Jen Russum

Summer Goals: An Update

July 6, 2011

Well, my summer is just about halfway done (boo hoo! - when I was little I would get anxious to get back to school around this point in July... I still love school today, but NOT that much), so I thought it was time to check in on my summer goals. I feel a little behind on my list due to my adventures at real estate school for the past month or so, but I've been plugging away bit by bit. We leave for Seattle on Friday for two weeks of fun with family and friends, so I don't anticipate getting much done on the list during that time, but when we return I will be a crazy woman, just checking goals off left and right in those final weeks of summer. At least, that's my plan - we'll see how it goes... First of all, you will notice I have reorganized my list since my first post. I removed a couple of items I decided were not too important and added a few more that are important. Mostly though, I just organized everything into categories to help me think about my list more efficiently... Reading:-Finish Future Grace by John Piper-Finish Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins FINALLY!-My Name's Not Susie by Sharon Hamilton-Catch up on reading recent additions of Real Simple that are sitting in a box next to my couch (almost done!)-Read remaining issues of Domino (R.I.P.) that have been sitting around my house for a couple years now Computer:-Upload old pics onto facebook (you know, Erin's wedding, my wedding week, etc. Basically, all the pictures I've taken in the past year)-Blog (approximately) five days a week-Tweak blog designs/functions Crafts/Design:-Get basic sewing supplies and fix/update a few articles of clothing in our closet-Sew Pillows with Anne (no sewing yet, but we did buy the supplies)-Make "R" plaque for shelf (have the supplies; need to put it together)-Frame wedding pics-Make a modpodge bird Kitchen:-Make deviled eggs for Micah-Make homemade moonpies-Organize my recipe binder-Start my herb garden (so far I have basil, but I need cilantro and sage and/or parsley) Misc:-FINISH WEDDING THANK YOUS!!! (praise Jesus, we finished last weekend!)-Go to Last Chance-Print and frame a picture for Micah's desk at work-Find a free or cheap TV-Get my free facial from placing in a 5K last fall-Make a jeopardy study quiz for Kristin Hines-Return our busted, disappointing espresso machine-Get my busted, disappointing i-pod shuffle replaced (Thank you, Apple, for your one year warranty)-Add weights and abs back into my workouts-Begin a Scripture memorization plan Here is proof that our thank yous are finally done (and if you haven't gotten yours it's in the mail!)... Here are the moonpies... Here I am finishing the last chapters of My Name's Not Susie while lounging on the beach in California... And here is a sneak peak of a fabric store adventure, which will hopefully result in cute throw pillows and new buttons on some of my clothes... How are your summer goals going??? ... Read more

4th of July!!! {recap}

July 5, 2011

Well, my favorite holiday has come and gone, but I must say that it was glorious as usual. I just love the 4th of July so much. Here are some of my favorite memories from years past: -watching my dad and neighbor dads set off fireworks on our block growing up (although I think I was most fascinated by the snakes that seem to grow out of the ground and the good ol' pop-its. The bigger ones always made me a little nervous)... -visiting the Lake Stevens Dairy Queen for a 4th of July Blizzard (RIP...it burned down a few years ago) and playing on the playground in the most hideous, yet patriotic, outfit ever. I think white and red striped pants were involved (pretty sure there is photo evidence somewhere).... -watching my dad nervously hose off our roof with water every 4th because our next door neighbors were a little nuts with the explosives and he was always worried they would burn our house down! -going to Kansas with one of my best friends for 4th of July in high school. The weekend involved riding quads through the prairie, a farm house BBQ, a one stop sign town, blowing up fire works in a pond, playing charades until late into the night, and watching the movie Independence Day in a small (one screen?) movie theater... -visiting Washington the first summer Micah and I started dating. For the 4th of July, we kayaked to the jetty off the coast of Everett and watched fireworks over the water at night. I carried a little American flag around with me all day long... -road tripping to Colorado over 4th of July weekend a couple of years ago with a whole church youth group. We stopped in Salt Lake City and watched their huge fireworks show. The Old Navy next to our hotel gave us some crazy Styrofoam blue and red hats off their mannequin display and we got to wear them all night long. The next morning we went white water rafting... Yesterday's adventures included sipping a "Mix" by the pool in sunny 100 degree weather... eating patriotic popsicles and listening to country music... making a 4th of July cake and cutting up lots of patriotic looking fruit (recipe soon!)... heading off to dinner with my husband (our first married 4th of July!)... (wo)manning the grill with Shalyn... a delicious dinner of burgers AND brats (and Diet Coke with Lime - doesn't get much more American than that)... and celebrating our first 4th of July in Arizona with great friends! We are so very blessed. P.S. We went to a fireworks show after dinner, but I was a big doofus and left my camera on the table at dinner because I was so busy photographing the meat on my plate. Oops. But we saw lots of fireworks and they were spectacular! I promise. ... Read more

Homemade Moon Pies {and Happy 4th of July!}

July 4, 2011

It's my very favorite holiday. I love Christmas too, but Christmas is in the middle of winter (boo!) and the 4th of July is...well... in July (yay summer!). I just love BBQs, picnics, summer dresses, America, being patriotic, sitting by the lake, waving a small USA flag all day long, and most of all, I love the fireworks! I hope you have a great holiday and you can try out this classic American treat later this week... ***** Wanna know something weird about me? I love moon pies. Just love 'em. Yes, those chocolate-y, graham cracker-y, marshmallow-y things that have no nutritional value whatsoever. I don't eat them very often, but every time I am in a gas station on a road trip and I need a little snack, I head straight to the moon pies. Thankfully, for the sake of my health, I don't find myself in this situation very often... So when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it. When I made it, I copied the recipe exactly, but when I do I do it again, I am going to change the filling, because mine turned out too runny (it made a pretty stellar fruit dip though, we discovered). I will give you my modified filling recipe and hopefully yours will have a proper gooey, sugary, fluffy consistency... COOKIE CRUST: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 cup evaporated milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup butter, softened1 cup confectioners' sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 (7 oz containers) marshmallow creme Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter or margarine and white sugar. Add egg, evaporated milk, and vanilla. Mix well. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder (Try to get any big clumps out of the cocoa at this point). Add flour mixture slowly to sugar mixture while stirring. Mix just until all ingredients are combined. It will still have some clumps but it's okay. Drop the dough onto greased cookie sheet by rounded tablespoonfuls. Leave at least 3 inches in between each one; dough will spread as it bakes. Bake in preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until firm when pressed with finger. Allow to cool at least one hour before filling. To Make Marshmallow Filling: In a medium mixing bowl, blend together 1/2 cup butter or margarine, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and marshmallow creme. Mix until smooth. Assemble pies by spreading 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls of filling on flat side of a cookie crust, then covering filling with flat side of another cookie crust. Enjoy! Linking to: ... Read more