My Movie Star!

As you are well aware, my beloved Missy was used in a locally-shot movie before we got her. My mom and I went to the "premier" back in September and while the movie is cheeztastic, it was still so fun to see my puppy dog on the big screen! During the Q&A session at the premier someone asked "what happened to the puppies". Then there was a big hub-bub and barrage of questions "How big is she!?" (Small). "Why didn't you bring her?!" (cause she's crazy). "How did you get so lucky to get her?!" (We just are. We just are).

Well I finally got my hot little hands on the trailer. Apparently the DVD comes out some time in 2009. You can bet we'll be getting a copy or two. It's totally a kids movie, so there's hope that my children may enjoy seeing their puppy on TV someday.

Enjoy for yourselves.

Matchmaker Mary Trailer from Pure Flix on Vimeo.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Zach and I are headed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota tomorrow morning. It will be my first official Christmas away from KC. I'm a little upset, but I'm sure it will be fine. There are new traditions to be discovered. I will miss my Missy and George horribly though. Miss will have fun at Gma Gpas and George will get to roam around without having to worry about a dog putting their slobbery mouth completely over his head.

Ho Ho Ho!

Brown Sugar Cookies

So I think I'm finally done making cookies now. I've made 6 different varieties of cookies this year. That's for sure a record for me. I think last year I made 3. I'm pretty much cookied out. These were a last minute add because I realized that I had to give cookies to 3 more families than originally planned and I didn't want to run out. I had all the ingredients for these Brown Sugar Cookies at home and they seemed pretty simple, plus I love brown sugar, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. They were easy and are quite tasty!




Brown Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter; softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Decorator sugar crystals

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
Gradually add brown sugar, beating well.
Add egg and vanilla, beating well.
Combine flour, soda and salt; add to butter mixture, beating just until blended.
Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness between 2 sheets of waxed paper (this wasn't working too well so I abandoned ship and just left the dough in the bowl)
Cut with 4-inch cookie cutters (couldn't get the dough to cut right so I rolled dough into quarter sized balls and flattened with my hand)
Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets (I greased mine).
Sprinkle cookies with decorator sugar crystals.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
Let cool for 1 minute on baking sheet then remove to wire cooling racks
Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen. Mine made about twice that but I made small cookies.

They taste similar to a chocolate chip cookie without the chocolate, just a bit more caramelly- Very tasty. They are also on the crisp side, but I lik that too. Zach said they remind him of his moms caramel rolls in cookie form. He kept trying to steal some away, so that's always a good sign!

Happy eating!

Run it, Run it.

I remember one time when I got what I thought were some cool new Nike Shox and went to immediately try them out at a local park. I got there and they hurt my feet. Really bad. So bad that I actually had to check to make sure they were on the right feet. My feet were going numb from the pain. I hobbled back to my car and drove home, cussed a bit, but then changed into my old running shoes and went BACK to the park to finish up my 4 miles.

That was back when I had this thing called MOTIVATION. I can't even fathom driving home for new shoes then driving back to continue my workout nowadays. I'd probably just give up and eat pizza.

So I need to get back to it. I need to start pounding some pavement (or treadmill until it's warm enough). Working out is addictive for me. Something happened when we moved to our new house. The gym moved about 10 miles away. Driving to the gym is such a chore. Add on top of that a needy puppy and husband in school, I barely ever have the time or patience to go to the gym. That all is going to change. We are going to switch gyms so I can go to one that's a little closer. While it might not be a fancyschmansy 24 Hour Fitness that I've grown to love, it is still a gym with all the same stuff and similar classes. I'll make due. Plus it's nearly half the cost of 24 Hour. Hell, when I was a poor wedding consultant I worked out with old people in room no bigger than my living room with 2 treadmills, 1 elliptical and a couple old weight machines. I'd never been skinner.

I've also outlined my race plan for the Spring/Summer. It's pretty ambitious. I'm half tempted to go ahead and actually sign up and pay so I can't back out.

Here Goes:
-April 26 - Trolley Run (4 miles)
-May 25 - Amy Thompson Run (8K)
-June 6 - Hospital Hill Run (10K)
-October 12 - KC Half Marathon (13.1 Miles)

Wish me luck! I'm gonna need it.

Kisses

So I've been baking. A lot. Every Christmas I tend to go a little overboard with my cookie list. It runs in the family. You would not believe the sheer amount of cookies my mom makes every year. I can think of at least 7 kinds right off the top of my head. So far I've made 4.

I've been trying to document my baking adventures (mostly to see if/how much I improve from recipe to recipe). Zach does not understand this. I'll be in the kitchen snapping away and he'll go "did you just take a picture of the beaters?" He doesn't get it.

Anyway, so these aren't my most favorite cookies, but they are quiet the crowd pleaser, so I make them every so often. They make a ton, so plan on sharing!



Peanut Blossoms
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar - packed
1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Hershey's Kisses

Cream sugars, butter and peanut butter together. Beat in eggs, milk & vanilla.
Sift flour, soda & salt together and stir (I never sift, pain in the rear) into cookie batter.
Chill throughly for best results.
Shape into the size of walnuts. Roll in additioal sugar.
Bake on ungreased (I grease) cookie sheet.
375 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Press kiss in middle while still hot
Makes SEVEN DOZEN!




This cute picture was taken at my wedding....awww.

Christmassy Weekend Recap

Well Christmas is almost here and I'm so not ready. I still have cookies to bake, presents to buy and cards to address. I have a feeling some people will be getting "New Years Cards" Hey, they say "Happy Holidays" so that counts right?

This past weekend was jam packed full of Christmas fun. Friday I went and visited with some cousins in from out of town. We all grew up together and I still absolutely love getting back together with them whenever they are in town. While we don't all have the most in common anymore, I still enjoy it. This time we played Cranium and drank wine. Fun times!

Saturday was my cousins baby shower and then my mom took me and my brother's girlfriends to The Nutcracker. Very neat! I haven't been before and quite enjoyed myself. I love me some dancin! Afterwards we drove Ward Parkway and looked at lights. Very festive!

Sunday was "Girls Christmas". Presents at my house and then lunch at Peachtree. YUM!


Yesterday Zach and I got free tickets to go see Neil Diamond. I know he's a legend and all, but to me it was just kind of "eh". So far every time I tell someone that, they look like they want to punch me in the face, so next time someone asks I'll pretend it was awesome.

It's been a snowy week here too. It iced/snowed last Tuesday and that was a nightmare. I got to experience a totally fun 3 hour bus ride home. Then today it snowed again. The bus ride to work was a swift 2 hours (45 minutes of which was spent sitting in the bus lot because our bus broke down, it was awesome). Tonight it took just over an hour to get home. Pretty good! I'm a bit worried about Thursday though. I seriously might stay home if it ices like it's supposed to.

Missy is loving it though!

Merry Holidays!

So we are in the middle of the holiday season here. I gotta say, this is one of the least holiday-esque years I've experienced in some time. I'm just not that "into it" this year for some reason. Oh well, I suppose I'll get there.

We stayed here in KC for Thanksgiving. Just went and had dinner at my aunts house (where everyone either had a baby or was pregnant...seriously, like EVERYONE I know is having a baby right now). Dinner was actually pretty tasty! I made a pumpkin roll and some apple spice bars. The pumpkin roll turned out great (on the second try anyway. I kinda forgot the SUGAR in the first batch. Whoopsie). The apple spice bars didn't seem to cook all the way though. So I just cut out the edges and took those. People still seemed impressed, so I guess that's good.

Now I'm in the middle of my Christmas cookie baking. So far I've done my famous M&M Bars, Double Chocolate Chews and Pinwheels. I feel like I need to make a couple other varieties, but I'm not sure what yet. I'm thinking maybe plain ol' sugar cookies. Or those ones with the Hershey's Kiss. We shall see how much time I have. Next weekend is pretty packed....

Friday night I'm headed over to my Aunt Kathies house to visit with my cousins who'll be in from all over the country. I'm pretty excited. I always seem to have a good time visiting with them. Then Saturday I'm co-hosting a baby shower for one of the said cousins. She's due in February. She's the first cousin on that side of the family to have a kid, so it's a pretty big deal. Then that night I'm going to see yet another cousin (I feel like I need a flow chart or something) perform in the KC Nutcracker. I'm pretty excited. My mom is taking me and my brother's girlfriend's. Should be interesting.... Then on Sunday it's "Girls Christmas" here at the house. My college friends and I always get together one day in December, exchange gifts and go out to lunch. It's a little more tame than the days where we used to exchange gifts, go to dinner then get wasted. Ahhh memories.

So yeah, it's been pretty busy. My workouts have taken a serious backseat, but I'm trying to bring them back bigger and better than ever. It's just finding the time... Stress!

And now, some cute animal pictures.....

What? Like you didn't think I would... Right.

Try to ignore my awsome college pajamas. I know you are jealous of how hot I look.