courtesy of my friend, tesa, who is as brilliant as they come. 

she is masterfully devoted to the care & keeping of her home & family.

she inspires me.

with a surplus of perfectly good cream cheese filling?

brilliant readers, i come to you in great need today.

remember my homemade oreos? with dreamy cream in the middle?

yeah. well, i mentioned that i'm not nuts about filling..

and i only ended up using about 2 T. of the whole creamy mass.

i'm not the girl who loads up a graham cracker with frosting 

and makes a sugar sandwich.. so what should i do? 

i really & truly think filling is fine in moderation. 

and i really do want to use it up on something delisch.

please, i implore you, bring on your clever suggestions.

in other news.. i won't be stopping in tomorrow.

this afternoon grant & I are leaving for a tiny weekend trip,

accompanied by graham & audra. my brother-in-law & sister-in-law.

it's so fun to have in-laws now. i feel so grown up. 

we'll be doing some shopping & visiting,

some furniture browsing & even some modeling!

so, off to the city we go. yay. 

happy end of the week, everyone!

(oh, and a sweet mini floor lamp, too.)

am taking advantage of the fine antique & thrift shop here in town.

first flowers of the season. yay for spring & for color in my kitchen.

my mother-in-law, judy, gave me these daisies last week,

(how sweet!) & they still look perf today.

it's inevitable: give me daisies & i'm going to think doris day.

please, please don't eat the daisies. what a peculiar song.

but no matter. one of my favorite memories from growing up is

watching doris day movies with my cousins & sisters.

luke, natalie, & levi (the cousins) introduced us to pillow talk & we fell in love. 

my sisters & i would always sing the theme songs over & over. 

we can probably still do a pretty good send me no flowers. 

& our rendition of that touch of mink is untouchable.

(it doesn't have lyrics, so we added our own. they are genius.)

on to today. the rundown.

grant has conferences at school.

that means he won't be home until after 9 tonight.

that means i need to stay busy, 

so that i don't think about the fact that he's not home.

so, here's the plan.

make bread. 

finish baking the cookie dough that's in the fridge.

make potato salad. grant really likes this.

do dishes. there will be lots.

work on the cookbook that i'm putting together for judy's preschool.

we'll see how long these tasks take me.

i'm guessing it will end up being enough for the whole night.

because i'm a perfectionist & i take forever to do anything.

i am one of the slowest people i know. maybe the slowest.

so i'd better be off & doing. 

happy day to all of you!

last week i re-organized my recipe stash.

i handed the dessert file over to grant & asked him to

weed out the will-never-make items. he's great at this.

he told me that homemade oreos sounded good.

and needing no further convincing, i baked some this weekend.

so here's an idea for your man who doesn't always crave dessert.

something cool, simple, & sweet. oreos, homestyle.

1. just make up a batch of your favorite fudgy cookies.

cake mix cookies work best, but any chocolatey concoction will do.

here's one from my archives, if you don't have a fave.

2. whip up a dreamy cream cheese filling.

martha has a good one here.

3. let cookies cool. spread cream. sandwich up.

store in the fridge. they're so much better firm & cold.

yum. much softer than the originals, and i'm not complaining.

i'm not much on filling/icing/frosting, but these are fab.

good idea, grant.

 

was actually really interesting.

even though i love, love, love to read, 

no one is crazy about reading assignments. even me.

this assignment wasn't so bad, & i read every page of it. 

this book is all about the phenomena of popularity.

how suddenly, out of nowhere, something will pop up everywhere.

how fads & fashions begin, grow, and hit the tipping point.

it's tremendously fascinating to study trends.

if you're with me on this, you'll appreciate this read.

and you'll never forget what the word ubiquitous means.

what prompted me to remember & mention this book was

a post that i read over on design sponge the other day.

read about a new trend here. 

haven't seen any of these ads in my neck of the woods yet.

but if & when i do, i will feel so in the know.

the hub. open from mid-march to mid-october.

the slayton special feature.

the official eatery of camp shetek summer staff.

and one of my favorite places to patronize.

everyone should have a good diner in their life. 

no fancy-schmancy. just the basics.

meat from the local meat market. good french fries. malts.

mmm. i can't wait to get my head in the hub.

so it's the first day of spring & we're going to celebrate

with our 1st hub run. tonight. grant & i have a date.

back booth, here we come. i've been waiting all week.

i will order the cheeseburger with ketchup & fried onions.*

grant will order the bacon burger with ketchup & pickles.

he'll polish off his own fries, then help me get through mine.

and there's a chance that we might end up sharing a 

cookie dough flurry. just to get the '09 season off to a proper start.

*because this is my most favorite meal ever. 

i've always known that i have the very best of the best for friends.

and today, i received another piece of evidence to back my belief.

the sensational, practical sarah sent me a favorite things package.

just to brighten my day. just because she's amazing. 

sarah, you know me so well. you knew i'd be wild about this.

this is so you. this is so me. 

i am entirely crazy about people's favorite things.

their preferences. their loves. their likes. their dislikes.

it's just one of those things that i find ultra-fascinating. 

i enjoy trying to store up info about my friends & their faves. 

for example, i'm ecstatic that i know that..

sarah, i can't thank you enough. 

for a brown paper package, tied up with string

for the card you designed so sweetly

for the idea you executed so cleverly 

for your words, written so brilliantly.

you are marvelous. & your favorite things are fabulous.

and you even threw in a little touch of home,

that is, my second home. your home.

warm vanilla sugar instantly takes me back to

the hallway bathroom in your house. soap always

smelled better there than anywhere else.

if you all would like to fill this comment section with your favorites,

please, please do. i guarantee they will all be read. with a huge smile.

because i'm like that. i'm mad about faves.

ps. sarah, this title is for you. 

am using my march m. calendar to keep track of some numbers.

miles. calories. minutes.

am currently at 44.92 miles this month. things are going good.

have accomplished one '09 goal of running 3 miles with no stops.

have done 5 miles in under an hour. yay. 

although nowhere near as grand as a marathon,

for a non-sporty girl like myself, these are huge.

i've always been afraid to give myself the title of a runner. 

i'm afraid that i still don't measure up to it. or that i won't live up to it.

so, i'm not a runner. but i am running. and aspiring.

hoping that writing down all my numbers will pressure me into putting in 

a little more effort. a couple extra miles. a few more hours. 

hoping that someday i will come back & read this post & think,

in conclusion, i'm really feeling the need to get those new running shoes.

my thing used to be apples + pb.

i would wake up & think "oh, yes! i get to eat apples & peanut butter!"

although i still love my pb & a, now there's a new combo on my mind.

pretzels + chocolate chips.

i've almost polished off an entire bag of semi-sweets.

i can't stop. i can't get over it. they're so perfect together.

i've found that i have a tendency to eat until my tongue is sore from the salt.

so, i'm resorting to the measuring cup method to promote self-control.

now i just have to convince my self that i don't need to refill my cup. ever.

if all else fails, grant & i have a "take this away from me!" system.

for when we have clearly had enough of something, but we just can't stop.

pretzels are like that.

try this. please.

one handful & you will be hooked.

you have to bite off a pretzel section, don't put the whole thing in,

then pop a couple chips. continue until chips are gone.

ps. this post makes me think of the sweet blog salt & chocolate.

those baby legs are the cutest.

being a homemaker. what it's really like. 

what i've learned. what i do.

85 things from my first 10 months on the job.

i have a full-time job.

i am grant's helper.

i play house. but it's for real.

i plan a weekly menu.

i have a daily cleaning routine.

i make sure that the house looks nice. presentable.

i make sure that it's a home.

i make sure that it's the place where grant can relax.

i make a daily to-to list.

i keep things neat. i put things away. this makes me happy.

i have the freedom to search for my style.

i decorate. i rearrange.

i dream. i plan. i design.

i manage the laundry.

i make the bed.

i organize the closets.

i make grocery lists.

i make up recipes.

i work my magic on the collars of grant's shirts.

i know what the needs of my household are.

i discover what foods freeze well.

i keep track of what needs to be used up or thrown out.

i am perfecting french toast.

i scrub sinks. toilets. the tub.

i sweep & mop.

i dust.

i cook. 

i bake.

i figure out what kind of side dish would go with quesadillas.

i wash sheets & pillowcases.

i sort. fold. & put away.

i do windows & mirrors.

i experiment with homemade mashed potatoes.

i do dishes.

i will be overjoyed to have a dishwasher someday.

i shovel snow.

i get the mail.

i run errands.

i watch for good sales.

i make grant's lunches.

i make grant cookies.

i can be at work without a commute.

i can listen to whatever music i'd like. and turn it up.

i can look forward to mondays, instead of dreading them.

i can eat lunch when i'm hungry, 

instead of when someone comes to cover for me.

i can be my own self.

i can do things that make sense & are worthy of my time.

i can do things that are fulfilling. things i enjoy. things i can be proud of.

i don't ever worry about not having enough work to fill my day.

i can find a new recipe & get all the ingredients to try it. i live for this.

i collect pictures of kitchens & bedrooms & store them in a pink folder.

or on google docs.

i tell grant what features we should include in the house we're building.

in our dreams.

i vacuum right before grant gets home.

because that makes the house look perf.

i light candles.

i write little notes.

i sometimes wear sweats.

i sometimes wear dresses.

i wear whatever grant says looks nice.

i am ready to welcome him home when he comes in the door.

i ask about his day at work. 

i have time to reply to emails.

i have time to watch grant coach basketball.

i have time to make my own bread.

i have time to get enough sleep.

i have time to go for a walk if it's nice outside.

i have time to take on projects.

i have time to do research.

i have time to workout.

i have time to devote to grant. to hang out with him.

to sit & be his companion.

i have time to write a blog.

i have time to think about other people.

i have time to read my bible.

i have time to memorize verses.

i have time to pray.

i can put these things on my to-do list.

because i can decide what my priorities are. not my boss.

i am never bored.

i am free. i am fulfilled.

this is my domain, my sphere, the place where i belong.

the place where i grow & thrive & flourish.

i am created for this.

i was born with a desire to make a home.

10 months. wow.

time flies when you love your job.

these have been the best months.

and that's what it's really like.

this was the very first picture we ever took together.

boyfriend & girlfriend. 

at a backyard party with some camp staff.

i don't know what made us do the ridiculous model pose,

but we've stuck with it. this is now our classic photo stance.

we like to make fun of ourselves.

the pose was most likely a result of us being really nervous 

as neither of us are crazy comfortable in front of a camera

then add our friends watching us from the deck

& then add the pressure of it being your first ever photo op as a couple

we were trying desperately to act casual about it

i'm surprised i relaxed enough to sport this smirk

i was blushing. and dying to see what we looked like together.

it just so happens that the lovely lady who took this photo is my friend Kaitlin

it just so happens that she was also our wedding photographer

it just so happens that i've now been married to this boyfriend for 307 days

i can't wait for him to get home from work.

can't wait to make melts & catch up on lost.

can't wait for whatever the weekend holds.

because the weekend means more of grant.

and more of grant is always a good thing.

in the words of miss joss stone.. i'm addicted to my man.

can't believe i get to see him everyday. for the rest of my life.

ps. no, we did not plan to wear coordinating striped polos. it just happened.

something just because it's on sale.

except for one thing. my all-time favorite cereal.

i let out a gasp at walmart last weekend when i saw that it was on sale.

within 2 seconds, it was in our cart.

it makes me happy that i'm still as excited about it as i was when i was 10.

yay for little thrills at the grocery store.

sometimes i don't mind if things are artificially flavored or loaded with sugar.

but ctc is made with whole grain wheat now,

(bonus.. so are chocolate teddy grahams)

so it's probably not that nutritionally different from the other cereals.

but i don't even care about that stuff when it comes to ctc, right?

right. it's just good. and that's all that matters. the end.

ps. while we're discussing breakfasty matters,

one of my most favorite stocking stuffers from this past christmas was..

a box of blueberry pop-tarts. mmm.

i save them for moments of weakness during american idol,

when i'm desperate for a sugar fix & all the cookies are gone.

pps. on a different note. bon anniversaire to my dear friend, rebecca!

march 12 just isn't the same without a celebration for you.

miss you lots. je t'aime.

they told me, oh summer.. minnesota.. they have brutal winters up there!

and i thought, come on, people. i grew up in nebraska. i know snow. i know ice. i'm fine.

well, i don't know if it's because we live in mn, or if it's just this particular winter. 

anyway, we had another snowstorm. and i can say truthfully that this is hard for me. 

this is march, but the weather is no different than it was in december. 

on monday & tuesday, i felt like winter was killing me slowly. 

it was eating away at my happiness. keeping me cold & sad & frustrated. 

depriving me of much needed sunshine. darkening my house. 

i have never known myself to be so significantly affected by weather before, 

but it was wreaking havoc on me. 

you know what they say about not getting enough vitamin d during these months? 

i am a believer now. 

happily, the sun came out today!

i braved the -25 degree windchill to walk to the gym!

i checked the forecast.. tomorrow it is supposed to be mostly sunny & 26 degrees!

am feeling better. brighter.

winter will end. it will be 70 & sunny again.. someday.

until then, i can't live how i did on monday & tuesday. 

must give thanks in everything. must remember that He is the god of all comfort. 

i must. and that's how i'll get through this season.

my dream came true.. almost. i've always wanted to be on a jury. 

i know it wouldn't be as thrilling as all my favorite john grishams, 

but it's still something. and i would be totally into it. 

i was summoned for jury duty in sarpy county, nebraska. 

but i won't be able to serve because i've moved. 

i live in minnesota, guys! i can't! i'm sorry. 

sarpy, thanks for picking me. i always knew i liked you. 

and even though it's not going to work out, i will always remember how close i came. 

length & strength resume..

prevents breakage & split ends. for fragile, hard-to-grow-long hair.

thought i'd give this duo a try-out.

clearly, it was created for me.

my hair problems are plainly printed on the bottles.

after a couple uses, i had made my decision.. this stuff works.

and bonus! it smells nice & doesn't weigh you down.

i will most certainly frequent the garnier section again.

redken, don't worry, i still love you.

let me know next time you're on sale.

ps. in light of last week's pound cake post..

i feel i should say something so that you don't get the wrong idea about me.

i adhere to the principle that states, "this needs something."

most of the time, that something is chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch.

pound cake is an exception to the rule,

but trust me, you won't see too many of those.

sugar cookies & vanilla ice cream are overrated.

whew. glad we got that cleared up.

instead of worrying about whether or not something is blogworthy, i have learned to stop trying to make everything perfect & fascinating & impressive. it doesn't matter. just blog about anything & everything. you never know which tiny details of your life might resonate with someone. this quote caught my attention & made me realize that i was too concerned with selecting the "right things" to post about.. "lord, i renounce my desire for human praise, for the approval of my peers, the need for public recognition. i deliberately put these aside today, content to hear you whisper, 'well done, my faithful servant.' amen"

of course, when you have a blog, you must consider the fact that you have readers. that's what a blog is all about, isn't it? if it were all personal & purely for my own benefit, i could just write it down in a notebook. no, blogging means sharing & sharing is fun. so for me, writing this blog is about finding a balance between writing for my own enjoyment, for readers, and ultimately, for god's glory. hopefully doing all of these things without getting too caught up attempting perfection.

the save your stuff part..

ever since i read this post, i began to have moments of panic about losing all the documentation that i'm so happy about achieving. there have even been times when i click onto my page & the sidebar is still there, but all of the posts are missing. they have always appeared later- they weren't really gone- but just the same, i should have a backup plan.

a couple of weeks ago we got an external harddrive. a wonderful little device.

now that we have a backup for the backup on our computer, i thought i might as well take advantage of it. so, in order to prevent any kind of disappearing disaster & emotional devastation, i've created a "pages" document for each month of my blog. they are all safely re-formatted, filed, & stored away on the harddrive, and then again on the external harddrive. yay.

i feel good.

happy friday & have a lovely weekend!

once upon a time i went to a chinese restaurant with my fam. i must've been in 6th grade or somewhere around there. they served some kind of cake for dessert & i went crazy over it. i asked my mom what kind of cake it was & she told me "pound cake".. the words rung in my head, the name was foreign to me.. pound? that doesn't tell me anything! why does it taste so good? what's in it?! well.. not much. but therein lies the mystery of simple goodness.

after reading the title of this post, you might be wondering.

and no, i do not have a mini bundt pan. but that would be lovely wouldn't it?

i was in the mood for it. grant said go for it. every once in awhile you have to break this one out. it's classic.

being that there are only two of us here to eat it, i cut the recipe to fit.

above you can see my baby bundt. short & squatty & just right.

the half-pounder.

and here's how it happened..

as you can see, you're only going to need the basics for this one.

and fyi, i'm giving you the full recipe, no halvsies.

so make sure you're ready to batter up the whole pan.

a good pound cake.

from mom

2 c. sugar

2 c. flour

3 sticks softened butter

5 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1. sift together sugar & flour, mix with butter

2. add eggs one at a time

3. add vanilla

4. bake in bundt pan for 45-50 minutes at 325 (mine took 45)

5. cool in pan for 25 minutes

optional.. add a sugary glaze when cool. for glaze, add 3 T. milk to 1 c. powdered sugar. if you fancy, you can add a drop of vanilla or lemon extract. i did lemon. a hint of lemon is my thing.

when i first started this little spot, i had no idea what it would bring.

everyday i venture into blogland & am astonished to find that i have an audience. 

i log on, and i realize that..

while i was doing the dishes, someone read my blog.

while i slept, someone read my blog. 

while i am writing a new post, someone is reading my blog! 

what a wonder this is. and what lovely people you all are. 

thank you for encouraging words & sweet messages. 

martha stewart living. that's what.

thank you for the sweet surprise subscription, grant! what a perfect gift.

first you marry me, then you send me magazines.. how could i ask for more?

you are amazingly talented at making me one happy girl.

thank you for being so attentive & thoughtful & surprising.

i love you.

news from the weekend.. i am addicted to pride & prejudice.

i go through a p&p phase every once in awhile. it's a normal thing.

that particular dvd spent the majority of the sat. & sun. in the player.

queuing up, playing through, on pause. i just kept coming back to it.

do the dishes. watch the dance scene. make the bed. watch the pemberley part.

if i were still living with my sisters, we would make it movie of the month.

we'd press play while we get ready for bed & fall asleep to it every night. 

we'd have dreams of lizzie & darcy & have it memorized in no time.

as i'm no longer a part of the fall-asleep-to-a-movie club, i must revamp.

it's hard for me to fall asleep without music. grant is so understanding.

he came up with brilliant way for me to have my music,

without keeping my computer on all night long & without keeping him awake.

so here's how i rock myself to sleep..

1. make a sleeping playlist. (naturally, mine features the p&p soundtrack)

           if you need some suggestions for songs, let me know. 

           i've made many a go-to-sleep compilation.

2. borrow your husband's dandy ipod mini speaker. (thanks grant!)

3. plug it in. give it a home on your nightstand. press play.

4. turn down the volume. turn on the shuffle feature.

5. mellow out. fall asleep. sweet dreams.

ps. also on repeat.. captivated by shawn mcdonald. 

no, this isn't one for your sleeping playlist. 

and yes, i know that this is so last year.

hello march. 

grant's least favorite month. 

and here's why..

1. it's still cold. it's brown. it's gray. it's sloppy. 

2. still too early to start thinking about the end of the school year.

3. 31 days. after a short month, this feels like for - ever. 

4. no football. 

5. no more jr. high & high school basketball.

6. march madness isn't really our thing.

7. no big holidays.

8. no birthdays.

9. no anniversary.

10. you still have to get through april, too.

he's got me convinced, too.

despite the fact that march is just mediocre, it's a step in the right direction.

i'm really, really, really happy to erase another winter month. 

4 down. 1 or 2 to go. i can do this. 

hey, we've already started making plans for camp. 

roles & scheduling & housing & earnings. it's all in the works.

plus, we're making big plans & doing some major california dreamin'.

yeah. 

maybe march isn't so bad.