Bakedagoods!!!!

So I love to cook. Most people don't know this about me. And I love to bake, I'm just not very good at it. (seirously) but I still love to do it. And I love cupcakes. They are such happy little things. And they're fun to eat. Celeste knows this and she got me a cook book for Christmas called the 101 gourmet cupcakes in 10 minutes. This book has some amazing recipes! Well we finally worked out our schedules to see each other and yesterday she gave me my gift. I was way pleased and so I decided to try out one of the recipes.

So I saw this recipe and I decided I HAD to try it:

And here are the supplies I got: I decided to go with the chocolate frosting instead of the whip cream frosting. And oh my word I'm glad I did.

Now the batter was so thick my beaters couldn't even handle it, so I added an extra 1.5 TBS of milk and a half a tablespoon of vegetable oil. It was still thick and heavy, but it was more manageable.

The cupcakes were really heavy, adn kinda sunk. I was wondering if it would have worked better if I'd beaten the egg whites first, so they had a little air in them. But they still tasted sooooo good. I baked them a little too long. So about 16 minutes is fine. And if you try to eat them while they're hot, they tend to dry out so I would let them cool in the cupcake papers which traps some of the moisture.

 But they were SOO GOOD! I definitely say try this recipe!

My Photography

For those who don't know, I do a lot of photography and i"m trying to get a business going for it. Anyway, I started a blog with my photography, and I wanted to share it with you.

http://photosbymandee.blogspot.com/

I have a new post! Thanks for your support in all I do

Mandee

New Years Resolutions

Every year I refuse to Make new years resolutions. I don't like them, I can't keep them, it seems like no one can. But here I am. Writing a blog on New Years Resolutions.

2009 was a major rollercoaster. I face anxiety depression for the first time. I had some amazing stage experiences. I lived in another country. I moved back home. I gave up and got over one of the biggest loves of my life. I had friends come. I had friends go. I learned to be with myself. I learned to quilt. I got paid for photography. I visited my favorite place in the world. I went through the temple for the first time. I pulled off a thanksgiving dinner for 150 people. And SOOO much more! So 2010 is going to be another year of opportunities that I will be so grateful for and grow from. I've been asked to direct curious savage! I am writing and hopefully directing a murder mystery dinner theater at the restaurant this summer. I have a few weddings and senior pictures lined up for my photography. I plan to have my new camera by the end of February. 

So Here are my New years Resolutions

1- Lost 30 pounds. Right now i have 27.7 to go. If you would like to know more about my goals with losing weight check out this blog: http://www.bryceandmandee.blogspot.com/ It is all about minimizing my weight at stuff. Bryce and Kristi have joined me in my efforts to lose weight! 

2- Get a regular practice of Yoga again. It helps me so much and I need to get it back in my life.

3- Get out of Debt. I'm honestly not sure if I can do this only in a year, but I really would like to. I am very in debt (i don't think anyone under the age of 30 should be allowed to have credit cards) and it is a horrible smothering place to be. I either need to work more at the restaurant or find a better job, but find one that works with my theater schedule. I need to stop spending. No more few things here, few things there. No more shoes unless I need them. (And really need them. not need them or I'll die need them.)

4- Have my savings starting to build up. My new goal is to move to Rome. I want to move to Rome so much it hurts! So I decided to start saving up for that. When Kristi and I went to Rome this May, I fell so deeply in love with that City I couldn't believe it. My bedroom now is a theme of Italy and Rome. My photography of Rome is hanging up everywhere. And I'm going to start learning Italian. I'm looking for places that might have classes. When I move to Rome I want to live there for a few months, take Italian, and study the art and architecture. Let's see if I can convince Russell to do the same. :)

There are a lot of other things I want to do this year, but they're more goals, not resolutions...hmmm...Yeah. So I guess i'll keep you updated on how all of this is going!