Here’s a look at my pantry:

• Top Shelf- Less frequently used kitchen items, canning supplies
• Next Down- Sauces, oils, food in jars
• Next Down- Canned food, snacks, breakfast
• Next Down- Carb Row (pastas, grains), Cupcake Supplies
• Floor- Bulk items, food storage

Here’s a closer look at how I organize my cupcake supplies:

• Bins to organize my supplies by function and type.
• Clear plastic to easily see whats inside each one.

Here’s a look at Carb Row:

Spice Rack on Door:

• Typically organized alphabetically minus a few items due to fit
• Blended spices on bottom shelf
• I keep baking spices separate, most of these are savory

I’m not an organization guru, but I do try to pay attention to where things get put away.

Do you have any kitchen organization tips?

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I’ve noticed lately that the only time I use the microwave is to reheat my coffee. Essentially, over time my microwave has become a uni-tasker.  At the beginning of the year, I moved the microwave to the garage to test out life without a microwave.

It hasn’t been that bad. I’m drinking my coffee faster for sure. I’ve converted the space used by the microwave into a baking stand.

And, last weekend was the point of no return, the microwave sold in a garage sale for $25.

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It was when we were riding home that she pointed out a rainbow captured in a cloud. I wish I was able to caputure the brilliance of the colors. We commented about how facinating it was that a rainbow just right there, no rainbow tails, it was neatly captured right there. The cloud looked just like a bird to me or maybe a fish.

I hope I have many more bike rides where I get a change to observe wonderful moments like this one.

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Christmas was pretty eventful, so staying close to home for this NYE was a nice change of pace. Plus, it was nice to spend some time with this guy.

For dinner we swung by Van Hanson’s Meat Market to pick up steak. There was a Good Eats steak technique we wanted to check out.

For dessert we had Blue Bell vanilla ice cream with Swiss chocolate sauce from Michigan in some cool customized Blue Bell ice cream bowls.

The evening was just perfect and at just the right speed.

Alton Brown Steak Ingredients

* 1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak, 1 to 1 1/4-inches thick

* 2 teaspoons olive oil

* Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven on broiler setting. Make foil ‘roll’ out of aluminum foil to use to keep oven door slightly ajar so that broiler won’t turn off if it gets too hot. Brush steak with oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Place a piece of foil on the bottom rack as a drip pan. Place another rack in the position above this and put the steak directly on this rack. Cook steak in this position for 5 minutes. Flip steak and cook for another 5 minutes. Move rack with steak to top position in oven, moving rack with foil and drippings just underneath, and cook for 3 minutes. Flip 1 last time and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer steak to wire rack and rest for 3 to 5 minutes. The above times are for medium doneness. Adjust cooking times up or down as desired.

via Sirloin Steak Recipe : Alton Brown : Food Network.

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Why take the time to wrap it if when you pack it gets crushed and crinkled? Alas, the only thing under my tree is a cat.

But with each year that goes by (and this Christmas it will be 5) I get smarter about how I do Christmas in two places.

• I purchase as many gifts as possible online and have them shipped home.
• I make a list of what I purchased so I don’t over buy or double buy for anyone.
• If I do pack it, I make it small.

Around the house I’ve had to change somethings too.

• I put the Christmas tree up a week early, so I can get maximum time with it.
• Simplify the Christmas decorations. I don’t like having to put away a lot of Christmas stuff after traveling.

Trust me at my parents house, anything standing still will have Christmas swag strewn across it.

And there will be lots and lots of cookies and food.

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Aloha! This picture was taken after we hiked for two hours through jungle and mud to Maunawili Falls in Oahu, Hawaii. November starts the rainy season in Hawaii, so for this trip beach chairs and drinks with umbrellas were not part of the festivities.

Instead we toured the whole island and this hike was one of the funnest things we did. I cannot convey to you how muddy this trail was. But it was worth it because we got to cliff jump for the first time.

In the video of this spectacle, you can see my knees shaking and everyone watching starts cheering and yelling JUMP!

We were there for Thanksgiving, so we got to see the Christmas lights going up with flair. Let me tell you Hawaiians love them some Christmas. This provided some fun banter between us and our hosts. You see, their Jewish (and we’re not).  And while they’re not putting up a Christmas tree and I’m not putting up a Menorah, I think we can find some common ground with cupcakes. Mele Kalikimaka, y’all.

Maunawili Falls

This easy 1 ½ mile hike is a great introduction to O’ahu trails. Recently reopened, this trail features great view of the Ko’olaus Mountains, small waterfalls, and deep, cool, pools.

Safety Tips for Hiking: Inform a friend of your route and your expected time of return. Never hike alone or go beyond your capability. Always bring water, basic first aid kit and rain gear, just in case. Do not drink stream water which contains biological impurities. STAY ON THE TRAIL.

Directions:

From Waikiki: Take H1 west bound and get off at Pali exit. Go over the mountains. Turn right onto `Auloa Road after Kamehameha Hwy, at the fork stay to the left on Maunawili Road. Follow the signs to Maunawili Falls.

Useful Information:

* Easy 1 ½ mile hike along a well-worn path

* Wear proper footwear – the path may be slippery and muddy

* Bring water – there are no facilities along the trail

* Use mosquito repellent

* Do not leave valuables in car

via HawaiiWeb.com.

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I’m pretty sure that when people look at me they don’t think, “she looks like an athlete.” That’s why I’m confused when I get asked to play things like flag football, laser tag and softball. All with the guise that “we’re just going to have some fun.”

Right.

So, when I walk up to the flag football field and there’s some dude running drills on the field by himself, I’m sure that guy is there to have some fun.

For this invitation, I decided that when I walked up, I was going to make sure that there was no surprise with my athletic ability. No pretense that maybe I could coordinate my arms and legs to do something in sequence. I brought cupcakes to a flag football game.

These are straight out of the Martha Stewart Cupcake book. The method for making these guys is easy, I deviated a bit from her method, my changes are written below.

Snowman Cupcake How-To
This snowman wears a fine winter hat: a chocolate-covered mint beret. His plump figure is two marshmallows — cut a slice off the top one and squish to make it smaller. Dabs of icing hold parts together. His eyes are made from dipping a toothpick in black food coloring, and his nose is cut from a gummy fish.

Martha Stewart’s One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

Makes 18 to 24

* 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

* 1 1/2 cups sugar

* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

* 3/4 teaspoon baking powder

* 3/4 teaspoon salt

* 2 large eggs

* 3/4 cup warm water

* 3/4 cup buttermilk

* 3 tablespoons safflower oil

* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.

2. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Helpful Hint

Cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to three days.

via One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes and more delicious recipes, smart cooking tips, and video demonstrations on marthastewart.com.

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I got to take my Mamaw and Raynee to see the new Cowboys Stadium.

Got to go Washington D.C this year with my family.

Watched my little sister graduate from high school, 13 years after I graduated.

Had an amazing, amazing experience in Hawaii (so much so that there’s another trip in my future…like a week from tomorrow).

So, as we head into the last leg of 2009 I want to make sure that it doesn’t go by in a snap.

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If I could I would bottle up the welcome I received when I went to visit friends in Dallasa few weeks ago. It was one of those reunions where you are sorry so much time went by between visits and phone calls and so happy that true friendship endures.

We were all together again for a friend’s wedding and it was amazing to have friends from Texas and California all together. October for me is the gateway into the Holiday season and this season I’ve got some ideas cooking in the kitchen. This little kitchen got demo’ed this past week. I’ll post updates as progress is made.

I know I’ll need help picking out a new paint color.

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Yes, it is a family ruled by women. One of these days we’ll learn to all look the same direction when getting our picture taken.

Little Lizzy and I.

Cupcakes…

A Blue Bell milk shake bar!

Guess who caught the bouquet…

And it wouldn’t have been an Austin,  TX wedding if there wasn’t just a little WEIRD!

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