Pomegranate Guacamole

After watching an episode of Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals about holiday party appetizers, I decided to try my own version of what looked to be absolutely delicious. And I was right! I know, I know.. pomegranate guacamole, it sounds a little funky, but I promise... it's GOOD!

So here's the recipe:

• 1 Avocado, mashed
• 1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and deveined (I think I might go with 2 jalapenos next time though for a little more kick!)
• 1 Serrano pepper, seeded and deveined
• 1/2 Red Bell pepper, seeded and deveined
• 1/2 cup Red onion
• 2 cloves of garlic, pasted (which I learned from Rachel Ray: mince the garlic, add a little salt, and mash it with the back of a spoon until it's "pasty")
• Seeds from 1/2 of a Pomegranate
• Juice from 1/2 of a Lime
• And as much Cilantro as you want!

Mash the avocado, chop the veggies, and squeeze in the lime. Mix it all together and voila! This makes enough for one person to eat a couple times. I will definitely be eating more tonight!

Proof

Further proof that they didn't screw anything up with my brain surgery.

Before Nate and I headed to the airport, we stopped at Chipotle. I decided I had better use the bathroom before we started driving. In this particular Chipotle, there's a wood ledge that sticks out about an inch all the way around the room, about shoulder height on me. Not even seeing it, I bent over to grab some toilet paper and.. SMACK!

I slammed my forehead right into the ledge. If I had been in a cartoon, there would've been little birdies flying around my head. I immediately grabbed my forehead and started laughing. I wasn't bleeding, but geez did that hurt! I go to look in the mirror, sure enough.. perfect red line across my forehead.

But, at least I missed the bruises where I had the screws in my forehead. I came out of the bathroom laughing, and Nate just shook his head at me when I told him what I did.

All just proof that I'm still a klutz, nothing's changed. Haha :)

Back in the 'Boat

I made it back! My flight was supposed to leave Minneapolis/St. Paul at 7:20 pm... 40 minutes of de-icing later we took off. I was supposed to land at 8:30, had we taken off on time, and somehow we still landed at 8:45. Thank you for the speed pilot! I still had to run thirty four gates and barely make my connection flight to Steamboat, but I'm back.

Back to my little space, with seven shiny staples in my head, where I can maybe establish some normal again. Well, at least until I fly out for Christmas on the 20th!

Putting Up The Tree

Nate's going to do some more decorating yet, but we had a lil fun :)
Ain't she cute?!

Our First Thanksgiving

Nate and I had our first Thanksgiving together. Of course, as a cop, he had to work until 10:00 pm, so it was a late dinner. This was also my first year making turkey dinner, and I have to say it went quite well!And yes, we're real klassy like that, but it's the only glasses I had to work with. And yes that is sparkling juice. The steroids I'm on do not allow me to drink alcohol. Wine :( Literally, I whine.

Halloween

Wilmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Six Fabulous Fall Days

Once again , a lovely weekend with Nate :)

We went out to dinner at Cafe Diva; it was fondue night. Neither of us had ever had fondue before, but it was delicious!

On a walk downtown, it was actually blue skies and nice out, but for some reason this picture looks like we're in a storm!

Also on the walk downtown, along the river.

Just about there and just about time for dinner at Mambo Italiano

We attempted to hike The Devil's Causeway. This was one of the lakes on the way up to the trailhead.

Nate also in front of the same lake/resevoir.

I love how the colors reflect off the water!

The Flattop Mountains in south Routt County

And this is the reason why we didn't get to hike up to the Causeway. It started snowing on us!!

Brrr! It's c-c-c-cold!

The nearest town to the Causeway is Yampa (one of the tiny-ass towns in south Routt County). I could not believe that most of their streets are dirt!

This was just too funny, haha!

SHEEP! On the way back there was a whole bunch of sheep on the mountainside. So like tourists, we pulled over so I could take a picture.

We got rained out of the hike to the seconds falls at Fish Creek that we were supposed to do on Saturday, so instead it was pumpkin carving and wine!

And the end results!!

It's Fall!

I have a pumpkin. The leaves are changing. The air smells crisp. The mornings and nights are cold. Yep, it's fall!

Whirlwind Weekend

It was so nice to go visit Nate! I took a long Labor Day weekend, and it happened to work out that Nate had a few days off... so, we got to go home-home! We met each other's parents, friends, played with babies... it was great :) Busier than hell though!

Out in River Falls with Nate's friends
Nate playing paddycake with my cousin Owen

How cute is he?!!

Nate's friends' daughter Lyla, another lil cutie!

And I match the baby lol...

The Family Comes to Visit...

Mom, Dad, and Bri came to visit for the Fourth of July Weekend.

On the gondola to the top of Thunderhead Peak. I still contend that I look high in this picture.

Mom & Dad in the gondola

On the little nature trail at the top of Thunderhead
All cowgirl-ed up for the Cowboy Roundup Days Rodeo

Getting ready for the hike up to the second falls

Dad with his girls on the hike up to the second falls at Fish Creek

Taking a break on the hike

There were pretty wild flowers all along the trail. I didn't even realize I got Dad & Bri in this picture until afterwards.

This is the point where Bri & I realize that Mom had been taking pictures of our butts for the last ten minutes.

The newest addition to my apartment: a pretty, sassy lil betta named Fancy :) I am officially a crazy fish lady.

Another Wonderful Weekend

Nate came to visit! :) It was perfect weather and the perfect 2.5 days together. Although not nearly long enough!

In my apartment before heading out to explore

Riding in the gondola to the top of Thunderhead Peak

On the top of Thunderhead

Ahh, Steamboat.. Isn't she lovely? My favorite mountain, Sleeping Giant, is in the top middle.

Drinking margaritas at the 3rd floor bar/restaurant on the peak

At Fish Creek Falls

The water was rushing so fast!

On the bridge at the falls

Back in Wisconsin

Here's a few pictures from Memorial Day Weekend. It was nice to visit "home" again, to have 4 days with Nate, and very nice to meet some TIA GFYers!

Out at the bars in Madison for Nate's golden birthday

After our incredible dinner at the Capitol Chop House

Mmm, gotta love a man in uniform! HCMM

Nate's attempt to teach me how to play catch the lacrosse way

So sad, time to leave :(