POR FIN...Summertime

Easter Review

Anthony and I had a lot of time to relax on Easter. Late afternoon, we went for a short stroll to our neighborhood park, where an event with families, and kids with Easter baskets was just ended. ETA: We saw a view of the freeway and another community below. Then, we went to an evening church service. It was a great message of Hope in Christ. There was a moment after the church service was over, we were still standing up-after clapping for those that were saved and recommiting their lives to Christ and they walked to the altar call room, and many members of the church were already leaving, our pastor looked up, saw us, and we all (pastor, Anthony and I) smiled and waved. Cool, because we attend a mega church and not able to have personal connections necessarily with the same people-minus small group, and pastors. After, we went to a soul food restaurant. Finally, we came back home, called our dads, and unwind. I only took ONE photo of the day of something funny/cute from one of Anthony's friends on Facebook. I will try and post a saved image-not the photo. I hope you and your family and friends had a happy and blessed Easter.

Looking back...2008

Real quick, before the New Year on the East Coast. :) 2008 has been a very blessed year. Here is a list of some of the things that were most memorable to me, in no particular order, although I will leave my top 3 for last.

Concert on the Beach
Etta James Concert
Robin Thicke Concert
Thanksgiving in the Bay Area-good time with family and seeing and feeling "Fall"
3rd Anniversary/Comic Con





First first Christmas tree
Vacation (quality) time with Anthony-still in progress

And my top 3 memorable events
Dawn's Wedding/Niagara Falls



Bellagio Water Show in Vegas



Senator Barack Obama Elected as the next President

Merry Christmas

I hope you and your family and friends had a happy and blessed Christmas. Below is a clip from my FAVORITE Christmas movie.

Busy...but not...

So much to do, but yet relaxing. Luckily, I am all done with my Christmas shopping. Most of the shopping was for colleagues at work. Which means that had to be done before winter vacation (December 19). The family was the EASY part this year for me. I basically knew right away what to get them. I used the net for most of it, and had it shipped directly. Unfortunately, I had a wrong address for one, yeah I know, and so it went somewhere else. Hopefully, it will work out.

I still want to post a picture of the tree. We have taken some, but I am not sure where the camera is, etc. Still to come.

We were going to visit my dad and his wife for Christmas, but it was expensive. We saw Anthony's side of the family for Thanksgiving. Although they are closer, we decided to celebrate at home. So, I had been thinking about the meal. I decided to cook a stew via crock pot. I LOVE using the crock pot, although it has been awhile. I was going to do my maybe once a year go sort of all out cooking. Anthony is sick (although it HASN'T affected his appetite), and it is supposed to rain, so I thought the stew would be easy, inexpensive, and perfect. So I think tomorrow, Christmas Eve, I will pick up everything for the stew for Christmas, and a pollito-already cooked chicken, to have with vegetables for Christmas Eve. Keeping it simple.

My Grocery List
Natural beef stew meat
2 Cans of tomatoes with Jalapenos
2 Cans of northern beans
Rice

I first wash the meat and mix with seasonings I already have: Seasoned salt, pepper, a dash of cayenne and cinnamon. I put it along with the cans of tomato in the crock pot. I let simmer on low for about 8-10 hours.

The last 30 minutes of the cooking I put in the beans-should put in last. I cook the rice separately in the rice cooker. :)

We already have the sparkling cider.

Pollito
Green beans or mixed vegetables-maybe I'll make greens?

Orange Juice

Memorial Day

Flashback: Whitney Houston singing the "Star Spangled Banner" at Superbowl.

Happy New Year!

I am very tired right now. Although I am on break, I have been working at cleaning up, clearing out, and scrapbooking. :) I hope to upload what I have been scrapping, but not right now. Take care, and I hope you and your family and friends have a happy, safe, and healthy New Year!

What the Holidays Mean To Me

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are a very spiritual time. You have as much holiday fun as everyone else - but you never forget what you're celebrating. You celebrate the holidays in an over the top style. If something is cute, you'll buy it. People end up with a lot of gifts from you - and your house is like a holiday wonderland, full of decorations. During the holidays, you feel happily busy. There's so much do to and not a lot of time to do it. But you enjoy every minute of your holiday chores. You think the holidays should be comforting and relaxing. You don't like the holiday rush... you just like the simple pleasure of the holidays. Your best holiday memories are of childhood foods and traditions. You secretly still wish you believed in Santa Claus.

What Do the Holidays Mean to You?

President's Day

Happy New Year! Wow, it's been awhile. I do have a lot to say and share. I hope to get better on blogging, seriously. For now, in honor of President's Day, I thought that I would share a video of someone who may become president in 2008: Barack Obama! Take care.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid416308493/bclid416343960/bctid494649996

Merry Christmas!

Hello. I just wanted to write a quick blog before I leave for the Bay Area. I hope you and your families have a happy, healthy, safe, and blessed Christmas! Take care.