looking into my magic oracle... i see the future:

day 17:
i am looking forward to...

GRADUATION!


sorry, i don't feel like posting much today... i woke up this morning with a sore throat and feeling like my eyes were trying to explode out of my head... i didn't even get out of bed until noon (after a very sweet younger brother brought pride and prejudice in to keep me company while i tried to go back to sleep). he's actually pretty sweet on occasion!
i never get sick. i'm usually the family member that laughs while everyone else is sick in bed. not today apparently. so, i'm going to go and sit on the couch, drink some (more) herbal tea, and beat this! because i don't like being sick while i'm at home. 


but today hasn't been all bad (i was about to go crazy, but my younger sister saved me by taking me to the store... we found some sweet red mugs at d.i... which will be a project that will take place sometime within the next few days. it's gonna be sweet!) 


feel better!
yes, thanks. i will!

random (and unadulterated) musings of a friday morning...

just a few thoughts for the day...

:)

See Crochet Fingerless Gloves and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

Falafel!

(you can see that I am missing israel badly when i start looking at ethnic foods...)

recipe from bobby flay

Ingredients

Falafel:

• 2 cups soaked chickpeas (chickpeas need to be soaked in cold water for at least 18 hours and up to 24 hours), add more water if necessary
• Peanut or vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 or 2 serrano chiles, chopped
• 2 green onions (white and green part) finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted and ground
• 3 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and ground
• Scant 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Piquillo Pepper Yogurt Sauce:

• 2 cups thick Greek yogurt
• 3 piquillo or 2 roasted red peppers
• 1 teaspoon smoked sweet Spanish paprika
• 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

White Bean Hummus:

• 3 cups white beans, cooked, or canned, drained and rinsed
• 6 cloves roasted garlic
• 1 tablespoon harissa
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tomato Relish:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 4 vine-ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Falafel:

Directions

Drain the chickpeas through a colander then place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture. Chickpeas should be totally dry.

Heat 4-inches peanut or vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 330 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.

While the oil is heating, heat the olive oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and serrano chiles and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the chickpeas to a food processor, add the garlic mixture, green onions, parsley, mint, cilantro, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, baking powder, salt and pepper and process until the mixture is finely ground, stopping to scrape the bowl every 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.

Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Form the mixture into balls the size of ping pong balls and place on a plate. Fry in batches at 330 degrees F until a pale blonde color, about 45 seconds, spooning oil over the falafel constantly. Remove with a slotted spoon to the baking sheet. Increase the heat of the oil to 350 degrees F. Return the falafel to the oil, in batches, cover the pan with a lid for 30 seconds and fry until a deep brown color, spooning the oil over the falafel constantly. Remove with a slotted spoon to baking sheet lined with paper towels, and immediately season with salt.

For the yogurt sauce:

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth; season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a small bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, covered, to allow the flavors to meld.

Variation: Substitute 2 cups feta cheese for the yogurt, and add 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley.

For the hummus:

Place beans, garlic, harissa, lemon juice, and tahini in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

For the relish:

Whisk the oil, vinegar, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss. The tomatoes should be lightly dressed.

Serve falafel with yogurt sauce, hummus and relish on the side.

Source: diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

my mission for this weekend:

and my mommy's coming up this weekend.

best. weekend. ever!

just keep swimming.

i am not the type of person that goes broadcasting when i have bad days. usually, only those people really close to me are "privileged" enough to see that side of me. everyone else just sees the happy, smiling, bubbly person.
(today was a not-so-fantastic day)
just one of those days that you muddle through. 
one of those days when nothing feels good.
one of those days when you feel stuck. and unproductive...
one of those days that your bed is the only place in the whole wide world that you want to go, and yet it is the last place that you can be. because you are running in about a gajillion other directions. (yup. that was me today.)


so, in honor of those no-so-stellar days: 
http://youtu.be/gH476CxJxfg

i have a new obsession.
now i just have to figure out how to make them. (and possibly learn how to knit in the process...)


i am super ready for fall baking!!!
i love the smells, the tastes, the colors... pretty much everything except for the wind. (i can actually handle the cold. even in a wasteland such as rexburg. it's just the cold. i swear it seeps into your very soul...)
here is a perfect (and potentially healthy) snack to get you into the fall mood:

{yum.}

{Pumpkin Pie Dip} (from skinnytaste.com via pinterest)

• 15 oz can pumpkin
• 3/4 cup brown sugar (Splenda would work too)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)
• 6 oz fat free Greek yogurt
• 8 oz cool whip free
• cut up apples to dip (extra points)

Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla and spices, blend well. Mix in yogurt. Fold in cool whip and chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.
Makes about 6 cups.

tomorrow's gonna be a good one.
i can just feel it. :)

***
May you live all the days of your life.
Jonathan Swift

well hello sunshine!

i love waking up early and sitting on the couch with my chilly toes stuck under a gigantic mound of blankets, with my computer and a big cup of hot chocolate. 


ooooh yes, i am sooooo ready for fall right now.


i've decided it's been too long since you've gotten any music, and i've been feeling in a somewhat indie mood as of late, so here ya go.

beware. this is what happens when i am allowed to sit and surf the web uninterrupted. 


i listened to her version of elton john's song: your song this morning, and fell in love with ellie goulding's voice. 








i've been doing projects with my mom straight for the past few weeks that i've been home, so i've got major crafts on the brain. this is my next project:

infinity dress and here

and for the piece de resistance - i want to try this!

recipe here

my toes are warm, the hot cocoa is gone, and mom is finally up. time to start the day!

:)

just a normal thursday. not.

you know the feeling, the night before christmas... you are a little kid and no matter how hard you try, you just can't get to sleep? that every single sound is hooves on the roof and you swear you heard something coming from down the hall???
i feel like that kid.
no, my flight doesn't leave until wednesday morning, but i am back to being that same jittery little kid.
why can't i just hop in my handy-dandy time machine and whiz to next tuesday??? (i have an orientation meeting... don't wanna miss that one!)
i don't like waiting. at all.
but i'm leaving tomorrow to go see the bestest 19-year-old sister ever. she is going to europe.
is it ok for me to be jealous? if only i could split myself in two...

gosh i am going to miss my family!
i have the sweetest little brothers, both of which come into my room this morning before they leave for school and give me a kiss on the cheek. did my heart melt? yeah, just a little.
lets see how long that lasts when the older one gets home and they start fighting again...

now back to packing!
i just know i'm gonna forget something.
murphy's law of taking a vacation right?
but i figured i needed to make something to protect my poor laptop... so today i decided to make this:
(i swear i'm working on the camera situation!)

mine is yellow. surprise!
and its got buttons!
i can check that off my list of not-so-important-things-to-do...
back to the crucial stuff like finding food... and maybe taking the scissors out of my carry-on... that could be a good thing to remember.

since i'm going to grandpa's house (where wireless internet is unheard of) i am posting this as a pseudo-friday entry. enjoy!

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like: source code

i love a good and happy ending :)

dislike: gory movies (i won't say which one i watched to deserve that not-so subtle diss. you are entitled to your own opinion... except when it comes to knowing what i like.)

a lot of randomness for your wednesday

i know what it's like.

i've seen it played out a few zillion times.

you're waiting for that magical day when someone makes the connection and recognizes who you really are.

maybe they'll first catch the sparkle in your eye.

or perhaps they'll marvel at your insights and the depth of your spirit.

someone who will help you connect the dots, believe in yourself, and make sense of it all.

someone who will understand you, approve of you, and unhesitatingly give you a leg up so that life can pluck your ready, ripened self from the branch of magnificence.

well, I'm here to tell you, your wait is over.

that someone, is you.

~Mike Dooley

isn't it true though?

i was reading through one of my journals, and i found that quote.

oh how i love quotes!

i always seem to find ones that speak right to my very core. that make me want to be a better

person, and that give me the boost that i need to...

i'm pretty sure that this is my favorite saying of late.

with all the stress of an upcoming study abroad (even though i am extremely excited! ...it is still nerve-racking and i just love to worry about stuff anyways), applying for nursing schools, dating, not dating, making friends, going to class, homework, and trying to stay sane by

cooking... i just have to remember to keep movin' on!

we had an experiment tonight... we started out with a potato soup, and just kept adding stuff from the fridge that needed to be eaten. so we ended up with a very interesting (but very yummy!) soup. and we decided we needed bread to go with it, so we hopped in the car and drove down the street to maverik to get a $1 loaf of french bread.

keep calm and carry on!

i've decided that life is ok, and stressing about stuff will only waste energy.

energy that i need! (to have awesome nacho-libre themed parties like tonight!!!)

we even made a paper-mache luchador-mask pinata!

it took serious skill.

(yes, i am the idiot that painted it... don't laugh)

oh, and i did mention we dyed our hair?

here is a picture.

of the blue.

i had to make sure to hide the hair when i went to the testing center today. they don't look too kindly on those of us who express their individuality through our choice of hair color. it does not look as good as my roommates - she is super blonde so it turned bright blue. mine looks kinda green.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

i am thankful for sleep

and airbourne

and for the hours that i did not spend worrying about parties,

because hanging out with friends is always a success!

my next big idea.

cute huh?

when i get home, and get a free minute to myself,

i am going to make this cute apron!

i am constantly amazed at how creative people are.

i see all these cute projects, and think

i fail at life.

but that's ok! i just copy them.

(copying is flattery in its purest form...)

you know those dangerous discoveries you make?

the ones that change your life forever?

some people fall in love,

other people decide what they want their major to be,

some women find a green scarf

(confessions of a shopaholic reference there...)

i found a recipe.

simple.

but deadly.

to tell you the truth, i've always cooked popcorn either in the microwave or in an air popper...

i've never cooked any on the stove.

sad?

yes!

but true.

i thought that kettle corn was something that was completely be

yond my reach as a cook.

that it required special skills and equipment to be able to make this delicious goodness.

oh how wrong i was!!!

(should i be excited about this? yes. yes i should!)

Kettle Corn

makes 10 cups, cook time 5-10 min

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup popcorn kernels

1/4 cup sugar

salt to taste (1-2 tsp)

1. in a large pot with a lid, add oil and three kernels of popcorn. get your pot holders ready.

2. turn on the heat to medium and cover the pot. listen carefully, when the third kernel pops, your oil is ready.

3. add the rest of the popcorn and the sugar. give it a quick stir to combine and fully coat.

4. cover the pot again and heat for three seconds, then lift off the heat with your pot holders on and shake vigorously up and down for three seconds.

5. repeat heating the pot for three seconds and shaking for three seconds and continue repeating for about 5 minutes (hey, you didn’t think this deliciousness would be effortless, right?).

6. check the kettle corn for color and continue heating and shaking until popping stops or kettle corn is sufficiently golden brown.

7. pour popcorn into a large bowl and toss with salt while still hot.

8. taste and salt as desired once cool.

Can I just say how super easy this recipe was?

i am about the laziest cook - EVER - and i thought this was actually pretty fun!

i did end up halving the recipe today...

because i didn't think it was healthy to eat the whole batch by myself...

NOT because i didn't want to!

next time, the roommate and i wanted to try to add vanilla, and possibly a little cinnamon...

Yes. I know. I can't do anything consistently.

That IS why this blog has its very particular name.

Just in case you didn't get that memo.

BUT I did do something very exciting! I crocheted my first cowl!

I think it turned out pretty fantastic.

Not to toot my own horn or anything... ;)

By the way. I am not a model.

Just to avoid any confusion you might be having concerning my um... skills.

Talk about AWKWARD!

This little beauty is from a pattern I found when I was trying to decide what to do with a massive amount of yarn that I have been accumulating over the past several years (no joke!)... I followed the pattern pretty much exactly, but I just ended it early, so it isn't quite as full as the one in the pattern. I also just used super saver yarn that I bought at walmart (I doubled the strands to make it more bulky) AND I TELL YOU WHAT! This thing is a B.E.A.U-TIFUL thing! Especially in the ridiculously cold weather of late.

Everyone I know is jealous of my cowl.

*Smug grin*

And mustard yellow?!

How much more awesome and sunny can you get???

It makes me super happy on this cold, grey day.

(It snowed ALL day...)

Dear sun, I miss you. Can we hang out again soon?

And now for the main event!

Convertable Cowl

Materials:

plymouth yarn baby alpaca grande (110yds)

220 yds, 2 skeins in your choice of color

yarn needle

10mm (N) hook

stitch marker

Overview.

You will be crocheting in the round.

You will join but not turn.

Mark the beginning of each row with a row marker.

Guage:

If working with a different yarn than recommded, make sure that your beginning chain will fit over your head leaving plenty of extra room. Remember that you want your cowl to be loose enough to pull up as a hood and still give plenty of coverage around your neck.

Steps:

Chain 55 and join with a sl st into back of chain (do not twist chain).

Row 1: Ch 1, (working in back of chain) Sc in same Ch as joining. Mark stitch. Sc in each chain around and join to marked stitch (do not twist chain).

Row 2: Ch 2, (counts as first Dc), skip st and Dc in each Sc around. Join with sl st to top of Ch 2. (55 Dc)

Row 3: Ch 1, (counts as first Hdc), skip st and Hdc in each around. Join with sl st to top of Ch 1. (55 Hdc)

Row 4: Ch 2, (counts as first Dc), skip st and Dc in each Hdc around. Join with sl st to top of Ch 2. (55 Dc)

Rows 5-6: Repeat row 4

Row 7: Repeat row 3

Row 8: Repeat row 4

Row 9: Ch 1, Sc in each Dc around. Join with sl st to Ch 1.

Rows 10-17 repeat rows 2-9

Rows 18-23 repeats rows 2-7

Fasten off.

I actually just went to row 15 or 16... I didn't want mine to get too big and bulky.

It's perfect for wearing on top of a shirt and it still fits inside of a jacket and keeps my neck nice and cozy warm!

http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Hats-Scarves-Gloves/Crochet-Convertible-Cowl#

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I want to think about what I am thankful for this year!

Today I am thankful for snow. And for hot chocolate and thick socks.

I decided to start this blog at a very bad time... this time is usually referred to with great chagrin among those who would much rather be spending their time hanging out with friends, going on adventures, making out, sleeeeeeping (for real... who actually does that?) but instead find themselves studying for hours upon hours in preparation for finals. For once in my "college life," my finals schedule isn't that bad! Hallelujah! And an angel chorus sings. But I will have to make time to sit down and write. Let's hope I can learn to be more diligent than my studying. :)

My first project was a hat I finished about a week ago. It was my first crocheted hat, and I am pretty excited

with how it turned out. I usually think of crochet, and I think of my

grandma and what s

he used to wear. Not really my style. I have been converted.

Pardon the subject... she was a little on the tired side while taking this picture, and had f

orgone regular clothes in favor of her jammies. This project was really fun because I got to learn how to do a half double-crochet and popcorn stitch! If you want to find the pattern, there is an awesome tutorial on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-R7athkDDs

and on her website here: http://crochet-

mania.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-post_31.html. Both of these were very beginner-friendly. I make no claims to being any good at crocheting, but this one actually

fits! (This is actually saying something... the last one I tried barely fit my barbie... let's just say I didn't know what a double-crochet was yet... and I was only 12!) Give me a little credit for trying.

My next project happened Saturday night with my soon-to-be roommate and current next-door neighbor. She is amazingly artistic and loves to spray-paint designs on t-shirts and sweatshirts. No joke... these are awesome! I gave it my best shot. I'll let you decide how this one turned out.

Pretty sweet huh? Mine was a little crispy from the massive amount of paint, but after I threw it in the wash it turned out pretty sick!

Finally - the last project! This one is not quite as cool as the other two, but I think they turned out pretty cool. I decided for Christmas I was going to make most of my presents to give away... unfortunately at school I do not have hot glue and a lot of crafty things that are in ample supply in the cupboards at home... so I had to make do with these.

They are supposed to be flowers. If you couldn't tell.

No, not everything is going to be arts and crafts from here... that just happened to be a random theme for this post. I go through spurts where I will be very interested in something for a while, and then you won't here about it for a long time. I always love looking back on my obsessions and remembering how much I loved them. But this is to help me remember what I've done and to keep track of them, or else I will forget!

Hope you will enjoy the ride along with me!