the place that is LP

The wait is over. the LP pics have been uploaded. We had a Fabulous trip as always at my favorite place in the world - lake powell. I am so glad we go there every summer, it's something I look forward to all year. For full slideshow click here.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

LIVIN THE LIFE
ANASAZI RUINS
SWIMMING in 80º WATER
WESTERN NIGHT
THE PROFESSIONAL SURFER
ME WAKEBOARDING
STEVE WAKEBOARDING & FLIPPING
KISSING COUSINS
LAKE CANYON RIVERBED HIKE
BAYWATCH BABES
CHILLIN IN THE MALIBU
ROCK CLIMBING
SLOTS HIKE
STEVE CLIFF JUMPING
STEVE'S NEMESIS - HOLE IN THE ROCK
TOP of HOLE-IN-THE-ROCK, record time 28 min.
PIRATE NIGHT
HEADED into THE CAVE
CAVE GIRLS
THE FAM IN THE CAVE
THE WHOLE CREW

to return to regular blogging

I have been away on vacae with this baby for a week. Envious LP pics soon to come.

happy fourth

(HD) A More Perfect Union from Andrew Sloat on Vimeo.

the title of liberty

I think for 5 years running the Title of Liberty Organization has been flying this field of flags here in the Falls.
There are thousands of flags and the group aims to promote the belief that citizens of free nations can only maintain their liberty by living true principles and by being a moral people. The Founders of the United States of America understood these principles of liberty and drafted a constitution that secured the perpetual liberty of the people so long as they remained moral people and elected virtuous leaders. They sacrificed and laid down their lives for the principles of liberty that many of us have forgotten.

I just drove by here and wanted to share the spectacular site and what it stands for. Happy Pre-Independence Day Everyone!

currently posting from my hometown

yeah that's right, 4th of July in IF!

07.02.79

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE! This cool guy was born 29 years ago - that's right, 29. I am only 3 months and 3 days behind him though. This guy expanded his t-shirt wardrobe for his birthday and bought some sweet Oakley's. (a.k.a. mr cool) He did have to work on his birthday so I made a big breakfast of Martha Stewart's Buttermilk Waffles with vanilla bean, scrambled eggs, and bacon and we spent the morning shopping at the mall - just what that guy loves, haha.(no, really)
If you are questioning the bananas that is because Steve doesn't like cake that much. He requested Cinnamon Bananas Dessert for his birthday. It is the most delicious. You just melt a few tablespoons of butter in a saucepan on medium, throw in a few bananas (peeled obviously), brown on all sides. Then roll them on a plate full of sugar and cinnamon, cut in half and place in a bowl. Add a scoop of Breyer's Dulce de Leche ice cream on top, a dripidge of caramel and a dash of cinnamon and then you will have the most delicious dessert.

daniel & joanie's wedding

Daniel and Joanie were married in Orlando on Saturday and we were glad we could attend the party. Daniel was a good grad school friend of Steve's. It was a fun weekend hanging out with all of Steve's pharmacy friends again. We even did a little salsa dancing, thanks to the Wilson's ;)
Walking down the aisle; the happy couple; part of the wedding party
Josh Jenkins and girlfriend Stefanie; Cliff & Rachel Blanchard; Steve and Me
Orlando History Center (where the wedding/reception was); the guys - Josh, Steve, Mike, Cliff
the girls - Rachel, Me, and Bethany
Joanie's awesome dress; tossing the bouquet
Outside with Sparklers; Sending them off
Thanks for the party you guys! We had a blast!

roadtrip to orlando

We headed to Orlando this past weekend for a wedding for Steve's friends from grad school - Daniel and Joanie. The Blanchards (couple on the left) ever so kindly let us house up with them (at his parents house) for the weekend. They were great hosts and Steve was loving the convenient hot tub @ the house every night. This pic was Friday night at the dinner party before we headed to CityWalk with everyone from the wedding party to hang out for the evening. Good times

apps for bunKO night

Spiedini of Chicken and Zucchini with Almond Salsa Verde

Salsa:
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
3 tablespoons capers, chopped
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced


Spiedini:
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
6 small zucchini, cut into 1-inch slices (about 1 1/4 pounds)
Cooking spray
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation
1. Soak 12 (10-inch) wooden skewers in water 30 minutes to prevent burning.

2. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.

3. To prepare salsa, combine first 12 ingredients; set aside. (food processor helpful)

4. To prepare spiedini, thread chicken and zucchini alternately onto each of 12 (10-inch) skewers. Coat spiedini with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Place on grill rack; grill 6 minutes or until done, turning once. Serve with salsa.

You're Like A little American. With your little American Body.

ORGANIC SCHMANIC
The concept of organic food is smart but it has become quite a marketing ploy and trendy lifestyle to me turning people into crazy fancy pants shoppers a.k.a the enclosed video. I saw this on designmom last week and thought it was hilarious and worth a share.

oh mediate...

you gave a good fight.
I was rooting for you man. Killer game today.

c'mon rocco!

snack of choice

My friend Pete was questioning my lack of posts so this ones for you PETE-AH. (our lives have been pretty chill lately)

I LOVE berries, probably my favorite genre of fruit I think. I've been buying containers of these and just snack on them by my computer while working. Blog World, WHAT ARE YOU SNACKING ON THESE DAYS?

small love

just a warning - these are addicting:
I've been wanting to make these ever since I saw them on bakerella and I ended up making them twice in one week. I tried out these cupcake pops over a weekend in May and brought them to Sunday dinner. It seriously makes like 50 so I had a couple to bring home. I was eating these for breakfast the next few days and finally took the rest to a meeting to get them out of my house. Steve worked all Memorial Day weekend so I used my me-time and made them AGAIN for the linger longer on Sunday.

Although a bit time-consuming, they are fun and taste super good, I suggest you MAKE.

mother's day break-FEAST

For mother's day I decided to make a big breakfast to celebrate the day. I love watching the Food Network and I saw this episode on Barefoot Contessa once and have wanted to make the breakfast. I will tell you that is was de-lish. We had Challah French Toast (I used Brioche bread), Hashed Browns, Creamy Scrambled Eggs with Cheese and Chives, and Bacon.

Thanks for the being the best mom!

the LASERSHOW

One of the classic things to see here is Stone Mountain which my parents had seen but had not experience what is...the lasershow. They have a bunch of lasers choreographed to music and shine it up on the mountain. It's a pretty good southern time. You can also hike up on top of the mountain which we did almost a year ago or take a tram up the mountain which we did like three years ago. Stone Mountain is claimed by some to be the largest exposed granite 'stone' in the world. Three figures of the Confederate States of America are carved there: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.

Dinner picnic, good 'ole fried chicken
These two could eat popcorn all day...seriously
View of the show

aquarium fascination

So I am still catching up posts from the parental visit and one of the best things here to see is the aquarium. We'd all been before except Kurt so we needed to show him the wonders under the sea. Here are some highlights:

my favorite - jellyfish
the giant aquarium window - the whale shark and me
Grouper, whale shark, balooga whale
icebergs in the arctic

atl botanical gardens

For Kandis' birthday on May 7 she wanted to go the Atlanta Botanical Gardens (a favorite place of mine & I got engaged there) and my parents had never been so it was the perfect afternoon outing. They had a really cool exhibit going on throughout the gardens called Sculpture in Motion.

One of our favorites was the Self Organizing Still Life (‹‹ watch video here) where the balls would stay still if there was no sound, but if you clapped or sang then the balls would move and rearrange themselves.

go to the pool or build a deck

Somehow the Barlows convinced my dad to help build a deck for a day while they were out here visiting. Kurt arrived Monday night just in time, lol. The boys worked on the deck Tuesday while the girls went to the pool. What would you opt for?