The Rose Parade!!!

Yay! Pretty horses, pretty flowers, and pretty fun!

Home Cookin'!

Mmm, Mom and Me made bell peppers stuffed with Italian sausage, onion, garlic, black olice, spices, Italian parsely and whatever else we threw in.

Cooked them up, awfully juicy, lots of diced tomatoes and juice!

Quinoa pasta salad with roasted tomatoes, kalamata olives, and green onions.

MMMMMmmmm, sooo good.

Last night I made vegan, gluten-free macaroni and cheese with hot dogs and peas. Pure home-y food. I didn't think it was that good but, Barbara ate it with me and didn't seem to notice. Must have been good. :-)

Road Trip Review 4!

Valerie and I at the Lincoln memorial with the Washington memorial in sight, where Dr. MLK Jr. spoke.

The Washington memorial with the Capitol in the back, taken from the Lincoln memorial.

Oh Abe-a frequent answer on our road trip crossword.

The Korean War memorial, so moving.

Mmmm Saturday morning hash browns.

Road Trip Review 3!

Me, Valerie and Jackie on the metro to D.C.

Air Space Smithsonian in D.C.

The Capitol in D.C.

The WWII memorial, NM is rockin' :-)

Pro photo shoot by Valerie, the Washington Memorial.

Road Trip Review 2!

Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, IL.

Me in Chicago just having fun. I had steak, a nap, and a nice walk.

Hard Rock Cafe in Cleveland, OH.

A wood cabin for sale at the Amish Market-I took this photo for Grandpa :-)

It's like Alice in Wonderland! Only it's really the house that's small, I'm not huge. It's a kiddo's playhouse.

Road Trip Review!

Montana mountains (in the middle of no where).

Had to stop in the road for a cow crossing, there's Montana for you.

Mt. Rushmore was way cooler than I thought it would be in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Top of the Sears/Willis Tower, I got sick from the elevator ride and had to go back down. It was incredible though.

The giant mirror bean at Millenium Park in Chicago, IL.

Road Trip!

Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota,Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, whew. We're in South Dakota now. Mt. Rushmore rocked! Off to Lacrosse, WI and then Chicago! Can't wait!

Brussel Sprouts!

While discussing the wonders of brussel sprouts one day with my sister I was shocked to hear her say that she has never had them (to her recollection). So hear's to ya sis!
Ingredients:
Brussel Sprouts (that many in the picture)
Canola Oil
Salt and Pepper
Oregano
Garlic

Cut and X in the stem of the brussel sprout (so they can cook through). Cover the brussel sprouts with water in a pot, bring to boil for 7-10 minutes, until really green but not too green (same as broccoli). Strain, cut them in half, and pour into a frying pan with oil and spices. Saute them up for another 7-10 minutes I guess-until browned. I kept them face down. They were good, not too mushy and delicious. Would probably be good with the giant sweet onions from my Grandma too. :-)

Off to Baltimore!

So... two months ago or so, Jackie and I are sitting on my bed goofing around when she finds a rad internship in Baltimore. She reads it over, finds it's awesome, and applies. I mentioned to her that I would be willing to drive with her after my licensing exam. On Thursday she came over to my house and asked if I was busy next Friday because we're driving to Baltimore... Holy cow. So this Friday, after taking my NCLEX on Thursday we're off. It will be my longest road trip in one go (the second one being I-40 with Jordan). We plan on hitting Great Falls, MT, Mt Rushmore, La Crosse, WI, Chicago, Cleveland or Pittsburg (any ideas) and then Baltimore. Wish us luck! I'll keep you posted!

Mmmm cookin'

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad from my The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook by Segersten and Malterre

I made a 1/2 batch of this:
2 c quinoa
3.5 cups water
pinch of salt
1 cup chopped cilantro
5 chopped green onions
2 cups cooked black beans
(I didn't have any but also:
1 small jalepeno, seeded and diced
1 small red pepper, diced)
Dressing:
1/4 cup EVOO
1/2 cup lime juice
1 tsp cumin
1.5 tsp salt
1. Rinse quinoa, strain, and put in pot with salt and water. Bring to boil, lower heat, cover and let simmer for 20 min. Remove from heat, place in another bowl and let cool.
2. Combine dressing ingredients, cilantro and green onion and whisk. Combine with qunioa, (peppers) and black beans (cooked and strained) and toss well.
3. Chow down. I let mine cool but still like it warm.

Bread baking!

Hey, I made up a bread mix-Gluten Free Pantry Favorite Sandwich Bread, which turned out awesome! WAY better than the bread I've made from scratch. It's moist and delicious and fantastic and looks legit! I sliced and put half in the freezer (per directions). Mmmm!

Family Campers!

In preparation for the Alberta Art Hop, we did some summer, camping activities.







They're tricky to photograph and this one (accidental) photo with flash was the best.

Kitties!

This is my new kitty, my mom's house adopted who I need to take with me to Albuquerque. Meet Buster Brown-Noser or just Buster

The boys just taking a cat-nap

Heaven!

So this morning, after having a good-bye party for a friend last night, I went down to the kitchen to enjoy my new expensive stash from whole foods. I toasted a rice flour english muffin, made some jimmy dean sausage, and fried up a tofu slice with some tumeric. I threw it together with a swipe of veganaise and I have to say it was the most glorious thing I'd eaten in a month! The bready, greasy, egg-like-ness of it all was fantastic. I meant to take a photo but I gobbled it down too quick. There certainly will be more where that came from. mmmm

Graduation Party!

Yay! Good times. Mom has more photos I have yet to get. :-)

Grades are in!

Application Multicultural Population Health Nursing A-
Nursing Leadership A
Personal Preparation for Licensure A
Capstone Clinical Immersion Passed

22nd Birthday!

Yay birthdays. I have been unlucky enough to have to share my birthday with my best friend every year. Last year we missed each other and we were happy to share a party this year.

Arn't we cute?

Marie and Ivan


Yeah, Mom was invited, she brought food!

Jackie and Tyson