MSM

How often have you realized that you not only have a meeting/gathering/party tonight, but you're also supposed to bring something? Some people may just go out and buy some cookies, throw them on a plate and claim them as their own, but you're not fooling anyone, we know what you're trying to pull. Here is a super easy recipe that tastes from scratch, without the hassle, and it's something different from the run of the mill chocolate chip cookie. Also, you can't buy these in the store, so no one will think you're a cheater. In case that matters to you. It probably doesn't....

Super Monster Cookies (from my betty crocker calender)
1 package peanut butter cookie mix (If you haven't seen these, its a pouch of dry mix that is basically like cake mix but for cookies, they're in the baking aisle. The betty crocker ones generally have coupons available at the website www.bettycrocker.com)
1 package chocolate chip cookie mix
1.5 c. quick cooking oats
1 c. butter
3 eggs
2 cups m&ms

preheat oven to 375
mix all ingredients (except for the m&ms) until blended
stir in m&ms
*now, the recipe calls for 1/4c. of dough placed on an ungreased cookie sheet. If you want cookies that large, space them out 3" and cook for 12 min. If you want to get more but smaller cookies, just do the normal spoon full and bake for 8 to 9 minutes.
let cool and enjoy!

Could this be cooler?

Ok, probably but lets just pretend that this is the coolest thing ever. However, I found a tip on how to open those obnoxious plastic jail cells that rival Fort Knox to break, that electronics are often encased in. The same wrapping that they put knives in, that ironically you need a knife to get into the packaging. Anyhow, here is the article that reveals the amazingly simple yet genius solution! Of course the next time I get something that is packaged in the hard plastic stuff, I'll forget about using the can opener and probably end up hospitalized like those other poor souls, but it's good to know for now anyway :)

Attention shoppers!

Since we're still settling in I've been listening to a lot of tv lately. (I just like having some noise other than *hammer hammer....hammer......tap tap.....hammer* Did I paint a good picture for you, did you feel like you were here moving in with us? No? Weird...) Anyhow, I realize that most of you guys are HUGE snuggie fans! (And by huge fans, I do mean huge fans of making fun of them.) Well, now your whole family can be outfitted in a snuggie, because yes they make doggie snuggies! Take the slanket loosers! I can't tell you how often Apollo complains about not being able to read and stay warm at the same time, but now he could stay warm in his very own snuggie. (and yes, they propped a book into the paws of the model dog in the new commercial...not even joking) Sorry weirdo cat people, the snuggists don't care if your cat freezes to death and can't read without their legs staying warm. I wish I could find the new commercial to link, but I couldn't, so you'll just have to keep your eye/ear out for it and drop everything you're doing to watch it, because apparently life is also so much more fun once you get a snuggie.

You should also check this out, it's a little crass, but amusing
wtf snuggie

do you want some cheese with that whine?

We're here and have furniture! However, getting that furniture was quite the fiasco. Let's back up a little shall we? To last Thursday when all of our things were swept away. (insert flashback music and hazy fog here, you know, if you want.) The mover's were not thrilled with the "quality" nor quantity of our belongings. I'm not going to lie, we have some nice furniture due to the generosity of our parents/grandparents who were getting rid of their old things. Nothing matches, but everything goes pretty well. Our willingness to mooch has paid off very well in our favor. Anyhow, we do have some pieces from our childhood/college days that are particle board and not the greatest of quality. Mostly bookcases and such storage things. Yes, we could get rid of them, but then we lose storage. The movers openly hated these things because they can't stack stuff on them, and so it takes up more space in their truck. However, they didn't like our washer/dryer, our tv, or our mattress because they were too heavy and were of better quality, so if they ruin them they'll be out a chunk of change. Whine whine whine. If you don't like hauling people's stuff, don't be a mover. It's a little tip from me to you. You're welcome. Point of our flashback is though, that they movers whined about everything. Why'd we live upstairs? Why do we have junk furniture? Why is it so hot, can't we turn on the ac while we keep your door open? I tried to stay pleasent and told them that we were at least downstairs now, so it'll get easier...I was wrong, but I tried. (we do live on the first floor....I did know that)



So, now were returning back to yesterday (the hazy fog can lift now) The movers arrived around 8:30 in the morning to discover that they couldn't pull the 18 wheeler into the gate. (we had been told they could, we did ask the office about that) So, they were already mad at me about that because apparently I'm supposed to know the capabilites of an 18 wheeler. Unfortunately, the office didn't open for another hour and a half, so we had to keep the exit gate open somehow. It is not motion sensored, but weights sensored as I discovered while waving around like a loon trying to open the gate. I'm not the most fit person on the planet, but I don't weigh a ton, so I couldn't open the door alone. Oh, did I mention Brandon was at work? No? Well, he was. However, his mom was gracious enough to offer to help and we were smart enough to accept. She sat in her car blocking the gate sensor for an hour and a half in order to keep that gate opened! If she wasn't there, I don't know what I would have done! So, they had to walk our stuff a good 100 feet (at least) to move everything in. I think it got up to almost 99 degrees, and it was hot and gross. I know it was hard work, but all I heard the whole day was; Why couldn't we live closer? Why do we have so much junk? Where are we going to put all of this junk? Why is the water so nasty? Nothing's going to fit in here! Why do I have to fix the leg I broke off of your dryer that I conveniently didn't notice that I broke? Oy! But all of our stuff is here and fairly unharmed! The dog is still slightly confused, but we're adjusting :)

oh the places you will go

Well my little blog world buddies, we are no longer prisoners of Florida! Nope, we once again are residents in the state of Texas! Well..that is for like 8 months and then we'll be back in Florida. The packers came Wednesday, and did an ok job. They wouldn't pack some stuff away, which was weird. I know they won't take explosives or flammables, but why couldn't they put the tennis rackets in a box? Why does our wicker hamper have to tumble around the truck? Why did my piggy soap dispenser and dish scrubber (both full of soap btw) get wisked off and wrapped into some box that is probably very clean now, but other soaps didn't get taken? I understand the chemical cleaners, but the hand soaps? Anyhow, life goes on. The next day the movers came to take our boxes and furniture into the gigantinourmous 18 wheeler. They made sure we knew that they hated our cheap furniture, our heavy furniture, and pretty much everything we had. Which was nice to know. They whined a lot actually...but everything got packed away and we said goodbye to our things once again. Friday we headed off, packed up the dog and hit the road. The dog does not like the road. Luckily for me I didn't drive with him. Unluckily for Brandon.....well you can figure it out. We drove from P'cola to Baytown Texas on the first day. Apollo even got to sleep outside of his box for the first time since we purchased the crate at the hotel. I don't think he knew what to do with that. He slept on the bed with us, but for a little while he would walk all over us as if to say "um...are you alive, you forgot to put me in the crate, which I don't mind, but is this ok?" Saturday morning we got up and hit the road again and arrived in Corpus before lunchtime, signed our lease and began moving into our new home. Our stuff comes tomorrow, so I'll take pictures once we're settled in a little. Only one more night on an airmattress! Hopefully....unless the movers have lost/destroyed the items or decide not to come tomorrow. I'm looking forward to being able to cook again. Note to self...bring at least a pan with you next time!

MSM

Why yes, you did read that right! After probably over a month, we'll make something on a monday again! Can you feel the magic in the air!? Me neither, but was hopeful for you. This week is revolving around making the most of your move. I don't know, it's just on my mind.

To get a "free-spirited" dog (and by "free spirit" I do mean underdiciplined spoiled rotten, but he's a dog, so it's ok) out of your hair for a little while, peanut butter is your best friend. We use a kong, but you can use any toy with a hole. All you gotta do is put some peanut butter in it and then stick the toy in the freezer for a little while. Maybe an hour. It's simple, but the act of freezing makes the pb last just a big longer and adds a challenge. Dog is happy, mom is happy.

Lists. Lists are my very favorite thing to make. Why? Because it makes me feel like I'm doing something, when I'm actually not. Just kidding, lists are fundamental. However, how often have you made a list and then it gets lost in the hub-bub? Especially when you've got multiple lists (what to turn off, what to get connected, what to take, what to clean...blah blah) Here are some cool things I've come across
*note pads with magnetic strips adhered on the back. You can find these for 70 cents at Michaels, and they're awesome. I have found the fridge is the best place, if you're a renter. It won't go anywhere and it is somewhere you'll look. If you're a homeowner and own a fridge...I don't know what to tell you yet.
*Got too many notepads, and don't want to buy more? Use a magnetic clip and clip it to the fridge. It uses fewer magnets, and all of your lists are in one place.
*type it out and save it to your computer desktop. I just got a new laptop because mine was quite literally falling apart, and the new one came with windows vista. I bought it anyway. However, it comes with the sticky note application for your desktop, and I must admit, I am a fan. The stickies are right there in line of sight and quite obviously they don't lose their stick and fall off.
*Don't leave lists in a notebook or something that may be mistaken as something to be packed away! Then you'll have to make another list and the whole cycle starts again...

Don't forget that if you're renting, you have to clean. So, you'll need your vacuum cleaner, mop and cleaning suppies. Mover won't move chemicals, so that's not such a big deal, but yeah...the other two could be bad if you don't have them. (one of the lists you should keep, the things you must use in the very near future and therefore shouldn't pack away)

Baking soda is the best staple to have around for cleaning! It works great on those drip pans, ovens and other appliences.

If you have movers, make sure you treat them well. Have bottled water on hand, maybe offer to get some subs or pizza or something for lunch. Hydrated fed movers are nice movers and their niceness will translate to the way they treat your furniture.

Also, if you've got movers, check their checklist as they go. I discovered that they wrote my guitarcase as "empty" and it most certainly was not. Luckily nothing happened to it, but if something had, they wouldn't have done anything since it was "empty."

Invest in a portable file case. Keep your important papers with you (i.e. packing slips, lease information, social security cards yadda yadda) instead of letting the movers take it. You never know where it'll go, and you may need that information anyway. You can get a pretty good one from walmart for around $10. It's got a compartment on the top to keep pens, pencils, and the like also.

Happy Anniversary!

Po's first day with us! Look how tiny!

Po now, being quite conservative on the couch. He usually takes up at least 2 cusions.

A year ago today, our house grew by four feet. Happy Anniversary Apollo, it's been a greatish year. Let's compare then and now

Then: We had stock in carpet cleaner because of all the uh...cleaning we had to do
Now: Potty trained!!

Then: Whined ALL night long and loudly
Now: nice and quiet

Then: a walk to the mailbox wore him out
Now: a 4 mile walk barely wares him out

Then: I didn't like him much due to the constant messes, whining, and just having to watch him at all times
Now: I can't imagine life without him and when we boarded him for a week to house hunt, I missed him everyday.

Then: We had to wake up at least once a night to let him out, and even then usually had to clean out his box
Now: No more accidents and we get to sleep all night

Then: chewed on us all the time
Now: chewes on us not all of the time

Then: He weighed 8 lbs and snuggled in our laps
Now: he weighs 60lbs and sometimes tries to snuggle in our laps

Then: we could pick him up
Now: uh...yeah right

Then: we bathed him in the kitchen sink
Now: I don't think his back half would fit in the sink

Then: stole our hearts with his sweet warm brown puppy eyes
Now: steals our hearts with his sweet warm brown puppy eyes

the Elms go to the movies

I finally got around to seeing The Julie/Julia Project! You're probably thinking "Uh finally? Goober, it's only been out for a little over a week!" A week in the theaters is generally like a year to Brandon, and he can hardly wait a day after movies come out. He's a bit obsessed. I love him though. Anyhow, I saw it. The reviews are correct, that there definitally could be more to the story, and you are left wanting more, however, I loved it! I saw a lot of myself in Julie. She's just trying to figure out something to fulfill her life beyond going to work everyday, and coming home to her loving husband and cat every night, and she does in cooking. She becomes obsessed with Julia Child (obviously) and you go along her life in trying to cook her way through the book. She has misshaps in the kitchen, and meltdowns when things don't work out as she thinks they should that cause reactions a lot like my own. Brandon and I laughed really hard when she starts crying in the kitchen...because I've done the same. (all during this time they flash back to Julia's life, which is nothing like mine, but is very good and interesting and Meryl Streep is a genious actress in this movie!) It's a great light hearted movie that'll make you laugh, not cry, and even think a little. I give it 4/5 spoons. And no, I will not be baking my way through the cake mix doctor and documenting it in a blog. Or will I? No...probably not. Hopefully soon though, I will be able to get back to Confections of a Bakeaholic after we move and I get my kitchen stuff back. I am now wanting to read the book that inspired the movie, maybe I'll get it to read on the road. Well, not on the road, since I'll be driving, but in the hotel. You know what I meant.

Got a little story for you Ags..ok, well really for everybody, but whatever

As you know we're moving about a week. So, in order to avoid the catastrophe that occured when we rolled into Pensacola (scrambling to find housing before the movers came to avoid our stuff being put into storage, so we ended up signing a lease the day we arrived) we decided to take a quick trip down to Corpus to ensure we had a roof over our head by the time we actually head down there with all of our belongings. Sounds easy right? Planning ahead, being all responsible and such. Yeah...didn't work out quite as we planned. We rolled into town Monday night after 12ish hours of driving, checked into the Navy lodge and passed out. Tuesday, we headed over to the housing office all bright eyed and bushy tailed to talk to the ladies about on and off base housing. We got a plethora of options, and were feeling really optimistic! That's when it all went downhill, as all good stories do.

First, we checked out the on-base housing. For houses that are only 4-5 years old, these things are already falling apart. I realize they were cleaning up before the next tenants moved in, but what did the last people do to that poor house!? So, we quickly decided that we were in fact not going to live on base and headed back to the hotel to make a game plan for checking out the houses and apartments that the housing people showed us. One of the real estate companies insisted that we drive by the houses they were in charge of first, before they came out to show us the house. It didn't make much sense to us either, until we saw the first couple of houses....yikes. I think they were about to literally fall apart. Duct tape couldn't even save these places. Our standards aren't really all that high. I'm not looking for granite countertops or a spiraling marble staircase or anything (I wouldn't turn them down either....but that's besides the point) So, we headed out to North Padre Island where "everybody lives" to check out some condo rentals. All we found were overpriced, poorly constructed homes, and no one out there likes dogs over 25 lbs if they like them at all. Getting rid of Apollo is NOT an option, not even for waterfront property. So, we went back into the city to look at aparments to find that they don't really like dogs either, nor did they like space. We don't live in a mansion by any means, but we do have more than 3 pieces of furniture, and we couldn't fit them into these places. We even spoke with an apartment finder, and she lead us to one place that would allow our poor puppy and had enough space for us. She then told us that that was our ONLY option, she told us that was the ONLY apartment in the whole city that had washer/dryer hook ups and would allow for Po. So, we at least knew that we had one option by the end of the very aweful day.

We ended up going to HEB to pick up an apartment guide and I must tell you, it was a gift from God, and honest answer to much prayer! We found numerous listings for places and felt renewed and optimistic once more for the following day. We probably looked at 10 places by 2pm, each one surprisingly got progressivly worse. That is until we came across our new home. It's perfect. Walkable distance to the grocery store and other restaurants, not too far from the base, great size, beautiful landscaping, but most importantly its cheaper than what we're paying now, and it allows for Apollo!!!! We're so excited and so relieved to find a place. We don't feel like we're settling for whatever we could find, we're actually excited to move in! It's amazing to see God answer prayer so quickly! I knew He'd provide, but to be honest, I was getting concerned. We're so thankful that we were able to head down early, because if we just rolled into town with all of our belongings like we did last time. I'm pretty sure I'd have a twitch and be blogging from a mental institution. However, we were able to, God provided as He always does, and we won't be homeless! Hooray!

two weeks notice

drum roll please........come on I said please......thanks. Brandon got P3s!! Of course if you're a facebooker, you already know that, but I thought I'd share more info here. That of course means that we get to leave Florida and move back to civilization! Um...oh yeah, in two weeks. Yup. So, I had to tell my manager that I couldn't really give her two weeks notice because we needed to pack and fill out tons of paperwork and such. Lucky for me, she's from a military family and married a military guy, so she was understanding and so tomorrow is my last day of work! I can't say I'm sad to go. Corpus Christi here we come! However, for some reason we have to be there in two weeks, but Brandon doesn't actually start training until October....don't ask, I don't know why we have to get there in such a hurry. Hurry up and wait I guess. After he starts in October, we should be in Texas for around 6 months, then we'll head back to Florida and live in Jacksonville for a little while. After that I suppose is when we could move to Hawaii or Washington, or stay in jacksonville...which would make me really sad. Goodbye Pensacola :D Now, I just have to find another job....crap!