Easy Last Minute Treat for Xmas- and sooooo GOOD!

***Holiday Pretzel Treats***
A lady in my office made these, and they are soo tasty! I didn't know what they were at first, but its pure genius!

Salty pretzels combine with sweet chocolate for these fun treats that make a yummy gift/treat few can resist. (In fact, make enough for yourself too, they are addictive.)

You will need:
Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug
M&M's candy

Directions:
Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.

Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.

Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.

They are soo easy to make and people will just LOVE them!

Happy snacking :)

My WINNING cookie recipe!! :)

My first blog recipe post! So exciting!

**DELISH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE TOFFEE BARS**

Here is what you will need:

4-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/3 cups packed light brown sugar
1-1/2 cups butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 cups HERSHEY®'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, divided
1 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
2 cups HEATH milk chocolate toffee mix bits.

OKay- so I screwed up the recipe, and I won "most delicious" so I'm going to tell you how I made them, because they obviously turned out better. LOL

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or butter a 11 x 17 sheet cake pan.

-Combine 2 1/3 cups flour and 2/3 cup brown sugar into large mixing bowl- cut 3/4 cup of butter into flour/sugar mix until it resembles a course crumb mix.
-Add slightly beaten egg, and mix mix mix.
-Add 1 cup chocolate chips, and mix mix mix.

At this point, it your mixture will look just like chocoloate chip cookie dough... thats because IT IS!

Spead this mixture thinly into your greased/buttered sheet cake pan. Stick that sucker in the oven for 10 minutes.
While that is crisping. Let's begin again.

It's going to start out the same way-
-Combine 2 1/3 cups flour and 2/3 cup brown sugar into large mixing bowl- cut 3/4 cup of butter into flour/sugar mix until it resembles a course crumb mix. Add about a 1/2 cup chocloate chips, or whatever its up to you. For me, the more chocolate, THE BETTER. Set this mixture aside.

Okay- so your first mixture is now out of the oven after 10 minutes, smelling so delicious. It's basically just a huge sheet of chocolate chip cookie at this point. :)
Take the can of sweetened condensed milk, and pour it evenly over the top while its still piping hot! Spead it around evenly with a spatula.
Now top this with the Toffee Bits, about 1 1/2 cups. You can use either the SKOR toffee bits, or HEATH bar milk chocolate toffee bits.
Now take your crumb mixture that you set aside and sprinkle it over the top. It should cover the whole thing. Mark sure that its even throughout. Next, add more chocolate chips to your like-ing. and top that with even more toffee bits!! Pop this in the oven at 350 for about 25-30 minutes. Keep an eye on it though!

Let it cool completely on a cookie rack. Cut into bars, or shapes :) :)

SO DELISH. This recipe makes 4 dozen bars.

Hahahhhahahh enjoy!!!
XOXOXO

Saying Goodbye to 2009.

Let me start by saying... this has been a challenging year for me! So many people have been there for me, and I cannot thank you all enough!!!

I have overcome soooo much in 2009, and I could not be happier to have a fresh start and welcome 2010 with open arms!

For so much of my life, I was always worried about what people thought of me... and I spent wayyy tooo much time trying to please everyone around me. Even if I knew in my heart-of-hearts I was right and moral, I agreed to something just to avoid confrontation.

That isn't me anymore. I don't think that ever was me. But I tried to make everyone happy, and its high time that I focused that energy on myself... and that is exactly what I intend on doing.

I have found out that life is not about fitting in to a certain crowd, or having opinions JUST because someone else has those opinions. Life is about finding what in this world FITS YOU. How I feel and what my opinions are MATTER.

I am who I am, I love who I am, and I am so happy being who I am. If you don't like it... I wish you the best. I cannot and will not spend life trying to convince someone that I am a good... because I know I am, the people who love and care about me most know I am... and that is ALL that matters.

***Most of my friends know what I have gone through this year- on a social level, and I will not even waste my time re-living it here on my HAPPY blog :), but lets just say that I learned to stand up for myself this year... not in a agressive or mean way... but I formed my own opinion on something and I stood by it. This lesson, to me, is priceless.


***I started my career!! I have talked about the mortgage industry for years, and I finally took the plunge. I love the people that I work with, I love my clients and I LOVE meeting new people.

Each time I learn something new, it makes me soo happy, so empowered...and that happens every day. It is going to take some time to "get out there" and market myself, but I have so much confidence that I am going to be fabulous and I am soo looking forward to it. Shout out to everyone who has supported me throughtout this transition and who always stand by me. <3 I love you all <3

***I started blogging :)... haha it may seem funny, but starting this blog has really helped me. I may not always be posting and I may not always have the most interesting topics, but I'm learning, and that is all that I can ask for. I am always thinking about what to write about, and it helps to examine my life...whether or not I post about it. :) Madeleine, whether or not you want to accept it... I was so inspired by your blog! That is why I started my own :) So thanks for the inspiration! Xoxo

***I have started to truly appreciate the power of a manicure. For those of you who do not understand... I have worked full-time as a bartender for over 4 years. Each day that I would go into work, I would unload boxes and boxes and boxes of liquor, wine, beer, and dry stock items. THIS WAS AWFUL ON MY NAILS...there was no point in even getting a manicure because opening up box after box after box would tear them to shreads. Well, since I've started my day job, I go into bonefish at 6pm...after all the boxes have been put away... so I don't ruin my nails as much by working at bonefish. It is such a simple pleasure to enjoy well manicured nails but I LOVE IT.

***I have "me" time. I set aside time each week to just be me. By myself, usually at a retail store (bahahaha), but its a time to do nothing but wander a store, read a gossip mag, get a pedi, take a walk, or do some yoga. Anything that keeps me from having to focus on anything but me. By the end of it, I feel like my voice sounds weird because I haven't heard it in so long. LOL You know what I'm talking about!!

***Mason Tsakanikas was born!!! Meagan and Andrew Tsakanikas welcomed their 2nd son into the world in September of this year and he is such a little angel. Meagan and I have been friends for 10 years and I am so thankful to have her in my life and I am also blessed to have her wonderful family in my life :) We have been through it all together, and I know that she will always be there for me no matter what. We have SUCH different lives, but we always pick up right where we left off, as if we are still sitting in 9th grade english class. I am sooooo thankful for our bond :) I love you Me-again!

***I spent quality time with my counselor, Miss Lindsay Ray Blanken. She has always talked sense into me when I was a panicked mess and always told me the truth no matter what. It is so important to have honesty in friendships and I am soooo thankful for our friendship. She is a grad student at Johns Hopkins, and I don't know how she does it, but she is one of the smartest people I know...she decided that she is going to continue her education with a Phd, and just hearing those words come out of her mouth made me respect her so much. She is so ambitious and nothing can EVER stand in her way. 187 Dr. Blanken!

***I understand now how priceless my family is. I have the most wonderful, supportive family ever and I love them so much. Each day I thank God for how blessed I was when he chose my family. :)


This year has been full or struggle, but it also has been full of love and support. I look forward to 2010 and cannot wait to make it my best year yet!!!!!!

9 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS?!!!!

Hahahhahahahh just thinking about this "ah-ha!" moment I experienced today makes me burst out into laughter.

I know its December, and I know Christmas is not that far away...
BUT...

I get into work this morning, and I have a conference call at 10:00am. It's the usual stuff... new guidelines, concerns, ya know, the weekly deal...

So we're discussing deadlines for settlements this week and next week, and the Operations Manager, who is directing the call, says... "Well, since we're just about in the middle of this week, and next week is a short week with the holiday, we'll probably push back our...."

That's all I heard... and in my head I asked myself...

"Self, why is next week a short week?"

I looked around the room, to see if there was any other face in the room wondering the same thing I was...but no, everyone else continued to take notes and continued on in the conversation. I must have been the only person in the room with a big FAT question mark directly over my face.

I was so puzzled. Have I really been so damn preoccupied with day-to-day things that I forgot to EVEN START my Christmas shopping list?!! I haven't shopped for ONE SINGLE THING... and I am in P-A-N-I-C mode over this.

It's hysterical that I didn't realize that Christmas was NEXT week until that call this morning. HILARIOUS.

Nevertheless, I will defiantly be shopping this weekend. (THE LAST WEEKEND BEFORE CHRISTMAS), like an idiot I will try to find everything I need for everyone and not have an anxiety attack in the middle of the crowded mall. (Because I HATE crowds.)

GRRRR, if I had only looked one-week ahead in my planner, I would have known all about this day of celebration of baby Jesus was NEXT WEEK. Bahahaahah I'm a freak.

Weekly Thoughts- Part 1

I wanted to start a weekly post to keep myself interesting and for the entertainment of my followers of course- so, every week, I will bring up some sort of "life questioning" topic, to keep your minds alive and intellectual! I hope you enjoy :) :)

A Fantasy.........

What is a fantasy to you? Or how would you define fantasies?

Webster’s Dictionary defines fantasy as both a noun and a verb-

FANTASY (noun) -
1. imagination, esp. when extravagant and unrestrained.
2. the forming of mental images,--wondrous or strange fancies, imaginative conceptualizing.
3. a mental image, esp. when unreal or fantastic; vision: a nightmare fantasy.
4. Psychology. an imagined or conjured up sequence fulfilling a psychological need; daydream.
5. a hallucination.
6. a supposition based on no solid foundation; visionary idea; illusion: dreams of Utopias and similar fantasies.

There is a common world-wide belief that a fantasy only remains attractive or "wondrous" when it remains a fantasy...


...Is this true?

Is it true that you always want what you don't have? And if so...why? Why is it as creatures who's fancies are sparked by variety and flash that in nature, we always want a little bit more? What about us as humans keeps us thriving for more of what we just don't have?

Why is it that its only a "fantasy" when you are not living it yourself?
I've always wanted to know why is it that once you have something, the novelty surely wears off in just a matter of time....?
Think about it... what would truly satisfy each and every one of us?

I've pondering this question before, or have enjoyed it as a conversation piece in a group of close friends in order to spark opinion and intrigue! Try it out for yourself!...

P.S.
Wine helps.

P.S.S.
Wine ALWAYS helps. :) XoXo

My "Fagula"

I'm going to need Lindsay B to give the real definition of "fagula" on her page; because to be honest, I don't remember what is actually is...
All I know is that "my fagula" is my day planner.


I would not be able to function without it.
I also am a habitual list-maker, not only because I LOVE IT, but also because I have found that it calms my anxiety. If I feel that I can organize and control AT LEAST this one aspect of my life, then I'm good to go. Ha-ha, I must say that I'm disturbingly attached to my day planner... I remember one instant, when a friend asked me to bring my day planner to coffee time and I replied...”HAH! That’s like asking me to bring my breasts! DUH!"
Needless to say, it is ALWAYS with me.
Each day is scheduled in perfect chronological order. The first thing I do when I wake up, after showing and blow drying, is check the fagula for daily events. It’s like having my own personal assistant there to remind me of things that I need to do that I would have defiantly forgot about. I can't tell you how many times I have been mid-way through a day, checked the planner, and have THANKED GOD that I had it, because I totally forgot about a meeting, appointment, or get together.
I get so excited when a new week rolls around and I get to fill it all in. OH! And I LOVEEEEE it when I get things in the mail like "save the date" cards, or birthday party invitations, etc... And I get to fill my planner in MONTHS in advance. I feel that I ALWAYS have something to look forward to.
I will admit though... I get bored of my fagula's appearance sometimes. I take great pride in how it looks, and I constantly exchange and upgrade the cover. What can I say? I like a little variety!

Sometimes...I wander the aisles of staples or target to see if there are any new planners available or if there are any new post-its, highlights or fun pens to add to my collection.
Stationary, organization, post-its, planners, highlights, folders....I love you. <3

:)

My Minnie

I've had my cat for almost 18 years now. She is such a diva, and I just adore her.



She has always been the ONLY thing in my life that never judged me, not once. I mean, shes a cat...but she is so much more than that to me.
Yeah yeah yeah, I'm a freak for being obsessed with my cat right?
WRONG.
She is the most adorable, sweetest little nugget you will ever meet. (You know, YOUR animal, or child is ALWAYS the cutest and sweetest right?)
Regardless,
I've had this little princess since I was 7 years old. WOW. I cannot believe that!


I remember the day that I went to pick her out. My mom had brought home a kitten a year earlier, and named him Mickey. (She is a huge Disney fan)..
Well, the Mamma Cat of Mickey had another litter a year later, and my mom thought it would be a good idea to get Mickey a pal, and a kitten for me. I remember I picked out a orange tabby with a smushed looking face, but my mom declined because it was the loudest kitten in the box. After inspecting each one thoroughly, I saw the tiny one in the corner, sleeping. A brown tabby with a little lower case "i" on her nose. And that was how Minnie and I met. I took her home and the rest is history. Turns out, she is the loudest, most talkative cat I had ever known and I love that about her. She is such a little babe.

She is the one living thing in my life that hasn't passed judgement.. HAH. Sounds stupid right? I mean, shes a cat, of course she doesn't pass judgement. She has NEVER been mad at me,...well, maybe that one time I stepped on her tail, but I mean never really has she not loved me every single second of her life.

Through allll the bull that we go through as adolescents, teens, young-adulthood, and this adulthood thing... she has ALWAYS been there for me. If I had nothing else to look forward to when I got home, or if I had a bad day, or if some guy broke my heart... I always had her.
I'm not saying that she solved all my problems as a kid, that would be ridiculous... but she sure did make it easier to cope.

The bond that children create with their pet is so pure, so innocent and carefree, and I have been blessed with this little angel for almost 18 years...
My ol' girl is turning 18 next week... and she's fading... It's expected and I know that she has had an amazing life and has been happy every day of it...
But it is still really hard to fathum what life is going be like without her in it. I can't remember it any differently.

Now-a-days, I worry. I worry that I won't be home when her time comes, or I will be far away.
Everytime I'm away from home or at work, and my boyfriend is home, I always ask "How's Minnie today?"...because every day is different.
She lost her hearing a little more than a year ago, and was diagnosed with kidney disease about 4 months ago. She only weighs 5 pounds, but is still the most snuggly kitten in the world.



I love coming home and seeing her wrapped up on the end of the bed looking like a cinnamon bun :)
She can't hear me come in anymore, so when I put my hand on her head, she perks right up with a distinct 'startled' meow. I love that.
I love that she is such a 'muffin maker'. --(when cats knead on a soft surface)
I love how she adores my boyfriend <3 I love that she has the tiniest little paws ever! Like just a litter bigger than a quarter. I love that if she is laying next to me, some part of her body must be touching mine, even if it means she has to reach out and stretch her little leg. I love how trusting she is of me. She is the most tolerant cat. She will let me do anything to her... including being strapped into my seatbelt with me on the way to the vet... (she HATES her carrier) I have loved every single minute that I have been granted with her, and although I won't have her for that much longer... I will be forever thankful for her in my life. <3 <3 <3 <3

Well, listen, I could literally go on forever about her. But let it be known that I'm obsessed and I'm totally OK with that.

Ahhh...Sundayyyy

Its Sunday.
Its the day of the week that I have absolutley no where that have to be at any certain time.
Its the day where I can sit back and look at the past week, and plan for the next.
Its the day when I know when I wake up, no matter what time is, my boyfriend will still be home. Its our day to just "be us". Its the day that we choose to just enjoy our relationship and not talk about the things that plague our minds all week.
Sunday is the day that I talk to most of my family.. the day I catch up with friends that I feel I've neglected over the busy week.
The day that even though I'm not the BIGGEST football fan, I love watching football with Darick. Just because its Sunday.
My manicure is a mess, my hair askew, but its Sunday, and I couldn't care less about how I look.
Target and I have a date every Sunday, usually. I always write my to-do lists throughtout the week, about anything and everything. Even if I don't have anything I can think of that I need from Target, I still make sure that TARGET is on my to-do list. Its therapy for me.
Ahh... and something that is kind of SSB...you SATC fans would know the acronym without the explanation. It's "Secret Single Behavior"....
My SSB is when I finish all my laundry, or in the midst of finishing my laundry, I reorganize all my clothes and hang up everything. OH with corrdinating hangers of course (Lindsay, we will work on this in your closet I swear. Its a resolution of mine <3) It is sooo theraputic to have everything in a neat, organized manner so that I'm not a FREAK Monday morning trying to put together an outfit. Its the organization that makes me happy.
Sunday is the day that I make excuses to convince Darick that we have to go to Montgomery Mall.
Hahahahaha and don't judge, but Sunday nights, after dinner, I "disappear" into my laptop into my Sims 3 life. Ahahahahahh Pathetic, I KNOW! But I LOVE IT.

Sunday is just the day that I always look forward to...

YAY for Sundays!!

XoXo

Hard Work = ?

Alright, to start...Hi everyone!

I've talked about starting a blog for a lloonngg time now, and I've gotten tired of working for the day, so I thought "hmm...blogspot?"
As most of you may know, I started a FULLTIME big girl job this month! I'm so excited to actually start my career, but I'm not going to lie, TALK ABOUT ANXIETY! I'm working at Presidential Bank Mortgage Group as a Loan officer. (I even have my own office :O)!


I've always known that when I actually take the step to start my career, that it was going to be challenging, and that I was going to be working long hours. Little did I know, that I would lose my social life in an instant!

So, I've been working full-time during the day, like 9:30ish to 4:30-5:00ish, and then straight to Bonefish on Tuesday-Fridays, working from 6:00pm, until about midnight. I'mmmm sooo sleepy!
Not only am I tired, but when am I suppose to be doing all this reading and studying that I need to do in order to be sucessful during the day as a loan officer? I feel like a ZOMBIE. I know that it will get 110% better once I have a little confidence in myself, but right now, I'm brand spankin new!!

On a side note, I have the flexibility right now to take this risk and lose a little sleep. I don't have kids, a mortgage payment or a car payment, so I've always lived a certain lifestyle, and its tought getting adjusted...
Darick and I have been saving to buy a house, but so many things have come up in the past year, I cannot even begin to talk about... so needless to say, we don't have as much in savings as we would like, and since we've looked around this ENTIRE area of Montgomery County, we have decided to keep saving in order to afford a house that is our taste. I'm not trying to sound snobby, and I know your first home is suppose to be a "starter" home, but for real, its tough even finding a DECENT home in this area that is affordable. SO, we must save for a little longer in order to put a larger down payment on a home of our tastes. =)
I get frusterated sometimes because I feel like should be so much further in life at my age, but I have to remember that everyone is different, and everyone's life happens in a different order. There is no template to compare to.

Regardless of all of my complaints in this INTRO to ERIN 101, I am one of the luckiest girls I know. I have the most AMAZING SUPPORTIVE FAMILY. I have friends that NO AMOUNT OF MONEY could ever buy, and I have the LOVE OF MY LIFE who will be my husband one day..Darick =)

Its so easy to forget about all the amazing things that surround us, and although it is SO thereaputic to VENT like crazy sometimes, it also helps me remember all of the blesssings that surround me.
So I hope that this first BLOG of mine has been somewhat entertaining? (Ehhh...)
I love you all and I can't wait to find more time to write another!!


Happppy Thankkksssgiving!!

XOXOXOXOXOXO

E