Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

I must have found a cookbook or website at some point years and years ago that had a bunch of copycat recipes posted on it, because this is the third restaurant copycat recipe I've had in my recipe box--and they are all so old that I'm not actually sure where they came from. I suppose part of the credit goes to the restaurant the recipes are copycat-ing, but clearly someone took the time to "crack" these restaurant recipes and share them with the world--and I'm not sure where that credit should go. Whoops.

All I know is that I'm glad to have this (and my other copycat recipes) in my recipe collection. Even though I've had this recipe for well over five years, and have probably only made it three times in that timespan, it's always a winner. And always leaves me wondering why I don't make cheesecakes more often (oh right--it's because Darrell and I would devour an entire cheesecake way too quickly--and no one really needs that much dessert). Especially considering we like to doctor up our cheesecake with extra sweets (and calories)--not because it needs the extra flavor because it is great on its own, but because who can say no to cheesecake drizzled with homemade chocolate topping and macerated strawberries? That's right, I didn't think anyone could.

Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

Crust
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup melted margarine

Filling
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
1 1/3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
1/4 cup flour
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp lemon juice
16 oz sour cream

Combine all crust ingredients and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan that has been lined on the bottom and sides with parchment paper. Place in the freezer until the filling is done.

Bring all filling ingredients to room temperature. Preheat oven to 325*. Beat the cream cheese on low until light and fluffy. Add the sugar a little at a time and beat until creamy. Add one egg at a time and beat lightly after each addition. Mix in flour, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat in sour cream. Pour cream cheese mixture into pan. Place toward the top in the middle of the preheated oven (I like to put a pan of water on the rack under the cheesecake to help prevent it from cracking). Bake for one hour and fifteen minutes. When the time is up, turn off the oven and prop open the door for an additional hour. Remove from oven and bring to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least twenty-four hours before serving.


Disclaimer: I actually have no idea if this is an authentic copycat recipe or not. I've only eaten at The Cheesecake Factory a handful of times, and I have never ordered their "original" cheesecake because they always have too many flavored cheesecakes that sound too good to pass up. Regardless, this is still a delicious "plain" cheesecake recipe, and you should definitely give it a try!

The Kite Runner

Confession: When we read this book for Book Club last month, it was actually the second time I had read it (gasp!). However, I got to the part that I remembered as being the climax of the novel--and realized I still had two-thirds of the book left to read. Not only that, but as I was reading the last half of the book, I was actually incorrectly predicting what was going to happen based on the foreshadowing the author was using. It was like that portion of the book had be wiped from my memory completely.

Now, before you go and make the assumption that the latter part of the book is boring and uneventful, which is what caused me to forgot it, let me assure you that it is not. It's just that the major event that happens fairly early on in the book is so central to the rest of the story that it kind of trumps some of the other action (plus, it's kind of harrowing and very dis-heartening, which adds to the indelible impression it left). In fact, one of my friends who was also reading this book for the second time echoed my sentiments that there was a lot of action that she had forgotten--but the one particular event stood out in her mind clearly as well.

Ultimately, I think this is very in-line with the overall plot line of the novel. The main character ends up being haunted his entire life by an event that happened in his childhood, and even as an adult that event affects many of the decisions he makes. So it's only fitting that as a reader, that event is the one you walk away from the book remembering most--not some of the other details.

There is so much more I could tell you about the book--I could talk about its unique perspective on life in Afghanistan, its look into friendship and betrayal, its exploration of father/son relationships--but instead I'll just tell you that this is definitely a book worth reading for yourself. And maybe even worth owning a copy of so that you can pick it up every so often and re-read it to remember the details you've forgotten.

Prenatal Fitness: Moms into Fitness with Lindsay Brin

Pros:
--Has a different workout for each trimester of pregnancy, and each workout has three "leaders" that show a variety of modifications so women at all energy/fitness levels can participate comfortably (including modifications for diastasis recti and carpal tunnel)
--Each workout includes elements of weight training and cardio fitness
--There is a pretty detailed question and answer section at the beginning of each DVD for those users who may be a little more apprehensive about their pregnancy workout regime

Cons:
--Transitions between exercises aren't always clear (but, since you end up doing the same DVD for a 13-week trimester, it's really easy to catch on after the first few times)
--Some of the language is, well, a little silly. Butt muscles are called "bun cakes"; upper back and chest muscles are referred to as "bra muscles"
--The workout isn't exactly broken into segments, so you pretty much have to do the whole workout (each workout is approximately 35 minutes, so they aren't too bad)

This was one of the first prenatal fitness DVDs I purchased, and I've used it pretty regularly since the start of my second trimester (I did not use it during my first trimester, so I can't really comment on that particular section of this DVD series). I really like that each trimester has a completely different workout, because after thirteen weeks of the same routine I definitely start to get a little burnt out. I also like that weight training is incorporated into the workouts, plus she works both upper and lower body muscle groups. One thing that I found unusual, though, was that she references a yoga session during her workouts, but I couldn't find those on my DVD. I think it may have just been the version of the DVD that I bought, though; the online price of the DVD set is nearly twice what I paid for mine, so I suspect my DVD did not have all the extra features. I also have not tried the postnatal bootcamp DVD yet, but I definitely look forward to using that in a few weeks.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this fitness DVD. As someone who was active before getting pregnant, I found that these workouts were challenging enough to make me feel like I was actually accomplishing something, but without totally exhausting me. Additionally, the modifications provided make these workouts just as manageable for a person who was not active prior to pregnancy.

Some Notes on Prenatal Fitness

One thing I've tried to be really conscientious about during this pregnancy is exercise. The benefits of an active lifestyle are touted for people in all stages of life, and pregnancy is no exception. But I'm not here to bore you with why you should exercise during pregnancy (because let's be honest, I'm not an expert); instead, I just want to share some comments about what I found did and didn't work when it came to exercising while pregnant. Of course, what I enjoyed and what worked for me may not work for others, but I trust that since you are reading this blog then you at least have a little interest in my opinion. Which is why I'm going to share it.

Even before getting pregnant, I needed variety in my workout routine in order to stay committed to it. I'm just not one of those people who can just go out and run three miles every day and call it good. So I knew that during my pregnancy I was going to need options--and since the majority of my pregnancy fell during the winter months, I was going to need indoor options. While there are many local options for prenatal fitness classes, classes have always intimidated me, so I opted instead for home DVDs. And for the most part, I've really enjoyed them. Rather than turn this into a super long post about specific DVDs I did and did not enjoy, though, I'll review each of the prenatal fitness DVDs in their own posts.

In addition to the exercise DVDs, Darrell and I also took walks whenever the weather permitted (or I would go walk on the treadmill at the gym). While I know plenty of people who maintained a running regime during their pregnancy, that just wasn't in the cards for me. I was too fatigued during my first trimester to even consider going out for a run, and by the time my energy returned I had started to form a decent belly and running just never seemed like it would be comfortable (to be fair, I never really tried running while pregnant. But I kept myself busy with other activities so I never really felt the need to attempt it).

One thing that I made sure to include in my fitness regime, whether as a component of the DVDs or on my own, was weight training. For some reason, this often gets overlooked in discussions on pregnancy fitness; it seems the emphasis is more on being active, even if all you are doing is going for a walk (which, to be fair, if you aren't doing even that, then adding a walk to your regular routine is probably more beneficial than adding weight training). And even when weight training is discussed, it usually focuses on the lower body and core, since those are the muscles groups that will be most affected by carrying around a massive belly. Again--the logic behind that is sound, but when you consider that after the baby is delivered you will primarily be toting that weight around in your arms (or using your arms to carry a car seat), then it is important to make sure you are preparing your upper body as well.

Personally, I found that using fitness DVDs that had a weight-lifting component was the easiest way to incorporate weight training, but there are certainly other options. Any sort of free weight exercises are good, and I found that incorporating a stability ball into the exercises added some nice variety while providing a safe way to work the core (since most traditional crunches are not advised during pregnancy).

Of course, no matter what you are planning to do, you should always make sure that you have permission from your doctor to begin/maintain an exercise regime, as well as ensure that the exercises you are choosing to do are safe during pregnancy. Every body and every pregnancy is different, so what works for me or your neighbor down the street may not be the best idea for you.

Apricot Chili Pork

Honestly, this recipe deserves a big, grandiose introduction describing its incredible deliciousness... But all I can muster right now is TGIF. Because that's really all I can think about. And truthfully, even if I did try to tell you about how wonderful this recipe is, I'd probably come up short because there is no way for words to capture the magnificence of this meal. So please, allow me to revel in the fact that it is (FINALLY) Friday, and just try this dish for yourself so you will know how truly fantastic it is.

Apricot Chili Pork

(slightly adapted from here)

2 pounds pork tenderloin, fat trimmed

Spice Rub:

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp garlic powder

1/2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Glaze:

1 1/2 cups apricot jam/jelly

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp hot sauce

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

2 small limes, juiced

Mix together spice rub in a small bowl. Spread over the tenderloins (or place into a bag and toss to coat). Cover and refrigerate two to twenty-four hours. Preheat oven to 375*. Place the pork tenderloins in a roasting pan (or 9x13 pan lined with foil and lightly greased). Bake for 15 minutes. While the pork is baking, melt the apricot jam in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining glaze ingredients. Set aside half of the glaze to serve with the pork. When the 15 minutes is up, remove the pork and brush it with the apricot glaze. Bake for 15 more minutes, then brush again with the glaze. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until the pork reaches 160* internally. Remove from the oven, tent with foil, and let rest for five minutes before slicing. Serve with the reserved glaze.

Belly Pics: Weeks 35 and 36

35 Weeks

36 Weeks

It's been a little bit of a rough week at our house this week. Darrell has been battling a pretty bad cold (he's on the mend, now, thankfully), and I've been, well, thirty-six weeks pregnant and everything that goes along with that. It is slightly entertaining, though; I want to do things for Darrell so he can relax and get to feeling better, but he wants to do things for me so I can relax and get off my feet. We've had fun trying to out-stubborn each other (although he usually ends up winning).

It also turns out that many of the things people say happen toward the end of a pregnancy do, in fact, happen. Swollen feet? Definitely. My doctor actually chuckled a little bit at the size of mine at our appointment on Monday. Maybe one of these days I'll get a picture; they don't get badly swollen every day, though (thankfully!). Difficulty sleeping? Yep, this one is catching up to me as well. I can still fall asleep without any issue, but once I get up to use the bathroom, it's totally a guessing game as to how much I'll toss and turn trying to get back to sleep. And let me tell you, it isn't easy to toss and turn with a massive belly. And general discomfort in the belly? Ugh, don't get me started. As if my bladder wasn't squished enough already, now that BOB is working on getting head down he presses up against it even more frequently. And that whole head-down thing means little baby feet kicking into my ribs--not necessarily painful, but kind of annoying at times. Oh, and speaking of annoying? Hiccups. Seriously. This kid gets them all the time, and he's big enough now that they aren't just cute little ripples of movement that you have to feel carefully for--they're practically massive shakes of the whole belly. Borderline ridiculous.


(Disclaimer: I'm really not complaining. About any of my "symptoms". For as fortunate as we have been in this pregnancy--and even that we were able to get pregnant as easily as we were--I will gladly take a few weeks of swollen feet, poor sleep, and belly-shaking hiccups. In fact, I'd even take months of those things if it meant the end result was a happy, healthy baby. So I'm really not complaining. At all. I've actually rather enjoyed being pregnant and am already looking forward to a "next time". Although that might change after the whole labor-and-delivery thing... But let's hope not.)

Spring?

Dear South Dakota:

Today is the first day of spring. That means temperatures should be higher than single-digits when I wake up in the morning. It also means that the high temperature for the day should be above freezing. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of that.

I do appreciate the sunshine though. Let's go ahead and keep that up. But can you please bring the temperature up to, oh, forty? And only light winds? I hope I'm not asking too much.

Love, Jess

St. Patrick's Day 2013

Despite being eight months pregnant, I made it my mission to still have a fun and enjoyable St. Patrick's Day--just, you know, with significantly less green beer than I would have otherwise consumed (and really, that's not such a terrible tradeoff--definitely healthier and no hangover the next day!). Part of the festivities that I was determined to take part in was the annual beer pong tournament that my brother organizes at the El Riad Shrine Mosque. His girlfriend Macy and I have been partners for the past three years, and I wasn't about to let a massive little baby bump split up team "Bigger Cups Please" for this year's tournament. Thankfully, my brother gave the official ruling that it was acceptable for a pregnant (and subsequently totally sober) person to participate--with the ruling that if my belly happened to knock any of the cups over that we wouldn't be allowed to set them back up. Which seemed fair enough.

For the second time in three years, Macy and I came out on top of our pool, securing our first-place finish with a win over a team that we were definite underdogs against. Darrell even managed to capture a picture of the winning shot!

Yes, my belly has gotten quite ginormous. And yes, I have a bow tied around it. And yes, I'm wearing a tank top even though it was only thirty degrees outside. Whatevs. 

And, for the second time in three years, Macy and I choked when we got to the first round of the tournament. According to my brother, it's my fault that we lost; apparently being sober prevented me from achieving the "ideal" state of lightly buzzed that optimizes a person's beer pong abilities. Of course, his team didn't even make it out of the pool play round, so I'm not so sure I can trust his logic.

Regardless, we had a blast (plus I got major props from a lot of the guys for being willing to play at eight months pregnant--one guy even offered to deliver the baby for me, although he was, shall we say, a little ways past "lightly buzzed"), and we're already looking forward to next year!

Suite Francaise

From the synopsis on the back of the book, the storyline seemed captivating enough: Parisians fleeing the city in advance of the inevitable German occupation, transitioning to a look at how life in a small village is affected by the presence of German soldiers. After reading the translator's note at the beginning of the novel, I further understood that these two stories were only part of a larger whole, a whole that was not completed due to the untimely death of the author in Auschwitz. In spite of that, I still was definitely not prepared for the content of the two stories, especially the transition (or lack there of) between the two. I've since read the appendices (which include some of the author's original notes on her plans for the whole five-part novel) and some additional information online, and I now have a much better understanding of the two stories. An understanding that I wish I would have had prior to reading.

The biggest issue for me was the fact that the two stories had very little connection. They could almost stand alone as individual novels, which is not something I was prepared for. I kept waiting for familiar characters to show up in the second story, which kept me from getting into it as much as I could have. Once I was able to let that issue go, I rather enjoyed the second story. It reminded me of Resistance with it's discussions of how the presence of the German soldiers affected life in the village, but with more development on how the occupation affected the Germans as well. And despite the fact that it was only the second story in what was intended to be a five-part novel, it had a good amount of closure and wrap-up to the main plot line.

The first story, however, was definitely lacking some of that sense of closure (which is probably why I expected the stories of those characters to be continued in the second story). It wasn't all bad, though; I didn't mind terribly that there were lots of characters to keep track of (a little similar to the movie Love Actually with it's network of characters and plots that overlap in random places), and I actually rather enjoyed reading about how a wide variety of people dealt with with impending German occupation of Paris (as well as the issues they ran into in their attempts to flee). But at the time, I just couldn't get over the feeling that I was left hanging (which, I suppose I should have expected to happen since technically the entire novel is unfinished).

As I was finishing the book, I probably would have told you that I would not recommend it. It definitely wasn't one of those "can't put it down" kind of books, and I actually considered not finishing it at all. However, now that I've done some research (and read through it once already), I think at some point I might actually be interested in going back and reading it a second time. Since I know what is going to happen, I won't be tempted to "wait" for the re-introduction of some character that isn't going to happen (and thus allow myself to actually get involved in the story that is evolving). And I would probably even read the first story differently; since I know that many of those characters don't reappear, I would probably read a little deeper into them and seek out the closure that exists instead of waiting for it to come later.

If you do decide to read this book, hopefully my notes will keep you from making some of the same mistakes that I made and you'll be able to enjoy it for what it is: two (mostly separate) stories of an unfinished whole, written as the author herself was facing some pretty harrowing circumstances.

Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

As you may recall, one of the items on our "101 in 1001" list was to go out once a month for a date night. We've been really good about this, and have really enjoyed our nights out, but through the months we've definitely learned something about our dining out preferences. Namely, we prefer small, local restaurants to the big chains. We've found that at local restaurants, the food is often better (and fresher!), the atmosphere is cozier, and the staff is more knowledgeable (I won't mention this one time we tried to get a wine recommendation from a server at a big-name Italian restaurant--it didn't go so well).

However, that isn't to say that the chain restaurants do everything poorly. In fact, most chain restaurants do at least a few things well--after all, there has to be something that contributes to their long-standing (and nationwide) success. And sometimes, without reason, I get a craving for one of those "feature" items at a big chain restaurant.

Thankfully, there are people who have made it their mission to re-create such popular items, making it possible to satisfy the craving without dropping any cash at the restaurant. And for this copy-cat recipe, you don't even have to put in very much work! Definitely a win-win in my book.

Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
(yields 12 biscuits)

2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup shredded cheese
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 450*. Mix Bisquick, cheese, and milk until a soft dough forms. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown, approximately ten minutes. Mix butter and garlic powder. Brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Best served warm.

Looking for another copy-cat recipe? Check out this one for a Jack Daniel's Grill Glaze!

Happy Pi Day!

Math nerds of the world rejoice! Although I wish I had plans to bake and share a new pie recipe today, that just wasn't in the cards for this week because I've been busy with some other baking for a family event tomorrow night and Darrell would not have approved of chocolate cake, cheesecake, AND pie sitting around our house. I suppose he has a point. But, if a pie is in the cards for you, here are a few recipes you can celebrate with!

Chunky Pecan Pie Bars--technically not a "pie", but close enough to count in my book!

Peanut Butter Brownie Pie

Toasted Coconut, Pecan, and Caramel Pie

Turns out I don't have much for options in the pie department... Guess I'll have to work on improving that for next year!

Wedding Wednesday: Wrap-Up

Today's post is going to conclude my series of Wedding Wednesdays. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll be done talking about weddings--safe to say there will be at least a post or two about my sister's big day (coming up in July!), plus we have at least two other weddings on tap for the summer. Not to mention my sister's bridal shower--not totally wedding related, but if things come together like I've been planning I'll have lots of fun details to share from that (Darrell thinks I'm biting off more than I can chew since the shower is scheduled for a month and a half after baby is due... But what does he know).

I just have a few last tips to share today; things that didn't really constitute getting their own post, but are still worthwhile to consider (at least in my opinion).

Do your best to have accommodations for little ones
If you are not going to limit your guest list to attendees eighteen and over (which I know some people do), it isn't a bad idea to have some accommodations available for families with little ones. While most parents will plan ahead and bring toys or other items their child likes, it's a nice gesture as the bride and groom to have something available as well. Some suggestions? If you are decorating with balloons, leave some scattered loose for kids to play with (and make sure parents know that it's okay). This can be great for keeping them occupied during down-time at the reception (and if the parents are lucky, it'll wear them out). Consider having a small kids table at the reception site with coloring books and other kid-friendly items. You could even have coloring pages of wedding-themed items. If you have the space (and are expecting lots of little ones), offering a staffed nursery can be a huge blessing for parents. They'll have the piece of mind knowing their child is being looked after (at no cost to them), and the kids can enjoy toys and games and possibly even movies instead of getting bored listening to speeches and watching people dance.

Utilize your personal attendant
Your wedding day is going to be crazy. No matter how well you've planned it, things are going to come up at the last minute. You will want someone by your side who is calm, level-headed, and a good problem solver. While your Maid of Honor (or wedding planner, if you have one), may fit this description, chances are she will have other commitments tying her down during the wedding day. Having a personal attendant whose sole job is to focus on you and what you need can be a lifesaver. And since that person's responsibility is to be there for you, don't be afraid to lean on them. Because trust me, you will forget stuff. You might forget to eat; ask them to periodically bring you snacks and water during the day to keep you energized. You might forget to get a picture with some favorite cousins at the reception; give them a list of people you want pictures with and have them remind you periodically throughout the evening (especially useful if your photographer is not scheduled to be there for the duration of the reception). You may even find that it's hard to get away from people to use the bathroom; have your attendant agree to "interrupt" you every so often to give you an opportunity to duck to the ladies room if necessary (added bonus--your attendant is now available to help you manage using the restroom if your dress necessitates an extra hand or two). And the best way to utilize your personal attendant? Make sure people know to go to her first with issues. Most last-minute issues can by fixed by anyone willing to step up and take charge, and trust me when I say you'll have enough on your mind that you won't want to deal with some of the problems. Besides--you probably won't even notice if the flower petals lining the aisle have to get switched from real ones to fake ones at the last minute (true story: happened at my wedding. I wasn't even aware that there had been an issue with the flower petals until my personal attendant told me the next day).

Most importantly, relax and enjoy the day!
This is definitely one of those "easier said than done" statements, but it still needs to be said. Just remember that ultimately, the purpose of the day is to marry your significant other; everything else is just a detail. So enjoy the excitement, laugh about the things that don't goes as planned (because trust me, there will be things that don't go as planned), and cherish the time with your loved ones who are there to celebrate with you. An added bonus of staying relaxed and having a good time? You'll get much better pictures. Not only will the candid shots turn out better, but even in the staged shots the camera will be able to pick up the difference between a forced "I may be smiling but I'm actually worried about whether or not people are having a good time" smile and a genuine "I'm so happy and in love" smile.

Wind

I know I complain about the weather. And I know I'm inconsistent about it. One day I'll be complaining about how miserably cold it is, and then like clockwork, I'll be complaining about how hot it is six months later. As Darrell has reminded me on more than one occasion, I have a very narrow window for "comfort" when it comes to weather.

However, I've officially decided that I have a new nemesis when it comes to weather. Forget the frigid cold, forget the oppressive heat--what I hate most is the wind. I'm not talking about the nice, gentle summer breezes, or the sizable gusts that inevitably accompany a strong storm--I'm talking about the annoying, steady, 15+ mph winds that will last for days on end. The kind of wind that will pierce through even the warmest "wind-proof" winter jacket, or ruin a perfectly nice summer day at the lake. It's downright awful.

And the thing that makes the wind in South Dakota even worse? It's incessant. It never goes away. It may be lighter and more bearable on some days, but it's still there. Now, you may be thinking that, in theory, if it's regularly windy, then you would be more likely to get used to it (and subsequently, less likely to complain about it). Well folks, that just isn't the case. I'm here to tell you that there are some things that you just can't "get used to"--and constant wind is one of them (especially when it is strong more days than not).

Think I'm exaggerating about how much wind we get around here? I'm not. Want proof? Check out these graphs of wind data compiled from weather records dating all the way back to 1974 (courtesy of Weatherspark.com):

Average monthly wind speed for Sioux Falls, SD

Average monthly wind speed for Hickory, NC (Darrell's hometown)

Where do I begin? For starters, let's talk about the scale on the y-axis. The graph for Sioux Falls goes all the way up to 30 mph, while Hickory's graph only goes up to 22 mph (and the graph itself barely surpasses 20 mph at any point). Then, do you notice how the Hickory graph doesn't actually have a red line, just small amount of red shading? That color represents the average daily minimum wind speed--which means that in Sioux Falls, every day registers (on average) enough measurable wind to have a daily minimum wind speed (the solid red line), whereas Hickory has enough days with no measurable wind that you have to extend your range to include the 10th-90th percentiles to even see an average daily minimum. Additionally, Hickory's highest daily average wind speed (black line) is 7 mph, which is still 2 mph slower than the lowest daily average wind speed in Sioux Falls.

Bottom line? The wind sucks in Sioux Falls. We need to get ourselves some mountains or something stat.

The Pact

As I've mentioned before, I know that I can always count on Jodi Picoult to deliver a captivating novel. In fact, her novels are often captivating to a fault--usually once I start reading I can't stop until I've gotten to the end. I think the longest it has taken me to finish any one of her books has been four days, and this book was no exception. I found myself pulling this book out during any and all breaks at work, for an hour or two in the evenings, just to figure out what was going to happen next.

And the crazy thing about this book is that it appears to be resolved from the start, seemingly leaving little mystery or suspense about what could happen next. Two teenagers--neighbors their whole lives and boyfriend/girlfriend as of the past few years--apparently devise a suicide pact that ends up getting botched, leaving one of them dead and one of them in the hospital. The police aren't satisfied with the story of the suicide pact, though, and a murder investigation is launched. However, the story is told alternating between flashbacks and the present day, which provides the reader with information the police are not privy to, and subsequently seems to create a clear picture of the events that unfolded on that fateful night. Or at least that is what Picoult is leading you to believe--up until the very end when she throws a final (totally unpredictable, as is usually the case with her novels) twist into the story.

Would I recommend this book? Of course. It's the perfect opposite to Romeo and Juliet--instead of two lovers whose families are at odds with each other, these two teenagers are raised as best friends and have parents that fully support their blossoming relationship. Despite those differences, however, the end result is the same as in Shakespeare's tragedy.

I will say, however, that this was possibly not the best book to read while pregnant--or perhaps at anytime when you are raising kids. Because it definitely isn't afraid to delve into tough parenting issues; namely, the fact that you may not know your child as well as you think you do, and there may not be anything you can do to fix that.

30 Before 30: Crafts

So the last of my 30 before 30 lists is the one that is probably going to be the most difficult for me to complete. Mostly because by nature, I am not a creative, do-it-yourself kind of person. Not necessarily because I don't want to be, but because I tend to talk myself out of attempting projects due to a fear of failing (I'm a little bit of a perfectionist). And with the possibility (or likelihood) of the project ending up a disaster, I usually reason that it makes more sense just to go out and buy the product (or pay someone else to do it for me) so I don't have to waste my time making an unsuccessful attempt (plus then I don't feel like a failure).

Darrell, however, is soooo not this way. He's always up for trying some new project (whether it's building bookshelves for the nursery or a patio for our backyard), and he isn't afraid to just dive right in to the task (sometimes I actually wish he'd put a little more research into what he is doing, but he's been successful with all his projects so far, so I suppose I can't complain too much).

I've decided that the attitude I'm going to have to take toward crafting is the same one that I've been working on accepting as a soon-to-be mother: I know that as parents Darrell and I are going to "fail" plenty of times, but that doesn't mean we can throw in the the towel and give up. We have to learn to adjust, maybe redefine our idea of "perfect", and take pride in what we have. Easy enough, right?  :)

Since I'm not very in tune with this whole crafting thing I don't exactly have a laundry list of projects that I'm dying to attempt, but I have stumbled across a few that I think might be fun. Especially as I work on planning a bridal shower for my sister. So we'll see how this goes--here's to hoping I can (successfully!) get through thirty projects in thirty months!

Homemade Tile Coasters
Yarn Eggs
Tiered Snack Stand
Ziploc Bag Book

Showered with Love

Last weekend Darrell and I traveled up to Minneapolis for a baby shower with a group of my girlfriends from high school. Even though it's been almost ten years since graduation, nine of us girls still keep in touch regularly and get together whenever we can. And of course, babies are a perfect excuse to get together. In fact, of the nine of us, four of us are expecting kids during this calendar year.

Unfortunately, not everyone could be at the shower because we've dispersed to many different states (and in one case, to London), but we used Skype to get as many people involved as we could. It was so much fun to catch up with everyone who could be a part of the shower, and having these girls in my life even after so many years (and across so many miles) is such a blessing. Love them!

Amy, who is next to me, is also expecting--due in July!

Aside from getting to see everyone and catch up (and of course having BOB get loved on and spoiled), the highlight of the shower was definitely the cake. My friend Whitney (front row, blueish cardigan) made an incredible cake. Everything was made from scratch, including the fondant.

Seriously awesome. Even the elephant is made from fondant! And on the inside was a chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream and raspberry filling... I'm hungry again just thinking about it. Even Darrell, whose only request when we were selecting our wedding cake was that it didn't have fondant, agreed that the cake was delicious. Apparently making the fondant from scratch makes it infinitely better (of course, that is pretty much true about anything).

In other good news from the weekend, BOB was very well behaved during the car trip. Granted, we had to make more bathroom stops than usual, but I didn't have any issues with cramping or discomfort. Not too shabby for eight hours in the car at thirty-four weeks pregnant. Hopefully he continues to be this well-behaved out of the womb--we're hoping to make a trip to Iowa in the middle of May and have tickets booked to fly out to North Carolina in June. Fingers crossed!

Wedding Wednesday: The Honeymoon!

So I realize the honeymoon is a separate event from the wedding, but I'd be remiss if I completely neglected any discussion of the honeymoon in my series of wedding planning advice. Because honestly, planning the honeymoon can be just as stressful as planning the wedding. And since you are probably planning the honeymoon at the same time you are planning the wedding, reducing the stress for one will inherently cause less stress for the other.

Now, last spring I talked a little about our honeymoon, and in my discussion shared a few pieces of advice. You can check out the post for all the details, but in a nutshell, here are some of the things that I think are important to keep in mind:

Be true to yourselves
Sure, everyone may think of white sandy beaches and lying around all day with an endless supply of fruity concoctions when they think of a honeymoon, but if that doesn't fit the style of you and your significant other, do something else! There's no unwritten rule that says honeymoons have to involve exotic locations and ample relaxation; I know plenty of people who have gone to non-traditional places and done non-traditional things and loved every minute of it (including some friends who spent their honeymoon cross-country skiing through the North Woods of Minnesota).

Be flexible in your destination
If sandy beaches and fruity drinks are your cup of tea, remember that there are lots of options when it comes to locations. While the Caribbean is certainly popular, places in Hawaii (and even Florida!) offer many of the same amenities, and without the added headaches of passports and international travel. If visiting wine country is more your style, avoid the chaos of the ever-popular Napa area and try visiting some of the more secluded wineries in the Pacific Northwest. You never know what hidden gems you may find if you expand your search outside of the box a little bit.

Don't lose sight of the marriage in the excitement of the honeymoon (and wedding)
Probably one of the worst ways to start a marriage is in a boatload of debt because of an over-the-top wedding and/or honeymoon. Obviously one way to save money on your honeymoon is to follow the suggestion above and look at non-premium locations. It's generally always going to be cheaper to stay within the country than to travel out of it, and locations that are a little more off the grid often come with lower price tags (and as a bonus, they are often less busy!). Another option is to splurge for only a night or two instead of the whole vacation. Treat yourself to that five-star luxury hotel for the first few nights, but then spend the rest of your honeymoon at a more economical place. That way, you still get the experience of being pampered, but without quite as much of a price tag.

Absolutely, positively make sure that you TAKE a honeymoon
I didn't address this in my post about our honeymoon, but I think it is incredibly important. Even if you are the most organized person in the world (and/or have the best wedding planner ever), you will probably still leave your wedding feeling frazzled and exhausted. Having even just a little bit of alone time with your new spouse will allow you time to relish in the excitement of your big day (and recover!) before getting back to your "normal" life. Consider spending just a night or two at a bed and breakfast if you can't afford something more extravagant (or don't have the time off work to go away for longer), even if the bed and breakfast is in the same town you live in. Trust me--it'll be nice to have just a day together without any pressing issues to worry about.

As a final note, one thing that Darrell and I did that I would definitely recommend is working an extra day into your honeymoon where you are back home from your vacation but not obligated to be at work. We used this day for one thing and one thing only: organizing our house. It certainly wasn't very relaxing, but we spent the entire day putting away wedding gifts, rearranging cabinets and closets, schlepping old house goods to a second hand store, etc. And since we technically considered this day to be part of our honeymoon, there were no distractions from jobs, family, or friends, and we were able to get nearly all of it done in one fell swoop. Which made the transition of going back to work and adjusting to married life so much easier; there were no worries about when we would find time to clean, whose job it would be to put stuff away, where we would put stuff, etc. It was all taken care of and the only thing we had to worry about in the evenings after work was being husband and wife and enjoying each others company. Sooo fantastic.

Hopefully you don't find wedding planning to be too terribly stressful, but in case you do, hopefully you are able plan a wonderful honeymoon where you can take some time to enjoy being in the company of your husband/wife!

Belly Pics: Weeks 33 and 34

Nothing terribly exciting to look at this week--just a big ol' belly of baby!

33 Weeks

34 Weeks

I'm definitely still bumping into stuff (thank goodness BOB is nice and protected in there), and I'm starting to fatigue a little easier when I've been on my feet for long periods of time, but otherwise I'm still feeling good. BOB is doing his best to stretch me out from the inside, which can be uncomfortable at times, but is certainly fun to watch (pretty much any movement he makes is visible from the outside--kid is seriously running out of space in there). Supposedly BOB is going to settle into his birthing position soon (hopefully head down, not butt down like his father was); while it'll be nice to be able to take some deep breaths and not get winded walking up a flight of stairs, I'm not sure if I'm ready for lots of extra pressure on my pelvis and even more frequent trips to the bathroom. But, I suppose just like all the other changes I've gone through in this pregnancy, I'll eventually get used to it. And besides--there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel! I feel like I could handle anything for just a handful of weeks.

Pretty Toes!

Highlight of my day on Friday?

Getting a little pampering done!

Actually, that's not entirely true, because we also had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and hearing that everything is still going well with baby always trumps any other exciting things that may happen on that day. Friday's appointment was especially fun because baby tried to kick the doctor twice while he was trying to find the heartbeat--kid is already developing some serious attitude. Not too surprising given where this kid got his/her genes, I suppose.

Of course, Darrell thinks that it was a little silly of me to get a pedicure because A) it'll be at least a month (probably longer) before the weather will be nice enough for me to even consider wearing sandals and B) I can't really enjoy the fancy nails myself because when I look down all I see is this...

But whatever. Still totally worth it. And I'm sure he would have felt differently about my decision if I had asked him to be the one to clip my toenails since I can barely reach them myself. Of course, with as quickly as my nails have been growing, he might still get a chance to be the one to clip my toenails because I'm not certain I'll be able to go these last six weeks without a trim. We'll see how fun that is--I'll just tell him that it'll be practice for trimming baby's nails. Sounds reasonable, right?