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To Die For Cookies!

by Erin on February 5, 2011 in food with 2 Comments

Last month I came across a cookie recipe from Picky-Palate for Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Sandwiches. I immediately knew I just had to make them for my birthday. So I gathered all the ingredients (and honestly, check out the list—it’s super simple!) and waited and waited for the day. Today was that day!

I won’t go into detail since there are extremely well documented instructions included with the recipe, but I will share my final result:

Even before I tasted it, I began to crave milk—that’s how sweet they smell. And the smell was not misleading. These suckers are soooo full of chocolate that they will cure any hankering for something sweet.

I think I added a bit more chocolate chips than I should have (the recipe calls for a 10oz bag, I could only find a 12oz bag so I eyeballed the amount to put in). However, that didn’t stop me from sucking half of one down! (Yes, half of one. Believe me, when/if you make these you’ll completely know why!)

I only made 18 of them (I got a little tired after a bit) but I had made a cake right before it. I really can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they see and then bite into these tomorrow!

DYMO LabelManager® 260P

by Erin on February 2, 2011 in bzzagent with 2 Comments

Recently I got the opportunity from BzzAgent to try out the DYMO LabelManager® 260P. Anyone that knows me knows that I absolutely adore office supplies. So I jumped on the opportunity without a single second of hesitation.

I’ve used label makers in the past; matter of fact I have a Brother P-Touch sitting next to me. But what stood out about the DYMO LabelManager was the rechargeable battery and the sleek handheld design.

I will admit that this little sucker has a ton of functions, some that I won’t ever probably find the need to touch upon. But what is so great is that they are there should you need them.

Some key highlights:

Powered by a lithium-ion battery

Large 1.18″ x 2.36″ screen displays two lines of label text

Graphical display lets you see text effects on screen before you print. This means no more guessing what the label will look like. What you see is what you get!

Customize labels and add emphasis by choosing from 3 fonts, 6 font sizes, one of the many styles, and one of 8 different box styles or underline

Work faster with an improved user interface that displays all menu options onscreen without scrolling, and includes intuitive icons for formatting options

Aside from the design and battery, the other feature that I now can’t live without is the display. You really do see what you’re going to get. And if you’ve got a particularly long label going, one press of the preview button shows you what you will get via scroll.

While I will be using my label maker for labels here and there, for those of you who will be using one for every day uses, there is an option to save your most frequent ones (up to 9 of them). I know that will come in handy for some people.

It feels like an alien

by Erin on January 24, 2011 in pure prattle with 3 Comments

Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside. ~Rita Rudner

I’m now 18 weeks and 3 days into the pregnancy and this little bean is moving around more and more. I’m excited—and relieved—to feel s/he move around so much, but man, it’s always at the most inopportune times, like when I’m trying to fall asleep. It’s hard to explain the feeling if you’ve never felt it yourself, but it definitely feels like you’ve got an alien in your belly.

We’re half way done with the room switching. The kiddo’s room is now painted a really calming blue.

Now all that’s left is to buy a new bed and some decorations.

As for the new baby, we’re two weeks and four days away from {hopefully} finding out the sex. I’m getting very impatient and really want to start buying some things. I hate that I have to wait until 21 weeks. :/

I’m really looking forward to getting out of winter. It’s been such a crummy, cold, snowy winter and it makes me feel so blah. I can’t wait for that first day of warmer weather where everyone opens their windows and lets all the winter germs out.

New year, new baby, new pool

by Erin on January 17, 2011 in pure prattle with Comments Off

Wow, 2011 is starting off with a bang!

We have a new baby due in June (we knew this, of course, before January!) and are scrambling to get things done. We’re moving the kiddo into a new room (his play room will become his bedroom) and the baby will go into the kiddo’s old room. Luckily we had planned on painting the original bedroom and bought paint, so that will just be used in the play room. Now it’s just the smaller items: a bed, new blinds and a bed light.

The baby’s room is still tough as we don’t know the gender yet. Four weeks until we find out. :/

Now along with all this “remodeling” we have to deal with the collapse of our beautiful 24′ round pool. :( We still don’t know what caused it, but the other night it just broke, collapsed and took out the 15′ tree next to it along with the filter, electrical outlets, our swing and who knows what else. Luckily it’s covered under homeowners insurance. Let’s just hope they push through the claim and give us enough to get a new one installed. Not something I want to be worried about with a newborn, but at the same time, the kiddo lives in the pool so it wouldn’t be fair to him to postpone installing/opening it.

Fridgeletter Give Away Contest

by Erin on December 17, 2010 in pure prattle with 1 Comment

Michelle Underwood of This Crazy Life is giving away to 5 lucky winners a box of Fridgeletters in the saying of your choice! These are adorable! I love the concept, especially since we had letters like this when we were kids.