Superbowl Cookies

I know, I know, the Superbowl was a week ago---but I'm finally getting to my pictures. Last Sunday was cold and snowy, so chocolate chip cookies were in order.

Baking with the roomies (well, I baked... we all ate):

Cookies! One batch has chopped pecans.

Roomies in the kitchen

We ate a couple as they were cooling down.

I look amazing on Sunday mornings, ch-obviously.



Our team mascot, Kaiser.

 The cookies were at hit at one of the two Superbowl parties we attended (the batch was eaten before the second party). They were even used to make some... unique... sandwiches. I can't explain it, just know that candle wax was used as a topping . Yummy?

Music

I'm behind on pop culture. I haven't been to a theater in ages and I have a hard time sitting down for movies as it is. However, I love corny, poppy, booty-shakin' music where I can rock out in the car or at the gym.

Some of my favorite songs/videos lately:




Bruno Mars, Grenade (I rock out to this every time!)




Rock Mafia, The Big Bang (this video startled me---not what I was expecting)




Jerrod Niemann, Lover, Lover (a little country for y'all)




Marry Me, Train (a sweet song and video that speaks to the inner romantic in me)

Dear Kindle: Happy Valentine's Day. I Heart You.

Why, hello handsome! I'm talking about the Kindle here. Yeah, that's it. Ahem, definitely looking at the Kindle...

I've already told y'all many times how much I love and adore my Kindle. But my buddy, Matt, was just debating on whether or not to get one himself. So, for him and everyone else out here, let me explain why it's so awesome. The reason is simple:

I read more.

Honestly, I read 10-times more now with the Kindle than I did with paper books. Before I would get bored or frustrated with a title, set it down, and never read anything because I felt guilty for not finishing the one book. With the Kindle, I just go to the menu and pick another title that suits my mood.

For example, books that I have read over the past few months (an asterisk by the title name means that I recommend it!):

Top-Sellers:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (The original title is "Men Who Hate Women." That is a much more apt description of this book.)
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
*The Help by Kathryn Stockett
*Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
*Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
My Horizonal Life by Chelsea Handler
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

I admit that love corny chic-lit and romance novels. They're quick, easy, and fun. (I read academic texts for work, so anything that's a departure from that then I'm all about it!)

Nora Roberts (Every single Roberts story has the same plot-line and basic character set, but its a formula that always pleases. Just don't put too much thought into it.)
Bed of Roses
Savor the Moment
Happily Ever After

J.R. Ward (A mix between vampires, special-ops, sci-fi, and romance. Slightly more thinking involved than Roberts and therefore slightly more fun.)
*Crave
Covet
Dark Lover

Other cheesy romance titles:
*Enchanting the Lady, My Unfair Lady, and the Firelord's Lover by Kathryn Kennedy

Mixed titles:
The Trump Card by Ivanka Trump
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
*The Virginian by Owen Wister (one of my all-time favorite books)

Of course, I have opinions about each and every title---but I won't bore you with them now. If you're interested in a reading one of these books and would like to know my thoughts then shoot me a line! I'd be happy to talk about it. (Internet book club, holla!)

The final thing that contributes to my love affair with the Kindle is that you can get cute accessories for it. This is where the awesomeness that is Etsy comes into play: cute Kindle sleeves.

Happy reading!