Chocolate and Peanut Butter are Best

Did a little baking yesterday with Carley.  Her mom was having an end of the school year party for some teachers and staff.  So we were recruited to make some goodies.  And seriously, who would turn down the opportunity to eat cookie dough, chocolate and peanut butter?

Here is our stand-alone mixer, circa 1970.  Vintage is totally hip, and totally still functional.  Take that Kitchen Aid.

Besides the classic Chocolate Chip, we made some Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.  I am honestly not sure if there are many combinations in life that are better than chocolate and peanut butter.  I unwrapped 40 mini Reeses.

And then I probably had to unwrap another half dozen since they mysteriously kept disappearing from the plate..... 

They were wonderful. Especially when the peanut butter cups were still warm.

Then we made Haystacks/Chinese Noodle Cookies.  Which usually remind me of Christmastime.  But I think they are fabulous any time of the year.  So here is the best part, melting the chips!

The beautiful mixer.  Who shortly after this shot said her arms were too tired and had me finish. Im buff. No big deal. JK

And the finished product!

Sooooooo good!  

I probably gained 5 pounds.  But baking with 3 sticks of butter and numerous bags of chocolate chips and Reeses.  Now I must go and run a few hundred miles.

Holding My Breath

I leave in less than two weeks! To be exact, I have 13 days left to enjoy the cool breezes and dry air of Southern California.  Then it is all days filled with dripping sweat and feeling like every breath is actually a drink of water.  Yet, I can't wait!  Sometimes I need to remind myself to stop holding my breath in anticipation and inhale.

But I am still trying to live in the present. I want to soak up all God has planned for this time before I go.  This is difficult, though rewarding when I can keep that mindset.

There has been room for some sadness this week though also.  I am beginning to grieve the temporary loss of my community that is about to happen as soon as I take off from John Wayne Airport.  Last night at my young adults group at church I felt a sinking in my stomach as I looked around at all the people I will miss and thought about the memories they will be making this summer.  And having my brother home for summer to complete our family unit again reminds me of the times I will miss at home with three of my most favorite people.

But I am still giddy with excitement at this adventure. So much so that I may already have been compiling packing lists and essential items I do not want to forget.  Hey, like I said, I am a detail oriented crazy planner.  This should not be a surprise to anyone.

Ta Ta For Now!

I think she is going to miss me too.  Every time I go up stairs while Sadie is in the house, she waits like this with her head on the bottom step until I come back down again.  Leave it to a dog to show you just how much you are loved.