Not a Good Combination

Me and electronics... especially automated ones. I noticed a few days ago that there's something wrong, and it could be me or it could be the sensors on automated electronics. Basically, if a door is supposed to open or a toilet flush, or if soap is to be dispensed or a sink to turn on, it will not if I am trying to use it.

I was at school with an armload of books, etc trying to get the automatic doors to open so I didn't have to set stuff down to get in. That didn't work, so I went over to the handicap accessible doors and pushed the button for the door to open there... and even that didn't work. I had to break down and set my stuff down to open the door, then prop it open with my foot and slide my stuff inside. Not fun. About a minute later as I'm trying to repack my gym bag a girl goes to the automatic door and it swings WIDE OPEN for her. She went to the vending machines, bought some goodies and proceeded to exit out of the handicap accessible doors that also swung open with ease for her. WHAT?!

That's not the only instance. I went to the mall today to pick up some shoes. I made a quick trip to the bathroom, where they have automated EVERTHING. I'm surprised they don't have a robot that will unzip your pants for you. Anyway, I put my hand under the soap dispenser and nothing came out. I tried the next one and the next one until I gave up and decided I would use my hand sanitizer instead. A kind lady noticed my dilemma and said her soap was working and I could come use that... so I did. Then I tried the sinks. The sink I started at didn't want to turn on at all. I waved my cupped hands in front of it, slowly at first and then more quickly but nothing happened. I moved down one sink to try my luck there- same thing. I moved on to the third sink, which turned on for aproximately 5 seconds before ceasing to work. So then what did I do? I was forced to rinse my hands in quick couple-second bursts until a sufficient amount of the suds and residue was off of my hands.

There are TONS of other times when this happens. It's sort of hilarious, but at the same time very frustrating. And don't ask me to show you... ever time I try to show someone how things don't work for me the device starts working fine. If you hang out with me enough you will see that nothing works for me like it should. GAH!

The Resolution

Orange muffins were the best idea ever. They are super easy to make, and taste like a dream. A few kitchen mishaps actually enhanced the outcome, and therefore I've come up with my own version of a recipe. MMMM... I had one for dinner, and then one for breakfast this morning.

Here is how you do it:



Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar... but i used 3/4 cup of sugar.
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. grated orange zest
1/2 tsp. Orange extract- not in original recipe but I thought it needed to be more "orange-y"
2/3 cup orange juice- but since I used more sugar, it increased to 1 cup.
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter



Topping Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine
1/4 cup packed brown sugar... I used 1/2 cup
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon... I used Apple Pie Spice in addition to the cinnamon because it has cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and some other goodies in it
1/2 cup ground walnuts (optional)... i did not use these.


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar and orange zest in mixing bowl. Stir in orange juice, eggs, orange extract and 1/2 cup of melted butter. Add anything else at this time that you want... nuts, dried cranberries, etc.
3. Pour batter into muffin cups.
4. To make topping: blend 1 tablespoon melted margarine, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together, along with nuts, etc (if you choose). Sprinkle mixture over top of each muffin. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

So because I taste my batters before baking, I decided that there needed to be more sugar and a little bit of orange extract. Also, because I didn't have any nuts on hand, I didn't use them in the batter or for the topping, but I added more sugar, and therefore had to add more orange juice to get the batter consistency right. Because I did this, my batter didn't hold the topping ON TOP of the muffin during baking since it wasn't as stiff... therefore the cinnamon and brown sugar topping was swallowed by the muffins and created a delightful cinnamon filling in the end and a pretty cool pattern on the top of the muffin.

This recipe only made 12 muffins... but is very easy to double if you are making jumbo muffins, or cut in half if you only want a couple.

The kitchen adventures begin...

Orange Muffins

I don't know where I've ever had one, but for 4 days now I've had a bad craving for a sweet orange muffin. NOT a cupcake. Vastly different. Now that I think about it, I don't ever remember there being such things as orange muffins and every time I've gone to the store the past few days, no one carries them. But I know I've had one before... and what do you know? I went online this morning and found a couple recipes for this wonderfully sweet, fruity snack/breakfast/dessert that suite me (I think) and I'm planning on making some TONIGHT. I cannot go another day without one. This will be my reward for running, so I will have to finish my run tonight before I let myself make them.

Want an orange muffin? Come visit me around 8:30 and I'm sure there will be muffins to spare.

Time Travel Tuesday

Best Beach Trip EVER! We had just graduated high school so the summer stretched before us; inviting us to spontaneously have a good time until the end of August... when we would be embarking on higher education mostly without the company of our dear friends.

Ryan Bradley's aunt let us use her beach house in Lincoln City... and it was probably the best time I've had at the Oregon coast since moving here. Besides getting to play in the sun and in the sand, we ventured to the outlet mall to do some shopping, stayed up late and watched stupid movies and talked, played poker with a mountain of candy, and ate junk like tomorrow would never come. I also got to know some folks way better than I ever intended to (take that as you will... I think they forgot that I was the only girl there...)

Thanks to all my wonderful friends who came, had a great time, and filled my summer with awesome memories (and some not so awesome, perhaps crude, pictures).

"Yeah, Hot Dog"

Kids are amazing. I went to a three year old's birthday party this weekend and hung out with kids (and some adults as well). Along with two and three year olds, there were a few younger ones still learning to stand and talk. It was funny watching them try so hard to form words. They grab a ball and struggle to call it by it's name. You can see in their faces that they know it's a darn ball, but their mouths don't cooperate and all that comes out is "Bbbawbbb", or another variation. I've noticed that they also try to repeat things that people around them are saying. A popular word to repeat this weekend was "Yeah", in a nonchalant tone. It's funny when you are having a conversation and say "Yeah" in agreement to something and two seconds later you hear "Yeah" in the same tone, only it's not your voice!

It was during a conversation similar to this that I found myself shocked and delighted when a friend's daughter, who only has a few words in her speaking repretoire, blurted out an echo of "Yeah, hot dog". It was clear as day and quite hilarious because that was the only thing she picked out of our conversation to repeat. We both stopped talking and looked at the small child rubbing kidney beans and chicken into her hair (as small children tend to do whilst eating) smiling away at the fact that she had just repeated something successfully. "Do you want a hot dog?" my friend asked.
"Yeah!" the child giggled.
"Say it again... say 'yeah, hot dog' one more time" she said.
"Yeah! hahahahahaha" was the child's response. But no "hot dog" followed so we figured it was a fluke.
She waited a few moments before repeating her new-found phrase during a completely non-related conversation.
"Yeah! Hot Dog!", we heard as we were talking about who to send to grab extra chairs to set on the patio.

It's completely awesome how children learn to speak, and it's even more amazing watching them.

Laurie Notaro...

I read a lot. I mean, A LOT. And I've grown really fond of reading Laurie Notaro's semi-autobiographical books. I say "semi" because some of these things that happen cannot possibly be 100% true. Hilarious, though. They are definitely a nice, light and humorous read.

Today at work I took a break and got some ginger ale and opened my book (I'm currently reading I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies) by Laurie Notaro). One passage in particular made me laugh so hard I was shaking and no more sound would come out of my mouth. Why? Because Ms. Notaro has a mother like my own. Here is a little of what I read:

"They're muffin candles," she said, much like she would say, "This is a
candle. And this is a muffin." Separately they're fine, I was dying
to tell her, it's together that they're a problem.

So I said, "Well, why don't you burn them?"

And she said, "Because they're not for burning. Burning would melt them."

So I said, "Well, what are they for then?"

And she said, "To look like muffins."

So I said, "Then why don't you just get some muffins?"

And she said, "What, are you an idiot? You just can't leave muffins on
the counter day in and day out without people thinking that you live like an
animal! I don't want people running around town, saying that I keep the
same old muffins on the counter!"

It might not be hilarious to you, but my mom buys some of the silliest things just "for looks". She saves them for years! We have this gel candle in a jar on the kitchen table that looks like fruit in a jar. EVERYONE that comes over looks at it, opens it and then realizes that it's not edible. When she first purchased this ridiculous item, I pointed out that it looked exactly like food and that people were going to get confused. I also pointed out that we had young children running through the house and one of them just might eat it because it also smelled good. She still has that candle, and it has small finger-holes in it from small hands that thought it was too good looking and smelling to leave alone.

Eventually I will probably turn out the exact same as my mother, in spite of trying. But I think I'm ok with that, even if I act like I'm not.

Time Travel Tuesday

Oh yes, that's me in first grade, skiing with my parents. What a ham! We skied a lot both times I lived in Colorado and I really miss only driving 30 minutes to do it.

I also remember at this particular trip that we had taken a hot chocolate break and my mom warned me to not drink too much or else I would have to pee once we got to the top of the run. It wasn't me that had to go once we got there!

My parents were so fun (still are for the most part) and took us on many outdoor adventures.

The Toy Aisle

It's been a while since I perused the toy aisles of stores, and today I got to do just that. I set out looking for a few extra gifts for a friend's child's birthday. I know what she likes so I decided to go to the store and see what caught my eye.

I don't remember such an array of toys, especially complicate toys, when I was little. I remember the many varieties of similar toys in many colors, but toys today seem so much different! I loved dollhouses when I was little and you know what, they don't even sell dollhouses in most stores now... you have to order special ones online or you have to go to a darn hobby and model store! I did find some cute stuff, but I am now overwhelmed with the possibilities and am glad I don't have children of my own yet.

You know what most places still carry? Puzzles. So I bought myself a puzzle and am now content.

Livestrong Challenge 2008

I am running in the 5K. This supports the Lance Armstrong Foundation, who in turn supports cancer research, survivors, etc. I encourage everyone to get involved and run with me! You don't even have to be a runner, you can walk it, too! There are also a few bike races, but I don't cycle... but if you do then sign up for a bike race!

If you want to do this with me (and I hope someone else does!), then let me know! The date for this is June 29th, but there are all kinds of fun events going on throughout that whole weekend.

It's only a 5K (3.1 miles), and it is helping raise awareness and support for cancer. Did I mention it's almost swimsuit season?

Get Smart

I'm so glad they are making a movie out of this awesome old television show! This was one of my favorites when I was little. They had reruns of it on Nick at Nite, before it was lame. I wanted to grow up and be Agent 99. Who wants to go see it with me next month?

Speaking of Nick at Nite, they are now showing programs that I grew up watching on prime-time television, which is just another reason I feel old. This is not fair. What happened to Green Acres, Petticoat Junction and Mary Tyler Moore as late night television fare?

Time Travel Tuesday

This is my sister and I dressed up for Easter when I was in kindergarten. And what are we eating? Marshmallow Peeps, of course!

Things You May Not Know

While talking to a good friend this weekend, I realized that there are some things I don't really share with people... that aren't that big of a deal, but for some reason are my little secrets.  I don't mean to keep them secrets, but somehow that's how it has worked out.

Secret #1:  I really like 311.  I don't know why, I just randomly got a cd of theirs in middle school and now that is my "go to" music when I'm bored and need to just chill.  It's not like I don't admit that I listen to them, but I have never put them on a list of music I love... or when people ask what music I like to listen to, they just aren't a part of it.  I don't think anyone would ever peg me as a "311" type person anyhow. 

Secret #2:  I don't like it when people touch my feet unless I know them really well.  It just weirds me out... but luckily most people don't find this out- because really, who goes around touching feet?  Even when I get a massage, I just tell them to not worry about my feet.

Secret #3:  I love America's Next Top Model.  I don't make a point to watch the new episodes the night they come out, but on the weekends I can't turn off the ANTM blocks on tv.  I will watch almost a full season in one day.  I don't even like most reality tv shows, but I LOVE ANTM.  

So now you know... and maybe I'll share more later.

Food = Fun

I've always had a fascination with kitchen gadgets, cooking utensils, bakewear, and dishes in general. Really, if it goes in the kitchen/dining room, I like it. If you have ever met my mother or been to my house, you know where this comes from (I have also inherited the "be prepared for everything and have it in your purse" gene from her). I love to cook, bake and grill... and recently I found candy and confection making to be truly captivating and entertaining. Whilst investigating what cool gadgets were made for this wonderful craft, I found a coulple websites that specialize in supplies, molds, etc. If you are a foodie who likes to be very involved in the creation of yummy dishes and treats, you must check out these cool sites!

1. www.kitchenkneads.com- this is where I found candy molds of LDS temples... so if you are getting married soon, I can make you candy with the temple you are going to on it! I was blown away and ordered some and have already started creating!
2. www.anoccasionalchocolate.com- she has great beginners tips and suggestions about what chocolates and fillings to use!
3. www.mormonchic.com- where they have all sorts of yummy recipes and tips to try, plus general cool stuff to look at and read about.

So go try it! Or come over and make candy with me. You may find me bringing candy to you because I can't keep it all or I eat it all.