Bits & Pieces of Randomness

* I sometimes feel like a gazelle when walking in heels.  But not the graceful gazelle you're thinking about... More like a newborn gazelle first learning to walk.

* I got called out on my accent today.  Actually, I don't think a day has passed that someone HASN'T asked me where I'm from.  "I knew it must be somewhere in the south!  It's so cuuuuute!" Lol

* It's time for a family Skype session!  Going on 4 weeks here and I haven't seen anyone's face since moving.  I will fix this soon... Making my mama a Skype account ASAP!

* I'm getting back into my morning run routine and it feels oh so good!

* I love my mini and having a convertible.  If only it had more power... Next time ill definitely go for the S.

* My boyfriend is the best.  He came home from duty on Sunday morning and surprised me with Starbucks.  When he walked in the first thing he said was, "I messed up."  "What?" I asked confused.  "I remembered that you liked that new caramel drink from Starbucks and ordered it for you, but it's cold...  I thought it was hot and got it to help your throat." (I'm getting over laryngitis.)  What a sweetheart! 

FY I no surprise or thoughtful gesture is EVER a mistake!  My light caramel ribbon crunch frapp with no whip (he even remembered how I like it) was yummy :) 

* I have special numbers.  I see the numbers 1114 at least once a day on the clock and sometimes in other random places.  Coincidence that this is my birthday?  Any other significance you think?

* I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it here!  Still having moments of disbelief that this is my life daily.  Last weekend was full of fun times with friends, girls day on the beach,  good food and even a little shopping action.  

*There really is no comparison to sitting on the beach around a bonfire watching the lights of houses twinkle  in the hills along the horizon.

* Tomorrow is my first day off of orientation!  Moving up in the world :)

Culinary Confessions

I'm going to post this in humility and also a little out of guilt...

One of the hardest things for me to adapt to since the big move is cooking dinner. For the past several years I've lived on my own and never had to take into consideration what anyone else would like to eat, much less had to put the effort into actually cooking. I often had cereal, sandwiches, or microwave steamed veggies for dinner and it wasn't uncommon for me to go a whole week without eating meat.
Now that I'm staying with D for a while, this has all changed... Especially since his meals primarily consist of meats and carbs. I've been trying to come up with recipes that we'll both enjoy and that I can actually cook, but what tends to be happening is Ill pick the recipe, he'll alter it as needed and end up doing pretty much all of the cooking. I try to help as much as possible, but have found myself feeling helpless and ashamed that I cannot, in fact cook! :(

There have been several "oh" moments when he's had to explain to me the proper way to do something, or just embarrassing things I've done like last night when I dumped an entire box of rice on the counter because I thought it would be in a bag inside the box. Nope!

I also have a confession about the cookies I made for dessert...

I haven't admitted this one to anybody yet (D. cough, cough), just blamed it on a new recipe when in fact it was all me. Guilt has now taken over...

Yesterday I found an easy recipe for natural, flourless peanut butter cookies.

1c peanut butter
1c honey
1 egg
1tsp baking soda

Mix and Bake at 350 for 10 mins

I realized when gathering the ingredients that we didn't have any baking soda, but we DID have baking powder. Well what's the difference? After Googling substituting one for the other I found out that I COULD NOT substitute the baking powder because the cookies would turn out "gooier" then they were supposed to.

But I'm a firm believer that I can doctor any recipe (even after multiple failed attempts to do so in the past).

Since I was only making 1/2 the recipe, I decided that using the whole egg instead of half would definitely make it ok to substitute baking powder for baking soda.

My batter turned out pretty runny so I added a little more baking powder and peanut butter, spooned the soup onto the pan and stuck them in the oven. 10 mins later I had pancake-looking cookies that fell flat as they cooled. When I went to taste test one I realized it was so gooey I couldn't even scrape it off the baking sheet! No problem, they just need a little more time to cook right? I threw them back into the oven and broiled them hoping they'd come out nice and crispy. And they ALMOST did :) At least they tasted good!

The next time I make these cookies and actually use baking soda I'm sure they'll be amazing, and I won't have to lie/ blame the outcome on the recipe ;)

When this grace period of learning to cook is over and I've been re-named Betty Crocker, Ill invite everyone over for a gourmet meal. Scout's honor :)

One Week In

I can't believe I've been here for a week already!  Where has the time gone?  I had a few days to get oriented to the city last week and began my first day of work today :)  Work so far is AWESOME although I still have some big decisions to make as I interview for a full time position this Friday.  Prayers for guidance are much appreciated!

I have to say that the weather is gorgeous, although it is a a little chilly for me at times.  I'm used to the 80 - 90 degree temps during the summer so the 72 degree evenings once the sun goes down are definitely something I'll have to get used to.

This weekend was great.  We had a nice, relaxing day on Saturday strolling through La Jolla and hanging out with friends.  We had a yummy dinner at Roy's, a Hawaiian fusion restaurant and then went out downtown for a bit.  Sunday was a lazy morning of blueberry muffins (made by D), HGTV(my Sat am ritual), and then lunch/exploring Encinitas where I may possibly be starting to work full time.

Out for a walk

 Went for a run and did a little sightseeing!

Petco Park

View of the nieghborhood 

 Patiently waiting for dinner :)  Jackson LOVES his new friends!  

Prospect Bar and Grill

Top Down :)

Pacific Hwy

I'm really loving it here so far, but wish I could get used to the time difference from East to West.  I'm used to thinking 3 hours behind when trying to talk to D and now must think 3 hours ahead... sadly when I get to a point in my day that I'm ready to call home, it's usually 11 or 12 at night there.  But I'll get it figured out soon :)

The Seasonal Blogger Strikes Again

SO....

I've come to accept that I can't commit to blogging on a regular basis.

I have a bad habit of starting new projects and not finishing them.  Oh well.  Guess that's just part of who I am.  But I'll never give up on what's truly important, like family and friends :)

Since I've just moved across the country I've decided to start blogging again as a way to keep in touch with everyone back home.

My brother Benjamin and I had a great road trip to San Diego.  We left Friday afternoon when I got off work. (Yes, I'm a little crazy and decided to start the trip after completing my last day of work!)  We made three stops...  Birmingham, AL, Eastland, TX, and Tucson, AZ.

The longest day of driving was Sunday, bringing in 13 hours behind the wheel.  Thankfully the trip was easy and we had zero troubles along the way.  My only regret was missing the California state line sign.  I had planned to stop and take a picture with my NC tags next to the sign, but somehow ended up about 30 miles into the state before realizing we were in CA.  Oops!  

Since arriving I've been trying to get settled in and somewhat unpacked.  I went in for my pre-employment drug screen yesterday and for the first time wrote my official CA address.  My initial impulse was to write my old address, and I found myself smiling and in a slight state of unbelief as I wrote that I was a San Diego resident.  I had another ah ha moment later in the day... I was driving down the freeway with the top down, enjoying the beautiful scenery when it hit me, "This is my life now!"  Growing up I always had the desire to live in California.  I don't know what it was, (maybe the beautiful beaches and palm trees I saw on TV) but something about California always intrigued me.  Now here I am and to top it all off I have the best guy a girl could ask for by my side :)   Life is amazing!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined."

-Thoreau

And to all my family and friends back home...  Leaving you was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but in the end I had to do it.  I'm sad I didn't get to see everyone before leaving, but I'll be back soon to visit.  My stubborn nature came out and I refused to cry or be upset before leaving.  I hope this didn't come across as my not caring; that's not the case at all.  In fact, it was my defense mechanism for not turning into a blubbering baby :)  I love and miss you all and carry you in my heart everyday <3