brainfarts & revelations

We have a phrase in my family for when you're trying to think of a word and it just seems to elude you, or when you just do something really obviously dumb. As poetic as it may be…this is a brainfart. (And yes, I can't even type that without childishly grinning – so mature.) I'm not sure where this phrase came from—may I have the Latin root?—but for a long time, I thought my mom created it. Regardless, I think it's a pretty accurate description of what is happening…compared to literal farts, I mean. Think about it…no one really wants either to happen in public and when they do, you try to play it off like it wasn't you. "Um…you know that thing…uhhh…yeah, you know what I mean" AKA "He who smelt it, dealt it!" (another of my family's more eloquent turns of phrase) The point is, I have no point, I just think brainfart is a really funny word and I've decided it falls on the positive side of the growing Things-My-Mother-Says-That-I-May-Someday-Repeat list. Congrats brainfart, gold stars to you!

Plus, I found this humorous list of top brainfarts I thought I'd share…I agree with quite a few, though I cannot believe they left off "Late for work because you needed coffee, leave mug on the roof of your car and drive off." That one has gotten my mom quite a few times.

I also had two major revelations this week. I'm talking recovering-from-clear-the-room-sized-brainfarts here people:

One: I was eating Chick-fil-A yesterday and staring at the bag wondering why the "F" isn't capitalized…sad letter F. Then I had the following internally conversation: "Chick-fil-A…weird name. Wonder why it's all hyphenated and stuff, I mean, what's a Fil-A anyways. Hmmm…Chick—FIL—A, Chick-Fila, Chicken-Fila, Chicken Filet…Oh my gosh, filet, like a piece of chicken. Woah!" 

Two: While recently thinking about smoking fireplaces (the holidays coming so soon and all), I naturally started contemplating the beauties of having Floo Powder in real life. Then about how Floo Powder is such a weird name…Floo. What does floo have to do with anything?………And there it was…floo…as in a fireplace floo that you open…as in I. Am. So. Dumb.

Oh, also, I once had a friend who was baffled to learn that you didn't need "special batter" for cupcakes. The fact that it is exactly the same cake, just in a cup, was unfathomable to him. At least I knew that one!

This post isn't going to inspire anyone to greatness, but occasionally I really enjoy a cheap laugh over the f-word (fart, not the other one). So, does your brain occasionally cut-the-cheese leaving you feeling like you wasted thousands on a college education? Please share!

my first Cara Box!

Today I get to share with you the coolest bloggy thing I've done yet...been a part of the Cara Box Swap! Graciously coordinated by Kaitlyn at Wifessionals, monthly Cara Boxes partner bloggers together as a means to make friends are share/receive fun, themed gifts. The theme for this month's box was childhood and since my partner and I are relatively the same age, it was super fun to email back and forth about all our favorite memories as 90s kids.

I was partnered with Olivia from Oh and Jay. Let me just say, this young woman is just so sweet. In school, working, and planning her wedding, it's amazing she has time to participate in the swap, but I was so glad she did!

I had such an awesome time trying to find cool stuff to fill her box and I waited with bloggy jitters for mine to come in the mail. When it finally arrived, I got even more excited just looking at the box - can you blame me?!

I almost ripped it open (just like a little kid, so considering the theme I was definitely in-bounds)! Each item I pulled out just got better. So here's my fun gift run-down:

1. Snowman Sugar Cookie Mix - not only do I love to bake, but what kid doesn't love hot cookies!
2. Christmas Stickers (which I'm totally saving for fun giftwrap)
3. Pink  sugar sprinkles - for the cookies, duh (to use a 90s phrase)
4. A silly Santa-shaped soap 
5. A women's daily inspiration book - tons of cools quotes and verses!
6. Junior Mints - my fav candy. i totally rationed them ate them with childish enthusiasm
7. A very sweet card that's up on my fridge
8. The ultimate 90s gift...a Lisa Frank bath set, complete with technicolor animals and a variety of berry scents (a huge throwback to my trapper-keeper...i was wicked cool in middle school, ask anyone)

So yeah, if you want to meet awesome people and get cool loot...click here to learn more about Cara Boxes and join in on the fun! And thanks again, Olivia!

Check out Olivia's blog over the next couple days to see what I sent her!

the thanksgiving cake that couldn't

Did you hear that sound? It's the sound of me slapping my own wrists while tsk-tsk-ing.

Last week, I promised lots of tasty details about the delicious Walnut Spice Cake with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting I was making for turkey-day. Sadly, this tale doesn't end with a determined train making it over a hill…
it ends with me cleaning out my oven (a much less exciting adventure altogether). 

Naturally, I couldn't find my tried-and-true recipe so I hit up AllRecipes.com and find last-minute replacement. I scoured the pages, read reviews, and printed with confidence. Wednesday night came and I rolled up my sleeves ready to go. Alas, something seemed amiss in the directions. In cartoonish fashion, a devil on my left shoulder said, "You know what you're doing…if it seems wrong, it probably is. Trust your baking instincts." On my right, a little angel ever-so-convincingly replied, "But you read all those reviews—you should trust those people. After all, you're no Careme."

Well…sneaky little angel…you lied! The cake was a disaster. The batter was frothy and bland and it baked up all over the sides of the pan, spilling out like a gross avalanche of mistakes all over my oven floor, filling my entire apartment with a putrid stench. Determined as I was, I let it keep baking in the vain hopes that it would magically turn out okay…it did not.

After a flustery moment and chucking the whole thing in the trash, I ran out to the store (yes, Walmart at 11:30 the night before Thanksgiving is a terrifying place) and grabbed a box of spice cake mix. Characteristically determined, I whipped up both layers of the box cake and let them to cool while I finally got some sleep. However—I did follow through on the homemade icing the next morning and it was proclaimed delicious by all at lunch. (Thank you, Duncan Hines, for saving my skin!) So here's a pic of the sneaky finished product:

The only change I made to the cake was to add chopped walnuts and some extra spices. For the frosting, I mixed 4oz softened cream cheese with 2 sticks of butter, 3 tbsp of honey, and approx. 3 cups of powdered sugar. Once blended, I added a splash of milk to keep it creamy and soft. Garnish with chopped walnuts and cinnamon sticks and voila, you're wholly-well-intentioned-and-partially-well-executed cake is done!

We'll see if this lesson learned sticks in the future, and in the meantime, check out this recipe I used and see if you can spot the culprit for my cake disaster. My vote says "cornstarch…in the kitchen…with a measuring cup." I mean, really Sarah, 1/4 cup of cornstarch…."

thinking of thanks

Well, the Thanksgiving "break" (or whatever you call it when you aren't in school anymore and PTO days are the closest you get) has officially started! so here's a fun little graphic I made just for the occasion:

Also, instead of bombarding you with 22 repeated days of things I'm thankful for, here are my top 10 at the moment:

• My little sister coming home for Christmas in just 31 days!!!
• Strider getting to spend some much-needed time at home for Thanksgiving break
• My mom…just everything…and what an amazing listener and friend she is to me (we're B.F.F.s fo-real)
• My church and choir—the community I've found there has hugely impacted the last year of my life
• Homemade desserts (for tomorrow, I'm contributing a Walnut Spice Cake with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting…details to come!)
• Laughter…I mean, who doesn't love a really good laugh?!
• A comfortable bed. I recognize that I am blessed to have this luxury and I'll be very grateful to spend some time enjoying it this weekend.
• My new blogger friends – I've only been at this a short time but I have been so encouraged and joyed at the people I've started to meet.
• For family…of all kinds, shapes, and sizes…and for the fellowship and togetherness of the holidays.
• For the debt Christ paid on my behalf, the unending blessings He gives me, and for grace (to read some really powerful thoughts on true thankfulness, check out this phenomenal post by Jean Caroline)

I have so so many other things to be thankful for that I'm going to pause from blogging (and maybe even from eating) and try to take time this weekend to just bask in authentic gratitude. And thank you for reading!

tuesday tunes – jon foreman

Today's Tuesday Tunes highlight comes from a seriously talented musician and lead vocalist of the band Switchfoot, Jon Forman. Until a couple of years ago, I hadn't really given Switchfoot much attention, kind of writing them off as "just another Christian rock band". However, they're Strider's favorite band (seriously, his not-so-secret life goal is to have a jam session with Jon Foreman…major man crush happenin' there) and he introduced me to Foreman's solo work…which is phenomenal and more acoustic-y than Switchfoot's normal style. Plus, Jon is an excellent writer and really shares his heart and his love for Christ through his poetic words. So on this Tuesday, I'd like to share a song which feels like a prayer just to listen to it: The House of God, Forever.

hearty baked potato soup

Not in the mood for turkey or casseroles knowing what's on the plate later this week? Might I suggest whipping up this easy and bowl-scrapin' good potato soup for a hearty treat perfect for a chilly November afternoon.

All due credit: I got this recipe from my lovely cousin
Lindsey (Reece's soon-to-be mommy)

Ingredients:

1 medium onion

A few tbsp oil

5 cups (low-sodium) chicken broth

2 cups half-and-half

4 peeled and chopped potatoes (uncooked)

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

Cheese, bacon bits, salt & pepper, and
garlic powder to your liking

Directions:

Chop the onion (and cry a lot even with a fan on in the kitchen) and combine it and the oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add the broth and cream and bring it to a boil. Dump in all the potatoes (then chase several escapee pieces around your kitchen floor) and parsley and cook over medium heat for 15–20 minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 30 minutes or so, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are smooshy. Add goodies like bacon bits, cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to your liking (aka, a lot of cheese for extra awesomeness), stir till the cheese melts, and then serve!

It makes enough for 6–8 good sized bowls so if you're just cooking for two, I'd suggest cutting the recipe in half.

Notes: Even when the soup is an edible temperature, the potato chunks can still be super-molten-hot on the inside, so be careful with just diving right in. Also, I may consider trying adding a packet of dry ranch dressing to the broth-cream-boil stage for added flavor. If you try it let me know if you think ranch would work.

Last note: I couldn't write a post all about potato awesomeness without paying respect to a man who truly loves potatoes…Mr. Samwise Gamgee!

a super splendid saturday

productivity and new shoes...what more could you ask for in a saturday? and it all started with Cary Grant in bed. well...me watching him in The Bishop's Wife while I was in bed, but hey, still...not a bad way to wake up (truthfully, my mom and I both gush over Cary like 14-year-old Bieber fans).

moving on......

i'm not a "shopper". i do not enjoy browsing for hours just to look at cute stuff. i'm 100% the make-a-list-and-stick-to-it-er. however...on very rare occasion...i spend a day getting several new things i need, which naturally makes me feel like carrie bradshaw laden with 5th avenue finds...except less stylish, less coordinated, and with clearance rack purchases. thus, i present today's great finds:

• new everyday shoes...yay for definitely-not-knockoff-birkenstock clogs!
• a slightly impulsive pair of new low-cut boots (very cute and conveniently short as my gigantic calves don't cooperate with regular knee-high boots...thanks, powerlifter dad)
• a new purse
• a wallet (i'm 24...it was time to lose the velcro wallet, plus...40% off, holla!)
• new scarf (bought with an almost-out-of-date gift card)
• two Christmas presents (i usually have all my holiday shopping done and wrapped by the first week of Dec...i know...i'm ridiculous)
• a discount bag of chai...mmmm

PLUS, i also got to have lunch with my two awesome friends stephen and alex and then play board games at their sweet new house. THEN later have a fancy dinner with my mom and my korean little sis  (yay restaurant gift cards). now i'm doing laundry and spending time with "my sweetie" as my mom says. I also got to catch up with my super cool little sis living out in Seattle (she's rad like that).

so all in all, i'm feelin real snazzy today. saturdays are a good time for snazziness.

i also spent some time at Lifeway weighing choices for a new Bible (which is being added to my Christmas list as I was painfully unaware of the cost of a good Bible). i'd like to move from my current setup to something with a more study/historically contextual/language study based version. i was trying to decide between Holman Christian Standard Study Bible and the Life Application Study Bible. Anyone have experience with either or recommendations?