Weekly Update

Funny, I had yesterday off and still didn't manage to write the weekly update. Whatevs, here it is now.

 I love my dog because: He tires out so quickly now! Even with all that puppy energy. I blame this horrible Southern heat. :)

 I love my cat because: I had Jack's buddy Kaida over yesterday and Huey entertained them for me. Mostly they were just harassing him, but still.

 Cupcake Flavor of the Week: We made angel food strawberry shortcake cupcakes! Everyone loved them! Now I just have to figure out what I'll be making this week, since Nicole just left for the week.

 Current Read: Wicked! Loved the Broadway show (thanks youtube!), but I haven't read the book yet. So far it's quite good, but a little slow. There's a lot going on.

 Starbucks Flavor of the Week: None! Nicole gave us some Gevalia (mocha and dark chocolate truffle). I'm loving it!

 Picture of the Week: I'm feeling way to lazy right now to upload a picture. So I apologize.

 Favorite song to blast: Still lovin' the "Beautiful" song. One of these days I will start blogging about other stuff than just weekly updates. But I'm too busy right now :)

(FINALLY! I figured out how to make paragraphs with this new blog layout stuff. I have absolutely no doubt that as soon as I actually figure this stuff all out they'll change it again. Oh well at least it gives me something (productive?) to do).

Weekly Updates

Disclaimer: It's 4:48 pm. I woke up at 2 am, to work a 3am to 11am shift. I came home and walked the dog 4 miles. Then I did dishes and other housework. Then I finished The Hunger Games series. Then I went to the gym with Nicole. I am extremely tired and have not taken a nap. So if this post is confusing, that's why. ;) I love my dog because: He was very good today! It was weird, I came home from work, expecting a hyper puppy, and during our walk he was very good and would even heel by himself! Good doggie! I love my cat because: Cats are awesome. End of story. Cupcake Flavor of the Week: Mint Chocolate chip! They were very successful. Tackling strawberry shortcake cupcakes next! Current Read: I finished the third and last book of the Hunger Games today! It had a sad ending, but I still liked the ending (translation: she ended up with who I wanted her too. Yay!) Nicole has lent me Wicked, so I will be reading that next. Probably not tonight. And one of these days, I will finish The Princess Bride. Starbucks Flavor of the Week: Medium Morning Joe. This brew is really delicious! Nice and smooth, bold yet not overpowering. Picture of the Week:

Because Huey doesn't get enough face time. Favorite Song to Blast: I don't know the singer, or what the song is called, but it's basically summed up by the line "You don't know you're beautiful, and that's what makes you beautiful." I've been hearing it a lot, I love it. Kind of reminds me of old school early 90's music. And I love the lyrics :) It's a feel good song I'm looking forward to: I'm just looking forward to sleeping tonight. Seriously. WHY HAVEN'T I TAKEN A NAP??????

Pancake Traditions

My family doesn't have a lot of "traditions," but one of us kids' favorite things growing up was having Daddy make us pancakes on Saturday. Sometimes much to his digress, since this usually began way earlier in the morning than he wanted and started with 3 children jumping on him in bed, with permission from Mommy. Poor guy, I kind of feel bad for him that I did that, now having a dog that refuses to sleep past 7. Anyways. As many of you know, I'm rather a purist with baking. Or I try to be, anyway. I do not make anything from a box. Boxed brownie and cupcakes mixes to not ever enter my house. Now, pancake mix will occasionally make an appearance, but I DO NOT MAKE PANCAKES WITH THEM. I usually use them for recipes that call for a bake mix and I don't have time to try and figure out how to go about making that substitute (read: I probably worked that day and am pretty tired and stressed and have a hyper dog to entertain and a hungry husband to feed). For those of you who don't know, you can make pancakes without a box mix (I have been asked this question before, not kidding, but usually by a male). We grew up with buttermilk pancakes, the same recipe every week, but hey, it's the one thing my dad can make and not burn, so we certainly enjoyed it (and I think he did, too). But I have gotten older, sophisticated my palette a little bit, and while that buttermilk pancake recipe will always be in my arsenal for use, I have begun branching out to try other pancake recipes. This is the one part of my life where I'm learning change is ok every once in awhile. I thought I had a favorite pancake recipe. Until I came across this recipe this morning while I was reading my new cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. It's a recipe for sour cream pancakes and they are delicious, I always have everything on hand for them, and they're seriously quick to make! They honestly take no longer than a box mix. SCORE! So so so yummy. Light, fluffy, and best part, NO BUTTER! So they're not THAT bad for you. :) Try these pancakes, you'll never go back to boxed pancakes again. Honestly. These might even have beaten out the old family favorite recipe. (And this recipe doesn't make that many, so it's perfect for just two people). All copyright goes to Ree Drummond, from The Pioneer Woman Cooks (read her cookbook, it's awesome). Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream 7 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Place the sour cream in a bowl. Dump in the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Mix gently. Stop before the ingredients are completely combined, this adds texture. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, add the vanilla. Stir together the sour cream and egg mixture. It's ok if not everything is combined. Melt some butter (or just use cooking spray) on a skillet, and cook! Voila, yummy pancakes that are not from a box and super easy and delicious!

STOP CHANGING: 2012

Ok, seriously, why does every social networking site out their have to change it's looks? You get used to facebook one day, they change it the next day. You start using blogger, then 2 years later, you think you have everything figured out, then BAM! changed! So here is my plea for all sites social networking: STOP CHANGING! Even people with a college degree are not tech savvy. Even those of us with science degrees are not tech savvy. It takes me longer to figure stuff out. LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ME BLOG IN PEACE. Thanks. At least this seems easy enough to use. :)

Weekly Favorites

I love my dog because"

No matter what kind of day I had at work, Jack is ALWAYS excited to see me when I get home. Maybe it's just because I'm letting him out of his room (FINALLY, Mom!), but I think he may like me. Maybe.

I love my cat because:

He is always the first one to greet me when Matt isn't home, he comes bounding up to the door with a happy "Mer-ow!" about 95% of the time, if he's not terrorizing Lenny. He quite enjoys those first few seconds he has alone with me before I inevitably walk down the hallway and let The Dog out.

Cupcake Flavor of the Week:

I think this week we will be making the mint chocolate chip cupcakes! Oh, my mouth is watering already. Oh no wait, that's because it's dinner time and I haven't made dinner yet. Oops.

Current Read:

The Hunger Games! Finally finished Under the Greenwood Tree and finished the first HG book in 4 days. If I hadn't been working, totally would have been able to do it in 2. Already about 20% done with the second book. So so so good.

Starbucks flavor of the Week:

Medium Colombia. As you can see, Matt and I go through about one bag of coffee a week.

Picture of the Week:



To remember happier times, Multunomah Falls in Portland. So pretty. So cool. Not humid. Good times.

Favorite song to blast:

Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are. At work, this is Toni and my's jam. We like to sing this out loud when there aren't too many customers around. Because the songs that PetSmart plays are mostly lame. But this one isn't. ;)

I'm looking forward too:

The end of my 7 days in a row of working! 4 of them being over 9 hours! Can't wait to be done and enjoy my three day "weekend." I'm going up to Tupelo with Nicole again on Thursday to get new gym shoes (and sample more cupcakes)! Friday should be cupcake making day! Matt and I both have Saturday off! Probably will finish the HG series this week! Just gotta get through Wednesday!

Yummy Yummy Cupcakes

Nicole and brainstormed the other day about other cupcake flavors we need to make. Here's what we have come up with so far: (and fyi, our boston cream cupcakes were a hit!)

Strawberry Shortcake:
-This idea came to me by way of Jillian, the only other wife in our UPT class that's chillin' in Columbus. The cake would be vanilla, with frozen strawberries (texture-wise frozen strawberries are better to bake with, but I would buy fresh local ones and freeze them), then top it with a whipped cream frosting and fresh, non-frozen strawberries. It's strawberry shortcake cupcake style!

Chocolate Mint:
-chocolate cake with mint chocolate chips, topped with a slightly mint flavored, mint colored buttercream frosting and an Andes mint (or a few mint chocolate chips).

Kahlua:
-A Kahlua cupcake with a chocolate espresso frosting.

Buttery nipple:
-Apparently this is a butterscotch alcoholic beverage? Never had one, but I'm all for a butterscotch cupcake. With a different name, though, so I don't feel weird saying it :)

Guiness:
-We have seen a lot of recipe for Guiness cupcakes. So that means we have to test it, right? Right. Not sure how beer would taste in a cupcake, but at least all the alcohol gets burned off.

Blackberry Crumble:
-Vanilla cupcake with frozen blackberries, whipped cream frosting (color: blackberry!), and crumble on top. And a fresh blackberry! This could also be blueberry or peach flavored.

Orange Cremesicle:
-Yummy. Orange soda cupcake with vanilla orange frosting!

Pineapple/Pina Colada cupcake:
-Because who doesn't love the pineapple coconut pairing? Yum yum!

Salted Caramel:
-Chocolate cake with a caramel center, buttercream frosting with a drizzle of caramel sauce and sprinkled with sea salt.

White Russian Cupcake:
-Bacically a Kahlua cupcake. Can't remember. But I remember they are yummy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
-Because everything is better with raw cookie dough in it!

Apple pie cupcakes:
-Applesauce cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and crumble and caramelized apples on top.


If you have any more ideas, feel free to comment!

Weekly Favorites

I love my dog because:
He is entertained easily! Lately his favorite toy has been a V8 Fusion juice bottle which has stood up to his chewing! It makes lots of noise on the hardwood but it's not annoying, so yay!

I love my cat beacuse:
Huey is such a friendly cat! He is the first to greet us at the door (only because Jack is shut up in his room, but whatev) and loves to get attention. He's not needy, though, which makes him the perfect cat. And he's super small, too.

Cupcake flavor of the week:
Nicole and I will be making Boston Creme Cupcakes tomorrow! Our own creation. We will make vanilla cupcakes (using a recipe for that, though), then we'll fill them with Jell-O pudding and top them with chocolate ganauche frosting! Wish us luck!

Current read:
Still making it through Under the Greenwood Tree and The Princess Bride. I'm almost done, though. Fingers crossed! Going to read the Hunger Games next.

Starbucks Coffee Blend of the week:
Medium Colombia. Yummy yummy!

Picture of the week:


I don't think I ever formally congratulated my sister Rayla on her wedding on January 7th! So shout out to Rayla and Keith! Didn't she make a beautiful bride? And she doesn't look a thing like me!

Current favorite song to blast:
I much admit, as much as it pains me, I really do like Chris Brown's International Love, featuring Pitbull. It's slightly inappropriate (it mentions womens' boobs, weird), but it does have a great beat to it. It's rather addicting.

I'm looking forward to:
Bones had another episode yesterday! Whoot! And Glee comes back from it's hiatus tonight! And Nicole and I will be making cupcakes! And I'm going to continue working on my flower and herb/vegetable gardens! Lots to be happy about.

It's Summer Time, Yo!

Yes, while all of you up in Idaho are dealing with some snow, I am rockin' a pretty awesome farmer's tan and needing the sunscreen and already sweating. Jealous? I thought so. But just keep in mind that I'm jealous of y'all as well, I would much rather be making snow angels than breathing this horrible humidity.

Anyways.

So I must apologize for the lack of blog updates, I have been working almost 40 hours a week while still trying to find "me" time when the dog demands my attention. Here is what I have been up do as of late:

Last Monday Nicole and I drove up to Tupelo. For those of you who don't know, it's the place of Elvis' birth. Yippee. I really could care less about that. What I do care about is that it's the closest "real town" within 60 miles. (Moscow and Pullman are looking pretty good right now, huh?) It's the closest town with a craft store (never underestimate the power of a good craft store). Actually, it has TWO craft stores. And a mall. With a Barnes and Noble (yay!) and TWO (TWO!) STARBUCKS! Double yay! In all honesty, Nicole and I only drove up there because they have a cupcake boutique and we really wanted one. But we also hit up the B & N, the Starbucks (duh), the Victoria's Secret (because a woman can never have enough underwear, sexy or no), and the Bed Bath and bBeyond (to buy what? cupcake making stuff :). I also had my first Chick-fil-a experience. It's probably the most beloved fast food joint in the South, when the one in Columbus opened up a month or two ago, people CAMPED OUT before it opened. Really? It's like your normal burger joint, but like the name implies, it only sells chicken sandwiches. It was good, but I thought it was just your average fast food (SACRILEGE!). Definitely not worth camping out for. But maybe that's just my snooty Pacific Northwest opinion :)

Nicole and I have been too busy to make cupcakes this past week, but we're hoping to find some time to make them this week. I have to dog sit for my friend Erin starting tomorrow, so I don't know if that will be a viable option, but we'll see. Hopefully we'll still get our workouts in. It's nice to have a work out partner.

I finally started my beanie hats. This first one is a practice run. It's going great so far, but I did forget to switch to larger needles once I finished the ribbing, so it's going to be small, but at least this is my practice hat and I have no plans to give it to anybody.

It was SO NICE to finally be able to go to church yesterday on Easter. During college and in Portland, I went every week. I underestimated how much that actually means to me. Since I started working last October, I have worked every single Sunday, even though I requested to be off by 3 pm so I could go to Mass at 5:00. I literally have not been to church since we went home for Christmas. I feel so guilty, I didn't even know it was Ash Wednesday until Mardi Gras, and I didn't even celebrate Lent because I kept forgetting, since I worked on Ash Wednesday and never got into the Lenten schedule. Hopefully I will be getting more Sundays off so I can start going regularly again (even though I don't like the time, I wish it was in the morning).

Jack and Huey are as rambunctious as ever, and Lenny is... Lenny. Currently they are all sleeping (SCORE!). Huey, though, is sleeping on the job, he has appointed himself Guardian of the Lizard and spends many an hour on top of the terrarium watching Lenny. I keep telling myself he's guarding him, but I'm pretty sure he's trying to figure out how to let him loose so he can "play" (eat?) with him.

Later today I will be running errands, I want to grab some potting soil and some plants so I can get my garden going. Don't know if I'll do too many veggies this year (you can't plant in the on-base soil, too many heavy metals), but I already bought some green onion, cilantro, and basil seeds. Those I can easily plant in long flower pots I'm thinking, and I'm going to buy some marigolds to put in planters in front of the garage. The trick is to place the planters under the eaves. If you place them under open air, the plant and flowers get destroyed by the summer's torrential thunderstorm down pours.

Yay, got a text from Nicole, going to the gym! I gotta run, but I'll do a post later this evening (although don't hold me to it, please!) recapping my weekly favorites! I'm going to try to do those on Sundays.