Erik & Brittany

CityDeals

2010-08-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Found this cool website where you can buy gift certificates to restaurants and shops for up to 80% off. So far I've bought certificates for Buca di Beppo, Main Street Pizza & Noodle, Tommy's Texas BBQ, TacoTime, etc. I prolly sound like an ad for the company, but I promise I have no affiliation :) ...But if you are going to check it out, you should go through this link so I get credit for the referral.

http://www.citydeals.com/?ref=CDUMTA1ODkw

You can also use this coupon code to get free shipping.
russellbc

My current situation...

2010-06-21T19:30:00.001-07:00

I'm making progress. I've progressed from the sofa in the living room to the patio chairs outside... At least I'm still smiling :)

Dog of the Day

2010-06-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

My baby is the Dog of the Day on Juli-Anne Warll's blog.

Juli-Anne is a local Park City photographer with incredible talent!

Spring Training

2010-03-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

As a kid, my family went to spring training every season for several years in a row. Oh the fond memories of hanging around the locker rooms until every single player had left (wouldn't want to miss out on any autographs), basking in the sun all day and then going straight to the swimming pool when we got back to the hotel, and riding around in the convertible with the top down and hair blowing in the breeze. If you couldn't tell already, I love AZ! Would love to live there someday.

Erik has heard all the stories (many times over by now), so this year I decided he needed to experience it all for himself...

First 2 nights were spent in Tucson, this is at the pool at our hotel
Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, the Rockies home field
Us in the outfield at Hi CorbettErik and his favorite Rockie, Jason Giambi
Me and Granny's fave, Todd Helton
Our seats were awesome
The Air Force base was just a few block away. They were putting on a show over the stadium with all kinds of amazing airplanes (sure don't know the names of any of them). Your tax dollars hard at work...
The view from the stadium. Pretty cool!
This was at the bar after the ballgame. Not quite sure whats going on...
Then we headed up to Scottsdale for a couple of days. This is Surprise Stadium, home of the KC Royals and Texas Rangers. Now I can see why the Rockies campaigned for a new stadium! It was beautiful.
Awesome seats!
Apparently they serve tequila by the glassful at Surprise Stadium (yet another reason to move to AZ!)
If you're ever in Scottsdale, pay a visit to the Old Town Tortilla Factory! The food and ritas were delish, and on top of that, they serve unlimited homemade tortillas! TO DIE FOR!! Erik at the restaurant, in his new KC Royals hat. boooooooo
After dinner we hit up a lil cowboy bar called The Rusty Spur. Saw the Psychobilly Rodeo Band play and this sign was posted on the wall. Interesting place, to say the least...
This was the view from our hotel in Scottsdale. So pretty
Breakfast with a view
This little ducky was hungry too.
And this is the pool where we lounged all day on our last day of vacation. Seriously considered never going back to UT, or anywhere else cold.
Did I mention that it was 8o degrees with no humidity, every day we were there?! HEAVEN, to say the least.

♥ Doc

2010-03-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

We have a new dog in the family! Meet Doc (formerly know as Spartacus).
He is a 160lb, almost 2 year old St. Bernard, and more importantly he is Brandi's brother from the very same litter! Erik found him in the classifieds, and long story short, we had to have him. Except "we" already have two 100+lb dogs, so we pawned him off on Erik's dad instead. He has a big giant house all to himself and needs a friend to keep him company.

This is how Brandi felt about us bringing home another dog...
That's her pouty position.

And this is how Bandit felt about it...
Not too concerned.

Doc made himself right at home.
We're so excited to have him around. He is the sweetest cuddly giant dog ever and his head is HUGE. So well mannered! I ♥ him already.

I'm Not Sharing

2010-02-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

Bandit got a new bed for Vday, and for those of you that know Bandit, you most certainly know how much she values her sleep...

So here's a summary of how her night went:
Then Brandi comes up and wants her to get off of the bed and play... Bandit gives her the stink eye.
Brandi looks to Mom and Dad for some help, as if we were going to make Bandit get up. She looked so comfy.Brandi starts to fall asleep waiting for Bandit to get up. Meanwhile, Bandit is fast asleep again.
Brandi's pouty face. "Puhhhhhlease make her get up and play with me!"Brandi finally gives up and goes to play with her toys by herself. Bandit is still sleeping and hasn't moved much since the first photo (about an hour ago!)
Until this photo... for some reason I think she MUST have been much more comfortable than she looked. How is she sleeping like that?!?No flowers and chocolates for this girl. The only man she needs is her daddy, as long as he's willing to buy her a big fluffy new bed and a GIANT box of milkbones :)

Bring Home the Bling

2010-02-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

Just in case you're keeping track like I am...

View the vancouver2010.com medals' table

Livin the Life

2010-02-05T14:59:00.000-08:00

This is pretty much what we do all winter long, however we do occasionally get up to actually ski...

Birthday Weekend

2010-01-28T10:39:00.001-08:00

Fortune Cookie

2010-01-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

I'm looking forward to my fortune from lunchtime coming true...

♥ Etsy

2010-01-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't already know about this site, I have a new found love for Etsy. Its kinda like Ebay, but for all things handmade and/or vintage. They have fabulous handmade jewelery, clothing, home decor, stationary... I could go on for-ever. they have everything for every budget! Since discovering this lovely little site, I don't think I've gone a single day without logging on to browse what's new. They even have a live feed for recently listed items, its almost better than watching TV. Just sayin'.

Some of my recent finds include this chunky faux turquoise bracelet for only $6.50.This adorable feather headband for $8.00.
And this awesome sugar free, low carb cookie mix. YUMMY
I think its safe to say that I've fallen in love with a website! Even if you don't intend to purchase anything, go take a look... So many great craft ideas, you'll find yourself itching to do something creative and inspiring!

Why we live where we do...

2010-01-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Taken during my drive home from work on Friday evening, 'nuff said.

Happy New Year

2010-01-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

Soo this is the only holiday photo I took, but it pretty much sums up my holiday season: bright, fun, and all around wonderful.

I spent most of the past two weeks baking up a storm, celebrating with BOTH families, and enjoying some much needed time off of work. The only part I didn't enjoy was the Broncos playing themselves out of the playoffs, that wasn't too great. Oh well, there's always next year, right?

My Christmas decorations are finally starting to come down and I'm working on getting the house back in order. Its always a challenge to find places for all the christmas gifts, when we already had a house FULL of stuff. We are so lucky to have so many gracious friends and family members!

I promise to get better about blogging now that the chaos is over. In the mean time, Happy New Year to everyone and let the resolutions get underway.

Let the baking begin...

2009-12-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

For those of you who like to bake just because it's Christmas, and you can without feeling guilty... Here are some fun recipes for your tummy's enjoyment :)

Oreo Balls

1 package Oreos
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 package dipping chocolate

Crush Oreos in a food processor until very fine (you could also use a blender). Mix in the cream cheese. Form into 1" balls and chill for 1 hour. Melt chocolate and dip the balls. Set on wax paper to cool. Drizzle with melted white chocolate, if desired. Refrigerate.

courtesy of Little Birdie Secrets

Monster Cookies

3 eggs
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 12-ounce jar creamy or chunky peanut butter (i like chunky)
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup m&m’s
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 cup heath/toffee bits
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
1/4 cup raisins (optional. i don’t like them but lot’s of people do)
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the m&ms, chocolate chips, everything but the kitchen sink, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool

Courtesy of Katie Kepsel

English Toffee

1 cup sugar
1/2 lb (2 cubes) butter or margarine
2 T. water
1/2 bag milk chocolate chips or 5 Hershey bars
finely chopped walnuts, optional

Cook sugar, butter, and water over medium-high heat stirring constantly until golden brown (this happens very quickly so keep your eye on it). If butter separates just keep going, it will go back together. Part butter and part margarine separates less than all butter. Pour quickly onto an ungreased cookie sheet. While hot, sprinkle chocolate on top of candy. Wait a minute or two for the chocolate to soften then spread evenly with a knife. Top with nuts, if desired. When cool break into small pieces and eat like crazy!

Also courtesy of Little Birdie Secrets

Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups uncooked regular oats
1 (11.5-ounce) package semisweet chocolate mega morsels
1 cup chopped toasted pecans

Preheat oven to 350°.
Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, stirring well. Add oats; stir well. Add to butter mixture; stir until well blended. Gently stir in morsels and pecans. Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until brown around edges. Cool on pan 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks.

Courtesy of MyRecipes.com

finally decorated!

2009-12-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

And it's finally decorated. I always procrastinate when it comes to decorating the tree, but I do LOVE getting out all of my favorite ornaments. So many of them have such wonderful memories!

"Christmas Vacation" Lappe Style...

2009-12-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, we set out on the 2nd annual hunt to cut down the Lappe/Diehl family Christmas tree. We got kind of a late start, and the roads were a little less than optimal...

But none the less, we continued on our trek. Turns out, the 4-wheel drive is broken on the Ford, so once we make it up this steep narrow road...

we had to park the truck and continue our adventure on foot.

After hiking about a mile and a half up the hill in the snow, we FINALLY got to an elevation where the pine trees grow. Apparently "just around the corner up here" is Erik's way of keeping me going, rather than throwing myself in the snow and making snow angels instead.

TA DA!! Here 'tis

And here's Erik chopping it down, while I stand downhill from it to take photos (probably not the smartest place to stand). As you can tell. this is the part where the photos start to get a little blurry b/c I was shivering so much... Negative degrees, no gloves, and a snow storm apparently aren't optimal conditions for a photo opp.

At this point it was getting pretty dark, still freezing, and we had to hike the same mile and a half back to the truck (in more snow than was there before). We tried to be nice to the tree and carry it, but as it turns out, Erik has much longer legs than me and is not capable of walking slowly down a hill... So he had to drag it the rest of the way.

Good thing I had Hot Chocolate waiting for me in the truck when we got back! The whole story sounds a bit treacherous, I know, but it was actually lot of fun :)

AND here is our beauty-ful (8 foot tall) tree in our lovely little house! No ornaments yet, I know.

Hope you all have a very merry holiday season!

Very Clever...

2009-11-30T09:57:00.000-08:00

These are very clever... Why didn't anyone think of this before?! I think they're a super cute gift idea.

You can buy them at cb2.com by Crate & Barrel. Only $15.80 for a set of 4.

Brandi's Gettin' BIG

2009-11-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know how big Bandit is, I think Brandi has passed her up. Bandit still has a bigger head tho :)

Poor Girl's Facial

2009-11-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

If you're like me and you don't have the time (or money) to go get a facial, I highly recommend Clean & Clean Morning Burst In-Shower Facial. I use it 2-3 times a week and I can really feel my pores being cleaned and my skin is so soft after. BONUS: It smells so good, and its citrus scent really helps wake you up in the morning.

Feeding the Horses

2009-11-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

Brandi has finally come to terms with the horses in our backyard. She was helping us feed them carrots this weekend...intrigued by the cameraafraid of the cameraone of the coltsBrandi made friends with him"hey guys, where you goin?"

Trick-or-Treat

2009-10-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

The girls have their costumes on... now if they could only convince me to take them trick-or-treating!

Pumpkin Fudge contd...

2009-10-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you non-believers, here is the Pumpkin Fudge in a "real life" photo. Yes, I do try all of the recipes that I post. As I mentioned below, this one is de-lish!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Pumpkin Fudge

2009-10-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite times of the year b/c I love, love, love pumpkin everything! Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting, pumpkin pie, and now.... PUMPKIN FUDGE! I mean I'm just saying, its really stinkin' good :)

Here's the recipe from myrecipes.com:

PUMPKIN FUDGE

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 (12-ounce) package white chocolate morsels
1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow crème
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir together first 6 ingredients in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 234° (soft-ball stage) or for about 12 minutes.

Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour into a greased aluminum foil-lined 9-inch square pan. Let stand 2 hours or until completely cool; cut fudge into squares.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The Thngs That Appear in My Backyard...

2009-10-21T14:08:00.001-07:00

You'd be surprised at all of the things that appear in the alfalfa field behind my house! All in one week, we've had...

...a hot air balloon...

...a double rainbow...

... AND 11 horses...

I can't imagine what'll be next :/

Priceless...

2009-10-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

who really opts for a PBR tallboy at the fanciest sushi place in town?! OH that would be me... It was on special for $2.50! (maybe that makes them not quite as fancy as I thought? :/)

Can't Let Go

2009-10-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

This story posted to the NBC Philadelphia website gave me chills and I wanted to share it with all of you...

Little Soldier Girl "Didn't Want to Let Go"

Four-year old Paige didn't want to say goodbye to her daddy before he was shipped off to Iraq...

A family photo that shows a little girl beside her father and his fellow soldiers in uniform as they prepare to go to war has resonated well beyond the tight knit Bennethum clan.

Four-year-old Paige Bennethum really, really didn't want her daddy to go to Iraq.

So much so, that when Army Reservist Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum lined up in formation at his deployment this July, she couldn't let go.

No one had the heart to pull her away.

Story by VINCE LATTANZIO, NBC

Just a reminder that no matter what your political views are, we must support our troops. They are leaving their wives and children every, for months on end, to stand up for your freedom!

Pearl Jam Live!

2009-10-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

Pearl Jam was in Utah last week for the 1st time in 11 years and we were there! In fact, my parents even drove out from Colorado for the concert. It was siiick. They played all the classics, from Even Flow to Alive, and stuck around for two encores! 135 minutes and 28 songs later, I remember why the 90's were sooooo rad.
P.S. I know you're jealous!

I heart Eddie Vedder*

Jeff Ament playin' bass**photos courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune

♥ DSW

2009-10-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

If you haven't ever been to a DSW you are surely missing out! My favorite place to find fabulous shoes at awesome deals.

Exhibit A: $90 Guess leather pumps on clearance for $25

I realize that they are white and I will have to wait till next spring to wear them, but imagine how excited I will be come Memorial Day 2010!

P.S. I never buy anything regular price at DSW. You must head straight for the clearance racks, do not pass go, do not collect $200. They almost always have in season shoes for total steals!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

2009-10-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Those lovely fall trees (pictured below) are now dusted with snow, making them even more beautiful to look at. Here's a warm and cozy recipe for a snowy fall day.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ingredients
* Cooking spray
* 1 cup chopped onion
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
* 1 (16-ounce) package broccoli florets
* 2 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
* 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 8 ounces light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta Light)

Preparation
Heat a large nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Bring broccoli mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes.
Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Stir in pepper. Remove from heat; add cheese, stirring until cheese melts.
Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan.

The Leaves Are A Changin'

2009-09-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

Dogs ♥ Camping

2009-09-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

We went camping last weekend and found a lovely little campsite, down by the river. So pleasant to wake up the the water rushing down stream :) Only one problem, now Brandi wants us to install a river in the backyard...

Bandit on the other hand, does not love water. She prefers to look on from afar.
After her adventures up and down the river, Brandi and Austin played some soccer. Yes, that's Brandi with an entire full size soccer ball in her mouth!Then she looked on as Aus and Erik played some 'shoes.
Then she finally found someone of her own puppy status that wanted to play with her. His name is Woodrow. He's a 3 month old Ausie Sherpard.
All tuckered out... Finally!
And a little bit of sisterly love ♥ They had a fun time, but definitely needed baths when we got home. Look how dirty Bandit's feet were by the end of the weekend...

You know you live in the mountains when...

2009-09-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

You go golfing and the deer won't move off of the green so you can putt.

This may seem odd to you but it's a regular occurrence around here.
Yet another reason I ♥ living in the mountains!

Erik's Birthday Extravaganza

2009-09-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Erik, being the lucky guy that he is, had a birthday celebration this year that lasted nearly a week and a half...

It started with a backyard BBQ at our house and mad shuffle board competition on his new shuffle board table. Then just a couple of days later, we headed to Denver for the long weekend.

Tailgating at the Broncos game on Thursday
Golfing, Sushi, and the Dillon Dam Brewery with Austin and Bettie on Friday
Taste of Keystone on Saturday Afternoon (we had "spaghetti and meatballs" for desert!)
Hazel Miller Concert and Fireworks (and dancing ) at the Marina on Saturday Night
Central City on Sunday for some small town gambling (by the way, CSU killed CU that day)
Then the Rockies Game on Monday Afternoon (Rockies Win!)

Spoiled, right?! But that's not all... We went out for Sushi with Trine and Mic on Wednesday, to Erik's favorite place in PC, Oishi.

Hope you had a fabulous birthday, E. So happy we could all spend it with you!

Famous Girls

2009-09-16T09:56:00.001-07:00

We were approached several months ago by a photographer who is creating a book about Park City dogs... Turns out, my dogs are really stinkin' cute and she wanted to do a photo shoot of them for her book :P We headed up the the top of Guardsman Pass, right above Heber/Midway and this is how it went:

Brandi loves the camera!

Bandit wasn't as interested...

She didn't last nearly as long.

Did I mention this beautiful valley we live in? Breathtaking!

It was only Aug 27th and the trees were already starting to change.

So sad to see summer go, but this IS the most beautiful time of year here! LOVE IT!

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

2009-09-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

Just ordered some REALLY cute new boots by Steve Madden. Love love love 'em. That's what bonuses are good for, right?! Buying shoes!

Got these in brown...

and these in tan!

Hooray for fall ♥

Easy BBQ Recipes

2009-08-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Once again, my camera cord is MIA...
So, just in time for Labor Day, I'd like to share a couple of EASY recipes from Erik's birthday party this past weekend:

Ranch Macaroni Salad
(this is one is a work in progress but it gets better and better each time)

1 box Dreamfields macaroni noodles
1 8oz brick of sharp cheddar cheese (cubed)
2 stalks of celery (finely chopped)
1 red bell pepper (finely chopped)
1 green bell pepper (finely chopped)
1 bottle Kraft ranch dressing
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch mix (the powder kind)

Cook the noodles according the package. Drain and cool noodles under cold running water.
Add all ingredients (except 1/3 of the ranch dressing) to a large mixing bowl and stir gently. Put the salad in the fridge for a couple of hours to chill, then mix in remaining ranch dressing just before serving. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

1 3lb boneless pork roast
1 onion, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 bottle of Maull's BBQ sauce

Trim pork of any excess fat. Scatter onions over bottom of slow cooker and place pork on top.
Add broth, cover and cook on low for 8 hrs. Remove meat and let cool.
When cool enough to handle, pull meat into thin shreds, removing fat and gristle. remove liquid from slow cooker, keeping onions in the pot. Return pulled pork to slow cooker and stir in BBQ sauce.

Bang-Bang-Bangs

2009-08-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Got a new do. Check it out.
Don't think I've had bangs since I was about 8, but I kinda like 'em.

Workin in SoCal

2009-08-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hit up SoCal for work last week, then stayed to play for the weekend.
This was the work part, on Mission Beach in San Diego:

hangin out on the beach

the view

the beautifully catered media eventthe propertybreakfast on the boardwalktakin the beach cruisers out for a spinmission beach pierAfter all of that really hard work, it was time to play in Huntington Beach:

Funny all of the photos from work look pretty much like the photos from vacation. My job is really pretty awful ;)

Beautiful Photography

2009-08-11T13:30:00.001-07:00

Summer flowers often present us with the most beautiful colors of the year! Check out this awesome photography by a friend of mine, Tirzha Zabarauskas...

Another Great Beauty Invention

2009-08-10T13:53:00.001-07:00

As most of you know, I am naturally very blonde. If I don't wash my hair every single day, it looks like a greasy, stringy mess. But I've read that its bad for your hair to wash it everyday, striping it of its natural nutrients. Oh the dilemma...

Soo, my friend Alisa read about this stuff in a magazine when we were all together in Vegas. As you can imagine, I was quite skeptical. BUT, we were staying in the Planet Hollywood Hotel where there just happens to be a Sephora. SO, I forked out the $11 for a little travel size of this stuff (sounds expensive, I know).
Turns out, it's FANTASTIC! Love love love it.

What it does:
Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is the ultimate time saver—in a spray version. It refreshes, revives, and rejuvenates the hair in a matter of minutes—no water or blow-dryer required. It thoroughly and effectively soaks up oil, removes product buildup, and boosts volume. Just spray it on your roots like hairspray, let it dry, and brush it out. Hair looks, feels, and smells freshly shampooed with a clean, lemon verbena scent. Go ahead, hit snooze!

You can buy it at Sephora.com

Camping & The Rodeo

2009-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

We went camping on Friday, which always makes for a good start to the weekend. Also, it was Brandi's first time. She was soo good, waay better than expected!

Erin and myself, cookin some hobo dinners

Sam

Almost a full moonSam and Austin

Erin and Sam
Austin and Myself
Cup'o morning joe
Our Little Family
Packing up

The girls were hiding in the grass. They didn't want to leave :)Pretty cool place to live

Then on Saturday night, we went to the Heber Rodeo. My first real rodeo! soooo fun

I ♥ NY

2009-07-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a 10 day trip to NY. Soo relaxing...

On the train into the City, headed to the Yankees game

Outside Penn Station, look at all of the Taxi's lined up!

the new "billion $" Yankee Stadium

They sell sushi...

And have a full service butcher inside the stadium?!
There's the Rockies flag :)
♥ baseball

Stan's across from the stadium
Then we headed up to the lake, this is the view!
Relaxing...

Waterskiing...
And a little late night indian chief!

I ♥ NY and I ♥ Brant Lake. Can't wait to go back next year!

Watchin' Beethoven

2009-07-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've heard of dogs watching TV when Lassie or the Discovery Channel are on... Brandi likes to watch TV too, but she loves Beethoven! I think she's got a little celebrity crush ;)

Had to get a closer look

4th of July Festivities

2009-07-10T15:26:00.001-07:00

The Parade...

Gettin' a outa math with the PC Math Club
"What's your FUNCTION?!"

The Original Smart Car

Stein Erikson Mining Cars
The Shock Top Bug (complete with beer tap)

A Mini Horse (like Rob & Big)

The Butlers

The View...

Enjoying a glass of wine and our beautiful view!

Got to see the hay machine making barrels

Our new fire pit

Fishing...

Erik caught a fish! (finally)

Sunset...

Hope you all had a terrific holiday weekend too!

Slacker

2009-07-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

I'm really not a slacker when it comes to blogging, my camera is just out of commission. I promise to have lots of things to blog about when my new cord comes!

Love 4th Of July

2009-06-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

Love love love the 4th of July... It's my very favorite time to gather with family and friends for good food, good wine, and good fun!

Here is a fun recipe from myrecipes.com. Soo festive and very yummy, although mine didn't look exactly like the photo (wink wink).

Old Glory Cherry-Blueberry Pie

Ingredients

5 cups fresh sweet, dark cherries, rinsed and pitted, or frozen pitted cherries (see notes)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained, or frozen blueberries
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 Pie pastries
2 teaspoons butter or margarine, cut into small pieces
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix cherries with 2 tablespoons lemon juice. In a smaller bowl, mix blueberries with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Combine sugar and cornstarch; gently stir 1 cup of the mixture into cherries and 1/4 cup into blueberries.

2. Spoon cherry mixture over 3/4 of the pastry in pan, leaving 1 quadrant free. Spoon blueberry mixture into unfilled area. Scatter butter evenly over fruit.

3. Top filling with stars and stripes for flag pastry. Set pie in a foil-lined 13- by 17-inch baking pan.

4. Bake on the bottom rack of a 400° regular or convection oven until fruit is bubbling in the center and pastry is well browned, about 1 hour. If pastry edges brown too quickly (check after 40 minutes), cover loosely with foil.

5. Let pie cool on a rack at least 3 hours; let stand at room temperature up to 8 hours. Cut into wedges and serve with ice cream, if desired.

The best wine for summer time is always Sangria (That's American, right?!). Here's another great recipe from myrecipes.com.

Red Wine Sangria

Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar
2 (750-milliliter) bottles dry red wine
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup peach nectar*
1/4 cup orange liqueur
2 to 3 cups club soda, chilled
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced

Preparation

1. Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes.

2. Combine sugar mixture, red wine, and next 3 ingredients in a large container; cover and chill 4 hours. Stir in club soda and next 4 ingredients just before serving. Serve over ice, if desired.

*1/2 cup orange juice may be substituted.

Try them out and let me know what you think.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO EVERYONE!

Its a Girl

2009-06-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Introducing "new baby" Dowda! Born June 24, 2009 at 727am.

Congrats Angie & Zak! She's beautiful.

The Uniform

2009-06-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Erik is an official FPO now, with a uniform and everything! Lookin' good babe :)

THE NAME TAG

THE OFFICIAL PATCH

THE BADGE

OOH YEAH!

Baby Birds

2009-06-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

You may remember that some time ago we were doing everything we could to get the Robin to stop making a nest above our garage. We even had a stuffed penguin nailed up there for several day... BUT there was no stopping her. She now has a name "Tweet Tweet" and has made herself a lovely little home for her 3 babies right where we told her not to.
Yesterday when we came home from work, one of the babies had apparently tried to fly... unsuccessfully :( There he was looking helpless, right in the middle of the driveway.

So, Erik decided to help the little fella out. With gloves on, of course, while Tweet Tweet looked upon from afar.

Here are all the little birdies, back in their nest.

Hopefully they had a better day today :)

Ickle Me, Pickle Me

2009-06-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

I ran across this book while I was at my parent's house recently, and couldn't help but open it to my VERY FAVORITE poem from when I was a kid. Love love love it! You have probably heard it before, but just in case, here 'tis:

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too
from the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends"

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too
Went for a ride in a flying shoe.
"Hooray!"
"What fun!"
"It's time we flew!"
Said Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle was captain, and Pickle was crew
And Tickle served coffee and mulligan stew
As higher
And higher
And higher they flew,
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too,
Over the sun and beyond the blue.
"Hold on!"
"Stay in!"
"I hope we do!"
Cried Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle too
Never returned to the world they knew,
And nobody
Knows what's
Happened to
Dear Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Taste the Rainbow

2009-06-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

This beautiful rainbow appeared the other night over the mountains by my house. At least there's one benefit to all of this crazy rain...

AND if you look close, it was even a double rainbow!

This brings to mind a very inspirational thought:
As we struggle through the turmoil of this poor economy, it is important to remember, "One can’t have rainbows without the rain!"

Sisterly Love

2009-06-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

For all of you who know Bandit in the slightest, this is totally out of character for her. BUT it was totally cute! They really do love each other :)

Dog Day Afternoon

2009-06-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

The day started with a visit from Harper and a swim in our luxurious backyard pool...

Brandi thinks it's really just the world's largest water bowl

Then we took the girls to the baseball game on Sunday afternoon. Sounds like chaos, right? Well it actually turned out better than expected! They met lots of friends in all shapes and sizes, including Brandi's new crush, a 170lb male St Bernard. Sooo cute.

Brandi, checkin' out her boyfriend...

We only got a butt shot of him, but you get the idea

After the game they we're VERY tired. Slept the whole way home!

California... Knows How to Party

2009-06-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

Had an awesome time in Cali with my BFF over Memorial Day weekend! Went to the beach, got a tan, AND well yea that's all that really matters...

Looks like Jeff's tan still needs some work ;P

OH yea, we went to the AVP volleyball tournament too! Hot boys playing in the sand can never be a bad thing! This is the Gold Medal team Rogers/Dahlhauser playing in the finals. They won.

Jeff and Erik had a litte 3 point competition at Six Flags. The grand prize for making all of the shots was a big screen TV! Funny how they walked away with 2 teddy bears and $40 short.

Our last night in Cali was spent in true soul mate style with Jen-aritas and fajitas!

Norway Comes to Utah

2009-05-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely dinner last night with Erik's family from Norway. Its so fun to have the "your country vs. my country" discussion with people who's primary language is not English. Although I must say, their English is much better than my Norwegian!

They even came to stay at our house. Christian was amazed at how big our house was compared to his flat in Norway. Now Erik is spending the day playing "Park City tour guide," which he is oh so good at.

from left to right: Christian, Erik, Me, Trine, Goodman, and Mic

Dogs Love Water

2009-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

As the weather gets warmer, my girls seem to love water more and more! So, Erik bought them a swimming pool, but so far we have been the only ones to actually get in it. I guess it will take some getting used to...

Da' Bees

2009-05-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Went to the Bees game yesterday afternoon. Perfect 80 degree day in the SLC... 1st row tickets too!

In 2 weeks we get to take the doggies to the ballpark, Dog Day Afternoon. Should be interesting, or maybe just a pain in the ass :)

Stylin'

2009-05-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Erik bought me what is probably the cutest golf bag you've EVER SEEN!
Just in time to hit the course this weekend...

I know you're jealous!

Green Thumb

2009-05-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

Apparently I do have a green thumb after all. My tulips are blooming!

Pink ones...

Yellow ones...

And these pretty little purple ones that aren't really tulips at all :)

Friday Afternoon Fun

2009-05-08T14:14:00.001-07:00

This is basically what happens in our office on Friday afternoons...

Pengiun Sacrafice Ritual

2009-05-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

Erik spent the entire weekend battling a cute little robin who insists on building her nest above our garage. So, after many attempts to take down the nest and her coming coming back, only to build it bigger and better every time, we set out in search of a plastic owl to scare her away. Turns out that there are no plastic owls to be found in all of Heber City.

Fortunately, Brandi was kind enough to volunteer her stuffed penguin (the closest thing she had to an owl) to the cause..
Hopefully the robin hasn't picked apart the cute little penguin by the time we get home. That stuffing would add some extra cushion to her lovely little nest... The neighbors probably think we're crazy, but that's nothing new :)

It's Finally Golf Season

2009-05-04T12:32:00.001-07:00

Took Dad golfing for his birthday. He might be old, but he still beat me... Only by 3.
(Between you and me, I had to let him win. It was his birthday after all ;)

Erik prefers baseball over golf:

And of course, an apres golf libation (or 2).

Little Red vs Big Blue

2009-04-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

I know you're probably thinking this is a silly comparison, BUT I like mine better.

mine

VS

dad's

My Puppy is Gettin' Real Big

2009-04-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

She's 11 months now. See her grow...

6 months - go nugs!

7 months - sisters

8 months - love Donald Duck

9 months - yes, that's a full grown Harper walking right under her

10 months - best friends

11 months - still fits under the coffee table... barely

She'll be one year old, one month from Saturday. Almost 100 pounds already!

Erik is Famous

2009-04-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Erik, or should I say Erin, is finally famous! This actually aired on the Australian version of the Today Show... Bah ha ha hah ah.

Click the picture to watch the video!

Welcome

2009-04-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

K, so this is my very first blog post, ever. I finally caved after nearly a year of harassment by my lovely friend Katie. Twitter and a blog all in one day, WHOA!

Some photos to get you started...

Brittany & Erik

Bandit

Brandi

We know that we have a little family but we like it that way :)