Merry Christmas!

Rhamey Christmas Card Picture 2009

Gingerbread House Competition

House #1 - We're Not in Kansas Anymore (3rd place)

House #2 - The Best Little Gingerbread Whorehouse in Texas (2nd place)

House #3 - Winner Winter Wonderland (WINNER)

NOLA - Day Two

We spent most of our second day in NOLA exploring, browsing through the shops and market, eating, posing for pix, and hanging out at the Carousel Bar while we waited for C to arrive . . .

Lunch - A Central Grocery Muffuletta . . . Yum!

My favorite shirt find - No, I didn't buy it.
And, of course, once it got chilly -
We had to make sure Y got to experience Cafe Du Monde.
Jackson Square

On the way back to the hotel to meet up with C, we stopped by to visit our new favorite art gallery . . . Luckily it was closed.

For Patrick . . .

NOLA - Day One

Last month, A, C, Y, and I all flew in from our separate corners and met up in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a great reunion and (to P's relief) restored by faith in NOLA a bit.

Day One:

A's plane was delayed, so we got in around the same time, and she met me at my gate - such a fun surprise! (Remember the good 'ol days when you could always do that . . .)

Then, we checked into our fab suite, and Y arrived not too long thereafter.

I didn't take any pictures on Day One, but we did go to eat at Acme Oyster House.

It smelled a little bit like sewage (Welcome to NOLA!) but the po-boys tasted really good!

. . . because she's famous anyway

Allison’s Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients
1 large Vidalia onion- chopped small
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
2 small cans of tomato sauce (I like to mix up the plain, basil and oregano, and garlic flavors)
1 small can of sliced mushrooms (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Dried Oregano, basil, rosemary, parsley to taste
3-4 cloves of garlic, diced
Angel hair spaghetti
White wine
Olive oil
1-1.5 lbs ground beef/chuck/round
Parmesan cheese

Heat a large skillet/saucepan over medium high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper and cook thoroughly. Turn heat down to medium low. Add the canned tomato products and mushrooms. Rinse each can out with a little white wine and add to the sauce. Added the dried spices. Simmer covered, over low heat for one hour. Taste and add any needed salt and pepper. Add a little parmesan cheese to the sauce.

Boil water for pasta. Add salt and olive oil to water. Cook spaghetti according to package. Drain pasta and add directly to sauce. Stir pasta with the sauce (I like Angel hair). Serve!

You can always add more or less cans of the tomato sauce depending on how thick you like your sauce.

. . . this makes a little over three jars worth for me (that's my addition - Katie)

X-mas Picture Outtakes

We took our third annual Christmas card picture today before going to an event. We are actually getting much better at this, but I have a few good outtakes to share . . .

P, K, Goofy, and Bashful

Sooooo TIRED

Ahhhhh!

P.S. For the third year in a row, pic came out great . . . except for Dagny. The girl just can't take a good picture.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

P's Cuddle Time with Dags

Hank the Puppy

Once upon a time . . .
There was a dog named
Hank the Puppy.

At first, Hank was the good one.
Whenever the puppies did something bad,
His sister was the ringleader.
Hank just went along for the ride.

Hank didn’t chew up computer cords.
Hank didn’t chase cats onto roofs.
Hank didn’t steal other dogs’ balls.
And, it wasn’t Hank’s idea to escape from Uncle Charles’s house,
To dig up the garden,
Or to go to Waffle House that Sunday morning.

But one day,
Hank discovered he could jump high too.
Hank discovered he could perch on top of the fence like a parrot and watch the passersby.
Hank discovered he could hop down and meet the passersby.
And, then Hank was not the good one anymore.

Quick Clothing Refashion

This one isn't too impressive, but I thought I’d post it anyway because I really like the way it turned out. It only took about 30 minutes, and, this one is a true “refashion” because I made it from two items I had in my give-away bag!
I bought a black shirt at Anthropologie 4 or 5 years ago (the same as the white one below). It is casual/sleep shirt, but very soft, and has been one of my favorite items. Unfortunately, since I wore (and washed) them so much, the straps have become so twisted and crinkled that they were longer as cute or comfy, even if I ironed (and who wants to iron a sleep shirt). I also had a super soft, cowl neck, long sleeve cream shirt (also from Anthro) that I have loved and worn for many years - so many that it became misshapen (aka too short in the tummy) and discolored in “certain areas” (aka the pits!)

So, I cut the twisted straps off the black top and the long sleeves off the cream one. Then, I cut up and braided the long sleeves and just sewed them onto the black top. The length just kinda magically worked, and while one side looks better than the other, I should get some more wear out of the top!

Flower Shirt

I finally finished my second sewing project! It is my version of My Mama Made It's petal shirt and other petal/corsage shirts at places like Anthro and J Crew. Of course, mine cost a little over $5.00 all together ($2 for one shirt and $3 for the other that I cut up)! . . . I haven't tried to wash it yet, so hopefully it doesn't fall apart . . .

not posed

walked in to find this scene yesterday:

Blooms

There isn’t a whole lot I LOVE about Tucson.

But, I do love that when the rest of the country is getting ready for this . . .

We are enjoying new, spring-like blooms!

(. . . because everything died over the summer, but oh well. They’re here now)

U2 Concert

What should have been a 2 hours car ride turned into a 4.5 hour car ride, but we got there - just barely in time . . . but just barely counts!

(above: the best pic of the night - aka the least blurry one)

VIDEOS

With or Without You

Bono walking around talking to himself . . .

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Where the streets have no name . . .

The Football

Normally, they are not allowed on the chair . . .

Comps

. . . Patrick finally let me help him organize. it is what i live for.

Birthday Dinner

Patrick got me this for my birthday:

He said to choose something and he'd make it.

After vetoing my first pick (lobster), I decided on Beef Bourguignon.

It didn't look that hard in the movie . . . Unfortunately, a clean kitchen was not part of the present.

Not the most photogenic meal, but it was good!

Necklace I Made

Assumption of the Virgin Celebration ( . . . we think)

At a celebration we stumbled upon:

. . . they know how to party

San Miguel

Right after the guy with the exploding bull ran around alone, little boys starting "chasing" (aka "fighting") him!

Around San Miguel

Comida Outside the City My Mama Patrick Eating "Street" Ice Cream

Outside La Parroquia