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From Our Front Porch Looking In

^^grandma patty and lacey came to spend a night with us at the end of october. obviously abby was in heaven.^^

^^grandma harrison came to help us out a couple of days after my surgery. life saver, as always. lady went shopping with her, colored endlessly, and wouldn't leave her side.^^

^^unfortunately, meltdowns occur on a regular basis. but, really, when is it my turn to act like this? just once.^^

^^abby's obsession with ranch has commenced. this particular night she cleared all of her salad (aka: nonsense) off her plate in order to get to the ranch. priorities, people.^^

^^play dates with kennedy. could these two be any more opposite?^^

^^zonked.^^

^^abby found the notebook d. gave me the first christmas we were dating. she carries it with her nearly everywhere and constantly opens it to look at "mama" and "dadad"^^

^^thank you, costco, for the temptation. a gallon of nutella?! i'll admit, it was one of the hardest things we've every passed up.^^

^^abby's first time in the mcdonald's play place, typical? i am petrified of these (can you say: disease?!), but i was in desperate need of some time to write a paper, so i packed up lily and abby and fed them a wholesome lunch at micky d's. of course, this was her reaction. she did warm up, eventually, and now i'm kicking myself. why did i ever introduce her to the nasty?!! so much for keeping her naive.^^

Life around here has been pretty predictable and laid back, as of late. Between my surgery, the nasty November cold/sinus junk, school, work, Dustin's basketball games, church callings, babysitting, friends and family, doctor and dentist appointments, and our over excessive baking (and eating) habits --- we've just been all around chillin' and enjoying our own schedule. I'm sure that's all about to change, you know, because of the holidays. 

So, in the meantime, we're just hanging out, saving our pennies for Black Friday.

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It's officially baking season. Well, at our house baking season is every season, let's be honest. But, now, we can come out and admit just how much we bake (read: nearly every day).

Anyway, what is it about the holidays that have me absolutely itching to make "grandma's treats?" Because I am. So, I do.

These cookies are some I remember coming from Grandma Harrison's kitchen when I was a wee one (insert extensive "awww...." here). Don't ask why we spell it 'Krinkles' rather than 'Crinkles' because I just don't know. Leave it to the Harrisons.

These are perfectly chocolaty and chewy without being overly sweet. Honestly, I had forgotten about this recipe (since last year, anyway) until we needed a treat to share with friends at the last minute on a Sunday afternoon. D. suggested them, and for some reason the suggestion rang perfection to my ears. And they were. They are, perfection. (maybe my nostalgia plays into this a little, but judging from everyone else's reviews they are pretty great.)

Enter this classic recipe. Let me share it with you:



Grandma Harrison's Chocolate Krinkles:

Mix and set aside:

  • 2 C. Flour
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt
  • 2 tsp. Baking Powder

Cream together:

  • 3/4 C. Oil
  • 2 C. Sugar
  • 3/4 C. Cocoa Powder
  • 2 tsp. Vanilla
Add 4 eggs (one at a time, beating after each one)

Combine with dry ingredients. 

Chill for at least 20 minutes (2 hours, if you have time. The longer the better.)

Roll into 1" balls, then roll balls in powdered sugar to coat. 

Place on a greased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 350* for (about) 10 minutes.

Best served with a gigantic glass of cold milk (you know, if that's your thing. but, i recommend it.)

(side note (and probably common knowledge), all cookies i bake under cooked. then let them cool on the pan for 2-5 minutes. then transfer to a cooling rack. because, really, i love a soft, chewy cookie.)
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picture via my instagram (@ack_alyssa) from last saturday. worth posting twice, because i say so. 


Hi. I have far too much to catch up on in one night (for my own purposes, not for the purpose of entertaining you. don't let your expectations get away from you.). We've (read: i've) got the nasty head cold around our house. Awesome; that time of year, I guess?

So, tonight we are going to curl up and was National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (my husband has never seen this. i repeat: my husband has never seen this. who.did.i.marry?!) and probably some P double L, too (why, oh, why do these stupid girls always wander around alone, at night. ahhh...to have all the answers to life's biggest mysteries. but, really, why can't aria say, "shhh..." like a normal person?) because, let's be honest, that's who we are.

Here's to the freakin' weekend. (speaking of the weekend, does 7-Eleven put a limit on the number of overly large fountain drinks one can purchase? if so, i'm going to push those limits. i just know it.)

Now, it's too bad my child does not understand the concept of 'sleeping in.'
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you were warned: do not read if you are not prepared for some pathetically ridiculous blabbing. because, that's what this is. 

I'm just chillin' tonight, guys. (surprised? no? oh yeah, that's what i'm always doing.)

Here's the thing. I love a good awards show. And I really, really, really looooove country music. Thus, the CMA's are like Christmas around my place. So I'm just soaking up tonight, putting off homework, laughing at Brad and Carrie (is there anyway i can get her legs without working out? please and thanks.), wishing I was identical twins with Kimberly Perry, and soaking up Taylor Swift's genuine innocence. How adorable was Carrie Underwood's "Hi, Mom"?

Anyways, yesterday I went out (to mcdonalds and target - fancy shmancy, huh?) for the first time in two weeks. I was so happy I was on the verge of tears. The whole night. Also, today I text my husband this:

^^to say he gets me is the understatement of the year. bless that man. and our bank account.^^

(did you know dustin asked me on our first "date" three years ago, yesterday? you can read my version of that story here, and his here.)


Isn't Target's dollar section killing it lately? Or was I really just that excited to be out of our tiny living space?

I can't quite figure out what kind of person I am. I mean, I'm not the person that gets out the Christmas tree at Halloween, but man, as soon as November hits I get the Christmas fever. Not quite get-out-the-tree-in-October fever extreme, but I'm thiiiiiiiiis close to hitting play on my Carrie Underwood Christmas Pandora station. I wouldn't protest to the tree being up before Thanksgiving. Or would I? I just don't know. I will admit, I've been buying Abby Christmas"prizes" for months. Having a toddler during the holidays makes me giddy with excitement.

I feel that not knowing where I stand on the matter is giving me a bit of an identity crisis. What kind of holiday person are you? Tell me who I am.

You guys should hear/watch Lady sing Katy Perry's "Roar." It's her song. We sing it approximately 90,000 times a day. Good think it's my favorite song, too. And she dances. And she has the same dance moves every time. I'm pretty sure she practices her choreography.

Will you judge me if I admit we (phew, that was a close one...) I am in the midst of watching Pretty Little Liars? I just can't help it. Also, Reign. Mi Madre started that one. I love it (francis! Ah!). And Parenthood - I feel like I belong to the Braverman's, late at night, while I try not to pull my hair out while trudging through homework. And Scandal?! (ok, now you really are judging me. all five of you that read this.) I mean, I've already lost your respect, so I'm just going to say it: I want to be a Gladiator in a Suit. 

(disclaimer: viewing of these television shows takes place after lady's bedtime. for all you nazi parents out there ready to report me.)

Speaking of being an awful parent: today I realized I had hit an all time low as I ripped into a bag of stale Halloween chocolate in the middle of the store and fed Lady piece after piece - just to finish the rendez-vous in relative peace.

Abby answered the phone (without my knowledge) when my doctor called today with some test results. So, that was awesome and embarrassing. This girl and her electronics.

I really need to join a gym. But, all I can think about is the peanut butter pumpkin(s) I stashed away in the freezer. This time of year is going to kill me.

So... I should stop. Now the world knows who I really am.

A cheesy, drama loving, sap, who is obsessed with her kid and husband, and can't say no to food of any kind. Nice to meet you.
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^^and of course we pasted that bad boy right up on the refrigerator. raw excitement, right here. her first ever fridge craft. weird that we are this proud? we know.^^

^^can't you literally hear them saying "cheeeeeeeeese"? and so begin the fake smiles.^^

we've (i've) been laying low the last couple of weeks. last night we decided to take advantage of our time in and take advantage of the toddler in our house all at once. so, we kicked off november with a turkey-coloring-session. 

ahhh...november - you sure started a little rocky but things are bound to turn around. 
we're excited you're here. 
now, i think we are going to get out the hot chocolate machine. you know, to ensure the extra pounds that inevitably show up this time of year are here to stay. because, that's how we roll. 
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I've never loved Halloween. Even as a child, the holiday was only appealing if I had a glamorous costume lined up (a favorite: a bride. oh, how i adored that veil my mother hot glued to a headband.). 

But, now I have a child. And all of a sudden, Halloween is enjoyable, and even a little exciting.

 Last year, while it was fun, she was a baby, and we used the excuse to gallivant to the Jazz game. This year, I'm sure she was not quite sure why people were handing her candy (and she didn't even have to cry and scream and thrash about for it. crazy!), but she accepted, obviously. I don't think she understood the costume idea, but she thought she looked hilarious and rocked it excitedly (tell me, why this girl won't leave on a hat in -35 degree weather for longer than .5 seconds, but will wear a pumpkin stem for hours on end?!). 

Anyway, the events surrounding the holiday were a little rocky (you know, because my body decided to try to kill me from the inside out. so, that was awesome), I was scheduled for surgery Halloween morning. Thanks to our super awesome friends (really, we love them!) for taking Lady to make the most of her holiday and easing my mother's guilt a tad bit. 

A few of the events went like this:

^^Lady accompanied Josh, Lisa, and Lily (who she prefers over us any day) to the neighborhood Halloween party. She cried when she had to come back home to me. Needless to say, she loved it. They graciously loaned her a costume, and got her dressed. And let her crash their house all day. Really, she adores them. They sent me this picture during the party.^^

^^Starting our annual tradition of "dinner-in-a-pumpkin" on Halloween Eve. Really, it doesn't look appealing, but it's delicious.^^

^^And the Great Pumpkin paid a visit!^^

^^After playing with other friends all day on Halloween (while d. and i were at the hospital), Miss Abby returned long enough to transform into the most adorable ladybug the world has seen, and then she was whisked out the door with a beaming Daddy to trick-or-treat with more friends (how many times can i mention our friends and say just how good they are? not enough, because they have saved us lately!).

 Somehow, the second she was handed her loot bucket, she instinctively knew its purpose and unloaded the bowl of Kit Kats (the candy we had purchased to hand out) into her own bucket. So proud.^^

^^Doesn't she look like the biggest kid?! I mean, that's a little girl out trick-or-treating with her friends! That's not my baby!^^

I call it a success. I was super bummed I did not get to accompany the festivities (not for lack of trying, my husband refused to let me near the door. protective, and right, he is.) Lady loved it. I guess having a child really does bring out the child in you, doesn't it?
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About Me

Hi! I'm Alyssa, the voice of this blog. I'm a passionate homebody, lover of Diet Coke, good books, and laughing until I cry.

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