Creativity Starts Here...

I've decided to try my hand at doing some homemade cards... I experimented with my Christmas cards this year, but after browsing online for more ideas - WOW! I've got a lot to learn. First, apparently I need to learn how to use my Cricut machine to the fullest and spend the money for Cricut cartridges, paper patterns, stamps, ink, colored pencils and pens, embellishments... The list goes on and on... It makes me giddy with excitment! I might even try making gift tags as well. There are so many possibilities out there!

Let the creativity begin...

Oh by the way... For you talented Bassett sisters, if you have any ideas or requests, please send them my way. If I invest in the necessary instruments and really put my heart into it, I might make it a side business... Hmmmmm... Ideas please.

Ccccccccoooooooookkkkkkkkkiiiiiieeeeeeessssss...

The Cookie Monster would be proud.

I spent ALL day, I mean all day, Sunday baking cookies for my co-workers as a Christmas treat. I started at 11am and didn't sit down until 630 that night for dinner. Good thing Joe came home to feed me... I probably would've been in the kitchen all night too.

I made Linzer cookies (sandwich cookies with raspberry jam in the middle) sprinkled with powdered sugar. I made lime hazelnut cookies shaped like Christmas trees with a yummy cream cheese frosting. I made sandwich cookies with a hazelnut/powdered sugar filling dipped a third of the way into dark chocolate. I made surprise cookies which were chocolate cookies with half a marshmallow shoved into the middle and covered with a homemade chocolate ganache. And I made a delicious peppermint fudge with dark chocolate and vanilla white chocolate chips colored green and peppermint extract added to it.

I must say.... THEY WERE DELICIOUS. My co-workers are lucky Joe and I didn't eat them all. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures, so y'all will have to wipe your imaginary drool off your chins!

My feet hurt.

PS...

I'm thinking of starting a small cupcake/cookie shop out of my house. What do you think?

Delightful Cupcakes...

My boss decided to throw himself a birthday party for his 40th and decided to place me in charge of helping him plan it. For the past five weeks or so I have set up the caterer, I have purchased fake flowers and vases to make some bouquets, and I practiced making cupcakes.

The point of this post is the cupcakes... I told my boss that I am going to quit and open my very own bakery! (Actually not really, but at the time it seemed like a good idea). Anyway... I made lemon meringue cupcakes - my boss doesn't like meringue so I changed it up a little. Instead of spreading the homemade custard over the top, I injected the cupcake with the custard. And instead of the meringue frosting, I made a delicious cream cheese frosting. Then, since I was in the mood to bake some more, I decided to make some red velvet cupcakes as well... Yum-OH. I was able to use my tips and piping bags for the very first time too!!!!! It take some practice, but I eventually got it...

So now I'm on the hunt for some more cupcake recipes so that I can try and give them my own twists. I'm seriously thinking about doing some more of this - I found a really cute caterpillar cupcake design on Martha Stewart's website - I'm thinking it would be cute for my nieces birthday coming up!

So if anyone has some suggestions or websites with some really yummy cupcake recipes send them my way!!!! Maybe you'll be lucky enough to get some!

San Francisco ROCKS!!!!

Last weekend my girlfriends and I met up for a girl's weekend in The City!!! My friend from high school flew in from Texas - I hadn't seen her since she moved about three or four years ago. It was great to see Kwinny - I've missed her terribly. We stayed in my friend Lauren's cute new house.

Sonja and I couldn't get the keys out of the Fish's mouth, so we had to open the door with the fish. In the end it was all in vain - turns out one of her roomies was home and the door wasn't even locked!

This is the first night - it was like being in high school again, hanging out on the beds, talking, giggling, making fun of each other. I loved it!!!

Saturday we spent the day in San Francisco. Kwinny got a beautiful tattoo in the morning and we spent the rest of the day relaxing down at the Wharf.

Had the most beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The whole weekend was blue skies, cool breeze, and warm weather! We really lucked out.

Then Lauren decided that we were going to walk to the ballpark. Kwinny and I were stupid and we had decided to wear flip flops for the day - All I wanted was a tan! Kwinng and I were pretty grumpy when we arrived at the ballpark... It probably took us about an hour to walk there from Fisherman's

Wharf.... Geesh - Don't wear flip flops to the city!

We finally made it!!!! I was soo happy to just be able to sit and relax my feet for a while. But it turns out that our bleacher seats were right behind a group of guys who decided to stand up whenever an exciting play was going to happen. I think I probably missed about 45% of the game because I couldn't stand up fast enough. It was probably because we decided to watch a Giant's game vs the A's... Rowdy people!!!!

Aren't we cute?!?!? It was well worth the walking time - We ate nachos with jalapenos and onions, garlic fries, cotton candy, drank ice cold beer, and cheered on the Giant's. WE EVEN WON!!!!!

I'm such a die-hard fan that I even had special nails put on... CHECK IT OUT!!!

Well, you really can't tell, but they are an orange tip with a black sparkle fade and a Giant's logo on it! I did a black tip with orange sparkle fade and sticker on my thumb and then the opposite on my other hand. It's been exciting wearing them!

All in all, it was a great time spent with my girlies!!!

I forgot how...

I haven't posted for a really really really long time. I forgot how to. Can someone help me!?!? Step-by-step instructions would be great. Thanks!

Sock Monkies RULE!

Hello y'all...

I want you to watch this commercial from this year's SuperBowl. Not only did the Saints win, but Kia Motors put out this AWESOME commercial...

I've decided to be a sock monkey for Halloween.

Hmmmm... I wonder if I'll have as much fun.

WATCH IT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJqs3D2vv4I

Monkey out!

My Special Day

Today is my special day - I flew from South Korea to the United States - and met my new mommy and papa! I was only ten months old and sooo adorable!

I am grateful for my parents and everything they have done and provided for me. I wouldn't be the person I am today without their influence!

I thank God each and everyday for placing me with a loving family.

Valentine's Day Continued...

Joey totally spoiled me this Valentine's Day... No, girlies, no diamond ring - yet. *SIGH* And that's a big *SIGH*. I'll do it again, *SIGH*

I had Friday off and was treated to a delivered package - A bamboo heart plant!!! It's soooo pretty and it goes fantastic with my living room decor.

It even came with the vase and some black rocks.

On Saturday I was treated to another delivered package - a bouquet of red tulips and purple irises in a beautiful red vase.

It came with a box of chocolates and a stuffed teddy bear! Biggie decided he wanted to bear and has been chewing on it. He's not a nice cat. ;)

My gift to Joey was a fancy dinner out at Christian Michaels - a really nice restaurant here in Chico. We had a beautiful window seat and had a romatic candlelit dinner.

Joey had to work in the morning on Sunday so we decided to make a special dinner at home when he got home. We made heart pancakes!!! Wait, I made heart pancakes. Joey decided he only likes round pancakes. Here is my creation. I did it all freehand - I was super excited with my talent!

I'm so lucky to have Joey in my life... Even luckier to be spoiled by him!!! Haha!

Valentine's Day.

Well, it's that time of the year again... Where the card, candy, stuffed animal, etc. companies collect hundreds of millions of dollars from smitten men and women trying to show their "like you a lot" or "love" feelings to their significant other.

Even though I don't support these companies taking advantage of us... I sure hope Joe bought me something fancy! :)

I'm a Grad Student!

As of yesterday afternoon, I passed my math and English assessment tests and became an offical Grad student!

I am taking the MBA program with a concentration in General Management. I start March 1st with the online school at DeVry University. My first online school, so I'm a little nervous, but so excited to be back in school!

So wish me luck... I will need it.

Bbbooooorrrrrreeeeeeeedddddddddddddddddd.....

I can't take it anymore... I'm at work and I don't want to be... Help me................

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S

Last summer Joe and I bartended my friend's wedding and decided to use our earnings for a nice New Year's getaway... Since booking a cruise seemed to be more effort than what we wanted to do - We decided on Fort Bragg. Joe found Ocean View Lodge, a place with a view of the ocean and if we left the door open, we could hear the waves crashing against the rocks. We even received a complimentary bottle of champagne!

The first evening we were there we went for a walk. There is a path in the back of the hotel that leads into town. We also went exploring down the cliffs and climbed around on the rocks. On Thursday we were able to get a table at Eggheads - a delicious breakfast diner! OH MY GOSH!!! Everytime I went to Fort Bragg there was always a long line and I never had the patience to wait... But this time we were able to get a table right away. The food is delicious - and I don't really like breakfast food. It was so good that we went the next day! Anyway... We ate breakfast then went exploring through town and checked out all the little cute shops. We drove out to the Lighthouse and walked some paths around those cliffs. Then we went to Mendocino and walked around there for a little bit.

We ate dinner at a great sushi restaurant and ended 2009 at a party at The Cliffhouse restaurant. The party was very low-key (which is not what we totally expected)... When we called the night before, they "strongly recommended" that we make reservations for the party if we wanted a window table - so I did. That night, only 14 people showed up for the party! There was a great DJ, our tickets included two drinks, appetizers, and a champagne toast, but it was missing the crowd. But we still had a great time together - that's all that mattered right?!?! Being with each other for the New Year.

Friday we went exploring on North Highway 1. We found a lot of different coastal accesses and climbed around on the rocks and cliffs. The road was winding though!

This was one of the beaches we found along Highway 1.

Climbed around on these rocks.

The ocean was beautiful!

I like the shadow look of this picture.

This was out at the Lighthouse!

And this was on Jughandle beach.

And this was at our awesome party!

Check out that butt!

I absolutely LOVE Fort Bragg. Everytime I drive out there I immediately feel relaxed and get the urge to explore! I'm so grateful the weather was perfect and the company was spectacular!