Real Quick because I gots ta go ta work!!!

This has brought so much joy and laughter into my life lately. I quote it amongst my friends all the time...enjoy!!

Vanilla Mouse Cheesecake

I have made this cheesecake twice now, with HUGE results both times. The first time I was commissioned by my coworkers at the evening job. I made it, but told them I had to take a bigger slice of it to give to a particular boy, who in fact loved it. He told me that he shared the piece I gave him (because it really was a huge piece) with his friend that he lives with, and his friends wife. Apparently, his friend's wife is a really good cook, and according to Digger, she said it was the best cheesecake she's ever tasted. And he said that about it as well...so, I keep getting rave reviews on it. You should try it out too!!! Here you go:

Philadelphia vanilla mousse cheesecake

40 Nilla wafers, crushed
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
4 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar, divided
1 Tablespoon plus 1 tsp. vanilla, divided
3 eggs
1 tub (8 oz) cool whip
**heat oven to 325. Mix wafer crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of 9 inch springform pan. Beat 3 pkgs of cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 Tablespoon vanilla will mixer till well blended. add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each one till blended. pour over crust. Bake 50 to 55 min or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake and cool in pan, completely. Beat remaining cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl till well blended. whisk in cool whip and spread over cheesecake. refrigerate for 4 hours. remove rim of pan before serving cheesecake.

An Answer to Prayers

As much as I would like to admit it, I actually struggle a lot with being single still at 26. Its something that frustrates me often. I feel like every time I actually meet someone that catches my attention, nothing ends up really happening and I end up in the same boat. This last week for some reason has been incredibly difficult. I spent a good portion of the week praying for guidance and comfort. I knew from Institute that conference would be a little more focused on those of us in our twenties that aren't married. I prayed to know what to do with my current situation. I couldn't listen to Saturday morning's session and only caught half of the second session because I had to work, but I knew I'd have all day Sunday and last night I prayed with all my heart for an answer. I knew it would come, but did not anticipate the emotion that hit me with it. When Elder Scott spoke, at one point he used the exact words I had uttered in prayer last night. And, as I quickly left the room in which I was watching conference with my parents because I am NOT a public crier (even in front of family), I got a text from a very good friend that simply said "love you" because I'm pretty sure she has been aware that I have not been okay lately.
     How grateful I am for a truly loving Heavenly Father who is so mindful of each of us. He loves and cares about each of us individually, and I am so amazed by His constant guidance. So often I wonder how He can do it. I am just one of billions of His children, yet He still takes the time to let me know that He cares about me and is always there to guide me through my life. I know that everyone is going to post about how amazing conference was, but I knew I would be ungrateful if I didn't thank my Heavenly Father for all the many talks He inspired to help me and those around me. I love Him with all of my heart. He truly is my best friend.

Eventually

So, its a little blurry because I took it with my phone, but this is probably my favorite necklace. It says "eventually" with a heart and a white pearl. When I first started wearing this necklace one of my coworkers read it and said "well that's a weird word to wear on a necklace" but, it actually means quite a bit to me. Eventually, my dreams WILL come true. Eventually, all the crazy drama of my life WILL calm down. Eventually, my prince will come (at the current moment I feel he is taking far too long, but I can't judge. Maybe he's helping some poor widow fix a fence or something completely noble...). Eventually, I won't be in school and I will be all educated and smart and stuff. Eventually, I will understand why I have to go through the trials and the emotional break downs and the fear that I am feeling right now. Eventually. Such a simple word to describe so much. A word that brings me a little bit of hope. And frustration. Because as I have previously mentioned, I am not a patient person. According to the plans I made for myself, I am WAY off course. I have learned that the plans I make for myself, by myself, is generally just wishful thinking.
    I have had a really awe-inspiring last couple of weeks in a few ways. They have also been the most emotionally draining weeks. I've had so much fun and had great times with great people. I have also been freaking out (internally, of course) about the future and what it holds for me. I have felt change coming for a little while now. It hasn't come yet, and I don't know exactly what it is, but it is coming and as much as I am looking forward to a new adventure, I'm also a little bit scared. However, I am doing the best I can with what I am given and that is the best I can do, right? Right. Eventually I'll have this all figured out...I hope...

Facebook Stalkers

I have noticed recently I have a couple of Facebook stalkers. There are two people in my ward that totally facebook stalk me ALL THE TIME...and it really wouldn't be hard for any of you who are my FB friends to figure out who they are since they comment on EVERYTHING I do....I guess I should be flattered, but at the same time, it kind of weirds me out a little bit. I don't like people paying that much attention to me...unless I call you Digger, then stalk me all you want.....ha ha ha, I'm just sayin...speaking of Digger...I'm going through withdrawls...I haven't seen him in over a week. He went to Arizona to work this week. :( sad day.
     I have had a surprisingly AWESOME week!!! All the stress and worry I've been dealing with the last few weeks is COMPLETELY GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOOOOOOOOOOOOORAY!!!!!!!!!!! I love my life. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and ALL that He has blessed me with lately. Its pretty much AMAZING!!!!

Something new, maybe a little bit different, but mostly good!

So, I bake and cook a lot, and generally that is an understatement. I LOVE cooking, it is sooooo relaxing for me! So, I am going to start throwing in some of the recipes I try as I find them. The first is called a Decadent Chocolate Cheesecake, and I really wish I remember what blog I got this from, I am sooo sorry, I will be better in the future! Any way, here is the recipe:

Decadent Brownie Swirl Cheesecake Recipe

• 16 Servings
• Prep: 30 min. Bake: 1-1/2 hours + chilling

Ingredients

• 1 package fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)
• 
  FILLING:
• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon almond extract and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Fresh raspberries and chocolate curls, optional

Directions

• Prepare brownie mix according to package directions for chewy fudge brownies. Set aside 2/3 cup brownie batter; spread remaining batter into a greased 9-in. springform pan.
• Place pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Bake at 350° for 25-28 minutes (brownies will barely test done). Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla on low speed just until combined. Stir 1/3 cup into reserved brownie batter; set aside. Spoon half the cheesecake batter into crust; dollop with half of reserved chocolate cheesecake batter. Repeat layers. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl the chocolate cheesecake batter.
• Place in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until surface is no longer shiny and center is almost set.
• Remove pan from water bath and foil. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with raspberries and chocolate curls if desired. Yield: 16 servings.

K, here are the things that I did not like about this recipe. I cooked the brownies until they were almost done, and I used a 9 in. pan, but when I took this cheesecake to a meeting I had, the brownie part was completely dough-y. I was SO disappointed. They cooked for over 2 hours, there is no reason those brownies should have been goo. It was a meeting of the RS Presidency and the EQ Presidency and all the guys said it was delicious and totally awesome (including Digger), but I was still disapointed. Next time (because I liked the taste, just not the gooeyness of it) I will try it in a 10in pan and I am going to cook the brownies longer in the pan before I add the cheesecake part to the top of it. The taste was good (where the brownie was not goo) it is SUPER rich, but I think with the modifications, a completely AWESOME cheesecake recipe!

Still alive...I think....

So, I am pretty sure I am still alive. I am not currently failing my Propaganda class, which is a shocker. I thought for sure I wasn't doing super well, but I actually did pretty awesome on my midterm. Heck yes. I had to turn in this massively huge paper, and that could have killed my grade. I'm hoping not though. We shall see. All I have to say is that I can not wait for this semester to be OVER. Oh my gosh, I have never been so stressed out in all of my life! School, plus all the work drama...I really want the work drama to end, but I don't think it will end until I don't work there anymore, and that will be the only way to get rid of it.
     Things are going well other than stress and drama. I don't have much of an update on anything yet, but I promise once I do, I will let you know. I am going to try and work on my book a little bit this weekend, but I don't know if I'll have time...this summer can't come fast enough!!!