sunglasses

wearing sunglasses over regular glasses...

Because being able to see is cooler than risking the lives of everyone around me.

And I swear I wasn't driving when I took these. Promise.

because I'm all about YOU

I wanted to share another giveaway funzie for you to enter...

Head on over here and enter a comment. If you win you can thank me and bake me something in the dishes... I like chocolate, just in case you weren't sure.

I also like fun-fetti cakes...

Go do it already.

flashback

When I was in high school I had a friend who really helped me to become the "woman" I am today. She introduced me to new people, she loved me, she was so much fun. In all honesty, I learned so much about social interactions from her; and without her I would probably have had a miserable life in my years at stow high.

Lately I've been missing her a lot more because I don't really have a "girl" friend since she and I had a falling out (we moved in together, worst decision I've ever made).

One time She and I decided to go to Drama club, something we didn't do regularly, but we did like to go to clubs randomly because that's just something we did. They were discussing the trip they were planning toward the end of that year; and when they announced that they would be seeing Blue Man Group the auditorium erupted in cheers and clapping and all sorts of excitement, my friend included. I'd never heard of Blue Man Group, poor sheltered me, and turned to my friend asking her what that was. She said she didn't know, but was cheering because she wanted to fit in.

I feel like this happens more than we think.

Especially in high school.

what I hate about being a grown up

My car has been shaking lately and I noticed even more recently that when I break it feels like the ABS is always going...

So when I was getting my oil changes (#25.00 since my car only takes synthetic oil) they told me my tires have dry rot and all 4 needed replaced, 2 more immediately than the others; and that my rotors are warped which is what is causing the shaking and kickback for the the breaks...

Lovely

So they quoted me (and this is with a coupon) $250 for the breaks and $100 for each tire.

I'm not very happy about this, at all.

So I called around.

I have someone coming to my work today to fix my rotors for $145 and I have tires set up that are about $270 for the four.

My advice is first never grow up, stuff gets expensive fast, and to always shop around. I'm getting everything for less than half my original quote.

My last bit of advice is to marry a mechanic/computer wiz/chef who likes to clean and rubs your feet...

Edifying and Edgy- another give away

If you head over to the girls at Edifying and Edgy you can enter a chance to win a 3 book series called The last survivors trilogy.

Edifying and Edgy is a site from two women who find books that they like separately, and books they like together since they have two very different tastes.

I recently won Condor, a book that can only be described as a modern day 1984 with a slightly Brave New World twist taking place in Condor Florida. My only issue with the book was that I knew how it was going to end, and was sad when I was right. When I finished 1984 I threw it across the room, you know since "he loved Big Brother"... gross! But I guess that's the reality of it. You can't escape because you don't want to.

Anyway, head on over and enter to win. It's great to win free books.

My Dream Space

I was talking the other day about how I wanted my own house. Here are tidbits from the blogosphere that I most definitely want to include

Get a load of this shelving unit, I love it for many reasons including, the ladder. Who hasn't dreamed of pretending you're Belle from Beauty and the Beast? Look at the top shelves and the lighting they have. It's perfect. I also love the grey wall. It's perfect, really. I may not include the TV, it could double as my computer screen though, just in case I need to take a break and watch a movie or something...

This if from Ikea, just like everything else from my dream home.

Speaking of grey walls, look at this calander.

You make this calender by using chalkboard paint right on the wall. I LOVE IT! I'm a visual learner, and being able to have a big calender sitting next to me would help me remember things perfectly (not that I don't already, but some time in the future I may need to remember more than just my own stuff. From A Pina Colada.

I also love the idea of floating shelves, because 1. they look cool and 2. they make storage fun.

This floating book shelf looks so cute, and it's pretty easy to make. This idea came from a craft site called Cut it out and Keep it, the shelf link is here.

Decorations will be impotrant too.

Now imagine this without the bed, the bed is not what we're concentrating on.

I love the way this Mosaic piece looks. You can make it however large or small you want, with any colors. I think I'll start with reds and browns... just becasue I think it'd look amasing. Instrustions here. Oh, and grey. So it'd be red, brown and grey.

I have always thought dress forms were so elegant and cheque... And look up here in the corner, I love the thing for holding fabric and displaying it. Not to mention those floors... To die for. I love the dark wood with everything else in the room being really light and neutral. I think this room would look absolutely stunning during a thunder storm. Also from A Pina Colada featured on Or So She Says.

I love the wood table with the thick straight legs. I'd of course want a huge one so I could craft/sew on it. But in all honesty, I LOVE that room.

Now, imagine this set of decorations around the door, not the green, although I do love it... well maybe I'll to it in the kitchen. I think a bright green wall in the kitchen would be very fun.

I also just love those simple little tables. Green is fun.

I also dream some day of having a reading spot... a place that is insanely comfortable with about a zillion books at my disposal and good lighting. Ikea has these chairs/couches that I have been drooling over since I first saw them.

I might not include the playing children... It's make concentrating hard I think.

Here it is all by itself, it's easier to understand this way if you've never seen it before. In the above picture there are two side by side. Perfect for snuggling. I want these in my dream home.

I'd pair it with this book shelf set. To die for.

There you have it, some ideas that some day I'll get to make happen when I have a place of my own... Ahh, someday.

breakfast munchies

I love breakfast. I love a warm food on Sunday or Saturday mornings that you eat in your jammies and that is served with a glass of milk (or chocolate milk... or iced chai tea latte).

Problem is David hates getting up before noon, or later, when he doesn't have to be somewhere; and since I am usually up by 8 (if the sun is bright sometimes earlier) I am ready to bake and eat all before his eyes even begin to flutter.

I know I'm not alone in saying this, but eating alone sucks, especially when you want to share your yummy treat with other people so they'll fall in love with you.

Since David will be on vacation for a week starting Tomorrow :( I will be making these for myself, and whoever wants to get up before noon.

Here is what you need:

8oz cream cheese softened

8 pieces of bacon cooked, crispy and crumbled

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (if you've never crated your own Parmesan cheese you haven't lived... just thought I'd let you know)

1/4 cup finely chopped onions (if you saute the onions for a few minutes until slightly opaque in 1 tbsp. of salted butter it'll make them softer and take some of the bite out of them if you don't like a lot of onion flavor)

2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tbsp dried parsley)

1 tbsp. milk

2 cans (8oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls

How to make it:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F

2. Cook Bacon, and if you're feeling naughty saute onions in bacon grease, because being wasteful is just wrong

3. lay out crescent rolls keeping in sets of 2 (you'll have 4 rectangles per package) and pinch together along the fold to prevent from spilling out.

4. Mix the rest of the ingredients together

5. On each of the rectangles spread about 2 heaping tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture coating evenly.

6. cut each rectangle into 12 wedges*

7. roll the smallest corner or each wedge over the top and lay flat on a baking sheet.

8. Bake for 12-15 minutes and serve warm.

*

adapted from kraft foods.

Now, of course you could use things like diced tomatoes, pepper, spinach sausage, ham, cheddar cheese... You could serve it with sunny side up eggs, with hash browns, with hot sauce... You get the picture. This can be adapted to whatever you or the mouths you're feeding like to eat, and since there are 4 sets of 12 why not try a bunch of different ways?

From me to you, with love.

everyone needs that one special something...

Because the kitchen needs cleaned...

And the refrigerator needs cleaned OUT,

I have a hungry (lazy) best friend waiting for me to come over and make him dinner,

I'm very tired because I finally am caught up on Fringe, although to be honest I really want to never be caught up since I love it so much and want to always have a zillion episodes in my queue...

I'm making Chocolate Molten Lava Cake tonight.

Because I can.

Curious week 211

1) What do you absolutely have to do today?

I have to buy gas, or I won't make it home tonight... because I am that person who drives till it's empty preying for the gas prices to go down, even just a little.

2) What habit is the next one you need to kick?

I desperately need to stop over thinking things. I add majorly to my stress because I can't get my head around the idea that life can be simple. Life is simple, we are the ones who complicate it with our worrying and over thinking of everything.

3) Where is the next place you will be taking a trip?

heh... I don't know. I haven't taken a planned trip since High School, and that was with the drama club. My boyfriend is going on vacation with his family over his siblings spring break... I kind of home he asks me to take one with him this year too. I have a weeks paid vacation coming up in April; I don't want to waste it on something bogus.

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

This picture is a pretty small one bed-room apartment, but the kitchen looks like it would be nice and open. I think I wouldn't want to trudge all the way through my house in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, but I do like the layout.

Here's what I'm thinking: I want to live alone, for once in my life. I've always had a room mate, or 3... I want for once the dirty dishes in the sink to be mine only, the fact that there is no toilet paper to be my own fault only, my stuff to be exactly where I left them every single time. Not that I don't enjoy having a nice warm body to cuddle up to at night, and someone to eat dinner with and cook for; but I don't like having something put in a different place by someone other than me. Or finding dirty socks in the living room... My old room mate would leave dirty socks in the middle of the hallway, I don't know why; she would also use my razors, eat my food, and never clean up after herself. Needless to say she and I aren't really friends anymore.
-Curious as a Cat

negative colories

Just a tip off on some things that will help you diet in more ways than one.

Now, some of these things drive people crazy, but to be honest I like everything I'm about to notify you of and can honestly say I liked them before I realized the benefits too.

1. Black Coffee

If you like coffee or just the way it makes you feel in the morning go for it. The fact that it naturally speeds up your metabolism should encourage you to drink it, but it must be black. None of the foo foo girly stuff, sugar and cream are working against you here on this one. And if you need your coffee to have flavor and such other than the bitter deliciousness that is a black cup realise you're doing yourself an injustice. I learned to like black coffee because my mother drinks it that way, I never liked coffee before because people kept making me drink it with all that crap in it and it tasted terrible (I love coffee the way it it...) and I'm sadly allergic to heavy cream. Drink it black, if you don't like it too bad. You're piling on so many extra calories it's insane. A large (or venti.. whatever) coffee from Starbucks with all that flavor syrup and whipped cream can be more than 700 calories sometimes (more than 1/4th the daily amount needed in one cup). No wonder you feel like crap after drinking it. Just stay away. Or drink tea. Tea comes in so many flavors you're bound to be able to find one you can drink black, and tea is great for you with the caffeine we all apparently can't live without in the morning.

whew...

2. Ice Water

Most people don't know this but water is negative calories because it causes your body to work to warm it up inside of you. In my honest opinion there is nothing like a tall glass of water to quench your thirst. Sure, soda tastes yummy, but I'm not a fan of all the bubbles and even diet soda can make you gain weight (not to mention destroy your bone marrow...). Did you know that splenda, when mixed with your natural body chemistry becomes something chemically similar to Formaldehyde?? No wonder there are so many lawsuits that are kept hush hush from them. Splenda is bad. Aspartame is bad. Eat real sugar (not corn syrup) or you're doing your body a double injustice. Just drink water, your body needs it, and it is so quenching.

3. Chewing Gum

I'm talking about the sugar free stuff here, like orbit, or extra, or stride. The gum's strong minty flavor makes other food you're thinking about less appetizing! So, as you chew you burn calories, satisfy flavor cravings, get better breath and dental hygiene, and are less likely to eat something else.

4. Fiber

Fiber is negative calories because it pushes all that other stuff through your body faster so you have less time to absorb the calories. It makes you feel better because you are cleaner and working properly. I like the fact that a celery stick is oober crunchy, it really helps me get my fix when I need that crunch. Fiber is so important in your diet and most people don't get enough. Eat your celery people, it's yummy.

being understood

“Inside the heart of each and every one of us there is a longing to
be understood by someone who really cares. When a person is understood, he
or she can put up with almost anything in the world.”

- Rev Ed Hird

Fun word Friday

As long as I can remember I've been one of those mildly eloquent individuals who finds words fun. I enjoy learning a new one, trying it out, having it roll off my tongue. Since it's Friday, the best day of the (work) week, I want to share with you some words I enjoy saying, for no other reason than I like them.

encompassed- to form a circle about

ferdutzt- bewildered

nonetheless- however

fantastical- highly unrealistic

baba ganoush- Arab eggplant dish. (Pretty yummy, really fun to say)

*heteronym- A pair (or group) of heteronyms are words that have the same spelling (they are homographs) but different pronunciation (they are heterophones) and also different meanings.

examples:

Excuse: Please excuse me while I think of an excuse.
Polish: Tell the Polish cleaners to polish the floor.
Minute: The button was so minute that it was a minute before I found it.
Wind: Hopefully the wind will be strong enough to wind the windmill.
Record: It's the referee's job to record the new world record.

* I just like that this exists. I think it's funny. No wonder English is so hard to learn.

Curious week 210

1) Where in your life are you most likely to cut corners?

Pretty much anywhere I can. I'm not the type of person who is OCD or overly meticulous. A job well done is important, but if I can do the same thing with fewer steps and save time I will.

2) Has there ever been a decision that you made that you thought was right at the time, but now see was probably the wrong choice?

Umm... cut to my dating history.

"oh he is so handsome, he is so smart, he is so talented..." How about "he used me, he treated me like crap, he never made me feel loved"

Gotta make the mistake before you can get it right, I just wish people weren't so terrible to the people they "love".

3) Do others in your life have unrealistic expectations of you?

No. I don't think so. I mean, my parents are great, they really just want me to be happy and they know that I have high goals and high expectations for myself; not unrealistic, just high. I never felt like I was letting them down, ever. Even when I decided music education was wrong for me and didn't go to college anymore. They understood that I am a smart girl, who took a break. It's been hard, but I have been doing the best I can and they understand that. It's really great actually.

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


Well, it half reminds me of the playboy mansion and half reminds me of British castles. I love that the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky. Today the weather is like that and I am seriously enjoying it so much more because the winter is finally over. I can almost smell the fresh cut grass and hear the soft chirp of the birds. I love summer, and spring is here! This picture makes me feel warm and comfortable, and it's all because of that beautiful blue sky.

an AMAZING read

I haven't talked much about books lately because I haven't read anything that blew me away. I was reading things that I liked, yes; but nothing made me feel as amazing as this.

So I thought I'd do the right thing and share with you.

It's a relatively popular book actually, they made a movie of it recently which I have yet to see, but I couldn't have imagined I would love the book as much as I did.

There is beauty beyond belief, relief, joy, and so much sorrow that makes you feel such compassion.

The writing is wonderful, you really feel the way you're supposed to, and it doesn't feel forced, or awkward, or strange. Just natural, and beautiful, and actual.

I've found that if I'm ever disappointed by a book it's because it was never real enough to me to make it a part of my life; this book was anything but that. I am so thankful I read it.

I don't mean to sound cliche, but it really did leave a mark on me. I feel like a better, stronger somehow. Ugh, I just really loved this book. Please read it, you'll be so glad you did.

Finding a new Hobby

So here's the deal: I am so stressed out lately I've developed an eye twitch.


Here are my normally non twitchy eyes, they don't look like this right now because a small muscle is almost constantly spasming in my right eye. Okay, not constantly, but at least once or twice every 10 minutes.

David, the lovely dear that he is, made me talk about all the things that suck in my life and after everything said I need to find a hobby. He thinks having something fun to do that I can put my time, energy, and effort into will help take my mind of the bad parts and make me happier.

I agree.

You may or may not remember from my resolutions that I wanted to join a choir, I still do. I just don't like to do things late at night, because I'm old and like to go to bed before it gets dark.

I also had a goal of growing my hair out which is harder than it looks, and getting a part time job.

I really want another job for a few reasons. I want to be around people my own age, and have more friends in my life. When you work at a restaurant (I'm going to be a server, there is no other thing I want. I love restaurant jobs, absolutely love them) you are around people your own age in your same financial situation with the same overall goals. No offense to David, but he makes me feel small and unaccomplished sometimes. People in a restaurant are the same, they get you, they love you. Its a big eclectic mix of young lives that somehow always work out. Its fast paced, it's fun, and you make enough money to go out at the end of the night with your friends. I need another job so I can have money to have fun with.

Always saving and never being able to just splurge is something that adds stress to my already twitchy eye.

On the bright side, the best news of the day is I bought myself 3 wooden spoons and some fresh Rosemary! I will now be making the Cheddar Cheese Puffs and have a happy belly.

Oh, another thing that sucks about being stressed. Physically, stress is terrible for you. Our bodies react to stress in so many ways that wear and tear on our immune system, out digestive system, out circulatory and nervous system (note eye twitch). I am an admittedly bad stress eater. I have a sweet tooth that rages in times of inner turmoil. I go to the gym, I exercise, and then I remember how everything is sucking royally right now and I crave pancakes, or ice cream, or some doughy sweet goodness dripping in butter and cream. I have gained a bunch of weight because my body is constantly in survival mode from my stress and feels the need to hold on to everything I put into it...

Spaghetti and Meat-a-balls!

I passed my test!

Sorry for my absence, but some things are very important, such as knowing the difference between a mutually owned insurance company and a stock owned one...

Here is my weekend in a nut shell. I cooked, I cleaned, and cooked some more. The hot water heater needed replaced, I had raw meat all over my hands and no water to wash with... it's all good.

Tonight was AMAZING! I had the little sister over, and the big sister over; and I made home made spaghetti and meat balls.

Here are some of the lovely shots of me teaching my little sister how to cook.

David to the rescue with the paper towels.









And you can see the picture of the meatballs on my computer look just like the ones on my counter.

I would also like to draw your attention to the cute knife rack. You see it? Its pretty cute, right?




Here Carol is. I taught her how to chop onions, and mince garlic. There is hope for her yet.








As you can see by the *eh hem* small pile of onions and garlic in front of me I may have helped out a bit with the chopping.







Big sister showed up!







I decided it was a good opportunity for a snuggle moment.

You can tell he is half liking it, half thinking I'm crazy.





Someone cut their finger...



As you can see we all enjoyed ourselves. Mostly me, but what can you do??

Flashback Friday!!

Not so long ago I started a blog on Today.com. I had hopes and dreams for it and slowly but surely it began to grow. I was up to an average of 70 individual hits per day, and having only been writing for a few months I thought that was impressive.

However, the site changed, and the promise of grandeur and fame dwindled when it went from a pay per hit site to a pay per "click on my ad" site...

I became disheartened. My blog I had spent so much time loving and making as good as it could be was letting me down. I had few things I could customize, every post was monitored for content, and there was no easy way for a reader to "follow" me.

So I moved. First to wordpress, but I found it hard to find other bloggers there, the site was pretty, but I felt like something was wrong there. So I came back to the good old blogspot, and here I am, happy as a lark.

Today I am featuring an article from my Today.com blog, and at some point I will feature all the other articles I liked a lot here to. For now, enjoy.

..........................................
Are You Writing to Reach Someone?

Blogging is something personal and public and open and private all at the same time.

Do you write for you, or for someone else?

I am personally guilty of writing to others, or being conscious of what others may think, and in doing so I edit myself, my words, my message.

Why is that an accepted practice?

Today, I write to you, to tell you I love that you’re reading what I’ve written and that I appreciate the time you’ve taken to enjoy (or not) the thoughts that fill my head on a daily basis. Today I’m telling you that although I can’t see your face as you peruse the lines I’ve crafted, and I don’t know how you’re feeling as you read my words, I wish I did. And I wish I could see each and every one of you loving my work, because I do want to help you to be happy, even for just a few minutes a day.

I write to my little sister because I know she reads this. And I promise, Carol, to not shelter you from the thoughts inside my head. You’re older than you seem, and you’re plenty old enough to listen to your sisters musings, even if they don’t make all that much sense right now, they will (at lease, I hope so) someday.

I write to my older sister, because now she has no choice but to read this. I will try to make better conclusions in my posts, because even though I am lost, and even thought I usually have no idea where I’m going, that doesn’t mean you should leave my blog with a feeling of in-conclusion. (Check out My older sister and me here, I’m pretending to be a photographer this week)

I write to other people who I know are with me when I say I’m lost. And I write to you from the deepest depths of my soul. You’re not alone, and I’m not either. Because even though it feels like no one, and I mean no one, has been where we are (or think we are, or aren’t anywhere at all; because sometimes we’re so lost we feel like we’ve disappeared) we aren’t alone.

Not even a little bit. Ever.

Today I write for you.

Weightloss Wednesday

Please don't get this blog confused with one of those other blogs about eating healthy and losing weight.

I'm just a girl with a blog who writes about whats on her mind, and loosing some extra poundage is something I've been thinking about.

I've been cooking more, which is in an attempt to save some hard earned dollars, and because I've been having fun I've been making more and more fun things... and by fun things I mean things with cheese sauce, and a whole stick of butter...

The concoctions I make are delicious, and I can spend about $70 at the store and feed myself, David, and Bobby for a week. David and I can spend that much in two meals going out to eat, I think most people can.

So I need to concentrate on making dishes with more healthy alternatives that still taste amazing.

On the menu for this week, which is of course tentative and depends on how I'm feeling, if someone else volunteers to cook, and things like that is as follows.

Wednesday: Shepherds Pie, from Simply Recipes

I've never had it, but it sounds yummy. I do love me a good potato. And, to "healthify" things a bit I will use half ground beef, and half ground turkey. I will also double the veggies minus peas on one side, Bobby hates peas. I'm still using potatoes though... maybe I'll just use less butter in them.

For Thursday: Home made Spaghetti and Meatballs from The Pioneer Woman herself.

No healthifying here. I'm going all out. I bought real fresh garlic, I'm making everything, except the noodles... I'll save that for after I get a rolling pin, I don't have one and the ones at Target are all $10 or more. The Paula Deen one is $20. I'm not spending that much on a freaking rolling pin when I can get someone else to do it for me. I also want a wooden spoon... and a Kitchenade mixer, in red. Just thought I'd let you know what I want.

So remember; if you ever get me anything, I want a wooden spoon, a rolling pin, and a Kitchenade Mixer in red.

Friday I will be making a few things because I don't work Saturday and can stay up late playing in the kitchen.

1. Spicy Chicken Nuggets, once again from Simply Recipes

David loves spice, and I don't. but these are made in a way that I can make some with the kick and some without. I love nuggets.

2. Cheddar Cheese Puffs From Simply Recipes again. I get all gung-ho about a cooking site, make a lot then move on. (I still love you Pioneer Woman, I do).

These puffs call for a French way of cooking the dough that makes them extra light and fluffy known as pâte a choux. It means you throw the flour and such into boiling water and it half cooks there. Then, after stirring the rest of the ingredients in you size up the balls (he he) and pop them in the oven to finish cooking. I love cheese, I love bread, I see no issues. Until I've made this recipe I can't tell you how I will healthify it. To be honest I may do nothing and just save it for special occasions.

We will also probably have left over pasta if this isn't enough. The recipe says it makes enough for 6 and since there are only 3 of us there should (fingers crossed) be some left over for Friday night.

Saturday and Sunday I will be brunching it up with Veggie Mini Quiches, and Baked Apple Pancakes from the Cookin' Canuck, and Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Toast-Cups from the Tasty Kitchen Blog.

be back in a few days

Sorry I've been so out of contact this week. I'm in school... well, I'm taking classes to get my property and casualty license for Ohio, and tomorrow is my last day!

After I pass my test I get a 2$ an hour raise, and 1/2 my health insurance paid.

See you then. I've got some serious studying to do.

Denise's Rule

1. There is never need for breaks on the highway. There should always be enough room between you and the car in front of you that if you need to slow down taking your foot off the gas should be enough. I mean, you're traveling at upwards of 70 miles an hour, why not play it safe and keep plenty of room between you and who ever is in front of you?

And if someone cuts you off, maybe they deserve to be hit from behind...just saying.