Looking like Christmas

The weather has turned cold finally here in Vegas. My heater has come on more now. We were suppose to get snow yesterday but as it turned out we just got cold clear skies. This past week I was able to dig out my small amount of Christmas decor. So now my place feels a little more into the season.

I love my little tree I think I bought it when I moved into my first apartment back in 2004. And look at it now, still standing after about six moves. Maybe someday I will get a bigger tree but for now it seems to work.
Last night was my work's annual Christmas party. I get excited about these because it finally gives me an excuse to buy a pretty dress. And actually have somewhere to wear it.
This year I went with a black one. Here are some pictures.

 

And this year I was able to snap some shots at the actual party. I work in the administrations building so I don't really get the feel of how large our company is until I go to one of these parties. We had about 355 people there last night. And they were celebrating 25 years. So they gave each of us a nice little goblet to toast with (using non-alcoholic apple cider) and take home.

Us accounting people all sat together so I got a picture of all my co-workers.

Timie and her boyfriend Jason

My manager, Devon and her husband Drew

Our CFO and boss Doloras and her husband

These are the three of the best people to work with. I love going to work and seeing their smiling faces each morning. I love my job. During the party they have a raffle for baskets each department puts together and all the money goes to a local charity. Usually we all buy tickets and none of us wins but this year Devon won the one we all wanted.

It was a little Christmas tree full of gift cards and little dollar bills tied up in bows. We called it the money tree. She was so excited to win.
I hope next year will be just as fun.

Las Vegas Auto Show 2013

A little know fact about me...I like a nice looking car. So when my brother Doug mentioned that Dad got three tickets to the Las Vegas Auto Show, I shrugged and said sounds fun, lets go. So today we headed to the huge Las Vegas Convention Center downtown to check out some cars.

Walking into the hall this is what we saw. Cars after cars going back for about two blocks. We checked the map and found that the really cool cars were all the way in the back, so we made a be-line for them and then took our time walking the rest of the floor.

The only cars we saw that you couldn't get within a foot of were the Lamborghinis and they were so sleek and pretty.

Reminded me of Batman's car.

Sporting the colors of Italy

This one just says "don't mess with me."

 Then we saw the BMWs and the Jags. Some nice looking cars, very solid feeling.

Beefy...its a JAAAAG

Of course we spent a lot of time stroking and admiring my Dad's favorite, the Porsches. He spent his time trying to reasure himself that his little 20 year old Porsche was no different than these new beauties.

I don't think it worked....I can see him thinking, "Now how can I aford to get this thing home"

 As we walked to the more reasonable vehicles we spotted another one of my Dad's favorites:

On the way home he mentioned how much he misses his little Aprilia Scooter.

Hidden behind some monster GMC trucks was this little bubble bee.

 

Vroom Vroom....

Then Doug and I had a chance to pick out our more reasonably priced favorites. Doug went for the Subaru.

He would love to be able to someday own an little hatch back Subaru Impresa.
Me on the other hand found a favorite in a more family built car. The cutest little VW Jetta, four door wagon.

Love, Love, Love this little car, I almost wanted to trade in my Toyota Corolla today. Sadly this gem costs $32,000

Someday.....
As we were walking out towards the doors we swung by the Fords and saw this Beast!

That was quite the truck....Huge tires, four door, five seater, step up on the tailgate. Just one big Beast of a truck. Reminded me of my brother Tony. It was fun and now I need to get a budget going so someday I can get my hands on that cute little Jetta.

Thanksgiving 2013

Well, this has been a very interesting Thanksgiving for me this year. Usually I'm the one sitting back out of the way, not sure where I can help with the food preparations. Leaving it all up to the more experienced cooks and moms.  Not sure if this makes others think I don't want to help, but really I usually just feel like I'm in the way. But not this year. This year my mother was out of town, and going to be spending Thanksgiving with our relatives in Oregon City, OR. Which left the responsibility of the meal entirely on my shoulders. She took me shopping last Saturday to make sure I had everything I needed. And that was that.

I'm happy to say, I only had to cook for me, my dad, my brother and my grandma. And considering everything I think I did a pretty good job.

I began cooking last night, so I didn't have as much to do today.

I cooked some rolls, adding a little bit of butter on top as they cooked.

Made some fluffy jello, Doug let me add some fruit cocktail to it after I removed the pineapple.

And I tried out a new recipe for cheesecake pumpkin pie. Turned out really good.

I also boiled some eggs for the deviled eggs that we would make today. So with all those out of the way I headed to bed, spending the night in my parents new guest bedroom. It wasn't too bad.

Then this morning I got up and flipped open my laptop to see if I could find a copy of one of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades. And turned it on while I got back to work.

What's Thanksgiving without a parade on the TV. I was also enjoying the view of my parent's new backyard. the fall colors are so pretty.

I had a little visitor as well.

 First off I started in on the Key Lime pie. Knowing it had to chill in the fridge for 3 hours.

By the time I had finished with the pie and had shelled all the eggs. I got reinforcements in the form of my grandma. I sat her down at the breakfast table and put her to work.

She cut up the celery and spread some cheese and peanut butter on them.

Then she helped put together the green bean casserole.

Had to keep her from eating all the dried onions.

Here she is showing great concentration making the deviled eggs.

As for my other "helpers" well....Doug was asleep until right before the turkey was done and this was what Dad was up too.
 

Yep he was working hard. But you got to love um. While they were occupied I got started on the rest of the meal.

I went simple....can't go wrong with Stove Top Stuffing.

Grandma insisted that we add some celery, which in turn caused Doug not to eat it...oh well.

As for the potatoes, I didn't want to kill myself with boiling and pealing so I cheated....but they were really good.

I also made some gravy from a packet. And when the green beans were done. We stuck in the turkey. Now while out shopping for a turkey we came across these little boneless turkey balls. They looked like hams. And they only took two and a half hours to cook.

I know not very traditional of me, but I was trying not to stress myself out. And they tasted really good. While the turkey was in the oven, we relaxed a little bit.

And Doug finally graced us with his presence.

He was a little disappointed that I didn't wait for him to open the cranberry can. But when he didn't get up in time, what could I do.

Then we set the table and sat down to eat.

All in all I think I was successful. I didn't kill anyone with my cooking and it turned out pretty good. I was thankful for the opportunity to prove that I can cook a big meal by myself. I just have to get creative.