Happy Holidays and Welcome 2010!

I have found it harder for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year and I think it's because I am so far away from my friends and family and I have yet to see snow of course! When I lived in Boston, it was very convienant for me to drive home in just 3 short hours and enjoy seeing my mom's xmas decorations and taste test her yummy holiday treats! There is a fabulous woman at work that has decorated the rehab gym and xmas carols have been playing in the gym during therapy sessions with our patients, which has helped a bit, but it is just not the same. About a week ago, my wonderful Christmas Angel of a mother sent me a homemade xmas wreath from Maine and I became all nostalgic once I opened the box and smelled that wonderful country pine! And recently, I made a Rocky Road Fudge for a staff Christmas party which helped me a re-direct my attention back to the holiday season...but as I look around my apt now and do not have one ounce of Christmas decoration displayed, I am sad to be so far away. So, to fill my void, I ate fudge...comfort food always makes me feel warm and happy again! haha Above is a picture of my creation! It was the easiest recipe and may become one of my favorite for fudge. I have enclosed the recipe:

Rocky Road Fudge

*12 oz package semi-sweet toll house morsels

*1 can of carnations sweetened condensed milk

*1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*3 cups of mini marshmellows

*1.5 cups of chopped walnuts

Directions:

*in a microwavable bowl, melt chocolate and condensed milk in microwave for 1 min

*mix with a spoon and continue to heat up in 15 sec intervals until mixture melted and smooth

*fold in marshmellows and walnut and place in a 13x9 in baking pan lined with waxed paper

*refrigerate until hardened and ready to serve

Enjoy the recipe and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and exciting 2010 filled with a lot of love, happiness, and new adventures! I fly in from Texas this Saturday (19th) and hope to catch some of you while I"m home for a week...and I can guarantee you that by the time I step my foot off that plane, I will be in the holiday spirit!

A little trip West...

I apologize yet again for not "blogging" more frequently, but the last few weeks, let alone weekends have been crammed with activities. Not that I'm complaining by no means, but I am sure all of you are getting bored with looking at the same post week after week. So cheers to a new one right now!

I recently flew to Sedona, AZ this past weekend to spend time with a very dear friend of mine from college. I have not seen him in over a year and even during that time, we barely had the time to catch up and really spend quality time together. Before that year, it had been nearly 2 years since I had seen him. So, I'm thankful we had a good, solid, 4 days together to really get to know each other all over again. He has been traveling all over the world within the past 3 years as an engineer and am quite envious that he has been to nearly 40 countries. So, needless to say, our conversations were full of exciting stories. He is so talented, carefree, intelligent, caring, and fun that I left the trip being soooo thankful for the fact that him and I have managed to keep in touch.

Anyway, I flew into Phoenix on Thursday night and we spent the night there and then woke up early Friday to head to Sedona. We were supposed to head to the Grand Canyon Saturday night but I loved Sedona so much that we ended up staying Saturday night too! We did everything from bar hopping to listen to live, local music, art gallery viewing, hiking, mountain biking, wine tasting, fire pit sitting to roast s'mores and play the guitar, and EAT! I experienced the best bruschetta I have ever had (I have been eating bruschetta, and a lot of it since I could chew!), most amazing Greek food, fantastic lunches, and delicious Arizona wine! So, yes, I flew back on Sunday tired, yet refreshed and content! I strongly advise that EVERYONE visit Sedona at least once in their lifetime! The best times to visit are during the late fall, March, and May, because the tourists visit the most during the late spring/summer months. We stayed at the Red Agave Adventure Resort http://www.redagaveresort.com/ , which is situated in the base of Sedona's red rocks. They offer mountain biking for free and I won't forget to mention that they have 2 spas, swimming pool, and an amazing fire pit that is lit nightly! One activity that you MUST participate in is the Pink Jeep Tours! I have included a picture above!

Anyway...Sedona is amazing and I hope that you all get a chance to make it out there because the opportunities are endless and the scenary is breathtaking!

I see a future travel OT assignment in the near future...maybe...perhaps?