Popping in to say "Thanks, Nilly!"

Jon B., Jen K., and Cousin Nicole.

I purposely wore a shirt to match the tablecloth.

The crowd at my gym tends to young and fit and checking each other out from the corner of their eyes. Apparently the crowd in the morning--when Hubby generally goes--tends to the fabulous. He keeps telling me about the conversations he overhears in the locker room: trading waxing tips, admiring each others pecs, and such. In the women's locker room they're either talking about their dates or their kids, not nearly interesting enough.

The black-is-for-staring-at comes from his observation that most of the preeners and posers are wearing tight, black outfits. I was going to tell him that anyone who wanted to ogle me in my black swimsuit had a whole different criteria than the posers, but the purple was too wonderful.

It's very funny to see the people who do two reps on a machine, then pause to stretch and glance around. The leg machines I use are next to the free-weights area, and I love watching the drama. The serious lifters are more decorative, though, because they have terrific arms and shoulders. I've perfected the "No, I'm actually staring just to the side of you, I'm not staring at you--though I have a terrific view of the mirror right behind you" look.

Happy Birthday Jon!

Those wedding pictures are lovely.

Happy birthday, Jon!

I'm looking to make waffles this morning (yes, officially crazy), and I'm still only cooking from CI. They have 1 waffle recipe that doesn't involve yeast or buttermilk. For the former I don't have the time, and for the latter, the primary ingredient.

However, this one recipe involves mixing your own baking powder. I don't have any cream of tartar! Why are the being like this? How much baking powder to I substitute for 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar?

CI doesn't have a list of substitutions?

I think you can make a sour milk with lemon juice to sub for buttermilk.

ION - adorable!

Baking powder equivalent: 2 parts cream of tartar to 1 part baking soda.

I have also used yogurt thinned with milk instead of buttermilk and it works fine.

I decided that subbing baking powder back into the recipe was less messing with it than clabbering milk. I feel like I can always tell the difference between buttermilk and soured milk, although I'm surely making that up.

I don't get the point of using baking soda and cream of tartar if you already have baking powder. How is that supposed to make a difference?

Anyway! Cornmeal waffles and tea. I'm tempted to start yeasted waffles for tomorrow.

Happy birthday, Jon!

Everyone is correct about the genesis of Cowgirl Jesse.

The one gym-going phase I had, I liked the gym because it was kind of crappy, so cheap and with a wide range of just women there. It was also across the street from my house, and on the second floor, so when I was looking out the window on the treadmill, no one was looking back at me. And I was often walking faster than the jogger next to me.

Kat (or anyone else!), I don't know if you're interested in "preemie" stuff, but here's a contest where photographers are giving free photo shoots: [link]