Three things have happened today so far that have made my day ten times better than it would have been otherwise.
1) While walking into Payless to pick up a few groceries I forgot, a Payless employee was hiding behind a sign advertising their daily specials. As I walked by, she peeked her head out the side and went BOO! It was even better because the woman was 50+ years. I love a good sense of humor :)
2) While in Payless and searching out dish soap, I found a dish scrubber that was 100% organic and made with recycled goods! It looks gross because it's brown but it takes a load off my shoulders because I know it will decompose into the environment when I throw it away!
3) I decided to splurge on groceries yesterday and got a box of frozen corn dogs. I cooked one up today and had a nice dish of corn dog, ketchup, and Hawaiian Punch. It's been over two years since I've had a corn dog and it was just as good as it was when I was a little girl :)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
On The Subject of Inspiration
I finally had a chance to sit down and do some reading and writing today. Well, as of now, I have yet to write anything but I did get some reading done. On Wednesday, I went home to house and babysit for my sister and brother-in-law because they welcomed this bundle of joy into the world.
Lilly Faith is 7 lbs, 3 ounces, and a beautiful little girl. I stayed home and watched the kids and the house while mom and dad were at the hospital. I spent Wednesday-Saturday morning with those kiddos, keeping them happy, making their meals, making sure they brushed their teeth and took showers, and everything in between from kissing booboos to saying goodnight prayers. As always, whenever I go back to A-Town from home, I get homesick right away. This time is worse. I think it's because I was temporarily mom to those kids.
I was a little down in the dumps from missing them, my sister, my bro-in-law, and sad that I had yet to work up the nerve to hold baby Lima. I was going through my old diaries and books today looking for a pick-me-up. I came across a couple things about inspiration that was pretty important to me.
1. Inspiration can come in the form of a long speech by a leader, friend, or confidant. It's something that pierces through the darkness and helps you realize what your goals were all along. I found a particularly good one that pertained to my situation of missing home and family in one of my books.
2. Inspiration can come from those little comments that help you realize how lucky you are. A friend or family member can say something that makes you realize that things are going to be okay and that eventually it will work out.
3. Inspiration can come in the form of a subtle action or favor. As in getting in my car today and finding that my wonderful brother-in-law filled it up with gas. Having your niece hug you and grin real big when you tell her you'll give her the last piece of candy. Realizing that your sister is healthy and well after major surgery to deliver a baby that we have all been anticipating for 9 months.
Inspiration is good for the soul and for the mind. It's a handy thing and I love those moments that brings the world and the frayed ends together to create something amazing and, essentially, perfect to the smallest detail.
Lilly Faith is 7 lbs, 3 ounces, and a beautiful little girl. I stayed home and watched the kids and the house while mom and dad were at the hospital. I spent Wednesday-Saturday morning with those kiddos, keeping them happy, making their meals, making sure they brushed their teeth and took showers, and everything in between from kissing booboos to saying goodnight prayers. As always, whenever I go back to A-Town from home, I get homesick right away. This time is worse. I think it's because I was temporarily mom to those kids.
I was a little down in the dumps from missing them, my sister, my bro-in-law, and sad that I had yet to work up the nerve to hold baby Lima. I was going through my old diaries and books today looking for a pick-me-up. I came across a couple things about inspiration that was pretty important to me.
1. Inspiration can come in the form of a long speech by a leader, friend, or confidant. It's something that pierces through the darkness and helps you realize what your goals were all along. I found a particularly good one that pertained to my situation of missing home and family in one of my books.
2. Inspiration can come from those little comments that help you realize how lucky you are. A friend or family member can say something that makes you realize that things are going to be okay and that eventually it will work out.
3. Inspiration can come in the form of a subtle action or favor. As in getting in my car today and finding that my wonderful brother-in-law filled it up with gas. Having your niece hug you and grin real big when you tell her you'll give her the last piece of candy. Realizing that your sister is healthy and well after major surgery to deliver a baby that we have all been anticipating for 9 months.
Inspiration is good for the soul and for the mind. It's a handy thing and I love those moments that brings the world and the frayed ends together to create something amazing and, essentially, perfect to the smallest detail.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Cooking is FUN!!!!!
So if you've ever been to O'Charley's restaurant here around Indiana, then you've probably tried the caramel pie. If not, then you aren't a true Hoosier! Anyway, the caramel pie is the best thing in the world. We get a free one each year for my nephew's birthday. This year, I decided I would challenge myself by making it!
What does a restaurant style recipe include, you may ask. Well, exploding cans of course, I answer you! The recipe is as follows.
Ingredients:
1 graham cracker crust
1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk
1 large tub Cool Whip
1 C mini chocolate chips (optional)
1 C chopped nuts (optional)
Directions:
Remove label from milk. Place condensed milk into pot, cover with water and heat until boiling. Cook at low boil for 3 hours making sure cans are covered at all time. (If making more than one pie, boil more than one can!) Using tongs, remove can from water and let cool completely before opening. Pour caramel from can into pie crust and layer Cool Whip on top. Place in refrigerator. When ready to slice, sprinkle nuts and mini chips on top for decoration.
Note:
Cans have been known to explode when prepared this way, especially if not kept covered with water. Here's another method for caramelizing sweetened condensed milk.
HAHAHA, DID YOU SEE THE NOTE?!?! Who would have thought there would be so much fun in caramelizing milk? Not I! But I'm all game for it and as we speak, a pot of canned milk boils away and there has not yet been an explosion and we're 50 minutes into the boiling process! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!
What does a restaurant style recipe include, you may ask. Well, exploding cans of course, I answer you! The recipe is as follows.
Ingredients:
1 graham cracker crust
1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk
1 large tub Cool Whip
1 C mini chocolate chips (optional)
1 C chopped nuts (optional)
Directions:
Remove label from milk. Place condensed milk into pot, cover with water and heat until boiling. Cook at low boil for 3 hours making sure cans are covered at all time. (If making more than one pie, boil more than one can!) Using tongs, remove can from water and let cool completely before opening. Pour caramel from can into pie crust and layer Cool Whip on top. Place in refrigerator. When ready to slice, sprinkle nuts and mini chips on top for decoration.
Note:
Cans have been known to explode when prepared this way, especially if not kept covered with water. Here's another method for caramelizing sweetened condensed milk.
HAHAHA, DID YOU SEE THE NOTE?!?! Who would have thought there would be so much fun in caramelizing milk? Not I! But I'm all game for it and as we speak, a pot of canned milk boils away and there has not yet been an explosion and we're 50 minutes into the boiling process! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
History- Made Every Day
I'm rushing through my school work right now so I can finish my class in time to spend time with my sister when she has her baby. I have two books left to finish. The one I'm working on right now is called Citizen Soldiers and is by Stephen Ambrose. It's a battle by battle description of World War II from the GI's perspective. I usually wouldn't find such a chronological journal so interesting but this one has actually roped me in.
It tells the story of its generals and GIs in such a way that I can't pull my attention away from the book. There have been three great parts so far (I'm on page 141, Chapter 5). The first was the description of Lt. Waverly Wray not long after the D-Day landing in Normandy. The GIs were grounded behind the German hedgerows and couldn't break through. Wray was a daring officer and literally jumped over a hedgerow and bombed the hell out of the Germans with handheld grenades and a hand pistol. The other story was about the battle of Fort Driant where the US generals aspired to break through a 1900s fortified fort. Ambrose describes the gunfire and deafening explosions within the fort in such a way that I can pratically place myself in the situation. The third part is where Ambrose describes the two greatest weapons in the war thus far. The Jabos were amazing fighter jet pilots who sailed through the skies upwards of 600 miles per hour and bombed the Germans into the dust. The Germans absolutely feared the Jabos' arrival. The British feared the great V-1 and eventually the V-2, the 'vengeance' torpedoes Hitler created. The torpedoes were so fast that no one could see them. The scream of their approach was the only signal that the British cities were about to be bombed to hell and back.
Everything in this book is amazing. I would suggest it to everyone I know but for the fact that I realize not everyone appreciates the splendor and awe of the passed World Wars :)
It tells the story of its generals and GIs in such a way that I can't pull my attention away from the book. There have been three great parts so far (I'm on page 141, Chapter 5). The first was the description of Lt. Waverly Wray not long after the D-Day landing in Normandy. The GIs were grounded behind the German hedgerows and couldn't break through. Wray was a daring officer and literally jumped over a hedgerow and bombed the hell out of the Germans with handheld grenades and a hand pistol. The other story was about the battle of Fort Driant where the US generals aspired to break through a 1900s fortified fort. Ambrose describes the gunfire and deafening explosions within the fort in such a way that I can pratically place myself in the situation. The third part is where Ambrose describes the two greatest weapons in the war thus far. The Jabos were amazing fighter jet pilots who sailed through the skies upwards of 600 miles per hour and bombed the Germans into the dust. The Germans absolutely feared the Jabos' arrival. The British feared the great V-1 and eventually the V-2, the 'vengeance' torpedoes Hitler created. The torpedoes were so fast that no one could see them. The scream of their approach was the only signal that the British cities were about to be bombed to hell and back.
Everything in this book is amazing. I would suggest it to everyone I know but for the fact that I realize not everyone appreciates the splendor and awe of the passed World Wars :)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sometimes, I hate research. I hate having to spend hours going over facts and numbers and dates just so that I can get to the nitty-gritty details. I want to involve myself with what I'm working on, not get muddled in the numbers. This goes both for leisure activities and business. I hate having to get those 10 sources for my school project. I'm much rather be working on the project, creating it with my own plans and imagination. The same goes for writing. I've been on page 134 for what seems like hours today because I have to research everything out so I know what I'm talking about.
I also hate people who drive by my house with their music blaring and their windows rolled down because they think it looks cool. Instead, it makes them look like blithering, thoughtless drones with nothing better to do than drive around in their beat-up hood cruisers.
I also hate gum but that's a story for another day.
I also hate people who drive by my house with their music blaring and their windows rolled down because they think it looks cool. Instead, it makes them look like blithering, thoughtless drones with nothing better to do than drive around in their beat-up hood cruisers.
I also hate gum but that's a story for another day.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Never Ending
I feel as if I've been living this summer in the fast lane. A typical week for me begins with several days at work and spending what time I have at home doing homework. When I get a day off I'm immediately traveling an hour away to help my sister's family prepare their house for selling. I spend a few days there working from sunup to sundown before I head home and repeat the process.
I love working and having something to do with my time but there is something eerily unfulfilling about living so fast that there is barely time to comprehend what has passed. I guess if I look at the big picture, I have indeed gotten a lot done this summer but my break is already half over and it only seems like it just began.
Some days, I struggle with this more so than others. It's usually when I'm exhausted and stressed with school or money. The only time I can truly ignore this is when I sit down for a couple hours after work and spend that time writing. I feel like I get time to think things through and unwind after a long day. It's probably not the best time to do so since I should be focused on writing but I still love it.
On another, almost completely unrelated note, I hit 101 pages in Book 2 today. I didn't even notice it until a while after the fact because I was so caught up in the story I was telling. I love especially good writing nights :)
I love working and having something to do with my time but there is something eerily unfulfilling about living so fast that there is barely time to comprehend what has passed. I guess if I look at the big picture, I have indeed gotten a lot done this summer but my break is already half over and it only seems like it just began.
Some days, I struggle with this more so than others. It's usually when I'm exhausted and stressed with school or money. The only time I can truly ignore this is when I sit down for a couple hours after work and spend that time writing. I feel like I get time to think things through and unwind after a long day. It's probably not the best time to do so since I should be focused on writing but I still love it.
On another, almost completely unrelated note, I hit 101 pages in Book 2 today. I didn't even notice it until a while after the fact because I was so caught up in the story I was telling. I love especially good writing nights :)
Friday, July 2, 2010
Supersize Me, Please
Today was the first day since freshmen year (3 years for those who don't know) since I've been to a Rally's restaurant. I ordered a small little cheeseburger and some fries. When asked what size drink I wanted, I answered just as I usually do: Medium, of course!
When I pulled up and got my drink, it was what used to be a large. Now a medium is a huge cup of soda. How the hell am I, a 125 pound, five foot tall girl, supposed to drink a gallon of soda before it goes flat? How the hell does anyone drink a gallon of soda?
There used to be a time when soda came in glass bottles. Then there was a time it came in cans. Then there was a time it came in plastic cups. Now it comes in 10-gallon hats. Sometimes, living in America really does anger me.
When I pulled up and got my drink, it was what used to be a large. Now a medium is a huge cup of soda. How the hell am I, a 125 pound, five foot tall girl, supposed to drink a gallon of soda before it goes flat? How the hell does anyone drink a gallon of soda?
There used to be a time when soda came in glass bottles. Then there was a time it came in cans. Then there was a time it came in plastic cups. Now it comes in 10-gallon hats. Sometimes, living in America really does anger me.
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