Waffles & Chocolates.

Whenever anyone stays over at my place, you get treated to waffles in the morning.  Its kindof my thing. I adore chocolate chip waffles and my belgian waffle maker.  I've had a bad week, so I've done alot of indulging.  The calories don't count if you deserve it.

I learned 2 new things about myself this week.  (I feel like Samantha Who? trying to discover myself again).  1- I discovered that I can be very feisty when provoked.  2- I discovered that all is forgiven with a box of chocolates, and trust me I was on my way to no forgiveness.  I am glad that these delicious chocolates opened up my eyes to remind me that you should always forgive and forget.  

Comfort Food.

As if to make my graduation that much sweeter, school decided to push me to my limits.  Being done with school will be the sweetest relief ever.   After a stressful day, I wanted to make some comfort food... I decided on Mini-Burgers and Cheddar-Ranch Bread.  For dessert I made some microwave S'mores. 

Burger Recipe: Mix hamburger meat with 1 egg, parsley, garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil, and basil. I made these in a skillet because I am afraid of the barbecue. Sprinkle with shredded muenster cheese and shredded cheddar.

Sunday Night In.

Some things I am going to miss about home... baking in my own kitchen, getting catalogues in the mail, watching movies in my theatre, playing Frank Sinatra songs on my baby grand, my puppy cuddling with me, and my overly comfortable bed.

Secret recipe. 

Bagels and Wine.

Could breakfast get any better?

Hmmmm.... or is this better?

I can't stop baking these! This is my third batch this week. I keep giving them away and then I want them again.  Recipe again...because you are missing out.

Cook, Eat, Pray, Love.

Last night was a baking fiasco.  Everything that could've went wrong did.  After dropping everything important and finding out that we got the wrong ingredients, all in all, everything turned out amazing.

We realized when we got home from the grocery store that we had no mozzarella, and all I had in my fridge was some cream cheese.  Honestly, this recipe should always be made with cream cheese.  It is like 10 times better than the typical Bruschetta.

Recipe from Everyday Pasta by Giada De Laurentiis

There is nothing I love more than breakfast at night.   When discussing recipes for dinner with my friends they came to find out that I have never had eggs benedict before, so it was a given what we were going to make for dinner.  I also don't eat pork, so we substituted the bacon for turkey bacon (yummm).  Some people are picky about staying with one type of food, but I loved having the Italian appetizer and the egg main course.  We were so full and we watched Eat, Pray, Love (one of my favorite movies)- a perfect ending to the evening.

We were too full to eat the popovers last night, so this morning when I got up I put some cream cheese and strawberry jam on it for the perfect light and delicious breakfast.

Did I mention how much I love popovers?

(even when I forgot like 3 ingredients- they were still delicious)

Cocktail Party at Tiffany's.

One of my favorite joys in life is planning parties.  And nothing makes me want to plan more than these pretty pictures of a Tiffany blue themed cocktail party.

Style at Home.

Truffles and Politics.

[Chocolate Almond Toffee, Salted Chocolate Caramel, Truffle Cherri Suise, Champagne Truffle Chause]

The Salted Chocolate Caramel was my favorite!  It was my first time trying a salted caramel and it is sooo good.  I've been missing out.

I had a fabulous little shopping trip with my friend Janeyl in Olde Town Fort Collins today.  We went to an adorable little Kilwin's Fudge Shoppe and The Cupboard.  We always go to The Cupboard to get their amazing free coffee and browse the adorable pantry goods while we sip our little cups of gourmet coffee. After that we browsed the best (and only) clothing store in Fort Collins, Cira.  I got this adorable ring that makes me oh-so-happy.  I told the checkout girl I put it on and couldn't take it off, so I had to buy it. 

Snow Dance.

Some days I wish that it wasn't bad for me to keep drinking more cups of coffee.

I would drink it continuously if I could because I'm always tired.

The snow finally fell, and it was worse than I remembered. 

You'd think that after 22 years of the same cyclical patterns, 

I would expect the pain. 

Piercing icicles stabbing my body, through my snow soaked clothes.

Pain plastered to my face.

Just yesterday I was wearing shorts, and today I needed a snow suit.

But I only have to endure it for 2 and half more months.

Then, I will be here:

and my iced over body will melt into pure happiness during the Summer in Sydney.

Girl Scout Cookies.

I discovered two heavenly things today.  1. A White Mocha Pumpkin Spice Caramel Latte from Starbucks.
2. Homemade Samoas (actually i think I am more mad about these- I think I gained 10 pounds just baking them, from the toasted coconut to the caramels that jumped into my mouth... I'd better not make these again.  There's a reason girl scout cookies come once a year.)

Recipe

Cheers.

Some friends and I went out to my favorite restaurant last night, The Med in Boulder.  I love the atmosphere of this place, it is always busy and the food is incredible!  It makes me feel like I'm in Europe again. I love that you can get many different Tapas (small dishes) and share with the table, and they are so inexpensive.  This is perfect for someone as indecisive as me.  But the best part is their White Sangrias!!! Oh my goodness, I could not stop drinking these- they are dangerously good.  The waitress would just laugh at me because every time she came to the table I would ask for another.

I think all 6 of us had our eyes shut as we enjoyed this heavenly Creme Brulee.  Yumm...

Whole Foods.

One of the coolest things happened to me today.  So, on my journey to joy and happiness, I have really been trying to improve myself.  I have found that lately when I make good decisions, I feel this ultimate calm and peace around me that reassures me that I made the right choice.  I love it! I can't remember ever feeling that way before, so this is definately new.  Well, through cognitive therapy I have learned alot about controlling my thoughts and the effects they have on your body and life.  So, I have been very consious about my thoughts, and I just kept thinking of a verse- think of things that are pure and lovely... i kept repeating to myself.  I kept trying to think of where it was from and where I could find it for days, and it just kept repeating in my head.  I was wanting to find it each day, but I kept putting it off.  Then, today I got an email from my mom that said "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" Philippians 4:8.   That's really what all this is about- I want to focus on the things in life that make me happy and that are good for me, not destructive in any way.  It really made me smile that this happened to me today.

So, today I decided to treat myself to anything I wanted from Whole Foods.  I decided on yogurt, cherry, chocolate & toffee, and cinnamon covered pretzels.  It turned out to be the best 78 cents I have spent in a long time.

Sugar & Sugar.

Attempting Caramel Apples for the first time with my lovely A. 

Oreo's are my new favorite midnight snack for my new show Vampire Diaries.

I love random trips to FoCo in the middle of the week.  We made the most amazing punch:

Jenee's Perfect Party Punch

Fruit Punch Vodka

7Up

Orange Juice

Grenadine

Slices of Kiwi & Oranges

mix to taste

Halloween Dreams.

Do you ever have those days when the aroma in the air reminds you of something you really don't want to think about? I wish I could escape my life today and trade it for a simpler place of warmth and peace.  Something in the air today, on this Halloween is just not sitting right with me.  It reminds me of a time in my past I want to forget.  So I dove into the last Twilight book today- really, as i said before, the only place I can truly escape to when nothing else works.  But there are a few things that make me feel happy that I found today.

I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."- Marilyn Monroe

recipe

Beautiful Things.

4 Things that I would love to have today:

Recipe for Apple Pie Caramel Apple

4 Things I love that I just bought: