Hi there,

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend. I am.

I went to lunch with a couple of my best friends earlier and then spent the rest of the afternoon lounging on the sofa. Our sofa has its own gravitational force field… Ripley’s Believe It or Not! ;)

Okay, don’t believe it. But it is darn comfy.

Anyway, just wanted to take a few minutes to share some of my favorites from Pinterest this week (I’m completely addicted to Pinterest now, btw).

Hey! What’s wrong with spending time on the couch?!

But seriously, love this print. (Also available on Etsy)

Baked buttermilk doughnuts (via One Ordinary Day). Cuz… you know, doughnuts are awesome.

Old books spines camouflage a box for hiding your junk (let’s be honest, we all have a little bit of junk worth hiding, right?). You can buy this one on Etsy but I wonder how hard it would be to DIY… find some old books at the flea market… hmm.

5 minute chocolate cake. And it tastes good. Not as good as a “real” cake that you bake from scratch in your oven, but for something you can whip together in literally 5 minutes (including microwave time) this is darn good.

Confession: I’ve had this twice since finding the recipe yesterday. (And now I’m feeling embarrassed at my lack of willpower).

It is spongey and moist. I wonder if it wouldn’t be better if you replace the oil with melted butter though… (via The Bitten Word)

Isn’t that an awesome table runner? This is a wedding reception scene, but I think it could be fun at any party… a kid’s party even. (Chalkboard table runner via Craft).

Anywho, enjoy the rest of your weekend and remember: no matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping me as I sit on the couch eating chocolate cake ;)

(All photos via Pinterest)

According to Urban Dictionary:

Functionista: Someone who consistently wears situationally appropriate clothing.

Anyone who dresses purely according to the dictates of function, in response to actual weather conditions and in pursuit of personal comfort.

The opposite of fashionista.

In other words: me.

At least, that’s the way I dressed for most of my life. Deep inside, there was a fashionista waiting to add shiny baubles and leather boots. But for many (many) years, I resisted.

Not because I wanted to dress like I did in college well into my thirties. Not because I couldn’t pick out nice pieces of clothing (in fact, I’ve always had a knack for dressing up when a fancy occasion came along… it was the everyday clothes that befuddled me).

No, I dressed functionally cute for most of my adult life because it was easy. Easy to blend in. Easy to hide out. Easy to not be judged (as showy or heaven forbid I draw any attention).

So throughout my days as a software engineer, I almost exclusively wore: jeans, grey/black Converse Lo Tops, t-shirt, and a grey/black hoodie… or on fancy days: a sweater.

For. 10. years.

Excuse me a moment as a I weep.

Granted, there were glimmers of something more: the fun going-out tops that one time I was single for like 6 months. The form-fitted Express outfits I bought toward the end of my first marriage. The summer dresses that I’d buy, wear once, then push to the back of my closet because I felt weirdly exposed or frilly.

And the last year or so (working from home) was even worse: slippers, yoga pants/sweats, t-shirt/tank, and a sweater to dress things up a bit (Where did this idea that sweaters are dressy come from?!).

But I’ve had enough. This is the year I will get dressed like I mean it. Even if I never leave the house.

Why bother if your only co-worker is a cat?

Because I feel better when I wear real clothes. I feel like a professional (speaking of professionals, have you read The War of Art? I totally recommend that if you’re a creative type who finds it easy to not make time to create).

And I feel like a real person, not Ms. Schleppy “Hasn’t Showered in Days” McSchlepperton.

Added bonus: I don’t need to change my pants when/if I leave the house.

I’ve watched so many episodes of What Not to Wear that even in my schleppiest schleptitude, I would not leave the house wearing yoga pants or sweats.

The bottom line to all of this rambling is that I have plans.. or intentions this year that…

• I will dress like a real live person every day (well, work days anyhow).
• I will dress so that I only need to put shoes on to leave the house.
• I will experiment with my clothes and actually wear outfits.
• I will dress so that I do not need to change my pants in order to leave the house.
• I will have fun with how I dress.

In other words, I will not go for easy when easy means hiding out. I will own my style and I will stand tall knowing that I look freaking awesome… even if I’m the only one who agrees. And I will wear my confidence with some kick-ass boots.

How do you take the easy way out?

P.S. Are you on Pinterest? If so, follow me!

Hey!

I’ve been thinking about you. How are you? I’m good!

You ready for 2012? I AM!!! I’m excited. I think it is going to be a great year. I have lots going on… I’m taking an acting class (for fun), I’m finishing up a leadership program that I started in the fall, I’ll be working on getting certified as a life coach, and generally just doing some awesome stuff.

As for Brownies for Dinner… I’ve got ideas. I feel like it’s time for a facelift. So I’m redesigning and I’m not sure how long it will take me to finish re-arranging the furniture. So please be patient with me.

You’ve been patient thus far with my slackerhood… posting every once in a long while this last year… so I feel confident you’ll hang in there while I do some construction.

What I learned in 2011

• I’m not as excited about baking as I once was.
• I can guilt myself out of writing blog posts for a really long time… especially when I let myself believe that this is *only* a food blog and therefore I can’t write posts unless they are about food. Also, I am crazy.
• I love helping others live out their dreams
• I am stronger than I think I am. And so are you.
• I’m ready to do something big.

What’s I’m planning for 2012

• A new look. For the blog and for me. I’ve decided that at 37 it is finally time for me to find and embrace my personal sense of style… you’ll get to hear all about it as I figure this out. It should be fun, or at least funny to see. Also, there will be at least one cute and awesome giveaway. Soon.
• Food… of course
• More. And less. That is, more posting, and less stuff. I’m clearing out my closet and cupboards and will be telling you all about that too… ’cause less is more.
• Shiny objects… squirrel… you know, like random stuff. I’m taking the filters off. For reals. Look out.
• Videos. I’m not sure of what yet, or maybe I’m embarrassed to own up to it at the moment, but stay tuned.
• FUN. duh.

What have you learned in 2011? What are your plans for 2012?

Happy New Year!!

Photo: Me and Dan finishing the San Jose Muddy Buddy

I was out for a run yesterday when I had an idea for a series of blog pots that would focus on those things that maybe I’ve been keeping to myself… afraid of saying out loud (on line) for fear that you would think I’m weird.

Well, the fact is: I am weird.

I can accept that now. So here I am for my first TMI Tuesday (tmi as in “too much information”). We’ll see how long the “series” lasts.

The idea for this series came to me as I started my run. I had a lot of sore muscles in my legs and butt from doing the “Legs & Shoulders” workout from P90x on Saturday. Sooo sore.

So there I was, starting my run very slowly. And as I jogged my way up the path, my butt bounced with each and every step… in a way that made me wonder if I needed a sports bra for my butt… because it hurt with each bounce. And I thought: I should write a post about this.

Crazy, right? But that thought lead to an idea of starting a series of “true confession” type posts. Everything from how compulsive I am about candy to how long it’s been since I last showered… and many other topics that aren’t always the most comfortable to share (but I believe that by sharing these things it makes us more human, more real, and if nothing else gives us something to laugh about… and who doesn’t like to laugh?)

Anyway, today’s “tmi” isn’t that bad but I thought what inspired it was funny. And I have other stories… so many stories and embarrassing confessions. Stay tuned.

What funny moments have inspired you in your life?

Did you watch last night’s Top Chef? You know, the new one in Texas. I recorded it then watched it this afternoon. And while I usually love Top Chef, this episode left me feeling… well, a little annoyed.

I get that they wanted to make it bigger being in Texas and all that. But shouldn’t we be starting the real competition in episode 2? I mean, come on. Instead we get 2 hours of qualifying rounds. It feels like filler to me. Maybe I’m just annoyed because I didn’t get to see who all of the finalists will be.

Maybe I’m spoiled?

It’s not that I have anything against the qualifying rounds, I just think they should have gotten them all done in the premier last night so we could get on with it. But I guess their strategy is working, I’m going to watch next week so I can see who else made it into the “main event”. Hrm. I feel so cheap.

Anyway.

Let’s move on, shall we?

What is your favorite pumpkin treat? I do love pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream, but my absolute favorite pumpkin treat (for the moment) is pumpkin bread.

It all started a week ago when I innocently bought a slice of pumpkin bread with my soy latte at Starbucks. The Target near me has a Starbucks inside and sometimes I like to sip a latte while I look at the stuff I don’t need. But anyway, the pumpkin bread. Yum.

I left Target and hit Trader Joe’s to pick up a few essentials and was greeted by stacks of their boxed pumpkin bread mix.

So I bought one.

And then I went home and made it. And then I ate it.

Well, I did share it with Dan and the boys but I got mine…

As I wiped the counters clean of the last remaining pumpkin bread crumbs, I realized that I have not made pumpkin bread in a long time, if ever. By made I mean, with a recipe not a box (not that there is anything wrong with the right box).

It took me a week of hemming and hawing and avoiding Starbucks and Trader Joe’s, but I finally did it. I made pumpkin bread. And it is delicious.