Cookbook: Sugar Cookies

Every year since I can remember, I've made cut out sugar cookies. My grandma was a straight up cookie nazi when it comes to these cookies. You have to be able to see a knife underneath the rolled out dough or else she yelled. But so delicious! I guess its what it took to drill perfection into our heads. I spent five hours rolling out and decorating these suckers and while they were totally worth it, not happening again until next year. These puppies are a once a year kinda thing.  Oh! and you have to make your own sprinkles (its just food dye and sugar). I did try to use up some of the sprinkles I had left over from the cake pops but they didn't taste as good as the sugar. 

Hello Christmas :)

Twinkle, Twinkle

My favorite part about the holidays would have to be the lights. I just love driving down the street and seeing the white lights, the colored lights and the unbelieveably tacky blow up animals that people acquire for 80% off after the holiday season and thus feel they should purchase them all for such a deal. 

Well boyfriend was super sweet and took me on a christmas lights date around Scranton. We drove all over town looking at peoples lights and participating in the age old colored lights v. white lights debate. I love white lights, he loved colored. It got heated people. But we have plenty of time to continue the debate before we get to decorate for the holidays together. I had no idea how festive Scranton is! and Mikes parents house is the BEST!! There are christmas themed items on every surface of their house. Mikes sister and I agree that it looks like Christmas threw up. We've always had a pretty classic themed house so it was awesome to see such over the top decorations. As I get older, it seems its harder to get in the christmas spirit, but his house just brings on the christmas cheer. 

Oh! and one house, deemed "the ally" is outrageous! There is livestock involved here people! The guy who owns the house decorates the entire ally by his house with decorations. The little mermaid, the peanuts, the living nativity, elves, santa, etc. are all present and accounted for with this house. I gotta say, I was giddy and cheerful the whole date (esp. when he slowed down to let me take 38.5 million photos). 

{Mikes nephew played all the singing animals that line his steps for me. hilarious.}

Holiday Treats

'Tis the season...to make cake pops!

I'm a big fan of homemade gifts. And who doesn't love cake pops?! So in the spirt of the holidays, I made two batches of cake pops (as seen here), one devils food with chocolate icing and the other was white cake with red and green sprinkles and white icing. I bagged the up, tied them with silver ribbon and gave one to each of my coworkers plus my friend Chris. And the boys appreciated the leftover treats ;)

P.S. I'm so excited to make more of these puppies now that my friend Chris got me this badass cake pops cook book and I can hone in on my decorating skills!

Mustache Mug

My new love? Making mugs! I made the boys mustache mugs for christmas and made my friend Chris and DJ Bisquick mug (since he is a DJ...and his name is DJ Bisquick...get it?) I found this tutorial while stumbling online and my life will never be the same. Now all I need to do is perfect my mustache drawing skills...

Feather Boas and Glittery Stars

Who doesn't love a good 'ol fashion 21st birthday celebration? Certainly not this girl! While I'm no party animal, I do like to go out, have a few drinks, shake what my mama gave me and make it home in one piece. I will tell you that while I did in fact make it home in one piece, I did experience some wear and tear at the end of the night that left me curled up in bed pretty much all of Sunday drinking H2O and downing advil if ya catch my drift...

The night started out with a bang. Hello church camp esp party van! We hit Pub Dogs in Federal Hill first, and followed it up to the unknown bar next door for dancing and shots. Then my night was essentially over while every one else carried on to the final undisclosed location...I had fun though and am so glad my friend Rach is FINALLY 21!! Whoot! Whoot!

Book Review: Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis

This was the second of the two random books I picked from the library and while the first pick was great, this one sucked major spit. And I have this problem where even if a book sucks, I have to finish it. Don't know why, I guess I need to know how it ends or something but its a problem. Boyfriend kept asking me why I was reading it if every time he asked how my book was I said I hated it but I just fed him my line about having to finish what I started. So ladies and gentlemen, I do not recommend this book unless to enjoy mindless reading focusing on a husband walking out on his wife and daughter to "find himself" only to fall into bed with a psychotic coworker, leaving his wife to start shmoozing with her coworker and famous teen actor (who is actually in his late twenties), whom her daughter is subsequently crushing on. Its stupid, implausible and just a waste of your time. 

In my opinion:

(0 out of 5 stars)

Night Owl

Did you know that if you order two drinks at the same time the waiter may think you have a drinking problem? After our reunion dinner I thought it was about time I took Pat up on his 3.4 million offers to go out to the bar and hit the town with Duffy, Pat and Abby (esp. since I needed to soak up every ounce of time with her before she left me). Sometimes I just hate waiting for another drink so maybe, sometimes, I plan ahead and order two drinks. Maybe this makes me an alcoholic but I just think it makes me prepared. eh? eh? no? Well either way, I ordered two drinks one of the times the waiter came and every time after that if I ordered another drink he would need clarification on whether I was ordering the socially acceptable number, aka one, or the I'm-trying-to-get-hammered-and-take-the middle-aged-man-making-eyes-at-me-across-the-bar-home-tonight number, aka 2+. Needless to say after that I stuck with one at a time. 

After I cut myself off, Abby headed out and Tom showed up dressed to the nines. Apparently Mike had dressed him for his formal party, bow tie and all. Gee Mike, how come you never dress yourself like that for me? You know I have a weak spot for sweaters and bow ties! Either way, I decided it was time to let the boys carry on to another bar and headed home to pass out like a freshman just learning what a night of partying looks like curl up with the boo and sleep. 

Sunday Dinner Reunion

Its an understatement to say this past Friday was a much needed event with friends. I gotta say, life after graduation is ROUGH. I know they say its supposed to be a happy occasion full of potential and opportunity, but lets get real. The economy blows so no one wants to take a shot on a kid fresh out of the classroom with no applicable work experience. Plus, you're forced to leave behind your routine, your lifestyle, your friends. Its scary, devastating and takes a loooonnngg time to adjust to. I know, I know, I'm usually cool as a cucumber, but hit me on a bad day spent stalking Facebook a little too long and you've got a girl curled up in sweatpants crying into a bag of potato chips (I kid, I kid...its a box of cookies).

So when my amazing friends Angela and Nicole decided to get the gang from last semester together and have a reunion dinner, I was game! And one of the best parts? My great friend Abby, who now lives in Philly to attend med school, came up to visit. I haven't seen her for six months now and I'm embarrassed to say I squealed and jumped up and down at the sight of her.  The food was good, the laughs were great and my friends? Priceless.

P.S. How strange are my friends? Yes, that is Pat R. trying to be a dinosaur and eat Pat Z. head in that photo. You know the saying: to know them is to love them!