Earring Hanger

I always have to come up with a project when George leaves town in order to sidetrack myself...this week it was an earring hanger. I got the idea from my friend Britta and her crafty blog. This was a simple craft project (I have to stick to simple!) and really cheap too. I bought an old wood frame from the thrift store for $1, painted it a neutral color, picked out some paper, tore it up, and mod podged it on the frame. I've never used mod podge before, but I really think it's my kind of art! You just rip and glue without much planning or intricacies. I bought screen used in windows at the hardware store for $.83/foot and stapled it to the wood. To finish up I knotted a couple old pieces of material so it could hang, and viola a super cute and useful craft!

The before - I couldn't decide which frame I wanted to use...please direct your attention to the ugly blue one with Christmas lights painted around the edge.

And after - I turned it into this!

Nanaimo Bar Party

Our colorful display of Nanaimo Bars (third layer not yet applied)

George's favorite confection is this Canadian dessert called Nanaimo Bars. I posted about it before for Canada Day. We've been wanting to find our favorite recipe since there are so many variations. We decided to try 6 different filling flavors. We had good ol' vanilla, mint, lime curd, beet raspberry (beet sounds odd, but it's yummy mixed with raspberries), chocolate cream cheese, and vanilla cream cheese. My favorite were the cream cheese flavors...probably the chocolate cream cheese. So here is the Best Nanaimo Bar recipe in my opinion. (George's opinion varies slightly from mine...click here if you want to see his recipe.)

mmm-MMM-mmm Nanaimo Bars

Bottom Layer

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 5 T. cocoa
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 c. graham wafer crumbs
• 1/2 c. finely chopped almonds (I didn't roast them, but think it would add good flavor)
• 1 c. coconut (I used the flakes and chopped them finely)

Melt the first 3 ingredients in double boiler. Add egg and stir until thickens slightly. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan. Put in refrigerator to cool.

Second Layer

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter
• 2 T. and 2 t. cream
• 2 c. powdered sugar
• 4 oz. cream cheese

Cream all ingredients together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer. And cool in refrigerator while you make the third layer.

Third Layer

• 4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
• 2 T. unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.

Thanks Canada for sharing this yummy dessert!

Colorado's Finest!

The first weekend of October we celebrated our annual tradition of pressing fresh apple cider in Colorado AND I saw my first snowfall for the season...that must mean autumn is officially here! The red, yellow, and orange leaves are so beautiful, but I do have to admit this chilly weather makes me excited to be living in Florida full-time in just a month and a half! Fortunately George was able to fly into Denver and hitch a ride with my bro, David, so he could join in on the fall festivities. It's SO good to be back with my George :)

Different groups of people started arriving Friday night around 9 pm and kept trickling in throughout the middle of the night and into the the late morning. It happened to be Apple Days in Cedaredge this same weekend, so Terrie, Hannah, and Wyeth supported the scouts and did a 5k run bright and early on Saturday morning, while the rest of us lazed around and tried to rouse our sleepy bodies for the days' activities.

Marty designed the shirts for the run.

The whole ambiance of the weekend was wonderful. It included cheery company, crisp fresh autumn air, apple-picking and eating, fresh-off-the-press apple cider, smooth dark truffles (flavors including lime vanilla cayenne, cardamom rum, and lavender), delectable food: bruschetta, focaccia, pumpkin soup, biscuits with fresh peach and strawberry jam, fresh salsa from the garden, roasted bell peppers, fresh bread, and more mmm!

Terrie - Le Cuisinier

And I have to mention the incredible architecture that comfortably housed the party...the Watts home, endearingly named Maison de Terre because it is made of adobe bricks and plaster...quite the masterpiece!

Kyson and Kaden fell in love with the playroom...which included a ladder to a secret loft where you could jump out and fall 10' into a lovesac.

This year's party was particularly chaotic and fun, numbers totaled: 22 people at times, 6 dogs, 2 goats, and 1 sheep named Baaaab :) Poor Baaab got 'rumped' by Alethea multiple times as she practiced her vet tech skills.

We spent the morning lazily picking apples and warming ourselves in the sunshine.

All the apples compliments of Mountain Spirit Organic - Uncle Steve and Brian's orchard. Steve is pictured above.

Shena getting down and dirty with the apples.

I found the cutest apple!

Sara manning the tractor and three kids all at once, impressive!

Hannah-banana & Lizi...back in the day I used to babysit Hannah and we'd have SO much fun together, it's hard to believe she's 17-years-old now!

Shena's turn on the tractor - she was a pro and even loaded the bin in the back of the truck!

We mainly picked golden delicious and jonagolds.

The afternoon continued with lots of apple pressing and cider drinking.

Loading up the press with apples, nice shot Kaden!

Sara 'pressing' the apples.

Watching the last of the fine cider get squeezed out...mmm makes my mouth water just looking at it now!

And the last part of the process, straining the cider as we put it in jugs.

Suga Booga feasting on the left-over apple pulp.

The afternoon was interspersed with relaxing, playing, and eating...lots of eating :)

Terrie's bruschetta was fantastic!

Davey and Cosmo taking a breather.

Carol-Malia came down from Jackson for the party...she brought her 2 goats and 4 dogs!

Alethea & Whit - lifelong childhood friends...and that's Mushka relaxing in the foreground.

With the large numbers this year we were more ambitious and made 70 gallons of the freshest, finest, apple cider!

On Sunday before we left, we got to visit Uncle Brian and Aunt Judy at their cabin on the Grand Mesa. They're so close to finishing their cabin and it looks great!

The whole weekend was absolutely wonderful! We missed having the rest of the Watts and Lewis fam with us, but we'll count on all of you for next fall ;) And a special thanks to the Watts family for hosting us, we love you guys!

A Whole New Me

I decided after 16 months of marriage it was time to change my name and officially become a Bates! With this change came a whole new look...I got half a foot chopped off my hair yesterday. I'm liking the freedom and weight off my head :) But I want to know why changing your name has to be such an ordeal? I've had to make a zillion copies of my marriage certificate and mail it to everyone or carry it with me wherever I go. You have to change your driver's license, social security card, passport, bank accounts, IRA's, insurance policies (life and auto), credit cards, utilities, airline rewards, email, etc. etc. etc. No wonder I procrastinated doing this for a year and a half. It really was a pain! I was quite torn weather to keep my middle name and drop my last name, or move my last name to become my new middle name...what to do, what to do? I finally decided on Elizabeth Ann Bates. Whew, it's a relief to know who I am again :)

The new me - the background may show I was slacking at work :)

Party in St. George

Last weekend my BGFF, Aly, flew down to St. George so we could hang out. It was SO much fun. We stayed up too late laughing and talking, it was wonderful! Aly's mom and aunt were there too...those two are hilarious! I'm sad I didn't get a picture of them. It was so fun listening to their childhood memories :) They introduced me to a new card game, Idiot, AND Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, mmm! It has 16 different kinds of cocoa in it, now that's my kind of drink!

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate - it's an exclusive NYC treat!

Brave Aly brought Ben on his first flight, and luckily he was perfect. It was so fun to see Baby Ben, although he is not so much 'baby' anymore, he is getting SO grown up! He walks around and is even talking a little bit! He has the best smile and such a good temperament. Aly thank you for flying with a baby, now that is true friendship ;) And thanks to Steve as well for 'loaning' me his wife and first born child for the weekend! It was a much needed visit. Aly never ceases to make me laugh and gives such good 'life advice'. I wish we lived closer, dang it!

Aly and Ben - it was great to see Aly 'in action' as a mother, she does a FANTASTIC job!

We met our freshman year of college in Hawaii (I won't mention HOW we met, haha). It's hard to believe that was almost 10 years ago! I feel SO blessed to have her as my besty, I really think of her as a sister - LYLAS Aly :)

This is how Aly announced she was pregnant - sent me a 'Fraunt Lizi' pin (Fraunt = Friend Aunt). She's always so creative and I love being Ben's Frauntie :)