Finding My Balance

January & February Goals.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

January was a combination of complete failure and great success. Thank goodness for the latter part of that sentence, because otherwise, I’d likely throw the towel in on setting goals for the year. (Okay, so maybe that’s a little dramatic. But only a little.)

12 Changes

Well, crafting once a week, my change for January, was a big flop. Not completely – I worked on two projects this month – but they were small and not what I had in mind for this goal. The problem was that I didn’t take time to look up new projects or set a time to get anything done; it was always something I’d do ‘tomorrow.’ When I go to work on this change again in the future, I’ll make it a daily task or set a specific day every week and dedicate time towards finding new projects and gathering supplies.

Thankfully, I had another goal to replace that one: taking vitamins and probiotics every day. This habit didn’t start up until the middle of the month, but I’ve kept with it ever since.

So what's in store for February? A change I've already started to put into motion: exercise at least three days a week. To make sure I don't fall into the same habit as last month, I'm making an effort to work out every day. The 'at least three days' is so that if I miss a day because I feel sick or don't have time, I won't beat myself up.

~~1. Take vitamins/probiotic daily~~

2. Exercise at least three days a week

3. Craft at least once a week

4. Journal daily

5. Read every day (from a book, not a blog/the internet)

6. Reduce sugar intake

7. Reduce processed food intake

8. Limit time spent online

9. Put at least $10 from every paycheck in savings

10. Drink more water

11. ???

12. ???

Digital Day Off

Since I’m doing the first Sunday of every month, I have yet to take my day off. I’m looking forward to keeping my computer shut and fully enjoying Super Bowl Sunday away from the internet. More on that next week!

A Goal A Month

Last month, I vowed to finally go to the dentist… and I did! After putting it off for three years and actively ignoring it all throughout last year, I was so glad I did it. For this month, my goal is to not spend any money on things I don’t need. There are a handful of things I need to spend money on, but I know what those obligations are and I’m not spending anything outside of that. This means no fast food, no Dunkin Donuts, and no spur-of-the-moment purchases at Target (even if it’s at the Dollar Spot). My bank accounts will thank me later, for sure.

What goals are you setting for February?

January's Moments.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Last year, I saw a cool monthly recap on Stephany's blog that noted one memorable experience from every single day. I loved it so much, but I'm a stickler for doing things all-or-nothing, which meant I had to wait until the new year to start. Here we go!

1 - Ringing in the New Year by watching old-school Nickelodeon shows with Erik.
2 - The Rangers win the Winter Classic! Yay!
3 - We found out my cousin, who has some learning issues and has been struggling to complete her associates degree, will finally graduate in May!
4 - Wine and Doritos with Lyndsay, because we're classy.
5 - Going to the Rangers game to celebrate mine and Erik's anniversary.

6 - Ice skating with our friends Bobby and Kim.
7 - My party! Drinking a whole bottle of wine, dancing to Shakira with Erik in Just Dance, seeing almost all of my friends, getting tons of great gifts.
8 - Erik getting me Dunkin Donuts for my birthday breakfast.
9 - Using my new nail buffer from Lyndsay. My nails were so pretty after.
10 - Rewarding myself for going to the dentist with my first Essie nail polish (Power Clutch).

11 - I had lunch with my grandparents and aunt, and they brought me cannoli cake. Yum.
12 - Hanging out with "the guys" (Erik and his friends).
13 - Date night with Kim to see Beauty & the Beast in 3D.
14 - Epic wine night with Lyndsay, which included lots of bonding.
15 - Giants win!
16 - Going out for fro yo and getting my go-to combo: vanilla with Oreo pieces.
17 - Video chatting with Erik.
18 - Finally applying to some jobs!
19 - Trying something new at half-off apps night at Applebees - I got the chicken wonton tacos and they were pretty good.
20 - Having the giggles with Erik (there may or may not have been alcohol involved).
21 - Hot chocolate with breakfast.
22 - GIANTS WIN AND ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!

23 - Braving work even though I wasn't feeling well.
24 - Getting chores done.
25 - I took an epic nap after my failed dentist appointment.
26 - Finding a top at Target to complete an outfit I was thinking of.
27 - Chinese food dinner date with Erik.
28 - The NHL All-Star skills competition. It was hilarious, especially during the breakaway competition - they all did really fancy (or silly) shots. Loved it.

29 - January's #twookclub chat
30 - I'm watching HIMYM for the first time (from the start) and I finished Season 1.
31 - Michael Jackson Glee episode!

What were some memorable moments from your January?

Ten on Tuesday [Vol. 49].

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

{♥}

1. What’s your variety of apple?
I'm allergic to apples. It's sad, I know. My allergy developed in my teens so I ate apples when I was young, but my mom only ever got us red delicious apples. They were pretty yummy.

2. Do you prefer Long-English or Field cucumbers?
I've never tried long-english cucumbers, I don't think. Field cucumbers all the way, and I think they're delish.

3. Tomatoes – Delicious or disgusting?
Delicious!

4. What’s one fruit or vegetable that you can’t stand and why is that?
Beets, yuck. I'm not a fan of their taste or consistency... no thanks.

5. What’s your favourite way to prepare veggies? (Grilled, boiled, roasted, sautéed, etc.)
We don't really cook fresh veggies. My mom either uses frozen or from a can, so we just heat them up in the microwave or on the stove.

6. Sweet potato pie: Love it or hate it?
I've never tried it, actually. Nobody in my family makes or buys it for holidays. Whenever I hear it mentioned I feel like I wouldn't like it, but who knows.

7. What’s your favourite “style” of French fry? Wedges, shoelace, curly, crinkle-cut or other?
Shoelace, for sure.

8. What’s your favourite fruit-pie filling?
Apple, mainly because it's all I've ever had. Our family isn't a pie kind of family, and when we do get one, it's not fruit except for apple. I really like blueberries so I feel like I'd probably be a fan of blueberry pie.

9. When you were a kid did your parents make you sit at the table until all your veggies were eaten off your plate?
We never had to eat them all, but I vaguely remember an "eat two more forkfuls of veggies and then you can be excused" method. I like that because there's no pressure to completely finish them; I'll probably use that with my kids.

10. Do you drink veggie & fruit juice blends (such as V8, etc.) or make them yourself?
For whatever reason, I'm not a fan of veggie and fruit juices. I think it's because I'm bad at drinking large quantities of liquid and juices are heavier than usual, so I'm full after a few sips.

These questions are a part of Ten on Tuesday which is run by the wonderful Chelsea of Roots and Rings.

My Sleep Habits.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:09:00 +0000

My sleeping habits are something I don’t discuss with most people. I used to, but then I got one too many judgmental reactions, so I stopped. It’s been on my mind a lot because I’m slipping back towards an abnormal schedule again, and I hate myself for it.

The summer between sophomore and junior year was when I developed the problem of staying up later and sleeping in later. I’d be going to bed at three or four in the morning and sleeping past noon. There were days where I could ‘fix’ my schedule by pulling an all-nighter and going to bed by 7pm. This would ensure 12+ hours of sleep, waking up at a decent hour, and feeling well-rested.

I continued that pattern until I graduated college – getting by during the semester because of obligations and surviving the summer with my all-nighter fixes. Once I graduated, everything got so much worse.

I had a lot on my shoulders. My health issues were new, my relationship was shaky, I hadn’t found a job, and now I was away from the comforts of college and seeing my friends all the time. It was a combination of anxiety and likely a small helping of depression that led to the complete destruction of my sleeping schedule.

There was a point in time where I was staying up until eight or nine in the morning, then sleeping all day long, until nine or even ten at night. There were nights I relied on my tried-and-true all-nighter fix, only to find myself sleeping for a ridiculous amount of time, usually into the following afternoon (meaning about 18 hours). It became a pattern because I wasn’t exactly happy to be waking up at 9pm; the disappointment and shame I felt only propelled the urge to sleep all day.

I’ve slowly been able to fix that problem; it hasn’t been that bad in a while. Still, I find myself staying up late and being unable to get out of bed in the morning. My body craves 12 hours of sleep. There’s no motivation to wake up at a decent hour because if I do, I have more hours in the day to realize how much of a failure I am. When I sleep in until 2pm, by the time I fully wake up and get ready for the day, it’s nearly dinnertime and there’s a lot less self-criticism at night.

But I can’t deny that I feel terrible. It helps me avoid the harsh reality that I’m failing at life by not having a job, but then I feel ashamed that I’m wasting my life away. I can’t win either way and it’s frustrating.

I’m keeping the comments closed on this one because I don’t want sympathy or words of advice. Everyone in my life already says “just get up early,” “set an alarm and force yourself to get up,” “make your job search your job.” None of these helps or motivates me; instead, I feel worse because those things don’t come easily to me. If you feel compelled to say something on this topic, feel free to e-mail me.

Five Things.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Five Things... I did this week that were out of my comfort zone:

Spoke up about my anxiety at the dentist so that they didn't keep me in the chair for more than an hour (even though I ended up having my appointment canceled due to a mix-up).
Bought something risque at Spencer's for Valentine's Day. Nothing too crazy, but enough to make me a teensy bit uncomfortable at the check-out counter.
Made a 30 Before 30 list and published it (which means now I actually have to stick to it).
Commented on this post by Nicole, which is a makeshift resource party. In the comments, everyone listed one or two big goals they had this year and anyone who could help responded.
Told Erik that we need to have a discussion about something that's been bugging me.

Five Things is a new semi-regular series to recap five things that happened in my week. I say semi-regular because these will only pop up when I can figure out five relatable things from any given week. (Also, spell-check is telling me relatable isn't a word. It's totes is, I Googled it.)

What have you done this week (or recently) that was out of your comfort zone?

Wine and Love [Vol. 15].

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

hosted by Nora!

Filling my wine glass...

Erik started his semester on Monday and it's proving to be just as challenging as he expected. He doesn't make it sound too bad, but I know it is and I can tell it's going to wear on him for the first few weeks. It bums me out even though I know he'll be fine once he gets used to it.
I went in for my dental appointment yesterday and it turns out they scheduled me for the wrong dentist. It didn't occur to me to just have the other dentist do my fillings until I left, but I figured I'm more comfortable with my dentist anyway. I'm rescheduled for tomorrow.
I keep trying to get to bed earlier, but it never happens. Then I'm always angry when I wake up super late the follow day. I really need to get my act together.

Filling my heart...

The very beginning stages of top secret plans for a certain bride-to-be (which I cannot discuss further, seeing as the aforementioned bride-to-be reads this blog!)
Making plans for Valentine's Day with Erik. We decided we should copy what we did last year - cook and eat dinner together - and make it a 'tradition,' at least until we have disposable income to go on fancier dates. Or, maybe we'll stick with it after that! Anyway, I'm figuring out the menu and a few little gifts, and it makes me really giddy.
It's that time again where being in a wedding gives me an excuse to buy new shoes! We're allowed to get whatever we want, and since I'm already taller than Erik than I'd like to be, flat sandals it is.
Since I want a blog redesign so badly but don't want to spend the money for it at this time, I started messing around with ideas I can do by myself. I can't wait to spruce up this place just a bit!

Blue Moon Cupcakes.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:46:00 +0000

Back in October, I had a party at my place to celebrate Erik’s birthday. Being the Martha Stewart wanna-be that I am, I wanted to bake something, but I wanted it to be cool. Erik and his friends didn’t want frilly color-coordinated cupcakes or any type of fancy dessert.

Thanks to the power of Pinterest and the internet in general, I found a few cupcake recipes that mimicked alcoholic beverages and knew that was what I was going to make. Finding the recipe for Blue Moon Cupcakes (link to the actual recipe here) was just pure luck, considering most people like Blue Moon and it’s one of Erik’s faves.

Today (yes, only three months late) I’ll be sharing my experience making these. Spoiler alert: they’re AMAZING.

You’ll need to grab the following ingredients: unsalted butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, vanilla extract, red and yellow food coloring, orange zest, milk, and of course, a bottle of Blue Moon.

Perfect! Okay, the first step is to mix the dry ingredients in one bowl. That’ll be the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Next, I zested the orange, which proved to be a more difficult feat than expected. You’re looking for about a half a teaspoon; I don’t know if I managed to get that much, but I don’t think it really mattered.

After that are a series of steps I didn’t photograph. You beat the softened butter first, then add the sugar slowly, making sure it gets incorporated as you go along. Next, add the eggs one at a time – again, you’re making sure they fully mix in before adding the next one. Finally, add the food coloring, vanilla extract, and orange zest, and you’ll have the prettiest batter I ever did see:

Now it’s time to open that Blue Moon! Mix the beer and milk in a measuring cup. (Note: when I did this, the consistency was off-putting because I think the beer curdled the milk, or at least did something weird to it. However! Everything turned out fine in the end, so if this happens to you, don’t panic… like I may or may not have done.)

You’re going to alternate between adding the beer/milk mixture and the flour mixture. There’s no exact science here, but make sure the last thing you add is the remainder of the dry ingredients. Now the batter will look a little less orange, but still fun.

Scoop the batter into cups – about 2/3 of the way full – and bake. Let them cool completely, then decorate! The original recipe calls for homemade frosting, but I cheated and went with store-bought vanilla. You can garnish with little orange slices, but like I mentioned earlier, Erik and his friends likely wouldn’t, erm, appreciate my decorative skills; instead, I went with blue sugar.

These are so delicious and moist. The Blue Moon flavor is definitely there, but it’s not overwhelming. I couldn’t really say if non-beer drinkers would enjoy these – the Blue Moon/beer flavor may be subtle enough to not be too strange – so just be aware of that if you’re making these for a mixed crowd.

~*~*~*~

Blue Moon Cupcakes

Ingredients

3/4 c unsalted butter, softened

1 3/4 c sugar

2 1/2 c flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla

2 drops red food coloring

10 drops yellow food coloring

1/2 tsp orange zest

1 c Blue Moon beer

1/4 c milk

Frothy White Frosting [recipe here], or any homemade/store-bought vanilla frosting

small orange slices, for garnish

Directions
1. Line 24 cupcake trays with liners. [Use white liners if you can, they become translucent during baking and really sell the mini Blue Moon image]. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking power and salt.
2. In a large bowl beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar a little bit at a time, beating well. Once it's all added beat for 2 more minutes.
3. Add eggs, beating after each.
4. Add vanilla, food coloring and orange zest and beat.
5. Mix beer and milk in a measuring cup. Alternatively add beer / milk mixture and flour mixture to butter mixture in the large bowl, beating after each. End on the flour mixture.
6. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake for 18 minutes at 375 degrees F until cupcakes are golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Once cool, frost each cupcake with a generous amount of frosting. Just before serving, garnish each with a small orange slice.

30 Before 30.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

For the longest time, I avoided the idea of Life Lists (and all similar lists) because I don't really live an adventurous life. I know that the point of such lists is to gently push yourself out of your comfort zone, but I always assumed I would never muster up enough courage or effort to get through the list.

In the past year or so, however, I toyed with the idea of making a 30 Before 30 list. To me, 30 tasks in five years is doable. Once I let go of the idea that I had to make a list containing outrageous tasks - like traveling overseas or skydiving - I felt like it was a much better idea.

So without further ado, here is my 30 Before 30 list:

Go to dinner by myself
Go to a movie by myself
Travel by plane
Take a weekend getaway with Erik
Learn to knit
Buy a sewing machine
Go to a(nother) major sporting event (this was on the list in my head before I went to see the New York Rangers, so it's on my list to go to something else)
Learn to make 10 meals well enough that I don't need the recipe
Open at Etsy shop (or sell crafty goods in some fashion)
Move out
Watch 20 "classic" movies
Go to disney
Get a job
Work in the event/wedding planning industry
Take a yoga class
Go to a dance convention/master class
Go to the tree lighting/Thanksgiving Day parade/4th of July fireworks/NYE in NYC (because I couldn't pick and I'm setting the bar low to go to at least one of these)
Go see the Radio City Christmas show
Go see a show on broadway
(Re-)Learn spanish
Host a dinner party
Attend BiSC at least once!
Start a Roth IRA
Save $10,000 for a down payment on a house
Get a tattoo
Watch Friends & Sex and the City from start to finish (I've never seen either all the way through!)
Go on six "real" dates with Erik a year (our "date" nights are usually staying in, or going out with a group of friends; by "real" dates I mean dinner/movie/activity together, just the two of us)
Take a pole dancing class
Buy a smartphone
Save $5,000 for a wedding

There you have it! I want to give a quick thanks to Allison for answering my tweet for some list inspiration - the last seven or eight were inspired by her list, which you can check out here.

I hope to blog about things as I complete them. I mean, some of them will be a given, considering I wouldn't miss out on blogging about going to Disney, my first plane ride, or going to BiSC. Of course, let's also see if I'm still blogging in five years! I hope to be, but you never know.

Eleven Meme.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Memes are my favorite. I was that girl who posted bulletin after bulletin on Myspace, filling out questionnaires whenever they popped up. So here we go!

Here's the rules.

You must post these rules.
Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post. Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.
No tag backs and you legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 Facts

I went to an all-girl high school and, despite the fact that I felt too sheltered, I absolutely loved it.
I took dance classes for fifteen years and my favorite style is hip hop (and I'm actually good at it, if I can toot my own horn for a second).
My only sibling is my brother, who's two years younger than I am.
My first kiss happened when I was 21.
I have a bad habit of chewing on my lips and the insides of my cheeks.
When I got my ears pierced, it was because my crush in third grade was getting one of his pierced. Except, when we came to school on Monday, he'd chickened out. I hadn't.
I have always lived in New Jersey and probably always will (maybe not when I'm retired, but I can't think that far in advance). I love it here.
I'm allergic to penicillin.
I am absolutely terrible at taking shots.
I don't have a smart phone.
When I was young, I used to hate the color pink.

11 Questions for Me
I definitely copied Stephany here and did a mix of questions from her and Erin, since I was tagged twice.

1. When was the last time you felt proud of yourself?
When I finally applied to some jobs on Wednesday. I've been dealing with a lot of emotional crap that's been holding me back and it was great to finally get over that hurdle.

2. What is your favorite day of the year?
My birthday. All year long I spend my time focusing on other people, so when my birthday comes around, I take advantage of the opportunity to make it all about me.

3. When you go to the mall, do you go with a specific purchase in mind, or just go to browse?
I would never go specifically just to browse. Either I need something and I go in-and-out just for that, or I buy what I need and browse afterwards.

4. Do you use a planner? Paper or electronic?
Yes! I have an Erin Condren Life Planner and I love it. I’ve tried scheduling my life on an online planner, but I end up ignoring it. Having my EC planner laid out on my dresser means I’m always updating it.

5. What is your must-have beauty product?
Mineral powder foundation. It’s so light and fresh and easy to apply.

6. Where is one place (city, state, or country) that you are dying to visit?
Ireland. I have this strong connection to my Irish heritage, so I’d love to visit. However, my fear of flying and being away from home for too long might prevent this from ever happening.

7. What is one resolution or goal you have for 2012?
Finding a job! My word for the year is healing and I’m definitely focusing a lot of my energy there, but it’s an absolute necessity at this point for me to find a job.

8. What would be your last supper?
Caesar salad with shrimp, a plate of penne vodka and a foot-long Italian sub, with lots of meat on it. For dessert? Vanilla bean cheesecake.

9. If you could eat a meal with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Either my nana or pop-pop. If I could cheat, it’d be with both. They both passed away when I was young and I miss them a lot. Now that I’m older, I’m so much more curious about who they were.

10. What is your dream job?
I would love to be a wedding planner. Sometimes I go back and forth about it, but honestly, everything about it appeals to me. I would even grit my teeth and learn to be pushy with clients and vendors.

11. When you need a snack, do you reach for sweet or salty? (Bonus points if you list your favorite snack.)
Both. And here’s why – I have this awful habit of eating something sweet, then craving something salty, then craving something sweet again. It goes on and on. My favorite sweet treats are Kit Kat bars and any type of cookie. My favorite salty treat is pizza-flavored Goldfish.

11 Questions for You

What do you wash first when you're in the shower?
Favorite birthday celebration?
What's your favorite movie? (Or top 3, because I know I couldn't pick a favorite.)
Who changed your life the most?
What's your shoe size?
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you'd buy?
What trait/skill do you have that you're most proud of?
Do you have a favorite scent of lotion/perfume/cologne/body wash? If so, what is it?
Which celebrity would you love to meet?
When was the last time you cried? What was it about (if you're comfortable sharing)?
What position do you normally sleep in? (On your stomach, on your back, etc.)

Wine and Love [Vol. 14].

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

hosted by Nora!

Filling my wine glass...

My boss's schedule didn't jive with mine this week, so I ended up not working at all. This isn't good because I could really use the money!
Everyone is buzzing about Bloggers in Sin City and I'm totes jealous. A perfect storm of not having enough money, still struggling with health issues, and my fear of flying is keeping me away this year. Maybe next year?
I finally went to the dentist last week only to find out I have about a billion cavities. No, seriously. They counted off more than ten. Luckily I only need two crowns and no root canals; the rest are just fillings.

Filling my heart...

Last week I spent three days at Erik's house, totally unplanned. We had joked about me driving up to see him after work on Wednesday, but thought it probably wouldn't work out. Once I was at work, though, I really wanted to go... so I did! I planned to spend one night and leave Thursday evening, but then his friends came over and I ended up hanging out with them and staying again. The greatest part? All I had was my small-ish satchel purse. Usually I bring a whole bag of stuff, but I "survived" without any of it.
I finally found my job-applying mojo last night and applied to three jobs! They're all on college campuses, because I feel most comfortable starting there, but I have a few more regular office jobs to apply to next.
By a stroke of luck, I was texting with Lyndsay on Saturday night and we decided to hang out on a whim. It was great - we really reconnected and shared some deep, dark secrets - and the timing was perfect since she went back to school on Sunday.
Erik moves back into school today! He's going to be super busy this semester, but having him twenty minutes away always makes me feel a lot better.

Birthday/Anniversary Weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

You know what happens when your anniversary falls three days before you birthday? You have a weekend jam-packed with amazingness, that’s what.

Festivities started on Thursday with a trip to NYC to go see the New York Rangers play. Had you told me a year ago that I’d be excited for a hockey game, I would’ve laughed in your face. Yet I was so thrilled, actually, that I kept forgetting the reason we were going to the game: to celebrate mine and Erik’s first anniversary, which was also on Thursday.

At least I got to see Lundqvist during warm-ups.

The game was so much fun. My favorite player – goalie Henrik Lundqvist – came out for warm-ups but then we realized he wouldn’t be playing because he’d be playing in a game the following night. I was thoroughly bummed out. But the evening was still exciting; the game went into overtime and the Rangers won it about three minutes in.

So excited!

Friday was mostly a low-key day. We slept in and ran errands for my party (ordering sandwiches and picking up beer and wine). Then, at my request, we decided to go ice skating with our friends at a local outdoor rink. Despite getting tired and dehydrated after an hour, it was still fantastic. I love ice skating because I find it so relaxing, and being on an outdoor rink made it that much better.

After spending a little too long lazily laying in bed Saturday morning, we finally got up and prepped for my party. People started arriving around 5pm and it was an absolute blast. It was so great because almost everyone I’d invited was able to make it; catching up with everyone and playing Wii games with them is always the best.

College girls, minus Danielle who was busy interviewing for residencies!

The boys, with whom I always neglect to take pictures. That's Kyle (Nat's fiance) and Matt (Melissa's fiance) in case the faces don't look familiar. They're both wonderful guys.

Being the birthday girl meant that everyone kept “pressuring” me to drink (it's in quotes because I gladly obliged). Every time my wine glass was low, my friends offered to fill it up – sometimes to the actual brim of the glass. With the exception of three glasses had by Melissa and Natalie, I drank the whole (large) bottle of wine myself. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel that drunk, just really sleepy by the time everyone headed out.

So classy. But really, I drank from a glass for most of the night - this was just for dramatic effect.

I can't say that Sunday morning was particularly fun, but it wasn't too bad. Meaning, there was minimal nausea/stomach upset; instead, I was exhausted and had a headache. The majority of my day was spent laying in bed with Erik, watching TV and just hanging out. He was kind enough to go get Dunkin Donuts for me at my request. We had Chili’s To-Go for dinner with my family (because I was not up for a dinner out, which was the original plan) and cupcakes to celebrate my actual birthday.

This weekend was a perfect kick-off to my year. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday or anniversary celebration; I'm so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.

How was your weekend?

One Year.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

{March 2011; at Cortney's birthday party}

One year ago today, I took a huge leap and jumped when I didn’t see any safety net beneath me.

Erik and I had only been on four ‘dates,’ one of which included a very memorable New Year’s Eve. Up until that point, I hadn’t fully figured out how I felt. I was letting myself go with the flow, not really concerned with having all the pieces put together. In the back of my mind, though, I was aware that things were moving super fast.

So when he asked me to be his girlfriend, I was surprised. But it took only a moment before I said ‘yes.’ It truly was the boldest – and by far the best – decision I made in 2011. And while I worry that sometimes I exaggerate, I feel that my life would be starkly different without him in it. I’ve become a better version of myself, some of which would’ve happened anyway, but having him by my side has only fueled my momentum.

I’ll share something I haven’t shared with too many people: this is my first time being really-and-truly in love. Looking back, I didn’t feel this way in my last relationship; I couldn’t tell you what I felt then, but I know it wasn’t this. This is love. This is the thing you can’t describe, the feeling you stop questioning because you just know. It makes me so blissfully happy at times that I hope it never stops.

So here’s to another wonderful year with my best friend, the person who makes me smile even when I don't want to, always makes me laugh (even when he's not funny), and treats me like a princess.

Love you always, babe.

{October 2011; Erik's birthday party}

Birthday Confessions.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:35:00 +0000

My birthday is still four days away, but as you'll find out in my confessions, today is the middle of my birthday week! In the spirit of that, I decided to share some birthday confessions.

I treat the whole week as my "birthday week." As soon as the excitement of New Year's dies down - usually on January 2nd - I launch into birthday mode. It's not really something I advertise; mostly, it's me celebrating myself. Sometimes it means dressing up for work (I never do and I like dressing up), stopping at Starbucks for a latte, or taking myself shopping for something small. Or sometimes it's just as simple as wearing my pink 'birthday princess' tiara around the house all week.
I love getting gifts! Christmas, for me, is honestly more about the excitement of giving gifts. Yes, I enjoy receiving my Christmas gifts, but I'm usually focusing on the reaction of other people opening my gifts. For my birthday, it's all about me, and I can't lie when I say I really revel in it.
Checking the mail becomes my hobby for the week. Our mail comes between 1 and 3pm, so during those hours, I keep peeking out the window to see if I can spot the mailman.
For the third year in a row, I'm throwing myself a birthday party. It's always really great because all of my friends come over and it's like a big catch-up session between everyone. Plus, I love having everyone who's important to me in the same room. I look forward to it all year.
This year I wanted to do something special for my 25th birthday, but I dropped the ball. My friend Ashley went to Disney World for hers, and while I wouldn't do something that big, I wanted to maybe go to the Poconos, Medieval Times, or even just the local club-like bar to go dancing. I ended up getting busy and the logistics were too much to work out, so it's back to my basic birthday party.
Facebook birthday greetings make me so happy. I know some people think they're impersonal because random people you don't talk to comment on your page and most people wouldn't remember if not for Facebook, but I can't help smiling at all the notifications popping up all day long.

2012 Resolutions.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:52:00 +0000

{♥}

Happy 2012, friends!

Did you have a wonderful New Year's Eve? I did, though it was a bit too low-key for me. I spent the evening having dinner with Erik's family and hanging out with his friend who came over to play video games. The last half hour was spent just with Erik, watching TV and flipping to one of the NYE specials three minutes before the new year. It was nice, but a bit anticlimactic - it felt like any other day.

Now that the new year is here, it's time for goal-setting!

12 Changes

For 2012, I'm doing my resolutions a bit differently -- I'll be participating in 12 Changes in 12 Months, the brain child of Katherine and Stephany. A huge group of us (50+, I believe!) is setting monthly goals so that we can keep our focus on each one. Instead of a big list of goals to tackle all at once - which, for me, usually means a few get ignored - I'm setting up a list of habits I want to develop to make my life better.

So far, I only have a list of nine things. But that's the added benefit of this method of goal-setting: I don't have to figure those last three out right away because they can be accomplished later this year!

1. Take vitamins/probiotic daily
2. Exercise at least three days a week
3. Craft at least once a week
4. Journal daily
5. Read every day (from a book, not a blog/the internet)
6. Reduce sugar intake
7. Reduce processed food intake
8. Limit time spent online
9. Put at least $10 from every paycheck in savings

10. ???

11. ???

12. ???

For the month of January, I'm focusing on crafting at least once a week. I already did a lot of craft projects in December to prepare for the holidays, so it should be simple to keep up the habit.

Digital Day Off

In addition to my 12 Changes, I was inspired by Amy to take part in a "digital day off" every month. She's choosing to take a complete break from technology on the first of every month; I'll be doing the same, except on the first Sunday of every month. Which means that yes, I've already done this for January!

It was pretty simple this month, because I was still at Erik's for most of the day. I will admit that I 'cheated' a bit and checked my e-mail in the morning and at night, but I'm planning for all future digital days off to be completely internet-free for twenty-four hours.

A Goal a Month

And finally, for each month I'll be setting one specific, to-do-list type goal. These specific goals probably won't be set far in advance, but instead at the beginning of each month. For January, it's going to the dentist. Despite setting this as a goal every month last year, I still never made my way there. It's finally time because I have a cavity that's freaking me out and because I need to put on my big girl pants and be responsible for my health.

What goals are you setting this year? Are you doing things differently in hopes it'll work better than past years?

Farewell, December.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

December was the typical hustle-and-bustle of the holiday season. There were Christmas songs playing from my laptop daily while I worked on craft projects for my friends' gifts and baked boxes of yummy treats. In between, I sipped hot chocolate, watched all of my favorite Christmas movies, and wrote some love letters for the 12 Days of Love Letter Writing.

It all culminated in the best holiday weekend I have in memory. I excitedly swapped gifts with my boyfriend, caught up on the lives of family members, and enjoyed every moment of it with barely a moment of anxiety. I sat around the tree with Erik's family and felt so comfortable and not a single bit out of place; it was a wonderful feeling and I'm grateful to be so welcomed by them.

I won't be addressing my goals because barely kept them in mind this month. However, I will say that I remained pretty stress-free, took care of myself, and tried my hardest to soak in every single joyful experience this season. It was a great month; a great close to the end of what has been a most wonderful year.

Instead of a recap of my year, I'm posting the links to my monthly recaps. Feel free to read through to see all of the things that made this year special for me.

One Word.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

{photo credit: me}

My 2010 was summed up by the phrase letting go. It wasn’t a mantra I set out to follow in January, but one that became apparent when I recollected the years’ events in December. Even upon figuring out my ‘word’ for the previous year, it didn’t occur to me to create one for 2011. I was still of the belief that picking a word to describe a year that hadn’t even happened yet was a bit pointless.

It has taken a few days of thinking to figure out my word for 2011, and to be honest, I was pretty stumped for a while. There was more letting go, primarily of my over-thinking and worrying. There was a lot of love, not only in my relationship with Erik but amongst my friends and family. There was bravery – taking small leaps with my anxiety by stretching my limits in terms of attending events that I would normally just avoid. But none of these words really stuck out to me.

And then, as I sat down to compose this post, I glanced up at my bulletin board and saw this quote (from a Valentine’s-themed Dove chocolate wrapper):

Trust with your heart, not your head.

Trust.

It was the backbone behind all of the words I highlighted above. I had to trust myself and my instincts instead of thinking of every single scenario and fretting about it. This was particularly true in the beginning of my relationship – after sitting one day and wondering how much do I like him, does he like me the same way, how far will this go, are we compatible, I stopped the mental spew of questions and thought, just go with it, wherever it goes.

That thought followed me throughout the year, spreading to other parts of my life. It’s like everything that everyone kept telling me has finally clicked in my mind: Stop anticipating every single thing that can go wrong. Be decisive. Don’t ask for and follow the opinions of others, because my choices are my own to make. Do the things that make me happy, without worrying about the opposite scenario being more responsible or less risky. Go with my gut instincts.

Despite being so against choosing a word for my upcoming year last December, I feel differently this year. It was a simple choice, one that I’ve been half-heartedly committing to year after year. It was inspired by Stephany, who chose health as her word; my word is healing.

Not only do I need physical healing of my stomach problems and anxiety, but there is a lot of emotional crap clogging up my life. When I sit down to apply for jobs, I feel such strong pangs of disappointment that I can’t bear to submit applications. I don’t have a lot of love for myself in general. There’s a struggle to communicate properly with Erik because of twisted ways of thinking.

All of these things – my IBS, my anxiety, the emotional back-up going on within me – need to be healed in order for me to be the best Cait ever. I look forward to the challenge.

Christmas Recap.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:02:00 +0000

My Christmas was chaotic, but wonderful in every way.

The festivities began with a family party at my house on Saturday afternoon. It was quiet and relaxed, which is preferable because the following day is usually buzzing with excitement. We sat around chatting, taking pictures, and preparing a yummy dinner including – my favorite – kielbasa.

Dessert followed up dinner and included my favorite sprinkle cookies from the bakery in my parents’ hometown, where my aunt and grandparents still live. At that point the rest of the family – my uncle and his family – joined us with three more plates of dessert, including my aunt’s famous cream puffs. Holy sugar overload, batman.

Despite planning to leave for Erik’s house by 7pm, I didn’t pull out of the driveway until 9pm. The drive flew by and the next thing I knew, I was reunited with my love after more than a week apart (which sounds like nothing, but when you normally see one another twice a week, that’s a long time). Once I settled in, we exchanged gifts, cuddled while watching TV, and then fell asleep.

Morning came quickly and I was very excited to wake up, as evidenced by the fact that I was up at 9:30 and had to wait (almost like a little kid) until Erik decided to get out of bed at 10:30. Everyone had a delicious breakfast; I had cereal because I can’t eat a lot in the morning. Then we settled around the tree and I played Santa and handed out gifts. After that I was on my way out the door and heading home to quickly shower, get ready, and put together a brownie trifle for our second family party. It took longer than I expected – I’d taken a half-hour head start from Erik and when he arrived, I was still not dressed – but luckily my hair and makeup don’t take long.

Seventeen people for dinner = one long table & disposable plates.

We arrived at my aunt’s house with plenty of time until dinner. I had time to breathe as I helped with dinner preparations and then we all sat down to another delicious meal. Then it was time for pictures and gifts!

Me and Lynds. Best friends!

Erik and I, yay!

All of the 'kids' - me and my cousins, along with Erik and family friend, Brian.

The rest of the evening was spent catching up with family members and noshing on a huge variety of desserts. We – Erik, me, and my brother – ended up staying last and having a three-hour chat with my aunt and cousins over various family issues. It was exhausting and a bit emotionally draining; when we arrived home, I was in a poor mood and thankfully Erik was here to comfort me.

It was such a fabulous weekend. I saw almost all of my family, got to spend time with Erik’s family, and spent the entirety of Christmas Day with Erik. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas.

Christmas Haul.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:28:00 +0000

While I finish up the recap of my fabulous Christmas weekend, today I'll be sharing a few pictures of all the goodies I got this year! To me, showing off my gifts is proof that I was excited and grateful to receive them. It’s like a great big thank-you note!

My very first gift was from Melissa a week ago – a pretty necklace that came in a cute little box. (She also brought cookies for my family, which were super delish.)

Since I missed out on my family’s Christmas Eve gift exchange, my next set of gifts were from Erik, and he did a good job shopping for me. I got a Rangers sweatshirt to wear to the game we’re attending in January(!), a pair of earrings I was lusting after, and a gift card to Victoria’s Secret.

My favorite part? The tie in the front is criss-crossed like hockey jerseys are.

I'm not lying to you when I tell you these match my eyes exactly. Love them.

Christmas morning was spent with Erik’s family, which meant swapping with Natalie. She knows me so well – I got sour gummy worms and a Starbucks gift card. Now I can buy lattes guilt-free! Plus, I was super surprised to find a gift from his family under the tree for me, containing a perfume set.

In between the morning’s celebrations and my family party, I unwrapped my gifts from my parents on my own (they were already out at the party). I did pretty well – an Erin Condren planner; the same earrings Erik got me (I did not expect my mother to buy them for me); a scarf; feather earrings; a calendar; the last two Harry Potter DVDs; and a buttload of candy.

My new scarf & earrings.

At my aunt’s house, I’m pretty sure I freaked out at every gift I received. My cousin Clancy made DVDs of all the footage she’s video taped at our family gatherings* and also got me cute knee socks, candy and nail polish. Lynds got me Hello Kitty pajamas and a necklace, about which I was the most excited. My aunt gifted me a satchel-type purse, which I really wanted because sometimes lugging around my big purse is too much.

I can’t help but get excited about receiving gifts, but I was also just as excited to watch everyone open the gifts I got for them. It’s one of my favorite parts of Christmas.

What was your favorite gift from Christmas? What was the best gift you gave this year?

* Clancy is the younger sister of my cousin who was in the Navy and lived in California. She would carry a video camera around to record all of our family gatherings and send them off to him. I asked her a few times if we could get copies and she was finally able to get them on DVDs!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

{close-up of the lights on our tree; photo by me}

Christmastime is my favorite part of the year. My personal holiday season starts with Thanksgiving and ends with my birthday (January 8th, mark your calendars!) and is filled with so many things that I love.

Thinking up gifts. Shopping for those gifts or the supplies to make them. Baking endless amounts of cookies and making peppermint bark. Wrapping everything up in pretty wrapping paper or packages. Decorating the house from top to bottom. Blasting Christmas music at all hours. Seeing the Christmas lights lit up while driving at night. Drinking hot chocolate and peppermint mochas. Wearing a Santa hat while partaking in any and all holiday activities – this includes cleaning the house for company. Planning and baking desserts with my cousin for Christmas day. Picking out cute outfits.

Most importantly, of course, is spending time with friends and family. It’s the perfect time to show my love, both through gifts/baked goods and more personal interaction. My birthday is also included here because – and here’s the only plus of a winter birthday – all of my friends are usually free to get together because people are on break. I spend most of the year making plans with friends individually, so to have everyone in the same room for a night is really special.

And last year, this time of year got even better because it was when my relationship with Erik was just beginning. (It literally spanned my whole holiday season: he asked for my number on Thanksgiving weekend and we became an official couple three days before my birthday. Coincidence? I think not.) It’s been really fun to look back on those memories and it just supplements this season with an extra something special.

Today I'm getting together with Lynds to bake for Christmas, watch a movie, and sip on wine. Tomorrow will be a party with my mom's side of the family, and as soon as I take my last bite of dessert, I'm driving to Erik's house to spend the rest of the evening and Christmas morning with him and his family. On Sunday we'll both be driving back here, then over to my aunt's for the second party with my dad's side of the family. It promises to be an exciting weekend.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful weekend.

Cookie Week: Chocolate Chip Cookies.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Time for my second contribution to Erin's Christmas Cookie Week! I may have a third recipe in store for you - I'm baking tonight & we'll just have to see how it goes. Click over to The Speckled Palate every day this week to see some awesome recipes!

It's not Christmas in my house without chocolate chip cookies. My mom did the bulk of the work when I was a kid - we just got to measure things and then put the cookies on trays. We use the recipe right off the bag of Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet chocolate chips, and I probably always will. Even if I try out new chocolate chip recipes, I'll always come back to the yellow bag. It's what I know and it tastes good, so why mess with it?

Let's get started! Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and grab the following items: flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, brown sugar (I've found little difference between light or dark, so go with what you have!), eggs, butter, vanilla extract, and of course, chocolate chips. This year I've also added some Nestle Mini Toppers, which are teeny-tiny white chocolate chips that are colored red and green.

The butter needs to be softened before you start. In one bowl, mix your dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt).

In your mixer bowl (or a second bowl), cream together your wet ingredients except the eggs (sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract). Add the eggs one at a time, making sure they get mixed in well in between.

Add the dry ingredients gradually, in about three or four parts. When your done, the dough will look delicious and be stuck to the paddle.

At this point, add the chocolate chips. Sometimes I use the mixer to distribute them in the batter, but sometimes my mixer thinks that's too much work. This time, I tossed in the chocolate chips (and the Toppers) and mixed with a spatula. It was a good arm work out!

Drop the dough onto ungreased baking sheets. The size is up to you. I go with heaping teaspoons - not the measuring spoon, but an actual teaspoon. (Does that make sense? I hope so.)

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. I find that 9 usually works, though occasionally I wait another minute. They're done once the edges are golden brown, but sometimes I like to leave them until they're almost all brown.

Cool for a minute before taking them off the tray, then cool them on wire racks (or your kitchen table, like I do). Feel free to eat them immediately because just-baked chocolate cookies are the best - just don't burn yourself! Otherwise, I've found that you can leave these out and they stay soft and chewy for a day or two. Past that point, put them away or else they'll start to taste a bit stale.

Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe copied straight from their website)
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Treats.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Ten on Tuesday [Vol. 48].

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:35:00 +0000

1. What is your favorite online-only store?
Amazon.com.

2. Do you enjoy wrapping gifts?
Absolutely. I love making gifts look super pretty on the outside. Presentation is everything!

3. What is the temperature in your city today?
Well, I write my posts the night before. Right now - at 5:30 on Monday night - it's 49 degrees. It should be around 39 degrees tomorrow morning.

4. What time do you eat dinner?
My family eats dinner around 5:30pm on weeknights and closer to 5pm on weekends. When I'm on my own for dinner, however, I'll eat anytime between 5 and 7, whenever I get hungry.

5. Will you be making New Years Resolutions?
Not exactly. I'll be participating in 12 Changes, which is about setting one goal per month to develop new, healthy habits. But I won't really be setting resolutions at the beginning of the year to follow throughout.

6. How old is your oldest pair of shoes that you still wear?
Quite a few of my dressy shoes are pretty old - a fair number were purchased in high school (2001-2005). I don't wear them regularly, just for holidays or occasions on which I need to dress up.

7. Do you have any restaurant phone numbers saved in your phone?
Nah, I don't order frequently enough to save them in my phone.

8. What is your favorite and least favorite letter to write in cursive?

Favorite: capital L
Least favorite: lower-case Z

9. Do you know any good riddles?
I know a few but here's one that's off the top of my head (that you've probably heard before).
A man rides into town on Friday. He stays for three days, then rides back home on Friday. How is this possible?
{Highlight here with your mouse for the answer: Friday is the name of his horse. Get it? He's riding on Friday both times, because it's his horse! Clever, right?)}

10. How do you feel about snow?
It's a love/hate relationship. Usually if it's before Christmas, or the first two or three major snowfalls, I'm a big fan. Anytime after that and it's just a pain. Plus, I have a winter birthday and I hate worrying if snow is going to ruin my plans.

These questions are a part of Ten on Tuesday which is run by the wonderful Chelsea of Roots and Rings.

Cookie Week: Snickerdoodles!

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

When I heard that Erin would be hosting a feature about cookies this week, I knew right away I'd be participating. It's the week before Christmas, which means that I go into Baking Overload. Hop on over to Erin's blog, The Speckled Palate, today and every day this week to find a collection of awesome cookie recipes!

Today I'll be sharing a recipe for snickerdoodles, which is a new favorite of mine. Here's the recipe card (I'll also be typing it up for you at the end of this post).

This recipe is from my ex-boyfriend's siblings. They all loved to bake in that house, which meant in that aspect, I fit right in. Here's what you'll need... and preheat your oven to 375 while you find everything.

You don't need a stand mixer; a hand mixer will also suffice. I don't know if you can swing mixing it by hand because the dough gets a little thick at the end. But, you can try! Otherwise you need flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, ground cinnamon, an egg, a stick of butter, vanilla extract, and sugar.

I like to mix dry ingredients first. That'll be the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda.

Oh, and the cinnamon. It's my secret ingredient - I just add a few dashes in with the dry ingredient mix.

In another bowl (or your stand mixer bowl), combine the wet ingredients: butter, egg, sugar, and vanilla extract. You'll want the butter to be softened - if you think of it ahead of time, leave it out for a while before you start. Otherwise, my trick is to nuke it in the microwave for 10 or 15 seconds on a 50% power level. (If your microwave doesn't have 50% power level, I'd suggest nuking it for 5 second intervals, checking on it in between. You don't want it melted, just soft and mixable.)

Mix those up until they're kinda creamy - it won't be completely smooth, but don't worry, it's supposed to look that way. Here's a reference.

After that, add the dry ingredients slowly. Dump a little bit in at a time and mix slowly so that flour doesn't fly everywhere. Once you've added it all, mix until everything's completely combined. The dough will be pretty thick - it should stick together and to your mixer.

One more thing you'll need before you put these on baking sheets: cinnamon sugar. The ratio is two parts sugar, one part cinnamon; make more or less depending on how many batches you're making. Usually a teaspoon of cinnamon and two of sugar suffices. Blend them together with your fingers.

Almost time for baking! Roll the dough into quarter-sized balls (I used to make them bigger but tried this size for this year and loved the size of the final product!).

Roll the dough balls around the plate of cinnamon sugar until their coated on all sides. Sometimes the dough is too soft or your hands are too warm, resulting in the dough sticking to your hands. If this is happening, pop the dough in the fridge for fifteen minutes and come back to it.

Put them on ungreased baking sheets about an inch apart. Be careful when you go to pick up the baking sheets - since they're coated in the sugar mixture, they'll slide out of position if the tray is tilted. Pop them in the oven and bake them for 10 to 12 minutes. (I find that 11 minutes is the perfect number for me, but our oven is small and yours may vary.)

You'll know their done when the tops have crackled a bit (it was hard to get a picture of that) and the bottom edges just start to brown. In the oven and when you first take them out, they'll be a bit puffed up...

...but once they cool, they should flatten out and look completely delicious.

(Although sometimes, because my oven is small, the batch on the lower rack doesn't flatten out as nicely. They're a bit lumpier, but just as delicious, I promise.)

So there you have it! This should make about two dozen cookies, though it really depends on how big you make them. Once they've completely cooled, eat them or store in an air-tight container so they stay soft. If you don't, they'll get harder and crisper... of course, if you prefer that to soft cookies, go right ahead and leave them out on a plate!

Kim & Steven's Snickerdoodle Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of butter, softened (1 stick)
1 cup of sugar, plus 2 tsp. for coating
1 egg
1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup of flour
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
A few dashes of ground cinnamon, plus 1 tsp. for coating

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In one bowl, mix together dry ingredients (flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon).
3. In another bowl (or mixer bowl), combine wet ingredients (butter, sugar, egg, vanilla extract). Beat until combined and somewhat creamy.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones slowly, in about three or four parts.
5. On a small plate, combine the sugar and cinnamon set aside for the coating; mix together thoroughly.
6. Roll dough into quarter-sized balls and roll in cinnamon-sugar mix.
7. Place on ungreased baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for a minute or two before removing them from the tray.

Bullet List Friday.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:07:00 +0000

{♥}

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm running on five hours of sleep and am buried in holiday-related to-do lists. In the spirit of that, this blog post will also contain a list... a Bullet List, that is! Everyone's favorite!

What I've been up to:

My obsession with Hello Kitty is coming back. I say 'coming back' because I used to love HK in high school. It was my 'thing,' which basically meant I carried around a lot of HK paraphernalia and my friends always gifted me with more. Once I packed up and headed to college, an affinity for Tinkerbell eventually replaced HK. Slowly but surely, I'm growing to love all things Hello Kitty again - I saw a Hello Kitty microwave at Target the other day and nearly died. True story.
On Tuesday night I made all of my Christmas cards! I just need to pick up some envelopes and write them out, then they'll be on their way. You can still get in on this - click here to jump to the form.
Last night, Erik and I had a major disagreement (okay, call it an argument if you will, but I think that's a dirty word). We eventually worked it out, realizing along the way that we handle our anger and emotions in nearly identical ways (the jury's still out on whether that's a good or bad thing). More importantly, it was one of those fights that forced us to peel back some layers and by the end of it, I felt like we were closer because of it.
I successfully spent $100 less on Christmas gifts for friends and family this year than I did last year. I felt really proud of myself. Of course, I quickly realized that the $100 difference was spent on Erik's gifts... at least I didn't spend more than last year? That's good, right?
There are still a few Christmas movies I haven't watched yet this year and somehow, they're all of my favorites - The Nutcracker, Love Actually, and The Grinch (the original cartoon). How have I not watched these sooner?! I will definitely be remedying this immediately.

More Love Letters.

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have heard me tweet a few things about More Love Letters. If you've been to my blog, you may have seen this pretty little badge go up in my sidebar:

So, what's all this love letter business about? That's probably what you're asking, because I'd be a little curious, too.

It started with a girl named Hannah and her amazing blog, of which I'm an avid reader. I'm mostly a silent fangirl, in awe of her way with words so much so that I couldn't compose many comments other than 'wow, that was amazing.' Hannah eventually went on to launch a project and website called More Love Letters. As you may expect, it's all about spreading the love by writing love letters to strangers and leaving them in random places, or sharing love letters on the blog to cheer up the random reader.

This holiday season, the 12 Days of Love Letters was born. A little more back story: on the website, you can sign up for a monthly love-letter-writing campaign. You'll get an e-mail with a brief description of who's receiving that month's bundle and an invitation to write and send off a love note.

The 12 Days of Love Letters is a twelve-day, letter-writing marathon version of the monthly bundles. For the past ten days, a new recipient has been revealed each day, and we've got two more to go (including today's). Via the e-mail list, I signed up specifically for two days, but have found myself writing nearly every day.

It's a little late in the game, but if this sounds really wonderful to you, all of the recipients are still up on the moreloveletters.com blog - just scroll through the posts and you'll find one through eleven. Grab some stationary and a pen and write to one, three, or all of the people in need of a little love this season.