To eat the chicken or to be a chicken...

So I have a fear of cooking chicken. It's not a massive fear, but because it's a little one I have avoided doing it for quite some time now. I truly believe that I will under cook it and will be vomiting for hours. So when I have tried in the past I've butchered it checking for any hint of pink or overcooked it like crazy. Or anything it touches will be covered salmonella and everything on the counter for the next week will be infected. Crazy talk right?

So yesterday as I was looking through a cookbook I saw a recipe for chicken parmesan and decided today would be the day to overcome the fear.
And I did it!! And it was actually delicious. Not overcooked at all. Thomas was actually impressed that I didn't dry out the chicken with all of my fear.

Here's a pic of the yummy meal. We paired it with a simple feta & tomato salad and some delicious red wine from Australia We sat outside, trying to get in some of the last warm nights, so it's a little dark.

Picking a dress is the hardest thing ever...

Classic case of wedding dress dilemma caused by living in a town where there are no boutiques and people admire your flannel or tie dye shirt.

I have a dress I've borrowed from my sister for a wedding in 2 weeks.... but I was thinking of getting a new one. Can't decide what to do at all. I can never make decisions on dresses for myself. So please pick one :)

The wedding is at 7:00... but it's in Florida so I'm thinking it will be less dressy. And I'll be with the boyfriend's parents and family for the first time.

Love the color...


Love this... but scared it could be awesome and different or ugly and old looking.

Split End-O-Rama

I am very embarrassed to admit this publicly, but I have not had a haircut since last spring.
This ok for some, but for those like me with thinner than thin hair. It just is INAPPROPRIATE.
It's like deader than dead with 6 split ends off of one split end. GROSS

SO TODAY IS THE DAY! YAYYYYYYYYY. I am SO excited to be getting a haircut. I even dressed up today at work so I will feel extra better with a good outfit and better hair when it's all said and done.

This is me now....


This is me in T- 2 hours....


YAYYYYYYYYY! Happy Weekend!

Its' back.........

The dreaded ski season is upon us.
My friend Cait informed me today that it is currently snowing in Vail. Probably just a bit, but still my immediate thought was "Oh great here we go".

Most people assume everyone skis out here, but actually you will find quite a few people who have lived here for 15, 20+ years and do not find it to be that big of a deal anymore.
Then there are the rare people who literally just do not like to ski. I am in this group because...

1) It's cold
2) It's fast
3) It's downhill
4) You can hit an ice patch and die
5) I don't like snow boarders
6) I don't like fast skiers or snow boarder who have almost hit me as I SLOWLY cruise along the right side of the mountain.
7) You have to wake up early to go
8) It's a good hour and a half of wondering if your car will make it and if that driver in front of you will make it as well. Along with the driver beside you, behind you, on the other side of the road etc.
9) White outs on the drive up are not fun.
10) Taking off nine layers to go to the bathroom = not cool.

I think 10 is enough, but I could go on with more...
That is my rant for the day.

Shoe Search

I am not a shoe person. I never really have been, but I know I need some new ones soon because it is getting cold and I threw away both of my old pairs of boots when we moved. They both had holes and cracks in the soles from wearing them like everyday from October to March and that doesn't really work when you live in a snowy town and walk on ice.

So I have been online boot shopping, but I don't really like online shopping so I am getting idea for actually going shopping this weekend. In the mean time I have now fallen in love with the shoe's my friend Kathy got last weekend from Target. They are super cute and apparently comfy. Now it is time to decide on a color. Impossible.



Plum? Grey? Taupe? I can't decide.
I'm going to get them tonight along with a much needed ice bucket.

Mexican Fiesta for One

The other night I decided to make one of my favorite meals at a local restaurant. BBQ Shrimp quesadillas. It sounds easy, but I have a knack for screwing up easy meals like.... fried rice. BUT this one turned out great and is now going to be a new favorite. I love BBQ sauce and mexican food. I don't know when the obsession started, but I think the two favors are so good.



Recipe:
Sautee the shrimp in either olive oil or butter.
Toss them in BBQ sauce of your choice.
Fill the quesadilla with shrimp, cheese, and I included black beans.
Butter the outsides so they are nice and brown and put them in the frying pan until it's all melted.

Garnish with sour cream, diced tomatoes and diced green onions.

Sooooo good! Thomas was very jealous that I did this when he was not around.

Happy 4th of July!

This weekend my parents are coming out here for the holiday and I can not wait! We are going to bike, kayak, hike, fly fish, cookout and sit in a beautiful cabin in the mountains and relax.
It will be sad because Allison and Will are coming out, but I guess we'll live. We all did this 2 years ago for the 4th and it was great!

It's right next to Rocky Mountain National Park so I am sure we will do some exploring as well. Maybe even run in to some moose!!

Here's a picture from the trip in 2008:


And my favorite picture:


All pictures from this trip will now include Thomas. Yep, it's Mom and Dad + Me and the boyfriend for 3 days. Let's hope it all goes well.