Cookie Craziness

Do I love drinks with friends?.... YES

Do I love yummy appetizers?..... YES

Do I love cookies?.....YES

Than I should have known right away that a Holiday Cookie Exchange Party would be right up my alley!

Last Friday I was invited to attend a Holiday Cookie Exchange at the Baker house. You may ask what is a cookie exchange???

A cookie exchange gives you the chance to enjoy the treats of the holiday season without the hassle of baking them all. You invite your close friends over and ask them to each bring a half dozen cookies for each guest. The evening is spent enjoying beverages, appitizers, and some great company.
The goal: Everyone takes home an array of delicious desserts for a fraction of the effort. Now that's a sweet deal!

I spent much of last week preparing for the BIG event! The "cookie" I chose to bring were my delicious cake balls! I decided to make 3 different flavors... lemon dipped in white chocolate, red velvet dipped in white chocolate, and chocolate mint dipped in milk chocolate.

It took forever to roll and dip each cake ball... but in the end I was very happy with the result!

As we bagan to pick up our cookie containers I was in shock! There were SO many cookies and each container was adorable. I felt as if I was on a shopping spree. I walked by each area and grabbed each yummy treat. It was so FUN!!

Joe's eyes lit up as I arrived home! There were so many new treats to try. Many them are now on a try waiting to be shared with my family on Christmas Day!

It was so nice to see all the girls! I love "girl" time and the evening with filled with wonderful women. I spent much of the night smiling and laughing!

I cannot wait until next year. Thank you to Katie for being such a wonderful host and thank you to all the ladies for a fun holiday celebration!!

 

Checking In

WOW!!!! I have not had the chance to blog in quite awhile!
Life has been very busy. I have been trying to get ready for Christmas… Shopping, shopping, more shopping, and a little baking.

Things in the Suarez House are great!

Joe just received another promotion within Wells Fargo. I am so very proud of him! He went up one more step as a manager and I know he is going to do great. In Joe's words, "I am really doing the same job, so it's not that big of a deal." I would have to disagree! I think anytime your good work is recognized... you should CELEBRATE. He is now the second in command at the branch and I think that is a pretty big deal!

I am very proud of my husband!!!

In other news... I went on a field trip today with my 4th graders!

We spent the day at the Arizona Science Center and had tons of fun! It was so nice to see my students outside of the classroom. They were so excited and their exuberance could be felt by everyone around them.

We were able to spend the morning exploring all the wonderful science exhibits. The best part of the day was the IMAX 3-D movie about the Hubble telescope up in space. I was so impressed with the movie and I just LOVED the glasses!

Can you tell.....??

I am very happy to report that LIFE IS GOOD! I am looking forward to Christmas and my 2 week break from school. Joe and I cannot wait to celebrate another holiday season together.... :)



Brotherly/Sisterly Love

I love my Brother and Sister! 

This past weekend was so enjoyable. I love spending time with my siblings. We are all very different and that is what makes our time together so special. 

I am so glad that we were able to spend some quality time together over the long weekend!

I love you two very much :)

Thanksgiving 2011

I am thankful for a PERFECT Thanksgiving!!

This Thanksgiving had to be one of the best yet. The company, quality time, and food were all excellent!!

Joe and I arrived at my Mom and David’s house early that morning. I was going to be cooking the turkey but wanted to do it all at her house. So, I needed time!

My mom and I cooked a delicious breakfast and the eating began!

After breakfast, I had to get the turkey in and cooking! This was my FIRST year making the turkey and I must say it was fabulous. I had used a herb and maple brine and the turkey soaked in these great flavors for almost 2 days. The flavors made the turkey so moist and gave it a great taste!

As the turkey cooked away, we all spent some time together! We played a fun game of Apples to Apples, worked on the GIANT crossword puzzle, played some chess, and watched some football!

I love a house filled with laughs, smiles, and happiness! That was how the house felt this Thanksgiving!

When the turkey was done we pulled out all the side dishes and dug in! The family ate outside and enjoyed the perfect Arizona weather. We enjoyed chatting at dinner… Mitch of course made silly remarks and we spent much of dinner laughing!

After dinner and dishes we headed back outside for some time by the firepit. The boys smoked a cigar and the ladies had some coffee. Mitch gave us a lesson on Twitter and how much he loves it, Joe and David tweeted, and I took pictures J

I could have not asked for a better day. I have so many things to be thankful for (as you saw in my earlier post) and I was so glad to spend the day with many of those people!

There was so much love in the house Thanksgiving Day and I am so happy we shared it together!

A 26th Birthday to Remember!

Wednesday, November 23^rd was a very special day!

Joe and I celebrated 3 years since we became engaged in Santa Barbara, California and 2 years of owning our home in Anthem. November 23^rd was also my 26^th Birthday!!

A picture from our engagement in 2008!

It was such a wonderful day filled with all the most important people in my life.

Joe had set our alarm for 2:26 am… the exact time I was born. The screeching alarm scared me, but it helped start the day off just right. Joe rolled over and gave me a giant birthday kiss! Since Wednesday there was no school for the Thanksgiving Holiday, we were able to roll back over and drift back to sleep.

When the time came to wake up for the day, Joe asked me to get ready and we went out to The Place for a Birthday Breakfast. If you have never been to The Place… you must check it out! The best breakfast in Glendale, Arizona!

After an amazing breakfast, Joe and I headed down to Sky Harbor Airport to pick up my brother Mitch. He was flying in from Columbus, Ohio to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family. I was very excited to see him… but I think he was more excited to see the new Jeep Wrangler he just purchased.

He will be driving it back to Ohio over the Christmas holiday and all the ladies in Ohio will swoon! He is in love!!

After some time catching up with Mitch, we all got ready for a night out! My mom and dad had planned on taking everyone to El Charro, a very nice restaurant in Paradise Valley.  Our family has many memories of dinner out on El Charro’s Patio as children. They are memories that always bring a smile to my face, so I was very excited to create a new memory there!

We sat around the table and enjoyed each other. Anyone who knows me knows that quality time is way more important to me then any gift you could buy. I just love spending time with the people I love!!

I did however get some wonderful gifts… J

I am so grateful that my family took the time to make my 26^th Birthday so special! Thank you Joe, Macy, Mitch, Mom, David, Dad, Kurstin, and Grams for all the wonderful presents and memories…

I love you all!



A Time To Be Thankful

Thanksgiving:

1.       Fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag.

2.       An expression of thanks, especially to God.

3.       A public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! This is one of the holidays I look forward to each and every year. To me, Thanksgiving means family, happiness, laughter, and FOOD!!

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching… I felt this was the perfect opportunity to reflect on all the things I am THANKFUL for.

What better way to do that than a TOP 10 LIST???

#10. My Happiness: Life is great! I am so incredibly happy with what life has thrown my way. I am blessed to have so many things that others live without. Life has had its hard moments, but I am in the best place of my life. I am thankful for the happiness that surrounds me!

#9. My Financial Stability: I have learned a lot about money throughout my life. It is something that I am very careful with. I was lucky when I married a “Numbers Man”. Joe is so responsible with our money and we have made some great decisions. I am thankful for our lack of debt and financial stability. I know it will pay off in the long run!

#8. My Job/Students: Being a teacher can be a hard and stressful job, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I go to work each day and hopefully have a positive impact on my student’s lives. I love teaching, and when I see my students understanding and exploring, I feel so excited. I am thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children.

A picture of me drawn by one of my students!

#7. Friends: I am one of those people that have a few close friends that I hold close to my heart. The ones that I have are amazing!! I know I can count on them and they will be by my side at a moments notice. They are dependable, trustworthy, and loyal. Together we are silly and have tons of fun! I am so thankful for my friends!!

#6. My House: Joe and I are so blessed to have such a beautiful home. We go to bed each night in a warm bed with a roof over our heads! We purchased this house 2 years ago and I am thankful for the memories we have created here. I have worked hard to make our house feel like a home! I enjoy the nights we cuddle up on the couch to watch movies with a glass of wine. I even love it when I am spending my weekend cleaning!! I know this home will be a safe place to raise our children someday and I am so thankful to call it mine!

#5. My Grandma Joan in the Mountains: I am so lucky to have such a great grandma!! She has always been there for me and I know I can go to her for anything. She is so energetic and an amazing tennis player! I can’t believe at her age that she is still so active. I hope I have some of those genes!!! She has more friends then anyone I know and is loved by her church and community. I am thankful for her love of myself and my family!

#4. Cody: What an amazing dog she is! A smile is brought to my face each day due to something she has done. She is an incredibly loyal dog and is at the door each night to greet me after work. She loves to lick, play with her baby, and eat treats! Cody is an important part of the Suarez family and I am thankful to have her around… even with all that hair she sheds!

#3. My California Family: I think I have mentioned it before, but I have great In-Laws! Many say that I am extremely lucky to have married into the Suarez Family… and I would agree. I now not only have 2 parents that love me, but 4! Frank and Nanette are so kind and giving! Joe and I truly appreciate all they have done for us! I look forward to the time Joe and I spend with them. I love our trips to California and their trips to Arizona. When we are together, we are always having a good time! I am thankful each day for the Suarez Family! I love them very much.

#2. My Arizona/Ohio Family (this is going to be a long one): My family may be unique, but I think they are the BEST! We have been through so much and walked away from it all stronger than ever!

My mom is my best friend and confidant. I can tell her anything and I cherish the time we spend together. With her I can laugh, cry, and be silly! She has been by my side through all of life’s ups and downs and I am so glad she was apart of it all. She gives the best advice and loves me unconditionally! My mom is such a strong woman and she is the rock of our family! We would all be lost without her!

My dad has opened my eyes to many things. Without him I wouldn’t have my extreme love of baseball… or the St. Louis Cardinals. This love of baseball is something that Joe and I will also instill in our children! I am so glad that he is happy! I know my dad tries his best and I am thankful for the relationship we have.

My sister Macy is such a free-spirit! At times I may not understand her point of view or agree with her decisions, but I still love her like crazy! I am extremely proud of the young woman she is turning in to and I know she will make our family proud! She is so beautiful and considerate. Macy is always thinking about others around her. I LOVE our sister dates and cherish the moments we spend together.

My brother Mitch is quite the character. I would be the first to admit that he and I are complete opposites, but I am so glad he is in my life. Mitch is dedicated, hard working, and GO GO GO! He is one of the funniest guys I know… even if his jokes include picking on me! I am amazed at what he has accomplished in his life and I know he will achieve greatness. Mitch is extremely loyal to our family and I know he would do anything for me. I am so very proud to call him my brother! GO BUCKS!

David and Dallas are quite the duo. They have brought many smiles into our family… the most important smile being my moms! They are funny and energetic. There is never a dull moment when these boys are around! I am so glad David is there each day to make my mom feel safe and loved. I am very thankful they have come into our lives!

I am so thankful for the moments spent with my family.

I love them with all my heart!!

#1: Joe: What a truly amazing man! I am so blessed to call him my husband. Joe is a dedicated, hard working, compassionate person. He does whatever it takes to be sure that I feel loved unconditionally, safe, and secure. Joe is creative and determined. I am amazed at the things he has achieved and am excited for the things I know he will accomplish. Joe makes me feel lively and content all at the same time! He shows me new things and everyday with him is an adventure. He is modest and humble, but all who meet him know what a terrific person he is. I cherish the moments we spend together and look forward to the memories we will create! I am so thankful to call Joe my husband and friend….

I hope that all the people I love so much have a wonderful Thanksgiving!