Forward!

I feel like my posts have been starting with "Sorry I haven't been around lately.." a bit too much.  I actually am pretty sorry that I haven't been making a huge effort in blogging lately.  When I'm not driving myself crazy with finishing the majority of my wedding planning before June, thinking about moving in April, or writing my dissertation, I'm protesting.

As I'm sure many of you know, and as I've mentioned before, things are pretty real in the mid-west lately, and although many people have moved from sleeping in the capitol after a month to re-call road, I'm still keeping it real with the FORWARD! Marching Band.
I mainly play bass drum, but I'll snare it up on long solidarity march days.  It's alternative activism for sure, and I couldn't be happier to be in a group that uses music to inspire hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites to keep marching on!
And an added bonus; it's become my new favorite form of exercise.  Ha!

Snow Day!

Today Jason and I both had a day off from work because we got 10 inches of snow last night, and 6 the previous days!  The roads weren't plowed in our area until the afternoon, and our cars are still stuck in our driveway (and it's almost dinner time!)

We celebrated by playing in the snow in the late morning, and we even let the cats out for a bit (seeing as they couldn't go far!)

Brrr!

What's your favorite winter activity, readers?

What a difference a weekend makes.

Thanks firstly to unions for giving us our beloved weekends.
Thanks to the basil sprouts for surviving your big move into revamped pots this weekend.
Thanks to Madison, and all of the lovely people I've met in Wisconsin in general.
And a special thanks for playing a free show at Simply Disks today, Laura Veirs.

I DO NOT MESS AROUND Peanut Butter Cookies.

I like my cookies like I like my friends.
Not too sweet, and full of personality.
I usually don't like peanut butter cookies, however, I made this recipe to fit my standards.
So if you're like me and you roll your eyes at plain ol' PB Cooks because you're maybe a little bit of a cookie snob, you will most likely enjoy my twist on dull, country grandma peanut butter cookies.
Plus, the crunch of sliced almonds just does something for me.
I hope it does something for you, too.


I DO NOT MESS AROUND
Peanut Butter Cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup milk (I used soy milk, but whatever you choose would be fine.)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
  
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup M & M's (I used them because Jason and I got a free bag. You could use more chocolate chips instead.)
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
   
2. Mix together dry ingredients, then wet. Mix together.
3. Let cookie dough chill for 30 mins.
4. Bake for 15-20 mins.
5. Fin!

P.S. Happy snow day, my fellow Mid-westerners!

pretty paper, pretty ribbons

This holiday season has left me feeling more festive than I have since I was a child.
Austin and I took his first trip to New York with my parents where he ate his first canoli and graced the sidewalks of the villiage where we had dinner. It's a big difference from Seattle, that's for sure.
In other news, I've been baking various different holiday treats every single day, and probably won't stop until after New Years.

I have lots more to write (and I will soon) but right now I'm just taking a break from shoveling over 8 inches of snow. Yikes!

Currently Knitting: the surprise...STILL!
Currently Loving: "Xmas (Baby, Please Come Home) -- Darlene Love
Currently Hearing: "Pretty Paper" -- Roy Orbison

Welcome Winter!

It's been a year since I cut my hair short.

I was even able to pull it back today, and I thought it looked kind of nice.
I haven't been able to do this in years!

Also, Welcome Winter!