King Cake

I decided to try and make a King Cake. Here's the recipe I used. It's pretty good for my first try. I didn't make the filling. We invited friends over to experience a little taste of Mardi Gras.
I had to use some fancy camera angles so you wouldn't see that I couldn't wait to taste it in order to get a good shot. You'll notice that the green color is disappointing. The one in the pack of sugars was some pastel green. Oh well. Still tastes good!

Tomorrow's Tuesday and that means Carpe Donut will be out on The Corner (across the street from UVa). We just might have to take Theo for a little walk.
I take that back. I just checked the weather. It's supposed to feel like the teen's with a 30% chance of snow showers all day. I bet Carpe Donut won't be out. He wasn't out last Friday. (I don't blame him, but we drove downtown just in case.)

Six month anniversary

Monday was a festive day here at the Perry residence. We made pizza from scratch (minus the sauce) and I baked cupcakes. We even took Theo for a nice long walk.
Pizza #1. Unfortunately I forgot to do the pizza dance. Next time.

Pizza #2. We didn't let it cook long enough. Whoops.
Wedding cake cupcakes! Isn't the tree so cute? Thanks Aunt Jingle! And yes, we did eat our pizza on our fine china. :)

Coffee and cupcakes. A match made in heaven!

Carpe Donut!

After weeks of waiting, I finally seized the donut! I read about Carpe Donut in an insert in the C-VILLE weekly. It listed all kinds of good stuff going on during the holidays here in Charlottesville. Unfortunately I waited to go and then they were gone the last two weeks that we were here. (They're only out in good weather on Friday's from 8:30 to 5:30).

So last Friday came around and the weather was nice. We walked to our friends Pete, Laura, and Christie's home and then we were off for the Downtown Mall. Theo enjoyed the new territory.

All I have to say is that these donuts are glorious. Not greasy at all. You don't even feel guilty after eating one. Subtly infused with apple cider and rolled in cinnamon sugar while you stand there. Hot apple cider to accompany it. This might have to be a weekly walk until it warms up and I have to bid Adieu!

Yet another reason to come and visit!

Happy New Year

I'm so grateful for the time we got to spend at home with both our families and our friends. I was surprised that I wasn't extremely upset to leave home again. I guess I learned to appreciate my time there and to look forward to the life Michael and I have started. :)

We're settled back into life in Virginia. It's cold. Theo has been enjoying our daily walks to the university when it's not raining. Michael is getting a head start on studying. I signed up for an Intro to Spanish class at UVa. It starts on the 27th. I'm working on my application to grad school and I'm looking for a job. The job market is pretty tough but hopefully I will find something to keep me busy and bring in some cash to support my crafting addiction. hehe

Another appropriate topic for this post is, of course, resolutions for the new year. I don't think Michael made any. Theo said he's going to try to bark less and to potty outside more. Here is the only one I can remember:

• Get out of the house and do stuff besides going to the grocery store.
  (This encompasses exercising, volunteering, working...)

My first (and probably last) gingerbread house making endeavor. Many thanks to Amy Shows for aiding in the decoration. I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks also to Aunt Vickie because I understand that she was actually the one who bought and intended to build it.

Graduation

Theodore graduated from Puppy Class last night! After last week's class we were a bit nervous that he would fail. So being last minute crammers, we drilled him for a week and voila! A graduate! Unfortunately I didn't bring the camera. He did pick out a toy afterward as his graduation present.

There is an intermediate class that starts in January so we are discussing whether or not to continue with his education. We have succeeded in teaching him to roll over, shake, and crawl.

Anyway, we'll be home soon. We're so excited! :) Michael has two tests left and I still have a bit of crafting left to do.

See you soon!

Jingle Bells

Theo is all set for Christmas. First he had a bath so he would be smelling nice for the ladies.

Probably the saddest looking excuse for a dog ever.

But look how fluffy we are after a shaking off in the kitchen when mom and dad forget to close the bathroom door and I get out of the tub and spray water all over the house.

Then we got hair cut and a new stylish Christmas bandana that says, "I'm from the streets!" and "gangstas love Christmas too"


Finally we thought we might audition for the Charlottesville bell choir, sadly we were rejected because the conductor was nervous we might bite him at any moment.

SANTA! I KNOW HIM!

Well we're on the home stretch. Just a few weeks now until we are home for the holidays! I am crafting up a storm and Michael is diligently studying for upcoming exams.

You haven't heard from us in a couple weeks. Here's what we've been up to (Note *Dan*: events are in chronological order):

• Puppy class with Theo at Petsmart on Tuesday nights. Sometimes he is good, sometimes he is wild. Like last night. He barked for almost an hour straight.

• SNOW! It melted before noon. Later that week there was an afternoon with maybe 20 minutes of flurries. It didn't stick.
  

• The GRE. I survived the GRE on the 20th. It wasn't really that bad. I scored 610 in Verbal and 650 in the Quantitative section. Now I have to write a professional statement of goals, get a couple references in line, and complete an application for the Post Graduate Masters of Teaching program for Elementary Education at UVa. The deadline is March 1.

• Santa and Mrs Claus at the Downtown Mall complete with fake snow and the lighting of the community Christmas tree. We took Theo to meet Santa. Michael told Santa it was Theo's first Christmas then asked if Santa would take a picture with him and Theo. It was awesome. Notice Santa's helper sitting next to him. We should have gotten a pic of her scandalously short skirt. Seriously. By the way, the new picture at the top of the blog is us at the tree lighting.

• Kentucky for Thanksgiving. We stayed at Rebecca (Michael's sister) and Dennis' home for a week. Theo had a blast with their 3 yr old pug, Gipper in their fenced-in backyard. I enjoyed playing with their 23 month old, Henry and Thomas the train. I'm looking forward to the next visit. Michael's parents were also there and we all helped with some home improvement projects. Thanksgiving dinner was phenomenal (shout out to the cornbread stuffing). I am so very thankful for my new family. I also discovered my new obsession: Martha Stewart. I wasn't so sure of her because she's a criminal but after perusing Rebecca's issues of Living I have seen the light. Martha is the Queen of Craftiness.

• Myriam is engaged! Dan took advantage of the fact that our parents and his parents were together in his hometown, Tuscon, to pop the question! Yay!

One more thing... you have to see this new video of Theo stalking Bolt.



That's about all. I think my homemade brownies should be about done cooling. My crafts await!