AMAZING Week!

We had such an amazing week!  A friend of ours from Chicago, Tammy, visited and we just all have a great time and it didn't matter what we did - it could be hanging around the house or doing day trips - everything was so fun.  Michael schedule was kind of clear and free for her visit but of course when you own your own business - things happen. So we didn't get to do all the things we had planned but we still had a great time. She is such a pleasure to be around.  She just went with it and offered to pitch in and help when a big project came up.  So thankful for all she did while she was here. It really helped us out.

She is a shutterbug so she took over 1000 photos while here.  Michael and I took some photos too but I only took a handful as I was with 2 people who are the real photographers in our bunch. 

But here is a couple of my photos...this was on the Colorado National Monument which is about 10 mins away from us. 

Sarah Fimm

This video is odd - odd in a good way for me. 

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for..
1. Tammy being here
2.  a great week
3.  good laughs
4. day trips
5. sharing our beautiful state with Tammy

* a photo from the Colorado National Monument - one place we went this week

A Credo for Making It Happen

I adore Danielle LaPorte.  She really speaks to me in ways that have helped Michael with his business but also helped me with my art.  She now has a book The Fire Starter Sessions. Before she wrote the book - it was an ebook/eworkbook and I have it and it is excellent so I know the book will be great and plan on getting it. But this video she did as a little teaser for the book is excellent and inspiring.

ABBA

When cleaning, having music on is a MUST for me. Michael came into the bedroom while I was spring cleaning and I was being a Dancing Queen....as I was dancing and dusting to ABBA.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. Tammy arriving tomorrow
2. the house being clean - scrubbed and shiny
3. enjoying the feeling of cleaning and getting rid of stuff - it just always makes me feel lighter
4. photos of family and friends - I ordered some photos and changed out some old photos for the new photos
5. beautiful spring weather

In a Few Days...

In a few days, we will be having a very good friend visiting us.  I can't wait to see her and just sit and talk.  I have been crazy cleaning. It is spring cleaning with the frenzy on top of people coming to visit.  I do this when Michael's parents visit and when mine do too.

I have a menu planned and hope she feels like she is being spoiled when here.  I know she deserves to be spoiled.

I have tried a few cleaning techniques and homemade cleaners I have seen on Pinterest and they worked well. I will give a review of them later.

Cup of her Heart

From Danielle LaPorte's blog back in 2009 but just love it...

"A woman makes a cup of her heart. She carries your concerns and fears with you, for you. When your eyes fill up with teary news, so do hers. It happens with women you’ve known for years, with women you just met at the grocery store, in the ladies room, in a prayer circle. She carries your story with her. She mixes honey with it and re-tells it to you and helps you notice how great you’re doing, in spite of everything, because of everything."

Fast

I feel like life is moving a little too fast right now.  Since coming back from Christmas vacation - it just seems like it has been one thing after another.  We came home with colds from Christmas vacation and then got hit with colds/flu in March again. Really the March flu was the worst I have felt in probably over 10 years.  I don't know if it just me getting older so bones ache more and body breaking down so I feel the flu more-so then I did when I was young and could run around even when sick.  But this flu did me in. Really 2 weeks of really being down with it and then a 3rd week with just the cough left.  After that I started spring cleaning, which I normally do but this time I needed to get it done quickly as we are having a very good friend visit.  So from the end of the flu to when she visits isn't a lot of time.  But I will manage and get things done so that we can have a great time when she arrives. We can't wait to show off our beautiful state to her.

So as I stated life feels like it is moving fast and I really need it to slow down a bit - and I am hoping that while she is here I can relax a little and have some fun.  I am really looking forward to her visit.

Beautiful

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. getting rid of things not needed
2. laughing
3. hugs
4. spring flowers
5. renewed energy

Spring Cleaning

I have been on a whole house spring cleaning extravaganza. I have been cleaning every little thing but also organizing and purging stuff. Michael brought 3 large lawn trash bags to Goodwill yesterday.

I tried something for the hard water/soap scum and it worked really well. Although not completely natural, I think still good to use when things are really built up.  It was 2 cups vinegar that I microwaved for 3 minutes and then added to a spray bottle. Then added 1/2 cup of Dawn dish soap in and shook to mix.  I sprayed it on the shower door and walls, let sit for an hour and when I took a sponge to it - it wiped up without a lot of elbow grease.

Edge of the Ocean

There's a place I dream about
Where the sun never goes out.
And the sky is deep and blue.
Won't you take me there with you.

Ohhh, we can begin again.
Shed our skin, let the sun shine in.
At the edge of the ocean
We can start over again.

There's a world I've always known
Somewhere far away from home.
When I close my eyes I see
All the space and mystery.

Ohhh, we can begin again.
Shed our skin, let the sun shine in.
At the edge of the ocean
We can start over again.

Anniversary

Wishing my Mom and Dad a very Happy Anniversary! I 'd like to toast my parents as they celebrate 45 years together! Love you!

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. starting to feel more human after this nasty flu
2. being outside in this beautiful weather
3. lists to help keep organized
4. new found energy now that I am starting to feel better
5. long chats with good friends
6. Michael's Mom's birthday - Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mom :)

I just wanted to wish my mom a very happy birthday!

Keep Running

Meatless Meals

Something I would like to start doing is more meatless meals - even do a Meatless Monday so that dinner every Monday is meatless.

Here are a few recipes that I think would be perfect for it...

White Bean and Sage Patties with roasted tomato sauce

Source: wholeliving.com via Darby on Pinterest

Crustless Quiche with Spinach, Mushrooms & Feta Cheese

Source: budgetbytes.blogspot.com via Darby on Pinterest

Rice and Bean Burger 

Source: wholeliving.com via Darby on Pinterest

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...

1. soup

2. time chatting with friends

3. a friend visiting soon

4. kleenex 

5. Kevin Smith for making me laugh

Prank

We don't have regular tv. We use the Roku for watching movies and content that can be streamed through the Roku. So I don't watch Ellen but think she is a fabulous person!  Anyway I like Kristin Chenoweth too and this little prank is just funny that she doesn't get what is going on behind her. 

Hit ... hard......

It was bound to happen.

We left the safe confines of our bubble, we interacted with the general population - we got what we deserved.

Okay - actually that's not true, but what is true is that I'm nearing week #1 of having one of the worse colds I've had in recent memory. Poor Darby is a week behind me as we scatter around to try and figure out what the best way is going to be to rid our bodies with this gunk.

So far - the only that seems to make any difference is .... sleep.

Last week we were burning the candle and both ends - getting ramped up to what was supposed to be an extended trip back east. Thankfully that didn't happen because of these colds we got instead. It's your standard intense upper respiratory, body ache, fever on, fever off, fever back on, cough cough cough, physically and emotionally draining cold.

Darby was an angel taking care of me the first few days until she got it - now the tables are reversed as I'm starting to emerge from the cold-bug, while she's about 48 hours behind me. *ughs* I'm trying to take care of her while dealing with my own ebola-like cough that sends people to move in a 15 foot buffer away from me ... which is fine - I really don't want to pass this onto anyone.

On the plus side of things, at least we still got some projects done - completed and delivered. There's a blessing there - I just wish that this thing didn't hit us so hard.

Anyway - if you start getting symptoms, be very vigilant in getting rest, taking whatever voodoo medicine you take to ward off the germies, eat right, drink a lot of liquid and sleep sleep sleep.

Knowing What to Do

I love that I am exposed to beautiful art by so many talented artists via  Pinterest. This piece is by Jenny Wunderly

Source: pryorfineart.com via Darby on Pinterest

Where

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. making it Denver - even if it made for a long day
2. spending the night here - because we are so tired
3. jelly bean season!
4. Chinese food for dinner
5. allergy meds

Things I want to send out to the universe....I want the trip to be back on as it was cancelled. I want Michael to feel better and not give me his cold.  I would really appreciate it if those things would happen - Thank you!

The Look

I started a new board on Pinterest recently for things that I like The Look of it...such as graphic design, package design, logos, illustrations and such.

Here are a few I have pinned for package design....I would probably at least try all these things based on package design. Not knowing anything about them - just liking their package. I have done that with music and books before too - liked the cover art and picked it up to listen/read just because of that.

Source: ffffound.com via Darby on Pinterest

Source: lovelypackage.com via Darby on Pinterest

Source: valeriejar.blogspot.com via Darby on Pinterest

Source: funnel.tv via Darby on Pinterest

Astounding Fact

The Most Astounding Fact from Max Schlickenmeyer on Vimeo.

Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked in an interview with TIME magazine, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?" This is his answer. 

Tripping to the East

Michael might need to be taking a road trip for his work and I am going to tag along.  It would give me a chance to see friends in Ohio, a friend in Illinois and then my sister and her family too.  We are all crossing fingers and toes it will work out.

I haven't seen my friends in Ohio since January 2004.  I miss Karen and Lisa so much. Everyday little things remind me of them.  I don't have friends here like I did there and miss that a lot. So hugging and talking with the girls would be absolutely marvelous! So crossing our fingers and toes that it works out - as it is kind of up in the air right now.

Date a Girl Who Reads

I love this - it is long but so good.

"Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve. Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow. She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book. Buy her another cup of coffee. Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice. It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does. She has to give it a shot somehow. Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world. Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two. Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series. If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype. You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots. Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads. Or better yet, date a girl who writes." – Rosemary Urquico

Story Cubes

Source: storycubes.com via Darby on Pinterest

I was reading this curated list of books for TED Bookstore....and on it was this game called Story Cubes. It looks like a lot of fun and would be great to help kids use their imagination.

100k

My vehicle is about ready to make that magical turn over 100k miles. While most of that has been in the flurry of trips between GJ and Denver, there's some other long drives that come to mind that I wanted to take a moment to recall. (In no particular order)

- Right out of the gate, brand new car to break in ... driving up to Minneapolis to help celebrate the birthday of Darby's grandmother. I remember the surprise and the joy she had with so many people that came to help celebrate with food, family and cake!

- The long trek to Shreveport, Louisiana post-Katrina. Hearing the stories of growing up in the south, witnessing the poverty, the racial divide that's still prevalent today. The tension of that divide and what it was like being in that part of the country in summer. ("hot" is not a describable word here....)

- The anniversary surprise. Seeing where Darby grew up in Omaha, watching her recall childhood memories and her favorite haunts. Trekking up to Minnesota - driving across the green fields and vast landscapes. The love, tears and happiness of celebrating Darby's parent's wedding anniversary. The video :)

- The roadtrips we took to Ouray after Thanksgiving ... to Durango twice ... to Santa Fe ... and the numerous treks up to Meeker, Rangely, Craig, Gateway, the Grand Mesa, McClure pass and the other favorite trips we take.

- The last minute trip to Storm Lake, Iowa to be part of Darby's sister and brother-in-law's wedding. Godfathers Pizza! The wedding, the photography, the feeling of family together. The incredible lush green fields of corn and the painted quilted barns of Sac County, Iowa.

- Montana ... the beauty of the lake ... meeting wonderful friends and enjoying their company ... the wildfires and the fact that Montana is one incredibly BIG state. Wyoming, Yellowstone, the buffalo, the Grand Tetons, Old Faithful ... the road construction from hell ...

- The return to Minnesota. Darby getting to see her niece for the first time. The first steps. Wonderful celebrating an unseasonably warm Christmas. Meeting someone very special to us and the outlook of things to come.

- The long trip to Austin, Texas. Meeting up with friends new and old along the journey - driving long distances, racing against the clock on the verge of bad news. I remember the small conglomerate of shops and health food restaurant in Austin - the incredibly tall trees and peacefulness in the middle of town.

- The numerous trips to Denver in great weather, the darkness of night, in blinding snowstorms, on ice-crested roads, witnessing accidents, car fires, wildfires and tire blow-outs an arm's length away. We've seen hot air balloons, ultra light aircraft, Christmas lights along I-70, roaring rivers, beautiful sunsets (and sunrises). We've ventured to Denver for parties & celebrations, my brother and sister-in-law's 25th anniversary, my Mom and Dad's 50th, Christmases, lunch, dinner and breakfast with family and friends.

All told - 100k miles since 2006 - each mile probably has a story. I love our Mercury Mariner and love the adventures it takes us to and how reliable it has been.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for... 

1. making it through the day without any sleep

2. being home the rest of the weekend

3. Sun Chips

4. Cookie Bars

5. the possibility of being able to see family and friends on a trip we might be taking soon

Heroes

Danielle LaPorte shared this quote on Facebook today. 

"My heroes are the ones who survived doing it wrong, who made mistakes, but recovered from them." – Bono

Intimacy

Brain Pickings shared this video.  I think I would like to see the PBS series The Emotional Life because just even this little bit by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love,  was interesting to me.  It made sense to me - for intimacy.

Also...Brain Pickings has become one of my favorite websites. It is a daily visit for me.

A Thousand Years

I need to make this NOW

Source: foodporndaily.com via Darby on Pinterest

Croque Madame with Black Forest Ham on French Loaf Smothered w/ Bechamel and Gruyere and then topped with fried egg.

Okay so maybe not making it right now but I am going to make this soon because if it turns out then I know one thing I want to make for when our good friend Tammy visits us in April.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. Michael making it safely over to Denver in bad weather
2. Michael making it home safely - thankfully the weather was better then the trip over
3. Work for Michael picking up when it has been a little slow
4. making lists - I like making lists obviously with Gratitude Friday
5. peanut butter and jelly sandwich...sometimes it just tastes so good

Creativity

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.


Ira Glass on Creativity and David Shiyang Lue with the video of typography.   I have a typography fetish.  I play with type and fonts all the time. But really I am posting the video because I love what Ira Glass has to say about creativity.  I feel that often - the disappointment that it isn't what I want it to be but I can feel inside there is more and I know it can be more - just better.

Chalkboard Paint

Just a few things I like that have Chalkboard paint on them so you can write on it...

Source: anthropologie.com via Darby on Pinterest

Source: casasugar.com via Darby on Pinterest

Source: amymorby.com via Darby on Pinterest

Source: jackiefo.blogspot.com via Darby on Pinterest

Glory of Love

I am posting this for a reason....because it was "our song" - from my first love in high school.  We started dating February 20th, 1986 so was thinking of him today and remembered "our song."

Hearing

Last year I took a step forward and got fitted for a hearing aid. While it wasn't an expense we really needed -- the absence of what I was missing was profound. I had long since been resistant to hearing aids because I come from the belief that if we're always told to turn our headphones down because it can make us go deaf ... then adding a micro-headphone deep in my ear canal would've been equally problematic.

So I resisted.

Until last year when it became apparent that I still had good function in my remaining ear ... but I just needed some help. My ear canal apparently didn't form like other normal ear canals do. That's why I'm very susceptible to changes in allergy or head colds -- as my ear canal would compress and eventually muffle out sounds.

The first time I could "hear" ... I was amazed at how much I was missing. Caesar's meow. The turn signal blinker. Fans in my office. Whispers and other things said under one's breath. All of a sudden - my confidence grew. I could hear. I could participate. I could interject. I could remain on topic and not have to shake my head because I couldn't ascertain what was being said. I no longer had to guess. I no longer needed you to face me so that I could hear what you were saying.

The world opened up.

And I'm forever grateful for Darby - who didn't push ... but she gave some nudges every so often. I knew it affected her ... but I never knew how difficult it was living with someone who was hearing impaired. The stress of not being able to effectively communicate whenever, however, wherever. I'm sorry it took me so long hon.

Why am I blogging about this today? There's a malfunction somewhere in the unit that had rendered it relatively useless to me. I didn't realize how much I was affected by it until I've gone without ... and now that I've gone without it ... I want it back.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes Darby, two posts in a week. Believe it or not!) :)

Doughnut Muffins

I made these for breakfast.  It is the first time I think I have had this rounded muffins in high altitude. I will need to try to breakdown to figure out what the science behind it - to get it do this in my other muffin recipes.

Recipe is from King Arthur Flour.

Only changes I made were adding some cardamom and cinnamon to the nutmeg in the recipe.   I didn't really taste the cardamom though. But these reminded me of cake doughnuts my Grandma used to make.  They had the same texture and similar taste.

They are something I will be making again. Really nice Saturday morning treat.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. Michael taking some time off tonight as he had a long week
2. Michael watching Breaking Dawn with me because he loves me
3. finishing up some projects
4. emails from good friends
5. an adventure with Michael this week when we went to a dive diner for breakfast and it turned out to be one of the worse meals we have ever had but still we were able to laugh and have time together

Collage by Alex Cano

Love this piece by Alex Cano

Source: lovelyclusters.tumblr.com via Darby on Pinterest

Whitney Houston

I was very sad to hear about her death. I remember having albums (yes not CD's) when I was in high school of hers. Amazing voice.

Traveling ...

We love road trips.

I'm about to put over 100k miles on our incredibly wonderful Mercury Mariner. As I look back on the treks we've taken, to Louisiana, to Minnesota a couple of times, to Montana, and to Texas. Not to mention the countless day trips we've taken or the drives to Denver.

I prefer driving over flying anymore because at least you get to see things along the way. Yes - it's easier and quicker to traverse the landscape at 38k feet, but you miss out on the sunsets. You don't get to spend quality time with someone you love just by talking to pass the time. You don't get to see sites that you normally wouldn't ... or have the ability to laugh freely at something as dumb as a fart joke or something.

Plane travel is efficient and a great way to maximize the quantity of time you have on vacation.

But for me at least, it's the quality of time that equally matters. So to drive 1500 miles with Darby means a lot more to me because that's us time. Us time - unplugged. Us time - without phones, computers and other distractions.

It gives new meaning that it's the trip that matters ... not just the destination...

Valentine's Subway Art

This is subway art I created last year for Valentine's Day.


Click on it this image to get the image to download...

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. phone calls with good friends
2. fish - Michael hates fish and the only time I really eat it is when he goes out of town because he can't stand the smell. He went out of town yesterday so I was able to have fish and it was delish!
3. Chocolate - Godiva truffles from a good friend
4. old movies - such as North by Northwest, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Gigi and so on. I love them.

Amazing Reproductions

Source: blogs.denverpost.com via Darby on Pinterest

Happy Memories Happy Dish

It is odd to me how just little things can bring up such strong memories. Several weeks ago Michael requested a dish that was named Happy Dish by a good friend of mine. She came to stay with me when I lived in Cleveland. I made it her first night there as I needed something that fed a several people and pasta was my answer. It is just a simple baked pasta dish - penne, ricotta, ground italian sausage, and store bought marina sauce but it made her feel happy when she ate it. So from then it was called Happy Dish.

When I was first with Michael, I made him the dish and told him the story. Recently Michael requested that I make Happy Dish and it immediately made me think of my friend. Good memories. Good times sitting at the table sharing - talking and laughing together.

Lucky

Crockpot Creamy Italian Chicken

Source: forkinit.blogspot.com via Darby on Pinterest

I made this recipe this weekend. It was so good and so easy! Great comfort food for a dreary weekend.

Only thing I did different then the recipe is I shredded the chicken towards the end when it was falling apart. I also served it on top of mashed potatoes and with a side of green beans.

Compassion

The human capacity to care for others isn’t something trivial or something to be taken for granted. Rather, it is something we should cherish. Compassion is a marvel of human nature, a precious inner resource, and the foundation of our well-being and the harmony of our societies. If we seek happiness for ourselves, we should practice compassion: and if we seek happiness for others, we should also practice compassion. ~ Dalai Lama

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. spending 9 years with Michael - we celebrated 9 years together on Wednesday.
2. walking this path with Michael
3. a month of celebrating our love - we just doing several things this month to make it even more special.
4. time with Michael
5.  Michael

Memory Jars

These are something I created and gave as Christmas gifts this year. I saw the idea on of course Pinterest - even posted about it here. But I took it up a few notches in decorating the jars so they were more personalized.





 I inserted some little scraps of paper to write memories on and clipped them together with mini-plastic clothespins and added a little tag with this message:

The Memory Jar

Date night, a school play, a family gathering, a song on the radio ... memories that mean a great deal to us, but maybe get lost with the passage of time.  The memory jar holds onto those memories for us.  Throughout the year, write down just a few words about that special moment in time on a piece of paper and stick it in the jar.  Then - this time next year - open the memory jar and pull out your special memories to enjoy with your loved ones.

I am sure I will post them again next year at Christmas with pdf's of the note I included and the little papers. But for now just wanted to post a few of them as I loved making them so much. I made quite a few of them - all of them different.

EDIT - I have an updated post with more information on these here.

Bueller? Bueller?

Ferris Bueller's Day off is an iconic movie of my era so to see Matthew Broderick in this commercial doing Ferris is great.  Such a great commercial.

The Only Expectation

Crockpot Chinese Chicken

I found this recipe via Pinterest too but it was on several places and slightly different ingredient and amounts. So I just kind of improvised on the amounts. This was a recipe when I looked at the ingredients I went really - ketchup?  But it worked. It doesn't taste like ketchup and honey in the end. It just has a slight sweet oriental flavor but it is hard to tell where that flavor comes from exactly. Michael LOVED this - he was saying  "more please" - instantly after eating a serving of it. He said he wants me to make it again soon.  We did also notice that the flavors got even better the next night.  It was really good the first night but it was even better with the second night. 

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs work too - it ended up being 2 LARGE chicken breast to make a pound and it made several meals for us)

3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon olive oil (could also use vegetable oil or canola oil)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce or red pepper flakes (doesn't really add heat, just adds more flavor)

Directions:
Put chicken into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and hot sauce/pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high 2 to 3 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. Shred chicken. Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook for 20 to 30 mins or until chicken is coated. Serve over rice or noodles.

NOTES:
I served with rice that I tossed with some steamed peas.  This doesn't make much sauce so if you are wanting more - I would I think add some chicken broth towards the end with some cornstarch to thicken it and mix with the other sauce already in there to get flavor.

click on the title of the post and then click the print button

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Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. a lot of new recipes that I have been trying and liking
2. tea
3. a fun afternoon at Angelo's Pottery and Glass Studio - paint your own pottery. Michael and I had a lot of fun painting a gift for a friend. Definitely something we want to do again.
4. snail mail - a friend sent us a package of some treats from Trader Joe's - something we don't have in GJ and not even in Colorado although I suspect with Ikea in Denver now - Trader Joe's has to be soon.
5. music - cleaned quite a bit this week and just having music to clean makes the job easier

Etta James

Taco Cups

I found this recipe on Pinterest. The orginal recipe, which I really didn't change except in my notes, is on Plain Chicken. These were really easy to make and they were a nice change from tacos or my usual Mexican dishes. I can see these might make good appetizers or party food. I served with a big green salad and it was just a good dinner. 

Taco Cups


1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
1 can black beans, drained
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
36 wonton wrappers
your favorite taco toppings - salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, etc
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375.

Brown the meat in a skillet and drain off fat. Return the meat to the skillet; add the taco seasoning, water and black beans.  Mix and simmer for 7-10 minutes, until water is absorbed.

Spray 18 regular muffin pan cups with cooking spray.  Place one wonton wrapper in each muffin cup.  Divide half of the taco meat between muffin cups.  Sprinkle half of the cheese over the cupcakes.  Repeat layers - wonton, taco meat and cheese.  Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and wontons are golden brown.  Top with your favorite taco toppings.




NOTES:
* I actually made 20 so I don't think I filled them all quite as full as maybe I should have but they all were still very full.


* I find that wontons wrappers can dry out quickly so I did 6 at a time. I put 6 muffin tins with the bottom layer of wontons, filled them meat mixture and then added the next wonton layer topping with the meat layer and cheese. Then moved on to the next 6 so that the wontons wouldn't dry out.  



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Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. fun stickers to put on packages and snail mail
2. Michael surprising me with fun paper clips - I love office supplies!
3. Hershey Chocolate Kisses
4. library books
5. clean sheets on the bed

Give Thanks

Take a few moments each day to be in a state of appreciation for the immediate surroundings that you call home, regardless of how grand or humble they might be. Give thanks to those who provide this home, to those who share it with you, and for the blessing of a shelter. In turn, do whatever you can to assist those in our world who do not have a home whether it be a service financially, spiritually, or physically. ~ Dr. Wayne Dryer

Walk Off the Earth

Brene Brown

Brene Brown is on Smart People podcast.  From their website: "Perhaps no other journey is as important as trying to figure out who you are and who you want to become.  However, as with most things in life worth their salt, you gotta eat a lot of pepper to figure it out. You will learn a better description of what shame is and how it creeps into all of our lives.  You will realize that EVERYONE has their insecurities, everyone has the same worries as you and it’s ok to embrace these insecurities and learn from them.  When you walk into a room full of people that you don’t know, does it feel like everyone is looking at you, judging you? Well don’t worry, because they aren’t! We will discuss different guideposts such as letting go of what you’re supposed to do, perfectionism and fear that have been established over years of research." 


As always she says what I was needing to hear. 

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for....
1. the colds Michael and I had finally leaving
2. being able to go with Michael on a day trip even though it was for his work
3. new mittens Michael bought me with a flap so I can use my fingers when getting into my bag or texting
4. just time with Michael on the road - some of my favorite memories are of us talking and enjoying the scenery on road trips and this last one was the same.
5. it being Friday

Meetings

We had a really good time for the holidays. Meeting my niece was a highlight of the trip.  She walked while we were there. On Christmas Eve I was sitting in the family room and I had a brightly colored package of kleenex - the little purse size pack. Chloe saw all those bright colors and wanted it so walked to me to get it. It was quite a few steps and it was a moment I am sure I won't forget. It was so amazing to see her taking those steps when she is just walking - to know she can get that thing in my hand just by going over and getting it.

It was just fun to see how her mind works. Wondered though what she was thinking. But just so happy to see smile and laugh.

After we left Minnesota, we met a friend on our way home. We had a great time - wonderful talks and laughs. She is an amazing person and I was just so happy to be able to sit in the same room and talk with her. She is going to come visit us out here in a Colorado. Michael and I can't wait to show her around our beautiful state.