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November 29, 2011

The park is ready for Christmas


I went for a run in the park yesterday and ran by this tree. If you only knew that the park I run in is very removed from the city so seeing this seemed very random.
Love it~ I may even bring an ornament to contribute to the adorable Charlie Brown Tree.

November 13, 2011

Rampart won 1st place


Yeah! Rampart Rams Cheerleaders won first place in the 5A division for their first competition of the season! I am so excited for all of the girls! I know how hard they all worked. GO RAMS!!
Jasmine did awesome! After they attend the State Competition in December I will post the video of her routine.

This is Jasmine with her friend Kelsi

November 12, 2011

Girl's night out

Friday night I got to enjoy a night out with my two sisters, my daughter and my niece. When went to a play at the high school, All My Sons. It was amazing for a high school production.


Scarlett did pretty good. Recently, all the girls, including Scarlett, went to see the movie Footloose at the theater. She was great through that whole movie. This time there was a little fuss for just a minute. But, considering she's just three months that adorable kid is becoming cultured!

November 6, 2011

It snowed on us at the cabin today


Keith and I went to the cabin to take the boat there for the winter. When we got there it started dumping snow on us! That's an understatement, actually! Then, next thing you know as soon as we were done securing the tarp with rope and bungees to the boat it stopped snowing. I suppose it is November!

I took this picture right before we left of the water in the pond. I can hardly see the cabin in the distance... 

October 30, 2011

Clipping yarn...


Photo Credit zazzle.com


 I found this picture and thought I needed to add it to my blog because I am "clipping" one more thing in my life, yarn.

I have been taking pictures of most of my crochet projects and I can't wait to share.

This Grey baby blanket with aqua trim is one I made for my cousin Stacey when she had her son Brock.


This pink with brown trim baby blanket I made for my niece Kristin after she had her daughter Claire and I made another one exactly like it but blue with brown trim at the same time for her sister-in-law, my nephew's wife Christie who had her baby boy Ethan. Wish I wouldn't have forgotten to take a picture of it.


The lilac blanket with grey trim was made for my sister, Elizabeth when she had her daughter Scarlett.


I made this purple and green baby blanket recently for the owner of my salon who is due any day now with a baby girl. I do have to say the colors in the picture don't do it justice. The purple was called grape and in my opinion it looks blue in the pic.


So, to date I have made seven baby blankets and working of the eighth. Pictures coming soon on #7 & #8! Because they are gifts I don't want to spoil the surprise by showing it here.

And, I have a couple more projects I'm working on. I pick them up when I need a change of pace to all the baby blankets.

This is the start to a blanket I'm making to go in our bus. I will be huge when it's done and it has been an ongoing project. Also, I have started another blanket that Jasmine requested it's grey and I am still working on it. Pics to come when it's finally finished.


Finally, this week I made this adorable hat for my niece Scarlett. OMG! I am in love with it! It's funny how this one got started. Jasmine asked if I could make her a grey and black striped hat with ear flaps so I looked up a pattern and got to work. Obviously, I needed the distraction for my current project. Anyway, I realized as I was making this hat that it wasn't going to be big enough for Jasmine's head but I just finished it anyway. Then, because I was on a roll, I decided to learn how to make a flower to go on it. I am so proud of my first hat. So much so that I couldn't stop showing everyone at work.

October 29, 2011

One short year ago

Wow! I was just reading the post I wrote a year ago just before my mom passed away. I had forgotten about that one.

I wrote all about my effort to get into to a better routine. Which, by the way, is never ending! I think I go through this every fall when the seasons change and Jasmine is back in school.

I suppose I just find it interesting to look back, I didn't know how my life would change just over a week later. 

Well, I am in the same place with trying to create to-do lists and schedules that make my life easier. But, I am not the same person I was a year ago.  I am a person who realizes life is too short.

October 26, 2011

Ice cream on a snowy day

Whenever there is a snow day for Jasmine and school is called off, I always feel the need to bundle up and get out!


Jasmine spent her time following me around taking pictures of herself.



And, taking video...

October 3, 2011

A little video of one of our boat rides

Keith and I went on a boat a couple weeks ago by ourselves. He wanted me to take some video of the wake. But, when I panned around I couldn't see the front of the boat.

September 19, 2011

September 19

On September 19, 2011 I went over to Palmer Lake Park to walk around and reflect on the past year without my mom. I sat there for well over an hour just talking to myself. I really needed that! I also tried to find the perfect place to stand to take this picture. I wanted to capture the red house on the hill where my parents lived and the lake where she spent her last happy moments walking around with my dad. I do have to say this picture means a lot to me. 

August 9, 2011

Scarlett is here


So excited! My niece, Scarlett Rayne Elizabeth Cooks was born on Tues. August 9, 2011 at 8:50 am. She weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and was 19 in. long.

I'm a proud Aunt again!

June 9, 2011

My first crochet project

I have recently learned how to crochet and I am loving it.
This baby blanket I made was a gift to my co-worker JoAnne. She didn't know what she was having so I choose white with aqua trim. She had a girl so it was a perfect color. This was the first time I had given one of my projects as a gift. I was very nervous! But, she loved it! She even teared up a bit, which made me tear up. I'm so happy she liked it!

May 7, 2011

I ran for the first time in a while...


I did the May 2011 Nielson 2 Mile Challenge with my friend Kelli. My time was 0:25:16.107.

I shouldn't admit this but, I placed #103 of 125. Whatever... I still got out there!

April 18, 2011

Homemade Enchilada sauce

I made this Enchilada sauce for dinner. I didn't have any canned enchilada sauce so I went looking for a recipe. I found this one on a forum. I really liked it.

(makes 3 cups)
2 T. cooking oil
2 T. all-purpose flour
2 T. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can (14 oz. chicken broth)99%fat free
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)no salt added
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Heat oil in large saucepan; stir in flour & chili powder. Cook for 1 minute then all remaining ingredients. Bring to boil & simmer for 10 min. Refrigerate extra.

April 6, 2011

Strawberry Cheesecake Shake - FP



Yum! I made this Strawberry Cheesecake Shake this morning.
I did change it slightly...

1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese
1/2 cup almond milk
2 packets of sweetener (I use Stevia)
2 cups of frozen strawberries

Blend until smooth. If you like cottage cheese you will like this shake. Next time I think I will add 1 cup of almond milk (since it's 1 point for up to 1 cup). I had to add some water to loosen it up because I didn't follow the instructions and blend before adding in the strawberries. Really good.

Also, I may add some protein powder or flax seed next time. And, I could experiment with different fruit! I see blueberries or peaches in my future...

April 2, 2011

What will it bee?

My sister and her husband are having their second baby. She's due in August. They found out what their having in a really fun way...

Earlier in the week they went to the ultrasound and the results were sealed in an envelope and taken to a baker. So, they had a "Gender Reveal Party".



They had a cake made with either a pink or blue layer and only the bakery knew what the results were.
And, It's a.......




Girl!!!




March 7, 2011

Sunday drive home

It was such a quick weekend!!! Sunday I ate badly AGAIN!

Sunday morning before we left town the family celebrated all of the March birthdays by having a birthday breakfast. I went hog wild!



For lunch we stopped at a Subway in Wakeeney, KS. I didn't count it. I was just being lazy.

My turn to drive. I had a Caffeine Free Diet Dr. Pepper just to have something to do while driving.


Can you see it? That's the Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign. Not the greatest pic but I was the one driving.



It was good to be home. I would have loved to stay longer but it just wasn't possible. We'll be going back this summer.

For dinner at 7:00 I just made myself a green smoothie made with some almond milk (1pt.).

March 6, 2011

Happy Birthday to Donna!

We went back to Kansas City for a quick weekend to surprise my sister-in-law Donna for her 50th birthday. She was definitely surprised! It was at the Hyatt Crown Center which is a gorgeous hotel! Thank you Donna and John for a fun party!


Karie and Garry


Mike, Sherry, Tammy, and Karie


Josh, John, Donna, Alyssa and Cassie



March 5, 2011

Road trip!

We left on a road trip on Friday. We had a late start. It was 3:30pm by the time we left. Keith and Jazzy had school and work, respectively. But, we got on the road!

My morning started with 2 patties of turkey sausage(3pts.) and 2 eggs(4pts.) and coffee(1pt.)



Afternoon snack of a pear and 1/2 cup of low fat cottage cheese (2pts.) I must've bought fat free cottage cheese the last time I was at the store. I believe the fat free version is only 1 point for 1/2 cup. Oh well, now I know.





For lunch I made yet another burrito. Whole wheat tortilla (3pts.), 1/4 cup refried beans(1pt.), 1 wedge of laughing cow cheese (1pt.) carnitas (5pts.), reduced fat sour cream (1pt.), lettuce and salsa

Yikes! It all added up because of the carnitas meat. I made it months ago and had it in the freezer. I didn't look up to see how many points it was before I made my burrito. Ugh! 11 points! I try not to use that much at lunch. I prefer to eat maybe 9 points at most for lunch. So, for the rest of the day I have 8 points. And, we're driving in the middle of Kansas where dinner will be something fast food. Well, this is just how life is so I guess I will figure it out.




Road trips always include snacks right?!? I think I like to eat in the car because of boredom. What else is there to do? ;) Keith and Jazzy enjoyed their snacks while driving. I was a good girl!






McDonald's it was. There was an Arby's across the street but I had already looked up what I could have assuming every town has a Mickey D's. I had a cheeseburger (8pts.) and a side salad with Newman's Own fat free balsamic vinaigrette(1pt.). Left me wanting more but that's what fast food does to you.
Then, when it was my turn to drive I snacked on carrots sticks. Yeah me! Then I had a stick of sugar free gum.