I need a hobby, other than Gin & Tonic

My Goodness, My Guinness Cupcakes

2010-02-12T17:05:00.001-08:00

Blogs have opened my eyes to cooking and baking. Instead of frozen dinners and cake mixes, I've been giving cooking from scratch a try. So far the overall product scores lower than the premade meals, but I figure that it took Julia Child a while to master cooking, how can I expect anything different for myself?

I came across this Guinness cupcake recipe last week and knew that one day it would come in handy. That day was Tuesday. Jarett and I have been playing volleyball in an intramural league with my sister, brother-in-law and two friends.

Our name: "Cupcake Killers"

Our greatest strengths: Eating cupcakes and having a positive attitude

Our weaknesses: Eating cupcakes and only winning 1/6 games this season

Somehow we made the playoffs and Tuesday was the night of one final game against "We Spiked Your Drink"- a team we had already lost to twice. They were fun rivals, so I thought it might be appropriate to bring them cupcakes for our 3rd meeting on the court. As I contemplated where to buy the cupcakes, I suddenly realized I needed to bake them THESE cupcake...it was meant to be.

So, we offered them our "We Spiked Your Cupcakes" before the game and subsequently were smashed, yet we managed to win one game and keep our dignity intact. Oh well...the spirit of the cupcakes lives on:

If you want to try these cupcakes for yourself (afterall, next month is St. Patrick's Day), they are easy and pretty tasty. The cake isn't very sweet, so the frosting adds the sugar rush that's needed for people with a sweet tooth. It made 20 cupcakes, but you might be able to stretch it to 24...I do tend to eat a lot of cupcake batter.

Guinness Cupcake:

2 eggs (room temperature)

2/3 C sour cream

6 T butter, melted

1 C sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 C flour

1/2 C cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

6 oz. Guinness

Vanilla Bean Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)

2 1/2 C powdered sugar

4 T butter (room temperature)

seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tin with cupcake paper liners.

2. In large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream together until well combined. Add Guinness and vanilla extract.

3. In separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients.

4. Add about 1/3 of the dry mixture to the wet and beat it with a mixer until smooth. Add other dry mix 1/3 at a time.

5. When combined and smooth, add melted butter and mix.

6. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 25 minutes

7. As cupcakes cool, mix well on medium speed: cream cheese, butter and vanilla bean seeds.

8. Slowly add powdered sugar until frosting is completely combined and smooth.

9. After cupcakes have cooled, frost and eat immediately!

10. Enjoy!

Thanks to Kitchen Creations for the recipe!

Thank you, Match.com

2010-02-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day weekend, I thought I would take a walk down memory lane and share with you the story of Jarett and me finding each other on the information superhighway.

The brief version of how we met:

After getting frustrated with the lack of names on my dance card, I eventually caved and joined Match after several friends had found normal guys on there. Jarett was actually my one and only date from the site- I think I was like his 100th.

I was the one who made the first move. I sent him a "wink" ;) which really is the equivalent of being too lazy to write an email. Luckily Jarett emailed me back and we had a few notes of pleasantry before he suggested meeting for coffee.

And so started the courting of Jarett and Ali.

Thanks to Match.com for your site (BTW- you can stop sending me emails to rejoin, I'm not interested), thanks to me for winking and Jarett, thanks for being willing to take a chance on me. I love you!

A Super Bowl Salad

2010-02-09T17:31:00.001-08:00

Photo Credit

Yes, you read the title correctly. The water cooler talk about the Super Bowl was soooo yesterday, but I'm bringing it back with a recipe for a salad that is not your typical football fare.

We had a low key Super Bowl party, but there was lots of food and beer. I was going to take time to create a football themed party using ideas from this site that my dad had sent to me. One ideas was to make name cards to label your foods, for example: Touchdown tortillas, Holding hot dogs, and my personal favorite- Defense doodles...

I became too lazy to do all that planning, instead I made snacks with the food I had in my fridge- which included broccoli and bacon. I made this salad that I got from my aunt in Iowa (where mayonnaise is the staple of all side dishes):

Sorry for yet another blurry picture- it's time for a new camera.

But did you notice I tried to capture the Fleur de lis from the white plate underneath?!

I figured it's something that they would make in the South, so if I had made name cards I would have named it Brees' "Who Dat" Broccoli Salad. It's super simple to make and a real crowd pleaser!

Original name: Fresh Veggie Salad

1 medium bunch broccoli

1 medium head cauliflower
1 c. raisins
4 strips bacon, fried and crumbled (original recipe called for 10 strips!)
1/2 c. cashews or sunflower seeds

Dressing:

1 c. mayo
2 T. vinegar

6 T. sugar

BTW- I enjoyed the game and hands down, my favorite commercial was Audi's Green Police. What can I say? I live in the green state of Washington where most citizens are their own kind of Green Police.

My British Doppelganger

2010-02-05T16:22:00.000-08:00

Last week Facebook was abuzz with people posting pictures of their celebrity doppelgangers. For those of you, like me, who hadn't heard that before- it's a German name for "the ghostly double of a living person."

This lead me to remember the time I found my name twin on Facebook. I decided to send her a message, because I had never met anyone with my name before and I was intrigued.

To be honest, I also secretly hoped that she would write back, we'd become instant friends and she'd invite me to visit her in the UK (I mean, come on, we must somehow be related, right?...). Sadly, that "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" story didn't happen, but she did eventually email me back and her British wit provided a good chuckle:

You know what this means? Apparently I have a triplet to find in Australia! And I want to start using "Blimey" as an interjection!

Have you met your Doppelganger, either look a like or in name? Or, if not, who would your celebrity Doppelganger be?

Who's this new Pandora?

2010-01-25T17:43:00.000-08:00

Like most people, I clearly remember learning that opening Pandora's Box led to many terrible things in Greek mythology (locusts, drought, boils...wait, that's the Plagues of Egypt, isn't it?). Regardless, Pandora's box was bad. So, when my friend Kelly mentioned that there's a great Glee station on Pandora, I have to say I was a little terrified, but also very curious.

"Who's this new Pandora and why is she allowing us to listen to music for free?!" "What type of music is it?" "Do I need an iPhone for it?" But mostly, "What's the catch? (I don't want a plague, or whatever on my computer)..."

FYI- I'm always behind on the music scene, so I'm sure you're already aware of Pandora and have been using it since 2000, but it was totally new to me!

After giving it a try, I'm totally hooked on Pandora. It's genius. Seriously! They have hired music geniuses to figure out a connection between songs... here's the description from the website (I'm not about to paraphrase anything with genome in the title...even if it's not really "scientific"):

"Together we set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. We ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Taken together these genes capture the unique and magical musical identity of a song - everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It's not about what a band looks like, or what genre they supposedly belong to, or about who buys their records - it's about what each individual song sounds like. "

My unsolicited and music novice opinion gives this website 2 thumbs up... or two "whoop whoops" (raise the roof arms included).

The Glee station tends to lean heavily on Disney songs and the soundtrack (which is logical), but mixed in are numbers from Wicked and Rent (this made up for songs from Hercules and Beauty and the Beast). I got skip crazy and found there is a maximum amount of skips each hour, which is fair. Also, very infrequently there are short audio ads, but as far as "catches" go, it's not bad at all.

I can see many more hours spent finding songs on this new website, after all, I tend to always listen to the same song over and over and over, so this will help me talk to people about songs other than just showtunes.

Ultimately I think the site's name and the reason behind it is the real selling point for me:
"...She [Pandora] was also, as we all know, very curious. Unlike those gods of old, however, we celebrate that virtue and have made it our mission to reward the musically curious among us with a never-ending experience of music discovery. "

Sure, Pandora's curiosity may have brought us all the evils of man, but it also brings good music.

Have you found a "station" you like? If so, what is it?

Ice Ice Baby!

2010-01-20T01:07:00.000-08:00

I like this picture.

If you've noticed the other pictures I've posted on here, you might assume that I didn't take this one.

You'd be correct.

My stepdad has a great eye for photography; he took it.

I love the composition and muted colors.

Is it just me, or does anyone else crave a gin and tonic after looking at those chunky pieces of ice?

A Funny or Two- Thursday Edition

2010-01-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

When I was younger I referred to the newspaper comics as "the funnies." Every Sunday morning I would go straight to that colorful section of the newspaper and read For Better or For Worse, Calvin and Hobbs and even Cathy (though I never understood her issues).

I don't read the newspaper anymore, so must get my funnies from another source. That's where YouTube comes in so handy, especially on days like today.

On Monday, I thought this was going to be a benign week, nothing out of the ordinary was on my agenda, I would be able to get lots of items crossed off my to do list. It's turned out to be a bit of a hectic week, filled with rain, lots of chart making in Excel (blarg!) and being so busy that by 3:00 today I realized that I had only sent one email and had skipped eating lunch.

The drive home kind of perked me up (I listend to my favorite songs from the 2nd Glee soundtrack) but I still needed some comic relief to help me through the realization that it was only Thursday. So, here's what I watched:

My sister introduced me to this sketch from "Always Sunny in Philadephia"- it's hillarious! "...Meow"

See all the dancing here

I think you would agree that I've been knocked off my haughty high horse for thinking I was going to start being more intellectual this year, but truth is...I like when Liz Lemon says "boo-ya!" and anyone who creates mittens for cats is allowed to spell Kitten Mittons however they want!

Gotta love a good funny!

The Teacher in Me is Ashamed

2010-01-06T17:08:00.001-08:00

When I originally started blogging I thought that I would use it as a tool to learn and share new information (remember my post about Jimmy Carter?!) I have not stuck true to my vision, instead I was sidetracked by glitzy objects such as tv shows, holidays and other random stuff (like cupcakes and David Schwimmer...).

Wait!

Before you quickly click the exit "X" above, bear with me for just another minute.

Last night as I sat reading my teen novel about vampires and werewolves (please, no judgement), I noticed that the author would throw in an SAT/GRE word every now and again (you know, "travesty," abscond," "succubus") . It's always strange seeing these words used in books, because hardly anyone speaks with these "vocabulary" words any more. Our normal conversations (especially mine) are filled simple nouns, verbs and adjectives. It's really abysmal, isn't it?!

My solution to the dearth of vocabulary is to have a monthly vocabulary list for all you readers. I figure that this will:

A) Give me a use for the GRE Vocabulary Builder prep book that's been gathering a layer of dust on my bookshelf .

B) Enable us to use these words more- since my blog readers are family and friends we can use them together.

C) Possibly start a revolution where it's okay to use fancy, bookish words in polite, non-academic conversation

So go ahead and try incorporating a word or two into your everyday conversations, I bet you people will start to follow along. You'll be a trendsetter! I'll also include them as often as I can in blog posts throughout the month (a twist on the traditional "Where's Waldo" activity).

Are you ready for the challenge? I'll start with accessible ones and only 5:

1. Benign
adj.- mild, harmless
"Although many would beg to differ, Greyson is really a benign animal. Just ignore his claws and hissing."

2. Atrophy
v.- to waste away, as from lack of use; to wither
"If you don't use these vocabulary words, your brain will atrophy. Do you really want to start using the word 'dude' all the time?"

3. Finesse
n.- the ability to handle situations with skill and diplomacy
"When arguing over how many episodes of 30 Rock to watch, I used my finesse to convince Jarett that 4 was a reasonable number." Actually, "Jarett used his finesse to convince me not to watch too much tv. The closest I get to finesse is my shampoo!"

4. Haughty
adj.- to have or show great pride in oneself
"I can sometimes become a tad haughty after making, what I think is, a witty joke."

5. Sojourn
n.- temporary stay; visit
"This winter I would like to take a sojourn to the mountains, a weekend away would be nice."

Let the vocabulary revolution commence!

New Year's Wisdom From "The More You Know"

2010-01-02T14:35:00.001-08:00

I've been doing some cleaning in my home office this week- which I should have included on my "to do" list, since it's been taking away precious time from the items I've committed to. Blarg*! In my purging of papers, I came across a piece of paper I had kept from the beginning of the 2000s. It was a message from "The More You Know." You all remember "The More You Know"- those NBC public service announcements that were really big in the start of the last decade?!

Anyways...it was a quote/poem(?) that I'm pretty sure David Schwimmer spoke when he was at the height of his career. I remember listening to it and thinking, "That is soooo insightful!" (I was, after all, in my early 20s). I recorded the PSA and played it over and over until I had written down all the words (this was back before everything could be found on the internet).

So, here we are at the start of a new year, the beginning of a new decade and I thought that this was still good advice to share with everyone as they make their resolutions for the year. (It's also interesting for me to notice that I've read it in a different way than I did when I was only 20. Since I think the teen audience was the PSA's target.)

As you read it, imagine David's concerned puppy dog eyes, looking at you:

(photo credit)

So, let me get this straight-
you think your butt is too big,
your breasts are too small,
your lips are too thin,
your nose is too long,
your skin is too blotchy,
your chin is too round,
you're too bony, too tall,
should lose a few pounds,
you're too pale, too short,
too nice and too...different.
My question is, "For Who?"
Embrace what makes you different.
Work on that.

I know, I know. It's cheesy, but I still like it (and secretly still kind of like David Schwimmer!)

(photo credit)

Happy New Year!!!

Disclaimer from my lawyers- as you all know, this was not endorsed by "The More You Know," NBC, nor David Schwimmer. ;)

---------------------------------------------------
*"Blarg" (I just found out that Liz Lemon actually says, "Blerg." But I like "Blarg" best.)

The "To Do" List Week

2009-12-28T17:39:00.000-08:00

I have this week off from work and have uncharacteristically resolved to make it a productive week. Since it's technically 2009 for a few more days, I'll try to cross off as many items as possible from my "2009 to do list." Below are the main ones I would like to accomplish (in no particular order):

#1: Get rid of my "Fight Club" Fridge
n. A refrigerator, in which contents mainly consist of condiments (possibly a half a sixpack of beer and maybe some old moldy cheese). A poorly stocked Bachelor or Bachelorette fridge. - Urban Dictionary

Yes, this is my actual fridge!

#2: Take Greyson to the vet
He hasn't been in since he was a kitten (he's now 3 and a half years old!)
#3: Clean the car inside and out (and replace the windshield)
Can't remember the last time it's been cleaned and the windshield's been cracked for over a year.
#4: Write my Christmas thank you notes
This usually occurs in February.
#5: Organize my closet
Also known as the place where clothes go in, but then are never found again.
#6: Get a new cellphone
For anyone who has tried calling me in the last 5 months, you'll know why this is a priority!
#7: Update my credit cards with my married name
Starting to feel like I have multiple personalities as I try to remember which name to sign.
#8: Eat some eggnog cupcakes (well, maybe just 1)
No explaination needed!

I'll report back this weekend on how I do crossing off these items. Until then, are there any "to do" items that you've been neglecting? Or am I the only one who waits until things get out of control before taking action?

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly- A Decade of Sequels

2009-12-26T10:31:00.000-08:00

MSN.com published a "Movies Flashback" that looks at the movies that shaped this decade (and pretty much every blog has a post about the same thing!). It's fun to read and relive the memories and I must admit that I'm surprised by how old some movies are (Ex of my reaction: "Huh! The 3rd Lord of the Rings came out in 2003. Really? It came out 6 years ago?! ...and Bennifer occurred this decade?!")

The article inspired me to look back at more movies from this decade. After reviewing the results, I think a "Decade of Sequels" is fitting. (You know there are too many part 2 movies when they have to get creative and call them "sqeakquels!) The movies of the 2000s are equivelent to Rocky Road ice cream- mostly fluff, with a few good things mixed in.

I hope it's obvious to you which is the good, the bad and the ugly!

2000 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:

"Gladiator," "Chocolat," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Erin Brochovich," "Traffic"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Meet the Parents," "Cast Away," "What Women Want," "X-Men"

2001 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
"A Beautiful Mind," "Gosford Park," "In the Bedroom," "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "Moulin Rouge"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Shrek," "Oceans Eleven," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Jurassic Park III"

2002 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
"Chicago," "Gangs of New York," "The Hours," "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," "The Pianist"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Spider-Man," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," Austin Powers in Goldmember," "Men in Black II"

2003 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," "Lost in Translation," "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," "Mystic River," "Seabiscuit,"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Finding Nemo," "The Pirates of the Caribbean," "Elf," "Bruce Almighty"

2004 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
"Million Dollar Baby," "The Aviator," "Finding Neverland," "Ray," "Sideways"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Shrek 2," "Spider-Man 2," "Meet the Fockers," "The Passion of the Christ"

2005 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
"Crash," "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Good night, and Good Luck," "Munich"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Star-Wars Episode III," "Batman Begins," "Wedding Crashers," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

2006 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:

"The Departed," "Babel," "Letters from Iwo Jima," "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Queen"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Cars," "Night at the Museum," "The Da Vinci Code," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

2007 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
"No Country For Old Men," "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "There Will Be Blood"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Spider-Man 3," "Shrek the Third," "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Alvin and the Chipmunks"

2008 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
"Slumdog Millionaire," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk," "The Reader"
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"The Dark Knight," "Iron Man," "Kung Fu Panda," "Twilight"

2009 Oscar Best Picture Nominees:
???
Some Top-Grossing Movies:
"Transformers: The Revenge of the Fallen," "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," "New Moon," "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"

Thanks to IMDB for providing all of this movie trivia!

What is your favorite movie of the decade?!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T06:37:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

I woke up at 5:30 (my internal alarm clock doesn't know that I have the day off) and that's a good thing since I still need to wrap ALL of my presents, pack for the night and try to do a 10-minute pilates video (because that 10 minutes will then make me guilt-free as I eat a week's worth of treats today!)

Last night Jarett and I exchanged our gifts and I am very excited to sport my cute new PJs tonight (that man has good taste in clothes):

It's hard to tell, but the name is "happy hour" and mine are pink.

Gift Suggestion for Anyone!

2009-12-15T05:43:00.000-08:00

I'm friends with my 2 office cubemates, so this year I wanted to get them something more unique than a Starbucks giftcard for Christmas.

After careful consideration, I decided to get them both Snuggies...designer Snuggies, and a pack of Starbucks Via!

For those of you who aren't familiar with this recent "As Seen on TV" invention that's sweeping the nation, I really wasn't either until I went to a friend's house and she had them. They are just as advertised, a blanket with sleeves! While watching an old episode of 30 Rock I realized that even Liz Lemon has one:

You can easily move around because there's no back in a Snuggie.

If you're looking for an out of the norm gift this holiday season, these are available at any local drug store, or online. Come on, who wouldn't want to wear something that's practical, yet stylish while trying to stay warm this winter?!

Ah, Glee! You get me every time!

2009-12-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

I love a good montage. That being said, I've watched the final number of this week's Glee several times. It's a feel good performance where both teacher and students show how they are important to one another. (It turns out that "My Life Would Suck Without You" is actually a pretty catchy little song.)

During my 5 years of teaching I was fortunate to have several classes where the students really made an impact on me- for the good. Too often I would forget that my students were individuals with their own stresses and pressures and I didn't often have a chance to get to know them (the majority of my classes had 30+ students). My absolute favorite group was a Senior Government class in Memphis. There were only 5 students in this class (Miriam, Kendra, Ashley, Matt and Emily), and they were the sweetest kids in the world. (I'm terrible at remembering names, so the fact that I remember all of them shows how they reached me.) They, like the Glee kids, were a mix of the popular, the overachievers and the ones who often blended into the backdrop of Cordova High. The day before Christmas break 2003, they gave me a gift basket with these ornaments, which have become some my favorites. At Christmas, as I decorate the tree, I am reminded of these kids and my teaching days...

As I was watching Glee this week, I was again reminded how sometimes you don't realize how even the smallest gesture can touch a person. And that's part of why Christmas is great, it's that time of year when we most often reflect on those who make a difference in our lives. My challenge to you this week is to write a card or send an email to someone who has made a difference in your life. It's an easy thing to do and I guarantee will make their day, if not their holiday season! (I promise that I will do it too!)

Note the "Single Ladies" dance moves above. Seriously, how can you not love this show?!

2 words of the day..."Simplify" and "YUM!"

2009-12-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

"S-I-M-P-L-I-F-Y:

My goal of getting lots of blogging done this week was thwarted by a bad internet modem! I'm not computer savvy...not at all! I expect by internet to work immediately when I want it to. Seeing a "failed to open" page makes me just tap the mouse harder and "grrr" at the machine in front of me. (I once knocked hard on the side a printer that got stuck mid-print, this resulted in needing to buy a new printer. I no longer hit inanimate objects in the midst of a rage- or animate ones, in case you were concerned for Jarett or Greyson.) Needless to say I was NOT pleased on Monday when the computer wouldn't take me to my favorite blog sites. How was I going to see what was happening in the world? How was I going to escape reality and live vicariously through others?!

Luckily a new modem was all that was needed. Jarett worked some voodoo computer magic and I'm back online! As I pondered where I was going to look first (should I check out my blogger dashboard, go onto Facebook, do a blog post, watch last night's episode of "Glee"...) it struck me that I really hadn't missed much in the 3 days without the interent at my fingertips. In all fairness, I would still check my 3 favorite blogs at work during lunch, so I wasn't 100% without my blogs.

I've decided to stop the madness and have removed myself from being a "follower" on half of the blogs I currently look at. While blogs can be wonderful things, they also make you realize all the "stuff" that's out there to buy and covet. And I don't want to covet, that's a bad feeling to have. In a world where we are bombarded with so much information and objects, sometimes it's nice to just have a few quality things to look at and appreciate.

So, while what I'm about to do may seem like a contradiction to what I advocated above and am sending you to look at another blog, remember that I'm focusing on more quality items while I fritter away hours in front of the computer. If you decide to divorce some of your frequently visited blogs and mine makes the cutting room floor, I won't blame you. I'll be here if you ever change your mind.

"Y-U-M"

One blog that I recently found (and will continue to visit): neverhomemaker.blogspot.com always posts the best looking homemade (mostly vegan) desserts. If you want a go to source for desserts that make you want to lick you computer screen, check out the website, or atleast this peanut butter cupcake with chocolate frosting. (I really am obsessed with mini cake treats!)

Now for my question to you:

Have you reduced your consumption of something and felt better for it? Weeded through your Facebook friends list? Given up a bad reality TV fix? "Cut out sugary treats/fast food/smoking?!" Tell me about it, I love inspiration almost as much as I love procrastination! (That's a true Ali-ism, my friends...maybe that's a more appropriate title for this blog!!!)

Christmas Spam

2009-12-06T11:35:00.001-08:00

This morning my email inbox was bursting with holiday sale items including:

Anthropologie Candles

Endless.com Steve Madden Ruffle Satchel

Both items made me go, "Hmm, I don't know if I like that...but it could be cute AND it's on sale!"

This was followed by a "DOH!" and I cringed as I realized that I had just fallen into the worst consumer trap. The one that finds items you would never buy more appealing when they're on sale. And I should have known better than to open emails from these stores, since otherwise I would never have known these items existed.

Even as I type this I'm getting more interested in that purse (luckily the brown color has already sold out) and I'm thinking I could find a way to incorporate the hat candles into my Christmas decor. So to save myself from possible future impulse purchases, I've removed my name from those email lists. I never realized that they had the unsubscribe button on the bottom of each email, did you? If you're like me and get more spam ad email than real correspondence, maybe you should do this too!

I'm really sorry if now I've got you thinking you could use one of these items (misery loves company, right?!). In the long run remember, there was a reason it went on sale.

Be Our Guest

2009-12-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

To be honest, I am not always the best party guest in term of bringing a hostess gift. I'll ask if something is needed and if nothing is, I will show up empty-handed or with some beer. It's not that I don't want to be a gracious guest, it's just that I usually don't think about it until the last minute and then the internal conflict with deciding begins:

"I'll bring flowers. Everyone likes flowers."
Don't you remember reading somewhere that you shouldn't bring just flowers. The hostess has to then stop what she's doing to find a vase for them.
(Just so you know, I don't agree- so anyone coming to a party of mine is welcome to bring flowers;)

"Well, then I'll bring a vase..."
But then you're just giving her more clutter.

"A plant then?"
Yeah, cause that's what everyone wants for Christmas- one more plant!

"But I like plants"
....what else can you think of?

"Something to drink?"
Yeah. Go with that. (But you know it's SO generic!)

As you can see, it becomes quite an ordeal. I've been thinking that a "go-to" hostess gift list would be a good idea. I have searched and found some items that can be a nice way to say "Thanks for hosting this party and for inviting me to join in the festivities."

Here are my suggestions (in no particular order):

1. A Christmas CD
You can either buy a CD or make a compilation CD with your favorite Christmas songs that you think your hostess would like. I would be sure to include "Snow" from White Christmas and "Baby it's Cold Outside."

2. A Yankee Pomegranate Cider candle
The scent is festive without being too artificial or overpowering.

3. A bottle of champagne
Wrap it in silver tissue paper and include a note on the outside that says to enjoy it for New Years Eve.

4. Cranberry bread wrapped in a festive dish towel
This will give your hostess something to eat the next morning.

5. Some mistletoe with the history behind the kissing plant included on a card
Include the needed string and tack so that they can hang it for the party (if they want).

6. A Christmas pickle with the history of the tree decoration
This is different than just giving an ornament...it's also giving them a tradition that they can choose to start. (More on this tomorrow.)

7. Mrs. Meyer's Iowa Pine soap
Buy the Holiday Hand Care Set and a candle for $14.99. (To be honest, I haven't smelled this yet, but I'm guessing it will be a nice scent!)

8. A bottle of gin, some tonic and a lime.
I don't think this needs any explaination!

If you're not sold on any of my ideas, here's what Martha Stewart says:
"Pair a candy dish with chocolates for a hostess gift"
Dove has a seasonal peppermint bark chocolate and each has a wrapper with an idea like the one above from Martha. These chocolates could be a fun conversation piece at the party...

So there you have it, nine ideas for a festive hostess gift. Are there any that you would want to receive? Any that you think are off the mark?

Happy partying!

A Christmas Miracle

2009-12-03T17:06:00.000-08:00

This post will be somewhat brief, as I have to go to my final in Photoshop.

Buddy the Elf says, "The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear." But many of you have brought me Christmas Cheer without gracing me with song...

I am very excited to share that I now have 5 followers! Plus, I exclaimed "WHOA" when I saw that I had 4 new comments when I checked my blog on Tuesday night. It's really the small things that make me happy. So, thank you!

You have all brought me Christmas Cheer, so I will in turn try to spread it to others. (Translation: I will not be a grump tonight in Photoshop class, when I instead want to be home watching 30Rock).

Happy Thursday night!

A British Christmas

2009-12-02T05:12:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit & Movie Info

It's bad that after only 2 days I'm having to get inspiration for topics. When asked what today's post should be about, Jarett responded, "Portobello Road" (not entirely random, it's on a sign we have in our kitchen). I think we would all agree that "Portobello Road" is close enough to wishing for a "British Christmas" post, right?

And nothing screams British Christmas to an American more than "Love Actually."

It's become a tradition of mine to watch the movie during the holiday season with Jenn and I am eagerly awaiting the accents, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, and the adorable octopus and lobsters! I love everything about this movie (except maybe the cell phone ring tone)!

Piggy Pudding?! No, Figgy Pudding...

2009-12-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

To me the absolute best Christmas record is the Muppet's Christmas with John Denver. It has been THE go-to holiday soundtrack in my family for as long as I can remember.

I was going to try to explain the CD, but feel I won't do it justice. Check it out for yourself. Trust me, if you were a child of the 70s or 80s you'll love it. Even if you weren't, it's a hard one not to like.

One of my favorites: "We Wish You A Merry Christmas!"

(Peppermint) Mocha Monday!

2009-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm addicted to Starbucks' peppermint mochas! Along with karaokeing to Billy Joel's "Piano Man," sleeping in on weekends and reading InTouch Magazine, it's a guilty pleasure that I try not to partake in on a regular basis!

I enjoyed my first peppermint mocha in 2002 when I was a barista in Memphis. That winter alone I consumed enough peppermint mochas to last me a lifetime. Seven years later I still wait in anticipation for the red holiday cups to appear behind the counter at my local Starbucks (my mouth begins to water when I think of the peppermint goodness). Since each mocha ends up being equivalent to a meal, I have tried to pace myself and have just one a week- on Mondays.

In order to stick to this goal I need to supplement my peppermint fix. Luckily, Dreyer's Ice Cream has come to my rescue with their peppermint ice cream:

It's not a hot meal in a cup, but it is pretty darn delicious in it's own way. I've already consumed my first carton of it and must buy another so that I can make a pepermintini. I'll hold off on making their peppermint espresso...for some reason it seems like cheating on Starbucks and my goal.

FYI- We bought the pumpkin ice cream last month...it too is delicious. Have I mentioned that I'm also a big fan of ice cream?! What's your favorite? Are you addicted to a particular Starbucks holiday beverage?

For more Dreyer's flavors and recipes, check out their website.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2009-11-29T08:01:00.001-08:00

I do realize that we're all still digesting Thanksgiving dinner, but Christmas is just around the corner and I can't resist starting the holiday postings!

I LOVE the Christmas season. The sights (trees with lights, snow falling, Rudolph), the sounds (carols, jingle bells, Santa's jolly "ho ho ho"), the smells (pine, gingerbread, eggnog)...the joy, the giving, the traditions.
The 2008 holiday season was kind of stressful because of bad weather:

So much ice on all the Seattle streets...bad for a city made up of hills!

Two streets over from us, a bus tried to go down one of the icy hills! I didn't want to leave the house after this!

We made it to Christmas night without an ice incident. Jarett (poor guy) met a mean patch of black ice and broke his ankle...here we are in the ER.

This year I am really looking forward to enjoying all the holiday activities and not getting caught up in the commercialism and stresses of the season. (You many notice that the theme of my Thanksgiving post is transferring over to December).

Since I am so inspired and excited for this month, my goal is to complete 12 posts from now until Christmas. (Aren't you excited?!) I will document all the good things about this time of year, so when January rolls around we will have reminders of the Goodwill and magic of the season.

Looking at blogs and MSN.com, this year's holiday theme seems to be around a "greener" and "simpler" Christmas. I'll share what I find that is useful, or what I think is noteworthy (I might as well make use of the countless hours I spend reading other people's blogs, right?).

To get you in the holiday mood, go over to Hooked on Houses and take the "Name the Christmas-House Movie" pop quiz. (I only got 4/10 right. I think this means that I need to expand my holiday movie list.)

"What the What?!"

2009-11-27T07:22:00.001-08:00

(I couldn't resist the chance to use one of my favorite Liz Lemon quotes!)

Are you as puzzled as I am by this current 11% off promotion for Boden (a UK based clothing store with super cute fashions and a great interactive website)?

Maybe 11% off it something normal on the other side of the pond...OR a good advertising gimmick. I'll go with #2...well done, Boden!

I'm staying away from the malls this Black Friday. Is anyone brave enough to venture out?

Lots To Be Thankful 4!

2009-11-26T09:38:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because I'm now 30 (older and hopefully becoming wiser?!) but this year I'm finding myself more thankful for and aware of the things that are part of my daily life. Some of which includes: hot water to shower with, streets that are paved, high-speed Internet, the freedom to agree or disagree, being able to afford to eat at my favorite brunch place, having G&Ts legal, the ability to walk in my neighborhood and feel safe, the ability to walk in general...I could go on, but I think you get the point.

This year Jarett and I will continue our tradition of 4 Thanksgivings. In the past I have become stressed with trying to fit in seeing everyone, but this year I am really looking forward to each of our Thanksgivings. While it's a whirlwind 2 days of eating and socializing, I am thankful that I have four groups of family in which to share this holiday and spend time with. So while I'm piling my plates full of mashed potatoes and cranberries (my favorites), I'm going to remember my new outlook and will not worry about scarfing down my food so that I can run off to the next dinner (or how my thighs will be getting bigger with each additional meal).

Happy Thanksgiving! As always, I am thankful for my family and friends.

I was going to post a picture of President Obama pardoning this year's turkey (did you know that tradition started in 1989?). Instead I will leave you with this turkey image from Halloween, 2006.

An American Thanksgiving: the turkey and the eagle

A taste of summer

2009-11-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

This summer Kelly posted about Martha Stewart's Late-Summer Soup. Unlike most Martha recipes it looked like something I could re-create. I located most of the needed vegetables at the local Farmer's Market. With my ingredients in hand I went to work chopping and simmering! The result was an abundance of delicious soup. The most laborious part of the entire process was figuring out what orzo was and searching for it at the grocery store. FYI- don't use more than the recipe calls for. Even though it looks like rice, it's pasta and will soak up all of the broth if you use too much.

Planning ahead, I froze the leftovers (since I knew they would go untouched if left in the fridge). Today I enjoyed the last of my late summer soup and for a brief moment forgot about the cold Pacific Northwest fall and instead thought of the warmth of the summer sun and fields of sweet corn.

If you too are wanting a summer escape, this soup could easily be made now using frozen vegetables.

"Nobody's happy in a poodle skirt and a sweater set"

2009-11-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

Pleasantville (1998)
David (Tobey Maguire): "They're happy like this."
Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon): "No, David. Nobody's happy in a poodle skirt and sweater set"

I remember laughing out loud when I heard this line. You see, I have always been a huge fan of sweater sets. And to be honest, a poodle skirt is God's gift to women with bigger hips (I've been conscientious of this ever since high school when I was told that I had "birthing hips" by a friend's grandma!).

As you know, I also enjoy "Glee." The show's sweet germaphobic guidance councilor, Emma, has a wonderful wardrobe. So inspirational in fact, it's created a cult following on the Internet, from "What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear" to reoccurring spots on Popwatch and countless blog posts similar to mine today! I'm so happy to see that cute, feminine and classic pieces have made a comeback- which means that my sweater sets are fashionable again! Yay! Emma's style has inspired me to take a bold fashion leap by trying a new (old) accessory...the sweater clip.
From Etsy

Before buying anything, I had to do a trial balloon to see other's reactions to my idea. So I turned to Jarett (his response was er, promising?!):

Me: "I'm thinking of buying a sweater clip."
Jarett: "Then I need a derby!"
Me: "OK! We can get them for eachother for Christmas."
Jarett: "Just don't go selling your sweaters to buy the derby..."

Soon we will be the happy people in sweater clips and derbys! And I hope that makes me just as adorable as Emma Pillsbury:

Here she is getting puked on by a drunk student. Still stylish!

And the more the GLEE...the more I'm a merrier me!

2009-11-11T16:59:00.000-08:00

(If you can name the song and/or movie my title's from, you're my kind of person!)

It's official, I'm a true Gleek! Today while at Target I saw the "Glee" CD and quickly snatched it up. Only $12.99 for the 17 regular songs PLUS 3 "Bonus Target Tracks!" SOLD! It already paid for itself by making my commute home enjoyable and I have visions of loading it onto my iPod and exercising while rocking out to the karaoke style beat!

For 2 weeks my Glee fix has been on hold while FOX aired the World Series (bleh!), so I am pumped for tonight's new episode that will feature Kurt and Rachel singing #17- "Defying Gravity" (a song from "Wicked" that gets my eyes to sting, on the verge of teary, when I hear it!).

If you haven't watched Glee yet- you should check it out. It's a fun escape from the real world (since in what universe would that glee club group get along so well?!)

(Photo Credit)

The Songs:

Any guesses on my favorites? Hint: I'm a sucker for trite 80s songs!

1. Don't Stop Believin'
2. Can't Fight This Feeling
3. Gold Digger
4. Take a Bow
5. Bust Your Windows
6. Taking Chances
7. Alone
8. Maybe This Time
9. Somebody to Love
10. Hate on Me
11. No Air
12. You Keep Me Hangin' On
13. Keep Holding On
14. Bust A Move
15. Sweet Caroline
16. Dancing With Myself
17. Defying Gravity

Bonus:
18. I Wanna Sex You Up
19. I Could Have Danced All Night
20. Leaving On A Jet Plane

Mystery Solved...

2009-11-08T21:21:00.000-08:00

"Jarett, what's up with the bits of toilet paper that have started to appear on the bathroom floor?! Do you think we have some paranormal activity going on in the condo?"

... It turns out there is nothing evil occurring around here, it's just Greyson sharpening his claws. Actually, I take it back, evil is lurking about! If you come and visit us, please pardon any random chunks of TP in the bathroom and stay clear of the cat's manyclaws! You've been warned!

Caught in the act. I always thought he was too lazy to stretch!

Also, anyone going to see "Paranormal Activity?" The ads kind of freak me out, so I'm thinking I'll pass on it.

An 80s Halloween! "Spooky Scary"

2009-10-31T09:55:00.001-07:00

"Tracy Jordan" in Werewolf Bar Mitzvah - a 1980s flashback.

Click on picture for details and link to original photo.

Me. Photo circa 1981

Oh! That's What a Quarterback Does!

2009-10-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

Back in 2001, I purchased a used video tape of "Remember the Titans" from Safeway. When I went to watch Denzel in the inspirational "based on a true story" role, I was met instead with Keanu Reeves...on a boat. Somehow "The Replacements" was inside the "RTT" box. I would never have watched this movie otherwise ("Any Given Sunday" turned me off "pro" football movies), but decided to give it a try. Little did I know that it would become a life changing event for me...

The premise of the movie is simple. A football team is on strike. Replacement players are brought in to finish the season. Along the way, boy meets girl. Boy and girl....well, you get the picture. What makes the movie a "must see" for any football novice is the fact the the replacement players are picked because skills from their day jobs transfer over to different football positions. It's broken down into terms that anyone can understand and follow (kind of like how you have to explain a complex situation very simply to a small child). By watching the movie, anyone would understand what football is about and afterwards you're able to chat up boys at sports bars on Sunday and Monday nights. Not that I do that anymore, or actually ever did. But if I had wanted to, I could have after seeing the movie.

Okay, back to the movie...the misfit team is made up of: a the former SWAT team member, bodyguards, a sprinter (who unfortunately has a hard time catching things), a sumo wrestler, a Welsh rugby kicker and a former star quarterback, Footsteps Falco ( I wish that I had made that name up myself!). As I watched the movie I finally understood that each player on the field has a job specific thing to do- guard, block, run fast, catch, etc. Like I said earlier, "life changing."

In order to keep the male audience entertained there's the requisite girl on girl cheerleader dance- but i think that's the only thing most guys would want to watch. Some of the numerous cons of the movie to look past: a Melissa Etheredge song, John Madden has multiple cameos and really can't act, Keanu tried to be a serious actor in the role that had nothing serious about it (ex: the name Footsteps Falco and tagline "Pain heals, Chicks dig scars... Glory lasts forever".) Personally, I love the multiple montages, the team building jailhouse dance to "I Will Survive" and hearing for the first time the Rolling Stones' tune "Blinded by Rainbows."

I now own the movie on DVD and watch it once a year to refresh my memory. Sumo wrestlers and bodyguards go on the field with the QB, SWAT team guy's role is to tackle the other team's QB and the kicker is just that. By no means is it a 2 thumbs up kind of flick, but if you're in the mood for a light-hearted feel-good movie with something to teach, give it a try. I'll warn you, if you lose respect for Gene Hackman, you may need to watch "Hoosiers" to remind yourself that he has had descent roles before!

"Let's Get Cleaning!"

2009-10-24T09:32:00.001-07:00

I saw this Mrs. Meyer's ad on the side of the bus and couldn't help but smile (and put "cleaning products" on my mental shopping list).

My Football Education: Part 1

2009-10-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

In honor of Monday night football...

I was a freshman in college before I ever watched an entire game of football. It was Dad's Day at my sorority so my dad had come over to the east side for the weekend. Since he liked football and had made the trek to visit, I didn't feel right asking him to leave after the first 10 minutes of the game (which is when I normally left).

After about an hour, I started paying attention to the game. I remember being perplexed watching our players leaving the field and new ones coming in.
"What's happening? Are they all tired at the same time?" I actually thought I was asking a rhetorical question.
As I was still thinking about how tired I would be running around for an hour, my dad answered my question. He explained the difference between the offense and defense and how they were different "units/squads/platoons" (or some similar word that I had to wrap my head around). Thinking about it now, I'm pretty sure that explaining how football works to your 18 year old is worse for a father than giving the birds and bees or drugs and alcohol talk to an adolescent. At least I was embarrassed for not having realized this pivotal part of football mechanics.

So, that chilly fall Dad's Day in 1997 was the starting point in my continuing education to learn about football and trying to understand this great American pastime.

"It's in the Bag"

2009-10-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I've been looking at decluttering sites this afternoon. This post may be even less interesting than my normal ramblings!

4:00pm
I have secret bag stashes in several locations in our house (they're so top secret that I've even forgotten where a few are located). These stashes are where I hide "nice" bags that I just can't part with. Obviously, I know they aren't needed because I put them in areas where Jarett won't directly notice them and ask, "Why do we have so many bags?"

By "bag," I'm talking about your standard department and grocery store paper bag. There is nothing fancy about my collection (well, I do have one from Coach and a few with fabric handles…they’re so pretty).

What can I say? Packratiness is in my blood! My grandparents, who grew up during the Great Depression, were great at finding multiple purposes for old items. Plastic cereal bags were reused as a wax paper substitute; canning lids were made into Christmas ornaments; old magazines were used to make cards. I learned at a young age that there is no reason to throw away something that is still useful. A lot of the fun is figuring out how to reuse something. To this day I have trouble getting rid of items that most people would consider clutter (for example, lots of bags). Ironically, I can throw away food that has gone bad in the fridge because I've neglected the healthy options and went out for dinner or ordered a pizza.

Right now I’ve become curious about my collection, so am going to go do a count.

4:30pm

Oh dear! I was shocked to see that I had 78 bags! Even I can admit that’s a problem. Inspired to conquer my clutter, I'll follow an article's advice that I read earlier which said it’s important to set a realistic number when getting rid of items (I would link that article, but my internet suddenly quit and now I can't find it! I'll tackle electronic clutter another day).

5:00pm

I've decided that 20 29 bags is a reasonable number and have just returned from taking the other 49 to the recycling bin. I feel pretty proud of myself for being able to say good-bye to my Nordstrom, Victoria Secret and Starbucks shopping bags...well, some of them! Baby steps, people!

After this example of clutter, you might be feeling good about your ability to toss out items. But, if you do want a little inspiration, this article is a good one. Hopefully you will spend less time than I did to get rid of something so trivial!

Peter's Wife Was One Lucky Lady!

2009-10-09T22:24:00.000-07:00

So, maybe having your husband put you in a pumpkin shell doesn't sound too appealing to the average person, but think of all things pumpkin you could enjoy in your new home!

Are you still with me? Or are you questioning my mental stability seeing that I envy a creepy nursery rhyme that has themes of poverty and spousal abuse?

Once October hits, pumpkin is on my mind 24/7. FYI...I tend to become easily obsessed with something- a movie/song/cereal/chair- and will go overboard using it for a month and then, just as easily, I'll lose interest in it for the next year or more.

Recently, I have been consuming large amounts of pumpkin. Yesterday marked my first pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks (it was tasty, but surprisingly a little too sweet for me. Don't get me wrong, I'll still be ordering it for the rest of the fall!). Later this morning I'll be going to brunch at our favorite spot and know that a seasonal squash treat will be featured on their menu and ordered by me!

Overall, the best thing so far has been the pumpkin cupcake with maple frosting from Cupcake Royale. In one week's time I've consumed them on 3 separate occasions and am sure I'll be back for several more before they're gone on October 31st!

By any chance are you now craving pumpkin? I am!

The needed sugar and caffine rush needed to keep me awake past 8:00 on a Friday night.

It looks like I'm pausing to give thanks for this cupcake. I actually had just dropped some of the frosting and was contemplating if the 10 second rule applies to cafe tables!

2 of the 7 Deadly Sins are Calling to Me!

2009-10-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

5:00 Arrived home after being stuck in bad Seattle traffic (Grrr!)
5:05-5:07 Inhaled my dinner of apple crisp (I made it on Sunday...is that still okay to eat?!)
5:06-5:15 Surfed the web and licked my plate clean

How I want the rest of the night to go:
5:15- 9:30 G&T, pizza, TV, sleep...

What I'll be doing instead:
5:15-5:40 Surfing the web
5:40-6:05 Driving to the other side of the hill to then circle around trying to find parking
6:05-6:10 Running to class (actually it'll be more of a fast walk)
6:10-9:00 Trying to be somewhat alert in Photoshop class
9:00-9:30 Grocery shopping (I can't remember when I bought the milk in my fridge! And we need more ice cream...and tonic)
9:30-10:30 Surfing the web again (when I should be sleeping)

Sloth and Gluttony, I'll promise to spend more time with you tomorrow!

I don't REALLY need another chair, but...

2009-10-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I wandered into a new Capitol Hill decor store and upon seeing this chair decided one more might be okay:

Jarett doesn't think that we need this chair. The logical me concurs, but then there's the obsessive part that can't stop thinking about it (evidenced by my searching the internet until I found the photo to post)! The store where it's housed is Revival Home and Gardens. They have a great selection of modern and vintage items and the owner was very friendly. One day I hope to help support this local store, but for now someone else will be buying this yellow beauty for their own home. Maybe when it's time for a bigger place we can buy this daybed...we currently don't have a permanent bed for guests;)

I had a nice long fling with summer

2009-10-02T15:38:00.001-07:00

As I dug around my dresser looking for socks this morning, I came to terms with summer being officially over. But this afternoon, Mother Nature is mocking me with sunny- not quite sweater wearing- weather. I won't be tricked! Instead I'm going to search next for my electric blanket and autumnal sweaters.

So long Summer- May through September was wonderful and I look forward to seeing you next year when my skin will be needing a non-vampireish glow.

Hello, Fall! I will learn to love your short days and gray skies. I know that you'll encourage me to catch up on my reading and hot cocoa drinking. (And maybe push me into buying a cute pair of rain boots)

Okay friends (thanks, by the way, to my "followers" and commenters...I promise not to get an ego!)- what do you look forward to when fall hits?

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

2009-10-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

Today is Jimmy Carter's 85th birthday. In honor of my favorite past president, I thought I would share some reasons why he has a special place in my heart. So, in no particular order, here's why I think Jimmy is great:

1) He was president the year I was born
2) That same year he installed solar panels on the roof of the White House. FYI- Reagan removed them in 1986.
3) He's remained civic-minded after leaving the presidency. (Ex: promoting and working with Habitat for Humanity, being a mediator in international conflicts from North Korea to Bosnia to Sudan...)
4) He worked to promote peace in the Middle East. If he were in a pageant, I would believe him if he answered "world peace" to the question "If you had one wish...?"
5) His accent is endearing (folksy, but in a way that makes it seem like he's a grandpa telling you a story) and he wore great sweaters.
6) On the subject of folksy, he expanded the national park system which included protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan land. (That's almost 1/4 of Alaska...according to WikiAnswers!)

In celebration of his birthday month, I will once again rent "Jimmy Carter Man from Plains." I Netflixed it back in February and by mid-April returned it after only watching the first 20 minutes. I vow to watch the entire thing in less than 2 months (oh- currently I've had "Catch me if you Can" for 4 months!). I also think a trip to Georgia is in order for me and Jarett so that I can cross off another presidential library from my "things to see" list.

What do you like about Jimmy Carter? Or am I the only one enamored by him?

The Supporting Evidence

2009-09-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

See, they really do look similar!

The congealed mass in there is pork and cranberry sauce!

Blarg! I mean Blog!

2009-09-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

Well blogger world- it's official. I've thought about it, talked about it, laughed about it...and now I'm actually doing something about it. As you can see, I've taken the leap and am becoming a blogger! It takes me a while to get motivated to do much, so my hope is that writing about what I do (or don't do) will inspire me to do more.

For those of you who know me, you will say, "Wait, Alison...don't you always start something and then stop after a week or two?" My answer to this is, "Why, yes I do!" It can be traced back to childhood, I started ballet lesson, basketball classes, the piano and a few weeks into it became bored and was ready to move on to bigger and better things. As I've grown older it's still true. For example: I have to admit like the rest of the adult women who saw "Julie and Julia," I felt inspired to start cooking (and blogging!). I didn't rush out to buy "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," - that seemed too advanced for me. Instead, I bought Julia Child's tips book and upon returning home realized that one of my rarely opened cookbooks was almost an identical match to my new purchase!

With my new inspiration, I did cook some scalloped potatoes from scratch AND used the crockpot that I hadn't touched in my first year of marriage. But both items turned out to be less tasty than my favorite Trader Joe's pizza, so I decided why bother cooking? As I apologized for the meal I was giving him, my always positive husband reminded me that it takes a while to master cooking, so I need to continue practicing. So, I'll give it another chance. This week's goal: Cook 2 meals not from a box, bag or take out. As I typed this, I was finishing my dinner of Trader Joe's pizza, so this challenge will start tomorrow!