roller suitcases and king size beds

I'm in Orlando for five days for work and still trying to get the hang of this whole travel-for-work thing. So far, here are the goods and the not-so-goods. lets start with the latter.

not-so-goods

- crying babies. crying babies who sit behind me. crying babies who sit behind me during a three hour flight. 

- also sitting next to a man in flannel pjs, no shoes and lots of unshowered hair. and he did lots of hair shakes. 

- roller suitcases. the boyfriend's was super funky and it took me a good 15 minutes to figure out how to use it.

- not being 25. and not getting to drive a Mustang. damn you rental car age limits!

- of course, missing the wiz and the boyfriend. and it's only been a day. 

goods

- big fluffy beds to myself! and lots of pillows. 

- the boyfriend sending me pics of the cat during the day. just to keep me updated. 

- lovely conversation with my coworker. looking forward to our big move next month and that we'll all be in the same building and floor.

- a tv built into the mirror in the bathroom. 

- a new gym to work out in. at least for a few days. 

- and not running outside (oh the humidity!)

- the little tiny soap in the bathroom that is shaped like a duck. but the three duck paintings in my room are weird. 

- drinking the mini fridge bottled water. because i already paid for it. boo-yah!

Off to spend the day at the work event. Hopefully Tropical Storm Debbie doesn't hang around too much and it becomes sunnier. Happy Wednesday 

lately :: a little update

oh hello little blog. i swear, once i get back into the groove, i will start regularly posting. 

but for now I leave you with what I've been busy with...

moving. 

work.

playing with my sister's pug Eleanor 

spending time in the summer sunshine

watching baseball games

and enjoying bonfires

mother's day + graduation

on Mother's Day, my little sister graduated from college. Probably one of the best mother's day gifts ever so I don't even know how I'm ever going to top her gift (smile). I'm excited to see her start the next chapter in her life... move across the country, make new friends, start new classes, find a new home. As the older sibling, I rarely take risks. (Maybe it's not because I'm the oldest... likely it's just my personality.) And when I do take risks, they are minimal. I admire her for forging a new path and starting somewhere new and fresh. I can admit that I don't think I could ever do it. 

Congratulations little J! 

"You have one life, you only get one. You can spend it generously... but don't spend it carelessly" - Dessa, University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts,  Spring 2012 Keynote Commencement Speaker

yay! you did it. 

Salted Caramel Cheesecake Sugar Bars

Salted Caramel Cheesecake Sugar Bars
adapted from Betty Crocker

1 (1 pound 1.5 ounce) pouch sugar cookie mix
1 package French vanilla instant pudding
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
2 packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon caramel, and more for drizzling
Sprinkle of sea salt

Mix cookie mix, pudding mix, brown sugar, melted butter, 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and 1 whole egg in bowl, until soft dough forms.
Press dough up the sides and bottom of a 13x9-inch pan. Should be about an inch ½ thick and thinner on the sides.
Beat cream cheese, sour cream, flour and sugar in bowl until smooth.
Add remaining eggs, egg yolks, vanilla and caramel; beat until smooth. Pour and spread over crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes.
Turn off oven and leave in oven for 15 minutes.
Drizzle with caramel and sprinkle sea salt.
Cool 30 minutes.
Refrigerate about 4 hours or until chilled. Store covered in refrigerator.



Definitely would make these again. There are a few things I would do differently like thin out the crust on the sides more and cream the cream cheese better so it's smooth. But the taste was there and it was delicious!