New Best Friends

This is Finley.  Hopefully he will be Cody's new best friend since his mommy is mine :)

New Toy

Time to learn how to use this bad boy.

Cody will be my subject for all of the practice shots :)

Christmas 2012

2012

2012 was a great year for us.  We had some major milestones and new beginnings.  

In April, we moved into a new apartment.  

In June, we got married and mini-honeymooned in our favorite summer place, L'Auberge Del Mar.

In, December, Cody celebrated his 2nd birthday and is finally maturing (slightly) out of the puppy stage.

We had our first Christmas as a married couple.

I don't like resolutions but I do have some goals for 2013:

1. Whip Cody into shape before any new family additions. (We have a few behavior problems)
2. Work off these extra lbs. I have put on since our wedding.
3. Learn how to use my new camera :)
4. Make some career changes. I need to get serious about grad school and find a new job to go hand in hand with my field of study.

I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us :)

New Beauty Ritual

Beauty products are so expensive and I've tried many and I never get the result my hard earned money deserves.  Lately I have been looking for an alternative.  I searched my pantry and decided to experiment.  I know that sugar is a great exfoliant, I've read on Pinterest that a lot of people use coconut oil as a moisturizer, and I've always known that lemon can be a skin brightener (aka can fade dark spots and freckles).  I was a little afraid to use lemon on my face as I have heard that it will work but can get worse if you don't use sunscreen forever after.  Well, at my age I never go without sunscreen on my face anyway so I decided it was worth a try.  

I just threw the ingredients together but an estimated recipe is: 

• The juice of one lemon
• 3-4 tbs of coconut oil
• 1 cup of white sugar

I mixed them together in a ziplock because the coconut oil is solid at room temp but your hands can easily melt it.  I just kneaded the ingredients together in the bag and tossed it into my shower to use.

I have been doing this for about a week and my skin feels really soft.  Especially in the dry winter weather.  I have not had problems with any breakouts but it's really hard to tell if my skin looks brighter.  I should have taken a before picture but I didn't.  Overall, I am happy with the way my skin feels.

Vanilla Extract

I love handmade gifts.  I think they are so much more special than something purchased at Target (not that I don't love Target).  This year I made homemade pure vanilla extract.  The most important part is the beans.  I got the beans on Amazon and opted for the Madagascar Bourbon variety.  There are tons of different types of vanilla but these were the most recommended online.  Good quality is very important and they can be expensive so shop around.

I got the jars at Save-On-Crafts.  The recipe is 3 vanilla beans (split down the middle but leave attached at one end) for every 8oz of vodka.  So just stick the beans in the jar with the vodka and keep in a cool dark place, like your pantry, for 2-3 months.  

I did these for Christmas this year but I made a few extra to keep around for hostess or housewarming gifts. It seems like I have been needing a lot of those lately.

English Toffee

• 1c white sugar
• 1/2 lb. butter (2 cubes)
• 1 tsp. water
• 1c chopped nuts (I usually use almonds)
• 1 bag of chocolate chips
• Candy thermometer

Toast almonds in a fry pan and set aside.  Cover a cookie sheet with foil.  In a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, melt the butter, sugar, and water.  Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until temperature reaches 330.  It will seem like it takes forever and then happen really fast at the end and can burn easily so don't take your eyes off of it for a minute.

When it is exactly the right temp and color, pour onto the foil covered cookie sheet.  Then sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and wait for them to melt.  It will take about a minute and you can tell they are melted when they look shiny.  Then spread them out with a knife and sprinkle the toasted nuts on top.  Wait for it to cool and break into bite size pieces.