Mount Lemon Skiing

It was more like "slushing" because it hadn't snowed freshly in more than 3 weeks, and it got up to 65 degrees outside and the snow was melting, but it was fun nonetheless! The best part is that it was only a 2 hour drive from home, and it cost less than $50 to ski and rent skis due to a military discount. I am really glad my girlfriend Bunny asked me to go over the MLK weekend with her and her son. Both our husbands are deployed and the outing passed the time quickly--and every day means a day closer to Jared!

Bunny loaned me a sweet ski suit that was slightly dated (1970s maybe?) but sturdily made in Austria, so I am sure it was a gem in its day. Makes me look sorta curvy...hahaha.

After the ski trip, we joined her son and his two friends at Red Lobster for dinner in Tucson. Grilled scallops are so good! Sometimes I wish we lived a little closer to civilization and restaurants and the like, but I think that would lead to me spending more money and eating out too much...

Twins

As I was making my yearly sausage egg bake for Christmas morning breakfast, the first egg I cracked had two yolks and I knew it was going to be a good day! :) How cool is this? Anyone else witness this anomaly before? I just swapped over to organic milk and organic/cage free eggs so perhaps it is because the chickens are healthier? At any rate, I figure it is pretty rare. Merry Christmas!!

Heavenly Snowmen

We are all works of progress...

Gifts from Arghanistan

I received a package from Jared this week and it was pretty exciting because it wasn't just stuff he wanted to mail home so he doesn't have to carry it back in February. It was actually full of a few gifts he had hand-selected for me!

The first item is a hand-carved wooden camel--just in time for Christmas decorations.

Jared also purchased sterling silver hand-crafted mini jewelry boxes. I have been keeping one on the windowsill in the kitchen so I have a place to store my wedding rings while I cook, bake and do dishes.

Last but not least were four handmade soaps. They are all different scents and were molded after rocks. I am using my favorite shape first. It is pretty neutral smelling, and it hasn't dried my hands out after using it. He said he paid about $20 for the four. That's steep if you ask me, but I suppose the seller needs the money more than we do.

Thanks again to everyone who sends him mail and gifts. He really looks forward to mail call!

Sweet Nephew

Just some pics from Thanksgiving weekend. I enjoyed hanging with my little nephew, who is 9 months old already. I can't believe how fast time flies!

Bountiful Baskets

I am really enjoying Bountiful Baskets harvests! Thanks to several friends at church, we now have a fruit/veggie Co-Op to participate in since a delivery truck is finally stopping down here in Sierra Vista. The baskets typically contain 50% fruit, 50% vegetable. You can't choose what comes in the shipment, but I haven't received anything I despise or couldn't easily share with others. Last shipment we got artichokes. YUM! This time, we receive a pineapple and some pears. You can look to see if your area has one at the website, HERE. For $15.00, and giving local farmers business, you can't beat it! The picture below is from the first week I participated, but was taken after I gave away a stalk of celery, a stalk of romaine lettuce, a big bunch of champagne grapes, half of the sweet potatoes, and several bananas.

The Avenues

I participated in my first ever craft fair during the second week in September, and visited my "longest" friend--Alisha--who has been one of my best friends from when I was 12 and who I had not seen in over 4 years!The Avenues is one of the most attended street fairs in Salt Lake City. I've been told there were more than 10000 people waltzing down the streets looking at the various vendors. I was excited to give it this a try as my first.

It was a challenge, but I succeeded in carrying everything, including my clothing, inventory, and table display items, carry on (go ahead--say it--I even impressed myself! :p). I didn't want to check ANYTHING, in case it got lost.

Alisha, myself and one of her friends split the booth three ways so the up-front fees were not as painful as doing a booth alone (the one I am doing alone this weekend is $100! ...gulp...). Alisha sold earrings and baby wraps (the earrings may been seen HERE on her etsy site), her friend sold hand crocheted items, including ice cream pint cozies (me and my Ben and Jerry's couldn't resist so I am not a proud owner of one), and I sold my baby items (may be seen HERE on my etsy site). I felt especially excited because I am "legal" now--I have a business license, a tax ID number and an EIN. Pretty cool!
Alisha, by far, had the highest return rate. I think she made over $200. I made a little over $100 and her friend made over $50. Combined, we made 6x the booth fees, so I think we did fabulously.

The most relaxing part of the weekend was attending a temple session at the Salt Lake Temple.

The most rewarding part of the weekend was seeing Alisha as a mom. She has married and given birth to two little ones since I last saw her, and it was enjoyable to see her and her mothering skills...which were awesome. I am glad to have a friend like her! And her kids are cute!

If you live in Sierra Vista, come check out my booth at the Fort Huachuca Holiday Bazaar on Saturday Nov 6th from 9-5 and Sunday Nov 7th from 11-4. It will be held at Barnes Field House (the gym), is FREE, and open to the public!