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!)