2 Week Update on Vanilla Extract

So remember this from two weeks ago? This is what they look like now:

Not bad eh? Very rich and dark. And oh, the smell! So rich and vanilla smelling. Just a couple more weeks to go.
And today from the lovely UPS guy I received my order of 4 ounce brown bottles to package them in along with the plastic brown jars for the vanilla sugar.

(I forgot to take a photo before I pulled all the packaging paper out of the box so I shoved it back in best I could remember and took a picture then – it really was packaged a lot better then this – no worries. No reason for anything to ever break from Specialty Bottle!)

The vanilla sugar was packaged up today so that I can make even more vanilla sugar to cook with this holiday season. It just needs to sit with the bean for a week before it takes on this amazing vanilla smell and taste. I did add a little of each bean to each jar so that my recipients can continue to make their own vanilla sugar.

The Vanilla bottles themselves have also been labeled:

I can’t wait to cook with my vanilla! It already smells so very good!
Should you want to do this yet for the holidays you have time. By my calculations each “set” of vanilla will have cost approximately $6. Not bad for a gift I can just keep storing until I need to give it away.

My Relaxing Night

Since Tuesdays are raid night (Warcraft) for the boyfriend (and I was rarely ever invited) I usually get to do “me” stuff on these nights. Tonight I was able to do some of my favorite things, just felt a little lonely since I didn’t have anyone to hang out with. I mean as far as most people are concerned they work the next day while its still my weekend.

*forgive the quality of the photos please – all I had was my iPhone*

First I started with one of my favorite thrift stores of all time and scored this amazingly stunning vintage (but like brand new!) bread box from Beautyware – only $2 too!

After I wash it out and scrub it down its going right on top my microwave (as I don’t have ANY counterspace to spare for it). After that I drove to this neat little shopping center not too far from my apartment. Urban Outfitters and American Apparel happen to be there and I felt like checking out the online links I had looked at over the weekend to see what some of it looked like in person.

Next door to Urban Outfitters is Blue Line Coffee. You know those dark, dank little corners of the world where a coffee shop just got stuck in? Well that’s kinda what it looks like inside, but a lot more room and no dank involved.

Just a nice place to order something to drink, something to eat, sit back and relax and enjoy.

In my case the newspaper and a Chai Latte – as I am a tea drinker at heart and not a coffee person. If only Teavana would open up a store in Omaha I would be in HEAVEN!! But keep the rude little cashiers – I’ve had 2 now that turned up their noses all because I didn’t know how their store worked. First time I had ever been in there.

How did you spend your Tuesday evening?

45 Days til Christmas

I am one of those people that plans for the holidays, at least weeks but sometimes months, in advance. Halloween is by and large my favorite holiday. Always has been. Christmas is a very close second. And its definitely not the gifts for me. Its my ability to find a gift so unique that the person getting it had no idea they even wanted that item and is already in love it upon opening. And that’s not easy to do. Its takes a lot of wasted online time searching websites for the strangest gifts. A few years ago I bought what I still consider my best gift-giving ever: a marshmallow gun to my stepfather. Lovely man, wicked sense of humor! I knew that he would love it, and I was right. He does love it. Uses it to shoot marshmallows at my mother or at the dogs for them to “fetch”. Gave that to him 2years ago and he still plays with it on a daily basis. Best gift ever and so simple. But it did take A LOT of wasted time to find.

Well I am on that hunt again this year. This past weekend I spent many an hour just trying to find bizarre gifts. And boy did I find them! I can post a few of the items I enjoyed finding, I’m just not saying what I actually bought for gifts!

Letting Go of a Hobby

What interesting timing I have. Just this morning (very very early this morning or late last night whichever) I was writing about my need to ditch some of my dead hobbies. And today on Unclutterer is more about getting rid of your dead hobbies.

My problem of course, is that I think the world is an interesting place. I enjoy seeing so many parts of it. This breeds collecting. And boy do I have some hobbies! Which include:

• Book collecting – I love to read and I love having my favorites at my fingertips. And frankly the libraries around here do *not* have a lot of what I have in my collection. No way am I getting rid of some of them. Mainly I collect classical fiction books and vintage cookbooks.
• Coin collecting – just international currency as I love being able to “travel” through it
• Postcard collecting – same reason as the coins. I started both of these collections when I was 12 and wanted to travel more.
• Pin/Button/Flair collecting – I think they are cute and funny. All of the ones I do have are on a corkboard hanging in my hall for all to admire.
• 80s doll collection – Cabbage Patch Kids and My Childs. This is a defunct hobby but I spent A LOT of time and money tracking down these dolls. Some of the My Childs were bought in Australia or Europe and were shipped over. And I spent even more money restoring all of these dolls. Not to mention I do still think they are cute!
• Miniatures/Dollhouse – I have a thing for miniatures, probably an obsession left over from my childhood. Mostly its just expensive. And a space stealer.
• Scrapbooking – I still do it from time to time. I’m not into it as much as a few years ago though and really need to weed through my craft items and get rid of some of it.
• Papermaking – something I typically only do when making gifts for people. I really enjoy it (no matter how messy it gets) and already have everything except the paper scraps or pulp, and those are both easy to find and cheap.
• Crafts in general – I still have some basic craft supplies that I really need to be rid of. Yarn, cloth, etc. Nothing overly useful for anything really.
• Photography – I am a big time amateur. I typically take hundreds before finding just one that I like.
• World of Warcraft – Other than being a time sink there isn’t much to worry about here. Its only $15 a month besides the computer, which I would have anyway.
• Cooking – yes this is a hobby for me. I enjoy reading recipe books, figuring out just the thing to try and experimenting. It also means I have loads and loads of cooking supplies, exotic foods, extra mixing bowls, spoons, etc.
• Bento – I dunno if this is a hobby really or not. I used to take my lunch to work all time in a bento, but have gotten very lazy about it. What that means is I have tons of plastic containers as well as all the little things to use with them taking up space in my kitchen. But since I no longer have a cheap online source for these items I really, really, really do *NOT* want to get rid of any of them until I am 1000% sure. I spent hundreds on these boxes, containers, and silverware. I’m not about to do it all again if I decide I want to bento again.
• Shopping – I do think this can be a hobby. Especially when you vintage/thrift store shop like I do. I tend to buy very little but sometimes I find a vintage chair I really wish I could bring home but alas, do not have the space for.

In short – maybe I have too many hobbies and its time to cull some.

Decorating and Inspiration

I’ve really had decorating on my mind lately. And not so much furniture – I *LOVE* my furniture. No, its more of the “its too cluttered in here how can I make it look sleeker? less is more” or “I wonder if that will make a bigger impact than what I have now” or even “gosh I wanna move”. Ok the last one doesn’t have much to do with it other than I really do want a new space. That might help.

See more than anything I have clutter on my mind. I am tired of buying stuff I never use, looking at stuff I never use, and in general having a lot of wasted space being eaten up. I have this beautiful bronzey/gold aged trunk that I found at a thrift store many years ago. I used it as a coffee table for a time, now its just a bench to hold pillows, my purse, etc. The inside is like new and rather large…so what’s in it? Extra linens? Nope. Off season storage? Nope. Holiday storage? Nope again. Extra shoes? Not even close.

Blizzard is selling Pets!

And the world ends! I can not believe the outcry over this. They are freaking pets, they don’t do anything but entertain you. They certainly don’t fight for you, give you buffs or anything else even remotely useful. They are very cute too – and only $10. Oh and of course half of the proceeds until Dec 31 from the Pandaren Monk go to Make-a-Wish. So step off already! It does nothing to the game or changes it in anyway. You neither are a better player for having one nor a fail player for not having one.

With all that said – check out mine – yes I did buy them!

Lil KT will randomly freeze nearby critters. And as for the monk when you /bow to him:

He will bow back!

Link: The Guild

Have you heard about The Guild? Its a web series about a group of online gamers. If you play Warcraft at all I’m sure you’ve heard of it – its been posted all over. Even if you haven’t its actually an interesting little web series. I recognize way too many stereotypes in it though. And I am way too familiar with most of the information presented. Who would have thought a year ago I’d be into Warcraft like I am now? I was always curious but never did it as no one had the patience to explain it to me. Thankfully I met someone patient enough to do that. Hell he still teaches me things in that game.

Anyway I digress. I’m a little hooked on The Guild right now. Its so easy to get wrapped up in! I even have one of my cell ringtones as their song – “Do You Wanna Date my Avatar?”. Its just plain sad that I’m switching out my boyfriend’s current ringtone for their song. More so since his current ringtone is a theme from Warcraft. Sigh. Its a nice hobby but can be a little all encompassing. As very clearing demonstrated in the web series – so go watch it all!!

Recipe: Cinnamon Rolls

I ended up making these the other night but was out of powdered sugar and cream cheese so no frosting. Sigh. Still good though – as you can see one was stolen before I had a chance to snap a picture!

I didn’t use a fancy recipe just this one. It was quick, it was easy and oh so very good. Try it!

Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Baking 2009

I happened to see this the other day at the checkout line of the grocery store. Of course I bought it. I am such a sucker for these recipe magazines for the Holidays.

However this year it actually has some good stuff in it. Its divided up into section based on a specific “theme”.

• Kuchen (German pastry – coffee and dessert cakes)
• Treats you can mail
• Pies
• Breakfast pastries
• Chocolate and Caramel goodies
• Cupcakes
• Browned Butter (as an ingredient)
• Honey(as an ingredient)
• Creme Puffs
• Creme Brulee
• Fast and easy breakfasts
• Scones
• Souffles (I’m not even bothering to read this section I can’t make a souffle)
• Doughnuts
• Strudel

All in all not a bad magazine full of decent recipes. Its also got all of these tips throughout of doing this or that to make a gift even more fun or practical or interesting. For example package up your Christmas cookies in cupcake wrappers and then wedge into a cake or cookie baking pan. Might have to try that!

My Dollhouse

I always meant to post this last year when I was actually working on my dollhouse, but since this was a cooking blog at that time it just didn’t feel right. Since it is now just my personal blog its entirely appropriate.

At this time It still has no roof shingles (my sister wanted to help with those but she never had time) however all windows, the door and the stairs are in place. I do have some furniture, and more than what is pictured here. But the reality is this poor dollhouse lives in my closet. It’s just too big and I have no where to put it. Since I will be moving in awhile I am planning on getting rid of this massive house and getting a smaller 4 room one. Then again I may just put all of that on my Christmas list. Either way time for me to do something about this house.

This house took approximately a month of my spare time putting together, painting, wallpapering and installing everything. And it doesn’t even crown molding or electricity.

Link: Fancy Flours

I recently discovered a most amazing site for all things “decorated baked goods” – Fancy Flours. Their little sugared details for cookies and the like are just absolutely beautiful! And they sell edible glitter, dragees, and even edible gold & silver leaf, all of which I may have to invest in very soon for the Holidays.

Recipe: Pan de Muertos (Bread of the Dead)

November 1 & 2 happens to be a lovely Mexican/Mexican-American (so I’ve read anyway!) celebration for All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day called Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Its definitely celebrated similarly in most parts of the world (nature of the Catholic holiday I guess). For the most part I admit I don’t participate in it much, not coming from a Mexican background myself (meaning I’m not that familiar with it more than anything). But I am fascinated by it. And the one thing I really enjoy is Pan de Muertos. I’ve been making it since the first loaf I brought to my Spanish language class in high school. I just love the flavor of it! Funny considering I despise black licorice!

1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons anise seed or 1 teaspoon anise extract
1 package active dry yeast
2 eggs
3 cups flour (I prefer using bread flour when making bread)

RIP: Nose Stud 2007-2009

In September 2007 I decided to get my nose pierced. I had wanted to do it for years (since middle school) just never had. Thought it might limit me career-wise, etc. But I had recently discovered that my place of employment had (still has actually) no such policy against body piercings. Out I went to get one.

Fast forward to today. I didn’t think it would happen so soon but I got tired of the piercing. I got tired of picking boogers off the screw stud (REALLY GROSS and TMI – I know – but they can get caught inside your nose and it feels bizarre). And I got tired of getting hit in the nose and having it actually hurt more. So I have taken it out. Should I want to revisit my stud at some point in the future it will probably still be there (may close, may not, time will tell). So far the skin has “grown back over” the hole and you can’t even tell it was ever there.

New Bedding

There was recently a post on Saucy Help highlighting the Pin-Tuck Duvet Cover from West Elm:

I’m in LOVE with this duvet and have debated buying it many times. I don’t like duvets much and that is probably what is holding me back (though I am not sure). At any rate in this same post they posted a link to the Kissing Pleat Comforter from Target:

Not only is it significantly cheaper its a comforter too…and buttons. I really like buttons. The latte color also happens to match my bedroom perfectly. I’m thinking that this may have to be on my bed very very soon!

Changing Games: MMORPGs

I am thinking of jumping ship from World of Warcraft to Aion. I would have decided weeks ago if Aion had free trials but since they don’t (and don’t intend to for at least a year is seems) I’m stuck watching videos, reading comparisons (like this one especially) to WoW, and trying to get some idea if I want to shell out $50 for the game (which includes the first month).

Some problems I am noticing so far:

• It seems that there is a 300 hour a month playtime limit. I do not know if I like this. Sure its 10 hours a day and I doubt I would ever exceed that (especially days where I actually have to WORK). I just don’t like limits. I had a hell of a time deciding if I wanted to go with an iPhone as it was going to be the 5,000 nights and weekend minutes (even though I average 700 N & W minutes a month). I just plain don’t like limits.
• Its a big game. 16 gb. Warcraft takes up about the same space and that’s with 2 expansions.
• Too linear. To level you really have only one choice unlike in WoW where you can just go somewhere else.
• Lots of group play. Seems to even have to group to level. I hate this strongly. That’s been one of my main problems with WoW. I never get into groups.

Some things I think I like:

• The classes – Templar (Paladins), Gladiator (Warriors), Assassin (Rogues), Ranger (Hunters but no pets), Sorcerer (Mages), Spiritmaster (Warlocks), Cleric (Priests) and Chanter (Druids). Not a bad assortment. And definitely goes back to that Dungeons and Dragons “thing” like all good fantasy games should!
• The graphics. OMG the graphics! Beautiful! Have Warcraft beat all to hell no wonder its so big!
• There are professions just like in WoW – Cooking, Handicrafting, Weapon Smithing, Armor Smithing, Sewing, and Alchemy. However the best part is that you can learn them all – you only get to be a master of 1.
• Flight. Levels 10+ get their own wings (NO MOUNTS!). Very cool.

I’m intrigued by the world wide Player vs Player action. I already play on PVP servers in Warcraft so that’s not weird to me, just not sure how I feel about it in Aion, and without trying it I’m not sure I ever will.

All this aside. I dunno. I’ve read a lot of comparisions to Everquest. Let’s hope not. I never played that game and would rather kick kittens than do so (the horror stories my boyfriend has told me!).

In the end I probably will do nothing. I’m good at that!