In case you were wondering....

....this is why you don't see many photos of us on the blog.





Those aren't even the outtakes, those are the real thing.
Our best one is our sidebar photo, where Shawn is about to pretend-stab me with a pen.
I rest my case.

Virtual Apartment Plans

One of my favorite computer games when I was younger was The Sims. I know I'm not the only one who can admit to this, and it's not hard to understand why... the game freakin' rocked! What other game let you build imaginary mansions furnished with all sorts of extravagant and eccentric furniture that you downloaded online and subsequently 'bought' with the all the money you 'earned' playing the game. (...I know I'm not the only one who frequently used the get rich quick cheat code!) Oh yeah, and you pretty much got to control people's lives too.

Seriously though, I used to spend hours on end creating homes and then furnishing them with great detail. I think I built houses more than I played the actual game. (I did the same thing with my Barbies too.... I'd build them extravagant 'homes' out of cardboard boxes that I had lined with wrapping paper and magazine clip-outs to function as 'wall-art'....) What? Didn't I tell you I was an odd child obsessed with creating imaginary and detailed furnished houses?

Well, my favorite childhood past-time was recreated in all its greatness the other day when one of the blogs I read (can't remember which one though!) led me to Urban Barn: The Make Room. And just like back in the day, I've been spending a whole lot of my spare time designing houses. Actually, apartments in this case. And the measurements are far from exact... but who needs math when you have virtual furniture that you can size and place however you please!

Behold, a floor plan of our current apartment:


(larger image)
Oh, I had entirely too much fun there. Yep, that's really what our place looks like these days! Some appliances are missing, like my kitchen aid mixer, but the program only offers so much! Aside from missing appliances, it's fairly correct.

You know me though, I can't stop at just one! After I drafted our current apartment, I made up the plans for an imaginary two bedroom apartment:


(larger image)
It's completely made up and only based off of the things we wish we had (a larger kitchen, wood floors, an office/studio room, and a patio with lots of plants). I could totally have made it super extravagant and added things like stairs, a six-burner stove/oven, a washer/dryer, and a jacuzzi.... but I didn't. But I could have!

And now I'm going to find something more productive to do with my time - because sitting in front of the computer for hours on end just can not be good for you. Psh... whatever, I walked almost three miles today to get croissants... I think I deserve to sit on my bum (and eat my bag of croissants!) - ha!

Netflix Lovin' & Sweet Treats

In case you haven't quite figured it out yet, we're huge fans of Netflix over here. Which is kind of ironic, actually, considering the fact that when Shawn and I first met he was working at the local video store and he absolutely abhorred the thought of Netflix, whereas I was preaching about Netflix to everyone who would listen (way before they even started their amazing Instant Queue feature... my parents were early-Netflix customers). It just goes to show you how opinions can change as you grow (...and how the need for things like video stores dies out after a while).

Netflix is by no means sponsoring us or this post (but they totally should!), so the real question is - why are we such big fans? When we moved out here a year ago and did our cable company research, we just couldn't bear the thought of spending $100+ a month just to watch tv whenever we wanted (especially considering Comcast is the primary option out here - we've vented about them before though, so I'll spare you those details). Cable-less but in need of some visual entertainment, we opted for a Netflix subscription instead. At under $11 a month for one unlimited movie 'rental' at a time and unlimited access to the thousands of movies and tv shows in their Instant Queue 24/7, we would have been crazy to pick anything else.

So what if we can't watch 'real' tv? The only good thing on tv these days is Wayne Brady on Lets Make a Deal anyway!


We'd make deals with Wayne all day if he wanted us to...
But that's enough 'real' tv jazz - back to the Netflix love. They must really love us because they have all of our new & old favorite tv series on the Instant Queue:

* That 70s Show
* Futurama
* The Twilight Zone
* Scrubs
* 3rd Rock From The Sun
* 30 Rock
* Dexter (unfortunately only seasons 1 & 2 so no spoilers, please!)

...and our newest favorite series of all: PSYCH.


Shawn Spencer, Burton Guster, and the occasional pineapple.
Yes, we're a few years late on yet another bandwagon, shush. The show is hilarious. And smartly done. The episodes are an hour long, too, so that's always a plus for us. The main reason we watch it though is because the main character - Shawn Spencer - has such striking similarity to Shawn... it's uncanny. The personality traits are almost spot on and they even got his physical appearance right:


Shawn = Shawn?
...Shawn even has a button down shirt in that same pattern and colors. Strange. We're still trying to figure out how they got a hold of all of Shawn's shirts, thoughts and quirks.

But enough about that; now that I've proclaimed our love for Netflix and our new favorite (old) show, lets get into food mode.


Remember this peanut butter 'dip'? Did you know that it's not really a dip, it's actually a filling for something sweetly addictive? Check this out:


Pretzel peanut butter chocolate dipped yumminess!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
a bag of hard pretzels
4oz dark chocolate

To Make:
- In the medium bowl with a spatula or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the peanut butter and butter until combined.
- Scrape down the bowl, add sugars and beat until combined. You should be able to roll the mixture into balls without it sticking to your hands. If the dough is too sticky, add more powdered sugar until you reach a consistency that is easy to roll.
- Roll the peanut butter mixture into small balls, about 1 teaspoon of mixture for each ball, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Sandwich the balls between two pretzels and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat.
- Dip each pretzel bite halfway into the melted chocolate and place on the prepared baking sheet. Chill in refrigerator until chocolate is set.
- Enjoy at your leisure! These keep best in the refrigerator or freezer.

Careful, they may be addictive. I should add, it's a quick and easy recipe that makes a great snack while you're getting comfortable on the couch watching Psych... or whatever your pleasure is. If you dig peanut butter as much as we do over here, you'll thank me for this one.

Confirmed Suspicions

We all know that squirrels from New Jersey can beat the acorns out of squirrels from Delaware. However! The squirrels from Pennsylvainia seem to be smarter than both the squirrels from New Jersey and Delaware, even if you combined the brain power of the two.

Really? Just how smart are these squirrels?
These squirrels are smart enough to out smart a human being AND countless hours of human engineering.

The human being is our neighbor across the hall.
The human engineering is the squirrel trap. (Which was probably made in China...) (...do they even have squirrels in China?)

A week or two ago now, our neighbors put some lovely flowers out on the front stoop.
Since it is Autumn, the squirrels have been going wild.
The foraging season IS upon us and the squirrels have begun fattening up for the winter.

Our neighbor's lovely flowers are in a plastic planter...
   The squirrels have been foraging in this planter....
      Leaving an even pile of dirt all around the outside of the planter.

The flowers have not been harmed.
The squirrels are making a bit of a mess, but squirrels will be squirrels.

Four days ago a large rodent trap appeared inside the entry way to our apartments.
I wondered to myself if we had a rat problem... I have not seen any giant rats. Hm.

The next day the same trap was outside...    armed with peanuts...     ready to snare its prey....

Later in the day the trap had been triggered and there were no peanuts to be found.
Remnants of shells could be seen around the trap and on the front stoop.

For the next 4 days i wondered who placed the trap out there.
At night it was kept in the entry way, but during the day it was kept outside.

I used my deductive reasoning and the scientific method and assumed it was the neighbors, angry at the mess the squirrels have been making of their lovely flowers.

Dramatization

I ruled out the maintenance man; I've seen him chase the squirrels off, make noises at them, and squirt the garden hose at them, but he doesn't seem to want to cause any harm to the squirrels. He and the squirrels have probably formed a few games over the years.

Also, he seems to have no interest or time for trapping squirrels. and 1 trap is not enough to capture a whole herd of ravenous psycho killer squirrels in the courtyard.

ravenous psycho killer squirrel

Today = Confirmation

Today, I saw the determination of our neighbor.
Today the trap was set earlier and triggered.
An hour ago I actually saw him RESETTING the trap.

These squirrels have figured out how to hustle peanuts from this guy!
They knock over the trap - guy puts more tasty peanuts in. EASY!

This guy is basically giving the squirrels a treat.  
Even though the peanuts are a change from the many acorns falling from the trees,
these squirrels have plenty of food to pick from on the ground.
Why would they enter some bright shiny sliver thing just for some peanuts of death?

No matter what this guy does,
A squirrel is gonna do, what a squirrel is gonna do. 

This guy needs to let his anger out in a different way.
Stop worrying about these squirrels and the tiny mess they make.
Worrying gives you cancer.

Besides, where are you going to release the squirrel once you trap it? 

Out back?? 

Where it can then easily climb onto the roof and back over into the court yard.

Thank you neighbor guy for keeping me thoroughly amused.

The Most Epic Battle of Cuteness Ever!!

Usually this type of post would be done by Marine.

But today, I am being the corny one.

I stumbled across this adorable little video on the inter webs.

BABY vs KITTY (cutest battle of all time)

After I watched the video a few times. I realized that there is a pair free standing legs on the wall in the background. YES. just a set of legs. LOOK. You will see what I'm talking about. They legs are dressed in shoes and pants and a tacky belt. But there is no upper half!

I would consider this video. A 2fer. 2 things seen in 1 moment. 2 birds with one stone. or 2 stones with 1 bird (if your my old buddy Evan.)

HAAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AMERICA!!!

There are very few things in the world that make me happy.

Celebrating America is near the very top of that list.

Patriotism makes me smile.

It should also make YOU smile.

If you are not smiling today,

You must be a Russian Commie. (or french like Marine)

In honor of America, you should head on over to our FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM and check out the photos from the TINY parade our LITTLE town has each year. The parade started at 10 in the morning at the firehouse right down the street. They walk up (or down) Montgomery ave and end up in a park apparently. (at least thats what the locals have been saying.) At this park festivities are had. I am not sure what sort of festivities, because i was still in my pjs snapping photos of the parade. So sadly I did not join the townsfolk.

What is rather funny is that I had completely forgotten that it was going on this morning. Marine had to go into work early at 8. Me in my groggy state, having my coffee and working on music, heard a rumbling of sorts coming from outside.

Mind you, I had my headphones on. So the sounds were all muffled. After my brain kicked in, I remembered that the FOURTH OF JULY PARADE was happening.

The band struck up that classic tune. and made their way past our apartment complex. followed by old classic cars, clowns and various other patriots.

what smiles i saw!!!!!!!

for effect, head on over to youtube.com and listen to :

John P. Sousa - The Stars and Stripes forever

while looking at the photos from the parade!

I rather like that video because of the conductor and the bitchin' flute and piccolo breakdown.

~Shawn!!!

Shawn Hill's Guide to: Proper House Keeping

Recently I found myself cleaning the apartment. I was cleaning things in a way I had never done before. I made the bed. I vacuumed the couch. I also try my best not to leave dishes in the sink.

I felt like a crazy old lady. the type that end up putting the plastic lining on the couch and still wont let anyone sit on it.

I suppose it took a while, but I finally understand why my mother made such a fuss about certain things. I was just too dumb, young, and naive to understand. I guess that IS growing up.

So in honor of the good old times and the propaganda pamphlets the American government use to put out to promote Patriotism, I have written my own little guide. (the first of many)

The American Government presents:

Shawn Hill's Guide : Being A Better American

Proper House Keeping

3 Steps to Success!

Dad is in the driveway cleaning his brand new American Made Motor-Vehicle. Mother is in the kitchen cleaning her beautiful KitchenAid appliances and utensils. Junior is upstairs tending to his studies and chores, while Spot, the dog, barks at squirrels in the back yard.

This is your typical American Family, Doing what typical Americans do everyday.

It is the American Way to keep your humble abode clean and orderly. Heck! It is your American duty to keep your home spic and span!

Today's Blog Post brought to you by:

As an American you are entitled to certain freedoms. These freedoms define you from the rest of the world, they separate "US" from "Them". The "Good" from the "Bad". The "Clean" from the "Unclean". Only in America do we hold dreams to be self evident!!

In a country filled with hard working Men and Women, a good American is only as good as the House they keep. Proper House Keeping is the Key to the American Success.

If a family keeps their home clean and happy, That clean and happy attitude will carry over into the work place. With a happy and clean attitude, you can accomplish more and be 110% effective in executing your daily duties.

First step is to Vacuum throughly.

That means even vacuuming the couch. It would be very embarrassing to ruin the new clothing of a neighbor, co-worker, relative or friend.

Second is to Make the Bed EVERY morning.

A welcoming, plush, fluffy bed is the first step to a successful night of sleep.

Third is to Do The Dishes at night before Bed.

Waking up in the morning to a clean sink will put you in a better mood to prepare breakfast.

A better breakfast means a better energy. Which means a better day.

Just implement these 3 Simple Steps into your daily routine and you will be on your way to a better home. A better home gets you closer to being a better American!

- Shawn Hill

A squirrel in a kitchen window.

Marine and I have been in the Kitchen quite a bit since we've moved to our new place.

Marine has also been baking up a storm in the kitchen when she can.

Earlier today she tried her hand at her first attempt at Sugar Lollipops. (details on that later!)

While hanging out in the kitchen, Marine was visited by a SQUIRREL!

He peered into the window and sniffed around a bit. he wasnt startled by our movements too much. He hung out long enough for me to grab my camera and snap a few photos.

Several Days Later I spotted a little furry guy sleeping on our window ledge!!

WHAT A SQUIRREL.

so i named him Surly. Surly the Squirrel!!

My mental powers have increased since we have moved as well. The other night I noticed a bug crawling across the floor. Since I wished no harm upon the bug, i got a piece of paper to scoop him up with. So I could place him outside.

I placed the paper one or two inches away from the bug. Then stared at it, as if to project the thought of walking onto the paper into the bugs head. I must have projected too much or too hard because the bug stood up on its hind legs, lifted its front legs up, and then FELL OVER.

I left the bug there for a little while.

It did not move....

I killed a bug with my mind!!!

THIS BUG!!

Something Silly

We are currently 2 days from massive insanity!!!!

Please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times! at no time shall you stand up while on the boat! Shiver me timbers and all the JAZZZZ!!!

sorry. i got a tad bit outta control there...

and when you think about it. shiver me timbers. that is a rather interesting statement.
lets break it down. (apparently i'm on a word kick here)

if you take a look at http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ you will find that Shiver ( Nautical To cause (a sail) to flutter by sailing too close to the wind.) and Timber ( Nautical A rib in a ship's frame. ) share a Nautical theme.

Could this be the reason why Nautical Adventures will exclaim "Shiver Me Timbers" ??

I would assume that something would have to be pretty scary to shake the ribs of an entire boat!

So when a ships captain removes his musty spectacles and whispers "shiver me timbers" under his rum stained breath, you know that the kraken or some sort of Spectral Entity is sure to be close by. With impending doom looming what would you do!

by the way. i have fallen in love with DIXIE'S newest jingle for their ultra sturdy plates! You can find the commercial HERE!!!!!

Watch, Listen, and ENJOY!!!
(shawn)