Disney’s New Fantasyland: It’s a Whole New World!

December 10, 2012 by

My family just returned from a whirlwind four-day trip to Disney World. As first-timers, we checked out the brand spankin’ New Fantasyland, had major meltdowns in the Motherland at Epcot, fell in love with Animal Kingdom and lost (yes, LOST) a child at the airport so almost missed our connecting flight.

Basically, it was just a typical vacation Chez Nous.

I’ve done a write-up about New Fantasyland in the Denver Post’s Hub today but stay tuned for many more details.

Just as soon as I recover from them all.

Filed Under: Disney, Humor, travel Tagged With:

A Stellar Snowmamas Summit and the Hunk of Sizzling Beef (literally)

December 6, 2012 by

For the past four years, I’ve headed to Park City Mountain Resort the first weekend in December for a Snowmamas summit to welcome all the new recruits. Flying into Utah is just like coming home.And staying at the luxurious Silver Star condos is what I wish I could call home. The purpose of the weekend is to ski, get to know the new Snowmamas (and Papa!) and review the nuts and bolts of contributing to Snowmamas.com’s cutting-edge social media site that is intended to make ski/snowboard vacations easier for families.

And what better way to lend advice than to delve into Park City Mountain Resort’s many activities including the Flying Eagle zip line and alpine slide.We really have an impressive group who were selected from hundred of applicants (see them here). That’s me waving at the very back, like the party crasher I am. #PhotoBomb

We also ate a lot of great food.  I had my doubts about trying Asian restaurant Yuki Arashi because I hate sushi. But then I met the Wagyu Beef Tataki that I cooked on a 500-degree Himalayan sea-salt block. It was the very opposite of disgusting raw fish.

Every Friday at 10 a.m. during the season, Snowmamas does an on-mountain meet-up and any parent is invited to ski/snowboard. It is a fantastic way to socialize and meet other snow-loving people.

Just stay away from Lisa (second from the left). She’s a bit overprotective.

I had to cut out a day early to make it back for our ward Christmas party but there’s nothing quite like flying home to Colorado’s mountains…and then wandering around lost at the airport parking lot. Because nothing says “Welcome home” quite like forgetting where you parked.

Filed Under: skiing, Utah

Sinfully delicious pumpkin waffle recipe

December 4, 2012 by

Last year, I stumbled upon a pretty darn awesome pumpkin waffle recipe and made it for the missionaries. They loved it and my family loves it. So much, in fact, that my kiddos beg to make the “missionary waffles” whenever a new set of them comes around. I’m always more than happy to oblige.

Because I’m a giver like that.

This really is a great December dish with all the holiday spices I love. Enjoy!

Sinfully delicious pumpkin waffle recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp allspice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and warm

Directions

1. Lightly oil the waffle iron with vegetable oil and preheat.

2. Combine brown sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl. Whisk together the remaining dry ingredients.

3. Add pumpkin and milk to the eggs. Whisk to blend and set aside.

4. Pour melted butter into thepumpkin mixture. As you pour, whisk to combine.

5. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix them together until just combined. A bit of lumpiness is fine.

6. Once the waffle iron is heated, you’re ready to pour the batter!

 

Filed Under: Foodie Tagged With:

Quite possibly the best cat picture, ever

December 3, 2012 by

It has come to this: I am one of the crazies posting cat pictures on the Internet. Oh wait, I’ve been doing that for a while now with my Fat Kitty pictures. I’m not sure why I can’t stop laughing at this picture.

Maybe it’s because Jamie says Fat Kitty isn’t a real cat.

Maybe it’s because Fat Kitty once caught a mouse in our backyard and, not knowing what to do with it, sat on it. Or maybe because it’s just so darn funny.

Filed Under: Humor Tagged With:

Canada Shared by Canadians – Keep Exploring

November 29, 2012 by

My bestestest Canadian friend Stacey sent me this video she found on YouTube. The editors asked Canadians to “share their Canada” and they received over 65 hours of footage, which they condensed down to a 2-minute video.

It made me proud, awestruck and homesick for all of the beauties of my northern paradise, especially the dolphin scene (at the 1:42 mark) and winter shots of skating on ponds and the Northern Lights.
Dear Colorado: 65 degrees in December is NOT acceptable.

Signed,
The Forever Canuck

Filed Under: Canada, travel

Let the crazies begin!

November 28, 2012 by

We’re just back from a few days at The Broadmoor (and I still need to work on my official write-up), I leave for our annual Snowmamas summit at Park City Mountain Resort tomorrow and the following week I am doing a 9News segment on holiday gifts along with a secret trip for the kids that will require a lot of work. All good things but the next three weeks are going to be so crazy I feel like I can’t keep up.

Case in point: 9New interviewed me for a story about work opportunities for at-home homes that I completely forgot about until the reporter emailed me yesterday to tell me it was airing.

Bonus.

CLICK TO WATCH THE 9NEWS VIDEO

CLICK TO READ ON AT 9NEWS!

Filed Under: 9News

The lies parents tell their kids

November 27, 2012 by

This one is a bit belated (photo taken a month ago) but never outdated.

“Hey Bode, I have something fun for you to do with me!”

“What is it, Daddy?”

“You can help me mow the lawn!”

“No thanks.”

“C’mon, Buddy. It’s fun. You can help me push the lawn mower.”

And so it begins.

Filed Under: Bode, Humor, Jamie

Denver Post Holiday Feature!

November 26, 2012 by

I’ve been working like a madwoman compiling all my top picks for the holiday season and I was delighted when the Denver Post made it their feature story. I’ve included some of my favorite brands and a few new discoveries so be sure to scroll down to “What Mama Wants for Christmas.” Read the article here.

Denver Post print article, page 1

Denver Post, Page 3

I’ll also be doing a segment on 9News showcasing a few of these gifts next Monday. My column and the segment were supposed to run concurrently but the newspaper wanted to bump it up to today. Worked fine for me but not the kids who are bitter they haven’t appeared on 9News since their back-to-school special.

Next time, they’ll be demanding an agent.

Filed Under: 9News, holidays Tagged With:

Broadmoor Bode

November 25, 2012 by

We have just spent the most magical, whimsical weekend at The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs’ iconic AAA Five-Diamond resort. I will have many more details but between the White Lights Ceremony where 250,000 lights came to life, cookie painting, gingerbread house making, Build a Broadmoor Bear, real reindeer, Santa and so much more you could say our Christmas spirit has been ignited.

Bode’s canopy bed

You could also say Bode has adjusted rather well to his glimpse at the good life.

Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, holidays

Untraditional Thanksgiving Traditions and Bathroom Habit Relevations

November 23, 2012 by

I’ll admit it: Thanksgiving is starting to grow on me. Traditionally, it has been my least favorite holiday and the reason revolved around football (a sport I don’t like) and slaving all day in the kitchen for a meal I don’t really like, only to be rewarded with more football.

This year’s festivities were partially the same but a lot different. Our tradition has been to drag our butterball butts up the Turkey Trot trail at Mount Falcon Park since 2005. My, how times have changed. Especially for the fact my kiddos can rock this really steep hike. As a side note, Bode is holding up his pant leg because early in the hike he started running, tripped and skinned his knee. He brushed himself off and appeared to be fine until I made a Rookie Mom error: I asked if he was bleeding. Sure enough, he had a nice scrape and he then dramatically limped the rest of the way. Until we reached the summit and he forgot he was supposed to be injured as he raced around.

The weather was gorgeous and in the 50s. Everyone ditched their outer layers and I stuffed them in my backpack. I noticed something hard in Jamie’s pocket so pulled it out. Glasses. And not just any glasses but 3D glasses. Because you’ll never know when you’ll need ’em on a mountaintop.

My favorite activity with my favorite guy

And what would hiking be without a great game of hide ‘n go seek around precipitous ledges? Can you spot expert hider Jamie? He’s going pro next year.

Usually our hike is rushed because we race back to cook but this year, I’m not sure who came up with the brilliant plan to ditch the traditional meal and instead serve everyone’s favorite foods. Best of all, prep and clean-up were minimal and we took the informality one step further by grazing as we watched football.
Sorry, Mom. We’ll use all that fancy china next year.

We cuddled up to The Amazing Spider-man…

With Aunt Lisa and Uncle Chris

…and wrapped Thanksgiving up with the kids’ first-ever game of charades. They loved it and I’m sure it will become a family staple. I’d show pictures of the antics but they are not blog-approved.

Suffice it to say in addition to great food and family, the mental image of Lisa acting out “toilet paper” will forever live on in our memories.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, hiking, holidays
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