WAITING

Yeah, sitting here Christmas Eve...waiting for my dough to rise. Waiting..waiting..I mean come on..Santa has come and gone. And I am still waiting. However, I have tried to make good use of my time by:

1. Making caramel corn...part of Christmas presents for people as well as the perfect late night snack for myself
2. Making a cup of tea...although when am I NOT doing this
3. Listen to Christmas music...still trying to get in the spirit...sadly
4. Printing off an ultrasound picture for my mom...one of her last presents.

And hopefully, one day, I can go to bed. Something that sounds so nice...especially considering I will have a 6:30 wake up call in the morning. Oh the joys of deciding to make Christmas morning breakfast. Seriously...what was I thinking??

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

CLAUSTROPHOBIC

You know that suffocating feeling...where you feel your actual life depends on just getting one deep breath of fresh air...well, that is how I feel. Maybe I should actually do some deep breathing...But to be honest, this is how I have been feeling for a while now. And it all has to do with this blog. Don't get me wrong. I love my new domestic hobbies. So much! Problem is...being a "domestic diva" is just such a small part of who I am. I get tired of writing about just aspects relating to crafts and cooking. I don't know how these people do it, only writing about one aspect of their lives day after day. I just don't think I am cut out for that. Monotony is my greatest enemy. And frankly, I am all out of air...or words. Part of me wishes I could create post after post of cute crafts and amazing recipes. Or that I loved these things so much that I lived and breathed ideas. I absolutely adore all those cooking and style blogs out there.

However, reality is...labels can be kind of limiting. Being known for one skill, or in my case a "martha stewart wanna-be" is not all-encompassing like I thought it might be...far from it. Instead, it is actually restricting. If I am spending my time focused on crafts and cooking and cleaning...then, in turn, that means I am NOT spending my time with friends, or learning to scuba dive, or whatever else I might want to be doing. I initially liked the challenge of becoming a domestic diva...because it was so far from what I would have ever labeled myself. I liked that it was new. I liked that it was difficult for me. And I honestly like cooking and crafts more now than I did when I started...but I am realizing that what I really want to write about are those things PLUS all the other things I love too. I probably have too many interests...from travel, to eating exotic food, to reading, to anything and everything else. I like variety...probably more than anything else. Someone just told me, actually yesterday, that I seemed like I get bored easily. And I will admit - this is true. It doesn't mean I am incapable of keeping friends or commiting to things, but just that in my day to day life I must have adventure. I must have new activities, new scenery, new people to keep me interested and engaged in my surroundings. This is a tough to keep up...but thankfully, I am also easily entertained, so the simplest thing may be all I need. This is also what makes sitting at a desk everyday so painful for me...like actually physically painful. (or that could be how un-ergonomically I sit in my chair)

All this to say, I think I want to give my blog a makeover...slowly because I am super busy right now..I have procrastinated way too much with Christmas presents, but maybe I can get it ready in time for the new year. Not to worry...cooking and crafts will continue...but probably in less quantity because I will be living in Cambodia in February. Who knows what crazy stories I will have to share then...

ANSWERS AND EASY MAC

I found my latest want. It is a book about baking science. It brings back fond memories of chemistry freshman year. Ok, maybe not fond memories, but definitely memories. It may be a little more intense than I am wanting, but it finally answered one of the questions I wondered a while back...what is the difference between dark and light brown sugar? Apparently, the difference is that dark brown sugar is made with molasses. However, in North America, the amount is so small that it really makes no difference. So thankfully, next time I see a recipe that specifies light or dark, I can rest assured that it doesn't matter what type I have on hand. I also tried to answer the question about flour, but apparently, instead of just two types of flour, there are apparently 50. And with this one, I think I am now more confused than less...

Now the only problem with getting this into cooking (down to the science of it), is at no point do I want to become a food snob. Not just with what I make, but especially with what others make. I enjoy most food, and if I start understanding the minute things that set apart cookies...will I still enjoy my grandma's tried and true recipe? Now part of me would love to take a sip of soup and be able to name every ingredient and amount..not from memory, but from taste. However, along with that skill, I think comes a curse. If I refine my palate, will I still be ok with eating easy mac for lunch? I mean the thought of having to fix gourmet lunches all the time is not worth it. I like my quick fix meals. I like prepackaged food. I even like tv dinners. I don't want to give up my poor taste. So I am at a loss for now...

THE PARTY

So the Christmas party last week was a success! It was so fun to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while. And any event that includes a plethora of desserts cannot fail! Here was our 10 days...or 10 desserts:



{1} cranberry apple crisp: the only thing I had actually made before..even though I "messed" it up by adding double the amount of sugar. I tend to forget to half stuff unless I write it on the actual recipe...but with cranberries, I don't think too much sugar is possible...



{2} lighter than air chocolate cake: the first cake I have made without flour...I wasn't too sure how this one was going to turn out...


{3} chocolate peppermint cookies: stroooooong chocolate



{4} strawberries: making 9 actual desserts was enough...this was my filler. plus strawberries are my favorite!



{5} key lime tarts: this was in honor of my dear friend and our obsession with limeade chillers from sonic...



{6} lucia bread: this was one of my favorite things I made..not so much because of what it tastes like, but because I remember reading about it in my American Girl dolls books..I had Kirsten and felt like a kid making it. Also, got to use yeast for the first time too...


{7} white chocolate and lemon mousse with strawberries: this one was my favorite and first to disappear...


{8} chocolate chocolate chip cookies: i am still not sure what to write about these. they were pretty hard, but not burned, and chewy on the inside. i don't like them, but my mom did. tough call. and honestly, i am not sure what they are supposed to taste like..but let's just say they are different...


{9} brownies: gotta have this classic...

{10} angel food cake: this made a great pair with #4!

...and that was it. this was A LOT to make. I felt it ended up being a quantity over quality type result. But it was all still edible...and I have learned a lot about eggs. My first time really doing something with them besides scrambling...and thankfully no disasters!!

Now..after pile after pile of dishes..it is time for a break in the kitchen. And back to working on scarves. For those of you in Memphis...you can check them out at Square Beans Coffee Shop in Collierville! (And don't forget my Etsy page) I set up my little area in the coffee shop yesterday which was pretty exciting. Definitely small scale, but fun to actually have something I made displayed and for sale in a store! Now I just need people to buy them!

NEWS

I am so pleased to have made it through the weekend. Months of anticipation and I am proud to say that I have my first half marathon under my belt. And yes, I am hinting at the possibility of future half marathons. I still would like to run one under 2 hours. (did this one in 2:09) But now that I will be living in another country soon...I might just have to take up bike riding, which will probably be my main form of transportation. Tour de France...my new goal. Hah...I probably shouldn't say that just in case.

Regardless, now that I feel much less pressure to run...I can now put that energy into scarves, christmas presents, cooking, etc. Or actually learning to use my camera. The list of things I want to do never seems to shrink. I accomplish one, but add three more to my list.

And now officially, as of this weekend, I can announce that I will be throwing my sister-in-law a baby shower in Jan (well co-throw with my mom)! I can't wait to start planning for this, but realize that I probably need to finish christmas party planning first. I still have to pick a menu for the event. Sometimes I hate making decisions...

YES

I actually finished..well at least got something up on my new Etsy shop!! I am really excited about it! Please check out my scarves! ...Plus more will be coming in the next few days. I have just run out of time to list them today. Just look to the right of this post and you can easily click on my stuff! (I rearranged a few things for your ease) Happy shopping!!

A SIMPLE TASK

Apparently, being in charge of the menu is a more difficult task than I anticipated. Ok. Maybe I refused to listen to the nagging feeling all along, telling me that when it came time to make a food selection, I would be at a loss. Maybe I did know all along. Regardless, here I am attempting to finalize the menu for next week's party...and I am horribly indecisive. What in the world should I make?? I have no clue where to begin...

13.1...THE NUMBER OF MISERY

Only 3 days to go. 72 hours. I wince as I think about that. Since I have been out of town the past two weeks, my training has sort of gone with it. I am, however, proud admist all my running that I prevented my competitive streak from kicking in. I think my body appreciates it too. I really just wanted to have fun with the race, yet I am beginning to think that there is a fine line between being ruthlessly competitive, having fun, and being miserably out of shape. I might be a little too far on the out of shape side. We will see.

So I will be running this Saturday morning, that ominous half marathon, hoping to complete it. The fact that it is a week after Thanksgiving, seems an erroneous decision on their part. Pounds of turkey, stuffing, and pie might just be the things that prevent me from making it those last few miles. My plan for counteracting this is with energy gummies and THE perfect ipod running playlist. (yes, one that includes "Party in the USA" every few songs hah)

Typically, my goal would have been to run it in under 2 hours. However, considering my mindset about the whole thing, my real goal is to just run it...and not die.

A SHIFT

Doing dishes used to be equated as a torturous hell...yet now it is a precious oasis I look forward to in my mundane work day. I was shocked to realize this today at work- that I actually prefer kitchen duty to working on my computer. How I have changed...

THE LATEST

I think I got some trouble with follow through on this thing...all the way back to my "daily scoop" idea which lasted all of a day. I need to quit saying I will write about such and such and post pictures because it never seems to happen.

But let me fill you in on my latest endeavors:

1. Photography: I am now the proud owner of Nick my Nikon. I am new at this whole DSLR camera business, but I am so excited to learn how to take amazing, great quality pictures. I started learning this weekend while visiting family in Chicago for Thanksgiving. While we were there, we went to the zoo, so I used this opportunity to practice with different lighting conditions, moving animals, and glass reflections. I basically came to the conclusion that it is going to take a while before I won't be completely frustrated with taking pictures. Just got lots to learn...

2. Party Planning: I have been hard at work for my Christmas party I am throwing with a friend. I finished invitations, and hopefully will (don't hold you breath) post a picture of what they ended up looking like. Now it is full force ahead figuring out food and decorations. Our theme is "Our very own 10 days of Christmas". I am so excited to see it all come together. I think it is going to be SO fun!

3. Holiday Baking: I am coming up with my list of items to bake this holiday season. So far...I am in charge of Christmas morning. I am making more bacon (the kind mentioned in a previous post) and homemade cinnamon rolls. Thankfully, I am not in charge of the big meal. I don't think I could handle that pressure yet. I am possibly making homemade cranberry sauce, but I haven't completely decided...and the rest will probably be cookies and other festive treats.

4. Being Auntie: I found out this past Wednesday I am going to have a nephew! Wesley Duane. I don't know if I am more excited about being the only one in my family to predict correctly or the fact that I don't have to use the mouthful "him or her" anymore. It is a him! I am in the process of a few things regarding this...which you will hear plenty about in the coming month.

5. Knitting: I am in the process of knitting like crazy. I have decided to make scarves and sell them to earn some money in order to go Cambodia (I will be working for a non-profit organization there) in February. Stay tuned for this too..hopefully by the end of the week I will have an Etsy account set up and you can buy them!! Please buy them!!