The First Thanksgiving

Besides one sad attempt of Scott and mine to have our own Thanksgiving many moons ago, this will be our first family Thanksgiving solo. Solo being myself, my hubby, my little guy, Mom in from out of town, maybe a bit of Maggie, and whoever else I can talk into hanging out with us and eating some of my first Turkey. So I will attempt to make the classics - Turkey, potatoes, cranberry, and a few Slav favorites - sauerkraut and wieners and peas and hamburger.

Hopefully, a little Thanksgiving inspiration goes a long way...

Ambition

“The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.”
- William Shakespeare

Lately, I have taken on a "project" that has become bigger than myself, and more than a handful of people around me have been consistently reminding me how Ambitious I am, how Ambitious this is. It's given me time to pause and ponder Ambition, it's origin in myself and in anyone and what it does but push you past yourself.

When I started this idea, this dream, it honestly started small, doesn't everything? And it's grown into a life of it's own - I've fueled it with my vision, drive, and well, Ambition. Is Ambition something to be admired or feared? Frowned upon or encouraged? I think a bit of both, and through this process I have learned that optimism and creativity are the fuel of my Ambition, and the people I surround myself with are the sounding board and sense of reality that I so often need.

And Scott? Well, he provides a shoulder to cry on when I encounter a boulder of an obstacle that I think I cannot overcome. But then, I do. Push forward, it can happen, you can do it, says my Ambition.

And so, I hope that within the week I will be able to share some of the most exciting news of my professional career and success in building something I've dreamt up and is but days away from reality. Please excuse the cloak of secrecy, but it will be oh so worth it!

Thanks to you, Ambition!

Meanwhile, the Genghis Khan exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science opens this week - I think I need to make time to see it and understand what happens to a person whose ambition loses touch with the world around you. It will be very good for me!

Miss Scarlett, in the Conservatory with the Lead Pipe

My girlfriend Brooke masterminded the 9-person costume team this Halloween to dress as the characters in Clue. I decided to dona black wig - I barely recognize myself in this picture! Do you recognize Mr. Green?

Fall update

I have been neglecting my personal blog lately, so I must do quick update! I am much better at keep up with my work blog and Benjamin's blog too!


Fall has settled in a big way in Denver, our leaves turned so quickly here and we've already had our first snow! This is my favorite time of year, and I love to make everything pumpkin I can in the kitchen. One of my favorites are Grandma's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Here is her recipe (thanks Grandma!)

Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together:
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
l - 16 oz. can Libby's pumpkin
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup Crisco

In another bowl, sift together:

4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
dash nutmeg (optional)

Add the dry ingredients 1/2 at a time to the wet ingredients until
well combines. Add a 12 oz. bag of choc. chips and mix them in.

Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at
375 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes. Makes about 7 dozen.

Note: These freeze well, too.

School is going well, I'm completing my semester of Business Law and Ethics, and moving into International Marketing. I'm still on track to graduate in August 2010.

Benjamin is such a joy and he is now saying "uh-oh" "Mama" "Dada" and "Night-night". He loves to play with his friend Adler, and Maggie snaped this great pic of them on a fall walk last week.



Scott is enjoying his season Broncos tickets, it's nice to have him at home! As my busy wedding season winds down, I am working on the store launch for Anna Be, a beautiful bridal boutique here in Denver, and securing my own office space - more to come on that very soon!

Marie Claire moment

About three months ago, a writer from Marie Claire magazine contacted me when she found this blog, to interview me about living abroad. I didn't hear another thing about it for months! Then, the October issue arrived in my mailbox, and what did I find? A little quote from yours truly on page 92.





Not exactly a claim to fame, but very fun!

The Butlers in Black Butte

We spent this past week in Black Butte, Oregon with Scott's family - 13 adults and nine children under the age of 8 in one house. It was a lot of fun and a lot of chaos!

On our way there, we stopped at this beautiful rest stop to stretch our legs:


When we arrived, Benjamin was so happy that he danced on the bike bath and stuck his head in the trees- literally!



We played at the pool everyday, and even rented a tandem bike for an stroll through the mountains - beautiful!



I think the video that Kendra and Florent put together sums up the week best. The picture montage features all of my Butler nieces and nephews, and Scott's siblings sharing their favorite Black Butte memories. Look for the bonus footage at the end of my nephew, Theo, it's the best!

Please vote for me!

My wedding planning company, A Touch of Bliss, was recently nominated for the Best Wedding Planner in Denver by Channel 7's A-List. I need all of your votes to place in the top 5! To vote, please click here or click on the picture below.


Thank you for your support!

Little Stellan

Scott pointed MckMama's blog out to me because of her amazing photos she takes of her kids. She is another fun mommy blogger I've added to my feed, but I have to admit, I've been glued to my computer for the last 24 hours. Her youngest of four little ones, Stellan, has been hospitalized since yesterday. His heart is failing and his doctors don't know what to do. Her tweets have gotten worse and worse, and the latest news is that he is being airlifted to Boston. Although I don't know this family in person, my mommy heart goes out to her. How hard to know eight months of your wonderful son, only to lose his light. Everyone, please think of Stellan today, he needs your well wishes.

A Touch of Bliss - video debut!

Last Wednesday, Mantis Media shot a video for me about A Touch of Bliss. It was a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to see the final result. Since I can't keep up with double blogging, please read more about the shoot on my Wedding Blog, Bunches of Bliss.

Topshop is my Shop

It's news to me that Topshop has recently opened their first states side store in SOHO. My mom and I had a euphoric shopping experience in Topshop in London, and we put together some of the most amazing outfits that I had ever owned! For those of you new to the Topshop style, it's a more fashion forward, edgy, albeit more expensive version of H&M. How fast can I get to New York?

Fruit and Veggie Family

Last month, I signed our family up for Door-to-Door Organics, which is a company that collects organic fruit and produce from local growers in your state, and ships them to your door fresh every week. Although this company only offers service currently in Colorado, Kansas, Michigan and the Northeast, there are similar companies that offer services in other states.
The upsides? The price is incredible for what we receive.
For example, we receive the smallest box that you can order, known as the "Bitty" box for $22.66 a week. In a typical box will will receive a huge head of lettuce, big bunch of spinach, cauliflower, two oranges, two cucumbers, three peaches, an avocado, and a few apricots. And the squash! We struggle as a family of three and a half to eat all of this amazing fruit and veggies each week. Another advantage is we must each more fruit and veggies than we normally would.
The downside? Sometimes we struggle with what we are sent, but in a good way! Acorn squash plus brown sugar and butter = smiles from both of my guys. But I just cannot figure out how to make anyone in this house eat Kale, even myself!
In the meantime, we continue to be happy, satisfied customers - we love opening our organic box every week!

In love with Wallpaper

My mom told me about a year ago that Wallpaper was making a come back, I didn't believe her. Now I am obsessed with it! This wallpaper form Elli Popp makes me think differently about covering my walls!

365 Days until I say "I Do", Again

Nine years ago today, Scott and I exchanged vows on the campus at Santa Clara University, and had our reception at the Silicon Valley Capitol Club in San Jose. The eight bridesmaids wore ice blue gowns and held light blue hydrangea bouquets.


Five years after that, Scott surprised me with a vow renewal ceremony, just the two of us and a Hawaiian minister on poipu beach on Kauai. Our reception was a sunset dinner for two at the Beach House . I had a tuberose and gardenia bouquet, and Scott wore maile.


For our ten year anniversary, exactly one year from today, we are going to plan a celebration of "Loving Out Loud". Stay tuned for more details, as the planning begins!


p.s. Lots of love and kisses to the best husband in the world, my Scott. Nine years and we are just getting started, baby!

Return from Paradise

Because Scott and I are VERY out of vacation practice, we forgot our little camera on it's charger. Luckily, I gave Scott an HD Flip for Father's Day, and we remembered to bring that! So I put together this very mini video of vacation for you all to see!

Packing for Paradise

As many of you know, Scott and I are headed to Puerto Vallerta for our first vacation since our little guy was born. Thanks to my very generous mom and her timeshare, we are staying at Playa del Sol for seven lovely nights. I am already trying to talk Scott into setting up Skype so we can see Benjamin while we are there. I'm such a wimp already!


Going to try to unplug and drown myself in sunshine and pina coladas. Wish me luck!