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Friday, January 27, 2012

For the record

Lime + sugar does not work as a substitute for lemonade in a smoothie.  No if's, and's, or but's about it.  But it does make for some great sour faces.

Also, missing your mid-morning snack during pregnancy is close to earth-shattering/day-ruining.  And that's how I justified my frozen yogurt run during my break.

In other news, I'd like to introduce you to my new fishy friend, Prince Philip.  He's the latest addition to our office. 
Who couldn't love a face like that?
Hopefully he hasn't heard my coworkers taking bets on how long he'll survive.  Poor guy.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Lazy Weekend

This last week, I have been feeling stretched--in every sense of the word.  My body was sore from our Hollywood hike, my stomach feels as though it will burst, and from the moment I wake to the minute I lay down my head, it seems as though I'm caught in a flurry of endless tasks of baby preparations, work, to-do lists, etc. etc.

White Pizza.

Recipe found at Sugar Plum

White Pizza
3/4 cup warm water (not hot)
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons honey
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided use
1 1/4 cups bread flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup cornmeal, plus additional for rolling

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2/3 cup ricotta cheese
6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh basil

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together water, yeast and honey until well combined; rest for 5 minutes. Mix in salt, 2 tablespoons melted butter, bread flour and whole wheat flour until well combined and a dough ball forms. Turn out dough onto a work surface, and knead in cornmeal. Knead dough for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.

Lightly cover bowl and allow to rise in a warm area for 1-2 hours or until doubled in bulk.

Heat oven to 450 degrees F.

Roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness on a work surface. Transfer to a pizza stone or greased cookie sheet. In a small bowl, stir together remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter and garlic powder until combined; brush over pizza dough. Spread ricotta cheese on top of dough. Evenly top with mozzarella. Sprinkle sea salt and pepper on top.

Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Sprinkle basil on top.

On one hand, I like keeping busy, and I enjoy knowing that I have accomplished so many things in a day...I also enjoy knowing that it is noon on a Saturday, I'm still in my PJ's, and all I've done since I got home from work last night is make a delicious pizza, whipped up some cookies, and caught up on some DVR with my hubby.  Oh, and maybe I've been voraciously plowing through the Eragon series...not that I'm a nerd or anything.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookies
 Really, I just wanted to tell you about these cookies we made.  The inspiration behind them is from Pinterest.  The first time we made them, we followed the recipe to a T....and we were a little disappointed.  They just tasted like a normal cookie.  Still good, but I have a perfectly wonderful recipe for normal chocolate chip cookies, so this time when we made them, I decided to make a few alterations.  And basically, I'm a genius.  Be prepared for the fluffiest, most delicious, hint-of-cheesecake-y cookies you will ever have.  Enjoy!

And they're pretty good-lookin' cookies too.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookies
2 cups + up to ½ cup of flour
½ tsp salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
10 Tbls butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
5 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup-1 ½ cups chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  In a medium bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  In a separate bowl with electric mixer, cream butter.  Add sugar and mix well.  Add egg and cream cheese, mix until well incorporated.  Add the vanilla.  With the mixer on, add dry mixture in gradually.  Add up to ½ cup of flour until it reaches a nice, doughy consistency.  Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet, and bake for 8-10 minutes.  Remove from sheet immediately and transfer to wire rack to cool.
This dough also freezes well!  See original recipe for freezing tips!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

21 Days to Organization: Days 11-15

Day 11: The pantry (remember how I switched this for the freezer because I was feeling too lazy/scared to tackle the pantry that day.  Also, maybe I was hoping to get cute little containers for everything but then decided not to because I didn't want to go over our budget this month...)

Before.

Before.

After.

After.
Mucho better, no?  Now we just have to see if I can keep it this neat...

Day 12: Spice Cabinet.

Before.

After.
 I hope you enjoy my liberal use of old shoe boxes in my organization habits.


Day 13: Medicine Cabinet.  We don't have one of these, but I decided to clean out the desk drawer.

Before.

After.
Day 14: Under the bathroom sink.

Before.

After.
Day 15: Medicine/Vitamin Storage.  Again with the shoebox storage...

Before.
After.
So there you have it.  Another exciting housekeeping post.  I know you all are just on the edge of your seats waiting for the next one...

Monday, January 16, 2012

Where the streets are paved with gold.

Where the kitties never grow old...in Hollywood.  (Someone please tell me they've seen Cats Don't Dance and get this reference!!)

At the start of the trail.


Dan taking a break...five minutes in.

A view of the Observatory.



Dan taking another break.



Dan playing with the zoom.

Clark Gable!

Melissa and Audrey Hepburn!


There's that sign again...



The Beatles...except for Paul...



My personal favorite.
Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday!

Friday, January 13, 2012

21 Days to Organization: Day 10

Today I tackled my "laundry room".  Since we're a poor student family, that currently consists of this box of stuff and a huge thing of laundry detergent.

Real classy with the barbecue label, huh?
And the insides...

I actually had a lot of fun with this assignment.  I made the cutest little signs you ever did see.

No more barbecue piggy! 
P.S. I realize I don't have kids yet, but that's soon to be remedied and from what I hear babies make a ton of laundry.

I love this one.
(Both signs were inspired by finds on Pinterest.  You can find them on my boards here and here.)

Bananas.

Here are two facts about myself.
I don't like fruit.  There are a few grand exceptions to this fact, but as a general rule fruit is a no-go.
I love ice cream.  It is my favorite.  Frozen treats in general just make me happy.

So here's to a marriage of something I love and something I hate to make something I really love: Banana "ice cream."

I'd pinned this idea a few months ago (read: last summer), and had yet to try it.  For some reason, tonight became the night.  This is the best idea ever!

Take some bananas.  Slice them up.  Freeze them.  Put them in your food processor.  


Mix until they transform into creamy goodness.  This is seriously the most magical moment I have ever had in my kitchen.  I don't know how the bananas go from grainy banana bits to whipped perfection, but it's amazing. 

Seriously, this is JUST bananas!!

Add peanut butter (or anything you want).  Mix it up.  


Top with crushed oreos (or whatever).  Enjoy.

The Lukers joined in on the fun!

(I used four frozen bananas and about two spoonfuls of peanut butter.  I would just guess on the amount of whatever flavoring you use to get it to how you want it.  We all really enjoyed this (except for baby Landon...) and will probably make it again.  Especially since it helps me get a much needed serving of fruit!)

Thursday, January 12, 2012

21 Days to Organization: Days 8 & 9 (and some thoughts on the babe.)

Day 8: The coat closet.
Our coat closet is huge.  It's probably the entire length of our hallway, which is great because it gives us a place to put all our stuff.
Side 1, Before.

Side 2, Before.
Side 1, After

Side 2, After.
Side 1 has all our sporting/outdoorsy stuff, plus Dan's tool box.  It's also home to Dan's golf clubs.  My car trunk is not home to Dan's golf clubs.  (Hint, hint).  Also, say hi to my wedding dress!  It doesn't really fit in my closet, so it gets to hang out in here too!
Side 2 is full of fun things like holiday decorations, gift bags/wrapping paper, and cleaning/laundry stuff.  Oh, and a random chip and dip bowl that's too big to fit in our kitchen cupboards.

Day 9: Toy Organization.
Seeing as how the one kid I have isn't even born yet, we don't have too many toys around these here parts.  But we do have a few cute baby things that were piling up in Miss Baby's future closet, so I decided that maybe I should start taking care of things in there before it really gets crazy.
Before.

After.
Going through the few things we've already gotten for Miss Baby made me so excited!  Sometimes it is a panic-attack-inducing thought that I will be a mother in a little more than two months.  I mean, I have NO idea what I'm doing with my own life some days, and now I'm going to be responsible for this whole other human being.  Will she survive?  Will she be normal?  I'm going to say yes to the first, but no guarantees on that second question.  I do know that even though motherhood/complete change in lifestyle is scary, I do know that it's exactly where I want to be.  I'm so excited to be a mommy, and I plan on enjoying it fully.  Even those sleep deprived nights.  I'm sure some of you experienced people are shaking your heads thinking I'm romanticizing it and have absolutely no idea what I'm getting myself into.  You're probably right, but at least I'm trying to go in with a good attitude, right?

While on the topic of Miss Baby, what are your thoughts on name revealing?  We're pretty sure on the name we're going to use, but I'm afraid at the last minute I will change my mind.  I'm never good at keeping a secret, and I've let the name slip at least a few times already (probably to some of you).  Do you believe in telling anyone and everyone their name as soon as you've chosen, or do you like to do a big reveal after the baby is born?  It's a conundrum.

P.S. Thanks to all who have given/sent us the darn cutest baby clothes/toys I ever have seen.  You all are the greatest, and we feel so loved (baby included).

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

21 Days to Organization: Day 7

Today was supposed to be my pantry, but I decided to switch it with a different day this week.  So instead, you get to see the insides of my freezer!
Before: Massive Amounts of Chaos.

Before.

After: Oh hey, I can find stuff now!

After.