{c is for cookie}

Well, loyal readers, as of Sunday evening, the Happiness Challenge is officially ON. 

Apartment-mates, (cough, cough, my roomies, cough) are struggling to get all the cards out to our friends, which clearly makes getting them back less than simple too.  Teacher roomie actually sent one to a college cohort and forgot the follow-up call/email with instructions, so she got a "Thanks for the playing card, I put it on my bulletin board...?" bewildered text last night.  After a hearty laugh in our apartment (and some well-deserved mockery), teacher called her friend to explain, and all is right again in the world of Happiness.

The first cards we gave out were to the three boys across the street (four if you count the amazingly amusing one who has been staying with them circa Christmastime).  One is teacher's boyfriend of 127 years (okay, it's only seven, but it feels like forever and we love him so I feel fine joking like that), two went to high school with us, and the other is a new, post-college pal.  

Considering our various relationships with these boys (and the maturity levels of the 1202-ers, as we lovingly call 'em sometimes), we were nervous about what exactly they would write.  So we clarified to them multiple times that things which might make them happy don't exactly fit the bill for this challenge, and that this whole thing isn't anonymous (each card has the writer's name on it), so concocting any activity too ridiculous/inappropriate will just embarrass them and swiftly get their challenge vetoed.

Well, roomie #3, a goofy kid from upstate New York who worships Syracuse basketball, airplane engines, and the lyrics of Lupe, wrote (and then immediately proceeded to tell us that he had written) "bake the boys cookies."  While we were initially annoyed he didn't follow the cardinal rule, the silver lining for me is that I get to try out another recipe, which will count towards my New Year's resolution (and original reason for writing this blog).  Bonus? I don't particularly love oatmeal raisin cookies (his confection of choice), so I won't be tempted to eat half the batter during the baking process.  If it doesn't have chocolate, I don't count it as a real cookie (shortbread is the exception, cause of all that buttah).  

We're planning on completing challenge #1 just in time for the Stupid Bowl this Sunday.  We'll start off the year with an easy one (I'm confident all three of us can handle playing Betty Crocker for an afternoon), and the 1202-ers will start off the year satisfying their collective sweet tooth. 

Ina Garten's Raisin Oatmeal Cookies...comin' fresh outta the oven Saturday.  Mmm mmm good.

Louis Blog, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

{How could you not love her?}