Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Valentine's Day...better late than never!

I resolve to keep up I say!

So to be fair I lost my camera charger (I take the blame, still have NO idea where it went)...and was faithful to take pics of my cookie project (see previous post) and Valentines...and due to the OCD in me I could not write/publish a blog without said pics...thank you Ed!  My hubby saved the day and found a charger and I'm back in business.  (and not so stressed about tests/results/etc.)

Valentine's day...was awesome!  Not so much the day, but everything surrounding...See on the actual Day of Valentines I was working, mentally anguishing/lamenting over the NARM I'd take the next day and physically driving up to Austin to read/pour over material and vent with a friend.  I love my friends!

As a result, this year Steven and I celebrated early...Saturday, Feb. 11th.

In the past one of us takes Valentines and another our anniversary since they are less than 1 month apart.  We have decided not to do a huge thing on Valentines because Timberlyn's birthday is super close (Feb. 12th) and well, I have conflicting swings behind the marketing of a holiday vs its intent...it can really become overwhelming I tell you!

I've also in recent years learned to head the advice of another friend...a past co-worker who had gone through the pain of divorce who shared with me how there came a time when they (her and her ex) didn't really celebrate things like that anymore...they'd get a "joint gift" (if there was something they needed) and call it a day.  Basically I took from it that they stopped dating.  They stopped doing the things you'd do if you were single and liked somebody and wanted to show them that.

That makes me think...and makes me sad.

I know there are lonely people out there...and I know everyone is tempted at some point.  (Everyone's trigger is different; but the point is I don't want to let it get a foothold!)

All that to say...commercialized or not I want to celebrate Valentine's day with MY love!  I can go as deep or not as I want.  The important thing is that I do SOMETHING!

Fast forward....and I'm queen of remembering the details, the small off the wall comments people make.  I turned that into a great Valentines gift...except for one problem...


Did you notice the TWO boxes in the back?  Well I purchased one of them...got a GREAT deal! (and I got the tin of shortbread cookies that my hubby made the comment he had fond memories of/misses/and loves them!)....and HE PURCHASED THE OTHER!  Apparently he wanted one so much that instead of waiting a few days for Valentines (to see what in the world his wife could have possibly given him) he'd just go ahead and get it!  Darn it!  Instead of letting it bother me too much, I resolve that I got him something he really did want!  (we blessed someone else with the other)
I chalk this up to a score for me and a lesson in patience for him!

Then it was my turn...and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the "gifting" presentation!


A smorgisborg!  I loved it!  and what was even better??  Check out what was in the bag....


Not sure if any of you "follow me" on Pinterest but if you do you may or may not have noticed that I "pinned" that little number on the right and commented "something I want for Timberlyn".  It's the most fabulous (yes, I sometimes talk like that) retro swimsuit for my sweet girl!  (Why is it a Valentine's gift to me??  Because it's from Janie & Jack and I refuse to indulge in it myself...but you see if it's a gift...well then that's different!)  I was SO SUPER EXCITED!  and then a little scared/nervous...you see that means my husband is stalking me!  I didn't tell him I was on Pinterest!  He searched, he looked, he found me, he checked out my boards and he went shopping!!   (this puts things on a whole new level folks)
Oh yeah, for those curious...the pic was a painting he did with Timberlyn, underneath are some new cookie sheets and the two rolled up mats are not stick surfaces that should help to make flawless cookies....mmm cookies!

We did go out to dinner too...a place named Ray's in Fulshear.  (Very fancy/chef place = pricey) We've been before and he loves it.  It's good but I just love being with him and making him happy.  (I could also do a $20 or less burger place....Mmm 5 Guys & spicy fries)

Mmm Cookies!

See I didn't forget!  (just extremely delayed!!)

I had "let" myself do a couple fun projects prior to taking my big test so that I could keep some sanity and not blow all my time!

One such project I had come across in a magazine was Martha Stewart's recipe for some super yummy coconut caramel cookies with rock salt!  (see link in January's blog...the first or second one I believe)

I set myself up for success by attempting them when I had an event to go to in order to share with other people...no better place than the Super Bowl Party.  =D
A friend of mine had recently had a baby so I also swung by her house to drop a baggie of them off for her to enjoy because goodness knows how much you eat during recovery & nursing!

Here's a few pics of the finished product!


Mmm....seeing the pictures makes me want them again!

There are some slight changes I'd make the next go round...which I'm thinking would be PERFECT for some type of shower/ladies gathering!

1st, the recipe says to roll dough into 1 inch balls....people I literally had the ruler out and did just that but I would roll them smaller next time (for 2 reasons: first, it makes more cookies! and second, I had a ton of caramel left over, and felt guilty wasting it...so more cookies means more places to put the caramel topping)
My other goal in this step would also be to reduce the baking time and maybe keep all the coconut golden and not have any get the blackened look.

2nd, I would slightly reduce the amount of caramel...even with making additional cookies as mentioned above I don't think I'd be able to use it all.  The other option of course would be doubling the cookie dough part of it...then I'd keep the caramel the same....Mmmm  caramel!

The flaky salt was a fun thing to try.  It comes in a small box at the grocery store and was not cheap...so in order to utilize it...I'm just going to have to try these yummies again (and again).  darn the luck!  ;-p