Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

It's been more than a month since my last post, and I apologize for that my friends. I'm sure life has been keeping you bus as well. I am settled into my apartment, having my first party next Friday, starting to get the hang of my job, and starting to develop somewhat of a social life here in the Northwest (yay!).

One of my favorite things about living on my own is having my own kitchen. I don't have to worry about gluten contamination, I can be creative, & I can make a mess (I always do!)

I had a craving for something sweet, and Trader Joe's has the best gluten free brownie mix. And why not mix in some peanut butter cups instead of chocolate chips? So I did. They were delicious!


Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
Gluten free Brownie Mix (Trader Joe's, or your favorite)
1 egg
1/2 cup applesauce (or vegetable oil)
1/4 cup water
1 cup mini peanut butter cups

Preheat oven to 350 & grease 8x8 pan. Mix all ingredients together and pour into pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy with some 2004 Steven Kent Eutaxia (35% Barbera & 65% Cabernet). If you prefer milk, that works too :)

on my own

"The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time." - Abraham Lincoln


Abe Lincoln was a wise man. (I think I already told you that, but it's worth sharing again). 


I graduated from college 3 years ago, it seems like a lifetime ago. When I graduated, I distinctly remember like I felt I had to figure out the rest of my life. Just a little overwhelming! Feeling like I had to find the career which I would have for the rest of my life, deciding where to live, what kind of person I wanted to be was a little much to handle. Add to that this huge transition of being in college (being grown up without any rules or responsibility) and moving home to live with my parents and pretend to be a grown up. 


Isn't that how it happens? As soon as you graduate from college you turn into a grown up and become a part of the "real world." 


It wasn't easy. I felt lost for a good long while until I felt I was making any progress. I found a full time job at a winery that I loved and met a wonderful group of people. I stopped hating the town I grew up in, I got to coach softball and drink wine all day at work. 


And after all of that, out of nowhere it seems, I decided to move to Seattle. Nothing was holding me back, it was a good a time as any. I didn't want to look back one day and wonder "what if?" 

It was almost exactly a year ago that I decided it was time to move to the Northwest. I moved my entire life to another city 850 miles away. I wanted a change and I wanted to do it on my own. Looking back, I often wonder what I was thinking. What kind of crazy person leaves her family and her friends and sunshine to go to a place where it's grey 300 days a year? Maybe I thought it was time to move on, maybe I had to know I could survive without my parent's help. 


Looking back seems to be easier than looking forward. The future holds so many unknowns, so many questions. The past is easier to understand, easier to make the pieces fit together. Oh, that's why I moved here (independence and confidence), that's why I flew home in October (to meet this really great guy), that's why life is so hard sometimes (it all pays off in the end). 


Three years ago if someone had told me that the future comes one day at a time, I wouldn't have been able to grasp it. Sure, it's a nice thought. It's difficult to completely comprehend until you're able to say it and know for sure that it's true, because you've experienced it for yourself. 

Tulips

I went to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival this past weekend. The sun came out and it was even a little warm, it turned out to be a great day.

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was officially inaugurated in 1984 by the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce. When the festival began, it only lasted a few days and then a week. Because the weather is unpredictable, the festival is now a month long, giving folks time to enjoy the full bloom of the tulips.

A few facts about tulips:
Tulips are spring-blooming perennials that grow from bulbs. Depending on the species, tulip plants can grow as short as 4 inches or as high as 28 inches.

Tulip flowers come in a wide variety of colors, except pure blue (several tulips with "blue" in the name have a faint violet hue).

Tulips are indigenous to mountainous areas with temperate climates and need exposure to the prolonged cold of winter. They thrive in climates with long, cool springs and dry summers. Although perennials, tulip bulbs are often imported to warm-winter areas of the world from cold-winter areas, and are planted in the fall to be treated as annuals (flowers that only bloom once).

Although tulips are associated with Holland, both the flower and its name originated in the Persian Empire. The tulip actually is not a Dutch flower as many people tend to believe. Tulip, or "Laleh" as it's called in Persian, is a flower indigenous to Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. In the sixteenth century, tulips were introduced to Europe, and from there on it became known to the whole world.

There was also a large field of yellow daffodils. Bright yellow flowers, blue skies and snow capped mountains sure bring a smile to my face.

I bought two bunches of tulips, they're sitting on my desk. They're such happy flowers, and they last a few weeks! So next time you're in the Seattle area in April you should go to the Tulip Festival, just one of those things that is worth experiencing.

Charlie Brown, the philosopher

"I've developed a new philosophy . . . I only dread one day at a time."


Charlie Brown's first appearance was in 1950, and one of my grandma's all time favorites. He fails in almost everything he does, bullied by his dog and friends but he never gives up hope.  

Even though this quote is a glass half empty perspective, it's also very profound. Instead of saying seize the day, Charlie Brown says that instead of dreading the next 50 years, he is only going to focus on tomorrow. He won't worry about what he wants to be when he grows up or who he might marry. Charlie Brown will focus on his baseball team winning (unlikely), if Lucy will hold the football for him, or whether he receives a Valentine (even less likely).

It's easy to get lost in the shuffle of day-to-day life. We start going through the motions: wake up, shower, breakfast, work, drive home, dinner, sleep, etc. Is it possible to enjoy the moment when each day is dull and predictable? Can you really appreciate a fresh cup of coffee in the morning when you've had it every other morning? What gets you through the day? How is it possible to enjoy the moment if you have to worry about paying rent, getting to work on time, buying groceries, planning a summer vacation?

I think it all comes down to life is what you make it. Are you the type of person to growl about gas prices and the cloudy weather? Or can you be grateful that you are finacially stable to afford a car and gas? Usually I'm not that optimistic but I don't let it ruin my day. Hey, at least it's a start.

My aunt Sue says "Don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff."

In the end, I won't care how much money I make or whether I was five minutes late for a meeting. I will care whether or not I spent time with the people I love, if I laughed and gave hugs and had the confidence to be myself. Charlie Brown is right. Don't worry about the rest of your life. If you're going to worry about anything at all, focus on tomorrow. Believe that everything will all work out in the end.

Grape Nehi Cocktail

In honor of my trip to Las Vegas this weekend, I'd like to share the recipe for a delicious cocktail with you:

1-1/2 oz. Absolute Citron
1-1/4 oz. Chambord
1 oz. Sweet & Sour
Splash of simple syrup
Squeeze of lemon

Combine the above ingredients in an iced shaker (and shake). Pour into a martini glass and top off with Sprite (about 1/2 oz.). Garnish with a lemon peel if you're feeling festive.

This is the perfect combination of citrus and sweet (and vodka of course). Enjoy!

random useless facts

What is your current obsession?
-Sleeping. I can never seem to get enough these days.


What is your weirdest obsession?
-I still sleep with a stuffed penguin. Her name is Greta.


What are you wearing today?
-Khaki pants, white blouse, black belt and black cardigan.


What's for dinner?
-I don't know yet. Chipotle sounds pretty good.


What woiuld you eat for your last meal?
-Watermelon. It has to be crisp and cool. And a tanqueray and tonic.

What’s the last thing you bought?
-A dress from Macy's for my trip to Vegas next week.

What are you listening to right now?
-My new favorite song is by Florence and the Machine, "The Dog Days are Over."

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
-Coffee. No question. Vanilla is pretty darn good too (without chocolate sauce).

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would it be?
-In the Bay Area. All of the people I love are there. I'd love an ocean view, a big porch and lots of windows too.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go?
-Cabo San Lucas. Give me a beach chair, the water, the sun, a book, a margarita and I'll be happy.

What language do you want to learn?
-Spanish (again). I was pretty good at it a few years ago, but it's been awhile.

What’s your favorite fruit?
-Watermelon. Chilled. Cut up into cubes. Yes, I'm picky. But if I cut watermelon into triangles with the rind it's too juicy and I'll get it all over my shirt (I know from experience).

What is one of your favorite daily/weekly rituals?
-Making coffee every morning. Going to yoga and breakfast on Sundays with Safiya is pretty great too.

If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?

-I'd put it towards a plane ticket. Or maybe some furniture. Or a haircut, I need one of those.

Who inspires you?

-My mom.

growing up

"Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain."

Everyone has their own idea of what growing up means. Some think you become a grown up when you turn 18, you're a legal adult according to the United States after all. Others believe it happens when you move away from home, or when you find a real job ("real" being interpreted by the worker of course). 

I have always believed that being an adult means having the responsiblity and success to support yourself. Even though I'm 24, I don't really feel like an adult. I've been living with family since I graduated from college. But then, maybe I'll never feel like an adult. And maybe that isn't a bad thing.

The older I get the more I realize that everyone follows their own path in life. And yes, I knew this before but maybe now I am really starting to understand it. Life  comes down to what makes you happy, what you really want. For me, figuring out what I really want is part of the obstacle.

As a child I followed one path, it consisted of school and softball. Yes, it was difficult sometimes but I never doubted that it was exactly where I belonged. And that's what I did for 15 years. Now, the possibilities are endless and that is part of the problem. There are so many directions that I can take, where do I even think to begin?

I keep joking with friends and family that I'll look back on this time in my life and think fondly of it. I'll be successful and happy (happiness is the real key in my book anyway). I can say, "Yes, I stumbled and fell but I figured out how to land on my feet. No, it wasn't easy." But maybe life isn't supposed to be easy.

My brother once told me that "It's easy to be happy when everything is going your way. Success feels a whole lot better when you were actually challenged and had to overcome obstacles you didn't expect." This is coming from a kid who doesn't share his opinion on my life a whole lot, but I really appreciated it.

So, yes life may be difficult but it's how you handle those obstacles that make you who you are.

Happy Friday

"A morning without coffee is like sleep."

I know the feeling all too well! After so many years of waking up with a cup of coffee, a morning without one would not be the same. I'd be groggy and sullen and pretty much in a bad mood just because I didn't get to enjoy a glorious cup of coffee.

So, happy Friday to you and I hope you got to enjoy a cup of coffee this morning!

Saint Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is named after Saint Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. It is a worldwide holiday that celebrates Ireland's culture and history. The holiday is observed on March 17 to commemorate the anniversary of Saint Patrick's death in the fifth century.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck. (However, there is a 1 in 10,000 chance of finding a clover with four leaves).

The shamrock is the traditional holiday symbol because St. Patrick used it to explain the connection between the father, the son, and the holy spirit in the Christian religion.

The very first St. Patrick's Day Parade was in Boston in 1737.

The association of St. Patrick's Day and leprechaun's is purely an American creation. The 1959 Disney movie, "Darby O'Gill & the Little People" introduced the leprechaun we are so familiar with.

The phrase "Drowing the Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.

Chicago dyes its river green. It began in 1962 when city pollution-control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges; they realized the green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. Forty pounds of vegetable dye is used to dye the river, lasting several hours.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night. -Irish Blessing

the hardware store

Last weekend my friend, Safiya, and I took a ferry boat to Vashon Island. We went there to check out a restaurant, The Hardware Store. Safiya drove her car onto the ferry, which is a pretty cool thing if you've never done it before. The ferry ride was 20 minutes, it was clear, cold and very windy on the deck.   

 

The restaurant has such character. It is a beautiful building right in the middle of this quiet little town. It has a cozy feel to it, big booths, a lot of pictures and little knick knacks. It is one of those places where you wouldn't think so many different things fit together, but it works really well. 

There are cute little touches that add to the decor. (They have delicious coffee & the food is great too!)

Afterwards we went to the West Seattle Farmer's Market. It was small but it is one of the few markets that takes place year round in Seattle. Fruit, vegetables, delicious caramels and fresh fish. 

Safiya and I both bought flowers, daffodils and yellow tulips. I love farmer's markets! 

sunday morning funnies

decisions

Some quotes (and my input) on decision making:

"Stay committed to you decisions, but stay flexible in your approach."
Roll with the punches, go with the flow, play it by ear. Sometimes things don't work out exactly how you planned it, but you should have faith that things will all work out.


"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." 
It's a nice thought looking back. I like thinking that an unplanned outing at a winery one afternoon led me to meet my best friend in the world. But, in the midst of making a big decision, that thought is pretty overwhelming.


"A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion." 
I completely agree. Listen to your heart, you make your own happiness. Hopefully you are brave enough to do what you want without having to justify it. It's your life, you have the freedom to choose.


"We can try to avoid making choices by doing nothing, but even that is a decision."
Ignoring your problem does not make it disappear, and in some cases it makes things worse. A big part of growing up is making decisions. Which college? Where to live? What do I want to do? Is money the most important thing? Avoiding your problems will not help, be strong, stand up and face them. (Easier said than done of course).


"Don't you ever wonder maybe if you took a left turn instead of a right you could be someone different?"
All the time.

what to shop for in march

According to my daily Peanuts calendar, this is what you should shop for on sale in March:

• Spring clothing
• Wedding gifts
• I don't have any weddings to go to this year
• Air conditioners
• Not in the Northwest
• Washers and dryers
• Garden supplies
• I definitely do not have a green thumb, waste of money for me. But I did buy some beautiful tulips and they're still alive 4 days later, so that's good news.
• Outdoor winter sports gear
• Yes, because winter is almost over
• Luggage
• Already have some of that
• China
• Who uses china?

So from the looks of it, I won't be spending a lot of money this spring. But in case you're in need of anything that I listed, it's on sale in March....and now is the time to buy!

kopi luwak

A quote about coffee from a favorite movie...

A little background about this scene:
Carter (Morgan Freeman) and Edward (Jack Nicholson) are both diagnosed with terminal cancer. They decide to make a bucket list, a list of things to do before they kick the bucket. Edward is a millionaire, and loves his Kopi Luwak coffee. Little does he know that....

Carter Chambers: Read it.

Edward Cole [reading]: Kopi Luwak is the world's most expensive coffee. Though for some, it falls under the category of 'too good to be true.' In the Sumatran village, where the beans are grown, lives a breed of wild tree cat. These cats eat the beans, digest them and then... defecate. [pauses] The villagers then collect and process the stools. It is the combination of the beans and the gastric juices of the tree cat that give Kopi Luwac...

[Carter starts laughing]

Edward: .....it's unique flavor....and aroma. You're shitting me!

Carter: [laughing] Cats beat me to it!
[Carter and Edward both laugh hysterically]

This quote is from the movie The Bucket List. After Morgan Freeman shares this with Jack Nicholson he crosses off 'laugh until I cry.'

FACT: Kopi Luwak is indeed the most expensive coffee in the world selling for
between $120 and $600 USD per pound. Its production is very slow due to its
'animal stage': the beans come from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet.

I have only ever laughed until I cried once. My mom and I were playing a card game, and she had to act like a cat. It was so unlike her, she is usually reserved and friendly, not outgoing and exuberant. I could not help but laugh and laugh and laugh. It was such an amazing feeling! To cry because you're laughing so uncontrollably? That's a pretty incredible moment if you ask me.

And if you haven't seen the movie The Bucket List you should!

dr. seuss

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

Dr. Seuss was born March 2, 1904. He would have been 107 years old this week. Did you know that his real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel? I did not. He published 44 books in his lifetime. Even though he was a great writer and cartoonist, I remember him as an incredible rhymer. From The Grinch and Go Dogs Go! to Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham he certainly delivered some classics. What child has not read those books? As an adult (I think I'm an adult) I still enjoy them. And someday (hopefully) I will get to read them to my kids as well.

Anyhow...I came across this quote this morning. It is one of the few that Dr. Seuss said that does not rhyme. But it's really a sweet thought. How many people are lucky enough to be able to say that reality is better than their dreams? Not many I bet.

top ten

my favorite things (in no particular order):

1.  cold, juicy watermelon
2.  laughing with my best friend
3.  fresh cup of coffee (from peet's of course)
4.  listening to the rain
5.  a really good hug (only a few are able)
6.  the color yellow
7.  steven kent cabernet
8.  playing catch with my dad
9.  reading a good book
10. spending time with my mom

honest abe

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be."

Abe Lincoln was a wise man. I don't think anyone doubts that. But this quote is spot on. Good job Abe!

Some complain and sulk when things don't go their way. Life is awful they say. Over the years I've noticed that these people are usually always complaining about something or other. It seems they like to have a 'poor me' attitude.

On the other hand, we also have the optimistic group. They see the glass half full, sun is shining, kids are happy, etc. Even when things don't go their way, they are able to look on the bright side. At least they don't waste needless energy on things which we cannot control (the weather for example).

My grandmother always said, "don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff." Even if you've had your dobber down this week (and yes, I realize it's only Tuesday), remember what Abe said, you have the power to make yourself happy!