Busy Bee

I have been away from my blog this last week, and for good reason! Tomorrow is my first day off in nine from my restaurant. I'm so excited for it I'm dizzy. Also, I was busy  I mean my new roomie and art school friend was busy finding us a beautiful new apartment and I'm a baby mama to a rambunctious wiener dog, so I've been a little overloaded. All this hustle and bustle has obviously brought some changes in my life. October (or end of rather) is a big month that I have long awaited for. There are so many things I am excited about. Here are just a few:

1. I can't wait to see my beautiful mama. She will be here in socal this Thursday. Even as an independent 26 year-old who has been away from home since she was 18, I still miss my mama. Le sigh.

2. I get to move into what will be a fabulous new apartment with a great new roomie! Um can you say "girls just want to have fun!?"

Totally a new adventure. I can't wait!

3. My Dad and wicked amazing step-mom will be in town for their wedding.

4. I may have mentioned before but I'll bring it up again. Dad and Debbie are getting married on a Mexican Riviera cruise, so I get a vacation! WOOHOO! Plus it will be great to see them!

Also, this wonderful vacation happens to fall on Halloween! Yep. SO I'm bringing my costume on the boat.

What am I going to be you ask? To stay on theme, I bought a cute little sailor costume! Pictures to come after I get back. 

Just a little update of whats going on with me. I feel like I'm going a million miles a minute!

Hope all you Diary Readers have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo

The right time for SEX

Anna Faris's new movie has got me thinking a lot about dating and sex. I haven't seen it yet, and quite honestly I don't think I'll be wasting any of my movie gift cards to go to the theaters for it but for those who aren't aware of the gist, I'll explain it to you.

Anna plays a  hopelessly single woman who's convinced she's passed up the man of her dreams. After reading a magazine article that leaves her disheartened about her future marriage prospects, she begins to fear that one of her 20 ex-boyfriends/hook-ups may have been "the one that got away." So she pays a visit to each of her exes in order to reel in the perfect catch with a little help from her uber cute neighbor, Chris Evans, who I'm sure ends up being "the one".


In the movie she has the highest sex number of all her friends, 20. Now, I have to agree, this is a higher number, but for this day and age is it really? People are having sex younger, it's easier to have safe sex, and quite frankly, sex is everywhere! You can't escape it! 


Being a single girl myself, I would say I'm seasoned in the sex world. However, I'm past my point of having, shall we say "college fun." I did it and it was fun, but now I'm older and I'm not really looking for that anymore. I'm ready for something a little more serious. Which brings me to my next question. When dating, when's the right time for sex?


Whether you're new to the dating scene, you're a regular player, or you're jumping back in after long time off, how do you know when the right time is right for sex? This is a tricky question! If it's too soon you're a slut and if you hold out too long he can lose interest... (sad but true ladies.) According to Tom Leykis, a man should get sex with a woman after the third date. That seems a little soon to me, also, is this three dates in a row? Three dates in a month? Or does it even matter?


Of course I would say that you should do it when it feels right. But you should be ready for when it does feel right, and to do that you both have to be on the same page. I'm not sure if there is one formula or if it's a 'one size fits all' (if you will) kind of thing for every dating relationship. Each person is different and expects different things, but I think it is important to remember: sex does not always imply that there is a commitment. Having an honest conversation with yourself is important because you should know your emotional boundaries. Women are emotional creatures, and most of the time sex and emotions are one in the same. According to Dr. Cheryl McClary, professor at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, emotional wholeness is crucial to the decision process of whether or not to have sex. If you value your relationship you should ask yourself "What do I need to stay emotionally whole?" Believe me, in the heat of the moment, with a sexy man, I know that is way easier said than done! So you should have already thought about these things before hand. Ugh, right? To help you out with this, WebMD has come up with a few practical dating rules to help you decide when you'll be ready for the horizontal tango! 


1. Once you've decided what you would like out of a date, you should make it apart of your regular dating rules. 


2. If you want a one night stand, tell your partner that it's just the sex you're after. If you want more say so. This will help minimize later disappointments.


3. Make sure the sex that you will have will be safe (no STD's allowed!) and obviously it should be consensual.


I'm sure that most of you are thinking to yourselves "DUH! These 'rules' are obvious Kate!" And while I agree, I think that they may often times be overlooked. I am by no means a sexpert, but I am a single girl with questions! I know that I can't be the only one wondering how to play the terribly confusing game of love. And sadly I don't know if there are any real solid answers. If only life were that easy! But I thought this little post might help point some of you Diary Readers in the right direction when it comes to new dating and sex. Good luck and have fun! 
  
xoxo-

Le Sigh.

I have mentioned here a few times on this little ol' blog that I was moving or have just moved. Well friends, it looks like the North winds are calling and it's time to put mine and Roxie's little red capes on and go again. (If you haven't seen Chocolat, then you have no idea what I'm talking about. And also, Shame on you.) Here is a little photo from the movie for your viewing pleasure:

YOWZA!

Where was I? Oh, yes. So I'm moving again. I haven't even been in this new place (Ahem. SEABROOK APARTMENTS (at Bear Brand) cough*) for two months, and I have had Sooo many problems they actually decided to break my lease! Here's just a few of the issues I've dealt with whilst living here:

• Fleas (not from us)
• Termites
• Mildew smells in my closet
• Cracked sink pipe- Also causing mold & mildew
• Sprinklers broken, soaking our front porch
• Broken cabinet hinges
• Clogged tub drains

And for the big doozy a water heater explosion causing mold inside the walls!

I bet you're thinking I live in squalor, and it sounds like I do, but the scary thing is that these apartments look really nice and clean... Until you move in! 

However, there is a silver lining on every cloud because me and my good friend Kelsey are moving in together and now we get to find a place that suits the two of us! YAY!

So, once I move in to this new place, wherever it may be, and once I get all moved in, I really will be posting pictures of what is going to be a VERY cute apartment!

Ready For A Vacation!

Dontchya wish life had a pause button you could push when you need a break to revamp and pull yourself together? I sure do, (I guess thats why we have vacations) because I am really looking forward to my little cruise getaway that is happening in just a couple short weeks! Here are some pictures I found that I think are super cute AND fun to tie in with my vacation themed post!

This is how I feel today:

It's right around the corner!

And I couldn't be more excited for Halloween to get here!

Happy Friday ya'll!

Delicious Homemade Pumpkin Pie!

As promised, today I am posting my favorite pumpkin pie recipe Ever! Of all pies, pumpkin is my favorite. And I happen to be quite the little cook, if I do say so myself! View exhibit A.

Exhibit A:

This was Thanksgiving a couple years ago. I wish my hair looked like that now!

So here is what you need to make everything for a delicious homemade pumpkin pie, filling, crust AND  

whipped cream.

Filling:

• 11/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 4 large eggs
• 1 can 29oz. Libby's 100% pure pumpkin 
• 2 cans 12oz each Carnation evaporated milk

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a small bowl.

Beat eggs in large bowl.

Stir in pumpkin....

And spice mixture.

Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

This is what the filling will look like! Set aside.

Pie Crust:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cups Crisco

5 tbs. ice water (fill a cup with ice water and use this)

I was naughty and forgot to take pictures for the mixing portion of the pie crust, so I'll just give you the instructions. I am positive any Diary Reader who tries this will be able to do it on her own! :)

Whisk together flour and salt. Add Crisco and blend with pastry blender until crumbs become pea size. Add ice water one tablespoon at a time. This is important! Make sure to blend water one TBS. at a time or there is a chance the dough will become sticky and un-usable. Blend with a fork after each tablespoon. Form into dough ball.

Roll out on to floured surface. Like so:

Place pie dough into pie pan and pat down to fit. Poke fork holes all around for air.

Cut edge of crust around pan.

Now for the fun part!

To make a braided crust, use a pizza roller and make three thin strips. squish end together and braid normally!

Pretty! Note: you may have to braid a few small sections. and put them together on the pie. Mine took four separate braids. 

To get the braids to stick to the pie crust shell, wet your finger with water and run it across the shell crust, then place the braids on the edge. The water will make the dough stick. 

For a decorative center piece I used a pumpkin cookie cuter and carved a Jack o' Lantern! Set Jack aside to bake after the pie.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and place the pie carefully at the center of the rack. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 40-50 more minutes. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. (if you like your pie cold like I do refrigerate for at least 2 more hours.

To bake Jack, place him on a cookie sheet and cook for 5-10 minutes or until golden brown. check frequently so you don't burn him!

And the finished product will look like this! Isn't it cute?!

Now for the whipped cream!

Whipped Cream:

• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tbs. sugar

Using an electric mixer, mix whipping cream, sugar and vanilla at low speed and the change to medium. (Notice my beautiful Raspberry Ice KitchenAid mixer!)

Once the cream starts to thicken, turn to high speed.

Mix until your cream becomes soft and foamy. (look for a peak. Like a soft serve cone top.) If you go for too long it will start to separate and eventually become butter!

I mixed my cream for just a tad too long...

But it was still delicious anyways!

Hope you enjoyed cooking with Kate! Until next time!

Little hopes and tiny dreams

My old ASB Teacher used to tell us: "Shoot for the moon and you will land on a star." Totally lame. I used to do the teenage eye roll every time he said it. But now that I'm older, I kind of like this cheesy little line, it's actually kind of cute.

This post is going to be about the things that I wish or would really like to be able to do. Am I going to shoot for the moon with all of these? Probably not, but hopefully I'll land on a couple stars anyways.

1. I would LOVE to be able to sing. Or even just play an instrument. One day hopefully I will learn. Its bands like the Civil Wars that make it seem so cool and easy. I wish I could be that cool. Um, plus the male singer is smoking hot! Johnny Depp's twin for sure.

2. I would really like to be a guest at a soiree like one Gatsby would have thrown at his large estate in the Hamptons. Beaded flapper dress, Champagne and the Charleston? Yes Please!

And how fabulous is this already put together ensemble I plan on wearing from Miss Baloo? 

3. It would be so romantic to have a love epiphany and figure out the one I was supposed to be with,  then run to him like in the movies with this song playing. Of course he would love me as well and we would make-out furiously as the song was ending.... 

 

4. I would like to have sex with Don Draper. This needs no explanation.

5. I think it would be nice to sleep in, pretend that it's the weekend, snuggle, and of course make banana pancakes. This could happen on any given day, but it never or rarely does.

6. I would like to produce this: .... By this I mean a sweet little girl. - not anytime soon though!

7. I would like to be recognized for my work in a magazine like Better Homes and Gardens. OR Coastal Living. Definitely Coastal Living.

8. Another movie scene. I wish I could drive in the rain and feel a sense of calm and contentness and have this beautiful song come on. Songs never come on when they're supposed to. Doesn't it sound like a rainy day song?

9. I would like to know how to dance. Well. Not hip hop. Real dancing (sorry), like Swing dancing and 'Western' and Salsa and Waltz. Man that would be fun!

10. I would die to have mermaid hair that looked like this:

11. I wish I had a gay best friend or relative (I'm not picky) like Cam from Modern Family. He is totally  my favorite character on the show. 

12. I wouldn't mind driving around in one of these little cuties.

13. And lastly, I obviously need a place to park my new car... What better place than an adorable little cottage, maybe one that looks like this. With a little yard for Rox.

So there you have it. Just a few strange little hopes and dreams that I wish will happen in the nearish future of my lifetime!