Goodbye summer.....

This is always bitter sweet, I look forward to Fall (my favorite season) i look forward to cozy sweaters and flowing scarves, leaves turning from their vibrant green to a muted yellow and the smell of Fall, the smell that tells you Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner. But i will miss the hot days of the summer, which were extra special this year as i got to spend them with my guys, days of the refreshing pool followed by cool summer nights filled with chatting with friends.

But as of today we have ended summer in the Spillman home. My house smells of simmering cider (thanks to a wonderful candle i bought yesterday) and beef roast, we picked up all of the summer toys in the yard and started the pool draining. I am looking forward to the fall weather......But i will miss those summer days.

The day the world stopped turning.....

I was at work at Sprint......we had turned on the TV and were watching when my boss came in and started yelling at us for watching TV. He hadn't heard yet. We watched as the 2nd plane hit. Terry one of the girl's i worked with assured me that the towers would not fall, they were built to withstand anything. Not long after she said it they fell. Life that day stopped, it was a haze, we were all but closed on the phones, because no one was calling in. We as a country were glued to our TV's, watching the unexplainable. I will never forget as i watched members of congress sing our national anthem. This day has become what the JFK assassination, and the challenger explosion was for our parents.

My children will never know the pain we suffered as a nation at the hands of a few, but they will know what happened that day, we must never forget.

Out with the old......

It's amazing how some fresh paint can make a room feel brand new......We painted the master bathroom on Monday, and i have to say Eric did a great job, I love it!!

Congrats guys....

I would like to introduce you to Alan and Amanda Ferrin. They got hitched this past Sunday and the wedding was beautiful, it was a perfect Colorado fall themed wedding, i think the only thing that would have made it 100% legit, is if it had snowed. The bride was gorgeous and the groom, well he was probably the calmest groom i have ever seen!! Congratulations again guys!

My Champagne and chocolate

Sam, Amanda and Bria (we met in Middle school)

Sam and Bria 09-05-10

6 Years.....

This past Saturday Eric and i celebrated 6 years of being married. We didn't do anything special, just enjoyed each other and the boys, ran some errands, and just hung out. We did treat ourselves to Olive Garden take out, it was GOOOOOOD!! It was a good day (except for 1 store incident that kinda drove me nuts) we got to spend it together having fun as a family. I got Eric his season 2 & 3 of the A-Team, and some True Blood (which is a fruit version of what the Vampires drink in the show True Blood) it's OK, very sweet though. And Eric got me my SIMS game, and a new tattoo. As i look back on the 7 years that Eric and i have been together, I know that i made the right choice when i decided to marry him. He is every thing i need him to be, he keeps me grounded, and reminds me that things aren't always what the seem, he loves me for who i am, not what i try to be. I love being married and i love being married to him, i am so glad i get to call him HUSBAND!!

I Love you MONKEY!!

Gotta give a shout out

To my friend Amber. Check out her blog to get the latest info on her current book projects.

http://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/

Also check her out at

A. R. Norris: Author Page is Up

Her book Duty and Devotion will be pulished with Desert Breeze Publishing: Available June 2011
Amber this is so awesome!!

Peanut Butter Garnola Bars

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

cooking spray
1 egg white
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup (1-stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted, *see Cook's Note
1/3 cup miniature chocolate chips


Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 7 by 10 3/4-inch nonstick baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Lay a 6 by 18-inch piece of parchment paper in the pan, allowing the excess paper to hang over the sides. Spray the parchment paper lightly with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, using a hand beater, beat the egg white until frothy. Stir in the peanut butter, brown sugar, and honey. Add the melted butter, oats and almonds. Stir to combine, then add the chocolate chips.

Using a rubber spatula, spread mixture into the prepared baking pan, pressing lightly to form an even layer. Bake until the edge of the mixture begins to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 1 hour. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares and serve.

*Cook's Note: To toast almonds, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
www.foodnetwork.com