Awesome & Awkward Friday

This could easily turn into an episode of bothered (you know, the Jimmy Falon pretending to be Edward Cullen sitting in a tree being bothered?), but I'm going to dig deep (like really deep) to share the better moments of the week.

Linking up with From My Grey Desk and Life Rearranged to share the weekly happs.

Awesome

• Picking up Steve from the airport tonight!
• NBD, but Ian totally sent me my vday card (finally!).

• A much needed dinner with the girls. I'm so happy to have wonderful friends...even if they are cray.
• Spending the night with Cole & Brittany. I wonder if they will let this become an all the time weekend thing?



We usually end up making a cupcake run.

• Pump. Slightly increased my squat...if only my arms would follow suit.

Awkward

• I was so excited to watch Vampire Diaries Thursday...but it's on break until March 14. What is that? How am I supposed to make it through my weeks without this to look forward to? I'm dead. Like Jeremy Gilbert dead.
• Me trying to do the chopper in pole. My biceps were not cooperating.
• How quickly I ate these...before lunch.

New Release!

The last release was in October, but I missed the party because my dearest friend Lindsey was getting married. Not a bad trade off, but it did make the anticipation for this release even greater than it typically would be!

As fate would have it they scheduled Jam to kick off release weekend on Thursday night. This was perfect since I was leaving for New York early Friday morning.

Me, Stacey, and Jess

I was so excited when I got to the gym. It was decorated with balloons & streamers, and a lot of people showed up for it so the room was full of energy and excitement.

Jess, Warren, and I showed some front row love and just happened to be wearing matching clothes aka "front row uniform."



Jess, Me, and Warren: Front Row Mafia



The new moves were pretty good and had a lot of good songs by Usher, Biebs, and Tiesto. I was in dance heaven. Not that I was good at it or anything, but I still love to dance a fool and have fun!

After it was over a group of us celebrated with brownies that I made for the occasion.

I loved watching Amanda eat them. There was a moment when I thought she might rub them all over her face. haha. But seriously, it's nice to know I'm not the only one with an appetite for sweets.

We earned them.

So naturally, when I got home I downloaded all of the songs so I can now have body jam session while hanging out at home. Intervention needed? maybe.

Cherry Donut Icing

I have made no secret of my love for donuts. The cherry iced by Donut Stop in particular. Good thing I also have a love for working out otherwise I'd really be in a bind!

My Dad knows of this unhealthy relationship, and my love of baking, so he got me a donut maker for Christmas. This is probably why I am Daddy's girl.

presh to death.

For my first donut adventure I used the mix that Dad bought me - no need to get crazy right away!

But I knew I wanted to make the icing instead of using the cinnamon sugar it came with. And I happened to make these during Valentine's week, so you know it had to be pink. And if it's pink, then it has to be cherry.

This stuff was so easy and delicious that I would prefer to drizzle it on everything for always!

Linking up with Buns In My Oven to share this goodness!

Cherry Icing

1/4 c milk

1 tbsp cherry extract

2 1/4 c powdered sugar

Red food coloring

• Mix the milk and extract in a saucepan over low heat.
• Once warm add in the powdered sugar and whisk slowly.
•  Once combined, add in the food coloring.
• Remove from heat and dip those donuts!

*I dipped my donuts twice, letting them sit on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet (to catch any runaway icing) in between dippings.

The office loved them, and continued to love me in return. #winning for all!

DIF*

*Don't ask.

We kicked off Amanda's bday weekend at The Tasting Room. They have amazing truffle fries & sweet potato fries. If they would make sweet potato truffle fries then I would probably eat there every day.

Winter has finally hit Houston and we had the unfortunate table right by the door. Where people came in and out of constantly. And sometimes they would stand there holding the door open while talking to someone outside. By about the third time of that situation I did yell "in or out! IN OR OUT!" at them; I don't think they heard.

After dinner and multiple glasses of wine, we were ready to head to the after party. And no, it was not in the hotel lobby...it was at La Barre.

This was my first male strip club experience. I didn't really know what to expect outside of what I saw in Magic Mike. So I imagined their dance routines and took it down a few notches. Turns out I should have further lowered my expectations.

It was very interesting. I'm honestly not sure if the male strip club is geared towards turning me on or cracking me up. I don't think that I have 1. laughed so much, and 2. had so much shock face at one event.

Watching all of the physical boundaries being crossed made me nervous. I can appreciate a nice body, but I don't know you so I don't want to touch you, and don't even think about touching me. I obviously didn't get out any dolla dolla bills, y'all.

• Houston's #1 eligible bachelor performed. Yes, our most eligible bachelor is a stripper. If that's the best we have to offer, then I'm doomed.
• Why did we get the super creepy waiter and not the cute one the table next to us got?
• Stripper fight!
• "Look at his triceps!"
• "Feelinloveinahopelessplace
• I think it should be law that all male strippers have to wear boxer briefs instead of the bananna hamock. eww. just eww.
• Boy band reject.
• Do they offer memberships?
• Watching Christina get forced out of her chair and then get difed was hilarious...but probably not to her.
• I told Amanda that we should get her a lapdance, but once she gets up there she needs to flip it and end up lap dancing the stripper. I don't know why she didn't get on board that idea?

Red Velvet Brownies

I made these for Valentine's day. I was obviously going with a red theme and figured that red velvet brownies were worth a shot. They turned out amazing and I was even told they were "bloody good!"

Linking up with Buns In My Oven because sharing is caring!

Red Velvet Brownies

1 stick of butter

1 1/8 c sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tbs vanilla extract

1 box red velvet cake mix

• Preheat oven to 350*
• Beat the eggs, salt, baking powder, and vanilla until smooth.
• In a separate bowl microwave to melt the butter, add the sugar, and stir. Microwave a little longer until hot. It should become shiny as you stir. Heat once more - this will create a shiny top crust on the brownies.
• Add the hot butter/sugar mix to the chocolate concoction and stir until smooth.
• Mix in the red velvet cake mix in 1/2 cup increments.
• Bake 35-45min.

I used an 8x8 brownie pan, but will probably try out the larger pan next time.

Cream Cheese Icing
4 oz cream cheese
1 tbs vanilla
2 c powdered sugar

• Mix all ingredients together.
• Ice once brownies are cool.