I know I haven't blogged anything very important lately. I guess I'm going through a phase of shallow thinking. To top it off, I'm not feeling very chatty tonight. So I think I'll just post a couple pictures.

Last weekend Josh and I went to visit my family. Sunday was my 25th birthday. Do I look older? I still can't get over the fact that I'm not a teenager anymore! Anyway, we had a great day cruising Carmel (one of my favorite places), and had a very yummy dinner at a restuarant called Bahama Billy's. Thanks, Mom and Dad for such a great weekend. We had a great time and wish we could be there more often. We love you!

One more down....

Over the weekend I finished this children's book: Daddy Long Legs, by Jean Webster. Thanks for the recommend, Mom, but it wasn't my favorite. It was pretty cute and an easy read, but I felt like it had very little purpose. Onto the next while I continue my way through Mere Christianity, easier said than done.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Now, what are you doing blogging on a day like this??? Go tell someone you love them!

Turning over a new leaf

Like I've mentioned in a previous post, I've started reading again, just for my own pleasure. This is probably the third time in my life I've been able to make that statement, and it be true. The two times before now look something like this:
1.) The Christy Miller Series as a pre-teen/teenager
2.) The Christy Miller Series as a teenager/post-teen
Think I'm being facetious? I assure you, I'm not. It's just never been an enjoyable pasttime for me (Unless, of course, the reading is about Todd and Christy's Christ-centered-teenage-angst-ridden-romance. That subject matter could always hold my interest!).
I digress...
Many of the blogs I've read lately talk about using this blog outlet as a form of accountability (that includes you, Julie) for certain goals or commitments one may have. So, dear readers (well...Dad), you have to be subject to my desire for accountability as I seek to expand my mind through reading. The idea for me is to keep myself "educated" and not let my mind turn to mush because of too much television or blah work stuff. I'll post what I've read so far this year, and if anyone has any good recommendations, feel free to post them as well!
Here it goes...

1. Emma by Jane Austin
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
current...Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Happy Birthday Cole!

My good friend's son had his 3rd birthday yesterday. Here he is as a baby with his mama and auntie, two of the dearest women I know. Such a little man!

Anyone have some free time?

Much to the pleasure and dismay of my mother, I have been quite the little reader lately. All my life, mom harped on my brothers and I about reading more and spending less time watching TV. Well, mom, it may have taken years, but your influence finally stuck and I'm enjoying books more now than I have in my whole academic career.
I just finished a truly excellent book called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. One of my mom's favorites, I remember her always praising it but I never picked it up for myself. This book is insightful, heart-lifting (and breaking), tragic, honest, humorous, and stirring. Can you tell that I loved it? It made me laugh out loud and tear up--in public places! (Josh called me a dork for that)
Anyway, if you're looking for a good read, I'd recommend it to anyone.

"Just when I think you couldn't be any dumber, you go and do something like this...and totally redeem yourself!!"

A friend of mine asked me last night if I've had any successful baking attempts lately. Though she didn't refer to it directly, I assumed she was thinking of THIS previous post where I described an utter lack of domestic dignity. Fortnately for me, I was able to admit I had made something I could be proud of. In case anyone is in the mood for a tasty coffee cake, here's an incredibly easy recipe, and you probably already have the ingredients in the kitchen. It tastes the best served warm with fresh strawberries and a glass of cold milk:

Cinnamon Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Cinnamon Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

4 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 cup butter melted

1 cup chopped walnuts (I prefer pecans)

Coffee Cake:

1 package (18 1/4 ounces) white cake mix

1 egg

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. For the Topping, mix flour, sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl. Add melted butter; toss with spatula until large crumbs form. Stir in nuts.

2. For the Cake, beat cake mix, egg, sour cream, butter and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or just until mixed.

3. Spread evenly in greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with topping mixture.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake pulls away from sides of pan.