Europe 2K9

Back from an amazing trip to Europe! Oh, so much fun! I can't believe it's already over.

Top 5 Memories from Europe 2K9

5. Saying Saint Germain with a heavy French accent over and over again (and Fondue and Voila)

4. Alia getting flipped off by a hooker in the Red Light District

3. French Onion Soup

2. Appel Bols

1. The Shelf Toilet

Thanksgiving 2009

Although I was out of the country and not with family this Thanksgiving, I was still giving thanks with a few of my closest friends. As we feasted over a fantastic dinner, I was thinking of the things in 2009 I'm most thankful for thus far.

5. My health

I continue to be healthy and rarely need to see the doctor.

4. My job

My company has thrived this year and I continue to enjoy my work and my co-workers.

3. My travels

Brian and I have been fortunate enough to visit several new places this year, something that is very important to us both.

2. My friends

I smile when I think about how many great, loyal friends I have who make my life richer each day.

1. My family

I have an amazing family that loves and supports me - the longer we live far from them, the more I miss them.

Taste Test

Last week, I hosted a "Battle of the Pumpkin Bread Mixes". I had picked up a box of the Pillsbury Quick Bread mix, missing my Trader Joe's mix. Meanwhile, Christina was sensing my longing for TJ's mix and sent me some. So, I baked two loaves in a week and compared the two. BY FAR, Trader Joe's wins the gold medal. It was spicier and more moist than the Pillsbury mix. Too bad stupid TJ's won't come to Colorado.

Oh, Denver.

Within the last month, we've had three visitors - Chris, Nikki (and Pat), and then Meesh (technically, she didn't come to visit...she's here for work and we had dinner). Each of these friends said to us "It's awesome here! Why do you want to leave?". Oh, Denver...I do love you. Too bad you're missing something big.....my family and a chunk of my friends!

Puppy Memories

I found these two videos while going through some Riley-puppy pictures tonight. They made me giggle and long for another puppy. Then again, I don't have any videos of him chewing up shoes or getting up twice a night to go out and pee.....

Enjoy - Riley and what came to be known as his pee-pee duck...

Lesson Not Learned

Dear New Contigo Travel Mug,

First, I'd like to thank you for not being a liar. I read your packaging before I made my purchase of you and I saw that you promised to keep my drink hot for 12 hours. I should have trusted you and taken you seriously. However, I did not. I assumed you were like any other jerk of a mug, not living up to your advertised uses.

I filled you with coffee, piping hot from my Cuisinart Brewmaster at 6:50am and I took my first sip from your nifty no-leak opening about 35 minutes later...only to burn the shit out of my upper lip. I think you actually went above and beyond and heated my coffee up further.

I should have listened to Brian's warning via text from an hour earlier "be careful with the coffee, it never cools down". I never learn my lesson with hot food and beverage items. I burn my tongue twice a week, at a minimum. But now I've done it....I've never burned my lip like this. Thank you, Contigo Travel Mug, for giving me a second degree burn on my upper lip.

Sincerely,

Gina

Pie!

Tomorrow is my monthly book club night. Lisa is hosting and the menu is "southern" since the book was set in Mississippi. I loooovvveeeeee Derby Pie so I decided to find a recipe and make it for tomorrow's book club gathering. I'm not a fan of Pecan Pie, but this is quite similar but instead of pecans and molasses....it's walnuts and chocolate chips. Delish!

Kentucky Derby Pie

1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tspn vanilla
2 tbspn bourbon

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together sugar, corn syrup and eggs until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into unbaked 9 inch pie crust. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until set.

BBBOOOOOOTTTTTSSSSSSSS

I want these boots!!!!!!!! They are soooo cute and they fit around my "athletic" calves and don't bunch around my ankles and they aren't too tall, but they are soooooooo expensive. To buy or not to buy?

Sittin' Chicken

Last week when Chris came to stay with us and help Brian after his surgery, he bought us one of those beer butt chicken steamer contraptions. We used it the other night and got a fantastic roasted chicken out of it! Brian stuffed the cavity with an onion, used McCormick's Montreal Chicken seasoning on the skin and used a Dundee Honey Nut Brown ale for the beer. Steamed up some red potatoes and some green beans and.....voila! A fantastic dinner!

Sweet Surprise

Today, at work, a surprise was delivered to me - flowers! Brian sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers to say thank you for taking care of him after his surgery and especially driving him to work every morning at 6am. I LOVE getting flowers at work and now I get to look at these for a good week! Thanks, Bri.