birthday & mmm... puppy chow!

since i last wrote, it was my birthday! i turned 24 :) on friday i got to celebrate with eric, and then on saturday a group of our friends went down to play 19 holes of mini golf that's inside the uica! it was designed by an artist, so definitely more cool-looking than it actually was functional!

so here's our group: joel, eric, anthony, jill, joe, me, cassie, and becky!



my favorite hole was called "april showers" all decorated like a bathroom, complete with a toilet!

on sunday, we went out for a birthday lunch at tres amigos with my family. i looooove that restaurant. best mexican food around, i'd say! i got some delicious ice cream for being the birthday girl, but i also had to put on a sombrero. my family sure loved trying to embarass me, but i owned that sombrero!!

then this week we had an ice storm. we didn't get much of it, but the sun shining on the ice-glazed trees this afternoon was gorgeous! of course i couldn't help but whip out my new little camera (thanks, babe!)

tonight i had eric kick me into shape with some weightlifting downstairs. he has a full set of dumbells down there. my arms are a leeeettle sore right now, but hopefully it'll pay off come wedding season! afterwards, he wanted me to make puppy chow, and it is soooo yummy! i must say that i make the BEST puppy chow!

okay, okay, here's how i make it. i use crispix (NOT chex) cereal. there's more room in the pieces for lots and lots of chocolate and peanut butter, so it just tastes better! in a large pot, i melt a stick of butter, then add 2 cups (a whole bag) of chocolate chips. once those are mostly melted, i add 2 cups of peanut butter. once creamy, remove from heat, and fold in the cereal. once it's all covered, i pour the mix into a paper bag with about a cup of powdered sugar in the bottom. then i add another cup or so to the top. next, i fold over the bag securely and shake it around until everything is covered! you can always add more powdered sugar if you want. then, ENJOY! i like it warm, straight from the stove, while eric likes it frozen. either way, puppy chow is deeelicious :)