Month: June 2012

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Downsizing My “Friends” List

In the Facebook purge I’ve undertaken over the past week or so, I’ve somehow managed to downsize my friends list from 1,496 to 965 (still too many.) Wow!! How have I accumulated so many people, many of which I can’t even remember how I know them…?!

It feels harsh – and there were people I felt kind of bad unfriending – but I share so much on Facebook that if I haven’t heard from someone (or even virtually interacted with them some way) in ages, there’s just no need to broadcast my updates to them. Hopefully, most won’t even notice I’m gone! I’m pretty good at limiting certain people (including those I want to de-friend but can’t), but 1,496 “friends” is a lot to monitor in terms of privacy, and who I want knowing what…and it’s so easy to lose track!

In the meantime, I’m still weeding away…and it’s kinda refreshing. I don’t like to worry too much about what I post on Facebook, so it will be nice to ease that burden somewhat 🙂

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Puppy Flip-Flopping

I love just about any furry cuddly animal, dogs being a close #2 to my all-time fave, cats (in case you haven’t figured that out.) I’ve always assumed Chuck and I would eventually get a dog, and now is actually a decent time for it, since I’m not working full time and we have a big back yard.

But now I’m getting cold feet and don’t really want one anymore. I’ve been talking to people who are dog owners, and I’m reminded of how much a puppy would overhaul my life. They are cute, and tons of fun, and great companions, but like babies, it’s nicer to hang out with them and then hand them over when the tough parts come along.

I’m also realizing how much I’ll lose control over the look and feel of my home. One of the couples who visited us last weekend brought their massive great dane – which was a total sweetheart and I loved him – but the house smelled after just one night, and it took a little while to get my beach-scented balance back.

Dogs are so much work, and require a lot more logistics and worry when you plan anything – even a night out. They’re also so demanding of attention. I may still be too selfish with my time…

I grew up with an amazing golden retriever named Lacey, and she was a handful. But looking back, it was manageable because my mom, sister, and I were home pretty much all day every day, since we were home schooled. We got through puppyhood a lot quicker and easier than I would now. And, what happens when we move back to a city, and we only have an apartment with no back yard and I’m working 50 hours a week?

I say we just get another kitten. Chuck isn’t quite on board with that yet…

Last weekend ended for us on Wednesday morning, when we saw off the last of our holiday guests. We had such a great time – but WHEWWW I am socially exhausted (and that’s hard to do for me!) This weekend was meant for relaxing, even though it’s still been socially heavy – a Hail and Farewell on base Friday night (not the most relaxed form of socializing…), dinner with friends last night, and a BBQ with families from Chuck’s platoon this afternoon (again, not the most natural socializing.)

At least we got lots of downtime at the beach! 5 fabulous hours. But my thighs are now a little crispy 🙂

Chuck’s accidental pumpkin plant has become quite the beast in our garden – we have to monitor it so it doesn’t crowd out our tomatoes and blueberries! But check out our two baby pumpkins! We may have home grown Jack o’Lanterns this Halloween yet…

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Culinary Delight #8: Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

These are one of my favorite cupcakes yet! Even my more health-conscious friends ate two, and Chuck had four. There’s no combo better for the beginning of summer than strawberries  and lemonade 🙂

For the cupcakes:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup lemonade powder mix (Country Time was really good)

1 cup milk

3 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp lemon zest

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with liners. In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, lemonade powder, lemon zest, and set aside.

IN another bowl, cream butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add the lemon juice and vanilla. Mix well. Gradually add the dry ingredients and the milk, alternating starting and ending with the dry ingredients and mix until combined.

Fill the liners about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes, then cool for 5 minutes. Ice with Strawberry Lemon Frosting.

For the Frosting:


2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

4 cups powdered sugar

3 tbsp strawberry puree (I used more than that – I pureed something like 5-7 strawberries)

1 tsp lemon zest

Cream the butter for 1-2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar until well mixed. Mix in the strawberry puree and lemon zest. Frost your cupcakes!

**I topped my cupcakes with strawberry slices, but they ended up molding over time – so I had to throw everything out 😦 It was yummy though, so next time I will just add the strawberry slice to a few, and add after that as I go along. **