Spain: Madrid

Ah, the best weekend ever has came and went. I'm so sad it is over but I had the greatest time with two of my best friends. I am so thankful for these two and all the memories we have shared over the years. We had so much fun just talking, cooking, eating, drinking and being together like the good old days in college. We made our very first Thanksgiving meal for all their Spanish friends which turned out to be a success after a good amount of stress.

haha sorry for this photo it just makes me laugh everytime!

Jaime's poor parents got two seriously panicked skype calls from us concerned about the turkey that we were pretty sure was NOT going to be cooked in time. Just picture two of us holding up the turkey from the oven and Jaime holding up her computer to show her mom so she could diagnose the problem.  Needless to say, she has awesome parents who didn't judge our lack of domestic skills.

After Erin bit off all her nail polish because she was so stressed about the bird, we served up the successfully and thoroughly cooked turkey to their friends (some of whom this was their very first Thanksgiving meal!).

We went out dancing until the wee hours of the morning, stuffed our hangovers with delicious Spanish food and had a wonderful movie night in. Thai take out, Love Actually, PJ's, YouTube videos, and great friends...it was absolutely perfect.

I miss them and Spain so much already. I am seriously considering just moving in with them. It would be magical. Like living at Disneyland everyday.

I can't wait to start planning another trip to visit them in the next year because I know these girls are not leaving Spain any time soon. I love you Erin and Jaime! Thanks for the best weekend ever!

Happy Thanksgiving from Paris!

This is my first Thanksgiving away from home and probably the only one where I will be able to celebrate with foie gras, French wine, fish and pavlova while teaching my friend from South Africa how to draw her very first "hand" turkey. She needs to know these important life lessons.

I definitely am missing my friends and family back home. Especially when I Facetime with them and they are all together and knowing that even Mike gets to see my family and they get to see his family at the Turkey Trot this morning. It's great to know they are all together but there is a little bit of sadness being away from it.

SO, how do you cope with such a thing? Well, you hop a plane to Madrid to see your best friend. Problemo solved! I need to start packing because I leave tomorrow after work and I am SO insanely excited. I get to see two of my best friends and be a part of this awesome life they have built living in Madrid. I'm also pretty excited just to be in Spain again. (I studied abroad in Barcelona in 2008 and haven't been back til NOW!)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my wonderful American friends and family. I hope you enjoy the day and count your blessing no matter what part of the world you might find yourself in.

Thanksgiving = Feast

I love any holiday. Anything that brings family and friends together and lightens the spirit, I am a huge fan. Thanksgiving has such a great meaning behind it and really is an incredible reminder to stop and be thankful for everyone and everything you have been blessed with.

Things on the top of my thankful for list:

My family - all of you guys. You are wonderful. Boomer, you too.
Mike and Taylor - You guys make me smile.
Sunny San Diego - best city in the world (as of now...)
My friends - i love them all!
Chocolate - mmmm
Butter, flour, sugar....
My health
Paris
Life

Thanksgiving is also known as the day you are allowed to stuff your face until it doesn't seem possible anymore...and also make three desserts for 10 people.

Thats what I'm talking about :)

Chocolate covered strawberries
Chocolate on chocolate cake
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream and walnut brittle

Tay is all ready for Christmas in her pretty little sweater! She even has a new Santa toy. Lucky little lady.

Post Thanksgiving dinner = FOOD COMA

I hope your thanksgiving was wonderful and full of food and love!

Fall = Pumpkin Spice

This is completely off topic but have you ever watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition? Did you cry? This show is so ridiculously amazing and sad at the same time. I am watching it right now and these people really put it in perspective. They have it tough, and they continue to shine everyday. They deserve these beautiful homes!

Anyway, this is my post about my love for pumpkin spice anything. I made some pumpkin spice muffins with cream cheese filling and also baked it in a loaf of bread with the cream cheese spread. I brought them to work and they seemed to vanish almost immediately. I love when people love my treats. 

Check out the blog where I found the recipe! Super cool San Diego food blog.

gobble gobble day!!

As you can imagine I am a complete and utter sucker for the holidays. Not only does it give me the warm and fuzzies but it brings people together, makes them feel okay about relaxing and just enjoying each other's company and not running at 100 miles a minute. I love anything that has that affect on people. Another reason the holidays are super awesome is that it provides an excuse to bake up a storm!

Last night (after a nice dinner date with Mike) I created my annual "christmas time!" playlist on iTunes...

 ...and pulled out some of my favorite recipes - blueberry oat bars and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Busted them out to bring to work this morning to try and bring some festive energy. I am sad to be in my cube while my family cooks all day and my brother is home from college, but they were a nice pick me up for my coworkers today.

Anyway, I'm trying to leave my own pity party but each time I think about working through the weekend instead of being with my family I stay longer. Wah wah.

So let's go around the table and say what we are thankful for..

Oh wait.. It's just me.

As sad as I am about working today and through the weekend I really do have SO much to be thankful for..

First and foremost I am healthy and have some outstanding people in my life.

Thank you to...

My parents for always supporting me and putting up with me at my worst. For giving me a life with opportunities some other people dream of. You both mean the world to me! But I still won't forgive you for the almost bowl cut you gave me as a child. nooo way

My siblings for providing entertainment and being nice to be on a somewhat regular basis. I am pretty sure you guys have my back :)

My boyfriend, Mike, for loving me even when I am a crazy person and accepting me for me. Thank you for sticking around with me last night and making me laugh (I am still the funnier one) so I wouldn't fall into depression. You are great. Love you! And thank you to your family for being my second family too.

My dog BOOMER! Also known as the world's greatest dog, Boomer Loomer, Boomie, Boom Boom, Stinky Butt if you're Brandon and Bloomer if you are my grandma. You may have destroyed many things in your life and eaten 643,235,764 you should never have eaten - including but not limited to: rocks, beer bottles, trays of brownies, cakes, my lunch, my dinner, flour, dry pasta, my breakfast, my friend's lunch, and more, and also you have run away about a million times. But despite all that, you are awesome and I am so glad you are now cancer free! Much love Boomdog.

My friends for being there when I need you and for all the fun and outrageous memories we have made. To Brito and Mandypants thank you for being a constant in my life through many years and everything that has come with it.

Chocolate for being so delicious and being such a supportive comrade.

The sun for rising everyday and keeping my days bright and shiney.

Running shoes for providing free therapy.

Country music for being awesome and providing the soundtrack to my life.

There is so much more but I am just glad to be alive, healthy, happenin', and blessed.

About to get off work let's please pray there is no traffic!!!!