Past Year's Resolutions: 2015

What did I accomplish this year?

Every year I ask myself this question and make my retrospective resolutions for the year.  Hindsight is 20/20.  And I think it is much more uplifting to reflect and think, "Wow- I did that!" than to think, "I didn't meet two of my ten goals.  I'm a failure."  Know what I'm saying?

In no particular order:

1. Attend the Tony Awards in New York City!!!  What a dream-come-true, all thanks to my little sis.
2. Be featured on a national network television show.  Blood and Oil.  Opposite Don Johnson. Yes, that Don Johnson. 
3. Choreograph Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Taylorsville Arts
4. Choreograph 4 elementary school musicals for Murray City and Sandy City
5. Be dance captain for Sandy Arts Guild's Shrek
6. Perform as an ensemble member for my very first time in Sandy Arts Guild's Shrek
7. Perform in Nunsense for my third time.  Sister Mary Leo and I can't seem to part ways.
8. Meet the original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys (minus John Lloyd Young) and sit front row center for their concert - Midtown Men
9. Increase my husband's business, Life of the Party Entertainment, 234%, since I first began working with him three years ago
10. Continue to celebrate many special occasions and adventures with my hubs
11. Continue to work out regularly
12. See myself on the big screen at the movies during the Sundance Film Festival - Don Verdean 
13. Live through rubber bands, metal springs, and braces galore
14. Take a road trip to California with one of my dearest old roommates, Andrea, for the wedding of one of my dearest friends of the past 14 years.   I love him with all my heart, he was one of my toasts at my own wedding, and now I can love his darling wife just as much!
15. Visit Las Vegas thrice - once for Mobile Beat, once for Las Vegas DJ Show where my little sis and her hubs met up with us, and lastly for a quick 24-hour trip to visit my older sister while she was there for a convention.  On the February trip, I survived the most violent illness I've had in a long time - even having to call a doctor to come to the room to treat me because I could not leave the room.  Awful.  Rob learned a lot about me that day and I him - he's amazing. 
16. Take my parents to see some of Utah's/Arizona's wonders they had on their bucket lists: Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Zions' National Park and the Shakespeare Festival.
17. Visit Disney World and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights/Harry Potter with my husband - we've been talking about doing this since I first met him and he told me he worked there for three years.  Lindsay and Elliot were extremely generous in hosting us.  I can't wait to go back in November to help make their wedding the best day of their lives.
18. Throw the greatest "A Christmas Story" party yet
19. Continue helping beautiful brides plan and implement their weddings
20. Continue helping with The Cultural Hall Show Podcast
21. Learn how to groom/shave my cat 

Resolutions of Year's Past
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008 

Best Snickerdoodles in the World - Recipe

If you love chewy, moist snickerdoodles, then this recipe is for you.  I originally ran across my favorite recipe here, however I quickly began making tweaks to make the recipe my version of perfection.  One of my male friends ate 8 in one sitting, then returned an hour later for 6 more, proclaiming, "These are even better than Great Harvest!"

This recipe yields about 3 dozen.

Ingredients:

1.5 C Butter @ room temperature
1.5 C Sugar
1 C Brown Sugar
3 Eggs
3 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Almond Extract
4.5 C Flour
3 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Salt
1.5 tsp Baking Soda
.75 tsp Cream of Tartar

Topping:
6 tsp Sugar & 3 tsp Cinnamon mixed together


Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees
• Cream Butter & Sugars
• Blend in Eggs, Vanilla, Almond Extract
• Blend in Cinnamon, Salt, Baking Soda, Cream of Tartar
• Blend in Flour
• This dough is a-mazing.  Go ahead, take a spoonful
• Refrigerate dough for an hour.  This is not absolutely necessary, but really does make a good difference.  Aim for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.  If you don't have time, just stick the dough in the fridge while each batch is in the oven.  
• Roll dough into slightly larger than a walnut size (2-3 tablespoons)
• Roll dough balls into cinnamon/sugar topping mixture
• Bake for 12 - 14 minutes.  You will know they are done because they will be slightly cracked on the top.  Do not overcook, these are best chewy.
• Let cookies cool and chow down!  

Snickerdoodles in the middle of this display from my "A Christmas Story" Party