Friday, December 7, 2012

cupcakes and cat sitting

Last night Sarah and I baked these Joe Joe Peppermint Cupcakes. We followed the recipe very closely, except for substituting dark chocolate for the unsweetened chocolate.

http://www.beantownbaker.com/2011/12/candy-cane-chocolate-oreo-cupcakes.html

They smelled divine.
I brought them to work today and asked my coworkers for an honest critique of them. We are going to make them again next week for a party that Sarah is attending and want to know what we can do better next time.
So far the feedback I received:
-a little dry but tasty
-frosting is delicious
-oreo at the bottom was weird and stuck to the wrapper, or it just disconnected immediately from the cake. we will omit the oreo on the bottom next time.

I love honest feedback! People always tell me that everything tastes sooo goood but really? All the time? I don't think so. Some of my cakes have to be a little dry. Some of my cookies are probably overcooked. If you tell me kindly, I'll try harder next time to avoid those things!


I'm time-sharing watching this pretty little baby. Her name is Sally. She is sweet and meows like a dog barking with a dry mouth?



Monday, December 3, 2012

Sam

When I found out Camille was pregnant with Sam I was afraid my heart would not be able to grow large enough to love both Olivia and Sam to infinity and beyond. It's a childish fear but I really felt that way. I love Olivia so much I wasn't sure it would be possible to share that with another little human. Then I held the little guy in my arms and just like the Grinch my heart grew three sizes that day. He gets bigger every time I see him. He responds with a tiny meow whenever I meow at him. He's observant and smart and full of life. It blows my mind to see how different Olivia is from Sam. I love to see how much she loves him, she is a wonderful big sister.

Now that Camille is pregnant with her third baby I'm not afraid anymore.

I know I am capable of more love.

Happy Birthday little Cheeto. Meow.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thankful (I suck)

I suck at being thankful apparently. No, really I just suck at blogging. I'm extremely thankful, no shortage in that department.

Since I can't seem to do it every day I thought I'd take a minute and make a list of just some of the things I can think of that I'm happy about and thankful to have in my life.

books
my job
tea
college
waffles
my parents
elton
cooper
monster
coffee
pencil sharpeners
rainbows
brussels sprouts
cold sheets
disco balls
olivia
sam
my sisters
my sweet brother
carmex
rainy days
poetry
my girlfriends, they rock
trees
flowers
calculators
the incredible curtis
avocados
my pyrex
my life

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Thankful #5

A Few photos of things I am thankful for. 


 My Boys. Elton and Coop are five and a half years old and if I'm lucky they will live for another 500 years. 

 This amazing chocolate cake recipe that I favor over any other. It's in a zine called Papa Tofu full of other delicious goodness.
Curtis shoveling the snow off the back deck. I love this man. What could be sexier than a man shoveling snow?
My Mom. Isn't she pretty?


Friday, November 9, 2012

Thankful #4

Today I'm thankful for my freedom to live how I want and believe what I think is right.
I'm thankful that my government allows me to practice my own beliefs.
I'm thankful that my family can worship in the way they believe to be right.
I'm thankful for many of the values my parents raised me with.
I'm thankful that we have a president who believes in a womans right to make choices for herself. I'm thankful that he also believes that love between a man and man or woman and woman deserves the same respect and rights as love between a woman and a man.
I'm thankful that even though my beliefs may differ greatly from those of my family, we can still get along and love one another.

Because that's what it's all about isn't it? Loving one another. At least, that's what I was told. 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thankful # 3

I am thankful for my education.
Thankful that I've had the opportunity to attend college.
Thankful that my parents have helped me make this happen.
I hope I can continue to go. I found out yesterday I do not qualify for government grants, only student loans. If you know me you know I'm terrified of debt, so the idea of racking up a big bill that I'll have to struggle to pay off later isn't appealing. I have a lot of things to consider and I really do not want to quit now.


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Thankful #2

I am thankful for my mother.
Thankful for her never ending patience with me.
Thankful for the tender heart she passed onto me even if it means I cry more than normal.
Thankful for her willingness to listen and try to understand who I am.
Thankful for her example of love and friendship.


Friday, November 2, 2012

Thankful #1

Today I am thankful for my hands.
My hands that help me to write and type and create.
My hands that hold my loved ones hands.
My hands that pet my beautiful cats.
My hands that help me cook and take care of myself.



Friday, October 12, 2012

As of late.

 Hike to The Living Room with dear friends.
 Bad ass Smith Corona typewrite from Camille!
 Music around the bon fire. Curtis and Sam.
 Father and Son. Love these two.
 Adventure time with Sarah.
Camille and little Sam. He loves to feed the fish. I am so happy they are here right now.
Paula making pie. She is the best ever.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

my parents are neat

One of my favorite memories of going to visit my Braegger Grandparents was exploring in their backyard and entering the mysterious chicken coop. I say mysterious because when I was little I didn't really understand why anyone would keep a chicken as a pet. Especially when they smelled funky. I would enter the coop cautiously, secretly enjoying the awful smell. I don't remember exactly when they disappeared but I don't remember seeing them after I was maybe ten or so. Maybe the chickens had to go after Grandpa died. I wish I remembered that part better. The coop still stands, even though the house no longer belongs to any of us. I hope the new owner gets chickens too.

Since my mom grew up with little birdies running around it has been a life long dream of hers to have a coop of her own. My incredible father saw this dream of hers as a completely reasonable reality and he built her a bad ass hen house.

Of course, before the fresh eggs, and the adorable hen house... they had to buy the chicks. They bought 12 tiny little chirping, crapping, flapping bird monsters. They were so small it was hard to imagine that they would one day provide us with (the best tasting) fresh eggs.


Only now can I understand why someone would want to keep a chicken as a pet. I love these creatures. I want to pet them and hold them and thank them for giving us eggs.






It's really special to see my dad work so hard to make my mom so happy. I love them both and am forever grateful for everything they teach me.




I pulled these carrots out of their garden a few days ago. They are so cute!! I cleaned them up and added them to a spicy red curry. They taste so good.

Thank you mom and dad.

Friday, August 10, 2012

catch up

During the last week in July I got to go to California and play with my family. It was so much fun and I got to do all of my favorite things like...


eat ice cream

take naps on the beach


 

visit kate
sleep in (past 8)
snuggle with Sam and Olivia every day



Coming home was hard and different this time. Normally I can go back to reality and accept my life as it is but not this time. I wanted my sisters and I needed my Sam and Liv. It took me a good 48 hours of random crying fits to accept that we just don't live by each other anymore. At least we live in the same country. At least I get to talk to them every day.

Summer is flying by and I have so much more to do.
I need more....

barbeques
picnics
swimming
lakes
late nights with friends
vacations
panzanella
lemonade
humming birds at my window
farmers market mornings
ideas for all the basil

Here are a few photos from the past little while in my life. I'll try to blog more often so we can stay current!

 The Boy was my bunko partner and we totally won. Thanks Boy! Nobody believes me but I actually love playing and I'm so glad my mom lets me join her sometimes. Thanks Mom!!

I baked a few things...
snickerdoodles

blondies


We went to the zoo and saw the amazing polar bear. He is so special.


 

Monster



Monday, July 16, 2012

simple pasta

Me: Curtis what do you want for dinner?
Curtis: Pasta
Me: Great, pesto?
Curtis: I don't really like pesto.
Me: I DON'T UNDERSTAND?

Okay fine, not pesto (even though its my favorite and I've been feeding it to you all along and I was not aware you didn't enjoy it). I can deal with that. Lucky for him, I aim to please and can improvise like a champ.


Key players: garlic, basil, tomato, mushroom, and romano cheese


 
 Sloppy loose instructions.

It was very yummy and Curtis loved it. Who needs pesto? (I still do)


I get to have a sleepover with my favorite little girl now so excuse me while I go have fun!

 

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Afros and/at instcare


My hair. My poor hair. I don't care about how much my boyfriend dislikes it or the weird looks I get in public, sometimes I just have to have an afro. On Wednesday night Sarah kindly (and gently, I'm so tender headed) put my hair into sponge curlers. It's a nostalgic activity for me honestly. I think back to the hundreds of times my mom, and sometimes dad, would wrangle my hair into pink sponge curlers. I've always had such a tender head and I know I gave them hell if they made one wrong move. I try not to yell at Sarah but of course I do occasionally.




 I owned that Afro. As with most things in life, if you carry yourself with confidence you too can rock an afro. I may have been a little too confident though because I had a little accident. We went to my friend Chantelle's house for a friendly gathering and as I was stepping out of the car and onto the curb.... my foot just slipped off the curb. I wasn't even doing anything. Just poof, you're falling. Mostly it was embarrassing but my friends were kind and gave me some ice and I managed to have a lovely evening anyway. The next day when I woke up and stepped out of bed I basically collapsed. My foot had puffed up and swelled overnight. I tried to shake it off and go to work anyway but I started getting scared that I may have broken something. Sarah, my life saver, took me to the instacare (and wheeled me around the empty waiting room while giggling) and the X-Rays said nothing was broken. That's a relief! I'm still hobbling around a bit but the pain is lessening.


Having an afro at instacare makes everything in life seem a little more ridiculous. 




Take care. 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Lately

Summer seems like the perfect time for parties and for friends to gather just for the hell of it. I have made some wonderful new friends and am closer than ever to my good old ones. Even though it's warm outside I can't stop turning on my oven to bake. I hate showing up to a party empty handed, I just can't do it.
A few of my recent cakes....

 Of course I have a cat shaped pan. What did you expect?






A girlfriend of mine requested red velvet cake for her birthday and I immediately frowned but knew that I had to do it. Red Velvet is so... overrated. It has a special name and it lures you in but really it's not worthy of being your BIRTHDAY cake!  I made it, she loved it, the end. 

I didn't take a photo of it but just yesterday I made my dad a coconut macadamia carrot cake and it was delicious!! I'll post the recipe for you soon. 

Take care. 

Thursday, May 31, 2012

alive

I am still alive and well. Doing things and going places.


Lots of brussels and kitties in my life.
 

 Silver Lake. Still frozen.

Dead Horse Point.


 Sultry Cooper

 Family


North and South Window Arches


Thursday, March 22, 2012

One year ago....



I went on a date with this beautiful man... and the rest is history.



He makes me laugh every day and reminds me that I'm beautiful in my ugliest moments.