From Nevada, Through Utah, to Wyoming

Rest area in Utah

On April 27th our journey was from Elko, Nevada to Rawlins,Wyoming. The wind was intense in Wyoming, pushing our car all over the road, but we made it safe and sound.

Going through Salt Lake City, UT

Passing Salt Lake City

Heading into Wyoming

The small town of Rawlins

Cross Country Road Trip/Military PCS

I AM alive...lol I mentioned a few months back that we would soon be driving cross country for our next duty station. Well, that day has come. We left California on Tuesday and currently are somewhere in the middle of Nebraska. My hubby and I are trading off driving so we can do about a 10 hour/500 mile day including about a thousand pit stops for the girls. Everyone is doing well and the weather has been cold but clear.

I wanted to share some pictures along the way with you. I can not believe how amazing the scenery is through America. Yesterday alone while driving from Nevada to Wyoming I took over 900 shots!!! 

Here are some of my favorites from our first day going from Northern California to Elko, NV. I have the rest of this days pictures in an album on my photography website so if you would like to see more just click on the picture.

Tomorrow I will post the pictures from Weds....going from Nevada to Wyoming.

Easter In L.A.

We spent last weekend in L.A. visiting with family and having an early Easter for the girls. While we were in L.A. I want to do the "tourist" sightseeing. With how many time I have been to L.A. I have never actual been around the town. So with my uncle as our guide the girls and I went out for the day. 

First we went to the Hollywood hills...

...then to Graumans Chinese Theater

...Madame Tuessaudes

...Hollywood First National Building

For lunch we hit a famous Hollywood spot and a place I have passed many times but never stopped....

Pinks! See the girls standing to the left under the sign :)

I had the "Emeril Lagasse". A 9" dog with mustard, cheese, bacon and coleslaw. There were so many amazing ones to choose from, it was a tough decision for sure! My dog rocked!

Later we hit The Grove. What an amazing place. It's like it's own little city and it's gorgeous. I wish I had a whole day just to hang out and snap pictures...and The Original Farmers Market area was full of old world history, charm and amazing food. We were on our way to see the movie Rio at The Grove when look what we found right outside the theater....Mario Lopez filming Extra Coast To Coast.

The movie was super cute and the girls really loved it. Well C really loved it, M curled up in my lap half way through and fell asleep. Granted I couldn't blame her since we left San Diego that day at 0500 to miss the LA morning traffic. 

We then headed back to the uncle's house to relax and await hubby. Poor hubby had to drive in the afternoon traffic but he still made it before dinner. while we waited the girls played with their "cousin" Jackson. Isn't he a doll. So cute and fluffy and with two parents whom work in Hollywood I wouldn't be surprised if we see him in print and TV ads soon. After all he already has his own blog and tweets!

Girls with cousin Jackson

C being silly

Saturday was "Easter" for the girls. Time to get dressed up, hunt for eggs and have a fabulous dinner. The uncle's spent the day cooking while the girls had fun playing and running all over the house. The girls Great Grams came up from La Jolla to share this special Easter with us. It was wonderful having everyone together for one last Easter before the move to the East Coast.

Pretty in their Easter dresses!

Tired from the big hunt!

The girls even wore out poor Jackson, he had to hide and stay cool under the curtains.

What about Easter dinner you may be wondering...and I know you are. It was delicious! Besides the beauty that is their entire home I love visiting the uncles because the food is always amazing. Five star restaurant quality.  

Beets boiling away....

Beautifully dyed eggs to go with the beets and fresh horseradish.

Herbed Roaster Pork Loin with Gravy

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

In addition we had seasoned roasted cauliflower, a salad of dandelion greens with grape tomatoes and vinaigrette and fresh rolls from La Brea Bakery. It was a feast and although I am afraid to get on the scale, I am sure I gained back the five pounds I had just lost a few days before...lol

Simple Veggie "Pizza" Appetizer

Since moving away from Virginia and back to the West Coast I forgot all about a veggie pizza I used to make for playdates. I learned this very simple recipe from another mommy whom shared it one Thanksgiving. Ever since then it became a staple at get together's because it was is such a delicious hit! My girlfriend Semper Fi Momma came over for a little breakfast/mommy time and between the two of us we did very well finishing off almost both of the pizzas...lol

Recipe: Makes 2 Pizzas

* 2 tubes Pillsbury Seamless Dough Sheets (I used to use the Croissant Rolls..flatten out the rolls and then just press the seams together...this is now much easier and faster)

* 1 1/2 bricks of Cream Cheese, softened

* 1 Package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Dry Mix

* Fresh Broccoli Florets

* Diced Carrots

* Green Onions / Chives

* Cheddar Cheese, shredded

This recipe for the most part does not have measurements per se, I just make it to taste.

~ Unroll and flatten out the dough sheets onto two separate cookie sheets. I line my cookie sheets with parchment paper, makes it much easier to slide the pizza off onto a serving plate. Bake at 350 until golden brown. Remove and set aside.

~ While dough is cooling cream together 1 1/2 blocks of cream cheese with one packet of dressing mix and set aside.

~ Finely chop enough broccoli florets and carrots to cover both pizzas based on how much veggies you like. Do same with chives.

~ With a spatula carefully spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture over cooled sheets. Then top with desired amounts of veggies, cheese and top with chives.

So easy it's sickening, and so tasty it's divine!

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Laughter Of A Child

I have been very stressed lately with getting my house and my family ready to move cross country in a few weeks. On top of that normal stress is off course the loom of the "government shut down". With my husband being active duty military we would be just one of the thousands of families whom will not be seeing a paycheck and possibly not receiving our PCS advance to make the move cross country. So penny pinching as been at a high in our home hoping that if there is a shut down we can a little bit of money for groceries and gas until the government  gets of their highly over paid fat wallets and gets their s**t together.

Yesterday my girls attended a birthday party for C's classmate at Pump It Up. Seeing the girls so happy, hearing them laugh hysterically as they jumped, slide and ran around like mad was just what I need to pull me out of my stressed induced funk even just for awhile. It is amazing what the a simple smile or giggle from your child can do for your heart.

Sunday Citar/Sunday Snapshot - Out For A Walk

The Ultimate Blog Party 2011 Is Here!

It's here and this is no April Fools joke! The Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom starts today!

 Welcome everyone! My name is Stephanie and I am thrilled that you stopped by. I think I am supposed to do an "about me" post but frankly I never know what to say. I am a Marine Corps wife (Oorah) and mommy to two awesome little girls. I own a small business called Sew Fierce and have become very avid (sometimes obsessive) about my photography the past several months. We currently live in beautiful San Diego, CA but in just a few short weeks will be moving to Northern PA. This will be the third time in 6 years we have moved from one coast to the other. Lucky for me we love a new adventure!

So instead of going on about me let me tell you how you can join this awesome party! Head over to the amazing Prize Page and see all the awesome prizes up for grabs over the next 8 days. Then make sure to post a comment on the official party page so you can get your name in the hat to win one of these amazing prizes. Third,  add your blog, twitter, facebook and or website page to the appropriate linky and visit, visit, visit! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new blogging friends and find sites you might normally never know about. And of course do not forget to follow #UBP2011 on Twitter for all the up to date happenings and to see when winners are announced.

How do I like to party?

Good Food.....

A Little Bubbly.....

Some sweet treats and meeting new bloggy friends!

Really what could be better? So make sure to join the party and have fun! Also if I am lucky enough to have you as a new follower please leave a comment letting me know so I can follow you back!