Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Peacefulness of Snow and Ice
Friday, January 29, 2010
Snow Update and A Book Review: The Lovely Bones
Disastrous right?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Heading Out with the Masses
(Ice from last weeks hail storm)
So today I am heading out with to join the masses of probably mostly senior citizens to visit our already small and under supplied grocery store. I can't imagine being stuck over the weekend in this house with absolutely nothing.
Wish me good luck as I head out into the cramped grocery aisles with a crowd of slow moving, unaware, uncaring if they block your way, must talk to everyone folks. I'm hoping I don't have a panic attack. This will surely be a time to put my happiness and patience to the test!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
What's to Eat? Wednesday: Raspberry Marble Cheesecakes
I made these for Michael's birthday this year per his request out of my Martha Stewart Cupcake book. They are the perfect size for people to just pick up and snack on. Watch out though. They are addictive.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups finely ground graham crackers (about 12 sheets; use a mini chopper or food processor)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups plus 5 tablespoons sugar
1 container (6 ounces) fresh raspberries
2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Stir together ground graham crackers, butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar. Press 1 tablespoon crust mixture firmly into bottom of each lined cup. Bake until set, about 5 minutes. Transfer tins to a wire rack to cool.
Process raspberries in a food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pass puree through a fine sieve into a small bowl, pressing with a flexible spatula to remove as much liquid as possible; discard solids. Whisk in 2 tablespoons sugar.
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. With mixer on low speed, add remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar in a steady stream. Add salt and vanilla; mix until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each.
Spoon 3 tablespoons filling over crust in each cup. Dollop 1/2 teaspoon raspberry puree in a few dots over each. With a wooden skewer or toothpick, swirl sauce into filling. Place each tin in a roasting pan (bake in batches, if necessary); pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of cups.
Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until filling is set, 27 to 30 minutes. Carefully remove tins from water bath and transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Refrigerate in tins, uncovered, at least 4 hours (or out of tins up to 5 days in airtight containers). Remove from tins just before serving.
Yields: 32
15 Simple Things that Make Me Happy
List 10 things that make you happy. (Try to do one of those things today!) Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day. Make sure to link back to the person who tagged you!
- A bright, sunny room
- Being able to take my time cooking and being able to fully enjoy the peace, happiness, and fullfillment it can bring
- Dairy Queen blizzards
- A long bath where I can recollect my thoughts
- When Lola cuddles
- Reading a good book with a nice cup of coffee
- Being efficient when needed while being able to take my time and just enjoy when I can
- Making lists
- A phone call from my husband saying he's on his way home
- A clean house
- A warm summer night
- Organization
- Chatting over a glass of wine (or 2)
- Feeling productive
- Thinking about the future
Tell me one simple thing that makes you happy and collect your award!
Also check out her blog for a special giveaway and you might just walk away with one of these!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
My Journey to Happiness
This year I pledged to be a happier person. In order to be a happier person I feel like I need to figure out just what it is that makes me happy. I recently came across a blog for The Happiness Project and while I still haven't gotten the book it has given me the idea to do something like that myself.
I've always been an introspective person and this project just fits me. I am going to start posting about what it is that makes me happy. I'll write about what I learn, how it's improved my life, and what I need to work on. I'll be keeping a list on my sidebar of posts that pertain to my journey to happiness.
I'm excited to watch this project unfold and really start working for me. Hope you have fun following along!
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Case of the Yuck
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Book Review: The Reader
The setting is Germany and the time period is about 10 years after WWII. A boy of 15 named Michael meets a woman twice his age named Hanna. They develop a relationship that mostly consists of a daily ritual of her bathing him, having sex, and him reading to her.
The relationship doesn't last too long before she disappears. He can never seem to get her off his mind and wonders about what happened to her. A few years later he finds her in a courtroom where she is being accused of her actions she took as a guard in a concentration camp.
I have yet to see the movie, but I have the feeling that it might be the one time I actually enjoy the movie more. What I have told you so far is basically what is shown in the preview for the movie and it consists of two thirds of the content of the book.
This book is short (only about 200 pages) and I believe that is ultimately my problem with it. I wanted more. I felt like it was just an overview. It didn't go in depth enough for me. At the same time though I could see how it would make more of an impact as a movie.
The book is maybe a little too subtle, a little to vague. I will have to watch the movie soon because I'm dying to see it play out on film. I believe I will have more of a connection with it that way. For once, I think the movie will have more detail than the book.
I'd love to hear your opinions of the book or the movie if you have seen or read it. I'm curious to know if I'm the only one that feels this way.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Book Review: Sickened
This book seriously had my stomach churning and my skin crawling. It is constant abuse from start to finish. It is unfathomable to me that something like this can actually exist. Julie's mother constantly drugged her child and had her nose stuck in medical books to think up new symptoms dragging Julie from doctor to doctor and having countless invasive procedures performed on her child.
She was abused by the MBPS as well as other physical and emotional abuse. She was denied a childhood and her confidence in herself. She was forced to abuse others and be her mothers source of support. Her journey is long and painful but in the end she does dig herself out.
Although this book was painful to read it was something I finished in 2 days because her story held my complete interest from start to finish.
I am on a search for new books and kinda want to branch out of the ones I normally read. What are your suggestions? Thanks!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Make My Day - Delurk Yourself
Perfect. I have a good amount of followers now, but not all of you comment. I'd like you to show your face and make my day! I love comments and would like to invite you to say hello!
You can tell me a little about yourself, what you like about my blog, suggest improvements/ideas, ask me questions, tell me where you blog, or just say hi if you don't feel like doing any of that!
So....go ahead....DELURK!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
What's to Eat? Wednesday: Peach Glazed Ham
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Congratulations to Me! (and those listed below...)
- Thank the person who gave it to you.
- Link the person who gave it to you.
- Keep it going and give it to whomever you would like.
- Answer this...If money were not an issue what would be the top three things on your wish list?
Wish List
- My own personal hair, make-up and clothes stylist so I would look fabulous everyday and never have to worry about a thing!
- A very long trip to Europe where I could have enough time to see everything I want to see and do everything I want to do.
- A Starbucks barista right in my house so I could have it everyday! Oh and while we are wishing, I wish that Starbucks would have 0 calories with all the taste and to be considered healthy for you.
And the award goes to...
- Katie F. @ The Life of an Army Wife
- Megan @ In this wonderful life
- D.A.R. @ Just Another Day in Paradise
This lovely award was given to me by Katie F. over at The Life of an Army Wife. Thanks Katie!
- To accept this award you must post it on your blog with the name of the person who granted you the award and link back to them.
- Pass the award on to approximately 15 other bloggers that you recently discovered and think are great.
- Contact the bloggers and let them know they have been chosen for the award.
- (I made this one up) List 3 things you would like to learn how to do.
I'd Like to Learn....
- How to take beautiful pictures with my new camera and learn all of it's settings and what they mean.
- How to entertain effortlessly.
- How to be more patient and to trust that everything will work out how it's supposed to.
- Risley @ Adventures of The Wilkinsons
- Laura and Ryan @ Our Crazy Adventure
- Katie @ Loves of Life
- Taylor @ Jimmy Choos and a Baby Too
- Katherine Anne @ Medical School Mrs.
- Jane @ Wishful Thinking
- Julia @ My Life in Transition
- Melissa @ Lovely Little Life
- Danielle @ The Dani Daily
- Bodaat @ Bodaat...Blogging One Day at a Time
Shew...that's enough linking for one day! (You have my permission to stop at 10 as well!) Check these people out! They are awesome!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Currently Loving: My Yearbook
This year I added a page in the front that is a summary of everything that happened in a particular month.
I personally use Kodak Gallery (click link for their special promotion of 80 pages for the price of 20) for storing and printing all my pictures, but there are several other sites out there that do just as well I'm sure.
There are a ton of different covers to pick from and multiple layouts.
On the back of the book I always put a quirky photo to sum up the year. This year was our year old wedding cake.
Haven't I inspired you to stop ordering all those pesky prints and make a photo book instead? Go on, I know you want to!
P.S. From now on I will have a photo on my side bar of what I'm "Currently Loving". I'll update it...well....whenever I want. Click the pic and it will take you to the source!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Book Review: Naked
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Predictions for the Next Decade
What's to Eat? Wednesday: Bacon, Onion & Mushroom Pizza
It's a new routine me and my dad have. He is chomping at the bit (one of the reasons there are no pictures of my food on this blog anymore) and turning up his nose at my "adventurous" food choices.
My rule has always and will always be...you will eat what I cook or go hungry. If you don't like my cooking....cook something for yourself.
He eats what I cook. And to date has always liked what I cooked. (Knock on wood)
The reason I picked pizza with no sauce is because it's low calorie - 316 calories for 2 pieces to be exact. That's pretty good huh?
I don't know how many calories mine ended up being though since I increased the bacon and switched the type of mushrooms. Not to mention that in a weak moment of sugar deprivation I also decided to go to Dairy Queen for a small Caramel Sundae with Marshmallow topping. Oh well.
Recipe is from Cooking Light.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
At the Moment
- I have a loving husband who is excited about our future together.
- Living with our parents has made us more comfortable with who they are and how each side of our family works.
- I am trying to appreciate my free time because I never know when it might come around again.
- I have a husband who reassures me when I start to fall apart.
- I am starting to see that it's better to focus on those who love you and care for you instead of worrying about those who don't (and that, my friends, is a relief!)
Monday, January 4, 2010
A New Direction
It's the first of the year and it is time for me to get my behind the heck out of limbo. There are a lot of things I can't control in my life at the moment which is just how it goes sometimes, but there are some things that I can and I plan on taking hold of the reins.
I think I'm going to take care of that last one first. I'm ready to be completely rid of anything that resembles 2009. It's time to wrap everything up and begin completely fresh!
My husband and I had a planning session last night, can you tell? We have big plans which will all come about in due time.