Alabama + Graffiti

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iPhone Pic Love

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My life pretty much consists of taking pictures on my iPhone.  Which pretty much is equal to me being a terrible blogger.  Yes, I do have a pretty Nikon DLSR — do I really know how to use it?  Nope.  Auto mode is my best friend.
A long time ago, I bought a manual to try and read it, because my owner’s manual was like trying to read French.  It was when B was traveling and I had plenty of nights to uncork a bottle of wine and sit to read the thing and take millions of practice pictures.  
And what I learned was, I always have my iPhone with me – and all I have to do is press a button.  Would I like that awesome blurry effect?  Sure, I would.  But perhaps photography — good photography, anyway — is just not in the cards for me.  
So here’s a few snapshots into Laura’s world from the past couple of weeks:
taking screen shots of flights to Chicago — planning a girls only trip in September.

how real classy girls do a Friday night – $7.99 bottles of wine from Publix.

she’s worn out from you know, doing nothing all day.

enjoying executive level seats at Regions field.

gorgeous bham.

some people crack me up.

enjoying some Steel City Pops.  i had the banana and b had the blood orange.
I’m also pretty sure that taking amazing selfies of us eating popsicles would be impossible with a gigantic camera.
Although, all this self-deprecation about my camera skills makes me want to bust out that manual again and see if I can make it all the way through.

A View on Instagram

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I’m sorry you guys.  One day, I’ll remember to post on a Sunday so the post will actually go up during the day.  
I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try.
Today’s blog post is sort of a response to another blog post that I read this morning from Delighted Momma.  She deleted her Instagram account, because she was felt it was bringing on too much comparison between her life and those of her friends. 
I get it.  I wrote an entire post on being envious of other people.  It’s sort of what happens when you enter in to the world of social media.  You get to sort through what people see and what they don’t see.  Of course you’re going to pick the prettiest things you own, the cutest pictures of your dog, and of course the best selfies.  It’s only natural.  You naturally want people to think you’re awesome.  And especially if you’re using Instagram as a tool to gain blog followers and new friends.  It’s a quick, easy, convenient way to let someone into your life.
But here’s where I differ.  I don’t have that many Instagram friends.  I would love for this little blog here to take off, but honestly, some nights I’m too tired to upload all the pictures from the weekend or comment on a blog that I really wanted to comment on.  I mainly use my Instagram as a platform for my Stella pictures, or food pictures or the occasional selfie ( I hate the way I look in photos, so I avoid whenever possible).  BUT for the most part, the pictures on there are a good view into the best parts of my life.  I’m not going to take a picture of Stella throw-up or a recipe gone horribly wrong.  Because, eww, why would I want to remember that for eternity?  So while I understand getting rid of a social media platform ( I no longer use FaceBook), getting rid of Instagram is just not for me.
So keep showing me your beautiful Michael Kors watches with all of your amazing bangles and the cutest pictures of your dogs imaginable, because I honestly want to see them.
Oh, and because I can, my latest Instagram addition:

Life Through the iPhone

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It’s no secret that I pretty much am attached to my iPhone.  I feel naked without it.  I hate not having it and go into panic mode if I don’t know where it is.  
So it’s just common sense that at any given point in time I have over 1000 pictures on that thing.  I really do try to go through and delete old ones; ones that I know I have backed up times a million.  But I just don’t want to.  I like having them all at my fingertips and right where I can see them.
So here are a few from the past couple of weeks: enjoy!
Because who doesn’t love a couple of coworkers kids enjoying their Valentine’s Day loot?

Because who doesn’t love a delicious homemade brunch?

Because I looooove Dan Brown and was super excited to get this!

Because I can’t wait till fall to be able to wear my awesome new Hate on Jay Cutler shirt.

Because who doesn’t take pictures at a Kmart when the animals spill just so it looks like an assassination?
Because who doesn’t buy two succulents and then proceed to name them?

Because this was awesome.

Because I really really really love roses.
If you want to see more of this awesomeness into my daily life, you can most certainly follow me on Instagram @lauraannau.
Because you know I’m gonna have my phone, and you know I’m going to take a picture of something.

Potato Chip Cookies (yes, you read that right)

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As a sweet gift, BJ got me a year subscription to Martha Stewart Living.  I have been obsessed with my last three issues, and one day soon, when I decide that I want to start cooking, I am going to try my hand at some of the awesome stuff she has in there.  Plus, every time I peruse one of her magazines, I want to change the color of my walls.  To something crazy.  Like purple.  Or coral.  Oh the hubs would die.  
Anyway, as I was going through the July issue, I came across a recipe for Potato Chip Cookies, and was like whaaaa?  I’m going to admit that when I saw that, my first thought was, is it ok for potato chips to go in the oven?  Turns out it is.  
Picture from Martha Stewart Living.…see below for recipe.

KitchenAid doing what it does…..

I put the chips in a baggie and smashed them.  Less mess that way.

Yums!  They taste like sugar cookies, with just a hint of salt.  Sweet and salty!  Yum!!
Potato Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened                                                     2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar                                                   1 teaspoon baking soda 
3/4 cup granulated sugar                                                                 4 cups crushed potato chips, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract                                                                1 cup pecans, toasted and coarsely
2 large eggs                                                                                      chopped.
Prep:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat together butter and sugars with a mixer on high speed until fluffy (about 2 to 3 minutes).  Add vanilla and eggs, and beat on medium speed until just combined.
2.  Add flour, baking soda, and salt, and beat on low speed until just combined (I mix them all separately and pour them into the mixer gradually.  If you have found a way to do it without getting flour all over the place without doing it this way, please let me know!).  Stir in 2 cups potato chips and the nuts.
3.  Roll dough into 2-inch balls, and then roll balls into remaining potato chips to coat.  Place cookies 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet (or a nicely greased cookie sheet 🙂   ).  Bake until golden, 18-20 minutes.  Let cool completely.
I did it without the nuts.  BJ and I aren’t completely crazy about nuts in the cookies we eat, so your choice.  You ever notice on the Toll House chips it always says to add nuts too?  Never have, and they still always turn out awesome.  But personal choice, I guess.  Add them if you want.

First Austin Post!!

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Okay.  I have to admit that I have a new obsession.  Okay, two.  Fifty Shades of Grey is my first one.  And Austin, TX is my next one.
We are planning on relocating this perfect gem of a city, and I can’t say enough good things about this town.  They have food trucks galore, a super dog-friendly city (your dogs can pretty much go wherever you do), free live music, super nice people, doughnuts as big as your head, I have pictures of most of all of this, but since it is the capital of Austin, I will start with your generic pictures of the capital building, and then go from there in future posts!  I mean, I can’t give it all away in one post!!
We walked all the way from South Congress to the Capitol building,  (okay, I have to admit that I’m slightly confused on my use of capital and Capitol, so excuse me English majors if I’m totally butchering it here) which was about five miles…
Big Red Boot in Texas…I mean why not?

Though this was funny.  We passed this on our way back to the food trucks. 

Very liberal city, but I just liked the old timey feeling of the hotel.  They had these old hotels everywhere!

Capital building.

Confederacy statue outside the building.

Taking a rest after the first leg of our five mile walk.

Inside.  This is one of my favorite pictures.

Hello President Bush!!
There’ll be more pictures from this past weekend, but wanted to start with these before seriously delving into Austin.  Because I could seriously go on forever.
And I just found a recipe for potato chip cookies…so be on the lookout for that this weekend.  Because I’m totally making them.