Oven Lovin

Friday after my last class marked the beginning of relaxation weekend.

No, I didn't go to the beach or some tropical resort. And I didn't stay in my dorm and watch TV and sleep all day.

My godparents from Louisville picked me up, and we went out for a nice dinner at Taste of Thai in Lexington (I highly recommend it). My godfather ordered his curry extra extra hot and the waitress laughed and asked him if he was pregnant. The funniest part was probably the fact that he didn't quite get it right away, and then it dawned on him that he was making a cravings joke.

Anyways, after dinner we drove back to Louisville and talked, watched some Food Travel Channel, and I slept for a solid 9 hours. Sounds nice, doesn't it? It gets better. : )

When I woke up, my godmom had made homemade blueberry buttermilk pancakes and REAL bacon... sorry Transy caf... if it looks like doggie Beggin Strips, and it smells like doggie Beggin Strips, I'm going to assume it tastes like them too.

But oh, the pancakes were awesome. I missed home cooked meals and being in a kitchen so much... I missed it so much that from about 7:30 in the morning until about 5: 00 that night, I went on a full blown baking spree.

I effectively turned my godmom's kitchen into Cupcake Central as I whipped up Oreo Cupcakes, Banana Carmel Cupcakes, and Chocolate Bourbon Cupcakes. Everything turned out so wonderfully... with the exception of a batch of carmel sauce and some Swiss Meringue Frosting. But it was a learning experience nevertheless. I now know that regardless of what the instructions tell you, do not boil carmel for 8 minutes. It will not turn out. And although Wilton Meringue Power says it can be used as an egg white substitute, it still will not whip up into stiff peaks. On the bright side though, the buttercream frosting was a very appropriate substitute and turned out for the better.

So, about 6 dozen cupcakes and several episodes of FoodTraval with a cat on my lap later, it was Sunday afternoon and time to go home. Some cupcakes stayed behind in Louisville, but the rest of them quickly met their demise within two hours of returning to school. Totally worth it.

But, of course, what is the only logical thing that follows a good, relaxing weekend? A super busy week. This week is pretty exciting though, Willie T Interviewees are making their way to campus tomorrow, and I am so pumped! I remember this time last year going through the same thing. It seems strange now, being on the other side of the process, but I'm crossing my fingers that everything will work out as it should. : )

We have HOW many more weeks of winter?

Well, as much as I hate all the melting and refreezing of ice here in Kentucky, sometimes I realize it could be worse... a LOT worse. My mom took a bunch of pictures of the after effects of what they are calling a "thundersnow" from back home. Suddenly my back and shoulders are much more appreciative of all the shoveling they aren't doing.

If it gives this picture any kind of perspective, my sister standing furthest to the left is almost six feet tall.
My brother the snow architect and eskimo in training.
So glad I didn't have to help dig the cars out..!
Only my mother would shovel a path through the back yard for my dogs...
Backyard BBQ Picnic anyone?

Back in Lexington this week has been a long, long week. As Ellen the lab tech joked, we should make t-shirts that say "I survived" on one side and "36 hours, 3 exams, BSC" on the other. (BSC is for Brown Science Center) Because it seems like the whole building likes to get together and come up with the worst possible examination week schedule for science majors. But, I am a survivor!

Outside of classes, applications for positions next year are starting to be turned in. Whether it is Residence Assistants, Admissions Ambassadors, or Tour Guides most of the interviews and applications are within the next two weeks, so hopefully that will all turn out for the best.

Finally, the count down until Willie T. finalists has begun! Two more weeks!