Merry Christmas Sweetest P

To my favorite Fly- Fisherman ...

Santa told me that you have been a good boy! He also told me that he wants you to have CUSTOM WADERS!

Love,

Santa-Wifey

Oh Christmas Tree!

OH Christmas Tree is right! The dear hus has always wanted a monster of a Christmas Tree and this year he got it. The beast is 10 feet tall and beautiful. Unfortunately the pictures don't really do it justice, it is damn pretty. We have a ton of ornaments (yes I do have an ornament problem) and the gazillion boxes we have didn't come close to maxing out the tree. It looks so pretty at night!

Tonight I finished shopping, wrapping and baking. I'm exhausted and ready to head to Ventura to make tamales. I absolutely love that I am part of the tamale tradition now. On Monday I will be covered in masa, freezing my butt off, drinking coffee with all of my favorite auntie in-laws, Grandma Stella and cousin in-laws!

Amy's Baking list for 2008

Rocky Road (2 batches)

Dill Crackers (2 batches)

Granola

Peppermint Bark (awesome!)

Peanut Brittle (why does this damn stuff elude me so?)

Peanut Butter Kisses

Banana Bread

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

*And my mom made me persimmon cookies!

This tree deserves a name ... and a future spot in my compost bin!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Denis, Amy & Jakey too

Old Friend and new

A few posts back I featured a picture from Brenda and Leah's wedding. I had the most amazing time watching my best friend wed the love of her life. She has great taste, well both of them have great taste. I saw this picture a few days ago and was struck by how the photographer captured all of our personalities.

Leah had a post on her blog that brought tears to my eyes. She is truly more than anyone could ask for in a friend. We laugh, we cry, we scream and damn did we dance at her wedding!

Enjoy your honeymoon ladies. This damn state of New York is down right cold this week. Have a fruityvodkayumbrellasporting drink for me!

We trotted our hearts out!

In an earlier post I told everyone that Denis and I were running the Oceanside Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. We had a fantastic time even if the pics don't look like it. The running bug has bit me again and I hope to run at least one more race before the end of the year - maybe a New Year's Race!

Okay, so it was a Monday Dinner

We are bringing back the special dinner of the week segment on the blog! Normally it is a Sunday dinner, but since we were gone three days and were exhausted we had crap in a can for dinner on Sunday night. Not much for the picture takin'/blog postin' Sunday dinner.

Instead, this week I feature the Monday dinner. Yep, there it is above. We had Veggie Stew with a little Sheff twist. The recipe came from a blog I just discovered and I llloooovvvveee it ... the blog, the recipe and the Christmas ornaments (pics and post to come) I am going to make.

This awesome soup had spinach, pinto beans (with jalapenos to delight the husband), couscous, diced tomatoes (I used rotel for extra spice), zucchini, garlic (extra for the hus), corn, wine and elbow macaroni. Damn, was it good. It was even better for lunch this afternoon. The hus gave it 9 out of 10 stars which is A LOT coming from him. Please don't tell him I found the recipe on a vegan website, he would freak!

Turkey Trotting!

Tomorrow the hus and I are Turkey Trotting in Oceanside! I have wanted to run this race for a few years now but we are always up north. This year we aren't heading to Ventura until the late morning so that means we have time to Trot our little hearts out! Yes, we are leaving our house at 6:40am for this race. I probably should be taking bets as to whether the hus will actually get out of bed.

This afternoon I picked up our registration packets, bib numbers and the best part the T-SHIRT! The new clothing is my favorite part of any race.

I'll try to post pics of the race. They should be fun, funny and probably pretty bad.

So how have I spent my Thanksgiving Eve you ask, well I baked of course. Since 5pm I have made Pumpkin Gingerbread, Banana Bread, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins and the best Dill crackers ever. Crap, I need to run this stupid race just to work off all the tastings I might have done while baking!

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, so, so ready!

The time has come for me to finally be home for more than 32 hours. I am so excited to spend some quality time with my bed, my TV, my kitchen, my husband and my dog! This past trip has been a long and tiring one. Crap, I feel like a whiny brat complaining about being burned out ... I should be happy that I have a job!

Last week I left home on Tuesday late morning, drove to LAX, spend two days traveling around LA, went down to San Bernardino, then down to San Diego, home for a few hours, flew to Oakland, had a presentation in Hayward, drove to Stockton (yes another beautiful hot spot of CA) then to Cameron Park! Man I am tired just talking about it.

I'm now sitting in the airport waiting to get home. There are two ridiculously annoying people standing on either side of me having a full on conversation like i don't even exist. No, I don't really care that you are having "body work" done on your Subaru Mr. Annoying-As-Hell and no Ms. Feeling Sorry for yourself, I don't care that you don't have anyone to call and tell about your day and 100% don't care that you don't look like you drivers license picture anymore! Good God, don't tell me! I couldn't make up this crap if I tried!

Cynical Shefferd, way too cynical and maybe a little bit bitter!

Out on the trails

We are lucky enough to live right in the middle of miles and miles of great hiking trails. Between weekend hikes and Denis on his mountain bike, we have been able to explore almost all of the trails. Jake loves to go with us, but it has been so damn hot that he has had to stay home.

Not today! We were woken up last night to crazy wind and rain. I was so excited that I couldn't go back to sleep. There is nothing like listening to the rain and wind howl (no laughing or mocking me)! This morning it is still cool, cloudy and windy. So we took advantage and of course went hiking complete with fleeces and beanies!

My favorite Budd

Better late than never for our Halloween pics! At 2:30m on Halloween the hus informed me that we were going to a costume party ... thanks for the warning. Needless to say my costume wasn't very creative, but his made up for it a million times!

So Sad to be a Native Californian

Enough said. Really people, are you kidding me?

Apparently we care more about chickens spreading their wings then equal marriage for all?

No Need To Say Anything Else!

How could you deny these two lovely ladies?

As the hus says "No on 8: Stop the Hate, let the Gays Congregate"

Heading to the 'No!

Well the time has come once again, I am heading back to my hometown otherwise known as the "No". Why you ask (I would be asking the same thing)? Well it's time for Leah & Brenda's Big Day! I can't wait to see her and her entire family and more importantly introduce Brenda to Fresno. She has "No" idea what she has been missing - pun totally intended.

Every time I head to Fresno I have such mixed feelings but with visits to my Godparents, Jen, the Williamson clan and hopefully the Beerock Shop I could very well survive!

I'll be sure to post a ton of pics when I get back.

Amy

"You can take the girl out of Fresno, but you can't take Fresno out the the girl"

Fall leaves, fried biscuits and $2.69 a gallon!

As I sit in the airport enjoying my last few minutes in Indiana, I feel compelled to write down the highlights on my trip here. It didn't even dawn on me that I would be here to watch the leaves change colors. To most people in the country this is something they see every year, well not me. Palm trees aren't to hip to the seasons and well we never get cold enough to enjoy the orange, yellow and falling leaves. I am truly my moms daughter.

About 25 years ago my parents loaded my sister and I on a plane to go see the leaves change in New England. At that age I could've cared less, but now it is so awesome.

One of the greatest things about Indiana ... FRIED BISCUITS! Yes, you heard it right. I enjoyed some midwestern friedness yesterday. While working at IUPUI I was able to sink my teeth into the culinary delight. O.M.G. I wish I would have had a camera with me. Thank God I don't live here because I would fear for my own heart.

Last highlight - Last night I had to fill up my rental car so I didn't have to do it at 5:45am. It was only $2.69 a freakin' gallon. I can't remember the last time I even saw gas in the $2.00 range! Chances are these prices will never make their way back to us, but it sure was nice.

Minus all the McCain signs and the visit from Sarah Palin today, Indiana gets a thumbs up from me!

Little Sheff on the Prairie

So this week I am out traveling once again. Back to Dayton, Ohio and add another state to my list of "visited" ... the great state of Indiana!

This afternoon after working for most of the day in Dayton I jumped in the car and drove a few short hours to Indianapolis, Indiana. As I was driving I kept noticing fields of corn, hay - real live hay, pumpkins and other crops I couldn't name. Felt like I was out on the prairie driving on the flattest, straightest road ever. Welcome to the mid-west Sheffy!

This trip isn't over yet. I'm making a stop over in Chicago later this week and then finally home. It has been a month since I have been in a hotel so I thought I would start big with 5 consecutive days in a hotel. Ahh, it almost feels like home ... minus the snoring dog and husband, smokey air (yes, San Diego is on fire again) and nasty Santa Ana's.

That is Engine Nighthawk Palin to you!

Earlier today my favorite celeb/all things entertainment blogger posted one of the funniest things ever.

The Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator! Of course I spent a ridiculous amount of time typing in names while laughter tears ran down my face. This is more addicting then a 7th grader doodling her name with her boyfriends last name!

Wishing you hours of laughs,
Engine Nighthawk Palin & Drill Swollen Palin and the dog Filter Skate Palin

Man oh Man ... I mean Wo-man!

Lady get in your car and take your bridge to nowhere!

Can you talk about anything besides:
1. energy
2. hockey moms
3. My personal fave "Joe Six Pack. Who is he and who let him into the party?
4. "Drill baby drill"
5. I thought it was "Wall Street caused the Main Street Issues" ... you mixed this one up and said "Main Street Issues caused Wall Street" issues. Shame on you lady!

And NO you can't call him JOE! That is Senator Biden to you!

Not happy about this AT ALL!

I am still in banking mourning. How could it be? My bank, my last attachment to my Seattle U days, what is happening?

Last week while in Ventura I logged on and found my precious bank ... SWALLOWED UP!

Sorry, I don't love Chase and their name is stupid too. WAMU always made me feel like the "hip kid on the block", the young investor, the bank that I could ask $20 bills printed after 2001 (yes that is what they required in Bali), the bank that I trusted.

Damn, this one is going to take a long time to get over.

Thanks DQ for the pic. Yes, I blatantly copied it from your site. What is a girl to do? I'm in financial mourning, you know?

I'm Melting!

Last time I checked it was October 1st. Apparently someone forgot to alert San Marcos of the fact that it is FALL!

About a hour ago our thermometer outside in the backyard read

Yep, that is 97 degrees. This is absolutely ridiculous. I finally had to turn the AC on because it was 86 degrees in the downstairs of the house. You couldn't pay me enough to walk up those stairs right now. I bet it is something like a million degrees up there.

Please make it go away. I want to make chili and cornbread, wear my Uggs (no comments), bake to my hearts content, curl up on the couch with a blanket and a book ... not have to fill my water bottle with ice four times in a day, not sleep on top of the sheets, not watch my poor dog sprawl himself out on the tile.

Fall please come soon, I am begging you.

Signed,

Sticky, Sweaty and NOT cute in San Marcos

I pick D

I guess I have been having a little bit of a writer's block, or I have been busy with work, or I have been busy with family, or I have been sick but most likely it is all of the above. Yep, that's it (D) all of the above.

The travel season is gearing up, emails keep piling up and the fun never ends. Last weekend the hus and I were in Ventura to spend time with his family and I was able to see my cousins daughter be crowned Junior Class Homecoming Princess. My god, she looked so beautiful, so grown up and did I say beautiful?

I'll be sure to post pics later!

9021 to the hiz-0

I have to admit that I love the original 90201 and I love the new updated version just as much! Tonight ... we heard "Donna Martin Graduates", saw Brenda and Kelly get into a fight and found out about the Baby Daddy! Lots of old skool fun for me.

Bring it on favorite zip code, bring it on.

Top Sheff & Co. take Manhattan (and Brooklyn)

Finally we have some pics of NY to post. We had a great time and I was able to enjoy Manhattan more than ever. I might be there every six weeks, but I never have been able to do the touristy thing!

On Sunday morning after the crazy ass storm passed we met my co-work and favorite blogger NineDaves at Friend of a Farmer. For those of you who know Denis and I well ... know that we HEART eating breakfast out. Friend of a Farmer was right up our alley. Thanks you so much Dave and Ariel (in route on the Fire Island Ferry).

After eating an amazing breakfast we jumped on the subway and went to the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. The weather was perfect and not a cloud in the sky. They say that there is a calm before the storm but apparently there is also a calm after the storm.

We had a great time and got to experience some of the best views of Manhattan from the bridge. I highly recommend everyone doing it at least once. Being born and raised in California I am partial to the Golden Gate but the Brooklyn bridge is just as impressive and you get to walk right down the middle of it.

Denis loves to take the pictures but doesn't like to be in them. He must have taken 100 pics off the bridge but we only got one of us. LAME.
This summer there is an Urban Art Show going on with 4 waterfalls throughout the harbor area. On Sunday we got to see all four of them from the bridge and DUMBO (no not the elephant for your West Coasters).
The hus took a picture from my favorite park of my office. I work on the 35th Floor. Let me tell you that building is designed to sway in storms. More than once I have sat in an office and watched the building move. NASTY feeling if I do say so myself.

Said Park puts up screens and has live feeds of the US Open every August. It is a lot of fun to sit in the park on the mock bleachers and watch some good tennis. We saw Serena take the tournament on Sunday.

Denis really does love the city and has convinced himself that he has figured out the subway system. I do love not having to rely on a car while in NY although it does feel good to come home and get in your car. We must have walked 10 miles while in NY which enabled us to eat everything in site ... man did I take advantage of that!While walking back from my birthday dinner at Lupa, I saw this building! I do love my husband ... but he is NO saint!
Birthday girl! Not too bad for 32, no makeup after a night of drinks, apps and dare I admit ... karaoke!

We arrived

in New York and so did

HANNA!

Corey and fam got hit by Hanna last night with just rain, wind and some branches blown around. We are now sitting in our hotel room watching the buckets fall out of the sky. I must say I do love the rain but I don't so much like the 80 degree weather and 85% humidity!

We are off to dinner as long as we don't float away!

I Heart NY!

Tomorrow Denis and I leave at the crack, well before the crack of dawn for NEW YORK! I have to be there for a few meetings this week and the hus is tagging along. So far I have a dinner planned for us at Lupa, one of my favorite NY restaurants. It is so damn good, a little birthday treat for me.

I've been going to NY just about every six weeks for a little over 2 years now. Funny how I feel like I am now going to be a tourist in my second home. The pressure to be a tourist in NY can be overwhelming. Maybe we will hit the Met, definitely a trip to Brooklyn, some quality time in Central Park and lots of good food.

Keep your fingers crossed that we get some nice weather. Those damn hurricanes can be such a pain!

Denis & Evan's after dinner antics

We had Ronnie, Celeste and the boys over for Pizza night on Sunday night. After dinner Denis gave each of the boys a napkin to shred ... yes I am still finding pieces of napkins but it is worth it!

Make sure your volume is up because this is damn funny!

Stand & Deliver ... in 3 months!

This weekend while watching the twins (okay so we were driving around because they were asleep), Denis drove by a furniture place. The hus loves going into furniture places and through the years I have been able to convince him to stay away from crappy, veneer-y furniture. If we are going to buy something, it better be real wood with a lot of character.

Why were we looking for a new piece of furniture, specifically a TV stand? Well Denis caught me at a huge moment of weakness and was able to get his stupid dream TV. For about three weeks we have been the owners of a ridiculously large TV and Blue-Ray DVD player. I must admit the clarity is amazing but I could have lived without it for sure. Sometimes a wife must please a husband with large electronics though!

So back to the stand ... while I sat in the car with the boys Denis happened upon a place that specializes in custom pieces. That is exactly what we needed since our dimensions are weird!

We fell in love with Chris and Joan (from South Africa) and I am sure that this is not the last thing we will have them create for us. Now, we just have to wait three months.

In Honor of

Top Ramen's birthday earlier this week, Denis felt the need to recreate what he calls "Eggy Ramen". Oh my, I didn't think I would really be eating Top Ramen on a Friday night in my 30's. The Hus never ceases to amaze!

So for dinner Denis asked for Top Ramen (Chicken flavor), with egg, soy sauce and pepper. What??? Are you kidding me?

I have to admit I tried his creation and I would love to say it tasted like stale, salty garbage ... but I can't. I'm still shaking my head in embarrassment as I say, it tasted pretty damn good. A little extra protein with the eggs and of course a little extra sodium with the soy sauce, Top Ramen a well-rounded dinner makes.

So you've noticed that I didn't posted a picture of our creation, well I couldn't handle posting a picture that included every item being a beige-ish color. This one should stick with us for awhile. We desperately need help!

Halloween came early to San Marcos

So I've taken some crap from a few of you about decorating for Halloween already. Maybe the pics will make you understand why. I do love spiders ... not live ones in my house ... but cute fake ones. No bloody Halloween for us!

Maybe this year I will really dress Jake up like a ghost. I'll be sure to have a hole for his big nose!

This one was most definitely made with love from my mom. She is so freakin' creative and crafty.

Treadmills SUCK

This afternoon I drug myself to the gym to get in a 30 minute run to help me reach my 1/2 marathon goal in October.

So I was running, doing pretty good, minding my own business when some guy got on the treadmill next to me. Within seconds I could tell/smell that he was an over cologne-er. It was nasty! I couldn't breath, I was getting pissed off, I wanted to tell him to go take a freakin' shower BEFORE he worked out. ANNOYING!

Well since I was so pissed off my run went by fast. Anything to make a run go by fast on a treadmill is okay by me ... but not stinky cologned men.

A Week Has Gone By ...

and I haven't posted anything, not even one lousy post. What kind of a blogger am I? Well, my mom was in town this week and we had SO. MUCH. FUN.

I am so lucky to have such an awesome mom. We lunched with some cousins, had fish & chips by the beach, curled up and watched the Olympics at night and my fav ... we decorated my house for HALLOWEEN. Yes I said it, we shopped and decorated for Halloween. Keep your eyes peeled for pics of the new Halloween set up. It looks pretty damn cute if I do say so myself!

I wish my mom lived closer so we could do things like this more often.

The Trumpet Guy

Yesterday Denis went to the track as a work function .... uh let me see if this legit? Turf Club access which equals free food, free alcohol and a chance to see the trumpeter. The hus has found his dream job. No, not as the replacement trumpeter!

Since the hus doesn't bet he thought his time would be well spent sending me cell phone pics of his day. Gotta love him, gotta love him. I am a lucky girl!

He was so excited about the guy below. His email to me said something like "post this on the blog"! I find it funny that Denis takes ownership of the blog, but doesn't ever contribute.

We aren't in California anymore Toto!

This morning I flew into Denver for a presentation and of course had to make a bee-line to the bathroom when I got off the plane. As I walked into the bathroom I noticed a sign that said "Tornado Secure Are"! WHAT??? Are you kidding me? If there is a tornado I am supposed to run for the bathroom.

Apparently those in Denver believe we should segregated the sexes during a tornado! I wished at that moment that I would have had a camera.

Oh the joys of traveling!

Love me some Nelly Furtado

So the training officially started last weekend. I am doing the City to Sea 1/2 Marathon, but that is boring old news.

Needing to get a run in today, well I should have run Tuesday AND today, I headed to the gym. I though it would be a good change of pace and different scenery. Since it 2008 I decided to run with my ipod for the first time. Yes, i said it the first time. I never did get sucked into the vortex known as ipod land but it might have happened today.

I jumped onto the treadmill and who started belting out "She's a Maneater ..." known other than Nelly Furtado. She made me run a little faster, work a little harder and made me want to be a little more of a maneater!

As I was grooving to Nelly I looked up at the TV and some trashy soap opera was on. I watched for a minute and managed to figure out most of the story line without hearing a line of dialog. This distraction running is real good. And then she caught my eye! A girl I went to elementary school with was on the screen in front of me. Now Bullard TALENT (Teaching Able Learners Exciting New Techniques) has produced some damn good singers, actresses and dancers. Yes, we performed our little heart outs.

Yvonna Kopacz was the main star! Crap I went to school with her, her two little sisters and Sharon Leal who has played Mimi in Rent.

All i do is peddle textbooks. Look what good that performing art education did for me!

Well distract me any day with Nelly Furtado on my ipod and I will run my heart out, won't be staring on Broadway but dammit I will cross that finish line!

Ready to Become One with the ...

Tarantula!

A few weeks ago I was sitting at my computer one evening (okay every evening) when i heard Denis say "Holy $hit, there is a spider in the house". Those of you that have been to our house know that we (Denis) tend to leave doors open to get the awesome ocean breeze and we (me) spend a lot of time vacuuming bugs out of the windowsills.

Since we live against a small mountain we tend to get all sorts of wildlife. Most of it we really love, with exception of the rattlesnake the first summer we were here, the tarantula that stuck itself to the side of the house for an entire day while Jake drooled. The dog is a hunter, what can I say?

We have seen tons of coyotes, hawks, quail (we get a family every year), owls, huge crows and a bunch of other critters that are just fine OUTSIDE.

Back to the comment from the hus ... I slowly turned around knowing that it must be impressive if Denis said something about it. Good God there was an effing tarantula on the wall of my kitchen. I do pride myself on handling spiders, lizards and the occasional mouse that Jake catches ... but a big ass hairy tarantula in my kitchen. I jumped out of my chair and started screaming that woke up Jake who Denis grabbed as he saw the tarantula. YUCK!

The hus saved the day and got that nasty spider out of my kitchen. The next day I ordered new screen doors!

City to Sea ... 13.1 miles is really freakin' far!

Alright I am publicly making a commitment to run the City to Sea 1/2 Marathon in October. I've told a few people about this, but I have been wavering until I completed my 4.5 mile run today.

I know that 4.5 is far short of the 13.1 I will be running in October, but a girl has to start somewhere. This morning Denis and I ran along the coast in Carlsbad. It was nice and cool and I did a lot better than I thought I would. Other than the fact that I thought I was starting to get a migraine on the way home. Denis and I have been napping on the couch for the better part of 3 hours. This running thing isn't that bad after all.

Isn't it a little ironic that the only endurance races I have done are in San Luis Obispo?

Okay Jen - I am throwing my running shoes into the ring. See you in SLO on October 12th!

Happy National Chocolate Pudding Day!

Bet you didn't know that July 26th is National Chocolate Pudding Day? I didn't either but I will definitely celebrate this tonight! We are heading over to the fams house for our summer weekend fun of dinner, dessert and Mexican Train. Since I am in charge of dessert tonight we will be having CHOCOLATE PUDDING for sure.

How about chocolate pudding, with brownies pieces and cool whip? I'll be sure to post pics later.

Pink Grapefruit & Fresno

Bear with me on this one. It is Friday, it has been a long week and I am feeling a little nostalgic.

Earlier this afternoon I was a little hungry, but damn it is hot outside and I want something cold. I open the fridge ... and there I see it. A beautiful pink grapefruit. Man, does it look delicious. I grab it out, assemble the necessary grapefruit eating utensils (bowl, spoon, cutting board) and a knife. Here is where I get all mushy and nostalgic. Yes, over a knife.

I start cutting said grapefruit and immediately think of my mom. Now this could be because she is finally coming down to see us next month, or it could be that I am thinking of something Kate from John & Kate + 8 said (yes I watch that show) "we live in our house, but THIS is our home". Crap, I have to back up already. My mom always made sure we had a ton of fruit and veggies around while we were growing up. I thought everyone ate plums, apricots, artichokes, grapefruit, apples, grapes and everything else pretty much right from the fields. My dad would often bring home boxes of seasonal fruits from out in the area he patrolled ... come to think of it was it always safe to eat that?????

I digress again.

Right, grapefruit/mom/house vs home. Okay so often my mom would have grapefruit for my sister and I for breakfast. I vividly remember my mom using this old, yet very cool "grapefruit" knife to cut our halves into little pieces. Being amazed at this weird curved yet very effective knife, I loved eating grapefruit ... in my home in Fresno with my mom.

So I started thinking of Fresno. Denis and I will be heading up to Fresno in October for Leah's wedding. For the first time in a very long time I am excited about going to Fresno. Denis has never been to Fresno with me, never seen my home, never seen my high school (not too impressive these days), never known the Fresno part of me. Just like they say in the valley "You can take the girl out of Fresno, but you can't take Fresno out of the girl". Damn.

I wish I could take Denis into that house. The awesome hardwood floors, the original cedar closets, the basement, the perfectly square hallway, the butler door, the side yard I had to week more than once as punishment for something, our initials in the concrete by the back gate. Leah, help me? What else am I forgetting?

I do love my house in SM, but it still doesn't feel like home like 108 E. Weldon did. Maybe it will take 18 years.

So to come full circle, I'm excited to go to Fresno to show Denis my home where my mom used to use her cool grapefruit knife!

I would have loved to have used that knife today.

Good-Bye to You

Today is a sad day. My friend and colleague and temporary housemate moved to Park City, Utah today. She is going to for all the right reasons ... family, good job, skiing and did I say skiing? It isn't all that easy to find people you enjoy so much and love to have in your house for a few weeks around an amazing trip to Africa.

So Laura, we wish you well and can't wait to see you in Park City. Find those fishing holes and Denis will be there before you know!

Good luck and we miss you already!

Bacon for breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and now DESSERT!

This morning I was on one of my favorite websites of all times. Serious Eats is fantastic for so many reasons and today they once again proved to me that I will love them forever.

Not only did they do a local shout-out to Marini's Candies in Santa Cruz (known for their awesome salt water taffy), but it included bacon!

You have to check out this story about Chocolate covered bacon. My mom is coming to visit next month and I will not pick her up from the airport unless she has a bag of Marini's Chocolate Covered Bacon.

Downtown 'Dido Farmers Marketing

This afternoon my friend Lee Ann and I headed to the Escondido Farmers Market. It is a small, but great Farmer's Market. We started with cash in hand and ended up with:

Heirloom tomatoes

Fresh Basil

Lots of peaches and nectarines

Japanese grapes (so good)

The biggest radishes you have ever seen

Avocados

and full bellies from all the samples!

With my loot I made Bruschetta Pasta from my favorite local chef/turned Emmy award winner Discovery Channel Chef.

So in celebration of the Farmer's Market and Sam the Cooking Guy ... I bring back Dinner with the Shefferd's. It isn't Sunday, but who doesn't love a cool summer pasta on a Tuesday night?

I love when my serving pieces match the meal!

Lots of fresh basil, heirloom tomatoes, raw garlic, olive oil and a little Parmesan make an awesome dinner!

Nee-Nee It's my burfday!

On Sunday morning I was woken up by a little voice telling me "Nee-Nee it's my burfday" at 7:15am. One of the most perfect princesses celebrated her 4th birthday yesterday complete with an ear piercing the day before, a fisher price karaoke machine, a rideable horse and Paint Your Own Pottery party and a pair of "camping shoes" from Chata! Denis loves Keen's and thought Amelia needed a pair. Now, as Amelia told me "I have campin' shoes just like Chata".

I can't believe little miss Amelia is four. It seems like yesterday when she was born and I was one the first people to see her. We love her and her sistermore than words can say.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet girl!

A little bit of style, a little bit of sass and a whole lot of bad-ass

This week while in NY I wore a new pair of flip flops that one of my fellow AS's called a little bit of style, a little bit of sass and a whole lot of bad-ass!Man do I love her sense of humor! A big birthday shout out to her as well. She is now something like 21!

Guncle Dave

One of my favorite people in the entire world has finally entered into the world 'o blogging.

Dave is one of the funniest people I know, he truly appreciates celeb sightings, reads Perez as much as I do and my future children will proudly call him Guncle Dave. Every child needs a Guncle Dave.

Take a look at what I read everyday from Dave.

3 Deadbolts ... I don't think so

Once again I am in NY with a zillion meetings and 10 hours of flying in three days. Well, this trip has been what I have deemed a "Jen Adventure". My friend and colleague Jen always runs into issues while traveling i.e. sleeping at the airport in Denver, always winning the travel from hell award.

I landed at JFK early and we didn't have a gate, so it started waiting on the runway. Do you have any idea how many hours I have spent on a runway in the last two year? Nothing will beat the JetBlue incident of 2007 (23 hours at the airport, 10 on a plane ... and got nowhere). We finally got a gate and I got in my car to come to the Rowdy. I love the Rowdy. It is my home away from home. Well apparently my house had changed the locks!

My reservation was nowhere to be found. Could have been my fault but I know I made a reservation. Of course the Rowdy was sold out so they were nice enough to book me a room at another hotel. Keep reading ... this is where it gets good.

So I show up at the "hotel" and I feel very if-y about this. There is NO central air conditioning (ever spent the night in a hotel room with no AC and windows that don't open, I don't recommend it). The guys at the front desk handed me a set, yes I said set of keys. I arrive at my room and have "that" feeling. The room has 2 deadbolt locks ... on the outside. Finally after juggling my keys, luggage, computer and that pit feeling in my stomach I get into the room. I would like to say that I thought "oh my god" but the words going through my head were much more colorful.

Ashtrays, smelly smells, no air and another 2 locks on the inside of the room were TOO MUCH for me. I made an about face and got the eff out. Since it was conveniently 5:45pm there wasn't a cab to catch. So I walked from 49th between 6th & 7th back to my blissful Rowdy.

Kate wins the "Kate is Great" award for sharing her room with me.

Tonight I blog from the comfort of my own room at my Home Away from Home.

Thanks Rowdy, I do love you.

The Handy Hus

Well our long weekend ended with ... a semi-cool fridge. All I could see was a million dollar signs for calling out what Denis referred to as the Maytag man. No need, I've got my OWN Maytag man and he is free!
He was so proud of himself and more importantly he saved a fridge and freezer full of food! You're a good man hus.