Bake me a (cup)cake as fast as you can

I've always loved baking, but as a kid and a young adult I typically stuck with easy stuff like brownies from a box and cookie recipes from the back of the chocolate chip bag. The last few years though I've started to teach myself (and learn from my mom) how to make things from scratch. Things that I used to make from a "just add water/milk/oil/eggs" kit. I don't use Bisquick anymore to make biscuts, no more chocolate chip recipes from the back of the bag, and no more cake mix! Most recently I made cupcakes for Andrew's family Halloween party. I made the yellow cake from scratch and the icing was a new recipe I never tried before. You had to heat up milk, sugar and flour to make it and it had a very light flavor. Rich icing tends to make me feel sick if I eat to much of it so I tried this recipe out. The cupcakes were a hit at the party. Making cake from scratch takes a lot longer than the stuff from a box, but it tastes 100 times better and stays moist longer. Rotating the adding of milk and flour is what gives the batter such a nice texture and the icing dries hard so you don't have to worry about it running everywhere!

I did prompt number 5 from Mama Kat's so get on over there, find a prompt and do the same!

Here we go Steelers, here we go!!

Those who know me best know that I'm a crazy Steelers fan. I try not to miss a game and I'm always up on whats going on with the team. I yell at the TV during games, wear a jersey or shirt every week when they play and even more than once a week if they win. This season they are now on there 5th straight win after whooping the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium last night.

I know maybe its crazy that this is the number one thing I love about fall (well the season changing and the leaves falling is nice too). Its been interesting not living at home during football season, even in college I went home to watch games with my dad and I've watched a few with him this year. Andrew doesn't understand my odd obsession with football....he makes fun of me when we watch games but he is starting to recognize players and different things that go on.

Yes, you read that right, Andrew doesn't like football and yes I'm dating him.

Here is further proof that I am Pittsburgh Crazy!!!

What I am (or am not) as a blogger

I don't think many people read my blog and that's fine I suppose. I'm not really fulfilling a niche with the things I write about.

I'm not a mom, but I sure read lots of mom blogs.
I'm not testing fancy products.
I don't do amazing photography.
I cook good things, but rarely post it on here.
I don't travel the world or live in some exotic place.

I'm just Amanda a 24 year old from Central Ohio who works and lives with her boyfriend. We have a basset hound (who I pretty much treat like a person or a child) and we're not rich or entertaining in any way, shape or form.

I mostly write about my life and what I'm up to; sometimes I post a few pictures, sometimes I do some sort of myspace survey. I used to participate in things like Haiku Friday, but alas they no longer exist. I really think that my goal here is to find readers like me or who have something in common with me! I'm not married (yet) and I don't have a baby but I think there are many bloggers in this same position.....

I love reading my friends blogs and encourage them to read too and give me there ideas. I really want to find readers (as well as blogs that I can read) about men and women who are in a similar life situation as me.....but I have no idea where to start. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

And in other news......the weekend was not all that thrilling, Saturday we ran errands and had a nice family dinner with Andrew's parents and siblings. Sunday we did things separately, Andrew went off to discover the treasures of the junkyard and I went to see my parents and grandparents. My grandma gave me some more glassware and some things to decorate the house with....every time I take a few boxes to goodwill I come home from her house with 3 more. I love her though and I'm glad that she is sharing her love of antiques with me!

This week I'm thankful for.....

Having the water softener hooked up and not having to clean water stains and rust stains off of everything in the house. The soap comes out of my hair easier, the dishes don't have spots on them and the washing machine looks white again.

Learning how to cook new things since I literally have 1/4 of a cow in my freezer. I've never had beef so fresh and so tasty!

Pumpkin Pie.

Having a garage to park in for the first time EVER! I don't have to warm up my car anymore and it doesn't get as dirty now!

Freshly bathed Basset Hounds.

What are you thankful for this week?

Fight for Preemies - Nov. 17th

Over at A Mommy Story there is a great blog about her advocacy for the March of Dimes. After a friend of mine recently lost a baby due to prematurity I have decided to join in the fight to save these little babies that are born too soon. I've also had a few other friends who have had preemies that were born with complications but were able to stay with us.

If you would like to join the cause you can learn more about it on the March of Dimes website about preemies and the awareness day and you can copy the button on my side bar and display it on your blog for the month of November. You can then sign up for the even at the Bloggers Unite website and write a blog in memory of or about a preemie baby that you know.

I know that we all hope and pray to have healthy children but that isn't always the case for millions of women everyday in this country. I am not a mother myself but instead I am an advocate and someone who one day would like to have health, full term babies.

Please join this cause with me!