Thank goodness that after my iPhone was stolen on Monday, my new phone arrived late Wednesday.
UPS came to the house earlier in the day, didn’t ring the bell, and left. I realized this hours later when I saw a sticky note on the door. I called them and they sent the driver back to my house. At 6pm. I waited all day for my phone, but finally, I got it. Grrr to waiting on deliveries!
Brand new and sealed in the box. I was worried they were going to try to send me a refurbished phone but they didn’t!
I think because it’s a new-to-Verizon phone, it’s the 4G (a new phone in general) and because I had originally purchased the more expensive (and probably less common) 32 MB model rather than the 16 MB model, so there simply weren’t any “used” phones to refurbish and send to me. So I “lucked out” and got a new phone.
However, I would hardly call having one’s phone stolen, paying $250 out of pocket for the replacement + new case, and having to endure the sense of violation and frustration that has resulted from this whole ordeal “lucky”, but you know what I mean. I’m grateful that insult to injury wasn’t added by sending me someone else’s castoff a refurbished phone.
I’m back in business!
I bought the same case that I had before. It’s not one of the more silicone-based cases. Those pull my hair out! This one is more smooth and not as “grippy” and the bottom part detaches in case you want to dock it in a Bose system or something similar and you don’t have to remove the entire case.
And rather than downloading tons of apps that I realized I didn’t use or need anyway, I only downloaded
Pandora Radio
Runkeeper (because it has GPS and is great to see running or walking routes)
WordPops (I don’t want to play Words With Friends. My friends are busy and take way too long to make their move. I like scrabble-ish games that are fast-paced and WordPops suits my needs)
And I hid or removed all kinds of icons/apps like Stocks or Calendar and only have the ones I use most often on my home screen. To do this: hold the icon til it begins to jiggle, then you can move it by dragging it or just delete it by clicking on the red x that will appear. Many of you asked how to do this.
Streamlined simplicity on the home screen.
I am so happy to have my phone back! I never realized in just six weeks how antiquated the Blackberry feels and how much I love the iPhone. I felt naked without my phone. For better or worse, I think we’re all pretty attached to our technology. Especially our phones!
From my last post about Turbo Mode, thanks for sharing what you’ve been turbo’ing though. We are all so busy but that’s okay. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, right?
And I got a kick out of your fill in the blank answers.
Questions:
1. What’s the last thing you waited for? Anything you’re in the process of waiting for?
Waiting two days for my replacement phone, and then waiting on UPS to come back to my house because the driver never rang the bell (assumed no one was home I guess and just put a sticky on the door and bailed without ringing first) was a long two and a half days days! But worth it, clearly, so I could have my phone back.
I am currently waiting to go on vacation.
I’m waiting to buy a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I really want one.
And I’m waiting to see if I win the lottery. I won’t hold my breath on that since I don’t even play the lottery.
2. Favorite Brownie Recipes?
I know everyone has a favorite recipe for them but if you have any recipes that you adore, please share them. Links welcome, but only two links, max, or your comment will go into moderation.
You can even tell me you love to doctor up Duncan Hines or Betty C’s brownie mixes, or that you make your own with your Aunt Susie’s treasured recipe. Does not have to be vegan, GF, or “healthy”. Inherently, I don’t think brownies are “healthy”. I think they are dessert and that’s a beautiful thing.
I have Raw Vegan Brownies in my recipe arsenal (Vegan, GF)
And Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cupcakes with White Chocolate Icing
…But I’d like to make really awesome brownies for an event and try out a new recipe in the process.
I know Jessica has more rich decadent brownies and bars on her site than one could imagine and so does Jenny, but fill me in on any of your favorite recipes, please!
3. What makes a good brownie recipe for you?
For me, a good brownie is rich, moist, not dry, more fudgy than cakey, has a gooey center with barely crisped edges.
Frosting is optional. Buttercream or cream cheese frosting is preferred over chocolate frosting.
And no nuts in the brownies. Nuts in the brownies is a 100% deal breaker. I hate nuts in baked goods!
TGIF!
There is nothing worse than waiting around for the delivery man!!! I feel like that’s all I do on my office days and then you’re just tied to your house.
I wish I could have pandora on my iPhone! I hate that they’re just in the states now. I’m currently waiting for my supplements – multi, omegas, probiotics… and it’s taking FOREVER.
Okay, random comment from an accidental click over at Charlotte’s GFE. But I saw “iPhone” in the title, and being the nerd that I am, I gave it a read anyway.
It blows that your phone was stolen, so I’m sorry for that. I’m awaiting the arrival of my iPad2 and am nervous for its safety in transit.
“a good brownie is rich, moist, not dry, more fudgy than cakey, has a gooey center with barely crisped edges…Nuts in the brownies is a 100% deal breaker.” — You just described my perfect brownie. No frosting, just fresh, gooey, and warm. Normally I’d be able to remote into my home computer to pull the recipe, but it’s running some intense programs right now, so I’ll have to remember to bring it by another time. Sorry. :^(
Oh no! Sorry to hear your iPhone was stolen-that stinks! Glad you got a new one, I love mine. Brownies look delish!
I totally agree with you about brownies — I like them gooey, moist and fudgey. Honestly raw brownie dough is one of the most delicious things I can think of right now!
I’m glad your phone arrived — UPS is so silly sometimes — they do that to us too, where they don’t ring the bell and just leave a note AND WE’RE HOME!!! Once we chased him down because we literally saw him walk to our house (and maybe he knocked?) but then walked away. So strange!
SO glad to hear you have an iPhone again! Still sad that you had to go through all that though! I am honestly not a big brownie person (probably because I’m not a big chocolate person)- but I am actually contemplating make some this weekend for my Easter Dessert tray. Thanks for the links!!
I lost my phone a couple of weeks ago, no insurance and no warranty. Nothing as fancy as an iphone or blackberry, but it did have a texting keyboard. I had an old LG flip phone hanging around the house, so got a new sim card and am back in business, but I lost all of my phone numbers, which really irritates me. And I’m really used to the qwerty keyboard, so this whole texting with a regular one is making me a little crazy. I am waiting to see if I can tough it out until August, when I have an upgrade. If not, I’ll be hitting ebay.
I have been told that I make the best brownies in the free world. Of course, I have made them for my co-workers every Friday for about the past 15 years, so I’ve had lots of practice. I’m not sure about the free world thing, but they are really good, if I do say so myself. They are not vegan, nor are they particularly healthy, but since they are homemade and chocolate, they have to be good for you. Since people have occasionally accused me of leaving things out of recipes, all kinds of weird stuff that may or may not affect the recipe are included.
BROWNIES
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine
3/4 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1-1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans and do NOT chop them, so that people who don’t like
nuts can pick them out easier)
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli bittersweet chips)
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13x9x2 with non-stick spray.
Put butter/margarine and cocoa into a large, microwave safe bowl. Microwave on High for 1-2 minute, or until margarine is melted, stir together (a whisk works really well). Add sugar, eggs and vanilla, stirring well after each. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl, then add to chocolate mixture, stir well. Add nuts and chocolate chips. Spread in prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes.
NOTES: I mix this in a 2 quart Pyrex measuring cup/pitcher. Also, 1-1/4 cups self-rising flour may be substituted for flour, baking powder and salt, making this a one bowl recipe. Baking for 30 minutes makes very fudgy brownies, so if you like yours more cake-like, bake a few minutes more. I store my pecans and chocolate chips in the freezer, so adjust your baking time accordingly.
thanks for the delish sounding recipe!
Trying to get thing delivered to my apartment is a nightmare and a half…seriously, I never get anything sent there if I can help it. Right now I’m waitingwaitingwaiting for school to be DONE forever. I cannot WAIT, seriously. Get me out of college!!
I just made Gracie from Girl Meets Life’s cake batter blondies yesterday. We’ll see how they go over at the party I bring them to tonight!!
Yay for a new phone! That was quick :)
I’m waiting for my new camera bag to get here!!
I have a really yummy gluten free brownie recipe.. it is dense and fudgy with a cracked top!.. yum.. glad you got your phone!
re work: I was literally in the right place at the right time. I did tons of photography for the restaurant I worked in (for their facebook page).. and then last summer I did a portrait shoot for a woman who worked for the magazine and she passed my name along. I test recipes, prepare them and shoot them for the magazine (I may have the cover for the summer’s issue!) .. I also write food articles and create recipes for them as well.
great story, love it! and congrats on your maybe almost summer cover!! YAY!
Yay, you got your phone! The last thing we waiting on was a paycheck…which is fun! I’m glad you got a new phone and are back in business! Have a great Friday Averie!
OH MY YUMMMMM!!!! I need one of those peanut butter cup cupcakes! Seriously, that looks so good I can’t even stand it.
I’m so happy you got your phone – sorry you had to wait around for it though. I totally agree, waiting on deliveries is frustrating and annoying. They always seem to time their estimated drop off for right when I need to leave the house to do something.
SO glad the phone situation turned out a little better than expected – you at least deserve that after everything you had to go through. Refurbished anythings scare the heck out of me! I always feel like there’s a reason it’s a cast-off, so why would I want it? Probably completely untrue, but for something like a phone that’s so essential to everyday life, I wouldn’t want to even think about it being used before me.
My mom used to make an awesome brownie recipe. It was really simple… no added frosting, nuts, etc., and I used to LOVE it. I agree that moist is a very good quality and I always liked the corner pieces… something about biting into a little harder section that I thought made it better haha.
You really can’t talk brownies while I’m lying in bed, HUNGRY, reading blogs – because it makes me want a doughy chocolatey non-dry brownie…I think I’ll eat some breakfast first!! So I have a blackberry and you think the iphone is honestly better? I have my plan for another 11 months, so I’ll wait it out and try to make a decision in that time, what I get next haha
yes it’s 1 million percent better, IMO!
whew, what a relief to be “back in business,” eh! glad you got your iphone and that it’s brand new. i would love an iphone (have a bb) but i so would need a tutorial on how to use it. well, at this is one headache you can move on from, now!
brownies: i dislike nuts in baked goods, too! best brownie = moist, chewy and must have choc icing. id’ love to try a raw version!
have a great day – at least you’re all set up with your phone before vacation!
The brownies from The Kind Diet are definitely my fave. I add walnuts in, though, so I don’t think you’d like MINE, but if you didn’t add them in then you might enjoy them. People are always amazed at how dark they get, but that’s what you get when you don’t put crap like eggs in your brownies =)