Something Saturdays (1/30/16)

Last weekend's work wasn't too bad--I was working in my hometown so I ran into a girl from high school, my old preschool teacher, and one of Michael's coworkers. My Uncle Brian and cousin Brianna, David (Michael's best friend), and Michael all stopped in to see me as well. Kohl's was actually having 70% off on suits so Michael ended up shopping (he hasn't purchased a suit since he was 16) and he got SUCH a nice dark grey suit that would originally have been $280 and he got for $84! Yay! He looks so nice in it :) Saturday, after work and suit shopping, we had dinner with Michael's mom. After dinner I got a WONDERFUL surprise-my brother called me from basic training! He needed help getting some information for his security clearance so it was sort of rushed with me trying to find info but he was able to tell me that he's doing well and we were able to say we loved and missed each other :) Also he cleared up the address situation for his letters-he's getting everything but the letters that we're sending to the updated address are getting to him more quickly.

Otherwise this week has been fairly low-key. I rewatched all the Rugrats movies, lol. They hold up! Totally made me cry though (esp. Rugrats in Paris....I forgot about the whole "Chuckie doesn't have a mommy" storyline.) I miss Rugrats, that was a legit show.

This weekend, starting yesterday, I'm working at the International Motorcycle Show in Cleveland. Today is my long day but hopefully it'll all go well!

If you're a book lover like me...then this list will be way too real (esp. #4!)

Omigosh...please let this happen. (Princess Diaries 2 and/or Chris Pine fans...this is for you!)

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell dancing in Africa to...Africa...is everything.

Thick Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

One of the few things that I mostly keep standard on the whole "eating things seasonally" (I'm not not talking about vegetables--I'm talking like ice cream is for summer kind of thing) is that I usually only drink hot chocolate in the winter. But I'm also super picky about it--like...when I tell people that I only drink water and they make the weirded out face and then I inform them that I do occasionally drink orange juice or really good hot chocolate. It's true. I need it thick. I need it rich. None of that watery/milky cocoa powder gunk for me. RICH AND THICK! The ultimate epitome of this is Max Brenner's Italian Thick Hot Chocolate, but now that I no longer live in NYC I do not have easy access to that nectar of the gods (although I'm intending to try a copycat recipe soon) so I have to try out other versions myself!

One easy way to make any hot chocolate richer is to add in peanut butter. Instant yum. Which is why this is now def. one of my favorite homemade hot chocolates-rich, creamy, fairly thick, and peanut butteryyyyy! I really need to have heavy cream in my fridge at all times-can you imagine how tasty a peanut butter whipped cream would be on top of this??! I can--and it's DARN TASTY!

Mind you, I also fully loved my idea to put some toasted marshmallows and chopped peanuts on top. Although I will admit the peanuts might have made it a bit too chewy...hmmm...not sure. Regardless, I enjoyed it. Still not quite as thick as I'd like, but def. better than almost any version I've tried at home thus far. And Michael said it tasted like a melted candy bar, which is pretty much my meter for if I'm going to like it or not. And if you're a smart cookie like me, then you'll love it too!

Chocolate S'mores Cookies {Insomnia Copycat}-Guest Post at JavaCupcake

I know, I'm posting on a Tuesday, it's chaos!! I'm posting today because I am actually guest posting over at JavaCupcake today and this is NOT one you're going to want to miss!

Have you ever heard of Insomnia Cookies? They're located in college towns and they deliver warm and delicious cookies pretty much all night. I do not live within delivery range of one, however I do live near a town that has one and I've been lucky enough to sample some of their delectable treats and I have a favorite...a favorite that I crave so much that I needed to recreate it at home!

And that is where this recipe comes in! My brother and I both favor Insomnia's S'mores Cookies and I am proud to say that these are almost an exact replica! They're a large, chewy, and super chocolatey cookie filled and topped with melty chocolate chunks, gooey mini marshmallows (which also toast while they bake, adding to the s'mores-iness), and crisp pieces of graham cracker. *sigh* They're delightful.

They're so good that I HAD to share-I froze some to bring to Josh when I see him at his airforce basic training graduation (I also intend to make another batch to ship to him when he's out of basic) and I gave one to our maintenance guy, and one to Michael's work friend Jessica (she may or may not have texted me saying how amazing these looked....meaning I obviously had to be nice and give her one!) And I'm sharing them with all of you PLUS the wonderful peoples over at JavaCupcake--

click here to go check out the recipe and say hi!