knowing: the "whipped" edition

How do you know when you're whipped?

How do you know when the one you love my be (unknowingly) taking advantage of your good natured-ness?

How can you escape, or rather overcome being the giver; and maybe get a little of that long over-due appreciation?

You demand it. Well... not exactly. But you have to make your point, loud and clear.

I've been the girl who aims to please, and gives and gives, while whoever I'm dating takes for granted how caring I am. I enjoy making their life easier, and when the relationship is all new and shiny I don't notice that the other person does less and less for me. Then, when the sparkle finally leaves their eye I realize I'm not getting my fair share in this relationship. I'm being walked on, whether the person realizes it fully or not.

What I (and you) need to do is fall in love with yourself. Love who you are, and realize that no one should ever treat you like less then the person you love deserves to be treated. When your best friend is in a relationship you can see everything with Mr. Wrong and point it out, but why not in our own relationships? Why do we let things slide, and then slide again, brushing it off as "out of character" or "they had a rough day"? Why do we let those who we want to make happy treat us like poo?

Shouldn't the ones who we love, love us back? They say they do... why don't they show us too?

This is just a thought. It has some to do with David, A LOT to do with Malcolm and Curtis (both past disasters I put myself through) and Andi (my best friend from the high school years). I was used, trampled on, and hurt so many times. I was confused and only tried harder to please someone I should have just let go. They made me feel like I could never be good enough, so I felt like I could never be good enough.

It's one of those things where you live and you learn. It sucks to always feel like you're on the back burner, and that no one will ever want you as much as you want them. That's a lie. That person is out there, waiting for you and wanting to make every day of your life better. Believe in that person, and know that once you find them, you'll know. You won't have to change them, just like you won't have to change for them.

Love isn't a game. It's a constant trial and error process that eventually winds up being perfect. But when it's not perfect, it's not worth anything.

Call me a hopeless romantic, call me a fool. But I believe in love. I believe in people. And I believe that you need to make mistakes before you can do it properly. Do make your mistakes, but learn from them. And eventually it'll all be perfect.

Easy Flower Headband

I wish I could describe to you how awesome I felt this morning after completing the first of many craft projects I now have on my list to complete... But rather than make my self feel like a fool for telling you about 8 stitches and some hot glue making me feel like a real girl I'll show you the few easy steps involved in creating a cutie head band that doubles as, well... I don't know what.

First, I followed the easy steps found here. This project is super fast. It took me all of about 15 minutes.

First, I broke the flowers off the stem and decided where I wanted to put it on the headband and made a small mark. I got a needle, threaded it, and put the first flower over the spot. Then I remembered to take a picture.
Next I sewed the second flower on. I made sure to arrange it opposite the other to look full. And luscious. And these flowers look like they could be either blue or purple. They're purple. Just in case you were dying to know.


It took me about three stitches per layer to get them to stay properly. The crafty lady from Home Made By Jill only used 2 per flower layer, but I'm probably rougher with my hair accessories, and felt three was perfect for me.

After I sewed 3 flowers on I felt like it looked good enough. I have short hair, and a small head. I didn't want to be excessive.


The last step is to put that strange plastic thing back in the middle of them to make them look like they have normal flower reproductive parts...

Did you know flowers are both boys and girls? And they need bees to spread the boy parts of the flower (pollen) with the girl parts of another flower. That's pollination for ya folks. Flower sex. You never knew why they called it "the birds and the bees" did you?

Biology lesson done.

So glue that strange bit on, hot glue works best and if you're anything like me you'll be picking the glue strands out of your hair, teeth, clothes... for hours to come. Hot glue is amazing, and amazingly messy.


Next put it on your head and admire how beautiful you are. You can even pretend you're somewhere that didn't just get a fresh coat of snow, and you won't have to wake up 10 minutes early tomorrow to scrape off your ice coated windows...

MIA- the other end of blogging (and my "real" life)

Sorry I've been so distant lately, but I got so caught up in reading blogs I basically forgot to write!

And who can blame me? With all that amazing stuff out there...

So, here are the lovely things I've been distracted by lately, and I promise to post more, hopefully with some of my own:



Pumpkin wontons , from the Steamy Kitchen!



I love pumpkin, and I love anything deep fried, especially in a wonton.

Or how about this cute little bag from MADE?




They say it is a "candy bag" however I'd probably just use it as wallet, or a purse.







I really want to make a flower head band. The idea is from Homemade By Jill.







Or these slippers? In adult size of course.


They are from this blog.

I most of all want to make this! I already bought the hole punch. I just need to find a frame. I don't want to spent $25 (can you believe how expensive frames are??)


I also bought sewing for dummies. I got a machine about 5 years ago and have never really taken it up. I have the time now, and I really want to make things like this.


Or this. But what really made me start looking through blogs, and that eventually snowballed into me forgetting to write for a while was this:

I've been cooking and Sunday night I got dough everywhere, including my clothes. I wanted an apron. I want to make one with fun fabric that is uniquely my own. It'll be spectacular. I really can't wait.

Curious Tuesday...

1) Who is the person you have loved for the longest?

Ahh, love...

I am madly in love with my best friend of 6 years. He is amazing. He is strong. He is handsome. He is gay.

When we started dating I was 16, he was 17. We've been through so much I can't even imagine my life without him. I love him as a friend, and I know that if we hadn't dated and I didn't fall in love with him and then our relationship took another even more deeply profound direction, I would not be the same person I am today. His coming out ripped my heart out. But it taught me how to be accepting and loving. I need him as much as he needed me. He is my soul mate. I'm so lucky to have him.

2) What gets in your way the most?

My lack of interest. I try, but I'm lazy. I'm smart, and lazy. I know what I want, but if it gets to hard or tedious I stop. Because I have the mindset that I shouldn't have to work that hard for something. I'm my own worst obstacle..

3) What is your most bittersweet memory?

Huh... I'm thinking, I'm thinking.

When I was a senior we had our end of the year choir concert when that seniors could sing a solo if they wanted, even if they were bad singers. My dear dear friend (at the time... we sadly don't talk anymore, I don't know what happened) was singing and it was so heartfelt and beautiful. He played the piano for himself, and the song was his mothers favorite. I cried, actually sobbed. I cried because I was remembering all the times we cut class to hang out, play the piano, and make up songs together, we were complete goofs, we played board games till 2 or 3 in the morning, we pretended we were on a TV show and interviewed the people around us who just didn't get it... he was my most memorable high school friend. We had Freshman Gym together and I since had come from a private school I didn't know anyone and he and I just clicked.

I was so happy we'd made it that far and that we'd done it together. Him playing and singing was the end. I would give anything to hear him sing that song one more time.

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

For the first 20 years of my life i hated tomatoes. I mean hated them. Now, I love them. I love them so much I eat them plane, or with some Italian dressing. I can't eat a sandwich without one. Tomatoes are yummy!

This photo reminds me of the plants we had growing up. I hated to eat them, but I loved to grow them. Watching nature when you're a child is an amazing thing. I'm thrilled I now like tomatoes... I honestly can't picture a sandwich without one.

welcome back monday

This weekend was fun, I had a good time Friday night hanging with my beloved Adrienne and David over 2 pitchers of margaritas at the El Campasino.

All I can say is that those delicious fruit beverages have hidden powers. All you taste is yummy, but sooner than later you know that whatever is hidden in them is pretty powerful...

Saturday I pretended to judge at a speech and debate tournament because although I was ready to enjoy a day of entertaining events I was never used because the school my sister coaches at kept winning, therefore I could judge nothing since I may had a conflict of interest... so I read about half of this book on my new Kindle, which is awesome and the time was still well spent.

Oh, plus I got a corn dog out of it all, so I'm happy.

Saturday night we were scheduled to play Dungeons and Dragons, but three out of the 7 canceled... so we didn't play. 2 of the 3 people canceled about 5 minutes before they were supposed to be there, so David and I had already ordered Chicken and JoJo's (double yumm, I love me some jojo) so I ate my yummy dinner then bolted for my friend Emmi's house while the boys played some video games.

All I can say is that I need more of my girl-friends. Don't get me wrong, hangin' with the men folk has it's benefits; but there is nothing as fun as pizza, booze, and some girl talk (yes, that means I ate dinner twice... sue me).

Later that night I went out to Bobby's mothers 50th birthday party, which was totally fun. I love when parents get drunk... it was really nice to see her and celebrate her birthday.

Sunday I slept in, (sort of...) and then hit up Olive Garden for lunch. I love (probably more accurate to say obsess over) soup salad and bread sticks. I think about them almost weekly, and I can't get over how perfect an olive garden bread stick tastes if you dip it in their minestrone, my mouth is watering right now thinking about it.

Speaking of mouth watering, guess what else I did this weekend? You'll never guess, so I'll just tell you.

I made ginger steak salad. I made the dressing, I marinated the steak, I even made home made bread sticks. The salad was so amazing, I will probably be making more of that dressing because I ate it all and have some spring mix left over. It was a learning experience however, I learned I hate making bread from scratch, and that it got all over my hands because I thought a "flowered board" didn't mean "an entire extra cup of flower to prevent it from sticking to every surface, including your hands and becoming a grubby mess". Oh well, I'll know better next time.

This is not mine, I didn't have my camera last night, but it looked about the same.

I'm good at following directions, and I loved the result.

It took some time, about 2 hours, but I bet that the next time I make it it'll be much quicker.

Did I mention my gooey doughy hands that left tracks all over the kitchen?

I don't care. I was happy to cook. I had fun, it was delicious, and It's good practice. Next time I'll get thinner steaks, because the one I had was really thick, and took quite a bit of the cooking time. And I have never made steak before, so I was really happy with the way things turned out.

...........................

As for my relationship issues, which I am sure you're all dying to hear about; David agrees with me that I do a lot for him. And that he is maybe not as appreciative as he could be. He somehow got it in his head that I thought he was using me, which then developed into him think he is inherently evil (I'm really not exaggerating here) and that somehow his subconscious is a jerk... I basically wanted to chop his head off in this point in the conversation because he was not listening to what I was saying at all. I then told him that it is just who I am to want to make the people I love lives easier, therefore I do thing I know he'll like because I want to make him happy. I know that that is something I do. Because I love him. I would just like to feel appreciated, and have help sometimes. I don't like leaving the kitchen a mess before bed (is that so wrong?) and I want help to keep it clean so when I want to cook tomorrow I don't have to clean before I start.

He said he would work on it. He will try to make me feel more appreciated and loved and important.

However, he said he needs to be able to have some video game time. He says he is a "gamer" and that recently I have been taking him away from them. He says he chooses me over video games a lot, and that he wants to be able to play for about 10 hours a week. So I said I would make sure to give him ample time to do just that.

So here are the changes "we" made over the weekend, for the good of the relationship.

I left David alone to have his "video game time" all day Saturday, and then all Saturday night because of canceled D&D. Then Sunday while I was cooking for those 2 hours he played, and after dinner he played for another half hour. I left early Saturday morning o he could sleep in, and Sunday I got up and did my own thing because I wanted to let him sleep in then too.

As for what he has done? Well he did the dishes last night, after I cooked, although there are still dirty cups on the table, dirty baking sheets in the sink, and the dishwasher wasn't unloaded (I can't stand and incomplete job). But still, most of the dishes were done. Later we watched 2 shows together. I wanted to watch Tin Man, which ended up being not that good; then we watched Top Gear, which I like, but I was tired by that time and sort of fell asleep.

I love David. More than anyone else in the world. And I want to make this work, but I feel like I'm doing so much more, and I don't feel like he has made that much of an effort. I hope things improve, because I really want to be with him.

But if it's wrong, why stay? Especially if the other person isn't willing to work with you.

I need to relax...

Today has been one of those days, you know, where you want to cry about every 15 minutes and you feel like the weight of the word would be lighter than what you have to bear...

I need something, anything to make me feel better, important, loved. I need someone who just wants to make me happy for a change, instead of me doing it all. Or feeling like I do it all.

Aren't relationships supposed to be fun? Aren't you supposed to feel like what you do for the other person matters enough for them to want to do things back?

Isn't the point of dating to share, and to feel completed by the other person?

Is it really that much to ask for you to follow through with your promises in a reasonable amount of time? For you to listen to me like I listen to you? For you to help me, and not stand there watching, then saying I look cute so I can't shouldn't get upset?

Well, I am upset. I don't like cooking, then cleaning up, then doing the dishes. I don't like waking up this morning and seeing your dishes still in the living room, especially when I did all the rest of them without any help on your part.

I don't like you thinking that a kiss on the neck once or twice a day is enough for me. It's not. I want to feel loved, and it's your responsibility to show me, not just tell me when I'm lying next to you crying.

Show me you love me by listening to and being interested in the things that are important to me, like I listen and am interested in the things that are important to you.

Show me by going out of your way, out of your comfort zone, out of your schedule to do something to make me happy; because I am almost always thinking of ways to make your life better or easier or more fun.

I want you to say thanks, often, and I want you to show me you're thankful. Just saying I'm important isn't enough, I need to feel it. And if you think you're showing me, but I still don't feel like it's enough you need to do it better, or differently, or more. Because I deserve that.

I deserve to be with someone who wants to make me feel loved, even if it takes a little work on their part, because I'm willing to bend over backwards for you if you show me your appreciation.

I don't really think it's all that much to ask to be shown love. I show you. I tell you. You know it. I want to be shown too.

I may actually *eh hem* like cooking...

Remember how I said I hate cooking?

Well, you may not remember, because I may not have said it to you, but I know anyone who actually knows me knows I hate cooking.

I have a confession, and don’t tell my mother or my sister. Well, you can tell them, because my little sister knows, I told her last night while we were driving to her house to get her shoes because she is dumb and thinks 12 inches of snow in Ohio means you wear flats with no socks… but here is the scoop.

I’ve been cooking, and I’ve been having fun.

I’ve been having fun cooking.

I just used the words ”cooking” and “fun” in the same sentence without the phrase “isn’t the least bit” in between…

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME????

I figured out what ruined cooking for me all those years, and what has turned me on to it. I like cooking alone. I like to be in a kitchen, by myself without anyone else there to watch or help or annoy me just with their presence… and I LOVE a big kitchen. All my life my older sister was right there, or my mother, watching every single cooking project, even once I was old enough to understand how to use an oven or stove without melting, catching fire too, or burning anything. I also have a terrible small kitchen in my house, my mothers house, and in the apartment I lived in for a year. There is no counter space, you can reach the fridge from the stove without having to take a step, there is no room to cook.

However, in Davids house he has a wonderful kitchen, one designed with people who are mildly claustrophobic in mind. There is an island that has two different heights, tons of counter space (my mother and sister are also notorious pack-rats, there is literally NO room to work in their kitchen… sorry guys, of you ever read this), a high ceiling, lots of light, and it is a beautiful canary yellow which is a brain stimulating color. I’m in there and I want to play around, I want to fill the house with delicious smells, I want to cook!

Wow, now that that is off my chest I feel better.

I plan on playing with food, and making things that are yummy now that I have full use of a wonderful kitchen and will be sharing my joys with you from now on. If all goes as planned I will be making sweet potato fries or a fun-fetti cake tonight. I know that neither of those things are complicated, but I’m going to church and won’t be back till late.

I am a huge fan of The Pioneer Woman and last week I made her Crash Hot Potatoes and Perfect Potatoes au Gratin which were both delicious (I must admit I didn’t use heavy cream, I’m allergic to heavy cream. I just used 2% milk, it has less lactose). I really want to make the mac and cheese, (she only has about 8 recipes for that) and chicken salad.

*Side note, it’s ash Wednesday. Did I mention I’m Lutheran? I’ve decided for my health and the betterment of my body to give up “Fast Food” (this does NOT include subway or Panera) and try to cut out “Fried Food” if not completely purge my body of all the gross stuff that makes me feel gross and huge.

Although I really want to make these, don’t tell anyone.

Valentines Day, in a nut shell...

I went to bed about 4:30 last night and slept till 8:00 this morning (I know, a bit excessive, but what can you do?)

I woke up, cleaned the kitchen, had some honey nut Cheerios, and played with my new gift:


That's right ladies and gentleman, I received a kindle for valentines day, and I am oober excited!! I already downloaded 19, you heard me right 19 books, 18 of which were free. David gave me the Kindle complete with All 7 harry Potters, The Lord of the Rings, The Belgariad, Twilight, and some Stephen Kings. So, I am now embarrassed for spending so much money on books last week, when most Kindle books are under $10. But, whatever.

David loved his gifts, he can't wait to take them to work and show is mates, and I don't feel bad about not sending any money on him (he gave me his old Kindle, he bought himself a new one). So all worked out for the best!

For dinner we're making taco salad, crash hot potato's, and lots of dirty dishes! Hope your Valentines was all you oped it would be.

Just a thought

I think that girls are more accepting of gay men because we have all accidentally fallen for one, and it's impossible to hate something you once loved... We are lucky because we were able to have a personal instructor in acceptance from someone we couldn't help but listen to. We fell in love, we were taught how to love people even though they are different, and now we love every single gay person that much more because of the one who helped us.

Thanks Bobby, for showing me how to love. I really appreciate it.

Project Complete!

Here are the other two paper crafts, complete with raging villagers!

If you'd like to make your own undead, or other fun paper crafts (there is a cupid... I just chose to go a different route) click here, browse for a while, and enjoy.

Snorth-east Snohio

Cute boots that cover more of my legs than my regular ones, because I need that, since the snow is more than knee high in some places.



Warning: do not take photos from a moving car...



Pretty Icicles hanging from my house.



Sorry Cedric, you didn't stand a chance (poor poor garden gnome).

Update on my life

First off, I'd like to say that I haven't been very personal lately because I've been rather distracted by the blizzarding that has been happening in my neck of the woods, my stress level, and the fact that I have a lot to think about right now. No snow days to report (although that would have been a God sent because David has a lot of work to do outside the office (everyone's computers seem to break all at once) and when he is stressed I am stressed) but I have about 2 inches accumulated on my car since this morning after I cleaned about 3 inches off of it before driving to work adding to the about 12 inches we got this weekend. The roads are somewhat treacherous and I am not looking forward to driving home tonight, I wish I could just apprehate there.

Great news! For the first time in my life I won something! Yay! And it's a BOOK! Double yay!

The ladies over at Edifying and Edgy held a contest (see here) and I won it! (see here)

More news: I was once again pretending to be a photographer. If you'd like to see my Valentines week entry for I heart Faces please follow this link. If you'd like to see other peoples entries follow this one.

(I obviously don't want you to continue reading this since I keep sending you on multiple adventures. I apologise.)

My "project of love" as it will hence forth be known is underway. David and I decided not to do gifts for valentines day, which is awesome since I never know what to give a guy on V-Day anyways (except maybe a little of my V... tee he, oops this is a G-Rated site) and I have no dollars to spare in the name of love. So, I decided to make him some fun little paper crafts, and since he is apparently allergic to my blog (and he only really knows about this one) I'm posting my intentions and completions.

I finished this little guy last night. He is Dracula, or my "robot-doing" version of such. I made him! He is a paper craft I got from this site (this is the download I printed), I now realize I glued his hands on wrong... oops. Whatever, mine is just as cute.

I will also be making him a Zombie and Frankenstein, all from the same site, because nothing says "I love you" like the undead.

I should make that into a shirt.

Curious Week 205

1) Tell about a snowball fight you had.

Recently it snowed, a lot. I love snow when it first happens, it's so beautiful and white. I hate it when it gets all grey and dirty, but when it first falls I can't get over how beautiful it is. It snowed the other day, and my boyfriend and I went somewhere. When we got home, on our way into the house, I picked up some snow and flung it at him. I missed, the snow wasn't packed tightly enough. But It was a fun mini snowball fight.

2) Where is the best hiding place you know of?

Between my mattress and my box spring. As long as it's thin you can hide it there, and more likely than that no one will ever think to look.

3) What extracurricular activities did you do while at school?

Latin club

Show Choir

Marching Band

Swim Team

Madrigal Choir

Musical (all 4 years)

Junior class play

Senior class play

Drama club

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

It reminds me of the millions of times I had friends over as a kid and we all slept in the living room. It reminds me of how in the morning I was always the first one awake (morning person from the start) and I would be quiet and wait for someone else to wake up so I wasn't alone in someone else's house.

I NEED MORE BOOKS

Winter is officially here ( I know, it's been months since I've even seen the sun) but My winter reading addiction is in full swing, and I need more to devour before my head caves in.


I was a bad girl and spent $45 of my hard earned dollars on Barnes and Nobel today (this is after my 10% off coupon code) because I had a $25 dollar gift card...


Bad girl


So, after those books we purchased, and let me just say that they were all necessities, I now have a few more to add to my must acquire list.

Ruined: A Novel by Paula Morris



Freak Show by James St. James






The Dark Divine by Bree Despain





If you're in a giving mood you should give me one (or all) of these books.

I'm probably stopping at the library sometime soon. I can't afford my addiction...

Barnes & Noble:10% off

If you're like me you like a bargon. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever met anyone who doesn't like to save money now and then...



Well, here you have it ladies and gents: My gift to you



Go to barnesandnobel.com, and enter this coupon code at check out! -> L7D4K3X



There, now you know I love you.



Hurry, offer expires 2/14

A small light is better than nothing

All I can say is that taxes are more fun when you get a refund. (notice how fun the word is?!)

And although I still owe overall, I owe less because I got a return on my state ones.

And even though It's only $10, I'm still happy.

For now

Potatos

My favorite food in the world is the potato. Here are two potato recipes I will be making as soon as I can get myself a bag.

MMMmmmmmm, I love potato's!


Cheesy Twice-Baked Potato's with Hamburger

What you'll need:

2-4 Large Russet Potatoes
Hamburger Meat (about 1/4 lb)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Butter & Milk
Sour Cream & Chives (Optional)

Directions:

Turn oven to broil
Slice potatoes in half long wise and cook in microwave 6-7 minutes or until fully cooked. Brown the gopund beef in skillet
Scrape the inside out of the potato
Mix in a bowl: potato, meat, cheese, a small amount of butter, milk and sour cream, chives, salt & pepper.
Place mixture back into the potato shells.
Bake in oven until crispy and brown on top about 10 minutes.
Serve with Salad or Vegetable of Choice

Photo credit: Cellach

Recipe Courtsy of Living Locurto

....................................

Crash Hot Potato's

Ingredients

12 whole New Potatoes (or Other Small Round Potatoes)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Kosher Salt To Taste
Black Pepper To Taste
Rosemary (or Other Herbs Of Choice) To Taste


Preparation Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook them until they are fork-tender.
On a sheet pan, generously drizzle olive oil. Place tender potatoes on the cookie sheet leaving plenty of room between each potato.
With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes, rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and mash again. Brush the tops of each crushed potato generously with more olive oil.
Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper and fresh chopped rosemary (or chives or thyme or whatever herb you have available.)
Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Photo courtesy of White Forge Photography

Recipe from The Pioneer Woman

Curoius Mondays

1) Did you wear hand-me-downs as a kid?
Yes, I'm the middle, 21 months younger than the oldest, 5.5 years older than the youngest. My older sister was slightly bigger than I was my entire childhood, so I got everything she no longer fit into, whether I wanted it or not.

2) If you were to have the voice of any media personality, whose would you choose?
The black guy from Trans Siberian Orchestra, only for singing though. I love that deep raspiness that I'll never be able to have because 1. I'm a girl, and 2. I'm a GIRL! But I'd have his singing voice and the guy from the Allstate commercials talking voice. I want to sound like a black man.
I'm getting a visual and it's really funny right now.

3) Would you be willing to have horrible nightmares every night for a year if you would be rewarded with extraordinary wealth?
Yes, for a few reasons. I feel like nightmares, just as all types of dreams, reveal something about yourself; and I am always curious to find out what I can learn about myself and my true desires from my dreams. I know some dreams are just dreams, but most tell something more if we really look into them. And I know for a fact that being poor (because I am right now, story of a 21 year old girl) can lead to uneasiness in itself. I wouldn't give up dreaming fr anything. And 365 nights of rough sleep would be totally worth financial security for the rest of your life.
And if they are really that awful, you will be able to afford therapy because of your wealth.
I'd do it in a heart beat.


4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.



I know I am not the only one who thinks this, but it is very mid-evil looking to me. I think of Lord of the Rings. The peaks in the right side of the photo are reminiscent of a castle. It also reminds me of Chronicles of Narnia. I Love fantasy, and I love the way that this real life place reminds me of everything I wish was real.