tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73657321532485018472024-02-19T05:16:00.808-08:00Exercising My EnglishI'm a college student interested in cooking, baking, healthy living, athletics, and sustainability. Here I wish to share my college-minded musings while giving you a taste of my cooking and baking.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-19556141318021166312011-12-08T06:18:00.001-08:002011-12-08T09:21:07.926-08:00(disclaimer. This is supposed to be a food blog, but I'm about to overload you all with pictures of people. At least they're mostly pretty people.) <br />
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Things I've learned this semester:<br />
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1) I'm not that good at committing to blogging.<br />
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2) I'm much better at reading blogs than writing one.<br />
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3) When a bus company says you can pay the Monday after the event, they really don't mean that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtxgk9bPDW2Gf7reiCyP0BSqIUlyh9DOez2vrnoGrWar2y5LZ9qhK356aT1-FiR8M3SatP67T3Ni8cEi8xVYVb1NVTN4QHDJnCF706R4cDs8mgVjVrDRx2pPXvy497e8MX3lBgG1YH4G5/s1600/314528_10150839274565271_657075270_21257683_692720823_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtxgk9bPDW2Gf7reiCyP0BSqIUlyh9DOez2vrnoGrWar2y5LZ9qhK356aT1-FiR8M3SatP67T3Ni8cEi8xVYVb1NVTN4QHDJnCF706R4cDs8mgVjVrDRx2pPXvy497e8MX3lBgG1YH4G5/s400/314528_10150839274565271_657075270_21257683_692720823_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My team friends are all sexpots. We hot. </td></tr>
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4) How to read Renaissance Literature. I swear to God it is in a different language. <br />
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5) I used to say that The Great Gatsby was one of my favorite books, but I didn't actually read much of it back in high school when I started claiming this. I had to reread it for American Literature...The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books and I read it in a day. All of it. Even the boring parts and the awkward part when Nick has a sexual encounter with a man.<br />
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6) My roommates have an aversion to loading and unloading the dishwasher.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Functional.</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_126184886"></span><span id="goog_126184887"></span>7) But that's OK because I have an aversion to bringing half full cups of water out of my room to be washed.<br />
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8) I learned how to juggle planning two formals at one time, while taking 4 classes at the fourth most rigorous college in the nation--3 of which count to my major--while also working two jobs, playing a fall sport, and doing the normal things like breathing, and eating.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing. Dancing solves everything. </td></tr>
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9) All I think about all day long is food. While we were discussing Paradise Lost? "<i>How are we going to make Christmas cookies this year...</i>" During the discussion of The Snows of Kilamanjaro? "<i>Should I make a sandwich or a salad for lunch today...or pizza...or quinoa...or soup...or should I skip lunch and write my paper...hell. no.</i>"<br />
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10) It snows in October, and rains in December. Normal.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extra normal. Dips play in the snow.</td></tr>
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11) Regardless of how much I like or don't like my professors, they are the smartest people I will ever meet. They just have so much darn knowledge in their heads.<br />
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12) A vegan Thanksgiving tastes better than a "normal" one.<br />
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13) The world isn't over when you sprain your ankle so bad that you're out for 2 weeks during NCAA championship play. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzAZU-f-q6SDu0qo8lsVsxS8bz2Bnaeu3sP55AQKeoIM9gNKoqdd4hmDsD_c2oWtHdDJfvVGbrldKOaTrmQ-C0Pow4Mby2YP6hJBvq7NREZz-s1lTQkv1rXvBRYtfj1dumT-HXC2cC-Gr/s1600/IMG_20111020_210459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzAZU-f-q6SDu0qo8lsVsxS8bz2Bnaeu3sP55AQKeoIM9gNKoqdd4hmDsD_c2oWtHdDJfvVGbrldKOaTrmQ-C0Pow4Mby2YP6hJBvq7NREZz-s1lTQkv1rXvBRYtfj1dumT-HXC2cC-Gr/s320/IMG_20111020_210459.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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14) Its over when you sprain the other one the day you come back to play. Kidding...not really though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP3TjG3Z_hxSyRudhtifL-HEBOzWZzhquflFT2Gk5zmu0iqdJmQaUw0vzqfsV0RmmBw-ZW6y4QOC97bOatUGxg2z0YGc6_TRq6NB3gndlMn24P92mehiuA6l5fNw6hyHS-ay-nsLgANcW/s1600/308807_318108324872012_100000185410384_1529163_157600158_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP3TjG3Z_hxSyRudhtifL-HEBOzWZzhquflFT2Gk5zmu0iqdJmQaUw0vzqfsV0RmmBw-ZW6y4QOC97bOatUGxg2z0YGc6_TRq6NB3gndlMn24P92mehiuA6l5fNw6hyHS-ay-nsLgANcW/s400/308807_318108324872012_100000185410384_1529163_157600158_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the double bags of ice around my ankles. </td></tr>
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15) Family is the best support you have. They don't care if, in the last game of the season and the only one they've ever been able to see, that you didn't play a lot because you can't run fast enough with 2 ankles taped so much they're might as well be casted. They do care though, that you're upset with the loss, and they do their best to make it better. <br />
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16) Hard work, plus heart, plus the belief in each other is the recipe for team success.<br />
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17) I miss these girls so darn much. And I cannot wait until I get to see them again.<br />
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18) I learned that people actually read this blog sometimes...so, umm...sorry I forgot about y'all for a little while, but I'm baaaackkk.<br />
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19) I swear I learned other things too, Mom and Dad. You're money is going to useful things the difference between divine foreknowledge and predestination, or the definition of modernism, and also the conjugation of various German verbs.<br />
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20) I'm OCD and needed a 20th thing.<br />
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<br />Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-56101388780504686632011-08-09T07:12:00.000-07:002011-08-09T07:12:15.359-07:00All my single girlsApartment living is boring. It seemed so glamourous coming into the summer: living on your own, with your best friends, in a "city" (come on, give Lancaster a break, it is a city, especially compared to farm-town-Harford County). My days are usually organized as follows:<br />
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wake up<br />
breakfast <br />
watch a TV show on the internet (I went through phases, June was <i>True Blood</i>, July was <i>How I Met Your Mother</i>, and now that its August I'm breaking into <i>Entourage</i>)<br />
work out<br />
go to work<br />
sleep<br />
repeat<br />
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On the off chance that I don't work, which compared to my June schedule is a fair amount of time, it goes like this<br />
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wake up<br />
go back to sleep<br />
wake up<br />
sleep some more<br />
wake up<br />
watch TV<br />
throw a workout in at some point<br />
more TV<br />
bedtime<br />
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I officially feel like a bum. But all this down time has given me lots of time to think about the blogging that I haven't been doing. It has also made me realize a few things about myself<br />
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Reasons I know I'm a hardcore single girl right now<br />
1) When I got my new phone I downloaded a horoscope app...took me about a week to realize it is dumb and should get rid of it.<br />
2) There is a dent in the exact middle of my bed where I sleep. I deliberately take up as much space as possible in said bed, for as much time as possible.<br />
3) I rarely have leftovers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWJC82Skxt-3Ieu6ECcRYntofKOFfZ2vm_1_CrDIAsylv4wz-M3nEECpJkRJfH8j1QSnu9N1lK7rh1UtZzxfY99xK5OYebMglJp_NuJdlLkDIBdtujh7tTgkuhF9H94uY6J1az09592Gj/s1600/IMG_20110727_191742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWJC82Skxt-3Ieu6ECcRYntofKOFfZ2vm_1_CrDIAsylv4wz-M3nEECpJkRJfH8j1QSnu9N1lK7rh1UtZzxfY99xK5OYebMglJp_NuJdlLkDIBdtujh7tTgkuhF9H94uY6J1az09592Gj/s320/IMG_20110727_191742.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I threw together quinoa, artichokes, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, chickpeas...and I think thats it. Salt and pepperzzz to taste.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>4) When I'm bored I ride my bike to the library, alone, and get a library membership to a county system I don't technically belong to, simply so I can borrow books like Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights (I find the romances of stolen looks and touches very refreshing).<br />
5) I make <a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/07/the-single-lady-pancake/">Single Lady Pancakes</a> via <a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/">Joy the Baker</a> on a morning off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IDfK5an7fN4StXGANG_AFIXa-kQCc6TKu8vTXzN5BX01qdLHUjm5OyH8BK0P-G9abnGXY5h6tsJh0G3MSy6wfcYpXjEv3QFCmopzoA_P7uOir_L7BvBi8DaokBGt7PQCMIBcoMLJbXfO/s1600/IMG_20110720_083600-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IDfK5an7fN4StXGANG_AFIXa-kQCc6TKu8vTXzN5BX01qdLHUjm5OyH8BK0P-G9abnGXY5h6tsJh0G3MSy6wfcYpXjEv3QFCmopzoA_P7uOir_L7BvBi8DaokBGt7PQCMIBcoMLJbXfO/s320/IMG_20110720_083600-1.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">recipe below</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
6) That same day I treat myself to a Single Lady cook-out meal. Pasta salad, potato salad, and a veggie burger for one, please?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO6GioxwIzAQS3VDAZ8CXqRQD1nxlfx0tx2WFvebdIhwevT2IG_C-8SI6GDZtmuggMsSMdTCN1wF5snI0gWzC8gStvr74uaR89UoUwIkE2ZXxwCWFFfkFe5MosfQN0gHFwyQUQS6vEZeS/s1600/IMG_20110721_125326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO6GioxwIzAQS3VDAZ8CXqRQD1nxlfx0tx2WFvebdIhwevT2IG_C-8SI6GDZtmuggMsSMdTCN1wF5snI0gWzC8gStvr74uaR89UoUwIkE2ZXxwCWFFfkFe5MosfQN0gHFwyQUQS6vEZeS/s320/IMG_20110721_125326.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">recipes below alsooo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
7) I get unexpected visitors and they unfortunately find me either dancing in the kitchen while listening to N'Sync or Backstreet Boys while making some sort of quick bread because they're the easiest thing in the world OR I'm listening to the Joy the Baker podcast and laughing a lot. Regardless, embarrassing. <br />
8) The most texted person in my phone is mah main bitch from home, Big G.<br />
8) I do impulsive things like getting my ear pierced and buying pet rats. <br />
<br />
Yes, you read that correctly. I now have 2 pet rats in my possession. In my, and their, defense, rats are very good pets in the category of rodents. I grant that their tails are a bit freaky, BUT once you get past those, they're cute, eat like little munchkins with cute little mouths, and are supposed to be super companionable. Mine still don't like me very much...we're working on our trust issues.<br />
<br />
I'm actually currently sitting with them...well I'm sitting on the floor, and I've created this walled in area in my room with lids from plastic bins, and I'm trying to get them to come out of their cage and explore (apparently rats need lots of exercise).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvBhgGPNKC2N-SVwLeE04VWO8zj1JJ4WhRKsVcV3MQOZver4kbSIrWR8Xhr-OhW_y569ctB6x8WklVlSqMCFZpkTlt5X0U5M01g2rTNVsndU_3yvISd-0KE_4fh4XpRFzPc7gVhLQxLyZ/s1600/IMG_20110803_121359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvBhgGPNKC2N-SVwLeE04VWO8zj1JJ4WhRKsVcV3MQOZver4kbSIrWR8Xhr-OhW_y569ctB6x8WklVlSqMCFZpkTlt5X0U5M01g2rTNVsndU_3yvISd-0KE_4fh4XpRFzPc7gVhLQxLyZ/s320/IMG_20110803_121359.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Remi. She was the first one I got, then I bought Charlie. They're both girls...don't worry. I'm not trying to have my pet rats get more romance than I do. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> I overestimated their curiosity. They've only made it about a foot out of the cage before they run back inside. It's unfortunate because I was banking on this time to get a cute picture of the little buggers, but they continue to hide underneath the wheel they refuse to use.<br />
<br />
I've done cool single girl things, like go home randomly for friend's birthday parties.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-4tCj7D-uFgzWAORl3wCjfVeefhfXQbcdhM7Tp9etcIIR1YrOzkb11ql9CuwODucS25vUfEEurBAPuoQSS7fONS6vcmGBkbjejTmdG5i2MrA6NXHoBrTAGq0-JGQsGXavR40NFBO2BUb/s1600/226079_10150336221919042_774739041_9493932_4349856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-4tCj7D-uFgzWAORl3wCjfVeefhfXQbcdhM7Tp9etcIIR1YrOzkb11ql9CuwODucS25vUfEEurBAPuoQSS7fONS6vcmGBkbjejTmdG5i2MrA6NXHoBrTAGq0-JGQsGXavR40NFBO2BUb/s400/226079_10150336221919042_774739041_9493932_4349856_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo cred the handsome fellow in the middle. It wasn't his birthday, I just love him dearly, and Big G on the other side of him. Also this was after a night shift so yes, I notice that it looks like I have no hair because it is pulled back. Its OK. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I got my hair done again, its darkkkk and ILIKEIT. A lot.<br />
<br />
I plan to go to a Slightly Stoopid concert on Friday with some besties from school that I havent seen in a while and will not see for a while because we're all going abroad during seperate semesters. This makes me incredibly sad and a little anxious when I think about it, so I try not to. Maybs I'll write a post about them when they leave and I'm wallowing in grief. Lolz jokez, but really I miss these ladies, and "miss" won't be able to encompass how I'll feel when I don't have the prospect of seeing them for at least 6 months, which is a big reason I'm going to the Stoopid show. Also because Stoopid is slightly cooler than sitting at home on a Friday night (see what I did there) and I saw them in high school and they were greatttt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTJEJfDmAR0eD9LKTsG0EPhzh0gJW1UgW3t4m9uFNBkEXgXmN8m92Kh2mOjlMs41CYNDTzL_vH4EJ9786M1RW_QblvLwUfDqBGyHag2a8pfiMRC8HL3x6LQRJToZgQpTHpzTxsU1K2NVf/s1600/149543_456696103462_503638462_5535927_5153917_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTJEJfDmAR0eD9LKTsG0EPhzh0gJW1UgW3t4m9uFNBkEXgXmN8m92Kh2mOjlMs41CYNDTzL_vH4EJ9786M1RW_QblvLwUfDqBGyHag2a8pfiMRC8HL3x6LQRJToZgQpTHpzTxsU1K2NVf/s400/149543_456696103462_503638462_5535927_5153917_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXG0HcPaOkKmDQ-qi26TOE9UsBg-zJ4Q05b_oT0K_E9quitZkKv41pIk4ZGfcQip3BfgAq1wtmSUsLlQaKUFxXN5CVq79VKbrhgPpfns06GIdSzFOPnawJP60TMP3LncP4kfUGyQWYCk6/s1600/229527_1840807023424_1338000095_31937508_1042333_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXG0HcPaOkKmDQ-qi26TOE9UsBg-zJ4Q05b_oT0K_E9quitZkKv41pIk4ZGfcQip3BfgAq1wtmSUsLlQaKUFxXN5CVq79VKbrhgPpfns06GIdSzFOPnawJP60TMP3LncP4kfUGyQWYCk6/s400/229527_1840807023424_1338000095_31937508_1042333_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I'm crying a little.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Recipes </b></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Single Lady Pancake</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Adapted from Joy the Baker</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/3 cup Whole Wheat Pastry flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 tbsp dried oats</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2 tsp sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/4 tsp baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">pinch of salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp buttermilk substitute (I did this much almond milk with a splash of apple cider vinegar)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">some vanilla extract (she says a dash, but I always seem to do vanilla to taste)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Mix dry ingredients, then whisk together wet. Combine in a bowl. The mixture will be thick.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Heat a small frying pan or normal skillet with oil or a bit of butter (vegan). Pour batter into pan and spread out with a spoon, spatula, or whateva you got. Cook over medium heat until the famous pancake bubbles appear and pop.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Flip that sucker. She says it doesn't have to be perfect..well obviously, but I'm going to gloat here. Mine was the most perfect pancake flip I've ever had. Probably because I wasn't under any pressure as I was the only one enjoying it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cook that baby until its golden brown.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I topped mine with chocolate chips, banana slices, and a drizzling of peanut butter. I chowed down to the extreme and it was deeeelish. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Vegan Macaroni Salad</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">adapted from The Vegan Stoner</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">However much pasta you plan on eating</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Veganaise (I used grapeseed)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chopped red pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chopped white onion</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Dill pickles (chopped)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Green beans...you guessed it, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">salt and pepper to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I basically just combined all these as I saw fit. There was no real rhyme or reason to it. Sorry I'm not sorry. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I took the <b>Potato Salad</b> from <a href="http://www.shutterbean.com/dijon-potato-salad/">Tracy at shutterbean.com</a> and nixed the parsley and used basil instead. Om nom nom. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-64815187131126148402011-07-19T08:17:00.000-07:002011-07-19T09:27:50.190-07:00Typage overloadIts been about 2 weeks since I last posted and, to be honest, I don't really feel bad about it. It's not that I didn't have anything interesting to write about...I certainly do have many updates...really it was just because I didn't want to.<br />
<br />
So, I apologize for that. But now I'm game to write, write, write and overload you all on my life over the past 2 weeks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yippeeee annnnd begin:<br />
<br />
<br />
The weekend after July 4th, I came home on Friday and met up with mah girl, Gretchen, and we successfully completed a road trip to Ocean City, MD. I say successfully because I have unsuccessfully completed road trips to OC, MD. That doesn't totally make sense, I know. The summer before my freshman year of school I drove down with my friend, Kelly, to stay at her house for a few days. We met Coastal Highway at the same time as a torrential downpour, monsoon style, rolled into town. The flash flooding that it created on the incredibly flat highway caused some belt in my engine to hydroplane, resulting in the loss of power steering and anything else "powered". Imagine this: two 18 year old girls, torrential downpour, can't see where they're going, in a car where the steering wheel requires mass amounts of strength to turn. It was terrifying.<br />
<br />
BUT I digress. So 2 weekends ago, Gretch and I made our way down to visit our friends who are living at the beach this summer. We had lots of fun, (I suffered all day Saturday from said "fun") and for some reason decided to be spontaneous and get our ears pierced. Well, she decided to get her ear pierced and then peer-pressured me into getting mine done as well. I'm totally glad she did though because I ended up getting my tragus done. I've been wanting it since sophomore year of high school but was always told it hurt the worst, so I was scared. Making decisions in a mere 5 minutes does not leave one time to worry about pain.<br />
<br />
So yea, I came home from OC with one more hole in my body...does that sound gross? Yeah, it probably does. I don't care.<br />
<br />
I came home and everything was fine and dandy. My roommate was working late one night so I decided to put off my workout until later in the day. I went to the track with good intentions, worked hard and got the workout done. I could hear thunder in the distance but did not really pay it any attention. Why? I have no idea. It would prove to be a grave mistake. I ended up running a cool-down mile, but on my third lap the end of the world as I knew it began. I was on the straight-away opposite the bleachers and all of a sudden I heard the sound of water pounding metal. And then it hit me. No, a thought or brilliant idea did not hit me as the cliche phrase would suggest; the rain literally hit my body. This was a downpour to rival the previously mentioned storm that saw me and Kelly experience a perilous journey to the beach. In the end, my phone ended up being seriously water damaged as I only had a bike to transport me back home. Verizon laughed in my face and said they would not give me a new phone (they didn't really laugh, the guy was actually really nice).<br />
<br />
This was a very big dilemma as I was supposed to drive to OC, NJ that night after work and all my roommates were already there. We don't have a landline. I was very much stranded in my apartment with so way of communicating besides Facebook and email. <br />
<br />
So I turned to eBay to solve my problems. Faced a bunch of issues there but, finally, I have a replacement phone. No more Crackberry. I am now a member of the Droid generation.<br />
<br />
I'm undecided.<br />
<br />
I ended up not going to the beach. Saddd face. But I will see mah frands soon enough.<br />
<br />
There is no improvement by way of the camera. I attempt to take pictures with it but they don't show up in the memory. Help?<br />
<br />
But, what you all care about most, is I made some stuff. Most importantly a modification of the International Quinoa Salad that I made for the 4th.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Quinoa Junk Salad</b><br />
2 ears of fresh corn<br />
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa (+ 1 cup water to cook it in)<br />
1/2 red pepper<br />
1/2 large tomato<br />
1/4 (roughly) of a medium red onion<br />
1/2 zuchinni<br />
1 can (roughly) chickpeas<br />
1 avocado<br />
1 lemon, freshly squeezed<br />
2 tbsp vegetable broth<br />
1 tsp apple cider vinegar <br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
( I didn't think about this when I was making it, but I would add some garlic to taste as well)<br />
<br />
Cook the quinoa according to package directions.<br />
<br />
Slice the corn of the cobs and chop all the vegetables. Rinse and drain chickpeas and throw all together in a bowl. Combine to the cooked quinoa. <br />
<br />
Squeeze the lemon and add the veg broth and vinegar in a separate, small, bowl. (here is where I would add pressed or minced garlic). Whisk together and pour over salad. <br />
<br />
Munch.<br />
<br />
That's all for now.<br />
<br />
<br />
an addendum to this: I forgot to say that I got hit in the face in field hockey. It really is nothing special, no cut or stitches or anything, just a lumpy cheek and a weird looking bruise. Yummy. I <3 summer league. Not.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-16575360401229280422011-07-05T07:13:00.000-07:002011-07-05T07:15:50.654-07:00Flat start.I decided to give going for a ride another try. My dad fixed up my bike all nice and pretty yesterday and I woke up early to hit the road with him before I head back to school. We made it less than 5 miles and *pssssssss* my tire popped. Daddio did a quick tire change while I watched, frustrated, and we wheeled our bikes out into the road. *PSSSSSS* the tire hissed mockingly at me and popped again. My dad and I just looked at each other and laughed. We tried to change the tube again and it popped in the midst of inflating the tire.<br />
<br />
I don't think the Bike Gods want me to ride. Maybe they want me to make a sacrifice of my new running shoes.<br />
<br />
Please don't make me, I love them too much.<br />
<br />
But on another less fit, more fattening note, I made cookies again. I think I have a problem. A serious baking problem. Please, will someone fund my future so I can own a bakery? I'll be happy forever...no? I have to make it on my own? Alright, but these cookies will certainly help my case.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hsDxka4r3UD3rlKSU393uGBbQs1MXyI_6va3h4tdNBzgOQffE3wOkONjfSC0qGXu6UpOXMzRltCvC6HFNKyS13EdKwVDEszk_Hp4YntuAOvlCHOLaNjCBi1BlOEJqfg42UGOGDM8b0cn/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hsDxka4r3UD3rlKSU393uGBbQs1MXyI_6va3h4tdNBzgOQffE3wOkONjfSC0qGXu6UpOXMzRltCvC6HFNKyS13EdKwVDEszk_Hp4YntuAOvlCHOLaNjCBi1BlOEJqfg42UGOGDM8b0cn/s320/DSC_0264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdBFHk5TAZgx46iqDp3H0ZMFkZlhZ3jO16PciouYKo1FWr5WnOWybJ5UNlXspikARnsj-_EjfZRh5vTiOT4Yr9g2Dfbkf5z0_PzGpe23B_Nq1beR0K1TNkXy1eP9tgZuL67BNpKGFIwXi/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdBFHk5TAZgx46iqDp3H0ZMFkZlhZ3jO16PciouYKo1FWr5WnOWybJ5UNlXspikARnsj-_EjfZRh5vTiOT4Yr9g2Dfbkf5z0_PzGpe23B_Nq1beR0K1TNkXy1eP9tgZuL67BNpKGFIwXi/s320/DSC_0265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Chewy, Amaze-balls Oatmeal Raisin Cookies</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">adapted from my Momma's County Fair Prize Winning Cookies</span><br />
<br />
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour<br />
3 c old fashioned oats<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1 tsp cinnamon<br />
1 c vegan margarine (softened, I used Earth Balance)<br />
1 c DARK brown sugar<br />
1/2 c white sugar (to ensure that this is truly vegan, use vegan organic white sugar)<br />
2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 4 tbsp water)<br />
1 T vanilla<br />
1 tsp brown rice syrup<br />
1 T apple sauce<br />
2 c raisins<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 375 degrees, cover 2 baking sheets in parchment paper. Combine the water and flax seed and let sit for 10 minutes<br />
<br />
In a medium sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients (oats, flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon)<br />
<br />
Combine the margarine and sugar and cream until light and fluffy. Add the flax eggs, vanilla, brown rice syrup, and apple sauce.<br />
<br />
Slowly add in the dry ingredients to the wet until well combined. Add in the raisins. (I'm estimating the 2 cups, I did 2 very full handfuls).<br />
<br />
Use a medium sized melon scoop and place cookies on a baking sheet about 2 inches away from each other. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 8 minutes. When removed, let sit and cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhIKjIq4Q9OUUD3oDjjDJuOnZgkK7yhUGDZGiexCRC7EMnul7C3_2eFYodbuOJNy4B2CBRdj03buEeZEEU_8Ti5JcQZUJ6rPjY9Os1sJHLRL51K70uoExCyA1xoatqJRZ_fsXuB3SZPx1/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhIKjIq4Q9OUUD3oDjjDJuOnZgkK7yhUGDZGiexCRC7EMnul7C3_2eFYodbuOJNy4B2CBRdj03buEeZEEU_8Ti5JcQZUJ6rPjY9Os1sJHLRL51K70uoExCyA1xoatqJRZ_fsXuB3SZPx1/s320/DSC_0267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Now go bake them, eat them, and you can thank me later.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-49427635723857149882011-07-04T10:07:00.000-07:002011-07-04T10:07:29.376-07:00AmuuricaHappy 4th everyone!<br />
<br />
I'm home for the weekend and that means a few things:<br />
<ol><li>I'm not at work. Yessss.</li>
<li>I get to sleep in. Double yesss.</li>
<li>I get to cook and bake without having to buy any of the ingredients. Awww yeaaa.</li>
<li>My dad's Nikon is at my disposal to do with it as I please.</li>
<li>I finished the second season of True Blood.</li>
</ol>Yesterday, I basically spent the day hanging with the madre. Everytime I come home, the first day always seems to be devoted to grocery shopping and produce-stand-hopping. Not that I'm complaining--usually the shopping is centered around the things I intend to create in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
Speaking of buying the ingredients for the things I want to make, I did not even have to think about what I needed to buy for one of my planned creations. I opened the baking cabinet in my mom's kitchen and the container of chocolate chips was COMPLETELY full. It is usually about a quarter to halfway full...I took this as a direct hint from my dad (who last did the grocery shopping) to make chocolate chip cookies. I used my usual recipe but tweaked it a bit. I'll include the changes on my old post about the cookies. <br />
<br />
For dinner last night, I decided to go all out, pre July 4th barbeque style. I pulled together an <a href="http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2006/07/international-quinoa-salad.html">international quinoa salad</a> and <a href="http://peasandthankyou.com/recipage/?recipe_id=6000556&prev_term=sandwich">black bean burgers</a>. I added some broccoli sprouts to the burgers to hold them together. The quinoa salad ended up being sans chickpeas because my mom and I didn't realize that we were out until the salad was halfway done. And we were certainly not about to go back to the store. No ma'am.<br />
<br />
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Here, I would like to bring attention to my thumb muscles. My mom and brother made fun of me, but I have really big thumb muscles. Any other field hockey players can vouch that after a day or two of playing hockey your thumbs hurt like no other. I swear I have amped thumbs from hockey. Try and fight me, I'll destroy you with my them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1bbrDp8JXVrKQ6VLUXFOu2q_6n_UngMWBhcuw6Gd1Gj0VroNsIsjhJQcNNy5UPPj97Hy5hB7eR8w5x7NjqguHPTW6uz3FnVRD6rCWovWvJ2IHSbPfxTmhenJnH0I1s4dU6dQbzEfcikH/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1bbrDp8JXVrKQ6VLUXFOu2q_6n_UngMWBhcuw6Gd1Gj0VroNsIsjhJQcNNy5UPPj97Hy5hB7eR8w5x7NjqguHPTW6uz3FnVRD6rCWovWvJ2IHSbPfxTmhenJnH0I1s4dU6dQbzEfcikH/s320/DSC_0228.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm mildly obsessed with perfectly ripe avocados. The color is evidence of nature's inherent perfection.</td></tr>
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These were just some of the players. You can see all by clicking on the recipe link. I STRONGLY recommend this salad. I can attest that I am not a big mint person. I've never really enjoyed the taste of toothpaste in my food...don't like Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, no peppermint patties, and only sometimes am I a fan of Thin Mints. But this salad is delicious. It tricks you--you think its light and refreshing because of the taste and aroma of the fresh mint and parsley, but then the fullness hits you because of the quinoa and corn. I had too heaping servings in addition to the snacking while I made it.<br />
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Maddie grilled up the burgers for us.<br />
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But then she got distracted so I finished them up.<br />
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My mom and I feasted. We had some sides of avocado, sliced tomato, and basil pesto as condiments and steamed corn on the cob as well. We sliced up some whole wheat wraps and used them instead of buns.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz8lJiqO1-w8teRu48DrOanMMMbYqY732CjWajyA9BbK3JatiFyRV3ukfuf54TAtlV62ddWiMfBBvLLYlHGU-0GT-ZWA5o49x4iGoleR807tbn-RvRTdPaFwPNWOP1vw6NYOIdMoFvz8g/s1600/DSC_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz8lJiqO1-w8teRu48DrOanMMMbYqY732CjWajyA9BbK3JatiFyRV3ukfuf54TAtlV62ddWiMfBBvLLYlHGU-0GT-ZWA5o49x4iGoleR807tbn-RvRTdPaFwPNWOP1vw6NYOIdMoFvz8g/s320/DSC_0247.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_1JnDGrjGvicCyvUrB2_zsb4MmirUgYqXQVUH6EX46mcaLw4U239fto1jvzDjWgw4qBNRunUub_tiTqzWG3ldvgsn6GMtOxglWGwRaWIjTmofeUEExtLrgiU73m13qWe-tiUCyPS9tV6/s1600/DSC_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_1JnDGrjGvicCyvUrB2_zsb4MmirUgYqXQVUH6EX46mcaLw4U239fto1jvzDjWgw4qBNRunUub_tiTqzWG3ldvgsn6GMtOxglWGwRaWIjTmofeUEExtLrgiU73m13qWe-tiUCyPS9tV6/s320/DSC_0251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I still have not mastered using a camera, so I apologize for the blurriness and strange focus. The food is what counts anyway, am I right? Nom nom nom.<br />
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I would like to add that I much prefer the flavor and texture of <i>grilled</i> black bean burgers vs those <i>fried/cooked </i>on the skillet in some oil. <br />
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This morning I woke up and planned to go for a bike ride with my mom but fate said, "Nope, uh, no you're not going for a ride." I couldn't seem to get my tires to properly inflate so I ditched the bike shorts and cleats and pulled on mah brand spankin' new sneakers and did an interval run on the track.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvG_lkjZw9NoezRoIzJ6oNx-bLHgCDdZv_J7r_peth0nwfdfp31zlc2EyRe3kq1YlDampgq-I9SosfPbS-rQ7ycfTz5QI_wgZYTcCdbh0ZpJXMQyWQ7lZpCAGg6oVVIVwXAck7D4JhK-h/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvG_lkjZw9NoezRoIzJ6oNx-bLHgCDdZv_J7r_peth0nwfdfp31zlc2EyRe3kq1YlDampgq-I9SosfPbS-rQ7ycfTz5QI_wgZYTcCdbh0ZpJXMQyWQ7lZpCAGg6oVVIVwXAck7D4JhK-h/s320/DSC_0261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I had been running with my mom's old walking shoes. I have a problem with spending money. Needless to say I was SERIOUSLY overdue for some new shoes. So my momma bought me some. Thanks momma.<br />
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I also got my new turf shoes in the mail. Hello Beautiful.<br />
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My feet and ankles will love me this summer/hockey season. Although my sensitive skin will not--hopefully I can break these suckers in before preseason or else my feet will puff up in blisters.<br />
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I made breakfast this morning for my mom and dad. Banana French Toast adapted from the Engine-2 diet and tempeh Fakin-Bakin.<br />
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French Toast (tripled recipe)<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">via Engine-2 Diet</span><br />
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3 very ripe bananas<br />
1 1/2 c almond milk (or non-dairy milk of your choice)<br />
3 tsp cinammon<br />
3 tsp vanilla<br />
slices of bread...about a loaf<br />
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Mash the bananas in a bowl, then mix in the rest of the ingredients. Cook on a skillet set between high and medium high for about 2 minutes each side. The key is to basically sear the outside of the battered bread so that they are not all gooey when you eat them. <br />
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I drizzled maple syrup from Vermont on top of the toast and added a big bowl of blueberries on the side.<br />
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Basically I'm having a vacation at home. How pathetic is that...my vacation is to go home for two days. Regardless, I'm enjoying myself, relaxing, cooking, and baking.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-20328461429303558012011-06-30T08:07:00.000-07:002011-06-30T08:07:47.811-07:00True Blood rules my lifeThis week has been pretty uninteresting so far. When I'm not sitting watching True Blood I'm either working or working out. I'm trying not to spend money right now. Its weird, the more money I make the more I want to save it, even though all of it goes down the drain to gas anyway. I'm so pumped for my work's location in Lancaster to open up. It would literally be a five minute drive from me. GLORIOUS.<br />
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On the topic of saving money, I had to budget my expenses for the week until I get paid. I feel old. And poor. Wehhh.<br />
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On the topic of spending money, I went a little bit crazy at the UnderArmour Outlet off of Route 30. My roommate just got hired as a floor person and she had to basically go buy her uniform. So jealous, she gets to wear workout clothes to work AND everything is 50 percent off for her. My other roommates and I tagged along and raided the clearance racks. I have been in desperate need of new shorts since freshman year when my friends started making fun of the ones I previously wore. I only really had about 2 pairs of wearable shorts for working out in, and one of the pairs was bright green. Not the cool neon green that's in right now (bought a pair of those at UA, they're pretty fly). I'm talking bright Kelley Green Irish Leperchaun style. They weren't cute. So I bought 3 more pairs of super comfy running shorts. :D<br />
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I was also really frustrated by something that happened Tuesday night. My roomiezzz and I were working out on the turf. It was a sprint workout and it was pretty late so it was already dark. We were finishing up and about to start Plyometrics and a patrol officer from our "police" force on campus walked up. He said that we weren't allowed to be on the field because it was locked. Mr. Officer, I understand you were only doing your job but let me complain a wee little bit.<br />
<ol><li>I am a varsity athlete at this school. During the fall, I spend 80 percent of my waking time on that field. </li>
<li>Me working out on that field is making me a better athlete, hopefully making our sports better, which will bring in more students. Allowing for you, sir, to have a job.</li>
<li>Uhhh...our coach said we could hop the fence to hit around and work out.</li>
<li>My athletic director WATCHED me hop the fence and do a sprint workout one day. (its not as creepy as it sounds, she was watching a tennis tournament at the same time)</li>
<li>My family and I pay $54,000 a year for me to be a student athlete at F&M. I think I should be able to use the field when I want.</li>
</ol>Again, this man was very polite and we left the field after a few questions were asked. He was only doing his job, but I really think it is a stupid rule.<br />
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In addition to buying clothes while simultaneously saving money, getting kicked off a field, and being completely obsessed with TB this week, I made some things.<br />
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and, you guessed it, I forgot to take pictures.<br />
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I re-hydrated some TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) in some vegetable broth and mixed it in with leftover steamed veggies and tomato sauce and ate it over some whole wheat pasta.<br />
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I also made Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bites from <a href="http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2009/10/raw-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough.html">Love Veggies and Yoga</a>. I threw some raisins into the mix too and added the cinnamon, making them chocolate-chip-oatmeal-raisin-y. They were pretty gooood. My roommates tried them and they placed the flavor well: they taste a bit like those Chewy Oatmeal Bars from Sunbelt. I took them to work for a little dessert flavaaa and they satisfied my craving perfectly.<br />
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OK that is all for now...sorry for the word overload. Boring life.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-67608152843011946732011-06-28T09:12:00.000-07:002011-06-28T09:12:52.161-07:00Monday...no wait its Tuesday.Eeks...I'm the worst blogger ever. But its how I roll.<br />
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So in the past week I've done some things. Ate some other things. Ran some distances. Worked some hours.<br />
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I would put up pictures of everything, except I didn't take many. And the ones I did take are atrocious. I really think the reason I procrastinate with the posting is because I keep wishing my pictures were better, but that won't happen until I buy an actual camera. Until then you'll just have to deal with my words and shabby pics.<br />
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I did do something cool...I got feathers put in my hair. Apparently its the new thing to do, but I did not find this out until AFTER I got them done. My best friend from home convinced me to go with her and get them put in *shout out Gretch* and I mentally prepared myself to get the heat from my roommates at school. I expected a few Pocahontas jokes, a "what the f*** is in your hair". Instead I was met with "Oh yea, I heard people are doing that now. Cool." Was not expecting that!! But I really like them. I got 3: silver, olivey green, and a reddish one. Again, no pictures but they're a bit like this but not as big.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFrojq-IFmBTfGVDW5th5nxRDVtWb2Ax6foqy5fWeeMxUzNGZ_SHTkAr848pMFGjVMnWHI9BczFti0ubZmkKrnD4SSgjpTSpsMa5v80BBiL-xAAJ1d8oSIOlJeJ8SBDUBxBHN78Z3SgOS/s1600/feather-hair-extensions-3-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFrojq-IFmBTfGVDW5th5nxRDVtWb2Ax6foqy5fWeeMxUzNGZ_SHTkAr848pMFGjVMnWHI9BczFti0ubZmkKrnD4SSgjpTSpsMa5v80BBiL-xAAJ1d8oSIOlJeJ8SBDUBxBHN78Z3SgOS/s1600/feather-hair-extensions-3-199x300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://fashionado.net/2011/05/19/featherlocks-muse/">Credit</a></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I really like them and I'll probably keep getting them put in.<br />
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One night for dinner I imitated the grilled tofu, tomato, and basil salad my mom made when I went home for the night. I couldn't grill the tofu but I did marinate and bake it. Clipped some fresh basil from my herb garden, threw in some tomatoes, and drizzled it all with the rest of the dressing and some ground cashews. Yummm.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8nEioH1e0NersnmG_-aFjk3tZQk1kQERHXDU2EkBBTqNU_YwaLivmuDz0YIAXL5V60ANVZ2W9DaEvHRLJ78PdGbsDCwTmHNWSYjxt8oF_Jfp7L8o5zaH6EmsZtyxhCHJ5B-mXFzx_xY7/s1600/IMG00395-20110622-1847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8nEioH1e0NersnmG_-aFjk3tZQk1kQERHXDU2EkBBTqNU_YwaLivmuDz0YIAXL5V60ANVZ2W9DaEvHRLJ78PdGbsDCwTmHNWSYjxt8oF_Jfp7L8o5zaH6EmsZtyxhCHJ5B-mXFzx_xY7/s320/IMG00395-20110622-1847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
<b>Dijon Garlic Marinade</b> (per my mother)<br />
4 cloves of garlic, minced<br />
1 cup olive oil<br />
2 T dijon mustard<br />
1/3 cup red wine vinegar<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
I have a confession...I didn't have any red wine vinegar so I used apple cider vinegar and added a dash of red wine to it...innovation? I think so.<br />
<br />
I also roasted sweet potatoes for the first time!<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Garlic Thyme Roasted Sweet Potatoes</b><br />
<a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Thyme-Roasted-Sweet-Potatoes-233085">adapted from epicurious.com</a><br />
Dice up 2 sweet potatoes, on the smaller side. Mince up about 3 cloves of garlic...depending on how much you love garlic. Chop up about a tablespoon of fresh thyme (again, from my herb garden) and toss all together with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Throw in the oven at 450 degrees for about 25-30, or longer until soft. I cut back the time a bunch because the amount is about half.<br />
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For work lunch and dinner prep throughout the week I threw together some quinoa and roasted up onions, peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini. Last night I had it all together with some raisins for dinner. I don't think I ate enough though and was hungry when I got home so I had toast with peanut butter and apple butter schmeared on top. <br />
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I don't have really anything else to say for now. Except I've been watching True Blood religiously. I realized I never saw the first season so I'm watching it now. And I watched the season premiere..undecided...but TB never disappoints.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-17957485958766334822011-06-22T15:01:00.000-07:002011-06-22T15:01:37.025-07:00My Bad!I left you guys hanging.<br />
<br />
Cliff hangers are frustrating endings...especially when food is involved. I mean, how terrible is it to leave someone hanging on an empty stomach. I apologize.<br />
<br />
I ended up modifying and combining a few recipes that I found online into my very own unique lunch. I wish I was disciplined enough to have measurements but I can give you rough estimates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6DkXsGRSbjE6acXFZ7XBPLjnkQqZ8Ejn_b-bMDjSy588GmuPKCg5d6NRTpxmSdqOxwsmniVgsxX-ZWn2ATn9Ax2ccUOy7wysAMv2cTG6P7OBlynuIGb1dMnayqWQ8MsRGUXIaQnvPiWo/s1600/IMG00393-20110621-1147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6DkXsGRSbjE6acXFZ7XBPLjnkQqZ8Ejn_b-bMDjSy588GmuPKCg5d6NRTpxmSdqOxwsmniVgsxX-ZWn2ATn9Ax2ccUOy7wysAMv2cTG6P7OBlynuIGb1dMnayqWQ8MsRGUXIaQnvPiWo/s320/IMG00393-20110621-1147.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I promise it didn't taste like vomit. My phone just makes everything look that way. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Kale, Quinoa, and Roasted Tomatoes Salad<br />
3 Stalks of Kale, cut from the stems and sliced/torn into strips<br />
2-3 Vine Ripened Tomatoes<br />
a couple cloves of garlic...judge based on your taste <br />
1/2 zucchini, quartered and slice<br />
about a handful of chopped onions<br />
olive oil<br />
1/2 cup red quinoa<br />
homemade or store bought pesto of your choice<br />
<br />
OK so make your tomatoes (your choice of what kind). Slice them up, toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper, place on a baking dish, mince up some garlic and sprinkle over top of the tomatoes. Throw them in the oven for about 2 hours at 325 degrees.<br />
<br />
Once they're done make your quinoa according to directions on package. While its simmer, saute the onions and zucchini together, throw in the kale a bit later.<br />
<br />
Combine the cooked quinoa, vegetables, and roasted tomatoes in a bowl. Mix in about a tablespoon or so of your faaave pesto, sprinkle some ground cashews and nom out.<br />
<br />
I should mention that I made my own poor excuse for pesto...grabbed some basil from mah porch, threw in some garlic, olive oil, and ground cashews, attempted to process it without a processor, and bam...you got some average pesto.<br />
<br />
So that was my lunch. Sorry I took forever to get it to you all. Maybs I'll grace everyone with a proper post tonight. But probably won't until tomorrow morning.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-65991293496122098012011-06-21T06:54:00.000-07:002011-06-21T06:54:30.448-07:00Its a rainy morning...so I'm roasting tomatoes?Good morning!<br />
I had planned to wake up at 7:20 to go for a run this morning, and wake up I did. It just so happened that my wake-up time coincided with the beginning of some workers hacksawing something on our back porch. It was quite a surprise to wake up to the sound of a electric saw. Very Freddy vs Jason-esque. I could be completely off base with that comparison because I do not watch scary movies...at all. Never have, don't plan to in the future. I don't really think I'm missing out either.<br />
<br />
To get off track, something else I really don't like are roller coasters. I blame this on my Dad (sorry Dad). When my brother and I were kids he never forced us to get on roller coasters--just like my parents never made me get my ears pierced, never made my brother stick with baseball... . Anyways, eventually the time came that I was old enough to actually understand my fear as a reason to not do something and could think of terrible outcomes to my getting on a roller coaster, thus, I did not get on said roller coaster.<br />
<br />
And then came my Senior Trip to Hershey Park. My boyfriend at the time was an adventurous time and I had convinced myself that I would try to get on a roller coaster. I settled on using a smooth, fast, pretty popular one as my starting point. To my dismay, the ride I chose to begin my day was closed for repairs that morning. So logically, my boyfriend and group of friends decided that it would be alright to bypass my extreme fear of heights, and drops, and all things that are a roller coaster and go straight for the big sha-bam: Storm Runner.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNF6F868jorOS7SDrTOE52NB7_fJCHL1LpCT4qOX39poSlqOwgsLCsFgUy2Zlbo4CKIJgLKbUF84m0ZmNS_5ccJZMz1UMwzTXXmCP7y0qfkJTz_pcdNa2Gs5YSzKukomQR6s9YdWE0r4i/s1600/hp_storm_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNF6F868jorOS7SDrTOE52NB7_fJCHL1LpCT4qOX39poSlqOwgsLCsFgUy2Zlbo4CKIJgLKbUF84m0ZmNS_5ccJZMz1UMwzTXXmCP7y0qfkJTz_pcdNa2Gs5YSzKukomQR6s9YdWE0r4i/s320/hp_storm_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dying.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQARjokwo235BBsxsFVL23Vgle9sqLXiqvhbY3sb-OSJrmfSH6jsH4L9beN0RJKDab6ITE9b2ZUwbyK0URK_lWKmLEpBtxnd28AbZEK7nrr4vYhCMLF1d70xmB_v_92mBlpADOX7X246z9/s1600/Storm+Runner3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQARjokwo235BBsxsFVL23Vgle9sqLXiqvhbY3sb-OSJrmfSH6jsH4L9beN0RJKDab6ITE9b2ZUwbyK0URK_lWKmLEpBtxnd28AbZEK7nrr4vYhCMLF1d70xmB_v_92mBlpADOX7X246z9/s320/Storm+Runner3.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> For those of you who don't know Storm Runner, let me <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DEELm_Dajc">introduce you</a>. For those of the faint-of-stomach, I would avoid the video.<br />
<br />
Basically it was the most terrifying 57 seconds of my life. I was crying and shaking as the ride attendant buckled me in...I guess he's seen that a lot because he didn't really say anything. I'm pretty sure I peed my pants when it shot us off. I'm exaggerating, but if I had drank a lot of water that morning it definitely would've happened. When the ride came back into the loading area, the people waiting were clapping for me. Mind you, it was about 8 in the morning because our school likes to be early and my graduating class was the only group in the park. So they were the ones clapping for me...as I climbed out of the car shaking and crying.<br />
<br />
It was great.<br />
And then my boyfriend made me do it again...we're not together anymore.<br />
<br />
So anyways, back to real-time, I woke up and went for a run this morning. It was alright...short and sweet. Then I rode my bike to Central Market and pulled in this haul<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUakEBzWS5yFGmCA-Wyk9v6aQUXeefsMYJMZu6ssXU9G5IIIsGP7IbTaYAiCGhKwQxkdFCJRant_-kca5KYxY0o7jm0dnnbNl_4Gkt_V6snkOgVnImKs3_GV_wQ9uekXxPd7NXSdhINwm/s1600/IMG00392-20110621-0852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUakEBzWS5yFGmCA-Wyk9v6aQUXeefsMYJMZu6ssXU9G5IIIsGP7IbTaYAiCGhKwQxkdFCJRant_-kca5KYxY0o7jm0dnnbNl_4Gkt_V6snkOgVnImKs3_GV_wQ9uekXxPd7NXSdhINwm/s320/IMG00392-20110621-0852.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kale, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, avocado, blueberries, strawberries, zucchini, greens.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The hardest part was riding my bike back. My backpack was LOADED down, and I think I have a slow leak in my back wheel so it felt like it was dragging a bit.<br />
<br />
I found a recipe on the Hungry Nation podcast last night for a Kale, Quinoa, and Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes salad. I forgot to get cherry tomatoes so now I'm just roasting up some of those heirloom ones I got.<br />
<br />
That's all for now.<br />
<br />
P.S. was not aware roller coaster was two words. Thanks spell check.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-38348973030546082192011-06-20T06:19:00.000-07:002011-06-20T06:19:42.146-07:00I don't have an excuse this time......I just didn't post. I very well could have, and had a few ideas of what I would say. I decided that I'm going to be much more disciplined about this from now on. I want this to be more successful, so I need to grab this blog by its figurative horns and run with it. I think a lot of why I don't want to post is because I hate my pictures...the Blackberry is actually getting worse. Certainly not getting better. Definitely getting worse.<br />
<br />
I'd just like to say right here that I'm watching Chicago during the part where Richard Gere is basically doing a strip-tease. What a good-looking older man. Yummy.<br />
<br />
Anyways, I didn't make anything too interesting this week. I was pretty busy with work. I DID make BBQ tofu via <a href="http://www.hungryhungryhippie.com/">Hungry Hungry Hippie</a>. It was pretty good but left my baking dish covered in caked on BBQ sauce. I mixed it with quinoa like Hungry Hippie did but also sliced it and put on a sandwich for lunch.<br />
<br />
Today I'm home...not completely sure why. I just felt like coming home last night after field hockey. My mom made this delicious grilled tofu in a garlic-mustard marinade with tomatoes and basil. Oh right, that's why I came home.<br />
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Because I don't have any pictures from my kitchen adventures this week, I'll grace you all with some daddy daughter pics in honor of Father's Day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0L9B7oLtGuqXX0pNbXFH9HR4nQ2tky2rSUnLVMBjPhG_zbHrDEsHvF02BADDNfPoLtd-CufHj6Ztqroo4J31Qc59IjiZ-KCl5TfxdQpz5cb5xkb0Q6_SIVZnVbr3mMC-2Jd5AHSbghPAH/s1600/gradp+%2528422%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0L9B7oLtGuqXX0pNbXFH9HR4nQ2tky2rSUnLVMBjPhG_zbHrDEsHvF02BADDNfPoLtd-CufHj6Ztqroo4J31Qc59IjiZ-KCl5TfxdQpz5cb5xkb0Q6_SIVZnVbr3mMC-2Jd5AHSbghPAH/s320/gradp+%2528422%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture and the one after it are only a year apart...we look different though. And he's wearing the same pullover. What a fashion faux paux Dad.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguycRRlMJZoRAWcfDoK5B3F89be4MFUkk1c5CLl-9jDjp7YQZw-7b784lXOr5MEh1ciMPSrCuBvY1N8yK68D85gFOHQFd1v92iLuPvlaA6Y2SVkqq4uOKU91zVAbFjlRaNaRCnyrblQhBZ/s1600/gradp+%2528454%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguycRRlMJZoRAWcfDoK5B3F89be4MFUkk1c5CLl-9jDjp7YQZw-7b784lXOr5MEh1ciMPSrCuBvY1N8yK68D85gFOHQFd1v92iLuPvlaA6Y2SVkqq4uOKU91zVAbFjlRaNaRCnyrblQhBZ/s320/gradp+%2528454%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL6PJxlPyCde39w27954GCZYfWnSnRhF1wjVNifzb6VK1Nk-v6l1vfaxKo6gOVQUjjnzFlrGzpjrgWSQkyOXjl89HkMmPmiYM5B0HGiA3aqDAQVniv3_7LY4vSt9WtBOdF4S9cQbz6feh/s1600/gradp+%2528542%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL6PJxlPyCde39w27954GCZYfWnSnRhF1wjVNifzb6VK1Nk-v6l1vfaxKo6gOVQUjjnzFlrGzpjrgWSQkyOXjl89HkMmPmiYM5B0HGiA3aqDAQVniv3_7LY4vSt9WtBOdF4S9cQbz6feh/s320/gradp+%2528542%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-40506241020019143662011-06-13T06:11:00.000-07:002011-06-13T06:11:27.094-07:00Proud MamaThis weekend was relatively uneventful. I worked...obvsssss. But work is old news. I plan not to talk about it much unless a really funny customer walks in the door. I actually had one yesterday but it would be out of taste to relate the hilarity of my encounter with her.<br />
<br />
Basically she was off the boat. From the Far East. I will end there. <br />
<br />
BUT big things happened in the kitchen of our apartment last night. I emerged from my room half awake around 6 and found my 3 roomiez making food in the kitchen. Dana, accomplished in the kitchen already (see cupcake picture) was making her moms Sweet and Spicy Italian Sausage with Peppers. Can't say I had any but it smelled mighty good! (hey, even though I don't eat meat anymore doesn't mean I don't like the smell of it. Or the way it tastes. I might get into that more when I talk about veg-ism).<br />
<br />
But Dana never surprises in the kitchen; she knows her way around. She's good. She makes some bangin' food.<br />
<br />
The real excitement was built around Kristen (from now on Keeks) and Jess (from now on...Jess). Kristen made quesadillas--ON THE STOVE mind you--and some mashed up avocado with sweet onion and peppers, a guacamole of sorts. It was mighty delish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUD52h7KMS58fNo-CJIG8Jf_j0RuN-3LjAmlzY0dWgDZZpODUggXVi-ovVIMCpwv-iCueTLnGqKS9_H7nBNsJi3RlnWxKWpEmIIBFwRJnIqeHOOG7oUk3XQ4D1BOA_ZqxWvRNALTNyYrE/s1600/248852_1866025218076_1464390180_31881634_677446_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUD52h7KMS58fNo-CJIG8Jf_j0RuN-3LjAmlzY0dWgDZZpODUggXVi-ovVIMCpwv-iCueTLnGqKS9_H7nBNsJi3RlnWxKWpEmIIBFwRJnIqeHOOG7oUk3XQ4D1BOA_ZqxWvRNALTNyYrE/s320/248852_1866025218076_1464390180_31881634_677446_n.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana's photoskills. Kristen's crazy eyes. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Keeks also makes this really good salad that she eats on the reg. I'll have to get it from her and share it with you all sometime. <br />
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Wittle Jess surprised everyone, herself and her own mother included, when she banged out crab dip for dinner. She was mixing her ingredients at the table and I was sitting with her, somewhat zoning out because I had just gotten out of bed. And this is what ensued:<br />
<br />
Jess: NOOOOO ;askdjfasj *slur of random curses*<br />
The entire kitchen stopped what they were doing and turned and looked<br />
Jess: I was looking at the recipe and thought the mustard was the mayonnaise!<br />
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She put 2 tsp of dried mustard in, when really she should have but 1/4 tsp in because the recipe called for a half and she was halving the recipe. It was funny. She fixed it. And apparently her crab dip was amaze-balls as well, but I did not partake in the tasting as it had all sorts of yummy dairy. I think my body would go into gastric convulsions if I were to eat crab dip at this point. But props to Jess on her crabby dip!<br />
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Jess was also tricked by Dana into making banana bread muffins.<br />
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Dana: Jess you wanna help me make banana bread??!<br />
Jess: Ehhh...<br />
Dana: We can sing and dance while we do it!<br />
Jess: Alright.<br />
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About an hour later Jess was proudly holding the plate of muffins that she made all by herself. Under Dana's watchful eye of course.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNyNBRl8t3MitENse4yQj-09_BzEPWJ4elkzJHdOnUicUbHiHMX-RhjId76s_9SI3vc0buo_axaJMCOXOynbm-9fQCzVpZMUHrsVoovu1yIKuGEk23S7vQB9BM4zUSNcCwy7zeKL9wkxx/s1600/255090_1866046018596_1464390180_31881645_5079403_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNyNBRl8t3MitENse4yQj-09_BzEPWJ4elkzJHdOnUicUbHiHMX-RhjId76s_9SI3vc0buo_axaJMCOXOynbm-9fQCzVpZMUHrsVoovu1yIKuGEk23S7vQB9BM4zUSNcCwy7zeKL9wkxx/s320/255090_1866046018596_1464390180_31881645_5079403_n.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know the effect is weird on this. I couldn't figure out what to do with it...sorry. I just realized she kinda looks like a vampire now. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I didn't make anything spectacular for dinner...just some flatbread pizzas with tomato sauce and Daiya Mozzarella cheese. <br />
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I would also like to take this time and show you something that I like to eat now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji1f7tTTjEgumGADESD6dXuQz_2YrVPFJTSx2CqGrnUY8M64FELRxILyB41aADchJfO_HahNhIWDeILGgc_1w2Pa_SbxHbUgWgGZl81RiJu9coNYHgGlK5Ry_u_k2sjzb85QDQ0GnOsfT/s1600/IMG00323-20110529-0950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji1f7tTTjEgumGADESD6dXuQz_2YrVPFJTSx2CqGrnUY8M64FELRxILyB41aADchJfO_HahNhIWDeILGgc_1w2Pa_SbxHbUgWgGZl81RiJu9coNYHgGlK5Ry_u_k2sjzb85QDQ0GnOsfT/s320/IMG00323-20110529-0950.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzliiCS7SmWWnOO6rZABQSy-K8AD4_8V9kG1s56gBt5rI5ah2BV8dOFebr8FSZkUQFhuVvIm9M7168TtMYRF_-9t1jVd5ue-oM4ALN2z7byNwJZmBcgKLzeSQEK4Ac0BXBnkqf8NV4Ul4/s1600/IMG00322-20110529-0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzliiCS7SmWWnOO6rZABQSy-K8AD4_8V9kG1s56gBt5rI5ah2BV8dOFebr8FSZkUQFhuVvIm9M7168TtMYRF_-9t1jVd5ue-oM4ALN2z7byNwJZmBcgKLzeSQEK4Ac0BXBnkqf8NV4Ul4/s320/IMG00322-20110529-0943.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Vans Frozen Waffles!! These pictures were taken at home. I wasn't a big fan of the Apple Cinammon ones my mom had, but I think they were a little freezer burnt. Just look at how pretty that breakfast photo is....gad I miss our sunroom. I also didn't like them with syrup. <br />
<br />
I have a package of the flax flavored (?) ones. Can they even be flax flavored? I don't know. They just say flax where the other package in the picture says Apple Cinammon. I pop them in the toaster, pull out the peanut butter and apple butter (that my brother's girlfriend made with the apples from her own property!! *shout out Shannon, the only person who reads this*), slather the spreads on, and eat with a sliced banana and some chia seeds.<br />
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Om nom nom nom.<br />
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I suuriiously suggest it.<br />
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Obviously I haven't taken a picture of it yet because I get too distracted by actually eating the food before I capture it. I don't know how food bloggers do it, taking pictures of everything they eat. I have much to learn. <br />
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Alrighty ta-ta for now! Time to go get hydrated and do my workoutskies.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-36384490890035058652011-06-11T04:47:00.000-07:002011-06-11T04:47:32.724-07:00Womp womp wompSo today was one of those days. Actually no it wasn't. I was having a really good day until I was told someone complained about my bad attitude at work. I ended up getting really upset because, to be honest, I did have a bad attitude the day that the customer complained about my behavior. It made me realize that I've been a bit of a puss lately...I can't seem to get my head out of my butt and just relax. Yes, I'm working full-time for the first time, but everyone does that. It is no excuse to be rude.<br />
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So I cried a bit because I was being a little baby.<br />
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I watched Sleepless in Seattle because I love Tom Hanks (and Tom Hanks with Meg Ryan is double great) and I can't pass up a good love story.<br />
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And then I made "Mac 'n Cheez". I got the idea from <a href="http://www.une-vie-saine.com/">Gabriella at Une Vie Saine</a>. I tweaked it a bit.<br />
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This is the recipe she provides...its called Lazy Girl Mac n Cheese<br />
<br />
- 4 oz / 2 servings uncooked pasta (I used brown rice fusilli)<br />
- 1 T non-dairy margarine (I used Earth Balance, olive oil would also probably work)<br />
- 4 T hummus<br />
- 2 T nutritional yeast<br />
- 2 T water<br />
- 1/2 c Daiya cheddar cheese shreds<br />
- 2 T non-dairy milk, warmed for about 30 seconds in microwave (I used unsweetened almond)<br />
- salt and pepper, to taste<br />
- vegetables of choice (optional)<br />
<br />
I used Sabra Pine Nut Hummus, and I don't think it was 4 T...it was just whatever I had left in the container...I think about 3 T. I substituted ground cashews for the nutritional yeast, nixed the water and used mozzarella Daiya cheese. I added tomatoes like she did as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs20RsrOKf2ErGYV2KgFYRfvI7x76ZukPevtzHpG94eXzWGwMzLe9-eRac_XE7tqllVtpcyBNCvi_CZuarQCD1rntgajPbYPgAv1XYdMaLZaGywxbfL3CLUg4KOWow0rvHJ_GRJL4yWe8/s1600/IMG00355-20110610-1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs20RsrOKf2ErGYV2KgFYRfvI7x76ZukPevtzHpG94eXzWGwMzLe9-eRac_XE7tqllVtpcyBNCvi_CZuarQCD1rntgajPbYPgAv1XYdMaLZaGywxbfL3CLUg4KOWow0rvHJ_GRJL4yWe8/s320/IMG00355-20110610-1713.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I have to say it was pretty darn good for a non-cheese-mac-and-cheese. It definitely satisfied my craving for some comfort food.<br />
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That is alll...hopefully I can convince my roommate to go out tonight.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-46472457728559042142011-06-09T07:09:00.000-07:002011-06-09T07:09:40.196-07:00I know you've missed meDisclaimer: while trying to think of a title for this post, all I could think about was this movie.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNp0l-GLYgUfaQxvji5Jg3j6tilBIis02AOISr3o30CTsQtjBRY_JUjJt26jIgqGqnV27e1jpnc0SioCmszxDYIiPfap_0F8oxTblc5bLDtfWKPVU6T9YUJB2tVRs2TG-J7LY6sJhBEFlk/s1600/A70-8086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNp0l-GLYgUfaQxvji5Jg3j6tilBIis02AOISr3o30CTsQtjBRY_JUjJt26jIgqGqnV27e1jpnc0SioCmszxDYIiPfap_0F8oxTblc5bLDtfWKPVU6T9YUJB2tVRs2TG-J7LY6sJhBEFlk/s320/A70-8086.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br />
I'm back from a bit of a hiatus. I moved into my new apartment at school and *shocker* there was no internet or cable for the first week that we were here. Keep in mind that I'm living in the apartments that house the Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity, what I like to affectionately refer to as the fra-nerd-ity. Imagine this situation...a bunch of nerds were without their technology and internet for a full week.<br />
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Disaster struck.<br />
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Actually it didn't really...I caught up on some reading...kind of.<br />
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We played cards.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw5Gx2wcEed6WJjZFC9qG9tLwoAy-gyfcawvnEejB3Or00BGXBVBlYwheBO7nbO_rKKvgE_rR3aYSzEw82MkzzlZPvD3xpJF4GX6cleTYBqjNAZ6jYOmQTbh1fRAtAB8UFlZ0mRX9zdb0/s1600/IMG00329-20110602-2356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw5Gx2wcEed6WJjZFC9qG9tLwoAy-gyfcawvnEejB3Or00BGXBVBlYwheBO7nbO_rKKvgE_rR3aYSzEw82MkzzlZPvD3xpJF4GX6cleTYBqjNAZ6jYOmQTbh1fRAtAB8UFlZ0mRX9zdb0/s320/IMG00329-20110602-2356.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Went to Wal Mart.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNBwxaGGRVJb6S0Dc3NGZjAxSibe1s24cOqV4EkEZZwPwU662j_7e9IJUI-k3UU8j12wC9dz4slnki5IKVVVhF7qfweIRhqzidUWo2MsulKX81gh_PQX01CqEhCp2sCBWZS8Fjc3kwRQE/s1600/IMG00328-20110601-2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNBwxaGGRVJb6S0Dc3NGZjAxSibe1s24cOqV4EkEZZwPwU662j_7e9IJUI-k3UU8j12wC9dz4slnki5IKVVVhF7qfweIRhqzidUWo2MsulKX81gh_PQX01CqEhCp2sCBWZS8Fjc3kwRQE/s320/IMG00328-20110601-2049.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People of WalMart...</td></tr>
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Ate some freaking awesome Thai food with the parents. We went to Suko Thai which is literally right down the street from me. I got the Drunken Noodles with vegetables and fried tofu on top. I ate the whole thing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRFOlrPny7Y6jkqWmAEITlNd3wLVg4BrDdiKA5Q8YlD2OacKrSDOU_nm7APk-9Cyh5N9rr7hxQReM_NEAeTk59eO017_T0COX_jXoOiH33lQpQ7FBG85MzAvlxarZIjB4QwlEiObUsnDa/s1600/IMG00339-20110604-1841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRFOlrPny7Y6jkqWmAEITlNd3wLVg4BrDdiKA5Q8YlD2OacKrSDOU_nm7APk-9Cyh5N9rr7hxQReM_NEAeTk59eO017_T0COX_jXoOiH33lQpQ7FBG85MzAvlxarZIjB4QwlEiObUsnDa/s320/IMG00339-20110604-1841.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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To attest to the deliciousness of this meal, I was a complete and total grump before we ate. My parents threatened to kick me out of the car. After I consumed the noodles and veggies and tofu I became the most pleasant and grateful 20 year old to walk the streets of Lancaster. My parents will confirm this, just ask them!<br />
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Oh wait, you can't ask them today or until the end of the weekend because they are off on their way to Vermont to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary. It was actually today, 27 years ago, that they got married. Excuse me while I get a little soppy about good ole' Sherry and Bob for a little bit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37I1XWD1QZQTdaoMV-5Jha21MOFYXRajQB5mJIhBVAsLXC0fn5OwzWDIno4M_yxh5wvgbKDLCZKAFypM7YilELlBbS5M4LAhOG1QOug7wvVfoqe3uKD_JrhECwtrwvUpT2_1bnH3DS-TH/s1600/19043_105020736184532_100000298190962_133437_625433_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37I1XWD1QZQTdaoMV-5Jha21MOFYXRajQB5mJIhBVAsLXC0fn5OwzWDIno4M_yxh5wvgbKDLCZKAFypM7YilELlBbS5M4LAhOG1QOug7wvVfoqe3uKD_JrhECwtrwvUpT2_1bnH3DS-TH/s320/19043_105020736184532_100000298190962_133437_625433_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
My parents met while my mom was in college and my dad was in the Navy. Momma worked at McDonald's, and Daddy walked in one night (belligerent, mind you) with his softball buddies and met Momma. Long story short, they fell in love and got married on June 9th, 1984 in my grandparents backyard.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVik0zk6tBAQb1PyxNhY3wMWeDbbkVOq29LdSLOngsObvXbnVgSQ8sSzm2zpO87db6ii7XXLoNfB0LRlbI512RlqCXw1GNaRGu6CXgFkIYyLG8eB1C1bQ-ps9uI4nxMVH9eAmoqv15p8rj/s200/73545_169589936394278_100000298190962_522429_3577824_n-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="138" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What my dad looked like when they met...a bit scrawny if you ask me. </td></tr>
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbCkEZVt7UVpPoqB1BMR-ll1xr4uZvQZvFy1bRJwzOWTsyem0pBY-0JLoH8mDdhPvLwYwzQfai_aY_31bj2wjX5AvvvYvJmiq_715rTlVhjOxDDmr3j6H-hiJtPm1wOhLRxcBTRJ7XI56/s1600/73545_169589929727612_100000298190962_522427_2269727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbCkEZVt7UVpPoqB1BMR-ll1xr4uZvQZvFy1bRJwzOWTsyem0pBY-0JLoH8mDdhPvLwYwzQfai_aY_31bj2wjX5AvvvYvJmiq_715rTlVhjOxDDmr3j6H-hiJtPm1wOhLRxcBTRJ7XI56/s320/73545_169589929727612_100000298190962_522427_2269727_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Momma on the left. She didn't only work at McDonald's. She was a nurse in the Navy too. </td></tr>
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</div>I'm always amazed at the love that my parents share. I forget a lot of stuff from my childhood--my brother is the one with the amazing memory--but I don't think I'll ever forget little moments that I've seen my parents share.<br />
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I won't forget being told by my dad to clean up the kitchen <i>for</i> my mother, or before she gets home. He is always conscious of what will make her happy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDF38mv-9e7URFUEFeAGWeFPc9vkKZ9pV1hYaXUVVARwDS9dmjgohczVza4_6WBJ3VuNfXO6pzoSz2LI3No0fHz6TCspVMtU5v74wW72md71FR5o-J_iih6-XolMgoPe5AyXNvahw3WUg/s1600/167663_182468908439714_100000298190962_622602_8137740_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDF38mv-9e7URFUEFeAGWeFPc9vkKZ9pV1hYaXUVVARwDS9dmjgohczVza4_6WBJ3VuNfXO6pzoSz2LI3No0fHz6TCspVMtU5v74wW72md71FR5o-J_iih6-XolMgoPe5AyXNvahw3WUg/s320/167663_182468908439714_100000298190962_622602_8137740_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I won't forget seeing my dad come home and walk up behind my mom, turn her around and start dancing with her. No music, interrupting her dinner preparations, with my brother and I sitting at the table doing homework.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-t8Y0RhXPg5rBtm0SV9tIdeoDzOqEVu5lDZgTzA3tvnfew0fL_RUVJBd2OnxXWHVq-7iX5ZS_MC75BiTz0g4SXLhsA4Sg8aamKGBwabOXLQFmm5VVxzbH1ZYR-iqB2rb4FmRT9WSSxq1l/s1600/38087_145524185463761_100000185410384_451421_4255039_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-t8Y0RhXPg5rBtm0SV9tIdeoDzOqEVu5lDZgTzA3tvnfew0fL_RUVJBd2OnxXWHVq-7iX5ZS_MC75BiTz0g4SXLhsA4Sg8aamKGBwabOXLQFmm5VVxzbH1ZYR-iqB2rb4FmRT9WSSxq1l/s1600/38087_145524185463761_100000185410384_451421_4255039_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I won't forget the countless Mother's and Father's Days, the anniversaries, the birthdays and holidays, where they never forget to give each other a funny AND romantic card.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXwtfHvPvsfJc4AbcJRYHnkuTVWlM4Nnd5nFcFH0g4P3YJX2RV72r9MvzgKbTW_65Cd2GBzofiJt7Zsy8sGCyK4UwdxNfXb4JKwrn0TivWnzedR6QTqcddVgCyc-grmvVMaG1akFBxGWd/s1600/58644_156878804328299_100000185410384_528448_6811800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXwtfHvPvsfJc4AbcJRYHnkuTVWlM4Nnd5nFcFH0g4P3YJX2RV72r9MvzgKbTW_65Cd2GBzofiJt7Zsy8sGCyK4UwdxNfXb4JKwrn0TivWnzedR6QTqcddVgCyc-grmvVMaG1akFBxGWd/s320/58644_156878804328299_100000185410384_528448_6811800_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
One time when we were out to dinner, my dad asked me when I planned to get married so that he could figure out when he would have grand kids. I thought about it and realized my parents were 22 almost 23 when they were married, meaning I would be meeting soon or have already met the man I will marry. At first I felt like the pressure was one.<br />
<br />
But then I realized that my parents are just lucky. They found each other and have made it work. They spent most of the first few years of their marriage apart because of my dad being out to on the USS Enterprise. They have worked hard to get to where they are and they've set an incredible example for my brother and I.<br />
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I know that we will never settle for anything less than the love that they have shared and will share for the rest of their lives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHPIg5MxPVXioIQGZWY5oOZhokWlnLSzc0vFddbMK2mx2kgu7nUU_riFw0U3CMhrnj2t4jEiAtbdTl-vAEVGf1lspMcGAjCMRM67kb_cMGY0KMXwIYNURmEQxxDl1HVuy09kMx-ZHRi_G/s1600/180324_193951527291452_100000298190962_704771_7017960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHPIg5MxPVXioIQGZWY5oOZhokWlnLSzc0vFddbMK2mx2kgu7nUU_riFw0U3CMhrnj2t4jEiAtbdTl-vAEVGf1lspMcGAjCMRM67kb_cMGY0KMXwIYNURmEQxxDl1HVuy09kMx-ZHRi_G/s320/180324_193951527291452_100000298190962_704771_7017960_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-9977708428000344612011-06-01T06:12:00.000-07:002011-06-01T06:12:45.913-07:00This blog is a bit backwardsI started this blog to help me track my "healthy vegan/vegetarian eating experience" and to throw in some commentary about how great at keeping up with my fitness I am.<br />
<br />
But instead I choose to post recipes about baked things that aren't completely healthy.<br />
<br />
Like the <a href="http://exercisingmyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/05/getting-hang-of-things.html">chocolate chip cookies</a> from last week.<br />
<br />
Don't worry. I promise I'll start posting good things you can eat, like real food, instead of cookies and the cup-*wait for it*-cakes (5 dollahs to anyone who can name that show) that I'm about to post. Things that you can eat for lunch and dinner and breakfast...unless, like myself, you're OK with surviving on cookie dough and frosting.<br />
<br />
If that's the consensus then I'll just stick to the baked goods.<br />
<br />
No? Blast. <br />
<br />
ANYWAYS this beautiful morning I bring to you some cupcakes. I made these because it is Krissy Fusco's birthday on Thursday and I, the bad friend I am, move into my apartment today and worked last night so I was not and will not be able to celebrate her birthday with her.<br />
<br />
So I made her cupcakes.<br />
<br />
Peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes. Honestly, the pairing of peanut butter and chocolate is heaven on Earth. It makes my heart sing. And my stomach growl.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vPRWOcegb8N8sU4GPY9bDViuMBS3NkKSIt8nZ0JlEf5kJTampPQW8MBB3uoLH-EU3_Rd2IsYmn4plL_NkDV7uJHzeFw8h2TbG61ekN2pjUvFZXvBxMkw9nwgnWh_QlKMi8ZbWdHDwWKZ/s1600/IMG00326-20110531-1253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vPRWOcegb8N8sU4GPY9bDViuMBS3NkKSIt8nZ0JlEf5kJTampPQW8MBB3uoLH-EU3_Rd2IsYmn4plL_NkDV7uJHzeFw8h2TbG61ekN2pjUvFZXvBxMkw9nwgnWh_QlKMi8ZbWdHDwWKZ/s320/IMG00326-20110531-1253.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
They were awesome.<br />
<br />
Make them.<br />
<br />
Nomz.<br />
<br />
<b>Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">from the <a href="http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/special-dietary-needs/vegan-chocolate-peanut-butter-cupcakes/">TastyKitchen Blog</a></span><br />
<br />
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour<br />
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1/2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1 1/4 cup sugar<br />
1/2 cup vegan margarine<br />
1 (ish) tsp vanilla extract<br />
1/2 cup warm water<br />
1/2 cup coffee<br />
<br />
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet of muffin tins. <br />
<br />
Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium sized bowl.<br />
<br />
Mix together the margarine, sugar, and coffee until well combined. Follow with the vanilla extract and the warm water.<br />
<br />
Add the dry ingredients to the wet a little bit at a time until mixed. This batter comes out pretty thick<br />
<br />
Fill the muffin tins 2/3 full of the batter. Put in the oven for-at the most- 25 minutes. I put them in for 25 minutes and they came out a little bit dense, I'm thinking if they were in for about 20-23 they would've been a bit more moist. Try it, you tell me!!<br />
<br />
<b>Awesome, Amazing, Beautiful, Lovely, Peanut Butter Frosting</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">from <a href="http://www.sunnimaravillosa.com/node/1210">Sunni Mara Villosa</a> <--I'm not completely sure what this blog is...I typed in "peanut butter frosting without powdered sugar" into google and this came up</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 cup natural peanut butter (I used smooth but the recipe says you can use chunky)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/4-1/2 tsp salt</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup agave (the recipe called for honey...I switched it up)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp vanilla</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 vegan margarine (the recipe called for butter, I used stick Earth Balance instead) barely softened</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Make sure the peanut butter is well mixed before you measure it. Blend together the salt and peanut butter to taste. Add the honey and the vanilla, and finally the margarine. Keep in mind that the softness of the butter is very important in the recipe...it determines what the consistency of the frosting will be. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remember to let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting them!! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">SIDE NOTE I would like to discuss the proper way to eat a cupcake. The best way and the only way:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT1AAF48E4o">this guy has it right.</a> I don't really know who he is...I typed in a youtube search because I wanted to give you all a visual and this came up. The girl in the video has it wrong.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">hoorah. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-26714852903011394912011-05-31T06:34:00.000-07:002011-05-31T06:34:30.748-07:00Bye Bye WeekendSo I'm sure everyone is curious what I did on my Memorial-Day-weekend-that-I-did-not-have-off. And even if you aren't wondering I'm obviously still going to tell you.<br />
<br />
I worked Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (double time WOOP WOOP YEA <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghV3LttyA-E">I'm gettin paper</a>) and have to work today as well...and then after Wednesday--THE DAY I MOVE IN--every day until Monday. I'm a working lady now...get at me. <br />
<br />
But even though I was pretty busy making money this weekend I still did some super fun things.<br />
<br />
I ate some food.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tdXqrCeRLPXinG60Vj51Yh2df2wK9iaIWO72GiYGIlqpCqZZ9Kzjbs334NLf5IdJ8uaeWWMtZY30TuJ6HNKUWYAi8fIgWy01Ol71wAOLwUInxNcnI5RnW6Rj9FPu5uTYUe85I8AxY1BP/s1600/IMG00321-20110528-1258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tdXqrCeRLPXinG60Vj51Yh2df2wK9iaIWO72GiYGIlqpCqZZ9Kzjbs334NLf5IdJ8uaeWWMtZY30TuJ6HNKUWYAi8fIgWy01Ol71wAOLwUInxNcnI5RnW6Rj9FPu5uTYUe85I8AxY1BP/s320/IMG00321-20110528-1258.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This was an awesome sandwich from <a href="http://www.dillweedsbelair.com/">Dillweeds</a> in Bel Air. Its a cute little sandwich, soup, and salad shop that reminds of Panera but better because they don't kill you with the fatty and commercialized food products. This sandwich is called the Veggie Powerhouse and it has lettuce, baby spinach, tomato, onion, cucumber, mushrooms (?), and the guy making it threw on some honey mustard because, in his words, he didn't want us to be "complete rabbits". I thought it was funny. I got the cucumber tomato salad on the side which is alright but I think it could be made with a little more flavor. My mom got the same sandwich but with sweet potato fries on the side which were bangin'.<br />
<br />
Also, as you can see I forgot to take a picture of the food until I was halfway through eating it...oops.<br />
<br />
This great lunch interrupted a day full of SHOPPING for my NEW APARTMENT YAYYY. We (as in I picked it out, and my mother graciously paid for it all) bought lots of kitchen stuff. Honestly, the kitchen in this apartment is all I care about right now...I could sleep on a bare mattress and be OK with it as long as we had measuring cups, a few pots and pans, and baking sheets in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
The other thing I did this weekend is really strange.<br />
<br />
I got my eyelashes extended.<br />
<br />
You're probably saying "whaaaa..?"<br />
<br />
They look exactly like this<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Mg7DSFsFE-aue0omT20JtjS-mQaUK2wZWeY3bP3jGbA_nJYQjZSFxvQ_6sCE27wdP-MggD4u3en1xVb5ldG_QCivaIg5XJwRrfBCvfqYG_mRik296NU04xG3i89XTQBwd4PGFOynOSe5/s1600/LongEyelashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Mg7DSFsFE-aue0omT20JtjS-mQaUK2wZWeY3bP3jGbA_nJYQjZSFxvQ_6sCE27wdP-MggD4u3en1xVb5ldG_QCivaIg5XJwRrfBCvfqYG_mRik296NU04xG3i89XTQBwd4PGFOynOSe5/s320/LongEyelashes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You obviously want to know how they do it so that you can get it done too, right? Well they take each lash and pull on it really hard and stop just before it pops out. Bam! You're eyelashes are immediately awesome looking.<br />
<br />
What, you don't believe me?<br />
<br />
Well, good, because that's not right at all. Basically I look like this now<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1ewPh9kD2I-Q9c7RuxUN8_0DWlbSNdZMIX5KF1i7OYHcJ8cOoxCRfyDAgrmo0Tnnh7j2pH0Xn2hszMyrVMZH3sfihHMYfCOdKSpw298FJ7qhPaACJg0ragkNWw9RV2xlSE_JfdNBAy4_/s1600/kim-kardashian-sexy-eyelashes-nude-lips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1ewPh9kD2I-Q9c7RuxUN8_0DWlbSNdZMIX5KF1i7OYHcJ8cOoxCRfyDAgrmo0Tnnh7j2pH0Xn2hszMyrVMZH3sfihHMYfCOdKSpw298FJ7qhPaACJg0ragkNWw9RV2xlSE_JfdNBAy4_/s320/kim-kardashian-sexy-eyelashes-nude-lips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yeah, still kidding. But for real this is my after shot...I would have a before but its on my mom's phone and she's not here...wehh.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7PG5lGij6U7YbnqLD0cAdCfED9XdFsT72eXK0RXy30OOlYzjkqQoDVaP1rd1DNrJZupnieGDzdgEHCga3Z6aOwZysJ54SmOErbAvgMhNrK-A7KN29u-jFx54nLL5wH4S-ptw1YwEnAn1/s1600/IMG00320-20110527-0806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7PG5lGij6U7YbnqLD0cAdCfED9XdFsT72eXK0RXy30OOlYzjkqQoDVaP1rd1DNrJZupnieGDzdgEHCga3Z6aOwZysJ54SmOErbAvgMhNrK-A7KN29u-jFx54nLL5wH4S-ptw1YwEnAn1/s320/IMG00320-20110527-0806.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ignore the bulging alien eyes. It was early in the morning...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9lqnz7BOW1Z2QZlpnQzeL-MrtIPz6fdFEtsE4xMRjYllcuW13LS_2HLvDhPySOh81-sfRZx1d5sVfoUw1S5zMKFCxPTvR46ET5HaOJaF4MEl8asCDF2iz9VsQ3PTKhhMrAhn0BSAUPni/s1600/IMG00319-20110527-0806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9lqnz7BOW1Z2QZlpnQzeL-MrtIPz6fdFEtsE4xMRjYllcuW13LS_2HLvDhPySOh81-sfRZx1d5sVfoUw1S5zMKFCxPTvR46ET5HaOJaF4MEl8asCDF2iz9VsQ3PTKhhMrAhn0BSAUPni/s320/IMG00319-20110527-0806.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
They're pretty legit. People keep telling me I have great lashes and then I feel like an imposter. But the story behind them is that I won them in a raffle (more on that raffle later...it has a much longer story attached) and figured, why not? I never win anything...I don't win bingo, I don't win silent auctions. The closest I got to "winning" something before this was having a good lottery number to get a nice room my sophomore year of college.<br />
<br />
So I went to the salon and basically you lay down, the lady puts some stuff on your eyelids so they don't stick together, you fall asleep, and you wake up looking like Kim Kardash! The "X-Treme Lash Specialist" attaches a synthetic lash to each natural lash with some sort of adhesive. Its pre-tt-yyy cool if you ask me.<br />
<br />
In addition to the lashes I got my hair darkened also...so basically I'm a whole new version of me. Except I'm not a fan of mirror pictures or self shots ever since this picture (from, like, freshman year of high school) appeared in my graduation slide show.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-AdCFc1i_JoZdaybRI8iMVN2m-QJUdy8Uxa_olbAzuPSeJ1kkkQZ4_HV69TWoIamtHGpN56icYW-k_AloOBdxW7lcvJNPHq9pWUljH5LD-PT5JMotDGGZ4egeWGR3t4d3_1vm6hwrDsQ/s320/gradp+%2528198%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why was this OK?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So ever since that traumatizing event I just avoid taking pictures of myself at all costs. So I didn't get a picture of my hair. Sorry....<br />
<br />
Alright well this didn't really even encompass all the stuff I did this weekend...or all the fun things I made and ate and forgot to take pictures of. So maybe I'll post again later, but right now my dad is subtly hinting at me to go workout...except not so subtly.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-84330080926864357562011-05-26T16:59:00.000-07:002011-07-05T07:18:30.466-07:00Getting the hang of thingsHave you ever been so excited to do something, and you build it up in your head, and you get started and realize its going to be kind of hard and probably not all that you thought it would be? This blog is a little bit like that. This is how I pictured it going:<br />
<br />
1) Awesome cool amazing pictures that totally blow your mind and make you think that I've been practicing photography for years (when really I'm just incredibly talented at everything I do, no big deal). Like this<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmrh5BaMhhGeDPoilakrCGrkD47yWG5kjZ3rqwgU3pI4cgjv-xC8T7gjgCwkQkOCzCRjbV_a8zE_iRDshKsvvCqkvD_FCmvmNrixSJ35_sA6dskU3VGt1lyriyPFPxSy_lhcDXynFPc8S/s1600/beautiful-trunk-bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmrh5BaMhhGeDPoilakrCGrkD47yWG5kjZ3rqwgU3pI4cgjv-xC8T7gjgCwkQkOCzCRjbV_a8zE_iRDshKsvvCqkvD_FCmvmNrixSJ35_sA6dskU3VGt1lyriyPFPxSy_lhcDXynFPc8S/s320/beautiful-trunk-bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Except of food so actually more like this guy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzmtIj_JrAP-vSAQOyNTN__0E6wzb_eFMFL4kXVeyrthd_hs0jprAAQp97LAVGxMAxra9aVXyoosviUrwnsVmpjPPFnXO3nuHOlM4lxgYp8jZ-ktwSKyXv7ThtxUE9CjZTJGORANSt9Z4/s1600/5025157154_07c5fb7113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzmtIj_JrAP-vSAQOyNTN__0E6wzb_eFMFL4kXVeyrthd_hs0jprAAQp97LAVGxMAxra9aVXyoosviUrwnsVmpjPPFnXO3nuHOlM4lxgYp8jZ-ktwSKyXv7ThtxUE9CjZTJGORANSt9Z4/s320/5025157154_07c5fb7113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
2) I would know exactly what to say about my day and wouldn't have to spend time thinking about what I would write. I would just sit down and my fingers would tap away greatness.<br />
<br />
3) All of my friends would be like, "You know Rachel? You're such an amazing writer, and so witty and funny that I totally encourage this blog writing activity. Go you."<br />
<br />
What really happened:<br />
<br />
1) I realized I don't own a camera. The only thing in my possession that captures images to memory is my Crackberry. I made cookies...really, really good vegan cookies. They're chewy with a little bit of crunch on the outside and are not that good for you at all--but they taste so good. And gosh, they are beautiful. But my poor little phone could just not handle these cookies' greatness.<br />
<br />
This was the result...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4goqhL3yOgwuMMcAqcNbnp33MI9Uvo7ozen8p6pj1Ygxj4ZAnLBa8_GIS3qxj6jDlidqX_E2yj4Zkb9ay3YKSPDmtZfEdwAyTYo1jwOMFQhJg6bORPzmWHhXh5arGikUwSItVU7igUGl/s1600/IMG00316-20110526-1913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4goqhL3yOgwuMMcAqcNbnp33MI9Uvo7ozen8p6pj1Ygxj4ZAnLBa8_GIS3qxj6jDlidqX_E2yj4Zkb9ay3YKSPDmtZfEdwAyTYo1jwOMFQhJg6bORPzmWHhXh5arGikUwSItVU7igUGl/s320/IMG00316-20110526-1913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I know, you're put into a state of rapture by this picture. I am too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwayl06bogFTKvMwHXVfrGncWwzVfgz5Xvuov8U1ZSqO3LCdGqyhBC_1qHot9FbrHkIWWDL4lSk2XfT07SvM1vB_h2c_9ICqVe303vF4Innb2HqT6MGspMx8ay9soWUqXPMWq9MK1wRpi_/s1600/IMG00317-20110526-1913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwayl06bogFTKvMwHXVfrGncWwzVfgz5Xvuov8U1ZSqO3LCdGqyhBC_1qHot9FbrHkIWWDL4lSk2XfT07SvM1vB_h2c_9ICqVe303vF4Innb2HqT6MGspMx8ay9soWUqXPMWq9MK1wRpi_/s320/IMG00317-20110526-1913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My attempt at being artistic. If I do say so myself, I think it looks pretty dang good for a "water" damaged Blackberry and good 'ole iPhoto retouching. I put water in quotes because we all know kids don't actually damage their phones with water....lets be real. <br />
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2) I want to write about so many things that I just can't decide what to do, so I just try to stay as clear of this blog as possible. I don't know yet what I want to write about...really I just want to look at pictures and recipes of food all day and bake and cook all of them. And then I want to take pictures of my meals and show you what I eat. BUT we know we all can't do that. We have to do things like work, and go to jury duty, and get false eyelashes put on. I also just get too eager to eat my food that I forget to take a picture and then I'm left staring at an empty plate thinking "Damn, I really wanted to take a picture of that. It was pretty cool."<br />
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3) I only told two friends I have a blog. They happen to be two people I lived with last year and will be living with again starting June 1st. They laughed at me...but said the title was good. I know that I have chosen the right friends because honestly, everyone needs a little bit of humility in life. We can't take everything so seriously. These same friends laughed at me when I told them I was becoming a vegetarian and that only made me work harder to prove them wrong, and now I'm flirting with trying a vegan diet and have no intention of returning to a meat eating diet. So I really was not expecting them to glorify me. Its not our style. I love them.<br />
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What this post comes down to is that I'm excited for this challenge that is blogging. I'm excited to save up for a really nice camera and to learn how to use it. I'm excited to have something to write about and share with you everyday. Even though it might just be my parents who are reading this *shout out Mom and Dad*.<br />
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What I'm not excited for is having to clean up my dog's vomit now that I just found her eating her face off in the closet with all the dog food. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LLcYq4MGfUdZHjjxcZp-DyWUQSz3y6hyLUgXnRWRuS0dufMdnczC5uPZaLieKsrpaMA1cFimtRHgNBwSR3W8WtqgBhAt9crOAibSseZAgB47BchCJWKdQzBGYbf5LhG4GurhryXFEC_V/s1600/IMG00032-20101125-1201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LLcYq4MGfUdZHjjxcZp-DyWUQSz3y6hyLUgXnRWRuS0dufMdnczC5uPZaLieKsrpaMA1cFimtRHgNBwSR3W8WtqgBhAt9crOAibSseZAgB47BchCJWKdQzBGYbf5LhG4GurhryXFEC_V/s320/IMG00032-20101125-1201.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feed me?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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But she's just so darn cute.<br />
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Oh and for your pleasure:<br />
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<b>Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Adapted from <a href="http://www.veganbaking.net/">www.veganbaking.net</a></span><br />
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2 tbsp flax meal<br />
3 tbsp water<br />
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour<br />
3/4 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp vegan margarine (I used Earth Balance)<br />
1 1/2 cups sugar<br />
2 tsp brown rice syrup (the original recipe calls for molasses)<br />
2 tsp vanilla extract<br />
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (the 60% Ghiradelli are vegan)<br />
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<i>****I changed this recipe a bit the second time I made it. I halved the sugar and did 3/4 light brown sugar and 3/4 white sugar. I added 2 T of apple sauce at the end because they were not sticking well. </i><br />
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1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together the water and flax and let sit for about 10 minutes until the mixture solidifies<br />
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2) In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon).<br />
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3) In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and margarine until well combined. Add the water and flax mixture, followed by the brown rice syrup and the vanilla extract.<br />
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4) Add the dry ingredients about a 1/4 cup at a time until well-combined. Add the chocolate chips.<br />
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5) Form 1 1/2 inch balls and pull them apart in half. Put the 2 torn halves together so the torn parts are the top of the cookie (this makes the cookie bake in a chunky fashion). Put the balls on parchment paper lined baking sheets. <br />
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6) Bake for 15 minutes on the middle rack, turning the sheet around halfway through. The cookies bake to be golden brown so pay attention and do not overbake. <br />
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Woop woop yea and there ya go some bangin' cookies.<br />
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Thanks! Until next time dudes,<br />
Rachel<br />
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PS: my brother just said they taste just like regular cookies. Amen.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-86704760137987087382011-05-23T13:20:00.000-07:002011-05-24T05:29:00.568-07:00IntroductionsHello all! Or I guess I should say anyone out there who is listening, BUT I'll ere on the optimistic side and assume someone is reading this. Which I think is safer to start with because, if you think about it, blogging with no one really listening is like talking to yourself...and that's just a little sad.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPP0FFBSWNCl1MWuFKaKN-CGaTxKLrjmLu5P5AKEn3bBfNy_2UjwAXRZH2J-dW-gs22Qs2zVM6Mc1UA79fVMbfn4bUpawETJOIAIe8MbzhdxUdqFgfLPA71UyIHNzLtnL39cXL19Bsz39/s1600/217162_1013286132157_1225140210_30088266_8689_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPP0FFBSWNCl1MWuFKaKN-CGaTxKLrjmLu5P5AKEn3bBfNy_2UjwAXRZH2J-dW-gs22Qs2zVM6Mc1UA79fVMbfn4bUpawETJOIAIe8MbzhdxUdqFgfLPA71UyIHNzLtnL39cXL19Bsz39/s320/217162_1013286132157_1225140210_30088266_8689_n.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
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Anyone ways, I figured I would provide some background information on myself. Like I said in the first post, I'm a college junior--I attend Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and I love it. I'm an English-Creative Writing major with a "concentration" in Environmental Studies. I discovered a passion for sustainable living during the spring of my freshman here and since have been highly interested in sustainable eating. I guess I should say now that I have been a vegetarian since Thanksgiving of last year (2010) and I feel so great about myself in making that decision. I am currently taking the plunge into vegan-ism but I don't know if I'll be able to keep it up throughout the academic year (we'll see and obviously I'll keep you all updated).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT5UaJxOxbbkdi8oI2eTU0lx0R9mocudXWiHoe-zI7mwGKSRXwZuvYVUTRoo9cEafxwkniSyhXKydt4OV6z1QoqDQJliSLrkEivFA2GAsmqQSV-fbDE7Jn1SUYDytvCy-b5els-I644E6/s1600/gradp+%252849%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT5UaJxOxbbkdi8oI2eTU0lx0R9mocudXWiHoe-zI7mwGKSRXwZuvYVUTRoo9cEafxwkniSyhXKydt4OV6z1QoqDQJliSLrkEivFA2GAsmqQSV-fbDE7Jn1SUYDytvCy-b5els-I644E6/s320/gradp+%252849%2529.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Me, obviously studying hard to get into college.</span></td></tr>
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I play field hockey for my college and I don't think I could have have gotten the transition to college without the help of the incredible strange conglomerate of girls that is the F&M field hockey team. I love them with all my heart, I have a passion for the sport that can't be beat by any multitude of bad practices and games. I'll place money on me becoming one of those crazy old ladies playing field hockey in 20 years in the old lady's leagues (anyone my age who plays field hockey against older women knows exactly who I'm talking about) and I have absolutely no problem with that. Those ladies kick a**.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UnbGc8XIIL1Rvoq4oU-8IsboG67bEtWVL_EVE0IrrGjtQPJLINsA5VQkpWBjanDuOU_EUx4oxh2OeLi0TnRGVOxsS-XhL5YZKuplH_bBdE2GTWk8zhfwSFy22GayZfwcKmPhzktZce5k/s1600/232323232%257Ffp633-3%253Enu%253D6962%253E334%253E25-%253EWSNRCG%253D32%253C7646-9634%253Bnu0mrj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UnbGc8XIIL1Rvoq4oU-8IsboG67bEtWVL_EVE0IrrGjtQPJLINsA5VQkpWBjanDuOU_EUx4oxh2OeLi0TnRGVOxsS-XhL5YZKuplH_bBdE2GTWk8zhfwSFy22GayZfwcKmPhzktZce5k/s320/232323232%257Ffp633-3%253Enu%253D6962%253E334%253E25-%253EWSNRCG%253D32%253C7646-9634%253Bnu0mrj.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">As a matter of fact, this picture was taken seconds before I scored my first college goal. Woop woop yea</span></td></tr>
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I grew up in Northern Maryland, in what I like to call farm country but is arguably a wonderful place to grow up. My mom and dad have supported me in everything that I do, and have forced me into a lot of things that helped me discover who I am: Girl Scouts? not so much; Field Hockey? they scored with that one. I used to live, breathe, and ride horses up until my freshman year in high school. It's something that I know I'll return to one day when I have the time and money. I have an older brother who I look up to for a multitude of reasons, but when it comes down to it he still makes me want to smack him upside the head sometimes. After all, he is a brother.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PhTbuzCnldHkXKnn4nmnlfIWo279h_Sc6EFRr_Lirr8hH08vmLEZXs8aBOm1S_P9XZXgRRNW-Eiu4MFobtu0EJHNAOFFBeioCKAFI1HK7kMr1X6MAlQT_saOzVJXB7UMfXmnriGTvEwJ/s1600/n6237335_36322559_9029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PhTbuzCnldHkXKnn4nmnlfIWo279h_Sc6EFRr_Lirr8hH08vmLEZXs8aBOm1S_P9XZXgRRNW-Eiu4MFobtu0EJHNAOFFBeioCKAFI1HK7kMr1X6MAlQT_saOzVJXB7UMfXmnriGTvEwJ/s320/n6237335_36322559_9029.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Just one of our Christmas Cards. </span></td></tr>
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I'll go into more detail on my baking, cooking, and diet in another post. It deserves its own post as it has been a major factor over the course of my life, particularly in the past year.<br />
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Until next time lovliessss,<br />
Rachel.Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365732153248501847.post-42025502372548846232011-05-23T09:46:00.001-07:002011-05-23T09:46:48.193-07:00And so it begins...<div class="entry"> Alright everybody, my first blog post.<br />
I’ve always wanted to start a blog–well scratch that. I haven’t<em> always</em> wanted to blog. Frankly, this all pretty daunting. I have always been proficient in reading and writing and during my senior year of high school I discovered that writing is what I want to do with my life. Only recently have I discovered the wonderful, expansive, and fascinating world of blogging. Through my absolute addiction to foodblogs, I have been able to fuel my interest for cooking, baking, healthy eating, and subsequently healthy living and exercise.<br />
I was only recently inspired to take action and begin my own blog, and by recently, I mean last night. My brother’s girlfriend mentioned in conversation that if I had a blog I would definitely have a lot of followers. This quick statement by her struck me. I had just met this girl a few hours before and she already seemed to know exactly what I aspired to do AND she had faith that I would succeed. I decided to take action this morning.<br />
I’m only just getting started and realize that right now, no one out there is reading. BUT the next few posts I intend to make will be those that shed light on what I intend to do with this blog. I’m still figuring it out, but have a basic idea.<br />
Bear with me. Hopefully it won’t be too boring.<br />
</div>Exercising My Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17975349531730447966noreply@blogger.com1