Um... hi?

So I know I've completely neglected this blog. Here is a quick update:

I actually blog here now: http://lifeinmotion365.blogspot.com/
It's my Project 365. Please feel free to follow it too.

My graphic design business is open... again. I shut everything down, only to land a permanent client 3 months later. So - now I'm in the process of renewing/reopening everything. Hassle... :-/

I'm still dancing up a storm. Have two routines coming up for December showcase. And I'm learning to lead West Coast Swing. Scary!

Hubs and I are off to Orlando in a couple weeks. If you follow my Tweets, I'll be "tweeting" from over there as we take a "real" vacation. @starla4873

Yeah - that's about it.

Gaga'd Musings

Lady Gaga's music video for "Alejandro" premiered yesterday. I have to admit - I love her music, but haven't been able to fully submerge myself in all of her performances. Call me a bit conservative or whatever. There is just something in me that prohibits me from losing myself in the art. But - this isn't really about Gaga's entertainment and shock value.

I was actually looking for clarification on the video. It was epic. Dark. Mysterious. And featured Mark Kanemura front and center in a variety of places. (And Jeremy Hudson too.) But I had this picture in my head of what the song would entail visually. Ways to leave your Latin lover on the beaches of San Juan, maybe? Instead we get "Like a Prayer" meets turn of the century Moscow. Fine - but it left me really lost. Was there a story? Was the song supposed to not correlate with the video? So - it left me cold.

Browsing Yahoo this morning, I find this blogger's take. This helped greatly. Kind of like a cliff notes version to Gaga's mind. The most striking thing in the blog was a quote from Gaga. And this is probably the only reason why I posted this blog entry. (It wouldn't fit as a status update.)

"I struggle with my feelings about the Church in particular....in terms of religion, I'm very religious. I was raised Catholic. I believe in Jesus. I believe in God. I'm very spiritual. I pray very much. But at the same time, there is no one religion that doesn't hate or speak against or be prejudiced against another racial group or religious group, or sexual group. For that, I think religion is also bogus. So I suppose you could say I'm a quite religious woman that is very confused about religion. And I dream and envision a future where we have a more peaceful religion or a more peaceful world, a more peaceful state of mind for the younger generation. And that's what I dream for."

Being the quasi-Catholic that I am, this kind of hit home. And I'm happy that it came from her. I may not agree with her artistic choices all the time. But this idea makes me even more of a fan. Kudos to you, Gaga.

New Portfolio Photos

I finally broke out the SLR and took photos of my design work from the last 10 years. Some of my college work needs to be burned and buried, so I didn't take photos of that stuff. :) But I wanted a photo archive.

http://tiny.cc/studio144

Plus, I'm test running a new business name, possibly opening a shop on Etsy for special occasion invites. Studio 144 is a play on my last name. ;)

There are a few different vendors on Etsy that just have a digital store for clients to take high res. files to their printer of choice. So - hopefully I can dive into that market.

Now I need to see this musical...

I hate it when a song strikes a cord. Because then all I think about for the next week is how it relates to life. Sometimes I wonder if people take me seriously... or, if I'm just good for a laugh.

----------
Funny
Did you hear that
Funny
Yeah, the guy said honey
You're a funny girl
That's me I just keep them
In stitches dug out in half
And though I may be all wrong for the guy
I'm good for a laugh
I guess it's not funny
Live is far from sunny
When the love is over
And the jokes are you
A girl ought to have a sense of humor
That's one thing you really need for sure
When you're a funny girl
A fellow said a funny girl
Funny, how it ain't so funny
Funny girl...

99 Problems and This Post Isn't One of Them

Another chain blog post. Bold those that you have done. (Like I have.)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (time wise - yes.)
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm (Gotta love Florida storms...)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (it didn't go well.)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (well, I tried.)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept overnight on a train (Paris to Rome - never again... ugh)
21. Had a pillow fight (No - it was not with my sorority sisters!)
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (um... hasn't everyone?)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a [day] cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Tried to learn French and Italian on my own...)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (not to the tip top, but we were pretty dang close)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (I need to fix that...)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (does my self defense class count?)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Well, I've tried. I've either been too sick or too small or freshly tattooed...)
65. Gone sky diving (half credit - I went indoor sky diving.)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (unfortunately)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (only in sushi form...)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (I was "laid off" but I seriously think they were just being nice.)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (I didn't write it - only laid out the type and designed it from cover to cover.)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Jen in 15 Minutes

I really need to update this more. It's a slow news day at the office, so here's a whirlwind summary of the life of Jen.

- M is almost done with chemo. Just 2 more weeks after today. Thank goodness. He's going kind of crazy sitting at home all day, and therefore, is driving me nuts.

- I burned out on dance. Taking a much needed break from dance so I don't turn it into a burden, rather than a fun activity. So, when I say that you won't really see me much at the studio anymore, I actually mean it this time. Amazing how your schedule opens up when you are home at night. I did LAUNDRY on a Thursday for the first time in a long time. Something less to interrupt my weekend.

- I'm still focused on Spring Show, so I haven't completely abandoned dancing. Hell, I paid enough my lessons to participate. Might as well follow through. Show is May 21, 22, and 23 if you are interested in attending. And for about 5 seconds, I can say that I'm taller than my instructor. (Only because I get lifted on his shoulders... but still.)

- At IGB, I'm going to be a vision in Coral. Or so I've been told.

- My house is a complete mess. Not full of clutter. Just full of DIRT. Dust, cat hair... whatever. It's yucky. I seriously want to hire a maid for a day and just have her scrub everything away.

- Disney World trip is 5 months away. Just made our meal reservations, luau reservations, and Not So Scary Party reservations. Whew! I could not believe that one of the restaurants we wanted was already booked up for dinners during our vacation. Seriously? I just want some of that Cheddar Cheese soup everyone raves about. Thank goodness there was lunch availability.

- I really need some new music at work. But I don't have a credit card currently to purchase new music! Argh! Seriously... who rips off a dance studio located in the back of an industrial park? Really???

- Paying off your credit cards can be so liberating. I need to do that again soon. Today sounds good.

- I'm really bored by this season's Dancing with the Stars. Glee isn't really hitting me like it did in the fall. Hopefully SYTYCD can revive my interests in television again. Hell, Mark is gonna be on my TV again. One could hope, right?

- I closed my design business. So, Minor Details is just a blog now. But really - I wasn't doing much with it anyway.

- I have the sudden urge to cook brunch for my closest friends one morning. Pile on the scones!

- I'm now a Smart Phone lemming. I love my Palm Pre.

- Is it bad that I'm going to Starbucks out of habit now, rather than actually needing coffee?

- I have this pile of books sitting near my bed that I'm considering re-starting and finishing for once.

- I'm struggling with realizing what is really good for me and what I just like to have. (Either out of convenience or sheer guilty pleasure.)

- I'm ready for change. I'm in a rut.

Easter Cooking

M and I are stuck here in Sacto because, frankly, a 2 hour drive back and forth to the Bay Area would probably knock M on his ass right now. Plus - we have sick family members. Not good for those who have no immune system.

So after doing absolutely nothing today, I decided to finally start making dinner. I opted to not plan for anything in case M couldn't eat our old stand-bys. But I was determined to make SOMETHING for dinner since I rarely do so. (I just don't cook.)

Sadly, since I didn't plan anything, I didn't really have a whole lot of ingredients to make anything fabulous. My attempts at re-making my Honey Nut Chicken Sticks were thwarted by the lack of Honey Nut Chex in our house. And this rainy weather doesn't exactly motivate me to want to run out to the store. (Especially since I really didn't plan to leave the house today anyway...)

Luckily, we had some left over Parmesan cheese and about a pound of chicken. Typically, when I make Chicken Parm, I use Mozzarella cheese. Which may sound strange, but it works somehow. It's probably one of M's favorite dishes. Since no Mozzarella was to be found, I decided to make legitimate Chicken Parm. It's currently in the oven now. And it seriously took, like, 10 minutes worth of prep work. I imagine if you were making 3 pounds of chicken, it'd take a little longer. But - for two of us... no need. Now we just have to wait until it's cooked. So far, it smells hella good.

I have some pasta and mashed potatoes sitting in the pantry. Along with some frozen veggies. I'm sure our Easter meal will be somewhat impressive.

Ingredients

• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1-1/4 cups crushed cornflakes or finely crushed rich round crackers (about 35) [I just used regular ol' bread crumbs.]
  
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 2-1/2 to 3 pounds meaty chicken pieces (breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks)

Directions

1. In a small bowl combine egg and milk. For coating, in a shallow dish combine crushed cornflakes, thyme, paprika, salt, pepper; stir in melted butter. Set aside. Skin chicken. Dip chicken pieces, 1 at a time, into egg mixture; coat with crumb mixture.

2. In a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan, arrange chicken, bone side down, so the pieces aren't touching. Sprinkle chicken pieces with any remaining crumb mixture so they are generously coated.

3. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree F oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F for breasts; 180 degrees F for thighs and drumsticks). Do not turn chicken pieces while baking. Makes 6 servings.

4. *Note: To make your own tenders, simply cut 1-1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast halves lengthwise into 1-inch strips.

5. Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken: Prepare as above, except omit thyme and salt and reduce crushed cornflakes to 1/2 cup. For coating, combine cornflakes; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed; the paprika; and pepper. Stir in melted butter. Continue as above.

Googling my name

Here is what Google thinks of my name based on the following scenarios:

1. Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search:
a) Jen needs rates on 2 scenarios
b) Jen needs a human anatomy lesson
c) Jen needs a hero

2. Type in "[your name] is" in the Google search:
a) Jen is an exceptional person who is to be worshiped and adored at all times. [Um...]
b) An anonymous girl — let's call her "Jen" — is a junior in college ...
c) Jen is famous

3. Type in "[your name] likes to" in the Google search:
a) Jen likes to multitask during sex [Ummmmm...]
b) Jen likes to dance (although everyone else does NOT like to watch Jen dance) [Awwww... boo]
c) Jen likes to swing

4. Type in "[your name] wants" in the Google search:
a) Jen wants John to keep his mouth shut
b) Jen wants Brad back at Angie's cost?
c) Jen wants prenup
[Damnit Jennifer Aniston and your tabloid headlines...]

5. Type in "[your name] gets" in the Google search:
a) Jen gets fancy
b) Jen gets it done
c) Jen Gets Ready For Flight While Ben Takes Off on the School Run.

6. Type in "[your name] says" in the Google search:
a) Jen says: well wen sum1 told her dat i harm she found me in da house and told me to ... [OMG, WTF...]
b) Jen says What?
c) Jen says relax [don't do it, when you wanna come]

Food for Thought

I've been spending some more time back over at TheNest.com boards to pass time and see what some old friends were up to. I love having as much support as possible during this difficult time and sometimes the gals there just crack me up when I need it. (For those not following my tweets and whatnot, M was diagnosed with cancer late last month.)

So one of the members posted these gems that I thought were hysterical. I need more stuff like this to keep me going. Between this, and the antics of my dance instructors and friends, I think I'll continue to laugh even though I feel like everything is crashing down around me.

Happy Friday!

~Don't let yourself forget what it was like to be 16.

~Always imitate the behavior of the winners when you lose.

~Ever wonder why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor and dish-washing liquid is made with real lemons?

~Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

~Better to get up late and be wide awake than to get up early and be asleep all day.

~There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast.

~Living on Earth may be expensive, but it includes an annual free trip around the sun.

~Movie-related foods, such as Milk Duds, popcorn, Junior Mints and red vines do not have additional calories because they are part of the entire entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

~Peanuts are one of the ingredients in dynamite.

~During their lifetime, the average American spends six months waiting at red lights.

~People like winter because they can stay indoors without feeling guilty.

~You know it's going to be a bad day when you turn on the morning news and they're showing emergency evacuation routes.

~Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made.

Oh! The Horoscope!

So here is what 2010 has in store for this spunky Leo (from Yahoo):

Oh, big playful Leo -- how the last couple of years have been dramatic (and often less than kind) for you! There's little doubt that whatever you've gone through in the last year, the uppers have fueled your inherent charm and lovability, and the downers have gotten a little ignored. That's one of the problems with being a Leo: you can be so sunny that no one notices the rainy days. Mars in your sign this spring is going to give you newfound energy and motivation to really get things done your way, and the summer will bring new opportunities to express yourself.

The challenges will be slowly changing from big drama to smaller, more manageable issues. You've probably been too busy taking care of others to really take care of yourself lately, but 2010 marks a new direction in taking yourself seriously, and taking care of yourself with the due diligence and concern you usually reserve for others. Don't think of it as becoming inwardly-focused; think of it as doing the necessary maintenance on yourself so you can do a better job of letting your light shine for others.

Life is going to be taking a turn for the philosophical in the next year. All of the noise and confusion of the last year may have made you neglect your Higher Self; that too should be a part of your personal care regimen. This year is going to provide ample opportunities for you to get caught up on your spiritual homework. And, unlike regular homework, you'll probably feel like there's a point to doing it!

Considering I've considered choreographing my routines more and how neglected my faith in 2009, I'd say this isn't that far off. (Particularly the parts in purple.)

Interesting...

Have a Nice Decade!

I vaguely remember how I started this decade. I'm pretty sure it involved too much alcohol, fraternity boys, and Y2K panic. But, I digress.

So I'm dusting off the blog to wish everyone a Happy New Year and good riddance to this wacky 10 years of chaos. A nice change from all the micro-blogging I've been doing lately. (Thanks Twitter!)

Not all of it was bad - I graduated college, got a "real job," got married, bought a house, kind of started a business, started a worth while hobby, and finally traveled out of the country. Wow - living the American dream and stuff.

But I'll start small. I'm not going to analyze every little thing that did or didn't happen this last decade. Instead, here is what I wanted to do last year before 2009 began:

Things on my to do list this year:
1) Start my wedding stationary business... for real this time.
2) Improve my Photoshop and Illustrator skills.
3) Study for the CMP exam and take it in 2010.
4) Get ahead of myself at work more often so I'm less stressed around the event dates.
5) Plan a totally awesome Marker Reunion/Meet Up in July!
6) Be a more attentive wife to my husband and spend more quality time with him.
7) Dance... dance... and dance some more! YAY! I'm so excited to take the adult beginning jazz class this semester. And even more excited that the studio is offering PiYo classes now! Score!
8) Scrapbook. Because I haven't touched my supplies in THREE YEARS and I should really start documenting things. (One of the Markers has totally inspired me to pick this up again.)
9) Watch more movies and read more books! Especially ones that I haven't seen or read and really should.
10) Travel somewhere I haven't visited before. I'm thinking Seattle with a road trip up to Canada. But I could totally change my mind.

Hmm... looks like the only real thing I did was number 5 and number 7 (even though I never finished that jazz class, and can never make it in for PiYo). And the Netflix subscription has really assisted number 9, but I haven't really read a whole lot more.

Yeah. I suck at making resolutions and keeping them. So here is my resolution for 2010:

Stop making resolutions. The end.

Happy New Year!

Baking October Away

October 2009 draws to a close in a week. So I was going to round out the month by baking Pumpkin Butter Cheesecake muffins. It's a recipe someone posted a few years ago on TheNest.com... who probably got it from Trader Joe's. I have no idea. Anyway, it uses the TJ's Pumpkin Butter. And I wanted to make this last year, but got side tracked. And the butter went bad.

So, we'll try it again this year. And yes, Sunday Spotlight Crew, you'll get samples this weekend.

Pumpkin Butter-Cheesecake Muffins

INGREDIENTS:

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. cornstarch

Muffins:
1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour (sifted first)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup oil (or melted butter if you prefer)
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1-1/4 cups Pumpkin Butter
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:
Have all ingredients at room temperature before starting. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour muffin tins or line with paper baking cups.
In medium bowl, with electric mixer, whip the cream cheese and sugar till fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat some more. Stir in cornstarch, mixing till well combined. Refrigerate while you prepare the muffin batter.

In large mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon till well combined. Set aside. In medium mixing bowl, whisk oil, sugar, eggs, pumpkin butter and flavorings till well combined. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the liquids all at once, stirring just till barely combined. Do not overmix. Batter will be thick.

Fill muffin cups about 2/3 of the way full. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the cheesecake batter on top.

Place muffins in oven and bake for about 18-22 minutes for dark or coated pans, longer for shiny pans. Check for doneness with toothpick. When it returns with just a few crumbs, take the muffins out and let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, the muffins should release easily and should be placed on a rack to finish cooling. Yield: 12 standard muffins.

Misc. Musings

Musings for the beginning of October:

Starbucks Via is gross. Don't drink it. I mean, okay, maybe if you are in a bind and you really need a caffeine fix. But at that point, I'd rather have a Mt. Dew. And I hate Mt. Dew.

Sprained feet actually heal faster if you just keep working through it. It was amazing. I tried heels for the first time in 3 weeks and taped the foot. It hurt like hell for the first 15 minutes... but after that... nothing. Felt great! And now I'm tape and Motrin free. Hooray!

Red Velvet Cake is the best stuff ever. I bought a box of it at the grocery store. I think I'm going to make some this weekend.

We've finally reached fall in Sacramento. However, last week, it was pushing 100 degrees. Now, it's barely 75 degrees. My allergies are really working overtime here. Either that, or I'm getting sick. (No!!!!!) No worries though... this weather will be gone in 2 weeks and suddenly it'll be winter.

It's amazing how all the dances I hate are all the dances I do really well in. I can't stand foxtrot. But it's the only one I can recognize patterns really well in. (WTF is a corte w/leg crawl, by the way?) Let's put it this way: I couldn't stand the Hustle last January.

Just because I'm under 5'2" does not mean I enjoy being picked up and lifted/flipped/spun-hugged. Not all of us are aerodynamic. Not all of us enjoy heights.

I'll be celebrating a 2 year wedding anniversary this month.

The first two weeks of November are going to suck.

I'm not as flexible as I thought I was.

I need longer hair. Alice Cullen spikes don't work well with a long, flowy dress in smooth.

Yes, those little tiny insulin needles can leave nasty bruises. I just don't think I've seen a shot injury bleed internally. I guess I need to get back on the pump here soon.

Halloween costumes for women that are modest, but cute and stylish, don't exist. Apparently my ass, boobs (or lack thereof) and back all have to be showing in order for the costume to be age appropriate.

Those who can't dance... bake!

Note: I did consider naming this entry "Bun in the Oven." But that would be completely misleading and inaccurate.

So, I stuck with the truth. I'm sidelined slightly due to a strained foot muscle. Lots of rest, IcyHot, and relaxation. (Tomorrow and Monday are important practice days... but everything else is auxiliary.) And when I can't pursue my favorite hobby, I start baking.

Baking not only occupies my time and cleans out my pantry, but there is something therapeutic about mixing butter, eggs, and flour together with an electric mixer. (Unless I'm making rice krispy treats... just... no...) Maybe it's the smell of home cooked goods that fills my kitchen and living room. It doesn't matter that it's 90 degrees outside; if the mood strikes, I'm baking.

After this weekend, there will be 4 different recipes. Ginger Chocolate chip bars, pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, Rice Krispy treats, and Cranberry (or apricot) and almond scones.

Here is the Ginger Chocolate chip bar recipe. It's my favorite of the bunch. And it's very easy to sub out the sugars for Splenda or Splenda blends. So, the ones I made (and gracing the studio tomorrow with) are low-sugar!

From Real Simple Magazine's December 2008:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and line it with 2 crisscrossed pieces of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugars, using an electric mixer, until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips.
4. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool completely in the pan, then cut into 32 bars (8 rows by 4 rows).
   
   To store: The tight seal on a take-out container will keep the bars moist and chewy.
   
   To freeze: Instead of baking the batter, freeze it in the pan for up to 2 months. To bake, follow the recipe instructions, baking from frozen, and use the upper end of the time range.

It's a Dream... I swear...

I can't believe my 3-day weekend is over. I don't really want to go to work tomorrow for fear of more dumb questions about how to get on an airplane and how to book a hotel room at an already full hotel.

I can't believe I totally forgot Mark's birthday is this month. I'm a sorry fan/friend. 9/17 just wasn't ringing any bells.

I can't believe it's still 100+ degrees outside and it's Pumpkin Spice latte season at Starbucks.

I can't believe I didn't really have a vacation with my husband this year.

I can't believe, after years of trying to get on the insulin pump, I'm slowly starting to miss being off of it. I'm wireless again. And actually kind of enjoying it.

I can't believe I was looking up Sacramento dance studios a year ago and kept coming up with excuses NOT to attend the Wednesday night WCS class. (One was valid... my foot was swollen.) Look at me now.

I can't believe we bought bedroom furniture, with cash, in this economy, and still have an emergency fund. (And jobs... and a roof over our head...)

I can't believe I have another wedding to attend in less than 3 months.

I can't believe my father in law is turning 70 on Wednesday.

I can't believe my grandfather is turning EIGHTY this November. EIGHTY! WOW!

I can't believe that 10 years ago, I graduated high school... and I went away to college... and I joined a sorority. And I'm totally skipping all the reunions.

40 Things About Summer

Stolen from Miss Bri. :)

For Facebook followers: You were tagged because you've been a part of some memory of the summer of 2009. This doesn't mean you need to turn this into a chain letter, but Bri had a good idea. So here is a collection of memories and things I've learned during these last 3 months.

Here's to the Summer of 2009:

1) Just dance. It'll be okay. (Da da do.)
2) Sometimes the reason you clash with another person is because the two of you are more alike than you realize. And sometimes it's hard looking in the mirror.
3) Always be prepared with easy-off shoes - you never know when you are going to get asked to dance on a piano, in a bar, in front of a lot of drunk people, to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
4) one, two, three, four, FIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Alright, fine, I'm turning around.)
5) There are a lot of movies that should be considered staples in your collection. The Labyrinth can probably be omitted.
6) Know when to say "enough is enough." Pushing yourself to an extreme limit will cause a system overload that will benefit no one.
7) Daily trips to Starbucks can quickly drain the budget. It means less money for cute dance outfits.
8) Pinkberry isn't all its cracked up to be. But the experience made it worth it.
9) I can take a bad photo. You will just never see it posted anywhere.
10) MKIK - you are a brilliant teacher and choreographer. Thank you for taking me out of my comfort zone. I still can't dance like you, but at least I tried. And it was meaty and fun.
11) It is possible to go through 200 text messages in a single weekend.
12) Remember to look up. You never know what you'll see.
13) Very rarely can I say I'm the tallest gal in a group.
14) Disneyland... in July... friends definitely make it better.
15) Utah is just like Lake Tahoe. But drier. And more conservative. Sans casinos.
16) It was a summer of extremes: I will never go skydiving for real, but the indoor option is a pretty good alternative.
17) How do you play "September" for my birthday jam and expect me NOT to want to hustle to it?
18) I don't have an accent. But everyone else does. (Still don't know what a "Beg" is, Becky. Or a Pooty Coach. LOL!)
19) Seeing Nigel Lythgoe stuffing his face at The Grove in LA - priceless.
20) Why is that when you give something up, you miss it? And when it surfaces again, you don't want to have anything to do with it. (See: Graphic design work.)
21) My tango music selection sucks. It's not like West Coast Swing music - which could be just about anything. Including music without a drum beat. (Yeah - I won't be dancing to acoustic guitars any time soon.)
22) When in doubt - add more rhinestones.
24) And if you do add more rhinestones, make sure they are 12 mm or larger!
25) When you said "create a 'hit-by-a-bus' desk manual," I didn't think I'd actually almost get hit by a bus in a cross walk!
26) Someone's bad day can be changed with a smile, a hug, and a good joke.
27) Bota fogo, no... go... uh-oh... a g0-go!
28) Proud member of the Loud Table.
29) Plan ahead like crazy. And then when you arrive, just throw everything out and roll with it.
30) You really can fit 4 people in the back seat of a compact car for 2 hours. Though it's not very comfortable.
31) God Bless The California Pizza Kitchen in Anaheim.
32) Duck tastes just like chicken. But it's not a replacement.
33) Be careful what you post all over Facebook. I often forget how many people are reading/watching/stalking my profile.
34) One can only handle so many Mary Murphy screams and poor critiques.
35) Don't limit yourself. A year ago, I only wanted to learn West Coast Swing and Salsa. I like West Coast, I don't really salsa dance anymore, and picked up Foxtrot, Tango, Waltz and V. Waltz - which were NOT in the plan at all.
36) It's hard to not hear samba rhythms in pop music now.
37) Just breathe. It's only a minute, thirty.
38) I suck at Rock Band... please don't ask me to sing.
39) I need to realign my priorities.
40) Don't look at me... I'm just following.

Smooth Operator

So now that IGB is over, and my b-day is coming up... I am looking at dance costuming. For real now. After my experience with tiny ass rhinestones, I'm never making my own costumes ever again. The time, effort, and MONEY involved in all that mess ended up costing more than a cheap dress from Korea.

So here is what I'm looking at currently:

Blue and Mesh dress: Shocking... it looks strapless, but it is isn't. Price isn't bad either. Yeah it's a little more than I'd like to spend, but it's a used dress that says it's made well. Plus I can have it sent to me, try it on, and if it sucks, I can send it back.

Light Blue dress: Downfalls are that it might be too big... and I don't think the floats are detachable. So... if they aren't, I can't really use it. But it's still really pretty.

Turquoise and black: It's definitely different. But also really pricey. And I'm not sure how long sleeves will work on me.

Pink dress 1: I'm not sure how this will look. But I like the color.

Pink dress 2: I'm not sure about the vendor... or the bodice of this dress. But the price is right.

Pink dress 3: Love the back of this dress.

Orange, but would be Aqua, dress from Ebay: My original choice, but don't really trust Ebay vendors because of quality control.

Input is appreciated!

Detecting a wireless signal

I've been off the pump since Thursday night. Color me surprised that this process is going much smoother than anticipated. Even with a full 4th of July BBQ buffet in front of me AND a trip to a restaurant, I have managed to keep my sugars under 250. But haven't dropped below 95 either. Actually, I've been consistently running in the 150s. It's kind of freaky. I'm never in this good of control. Granted, running in the 150s may not be fantastic, but still... I was expecting (and I was prepping my dance partners and instructors for this) to be dropping into the 50s without really feeling a thing. I don't think this is going to happen. (*knocks wood repeatedly*)

However, there are some things I miss about the pump.

For instance, that 4th of July BBQ buffet from this afternoon - there was a lot of good crap there. Chips... crackers... dips... candy... beer... And usually I'm pretty good about stuff like that. Very rarely, unless I'm starving, do I plop myself down in front of a basket of BBQ chips and have at it. And if I do... I would just pump in more insulin to cover the sudden urge to pig out. Now, I have to simply fill up one plate, carb count it, bust out the syringe in front of everyone and give the proper amount of insulin for that one plate. And if I want more... I need another shot. Frankly, after the 3rd one in 3 hours, you learn that your body doesn't want to be a pin cushion and you learn to control yourself. But... I just wanted a chip... and a gummy worm... and some crackers. Is that too much to ask? I guess so.

Secondly, snacking at home is suddenly a challenge. Every little thing I used to snack on at home in between meals would be anything from cheese to crackers to fruit to cereal. Now everything has to be a "free food" unless I want to give insulin for it. So... I guess I'm making some jell-o and buying more string cheese and veggies.

But... just the fact that I can wear a dress without worrying about a stupid leg band and a piece of equipment ruining a good silhouette is worth the "pain" of not eating that extra chip. I know it sounds really cosmetic and shallow, but hey... I miss wearing dresses and pants without pockets... and sleeping peacefully without rolling over onto the pump... or the simple act of changing clothes on a whim... or walking around the house naked. (Sorry... maybe TMI for some.)

I think I'm going to enjoy being wireless again.

SugarStats.com is GENIUS

Yes, I know y'all don't need to know the personal inner workings of my illness, but I figured I'd throw it out there just in case you were interested.

I'm tracking my blood glucose readings on SugarStats.com now. My profile is here:
http://manage.sugarstats.com/starla487

And for a minute there, I was thinking I'd have to carry around this silly log book. I knew that SOMEONE would have created this sort of application so I wouldn't have to. I don't even keep a paper checkbook register. Why would I carry around a log book?

Did I Really Just Ask This?

About 3 years ago, I was looking for a solution to end my blood sugar woes. I finally was approved to get on an insulin pump.

It's been a rough couple of years. I mean, I love the flexibility of it and the fact that I don't have to carry around shots everywhere I go is great. I can adjust levels when I'm dancing so I don't drop into oblivion.

But my problem with it is that it's a hassle sometimes. I can't spontaneously buy pants without worrying about if they have pockets. I will always roll over it when I sleep and get tangled in the pump cord. There are some days, I swear, I'm in worse control than I've ever been. But each time I make an adjustment, I fall to pieces. It's the most conveniently frustrating piece of equipment I own.

And I've gotten so lazy with it. I eat whatever the heck I want and just dose up. I don't keep records anymore. To think that 23 years of careful calculation has slowly become obsolete.

So I emailed my doctor this morning and told her I need a break from the pump. We'll see what happens and how many times my dance buddies have to watch out for me.