ugh! camera cord.. where are you?!

my frustration over losing my camera cord has been overwhelming me the past couple days. i know, it shouldn't.. but ugh!!! i've been in 'organizing mode' lately since i'll be starting school soon, and i don't want to be stressed about studying AS WELL AS about the piles of my crap all over the apartment.

did you notice how i specified MY crap? yes.. i have a LOT of stuff.. much more than kris.. and i feel very guilty about it. needless to say, i've been getting rid of some of said crap.. trying to make my home 'nursing school ready'

i've also been organizing my digital life. i went through and organized my 650 emails in my inbox, deleting most and putting the rest into folders. i purged my email contacts, erasing anyone whose name i didn't recognize. then i set up my yahoo mail to forward to my gmail. this is all because i'm getting a new phone, the htc hero, which is a google phone, and i want my contacts and emails to be very organized. i hope i can keep it that way. kris has been netbook shopping for me... something i said that i'd buy for myself if i EVER got into school. finally! we're gonna go look next weekend and pick me out something nice.. and cheap. lol.

sooo.. since i can't find my cord, i had to steal pictures of my most recent adorable creations from my coworker whose daughter's birthday i made them for. the theme was abby cadabby. ?! yeah, i had no idea who she was either. apparantly she's elmo's friend on sesame street. the cupcakes were a lot of work.. but they turned out cute!

and i also made a color-coordinating cookie bouquet.. which the birthday girl's mom arranged. didn't it turn out cute?! i loooooooved the color scheme.. and i love the vase.

that is all.. cross your fingers that i'll find my cord soon. and then more photos will be coming your way!

hello world!

yes LISA, i know it's been forever since i've updated my blog. but really, i'm not all that interesting. i mean, really, the holidays are insanity right? because on top of it being thanksgiving and christmas and new years and all that, everyone and their MOM in my family (yes, including me) decided to be born during this time of year. so honestly, my life has been full of baking, and wrapping, and baking some more.

so you've probably gathered that there hasn't been a whole lot else productive going on with me (i.e. losing weight). except maybe filling out a few hundred nursing applications and not yet getting accepted anywhere. okay, so it hasn't been a few hundred, but it sure feels like it. and may i take this moment to scream at uc berkeley for charging an arm and a leg for transcripts? $20 a piece? REALLY?!

i have been keeping my photos fairly updated with all my baking creations. my favorite one of late is a martha stewart inspired cookie wedding favor i made for my friend's bridal shower.

look at them all lined up! aren't they cute?! she's having a winter-themed wedding (hence the snowflakes) and the accent ribbon is black with white polka-dots. it took about a gazillion cookies to make them all, but i'm very proud with how they turned out! to see the original version from martha click here.

other than that, i did have the joy of finding a dress to wear to said friend's wedding without even trying all that hard! and i know that many women know what i'm talking about when i say dress shopping can either be really fun or really horrid. mostly horrid when you hate your body. needless to say, i was walking through target (can we take a moment to revel in the fabulousness that is target?!) a few weeks back and saw a merona dress i thought looked cute. it totally fit, and is perfect (at least i think so) for a winter wedding. i don't usually write reviews, but that's how much i love this dress.

i'll have to post a picture when i get all dressed up!

it's bakeriffic!

wedding favor cookies...

but this past week i've been doing lots of baking OTHER than sugar cookies.. and the fruits of my labor have been deeeeeeeeelicious!

check it out:

monkey bread! i know this is super popular, but personally i had never made it before, so i gave it a shot. soooo easy. and delicious! check out the recipe here.

the only thing i did differently was bake it in a bundt pan rather than a tube pan. i made one version with the nuts and raisins, and another without. they were both amazing! YUM!

the best chocolate chip cookies ever!!!

i usually default to my mrs. field's cookie book for her 'blue ribbon chocolate chip cookies' but i got this recipe in the mail and it turned out SO good! plus, i like that the recipe makes 6 cookies rather than 20 or more like a normal recipe does. you can always double it if you'd like!

5 oz all-purpose flour (about 1C plus 2T)

1/2 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/3 C granulated sugar

1/3 packed brown sugar

1/4 C butter, softened

1 t vanilla extract

2 large egg whites

1/4 C semisweet chocolate chips

1. weigh/lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. combine flour, soda and salt in a small bowl, whisk together.

2. place sugars and butter in large bowl; beat with mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. add vanilla and egg whites; beat well. add flour mixture; beat at low speed until well blended. stir in chocolate chips. cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

3. preheat oven to 350 degrees

4. divide dough into 6 equal portions; place dough portions on baking sheet (either coated with cooking spray or lined with a silpat) 2 inches apart. bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. cool on a wire rack.