Choc Chip Cookie Perfection

My new favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe for bakery large style cookies :)

They are packed with chocolate chips and they are super thick and soft!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (I didn't melt)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar (I used Splenda)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. (I used parchment paper)
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. (I didn't sift)
3. In a medium bowl, (I used my Kitchen Aid) cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. (use the spoon, dough is super thick, my spatchula handle BROKE!) Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely (15 minuntes only)

You will get almost 2 dozen from this recipe.


This recipe was found at:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/best-big-fat-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookie/detail.aspx

all pink text is my modifications :)

Ice Ice Baby

I am addicted to iced coffee. I just love it. Plain with skim milk. No sugar. Here are some of the best:

Dunkin Donuts-

Inexpensive and DD's are everywhere.

Starbucks-

Strong and wakes me up!

Martins- 

You may never have heard of this one, unless you are from Eldersburg, MD. This is a grocery store with a small coffee stand and their iced coffee is amazing :)

O's HON

Home Town Love

I got these for my birthday and have rocked them proudly- even though we dropped to LAST in the AL East!
I just love that Nike makes CUTE stuff for female fans.

If you plan to buy, they are cut big. Also some are PERFORMANCE so the material is Nike's Dry Fit- which is nice.



Girl in Uniform

Everyday countless people are half awake, standing in their closet, wondering- "what will I wear to work today?"

I wish I had that problem.

Day in and day out, I wear the same thing- blue. Blue pants, blue shirts, and if it's cold- you guessed it, a blue coat.

And of course, my uniform is super baggy and it's the smallest size.

Not very fashionable to say the least....



It is  funny that they sell my work boots at Nordstrom!

Addicted to drugs....

Yes I know I am a police officer and I shouldn't be addicted to drugs, but I am. Okay not drugs, a drug, and it's legal :)

That's right, Latisse. This stuff is addicting and awesome!

P.S. Thank You Kristi :) XOXO

http://www.latisse.com/



From MD with Pride

Anyone who has been over to my house lately, has probably been offered a glass of my wine of choice- Boordy "Rockfish" Chardonnay. In fact our wine refrigerator (thanks Julie and Derek) is stocked with Boordy! Jason drinks the "Oriole" Riesling.

The Chardonnay is described on the Boordy website as "Crisp, clean, and dry - but very approachable, with hints of tropical fruit in the nose (banana, pineapple), honeydew melon, and a suggestion of herbs." It's delicious and perfect for this time of the year.

For those of you not familiar, Boordy is a vineyard located right in Baltimore County and are always a popular stand at the MD Wine Festival each year in Westminster. They have three series of wines; Icon, Just for Fun, and Landmark. The icon series is where the Chardonnay and Riesling I mentioned above are from.

I admit, the icon series is my favorite. I love the flavors but I really love the labels. Each label has a different black and white "engraving" that features a different Maryland wildlife creature.



The Mallard is Boordy's Chambourcin Merlot



The summer and fall are filled with events at the vineyard. You don't have to go to Boordy to get these wines, most liquor stores in the area are now selling Boordy (even my local Paradise shop). Bottles are inexpensive too, ranging from about $10.00- $26.00.

The vineyard is great place for a party too. I attended a birthday party there last spring- it was beautiful :)

Look for the Chardonnay and Merlot at our wedding. It will fit our "theme" nicely!

http://www.boordy.com/home



Guppy's

Located at 1701 Gulf Blvd. in Indian Rocks Beach Florida, there sits quietly a charming restaurant that almost could pass for a beach bungalow. Welcome to one of my favorite restaurants to visit- (while visiting my family in Florida) Guppy's On the Beach! When you arrive you see an array of tables for al fresco dining with large hangar style fans and seashell mulch. Inside, you will find tables adorning white table cloths, sophisticated design, and a laid back fine dining experience.

The menu is filled with numerous seafood choices from head Chef Scott that feature local delicacies like Fresh Grouper to pasta and steak entrees. My family all loved the Florida Lobster Tail!

They also sell t-shirts that all have such creative artwork- they look more like a Tommy Bahama shirt then a souvenir. The one Jason purchased had a black and white sketch of a cigar smoking Guppy :)

Their website is definitely worth checking out (the background song is an old fav of mine). Pictures, menu, directions and reservations all there. But what is really worth a look- recipes of dishes they serve! I plan on making both the Blue Crab Taco Tower and the Fire Cracker Shrimp Salad...yum.

I think when people go to a restaurant they go for the food, however what they remember is the experience. This is such the case with Guppy's. I have been a follower on Facebook since my last visit and every weekend they post their specials, making me just wish I was there!

So if your in the Clearwater area, make sure you stop by.

http://www.3bestchefs.com/guppys/

Back in Black

White watches? Sooo last year apparently, even though I have been sporting my Michael Kors big beauty!

I was reading an article online in New York Magazine on the new trend: black watches ( http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionables/black-watches-2011-6/ ).

It hit me, I have seen black watches every where lately, which is surprising. With summer here, white is the usual staple color and this season in particular brights have been huge (like color jeans- which you will NEVER see me wearing).

This trend makes me happy, since I wear a good amount of black or other netural colors :)

I love the idea of a classic black watch. At the beach last month, I lusted over my friend Cassie's new Michele all black watch (the band is such a cool material).

Here are some I really like as well (and are much cheaper then the one's featured in NY Mag)-

Michael Kors- Blackout

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=506204&CategoryID=24766&LinkType=PDPZ1

Rip Curl Diver's Watch

It's a men's watch, but I would wear it. Also is the same one worn by Kate Hudson in the movie Fool's Gold




 


http://www.ripcurl.com.au/shop/guys/watches/sport/barrel-pu-surf-watch.html


yes, Fryes with that please!

I am Ub-sessed with my Frye Joy Hurricane Sandals in natural!!

The Frye brand is an American classic comprised of expert craftsmanship and rich leather. This is my first pair of Frye's- but this winter I will definitely be buying some of their amazing boots.

http://stores.thefryecompany.com/

LoveLife

Every once in a while someone comes up with an idea that makes you say, "that's great". LoveLife, based out of Baltimore, is one of these ideas.

Their Facebook page describes the concept as "a movement based on molding yourself into a better you by positively affecting your life with every step you take". What is not to like about that- inspiring people to be the best them! Oh and what really caught my eye- the gear... 

How creative, shirts for men, women and children (tanks too) in 8 different colors that are customizable with your own ONE word of your choice that represents why you love life printed on the back. I'm still thinking what word I will select...but definately will be in their kiwi green!

The shirts start at $19.99 with a portion of the profits going to a local charity to help better Baltimore's youth.

The website is great, eye catching, colorful and filled with great photography. Take a look, get inspired, and order a shirt- tell them you saw them here :)

http://www.evolveyou.org/



ohh ahh...Louis Vuitton

The July Vogue issue arrived today and the back cover was more eye catching then the cover!

SEE!?

 Darn Louis Vuitton ads- make me want everything they sell!! In fact their entire Cruise 2011 ad campaign (which dropped almost a year ago and still is plastered all over LV's website and on this back cover) is brilliant. Models with great hair, wearing clothes reminiscent to the 60's- think Sharon Stone in Casino.

Here is a few of my favs:

Scarf has that same great print as this skirt

This is on the opposite side of the spectrum of the recent news and ad preview that dropped this week:

Angelina Jolie in Louis Vuitton's "Core Values" campaign- the more simple ads that feature the product and the spirit of travel rather then the glamour- still glam if you ask me.

Here is Jolie in freaking Cambodia chilling with was is reported as her own bag! The photography style is way different too, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, looks more like a painting then anything else.

Red Bottom Girls you make this rocking world go round.....



Christian Louboutin

These shoes = love.

Neiman Marcus

Knock Off

Yeah I rock a knock off.....

Meet Sadie!

Jason and I purchased her from some hillbillies in Westminster from an ad we saw in the paper for what we thought was a steal, only $200 with shots and papers! Well as time went on and Sadie grew, we noticed that Sadie was most likely, for lack of a better word, a knockoff. Our old lab, which we left with my dad, is a 110 lbs beast. Our Sadie has appeared to max out at nice 47.
First, I thought it was just what I like to call the "fishbowl effect"- the concept that she only grew to her habitat size and being she's in a townhouse she stopped at the most perfect size. Now I just think she's not authentic.

More about Sadie:

She's a lovable dog and all our neighbors know her as the dog that looks out the window all day :)

She is also a jerk, that is when we have people over. She jumps and tries to sit in peoples laps, there is a lot of the word, "down!" when people are around :)

She also loves wood. She has ate my coffee table, window sills, decorative wooden bird statue, railings, you name it. We hope this stage is over.

We also found a crate that she cannot escape, at least not yet.

I don't even remember what she ate that time

Escape artist

Proud Parents :)

* the top pic of Sadie was taken by our amazing wedding photographer before we left for our engagement shoot. Check out his website:

http://jamesgarrettphoto.com/

Clothes for your walls

I love the website Etsy.com- which is like the Ebay for art, antiques, and unique handmade items. One of my favorite artists on the site is Gemini Studio based out of Chicago. Many of his designs are customizable too. Below are some of my favorites:

Just like Sadie!

 Love this!



Can do any town! I love he has already done B-more :)



Here is the link to him on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/people/geministudio?ref=ls_profile&show_panel=true

I asked the artist if it was okay for me to feature him on DomesticatedOfficer.com.

. All Artwork is property of the artist and may not be reproduced, duplicated, or resold.

If you decide to make a purchase, let them him you saw it here!

Needs vs. Wants

Although Suzie Orman would probably disagree, my financial advice in regards to spending money on clothes, shoes, and handbags came from Carrie...just kidding.

Carrie Bradshaw, "I like my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet"

I want her wardrobe...

I recently watched for the 1374723 time, the movie The Break Up.

I not only love the movie, but I just love Jen's wardrobe in this movie. It's simple, clean, and well put together. Although the movie is a little old, I learned the dress I couldn't get enough over is Prada, aka out of my price range.



I just love the cut and the colors in the material are just brilliant.

Aniston also rocks some jeans and tee style looks that I find myself wearing :)

Love everything about this, especially the bag

Loose fitting jeans and white button down= love

I can almost guarantee that is a James Perse t-shirt- so soft!!