Wednesday Ramblings

• Sales is starting to grow on me. I don't hate it as much as I did on Monday.


• Yes, I'm aware I've only been doing it three days.


• I learned the sexiest step in the cha-cha yet tonight. I danced it for Courtney. :)


• I've really hit a plateau in my running. I can't seem to get past 5 miles without quitting.


• I am so hitting the delia*s catalogue this weekend. Boo to the yah. I know that I'm 27, but their summer clothes are so cute, and their shorts fit me perfectly.


• We went to a place called Dreamcakes this past Sunday in SoHo (South Homewood. This is how we compensate in the South for, well, living in the South!). Can you say amazing? I have almost forgiven her for stealing my idea*

This is the wedding cake cupcake. The frosting on these bad boys was soooo good. I could feel my teeth rotting out of my head. And for $3? Bring. It. On.

This was Bennett's. He got a Peanut Butter Cup cupcake. You can see the hole where his mini peanut butter cup was. He couldn't wait. I really would love to see how in the world they make this frosting, because I don't think I can live without it now that I've had it.

*My idea was to have a portable cupcake shop in addition to a brick-and-mortar and sell them at college campuses. Then I see this sweet little truck with Dreamcakes written on it on UAB's campus. I had a heart attack and wanted to sue for idea stealing. But then, I never claimed it. And then, I don't even know if you can do that.

Smile...Even Though It's Breaking

Today has been awful. It has been one of the worst days I have had in a long time. Work got ya down? Yes, but it's actually just pretty much life in general. I had a big long post planned today for things that were currently making me happy, but it didn't seem appropriate.

My friend, Courtney, passed away today. She was only 42 years old and two weeks ago was at the beach with her children. It makes a person think that it could all end so suddenly. No warning, no time to say to everyone what you want to say. I hate that this got all cliche-y real quick, but seriously, it makes you want to do things now. Quit your job if you're unhappy; tell that dude from across the hall/office/classroom/match.com that you love him; skydive; buy seven dogs if that'll make you happy, but don't wait until it's too late to do it.

( I stole this from her facebook. This makes me smile)

And then there's these two who can always make me smile...

oh my god, I looooooove her.

and the two together? ugh, I die. ( I know it looks like he's poking her in the eye. I promise, he wasn't. We don't believe in animal cruelty around here :) )

So even on the darkest day I've had in quite some time, I still found the time to think of things that make me smile, and that makes me believe (ok, ok, know) that things are going to be ok.

My First Married Cooking Adventure

Okay, so no secret to no one that I can't cook. For anything. So when the hubs was coming home from his business trip last week, and his Tiger Woods golf something or other was in the mail, I knew I was going to be a good wife and make dinner for him.

But what to make...what to make?? I scoured through Food Network and even through Martha, but then decided since I'm not the most advanced, I should probably stick to something that is not too difficult to figure out how to make. So I figured, how bad could someone screw up a cheeseburger? Not even on the grill, but fried inside? So here we go.

The 'gredients:

1 lb ground meat. (you can go healthy here or not...I decided to not. I like chemicals)

jalapenos ( I tend to go for the jar kind. Because I couldn't find fresh? maybe.)

1.5 tbsp of canola oil

1 white onion (actually half...or the whole thing if you like 'em)

1 French Bread roll ( I prefer Publix bread. Actually, I pretty much prefer Publix anything)

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp of pepper (or 1.5 if you really like pepper. I do not.)

Tomato

Anything else you may want on your burger.

Any kind of sliced cheese you want. ( I got sharp cheddar, but it probably would have rocked harder with provolone)

How-to make a burger a-la Laura:

1. Slice the French roll into four pieces (eight, if you're going to want smaller portions)

2. Cut half of the onion, then chop. The smaller the better!!

3. Mix the salt and pepper with the onion and throw it into the ground beef. Make sure to combine all ingredients by hand. If you just pulled the ground beef out of the refrigerator, your hands will get uncomfortably cold.

3. Patty the ground beef into four little burgers (about 1'' thick).

4. Put the oil into the frying pan and turn up the heat.

5. Place the patties into the frying pan. According to the hubs, the more sizzle you hear, the better. I did about 6-7 mins on each side.

6. After about 7 mins on each side, throw a couple of japs on the top.

7. Then throw the cheese on top. (placing a saucer top over the cheese makes it melt faster!)

8. You can cut the patties in half and put one-half of each into one part of the sliced French roll, for a smaller portion, or throw one full patty into a piece of the French roll. That's the beauty of a Laura burger...do whatever you want.

8. Add your lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, ketchup, relish...or whatever else you like all over your shirt when you eat a burger and enjoy!!

The potato salad? Pre-made from the best grocery store ever; Publix. And I love mayo, as witnessed by the noticeably white stuff on the roll. Yums.