tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76169068532529406802024-02-19T11:16:46.535-06:00Christi's ChirpsChristi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-59174387936921514522012-02-13T23:04:00.001-06:002012-02-13T23:06:45.980-06:00Last Minute Valentine's Day Cookies<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Valentine’s Day! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've got a last minute dessert that is so simple, you’ll be able to swing by the grocery store to pick up a few ingredients and have these in the oven before dark!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m talking <i>four</i> ingredients, y'all! So effortless and delicious it will be like you’ve had this sweet treat planned for weeks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6sA9Sq4_UYhmo6NOTR6AqjZbz0FTFbOCAEzrrpuQS6gxNm5hmQ4C4GwkUPzbnrBgsNhk64Awt1er7zGu1cXrqoFRMNLiiHQ98XY6TobE4FcoVR2bAgrIQd36fiGDsv1GdonGCr9oCOFK/s1600/CookieMilk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6sA9Sq4_UYhmo6NOTR6AqjZbz0FTFbOCAEzrrpuQS6gxNm5hmQ4C4GwkUPzbnrBgsNhk64Awt1er7zGu1cXrqoFRMNLiiHQ98XY6TobE4FcoVR2bAgrIQd36fiGDsv1GdonGCr9oCOFK/s640/CookieMilk.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For these sweet red velvet cookies, I took the same 'cookie dough' ingredients I used when I made <a href="http://christischirps.blogspot.com/2011/09/tailgate-recipe-5-red-velvet-whoopie.html" target="_blank">Red Velvet Whoopie Pies</a> last fall and threw in white chocolate chips. It made for a great combination and a perfect Valentine's day dessert! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best when served with a glass of chilled champagne or ice cold milk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sweetie Pies<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Ingredients:</i><br />
1 Box Red Velvet cake mix<br />
1 stick of butter<br />
2 Eggs<br />
11 oz. bag White Chocolate Chips</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directions:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mix ingredients until combined.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drop spoonfuls of cookie batter onto baking sheet about two inches apart.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bake for 8 minutes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Transfer to a cooling rack.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Serve with ice cold milk or chilled champagne.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-69324536864634163022012-02-09T08:24:00.001-06:002012-02-09T08:31:54.486-06:00Lamb Chops for Two<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m back with another one of MD’s super delicious meals that would make for a very impressive dinner for your Valentine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MD had been dying to make a red wine reduction for awhile and finally did for the first time for our Valentine's Day dinner last year. He served it over lamb chops with Gorgonzola mashed red mashed potatoes and shelled English peas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He has since made this meal several more times, including a few dinner parties. The recipe below is for two, but can be easily doubled or tripled. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This dish requires a little more time, but the end result is so worth the extra love you put in. I mention in the instructions that there is a half-way point in the reduction where you can stop and finish the next day if you wanted to divide your time up a little.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t be intimated. I insist you try this soon! It'll knock your sweetie's argyles off.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBphIj_JPHBB82TJnnM_uYh92sQIuep64QHFRZg9a9eIxVqD3JdEI9ll4gSuTeLzCl_rrfGE1u-eaa8MDIKXiVV2tdFT6j7fc7NnadhqVQZqbs5AGYcefCJLVwRLthpYhC2xCGzkzcsag/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBphIj_JPHBB82TJnnM_uYh92sQIuep64QHFRZg9a9eIxVqD3JdEI9ll4gSuTeLzCl_rrfGE1u-eaa8MDIKXiVV2tdFT6j7fc7NnadhqVQZqbs5AGYcefCJLVwRLthpYhC2xCGzkzcsag/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Grubby 3G iPhone photo. 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Red Wine Reduction</b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 medium onion, finely diced </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 stalks of celery, finely diced</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 large carrot, finely diced</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 cloves garlic, minced </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 shallot, minced (optional)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup mushrooms, finely diced </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 quart of beef stock</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One bottle of red wine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two pads of butter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><o:p><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directions:</span></i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Begin by sautéing the diced onions, carrots, celery, and shallots for 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and diced mushrooms. Cook for 3 more minutes. Add beef stock and entire bottle of wine. Simmer ingredients together until the liquid cooks down to half the amount you started with. This can take up to an hour. Strain out the liquids with a fine strainer to separate the vegetables from the liquid. Discard the veggies and return the liquid to the pot. — At this point the liquid can be refrigerated or set aside until you are 15 minutes away from plating your food.— Bring liquid to a simmer and cook until you have half the amount you started with. Usually takes 15+ minutes, but keep an eye on it. When the liquid has reduced to its final consistency (a bit thick but still runny) add the two pads of butter and gently stir together. The reduction is ready as soon as the butter is combined.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lamb Chops</b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 small lamb chops (2 per person)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kosher salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Freshly ground black pepper</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><o:p><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directions: </span></i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Preheat a grill or cast-iron grill pan over high heat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Rub the lamb chops with salt and pepper on both sides. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Grill on each side for 2 to 3 minutes. If using a grill pan, grill one side for 2 minutes to sear, then turn over the chops and place the pan in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the grill or oven and allow to sit 5 minutes before serving.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plate lamb chops and cover liberally with the red wine reduction.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 2.4pt;"><br />
</div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-14190996499751198922012-02-08T06:30:00.010-06:002012-02-08T06:30:04.219-06:00Lobster is for Lovers<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a few years of fighting the Valentine’s Day crowd and sitting closer than we’d like to other lovers dining out to celebrate the holiday, MD and I decided we needed a tradition of our own. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each year MD and I get gussied up and enjoy an evening out on the town the Saturday prior to V-day. Then, on the 14<sup>th</sup> we celebrate in the comfort of our own home over a delicious meal prepared by MD followed by a chocolaty dessert baked by yours truly!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few years ago, MD made us lobster for our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2N0-LCF6Wa7WLiCifrjQIbOXl7gZ3R8U-Fc3Zj037u-YrjmiRLxMJZzfalM0VhGa4tX0PIvUBjK_Qab7yzGCZRNYhxjOiGlYpvNtbYATJUp6out_tvZgfM1XDDLC3jgAFcg1UdU4S7-n/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2N0-LCF6Wa7WLiCifrjQIbOXl7gZ3R8U-Fc3Zj037u-YrjmiRLxMJZzfalM0VhGa4tX0PIvUBjK_Qab7yzGCZRNYhxjOiGlYpvNtbYATJUp6out_tvZgfM1XDDLC3jgAFcg1UdU4S7-n/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3G iPhone photo. 2010</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It was so amazing!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This method of preparation is referred to as Piggyback Lobster Tails. Relax! It’s not as difficult as it may appear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1Oj47CCg8W1BnOwZ0EDwjs78QXp5fFbkqRExNfx7g-AEGCN03OmASweIrDaKE9TQmWn5XOD9WoSXPpnPQoMvREFgeO6GEf21jl9v3wWqklYEBsAQ0nSAY3t1razOva6vXwPqxlfEw3_8/s1600/lobsterboiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1Oj47CCg8W1BnOwZ0EDwjs78QXp5fFbkqRExNfx7g-AEGCN03OmASweIrDaKE9TQmWn5XOD9WoSXPpnPQoMvREFgeO6GEf21jl9v3wWqklYEBsAQ0nSAY3t1razOva6vXwPqxlfEw3_8/s640/lobsterboiling.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">3G iPhone photo. 2010</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use MD’s step-by-step instructions below and impress your sweetie with this next Tuesday – or any other day of the year!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(2) Lobster tails</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup butter, melted</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon ground paprika</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Salt and pepper to taste </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You'll also need:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kitchen shears</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(2) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charcoal-Companion-10-Inch-Grilling-Skewers/dp/B001IWOSCU" target="_blank">Kabob skewers</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directions:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Pick up two fresh lobster tails each around six ounces from your local meat market and defrost. Take a pair of kitchen shears. Cut down the center of the shell all the way to the base of the tale - being careful not to cut the meat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Gently open the shell from each side pulling it away from the meat. Keep the back of the meat attached to the shell. Once all the meat is freed from the shell (EXCEPT the end) close the shell back together and gently lay the meat on top of the shell. Gently slide a skewing stick through the lobster meat. This will keep it from curling up! Season meat with melted butter, paprika and salt. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Using a steamer pot, add water to the inside pan. When the water begins to boil, drop in the lobster tails on the top pan.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. For lobster tails that are 4-6 oz., let them steam for about 12-15 minutes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Prepare a couple of ramekins with melted butter for dipping.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5XWtq5RF4ViAW5rLJ8-YnbNU1ZnxqubsAm8FAPGXRBIblA_m-HzUwQRoCgvb40PLUSLoKlg-GDNBgdc6OdGXCRbgKf7rsAUO5Qb98zvPDMtOcIxD0mkcrJdb_GNuF73b2rRCvIHnw2QF/s1600/lobster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5XWtq5RF4ViAW5rLJ8-YnbNU1ZnxqubsAm8FAPGXRBIblA_m-HzUwQRoCgvb40PLUSLoKlg-GDNBgdc6OdGXCRbgKf7rsAUO5Qb98zvPDMtOcIxD0mkcrJdb_GNuF73b2rRCvIHnw2QF/s640/lobster.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">3G iPhone photo. 2010</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I insist you give this a try! Leave a comment if you have any questions! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">Christi</div></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(If this isn't enough to make your skirt fly up, come back tomorrow for another one of MD’s amazing Valentine’s Day dishes!)</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-49352119987712682632012-02-02T07:44:00.002-06:002012-02-07T19:56:07.029-06:00Happy Groundhog Day!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Groundhog Day!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow at approximately 7:20 a.m. in Punxsutawney, Penn. With a crowd of nearly 40,000 people, he left his burrow only to see his shadow signifying that winter weather will continue for six more weeks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Phil’s forecasts have only been accurate 39% of the time. Let's hope this is one of the times he got it wrong. Last year he predicted an early spring and we ended up with record amounts of snow. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean, today's high is 66 degrees.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To celebrate Groundhog Day, I brought these mini <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/01/angel-food-cupcakes/" target="_blank">angel food cupcakes</a> to work this morning to share with my co-workers. I frosted them with a whipped cream icing and sprinkled them with Spring blue sugar crystals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9xo28cMcMtNgWi_Q_ziPBC1ierwGIrE8dkZVuRkBj8c6Df2NO4dF4MnJdmaKpmC0e8ss53OSAoLF0fDXt0DmUmssjTiD-HSq9XfsIJdyRe1eyoQa_rOtSeVr5dyEgGH3p0vCK66fb5D3/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9xo28cMcMtNgWi_Q_ziPBC1ierwGIrE8dkZVuRkBj8c6Df2NO4dF4MnJdmaKpmC0e8ss53OSAoLF0fDXt0DmUmssjTiD-HSq9XfsIJdyRe1eyoQa_rOtSeVr5dyEgGH3p0vCK66fb5D3/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Spring! Well, almost.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://mycountdown.org/Other/Spring/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Who's counting?)</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-34012043285316043762012-02-01T06:30:00.055-06:002012-02-01T07:11:11.548-06:00MD's Pasta<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MD came across this Light Creamy Alfredo sauce from <i>Classico</i> last June. He created this amazing semi-homemade pasta that I've naturally and oh-so-creatively dubbed ‘MD Pasta.’ Clever!<br />
<br />
Right.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqr5eapl3nDmxjfXwpIeh-nRzzcjV0M9Hyz5yZv5Fp1NtmG5l6YMoZMQ5ZnvRvzcbEgxoUxKJK_7t9M4H7vpChOg36sNro0_4waJoPbNsZol5J7wW83vYS8hkH1vQCih8qEw69L9SBzfpd/s1600/prod_image_1380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqr5eapl3nDmxjfXwpIeh-nRzzcjV0M9Hyz5yZv5Fp1NtmG5l6YMoZMQ5ZnvRvzcbEgxoUxKJK_7t9M4H7vpChOg36sNro0_4waJoPbNsZol5J7wW83vYS8hkH1vQCih8qEw69L9SBzfpd/s400/prod_image_1380.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.classico.com/light-alfredo-sauces/light-asiago-romano-alfredo-pasta-sauce.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nutritional info.</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before we begin with the recipe, I need to emphasize what an <i>amazing </i>cook MD is. Better than me. I have no problem admitting that. He doesn’t either. <b>*Spoiler alert!</b> Next week I’m sharing two of MD’s gourmet meals that are perfect ideas to treat your honey with this Valentine’s day!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s get started. MD began by giving me a mini cooking show while he made dinner Sunday night. He wanted to make sure I emphasized to you sweet readers that this is only a <b>20 minute meal</b>. He brought his best <i>Food Network</i> performance to our kitchen as he gave me the run through on how quick, easy and delicious this meal is. And, you guys think I get excited about cooking?!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbe4WGeWMejEwOtuD-LZmM-GcEo3au_gPx2LxsVt7WipszyVa3v2zBt2UXt1zPOhqUVJ8rPLLSRSN-NjN5X53fYdRpn4N9ILbaU4jkW-NjYAA523AMFmpFffvTiRpzFbJHJmgbTk2K6SzP/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbe4WGeWMejEwOtuD-LZmM-GcEo3au_gPx2LxsVt7WipszyVa3v2zBt2UXt1zPOhqUVJ8rPLLSRSN-NjN5X53fYdRpn4N9ILbaU4jkW-NjYAA523AMFmpFffvTiRpzFbJHJmgbTk2K6SzP/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Ingredients:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One medium squash</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6 large white mushrooms</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2-3 cloves of garlic</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I jar of Classico Light Creamy Alfredo sauce</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 lb. stuffed pasta</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Handful or two of spinach</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Begin by chopping up the onion, squash and mushrooms. Mince the garlic and set aside.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Throw the onions and squash in a large skillet to sauté over medium high heat for 4-6 minutes, stirring continuously. Add minced garlic, salt, pepper and diced mushrooms for the last 2 minutes, or until onions are translucent. Add sauce and bring to a boil. Add a handful or two of fresh baby spinach and turn the heat down to low. Let the spinach sit there to wilt. Give it about three minutes. Keep on low and top the skillet with a lid, if you’d like.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bring a pot of water to boil and add in stuffed pasta of your choice. We’ve done this with both tortellini and raviolis. While both are excellent, I think I may love raviolis more. Choose whatcha love. We used lobster stuffed raviolis this time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boil using packaging directions. When they float to the top screaming that they’re ready to be lifted from the water, drain and add to sauce. Stir and serve. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a great dish to serve to company. By adding in the fresh vegetables, it will trick them into thinking this could possibly be a homemade sauce. <i>Score! </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come back tomorrow to celebrate Groundhog’s Day with me! I'll be hoping for an early Spring with a sweet treat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-23821190093353943762012-01-27T08:04:00.004-06:002012-01-27T14:58:26.217-06:00Friday Faves - Kefir<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you know me, you know that if I love something I want to shout it from the rooftops to let everyone know how awesome I think something is. This could be anything from my favorite wine, favorite seamstress, to my favorite candles or a go-to blogger that I love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each Friday, I'll tell you about something that I'm loving. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, I want to tell you about </span><a href="http://www.lifeway.net/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>Kefir</i></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhNgsUaOGtT1TPFfsDYorwaT41VuuIpWtjmjIGfsR_sULLqWqrLDqNKj5QiaZp1JShJXiJkrDcmHPPHqN3FUwzYptwWjkJvYmD596VwEehpwkp62QaFQdi2MWFBo_lSpCu98v55-KfLNd/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhNgsUaOGtT1TPFfsDYorwaT41VuuIpWtjmjIGfsR_sULLqWqrLDqNKj5QiaZp1JShJXiJkrDcmHPPHqN3FUwzYptwWjkJvYmD596VwEehpwkp62QaFQdi2MWFBo_lSpCu98v55-KfLNd/s640/photo.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello, beautiful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re not familiar, Kefir is a <i>delicious</i> probiotic drink that is like a drinkable yogurt. Remember when Yoplait had a product called <i>Nouriche</i>? I lived on that stuff. Kefir is very similar to that, except better. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forget the flu shot, Kefir can keep us healthy, y'all! It's packed with 12 live cultures and made with all natural ingredients, plus it's lactose free. Totally delicious and good for you!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I usually enjoy this as my breakfast, and sometimes as an afternoon snack. Pomegranate is my most favorite.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go give it a try! I hope you like it as much as I do!</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">Christi</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">BTW, Kefir has no idea who I am. I'm just giving a shout out to a drink I love.</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-53270693777205911282012-01-24T06:30:00.006-06:002012-01-24T08:29:57.152-06:00An Update on Benjamin<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s been one week and one day since sweet Benjamin had his teensy tiny knee operated on. Many of you have inquired about how he is doing. I can’t tell you how much MD and I appreciate that. We are very grateful for your thoughts and prayers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little background on the need for such an invasive surgery: Ben’s knee cap didn’t fit properly and wasn’t directly in line with his tibia bone. This was causing it to pop out on a constant basis (but obviously he wasn’t able to tell us this in a way we could understand). He would pop it back into place as needed. But, our little babe was accidentally stepped on and ultimately expedited this surgery. As sad as it was to see him hop around on three legs and to put him through this surgery, it was one that would have eventually had to happen. If anything, it was better that this problem was recognized now before arthritis set in. <i>Glass half full, people.</i></span><br />
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</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His surgery was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 16 at 8 o'clock. After talking to the doctor, we smooched Ben goodbye and left him in good hands. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The doctors called seven hours later to let us know the surgery was a success and that Ben was doing well and resting. He also let us know that we could visit the next day. <i>What?!</i> Heck yes, I’ll be there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since MD was teaching that day, I went to pay our sweet babe a visit over my lunch hour. He was pleased as punch to see me. They brought him out wrapped in his blanket we left him with.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was so happy to see him. His was still pretty sedated and his leg looked awful. There was so much bruising on his pale pink skin and six stitches on his tiny chicken leg.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The nurses positively<i> LOVED </i>him. Many of them came into the room we were in to say hello and to tell me how much they adored him. He even gained himself a nickname during his stay. Because we dropped him off with his plush bed and blanket, they said he looked like he was set up in a hotel and dubbed him <b>His Lordship</b>. With a name like that, he was totally in his element.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that we have him back home, he’s getting plenty of rest, hugs and kisses. We give him his antibiotics twice a day and pain medicine once a day. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> *Side note: cream cheese is your best friend when it comes to hiding a pill from your pup. – He’s being spoiled with his favorite </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Buffalo-Canned-Chicken-5-5-Ounce/dp/B003P9XGA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327357710&sr=8-1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">soft food.</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He's even received these precious treats in the mail from his cousin Berry.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu-pFEHxL7PoUl5Oxunty28SLqcueDr09KfHtGNuk71K7sQT8bAXp5vcReAS1TCouZJI14t9-eAinxiWvtfjv8gSvucRMMnydNK9o3MH0sydx3q_JDg8CkukgGuwWMC-kghhO_LS14eus/s1600/Berry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu-pFEHxL7PoUl5Oxunty28SLqcueDr09KfHtGNuk71K7sQT8bAXp5vcReAS1TCouZJI14t9-eAinxiWvtfjv8gSvucRMMnydNK9o3MH0sydx3q_JDg8CkukgGuwWMC-kghhO_LS14eus/s640/Berry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And even more from his sweet friend Winnie!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4OlDWr3xRSZk8BAXBmvn219WyqNrZT-9CphhbihyIdN8eHywZYJwIQVUfYx1gMEvP6KnRZCEm-ivQYXnneyKYLq2SE2d-oeT3dqTK7tJqd0gcFdfbFRkHhai45iMUdqv3rroZzByxiAD/s1600/Winnie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4OlDWr3xRSZk8BAXBmvn219WyqNrZT-9CphhbihyIdN8eHywZYJwIQVUfYx1gMEvP6KnRZCEm-ivQYXnneyKYLq2SE2d-oeT3dqTK7tJqd0gcFdfbFRkHhai45iMUdqv3rroZzByxiAD/s640/Winnie.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgWnEKNdpUgdBlaKGgd7LsiWO0PYOR3bxdMt5YID0JbWApwjoWV9qSK22AIinP1aIl7ZB_Fy_htOwlYyC5Om6tK5EQ_5zQEkgFVSNAnvqLByE4ae2FUXdvrOcHE9qDKJdhpxiW6YfgmkC/s1600/WinnieCard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgWnEKNdpUgdBlaKGgd7LsiWO0PYOR3bxdMt5YID0JbWApwjoWV9qSK22AIinP1aIl7ZB_Fy_htOwlYyC5Om6tK5EQ_5zQEkgFVSNAnvqLByE4ae2FUXdvrOcHE9qDKJdhpxiW6YfgmkC/s640/WinnieCard.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s a little glimpse of what his leg is looking like today. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7n7xDNi8cQFIgDapTCX9F96r_zKnOeK6VVcfskBhOO_xT0ojroZiTdAXcw0v9l5uD9OGsUAs7Z-a7JijWAvum0hOdSZTuSiN9pzNcuxyn0hEyluzsvXOvu8HWKM9bV62JtaCn_0CIfzh/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7n7xDNi8cQFIgDapTCX9F96r_zKnOeK6VVcfskBhOO_xT0ojroZiTdAXcw0v9l5uD9OGsUAs7Z-a7JijWAvum0hOdSZTuSiN9pzNcuxyn0hEyluzsvXOvu8HWKM9bV62JtaCn_0CIfzh/s640/photo.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Bless his sweet heart.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While this is still a little sad for me to look at, it's <i>so much</i> <i>better</i> now that a full week has passed. He has good days and he has not-so-good days. Monday wasn't so good. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was perched on our bed when I was writing this post. MD came in and put Ben next to me the bed. Precious. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He really enjoys the comfort of his own kennel. We call it his master bedroom. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of his healing process includes sleep. Lots and lots of sleep. Here are a few photos I snapped while we blogged from bed. This is what his daily routine usually looks like. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking at peek at me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gYhiLmshndbvLUJ1EvfGON2jAoipyQfXjPOZ_HZq-0HANwQtHw0XFZKxSweCKkvEHJTR1d6iFWB-NTnFZcPtW29PT8MJLhVvf-qEYGwcunDt6ij7wmtD_osk2tpzosUICGM132PrKBdj/s1600/Sleepy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gYhiLmshndbvLUJ1EvfGON2jAoipyQfXjPOZ_HZq-0HANwQtHw0XFZKxSweCKkvEHJTR1d6iFWB-NTnFZcPtW29PT8MJLhVvf-qEYGwcunDt6ij7wmtD_osk2tpzosUICGM132PrKBdj/s640/Sleepy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Positioning himself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA44PRe7HH1bpWZmU2NX-H3PCJEbpw-Csg7ZqkHPvtG3PNlsx0Lg1QmaFNSy_Iv7Vzho5j_vBzvM281kEvvlU73Uh7DwwGjpmyhmzNMkxjSGmUuNVNnVmGwCbF78bLKM7m86UxSw2DcAy/s1600/Sleepy4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA44PRe7HH1bpWZmU2NX-H3PCJEbpw-Csg7ZqkHPvtG3PNlsx0Lg1QmaFNSy_Iv7Vzho5j_vBzvM281kEvvlU73Uh7DwwGjpmyhmzNMkxjSGmUuNVNnVmGwCbF78bLKM7m86UxSw2DcAy/s640/Sleepy4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snoozing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92yGl6zXmdKWIQaabhTb-oQ5FNltB5WT-ctJb0PFMua8V8JjDlDhnQW5UcRtRm9UdcxD4CBADRKioORf0Lmf8s7Z3Ua_MtEWoT3aURg4s6ly8WVodM64Rfz3_EgwEDdiUFMpQ1HpPk4RD/s1600/Sleepy1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92yGl6zXmdKWIQaabhTb-oQ5FNltB5WT-ctJb0PFMua8V8JjDlDhnQW5UcRtRm9UdcxD4CBADRKioORf0Lmf8s7Z3Ua_MtEWoT3aURg4s6ly8WVodM64Rfz3_EgwEDdiUFMpQ1HpPk4RD/s640/Sleepy1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Checking in on things.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHPsR6a7VYNojfHHiqEbiVOImNF56ou-IawNq3etlEbnf4YsSYGxGyHArYTJV164TLn_UgnvbZAKrmQFwkw6b-rFRWqIvLpAuWQTfU-5iy-zBc5fxGm_SYiKiqzpiBR5V-sFOyjK70Kqk/s1600/Sleepy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHPsR6a7VYNojfHHiqEbiVOImNF56ou-IawNq3etlEbnf4YsSYGxGyHArYTJV164TLn_UgnvbZAKrmQFwkw6b-rFRWqIvLpAuWQTfU-5iy-zBc5fxGm_SYiKiqzpiBR5V-sFOyjK70Kqk/s640/Sleepy2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90bGv2FVrjvhnFc7YzXRD9gU92L3NJhgq6T0XnCGDNSvIsM_jk-XrIaphsJLvrSIQRPjneibykj0xlRol-5Zm7BaxxQldr_dFVpubbvGrkoUJtQ0rAOAyDVZbW8J3vHcy8wXd2V5ej1yZ/s1600/Sleepy3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90bGv2FVrjvhnFc7YzXRD9gU92L3NJhgq6T0XnCGDNSvIsM_jk-XrIaphsJLvrSIQRPjneibykj0xlRol-5Zm7BaxxQldr_dFVpubbvGrkoUJtQ0rAOAyDVZbW8J3vHcy8wXd2V5ej1yZ/s640/Sleepy3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drifting back to sleep.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7dkYj94XdzQ4LF9Ik9YA-YmfMpEAE64jC1kgfLGLBF4fahJOXl9vRTXp5j9kMloaiOXLuWQToZfm3uvf-ZFjRfuVm_MV48Vy2S9BzeaU3GTWDgopW6Qac2kumPEFmBovKFRF1Qy0bCZG/s1600/Sleepy4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7dkYj94XdzQ4LF9Ik9YA-YmfMpEAE64jC1kgfLGLBF4fahJOXl9vRTXp5j9kMloaiOXLuWQToZfm3uvf-ZFjRfuVm_MV48Vy2S9BzeaU3GTWDgopW6Qac2kumPEFmBovKFRF1Qy0bCZG/s640/Sleepy4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, he's out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia06xhOKRmc94X8DXMwmtWiARh8s9JrEO-yfgP7M2PSd4jON7TMna_vdefR48dyeq65bdmJfNA1K3BQMqqJnfwRopLtMxfQnE5VkIEq6hw26yOj5M5nQo2MZ1YvKqnileH9ragC_D46gci/s1600/SleepyLast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia06xhOKRmc94X8DXMwmtWiARh8s9JrEO-yfgP7M2PSd4jON7TMna_vdefR48dyeq65bdmJfNA1K3BQMqqJnfwRopLtMxfQnE5VkIEq6hw26yOj5M5nQo2MZ1YvKqnileH9ragC_D46gci/s640/SleepyLast.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Swoon.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for visiting today! I appreciate all the love you've been sending Benny's way. He should be back to his athletic self just in time for Spring.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-31205120938196718442012-01-22T08:00:00.007-06:002012-01-22T08:00:09.076-06:00Day 20: My Shoes<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I frequently trot around in these super fab, semi-platform Payless pumps. Can't beat comfy <i>and</i> cute. Oh! And, affordable too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCJD5FbrLTNHrmFwlCXXB0FhvNZFcTpnUFwCC7kW3PXkog1b9NYZti33aAkos_naTn0UesO8clU-AyyHW_4dBgHVFb3DXIthsJ1kga-IFYymBPf3SrbkwDIuybph7K-7nAGLImgjnoz90/s1600/shoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCJD5FbrLTNHrmFwlCXXB0FhvNZFcTpnUFwCC7kW3PXkog1b9NYZti33aAkos_naTn0UesO8clU-AyyHW_4dBgHVFb3DXIthsJ1kga-IFYymBPf3SrbkwDIuybph7K-7nAGLImgjnoz90/s640/shoes.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love ‘em. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Sunday,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi </span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-86118346824446935502012-01-20T08:53:00.000-06:002012-01-20T08:53:34.876-06:00Day 20: Someone I Love<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 20, 2012:</b> Someone I Love</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a darling of a mother. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She’s kind to everyone she meets, wise with every decision she makes, dedicated to her family, friends and work, and has a heart full of love. I’m so thankful to have her as my Mother. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR971K9Zijb0eSYETzB0TEUWu4OENObzwtKv1oJW6qiHLQbItexecsvkTAgvNCxdF4W4oeLOHdSBQ6UtjYhdW9HgYB_SPLeQxWRbn-Fj23glNPlT10rTdGG_1YTpCI0sixi_Ahx4n7AME/s1600/momphoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR971K9Zijb0eSYETzB0TEUWu4OENObzwtKv1oJW6qiHLQbItexecsvkTAgvNCxdF4W4oeLOHdSBQ6UtjYhdW9HgYB_SPLeQxWRbn-Fj23glNPlT10rTdGG_1YTpCI0sixi_Ahx4n7AME/s640/momphoto.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plus she has pretty sweet dance moves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-71503411955813984402012-01-20T06:30:00.005-06:002012-01-20T06:39:55.010-06:00January 18 + 19: Combo photo!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m a day behind on my January Photo a Day challenge. Forgive me, won’t you?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 18, 2012: </b>Something I Bought</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 19, 2012:</b> Sweet </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a weakness for donuts, especially powered donuts. You know, the wrapped-in-plastic-awful-processed kind that covers your entire face and shirt with powdered sugar, usually right before a co-worker approaches your desk. Totally happens to me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, my most favorite are glazed donuts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm combining Wednesday and Thursday’s photo challenge (and bring it to you a day late)with a photo of sweet glazed donuts I treated my co-workers to. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some days just call for donuts.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Less messy. No need to hide powered sugar from your face. Only sticky fingers.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtbwGI84ceL2TIwDn2y572TZS3JZxGRif5X_CCoZTdeA1RbKo5pSDu5preeVjRPShALGRNcj8Cssbgo3x6PDbfQKFBeez3wS06qrlNlKwOgMzoCx_GJUkYowU-T7haMvAjyqBb7QfDqhJ/s1600/Donut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtbwGI84ceL2TIwDn2y572TZS3JZxGRif5X_CCoZTdeA1RbKo5pSDu5preeVjRPShALGRNcj8Cssbgo3x6PDbfQKFBeez3wS06qrlNlKwOgMzoCx_GJUkYowU-T7haMvAjyqBb7QfDqhJ/s640/Donut.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Friday!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div><br />
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</div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-47392179628376035382012-01-17T08:05:00.000-06:002012-01-17T08:05:19.496-06:00Day 17: Water<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">January 17, 2012: Water</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My shower. The only thing that wakes me up in the morning. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdZZUGjwAPfQWIcyOeUHq46rWQesbHQ_qDIoqWhg3cqf_kP2-VkW6HQstKqWaiv2obNfCx2Rmq7EKw34s7IwkEPAELrcBUwQPRni5T8zzI1N2BCYRQyfpAiLX4CcL9Yk5-oaDMmQKD67u/s1600/shower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdZZUGjwAPfQWIcyOeUHq46rWQesbHQ_qDIoqWhg3cqf_kP2-VkW6HQstKqWaiv2obNfCx2Rmq7EKw34s7IwkEPAELrcBUwQPRni5T8zzI1N2BCYRQyfpAiLX4CcL9Yk5-oaDMmQKD67u/s640/shower.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-73752735880756515712012-01-16T12:28:00.000-06:002012-01-16T12:28:07.244-06:00Day 16: Morning<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 16, 2012: </b>Morning</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblL3ZIc8LiZJ0iAxEyl0v6kbF_C7wtS_W9WKHWb__mfNKxrF5z71M9s_FksMxaxwFgDx_hI65djiUJO1VvSKo5a3QIfR4XY5iKfiYTcF9Gn1kXIhbrtNYplItzQvHuF6VdBexktFx8nZy/s1600/vet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblL3ZIc8LiZJ0iAxEyl0v6kbF_C7wtS_W9WKHWb__mfNKxrF5z71M9s_FksMxaxwFgDx_hI65djiUJO1VvSKo5a3QIfR4XY5iKfiYTcF9Gn1kXIhbrtNYplItzQvHuF6VdBexktFx8nZy/s640/vet.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listening to the vet go over Benjamin’s knee surgery this morning. We can’t pick up the little guy until Wednesday afternoon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was left in good hands, tucked in his bed with his favorite blanket. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can't wait to bring him home!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xo,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-49066010901521863142012-01-15T17:45:00.000-06:002012-01-15T17:45:36.858-06:00Day 15: Happiness<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 15, 2012: </b>Happiness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happiness for Benjamin is being treated with a new bone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eChZw9DasOZomUpzKfOwMYbcJS7bh22vhX45teSss4GWq8MhrCaa_EhUB3fuSiR74httQT3SN7FGlNRgVHklr91Jl55zqpWML5iSfFiJuVtgtGNCsaLyBnAa85XXFdYkWRNgqtJ0EVBc/s1600/Ben.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eChZw9DasOZomUpzKfOwMYbcJS7bh22vhX45teSss4GWq8MhrCaa_EhUB3fuSiR74httQT3SN7FGlNRgVHklr91Jl55zqpWML5iSfFiJuVtgtGNCsaLyBnAa85XXFdYkWRNgqtJ0EVBc/s640/Ben.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directly after I snapped this photo he jumped in my lap only to have me hold his new bone for him. He’s quite spoiled and it’s all right by me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-14104760455782538982012-01-14T07:00:00.004-06:002012-01-14T07:00:04.601-06:00Day 14: What I'm Reading<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 14, 2012: </b>What I’m Reading</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reading for me is a juggling act between emails, texts, my Kindle (right now, <i>The Hunger Games</i>), the blogosphere and the rest of the social media world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGr72FC4QoSDCqDdh3zFsq7FlSpzEG3EdAXy07RAirSC4EaKS3RUUrVtfIewamA9d_oMv7ghnjkjx9gMW4E5nzsQIFGIqiMJ3lt1fh0WKzryiaLzNeagBudqAYXNu2LSdNti0qRF0vmm7s/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGr72FC4QoSDCqDdh3zFsq7FlSpzEG3EdAXy07RAirSC4EaKS3RUUrVtfIewamA9d_oMv7ghnjkjx9gMW4E5nzsQIFGIqiMJ3lt1fh0WKzryiaLzNeagBudqAYXNu2LSdNti0qRF0vmm7s/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who else has read or is reading <i>The Hunger Games</i>? I'm addicted. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's to a lovely Saturday!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xo, Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-83929483932718998922012-01-13T17:41:00.000-06:002012-01-13T17:41:25.493-06:00Day 13: In My Bag<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 13, 2012:</b> In My Bag</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mints, money, random pieces of jewelry, crumpled grocery list, Purell, eos, keys, pen, agenda, hairspray, lemon notepad, lifeline and mascara. I may or may not have put it on while driving to work today. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdJODVspBnts2inqgabe8xN71ABORUUmjfgmchcst4h1QcPJPKOIeyKdrfQt9ta5Q2aCERshc8l0uKuM7_FJaSoJruB_xExJ9TG7hCwFeEc9PAFZSGkpPK1Z2ttIX5n4DDlJa8-_7S7TO/s1600/purse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdJODVspBnts2inqgabe8xN71ABORUUmjfgmchcst4h1QcPJPKOIeyKdrfQt9ta5Q2aCERshc8l0uKuM7_FJaSoJruB_xExJ9TG7hCwFeEc9PAFZSGkpPK1Z2ttIX5n4DDlJa8-_7S7TO/s640/purse.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy weekend, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-69873873364808334112012-01-12T17:32:00.001-06:002012-01-12T17:33:52.350-06:00Day 12: Close Up<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 12, 2012:</b> Close Up </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sir Benjamin Franklin Wilfred Jenkins. I heart the heck out of this face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojF2IubD7Xzba4asMzeTaowpIXCEORzKJ1_-25eNqwRLca14rpo_gT_klLpBii4R7SKzMC_pZmNyh-qL3pkYxNKvjY2ZtW8faHoUzFh39lbbU5ycV06FGjqIHHdUBbmuLKV3Z-nDXNXMR/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojF2IubD7Xzba4asMzeTaowpIXCEORzKJ1_-25eNqwRLca14rpo_gT_klLpBii4R7SKzMC_pZmNyh-qL3pkYxNKvjY2ZtW8faHoUzFh39lbbU5ycV06FGjqIHHdUBbmuLKV3Z-nDXNXMR/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love, Christi</span></div></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-39250793307729858822012-01-11T16:54:00.000-06:002012-01-11T16:54:47.825-06:00Day 11: Where I Sleep<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 11, 2012:</b> Where I Sleep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After completing my second day on jury duty, this place never looked so good.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwAUW6SIFizbOIoDjDjRomZS5Ys4LOw5y8Oe4TwT1P4xbcoHC2lJud_DPm3M599wwnjP4ZpRALnmoVUFTOluirxGtEzWJkqvzDVUxcVWAsOE0piqUWOPOd2S4sTiC9JASdHTBj5r8d8W-/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwAUW6SIFizbOIoDjDjRomZS5Ys4LOw5y8Oe4TwT1P4xbcoHC2lJud_DPm3M599wwnjP4ZpRALnmoVUFTOluirxGtEzWJkqvzDVUxcVWAsOE0piqUWOPOd2S4sTiC9JASdHTBj5r8d8W-/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this place.<br />
Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-14558789901500139572012-01-10T07:00:00.004-06:002012-01-10T07:00:06.838-06:00Day 10: Childhood<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 10, 2012:</b> Childhood</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgDiJiPIMBZJlo-sCIHGKogL4jl0rhM3DHe5ctcpC_CGA1aK81g4SQBeQ7Xz9OO4kMo1rguyrj_XB9_TpmSkh-PkRbH05L3tQP45v9DJhNed0JiI-9jjd8fE-juBbvz83zhgx4_4i3PFC/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgDiJiPIMBZJlo-sCIHGKogL4jl0rhM3DHe5ctcpC_CGA1aK81g4SQBeQ7Xz9OO4kMo1rguyrj_XB9_TpmSkh-PkRbH05L3tQP45v9DJhNed0JiI-9jjd8fE-juBbvz83zhgx4_4i3PFC/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Yikes</i>. Apparently, my sweet mother had a thing for denim on denim.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Halloween, 1986 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3rd grade school photo, 1992</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">High fives for denim!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-9783674207380910842012-01-09T10:41:00.000-06:002012-01-09T10:41:42.346-06:00January 8 + 9 Photo Challenge<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 9, 2012: </b>Daily Routine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hot rollers! Call me old fashioned, but it works for me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71xo08vvcl7e94w9p4VjIqgcsKrobiNlJD8FlqbZWUa2VlDqSDSVpstGzPK74tByLqXwx1DoX9cYi0AdoJJr8yXqfXu7qK0BlrUZP0AUfvZugXwHDBpDeT6majILrhRdMSf6JuhxKQYHa/s1600/rollers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71xo08vvcl7e94w9p4VjIqgcsKrobiNlJD8FlqbZWUa2VlDqSDSVpstGzPK74tByLqXwx1DoX9cYi0AdoJJr8yXqfXu7qK0BlrUZP0AUfvZugXwHDBpDeT6majILrhRdMSf6JuhxKQYHa/s640/rollers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 8, 2012:</b> Your Sky</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overcast and cloudy in Dallas. Nothing a steaming latte and a few shopping bags can’t brighten up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK3cpZqf7K_FqS40WpD3-45PaFq6LubAOOz5SAsLZlC0Z_dp6Bi6v6JyjQiUNDjONvFt06Zx8eCz4cE1BzgBAw9h6zDb1Sm_Ukq1Y8aeFzlN5biqlgFRCwj8hnIfev9G3DvGaPpIZb1F5/s1600/sky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK3cpZqf7K_FqS40WpD3-45PaFq6LubAOOz5SAsLZlC0Z_dp6Bi6v6JyjQiUNDjONvFt06Zx8eCz4cE1BzgBAw9h6zDb1Sm_Ukq1Y8aeFzlN5biqlgFRCwj8hnIfev9G3DvGaPpIZb1F5/s640/sky.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow's photo challenge is 'Childhood'!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Monday,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-45924033460842695942012-01-07T07:00:00.001-06:002012-01-07T07:00:08.817-06:00Day 7: Favorite<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 7, 2012:</b> Favorite </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Traveling alongside MD is my most favorite thing to do. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZMizvh_11NmecjUy5kQpmcW4jXxSePlJARz1pRK4ZRu28JUccqtDKZb7lS6hGgpcqlWY847JbOdcLF83yQuTmyBgRBjZEUilbQ7eka2KJVd3bMp81_4-egvxffeTp0H4Z-OLm4CNUo4u/s1600/Day7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZMizvh_11NmecjUy5kQpmcW4jXxSePlJARz1pRK4ZRu28JUccqtDKZb7lS6hGgpcqlWY847JbOdcLF83yQuTmyBgRBjZEUilbQ7eka2KJVd3bMp81_4-egvxffeTp0H4Z-OLm4CNUo4u/s640/Day7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether traveling to another county or a neighboring state, we love new adventures. We are on constant <i>Go!</i> to make the most of trip; packing in as much food as our bellies will hold, as many bags as the Prius can carry and enough culture to pretend we are locals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You readers are my favorite, too. Thanks for visiting!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-61352764040957554432012-01-06T07:00:00.003-06:002012-01-06T08:20:32.897-06:00Day 6: Makes You Smile<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 6, 2012:</b> Makes You Smile</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This photo and this man make me smile. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK-JD6Zxlhfez6Ub6BWPnaYFkZpQPysYQbDwZERc_esS4Z_vlizx_g0YWeHtMvGpTOvFTRLe4hyphenhyphen49rN7MNiqbVcxcnHDhQ_1ZAG-bpmAknnt1emjtgKzm6UGOroRWOdKiwVsF43JE3f82/s1600/Day6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK-JD6Zxlhfez6Ub6BWPnaYFkZpQPysYQbDwZERc_esS4Z_vlizx_g0YWeHtMvGpTOvFTRLe4hyphenhyphen49rN7MNiqbVcxcnHDhQ_1ZAG-bpmAknnt1emjtgKzm6UGOroRWOdKiwVsF43JE3f82/s640/Day6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took this photo in 2008 in Chicago the day after MD proposed. We were celebrating at a champagne bar located downtown in the historic Tree Studios called <i>Pops</i>. I remember everything about this wonderful August day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep smiling y'all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">Cheers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christi</div></span>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-33232514744724723112012-01-05T10:09:00.002-06:002012-01-05T10:21:34.720-06:00Day 5: Something You Wore<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">En route to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl, MD and I are going to stop by <a href="http://bloomdowntown.com/about/" target="_blank">Bloom</a>, a stylish boutique located in McKinney, Texas and owned by the fabulous fashion blogger Kendi Skeen of <a href="http://kendieveryday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">'Kendi Everyday'.</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could not be more excited.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To go along with my exciting trip to McKinney and to continue with my January photo a day challenge, here’s the outfit I plan to wear when I visit her shop tomorrow. </span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">January 5, 2012</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> – Something You Wore</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F7TzbjMmcviFIWfUQixSh5U4vOVKcyON81DTyAnkaXIaZGIqNefQKCw9p9h5_wSYAQYwl8_6M1HIpubWm3_4-jrozZYNG3kFP_HyV1BS1AQSi6_Dc0jI-_N4V64DzLlVlHaOpkUCWjqH/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F7TzbjMmcviFIWfUQixSh5U4vOVKcyON81DTyAnkaXIaZGIqNefQKCw9p9h5_wSYAQYwl8_6M1HIpubWm3_4-jrozZYNG3kFP_HyV1BS1AQSi6_Dc0jI-_N4V64DzLlVlHaOpkUCWjqH/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Thursday to you!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-61726782096070484692012-01-04T10:11:00.000-06:002012-01-04T10:11:33.049-06:00Day 4: Letterbox<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 4, 2012</b> – Letterbox</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a lover of pretty stationery and snail mail, I visit this spot frequently. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gWYrmZY2kfkhg9OEkYTQIinixVEvm7UrOTyVH34IEz4Y-F66HkcD6cD-LqdGt7r52EA6GWNwgZf9zxcR6ulsPwNayXXg-MExcm6YPhWjiqYSrywaum02KMpO8YWYn9pTJKcS6r5xuOSk/s1600/Day4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gWYrmZY2kfkhg9OEkYTQIinixVEvm7UrOTyVH34IEz4Y-F66HkcD6cD-LqdGt7r52EA6GWNwgZf9zxcR6ulsPwNayXXg-MExcm6YPhWjiqYSrywaum02KMpO8YWYn9pTJKcS6r5xuOSk/s640/Day4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leave a comment below with a link to where I can follow your daily photos!</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christi</div></span>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-70469174308949039862012-01-03T06:30:00.002-06:002012-01-03T06:39:11.555-06:00January Photo a Day Challenge<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome to 2012, my friends! I hope 2011 treated you well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s commit to making 2012 our best year yet. Set a few goals for yourself and really try to stick to them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve set two goals: I want to keep a daily journal and continue working on being a sweet, loving, passionate and encouraging wife. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What goals have you set for the New Year?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s something else I stumbled upon to get your January started off in a fun way. The fabulous Chantelle over at <a href="http://www.fatmumslim.com/" target="_blank">Fat Mum Slim</a> created a list for a Photo a Day Challenge for the month of January. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TO5lEAarw2VOEJ7ygjTTk4fz1iHd3of61isJb_XTgDnYsb_Ot8bcNFVwtaAJkAmZ7Bv5j0G8jSjfJ_dgAovitGuRG1r_1v1OucXl10P8m88YUcG7kJ-QDld9itmyxLA5KK-OwujMd96d/s1600/Challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TO5lEAarw2VOEJ7ygjTTk4fz1iHd3of61isJb_XTgDnYsb_Ot8bcNFVwtaAJkAmZ7Bv5j0G8jSjfJ_dgAovitGuRG1r_1v1OucXl10P8m88YUcG7kJ-QDld9itmyxLA5KK-OwujMd96d/s640/Challenge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s how it works: Take a photo each day using the list above as your guide.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not too late for you to join in on the fun!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can share your photos by uploading them daily to Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, or your blog. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t forget to tag them with hashtag #JANphotoaday so we can keep up with each other.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 3, 2012: </b>Something you adore. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I adore spending lazy days with my two favorite boys. (</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oops!</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> MD's feet aren't pictured.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdWPWBmC8bfXk6kVOqNwlK1BtupnET7YLMckv3QfdSZxx2BGPAHMNrRh3aYsEnSlZvRlQnZtxCdEORaDwNrx0jApBFm6toPi6dEKlZCKFi6rUmROo0LnsBccpIlotNMYqI0xc_wHfSOUU/s1600/DayThree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdWPWBmC8bfXk6kVOqNwlK1BtupnET7YLMckv3QfdSZxx2BGPAHMNrRh3aYsEnSlZvRlQnZtxCdEORaDwNrx0jApBFm6toPi6dEKlZCKFi6rUmROo0LnsBccpIlotNMYqI0xc_wHfSOUU/s640/DayThree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 2, 2012: </b>Breakfast</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Homemade cinnamon rolls are a favorite of mine and MD's; especially during the winter months.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66zO2FA8MCWBXn_ToveS44uUMMZS56xPABcsyUMkn6MbB6m2PxHJkBStCjMIBHfqKTpAoFRLTzvtx1AGAUoS5sTs3bBEr8kFILgy-EcUtOjtfLTc1V3bvhRgozvV6V-c-ZMsh0UzgD-yc/s1600/DayTwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66zO2FA8MCWBXn_ToveS44uUMMZS56xPABcsyUMkn6MbB6m2PxHJkBStCjMIBHfqKTpAoFRLTzvtx1AGAUoS5sTs3bBEr8kFILgy-EcUtOjtfLTc1V3bvhRgozvV6V-c-ZMsh0UzgD-yc/s640/DayTwo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>January 1, 2012: </b>You (me)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0Nhmy3LplHcSJk1FisK5C6G_4zPtGJzCdOH0Yo8J_QEJCf5hx_UD3BP-wrKDhyzu5SthkyEV8C8ZKhHK7ZtjuS6zjnwHFSulwY2qhNyXixdrFnuxquBBsWvnIoSlaULs7P1N_o3JHtVs/s1600/DayOne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0Nhmy3LplHcSJk1FisK5C6G_4zPtGJzCdOH0Yo8J_QEJCf5hx_UD3BP-wrKDhyzu5SthkyEV8C8ZKhHK7ZtjuS6zjnwHFSulwY2qhNyXixdrFnuxquBBsWvnIoSlaULs7P1N_o3JHtVs/s640/DayOne.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tysonbanks.com/home/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo cred.</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find me here: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ChristisChirps" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and </span></span><a href="http://web.stagram.com/n/christischirps/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be posting my daily photos on here as well!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leave a comment below with a link to where I can follow your daily photos!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy photo snapping!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi</span></div>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7616906853252940680.post-73865378626973957412011-12-31T16:16:00.012-06:002012-01-01T18:58:33.226-06:00Happy New Year Soup!<div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While 2011 has been a successful and fulfilling year full of love and laughter, adventures and surprises, and lots of delicious food shared with friends and family, it's always exciting to look forward to what a new year will bring.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow, MD and I will be celebrating the first day of the New Year over a hearty black-eyed pea soup and warm, buttery cornbread. It’s a great meal for a fun tradition, even if it is a little superstitious.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s not too late for you to grab up some black-eyed peas and ring in 2012 with a traditional meal. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>(But I do encourage you trot over to your nearest grocer ASAP and pick up some peas before they are gone!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This spicy soup is sure to warm your belly as you look forward to a new year ahead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOy6cj8DZAOZ_s6cxCTHyS11hS354TfMjTacYjekiLwghghgnlAEriAnpWxmX397j0kyHeGHcFrjtkaUA66v5SokQ2CZrTqsUQbMFuTV9QIhs4NyxdwTcq39fBk4GTvaGr5v4OL3aQ9oW/s1600/Black-Eyed-Peas-iStock_000005231169XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOy6cj8DZAOZ_s6cxCTHyS11hS354TfMjTacYjekiLwghghgnlAEriAnpWxmX397j0kyHeGHcFrjtkaUA66v5SokQ2CZrTqsUQbMFuTV9QIhs4NyxdwTcq39fBk4GTvaGr5v4OL3aQ9oW/s640/Black-Eyed-Peas-iStock_000005231169XSmall.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy New Year!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christi<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b>Happy New Year Soup<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b><br />
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<i>Ingredients:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><br />
16 ounces dried black-eyed peas<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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1 1/2 cups chopped celery<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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1 1/2 cups chopped onion<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups chopped carrots <br />
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2 cups chopped cabbage<br />
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5 cloves garlic, minced </span><br />
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2 bay leaves (remove before serving)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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2 teaspoons salt, more to taste<br />
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1/2 teaspoon black pepper<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, more to taste<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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6 cups vegetable broth<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<i>Directions:</i><br />
Soak peas in plenty of water overnight.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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Before cooking, drain and rinse.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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Place the beans and chopped carrots in a large pot to boil for 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. Drain water.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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Pour the cooked beans and carrots back into the large pot and add remaining ingredients. Boil on medium-high for 1 hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OR-- You can toss everything in a slow cooker on medium and let it do its magic for 6-8 hours. Check on it about half way through, give it a stir and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">turn up the heat to high</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span>Christi's Chirpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15492552398867197669noreply@blogger.com0