10 things I'm thankful for

I've been participating in a "Gratitude in November" event created by my friend on Facebook, in which members post something they are grateful for every day of November (even after Thanksgiving). It's been a good exercise in looking beyond the immediate & typical things I'm thankful for (which are no less valid) and really examining what I value in my life. This post is by no means a "top 10" list, but just ten major things in my life that I feel incredibly fortunate to have. Beware, it's a little sappy... :)

1. My parents. I have two wonderful parents who were incredibly supportive when I decided to move to LA. The same way they were supportive when I declared as a theatre major, decided to pursue a creative career, and every other decision I've made in my adult life. They put my happiness first, and I'll never be able to thank them enough for making me feel so good about myself.

2. Dane. My partner in crime (not literally, mom). I love him, and I make sure I tell him every day just how much. We had a big adventure together this year on our road trip and are still getting adjusted to living in LA, but I couldn't imagine any of it without him. Not many people would listen to my sometimes out-there ideas ("wouldn't it be cool to do a movement piece with long red balloons as human muscles?!") and encourages me to pursue my dreams. He seems to know me almost too well... and still puts up with me.

3. Dane's family. They too were so supportive during our move, and they have always welcomed me with open arms. I love visiting them and hearing stories about their families and growing up in western Pennsylvania. They are interested in my life and my goals and truly care about me. I am so lucky to have them in my life!

4. My siblings. I have the coolest big sis and little bro that a girl could ask for. I love visiting them and having them visit me, and even though we live thousands of miles away from each other, we remain close. They get excited about my successes and encourage me through my failures. I really look up to both of them.

5. Inspiration. This might seem strange, but I am so thankful that I am passionate about my career. I can still look around me and see fascinating and complex people, beauty, ugliness, music, movement, color--all things that spark ideas and fuel my creativity. If anything, life experience has softened me rather than made me callous. I feel fortunate to still see the world this way.

6. Mobility. I am able to travel, move, and venture around town fairly easily. I have access to planes, trains, busses, and a car. I have two working legs and able feet. I often overlook this, but the ability to move around is a luxury for many people around the world.

7. My healthy body. There are endless articles, news stories, and ramblings around the internet about women's bodies. I am thankful that I am able to keep myself healthy. I am thankful that I can run long distances and exercise and eat good food. I respect my body and choose not to harm it, and I am thankful that I have the resources to support that.

8. Security. I am not financially secure by any means (hello, student loan debt), but I try to manage my money as wisely as possible. Beyond that, I have a home that keeps me out of the elements and a job that earns my income. I do not feel threatened by war or my government or my community--which places me among the most fortunate people in the world.

9. Animal Welfare Workers. If you haven't noticed, I am a huge animal lover. I am so thankful for those who work in any level of animal welfare-- protecting endangered species, working towards humane farming conditions, or volunteering at a local animal shelter.

10. Goals. Forward motion and intention. Taking the small steps that lead me towards the big picture. Never resting on my laurels, and surrounding myself with people who think the same way.

I love this time of year precisely because I remind myself to count my blessings. Too often we--myself included-- only see what we don't have: that designer bag everyone seems to be carrying, the perfect body, a six figure income, celebrity status. But, during the holidays, I can check in with myself and be honest about what truly matters to me.

Have a very happy & thankful Thanksgiving!

eggless chewy chocolate cookies

I have a confession to make to all of you: I am terrible at baking cookies. I consider myself a very good cook and a good baker. For some reason, when it comes to making cookies, something goes wrong. My cookie disasters have ranges from rock-hard-can't-scrape-them-off-the-pan to so-soft-they-can't-be-picked-up-without-falling-apart. Failure comes in many varieties.

But!

This recipe redeemed me. These cookies turned out amazing--rich and chewy with the tiniest hint of crunch at the edges. Like a brownie in cookie form. Without eggs! And I even went out on a limb and modified the original recipe! I must say I am pr-e-tty chuffed.

Eggless Chewy Chocolate Cookies (recipe modified from here)
makes about 26-28 cookies

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup natural cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda  (if using dutch process cocoa, DO NOT add the baking soda!)
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
1/3 cup skim milk

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa (and baking soda if using natural cocoa) with a whisk. In a separate bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the white & brown sugar to the butter and beat until creamy. Mix in the maple syrup. Add half of the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Add milk and beat until just combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat until just incorporated. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes (or, in my case, for the length of one episode of Parks & Rec).

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spritz with a little cooking spray. Drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto the pan. Bake for 16 minutes, then remove pan from oven and allow cookies to cool on the pan for 10 minutes. After ten minutes, you can transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.

With chocolate cookies, it is difficult to see when the are "browning" and done. I removed mine at 16 minutes and, like I said, the cookies turned out fudgy and chewy. If you are looking for a crisper cookie, I'd suggest keeping them in the oven for 17 minutes and then watching them like a hawk until they are close to your desired crispness (the cookies will continue to cook slightly as they cool on the pan). Don't burn these because you will regret it.

While making these, I learned some interesting things about cocoa powders. The original recipe called for dutch process cocoa, but I only had natural cocoa powder (Hershey's) on hand. After some googling, I found out that you can not directly substitute one for the other. Dutch process cocoa involves washing the beans in a solution which reduces acidity. Therefore, when substituting, you must convert like so:

Dutch Process to Natural Cocoa Conversion
3 Tbsp dutch process cocoa= 3 Tbsp natural cocoa + 1/8 tsp baking soda
3 Tbsp natural cocoa= 3 Tbsp dutch process cocoa - 1/8 tsp baking soda

Recipes with natural cocoa should include baking soda to neutralize its acidity.

Happy (chocolate) baking!

twenty-six

Hi there! I've been MIA the last few days, celebrating my 26th birthday! I made a delicious rhubarb & peach pie for myself instead of cake. I have yet to feel "old" on my birthday as the numbers go up, so that is either a good sign or I am slipping into delusion. This year I've decided to do a "26 before 27" type goal list (like Elsie, Elizabeth, and lots of my other favorite bloggers have done). My first goal is to have it written by Friday so I can share it with you (I won't count that as a goal on my list).

Anyway, I can't do a post without adding in some photos. My birthday excursion this year is going to the drive-in movie theater later this week! I am so excited. But, since that hasn't happened yet, I'm sharing some photos from my birthday last year. Dane & I went to Washington, DC to visit some of our best friends and see our alma mater play Maryland (GO IRISH!). I hadn't been there since my 7th grade field trip, so it was exciting to see the city with adult eyes.

Alright, now that we looked at last year's birthday, time to look forward to next year and make my list!

yellowstone part 2 : rise & fall

Two of the biggest attractions we saw at Yellowstone were the Petrified Tree and Tower Falls. It seems kind of silly to park in a little lot, climb a path, and take a photo next to an preserved tree, but it's also awe-inspiring to be so close to something so ancient and rare. It evoked a feeling in me that was a cross between putting my foot into a 40,000 year old footprint in Australia and watching the mosquito scene in Jurassic Park.


Tower falls was decidedly more touristy, with its paved viewing platform and proximity to a gift shop.

National park gift shops are a treasure trove for odd items with "Yellowstone" printed on the side. You have your usual mugs, aprons, magnets, but also artwork like this, titled "A Mother's Pride":

A Yellowstone magnet did make its way onto our fridge.

I think I may have already used the photo below, but I like it so I'm putting it in again. 

Happy Friday!

canyon hike

I had hoped that this hike through Big Santa Anita Canyon would have been more "fall color"-ful than it was, but that might be the only complaint about this absolutely beautiful hike (do the trees EVER turn in Southern California?). Since I had worked out near the beach that morning, I had one of those California moments: I can say, "I was on the beach in the morning and in the mountains the same afternoon."


I really love how hiking is so popular and available in Southern California. I've been on a few trails so far--one in Malibu, Topanga Forest, and Santa Anita Canyon--and all are different but gorgeous in their own way. Big Santa Anita Canyon feels like a world away from the hustle of LA, with mountain views, cool riverbeds, and isolated campgrounds.

This is not an easy hike by any means--crossing the river on logs and boulders, steep climbs, narrow trails around the edge of the mountain--and to top it all off, the shortest hike option is 5 miles. I would love to camp at the campground by this old hearth (this may be the only time I've ever used that word), a 3.5 mile hike from the pack station. No trailers, campers, or RVs here.

I'd love to visit more hiking trails, so if you know the area & have any suggestions, let me hear them!