COOKING :)

So I've been cooking a lot lately. The cupcakes are a tremendous recipe I got from my FAVORITE cooking blog, smittenkitchen.com (thanks Lilly!) Irish carbomb cupcakes! I met my husband over a couple of irish carbombs so this recipe will always hold a special place in my heart. And as a bonus, they are really yummy! I neve would have though of putting Guinness in cake batter but it works and its phenomenal. Not too sweet, just right!
The other picture is of some yummy pasta creation I came up with last night. Ziti with eggplant, spinach, and sundried tomatoes in a goat cheese ricotta sauce. I won't bore anyone with the recipe, but needless to say, it will be a repeat dish.

So I'm maybe a quarter through The Omnivore's Dilemma. Its been a slow read so far, all about corn being the Devil and whatnot. But I'm slowly realizing that there is very likely no way on earth that I can live a more compassionate life as far as animals go. I've given up meat again, not a huge challenge for me. I can buy cage free eggs, and I vow to buy only free-range organic beef and chicken for my family to eat. But are the animals happy? Can any animal be happy when the end of their life will come too soon and only for the purpose of nourishing me? It's so depressing and I'm not entirely sure how to reconcile these feelings with life as I know it.

the big 3-0

Well, as I predicted, posting things to my blog has been verrry slow going. I am the master procrastinator.
So news to me:
I turned 30 the other day, isn't it supposed to be some huge shock to the system or something? I feel the same, 30 is the new 20, right?? I feel like I'm right where I am supposed to be. Happy in love, family, work. Everyone should be so lucky.
I mean don't get me wrong. I'd like a job that was more fun, and motherhood will be awesome when I get there, and some extra free time would rock. I'd also love it if my siblings would grow the hell up. But other than those things, I'm pretty stoked on life.

ok, wow

How exciting!! I'm blogging for the first time. I'm going to keep this short because I'm at work. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do with this, but considering the fact I'm the queen of starting projects and never finishing them, this probably won't last long. :) Please see to the left of your screen my first successful attempt at pumpkin carving. (If you can't tell, its a dog.)