dress. I found this place on-line called "Fairy Godmother's Bridal' in Murray UT it is a home business, owned by a quiet lady. She and her helper showed us the dresses and few accesories; tiara, veil, jewely.The dresses were beautiful, modest and enchanting, but the one I chose was more "me like".
Fabric:Royal Taffeta
Colors:White/White and Ivory

My wedding planer is my gorgeous sister. Mom and Dad are very excited. During the weekend we made a great progress in all our preparatives; I set the date, Tuesday August 3rd of 2010 in the Salt Lake Temple and the Wedding Luncheon will be the same day at 2pm at the Bonneville Room in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Here the dress's description and pictures.

Description: Pleated cap sleeve gown has a beaded edge matching the scoop neckline. Pleating with accented beading drapes from the neckline through the bodice to the asymmetrical overlay along the skirt and semi-cathedral train.

My-New-Life

My-New-Life

My-New-Life
I'm spechless!!

A visit to the library...

A month ago I visited one of my favorite places "the City Library Store" in Salt Lake City, they have all sort of things I love, magnets, cards, Journals, toys, bags, book markers, pencils, note pads, seals...etc..etc..etc... That day I went there to get a new journal and a seal, two little notebooks for my techees... and OMG...they had an exhibit on Anna Frank in the entrance hall. How amazazing and how inspiring! I read each of the big boards with information about World War II and Anna's life. I read her journal last year and I was moved by her experience and Spirit.

When I read her journal I felt an urging feeling of gratitute towards my Father in Heaven for all the blessings I've received every single day of my life. "Bendiciones, cuenta y veras, cuantas bendiciones de Jesus tendras"  As Anna, I've been so very blessed with loving parents and an amazing life around me. Diferent from Anna's my country is a country of peace I can live my religion freely; there is not need to hide. I've never lack the essencials of life nor the essencials of spirit. I learned to work hard from my Father's great example, I learned to love and smile from my beautiful Mother, and I brought with me from Heaven my tenacity... probably I learned from someone there. My siblings are my friends and we have been always together. Things change always but our fraternal love has always been.

pastel pastel...como me encanta...how I love cake...

There is a single cake slide left from the cake I made last Sunday. Cakes have an especial place in my heart. At home with Mom and Dad we always have had cake to celebrate birthdays... ALWAYS... Cakes for me are an token for Happiness. I remember one winter, it was just around Christmas that we as a family gave (as present, we bought the cake, it was a 3 milks cake) a cake to our piano teacher. She was going through some hard situationss at the time, and when she saw us with a pink cake (I suppose it was pink, I do not exactly remember) we smiled, she told us that that day she wanted to eat cake but could not find some time to make one, we al felt happier that evening. So cakes makes life bright, because a cake was given hearts were touched. This is one of my favorite memories also.

Ok the recipe of the cake I made last Sunday is here, from the same book Seasons of my Heart by Susana Trilling. It's delicious!! This time I followed the recipe completly, however I made little mistake which I realized too late...the cake was fine though... my mistake was that I used baking powder instead of baking soda... I wonder what makes those two different...and I did not use rum, for obvious reasons.

PASTEL DE COCO
Coconut Pecan Cake
MAKES 10 TO 12 SERVINGS

For the cake
5 eggs at room temperature for at least 1 hour
1 cup (2 sticks) plus 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sunflower  or vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk mixed with 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup grated fresh coconut, toasted
1/2 cup pecans, chopped and toasted
For the frosting
1cup (2sticks) plus 1 tablespoon buttle, at room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 cups confetioner's sugar
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped and toasted
Rum to taste

FOR THE CAKE
Preheat the oven to 325⁰F. Oil a Bunt pan or two 8-inch square pans.
Separate the egg yolks and the whites into bowls.
In a large bowl, mix the butter, oil, and sugar until creamy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating after each addition.
Mix the baking soda and milk.
Add the flour to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Add the vainilla, coconut, and nuts. Mix well. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, then fold into the batter.
pour the batter into the greased cake pans and bake for 45 minutes or until the cake separates from the edge of the pan. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes, then remove from pans. Cool on a rack.

FOR THE FROSTING
Cream the butter and cream cheese with a hand or electric mixer. Add the vanilla, confectioner's sugar, nuts and rum. Mix well.
Brush off the excess crumbs. If using a Bundt pan, frost the cake on all sides and around the center hole. Decorate with fresh flowers. If using the square pans, invert  a layer onto a plate and cover the top pf the cake with frosting. Place the second layer (inverted) on top of the first and frost the sides of the cake. Finally, frost the top and decorate with fresh flowers.

Quilt of this season!!!

The other day I put myself down. Routine seems boring, winter has been long, cold, and cloudy...but I'm larger than those "circumstances" so with a liberating attitude I revisited some ideas and my patriachal blessing, What a comfort!!!

Ok, so making a quilt every year around summer time is becoming a tradition to me. The first quilt was made on summer 2008, when Max and I started dating, he helped me to find a really cool store in Sugar House, Salt Lake -cool store, but I was out of its league, too advance for my skills- in such situation I bought a magazine in WalMart, and there I was and there I started. Hi there!!! hahaha!!!.

The magazine is Quilts and more-Summer 2008 Issue, and the project is called SQUARE OFF. "What's the secret for making this cozy quilt? A quick stich-and-flip method of adding corners to 8" squares." Here, the picture of that quilt, I learned so much from it. It has flaws all over, but it has an especial meaning to me. Max helped me in the cutting stage, it was FUN!That block by  the way has a story: it was the last piece of its kind and Max cut it in half by accident according to his testimonial, however I knew he dispises flowery fabrics...jk, to save it from being disposed with the rest of the straps we made use of our unknown surgical skills...and there it is a living proof!

You can see my feet and green pijama pants, and that I really like flowery patterns.

Last year's quilt wasn't that succesful, still in my craft-box I'm just gave it a rest.

This year, my sister is visiting Mormie and Pa, and I'd like to send them this new quilt as a gift. Here a picture of all the blocks ready to be sewn together.

cocinando!!!...cooking!!!

Last Sunday I decided to cook como Dios manda and it was great. The menu was italian chicken, savory fava bean soup and coconut cake for dessert. Fava bean soup is one of my favorite  dishes, my mom uses to make it frequently at home.

I got a good recipe from this marvelous recipe book entitled "Seasons of My Heart" by Susana Trilling, which has all sort of original and "from scratch" Mexican food recipes. The recipe is ... if you ever wonder...

SOPA DE HABA (Savory Fava Bean Soup)

MAKES 6 SERVINGS AS A FIRST COURSE, 4 AS A MAIN COURSE

1 pound fresh fava beans (see Hint)

1 medium white onion, finely chopped, and 1/2 medium onion chunked

12 garlic cloves, 7 finely chopped and 5 left whole

2 springs hierbabuena (see Note)

1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1 pound tomatoes (2 medium-large round or 8-10 plum), boiled , peeled, and finely chopped (reserve one cup cooking water)

2 teaspoons sunflower oil

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped.

In a 4-quart saucepan, bring 1 1/2 quarts of water to a boil. Add the fava beans, chopped onion, chopped garlic, and hierbabuenaand cover the pan. Lower the heat and cook until the beans are soft, about 45 minutes. Add the salt.

In a blender, combine the tomatoes, chunked onion, whole garlic with one cup of the reserved tomato water. Blend until smooth. Heat the oil in a medium frying pan and fry the tomato mixture for 5 minutes. Add the fava beans and stir in. Add the cilantro, adjust the seasoning, and serve.

Hint: You can substitute fresh peas for  the fava beans.

Note: Hierbabuena (MENTHA SPICATA): Spearmint, used as a flavoring in tea or a variety of dishes and for upset stomach.

I used canola oil instead of sunflower oil, I also used the pression cooker, olla presto,and I asked mom for how long should I cook the fava beans, her answer was "about 40 to 45 min, they have to be very soft so the soup gets thick." I did not have spearmint, so I did not add it... It tastes great anyway.... mmmm!!! hahaha!!!

...inspired...

Two days ago I was looking for a tote bag pattern on-line and I found this awesome blog ... -mmmcrafts.blogspot.com- and I'm enjoying it. I followed her instructions for a messenger bag...and I made it...here are few pictures of it... now I'm having a bunch of ideas for bag-projects for example make bags for my siblings and parents with our family crest on the flap...or collect all sort of pins an put them on the flap...or sew our names... or this or that...hahahaha!!!

here some pictures!!!!

Example-of-the-Believers

Example-of-the-Believers
I love it!

entry_3

Today was ward conference. It was great. the main point of the conference was to have a good relation with our Heavenly Father and our Savior, the Lord JesusChrist. I love the scripture in Luke 10: 38-42

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

"..But one thing is needful..." Mary chose to be closer to the Savior and that "shall not be taken away from her." Thus is how my priorities should be, I have things to do every day, and probably no one else is going to do it for me, however, they are not needful, I suppose that means that there are things that can wait, like, sleeping in so I read my scriptures, sleeping in so I can be on time at church, write in my journal, talk more with my brother and little brother, share special time with my only sister, talk with my that, write letters, read recipes, and so on... because I know that that will not be taken away from me.
I am a daughter of God and he loves me and I love Him.
LPS

entry_2

The other day I bought fabric from IKEA, the main reason was that it was cheap. I do not have a project for it yet, but something will come. I also bought a knitting kit for beginners and I can't stop it I just want to finish the scarf before Max's birthday. In the other hand I haven't done great in my scripture study although I started reading the Pearl of Great Price this week. It never stops to amaze me how wonderful the Creation was and still is. I constantly think in my patriachal blessing and the promises it contains. To be honest I don't understand most of its content but it has always inspired me. I wish I had a piano to practice at home.
LPS

entry 1

I got my Gospel Principles manual last sunday and I have Been reading it since then, The lessons are small and substantious, It makes me happy to know that the gospel is true and that the true is simple and precious, easy to understand andfollow.One of the chapters I have already read is about "Praying to Our Heavenly Father." I recognize that I have to improve my praying habits. It was easy at home to pray, family prayers are great, for me at least was a way to know how my parents feel about me, it also let me know my siblings testimony and to share mine too. I made me think of what was going on in the day for everyone in the famly, it could be a test, a trip, sickness, encouragement and so on. Prayer unites. "All of our thoughts, our words, and our actions are influenced by our prayers."
"...We should tell Him what we really feel in our hearts, confide in Him, ask him for forgiveness, plead with Him, thank Him, express our love for Him." (Gospel Principles Manual)
Pd.- I'm getting an Ensign suscription.
LPS

#3 Physical challenge.

Few more challenges and I will be ready to go... Physical challenge, let see. This challenge is about health and fitness.

Sleep enough (7 to 8 hours)
It would be nice to have a racing bike, they are light and ergonomic, to train traithlon. Some day!
I'm going to start running again, liberty park is a nice place, my goal will be 3 rounds not stopping around the park.
If i know of any 3 mile event, I'll join.
My wardrobe needs an update, a read once that a consist in 70% basics and 30% accesories and trendy items. Maybe some tops and socks will help.
LPS