My Excellent Adventure Down Under

The Queen Victoria Building

 

I thought it was about time I took you somewhere! How about the Queen Victoria Building? It’s actually a mall now, but here is a brief history provided by their website:

The Queen Victoria Building, now affectionately known as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen - stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. Originally, a concert hall, coffee shops, offices, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople, such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers and florists, were accommodated.

This link will take you to their website:

http://www.qvb.com.au/

This is some mall, let me tell you. It's just a couple of blocks from our hotel/apartment, so it's within easy walking distance. There are almost 170 shops and restaurants! It has at least 4 different levels, the stores getting more and more exclusive as you go higher and higher. Fabulous restaurants, too! This is where I had that fantastic piece of lemon meringue pie (cake by Aussie lingo).  I wish I liked to shop (I missed out on the shopping gene); I’d go over here more often!

 

Remember this? Yummy!



 

The architecture is astonishing. You have to remember not to walk around with your mouth gaping open! In fact, the building is so beautiful that it is used for wedding photos; we saw 3 different wedding parties the afternoon we were there. Can you imagine any mall in America as a backdrop for your most important day? Rather than just talking about it, let me show you some of the pictures we took:

 

 

A view from the top floor
 

 

So much stained glass!

So very pretty; I can see why wedding parties like to have photos taken here!
 

This clock chimes on the hour, quite lovely
 

I had to get at least one shop in, yes? This one is for my sister-in-law, Lola: a shop of your very own!!

Looking down to the other floors... BIG, isn't it? If you look close to the balconies, you can see tables and people.. this is how restaurants/cafes increase their seating capacity. You can sit down out there and the hard working waiters run up and down waiting tables all day. All the waiters I saw were slim and fit! lol

 

 



This was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon, walking with my husband and having some pie and tea for an afternoon break. Like I said, I'm not a shopper, but if I were, this mall could do severe damage to our bank account! It is a great place for people watching, too.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing this little bit of Sydney. I have many other places I will show you as our adventure down under continues!

 



 

My Excellent Adventure Down Under

What Am I Doing Here????

Part III

 

So… are you curious about what I’m doing all day while hubby is at work? No? Well, I will tell you anyway… I am accomplishing the Number One item on my list of ‘What I Will Do in Australia’ and that is: Nothing. Not a thing. J  Ok, that’s not quite accurate; I am getting things done. But not what people expected me to do. And I’m okay with that, because my reality and those expectations are nowhere near the same. This trip, for me, was MY TIME. For the first time in my life, I would have no obligations.

This type of lifestyle is a huge departure for me. I am regimented. I have things to do and people that depend on me, and it’s been that way as long as I can remember. I went from childhood home to marriage to children/work/life/divorce/remarriage with no ‘me’ time in there anywhere. I am always up at 5:30 a.m. I keep busy, doing all those things busy people do. So the idea of doing nothing but what I wanted was a bit overwhelming. How do you do that? Won’t something fall apart?

Knowing that hubby would be working at an intense rate, I brought projects, projects, and oh yeah, some projects. Some are computer projects: organizing those photos that have been dumped into the ‘photo’ file on the computer for the last 8 years or so, cleanup general files on the computer, etc. Exercise more. Really learn to meditate. Read. Sleep. Sightsee (that will be covered in part IV). Twiddle my thumbs. Get to know hubby again. Think. Write. Play Angry Birds, a lot! Improve my tatting skills. You get the idea. Basically, whatever my mood was for the day would be my agenda, with a few chores thrown in. And I have to say, I’ve done very well for myself.

I am relaxed! I can’t remember feeling this relaxed! My mornings are s l o w. The first week or so, I was out of bed with hubby and busy busy busy, then I remembered I wasn’t supposed to be doing that this trip! So I started sleeping in. First till 6 a.m., then 6:15 a.m., then 6:30 a.m. This morning, I didn’t get out of bed until almost 7 a.m.! I read my online morning stuff; I eat a slow, leisurely breakfast. I do a few chores and catch up on any correspondence/bills/emails. I have a nice cup of tea. I catch a few friends on Facebook or Words with Friends. I try to meditate – I’m just not very good yet at turning my brain off. I do some form of exercise. Oh yeah, I could get used to this!

After lunch, I’m ready to get into a project. I work on my writing. I love working on this blog. The hardest part of writing is showing up! Writing is enjoyable for me, but doesn’t come easy. I write/delete/write/edit. I make notes. I do some research, depending on what I’m writing about. I’ve done some of the computer work; those photo files are looking better and better, and I will soon be able to actually find photos as I need them! I haven’t done much book reading or tatting; I have improved my Angry Birds skills. However, the best thing I’ve done is spend the last 4 weeks with someone I’ve wanted to know better over the last few years, me! And I’m beginning to like her, more and more!

One thing I have learned about myself: I am not a city girl. I love being here; it is exciting, but I am ready for something other than buildings and traffic noise and food smells wafting in through the open windows and yes, my windows are usually open because I prefer that to air conditioning. Fewer people to move through on the sidewalk would be good. No cigarette smoke would be fantastic! Some bird sounds would be nice. Some plants and grass would be great! A yard to dig in would be even better! I am a suburban or country girl for sure.

 

I’m learning to speak for myself. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? I’m almost 60; surely I would know how to do that. Actually, no, I have very little experience with it. I have always done what I thought others wanted me to do or hear me say. I would just ‘go along’. Don’t make waves. You know what I mean. A small example would be dinner: my pre-Australia response would likely be “whatever you want to do is fine”, but now, I speak up. If I want a steak, I want a steak! Hubby likes it! If I’m by myself, I have to make myself clear, especially to the poor Australian who is trying to understand my Texas/California-speak. I am learning to be unafraid to say what I need or what I mean. This is huge for me. In a way, it’s a matter of survival, because I am in an area where I don’t know anyone or where things are. I have to fend for myself. Guess what! I can do that!

 

For all of you who are working out of the home and in the home, dealing with family responsibilities, life responsibilities, etc., I want you to know that I truly appreciate this time. I am not without some responsibilities here, but they are certainly greatly reduced. I wish each of you could find a way to do this, and I would encourage you to figure out a way to find at least 15 minutes of private time a day if not more (an hour would be the best!). I’ve seen all those Oprah shows, too, and know how impossible it sounds to do that, but give it a try, or as they say here in Australia, give it a go, mate. You just might find out that you really are your own best friend!

 

Next time: Part IV: Sights to See

My Excellent Adventure Down Under

Part II, Where We Live

We had a lovely little 1-bedroom apartment on the 36^th floor of an apartment/hotel (The Meriton) in the business district of downtown Sydney. I felt like I was in Manhattan! I’ve never been to Manhattan, but I’ve seen it on TV a lot! It felt very “citified” for a suburban housewife like me. Surrounded by tall buildings, a view of a harbor not too far away, the hustle and bustle! Everything was going to be great! This was our BIG adventure, sans les enfants et famille, just us!

Sunday was a blur after flying all night and staying awake all day and through dinner. We managed to get a good night’s sleep and wham! It’s Monday! Hubby was up getting ready for work at 5:30 a.m., so I walked into the kitchen to get a few breakfast things out (we did grocery shopping on Sunday, too). And what is the first thing I see? The beautiful harbor view? A blue sky? That hustle and bustle of the big city? Well, in a way, there was hustle and bustle all right….right there, running in a tiny trail across my kitchen counter – ANTS! I couldn’t believe my eyes! Since ants are one of my most hated pests at home in California, I felt like I had somehow manifested all my fears into this sci-fi reality here in Sydney. I was on the 36^th floor for Pete’s sake! And these ants were so tiny, microscopic almost… and FAST! I’d actually picked up a Windex-type cleaner at the grocery store on Sunday (yes, I know, compulsive cleaner), so, having ant experience because of living in SoCal, I attacked that line with the spray cleaner and voila! the ants disappeared, but not for long. A call down to the desk produced some surprised desk clerks and a surprised houseman at my door with a can of bug spray. Now, this first week/weekend in Australia just happened to be a national holiday- Australia Day, so the hotel was packed.  The hotel was sympathetic but had no other rooms available at the time, so for about a week, every day, twice a day, morning and afternoon, those little guys would show up.  So we waited and sprayed. I just couldn’t believe it. Our breakfast cereal truly became 'cold' cereal as I stored all our food in the refrigerator now!  The hotel was good to their word and after a week, we were able to pack everything up and move to a different apartment.

This new apartment is actually a little bigger with a better view (and no ants!), sort of a 1-bedroom penthouse to me! We have an entryway, a combination living/dining room, a tiny kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, laundry room with washer and dryer, and a balcony that is probably great but I'm too chicken to go out on it (too high!). Pretty much all the comforts of home without having to tend to a yard J …  and while I think of it, the water in the toilet does not swirl in the opposite direction; let me just dispell that myth right now! We are way up on the 43^rd floor with a great view of Darling Harbor. I thought that was just a quaint description of the harbor, but it really is called Darling Harbor and on Saturday nights, they shoot fireworks off at 9:00 p.m., just like Disneyland! It's loud and spectacular!  

As a friend of ours said, being in Sydney is the closest thing to being in L.A. while being out of the United States. Sydney is great; it’s a busy city, but it feels so much like L.A. that we have to remind ourselves we are in a foreign country. The temperature, the terrain, the vegetation, and hundreds of people walking around all day… it’s like being in the South Bay in L.A. with the exception that it actually rains here! We have floods to the north and fires to the west, just like L.A. winters, although it is summer here. The food is fabulous, and the people are very nice. And those accents! Yes, they do say “g’day”, “no worries”, and call everyone “mate”.

So now you know how I ended up here and where I am living while I’m here… but do you want to know what I’m actually doing while hubby is at work?

I’ll get to that in Part 3….

My Excellent Adventure Down Under

Part I, The Beginning

  

So here I am, ‘down under’, in Sydney, Australia. Everybody wants to go to Australia. It’s been on my bucket list, too. So how did I make the trip? Well, let’s start with the backstory, shall we?

Flashback to August 2012. Hubby comes home from work one day with the dreaded announcement “I’ve been laid off.” Such a familiar phrase uttered too many times in too many families far too often these days. You try not to panic but the reality is; you’re panicked. Anyone know a company looking for a great CIO in SoCal?? We were very fortunate that my husband had severance pay. So he set about looking for work, and I set about vowing to pinch pennies as best I could. A few weeks later, hubby mentions that he had been offered a job in Australia. Really? Do we want to go? For a variety of reasons at that time, for that particular position, the answer was no.

 

December 2012 comes along, and Australia is mentioned again, this time for a different position. The idea is intriguing and frankly, there are no other jobs knocking on our door at the moment. The decision is not an easy one in many ways. I am/was the chief babysitter for our grandson and for many reasons, this was a difficult choice for me, least of which was the position it put my daughter and her husband with daycare. I’ve been a single mom; I know how hard and expensive it can be. Fortunately, our grandson was already enrolled part-time in a preschool that he just loves so from his perspective, staying in school longer was a great idea; my daughter also understood what a unique opportunity this was for us, so the decision was made that yes, this time we would go. Another factor was that we weren’t actually moving to Australia; we would be going for several trips over the course of 4 months or so, so why not?

I have never traveled to a foreign country before. I have a passport, because my husband has had to travel and we felt I should have one in the event I needed to go to wherever he might be. I have been into British Columbia but at the time, you only needed a driver’s license to go over, so that little passport of mine didn’t have a single stamp in it. What in the world do I take? We would be gone this first trip for 7-8 weeks. That’s a long time for someone like me who’s only used to quick trips to visit relatives! And then it hit me:  pack for a long vacation, silly! So we did. But then there’s travel insurance, notifying credit cards and bank accounts, making sure I can pay bills online in Australia, and details, details, details. Every time we thought we had things pretty much under control, something else would appear that needed to be attended to. Eventually, we plowed our way through all those things and finally, at last! we were on our way to LAX on Friday afternoon, January 18, 2013.

We had not had to go through international security at LAX before, well, at least for me and it had been pre-9/11 for my husband, so we decided to get to the airport early. Can’t be too careful, dontcha know? We were scheduled to fly out at 11:30 p.m. and yes, there we were, at LAX by 5:30-6. No comments, please! Interestingly, there are no real restaurants after you go through international security, so we had a nice, leisurely dinner before and then walked on through. It was probably the easiest trip through security I’ve ever had to make! Not a huge line, no extra-nervous TSA agents, just do the normal strip-down of shoes, etc and walk through the x-ray machine. That was easy!

So, there we were, feeling like we were the first ones at a party (an L.A. thing) and no one else in sight. It was kinda nice, at first. Eventually, other passengers for other flights showed up, as well as passengers for our flight. First flight left, and there we sat. Other flights came and went and then, yes, you guessed it, the delay announcement. Our plane was coming from New York and apparently, bad weather won so our flight was delayed 2 hours! Ok, we were already going to be flying all night, but sheesh, I usually go to bed at 10! This was going to be way past my bedtime! But you deal with it, because you have no choice. Just as 1:30 a.m. approaches, we’re told we have yet another delay- the plane simply isn’t here yet. Oy vey. Finally, we board our plane and get ready for takeoff. It’s around 2:15-2:30 a.m., and we settle in for a 14-hour flight. Hubby and I don’t sleep well on planes, but let’s just say we made it unscathed, landing in Sydney on Sunday morning around 11:15-11:30 a.m. When you fly from the U.S. to Australia, you fly over the International Date Line, so although we left on Friday night (Saturday morning), we lost most of Saturday somewhere over the Pacific Ocean and ended up in Sydney on Sunday. Just don’t think about it too hard.

We’d been told by several people we know that have traveled internationally that one of the best things you can do for yourself after a flight like this is to NOT go to sleep. We did pretty good, getting to our hotel/apartment in downtown Sydney, unpacking, keeping busy… until about 4:30-5, when I sat down on the couch. We were meeting my husband’s boss for dinner at 5:30… and if hubby hadn’t had better resolve than me, we would have missed it. My eyes got so heavy! But we made it, dinner was lovely, and we headed home to bed.

 

Stay tuned.....

My Amazing Appliances aka New Washer and Dryer

I've had my new washer/dryer for 9 days and I have to say: I LOVE THEM! Well, maybe that's a bit too enthusiastic, but you know what I mean. Most of you that follow me on Facebook know the saga, but here it is in a nutshell:

My old washer had been dying a slow death. It was a front-loader so when the bearings went bad, my options were to replace the entire drum (one of the joys of a front-loading machine), which would have cost me about $500-$600, purchase a new washer, or continue using the old one till she blew. Guess which option I chose! haha.. and she lasted about another year or so! Finally, when I discovered the washer was spitting grease onto the clothes as she washed them, I decided she'd made her point. And the research began....

I really hated my front-loading machine. In all fairness, the machine was purchased in June 2002 and was one of the first of the 'new' front-loaders. The manufacturers made it sound like this was a brand new thing, but my mom had a front-loader when I was growing up. I loved watching it wash when I wasn't watching the grass grow. Hey, it was a small town in Texas, ok? You got your fun where you could! At any rate, I posted on Facebook and asked for opinions on top-loading versus front-loading. I combed through Google and read reviews. I looked at Consumer Reports. I asked people I knew. And I was pretty determined not to purchase another front-loading machine.

I purchased a front-loading machine. Yup. I did. And since the old dryer was also 10 years old, we bought the dryer, too. Now, before everyone yells "TRAITOR" and sends me to the gallows, let me tell you what I discovered in those days (and yes, I mean days!) of research. Basically, you get what you pay for. Washing machines are like paint: you can go cheap, and you'll end up redoing the job pretty darn quick. You can go high-end and be out lots of dollars, but the machine should last you at least 10 years so prorate those dollars. Call me old-school, but I grew up with machines that lasted 10 years and longer, and I just think they should last that long, like my car. The old washer, as I said, was purchased in June 2002 and here it is March 2012, and voila! I'm purchasing a new machine. I hope not to have to go through this again until 2022 (is that really a year? 2022? or does the world end before then?) By the way, the old washer/dryer was also moved 2-3 times and we all know how delicately movers handle our belongings..'nuff said.

I also stated that I really didn't want to pay a lot of money for a washer/dryer that, unfortunately, sit in my garage. I miss an indoor laundry room but in this little house that I call my "cottage", that's where the machines reside. Well, I spent a lot of money for a washer/dryer that sit in the garage. I'm over it.

Quickly, let me review what I learned about top-loading machines. They are supposedly water-wise, so the people I spoke with (including a salesperson and a friend) said the machines only put water to the top of your clothes, then suck it out, then put more water in, then suck it out again. There's not any or little agitation these days. Consequently, all that dirty water that's swishing over your clothes is being drained back down on the top of them with the cycle. No one I spoke to liked their top-loaders or would recommend them, and the reviews were so-so. I decided to give the front-loaders another chance. If I hated them, I could always return them before my 90 days was up and find a rock and a stream, I guess.

I had a Kenmore washer/dryer from Sears, and my new washer/dryer are also Kenmore Elite from Sears. What can I say? I am brand loyal. My husband and I spent almost 4 hours on a Sunday looking at every brand of machine in our area. I was very close to purchasing an Electrolux (yes, they make washer/dryers now, not just vacuums), and we decided we should check our Sears appliance store before we made our final decision. The Electrolux dealer had offered us an excellent price on their machines, so I was pretty tempted. We got to Sears and looked at their comparable models. Then we went out to our car and discussed, discussed, called Electrolux with some questions, discussed some more, and made our decision. We went back into Sears and asked if they could meet or beat the price on the Electrolux. And good ole Sears: they came down on their price and beat the competition! The machines were very much alike, but the deciding factor was the Kenmore name. I do have a friend that has the Electrolux machines and loves them, so I feel like I would have been pretty happy with them, but the truth is I feel like I know Sears. They are like an old family friend... the very units I were replacing were from Sears and generations of my family have used Sears products, and that really tipped the scale in their favor. The only downside was this was a Sunday and Monday was a holiday, so I wouldn't get my machines delivered until Wednesday. Could I live without doing laundry for 3 more days? Yes, I could, but barely. The laundry was really piling up!

Sears called me at least 3 times before the machines were delivered to tell me they were coming. When was the last time a company did that? They called me the night before, the morning of, and just before they arrived! They called me early in the morning to let me know there were some scratches on the washer and did I just want to reorder a new machine? Well, honestly, I was getting antsy about the laundry piles that were growing and reproducing while I waited for these machines, especially since I hadn't done laundry for the week prior because of the whole grease-spitting issue with the old one. I asked if they could bring the machine out so I could see how bad the scratches were and they agreed. The scratches they originally mentioned were so small if the delivery man hadn't pointed them out, I wouldn't have seen them! So the process began. Out with the old, in with the new. Took them about 45 minutes to get them in and leveled, etc. Then I noticed the 'other' scratches. Oy. These were obvious and I know the delivery guys didn't scratch them, because I was out in the garage when they were doing their installation. But these scratches bothered me. I decided I should use the machines and see how I liked them before we did any discussion of replacement, and I called my salesperson and told her what was going on. She was great! She made a note and we decided to check with each other in the next day or so to see what I thought.

I started washing. I think I did 12 loads that day. I gave both machines a workout! And with each load, I was happier and happier with my decision. These machines do everything but my nails and my hair! The dryer has a steam option, which we tested with a jacket that had some wrinkles in it, and it worked great! There are so many options on the washer, I have to study to see which one I want to use. The old, nasty buzzer noise for cycle ending  is gone, replaced by a lovely chiming sound (same with the dryer). I have a 'whitest whites' cycle on the washer- makes me laugh because of course I want the whitest whites! I also have a 'sanitation' cycle and a steam cycle on the washer. I can also 'pause' the machine to add any forgotten items, something I could not do with old machine; I could add clothes but it was kind of a mess to do so. I'll post some pictures at the end of this post so you can see the machines and all their options.

I decided to live with the scratches. This was really kind of a dilemma for me. I felt like I should have been more upset, really, because I paid a lot of money for these machines! However, I also felt there was a risk of moving another machine in and having scratches on that one, too. I spoke with my salesperson and once again, Sears came through. They offered me a little over 10% cash back on the washer plus free touch-up paint to cover the scratches! I happily had her put that money back in my checking account, and the touch-up paint should be here in a few days. You can't really see the scratches unless I show you where they are so once again, I'm happy with my decision.

Efficiency was a big point with me. I was told that my old machines were energy efficient but frankly, I don't think they were. The washer took forever and so did the dryer. The washer might have been more water efficient, but I wasn't so sure about the electricity it used. The new washer still has long cycles but as my husband pointed out, the engine in this machine should be more refined and technologically advanced, so it should use less electricity. Ok. Whatever. I'm still not so sure about that part of it. The dryer, however, is a different story. My old machines were what I would call 'first generation' of the return to the front-loading lifestyle, so their technology was, well, 10 years old. The dryer would run for the length of the cycle I set, so even if the clothes were dry, it baked them until the hour or so was up. The new dryer, however, has a sensor. The cycle may start as a 50-minute cycle but if the clothes dry before then, it shuts itself off. There is a digital timer on the machine so I can see how much time is left in the cycle. Since the washer does such a nice job of spinning most of the water out of the wash, I've noticed that I can set the dryer for a 50-minute cycle but it will adjust itself and dry the clothes in 20 minutes or so. Nice!

Lastly, I bought big machines (4.6). I like to wash my bedspreads, rugs, etc frequently since my house is open most of the time out here in Southern California and things get dusty. These machines can handle my biggest and bulkiest items with no problem. Pictures below and yes! these machines are a very dark PURPLE!! Sears calls them 'blackberry'. Oh, and I also got efficiency rebates from my utility companies!



So, here they are in my garage. They are definitely bigger than my last machines, but they fit. It's a tight fit, hence my hesitation about replacing the washer for a few scratches, which are on the side by the water heater, so who sees those? But I will use the touch-up paint.



This is the dryer panel. You can see how many options I have!



This is the washer panel. Bad picture. I didn't get the additional 7 options to the left of that dial.



I purchased large machines since I like to wash bulky items like rugs and bedspreads. Notice the doors are reversible (like a refrigerator), so I don't have to reach around a door to move the clothes. Who knew I could get 'suicide doors' on my washer/dryer!



 I also have the units on pedestals. Since I'm tall, it helps my back a lot not to have to bend so far to move loads around. The pedestals hold my laundry supplies, so that's a nice touch!





Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

A few days ago (maybe even 2 weeks?? really? that long?) I posted a picture of these yummy chocolate chip peanut butter cookies on my Facebook wall and said I would post the recipe on my blog soon (sorry). I also mentioned how I was salivating as I baked them and tasted the cookie dough (who, me?). I have to face facts: I am spineless when it comes to homebaked cookies and cookie dough. I love them! Everything about them: the decision of which cookie to make, the wonder at how flour and sugar and eggs and etcetera combine to make the most delightful little cookies, the taste-testing of the dough, the smell, and the final result! Who invented this idea? I don't know that I could look at flour and eggs and etcetera and say to myself, "Self, I just bet if I combined all these ingredients and dropped them by little spoonfuls on a cookie sheet and baked them, they would taste great!" But I am oh so glad that somebody or somebodies gave it a whirl!!

The recipe I found comes from the most delicious website I have run across lately: Bakerella. Her website just makes me want to bake everything she posts! Wait till you see her Valentine cookies, oh my oh my! Here's a link: http://www.bakerella.com/ .  Take some time to peruse her site; you will be so glad you did!

Just FYI: I did not roll them in the pecans since I knew my grandson would be eating these, and he doesn't like nuts right now (he's 4, I'm sure he'll love them eventually!), but I can see where adding the pecans would make these 'serve at any event' cookies, for sure. Also, I tend to make my cookies a little smaller just because I like them bite-size; it's a visual thing for me -- I'd rather eat 4 cookies than 2. Also, other than no pecans, my cookies looked exactly like Bakerella's (always a good thing!)!

Here is her recipe for the cookies I made:

Dark Chocolate Chip Comfort Cookies from http://www.bakerella.com/

1-1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teasoon salt

1/2 cup butter, slightly softened

1-1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

10 oz. dark chocolate chips

chopped pecans, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, soda, and salt using a wire whisk and set aside. In another bowl, cream butter, sugar, and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and mix until combined. Stir in dark chocolate chips. Roll cookie dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. (If desired, roll balls in chopped pecans.) Place on parchment paper-covered baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Place cookies on cookie rack to cool. Makes about 30, 2-inch cookies.

Send a comment and let me know how you liked them!

Adventures in (Homemade) Body Scrub!

Let it be known that, secretly, I am a girlie girl. On the outside, people see the house-cleaning, yard-working, grocery-shopping mom... on the inside, I yearn for spas, pedicures, manicures, massages... I also love everything herbal: doesn't it just feel right to use things from the earth? So, having recently given up coffee (that story in another blog), I had some coffee left in my freezer that was just crying out to be used somehow. Aha!, says I... body scrub!

I looked online and found several recipes and then, of course, sorta made up my own based on what I'd read. Here's my recipe in the best-guessed amounts:

1 cup (approx) of Starbucks Sumatra Blend Regular Coffee (ha, an expensive scrub!)

2-3 tablespoons brown sugar

2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Safflower oil, just enough to get it 'movable' so it will go on the skin

Vanilla, just enough to dilute the coffee smell

Just mix all that in a bowl and take it to the shower!

Well, the fun begins when you get in the shower. I scooped up a pile of the brown gunk, er, I mean, scrub, and slopped it on my leg. The first thing I noticed was that, oh boy, I was going to have to scrub the shower when I got done because this stuff was going everywhere! No matter how carefully I applied it to my body, coffee grounds appeared on the shower wall, etc. I finished scrubbing my entire body with this stuff, and it actually felt pretty good. I looked like a bad mud wrestler, but my skin felt pretty good!

Then the rinsing began. Well, let me tell you... there were coffee grounds in places on my body that Juan Valdez can only dream of! Good grief, who knew coffee grounds could move like that? I know I didn't intentionally put the scrub in some of those places, but nonetheless, I rinsed and rinsed, and rinsed again. And then rinsed. And then had to rinse down the walls of the shower and all those nooks and crannies behind shampoo bottles, etc. But I repeat, my skin felt GREAT! Really! And I didn't smell like I had fallen in the used grounds bin at Starbucks.

Would I do this again? Probably not. Well, maybe. But I would definitely explore other homemade scrubs, perhaps sticking with salt and baking soda, which are white and won't show as badly if I do a poor job of shower cleaning afterwards. But I would encourage you to try one. You feel like you're doing something spa-like that isn't costing an arm and a leg (you don't have to use Starbucks, haha), and your skin really does feel nice. Here are a few tips based on my experience:

* Don't do this if you're in a hurry, like before work. You must, absolutely MUST, clean your shower afterwards. Besides the obvious brown coffee grounds everywhere, the floor of your shower becomes very slippery, so please don't create a hazard for yourself or anyone else who steps in the shower after you're done. I was able to get the visible grounds cleaned up, but I suspect they will be like Easter grass or Christmas tree needles: they will show up over the next few weeks in spite of what I thought was a thorough cleanup.

* Don't do this on the same day you shave. The scrub is invigorating and would probably be a bit too much if you've shaved the same day.

* I still applied my regular moisturizer afterwards; it just gave me that little extra I needed because I have very dry skin. My skin still felt great when I went to bed in the evening tho!

* Look online for recipes. There are lots out there, including some with essential oils like lavender, etc., which would smell great.

On the whole, this was fun, beneficial, and a great way to use up the last of the coffee I had. I will most definitely try this again with different recipes. If you decide to try one, please post and let us know what you used. Enjoy!