Comfort Food: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Well, for a number of reasons this has been a rough couple weeks (hence a series of self-directed treats, i.e. the freesias) and as of tonight, I have reached a new phase of wallowing, what phase, you ask? The chocolate phase.

But, what is chocolate without a friend though? Not much. Sounds like time to call in the peanut butter. I decided warm, gooey peanuty chocolatey cookies sounded pretty ideal, and after perusing the webernets, got reminded of these really easy cookies that we used to make when I was a kid. The ingredient list is long and complicated, so get a pen... you will need (brace yourself):

1 egg
1 cup PB
1 cup sugar
yep. thats it.

But, there's no chocolate in there. Big Trouble. So, I looked around and found some ideas for modifications, and so now mine also include...
chocolate chips (maybe half a bag?)
about a teaspoon of baking soda
a handful of flour


I baked them for about 10 minutes or so, and then got to enjoy this super yummy snack... mmm....

Why I wish I were a cat

I am running around, scarfing down oatmeal, combing my hair, packing up my computer, looking for my lost keys, finding two matching socks, and generally getting ready to go sit in my freezing cold office analyzing data all day.

Charlotte, is doing this:


I think its pretty clear who has the better end of this bargain...

Rapidly Advancing Age

Well, it happened again... I'm another year older (I'd say wiser, but that is debatable). And, let me tell you, I am OLD, like, I expect to be putting in an order for a walker and a case of Depends any day now...

But, there are some perks to getting older- like, instead of worrying about who might bring you what, you can do things like buy not just one, but two bunches of your favorite flowers for yourself, just because you want them, and because hey, its your birthday...

These are freesias- my self selected birthday treat :-).

Ch- ch- ch- Chia!

This weekend I went to one of those parties where you bring a present, and swap them around... you know, a White elephant/Dirty Santa/Yankee Swap party, which was specifically geared at re-gifting Christmas presents.

Well, after many dramatic turns of events, I managed to score a sweet, sweet Chia Pet (a hippo, no less). Now to be perfectly honest, I'm mainly amazed that they even manufacture these things anymore... its pretty mind blowing that there could be an entire industry based on a product that I have seen many people receive, and never seen one person use. Through the magic of wikipedia, I have deduced that while the first Chia was introduced in 1982 (a ram), the hippo was not actually available until 1995. So, I am clearly on the semi-cutting edge of Chia technology, as you can see here

BUT. This is not even the best part. Only this morning did I realize that the hippo was not alone. No, my Chia Hippo (chippo?) was accompanied by the most awesome thing ever. A Chia Alarm clock, that plays the Ch- ch- ch- Chia jingle.

So, of course, I ripped open the box, set it up, and set the alarm clock to go off. Which was funny for about 30 seconds. The problem is, this thing has a mind of its own. Since then, it has gone off every hour. I was driving, it went off. I was cooking, it went off. I have no idea what makes it think it should do that, but it is entirely possible that activating this thing might be the biggest mistake I ever made. I have got to see if I can defeat it before it is time for bed.

On another note, I will be sure to post any upcoming Chia growth updates...

Hearts afire

Hooray! I finally reached 100 hearts on my Etsy page!

See? :-)

Vintage prisms....

I just got a new batch of these vintage chandelier prisms... I love them! I have so many ideas for things to make. I've previously made necklaces out of larger ones, but I think these smaller ones are really cute. They're small but still funky. Here are my most recent creations... they are made with oxidized sterling, since I recently learned to oxidize (although I think I'll save all that for another post). You can see them on etsy here (top) and here (bottom)...

Miami Vice

I recently went to Miami, where I have never been before. Although there are lots of things I could be reporting on, one of the main things I found enticing and hilarious about the city (besides the fact that it was 70 and humid in early January, besides the fact I heard MORE THAN ONE skinny lost person dressed in something sparkly casually asking for directions to a super fancy designer store, and besides the fact that I live in LA and I STILL thought everyone looked excessively tan) was that every single thing was in pastels. I thought it was just kind of a stereotype. But, no, apparently not. As a case in point, I offer this lifeguard stand, which as you will see is really, really, really, snazzy.

Featured Etsy Seller: GeekGear

This week (after a long lazy hiatus) I have an etsy seller or two to feature... first, GeekGear. I have bought things from this shop not once, but twice, because my first buy was such a hit. You can get things like these awesome pencil holders made from old disks... I love it!


On a similar note, my Christmas shopping also included some thing very cute from Glittersniffer... lego coasters! I love them, too!

The Season of Giving...

This is the Christmas gift that Charlotte gave out this year. I thought about what she could possibly give someone, and decided that to her, the only remotely desirable or appropriate gift would be a seductive self portrait. Its sort of the way I imagine Zsa-zsa Gabor might decide to hand out gifts...