Friday, December 31, 2010

Day 12- December 31

Day 12 – A picture of something you love




I love God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit- and I am so thankful that they have given me so much love here on earth with my friends, family, and husband :]

Day 11- December 30

Day 11 – A picture of something you hate.




Satan is the root of all evil. GO GOD!!!!!!! BEAT SATAN!!!!!

Day 10-December 29

Day 10 – A picture of someone you see yourself marrying in the future.


At the UCCS formal in 2005, he took me even though I was sort of dating another guy. I am so glad I married him in the end :]

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Day 9- December 28

Day 09 – A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.




My sister- there are so many tough times we have helped each other through.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Day 8- December 27

Day 08 – A picture that makes you laugh.


Tony is always making me laugh :]

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Day 7- December 26

Day 07 – A picture that shows your true self.



A goof ball :]

Day 6- December 25

Day 06 – A picture of somewhere you’ve been.





Hong Kong, a memorable family trip when I was about 12 back to where my father grew up.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Day 5- December 24

Day 05 – A picture of your favorite memory.

Our wedding. Though a bittersweet memory due to the stress of planning the big day and Tony (and many other family and friends) getting food poisoning, I couldn't think of a better memory in my life than the day I married my best friend.

Day 4- December 23

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Day 04 – A picture of your day







After a long week at work, and being sick, my amazing husband left me this incredibly sweet love note for our anniversary on our bathroom mirror.

It reads "Dear Wife, you are the best thing that's ever ben mine and these are 2 of the happiest and best years of my life. I LOVE YOU lots & lots & lots & lots & lots............(all the way down the mirror.)"

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Day 3- December 22

Day 03 – A picture of the cast from your favorite show….





 
I am a total Gleek!

Day 2- December 21

Day 02 – A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.




my mommy :] we were not as close when I was younger, but I am so glad we became not only mother and daughter but friends too! and who have I know longer than my mom?

Monday, December 20, 2010

Day 1- December 20

Day 01 – A picture of yourself with 10 facts.




(It was so hard to find a picture of just me considering the new computer and that I am always the photographer! To clarify- I am the one on the RIGHT- the guy is my husband)

1. I have grey hairs, my first popped up at 17 (1.5 I spell gray both ways)
2. I love to take pictures, even if I just use a little nikon coolpix and point and shoot most of the time. I wish I had the artistry of photographers
3. I play the piano
4. I love to sing, but have never taken lessons.
5. More than anything, I want to be a mom/homemaker
6. I love God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
7. I have 2 middle names: Vivien and Lee, I kept my maiden name as a middle name.
8. I am actually sort of a homebody. I love to be at home doing my own thing.
9. I have NO piercings and never had and never will
10. I am half Chinese and VERY proud of it

30 day photo challenge

This popped up on Facebook- but I wanted to do it on my blog then republish then pictures in an album when all 30 days are ups.

Here is the challenge:
Day 01 – A picture of yourself with 10 facts.


Day 02 – A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

Day 03 – A picture of the cast from your favorite show….

Day 04 – A picture of your day.

Day 05 – A picture of your favorite memory.

Day 06 – A picture of somewhere you’ve been.

Day 07 – A picture that shows your true self.

Day 08 – A picture that makes you laugh.

Day 09 – A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Day 10 – A picture of someone you see yourself marrying in the future.

Day 11 – A picture of something you hate.

Day 12 – A picture of something you love

Day 13 – A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Day 14 – A picture of your favorite pastime.

Day 15 – A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Day 16 – A picture of someone you’ve been friends with the longest and still feel connected to

Day 17 – A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Day 18 – A picture of your favorite place.

Day 19 – A picture of a habit you wish you didn’t have

Day 20 – A picture of somewhere you’d love to travel.

Day 21 – A picture of something you wish you could forget.

Day 22 – A picture of something you wish you were better at

Day 23 – A picture of your favorite book.

Day 24 – A picture of something you wish you could change

Day 25 – A picture of you last year and how you’ve changed since then

Day 26 – A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Day 27 – A picture of yourself and a family member.

Day 28 – A picture of something you’re afraid of.

Day 29 – A picture that can always make you smile.

Day 30 – A picture of someone you miss.

Friday, December 17, 2010

the love of my life

Celebrating our 2 year wedding anniverary with a lovely romantic weekend at Glen Eyrie. We enjoyed the Madrigal show, a night in the castle, and roaming the grounds.











just when you think....

The other day I was kind of surprised by something my father said.

Now, this is a man who is overly demanding at restaurants and never tips enough for all the things he asks for, and is never overly polite.

But then he tells me this story about this 80+ year old lady he saw at Walmart trying to buy some depends, but they were out, and he was mad that the pharmacy tech did not offer to order her some and ship them for free to the store, or even to her house.

He even said that he wished he had said something to that pharm tech.

Where did this random thoughtfulness come from?

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

peppermint bark

For my holiday present to our grandparents/extended family, I decided to make Peppermint Bark. Last year I made Holiday Nuts- nuts roasted with a sweet coating.

This was my first adventure in candy making and bark making.

I naturally googled a recipe and found one. However, I made many changes after having more than 1 batch fail.


Here is the recipe and my tips and changes


Peppermint Bark


Ingredients:

12 oz semi sweet/bittersweet chocolate chips

16 oz white chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/2 CUP peppermint candy, crushed



Instructions:

- preheat oven to 250

- Line a 9x13" pan with 1 long sheet of foil, letting it hang over the short ends. Be sure to press it in to conform to the pan

- Spray foil with cooking/baking oil spray

- pour the chocolate chips in an even layer on the foil

- Place in oven for 5-7 minutes or until melted. Note: the chips may not lose their form as they melt

- Remove from oven, place on cooling rack or hot pads, and use a spatula or knife to smooth/spread the chips evenly in the bottom of the pan. I like to spray my spatula with the baking spray

- Place in refrigerator until cold and firm, approx. 20 min.

- Crush your peppermint candy

- Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a metal bowl over simmering water (don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the water), stirring with spatula until chocolate is melted.

-Remove bowl from water and set on cooling rack, continue to stir.

-Add peppermint extract and stir a few more times until it is thoroughly mixed

- Pour white chocolate over chocolate layer and smooth with spatula into an even layer over the chocolate

- Sprinkle the crushed candy evenly over the white chocolate and gently press the candy into the chocolate with your spatula

- Place back in refrigerator for several hours to chill

- Lift foil out of pan and set on counter

-Peel bark from foil then set back on foil

- Break apart the bark with your hands into the desired size pieces over the foil, the foil will catch the extra candy/chocolate the falls off

- Chill in a covered container and enjoy!


According to the original recipe: yields approx. 2 pounds



Tips:

- Use good quality chocolates- look at the ingredients. Semisweet chocolate chips should be real chocolate, white chocolate chips are best if they contain cocoa butter.

- When measuring the ingredients, I did not have a scale. Instead I used my liquid 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup and filled it to the top line with chocolate, and to the brim with white chocolate. Not everyone has a kitchen scale.

- set a low rising cooling rack in the refrigerator to set the pan on to cool. This protects your shelf and allows the cool air to circulate around the entire pan

- take the bottom layer out of the refrigerator before you start boiling water in the double boiler to melt the white choc chips, this will ensure it is not too cold and that the layers bond well

- 6 regular sized candy canes yields the right amount of crushed candy, of course measure to double check

- I put the candy in a sandwich zip bag and pound on a cutting board with my meat tenderizer. Break it it up as small as you want, even the fine powder will taste and looks great

-Let the bark sit out for just a few minutes before your break it apart

- I found that cutting it made it separate and resulted in a lot of chocolate shreds that got wasted, even though my original recipe said to cut

- You can make just 1 layer bark as well

- I found peppermint extract at Wal-Mart, so I don’t think it is too difficult to find

- don’t skimp and make the layers to thin, they may separate if you do

- No adjustments needed for high altitude




Sunday, December 5, 2010

Purple Mountain Majesty




We are so blessed to live at the foot of this beauty.