It's Like the First Bathroom Floor Ever!

Question:  So Christie, what have you been doing with your free time while unemployed?

Answer:  Tah-dah!!!!

The Before

The After

Call it shame or good fortune or whatever, but when we moved to Logan we moved into my parent's basement while we work on possibly finding and buying a house of our own (and scratching together a little down payment).  Scarey!  The basement was a little dirty.  (In the not-so-distant past it was housing my little brother who... well to be nice lets just say he has better qualities than keeping things nice, clean, and in working order).  This bathroom was particularly rough, the wall needed patching/painting in several places, the carpet was torn up in the transition from carpet to tile, the towel rod was broken (and a really ugly, painted metal), there was no rod for hand towels, the mirror was just a slab of mirror in little holders and the lighting fixture was just the bare necessities.  

I'm proud to say all those issues have been remedied, and it's very lovely at the moment in there.

And P.S., ignore the ridiculously atrocious pictures... If you want to see the new bathroom in all it's glory come over and i'll give you the grand tour.

And It Feels So Good...

I made these cookies for a family reunion this month:

And they were a big success.  I think they were the first cookie gone, but they always are.  This is a no brainer cookie- It's popular with everyone and everyone is really drawn to it even amongst a plethora of cookies, most likely because they know just looking at it that they're going to like it, unlike some 'mystery cookies' where they might, or might not.  And if you're going to be naughty and indulge in a treat, might as well take the one you know you're going to enjoy, right?!  The cookie is nothing super fancy or special, but they really are a crowd pleaser.  So against my better judgment I am sharing the recipe for these little devils.  (Not a low calorie food! Haha.)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Baking Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 10-oz. pkg. SWIRLED Semi Sweet Premier White Morsels.  Plus one additional cup (Nice, but not absolutely necessary).

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 325° F. 

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in entire package of morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets. For extra effect and morsels take an additional cup of morsels and carefully dot the top of each cookie with the chips. 

BAKE for 11 to 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

My personal recommendations are this:  

1.  Use parchment paper or silpats (a silicone mat that you can find at a specialty kitchen store that fits onto the classic large cookie sheet, these mats are completely non-stick and I have two and I love them like cherished friends-but to warn you, they're not cheap).  They're just SO effective.  

2.  DON'T over-bake.  Remember that during the two minutes you leave them on the cookie sheet after you pull them out of the oven they will continue to bake on the hot sheet.  Look in at eleven minutes and if the cookies are  puffy but the edges of each cookie look set, take them out, if not up the time in just one minute increments. 

3.  Give them a full two minutes on the sheet before you start pulling them off, but don't leave them on till they're fully cooled.  

4.  The wire cooling rack is a very, very good invention and was made for a reason - you will see a difference if you haven't been using one.

So there you go, enjoy!!!

A Casting Call of Sorts

Hey out there.

I'm about to be assertive, scarey.

For a long time I've wanted to take more pictures. People are my favorite thing to shoot, but it is very hard for me to walk up to someone and say, 'hey, let me waste two hours of your life taking pictures!' Or say, 'I take pictures, let me do your family Christmas card picture.' But I'm very very bored right now, being unemployed, and desperately in need of a project. So I decided if there was anytime I was ever going to do this, there's no time like the present. So I'd like to develop my 'portfolio'. If you would like or even just be willing to have some portraits, family, child, couple, or anything in between done for any reason whatsoever please get a hold of me. You can comment back with your email and I'll give you my phone number. Obviously, it would be absolutely free and in return for your time and patience I would get you a disk with any/all great pictures for your posterity's benefit. Also after I've done some 'Christie' stuff if there's anything you want shot but been too afraid or poor to have someone do, we can try that too. I don't have studio lighting...yet... so all this will be outdoor, natural photography. Also if you're not in town but you just know of someone here who might be interested,anyone who you think would like pictures taken, feel free to send them my way and the same offer applies until further notice.

Wow, I feel so out there. It's very...uncomfortable.

Hakuna Matata

For the second time in a summer I found myself throwing a luau yesterday. I don't know what my obsession is! I guess I reeeeeeaaaaaaallllly need a beach vacation. As previously mentioned it was John's birthday and I decided to throw an official birthday party. Honestly, John probably would have rather just gone out to eat or something. I didn't let him however, as I thought it would be fun since we actually have family and friends around up here in Logan, and I haven't thrown him a birthday party before. So for those who missed it, a party, in review:

John and Raspberry Creme Pie.
His request, he doesn't like cake.

Dad manning the grill.
Grillin' up the pineapple.

An aerial view.
I really was in a plane taking this... riiiiight.

Party People.

Mmmm, food.

The King of the Luau.

We're here!

Just a quick note to let people know we pulled into town Saturday night as planned. I spent the next two days having a panic attack. Go figure!

Happy, happy...Birthday Baby!!!

My cute husband's 26th birthday is TOMORROW! (How are we still so young, and older than I thought I was at the same time?) He's so dang cute. I learned a good lesson in the two weeks we were apart this month. I am still totally and completely in love with this man! I like to talk to him, be near him, everything is better when he is there. The following is purely for my benefit....

*Sigh*

All Alone in the Moonlight!

Memories

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

My Twin

My friend Stefanie from work and I are both leaving our jobs soon. We feel bad, because we're abandoning our other work friend, Tiffany. So as a goodbye present we decided we needed to leave ourselves in "Barbie" form in her office, so she'll always have us around at work! So at work today we're leaving the dolls we picked out as the one closest to us on her desk. This was the one I thought was the closest:

Christie Part 1

(I'm really not angry in this pic, I just can NOT smile,

or even look normal without showing my teeth,

and I was trying to smile like barbie.)

Christie Part 2

What do you think? Like the same person? I did cut the barbie's hair so it would be the right length. I'd have given her highlights, but I didn't think that would work. I also photoshopped that first picture.... as if you couldn't tell. I didn't actually want to put a lot of make-up on, and there were bags under my eyes and zits on my face. I love you photoshop.

Happy 4th!

A Box Story

So yes, I will be updating everyone with every minute detail of my packing and moving process. Let's call it 'misery loves company'. So as any good girl would in the age of the 'University of Google' I have thoroughly researched packing technique and theory. I am now fully licensed to instruct you all in how it should be done - in case you didn't catch it before, I've looked up articles online. It pretty much makes me an expert in the field. (Why is it so much harder to write sarcasm.)

I have three tips, in picture-list form.

#1
Never leave stacks of boxes precariously in the middle of high traffic areas.

#2
Write instructions for lifting and the care of the contents on the outside of each box.
This will keep you from straining your back, turning the box upside down,
or throwing fragile items into your truck carelessly.

#3
Always, Always, Always label each and every box with the room
it should go in your new house and a brief description of the specific contents.

Packing is not to be taken lightly. You should always take care and be thoughtful.

But seriously, I'm all alone here now. (Oh no! Now the pervs reading my blog will know that! eek.) John is in Logan and started working today. He's hanging out with his friend Reed right now, and I spent most of my evening packing boxes.... Hmmmm, something's fishy about this situation. Ok, the truth is it's my fault I'm alone here packing boxes, because it was my idea to stay longer in Cedar City before I left my job and to give myself more time on the packing issue. I am however having second thoughts about my brilliance. I haven't been away from John for more than an evening or two since we've been married, and to be honest, I liked it that way. Sigh. I'm so whooped.

I'm Done With School...What's With Me and Tests?

You Are Jasmine!

Independent and adventurous. You don't want much; just to break out of the guilded cage society has put you in and experience life to the fullest. Following orders isn't really one of your strong points, and you would rather live a life of poverty than being forced into something that you hate.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

So I guess I'm just glad I'm not Ursula, which for a moment I thought I might turn out to be. If this were a photo compare thing I'm pretty sure that she'd be my match.