I have followed many recipes in my day and they usually don't taste very good... I am so happy to find a cookbook that the recipes actually taste amazing! Made these today and they were yummy and easy!
What a great gift I received from my dear friend Kellie! I had to advertise this necklace because there are so many great one's on this website http://www.dogeard.com/ that you all should check out! Thanks again Kel, your such an awesome friend and I love it!!
Ruidoso 12-31-08
Well maybe just an advanced beginner, but the last 2 times I have gone snowboarding I feel that I have really improved. 
Beautiful view from the mountain in Big Bear 1-18-09
REALLY!?! Does time fly or what!?! I know that being 27 is not old, but I certainly feel old....however, I am looking forward to enjoying this year as a 27 yr old!
As I sit here with my nose running and mouth burning from the green chili pistachios I am eating, I remember that I needed to post this picture....We had the opportunity to see the worlds largest pistachio nut on our drive through Alamogordo, New Mexico. Alamogordo has absolutely nothing there (except my Dad), so out of desperation they built such a thing. I do however LOVE New Mexico for it's wine and flavored pistachios.
Have I mentioned that I have awesome friends? Well I am no doubt blessed to have these girls in my life! Had to share this photo!
Just because I eat cheese burgers when I am hungover, doesn't mean I am not a "real" vegetarian. My dear friends like to make fun of me for these incidences but seriously I am 95% a vegetarian, I only eat cheese burgers on occasion. Okay okay, so I will eat some meat, but rarely. Meat just doesn't appeal to me anymore and is actually really nasty unless prepared in a certain way.
This year is the year that I will keep my resolutions!
This year was the first year that Gage took interest to participate in making Christmas cookies.
Gage did a great job helping with the cookie cutters and frosting the cookies
There are a lot of qualities that I admire about my mom and want to be just like her, however there is one thing I was hoping to not inherit from her... the fact that she's burns EVERYTHING she cooks (ok not everything, but the majority). I unfortunately burned up a batch of cookies, I learned from the best! My mommy!
SO I got the privilege to observe two surgeries this week! A total knee replacement and a total hip replacement both done by the best orthopedic surgeon (evidenced by the way his patients respond and recover). During the knee surgery I didn't get to stand as close as there was bone flying through the air and too many people helping. A total joint surgery remindes me of watching my dad work in his wood shop: drills, saws, screws, metal etc...But for the hip surgery I got to stand within 2 feet of the table. The surgeon talked me through the whole surgery and even had me stand on a stool to ensure I could see better. I still couldn't see everything because it was a minimally invasive surgery with about a 4 inch incision but to see the whole process was awesome! I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it but I actually loved it! I actually got to see those two patients later in the day for their physical therapy evaluations and treatments, talk about an awesome day! 
Until I get to see two of my very best friends! Out of all the pictures we have taken together, this is still my favorite! I guess because it captures us perfectly! I have known Jenny and Melissa for a little over 11 years and have become even closer over the past 4. A patient I worked with today during my internship lost 4 of his best friends in ONE week, which made me think how devastated I would be to lose any of my best friends. I am truly blessed to have such amazing life long friends in my life!
The purpose of reminding me why I am working so hard everyday, to one day own a home. I bought this little tree hoping to re-plant it in a bigger pot and then one day re-plant it into my very own backyard. It has the potential to grow to 40-80ft tall. I have never been a good plant owner, every time I have attempted to get a plant it has died. I don't know if I tend to over water or not water at all!? But I am as determined to keep this tree alive as I am to one day own a home, which means it will happen! Any tips on keeping this cute little tree alive are greatly appreciated!
During a phone conversation the day before Thanksgiving with this little cutie pie above, I asked him:
How could something so beautiful be 4.7 miles away from my apartment and I not even know about it!? Today my roommate and Lisa a classmate of mine went hiking at a place that leads to an old ranch. There are so many different trails you can take depending on how many miles you want to hike. 
We hiked/walked 2.5 miles which doesn't seem like much but when you are horribly out of shape like I am, it was a workout! I absolutely love the fact that there are so many things to do around here and it was a sunny 73 degrees! I love the outdoors!!
It's very said to say these words at age 26, but my "good" hip is now hurting. That must mean that I have a bad hip? Yes, I do in fact have a bad hip. In high school I was one busy girl, cheerleading, track band, StuCo, you name it I was involved. On top of all those activities, I still worked part time at least 3 days a week. So one day at work I bent down to pick something up and when I stood up I couldn't walk. I mean, I literally had to drag my right leg with me. So the next morning I went to the Athletic Trainer at school and he could not figure out what was wrong with me. That day at school consisted of me dragging my leg around with me and my "friends" laughing hysterically at me. It was kinda a funny sight. I then went to my general practitioner, and shocker they knew nothing about joints, muscles or even how to test them (that's what PT's are for!) anyways, it all resolved itself and every once in a while since then my hip will get locked up and take me a minute to walk._Rhode_Island_(May)_SF_(May)_109.jpg)
My wonderful, amazing and beautiful mommy!!! I hope I look this good at 50!
Gage was one of the ring bearers and was the cutest thing ever! It's amazing how much this kid has changed in just 2 months since the last time I saw him...SO smart, cuddly and loving.
So if you ever wonder where I get my craziness from, spend one day with my amazing fam! 
I am so looking forward to this weekend in Dallas! I get to see family from both my mom and dad's side that I haven't seen in years! Plus Monday I get to hangout with one of my best friends Jenny, she is driving in from Tyler for some shopping and Dallas touring!!
You would think that he would be all over that really cool bike BUT he also got the gift he has been bagging mommy to buy him....
This year I went up to West Hollywood with the very entertaining girls above! Had a great time! West Hollywood is known for it's predominately gay community so it was definitely interesting and entertaining. WHY are all the Hot one's Gay!?!?!?
On another note. Below is my Ninja Turtle brother! He's Raphael (2nd from left)and the other's are his Architect Co-workers...yes these are professional men.
