Wednesday, December 31, 2008

I resolve to...

I must start by making it clear that I am not big on New Year's Resolutions. I find it humorous that people think they can change their lifestyle simply by making it a resolution. I don't know anyone who has ever said, "I quit (insert vice here) on New Year's and I hasn't been a problem since". I do think it is important to stay in tune with yourself, to note your areas for improvement and work continually towards those things. What can it hurt right? Even if it is all for not, at least we'll know the areas we should be focusing on to make our lives and those who love us lives better.

1. Stop Cyber Stalking: I am guilty of it and I am not ashamed to admit it! I cyber stalk. I look up people on the Internet, I search for people on Facebook, I even Google people unnecessarily. I have a need to know how people's lives are going, I compare their accomplishments to mine and I silently weigh who is "winning". I am a shameless coveter. I covet other people's lives and undoubtedly romanticize their reality. I sometimes have to remind myself that nothing I see online, no pictures, no relationship status is a true barometer of happiness. I can't tell how happy someone's life is by their profile on Facebook. What is more important is living my life and finding happiness in my reality.

2. Walk Away From the Sugar and No one Gets Hurt: I have a long standing love affair with sugar, and though it has dramatically decreased over the years it still exists. When I was younger I would eat ice cream for breakfast and a Snickers for lunch. I once became a vegetarian because I thought the only other food group was candy and nothing seemed greater than eating sugar for 3 "square" meals a day. I would eat bags of candy I would visit Cold Stone twice a day. I was a sugar binger and I did it with reckless abandon and no fear of judgement. The biggest tole that candy has on me is not weight gain but terrible fatigue. I have to imagine that my fatigue is attributed at least somewhat to my mass consumption of sugar as a child and my bouts with sugar that I still have today. I am a huge believer in balance and I think that with a healthy balance of sugar in my life I will reap a lot of rewards. I am however worried about how Candy Corn will fare with their huge loss in their profit margin.

3. Patience is a Virtue I Hear: I have no patience. When I make my mind up that I want something and if it is within my power I will get it...if it isn't within my power I will pout. I don't know where I missed out on learning patience but I did. I am pretty sure there are lots of pearls of wisdom in this task. I think learning patience will mean not making purchases of items that I end up re-selling on Ebay a few months later, not eating as much candy, not wasting today just to get to tomorrow and not feeling so rushed to get through every task and feeling so restless all the time.

4. Take A Hike: I need to walk Jack and Charlie more. I have bouts where I walk them every day and feel so good about it and then it seems to fall away. It doesn't make much sense either because it makes me so happy to see them happy and walks make them both so very happy. Jack and Charlie deserve to take walks, to sniff all there is to sniff around the neighborhood and to show their cute fuzzy faces to the neighbors.

5. Get My Groove Back: Moving, a new job any sort of big change breaks up your groove and I have had many big changes this year. My workouts have gone from 5 days a week to 1... if I am lucky. I use to read about 30 books a year and now I am down to 0 in the past3 months. I need to get back into my groove and begin working out like I use to and pick up a good book to read.

6. Grow: I want to always be learning and growing in some way. Whether it be by taking an art class, volunteering or reading I want to be sure that I am always challenging myself and becoming better.

7. Show More Love: I am lucky to have great friends, a wonderful family and someone I love very much in my life. Somedays I think I am great at showing love and other days I know I could do better. I want everyone in my life to never doubt how much I love them, how proud I am of them and how much I value their place in my life.

I think I could list a couple more (not sure if that is a good thing) but I will stop at 7. 7 is a lucky number and 10 is too many to remember and be able to focus on. Happy New Year everyone hope it is a great year for us all!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

My Late Santa List

This Christmas I couldn't think of anything I wanted. I felt like I had everything I needed and was at a loss for coming up with anything my heart desired for the holiday. As luck would have it, it wasn't until AFTEr Christmas that I began to think of all the things I should have asked for...here is my late list to Santa:

1. A bike: I really want a bike to ride around the neighborhood and use to go run quick errands. I can't decide if I want a beach cruiser or a mountain bike but I have narrowed it down to some sort of bicycle with 2 tires...is that redundant?

2. An Ipod docking station: I have been using a laptop or the lame music channels on cable TV but I want something that I can play all my wonderful music on. I have big plans to sit on the couch, listen to music and drink wine.

3. A New Black Pea coat: I have a very pretty white one and an old black one that is so tattered and old it isn't so pretty anymore. I did get a new black jacket for Christmas last year but I hate it. Hate is a strong word I know, but it isn't at all flattering, looks like an old lady housecoat and it has bad juju all over it.

4. A membership to a Krav Maga Studio: I have wanted to do Krav Maga for a long time now. I have a unrelenting desire to be able to be unassuming and dangerous.

5. Art Classes: I love to draw but I haven't ever taken an art class. I think I have the makings of a decent artist but I need someone to help me channel my inner Picasso.

If nothing else I guess I have a very early jump start on my Christmas list for 2009. Thanks Santa! See you next time.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas Time Is Here

The Christmas Tree in All Its Glory
Jack's eyes don't like the flash either
Charlie guards his new bone
mmm...french toast breakfast, it's even yummier on Christmas
Santa Jack

Paul and his mommy

Charlie guards all his loot
Charlie loves his stocking treats

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Christmas Cheer!

Coming home with the new tree!

Charlie investigates the new tree. I am hoping it is not a pre-pee investigation.

Freeing our tree from captivity.

Putting Charlie into captivity.


Paul puts his first Christmas ornament onto the tree which is what else... a golf ball with lipstick on it...the lipstick was an after sale addition.

A preview to what Charlie will look like on Christmas morning.

Jack admires the sparkly.
The presents that I wish could go under the tree but alas' are safer on the couch.


Twas the week before Christmas and Paul and me hadn't yet gotten our first Christmas tree.

So we went hunting for our perfect tree...one that would be love by all 4 of us equally.

We saw lighted reindeer and flocked Christmas trees...It was a cold wintry night we worried we may freeze.
Paul found a tree but it wasn't just right...we continued to search even if it took all the night.

Paul searched and searched but his quest wouldn't end...money was no object for the right tree, we would spend!
We looked for signs to lead us to a tree...we needed to sniff one out, too bad we didn't bring Jack and Charlie.
I found a tree I thought was the perfect choice...but then I heard a small little voice.

It told me to keep searching the perfect tree was yet to be found...we hadn't yet covered quite enough ground.
There were so many it was like a needle in a haystack...once we made our choice there was no turning back.
I could feel it in my bones our search was coming to a close...and luckily it happened before we both froze!
It was our Christmas Tree in all it's glory...so this is the end of our Christmas tree story...

Our search was worth it to Paul and me...because we finally found our perfect tree.
Our hearts are so filled I'm sure that they've grown because we are taking our tree to it's new home!

Christmas Wrapping Jack


Yummy Yummy Cookies

It's or should I say tis' the holiday season which means there are a lot of people to make fat in the tummy. Sometimes I think I have an old Italian woman trapped inside of me because of my insatiable need to cook for and feed people. If I had a captive audience, the money, endless ingredients and the time I would relish being in the kitchen making yummy foods. Until that day comes I will have to savor the moments that I do have to cook for others.

This Christmas has been a slew of baking and great recipe finding and I have stumbled upon some great cookie recipes. The Salted White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies are the perfect mix of sugary salty goodness. Think the same yummy that comes with a good kettle corn. The delicious Homemade Oreo Cookies are a great shout out to a classic! I was a little worried making them as they seemed hard to make but they were actually very easy. The difficult part came in not eating the icing as there was a lot left over.

I do need to clarify however, that these recipes are not my own and I have been shamelessly stealing recipes off of a wonderful website called smittenkitchen.com. If you have the time check it out, it's beautifully written and has amazing photographs. My only caution is to avoid it when you have hunger pains.

Salted White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Adapted from
Cook’s Illustrated

The original recipe didn’t have white chocolate in it, but it really works wonderfully in here. Even if you’re a dark chocolate fan. Watch out, use the good stuff and this may even convert you.

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon table salt
14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
6 ounces good-quality white chocolate bar, chopped (not “white chocolate” chips; they’re almost always artificial. I am adamant about this.)
1/2 teapoon flaky sea salt (like Maldon or fleur de sel) (for sprinkling on top)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and table salt in a medium bowl.
2. Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Scrape down bowl with rubber spatula, then add egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated. Scrape down bowl again. Add flour mixture gradually and mix until just incorporated and smooth. Gradually add oats and white chocolate and mix until well incorporated.
3. Divide dough into 24 equal portions, each about 2 tablespoons. Roll between palms into balls, then place on lined baking sheets about 2 1/2 inches apart. Using fingertips, gently press down each ball to about ¾-inch thickness.
4. Sprinkle a flake or two of sea salt on each cookie
5. Bake until cookies are deep golden brown, about 13 to 16 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack to cool.

Homemade Oreo Cookies

For the chocolate wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

For the filling:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375 degrees.

2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.

3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately 2 inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.

4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2-3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.

5. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.


Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Come One Come All, Just Come!!!

After spending over a year working at Second City, the moment has finally come for my first Friday night shows which will run January through February in Hollywood. Please come see us, we have been working really hard to come up with a sketch comedy show that would be not only hilarious but also awesome and inappropriate!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Why I Love Christmas

I have always loved Christmas. Even when I was 5 years old and there was a stretch of time when I was sick for many Christmas' in a row, I still love Christmas. Even though I live in California and almost every Christmas is an unChristmas-y 90 degrees outside I still love Christmas. I love Christmas for so many reasons so I thought it was worthy of a list....

My Why I Love Christmas List

Because you can feel Christmas in the air. It is the crispness that comes mid-November and stays in the air throughout December. It is the freshness that changes the colors of the trees, it is that chill that you feel the minute you walk though the front door to face the day. Christmas brings a chill in the air that oddly warms up your heart.

Because Christmas music makes me feel hopeful and warm. I am one of the offenders that begins listening to Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving when select radio stations prematurely pump it out on the airwaves. Sure I go into stores and join the crowds of people who say, "They are playing Christmas music already! It isn't even December!" BUT inside I am singing right along with the music.

Because I love wearing bulky jackets - just give me a couple of nights where it dips below 60 degrees and I will throw on my peacoat, boots, scarf and gloves. And every year rationale escapes me and I am convinced that if I wish for it hard enough it will snow!

Because I love Christmas movies. I adore sitting in front of a fire on a rainy day with all the windows open, snuggled up under a blanket watching Christmas movies. If I could magically become a character in a Christmas movie I glady would. Make me an elf living in the South Pole...I will gladly become any of the Ghosts of Christmas Past...I would love to be any of the Who's in Whoville...I don't care! It doesn't matter to me, to have the chance to live in a magically lighted village snuggled deep in the snow somewhere where there is nothing but Christmas joy all day long...come on!!!!

I love the possibility in Christmas. Although Christmas has changed - which I have quickly found is the largest downfall of growing up - I do look forward to the next Christmas chapter. I can't wait to have kids of my own so that I can make Christmas' as magical as the ones my family made for me.

Speaking of Christmas' past I have had so many wonderful ones. One Christmas my mom covered the tree with cute little boxes each containing a clue to our big surprise present (which turned out to be bunny rabbits) AND to make that Christmas even better as my brother picked up his new rabbit it bit him so by Christmas evening I had TWO new bunnies! On another Christmas my brother and I decided to stay up all night on Santa patrol...late that night I swore I heard something on the roof but he had fallen fast asleep so to this day I have no witness to the event. I remember bits and pieces of many Christmas' and each one makes me so happy inside.

So Merry Christmas to all...no matter your reasons for loving Christmas all I can say is...I am with you!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Charlie Waits...

I have two dogs who are each motivated by very different means. Jack is motivated by anything slightly edible. I say slightly because he has been known to eat paper, string, aluminum cans and even beautiful crown molding. Jack will do anything for food, he adores to eat and unfortunately due to extensive surgery he is voraciously hungry and relentlessly skinny. Charlie, on the other hand is purely motivated by attention. He is insanely jealous and wants to be the center of everyone's universe. He does however have one great new love, Paul. Whenever Paul leaves the house, no matter if it is a few minutes or even a few hours, Charlie sits and waits at the door staring at it intensely willing it to open. It is quite sad actually but also a bit promising, after all they say dogs are wonderful judges of character.

Deliciousness

For the Thanksgiving holiday I made 22 dozen -- YES 22 dozen chocolate chip cookies for the nurses at the hospital as well as an extra batch for Paul to take to work. I think the secret to a great batch of cookies lies in the chilling of the dough in the refrigerator for a few hours to let the ingredients to meld together.