Tasty Treat - Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes

Wow! I made these over the weekend with fresh strawberries and all organic ingredients. They were so good! Next time I am going to try to make the same recipe with a different berry and see if they turn out. I'll keep you posted. The frosting makes enough for a double batch of cupcakes. Try them! Mmmmmm!
Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/candace-nelson-strawberry-cupcakes

6 Uninteresting Things About Me

My good friend and avid blogger, Corie, tagged me on her blog to do this.... So here goes - 6 uninteresting things about me.

1. My latest hobby is getting new hair-cuts (as you can see in last post's picture). In November I cut bangs - full on straight down bangs. On Saturday, I cut 4+ inches off and went for a bob with swoopy bangs. Think Katie Holmes. It has been really fun and it always grows back, right?

2. I love sleeping. I honestly could sleep 10 hours a night. If only I had more time. I sleep better in a bed that is made and even better when the sheets are clean and fresh right out of the dryer. Ahhhh.

3. I can't kill things. I trap insects and spiders that make their way in, and put them outside. I also do weird things like pick up snails that are on walkways and put them in the bushes. I don't want them to get stepped on.

4. I am not up on the news. I use to be very savvy on world affairs and local goings on, but when Pat went through surgery someone gave me the advice to stop watching/reading the news. Great advice. Most of the time it is all bad news and really is not that informative. So I'm out of the loop, but I'm happy. : )

5. I really like being alone. I am social and love to be around people, but when I have alone time I really enjoy it. I get a lot done when I am by myself, I like quiet time and I rarely feel lonely.

6. I love the outdoors. I love camping, hiking and being outside. We got a last minute invitation to go camping in Yosemite over the 4th. I am so excited!! Can't wait to get some fresh air and roast some marshmallows!

I tag MMM, Megan Glasman, Leslie, Charlie and anyone else that finds this fun!

Wellness Community Golf Tournament

On Monday Pat played in the annual Wellness Community Golf Tournament. It was at Orinda Country Club and he played for a team sponsored by my brother-in-law's company, Buckley Patchen Riemann & Hall. They had a beautiful day of golfing which was followed by a cocktail reception and dinner - and all significant others were invited! Michele and I met Pat and Dan at OCC and we had a great night. Michele and Pat both won raffle prizes! Wooo Hoooo! OCC is even more beautiful than I remember. Wow I grew up in a beautiful place. The tournament raised a lot of money for our favorite cause and we can't wait for next year's tournament!

Strike Out Cancer Day

Yesterday we spent a very special day at the ball park. Pat was selected to be honored at the Giants game along with 9 other cancer survivors. Pat was one of 4 who got to share his story in a video that was shown on the JumboTron right before the game. It was amazing! I am so proud of him and the other survivors for their courage and ability to share in hopes of helping others.

Pat on the field with other cancer survivors and Genentech executives being honored for Strike Out Cancer Day at the Giant's stadium. Pat is also on the JumboTron in the background!

Pat - second from the right. The man on the far right got to throw the first pitch! Phil, a four-year survivor of pancreatic cancer and father of three girls! What a great Father's Day!

This special annual game day is called Strike Out Cancer Day, a day sponsored by Genentech to help "Strike Out Cancer" and raise money for bay area resources that support people affected by cancer. Specifically, the fund raising supports the Wellness Community, an organization we have become very involved with. The Wellness Community is non-profit organization dedicated to providing free support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones. The Wellness Community offers professionally-led support groups, educational workshops, nutrition and exercise programs, and stress-reduction classes. People affected by cancer learn vital skills that enable them to regain control, reduce isolation and restore hope regardless of the stage of their disease. It has helped us in so many ways - anytime we can help them we do! http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/

June Check-Up

Yesterday Pat had his June check-up at UCSF. Everything looks good! Pat's doctors are very happy with how he has recovered and his progress toward reaching the 1 year milestone - only 3 more months to go. The biggies are the 1, 3 and 5 year milestones - he is on his way!

One of Pat's doctors is moving to Seattle to take a job with U of Washington. It was very sad to say good-bye. She is not only a great doctor, but an amazing person and friend. I think she saved Pat's life. I told her that we might have to name our first child after her, so now that the time has come we'll have to consider it. Her name is Jas (pronounced Jazz)- she is from the UK but she is Indian. Jas is short for Jasjit. Maybe a middle name? We'll see...Ha! : )

We were excited to tell Pat's doctors that we are going to have a baby, but something weird happened. When Jas walked into the room the first thing she said to me was "you look different, are you pregnant? ". How did she know? Has this happened to any of you? I told you Jas is gifted!!

We are going to have a baby!

We are so excited to announce that we are going to have a baby!!! We are due December 11, 2009! We are overjoyed and so in love with our little baby already!

Looking back on the past year makes this announcement all the more spcecial. I started this blog the night before Pat's surgery last September. We did not know what was ahead for us. What was the scariest time in our lives turned into a life changing time filled with many things we least of all expected - love, learing, patience and strenght. As we become parents we have a greater apperciation for life, family and friends. We are thrilled to share our baby experiences with all of you and celebrate this new life!

The picture was taken at the 11th week ultrasound - we are in week 14 now and the baby is about the size of a lemon!

Tuesday Tasty Treats

A friend of mine is doing "Tuesday Tasty Treats" where she is going to share a recipe on her blog every Tuesday. What the heck, this will be fun. So here is my Tuesday Tasty Treat (although it is Thursday) Ha!

My Favorite Cookies - aka Blended Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies
These take some work, but are oh so good!

1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 ½ cups blended oatmeal*
2 cups flour
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 cups chocolate chips (I use Nestle semi-sweet)
1 - 4 oz Hershey Bar (grated)**
optional 1 ½ cups chopped nuts (your choice)

* Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender until it looks like flour
** Buy the big 5oz Hershey Bar and put it in the fridge - a lot easier to grate when cold : )

Directions
Cream the butter and both sugars.
Add eggs and vanilla.
Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda.
Stir in chocolate chips, grated Hershey bar and nuts.
Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.
(they tend to over cook so take them out, let cool and try one even if they don’t look done)

Viva Las Vegas

I spent this past weekend in Las Vegas celebrating my dear friend Michelle's end of bachelorette-hood. The weekend was meticulously planned by one awesome maid of honor - Christie you did an amazing job. We spent the weekend eating amazing food, relaxing by the Bellagio pool and we even took in a show - Cirque du Soleil Zumanity. Cirque with a sexy spin!

It was so fun to have a girls weekend. I miss hanging out with my high school friends like we did every day for so many years. If I could go back and do high school all over again I would! As the weekend came to an end, I was sad to get back to reality, but I was sure excited to get back home to my hubby.