I'm so bad!

I know I said I would update after my defense...and look at me, its almost a week later! But hopefully most of you saw via Facebook that I passed! It went really well; there was only one long set of questions but it was more like a discussion and then the rest of it went smoothly.

I was hoping my UofA life would settle down so that I could focus mainly on wrapping things up for graduation and leaving my research group. Unforunately, the research is still going full swing even though I'm on my way out the door...and its difficult to remove myself from responsibility. This difficulty is mostly due to the fact that everyone else in my research group is busy with their own stuff and don't really want pick up a new project and also because I'm a stickler who likes things done in a certain way. If you know me at all, you definitely know that I'm stubborn.

So this week was crazy. Defense on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesay (all nighter!) were spent working on homework and a project before heading to Austin on Thursday for the UT senior fashion show. My sister's work in it was amazing! Here's a little peak, you can see more on facebook:

I know she's amazing! I can't wait to see what she's going to do next!

But back on the road to Arkansas and this week will probably be as crazy as last....my thesis is due for real on Friday and my professor still hasn't read it....cross your fingers he read it this weekend!

Thesis Defense

There are 37 minutes until the start of the thesis defense for my master's degree. Am I nervous? Hell yes! My professor has already told me I'm going to pass, but of course I'm still sweating and filled with butterflies!

I'll update after I'm through the valley...

I found you!

the last version the cookie dough cupcakes was a keeper. So delicious and enjoyed by many! Pictures to come later.

Most importantly, I turned in my thesis this week. After so many hours of writing, its finally coming down to the last few steps. I was truly bless that God made it pass by quickly and fairly painlessly all 138 pages of it. Okay so a lot of that is figures (there were over 70 of those!) and the required 10 pages of "fluff" - title page (below) , table of contents, etc.- but man, I really wish it would have been shorter!


Now all I have to do is pass my defense and my classes this semester....I really can't believe the end is so close! I'm so ready for the almost 2 months of nothingness that I have in store for me before starting at TI in late July. Here I come summer!

the kimistry of cupcakes

After my fabulous encounter with Molly's Cookie Monster cupcake in Chicago, I search the internet trying to find a good recipe for cupcakes with cookie dough filling. This version I tried out this week. Simply make a typical cupcake and drop some frozen cookie dough on top of each cupcake before baking. It was very easy, although may of the cupcakes drooped in the middle. It did appear that the longer you baked them, the less they drooped, but since I hate dry cake, I error on the side of underbaked.

The end result was still delicious. The droopiness could be covered up with icing, and wah-lah yummy cookie dough cupcake. However, still not as good as Molly's. One of the main flaws was that the cookie dough sunk to the bottom of the cupcake. Still doughy, but not exactly the filling like at Molly's. I'm still searching for a better way to acheive the cookie dough filling, and I've got some ideas that I'm going to try next time.

Several people got to try out this first version, and I think people like them. Nick and I had a great dinner date with Silvy. Her husband, James, whipped up some tasty tacos and we had a great time visiting with them! I do have to say nights like tonight make me sad that the move to Dallas is coming up so quickly! April is going to be packed for us with finishing up our classes and getting ready to graduate in early May.

Here's a couple more pictures from our trip to Chicago: Me in front of Cloud Gate, and Nick and I out experience the city's nightlife (one of my favorite pictures of us in a long time!)

Chicago!

Meet the best cupcake i've EVER eaten. The Cookie Monster at Molly's Cupcakes in Chicago. I can't even explain how truly delicious this was...but i'll attempt. It was a moist vanilla cupcake with just a few chocolate chips filled with gooey chocolate chip cookie dough topped with a light buttercream frosting more chocolate chips and a mini cookie. OH MY GOODNESS. Sooo good.

I've committed myself to replicating its goodness.

Otherwise Chicago was a really fun trip. We arrived friday on Amtrak. I've never traveled by train before and it was a lot of fun. Tons of space for each seat with an awesome leg rest and electrical sockets. It takes about as long as driving (minus the traffic) but you can do other things like sleep or work on your thesis.


Nick's brother Cal showed us a great time around the city on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday. We tasted Spanish tapas, great chinese food, smoothies with tapioca balls (a lot better than it sounds...and I don't even like tapioca pudding), great homemade pork tenderloin.

Hopefully we'll be back up here again soon!

thesis...you never end

Did I say 40 or 50 more pages to go? I've got those done, but its still not done yet! I just want it to end already! Unforunately I've got to finish talking a few things before I can really wrap this thing up....

may graduation...may graduation....

whirlwind

Life is moving so fast! Where did this year go? Nick and I are both busy trying to finish up our masters here so we can move to Dallas and start the next "stage" of our life. I'll be starting my career (eek!) and Nick's looking to start his counseling PhD.

I'm really looking forward to getting off my graduate research pay and on to a salary with all the great benefits...like health care! My job offer with TI still stands, so I'm hoping it makes it until July. With the current economic condition, I know that I'm totally blessed to still have that job offer out there when so many people are losing their own.

Am I going to be able to talk to my kids about what it was like in the Great Depression 2? I really hope not, but the economic conditions in the country look bad. really bad. And our Roth IRA, interest on our money market, and my TI stocks are VERY representative of that. Thankfully we are still young with many working years ahead of us...I feel terrible for those who were hoping to retire in the next 5 years.

What's that? Oh its my thesis calling me back....30 pages down and around another 40-50 to go!