S'mores Cookie Bars

I got a new pan for my bridal shower from a friend who was unable to make the actual shower. It is this super awesome 9x13 metal calphalon pan that comes with a lid. The pan came with the s'mores recipe on the wrapping. Tomorrow is my co-workers b-day so I decided to try this recipe out! It was rather simple and the batter is tast-eee! I wish I could show you the inside but I need to keep these puppies in one piece for now.

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

16 oz Hersheys milk chocolate (4 of the large bars or equivalent amount of smaller bars)

6 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF

In large bowl, cream butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Press half of dough in a prepared 9" x 13" pan. (Reserve remaining dough) Bake 15 minutes.

Arrange milk chocolate bars over baked layer, breaking as needed to fit. Sprinkle with marshmallows; skatter bits of remaining dough over marshmallows, forming top layer.

Bake 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 16 bars.

Enjoy!!

4 months from today.....

...I'm marrying this guy!!

Justin as bacon for Halloween...I was a fried egg :)

Blue Lake Duathlon

They put every competitor race number and age so you knew who was your direct competition

waiting for the race to start

leaving the bike tent to start my 12 mile ride

ungracefully mounting my bike after running 3.1 miles

off I go!

Today I completed in my first duathlon. "What the heck is that?", you ask. It means run, bike, run. For this race it was a 5K run (3.1 miles) 12 mile bike ride, and another 5K run. I am not sure about my finishing time because the results were not up when we left the park. Justin joined me as my cheerleader and camera man. Such a sport waking up at 6am on a Saturday to support me. I had a great time competing in this. Oh man did my legs feel like jell-o during the transition from biking back to running. I felt like I was running like a muppet for the first 1/4 mile, haha. I am already scouring the internet for more races like this one. I had a blast! Yay!!

First week of new job...COMPLETE!

I had a four day work week packed with job training. I was working at an office with 2 other new hires. We learned tons about the credit union and how to use their computer system etc. Our trainer was fun and entertaining. I am sure it would have made for a long week otherwise. We got to tour the credit union branches that we will be working out of. Each one is a little different and the company will do lots of employee rotation if another branch is short staffed. So it was important for us to become familiar with all the work spaces. I am really enjoying it so far. This company has great morals and ethics and I look forward to a long relationship with them.

Monday I officially get my own desk, phone line, and many more things that will be customized just for me. Super excited!! Oh, and I received so much free stuff with the credit union's logo on it. They gave me a green and navy blue tote bag, travel coffee mug, pen, highlighter, mints, and I get a company allowance to buy clothing with the logo. I ordered a cardigan sweater (of course!).

mmMMMmmmmMmr

Sheri bought me this AWESOME pan for my bridal shower gift. I think Justin was just as excited about it as I was. Justin bought an espresso chocolate chip brownie mix and baked these Friday. :) They came out perfect! I cannot wait to bake more cute individual treats. I am going to use it again tomorrow to bake some treats for my new co-workers.

Bridal Shower

My bridesmaids, Stephanie and Hallie threw me a bridal shower with the help of mine and Justin's mom. We had about 10 guests at our house. Justin skidaddled and went to a coffee house to study for school. Steph and Hallie did so much work! They made tons of appetizers and desserts from scratch. Steph and my mom made homemade salsa, Steph made cupcakes with buttercream frosting, Hallie made deviled eggs, stuffed mushrooms, and little cherry chocolate "mice". The girls organized games with great prizes and party favors. I had so much fun. My mom's cousin Jackie and her daughter Sheri came all the way down from the Seattle area to be at my shower. It was so nice to see them.

Mother's Day Gift

I knitted my mom and Justin's mom little "mom" hearts for Mother's Day. I thought it would be fun to put it in a shadow box so it could be preserved on a wall. I think they were both pleased with their gifts. It was a fun one to make!

Mom and Steph & Baby Seanie came to visit

Mom and Steph

Justin and Sean (I knitted the baby's hat last christmas)

My mom and Steph came to visit us last Friday through Monday (Memorial Day). We had a great time together. Tons of eating was involved!! They came to visit so that they could help me pick out my wedding dress and give me a bridal shower.

Sean is now 15 months old (I feel like he was JUST born). He was such a good boy. He loved our animals and the animals loved him. It was such a great weekend!