Goals for 2011!

I've decided to post my goals for the upcoming year, and with 3 days to spare!! These goals aren't just a new year tradition, but a way to improve my quality of life :) Sound good?

• Blog purposefully - I want to limit my posts to specific subjects. Mostly baking and cooking, it's nice to blog about my life, but not the main reason I started the blog. I want to connect with other bloggers that share the same interests I do.
• Learn to say "No" - I am a people-pleaser and need to learn to tell people No, instead of burning all of energy making everyone else happy. Going to every party or doing favors for everyone else is nice, but won't help me feel better about myself.
• Create balance between work & school - Working part-time and school part-time is manageable for me, but over-extending myself at either will make the other suffer.
• Create one cake a month (and post it!) - 1 cake per month, birthday, wedding, anniversary, anything. Keep my skills up to date and developing.
• Get my body "baby ready" - Monitor my sugar more closely, aim for <6 A1C, get my medications straightened out, get more rest, religiously take my daily vitamin and hit the gym 2x weekly (at least!)
• Take a real vacation 

Am I taking on alot? I think this is a realistic list of goals. What are your resolutions or life improvements for the upcoming year?

What I'm Reading, Stocking your Kitchen and Busy Weekend

via

My most recent book. I know I'm behind, but working, going to school, having a bf, two dogs and a niece plus trying to have a life. I just don't have the time. Plain and simple :/ I'm in chapter 4. Started off slow, but it's really picking up.Maybe I'll finish it next week.

I'm combining a few subjects, forgive me now. At least I'm posting!

Last night, I had a small little bake-a-thon. I made the lovely

banana muffins

&

pumpkin cheesecake.

Also, my pot roast was quite good.

Anyways, while I was baking the cheesecake I ran out of 2 main ingredients (vanilla extract and sour cream) that are essentials in a baker's kitchen. So I decided to share with you all what the essentials of a baker's kitchen should be (according to me).

• Flour (50 lb. bag in my kitchen, thank you Costco!)
• Eggs (no less than 2 dzn)
• Sugar (or appropriate sugar substitute you know how to use)
• Milk (any variation 2%, whole, soy, etc)
• Lemon Juice (used to make buttermilk and used as an acid)
• Sour Cream (another acid and used for moistness)
• Cream Cheese (I add to anything from breads to mashed potatoes)
• Vanilla Extract (Good quality, not to be skimped)
• Brown Sugar 
• Almond Extract (I use in a pinch instead of Vanilla)
• Cooking Spray
• Baking Powder 
• Baking Soda 
• Salt 

I can probably make about 75% of my standard recipes from the above ingredients. With the holidays coming up I thought this would be a good reference guide for all you bakers out there :)

This weekend, the girls and I are celebrating my 24th birthday! It's not for 2 more weeks, but this is the only weekend this month that works for everyone's schedule. We're having my infamous skittles vodka and pudding shots. Pictures to come on Monday.

"If you find a book that looks interesting but is part of a series, do you always start with the first title?"

I have to start with Book 1. I have to know everything I can about the characters and don't want to miss anything or be lost. I hate starting something in the middle.

Wednesday Blog Hop! - Where is the love?

Today is Mercedes' eye surgery and I'm beyond worried, but I know she will be fine. I've also been a little anxious worried I don't know what word I'm looking for. I'm not getting the type of traffic on my blog I thought. I know I haven't been blogging very long, but I think part of my problem is I don't have a specific blog. I don't specialize in anything. I use the blog as mostly, a diary of sorts about my life. My life isn't boring, but it's not full of excitement either. I'm going to try to start adding more craft projects and cooking/baking tutorials as well. And don't forget I LOVE comments, don't feel shy. A simple Hi will make my day :)