Wednesday ~ D'Vita Wednesday

Due to the wondrous advent of two weeks off of work, there was no Starbucks Tuesday yesterday. But despite the lack of Starbucks beverage, I have stumbled upon a marvelous homemade beverage of my own that I personally am thoroughly enjoying. Every day, as a matter of fact. :) Let me introduce you to the process of making liquid happinesss!

Ingredients: hot water, milk, Torani caramel syrup, Ovaltine chocolate mix, whipped cream...and the magic ingredient: Caffe D'Vita Mocha Cappuccino mix!

If you've never had D'Vita, then please do yourself a favor and go buy some! For my big zebra cup, which is my favorite mug (being a passionate follower of the color zebra), I use about 2.5 heaping spoonfuls of D'vita, and one heaping spoonful of Ovaltine. Today, I ran out of Ovaltine, and so had improvise with regular baking cocoa and sugar. I like adding the chocolate flavor because it calms down the slightly harsher mocha flavor that the mix gives. It makes a perfect mocha/cocoa blend.

Add about 2/3 of water and 1/3 milk. 

Once you have the D'Vita/Cocoa drink, add a teaspoon of caramel syrup and top it off with whipped cream, preferably homemade whipped cream, which is undeniably the best kind.

It's as delicious as it looks!!

Monday ~ Seeking a Sunrise Adventure

I’ve been craving adventure lately. A need for something that I don’t see every day. Adventure outside the box of daily life. But living in a life and land where things steadily seem to stay the same, adventure doesn’t just pop up for me so easily. Which, of course means I have to go: adventure-seeking.

I have a passion for the sunset. But this past week, for some odd reason, I have been beckoned by the sunrise. Despite 25 years of life, I can’t recall a time when I actual sat and watched the rising of sun. I’ve seen its effects around me nearly on a daily basis, but never the witness of the orb’s first rays creeping over the distant horizon.

We got up at 5:30. I had to wake them all up to remind them we were going. We piled into my trusty Mazda and headed to a place we love. Because this place might be finding itself found in my posts more and more (it’s the same location as our evening get-away from two weeks ago), I am going to give it a name. Hero’s Crossing. **wink wink to my local peeps**. We headed towards Hero’s Crossing, driving directly into the faint dimming on the horizon. We parked and began walking. It was just barely light enough to not need a flash light by the time we got there. It was beautiful.

We walked to the top of the  hill and I noted to myself that I didn’t remember being that winded last time I walked to the top.

We positioned ourselves as best we could, to have the best view of the sunrise. We sat. And waited. And waited. It was cool, but not cold. The view from the hill overlooked portions of the golden valley. It was like seeing the pre-dawn world through sepia tones. We waited for almost an hour, which was not boring, as we talked, laughed, watched deer, explored the hilltop, watched for predatorial beasties, and had an all-around lovely crisp early morning…

And then. 

It rose.

And with the sun, what had at first been creamy hues of brown, became overwhelming shades of brilliant, firey orange. We watched until the entire circle of the sun had summitted the horizon and then hiked back down our little hill.

And after poking around in ruins of old buildings and under bridges of dried out creeks...we headed home, away from the sunrise.

Friday ~ Play Day

This morning I went and picked up my niece and nephew so that their mommy, who's been waylaid by morning sickness, could have the day off. We started out out "play day" by going to the park before going to "grandma's house." The swings were a big hit! I couldn't help laughing myself at their gleeful non-stop giggling. I did learn something, though. When going down a long twisty slide, always check the bottom of the slide for pooled water. I found the puddle as I slid (rather fast) down the slide with D-boy in my lap. It was literally a wave, soaking me to the skin and dripping down my legs. Thankfully I had a sweater I could tie around my waist. I learn a lesson every day

Thursday ~ 20 Reasons That I Would Make a Terrible Wife & Should, Therefore, Never Marry

1) I absolutely hate to share a bed. I can't stand something live (other than a cat) touching me while I'm trying to sleep. Ugg.

2) I don’t like to cook.

3) I hate it when people touch me. Touch is NOT my love language.

4) I often prefer burying myself in a book all day instead of talking to organic life-forms around me.

5) I MUST own at least five cats to be relatively happy. I am the crazy cat lady.

6) I do not like packing work lunches.

7) I cry way too easily.

8) I am a peculiarly picky eater. Add not liking to cook plus being a picky eater, any husband would probably starve.

9) Sports do absolutely nothing for me. Bored to death.

10) I’m a control freak.

11) I already have all my children’s names picked out. And they are unique. And I will not waver.

12) I’m easily offended.

13) I can’t stand bad breath. Sharing a bed? Morning breath? Negative.

14) I despise facial hair.

15) I’m OCD about getting places on time or early.

16) I’m too stubborn.

17) I'm always losing things. And when I lose something, my stink-face comes out. Code for: Watch out.

18) I leave bobby-pins e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.

19) I sleep very light and toss and turn constantly at night.

20) Whenever I see a cat, I involuntarily say “meow.” Potentially annoying/embarrassing.



See?

Wednesday ~ The Evening Get-Away

Last Wednesday night, on a whim, Mom, myself, Scott, KJ and Stuart loaded up into my little Mazda and drove the 45 minute drive to a river park/wildernessy-area. It was heaven. Scott fished and Stuart fished. Mom, KJ, and I found clefts in the rock...and just read for a few hours. The beautiful terrain, the cool breeze, the gurgle of the river, the quiet of nature. It was wonderful. At one point, mom sighed and said "this is like a mini vacation." We all sat in the quiet as the sun slowly began to go down.

 I'd vowed to myself to climb the giant "hill," something I'd never done despite the numerous times of having been there over the years. Stuart, KJ and I hiked up, which is where we also so an old abandoned gold mine. We sat on a log on the top, next to a deer trail and soaked in the sunset vista. I honestly can not find words to describe how beautiful it was. Golden. That's the only word that comes close to capturing it.

We plan to go back very soon.

{photos courtesy of mom (except the one of her); edited by me}

Tuesday #2 ~ Last Week's Camping

Just some photo-glimpses of our 5-day camping trip last week:

 {hiding from the smoke}

{all photos courtesy of mom; edited by me}

Tuesday ~ Starbucks Tuesday

I was so tempted to celebrate the advent of autumn by having my first Starbucks fall drink...but no! I must hold out until October 1st! Which is so close! To appease my fall-ish cravings, I pulled out one of my long-sleeved cardigans from last year (since it's cool enough for sweater...even though I wear cardigans all year long?), wore my Chucks to work, and turned on classical music in my office. And you know what? It feels like fall!!

I threw caution and weight-gain to the wind and got:

Grande' Cookie Crumble Mocha Frap, with regular whipped cream instead of the chocolate whipped cream. Despite my rave reviews on this drink several months ago AND the "Ode to the Cookie Crumble Mocha" that I wrote, I actually haven't had this drink a second time since then.

Hope anybody reading this is having a fab Starbucks Tuesday! Play yourself some classicals today and get in the mood! Oh, and to prove that it really must be fall: I'm getting my frantic fall/winter urge to sew!

Monday ~ Just Monday

via

It's been a long weekend that involved:

• waxing my car
• being a bridesmaid in an over-the-top-highly-stressful wedding
• finding out I'm going to be an auntie for the sixth time next May (hurray!)
• thinking I'd lost my beloved cat
• having to be strong when another is weak
• breaking into my house (literally, like up-a-ladder-through-the-closet-window-(in a pencil skirt)-take-the-door-knob-off-with-a-screw-driver kind of break it.)

And that's just a small portion of my weekend! To soothe my aching brain, I buried myself in a book and a cat. The above picture couldn't express me any better. 

Happy Monday. And Hello, Fall.