pumpkin cupcakes

Best thing you will put in your mouth. Seriously. Make these. You'll thank me later.

Cupcakes:

4 c. cake flour (not self-rising)

1 t. baking soda

1 T. + 1 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

2 t. ground cinnamon

1 T. ground ginger

1 t. nutmeg

1/4 t. ground cloves

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.

2 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 c. buttermilk

1 1/2 c. canned pumpkin (not pie filling)

Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1/3 c. butter, softened

3/4 t. ground allspice

1 1/2 - 2 c. confectioner's sugar

1 t. vanilla

2 T. milk

Preheat oven to 350. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices.

With an electric mixer on med-high speed, cream butter and brown sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and beating until just combined. Add pumpkin; beat until just combined.

Divide batter evenly amount lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer tines to wire racks to cool 10 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be refrigerated up to 3 days in airtight containers.

When cupcakes are cool mix up frosting. Blend cream cheese, butter, and allspice. Gradually mix in the sugar, vanilla, and milk until the mixture is spreadable.

Frost and enjoy!

performances and promotions

Ever have one of those nights when your dreams are just plain up crazy? That was me last night.

Dream #1: I watched as JC Chasez and Justin Bieber sang two duets together at two different ball games. I think one was at a baseball game and one was a basketball game. They sang "American The Beautiful" and some Christmas song that I don't remember right now. JC, normally a sexy guy, wasn't looking too good in my dream. I had longer hair (reminiscent of 2004), he had all these strange little tattoos all over his neck and chin (I think they were Chinese symbols or something), and he was really skinny. Like. REALLY. More than usual. And I thought, "I have to tell Rachel (aka Kristy) that I think JC is anorexic."

Then the dream switched.

Dream #2: I was promoted to be a manager in a different department at work. Through a couple exchanged emails with my director (which were weird and strangely flirtatious) I met with him and a few other directors/managers at work and was offered the position. I don't remember what the department was (I actually don't think it was a real department) but it had something to do with processing instead of having any direct interaction with students. So, I was put in as the manager of this team and was driven over to the building where they were in (a weird, creepy, old house in a strange neighborhood) and introduced to the team. They were all people who had been at UOP for longer than I have and were kind of disgruntled that I had been put in as the manager.

That's where the dream ended.

Sometimes, I really hate dreams. Especially when they're weird and/or stressful, because I don't sleep very well and wake up tired.

phillip

I know I made an earlier post where I bashed Disney and the unrealistic expectations they gave me of life and love, BUT...Prince Phillip (from Sleeping Beauty) has always been my favorite and (as much as I love Flynn Rider) he always will be. (Forgive me Flynn!)

I love how instantly Phillip falls for Briar Rose and defies his father and the expectations of his birth to go after her, despite the fact that he believes her to be a "commoner." I love his singing voice. I love how desperately he fights for her when Maleficent takes Aurora and puts her under the spell. I love the look on his face when he walks down the stairs with his princess on his arm (who knew a 2-D, cartoon character could portray so much love??). And, although he's not as "buff" as others I think he's sexy and I love him.

Below are some of my favorite pictures of my Prince Charming...

In the words of Katy: "Nice butt, Phil!" :D

halloween

I realized today that I am excited for Halloween.

This is a new emotion for me.

I'm not sure what to do with it.

hawaii

Here's what we did:

*survived a 6 hours flight (both ways)

*watched Mr. Popper's Penguins and X-men First Class (on the plane)

*got lost trying to find out hotel (Waikiki Gateway)

*went to church (had Sacrament Meeting in the cultural hall)

*visited 2 temples (Buddist and Mormon)

*hiked Diamond Head (thought I was going to die several times)

*experienced Pearl Harbor (got emotional a few times)

*had lunch on the beach one day (love)

*saw Dolphin Tale and The Three Musketeers

*did tons of walking/window shopping (everything was SO expensive)

*took a tour of Kualoa Ranch (gorgeous scenery)

*fell in love at the Dole Plantation (pineapples everywhere and dole whips)

*went to a stupid macadamia nut farm (don't bother)

*got sunburned at the Polynesian Cultural Center (hawaiian pizza....not hawaiian)

*read and sunbathed on our balcony (was too exhausted to do anything else)

*drove around the island at least 6 times (the North Shore was my favorite)

Here's what I didn't like:

*paying $20 a night for parking (not joking)

*all the one-way streets (Waikiki is the most confusing place to drive)

*the humidity (nothing ever dried)

*how expensive everything was ($6 for a tiny salad)

*no volcanoes (would have liked to see some lava)

*the flight home (got a kink in my neck trying to sleep)

breast cancer awareness

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Faith and I went and got some pink hair extensions.

apropos

First of all, I love this word: apropos. It's fun to say, and when you say it, people think you're really smart. :)

We played a couple rounds of the game "Apples to Apples" today in our team meeting at work. As is often the case, the green cards that I won ended up describing me pretty well. "Very apropos," I thought.

According to the game today I am: courageous, cute, frivolous, and delicious.

sft

Friday night I went with Mom, Dad, and Faith to see this movie:

I had no idea what it was about before I got to the theater. All I knew was it was rated G and Robert Duvall was in it. I was pleasantly surprised to find out, the main guy was pretty hot.

Lucas Black. Mmmm....

But, beyond a good looking guy to look at on screen for a couple hours, I legitimately loved the movie. It was a great story with a lot of great lessons learned by the main character (and me). The main point of the movie was this: SFT.

What, you're probably asking yourself, is SFT? What does it stand for?

S: See God

F: Feel His love

T: Trust Him

They seem like little, simple things but, like one of my favorite sayings, "Enjoy the little things in life...for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things." Being able to see God, to recognize and feel His love, and putting our trust in Him are three very small and simple things we can do that will bring about great changes in our lives.

So just remember: SFT.

ready to go

Faith and I are leaving for Hawaii next Saturday.

My hat is ready to go.

chocolate pecan caramel apples

10 shiny green apples:

10 popsicle sticks:

1 delicious home-made caramel recipe:

1 bag of chocolate chips, 1 bag of white chocolate chips, and some chopped pecans:

the final frontier

When I was younger I wanted to live in space. My goal was to live on Mars. This movie came out right about the time I made this goal and I thought it was great!

I've always been a "space" nerd. I love Star Trek, Star Wars, and lots of other space-related books/movies/TV shows. Confession: I've always had a crush on Lt. Riker....

I took a Science Fiction class when I was at Dixie State and loved it. As I've gotten older, however, my goal of living in space is no longer on the list. I've seen way too many evil alien movies. Life on Earth is scary enough sometimes, why go into space where there's a change a huge, ugly, alien can suck my face off? No thanks.

Last night I had a dream about space. Somehow I was sucked into a black hole out in space and was transported to another planet. It was like Earth but it was different. Prettier. I don't remember what the aliens looked like on the planet, I just knew they were there and they were nice. There was another human on the planet. She had arrived there the same way I had back in the 1950s. I don't remember actually seeing any animals, but I knew that all the animals on the planet had at least 2 heads. Some of them had 3 or 4. The other woman who was there had a bunch of figurines on her desk of animals with multiple heads.

Uhm. K.

Here's what the dream dictionary says:

"To see or dream that you are in space, represents exploration and independent thinking. You are broadening your horizons and view. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor that you are 'spacing out.' You need to return your concentration back on your future and goals."

"To see aliens in your dream signify that you are having difficulties adapting and adjusting to your new surroundings. You are feeling 'alienated' and disconnected. You may be having difficulties with how to handle or deal with a certain situation or person. On a psychological level, seeing aliens represent an encounter with an unfamiliar or neglected aspect of your own self."

olive juice

Last night I watched the WORST movie EVER. I'm no stranger to bad movies (ask Katy sometime about the Love's Unending Marathon I made her watch earlier this year...) but this movie is now at the top of the Worst Movie list.

So what movie was it? Olive Juice.

Now. I can probably guess your next question. Why?

Did you happen to notice the two big words at the top of the above picture? That's the answer: Backstreet. Boys. Yes, that's right. I watched this HORRIBLE movie all because AJ McLean and Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys had a cameo appearance in it. I know, I know. I'm pathetic. But, admit it. It's one of the things you love about me! :)

Through the wonders of technology, I watched this movie with my bestie, Kristy. Below is the IM chat commentary we had while watching. Enjoy!

Kristy says:

okay... already this movie is cracking me up

Cheryl says:

hahahahaha

Kristy says:

um, I love the early 2000s hair

Cheryl says:

nick carter look-alike

lol

Kristy says:

totally!

Cheryl says:

oh man....

Kristy says:

"it's for my daughter!" LOL!!

Cheryl says:

uhm

Kristy says:

hahaha

Cheryl says:

wtf is this movie?!

Kristy says:

I was just wondering that too

I'm not sure I understand

LOL

Why are we watching a black man pee???

Cheryl says:

why.....

hahaha....a urine strainer?!?!

Kristy says:

I'm so confused.....

Cheryl says:

I think he has kidney stones, but I don't know why that's important to the story line....

Kristy says:

If I didn't know there was a backstreet connection here somewhere... I would not be watching this.

Cheryl says:

also, why do we need to watch him do his thing?

lol

this might be worse than the stupid movie that nsync was in....

lol

Kristy says:

um... yeah

Cheryl says:

wow, really?

Kristy says:

the acting is... so bad

she's a little crazy

and gross

Cheryl says:

yikes!

Kristy says:

OMG

AHAHAHAHAHA

Cheryl says:

bahahahahaha

so many stuffed animals....

Kristy says:

When stuffed animals go bad...

Cheryl says:

LOL

wow

Kristy says:

Ummm

is that her?

Cheryl says:

what is with all lthese crazy women?!

Kristy says:

I don't understand.....

*holds head and rocks back and forth*

Cheryl says:

hahaha

O_o

Kristy says:

oh... there she is

right?

Cheryl says:

I have no idea

Kristy says:

Why did she make this movie?

and how was Brian okay with this??

Cheryl says:

hahaha

Kristy says:

wow short skirt

Cheryl says:

I've watched a lot of bad movies in my day, but this is HORRIBLE!

"why in the hell would you know that?" lol

Kristy says:

LOL

She's from Jersey??

Oh brother.....

O-town????

Cheryl says:

bahaha

petting zoo tokens?!

Kristy says:

*scratches head* what.... what is happening???

hahahah]

cue the backstreet background music!

THAT is her grandma?

Cheryl says:

I though it was her mom

Kristy says:

she doesn't look that old. Or sick.

oh.... that makes more sense

Cheryl says:

was this movie before or after they got married?

Kristy says:

well... she's listed with his last name... so after?

Cheryl says:

oh yeah

lol

Kristy says:

But... I don't remember them being married that early

I though they got married when we were in college

Cheryl says:

He proposed to her in 1999 and they were married on September 2, 2000.

Kristy says:

huh

okay. thanks for looking it up. :)

Cheryl says:

no prob

wow. he's a jerk

Kristy says:

yeah...

and she's a little crazy....

Cheryl says:

and we're back to the pee strainer. WHY!?

Kristy says:

hahahaha

oh... em... gee

Cheryl says:

oh my heck

Kristy says:

we've only been watcing for 23 minutes

....

Cheryl says:

hahahaha

Kristy says:

is that Jace singing in the background?

lol

Cheryl says:

uh...

Kristy says:

ugly old animal shirts... hahahah

Oh dear....

no wonder I've never heard of this movie....

Cheryl says:

here's the funny thing....this is what it says on wikipedia: It was one of the more significant independent films produces in the Florida film industry.

I cringe to think what the other ones were like if this is one of the significant ones.....

Kristy says:

Hahahahahaha

Cheryl says:

uhm....that glass broke BEFORE it hit the ground.....

AHAHAHAHAH

Kristy says:

hahahahahahaha!!!!!

This is my favorite movie ever

HAHAHAHAHA

Cheryl says:

omg I'm dying!

so....she had to walk around the block across the street, and then walk in front of the pet store on her way to the pet store?

apparantly this movie confuses her as much as it does us....

Kristy says:

HAHHAHAHAHA

You're funny

you know... she's not that pretty

she looks... tired

Cheryl says:

I think she is

Kristy says:

I'm sure she is in real life, but she has too much makeup on

and her hair is too perfect

Cheryl says:

yikes!!

jerkface!

Kristy says:

so called it

ugh

hate him

Cheryl says:

he has a candle in his bedroom?!?! hahahaha

Kristy says:

hahahahaha

Cheryl says:

I have to close my blinds. I'm afraid of people seeing me watch this....

Kristy says:

where does he get those shirts????

Cheryl says:

oh WHATEVER!

*gags*

Kristy says:

oh... come on...

this is... bad....

Cheryl says:

SO BAD

Kristy says:

Oh... okay....

what...

I... am speechless

Cheryl says:

she lived in Jersey till recently? don't believe it.

Kristy says:

uh... I don't believe how old she's supposed to be

Cheryl says:

this movie is why I'm afriad sometimes of writing....

Kristy says:

hahah... yeah... this might look good on paper.. but as a movie it's bad...

um...

Cheryl says:

yikes

uhm....what???

Kristy says:

remember when girls dressed like that?

or at least, spice girls did

Cheryl says:

LOL

her phone is from 1987

and he's in the tub with bubbles?!

*couhg* douche *cough*

Kristy says:

HAHAHAHAHA

ugh

HATE HIM

Cheryl says:

eeewwww

Kristy says:

she is gross!

Cheryl says:

I don't understand why guys like him propose anyway

Kristy says:

this movie wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the bad acting...

he is a way-to-much-info-guy

Cheryl says:

you're engaged!

don't be going out with someone else!

Kristy says:

oh dear

Cheryl says:

cue AJ....

Kristy says:

hahahahaha

I love this movie

Cheryl says:

LMAO

Kristy says:

what is she wearing???

to a club???

I think I had that shirt

it's from Gap

Cheryl says:

lol

back when AJ had hair

Kristy says:

um... and bad clothes

Cheryl says:

he's always had bad clothes

Kristy says:

seriously... that whole decade was bad clothes

Cheryl says:

okay, now everyone, AJ is going to hold up an old vinyl record and you all need to scream!

Kristy says:

LOL

Cheryl says:

her cute little flower bobby pins are a nice touch to her outfit

Kristy says:

she looks too wholesome to be there

and for her character

uhm... what is that guy?

Cheryl says:

now spin a candle on the spin table, and pan over to the girls gyrating in the cages...

Kristy says:

I am laughing SO hard right now....

Cheryl says:

HAHAHAHAHA

Kristy says:

okay you have got to be kidding me

Cheryl says:

A CARRIAGE RIDE?!

Kristy says:

a carriage?

Cheryl says:

did they take the carriage to the club? where is the car?

Brian!

Kristy says:

HAHAHAHAHAA

oh....

my....

Cheryl says:

ahahahahaha

Kristy says:

he's so cute...

Cheryl says:

stop dancing!

Kristy says:

why isn't he with her???

Brian I mean

Cheryl says:

I knew what you meant

Kristy says:

lol

Cheryl says:

he would have done better

Kristy says:

that's cause he's funny

Cheryl says:

really??? she's comfortable enough with this guy to be slow dancing with him??

Kristy says:

she is drunk....

Cheryl says:

that's true

but still...

Kristy says:

I could see Rachel doing this...

not when she's engaged to Jace of course...

but...

Cheryl says:

oh man! Jace would have a FIT! lol

Kristy says:

LOL... yeah.

I feel like my life is being sucked away from me...

Cheryl says:

ew. I don't like him

please no. don't let there be another 1980. One was one too many....

Kristy says:

This is painful...

Cheryl says:

what exactly is her mom sick with?

Kristy says:

she just had surgery?

I'm afraid of turning 30 alone!

is that so wrong?!

Cheryl says:

no

that's why we have to come up with an AWESOME way to celebrate turning 30

JERKFACE!!

Kristy says:

he just wants her trust fund

Cheryl says:

ew

he

s just so gross

she was a bartender?? and she wore her GAP outfit to the club??

Kristy says:

lol

did she just die/

?

Cheryl says:

lol

I don't know

Kristy says:

woah! my brother is in this movie!

Cheryl says:

I don't know what's going on...

HA!

Kristy says:

The guy with the shades?? SO my brother

Cheryl says:

oh my heck!

this guy is unbelievable

Kristy says:

ha! he totally looked at the camera!

Cheryl says:

uhm...what's a bladder bust? lol

Kristy says:

ummmm.... that was not part of my BYU experience. I have no idea

Cheryl says:

and what he is doing to that dog?!

lol

Kristy says:

hahahahah

Cheryl says:

Sprint was a big sponsor of this movie

I bet the regretted that decision....

Kristy says:

hahahah

I hardly even remember pay phones

again, I think i had that shirt

EW!

he is gross

Cheryl says:

ewwww

Kristy says:

I want to junk punch him

he is an idiot

Cheryl says:

wait.

she just said, "I thought you knew where we were going." Did I miss the part where she told him? Last I heard it was "top secret"

Kristy says:

you know what? She kind of looks like Brittney from Glee

Cheryl says:

*rolls eyes*

yeah, kinda

Kristy says:

*sigh* why are we still watching this?

Cheryl says:

guess, she didn't die

Kristy says:

hahaha

nope.

Cheryl says:

lol

Kristy says:

I don't understand why she's obsessed with this cooking show

Cheryl says:

we all have our favorite shows

"guy friend!"

LOL

Kristy says:

does this show have a laugh track>?

Cheryl says:

yes

she's going to die tonight

Kristy says:

they're going to kiss tonight

LOL

Cheryl says:

I can't believe that he makes enough as a dog bakery to have such a big store front

nope

he got the handshake!

poor guy :(

Kristy says:

lol

Cheryl says:

yes! BSB

Kristy says:

what did he really expect?

HA! love it

Cheryl says:

called it

Kristy says:

:( poor girl!

Cheryl says:

they didn't tell her when she got there?

Kristy says:

wait... maybe they moved her???

Cheryl says:

nope

Kristy says:

oh sad!

this movie is ridiculous

Cheryl says:

I should not be laughing righ tnow

Kristy says:

hahahaha

no... but I am too so it's okay

Cheryl says:

I'm never going to be able to listen to this song again.....

Kristy says:

ha! me either!!!

that was a quick funeral

Cheryl says:

bahhahaha

Kristy says:

HAHAHAHA

Cheryl says:

the black guy carrying the watermelon? BEST THING EVER

Kristy says:

BEST MOVIE EVER

This is the kind of story line that would be awesome as a book and is TERRIBLE as a moive

Cheryl says:

when does she figure out how big of a douche her fiance is?

and is that a southern accent that just slipped through? I thought she was from Jersey....

Kristy says:

sometime in the next 15 minutes?

um...well she's been living in Atlanta...

Cheryl says:

for 2 years

you know the little bugs in Bugs Life that put on the play? I feel like the little one at the end..."and I die! Die! Die!"

Kristy says:

hahahaha

is this movie going to ever end?

and will it be happy?//

Cheryl says:

nope

Kristy says:

the end

lol

Cheryl says:

why do they keep showing these guy commercials?

I don't understand

Kristy says:

hahahahahaahahaha

I don't get it either

I'm so confused...

Cheryl says:

wow. that's an impressive CD collection

Kristy says:

yeah... wow

Cheryl says:

this black guy does NOT know how to ride a bike

I think this was actually his first time on one

Kristy says:

he probably learned just for the movie

*black male co-star needed. Must ride bikes*

Cheryl says:

what???

WOW

you really want to marry this guy??

Kristy says:

he is bad news

and the black guy is killing me

Cheryl says:

AHAHAHAHAHA

ewwwwww

Kristy says:

that looks painful.

and disgusting

Cheryl says:

what the heck does this have to do with the movie??

Kristy says:

um.... what does any of it have to do with the movie?

Cheryl says:

LOL

uhm. ew.

enough about the kidneystones

Kristy says:

he is not that attractive

I don't understand

Cheryl says:

he is SO gross

Kristy says:

poor girl

her life kinda sucks

Cheryl says:

oh brother

Kristy says:

this is... so dumb....

Cheryl says:

omg

Kristy says:

HA! and... end scene

HAHAHAHAHA

seriously... what was that????

Cheryl says:

I don't want to talk about it

Kristy says:

hahahaha

me either

wow

I am never telling anyone I saw that moive