Chocolate Chip Freezer Cookies

These are the best homemade chocolate chip cookies I've ever had. No joke. Fluffy, chewy, and full of flavor. The most amazing part? You freeze the dough and only bake how many you want when you want them. This recipe is heavy on calories, but pure genius. View the original recipe here. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 c butter, softened
• 1/2 c shortening
• 1 1/2 c dark brown sugar
• 1/2 c granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 c all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4-1 bag milk chocolate chips or peanut butter chips

DIRECTIONS

1. In first bowl mix butter, shortening and sugars until light and fluffy.
2. Add in egg and vanilla. Mix until combined.
3. In a second bowl combine flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt and mix together.
4. Mix dry ingredients slowly into first bowl with sugar and egg mixture. Blend well.
5. Add in chocolate or peanut butter chips.
6. Use a ¼ cup to measure dough and place in quart size Ziplock bag. 
7. Place dough packaged in Ziplock bag into the freezer. (You can make cookies with the fresh dough, but they turn out better baked from frozen)
8. Place individual frozen ¼ cup cookie doughs onto ungreased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Where to Report your Car Problems

I own a 2009 Toyota Corolla. If you listen to the news you know the issues Toyota has had with the "sticky pedal" and a myriad of other give-me-heartburn-because-I-might-die problems. I won't bore you with the details of my vehicle woes, but I will tell you my car has been at the dealership's service department 3 times in the past month for them to fix the same safety problem that cost me $900 to start with. Annoying? To say the least.

I've done a lot of Google searches to see if I'm the only one with this mysterious problem and I'm not. I happened upon this website that may help get recalls discovered faster. 

http://www.safercar.gov/

I filed a safety complaint about my vehicle (along with 791 other complaints about my car) in hopes that this specific problem will be resolved by recall with the help of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). If you are having safety issues with your car, child seat, or tires complete the information form on this website! Spread the word. 

Cupcake Wrapper Keeper

I've mentioned before I have a thing for collecting jars. One of those wonderful glass cylinders came in handy this weekend. I found some cute cupcake wrapers at +Cost Plus World Market, (I also have a thing for that store ... like I probably single handedly keep them in business kind of thing), but the problem is the wrapers are stored in plastic so they are bound to get smushed in my baking pantry. A little crafting day unfolded.

I found the perfect size glass jar in my cabinet that I kept from a jar of green olives. After a few washes you can get rid of the stink. To get the sticky label off I soaked it in warm, soapy water then used one of those Pampered Chef scrapers to remove the sticker from the jar. It came off fairly easy with a little bit of elbow grease, but if you have an extra sticky label try some Goo Gone.

I like gold, but I didn't like the expiration date glaring at me so I painted the lid with some spray paint and it added a little color. I would suggest using primer first, without it it took a few extra coats to cover up the writing. I put my fun, new cupcake liners inside and it's just oh so cute! Add a bow and this would make a fun gift for a baking friend.

Book Review: There Is An Urgency

True stories are often a little hard to believe, especially if portrayed on TV. There Is An Urgency, a book about a man as a child and later as an adult, is also hard to believe, but in a different sense. It's not like Papillon, The Long Walk, Alive, or Into the Wild, which are all good reads; however, each has some level of controversy regarding truthfulness or accuracy.

Mr. Love's trials and experiences in There Is An Urgency are so extreme and disgusting that it's nearly impossible to dispute it's legitimacy. His pain is something altogether different from other typical survival stories. His is a pain of an innocent child.

There Is An Urgency is graphic and not for the feint of heart. Read at your risk. Grade: B+

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

The holidays just keep creeping up without much warning ... except they happen the same time every year. Mother's Day is just a few weeks away. Here's a few ideas to get the ball rolling. Every mom is different, so this list will hopefully get you thinking of a variety of ideas for the special mom, mother-in-law, wife, sister, grandma, et cetera in your life.

THE TRADITIONAL MOM
1. FLOWERS. I used to work as a florist, so I truly appreciate a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers or a green plant. Having the extra bit of color in the house really does lift your spirits! Support your local florist and look at their options online, or even better, go to the shop (it smells amazing)! Most floral shops are mom and pop businesses.

2. PHOTOS. Do you have photos of your mom when she was growing up? What about family photos of her with all of her children, or grand kids? A fun idea would be to have everyone write a favorite memory of/with her then organize it into a book and put it next to a photo of that person with Mom or Grandma. Check out +Shutterfly for scrapbook ideas or other photo gifts.

THE TECH MOM
3. PHONE CASE. I became envious of a friend's adorable Kate Spade wristlet iPhone case. It had a cute pattern, room for a credit card, I.D., and space for cash. Plus, she didn't need to carry a purse. Everything she needed could be held in the wristlet. The price tag: $70. Ouch. I was on a mission to find something comparable and I did -- for $7.95! I'm sold on this case. The functionality can't be beat. It has an opening in the back for your camera and is available in five colors with fun patterns on the inside. I rarely carry my purse anymore. 

4. TILE. Dubbed as "The world's largest lost and found,"  Tile is great for moms who lose things -- keys, purses, laptop, bike, etc. Put the tile on your belonging(s) and locate it easily with the app. It's a GPS for finding your stuff. Pretty cool technology.

THE FEMININE MOM
5. PURFUME. Scent is nice every now and then, and can be a little pick-me-up. I really like Miss Dior and Clinique Happy, but scent is a personal thing. A little research might be required to find out what your little lady will like best.

6. JEWELRY. A bracelet is a simple way to dress up an outfit. I would personally love a tennis bracelet, but this Vince Camuto link bracelet is lovely, too. (Side note: I have a pair of Vince Camuto heels and dress pants and am totally pleased with the quality and style).

THE FITNESS MOM

7. FITBIT. It's a calorie management system that uses an online program to manage what you consume and burn. There are lots of products out on the market so make sure you do your research ... Fitbit, BodyBugg, Body Media, Nike+, OVERLOAD. If she's into fitness, she'll probably be into this. 

8. WORKOUT PANTS. This is a recent purchase of mine and I'm quite enjoying it. These +Under Armour workout capris pants are the perfect length and great for yoga, runs, or lounging. Check with your lady on cut preference and size.

THE UNIQUE MOM
9. HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE. Is your mom a little adventurous? Does she like to try new, fun things? A hot air balloon expedition might just be the ticket. Here in Phoenix you can find these deals on Groupon every now and then. Sounds fun, right?!

10. HORSEBACK RIDING. Again, if she's an outdoorsy kind of gal, this might be right up her alley. Maybe just a short one-day excursion, or perhaps lessons. Do a little research and see who offers this in your area.

Re-Purpose your Birchbox

I gave away most of the items in March's +Birchbox to friends and family members, so this isn't a review. But I can tell you I have an obsession for collecting glass jars and Birchbox boxes. For what? To re-purpose so they don't go to waste!


1. Gift Box. Naturally, I like to use the box for what it's meant for- packaging new, fun items for someone to enjoy. I used a few boxes for Christmas Gifts and birthdays to give a pretty presentation. This polk-a-dot packing tape from +Target  adds some flair, and BTW, you can re-purpose boxes within the Birchbox (now we're getting deep) like this Liz Earle teal box with washi tape. Perfect!

2. Organizing. Everything has its place, and sometimes that's in a Birchbox. Personally, I like to keep crafts in mine, like card supplies -- envelopes, stamps, blank cards, etc. I have minimal sewing supplies so they fit perfectly, too!

3. Drawers. The guy's BB is perfect for a little drawer. I like to use it at work for things like snacks, nail polish, lotion, calculator, and stuff I I don't need in my face all the time.

Space Savers from Pinterest

Pinterest is full of ideas for everything! Here are three ideas I utilized in our apartment, and now our home, to maximize space. Strange it all has to do with clothing ... what's a couple who likes apparel to do?
1. Put these ideas into action.
2. When you buy a pair of shoes, sell or donate a pair. Same with jeans, shirts, dresses, etc.
3. Make an effort once per week to organize, put away, refold clothing to keep your space clean.

Follow me on Pinterest HERE.

I purchased curtain rods from Ikea and lined the bottom of our apartment closet to fit shoes above and below the rods. This made a huge difference in floor space! Luckily our new home has a closet with more shelving but I still keep this idea handy just in case.

The inside of a closet door is an under utilized space. I used our coat closet as pictured for scarves. For the inside of your bedroom closet consider putting in hooks for belts, purses, swimsuits, etc.

Why did I not think of this sooner?! Folding your t-shirts and putting them on the side rather than flat opens a huge amount of space, lets you see what's available to wear, and stays folded longer. I use this tactic for my drawer of workout clothes with tanks, shorts, and sweat towels.

Click on the photos to visit the original blogs these ideas came from, and even more organization tips! 

Toned Arms with Two Videos

When you wave to someone, don't let your arms wave back! Here's a 10 minute arm circuit from +POPSUGAR Fitness. My arms were a little sore after, and I only used 2 lb. weights! The video focuses on your biceps and triceps. This celebrity trainer's workouts are always great -- she also does the Victoria's Secret body workout which hurts for days.

Here's a second great arm workout from Tracy Anderson, another awesome celebrity trainer. This one is hard to keep up with for the whole 8-minutes if it's your first few times doing it. You can feel the burn!

These workouts will have you looking toned!

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Because everyone needs a good laugh every now and then. Am I right, or am I right?

Cartwheel by Target

During one of my regular lunch trips to +Target, I was informed about the app +Cartwheel By Target. It was originally rolled out about a year ago only allowing access if you logged in with Facebook. Just recently, they opened access to the app via email as well.

What is Cartwheel? An app that helps you save money at Target. You can browse by category, view all offers, or scan the barcode in the store to gather savings on different products. When you checkout, show your barcode with all the offers to redeem the savings. 

It's an interesting concept and I'm excited to try it out! Save on clothes, health & beauty, and groceries. I just wish I knew about this app when I purchased a new rug about a month ago! Download the app ASAP if you're a perpetual Target patron. And if you want to save money (psst -- you should always be looking to save money).