I'm back.....

It's been quite awhile since I have posted anything....I am very consistent with my inconsistency :)
Let's see what's new....
-I'm down 35lbs since Dec 2011:) Thanks to Gwynnie Bee I am able to stay fashionable as my body changes sizes (Gwynnie Bee: a super awesome company that allows you to expand your closet "Clothing Without Committment")
-I am loving my condo
-I am still a Pinterest addict!
-I have turned into a crazy dog lady...it doesn't have the same ring as crazy cat lady but if BB were a cat I would be the craziest of the cat ladies.
-BB is a famous game show mascot for "Let's Ask America"! We spent 2 days being pampered in Hollywood back in August, met the host and got to play on the green screen.
-I traveled to Ireland...again. I love it there and hope to become independently wealthy so I can divide my time between sunny Southern California and the rainy, green, beautiful land of my heart.
Let's see what else am I forgetting......
-Oh, I turned 30 last Sunday....and I cried. Multiple times. I am better now but I guess I thought life would be different at 30. That I would be more successful. Or have graduated college. Or, or, or, or, or.
The truth is I love my life. I am very content with where God has me right now. I am living the life He created me to live and I plan to enjoy every moment.

I am a nerd!

I am so excited for The Avengers movie tomorrow night! So excited that I made this....

She's crafty!

My very good, dear friend Laurel's 30th Birthday Extravaganza was Saturday night. I wanted to give her something that was perfectly "Laurel". She's crafty, thoughtful, clever, loves wine and give the best gifts.

I came up with the idea of Chalkboard Wine Glasses! Chicks on Pinterest are chalkboard painting almost everything within an inch of it's life so I thought it was my turn to be crafty!

Chalkboard Wine Glasses

What you will need:

1. 6 pack of wine glasses from Ikea ($4)
2. Painters tape (already had on hand)
3. Can of black Chalkboard Spray Paint ($4 Home Depot)

Step 1- Run a bit of painter's tape around the stem of each glass at the base.

Step 2- Carefully spray each base..also make sure you check that the spray can has a little nozzle before purchasing. My nozzle was missing (of course), lucky for me I have about 3,529 cans of spray paint hanging out in my project cabinet in the garage.

Step 3- Let dry for 2 days before chalking it up. Gently rub a piece of chalk all over spray painted surface then wipe off to prep it for chalkboard use :)

Step 4-Start thinking of other things you can transform with chalkboard spray paint :)

The finished project!

What can I say she loves pea soup!

C'mon...all the cool kids are trying it.

Kale chips. Yep, they are delish! I ate an entire bunch of kale in a matter of minutes. You have to try them. They are as crave-able as potato chips. A healthy, yummy, salty snack. This recipe is super easy peasy lemon squeezy; 3 ingredients, one bowl, one cookie sheet, and 15 minutes is all you need.

Kale Chips

1 bunch kale

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt


Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees 
2. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. Carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces.
4. Wash and dry kale (must be dry or it won't get crispy)
5. Toss kale with olive oil and kosher salt.
6. Bake until edges are browned, about 10-15 min.

Enjoy!



I'm a winner I can feel it.

The Grilled Cheese Invitational 2012!!!!

Yep, I will be entering my very first cooking contest at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on April 28th. You should come on down if you are in the area! Click the link above for info! I have been brainstorming about my recipe and was encouraged by my friend, Laurel, to incorporate on of my special dishes into a grilled cheese sandwich. I tested it out today and it is caloric gold! Just a few modifications and I just might have a winning recipe! Win or lose I will be sure to post the recipe after the competition.

Tasty Tuesday- Lemony Orzo Pasta Salad!

My office was known far and wide as the Potluck Crew. We would potluck it up for birthdays, holidays, wedding showers; if you can think of a reason to celebrate we could think of a reason to eat! January 1st marked the start of our office Biggest Loser challenge...which yours truly happened to win recently by losing 18lbs in the contest. Once the Biggest Loser challenge started all potlucks ceased :(  Last Friday was our first potluck of the New Year, some went crazy with tasty treats and others; like my co-worker Sue, brought in yummy dishes on the healthier side.

 Here is my interpretation of Sue's recipe for Lemony Orzo Pasta Salad:

INGREDIENTS
One 1 pound box of orzo pasta
Juice of at least 1 fresh lemon*
Salt and pepper
1 bunch of flat leaf parsley
Just over 1/2 cup olive oil
A handful of pine nuts( or almonds), toasted (be careful when toasting them in a pan-they can burn very easily-they should only be golden brown)
6 to 8 ounces of crumbled feta
*The recipe is not exact, almost everything is to taste, so feel free to add more lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper, scallions, feta, pine nuts.
PREPARATION
1.Cook the orzo and let it cool completely before adding any of the other ingredients.
2. Mix together the lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. When the pasta is cool, stir in the juice/oil mixture. Then add the chopped parsley, pine nuts and feta. Mix thoroughly.

It's all I could do to not eat the entire bowl! You could throw in a bit of grilled chicken to make it a main dish!

On a different note, last night I discovered the band

Two Door Cinema Club

 

They are great, from Northern Ireland and you might like them if you like Foster The People.

Click their name to listen on last.fm 

Happy Tuesday!!!!

Music Monday- Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Hello

I love music! Most people say that they love all music; except rap and country, or classical and christian, or easy listening and heavy metal. I can truly say I love all genres of music. My record collection, ipod and Pandora account can attest to that, AC/DC and Glen Campbell, Frou Frou to Third Day, and a little DJ Kool for good measure. Lately, I have been listening to quite a bit of Dubstep and Techno. So much in fact that my Pandora station keeps throwing in music from DJ Pauly D. Remember I said I love all genres, not all musicians/artists/whatever he is. I am listening to so much Dubstep/Techno that I had a nightmare Thursday night that "The Situation" was my adoring boyfriend. Yuck! He was shirtless and smelled like onions. He was constantly fist pumping and was trying to make me go tanning and get me to get gross sparkly, pink and purple acrylic nails. One artist that I love that falls into the Dubstep/Techno category but won't make you feel a need to run out and GTL is Dragonette. I love her stuff!

Click the link below to go to SoundCloud to hear her tunes :)

Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Hello

Her music has helped me push through when working out, when 5 more minutes seems impossible. I love to listen when cleaning my house and she is one of the artist I like to listen to when getting ready for work.

What are you listening to?

Deviled Eggs on Steroids

There is quite a bit of how-to's, diy's, tips and tricks on Pinterest. I have spent many an evening starting by perusing the pin boards for tasty treats and end up at 1am on a page dedicated to making your own laundry soap and shampoo from things in your pantry. I try to throw something I have gleaned from Pinterest into my rotation once a week. I feel that my Pinterest self is much more fashionable, cool and a bit more of a gourmand than I truly am in real life. Well, here's a stab and upping my h'orderve ante.....

Avocado Deviled Eggs

18 hard baked eggs

6 tbsp mayo

1tbsp yellow mustard

1 tsp kosher salt

1tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

black pepper to taste

paprika for garnish

Hard baking eggs is the way to go! It's easier, it's far less smelly and I think it gives the yolks a smoother texture.

Hard Baked Eggs

1. Move oven rack to the middle of the oven and place 18 (room temp)eggs directly on rack.
2. Place a cookie sheet on bottom rack in the event an egg cracks.
3. Turn oven to 350 degrees and set timer for 30 minutes.
4. Once 30 min is up transfer eggs to an ice bath(bowl of ice cubes and water).
5. Once eggs are cooled; peel under running water, and pat dry.
   
   

   

   
   

   

   

Deviled Eggs

1. Slice hard baked eggs in half; dumping yolks into a bowl and setting whites aside.
2. Smoosh up yolks with a fork until fairly fine in texture.
3. Add in Mayo, mustard, salt, garlic powder, cayenne, and black pepper to taste. I add extras of each because I love food that packs a punch.
4. Add in diced avocado an smoosh up until consistency is creamy.
5. Transfer mixture to frosting gun or bag and pipe into egg whites.
6. Garnish with a smattering of paprika.

These are a fun twist on the traditional deviled egg.

Enjoy :)



And You get a car, and You get a car, and You get a car!!! (not quite)

We all love free! C'mon admit it, you know you would lose it just like the ladies used to do during Oprah's Favorite Things shows if Oprah gave you a post-it. 

Check out a clip of people losing it over candles :)

Well, let me play Oprah for a hot second!

A few days ago I posted about singer/songwriter Jon Troast and how much I love his music. I do, it's true!

Jon was kind enough to release:

Jon Troast's Jam Sampler

All you have to do is submit your e-mail address HERE and you will receive a free download of his music!

Also, if you join the e-mail list on his site, found HERE, you will get free music too!

Pretty awesome if you ask me!

Photo by Courtney Davidson (http://www.courtneydavidson.net)

Thanks Jon & NoiseTrade! 

The Living Room Concert, Cinnamon Troast Crunch and Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Last year I got a new car, after one terrible day that resulted in my Trooper being totaled thanks to two car accidents. Yep. Two. One day. Same vehicle. It was a bad day. Anyhoo, after getting my new car I discovered The Coffeehouse station on XM radio ( yay for free trials). One day, I was sitting at a red light and heard the first few notes of what was to become one of my favorite songs. "The Most" is a perfect song. I scribbled down the title of the song and the singer, Jon Troast, down and took off to work. On my lunch break I couldn't get his catchy tune out of my head so I decided to look him up on my phone (I never do this). Imagine my surprise when what greeted me on his page was for Jon to come play a show in my living room. WHAT???!!! A chance to sit within mere feet of this dreamboat whose mind dreams up such sweet lyrics...OK! I sent off an e-mail hoping that he would get back to me. That evening I had a message waiting in my inbox from Jon suggesting a few dates in April. I jumped at the chance and just a few weeks later Jon was in my tiny living room playing a concert for me and a handful of friends and neighbors. We all fell in love with Jon's music.
I waited patiently for Jon to send out an e-mail announcing his available dates for his Living Room tour of Southern California. I fired back my response within minutes of his message.
Last night, Jon played a show at the clubhouse of my condo complex for me, a few family members, and about 17 neighbors and friends. His sweet father was accompanying him for the Southern California leg of the tour. Jon did not disappoint. I watched as everyone in the room soaked in the words Jon sang. He is simply amazing! If you have the chance to invite this cutie from Nashville into your home you should. ASAP!

 I made Cinnamon Troast Crunch Cupcakes in honor of our dear troubadour and Pink Lemonade Cupcakes for my momma who loves lemonade more than I could ever understand. Both treats were a big hit with my guests.  Very simple and tasty!

Laurel made a sign so we all could appreciate how PUN-NY I am ;)

I like to store my cupcakes in the fridge until just before they are going to be served. I think they taste best cold :)

Cinnamon Troast Crunch Cupcakes

3 eggs

1/3 cup veggie oil

¾ cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup sour cream(Daisy brand tastes best)

Vanilla Cake Mix 

2 teaspoons cinnamon 

1 cup crunched up Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal bits 

(Crush the cereal in a gallon bag zipper bag with a rolling pin.)

1.  Preheat oven to 350. Line cupcake pans with 20-22 cupcake liners. 
2.  In the bowl of a mixer, combine cake mix, lemonade concentrate, water, oil and eggs. 
3. Beat on low speed for about a minute. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more. 
4. Add  food coloring, folding in until batter is a deep shade of pink. 
5. Fill each cup approx 3/4 full and bake for about 15 minutes, until the middle springs back when lightly touched.

Frosting 

1. In the bowl of a mixer, butter and lemonade concentrate. Beat on medium low until combined.
2.  Slowly add powdered sugar, beating on low until just mixed. Increase speed to high and beat for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
3. Add a bit of coloring gel until frosting is desired shade of pink.
4. Frost cupcakes and add a generous sprinkling of sugar crystals.

Be prepared to pucker up :)

Recipe inspired from cupcakes found here. Modifications have been made.

Cinnamon Troast Crunch Buttercream:

 1½ cups butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar 

2 tablespoons Heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2/3 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch powder 

Directions:

Cake

1. Whip butter until fluffy. 
2.  Add vanilla and powdered sugar. 
3.  Mix on low or you will end up covered in powdered sugar!
4. Add in whipping cream.
5. Beat on high for a few minutes.
6. Incorporate cereal powder.
7. Frost cupcakes and add 3 cereal squares for flair :)

Note: if you use a pastry bag or frosting gun you might end up frustrated when the cereal gloms together in the frosting tip. I waved the white flag and slopped the frosting on with a rubber spatula. Everyone said they looked great :)

Recipe inspired from cupcakes found here. Modifications have been made

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with 20-22 cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, gently combine eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla.

3. Mix in sour cream.

4. Add cake mix and cinnamon and mix until smooth.

5. Stir in lightly crushed cereal.

6. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean.  

Buttercream

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Yummy, but tart! Only for those who looooove lemonade!

1 box white cake mix

12oz can frozen Pink Lemonade concentrate, thawed and divided into 1 c and 1/4c

1/3 c water

2 tablespoons veggie oil

3 eggs

1/2 teaspoon Pink food coloring gel (found at Michaels)

Frosting

1 1/2 c butter, softened

1/4 c Pink Lemonade Concentrate (divided from above)

Pink Sugar Sprinkles

Cake

I've got fleas

I haven't written anything for quite awhile. Well, to be honest I haven't been very consistent with this blog at all. I look at the writing of some of my favorite blog authors (Rachel, Beard, and Andrea) and sometimes feel what I have to say is insignificant. Instead of writing about baking, cooking or some other hobby I think others might enjoy I am choosing to write post that will chronicle where I am currently at in life so that I might one day look back and praise God for how He has molded and shaped me.

The last 6-9 months have been interesting. Last year I met a man, fell in love, gained a bunch of weight or what I liked to refer to as Relationship Fat, found out the guy wasn't being completely honest with me (details aren't important other than I took the high road and chose not to be awful to him), and broke up with him. In the meantime I started a search for a new roommate. My requirements for a housemate aren't overly strict just a nice, Christian girl who will love my sweet pup and stick around for a year or so. Well, heck you would think I would have an easier time find a roommate than a boyfriend.

After talking with all my friends you know what I heard more often than not,
 "Gosh Amber! You know everyone I know is married. I'll ask my husband. I think you might be the ONLY single person I know. Yep, YOU are the only single person I know. Good luck!"
Wow. so love life down in flames, and roommate-less, I decided to turn to my church. A bundle of raw nerves I sat in church, week after week feeling sorry for myself. I love my church but goodness, not a single person in my age range in sight. I started to feel more alone. My alone-ness turned to a miserable wallowing self pity. At the urging of a childhood friend I joined the local gym and began working out after work each night. Yup, me. I was working out! I started to feel a bit better about myself and when I would get home at night I would read a few verses before calling it a night.

While on break at work one day I grabbed a yellow legal pad and starting scribbling down all the verses I could recall referencing God's will for your life. I came up with over 50 and that was only after a few minutes! The next day I was bored. I decided to dig around on my mom's bookshelf for a good read. After perusing for a few minutes I came across an old favorite "The Hiding Place"  I absolutely adore the author Corrie Ten Boom. I strongly encourage for you to pick up any of the books written by this amazing, strong, moral and loving woman. Near the end of the book Corrie and her sister Betsy were transferred to a Concentration camp it which their new barracks were flea infested. Corrie's ever positive sister immediately encouraged her to be thankful for all things, to praise God in that moment....to be thankful for the fleas!!! Betsy read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to Corie "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  Shortly after the sisters praised our Lord for those terrible fleas it became apparent what a blessing the fleas were, the guards refused to enter the flea riddled barracks allowing the sisters to conduct church services, rest and excluded them from beatings that other prisoners couldn't escape. What an inspiring slap in the face this was to me! If these women could genuinely praise God and give thanks for their situation then, by golly, so would I. Singledom is my fleas. Is a blessing! A gift! I am now involved with Children of the Nations, a wonderful organization that provides care to orphaned children worldwide, I am meeting with my pastor on Thursday to pray over the creation of a Young Singles Group at church, and I am looking to start helping with the High School youth ministry at church. God is Great!