Seven Favorite Breakfasts

I need to tell you something.  You may know, but nobody knows just how extensive this problem is...

I'm in love.


There.  I said it. Can't take it back, its out there now! 

I'm in love with breakfast.  It has been going on for my entire life and I'm finally coming to a point where it is less embarassing, where I am embracing this part of my life. 

Breakfast is the meal that is often consumed first on a daily basis, but if it were up to me, it would not be confined to the first meal.  Many restaurants and food establishments allow breakfast to spread its wings and be enjoyed anytime any day and this is wonderful news.

May I please tell you about my deep running love?

Thank you. 

Seven Favorite Breakfasts

1. French Toast - This egg mixture soaked, griddle crisped delicacy is far and away my most favorite breakfast ever.  I could eat an entire loaf of bread as French Toast - and I wouldn't even feel guilty.  Any way it is prepared, any way it is served, and any shape it is in are all delicious to me.  I love it so hard, you will probably never understand so it may not be worth your time to even try.  French toast sticks are another gift from the Griddle Gods, this variety takes a dip in the fryer before taking another dip in syrup before I dip it into my mouth.  So good...mmmmm.
2. Pancakes - Griddled goodness rules this seven, I'll tell you that much.  Pancakes are amazing!  They can be so many different varieties and flavors but guess what?  I prefer mine plain.  Fluffy buttermilk pancakes, fresh butter, and real maple syrup is my personal nirvana and can pretty much fix all of my problems.  Good day, pancakes make it better.  Bad day, pancakes make it better.  Nervous, pancakes calm me down.  Sick, pancakes make it better.  Get it?
3. Sugary Cereal/Pop Tarts - I am basically a 12 year old child.  I love anything covered in sugar.  I was practically raised on pop tarts and their generic cousins.  My dad toasts the unfrosted flavors and rubs them with a special stick of butter.  Yes.  I like the frosted kind too but only 4 flavors: cherry, strawberry, brown sugar cinnamon and the double chocolate one when I'm in a pinch.  Cereal wise, you have already been informed of that love here.
4. Oatmeal - Its becoming a trendy breakfast again, with its whole grain properties and all that.  Combined with all of the delicious condiments that you are supposed to mix into it, it can't be that bad for you, right?  I love mine in every form, really.  Even oatmeal cookies count as breakfast in my book.
5. Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Links, Bacon, Hashbrowns, and Toast - Pretty much your typical breakfast.  Okay, maybe extra meat than normal breakfasts.  Just do it right, serve me some grape jelly and maple syrup(for my sausage of course) and we are good to go!
6. Sausage, Egg and Cheese McMuffins - Mickey D's knows whats up.  Delicious combination.  However, my grandfather created a homemade version that is EVEN BETTER.  Fresh eggs, delicious sausage, buttery english muffins and tasty cheese.  Thanks Grandpa you ruined me for life!
7.  Waffles - The sheer surface area that is crisped up on this treat is nothing short of a miracle.  How does that happen?  Its amazing.  Then we need to factor in butter in every square and maple syrup too and we have hit an overload of deliciousness.  Can you even handle it?  I know I can't.

Do you share my fondness for the beautiful meal known as breakfast?  If you do not have the same fondness as me, please zip your lip and move on to the next blog entry please. 

Seven Household To-Dos

Hey!

Welcome back and thank you for reading! 

I've owned my house for almost 16 months now, it feels like forever and nothing all at the same time.  When I think back on all of the projects and renovations I get overwhelmed.  I have no idea what possessed me to be so crazy and do all of these things with no experience.

Then I had to sit back and let the pros come in and do a few things.  Now I am saving money to enable my current list of projects.

I am putting it out here for the world to see for one reason, if I put it out there, I'm accountable.  Take a look!

Seven Things On My Household To-Do List

• Hot Water Heater - Sounds like a silly thing to be at the top of my list huh?  Well mine is living on borrowed time currently and is probably very inefficient.  Also, the water shut off valves here are so corroded and rusted out that if I ever did have a problem, I wouldn't be able to shut the water off.  They came like that and I've been putting off getting them fixed.  My ETA for this project is Dec 2011 or Jan 2012. 
• Water Softener - This is a necessity in the Southwest.  If you have ever lived in or stayed in a house that has one, you can tell the difference.  You laundry is softer, your hair is softer, your dishes are cleaner and have less spots, your shower is much easier to clean and maintain and so on.  I can't wait to have mine installed.  Too bad it costs double what it should since I have mystery pipes in my front yard that have to be cut down and routed to my garage to allow for the soft water loop at all.  This has been coupled with the heater project and I'm saving for them jointly.  Same ETA.
• Dishwasher - The one I have is the cheapest builder grade and I'm not sure it even works sometimes.  It sounds like a freight train when it tries to clean my dishes too, and I'm not crazy about that.  This will be my next fun purchase after I do the mundane water heater/softener because without these two appliances, my new dishwasher won't be operating at its finest!  My ETA on a new dishwasher is before next summer, so May 2012.
• Irrigation - I am lucky to have a high quality irrigation system through my entire landscaping.  front and back yard, grass, bushes and trees all have water coming to them.  Over the year I've noticed it acts up and needs a tune up.  I am no irrigation pro, so I hope I could learn a little more about it when I find someone to come check it out.  This is something I have been delaying for a while and I'm sure my yellow grass is due to my laziness and I'm sure I could avoid using so much water if I just got it fixed and running right.  My ETA is soon.  Very soon.  If not, then by May 2012. 
• Carpet - This is something that has been on my list for several months now.  My house has a good amount of carpet and I want it ALL GONE.  There used to be a cat in residence before I bought this house and I believe the carpet pads are destroyed because of it.  I ripped up all the carpet in my big closet and laid down laminate wood floor and I love it.  I have sudden urges to do that to the rest of the carpet too, but then I would be stuck with bare concrete in the upcoming winter because I can't afford laminate for all the other areas just yet.  What a vicious cycle.  ETA: This is on my five year plan.
• Bathroom - I did a major update on the guest bathroom in my house not too long after I bought it.  Tiled the shower, refinished the vanity and new hardware all around.  My poor master bath is feeling neglected.  It is huge and an awkward layout.  I hope to make use of all the angles and height someday as well as add a skylight of some sort since no natural light gets into that space at all.  I want to turn the tub/shower into a shower with glass doors and nice tile.  My first bathroom renovation taught me how much time and money this takes, so this is another five year plan item.  Sad Face.
• Kitchen - Everyone I know wants something done to their kitchen.  Mine is no exception.  I am a culinary professional by trade, so I want the best of course which catapults this into the ten year plan, realistically.  Unless I win the lottery. 

That's my list guys.  It screams $$$$$$$ to me.  So I'm off to work to go fund my addiction projects! Do you have any projects you want to tackle?  Do you have any projects you want to pay me to tackle for you?!  Comment away!

Seven Life Goals

'Ello!

Do you have goals in life?  I think everyone does, right?

Some people aim to pay the bills.  Some want to get to the next level  in that video game.  Some want to have x amount of kids by x age. Some wanna climb that corporate ladder! 

I have a lot of goals, way more than 7.  I have a revolving list that is completely intertwined with my own personal bucket list.  Its complicated.

Every year right about this time near my birthday I evaluate some goals.  I have taken some of my goals and narrowed them down to 7 that I'd like to accomplish in the next year(or so).  Crazy things to do before I get to that strange age I'm headed to!

Ready?

Seven Goals For The Next 365 Days:

• Canning.  I gotta try this.  I cook food for a living and this is right up my alley.  I have never canned anything.  I've made jams and spreads and jellies but never for long term preservation.  I read several blogs about this and I feel like I need to make my own pickles this year sometime.  Its also aligns well with another goal...
• Live A More Sustainable Life.  This is for the betterment of myself and the world I hope to one day bring kids into.  I have cut back my plastic bag usage by 80% and that's a big goal.  Its a challenge to remember, its sorta annoying to the employees, but I am saving thousands of bags from hitting the landfill.  I am trying to eat healthier and buy organic and or local as I can afford or where its available.  I want to cut back my hygiene products this year(baking soda and vinegar shampoo anyone?).  Every renovation I do to my house is eco-minded too.  Basically when I have the option of living more "green" I am going to take it.  It just feels better.
• Ride A Motorcycle.  Yes, I have never ridden a true motorcycle.  A mini bike once.  But never a scooter or a motorcycle.  This year, I'm gonna.  I'm gonna ride one.  Maybe it'll scare me away from them or maybe I will have a new goal next year of driving one.  We shall see. 
• Gardening.  I am going to get rid of some of the lush landscaping on my property this year and move or re-purpose some irrigation and build a raised bed garden.  I'm gonna use cedar wood, its gonna be about 6" above ground level, and I'm gonna grow some veggies.  This goes with sustainability too, but mostly because I want that pride.  I kept the roses alive this year, good job Dev, now grow a garden!
• Soda Maker.  I want to make my own carbonated beverages.  I don't think I want that silly soda stream machine, just a co2 charger and limitless flavors!  I love soda, I love carbonation and I want to make my own.  I am actively drinking much less soda because of the HFCS and sugar contents.  I see a Devyn named soda coming up folks.
• Skydiving.  This has been a goal of mine for years.  Since I was about 17 I think.  It might just kill my parents.  I wouldn't tell them until after...but I'd totally do it.  I think one of my brothers is down too, so maybe a partner in crime will inspire this dream to become a reality.  
• Spanish.  More than ever I feel compelled to take advantage of my heritage as a part Mexican and learn the damn language!  Its a beautiful language, a valuable skill and just something I NEED to do.  It would make my grandma very proud, I know and would make me very happy.  Daily I use words here and there but I need to make those sentences happen!  I need to learn Spanish.  

Know what I just realized?  By putting this out here I have just built myself some accountability.  I feel accountable to all of you invisible millions of readers.  Make me achieve these goals, ya'll!

Do you have any goals I should help you with?  Tell me in the comments!

Seven Toys I Will Never Buy (but totally want!)

Hey there.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Cause I do.  I love when you all come around and check out this silly little blog.  I love the comments and I love the support.

I wish you'd tell all your friends about this, but I guess its okay that you don't because I love you anyways.

You keep coming back for more, so I guess you're expecting another set of seven?

Fine fine.  Let's talk about toys.  I'm pretty nerdy, also a pretty nerd when I try.  I love technology (most days).  I love the newest gadget and generally always want one.  There are just not enough dollars in a day, my friends!  And sometimes I prefer to spend that money on more useful things like a new air conditioner or food or whatever. Most favorite toy I have?  Kindle.  Yes.

If i was a kajillionaire, I'd have everything I ever wanted and so would my family and friends.  I hate to break it to you, I'm not a kajllionaire.  Sorry.

Seven Toys I Will Never Buy (but totally want!)

• iPhone.  I like the white one but think any of the sweet ColorWare options would be totally fine by me! I don't even have an iPod Touch or whatever the proper spelling is for that.  But i love apps...and toys.
• Segway.  Pretty much the coolest thing ever.  I have drooled over them for ages and would LOVE to ride one.  The security team at my work has them and they're always zooming by, looks like so much fun!  Guess what, you can totally have a custom one thanks to ColorWare!  This Just In:  I went to their site to get that link, and OMG there are so many different varieties.  I must have one!
• iPad.  The first one, the second one. Any of them, I'll take it.  So easy to use and just plain fun. The folks at Apple are definitely doing something right.  Also you can have them painted too, just get lost at that ColorWare site...
• Any Dyson Vaccuum.  For their hefty price tag, they must be something special right?  They clean the floor, but they cost 50x more than a broom?  But why?  Who am I kidding, I don't care, I just want one!  I'd even settle for the air blade hand dryer like at IKEA!
• MacBook Air.  Ever since I saw that commercial where the armless hands pulled this computer out of an envelope I have wanted one.  Way to go marketing!  I'll never forget the first time I saw one.  It was in a Best Buy.  Our eyes locked from across the room.  I headed over to the beacon drawing me in.  The first touch was sublime and I immediately knew I would never be the same.  How do they do it?  Its so SMALL!
• THIS Refrigerator.  It has a touch screen.  It has apps.  Its a computer in a refrigerator.  Consider my mind blown.  Its only $3600!!! What a deal.
• Canon Rebel.  Or any fancy camera, I don't know the difference.  I have always harbored a secret dream to be a photographer.  Making things look better in film than they could ever look in person.  That's like true magic.  I don't know my f-stop from my white balance though, so its sort of silly that I want one.  Call me crazy!

This list is a not so subtle hint.  My birthday is in two weeks, please try to keep it a secret which item from this list you are buying me.

Do tell me what items you want that are beyond your budget?

Seven Cars I've Wanted For My Entire Life

Cars.

Can't live with them, can't live without them.  Not here in Arizona at least.

Mine has been causing me nothing be trouble this week.  I have half a mind to sell it.  Too bad I happen to own my dream car and can't imagine buying anything else.  Too damn bad for you, Dev. (high brow problems)

Does anyone else call themselves by a nickname?  Like when you talk to yourself and stuff?

No?

Just me, huh?  OK.  Back to cars we go!  These are my dream cars, not to be confused with these cars that I hate.

Seven Cars I've Wanted For My Entire Life:

• Nissan Murano.  I'll take one in black please.  At an amazing deal, when I wasn't planning on buying a car too please.  Oh wait, that has already happened to me.  Yay me!  Now I just need a little extra cash to fix it up a little bit.  All cosmetic issues, but annoying ones!  Hatch doesn't open, CD doesn't eject, has never played iPod, visors don't stay, drivers seat rocks, door actuators are intermittent and most recently the fuel gauge is acting up.  Fix all this, and this girl is living the dream - literally.
• Dodge Ram 1500.  This one I'd like to be dark purple with a rugged bed liner and a chrome diamond plate toolbox.  Sparkly and rugged. For hauling and stuff but also for looking cute.  I wanted one of these since I was at least 12.  Who knows why?  I've always danced to the beat of my own drum.  
• Nissan 350Z.  Burnt orange, please! Sitting very low to the ground.  To fully enjoy this car, I need to learn to drive a stick shift I think.  Come on, brother! Teach me already. I like to tell myself the only reason I don't already have one is because I like to haul things around.  Truth be told, I will probably never own one, but a girl can dream!
• Toyota Prius. I really want a hybrid.  I really want one.  I normally don't follow trends especially with cars, but I would really like a Prius.  They aren't my favorite exterior look, but the inside and the capabilities are pretty awesome.  I want my Prius to be ironic slightly in that I want it to be black and completely blacked out.  Rims, lights, windows, everything.  This is a feasible dream, just need to find that sugar daddy!
• Ford Mustang(1965).  Red with white accents.  This is a very cliche dream but I still hang on tight.  I would love to learn how to restore and also restore it myself.  I have had dreams of finding one on craigslist at the absolute best bargain ever and buying it on impulse.  Could that dream come true?  Please and thankyou.
• Chevrolet Camaro(2011).  Green! Have you seen these on the road?  The green ones steal my breath away every.single.time.  Sure they are nothing like the sports cars from back in the day - too much plastic.  But boy does that plastic look sexy.  I want to drive one of these. How do you test drive a car?
• Audi R8.  I have always wanted an Audi, for two reasons.  First of all I have always admired the geometric and perfect logo that comes with Audi.  I have a major thing for lines and perfect shapes and the four ringed logo is perfection.  Also the name.  I love how it is pronounced.  I enjoy their sedans and even their crossover type cars but seeing Iron Man made me realize this was the car for me.  I just want it in a mirrored tinted silver chromed out package.  So much so that it is almost a danger to drive in sunny Arizona because of all the reflections.  

I need to be better at fixing my own car.  They need to be better at being DIY'd.   Let's meet in the middle, carmakers.

Everyone has dream cars, what are yours?  Do you think my list is ridiculous? Tell me about it. 

Seven Things I Wanna Do Before I Die

Hi there!  Thank you for reading my humble blog, I truly appreciate it. 

I need to watch the movie about bucket lists.  Is it called The Bucket List?  I need to see it.

I think I have a bucket list though.  Its constantly evolving which is what I think is the best way to have a bucket list.  Some of my list has already been accomplished, but there are some bigger list items that are works in progress.  These are 7 of my  buckets.  I don't think that's what they are called, but I like to call them buckets since they are on my bucket list. See what I did there?

Seven Things I Wanna Do Before I Die(Big Buckets Edition):

• See All 50 States.  I'm on my way.  I've seen 15 or so by my last count.  I was feeling pretty good about it until I met two kids last night that have seen 24 states and 4 countries already.  They were both under 12.  I've never left the country....
• See A Foreign Country.  Maybe even 2 or 3.  I have never left the good ole USA.  Not even the Mexico side of Nogales.  Poor me. 
• Have a kid(or two).  I love kids.  I want my own.  Before I get old.  That's all.  My parents have also made no secret of their desire to have grandchildren! Thanks guys!
• Have a Book Published.  I write all the time.  I have most of a novel hidden away in digital land.  I just am not confident enough with it.  I think non fiction might be fun too.  Who knows? Maybe this blog will lead to a certain kind of book!  I can dream.
• Visit Graceland Again.  I have a thing for Elvis.  This is no secret.  I have also been to Graceland  once already.  An amazing experience that I highly reccomend.  However I want to be there at one of the two biggest weeks there or over Christmas.  I'm talking about the week of Elvis' birthday(January 8th) or of his departure(August 16).  Someday this will happen.
• Own a 1965 Ford Mustang.  Girls can dream about cars too, fellas.
• Get Married.  Ummm, two words here.  Fairytale dreams.

Thems are my buckets, do you have any buckets?

Tomorrow we begin Harry Potter week!  Hooray! Are there any Harry Potter fans out there?