Miscellany Monday

Wow better at the end of Monday than not at all...

uno: had an amazing time at the Arizona Cattle Growers' Convention. The absolute best, salt of the earth people gathered together to focus on what's most important for this next year.

dos: headed up to "the office" in Phoenix manana, the next day I will return home is on Friday August 13th...sad yes but I hopefully will see my hubby this weekend and most definitely will be spending next weekend at my families ranch.

tres: if you are near Williams this weekend you should head to Cowpunchers, ranch rodeo, the best dang indian fry bread, just plain good fun...

cuatro: if you watched the videos I have posted on our friend and fellow rancher Robert Krentz and the current border invasion you may be interested in visiting and lending some help at www.restoreourborder.org endorse the plan and donate some dollars if you can.

cinco: i got to see 4 out of 6 nieces and nephews this past week, I'm rejuvenated and cannot wait to see 2 of them again on Thursday evening!

two of them playing with someone's iphone...

seis: remember that baby quilt i started months ago? next saturday at my mama's quilt store I will be tackling it head on...I will post an update hopefully some finished pictures...fingers crossed!!

Part 3 of 3 Video Series

Part 2 of 3 Video Series

Wedding Magnificence

So I mentioned my dear friend Mattie got married and let me tell you it was absolutely, positively magnificent. I felt like could have been in a magazine so chic and welcoming and fun. Let me show you some of my favorite pictures and walk you through what I loved so much...

The church. Holy Angels Catholic Church in Globe naturally beautiful.

The bride and her father. Bless his heart he tore his bicep muscle two days before, unloading chairs in the yard for the reception. The roses were a given flower for her since her maiden name is De Rose.

The bride and groom truly enamored with one another. Her dress was gorgeous an Oscar de la Renta. Her sash had the same sparkles that were on our custom headbands the bridesmaids all wore.

See the headband and sash? My pearls were a gift from Holly at her wedding in June.

At the bar: cute little mini chalkboards let guests know what wine selection was available. See the cute little canning/mason jars in the back? Yep, that's what we drank from and I LOVED it. Totally unique and super cute!

The lights strung across the yard were the work of her wonderful hubby-to-be and brother-in-laws.

The centerpieces were Manzanita branches in sand and had lovely little crystals placed in them. {Manzanita branches are popular as decoration, due to their unique shape, color, and strength when dried.}

Place cards and next to it my favorite: SPARKLERS!! Who doesn't love a good pyrotechnic?! Each person had their very own sparkler with matches attached. Fortunately someone saved one for me to light because once the dancing began all the kids ran around and took them all to have their own show.

For the reception she took off the veil and added this lovely flower. Obviously you can see that Craig is in the military and I for one am so grateful for his service and all that he does for our country. It was perfect celebrating their nuptials on July 2nd, so appropriate for this patriotic duo.

Here is the happy couple and members of Craig's team. Please note the lovely little chandeliers in the tree behind them...there was a larger very pretty one that hung behind our head table. Oh and I haven't mentioned it yet but the food was amazing a bunch of tapas that were super filling and delicious: roast beef sliders, beef empanadas {a specialty of the chef}, gourmet mac' n cheese, bruschetta, salmon on potato, mini endive salad--{this was my FAVORITE it was bite sized salads with homemade croutons yellow tomatoes and just the perfect vinaigrette dressing.}

So happy for you Mattie and Craig, thanks for an amazing wedding!

Wordless Wednesday

Miscellany Monday

one] St. Louis was fun! Seeing my dear old friend was a blast. Minus the humidity. I told her I loved her but I almost ended our friendship Saturday. She took me to a 3pm baseball game, we sat in the bleachers, FULL on sun...I didn't even make it through the first inning before I was blinded by sweat {literally} and had to go find a shaded breezeway...not to mention that I almost went broke staying hydrated on $5 bottles of water...but it's all good. The Cardinals won, I'm alive and not dehydrated and we have some funny memories to laugh at.

two] Super cool highlight was attending Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. AMAZING. BREATHTAKING. GORGEOUS. I highly recommend it. Words and pictures cannot do it justice like seeing it in person. 83,000 square feet of mosaic tiling.

three] Today marks my "official" first day with my new job. I am extremely excited and super thankful for the opportunity. I am currently in the middle of InDesign craziness...my first magazine is in production. Wish me luck!

four] I love the dry heat.

five] I have the absolute best husband in the world. I'm going to be pretty MIA for the next six weeks and he is so supportive I couldn't have been blessed with anyone better.

six] This week is full of fun, family and the cattle industry...I am so excited to be with the producers of some of the best beef in the country. Did you know 97% of America's farmers and ranchers are part of a family owned operation? Well now you do!

Wordless Wednesday

My dear coworker and friend, Micahlynn, made this for me as I prepare to leave my current job and get ready for a new one. I have signed up for a boot camp to drop some LBS and this is what we think might happen...

Miscellany Monday

uno: my life is changing...rapidly. I have a new job...starting pretty immediately. I have been doing advertising/graphic design in Yuma for a crop protection chemical company called Gowan. However, if you haven't noticed my heart and passion lie within the beef and cattle industry and an opening with the Arizona Cattle Growers came up for the Director of Communications...and voila I will very soon be the Editor of their monthly magazine and be travelling around to cattle events around the state. I am EXTREMELY excited and cannot wait for this new adventure!!

dos: my sister stayed with us for a couple of days while she was an "intern" or job shadower at the feedlot with hubby. it was a blast, she did my dishes for me. she can come anytime.

tres: i'm headed to the STL aka St. Louis this weekend. going to visit my dear friend kodi, see a cards game and eat as much bbq as i can in 3 days.

cuatro: remember lashapalooza? well this thursday i'm getting "fills" yes i'm actually going to be responsible and keep them up.

cinco: i am blessed beyond belief.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!

Recipe: As promised the delightful butter pecan ice cream recipe is yours to have today! I got the recipe from my SIL Gretchen who made it and I was instantly in L-O-V-E! I have made it before and my hubby the "nut hater" requested for less nuts so this time I did 2 batches of vanilla ice cream to 1 batch of the pecan mixture so it was less concentrated...I still loved it but I will give you the original 1-1 recipe.

1 cup whole milk

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 cups heavy cream, well chilled

1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, to taste {I use 2 tsp.}

In a medium bowl, us a hand mixer or a whisk to combine the milk and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes on low speed. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla to taste.  Cover, refrigerate, and chill if time allows. {I did, and I think it helps} Turn on the ice cream maker. Pour the mixture into the freezer bowl and let mix until it thickens, about 20-25 minutes.  If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about two hours.  Remove from freezer about 10 minutes before serving.

This is my pecans swimming in sweet creamy butter with kosher salt, *sigh* 

Butter Pecan (or almond) Variation

Melt 1 stick unsalted butter in a 10-inch skillet.  Add 1 cup roughly chopped pecans {or almonds if that suits your fancy} and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the nuts are lightly browned. Remove from the heat; strain {the butter will have a nut flavor and may be reserved for another use. Hubby really wanted to find a use for it but we ended up trashing it.} Allow the nuts to cool completely. Add them to ice cream mixture during the last 5 minutes of mixing.

And finally, speaking of ice cream...remember Cold Stone Creamery? Well I got to meet the former owner and one of the brains behind it, Doug Ducey. He is running for Arizona State Treasurer and I enjoyed meeting him at our Yuma Republican Women's Lunch a couple weeks ago. All around nice guy, knows how to run a business and will definitely be getting my vote. For more information on Doug visit his site here.

I cannot get my dang text to not be highlighted, I apologize I am never this technologically "special". Bear with me :(

Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes I don't have a picture to share and so I cheat and share a video, even if it has words :)

The Lost Highway Sign Company

Something I Love: In addition to a beautiful wedding Friday night, hubby and I drove across Arizona {a very scenic drive by Lake Roosevelt} from Globe to Prescott to go see the Frontier Days Rodeo afternoon performance with my family and some friends. After the rodeo we headed to the courthouse plaza in downtown Prescott. If you haven't been there, I highly suggest you visit it sometime.

For the weekend festivities the plaza was full of crafts, artisans, music and more. One that really caught my eye, I mean reeeaaalllyyy caught it was The Lost Highway Sign Company. Levi is from Tucson and recycles old license plates into amazing art pieces. I saw quite a few things that I want...and let me tell you I hinted very hard at my hubby on two specific pieces! Here is a picture I took:

Sorry about the chair in it I was already walking away when I remembered to grab a shot.

Aren't they AWESOME!!?!?!? I very much want the "Arizona" one and there is actually some jewelry that someone else {maybe his sister, I can't remember} puts together using his scraps and there was a bracelet that used a Texas plat that was SO cute. It was red, white and blue and had the cowboy on one part...right up my alley!! 

stole this one from his site

Every sign is different and you can actually make special requests. I'm thinking about wedding presents, porch signs, game rooms, baby rooms...the list goes on and on! You can visit his items in his sister's gallery in Tucson called, Pop Cycle down on 4th avenue or check out Levi's products here and tell him Anna sent you!

Miscellany Monday

[1] I am the only person at work today...I took Thursday and Friday off to be in Globe for Mattie and Craig's wedding extravaganza and am putting in my time today so only 1 day would be counted as vacay...I'm loving it, so quiet and peaceful.

[2] In addition to an amazing wedding celebration on Friday night, hubby and I met up with my fam and some friends for the Prescott Rodeo on Saturday afternoon...super fun. I always enjoy a good rodeo, amazing kettle corn and a nice breeze.

[3] Made homemade butter pecan ice cream yesterday, will happily being sharing that delightful recipe this week, you will either hate me or love me but you will definitely thank me for it!

[4] Our little town of Wellton had a very nice fireworks show last night. I believe that I haven't seen a 4th of July show since my summer in DC in 2006 :( I told hubby last night, "I NEVER want to miss another fourth of July fireworks show again." It's a delight that can be enjoyed at any age. We were so close to the show that I actually thought it was bright sitting under it :)

[5] Mattie and Craig's wedding was beautiful. Simply gorgeous and I will gladly be posting a little thing on them sometime this week as well. Here is me, Craig, Mattie and Hubby.

Friday Future Vacays

I think a little daydreaming is necessary once in a while and here are some places I would like to go visit...

Croatia. This is Dubrovnik, which is essentially where "Groseta's" {my maiden name} are from, so I'm told. We have family there and I would LOVE to go visit them. I need to set the goal, save the money and plan the trip!

Azores. The islands of Portugal, I've had a desire to go there for a few years now and want to experience the beauty.

Russian River Valley, California. Wine tours galore and in the heart of Sonoma County. Oh what fun I could have with some good girlfriends here!

Spain. Specifically, the northern part in the Basque country. My husband is half Basque and their history is rich and exciting. That trip is a must hopefully with some family!

There are so many more places I would like to visit my list is always growing...Greece, Italy, Peru, England, Argentina, Ireland, Scotland, Australia...I need to get working on this stat if I'm going to get to any of these places!