be happy now

“ don’t wait for tomorrow. don’t wait for the right job, the right house, the right salary, the right dress size. be happy today. be happy now… one thing I know for certain: the time we have here goes by far too quickly. don’t waste any more time sitting on the bench watching life pass you by.” -joseph b. wirthlin
(Photo Courtesy of underthemoon)

Thoughts

Its Thursday again, man these weeks seem to be flying by. On to my thoughts,

-First, if you are ever feeling like you need encouragement, compliments, what have you, blog about it. I can't believe how overly nice people are when you throw stuff out there for contemplation. Its getting pretty bad for my ego. Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement.

-American Idol. I'm glad Scott is gone. He just isn't that great and I am glad he got voted out and not saved. I couldn't help but feel a little guilty during the last bits of the results show though, they just made me feel so bad that America had voted off a blind guy. It was a fleeting feeling though. I have to admit that I am warming up to Adam Lambert. As one of my young women said "He is such a star." He really is very consistent and as much as I don't like him because he kind of creeps me out, I have to applaud his song choices and musical styling. Everyone else, I just keep waiting to be blown away and I'm not.

-If I didn't have an aversion to online shopping, this would be in my cart and I'd be pulling out my debit card right now. Literally, perfection.

From Mudshark

-Have you tumblr'd? Have you tweeted? Seriously, it seems like there are almost too many options these days on making your mark in the mass expanses of the internet. I really do love tumblr though. You should check it out. My link is the picture of the balloons on the right-------------->

Its a nice way to keep track of all the things I find online but don't necessarily want to blog about, I'm thinking of it as an inspiration board of sorts.

-Thanks Shauna for helping me with the big pictures. I love it.

-Oh and I would like to draw your attention to the new Yeah Yeah Yeah's cd. Its fabulous. Please listen to it, Karen O will melt your face off or at least make you want to get your leather on.-Steve heard me mention that I was interested in the photography of Vogue legend Tim Walker so he ordered his book for me through interlibrary loan. What a great husband. The book arrived from UNLV and I am delighted. You can check out an online gallery here and here are some of my other favs. His work reminds me a lot of Wonderland, as in Alice in.

-And to finish off I hope you all enjoyed conference. I did. I found such great hope in the messages. My heart was enlightened and lifted.

Okay thats it for now. Bye.

For Angela

Every once in awhile a friend comes into your life and you hit it off instantly and even though you're thrown into your relationship in "not" the best circumstances (Icon Security) a bond forms that is almost stronger than meeting someone on a sunny day. Angela is that woman for me. Hilarious, blunt and surprisingly sweet she made work so enjoyable. A natural conversationalist, we would sit and talk for hours while our computer screens went black from inactivity. She has since moved to Logan and has a beautiful new baby girl who is sadly allergic to lactose. So answering to a call for dairy free dessert recipes I stepped into action. Inspired by the lovely spring strawberries on sale at Macey's and of course the Barefoot Contessa this is so fab it does not even need whipped cream! (although for the rest of you, I think you should add it because who doesn't love whipped cream!-fat free of course...)

Angela, this one is for you, (and Kylie)

Lemon Angel Food Cake

Ingredients
2 cups sifted superfine sugar, divided (If you don't have super fine sugar-who does!-pulse granulated sugar in a food processor for a couple seconds)
1 1/3 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising) (I used plain old regular flour and it worked great)
1 1/2 cups egg whites, at room temperature (10 to 12 eggs)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine 1/2 cup of sugar with the flour and sift together 4 times. Set aside. (Don't skip the sifting! It is crucial to get a light and airy cake and it is a great forearm work out)
3. Place the egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat on high speed until the eggs make medium-firm peaks, about 1 minute. With the mixer on medium speed, add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of sugar by sprinkling it over the beaten egg whites. Whisk for a few minutes until thick and shiny. Whisk in the vanilla and lemon zest and continue to whisk until very thick, about 1 more minute. Sift about 1/4 of the flour mixture over the egg whites and fold it into the batter with a rubber spatula. Continue adding the flour by fourths by sifting and folding until it's all incorporated.
4. Pour the batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan, smooth the top, and bake it for 35 to 40 minutes, until it springs back to the touch. Remove the cake from the oven and invert the pan on a cooling rack until cool.

The cake is super sweet and tangy with a lemon glaze. Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon) drizzle over cooled cake.

Or serve with fresh strawberries and homemade strawberry sauce. Combine over medium heat, 1 cup strawberries cut into 1/4's and 3 TBSp sugar. Heat until sugar melts. Place in food processer and add 1/2 cup strawberry jam. Pulse until combined. If it is too thick add a little water.

Loving: Unexpectedly Feminine Necklaces

I have really been digging necklaces made from fabric and unexpected materials lately. Perusals around the net led me to the following inspirations. I think I will be crafting up something special tonight.

From here. I love her other stuff but know personally I couldn't muster the confidence to wear them so it is this simplified genius.

From here.

From here. And to quote the maker "Made of double layer stretch cotton/rayon blend for a necklace that kicks all your other necklaces in the face. "

From here I don't know if it is chains or small pearls but I heart it.

Cause that is what I need, another piece of jewelry...

For everything else, there's mastercard...

Wii Fit: $89.99

Weight Watchers 1 point yogurt: $0.67Comfortably fitting into pre-wedding jeans: priceless

I almost cried a little bit.

Through the Sun Roof

Sunny Spring, please come back...
Center Street, Provo
Stoplight on Columbia and State. Have a great weekend everyone!

Loving: Pretty Details and Soft Colors

My heart fluttered...
Oh the whimsical details of Maria Bonita Extra

Plus, what a fab name to give yourself

I want to wear this. I want to wear this to church. And rock your world.