a little for me, a little for you

A few months ago I found a great recipe for Salted Caramel Brownies - I can't remember where I found the recipe originally, but it is very similar to this recipe - and so very yummy! The first two times I made them, I made the caramel from scratch! That was a first (and second) and something I was always very intimidated by.  Well, I can assure you that it's nothing to be intimidated by! So simple, you just need to keep a watchful eye on it.  The third time, I used caramel in a jar (the kind you put on ice cream) and it just wasn't the same!

I would absolutely suggest making these though, they are absolutely worth the time and effort! They're also great for sharing - I know my staff has appreciated the chocolate/caramel fix they get once week or so.  Now I'm on the move for another new recipe to try and make for them.  I'm thinking something a little lighter and more summery.  The current ones on my list for baking on Tuesday or Wednesday are:

Lemonade Cake
Strawberry Bars
Nutella Cheesecake Bites

Thoughts, suggesstions?

95 days till my birthday?

I don't actually count down to my birthday, so please take a deep breath and stop calling me crazy.  I only know the approximate number because it's the day Christopher comes home plus 10 or 11 or 12 days. 

Anyway, the point of this post was not to showcase my awesome math abilities (note :: sarcasm).  Today I was reading Jenna Cole's Blog and read her birthday post.  I was completely motivated by her listing of 26 Amazingly Awesome Things About My Life Right Now section.  How cool would it be to make this list every year on your birthday, then someday when I'm old, like 50 (haha) look back and see how my list has changed! I obviously can't go back and do 25, so I'm going to start this July.  I might type it up and post it here, I might buy a cool, cute, fancy notebook and write it all down - I haven't decided all the details yet!

But I did want to share something that I think is incredibly cool, motivating, and a great way to keep your life in perspective.  Anyone want to join me?

And.... because blogging is way more fun with photos, here's a picture of me on my 15th birthday, with the best friend a girl could ask for.

To Korea With Love

Once a month (sometimes more), I mail a box off to Christopher.  Some months it's more thought out than others, some months, I just spend $30 at the dollar store and hope he likes it. 

The easter box was so much fun though! You know I included that obnoxious easter grass that gets everywhere, right?  Plus, easter eggs filled with candy (and some cash), Tastycakes, and a t-shirt.  Oh, and Bethoven - because even though it has nothing to do with Easter, it was at Big Lots and I didn't want to wait. 

The t-shirt was one of my favorite parts of this box though:

I can't believe that I only have May & June boxes to mail, and then he'll be home! I can't wait!!!!

Today I:

I'm going to write this post on Tuesday night, and schedule it for Wednesday morning.  Both Monday night and Tuesday night, I had the intention to come home and workout at the end of the day.  Except - at the end of 12 hour workday, at 7pm - I need to make dinner, and get ready for the next day.

But I've decided that I've had enough of the excuses, excuses from myself.  It's not as though I'm overweight, or even really that out of shape.  But - I know that I can be in better shape.  And I know that I should take better care of myself! I mean really, I'm 25 - I should be in the best shape of my life, right?

So back to the point of this post.  It's 9:56 right now, and I'm going to get ready for bed.  I'm going to go to bed now, and set my alarm for 6am.  And at 6am, I am going to get up and workout in my basement.  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to do my kettle bell workout or ride my bike.  Either way, I'll be in the basement from 6 - 6:30, and then get myself ready for work.  Wish me luck.

Hopefully I'll be working out when this post goes up at 6.  Otherwise, I'm going to look like an ass for posting this, and wimping out.