We Have a Puppy Dog!

We are dog lovers but have never thought it was practical until now to get a doggy. We finally got one and he is so cute. He is still having problems wetting but we figure we will train him. Now if we could get him to stop chewing on things, putting things in his mouth and taking peoples' shoes.



Meet our new puppy.....

Happy Halloween from our playful little puppy. See more pictures of our our new puppy dog here.

You're Tagged

I was tagged by Lane and Stephanie a while back but have been MIA on the blogging scene so here is my return:

Jobs I've had (in no particular order):
-Berry Girl (selling raspberries by the side of the road)
-Interior Designer (hospitality) My boss was certifiably loco.
-Retail saleswoman- Bombay Company
-Bagel Girl- Rich's Bagels
-Interior Designer (corporate & health care).
-Janitorial services (not exactly by choice)
-Full time mom- never worked so hard

Jobs I'd like to have:
-Image consultant- to companies, not people
-Food critic
-Children's book illustrator
-Art dealer
-Boutique hotel owner
-University professor
-Author of travel books
-Professional kisser of Max's chubby cheeks (I have that one...as long as those cheeks stay chubby).

Movies I have Watched Over and Over Again:
-Romeo & Juliet (Baz Luhrmann)
-Raising Arizona
-Rushmore
-Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
-Disney's Robin Hood, ooh-da-lolly!
-Cinema Paradiso
-Amelie

Some Favorite Books from Last Few Years/Books I Open Over and Over
-Catcher and the Rye
-Between Parent and Child (thanks Karen)
-Pride and Prejudice
-Bridget Jones Diary (even better than the movie)
-Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
-Dandelion Wine

Favorite Things to Do:
-Drive around and check out different neighborhoods with Corey
-Watch America's Next Top Model. I love to hate on Tyra
-Play games with friends
-Poke around H&M
-Go to or have a dance party
-Watch Max sleep
-Steal Corey's pillow
-Travel or explore a new place
-Sleep in
-Take a dance class
-Put my cold feet on Corey

Places I have lived:
-Salt Lake City, Utah
-Royal Oak, Michigan
-Kalamazoo, Michigan
-London, England
-Sao Paulo, Brazil
-Provo, Utah
-North Shore, Hawaii
-New York, New York
-Austin, Texas
-Midland, Michigan
-Boston, Massachussetts


Favorite Things to Eat:
-Frozen, fruity treats, especially in the form of gelato (preferrably in Italy)
-Suco de maracuja (fresh passion fruit juice- not from concentrate)
-a cheese plate, shared with Corey
-Gyoza
-Berries of almost any variety
-San Pellegrino limonata
-Delicious salads
-Lime anything
-Whipped cream, the real deal.
-Shaved ice
-Shish kabobs
-Mexican food
-Pam, Mary June, or Char food.
-Izzy Clementine soda

Places I'd rather be:
-Salvador, Brazil
-Sheridan, Wyoming
-Sienna, Italy
-Southern France
-Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland
-my parents' back porch
-the Big Horn Mountains
-San Francisco
-Boston or New York in September
-Austin, Texas (all winter please)

Words I love the sound of:
-persnickety
-gelatinous
-Tapanzee
-riger mortis
-superfluous
-Hanukkah

Who I am tagging:
-ali
-jamie
-steph b.
-laura w.
-andrea h.

If there's something strange in your neighborhood...

We pulled out Ghostbusters last night and decided it was only appropriate to revisit this ghoulish classic so close Halloween. What could be a better than a comedy starring Bill Murray (love him) and Dan Akroyd? The answer my friends is Rick Moranis in the form of Louis Tully. Truly an amazing combo. Some great lines to relive from your childhood when rewatching Ghostbusters:

-There is no Dana, only Zuul.
-Ray, don't cross the streams! Never cross the streams!
-Venkman, what happened?!....(moan)....I was slimed.
-Your girlfriend lives in the corner penthouse of spook central.
-Everything was fine until "Brainless" here turned off the power grid!
Is that true?
Yes, that man has no "brain."
-Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
-Alright, that does it, this chick is toast.....Aim for the flat top!
-Somebody turn on the lights!
-Ahhh! Its the Stay Puft marshallow man!!!

Can't remember them all? Time to watch it again.

Where Do You Belong?

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

I love this little survey that I found via Laura. Before I realized what it was I read the little blurb about London and thought, yes that is all true and why I love London. I took the survey again so I could post it and must have switched one of my answers and came out with Paris. Apparently I am torn between two cities. Thank goodness for the chunnel!

How does the saying go?
In Heaven police are English, cooks are French, cars are German and lovers are Italian.
In Hell cooks are English, cars are French, lovers are German, and police are Italian.

A Chill in the Air

Some people go crazy for Christmas. My people go crazy for Halloween. Maybe that says a lot about us. Free candy, spooky decor, and costume balls are all things that make this witch's blood quicken come October. My Mom always decorates her house (especially the fireplace) and herself for Halloween and is a big part of what makes Halloween magical. Now that I have children (or child) of my own, I recall the excitement of Halloween and only hope I can pass it on to my little pumpkin. Some favorite traditions are: family pumpkin carving followed by the Worcestershire pumpkin seeds, mulling over costume possibilities, heart warming chili before a chilly night of trick-or-treating, Witches Brew (homemade root beer on dry ice), the trunk or treat, my neighbors who created a huge web and spider on their porch, wore a pumpkin on his head and gave out apple cider, and last but not least maple pumpkin cookies! Here is the recipe. This is what Autumn tastes like and I hope it gets you in the spirit. What are some of your favorite memories?

Maple Pumpkin Cookies
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. cooked or canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
2 c. flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 c. shredded coconut

Frosting:
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
2-3 cups confectioners sugar
1 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. maple flavoring
Blend ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, pumpkin, vanilla, and lemon extract; beat well. Sift in dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Fold in coconut. Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Frost when cool. Makes 3 dozen.

A Night with the Sox

On Friday night Corey and I finally went to our first Red Sox game. It was the perfect night for a game with the Sox in the play offs, 75 degree weather, and the company of the Whiteleys (huge Red Sox fans). The game didn't disappoint. We were surrounded by some hard core Boston fans swearing, shouting slurs at the opposing team, and consuming obscene amounts of alcohol. This made for a colorful night. A fight almost broke out behind us too. It was a true Boston experience. We went home covered in our neighbors beer, full of high priced stadium junk food, and relieved the Sox pulled through in the end.

I stand corrected (by Red Sox fan extraordinaire, Sean Whiteley) this is not the Green Giant (as previously stated.) Nor is it the Green Monster- that is the 37-foot, two-inch (11.3 m) left field wall. This picture is just the press box at Fenway Park.

Sean's very concerned look through the 6th, 7th and 8th innings.

Hob Nobbing

We had an extended weekend so went down to Cape Cod last Thursday. We stayed in Hyannis, which means Kennedy country, if you're not in the know. One spot on the Kennedy trail is the Kennedy Compound. I piled Max and Corey in the car and down the forbidden drive labeled "Do Not Enter." Oh, we entered. I took this picture positioned on the forbidden drive. This summer cottage was used as campaign headquarters and later as the summer White House. Ironically it is a big, white, house. It wouldn't be my first choice of summer escapes on the cape but it always fun to trespass on Kennedy property. If I go missing, we'll know why.