Magic in a cardboard cup & the love of my lives.

Sorry for the lack of posting, it's been a pretty busy weekend.

On Friday after class and cleaning up the house some, I met Katie and Lauren at Sweet Cece's. Not to brag on myself, but I made the most glorious creation EVER. Perfect Peanut Butter and NY Cheesecake frozen yogurt with Lucky Charms, chocolate cookie dough, and hot fudge. OHMYLORD. Magic.

Afterwards we went to Green Hills for a bit, then headed back to Katie's apartment to meet up with Kayla and commence a night of cupcake making and movie watching. I'm sure you don't realize, but on Friday it had been exactly two years since Heath Ledger died. I seriously have not watched a Heath Ledger movie since. But I figured it was time, especially since two years is a very long time to go without watching your favorite movie. So while the funfetti cupcakes were in the oven, we popped in the DVD and I took a deep breath to prepare myself for that gorgeous smile.

So... the paintball scene? You know the one I mean? Well just in case:

It's perfection. So cute. The best date ever. Being tackled into a giant hay pile by a paint covered hunk-a-hunk of burning love?? UH, YES PLEASE. The way he throws off those goggles before going in for some lip action? OH YEAH. You toss those babies and plant one over here.

And as embarrassing as this is to admit, especially to people who may not know me and may just write me off as a crazy person immediately (well I am a little crazy, but one with redeeming qualities I like to think), I just couldn't help myself. I literally burst into tears during it. Because he was just the most gorgeous man to walk the earth. And I had every intention of testing out that gloriousness myself. No really. I basically had to change my life plan.

The rest of the weekend kind of flew by, including driving a few hours to visit my little sister and somehow ending up at a Guns and Roses cover band show with Merissa during Kayce's birthday celebrations. I know. Random of randoms. Today I went on another Green Hills adventure and ended up taking a trip to The Body Shop and Sephora with Lauren. I am pretty excited about some purchases... which included an OPI nail polish known as Ocean Love Potion. It ranks pretty high on my favorite nail polish names list.

Tonight has just been me which was nice. I grabbed some sushi and came home to put laundry in, and watched some Criminal Minds while eating my full moon sushi combo. I then proceeded to make these little babies:

Strawberry Sundrop cupcakes. I know, right? They are pretty amazing. I was a proud little baker. So now that I've eaten a couple, I'm ready to sprawl out and enjoy my new Cosmo and Vogue and make some design plans. Also some birthday present researching may go on. OH! I almost forgot that I had some really awesome thrift finds this weekend too. I will be posting pictures of those soon. Stay tuned!

❤love.

Who's really average anyway?

So I'm going to have to go on a little bit of a rant here, but it's something I have felt strongly about for a very long time, and I think- or hope- that it's worth reading and considering.

We have destroyed the work ethic of America. That is a pretty bold statement, but hear me out. At some point or another, we got on this average kick. If everyone is the same, then no one's feelings are hurt. Maybe this was related to the big child psychology wave that went through, I don't know. But we started being afraid of singling anyone out in a positive light because, heaven forbid it should make someone else feel bad about themselves. We gave the exact same trophies to everyone who participated in the soccer tournament, no matter who worked hard to come out on top. We gave everyone on the team the same MVP ribbon for that great basketball game even though the next Michael Jordan came out of his shell and scored half the winning points. On a schooling level, we created gifted programs for kids who excelled above the general standard of work and tested at above average IQ's, and then discretely shoved them in a room at the end of a hallway once a month to give them critical thinking exercises and personality tests. We were afraid that if we gave them different work, challenged them at their level, others would notice and be discouraged by their own. Our learning systems were created for the average without flexibility to fit the larger majority of exceptions, on both sides of the spectrum. Then we inspired absolutely no one to reach their full potential by making it a goal for everyone to appear on the same level and calling it a good thing. Nobody is going to excel at everything, we have to accept that there will be categories of life that other people will be better at. But everyone has an aptitude for something that they can develop and succeed at. If we teach kids from a young age that the person who works the hardest and holds themselves to the highest standard will get all the same benefits (or lack there of) as the person who is lazy and doesn't care about accomplishing anything, what kind of message is that sending them? I know there's the argument that you should do things for yourself, and personal satisfaction and accomplishment is a reward in itself, but not everyone is psychologically the same. And some people, that could otherwise reach the highest of highs, cannot do so without the recognition by their peers. It is sad that we squelch the people with the most capacity and talent in the programs and institutions we create specifically to build those capabilities, whether they are athletic or academic or otherwise. Skill, talent, and intelligence are never traits that should be punished, even in indirect ways. They should be nurtured and supported and encouraged so that the world is full of people who are the very best possible versions of themselves, people who have been allowed to reach the greatest of their abilities.

❤love.

T-Bone. T-Bone Streep.

So I watched the Golden Globes tonight and it was pretty entertaining, I must say. From Meryl Streep starting off her acceptance speech expressing her desire to change her name to T-Bone, to half a dozen digs at NBC (during a live feed... on NBC). Sandra Bullock gave such a great speech as well, both touching and hilarious. She's one of my favorites. As is Drew Barrymore who was adorable stumbling over her words and trying to get out her thanks. I also had Leonardo Dicaprio flashbacks as he was presenting. Oh how I love 1996 Leonardo. Not that he's not beautiful anymore, but my god, in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet... favorite kiss scene ever. The music. The party. The costumes. Strangers. Running into the elevator... the way the camera does a 360˚...

Okay, okay. I'll stop now.

In other news, I made a vegan pizza. Well, let me clarify even that I was CRAVING a vegan pizza. I think Kaelah may be contagious. It was probably the best pizza I've ever made. And it didn't even have any cheese. WHAT is going on. Craziness.

Above is the pizza before going in the oven.

Well, I think it's movies in bed time at this point. Ready to get snuggled up and comfy.

❤love.

Tuna saladdd. A better one.

I made the best tuna salad today. I've been trying to figure out something healthy besides one slathered in mayonnaise, and I have finally succeeded. I halved some grape tomatoes and put them on a cookie sheet. Sprinkled with garlic salt, pepper, and dried basil. I put them in the oven on broil at 250˚ for about 20 minutes... I basically just watched until they started getting wrinkly. Then opened a can of tuna, drained, and added to the tomatoes in a bowl. Then I added a small dollop of herb and garlic goat cheese. Just a little bit (healthier version, remember?) because it's really flavorful. Stirred it all up. You can always add more pepper to suit your taste, but I liked it just the way it was. SO YUMMY. I made a wrap, and next time I think I'll get some baby spinach to add to it. I made a bunch of the oven roasted tomatoes and have been using them for different things, so you could always do that if it seems like a lot of trouble for just some tuna salad. (Worth it in my opinion though.) Just wanted to share in case anyone else was trying to eat better and make their own lunches!

❤love.

It's more about what you radiate.

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."

-Kahlil Gibran

Polaroid collage romance.

I saw these on the Green Wedding Shoes blog and had to share. (Which you should check out if you haven't yet!) They credit them to sicoactiva and I just think they are the sweetest things. Creative and different, and of course I love me some polaroids.

❤love.

Dream terminal.

I was walking across campus today and stopped suddenly. For some reason out of no where, I remembered my dream last night. And my heart dropped into my stomach.

I have a cousin that's my age. And he's a marine, fighting in Afghanistan. Last night I dreamed that I was in a giant circular room at the end of a long hall, and it was the international terminal at an airport. It was completely full of people, greeting and saying goodbye to people they loved. I waited, frantically searching for his face, and suddenly he was there. And I ran to give him the biggest hug ever, throwing my arms around him and bursting into tears. And we sat hugging, both of us crying, but it was time for him to get on his next plane. And we had to say goodbye, because he couldn't stay. And then I woke up.

I know I'm probably being silly. But every time I see the news reporting more casualties, I hold my breath. Five marines in southern Afghanistan. One. Eight. And after this dream I'll be holding my breath again until someone hears from him. And I can't shake how much it disturbed me. Too much like an in between, too real of a goodbye. I know everybody can't come home. I know for every one of those numbers, someone somewhere is losing someone. And though I'm selfishly hoping it's not the someone I love, I just wish they could all come home.

I'M TWENTY ONE!

Today is my twenty first birthday :)

I had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory (SO GOOD.)

First ordered drink?? MAI TAI!

The bartender sent his love and made it "extra special," which basically amounted to the fact that I was sipping on a foot of shots. But oh well. Off to check out the Nashville bar scene!

❤love.

What snow feels like.

We see. We taste. Hear. Touch. Smell. Most of us, that is. But with five senses to keep up with, depending on what we're experiencing, we forget to use some. By now you all know how much I love snow, how much it makes my heart smile. I've been enjoying it so much the past three days, how beautiful it is dancing around in the air, the silence it creates. But this afternoon I opened my front door to watch it fall, and saw someone else do the same across the drive. But it was the old blind man. And he stepped outside and closed his eyes, raised his face upwards, and felt the snow. And instead of watching the snow, I just stood there watching him, smiling. Because I forgot to take in how the snow feels. Landing on your eyelashes, your skin, like tiny feathers that melt at the warmth. And it felt just as beautiful as it looked.

❤love.

Snow mustache.

Hallelujah, it's snowing. I can't even explain to you how much I love this. I spent the day in my pajamas playing mario kart and drinking Bailey's and coffee while alternately taking Cricket out to play in the snow. This was her first snow! She LOVES it. She's the cutest thing. I rescued her in August and she is just this scruffy little mutt that is so smart and so sweet. She's such a good dog, especially for still being puppy.

Cricket and her snow mustache

I have big crafty ideas right now and am pretty set on rearranging my room. So hopefully I will have that to share with you soon. Can I also just say, that it's so amazing to have friends who haven't lost their sense of wonder and fun. Who says you can't enjoy slumber parties and twinkle forts for as long as you live? I plan on it.

❤love.

Yummy goodness.

So I've been looking around for some good recipes because I want to be better about making food myself and not eating out or eating too much processed stuff. Trying to live a healthier lifestyle this year and I'm determined to keep it up! Here's a couple that just sounded delicious and I had to share.

Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

Ingredients

• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
• 8 ounces raspberries
• 1 pound strawberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor
• 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• butter flavored cooking spray
• 2 cups cinnamon sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound ground turkey
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups pumpkin puree
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 dash salt
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and saute the onion, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and garlic until tender. Stir in the turkey, and cook until evenly brown. Drain, and mix in tomatoes and pumpkin. Season with chili powder, pepper, and salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Serve topped with Cheddar cheese and sour cream.

Hope you guys enjoy if you decide to attempt either! I think I will be soon.

So speaking of healthy, I am IN LOVE with Sweet Cece's. I went today with Merissa, Kaelah, and Kayce and it was the bestttt. It's a serve yourself frozen yogurt bar with more toppings that you can choose. The fro yo is fat free so it's pretty much up to you how good you want to be with your toppings. But it's so good every time. And it will NEVER get old because there are a million different combinations. It's also the cutest little place, so I just love being there.

Classes start back so soon, I cannot even believe it. Oh... and... my birthday is in 6 days :)

❤love.

It's gonna be a good one.

So. I had a pretty crazy start to my year. It all started at midnight when I got a new years eve kiss from a friend which spawned a breakdown 20 minutes later in which my drunken sister burst into tears and confessed her love for him. Already getting good, right? I mean, not even half an hour in to 2010 and we're already getting down to the All My Children shit. But I will say that she does random things like this when she's had too much to drink so by the next morning everything was back to normal. No awkward love triangle to report.

So anyway, today we had to move all of our barn cats from the old farm to our new family farm. And you have to understand that when I say barn cat, I don't mean scraggly and skittish. I mean spoiled rotten, beautiful and very loved cats that happen to live in a barn. And there are 20 of them. I know, I know. That's A LOT of cats. But we get them fixed, they get shots and frontline, and get to roll around in the grass all day catching field mice and have a heated place to sleep. We can't help it if we're somehow always the ones to find boxes of kittens dumped on the side of the road. If we can't find them homes, we give them one.

So back to moving them. It was my sister and mine's job. And our strategy was to one by one catch them, open alternating car doors so as to throw off the already captured ones, and quickly toss them in the car. All twenty of them. My sister had to climb through her hatchback window to get in the car without letting them escape. I thankfully successfully slid into the passenger seat while she distracted them.

Now, I don't care how friendly a cat is, not very many of them are fans of car rides. So you can probably imagine the chaos that ensued of 20 loose cats in small SUV during the 45 minute drive between farms. I'm pretty sure this had to be illegal in five different ways. But I'm also pretty sure it had to be THE most entertaining car ride of my life.

I had four scaredy cats that never left my arms the duration of the ride. Disney, Pokey, Peaches, and Liger. Actually, Liger didn't mind the ride, he just likes to snuggle.

So anyway. Honey Bear wedged herself between my sister's upper back and the seat. Let me just say that sometimes cats pant when they're scared, and Honey was not only panting, but letting a large drool train drip down all over the place. Disgusting, I know. So I turn around and see this happening and make a noise that causes my sister to see what's happening out of the corner of her eye. She starts FREAKING out because she gets grossed out easily and she can't fully see where all this spit is going. I can't tell her because I am laughing so hard at her freaking out, and at this point she can't look because Casper has climbed half on top of her head and half on top of the headrest and not to mention SHE'S DRIVING. So there's a cat on her head, she's freaking out pressing herself against the door, screaming "IS IT ON MY NEW JACKET!!?!?!?" And I just can't stop laughing. Because we're probably about to die and my arms are full of cats and I'm trying to get George and Winnie off the dashboard and this is the grossest thing ever but completely hysterical because it's not happening to me. And even if it was getting on her new jacket I couldn't do anything about it.

Ultimately, no one died and we were successful in getting them all to their new home. Mission accomplished.

We ended the day by curling up and watching The Hangover with some friends. Appropriate, I think, for New Years Day. I think this is going to be an interesting year, to say the least. Interesting in all the best ways.

❤love.