Guatemala

My friends and I have been whispering about going to Europe for some time now. I have finally started planning more like pinning tee hee and brainstorming for the trip.

All of the Europe talk has got me thinking about my past trips. 

Here's a little bloggy about my favorite country.

Guatemala

El arco. Antigua, Guatemala.

I went to Guate to study and honestly...because it was cheap.

I didn't have very high expectations.

I was not expecting what I did. I was caught in the most beautiful country with the nicest of people.

I was staying in Antigua. It is a very colonial town and easy to walk from one side to the other, on cobble stones, of course.

You want some eye candy?? Ok!

The far mountain is el Volcan de Fuego Volcano of fire

Coffee: Guatemala has the largest hand roasted coffee plantation

My trusty traveling companion: Z

Teehee

My family's chickens. bock.

La Merced (the mercy) was the most beautiful church.

The white designs are reliefs of vines.

Gorgeous.

El Catedral

My host brother and sister.

I guess I'm boring.

These are macadamias.

This fellow is the owner. He was probably the most vulgar and hilarious man I have ever met. He was also a genious. He is the genius who created the anti-aging component in Nivea skin products (made from macadamia, no big deal).

Have you ever been in a bathroom this tropical?

One of my profes.

Next to C looking all deer in headlights. Sorry C.

Z and I went to a town about an hour away called San Miguel Itzapa. It was a very poor town, but very quaint with nice people.

The reason we went there was because they had a bike co-op where they would make bicycle machines for the Maya people. The building is decorated with different bike parts.

El Volcan de Fuego on my last day. Fittingly beautiful.

Frankly my dear...Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

I have a confession...I had not seen Gone with the Wind until now. One of my friends and "desk pod" mates from work lent me the movie on VHS. Mind you, it is a double VHS due to the length of the great movie. 

This movie has done gone made me feel all southern. I decided to make a delicious tribute to the classic reel.

Red velvet cheesecake brownies.

Oh, I know, you don't need to tell me. 

For the brownies you will need:

One box of brownie mix for and 9x13 pan

Red food coloring

Ingredients to make our brownies

For the cream cheese:

8oz package of cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/8 tsp vanilla

Make the brownies following the recipe on the box and add the red food coloring.

Pour the brownies into a well greased pan.

Cream together the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla.

Plop the cream cheese on top of the brownies and make some swirlies.

Throw the pan into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let it back for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cut the squares and serve them to only to those with the best fake southern accents.

...or use them to find yourself your very own Captain Butler; that's what I'm doin'. ;)

Frankly my dear, I approve this message.

Thanksgiving Festivities

Happy belated Thanksgiving!!

Well I sure disappeared didn't I? I've been very busy doing Thanksgiving things the last few days.

For me Thanksgiving is two days of eating and shopping. The eating, well, the eating is nonstop and guiltless. I mean, come on, it's Thanksgiving. Don't feel guilty.

Hey, guess what I did! I documented my day!

My brother and I started out the day with pumpkin pancakes from Trader Joe's.

YUM.

My sister, Renée, my mom, and myself.

We went to my brother-in-laws family's house.

The Thanksgiving Feast

My brother is very creative with the Thanksgiving eating.

Turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and gravy all on a cheddar roll.

Brilliant.

Anthony won. Notice the empty plate.

Ben, my brother-in-law, the loser, whose plate is not so empty.

The dessert was two pumpkin pies, a pumpkin apple pie, and a caramel pecan. YUM!

The one in the bottom right corner is my pumpkin pie. :)

Every year my sister and I go shopping all night. We usually go with our cousin Jennifer. Sadly, she wasn't able to join this year.

The key for the all-night shopping is hydration.

This is about when the crazy started kicking in.

We were a little more than giggly.

After shopping in malls and outlets we made it to our final destination...

Here it is in all it's Christmas cheer. :)

Pretty Christmas decorations-Anthro really knows what to do.

Cute idea, huh?

This is when I got home to make another pie crust and get ready for work.

I worked until 5pm, came home to make the pie and bake it, took a one hour nap, and then I was off to another Thanksgiving. 

The annual Friendsgiving dinner. 

The gang.

It was a good couple of days. Now, I am at Thanksgiving number three with my family and my aunt's family. 

After all of the parties, eating, and shopping I can say that I am truly Thankful. The last few months since I came home have been a whirlwind and during the whole time everyone around me have been nothing less than supportive. 

I am truly blessed.

Well, I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Did you eat too much?