befores

I found this bookshelf on the side of the road. I let it sit all weekend before I nabbed it. No dumpster diving for this one... I'm not sure that everyone else was as thrilled but I am excited to fix it up and give it a home... it's supposed to be a shelf but the wood where the the hook as is damaged, so my plan for it is to put it on the desk in the bedroom.
my other before is the Production zone, I was asked to give it a fresh look and make it cool and fun! I have some thoughts and a small budget, but it's going to be awesome to get to give it a new hip look and leave a little touch of me here when I leave... We got an "ok" to paint! Orange is color at the moment... don't worry, it's gonna look great! i've been messing around with colors, and thanks to the boss boss for the color idea. I googled orange and maroon rooms as soon as she suggested it and found this picture. I fell in love with it... i'm using it as my inspiration for colors.

Tollhouse Chocolate chip cookies

...so the dough is good. my first batch of cookies were WHITE at 10 minutes; at 15 minutes they were dark, really dark.
the second batch i cooked cuz my oven was hot, but i didn't serve them hot. These cookies must be served warm!!!!

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yummy Peanut Butter Cookies

(i only know these are good, because my hubby devours them. if you know anything about me, peanut butter and I don't get along. I tolerate it in my cooking, but normally don't eat it in any of my cooking, it's only ok in my dad's Monster cookies.) :)
1 cup margarine
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease two cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, peanut butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the peanut butter mixture. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Use a wet fork dipped in sugar to make the crisscrosses on the top.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Grab a glass of milk and enjoy! (or with ice cream)

everywhere I've been

We were on a mission. Drive with our friends and their 18-month-old twins to Venice and back. 10 hours both ways. And of course see Venice. We did it in about 36 hours. and oh, did I want to stop! There were so many places to stop along the way. I could have gotten lost in Munich. I'm sure some other places too (had we stopped in Austria and Switzerland)(and not been outnumbered by the guys). Europe is just amazing! Living here is spoiling for sure. I can't wait to explore more, I don't think I see enough. ;)
It was just beautiful countryside. So green. So lovely. and the Villas and vineyards in Italy. TO DIE FOR! Amazingness all around. The Alps were just incredible. So magnificent. Hopefully I will get to see them again soon, maybe this winter.
So in a nutshell, MUST-SEES- Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. But I suggest you take more than 36 hours to see it all. ;)