Thursday Thoughts

Well, I am a BIG fan of the show The American Baking Competition.  This week Whitney Appleton Beery, AND Carlo Fuda visited my blog and left comments.  So cool!

Last night on the show it was bread week!  Darlene made the most amazing looking twist and turn pesto wheel.

I wish that they put that recipe on CBS.com but they didn’t.  But who am I kidding, bread!?  Aint no body got time for yeast and proofing!  I have to admit, anyone who makes a yeast bread is pretty talented in my world.  Here is Elaine’s Old Fashion Loaf recipe.  This also looked very good!

I think I am just as shocked as everyone else.  This was totally unexpected.  RIP James Gandolfini.

Anyone else catch Teresa Giudice on this week’s episode saying “I’m not interrogizing you sweetheart.”? I love it!!

What I’m Loving Wednesday…

NF: I took this picture this morning… I like to think he wasn’t too keen on the bright yellow plaid overall shorts outfit I put him in, but he really doesn’t seem to care what he’s wearing.  He looks arodable though.  Ohhh baby boy!!  Don’t grow up on me too fast!

Target Whale Soap Dispenser: I got this on sale at Target for $10.  I’ve been eyeing it for a while now.  It’s super cute, and my soap dispenser I bought at a craft fair for $25 broke!  I know this isn’t sophisticated adult, but it’s blue and totally matches my bathroom and I love it’s whimsicalness!  The way the soap comes out is great too.  I’m REALLY loving this!

JP Morgan Corporate Challenge (NewsChannel9 WSYR)

JP Morgan Corporate Challenge: I ran my first race last night!  3.5 miles in 40:45 – pace 11:39 min/mile.  Not too bad for my first… this will be my time to beat now.  I didn’t really know what to expect – or how far I had left to go… but now I know what 3.5 feels like in a race and I’m excited to try again.  I understand why people like doing it – I felt so accomplished going across the finish line.  And everyone was so happy and friendly.  It was like a big party!

The TV Show Save Me on NBC: I decided to watch this show as part of my I’m totally trying it June edition.  And I like it.  It’s about a lady who just recently started to think she’s channeling God.  It’s funny, and every episode has a lesson, and I like that, it gets me thinking.  I know it’s a summer show they taped and now are cranking out the episodes and it’ll likely never have another season… but I hope that it does!  NBC, I’ll surely watch!

Clinton Kelly’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Cassarole: My sister made this recipe again for Father’s day.  You can see where she made it for Mother’s day here.  This time she made the biscuts bigger.  Either way is good – it all depends what you want.  This is becoming a family favorite!

 

Whitney Appleton Beery’s got my blog blowin up!

Hi! I’ve found out that people are visiting my blog from a link on facebook. All Whitney Appleton Beery fans… AND Whitney Appleton Beery (link to her blog)!

I really enjoy the show The American Baking Competition on CBS! When it first started I wrote a post about my first impressions of the contestants, and the order I thought they’d be eliminated (you can view it here).

I am a big fan of the show!  The reason I questioned if that was her real name is because it’s just a great name for someone who bakes!  My first impressions were just that and I totally understand that reality TV shows are edited.  I am sure Whitney is a terrific baker – she made it on the show, that’s a big deal!

image from CBS.com

Birchbox June 2013 Reivew

Birchbox is a monthly subscription box for $10/month.  You’ll receive 4-6 beauty/lifestyle products to try out.

image from birchbox

The box itself changed.  Birchbox’s logo changed.  I am nervous about this… what other changes have been made?  I JUST renewed for a year – I hope the boxes don’t start to disappoint me.

Information Card.

Postcards… this photo is missing the one for NYC… since my sister’s sending that one right away to our friend Surbhi in India.  That’s the only one that made sense to send though… like why would I send a postcard that says Barcelona on it?  So this box was supposed to be about Summer adventures… I really didn’t get that vibe.

Color Club Wanderlust Collection: I received “Mod in Manhattan”  Cute name… not a cute color.  Yes, I got the “NY” color – and I am from NY.  But I hated it.  I would have rather gotten any of the other 3.    The coral was for Spain, green for London, and lavender for France.  I painted two nails – and immediately took it off.  So disappointing.

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleaner: This face scrub is all natural, which I think is pretty cool.  It smells AMAZING.  Like sweet lemons.  The sample is pretty small, but I hope I can get a few uses out of it.  It costs $32.95 for 4 oz which is pretty steep – but if I fall in love with it, I MIGHT purchase it.

Laqa & Co Lil’ Lip Duo: This reminded me of Aria on Pretty Little Liars.  Unfortunately I could never pull off an Aria hot pink lip and I will never use this product ever.

Comodynes Self-Tanning Intensive: My sister got this in a box before.  We’re Irish/Swedish… self tanning towelettes are not our thing.  She received two in her box (I only got one)… which she used and it did not work out well for her.  SO I am totally afraid to try this out… and I only have one – so what if it really doesn’t get my whole body… and I’m left all uneven?

Tweezerman Filemate: THIS was my favorite item in the box!  I am SO happy I got zebra and not polka dots (I am no fan of polka dots).  The little nail files are SO cute.  I gave one to my sister immediately to put in her bag… it game with 12!  I’ll keep one in my car, in my desk drawer, etc.  It’ll be just so handy and easy to store.  I always need a nail file, and I keep them in a few places, but this is great!  I really like Tweezerman products.

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day!!

I made this Gingerbread Cake with Creamy Gingerbread Frosting for Father’s day this weekend.  It turned out great!!

My dad’s favorite is gingerbread so I looked around online and I quickly found this recipe.  It was the frosting that made me want to make it.

The Gingerbread Cake

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 stick softened butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup molasses
2 eggs
1 cup boiling water

1. preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans (I used spring form pans).
2. Mix flour, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. Beat butter, brown sugar and molasses in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed. Add eggs; beat well. Add dry ingredients alternately with boiling water, beat on low speed.
4. Pour into prepared pans.
5. Bake 18 – 20 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Let cool completely.
6. Frost the cakes. Layer on top of each other. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.

Creamy Gingerbread Frosting

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 package (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding mix
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
8 ounces (1 tub) frozen whipped topping, thawed

1. Pour milk into medium bowl. Add vanilla pudding mix, cinnamon, and ginger beat with wire whist 2 minutes. Gently stir in whipped topping.

Make me smile Monday…

Flash Back Friday…

Me – college 2007.  I remember I didn’t have my contacts in, and I had taken my glasses off… I am completely blind in this photo… that’s a genuine “is that a camera?” look.  I’d love to be that tan again… BUT my tanning bed days are long gone.  I am Swedish and Irish and imagining how many hours tanning it took for me to be that tan makes me nervous for my skin (and sad that it probably wont ever be that tan again).

Thursday Thoughts

Today is Thursday and it’s time to link up with Jen at Ramblings of a Suburban Mom…

Last night on The American Baking Competition (episode 3)…  I love Elaine’s cakes!  She made Coconut Pineapple Upside Down Cake and it looked delicious.  Oh and poor Kolette!  The judges keep telling her to work on her presentation and it just not working out for her.  BUT she totally made up for it in the suprise inside cake where she made a towering checkerboard cake!  Which really inspired me to bake more again…  and Elaine’s suprise inside cake chocolate and vanilla with strawberry mouse inside the shape of a heart- OMGGG it looked amazing!!  I wish they posted that recipe!  I am TOTALLY going to make at least ONE of the recipes from the show this summer.

there’s a suprise inside!!!!

This week on The View my girls from Real Housewives of New Jersey were on (sans Teresa Giudice).  I loved it but they were only on for like 7 minutes.

Nicholas saying I love you – ohhh I cried and cried!  It made me so happy and touched my heart!

Anyone watch the Bruins vs Blackhawks game 1 of the Stanely Cup?  Maybe if you were living on the West Coast… because that thing didn’t end until the THIRD overtime!  And overtimes are an entire 20 minutes if no one scores.  Sadly the Bruins lost … glad I went to bed after the first overtime.

What I’m Loving Wednesday

My Boys: I love them!  What can I say!  I think they are adorable and handsome and just the best!  — I also find it super funny/adorable that NF covers his ears and says, “I yah”.  We have no idea why he says “I yah” but he does it every time he covers his ears.  Maybe he likes the way it sounds?

Silver Linings Playbook: I FINALLY saw this movie over the weekend.  and I LOVED it!!  If you haven’t seen it… see it.  I won’t give anything else away.

Pretty Little Liars Season 3 on Netflix: I’m finally getting to season 3 now that it is on Netflix.  I was skeptical… I mean how could it go on after 1 and 2 and finally getting some closure?  Oh it can.  My only complaint… Emily.  I’m only 2 episodes in so maybe my opinion can change, but she is annoying me.  Oh, and Spencer and Toby are HOT!  and Aria and Ezra, they aren’t to me anymore.

Juan Pablo on the Bachelorette: I only know like 4 of their names… and Juan Pablo is my fav so far!

Utica Greens: I love Utica Greens.  Two Tuesdays in a row, my Aunt has brought me Utica Greens from Georgio’s .  Anyone reading this know what Utica Greens are?  Have you ever had them?  Utica Greens are typically escarole, hot peppers, bread crumbs, prosciutto, pecorino or parmigiano reggiano and probably some other amazing things, broiled to make a golden brown crust on top.

Make Me Smile Monday