Back to Blogging

I haven't blogged since January! But I've decided that I need to resurrect my blog. I'm working towards building my own tiny house and would like to blog about that.

I think one of the first things I posted when I started this blog was my hair cut. It seems appropriate to bring the blog back to life with a hair cut and a perm. Here you go: 

Peanut Butter Brownie Popcorn Recipe

 I had planned to take a picture of the popcorn right after is was made... but I forgot and by the time I got to it this was all that was left:

I'm surprised I had that much left after five adults and two children got to it!

This was made because I really wanted chocolate popcorn with my peanut butter popcorn, but I couldn't find a recipe that I had the ingredients for. They all wanted me to have chocolate chips or corn syrup.

Then I remembered that I had a Ghirardelli's Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix. So I decided to dump that on top of the peanut butter popcorn. And it totally worked! The chocolate chips in the brownie mix melted on the warm popcorn and YUM!

Here is the recipe for you:

Peanut Butter Brownie Popcorn

Ingredients:
8 cups popped popcorn (about 8 TBSP kernels)
1 cube butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 brownie mix of your choice


Melt butter, peanut butter and sugar, stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over popcorn. If you can, use a bowl with a lid so you can close the lid and shake the peanut butter mix all over the popcorn (preferably while listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass).

Once the popcorn is sufficiently coated with the PB mix, dump in your dry brownie mix. Close the lid, turn another Tijuana Brass song on and shake away!

Once it's all coated, dig in!

A Short Bozeman, Montana Adventure

My sister and I took a two day trip to Bozeman, Montana last weekend. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip!

 I love a Lewis and Clark reference! For those unfamiliar: Charbonneau was Sacagawea's husband. Lewis and Clark hired him knowing that he'd bring his wife along. Sacagawea knew they area the were traveling into and was invaluable to to Corps of Discovery on several occasions.

 An awesome old hotel sign in downtown Bozeman.

http://www.mackenzieriverpizza.com/

Delicious pizza and soup! I was so excited to learn they are building on in my area!

More downtown Bozeman!

The public school house in Pony, a sort of ghost town. They have a small population. 

From what I gathered this is the entrance into a wildlife preserve or something. Very cool. 

Nevada City. It's a ghost town that has been restored. You can even stay in the hotel. 

 Nevada City

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-High-Subs/393422000715182?ref=ts&fref=ts#

And the grand finale of the trip! A sandwhich from Mountain High Subs in Lima, Montana! And a chocolate malt. YUM!




I should also note that a ghost town guide book printed in 1971 can be a bit outdated. We found that most of the ghost towns he listed in that area were much more populated than they were in 1971. But the book had a lot of good information. My sisters favorite bit of information from the book was that 190 people were killed in a seven month period in Virginia City. The book is Ghost Towns of the Northwest by Norman D. Weis. There are pictures and maps.

Zipper Trouble + Ella Fitzgerald

So yesterday I was getting dressed for church and my zipper didn't go up easily so I zipped it down and up a couple times just to wiggle it up (you know what I'm talking about right?). Well the sound the zipper made while going up and down sounded like the beginning of an Ella Fitzgerald song.
The song is Crying My Heart Out for You and I had it in my head all day. It was lovely.

 

via 100 Best

Doesn't she sound so young here? I love it. 

Sherlock Holmes: my new favorite fictional human.

via TV Kade

via The Futon Critic

So lately I've been super into Sherlock Holmes. I've been watching Elementary (CBS) and Sherlock (BBC). I love them. The characters are so well done. Especially Sherlock!

(Have you watched either of these shows? What do you think?) 

Next step: read the books! So this is what I checked out from the library today:

Let the reading begin!

(Have you read the books?)

Thanks for stopping by fellas!

via martin/sinatra tumblr

These two showed up in my dreams last night. It was pretty magical. They seemed to really like me. Especially Dean. That's all I can really remember. They were just like they are when they are being filmed - hilarious and charming (although I realize this isn't really the case based on books I've read, but hey, it's my dream).

That's pretty much how it felt. Delightful. I wish it was a marshmallow world here in Wapello!

via film maker iq

Sweet dreams!

PS- Perhaps Sammy will show up tonight!

It was a good Nalgene....

So today I opened the freezer to pull out my Nalgene (that I've had for at least 10 years) and this is what I found:

Now before you say I filled it too full of water, let me tell you that you are wrong. There was an inch of clearance from the ice to top of the bottle.

In my Googling I found out that Nalgene will replace the bottle and also that I might get a t-shirt that says "I broke my Nalgene." Let's be honest, I want them to replace my bottle, but I really want the t-shirt.

So I sent Nalgene customer service an email to ask if such things happened. They ignored my t-shirt reference (rude), but did say that they would replace my bottle if I'd just send them a low resolution photo of my bottle with the logo clearly visible. I just sent that email. Can't wait to see what comes in the mail!

PS Thank you

John Denver sighting!

via audiophileparadise

Okay, not really. But kinda.

Our waiter at the Boise Chili's looked like John Denver. He even had the haircut and glasses. It was awesome.

I should have told him that he looks like John Denver. I wonder if he gets that a lot? I should also have asked him for a picture and his autograph.

I'll do better next time. 

90s stretch pants comin' at ya!

Remember wearing stretch pants like these in elementary school (ours were a little cooler, I mean we had the loops to go under out feet)? Well according to Kohls and Lauren Conrad they are back in style!

The good news is that you needn't be ashamed of your embarrassing clothes from back then. The bad news is that just because something is "in style" that doesn't mean not embarrassing.

Sadly, I did not buy these fantastically ugly leggings. I believe stretch pants from the 90s are better left in the 90s.

I'm totally normal.

It's normal to go to a thrift store in search of vinyl albums right? Of course it is.

That's what I did on Thursday afternoon when I got off work and I made out like a bandit! 20 albums for 11 dollars! I was a happy lady walking up to the cashier. I even came away with six of Herp Alpert and the Tijuana Brass albums. Happy, happy, happy!

Well as the cashier is ringing me up his coworker could not stop staring at me. Honestly, she was gawking. Finally she said something like, "I didn't know anyone used those anymore." I cheerfully explained that it's my favorite way to listen to music and then the cashier chimed in saying his father was a big Tijuana Brass fan (I do love connecting with people). It was a really fun visit. I swear I shocked that girl out of her mind. I'll bet she went home and told people about me the same way I told about her. I can only hope that I peaked her interest. Maybe she'll try out some vinyl sometime.

Hello, little black bear cub!

Looked up from my paperwork and there he was! Isn't he cute? He kept looking at us and then up in the willows - probably at mama bear. So we grabbed our gear and got out of there! After snapping a few pictures....

Just workin' my life away...

Steel Creek Campground - the view from our site

While driving around lost we found this bus out in the middle of nowhere.

I love this picture! It's near Spencer, ID.

Horse Creek Hot Springs. We camped here and soaked in this for a few minutes before work.

This is how the earth greets us as we start work in the morning. My job rocks.

At the end of the day we love having a cozy fire!

I have some jealous aimed at all of the people who live up in the mountains. These people have a great mailbox.

My Summer is flying by!

A John Denver Day

This morning just felt like John Denver to me, so as I was getting ready I put one of his albums on my record player. It was wonderful. Here are a few of my favorite John Denver songs for your enjoyment!

Wild Montana Skies (with Emmylou Harris)

And So it Goes (with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)

Back Home Again

Perhaps Love (With Placido Domingo)

Thank God I'm a Country Boy

I am a Field Technician.

Three weeks ago I started my new job as a Field Technician for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. I love it. I basically drive around South East Idaho with two other amazing women, collect data and samples from streams and sleep in a tent three nights a week. It's awesome.

Here are a few pictures from the first three weeks of work.

Wolverine Canyon

Wolverine Canyon

Edna Creek Campground

 (After a 10 hour day we didn't feel must like committing to a fire, so we just got out the lantern and gathered 'round.)
 

Our homes this summer

Why yes, I do have the best job ever.

Bill Cosby

Never in my life did I ever think it would be possible for me to be in the same room as Bill Cosby. I never thought I'd have the opportunity to see him live. But that's what happened yesterday! Bill Cosby booked one show at BYU - Idaho, but ended up doing three due to popular demand. It was fantastic. Bill Cosby is a legend. Whether you know it or not he has changed America and the way we perceive others. Flash photography was not allowed so I was unable to take pictures of him, but here is one from The Rexburg Standard Journal. You can read the article here.

via Rexburg Standard Journal

I just adore Bill Cosby.  I first discovered Cosby by watching reruns of the Cosby Show. I then discovered a younger Cosby in clips of the Dean Martin Variety Show. No matter what he does he's genius. He has perfect timing (as I clearly saw on Friday night). I am so grateful I was able to see such an amazing, talented, human being.

Just in case you are unfamiliar with Bill Cosby I want to share a few of my favorite clips.

What do you think of Bill Cosby? Did you like the clips?

Did anyone else see Bill Cosby while he was in Rexburg? What did you think?

They have chicken nuggets shaped like Dean Martin!?

The above thought did actually pass though my head today. Seriously.

I was heading to check out of Broulim's when I spot "Dino Nuggets" in one of the freezers. I nearly died. Dino Nuggets? Like Dino Martin? This is awesome!

I was completely let down when I noticed that they were not shaped like Dean Martin, but like Dinosaurs.

via Providential Life

Dinosaurs are cool... but Dean Martin is cooler.

It's probably good that they don't sell chicken nuggets shaped like Dean Martin. It might be kind of weird.

Rick, Ilsa and Me

I saw Casablanca for the first time when in 2006, my very first semester at Brigham Young University - Idaho. I was in a class called Intro to Film Art. It was such a fun class for me. Basically we watched movies and discussed them.  I wasn't able to attend the class screenings of the movies, so I watched them on my own time.

I don't really remember watching any of them. Except Casablanca. I remember laying on my bed, watching it on my laptop and then crying very hard at the end (and possibly a couple other times...).

Things came full circle last night when I was able to watch the 70th anniversary screening of Casablanca in the Rexburg Paramount 5 theater. What a perfect thing to happen my last semester! I was so excited that I even skipped Grad Night to go.



If you haven't seen Casablanca, you need to. Everything about it is perfect. The actors are marvelous. Every character seems so real. It's so easy to cry and laugh along with them.

The music is delightful. Dooley Wilson is a dream, especially when he sings "As Time Goes By."

Watching Casablanca in a theater was a real treat. You could see everything so beautifully! It was wonderful! I was also really happy that my mom was able to join me.

Here are some of the best pictures I was able to find on the internet. I hope you like them as much as I do. And if you haven't seen Casablanca, maybe these will entice you to hurry up and do so.

Ilsa Lund via Fashionable Forties

Isn't Ingrid Bergman stunning? There is something about her that I get cant get enough of!

Rick and Ilsa via Hi-Fi Stories

 "Here's looking at you, kid."

Rick and Ilsa via Dr. Macro's

I love the tenderness of this picture. This is the Rick and Ilsa I love best.

Rick and Captain Renault via FanPop

There is something I really like about Captain Renault, even though I know I should despise him!

Rick and Ugarte via Dr. Macro's

Peter Lorre is a fantastic actor. I love his character Ugarte - it's a short part, but crucial!

Sam and Rick via Mythical Monkey

I really like Sam, you can tell he's a great friend to Rick.

Laszlo and Rick via Dr. Macro's

Laszlo is a very important character. He's very noble and understanding. Rick has a lot of respect for him.

Laszlo and Ilsa via Dr. Macro's

Interesting relationship these two. I like it.



Did anyone else attend the 70th Anniversary Screening? Where? Did you enjoy it?

My Weekend in Movies

Friday

Gone with the Wind (1939)

via Bob Taylor Rocks!

This is one of my favorite movies. I love the novel as well. People complain that the movie is long (four hours), but it doesn't drag. The movie is the book in fast forward. The book is pretty big, but it only took me two weeks to get through. It was much too exciting to put down. The movie is the same way for me. I just can't stop watching. I don't really know how to tell if you'll like this movie. So maybe watch the trailer and see what you think.

It even had a piece of my favorite scene in it! Anyone guess which part it is?

Bottom line: Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, 10 Academy Awards... do you really need more than that?

You Can't Take It With You (1938)

via Buy.com

Holy delightful and insightful comedy! This one is a treasure.That should really shock anyone - it's directed by Frank Capra (It's A Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). If you haven't seen it you need to. It's got an all star cast - and is just a treat to watch.

Bottom line: You should watch it. It's hysterical and your heart will be touched.

Saturday

Alice Adams (1935)

via Movie Goods

 I love this movie. I love it so much that I read the book. I shouldn't have read the book. Hollywood changed the ending and then the book was just disappointing. I am glad they changed the ending because it's beautiful. 


Oh by the way I adore Katharine Hepburn. All time favorite actress. Hands down. 


For some reason I can't find the clip through blogger so you'll have to click here to watch the trailer.


Bottom line: Great movie. Also a little sad. It's about a young girl doing her best to fit in, please her parents and not fall apart in the midst of it all. I love it. 






*Confession*  I also watched two Lifetime movies on Saturday... Not the sappy, lusty romance kind, but the murder/kidnapping/sucks-to-be-that-lady-but-she's-still-miraculously-stunning kind. I would just like to point out that it's not my fault that I like them. Lifetime has some special formula for making movies appeal to women... It's probably that they are super drama filled.


What did you watch this weekend?