My new family addition

Sorry I've been seriously slacking at updates, but it's for good reason!
My world now revolves around this little man:

Meet Rocko!

For around the past year I've been telling my parents I wanted to get a puppy and how I was really hoping to get one before I graduated. Since this next semester is my last one ever (!) I was able to bulk my classes onto just Tuesdays & Thursdays meaning I could devote most of my time to a training a little pug. I wasn't planning on getting a puppy until March, but then I started to think how I have almost 3 solid weeks before school started.

SO! I called up Petland randomly last week just looking for some information on pugs and the woman told me that they had just gotten 2 black pugs in the store. My dad and I went the next day and I was heartbroken (and kind of mad) that the petstore wanted $2000 for the pug! Not only is that just absurd, I didn't really want to get a puppy from a store - I had only called in the first place to ask about their grooming and training services.

So the next day I called a breeder that had posted an ad online saying they had one little pug puppy left from one of their litters and my dad and I went to see him. And obviously, I fell in love!

He's 12 weeks old and was the last of his litter to go - so he's a complete momma's boy.
But that's okay, because I LOVE giving him all the attention in the world.

Reindeer Cookies

I saw this picture on weheartit and got inspired to try making them myself since they're simple and adorable.

My sister and I made a package of the BettyCrocker peanut Butter cookie mix and cooked them for about 10mins. The noses are red M&M's and the eyes are mini chocolate chips (the kinds you'd use for baking homemade cookies). For the ears, I bought a box of the "100 calorie" mini chocolate pretzels.

After taking them out of the oven, I used the end of a butter knife to slightly push in the sides of the cookies to make it look like Reindeer cheeks. I took them off the pan to cool for about a minute and then put on the eyes, nose and ears! I found that the "ears" fit better if the pretzels are vertical instead of the way in the picture above.

Nutella Pound Cake!

It feels so amazing to be back home! I miss lots of things about London, but nothing compares to home sweet home.

My mom still has some days of work before the holiday and my sister is off doing things, so I've been able to enjoy some alone time and do things like bake!

I feel like I've been talking about this Nutella cake for forever, and I finally made it!
I ran out of sugar =X so I did some substituting (I had enough for 1cup, so I used powdered sugar for the other 1/4 cup) and I think it turned out alright.

It's really sticky (if that makes sense) so it's definitely more of a treat to eat with a fork vs a finger food.

Makes one 9-by-5 inch loaf

This recipe tells you to use a handheld mixer but I used my stand mixer instead with good results.

1 1/2 cups flour, plus more for dusting
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
One 13-ounce jar Nutella

1.  Preheat the oven to 325°F.  Lightly grease and flour a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan, tapping out any excess flour.  In a glass measuring cup, lightly beat the eggs with the vanilla.  In a medium bowl, whisk the 1 1/2 cups of flour with the baking powder and salt.

2.  In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, beat the butter with the sugar at medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  With the mixer at medium-low speed, gradually beat in the egg mixture until fully incorporated.  Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, beating at low speed between additions until just incorporated.  Continue to beat for 30 seconds longer.

3.  Spread one-third of the batter in the prepared pan, then spread half of the Nutella on top.  Repeat with another third of the batter and the remaining Nutella.  Top with the remaining batter.  Lightly swirl the Nutella into the batter with a butter knife.  Do not overmix.

4.  Bake the cake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  Invert the cake onto a wire rack, turn it right side up and let cool completely, about 2 hours.  Cut the cake into slices and serve.

Make ahead: The pound cake can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Leaving on a jet plane..

The time has come to say goodbye to London. It sounds cliche to say, but it literally feels like I was just getting off the plane yesterday. My internship was wonderful, I met so many people and learned so

much. London is beautiful and full of history. I feel like I saw so much, and yet so little! Like I posted on Thanksgiving, I am so grateful to have been able to study abroad and I think everyone should if they have the chance!

1 day to go!

Tomorrow is officially my last full day in London! My only final exam is scheduled at 7pm (ouch) so my last day in this wonderful city day is going to consist of packing, cleaning, turning in my keys and studying.

It's bittersweet to think that I really only have a little over 24 hours left here.

But I'll be the first to admit that I am beyond excited to be able to use my blackberry and see my cat!

After a week of adventuring around London, my sister left this morning - but I will see her in just 2 days!

Burlesque Premiere

Tonight was the London premiere of Burlesque!

We got a better standing spot compared to last week at Tron and got so close to Cher! 

After Kristen Bell, Christina Aguilera, and Cher showed up and did press, we got ready to leave (thinking that  all the celebrities had gotten there) and then Ellie Goulding showed up! She's so cute.

London Zoo

My sister decided today she wanted to check out the London Zoo! My flat is really close to Regents Park - only a 15minute walk to the zoo!

I was obsessed with the aquarium and of course the owl.