Baking for Reason

Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars

I realized lately how many things I have yet to learn to do (or just live without the ability!) like driving, cooking/baking, and how to properly throw a baseball. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty inadequate, compounded by the fact that I only have one major and no minor, and still haven't learned Italian. Anyways, thinking of all these things, I thought I might as well start on my list, with baking. I had seen this recipe on pinterest, and because I really like salted caramel, I thought it would be perfect, and that if I was going to figure out the art of making dessert, I might as well go for it. I'm glad I did, as they came out really well and definitely did the job. Sidenote: instead of using graham crackers for the crust, I crushed up Trader Joe's

 Belgian Waffle cookies. Their buttery taste was perfect!

source: cupcakesomg.blogspot.com

40 Days Without Vices

As you very well know, coffee is a very important part of my life. I mean seriously, it's the first word in the title of my blog! A few weeks ago, I was thinking about what to give up for Lent. I'm not really religious, so Lent serves more as a 40 days without something, just to see if I can actually do that. Last year, I gave up cough drops, which was okay. This year, I decided to go a little more hard core. I gave up caffeine and excess sugar (dessert, candy, pastries, etc.). Honestly, eating no candy and dessert is much easier than trying to just eat a little amount. However, life on Thursday was far from fun. My head was throbbing so terribly and, as I was sitting in a busy dining area on campus, I wanted to strangle about half the people I saw. I am normally very tolerant of people talking loudly, coughing constantly, or chewing with their mouth open, but this was different. I was the definition of strung out. All I could think was how if I could just have a cup of coffee, it would all be better. I didn't even care about the fact that I couldn't eat dessert, I would have given up food in general for just a little caffeine fix. Since I had lots of work to accomplish, and having this headache would affect my grades negatively, I took a caffeine-containing Excedrin and that night had a Coke Zero. Cheating? I know, maybe weaning myself off would have been a better idea. I had never realized how addicted I was! Craziness. Hopefully, by Easter, I will be completely adjusted to a new diet of less sugar and caffeine. When I start drinking it again, perhaps I should stick to a one-cup-a-day limit.

Heart vs. Head

Recently, I went on an overnight trip with a close friend and we talked a lot about decisions and life. One topic that really stuck was following logic or feeling. Coincidentally, once back at home, I flipped on a random episode of Sex and the City, and heart vs. head was indeed the topic of choice. There's just something so mystifying and intriguing about it, could one be more right that the other? Or would you end up happier following your heart or your head? I feel that in following logic, I would be protecting my feelings from possible hurt and regret, but that doesn't mean that I would be happy. I think that no matter how hard my head tries to keep my heart under control, my true feelings will eventually prevail. So, take more risks because you will always regret something you didn't do.

Cakes

On July 4th, I attended a small dinner party held by a close friend. There were two very patriotic cakes, each decorated in their own way. Both of the cakes tasted amazing, along with perfect small cups of espresso.

Yes, I really like Starbucks

On January 26, 2010, a close friend sent me an email saying that she'd "like to do something like this now...nothing all relationshipy or anything. just random writings and such." Attached was a picture of Starbucks cups with writings all over them; the picture at the top of my page. I took note of this, and held on to that email. Last summer, I decided to start collecting coffee cups to recreate the picture to give to her as a gift. I used quotes I received each day from realsimple.com on the cups. Though I have yet to give them to her, this is my best attempt at a recreation. Here are my three favorite pictures, I hope you like them!

I Always Miss the Seasons Gone By

I can honestly say that I miss the frigid, dark February afternoons like the one in this picture. As of now, I can barely do my make up without having little beads of sweat on my cheeks. Although the trees have pretty leaves and flowers on them, there is just something so pristine when they are bare. I'm sorry that I missed taking a picture of the dogwood shown here when it was in full bloom (which only lasts about 5 days). Maybe next year :)

Hello December, Welcome to October

So today (now yesterday) it snowed. There was snow falling from the sky in October. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it and loved the mood it gave. But just a few weeks ago, I decided that October may just be my favorite month, due to its perfection in temperature, wind, and pumpkins, but this is also a little sad, as I tried to savor those things so much, and now they seem so far away. This is my last year in my hometown before college, so I felt a little jipped that my October was cut short, but then I realized that no matter where you are in the world, time is always there, and is always being measured. So there will always be more Octobers.

Ode to Summertime

Here is my little tribute to those far away, sunny summer mornings.  I can still feel the brisk, cool, dewy mornings that were a nice shock in comparison to the blazing, humid days.  Heat index of 123?  That's insanity.  My autumn mornings mostly consist of me running around my house in an attempt to get to school on time after waking up numerous times throughout the night, turning off my alarms, or finishing an essay.  Perhaps tomorrow I will make an effort to appreciate the morning.  Make pancakes, read a lot, write a little, and take a breath.  Breathing is always good.

Minimalizing

Once upon a time, I decided to reorganize my earrings.  For the past four years, they had been hanging on a metal and enamel butterfly with bright blue and green accents and rhinestones.  As you may tell from the background of this picture, my room is certainly not these colors.  I am in the process of redecorating, as it has slowly been changing into taupe, black, and white, with a little sage green in my rotary phone, sunflower stems, and carrot tops in the bunny picture.  So, I had orignially thought that I would get a screen, frame it in some black border, write a black "k" on it, and then put my earrings through the small holes in the screen.  This has not happened.  When I went to Anthropologie a while ago, I saw this bowl, fell in love, and allowed my earrings to live in it.  The end.

Doing Nothing

As we are in the last weeks of summer, it seems as though everything is in need of being accomplished.  Not only that, but all parts of my life seem to have some sort of problem or anxiety related to them.  I guess I'm going through what you would call a rough patch.  Anyhow, I was thinking of ways to relax amidst all this stressing, ways that do not involve eating tasty things or buying shoes I don't need.  That's when I remembered about this awesome relaxation website.  It's called "Do Nothing for 2 Minutes".  I think everyone should check it out.  When you get to the page, there is a picture of the ocean and the sound of waves comes through the speakers.  A countdown for 2 minutes starts, and if you move the mouse or touch the keyboard, it starts over.  I believe it is the best recharge for a person's mind when stressed and on the internet.


donothingfor2minutes.com

A Few Things I'm Fawning Over

 

1...Anthropologie Wind Garden Culottes

2...Chanel Mimosa Nail Color
3...Irregular Choice Specialzo Heels
4...Melissa Fisherman's Sandal in Coral
5...Christian Louboutin Glitter Mary Janes
6...Prada dress that haunted me last fall (far right)
7...Valentino Bow Pumps
8...Gucci Boots I found in T.J.Maxx
9...Kate Spade Stilettos with the same fluffy pin/hair accessory I have from J. Crew

Summer Reading

So today I went to Starbucks in order to concentrate on doing/finishing some school work before the summer is over.  Speed reading 100 Years of Solitude and Wuthering Heights is not my ideal way of spending the majority of my morning and afternoon, so going to a location other than my house makes the read a little more bearable.  While I was there, I saw someone I know (which is what always happens when I go there, quite the hot spot it is) and it got me thinking, What are the chances of seeing someone I know at a certain place and time?  I actually saw one of my friends at Barnes and Noble two different times, which was funny.  And I think the biggest connection to this little phenomenon of time and space is when we hope and wish that we may run into a certain someone at a totally random place.  Which leads us to think, What are the odds of that?  But before we go all pessimistic, remember that they may be better than we believe.

Girls Night Out

One of my oldest friends and I decided to hit Barnes & Noble tonight to catch up on a little talking.  Afterwards, we went to the theater and saw One Day (really cute movie, really depressing) and we were two of six people in the audience, which was kind of cool.  I wore Steve Madden heels (since she's tall, I can wear heels and not stand out) with these awesome gap jeans a friend gave me.  At Barnes & Noble, I had my second cup of coffee, a java chip frap, and a cupcake for dinner.  Yes, I'm oh so healthy.

When we were there, I also noticed two older men who I have seen there a few times before.  Then I thought, How many times do we see the same person we don't know just in passing?