Saturday at Home

I stayed home all day today (no shopping, which is my usual Saturday activity!) and this is what I accomplished: 

I made chicken casserole (4 individual servings) to have for dinner later in the week. It is so easy, but it is one of my all time favorite foods! Basically it is cooked chicken (I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts tenders), corn tortillas, cream of chicken soup and Ro-tel, topped with shredded cheese. 

I also made some chili that we can heat up sometime this week too. If something isn't easy to make after work, we end up just snacking on junk or resorting to a frozen pasta bag. Which is ok occasionally, but maybe this extra work on the weekend will pay off during the week. 

What's next after all that? Dessert of course! I'm constantly impressed with the cupcakes I see on other blogs, so with the help of a store bought mix and a chocolate frosting recipe from Jen over at A Thousand Words, I made these: 

Jen had also posted a video with tips on how to frost cupcakes and what type of tip to use. Mine don't even begin to compare to hers, but I think they look pretty good for a first try! I added a little dusting of powdered sugar to help disguise all the imperfections. I can say with certainty, they taste delicious! Thanks Jen for the frosting recipe & how-to help! 

Oh, and I also did laundry and worked on sorting through all our tax documents. And the kitties napped. 

Ten Favorite Places

My ten favorite places on the planet. Granted, I haven't been to that much of the planet, but I'll stick by these ten regardless.

10. Vegas

Vegas. What's not to love? Lights, money, shopping, wedding chapels, gambling & shows...fun, fun & fun. Read about our last vacation to Vegas which included CHER (3rd row!), poker, bingo & Pawn Stars! 

Photos from here and here. 

09. Colorado

I've been living in Colorado for almost 3 years now and while I still consider myself a Texan, I have learned to appreciate all the beautiful places that are here in the state. A few of the highlights so far (although there is still a lot I haven't seen yet) are Glenwood Springs, Garden of the Gods, Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs. 

Trail in Steamboat Springs

08. Oregon

Remember the game Oregon Trail? I loved that game. Until my oxen drowned crossing the river. Oops. Anyway, I don't think Oregon had ever crossed my mind other than the game Oregon Trail until I met my Oregonian husband. But now I've gotten to visit several times and it is truly a beautiful state, not to mention that it is home to my fab in-laws (mom, dad, bro & sis) plus two special little nephews, which makes it very important place in our lives.

I still haven't gotten over to the Oregon coast or to see Crater lake, but Medford, Ashland and Jacksonville are pretty cool places in their own right. We almost always go see one show at the world famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival  and of course spend plenty of time at the Rogue Valley Country Club. But mostly we hang out and catch up with family and friends. Who knows, maybe we'll even move up there someday...

07. Barcelona
Fun trip with my brother back in 2006! Such an amazing city!

06. Key West

Best resort vacation in the continental US. I LOVE the Florida Keys. Key West is such a relaxed, fun place to be! The polydactyl cats at the Hemingway House were second only to our sea plane trip over to the dry tortugas and Fort Jefferson. Hoping to go back very soon!  

Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas

Aerial View of Key West

Sea Plane Landing at  Dry Tortugas

05. TEXAS

You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl! Image from here. I'm pretty sure my Colorado couches would look a little better with this Texas State pillow from Whispering Pines! Thanks to John & Sherry over at Young House Love for the awesome find! 

04. Maui
Maui is the first of two Hawaiian islands to make it on my list. We had the luxury of spending a week in Maui with my in-laws back in October. It was awesome. The beach was fantastic! 

Sunrise on Haleakala

View from our Condo

At Iao Needle Valley

At Kapalua Plantation Course

 03. Oahu

Oahu. My first Hawaiian island. Love it! Oahu is home to Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Turtle Bay, Pearl Harbor, there is so much to do! Maybe it is because it was our honeymoon vacation, or the first time I had been to Hawaii, but I think Oahu is truly paradise. I hope to go back many, many times!

02. Arrowhead

Arrowhead Golf Club is BEAUTIFUL golf course in the foothills of Douglas County Colorado and it is where we got married in 2008. I have to give my hubby credit, this place was his pick and it was amazing! Such a fabulous setting for our special day! (I think I need to devote a whole post to our wedding day sometime soon!)

01. HOME!

It's not flashy or huge or extravagant, but honestly home is my favorite place to be in the world. It is where I come home to hubby after work, where my kitties make messes and run around like crazy, and where I can relax and love life (and plan vacations to all my other favorite places!). We've already had lots of fun in our little house (I'm thinking about doing a video tour soon!) but whether it is this house or another, its our home and my all-time favorite place. 

What are your favorite places in the world? Any places we should visit? Any the same as mine?