Mad Jackie, J.D.

I've been missing again.  And oh, I'm so glad to be back... and to have nothing standing in my way of enjoying my blog anymore!

Why don't I have anything standing in my way anymore you ask?  Well, that's because....

I graduated from law school!!

See, I even have pictures.

My mom was a tad excited about my graduation.  Here's her car.

 My grandma and me before the ceremony.

 And one with my mom before the ceremony.

Then that sweet, sweet music started and we began to walk in.

I passed right by my fan club! :)

But then, the moment I'd been waiting for arrived.

It was my turn to walk on stage and get hooded.

I was officially a juris doctor!!  YAY!!

Afterward we took a few pictures before leaving (of course).

This is my mother and father.

 And, this would be my hubby and little man.

And one more of us, well... just because we're a good looking family.

At home, we had a nice little congratulatory party with cake and presents.  I'd always joked that I wanted a white lab coat like MDs get once they become doctors because it wasn't fair that JDs didn't get them since we're doctors too.  Well, my mother had one embroidered saying Dr. Jacquelin E. [last name], J.D.  How awesome is that?  And my grandmother had a gavel engraved with my name on it.  

So, for the last picture of my graduation day, I give you Dr. Mad Jackie.

As always, thanks for sticking with me through the break.  Graduation was in mid-May and since then I've been studying non-stop for the Bar Exam, which I took last week.  I'll post again soon to let you know the joys of bar prep.  I know you can't wait.... ;)

"Candy Wrap" Gift Certificates Using your Wrapping Paper Tube: DIY Tutorial

Let's face it, sometimes things get done a little more last-minute than we'd like.

Tonight I printed off the gift certificates I'd purchased for my mother and sister as Christmas gifts only to realize I hadn't put much thought into how I was planning on wrapping them.

Yes, you heard me right. I wanted to wrap gift certificates. I'm a big kid and I love seeing someone tear open wrapping paper before getting their gift. It's part of the fun!

So, I walked around the house looking for boxes to throw them in. I strongly considered using granola bar boxes, before it hit me...

I could use the wrapping paper tube that was laying in the floor. Then I got excited because I realized if I did that 1) they wouldn't realize they were gift certificates and 2) I could wrap them to look like candy!

So, here's how I did it & how it turned out....

Each tube could be used for three certificates at 8.5 x 11 each.  Since I only used two, I'll be stashing the other piece with my wrapping paper to use again in the future.  

Since we started recycling earlier this year, I've tried my best to reuse materials whenever possible.  So, besides how stinkin' cute these are, I'm also thrilled to be reusing something that would have just been thrown away other wise.  

I will never look at a wrapping-paper tube the same again, ever.  

And I couldn't be happier about it!

So I'm a chick that doesn't cook.... sue me!!

That's right.  I don't cook.  In fact, let's be real....

Picture Source

My husband does the cooking in this relationship.  

And the way I see it, why mess with a good thing?  

He likes to cook.  He's a good cook.  I like to eat.  I'm a good eater.  

It's a win/win!!

Me as a cook?  Well.... let's just say I've managed to make even instant mashed potatoes inedible.  (Sadly, that is NOT a joke.)

In fact, when others see me in the kitchen, it's a scary thing....  like they expect me to kill someone.

"Jackie, step away from the knife!!"

"But I'm just cooking.... ?"

"No one needs to get hurt..."

"It's lettuce.  I'm chopping lettuce, see?"

"There's no need to get hostile!"

"But...."

"Set the knife down slowly..."

"I give up!"

But lately, I've been trying to become a more well-rounded person.  Why?  I don't know.  I always feel the need to be able to do it all.  And I have some free time.  

So.... when no one was looking, I did something WILD.  

I baked!!

And, then.... something even wilder happened.

People ATE it!!

I give you:  banana-nut bread!  

{Cue angelic music as the sky opens up

and sheds light down upon this MIRACLE!}

It's so beautiful, I almost cried.  

Kinda like the day my son was born, I had this moment of, "I created this!?"

I was so afraid to taste it, to cut it.  I thought once I did that THIS was going to happen...

But, I slowly cut it and then I ate it...  

And am happy to report it was as good as it looks!

So, even though I'm not the cook in this house.... maybe I do have a few skills I didn't know about.  And you might just see more of them in the future.  

And even though I'd like to think this baking adventure was a success because I'm AMAZING, the recipe probably had a lot little something to do with it too.  (You can find the recipe here.)  

Just do me a favor if you end up making this and don't tell anyone I know that it really wasn't my awesomeness and that it really was the recipe, okay?  Thanks.

**While you're here enter my current giveaway

for a chance to win $30 to spend on Frigidaire accessories!**

Versatile Blog Award

I was awarded the Versatile Blog Award!

I know what you're thinking, it's SUPER cheesy!  Duh.  That's one reason I love it.  Plus, I'm just honored that someone would think of me.  :)

When given this award you're supposed to:
1:  Thank the individual that gave you the award, including a link back to his/her blog in your post.
2:  Tell your readers seven things about yourselves.
3:  Pass along the award to 15 recently-discovered new bloggers.

1:  I was given this blog award by Johanna from Moms Tree House.  I found her site a few weeks ago and really enjoy it.  [My favorite part of her blog are the weekly writing prompts.  I mentioned them in my post here.]  So stop by there and take a look around.

2:  Seven things about myself:

1. I am a lefty, but play all sports right handed.  
2. I graduate law school in 233 days.  (But who's counting?)
3. I never cook.  NEVER.  That's my hubby's job (and he does it well.)
4. I've had The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss memorized since I was three.  
5. I gave birth to twin boys as a gestational surrogate (meaning I wasn't biologically related to the babies) in March 2008.
6. People often tell me I'm very intimidating, which is crazy because I'm constantly in awe of all of those I know and just how amazing they are.
7. The saying I try my best to live by is, "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle."  

3)  Pass along the award to 15 recently-discovered new bloggers:

1. Organized Chaos
2. The Little Fat Girl That Could
   
3. The Things We Do
4. Tryfection
5. Butterfly Ashes
6. In Our Bubble
7. Not a Notting Hill Mum
8. All Grown Up
9. Life As 5
10. Mama in the Middle
11. Eyes of a King
12. The New Modern Momma
13. Shar's Daily Ramblings
14. One Practical Woman
15. Our House of Pink

Spencer Pratt is Following Me on Twitter... Seriously.

So, I open my twitter account today and notice I have a new follower.  This guy.

Picture Source

This is Spencer Pratt, best known for his roll on MTV's The Hills, his marriage to Heidi Montag, and his love of magic crystals.  I was never a loyal follower of the show, but I've seen several dozen more episodes than I'm willing to publicly admit.  

I have several theories as to why he's following me:

1)  He could sense that I too am a hippie, love child.

2)  He noticed all of the cleavage in my profile picture and it reminded him of Heidi.

3)  He's just really bored now that he's out of work.

4)  I am more famous than he is.

No matter what the reason, I'm very happy to have him as a follower!  Although he is often portrayed as an ass slightly inconsiderate and self-centered on TV, I've never trusted the media.  

And this random happening turned an average evening into one in which I proclaimed, "Woah, wait... WHAT, Spencer Pratt is totally following me on Twitter!"  So thanks for that Mr. Pratt.  

Oh, and in case you're wondering... I returned the favor and am now following him as well.  It was the least I could do.  ;)