deranna bars.

so i've been working at WCIA for two months now and i have a lot of catching up to do. let's start with my most recent foray into baking. it was in honor of my friend and photographer, derek. yesterday was our last day working together (he got a job doing video production stuff) so last week i told him i'd bake him something to celebrate. he said he wanted a cookie bar that was kind of like a reese's cup.
so i made deranna bars. 

for starters, "deranna" is a combination of our names. i figured it'd be a good name for a dessert i invented in his honor: a combination of what he wanted and what i could think up. also i completely made up the recipe but here's something close to what it was.

first, (preheat the oven to 375, grease a 9x13" pan and)
make the cookie bar base -- 

mix together:

1 cup butter (softened)

3/4 cup brown sugar (plus a little more)

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

(you can use an electric mixer or do it by hand)

add two eggs, one at a time.

mix in:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

once all of that is good and mixed, add the chocolate chips.

i use a regular-sized bag, which is equal to about two cups.

spoon the cookie dough into the pan and spread it around. 

bake for about 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

after that, let the cookie bar cool.
i let it sit overnight, but you don't have to.

it just needs to be cool enough so it doesn't melt the topping.

while that's cooling, make your peanut butter mixture --

1 1/4 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup butter

2 cups powdered sugar

mix it until it is all the same consistency
and spread it on top of the (cooled) cookie bar.

then it's time for chocolate --

melt together (over low heat on stovetop
or in the microwave a few seconds at a time):

2 cups chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter

spread that on top of the peanut butter mixture and garnish with mini reese's cups.

voila.

deranna bars.

the great thing about this is that you can cut them into reasonably small pieces and still have decent-sized chunks since the dessert has a lot of layers. i made enough for two large plate-fuls and then some...however many that is ( :

a first time for everything.

last week, i ran my first (un-official) half marathon (and then some)!

i did 15 miles in just more than two hours.

i survived...but my phone did not.

(had to replace it this week...boo) 

also last week, i went with sports boy to finalize the deal on 

his first ever major car purchase -- an audi!

lastly last week, i made gummy shapes!

it was easier than i thought.

ingredients: 1 small package jello, 7 gelatin packets, 1/2 cup water.

mix it all together until it has the consistency of play dough --

then stir over low heat until it melts to a liquid -- 

pour the liquid into molds and pop them in the freezer for 5 minutes.

voila!

gummy shapes --

i poured some of the mixture into cookie cutters to make big shapes.

(i tried to fix this one as jello was cooling so it got messed up)

i used them to top a giant "dirt cups" recipe --

ingredients: chocolate pudding, cool whip and crushed oreos.

partially gluten-free ( :

stuck in the middle with you, part 2.

remember this post??

well...in continuing my tradition of only living in the center of states, 

i'm heading to champaign, illinois -- as a reporter for WCIA.

i'm excited to be a part of the central illinois news leader's team.

...now if i can just find somewhere to live...

little(er) d.

as everyone in the krondashian clan starts to get excited about a new baby d, let's take a look at some of my favorite adorable pics of 

little d -- who will soon be big brother d!

WARRIOR DASH 2012.

last month, i did the most-fun race i have ever run.

WARRIOR DASH 2012!!

(as usual, click on pics to enlarge)

in about 3.3 miles, i --

-hurdled over barricades

-balanced across teetering planks of wood

-traversed across tangled nets

-crawled under logs through the mud 

-conquered a wooden barricade

-scrambled beneath barbed wire in the mud

-swam and climbed across a capsized catamaran

-sprinted up (and down) a giant hill

-did a military crawl under some more nets and barbed wire

-maneuvered on top of and across a series of cargo nets

-leapt over the warrior fires

-and scrambled / swam through a giant mud pit to the finish

also i completely slipped and fell about two feet 

in front of the finish line and slid through instead. 

(i'm on the right...danger phil was just sliding to make fun of me)

everyone watching thought that was pretty great.

then it was time for some post-race pics with danger phil -- 

needless to say, i donated my shoes to a good cause instead of 

trying to take them home and wash them.

we stopped at that "warrior wash" (not pictured). turns out, it was a pond where you could rinse off with all the other dirty runners.

after getting cleaned up, 

we went back to the finish to watch more racers.

danger phil tried his hand at throwing axes -- 

we showed off our game faces -- 

and i allowed him to take ONE picture of me in that ridic hat.

in all: an awesome experience and definitely one i plan to try again.

NOTE: i was nervous about not "training" for this race. along the route, there was a sign saying, "don't worry. we didn't train for this either" and that was pretty much the theme (also there were lots of people in costumes, so that may have been the other theme). i like to think i'm a decent runner, but there were people of all experience levels on the trail. some walked, some ran, and some even skipped some of the obstacles (i know...why would you want to do that?!). but anyway -- that's why i can safely say i recommend this for anyone who likes to run and is looking for a fun challenge.

#photoadayaugust

i made it almost all the way through august #photoaday challenge.

(as always, click to enlarge pictures)

inspiration / headshot / healthy snack / fav sports

drink / taking the stairs / relaxing / hydration

cravings / workout attire / ingredients / workout location

achievement / workout music / chocolate / motivation

stretching / gym bag / game face / fav exercise

sweat / breakfast / daily routine / fit friends

election day as a reporter.

last month, we had a primary election for wisconsin.

so my photog (kevin) and i went to west bend to cover our part.

first we got a little mixed up with the directions

and ended up on a (well-named) street named scenic road.

eventually we made it to the place we needed to be:

jeff fitzgerald's campaign headquarters.

(where kids also eat free on election night)

we saw some dangerous news stuff.

(like this tilty-top live truck)

since we didn't bring one of those trucks,

i shot my stand-ups outside the restaurant and 

we edited my video and sent it back through this laptop.

glamorous, i know.

after the 5&6PM newscasts, we had some time to go exploring.

we found the place harry potter's family lives -- 

a combination krondashian store -- 

and a cool record store which also had a collection of 24 dvd sets -- 

it was there that we discovered carly rae jepson 

is planning to have one more hit.

...and maybe that's all.

we also found a huge selection of delicious chocolates -- 

then it was time for dinner --

spaghetti and garlic bread (with REAL garlic...yum).

then it was time to head back to fitzgerald hq 

and get ready for election results to start rolling in.

and of course, the internet wasn't working there so i had to run to the closest mcdonalds to borrow their wifi and send back the video. 

...and that's what election day is like for a reporter. 

the end.