Dear Diary: August Edition

Dear Diary,

This month went by so fast and yet so slow at the same time. It seems like forever since we celebrated my bday.

This is super long because there is a lot that I was too lazy to post about but don't want to forget about when I'm old.

I had weekly dinner with Kari, R, and Abbers. I met Kari at my first post-college job. She didn’t like me at first and even made me cry my second week, but things quickly changed. Soon we were spending our lunches together, getting mani/pedis, and emailing all day. Then she moved. We managed to stay in touch and solidified our friendship during the 2 years apart with our weekly weekend updates so that we could both stay in the happs. When she moved back we decided to quit the email and instead have our updates in person. This is great because I get to eat a delicious dinner, hang out with Abby, and share the baked goods she’s been reading about!

R, Abbers, Kari. (I jacked this from your fb, hope you don't mind!)

**Side story: Kari is a tad older than I am so she sometime switches from friend to mom mode (I think some of this came with her becoming a mom herself). Once when I went on a trip she would regularly text me to make sure I was ok and alive. When I got back from it and called to give her the update she answered the phone, "Are you safe?!?" Haha. I'm glad that she's always looking out for my best interest and she doesn't want me to be kidnapped. Thanks Kari!

Emma was baptised! Emma is the most perfect baby I have ever met. She makes me less nervous about having my own (in the very distant future), as long as they turn out like her. Every time I have been around her she is just wonderful. I have literally only heard her cry for maybe a total of 5 min. Amazing! The day before the baptism Cole & Brittany had a get together at their house for family and practically family (I made the cut after living with them for a few months. Best time ever!). So much fun! I love hanging out with C+B and their families. I wish they would adopt me in. Everyone is so nice, and Carla and Lacie are both so funny.

We ended the night with the usual guys vs. girls in Harry Potter scene it. I honestly don't know why they bother since we always win. Ok, except for that one time. When they cheated. Because they enjoyed too much wine. AND wouldn't play by the rules. Pretty sure that won't be mentioned after the severe beating we gave out. (Cole took the board away before I could snap a pic. This is from when we beat them in a different game of scene it. HP was similar, we are obvs in the winners circle but the boys were a few spaces behind where they are in the pic.)

Just like T-pain all we do is win, win, win, no matter what.

The girls and I had two Pole La Teaz classes. I’ll probably do a separate post on that. It was so much fun! (needless to say, you can often find me singing booty work while doing, well, booty work.).

B, Kat, and I attended a BBQ at Ewelina’s place. That was an experience. Apparently those boys don’t know how to grill. Next time I’m pretty sure the women will take over. Paul turned the grill on high, lit it, and left it open. If that wasn’t bad enough, the grill was really dirty so it caught on fire. The flames were higher than the grill lid. I basically smoked out my eyes when I closed it. WTF? They were also grilling the food with the lid open. WTF? This isn’t rocket science, it’s grilling! 

  

 This month (and most of Sept) Jes and I are going to Quality Life Fitness. We love BodyPump and BodyJam, and I occasionally peer pressure her into additional cardio via the elliptical (She does yoga before class, so I don’t always pressure too hard). We both prefer to always be in the same spot in our classes (which is the front) so much that Jes had to get a little raw with two people that tried to take my spot as I grabbed our mats. Who does that? You always see me there, and the spot is obviously being marked. Do not get in between the Jes-Jes and BPB bond. We both love this gym and might actually commit and join…that is after we finish the rest of our workout groupons we’ve been collecting! Plus, who doesn't want to visit the jungle every week?

  

I also baked stuff this month. Duh. This was a month of cookies. seriously, three weeks in a row. Check them out here! You might literally die from the pure deliciousness! You have been warned.

Grandma's M&M cookies

My absolute fave cookie!

of all time.

end.of.story.

If you've been reading this (and I know you have), then it's obvious that my grandma is the best. She gets a shout out in almost every post! (Hey Grandma! I love you!).

She makes the best of everything, especially M&M cookies. I.die.

I don't know if this is a made up memory or not (does that ever happen to you?), but I have visions of eating these and they are only covered with red and green M&M's. I don't know for a fact that Grandma made these around Christmas when I was little, but eating them makes me think of Christmas and Grandma's house. The two best things in the world!

I love the taste of the M&M's after they've been baked. I love the sweet with a hint of salt. I love that these cookies are more on the firm side, but not because they are overdone. I love everything about them!

I emailed Grandma to get the recipe because I misplaced it when I last moved, and she added this little tidbit in the email:

"Hope these turn out good, but with you making them they will be extra good."

Isn't she the best? And yes, they were extra good.

M & M Cookies

1 cup shortening                   

1 cup brown sugar                 

1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs 
1 tsp. salt             

2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. soda

1 1/2 cups (3/4 pound) M&M's (Medium bag should do the trick)

                                         

1. Blend shortening and sugars in a separate large bowl. Beat in vanilla and eggs.
2. In a medium bowl sift flour, soda, and salt together, then slowly add the sugar mixture. Mix well.
3. Stir in 1/2 cup M&M's.** 
4. Drop from spoon (I prefer a cookie scoop) onto an ungreased cookie sheet and decorate top of cookies with remaining M&M's.

Bake 375 degree for 10-12 minutes.

**Or, if you are lazy like me, you can just mix in all of the M&M's.

Can't you almost taste the goodness?

"I'm going to pee the bed."

Dear Taco Cabana guy,

I really appreciate the fact that you are working at a fast food joint so B and I can get some quick (except for tonight) delicious dinner when we are feeling lazy. I mean, someone has to work there, and it ain't going to be me! What I don't appreciate is you asking me for my order, I give it to you, you tell me to hold on for a few min, then ask me what I want again. What is that?!? Why did you ask for it if you weren't ready the first time?

TC guy: So you wanted a Big Mac, and a frosty?
Me: Seriously, you know this is Taco Cabana right? Let's go over this one more time...

I also don't appreciate you being high, therefor making you incompetent. Why did we sit at the window for 10 min waiting for our food. The parking lot is basically empty and there isn't a line in the drive thru...WTF are you doing in there?!?

That's great, but can I just get my sophapillas. We went over the order 4 times, how did you mess this up?!?

You kinda freaked me out when you got spazy when I kindly (seriously, I'm always very nice) asked for the sophapillas that I ordered but you didn't give to me. But thanks for switching out B's brisket tacos for the bean and cheese ones. It's not her fault that her eyes have failure to read the menu correctly at night. When we asked for salsa, we really appreciated your sarcasm when you asked if we would like refills for our drinks too, because we all knew that this simple transaction was taking wayyyyy too long.

And thanks for giving us 4 different bags for our food. We didn't order that much, but you sufficiently made us feel like fatties anyway.

See you again soon!

xoxo,

BJ House

No, But B might if you don't get us our food! B and Wayne Brady are like soul mates.

p.s. Way to go B for not yelling the F word at stoned guy! I'm glad that instead we just laughed at the situation. Otherwise I'm pretty sure he might have shanked us since he was probably on something stronger than pot. I'm glad we are alive!

And then we ended our evening with this weeks Jersey Shore ep, which was hilar and then some Mac time before B decided it was her bedtime.

Caaabbbbs are Heeerrrrrre!

It's Jersey Shore time once again! Thank goodness because I had been having withdraws. I can't wait to see what catchphrases they are going to teach us this season.

From season's past we have acquired:

• GTL
• Jersey Turnpike
• Blast in a glass
• Grenade
• cabs are here!
• T-shirt time
• dtf
• pulling a robbery
• and so many more!

I really think that B and I should get in contact with some MTV execs to see if we can secure a spot on the next season. (wait, I know they just wrapped the 5th season but I can't remember if they are doing more.) B and I would be great additions to the cast because:

• we are funny
• We have tons of catchphrases that America needs to hear about
• Funny things usually happen to us when we are together
• Instead of T-shirt time we have Taco Time or Mac Book Time. (I swear it would make good TV, it's when we get in most of our laughs).
• We love to dance and have successfully executed the jersey turnpike.
• plus we have new moves to share with the crew
• We would be the female MVP

Seriously, living in our house is like being on Jersey Shore (except we aren't slutty) but better because we don't have creepy uncle Sitch to creep on you. And if we did, B the enforcer would put him in his place (*slap hand*. NO!).

And yes, Pauly D is my fave. He's just so funny!

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What is your fave Jersey Shore quote?

Who is your fave cast member?

Trophy Wife Cupcakes - So good that you'll propose to me after one bite!

Truth.

So why did I only share these with the ladies at Recipe Klub? That was poor planning on my part. Better luck next time!

Al finally got to host RKlub at her house and it happened to fall during Tech Mandy's bday! Naturally I took over volunteered to make her bday dessert. Mandy's requests were chocolate, coconut, creme cheese, or all three together. That's easy enough. I figured I'd just whip up a chocolate cake and add toasted coconut to the frosting. I considered creme cheese frosting, but I haven't made any before and didn't want to risk it on the girls.

So the hunt through my billions of bookmarked recipes began for the perfect chocolate cake! I came across the Trophy Wife recipe that Running Off the Reece's had posted a while back and knew it would be delicious. How could I possible resist a recipe by that name?

**side note. Check of Reece's website. She is super funny and I know I would make her my bff if only I met her in real life. Instead I just stalk her in blog life.

Unlike being a Trophy Wife, this recipe is really easy and quick to mix up!

Trophy Wife Cake (or in this case, cupcakes)
1 3/4 c milk
chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
small box of chocolate pudding
12 oz. of chocolate chips (typically one bag)
1 can Milk Chocolate icing

1. Preheat Oven to 350.
2. In a large bowl mix cake mix, milk, eggs, chocolate pudding mix, and chocolate chips.
3. Pour into greased pan or cupcake pan with liners.
4. Cook time based on what box mix says.
5. 
   Once it's cool remove from pan and stick in fridge.
6. Ice it! I used caned milk chocolate icing.

Toasted Coconut
1 bag sweetened coconut flakes

1. Heat non stick skillet over medium.
2. Pour in coconut flakes (amount depends on how much you will use, I toasted 1/2 a bag)
3. Occasionally stir the coconut so it can evenly brown.
4. Remove from heat once it's fragrant and mostly toasted/light brown.
5. Dip iced cupcakes into the coconut and lightly press down.

Ta-da! Easy peasy!

I also iced a few of the cupcakes with rainbow chip icing (one of my premade faves!). Delish!

I shared the extra with my coworkers so I could continue my campaign to support obesity one cupcake at a time.