Blogger Meet Ups

Blogging is funny. You connect with people from all over the world that you would probably never meet otherwise. With my regular visits to Flickr and Blogger I see meet ups for this group or that and I've always been a little weirded out about it. I'm a pretty private person so it took me some time to open up to the whole blogging idea, and once I did, hearing about other bloggers who left the protection of their computers for meet ups at a restaurant or someone's home stressed me out a bit. Not that anyone was asking me to meet up, but still.

However my real-life friend Jason was becoming a force in the blogging world and wanted to go to a meet up last spring. This was not just any old meet up though, it was a MEGA meet up as Bossy was on her acclaimed Road Trip and making a stop in LA. This was Jason's first meet up (he certainly didn't start out small, did he) and he wanted some company. So after just returning the day before from 3 weeks in Africa I accompanied Jason to the Bossy's Road Trip Los Angeles meet up. I had only been blogging for about 3 1/2 minutes at that time so it was a good thing I was jet lagged and not really thinking about how intimidated I was. But it was fine. Everyone was very nice, but also very into their blogging and since I was a newbie I didn't have a lot to say. But overall it was a nice evening and it ended with Jason spending the night with Bossy (a fact that he doesn't ever fail to remind everyone of).

The second meet up I attended was this past summer. The lovely Grandma J and the handsome Hula Hank were both in town at the same time so we met up at The Grove for lunch. Since I was actually in contact with these bloggers, the meet up was much more comfortable and a lot of fun.

Yesterday, there was yet another meet up! Jason and I are in Orange County for a training this week and he has three blogger friends that are from San Diego that he scheduled to meet up with while we are in OC. He asked me to join him and I said that I would. The bloggers we met are not bloggers that I have read in the past, but they are now. We had a wonderful time with Cheri, Katy, and Jamie at dinner last night. They are delightful, fun people and were so comfortable with the meet up that one (and I won't mention any names) spit out their drink right in front of us.

These meets up are somewhat beyond my comfort level. I have no problem meeting new people, but I'm still unsure about the meeting up via the Internet thing. All three of them though have been low key and a lot of fun, and as a bonus, no one has been too crazy either (except of course for the spitting)! Thanks Jason, Cheri, Katy and Jamie for a great meet up!

Construction Completed

Phew! I was finally able to figure it out and my blog is back to being pretty again...different, but pretty. I would be here all night if I tried to explain what happened, but I spent the last two nights trying to figure it out, and I finally did. Let's just say a stupid mistake made by me and a glitch with blogger caused me to spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. So glad I did, cuz I love the "The Cutest Blog on the Block" backgrounds, and they are so easy. Really, they are! What do you think of the new, new look? I miss my red a little, but I like that this one is easier on the eyes and doesn't do the funky transparant picture thing. So for now, I'm happy.

Meet Up

This weekend Grandma J, Jason from The Jason Show and his family, Hula Hank and his family, and I met up in LA at the Grove.

Grandma J, a former Californian/current Texan, is in SoCal visiting family. Hula Hank, a former American/current Australian, is traveling across America with his partner and his son. We were so lucky that they both happened to be in town AT-THE-SAME-TIME. Can you believe it? I know, me neither!

Pictured left-to-right (initials used to protect the innocent, non-bloggers)...

S, Hula Hank, Grandma J, B, Jason Show, D, and GC. I was taking the picture.

It was a beautiful, Los Angeles day and we had a fun, fun time. Thanks for a great visit guys!

Tasty Tuesday

I'm not a food blogger, in fact, I'm not sure what kind of blogger I am. Is a "bunch of random blather" a blog niche? Anyways, I am still a foodie in the sense that I love to eat, drink, cook, and plan parties. Since my vacation ends today and my time spending hours reading and writing posts is over, I thought this would be a great time to start a weekly "culinary" post so I can share some of my favorites with you. Slàinte!

Chicken Tortilla Soup - Slow Cooker

Ingredients

2-3 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (can be frozen)

1 (15 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chile peppers
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups water
1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 oz) package frozen corn
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (add more if you like it like I do)
7 corn tortillas
vegetable oil

1. Put all ingredients (except tortilla and oil) into slow cooker. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours. Before serving, shred chicken using a fork - it will just fall apart.
2. Preheat oven to 400.
3. Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.
4. Bake in preheated oven until lightly brown and crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Add tortilla strips and any other toppings...serve!

And the Winner Is...

ME! I received a blog award from Heart Shaped Hedges. Little ol' me? I am honored. Woot! Woot!