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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Prepare for Disappointment

Do you get this free magazine? You don't anymore. I got a notice from Kraft today that I have to pay them my dollars if I want to keep getting their magazine. No thanks.

Random Puppy Picture

Whole Wheat Wednesday

Haha, I finally got an alliterative title! Extra points for using the word "alliterative" correctly!

We only had a whole wheat pizza because I didn't have enough all purpose flour.

After rising. I made the dough before we went to the gym, and then made the pizza when we got home.

Ready for toppings.

Yum. Ready for the oven.

Ready to be eaten!
I used the same recipe that I always use, except I didn't use as much whole wheat flour as I do all purpose. I would suggest if you are going to do this, start with one cup of flour and then gradually add more in a little at a time. Whole wheat is much more dense than all purpose flour, so keep that in mind. I personally don't like the taste of whole wheat pizza, but Josh does, and it tastes just like Papa John's Whole Wheat, so I know I did it right. :)

MLIA

My favorites from today. If you missed my previous post, you can pick out your own favorites right here.
Today, I got a call from my high school saying I didn't go to school today. I graduated last year and I'm and only child. But its nice to know my school still cares. MLIA

Today, I learned that when I was six, the neighbor boy I liked, crawled through a hole under the fence between our houses and proposed to me with a stuffed lion named Aslan and two Hershey Kisses. I accepted happily and got his dad to marry us by my swingset. Instead of kissing, we ended the ceremony by doing a very elaborate high-five, which included a somersault off a swing and a behind-the-back fist bump. I was an awesome little kid. MLIA

Side note: when I was four or five, I always got in trouble for giving Christopher, the boy my mom babysat a bloody nose for playing on my swing set.

Today, my dad bought a new microfiber tablecloth that repels water. We spent all dinner "accidentally" knocking over our water glasses so we could watch it in action. MLIA

A few nights ago, I was playing around with the speech command setting on my MacBook. I set the "Alert Option" to warn me right before it went into sleep mode. I decided to set the voice for "Whisper" and for it to say "Hey Baby" before going over the shut down procedure. Last night, while I was out on a walk with my friend, my roommate texted me to say that she almost pooped her pants and punched my computer when it started hitting on her. MLIA

Today, I found out there's a professor at my college with the same first and last name as me. Because the school email addresses for all students and staff are under our full names, I've been getting email from kids calling me "professor." I'm going to have so much fun with this. MLIA.

A little while ago, my friend translated "liar, liar, pants on fire" into French and then back into English. The result was "Teller of untruths, your trousers have combusted." Today, while standing in line at the check out, a woman tried to convince the cashier that she didn't owe $5.67 but only $4.89. I calculated quickly in my head and immediately blurted out "Teller of untruths, your trousers have combusted!" Best part: The woman screamed and looked. The cashier was crying from laughter. So was the cop standing behind me. MLIA

Today, I was looking up phobias on google. I typed in "I fear one..." and it guessed "I fear one day I'll meet God he'll sneeze and I won't know what to say". I don't know what I would say either. MLIA.

Today, I found out my aunt is pregnant with quadruplets. She's letting my uncle pick the names. If they're boys he decided on Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello. My uncle is awesome. I hope they are all boys. MLIA

Today, I was looking at wi-fi's to see if I could get a connection. I saw one named 'Your mom', it required a password so I typed in 'thatswhatshesaid'. Guess who got connected? MLIA

Yessterday I went downstairs to find my brother still playing WoW after about 6 hours. I asked him if he had a life and he looked me straight in the face and said,"I have unlimited lives." Touche, brother. MLIA

My dad used to do things like this to me all the time, he would call my phone instead of coming in my room to wake me up:
Today, I was downstairs in my basement and my dad told me that my phone had gone off. I went all the way upstairs to my bed to find it was a text from my dad saying, 'Make your bed, and you may as well since you're standing above it right now'. Very creative Dad, very creative. MLIA

Dear Ralph Lauren: Take Notes

I heard about this a while ago on the Ellen Show. Glamour Magazine has decided to use plus sized models (which by the way, a plus sized model is ANY WOMAN OVER A SIZE SIX. SIX!). I saw these pictures, and at first, I didn't like them. I'll be honest. And I completely think I didn't like them because its not what I'm used to seeing in a magazine. It's what I'm used to seeing in the mirror, but not on models. Now, I think its a great idea.



If you never click on any link I post, I'm begging you to click on this, Plus-Size Model Shines and watch it. The girl in this (short) interview from GMA is the girl on the very bottom left of the group photo. Her before pictures from when she was a thin model are startling, and she is inspiring. She is 23 years old.

This video is an interview with the editor of Glamour magazine, talking about their decision to use plus sized women and not use Photoshop. They rock.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I Do Love Fall

We had been cursing the rabbits in our yard for making the dogs go crazy, and then we find out it's this guy. I don't know if he's living in our yard or not, but he's been spotted walking around in our yard quite a few days in a row. Oh, and since you don't know where I live, this is a deer in the middle of the city. He's about 100 yards from a six lane highway.
He's just a little guy.
I love when the trees change.


Amico loves the fall too.

Pizza Thursday

We don't only have pizza on Thursday, that was just last week. Tonight is going to be Pizza Wednesday. :)
If you want the recipe for the dough, click on "homemade pizza" in the labels section on the left. It's in an old post from March 10, 2009.

Making the dough.

After kneading.

My awesome, awesome, awesome French Rolling Pin. I love it. Rolling the dough out is so much easier now that I have it. And my dough cutter.

After rising, before punching down.

One ball of dough.

And then there were two.

I wanted to make thin crust this time so it wouldn't be so filling.

Ready for toppings.
Ready for the oven. The back one is pepperoni and cheese, and the front one is pepperoni, cheese, sausage, onion and green pepper.
I didn't get a picture when they came out. I forgot to take one because I was so hungry and they looked so good. :)

Wanted: Awesome Mirror

My Megan got a new job (Yay!! for her), and she's in Indy this week training for it. She sent me a picture of her awesome hotel room, and I want this mirror. I think it rocks. Don't you love it too?

My Life Is Average

I'm sure you've all heard the phrase "FML". I can't stand it. I think its really dumb. Anyway, I found this site called "MLIA" or My Life is Average. I love it. The stories on there crack me up. FML has it's own site. Click here for fmylife.com. The link for MLIA is here.

Check it out.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Filippa Hamilton

Have you seen these photos?


That is the same girl, and she got fired from Ralph Lauren for not being thin enough. This is the article I read about this in. Check it out, it's pretty unbelievable. I don't know why they photoshop like that, it doesn't even look real.

Funny Song of the Day

While I was sick I started watching Sesame Street a little bit. Today I was sitting down to have lunch and realized it was all that was on at the time. It was meant to be, because as soon as I turned it on, this video came on. The song isn't so funny, as who is singing it. Check it out.

Wasting Time

I don't know if you ever use the "labels" section in the left column of this blog to find specific posts, but I do all the time. I was just customizing that section and found out that I can sort them into a cloud...kind of like the search terms at the bottom of the Barnes and Noble website. Anyway, it makes the most common labels bigger so they're easier to find. My most common ones are "wasting time" and "yum". Sums up my life. :)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Random Puppy Picture


I know, you love them.

Today's Baked Goods Are:

COOKIES! Woo hoo. :) I love pumpkin bread and apple pie, but I can really relate to cookies. They're the food of my childhood. No really, they are.

Here is the yummy recipe:

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep: 25min Bake: 8min per batch
Oven: 375° Makes: About 60 cookies

1/2c shortening
1/2c butter, softened
1c packed brown sugar
1/2c granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2c all purpose flour
1 12-oz package (2 cups) semisweet chocolate pieces or miniature candy-coated semisweet chocolate pieces
1 1/2c chopped walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts (optional)

1. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening and butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, and baking soda. Beat until mixture is combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in chocolate pieces and, if desired, nuts.
2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to a rack and let cool.

I didn't read this through very well before I started. It turned out alright though, but just now as I was typing it I realize I changed things without meaning to. First of all, whoever wrote the Better Homes & Gardens Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe did not attend Grandma Ginny's School of Makin' Cookies, because we don't do no sissy rounded teaspoon size balls of dough. No. We put our hands in the dough and pull out a ball that looks about right. I say that because this recipe says it makes 60 cookies...I ended up with 36. Since mine were almost double the size recommended, they also took double the time to bake. I didn't realize that I was supposed to get miniature M&M's, so we have cookies with big ones in them. They're good though. I also didn't read that I was supposed to bake them on an ungreased cookie sheet. I greased it, and they came out fine. I didn't use the nuts because I saw how much space the M&M's were taking up. I'm telling you, my stand mixer is my favorite kitchen appliance ever. It makes everything so much easier.

This is the cookbook I'm usually talking about when I say Better Homes & Gardens. I have a different BH&G cookbook, but this one is smaller and easier to have in the kitchen. Plus it has a handy built in bookmark ribbon, so I always know where I'm at.

This is the first time I've ever used shortening. Nothing exciting to say about it.
The dough.
I got pretty busy putting the stuff in and I forgot to take progression pictures. I'm pretty sure you understand how cookie dough comes together though.
My monster size cookies.


You guys want some cookies??


Welcome, Fall!

I got this recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, Bridal Edition.

Pumpkin Bread
Prep: 20min Bake: 55min
Oven: 350° Makes: 2 loaves (32 servings)

Ingredients:
3c sugar
1c cooking oil
4 eggs
3 1/3c all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2/3c water
1 15oz can pumpkin

1. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of loaf pans. Set aside. In a very large mixing bowl beat sugar and oil with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add eggs and beat well. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Alternately add flour mixture and water to sugar mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Spoon batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in a 350° oven for 55 to 65 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

The recipe tells you to use two big pans. I decided I wanted to use mini loaf pans. I should have had one or two more though because I filled mine too full. It took longer for it to cook, but I think that is just because it was too thick.

Empty pans. You can pick these up at Wal-Mart for cheap. They are just the one time use kind.
The sugar and egg mixture.
The flour mixture.
The flour mixture and the sugar mixture together.
This is the pumpkin you should use. I'm pretty sure they are the only people who make canned pumpkin.
Pumpkin going into the mix.
Ready for the pans.
This batter was delicious. I'm not going to lie.
Too full, but ready to go.
Yum.



This was really really good. You should try it. It really wasn't that difficult to make. It was just time consuming because I had to keep checking to see if it was done. And it was really hard to wait until the next day to eat some.

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