Miscellany Monday

This is short and it's random but here goes...

{1} I love my couch. We are extremely blessed to have friends that are kind and generous and didn't want it. i.love.it. end of story. It's the perfect red, it's comfy, it's big, did I mention it's perfect?

Isn't she pretty? She loves me. I know I shouldn't be so in love with an inanimate object but I am a tall gal and so is my hubby. And the fact that we can each lay out comfortably {in the L shape} it makes my life so much more beautiful!

Please note the shotgun shell thingamajiggy detail.

Okay, enough about my couch {that my bff swears I have a crush on}.

{2} We are heading up to the hubby's family ranch this weekend, well Wednesday. I think I will be the only female for a couple days and that should be entertaining. This was the convo between best husband and I yesterday: Anna: "Are you sure it's okay if I go up on Wednesday?" Hubby: "Yeah, of course." A: "Oh okay, I mean I just wanted to make sure since I'm the only girl going up right away." H: "Yeah, okay, uh-huh." {with a hint of confusion of why I care about that since I'm his wife...} A: "Okay, well I don't want to be a burden..." H: "Umm, you do know you're not like most other girls right? You actually work." And that pretty much made my day. 

**UPDATE: this comment is not directed towards any other females that go to the ranch, I'm assuming he meant it towards other girls who do not work on a ranch, EVER. Or just towards those girls who are afraid to get their hands dirty...**

Okay I have to go...sorry this is short but tomorrow there will be a new dining destination...

Can you say Panini?

Dining Destination: I can say panini and I will tell you the best one I have EVER had was at Postino Wine Cafe off of 40th Street and Campbell {right next door to my beloved La Grande Orange of which I will be blogging about soon!}. Here are the details: it was me, my SIL AnnaMarie {yes we have the same name, thank you for noticing} and our friend Cheryl. 

This was my slice of heaven: The Nine Iron {Hickory smoked bacon layered with grilled chicken, fresh burrata mozzarella, lettuce, beefsteak tomato and dijonnaise}and since they have the "pick two" deal at lunch it came with a salad and I chose the Mixed Greens {Fresh greens with shaved pears, candied pecans, red grapes, gorgonzola and crispy leeks with poppyseed vinaigrette} because I love me some candied pecans and "shaved pears" in my salad.

It was seriously heaven, I have never felt that way about a panini before. Honestly, most that I have had I thought did not have enough flavor and this one just burst with flavor. Maybe it was the bacon or the dijonnaise but whatever it was it was fantastic!

AM and Cheryl both got the Tuscan Tuna {Albacore tuna dressed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with white cheddar, pickle and dijonnaise} and one chose the Mediterranean {Crisp romaine with cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, yellow peppers, olives and feta cheesewith tzatziki dressing} and the other also did the Mixed Greens but with no fruit...ahem {Cheryl}.

This was AM's she chose focaccia not ciabatta or she chose ciabatta not focaccia...I will be honest I get them mixed up. I had a bite of her tuna and man oh man it was perfect. Seriously, you can't make tuna any sexier than this panini right here...

Oh and this was some soup...hmm I can't remember. Any guesses as to what it is?

Obviously, I love this place. I plan on returning and trying each and every panini on the menu. And you may just see me with a glass of wine in hand, since it is a "wine cafe." *wink wink*

Miscellany Monday & The WINNERS!!

That's right the winner of the $20 beef gift certificate, beef plate and bag goes to Kaley!! Congratulations Kaley, please email me your information and I will get it sent out to you right away! The wonderful beef bag that has so many of you captivated I bought at Safeway {a grocery store chain here} and the beef plate can be purchased here.

Now on to more random musings from my life...

uno: I pretty much work, sleep and eat and work some more. But am incredibly happy and overjoyed to be working for the Arizona Cattle industry.

dos: I got to visit my hubby's side of the family and see our two little nephews yesterday who are 100% adorable and growing like little weeds.

tres: This is the last week of bootcamp and even though I don't have the weight loss results I would like I am in better shape and am excited to continue working out even after this week...please feel free to ask me how I'm doing to help keep me accountable :)

cuatro: I'm really not that exciting and have nothing further to write...I have new restaurants to post about this week. Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

Wordless Wednesday--They ♥ BEEF!-UPDATED

Don't forget to enter for the beef giveaway!

And go on over to my friend Tiff's blog and enter her giveaway for a Kensey Lu create a clip hair kit.

Where's the Beef?

Waiting for you to buy it with your new $20 beef gift certificate and awesome reusable shopping bag! That's right I have a giveaway for you all: $20 beef gift certificate, adorable/awesome BEEF bag and a Beef License Plate. All this can be yours should you decide to play by my rules...simply answer, "What is your favorite cut of beef?" below and in a separate comment for an additional entry state if you are a follower or not, then if you blog about it and leave another comment you can get a third entry.

You may be wondering, why in the world do I give away beef gift certificates? Well, let me tell you...excuse me while I jump up on my soap box...actually part of the reason is just to get up on my soap box...ahem, anyway.

• Beef is an integral part of a heart-healthy, balanced diet. I want everyone to know that they can include beef in the meals they prepare for their family. Did you know that more than half the fat in beef (51%) is mono-unsaturated fat, the same type of heart-healthy fat found in olive oil?
• I want people to know that the majority of ranches and farms are family owned, like my family. And we are proud to produce a product that we serve to our family as well as yours.
• I want people to understand that ALL beef, no matter how it's produced {conventional, grain-fed, grass-fed, organic...} is an excellent or good source of 10 essential nutrients.
• I want people to understand that not only do we care about and respect our animals, we care about and respect the land and environment we raise our cattle on. Most ranchers ensure water availability in pastures year round not only when their cattle are in them, yet another way we care-for wildlife.
• And finally, I want consumers to know that there is less than 2% of the American population that is directly related to production agriculture and we are not the best at tooting our horn and making a big fuss about a job well done. We're trying to get better about that but until then, the next time you hear an "expert" or someone going on and on about how horrible American Agriculture or "factory farming" is please wait to make judgement until you have heard both sides of the story. We take pride in the product we produce, the land we are stewards of and the families we feed.

Okay so one last time enter to win in the following ways: simply answer, "What is your favorite cut of beef?" below and in a separate comment for an additional entry state if you are a follower or not, then if you blog about it and leave another comment you can get a third entry. Drawing ends on Sunday the 22nd. Winner announced on Monday the 23rd.

Miscellany Monday

[1] I finally went home on Thursday night {thus you saw blog posts from me :)}. It felt so good to be home with the hubby. Went grocery shopping and filled the house full of food for him. Made quite a few new recipes and moved furniture around while doing a dozen loads of laundry...or something like that.

[2] HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my bff Holly!

She had a lovely birthday bash on Saturday night and it was so wonderful to see her happy face!

[3] I haven't made very many fruity desserts, I don't know why, I just haven't. But when I saw PW's Raspberry Crisp Recipe I knew I had to try it immediately. And let me tell you not only did it taste AMAZING but it was so quick and easy I couldn't believe it. Yeah, I know it's not rocket science but for some reason I have this stigma in my brain that if it involves fruit it takes longer...I don't know where it came from it just exists in my subconscience. Anyway, I loved it, the hubby loved it...and well that's all that loved it because we didn't share.

So I totally cheated on this recipe...I had a bag of frozen blackberries and 1/2 a bag of raspberries and that is what I used. My top didn't get too brown and "crispy looking" but let me tell you it was just right.

[4] I've got a packed week ahead. Week 3 of bootcamp, several lunch dates and a September magazine that needs me to put it together...I will be busy busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. So thankful for the many blessings in my life. Have a great week everyone!

Beautiful Baby Shower

One of my dear friends from home is wonderfully pregnant with a little girl and I got to attend and help a little with her shower last weekend.

Pretty table settings.

Each person had a notecard to provide advice varying from "potty training" "sleeping in her big girl bed" or "getting rid of the bottle." I of course got the one about the big girl bed and said, "Let her cry it out? Not really sure, you try it and then tell me :)"

Each table had a couple of these wrapped diapers or wipes for the mama and baby shoes for her daughter.

A little parting gift, "Thank you from Tarrah's little cupcake on the way!"

And there's the delightful cupcake fresh from another friend Heather's kitchen!

Another friend of Tarrah's made this lovely cake!

I was in charge of activities which were, "guess the number of diapers in plastic storage box" that I gifted to Tarrah and then the other one was a matching game of baby animals names with their adult counterpart {chick-chicken, whelp-tiger, etc.} I gave little jars of jalapeno jelly, honey and prickly pear jelly that I bought at my mama's store. It really was a wonderful time and I cannot wait to meet Tarrah's little girl in a couple weeks!!

Quilter's Quarters & Bernina Too!

Well as promised here is a little taste of my mama's quilt store, Quilter's Quarters. She always dreamed of owning one so she started it back in 2001 {I think} when I was a junior in high school in our guest house at the ranch. Then she moved up to the Safeway shopping center, grew out of her first location and into a bigger shop in the same center and eventually her and my dad built their own office building-one side is her store the other side is his real estate/ranch office. Should you ever be in the Verde Valley stop in and see her at 51 Verde Heights Drive in Cottonwood, AZ.

The store front.

A general shot when you first walk in.

Bernina sewing machines. The sewing machine repair shop is behind that door in the background.

Some of the "green" section.

A little dabble of the western fabric section...

Do you need a tool for your sewing or quilting? They have it...

Around the store you can see quilts or other projects hanging that you can either buy the kit for or take a class to learn to make it.

One last glance of some of the western fabric...the navy blue one in the far left I have in my baby quilt I'm making right now...

Have a good weekend!!

Life's Messy, Wear Aprons

So last Saturday I got to spend some wonderful time with my mother in her quilt store {blog to come on this}while she gave me some much needed one-on-one attention and TLC to help me accomplish two little projects that just HAD to get finished. You see, I have two friends who got married this summer and I may have already gifted them their aprons at their bridal showers...yeah I did, so what? You judging me? Well go ahead and throw this one on too: I gifted my nephew his baby quilt at his 1st birthday...and am hoping to get it to him before his second :)

Anyway, my mom is great and was helpful and patient and I am so grateful for her expertise! I didn't get a crazy pattern or anything just a simple apron with ties on the neck and back. No, pictures were taken in the production of these aprons--I had not time to spare because I wanted them both done before my niece's 5th birthday partay! Here are the finished products:

This is Holly's, she was married June 4th.

This is Mattie's, she was married July 2nd.

I'm going to give Holly hers this Saturday as we celebrate her birthday and Mattie will get hers at the end of the month when I go to Colorado to visit her! I am sure they will both utilize them well since we are all a part of the Domestic Olympics...a little phrase Holly coined that we like to use in reference to our domestic capabilities. 

Wordless Wednesday...I love going home

I love visiting my parents and the ranch...especially when they've received 8 inches of rain in 30 days...granted this field would be green anyway since it's an irrigated one by the house but that's the thing...they haven't had to irrigate!

I know it's "wordless Wednesday" but when you get that much rain in Arizona, you must brag about it :)

I'm BAAACK...

Wowsers! I cannot believe it has been so long since I've blogged or read another blog! I totally tried to catch up yesterday and will do some more this week. Since I missed Monday Miscellany I'm still going to give you a little list...I gotta let you know what's been going on and what to expect!

one: I love my new job. Plain and simple I am so super happy and grateful to be working in the cattle industry again.

two: I miss my husband. I've been doing this little crazy thing called bootcamp M-F 5-6am and thus have been staying at my sister's more than I will in the future. But, he surprised me 2 weeks ago in Williams at Cowpuncher's and this past weekend we spent it together at my parents and finally this weekend I will be gracing Yuma County with my presence:)

three: I love hanging with my sister. It is so nice and fun to spend as much time with her as I do. Not to mention how grateful I am that she let's me stay with her.

four: Blog posts that will be coming up: Mango/Jalapeno Jam making; Postino's Restaurant in Phoenix, Beautiful Baby Shower, My mama's quilt store, 2 aprons...and more I'm sure!

five: Since it will be 3 weeks since I've been home the sheer amount of laundry waiting for me does not scare me the time to do it all is what I dread. I actually love doing laundry it's my favorite chore but I know it will probably take more than 1 day to do it all...

six: I cannot wait to go grocery shopping and fill up my cupboards in Wellton...even though I still won't be there very much for the rest of August it makes me feel good to feed my hubby...

seven: I love PW's actions for Photoshop. I just recently learned how to apply them more and I will leave you with a photo I took at Cowpuncher's in Williams two weeks ago. I added the 'vintage' action.