Alexi and Beth's Engagement Pics

Beeth (Beth) just sent me the link to their engagement picture.

They are so cute!

Oh, and how jealous am I of their photographer's name - J-Lowe!!! haha ;)

You can see the slideshow on JLowe's Blog.

Enjoy! :)

Pigeon Key

Here is a little slideshow shoping you just how much fun we had on our private island in the keys this Thanksgiving. One of the things I was really thankful for this Thanksgiving - my bubba. Without my bubba, my family wouldn't have had such a great vacation. :)
Thanks B! :) rove roo!

my birthday cake

I've been trying to post these pictures for the last few days. Of course my home computer wasn't cooperating - i was cursing it all the way. Come to find out it was operator error, not system malfunction. Whoops.  ;)

On to the real post now....

I just wanted to say thanks to Alli for a great birthday. She invited me over to her house for my birthday. She cooked a super yummy dinner and then we sat down to watch some telly. Then Alli surprised me with a birthday cake! Check out how cute it was!!! :)

Thanks Al for making my birthday night great! :)



I also wanted to post a pic of some of the flowers Bryan got me for my birthday. There were a really pretty fall arrangement.

Grandpa Armand

My mom sent me these pictures the other day. They are of my grandfather's produce market that he used to own. We don't know the exact dates these were taken, but we estimate sometime in the 60's. They are pretty cool to see how far we've come!!!

I think I might have my gramps to owe for my love of food. :) What a cool guy he was! Miss ya gramps!    (Excuse the white box at the bottom of each picture... 
i didn't have a chance to edit them... i'm just the poster!!! haha)










Notice how the eggs are just chillin' in the sun???  haha


That is my gramps with the baskets... my uncle David is the kid next to him.


This last picture is of my gramps and gramma.  My gramps is the one downing the beer.  My gramma Jen is the one next to him in the peach colored top.  :)

100 in 1001

So today is the day I post my 100 in 1001.  It will be posted in here, right now, but also for future refrence it will be posted on the right hand side of your screen FOREVER!!!  ;)  That way you can see what I've accomplished.  I know 1001 days is a LONG time...  so this is one way to have these goals in the front of my mind until August 9, 2010.  

Just to recap...  100 in 1001 is a set of 100 goals that I'm going to try my darndest to complete in 1001 days.  1001 days will take me until 3 months before my 30th birthday.  I figured now is as good a time as any to accomplish great things!!!  :) I'm really excited to get started on this!!!!  

Ok, here goes!!!  :)

1. See the Northern Lights
2. Learn to crochet
3. Be aware of posture
4. Learn to throw things away
5. Update blog at least twice a month
6. Paint 10 paintings
7. Take at least two cooking classes
8. Throw at least 4 dinner parties
9. Pay off credit card debt
10. Pay off Baby
11. Purchase a bedroom set
12. Call Grandparents once a month (at least!!!)
13. Visit the Lauray Caverns - get a picture taken under the natural bridge where Gramma Jen and Gramps got their honeymoon pic taken
14. Finish writing this list!  Yay!
15. Inspire someone else to write a list
16. Frame at least 10 of my photos
17. Sew a dress for myself
18. Keep a plant alive
19. Grow herbs – cilantro, basil, sage, parsley + more!
20. Use the herbs you grew!
21. Send care packages
22. Call friends more often
23. Go fishing
24. Take more pictures
25. File pictures intelligently
26. Visit Gramma & Grandpa’s graves
27. Make a quilt with fabric you already have
28. Join a small group at church
29. Tithe
30. Create a budget and stick to it
31. Clean house regularly
32. Tackle the clutter
33. Make handmaid gifts for people
34. Drink more water
35. Say I love you to someone every day
36. Decorate for the seasons
37. Visit at least 2 foreign countries
38. Plan a surprise romantic weekend
39. Stop drinking soda
40. See a real opera
41. Sort, file & trash mail once a month
42. Make perfect Italian bread from scratch
43. Adopt a dog/train a seeing eye dog
44. Host a girls night/Chick-a-cation
45. Take a self-defense class
46. Dress more like Jess/Jennie
47. Save $800 just for a shopping trip
48. Play my piano
49. Get piano professionally tuned
50. Buy a convertible
51. Buy a piece of property – anywhere!
52. Visit Godmother Lorraine and Becht
53. Visit gramp’s sisters and learn recipes from them
54. Archive Grandma Jen’s photo albums properly!
55. Be conscientious of other people
56. Enjoy Bobby Flay’s steakhouse in Atlantic City
57. Enjoy Morimoto’s restaurant in Philadelphia
58. Use the cookbooks I have more often
59. Visit Yellowstone National park again.
60. Have my own URL – get off of Blogspot.
61. Look into and seriously consider culinary school.
62. Work on cookbook idea
63. Be assertive! Don’t let people use you!
64. Get an expensive haircut at least once a year!
65. Get into an exercise routine
66. Lose at least 20 lbs
67. Two words – surprise party! : )
68. Save more money
69. Learn more about the life of Esther
70. Spend a weekend away alone
71. Random acts of kindness
72. Take care of brothers
73. Monitor investments more carefully
74. Each year contribute more to 401k
75. Visit Oregon (Canon Beach)
76. Make a “Tastebook” with family recipes
77. Learn to blow glass
78. Read books for enjoyment
79. Read the bible regularly
80. Write to my sponsored girl Erika G
81. Visit Erika in Ecuador
82. Connect more with J. Faatz in Germany
83. Learn to cook more vegetarian meals
84. Save more MONEY!
85. Design my blog myself!
86. Email people back more promptly
87. Handwrite more notes to people
88. Reflect more on the good things in life, and be thankful.
89. Get couches recovered
90. Buy an expensive handbag
91. Attend 10 year High School Reunion
92. Track birthdays of friends, and SEND CARDS!
93. Prepare to share a life with someone else
94. Get a massage
95. Get a pedicure
96. Be kind to others
97. Be generous
98. SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS!
99. Cherish loved ones
100. Be happy with yourself

My Birfday!

So for my 27th birthday, my best buddies, Alli, Robby, Jess, Jennie, Brian and Bryan took me to dinner at Marrakesh. Yummy!!

This is Bryan and me knocking on the secret door to gain entrance to the restaurant.

When you sit down to dinner, you get your hands washed!  How cool!!

Jennie and Bryan in front of our plate of DEVOURED chickens. We resembled vultures.

Jess and Robby

Bryan and Alli

That's me! I'm getting my birthday treat! A piece of baklava with a sparkler and a glass of wine :)

The birthday girl says THANK YOU to all of her friends and family for a GREAT BIRTHDAY! :)

ps - keep your eyes peeled for the 100 in 1001 update!!! It will be posted tomorrow!!!

At least I'm smarter than you...

According to a new research study published in London's Sunday Times says that Curvy women are smarter than their skinny competition!!! HOlla...

you can read more:

http://www.physorg.com/news114062670.html

and

http://www.styledash.com/2007/11/12/curvy-women-are-smarter-than-you/


Finally a good thing about being "curvy"!!! hahaha

Way to go HUGO! :)

This Tuesday was VICTORY DAY for Tim Hugo.
Way to go Team Hugo!  :)

Check out the pics from the victory partaaaayyy!

My Brother (Campaign Manager), Tim, and Julie



Sara, Tim, Robby



Signs galore!



George and Corey

Mick and his woman ;)

Jak

I finally got to babysit for one of the cutest kids EVER!  
Lil' Jak.  
I used to work with his momma at the ATS.  
Jak and I had a great time eating ravioli and playing with his trucks.  :)

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee
Emeril Lagasse

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped
6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar plus 6 tablespoons

Heat the heavy cream, milk, and vanilla bean in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Place the egg yolks and sugar in a heatproof mixing bowl and beat until pale yellow in color and all of the sugar has dissolved. Temper about 1/2 a cup of the cream mixture into the egg mixture and whisk vigorously to incorporate well. Add the remainder of the cream mixture to the bowl and whisk vigorously to incorporate. Strain the brulee base through a fine mesh sieve and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pour the custard into 6 (5-ounce) oval ramekins or gratin dishes, and place the dishes in a sheet pan or roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come up half way on the sides of the ramekins. Place the pan in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 30 minutes, turning the sheet pan around after 15 minutes to ensure even cooking. To test for doneness, jiggle the pan slightly to see if the custard is set, if so, remove from the oven and let cool at room temperature before placing them in the refrigerator for 2 hours to completely cool. Once the brulee has cooled, evenly spread 1 tablespoon of sugar over each ramekin and using a blowtorch, caramelize the sugar to form a candy coating. Be sure to keep the blowtorch moving in a circular motion to prevent the sugar from burning. Serve once the sugar has cooled and is hard like candy.

So I had to post this recipe, because it is one of my FAVORITE things to do with Vanilla Beans.  Emeril isn't my favorite always, but I'm sure his Creme Brulee recipe is TASTY!!!!  :) I am trying to win 1/2lb of vanilla beans. Holy cow. That would be suuuuch a great present!!!!  Go to this site, and enter.  If you win though, you better share some beans with me!!!!  :)  You have until NOv 7, 2007 to post.