Pre-Baby Bucket List

EDIT: See updated list in this post Baby Fever

     Before Matthew and I got married we discussed when we thought we would like to have children. We felt that one year was a good amount of time. A year would give us plenty of time to enjoy being married, and learn how to be married, right? Well, Matthew and I have been married for eight months now! It has gone by so fast and I know our anniversary will be here before we know it. I don't think I'll be ready to start trying for a child in four months. So after having a freak out about being old, pregnancy in general, saying we would try after a year, not being ready and other inconsequential stuff I talked to my friend, Marlee, she said she was having the same problem and suggested making a list of things that we would like to do before we have a kiddo.
     I love this idea. Call me selfish, but I love my husband and want to spend as much time with him as possible before we add to our family (right now pets are enough for us). So having this list 1) gives us an opportunity to do things we have always wanted to do together 2) while working toward a future goal 3) preparing our hearts and 4) plays into my love of lists (see what I did there).
     Now I understand that having a kid is not the end of the world, and that the stuff on this list can be done even with children so I don't expect to cross everything off (that's why it's a bucket list). With that being said, these are things that I think would be nice to do without children in tow and we might have an easier time planning/doing them without having to think about the kids and some of it is just plain practical. Here is what Matthew and I come up with:

• Wine tasting tour
• Road trip
• Spend all day in pajamas watching movies
• Have a boozy lunch with friends
• Spontaneous weekend get away - and by spontaneous I mean less than a week's notice. I do like to have things somewhat planned
• Stay out late - this one is accomplished anytime I hang out with my friends. So I intend to enjoy it every time it happens
• Go out to eat - again, Matthew and I do like to go out to eat, so we plan to enjoy the luxury of getting to eat our food and not worry about feeding kids as well as getting to spend alone time with each other  or having to find a babysitter. 
• See lots of movies that would be inappropriate for children 
• Surprise romantic dinner for Matthew
• Surprise romantic dinner for Katie
• Go on a cruise or travel to Europe
• Stay at a bed-and-breakfast
• Get healthy
• Purchase a SUV
• Learn to sew / take sewing class
• Be a tourist where we live (Dallas)
• Get life insurance
• Build up an emergency fund
• Pay off student loan
• Pay off Matthew's car
• Go hiking (preferably in Colorado)
• Get more pedicures

Books # 1, 110 and 151

So I have been reading a lot of books off my challenge, at least it seems like a lot to me. I know I have about a billion to go. But it has been fun, daunting, and a challenge like it should be. Although I am not sure what to do about the books that my library does not have.

I finished Gone With the Wind on January 9. I genuinely enjoyed the book. I could not stand Scarlett, but that is probably the point, otherwise you would feel bad for all the things that happen to her.
Next up was 1984 which I read in high school but I don't remember a thing about it. I found the book to be okay. It definitely was interesting thinking about the possibilities society could face.
Then there was Kite Runner. It was my least favorite of the three, but it could have been a draw with 1984.

Right now I'm reading lots a Shakespeare and it is making me want to watch 10 Things I hate About You. I'm also currently reading Emma (#76). Then I'll tackle Sophie's Choice (#290) and The Shining (#276). Wish me luck!

Attempting Art

 My dear friend Jesica have been talking about doing one of those BYOB painting classes for quite some time now. So when we saw a deal for one we snatched it up. We had such a great time together that we have already purchased another deal from groupon to do another painting class. Anyways, in this class we painted a cute scene with some birds.

Jesica and I

Kind of excited, yet nervous about the painting. 

Got my glass of delicious moscato.

Intimidating blank canvas. At least it's intimidating to those with no artistic skills like me. Probably why the wine is a must.

First step - blend base color with white.

Second step - add more base color to the white.

Third step - add yet even more base color to the white (this was where I had to get more brown and Jesica need more red as well).

Then take a break with chocolate and more wine!

Now to add the moon.

Branches for the birds.

Now the difficult task of adding the birds. This was terrifying to me. Everything else so far was relativity easy to do.

I thought he turned out pretty well.

Birds done, now to make the trees pretty.

Bam!

I know you're jealous of our awesome paintings. I ended up hanging mine up in my master bathroom.

Cherry Icebox Cookies

I LOVE cherry icebox cookies. Specifically those that come from Collin Street Bakery. Since it's a bit of drive to get to one, which is probably good thing, I'm resorting to making them at home. I have been looking for a recipe for them for sometime now. This one came from Taste of Home cookbook. These have been major hit with the husband.

Cherry Icebox Cookies

Yields about 6 dozen

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
4 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, cherry and lemon juices and vanilla.

Combine flour, backing soda, cinnamon and cream of tartar

Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. 

Stir in nuts and cherries. I omitted the nuts, and may have added more like 3/4 to 1 cup of chopped cherries.

 I like cherries, and after all, they are cherry icebox cookies.

Shape into four 12-inch rolls; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hour or until firm

Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2in apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.

Remove to wire racks to cool.

Ever so hopeful Milton.

And enjoy!

Milton likes to sit or lie here on the memory foam kitchen mat when I'm in the kitchen while he hopes for me to drop something. 

He's actually looking up at the cooking island where the cookies are.

Keep on dreaming dog, these cookies are almost too good to share. I had to put half of them in the freezer so I would not eat them all. Believe me, I want to eat them all but I do not the side effect of that. I'm going to take them to book club this weekend. 

Just a typical weekend

There might be some gushing in this post about how awesome my husband is. You have been warned.

Last night I went out with some friends to see Les Misérables and then went out to dinner where we discussed things such as The Hobbit, boys and their 'snot', spiritual epiphanies, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Once Upon a Time and homemade music videos all while eating deliciousness that is fried food.

When I arrived home I noticed that one of the dogs had been very ill all over the carpet. Now vomit and I just don't get along. At all. So Matthew proceeded to clean up said vomit with paper towels while I'm standing behind him holding my nose and trying not to throw-up myself. Eventually it was too much for me and I had to step outside with the pups. I came to the following realizations, 1) I have the best husband ever and 2) if my dogs regurgitation makes me ill, there is no way I could handle another humans. It's hard to be upset at the dogs though when they can be so cute!

   

Luckily the mess came up and did not stain the carpets.

Today we went to the grocery store and I also got items to make cherry icebox cookies and Boston cream cupcakes! I am excited about making them this week. There is also a recipe for ambrosia cupcakes that sound delectable and while I was telling Matthew about them he told me "only one at a time". I replied by saying, "well yeah, first I'll make the cherry ice box cookies and whatever is left over he can take to work, then the Boston cream cupcakes later in the week and then eventually the ambrosia cupcakes". Matthew's response was "I didn't mean that! I meant only one type of cupcake at a time. Cupcakes and cookies are different, so that's okay to have both". He's so cute. We then worked out to prepare for the amazing treats to come. I also cut his hair, which is always an experiment in communication, though I am getting much better. And while I was cooking tacos for dinner, Matthew was cleaning and vacuuming. Again, I'm so lucky! All in all it was just a typical weekend for us.