Thursday, December 26, 2013

When life hands you pork loin and sour cream...

When life hands you pork loin and sour cream, MAKE ENCHILADAS! 

      For dinner last night my mom wanted to do something with the leftover lackluster pork loin we had for our Christmas lunch.  You handed me this huge tub of sour cream and told me to figure out how to make a sauce out of it.
      This is how it went:  I need a bowl.  Probably a medium-ish one.  Got it.  Okay...hmmm...this "Rotel" would be good in it.  I should get drained, yup.  Done.  Ok, well, I don't think cream of mushroom will do it Mom, sorry.  What else do we have?  Ooh, cream of chicken.  Plop.  Stir.  Should I put milk in it?  But we have this leftover cream, I'll use that.  Now it needs sea salt, celery salt, chili powder, and pepper.  Sweet.  I think dumping some cheese in here will be a super idea.  What's a little more dairy to this diet?  Now, lets load these babies up!

That's how it went down.
And, then we ate impressively yummy enchiladas.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Go to bed. Wake up already!

I bought my first ever songs on iTunes a smidgen ago.  I thought maybe I'd just find the freebies forever and ever and live on that way...but then I stopped using my shuffle therefore I stopped logging into iTunes.  I've been jamming out to Pandora lately and decided that I needed to get the songs that make me feel good in my "Library" so I could jam jam all the tam tam.  There's one that makes me sad though.  Oh well, I tend to over analyze songs anyways.

Last night I went to bed a smidgen after 9:30 PM and tonight I was about to pass out but then decided that it would be a bad idea to keep up with that routine or else I would never have a life again.  That life is for babies:  Eat, Sleep, Poop. 

I have a humidifier in my room.  My throat is really dry.  Mad days.

I put a new floor down, made out of cement slabs, in my kiln shed.  Next weekend we are going to "fire proof" the walls with tin.  Dad hopes to get it done before Christmas but I was shooting for around this time next year.  Just kidding...maybe.  I told my dad that I need to time my attention span.

I'm watching The Carrie Diaries on Netflix and I like it because duh it's about young love that's full of adventure and cuties and fashion la la ta da.  I'm not ready to move on, not so long as I'm still having dreams of the guy, so I'll just stick to other people's love stories, ie. The Mindy Project, New Girl, Glee.  Oh my.  I so thought I was ready.  I just want to crawl into a hole...and knit.  I don't want to knit, but it just sounded funny. 

The Crackerdog-Date-Setup was a bust...and now I realize that he was such a dud to begin with.  I think he was talking about stuff because he thought that's what I wanted to talk about but really I thought that's just what he liked to talk about and it all ended up as if he were the adolescent one (though of course we all have our quarks) and the Cdog girls think he's older.  Did I mention that we were basically the same height...hashbrowns, not a winner.

I just want to use hash tags now...but I don't have a twitter to make it seem useful.  I do have an instagram now, which makes my bored moments not so.  Hashbrowns, someday.

Okay, I can go to bed now.  

Friday, November 8, 2013

Hair Stories

OK, so a while back, before I left for camp this summer, I mentioned that I was going to start at point 1 on growing my hair out. Look where I am!!! ...point 2. I could be farther along but I like my hair worry free for the summer so I had it cut back 2 months in. I went and got a trim around the 20s of October and plan to wait at least 8 weeks for another. If I'm good I'll wait 2 months! I should try for the length of point 3 before I trim anything ...but I hate it when my hair has no shape.

Either way I'm going to be practicing patience quite a bit. Ready...set...GROW!!!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Jumping for joy

Just went to Jumpoline the other night with a handful of new friends! I love friends of friends that become friends! Especially when it involves fun stuff.  I'm sucking down a huge Margarita right now so cheers to new friends!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Plug up your paranoia you wuss.

I just need to keep repeating that to myself.  PLUG UP YOUR PARANOIA YOU WUSS!  Life obviously throws all kinds of things our way.  Blindfold yourself and eat a mixed assortment of jellybeans.  Jelly bellies still come with a flavor key just like that box of chocolates, but sometimes key lime is popcorn.  (Probably not really). 

Monday, October 14, 2013

People. Control. Self.

I finally, almost, have control of my emotions. 
There's loneliness, but no desperation. Not a sad lonely though, just an accepted one. 

I almost know what I want from life, but I'm sure loads of people are in that state.  I'm sure it changes as we grow older each day with new information.  If only we had everything at the tips of our fingers would we be the happiest being on earth.  Because being a human comes with baggage, also known as biology, the things that make us the happiest could make someone else the saddest.  There could never be world peace, could there?  Joykillemily.com - I could buy that domain.

I feel real.  Or maybe surreal.  It fluctuates.  Right now I feel most aware of my being. 
What if one day you saw someone who looked just like you walk by.  Would it even click that it was you?  I see pictures of me all over the house but I'm just a person while everyone else is brother, mom, dad, Heather, Caleb, Rachel, Kim, Jill, etc.

If I'm honest with myself I would say that I don't see myself with anyone but myself and my friends and family.  As soon as I think about my future I get mad that I have to wait for the funds to get to it.  Why can't I just pick it all up and go somewhere else?  It's not like the movies...but what if it was and I just never find out because I don't have the balls to get up and go. 

I need more sun.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Yummmm

I made the most yummiest thing yesterday out of a left over tortilla from my lunch.

Soft Tortilla
Cream Cheese spread all over
Cinnamon and Sugar Sprinkled semi heavily over it all
Roll it up and smack your gums

Right now I'm enjoying that same combination on toast.  It's dangerous.

I made a peanut butter pie!!! I've been wanting to do so for so long.  I made chocolate whipped topping for it but it didn't whip like the picture looked.  Maybe it hardened up a little on the top so it wont be so had to cut out.  Plus I only had a round cake dish instead of a pie dish.  We used to have a pie dish...*sad face
click here to experience yumz (it's the recipe for the pie).

Yummy food makes me feel good, until I step on the scale of course.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Beach Baby(ies)

 

This September my family and I went to the beach.  It was pretty decent weather, not too hot and hardly a chill in the air.  The water was nice and cool but warmed up a smidgen in the afternoon.  We were at Port Aransas staying at Sea Sands, a place my mom is obviously obsessed with because they stayed their for their honey moon back in the day. 

This year we spent way more time in the water than last year.  I was glad because my favorite parts are:  Body Surfing the waves, sinking my feet in the sand right where the water's edge hit and recedes, and building dinky castles of sand!  On our last morning I woke up and went to the beach to just sit and think.  I don't remember if I actually thought of anything.  Hmmm.

My nephew Caleb, on day one of introducing him to the beach, seemed like he was going to love it alright, but then the next time and the next after that he seemed to be getting more sour over it.  We tried the pool for a calmer scene, but that didn't really seem to fly either.  We realize that it could've been him teething, but maybe he also just hates water.  Rude. 
He is a Scorpio, "Still Waters Run Deep."  (a link to a description)

I guess the pool wasn't still enough, or he was just tired.  I sure as heck was when I got home Sunday.  Nap time!!!


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

I'm re-writing it, so deal with it!

Seriously though, I've started to re-write this book I'm reading.  Weird?  Maybe.  Brilliant?  Duh.

I wont throw the book under the bus, COUGH COUGH beautiful creatures COUGH COUGH, but it's terribly written (and this is coming from someone who loved Twilight while she loved it and her best friend said that was terribly written THIS MUST BE 10x WORSE!) and I think I can get all of the important stuff written down in a better way.  No more "product placement" which may have been how they were able to write the book and afford it, but seriously it's annoying.  I don't want to read about a Wal-Mart when I'm trying to read about Witches.  If they're paying you to be put in the book don't fit them in just put them in the back of the book with coupons...everyone named Emily loves a coupon. 

I've already finished the intro!  I'll probably go through that blurb site and print the book out when/if I finish. 

There are no raunchy scenes, so we'll add some JUST KIDDING THIS ISN'T TWILIGHT.  But what do I know, they have an electrical current run through them when they touch (which wasn't in the movie, and I'm okay with that because speaking of Twilight, that's totally a copy cat moment.  No ma'ams) so maybe something will happen in the next 3 books.  There's hope right?  If there are three more books in the series, one could hope that we get that "Old Man Ravenwood" is not loved by his fellow Gatlin homies and the bitches at the school created a league against his neice.  All of that is stupid too.  "Old Man Ravenwood" is probably used 1,000 times and when you think it's over 3/4 into the book they use it again.  No body says that crap...unless you're from South Carolina?  OH!  You can totally get the message across very simply that the town is small and close-minded okay? You don't need to bring up different reasons in the intro and then in the whole first chapter every other sentence.  "That's how small Gatlin is...blah blah blah"  "That's how small it is seriously" "That's when you know you're gonna be sucked into the vortex of small ness"  (none of these are actual quotes, I'm just a genius in making shit up).  Ha     Ha.

With my already hectic schedule, I'm going to attempt to conquer this.

This is not all she wrote, because it's a small town and the librarian makes an appearance when it's not needed.  No wonder the movie change so much stuff...GOOD RIDDANCE!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

OMG, NEW YORK!

September 6 - September 10
2013

I arrived at JFK airport with a giddy git-up in my step.  When I turned on my phone I was delighted to learn that I wouldn't have to take a cab to Rachel's house.  I think her supervisors name was Isaac, so we'll call him that.  Isaac then drove us far and narrow (because with so many cars in one place it's no where near wide) to a yummy little taco-hole-in-the-wall-with-a-car-in-it called Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos.  Isaac stole my tacos, but it was okay because his choices were delicious!  After lunch, Rachel still needed to finish out her last day of work so they took me to her house where I watch a movie I had never hear of.  Heath Ledger was the star, so the title escapes me.  When she returned we hit up the metro and made our way to the MoMA.  There we later met up with Perry.  Pizza was on our minds!  Somewhere in the midst of all that I met Josh+Cali, now the proud renters of a Brooklyn apartment (at least I hope they ended up getting it!) previously residing somewhere in California.  

Saturday Perry had to work.  To celebrate a Perry-Free day...JUST KIDDING...carry on.  Today was the day that Rachel wanted me to show me the Farmers Market.  Rachel had a run-in with the Coffee Police, which is just her craving for coffee and she has standards people!  After we chowed down a muffin from the market we headed to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  It was so lovely I wanted to stay there forever and a day.  I just love flowers so it was definitely one of my most enjoyed experiences.  For lunch we enjoyed frozen Mojitos and Chips with salsa from La Habana.  I was then drunk walking through the flea market a ways away from the restaurant.  Oh well!  I made it.  That evening we had an amazing oriental feast with Josh+Cali, Rachel+Perry, Hutton+HisGirl.  I think you get the point...I was the 7th-wheel.  No bigz.  We may have watch New Girl this evening...or something about being stuck in a mirror.  Live in my shoes. << Click there yo.

Sunday morning Perry+Rachel, and myself went to a yummy little place for breakfast called Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop.  I stuffed my face and smiled at the older gent behind the counter probably fishing for small talk.  After yums we walked around the town passing through a park with dogs! and humongous "yarn"sculptures!  They were so lovely, I wanted to kick back and relax on them but they were roped off.  Proceeding with our journey we ended up down by the Brooklyn Bridge Park where we people-watched and later it became more extreme when we watched people doing mass yoga.  I don't even know what to call that:  People+Massyoga-Watching.  ***One of these days we went to the Guggenheim, but it escapes me what day*** 

Monday, after a yummy pancake breakfast for two, Rachel took me on a ferry to see Miss Lady Liberty.  I spent a couple minutes taking glamour shots of another fellow tourist, but it was fun nonetheless.  Let it be noted that I didn't once get motion sickness, including all of the subway rides.  Rachel also took me to Central Park where we did all these cool tricks you see in the photos included with this post.  At one point I had to shank a Russian so that we wouldn't have to take his tour of Central Park.  I may be over exaggerating.  Maybe.  That evening we met up with Josh+Cali, and much later post-margaritas, Perry joined us at Pequena!  It was another lovely Mexican restaurant where I got drunk and felt myself falling for the waiter.  To show him how much I loved him I opened the door for him because he opened the door for me the first time I went pee.  It's called breaking the seal.  Google it.  To cure our drunk-munchies we followed our dinner with ice cream from a block down the road.  Yums. 

Tuesday we woke up early to arrive on time to the airport where I was to return back to Texas.  I had an amazing time and hope to return soon.  Heather picked me up with Caleb in tow and we ate up some Schlotzbox before I had to return to my not-as-exciting-as-a-life-I-could-have-in-Brooklyn life. 
 


Friday, September 6, 2013

MAKING PRETTY STUFF

I made these awesome flag banners the other day and it was so quick and simple...and to make things better, it was free! Of course at one time we paid for it all, but my point is that I didn't have to leave the house to make it.

You'll need a hand-held multipurpose electric saw, a ruler, and a marker, a clamp to keep your board in place...oh, and no fear! I just made different sized triangles. Do whatever makes you feel good okay?!
After you cut them out you'll need a ruler and a marker to mark places where you'll drill holes. So you'll need a drill, duh. Clamp a small stackful together so you can do more than one at a time.
Now you need paint. Choose bright and fun colors making sure to make varying shade because it just looks cooler that way.
I used embroidery string though I would've preferred twine to string them all together.
Hang them all together staggered and such. That's what fancy people do afterall.

Well...that's all for my craft rant. Love you bubye!

Saturday, August 31, 2013

A 3-Day Weekend Sha-bang

 
It's been a long time since I got to enjoy my weekends fully.  And now I'm about to experience a 3-day weekend!!!  What?!  Outrageous!  I've done so much already on this Saturday, that I thought it was Friday.  It didn't make much sense to me either since I worked all day Friday.  I made an omelet to share with the family last night since my mom was planning on just baking fish sticks and French fries.  I had to stop the madness...even if I decided to cook the fish sticks anyways. 
 
Today I woke up late, ate a slice of my late-night banana bread for breakfast, went grocery shopping (where I slapped my eyes on a lovely piece of fireman), ate a lunch full of cheese, then I came home and did a mixture of picking up before the HoHoHokansons came over for the game/watching Wilfred on Netflix/painting the shed out back/reading/eating dinner.
 
That base of that shed has been a lot of things.  It was from a friend from church.  Apparently it was originally the base to a hot tub, they didn't want it anymore so my dad took it home with him.  It was later turned into a sandbox...then a two storied play house with a gigantic slide (I remember eating girl scout cookies up there)...then I wanted to tear it down and turn it into a play house.  I painted it green and added a floor to the bottom...and then it got filled up with my dad's stuff.  I'm finally taking it back!  I decided to repaint it since my friend is having her Bridal Shower at my house in the back yard.  I want to decorate is so it can be a focal-ish point. 

 
Ta-da!!!  It matches the house too :)  I must finish a second coat on the trim tomorrow.  It's going to hopefully be where I put my pottery kiln!  That's right!!!  I also want to add wine/beer bottles around the bottom, like so:

 
 
I ordered my pottery wheel today!  I'm super excited though also a little crazy over the fact that I still need $1,400 more for a kiln, and that's with a little saved up already.  My parents want to loan me some money, but I'd rather it be over the "smaller" stuff like clay and other supplies.  That's easier to pay back as I go.  A little here, a littler there.  Plus all those loans I have from school!  Ahhh!  It's not too bad, especially since I'm about to have 2 jobs.  I put about $50 aside per paycheck to my savings, and pre-camp I was putting money on loans as well each paycheck.  During the summer so that I could keep up I just paid as needed.  I need to get back to paying on them every paycheck.  The sooner those go away the sooner I can focus on saving up for getting the heck out of dodge....whatever that means. 
 
I have to spring-clean my room big time!  I will do that starting tomorrow.  Another thing I'm also excited about purchasing are the 3 books of the Beautiful Creatures novels.  I got a Target Debit card so I get free shipping AKA saving on gas so I don't have to go to the store.  It has a 4th book but that's with pre-order since it's not out yet.  Having money in the bank is dangerous, but I have to get my out-of-this-Vida-de-Emilia-experience somehow. 
 
Super excited about my trip to New York Friday...so much that I didn't even realize it was so soon.  Haha!  The calendar is so strange to me.  I look at it one day, and then the next it's on the wrong month!  Time flies when you're having fun.  I never ever hear what "they always say" but they say they always say it.  Now that's a confusing mess.

Watch out! I'm back to baking!

I made the most yummiest banana bread.  I've never been steared wrong, but it's probably because I never go by the recipe when it calls for 2 bananas.  We never have just 2 over-ripened bananas.  You must be crazy.

Emily's Version of Banana Bread

Pre heat oven to 325*F and spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray.
Stir together: 1/2 c. unsalted butter, melter and 1 c. white sugar
Stir in: 2 eggs and 1 t vanilla
In separate bowl combine: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup coconut flour, 1 t baking soda, and 1/2 t salt
Combine dry ingredients with wet.
In the same bowl you used for the dry ingredients mush together: 1/3 c. sour cream, as many over-ripened bananas as you want (I could have used all 4 that we had be for whatever reason I didn't...I regret it!!!), 1/8 c. sliced almonds (I didn't have walnuts), 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate morsals, and 1 t cinnamon.
Fold the mush into the other stuff.
Poor batter into pan.
Bake for an hour (this depends on your oven I'm sure)

I wanted to take a picture of my bread but light was terrible...just imagine yummy everywhere!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

It's about time I told you about my summer...

SUMMER 2013, was amazing.  Maybe I've said this before but it was truly the best summer of my life.  Thank goodness, because camp life 2009 used to be the best summer of my life, so I'm glad it stepped up. 

A FEW THINGS I LEARNED are as follows:
      PATIENCE through having to teach a group of kids how to not cut their digits off...even if they came close.  Also through just teaching in general, or  how to talk to kids.  Some days I was iritable and talked to them mater-of-factly, but some kids need that over some cooing adult. 
      LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE towards everyone.  You miss out on a lot of amazing people if you shut someone out just because they seem annoying.  I opened my heart to everyone so that everyone could not only be my friend, but that they would actually want my friendship. 
      FORGIVENESS is key in any situation, big or small.  Outside of camp life I still struggle due to that person giving me the cold shoulder, but relationships can be salvaged when you work things out and forgive. 
      PRAYER.  Don't forget that God hears everything you have to say, even if it's in your head.  I'm am turning to God more now than I ever have.  I feel as though people were even praying for me when I returned home and I was blessed with a job oportunity right out the gate. 
      KEEP IN TOUCH.  I'm going to do my best to do this with my friends I have made that are especially close to home, such as UT and TLU.  I have a few new pen pals and I hope to touch base with many more.  I'm sure the less important ones will weed themselves out over time, not to say that some are more important than others...it's just the only way I know how to word it right now, but I'm willing to attempt to do my part.  The Lord knows that this new 9-5 job takes up my normally crafty schedule...which is funny since I'm being crafty from 9-5.  Haha!

Here are a few friendly faces I met at camp:







 They're all just such lovely people!!!

LIFE AFTER SUMMER is going as such:
  • Mondays are now "Snow cone Mondays", where I go to the Bahama Freeze after work and get a new flavor combo I've never tried before.  I've only had 2 so far and the flavor combos were kiwi and lime, then mango and pineapple.  The latter was not so super of a choice for whatever reason.
  • Tuesdays are dedicated to the gym.  I want to join the dance class that happens upstairs.  Yesterday was my first gym day post work and it ended short not only because I had to pee, but because I thought it'd be a good idea to change before going out to each with the bridal shower planning crew.
  • Wednesdays...are apparently Target days.  I'm just kidding, but I really didn't have anything planned for today.  I'll come up with something.  
  • Thursdays will be doughnut day!  A breakfast for queens, from Donut Taco Palace II.  Legit.  
  • Fridays will be...Yay!  It's Friday.
Like I said, I'll have to fill in the spaces.  Maybe Wednesdays can be for crafting!  Anyways...Crackerdog will start up again after my trip to New York to see Rachel and Perry.  I'm so excited...and I'm totally about to check my Pinterest for packing light.  I don't want to be that girl that has to get the trunk opened for her by the taxi driver.  That's right!  I get to take a taxi to their house since they won't be home from work yet.  I'll do my best to act like a natural New Yorker.  Howdy y'all! 

To sum it all up:  I'm super excited at how well I'm doing with the candle making.  I'm super pumped to go to New York and hang out with my peeps.  I'm also super duper happy to be involved with the bridal shower for Rachel and I'm so glad it's at my house because girl you know I'm gonna find a way to decorate everything by myself the morning of.  Hey guys, yeah...I decided to go ahead and do it all.  Hahaha, Yeah right...but maybe!  I guess I should start on some things now.  That's always best since time always flies. 





Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Back to inner space

Camp Chrysalis,
 
98 acres of awesome God and beauty. 
 
This panoramic is off since you can't look at the sports court and see the front of the swimming pool...but you catch it's drift of it being amazing...though this picture was from the beginning of the summer so it looks a little bit more green than it was at the end.  Either way, this summer was amazing!  I don't know if I'm speechless or if I have too much to say that it's overloading my brain!  I know I am blessed to have been a piece of the Cross Trails Ministry staff this fine summer.  I met a whole lot of people and managed to find a positive attribute about every one of them.  Sure, lots of people can say, "Well I did too!", but not all of them built friendships off of those things. 
 
That was the hardest part this summer, having to deal with people who didn't get along with each other.  I was surrounded by it, so I chose to just speak my mind truthfully whenever something came up. 
 
All I know now, is that I'm back at home, doing the same stuff I always did, minus Crackerdog.  I emailed a candle making company about my ability to help them out so we'll see where that takes us.  For now, at least, I want to catch up on my brain cells...though I'm certain it doesn't help to be painting things with smelly fumes involved.  My outgoingness and my ability to just say "okay, sure" has been brought out of me since camp.  I'm glad, and I hope it doesn't wear off! 
 
As of now-now, I'm redecorating the front porch.  I used oil-based paint because I was sure it was a good idea, but the so-called self-leveling SUCKS...just saying.  It's gonna take a while to dry too.  The yellow and rusty swing is now Fire Orange and needs help getting tied into the rest of the porch.  We need a new entry mat for sure!  The teal door looks amazing though.  Seriously!  Oh, and by the way, if you're going to spray paint on the porch leave the dirt.  I looked down and thought I destroyed the cement, but turns out I could just sweep it off because the orange was attached to the dust, not the ground.  This has been life-hacks with Emily. 
 
Lastly, my nick name at camp was Em Hoh.  

Monday, July 22, 2013

What recognizing can do for ya:

I totally just realized my problem!  Guess what fixed it?!  I'll tell you, because it's pretty funny.  Today was "Love and Acceptance" day at camp.  Those of us who believe in an unconditional loving God would understand that God loves and accepts everyone around us.  Anyways!  So, I was pray-thinking (God-tangent-Epiphany-thing) in the scrubadubdub shower and was thinking, "I came to camp to find myself, and my idea of finding myself is finding someone to fall in love with" cheesy, I know, but get over that because then this happened:  today during the opening narration of worship Cupid was taught that love isn't just between two people, its about sharing it and finding it within everyone.  Then I realized that maybe I have already found myself, I just had no idea!  I could be looking for love in the wrong place since I really should be looking for it in places!  Now, guess what?!  I don't think I really know because I'm tired...but I'm going to try and work on my finding love outside of a box by continuing to do what I've been doing BUT ACTUALLY REALIZE IT THIS TIME! 

Saturday, July 20, 2013

When sitting outside isn't fun because there aren't enough people around to get eaten by mosquitoes first.

When your post isn't saved so you realize you were just being a goober. 

I had a great week six even if it started off mopie.  I think I'm prone to depression, yet I can cancel it out with my hyperness to where I look like a normal person walking around.  BAHAHAHA!  Yeah, right.

Just called my Granny and when she told me life was boring without me there and that she missed me I totally almost cried.  Give me a couple of days and I'll be crying for no reason at all (PMS joke).  I love my granny.  She's probably the reason I'm pretty much a well-rounded person. 

Hanging out with Greta and "Em Sol" today...and last night, was actually a great decision!  (Let it be known I never questioned it)  We did some clothes washing and music jamming and some other stuff like eating almost every bite of our meals at IHOP and antique store looking and an art gallery paroosal.  That's right, "paroosal".  It was fun. We are each linked to each other in certain ways which make us an OK team.

What's really cool is that we have employees from Columbia, Australia, and South Africa.  They're all outgoing, but 2/3 are at day camp so I personally have bonded best with Chris, from S. Africa.  He's fun and got to play Marlin with me as I was Dory during opening narration before worships.  That's right, Finding Nemo made its way to camp.  Last week was the theme of Monte blah blah and the Holy Grail.  Another great one.  Prior ones were good too I guess, but when we branch out is when things get great.

Now, I just have to figure out what I came here for.  I said to find myself but I need to fully understand what I'm learning about myself here and then go from there?  I need a Fairy God figure.  Like God.  Duh.  Prayer, get some Em Hoh, get some.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Week Six / Week One

We, staff members, must treat this week number six as if it were week one because for the campers its always week 1/the only week they get (unless you're a LYLE I guess).

Time has flown! I've completed 7 1/2 weeks of camp life (which includes training) and its been pretty great. As long as I keep my frustrations low and my mouth calm, I think I can make it to the end without any big blow outs.

Today, and yesterday too I suppose, was weird. I got depressed in a way where I was fine being alone but every now and then I felt like it was because no one wanted me around.  My parents came to visit me for a smidgen but then they left and Dani and I went exploring. She was feeling down too but I don't think I helped.

Anyways, things that make me feel good about today!  I forced my way into Andrew's bubble (his bubble is pretty large...10-20 feet wide fo sho) by reading on the porch of the cabin while he read. But then he left so whatever.  Then I read a letter that was nice. And then...I went for a run to get rid of some anxiety (it's terrible) and that was nice even though I'm not as well off with running as I was a couple of months ago.  Lastly I played guitar with Emma and then picked up my living space.

We're supposed to be moving all our stuff out of the Monarch and then clean the whole thing then move back in somehow.  We're supposed to be sharing (we the support staff) the building with pastor's and sponsors.  You win some you lose some I guess...I don't really want to move again, but I'm sure ready to deep clean this pigsty.

Four more weeks! Four more weeks! The one thing I can't wait to do is vedge all alone on the couch or in my room. I just wanna be lazy. Its easy to feel lazy at camp...but to be lazy would be pretty hard on your representation of oneself.

I love singing camp songs even if they make my voice sound manly.

*picture if the creek

Friday, June 21, 2013

Let's keep it upbeat.

I just saw canned asparagus in the cabinet and my mom has never ever made us asparagus.  I'm pretty sure I thought it was spelt with an E.  You win some, you win some more.  I say that because if I didn't just see that can of asparagus I would have lost forever. 

Let me tell you about camp life now:  It's a busy beautiful mess!  Children aren't perfect and neither are the leaders (inclusive of pastors, sponsors, and staff).  It is up to us leaders to approach every child differently so that they can enjoy the same experience.  Then, it is up to the camper to let us into their world so that we may please them and they can go home wanting to come back to camp the next summer.  My favorite part of the week was helping one of the camper's to make a survival bracelet.  It sounds simple, but God knows I'm thankful for being able to connect to his needs and help him learn a new skill.  He's very talented, it's just seems that he wants to be able to pick up a new task so quickly that he misses all the steps to create a working product...and that's why woodcarving for him wasn't so hot... it's a different dynamic teaching woodcarving using sharp knives versus tying knots with string. 

Serendipity is a load of crap.

Camp is another job where we're on our feet all day unless we're sleeping.  I haven't completely broken down yet though, but I hope that doesn't happen anyways!

My teeth are whitened and I'm ready for bed!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Kerrville, here I come!

I'm such a nervous nelly when it comes to traveling!  It annoys me, but I've heard that bananas help...and I guess they're right.  I need to head out soon so I can stock up on gas and get an alarm clock.  My mind is all fuzzy because I have no idea what to expect from this summer BESIDES AWESOMENESS!  As of now I am scarfing down a PB&J and a hot dog.  Whoopee.  I just feel like sighing and saying "AHHHHH!" every other second.  So, I ate a banana a bit ago and it really does seem to take a bit of the edge off (or maybe it's the blogging that's calming me down).  I didn't get a good send off from anyone but my coworker Danielle.  She met me for lunch and brought her dog, Stan.  Reality started to set in when I hugged Stan goodbye.  Yes, I gave Danielle a hug too!  Hugging my cat goodbye was not the same because she got me all hairy and thought I was going to cut her nails or something so she was all squirmy. 
 
Cheers to a wonderful summer!  May I find happiness and balance in all that I do.

Friday, May 17, 2013

After a phone call:

I don't make art often, but when I do, I'm pretty proud of it.  I don't think this is even the finished painting though.  Oh well!
Acceptance and understanding.  Sometimes it's hard and sometimes it's surprisingly easy.  What I've concluded (though I'm sure there are many revisions to be made throughout the rest of my life) is:  We understand and/or believe what makes us feel comfortable.  I don't expect anyone to change so I expect the same respect.  I will not debate my faith because it is original to me and it is why I am the person I am today.  If I did not live my life the way I do, then I wouldn't have the same qualities that some admire, and vice versa.  I will listen to what anyone has to say (though when I'm not all that interested I must admit my ADD kicks in) and if I agree, I'll say so.  If I have a better explanation, I will hopefully have the opportunity to give my opinion.  If someone attacks me personally, they're probably wrong and just assuming things.  I will keep an open mind to the best of my abilities.  Some days I don't pray, and others I talk to a high power all day long.  Some days I have more than one God, while others I just have one, and then fewer days it's just me.  I am an unorthodox believer and I'm sure there are plenty more out there just like me.  I hope to become more true to myself whether it's sitting in church not reciting the things I don't understand or just journaling my thoughts like I am doing now.  I pray I am not blinded by something.  May my head be clear, my heart be open, and my brain be in sync.  Prayer is just another way of talking to yourself with a deeper meaning OR a way to connect yourself to the things you don't understand.  Where you go in thought, is where you go.  When I add the word prayer into my thoughts it just seems to sink in deeper.  BUT HEY!  That's just me. 

If you see me with my head in the tub, I'm washing my hair not throwing up.

I don't know how great this picture is, but it was a last millisecond shot after (s)he jumped off of my hand.  I could swear it was paying me back kindly for saving it from the rain barrel by letting me take a picture of it (that picture isn't shown). 
 
My cucumbers are growing like crazy.  I haven't looked for actual cucumbers, which I probably should soon, but the plants are all stretched out making those other plants say, "Hey!  You're in my bubble!"  I doubt they really say that though.  I planted a cucumber, a dill plant, and some Zinnia's in a little corner of the onion patch and I'm beginning to think that was a mistake.  The Zinnia's get some nice shade though, haha!  Other than that, damn it's hot!  Just when I was enjoying gardening it had to get all sunny and smoldering.  Spiders are everywhere, I found a scorpion all up in my face (not really), I am still being attacked by ants, rolly pollies go to GP's to die, and mosquito's are a bitch.  Just sayin'.
 
Can I tell y'all a secret?  Probably not, but I'm going to anyways.  Maybe I've already said this before...but I'm not one who enjoys paying for parking.  The best way to get out of paying for parking, or at least paying for the whole 5 hours or whatever, is to flash all the cash and change at them that you "have".  I say "have" because this is a scam.  That's right, a scam.  This is how it works:  You know you're going into a parking garage, so before you leave to pay move all your big spankin' bills outta sight (for me this is easy because I hardly ever carry cash, therefore that's another good way to get out of paying for parking - flash a credit card) and if you know how much it's gonna cost, either man up and pay it all or Emily-it-up and pull out $1.29 for a $2-3 fee and have it in a spot that makes it look like you're digging around for all you got.  This is terrible...I understand.  But, come on!  I have a legit excuse that my Granny is in the hospital and I just got back from visiting her.  This isn't like my only male coworker that was given a ticket for speeding after using the excuse that his grandma was in the hospital, because I guarantee that the officer heard that fifty times that very day. 
 
If you must know, my cousin, Claire, said what I used for the title.  It was such an amazing thing that I've been waiting since March 19th to use it.  Impressive, I know. 


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

I think running helps...

Me mum and dad would always tell me to go run around the house when they just couldn't handle my loopiness.  I never ran around the house though.  Maybe once.  The thing is, I've been really giddy and hyper lately and after finding everything 10X more funny than it should be I decided to knock some of the energy off with a run.  It was about 8:30 when I decided to do this so it couldn't be a long jog, therefore, I just went up the road and back.  I started off with a sprint, which was pretty silly.  I also ran right after I ate a bowl of spaghetti and drank a cup of water.  Those are two things that will put a very large stitch in your side, aka a big ass cramp.  On my way back to the house I had a feeling of "dance" run through me.  This meaning, "I wish I was surrounded by a crowd of people to break out into a dance with."  Honestly, I'd rather be alone when I dance like I think I can dance.  This new hair makes me feel like a dancer.  I probably smell like a dancer but, I'm sure dancers just look like they're glazed in sugar and not in sweat by tricking us with their movements.  Tricky little bitches.  Sorry.  Sometimes I just want to throw those ones in there for fun. 

Rule # 37- Don't be uptight about cussing.

No, I don't have a rule book.  It just looks like a "# 37".  Am I right, or am I right?

So yeah!  Let's recap:  I ran up the road and back, I got a stitch in my side (which by the way I keep spelling stitch "stich" which is soooo wrong), I had the urge to bust out in dance moves I made up, and then I finished watching "The Mindy Project" on Fox and I think it helped a lot.  I'm pretty sure I have enough energy left in me to run a 5k.  I wish I had a energy monitor, like a gas gage, that way I would know if I was about to go crazy. 

How am I doing?  Well, I think that minuscule amount of energy that I ran off...is back.  Damn.  I don't work well under hyper pressure.  I turn into a crazy...nope, not crazy...just awkward and either hated or loved. 

Dern it!  I got bit by something and it itches terribly. 

I call this HYPERBLOGGING.  In my head it sounds like hyperbole.  Same thing...an exaggerated statement to make a point versus my exaggerated energy level making it's point.

Monday, May 13, 2013

And, WHA-BAM it came from...nowhere?

I guess the best thing that could happen is that I was thinking of someone and then they were wiped out by someone else.  (Envision it as if someone is turned around, not facing me, just standing there when all of the sudden someone comes running from the corner of sight and just knocks the person off of their feet and out of the picture.) It's like I had been shook awake.  The haze that was over my entire body in wonder has been shown another path, and in my state I am accepting.  It's the whole thing on how good things come when you least expect them.  I don't want to jump the gun, so I'm just gonna set this fragile box of emotions in the middle of my soul.  I was gonna say room, but I want it to be attached to me.  Plus, I don't want to jinx myself.  Therefore, I choose to zip up my typing fingers on the matter for now.  I would hate to say too much and UGHHHHH!  Work can be so frustrating.  I get exclamation texts (ya know, where someone types a peeved off text using these >!<) for things that aren't my fault and for things I thought through and chose not to do for my sake and because I knew someone could do it just fine in the morning. 

So what the heck makes me feel good in all of this...  People thinking I'm worth their attention *big grin!* and knowing I wasn't just leaving dogs in crates for no good reason.  Haha!  Though I must admit that I forget to sign the med. cards a lot...I go looking for a pen and end up doing something else.  Whoops. 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Roses really smell like poo-oo-ooo.

      I met a rose in college that smelt amazing.  It was from off one of the bushes outside of my home of a fine arts building.  I've never met a store bought rose that smelt so fine.  I haven't smelt the new ones that live at my house these days, but I do enjoy pruning them if that has anything to do with the stench of it's beauty.  I need to go and water my plants ASAP before I forget again. 
      Tomorrow evening I'm going to Seguin to visit Marta and Karina.  They are having a "Finals are Over" party.  I really enjoy hanging out with them.  I met Marta my first year working at camp.  We ended up becoming really great friends from it all and she's the only one I've stuck to making sure I visit.  I do see Margaret, and now Keisha and Kim, from time to time too but that's more recent.  I would visit with Ally occasionally right after camp but even after attending her house warming party I new we were growing more and more apart.  But this is a blog about what makes me feel good! 
      I had a crepe for breakfast, and it was yummy.  I should probably eat something else on top of that so that I am held over until lunch.  We are eating lunch at Granny's since she had knee surgery and isn't comfortable sitting around for constant periods of time.  Before this I am planning on going for a walk with my aunt, Malinda.  I enjoy spending time with her.  I feel strongly connected to her, so I'm trying to pick up the ways we are similar.  I admire her very much.  There are many reasons I aspire to be like her when I have a family.  Though, I guess I don't need to have a family in order to be a bad ass.  Haha!
      One day it would be great to have the whole family in one place.  I love how close I am to my peoples, I just wish they were closer in distance.  BUT WHO WOULD WE VISIT?!  Maybe that's just it, I wish we could visit each other more often.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Unorthodox

      Look.  I'm a person that is kooky and loopy.  I sing a lot and even wish that I had my own tour to go on.  The love within me that's just bursting at the seams can and will reach every person that I meet.  I dance in my kitchen, occasionally "ice skating" around in my socks.  My dreams are big but my confidence can be small a lot of the time.  Ask me my opinion and I'll probably give you five.  I don't choose favorites and though I tend to choose least favorites the playing field evens out over time.  When I crave something I eat it, that is if it's in the house.  I don't think I've ever gone out of my way for a craving, and having to bake it doesn't count, that's just part of my life.  BAKING!!!  I like to keep my carbon footprint to a daily minimum.  I stopped going to the gym because I got a job that requires extra driving and instead I started jogging.  I still have my gym membership because I like to swim, though I don't go and swim.  I dress myself so that I am comfortable and confident in myself.  I like to keep my hair lookin' good.  Today it required a headband that I am not all that happy with...I just chose it over taking a shower because I knew that I would come home smelling of dog so I might as well keep the smell of lawn-mowin' on me.  I'm not rich in money, only in talents.  I'm an unorthodox Christian who thinks it's dumb to hate on anyone unless they're jumping to conclusions or being mean and unfair.  Some days I just want a peanut butter sandwich with honey...or jelly, duh.  I love watching true life kind of shows...yeah, the MTV show, but also shows on Ke$ha, Justin Beiber, and one I haven't seen is the one on Katy Perry.  When I find moments to laugh at myself or I come up with something funny in my head I like to share it with people (facebook status!!!).  I really like sending people snail mail and lately I've been make my own stationary!  I have never done a tobacco product and I don't plan on it, even if I told my mom as a kid, "I used to smoke when I was old."  I have also never done an illegal drug...I dislike how they turn people into being dependent upon something that hurts them and pulls them away from the clear open skies.  Though I've gotten drunk before, I always remember.  Haha! I went to a university and wish I would've just went to community college.  I live with my parents...and I think they're smothering my fire.  When my brother left us for the Marines, it was the scariest thing I've ever gone through...and that's just speaking for myself.  I feel comfy cozy when my room is a mess...but I like to clean.  Gardening and yard work are very rewarding tasks.  I love being around people but I just want to stay home (this is the concept of being a social butterfly in a hermit crab's body) and because of this I tend to have to push myself out the door and away from sorry excuses...even if I really am tired.  When other people are experiencing pain, heartache, or suffering, I tend to feed off of it and get sad.  I am striving to become someone people can lean on.  I hope I have become a better listener, as good as I am running my mouth.  Blah blah blah...
      What I'm saying all of this for is because I reach my hand out to someone and they don't reach back.  It happens so often and it makes me question my awesomeness that so many people say I have.  I don't know when it came about, but at some point I started to question everyone's sincerity.  I feel like when I walk away the words they say about me are different than the ones they shared with me to my face.  I'm probably just paranoid, and it's definitely not a problem with my closest friends.  It's like I need to be reaffirmed.  I know I'm good enough, so why don't they know?  Why are they so reserved?  Grrrrr.  I'm just frustrated, I guess.  I don't always even know what I'm saying, so to clarify it for myself:  This is about one person who was there and since I made a certain choice they faded away though I tried my best to not let go.  I don't know if there is any potential because I don't know the other side of the story.  I wish we could all just speak our minds to each other from the truth of our hearts instead of just how we feel at the moment.  I tried that though, with a few people, and it just made those days slumpy and my confidence mashed potatoes instead of baked. 
      Getting my brain going makes me feel good.  I just wish I had all the answers.  Doesn't everybody?!  I want to write out a promise for myself and my future acquaintances:  I promise to speak my mind and tell the truth.  I promise to never hurt you or break your heart and/or trust.  ....Simple and right, I'd say. 
      CONTEMPLATE THIS:  It's a link to one of the Justin Timberlake songs that's been playing on the radio lately.  I think he sounds whiny and that's why I was at first questioning if it was really his song.  This video is not my favorite...haha!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wow and Yum

Here is a lovely photo of the Nasturtium I had talked about planting a while back.  I was surprised to see this beautiful bloom pop up on it!  Perhaps I had low hopes that they wouldn't bloom, but I see plenty of buds waiting to blossom!  The Zinnia's are still looking lame, but the ones out in the garden are growing a lot faster than the ones in mostly shade.  That explains a lot I'm sure.  Baby nephew Caleb helped me water the sprouts today!  He was quite heavy having to carry back and forth along with the watering can.  Is it still a can if it's plastic?
 Here's a bright and colorful shot of it's face straight on.  Soooo lovely!  My aunt had the same experience as me, that they do terribly in pots, but when planted in the ground they grow very well.  Just a little tip to share!  I should probably water them soon. 
Mmmmm, handmade from scratch!  Cinnamon rolls with a cream cheese frosting.  I haven't bitten into them yet, but I just might sacrifice dinner for the whole batch!  Who says you can't have dessert and then the main course?  It's just a super sweet appetizer, right?  Mr. Caleb is getting squirmy and digging his sweet little fingernails into my arm over the interest in my water...so I shall give him another interest now.  What?  Babies don't enjoy blogging as much as I do?  Lame.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Revising

Recognize that history books are revised, especially when something important to our future happens.  When the twin towers fell, eventually that event was placed into our history books.  Think about if we took every change that has occurred since the first book of the bible and added to it and revised the laws to become more up to date and modern.

I only burn when I forget to take cover on a sunny day.  I will not burn in hell for anything that I do, and neither will you.  Nothing is certain unless you make it certain.  Accepting and loving are two things that can change uncertainties...even if it's just a feeling, because even feelings mean that something is in existence. 

Perhaps this summer in my off time I shall pick up the bible and revise it.  Haha!

I think I put a lot of weight on my hair.

What I mean by the title is, that I count on my hair to make me look good.  I don't wear that much make up and I haven't been wearing much jewelry lately either.  If my hair isn't looking good that day then I am constantly fussing with it.  I just don't feel confident without my hair lookin' good, is all.  Having said this, below are my before and after pictures from dying my hair. 
 Above is after a few months of fade after using Garnier's light brown.  Right after I rinse it out it looks super dark brown.  Weird right?  I don't think I would recommend that product since it comes out so dark and seems to fade out relatively quickly.  Below is the picture of the box.  So my hair probably only matched that color for a week or so.  Another con is that the smell is very piercing to the eyes and nose!  Ouch!
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Above is the color I just used on my hair last night.  It felt like pins and needles all over my scalp when I had it on and the smell was also quite piercing to the eyes and nose.  Mas ventilation needed!  I guess we'll see how long this lasts.  I just know I like how I look with brown hair because it matches my eyebrows!   Below is the final product.  I have many coupons for different brands of dye so perhaps I'll stock up and have something to say about each one!
Now, it is raining.  I just came in from watering my zinnia sprouts.  Go figure.  Oh well, it's not like I waisted the water since it was from our rain barrels.  I hope to design a rain barrel system that takes any roof runoff and puts it into one closed off barrel (so no mosquitoes can procreate) and it then can be transferred onto a hose, spigot, or sprinkler system.  I hear that if you have a well you can use grey water for a sprinkler system, but we do not have a well.  I wish I could just figure out how to water the grass just using the water that comes from the shower and bathroom sink.  We could use all green products and it would be safe for our lawn and other plants. 
 
At noon I had another dentist appointment to get a filling done on my bottom left side.  However, I mentioned that the ones they did last visit were bothering me so he chose to redo one instead.  Needless to say, I will be returning Wednesday.  Luckily it is very easy to get an appointment scheduled.  I just hope he knows what he's doing.  Haha!  Oh geez, my confidence in others fails me sometimes.  Today my confidence in my ability to go numb was way low when they ended up shooting my gum up with numbing stuff 3 times just for it to almost take it away completely.  I just decided to suck it up since it wasn't all that painful after a smidgen of time waiting for it to kick in and as he was going along it finally all went away.  Long story long, eh?  So I sit her with a very numb right-side-of-my-face tongue and lower jaw. 
And here is how Mr. Cucumber is doing lately.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A little this, a little that.

I came up with a few more ideas on Earth-wise actions:
-Keep a bowl in your kitchen sink and in your shower to catch some water as you work.  You can then toss it outside onto your plants or grass for a greener green.  My cousins were doing this at their house the last time we visited.  So clever!
-Don't shower at all!  Just wash your hair in the sink and when your skin starts to stink, then take a shower!  My hair looks better dirty anyways!  But I work with dogs so sometimes my skin smells like slobber a little too long.  What's the point if I'm just gonna go back the next evening and stink it up again?

What is making me feel good these days is thinking about camp!  I'm going to be Arts and Crafts hero at Camp Chrysalis in Kerrville, Texas this summer and I'm sooooo pumped!  It's a pretty stressful job (believe it or not) and I think that's why it took me so long to go back since 2009.  My goals for camp are simple:
-Put myself out there!  Last time, I had friends but, when it came to the weekends I didn't have many options.  It got better as it went along, but I think I could be someone who initiates some plans!
-Fall in love!  With myself AND with everyone around me!  Sure, it would be wonderful to find "the love of my life" at camp, but under the circumstances (do I really even know what I'm trying to say?   No)...that's probably not going to happen.  So I better stop thinking about it.  Psh!  Fat chance!  Don't think about a brown bear!  Ahahaha!  See, it doesn't work. 
-Make the most out of every moment!  That's what's so awesome about kids.  They each have their qwerks so each interaction is different.  I think I'm more wise and in some cases more witty when responding and reacting to people these days.  Perhaps it's a good thing I waited. 
 
 
Look how well my cucumbers are doing!  The squash we planted already have baby squash showing, so I hope these guys start blooming soon!  Now I'm getting sad that I'll have to leave the garden when I leave for camp.  I'm already sad about leaving my cat! 
 
Some days I wish I had a box of crayola markers!  I think I got rid of them thinking I was too mature for them.  Stupid. 
 
I thought I had more on my mind but I guess I just don't know how to get it out right now. 

Fight for your right to crave!

Do you ever do something and a split second later think, "I shouldn't have done that."?  I just did that after petting my cat then proceeding to touch my face.  I'm basically allergic to the love of my life (more like her life).  It's okay though because I'm baking late-night brownies!  If I lived alone (I would first of all save a lot of money by inviting friends over to my place instead of always going out to hang) I would bake all the time and especially late-night.  Sometimes it's not advised to use the electric hand mixer when your dad goes to sleep around 9 and wakes up around 4.  He's a dedicated man. 


And this is what I made this afternoon(On the left).  Digorno, or however that boxed freezer pizza is spelt, is on the right.  That's what my mom brought home after I told her that my personal attempt failed.  It was going good, that pizza from scratch, it was.  I just didn't care about adding more flour and then letting the dough chill for eight hours.  I wanted pizza now, not later!  Just to spare all the details and just so you know, 500 degrees will burn everything before it cooks anything.  Silly directions!  I wasn't following you anyways....
 
I made brownies from scratch yesterday.  They were good and they even had an icing topping.  Ooooh, I wonder how acceptable it is to put cream cheese in a cocoa based icing?  That's the only thing that gets rid of that confectioners sugar/butter taste for me. 
 
For the batter: 
1/2 c butter
1 c white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
 
For the topping:
3 T softened butter (by the way, I always used unsalted)
3 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 T honey
1 t vanilla extract
1 c confectioners sugar
 
Directions
+Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. (I didn't flour nothin')
+In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
+Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.
+To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar. (I just smooshed it all together with a spoon)  Frost brownies while they are still warm. (It's not very spreadable though)
 
Now, the brownies I'm making tonight are...
1 box of milk chocolate brownie mix
make it as the box directs then add 1 c sour cream and 1 c of milk chocolate chips!  Cook on 350 for 35 minutes!  (I should probably check on them to make sure that's not too much).  Ohhhh yeah, their still kinda soupy and jiggly in the middle.
This is how my friend Breana's mom makes them.  Let's just say I had more than my fill of those things when I was visiting.
 
I think I'm going to write a separate post now about what's on my mind!

Friday, April 19, 2013

Earth Day Plans 4/22/2013

Here are some ideas that can be used all the time, not just on Earth Day!
 
Keep a trash bag in your car so that you can pick up trash when you see it as you're walking by.  You may want to keep some hand sanitizer with you as well.  If you're in a public area, most likely there will be a trashcan around for you to throw it in.  Go the distance to keep your surroundings cleaner.
 
Conserve and reuse water.  When taking a shower, time yourself so that you know just how long you're in there.  The next time you hop in strive to make it a shorter time.  If you can handle the chill, try turning off the water while you suds up.  At the sink you wet your face and wash your face, proceed to brushing your teeth, then afterwards rinse your face followed by rinsing your mouth...or buy a natural toothpaste you don't have to rinse.  At the toilet...LET THE YELLOW MELLOW!  I do this all the time, so often however that sometimes I forget to flush after going #2...but I catch it quick enough!  When doing dishes by hand you should soap up your sponge and scrub all of the dishes at once and then rinse them all at once so that you don't use extra water filling up the entire sink plus rinsing.
 
Drive less by staying in or car pooling.  Plan all of your errands on one day and travel in a circle from one place to the next so that you minimize back-tracking.
 
Adopt an animal!  Earth isn't just about the ozone, the ground and water, it's about prolonging the life within it!  Go to a shelter and adopt someone on the euthanasia list.  If you do not have the time to take care of an animal for a prolonged amount of time, foster an animal until you can find a better suited home. 
 
Our house gets a ton of clothing magazines and even mail that is in my past grandma's name.  Do this to your email accounts too, find a way to unsubscribe to all of the junk mail that comes your way.  Hopefully there's a way to do this for credit card companies as well!!!  Those are the worst!
 
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Duh!  Reduce the amount of waste you make and amenities that you use, from electricity to water.  Reuse plastic bags as trash bags or bags to put clothes in to donate.  Recycle as much waste as possible!  If your town doesn't provide this for you, provide it for yourself.  It wont take long to accumulate enough stuff to make it worth the trip to the dump.  Up cycle too!  Take things that look like trash and turn them into art!!!
 
Compost as many scraps as possible.  Some acidic things are not good to be used in your garden as compost but you can still chunk them into a corner of your yard to decompose that way.  Create a box out of wood or chicken wire and have it in a place not too far that you forget to use it.  Research all kinds of awesome methods.  Now days they make really cute sink-side canisters for you to dump scraps quickly so that you don't have to accumulate bugs or walk outside every time you cook something.
 
Buy local.  Our local high school provided some of the plants we used in our garden.  There is also a man that sells produce by the train tracks (we've never gone to him though).  
 
Use a reusable bag as much as possible.  Find a way to not bother with trash bags at all.  Trash bags just become trash themselves, think about that. 
 
Donate gently used furniture, clothing, appliances, etc.  If you want the newest thing in fashion or in the techy world go for it, support those people, but don't get caught up in having when you have plenty to be giving
 
Turn off lights, TVs, and fans when you're not in the room.  Time your use of electronics that suck energy straight from the source.  It's easy to get caught up in a marathon of some show you just discovered, but heading outside with a good book and bug spray is a good alternative. 
 
I hope that I can follow through with these things my self.  It seems silly to talk it up and then proceed without any changes.  I will do my best to update y'all with any progress I make!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Ok, but what's really going on?

      Recently I've decided that whenever I start to feel mad about "Tod" I dig deeper into myself to find the real solution.  Tod wouldn't give a rats ass to be my friend so why would I get upset over losing his friendship?  This is just one example, and it works like this:  I don't care that I'm not friends with Will or Jeremy, so why do I care that I'm not friends with Tod?  Tod was a follower, anything they started to say or do he started to say or do.  He was becoming more like them every semester.  Why would I want a friend like him anyways?  I have concluded that, I wouldn't. 
      In return I have decided to take all of my negative energy and force it into another direction, the direction of spending time with my true friends.  Those friends are the ones that make me feel special and loved.  I don't remember the last time those guys ever made me feel special and loved. 
      Over all, the one thing I regret is being truthful to myself.  If I would've listened to my heart and the sadness of it I would've never gone back after the first time I broke up with Tod.  I always tried to stick up for myself by saying, "If I didn't want you then I wouldn't keep you around," solely based off of my past relationships.  That wasn't true at all though.  The guy in high school made me feel bipolar towards him, where I cried in the car ride home every night praying to God for an answer.  I never listened for an answer because in the end I was just fed up with his ability to dump me and then come to my front door and pretend nothing happened.
      My goal is to be more careful.  I want to hear everything my heart has to say.  I also want to respect the feelings of the future guy/s (that is if I end up dating a few people before I find my life partner) since in the past I have been quick to lose interest and basically cut the cord.  I have hated how Tod has cut the cord on me, so why would I want to make someone feel like I have felt?  I wouldn't!  I should strive to live completely on the words, "Treat others as you would like to be treated."
      I pride myself in having awesome friends.  Friends that I can intermingle from different groups of life's experiences (church, work, camp, school) and get a long and have a great time.  Just the other night I invited a friend I met through Crackerdog to a Karaoke night with some camp folks.  We had a blast just being goofy as heck.
      I am really excited for camp this summer.  I am most ready for all the love that will be shared.  2009 was the best summer of my life so I hope to one-up it with another round of Arts and Crafts Hero power.