Blessed.

I am having one of those moments. Not one of THOSE moments where everything is negative and everyone is hiding from me, (or they should be). I am having one of those moments where I feel totally blessed. Where I sit here and think wow, I don't know if I deserve this. I am filled with gratitude for patient people in my life. Forgiving people in my life. Loving people in my life. I am in awe of the little miracles that can make a simple day magical. I know there are times where I am buried into the "depths of despair", and I cannot see "the light simmering in the distance",
but today: I feel blessed

Ocean Boulevard.

Some people not from Coos Bay/North Bend have asked me if Ocean Blvd leads to the ocean. In a way it does. It definitely is one of the main roads that gets you heading in the right direction. My draw to Ocean Blvd is that this is where I am residing. Last November I made a change and got a job working at Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. This of course meant that I then needed to move to Coos Bay. In January I got a call from some amazing family friends and in February I moved to Ocean Blvd. It has been quite fun to set my stuff up, decide if I need more, and eventually hang stuff on the walls. I like my style. It's comfortable. I makes me happy. I promised some friends that I would post photos, so here goes:

Ocean Blvd, Krista Style

To be filled.

I so could write pages and pages of tasty recipes to fill us up with tons of lovely calories. That is not the theme of this post though. "To Be Filled", is what I was thinking when I traveled back from my GNO tonight. (That's Girls Night Out for those of you not used to the phrase). I love all my friends. I love spending time with all my friends. I love what I can learn from them. I love what I can share with them. I love the times we laugh, and the times we cry. I love the travel. I love the FOOD! Such good memories to cherish forever. But what I REALLY love... I love the feeling that I sometimes feel after leaving them. That "Full" feeling of happiness and contentment. When you can go home and know if you don't hear from anyone in a few days, it's OK. You know there are truly great people out there that love and care for you!















Great time ladies!

Reinventing Something Tastey: Cheesy Bread Spread

Growing up my sister would make this yummy ooey-gooey-cheesy bread that we lovingly called, "Aunt Bonnie Bread". Aunt Bonnie was actually an Aunt of one of my sisters friends, but since we didn't have a name for this lovely treat we lovingly used her name. It consisted of cheddar cheese, green onions, and mayo mixed together and spread on to plain white bread. This bread was then toasted in the oven till all hot and bubbly and browned. A perfect after school snack or with about any dinner dish. Here I took that simple snack and dressed it up with a little kick.

The reinvention:
Cheese plate with Cheddar Cheese, Salami, and Sweet Spicy Mustard = Cheesy Bread Spread.

Cheesy Bread Spread

2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
5-7 Salami Slices diced
1 Green Onion chopped
3 Tablespoons Sweet and Spicy Mustard
1 Cup Mayonnaise
One Baguette














Mix all ingredients together minus the Baguette.














Slice the Baguette into small round slices. Spread the cheese mixture onto each Baguette slice.














Place on cookie sheet and bake in 400 degree oven for approx 7-10 minutes. The Cheese should be melty, bubbly, and slightly browned.














(Event the picky eaters ate this when offered as mini pizzas)
Bon' Appetite!

Reinventing Something Tastey: Salmon Puffs

Over Christmas and New Years I decided to take yummy items served on one holiday, and reinvent them for the next. This way you could limit your cost and trips to the grocery stores. And who doesn't like that. Well... I actually love trips to the grocery stores, especially during the Holidays... but that is another post in itself..

My first reinvention: Bagels with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese = Salmon Puffs

For Christmas you had your basic Bagels and Lox, without the Lox since the texture makes me gag. For New years I took the leftover smoked salmon, cream cheese, added in some rosemary herb seasoning and puff pastry, and got- oh so yummy!!!

Salmon Puffs

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 pound smoked salmon
2 Tablespoons rosemary seasoning
1 pkg puff pastry dough.
One egg white














Mix the cream cheese, salmon, and seasoning together in a bowl.


















Using a little flour so the dough doesn't stick, roll out the pastry dough so it's a little thinner and larger. Cut the dough into 1 to 2 inch squares, depending on how large you want the puffs. Put a dollop of the salmon mixture onto each square and fold over the edge making a triangle, rectangle, or smaller square. (whatever floats your boat.) Place on a cookie sheet and brush some egg white on each one to make them pretty and shiny after baking. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 18 minutes and vuah-lah. Salmon puffs.














Bon' Appetite!

Sweet Sixteen!!!

This last August Makenzie turned 16. Yep, it's true. 16.


















It is hard to believe that the shy girl that would crawl under the table and flat out refuse to have her photo taken, is in the picture below.


















Makenzie has become this beautiful, amazingly talented, young woman. She has found her intrests and develops them to her best each year.

Love you Makenzie!

Emma Lou

This past summer I tried to spend a day with each of my nieces. I only got the opportunity with Emma and Heidi, but what a great time I had. Here is my ode to Emma.

Emma Lou May:

Emma was a trooper as I had to do laundry while we were together. She even entertained herself with her love of reading, and arranging my quarters by state.














Coburg Cafe was the place for breakfast. Check out her waffles- Yummy!














The Lane County Fair was the adventure for the day. Hooray for sheep... and ice cream!





























This girl loves to dance. Not just any dance though, Irish dance.

She has Hazel eyes. This I did not know until I got the opportunity to really look into them.

Emma is quiet, until she is comfortable with you. Then she talks and talks and talks.... (this is a good thing)

I love that Emma loves. She is a kind and very caring person.

Emma.