Chapter Two vs. The Bucket List?

As my days at the University of Wisconsin are dwindling down to what I like to call, G-Day (G standing for Graduation) many of my fellow peers and I have been making “bucket lists” on what we need to do/accomplish before we leave. I dislike the term bucket list because I feel as though it symbolizes the end. Although this is a scary time, it is also very exciting, a whole new chapter of our life is about to start and there are endless possibilities. I am going to call it my Wrapping up Chapter 2 List (Chapter 1 being high school and life before college and Chapter 2 being college).

– Go to the terrace as often as possible and share pitchers of Strongbow  with friends. I first tasted the amazingness that is Strongbow when I was in London last year. Since than it has been love at first sip. For those who have never had it, Strongbow is an apple cider-like beer that literally tastes like a crisp apple orchard in your mouth. My school Union serves it on tap making it  even more heavenly than the bottled version (as if it was even possible). Also I realize it may seem weird that my school Union serves alcohol, but hey that’s Wisconsin for yaa.

– Go to the Farmers Market. The Dane County farmer’s market  is the largest producer-only farmer’s market in the COUNTRY! I’ve only gone a few times, but must stock up on spicy cheese bread, homemade bread with a pound of mozzarella cheese baked inside – Wisconsin doesn’t know the meaning of Low-Fat.

– Mifflin Block Party. The annual block party started in the 1960’s as a protest against the Vietnam War, now it is a HUGE party help the first weekend of May. Mifflin Street is covered with over tens of thousands of students, bands and street vendors.

-Finals. Ordinarily it’s the most dreaded time of the year but now that my last finals season is approaching I am starting to get a little sad….I am going to miss late night coffee runs, overcrowded libraries and wearing the same pair of sweat pants for a week.

That’s all I have for now…what’s on your to-do lists?

I made a cake! I think…

It was a beautiful lazy Sunday and I wanted to take a little break from writing a paper and decided to make a cake! I’ve been trying to eat healthier lately and it made sense to me that  Pioneer Woman’s prune cake would be fine because I figured prunes are a fruit…Also since I’ve been trying to follow the F-Factor Diet I figured you know prunes have fiber…That’s why all grandparents drink prune juice right?

Now I should have known, deep inside that anything that Pioneer Woman makes is NEVER diet friendly but I really really really thought that this amazingly delicious prune cake would be an exception.

Lets just talk about this cake for a second. First lets start with going down to the grocery store to pick some ingredients that I didn’t have in my kitchen. I asked the guy if they had fresh prunes and he took me to the dried fruit aisle and pointed out the bag of dried prunes. I thought to myself oh no! my cake is going to come out bad, they don’t have fresh prunes!
Lesson learned: Prunes = dried plumbs whoops (just like raisins = dried grapes)

Ps- The recipe calls for cinnamon, nutmeg and all spice…I already have cinnamon… while at the grocery store I made the budget conscience decision to just invest a $1.09 in All Spice since the bottle said it contains nutmeg, I left out the nutmeg and just added more All Spice. I mean it’s called ALL Spices therefore I assumed I had my bases covered.

Dumbblondie moment numbero two: I bought a little container of low-fat buttermilk (I know I was surprised they had low-fat buttermilk too! It sounds like an oxymoron). The recipe calls for 1 cup buttermilk, I read the label that said serving size: 1 cup… I tossed the whole thing in there. WHOOPS AGAIN! It looked like a lot of milk so I checked the bottle…guess how many serving sizes are in a bottle? TWO!! Don’t worry though I rescued the cake –  because the batter was thick I just poured the excess milk into a cup and what do you know! Cake saved.

Now this is where things start falling apart. I know right you’re probably thinking what on earth is this girl doing in a kitchen?

THE ICING. I combined all ingredients as instructed and let it sit on the stove and bubble WITHOUT stirring. I thought what a good time to put the dishes into the dishwasher. WRONG. Never ever walk away from something on the stove, especially if it contains baking soda. Within a few minutes the whole thing bubbled over blaaa….now as you guys know I am in college and my apartment has a “kitchen.” I put kitchen in quotes because my microwave is also an oven…my building advertised it as “revolutionary technology” no it’s not its a microwave OVEN literally call it what it is…annoying. Secondly I have a cooktop which pretty much a fancy way of saying you are going to cook under a lightbulb…it brings me back to my y easy bake oven days…now back to the frosting because of these cooking lightbulbs when the frosting overflows it starts sizzling, burning, smoking and then the fire alarm goes off… I shut everything off cleaned it up and then continued on cooking the frosting but because I was so frazzled that I didn’t cook the frosting as much as I should have and when I poured it over it was kind of like a liquid mess…

The good news is that because it was a carmell-y frosting I am hoping that it’ll harden, I am still not sure though if it worked because I decided to write this post while crossing my fingers.

Despite all the mayhem though I sneaked a little taste and it was amazing and delicious and scrumptious and smells like the holidays that I can not wait to get a fork and eat the entire thing!

For the recipe entire Pioneer Woman recipe click here:

You know you’re a college student when…

1. Having to wake up before noon is a struggle…it feels like you are waking up in the middle of the night

2. Your diet consists of dry cereal, ramen, pizza and vodka

3. You’re professors barely recognize you…but you’re on a first name basis with the bouncer at the bar.

4. Facebook and Twitter is your main news source

5. Your mom texts you every morning…you know just to make sure you’re ok…

6. Midterms and finals are the most dreaded word’s in your vocabulary

7. You buy used textbooks not because they are cheaper, but because the person before you prehighlights all the important info

8. Fleishman’s vodka and  Natural Ice beer are your two favorite alcohol brands

9.”Second dinner” or “late night” are your favorite meals of the day

10. You’re idea of splurging is buying name brand toilet paper and a case of diet coke

Valentine’s Day date/gift ideas…

Every single girl’s favorite holiday is coming up this Sunday so I thought I’d do a post to honor the occasion. I am a giant mush and love, love  – my other “blog”  is postaloveletter.blogspot.com (I put blog in quotes because I haven’t received that many submissions in a while but check it out!!) If you want to let someone know how you feel and are shy or have a love confession to get off your chest email: postaloveletter@gmail.com

For those of you who do have a boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband/booty call or any other special someone you want to celebrate with a romantic date here are some ideas:

-Splurge for a box of wine and drink it in the back of your mom’s mini van then have Pop-tarts for appetizers, hot pockets for the main course and snack pack pudding for dessert – this is a full proof plan to have a successful date. (I know I have an obsession with boxed wine. I am sorry. I can’t help it. The whole idea of it cracks me up..I wish I could explain why)

– Make your bf/gf a mix tape  is telling them to Pandora a new band you like (yes I used pandora as a verb…I figured if you can use google as a verb…pandora-ing something is fine – although it wasn’t in my AP Stylebook…)

– Boys -please don’t take your  date to any sort of sporting event, even if there are nachos involved…men with their faced painted,  jumping and screaming can kill the mood…plus I don’t care if it’s the championship or how much action there is after the first  10 minutes it’s boring. The ONLY exception is if someone on the team is dating a Kardashian…because then you know you are watching an important team. Same rules apply for strip clubs.

– On the flip side – girls don’t drag your man to see the latest chick flick (although the movie Valentine’s day does look amazing…) – it’s not nice as much as it should always be all about us…maybe find an activity that you’d both enjoy…like a couples massage or going shopping and allowing your bf to watch you try on all your clothes while constantly reminding you that your tush does not look fat in those jeans…..

– Pie Eating Contest –  nothing screams romance like seeing which one of you can stuff there face faster…although the tying your hands behind your back aspect can add an interesting element….

-Surprise your date with  dessert by going to Dunkin Donuts 5 minutes before closing so you get the day old donuts for free

I also consulted the Web for some ideas and inspiration for this post and here is what I found on cooldates.com (I swear that’s a real Web site):

– “Buy two cheap canvases and paint with toll paints or do fingerpainting and design a picture for one another. Choose something that describes yourself or something you appreciate about each other.” – are they serious? the age recommendation for this is 25-29 so while I am not exactly in that age bracket yet so please correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure no straight guy is EVER going to do that….maybe if  there is a keg and the activity is done sans clothes they would maybe, POSSIBLY consider it. This activity seems to be the equivalent of the “where is this going talk?”  I feel like this is the kind of assignment a couple’s therapist would recommend after your 20 year anniversary…not exactly fun light hearted date stuff….plus what is toll paint?

– “Take a picnic lunch and go to a lake to feed the ducks.” – Picnic’s can be cute – although I don’t know if you noticed the 10 inches of snow outside but it is winter  – so you’d have to move the picnic indoors…but then it isn’t so much as a picnic as it is eating lunch on the floor of your living room….But more importantly back to the ducks  –  My dad took me to the duck pond when I was 6-years-old and I never forgot it…scariest day of my life. Please don’t do this unless you like being swarmed by hungry ducks coming out you with their quaking beaks and eyeing your bag of bread.

– “Send flowers. Try adding a note or a poem” – thanks for the creativity I am sure no one ever thought about sending flowers to someone on Valentine’s day…go wild and add some chocolates or a teddy bear to the gift.

Click here to read all of cooldates.com Valentine’s Day date ideas…I always wonder who writes this stuff…

All jokes aside I want to wish everyone a happy valentines day! What are your idea for fun romantic dates?

Who Reads the Newspaper?

The  TA in my Mass Media and Society class gave us this funny handout on stereotypes about who reads which newspapers. I thought it was funny so I’ll share it with you:

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.
2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.
3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country.
4. USA Today is read by people who they ought to run the country but don’t really understand the Washington Post. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie chart format.
5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn’t mind running the country, if they could spare the time, and if they didn’t have to leave LA to do it.
6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and they did a far superior job of it, thank you very much.
7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren’t too sure who’s running the country, and don’t really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.
8. The New York Post is read by people who don’t care who’s running the country, as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.
9. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren’t sure there is a country or that anyone is running it; but whoever it is they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist, who also happen to be illegal aliens from ANY country or galaxy as long as long as they are Democrats.
10. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.
11. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery story.

I am the New York Times and the New York Post…I can’t read a newspaper without New York in the title…even though I am now in Madison, WI…probably for the same reason I don’t like movies that aren’t set in New York….

Which newspaper are you?

Bake for the Quake

So as you may have guessed my friends Anna, Lauren and Molly and I decided to have a bake sale for Haiti Relief. We were able to raise $675 plus someone donated $100 so a total of $775 went to the Red Cross – yayayaya! A lot of people on campus have been doing various activities to raise money for Haiti and it’s so nice to see people get involved to help people get through this horrible tragedy. We were interviewed by The Cap Times and The Daily Cardinal (Madison’s newspaper and the campus paper) about why we wanted to do a bake sale to raise money which was sooo exciting – especially since I am a Journalism major and it’s usually me asking the questions not the other way around.

So many generous places on campus donated yummy treats that we sold.

Einstein’s donated bagels

Fresh City Market (the new grocery story – which is one of the most exciting thing to ever open on campus because it is the ONLY grocery story on campus) donated three dozen beautiful cupcakes.

And Starbucks donated 10 gallons of coffee!! (the green containers)…. u know how I feel about Starbucks it’s my drug of choice…

Molly made these amazing rice krispie treats – how cute are the smileys and peace signs

I made Ice Box Smores bars and Buckeye Bars – both recipe’s from my sissy’s blog Cookteen – although there was some debate about the Buckeye Bars. The recipe didn’t include water but when I made them it didn’t seem spreadable or fill the pan so I decided to add it in – but then I realized it was because I also used the wrong size pan – you are supposed to use 9×9 and I used 13×9…whoops they were still delicious though – more brownie like then Buckeye Bars -which is OK by me heh.

What is your favorite baked good to make for bake sales?

Top 10 ways to have your 15 minutes of fame…

1. Marry a Jonas brother

2. Say you had an affair with Tiger Woods (Warning: only do this if you’re super classy…u know like if you drink your box of wine out of a paper cup)

3. Buy the tonight show from Conan – on sale via Craig’s list (http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/clt/1551463643.html)

4. Make a blog that features really cute tiny  intricate desserts on stick…even though most people at home (or at least me) can never emulate (bakerella)

5. Tell your parents that you’re ditching your normal summer camp to  join Martha at Camp Cupcake

6. Move to the jersey shore and  buy a bumpit,  hair gel and practice your fist pump

7. Start a blog…you know because nobody else is doing that nowadays…plus the ability to moderate comments makes you feel super cool and powerful

8. Become a professional dancer so you can have a celebrity dance partner on Dancing with the Stars

9. Dump your boyfriend and become a contestant on the Bachelor…you know because that’s how everyone finds their soulmate

10. Become a Vampire…preferably named Bella or Edward

My version of regression

When I am home from college I regress to being a child rather then being the super savy, independent college student almost grown-up I am – I can’t cook for my self, make my bed, go get coffee, run errands, make plans, brush my teeth or tie my shoes  – without consulting my mommy and I am not ashamed to admit it.

if you were a blender where would you be?

So I am officially back in jerz for December break and it’s nice to be home – mostly because I have access to a fully stocked kitchen! it’s SUCH a luxury you have no idea and my parents buy me all my favorite treats including VitaTops.

I thought to myself, hmm what could make this healthy snack even more yummmy. My sister, cookteen likes to make them into whoopie pies.  I however wanted to take a different approach, so I searched through the hungry girl archives and saw she makes a banana smoothie shake …interesting, I thought banana and banana nut Vitatops seem to go together  I wonder what I can do with this? let’s find out…

Step 1:  find blender? I know we have one I just can’t seem to find it anywhere. I am nervous to ask anyone because then they are going to ask me what I am making and I don’t really have a definitive answer for them yet. So I keep looking…tra lala …. still looking…ugh finally! found it – wow that was hard…it was in some back corner hiding – I may need to take a snack break now…

Step 2: pour 3/4 cup skim milk (I also added a splash of fat-free half and half) in the blender with a chopped up frozen banana – I know I know frozen banana that sounds so fancy – who has frozen bananas on hand? well my mom does thats who – I told you guys I was home so now I am very  fancyshmancy (don’t worry though – it won’t last). But they are good to peel and freeze to store before they go rotten…easy to make stuff like banana bread, milkshakes, etc.

Now mix everything up in the blender – this is the hard part…

Which botton do I push? Do I want to chop? stir? pulse? mix? liquefy? ahhh I don’t know!?! So I started with mix and it didn’t seem to mush up the banana so I switched to liquefy – it was kind of just like a banana flavored milk so I added splenda which I def recommmend doing.

Step 3: take out a banana VitaTop and defrost it in the microwave – first I thought the banana shake would be more ice cream like and I would pour the milkshake over the VitaTop – but that didn’t work out so well. I kind of just ate them separately and occasionally dipped my VitaTop in the milkshake creation – cookies and milk style – it was good but not one of my better creations but still a delicious banana-nuty treat.

What are your favorite dessert to have while you’re home?

Class Project – Hummer H3 and Cookies?

For my strategic communications class this semester we had to work on a campaign strategy for the Hummer h3 – we were paired into groups of 5 and were each given positions,  I was research director. On a side note – in a lecture of about 50 people in it guess who was randomly in my group too?? Carlyonqueue!!!! It was a fun coincidence.

The project took all semester and culminated into a campaign strategy book (click to see a PDF of our Campaign Manuel) it’s awesome! and then a 12-15 minute presentation to “pitch” out idea. We competed against the other groups in our class so naturally I made cookies stuffed with candy in order to… umm sway the voters (our professors) to pick us!

Even though everyone loved my cookies – despite there less then visually appealing  (lets face it when it comes to baking and making things pretty I just can’t do it like my sister, cookteen, does) we lost 😦 oh well it’s ok though –  I guess.

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I originally got the idea of these scrumptious cookie candy treats from my fav pioneer woman – but I think the trick to this recipe is using a mini cupcake tin rather then a regular sized one (like PW suggests). Oh well – they were still delicious the best part of this recipe is that it’s cookie dough and candy – anyway it comes out it won’t be bad.