Currently Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Harper Fiction) By Gregory Maguire see related

Baking "Low-Cal"

I tried two "low-cal" baking recipes today.  Tuxedo brownie cookies and red velvet cupcakes.  I like experimenting and I mean it in the most embarrasingly nerdy way possible - I thoroughly enjoyed attempting to bake a cupcake with a bunsen burner in high school chemistry laboratory class.  And of course we didn't have eggs so we figured a tad bit of soap wouldn't kill anyone and could theoretically work as an emulifying agent.  (It wasn't bad but I haven't repeated it - mostly because eggs are pretty easy to obtain and eggs work so much better.)

1.  Tuxedo brownie "Hugs" cookies
My co-worker told me that you can substitute applesauce (1:1 ratio) with oil for brownie and cake recipes.  I think the Tuxedo Brownie "Hugs" Cookies are super adorable so I had to try it out with the brownie cookie recipe.

Impression:  I think the brownies taste alright with the variation.  If you're making plain brownies, thumbs-up on the applesauce substitution.  If you're going for cutesy cookies, I'd make the recipe less watery so you could control the shape better.  Ways to do it: Less water, No chocolate syrup, More cocoa powder, or maybe even shortening (::gasp::) instead of oil or applesauce...  On impromptu to ameloriate the situation, I pulled stuck the cookies into the freezer for 5 minutes before pressing the "Hugs" into the cookie.

2.  Red velvet cupcakes
I heard for sometime now that you could substitute everything in a Betty Crocker cake mix (eggs, oil, water) for diet sprite or diet coke.  I had to check out if the rumor was true.  My first attempt was really dough-y... the cupcakes were too moist and they melt in your hands.  So in geek-ish chemistry terms, I figured I needed an emulifying agent - or something to stick oil and water mediums together better - to keep the cake from crumbling.  In the non-"low cal" version, eggs are the emulisfying agent so this time I tried one egg with some diet coke.

Impression: Not too shabby.  Although I may give the first attempt another chance... I think it might turn out alright without the eggs if you give it a longer than normal time to bake.

P.S.  Pictures are from google image.  Not mine!  I took pictures but I'm too unmotivated to figure out why my camera won't communicate with my computer.  Uh yes... I hate admitting this but I'm the most technologically challenged person ever.  I feel accomplished that I can sorta figure out xanga.  Oi!  >.<

"We cannot do great things, only small things with great love."  ~ Mother Teresa

For the record, I love having a baby sister. 

And I have to admit sharing clothes, shoes, purses, etc-etc is pretty fun. 

But man, oh man,  I didn't think too much when I gave her unrestricted permission to raid my closet for her week-long trip to girls state (that mock-goverment thing where you pick-a-mock-governor, senator, etc-etc) ...  so now I have no work clothes or shoes.  >.<

Incident #1:
Me:  Kelly, can you help me with this dye?
Kelly:  Okay, wear a shirt you don't care about.
Me: *takes off sweatshirt*  I'm ready!
Kelly:  Hey!  That's my shirt!

Incident #2:
Me:  *Annoyed*  Argh, you're wearing my jeans again!  And my shirt!
Kelly:  Uh... you're wearing my shorts and my shirt!
Me:  *Looks down*  Oh!

Ridiculous, huh?  We laughed after these too.  ^^*

The Obvious

It's finally settling into my thick skull that snowboarding season is over for me.  And I may have to possibly give up the half-marathon.

And that the two things above should be the least of my worries.

Boo.

Bang, Bang!

I haven't changed my hair since junior year of high school.  Remember the time I chopped my hair to my ears?  If I am to be completely honest, I thought the world was going to cease to exist because I thought I got less an A in AP Physics.  Pre-emptive strike.  (Translation: a "Britney Spears" moment.)

Getting back to my point, I haven't changed my hair in nine years.  I'm still getting used to the bangs.  Anyhow this is my father trying to encourage me that I didn't make too horrendous mistake.

Mother:  "Doesn't she look good?"  *pokes Father in the ribs while she thinks I'm not looking*
Father: *coughs*  "Oh yes, dear, it makes you look younger.  You look twenty-five years old."
Me:  "Uh, thanks Dad."
Mother:  "Honey, she's not twenty-five yet!"

Moving on to the next uber important subject besides my hair.  I did some research I found it's possible to get a one-year old Hummer for under 20k.  So I decided in the far, far distant future that my next car is going to be a white Hummer with the silver rims.  I know, they get like 0 miles per gallon and I can barely park small cars.  But I'd like to approach this very practically so here are the practical reasons to get a Hummer that come to my mind at this late hour:
1.  I enjoy snowboarding but I'm scared to drive in the snow.
2.  One day I'm going to be a mother and I need a soccer mom tank.
3.  Jenny's fiance first bought her a car instead of a ring.  What an excellent idea!  I would gladly choose a Hummer over a diamond ring.  It's white - and therefore very practically bridal.
4.  Marry a guy who owns or wants a Hummer.
5. ???

6.   Ridiculous, but it's fun to say Hummer.  Hummmm-mer!  It's so retail therapy at it's best.