The latest: leaf hunting and FAQ

Happy October!!!! My favorite month! 

Now that I'm in full fall decorating mode, I've been collecting pumpkins and gourds, candles, anything apple or pumpkin or pumpkin spice. I am thoroughly enjoying decorating our house! 

^^the house so far but truuuust me there are a few more pumpkins to come^^

A couple of days ago, I decided I needed some leaves to decorate and went leaf hunting through our neighborhood. Unfortunately about 1 tree every 5 blocks has kind of (but not really) changed colors so my search was mostly in vain, but I did find one tree that was bright red so I collected a lot of red leaves, 1 or 2 yellow ones, but no orange ones. Zip. Zilch. Nada. I hope some of the trees here turn orange too! (But I have a back up plan so we'll see how this goes, thank goodness for having family and friends in the Land of Fall Foliage). 

^^decorated mantel sans leaves as they are currently being pressed and dried^^

After I got back from my leaf hunting, I decided to do some exploring around our backyard and get some more ideas of what I want to do next spring. These are two of my favorite things about our back yard:

^^we have a rock wall!!^^

^^and little stone steps that lead to a little ledge (where flowers or something will be next year)^^

And now for the FAQ portion of my blog today. The two most common questions I have gotten since moving here are:

1. When do you start your job? (Or have you started? Or how is it? Or variations very similar to those)

No I have not started my job, yet. Yes it's annoying and a bit frustrating because being semi-employed but technically unemployed is a tad stressful. It's a government job so it TAKES FOREVER TO START. That's what Mark said, that's what one of his friends said, that's what my interviewers said, that's what everyone has said. Yes I have called and yes they are still doing background checks or whatever else they have left to do. No they didn't give me a time frame. I don't know. That's just how it goes. 

However. 

I am enjoying my time off. I have been going a million miles an hour since high school and to be honest, I am grateful for this break. And to be completely honest, a little part of me will be sad when I have to go back to work. So far now, I bask in my break. 

2. What do you do all day?

Interesting question and since being in my current situation, I now have a better understanding of why some people may find this question a bit annoying, and I feel bad for asking it once or twice before. I can assure you that while I do not have children, I keep myself quite busy and entertained. No I do not sleep in until 11 and then watch Netflix until Mark gets home. Actually, most days I don't watch TV or Netflix. Most days I wake up a little before 6:30 and go running with Tilly OR on the weekends Mark and I sleep in until...7:30. Occasionally I do sleep in until 8 and then stay in bed for a little while reading, checking social media, or Pinteresting. But I get restless easily so that doesn't last terribly long.

So, I wake up early and either run with Tilly, run solo, or do yoga. 

Then I get ready for the day and eat breakfast. Lately it's been (seasonal) a Pumpkin Spice bagel with whipped cream cheese. To. Die. For. I have leisurely mornings and it's grand. I read the paper or a book while I eat. I take my time doing my hair, sometimes I try new styles. I take my time picking out my outfits. In a society that sadly glorifies being brutally busy, it's nice not to be rushed. 

Then I usually run some errands. Fortunately, we live close to the library, post office, and grocery store so I either walk or ride my bike places. It's glorious! 

Often Tilly and I will do something before her girls nap or plan to do something while they nap. This is one of my favorite parts of my day!!! Earlier this week we went to Hobby Lobby. It was Tilly's first time!! 

^^Annie and I were in cart #2 playing with owls and dogs and yarn^^

^^She makes me giggle! No joke, she would not put that branch down^^

^^One WIDE awake and one out just in time for nap time^^

If my afternoons aren't spent hanging with Tilly and her girls, I find things to do and usually have a post-it note or mental list of things I need or want to do or places I want to see. That's how I discovered The Scoop, the awesome neighborhood ice cream shop, or the Rockwood Bakery down the street. Sometimes I go for walks to explore the neighborhoods. In fact that's how I discovered another cute little park a few blocks down and over with 2 stone bridges and a quaint pond with weeping willow trees. Sometimes I go to the bookstore, more often than not, the library. I have about 7 books out right now that I'm plugging through. One day I went to the bakery down the street, ordered a croissant, and read for an hour. It was wonderful! Last week I spent a couple of days learning new knitting patterns so I can finally graduate from the garter stitch and scarves to bigger and better things. I researched books and patterns for a couple of hours and then went to a couple of knitting shops, bought some supplies, and am preparing to knit a hat. And yes the idea of successfully knitting a hat on circular needles excites me since it'll be a first for both of those things! I've only been putting it off for 9 years. I can't wait! Then I'll move on to mittens, and socks, and cardigans, and sweaters, and big blankets, and bags; I'm thrilled!!! Mostly I like to stay in our neighborhood because driving down Division (one of the main streets) drives me nuts. Congested and way too many lights. 

Tilly and I have plans to watch all three of the Anne of Green Gables DVDs. We started the first one yesterday. Holy catscans I had forgotten how much I LOVE Anne, Gilbert, Marilla and Matthew, Diana, and the scenery of Price Edward Island! 

Plus, Tilly's never been to World Market so that is also on the list. As well as another trip (or two) to Greenbluff! 

I still like to keep up with the dietetics world, so I watch webinars or actually read the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (or skim it...). And since now I have the time, I plan weekly menus and actually cook so we aren't eating at 8 or 9 like we did living in Texas! And I bake. Not a ton or perhaps as much as I'd like because I'll eat it all, or Mark and I will eat it all, or I'll bring it to Tilly's house and she'll scold me for bringing more treats over (heehee!). Lately I've been into crisps because they are easy and tasty.  

^^apple crisp and strawberry crisp^^

I have time to do laundry, clean, cook, and have some Gabe time. It's so nice because then when Mark gets home, it's all Mark and Gabe time, instead of spending most of our time trying to get some chores done and then being too exhausted to do much else but go to bed. 

And now to fold that laundry before Mark gets home...

Chocolate chocolate everywhere!

I am a chocaholic. And I'm turning my husband into one too.

(cue evil cackle!)

Probably the best cookie recipe I've ever made.

Recipe to follow! Don't get mad! I'm going to post it!

Our, yes, OUR, as in Mark AND my new favorite store bought ice cream.

Dude just read the description. AH-mazing. 

THE brownies. Per Mark's request. 

Sorry I can't give you this recipe; I'm sworn to secrecy.

But this batch wasn't my best. Living in a drier climate means the modifications I made while living in Myrtle Beach don't work quite as well. Still yummy, but not my best.

Wah. Wah.

Ok! So now for the chocolate chip cookie recipe:

(Adopted from The Pinning Mama)

Ingredients

• *1.5 cup (2.5 sticks) butter, softened (I also did 2 sticks of butter and 0.5 cup applesauce since I didn't have another 1/2 stick and it worked fine)
• *1.5 cup dark brown sugar
• *0.5 cup granulated sugar
• *2 large eggs
• *4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• *4 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• *2 tablespoon cornstarch
• *2 teaspoon baking soda
• *1 teaspoon salt
• *1 bag mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (or you can do 1/2 mini choc chips and 1/2 mini m&ms!)

Instructions

1. Mix butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.
3. Combine flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt and mix together.
4. Mix dry ingredients slowly into wet ingredients and blend well.
5. If the dough is crumbly, stir in water 1 teaspoon at a time until it just holds together. The dough should not be sticky.
6. Add in chocolate chips and stir until evenly distributed.
7. Ok, now you have two choices. CHOICE ONE: Using ¼ cup measure, scoop out dough and form into a ball. Continue until all dough is balled. Approx 24 cookies. CHOICE TWO: Using a large cookie scoop, scoop dough, form into a ball and flatten a little. This makes approx 48 cookies. 
8. Place dough in the fridge for 2 hours, or in the freezer for 2 hours or up to 3 months.
9. Place chilled or frozen cookie onto parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 15 min.
10. Let cool 2 minutes.
11. Stuff your face and enjoy the deliciousness.

You're welcome. Now go make 'em! 

It's true.

I've been avoiding my blog. 

Except this past week I keep thinking of things to blog about but then I feel like I have so much to catch up on and then I convince myself that most of the people who read this already follow me on Instagram or Facebook so they already know what's going on. But then again those are only snippets and it's not narrated. And Mark pointed out today that it's been awhile. So, I'll do my best.

First of all...I got married!!!!!!!!!!! In December. Now I'm a Sadie! (Sadie, Sadie Married Lady. Name that movie. Streisand! Anyone? Anyone?) And it was the most perfect day. There is not one thing I would change about the day. I know lots of friends who have said they wish they could go back and do things differently. I don't. It was exactly as I wanted it to be. It was cold, miserably cold (low teens and then got down to single digits in the afternoon), but beautiful and I didn't care because, hello!, I just got married and I was surrounded by dear, darling, wonderful friends and family. And it snowed!!! Perfection. 

Here are some of my favorite shots:

We got married in the LDS Boston Temple

My brother, Dane, is currently serving a mission for the LDS (Mormon) church in Australia and since he couldn't attend the wedding in real life and I wanted him to "be there," we had a life-size cardboard cut out of him. This is one of my favorite pictures! 

And since Mark and I are both avid baseball fans, we took pictures around Fenway Park, which was a blast! 

Three of my very best friends came for our wedding. My only regret is that I didn't have enough time to catch up with them and have more "girl time." And when we had our reception in Dallas in January, two more surprised me and showed up. I don't know how I got so lucky to have these INCREDIBLE friends!

Now you have to understand, I am a food snob at times and if you know nothing about me, I LOVE Regina's Pizza in Boston. Well as luck would have it, I knew they had opened up a shop near Fenway and our photographer, Jennifer White--who was *wonderful* and I HIGHLY recommend her--was cool enough to take some shots in the pizza place. 

Yes. We ate pizza after we took pictures. In our wedding get-up. We were starving! And cold! 

Now for the "reception," we opted to do more of an open house. I envisioned an intimate, fun setting. I wanted to greet and chat and hug every single person that came to celebrate with us because I want them to know it meant a lot and that I love them. I think it was a success. Even with snow storms in the forecast, I love my New Englanders who braved the looming storm to come. My mom made the desserts. Yes, all of them. Thirty-something cookies/brownies, etc., including our three-layered chocolate peanut butter with ganache wedding cake. 

As I said, it was perfect. Mark and I spent a few days in Boston on a "mini-honeymoon" and then the craziness began. I worked for 2 hectic days when we got to Myrtle Beach and wrapped things up. Gosh it was a whirlwind. We loaded my stuff in a U-haul and headed to Texas. (Fun fact about Gabe: I do not enjoy road trips. No I do not). We arrived in San Angelo on a Sunday, spent two days getting the keys for out apartment, me filling out paperwork for my new job and getting an official start day, and then we headed to Dallas for a few days for Christmas, and then headed back to San Angelo. Lots of time in a car...

San Angelo is...

I don't even know what to say. It's artsy, country, unique. It's isolated but a nice jumping point to Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and some smaller towns that have a lot to offer. My favorite town that we have visited (aside from Dallas because a) Mark's family is there and I love them and b) it has every shop I could think of to shop at INCLUDING the biggest Whole Foods I have ever seen!) so far has been Fredericksburg. THANK GOODNESS Texas has antique shops. I found a darling kitchen hutch in an antique store here in San Angelo a month ago that I fell in love with, had to have and is one of my favorite purchases ever. 

I wouldn't live here by choice but having someone (aka Mark) to do things with has made all of the difference. We have a list of things we want to do while we are living here. I've turned our apartment into a bit of a sanctuary. I love coming home to our apartment. It's cozy and our little haven. I love decorating and planning  and in the mean time, dreaming of our future home. We have several little projects that we are working on. We painted an accent wall in our living room (only one because we have to paint it back before me move) and I love it. We still need a few pieces of furniture but it's fun to hunt and wait to find the piece and then to see rooms come together. I'll post pictures in a little bit. Right now we have laundry to fold, it's gloomy, and Mark is studying so there are papers and binders askew. 

I cook more, which I was scared of when I got married because I don't think I'm a good cook or even a cook and it seems daunting. Plus, Mark's mom is an aaaaamazing cook and now I have to feed her son? Umm...intimidating. I bake. I like sugar and flour and a vanilla and the myriad of ways I can manipulate a small bit of ingredients to produce delectable treats. It thrills me! But, thank you Pinterest, I am becoming a bit more confident with cooking and it's been quite fun. Also Mark likes to cook so when I don't want to or don't have the energy, he will! Or we just go for cereal. Can't beat it! I haven't burned or completely botched a recipe yet. Plus it makes it much more worthwhile when you have someone to cook for beside yourself. I actually do enjoy it and have a goal to cook at least 3 times/week (and then we have leftovers!).

 Last night I made buffalo chicken stuffed peppers with guacamole (well, Mark made the guac because he's the master). INCREDIBLE. Recipe here

San Angelo is barren, dry, and reminds me of Utah/Nevada/Arizona. Not my favorite geography (I'm sorry, the desert does nothing for me) so I've decided to create a "garden" of potted plants indoors and outdoors. I need greenery! Yesterday I planted pansies, pincushion flowers, and white knights. Our neighbors even commented on them! *smug face* I finally planted the grape hyacinth bulbs Mark's Mom got me. I'm scared I did it all wrong and that they will die but time will tell. I must have read several articles about how to pot grape hyacinths and what pot is the best, the best weather conditions, how wet the soil should be, how deep to plant them. etc. For the love. Please just let them bloom. And I got some succulents because I just think they look so cool!

So here's a day in the married life of Gabe (or close to it):

*Mark wakes up around 5:15-5:30am because he has to be on base around 6:15. I half consciously listen to him get ready, he leaves, calls me when he gets to base a little after 6am to make sure I get up because snoozing alarms is easy and talking to him wakes me up so that I will get out of bed and work out.

*I get up and work out. I never thought I'd be a morning exerciser but in the short amount of time I have been doing this, it has become a favorite part of my day. It's quiet and I get some time to myself. Exercising before work is also genius because then it's done and out of the way! 

*I go to work, where I work at a hospital in town. Ok pause. Let's talk about work. I don't mind San Angelo that much. I don't (also it helps to know that this is not a permanent situation. Also Mark is a wonderful husband--seriously, I really lucked out--and makes life blissful). I'd rather live in the Dallas area if I had to live in Texas but whatever, we didn't get to choose so here we are. I do, however, at times DESPISE San Angelo because my job often makes me want to cry and/or rip my hair out and/or seriously consider a new career. Truly. I try not to complain but, I'm often miserable at work. I even started covering our ICU unit, which was my goal/dream and one of the major reasons I worked for my CNSC, and even then, eh. I miss my old job. I desperately miss my partner in crime and fellow redhead Amy. Desperately. I walked into a very divided and tense department. It's a disaster. And why the heck did I chose a field predominantly female? Good gracious. WAY. WAY. WAAAAY too much estrogen for me. Plus you cram 6 females in an office the size of shoebox and that's enough to drive me mad. I think it's also a mix of being the new kid (I had WAY more freedom at my last job, a lot less people breathing down my neck, and among the defining characteristics that make me up, independent is most certainly one of them, and I feel suffocated), starting to get burned out clinically (I'd love a job that recognizes holidays), and the constant drain of working in a very dramatic, negative environment. I find myself trying to find more reasons to avoid the office and delight when I am so busy I only take breaks for lunch and then to drop my stuff off at the end of the day to go home. Culinary school looks better and better by the hour. I'd rather cook, bake, and create fun, yummy things that make people happy. I mean how can someone get upset over a cookie? Seriously! But hey at least I can wear scrubs to work. I have cool colleagues that help. I look forward to the day I can go part-time or not work at all and be a stay-at-home-mom. Alas, I endure.

*After work I usually run errands (usually to the post office, the library, or the grocery store) and either meet Mark on base to work out, or go home and work out at the gym in our apartment complex. 

*Then we have dinner and Mark usually studies and I read, clean, do laundry, Pinterest recipes, plan menus, online "window" shop (usually for furniture, and more recently clothes since I feel isolated and there are maybe 2 good clothing stores here), and then sometimes we may watch Gilmore Girls (I've got Mark hooked! HA!) 

*Usually we're in bed by 10-11pm (I forgot how wonderful it is to go to bed before midnight and actually get more than 5-6 hours of sleep!)

Fridays are date nights. Saturdays we usually sleep in (until a whopping 8am, but I'm actually ok with that. Can't waste a precious day!) and then we have something planned, be it projects, a day trip somewhere, a trip downtown for antiquing and lunch, etc. Lately we've started visiting Petsmart Saturday mornings to look at puppies because I am not baby hungry (far from it actually; the thought of having a child right now is frightening. I'm not ready. I am so not ready), I'm puppy hungry! So we agreed that if Mark's next assignment doesn't bring us overseas, we're getting a puppy. HAPPY DAY! I'm been looking at miniature schnauzer puppies for weeks. So cute! 

So, that's that. Being married rocks. I was nervous the transition would be challenging since our entire courtship was long distance, but I think in a weird way, it made the transition very easy. And it helps when your husband is so wonderful, super easy-going and extraordinarily patient with his, at times, high-strung, impatient wife. And I am madly in love with him. I lucked out, majorly.

Pictures of the apartment to come soon!

P.S. Dude! Did you hear? Jimmer is going to the Bulls! Maybe now his career will finally take off. Yesssss! Give him a chance! He's got such potential, I just want to see a bit of the BYU Jimmer in the NBA. He's so talented! Hopefully this is better than the stupid Sacramento Kings. And...baseball season is just around the corner! 

Now off to bake cookies while Mark studies...

Throwback

Sorry. I'm not going to post throwback pictures of me or something. At least not for this post. Maybe another time. BUT. This week has been a throwback week. At least the last few days have been. Mark and I were reminiscing about the good old days after reading 50 Things That Look Just Like Your Childhood. We were delighted to be reminded of orange VHS tapes (Harriet the Spy!!!), French Toast Crunch, AOL Instant Messenger, the Pierre Escargot, Heads-Up 7 Up (still one of my favorite games), Gigapets, and other wonderful things from our childhood. This led to a fun reminiscent discussion about the good, quality Saturday Morning cartoons and our favorite shows on the Disney channel and Nickelodeon. GOOD times! The shows these days just pale in comparison. It's sad really.

So. Saturday morning I woke up, took Scotty out, poured myself a bowl of cereal (with chocolate chips because, hey, it's Saturday) and watched one of my favorites: Rocky and Bullwinkle. Thank you YouTube!!!

Today I think I might watch Gummi Bears. I LOVED that show. 

I also did some baking because...I love it. Because it makes me happy. Because it relieves my stress. Because I enjoy it. Because I was craving some things. Etc., etc., etc.

My new faaaaaavorite thing is "ice cream" made of just frozen bananas and peanut butter. I LOVE IT!!!!! 

2 overripe bananas cut into coins and frozen thrown into a food processor with 2 generous spoonfuls of peanut butter (or however much PB you desire). Toss with chocolate chips and voila!, a healthy version of ice cream. Friends, it's the bomb. I am going to try it with just bananas and strawberries too. 

THEN. I found a recipe for pretzel buns and decided it was a MUST. Super easy to make and holy catscans are they good. I brought some into work and froze the rest...except I ate the last one today and am going to make some more...today. They are THAT good. Recipe at the end of the post!

Friday Amy created a training plan for my next half marathon in October. Whoa baby. It's definitely do-able, but it's going to push me. Yikes! New kickin' PR here I come!

Yesterday karma and the world were against me. I blame the heat and humidity, paper-thin patience, and fatigue but OH MY LANTUS it was ridiculous. It was one of those days where it was one annoying thing after another. I'm not going to waste your and my time talking about it because the day is over but let me just say, I am not a fan of shopping at Wal-Mart to begin with, but I HATE it on Saturdays. Plus some lady with a MAAAASSSIVE cart full of things cut in front of me. I was fuming. THIRTY minutes later, I finally left Wal-Mart. Yeah, not a happy camper. BUT I did get these beauts!

And I have discovered my new favorite Greek yogurt (of which I am obsessed): Dannon's Light and Fit coconut vanilla. HOLY MOLY it's so good. It was my first time trying it--I think it's brand new--and I only bought three. DRATS! Next time I go, I am clearing Wal-Mart of their supply. So. Good. And with chocolate chips...pardon me while I die of happiness. Oh and, BONUS, it's only 80 cals. Yes, indulge away! 

And another good thing from my Wal-Mart experience, my chocolate chip jar is now restocked and therefore all is right in the world. And I even got some PB chips so now I can finally make my copy cat chocolate PB Levain cookies! 

AND. HOME IN TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(To come: Mom, Heath and Emma, Soucys, GP, Lagos, Shake Shack, seafood and so much more). I AM READY TO BURST I AM SO HAPPY! Oh New England I love you.

Pretzel Buns (from Yammie's Noshery)

Makes ~12 (I think you could get about 16...they get pretty big)

2 cups milk1 1/2 Tablespoons (2 packets) active dry yeast
6 Tablespoons brown sugar
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
4 1/2 cups flour (I used 5-5 1/2...maybe because it's so flippin' humid right now...)
2 teaspoons fine salt


1/3 cup baking soda
3 cups warm water (I'd recommend boiling the water because my pretzels didn't get that nice brown "pretzel" look...but they still tasted wicked good)!
Coarse salt
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Warm up the milk in the microwave or on the stove for just about one and a half minutes. It should be about 110º. If it's too hot it will kill the yeast. You should be able to comfortably keep your finger in it. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 3 minutes. Add the butter and sugar. Add the flour about 1 cup at a time and the add the fine salt. Kneed for about 10 minutes with a stand mixer, or by hand. Put it in a greased bowl and cover with greased cling wrap. Let rise for 1 hour in a moist, warm place until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 375º. Punch down dough and divide into 12 lumps (I like to divide it in half, then divide each half into three, and then divide each remaining one in half again). Roll them into balls. Combine the warm water and baking soda in a wide bowl. Dip each ball in the baking soda water and then cut a slit in the top with a serrated knife. Place on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for about 9-15 minutes or until browned. Brush with melted butter. INDULGE. Good, huh?

The Truth Is...

...I want to bake. All day. Every day. 

I don't know how society can expect people to choose their career at the ridiculous age of 18. People haven't even fully matured by that time. Givemeabreak!

Granted, some people just know but I was not one of them. I changed my major three times and even now, I'm not 100% confident I chose something I can do forever. I do love nutrition. It's interesting. And I'll admit I'm a tad exhausted, stressed, burnt out, and grumpy this week, so my emotions may be biasing me, but I do know being a clinical dietitian is not something I want to be doing 10 years from now. Maybe not even 5. Plus I have a bajillion interests. Baking, obviously, is the top. I love it. I delight in the idea of getting up in the wee hours of the morning--because mornings are my favorite part of the day, especially before most people are up--and creating and concocting sweet treats. I could bake for hours. Plus there is nothing like watching someone bite into something you created and watching their facial expressions as they indulge. Priceless. 
Now I know you're probably thinking, So do it! Well, you're right. I should. But it's a tad more complicated than that. But I know myself and I know that the things I really, really want, I will do anything to get so we'll see. 
Maybe I'll start working at a bakery. Now that would be a blast. Time to job search...and dream...and find a recipe to bake something...

Image 

What's a girl to do?

Week in Review

This has been a craaaaaaaaaaaaazy week! Good crazy. 
Read on for pictures and stories!

Sunday my best gal and I had a Skype date...while we baked...brownies (unplanned!!!)

I miss her badly. It was looooovely to catch up and to share the very exciting things going on in our lives (boys! food! job bashing! get together plans!). It was so much fun. Clary. A year ago this time you were here...during black biker week...ehh....at least we suffered through it together (and binged on "Once Upon A Time")!

THE (secret recipe) brownies

Now I was making brownies because I was asked to participate in a career fair at one of the middle schools on Wednesday. This is my second year and it's pretty fun. Last year they paired me with the woman who runs the Edible Arrangements here. She is so sweet and we had so much fun. She even had some chocolate dipped fruit delivered to me at work. So, to repay her for her kindness, this year I made the best brownies on the planet my mom's infamous secret recipe brownies...coveted by all who taste them. I've made a few tweaks of my own and LOVE these things. They are not for the faint of heart and even the most seasoned of chocoholics must pace him/herself. Mmmmmm mmmmm! I had left over peanut butter frosting from some cookies I made a few weeks ago and decided to spead that on a few brownies. I've decided PB/choc is THE BEST combo EVER. Ohmylantus so good!!!
The career fair was fun BUT this year I was left on my own. I was so sad. HOW in the world can I possibly make nutrition/dietetics exciting for a group of middle schoolers? Uh....Nutrition Jeopardy! Oh yesss! It worked! Well, they at least had fun. I think. 

On Monday, some pals and I from church decided to have a cake decorating contest. I made 2 confetti cakes, cut them in half and we went to town! 

The finished products.

Two of our other friends arrived late, as we were finishing up, so we declared them the judges. Which is your pick?

We decided this one looked like a frog!

The winner was the first one. And that was mine!!! WAHOOOO!!!!! Then we ate them with ice cream. Mmmmm. I love ice cream. We will discuss this later.


Next. Tuesday I went for a run and as I was walking back to my apartment, I turned the corner to walk up the stairs and there IT was.

A big black SNAKE.

Coiled up at the bottom of the stairs. Friends. I freaked. Except I didn't. I froze and mentally stuttered and I'm prettysure my heart stopped. I'm pretty sure I nearly had a moment of fear-induced incontinence. (Nearly. I didn't actually). I have never been a huge fan of snakes but this confirmed how much I detest, nay, abhor them. And I am not exaggerating when I say it was probably 2-3 feet long. I DO NOT DO SNAKES. After about 10 seconds of no brain activity, gawking in fear, shock, and amazement, and the flight-or-fight kicking in (which resulted in me just standing there, frozen. So much for flight!), all I could think was I can't get to my apartment. Well don't worry. After I remembered to breathe and got my brain function back, I remembered I could always go up the other set of stairs on the other side of the building (oxygen does wonders for the mind!). So I took the steps 2-3 at a time mentally screaming WHAT DO I DO!!!??? WHAT DO I DO?!?!!?? Now, my intentions were pure, ok? Let's get that straight. This sick, nasty creature was sitting a mere few feet from my sweet elderly neighbor's door and all I could think was, heaven forbid she opened the door, either the snake would lunge at her or she'd drop dead of shock. AND THEN I thought of all the dogs (uh, HELLO, SCOTTY!!!!??? and his pal Poppy, who lives next door) that live around these parts and what if I had been walking Scotty and unbeknownst to the poor pooch, he walked right up to the snake and it bit him?? So at this point I'm panicking. Sweaty, stinky, and freaking out. So I ran down the stairs again (only to the second floor because I was at least distancing myself by a flight of stairs) to see if the snake was still there and decided to...yup this is pure genius, I know...through a pebble at it to see if it would move. It did and it hissed. Great. At least I knew it was alive because there was NO WAY I was touching a dead snake. Well that still didn't solve my dilemma!!!! So then I called the HOA and left a message about this grotesque creature. I mean what if there was a nest nearby. AND WHY WAS IT THERE???? WHY???? Then I wanted to take a photo so I ran back down again and...

IT WAS GONE.

GREAT. What if it was now lurking under the stairs? OR in the wall??? OR in the bushes??? I decided I was never leaving my apartment again. Then I realized I was being overly dramatic and really, really, really girly. Mark called, after I sent him a frantic text about a snack (darn autocorrect) lurking at the bottom of my stairs. And being the awesome guy that he is, he called to tease me to calm me down and make sure I was ok. What a stud! :) Mostly we just laughed at how silly I was reacting. BUT SERIOUSLY. A SNAKE!!!! GROSS!!!! AHHHH!!!! Let me just tell you, that evening when I took Scotty out before we went to bed, he was not allowed in any bushes. Strictly asphalt and grass. I still look around whenever I walk down the stairs, waiting for it to lunge out of its hiding place. I have an overactive imagination, I know. I haven't seen that thing since and the director of the board of my complex returned my call the next day basically making me feel stupid for freaking out. He reminded me there was wildlife (he emphasized this, apparently thinking I didn't know this) around us including frogs so snakes are sometimes common. What I wanted to say, but didn't, was that A) I am from New Hampshire and grew up surrounded by plenty of wildlife and am well aware of what wildlife is and B) don't talk down to me mister. I did tell him I had been told (and this is true) that there was a nest of snakes a few buildings down and to be careful when walking my dog AND that I had never ever seen a snake around this area. So take that, crackerjack! 

Thursday Amy and I made our live TV debut. We're going to be famous!!! Local celebrities. Watch out. I joke. But we really were on live TV. We were asked by the local news channel if they could interview us about healthy grocery shopping for 2 live segments (~3 minutes each) . It was such a blast. Albeit, frightening and terrifying, but fun. We refused to let our manager come, but the director of marketing, who helped set up the times and details, came. Uh. Hm. I appreciate the support but I was not so much a fan. I didn't want an audience. Plus, she intimidates me. I didn't need the address stress!!!! Overall, we were pleased at how well it went over. In the first segment, you can tell we were nervous the first 30 seconds and then we took off and did well. I liked the second segment better. Overall, it was actually really fun. If you so choose, you may watch the interviews, but before you do, please remember I do not enjoy public speaking, my hair is huge, yes I talk with my hands and really fast (genetics...), and don't be too harsh, ok?  
Healthy eating Interview 1 Healthy eating interview 2
Afterward, our manager said we could go out to dinner but it has been so blimey hot, we decided to celebrate with... Sonic. I confess. I have only been to a Sonic maybe 3 or 4 times in my life. I got a strawberry creamslush....mmmmmmmm mmmmmm good! The next day, Dr. W asked me how it went so I said well, and then later---after the marketing lady POSTED the interviews on the hospital's website....YIKES!!!!---when I came back up the floor, Dr. W EXCLAIMED how well we had done. I blushed. Aww shucks! 

So let's talk ice cream for a sec. As you may or may not know, I. LOVE. ICE CREAM (soft serve, hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato...let's just lump it into one category because I love 'em all). It's summer, well not technically, but it may as well be here because it's HOT and all I want to eat is ice cream. Every day. Amy had to run to the doctor's Friday and she brought us back each an oreo McFlurry. It's been SO long since I've had a McFLurry. It was DELICIOUS. THEN Mark sent me a picture yesterday of a chocolate frosty he got from Wendy's (my second favorite fast food dessert, second only to In N Out's chocolate shakes, which are the best shakes I've ever had. To date.). I was jealous. So at 9:30pm I almost left my apartment to get either a chocolate Frosty or a vanilla cone from McD's but then I remembered it's Black Biker Week, and I refuse to leave my apartment unless I have to work or someone is dying because it's scary out there. Wrecks galore, too many fatalities, scantily clad women, awful drivers (I do believe the middle line separating two lanes of traffic DOES NOT COUNT AS A MOTORCYLE LANE!!!!!), gun-happy idiots, and the like have come to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. Not leaving my apartment. Looks like chocolate chips it is! 

I'M GOING HOME IN 9 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My time with Scotty is coming to an end. It's bittersweet but I'm happy about it. He'll be happier with Hemma (Heath + Emma, my brother and sister-in-law), in NH where he can run free and be spoiled rotten by Hemma, our neighbors and their dog, my parentals! I'm also TERRIBLY in need of a excited for a vacation. I get to see my family again (FINALLY, since I have been shunned while living in southeast where no one wants to visit me *insert very sad face here) and be home. Pure happiness. I can't wait! Along with lobster, Lago's, SHAKE SHACK (my first time!), seeing the Atlantic (and hopefully sea glass hunting), and all the wonderful things I can't list (because the post will be infinity long) that come with being home in New England, I cannot wait. I just have to survive the flight home...with Scotty...who hates flying...*gulp*

AND. Sara Bareilles is FINALLY coming out with a new album! I have been waiting FOR AGES. Whenever I hear her music, I think of baking because I always seem to listen to her stuff when I bake. I have already pre-ordered her new album. YESSS!!!!!! Also, her music always makes me want to live in a city. So then I dream about living in *Boston* or NYC one day. *sigh* Maybe one day. A girl can dream. 

Today is Sunday. Sunday means baking day and I can't think of one thing I want to bake. Well actually, that's not true. I wanted to make my copycat of Levain Bakery's dark chocolate peanut butter chip cookies but alas, I don't have peanut butter chips. FOR SHAME! I thumbed through all of my Pinterest recipes and flipped through my trusty recipe binder and couldn't find anything. This saddens me, greatly. I did make enough dragon noodles to last me through the week. Mmmm....I have a new found love for sriracha! But jeepers creepers it's Sunday!!! I need to bake something!!!! I'll have to look again.