I've moved...

kinda sorta. I took the advice of the web savy people in my life and decided to move this blog over to wordpress. I've been working on the silly stuff for weeks now. In the grand scheme of life the fact that I pondered over this as much as I have is kinda silly. So I hope you will continue to follow this little blog over at

picklesandchapstick.wordpress.com or picklesandchapstick.com works just as well :) 

deliciousness: no bake cheesecake

Lately I've been missing baking... a lot. The only problem is our apartment already feels like an oven most days so I avoid the oven as much as possible. While getting ideas for new things to bake, cook, etc. I came across a no bake cheesecake recipe. The moment I set my eyes on it I had to make it. That and it involved cool whip and someone may have weird liking for cool whip (yup, that'd be me). It was probably one of the easiest recipes I have ever made. Extra easy points if you buy a pre-made graham cracker crust. It's a delicious treat to wrap up summer with. On a side note - how the heck is it already august?!?! I demand a summer redo!!

Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Step 1: put cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract into bowl

Step 2: beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth

Step 3: Fold in cool whip and beat/stir until smooth

Step 4: fill pie crust. chill 1 to 2 hours before serving.

If you wanted to, you could add a pie filling (apples, blueberries, cherries, etc.) on top. I may do that next time :) xo

a weekend in pictures

a goodbye party

the infamous dart board

mason jars for yummy ideas (or extra vases) 

sorry but you are needed, little guy

jalapeno infused vodka

crushed red chili pepper infused olive oil 

the perfect way to celebrate an anniversary date and watch the sunset 

growth

After my post-face time session with Charlie, I was sitting on the balcony staring at our plants (mostly succulents) when I noticed something. There's little baby succulents growing! When I first moved in with my boyfriend, I had one succulent plant that was looking a little dead. I tried not to let it show how concerned I was about it. I bought it right after Charlie was born and found the perfect pot for it, etc. After all the changes I was already going through, I wasn't ready to lose that plant too. At first it was an adjustment for me, living somewhere new, living with grown ups again, trying to function and live life without having my little chicken around 24/7. Since I'm a nester at heart, I decided my little plant needed some more friends. Our plants have become my babies (along with my hermit crab). Not sure if I shared that news but yes, I'm a proud hermit crab mama. I'll discuss that topic/decision at another time. 

Changes and growth aren't always meant to be easy. I find myself wanting to rush through this period and find a way to feel "okay" again or find where I "fit" in this new chapter of my life. Everything I've grown to know the past two years has changed. I'm scared because as promising as the future is, it's still uncertain. While there's a large part of me that likes to be spontaneous and jump head first into things, there's an overly cautious side of myself. The side that doesn't want to get hurt again, the side that needs some sort of stability, etc. Life is strange and it's really strange to think that people who were once huge parts of your life, are no longer a part of it. Sometimes you're left missing old friendships or the "good ole days" but I guess that's a part of "growing". Learning who wants to grow with you and who doesn't. I've been through times that were amazing, that were extremely difficult, that i didn't understand, etc. I've grown in the past two years, I've grown in the past year and I've grown in the past several months. I guess that's the beauty of life and changes, you get to keep trying to better yourself and that's what I've been trying to do.. everyday.

I love that my old & new plants have new growth happening. In a way it's kinda symbolic. We're growing quite well in our new environment. I guess a little TLC will do that for you. Every day may not be perfect but at least you tried and tomorrow is a new beginning to try again. Yeah, Yeah, I know. Totally cheesy but very true.