Peppermint Patty Surprise Bars!!

I know, I know, I FINALLY got around to posting the first recipe :) This is one of my favorites. I'm a big fan of mint, but I know not everyone is - don't worry, not all of the future recipes will have mint in them! I came across these in a GL magazine back when I used to get those. I've made these bars a few times and would make them again right now if I wasn't trying to be healthy ... enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

11/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp kosher salt (I just used regular salt)

12 oz chocolate chunks

12 oz bag York Peppermint Patties

makes 12 bars

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.

2. Use an electric mixer to beat butter and sugars until light and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat until well combined. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to the wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Stir in chocolate chunks. 

3. Spoon half of the cookie dough mixture into the prepared pan and push evenly to all sides. Place the unwrapped peppermint patties in a single layer over the dough, then cover with the remaining half of the cookie dough, pressing to flatten it. Bake for 38-45 minutes or until baked through. Cool completely before cutting.

P.S. On a totally random note, I just discovered this band called Augustana and I love their slow music. My favorite songs are "Boston," "Sunday Best," "Hey Now," "Sweet and Low," and "I Still Ain't Over You."

Favorites Round 2

I was debating on doing my first recipe post or another "favorites" post. Since it's kinda late and I'm too lazy to go downstairs to get the recipe, I'll do round 2 of favorites! Today I am pretty disappointed in myself. I was planning on doing some writing after homework and such, but instead I got addicted to my computer and watched a few tv episodes. I end up hating myself afterwards because I waste my day, so now I'm trying to make up for it.

#1: Eos products!! There has been no lack of these since Christmas :) I got the vanilla mint lip balm and the cucumber lotion. They

both smell super good.

#2: I realize I'll probably be made fun of for this, but I like reading these kind of books sometimes. I read a little bit each night before I go to bed. Not heavy to read, but not useless either. It calms me down and puts my mind in a good place. And I find this book really useful to keep my head on my shoulders and things in perspective. 

#3: 2 words: SALTWATER TAFFY!!! I love this stuff, especially from a candy store called Powell's Sweet Shoppe. The other day I was walking by and just decided to go in and get a few. It was a dollar for about 10 I believe, so that's a pretty good deal.

#4: Another book :) I really like this one, and the movie is amazing as well. It deals with controversial issues between blacks and whites in the 1900s without being boring or too depressing.
Now that it's second semester senior year I have more time for reading!

Ok, I guess that's it for now, but I will post again soon!

Happy New Year + What's New

So, another year is here ... it seems like each year passes by more quickly. My 2015 resolution is to eat healthier and become more fit. This is probably half the world's resolution, but still, a good one. On New Year's Eve, my family went to see a drive in movie, Unbroken, and then I jumped into my really cold pool at midnight! I can be kinda crazy sometimes :) New Year's Day we went for a walk on the beach.
Unbroken was a pretty good movie, but a little too slow for me, although I understand that they were really trying to make the point of how long he was stuck in a boat and the amount suffering he went through in the camps. Over 2 hours is generally too much for any movie, in my opinion, but it was a good movie, nevertheless, reminding me that humans are so much stronger than we think we can be.
Another recent milestone in my life is that the weekend before Christmas I finished my college applications. It was not a fun process, but not as hard as people seemed to make of it. I'm very proud of the essays I wrote, they really reflect me.  I did not ask for, nor wanted help from any of my school's counselors on making my essays "better." I have a stubborn personality, and once I wrote them and edited them with a little help from my parents and friend that know me completely, I refused to have anyone at school read it. They might have told me to elaborate on some things, cut down on others, change the wording, etc. until it would have been shaped to something I did not create, and my voice would have been gone. They might not be the best essays admissions offices have ever read, but I can take pride that they are completely mine. Not to go to the extent to say those who seek help are wrong, but for me, this is what worked, and that's all I know.
I've gotten a bit sidetracked ... the big news I want to share is that I've already gotten accepted into two schools! One I received an email on Christmas Eve, which was the perfect pre-xmas present! The second I got in the mail 2 days ago, which was nice, because I like to open an actual letter rather than an email. The second school was the one I think I want to go to, so that made me really happy. And just knowing that I'm going to college if I want to is a big relief. It was a nice surprise for me, since the last two schools I applied to were the first two that accepted me, and I wasn't expecting to hear back from anyone until spring.
I don't want to mention the schools at the moment. I feel kinda weird to share that news with everyone, where anyone at my school could read. There's just so much judgment out there, and college talk just seems like a touchy subject.
I hope you all had the best of holidays!

MY PIZZA vs. MY SANDWICH!!!

OK. So today I am going to talk about pizza. YES, PIZZA. And it's going to be a rant, so get ready!
Now, I know that people will read this and be like "calm it, chica" and sure, for some people, it's not a big deal. But hear me out.

I got home from work today (about 30 min ago) and I was really hungry, and during the last couple of hours at work and on the way home I thought about what I could eat when I got back. And this is no unusual occurrence - at school or wherever I am, I always think ahead to meals and get excited for them :) that's human right? We base our lives around food!

Anyways, I was really looking forward to eating my leftover cheese pizza from the night before. When I got home and opened up the pizza box, there were 1) only 2 slices left and 2) NOT CHEESE. They were slices from what my family ordered: veggie slice and a ham slice. You have to realize, I am a really picky eater, and I don't like any of that stuff on my pizza. So you can imagine my utter shock and disappointment, washed down with a wave of anger as I opened the box and found out that SOMEONE ELSE ATE IT.

 Maybe, just maybe, I could understand if that was the only kind of pizza left. BUT NO. They had ordered their separate types of pizza the night before, and seemed happy to eat it then. So why did they seem to think it was ok to eat MINE, the one I specifically asked for, today? They had their own crap pizza they could eat, THEY ORDERED IT, THEY WANTED IT!!! But no, my mood and half my day had to be ruined, because they ate ALL 4 pieces of mine.

To say I get irritated and annoyed by this is an understatement. And yes I completely realize people will read this and be like "stupid girl, it doesn't matter, this is such a lame 1st world problem." And you know what, I agree. It's stupid. BUT IT'S MY STUPID PROBLEM AND I DIDN'T GET TO EAT MY PIZZA.

If you are still having trouble picturing how much this disappointed me, I will make a reference to Friends (aka the best TV show I have ever watched! So hilarious, I watched all 10 seasons in 4 months, and strongly recommend it), in "The One with Ross's Sandwich." Pretty much describes my reaction perfectly. Personally, I think pizza is even more devastating than a sandwich, but each to his/her own, right?
SO yeah, I included the clip: WATCH IT, it's funny and spot-on :D

OH, and on a much needed happier, cheerful note, since I probably won't post before Christmas: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Current Song Obsessions!

Here are the songs I've been listening to lately! My all time favorite band is the Goo Goo Dolls, but not their last couple of albums. The newest band that has caught my attention is Switchfoot. Two other songs I love from them that aren't on this playlist are "Dare You to Move" and "Awakening." My favorite genre is rock, mostly soft rock. But I also have times where all I want to do is listen to the Scorpions, Y&T, etc. I could just go on and on, listing all the bands and artists I love! (Foreigner, The Script, 3 Doors Down, Queen, Imagine Dragons, Shinedown, Toad the Wet Sprocket ...) And its not like I only listen to rock either, I even like classical artists like Yanni or the occasional pop songs. But I just can't stand rap or hip-hop like songs! I draw the line there :) Alright, enough rambling. Hope you enjoy!

DIY Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub

Hi! So I know that I haven't posted in awhile, and I thought it was time to kick off the season of homemade/diy gifts in time for Christmas (or any other occasion, really). Whether you don't have the $$ to buy gifts or think homemade is more sentimental, I think that making your own sugar scrub is a great gift to give. I actually made one for myself a year or so ago, and it has been really nice. I'm going to give you the recipe for a vanilla brown sugar scrub, since I love the scent of vanilla, but I'm sure there's TONS of other recipes/scents out there and ways to customize your own. This is a great present for girls; I always enjoy the smooth, soft feeling my hands feel afterwards. You can even rub it on your elbows, feet, whatever. Ok, enough rambling – here's the recipe I used.

my scrub - it doesn't look the best as I've had it awhile!

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Just combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well – you want it to be moist but not like soup :) Then all that's left is to put it in a mason/leftover jam jar, tie on some ribbon, and you're finished!

Happy early Thanksgiving everyone!!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things .... (#1)

Just decided to share the things I'm loving right now, I will most likely upload a new items with the change of seasons. I will include the prices of them if I can ...

Organic Wear Mascara
$8.79

Pumpkin Bread Mix
Trader Joe's
$2.99

Olay all day moisturizer SPF 15
2 oz = $ 5.99

Mangiacotti Hand Repair Cream
$12.00 (but REALLY nice!)