Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

Challenge day 5: What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

     First, I'd have to say the fact that I have gotten this new job. It's one I've wanted for a long time, missed out on last year, and finally get a chance at it now. I'm excited for a change of pace and environment, and I'm hoping that I have found a niche to get settled and comfortable in, at least for the next few years.

     Second, I love the times I get to spend with my friends now. It's a much rarer thing these days than just a few short years ago, now that we've all grown up and have jobs and live away from each other. As a kid you never expect to value something so simple as dinner with your friends so much, but when it's not something you get a lot, you treasure it when you do.

     Third, strangely enough, but one of my secret joys has always been planning for my future. Not as in my retirement fund, but as in the home I hope to have, what degree I want to go back to school for, or the wedding I want, things like that. I love nothing more than perusing Pinterest or magazines for ideas I can use one day, or shopping for hours without buying anything just so I can find things I like for later.

     Fourth, one of the things that has always made me the happiest, and been my source of calm and stress relief, is playing the piano. I don't have to play every day or even every week, and Lord knows sometimes I go in there and play like I haven't touched the thing in years, but when I do I'm in my own world and I can just lose myself in it. 

     Fifth, I love to read. I hate it for you if you don't like to, because you're missing out on so much. You can learn a lot from the internet, or tv, or from other people, but if you're a reader it's just a whole other world. I used to think I'd love to be a librarian when I grew up, because I could go to work and all I'd have to do all day long is read books haha. In hindsight, I kind of hate that isn't true...I could really rock at that job!

Tasty Tuesdays: Pinterest Pecan Pie Bars

     This past weekend in our world was our semi-annual Falkner Family Forklifting, as we called it. Bet you can't guess what we did...haha. We are no strangers to good food, and so this year I decided to try something new. 

The original Pinterest pic...Pecan Pie Bars

     The recipe comes from justataste.com. Here's y'all the link. It was a surprisingly easy recipe. Simple mixing and twenty minutes to bake the crust, and while it's baking you mix a few things for the pecan topping, cook it on your stovetop a few minutes, then pour it over the crust and bake fifteen-twenty minutes more. Best dessert I've made in a long time. I love pecan pie, but I don't like the gooey part, so these are perfect for me :)

The recipe is:

For crust:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt

For topping:
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 cups chopped pecans

My feedback on the recipe is: 

1) You don't need all that crust. I wouldn't half the recipe, but I'd definitely lighten up on your measuring, or make the whole thing but use only as thick a crust as you think you'll want. It doesn't rise or anything, so how much you pat down in your pan is how much you get in your bars. As the recipe is, it seems like there's almost more crust to topping, and personally I like the gooey pecan part more than the crust. I'm also working on adapting the recipe to make the crust less crumbly and more like a traditional flaky/buttery piecrust. This crust is great, but it's hard to eat as a finger food when it's crumbling all down your shirtfront. If I figure it out, I'll post an update :)

2) Definitely go easy on that second baking. Her recipe says bake 20 minutes, but my bars looked done when I still had six and a half minutes to go. I left them in until the timer said five minutes left, then pulled them. That seemed about right, but definitely back your own judgement there. Every oven is different, you know. Just wait until the edges are starting to brown up and the whole thing has a bubbly, crunchy appearance. 

3) It says wait until completely cool, then transfer out of your pan to cut. I baked straight into my pan, no foil lining. I have a really great, deep jelly roll type pan that's nonstick, plus I used cake-off, so I didn't feel the foil was necessary. I would recommend waiting for them to cool, but not be completely solid before cutting. It would have made my life a little easier had they been a little let set when I was cutting them.

All in all, definitely repeating this recipe! They're still great, even as leftovers. (Especially when you warm them a little in the microwave, and add a glass of milk!)

My pecan pie bars :)

Day 4: List 10 things you would tell your 16-year-old self, if you could

Challenge day 4: List 10 things you would tell your 16 year old self, if you could.

Hmm...not my favorite blog topic, but here I go anyway...

1. Having straight A's is less important than having fun.

2. Open up more. Getting into the habit of being introverted is hard to break.

3. Choose your relationships wisely - both friends and boyfriends.

4. Eventually something will come up against you and wound you, but it doesn't have to cripple you forever.

5. Prioritize wisely. You only have 24 hours and 7 days, just like everyone else.

6. Keep an open mind. Sometimes plans change for the better.

7. Instead of only spending time on things you like, work on things you need to do better on. This pays off eventually, I promise.

8. A few amazing friends beat a crowd of mediocre ones.

9. Explore more career paths than the one you think you're sold on. Plans can change, as crazy as it seems now.

10. Your life will probably turn out like nothing you've planned, but it might turn out better than you think.

Me at 16, getting ready for prom

Day 3: Describe your relationship with your parents

Day 3: Describe your relationship with your parents.

     My parents and I are on pretty great terms. I know kids who go months, even years without seeing or even speaking to their parents. That's probably never going to be the case with me and my parents - my mom gets twitterpated if I miss two days in a row haha. We talk every day even if I'm off on a trip or something. Even if it's just to say 'Hey, I'm tired so I'm just calling to say goodnight and I love you,' we still make it a point to do so.

      I still live at home, and even though that's not a perfect situation we make it work. (Obviously as a 23 year old college graduate with a full time job I would rather have a place of my own, but home is cheap and I would rather wait for a place I want than settle for throwing away rent money on some apartment I just stay in.)

     It's important to us that we're close, and I'm sure it'll stay that way.

Day 2: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have

Challenge day 2: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

I'm only going to tell you my three fears, because I don't think you can really tell 'why' you're scared of something unless you just have this defining moment that gave you a specific fear, which I don't really have for my three.

1. Heights. I hate heights. From ladders to balconies to zip lines to skydiving. I don't know why, but I just get this sick feeling in my stomach when I look over that edge and I'm nowhere close to solid ground. I try to be mature about it though. I have no problem with airplanes - my feet are firmly on the floor of the plane, so it's okay. I love riding roller coasters, so I just don't look down when I'm at the tops. I reluctantly climb ladders when I have to paint trim or change lightbulbs. And I've climbed to the top of a lighthouse and rode to the top of the Empire State Building, the St. Louis Arch, and Pikes Peak. I don't care to do any of those again, but hey, I can say I've done it.

2. Spiders. I'd almost rather take heights than spiders. With heights you can at least close your eyes and it's not so bad. Spiders are no less nasty creepy any way you take them. And some even freaking jump and bite. Not even fair play. FYI future husband - killing spiders will officially fall under your list of duties.  

3. Having my home destroyed by fire or a tornado. It scares me, even though I have no reason to believe that either one of these would ever happen to me, at least any more than the average person. I'm not even scared of storms, and I probably have less fear of fire or hot things than the average human. I just have so many things with memories attached to them, so many precious family heirlooms and pictures that can never be replaced, that I wouldn't know what to do if I lost them. Things like couches and cars and clothes can be replaced, but the things you love can't.

Day 1: List 20 Random Things About Yourself

     Challenge Day 1: List 20 Random Things About Yourself.

1. I don't chew gum, haven't in years, since high school. I never was a big gum person, and I never missed it after I quit. I probably save tons of money a year over you habitual chewers...that junk is expensive!

2. One of my goals in life is to fill up a passport. I have a separate bucket list just of places I want to go.

3. I don't think I've ever been to a wedding or funeral without meeting some new relative. I think I'm actually to the point of assuming everyone I don't know at those kinds of events is a relative unless I'm told otherwise. Yes, my family is THAT big. 

4. My favorite scents are citrus, fresh homemade bread, rain in the summer, and laundry detergent.

5. I have worn a size 7 1/2 shoe since the 8th grade. 

6. My favorite 'special occasion' food is Sara Lee pecan coffee cake. I eat one for my birthday every year, and as many times as possible in between :)

7. I don't eat beef. No special religious or political convictions, I just don't like it.

8. I used to bite my nails constantly, but now I feel naked if I don't have my nails grown out. Still working on getting used to having polish on them all the time...it's just so much easier au natural! 

9. The weirdest things I've ever eaten have been barbecued iguana, chicken foot stew, and popcorn and squash soup. Of the three, iguana was okay, chicken foot stew was awful, and popcorn and squash soup was amazing!

10. I hardly ever turn the radio in my car on. I always listen to audiobooks when I'm driving. It keeps me awake better in the morning when I'm sleepy, and it makes long drives less boring when I'm tired.

11. I used to have horrible handwriting, but in middle school I made myself learn to write neat so I could have pretty handwriting. Totally worth the effort!

12. My pet peeve in the opposite sex is excessive body hair...like Robin Williams/Kelsey Grammar style body hair. It completely grosses me out! My biggest turn on is a great personality, but I love curly hair and big dark eyes too!

13. I eat colored candy like Skittles and Sweetarts by color, starting with the colors/flavors I don't like and saving the good ones for last.

14. I'm allergic to artificial sweetener. No Splenda, Crystal Lite, diet drinks, or mints with phenylalanine. One mouthful and I have a migraine in the works. Personally, I take that as a sign those things aren't right for the body!

15. I got power tools for Christmas year before last, and I actually use them! I'm pretty handy at DIY/home improvement projects. My daddy raised me right!

16. I have a cartilage piercing in the top of my left ear. You know, it was THE thing to get about five or six years ago if you were a girl. But that's probably as tattoo/piercing crazy as I'll ever get! 

17. I have a bazillion crafty projects I would love to be able to get to do, some I even have the materials already bought for, but I think it might take me ten years worth of spare time to get them all done, not counting all the new ones I find to add to the pile. Darn you Pinterest addiction!  

18. I think if I could pick any talent to have, I'd either be a really awesome singer or a black belt in some kind of martial arts. 

19. When I get a house/apartment of my own I want my first pet to be an adopted dog, something older, small, cuddly and CALM.

20. It's way harder to come up with 20 random things about myself than I ever thought. Geez, my brain hurts!

Thirty Things Blog Challenge

     Thirty Things Blog Challenge :) It's a little late starting, but this weekend - the annual Falkner Family Forklifting - was more fun than just sitting at home posting blogs...sorry I'm not more sorry!

     Some days I'm excited about writing, some I'm thinking "Who wants to hear about that, much less write about it?" So I might be doing a little topic-editing as we go along...because it's my blog and I can write what I want to! haha

THE LIST:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions that you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Stay tuned all this month for my answers!