Author: Launi

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Off We Go!

Roadtrip Day 1

With  just a few meager weeks of summer left to us–if was obvious that a huge, wonderful, amazing trip of some kind was in order. Not just any trip, but a real, live road trip.

A magnamonious one.

We are indeed ready and waiting…seat belts fastened…sippy within reach. If you’ve been following carefully, you may have a clue where we’re headed. If not, just follow along.

Here we go!

We have about 7 or 8 hours of driving ahead of us–so toddler entertainment is essential.

Big people entertainment is dang important too. We played the license plate game that kept us busy for a lonnnng time. We even spotted a Maine and Alaska–clear out here in the mid-west.  Stunning I tell you. But I’m holding out for Hawaii.

Well, I am.

Pretty easy to tell when we crossed the border into Wyoming because there were THESE stores all over the place, but since the type of fireworks they carry in there are totally illegal in our home state…we just kept on driving.

Till lunchtime that is. Taco Bell is a lovely place to take a break. Oh, and I showed my BagBag–the one made from Taco Bell bags–to the Taco Bell ladies. They told me to send a picture to the corporate because, “they’d be dang impressed.” Who knows? Might be good for a free Chalupa or something.

Most of us were just glad to get out and stretch around for a minute.

Then, of course, it was back in the car, for more…

of this…

and this…

and this.

Luckily, we had a bit of “Ponyo” going on as well. This, my friends, is one high-tech road trip.

Which is lucky, because there was a heck of a lot of this to look at. Beautiful, yes…but after a few hours…

even the most stalwart travelers get hazy.

The scenery was occasionally broken up by construction cones–we have them at home, thank you very much–and…

huge piles of sand. Almost thought we’d driven clear to Egypt when I saw this one.

After the pyramid thing, it was pretty exciting to see a semi-truck filled with Burmuda onions.

Filled, I tell y0u.

At the end of the day we were so pleased with the good natured, patient, happy little travelers we have here.

Yes…yes. What good-natured, patient, exhausted travelers we have here.

Sleep well my lovelies.

We have a big, big day tomorrow!

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A Blessing Way

When my pretty little niece Emily was expecting her very first and much prayed for baby daughter–after 5 boys!–a good friend threw her a well deserved baby shower…but with a twist.

In the invitation we were told that this was not just a baby shower but would be a “Blessing Way” as well. I’d heard of them before, but had never been to one. Wanting to know more, I searched online to better understand.

Turns out that while a typical Baby Shower is a way to help parents celebrate and prepare for the new baby coming into their lives, a Blessing Way is a ceremony designed to honor the new mother and the change her life is about to make. The idea too, is that she is surrounded by the women that she loves most in the world as they offer her their love, support and blessing as she moves into this sacred place.

Isn’t that lovely?

My favorite part about this event was that we were all asked beforehand to choose a bead or token of some type with the new mother in mind. Something that made us think of her in some way.

We would have the opportunity to give her the bead and explain our choice at the party–if we wanted to. Some friends chose to write a personal note rather than tell everyone.

So much love went into each choice that just talking about it made many of us mush-heads cry. It felt like a gratitude ceremony, not only to the new mom–but for mothers and women everywhere that have blessed our lives.

At the end the beads and tokens were all strung into a beautiful necklace for mom to keep and treasure for always.

It is such a beautiful thing to be able to put your hopes and wishes into an actual physical thing that will remind a dear one that she is so loved, so blessed and so valued every day of her life.

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Mexican Summer Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

And here, my friends, we have the most illustrious Mexican Summer Salad–or Bajio Salad–as it’s known at our place. It’s truly just a glorified–reeally glorified taco salad–like the grown-ups make. The key ingredient here is the dressing—we’ll get to that later. We serve ours up buffet style where all the ingredients that you could ever want or imagine that you could ever want are in individual bowls just waiting for you to choose them. There are many ways to do it, but since it’s my blog, I’ll tell you the only true and correct way…how I do it. Being Queen has it’s privileges you know.

1) Start with a warmed flour tortilla and sprinkle lettuce all over it.

2) Next add seasoned, shredded chicken, beef or pork.

3) Spoon on black beans, refried beans or Mexican rice.

4) Add shredded cheese, tomatoes, olives and bite sized tortilla strips.

5) Top with the Magical Cilantro Ranch dressing—See below.

Try to be dainty now, and it’ll be hard. There’s something about this salad that tends to bring out starving wolf-like behavior. Go slow and no one will notice that low growl coming from your side of the table.

Magical Cilantro Ranch Dressing

1 packet of ranch dressing mix
2 cups sour cream
1/2 cup milk or buttermilk
3 tbsp chipotle peppers
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tbsp fresh, chopped cilantro

Combine all ingredients in a bowl of a food processor or blender and pulse until thoroughly blended.
Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Cilantro Ranch Dressing
 
Print
:
Ingredients
  • 1 packet of ranch dressing mix
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • ½ cup milk or buttermilk
  • 3 tbsp chipotle peppers
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tbsp fresh, chopped cilantro
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl of a food processor or blender and pulse until thoroughly blended.
  2. Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.

 

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Tropical Cloud Burst

So there I am…minding my own business…sitting in a parking lot doing what mama’s do best. Waiting.

Oh, I had a good book and a bit of crocheting, but it was hot. Too-too hot to even think.

I fanned myself. I drank my water. I re-parked in a less sunny place. Nothing, however, could change the fact that it was indeed 103 degrees in our little spot of Heaven.

When all of a sudden a few warm and wet rain drops started to fall. Out of the blue. I figured out where that term came from because the sky had a few sunny clouds–but none directly overhead. Nothing…It was weird.

As if they heard my thoughts on the subject a few more brave clouds began to roll in…

sprinkling a few more raindrops. I am positively in love with the smell of rain-wet streets so I not only left the windows open so I could take it all in…

but I pushed the car door open too.

And I can prove it.

In Hawaii, they say that nearly every day there is a sweet little cloud burst. Just for a minute or two. No need for an umbrella.  Hardly even enough to get you wet.

and then it’s gone…

leaving barely a trace.

Ha.

Four minutes–start to finish.

Take that, Hawaii.

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Destination Quiz

We are going on a road trip my friends. From our little Rocky Mountain home to a couple of places we’ve always wanted to see. Can you guess where we’re going?

Here is a picture of my sweet Jillian, while she was in England, goofing around about where we are going this week. See if you can figure out the clues. First one to guess it correctly will win…

something from our trip. Don’t know what it is yet because I haven’t been there. Oh, and the friends and family that already know where we’re going–you don’t get to guess…because when you know something–it’s not a guess anymore. You know that.

Sheesh.