Peanut Butter

Okay, so I am not a fan of peanut butter.

I will eat it if absolutely necessary, or if for some odd reason I'm craving it (which happened once in 2011, it was a very strange time)

So it may come as a surprise to most of you that I created and am posting a recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies.  But seriously, these things are so good that even I will eat them.  Truth be told, it may be that they are actually half peanut butter and half almond butter (well, a little less than half peanut butter because that's how much I had on hand when I made these...but you could most likely make these with ALL peanut butter (or the nut butter of your choice) if you're crazy)

So here they are...

Peanut Butter Cookies SO Good, Even Lisa Would Eat Them

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup softened butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat sugars, shortening, butter, and nut butters together.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat til smooth and creamy.  Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to the mixture until fully incorporated.

Form dough into balls and roll in white sugar.

Do NOT press a fork into them like you normally would with peanut butter cookies.

Bake for 11-13 minutes (mine were perfect at 11)

Try not to eat them all...because you'll want to.

Running against the wind

How is this week not over yet?  It has been going for SO long!  I have seriously felt like it is Friday every single day since Tuesday...and it's still not actually here yet!

Not cool.

I did get to take Heidi to lunch today for her birthday (which is next week).  It was good to see her, we seem to just get caught up with life, so even though we live super close to each other now, the last time I saw her was in February when we went shooting.

I am currently sitting in bed, listening to music, watching the crazy Idaho weather out my window, and online apartment hunting...which is less than effective...but helps me feel like I am being slightly more proactive about the whole process, so I'll take it.

Crystals

Another busy day today, but a good one.

I finally got to see Bruce today!  Can I just put it out there that I am marrying a super studly dude in less than 80 days?  I cannot get enough of him...he's smart, funny, handsome as hell, just an all around winner.

We had a birthday party for a mutual friend's daughter tonight, and we made an appearance there before we headed to Bruce's ward activity...at which we broke into groups and reenacted segments from various movies in our own version of "The Oscars".  There were some pretty funny moments from some of the groups, and overall I am glad I went...even if I got hit on by one of the guys in Bruce's ward...which was awkward...especially when he asked for my number, in front of Bruce...and I had to explain that I'm engaged, which led to all sorts of other fun conversation topics for the evening.

After the activity, Bruce and I went back to his place to watch a movie.  Folks, I finally broke down and watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  Honestly?  It was not as bad as I was anticipating.  The aliens did not bother me, even Shia LaBeouf (did I spell that right?) did not bother me (though the sword fight was not my favorite).  I did get a laugh at Cate Blanchett's Russian accent on certain words (though it was mostly decent), and I enjoyed the fact that Indiana's character did not take himself too seriously, which is what I was largely worried about.  So while it was not my favorite film of all time (how sad would that be?), I am not sad that I watched it at all.

Now, Dark Crystal is a movie that I wish I had never seen...

Kickin' it

Today has been long.

I had a teleconference regarding my retirement benefits today, during which I had two separate phone calls (one with my mom, and one with Bruce's mom).  Also during the teleconference, I washed my hair...because I'm talented like that.

Almost immediately after the meeting, SC and I went to meet up with Bruce and his madre for lunch.  We went to Rumbi, which is not someplace that I frequent, in fact I think I've only been there once...on a date about a week after I first moved here.  Anyway, the food was good, and SC got some fun time with his grandma.

After lunch, SC and I went back home, he ate and went down for a nap while I finished work.

Then, after work I got ready to go to the Temple for our ward baptism assignment.  I have not done baptisms in...years.  I usually stick to other things when I got to the Temple, it just happens.

After the Temple, I came home and decided to hang out at the park across the street from my apartment for a bit as the sun was going down, so I commandeered the swings until a group of high school kids decided to invade my turf...so I decided to take a stroll around the walking path and then came in for the night.

And now I am sitting on my bed, texting Kelly and writing this post... I know I lead a completely glamorous lifestyle, please try to contain your jealousy...but really, it's only natural.

Do ya wanna?

Sometimes I feel like I still belong in Middle School.

Part of my conversation with my friend Stef today went something like this:

Stef: Are you going to FHE tonight?

Moi: Uhh...I'm kinda on the fence about it. You?

Stef: I'm debating on it...

Moi:  I'll go if you go.

Because clearly, I still require the buddy system when going out in public.  Oh well, we went, and if nothing else, it got both of us out of our respective houses for the evening, which is progress for those of us who hadn't yet gotten dressed for the day...who shall remain anonymous...

Moral Compass

I have to give a lesson in Relief Society next week that I am not super excited about.

Usually as a presidency, we get to choose the topics for the lessons we give once a month, but this particular month, the Bishop has asked that we speak on a talk from the March Ensign.  The talk assigned is on morality.

Yeah.

Now, I've had to give the chastity talk before back when I taught Temple Prep, but this topic/talk is a bit more specific...and gets into aspects that I am not particularly comfortable with or sure about how to present.

I've been quietly (or not so quietly, depending on if your name is Bruce or not) stressing out about it for the last week, and I've been trying to decide how to approach the whole thing since we have a fairly diverse population in my ward, and it can be an iffy subject to discuss.

I know the lesson will work itself out, it always does.

But it doesn't make me any less anxious about it.

This edition of Yays and Nays brought to you by...

Yays

Getting to marry the most incredible guy ever
Justy getting a long needed bath
Springtime weather
Good conversations with friends
Cute baby smiles
Good music at my fingertips
Being able to relax, take a nap, and not have to worry about being "boring"
Deciding on the location for the wedding reception
Laughing at myself and the silly things I do
Being caught up on things for work
Seeing Bruce smile...It makes me melt a little each time
Figuring out how to keep at least 2 rooms in my apartment warm
Sibling love
Cute shoes and scarves
Bruce's wonderful family
Having my sister back in the U.S.
The concentration face
Getting things planned for the wedding
Being able to breathe again
Daylight Savings Time
Going to Logan this coming weekend and Bruce meeting my siblings
Delsym and Sudafed...the miracles of medicine



Nays

2 cell phones that drive me positively batty
Only having 2 warm rooms in my apartment
Trying to plan things for the wedding
A lingering cough and sniffles
The return of my "Nolan"...someone I am not a fan of, in the least
Accounting
Being tired for the last 2 weeks, non-stop
Disappointing recipes
Clothes that don't fit or just look awful
Drama and unnecessary stress
The expectation that I should have everything planned and finalized for June already
Computer systems that crash
Having to use sick time
Going to the doctor
Apartment hunting