Exploring Sydney

I'm checking off bucket list items right and left down here! We went into the city and I got to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge (but we haven't climbed it yet! That's on the schedule for next week), the Opera House, Botanical Gardens, and more than one of the massive shopping malls. 

And my goodness I am going to gain 100 pounds down here. All we do is eat! But it's amazing food sooo I'm not really upset about it... yet haha.

Also, can we talk about why America doesn't use the metric system? When talking to JP's cousins I'm constantly trying to convert pounds to kilograms, feet to meters, miles to kilometers, and fahrenheit to celsius. 

A few other things I've noticed about Australia in the last 4 days is that whenever I say "thank you" the reply I receive is not "you're welcome" but instead is always "no worries." Oh, and hardly any of the businessmen wear ties! And when walking, be sure to PASS ON THE LEFT (I am the worst at this... I've run into so many people). 

We are loving Australia! And today's another beach day, so what's not to love? :)

The Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer...

...is definitely by covering the whole house in Christmas decorations. 

(and also, singing loud for all to hear)

JP's Oupa (that's "grandpa" in Afrikaans) had no Christmas decorations up yet when we arrived, so Shayla and I rummaged through the garage and found an impressive amount of Christmas stuff that had been tucked away for who knows how long. And then proceeded to decorate the house like crazy.

Have yourself an Australian little Christmas

The title might have given it away but JP and I are spending Christmas down under!

We just arrived a few hours ago after spending 14 hours on a plane (the longest I've ever been on one!)

Thankfully, sleeping on planes/trains/automobiles (catch the reference?) is one of my specialties, so 10.5 of the 14 hours were spent blissfully in dreamland 

(natural sleep too! No Ambien for me. although it was on-hand as a back up plan... haha)

Most of JP's extended family lives in Australia and I haven't met many of them, so this trip is going to be full of beach time, petting koalas, and meeting lots of people I am now related to. 

Another huge part of the trip I am looking forward to is getting to read for leisure!  I borrowed my dad's kindle and have a list of books I'm going to read during the three weeks we're spending down here, most of which came from your suggestions on this post, so thank you!

Check back for updates and lots of pictures with frizzy hair (it doesn't do well in humidity) 

Happy Christmas!

The 4th Annual Christmas Party

Every year since we were wee little freshman living in the dorms, my friend Jordan and I have thrown a Classy Christmas Soiree. It's my absolute favorite tradition. 

{you can read about last year's party here. }

I mean, it's the perfect opportunity to mingle with good friends and to get all dressed up (which is always a plus in my book haha). 

AND it launches you right into the Christmas spirit -- even JP can't maintain his scrooge-ness after a party like this :)

We cook a full blown meal for the guests (hold the applause, please, I think it's a miracle we are even somewhat prepared when people start arriving haha) and do a white elephant gift exchange, which never fails to disappoint. 

There are probably way too many pictures, for which I apologize. But considering how many hours the setting up/decorating/Costco runs/cooking took, I wanted it all to be documented haha 

Thanks for bearing with me :)

 he was so pleased with his outfit haha i loved it.

Biggest Cram Sesh of My Life

I'm sort of drowning over here. 

After a whirlwind week of finishing massive class projects, taking two exams (that aren't even finals!), and hosting/attending Christmas parties, finals week is upon me and I somehow have less than 24 hours to study for two scheduled final exams tomorrow morning. 

Our apartment looks like a bomb went off, I'm crossing my fingers that I have enough clean clothes to last me through the week, and don't even get me started on how atrocious my eating habits have become in the past 72 hours. 

Can you say d i s a s t e r?

Whew. But hey, I sort of live for this. I have a weird love for it all -- the tense atmosphere plus the complete lack of sleep plus massive amounts of pressure everyone is under eventually all comes to a head and results in some pretty hilarious things happening, especially when you're in the library past midnight every night. 

And then come Friday, you've done it and it's over and your body sort of breaks down (I always get sick the week after finals) and you can sleep in and actually have time to go to the gym and eat three meals a day. 

But whoa, lets not get ahead of ourselves there. That glorious freedom is still five days away!

Wish me luck, I'm certainly going to need it. 

That being said, I do have some catching up I need to do on this blog here, so a bunch of new posts are slowly but surely coming in the near future :)

Called To Serve

My little sister is going on a mission!

She opened her call last night and she will be serving in the Morristown, New Jersey mission!

Aaah!! 

I am so excited for her and jealous of the people of New Jersey! 

They are getting one fabulous missionary! 

:)

Any readers from there? Or does anyone know someone serving there?

Christmas Cookies!

I tried out this recipe a few weeks ago and let me tell you, it was a smash! 

These cookies are so delicious and not difficult at all to make (always a plus in my book). 

They look so cute and festive too, AND they're low fat! (ha. ha. ha. not. but it's worth it). 

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

*makes 24* 

1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. packed light brown sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 large eggs

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 Tbsp. liquid red food coloring (I didn't use quite this much...)

1/2 c. buttermilk

8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

1 c. marshmallow cream (such as jet puff, my personal fave)

sprinkles for decoration!

1) preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray cooking sheets with cooking oil.  

2) In medium-sized bowl, Whisk together the flour, cocoas, baking soda and salt.

3) using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, then the vanilla and food coloring. Alternatively add the flour mixture and buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated. 

4) drop lovel Tbsp of the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Baking until the top are set and spring back when lightly pressed, 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. 

5) while the cookies cool, use an electric miser to beat the cream cheese until smooth. add the marshmallow cream and beat until fluffy, aout 3 minutes. spread 2 level tbsp of filling onto half of the cookies, then sandwich with the remaining cookies. Sprinkle the sprinkles around the edges. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving! 

Enjoy!

*disclaimer* Not my recipe, I found it in a magazine at the dermatologist's office! :)