What Angela Loves Today

Have You Met My Newest Nephew?

2009-11-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

He's quite the little turkey....

You can see more of his cuteness on his mommy's blog.

I'm Not Going To Dispute This...

2009-11-21T00:25:00.001-07:00

In case you needed extra disincentive: H. Luiz presents his 8 Reasons to NOT go to LAW SCHOOL.
1. FINANCIAL SUICIDE

2. IF YOU’RE A CREATIVE PERSON, FORGET IT

3. THE “BREAKUP” RATE IS NEARLY 80%

4. THE BAR EXAM IS BRUTAL

5. TOP JOBS ARE HARD TO COME BY

6. INSANE HOURS

7. LAW PROFESSORS ARE A-HOLES

8. HARASSMENT BY FRIENDS SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE

And may I add FINANCIAL SUICIDE?

Thankful For Thanksgiving Treats

2009-11-15T18:47:00.002-07:00

Thanksgiving isn't my favorite holiday. I admit it - even if that makes me a bad person. Honestly I'd like to go from Halloween straight into Christmas, but apparently that's only acceptable for the retail industry. It's not that I don't love the idea of being grateful for things, I try to do that every day; I guess I'm just not a huge Turkey/cranberry sauce/football fan. Or maybe it's how depressingly dowdy pilgrim clothes are... But, in the spirit of being grateful and all that, here are some things that make me smile a little bit brighter.

Pumpkin Pie - one of my top 5 favorite desserts/sweet treats of all time:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz.) Pumpkin
1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk
1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell

Directions:
MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

POUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

FOR 2 SHALLOW PIES: substitute two 9-inch (2-cup volume) pie shells. Bake in preheated 425° F. oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F.; bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until pies test done.

FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (3,500 to 6,000 ft.): Deep-dish pie- extend second bake time to 55 to 60 minutes. Shallow pies- no change.

Raspberry Pretzel Salad - because it can't be Thanksgiving in my world without it:

Pretzel crust:

1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
1/2 cup sugar
1 cube butter, melted
Mix and press into a 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Let cool.
Cream:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip
Blend together. Spread on top of pretzel crust. Refrigerate until cool.

Jello:
6 oz. raspberry jello
2 cups boiling water
1 bag unsweetened raspberries
Dissolve jello in water. Add raspberries, stir. Pour over cream mixture. Refrigerate until set.

Note:
I like to top it with another layer of Cool Whip and garnish with whole raspberries.

Thanksgiving Game Night (no, I don't mean the football game) - given the choice, I'd probably vote for skipping dinner just to get to the game playing:

Thanksgiving Placecards:

Pocket Pie Molds From Williams Sonoma

Thanksgiving Fun at Pottery Barn Kids:

Cute Acorn Bites from Family Fun:

Ingredients:

Chocolate Frosting or Peanut Butter
Donuts
Crumbled Toffee
Pretzel

Instructions:
Frost a third or so of a plain or glazed doughnut hole with chocolate frosting or peanut butter.
Roll the frosted top in crumbled toffee (look for it in the baking section of grocery stores), then add a small piece of a pretzel for the stem.

Funny Turkey Cookies from Pillsbury and first seen on Gordon Gossip:

INGREDIENTS:

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
1 container (16 oz) chocolate creamy frosting
Candy corn
Orange decorating icing
Black decorating gel
Miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Bake cookies as directed on roll. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
2. Spoon chocolate frosting into resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut small hole in bottom corner of bag. On each cookie, pipe frosting on outer edge of half of cookie. Arrange candy corn over frosting for feathers.
3. Pipe orange icing onto each cookie to resemble turkey face and feet. Use orange icing to attach baking bits to turkey face for eyes. Pipe black gel on baking bits for centers of eyes.

Most Amazing Kids' Costume I've Seen All Year!!!!

2009-10-23T14:16:00.000-06:00

You HAVE to check out this costume giveaway. I seriously want to hide Valerie's Minnie Mouse Costume (that she couldn't live without) and make her be The Queen of Hearts instead.

Boo-tiful Food

2009-10-23T13:59:00.000-06:00

Tessa and I have been busy getting ready for our First Annual Hallween Costume Party. If you can make it, let me know and I'll get you the address and directions. We're super excited and can't wait to see everyone there in their finest costumed attire!!!

Additionally, I'm thinking about having a few people over to carve pumpkins this weekend. I went searching for ideas for some festive Halloween fare. As usual, I was inspired (and overwhelmed) by all the creative people out there. Here are some of my favorites:

Spaghetti is cheap and easy and can feed a huge crowd. I really like this idea from Jeane Benedict:

I also love these Witch's Hat Calzones from Better Homes and Gardens (Spotted on Gordon Gossip).

Also spotted on Gordon Gossip and originally from Food Network were these Vampire Blood Tomato Soup Test Tubes and Ghost Sandwiches

These two creations, Deadman's Meatloaf and Skeleton Dip, were found on Munchkins and Mayhem. I may just have to try my first meatloaf (a scary thought in and of itself..).

This fun food is from Picky Palate:

Breadstick Mummy Dogs

Bug-apillar Banana Dude

Oozing Monster Apple Mouths

These Meatall Spiders and Mashed Potato Ghosts are available from Schwan's.

Finally, Martha always has something to add to any festive buffet:

Devilish Eggs and Spicy Bat Wings

Finally, we are planning to continue our tradition and make homemade rootbeer and potato doughnuts!! I love the holidays. Sigh...

It's Getting Hot In Here....

2009-10-07T23:08:00.000-06:00

Let's heat up the fireplace wth some spooky Halloween decor:

From Goldenpaws via Vintage Mint

From The Silly Bear

From Made by Rae

From Busy Bee Lifestyle

From A Fanciful Twist

From HSN

From Wedding Bells

From Christmas Traditions

From Richsir

From The Style Sisters

From A Southern Accent

From Good Housekeeping

I Love Funny People

2009-10-04T13:11:00.000-06:00

I read the FUNNIEST post today on one of my favorite blogs, My Sweet Savannah. It is titled: ~random thoughts from people our age~. I don't know how old she is, but I laughed and laughed and laughed. Here are a few of my favorites. You can find the entire post here.

1} More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.

2} I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4} There is a great need for sarcasm font.

6} I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

7} The only time I look forward to a red light is when I want to text.

8} Lol has gone from meaning, “laugh out loud” to “I have nothing else to say”.

9} I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

12} How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear what they said or really care?

13} What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

18} Whenever I’m Facebook checking someone out and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Barbie Doll Dream House that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don’t mind if I do!

21} I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

What Will Your Windows Wear For Halloween?

2009-10-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

They say windows are the eyes to a home, so let's pretty them up a little. Whether your theme this year is dark and spooky, cutesy, or creepy crawly, here are some great ideas:

From The Vintage Rose Shoppe

From Better Homes and Gardens

From Spirit Halloween Store

From Grandin Road

From ehow.com

Source Unknown

Shop Window From Visit Chester

From Spirit Halloween Store

From Shop Crazy

From ebay

From Oriental Trading

We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Halloween Post For....

2009-10-02T20:20:00.000-06:00

....the Beyonce dancing baby. Because 2 million viewers can't be wrong, can they?

Halloween Topiaries

2009-09-25T10:29:00.011-06:00

At the first hint of fall, my thoughts immediately jump to my second favorite day of the year, HALLOWEEN. I've been planning and scheming for weeks, but I've done my best to hold out until today. (Five weeks out is socially acceptable, right?)

So without further adieu, let's get this party started!

Up today are these adorable candy topiary trees I first spotted at Gordon Gossip, and which then sparked a ridiculously lengthy search for other sweet arrangements. After all this searching, I think I should give some thought to hosting an online Festival of Halloween Topiaries!

Of course, when called upon, Martha never disappoints:

Here's one from Curbly especially for candy corn lovers (you know you're out there):

It's not made of candy, but here's a super cute ribbon tree from Vacuuming In High heels and Pearls:

And while these trees aren't exactly Halloween themed, they would be really easy to adapt appropriately:

From HGTV

From Dylan's Candy Bar

From The Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree DIY Club

And one final idea from Martha Stewart.

Link To The Pregnancy Video

2009-09-24T16:53:00.002-06:00

I HATE it when they delete my videos after I post them. Here is the link to the double pregnancy video: http://gmy.news.yahoo.com/vid/15718290/

WHAT?!!!!!!

2009-09-24T12:05:00.002-06:00

No really, what?!!!!

Arkansas Woman Gets Pregnant While Pregnant:

Good Times At The Fair

2009-09-03T14:23:00.005-06:00

Valerie had never been to a fair prior to last weekend, however, once she heard the word, she couldn't wait to go. And she has asked to go back every day since. AND she's asking for a pony. I thougt I had at least a couple of years left before that request came up.

She loved the rides and wanted to ride them all - even the ones she wasn't tall enough for.

She did better than me at convincing Danny to go with her.

This was my favorite part of the fair.

And this was Danny's favorite part.

Can't wait until next year. Yee haw!

I Hate That They Preview Movies So Far Ahead of Time...

2009-08-28T15:18:00.003-06:00

I saw the funniest trailer for Old Dogs today, but it's not playing until NOVEMBER?!!!! Don't they know that Americans are all about instant gratification? We don't like to wait for things.

P.S.
The disabled my preview, but you can view the movie trailer for Old Dogs by clicking here.

Poodle Grooming Subculture

2009-08-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Prior to my total obsession with Blogger and Google Image Search, I would have quite likely gone my entire life without discovering this unbelievably bizarre subculture where people shave, paint, and sculpt their poodles into all manner of characters. Would I have survived? Of course. Would the last 20 minutes of my Thursday morning have been less entertaining? Without question.

Who's That Girl???

2009-08-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Tessa was browsing the exhibits at the fair the other day, and did a double-take when she saw this photo. It was a bit unexpected since we had no idea that the photo had been entered into a contest, but whatever.

I didn't take the first place photo, but shouldn't I get some credit for having such an adorable little girl? Or at least an endorsement from Johnson & Johnson?

Sorry, link broke

2009-08-21T13:53:00.001-06:00

I'm not exactly sure what happened, my link stopped working and every link I found online was broken too. I finally found it in a totally round-about way on You Tube, so now I can actually embed it here. Sorry for the trouble. :)

Check it out. No really, you'll laugh.

2009-08-20T17:05:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't been posting any original content lately. Hopefully I'll have a little more time to do some of that in the near future, i.e., starting September 1!!!!!!

In the meantime, Megan sent me more internet laughs today, and I can't resist sharing!

So... go watch "What it feels like for a child to be told they're getting a new sibling."

Utterly Fantastic!!

2009-08-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

That's all I have to say about these videos.

First: The funnest wedding I wasn't invited to:

Second: The funnest day in court I've never had:

Thanks to Megan for making my Monday!!!!!

When I Grow Up....

2009-08-14T12:15:00.000-06:00

Almost a year ago, I decided that when I grew up, I wanted to be just like Amy Atlas.

She went from lawyer to sought-after New York City event planner. For those of you who haven't seen her amazing dessert table creations, get ready for a real treat - literally. Her designs make my heart skip a few beats, and my blood sugar spikes just looking at her work.

After spending the last decade writing a similar first chapter to my life story, I'm seriously thinking about plagiarizing her happy happy ending as well.

P.S. "Sought-after Idaho event planner" just doesn't have the same ring, however. Maybe a relocation is in order. :)

My New Blog Crush

2009-08-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

I love reading blogs. I'm inspired and enchanted every day by the endless flow of creative people out there.

My life has been crazy-busy the past few weeks as I'm preparing to make some major life changes (announcements coming soon!!), so unfortunately I'm a bit behind in my blog reading, however, today I stumbled upon what instantly became a new favorite:
I had to close my eyes and quickly close the window only minutes after finding it, otherwise I was sure to spend hours losing myself in the beautiful photos and words. You simply must check out her Etsy Stories. She finds the most beautiful items on Etsy and then creates a story around them. Did I mention that I'm in love with this blog?

For sure, don't miss "She Flew to Greece On a Whim."

And I'm so tempted to run away to Niagara Falls to get married (again) after this post:

And I seriously found all of this in a matter of minutes. I've promised myself that tonight after I've done all of my work like a good little girl, I'll spend hours daydreaming with The Fab Miss B!

How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

2009-08-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Look at all the love you could take home for only $300.00!
My Aunt and Uncle have the most adorable little Shih Tzu for sale in Meridian. If you're interested or know anyone that might be, you can view their ad on ZIdaho, here.

I Love Making Things Simple

2009-08-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

I've tried to be a scrapbooker. Seriously, I really have. I want to be a scrapbooker... I think. I am definitely really good at one part of it: the buying supplies part. I walk into the paper store, and I'm instantly dizzy with desire for all of the bright colors and glitter and stickers and, what's that word they use? Oh yeah, embellishments.

And trust me, all that fun stuff looks just about as pretty in my cute little paper organizer closet (which is about as far as it ever gets). Perhaps I should just consider it an investment into interior design and call it good.

At least with blogging I occasionally get down some dates and times and throw up a few photos. Occasionally.

So imagine my relief when I found this idea online a couple of weeks ago at inchmark. I know as well as anyone that we like things to be pretty, but really, the point of scrapbooking/journaling is to catch the every day moments that we want to remember, right? I resolve to stop saying, "Valerie said the most adorable thing the other day. I should write that down before I forget." Instead, I'm going to actually WRITE THAT THING DOWN. Novel idea, eh?

So... the next dillema will be what to do with all the jars I fill up. Do they have a store for pretty jar organization?

I Kinda Sorta Want One or Two or Twelve

2009-08-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to wrap my head around this "green the earth" movement. I recycle... I try not to be wasteful... I don't dump toxic waste in the river...

But Envirosax has an idea I can totally jump on board with because, well, their stuff is pretty.

I'll take one for every outfit, please.

Make Sure You Have a Photo of a Baby In Your Wallet!!

2009-07-30T10:11:00.001-06:00

University of Edinburgh psychologists have determined that you stand the best chance of getting back a lost wallet if there's a picture of a baby in it. They "planted" 240 wallets on highly trafficked city streets, and were pleasantly surprised to find that almost half of them were returned. Even more surprising, the rate of return appeared to be connected to the photos the researchers had inserted in the wallets. Eighty-eight percent of those with a photo of a baby were returned. Fifty-three percent of those with a photo of a puppy were returned. Forty-eight percent of those with a photo of a happy family were returned. Twenty-eight percent of those with a photo of an elderly couple were returned. And only 15 percent of the wallets with no photos at all were returned.

The researchers believe the overwhelming response to the photos of the baby reflects a compassionate instinct toward helpless infants that evolved in humans to ensure the survival of future generations.

(Source: Times Online via Early to Rise)

I Love My New Summer Playlist

2009-07-29T07:00:00.003-06:00

It doesn't get any better than summer. It's so fun-filled and happy and downright American. To celebrate my favorite season, I've created an entire summer playlist so that I can have a little summer soundtrack for all the festivities. Feel free to turn it on, turn it up, and enjoy the final weeks of summer!

Also, I've enabled group contributing, so if you can think of a song I've missed, feel free to add it and make my summer soundtrack even better by clicking on this link: http://www.playlist.com/playlist/17358464523?invite=NDA1NDgzMzU6MTczNTg0NjQ1MjM=

Now Johnny Is In My Dreams and My Nightmares...

2009-07-24T07:12:00.002-06:00

I'd follow this guy down the rabbit hole anyday:

This guy, not so much...

You can see the trailer for next year's Alice in Wonderland here.

The New Natural Wonders of the World

2009-07-24T06:41:00.001-06:00

Definitiely time to get a passport!!

The New Natural Wonders of the World

Organizers of the competition to name the “New 7 Natural Wonders of the World” have narrowed down the choices to 28 finalists, after considering 77 sites (from an original list of more than 250 candidates) that received the most votes in a global poll. Winners of the three-year contest are expected to be announced in 2011.

- From MSN Travel

Will Smith: "I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill."

2009-07-23T05:38:00.000-06:00

"The only thing I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will run. I will not be outworked. Period. You might have more talent than me. You might be smarter than me. You might be sexier than me. You might be all of those things. You got it on me in 9 categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first or I'm going to die. It's really that simple."
- Will Smith

Need a Laugh??

2009-07-16T13:02:00.003-06:00

I might end up feeling a little silly for posting this.

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But admit it.... you smiled too.

Automotive Infidelity

2009-06-19T07:19:00.001-06:00

My lovely little red car and I have been together for over a decade. It was love at first sight, and I had to beg, borrow, and practically steal to make her mine, since I hadn't even graduated from nursing school on that fateful day that I decided I would not live without her.

She traveled 90,000 miles in her first three years without a single complaint and zoomed me up, down, and across Idaho countless times with only 2 or 3 minor "sick days." I was quite loyal to my little car and have refused to make a change through good times and bad.

Lately, however, I find I'm frequently guilty of wandering eyes. It's such a cliche to admit that I'm going to trade her in for the newer sports model; alas, I'm only human - a weak, vain human...

Introducing the contenders for my next automotive life partner:

The Infiniti G37
The Volkswagen EOS

The BMW 135i

I'll pay for my infidelity (quite literally). But, I've made sure my little Cougar is going to a good home to live with someone who will appreciate her and give her the attention she deserves. Now, on to the task of figuring out how to raise the funds to woo my next car...

I Love Kate Voegele

2009-05-20T07:10:00.001-06:00

What One Tree Hill fan doesn't love Kate Voegele? And what girl in her right mind doesn't love One Tree Hill? (Don't answer that if you're going to hurt my feelings.) Anyway, Kate released her second album, and you can download the mp3 version of the entire album from Amazon for just $2.99.

If The Shoe Fits... Wear It With Different Ribbons Every Day

2009-05-14T20:38:00.003-06:00

I have a new love. A long-distance love. A made-just-for-me, "sole"mate kind of love.

Unfortunately, it is also a 6-8-week-waiting-list kind of love.

Look at these shoes from my new made-in-America crush Mohop, and try to tell me you don't absolutly hate me for finding them first. I double-dog-dare you.

I must have them. Denying the instant connection simply isn't an option. I've already planned out the appropriate budget cuts to finance my next dose of happiness. Each pair comes with five sets of ribbons. And then you can buy even more on the website. So really, I'll be getting five pairs of shoes. That makes them a very economical investment in myself.

If I Lived in Paris, I'd Still Be Asleep

2009-05-04T07:13:00.000-06:00

Amazing photo by David Latt

Apparently I could put off Monday morning a little longer if I lived in France. According to this article, the French spend more time eating and sleeping than the people of any other wealthy country. The average citizen sleeps almost 9 hours a night and spends more than two hours a day eating. And they're thinner than Americans.

*Sigh* As if I didn't already have enough Parisian envy...

Other French things I love...

Marie Claire Idees

Macaroons

Chanel

Croissant French Toast

The Lawyer and His Porsche

2009-05-04T06:09:00.001-06:00

A very successful lawyer parked his brand new Porsche Carrera GT in front of the office, ready to show it off to his colleagues. As he was getting out, a truck came along too close to the car and completely tore off the driver's door.

Fortunately, a policeman was close enough to see the accident and pulled up behind the Porsche, his lights flashing. But, before the policeman had a chance to ask any questions, the lawyer started screaming hysterically about how his Porsche, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same no matter how hard the body shop tried to make it new again.

After the lawyer finally wound down from his rant, the officer shook his head in disgust and disbelief. 'I can't believe how materialistic you lawyers are,' he said. 'You're so focused on your possessions that you neglect the most important things in life'

'How can you say such a thing?' asked the lawyer. The officer replied, 'Don't you even realize that your left arm is missing? It got ripped off when the truck hit you!'

'OH, NO!' screamed the lawyer. 'MY ROLEX!!!'

~Passed on by Tessa

I Love Lawyer Jokes (Bring 'em on!)

2009-04-29T08:43:00.004-06:00

The United Way realized that it had never received a donation from the city's most successful lawyer. So a United Way volunteer paid the lawyer a visit in his lavish office. The volunteer opened the meeting by saying, "Our research shows that even though your annual income is over two million dollars, you don't give a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give something back to your community through the United Way?"

The lawyer thinks for a minute and says, "First, did your research also show you that my mother is dying after a long, painful illness and she has huge medical bills that are far beyond her ability to pay?"

Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbles, "Uh... no, I didn't know that."

"Secondly," says the lawyer, "did it show that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair and is unable to support his wife and six children?"

The stricken United Way rep begins to stammer an apology but is cut off again. "Thirdly, did your research also show you that my sister's husband died in dreadful car accident, leaving her penniless with a mortgage and three children, one of whom is disabled and another that has learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors?"

The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, says, "I'm so sorry, I had no idea."

And the lawyer says, "So... if I didn't give any money to them, what makes you think I'd give any to you?"

---------------------------------------------

Haha, right? Think you have a better one? Send it to me, and I'll post it.

(coaster and t-shirt available from Cafe Press)

I Love My Lawyer Peeps

2009-04-17T05:45:00.002-06:00

This is my kind of contest. Too bad I missed the deadline! The American Bar Association had a "Peeps in Law" contest. The top three contenders are pictured above.

They had 45 submissions, you can see the other's here:

My personal favorite? Legally Peep

Or maybe State v. O.J.

Or maybe My Cousin Peep (Scene 2).

Seeing Double

2009-04-14T05:54:00.002-06:00

Presenting my beautiful new nieces, Taylor and Shelby.

Aren't they so incredibly precious? Rachel and Russell are absolutely the most adorable new parents.

Valerie thought that since they had two, maybe they could send one home with us. I agree. I already miss them terribly.

The T-Mobile Dance

2009-04-08T06:54:00.000-06:00

Perhaps everyone has seen this video except for me, but I am glad to have found it today. It was a perfectly-timed "happy-bandaid" for my morning. (I know they say you shouldn't cry over spilt milk, but there must be an exception when it spills ALL OVER inside of your leather bag on the way to work.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the T-Motible Dance as much as I did whether it's your first time or your fifteenth. Oh, and here's a shout-out to my favorite T-Mobile employee, Coli. :)

I Love That Even Supermodels Have Fat Days/Months

2009-04-07T06:47:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Kathy Ireland, for proving that supermodels are not actually all extra-terrestrials sent to Earth (from what must be the most beautiful planet in the universe) to torture us with aspirations of unattainable perfection.

Heidi Klum, feel free to return at your earliest convenience. You just make the rest of us look bad...

(Read Kathy Ireland's story at People.com.)

I Love Holidays - Tax Freedom Day

2009-04-02T12:16:00.000-06:00

Apparently April 13th is "Tax Freedom Day." Initially, I was pretty excited. I thought, "Wow, we get a tax-free holiday?" Then I learned the sobering truth...

This year, the average American will have to work through April 13th just to make enough money to pay income taxes on the money he/she will earn in 2009.

Excuse me a minute, I think I just threw up a little.

Americans will pay more in taxes this year than they will on food, clothing, and housing combined (some day I'd like to disprove that statistic with my shoe budget alone).

Apparently this is good news, however. Last year it took us until April 21. And Tax Freedom Day is a full two weeks earlier this year than it was in 2007.

I'd really like to end with some sort of glass-half-full statement, but I just can't bring myself to think of one. I have to get back to work now, so I can continue to pay on my tax bill.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/

I'm Only Slightly Embarassed to Admit that I Love Twilight

2009-03-24T07:05:00.000-06:00

So, I'm not the biggest fan in the world, but I have read all four books (plus The Host), and I did kinda sorta really like the movie (and Edward). I did not host or attend a Twilight party, but, if I had, it would have definitely included this stuff:

From Hostess with the Mostess

From Maggie's Dinner Dates

From Flickr User Retro Bakery Las Vegas

Apple Cookie Cutter found on Squidoo

I Love Spring

2009-03-17T06:08:00.000-06:00

Oh, how I love not having to scrape my windows in the morning;

And not having to fix my mascara in the rear-view mirror on the way to work because the frigid temperatures made my eyes run;

And watching my pretty little tulips fight their way through the cold, hard ground;

And the smell, the glorious smell of spring...

Also, did I mention how much I will love it when my gas bill drops back down into the double digits???

Though I haven't been modeling my life jacket in front of the mirror yet, I do admit that I have pulled the white pants out of the back of the closet and put them on the short-list.

And I've hung the new swimsuit up in plain view for a little visual motivation.

Summer, here I come!

In the meantime, look at all the pretty spring things I've found:

From Anthropologie
From Fancy Flours
From Target

From River Island

From Williams Sonoma

From Anthropologie

From Chasing Fireflies

Valerie Loves Dora

2009-03-03T08:40:00.003-07:00

On Saturday, Danny and I endured crowds of wailing children and unruly strollers to take Valerie to see Dora and Boots at the Boise Kids' Fair. Only the wonder in her eyes kept me from turning to flee once I saw how long the line was. No, seriously.

It was, of course, all worth it in the end. Her excitement was enough to break your heart. I wish I'd caught it on video.

Create

2009-02-25T08:45:00.003-07:00

It's amazing that sometimes your little sister knows just what you need to turn your day around. Thanks, Suzie, for sending me this video. Love you!

I Love Winter (in small doses)

2009-02-24T20:49:00.004-07:00

Earlier this month, we drove up to Donnelly with the Gilmores and went on a sleigh ride/elk feed. It was way cooler than I had initially expected. The wild elk came right up to the sleigh and literally ate the bales of hay out from under us. This was NOT a zoom lens, kids. Luckily no one was gored. It was so much fun that I almost feel bad admitting that my favorite part of the trip was soaking in the hotel hot tub in McCall afterward. Almost...

I Love Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies

2009-02-14T11:45:00.005-07:00

These are to die for! Mine didn't turn out quite as beautiful as the photo, so I guess maybe I'll have to try again. If only all mistakes tasted that good...

Recipe and photo from Bakerella.

1 Box red velvet cake mix

1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature

2 Eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix ingredients until combined.

Drop spoonfuls of cookie batter onto baking sheet about two inches apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Cool then frost with cream cheese filling, below.

Cream Cheese Filling

1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature

1 8 oz. Package cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 1lb. Box of confectioner's sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

In a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla.
Gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.

Makes about 24 cookies or 12 cookie sandwiches

Nobody was ever uncheered by a balloon...

2009-02-13T20:20:00.003-07:00

My Valentine left to go ice fishing in Cascade today. But he did an amazing job of making sure that Valerie and I felt loved.
First, he delivered this incredible Edible Arrangement to me at work. It was delicious - and the perfect solution for someone who asked him NOT to buy a box of chocolates.

Then, when Valerie and I got home tonight, there were cards and gifts and balloons waiting. Isn't he wonderful?
Now, I've got the little one to bed and I'm utterly enjoying my quiet evening surfing the web and watching one of my most favoritest movies, Love Actually.
Here's my favorite scene. It'll make you smile at least as much as a balloon.
Happy Valentine's Day.
XOXO
Angela

I Love Olivia the Pig

2009-02-09T18:26:00.004-07:00

Valerie and I have been a big fan of the Olivia books for ages, but did you know that there is a cartoon on Nick Jr. now? And it's great! Luckily Valerie agrees. I really needed a break from Dora, Dora, Dora.

Olivia even has her own website. But then again, what stylish girl doesn't? :)

My Funny Valentine

2009-02-05T19:15:00.001-07:00

It's official. I'm a retailer's dream - the ultimate sucker for consumer holidays. I thought Valentine's Day would be easy to weather - I'm supposed to be in one of my low-sugar phases, afterall; but look at all this fun stuff I've found!!

Valentine's Snowflake Cookies from Fancy Flours

Sweetie Pies from Williams Sonoma

Double Cherry Pops from Williams Sonoma

Caramel-Filled Chocolate Dominos also from Williams Sonoma (I'm a big fan, does it show?)

Crown Heart Cupcake Pan from Williams Sonoma

Chocolate Mice from L.A. Burdick Chocolates

Valentine's Plates from Pottery Barn Kids

Hugs and Kisses Tickets from Chasing Fireflies

I Love You TuTu set from Chasing Fireflies

Couple's Heart Birth Stone Ring and Tulips and Chocolate from Red Envelope

Adorable Pillowcases from Bold Loft (My new favorite thing!)

Take Your Daughter to Work Day

2009-01-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Danny and Valerie came to visit me the other day and brought me some lunch. Valerie loved hanging out and now asks to come visit every day. She kicked me out of my chair and got right down to work. I may just have to find her a preschool with a pre-law track.

Also, meet Grandma's new puppy, Mimi.

Isn't she cute? I almost stuffed her in my purse and made a dash back to Boise.

Take Your Friends To Work Day

2009-01-09T09:02:00.002-07:00

I argue for a living. I also do it for fun (ask my husband). While I hope most of my arguments are a little more sophisticated than this, I've often felt that they were just as futile and ridiculous. Thanks to my favorite bloggy friend for the laughs!

Happy New Year

2009-01-03T20:35:00.004-07:00

We did more than dream of a white Christmas this year...

The holidays came and went in a flash - as did all of my good intentions for blogging. I didn't even make it home with any photos from Christmas morning at my parents' house; they're all on my mom's camera. We had a wonderful time in the winter wonderland of Eastern Idaho. I haven't seen that much snow in years. The joy of Christmas was renewed for us as we watched Valerie experience it all. She loved every minute of the festivities, and she cried when we took down the Christmas tree and the inflatable snowman. I almost did too; I get a bit of the post-holiday blues every year.

(Putting together a Dora Puzzle)

( Playing dress-up at Grandpa's)

Despite the wretched fact that I don't have another paid holiday until Memorial Day, I am very excited about starting 2009 and planning for all the potential it holds. This is a big year for me - I'll be 30 in April. I'm freakishly enthusiastic about it. I have pages of goals and aspirations, and I'm looking forward to celebrating every day.

I found the list below on another blog, Patches and Paws, and I may have to make some small additions to my plans. She and her friends fill out the list at the beginning of the year, and then, at the end of the year, they review what they have accomplished.

In 2009, I will:
1. Believe in ...
2. Give up ...
3. Attend ...
4. Invite ...
5. Visit ...
6. Listen to ...
7. Save up for ...
8. Spend more ...
9. Develop a new hobby:
10. Devote a day to ...
11. Taste ...
12. Try ...

And here is their list for 2008:

In 2008, I will:
1. Take a trip to ...

2. Overcome my fear of ...

3. Try ...

4. Take a stand on ...

5. Recommend ...

6. Read ...

7. Quit ...

8. See ...

9. Send a letter to ...

10. Begin ...

11. Learn ...

12. Continue ...

I'm going to have to take some time to think about the lists above. What do you have planned? We hope everyone had a magical holiday season, and we wish you a year full of achievement, happiness, and adventure.

Angela's Cookie Exchange

2008-12-20T08:21:00.004-07:00

Thank you so much to all who participated. I can't wait to start baking!!
I'll be happy to post any late submissions in later posts, so if you still have a recipe to share, send it to me at angelascookieexchange@hotmail.com .

Linzer cookies from Jenifer:

Ingredients:
2 Cups All Purpose Flour, Plus more for dusting
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
¼ Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Blanched Hazelnuts
1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Large Egg Yolks
½ Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
½ Teaspoon Lemon Zest
½ Cup Raspberry Jam
¼ Cup Confectioners Sugar

Directions:
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a food processor, pulse hazelnuts until finely ground. Whisk the ground hazelnuts into the flour mixture and set aside.

With an electric mixer beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and lemon Zest; beat to combine, scraping down the sides of mixing bowl as needed. With mixer on low speed, add hazelnuts-flour mixture, and beat until just combined.

Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface, divide in half, and shape into flattened disks. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least one hour or overnight. Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator, and let stand until slightly softened. On a large piece of parchment paper lightly dusted with flour, roll dough to 1/8 – inch thickness. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove one sheet of dough at a time from freezer and working quickly, cut into round, scalloped shapes with a Cutter or self made template. Cut out center from half the shapes with a smaller cutter. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until dough is crisp and lightly golden all over, about 15 minutes. Transfer “cookies” to wire rack to cool. Spread the flat sides of the whole cookies with raspberry jam. Sift confectioners’ sugar over the cut-out cookies. Just before serving, Place cut-out cookies over whole cookies; serve.

Oreo Cookies from Leslie

Ingredients:
1 devil's food cake mix
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs

Directions:
Mix the above ingredients together. Roll the dough into balls just a bit bigger than a marble and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Cool cookies.

Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 square butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 to 4 c. powdered sugar

Mix all of frosting ingredients until smooth. Frost BACKS of cookies and place together to make sandwich cookie.

Thumbprint Cookies from Megan

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
2 egg yolks
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup jam or jelly, any flavor

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and egg yolks. Mix in flour a little bit at a time until a soft dough forms. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. If dough is too soft, refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Place balls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Use your finger or an instrument of similar size to make a well in the center of each cookie.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown on the bottom. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. When cool, add your favorite jam or jelly.

Chocolate Minty Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup cocoa powder
1 egg white
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour

Peppermint cream filling:
2+ cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 15 drops peppermint extract (to taste)
1/4 cup half and half (or water if you are going to keep the cookies around unrefrigerated for a while)

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 350F degrees, position the racks in the middle of the oven, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat.

Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and cream some more, scraping the sides of the bowl a time or two. Stir in the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, egg white, and salt and mix until the cocoa powder is integrated and the batter is smooth and creamy and the consistency of a thick frosting. Add the flour and mix just until the batter is no longer dusty looking. It might still be a bit crumbly, and that's okay.

Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, gather it into a ball, and knead it just once or twice to bring it together into a smooth mass. Divide into two pieces place each into a plastic bag and flatten into disks roughly 1 inch thick. Put the dough in the freezer for 20 minutes to chill.
One bag at a time remove the dough from the freezer. On a well floured surface roll it out very thin (remember these are going to be sandwich cookies) - roughly 1/8 inch thick. Or you might find it easiest to roll it out between to Silpats or pieces of plastic. Stamp out cookies in whatever shape you like - I used tiny scalloped circles here. Place on the prepared baking sheets, and bake for 7-10 minutes, or until they small of deep warm chocolate with toasty overtones. Larger cookies will take longer to cook than smaller ones. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack (if you have one).

While the cookies are baking, go ahead and make the filling. Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, whisk together the sugar and half and half until nice and fluffy. You want the filling to be thick enough that it doesn't ooze out the sides of the cookies after they are filled, so if you need to add more powdered sugar, do so in small increments. If you need to thin out your filling, add more half and half a few drops at a time. Whisk in the peppermint extract a bit at a time, and taste as you go, the peppermint flavor shouldn't be overwhelming. When the cookies have completely cooled slather a bit of filling on half of the cookies. Top each slather with another cookie and enjoy!

Makes about 3 dozen 1 1/2-inch sandwich cookies.

Buckeyes from Debbie

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
6 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 whole graham crackers, pulverized into crumbs (optional)
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper; set it aside. Using a wooden spoon, mix together the peanut butter, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and graham crackers, if desired, in a large bowl. (The dough will look dry.)

2. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Set them on the prepared cookie sheet and insert a toothpick into each ball. Chill them in the freezer until hard, about 30 minutes.

3. Melt the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl set atop a pot of simmering water over medium-high heat. Stir continuously until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat. Using the toothpick as a handle, dip the balls into the melted chocolate, leaving a small circle at the top uncovered. Place the dipped candies back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 2 hours. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Although the centers are traditionally creamy, you can add graham crackers to the mix if you prefer crunchy. Makes about 7 dozen buckeyes.

Melinda's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

(I borrowed the photo from Martha)

Ingredients:
½ cup Shortening
1 cup Sugar
1 egg
1 tsp Vanilla
2 2/3 cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Baking Soda
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp Nutmeg
½ cup Sour Cream

Heat oven to 425 F.
Mix thoroughly shortening, sugar, egg and vanilla.
Measure flour by dip-level-pour method. Mix dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.
Divide dough and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters; place on greased baking sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until delicately golden.
Makes 4 to 5 dozen 2-inch cookies.

You can sprinkle with sugar prior to baking or frost them after they cool. Cream cheese frosting is especially good!

Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.

Surprise Package Cookies from Michelle and Marissa

"Each of these buttery cookies has a chocolate mint candy inside"
Ingredients:
1 c butter (no subsitutes) softened
1 c sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
3 c all-purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t. salt
65 mint Andes' candies

Directions:
In a mixing bowl,cream butter and sugars. add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle. With floured hands, shape a teaspoonful of dough around 42 candies, forming rectangular shapes. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to racks to cool.In a microwave or saucepan, melt the remaining candies and drizzle over cookies. YIELD: 3 1/2 dozen

Cream Wafers from Maxine

Wafers
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/3 cup whipping (heavy) cream
Granulated sugar
Creamy Filling
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla, lemon extract or peppermint extract
Food color, if desired

Directions:
1. In medium bowl, mix flour, 1 cup butter and the whipping cream with spoon. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.
2. Heat oven to 375ºF. Roll one-third of dough at a time 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured surface. (Keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to roll.) Cut into desired shapes with 1 1/2-inch cookie cutters. Generously cover large piece of waxed paper with granulated sugar. Transfer cutouts to waxed paper, using pancake turner. Turn each cutout to coat both sides. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Prick each cutout with fork about 4 times.
3. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or just until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. Meanwhile, mix all Creamy Filling ingredients until smooth. Add a few drops water if necessary. Spread about 1/2 teaspoon filling between bottoms of pairs of cookies.

Don't Forget!!

2008-12-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to send me your favorite Christmas cookie recipe today for my online cookie exchange!! Send your recipe to angelascookieexchange@hotmail.com

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-17T12:00:00.003-07:00

This weekend we had a little snow. It was about as close to looking like a winter wonderland as Boise gets this time of year. Valerie was so excited that she could not stand it. She flung open the back door, burst out onto the patio, eagerly balled up snow in both fists, paused for just a moment with a puzzled look upon her face, and then promptly burst into tears because her feet and hands were freezing. It was almost like watching in slow motion (I may have laughed - a little). We properly dressed her thereafter and helped her build a snowman - well, half a snowman anyway. We named him Chester. Come by and visit him before he melts away. In Boise, there's no guarantee that he'll be back another day.

Tape People

2008-12-15T09:50:00.006-07:00

Can you believe these are made from ordinary scotch and packing tape??
Thanks to my mother-in-law for sharing these amazing creations!!

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...

2008-12-15T08:42:00.003-07:00

Tagged by Jenifer:

The rules: bold anything you have done.
My added rule: Italicize anything you plan to do in 2009.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis (Not likely to ever happen; they are sooooo scary!)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (*Sigh*, I wish)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre (Again, *sigh*)
20. Slept on an train (Does the one at Disneyland count?)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Shhhh....)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (I don't suppose the gondolas at the Venetian count?)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (Exactly how much is this??)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (*sigh*.... - oh you get the idea)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (My lawyer advised me to plead the 5th)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person (I've seen enough episodes of King of the Hill to feel like I've been there.)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Tag, you're it!!! I tag everyone on my blog list and anyone who sees this and wants to play along.

I Love Cookies!

2008-12-13T12:15:00.007-07:00

‘Tis the season for baking wonderful, amazing Christmas treats;
Unfortunately we’re too far apart to share our most favorite sweets.
I guess the next best thing is to share our receipes and photos online,
Good tidings of sugar and sprinkles from your house to mine.

Please join me in my First Annual Online Cookie Exchange!
Send your favorite Christmas recipes to me by email at
angelascookieexchange@hotmail.com
by Friday, December 19, and I will post them the following day at
http://www.whatangelaloves.blogspot.com.
Send photos if you have them. Recipes are always better with pictures!

Santa, Cupcakes, and Puppies, Oh My!

2008-12-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

This was Valerie's thrid visit to Santa, and though she was a little wary at first, she calmed down right away and was wishing Santa and his elves a Merry Christmas in no time.
She's quickly figuring out the part about asking for presents. Now, we just have to get her to understand the naughty vs. nice part... She was exceptionally naughty after her visit to St. Nick. She ran down almost the whole length of the mall while I walked as fast as I could behind her in my no-way-I-can-run-in-these shoes.

She brought home the CUTEST cupcake from daycare the other day. Isn't it adorable? She couldn't wait to stick her fingers in the chocolate frosting and lick them off.

And, finally, introducing the newest member to our family, Geronimo (we call him Moe). He's been a great puppy so far. Valerie loves having a new friend, and we love having Moe around to help tire her out as he chases her around the house, across the yard, and through the doggy door (she refuses to use the people door now). My brother and his wife and our friends in Nampa also got puppies from the same litter. You should see them all playing together!

I Love the Holidays

2008-12-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

Things have been crazy busy at our house, as I am sure they have been at yours. Aren't the holidays wonderful? Sure, we squeeze lots of extra activities, tasks, and social events into our schedules, but at least it's fun stuff. I love any excuse to buy and wrap presents, make crafty things, decorate my house, and bake yummy treats; so give me a time that brings all of that together, and I am certain to feel like life is magical.

I am also lucky enough to celebrate my anniversary (7 years!) and endless family birthdays in December. Danny's birthday was Saturday and it was a rather momentous one. I love telling him how lucky he is to be married to a girl in her 20's. ;) There is certainly no shortage of blessings and happy celebrations in my life, and I especially appreciate the opportunity to be surrounded by family, friends, and holiday whimsy this year when so many things seem to be going wrong in the world. I hope everyone is able to live in the moment a little bit this season and enjoy the simple pleasures of Christmas. We can worry about everything else in January, right?

Here are a few of my favorite things about the holidays:

#1 - Favorite Christmas Song: Oh Holy Night

#2 - Favorite Christmas Music Albums: Mariah Carey, Transsiberian Orchestra, Christmas with the Chipmunks, and the Time-Life Treasury of Christmas

#3 - Holiday MUST: Real Christmas Tree

#4 - Longest-Running Family Tradition: Mom's butterscotch rolls on Christmas morning

#5 - Unfulfilled Christmas Wish: To go ice skating and see the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York

#6 - A gift I'd like to give this year: Chocolate mice from L.A. Burdick

I Love the Perfect Weekend

2008-11-23T10:42:00.004-07:00

We have had such a great weekend. And it's not even over yet! Friday night after work we did a little Christmas shopping, and I got the cutest jeans for less than half-price at Macy's. Is there a better way to start the weekend?

Yesterday we went downtown to Kathryn Albertson Park to have pictures taken. It was kind of windy and not very warm. Add to that the fact that Valerie ran around like a wild child, and you get wind-blown hair, rosy cheeks, and runny noses. Nevertheless, I'm hoping we got some great ones. The photographer sent me this one to tide me over until he's finished with the rest.

After pictures, we went to Bajio for lunch. Yummy! Then, we came home and took a nap. I'm not much of a naptaker, but it was great. I got most of my housework done last night while listening to Christmas music (I just couldn't hold out). A few snowflakes fell, and a thick fog came in and seems to have decided to stay a while - which I love.

For breakfast this morning, we made ebelskivers, one of my absolute favorites. We tried a recipe from Williams Sonoma that is truly to die for: Cinnamon-Bun Filled Pancakes. You can get the recipe here. Seriously, they are soooooooooooooooooo good.

The rest of the day will be filled with church, visits with friends, and dinner at Grandma's. Who could ask for a better weekend? I hope you all had a great one as well.

I Love Girligami

2008-11-20T08:49:00.002-07:00

I've never been great at origami. I'm not sure I ever got one of those little folded jumping frogs to jump right. But after seeing Girligami on Hostess With the Mostess, I will have to devote some time to mastering this art. Look how cute!!!

Valerie's First Haircut

2008-11-19T08:52:00.003-07:00

Last weekend while we were in Salt Lake, Suzie was kind enough to give Valerie her first haircut. Though Valerie made it quite difficult, Suzie's work was amazing, as usual. Thanks Aunt Suzie! Valerie told everyone at daycare that Suuuuuuuzie cut her hair. She was so proud of her new look.

As you can see, I sort of forgot to take a photo after it was styled. I'll work on that.

Construction Zone

2008-11-08T15:31:00.004-07:00

I've been having SERIOUS technical difficulties with the blog this week. As a result, my link list and everything else has been disappearaing and reappearing. Leave me a comment if I forgot to re-list your blog!!

Help. I've taken a wrong click and can't get back.

2008-11-07T14:24:00.011-07:00

Am I the only one that feels like she could get lost in Blogland never to return again? Seriously, there are way too many amazing and creative people out there. It's inspiring.... and more than a little humbling. It seems like everytime I have an idea, someone out there has already done it. And they've done it better than me. It's great for the mind, not so much for the ego.

Anyway..... I'm really here to write about Thanksgiving. I have to admit that it really isn't my favorite holiday. I love pumpkin pie as much as the next girl, but I really prefer Christmas, Halloween, and the 4th of July. Danny and I are lucky enough to have our families in the same town, so we usually get to spend time with both families for the holidays. But as we're getting older and our families are growing, we've had to start switching back and forth for the main events on each day. This year is my family's turn for Thanksgiving, so I'm trying to get really excited about it and find more ways to enjoy the day.

Now for the tie in.... I found the greatest Thanksgiving ideas in Blogland and online. I'm so excited to try some of them out. I've posted some of my favorites below. Also, I've found the cutest turkey and fall cupcakes. I'll be posting one every day on my Cupcake Blog.

Now, maybe I should go get some practice in and bake a pumpkin pie. :)

The most adorable Fall party from http://joyfulweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/

And this amazingly cute invitation from Tiny Prints:

A cakelet pan from Williams Sonoma:

Dishes from Pottery Barn, of course:

Thanksgiving Table Top Questions from Plum Party:

Chocolate placesetting turkeys from Lake Champlain Chocolates:

I'm sure there will probably be more to come, but for now, I must start trying to find the trail of breadcrumbs back home from Blogland.

Merry Christmas Tutu You!

2008-11-06T13:11:00.006-07:00

Okay, so I know it seems like I just barely posted about Hannah's Tutus, but they're having a giveaway, and I want to win!!!! Besides, they just posted all their holiday tutus, and I think I'm in love. I want them all.
Do you think Valerie would mind if she just got one giant box of fluff for Christmas?

Today I'd Love a New Coat (or Three)....

2008-11-04T10:04:00.005-07:00

Fall is definitely here. After the warmest Halloween of my entire life, the rain began. And it hasn't stopped for any significant amount of time since. Since my coat from last year almost wraps around me twice, I'm searching for a new one. And the contenders are:

I'm not a huge Will Ferrell fan, but......

2008-10-31T15:02:00.003-06:00

This is pretty dang funny:

Carroll, Ferrell Pull Off Halloween Gag

As the door flew open on a camera tower high above the ground just outside Howard Jones Field, all eyes turned to a man inside screaming and waving his arms.As he hurled to the ground, players winced in horror. Fullback Stanley Havili ran toward the door, but before he could get there, he received good news."He caught him," a woman yelled.

With the man cradled in his arms, a masked superhero strolled into Howard Jones Field. Sure enough, "Captain Compete" turned out to be comedian Will Ferrell.After speaking to the team for a couple of minutes, Captain Compete got another chance to save a life, when a man engulfed in flames emerged from behind the goalposts.After the man was extinguished, Ferrell tried to help, launching a Gatorade cooler at the man ? not on the man."What a sense of timing that guy has," USC coach Pete Carroll said.The Halloween gag had most of the Trojans fooled."It felt awful," Havili said. "My stomach just dropped."Freshman defensive tackle Armond Armstead saw the man fall and thought tragedy struck."Seriously," he said, "I thought we just watched a dude die."The prank lightened the mood after the team finalized its week of practice "It was just a little something in the Halloween spirits," Carroll said. "I just thought we'd have a little fun."

Article by Dan Woike at USC Football

Looking for Simpler Life, Lawyer Burns Harvard Law Diploma

2008-10-31T08:46:00.003-06:00

I think I just threw up a little...
"Ever want to ditch the rat race? Burn your diploma and take a vow of simplicity?
If you thought about it, but could never quite muster the courage to strike a match, you can live vicariously through "Jack," a Washington, D.C., a 30-something lawyer who announced on his blog in June that he is giving up his $300,000-plus annual salary and opting for a simpler life.
In Adventures in Voluntary Simplicity, Jack blogs about his excesses and exit strategies. Then on Oct. 27, he took a key symbolic step in that direction. He burned his Harvard law diploma and posted a video on YouTube for all the world to bear witness....."

Article from ABA Journal Online

I told you chocolate was the devil...

2008-10-29T07:57:00.000-06:00

Horror-S'morer by Bent Objects

I'm hungry now. Does that make me a bad person?

Buzzzzzz

2008-10-28T20:15:00.001-06:00

It's been way too long since I posted photos of Valerie. Luckily, her Halloween pictures came back today. We forgot her black and yellow magic wand at home that day, and I wish you could see her wings better on the black background, but I guess you really have to see her in a live appearance to get the full effect anyway. Maybe we'll be buzzing by to see you on Friday night!

Did You Know???

2008-10-23T08:25:00.000-06:00

Betty Crocker Eat Your Heart Out

2008-10-22T20:56:00.000-06:00

I love pumpkin recipes: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumkin muffins, and yes, pumpkin cookies. I try new recipes every year. And while I've had my fair share of disappointing experiments in the past, I have finally come up with one to write into my recipe book - in ink. If only a photo could do them justice...

Angela's Pumpkin Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup of softened butter
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well blended. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar and butter until well blended. Beat in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture. Once all ingredients are well-mixed, add the chocolate chips.

Place spoonfuls on greased baking sheets. Bake approximately 12 minutes or until edges are firm. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for several minutes and then place on a wire rack and cool completely.

Recipe makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Today I Love the Bomb Squad

2008-10-22T15:26:00.001-06:00

Today the Boise Bomb Squad may have saved me from a bomb dapperly disguised as a stylish red briefcase... The "suspicious package" was, as luck would have it, next to a bench on the street directly beneath my window. I had to vacate my office while the robot picked up the briefcase and safely deposited it in the bomb truck. Now there's something more original than the old standby "the dog ate my homework."

I may not have worried quite so much, however, I then remembered that this building is just full of lawyers......

It was almost as scary as that time last year when they locked down the whole floor because some guy walked into the bank downstairs with a shotgun... Maybe I should relocate to Detroit, I hear it's safer there.

Halloween Funnies

2008-10-20T12:56:00.000-06:00

Halloween Party at Angela's House

2008-10-18T19:32:00.001-06:00

Halloween Party

2008-10-16T14:01:00.000-06:00

A Fanciful Twist is hosting a Halloween Blog Party. How great is that? Go see what she did with her Mad Hatter's Tea Party last June.

This one is going to be amazing for sure! Now where did I put my party hat?

Halloween Banner

2008-10-16T06:37:00.000-06:00

Decorate inside of house for Halloween. Check.

Make Valerie's costume. Check, check.

Halloween cards made. Check, check, check.

Halloween photos taken of Valerie in said costume to be placed inside said cards. Check, check, check, check.

Beg someone to make this banner for me...... how many checks was I on??

Photo from Woman's Day

I Really Really Love Cupcakes

2008-10-15T20:38:00.000-06:00

I love cupcakes so much that I started a "Cupcake a Day" blog. But since I feel compelled to post lots of cutsey stuff to make up for the vomiting pumpkin, I figured I'd also post today's cupcake on this blog too.

I Love Hannah's Tutus

2008-10-15T20:18:00.000-06:00

I stumbled upon Hannah's Tutus while looking for ideas for Valerie's Halloween costume. I wish I had found it BEFORE I spent hours making her costume. I would have just bought one. I may or may not have then tried to pass it off as my own creation. ;)

Anyway, Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls is having a Hannah's Tutu giveaway. You can win the Autumn Leaf Tutu pictured below.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2008-10-14T13:40:00.001-06:00

Enough said.

A Smile for Your Friday

2008-10-10T08:38:00.001-06:00

I Love BYU Brownies

2008-10-07T11:45:00.000-06:00

So how is it I've never heard of BYU Brownies?? I have to thank Heather for righting this very, very serious wrong.

For any of you similarly kept in the dark, I present the recipe for my new favorite treat:

Ingredients:

1 c. margarine
1/2 c. cocoa
2 Tbsp. honey
4 eggs2 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped walnuts
12 oz. chocolate icing

MINT ICING
5 Tbsp. margarine
dash of salt
3 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
2 1/3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. mint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring

1. Melt margarine and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

2. Prepare mint icing: Soften margarine. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

3. Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time to stiffen the icing. Remove from the freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate icing.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!

A glimmer of hope....

2008-10-07T10:31:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's easy to forget that our country has been through darker times than the one it's facing now, but a quick review of recent history reveals multiple recessions/depressions/wars/crashes. America has always emerged on the other side - hopefully stronger for the wear.

I am a bit of a cynic when it comes to politics. As such, you're not likely to find me engaging in heated political discussions - despite the bachelor's degree in political science. In fact, I avoid the topic altogether whenever possible - just ask my husband (loyal Glenn Beck fan that he is).

It is quotations like the one below, however, that remind me of how important it is for the leader of our country to be able to inspire and motivate our people to maintain faith and optimism in the face of the media's feeding frenzy of negativity and doom.

"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days."

(Franklin D. Roosevelt, Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933)

Now if Only I Could Get My Bank Account to Agree....

2008-10-05T19:12:00.000-06:00

You Belong in Paris

Stylish and expressive, you were meant for Paris.
The art, the fashion, the wine!
Whether you're enjoying the cafe life or a beautiful park...
You'll love living in the most chic place on earth.

What City Do You Belong In?

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Halloween

2008-10-04T14:56:00.000-06:00

I've always loved Halloween. I love to get dressed up and pretend to be someone else. Also, it's as much fun to decorate the house for Halloween as it is to decorate for Christmas. I seem to have more and more fun every year. Being a mom has added the great fun of picking out Valerie's costume.

Here are some memories from Halloweens past...

And now for some of the possibilities for Halloweens yet-to-come...

So many costumes, so few October 31sts.....

No Cavities and Adventure Island

2008-10-03T13:07:00.000-06:00

Valerie had her first dentist appointment this week. She loves to brush her teeth at home, so we were hoping it would go well. She let the dentist check her teeth and even let the hygienist clean them.

The staff looked at me like I was the first person to ever pull out a camera at a dentist appointment, but oh well...

We found the greatest new park in Meridian. It's called Adventure Island, and it has pirate ship and space ship themes. There are climbing rocks and a splash park for summer. There's also this section of giant musical instruments - xylophones and drums. Valerie was devastated when it was time to go.

Barbie Again??

2008-09-29T15:00:00.000-06:00

Mattel recently announced the release of limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the Idaho market:

Sun Valley Barbie: She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a million dollar home. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.
Eagle Barbie: The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately. Garden City Barbie: This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.

Boise Foot Hills Barbie: This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.

Pocatello Barbie: This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.
Ketchum Barbie: This collagen injected, rhino plastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Percocet prescription available as well as newly built high rise condo.

Buhl Barbie: This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of Mountain Home Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.

Boise East End Barbie: This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow. She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Boise East End Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

Mountain Home Barbie: This Barbie now comes with a stroller and 2 infant dolls. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. White boy Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

Idaho Falls Barbie: She's perfect in every way, mainly due to the high levels of antidepressants in her system. We don't know where Ken is because he's always at church meetings.

Phew! No West Boise/St. Anthony Barbie. I'm safe. For now.

I Love Picture Day

2008-09-25T12:52:00.000-06:00

We finally had Valerie's pictures taken, a long-overdue activity. They turned out sooooooo well that I may have gone a little overboard. Where exactly do you hang 15 8x10 portraits? Photographers prey on the fact that you feel like you're leaving your children behind when you don't purchase every last one. In the future, I will need to only go to places that give you all the photos on a disc.

Here are the small little proofs they emailed to me. I will update with some better (i.e., bigger) photos once they arrive.

P.S. I know she's so cute and cuddly that you are simply compelled to stop by and give her a kiss. Feel free! I know how hard it is to resist.

Speaking of Christmas in September....

2008-09-17T11:07:00.001-06:00

On second thought, Halloween in September may be more appropriate.

I think I need this Barbie. She has been released in honor of some anniversary of The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. I'm not a collector; in fact, she would be the only Barbie I own. Nor am I a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan. But some very disturbed part of my personality is deeply fascinated. I am sure that speaks volumes about my mental stability. Nevertheless, if you are feeling particularly generous today and need an outlet for your giving spirit, feel free to spread it this way.

Sign Me Up!!!

2008-09-17T10:31:00.000-06:00

I am a magazine addict. Perhaps no one knows this better than my poor husband. He has begrudgingly hauled my "permanent" collection from home to home over the past few years as we moved around the state. I love Martha Stewart; he has a unique reason to hate her with a passion.

A few months ago I discovered that I could buy used/donated magazines from the public library for .10. You seriously would have thought I'd won the lottery. I was that excited! While the selection isn't exactly what I would call vast, I do usually find a few treasures to feed my habit.

So imagine my absolute delirium when I heard an advertisement announcing Maghound a few months ago. For a monthly fee, you get to choose which magazines to have delivered to your house. You can change your selections throughout the year. I immediately logged on, but was devestated to find that it was not operational yet. I signed up to be notified as soon as it was up and running. Today, the long awaited email arrived! And..... there is a free 30-day membership!! Woo hoo! Now I can try out all those magazines I wouldn't order before in case I didn't love them. It's like Christmas in September.

If the Straitjacket Fits

2008-09-07T22:12:00.000-06:00

Working in a psychiatric hospital for the better part of eight years was sure to leave lasting effects. I might be a bit of a mental health diagnosis hypochondriac.... maybe. Over the years I've wondered if I could possibly have Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Paranoid Schizophrenia, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Compulsive Eating Disorder, and so on, and so on, and so on. (I'm thinking it might be a good measure of self-preservation to disable comments for this post.)

Anyway, today I found a "syndrome" that I am absolutely certain I have and which, I am sure, is responsible for a significant amount of the frustration and anxiety in my life. It is called "Preparing to Live Syndrome." The article I read was an awakening of sorts. While it was geared toward lawyers, I am certain that it applies to a much broader demographic.

JD Bliss sums it up this way: "Specifically, the problem is that 'we trade what we truly have'--the present moment--for a future that does not yet and might never exist. As a result, many of us seek relief in 'addiction, pay raises and promotions and all manner of frantic behavior.' Dolan points out that the present moment is 'the one moment of the only life we will ever have that we truly possess.'"

Hi, my name is Angela, and I am a compulsive list maker. I have more lists about more things than anyone I have ever met or even heard about. It's sick - no really, it is. I'm not going to lie, I've actually written things down that I had forgotten to write down but already done, just so I could cross them off my list. I am pretty sure if I started right this minute I could never possibly complete everything waiting on my various to-do lists.

When I'm feeling out of control or unhappy, I need only a pen and a piece of paper (or the back of an envelope, a napkin, my arm - just kidding - sort of), and I can outline all of the shiny happy possibilities for the future. I love imagining what I could potentially accomplish - later.

But every minute of the day, my precious lists taunt me, reminding me that I'm not accomplishing enough, not keeping up, not living my life to the fullest. I get so frazzled and overwhelmed that I check off very little. And I oftentimes have a difficult time enjoying the things I do accomplish or the time I spend with my family and friends. I always feel like what I am doing right now is at the expense of something I "should" be doing.

So, now that I have admitted I have a problem, what is the next of the twelve steps for this disease? "Dolan suggests that lawyers promise themselves: 'Today is the only day that belongs to me; I will live it the best way I know how.'"

Sounds so simple, right? Now if only "the best way I know how" wasn't open to so many differing interpretations... Maybe I should go make a list.

Today I Love My Life

2008-08-17T20:59:00.000-06:00

Today I am so in love with my life that I feel guilty for ever complaining about anything. Seriously, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I am married to the most amazing man in the whole world, and we have an absolutely incredible little girl. My parents have always loved, supported, and inspired me. I have seven fantastic siblings plus quite a few more of those in-law type brothers and sisters that are just as great. Danny's family is so thoughtful and wonderful and adds so much more to my life. I am healthy and happy and truly have a blessed life. I had a perfect weekend just spending time with Valerie and Danny, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I tend to get so wound up in activities and to-do lists that I seldom take time to just hang out with the people that I love. This weekend, I did just that. The peace and the joy that I felt today make facing another Monday a little more bearable. I hope that all of you can take a moment to find those things that are truly great in your life to help put all the rest into perspective.

Wedding Inspiration

2008-08-17T20:49:00.000-06:00

I love weddings. No, I really really LOVE weddings. So when my cousin Brittany blogged about the wedding design contest on coco+kelley, I had to play. You pick a room and then design a wedding around that room. It was tons of fun, and now I'm ready to head to Key West to throw myself a little vow renewal celebration. Who's in?

I Love Slimquick Commercials

2008-07-19T09:25:00.000-06:00

Seriously, aren't they the best? I swear there is one more, but I can't find it online. I don't even have to comment. The commercials say it ALL.

Today (and everyday) I Love Batman

2008-07-18T09:44:00.000-06:00

Yep, it's true. I'm a sucker for a man in a batsuit.

I've loved them all. Even Adam West was pretty impressive to a pre-teen after-school-television fan. But, oh how the batsuits have improved since the 1960s...

I had the good fortune of seeing Michael Keaton in real life at the Relay Station in St. Anthony in about 1997 or 1998. I was rendered speechless (astonishing, I know). I couldn't even look him in the eye. Danny somehow finagled an autograph for me (isn't he great?). Today I will say that Michael Keaton was my favorite. But don't expect the same answer tomorrow. Val Kilmer was pretty hot. And George Clooney was surprisingly good. Christian Bale has been impressive so far, and I can't wait to see the new movie. I'd be Catwoman or Poison Ivy opposite any one of them. Meeeeow.

With that said, here's a trip down memory lane. Which one is your favorite?

I Love Summer Weekends

2008-07-10T10:31:00.000-06:00

I should have posted these sooner, but I've been a little preoccupied with ultra-important stuff. We brought my little brother Brandon and his Nintendo Wii home with us on Sunday.

**Word of caution: Don't even pick up the Wii remote unless you've got hours to spare and don't want to be in bed before midnight!!!

So we travelled to Eastern Idaho for the holiday weekend. My adorable little nephew, Christopher, turned one-year-old on July 2. We had a party for him on July 4th with volleyball, slip-and-slides, barbeque, and fireworks. The city of Menan was sure excited to celebrate his birthday! ;)

Fun was had by all, but all the photos to prove it are on Mom's fancy camera. I'll have to update later.

We were also fortunate enough to attend Monte's & Barb's annual 4th of July barbeque in St. Anthony.

Always good times. This year's festivities, however, included one activity I could have lived without. Danny lost a football bet last October, and the 4th was the predetermined reckoning day. A picture's worth a thousand words, so I'll just let it do the explaining.

Valerie and I pretty much shared the same reaction.

We spent some time in Chester at Grandpa and Grandma Hermosillo's. I am again reminded that I need to hire a personal photographer to follow us around because we didn't get any pictures taken. I did catch Valerie growling at Grandpa's bear, though.

I have been informed that this weekend will be spent camping and boating at C.J. Strike. With a seven-year-old, a thirteen-year-old, and a husband that doesn't believe in growing up, I'm hoping for the best, but preparing for...

Stay tuned for details.

My Favorite Quote of the Day

2008-07-10T10:06:00.001-06:00

"When I was young, I was convinced that all so-called liberals were evil. It was an immature assumption on my part. Over the years, I came to realize that there are millions of liberals who, while they may be confused or uninformed, have good intentions. "
- Robert Ringer

What's Your Number? Mine's 34

2008-07-02T19:19:00.000-06:00

By way of my cousin Nichole (her number is 38) and thebibliophiles.com:

"The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed. "

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.

2) List it in your own blog so we can try and track down these people who've read 6 and force books upon them.

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkein
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible - New Testament - (The WHOLE thing? Okay, not so much.)
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare - (almost all; I've missed a few, but I'm totally counting it)
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck -
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres -
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel -
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte's Web - EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Epilogue: So apparently I'm reading the wrong books. I've read almost 50 books this year, but none of them made the list.
P.S.: If this were high school English I'd have scored a lot higher because I've seen the movies of about 15 more.