not so sure about the "real world." It sure was nice to escape to paradise for 8 days. I must say though, despite the 'day to day' that comes with the real world, I really do love it here. Despite the fact I've been filling out job applications all day, despite the fact that when I look out my window here I see Red Lobster and not the mountains, despite the fact that I NEVER get 12 hours of sleep a night here and I did there EVERY night ! Despite all that-I love my life in Austin and I'm so happy to be back I must admit! That break was just what I needed to recharge my battery! So, hopefully I'll have something interesting to entertain y'all with this week!

live from Telluride: Day 5!!

so, the big news of today is that it was my first day ever to wear a helmet while skiing! I was kind of guilted into it by my mom-but also-I think it might have been setting a bad influence for the kids! And also, reading about that tragedy with Natasha Richardson finally convinced me that-"what the heck" I can do it for a couple of days. I am the queen danger ranger after all! We had a great day of afternoon skiing! I had approximately 1 major wipeout-but that's what it's all about...right? I went with Steve,Elizabeth and Jordan and I must just say that Jordan rocks. He is awesome to watch! I keep telling him I know he's going to be a professional and it's so cute to see how his face lights up! Anyways,after we got finished-we had a lovely dinner at an amazing restaurant. I for some odd reason was craving a hamburger even though they were telling me to get filet(for those of you who don't know me-the fact that I chose the hamburger means that I might be going a little mountain crazy up here!!!) anyways, I chose correctly! this was the most phenomenal burger I've ever had! Oh my goodness! I even out-ate Steve. I finished mine right down to the last little bite! It was so scrumptious. however,now I feel like I could be sick!! so i'm headed to bed because I want to wake up and go walking in the morning to get in some me time(which I've been missing these past couple of days!!) that's all for now! gnight!

Live from Telluride: day 4? what?

Another day has come and gone here in Telluride...This morning Soph and I gondola-ed into town to go to the pharmacy and pick up my ear medicine! On the way back I "asked for directions" at a place called The Sweet Life! I had the most scrumptiously delicious strawberry milkshake EVER! Anyways,we headed back to our condo,ate lunch then I went out skiing. Long story short-we were on an easy run-but Elizabeth was trying to be a little daredevil and ended up getting hurt! She is okay-but it cut our ski day short-which was okay with me because my ear is still bothering me a bit! So we've been tucked in the condo all night together watching kid friendly movies. It's a crazy life-but it's my life. Oh, and the kids discovered that I'm super ticklish tonite! I wouldn't let them go crazy because Soph as asleep, but I told them they could tickle attack me as soon as I go downstairs in the morning-so great! anyways-here is a picture from the slopes!! Notice how the snow is really starting to melt! It's not that way where we are skiing though!!


oh-and notice how I'm the one not wearing a helmet! i'm about the only one here that doesn't! it's quite bizarre how I'm the queen of "wear your helmet" and "be triple careful" yet don't follow this trend!

One exhausted ski nanny: Live from Telluride-Day 3

So, I'm BONE TIRED! You know,the tired that only ever comes after a full day of skiing. yea, well I only did a half day and I'm exhausted! These people are serious skiers though and so I had to buck up to keep up! I couldn't let Jordan(8 years old) blow me completely out of the water! Anyways,it was great fun! Sophie and I stomped around all morning and rode the gondola or "super g" as we call it all around-met a lot of interesting people-then I settled her down and was able to ski the rest of the day away! I'm so exhausted that this is all I can tell you for now! I'm in my bed at 10! love it! also,must admit-I snuck a diet coke today while sophie and I were romping around. I think it's even more delicious because it is such a contraband product around here!! :)

Diary of a Ski Nanny: Live from Telluride Day 2

So, I must confess...I will be short tonite! I woke up with achy body and throbbing ear which as most of you who know me knows-is not that abnormal but not that fun. Plus, I had to be on my A-game because I am the "nanny" around here! haha,they were very gracious and understanding and let me really do what I wanted all day! So, we hung close to the condo this morning then we ventured out on the gondola for lunch in town and a little shopping. I got Wheat and awesome-cool snowboard shirt that I'm quite excited about! Then we headed back and watched the kids do a "trampoline jump with bungee cords" that I'm not too scared to admit-I really wanted and probably will by week's end do also! Then we had a fabulous dinner at La Rustica-an amazing Italian restaurant! I love how I'm more exhausted at 10:30 here than I am at 2:30 most nights in Austin. Something about the mountain air! ps,I'm happy to report that I went a full 36 hours without a diet coke(this was my planned week of detox from it since these folks don't keep it around) but I had to cave today as my throat was hurting and I needed(like a true addict) that burning sensation! So that is my confession! Here are some pictures!!

Live from Telluride!!

Alright,so we've made it to Telluride. It was quite a journey. I am super impressed with how well Sophie made the trip! 18 hours and she barely made a peep! Thank heavens these days for portable DVD players is all I've got to say! John and I would have been duking it out in the far backseat after 10 hours but Elizabeth and Jordan got on rather well-again,modern technology saves the day! So we slept in Albuquerque last night-which is a new place on my "places I've been" checklist-not too much to say about it though. But onto more important things. Now, we're in Telluride! It is amazing. Spectacular. Picturesque! I love this place and we've only been here a bit! The view is amazing. I don't think I'll ever tire of seeing the majesty of mountains. Especially snow covered ones. Our condo is beyond phenomenal. I'll include pictures at some point. Needless to say-I have my very own floor if that gives you the slightest hint!! I just took the longest bath ever in an especially divine jacuzzi tub that is about a million steps up from my one in Austin! It is wonderful. I was a little nervous about this trip as some of you know-but I think it might be just what the doctor ordered. I needed a break from Austin and I needed it fast. I feel so content to be clean,cozy and in bed at 10:20 that I don't even know how to react!

So earlier today, I took the kids out for a little stroll around the "plaza" area to see what we saw. And what did we see-but my oh my-some very cute ski guys! hehe! I can't resist throwing in that tidbit! I've already scoped out a nutella wagon that I'm sure I'll be frequenting. We came back to freshen up and I must admit it was super fun to have Sophie upstairs with me while I got ready. We did quite a lot of singing,the hokey pokey,"makeovers", and all kinds of other "you can only do with 2 year olds" kinds of things! Not that I'm ready for that every night I'm getting ready-but it's so nice for a break to be 100% goofy!! Then, we rode on the gondola to pick up some yummy yummy dinner-and then Steve brought the kids back early so that Angela and I could "stay out late!" (again, I'm loving that "late" is 9:30!!!!) anyways, we did a bit of shopping, but we're exhausted and wine at dinner just pushed us over the sleepy edge so we headed on home. So here I type, just as cozy as can be-a thousand miles away from my real,dramatic world. I know some of this doesn't interest everyone-but lots of people are curious about this trip-and I thought this might be the best way to let everyone "follow" me along!! I promise better pictures soon!!

very sleepy

I am very sleepy right now. It's been a long day full of subbing,running errands,running,babysitting,and catching up on everything before I head off on spring break. yes, I still go on spring break even though I'm 26!! Anyways, I promised Erica I would keep up with my blog-so that is just what I'm' doing...I'm telling you that I'm crazy busy. Although I know I've said this before-I'll say it again. I do have some good and important things to say! I promise I do! I just counted and I have 19 unfinished "meaningful" drafts on here. That is 19 thoughts that were so intriguing to me that I actually took the time to write. So hang with me people! I promise more is coming!!

However, yesterday I had my usual date with Anna Joy Tuesday. She's been learning about dinosaurs in her preschool class so I thought it would be fun to take her to the dino-pit here in Austin. I can never say enough about what a kid friendly place Austin is and the Dino Pit is a stand out reason why! It's in a nature center,completely kid friendly, and FREE! You walk down a little trail and happen upon what is, essentially, a huge sandbox with "hidden" dinosaur bones. Kids use brushes and shovels to "dig" and uncover the bones. It is highly entertaining(and only slightly sandy on the trip home.) Anyways, Anna Joy and I had a fabulous time just playing around for a bit. The thing about hanging out with Anna Joy is-she is only 4, but she always has such a way of putting my life in such a great perspective.For instance, yesterday we were talking about school and she was telling me about recess and how the same boy used to "push" her off the slide everyday(not quite sure what "pushed" means-but I promise she's not bruised!!). I asked her what she did about it and she said in such a knowing voice, "Miss Mary, since he's mean to me, I don't play with him anymore-I play with Harris now." Exactly. I could write an entire blog based on just that one sentence. Anyways, I think everyone should spend time with a kid at least once a week for this very reason! But, hey-that's coming from someone who spends most days with the 10 and under crowd! Anyways, that's my story for today! And here are some pictures from the Dino Pit!!

A Slice Of Heaven

Is it ironic that it is called Dead Mans Pie?



Well, years ago I was invited to Mary’s famous “Steak birthday dinner” and little did I know what I would discover. If I had ESPn about this lovely dessert I might have gone every year before then. To put it plain and simple for you, this pie is AMAZINGLY Delish!



Inside a homemade graham cracker crust is a perfectly chocolate filling and not the kind that is pudding like…this is fudge like, it’s the real deal! It is topped with a creamy mixture of whip cream and pudding. It is divine!



Well as some of you know, I currently work the night shift at the Hospital. So yesterday when I woke up around 1 pm the first thought that jumped in my head was….DEAD MANS PIE. You might already know but once I get stuck on something, I have to have it soon. So Mary did good, she had her Mom email the recipe and it was in my g-mail within an hour or so.



Oh, about 1 hour after that, I had a Dead Mans pie in my very own refrigerator! I made it all on my very own with a dab of this and some of that according to my directions. The only thing I changed up was the topping. I have a special weakness for homemade whipped topping. I whipped some of it up topped my pie and then it was all about chillin.



Dead Man’s Pie is now called Marbear éclair. It is not only more pleasant sounding but it is more technical in name. You would be amazed what comes to mind when they hear Marbear éclair…its like I am Paula Deen or something.


And always, Seek ye First with a slice of Heaven!


by Erica King

in the meantime...

until I come up with something better!!


Create animated gif

for erica

erica is making me go back to blogging. since she is doing this...and I don't have a lick of time today-she is going to be a guest blogger for the next post...stay tuned to hear what exciting news she'll share!!! I can't wait!!