Happy Halloween!!!!

My little ladybug :)

Ladybug meets Squirrel

Oreo as a squirel, quite PISSED that we put him in this!!

And Kona the ladybug!!!

Fun in the snow!

Ryan and I went out and played in all of this lovely snow that we've gotten so far during this storm...there's probably at least a foot out there!!

Ryan making a fresh track down a set of steep stairs

Jumping off big ledges

Snow ANGELS!!!

Ryan hitting his rail {you can hardly see it cause it's white}

SNOW MUCH FUN!!!

16 INCHES?!!

PERFECT Wednesday, today couldn't be a better day off! Between this morning and tomorrow evening we're expected to get 16 inches of snow!!! We already have a thick layer on the ground, maybe 4-6 inches. When I took Lexi out this morning she had difficultly unloading...she just sank into the snow! As I sit inside enjoying the view outside I have spent my day warm working on some knitting project for Christmas gifts. In store is still a trip to the gym, church {oops, just found out it's canceled due to the weather}, and hopefully playing in the snow!!

Snowflakes

Thought I'd drop a little hello. Happy Tuesday! I've been busy being crafty as I work on some Christmas presents, spending time with Ryan, falling into Jodi Picoult's amazing books, and getting back to the gym. Had a wonderful and MUCH needed workout last night ~ hope to get there again tonight. Denver is supposed to get pounded with cold air and SNOW tomorrow....I could go for a cozy snow day :)

Gratitude Friday

It's been a while since I've done my 'Gratitude Friday' post ~ I guess being in Maui distracted me a little bit. So I'm going to try and attempt to cover the last three Fridays in one post today. (Note: 3 Fridays ago I was on a plane flying to Maui, last Friday IN Maui, this Friday in Denver):

• Safe travels to and from Maui for me AND my family
• My health that I was able to keep through my flights (with people hacking their lungs up around me) and while I was on vacation....guess I should thank all the Airborne I took
  
• Waking up my first morning in Maui and EVERY morning to the most gorgeous view
• Wonderful bubble baths in a big bath tub
• Swimming with the fishies
• Pool time, beach time, hot tub time
• A nice golden tan
• Warm sunshine
• Being nearly responsible free...the hardest decision I had to make was whether to lay by the waves or the pool :)
• Dinner around the table with my family
• Fresh coffee in bed every morning, just the way I like it {thanks Dad!!}
• Great inexpensive pearls (and harvesting my own!)
• Humidity that kept my skin moisturized and my cuticles/nails nice (guess that's a big thing to be thankful for when you live in a very dry place) {and there probably aren't very many people who are usually thankful for humidity in the heat}
• Being with my family
• Coming home to a clean house
• Meals on the table the minute I walk in the door from work
• Huge hugs and smiles from the kids I watch
• Creative inspirations
• Sushi with Ryan
• Worship service
• Finding the softest yarn {I think I'm starting to sound like an old lady...Ryan laughed at me the other day as I was knitting in the recliner ~ said I looked like a grandma in a rocker :)}
• Snow falling, forcing me to bring out my cozy cloths ~ boots, warm jacket, scarf
• Sunny skies

Well I think that's a fair amount of things to be thankful for....but it's true the list could go on and on!!!

Hump Day

Getting back into the swing of things since being home from Maui has been somewhat rough. From what I have learned through myself and talking to others ~ coming home from paradise leaves you having 'Maui withdrawals'. It's weird, I've never really felt this way after coming home from a vacation. It's sort of a feeling of sadness and loneliness. Anyways, I think I'm out of it by now...and today was a great day. It was a short day at work (which is always fun) and then Ryan and I went to church tonight and then out for 'endless sushi' ~ always a wonderful thing! We had been wanting to head out for sushi for our birthdays (which were back in September) but never got around to it....tonight we did, his treat :) Hope YOU had a good day!

Mahalo Maui!

My wonderful vacation has come to an end :( and now I'm back in Denver. The weather was just beautiful today to fly in to and I came home to a very clean house (thanks Ryan!!). So all is well here in Denver but I'm still a little sad to not be on the beach anymore. Here are some of the highlights from my time in paradise....

The most stunning sunsets!

Wonderful dinners with my family

Endless warm beaches

All the Maui Gold Pineapple you could want!

Yummy, yummy wine!

Gorgeous flowers!

Spectacular sites to see!

More amazing sunsets!!

Swimming with the fishies

Beach time every day

Golden tans

Ooooh Maui how I wish you were just a jump away. Can't wait until we meet again!! Thanks Mom and Dad for an amazing trip!!

Just in case you were wondering....

My journey to Maui is complete and I'm now sitting here on our lanai watching the ocean. HEAVEN. Wish you all were here to enjoy it with me!! :)

All packed and ready to go!!!

Waiting in LA on a layover, keeping myself busy by watching shows. Met a sweet sweet girl doing her residency in LA but went to UW....turned out we had a lot in common. Small world!

Two semi-short flights, sitting near a screaming child on each flight and one that kicked the back of my seat the entire time. One loong flight over the ocean. Got to watch a red sunset over the ocean from the airplane window. Too excited to sleep.

Landed in Maui, was hit by a brick with humidity. Took a bath in this amazing jet tub (that's a shot from the bedroom looking through the window into to the incredible bathroom)!

Woke up to this slice of Heaven from our balcony. INCREDIBLE!!!

More to come later....hope YOU are enjoying your Saturday!!

ALOHA!!!!

Maui here I come baby!! My bags are packed and I couldn't be more ready for a family vacation! So funny how we go through a phase in life where we couldn't be caught dead with our families and then......we wouldn't pass up a trip with family (especially if it's on them :))! I can't wait to spend quality time with my parents and my aunt ~ and what better place to do it than on the beach under the sun? Oh and I finished my beach bag I've been working on.... I couldn't get a real good picture of it, but I still like it :)

Recipe Time!!!

Penne with Grilled Salmon, Asparagus and Lemon Butter

Mmm this recipe is SO delicious and easy to make too. I got it from Tracy, the lady I work for. Ryan and I love this meal ~ and since we got such great deals on seafood last week I just had to make it last night. I wish I would have taken a picture but I forgot.

2 salmon steaks (about 8 oz each)

1 teaspoon soy sauce

8 oz asparagus, trimmed and cut into pieces the same length as the penne

8 oz penne

6 tablespoons butter (I use maragarine)

1 garlic clove

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

1. Brush salmon steaks lightly on both sides with the soy.  Grill or broil until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes a side for a steak 1/2 inch thick. Cool slightly; remove and discard outside skin and any bones. Pull salmon into large flakes.

2. Cook pasta in plenty of boiling salted water until al dente, or firm to bite. Drain 

3. Meanwhile, steam the asparagus. Cover to keep warm and set aside.

4. Melt the butter in the pasta cooking pot; add the garlic and saute 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice and zest. Toss the pasta, asparagus, and melted butter until pasta is coated. Add the salmon and gently toss.

Enjoy!!

 

Where's my magic wand?

I wish I knew how to knit. Not just knit, but knit well. But the thing is....I don't want to have to go through the process of learning. I just wish I already knew how. I went through a phase where I was working on some scarves....but then I got frustrated because I didn't know what I was doing. But how great would it be to be able to make sweaters like these?! Mmm they're just so warm and yummy.

Gratitude Friday

I recently saw on one of the blogs that I follow the idea for a gratitude day, done once a week. I think it's a great way to sit back and slow things down a bit ~ to actually take the time to think about what we are thankful for in our lives. So here is what I'm thankful for right now, this week:

• Ryan. Besides my own dad he is probably the most patient man I have ever met....I have issues with patience at times so this is something that I continually see and admire in him. He's funny ~ constantly making me laugh ~ we have a blast together. He's pretty close to a genius ~ there's not much he doesn't already know or have the capability to learn about. In addition to brains he also has the skill to fix, construct, or 'design' anything. I think it's the engineer in him...even when I have problems with my sewing projects (or anything) I just have to turn to him and he's got it all figured out. He is very selfless, always putting others before him. He is thrifty. He is AMAZING with children. I knew this before, but this week he has spent extra time with the kids I watch and I (as I am currently doing a 3 day stretch with them) and I have seen a side that hasn't yet been able to shine through. It's so marvelous to watch him interact with these 2 kiddos that I have come to love so much. He is kind and caring with them, going out of his way to make sure they are having a blast. He continually comes up with new ideas or things we can do that they might enjoy. He laughs with them. He plays with them. He looks at them and I can see the love in his eyes ~ because he has come to know these kids through me over the last year and a half. And in addition to all that he helps me with them. He just picks right up with them as if he has been watching them as long as I have and helps me be a good person for them and a rock in their lives. He helps me to discipline them or 'reward' them. And he helps me to give them a good life. He's great, I love him. :)
• The changing colors of fall ~ providing such beauty
• Chilly mornings and warm afternoons ~ in the same day
• The Colbie Caillat concert I am going to tomorrow night. I love her music and am very excited to get to see her and see friends I haven't seen in a while
• My family. AND the fact that a week from right now I will be in Maui with my family.
• Comfy beds with fluffy pillows and a down comforter
• Soft, cozy slippers. I've been wearing mine a lot recently due to the weather change and I just love them. The girl I watch was wearing mine around tonight and found them to be just heavenly....requesting a pair. So now I am on a hunt to find her the perfect pair, because I believe everyone should have a great pair of slippers.
• Great sewing projects.
• Old friends like Megan. Got to chat with her this week after way too long of not catching up and it was wonderful. I love how we can go for months without having a good conversation and then pick up exactly where we left off. I miss her.
• Being domestic.
• My health and the health of the ones I love.
• Season premieres of my favorite TV shows.
• Heading to Albertson's (one we don't ever go to but it was near where we were when we were out and about) to pick up a great deal on meat ONLY to find the store was closing so the ENTIRE store was 50% OFF!!!! Can you believe that?!!! We got $116 worth of groceries for only $58!!!! INCLUDING about 10 meals of yummy seafood....doesn't get much better than that!!!!