Birthmom Buds Project

After having to reschedule multiple times, our little group of girls were FINALLY able to complete our birthmom buds service project! It was so AWESOME! For the activity we first sat around a big long table and talked about adoption and what it meant for someone to place their baby with another family. It felt like every word I was saying was really important and that I was actually teaching a really important idea to these beautiful little girls.


I don't know how you parents do it. There is so much to tell these little people about. So much they don't understand. What a HUGE responsibility you have on a daily basis!


After I stumbled through our little discussion we made thank you notes for the organizers of the Birthmom Buds program. Please note the tiny little purple-blanket-wrapped baby in the upper right-hand corner of the picture. It was REALLY adorable and I wish I'd got a better pic of it.






Then, we pulled out our needles and thread and sewed buttons on these bags that I'd already made. Lesson for everyone out there: if you are teaching 10 year olds to do anything with a tread and needle it is SO much easier to thread the needle and tie the knot in the end yourself. It's a bit beyond the capability of the average little girl.

Next up? fill all the bags with the donated goodies. The girls LOVED this part. I had them make a ton of piles of stuff all over the floor and they went from pile to pile adding things to their bags. Over and over I heard, "oh, this is fun like shopping" (girls after my own heart)

Jaidyn loved these packs of gum because they were REALLY thin. Whoever sent them, they were a HUGE hit! I even let her take a pack home with her because she was so over the moon.

Last, but not least, I introduced these girls to the beauty of the Polaroid camera. And, they LOVED it. As soon as the film spit out the front of the camera they ran over to me and said, "shake it, shake it" At which point I broke out into a little Outkast. But I'm pretty sure only my friend and adult group helper Lashelda go my reference.

Due to the unruly chaos during the actual activity I didn't have a chance to take a picture with all of the items displayed. Please disregard the ugly crappy carpet and the matching color wall backdrop.

Two of the items in the photo are of particular note because they were donated by awesome Etsy sellers. First, the awesome green floral picture frame on the far left hand side. 7 of these frames were sent to me by the kind Heather Egley. She's got some Crazy Adorable stuff in her shop, so check it out. Second, the black polka-dot notebook leaning against the bag just left of middle. These are the cutest hand-bound journals around and Leslie sells them and other creative papergoods in her etsy shop, BurgundyDistrict. Thanks both of you for your thoughtful and amazing donations!

Usually we have 7 little girls show up to our activity and only 4 came last night. At first it really bummed me out that 3 of them didn't get a chance to participate in this activity. Now I realize that I'm grateful that the 4 that came had a great time and genuinely learned to love serving others.

Thank you so much to all of you who took the time to participate in our activity. It made all the difference in the world, to me personally and to these girls. When I told them that strangers had sent me all this stuff to fill the bags they were shocked.

But, really, you aren't strangers. At least not to me.

Only friends would offer support like that. So, I guess what I'm saying is this: Thanks pal!

4th folder, 4th picture

My awesome aunt tagged me, so here's the 4th picture in my 4th folder:

It is an ADORABLE picture of my niece Alexa when she was participating in a horse show. This is a few years old because she's now 14!!!!!!

I can't believe she's that old. Since they've moved to London I've missed so much of her growing up!

Mamma needs a new pair of shoes

Lately I've had a few friends tell me that I am crazy for not making any money off my blog. And up to this point I didn't think there was anyone out there who was actually willing to pay me something for my time.

To be perfectly honest, I still seriously doubt it.


But it's got me thinking. When does it make sense to start garnering an income from one's blog? And if you do start taking money is there an unseen force compelling you to write more, or to alter your style or content?

I kind of like the freedom of writing whatever and whenever I want. I like knowing that I could just drop off the blogosphere without any repercussions (ahem, COURTNEY).

But, lets call it like it is, I'm not the type of genuine artiste who requires freedom to explore the craft of the written word. I've got no hoity toity morals that prevent me from being paid for my talents.



Lots to think about..

Holy Cow

Last night I made Individual Sticky Toffee Puddings for dessert and they BLEW MY MIND. Seriously, I'm still trying to scrape the gray matter off the underside of my microwave. These cakes are BARELY harder to make than box brownies.



I don't usually post recipes, but when I don't I get all kinds of complaints that I'm selfish and rude for not sharing the wealth. So, here you go.

My personal changes to the recipe/directions:
1) At the last minute I realized that I was out of vanilla (ARGH!), but to my surprise they were just fine without it. Lucky me.
2) Also, the recipe says to serve with ice cream or creme Anglaise but you don't need it.
3) I used a cap full of imitation rum flavor and it was perfect. We don't drink, so I hate having to run out and buy liquor just for a random baking experiment.

(photo credit: cook's illustrated)

Ingredients


Pudding Cakes
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (6 1/4 ounces, plus more for dusting the ramekins)
1 1/4 cups whole dates , pitted, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
3/4 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar(5 1/4 ounces), light or dark
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted


Toffee Sauce
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
1 cup packed brown sugar (7 ounces), light or dark
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon rum



Instructions


1. For the pudding cakes: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour eight 4-ounce ramekins and line bottom of each with round of parchment paper cut to fit. Set prepared ramekins in large roasting pan lined with clean dish towel. Bring kettle or large saucepan of water to boil over high heat.
2. Combine half of dates with water and baking soda in glass measuring cup (dates should be submerged beneath water) and soak for 5 minutes. Drain dates, reserving liquid, and transfer to medium bowl. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in another medium bowl.
3. Process remaining dates and brown sugar in food processor until just blended, about five 1-second pulses. Add reserved soaking liquid, eggs, and vanilla and process until smooth, about 5 seconds. With food processor running, pour melted butter through feed tube in steady stream. Transfer this mixture to bowl with softened dates.
4. Gently stir dry mixture into wet mixture until just combined and date pieces are evenly dispersed. Distribute batter evenly among prepared ramekins. Fill roasting pan with enough boiling water to come halfway up sides of ramekins, making sure not to splash water into ramekins. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil, crimping edges to seal. Bake pudding cakes until puffed and small holes appear on surface, about 40 minutes. Immediately remove ramekins from water bath and cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
5. For the toffee sauce: Meanwhile, melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in brown sugar until smooth. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture looks puffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly pour in cream and rum, whisk just to combine, reduce heat, and simmer until frothy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover to keep warm, and set aside.
6. To serve, invert each ramekin onto plate or shallow bowl, remove ramekin, and peel off parchment paper lining. Divide toffee sauce evenly among cakes and serve immediately, accompanied by crème anglaise or vanilla ice cream.

ramma-lamma-ding-dong

This weekend the ear doctor and I helped out a friend the best way we know how. By lending a hand.


One of the ear doctor's dear friends had to go through something I hope I never have to experience again. The heartache of love lost. Instead of putting the finishing touches on her wedding plans she found herself Saturday morning packing her belongings and moving out of the house she thought would be hers forever. And she seemed to have it all under control.

I would have been a mess.


As we quickly moved box after box I thought about the heartaches I've experienced in my life...

...recollected the way a boy I really really liked used me as a friend and tossed me aside when it was inconvenient

...remembered the exact moment someone I loved rejected me, accused me of not being spiritual enough for him

...recalled the feeling of cool grass under my fingers that I enjoyed a second before realizing that the boy sitting next to me was dropping a bomb right into the lap of my sky blue capri pants


And the I remembered something my mom told me when I was 14. She said, most relationships don't work out. Most people date many times before they find someone to commit to. The ending of a relationship doesn't mean that either person isn't valuable or great. It usually doesn't mean that they or you did something wrong. It simply means that the combination of the two wasn't a good fit.

And judging from my personal experience she is dead on. All of the past guys in my life weren't a good fit for me. I'm so glad they realized it and had the courage to break up with me. They are all amazing people and I cherish what I learned from spending time from them.

And even more, I cherish that they let me go so I could find the ear doctor, love of my life, the yin to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly.


I sincerely hope this is the situation our friend.

Morning jaunt

This morning on our walk the ear doctor and I had the most amazing conversation. Here are the topics we covered in 45 minutes:

1) the source of creative genius...does it reside inside a person, or is it bestowed from an outside force?

2) how the process of bread making can be interpreted as a transformative symbol of Christ's atonement

3) how we are both annoyed that our neighbor now lets their two annoying little black dogs pee in Roscoe's designated peeing grass

4) ambition in life, how to get more, how to properly direct it

5) how the same shoes that I walked in for 5 days straight at Disneyworld gave me no problem, but after a 20 minute walk yesterday I've got hot spots on my heels

6) my bangs

7) how it feels to be smack in the middle of an overwhelming creative flow where everything you do seems to come together in a perfect combination

8) our need for more dog food at the house



Yet another reason why I love being with the ear doctor. Who wouldn't want to be married to someone who incites such interesting thoughts?

Great NEWS!

Thanks to my little photo series and all your comments about my dad's sleeping habits he actually, FINALLY, went it to see a doctor! Hooray!

On our next family trip there might be a chance I won't find myself laying awake staring at sparkly popcorn ceiling of a shared hotel room at 3 am desperately telling myself that a jury probably won't believe that temporary insanity can be caused by my father's loud and incessant snoring.

My future children thank you for helping them avoid Saturday morning visits to the clink to see mommy.

p098uimn ik,j <-my forehead on the keyboard

In middle school I was part of Science Olympiad. If you weren't nerdy enough to be involved in this activity, let me explain it for you. A bunch of kids from all different schools spend all year practicing fun science-y things and then on one weekend they all get together and compete against each other.

If you've read more than 2 posts on this blog you'll probably see that this type of thing was MADE for me.

Geeky? Check. Competitive? Check. Social? Check.


Well, one of the events was a to build a mousetrap-type exhibit. The more different methods of energy transfer (physical contact, heat, wind, ect) the higher your score. For WEEKS I would wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea for the mousetrap device. I'd scribble them down on a piece of paper and fall back to sleep. Unfortunately, I could never decipher my midnight mad-scientist notes.

This waking-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night phenomenon has persisted into my adult life. Any tough problem I'm working on will invade my dreams and wake me with midnight epiphanies. When they're really good I can't get back to sleep.

Which explains why I was at work at 5:45 this morning.


And I hope my boss understands that when he swings by here at 2:30 and I'm passed out on my desk. Keyboard imprints in the forehead are the MOST professional part of my look.

Dear Adele,

Girl, your voice freakin rocks my world. I even made a pandora station devoted to you so I can jam out to your tunes while I work on my more boring tasks at work.

You're a life saver!

Well, since you asked

First things first, I have to admit this fact: I am NOT a purse person. I've had so many friends that just LOVE having a million different bags and they switch them on a daily basis and they really make their outfits look put together and polished.

That's just not me.

This bag, that I got at Aldo about 2 years ago, is my main workhorse:

See what I'm saying? Not that impressive.

And the average contents?

Digital camera in Kenneth Cole neoprene case, keys (which I can never find), green snakeskin wallet (BR), checkbook, 4 (count them) hair bands, free hearing aid company pens, cinnamon gum, nano (yes, I always wrap the ear bud cords like that), midol (for emergencies), reeses peanut butter hearts (Valentines day!), cell phone, thumb drive, lip treatments and a random baggie of gummy bears.

Anyone care to make up a personality profile from these items?

Over breakfast

This morning the ear doctor and I sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy our day-starting bowls of cereal. My cereal of choice? Lucky Charms.

When I eat Lucky Charms I like to make sure that every bite has at least 1 marshmallow in it. It's just a thing I do. And the ear doctor knows it.


Just as I was finishing up my bowl (2 bites left, 2 mallows) he reached over with his big ole spoon in MY bowl and threatens the red balloon shaped goodness. Immediately spoons changed from food scooping instruments into weapons used to either defend (me) or wage war (him).

As soon as I was sure that the red balloon was safe in the protection of my sliver-domed utensil I looked up and, with fury in my eyes said, "Oh, I'm SO sure!"


At which point the ear doctor almost squirted milk through his nose because he realized that he has married Cher Horowitz.


But seriously, like was even going to get my last Lucky Charm! AS IF!

A question for you

Two things that have been rolling around in my brain today:


1) Are you the type of person who eats the last cookie from the cookie jar?



2) If you found yourself in the position of wanting to date someone and not being able to find someone using conventional methods, would you consider using an Internet site to find someone?



For me, the answer to both inquiries is the exact same.

Nature vs Nurture

About 5 years ago I went on a week long trip with a bunch of friends to Mexico. It was SOOOO much fun. I sort of hate renting cars on trips and taxis are so expensive, so we decided to take the bus everywhere we wanted to go. Plus, as an added bonus, the buses that we took were pretty much roller coaster rides so we got a free jolt of adrenaline every time we boarded one.

However, after a few consecutive late nights and sun drenched days I started getting really sleepy every time we got on a bus. I don't think any of my friends will ever forget me actually falling asleep while sitting in the uncomfortable plastic chairs on a wild, bumpy Mexican bus ride.

My reputation of public sleeping will forever live in infamy.

But really, they should understood that I didn't just spontaneously gain this ability. From a very young age I have been groomed to enjoy a quick nap on a public bench, bus, theater, patio, anywhere.

Don't believe me? Observe my dad, at Disney world for 5 days:

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Last night a good friend of mine said I was very brave. She actually said that she wished that she was as brave as I am.

And up to that point I'd never in a million years considered myself brave. I'm not the type to scale mountains with just a piece of twine and a Swiss army knife. I've never attempted to sail a boat through a tempest storm where the vessel lilts at a 75 degree angle to the pounding waves. And I'm pretty sure if I ever saw a bear in the wild from less than a mile away I'd pee my pants.

See?

Decidedly NOT brave.

However, this morning I've been thinking a bit more about it. I did move out to Colorado without knowing a soul and made a home for myself. I swallowed my fears and committed my life, heart, and future to one man. I pushed myself to a career that is intellectually challenging. I drink milk passed the expiration date.

So maybe I am pretty brave after all. I mean, would a coward do this to herself:

Get ready

I just want to let you have a second to prepare yourself for the total and uncontrollable jealousy that you are about to experience.

My dad MADE me this chair:

Yup, he MADE that! He took raw, unfinished boards and made an awesome Danish/Mid-century chair for me! Can you even believe that one person could be that talented?!?!? Now all I have to do is run to an upholstery store and get them to make me a couple of cushions for it! I cannot WAIT to have it in my family room!

Could I possibly use more exclamation points?!!!!

Ultimate shame

Remember the time I had friends over for dinner and I torched the kitchen?

Last night I invited them over again in the hopes that I could redeem my hostess skills. I decided to make Thomas Keller's fried chicken. This chicken is so good it kind of makes me weak in the knees when I take my first bite. It's juicy, spicy, crunchy and everything fried chicken should be.

I knew with this recipe there was no way I would fail.


Unforch, the breasts on my little chickens must have been thicker than usual because, despite frying them for the recipe prescribed amount of time and keeping my eagle-eye watch on the frying thermometer, the middle of the breasts were raw.

I'm not talking a little underdone, here people. I mean pink, squishy, cold RAW!

I was horrified when I saw my sweet guests politely picking off the outer crust and attempting to eat around the nasty embarrassing rawness. The ear doctor whipped the offending breasts off their plate and replaced with perfectly done thighs, but I couldn't believe I'd let it happen.


These people are never going to come back to my house. Ever. And, really, I don't blame them. I'd be pretty hesitant to return to a house that first tried to asphyxiate my child and then poison me with salmonella.

Denying your roots

On the way into work the radio station was interviewing Chevy Chase. I guess there is an international film festival in Boulder and they're honoring his body of work. And, personally, I love Chevy. Give me a little Fletch rounded out with Caddy Shack and topped with Christmas Vacation and I'm one happy girl.

HOWEVER,

The DJ asked this question and I was pretty surprised with his answer. He said, "Have you seen SNL recently? What do you think of our contemporary comics like Steven Colbert or John Stewart?"

His response?

"Actually, I don't really watch much now. So I don't really know." (said in a sort of I'm-too-cool voice)

Um, what? Excuse me? So you are trying to tell me that you are one of the handful of people who didn't tune in to see Tina Fey as Sarah Palin? I find that veeeeeeerrrrrrrry difficult to believe.

Since when was it OK for someone who was practically BORN by SNL to badmouth it? To make it seem like only the little people had time to watch the show.


This kind of stuff just drives me nuts. It's like me saying, "Oh, BYU? That university is so lame and stupid. Totally out of touch since I attended." or "Oh, my parents? I don't really stay in touch with them anymore. I don't really owe them anything for helping shape me into the person I am today."

Give me a break.


Chevy, we all know you sit at home in your million dollar mansion on Sunday afternoon watching the DVR'd episode of SNL from the night before. Critiquing their delivery. Bemoaning their inability to creatively end a sketch. Falling head over heals in love with everything Kristen Wiig does. Pretending you are Gilly with a curly afro and a propensity for sticking pencils in people's arms.

Er, um, maybe I'm confusing the two of us....

Two ships that pass

Yesterday the ear doctor and I spent a total of 47 minutes under the same roof and conscious.

This is R-A-R-E for us, since we are kind of that couple that likes to be together. We wait to eat together, we try to leave the house at the same time so we depart together, we walk the dog together, we're just pretty much always together.

If you think that's co-dependant or lame, you're wrong. He's just he person I most like to be around. I have a sneaking suspicion that he might feel the same way.

Which makes it really strange to go through a day without him around.

I found myself laughing at something funny I saw, instinctively turning to where he usually would be and starting to comment before I realized that he wasn't even there. When I was pouring myself a glass of milk I accidentally grabbed 2 glasses out of the cupboard, thinking he would probably want some too. When I ate a handful of mini-M&M's I looked around to offer some to him.

It was really actually kind of creepy.

Truth in advertising

From the back of my dog's food bag:






Amen, brother, A-Men!

Patent leather

When I graduated from high school my parents got me a really awesome outfit. I remember feeling really polished and grown up because I'd purchased my khaki pencil skirt from Nordstrom's t.b.d department instead of brass plum. REALLY fancy.

To round out the ensemble they bought me a pair of black strappy sandals with a .5" square heal. I loved them but I was REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY nervous that the solid heal would make a deafening CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK as I walked across the stage to collect my diploma.

As the days to graduation ticked down I became more and more concerned with the CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK. I could just picture it, me, starting to walk across the elevated hardwood floor of the opera house and the sound of my footsteps so loud and piercing that no one could even hear my name being read. Or worse yet, they couldn't hear the name of my crush who just happened to be walking 2 or 3 people behind me.

It was unthinkable!

So, ever resourceful, I taped big wads of quilters batting to the bottom of my shoes.

Yup, DORKY as charged.

I just wasn't ready to fully own the grown-up sound of a person walking in high heels.

The thing is, in most of my childhood memories my mom is wearing high heels. The distinctive sound of those spiky shoes walking along a hard surface is a reassuring, very grown-up sound to me. At 17 I don't think I was ready to be the one making that sound. I was insecure, inexperienced and definitely not ready to be an adult.

In college I didn't wear them either. Well, maybe I borrowed a pair here and there from friends to go out or on a nice date, but I never really WORE them. They always felt like a costume. Not me.

But now? It's different. When I walk down the street in these babies they feel real.

When I'm making the sound of a high heeled woman walking down the street I don't feel out of place...I feel confident and sure of myself.

Is that strange? Should I be worried that I feel mature and validated by the sound emanating from a $100 pair of shoes? Wouldn't a deep and self assured person not care?