Got a little Captain in ya?

You know you've got great friends when they not only write on your face, but they let people line up to take pictures with you as you are passed out in a bar. We gotta kick out of it anyways! Gotta little capt'n in ya?

Update on :Hearty Turkey Chili

*This chili was excellent! I will never buy a chili seasoning packet again. I added notes to the recipe, but I will absolutely make my chili like this from now on. And only 4 pts per serving! We also made WW Chocolate Banana Wontons for dessert. Easy and yummy.


It's such a cold and dreary day, that I am in need of something warm and delicious for dinner. I've chosen WW Hearty Turkey Chili. The recipe is already posted on the right for anyone else in the mood for some chili tonight. I looked at several chili recipes, but this one only has a points value of 4 for a 1 cup serving. This way, I can have 2 servings and still have points to spare for toppings! More details to come tomorrow!

Fish Taco Update

I posted the recipe under my recipes link, but it's kinda hard to read. You can find this recipe on the WW website as well. All in all, the tacos were very tasty. I mentioned in my notes on the recipe that next time I think I will try grilling or blackening the fish. The oven frying did give it a little crunch, but seemed a little bland for my liking. The sauce made from the reduced fat sour cream, reduced fat plain yogurt, lime juice, cumin and red pepper was really tasty and helped with the blandness of the fish. This was certainly a quick and easy dinner and I will make again with above mentioned modifications.

Tonight...Baja-style Fish tacos!

Wish me luck! WW Baja style fish tacos made with red snapper! I'll post recipe tomorrow if it turns out well!

Down with Christmas Trees?

First, an update on the Tamale Casserole from last night. Definitely worth making and I will make again. I added some notes to the recipe for changes I would make to give it a little more flavor.

Now to the real story (at Daniel's request)...

Let me begin by saying, I LOVE Christmas Trees. Particularly, REAL Christmas trees. The look, the smell, the pomp and circumstance surrounding picking one out and decorating it. I already have alot of guilt about how many trees are cut down each year for such a brief time of enjoyment in our homes. But, for the first time, Daniel burned our tree after the holidays...and it scared me. Our tree had been sitting out in the elements, including heavy rains, the day before we burned it. The pictures below were seriously taken over about a 30second time period.














Daniel and I considered getting a live tree (rather than a cut tree) this year, but the live tree in it's small little pot was a little depressing. I feel bad about all the beautiful Furs that have already been cut- does letting them go to waste really prevent more trees from being cut the next year? I am very torn on this issue, but can you imagine if the above happened while the tree was still in your house? I guess you can't live in fear, but, i think seeing the above has added fuel to my anti-cut Christmas trees stance.

Something different

I thought I would give you all a break from Telluride pictures today. I first wanted to share that I have made good on my promise and have begun sharing my WW recipes under the Recipes link on the right side of my blog. I am officially back on WW and have lost about 4 lbs so far. I've been very pleased with the recipes I've tried thus far and will continue to share those that are good. Tonight's menu is: WW Tamale Casserole, mixed greens salad, and a slice of 9 grain bread. I'll post recipe tomorrow if it's worth the effort!

I also wanted to share a recent purchase with you all. I've been looking for bedding for months and was never happy with the selections available (or the price tag attached to said selections). Below are some of the items I've seen in stores and then what i bought.

$400+


$400+


$400+


What I bought....$70....at Wal-Mart!




Now I don't feel like I'm stuck with this bedding, cause it was so cheap! And, unlike most cheap bedding, this is actually really soft. The black is chenille and the background is really soft cotton. Anyways, just thought I would share with you all.

Snow!

I believe our second skiing day in Telluride we started getting snow. Below are some pics of the during and after. We ended up getting 6 inches that day/night.








Fresh tracks on Ute Park.


Daniel's first snow angel.


Not my first snow angel, but fun none the less.

More Telluride...

This post will focus on the actual skiing and runs that we did during our trip!

How about a nice easy 'Galloping Goose' to start? This is me. If you ever have trouble discerning the skier in the pic, just remember we were the condiments! Corinne = Mustard, Susan = Ketchup, Kent = Pickles, Daniel = Pepper





Mustard



Pickle



and Pepper




Now for a little 'Dew Drop'. Kent actually flew (or bounced, as there are moguls) down this run while sitting on his skis. I laughed for at least ten minutes after witnessing this and would have won America's Funniest Home Videos if I had gotten a video of it.



I hate to talk ugly about anyone, but that 'Polar Queen' can be a real Be-otch! :) (Actually, Polar Queen was one of my favorite runs even though it was so long it almost killed my legs)




'See Forever' is actually much longer than it used to be thanks to some new lifts/more terrain. Here we are at the top of See Forever. It was very bright, windy, and cold up there (hence the reason we don't look so cute). Be sure to notice the drop off behind us that some idiots actually ski :). As great a view as See Forever has, it varies from narrow (like 6 feet wide) with severe drop offs on either side to a little wider but steep as crap.




Another view from See Forever. You can supposedly see 4 states from this run, but i couldn't begin to point them out, so you will have to just believe me.




While at the top of the world, Daniel and I had lunch at Giuseppe's. There are lots of birds up here that will come sit right by you for a tidbit of your bread. Word to the wise, the turn off to this restaurant is not marked, so if you bypass it, you have to take your skis off and carry them up a long crappy hill. Not so fun.




We ran into these characters while there. I don't know what the story is behind the masks, but they were telling stories about skiing across parking lots in rental skis, so I'm sure you can imagine...


Stay tuned for the next post which will feature fresh powder, lots of 'busting it' pics and some drinking shots too!

A little more

Below is a picture of the town of Telluride from the Gondola. I have included the location of our condo in the photo. We were a block and a half from the gondola station and a block from main street.


Most of us had trouble sleeping due to time change, altitude, excitement, perhaps alcohol...Regardless, it afforded me the chance to take some great night and early morning photos. In this photo you can see Allred's at the top of the mountain/Gondola. I took this while it was still dark, but turned the flash off so it looks much lighter than it really was.


This is one of the many doors you have to go through to get to Allred's dining area. We actually had to go through a door off the Gondola station, through another interior door, up an elevator and then through a few more doors i'm sure. I want this door though. If the door looks this good, just imagine how great it looked inside. I mean it...imagine. Cause I didn't take a single picture of the dining area. I'm a dunce. Needless to say it was gorgeous.


The birthday boy enjoying his 'Chocolate Three Ways'


Ok, I will add more later this weekend (maybe). Time for me to go home!

We're Back....

Unfortunately, I am too tired and depressed about being back to do a proper post today. I will instead leave you with a few pics to wet your telluride blog appetite.


ME


DANIEL


WHAT WE WERE FORCED TO LOOK AT EVERY DAY...YES I TOOK THIS PHOTO, IT IS NOT A POSTCARD

Yes, that's right...

Telluride Rocks!
For all of you out there (wether you have been to t-ride or not), it freaking ROCKS! (Sally, you are totally missing out!) We had a great first day on the slopes! Can't wait to upload pics for you all! Everyone did very well for their first day and we were able to hit up a few blues this afternoon! We were a bit sore when we got home, but the hot tub and a bottle of wine quickly took care of that! There is a huge storm coming in tomorrow with a foot or more of snow expected!!!! Wouldn't it be terrible if we got stuck here? ;) Tomorrow is Kent's birthday, so we will be having dinner at Allreds at the top of the mountain! Can't wait! I also plan to get a Diggity Dog while here (BEST hotdogs ever...this is where my love of hot dogs really came from!). Anyways! I wish you were all here to bask in the beauty and the fun and the wine! Mom, Sherri, Anna, Meg...you HAVE to come next trip! I'll keep you posted! Love to you all!

Happy Birthday Avery!

Happy 1st Birthday to my youngest niece, Avery Margaret. I love you Red! Can't wait to see you next month!

Can you guess?

Can you guess where Daniel and I are headed next week?









That's right!
I know we are complete and total dorks, but we had to make sure all our stuff looked good...I mean fit correctly..yeah, yeah, that's it...fit correctly. :) Anyways, Daniel and I are going to Telluride, CO next week. I've been skiing many places, but Telluride is my favorite (and the best). I'll post lots of pics when we return, but feel free to check out this blog for lots of photos to make you extremely jealous in the mean time.


P.S. We have an extra pull out sofa and twin bed in our condo if you wanna tag along. :)

Short and Sweet

I am way behind on my blogging and I don't have time at the moment to catch up, but I did want to share the photo below from my niece's dance class. Is there anything sweeter than a group of 3 and 4 year olds in leotards and ballet slippers? I'm sure I have just officially jinxed any chance of having a little girl!

Eight Happy Thoughts...

I've been tagged! Lisa at A Shower Fresh Garden tagged me with the 8 Happy Thoughts meme. Much like Lisa, I've pulled the week from H - E- Double Hockey Sticks! I just checked my hours and as of Thursday night I am up to 60 hours for the week. YUCKY! It is really only the happy thoughts below that are keeping me going! I'm stealing some of Lisa's thoughts as well!

Here are the rules:
When tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Post these rules before your list, then list 8 thoughts that make you happy. At the end of your list, you must tag and link 8 other people.

1) Oxford, Mississippi. Ole Miss, Square Books, the Square. Rolling hills and green fields. Lovely lakes to walk by each morning.
2) Yocona River Inn. Mmm...Yocona filet and roasted mushroom ravioli.
3) Vacations: Seaside, Telluride, Italy, Seattle...I'm not picky!
4) Reading cookbooks and cooking. Doesn't matter what I'm cooking, it's major stress relief.
5) Making sugar cookies with my Mom and sisters and nieces. Sugar cookies and chocolate truffles are a Sullivan Christmas tradition! There is nothing better than spending all day in the kitchen talking and laughing and baking!
6) Anything Christmas: Trees, garland, wreaths, candles, lights, and music. What did I do before all the XM Christmas stations?
7) Spending a whole day doing nothing but reading a good book. I LOVE IT!
8) My life. Although my job wears me out, I am very thankful to have a job that pays the bills. Although my house may need cleaning and laundry may need washing, I love my home and get pleasure in taking care of it. Although my pets constantly spawn the words "this is why we can't have nice things", I love them and how happy they are to see me when I get home. Although Daniel and I might drive each other nuts sometimes, I love him and wouldn't want to face each stressful day without him by my side. We constantly find ourselves looking at each other and just saying how much we love our life and how happy we are to be married to each other. These are some of the things that make me happy.

And I'll tag:
Corinne at She Do Nothing All Day
Meg at Harris Family Blog
Shelby at The Trustys
Angela
Jenn at The Janii
Rachel at No Really... This is My Life (so glad she's alive :))
Kathy at The Whole Lott
Ree The Pioneer Woman: I know it will never happen :)

More Halloween Fun!

This post is gonna be mainly photos (which Daniel likes...what am i too wordy for you? I do have an English degree ya know!), but I did want to share one funny story from Halloween. There was a little boy, probably about 6?, dressed as a power ranger (or something similar) who came to the door while his parents stood back on the sidewalk. When we answered the door in our costumes he got this scared look on his face and his eyes slowly took us in from feet to masks. I thought he might actually cry, but instead, he simply said, "Nith Cothstumes". He had the most adorable lisp and Daniel and I have been repeating that ever since. Nith Cothstumes. It was so nerdy and funny and cute! Anyways, on to the pics. Enjoy.

Here we are as Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix LaStrange. If you don't know those names, we can no longer be friends. Of course, considering what dorks we are, you probably don't want to be our friends anyways.


Here is our front door in all it's Halloween glory! The moths seem to revel in the fake spiderweb... I hope we didn't lull them into a false sense of spiderweb security...oh well. c'est la vie (or death in the moths' case)!


This is Cinderella...I mean Grace. She is the daughter of my college roommate/ sorority sister/ friend/ neighbor Jennifer. As my sister Anna would say, "I just LOOVVVEEE Cinderella!!!"


Ok, this is when we had had some beer and were being silly. Don't the red eyes just make the pic though?


This was supposed to be my 'Sassy Deatheater' pose, but Voldemort cut my arms off. Not in real life, silly, just in the picture. It would be hard to blog if i had no arms.


Fin.

Happy Halloween!

Daniel and I have been slowly prepping for Halloween over the last few weeks, but really kicked things into high gear last night with our pumpkin carving. We both went a non-traditional route with our pumpkins. Daniel's too freaking creative...I shouldn't try and compete with him. I also made Giada's chocolate orange cupcakes with lemoncello icing for us to enjoy while we await our trick or treators! Enjoy the photos below! More pics to come tomorrow with costumes! Oh, we tried to watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown'...why do i not remember it being so freaking long? I must have slept through most of it as a kid. Good memories regardless.

Using Daniel's tools from a ceramics class he took to carve layers of pumpkin skin away.




The finished products! A scary Tiki(daniel's) and a wimpy cat (mine)


My 'work witch' costume. I had Rotary this morning, so couldn't go to work in the whole sha-bang. Why doesn't photoshop have a 'remove 10 lbs' option? Notice how festive my desk is with purple lights, a pumpkin, and a cauldron of candy. The view out the window's not bad either.