Long time no Blog

Hi Everyone!


Please excuse my LONG absence.  I've been a guest blogger for ScrapbookinStory.com.  Please visit my blog there at http://scrapbookingstory.blogspot.com/ !!


At ScrapbookingStory.com I've been blogging about my scrapbooking journey. 


See this year I've set myself some resolutions or goals to complete before my next birthday Dec. 20, 2011. 


Some of these goals include completing 4 years worth of scrapbooking which is why I've been asked to be a guest blogger.  I am using the material from ScrabookingStory.com and completing these books.  This months I've (nearly) completed my 2009 book. 


I may take a little break in February so I'll be back on here for a little while. 


Here is a bit more of my list...

1. Read a minimum of 10 books. 
2. Pay off some debt!
3. Write down things I'm thankful for weekly, if not daily. (Hmm...that would be a good  scrapbooking page!) ---might have to be monthly! I've already failed on the weekly!! 
4. Go to an NBA game.
5. Do a snowy photo shoot.
6. Save for (and get) my next tattoo.
7. Visit Quebec City for our wedding anniversary.
8. Complete my 2009 Scrapbook.
9. Complete my 2010 Scrapbook.
10. Complete my 2011 Scrapbook.
11. Complete my Europe Scrapbook.
12. Complete my niece's Brag Book.
13. Visit Europe
14. Save a minimum of $2,500 for our future--whatever it may be.
15. Visit Harry Potter's Wizarding World in the winter. (yes, i'm a nerd)
16. Research starting my own online travel agent type business.

So that's some of what I've got going on this year... I'm going to be a busy busy bee!


I will try and maintain both blogs but, I'm not gonna lie... it may be quite the challenge. 
Everything not scrapbook related I will be here... dazzling or boring you with my words. :)


xoxo!

When it Rains it Pours

Blogging is an interesting "art form".  I think it begins, at least for me, as a way of maybe self-promoting yourself. Looking at yourself in print gives a level of completion, satisfaction, accomplishment for ones self.  I'm not gonna lie I like it.  I do feel pride in myself---even if I'm the only one reading.  


General ideas and thoughts aside I find a blog to be a nice way to be heard. --- It's like journal therapy. 
I need a little journal therapy... so get your pen and pad of paper out..... I'm going to spill some beans. 

http://megahurt.net/2008/11/23/when-it-rains-it-pours/

There are sayings and cliches out there that mean nothing.  That when you hear them you roll your eyes and move on.  The people saying them are a bore and so are their sayings. Then there are some that continually throughout your life ring true. Like this one....  
I think, the Morton Salt girl said it best....


When it Rains it really does Pour. 


My "The Big C" blog I wrote a few weeks ago was about a close aunt on my mothers side.  She did undergo surgery (it went very well) and is on the road to recovery---hopefully it stays on the sunny side of the road. 
My other aunt is suffering from severe diabetes---who knows how this is really effecting her. 
My mom has the worst cold followed by Pink Eye and has had to miss work for a week.


Now my grandmother has just had a heart attack. She needs tests done and possibly surgery.  My grandma is in very bad health and we are all  scared that this may be it. 


I'm praying for peace.  
Not sure what that entails but, that's all I've got. 


Tell your family you love them. ---Even the ones you might not like very much.  :)

Rock City Fail

I love Rock City Coffee. LOVE IT. 

My world is shaken now.  Yesterday, I wanted to try something different.  I ended up having a Cider Vinegar Tonic. 

I know, I know, sounds gross right?  Totally RIGHT!

I thought it would be like a tangy cold cider.  It's made with Organic Cider Vinegar, Tonic, and Organic Honey. 

Yeah, it was tangy---so tangy I was immediately coughing for my life. 

I probably drank about 1/4 cup and felt so sick.  I was pretty sure I was going to vomit. 

WARNING:  Do not order Cider Vinegar drinks.  DO NOT order ANY Vinegar drinks.  

I mean really?  What was I thinking?

Still love Rock City----just not the cider vinegar. 

Rock City Coffee

I am like the millions of people out there who appreciate a good cup-a-joe.

In fact, I not only appreciate it I adore it. 

There's nothin' like a nice warm, smooth, slightly bitter, slightly sweet espresso. 

One of my first jobs was as a Barista for Starbucks.  When I started I was a young pup who "didn't drink coffee".  By the time I felt I became a connoisseur and coffee snob---proudly. 

Living in Portland there are quite a few coffee shops I can choose from.  All of which have their pro's and con's.  

Well, one day I was at the Portland Public Market.getting so yummy soup from Karmasouptra and I glanced over and saw Cubano con Leche at Rock City Coffee.  

I was so excited I could barely stand it!   Cubano con Leche is Cuban Espresso with sugar and steamed milk. 

You may think this sounds like a latte with sugar BUT, it is so much more than that.  It is pure heaven.  

I didn't order coffee that day because I was in a rush.  So for a solid week I couldn't stop thinking about how amazing this coffee must be.  A part of me knew that if they had Cubano con Leche on their menu it MUST be amazing!  Finally, the day of happiness came. 

I ordered Cubano con Leche and it lived up to the hype. 

It was pure bliss. 

I think I filled up my stamp card in less than 2 weeks. 

Since then I have ordered other drinks and tried some of my friends drinks like Horchata with a shot of espresso and they have all been DELICIOUS!

I highly recommend Rock City Coffee. 

10 outta 10!

The Big C

Showtime. 


In recent years, Showtime has come out with some outstanding television shows. The first two that pop into my mind are Dexter and Weeds.  When I heard Laura Linney was going to be starring in a new show it probably didn't even matter what the show was I knew I'd like the combination of Laura Linney and Showtime. 


Boy was I right. 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Big-C

The Big C is delightful.   It is a show about a high school teacher who finds out she has stage 4 cancer and is pretty much on her last leg.  She refuses treatment and refuses to tell anyone. And, of course, she lives everyday as her last doing everything and anything she's always wanted to do. 
--- I totally understand.  I'd do the same.  I would tell my family though. I would want to experience my last days with them having a grand 'ole time. 


I bring up this show because, I happen to be watching in right in the middle of family crisis mode.  --Thank God my situation is not the same as it is on The Big C but, my extended family (which is a very small close family) has been having some troubling medical news over the past few months. 


It's very weird.  


I've been watching movies, tv shows, reading books, listening to the news, etc... my whole life about people with cancer---or life threatening sickness and their families and all their stories but, until it happens to you you just don't know. 


I remember watching Step Mom many years ago and balling my eyes out (I still cry every time I watch this).  I have always been really close with my parents.  I truly do not know what I would do without them.  The idea that they will most likely die before me is way too much to even think about. 


So, all I want to say is I'm thankful for shows like The Big C that will talk about topics that are hard and show true human reactions and feelings. 
I don't know what is ahead of my family but, I know we will handle it because our lives are not in our hands only the way we handle what is given to us is.  


Tell or show your family you love them--- I love mine!  With all my heart <3 

Artemisia Cafe

My first impression of the Artemisia Cafe was "it is a good breakfast place". 


I had never heard anything else.  I had never driven by. I had never even looked up the menu. 
I was shootin' in the dark with this one but, my sister and brother in law were in town for a photo shoot (pictures to come) and they love this place so, Nic and I were happy to try a new place. 


We parked on the west end of Portland on a nice quite side road and I already began to feel a bit excited. It could be the day?  It was a beautiful sunny and crisp fall morning and I love my big sister so I'm always happy when we get to hang out! Never-the-less, when we started approaching the cute little blue over hang I had a feeling that if breakfast was a bust I'd at least like the aesthetics. 


When we came in we were seated right away in a lovely little booth. 
The booth had some table games (which i love).  The artwork was interesting and beautiful and the walls themselves looked like a painting. You could say I loved it. 


Now, decor aside this is a restaurant and we must judge the food. 


The menu was small but diverse.  They have items like biscuits and gravy to hit upon the joys of a southern breakfast; they also go south of the border to mexico and had chilaquiles on the menu.  I'm impressed.  


To start we needed coffee. --Or Hot Apple Cider for my pregnant sister. :)
---Side note.  Last November Nic and I went to Montreal, Canada with his family who was visiting from Australia.  We stopped at a little cafe for some crepes.  At this cafe I ordered a cappuccino (which I never order because they never make them right). This Cappuccino was the BEST I've ever had!  It was perfect! --- Since then, I've been ordering cappuccino's everywhere I go trying to find one that is equivalent.  I have yet to succeed.  Until, October 16, 2011 at Artemisia Cafe. 


This cappuccino was perfect.  Milk to foam ratio- excellent.  Espresso- rich and smooth.  With a little sugar in the raw I was in espresso heaven.  At this point, even if breakfast sucked I wouldn't have cared. 


After perusing the menu I was so tempted to get the Chilaquiles because, I LOVE them!  And it's quite rare to see them on a menu in Maine.  However, I went with a classic Florentine Eggs Benedict.  My last breakfast experience I got poached eggs and they were cooked through so, I've had a hanckerin' for perfect poached eggs. 


Just to let you know, they were perfect. 

The poached eggs sat on a bed of spinach with cherry tomatoes.  Rather than the normal English muffin underneath there was a homemade scone.  On the side, was roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes. 
I loved it!  However, I can't give my meal a 10 because, there was one part I didn't LOVE---only liked.  I didn't love the scone.  It was a little grainy and dry for me. But, don't get me wrong---it was still good and I finished my meal! I give it a 9 out of 10.


Beth (Sister) and Kyle (Brother-in-law) both got Biscuits and Sausage Gravy. 

Looks good right!?  They both reported it as yummy.  I believe they gave their meals a 7 or 8 out of 10?  

I had a bite of the biscuit and gravy and it was really good.  A little different flavor than your normal--it was almost sweeter.  I liked it!  Kyle and Nic both said they didn't like the home fries. They thought they were bland. --I like them. :)

Nic got the special -- Sausage and Mushroom frittata.  He loves mushrooms so he liked it. I think the toast looks yummy!   I believe his rating was an 8 out of 10.

Overall, the Artemisia Cafe was a great breakfast experience. First Impressions were right on target! 

Coco Loco's Taco's

It's time for Mexican!!!

I grew up in Southern California.  I have 1/2 Mexican and I have multiply family members---not to be arrogant but, including myself----who cook the real authentic amazing Mexican food.  I know what GOOD Mexican food tastes like.  New England struggles a little bit with this concept of Mexican vs. Tex Mex.  Heck! New England struggles with Mexican vs. Edible. Basically, what I'm getting at is it is hard to find good Mexican food that isn't Chipotle.

The other day after a LONG day of my sister's baby shower in Portsmouth, NH Nic and I were ready for some dinner.  Our brother-in-law reccommened Coco Loco's Taco's in Kittery, Maine.

Image from http://www.locococos.com/

From the moment I drove up I knew I was going to love it!  

They had an outdoor patio seating area.  ---And it was a lovely warm fall night.

We were able to get a table outside which brought joy to my heart. 

The waitress was lovely.  Just the right about of chit chat and efficiency. 

The meal started right with some Mexican soda.  Yum! My favorite! The Nic and I both had burritos and they were delish! Fresh Homemade tortillas. Stuffed full of yummy rice, beans, meat and cheese.  The highlight of my meal was the tortilla chips!  They were so good.  I could have just eaten that and been satisfied. 

After a long day Coco Loco's Taco's hit the spot.  I would give it an 8 out of 10.