Traveling Here, Watching This

I haven't downloaded any pictures from our weekend away yet, but it was a wonderful loooong weekend spent with friends, family and LOTS of fun!

We celebrated an exceptional wedding of our dear friends Joey and Shannon at the Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, NH. Despite the tornado warnings, fire alarm (that caused the entire resort to evacuate a mere half hour before the ceremony), and the actual ceremony that became an outdoor/indoor wedding as the rain picked up after the introduction from the justice of the peace...it was STILL a beautiful event. Even with all of the challenges, they were troopers throughout the whole experience; holding hands and smiling through it all. Laughing and gazing into each other's eyes as if to say, "none of it matters, we're here together doing this!" And as they began their actual vows to one another, the most brilliant rainbow I've ever seen shown brightly through the window covered wall behind them. It was breathtaking.

We I enjoyed a yummy smore while warming up by the campfire in the evening hours on Friday night after the rehearsal dinner, followed by a nice run at the fitness center the next morning. I had been hoping to get some tennis in, but since Joey was the groom, I decided Andy should take him out to the courts instead. They had a great game and I think it will become the beginning of their ongoing game for the entire summer. Maybe next time we'll play doubles!

Even the drive home in the rain was gorgeous as the clouds hung low in the sky and grazed the mountain tops. I didn't want to come home, but instead wished we could stay up there for a few more days. Not to worry though, I think we'll be heading back that way sometime soon...maybe a nice little getaway for our second anniversary. (hint, hint; wink, wink.)

Until then, I'll just make myself comfy and watch a little of this on the couch with my Smooch and the Monkey cat...yup, life is good.

Time at the Lake

It has been such a busy week; almost feels like I haven't been able to catch my breath the last few days. However today, amidst all the hustle and bustle, I got a text message late in the day from Auntie Lynn asking if Andy and I were around tonight to come by the lake house. I knew Andy was busy with tennis team practice and then heading over to his dad's to help move some furniture, but I gladly accepted the invitation with a smile. I knew I had plans to get to the gym and go to the grocery store after work...but sometimes the chores just need to be put on the back burner for an hour or two.

In times of turbulence and sadness last year I had gone to the lake to spend time with family and often felt brought back to a place of calm and peace. Sometimes it was the talks, sometimes it was the company, but mostly it was just something special in the place. There is an unexplainable warmth and love that surrounds me when sitting by the water and in the sunshine over there. 

I spent the afternoon hours catching up with Auntie Lynn and Uncle Paul and planning for future afternoons we're sure to spend there with them this summer. I sat on the new boat and put my feet in the cool water. I laughed and squealed in delight as we kept seeing a rather larger turtle peek his head out of the water at various times as he swam closer and then further away. I took a deep breath, stepped back and JUST ENJOYED THE MOMENT! It has been the best decision I have made all week. Thank you both for that and thanks for sharing your afternoon with me...it means the world!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Recipe Calculator

As promised...Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe was indeed attempted this weekend thanks to the help of pickycook.com and a reminding boyfriend. We give them four very enthusiastic thumbs up!!! I'm pretty sure Monkey cat would also raise a paw to them if she was allowed to eat them, but they did contain chocolate chips, so Mama said "No." They also made the house smell delicious and you can't complain about that! I think Andy especially enjoyed them; he'd been over at his dad's house mowing the lawn for the afternoon and was surprised to see me removing them from the oven just as he walked in the door.

Although I would have enjoyed mixing the ingredients in a KitchenAid Mixer that I've had my eye on for a while now...I am practicing my skills of less needless consumption and resurrected the ancient food processor that my mom gave us while cleaning out their house in NH a few months ago. I think we've already used it 5 or 6 times, and I'm sure Mom would admit that's probably more than she EVER used it in the last 20 10 years!

      

When I tried my first recipe from pickycook.com, I noticed that many people left comments on the recipes and blog posts and had received comments/answers back from the blog's author. I had been wondering about how to figure out the nutritional content of the recipes and their serving-size calorie count, so I figured I'd test my luck and leave a comment requesting the info from the writer. To my delight, she wrote me back today and suggested that I search for a recipe calculator on google.com (mentioning that she had been able to find one previously).  My mom won't be surprised to learn that Sparkpeople.com (the site that she LOVES) had my answer: Recipe Calculator!!! You can add your ingredients, list your servings per recipe and VIOLA...nutritional information compiled. Good stuff!

Below is what the calculator figured out for the cookies. I'm sure the recipe was supposed to make more than 20 cookies, but we like our cookies a little bigger around here, so I adjusted my scoops accordingly. With 220 calories per cookie, one is certainly enough to satisfy a sweet tooth after lunch or dinner, yet also leaves you with a full belly at the same time. Bake some for/with your family this week!

Nutrition Facts Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
20 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		220.2
Total Fat		11.2 g
	Saturated Fat	6.7 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.9 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	2.6 g
Cholesterol		29.3 mg
Sodium		94.3 mg
Potassium		112.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate		36.1 g
	Dietary Fiber	3.5 g
	Sugars	16.9 g
Protein		3.2 g

Question of the Week

I've been looking into taking another art class for approximately 6 years  a month now. Hahaha...truth be told, it has been about 6 years since I took my last art class when I was a college student (with the exception of a digital photography course I took for work and various scrapbook/card making classes) and I swore I would NEVER stop. Well now it's six years later and I have yet to pick up a pencil or paintbrush just for the pure joy of standing at an easel or peering down at a notebook on my lap and just creating art. Sad isn't it?

Well now that I've started talking about it more seriously in the past few weeks, it's time to make a decision and sign up for a class...to paint or to draw? What do you guys think?

OR

Photos courtesy of artist #1 and artist #2

Strawberry Preserves

Well, unfortunately the preserves didn't turn out exactly as I had planned. They weren't as thick as I thought they would be, so perhaps I didn't boil them long enough. Oh well, they still tasted sweet and yummy on my english muffin this morning.

I'm afraid that I also couldn't get Andy to try any so the jury is still out beyond my opinion. I'll bring some extra jars in for co-workers tomorrow and see if we can get some more feedback seeing as how we currently have SEVEN little jars worth in the fridge!

In other recipe news, I forgot that I already committed to making oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies next. So be on the lookout for updates with pictures over the weekend. Happy Tuesday. :)

Aprons and Smocks

...ok, already time for random thoughts from me. Aprons and smocks are probably two of my favorite things in the world! When I'm wearing either one, it means I'm being creative and that puts a smile on my face.

Recently Andy and I decided to clean out the "bad" food in our lives and introduced a "whole food" diet into our home. One of the best side effects of this effort is finding cool recipes on websites and cooking/baking a lot more. So far, I've made lemon poppy-seed muffins found here and I'm excited to try some other recipes from that same site. Maybe the carrot cake pancakes or the red velvet cupcakes next. YUMMY! The photos on her site are just as yummy as the food too. Wish I could get my photos to that level!

Tonight I tried canning some fresh strawberry preserves from a Yankee Magazine video. I haven't tried them yet, but the little jars looked oh so pretty lined up. I'll let you know how it turned out tomorrow when I try it out over a wheat english muffin for breakfast. Maybe Andy will even give it a try!

A Fresh New Look

I've been playing around with updated designs on the ol' blog today...trying to get back into the swing of things with posting my daily thoughts, happenings and overall inspirations...as well as some photos! I'm trying to get back to my artistic roots and bring my creativity out of hiding. We'll see how it goes, but I'm hoping it re-ignites my crafty spirit.

Andy decided to join in on the fun as well...although I think he mostly wants to RANT about the heartbreak that the Bruins caused us all last night! Hehehe. I think he also wants to keep friends and family updated about his day-to-day activities and his semi-professional sports commentating that occurs quite often from the couch. He hasn't posted his first entry yet, but a little someone I know helped set him up with a customized banner to get started. Check it out when he posts and leave him some words of encouragement so he keeps up with sharing!

And while we're on the subject of sharing...here's a fun flower picture from Hawaii last year! Man, I can't wait until we get to go back.

A Picture Says a Thousand Words...

Saw this image on my friend Steph's blog today and it stopped me dead in my tracks...

A lot of craziness (both good and bad) have been occurring in my life over the past six months. And just when I thought I was finally starting to figure things out; I was thrown for another loop! I'm choosing to see this as an opportunity to slow down and really think about what I want in life. Realize that it truly does "all happen for a reason" and stop focusing at finding that light at the end of the tunnel and figuring it all out, but instead paying attention to all the beauty and life that lives inside the tunnel and see what it has to teach me along the journey.

Image from notebook doodles.

Thanksgiving Day Recap in Photos

Andy and I hosted Mom and Dad for Thanksgiving this year! Here were some photos from our day together.

I know I'm a little behind...but stay tuned for Christmas photos and "holiday" cards that will be going in the mail this week. Yup, you guessed it...they were originally Christmas cards, then they became New Year's cards, now they are "holiday" cards. Andy suggested I just hold off until next year, but I refuse to give up the good fight of crossing everything left off my holiday to-do list. Hehehe!

And Another Year Begins...

Well, it's been an awfully looooong time since I've posted anything and that is just not acceptable. Even if I can only post a quick thought or quote of the day...or just post a quick snapshot from the week or a song lyric that stuck with me for the day.

Andy even asked me if he can join in on the postings or if we can start another blog about our adventures together; which I thought was a fun idea, but reminded me even MORE that I need to get back to updating my own blog first.

Soooo, to ease back into things a quick list of "goals" for the new year, since I've never really been one for "resolutions," and my word of the year inspired by Ali Edwards:

1. Get back on track with my running and complete at least three 5Ks

2. Complete the two-week triathlon with my Mom in February

3. Give people the benefit of the doubt more and try to see things from their point of view before forming my own opinion (work and personal)

4. Forgive

5. Make time for ME

6. Be easier on myself

7. Reconnect with friends and try harder to stay in touch

8. Create a budget and stick too it

9. Visit Dunkin' Donuts less often :)

10. Find my creativity again

And in honor of the "one little word" concept, my word for 2010 is GRATITUDE. This past year has included a lot of emotions and feelings...excitement, happiness, pain, sadness, loss, anger, regret, love, strength and many more. Over the past few months, I have taken a step back and forced myself to find the good in life and hold onto the things I appreciate the most...family, friends, health, happiness and the overall belief that things do get better; that life does go on; and that YOU are indeed in charge of your own happiness and the window that frames how you view your little world. I'm ready to say goodbye to 2009 and look forward to all the happiness I will create in 2010. The future's so bright...we've got to wear shades!