Apple of my Eye

Just a warning: This post is picture heavy. :)

Ian was so sweet today, and took me to an apple orchard to pick my own apples. We had a wonderful time and came home with quite a few apples. I see apple pies, apple crisp, and apple stuffing in my future!

Love,
Miranda

Fall Picnic

We had Lauren and Phil over for dinner last night, and feasted on Chicken and Apple sausages, and Rosemary Thyme Cous Cous. It was a perfect meal for the autumn show displayed as the sun set.

Love,
Miranda

Sunlit Snapshots

Here is a peak at our new living room. :)

The sunlight coming in my window was too beautiful not to share. I hope your night is going well!

Love,
Miranda

Sweet Smoothie

Since I work weird hours as a restaurant host (over lunch, or through dinner) I have a very interesting eating schedule. By the time I am done with work, I am either SUPER hungry, or not hungry enough to eat something - and then eat again at a normal meal time. Enter the smoothie.

When I get home, it is so easy to whip up a fruit smoothie (under 5 minutes) and it fills me up without making me feel guilty for snacking. I make the process easier when I come home from grocery shopping by slicing up fresh fruit, washing it, and then freezing it in portion sizes.

I love to mix my fruits so that I get a different taste each time I make a smoothie. Some of my favorite combinations are Raspberry Peach, Orange Banana, Banana Berry. There are really no limits.

Here is my recipe for smoothie. It is just the basics, so you can be creative with your own combinations!

Sweet Smoothie:

1 Cup Frozen Fruit (any combination)
1/3 Cup Greek Yogurt
1/4 - 1/2 Juice or 1% Milk (Really, just enough to make a smoothie consistency)
1 Tbs Honey

There you have it! Blend it up until you can't stand it anymore....and then slurp to your heart's content.

P.S. Today I am drinking Raspberry Peach with Orange Juice. So yummy!

Love,
Miranda

Back in The Saddle Again

I know, I know. It's been a while.

It happens. :)

There have been a lot of changes going on in my life, and I was living every second of them. Among other things, Ian and I have now moved out of our old apartment, I got a job, Ian got a different job, and we are doing great!

Vala is still Vala...still both tormenting and melting our hearts. She is finally adjusted to the new apartment: I know because we have to stop her from tearing the place apart.

I now work as a hostess in a restaurant, and I love it. I am confident in my ability to serve people by ushering them kindly to their seat...and I enjoy interacting with them. Such a change from working retail. A much better change for me. I actually feel refreshed after work.

I am also teaching a small drama class for 4th-6th grade home-schoolers. I enjoy them very much, and I cannot wait to watch their talents develop and shine this semester. I am also honored to have been given this opportunity. I must say - it is nice to know that I am using my college degree. :)

And there you have it. An update. I can't promise that I'll be a super consistent blogger again...but I will tell you that the blogging itch has returned. I might very well post again. And again. And maybe again.

Maybe. *wink*

Love,
Miranda

Picture My Day

The Basil, Rosemary, and Thyme plants were on sale at Rainbow. Oh happy, happy day.

Love,
Miranda

The Great Northwest and Home Sweet Home

Well, my road trip ended spectacularly, I spent a few days at home (my parent's house), and now I am really HOME with Ian and Vala snuggling on my bed. I can't even relate how tired I am from all the excitement! I suppose I will start by summing up the rest of the road trip:

We left at eight in the morning to clear skies over Northern California and headed up into the mountains into Oregon. It was very cold and cloudy as soon as we crossed the border in the high altitude.  The views were gorgeous!

We drove for hours. We finished up listening to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - and I have to say, the ending left a lot of questions. If you have not ever listened to it, I do recommend it.

Kasey and I then stopped at a rest area to freshen ourselves up so that we could meet a dear friend for dinner. Andrea, a wonderful gal I have known since....sixth grade?....just moved to the Portland area, and we were fortunate enough to secure dinner reservations with her. We ate at Pok Pok, a highly acclaimed Thai restaurant. Kasey and I saw it on the Food Network while we were resting at our hotel a few nights before, and we just knew that we had to go there. It was fantastic! If you are ever in Portland, look it up! It was so great to spend time with Andrea...she is so sweet - too bad it was not for longer!

After dinner, we were greeted at the Washington border with an almost instantaneous rain shower welcome. For the last two-hour leg of our journey, we rode through the rain to our house in little Rainier, WA.

For the next few days, I spent time with family (including a suprise birthday party for me held at my cousin's house - Thanks guys!!!) and other good friends. I was also able to spend some quality time with the Corgi's, Corney and Mocha. :)

Yes....and now I am home. Home in my bed. About to go to bed. :)

The rest of my month will be quite dull compared to the last three weeks, but I will keep you updated anyways. Thanks for sticking with me on my travels!

Love,
Miranda

I Get Around

Yesterday was long.  I drove for the seven hours through the hills of northern Arizona and into the Mohave desert.  I-40 is in need of some TLC, and therefore it was like a perpetual game of "avoid the pothole".  We arrived in Tehachapi, CA and ordered pizza from Dominoes to relax. 

Water is most important in the desert!

Today was much less long, although we drove for longer.  We listened to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and The Beach Boys while we drove through the farmlands of California.  We also stopped at In'n'Out Burger.  Totally worth it. 

I have family in the San Diego area and we have made many trips up and down I-5 through the years.  Many times we drove just to visit Disneyland, the San Diego Wild Park, and other southern California sites. Because of this, I will always feel this emotional connection to I-5.  I feel this sense of adventure, satisfaction...and home.  I know, I know...I love a freeway.  It happens. 

We also made a mandatory stop at the Olive Pit, in Corning.  Ever since I can remember, on all those trips back from wherever our adventures took us on I-5, we stopped to buy green olives stuffed with yummy things.  It's a tradition that Kasey and I could not resist.  I came away with Parmesan Romano stuffed olives and a few other surprises for my darling (which, just in case you are wondering....I MISS IAN SO MUCH!!!).  

We are now in Redding, once again relaxing in the hotel. Tomorrow, we will be in Washington. 

Love,
Miranda

If You Ever Plan to Motor West

Today was our long driving day....and it started early. We were on the road by 8. I was fortunate enough to sleep for an hour while Kasey drove, and then it was my turn to drive. I felt the need to get coffee, so we stopped at a Gas Station Burger King in hopes that they had a mocha. They did. It was more like melted chocolate ice-cream. It was a lot better with water added. At least I got my caffeine! (Pay no attention to my nasty hair...I wasn't about to take a shower at seven to sit in the car all day.)

 We hit New Mexico a few hours into the drive. And then we hit Arizona. Believe me...they may be different states, but they sure looked the same from I-40.  The mountains have their own sense of rustic beauty - they just all look the same when you are cruising at 75 miles an hour.

Once again, we picnicked for lunch, and then drove more. About an hour outside of Flagstaff, AZ (our destination) we saw signs for the Meteor Crater. Unfortunately, we it was out of our budget to actually see the Crater, but we saw the awesome sign...and some super cute cows along the six mile drive there. :)

Keeley goes to college in Prescott and was very excited that we would be staying in Flagstaff (which is only an hour and a half away.) She drove up to see Kasey and I. We went to dinner at Beaver Street Brewery. It has been a staple in Flagstaff since 1938! They had a wonderful selection of  pizzas and sandwiches. And as you will see...I finally showered. Praise. 

Keeley then came back to our hotel with us and we played a rousing game of Catan (the travelling version) in which Keeley won. It was a tight game though - Kasey held her own!

Yes. And that was day two! Tomorrow, we hit California.

Love,
Miranda