Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

This weekend, I had 2 half empty containers of cream cheese frosting in the fridge. Why? Who knows. I thought about making some pumpkin bars, but it just doesn't seem natural to eat pumpkin anything in the summer. So I made red velvet sandwich cookies/whoopie pies/whatever you want to call them. I prefer the word whoopie.



I found the recipe in this post from Bakerella (who has some other awesome treats - check it out). Shout out to Stefi for her find. Because I knew they were just for J, me, and J's mom, I didn't take the time to make them pretty.

Tip: Keep them refrigerated, but before you serve/eat, let them sit out for 10 minutes or so to soften. Also, don't worry about making them all the same size - you can match up the similar sized ones later.

Say Cheese!

I'm in the market for a new digital camera. My old Canon Powershot A540 has served me well over the years, but it's time to retire it.

So what camera should I get? I want something smaller, to fit in a purse. I want a point & shoot, but maybe with some manual options. I need a self-timer (I just figured out how to use my a year ago and I love it.)

I'm considering the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS. I've heard good things about it and it seems to have the specs I want. I think it would probably be an easy transition from my current camera.

All of my preferences could be moot though. J gets electronics for free through work, so I may be limited to certain options.

Anybody want to share their comments & recommendations?

I'm glad to see I'm living up to my blog title.

The weekend

I don't really distinguish between weekdays and weekends anymore. It's partly the nature of the job (more about that later), partly because of a lack of routine.

But this weekend, my mother-in-law is coming to visit! I know what you're thinking - You feel sorry for me. Well, don't! I love my MIL! She had a free weekend, which worked out perfectly since I had absolutely nothing to do this weekend. So she's driving down today (Friday) and staying until Sunday.

SO...what do we have planned?

Well, nothing really. But tentatively, here are some things we might do:
- drive around town and see campus (this sounds much more boring than it actually is)

• http://www.uky.edu

- go to antique shops and/or flea markets

• http://www.fabric-unlimited.com/antique.html
• http://www.georgetownkyantiquemall.com/

- go out to eat
Possibilities

• http://www.cheapsidebarandgrill.com/
• http://www.bellalexington.com/

And my new favorite place

• http://www.drakeslansdowne.com/

- go see a big old estate

• http://www.henryclay.org/

- go to the farmer's market

• http://www.bluegrassfarmersmarket.org/
• http://www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.com/

- go to the winery

• http://www.talonwine.com/
• http://www.chrismanmill.com/

- lay out by the pool (probably)


It should be a good weekend! I'll update with reviews.

Bugs...A hate story.

Bugs. They're ugly. And crawly. And creepy.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy neat bugs. I enjoy them at the zoo. Behind glass cases.

When we moved to Kentucky last summer, I suppose it was just too late in the summer (mid-August) for the bugs to...bug me. Because over the past month, I've had a few too many run-ins with bugs.

This little guy seems harmless. My friends in the Entymology Department at UK (website) confirm this. But he's scary. He's scary when he shows up on the wall. He's scary when Max chases him. He's also scary when he shows up IN THE SHOWER. I'm sure Max & J were both wondering what the heck was going on when I dripped all over the bathroom screaming (yes, now you're thinking about me in the shower).

I also had the scariest encounter I've ever had with ants a few nights ago. It was late (those of you who know me know my nocturnal hours) and I took Max out for a bathroom break before bed. I was outside a total of 45 seconds. When I walked back into the apartment, I felt something on my foot. I looked down and I had about 50 ants crawling on my ankles and feet. Of course, I screamed, shook, stomped, and slapped the crap out of my legs. J thought I was on fire. I still have no idea how that happened.

My last negative encounter with bugs came when I went to refill Max's food bowl and noticed a trail of tiny ants. Yes, I realize ants are generally tiny. But these were super tiny. Maybe baby ants like puppy food? So of course, I had to wash down the area (tip: vinegar worked!) and move Max's dining room to the other side of the kitchen.

When did I become so squeamish about insects? I used to pride myself on being the girl who would bravely grab that crawler and place it outside. Or, walk over and stomp that cockroach with a flimsy flipflop.

Every time I scream, a little piece of my tomboy childhood dies. Every time I call for my husband, a little piece of my feminist, independent spirit dies.

But this story has a happy ending. Earlier this week, I was driving to school and noticed that a spider had built a little web from my rearview mirror to my driver side door. Spidey was quickly trying to make it back to the little gap between the mirror and the plastic doohicky that surrounds the mirror. I found myself picturing Spidey as Charlotte, desperate to save herself and her eggs as the 40 mph winds whipped by. So I slowed down. And Charlotte made it back into her cave. EB White saved your life bug. Now make a web that says, "MERCIFUL" and dedicate it to me.

Who could have thought that I could spend this much time writing a boring post about bugs?

A happy thought

This is a picture that I received from my friend A last week. A will probably be annoyed that I posted this picture, but I had to share it. Isn't she cute?

A is using a coozie (also known to some as koozie, huggie, coolie). This particular coozie was one of our wedding favors! I actually didn't meet A until after our wedding, but I wanted her to have something to remind her of me. I'm self-centered like that.

Anyway, A sent me this picture and it brightened my day. Thanks A!


PS: A, I saw Cats cutoffs last weekend. I'll send you a pair if I remember.

Introducing.....us.

This is me. I'm what I call a forever student - in actuality, I'm just working on my doctorate in communication studies. I was raised in a rural area in Illinois but moved away for college and different opportunities.



J, my husband. J is...self-employed currently. He quit his job to move with me - I'm forever grateful for that. He was raised in Illinois as well.

J and I met our first weekend at college. I had met some of his friends in the dorm. Later that evening, we ended up going to "this guy's apartment" (which ended up being J's best friend & roommate). We kindasortanotreally dated all freshman year and by the time that summer was up, we returned sophomore year and started dating.


And Max, our Westiepoo. Max is about 9 months old. He enjoys sleeping on the fuzzy blanket, playing tug of war, and barking at the birds.



Our families:

My parents, brother, and sister-in-law. My dad is a retired from teaching and still pastors a small church. My mom teaches 3rd grade. My brother is in finance and my SIL is in nursing school.



J's mom and brother. J's mom is a nurse and his brother is in college.




J's dad, stepmom, and stepsis. J's dad works for the city water company and his stepmom works in insurance.

His stepsis works in community health. I stole this picture from her - shhhhh!



I'm sure there will be many more players, but this will get us started.

Famous by the second

I have a follower! And a comment!

Thanks to NC & Jill for your superb loyalty. I promise to be more interesting in the future.

I blog.

Now I'm a blogger. I'm cool. Right? Right!?!?

For pooper:
Sarcasm, fantasy, randomness.

More to come. When = depending on the pool weather the next few days.