12 things in 2012

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I love lists! And I LOVE crossing stuff off lists!! I was inspired by Erica to create a list of 12 things to do in 2012. Let me tell ya...that is not easy...I don't know how people come up with 101 things to do in 1001 days?!?!

Here it goes...Wish me luck!

1. Make one new recipe a month (1/12)
2. Read at least 5 new books (0/5)
3. Watch at least 5 movies off my Oscar list (1/5)
4. Travel to at least 1 new state
5. Go to the Ranch (my parents have owned it for 2 years and I've never been)
6. Learn and use my new stand mixer
7. Make/decorate 1 new cupcake from my new cupcake book per month (0/12)
8. SUCCESSFULLY make fudge (read about my fudge fail here)
9. Finish my friend's wedding gift (hopefully by March 5)
10. Finsih cork frame
11. Make at least 2 more seasonal wreaths (0/2)
12. Move out (ha! I've been saying that for 2 years)

I made a page for this list and will update it as I complete things!!!

Red Rock Canyon

I spent New Year's day at Red Rock Canyon park in Canton, OK. It was really nice to get out and do some minor climbing...

Sunset from the top of the rock...so pretty, but we did have to climb back down fast to avoid darkness

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows



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 You should see this movie if...

1. You liked the first one
2. You aren't so tired that you have fallen asleep at your desk that day
3. You aren't at war with your body trying to fend off a cold

I didn't really care for the first Sherlock Holmes, but Barrett someone convinced me that this was worth seeing and was way better than the first. While I agree it was better than the first, I can honestly say if they make another one I will wait and rent it...that way if I happen to fall asleep I haven't wasted 10 bucks...

*I didn't fall asleep in the movie and I technically saw it for free (thank you reward memberships)

To me, the movie was too dark scenery wise and I couldn't really understand what they were saying, so that made me zone out from time to time.

The movie did have good parts in it as well. My favorites involve a pony and camouflage.

Has anyone else seen this movie? What did you think?

Oreo Truffles

Taken with my iPhone

I love these things! They are super rich, but for the holidays who can really tell with the overload of sugar in our systems. You can find the original recipe here or if you keep scrolling you can see my tweaked version.

Ingredients:

1 package of Double Stuffed Oreos
6 oz. cream cheese
1 package vanilla candy coating (store brand works just fine)

Directions:

Place all but 6 cookies in a food processor and blend (if you don't have a food processor you can use a blender or crush them in a bag with a rolling pin). Dump crushed cookies into a mixing bowl.

Place your 6 leftover cookies in a plastic bag and crush with rolling pin. Set aside for later

Combine cream cheese to crushed cookies in the mixing bowl and mix well. This should form a large cookie ball

Roll mixture into smaller balls (smaller than a cookie scoop) and place on wax paper

Melt your candy coating per instructions on the package

Dip each rolled ball in candy coating and set back wax paper

Sprinkle your 6 leftover crushed cookies on top of wet candy coating and let dry for 30 minutes

Store in an airtight container in the fridge

Notes: The more cream cheese you use the richer they will be. I think next time I am going to try 4 oz of cream cheese, but 6 oz did work great! You can also use other types of Oreos such as the candy cane ones during Christmas for a minty taste.

Enjoy!

Fudge Fail

Source / What it should have looked like

My brother's girlfriend made some awesome peanut butter fudge for us for Christmas. It was so yummy that I wanted to try and make it myself...

Things went wrong quickly...

First of all, I didn't have a candy thermometer, but the recipe on the marshmallow puff jar said to stir it on medium for 5 minutes so that's what I did...

Second thing to go wrong, as I'm stirring it on medium I can start to smell the sugar burning so I turned it down a bit... I didn't really think anything of it because our stove tends to be hotter anyways...

Third mistake, I didn't know what soft ball form meant...

I stir the butter, sugar and milk concoction for the full 5 minutes, take it off and add the marshmallow puff, peanut butter and vanilla...I stirred until it was completely mixed/melted and poured it into my dish...

After 3 hours of cooling in the fridge it was still really soft...it felt like I was cutting through cream cheese. My mom and I decided to try a piece anyways. When we tried to get the piece out it just turned into a gooey mess and stuck to the wax paper like cookie dough sticks to the plastic it's wrapped in...

My mom and I decided to stick it in the freezer overnight to harden and come 6:30 am it was still soft

So that was that...I ruined 3 pounds of fudge! Luckily it was still edible and my brother took it with him New Year's Eve so it wasn't completely wasted.

After all was said and done the following conversation occurred...

Me: Next time I'm definitely using a candy thermometer
Dad: We have one already
Me: I asked you if we did and you didn't say anything
Dad: Oh...well we have one

Men never really listen to us do they?!?! 

p.s. I think I might have to try the recipe from the picture at the top of this post

Mission: Impossible Ghsost Protocol

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I kicked off the new year with an action packed movie! Woo Hoo! Actually I kicked it off with 4 action packed movies since I had never seen the first 3 (I know shocking right?)


This is by far my favorite of the series. To me this one was pretty funny and the stunts that were done off of the building were CRAZY! Oh and does Tom Cruise age? I swear movies 2-4 he looks the same...maybe it's an illusion (or botox...jk...but seriously).


Did y'all go see any movies over the holidays?

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous 2012. Remember to eat your black eyed peas today for good luck!