Adventures in Denver...

 TAG Continental Social Food



 Lemon, Vodka, & Vanilla Bean simple syrup cocktail

 Kobe beef sliders and duck fat fries

Banana cream pie

I am going to drop a big excuse on this blog.  Haven't really been updating, as you have probably noticed, because I have been out adventuring around the country again.  Had a mini-break in Las Vegas.  Also have had some business travel.  During my adventures I made my way to the mile high city (for business) and had the pleasure of discovering Denver.  Almost immediately after touching down, my coworker (and friend) headed downtown to see what Denver is about.  We were pretty popular with the men folk, which was pretty hilarious.  Also noticed a large amount of inebriation.  And TONS and TONS of fun restaurants and bars.  We walked around 16th street for a long time and finally settled on TAG continental social food, on 14th.  I think the photos speak for themselves.   The food was fantastic, the drinks were well made, and the scene was fun.  My favorite part?  They have different sushi rolls made with Cheetos and pop rocks.  Awesome!  And all of their food is in shareable, small sizes, which ultimately results in a wide variety of dishes crossing over the tabletop.  We loved it.  Wish I could go back!! 

Make this...

In my quest to find healthy, delicious, easy meals I came across this recipe.  Based on the photo above, you can tell, these taco bowls turned out amazing!!  I am a slow cooker novice, but this recipe was so easy there is no way you could screw it up.  The chicken came out so tender it was falling apart, it was super delicious, and heart healthy too (that part is for K).  Go check out the recipe, and make this, you won't regret it!!

Always in our hearts...

In remembrance of our fallen veterans, this memorial day, personally my thoughts were with my Grandfather, a WWII vet.   I can't go visit him, but he lives on in my heart, so I bought a dozen roses that reminded me of the beautiful bushes in my grandmothers yard.  Beautiful dusty colored roses that I knew he would have thought were beautiful.   Thinking of you, and missing you, Grandpa.

Boutique Shopping

Coming May 6, Target is teaming up with 4 speciality shops, to run boutique-esque merchandise for 6 weeks, in "pop - up shops".  Target will be featuring items from Privet House (vintage shop from Connecticut), Cos Bar (body care from Aspen), The Candy Store (retro candy items from San Francisco), and Polka Dog Bakery (Boston).  I am super excited about the Privet House and Cos Bar.  Items that, those of us not local to these shops, don't get to experience on a day to day basis.  Prices are set to range from $1 to $159.99

Privet House - Embossed pitcher $24.99

Privet House - White washed baskets $34.99

Privet House - Wire tiered tray $29.99

Cos Bar - Blueberry white tea body products $6

The Candy Store - Nostalgic gift tub $9.99 featuring Candy Buttons, Pixy Stix, Razzles, Gum Necco Wafers, Bit-O-Honey, Candy Smarties, Tootsie Pops, Sugar Daddy’s, Red Hots, Goetze’s, & Caramel Creams

Guess you know where I will be May 6!

 

All photos and products - target.com

Wild Horses

I love these photos.  They so vividly capture the beauty of these majestic animals.  My friend Jillian has been talking about having a framed print of horses in her home, and these photos would all be perfect.  They are all so amazing and would really add to any room of the house.  

Horses are emotional, beautiful,  intelligent, strong, and yet such fragile animals.  Having grown up with horses as a part of my daily life in Eastern Oregon these photos just drew me in.  While these horses in the photos above are wild, the ones that I rode and love(d) so much were free and wild to me. 

I used to ride our paint Tawny almost daily as a young girl.  My mother, the original horse lover, taught me how to tack up the horses (put on the saddle, bridle, etc), groom them, ride them, respect them, and love them.   There was nothing better than riding Tawny every summer day.  We both loved trotting along, the smell of the grass, the sun beating down on us.  Even though I was a young girl, Tawny let me ride her, and was such a gentle and trustworthy girl.  Nothing could take me off the back of that horse...until one fateful day, as we raced under a tree, I was ripped off her back from branches clawing across my face.  A ride I had done almost daily, and I would always duck as low as I could as we raced under, pushing my face into her soft flowing hair on her neck.  But that day I was pulled off her back, thrown to the ground, knocked out, and never really got back on her.  She stood by me, as worried as my family, as my dad and mom raced to the back of the pasture to get me.  It was something I will never forget.  Partly because, everyday I see these scars on my face and neck, faded by the years, but reminding me of those moments. 

Tawny has passed now.  Her only offspring, Bud, stands alone in the back pasture of my parents home, loafing around and acting like the dog he thinks he is.  He was never really broken, but he is as sweet as they come. 

I am grateful for my experience with horses and knowing the love of them.  I thank my parents so much for providing me this part of my life.   Because of these experiences I will always love horses.  And like the wild horses in these photos, I like to picture Tawny running free in heaven, young, and wild.

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