Sometimes, on Your Birthday. . .

Sometimes, on Your Birthday. . .

you feel a little sad.
Because you can't believe that another year has already passed.
It feels like just yesterday you were heading out into the world
Completely carefree
Ah so much has changed.
Maybe I'm just an old soul.
but I'm finding that I find many days to be much more exciting than my birthday

Which my childhood self would find impossible to believe.

But then I get something small in the mail.
That traveled from a long ways away.
A little drawing of a big fat cat. He looks familiar. Maybe an old acquaintance?
A twisted note, that only a friend would find sweet
and I think that maybe I'm not so old after all.
Maybe birthdays are still worth celebrating. 

Did I mention I recently turned 24?

Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies. Yes, They're Good!

Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies. Yes, They're Good!

Quick update time!
Peanut Butter Bacon cookies are d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s.
Yep, they are.
I had a hankering to bake, and a need to practice a little escapism this weekend.
As usual I turned to bloggy-friends (and strangers) to provide a little inspiration.
Miss Makes Alot sent me on my merry way towards
Shutterbean, where I encountered the amazingness that happens when
peanut butter meets bacon.

Sounds a little strange but I promise the flavor is anything but.
It is pure peanut-buttery goodness. I am thinking of adding them to my fall baking rotation.
If I just call them something more marketable.
Like Yum Yum Oinkers. (Some people just can't get past the truth that there is meat in there lol)
But if you need some points of persuasion this recipe has a few.
1. They only take about 10 minutes to cook
2. They are gluten free! (no flour yay!)
3.  There is only about 5 ingredients in them. Cheap Cheap Cheap.
Anywhoo check them out. And thanks to all the people who share such great recipes and ideas for me to test out!

Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies @ Shutterbean

Print This Recipe (Recipe via JoytheBaker who adapted from The Gourmet Cookbook)

• 1 cup all-natural chunky or smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• about 6 slices of bacon, cooked, cooled and diced

In a skillet over medium high heat, fry up bacon until cooked through and let cool on paper towels until cool enough to dice. Dice up and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment & set aside. In a mixer combine peanut butter and sugars until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add egg and baking soda and mix for another 2 minutes. Fold in cooked bacon. Roll into large walnut sized balls and create a cris-cross pattern with a fork. If you’d like, roll the dough balls in granulated sugar before making the cris-cross pattern. Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a baking sheet for five minutes, then transfer to… your mouth.

Join Me in the Future (um, I meant Twitter)

Join Me in the Future (um, I meant Twitter)

Yes, I have fallen down the rabbit hole

and into the parallel universe known as Twitter

It's scary how quickly you begin to feel comfortable

Tweeting your little heart out.

Please come follow me, so I can not have to feel silly tweeting to myself  learn from all you experienced Twitter-birds.

I plan on sharing the same awesomeness I do here

but perhaps more often

you know, since its all concise & lightning-quick & stuff.

Just imagine all the great links you will find

Shared after my hours of perusing the web.

Recipes, Deals, DIY, Fashion.

You know you want to.

Plus I would love to find all of you on there!

so I can be even more inspired

by all the great things you do.

So tweet me bizzys. I'm so looking forward to it!

Little Girl Shiny World on Twitter!

and if you are wondering about the suddenness of this new endeavor, it might have a little something to do with the new blog design happening with Ms. Bardot in Blue. . .oops, did I share that? lol

Adieu (for the moment)

Adieu (for the moment)

I really love this image by Gallery 32, Trina Baker photography


I'm almost off on my longest road trip ever.

If you are a pray-er, you might want to say a little prayer

for the bf.  Because Rachel in a car for six hours is bound to be exciting.

There will be laughter & tears, plenty of snacks, god-awful radio karaoke, & the ever present possibility of a complete mental & emotional meltdown.

I do not like car rides. lol

But I wanted to leave you with a little reminder

that summer is just beginning

and there are plenty of adventures to be had & great reading to be done.

So keep an eye out for my summer reading list!

Here are some participants so far.

Check them out, they rock.

Add your name, or add a book!  

You never know what type of things you might end up reading

if you leave the decision making to me!

and if you don't like reading that's ok too.

Because I really hate math. Like alot.

So no hard feelings :)

Bits & Baubles

Little Blue Deer
Gorgeous Glam
Miss Makes Alot
Daydream Believer
Coeur de La
The Sassy Steel Magnolia

These blogs are all great, & each in their own way which makes this very exciting.
Once the list is up & running anyone participating will have a special place in my heart
on my sidebar so that people can
1. See how cool you are for reading books lol
2. Have a chance to read your blog because random blog finding is so fun!

Mid-Day Mini Post

Mid-Day Mini Post

So time to catch up y'all. I'm sorry, it's Wednesday and my inner Britney is peeking through. Stop me if I start devouring Cheetos & Frappucinos & posting pictures of my gorging sessions. That's when you'll know I've gone over the edge.
I've been a little overwhelmed lately (as I'm sure y'all are too) so I feel that my posts have been 1. a little rushed and 2. not wholehearted on my part.
Ugh I know I have become one of those people. I don't know whats wrong with me, maybe a little bit of spring fever?
I'm sure you've seen the other symptoms of this disease, aka the random changing of my blog look.
I'm sticking with this for the moment, tell me what you think. Keep, or is it the result of  my unsettled busy-bee syndrome?
Anywhoodles I needed to do this post to belatedly thank people for the blog awards I've received!
First is the Stiletto Award, from Adventures of a Wife & Mom
She is really sweet & really funny & from the looks of it has the perfect family over there on the East Coast!
I pass this along to the faboosh stilleto wearing blogettes I know
1. Katie from Fashion's Maven
2. Vivian from Diamonds & Tulle
3.  Taj from Gorgeous Glam
& Slumber Designs her gorgeous masks post has me dyin over here!

Second award from Ms. Taj Acosta my bloggy buddy from el principio is the beautiful blogger award!
so 7 things about me you probably didnt want to know but are about to find out:
1. My nickname as a baby was gumball head. this is because i was super bald and my head was perfectly round.
2. I think I may want to go to design school. Can't figure out if its interior, fashion or graphic design, but something.
3. I love Power Berries from Trader Joes, yum!
4.  I could eat potatoes all day every day & never get sick of them.
5. I'm a Scorpio. It fits.
6. I used to be a total science dork in elementary school. I received many a crystal growing kits.
7. I love the bf! I know you probably guessed that already just needed to say it today.
I can't pick seven of you to give it to. Also, like I said, in this little community a lot of you I know already received it!
so I will reference two newbies to my blogroll that I think epitomize this award
1. Overlooking Mississippi. Beautiful Place
2. Behind the Red Door. She is doing a "Beautiful Life" Picture Mashup that I think is just beautiful!
Ok ladies & gents this has turned into quite a large, non-mini post. So I bid you adieu & please winners, pick up your awards from my award section and pass it along!