better things are coming.

I swear there's truth in that.

Lately I've been connecting to music like I used to, and it's been pretty nice. I love when a song can completely change my mood within 16 beats. Coincidentally, I have also been enjoying my time in the kitchen again. I made snickerdoodle cupcakes for my moms birthday this weekend, which followed the spicy cheetos crusted porkchops and lemon herb potatoes fantastically. Recipes to follow, if you're brave enough to try them!

Today I found out that my sister's third child will be a GIRL! After two boys, we are all veeery excited. I can't wait to start shopping! I've already been watching the special deals websites that I follow for baby stuff--and she's not due for another 20 weeks. This also means that I get to start planning for the baby shower I'm throwing. I know I am doing an owl theme and making little bootie cupcakes (little owl cupcakes are another option I'm considering). I found a recipe to make fondant at home--as simple as two parts powdered sugar to one part marshmallow creme! I haven't tried it yet but I intend to play around with it so I can get it right by the time we have the shower.

For the spicy cheesy crusted porkchops, I crushed three cups of puffy cheese snacks and added onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and Tony Chacherie's seasoning (to preferred taste) as well as a quarter cup of bread crumbs. I dipped the porkchops in an egg whisked with a splash of worcestershire sauce and then coated them in the cheesy crumbs and baked them and 350 until they crackled and popped when I opened the oven (about 30 minutes).

The snickerdoodle cupcakes were made by adding a teaspoon of cinnamon to my simple white cake mix (you could even use a box mix if you're pressed for time or supplies), and then baking (in 24 cups filled 3/4 of the way) until the edges were tinged with beige. The frosting was 6 cups of powdered sugar, 3/4 cup butter, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon whipped smooth; then add milk by the teaspoon until it's the desired consistency. Mix 1 part cinnamon to 4 parts sugar (even colored sugar sprinkles!) to decorate the top and give a great texture contrast.

six days in.

And 2012 isn't looking too bad. I said something earlier that I'd like to remember, and I guess that's kind of what this is for so I'll just put it here...

"Not all of us need an electric stand mixer... Some of us just don't have enough arms to keep up with our minds."

I know everyone says this, but but I think 2012 is going to be full of good changes and growth. I am back in good academic standing (which means I've learned to balance baking and studying--must be that stand mixer;), I've chosen a major (possibly two), got into the classes I wanted for this spring semester, and I live with an amazing guy that completely supports me, never stops amazing me and makes me incredibly happy. We have our tiffs and the occasional yelling match but we never go to bed angry. Our chemistry is explosive and he still gives me butterflies. Bringing in the new year with him was the perfect start!

trail mix.

... probably the best idea ever. It's got sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, and chocolat-y all in one tasty snack. And to top it off its kind of good for you! (shhh don't let your tastebuds hear ;) and you can make it juuuust to your liking...add any combination of peanuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, raisins, dried fruit, assorted candies and chocolates, gummy bears, granola, tiny marshmallows, pretzels, popcorn, various cereals, small crackers, I mean the list is endless! And as long as you resist your inner elf and don't soak it all in chocolate syrup, you can package it and save it for later. I love anything that you can make in bulk and eat as you need it.

Today is day one of my fist "vacation" of 2012. I get a whole five days off to drive across the state to visit my mom for her birthday and Christmas. After assisting in the open of a new Starbucks in the middle of the holiday season in a shopping center, I need a month or two to recover! But I'll take what I can get. At least my boyfriend gets to accompany me (and volunteered to drive so I could rest on the way there). I am so lucky. He's the absolute best.

a new year, a new me.

Not completely new, and I suppose... Just a few changes for the better. Starting this blog, for example. It's been on my to do list for months, I just haven't gotten around to it. I suppose that comes with ADHD and not taking the extra time to stay focused when you get a vacation from school, but that's no excuse. I'm ready to get my thoughts, ideas, imagination, and especially recipes out there for anyone to see. So I'll start here!

I'm a 22 year old college student in Texas, and I've never been off this continent. I've traveled to less than a quarter of the states within the US, and I've never lived anywhere but Texas. Given my limited travel experiences I believe myself to be quite well rounded and interesting as an individual. I'm more curious than any cat I've ever met and it can get me into trouble on occasion, but it brings more gwood than bad in the long run. I love cooking, especially baking and desserts. I'm also hypoglycemic and getting double degrees in computer science and technical writing. I dabble in music and aggressive inlining (which I'm getting pretty good at ;) and I enjoy a nice quiet afternoon with a good book and a small animal to cuddle with.

Since this isn't a personal ad, I'll stop there and let you find out all the juicy details about me as I let them slip along the way...as well as the delicious recipes and life lessons that may strikingly resemble struggles you yourself will or already have had to face along your life path. I may seem like a tree-hugging earth child, and I may be to a certain degree, and but I'm as down to earth and level headed as women can possibly come and I prefer simplicity in all aspects of life... Because
"simple is never synonymous with boring, and definitely not stressful; but it can be synonymous with spontaneous and adventurous, I can assure you." ;)