Settlement

This is a Dustin post.

So for the past 6 months I have been working on one big case. I have 12 or 13 smaller cases, but about 90% of my time at work has been devoted to one big case. The case had previously been handled by another attorney who left our firm, and there were a lot of things that had to be . . . fixed.

Well, my big case settled last weekend. And for those of you unfamiliar with settling cases as a defense attorney I can tell you it is quite . . . anticlimactic. When I did plaintiff's work a settlement was great, because it meant my client was getting a big check, and the firm was getting a big check, and (in theory, if not in practice) I was getting closer to a big check.

As a defense attorney, settling a case means my client (usually an insurance company) has to write a big check, I stop getting the opportunity to bill on the case, and I have to find other ways to fill my time. It has been nice to have the stress of the big case off my back, but I miss knowing I could go into work at any time and have something to do. Now I have to make sure all of my small cases are caught up. The firm has a lot of work, so I will be able to make my hours, but it was interesting that everyone kept congratulating me for a job well done (which was nice) and for not having to worry about the case anymore. We got a great result for my client and my insurance carrier, so I am happy with the result, but it didn't feel like a win. It felt like a tie, at best. I guess I need to learn to adjust my conception of what a "win" is for me as a defense attorney.

Anyway, just thought I would share a little bit of my legal world with everyone. I'm sure Marina has more fun posts with videos and pictures of bella coming soon.

I ♥ Karlie!

Ok, so today I got to babysit Karlie (Jonathan and Kathryn's little girl) for a little bit. The last time I babysat her was months ago, and it's so funny to see how much she's grown up! She is at that fun age where she repeats stuff that you ask her to say. Soooo I was trying to teach her how to count in Portuguese and it was the cutest thing!!!! I love her dearly and am so glad her parents let me hang out with her once in a while! hahaha Enjoy the little video! 

Nothing to blog about...

I guess my life is pretty boring because I was thinking about what to blog and nothing comes to mind, so I decided I could share with you all THE BEST banana recipe ever! At least, I love it! And have not come across a better one yet.


1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

1. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, or 1 loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.

2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.

3. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.


This is not part of the recipe, but I usually make this little mixture of sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it on top before baking it. That makes a little crust and itssooooooooooo good!! Oh, I should also mention that I got this recipe from a Betty Crocker recipe book.

So frustrating!

So I haven't had a job in over a year. At first, it was exciting to take some time off. Moving was a pain so I thought staying at home doing nothing would be fun. It was until I got bored and wanted to look for a job. When that happened, we started to look for a home to purchase and since I lived in Henderson, and we were looking in Summerlin, I thought it would be dumb to find a job and have to quit so soon because of the commute. After we bought the house and moved in, was almost to Summer time; in hot hot Las Vegas, and with a pool in my backyard... well, I didn't care too much to find a job. Instead, I spent a lot of time enjoying my pool and getting a nice tan. 

I started to look for a job in the fall and didn't feel like I was qualified to do anything (which wasn't true but that's how I felt), but decided to go back to school to get my degree. It's been good going back to school but I got the point now that I HAVE TO FIND A JOB!!!!! So I started looking again... EXCEPT that the economical situation is so bad in this country right now that nobody is hiring. It's so frustrating!!!! I truly miss not having to worry about money and also the social interaction with people other than my husband. Poor Dustin gets home and all I do is talk talk talk....

ANYWAY, if anyone knows of any jobs in Las Vegas or jobs that you can do from home, please let me know!?! Thank you! 

*I know this wasn't a fun post, but I needed to vent for a bit*

Merry Christmas!

This year I was lucky enough to have my sister Luiza and her friend Carol coming to visit all the way from Brazil as well as my sister Carolina and her dog Julie, who came from New Mexico. Poor Dustin had to share the house with 4 VERY loud-crazy Brazilian girls and 2 female dogs! We had a good time cooking up some yummy food and celebrated Christmas Brazilian style, where we wait until midnight on Christmas eve to open up the presents. 

I think I was the one who got the most presents this year so that made me happy! :) I got: a brand new dining table (from Luiza and her friend Carol), a spice rack, Hoover's hard floor cleaner and a very nice perfume all from Dustin. I also got a gift card from Carolina, a purse and shoes from my mom, earrings from Luiza and her friend, and some other things from some dear friends! 

Carolina's dog, Julie, is Bella's half sister and Bella is half her size. This was Julie's Santa's outfit on Bella, it looked so cute, but extra large!!!!

This is my beautiful sister Luiza with Bella and Bella's stocking! I had two little stockings for the dogs and they were full of treats. They were very excited!!! Luiza had just finished cooking when she took this picture, she did not have any makeup on and will kill me when she sees I put this picture up.

This is Luiza and Carol (her friend) posing with Bella. It was so much fun having them here! We all had a very good time and I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! 

Happy Birthday Carô!

Today is my sister Carolina's birthday. And even though she doesn't like to tell people, she is the oldest one in our family. She actually doesn't look like she is the oldest but that's beside the point!
She is a very good sister, as you can see in the pictures, she always had me with her... even when she didn't want to, she was forced to carry me around. I loved being with her and her friends.
After many years she moved to Utah and since I was still in High School, I couldn't follow her... but as soon as I could I was there with her!
Carolina has a huge heart and cares so much for everyone! We as sisters will always argue and fight a little but that's just because we love each other too much!
Thanks for everything Carô and I hope you have a great birthday today. Sorry we can't be there with you! Love you tons!

A little Christmas treat...

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