Homemade Oreos

Cookies
2 boxes of Devils Food Cake mix
1/2 Cup of Oil
1/2 Cup of Water

Mix all ingredients. Make small balls of mix and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until the tops crack. Let cool.

Frosting (You can buy frosting but I like fresh cream cheese frosting best)
1 Cup of Butter
4 Cups of Powder Sugar
1/2 Tsp of Salt
2 Tsp of Vanilla
1 Block of Cream Cheese

Mix all ingredients.

Once cookies have cooled generously add frosting between two! Place in refrigerator to let the frosting harden a little (if not when you bite down the frosting will ooze out the sides). I add way more frosting than the picture I got off google shows, but I really love frosting!

Fun Filled Pittsburgh Weekend

This weekend the boys and I packed up the car and headed to Pittsburgh for Zara's 1st birthday. We had a great day filled with fun, food, and PUPPIES! It was interesting to see two wiener dogs, one 3 lb terrier, and a HUGE great dane all playing together (they had a blast). The food was fantastic! Brent made the best burger I have ever had! He truly is a grill master. My homemade Oreos were a hit as always!




I haven't even looked at the photos on my camera yet but above are two cute ones that were taken of her and posted on Facebook.


I also took my car to Heyward's place of business to have it looked at. I needed a second opinion and was glad I got one. The mechanics in Maryland "suggested" some repairs because my car needed them (over $1,000 worth of crap!). However, after getting the second opinion from the people I trust I only needed a brake fluid flush and a drive belt ($220, awww much better). Why do mechanics always want to take advantage of you?!!?!?!? I HATE IT!

One Down Two More To Go

Today I took and PASSEd the first of three certifications I wanted to get while waiting till I start working for real. I took the Certified Ethical Hacker exam and next is Network + followed by Security +. I hope to get them done in the next few months!

Oh The INSANITY!

Since I moved to Columbia I have made it a point to start working out more and I definitely have. However, I do not work out everyday like I should nor do I love it. I never feel like it is actually doing anything. I hate running on the treadmill and lifting weights.

Celaschi was kind enough to give me the P90X videos. I liked them alright but I just didn't get into it. The guy is a nutball and I felt like it was way too hard. I did like the more cardio focused ones though.

Well most of my friends have P90X but Wallace has been doing Insanity. He said it is totally cardio focused and I should give it a try. WELL I started Sunday and I absolutely LOVE IT! I just did the ab workout to see what it was all about on Sunday, decided it was something I wanted to do, and yesterday I started the program. I woke up, took the boys out, and then did INSANITY! I haven't felt this good in so long!! Of course I might change my mind in the morning when I cannot move.

I have started many workout plans and diets before and I never really stick with them. I hope to do much better this time! Wish me luck! I will try and blog about it each week so keep me in check if I do not.

PS Who wouldn't want to work out with Shaun T (look at him)!

Franklin Penn

On Saturday August 7th the boys got a new cousin! His name is Franklin Penn and lives in Pittsburgh with Kirsten and Heyward. He is absolutely adorable and I cannot wait to meet him (the boys can't wait either). It makes me want another puppy!

They have made dogs smaller and smaller these days, but can't they make them stay cute and puppy-like!? If they could I would get one in a heartbeat. I also missed out on this time with Walter and I would like to think he would have been just as cute and fluffy!

CONGRATULATIONS Heyward and Jubby!

Here are some pictures of the new Franklin. (Can't you tell I am in infatuated and I haven't even met him yet)

The Country's Second Best

About a month or so after I moved to Columbia, MD my old roommate Kirsten texted me that she read this list of the best places to live in the country. She mentioned that where I live now is number TWO! I was excited. Who doesn't want to live somewhere that every one else seems to think is so awesome?!?!

I thought about what made Columbia so great. I mean it was a planned community when they built it. It is really green and nice. There is always a gas station and grocery store right next to you. I live on a golf course about one mile from the mall (that has an AMC IMAX theater). I mean really everything I need is right here. Oh and the mall has a Macys, MAC, PF Changs, and a Cheesecake Factory. It really doesn't get any better than this...does it??

Well if you have read any of my previous posts you would also know that I have a magical dumpster (that is guarded by a black snake) in my complex that has helped me furnish my living room and office. This magical thing even gave me a birthday present (not that my bday wasn't already the best one ever). The morning of my birthday as I pulled out of my parking area to go to work someone had left a beautiful wrought iron bistro set. I had been on craigslist for weeks looking for one and here it was waiting for me! Of course I needed Jace's help and I had to wake him up (he called me a hoarder but I eventually forgave him).

So things seem pretty awesome here. BUT TODAY the best (in my opinion) just happened. I have had my cell phone for a year and mine do not last much longer than that. I am sure it has something to do with the countless hours I talk and text on it as well as the daily falls onto hard surfaces. Well this morning the power button no longer worked! So I thought okay I just won't turn it off and we shall see how long it lasts. Well a few hours later my phone decided to turn itself off and is no more. SO SAD! So I found a Sprint Repair store a few miles from my house and was on my way to spend the rest of the afternoon fighting with the Sprint people. Words CANNOT describe my experience. I was in and out of the door in less than 15 minutes. I had to wait in line but I was the second person. They had to take my phone back to the repair area and see what they could do. The guy came out and asked if I had insurance (which I did) and then it was as if I said the magic words. He immediately went to a computer typed something things in and said that I should have a brand new phone tomorrow! Yes I will be phone-less for 24hrs and yes I will not be able to save my pictures BUT it was the best experience with Sprint and a broken phone I have ever had (plus now I have a NEW phone).

Long story short (sorry I know I talk a lot), I do live in an amazing place and I am excited to see what else happens!

Perfect Week

The rest of Jace's week in Maryland came and went so quickly, I cannot believe I had to drop him off at the airport this morning. We accidentally slept in but he made it in time. I secretly wish he had missed the plane and had to be stuck here with me forever.

We were able to do many wonderful things together, things some people take for granted when they are not in a long distance relationship. We went to dinner, the movies, the zoo, the visitor's center at the temple, church, made dinner together, played Rummikub and dominoes, watched tv, shopped, talked, napped, and went on a walk. I just enjoyed spending time with him doing the normal things we can't do from opposite sides of the country.

I am going to miss him while he is back in Yuma for school. He has come out this way the last three visits so I suppose it is my turn to go see him!