Toot! Toot!

(photo from New Years eve 2005)

Happy New Years Eve!

Dinner last night

This recipe is my version of a fish dish

we would have at the "Friendly Dolphin"

restaurant in Rocky Point, Mex.

It's pretty simple. The fish steams in

individual foil packets and I just serve them

on the plate, in the packet, so all the juices

stay in there with the fish. Even the kids

love this one.

Friendly Dolphin Style Fish

Use any mild white fish, I used Basa, Halibut

works nice too. Place ea. piece of fish on a

square of foil - use enough so you can fold up

around the fish and allow for some steam.

Sprinkle ea. w/ salt & pepper, a bit of

chopped fresh garlic,

chopped fresh cilantro, chopped fresh jalapeno,

a bit of Monterrey jack cheese, and a splash of

white wine (maybe 2 Tbls. per), and a few small

pads of butter (about 1/2 Tbl. per) Fold up into

packets. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at about

385 degrees for approx. 20-30 min. depending on the

thickness of the fish. I served with rice pilaf

and steamed corn.

It's complicated

Went to see "It's Complicated" over the weekend.

It was even better than I had hoped.

Sooo funny, and the set designs are just

incredible. Something beautiful to look at

in every scene. I can't wait to watch it

again, and again...

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My dream career - is this yummy bakery real?

Beautiful, comfortable living room

Kitchen goods

(pictures from Traditional Home)

Wine anyone...?

o

I just love these green wine glasses

I got from Santa!

More Christmas

Christmas flowers in full bloom.

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Cookie stand from x-mas eve.

So pretty.

Cute ring from Chloe - love it!

(my hand looks old and wrinkly...)

The house is quiet today....

Darryl took the kids to Mexico this

morning for a quick visit with Grandma Margie.

The house is quiet and I am enjoying a slow

morning. I have a big pot of chicken stock

simmering on the stove and the house

smells good.

We had a great Christmas! Chloe

wrote out the Christmas message on the

chalk board. Didn't notice till much later

that threw was spelt wrong.. oh well,

we all know the story.

Christmas morning magic.

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Logan must have been good this year.

0

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Beautiful cookie jar Taylor made

for me - love, love, love it.

7

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Gorgeous green wine glasses that I wanted

from Anthropologie - thanks Santa!

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Taylor helping Logan with his

new toy.

The Christmas table was set for breakfast,

which was delicious as always!

Christmas Photo 09

Photo taken while hunting for our

Christmas tree. There was a beautiful

ridge behind them. Tonight we go

to view Chrismtas lights in our

neighborhood.

Almost ready...

I finished all my shopping and running

around today - phew! I think I am ready.

Kids gifts - all done

Baking - all done

x-mas cards sent

Food shopping for x-mas eve, x-mas

morning and x-mas dinner - done.

Wine, candles - done.

Just want to pick up some fresh flowers

tomorrow, and only a little

cleaning left to do

and I will be ready to just relax

& enjoy.

Sugar and spice...and everything nice

Santa's helpers...

Cookie making day went really well.

Taylor & Chloe helped a lot and things

went really quickly. We whipped out

about 15 dozen cookies in 4 hours!

We are officially ready for

the holidays!
Thanks Mom!

Movie night

Last night we watched "Elf" with

Will Farrell - hilarious! I forgot just

how funny that movie is. We got plenty

of laughs.

*

Decorated a gingerbread house too.
We tried putting a votive candle inside to
lite it up - not a good idea, things started
to melt off - ooops! Today I will get one of
those little fake candles to put in there.
I think it turned out cute.

Let the cookie making begin

I don't know what these cookies are called, except

simple and delicious. They have the sweet and

salty thing going on. You simply just spread a

dab of peanut butter between two Ritz crackers,

and then dip in melted chocolate bark.

(I tried using real chocolate once, but they

just didn't turn out as good..., so

why mess with a good thing) Then top

with white sprinkles.

M

We are a bit behind with our cookie

making this year. I started on these today,

Monday Mom and I will continue with several

other batches including, peanut butter kisses,

jam thumbprints and crescent cookies.

*

*
I thought I would have so much to post about

prior to Christmas, but the days are

just slipping by...

These are a few of my favorite things...

*Special delivery from Paris!

Amazing x-mas gift from Kim & Alex.

Bread from Poilane Bakery in Paris - how

awesome is that?! Wine from VJB Winery

in Sonoma, CA, and gourmet cheese

from Cowgirl Creamery.

*

** Since the bread came fresh, we had to enjoy

it right away - no? Mike, Mom and I had a little

wine & cheese happy hour last night. Great way

to end a busy day. Thanks Kim & Alex!

Tres bon!!

Great weekend

It was a really fun weekend. Kim & Alex flew

in from Denver to celebrate brother Mike's

50'th birthday. Dinner at Donovan's Steakhouse,

then cocktails at The Montalucia hotel - beautiful

new hotel in Scottsdale were Kim & Alex stayed.

Darryl, me & Mom

Mike, me, Kim & Mom

Saturday we enjoyed a hike up

South Mountain and then a late lunch at

The Farm at South Mountain.

I look a bit tired no? But Chloe

looks cute as always.

Saturday night was dinner at Pizzeria Bianco,

(my favorite place) and then a special treat,

an intimate, acoustic guitar show by

Eddie Elliot - awesome! Really great

weekend, now I must rest & recover!

Messy, messy, messy

(before)

(after)

Ahhhh, so much better.

Little Cuties

Is there anything as sweet and delicious

as these little Cutie Clementines?

We have been eating them up.

They are simply delicious!

Home

o

Like many people, this year has been very

difficult financially for our business.

So this year, we are focusing on

the simple pleasures of Christmas, and

what is really most important.

We are especially thankful that we are all

healthy & happy and that we have a home

and each other. Here are a few of my

favorite holiday activities which

we plan to enjoy.

1. bake Christmas cookies with Mom - tradition.
2. watch Christmas movies.
3. read holiday stories.
4. send Christmas cards with family photo.
5. play Christmas tree game.
6. go see Christmas lights in our neighborhood.
7. drink hot cocoa and egg nog w/rum - yum.
8. enjoy listening to Christmas music.
9. snuggle on the couch - always a good thing.
10. go see luminaries at Desert Botanical Garden.
11. decorate a gingerbread house with kids.
12. enjoy spending time with friends and family.

Oh, Christmas tree

We headed up north of Payson to cut

down our Christmas tree. We had to do

quite a bit of hunting and hiking to find

it. Logan got a bit tired. But, we fueled

up with hot cocoa and chili and finally

found our tree.

The finished tree with all her trimmings.
It looked so small in the forest, but we had
to cut off quite a bit from the bottom to make
it fit, and to get the angel on top.
I think it looks beautiful. A little
Charlie Brown-ish, but that's what
we like about it.