Easy as Pie!

I am thrilled to announce that so far this year I have already checked two items off of my 'bucket list'!!

I made a snow-angel:

And if you're thinking 'Wow I can't believe it took you 25 years to accomplish this small life-experience!' (which I know all of you are) consider the fact that I live in an area where it never very rarely snows. But a few weeks ago I got to spend a cabin weekend in the snow, and not only did I get a relaxing weekend of girl-time, but I got to meet a tiny goal as well.

My second item was more of an personal accomplishment. Ever since I discovered the joy of pie-making, I've always wanted to make my own pie-crust. I must admit that when it comes to baking pies I am, in fact, a "cheater cheater pumpkin (pie) eater". Pillsbury's pre-made roll-out pie crusts have enabled me to fake it 'til I bake it! They are tasty and convenient and unintimidating.

But this weekend my stress-baking senses were tingling, and thanks to a pie cookbook my sister got me for Christmas, I decided I was going to tackle this project!

Just a few simple ingredients: flour, salt, sugar, butter, shortening, ice water

A little stand-mixer action,

And...voila! Pie crust

It was pretty easy to make...but a pain in the butt to roll out, even so, my triple berry was pretty delish!

Life is what happens.

Whether you're busy making other plans or not...life just keeps happening.

Sometimes life happens when you get to go wedding dress shopping with your sister. I was so glad to get to be a part of that! It was an experience that included waking up at 5am, trying to get a peek at the Starbucks drive-through guy from the passenger seat of my mom's car (all I could tell was that he had a cute chin), and sitting in a chair (& occasionally on the floor) as my sister tried on well over a dozen dresses at two different bridal shops. But all of it was more than worth it to get to see the look on my sister's face when she walked out of the dressing room in 'the dress'. I can't describe it, there was just this glow on her face!! The dress is beautiful...and just so 'her'! Life happened.

Sometimes life happens when your pants rip. Right up the seam of your back pocket. While you're at work...that's when this happens:

Yeah, I patched them...and my co-workers agree with my decision to do so. Why get rid of a pair of jeans because there is a rip in them? Especially when I can make them somewhat perfectly decent-ish again. There is no point in buying a brand-new pair of pants so I can sit in a sand box. It is a total waste of money. If I am going to buy new pants, I am not going to sacrifice them by exposing them to glitter, glue, paint, snot, peanut butter and bleach water! Life happened.

Sometimes life happens when you're cruising down the road going 38 mph on your way home from work:

If this little pink slip of paper doesn't look at all familiar to you, consider yourself lucky! This is what a speeding ticket looks like. I thought I was driving at a perfectly respectable speed...I didn't realize I was going through a school zone. Suddenly, my 'perfectly respectable speed' is 13mph over the speed limit. Now I have to go through traffic school and all the blah blah blah that comes from not paying close enough attention.

Life happened!

Do You Hear the People Cheer?

The film version of Les Miserables is sure to be less miserable now that Taylor Swift is no longer attached to the role of Eponine.

Don't get me wrong, I love me some T-Swizzle...and I will not deny it! I love her popified take on country music and her sassy-pants lyrics. My 15 year old self unashamedly sings her songs at the highest volume imaginable.

However, I was pretty disappointed when I read that she had been cast to play Eponine in the up-coming movie-musical. Mostly because I have such a strong connection to the character of Eponine. I mean I am Eponine: The one who is fun to hang out with, until the blonde in the poofy dress shows up...always the friend, never the girlfriend. I was more than just a little incredulous about how Swift would take to the part.

As I am not shy about my love of musical theatre, I've have probably had the 'Taylor Swift-as-Eponine' conversation with about three sets of people. I think the community of theatre fans came together in agreement that Taylor Swift was not right for this part. That's why, when Cameron MacIntosh announced that Samantha Barks would be playing Eponine; fans of Les Miz rejoiced! I even received a text message from a friend Tuesday evening that read "Sound the trumpets! Taylor Swift is NOT Eponine!"

Here is Barks singing 'On My Own' from the 25th Anniversary Concert.