For You
I smell your scent in the air
Pretty dreams lived with me
I know the time is here
I don't want to lose you
That ageless sweetness
Your beauty has no rival
My heart wants only you
Chorus:
For you, for you,
I'll live
Love will win
With you, with you,
I'll have
A thousand happy days
A thousand peaceful nights
I will do anything you ask me to
I will go everywhere you go
I will give all the love I have for you
Tell me that you already know the future
Tell me that this is not the end
Without you I don't want to exist
Repeat Chorus
I don't have to tell you
By now you already know
That I would die without you
Repeat Chorus
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
"Never Think"
Despite my complete adoration of Robert Pattinson, I must admit that I am getting kind of tired of having his voice stuck in my head.
His song "Never Think" has been on repeat in my mind for three days. Yes, I said three. And not just occasionally. I woke up in the middle of the night and there it was...just a-playin.
While I know that it shouldn't be a bad thing to be hearing his voice (why would hearing voices be considered strange?!?!), it is starting to wear me down. Mostly just because I feel the overwhelming urge to sing along with him- and that's when things go wrong. Not that I'm a bad singer. I was in choir every single year of school (seriously, Kindergarden thru 12). I can read sheet music. I even know how to play "Heart and Soul"; not very well, mind you, but I can play it. But nothing I can sing can even compare to the raw quality of his voice. And the lyrics...oh, the lyrics. If you haven't heard the song, YOU MUST. (But really, if you haven't heard it, where have you been hiding? Seriously?)
I suppose that I just sound like all the other hormone-crazed fans, but I don't feel like that's it at all. I just like his voice. And his sense of humor. And his smile.... *sigh*
Oh, and you can listen to it on my playlist over yonder (haha) ------->
His song "Never Think" has been on repeat in my mind for three days. Yes, I said three. And not just occasionally. I woke up in the middle of the night and there it was...just a-playin.
While I know that it shouldn't be a bad thing to be hearing his voice (why would hearing voices be considered strange?!?!), it is starting to wear me down. Mostly just because I feel the overwhelming urge to sing along with him- and that's when things go wrong. Not that I'm a bad singer. I was in choir every single year of school (seriously, Kindergarden thru 12). I can read sheet music. I even know how to play "Heart and Soul"; not very well, mind you, but I can play it. But nothing I can sing can even compare to the raw quality of his voice. And the lyrics...oh, the lyrics. If you haven't heard the song, YOU MUST. (But really, if you haven't heard it, where have you been hiding? Seriously?)
I suppose that I just sound like all the other hormone-crazed fans, but I don't feel like that's it at all. I just like his voice. And his sense of humor. And his smile.... *sigh*
Oh, and you can listen to it on my playlist over yonder (haha) ------->
Saturday, March 21, 2009
break-y mc-break-a-doodle
It's a Saturday, and last night I was such a badass. (Not really) I stayed up til 3 a.m. reading a Twilight fans version of how the story should continue...it was interesting to say the least. Quite detailed in the sexual acts- and honestly, that wasn't too terrible (haha)! But the story itself was actually pretty good. I saved the link so I may go back and read some of her other work.
Staying up so late has thrown me off for the day. I generally get up by 7, but today I slept til 11. And now it's lunch time but I really want to make pancakes or something. I don't even want to eat them, I just want to make them. I'm strange like that.
Next week is going to be kinda different for me! Since classes are out, I'm working 8-5 Monday thru Wednesday (normally I only work 12 hours a week- woah). Then Thursday we are going to Little Rock & Russelville for Conclave. What is Conclave, you ask? Joe was invited to attend the yearly competition/conference/meeting for Wildlife & Biology students, faculty and business persons. Then I found out they also have a nature photography contest there, so of course, I am going as well. :)
Speaking of that, I need to figure out what I'm entering...eek!
Staying up so late has thrown me off for the day. I generally get up by 7, but today I slept til 11. And now it's lunch time but I really want to make pancakes or something. I don't even want to eat them, I just want to make them. I'm strange like that.
Next week is going to be kinda different for me! Since classes are out, I'm working 8-5 Monday thru Wednesday (normally I only work 12 hours a week- woah). Then Thursday we are going to Little Rock & Russelville for Conclave. What is Conclave, you ask? Joe was invited to attend the yearly competition/conference/meeting for Wildlife & Biology students, faculty and business persons. Then I found out they also have a nature photography contest there, so of course, I am going as well. :)
Speaking of that, I need to figure out what I'm entering...eek!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
thankfulness
I feel like I'm going through a lot of changes lately, and some of it is good...some of it could be better. I've been trying to remember the important things in life and reorganize my priorities. The last two years have brought about so many changes! It's kinda crazy. I really appreciate the friends I've had for a long time who love me when I am stupid, cranky or just simply not there. (Long distance friendships are hard!!)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
When the crap hits the oscilator...
Donna Jendreas (the woman I wrote about it my previous post) is no longer able to swallow anything, and family's making funeral arrangements. The hospital sent her home Monday because there isn't much else they can do for her. She's had several seizures now caused by the pressure in her brain from the bleeding, and it's basically just a waiting game now. Joe is going to be a pallbearer.
I feel crappy cause I'm sick, but I can't complain. She is going to die. Everyone knows it. Honestly, part of me thought that she would just come out of it and be fine! But when I saw her in the hospital, I knew. She looked so strange. Like her body was there but SHE wasn't there...does that make sense? It's so sad. The only good thing I can see in it is that her kids were all with her for her last days. I just hope that she isn't in pain.
:(
I feel crappy cause I'm sick, but I can't complain. She is going to die. Everyone knows it. Honestly, part of me thought that she would just come out of it and be fine! But when I saw her in the hospital, I knew. She looked so strange. Like her body was there but SHE wasn't there...does that make sense? It's so sad. The only good thing I can see in it is that her kids were all with her for her last days. I just hope that she isn't in pain.
:(
Thursday, February 19, 2009
bad.
My sister-in-law Krystle called just a bit ago. Her mom has cancer and is dying. Krystle's brother Jeremy was Joe's best friend growing up, and is on a job in Blytheville with an electric company and can't drive to MH. So we are going to get him tomorrow (1 1/2 hour drive there), and then to Mountain Home (5 and 1/2 hour drive all together).
I feel horrible. This woman was Joe's second mom growing up. Krystle and Jeremy were a part of his life long before Krystle married Joe's brother. While I have personal negative feelings with Krystle, she is family and I love her. It is so sad. Donna is the nicest person. She has always been really quirky and kind of a hippy, but in an endearing way.
Of course I totally don't mind getting Jeremy at all, I just don't know what to say. I've been there. I lost my mother too. And I know how I felt, but I don't have a clue how he feels. He's been trying to avoid the subject, and we are going to be in a car together for several hours...what do you say in that situation?!?
The worse part of it is that it's happened so fast. Six months ago she had a sun spot that turned out to be melanoma. Then it started to spread. It's in her brain now and they've done chemo and radiation and the docter's said if they do anything else it'll just put her in more pain. It's absolutely heart breaking. They gave her a week or so at best.
I feel horrible. This woman was Joe's second mom growing up. Krystle and Jeremy were a part of his life long before Krystle married Joe's brother. While I have personal negative feelings with Krystle, she is family and I love her. It is so sad. Donna is the nicest person. She has always been really quirky and kind of a hippy, but in an endearing way.
Of course I totally don't mind getting Jeremy at all, I just don't know what to say. I've been there. I lost my mother too. And I know how I felt, but I don't have a clue how he feels. He's been trying to avoid the subject, and we are going to be in a car together for several hours...what do you say in that situation?!?
The worse part of it is that it's happened so fast. Six months ago she had a sun spot that turned out to be melanoma. Then it started to spread. It's in her brain now and they've done chemo and radiation and the docter's said if they do anything else it'll just put her in more pain. It's absolutely heart breaking. They gave her a week or so at best.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Hazelnut Truffles
Hazelnut Truffles
Makes 120 candies
Prep: 1 hour Chill: 3 hours
Ingredients
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 13-ounce jar (about 1-1/4 cups) chocolate-hazelnut spread
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon Irish cream liqueur or vanilla
2/3 cup halved hazelnuts (filberts), toasted*
Finely or coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts (filberts)
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Directions
1. In a heavy medium saucepan combine sweetened condensed milk, chocolate-hazelnut spread, and unsweetened chocolate. Cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat. Cool slightly. Stir in liqueur or vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a mixing bowl; cover and chill about 3 hours or until firm.
2. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. For each truffle, form about 1 teaspoon of the chocolate mixture around 1 toasted hazelnut half to make a 3/4-inch ball. Roll in chopped toasted nuts or cocoa powder.
3. Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for several weeks or freezer up to 3 months. Makes 120 candies.
*To Toast Hazelnuts: Place nuts in a skillet. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring or shaking skillet often for 7 to 10 minutes or until skins begin to flake and nuts are light golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid over-browning. Remove nuts from skillet and place on a clean kitchen towel. When hazelnuts are cool enough to handle, rub the nuts together in the towel, removing as much of the brown skin as possible.
Makes 120 candies
Prep: 1 hour Chill: 3 hours
Ingredients
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 13-ounce jar (about 1-1/4 cups) chocolate-hazelnut spread
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon Irish cream liqueur or vanilla
2/3 cup halved hazelnuts (filberts), toasted*
Finely or coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts (filberts)
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Directions
1. In a heavy medium saucepan combine sweetened condensed milk, chocolate-hazelnut spread, and unsweetened chocolate. Cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat. Cool slightly. Stir in liqueur or vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a mixing bowl; cover and chill about 3 hours or until firm.
2. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. For each truffle, form about 1 teaspoon of the chocolate mixture around 1 toasted hazelnut half to make a 3/4-inch ball. Roll in chopped toasted nuts or cocoa powder.
3. Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for several weeks or freezer up to 3 months. Makes 120 candies.
*To Toast Hazelnuts: Place nuts in a skillet. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring or shaking skillet often for 7 to 10 minutes or until skins begin to flake and nuts are light golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid over-browning. Remove nuts from skillet and place on a clean kitchen towel. When hazelnuts are cool enough to handle, rub the nuts together in the towel, removing as much of the brown skin as possible.
pecan sweet potato casserole
Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
2 cans (40 ounces each) sweet potatoes, drained.
8 eggs
½ cup sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
Topping:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
¼ cup cold butter
In a large bowl, mash the sweet potatoes. Add the eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth. Transfer to a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, and pecans; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over potato mixture.
Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until thermometer reads 160.
Refrigerate leftovers.
2 cans (40 ounces each) sweet potatoes, drained.
8 eggs
½ cup sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
Topping:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
¼ cup cold butter
In a large bowl, mash the sweet potatoes. Add the eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth. Transfer to a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, and pecans; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over potato mixture.
Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until thermometer reads 160.
Refrigerate leftovers.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
stand under my umber-ella, ella, ella...
TODAY WAS THE BEST DAY, LIKE EVER!!!
I had one class this morning (Folklore) and I had done the reading plus some extra, and I was one of 3 who was prepared for discussion. So I think I impressed the teacher, which rocked. I'm actually really interested in this class, which is funny cause the first day I was convinced it would suck! haha
If I could, I would look into changing my minor from English to Folklore. But an English minor will do more for me in the end, and I'm almost done with it and I definately don't want to start over on a minor!
So then I had an hour off because Photography wasn't meeting today. I went home and ate a Lean Cuisine that I found in Joe's parents' freezer (it was ravioli! super yummy!), and then I worked from 12-2. Work actually wasn't as bad as normal! I did some projects for the first hour, then I went to Payroll and created folders and recovered (organized) the files for the rest of my time. I don't mind being down there because at least I'm doing something productive and it's super quiet!!!
Diana and I had a girl-date today :) I've been excited about it all week! We went to see Bride Wars and went to the mall and wandered around Target. The movie is soooo cute!!! I want to be like Anne Hathaway now. She's always been gorgeous, but her acting doesn't seem at all like acting- it's great!
OOOH! And Diana (finally!! haha!) gave me my Christmas gift! Everytime I've seen her she forgets to bring it. It's the umbrella I've wanted for forever!!! SOOO CUTE!!! I can't wait for it to rain!
I got really shaky and like I was gonna pass out at Target (my blood sugar must have been horribly low! It scared me!), so my first thought when I walked in the door at home was "Food!!"
I was too late getting home to make my original plan for dinner. I was going to do spaghetti and meatballs (meatballs and sauce in the crockpot- yum!), so instead I used the ground turkey and made turkey burgers. They were pretty tasty! The only problem with turkey burgers is they shrink up really bad, so I added some italian seasoned bread crumbs before I made the patties. The flavor was great :) I put in some Adobo and a tiny bit of course sea salt and pepper. Joe ate two! Go figure. And we had a spinach salad.
I guess that's about all I have to say....this weekend is going to rock! Joe and I have a billion things to do around the house, and I'm excited :) We are going to switch over to the new desk, dismantle the old one, and repurpose it!! The bottom part will be our new entertainment center for the living room and the top part will be shelves for the office. We aren't positive how it will work, but I have a vision and Joe seems excited about it too. And I'm going to organize the bathroom Saturday! Yay for Spring Fever!!!!!
I had one class this morning (Folklore) and I had done the reading plus some extra, and I was one of 3 who was prepared for discussion. So I think I impressed the teacher, which rocked. I'm actually really interested in this class, which is funny cause the first day I was convinced it would suck! haha
If I could, I would look into changing my minor from English to Folklore. But an English minor will do more for me in the end, and I'm almost done with it and I definately don't want to start over on a minor!
So then I had an hour off because Photography wasn't meeting today. I went home and ate a Lean Cuisine that I found in Joe's parents' freezer (it was ravioli! super yummy!), and then I worked from 12-2. Work actually wasn't as bad as normal! I did some projects for the first hour, then I went to Payroll and created folders and recovered (organized) the files for the rest of my time. I don't mind being down there because at least I'm doing something productive and it's super quiet!!!
Diana and I had a girl-date today :) I've been excited about it all week! We went to see Bride Wars and went to the mall and wandered around Target. The movie is soooo cute!!! I want to be like Anne Hathaway now. She's always been gorgeous, but her acting doesn't seem at all like acting- it's great!
OOOH! And Diana (finally!! haha!) gave me my Christmas gift! Everytime I've seen her she forgets to bring it. It's the umbrella I've wanted for forever!!! SOOO CUTE!!! I can't wait for it to rain!
I got really shaky and like I was gonna pass out at Target (my blood sugar must have been horribly low! It scared me!), so my first thought when I walked in the door at home was "Food!!"
I was too late getting home to make my original plan for dinner. I was going to do spaghetti and meatballs (meatballs and sauce in the crockpot- yum!), so instead I used the ground turkey and made turkey burgers. They were pretty tasty! The only problem with turkey burgers is they shrink up really bad, so I added some italian seasoned bread crumbs before I made the patties. The flavor was great :) I put in some Adobo and a tiny bit of course sea salt and pepper. Joe ate two! Go figure. And we had a spinach salad.
I guess that's about all I have to say....this weekend is going to rock! Joe and I have a billion things to do around the house, and I'm excited :) We are going to switch over to the new desk, dismantle the old one, and repurpose it!! The bottom part will be our new entertainment center for the living room and the top part will be shelves for the office. We aren't positive how it will work, but I have a vision and Joe seems excited about it too. And I'm going to organize the bathroom Saturday! Yay for Spring Fever!!!!!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Finding my shananana or something
Kandi and I went to our first classes in the Fitness Center tonight! We've been going to the gym again somewhat regularly since classes started back, and thought it'd be fun to learn some new things. Wednesday nights at 6 they have Abs class, then at 7 it's Yoga. Abs class was awesome...awesomely uncomfortable, but I really want to get better at it! It's a challenge. I can do this! My thighs feel like burning, but I'm imagining that it's my fatness burning away!!!
Yoga class was hilarious! It was good, don't get me wrong, but I didn't expect it to be a spiritual yoga class- I assumed it was just the exercise yoga that is pretty mainstream now. Oh, I was wrong. The breathing was cool though; it was just like what we did in Choir (breathing through the diaphram), and a lot of the postures are neat. Some of it was hard- like the Plank and this other thing where you are in a lunge and bring your back foot forward using your ab muscles...but I can get better at these things too.
So overall, today was a great day! At work I ate the most horrible cornbread muffin ever, and I couldn't say anything cause the person who gave it to me was watching! It was HILARIOUS! :)
OH! I booked a photo shoot for Saturday!! I'm super excited! It's my friends Thomas and Sarah in MH. They are expecting a baby soon (very soon, if I remember correctly), and they want family photos before the baby comes. She asked me how much my sitting fee was and would I be interested in taking pictures of people other than them. So I said "It's $$ each." and that yes I would be available if anyone else wanted me Saturday (I think it's his parents probably). We are going to meet at their church and do them there. They live in Flippin and I got the feeling they didn't want to do them there, but I just want to do it wherever they are comfortable. I really wish I had a backdrop already!!!!! Soon. But it would be really helpful in a situation like this. It wouldn't matter at all where we are.
Anywho, this is a LONG rambling post, and I don't have much else to write...so- adios!
Yoga class was hilarious! It was good, don't get me wrong, but I didn't expect it to be a spiritual yoga class- I assumed it was just the exercise yoga that is pretty mainstream now. Oh, I was wrong. The breathing was cool though; it was just like what we did in Choir (breathing through the diaphram), and a lot of the postures are neat. Some of it was hard- like the Plank and this other thing where you are in a lunge and bring your back foot forward using your ab muscles...but I can get better at these things too.
So overall, today was a great day! At work I ate the most horrible cornbread muffin ever, and I couldn't say anything cause the person who gave it to me was watching! It was HILARIOUS! :)
OH! I booked a photo shoot for Saturday!! I'm super excited! It's my friends Thomas and Sarah in MH. They are expecting a baby soon (very soon, if I remember correctly), and they want family photos before the baby comes. She asked me how much my sitting fee was and would I be interested in taking pictures of people other than them. So I said "It's $$ each." and that yes I would be available if anyone else wanted me Saturday (I think it's his parents probably). We are going to meet at their church and do them there. They live in Flippin and I got the feeling they didn't want to do them there, but I just want to do it wherever they are comfortable. I really wish I had a backdrop already!!!!! Soon. But it would be really helpful in a situation like this. It wouldn't matter at all where we are.
Anywho, this is a LONG rambling post, and I don't have much else to write...so- adios!
Monday, February 2, 2009
meal plan 2/2- 2/7
Monday: Ground turkey sloppy joe's with chopped green peppers in the sauce and topped with spinach leaves (sounds weird, but really, it was fabulous!)
Tuesday: Joe will eat the rest of the sloppy joe's by himself probably, so I'll have a spinach salad with raspberry viniagrette ^_^ yummo!
Wednesday: chicken tacos, black beans, tomato, olives, spinach leaves...I am on a spinach kick this year! It's good on everything!
Thursday: leftover tacos :)
Friday: homemade pizza- you guessed it, with spinach leaves (lol), chedder cheese, basil tomato sauce, and whatever other veggies I can find
Tuesday: Joe will eat the rest of the sloppy joe's by himself probably, so I'll have a spinach salad with raspberry viniagrette ^_^ yummo!
Wednesday: chicken tacos, black beans, tomato, olives, spinach leaves...I am on a spinach kick this year! It's good on everything!
Thursday: leftover tacos :)
Friday: homemade pizza- you guessed it, with spinach leaves (lol), chedder cheese, basil tomato sauce, and whatever other veggies I can find
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
a (sort of) meal plan
So the week is almost over, and I am just now doing the meal plan for the week...yeah :) lol
Sunday- we had hamburger helper lasagna stuff. Mixed veggies from the freezer. Spinach salad.
Monday- Joe had leftovers, I had soup. It was gross and he ate the rest of the soup. haha
Tuesday- homemade pizza :) Chicken, olives, onion and spinach leaves
Wednesday- Diana and Matt were over and brought veggie pizza from Papa John's. It was tasty
Thursday- I guess we are going to have spaghetti sauce and rotini noodles. Maybe some veggies. All of our meat went bad during the power outage, so we are limited on options now :(
Friday- I get paid, and we can buy new food! I'm thinking chicken tacos. I LOVE TACOS!
Sunday- we had hamburger helper lasagna stuff. Mixed veggies from the freezer. Spinach salad.
Monday- Joe had leftovers, I had soup. It was gross and he ate the rest of the soup. haha
Tuesday- homemade pizza :) Chicken, olives, onion and spinach leaves
Wednesday- Diana and Matt were over and brought veggie pizza from Papa John's. It was tasty
Thursday- I guess we are going to have spaghetti sauce and rotini noodles. Maybe some veggies. All of our meat went bad during the power outage, so we are limited on options now :(
Friday- I get paid, and we can buy new food! I'm thinking chicken tacos. I LOVE TACOS!
Friday, January 23, 2009
behind the crowd
As excited as I am to finally have my new camera, I am also sad about the fact that I don't have any great job prospects. I am not doing any bridal fairs, I don't know a lot of people (except in Mountain Home), and you have to spend money to make money- and well, I don't have money.
I know I shouldn't let myself get down about it, but it's been on my mind a lot lately. I'm thinking about finding someone to partner with and getting a booth at the little Mountain Home bridal fair in February. Nothing super fancy. But there is a market for affordable photography services in MH, and I can provide those services. It's just finding that someone for a partner that's an issue...
anywho, tomorrow will be a good day. I'm cleaning the house, taking pictures somewhere (hopefully the weather is nice), visiting Jonesboro Bridal Fair and at night we are having some peeps over for a celebratory drinky drinky. Celebrating what, you ask? Uh...celebrating something...?!?
I know I shouldn't let myself get down about it, but it's been on my mind a lot lately. I'm thinking about finding someone to partner with and getting a booth at the little Mountain Home bridal fair in February. Nothing super fancy. But there is a market for affordable photography services in MH, and I can provide those services. It's just finding that someone for a partner that's an issue...
anywho, tomorrow will be a good day. I'm cleaning the house, taking pictures somewhere (hopefully the weather is nice), visiting Jonesboro Bridal Fair and at night we are having some peeps over for a celebratory drinky drinky. Celebrating what, you ask? Uh...celebrating something...?!?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
meal plan
Sunday: chicken fajitas with tomato, spinach leaves (better for you than lettuce!), olives, and salsa and whole grain tortillas
Monday: leftover fajitas! yum
Tuesday: Campbell's low fat Savory Chicken and Vegetable soup and sandwich
Wednesday: Spaghetti, veggies and bread
Thursday: Leftover Spaghetti :)
Friday: imagination night...who knows!
Monday: leftover fajitas! yum
Tuesday: Campbell's low fat Savory Chicken and Vegetable soup and sandwich
Wednesday: Spaghetti, veggies and bread
Thursday: Leftover Spaghetti :)
Friday: imagination night...who knows!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
super...duper!
http://www.kait8.com/global/category.asp?c=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=104015&topVideoCatNoB=109374&topVideoCatNoC=114876&topVideoCatNoD=109122&topVideoCatNoE=120883&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3338129
I was on tv last night.
I look dumb on tv.
But yesterday was pretty much a fabulous day, as is today! Classes are a nice mixture of good and not so good. I am kind of afraid of my News Reporting class and corresponding Lab. Photography class will hopefully get better. Today it was just about aperture and depth of field and such. I know what I think I need to know about that stuff...so it was kind of frustrating. I don't think I need to be an expert at it to know how to take good pictures, but I am going to study it all the same.
We should get our refund checks Friday, so I'm going to get my camera this weekend!!! WOO! And we may go to Mountain Home Saturday. Our niece's boyfriend is a Senior and he and his friend are wanting me to do photos of them with their dirtbikes.
I can't wait to get my camera!!!!! YIPPEE!!! :)
I was on tv last night.
I look dumb on tv.
But yesterday was pretty much a fabulous day, as is today! Classes are a nice mixture of good and not so good. I am kind of afraid of my News Reporting class and corresponding Lab. Photography class will hopefully get better. Today it was just about aperture and depth of field and such. I know what I think I need to know about that stuff...so it was kind of frustrating. I don't think I need to be an expert at it to know how to take good pictures, but I am going to study it all the same.
We should get our refund checks Friday, so I'm going to get my camera this weekend!!! WOO! And we may go to Mountain Home Saturday. Our niece's boyfriend is a Senior and he and his friend are wanting me to do photos of them with their dirtbikes.
I can't wait to get my camera!!!!! YIPPEE!!! :)
Monday, January 12, 2009
I love love!
My friend Kandice and her husband Andy are such an inspiration to me. Joe and I get frustrated with each other when we are in each other's way, when schedules don't mesh, and especially when I don't make dessert frequently enough (ha!).
But Kandice and Andy are apart for the majority of the year, and they still manage to keep the spark alive. It is so beautiful to witness their relationship! I'm sure it is hard being apart, but life isn't easy. They make the most of the time they do have together, and isn't that what matters??
I am trying to improve my relationship with Joe- I don't show that I appreciate him...we don't have a lot. The little things, though, are really the most precious. Like when we are going to bed, sometimes I can't fall asleep and he puts my head on his chest so I can hear his heartbeat and that puts me to sleep :) go ahead, say "Aww!" lol
Don't you just love love???
But Kandice and Andy are apart for the majority of the year, and they still manage to keep the spark alive. It is so beautiful to witness their relationship! I'm sure it is hard being apart, but life isn't easy. They make the most of the time they do have together, and isn't that what matters??
I am trying to improve my relationship with Joe- I don't show that I appreciate him...we don't have a lot. The little things, though, are really the most precious. Like when we are going to bed, sometimes I can't fall asleep and he puts my head on his chest so I can hear his heartbeat and that puts me to sleep :) go ahead, say "Aww!" lol
Don't you just love love???
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Fancy pants!
I must be feeling spring fever because I have been in a cleaning mood all weekend! Well, not so much cleaning per se, but organizing. I sorted out my sock/underwear drawer, and that lead to doing the other drawers, and then my closet. Then today we bought a new shower curtain and liner (our old ones had tears where the rings go thru the holes). Then I cleaned up the bathroom, we caught up on laundry, washed floor rugs, changed the bedsheets, and I reorganized the cupboard where we keep canned stuff and whatnot.
It has been a highly productive day! I tried a new recipe for dinner that Joe's mom gave me called "Dorito Chicken" and it was pretty good. It turned out better than I thought it would. And we have enough left to eat it tomorrow night, so my meal plan isn't going to work out this week.
Tomorrow is the first day of classes, and I don't want to go back...well, it's not that I don't wanna go, I would just rather stay home! And SLEEP! ;)
It has been a highly productive day! I tried a new recipe for dinner that Joe's mom gave me called "Dorito Chicken" and it was pretty good. It turned out better than I thought it would. And we have enough left to eat it tomorrow night, so my meal plan isn't going to work out this week.
Tomorrow is the first day of classes, and I don't want to go back...well, it's not that I don't wanna go, I would just rather stay home! And SLEEP! ;)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
natural state of something
Here it is. The funniest thing you will ever see.
Anna Sellers in hair rollers.
Okay, so it's not all that funny, but it is humiliating. (And we all know how good I am at humiliating myself! haha!) I'm tired of my hair being so...like how my hair is. So this is test number 1. I will take another pic when it's down and see how it turns out.
If this doesn't work, test number 2 involves my sweet hairdresser Lucy and her magic scissors :)
I'm trying to resist that urge, but I'm bored with myself again!
Later taters!
**********************************************
Edit:
The rollers didn't work well at all. I think I need to use the little foam ones- these just made my hair look the same way it does when I let it air dry without any product in it...so it was wavy and a bit bouncier, but I didn't like it.
grr! lol
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
meal plan 11/12-11/17 (next week)
Monday: homemade pizza (spinach, olive, tomato)
Tuesday: Basil and tomato penne, veggies
Wednesday: leftovers and sandwich night!
Thursday: lemon-garlic chicken and rice casserole, peas
Friday: leftover casserole
***************************************************************
This may look like a lot of cooking, but parts of everything comes from a box or the freezer, so it's not bad.
And Joe eats A LOT, so while most couples would have leftovers every night, we don't. He eats it all. And sometimes what's on my plate too. We joke that he has a tapeworm...it's even nicknamed Oscar.
I don't know why I felt inclined on sharing that...so. Um, yeah.
Tuesday: Basil and tomato penne, veggies
Wednesday: leftovers and sandwich night!
Thursday: lemon-garlic chicken and rice casserole, peas
Friday: leftover casserole
***************************************************************
This may look like a lot of cooking, but parts of everything comes from a box or the freezer, so it's not bad.
And Joe eats A LOT, so while most couples would have leftovers every night, we don't. He eats it all. And sometimes what's on my plate too. We joke that he has a tapeworm...it's even nicknamed Oscar.
I don't know why I felt inclined on sharing that...so. Um, yeah.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
And another!
Oh! I have to type this quickly so I can go to bed (super tired!). I am sooooooo excited for classes to start next week!
I am also terrified, but the excitement is the overwhelming emotion right now. My class schedule is crazy, plus with work and squeezing in gym time, I'm gonna be a busy lady this semester! But I know I can do it. I really want to be more focused this semester and raise my GPA. This fall was hard- and it was just because I didn't study enough. I know it was my fault, and I know I can do a lot better!
Also, I am going to start up the meal plan again. Wednesday of this week (tomorrow), I am going to make up several batches of bread dough and freeze them in loaf sizes so that I don't have to keep the bowl of dough in the fridge for two weeks until I use it up. This way, when we want a loaf of fresh bread, we just defrost the dough in the fridge the day before and bake it up when we want it. Yay for yummy bread! I have really gotten interested in making our own. The stuff you buy in the stores are usually made with bleached flour which cuts out the health factor and could be loaded with preservatives and such. I know I eat stuff that I shouldn't (cheese, anyone?), but I think that this is a step in the right direction. I also found out that you can use whole wheat flour instead of white flour! We love wheat bread, so when I run out of all the flour I have stockpiled right now we will start doing it that way. Woo hoo!
I am also terrified, but the excitement is the overwhelming emotion right now. My class schedule is crazy, plus with work and squeezing in gym time, I'm gonna be a busy lady this semester! But I know I can do it. I really want to be more focused this semester and raise my GPA. This fall was hard- and it was just because I didn't study enough. I know it was my fault, and I know I can do a lot better!
Also, I am going to start up the meal plan again. Wednesday of this week (tomorrow), I am going to make up several batches of bread dough and freeze them in loaf sizes so that I don't have to keep the bowl of dough in the fridge for two weeks until I use it up. This way, when we want a loaf of fresh bread, we just defrost the dough in the fridge the day before and bake it up when we want it. Yay for yummy bread! I have really gotten interested in making our own. The stuff you buy in the stores are usually made with bleached flour which cuts out the health factor and could be loaded with preservatives and such. I know I eat stuff that I shouldn't (cheese, anyone?), but I think that this is a step in the right direction. I also found out that you can use whole wheat flour instead of white flour! We love wheat bread, so when I run out of all the flour I have stockpiled right now we will start doing it that way. Woo hoo!
Cause I'm so...cool?
I have been encouraged (yet again...cough cough) to blog more frequently, so here goes another lil entry in my journal o' fun!
So the other day I had a hunger pain, looked in the fridge. There wasn't much in there. Some ketchup, two varieties of mustard, a tortilla. So then I looked to the freezer with hope. And alas, I found a frozen bean burrito!
"Yes!! Burrito! That is what I want!," I thought to myself. So I got it out of the bag, stuck in on a plate and instead of cooking it in the microwave like I should have done, I set it on the STOVE and TURNED ON THE BURNER.
Yeah. I did. And then I spent the next 40 minutes unable to speak clearly cause every time I did I started laughing at myself (again).
It's these kinds of things that make me an interesting person, right? :)
So the other day I had a hunger pain, looked in the fridge. There wasn't much in there. Some ketchup, two varieties of mustard, a tortilla. So then I looked to the freezer with hope. And alas, I found a frozen bean burrito!
"Yes!! Burrito! That is what I want!," I thought to myself. So I got it out of the bag, stuck in on a plate and instead of cooking it in the microwave like I should have done, I set it on the STOVE and TURNED ON THE BURNER.
Yeah. I did. And then I spent the next 40 minutes unable to speak clearly cause every time I did I started laughing at myself (again).
It's these kinds of things that make me an interesting person, right? :)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Boule (Artisan Bread!) Recipe
This recipe may look frightening, but really it isn't. And even if it was, it would be worth it, cause this bread is AMAZING!!! :)
Special equipment needed:
A pizza stone
a 5 quart bowl with a lid (I believe Saran wrap would work too)
a pizza peel or a cookie sheet without a "lip" on it
3 cups water
1 1/2 tbsp granulated yeast (1 1/2 packets)
1 1/2 tbsp coarse kosher or sea salt
6 1/2 cups unsifted, unbleached, all-purpose white flour
cornmeal for pizza peel or flat edged cookie sheet
Mixing and Storing the Dough:
1. Heat water to just a little warmer than body temperature (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Dissolve yeast and then salt in water in a 5 qoart bowl, preferably one with a lid.
3. Mix in the flour by gently scooping it up, then leveling the top off but don't pat it down. Mix with a wooden spoon, a high capacity food processor with a dough attachment, or a heavy duty stand mixer with a dough hook. If hand mixing becomes too difficult, use very wet hands to press it together. Don't knead it! This step is done in a matter of minutes, and the dough should be wet enough to conform to the container.
4. Cover loosely- do not seal. Gases need to be able to escape. Allow the mixture to rise at room temperature until it begins to collapse, approximately 2 hours. Longer rising times, up to about 5 hours, will not harm the result. You can use a portion of the dough anytime after this period. Refrigerated wet dough is much less sticky and easier to work with than room-temp dough. It is reccomended that you refrigerate the dough at least 3 hours before shaping a loaf.
On Baking Day:
5. Prepare pizza peel by sprinkling it liberally with cornmeal to prevent the loaf from sticking to it when you slide it in the oven.
Sprinkle the surface of the dough with flour, then cut off a grapefruit-sized portion with a serrated knife. (This should be about 1/4 of the dough.) Add more flour as needed to keep it from sticking to your hands. Gently stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom on four "sides", rotating the ball a quarter turn as you go, until the bottom is a collection of four bunched ends. Most of the dusting flour will fall off; it doesn't need to be incorporated.
6. Place the ball on the pizza peel. Let it rest uncovered for 40 minutes.
7. Twenty minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 450 degrees with a baking stone in the middle rack. Place an empty broiler tray or casserole dish on the shelf below (this is for holding water).
8. Dust the top of the loaf liberally with flour and slash the top of the dough three times. This will allow the bread to expand during baking and the flour keeps the knife from sticking.
9. With a forward jerking motion of the wrist, slide the loaf off the pizza peel and onto the baking stone. Quickly but carefully pour about a cup of hot water into the broiler tray and close the oven door to trap the steam. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the crust is browned and firm to the touch.
10. Refrigerate the remaining dough in your lidded (not airtight) container and use it over the next two weeks. The dough can also be frozen in portions in airtight containers and defrosted overnight in the refrigerator prior to baking day.
Special equipment needed:
A pizza stone
a 5 quart bowl with a lid (I believe Saran wrap would work too)
a pizza peel or a cookie sheet without a "lip" on it
3 cups water
1 1/2 tbsp granulated yeast (1 1/2 packets)
1 1/2 tbsp coarse kosher or sea salt
6 1/2 cups unsifted, unbleached, all-purpose white flour
cornmeal for pizza peel or flat edged cookie sheet
Mixing and Storing the Dough:
1. Heat water to just a little warmer than body temperature (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Dissolve yeast and then salt in water in a 5 qoart bowl, preferably one with a lid.
3. Mix in the flour by gently scooping it up, then leveling the top off but don't pat it down. Mix with a wooden spoon, a high capacity food processor with a dough attachment, or a heavy duty stand mixer with a dough hook. If hand mixing becomes too difficult, use very wet hands to press it together. Don't knead it! This step is done in a matter of minutes, and the dough should be wet enough to conform to the container.
4. Cover loosely- do not seal. Gases need to be able to escape. Allow the mixture to rise at room temperature until it begins to collapse, approximately 2 hours. Longer rising times, up to about 5 hours, will not harm the result. You can use a portion of the dough anytime after this period. Refrigerated wet dough is much less sticky and easier to work with than room-temp dough. It is reccomended that you refrigerate the dough at least 3 hours before shaping a loaf.
On Baking Day:
5. Prepare pizza peel by sprinkling it liberally with cornmeal to prevent the loaf from sticking to it when you slide it in the oven.
Sprinkle the surface of the dough with flour, then cut off a grapefruit-sized portion with a serrated knife. (This should be about 1/4 of the dough.) Add more flour as needed to keep it from sticking to your hands. Gently stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom on four "sides", rotating the ball a quarter turn as you go, until the bottom is a collection of four bunched ends. Most of the dusting flour will fall off; it doesn't need to be incorporated.
6. Place the ball on the pizza peel. Let it rest uncovered for 40 minutes.
7. Twenty minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 450 degrees with a baking stone in the middle rack. Place an empty broiler tray or casserole dish on the shelf below (this is for holding water).
8. Dust the top of the loaf liberally with flour and slash the top of the dough three times. This will allow the bread to expand during baking and the flour keeps the knife from sticking.
9. With a forward jerking motion of the wrist, slide the loaf off the pizza peel and onto the baking stone. Quickly but carefully pour about a cup of hot water into the broiler tray and close the oven door to trap the steam. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the crust is browned and firm to the touch.
10. Refrigerate the remaining dough in your lidded (not airtight) container and use it over the next two weeks. The dough can also be frozen in portions in airtight containers and defrosted overnight in the refrigerator prior to baking day.
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