Short Break

This week has been hectic both mentally and physically and I haven't had a moment to rest or think or breath or eat or...anyways.  Eating has only happened because people around me have been stuffing food in my face...God bless them.  I have a handful of posts lined up, so once I feel back to normal emotionally, then I'll put them up :)

With a new lab starting and all the craziness that the passing of this young man brought, it's been hard to juggle everything.  But, I'm going home for the weekend to take a break from "life" which is impossible, but I really am looking forward to just being with my family and having my mommy take care of me :D pampering time.  My poor hubby, I'm leaving him here with the mess of everything (which includes our house since I haven't even had a minute to just be home).  I wish I could take him with me...he needs a mental break too.  I wish I didn't have to come back to this hardship...but I know once I get back from my break, i'm going to have to get back into gear to take care of the friends around me that are falling to pieces.   

I pray that no hardship ever befalls anyone, especially something like this.   

RIP

Yesterday was a heart wrenching/horrible/agonizing day for the family of a close friend who lost a loved one, a brother, an only son at the age of 20.  He died from an illness unknown to all...and illness that his closest family will forever blame themselves for.  Words can't describe the emotions and thoughts racing through my head and those of his family, especially his parents. 

Keep your loved ones close, keep them safe, tell them you love them.  Life is short.  We never know when it will be our time.

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

(Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon)

Surely we belong to God and unto Him shall we return

Weekend Fun

I had to take my lappy to the doctors (aka Apple store) to get it checked for excessive snail like behavior.  While there, I took advantage of being at the mall :D haha...woohoo.

iPhone accessories...oh the love.

:) Hi mommy!

A craft idea in the making :)

Anthropologie door/drawer knobs...ideas in the making!! :D

 These tiles were so beautiful!

$148 for a mirror??

Oh the colors!

 See my new bangle :D 

This store is a definite must for any olive oil, vinegar lover...that's all I'm going to say for now!  But, notice the blue sky, while the rest of the country is freezing and under snow, we're enjoying lovely (albeit cold) weather...not bragging...I swear!

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

I've been sick all week, again times 3.  What is with this flu season geez!  It keeps coming back.  It's a horrible cycle.  So, with this cold comes my usual cravings: chocolate, toast and orange juice.  Wonderful combination if you ask me :)

I bought a BIG bag of oranges and squeezed about 15 of them.  The oranges were super sweet and the juice felt good in mah belly :D

 

I love my little Oster juicer :) It's so cute!

 I love the pulp, so I make sure to add it to the juice.

 Orange juice in my super cute handmade polka dot glasses :)

Happy Friday Everyone!

White Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle

I've had a crazy sweet tooth this week and was dying for something uber chocolatey.  Here's a recipe for some white chocolate chip cookie brittles.  They come out crunchy and pretty yummy.

Ingredients
*makes about 48 cookies

• 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs (room temperature)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups dutch processed cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) White Chocolate Chips

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy. 
3. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. 
4. Stir together the cocoa, flour, baking soda and salt and add to butter mixture.
5. Stir in the white chips until mixed well.
6. Roll a rounded teaspoon of cookie dough in your hand and place onto a cookie sheet.  
7. Bake about 7-8 minutes.
8. Cool on a wire rack.

 Note: They will be puffy while baking but once you take them out, they will flatten and get crunchy upon cooling. 

Bon Appetit :)

Cleaning Your Washing Machine

Over the past year I'd noticed there was a rim of black around the top of my washing machine. I don't know if it was dirt, grime, or just stained, but it was starting to look pretty bad and embarrassing. I was inspired to clean it after reading this post.

It took a few hours, but here are the steps.

1.  Using a magic eraser, clean the stains around the rim of the washing machine.
2.  Fill the washing machine with HOT water.
3.  Add 4 cups of bleach, allow to agitate for a few minutes, then allow to sit for 1 hour.
4.  Allow the machine to run through it's longest cycle.
5.  Fill the machine with HOT water again immediately.
6.  Add 4 cups of white vinegar and allow to agitate for a few minutes, then allow to sit for 1 hour again.
7.  Run the longest wash cycle again.
8.  Rinse the machine with HOT water for one 1/2 cycle to complete.

  A clean and happy washing machine :o)