Jen Russum

Keyword Analysis {#3}

Keyword Analysis {#3}

If you are new around here, welcome to a keyword analysis. Every now and then I like to look at the words people are typing into search engines that somehow lead them to my blog. Most of the time they are super normal, like "AZ Russums" or "newlywed date ideas" or stuff of that nature... but sometimes they are completely ridiculous/hilarious. Here are a few of my favorites lately...  {You can also read Keyword Analysis #1 and #2 if you want!} Kohl Cords – Technically, I think it’s Kohl’s cords and more specifically I hope you are talking about the Lauren Conrad Skinny Cord, because that is one fabulous pant. So fabulous, in fact, that I now have two pairs – one in rust and one in gray. Sometimes it’s hard for me to wear any other pants but these. Cute husband site. - Well, this is a site with a cute husband on it. But he’s mine and you can’t have him. I hope this person was at least looking for a site to find a cute bachelor to become a husband. Because searching for men that are already married seems pretty sketch to me... Cloth paper scissors paper mâché  – Ummm… what? Even though my friends, Heather and Erin, try to claim I am a craft blogger because I mod-podged a piece of paper to some wood last year, I really am not a crafter. I have no time for it and I am not very good at it, unless it’s a very basic project. And I have never in my life made paper mâché. Sorry to disappoint. Swedish Immigrant Girl – Are you talking about this one? Because she is the only one I know. Shannon Miller 1992 Olympics – Yes, wasn’t it great? Best Olympics ever if you ask me. Although I always liked Kim Zmeskal more than Shannon. As we watched the competition, my sister and I would do cartwheels back and forth across our family room thrusting our arms in the air afterward to be just like our gymnast heroes. How women can dress for NASCAR races. There are a variety of ways really… We chose the ensembles on the left {this was a costume… I HATE Nascar…} but they chose this twinsy ditty on the right… Sexypaper. Why, yes, I am writing one of those. It’s about mommy bloggers… J Foot worship moccasins I got Minnetonka Moccasins for Christmas, and while I love them, I think worshipping them is going a bit far… What's the strangest keyword search on your blog lately??? {Aren't people so weird!? Ha!} xoxo,Jen ... Read more

Recipe: Strawberry Layer Cake

Recipe: Strawberry Layer Cake

Okay, I’m back with another cake recipe. If you missed it, my sister in law had a big birthday party a few weeks ago and I was put in charge of cakes. I already shared the PB Fudge Cake recipe I made and today I have a delicious strawberry cake recipe for you. I wanted to make two cakes because we had 30 guests and I wanted to keep non-chocolate people happy too {I am not sure how non-chocolate people even exist, but I’ve heard that they do!}… And you know what, this ended up being the more popular cake! It’s super delish. So here we go… What you need:1 box white/vanilla cake mix1 package strawberry gelatin/jello {smaller 3oz. box}1 cup buttermilk½ cup oil3 eggs¼ cup frozen smashed strawberries in syrup {thawed} 2 sticks of butter at room temp, but not melted3 cups of confectioner’s powdered sugar {approximately}½ cup frozen smashed strawberries in syrup {thawed}½ tsp. vanilla extract1 TBSP. of milkPinch of salt {optional} Carton of fresh strawberries What you doPreheat oven to 350. Grease two round cake pans and line with wax paper if you are a wax paper convert like me.  Mix cake mix, jello powder, buttermilk and oil at medium speed. Add in eggs. Beat for 1-2 minutes. Add about ¼ cup of thawed frozen strawberries to the mix. The more mashed or cut up the pieces of fruit are better! Beat on LOW for one more minute. Pour into the prepared cake pans and bake for approximately 30-32 minutes. Meanwhile, make your frosting by mixing butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. All the measurements above are approximate. I had to add a little more milk to get mine to the right consistency. Once the texture is right, add ½ a cup of juicy, smashed strawberries… make sure that there is more juice than fruit at this point. Mix until frosting is fluffy and chill until you are ready to frost your cake. Remove cake from the oven and allow layers to cool completely. Now it's time to build your cake. Place one layer on a flat sheet or tray. I put mine on the cake stand and just wiped up the frosting spills afterward.  Remove frosting from fridge and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before frosting. Stir is rapidly to whip it up and get it ready. Use a spatula to spread frosting evenly around the first lay and then add the top layer and repeat. Garnish with the fresh strawberries. I cut mine in slices and made a spiral around the top of the cake! Enjoy!!! xoxo,Jen Linking up with Tatertots and Jello and Five Days, Five Ways! ... Read more

Good news!

You might remember about a month ago when I wrote this post? If you are new to my journey, here is the long story short. About a year ago, I felt like I needed to make a change. I was one semester into my PhD program in literature and suddenly God started opening doors for me in another field. It's a different branch in our English department called Rhetoric, Composition and Linguistics. This was completely surprising for me - a long time British literature lover {nerdy, I know}... but it all made sense. Switching programs would allow me to pursue a really awesome research project. It would allow me to teach a greater variety of classes in the future. It would give me a better chance of getting published. And it would make me far more likely to get a job after I graduate. Win/win/win/win. Thus started a year long journey of figuring out what it would take to switch programs. I learned I would have to reapply and had just missed the application deadline for last year. I took a leap of faith and started taking classes and working on my research {studying mommy bloggers!}, even though I hadn't officially been accepted to the new program yet. About a month ago, I finally finished and submitted my application with lots of prayer and hope. And last week I finally got the answer. I'm in! I am seriously praising God right now! And the moment I got the news, I felt a great weight lifted from my shoulders. I hadn't realized how stressful it was for me to bridge two programs and take classes for each, not knowing what the result of this application would be. But no more of that heavy feeling anymore! Not much will change, honestly. I will stay in the same office, teach the same classes, continue working with the same teachers that have been helping me with my research already. But now it's all official. I can finally choose the committee that will oversee my dissertation. I can finally choose a specific dissertation topic. Life is good and I feel like I am right where God wants me. My grad school journey has been crazy, but I know that God has been directing my steps along the way. Thank you for your prayers, friends! xoxo, Jen *Linking up with Jami and Casey!* ... Read more