Lemon Curd Muffin Top

Hi Friends,

I just wanted to tell you that you should make these lemon muffins.

Here is the recipe.  It's in British (weight not cups) so apologies for that but I used a scale.  Also I always do the swap of flour for ground almonds that he suggests and add lots of almond extract.  It's pretty delish.  Nick inhaled them - I even made them with gluten free flour and they worked perfect.

In other news, it's February first!  WTFFFFF!  I haven't even shared my New Years Resolution with you!  OK so here it is.... Get a PERKIER ASS!

So as you can see I am suffering from a bad case of secretary spread... thanks to my sedentary job.  I'm also  working on eliminating my chub rub.  (That is when your inner thighs touch... see above)

So tonight while Nick is in London for work, Heidi and me are having a girls night in.  We went for a run together.... during which Heidi puked, and I had to have a not so serious conversation with her on the dangers of Ana and Mia.  (...but seriously - who is YOUR thinspo?) Then we came home and we did some yoga with Tara Stiles - (youtube her)...  while Heid thought it was appropriate to skip the downward dog poses and drop her bone on me repeatedly... now she is taking a nap and I am seriously considering whether to paint my nails barbie dream house pink.  (It's probs not office appropriate.)

Speaking of which, I am SO looking forward to vet school, but so NOT looking forward to my future inability to wear childish sparkly nail polish.  (I hear it is hard to keep your nails long and nice when you have to stick your hands in places where the sun doesn't shine. )

In summary, please entertain me with the answers to the following while I am home alone and watching bad reality TV...

1. What is your new year's resolution?  Are you still following it?
2. Who is your thinspiration?
3. What is your favorite color of nail polish?
4. What do YOU want to be when you grow up?

Good News!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

For those of you who I'm not fb friends with and haven't heard yet....

I got the results of that big, life changing interview I had in Decebember.

Thanks for your positive energy... it definitely paid off!

On Saturday morning I found out I was admitted into Ohio State University's veterinary program!!!

I'm SO pumped.  

As you probably know vet school is pretty tough to get into, 

and everyone I met at the interview was so smart and nice.  

I couldn't figure out how they were going to cut so many smart and nice people.

But, praise the Lord, somehow I made the cut!  

And hopefully those smart and nice people will be my new friends in the near future.

This news set in a whole bunch of things into action, 

and it feels like my to-do list just grew exponentially....

Some things I've been thinking(stressing) about for the past 24hours:

  Getting Nick's immigration paper work sorted out...

(which appears to be cheaper and more straight forward than we were expecting.  

knock.on.wood.)

Figuring out about Heidi's export vaccinations/paperwork/vet checks

(Note: She does NOT have to be quarantined)

Tackling the last of the projects around the house

Selling the house 

Finding a new house

Thinking a lot about loans/financial aid

Wondering if they sent me the acceptance letter by mistake...

and if I'm going to be the dumbest kid in the class

Wondering how I am supposed to keep all this a secret at work 

Trying to think of a solid game plan for 

maintaining my marriage while in school.

(rumor has it going to vet school is tough on spouses,

 and it's probably even tougher when that spouse has to quit their job and move to a foreign country...I'm banking on the fact that everyone will want to hang out with him because of his charming English accent and eccentric British way - but any tips for this transition would be much appreciated.)

I guess it's going to be one exciting year!

Dear Friends,

December 15th I had a potentially life altering interview.  I have been compulsively checking my email and not sleeping since said interview, waiting to hear if it's good news or bad news.  I thought I would probably hear by today, but I haven't.  So if you could please send your prayers and positive energy my way I would sure appreciate it.

Love,

Kelly

ps. More details to follow.

Toora loora torra loo rye aye

I know I haven't posted in like a month and you are all probably dying to know whether I got chickens for Christmas (I did not) but before I update this blog with Christmas pics I need to recap NYE 2011's events before I forget.

So for NYE Nick decided to make reservations at an Indian restaurant for 10 o'clock, and then we planned on heading to a bar for a couple drinks to ring in the new year.

Well we show up at this indian place - right, and there is a guy in the middle of a make shift dance floor singing a power ballad.  And we were like that is a little odd - is it karaoke?  Turns out it wasn't Karaoke - it was just a DJ slash singer who played power ballads and dance music and occasionally broke out in song.  Please remember this was in the middle of an Indian restaurant.  We actually had the waiters encouraging us to get up and dance because everyone else seemed to be just as confused as we were about the whole dance floor in an Indian restaurant thing.  Nick told me I was racist when I asked our FOB waiter if he had requested Jai-ho, I guess political correctness is still something I need to work on.

By 11 there was one lady drunk enough to hit the stage, and after our fabulous meal (and a few drinks) I managed to get Nick up to dance to "Come on Eileen."  So yeah, at 11:30 on December 31st 2011 Nick and I danced to Come on Eileen in an Indian restaurant.

We bolted after that and went to a hipper bar where I worked it to Shakira -  hips don't lie just before the clock struck midnight and two scantilly clad girls with power tools jumped on the tables and created sparks from their crotches by sawing this piece of metal attached to themselves while dancing to gangster rap.

Right now Nick and I have absolutely no idea what 2012 holds.  We honestly do not even know which country we will finish 2012 in.  Everything is in the air.  But if last night is anything to go by... At least it will be interesting.

Happy New Year Friends.  May all your dreams come true!  

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

I've been thinking really really hard about what I want for Christmas and my birthday.  Mostly for the sake of my mom.  Nick says he's bought me my birthday/Christmas pressie in the form of a plane ticket home.  But my mom, she has Kris Kringle Syndrome.  She HAS to buy things for her kids.  It is really nice, but if I don't figure out what to ask for... she'll waste her money on something that I might not be crazy about.  Not that she has bad taste, just that I am really really picky.  


So I've been racking my brain about this for awhile and I can't think of anything.  I suppose I need generic work clothes, but sometimes only getting clothes is a little boring.  The only other thing that keeps popping into my head is that I would really like a pet chicken.  Well actually two.  (They are rather social creatures afterall...)  

Via

In my opinion, chickens would truly be the gift that keeps on giving.  Forget "___ of the month" clubs, hens can lay like 250 eggs a year, which would mean I would have plenty for baking and making quiches.  I'd probably never have a moment where I'd need to run to the neighbors for an egg, I could just pop into the backyard and say "Heyyyy Ladies!!!" and they would cluck politely and show me how they made a cute little egg for me.  I would rest assured knowing these hens had a cruelty free life because hello I would be raising them.  (Though in fairness my biggest dilemma is how to get Heidi to coexist peacefully with birds.  I'm not sure if this is possible.)  

Via

I spent some time researching different breeds of hen - Did you know that some breeds are better for eating, while others are better for laying, and some just look cool - like show chickens.  People seriously show them, like a dog show but a chicken show.  Also some are feistier than others.  I'd pretty much decided that I wanted a good layer, nothing too feisty and maybe one that lays those chic little blue/green Easter egg types.  But then I discovered The British Hen Welfare Trust which rehomes commercial laying hens.  Doesn't that sound perfect?  Giving a laying hen a better future for Christmas?  Better than ending up as Christmas dinner don't you think?

My boy Jamie Oliver with some rehomed hens.  

Anyways, Mom, if you are reading this... 

I would like one of these neato chicken coops for Christmas from Omlet.    

Also, Mom, if you are reading this, Nick says please don't actually buy me this.  He's not convinced of the merits of chicken keeping like I am, particularly when I keep telling him I want to move back stateside.  But, between you and me, friends, when we buy our next house - it will have a massive garden and I WILL have chickens.  Quote me.  You're all invited for egg salad sandwiches when I realize this dream. 


Anyways I need to know, bloggers, what's on your Christmas list?  Maybe I will put together a little master list so we can help each other think of the most awesome presents/gifts.  Be honest.  I seriously need help this year.    



ps.  Before you think I'm a spoiled brat please know that I'm really very thankful that I am in a place in my life where deciding what to put on my Christmas list is a major dilemma.  
pps.  I would just like to note that I start a new job on Monday and am super pumped about it. 
ppps.  Check out this huge list of egg dishes on Wikipedia.  Who knew?