Just wanted to let you all know that I find Google's Blogger to be very user UN-friendly. I have been trying for days now to get my hotmail account removed from blogger and get it switched into my gmail account without distrupting my blog as my main goal behind this is that I want to permanently delete my hotmail account since I no longer use it. All the help functions are pointing me to change my settings and make my new email an author of this blog, which I have done!
SO ANNOYED THAT IT ISN'T WORKING!!!
It really drives me bonkers when I can't figure something out... I can have insane determination over such silly things but this is one thing I am determined to figure out!
Anyways... just needed to vent. Thanks for listening! Hopefully I don't royally screw things up and delete my blog in the process!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Vacation!
At the beginning of the year, Aaron and I discussed our goals, plans, and reviewed our finances so we could decide what lies ahead for 2011. One thing that we talked about is the importance of taking a vacation, whether that means just a few days not too far away or miles away, just to make sure we get away and take time to enjoy life together.
This year we are fortunate enough to choose from our top 3 vacation choices, New York City, Colorado, or a tropical cruise. We narrowed New York out. You may think we are crazy but we would rather go on a nature adventure in Colorado than a tropical cruise.
So we are going to Colorado this year!!! We are just in our beginning stages of planning this trip, so any ideas/input are welcomed. Plan is late June for 6-7 days.
Our hopes are to see as much of Colorado’s beauty as we can. Some things we are looking into is white water rafting, scenic drives/outlooks, Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, a date night in downtown Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, a brewery tour, etc. Since I’m not a risk taker, some of these activities are going to totally freak me out, I’ve already cut out zip lining, the Royal Gorge and the Pikes Peak train because I think I would seriously pee my pants, puke or pass out (or all 3!) but I’m willing to put myself out there with white water rafting and getting up into some higher elevations.
This is going to keep me busy. You know how much of an organizer/planner I am. I am going to have this trip planned out down to the minute and we will have printed itineraries to stay on track. I’m in full research mode and already started several excel templates (as I spreadsheet every aspect of my life like an accounting nerd would!) I may even have to splurge on a new athletic outdoorsy outfit. Anyone have hiking boots in a size 6.5 I could borrow?!?! Think I’m going to need a pair!
This year we are fortunate enough to choose from our top 3 vacation choices, New York City, Colorado, or a tropical cruise. We narrowed New York out. You may think we are crazy but we would rather go on a nature adventure in Colorado than a tropical cruise.
So we are going to Colorado this year!!! We are just in our beginning stages of planning this trip, so any ideas/input are welcomed. Plan is late June for 6-7 days.
Our hopes are to see as much of Colorado’s beauty as we can. Some things we are looking into is white water rafting, scenic drives/outlooks, Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, a date night in downtown Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, a brewery tour, etc. Since I’m not a risk taker, some of these activities are going to totally freak me out, I’ve already cut out zip lining, the Royal Gorge and the Pikes Peak train because I think I would seriously pee my pants, puke or pass out (or all 3!) but I’m willing to put myself out there with white water rafting and getting up into some higher elevations.
This is going to keep me busy. You know how much of an organizer/planner I am. I am going to have this trip planned out down to the minute and we will have printed itineraries to stay on track. I’m in full research mode and already started several excel templates (as I spreadsheet every aspect of my life like an accounting nerd would!) I may even have to splurge on a new athletic outdoorsy outfit. Anyone have hiking boots in a size 6.5 I could borrow?!?! Think I’m going to need a pair!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Winter Jam
Friday night we went to Winter Jam down at the Wells Fargo Arena. These bands rocked the stage:
Chris August • Sidewalk Prophets • KJ-52 • NewSong • RED • Kutless • Francesca Battistelli • David Crowder Band • Newsboys
All of them were great, such a high energy concert, but my favorites were David Crowder and Francesca Battistelli (although Francesca didn’t sing my favorite song “It’s My Life” but she sang a lot of my other favorites). The only band I wasn’t familiar with was RED, Aaron was familiar with them but I’ve never heard of them before.
We were told it sells out every year and I have to believe the concert was sold out again this year. $10 general admission for 10 well known bands, that is one heck of a deal, not surprising it sells out the entire Wells Fargo Arena. The concert lasted 4+ hours but didn't feel like it at all, every band played around 5 songs, which is nice because that meant they played their more popular songs. Winter Jam comes to Des Moines every year and we will definitely go to it again next year! I took some videos on my phone which actually turned out really good but have spent all weekend trying to figure out how to upload them and giving up. But I do have some pictures from the concert!
Chris August • Sidewalk Prophets • KJ-52 • NewSong • RED • Kutless • Francesca Battistelli • David Crowder Band • Newsboys
All of them were great, such a high energy concert, but my favorites were David Crowder and Francesca Battistelli (although Francesca didn’t sing my favorite song “It’s My Life” but she sang a lot of my other favorites). The only band I wasn’t familiar with was RED, Aaron was familiar with them but I’ve never heard of them before.
We were told it sells out every year and I have to believe the concert was sold out again this year. $10 general admission for 10 well known bands, that is one heck of a deal, not surprising it sells out the entire Wells Fargo Arena. The concert lasted 4+ hours but didn't feel like it at all, every band played around 5 songs, which is nice because that meant they played their more popular songs. Winter Jam comes to Des Moines every year and we will definitely go to it again next year! I took some videos on my phone which actually turned out really good but have spent all weekend trying to figure out how to upload them and giving up. But I do have some pictures from the concert!
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| Brooklyn, Tina and I |
Monday, January 17, 2011
MLK Day!
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Great Thought!
A Facebook friend posted this on her page:
Funerals are good for us. They remind us of how valuable our lives – and the people in our lives are. In the Kingdom of God, every time there is death, life is a result. Even though we said goodbye to my Grandpa today, I feel like life was stirred in me. Pretty cool how God works, huh!?!
This posting really made me think how true this comment is and just the way she worded it made for such a great outlook on life. I have found myself rereading it, dissecting how it relates to my own thoughts. I thought it was a powerful message worth sharing.
Funerals are good for us. They remind us of how valuable our lives – and the people in our lives are. In the Kingdom of God, every time there is death, life is a result. Even though we said goodbye to my Grandpa today, I feel like life was stirred in me. Pretty cool how God works, huh!?!
This posting really made me think how true this comment is and just the way she worded it made for such a great outlook on life. I have found myself rereading it, dissecting how it relates to my own thoughts. I thought it was a powerful message worth sharing.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Broccoli Chowder
I’ve seem to have found myself again into trying some new recipes. Over Christmas, I received 2 new cookbooks and a new subscription to Healthy Taste of Home Cooking. I still have my regular Taste of Home and my Kraft subscription as well so I’m excited for my first round of 2011 magazines to arrive. In the meantime, I’ve been thumbing thru my new cookbooks and found this recipe that was a winner! If you like cheddar broccoli soup and potato soup – this recipe is the hybrid love affair of the two.
Recipe can be found in this link:http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Broccoli-Chowder-2
I’m definitely one for shortcuts and substitutions when it comes to cooking. 9 times out of 10, my changes work. What I did to this recipe:
• Did not add celery, seemed like a waste of time/money for something that in my opinion doesn’t add any significant change in taste or nutrition
• I used a small bag of little red potatoes, used them all
• Broccoli florets – just buy a frozen bag and use it all
• Chopping an onion… yeah right. I just used dried chopped onion from my spice drawer. I just shake it in until I feel like it’s enough, which isn’t very much.
• I had to make mine gluten free for Aaron so instead of flour I used cornstarch, same measurement ratio
• Used half the block of Velveeta, so I probably used twice as much as the recipe calls for but we love cheese!
• Carrots – used half a bag of baby carrots and just sliced into thirds
• I did not allow Aaron to add extra cheese to his soup as he normally would, this is plenty cheesy my friends! ENJOY!
Broccoli Chowder
Recipe can be found in this link:
I’m definitely one for shortcuts and substitutions when it comes to cooking. 9 times out of 10, my changes work. What I did to this recipe:
• Did not add celery, seemed like a waste of time/money for something that in my opinion doesn’t add any significant change in taste or nutrition
• I used a small bag of little red potatoes, used them all
• Broccoli florets – just buy a frozen bag and use it all
• Chopping an onion… yeah right. I just used dried chopped onion from my spice drawer. I just shake it in until I feel like it’s enough, which isn’t very much.
• I had to make mine gluten free for Aaron so instead of flour I used cornstarch, same measurement ratio
• Used half the block of Velveeta, so I probably used twice as much as the recipe calls for but we love cheese!
• Carrots – used half a bag of baby carrots and just sliced into thirds
• I did not allow Aaron to add extra cheese to his soup as he normally would, this is plenty cheesy my friends! ENJOY!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New Years!
Last New Year’s, Aaron and I were in bed asleep by 10 pm. BORING. This past New Year’s we decided to do something fun and get out of town. So we decided on Kansas City to ring in the New Year! We invited our friends and a group of 8 of us went down. Unfortunately my camera acts up at the worst times and it stopped working half way thru dinner so I hardly have any pictures to share, I was bummed out about that…
We had dinner at Gordon Biersch which was yummy. Then we had pre-party tickets to the Shark Bar, which is a 80s/90s bar, perfect music for dancing away 2010!
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| Champagne before dinner?!? Yes Please! |
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| Mark, Aaron and Mark |
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| Becky & Rebecca |
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| Lauren & I |
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| Lauren and her boyfriend Ben |
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