Shining Moments

Today

a hobo at the bus stop told me that I made the world more beautiful, that I made life more beautiful

I got on the bus and a stranger gave up his seat for me

Our neighbor who lives below us has endured weeks of us jumping on her ceiling during our workouts with a smile, today was no different

I walked through our front door today stressed about work. Michael took me in his arms and everything was just dandy again.

Life is Beautiful 

and I'm so grateful that it's the people who make it that way

Eat Happy: Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's three hours until Friday, and I know I'm going to forget to post this tomorrow in the midst of the work day. So, I'm giving you the tastiest, melt in your mouth treat for the weekend a little bit early. I don't know about you, but after trying to eat healthy all week long, I am always looking for some type of new treat to experiment come the weekend. 

For that reason, I've decided to start a new weekly (unless I forget) blog post: Eat Happy.

My mouth is watering just looking at these pictures, and I wish, oh how I wish, that I didn't down these as fast as I did. Then I could maybe feast on a small morsel as I type about its goodness. Instead, my tummy is grumbling... 

Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oh yeah, butter is even better when it's brown.

Thou shalt not judge my dirty oven. I'm renting. The oven is actually the least of my worries.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies via How Sweet It Is

makes about 15-18 cookies

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup loosely packed brown sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cups rolled oats

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup chocolate chunks

optional: 1- 2 tablespoons milk, if dough is crumbly

Heat a small saucepan over medium-low heat and add butter. Whisking constantly, cook butter until bubbly and until small brown bits appear on the bottom of the pan – about 5-6 minutes. Watch closely and immediately remove the butter from the heat, whisking for an additional 30 seconds or so. Set aside and let cool COMPLETELY. Note: It does not need to solidfy at all, but it should not be warm to the touch.

In a bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, oats and cinnamon, mixing, then set aside.

Once butter has cooled, add to a large bowl. Whisk in sugars, stirring until smooth. Add in egg and vanilla, whisking until smooth once again. Slowly begin to stir in dry ingredients, using your hands if necessary (I always do) to bring dough together. If you find that the dough still won’t come together, add in milk 1 tablespoon at a time (I rarely have to do this.) Fold in chocolate chips, distributing them evenly. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using an ice cream scoop or your hands, form dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on a nonstick baking sheet, then bake for 10-12 minutes, or until bottoms and edges are golden. Let cool before serving.

Miso in Love

 Four words - all you can eat. 

One of those Living Social deals finally paid off and we got a killer deal at Simply Sushi with some killer friends, the Probsts. We dined on Saturday and I'm still feeling full from the sushi extravaganza.

Besto Pesto

My favorite summer dish includes..

my least favorite vegetable

my most favorite kitchen appliance

and my first favorite food group - carbohydrates

Spinach Pine Nut Pesto (is the besto) - by Giadda De'Laurentis

2 cups of tightly packed spinach (least favorite vegetable? "present.")

1-2 tsp lemon zest

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 c. toasted pine nuts (toasted in 400 degree oven)

1/3 c. fresh shredded parmesan cheese

1/2 t. black pepper

1/2 t. salt

Stream 1/3 c. olive oil as the food processor does it's thang

Add 1 box of cooked pasta, some feta and pine nuts as extra garnish, and enjoy.

What I love about this pesto is that spinach is a healthy and more affordable choice than basil, and it comes out with just as much flavor! Plus, I consider myself pretty outstanding when I am sneaking a nasty vegetable like spinach past my very conscientious taste buds. I'm going to make a great mom if I can even trick myself into eating my least favorite food. Just saying.

And then, you take it out for a picnic in the park across the street, bring your best friend and chomp down among the trees. It tastes even better that way!

New Hobby

Got a new camera! Happy graduation, me. Here's to new hobbies and my parents, who generously provided for this gift.

 

So, I'm no pro, but I'm learning. If anyone has major tips and tricks for my new Sony Alpha, I'm down with learning. Despite the fact that I may not have captured these images correctly, our day at the temple couldn't have been better (oh wait. Michael would've really appreciated a win from the Lakers, but that doesn't count).

Anneliese The Adult

The time has come. This precious little thing with a bow in her hair and hand-me-down overalls has graced the world with her presence for 18 wonderful years! That smiling, charming little girl is now the wit and backbone of the Carter family, keeping us laughing, humble and stylish. Thank goodness she was born into our family!! 

THREE CHEERS FOR ANNELIESE, and A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Harry Potter spells and lighting scars 

Sister Love. What would I do without her?

Alumnhood

Cue: "Pomp and Circumstance"

Do I look different? Oh, I look older and wiser? Well, it's fitting because I am fully graduated now. Duh.

It was such a special experience graduating with this chick by my side. If you don't know the story, Anna and I met freshman year because we both wanted to be Communications majors. So on that glorious day of freshman orientation, we went to the Comms major preview in the De Jong Concert Hall. There we declared "Communications!" as our major (just as Michael Scott declared bankruptcy an Office episode long ago).

Last Friday, we sat in that same concert hall in cap and gown with a fast four years behind us. Anna is off to be a top broadcast journalist somewhere in the big, wide world (aka California we hope!) and I am continuing down the yellow brick, sometimes treacherous road of public relations. So fitting. I'll pitch her the story, she'll produce the story - we're all a happy bunch.

BUT what made graduation that much more special was that our family made the long trek from Utah to celebrate. I loved having a long weekend to spend with them. I even took my first day off work for convocation on Friday!! I'm sorry, but I cannot work when I am supposed to be walking.

Michael wore his new spectacles so he wouldn't look like a dumby who wasn't graduating. Or maybe it was because he wanted to prove to the world that he was a soon-to-be law student. Woo woo! Hot attorney coming right at ya!

Final note, those caps and gowns are not flattering. I wore it just this much side ways and it looks like I have a lazy eye. That thing came off my head very quickly.