Photographs and Memories

Food Blog: Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

2012-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

If you like sweets, chocolate, easy recipes and well... are not counting calories, then you MUST try these cookies. Mr. C and I have been devouring all 2.25 dozen this week and have not been sharing. They are to die for!

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies
adapted from recipe by Paula Deen

Ingredients
Confectioner’s sugar, for dusting
1 (18 ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 stick of butter, room temperature
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg and then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Stir in the chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours (optional*) to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner’s sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and gooey. Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

*I did not have to chill my dough, but I have a feeling that has a lot to do with our cooler winter temps right now.

Baby Update!

2012-01-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

I suppose it's about time for an update on this sweet little melon growing inside my belly. Over the holiday season we got the great joy of not only finding out whether we are blessed with a son or daughter, we got the joy of sharing that news with family during the Christmas season. Talk about a double blessing!

It was a super special moment for Mr. C and I to see our little one on an ultrasound again, looking so much more human-like instead of blob like :), moving like a little wiggler, and to get a very definitive answer as to what we'd be welcoming this May.

The news was revealed to both families with a picture frame, painted accordingly (pink or blue) and containing the latest sonogram photo of our little one. Unfortunately, do to the excitement to share, I didn't get photos of the reveal to Mr. C's parents, but did get some pics of the reveal to my mom. It's pretty fun to see it all unfold!

And, if you're a really good lip reader... you might be able to see the "B" forming on her lips in photo 3. Yes, that's right friends, come May we will be welcoming a sweet little BOY!!! We could not be happier and more excited!

I had heard of mother's intuition and wondered how truly strong it was, because all along, I've felt like it was a boy. Two or three friends and family agreed with me, BUT shockingly, most people around us were pretty determined that it was a little girl. I couldn't figure out why and couldn't wait to find out for sure. I still in my heart (and belly) felt - BOY BOY BOY! And, when the ultrasound technician said, "Well, it looks like you're having a little boy", I shouted "I knew it!".

Mr. C and I are completed thrilled to welcome and raise a son. We hope he will be a young man and eventually a grown man, with integrity, courage, generosity, compassion, strength and so much more. And you have our promise, we are going to do our best to raise him so. A son! Gosh, there are just no sweeter words to us right now.

Christmas Part 2

2011-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

Just when we started packing away the garland and wreaths, it was time to get right back into the Christmas spirit ahead over for Christmas part 2 (on New Years Eve), with my family. Again, like most holiday celebrations and family gatherings in general, we indulged in a lot of food, fun, laughter and good times. It was nice to take a moment to savor Christmas once more and spend some time with family before heading back to work and the real world, and before welcoming 2012!

Christmas with the C's

2011-12-27T15:41:00.000-08:00

It's so hard to believe that Christmas is not only upon us but quickly coming to an end. We feel like it never really felt like Christmas. Maybe it's the busyness of life, or the strangely mild winter weather, or the fact that Christmas was on a weekend this year. In either way, we did have a wonderful time hosting family this year in our home, for Christmas. There is something really special, and really comfortable about being "home for Christmas".

We welcomed Ryan's parents on Christmas evening and after sharing the joyous news of the announcement of the gender of Baby C (to come, in a future post), we sat down for really wonderful dinner together. What a feast! It was fun to break away from our own family traditions and try and start some new ones... hence our meal of slow roasted and grilled beef ribs instead of the traditional ham, turkey or tri tip. It was delicious. With our bellies sufficiently full, we decided to sit down for the marathon of opening gifts. What good times and laughs we shared!!! It seems like every year something happens that has us laughing until our sides hurt. This year definitely didn't disappoint.

The rest of our times together were spent indulging in wonderful food and conversation, resting and relaxing and watching movies together. I love the level of comfort and fun that we have together. It was truly a pretty relaxing Christmas and what more can you ask for? As always, it was hard to say goodbye but we will treasure this sweet first Christmas in our home.

The sounds of Christmas

2011-12-20T14:45:00.001-08:00

Last night the hubs and I got the very fun privilege of attending a special Christmas concert at Northpointe Community Church in Fresno. The Christmas Together 2011 tour is almost wrapping up, but if I could highly recommend penciling in something for next year, it would be this. This dose of Christmas cheer is just what I needed as I, quite frankly, have had a very hard time getting in the Christmas spirit this year. In fact, it pains me to share that I’ve been changing the radio station every time a Christmas song comes on. I know, it’s terrible. I wasn’t sure how a show composed of almost entirely Christmas music would bode with me.

I’m happy to report that I loved every minute. In fact, I have a suspicion that baby loved it too because I was getting A LOT of kicking and thumps during the show. Mr. C and I are crossing our fingers that this means our little one will be a lover of music or perhaps a musician someday. :)

Of course, our love of the event had to do with the fact that we personally knew half of the musicians performing. We had so many dear and talented friends. It was SO fun to get to see them and catch up in person. Unfortunately a year or more can pass before we get to see each other. There was a lot to catch up on this time and it kept us out late. But it was worth it. Too bad we only got a chance to snap a few pics with our friends. Until next time, we highly recommend picking up their special Christmas album.

Christmas with the gals

2011-12-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, when the ladies of Grace (our church) dress in cheery Christmas sweaters, escape from family, work and piles of laundry and indulge in the food, fun and friends at our annual Christmas dinner. It's always a good time with great food, this year catered by a family in the church and an endless buffet of desserts. You've never seen so many cakes! And unfortunately, you don't get to because I couldn't even snap a photo before the women were devouring the dessert table. We sure like our sugar, don't we?! :) The speaker was also great - sharing a great story about all the special "gifts" of Christmas and what she has learned with each and every one. I was laughing and crying at the same time.

This year the switch was made from games into doing a craft. We all got to make this cool magnetic bracelets. Much better than silly games, we thought.

This year was even more special than the past few because we gathered our family together - my mom, my self and my sis in law. It was a treat to get to share this sweet Christmas memory with my family and my dear friend Dana (who didn't make it into any photos - sorry Dana!). It was just what I needed to start to get into the Christmas spirit. With so much on my mind and a little one growing in my belly, it's been hard for me to slow down and take in the joy of Christmas. Here's to hoping the next few weeks ignite my usual excitement and love of the holiday season.

The most wonderful time of the year...

2011-12-05T16:50:00.000-08:00

... is almost upon us! I'd be a fool not to acknowledge how special this Christmas is to us this year. It's the first Christmas we are celebrating in our home. It's the first time we are hosting family for the holidays. I'll be halfway through this pregnancy and will find out the gender of our sweet little baby. It's all so joyous that I can barely wrap my mind around it.

Pregnancy how slowed me down quite a bit, so getting the house and tree decorated in a timely manner has been challenging. Grand plans have been scaled down to realistic achievements and Mr. C has been the most helpful helper I could imagine. We thought it might be nice to give you a peek at our house during the holidays.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Feline Surprise

2011-12-04T19:39:00.000-08:00

As we get settled into our daily and weekly routines, I forget what tricks my hubbs has up his sleeves. When I least expect it, he surprises me. This past weekend, he did it again, with a little road trip to a destination I mentioned wanting to visit months, maybe even years ago. Though that was not our original plan for the weekend... after all, with Christmas a month away, we need to get a tree, decorate around the house, hang the Christmas lights and get our Christmas cards out. But, Mr. C often knows best and said that all of that stuff could wait. He got a rare Saturday off from work and it was time for fun and quality time. Was he ever right!

After a confusing journey up into the mountain, I began to wonder where we were headed. Told to wear a jacket, but no other tips, I knew we couldn't be headed too far. Then we arrived, at the Cat Haven in Dunlap. A place I've been driving by for years and have so badly wanted to see!

The Cat Haven is a very cool place! I'm so glad we had the time to make the trip out together. We got a great tour from one of the caretakers and I suspect it was more thorough than their general tours because it's sort of "off season" and because there were only four of us in the tour group. They have so many amazing and beautiful cats. It was exciting to come up to each new exhibit not knowing what to expect. Though I'm not much of a fan of domestic cats, there is just something majestic and amazing about wild cats.

This handsome cheetah is semi-famous and has been on lots of television appearances and commercials. In fact, keep your eyes open during the Superbowl because this kitty is going to be in a new commercial. It was super top secret but we can't wait to see it!

It was SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

This cute Lynx was Mr. C's favorite cat of the day.

This cat had the most piercing yellow-green eyes!

This breathtaking giant was my favorite of the day. It's a Barbary Lion and they are now considered EXTINCT in the wild. It was incredible, huge and so intimidating looking.

30 Days of Thankful

2011-11-30T16:45:00.000-08:00

This little exercise of gratefulness has been going around the world of Facebook this month in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. I've taken a bit of a break from time spent on Facebook but liked the gesture of practicing thankfulness every day this month. Below are all of the wonderful blessings that I'm thankful for. What a great month it has been meditating upon and spending time in thanks for all of these things. All I can say is, God is so good!

1. I am thankful for my amazing loving husband. We are celebrating 3 wonderful years of marriage today. I’ve never loved or needed anyone more. He brings me laughter and smiles when I am feeling sorrow. He brings me joy and contentment when I’m feeling “not good enough”. He brings me peace and security when I’m feeling anxious. He gives me strength and protection when I’m feeling weak. He is, by far, the love of my life.

2. I am incredibly thankful for our warm, sweet, beautiful home and a place to lay my weary body at the end of the day. I never feel more safe, content and at peace than I am at home. I acknowledge every day what a blessing it is and how lucky we are to have such a truly amazing place to call our own.

3. I am thankful for PAYDAY and for having a job that helps us live the lifestyle that we do. I’m thankful to have been employed for so many years of my life when so many go without a job and need one desperately.

4. I’m thankful for my fun dog who has brought so much joy and good times to our lives the past few years. I firmly believe that he has helped us prepare for parenthood. He makes us laugh, keeps us active and challenges us every day.

5. I’m thankful for sweet date nights with my hubby, however simple and unplanned they are, since they are few and far between. We always have fun, whether it’s a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant or just heading to Costco together. I love spending time with him and just being ourselves.

6. I am thankful to belong to a wonderful church where I feel at home, can worship freely, can serve and am surrounding by loving, supportive people.

7. I am thankful for a fridge full of groceries and a pantry full of recipes because it means that we’ve never gone hungry and likely won’t for a long time, if ever. I’m thankful that every day, not only are my needs met, but so many of my wants too.

8. I’m thankful for the cooler winter weather that has arrived bringing cool breezes, cleaner air, early morning fog, and chilly nights snuggled underneath a blanket.

9. I’m thankful for the gift of hearing the beautiful sounds of my baby’s heartbeat and little kicks at 13 weeks. It’s the most beautiful sound in the entire world.

10. I am thankful for quiet evenings and the time of the day that the hubby and I get to walk Jackson and talk about our days. It’s one of my favorite times of the day.

11. I am thankful for all the wonderful men and women who serve this country in our military… for their dedication, their great sacrifice, for their courage and for their honor. This country of ours would be a different place without them and I am so incredibly grateful for them and what they do for us every day.

11. I am thankful for family. Though ours is far from perfect, it’s filled with love, compassion, hospitality, warmth and fun. I embarrass at the thought that it’s taken me 25+ years to truly appreciate my parents and all that they did for my brother and I, from staying married all these years, to providing a loving, safe home, to making sure all of our needs and most of our wants were fulfilled. I know it was not done without great sacrifice and dedication on their part.

12. Sometimes it’s the simple things… I’m thankful for a warm shower and an early bedtime when it’s been a tough day.

14. I’m thankful for friendships and for the few women in my life that I love and trust and who treat me with respect and who encourage me. They give me hope and open up my heart to greater things than I thought possible.

15. I’m thankful for deep and heartfelt conversations with a friend that you truly trust and who you know has your best interest at heart.

16. I’m thankful for Puffs Plus tissues with lotion when I have the sniffles. :)

17. I thankful for the opportunities and talents that God has given me to pursue my passions and hobbies. There is something so great about that moment when you realize you’re doing something you really love. God’s given me a lot of interests and the time and ability to pursue them.

18. I am thankful for this fertile rich valley that we live in that provides us (and most of the country) with delicious, nutritious food from the orchards, vineyards, animals and ground. It’s got to be the best produce in the world!

19. I’m thankful for the joy of getting ready for the holidays in our home. Taking our Christmas picture, thinking about decorating, planning recipes and picturing what our first Christmas celebrated at home will be like.

20. I’m thankful for restful, peaceful, rainy days, where the only thing you need to do is relax and listen to the drops fall on the windows and roof. It’s incredibly calming.

21. I’m thankful for knowledgeable and kind nurses, doctors and other professionals that are guiding me through this pregnancy. I feel very supported and looked after. It’s a great and calming security.

22. I’m thankful for my parents and their love and support. In spending time with them this evening I realize that their home will always feel like home to me. I love being around them, sharing stories and laughs and just being ourselves.

23. I’m thankful for the treat of getting off early and an afternoon of doing whatever I feel like doing. I’m so excited for this long holiday weekend.

24. I’m thankful, through circumstances not under our control and not planned, that we got to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. Though we’ve loved our solo Thanksgivings the last couple of years, this one was really sweet and fun.

25. I’m extremely thankful, though challenging, that growing a baby has forced me to slow down. Not only to relax but just to SLOW DOWN when doing everyday tasks that I used to rush and stress through. I’m learning to listen to my body and its cues and it’s a very good thing for me.

26. I’m thankful for the approaching holidays and time to celebrate with family. I’m thankful that we have a lot to celebrate and pray that I focus on the right things this year.

27. I’m thankful for these past 4 days off of rest and any sort of routine. They have been restful, peaceful and enjoyable. Just what our souls needed!

28. I’m thankful for the people that rally beside me and support when I’m having a tough time – whether they are friends, co-workers, my amazing husband or family… they bless me.

29. I’m thankful for the joy and passion I get for baking and for the wonderful fall flavors that we get to savor and smell… cinnamon, warm apples, pumpkin, peppermint, eggnog… ultimate comfort food.

30. I’m thankful for my energy coming back this trimester and being able to have the “spunk” again to run around and check items off my To Do list!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

My Thanksgiving treat... flowers (that I bought for myself).
I may make it an annual tradition!

We can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is upon us, let alone the holiday season! There is so much to be thankful for this year... the list abounds. With family dynamics changing every day we found ourselves seemingly alone for the holiday again, but we were okay with the thought, knowing most likely that this will be the last "quiet" Thanksgiving, with a baby on the way.

We were all set to plan on a quiet day and a dinner out when we got the last-minute news that my parents were not travelling and would be in town. Though always thankful for time alone, we were so excited to get to spend the holiday with family. And, instead of stressing out over preparing a last minute feast, we opted to all go out to dinner together. What a great decision that was! No planning, no prepping, no all-day-in-a-hot-kitchen, and best of all, no clean up!

It was a beautiful day, despite the forecast of rain, so we had a ton of fun taking our annual photo in the fall leaves. This year we didn't have to travel far to find gorgeous leaves... they are all around Visalia this year and even better, they were just steps from our house in the neighboring walnut orchard. For your enjoyment, here are our favorites.

We capped off the evening by heading to the movies together. What fun it was to go out on a whim and enjoy a movie for the holidays. It's just the kind of laid back celebration that we love. The movie was fun and it was great to get out and about with family.

I'll say it again... we have SO MUCH to be thankful for.

3 Years of Wedded Bliss!

2011-11-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

Though I can hardly believe it, today Mr. C and I celebrated three wonderful years of marriage. 3 years! How did that time go by so quickly? I love him more and more and just can't imagine what life would be like without him.

This year was such a special year to us... settling into our wonderful home and making some great plans for the future. It's even more amazing to think about the fact that next year, there will be 3 of us! Mr. C is such an amazing husband that I just know he's going to be an incredible father. I can't wait to see him and our little one together.

We celebrated this joyous day with a special dinner out at Jack and Charlie's... a very cool and uknown restaurant downtown. It was incredible! I've been once before but I forgot how amazing the food was. By far, one of the best meals I've had in a long long time, possibly best ever or at least in the top 5.

We are so looking forward to many more years together and many special celebrations. We know life will be changing forever in about 7 months but we are looking forward to it with eager anticipation... and we know that we will ALWAYS make time for these special celebrations and for each other.

Fall Portraits... and my dear friends

2011-10-31T16:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend I got the very exciting joy of shooting fall portraits/Christmas photos of my best friends Aaron and Leah. You may remember Aaron and Leah from other appearances in the blog, but most notably from their engagement photos which I also got to shoot, over a year ago. I'm humbled and honored to have them call me their "personal photographer".

We headed out on a crisp, beautiful fall day to shoot at a couple of different locations - at Leah's parents' orchard and downtown Reedley. We had such a blast. I forgot what a fun couple they are to photograph! We finished up with a lovely dinner date with them and Mr. C and I. It was a perfect day.

Here are some of my favorites from the session...

I have to add... the part that made this shoot so successful was my "assistant" for the day. ;)

Happy (belated) birthday gift to me!

2011-10-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those people that believe in giving yourself a gift on special holidays and birthday. Yes, you are already sure to get a mountain of gifts, but there is something fun about treating yourself while you are out shopping for everyone else. I do it every Christmas, and just recently, I started doing it for my birthday too. Hey, at least you are guaranteed to get at least one thing you really wanted! (Do you like how I try and justify this?).

This year, seeing as I celebrated a milestone birthday in September, I figured it was worth a bigger treat. ;) And granted, I've been saving my dollars and pennies for months now for this thing. I was delighted to receive a little extra cash for my birthday too and it put me right over the top... to buy...

An iPad! Yes, yes, if you know me well, you know that I'm a technology junkie and Apple products are right up my alley. I've been playing with it all week, though I'm surprised to find my primary use being the same things I do on my laptop (just in a smaller lighter format) and reading on it (like I usually do on my Kindle). Either way, it's alot of fun and a nice treat for my big 3-Oh!

When watching show like The Jetsons growing up, I never thought we'd get to the point with technology where we are now. A computer that fits in your hand?! Phones that do almost everything?! I just never thought it possible... let alone flying cars, but who knows? ;)

And a miracle makes 3

2011-10-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139:13-14

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and

wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Words cannot describe what we feel right now. God is good. We are overwhelmingly blessed and already in love with this new addition to our lives. The next 30 weeks are sure to be the beginning of the greatest journey of our lives. We say it again... God is so good.

Napa, Sonoma, wish it was home-ah!

2011-10-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

What a restful weekend! Mr. C. and I have just returned from a wonderful weekend away in Napa/Sonoma. It was a first time in that area for both of us and it was so worth the drive (well, at least on the way out)! We were in desperate need of some time away and some quality time together. We are having trouble even remembering the last vacation day that we took together.

I will say it again, I am a spoiled, or at least well-taken-care-of wife. Ryan was able to find an amazing rental property in the hills of Sonoma. INCREDIBLE view and surroundings. The nicest host family that I've ever met. And PARADISE all around... plus, we got to take our sweet pup with us! Perfect family getaway.

The private bridge to our home away from home for the weekend

A very specific speed limit

Our sweet guest home. Isn't it gorgeous?!

The private pond that we fell in love with!

We didn't get to spend a whole lot of time at the house because we had big plans to savor the food and sights of Sonoma and Napa. But we have to admit, our favorite times of the weekend were spent at the private pond. We suspect that was Jack's favorite part too. We could barely keep him out of the water. He's quite the water dog! We already have plans to return and spend some more time on the grounds... fishing, hiking, and so much more.

Mr. C's first catch. Small but mighty! :)

Much of the rest of the weekend I did not capture in pics. I was too busy taking it all in. We ventured into town for some great meals, walking around the downtown areas and shops and just enjoying each other. We even got some time to share lunch with Mr. C's parents who met up with us for the afternoon on Saturday. The best part of that was indulging in some amazing cupcakes at Sift in Napa. MMMMMmmmmm!!!!

Of course, I was a little more excited about indulging myself in a treat at the Coach outlet! :)

It was a fantastic weekend, which made the weekend so much harder to leave behind us and head back to work. But it was so worth the escape and we can't wait to do it again soon.

Check out the baking blog

2011-10-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

For a little cross-blog action, check out the baby shower that I baked for this weekend. It was so fun!

First rainfall of the fall season!

2011-10-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Oh what a gorgeous day!

Under Construction... A New Look

2011-10-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time again where I feel kind of restless and decide that the blog needs a new look. I think I've only done it a few times over the past few years, but I'm feeling the need for something fresh and new. If things look wonky for the next few weeks, you'll know why. Hopefully I'll get it to a point that I'm happy with it but being a picky designer, I'm not sure how it will shake out. In the meantime, we'll still be here, sharing our stories. Much love!

There's a chill in the air

2011-10-02T22:36:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like an outdoor movie night to usher in the coming of fall!!!

Nights like this make us fall in love with our backyard. Hard work that has more than paid off!

Coastal Escape

2011-09-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I got the wonderful treat of a women's retreat with our church gals and even better, with my mom and dear friend Dana. We had the pleasure of driving out together, sharing a room for the weekend and spending lots of time chatting and being girls. Cambria always makes for a great escape! The weather and surroundings were incredible. Not to mention all the food and special treats. The team that plans the retreat always goes the extra mile to ensure that the weekend is beautiful, relaxing and that every detail is covered.

Just look at these gorgeous centerpieces!

Silly games keep it light. :)

My favorite part, by far, was our free time where we got the chance to lunch, shop a little and head down to the beach to check out the tide pools. I forgot how much I love the sound of the ocean. It's got to be one of the most relaxing sounds on earth. A close second was sweet times with my mom and friend. Those gals are good for the soul.

30, Flirty and Fabulous

2011-09-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I've survived. Turning 30 that is. And yes, I say survive, because unlike most birthdays, I was not looking forward to the big 3-0. I can't help but look back at my life and simultaneously be grateful for how far I've come and how much I have accomplished (and the endless ways I have been blessed) and also quite sad that I seem so far behind the "timeline" that I had hoped for. I was married much later than I thought I would be. I thought I would be done having kids by 30 and we haven't even started that journey. But, God is good and so is His plan for my life. I've come to embrace that, especially after looking around at our home, full of friends and family, there to celebrate my big milestone with me this weekend. What a blessing!

Though the weather appeared to threaten to rain us out (almost unheard of in September)...

There was nothing some good relaxing time and a pedicure couldn't fix. And I'm so grateful for my wonderful hubbs and family, planning, prepping and executing the entire party without me having to do a thing!

Our incredible Mexican fiesta..... MMMMMMM!!!

The big topic of conversation and probably a lot of confusion was my cake. "Why in the world would a 30 year old woman want koala bears on her cake". "Is she in to koala bears?" The answer to that is no, but it's a sweet story between my hubby and I and proof that he really does listen to my silly banter and loves me so incredibly much. I was so surprised! :)

My fave gift, from Mr. C, an incredible watch!

And absolutely no birthday would be complete without a special dinner (Cheesecake Factory this year) with my sweetie... and my annual birthday dance. You've just got to do something every year to make it special... and my birthday dance is LEGENDARY! ;)

Taking to the road

2011-08-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well, we're back from an exciting and fun filled weekend with the in laws! Our journeys up north are always so great that it's very hard to come home knowing that it may be a while until we get to spend precious time with our family. Mr. C. and I both go through a few days of honest depression as we settle back into our regular routines.We wish they lived so so much closer than a 5 hour drive.

It was another weekend full of food and relaxing, which is what we normally do when we get to see the folks. And there are no complaints on that part. We did venture out on Saturday to check out the Willows Car and Bike Show. In such a small town, the most minor things can be pretty darn exciting. :)

Other than that, we just spent sweet time laughing, talking and hanging out. Church, movies, time with friends, food, decadent desserts and more. Who wouldn't be depressed after all of that?! Sadly, I didn't take many photos... I really need to be better about that. But again, when we are just relaxing, I get very good at settling in and living in those moments. I did get a quick shot of our walk with Jackson. Not that exciting? I know.

It's nice to be able to take Jackson along when we visit. Our folks are nice enough to host their fur grandson too, but it's not too difficult since he is pretty much the best dog in the world. Yes, I'm partial. The worst part? Enduring Jackson's gag-educing farts on the way to and from Willows! UGH!!!!

Girls Movie Night: The Help

2011-08-18T11:22:00.001-07:00

Last night my gal pal Leah and I headed out for a girls movie night and saw The Help. I just recently read the book and absolutely loved it and count it as one of my faves of all time. I’m always cautious about going to a movie based on a book that I have read, especially when it is a book that I love. I’m afraid Hollywood that will get it wrong. I’m afraid watchers won’t understand the real depth of the characters. I’m afraid the director will breeze over important parts in order to make it more “entertaining”. I’m afraid it won’t look anything like what plays out in my head when I read (I read as if I’m living in the story and even formulate appearances for each character).

And though the film wasn’t entirely true to the book and that timeline of events was a bit wonky, I did really enjoy it. It has a very fun and kitschy, slightly humorous vibe to it, which is definitely different than the book but the characters are still very lovable. I highly recommend reading the book and diving into this incredible story, as I know my girl Leah will. :) It’s a feel-good, tear-jerking, gal film for sure!

Chicks dig guys who yodel

2011-08-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

This weekend we took a special trip with my bro and sis in law (SIL) to a somewhat unexpected destination for a concert. Chowchilla doesn't really come up on my list of happenin' places to have a concert, but that's where we ended up in order to go see Tyronne Wells. Tyronne, besides being an exceptional performer and artist, is an old college friend of Mr. C's and consequently, the object of my SIL's affections and musical obsessions. :) Though I've heard countless hours of Tyronne's recorded music (and Mr. C's annoying ringtones), I had never seen him live.

The concert was a benefit for LAM, which is an unpronounceable lung disease that affects women of all ages. Don't believe me? Look how many letters are in this:


Yeah, that's what I'm talking about

It was a great and intimate show. We really enjoyed one of the three opening bands, Hero's Last Mission and are considering asking them to do a house concert at our place.

Then it was time for Mr. Wells. Tyronne is a highly entertaining and talented musician. He even yodels! :) I'll leave it to you to attend one of his concerts and get that story.

I think Mr. C's favorite part was getting to reunite with his buddy. I took a pic of them embracing, but it didn't turn out. ;) It was nice to finally meet the man behind the music and behind some of my hubby's crazy stories. It was a great night and fun to spend some time with family too. We're looking forward to the next show... and crossing our fingers it takes us somewhere a little different than Chowchilla!

Movie Date Night: Cowboys and Aliens

2011-08-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

Last night Mr. C and I treated ourselves to a much needed date night and headed out to see Cowboys and Aliens. The last movie we had seen was Bridesmaids and I can't even recall our last date night, so it was long overdue.

We had a great time and were pleasantly surprised by the movie. Despite critics and friends letting us know that it was nothing short of terrible, we actually kind of enjoyed it. If you just look at is as a Summer Blockbuster full of explosions, fights, scary scenes and a tad of humor and romance, it's enjoyable. You just have to get over the mixing of an old western and modern aliens (strangely, it actually kind of "works" in the movie). And the lead, Daniel Craig [aka the new James Bond] is a complete bad-@$$. Sorry, but it's true and Mr. C and I love a good tough-guy (i.e. Liam Neeson!). Frankly, the worst part was paying $12.25 for a medium soda and popcorn. Are you kidding me?!

I'm going going, back back, to blondie blondie

2011-07-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

I look like Tigger right now, but I'm headed back to blonde. The brunette experience was fun, but I just never really felt like ME. It probably doesn't make sense, but I'm a woman and we're fickle and we do what we want. :) Enjoy the journey of my multifaceted journey of hair colors until I get back to blonde.

Mini Vacay!

2011-07-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend we embarked on a short but very much-needed mini vacation. You may recall our trip to Murphys a couple of years ago to attend the wedding of a friend. We had such a good time on that trip and were somewhat dazzled with what a cool place Murphys is that we decided to make another trip, this time, exposing our friends/neighbors to the fun times. We rented a very cool vacation home with a beautiful wrap around deck. The surrounding forests are the most peaceful location.

Murphys and the surrounding towns are cute and quaint historic Gold Rush towns loaded with charm, fun things to do and AMAZING FOOD. I hate to admit that I think the food may have been our favorite part. That, and the wine.

Aren't they gorgeous?! :)

We were grateful to travel with a laid back couple like Ryan and Julie. They were great to just roll with whatever we came up with, whether it was walking around the town, touring a cavern or indulging in some wine tasting. Oh, and did I mention the FOOD?! ;)

We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to go back. There’s just something about that area that calls to us.

Jammin with the J's and P's

2011-07-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Last night I was treated to some real domestic bliss. I had a jammin session with my dear friend Leah and her sweet mom. Not "jamming" as in band practice, but "jammin" as in making jam. Strawberry freezer jam to be precise. Though my mom did a great job raising me to be fairly domestic, we never did venture down the jam/canning/preserves sort of domestic route. I guess that doesn't make sense for a kid growing up in Orange County. But, now living in the valley, surrounded by lush produce pretty much year-round, it's a must!

My partner-in-crime and I

I felt so blessed and so excited to be taught such a different thing. The kitchen smelled of delicious berry goodness and we canned a total of 28 jars. Can you believe it?! Don't be surprised if you are gifted one of these jars fairly shortly as there is no way Mr C. and I can consume 12 jars on our own.

It's been a fun week full of trying new things for me - GRILLING!

Jammin! and all sorts of home projects! I promise to post more home pics soon.

We are getting ready for a short vacation this weekend and are so excited to get away for a little bit. It is much needed!

A new creative space!

2011-07-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

I'm never quite sure how many people read this blog and if you get anything from it. I've said many times though that I write to keep friends and family updated. Every once in a while though, I get really excited about a product, a website, or just simply get inspired by something and want to share it. I never want to commercialize this blog site though. So... in order to appease both the personal and creative sides of my brain, I started a new (and separate) blog!

This all came about, strangely enough, when I was taking a break from the social network world, but I really love what it's come to be. So, if you feel like popping on over and checking it out or becomming a follower, send me a quick comment or message and make sure I have your email address. In order to preserve my privacy from one space to another, I'm keeping it discrete like this for a while. It will be worth your time! There is where I will post most of my recipes, products I like, blogs and sites I'm enjoying, decor and crafting ides, general inspirations and pretty things. Hope you join me!

Coastal Escape

2011-07-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, there is no relief to be sought from the heat of the valley. In such cases, one must escape to the coast. And that is exactly what I did this weekend with my dear friend Leah. The heat and life were driving us crazy so we headed for cooler temps, sea breezes, shopping, and our personal obsession - sushi!

We had an awesome time complete with a lot of talking and even more laughter. At one point, a strange lady on the boardwalk at Avila Beach stared so intently at our feet and then broke into a coughing and gagging feet, I was sure that our feet were causing her to have an aneurysm. We couldn't figure it out. They look pretty cute to us.

I'm constantly reminded now what a blessing it is to have good friends in your life. I'm so grateful to have Leah in my life and be able to talk to someone about the joys, and occasional strains, of newlywed life. She's a gem!

A Happy Dog makes a Happy Home

2011-07-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite like watching Jack enjoy a summer car ride in a passenger's side mirror...

A Happy 4th! And a few Firsts

2011-07-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th! What a whirlwind weekend. We are completely exhausted but so blessed to have such a fun-filled weekend with our friends. I wish I would have carried my camera around more and gotten a few more pictures (we are trying to get better about that), but at least we did get a few.

Friday evening we had a wonderful evening with our friends Aaron and Leah. After sharing a big fat pizza we headed to the movies so they could see Bridesmaids, which has to be one of the funniest movies we've seen in a long time. However, our plans were thwarted when we found (after standing in line in the blazing sun for 20 minutes) that the movie had been canceled to make room for the big Transformers opening. :( Boo! So we headed back and ended up renting a movie and making homemade pizookies. It was still a great night.

On Saturday, we slept in a ton and then fiddled around the house. I spent the greater part of the morning and afternoon making these:

Rather than posting the recipe, I'll just refer you directly to My Kitchen Addiction where I snagged the incredible recipe. The only change I made was just to add a bit more flour to the dough. And yes, I did end up making the marshmallow filling from scratch. They were... INCREDIBLE. I only got half of one that I shared with Mr. C and it was delicious. We took them to a BBQ at a neighbor's house and they were gone pretty quick.

I've said it before but I'll say it again... we are so blessed to live in the best neighborhood. We love our neighbors and think it's so cool that we can count many of them as friends. We spent most of the weekend in some way, shape or form with them. Saturday afternoon and evening brought a pool party, BBQ and fireworks at the corner neighbors. Sunday morning brought a brunch and pool time with our other dear friends and neighbors. And Monday, the sweet 4th of July (a fave holiday of mine) brought some incredible time at the lake with other dear friends (AND NEIGHBORS).

We were so touched to be invited to the lake with Ryan and Julie's friends and family in the first place, let alone have an awesome time on a houseboat/party barge and boating/water skiing/tubing all day.

Gettin' the boats ready for the water.

Captain C

Cutest captain west of the Mississippi

We are exhausted, but in a good way. It feels good to be so tired and parched by the sun after having such a good time. What a truly fun Indpendence Day weekend!

Ore-GONE too long

2011-06-30T18:27:00.000-07:00

Home sweet home! I've been in Oregon the last few days on a business trip, helping teach students how to build a great yearbook and giving all the schools that I work with a chance to get to know me. I do love to travel but it seems to take so much out of me. And now that I'm a happily married gal, it's really hard being away from home. Let's just say that Mr. C is not a fan of it at all.

Though I must say the cool, cloudy and even rainy weather made life a lot more bearable. Especially after leaving triple digit temps in the valley. I was smiling my heart out in jeans and jackets. :) Those poor kids probably thought I was nuts. When I saw it start to rain, I actually reached my hands up and said "YAY!!!!" :)

Oregon is so green and beautiful. I just love it!

The students seemed to have a really great time and enjoyed the camp surroundings. I know that I did. I'm always impressed with how responsible most yearbook kids are. On time to all the sessions, diligently working and creating during breaks, and engaged in all of the information that is thrown at them. Of course, we made time for some games and fun too.

Thanks Oregon! I had a lovely time. :)

Fridays and Friendship

2011-06-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, all else DOES fail and you're exhausted, fed up, tired of it all and just wanting to kick back.

For those times, we are thankful for friends like Aaron and Leah. Well, we are always thankful for them. But something about our times with them are always fun and filled with laughter.

And no, most of the time it really is sober fun. We had an incredible BBQ dinner and some fun times.

You guys are so awesome and we're so thankful for your friendship. Thanks for making this week more bearable and for kicking off the weekend in style. :) Sorry I didn't take more pics!

Birthday with the Bestie

2011-06-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

The weekend I got the very fun privilege of (a day off) and the celebration of my bestie's birthday. We had a great time celebrating her and having some very deserved girl time.

If you know my BFF and I well, you know that we both have an obsession with one thing...

SHOES

Lots and lots and lots of shoes. In fact, when we lived together, we had an entire closet devoted to our shoes. And how blessed our we to have the exact same shoe size?! It's heaven. We had a great time shopping around and grabbing lunch together.

Despite the insane heat and the more insane Fresno drivers, I had a blast.

Shells,
You are such a reason to celebrate and I am so grateful for your friendship. Thank you for always being there to pick me up when I'm down and encourage me when I've lost hope. You are beyond description and the best friend I've ever had. Happy Birthday. Remember, we're making the 30's the new 20's! And, when all else fails, I'll always be there to try on insane shoes with. :)

Not-so-Father's Day

2011-06-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

It's pretty hard when you get to the age of Mr. C and and I and don't yet have children. We are always wished a Happy Mothers Day and Happy Fathers Day but feel like we come up short. Sure, we are parents to our sweet pup Jackson, but it's hard to really feel comfortable with a holiday that you can't relate to at all. Still, with the excitement of building our family in the future, I felt like Mr. C was reason enough to celebrate. He's going to be a great dad someday and I wanted to give him a day regardless of our current parental status.

We went to church and then headed out for a pizza lunch, a personal fave of Mr. C (and me too!).

And after a call home to wish his own dad a Happy Fathers Day...

Then we headed out to the batting cages! Mr. C is playing in a softball league again this summer and wanted to get some practice in. We headed out into the scorching heat so he could hit a few. After a round of 30, he was definitely done. But, I'm proud to say, he hit every single ball! Not one sailed by him. I was pretty proud. I'm 90% sure I couldn't hit 1 let alone 30.

It was a great day, celebrating the handsome man that I love and future father of our kiddos. I can't wait to do it again next year.

Finally, a night out!

2011-06-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we got the rare treat of a night out with some friends, and a concert. Mr. C and I can't even recall the last concert we've been to. We've been itching to see a live act for months now. Especially when we had to cancel plans and sell our tickets to a concert that we had planned in the fall.

This was a special treat because it was with an artist that we love - Marc Broussard - who is so crazy talented and totally underrated. He's a small man with a big voice. :) I think he would be okay with me saying that. We had a great time with our friends and in getting to hear some live music bug. I'm afraid it's ignited the house concert bug in Mr. C. I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing some musicians sleeping on my couch in the near future. ;)

The beautiful Fox Theater

Sadly, the only pic we got of our group. We'll just call it "party mode".

Opening act, Matt Hires

Yosemighty!

2011-06-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Mr. C embarked on a journey that is sure to become an annual tradition.

A MANcation.

Yes, I said Man-Cation. That is, a bunch of men, taking a vacation together, that is in no way weird but is instead 100% awesome. Though I can't vouch for the goings on of a mancation, being a woman and banned from such information, I know it involved a lot of relaxation, some beer, and the beautiful scenery of Yosemite. I know it was enjoyable as Mr. C came back rested and smiling, and for your viewing pleasure, took a few snaps to document the trip.

Home Sweeet Home: Year 1

2011-06-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

One year.

It's hard to believe we've been in this beautiful home for 1 year! The construction process felt like a lifetime. Getting settled and unpacking felt like a lifetime. Painting every surface of this giant space felt like a lifetime, and we're still working on that part. But one whole year has passed? That part feels like a blink.

What started as complete chaos, and then a giant white space, has turned into our own haven. Or at least, a haven in the works.

Though I do want to expand on all that we've done with the house, especially in the last few months, I'll leave you with a few snapshots of how our little nest is coming along...

One truly wonderful year!

NOTHING shall separate us!

2011-05-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Life is chaos right now. I feel like stress is gripping me by the throat. I know that this will all calm down as the next few weeks pass... as work winds down and the warm summer sun spreads over this valley. It literally feels like a valley right now. Life, that is.

Until the relief does come, I'm meditating this verse each and every minute that I can:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,or nakedness, or peril, or sword… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:35-39

Orange you glad you came?

2011-05-15T08:52:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my mom and I were just dying to get out of our houses, and just dying to try something new. Enter in the Sequoia Foodie Fest. Since my mom and I are such "foodies" to begin with and because I scored super cheap tickets on Groupon (oh, how I love Groupon!), it seemed well worth the short trip to Exeter. Though the festival definitely has some growing to do, it was a lot of fun and featured some great local foods and vendors.

Some of the many citrus sculptures around the field

The highlight was watching a bit of the local Iron Chef type competition between Harris Ranch and the Marriott hotel. We wished we would have stuck around to see the results, but it was a lot of fun watching and guessing what they would do with the strange mix of mystery ingredients.

It was hard to choose what items we just had to take home with us. Mom opted for a loaf of some fresh baked artisan bread and I opted for a few tins of special pollen spices from Pollen Ranch, which I will have to blog about later, but man, I can't tell you how surprisingly good they are. I can't wait to try the Dill Pollen on some potato salad and the Fennel Pollen on some grilled meats this summer!

It's all for sale

2011-05-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not going to cheat and backdate a few entries...

A few Saturdays ago, well, April 23rd to be exact, we had our first yard sale at the new house! It may not seem exciting enough to warrant an exclamation point, but the result sure does.

We had stuff piling around the house that I just knew we were ever going to use and though I'm all about donating to a worthy cause, we had so many really nice things that were hard to let go of to a donation and, as always, we are looking for funds to continue to work on the house.

Though early morning hours are never kind, we had a good time and sold out in nearly an hour or two. We ended up packing up early because there was almost nothing left!

The result? Over $500 to go towards our new backyard! We were thrilled and so excited to see how our backyard will shape up in time. We can't wait to have a first backyard BBQ.

For the love of macaron!

2011-05-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a Food Nerd. I watch cooking shows religiously, especially on weekends. I subscribe to MULTIPLE food magazines. I read food blogs weekly. I'm addicted to foodgawker. And... if you've seen my pantry, I've got a serious cookbook addiction. Needless to say, I'm pretty "hip" on food trends, and yes, there are food trends. One such trend has alluded me lately (and no, it's not bacon and chocolate, which I'm... puzzled by). I see them over and over again in food blogs and there has been a rush of cookbooks about them. The cupcake is headed out (maybe). So what am I talking about?

French Macarons

No, not MACAROONS, which are those sort of sweet, heavy, coconutty piles of stuff (can you tell I'm not a fan?).

Macarons are a whole other thing... light, heavenly, almondy meringues with a sweet creamy filling or jam smushed between... delicate as a snowflake. Or so I've heard. You see, I've never tried them. I can hardly believe it myself. I feel like I've eaten every dessert on the planet. My thighs can attest to this. I've never even seen them in any stores, but they are insanely popular right now and have been for well, maybe even a year now.

I was going to attempt to bake them myself but I made a big mistake. I started reading about them. And how finicky and impossibly difficult they are. I got terrified. I was imagining a horrid scene with a kitchen spattered with egg white and sugar, and me cussing and throwing spoons about. I decided to shelf the idea for a while. But I couldn't get those darn macarons out of my head.

I figured, in order to really perfect and WANT to try this cookie of sorts, I'd have to try it. After searching the net and trying to find a bakery that would deliver, I stumbled across Sparkles Kitchen on Etsy and fell in love. Just a short week later, I had a small box of macarons of my very own. I was so excited. Never have you seen a bigger nerd... photographing the adventure of unwrapping and savoring my first macaron.

The verdict? Heavenly. The baker at Sparkles has perfected the macaron and I am grateful. After sampling Madagascar Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate and Sumiyaki Coffee, I think the Caramel was my favorite. And, something about finally getting to savor these tasty delights has really helped me face my fear. If this is the payoff, the baking chaos may be worth it. Wish me luck! But not just yet... ;) I have some more snacking to do.

Just peeking in to say hi

2011-05-11T15:28:00.000-07:00

Sooooo… it’s been kind of a long time since I’ve blogged. There are just too many non-blog-worthy things going on in our lives. I’m in my “busy season” at work and if you’ve known me long enough, I kind of start to disappear in the spring or, to those who really know (and hopefully still love) me, I turn into a cranky-stress-monster. For that, I’m sorry. And for not blogging, I’m only semi-sorry. I say this too often, but so many times, my index finger has hovered over the mouse button that hovers over the delete button on this blog. Why do I blog? Does anyone read it? Am I blogging for my {very few}readers or for me? Doesn’t this kind of play into the social networking narcissistic sensationalism that I’m so tired of? Whoa, that was pretty judgmental. Again, sorry… But I’ve really had to ask myself these questions and wonder if the blog is necessary. I wonder if Facebook is necessary. I wonder if a cell phone is necessary. Necessary evils these days, I suppose.

So, I press on. But I have to express why I’m here. I’m here for my friends. Those that I never get to see me but still care what we’re up to. Those who want a glimpse of our lives… what me, Mr. C and that silly dog are up to. I blog for our families. Because I love them all and I don’t get to see them enough, from my own in laws out to the cousins, aunts and uncles. I want them to know me and be proud of what Mr. C and I accomplish in our lives, in our marriage and eventually as parents. I blog for an outlet of expression… for my passion for photography, design and baking… and so much more! I blog for the exercise in writing. A skill at one time I was so adept at but seems to have fallen by the wayside. I don’t want to lose these passions! And, for some weird reason, I feel like this blog keeps me accountable to all of these things. I hope this all makes sense and that you’ll continue to read and to forgive me for long absences. Life is still happening. We’re just spending every minute soaking it up instead of documenting.

Hugs to all! Still here,

Mrs. C

The Lamb Slam

2011-05-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we enjoyed what may be becoming the annual tradition of the family... spending Mother's Day weekend in Willows for their annual celebration called the Lamb Derby, or as I've affectionately called it, Lamb Slam. You may recall last year's post about the famous Lamb Slam? This year was no different, only better in fact, sans poop patrol during the parade. However, despite that lack of entertainment, it was a great parade!

Jackson did great during the parade. We think he's a fan of the parade genre.

Yes, that is a band aid on our dog's chin... he had a cut on his lip and surprisingly let us apply a band aid, and it stuck there for hours!

The blue-ribbon-winning church float! We were so proud!

The most beautiful and sweet parade participant... my mum in law. :)

Who promptly came and sat with us for the duration of the parade

Each float, like the Rose Parade that requires roses on each float, requires a lamb

Jackson made a friend along the way.

The rest of the weekend passed by all too quickly. We had a wonderful time relaxing, chatting, and eating too much food as usual!

We really love these trips, however short they are. I am constantly reminded how blessed I am to have such incredible in laws. I love them more than words can even describe! I just wish so badly that they lived closer to us. That drive is a long one and with work and responsibilities being what they are, we just don't get to go often enough. I think Jackson was even a little bummed when we had to head home... though I can't blame him.

Joshua Tree

2011-05-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

Well, this entry is a long time coming. But… I’m going to cheat and backdate it as if it’s always been here. ;)

With life and work getting busier and busier for Mr. C. and I, we’ve been craving a break from it all, but knew that we couldn’t take more than just a day or two away without paying for it dearly. Part of what makes Mr. C. an awesome husband is that every once in a while he surprises me. First, in listening to things that I babble about and, second, in making an effort to do special things for me. This weekend was a combination of those two things. A long time ago, I babbled about a bunch of places that I’ve never been to and wanted to see. After reading an article in Martha Stewart Magazine and running into some breathtakingly beautiful dessert photos on the internet, I desperately wanted to go to Joshua Tree National Park.

I’ve got a love affair with nature but, not so much for the dessert aspect of it. For the most part, I hate that California is mostly dessert. I just don’t see the beauty in it… except for the photos I’ve seen of Joshua Tree. So, we decided to make a camping trip of it. Combining Mr. C’s love of camping and my love of photography seemed like an easy and fun thing.

We departed early on Friday, making a long weekend of it and taking some much needed time off. We made the leisurely, however long, drive through the valley and then through the dessert. After a brief lunch stop and one more stop for gas, we entered the park. After visiting the Visitor’s Center, we were hit with the harsh reality that camping spots were filling up quickly in the park. Very quickly. We dashed to the car and headed to our preferred camping spot at Ryan Mountain (for obvious reasons).

It was... Full.

On to Hidden Valley...

FULL

On to Jumbo Rocks...

FULL

On to Bella…

FULL

On to White Tank…

FULL

(Insert extremely large sad face here). We were freaked out and totally bummed. We just drove 7 hours through the dessert and NO CAMPING SPOTS? We were not about to make the trip home, not about to spend the night in a hotel and not about to give up on this adventure. We headed back for the park entrance and talked to a ranger there. The only camping left? Cottonwood Springs, a one hour drive south through the park.

(Sad face)

We were desperate to get out of the car. Desperate to get our campsite set up. Desperate to camp near something “cool”. I glanced at the map. Cottonwood Springs did not look “cool” at all. And after a long 1 hour drive through utter and vast dessert (all the cool and scenic stuff in the part is definitely in the north end), we arrived at Cottonwood Springs and were quickly able to confirm that it was not “cool”. The camp spots were tiny, and piled right on top of each other. There were no rocks or rugged landscapes. No trees. Not even Joshua trees. Nothing to look at. It was hot, sunny and shadeless… and horribly windy. As if that were not enough – the campground was the most expensive in the park and completely wiped out our cash supply.

(SADDER FACE)

We made the best of our evening, quickly setting up our camp site and getting dinner prepared. That was a definite perk. Mr. C., the pro camper that he is, cooked all of our meals. What a treat for me! But the cold wind howled all night. Our neighbors howled all night (literally, singing and playing drums loudly until nearly midnight). The Corums were not happy campers. In the morning, a slightly colder-than-anticipated (10-15 degrees colder than forecasted) day greeted us and then slapped us in the face with more icy wind.

We were faced with a choice. Stay and tough it out? Stay and tough it out at a different campground? Cut our losses and go home? We decided on option 2 and crossed our fingers that we would find another camp site, but just in case, would drive through the park so I could take as many photos as possible and see as much as possible, in case we did have to cut our losses and make the long drive home.

And this is the part that made the trip totally worth it. The park as a whole, is really beautiful in a different way. The Joshua Trees seem ancient and majestic. The rocks and boulders look as if they dropped from the sky in the middle of vast plains of chaparral, strange cacti and a scattering of painted wildflowers. It’s a crazy place that I loved photographing (we’ll get to that part at the end). We had a wonderful day driving, talking, hiking, walking, eating lunch, exploring and taking pictures of it all.

As luck would have it, we did find a camp site toward the end of the day and it was a great one, nestled into some massive rock formations on a hilltop. Though the bitter wind was still biting at us and honestly starting to wear at our patience. I could not warm up despite wearing almost every piece of clothing I brought and laying in the tent for a while.

As windburn and hunger started to set in, we settled into our little camp spot, made a large fire and ate our dinner. Shortly after we finished up, miraculously, the wind died down and granted us a beautiful evening. So beautiful that we decided to try our hand at some night photography. What a fun time we had! Pics to follow…

The morning brought back a bit more wind, but a beautiful day overall. The early morning light woke us earlier than expected, so after a brief breakfast we were ready to pack up and head home. That 7 hour drive back was a tough one, but we left behind such great time and memories. Times that remind me that together, Mr. C. and I can get through a lot. And, that these little escapes are good for our souls.

And now, our photo journey through Joshua Tree...

The majestic Joshua Tree

Cholla Cactus Garden

Ocotillo

The remnants of Ryan Ranch

There's no better partner in these adventures than Mr. C. He keeps me smiling!

Food Blog: Homemade Oreo Cookies

2011-04-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my second attempt at this post. I actually made these cookies LAST WEEKEND for the hubbs. Before you think I'm a good wife and stuff I have to say that my husband requested a treat for him to take on this weekend trip. I wish I was sweet enough to have thought of it before he asked. So, as an act of redemption, I wanted to make something pretty spectacular.

This recipe, in some shape or form, has made it's way around the food blog world for the past few months. I've been wanting to make them since I first saw them, but put it off. After my husband made such a humble request, I knew this was the perfect cookie.

So I whipped up a batch, lovingly packed them in parchment paper and nestled them into a little box. I set out two Coca Cola Classics (Mr. C's summer fave) on the corner of the counter. A few cookies didn't fit into that box, and believe me, that was no mistake. I put them into a Ziploc and set them aside... foolishly.

Cut to Friday... a long, hard and exhausting day at work. I wanted nothing more, from noon until clock-out time, than to go home, settle into my comfy couch with a short glass of milk (which I only drink once a year with a good cookie) and sink my teeth a sweet, homemade oreo.

I rushed home and absent-mindedly kissed the hubby goodbye, threw my purse on the counter and went to change into my "comfies". When I arrived in the kitchen, my heart sank. No bag. No cookies. Noooooooooo!

I reached for my phone and pounded out a text to Mr. C: "Umm... did you take ALL the cookies?"

Mr. C: "Yes. I took some to work and the box on the trip. I thought I was supposed to take them all."

Mrs. C: "Schmuk!"

Many many apologetic texts from Mr. C. followed. As they should have! :) Though I joke and I love my hubby to pieces, for a moment, I was lividly ticked off!!! Nothing like sugar denial to send me into internal rage. But the real problem wasn't not getting a cookie (believe me, my thighs don't need them right now). It was the fact that I never got a photo for this post!

So... today is take 2. Without further adieu. The cookie that causes rage when it is denied from you. Yes, they are THAT good.

Homemade Oreo Cookies
adapted from recipe by Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients
Chocolate wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.
1 large egg

Cream filling:
6 T. unsalted butter, room temp (remainder of stick used for wafers)
1/4 cup unflavored/white vegetable shortening
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons clear vanilla (you can find it in cake decorating aisles in craft stores)
about 1 T. milk

Set two racks in the middle of your oven. Preheat to 375 degrees.

In a food processor* or in the bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix/pulse together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add in butter, in small chunks. Then add egg and mix thoroughly. Dough will come together into a ball.

Take rounded teaspoons of batter (use a small scoop to get evenly sized cookies) and drop onto cookies sheets lined in parchment paper and lightly sprayed with nonstick spray, approximately 3 inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes, rotating sheets once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool completely.

For the filling, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl and cream together at low speed. Gradually add in the sifted powdered sugar and then the vanilla. Depending on the softness of your butter and humidity, the mixture may be very thick. If so, use a little milk to "loosen it up". Turn the mixer on high and beat well for a few minutes until frosting is light and fluffy.

To assemble to cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe a tablespoon-size blob of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, of equal size, on top of the cream. Lightly press and swirl slightly till cream comes to edges of cookies and is disbursed evenly. Continue this process until all cookies have been sandwiched with cream.

*A mixer works great, but I've got to tell you, the food processor works like a dream! If you've got one big enough, do yourself a favor and try this.

Sometimes, you gotta splurge

2011-04-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

I am a bargain hunter.

No, I mean, I am a Bargain Specialist.

Emperor of Clearance Racks.

Sale Stalker.

Coupon Enthusiast.

There are few things that really excite me like getting a good bargain. But I do put a lot of effort towards it. I'm constantly clipping and saving coupons. I'll search the internet for hours for the best deal on something I can probably get a mile from my home. I suscribe to tons of coupon and sale newsletters and countless bargain "members only" sites. I dart for clearance racks when I enter most stores. I get giddy over red markdown stickers (Target is the best!). I'm happy and proud of all of these efforts. I've scored some amazing things a result.

But sometimes. Just sometimes... it just gets really old.

Sometimes I'm tired. Sometimes I don't want to use a stinkin' coupon. Sometimes I just want to get what I want to get and I don't care what the price is. Sometimes these purchases feel like a treat. A luxury. Sometimes it just feels really good to treat myself.

Enter in - POTTERY BARN.

You know what I'm talking about. On most days, I can't even afford a pillow from PB, let alone some of their gorgeous accessories. And don't even get me started on the furniture. I'd have to sell an organ on the black market. But when I thumb through that catalog or browse the site, I drool. Designer Drool. I've resorted to re-creating their creative looks when I can and I've been fortunate to score a few great things in their clearance section.

This week I wanted a TREAT. Thankfully, I did have a gift card (thank you sister in law!) just burning a hole in my pocket from Christmas and I had a little money tucked away for the house.

While thumbing though the catalog, I found this and just about died.

Yes, it's a ladder. A shoe ladder to be exact. And I know it's frivolous and ridiculous and completely too expensive for what it is. But I loved it. So I bought it (and so did many others because it's now SOLD OUT). And it looks perfect in my bedroom.

I still smile when I see it. It's a little luxury that I sorely deserved. I'm worth it, right? You are too and that's why I'm giving you permission to go treat yourself to some "pretty" this week. Just don't tell your husbands I'm the one that suggested it. ;)

Working hard at not caring

2011-04-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

"For the life of me, I believe Satan trains battalions of demons to whisper one question in our ears: 'What are people thinking of you?' " -Max Lucado

I first read the above quote off of a church bulletin board something like 6 or 7 years ago, and it stuck with me. All this time. I can’t remember what I had for dinner two nights ago, but I remember this quote, and that’s how I know it’s important.

I, like ~~many~~ most women, fall victim to the insecurity/wondering-what-people-think-of-me weakness. But even worse, I constantly play the “comparison game” in my mind. You know how that goes. I’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but lately, I feel like I’m playing these internal games way too much. The word “game” doesn’t even seem to capture it. All-out-WAR is what it feels like. Maybe it’s the advent of my 30th birthday just 5 or so months away (sidebar: ugh!)? Turning 30 is a milestone and instead of reflecting on all I’ve accomplished and who I am, I seem to have gotten bogged down in the mucky swamp of focusing on what I have not accomplished and what I am not, and I know, it’s just wrong. I should have left that in high school but I just haven’t.

I know that we can choose to be inspired or insecure because of other women, but I just wish I could break the cycle all together. Women are such complex creatures. We’re made so beautifully and for such a divine purpose but so many of us throw that all away at the expense of our spouses and families to “one up” the girl next door or the girl in the next cubicle or even a family member. We are capable of such ugliness. And what for? I think it was no mistake that Eve was the first to take a bite of that forbidden fruit. She was hungry for knowledge and power and she wanted it, forsaking PERFECTION to get a glimpse of the other side. Don’t we all do the same thing every day? We are blinded to all the wealth, love and beauty around us and are left wanting more and questioning everything. We are so in tune to what other people think or say about us, but completely deaf to the love and grace of God and our families and of those that truly love us and accept us as we are. Better than that, they rejoice at who we are and count their lives better because of us.

I know that I am so much more than what I give myself credit for. It’s one thing to let me beat myself up over such trivial things, but to take an extra step and continue to wonder what other people think of me… is just so pointless.

I was pondering all of this over the weekend and felt so convicted. I was having a war with myself over how to break the cycle and the quote popped into my head. It became so clear. I have been focused… on LIES. Satan is the father of lies and I’m eating up his poison like it’s candy. A picture even flashed into my mind of myself covered with demons whispering these LIES into my ears. And you know what? They had me right where they wanted me. They had me questioning all of the wonderful things and people I have in my life and who I am… God’s creation, fearfully and wonderfully made! These LIES have stolen so much from my life and so much joy from my heart and it stops now. Ladies, I am officially done competing with you. I am done wishing I had something that someone else has. I am done thinking that I’m not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, wealthy enough, skinny enough or successful enough. I am done letting joy leak out of my life. I am done taking for granted all the wonder around me. I am going to fall in love with my life this year. Every little piece of it. And, don’t take this the wrong way… but I don’t care what you think of me anymore. At least I’m going to work on getting there. I’m not eating up any more LIES. I’m craving TRUTH!

Project 365: March

2011-03-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we're on the way to EPIC FAIL with this Project 365 thing so, until I can get my stuff together, we're just going to call this a sort of monthly photo snapshot. As a bonus, since I've taken less photos, it's getting more artsy, right? Sorry, trying to stay positive. March was lovely and I like how the few photos do capture it. :)

Changing, but not Changed

2011-03-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

In light of what’s been going on all around us… the Japan earthquake and tsunami, the Libyan crisis, the crippled economy, and even personally in the difficult loss of a family friend this week, my heart has been very heavy. Though I want to just lie down and wallow in it sometimes, I feel God pressing on my heart not to give up. This is not how it was supposed to be. I have to remember that. I have to cling that there is something so much better in store for us. And, that we are not alone. I just pray that we can be protected from the dark potential that this world can cast on us. That we will fight. That we will try and change things, one moment and one person at a time.

Changing Us
By Brendan James

We’ve come closer than we wanted
We’ve seen what we never should
And we will not be the same.
We’ll never be the same, no.

Like steel we are so resilient,
Too much and we’re weak as children.
We were not meant to be
Made witness to these scenes, no.

Gunshots in a broken palace,
Planes crashing and burn around us
It’s different than it ever was,
Darker than it’s ever been

Three shouts and thank God I found you
With the crowd and the fog around you
I’ll never let you fall,
I’ll never let you fall

Oh Heaven can you hear us?
Right now we are not sure,
But I hope it will get better.
These times we’re in together,
They’re changing us forever.

Two kids in a crooked alley,
School canceled again and now
They won’t learn a single lesson
Except how to load a weapon

And right here on this old soil
We hope for peace and we pray for joy,
But like everybody else
We’re still fighting with ourselves.

Oh Heaven can you hear us?
Right now we are not sure
But I hope it will get better
These times we’re in together,
They’re changing us forever.

Perfectly Imperfect

2011-03-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

This is probably best shared if I start out telling you a little bit about myself. You see, because this fact sets the stage for what you're about to read. Or... if you give up a quarter of the way through, it gives you something to go, "Ah, so that's why she's so messed up." :) But seriously...

Fact: I don't deal well with feedback. Particularly, with criticism.

I know this. I'm working on this. And that, my 2 readers, is the hardest thing. Admitting your faults. Owning that you are not a perfect human. But that right there is the beauty in what I want to say with this post. I could actually probably summarize it that simply. We are not perfect. No one is perfect. And nothing, apart from God, is perfect. But instead I am sure to digress into many paragraphs of emotional vomit. Why? Because what I want to say is so vitally important and so LOST in our culture right now.

You see, it starts with this photograph:

It's a simple photograph, really. A dandelion. A springtime muse of mine. There isn't much to see and a lot to see all at once, which is the beauty of nature. It's simplicity and complexity. I took this photograph, at Christmas, while spending a wonderful holiday weekend with family. It was a great weekend and this photo reminds me of that time, the beauty of our seasons, and of my dad (but that's another story for another day).

One of my favorite things about nature is that it's beautifully imperfect, yet perfect by design at the same time. God does not make mistakes. Like this dandelion for example. This fluffy ball of stuff is just a cluster of seeds that will eventually dry in the spring sun, break down, catch a slight breeze and because of that perfectly designed propeller at the top of each little stem, float whimsically through the air until each seed finds a place to rest, roots into the ground and becomes another plant. But that's not where my passion comes from with this writing (though I could go on and on).

I recently joined a photography group/club locally, to fill a serious need for some extracurricular fun and to inspire and motivate me in my passion for photography. It was a stretch for me. Doing something completely alone and then opening myself up enough to a new peer group and eventually to the critique of my photography work was not easy for me. I was determined to make it great. The first assignment I got was called "Green". I submitted the above photo. Honestly, I was pretty proud of this photo. I thought I would fare pretty well during the critique, knowing that even though I'm not a professional photographer, I have my fair share of talent and experience behind a lens.

I was wrong.

Because, according to the group, there is something that pretty much ruined the entire photograph. Great composition. Great color. But...

Do you see it?

Come on, look really close. Maybe you saw it the first time?

Yup. That little yellow flower. Distracting? Ok, maybe. Does it ruin the photo? I really hope not. And not for artistic reasons. For something much deeper. I saw the little yellow flower while editing the photo. I debated whether or not to remove it. But I decided to leave it in. I didn't think it was earth shattering. The professionals did. "Such an easy thing to clone out! Why wouldn't they do it?" is what they said. "So distracting." "Really takes away from the composition." And more. But I didn't hear those words. By then I was shut down. But not because of the critique, as ego-shattering as that was.

One person came to my rescue. She stated what I felt in my heart. Journalistic photography is not perfect. Some things you shouldn't just crop out or clone out. It doesn't tell the true story. But... "yeah, they probably should have taken it out."

* sigh *

So, pride aside, why am I so upset?

I can summarize it this way. We are not perfect! Simple words, but they carry so much depth. Because, in this world, in this culture, we try and perfect everything, at any cost. Nothing is good enough. Not even nature! So, we airbrush. We edit. We cover up. We clone. We cut, stitch and abuse our bodies to fit an impossible mold of perfection. Not to pull the gender card here, but women have it so much worse. Open any fashion magazine and you will rarely see someone that is completely 100% real. Everything is an altered state. An idealized version of reality. But that's the problem. IT'S NOT REAL. The world is a mess. Our culture is a mess. The messages we pump over our airwaves and print in our media are complete lies. This is not how it was supposed to be. But we don't see it that way. We strive for the impossible and beat each other and ourselves up over it. But it's so simple.

We are not perfect.

I am not perfect.

I've finally been making progress in my life to not only realizing this fact, but embracing and loving it. Because I'm a child of God. And God doesn't make mistakes. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. And so are you!

I have stretch marks and scars (and I haven't even endured pregnancy and childbirth)! I always feel just a little bit fat. My teeth are slightly crooked. I'm pale. I have blemishes, puffy circles under my eyes and huge pores and soon... wrinkles. My house is always dusty. I'm as klutzy as can be. I eat way too fast and always get a stomach ache. I don't exercise enough. I don't deal with conflict when I should. Oh, I could really go on...

But these things are real and I've beat myself up about them for far too long. Even if I mastered and changed all of these things, it wouldn't make me a better person. Because God made me and he loves all these things about me. Because these things make me need Him more. And that's all he wants of me.

I'm not perfect.

But that's okay by me.

And so are little yellow flowers.

St. Patty's Day : A Wordless Entry

2011-03-18T18:48:00.000-07:00

Food Blog: Grasshopper Pie

2011-03-17T13:06:00.003-07:00

Happy Saint Patty's Day! I have absolutely no link to Irish anything, but it's sure a fun holiday isn't it? Though I didn't indulge (or haven't yet) in any green beer, we did have a fun little potluck at work today, featuring green foods. I don't know if you've thought about it, but in general, green foods aren't the most appetizing thing on the planet. When trying to come up with what I would bring, I was stuck on two things... guacamole (umm, yummm) and my grammy's Grasshopper Pie. I decided on the latter.

Don't worry, no real grasshoppers were harmed or consumed in the making of this pie. Though, with crazy food trends being the way they are (bacon and chocolate?!) I wouldn't be surprised. Grasshopper Pie is actually patterned off of a cocktail, and though I don't know the real history, I imagine it has something to do with the groovy 70s! :) It contains some obscure liqueurs that you might never have seen before.

Hint: just look at the very top or bottom rows at the liquor store. Anyway... the cool thing about this recipe is that it contains several things that I don't really care for...

First - the combination of chocolate and mint. Umm yuck! Anyone want toothpaste with their chocolate bar? I didn't think so. Sorry, I'm just not a fan!

Then - Marshmallows. Kind of weird when you really think about them. Sugar, gelatin and other mystery ingredients...

But, when combined together with a little green food coloring (also weird)... it's pure magic!

Anything that starts with an Oreo shell can't be bad...

Smooth as silk

Looks like something from Shrek, huh?

Grasshopper Pie
adapted from a recipe from my dear grammy, Josie Van de Stroet

20 Oreo cookies, crushed
4 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup half and half or whole milk
24 large marshmallows
3 T. Crème De Menthe liqueur
2 T. Crème De Cacao liqueur
A few drops green food coloring (optional)
1 cup whipping cream, whipped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Crush Oreos in a food processor (or crush in a Ziploc bag). Combine with melted butter and press into the bottom and sides of a pie plate. Bake for 6-8 minutes, remove from oven and set aside to cool. Cool in freezer if needed.

In a medium saucepan, combine marshmallows and half and half (or milk) over medium heat. Melt together until a smooth mixture forms (no lumps). Remove from heat and set saucepan into large bowl filled with ice to cool quickly; stir mixture as you do this. Stir in Crème de Menthe and Crème de Cacao liqueurs. Add food coloring if desired – make it greener than you think it should be because it will lighten up when you add the cream. Whip the cream until medium to stiff peaks form in a mixer. Fold marshmallow mixture gently into whipped cream. Pour into cooled pie shell. Set in freezer to chill and firm up for a few hours.

Take out of freezer about 30 minutes prior to serving. Garnish with crushed Oreos or chopped semisweet chocolate and a dollop of whipped cream.

Cooking Up Love

2011-03-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

This weekend marked yet another Spring Luncheon with the ladies of Grace Community Church, but more importantly, an afternoon with my mom. It’s just a twice a year luncheon, but it’s become kind of a tradition for us.

This year was another great one with the theme being Cooking Up Love in the Home. We had a great cooking demonstration (with tasting! Mmmm!), a lovely catered sandwich/salad and dessert buffet and an amazing speaker who shared about Cooking Up Love in her Home and opening up her home and heart for the orphans of Mexico and all over the world. She was incredible!

My favorite part is always spending some quality girl time with mom. Don’t we look more alike now with the same hair color?!

Dirty Dog

2011-03-08T21:03:00.000-08:00

The mix of warm and cold days, wind and rain and the general dustiness of our backyard has made for a very dirty Jackson. What does that mean? Bath time. Probably 2 of Jackson’s most un-favorite words. Mr. C is such a dear husband to undertake this grand task. Bathing Jackson is never easy. Jackson is a water dog… but only on his terms.

You notice that Mr. C is the only one smiling?

Mrs. C isn’t smiling much either though. Because, now the guest bathroom smells like wet dog. Why is that such a terrible smell?

Project 365: February

2011-02-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

Well, it’s safe to say that my attempts at Project 365 are a FAIL. February’s photos-a-day dwindled down to just a few. Regardless, hoping you still enjoy. Maybe Project 365 will become a 2012 goal? ;)

Food Blog: Black Monukka Sherry Cake

2011-02-27T21:04:00.000-08:00

My mom and I are ridiculously addicted to cake mix recipes. Not actualy recipes for cake mix (but that's in interesting thought, isn't it?), I should clarify, but recipes with a primary ingredient of some sort of cake mix. This may come as a shock, knowing that I'm a passionate baker and thumb my nose at most things that aren't "from scratch". But even I cannot deny the merits of cake mix. It's stood the test of time, simplifies life, and honestly, it tastes really good. Why do you think there are so many cake mix flavored products now, like Cake Mix ice cream. Am I the only one who can admit to eating cake mix on a desperate sugar binge? Good stuff, right?

So, when I came across this recipe in a newsletter from one of our favorite wineries, I had to try it. Of course, this might be because we already had this dessert sherry in our wine collection, but either way, it sounded good and ingredient #1 was cake mix.

I whipped it up tonight while the hubby was away playing basketball. Verdict? Mmmmm. If you're drinking it, or eating it, dessert wine is so yummy. I realize you may not be fortunate enough to have this particular wine on your shelf or in your pantry, and any dessert wine or dessert sherry will do, though I highly recommend Rotta's. Their wine is incredible and this dessert sherry is like liquid gold.

Rotta Black Monukka Sherry Cake

1 package yellow cake mix
1 (3.4 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding mix
3/4 cup cooking oil
3/4 cup Rotta Black Monukka Dessert Sherry (or other rich dessert sherry)
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and beat with with a mixer, 3 to 5 minutes, until thick and well mixed. Pour into a greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly golden and a pick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove and cool a few minutes before inverting onto a serving dish or cake plate.

Glaze:
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup half and half or cream
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons Rotta Black Monukka Dessert Sherry

Heat butter and half and half (or cream) in a saucepan over medium heat. Add powdered sugar and stir until smooth and creamy (about 5 to 10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the dessert sherry. Drizzle half of glaze over hot cake. Wait until cake and glaze are cooler and drizzle the cooled (slightly thicker) glaze over cake again, or drizzle a bit more over each slice before serving (you will have plenty).

We are FAMILY!

2011-02-20T22:15:00.000-08:00

As we get busier and busier at work and in life in general, we see less and less of our friends and family. We try and find time at least once every couple of months to make time to get together. Lately those have been Sunday lunch with family. This past weekend, however brief it was, we had a nice time getting together for a yummy build-your-own pizza and salad buffet! It was delicious and just nice to see everyone together again.

Plus you can't go wrong with pizza and salad, right??!

There's a whole lot of painting goin' on!

2011-02-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

With Ryan as roller and me as taper/trimmer/cutter in'er - we are unstoppable! Our walls are looking great. More pics to come when things are a little more pulled together.

The Hair and Now

2011-02-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

It's taken me a while to realize this, but I'm a very goal-oriented person. If you consider all of my To Do lists and the joy I get from ticking tasks off the lists on a day by day basis, it's pretty remarkable. But that doesn't even include my yearly goal lists (I prefer goals to resolutions) and my master list... my Bucket List. Out of all of these goals and plans, my favorite is when I get to cross an item off of my Bucket List. It means that I've accomplished something that I truly WANT out of life, whether great or small. Some of the items on my list are frankly, pretty stupid, but they are important to me and just things I want to do and someday have the pleasure to tell my kids and grand kids about. Some of the items are kind of surprising... like watching a sunrise or sunset. Can you believe I've never really taken the time to sit down and watch that happen?! Some are kind of fun... like getting to hold an exotic animal. I've done it twice now! As a child, I held a large toucan while at Ports of Call village in southern California. Just a few years ago, I held a baby alligator in the Everglades.

The year, I doubled down on my goals by making one of my yearly goals to cross 5 items off of my Bucket List in 2011. I started with a pretty "stupid" but drastic one...

Hint... there are before and after pics...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Notice anything different? Ok, I'm NOT crazy. I've been wanting to do this FOREVER. Not just to test the theory if blondes really do have more fun. :) I just wanted to do something completely different and live outside of my comfort zone. Though it's taking a long time for me to get used to it, I'm really loving it, and so is Mr. C. So far, brunette is where it's at!!

A weekend escape

2011-02-14T13:31:00.003-08:00

Every once in a while, you just NEED to get away. Actually, now that I’ve typed it, that’s an understatement. We pretty much ALWAYS feel the need to get away. The difference is actually being able to. I’ve noticed that as the years tick by, adulthood takes over and the ever-growing list of responsibilities make these getaways less possible. This is a grim reality in our house right now… and we don’t have kids yet! I’ll put that terrible realization aside for a moment and share of our most recent getaway.

Stress was mounting in our home and making it difficult to relax even in our off hours. Mr. C could tell that a meltdown was on its way, so he planned a quick weekend trip for us to the Paso Robles/Templeton area. We stayed with some distant family (second or third cousins) who turned out to be just the most lovely, hospitable and enjoyable people. We are so thankful they let us (including Jackson!) stay in their beautiful home.

We got to sleep in and relax, in between being treated to a wonderful breakfast out, some time to peruse the shops in downtown Paso, eating other yummy meals and just enjoying each other’s company again.

A highlight was our brief trip to Moonstone Beach; a favorite spot of ours in Cambria. We even found a small stretch of the beach that allows dogs and got to expose Jackson to the sea and sand. I think he enjoyed himself a lot. And, I know that we did.

Cupcakes make everything better!

Our favorite winery

Valentine's dinner out

The drive home was another story…

Apparently we weren't the only ones who didn't want to go home.

The hills are alive, with fresh white powder

2011-02-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

For some reason, Mr. C never gets sick. It doesn't make sense. He's exposed to the same things every one else is. He doesn't eat his veggies. :) He's just as stressed as the rest of the world. But the man just doesn't get sick. Though I wouldn't consider myself a "sickly" person at all, I usually pick up at least one cold or bought of the flu once a year. This year's quota was met this past weekend where I picked up a cold while traveling in San Diego for work throughout the week. Though it wasn't as severe as some I've had, by the time I got home from my trip, I was wiped out and in need of some serious rest.

As timing would have it, we were supposed to be heading up to the mountains for a much anticipated ski trip with our neighbors in Huntington Lake/China Peak. Not wanting Ryan to have to miss out on something I know he'd been dying to do, I sent him out on his own and made a healthy dent in the couch. I know the trip was great, because Ryan came back with that "glow" that men get when they attend a really great sporting event, do something super manly, or do something they truly enjoy. Ryan is this way with skiing and with hanging with his "bros". I'll let his pics tell the rest of the story.

I think I was supposed to be in this one? Ryan says I need to use the magic of Photoshop

I'm sad to have missed the trip but happy that Ryan got the chance to ski with his buddies. I know that sweet white powder has been calling his name. I hope we get the change to get back up to the snow before it melts all away.

Project 365: January

2011-01-31T17:11:00.000-08:00

Yet another one of my goals for 2011 (and one I'm failing at miserably) is to attempt to complete Project 365. Taking a photo a day for a year seemed simple at first, but as time passes on, it's hard to commit to it, and often, hard to find something in each day worth taking a photo of, even with a less than high quality cell phone camera. As a result I've modified my goal and entries like this will morph as I do this, but I'd like to just make a better attempt at capturing our lives in photos (not necessarily EVERY DAY, but in each occasion that merits a photo). Here is month 1... hope you enjoy...

Sick as a Dog

2011-01-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hellllooo out there? Thanks for tuning in, even though we haven’t updated in weeks. Blogging is a funny thing. It’s really simple at its most basic core – just writing about life and posting pics and all of that - but once you get out of the practice and element of doing it, catching up seems like a monumental task. And that is precisely why this site is frankly still “lucky to be alive”. I’ve often thought of just hitting the DELETE button and wiping it away. One less thing on my To Do list. One less social outlet to feed. But then, I’ve also thought of re-making it into something more fun, more generic, more scattered and less personal. I guess I’ll resolve to do nothing now… but to catch up.

The last few weeks have been rough ones for Mr. C and I. This new year of 2011 with new promises and goals hasn’t been as kind to us as we had hoped. Mr. C is strong and steadfast and seems to be the one holding it together right now. I wish I could say the same for myself, but I’m trying. When I felt like it couldn’t get much worse (why do we even bother thinking or saying such things? It can always get worse!), it did.

Just a week or so ago, our pup Jackson, who, I will preface with this fact – is like a child to us - became suddenly and gravely ill overnight. Though it seemed he had lost a little “spunk” over a few days, by Monday morning, he had thrown up a ton of blood, and was curled up, lethargic and weak, in a ball in our garage. Mr. C promptly took him to the vet, where a battery of tests revealed nothing and everything all at once. Our pup was definitely gravely ill… but from what, they could not tell us. By the evening we were forced to transfer him to an emergency vet for overnight care. I took one look at him and knew, we were going to lose him. We weighed out our options and tried to stay strong, but when the decision to proceed with treatment or surrender to this illness and let Jackson go came, we broke like glass. We can’t describe the pain and heartbreak of being faced with a decision like that, with such financial strain for something you love so dearly and with so little answers to guide you along the way. We decided to wait out the night, give Jackson a chance to reveal what was going on, and sleep on it. After a tearful goodbye, which we really thought would be the last, we headed home to try and rest. The sadness and sickness in his eyes was overwhelming. My heart literally ached in my chest.

After a sleepless night, we arose, numb and broken, to head to the vet. In our minds, that day, we were doing to put Jackson down. The decision, however painful and difficult, was made. I can’t describe the shock we felt as we arrived and Jackson was led out into the waiting room. A dog who was all but circling the drain 12 hours prior looked over 50% better. He wagged his tail. He licked our hands. His eyes were starting to sparkle again. We were dumbfounded. We continued to be dumbfounded the rest of the day as the vet informed us of his constant improvement. By the end of the day, he was ready to come home. And, though tired and still a little weak, he was happy to be home and nestled right into his pillow as if nothing had happened.

And now, a week later, he continues to improve. Though he’s on every medication possible and has to be fed and monitored every few hours, he’s becoming good ol’ Jackson once again. We still aren’t sure what happened, and neither are the vets (hence, the endless supply of pills – they’re treating him for everything) but we’re grateful.

We’re so grateful for the incredible care that both of our vets and all the techs and staffs gave to Jackson. He seems to really touch people that come in contact with him. We’re grateful for each new day with him and a second chance to love this dog. So, what started as a bit of tragedy has become a mark of miraculous healing power. Let’s just say… this dog is going to be mighty spoiled from now on!

Celebrating Milestones

2011-01-16T09:52:00.000-08:00

There hasn’t been much to report on the home front. The new year brings new things but also means the return of our same old routines as well. Back to work. Back to bible study. Back to housework. Back to To Do lists, grocery stores, home improvement, paint samples, treadmills, counting calories, dog walks, bills, meals, laundry and dishes. Though, I have to add, I wouldn’t trade this life for the world. God has been good to us this year and 2011 is sure to be another one chock full of blessings.

Last night we headed out to celebrate one of those blessings at a Milestone Banquet for my work. It’s hard to believe I’ve been with the company for 5 long years. Not only am I overjoyed to have a job in these tough times, I’m proud of all of my accomplishments there and blessed that Mr. C was there to help me celebrate. We had a lovely dinner and fun times at the Marriott and I was awarded with my certificate and an upgrade to my company ring (2 lil’ diamonds).

My hot date!

Christmas. Part Deux

2011-01-01T21:26:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011!!! Our New Years celebration was great, despite an hour or two without power. We chatted, ate and drank the night away with our dear friends/neighbors. In true fashion, Mr. C and I re-enacted the New Year that started it all – 2008 – when we shared our very first kiss, just a minute or so after midnight due to Mr. C and his shyness? Hesitation? I don’t know. All I know is that we became a couple later that morning and New Years has a special place in my heart ever since. We just have to add in that pause when it strikes midnight every year. ;)

But today we had a little bit of a rewind and celebrated Christmas #2 with the Punt family. Though my mom tried to be strong I know it was pretty hard on her to not have either of her kids or family around for Christmas this year. We opted to celebrate on New Years Day and had a wonderful time together. Of course we had to indulge in a potluck of “snackies” (appetizers). It was delicious and fun!

Any excuse to stay in your PJs, right?

Fondue!

It’s good to have my bro’s new family involved because it means Christmas once again has children and… TOYS! The boys seemed to really love their gifts, but I really have to confess, I think the adults loved them just as much. Especially the Hot Wheels racetrack!

It was kind of fun to celebrate two Christmases this year. It made the holiday season last just a little bit longer and gave us an excuse to leave the tree up for a little while longer. It was hard packing everything “Christmas” away this week, but we’re excited for what 2011 will bring.

Just what do I do with myself?

2010-12-31T20:06:00.000-08:00

The title is the question I’ve been asking myself all week. For the first time in a long time I’ve got Christmas Eve through New Years off of work. This week has been a taste of what it would feel like to be a stay-at-home gal or even working from home. All I can say is “Mrs. C likes!” It’s been a fun week but not very relaxing at all. For though I’ve been off of WORK, I really haven’t stopped working. I’ve just turned my energies into work on the house and all the things that remain on my To Do list for weeks at a time because I can never find the time to get them done.

It’s hard to describe all that’s happened this week. The excitement of clean carpets, hung pictures, balanced bank accounts, organized photos and a painted office doesn’t really translate well via blog. And, it leaves my husband baffled when he asks me what I did all day and I say “oh, stuff”. I think I could spend a lifetime doing this “stuff” and never be done. But, the house is really starting to look nice and feel more organized and that makes a crazy detail-hound like myself rest a little easier at night.

The Office - Before:

The Office - (not quite "After" since we still have some work to do but...) with PAINT:

Eventually I'd like some nice white built in desks/storage.

I'm thinking some canvas prints of some of my photos might look nice here.

After painting the office I fear that Ryan and I have caught The Painting Bug. Something about getting fresh and beautiful color up the walls makes you want more. And, after seeing that fresh, beautiful color on the walls, it’s hard to stand the white. I never thought it possible, but white walls can be terribly depressing. We’ve gotten braver with our color choices and are going to move on to the living room shortly… with a rich espresso brown. I’m terrified and excited at the same time!

Other than that, we’re preparing for the brand new year. 2011! Wow, I still can’t believe it. This week has been an exercise in forming my goals for 2011. I don’t believe in resolutions for lots of reasons, but I strongly believe in goals. I don’t set many time limits. They are 2011 goals, so I just hope to achieve or work on them in 2011. There are no failures, as long as I try. I’m looking forward to sharing some of these in the coming weeks and months. There are some fun ones in there!

Tonight we’re headed out for New Years celebration with the neighborhood. Again, I can’t stress how happy we are to have formed such great friendships with our neighbors. And, this should be an interesting celebration, because as I type this, we’ve just lost power. :)

Christmas # 1

2010-12-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

It is so hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone and that 2011 is right around the corner. I remember being in high school, thinking that just a few months after I graduated it was going to be the year 2000 and thinking it was so strange to enter a new century. Now, it feels like I blinked and we’re already over a decade into it. But before I jump that far head, I want to revel in Christmas a bit longer.

This Christmas we headed up to Northern Cal to visit with the in laws. Though it’s always wonderful to take a little journey and spend time with family, Mr. C and I both agreed that it was very difficult to leave our new Home Sweet Home and spend Christmas on the road. It didn’t really settle in until plans were already made that we wouldn’t be spending our first Christmas in our new home. Though we love our family, part of us ached to not be able to start building Christmas traditions in our home. We have already agreed that in 2012, it’s all about staying home for Christmas. I can hardly wait!

On Wednesday night, as I quietly predicted to myself, Mr. C got a “bee in his bonnet” about leaving early. So, instead of heading out on Thursday morning as planned, we packed up the car (which in itself took over an hour – you’ve never seen as much stuff as we crammed into that car, including our dog) and left on Wednesday night… at 9 pm… arriving at 1:30 am on Thursday. Ugh… though it was incredibly exhausting, it WAS nice to wake up in a warm bed that morning after sleeping in very late. Rest was in order and rest is exactly what we did for most of our 4 days in Willows. Jackson served as an example for all of us in that respect. Oh, and Pop too. ;)

We did venture out of the house just a few times. The first was the first night, in which we all headed up to Chico to feast a Sierra Nevada Brewing (one of Ry's personal faves and something he'd been craving for a while). It was a wonderful time of laughter and great food.

Dear friends Tim and Amy... Take 1

Take 2 - Tim, we think it's hopless. You are the "Chandler" of photo subjects. ;)

Pop and Mummy - can you see why they make such handsome children?!

The hubbs and the most terrible beer on the planet

Just the two of us

Jenee and friend Chris... he's going the way of Tim with these pics. ;)

Pop, trying the most terrible beer on the planet.

He's a good sport.

The boys also ventured out the next day for a motorcycle ride, taking advantage of a break in the rain, while the gals did some cooking and chatting. Pop got a beautiful new bike and was just itching to go on a ride with his son. They look so cute all geared up and ready to go!

Of course, we had to get Jackson out for his daily exercise too. He really enjoyed the fields at Mr. C's old school!

One of our favorite Corum family traditions is the one that happens every Christmas Eve and one that Mr. C. and I have added in as one of our traditions as well...


PIZZA!!!

...and Christmas Eve service, of course!

We awoke on Christmas morning to an absolute mountain of presents. The photo doesn't do it justice. The living room was literally at least half full of stuff!!! The Corums are spoilers, or should I say, their Love Language is Gifting. We were again overwhelmed with their generosity. We had a wonderful time opening gifts, laughing, and building some fun memories. One such involves Mummy and I won't share to spare her the embarrassment but we'll be talking about it for many Christmases to come!


Say CHEESE!!!! :)

Before we knew it, it was all over and time to head home after church the next morning. Mistakenly, we believed that after unloading a car full of gifts in Willows, we would have more room for the drive home. We neglected to remember how much we would be bringing back due to the loving generosity of our family. I do have to say, the only one that truly suffered was poor Jackson...

I've got to hand it to him, he didn't even flinch when the box fell on top of him.

What a truly great and memorable Christmas. Thank you Mummy, Pop and Jenee for taking such good care of us. We're blessed to have such a family. Merry, Merry Christmas.

"Bestie" Christmas Ever

2010-12-21T14:36:00.000-08:00

Last night I experienced the incredible joy of celebrating Christmas with my “bestie”. Though this is an annual thing for us, this year we opted to dress up a little bit and head to the fancy pants Depot for dinner. :) The rain kind of threw a wrench in us trying to look elegant and classy and made it even harder to tote around our gifts for each other… but we survived.

We had a great meal and a great time catching up before exchanging gifts. I’ve been dying to give Miss Shells her gift for weeks now and she loved it just as much as I hoped she would. Of course, she rocked me with a slew of wonderful gifts as well.

It’s such an awesome thing in your life to have someone who knows you almost 100%. Someone who can look at you in seconds and realize that something is either gravely wrong or that you are filled with joy. Someone to listen and help you analyze the longest, most drawn out story and be as excited as you are with the little things in life. Miss Shells, you are the best “bestie” a girl could hope for and I wish you the happiest of Christmases. You will always be one of the best gifts in my life.

After we parted ways, Mr. C and I were up until well past midnight baking and preparing for the rest of the week. If you can believe it, that was actually the first time we had baked together. It was fun teaching Mr. C some of my tricks and watching him whip up a yummy Starlight Double Delight Cake (chocolate peppermint cake) while I tried my hand at making a cheesecake. It was the first time in many many years and seeing that my mother in law is the Queen of Cheesecakes, I was not feeling super confident. We haven’t tasted it yet because it’s for our Christmas dinner with neighbors tonight, but I’m crossing my fingers that it will be good. At least the title sounds good… Pumpkin Bourbon Cheesecake! Right?!

Peace on Earth

2010-12-21T12:10:00.000-08:00

Though it took a little longer this year, I finally found the song to bring my “Christmas tears”. Without fail, as I hurry around all December long, in between work and home, scurrying around town and running errands I usually have at least one moment where I come to a screeching halt (at least in the emotional sense) upon hearing a special Christmas song. This happened several times last year… to the point I even contemplated why I was such an emotional wreck. Almost every other song had me tearing up and praising the wonder of the Christmas season. I really experienced Christmas in my heart last year.

I was beginning to worry this year that I would never really have that moment. After all, we’re in the single digit countdown to Christmas Day, and I'm feeling kind of numb to all that is around me. As strange as it may seem, I like having this little breakdown every year. It’s like God and I are trying to have a conversation all month long and I can’t hear him over the blaze of activity that this season brings. But there is a moment. Just one moment. Where the clouds part and all the craziness around me dies down, and I hear Him. I hear him speaking to me in that one song.

I’m very happy to say that I had that moment this morning. Upon hearing this song, I smiled, started to cry and sighed in happiness. I hear you speaking to me and I got the message.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
version by Casting Crowns

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And the bells are ringing (Peace on earth)
In my heart I hear them (Peace on earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing (Peace on earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on earth)
Does anybody hear them? (Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does He sleep
(Peace on earth, Peace on earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

For the bells are ringing (Peace on earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on earth)
And in hearts we'll hear them (Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they're ringing? (Peace on earth)
They’re like the angels singing (Peace on earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men