Voting Day! 2012

Well, I surely neglected my blog again….for almost a year! It’s all about recording memories for me. Life is busy, and time passes too fast.

Today was voting day. Max always goes with one us- to teach him about participating in our democracy early.

(See Max’s 2008 election particpation here).

I am particularly grateful today, to be a woman, living in America, in the 21st century. Although not directly related to voting, having seen Argo this weekend….that movie is very thought-provoking. Go see it if you can! You’ll have more love for Canada afterwards as well! 😉

Month of gratitude: days twenty one – thirty

Post orginally written December 26, 2011:

I still had lots of things in mind that I was grateful for. I even had my final post started…..then the holidays came. 🙂

Christmas time: The most wonderful time of the year. I love the memories of holidays past, from childhood memories, to Chris and I and our first few Christmases, and all of Max’s 8 Christmases. I love the sights of decorations everywhere, the smells, including real trees, peppermint and baking.

Disneyland:
I have so many wonderful memories here. As child, teenager/young adult, taking Katelyn as her nanny, bringing Chris, bringing Max, with my parents as all adults. Disney is simply magic to me. I’m so excited to go in a couple of weeks!!

Carpinteria:
My step-dad’s parents made this a regular vacation spot, and 4 years ago, it became a regular spot for us. We’ve been 3 times, stay on the beach for at least a week, and walk into town daily. It’s a marvelous vacation spot.

Amazing friends, both old and new:
Reminds me of my girl scout song from when I was a kid:
“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”

Camping:
Thank goodness I grew up with a love of it, and now have a family who loves it to. Some of my very best memories, are in the wilderness of some sort- camping.

Target:
Since Costo was on my list, Target needs to be as well. Max asked me the other day what I liked better- Target or Costco? I did have to answer Costco, seeing as I do more shopping there. Target comes in second for sure though. 🙂

My pets- Lucy the cat, and Buddy the dog:
Sometimes, it’s love-hate, but ultimately, I love them to bits.

Chris:
Just the man for me. Sure, we have our disagreements and daily life sometimes gets in the way of romance, but we are one old married couple (in a good way) that depends on one another and trusts each other fully. Plus, he hangs up Christmas lights in our room and puts them on a timer- because he knows I love it.

Max:
How did I get so lucky to have such a great kid?! He is incredibly smart, adorable, so kind and loving. It is no easy feat being a parent, as any parent already knows, but he is my everything.

My family:
I have a wonderful, down to earth, family, which includes great inlaws and step family. I am lucky.

Month of gratitude: days twelve – twenty

The fact that Max enjoys playing soccer. He’s committed, never says he doesn’t want to go to practice and has an all around good time.

He’s also lucky to have a coach who is willing to volunteer his time for months at a time, 3 days a week to make these boys better players, and enjoy the sport. Thanks Naveed!

Max’s school. The school is new, and didn’t exist when we bought our home here back in 2005, and I feel lucky each day he goes to such an amazing school. Eagle not only teaches him at an exceptional level academically, but also emphasizes character, and even finds time to make sure he gets PE or music, every day. It also doesn’t hurt that it sits at the base of South Mountain, and I find myself appreciating the view every morning.

Costco. Seriously, what would I do if I couldn’t do the bulk of my shopping at Costco?? I just spent my yearly reward on Saturday….so fun!

Lux Coffee on Central. One of our favorite places to go. Absolutely perfect coffee. I buy almost all my coffee beans there too as they roast in-house. If you live in the Phoenix area, it’s a must.

My neighbors. We don’t get together nearly enough (but will soon….see you Saturday Lindsay)! However, having such a wonderful family next door, especially as Max grows up is something to be so grateful for.

Living where we do. It’s a relatively small community, that was actually slated to grow more (except the housing market tanked). So although it’s not the city we thought it would be, we have met some wonderful families, we run into people all the time around town, and we see the South Mountains every where we go. It’s a lovely blend of rural and urban, with Phoenix being in view in the distance.

The town of Telluride. Simply one of my favorite places on earth, and I’m so glad I discovered it.

Clementines. We eat them non-stop this time of year. I love them.

Month of gratitude: days nine, ten and eleven

Living in America (especially since I’m a woman).

 

 

 

 

 

Being a woman (in America).

(Have you read Half the Sky?)

Our veterans.

 

7 days of fall baking: day five

Maple wheat scones.

I made these last Thursday night.

These were pretty good. Especially warm with the world’s best jelly. (If you don’t already buy Costco’s organic strawberry jelly, you are missing the jelly boat.) These would not be too tasty without the warmth or the jelly I don’t think. Then again, why would anyone want a cold wheat scone, without jelly. That wouldn’t be proper scone eating.

If you make them, I suggest you up the maple syrup a bit and cut the whole wheat pastry flour with half all-purpose flour.

Next time I make scones, I’ll try Heidi’s other scone recipe. It looks quite tasty as well.

Month of Gratitude: days six, seven and eight

Parenthood, as in the TV show.

I haven’t loved a show like this ever. I think it’s the best show on TV. Although it makes me cry like a baby every week.

One of my favorite clips here.
Everyone needs a Zeek Braverman. “You do not have my permission to mess with my dreams.”

Fall weather.
Especially late fall in Arizona.
We are finally seeing cooler temps, (albeit below average temps), especially, cool mornings.

Arizona fall sunrise.

Apple cider.

I LOVE drinking fresh apple juice and warm cider this time of year. It just makes me happy and feel good.

P.S. I’m still doing my 7 days of fall baking. Next recipe posting coming soon. 🙂

Month of Gratitude: days four and five

Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake.

Especially Jimmy Fallon.

My generation wouldn’t be complete without these two. 🙂

Month of Gratitude: days two and three

Coffee and Bagels

Coffee: Basically I don’t know how people who don’t drink it do it. I love it. I have loved the smell long before I loved the taste. The smell of brewing coffee always reminded me of my Grandma and Papa and Aunt Gretchen as there was ALWAYS a pot on at their house. When I first moved out on my own, I didn’t really drink coffee, but would often brew it to smell it and feel the comfort. I go to bed thinking about my morning coffee. Drug you say? Fine by me. 😉

Bagels: I don’t eat them that often, but this is the season of delicious flavors. Pumpkin at Einsteins. (I also really love the Pumpkin Cream Cheese from Trader Joes.) I actually brought Panera bagels on the plane home with me last night since there is no Panera in AZ. They didn’t have their Gingerbread ones yet (November 15th, fyi) so I got Cherry Vanilla and Cinnamon Crunch. Delicious!

Month of Gratitude – day one

My job.

I am currently in Dallas working. Finding the resilience to be able to work full-time, including travel while also having a family is not easy. But I have a great job that I have been at for almost 10 years that I am very grateful for.

7 days of fall baking: day four

Tonight, Halloween Eve, we are carving our pumpkin, roasting pumpkin seeds and I made:
Pumpkin Bread.

This recipe had great reviews. I didn’t make any major additions for this first time around. I upped the spices a bit, and added in a smidge of allspice as well. For the oil, I didn’t have vegetable oil (soybean) so I did grapeseed and coconut.

It would be good with walnuts on top for sure.

It’s pretty easy to make. My pans were a bit smaller than the 7×3 it called for, and it made 5 small loaves. I’ll make bigger ones next time….less pans to clean.

I had to get a can opener out the of the camping supplies in the garage to get my pumpkin open since my can opener stopped working. That was the biggest pain….other than that, easy, delicious pumpkin bread!