NYC--106 and Park

Normally I'm all about planning. My typical self would have had every day planned out for my NYC trip. But, work had been so crazy that I didn't have time. It was weird...it felt like the twilight zone to leave for a trip and not be sure of what was going to happen!

It all worked out, the trip was excellent--which was probably a good thing for an over-planner like me to see. I guess things can workout with me over analyzing every second...CRAZY! However, there was one thing that I could have planned better--which was what show I was going to attend. No, not Broadway, but LIVE TELEVISION!

As a broadcast major, it was imperative that I see a live show. Unfortunately, I didn't realize you have to request tickets months in advance. The only show I was able to get tickets to so last minute is a show called "106 and Park". I bet your scratching your head...the what show? Exactly. It's a top 10 music video count down on a channel called BET (stands for black entertainment television). I actually like the show, but it definitely wasn't my first choice.

The whole event was pure entertainment. I walked into the CBS studio (like it said on the directions). I suddenly felt at home, pictures of Katie Couric, the news on, people in pant suites. I was so excited! I walked up to the front desk and asked where studio members go for 106 and Park. The gentleman behind the desk smiled and was all...um, that CBS studio is down the road.

So hilarious. Yep, still a little segregation. It had it's own CBS studio and what a change. Not this plush lounge or upper class feeling. In fact, I could tell I was at the right place before I walked in the building because there were a bunch of teenagers in brightly colored Nikes and durags.

THEN what was annoying is that the directions told you to show up at 3:30. Yeah, the show doesn't start until 6. They told me to get in line, but I finagled my way to the secretary and asked if I could "please just get my wristband now". She told me not to tell anyone (whoops), but I'm sure it helped that I was professional looking and only had one ticket and wasn't the typical annoying teenager. She told me to come back no later than 4:30.

I come back at 4:30 and there is this horrific line of teenagers. School musta gotten out. I felt so silly, but was so determined to see a live show. It was almost like a cultural experiment. I had to be the only white girl in line and the only one above the age of 20. The line was almost more entertaining than the show. It was full of "OMG, if I see Trey Songz I'm just gonna faint!" and "Oh no he didn't!" And lots of swear words...kids these days! Here's a poor picture of the sign from the line. I could barely bend my fingers so I didn't think it was worth trying to get another picture for fear my frozen fingers would snap in half.

The worst part was that they made us stay outside, in line for an hour and a half. SERIOUSLY? I couldn't feel my feet. December in NYC--what were they thinking? And the best part was the 'guards'. They were early 20 somethings thinking they were so cool telling this line of teenagers what to do. They took their job wayyy too seriously and were trying to flirt with the girls. It was comical! I almost left several times because I was so numb and frigid but then I just kept thinking, any minute now...any minute now.

Then when they finally let us in (only 10 at a time mind you...while being barked at by the overzealous guards) they herded us like cattle into this little room where they had us fill out release forms (which was a joke because they didn't check ID on anyone and you know most were under the supposed limit of 17).

We finally got to the set at like 5:50. It's funny how little sets are in person. They make it seem so much more magical on TV. I of COURSE got sat next to the same annoying girls I was in line by. What are the odds??!! They were the most obnoxious and loudest of the bunch. So much so, that 'security' had to come over several times and tell them to calm down.

I was the only one more interested in what cameras they were using, the mics, the teleprompter, the set. I did love being on a real show, even with all of the crap. They did have a good DJ that would play music during the breaks and the girls would get up and dance. But, it got old having to clap and cheer every couple of minutes. At first you're excited and you think it's fun to cheer, then by the end of the two hour show you want to just sit on your hands because they hurt from clapping.

There were some major R&B artists they had on that day. Bruno Mars, Trey Songz, P. Diddy himself and Young Joc all graced our presence. What was the best was that they would come over to my section of the crowd. The teenagers would start crying, screaming, stand up and wave their arms in hope of touching them. Of course the stars ate it up and would reach out to them and give fainting girls a hug. I just sat there and smiled at them. Sorry, but I think I'll just admire from afar...I feel no need to touch you. They all gave me a strange look like why aren't you dying to touch me as well? I'm sure they're not used to that. They probably thought "stuck up white girl!" So fun.

Sadly they wouldn't let us bring our phones or cameras to the set so I have no pictures...but plenty of good memories! Several people said they saw me on it a few times, but we don't have DVR so I never got to see it.

Now I'll never look at the show the same way again. Hopefully next time I can be on more of a professional show. Still glad I went though. Good times!

NYC

I know, I know. It's been a little while since I've been home and I haven't written about my trip. Don't worry. I plan to catch up during the (short) break from work that I have.

Claudy. What a sweetheart. While I was gone he kept the apartment clean--as in mopped the kitchen, did the dishes and even went grocery shopping for me.

I wish I could have taken him with me, but a little time a part always helps you appreciate what you have. I was soo excited to get home to him. I must have texted him a million times a day while I was gone. He probably stopped reading them...I would have.

Let's just start with this fun NYC tidbit: Claudy grocery shopping.

The best part about husbands grocery shopping, is that they (ok...I'm about to generalize) tend to buy name brand/expensive brands. I am a cheapo. I'll get the generic brand of almost everything--and they tend to purchase things not on your list. I don't recall writing down pudding snacks! :)

Do you know how else I know this? Because on the list was toilet paper. I don't get that see through stuff, just middle of the road. But, my dear husband got the premium brand. I'm talking every time I wipe my bum, I feel like I'm wiping it with cashmere.

Oh well if he spends a little more than I would have...I'm just so glad he was willing to do that for me. I'll smile every time I look at the toilet paper.

People keep asking me what my favorite part of NYC was--it may have just been coming home to my wonderful husband.

Stay tuned for more NYC updates...

Christmas Goodies!

The Lavin Family Tradition held it's ground for the 3rd year in a row...despite me being gone a week in NYC. Let me tell you, loosing a week during the holidays is like loosing two weeks during a normal time of the year. Talk about the holiday hustle and bustle! I hated delivering them so late, and we even missed a few of our friends who had already taken off for home, but I'm SOOO glad we did it!

We decided to switch up the array this year. It was fun doing a few new things, plus it helped save on the baking time. I love me some Christmas cookies, but those take the longest so we only did one type--which of course had to be Claudy's favorite: the rolo cookies!

We did 16 plates this year. I think being Mormon is expensive! Seriously! Once you make a plate for your visiting teachers, your home teachers, the people you visit teach, the people your husband home teaches and both of your companions it really adds up! Good thing I actually really like my girls! If you're feelin' bitter cuz you didn't get a plate from us, I apologize. But then think if you thought to get us one...just kidding...Christmas isn't about that. Just make sure you're our visiting teacher next year! :)

Claudy is such a big help! I know I couldn't make all of the goodies without his help during and after for cleaning up. He's just pulling that face. Don't him fool you, he likes this too! Especially when I yell out, "My arms hurt...it's your turn to stir!" This is definitely one of my favorite traditions that we have.

Here's the run down (recipes in italics):

Peanut Butter Bars
For a Reeses addict like myself, this recipe is heaven sent...and thankfully very easy!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup finely crushed graham crackers
2 cups powder sugar
3/4 cup butter
2 1/4 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky works)
1 bag of milk (or semi-sweet) chocolate chips

Directions:
Cream crushed grahams, peanut butter and butter. Beat in powdered sugar. Smooth onto bottom of 13x9 pan. Melt chocolate chips in microwave and pour over top. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Then devour!
???Why is it when you're actually making these for people that they don't turn out just right? I've made these a ton, and of course when we're making them for our goodie plates they didn't harden just right, but were a little on the mushy side. I THOROUGHLY taste tested them to make sure they were still good...but I was still embarrassed! Oh well...it's the thought that counts, right?

Peppermint Fudge
Everyone loves fudge at Christmas time, so I decided to make it just slightly different than the norm just to keep people on their toes!

INGREDIENTS:
4 C. sugar
2 (5 oz.) cans evaporated milk
1 C. butter
2 C. semi-sweet choc. chips
7 oz. jar marshmallow creme
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2/3 C. red and white peppermint candy, coarsely broken

DIRECTIONS: Combine sugar, milk, and butter in a heavy 3-quart saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium; heat and stir for 10 minutes.Remove from heat; add chocolate chips, marshmallow creme and peppermint extract.

Stir until chocolate and creme are melted and mixture is smooth; pour into a buttered aluminum foil-lined 13x9 baking pan.Sprinkle with candies; cover and refrigerate until set. Cut into squares and serve. I did mine in a square 9x9 pan so that it was extra thick and rich!

Divinity
I feel like divinity is dying out! It makes my heart break. It truly is divine (hence the name) so I can't imagine why. It's like the vodka of candy. Just one and you'll be done for the night. (Or so I hear...never tried voka, but I can imagine!) It's rich, it's decadent, it's so sweet, and melts in your mouth. There is no better Christmas candy out there in my mind. Yet, so many people have not heard of it. That's why this will probably ALWAYS grace my goodie plates so that I can help get the word out. It is a little difficult to make, but so worth it. If you haven't made it, do yourself a favor and start this instant. It takes so little ingredients too!

2.5 cups sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp. salt
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla

Boil sugar, corn syrup, water and salt to hard ball stage. I'd recommend getting a candy thermometer, inexpensive and really helps rather than trying to guess. If you have to guess, use this method.

Meanwhile, beat egg whites to stiff peaks.

When syrup is 260 degrees or hardball stage, VERY gradually add to egg white mixture while beating on high with mixer (this usually takes two people)

Add vanilla and beat until candy holds it's shape (4-5 minutes)

Quickly (and I mean QUICKLY) drop onto wax paper or aluminum foil.

I can never spoon mine out well. It ends up sticking to the spoon and then while I'm trying to get it off it becomes all spiky and distorted. This is what it should look like (minus the nuts...no thanks!)

Unfortunately I was beat by the time we got to this, so we just gave it away, all porcupine looking. But it at least tasted good...right?

Photo taken from: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://our-favorite-southern-candy.com/wp-content/images/Divinity.jpg&imgrefurl=http://our-favorite-southern-candy.com/tag/southern-divinity-candy/&usg=__UG_9k89O1wAYdN9GdOvZY6E8T34=&h=299&w=299&sz=36&hl=en&start=0&sig2=faygZH_cxamMk6PMZbkCsA&zoom=1&tbnid=f646QAzLaysjDM:&tbnh=139&tbnw=146&ei=ItATTfOrMJGesQPjsenPCg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddivinity%2Bcandy%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1276%26bih%3D627%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C18&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=842&vpy=84&dur=63&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=95&ty=142&oei=9c8TTZCPLIW8sAOYq4mACg&esq=12&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&biw=1276&bih=627

Rolo Cookies
These cookies are fun because they're so...unsuspecting. I wouldn't be surprised if half of the people we give it to throw them away because they look like duds. Just plain, unfrosted cookies. But, for those who dare venture a bite, they'll find a delicious morsel of caramel in the center. These should really be called "surprise" cookies! We also did these last year, so excuse the double post, but these are Claudy's favs, so he refused to let them go.
Melt: 1/4 cup margarine
2 oz. of cocoa (look on the back of your hershey's cocoa and it will give you the conversions)
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs

Stir all ingredients together, starting with the butter and cocoa. Make like regular cookies, wet ingredients first and then add the dry ingredients. Chill for at least 30 minutes--it makes for rolling in into balls MUCH easier. Meanwhile unwrap rolos...taste a few to make sure they're not poisonous and then wrap dough around it into a ball and cook at 300 15-18 minutes. (I was in a hurry and did 350 for 5-6 and it worked :) It also helps if you grease your hands so the dough doesn't get wasted sticking to your hands because then you have to lick it off and it's a REAL tragedy. Be sure while they're cooling to let them cool upside down, otherwise the caramel has known to escape out the bottom.

A sneak peek at it's innards:
Hope you were able to do some Christmas baking of your own. Nothing helps me feel the spirit of the season than making a list of friends, baking with them in mind, and then delivering them personally. It's a great thing to reunite with friends and to give them a homemade treat.

Merry Christmas!

PS--other than the fudge recipe (which the link/website no longer works), I'm not sure where I got these recipes...it's been that long. So, I apologize for not sourcing.

Have yourself a very merry Christmas...

I think I will! If you're looking for me, I'll be here:



Thank you Neways for your bonus, thank you Claudy for letting me splurge and use it all on myself, thank you Vanessa for letting me stay with you, thank you New York for being awesome! I have a feeling I'm going to love this Christmas gift to myself.


I'm so excited to get on the plane tonight that I can hardly stand it. Hope it's all it's cracked up to be! Lots of pictures to come soon!

XOXO,

Megan

'Tis the Seaon...

...to make lots of sugary treats.

Don't you love the holidays?

I sure do!

I'd share the recipes, but I'm not in love with them yet. The dough cooked quite hard, and the frosting was a bit runny. Good thing there's many more Christmases to practice!

Where did the time go?

How has it been three years since I married Claudy? HOLY. COW. Does this mean we have to stop saying we're newlyweds? I don't think I'm ready to move out of that stage of life. Can we be perma-newlyweds?

It was my turn to plan our anniversary. I really wanted to go to Disneyland...but that will have to come another year. I decided to be fiscally responsible and pick somewhere closer. I picked Midway, Utah since we've never been. I love going somewhere new together. It was close, somewhere new and it had an awesome resort called The Homestead.

I just love getting away. Even if it's for a day or two. Especially if it involves Claudy, no school, no homework and no work. Times like that are so precious since we're both so go-go-go.

It's so hard having an anniversary in November (insert sappy music). It's not cold enough for winter activities, and not warm enough for summer activities. I had my fingers crossed it would be warm enough to do some activities. In years past it has been. That's why I chose the Homestead because they have all sorts of fun outdoor activities like hiking, biking, swimming...etc.

But lady luck must have been on her own vacation, because it was BITTER. It was so stinking cold! But of course no snow.

Thankfully we got upgraded to a nicer room and ran to it and just cranked up the fireplace. I would have taken pictures, but I kinda find that creepy. No offense to those that do it, but I just can't. I don't want to see pictures of your jetted tub or bed. Why people do that is beyond me. We've all seen hotel rooms, and good for you if yours is nice :)

Anywho...ours came with dinner which was fabulous. The resort is over 100 years old, so it has a lot of character and charm. Dinner was in front of a fireplace looking outside these beautiful windows. It wasn't busy and was just nice and cozy and the food was delicious! It was fun to talk about where we've been, as we always mention what our favorite thing was that year (the cruise of course!) and then to plan where we'll be in five and ten years.

Your anniversary can't go wrong if it has: Claudy. Food. Relaxation. That's a recipe for success people! And I know recipes. Don't believe me? Click on my recipes tab.

Thank goodness we had movies and games since our outdoor excursions were cancelled. It was so nice to stay up late, sleep in late and just take our time! Heaven! My idea of Heaven does not involve alarm clocks.

We also did a little Christmas shopping (did I mention I LOVE shopping with Claudy? He's so handy!) and then went and did sealings at the SLC Temple. Sadly we have not been back since we got married. We're just lazy because we have the Provo one so close. It was nice. The entire weekend was great knowing we had Friday, Saturday AND Sunday to spend together uninterrupted.

Things I've learned about love this year (as each year there are new obstacles to overcome, and selfish tendencies to get rid of):

--It's not cool to fall asleep on the couch and have to have your spouse try to wake you up a million times. Sorry Claudy! Supposedly I answer, but I don't even remember him trying! Then I wake up at 1 am wondering where the heck I am and why he didn't wake me up! :)
--Get over it. You know you're going to eventually get over it, so you may as well start early. Still practicing this one.
--Still act lovingly to the other person, even if you're upset at them.
--I guess there is a correct way to squeeze the toothpaste that I still haven't grasped :)
--Stop blogging or playing on the computer when your spouse gets home--I have a hard time putting the computer down and guess what...you have much better conversations when you give your spouse your full attention!

Pearls of wisdom, I know. I bet you've never heard those tips before. Good thing you read my blog, right?

Since it's our 3rd anniversary, I'll mention three things I love about Claudy so this doesn't turn into one of those mushy posts:
1. Have you seen Claudy? Wowser. He is one good looking guy. I appreciate that he cares what he looks like and always dresses nice. He even smells nice and he still works out and takes care of himself...which is good cuz I want him around for a long time. I have a sinking feeling that I'll be this crippled looking wrinkly bag and Claudy will still look good in 40 years. But with his kind personality he probably won't care.

2. How dedicated he is to the church. It is so attractive to see him fulfilling his calling, going to meetings, working in the temple and home teaching. He is such a good example to me of unfailing, unflinching dedication even when it isn't convenient.

3. His persistence. I know I complain he is still in school, but I appreciate that even though he's had some hard times with schooling he's never given up and pushes on, even when he's sick of school, ready to be working and tired. I appreciate he is not a quitter and sees things through to the end.

I'm one lucky lady!

Who needs the mall?

One of my favorite things about going Christmas shopping is walking by the kiosks that sell scrumptious almonds. You know that permeating smell...the one that fills the mall walkways with salivating goodness. There's always so expensive, and they never come in big enough bags...so I'm SOOO glad I found this recipe!

And it was easy! I'm talking five ingredients! You could name all of the ingredients on one hand! And did I mention it only takes one pot? And did I mention the smell? No candle could hold a flame to it...no pun intended. And did I mention that this makes not only a delectable treat for yourself, but a fabulous holiday gift for your neighbors?

Think of it. Your neighbors will be so impressed because they'll think you braved the holiday rush, dealt with holiday traffic, braved the cold and drove all of the way to the mall to get them a holiday treat! You're sure to have your sidewalks shoveled and happy neighbors all year round. It will be the gift that keeps on giving! I won't tell if you won't!

Ingredients:

•⅓ cups Water, Plus 2 Tablespoons
•1-⅓ cup Sugar, Divided
•1 teaspoon Cinnamon, Ground
•2 cups Raw Almonds
•1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Directions:

To start, grab a medium-sized pot (not non-stick) and a big wooden spoon. Add the water, cinnamon, and 1 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Add the almonds, crank up the heat, then stir. And stir. And stir. And . . . stir. Don’t stop stirring.

After about 5-7 minutes of constant stirring, the water will have begun to noticeably evaporate. It’ll start to look like the almonds are swimming in syrup, and when you drag your spoon across the bottom, you’ll be able to see the bottom of your pot.

Lower the heat, then add the vanilla and the remaining sugar.

Stir it around to get it incorporated. Yep, keep stirring.

After a minute or so, the almonds will be coated in a sandy-looking sugar mixture and the pot will appear very dry.

Now is the time to remove them from the pot. If you stir any longer, the sugar clumps will fall off the almonds .
Directions taken from Perry's Plate, when she was featured on Tasty Kitchen. I'd recommend checking it out, since she has very helpful pictures of each stage.

Recipe taken from here.

This will be my next holiday baking adventure. As always, I'll let you know if it lives up to its picture and how easy it is to make. I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!