I just got a lot on my plate

So a lot of things are going on with me. Here is the run down.

• I am currently in the seventh ring of corporate hell working under a lot of stress on a high profile project which is sucking up a lot of my free time due to long hours. Last week I did not leave the house from Monday evening till Friday afternoon. That is just wrong!
• I have been sucked into the Twilight series and can't put it down. Due to the aforementioned long work hours I am finally in the middle of the last book in the series. While this is not high brow literature Stephanie Meyer certainly is one heck of a storyteller.
• I had my first two etsy sales last week. Luckily I was able to get them out relatively fast and my clients were pleased with the final results.
• I have decided to launch a second business which should start taking up a lot of my time. More details to follow.
• We made a decision to just go with our contractor in redoing our bathroom for a number of reasons. 1- We can barely get to the minor home projects we have on our list now. 2- We want it done quickly and because of both of our time schedules with work that may not be feasible 3-We want to keep harmony in our home and I am seeing that DIY and the Petersons are not a good combination. 4- Tiling scares me. End of story.
• I now need to choose flooring, a vanity and fixtures for the bath.
• I have decided to do a minor redo of the basement. We have reorganized the bookcases (I am still searching out decorative elements), I cleaned out and organized the closet, got a new entertainment shelf, and am now looking for a new coffee table.
• I am backlogged on posting new items to my etsy shop. 

Whew seems like a lot and that doesn't even count some of my other pursuits like getting a sewing machine, finishing our wedding album, etc.

When I list it all out it seems overwhelming but this is just half the stuff that is swirling around in my head on a daily basis. 

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Guilty Pleasure

We all have shows on TV that we secretly watch and wonder how can we sit and watch this dribble. But yet we get so much entertainment from them.

Here are my guilty pleasures on the boob tube.

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I am not supposed to bake but I did it anyway

Under orders of my husband I have to cut back on baking which is extremely hard for me since I love to do it so much. My husband at one time was training to qualify for the Olympics in the 800m track and field event, and he has run the majority of his life. When he was seriously training he was a big health fanatic about nutrition and what went into his body. He has been complaining of late that I am on a secret mission to make him fat with all my baked goodies, but honestly I'm not.  And from looking at my husband I can't tell that the baked goods has had any affect on him. He still has a trim muscular runner's body. But he has made a resolution to eat healthier in the new year and to also get back on a regular run schedule.

Well on Sunday I baked ginger muffins despite his wishes. (I just couldn't help myself. But really I do need to curb the baking and be supportive of his nutritional goals. I may need to try make some of the Vegan treats over at neverhomemaker in order to satisfy both our needs).

Ginger Muffins

courtesy of my girl Martha from "The Martha Stewart Cookbook - Collected Recipes for Everyday"

Makes 48 accourding to the recipe but I got 10 jumbo muffins out of it

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/12 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• grated zest of 1 large orange
• 1/2 cup of boiling water
• pinch of salt
• 4 tablespoons of sour cream

Preheat oven to 350

• Heat the butter and molasses in small saucepan until butter melts.  Cool.
• Beat the egg and sugar until fluffy.
• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Add dry ingredients to egg mixture alternately with the butter and molasses, stirring well
• Add the zest, boiling water, salt, and sour cream. Blend well
• Pour into muffin tins. Baked until puffed (about 15 minutes)

Suggested serving is with ginger cream cheese (which I think would be awesome) or spicy apple butter.

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Its Only Wednesday ........

Its only Wednesday and I want to the week to be over already. Not only am I and my team at work getting consistently handed our patooties on a silver platter which means late hours and a lot of stress, but to top it off I have somehow seemed to have caught some type of virus which is causing me nausea most of the day. Its not cool when you toss your cookies in the middle of a meeting - thank goodness I work from home. And how the heck did I get sick anyway when I work from home and have virtually no exposure to the outside world? I am just hoping I am well in time for this wedding we have to attend this weekend.

But one good thing is I got my camera bag this week (insert happy dance) that my husband bought me as part of my Christmas gift. Now I feel so stylish and chic with my cute camera bag. Isn't she pretty?

If you would like to get one or check out their other choices it is from the etsy seller XcessRize, and they have all kinds of funky camera and laptop bags.

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I am a proud member of the UGG Nation

Yes they are some of the ugliest boots around. Yes they are part of the uniform of American teenage girls everywhere. But these puppies were so incredibly warm and comfortable that I had to break down and get some last winter. And with this stint of Arctic weather we are having on the East Coast they are my hottest accessory of choice right now.

However, I do still a twinge of silliness when I see teenage girls rocking the same look as me. How old am I again?

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I just couldn't help myself ;(

I just couldn't help myself.

Even though we are 4 months out from our wedding I still bought the new issue of MS Weddings. I have successfully weened myself off wedding blogs (at the height I had over 60 subscriptions to wedding blogs in my reader) and I don't go to Weddingbee.com on a daily basis. However, I think I will be forever addicted to MS Wedding. It is wedding porn at its best and plus she has awesome crafts in it.

I think every girl at heart still loves to look at wedding stuff even after the big day.

Even though your wedding has past do you still look at wedding related stuff?

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Pulled Pork is not just for BBQ Season

Pulled pork is not just for BBQ season. It is a year round dish in our house and it is something both my husband and I thoroughly enjoy on a soft fresh kaiser roll and a side of coleslaw.

I know that some folks do a dry version but I like mine dripping with sauce which makes for one good messy eat. YUM!! I also do mine in the slow cooker, which means I can set it and forget it and when I come back hours later it is falling apart and ready to eat.

BBQ Pulled Pork

Ingredients

• Pork Loin - They come wrapped and packaged in the meat section of the market and usually there are two cuts of meat which I cut into halves 
• Bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
• Can of tomato Sauce (15 oz)
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Dark Brown Sugar
• Chili Powder
• Paprika
• Cumin
• Hot Sauce
• Onion is optional ( I prefer to omit the onion)

Place the BBQ Sauce and tomato sauce in crock pot. Add Apple cider vinegar, sugar, and seasonings to taste. (You can also add in a little water to make the sauce less thick) Add in pork loin and let cook on high for 3-5 hours or until meat is falling apart or tears apart easily. Serve on fresh kaiser roll.

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