It is upon us!

Here it is....the first picture of snow! I knew it was coming but I was so not prepared. I am not a big fan of winter, and I hate the cold! Snow tends to make me feel lazy and I just want to hide inside and bake in my pajamas. So even though my goal this week was to work out everyday, I got home, put on my jams and proceeded to make 2 loaves of Banana Zucchini Bread. I guess my goal tonight will be not to eat it all!

Just as a side note, the picture below was of the moon at sunrise and it was so beautiful so I thought I would share it. Obviously I can't give it proper justice without a great camera!

Mosaic's

I love mosaics! It doesn't matter if the medium is tile, stones, pictures, glass....whatever, I just think they are really cool. I just recently saw them done this way and I decided I would copy it because I like it so much! Plus, it is very difficult for me to have an original idea! I decided my first picture mosaic would represent a few of my favorite things. (I know the song just popped into your head!) I may on occasion throw one out on my blog with different kinds of themes just to pretty it up a little!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and I want you all to know I am so thankful for all of you! Each and everyone one of you bring something special and different to my life and for that I am grateful! I hope we can all enjoy the time that we have with the families we spend the day with, as it is a day you can never get back. I love you all and may you have a blessed and peace filled day! Now let's chow!

Mexican Mask

Approximately 3-4 years ago I took a trip to Mexico and purchased a mask that I was told was a "protection" mask. I love Mexican art and thought it would be a great thing to add to my collection. Well as the years have passed, this mask has consistently produced a "white powder" out of it's various face parts. I originally thought it was coming from my ceiling in my old apartment but never saw anything that looked like it was falling from the ceiling. I recently moved into a new apartment and in the process of moving cleaned off the mask and put it up in my new room. Well lo and behold the mysterious powder reappeared! I know for a fact now that this has nothing to do with the ceiling or the wall and the powder is coming through the actual mask. I have tried to Google it to see if anyone has had similar situations but have been unable to find anything. Here are some pictures as proof of what I am talking about. I don't get weirded out by things like this but I know Stephanie would have thrown it away the second she realized it was "possessed". Any theories?
You can see the powder that fell on the leaf below.

Ducks Unlimited

When I first moved into my apartment, one of the things I loved was the mass amount of ducks and geese that also reside there. Well the "love" I had for them is slowly diminishing. They quack 24 hours a day! Not only do they have their typical duck quacks but they also make this noise that more often than not, sounds like they are laughing at you. You know your getting ready in the morning and your trying really hard not to look at yourself until you have your clothes on, when you hear the sound of a duck "laughing". Not always the best self-esteem booster! Celeste and I will often sit on the porch and seriously debate taking up duck hunting. Too bad the lease frowns on that!

Oh and 1 more thing-if your ever over for a visit, watch where you step!

Recipes

I love to cook and I am always on the look out for new recipes. I mainly look for recipes that are healthy but look like they would actually have some flavor to them. 95% of the time I change the recipe to fit what I like and what I think a better ingredient might be. So every once in awhile I am going to post a recipe that I have tried that I find exceptionally delicious.

Greek Quinoa with Avocado

1/2 C. uncooked Quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced (or however much you like)
1 C. water
2 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped
1 C. Shredded fresh Spinach
1 Avocado, chopped
1/3 C. Feta Cheese
2 Tblsp Fresh Basil, chopped (optional if you are not a fan)
2 Tblsp Lemon Juice
2 Tblsp Olive Oil (I use Extra Virgin)
1/2 Tsp Salt

In a small saucepan, combine Quinoa, garlic, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.

In another bowl, combine spinach, tomatoes, avocado, and feta, (basil if using). Whip up the lemon juice, oil, and salt and add to the above mixture. Add the Quinoa when it is done cooking and mix all together.

Eat and enjoy! I loved it!

My new Nephew!

This is my new nephew Trent James Smiley! I have a sore throat so have not been to see him yet, but I am going to mask myself up tomorrow and cover myself in Lysol and post some more pictures! I am so excited! What a cutie!

I did it!!!!

I made the switch to digital! I love photography and have always been of the notion that I would forever use film because that is the only way to take a great photo. Well I am willing to admit that I was being a photo snob and digital is actually quite amazing! I am very excited to try something new not to mention save some money from not having to buy film or print bad photos! Thanks Brian for the help and thanks mom and grandpa for the gift!

Greek Goddess

This is old news but Stephanie wanted to see my costume so here it is. I LOVE Halloween, it is my favorite Holiday. I am usually the only one who dresses up at work but this year I recruited a few more people. Brooke even wore her cute little kitty ears! It is really the only time of year you can get away with wearing whatever you want to work! The only disappointing thing to me is I have noticed over the years there is less and less trick-or-treating. There are just so many places that offer "trunk-or-treating" and "trick-or-treat street" that kids get plenty of candy and I guess all in all it is safer. But really some of my fondest memories are of going door to door and the excitement and anticipation of each house. Having to put on coats and hats over your costume because it is so cold outside. Walking up to a house and having some guy sitting in a chair on the porch and he jumps up to scare the crap out of you. That is what Halloween is about to me!

Am I mean?

We have a new girl at work and she told me today, in a joking manner, that I was mean! Now I have been told this before by numerous people and it really got me to thinking. What is the image I am putting out to people? Now you have to understand that the work that I do is very difficult. You hear sad, upsetting, disturbing stories everyday, all day and you have to have a pretty thick skin not to take these things home with you. I will admit that I am pessimistic (which I call realistic) but at the same time I care about the people I talk to and help or I wouldn't be doing what I am doing. We have a habit at work of making jokes out of things that you would never do in daily life, it is a way of coping. So I guess to people outside of the field (or new people at work) this comes across as mean. So I guess in the end, I could be a little more careful about what I say but I will not make apologies for the way I cope with the bad parts of the world! I am sure Dr's, nurses, cops, and many other people would say the same thing! I am not mean!