Thank-Full

This post is so long over-due (or maybe it's really early for next year?), I actually thought about not blogging about this. But then I thought....nope, I need to because I'm proud of my efforts. My mom came to visit from Upstate (well really Northern to be exact) New York. Yes, I know it's hard to believe that there really is more to NY than just the city. Google map it, I swear there is. Anyway, it was Donald and my first official Thanksgiving dinner that we were going to host for someone else, and although it would have been awesome to have all of our family members gathered around our table, we were very pleased to have my mother here to share it with us.

I began the morning before Thanksgiving by making the muffins that you see below. It was a twist on a family favorite...cranberry-orange bread. Although, this time around, I wanted to make something that would be a bit healthier than the recipe that we normally follow (thanks Ms. Betty Crocker for feeding me during my youth). I'm not going to post my version of the recipe now, for a few reasons. One, I usually leave the baking up to these two ladies. And two, I need to perfect the recipe a little more to get it exactly like I want. Then I'll post the recipe. They still tasted pretty good, and looked really cute. But I know I can do better.

Which leads me onto the main course. It was my first time making a turkey...and I'm proud to say, I nailed it! It was so perfectly golden brown, and juicy (and cooked to the correct temp! YAY!), gosh, it almost makes me want to go make another one right now. I think I had beginner's luck or something, so I'm really tempted to make another one for Christmas just to see if I really do know what I'm doing. Donald helped make dinner too.......his mashed potatoes were delish! And I'm proud to say, that all of the other food made it to the table without getting cold. That's something I don't do well with when it comes to multi-dishes in the kitchen....I am getting better, but there's almost always something on the verge of being cold when it hits the table, and more devastatingly, my plate!

It was a great Thanksgiving dinner, and my mom had a great visit. There's something so satisfying about being able to show my mom after all of these years that I have become quite an amazing young lady (that's right...I'm not afraid to give a little credit where credit is due).

So, this past Thanksgiving, I was very thankful to be able to have the chance to have another Thanksgiving with my mom, and do a little role reversal for once. And of course, I'm very thankful to have all of my family, friends, my canine daughters, and especially my Donald. Here's to wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Viva Las Vegas!

When I was younger, I wanted to be just like my sister Susan. If she did it, I did it too--or at least I tried really really hard to. Sure we could fight like we hated each other, but then two minutes later, we were best friends again. Well, she just turned 30 (ummm, I hope that wasn't a secret Suze), and although she wasn't exactly excited to hit the big 3-0, I think she makes 30 seem really cool, and really cool 30 year olds celebrate their birthday in Las Vegas. Sticking true to my younger days, I joined Sue, and one of my other sisters Michele in Vegas for the big celebration. We had such a great time, although it was only for a few days. Here are just a few of the highlights from the trip...

First of all, I have to mention that the Encore Wynn is an amazing hotel, and just so happens to be where country superstar Garth Brooks will be playing shows at for the next couple of years. If you ever get the chance to go to Vegas, I would HIGHLY recommend staying at this hotel. Absolutely STUNNING! It's very modern chic, and even if you're arriving in your "travel attire", you'll feel like a million dollars just walking through the doors.

The first photo, is just a little taste of what you'll see inside the Wynn resort. I really want the mosaic tiled floors in my house someday...or as a piece of art on the wall...there were many of those throughout the resort as well...again...stunning pieces of work!

We ate dinner at the hot on the scene, Asian-bistro restaurant Tao Las Vegas, located in The Venetian Hotel and Casino. The restaurant had a super cool vibe, and incredibly delicious food.
I wonder what the chance of a Tao opening in Nashville is?

I took the photo above from the staircase that led to the Tao nightclub (also a really cool place, but my sisters and I didn't stay very long...we all had long day of traveling and wanted to hit the casino floor before going to bed). Which brings me to my next photo....proof that I won it big in Vegas. Ha, yea, riiiiiiggghhhhttt. If I remember correctly, I only started with $10 the first night, so I didn't do too badly. Thankfully, I didn't get too carried away with the gambling, and I don't think I'll have to call any 1-800-I-Have-A-Gambling-Problem number anytime soon. Unfortunately, I also didn't come back to Nashville with a fat wallet either.

We had breakfast in Paris the next morning. Ok ok, not really Paris, France, but it sure felt like it! We ate at Mon Ami Gabi (a classic French bistro) and had fantastic quiche Lorraine, big skinny lemon pancakes, spinach and brie crepes, and cappuccino in a bowl (personally, I don't have the correct taste buds to enjoy cappuccino, but the bowl was super cute!)

...and of course when in Paris, you must see the Eiffel Tower!

On the last day, after Michele left for the airport to fly back home, Sue and I had some time to kill before we had to leave, so we took another stroll on the strip, and I was able to get these last two shots. The first one is outside of the Venetian hotel, and the second is of the fountain show outside of the Bellagio hotel (and yes, it really was like the fountain scene from "Ocean's Eleven"--I love that movie by the way). The fountain show was really spectacular...the water shoots practically just as tall as the hotel! It was amazing! I wasn't able to see the show at night, but I'm sure the sunset show is unbelievable!

Vegas is one crazy city. I don't think I've ever used the phrase "this is ridiculous!" more at one time than I did that weekend. Now I know why they call it "Sin City", and I'm happy to say, that I in no way, contributed to it's sinful reputation. I'd probably go back to Vegas only once more, but that's about it for this sweet and innocent girl! ;)

All in all, I think Sue had a great 30th birthday...I mean, hello, I was there to celebrate it with her, of course it was going to be a great birthday. Happy (belated) birthday again Suze...I love you so very much, and I can't wait to be 30....just like you. :)

UPDATED: Sisterly love in Bean Town

Over the July 4th holiday (Happy belated birthday America!) I met up with 2 of my 4 siblings in Boston. Michele, the sister on the left, used to live in Bean Town (if anyone is looking for a realtor in the Washington D.C. area, check out her site WestEndDC.com) and in her many years of living there, can you believe I never once visited?! Shame on me! Really though, I was in high school and college, and unfortunately vacations didn't exactly exist for me back then. Thankfully, I was finally able to enjoy another fun vacation with two of the best sisters (and yes, we all have the same parents) a girl could ask for. Susan, or "the one that looks like me" as I have been known to refer to her as when describing which one of my 3 sisters she is, flew in from Denver to meet up with us! Sue had a new hair color (which I love by the way!) and according to my sisters, my hair looks darker than it usually does, although I haven't done anything to it. However, after seeing us in the photo above, I suddenly look like a red-head! Which really is ok with me...I like the color, but it's just interesting how suddenly it's changed? Anyway, that photo shows us at dinner before we started chowing down on some delicious food.

I originally had a few pictures posted here, that showed my sisters and I indulging in dessert, however, I changed my mind about leaving them on my post, and decided to keep them in my personal photo file for blackmail later in life, or for when someone gets married, and I can pull out the photos of my sisters first love---chocolate eclairs....mmmmm hmmmm.

But I decided that I could leave at least one photo of our pig-out-fest here....I figured that I'm probably the only one that would be embarrassed by this photo...and surprisingly, I'm really not. But then, I'm the kind of girl that eats buffalo wings at a restaurant and wipes my face AFTER I'm completely done eating. I have manners, really I do...but sometimes, good food gets in the way of me and those lady-like manners.

Look at me shoving the eclair in my mouth...disgusting. And no, I don't believe I actually stopped to breathe.

During our trip, we did and saw more things than I can mention here in this post...but here are a few highlights from the trip....

We saw the Red Sox play the Seattle Mariners....unfortunately, there wasn't much to celebrate in Boston after the game. But don't they look good standing there in their uniforms?

And I couldn't tell you who is actually at bat in this photo...but I'm lovin' this shot, and it has nothing to do with the guy in the #3 shirt, or the ref for that matter.

Before we saw the fireworks over the Boston Harbor, it was a good time to have a fun photoshoot with some great models. Plus, I needed practice with my flash....I've had it for about two months now, and yet, still haven't actually read the manual that came with it. Whoopsie!


Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of the fireworks. The bridge was sooooo crowded with people, and honestly, I just wanted to be able to "enjoy" them this time around. I'll get 'em the next time I'm in Boston for the 4th though.....which I'm sure will happen again in the future.

I was just walking down the street when I grabbed this shot of the John Hancock Tower. Simple? Yes. But sometimes those make for some of the best photos.

And then there's our little ride on the Swan Boat, where Sue took this self-portrait, and then I had some fun with it in Photoshop (which is another thing that I'm trying to get more experience with). So here's the before photo.....

....and then the after photo.

Sometimes, my viewfinder is the screen on my Blackberry. If only my Rebel was as small as my Blackberry, and if I could fit it in my pocket, I totally would. And sometimes, I see things that are totally photo-worthy, and all I have is my camera phone. Which was the case in the next few photos. It was my last day in Boston, and Michele and I were out for an early morning walk before catching our flights back to D.C. and Nashville. Not too shabby for a camera phone eh?