I GRADUATED!

Well, guys, I did it. I'm a college graduate.

And as happy as I am to say those words, I did have to make a few sacrifices along the way to make sure it happened. One of those was giving up my baking, and not keeping in touch with you. BUT NO LONGER! I'm back, baby!

Prepare for a summer filled with baked treats (that I give away to all of my neighbors), tours of the city, restaurants you HAVE TO TRY, weekend trip destinations, and anything else that comes to my mind (like manicures. WHY didn't anyone tell me how much fun it is to get your nails done??).

It's good to be back.

Speak soon,

Sydney

Home Again.

Forgive me. I just, literally JUST got into Instagram, and now I'm practically documenting my entire life through pictures. TRY TO STOP ME, WORLD!

Double forgive me; I just slept for many, many hours and I'm re-adjusting to the world of the awake.

Guys, this week has been the absolute WORST. Midterms week is like that, but this has been the busiest one in recent memory. I'm a senior, and really, I should have taken it kind of easy, what with this being my very last semester EVER and all, but there were classes I just couldn't give up taking. (One of them is a Jane Austen class where there are exactly TWO BOYS and they sit in the corner the whole time while the girls sigh a lot and swoon. It's...pretty hilarious.) I actually pulled my first legitimate all-nighter  ever which involved drinking TWO Red Bulls in the span of a few hours, and crawling into bed for a whopping full night's sleep of 45 minutes. I got to take a two-hour nap the next day, but I still wasn't feeling 100%. That, of course, did not stop me from going out to celebrate for a little while, and enjoying some yummy Pasta Carbonara with chicken from The Cheesecake Factory, and drinking a beer while doing lots of trivia at a neighborhood bar near my school. (I prefer a quiet evening out every time. I like actually HEARING what my friends are saying, not guessing while I run from a huge sub-woofer.)

Then last night I hopped on a plane back to Wisconsin, where I currently rest, chasing the cutest miniature schnauzer on this planet, and eating my parents out of house and home. But that's no biggie. Being home means I cook for my parents, and cooking means blogging. I love blogging, and I love you guys.

Most importantly, however, I love sleeping. It had to be said again.

Popcorn Delight

THIS POST IS SO LATE. So, two weeks ago, my roommate had her 22nd birthday. And as a present to her, I decided that for the party I would make little party favors. As of late, my Facebook Newsfeed is clogged with at least 20 recipes everyday (I LOVE IT.) and stumbled across one that was perfect....ready?

This is going to be amazing, so you have to make sure that you're ready.

SUPER READY?

SALTED DARK CHOCOLATE POPCORN.

YEP. IT WAS JUST AS AMAZING AS YOU WOULD THINK.

And it was perfect for the party! I decided that the best way to make it last since there would be at least 30 people attending, was to double the recipe, then distribute it into little baggies. AND IT WAS A HUGE HIT! Not a bag was left by the end of the night, and no germs were spread by people just sticking their hands into a huge bowl of popcorn (I really hate when people do that). I think I'm going to make it again very soon because not only is it great for parties, it's also great for a night in with your roommates. PERFECT.

What You'll Need (Double for a party. Regular recipe serves about four)

• 1 tablespoon grapeseed or other neutral oil (I used vegetable oil)
• 1/3 cup popcorn kernels (I used white kernels)
• 4 ounces good-quality dark chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided

Find the recipe here!

HAPPY POPCORN POPPING!

Sleepy Sunday

I'm actually exhausted. But instead of curling up and watching Gossip Girl, yours truly is diligently working on every assignment imaginable. It's alright though. I have freshly baked cookies, (more details later. I  give myself breaks as a reward. You guys are my reward) a cranberry candle burning, and Christmas lights.

Settin' the mood to get stuff done!

I can't see anything with the lights so dim.

I guess I have to turn more on...

Another Storm's A'brewin'

This winter has been fun, you guys!  

Just kidding.

I mean, it has been fun, but also bone-chillingly cold and stressful as all get out.

ANYWAY.

So, apparently we're getting more snow. MORE SNOW. For what feels like the third weekend in a row, but is actually just the second week that we have been free from the grips of Nemo (with 1-3 inches sprinkled in for good measure), we have another winter storm advisory. It's nothing like Nemo, but STILL. There's leftover snow on the ground as I type this, and we may get more. Or, it'll turn into rain. Who knows. Either way, it's coming. And do you know what I'll be doing as the snow flakes (or heavy rain drops) fall and Boston turns into a winter wonderland (or wetland) once again? Writing to you guys and swimming out of piles of homework. I will bake, I will post, and I will forget about having to go out in the snow Sunday and Monday morning to continue on with my life.

Stay tuned, and stay fabulous.

Blizzard: In Pictures

TODAY WAS THE MOST FUN.

We were getting a little stir-crazy in the house, so we decided to head out. These are my friends, right before we started a very epic battle.

Everything was BURIED in snow. This was a car.

Public transportation is down until Monday. To put things in perspective: this is usually a train track, and those railings are usually very high.

Even though I haven't gone far from home for two days, the snow is beautiful, and we've had a BLAST.

I've run around outside more than I have in absolute ages.

Returning to the Real World on Monday is going to be tough. 

BLIZZARD!

I'm a New Englander for most of the year, and we are getting hit with a TON of snow! I know it should be terrible that we can't even look out of our windows because there's over a foot of snow already, but it's actually the best.

A few hours ago my roommates and I went outside to an empty street where everywhere you turned, there was a snowball fight waiting for you. (Needless to say, we were always ready, and usually the dominating team.)

After we were too wet and cold to continue, we came inside and had possibly the BEST hot chocolate in the world (Swiss Miss is underrated if you ask me), watched Something Borrowed/New on TLC, then attempted to have a movie marathon. We couldn't keep our eyes open, but there's always tomorrow.

The snow is still coming down, and I've got nowhere to go. And what does a baker do to pass the time? BAKE, of course! Tonight I made a second helping of my sweet potato pie and tomorrow I make Brown-Butter BLUEBERRY MUFFINS!

Snowball fight and muffin pictures to come tomorrow!

Wishes For My Kitchen

Wish # 1: I wish that my kitchen could be half as organized as this one.

And I know I'm not alone in wishing this. The older I get, the more things in the kitchen I accrue, and before I know it, I'm digging through piles of pans, just trying to find one. But that's the problem with living on your own isn't it? Finding a place for everything is tough, and finding a good solution for more space is a tricky business. Soon, everything does have its place, but it always tends to be the place for everything. And you never want to throw anything away, because you never know when you might need it. If I could just have everything in front of me, not buried underneath countertops, I would be one happy cook.

Whoever came up with this is an absolute genius.

Pretty True.

Possibly the Cutest Print in the World

Check out this awesome print I found on Etsy!! This would be ADORABLE in any room, but I'm thinking it'd be a good piece for a hallway!

Thoughts?