my french morning

This morning I went to a place in Cherry Creek called Crepes 'n Crepes, and I was totally taken to another place [figuratively speaking, of course]. As I sat at the small, round table outside of the cafe, taking in the sunshine, listening to the waiters converse in French, and sipping a chilled glass of water, I couldn't help but feel like a character straight out of The Sun Also Rises. If you haven't read that book, it's a Hemingway classic and you definitely should. But if follows the main characters as they gallivant around Paris and Pamplona, living a life of indulgence and drinking. In the book, the characters spend every morning relishing a delicious French breakfast, and although I wasn't hungover like they usually are, I enjoyed my turn at a French cafe [even if it is in Denver]. 

My friend came to join me, and we decided to split two crepes so that we could enjoy both a sweet and a savory kind of crepe. For sweet we had strawberries with chocolate sauce --- yum! But the winner for me was the ham and mozzarella crepe! Soooooo gooey and just divine!

I totally recommend this charming and delicious cafe to anyone looking to try something new! 

Cheers [to new experiences - y'all know how I like those!]

BLT - my way!

Happy Tuesday!

Last night I made the most delicious BLT - so I thought you foodies might want to know about it! 

• I started with a fresh loaf of warm French bread, and cut it in pretty thick slices [about an inch?]. 
• I then cooked some turkey bacon [Jennie-O] using an awesome new method I learned in my Bon Apetit magazine. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Arrange your bacon on a rack that you have set on top of a foil-lined baking sheet Bake for 10-15 minutes or until browned and crisp. I loved this method! You can cook a lot more bacon at once than in a frying pan, and there's next to zero mess!
• While the bacon was cooking, I mixed some mayo with chili powder in a small bowl to make a spicy mayo. I spread it on one of the slices of French bread. 
• I then sliced a tomato and a yellow onion, and put slices on the mayo'd side of bread.
• Then washed baby romaine lettuce and layered it on the dry piece of bread.
• Add some sizzlin' turkey, and voila! You have a spicy, warm, delicious BLT with a twist :)

Does anyone else have delicious BLT recipes I should try?!?

Let me know if you try mine and if you like it!

Cheers! [sorry for the crappy photo]

summer fun [july]

Yesterday, I caught you up with June's shenanigans. Since I was also MIA in blogland throughout July too, today I'm sharing my July happenings with you :)

In July we celebrated lots of birthdays - including my little sister's 17th! Here she is the with fairy that came in her birthday card, haha :)

Went to Fort Collins for a weekend and saw Transformers 3! Loved it except for the new chick/love story situation. 

Went to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and wished I could afford to buy this beautiful picture of a beach made up of colorful seashells. Got yelled at buy this photographer for taking a picture of it. 

Went to Happy Hour at Kona Grill! Hello $3 sushi rolls and margaritas!

Played with sparklers in our backyard on the 4th of July

It rained a LOT in July. And we found this guy in our backyard one night. I love worms. Weird, I know.

July was Penny's feet-biting month. Hence the homemade booties and cone-of-shame. She's so pissed she won't even look at the camera. 

HARRY POTTER 7 PART 2 CAME OUT! And we saw it at the Cine Capri theater! Don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the screen is like 3 times the size of a regular movie theater screen! It was awesome! Loved the last movie - cried the WHOLE time!!!

Boots are on for a night of fun at Cowboy Lounge!

One of my very best childhood friends was back in the states for a while [she teaches in China], so we met up for some fun at the 16th Street Mall and indulged on blueberry salads and frozen yogurt! Mmmmm

Took the dogs to the dog park. I think we ALL needed this outing! Our escape within the city is definitely the Cherry Creek Dog Park. 

One of my best friends had her baby! Sweet baby Ember :)

I became a BRUNETTE! My mom's first reaction was, "Welcome to the dark side!" haha. It's lightened up a bit from the first day, but I love it! It's definitely less maintenance and will be fun for fall. Don't be surprised if spring brings back a blonde Kaity though!

And that, my friends, is July!

Tomorrow I'll be reviewing the sequels to the Hunger Games! Stop on by :)

Cheers!!!

summer fun [june]

So, I'm aware that I was practically MIA in all of June and July, and I know you all are dying to be up to speed on my life, right? Sure ;) You've already read the latest hopeful story on Naggie, the never-ending health issues of Penny, and the quick-and-dirty details of school, but there is plenty of my summer I haven't told you about yet. So let's catch you up!

Went to a really sketch bar called Caldonia's for dinner with the Rose Girls. Apparently Thursday night is Biker Night at Caldonia's...let's just say our missing leather, bandanas, and handlebar mustaches caused us to stick out a bit...

At Caldonia's we played a "Minute to Win It" game where you had one minute to hit your 3 limes in the white square with a banana that dangles from your hips...WTF?! But I won, and got a t-shirt and some swag. I love impulsive random things like that! PS - it's harder than it looks --- you should try it sometime!

Went to Lyons with the in-laws to celebrate Father's Day and June birthdays. Ate at Oskar Blues for the first time! Remember that ambitious list of 101 things all Coloradans should do that I posted? Well, Oskar Blues and the Lyons pinball were on that list --- check and check! I feel like I did the 2 things there are to do in Lyons, and yeah, I don't really plan on going back ever :)

Tyler got me "just because" flowers --- my favorite rainbow daisies :)

We went to the Garden Grapes and Hops Event at the Denver Botanic Gardens with my family! One of my favorite summer Denver things to do. Pay an entrance fee, then fill up with as much food, wine, and beer from local restaurants, vineyards, and breweries as you can! All while meandering through the beautiful gardens and listening to live music play under the stars. Certainly a recipe for success!

Tyler built the dogs a doghouse - since June and July Colorado behaved like a flood-prone state. With my long days at school, we wanted them to have some shelter in the back yard!

Cute bandana puppies excited about their new doghouse :)

My baby [Marine] brother came home from his tour in Japan, and we spent a night with him and his then-fiance out in Denver!

At a Rockies game

My brother and my new sister-in-law :)

The hubs shaved his head - taking control of his balding [yep, that's what he said, haha]

Our wonderful friends Joedy and Dave got married!

And we celebrated with them

Hugging my BFF 

Photobooth fun at Joedy and Dave's reception!

My class and I celebrated the end of our first Anatomy exam...

The hubs and I had a nice sushi dinner out at Blue Fin Sushi

Enjoyed some summer beers rooftop at Sports Column

From the roof we could see the post-Rockies game fireworks!

Met up with some Rose Ladies for a night out on the town!

 So, while I spent the *vast* majority of my time in June studying, apparently I had plenty of fun on the side! I think the fact that my BFF hairstylist made me uber-blonde for the summer really helped ;)

Stay tuned for July's update tomorrow!

Cheers! [to summer fun!]

camping with the chaps!

Happy Friday to you all!

So, on Monday and Tuesday I had my last finals for summer semester, and now I am free on summer break! I'm happy to report that I pulled As this semester - which is such a huge relief! It really bolsters my confidence in myself, and I feel ready to tackle fall semester [10 classes, integrated physiology/biochemistry...ick] - or at least as ready as I'll ever be!!!

Oh and if you're wondering about my blog post's title, the PA program I'm in is the Colorado Health Associate: Physician Assistant program, or CHAPA --> I call our class "chaps" :P

So now that I'm on my 12-day summer break, I am trying to squeeze in as much summer fun as I can! On Tuesday and Wednesday night, our little familia went camping up near Buena Vista with my PA school class. We had a really good time! And it was so blissful to be breathing in the mountain air without that little nagging thought of "I should be studying" in the back of my head. 

Ready to go!!!

Taking a break from the rain under a tarp :)

Beautiful Colorado sunset!!!

Glow stick time!!!

I love my class :)

Good morning, Colorado!

Sweet little Penny in her t-shirt [so she doesn't scratch her ringworm owies]

On a beautiful hike!

Reading Catching Fire creekside in the sun --- BLISS!

Sunset Wednesday night...so beautiful!

And last night was a girls' night out on the town with some of my coworkers from my job at the hospital before I started school. It was so wonderful to see my girls! I am still glad to be on my new adventure with school and everything, but I really really miss those crazy, beautiful, wonderful ladies!!!

This weekend is another camping weekend for us! So we're loading up the CRV and off to camp up the Poudre Canyon with my family!

Cheers [to freedom and beautiful Colorado!!!]