Rancid oil

Made a batch of Pumpkins Spice Latte cupcakes only to realize that the oil was rancid and the cupcakes were inedible.

Too late to make more.

Will try again tomorrow.

I also borrowed my friend's camera this week-yay!  It was a lot of fun, and I realized that I could really get into photography.  Especially with C.  good thing my birthday is coming up!

no pics but...

take my word for it, everything was great.

The shower was beautiful, and the food was good.  I made pulled pork, cookies, and my mom made her delicious chinese chicken salad.  Everyone wants the recipe so I am gonna give it to ya:

Mom's Chinese Chicken Salad

Dressing:
1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
3 T sugar
1 T soy sauce
1 1/2 t salt
3/4 t pepper
2 T sesame seeds
1/2 t minced garlic

Whisk all until sugar is dissolved.  Pour over salad parts and refrigerate.

Salad parts:
Broccoli slaw
snap peas
water chestnuts
cooked diced chicken
uncooked ramen noodles
carrots
cabbage

You name it and it would probably be good in this salad, but these are the things we use.  It is best the second day.

We did a great hike for the bachelorette party.  Here's a map
It was about 7 miles and I'd say a moderate hike.  Not too bad, but 7 miles is kind of long if you aren't really prepared.

Then we camped overnight.  It was a great preview for next weekend. I got to practice setting things up, so Friday will be a breeze.





I also got to check a few things off my list!

1.  Pick fruit
2.  Go camping
3.  Organize my crafting/sewing supplies
4.  Set up a college fund for little Little C
5.  Make a will
6.  Do something with my wedding dress
7.  Take a class
8.  Can something for the winter
9.  Read a book
10.  Build something with my husband
11.  Go hiking
12.  Cook a new dish
13.  Plan a quilt
14.  Grow a giant pumpkin
15.  Make something with the tomatoes I grew
16.  Spend one day with no computer or TV and with my family
17.  Get feather hair extensions  like Ke$ha
18.  Do something with my sister, Maggie
19.  Drink with my little brother, Jeff
20.  Go wine tasting
21.  See the new Harry Potter movie
22.  Be in a wedding
23.  Get my guitar out again
24.  Run a race
25.  Donate to a good cause


#2: Go Camping.  This wasn't really full on camping, but we did have a fire, sleep in a tent, and I got 2 mosquito bites.


#11:  Go hiking.  The hike counts.  My legs were sore the next day and I was semi out of breath at times.  The first 2 miles are to a cedar grove, then you go 1 more up to a 35 foot waterfall, and another 1/2 mile to a cabin.  After that it is flat for a while and then loops down to the beginning.  The trail on the way back was better than the part up to the waterfall, probably because people turn back there.  A family saw us looking at the map there and seemed very worried that 4 girls (we are all about 25) would even think about continuing on at 7pm.  I think we ended up beating them back. :)


Nick and I picked out a project to do too.  So #10 is in the head lights.

70's party

Went to the library the other day and I found tons of books I wanted to check out.  I had to narrow the list because when I tried to put them all in the stroller basket it collapsed!  

My "narrowed" books.  I also got a few books for my husband.  He's planning to build some outdoor furniture this summer.

This is an awesome book!  There are tons of recipes that are not as difficult or full of exotic ingredients as I expected.

 That night we went to a birthday party for one of my friends.  It was 70's themed.  We went all out with Farrah Fawcett hair and his creepy mustache.

You can't see our short shorts and knee socks in this picture.

My friend's birthday gift was magnets!

This was our Christmas card.

When we got home there was a cat in our yard.  I swear it was right there.  A family hung up posters for an orange tabby with a white bib, but the only light I had was the camera and when I tried to snap a picture he darted.  I ran all over the block looking for him, and never saw him again.

Banana bread

Made some banana bread today.  I have been collecting over-ripe bananas in the freezer for months and today I made a double batch.  Swapped out some of the butter for apple sauce and added peanut butter to one of the loaves.

So we have plain, with nuts, and with peanut butter.  Yummmm!

Little C hasn't napped long enough to let me get started on my sister's skirt, and every time I get a minute my phone rings for work.  Maybe tomorrow.