The Adventures of Walter the Hedgehog

As some of you may know, we have a hedgehog (yes, a hedgehog) his name is Walter Augustus Livingston

We decided on getting a hedgehog because we really wanted another animal and all of the other small animal choices seemed lame. And because I have a knack for killing fish. Seriously, I am like the grim reaper of fish. I have had 2 bettas, the fish that live forever in ANYTHING, their names were Billy Crystal and Johnson. Billy Crystal lived for a week, and Johnson lived for 10 hours. No joke. I KILL FISH! I was never allowed to have a fish as a child and now I know why.

So anyways,Walter. He isa very funny little animal. We did our research and the hedgehog really seemed to fit with our lifestyle. Small, mostly active in the evening, eats cat food, basically free of health problems. So we found a breeder in Spokane and we put in our names and an application and waited. We waited for 3 months. FINALLY we got the call that little Walter was born, but we had to wait ANOTHER month to get him.

So onMarch20 we drove to Spokane and picked him up. The first time I tried to feed him he made this hissing jumping sound thing and I almost peed my pants. That was the first lesson I learned about hedgehogs, they hiss. You can read all you want about them, but experiencing it in PERSON.... very different. When we got Walter he was also quilling. Quilling is like teething and it lasts for like 3 months! So this meant he was sore all over and he hated being touched. The only way we were able to see his cute little face and clam him down was to give him a bath. So we gave him a bath every night. He was the cleanest hedgehog around.

I can say with confidence that he has stopped quilling, he is hissing a LOT less, he still LOVES baths, and he is starting to KIND OF like us. The hedgehog is a very cautious creature, VERY CAUTIOUS! So cautious that when he smells something foreign, like a cucumber, he puts all of his quills up and protects himself against this possible threat. I am not used to animals not liking me so, this has been an experience. We do not regret getting him, we actually really love him. We named him after a angryold man, and he is living up to his name. We dream of the day of being able to take Walter places and have people meet him and actually see his face and not the prickly ball of death as I like to call him sometimes.

So yes, we have a hedgehog, we LIKE him, and we intend to keep him as long as we will have us.

this is Walter hatin on carrots.

1)little Walter in a hedgie ball 2) the adventures of wet Walter!

1)He is very cute legs 2)little Walter does NOT like lettuce

1)HELLO LADIES! 2)See Walter is not a fan of cucumbers!

Let's Hear It For The Boys!

As some of you may know I have ventured upon a new kind of life for myself. The life of a nanny. There are many reasons why I have decided to make this my job, the MAIN one being theatre. WHAT?!?!.... is the question I am sure you are asking yourselves. Well being a nanny allows me to have time to audition (next up THE WEDDING SINGER) and maybe to teach, direct, choreograph.... I DON'T CARE... I just need to be a part of the stage again. I miss it. It's me.... through and through, it's me and I LONG for it.

So I got a job as a nanny to three boys. If you know me, you know I am a girl's girl. I love pink, and sparkles, and makeup, and pop music, and hair products... so to be a nanny to boys is an interesting experience.

I grew up with girls. My mom, my sister and me, so the habits of men is BEYOND me. I yell at my fiance for "guy things" all of the time... socks, the random abandonment of pants, etc. but then I became a nanny to three boys, and I learned.

THESE ISSUES ARE PRESENT IN ALL MEN!!!!!!

I cannot TELL you the random places I find socks!!!! How do men go through so many frickin socks?!?!?!

And boys/men have this thing they do call "nesting". Wherever they sit or "land" they nest. That means they gather comforts around them; food, pillows, remotes, beverages, cups, plates, pillows, blankets, kleenex's, YOU NAME IT!

MEN NEST!!!!!!!

I can always tell where Mike has "landed" in our apartment, and now I know that it is ALL men. Which makes me feel slightly better, or if I think if it a different way.... hopelessness.

And to top it all off, when they are done with one nest (aka they go to the bathroom, or the kitchen) they sit down in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT place and create a nest THERE. Men are very interesting creatures. I feel like an african explorer, what new find will I encounter next? What is the next beast I shall face????

Keep in mind, I am not saying ANY of this in anger or frustration, I am saying it in a spirit of learning.... and awe!

I love my job, I ADORE these boys!!!!

I am a testament to searching for bliss. This life, with these boys (my Michael included) is my bliss. I am so so grateful to the universe and to the Lord above.

Also, I have decided to become an extreme couponer, but I will save that post for another day.

xo

E

Stressed

ok. so. with all of the changes that are coming my way right now I had a DAY OF STRESS!!!!

stressers:

wedding

new business venture

young boys who can't make decisions aka: my life as a nanny

theatres

money

wedding

here is me.....

and here is what is getting me through....

this is my baseball boyfriend Raul Ibanez, and Mike and I are going to Seattle this weekend to see the Phillies play the Mariners. We are seeing all THREE GAMES! AND Saturday is my birthday, and we are sitting 8 ROWS behind the Phillies dugout. SHUT UP!

yeah. so what have we learned today.....

stress+ellie= unhappy mike, unhappy life

phillies+wine+hugs= happy life.

stupid tuesdays.

THE DAY OF POSTS!

Ok, just had to share a giggle.

Yes you have seen this....

But have you seen THIS?!.......

Classy lady. Classy hat.

(yes that is me)

The End.

Just HAD to share...

We got the word that we got an apartment in the complex we were wanting. It is bigger, in a better location, and cheaper... but I HATE moving. I am ALWAYS moving!!! Sooo it makes me think this...

then while I was at it I found these other funnies....

Soooo needless to say, I will be a ball of stress till August 1st. Awwww crap, what have we done?!?!

::::::deep breathing:::::::

wedding wedding wedding

can you tell where my mind has been? my brain is FULL of wedding stuff!!! It's a little over a year away and it is now time to crack down!

Yesterday

I spent HOURS trying to figure out what the groomsmen will wear. I finally came to a compromise with Mike and really like what we settled on.

I just want the day and the week to be so US. I want people to walk away thinking, "that was so Ellie and Mike!" I want people to remember our day and know how much love I poured into it. I want every detail to be thought of, I want every moment dripped in love, and color and fun. So yeah, I have big expectations.... no big deal.

I feel like I should have a wedding planner but seriously, I don't think I would trust anyone to do this expect myself. Yes, my mom is always sending me random ideas, some awesome, some not, but that goes for me too. I have some REALLY great ideas and then some I look back on and go, "Huh?!" I am very thankful that we have such a long engagement, it is allowing me to hash out the good ideas and throw away the bad ones. It is also giving me the chance to step away from planning when I get frustrated. So today I will share with you some of my wedding inspiration.

ENJOY!

Love, love can keep us together!

So, first off, APOLOGIES. I have been ignoring this blog! Mostly because my life has been in a state of upheaval, I quit my job, I found a NEW job, I start today, and through it all I really believe God has been working through me and my heart. My post about bliss a few weeks ago really started it all. I put the idea of finding bliss out there in the big ole universe and by golly it has started to come true. So forgive my lack of posts, but believe me, my life is a CHANGIN' and if you want the details, come find me.... :)

I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what a difference a YEAR makes. How much has changed, and how different things are right now compared to this time last year. I can say with absolute certainty that all of these wonderful changes are because of the love of my life.

(this is about to get mushy folks, back out now if you want to!)

Michael Ross Livingston

HOLY COW!!!! I love this guy.

As I am typing this I am trying not to cry. I SWEAR I am not this mushy gushy all of the time, but right now I am dedicating this post to LOVE, and love that lasts.

This time last year he sent me to the mall to look for engagement rings, I almost fainted when trying on the first ring but my friend Steff held me together and we got through 4 stores before finding my DREAM ring at Kay Jewelers.

And then on July 4th he popped the question and I said YES.

From then to now, we have been through a LOT. There is no one else on EARTH that I would move to Pasco, WA for. And there is no one else on earth who has the patience to deal with me.

Mike's birthday is tomorrow and today I get to make him a German chocolate cake, from scratch of course, since from scratch means I LOVE YOU.

Since my birthday is on the 18th we have decided to give ourselves the gift of baseball. So from June 17-19th we will be in Seattle watchin the Phillies beat the CRAP outta the Mariners. So for his birthday he just asked for a cake, THAT I CAN DO!

I am not saying that this relationship is perfect, but it is perfect for us. He fills me, he makes my heart sing, he encourages me, and he ALWAYS puts me first. For much of my life I didn't think I would find anyone. I am difficult, picky, and I am an actress... thus I am impossible to please. But for some reason, this scientist fit the bill. And ask any of my family or friends, this love has changed me, calmed me, empowered me in so many ways. That what love does I suppose, it changes you. Makes you the better version of yourself.

So never give up, never stop looking, never lessen yourself for someone else. Be picky, be outspoken, be yourself and love will find you. It takes work, it takes fights and hugs, and a LOT of humor. Since this is the season of weddings, love is in the air. If you have love, be thankful for it. Never take it for granted. Hug harder, kiss deeper, and spend sometime being thankful. Your puzzle piece is out there, waiting, and when you find it, and it fits, your life will never be the same.

So on this June 8th I will be saying some extra prayers of thankfulness for this kind, warm, funny, nerdy, smart, amazing man.

Happy Birthday My Love!

You are my everything. None of what I do would be possible without you.

Ok, have to go make a cake.... I will let you know how this turns out.

here is the recipe for the German Chocolate Cake I will be using:

• 4 ounces sweet dark chocolate (see Shopping Hint below)
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup warm milk
• 2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 medium egg whites
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 medium egg yolks, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3/4 cup buttermilk, well shaken
• For the coconut frosting:
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 medium egg yolks
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 10 ounces fresh or frozen and thawed grated coconut
• 1 1/2 cups finely ground pecans, walnuts, or almonds
• 1/4 cup warm milk

Yields: 12 servings

Preparation

Prepare the chocolate by melting it in the top of a double boiler, stirring until it is smooth. Add 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of the butter and stir until it is melted and blended. Add 1/4 cup of warm milk and stir until smooth. Set the chocolate aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Line the bottoms only of three 9-inch cake pans with circles of parchment paper, or grease each pan bottom only with solid shortening and dust lightly with flour. Sift together the sifted and measured flour, baking soda, and salt.

Whip the egg whites until stiff using the wire beater of the mixer. Transfer the beaten whites to a separate bowl and set aside.

In the mixer bowl, cream the remaining 1 1/2 sticks of butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the melted, cooled chocolate and the vanilla. Mix well.

With the mixer on very low, stir in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Do this by adding about a third of the flour and slowly stirring it in completely. Then add about half the buttermilk and stir it in. Continue adding flour and buttermilk in this manner, ending with flour. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and stir again. With a long-handled spoon or spatula, fold and stir the beaten egg whites into the batter until the batter is smooth with no visible clumps of whites.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-40 minutes. Bake on the middle rack of the oven, allowing at least 1/4-inch clearance between the pans and the oven walls. The cake will rise above the pan edges as it bakes but will not spill over and will settle back down as it continues to bake. The cake is done when it begins to pull away from the sides of the pans and springs back to a light touch. Cool layers in the pans for about 8 minutes.

Run a knife around the edges of each pan and turn the layers out onto wire racks that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Cool layers completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, combine the sugar, egg yolks, and evaporated milk in the top of a double boiler. Stir with a wire whisk until the yolks are fully incorporated. Add the butter. Place over simmering water and bring to a boil (see Note below). Simmer for 12-15 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Add the vanilla, coconut, and nuts. Cool.

To assemble the cake, place one layer on a cake stand and spread with frosting. Frost each layer completely, top and sides, as it is added to the cake.

Note: You can also make the frosting in a regular saucepan, but be sure to stir it constantly, as it scorches quite easily. Also, you must use the finely grated fresh or frozen coconut, not canned or shredded, to be able to spread the frosting on the sides of the cake easily.

Shopping Hint: For those cooks who use a lot of sweet baking chocolate, the chocolate used in this recipe can be purchased in bulk online at www.cocoasupply.com. Choose La Equatoriale – Dark Chocolate Coverture. The cost, including postage, is half what you would probably pay in grocery stores. Share the large bar with your friends who bake.