Date Night!

Greg and I have been dreaming and talking about remodeling our kitchen this year. We are working on the finances and timing of when we can actually get started. SOooo, to get our creative juices flowing, we are going to put on our architecture hats on and stroll through the Seattle Home show this weekend at Qwest field! I haven't done this as an adult mostly because there hasn't been a reason to until now. I convinced Greg, CORRECTION, I'm treating Greg to tickets to the show which made me realize how the idea of 'date night' has changed since being married :)


The goal of this, for me anyways, is to see what is out there and how much we can actually afford to throw down on this little remodel. I have tons of ideas swirling in my head, for instance, I want all new white cabinets, dark slate grey counter tops, artsy hardware, a DISHWASHER, stainless steel frig and stove, and very colorful, fun back splash throughout. OHHH, not to mention new floors that are NOT linolieum. Actually, look at the picture below... perhaps something like that!

Once we get the ball rolling and some details figured out, get ready for before and after pictures! It's going to be GGGGreat!

Seattle Public Transportation... is awful!!

I think my biggest pet peeve (as of last night) is taking the Seattle Public Transportation. This city has the WORST buses, drivers and the LONGEST routes possible. Here's my story: It was a typical Monday at work and I had worked all weekend to make sure I was 'ahead' of the game come Monday morning. I had to stay late to review what I did with my boss and he decided at the last minute to review everything first thing Tuesday morning. Which was ok, because i was still needing information from other people. So, no biggie. I stayed a little later to finish up and then left to catch my bus. I RAN, in cowboy boots, down hill to make sure i did NOT miss this bus. I always know that they are never on time and gave myself 2 mins to spare before the bus had to actually arrive. Well, it turns out, this shitting ass, brake loving driver pulls up 45 mins after it should have been there! And I was steaming mad. So, I get on, sit all the way in the back only to get super motion sickness because, like I said, he LOVES the damn brakes and the heat is blasting. Do you have the vision of this yet!? I'm on a 30 min ride from hell, in my mind. I get sick if I look at someone reading on a bus or in a car. It's that bad. The horrible ride comes to an end, not soon enough, but it's now time for me to get off and I did say 'thank you' but never paid. I am not going to pay this stupid city $2 for a shitting ride. The guy never said anything as I got off. He probably knew better ;)

Anyways, I HATE Seattle's public transportation and as soon as the weather is nice out, I will commute on my bike. I'd rather be sweaty at work (so people leave me alone) than pay some horrible driver/seattle $2.25 for a ride I know I get sick on.

Let's make some Whoopie!

The red velvet whoopie pie... never had them, but LOVE the red velvet cupcakes. Must be worth a try... and must satisfy my sweet obsession for sure!

Here is the recipe:

Cakes:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg

Filling:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 ¼ cups confectioner sugar
2 cups marshmallow cream (fluff)
1 tsp vanilla

Make cakes:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until combined. Blend buttermilk and vanilla in a separate small bowl. Set both aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar on highest mixer setting for about 3 minutes. Add egg and food coloring and mix until well combined. Reduce speed to low, and alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk/vanilla blend in batches, and mix until smooth.

Spoon 1/4-cup mounds of batter and place about 2 inches apart on a buttered baking sheet. Bake until tops are puffy, and spring back when touched, about 11 to 13 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Make filling: In a medium-sized bowl, beat together butter, confectioners sugar, marshmallow, and vanilla at medium speed until smooth.

Assemble pies: Spread a rounded tablespoon of filling on the flat side of one cake. Top with another. Makes about 8 cakes.

NOTE: PLEASE, if anyone tries this let me know... I'm not known to cook/bake, but I will make an effort to do this. I need to start mastering making yummy food if this family of 2 (3 if you include our dog Charlie) is going to grow :) Or I could just channel Julia Childs....!

Bon Appetite

Sir Ken Robinson

This is a breathe of fresh air...

Robinson’s speech is like a tune-up when we need to be reminded to tap into the creativity and passion that exist in us all to answer big or challenging questions. The video is lengthy, but a truly satisfying and the best way to spend 20 minutes. Plus, he’s funny!

One more thing... Robinson has a terrific book called The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything - a thought-provoking read for anyone questioning her career or seeking to know what inspires her the most. I have yet to get it and read it but I will!!

Pick one...

What is this moped is waiting for:

a) Two young lovers to hop aboard, embrace reckless abandon and speed around the city

b) A tearful man looking to blow off steam after finding out his best friend hooked up with his girlfriend

c) A bank robber!

d) A 17 year old girl, who despite her parent's pleas to reconsider, is about to take her first joyride

e) You, him and a tote full of provisions

Going UP?

Lets face it, elevators are awkward. Especially when all you want to do is get on and off as quick as you can without any drama. Well, I work in a building where taking the elevators is an everyday routine. I should write a coffee table book about elevator rides (isn't their a Seinfield episode on coffee table books?!) and how educating they can be (I'm being polite here). I found some 'rules' or best practices I think we should all consider when riding the elevator. Some are SOOO true!


These commandments apply universally.

1. Thou shalt not fart.
2. Thou shalt not attempt to board elevator before previous passengers have disembarked. The universe does not revolve around you.
3. Thou shalt not press button for wrong floor without acting appropriately ashamed as elevator stops and doors open then shut without anyone leaving.
   
4. Thou shall take the stairs if traveling between one or two floors, barring personal injury, lest incur the wrath of those traveling to the 32nd floor whose trips are delayed due to your laziness. (Justifying taking the elevator one floor because "they don't know if I'm sick--I could have some horrible disease, for all they know" is a supreme form of laziness, and using this logic risks incurring said horrible disease in the interest of serving you right. Certainly, some otherwise healthy-looking people have problems preventing them from using stairs, but surely not everyone in the building is afflicted with such illnesses.
   
5. Thou shall hold the door for others running to catch the carriage. A plague on those who watch idly by as they slide shut in someone’s face.
   
6. However, thou shalt not hold the door indefinitely and delay travel for other passengers. In a busy building, one could potentially hold the door for several minutes waiting for the carriage to fill. Unless someone is clearly attempting to catch that particular elevator, adopt the adage “thy snoozes, thy loses.”
   
7. Thou shall wait for empty carriage if thou is sick. If that proves impossible, thou shall refrain from coughing/sneezing/etc. for duration of ride, even if this means thou’s face turns bright red and thou feels like dying.
   
8. Thou shall give others their personal space in an uncrowded elevator.
   
9. Thou shalt not call out their floor to the person standing nearest the buttons as if that person is the lift operator. If there is space to do so, thou shalt press button thyself.
   
10. Thou shalt not carry on personal conversations, be they person-to-person or via cellular phone. Thine elevator is not thine phone booth.

Head'n home

I'm head'n home tomorrow morning to the land of MinneSNOWta!

What's waiting for me there is nothing but cold and a TON of white stuff. I haven't been home in the winter for quite some time and I'm sure I will realize why I don't live there year round. There are two bummer parts of this trip back 1.) Greg will be holding down the fort with our dog Charlie and 2.) Charlie's first birthday is on Valentines day! Our boy is growing up so fast :) They will have a great time bonding and having their guys weekend! PLUS, he doesn't have to worry about V-day either...BONUS!

Have a great, loving weekend!

Wood you be mine

Love the alphabet...

wood you like sugr with that?

my fav!

Don't forget!

Reawaken possibility of possibility

Where does the time go...!

Ok, so, I admit, I've been more than absent on my blog... I've been extremely lazy and totally left sam-a-lama by the wayside! I'm embarrassed. But then again, this was something I really wanted to commit to and like most things, I get super excited and begin them and rave about it for a little while, then, it becomes mundane and boring and has less sex appeal..
Well, I'm resurrecting this blog on mine even if I'm the only person that reads it (I will make Greg read it too :)

So, for my first post back from the dead let me do a little bit of research so I can WOW you all (Greg)....

Otherwise, I just wanted to say, Happy Hump Day!