I Want A Mantel....

Condo living. On the 7th floor. No Fireplace = NO MANTEL. :(

Now don't misunderstand me- I love our condo and I could not imagine living in a different neighborhood.  It's just, well, I want to decorate a mantel. 

Like this:


image from Good Housekeeping


Or this:



Google image


Oooh this is nice too:

image from CountryLiving

I don't need an exceptionally large mantel, I am not picky.  I just want one to make my very own.  A mantel to decorate for every holiday, because I love holidays.  Christmas would be a fabulous time of year to have a mantel, you don't even want to see where our stockings hang right now.

I guess for now I will have to live vicariously through all of the inspiring blogs I read.  They all seem to have lovely mantels to decorate. :)

Yellow and Gold and Orange-oh my!

This past weekend Jason and I headed up to Carbondale, CO to spend the weekend with his mom.  We were there to celebrate her birthday which happens to be during the perfect time to see the colors change in the mountains.  In case you are wondering Carbondale is about 20 miles past Glenwood Springs on the way up to Aspen, CO.

It is absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful up there this time of year.  We took a drive up to Ashcroft which is a road just outside of Aspen that takes  you to the base of a 14'er.  What is a 14'er you ask?  Well, it is a mountain that is 14, 000+ feet, and people actually climb it! CRAZY.

The views up in the mountains are serene and they truly make you feel surrounded by God.

 

 

Happy Fall everyone! Make sure to get out there and enjoy all this beautiful season has to offer.

Updates!

I have been meaning to sit down and write for a week now, and clearly that just hasn't happened.  Why you ask? Life is busy.  Time just flies by, anyone else feel that way?

Update numero uno: My dad had total knee replacement surgery on Monday, and thankfully he is home and beginning the healing process.  He starts PT today which I know is going to be tough.  The pain is pretty intense, but he is strong so I know he will push through it. 

Update numero dos: We had a wonderful Labor Day weekend-it was extra long because Jason and I both took Friday off from work.  We headed up to spend a couple of days with David and Daria in Winter Park. We got up there around noon on Friday and headed to Pole Creek golf course to play 9 holes.  I am a terrible golfer, but it was fun to be out there with the husband in the beautiful Colorado weather.  We spent the rest of our time up there relaxing and just enjoying the quiet of the mountains with family and friends.  I have just a few pics to share from that trip.

Adult Beer Pong

Women Vs.

Men.

My boys :)

We had a great weekend with David and Daria, but we had to cut it short because we had a wedding Sunday night.  A friend of ours from college was getting married, and we were excited to spend an evening with all of our old college buds.

Update numero tres: Work has been crazy busy lately-and I mean CRAZY busy.  Early mornings, late nights and just stressful.  Good news is, once I am home I am leaving all behind and enjoying nights and weekends with Jason, family and good friends.  And that is all that matters at the end of a crazy day :)

Update numero quatro: Our best friends Luke and Candace had their baby!! Finally baby Sloane has joined us.  We have only been up to visit once, and hope to get to see them this week, because oh my goodness she is precious.  We are so very happy for them! 

Not much else to report.  We spent this weekend with Jason's mom up in Carbondale to celebrate her birthday.  I will have a post dedicated to the weekend because we went to look at the fall colors and they were MAGNIFICENT! 

 Well we are about to head out to spend this beautiful Sunday afternoon with my parents-gotta grill dad a nice hearty steak dinner to take his mind off of the knee pain.  Happy Fall everyone! 

Shrimp Enchiladas Verde

I found this recipe in one of my healthy cookbooks and thought you might enjoy :)

Recipe from Healthy in Hurry

Ingredients

1 pound of cooked shrimp, tails removed and diced

1 cup of frozen corn thawed (I like to use fresh corn when in season!)

2- 4oz. cans chopped green chiles (NOT drained)

2 cups of canned green enchilada sauce, divided

12 corn tortillas

1- 15oz. can of nonfat refried beans

1 cup of reduced fat shredded cheese-mexican style, cheddar etc (I always use just a bit extra)

1/2 cup of fresh cilantro

Green Onions-recipe doesn't call for them but I use them as garnish

Sour Cream-recipe doesn't call for it but again I use as garnish

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and coat a 9x13 dish with pam

Combine shrimp, corn, chiles and 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce in a medium bowl-cover and microwave on High until through.  About 2 and a half minutes. 

Spread a  1/4 cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of baking dish.  Top with an overlapping layer  of 6 tortillas.  Spread the refried beans evenly on top of the tortillas.

Then top the beans with the shrimp mixture

Next step place the remaining 6 tortillas on top and pour the remaining sauce over the tortillas

Cover enchiladas with foil and bake for about 20 minutes-until they start bubbling on the sides.  Yummy!

After waiting about 20 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle cheese on top of enchiladas.  Cook for another 5 minutes or so.

Remove from the oven and top with cilantro and green onions.  I serve sour cream on the side for those who like it.  This recipe serves 8 and has 320 calories and 9 grams of fat.  Not too shabby if you ask me!

Enjoy~

Shrimp Enchiladas Verde-YUM!

Dreaming....

Work and life have been so crazy busy lately that I have barely had a chance to catch my breath.  However the last few days I have found myself thinking about one thing in particular when my mind wanders.

Italy.  I am dreaming of the beautiful churches, sculptures, artwork, people, food, GELATO *sigh*.  You name it, I am dreaming about it.  I was there with my family in 2005 and we stayed for 2 weeks.  I could have stayed for 2 years.  The history and beauty of Italy is like nothing I have seen.  I guess for now I am going to have to keep dreaming.  Actually, maybe now I am going to have to start planning instead of dreaming....hmm.

 Family~Is there anything more important? And I have to brag because I think my family is the very best there is ;)

Ciao for now~