Sometimes....

....you just need a little privacy.
Lately I've been feeling the need to stop making my entire life accessible to the world.
Hence the private blog.
And we've also gotten off of Facebook.
Maybe this is just a phase. But it already feels so freeing. I don't feel the need to impress some sort of an anonymous audience somewhere in the wasteland that is the internet.
And facebook....ugh. What a waste of time. I can think of at least 87 more productive things I could be doing other than browsing facebook. At least.
So if you are reading this, thanks for wanting to read my blog enough to log in each time.
I'll try and make it worth your while.

I'd like you to meet...

Norah Ashley Gale
8 lbs 9 oz 20 inches long
Born September 14, 2010
Scott and Nicole, I hope you don't mind me sharing these. She's just too darling to keep to myself!

Favorite Things: Being an Aunt

Today I get to become an aunt twice over.
I cannot wait.
It's hard to even describe how much I love little Bailey, and I can't wait to fall in love with this new little doll.
Hopefully pictures to come soon!

Favorite Things: Gale Family Brownies

There is no better Sunday night Family Home Evening treat than Gale family brownies. We've been making these since we were old enough to climb on a chair and hold a mixing spoon. The page in the original recipe book is completely covered with brown batter. I made some Sunday for family dinner at the Christensen's.


































Just try and not lick that bowl...it's impossible. Yummm.















And I suppose I can share the secret recipe. For anyone who has never tried homemade brownies, or thinks they only come from a box (like my darling Ashton =), these are the easiest thing you will ever make.

Gale Family Favorite Brownies
1 cup butter
1/3 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 t. vanilla

Beat butter, cocoa, sugar and eggs until fluffy. Beat in flour and vanilla. Pour into 9x11 pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
You can add walnuts or chopped caramels or chocolate chips or even put marshmallows on top before you bake it. We always particularly enjoyed them with powdered sugar on top.

Favorite Things: Real Salt Lake games

Siara and Tyler are in love with Real Salt Lake and have season tickets, so we've joined them for a few games this season and absolutely love it.
Our 2 year anniversary in April was spent at the Real Salt Lake season opener. They were the 2009 national champions so it was a pretty big deal to be there at their first game. And there was a surprise half-time guest...who else in Utah would it be except David Archuleta?? The best part was that this adorable little boy made a wish with the Make A Wish Foundation to
sing at a RSL game with David. It was maybe so cute that Siara and I both cried.










































Oh and here's us!

Favorite Things: Red Velvet Cake

There's not much to say about this favorite thing. I love red velvet cake. I adore red velvet cake. I dream about red velvet cake. I would do anything for a piece of red velvet cake right now.
This particular red velvet is from "The Chocolate", a darling bakery here in Orem.
My ultimate favorite is the red velvet from Hummingbird Bakery in London.
But let's be honest, any red velvet will do.
This is my one true treat love.

*Please don't judge the fact that the cake is already half eaten. I literally couldn't even hold off long enough to take a picture. I have a problem.

Favorite Things: Neverending box of Bounce dryer sheets

When I moved to Utah to attend BYU in 2004, my mom came down and bought me all the essentials, including this box of Bounce dryer sheets.
Since that time I have graduated college, gotten married, and moved a total of ten times. And this box of Bounce is still in my cupboard, still going strong. I have lost clothes, jewelry, bedding, dishes, a bike, and many other more important possessions over the last six years. But this box of dryer sheets has somehow managed to hang onto me. And I'm not kidding when I tell you that I even took it to London on study abroad.
That corner advertisement says 35% more.
I guess 35% more=eternity.
Thanks, Mom.
I'll never have to buy dryer sheets again.

Favorite Things: Scarf-Tied Oxfords

***Disclaimer: This post is completely shallow, materialistic, and without substance. Please enjoy the frivolity of it at your own risk***

If you know me at all, you know I am in love with these shoes. From the moment I saw them I knew I would make them mine, whatever the cost (monetary or emotional).
They were out of my size online, and when I called I was told that they were also out of pretty much every single size in every single store in the entire country. My determination did not wane.
I put the Anthropologie customer service department on my speed dial and called just about every hour for two straight days until they found a pair at a store in Las Vegas.
In a few short days they were mine.
And they were everything I dreamed they would be.
Bless you Anthropologie. You give me so many pretty things to waste my money on.

Favorite Things: Spin Class

I have to work off that homemade pizza somehow, and my new gym addiction is spin class. I used to be terrified of it, but my friend and work buddy Brittany and I started going at 6 am before work and now I am in love. Here's a pretty nasty picture to document just how much work this class is.

The front of my shirt after spin



















The back of my shirt after spin.

Favorite Things: Homemade Pizza

My mom does these super cute "Favorite Things" blogs. And I've been a terrible blogger lately, so here's a little copycat series. These are some of the Keaton household favorite things, starting with:

Homemade Pizza!

Hand made dough














Fresh basil from the garden














Garden fresh tomato sauce














Add some turkey pepperoni and voila! Homemade pizza, a favorite dish in the Keaton home. (Clearly the half with vegetables on it is mine)