Work/Bake from Home

So...16-18 inches of snow later, I was able to work from home today.  :)  Thank goodness, because I would've been lucky to have gotten out of our driveway.  I was a little surprised by the amount of snow we received.  I know they mentioned the 8-12 inch range, but we usually get the lower side of the prediction.  My back and arms are sore from shoveling, however our awesome neighbor came over and snow blew most of our driveway, so I just had to keep up on it throughout the day. 

After periodically checking my email and making sure I wasn't needed for work, I decided to do a little more baking...I vow this is it.  No more sweets for us.  I made another batch of my Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate cookies and was much happier with this batch then my last.  I also make some Candy Cane Kiss Cookies (found the recipe on Pinterest).  Holy moley batman, those are some dang good cookies.  However, I will tell you now, the recipe calls for 2 1/2 sticks of butter...I used 2 1/2 sticks of butter and swear I can feel it on my thighs, but it's Christmas-time right???  Good excuse. 

If you decide to try this recipe, I did have to cook them closer to 15 minutes...mine were bigger than than 3/4 -1 inch in diameter.  Also, the recipe tells you to put the kisses in right after you pull them out of the oven and then put them in the freezer.  I found this to be extremely un-successful.  They sat in the freezer for 20 minutes and the kisses were still melting.  So on the next batch, I just let the cookies cool for a few minutes and then I put the kisses in.  Much easier.  :) 

Christmas is only 2 days away...but my sweet, adorable, smart niece Abbigayle is turning 5 on Christmas Eve.  That little girl makes me so happy, it is so hard to believe that she's 5 years old.  She's my little mini-me. 

So, I'm looking forward to my sweet girls birthday and Christmas.  I can already hear my Dad singing, 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas' as me and my Mom leave for Christmas Eve Mass.  :)  I think that's the only part of the song he knows, but I look forward to it every year. 



Merry Christmas!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

It's snowing like no tomorrow right now.  Geoff shoveled the driveway and sidewalks when he got home from work and they're already covered and in need of another shoveling.  WOW!  It's suppose to snow 8-12 inches tonight.  It's gorgeous, I'm just really hoping that I don't have to drive in it tomorrow.  :)  I'm so, so blessed with my job, not only is it awesome because of the message, but it's awesome in the fact that we get so many wonderful perks.  Great health and life insurance, paid holidays and we get the week between Christmas and New Year's off, PAID.  It's such an awesome Christmas gift.  Sorry, got sidetracked.  So in addition to that, if the roads are 'dangerous' we can usually work from home.  LOVE IT!

Minus the fact that we were a little strapped for cash this year and not able to buy presents for everyone on our list, I feel like I'm ready for Christmas.  My Christmas cards have safely arrived at their destinations and Christmas cookies liter the top of my counters.  I'm not sure if I mentioned, but I do make my Christmas cards.  I love making cards and I feel like it adds an additional personal touch.  I'm a Stampin' Up girl!  I wanted to show my cards to you.

This past weekend I decided to cook a few different types of cookies.  I made Oatmeal Cranberry and White Chocolate Chunk cookies and Biscochitos.  For those of you that might not know, biscochitos are a shortbread like cookie that have anise in them and are topped with cinnamon and sugar.  They're a traditional Spanish cookie.  They're amazing. 

Have I mentioned that I love the smell of cookies in the air.  Oh, it says Christmas-time all over it. 

So, if I don't have time to blog before Christmas.  I hope everyone has a blessed, safe and very Merry Christmas!



Why I LoVe Pinterest!

So, have you heard?  Of the new website called Pinterest?  It's ahh-maz-ing!  In technical terms it's a virtual pin board.  So, you create a profile and your friends can follow you and you have all types of categories from DIY, to recipes, to workouts and beyond.  So, if something tickles your fancy you can pin it to your board.  You also have the ability to add a pin to your browser, so if you run across a website and see a really cool tree skirt you'd like to make, you can pin it and it'll automatically go on your board.  Brilliant! 

It is so much fun, it's brainless and has become an addiction rather quickly.  I will admit, I, Karissa McCoy am addicted to Pinterest.  However, after you see a few cute and tasty things I've gotten from there, you might change your mind.  (That's if you're not already on Pinterest)  First up...Christmas Card Holder.  In the past, every Christmas card we've gotten we've taped to the back of our front door, which has been sufficient, however I wanted something cuter.  So here's what I made.  :)

You'll need a cross stitch frame, I bought the biggest one that JoAnn's had.  Then I used different size close pins and super glued them in different directions.  Lastly, I got some seasonal ribbon and tied it to the top and that's how it hangs.  Pretty easy and cute too!

Secondly, my outdoorsman (aka Geoff) loves snicker doodles, well he loves anything sweet pretty much, but I've known for a while that he really like snicker doodles.  So, I happen to run across a recipe on Pinterest and this site in particular called them the best snicker doodles they've made to date.  So I tried them out and they were really good.  (I forgot to take a picture of them, so I found one on the web to substitute)

Mine looked similar.  Not as cinnamon-y, but similar.  :)  Last, but certainly not least I went to the Holiday section of Pinterest and saw all kinds of different table center pieces.  I really wanted to make something instead of buy it...and this season this seems to be the CRAZE.  Getting a pretty, clear vase and putting Christmas ornaments in it.  Well, I did something similar, but the post in particular that I found included pine cones, which I loved. 

I love it!  I think it looks really fancy and elegant, yet it was OH-SO-Simple!  :)  So, now you know why I'm addicted to Pinterest and hopefully you'll be addicted too. 



One week until Christmas.  Yowza!

'Tis the Season

I've come to realize that blogging has put time in perspective for me and how fast it flies by.  A week ago at this time I was celebrating Thanksgiving with my family and now it's December 1st and Christmas is only 24 days away.  Let me remind you, I have absolutely no Christmas shopping done, I honestly don't know what I'm going to get anyone, including my own husband.  I'm still working on my Christmas cards (hoping to get them done this weekend) and I hope to get those out soon!  I love Christmas cards...I love sending them and I love receiving them.  It makes me happy!  :)  This time of year makes me happy, I get the warm fuzzies, thinking about it.

Geoff and I went back 'home' for Thanksgiving and we had a great time with our friends and family.  I took my camera with the intentions of taking numerous pictures and I took like 5.  Oops!  So the picture on the right is after Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house and then we went to Geoff's for round 2!  :)  Needless to say, the food was great, the company was great and we came home a few pounds heavier.   

Rockefeller Center, NYC

See this beautiful picture of Rockefeller Center in New York City?  For my high school graduation my parents took me to Philadelphia and New York City.  It was the summer time, so this photo isn't mine, however I fell in love with both of these cities.  Would I ever want to live there?  No...but would I visit again?  Ab-so-freakin-lute-ly!  There is something about NYC that I feel like that city sparkles...especially now during the Holidays.  I've been telling my Mom we have to go back to NYC during this time of year.  I just picture myself in a wool coat, hat, gloves and a scarf; freezing my butt off, but enjoying a nice warm hot chocolate from Starbucks (of course) walking through Time Square.  Maybe one day right??  I'll add that to my bucket list!      

Time to get busy with those Christmas cards.  :)

A-Z

Saw this on a friends blog...so I took it!  Thanks Erica.  :)

A. Age – 25

B. Bed size – King
 

C. Chore that you hate – Putting clothes away!
 

D. Dogs – Sweet, Bella the Beagle
 

E. Essential start to your day – Chocolate Milk, please? 
 

F. Favorite color – Purple

G. Gold or silver – Silver, for sure.

 

H. Height – 5’4"-ish

I. Instruments you play – None.  I got headache's in band class, so that was the end of that. 
 

J. Job title – Communications Coordinator for Rachel's Challenge
 

K. Kids – Maybe someday...
 

L. Live – in Littleton, CO
 

M. Mother’s name – Selina [saay-leen-A] (Just kidding, Mom)
 

N. Nicknames – Sis, Riss

 

O. Overnight hospital stays – None, knock on wood!
 

P. Pet peeves – When people drive slow in the fast lane.  The lack of acknowledgement, a simple thank you will do. 

Q. Quote from a movie – I LOVE watching movies, but only really watch them once...so I'm not much of a quoter. 

 

R. Right or left handed – Right

S. Siblings – Aaron, brother / Amy, sister-in-law / Michelle, sister-in-law
 

T. Time it takes you to get ready – A good hour...unless I'm curling my hair.
 

U. Underwear – TMI

V. Vegetable you hate – Not a fan of cooked mushrooms or canned spinach...however I like both of them fresh.
 

W. What makes you run late – Bella not going potty.  She thinks every second is a second to play...not to do her business.  :)
 

X. X-rays you’ve had – Does the dentist count?  I think I had one on my foot once...thought I broke a toe.
 

Y. Yummy food you make – Desserts.  I like to bake. 
 

Z. Zoo Animal – Lions, tigers and bears.  :)

November 19th? No!

I cannot believe it's already November 19th.  Where in the world is November going?  My last blog I was thinking Thanksgiving was a month away and now it's only 5 days away.  Sheesh!  I had every intention on posting a Halloween blog, so I could post pictures of my costume...but clearly that didn't work out.  So I'll do that now...I was a bunch of grapes.  The quality of the photo isn't very good, sorry.  But you get the idea.  My co-worker, Sarah is the Where's Waldo, behind me.  Ha! 

Let's see...what else has been going on that has kept me from blogging?  Ha!  I've actually been doing some traveling for Rachel's Challenge to present our Chain Reaction program.  I went to upstate New York, the Albany area.  It's beautiful country side up there...quite the trip from Colorado, though.  I was also in St. John's, Arizona this week speaking as well.  I was so excited to go to Arizona where it would be warmer.  Yeah, that wasn't the case, it was the same exact, cold temperature that it was in Colorado.  Dang it.  Here's a picture I took in, New York.  There's rolling hills that are covered with HUGE trees.  It's beautiful. 





I've also had an urge to make anything pumpkin.  I love pumpkin and I'm such a sucker for it.  Any restaurant or coffee shop that I visit this time of year, I look for a seasonal selection that has pumpkin.  So the other night I found a recipe for Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookies...YUM!  I was very happy with them.  They were a little cake-ier than most cookies, but still yummy!  Be prepared for my Thanksgiving posts.  It'll be FULL of FOOD and good food!  Enjoy November, before it leaves us and the crazy, but beautiful Christmas season will be upon us.   

Sushi, Pie and Pumpkins!

I cannot believe that it's already the 25th of October.  I swear the older you get, the faster time flies by.  I can remember when I was younger, the time between Halloween and Christmas felt like a lifetime...now I feel like I have two seconds to blink.  Scary!  So, as I mentioned in my previous blog, Geoff turned 26 on October 15th.  He LOVES sushi, however I'm not a big fan...I decided to swallow my pride and go out for sushi, however I was on a mission to find some of the best sushi in Denver.  After asking around, Sushi Den came with high recommendations.  So, we went there, it's in a great part of southern downtown Denver.  I ordered shrimp and vegetable tempura (which is lightly battered and fried) and it was fantastic.  I also had Geoff order a shrimp tempura roll, which has the seaweed and rice on the outside, with some veggies, sauce and a piece of fried shrimp in the center.  It was...okay.  I think I'm just not a fan of the texture and smell of seaweed.  I can't get over it.  However, we will visit Sushi Den again, as Geoff was in LOVE.

After dinner we came home for dessert because I made a chocolate peanut butter pie.  Geoff's lovely Grandma Janis makes this amazing peanut butter pie that Geoff is willing to die for.  I have known for 8 or so years now, how much he loves this stuff.  However, for all these years I've refused to make it, because I didn't want to disappoint him and have him compare it to his Grandma's.  (We know who'd win that one)  So, when I came across the CHOCOLATE peanut butter pie (Thank you, Pioneer Woman) I knew this was it.  I could put a little flare on the classic and it be my own.  I made the crust out of Oreos...the filling is peanut butter, cool whip, powdered sugar and cream cheese.  Ha!  It's no Weight Watchers recipe, that is for sure.  I cut regular sized pieces, boy was that a mistake...it was good, however about 15 minutes later it felt like a brick was in my stomach.  It's soooo rich.  Geoff loves that, I on the other hand, should have had 1/4 of a slice.  So in addition to Sushi Den, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, will also be visited again.

Every year at my work (Rachel's Challenge), we have a pumpkin carving/decorating competition.  Last year I did a mummy...this year I knew I had to do some carving...so I found an apple core.  PER-fect I thought.  Oh man.  What a nightmare.  THREE hours later, I finished carving, painting, hammering, super gluing and praying that this would stay together.  I think it turned out cute, but note to self and note to all of you, do NOT attempt this at home.  :)  

Happy Halloween!     

Pumpkin Bread

It's official, we had to turn our heater on.  The house was getting a little too chilly for me to handle.  However, there's something about this time of year that makes me so excited to get that oven going!  I decided last weekend (I know it's a week late) that I wanted something 'pumpkin'.  So I pulled out my handy, Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book.  This thing, never lets me down.  It's rated America's #1 Cookbook Since 1930 :)  I gathered all the ingredients. 

The recipe makes 2 loaves, but I only needed one.  I wanted two...but only needed one.  Haha.  Here's all the lovely ingredients and the most reliable cook book, ever!  So after mixing everything together I got the batter in the oven and just waited for that pumpkin smell to fill my house!  Yum!

Here's the outcome...I was very please.  It's pretty dense, but I love that.  Geoff loved it too!  So we were both happy campers.  (Yes, I had zero patience getting it out of the pan so it ripped the whole bottom off of it.)  Ha!

Tomorrow's task...make chocolate peanut butter pie for Geoff's 26th Birthday!  Here we go....Have a great weekend.

Kenosha Pass



Kenosha Pass, CO

Geoff and I, LOVE Kenosha Pass.  It's only about an hours drive up Highway 285, outside of Denver.  It's been our getaway from the city for years now.  About a year after we moved here, we decided to go camping and went to Kenosha.  It was August...it was cold...the wolves (Geoff said they were coyotes) howled all night long.  So from that point, I decided Kenosha was a great place to visit during the day, but I'm not a fan staying over night. Here's the proof that we went camping in 2005.

 Ahhh...how cute!  Every time we go over Kenosha Pass we always say, 'We should stop to see our tree!' So the other day Geoff and I decided that we wanted to go see the fall foliage.  And yet again, Kenosha was our 'go-to.'  We were excited to get out of the city and see the bright yellow colors.  I was a little worried that the traffic would be terrible as a local news station, won't name names..encouraged all their viewers to visit Kenosha Pass to see the wonderful colors.  AHH!  No...don't let everyone in on our little secret. 

Traffic getting up there wasn't bad at all, so I thought for a split second that maybe there wouldn't be many people up there.  BOY..was I wrong.  The highway was lined with cars and people were walking all over the place.  I was instantly disappointed.  I couldn't even look at the colors because I couldn't see beyond the fact that there were HUNDREDS of people in our spot.  Thankfully, we took Geoff's truck, so we were able to access some of the back roads and get away from the traffic and I was back to being happy and loving Kenosha.  Of course, the first thing we had to do was...see our tree!  After that we just drove around and took in all the beautiful, bright yellow aspens and the smell of fall time in the mountains.  Enjoy! 





Look at me, I'm 5 months old now!



New Boat and New Book

Things have been busy in the McCoy household lately.  When I look back, I don't exactly know what we were busy doing, but it must have been something.  I can tell you what's been occupying Geoff's time...he's been in the market for a new boat for some time.  He had a little boat, that he's been using for some time now, but according to him, it wasn't doing what he needed.  When it comes to boats, if it floats, I'd assume that the job was being done.  Nope.  Haha.  Anyways...Geoff found a 'killer-deal' on a boat in Kansas, so this last weekend he drove to Hays, Kansas to pick up his boat.  Here it is...ta-da!

It needs a little TLC, which Geoff is more than happy to put into it...so I'll be updating you on before and after pictures.  In layman's terms...this is a 'fishing' boat, not a 'fun' boat.  (We'll see about that!) 

I can't remember if I mentioned that I'm in a book club!  It's the BEST book club known to man, the only book club I've ever been in.  Ha!  We call ourselves, LIT aka Lost in Translation.  We've read so many good books and books that I would have NEVER, ever pulled off the shelf.  We read the first two books in the Millennium Trilogy, by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who Played with Fire.  For months I've been dying to know what happened to the main character Lisbeth Salander. So last month I started reading the 3rd and final book, The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. 

I will admit the first 300 pages are really slow and a little tough to get through, but I refused to quit.  And I was glad I didn't because the last 250 pages, fly by!  If you're interested in a sick-and-twisted story, this one's for you!  It's really disturbing, but so good! 

My book club has also morphed into a Travel Club as well, and some of the ladies are getting ready to embark on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas.  I turned down the invitation because I knew Geoff and I would be traveling to Kentucky for the Kentucky Derby and we had also talked about another possible cruise...which isn't going to happen, this year:(  So, we won't have our next book club until the first of November which will be held at my house.  Interested in what I picked?  Sarah's Key, By: Tatiana de Rosnay.  I actually read this book a few months ago because it was so highly recommended by a sweet co-worker of mine, Ms. Vicki.  It is an amazing, historical and heartbreaking story.  I would also, highly recommend this one.  It's a quicker read, only 300 pages and totally worth it.  Check it out and let me know what you think! 

What Can 2.9 Million Get You?

<--- This

                                                                                 This --->

                                                                                                                                         

                                                                 ....And one of these

Hopefully I don't get arrested for posting these pictures.  Haha!  (That's a nervous giggle)  The Metro Denver Realtors Foundation has graciously chosen Rachel's Challenge as a beneficiary for one of their upcoming events.  It was originally supposed to be held at a local hotel, but things fell through with the contract...so why not have it at a multi-million dollar home that's been on the market for 2 years and OH did I mention it's Jake Plummer's former house?  Please, don't say you don't know who Jake Plummer is?  Jake "The Snake" Plummer was signed to the Denver Broncos in 2003, replacing Brian Griese (thank goodness).  He had a few 'okay' seasons for the Broncos before they traded him in 2006, and he later retired. 

As a sports geek (my Dad would be proud) I was very excited when I heard we'd be touring his home to make sure it was 'fit' for our event.  10,000 square feet later...I think it'll work.  It was a beautiful home, situation on 2.88 acres, in a lovely subdivision in the Denver Metro, 7 or 8 bedrooms, 7 or 8 bathrooms, custom kitchen (I died and went to kitchen heaven), a master suite that totals 2,200 sq. ft.  Yes, I got that right, 2,200 square feet, with a sunrise and sunset deck and infinity tub!  I would guess that about 800 of those square feet in that master were a walk-in closet.  Ahh-ma-zing!  A ginormous basement that is the ultimate 'Man Cave' with 2 bars.  A 'diving' swimming pool and a tennis court out front.  (I think I should be a realtor!)  

Needless to say, it was a beautiful home, I've never seen anything like it before.  A little 'too much' home for me.  I complain about cleaning 2 1/2 baths, I couldn't imagine having to clean 7!  However, if any of you out there are in the market for a 2.9 million dollar home, it's a steal!  

It Tastes and Smells Like Fall

The other day I received a coupon in the mail for a BOGO Free muffin from 'My Favorite Muffin.'  I've heard of this bakery before, but honestly I've chosen to stay away for the sake of my thighs.  Ha!  Today I bit the bullet and Geoff and I decided to go get a muffin for breakfast.  Yum!  It's a Colorado based bakery and I don't think there a lot of shops even throughout the Denver Metro.  But if you ever have a craving for muffins, I would highly recommend this place.

Geoff's muffin is on the left and he got Chocolate Cheesecake and mine was Pumpkin Cheesecake.  (Hello, Fall!)  Their muffins are very dense and cake like, they use soybean oil instead of butter or margarine.  Still a great flavor, for you butter lovers, like myself.  

We then decided to check out the Highlands Ranch farmers market to see if we could find anything good...ha!  We can never leave that place without getting something.  :)  Much to our surprise there was a booth that was roasting green chile!  Last year we went a few times and never saw, Mumm Farms.  We've also went the last few years without chile and my poor Mom had to sacrifice her chile stock.  (Thanks, Mom!)  So we drove home with my car smelling like a big ole' roasted chile.  Ohhh, I love that smell.  So Geoff and I spent a good portion of the afternoon peeling, bagging and freezing chile.  One bushel should get us through the year.  Have a great Sunday, time to go watch the rest of the Broncos game!  Go Broncos!     

How do you spell chile?  Or chili?

It's That Time of Year..

One of my co-workers brought some LARGE zucchini into our office for us to take.  (Thanks, Jen)  I had taken some  last year and literally didn't know what to do with it.  So this time around, I was prepared.  :)  I decided that I would make a loaf of zucchini bread.  I decided to make it on a night where the house was a little chilly, so the oven warmed up the house a little, it was great.  I love, fall!

  

Another thing that happens during this time of year is the fact that my work, Rachel's Challenge is in it's busy season, really busy season.  With that being said, I'm an occasional presenter, so whenever there is no one else to go on the road, I get to go.  Rachel's Challenge has a new 6-hour program called Chain Reaction.  Check out the video promo for it Chain Reaction!  I feel so blessed to have had (and have) the opportunity to share Rachel Scott's message, but to also interact with kids for 6 hours and really get to the root of some of the issues they are facing on a day-to-day basis.  There are times that I walk away heart-broken at the fact that students in middle school and high school literally have no hope, but I'm also inspired by the fact that just telling them that someone cares and there is hope, turns their life around!  I have a pretty cool job. 

So, on Monday I got sent to a town on the east side of San Diego called, Poway (POW-ay).  Let me start off by mentioning that as a Colorado native I forgot to take a light jacket, and lesson learned.  That ocean breeze can get a little chilly now in September.  So, I had to run to Target to get a jacket.  But here's what I saw walking out of Target!  Pretty! 

Okay, back to the event.  So, I went to a middle school called Twin Peaks, with my co-worker Cody Hodges.  Chain Reaction is done in pairs, with a female and male.  It was a great day and I feel so lucky to work both in the Rachel's Challenge office and on the road, because being on the road is a good reminder of why I love Rachel's Challenge so much. 

I met this 6th grader, named Tony.  I'll never forget him, he introduced himself to me and apologized for missing the Rachel's Challenge presentation the day before because 'his schedule has been so crazy.'  (As a middle schooler, I'm sure it is!)  Haha!  Later in the day we do what we call, 'Whole Group Share' where everyone has the opportunity to share something with the whole group.  He stood up, which took a lot of courage for him, and said that he just transferred schools because he was picked on at his old school.  One time in particular he said he was playing basketball and some kids came up to him and took his ball and then they took his favorite hat and stomped all over it.   He was getting choked up and he went on to say, 'And I neever..saw that hat again.'  Ahh...little Tony!     

Back at it...

Well...here we go.  I'm back at the blogging thing again.  Like I mentioned before I was never good at keeping journals or anything of that sort.  I always started and within a few weeks, I had forgotten about it.  I'm going to try and be more attentive and make more of an effort to give my blog a little TLC. (At least weekly) 

So...what's been going on in our lives...since Easter?  Hmm...really, not a whole lot.  Oh, we added a new member to our family.  Meet, Bella!  She's a sweet 4 month old beagle.  (She's currently laying between my legs, sleeping.  That really doesn't happen very often)



Lilly


As you might know, Geoff and I lost our first beagle, Lilly about 9 months ago due to complications during surgery.  We miss Lilly terribly and we will never forget her as she was our first dog, however we feel so blessed to have Bella in our lives.  It's been so entertaining (and exhausting) having a puppy around again.  Puppies sure do grow fast. 

Can you believe it's September already?  Where in the world did the summer go?  I can honestly say that I'm thankful for the cooler weather, we just got out of one of the hottest August's on record.  I was joking that Mother Nature must have just realized it was September because last Wednesday it was 98 degrees and a few days after that we've barely gotten into the 80's.  Tomorrow our high is suppose to be 68.  Welcome to Fall-time in Colorado.  There's nothing like sleeping with your windows open at night and waking up in the morning and it's so cold that you don't want to get out of bed.  Ha! 

You'll be hearing from me more often, I promise.  (Thanks for visiting my blog, Mom!) 

 

Christ Has Risen!



Easter bouquet fr. Geoff

Easter was a few days ago.  The past few Easter’s have been gorgeous, the weather has been pretty warm and the sun was shining.  I’ve always used Easter as a gauge for the beginning of warmer weather.  Well, that wasn’t so much the case this year.  It was very cloudy and raining off and on.  I’m not complaining about the rain, I’m just saying it’s hard to use that as my ‘warm-weather barometer’ when it wasn’t actually warm.  

With that being said, Geoff and I had a wonderful Easter.  We went to church at 9:15am and it was a beautiful service.  After that we didn’t do anything.  Ha!  I made a late lunch/early dinner and we sat in front of the TV for the rest of the day.  I wanted to share my Mom’s famous Deviled Egg recipe with you as well as showing you what we had for dinner. Enjoy. 



Easter Dinner 2011 - Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Twice-Baked Potatoes & Asparagus



Mama Gallero's Deviled Eggs

Boil your eggs.  To boils eggs start them off in cold water.  Once they start to rapidly boil, let them cook for an additional 15 mintues.  (That's a note for myself...I ALWAYS call my Mom asking her how to boil eggs!)  Then cut them in half.

Then get all your ingredients.  Garlic Salt, Mustard, Miracle Whip, Salt, Pepper & Relish. 





Next, you're going to combine all these ingredients.  Start everything on the lesser side...then you can add to taste later.  I use about a spoon full of everything at the beginning...less mustard.  Salt, pepper and garlic to taste.



Then...whip them up!  Make sure to taste test (or quality control as my Dad calls it)...you might need to add more relish or salt.

Wha-la!  Then fill those eggs back up, we use cayenne pepper to top them off...paprika works too!  Enjoy.  (Thanks Mom)  

Going to the Big D…as in Dallas!

I’m already slacking on my blog postings…uh.oh…hopefully that’s not a sign of what’s to come!  So last week I spent almost 5 days in Dallas, Texas doing some marketing for our upcoming conference in Dallas this June.  My co-worker Sarah and I were determined to make this fun and we’re both foodies so we took advantage of the selection!  Let me tell you, they don’t joke when they say everything is bigger in Texas.  I have never seen so many restaurants in my life in a one mile stretch.  I told her I had two things on my list, Tex-Mex and BBQ.  We checked them off the list and I was pleased.  We visited a place called Abuelo’s (Grandpa) for Tex-Mex where I enjoyed a cheese and carnita enchilada. You can’t ever go wrong with enchilada’s that’s for sure.  Then on our last night we visited Spring Creek BBQ and I was a very happy camper.  I had BBQ chicken and it literally fell off the bone…that’s unheard of people!  I have a picture to show it’s beauty…if that doesn’t make your mouth water a little, I don’t know what will.  Ha! 

Another co-worker of mine, Lindsey grew up in Waco, TX which is a little south of Dallas so she made sure to give us all the hot-spots!  As I’ve gotten to know Lindsey she’s always talked about brick houses and how she was so disappointed when she moved to Colorado because we just don’t have brick houses here.  I never understood her desire for a brick home because I’ve never seen a brick home and been in love with it.  Well…my mind was changed in Texas.  That’s all they have there is brick and stone homes and they are gorgeous!  I’m sure I looked like a creeper taking pictures of houses, but I just couldn’t resist.  During our trip I even texted Lindsey and said, ‘Now I know why you’re in love with brick homes!’   It’s my understanding that brick and stone tend to be a little cheaper down there and they can also withstand more of the elements.  Wind, heat, humidity!  So, check out these houses or castles…I’m not sure what they are.  J 

I enjoyed Dallas, it’s a beautiful city, it was so green and everything was nearly in full bloom when we were there, but I was glad to come home to good ole’ Cola-rada!  (Colorado)

Oh…and check out this road sign I saw, I had to take a picture of it too!  McCoy Ct.

Toast, please!

In my first blog post I told you about all my interests and how Geoff had no interest in any of them.  However, there is one thing that we both really enjoy and that’s going to the theatre to watch movies.  If we could resist the temptation for a large soda and popcorn full of salt and butter, we’d probably go even more often, however paying more for the popcorn and drinks than the movie itself is a little ridiculous.  Okay…so besides the price, we really enjoy the movies.  We usually take turns as to what we want to watch going from a comedy, to action to a chick-flick.  (I refuse to watch scary movies)  Last night we decided to watch Lincoln Lawyer with Matthew McConaughey (nuff’ said).  We’d highly recommend it.  It starts a little slow, but once you’re through the first 20 minutes it’s all action packed from there!  Probably one of the best movies we’ve seen in 2011!  Go see it!

So another thing Geoff loves is breakfast, but not just cereal (which I’m fine with) he likes a hearty breakfast.  We decided to go out for breakfast this morning, but we wanted to try something different, not the same ole breakfast chain restaurants.  So we tried a place in Downtown Littleton called Toast.  (Thanks for the recommendation, Lindsey!) 

Hallelujah!  It was aahhhmazing.  They have a killer breakfast menu like ‘Nutella Stuffed French Toast’ and ‘Carrot Cake Pancakes.’  Those are just a few of the items that jumped off the menu.  Just because I love you, I’m posting pictures of our breakfast.  Yum!

I had hot chocolate and Peach Cobbler Pancakes.  

Geoff had Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict.   

It’s a beautiful day in Denver today, hope it’s the same where you are.