Girls Trip

We're pretty lucky ducks all around!  The girls in the Jones family take a girls trip every 2-3 years.  It was time.  We packed our bags last weekend and headed for a cruise in the Bahamas - with a day in South Beach Miami at the tail end.  A fabulous time was had by all!  Think - girl time, pool time, beach time, ocean time, Atlantis water park/aquarium, live music, karaoke, activities, tons of food, and then some!  We had a ball, and did not want to come home.  

 The girls at dinner - where our server decided to order for Ginger, and bring us extra dishes of everything.  

 Each of the ladies is acting out a piece of the trip that takes prominence - Joni is displaying "eating" something we have to do a lot of on a girls trip.  

 Doris - excitement

 Christine - singing (she karaokied her little heart out)

 I have about 17 pictures of Ginger with her hand in front of her face.  

 We played so hard we got very little sleep - I'm still trying to catch up.  

 Our dock day at Atlantis was awesome - the weather was perfect!

 Don't tell me you don't want to be here... every day.  

 Dork!  I know... with tons of food in me - but a big smile on my face.  

 Atlantis Aquarium

 Large and in charge Manta Ray

 Grand Bahama

 We almost missed our flight because the trains were down at DIA.  I guess thousands were stranded.  

 Norweigan SKY

 heaven

 Hanging out listening to live Reggae - wish I was there right now. 

 The view at dinner

 This is just before we went out dancing and got super sweaty!  Danced until 2:30 am with Christine.. what a ball!

 The result of dancing until 2:30 am.  

The Perfect Cup of Hot Chocolate

Every Year we execute (or attempt to execute) the perfect cup of Hot Chocolate.  One fateful day 8 or so years ago - Matt achieved the perfect cup, and every year since we attempt to create it again.  Usually we achieve it - and we've learned that perfection can take many forms.  This year we reached bliss, thanks to Ginger's genius.  

 The chocolate tastes better in Alessi cups.  

 Matt, Ginger, and Doris all came up with their own flavor profiles.  Matt's was a strawberry orange, as is pictured above.  

 We paired the perfect cup with a fabulous meal a la Matt.  

 The Fall salad kicked things off right with caramelized onions, grilled peppers, tomato, apple, arugala, goat cheese, and a maple dressing.

 The scallops (in a garlic sage sauce) were accompanied by bacon, butternut squash, caramelized onion risotto served in a baked pumpkin.  

 The base of the hot chocolate was not a powder - how else can you achieve the perfect cup but with Lindt chocolate and cream?  come on.

 Ginger in all her brilliance decided bananas foster Hot Chocolate was the way to go.  So she made bananas foster and pureed it - then added it to the chocolate cup.  Doris' was fabulous too - she did a very Fall spice blend, and definitely took second place by a hair. 

 Just a hot chocolate shot really... due to the richness.  But it was definitely FABULOUS!

 Also this Halloween season, Matt and I made some chocolate crusted, orange grand marnier cream tarts, with chocolate spiders and chocolate spider webs.  

This and That!

It seems like life has been a bit crazy lately... all fun stuff, just a lot of it.  Can't complain... Here are a few of our recent happenings, though I'm sure I'll miss a bunch.  Clearly a lot of fun for us revolves around food.  :)

 Splurging with some delish french macaroons from d-dessert bar

 Kickin' it in a suite at the Broncos game.  

 Have you ever?  I mean what's not to love... this guy is amazing.  A good chunk of our time is spent spooning this love bug.  

 I helped niece Natalie with her hair and make up for homecoming.  What a doll face!

 Matt and I with all of the kids at the circus... loved it!

 Put on a few events for work in the last little bit

 Delicious breakfast at a total dive - 20th Street Cafe - we're definitely going back!

 Best Coast performing at City Park.  They sounded awesome, it was just super chilly though - 37 degrees?

 Rocco really wanted some guys chili... he was on his best behavior. 

 Matt looking tough while making caramel - a feat not many can pull off 

 The result:  Apple pie with caramel sauce, yes please. 

 Adorable catering event we went to - with personal sized mini skillets

 A vat of donuts... are you serious?

 How precious were these?

 And did I mention?  It was a holiday party?  In October?

 I've also had a couple of photo shoots this month.

 Smashing Pumkins were a blast... Matt also caught New Order a few days prior.

 It is clear what most of our time is spent doing (or Matt's time at least).  Kickin' butt and takin' names.  Jeez!

We've been to a few festivals as of late - I think this was the Tour de Phat.