L-O-V-E

My boyfriend and I just watched this movie the other night...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:06:58 -0500

My boyfriend and I just watched this movie the other night (probably my 100th time), and I laughed hilariously…as usual. Don Knotts was such a funny guy; the faces he makes are priceless. Old movies can be so enjoyable…If you haven’t seen this classic, you really should.

“Love is one of the answers humankind invented to stare...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:02:49 -0500

“Love is one of the answers humankind invented to stare death in the face: time ceases to be a measure, and we can briefly know paradise.”

—Octavio Paz

"For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people, For a..."

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:25:25 -0500

““For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people, For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry, For Beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day, For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.””

- Audrey Hepburn (via kari-shma) (via quote-book)

I JUST FINISHED READING: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:35:18 -0500

I JUST FINISHED READING:

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

As a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, I figured that this book must be incredible and I picked it up (also because it was assigned for my class). And, as it turns out, it IS incredible and I think everyone should read it. The powerful short stories come together to tell one giant tale of love…Whether its love lost, love-of-self, family love, passionate love, unrequited love, etc. It is all there and its powerful guys…I mean, you’ll probably cry. I did.

Here’s what I think you should do: Go to Barnes and Noble (or your favorite book seller) and just read the first short story titled, “A temporary matter”. It’s amazing…And if you’re not sold after reading that one, then don’t get the book. But if it reaches down and touches your soul, like it did mine, then buy it. Add it to your collection. Read it with a box of tissues.

Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake with Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting A...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:30:16 -0500

Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake with Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting

A relatively intense process may be worth it to create this beautiful cake. I think that it would be a great conversation piece for the family-thanksgiving get together. It’s new, unique, creative, and delicious. Give it a try…

Cake:

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder*
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1/3 cup whole milk

Frosting:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Chopped walnuts or walnut halves, toasted

For cake:
Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with 1 1/2-inch sides with nonstick spray. Line bottoms with parchment; spray parchment.

Whisk flour and next 4 ingredients in large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in another large bowl until smooth. Beat in brown sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat in pumpkin. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, beating to blend between additions. Divide batter between pans.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool in pans on rack 15 minutes. Run knife around cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto racks. Remove parchment. Using tart pan bottom as aid, turn cakes over onto racks, top sides up, and cool completely. DO AHEAD:Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap cakes in plastic and store at room temperature.

For frosting:
Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add cream cheese and orange peel; beat until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat on low speed until smooth.

Trim rounded tops from cakes. Using long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on large platter. Spoon 2/3 cup frosting atop cake in dollops; spread to edges. Repeat 2 more times with cake and frosting; top with remaining cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake (layer will be thin). DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome; chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

Decorate cake with walnuts and serve.

* A spice blend that usually contains ground fennel seeds, Szechuan peppercorns, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves; available in the spice section of most supermarkets.

I just saw the trailer for this movie that comes out in the...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:25:06 -0500

I just saw the trailer for this movie that comes out in the beginning of December, and I actually think it looks really good. I’m usually not a big fan of Tobey Maguire, but this is a strange role for him and it could be really great. We’ll see…

I’m not going to write out the movie description I found because it pretty much tells the ENTIRE plot and I’d rather you were surprised…but if curious, check out this link. The description is there AND the trailers so watch it…

What do you think?

Learn from the Greats: 7 Writing Habits of Amazing Writers

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:52:45 -0500

almostlovers:

spectra:

via ilovereadingandwriting:

By Leo Babauta

Finding the ideal working habits that will allow me to write as consistently as possible is always something I’m exploring as a writer.

As I’ve said before, I try to make it a habit to write first thing in the morning. It helps me to focus and ensure that I’m getting my writing done.

I love reading about my favorite writers and what writing habits led to their success. Below, I share with you some of my favorite writers’ work habits … and it’s obvious that there’s no single way to success. Some like to write a certain number of words or pages every day, others were happy to write a page or a sentence. Some liked to write long-hand, others did it on index cards. Some wrote standing up, others lying down.

There’s no one way that works. Do what works for you (and share it in the comments!). But maybe you’ll get some inspiration from these greats, as I have.

1. Stephen King. In his book On Writing, King says that he writes 10 pages a day without fail, even on holidays. That’s a lot of writing each day, and it has led to some incredible results: King is one of the most prolific writers of our time.

2. Ernest Hemingway. By contrast with King, “Papa” Hemingway wrote 500 words a day. That’s not bad, though. Hemingway, like me, woke early to write to avoid the heat and to write in peace and quiet. Interestingly, though Hemingway is famous for his alcoholism, he said he never wrote while drunk.

3. Vladimir Nabokov. The author of such great novels as Lolita, Pale Fire and Ada did his writing standing up, and all on index cards. This allowed him to write scenes non-sequentially, as he could re-arrange the cards as he wished. His novel Ada took up more than 2,000 cards.

4. Truman Capote. The author of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “In Cold Blood” claimed to be a “completely horizontal author.” He said he had to write lying down, in bed or on a couch, with a cigarette and coffee. The coffee would switch to tea, then sherry, then martinis, as the day wore on. He wrote his first and second drafts in longhand, in pencil. And even his third draft, done on a typewriter, would be done in bed — with the typewriter balanced on his knees.

5. Philip Roth. One of the greatest living American writers, Roth works standing up, pacing around as he thinks. He claimed to walk half a mile for every page he writes. He separates his work life from personal life, and doesn’t write where he lives — he has a studio built away from his house. He works at a lectern that doesn’t face the view of his studio window, to avoid distraction.

6. James Joyce. In the pantheon of great writers of the last century, Joyce looms large. And while more prolific writers set themselves a word or page limit, Joyce prided himself in taking his time with each sentence. A famous story has a friend asking Joyce in the street if he’d had a good day writing. Yes, Joyce replied happily. How much had he written? Three sentences, Joyce told him.

7. Joyce Carol Oates. This extremely prolific writer (see her bibliography on her Wikipedia page!) has won numerous awards, including the National Book Award. She writes in longhand, and while she doesn’t have a formal schedule, she says she prefers to write in the morning, before breakfast. She’s a creative writing professor, and on the days she teaches, she says she writes for an hour or 45 minutes before leaving for her first class. On other days, when the writing is going well, she can work for hours without a break — and has breakfast at 2 or 3 in the afternoon!

Source

Great advice. Reblogging as a note to self.

These look delicious! And my sister loves anything that has...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:36:00 -0500

These look delicious! And my sister loves anything that has maple flavoring so I know she would like them…Maybe I’ll make them for her special on Christmas morning. That would be a nice treat…

Ingredients

Vegetable oil, for frying
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons melted salted butter
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Cinnamon sugar
Maple Syrup Glaze, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oil in a large Dutch oven to 375 degrees F.

Whisk dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Whisk eggs, yolk, buttermilk, pumpkin puree, melted butter and almond extract together in another large bowl until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and thoroughly mix together using a wooden spoon. The dough will be very sticky.

Dust your countertop and hands with flour. Using your hands pat out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Dip a 3-inch round cutter in flour and cut out donuts. Cut out center of donuts with 3/4-inch cutter. Gather scraps and re-roll. Continue cutting out donuts.

Fry donuts, in hot oil, until golden brown and crisp, approximately 1 minute per side. Drain on wire rack over sheet tray to cool.

Once cool, dust with cinnamon sugar, if desired, or dip tops of the donuts into the Maple Syrup Glaze. Also, a butter knife can be used to spread on the glaze.

Maple Syrup Glaze:

3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon maple extract
1/2 cup milk

In a small bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, maple extract and milk; stir well. Add additional milk, if needed, to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over donuts.

Food Network.

"And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along, just to make it through."

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:40 -0500

“And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along, just to make it through.”

- All-American Rejects

jaclynday: Whenever I’m having a down moment, all I have to do...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:14:19 -0500

jaclynday:

Whenever I’m having a down moment, all I have to do is look at this collage I made of my sister and I start laughing.

Haha…I’m so glad I can help make my sister’s day just a little bit better. :)

How to Recognize a Good Guy When You See Him...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:53:28 -0500

“You want a man who can make you laugh when you’re down and who laughs with you when you’re up, a man who listens and asks questions and responds. A man who rubs your feet to put you to sleep and who goes out for cafe’ mochas when you have to stay up and who knows that on those working-all-nighters the answer to any question involving whipped cream is a yes.
You want a man who’ll wash your hair, who’ll cook you dinner, who’ll talk to your father on the phone when you can’t bear to, who’ll read to you on trips, and who’s happy when you read (or sing or dance) for him.
You want a man who when he finds out that there are $199 fares to Kona suggests you go with your best girlfriend while he stays home and takes care of your dog. You want a man who will drive that same dog around all night when he is hallucinating and howling after the vet gave him too much postsurgical morphine, because you are up for promotion and have an interview with the dean at 8 am.
You want a man who loves many things: his work, his landscape, a sports team, his friends.
You want a man who knows that love is not a pie, that sex is not a sport, that faith (in the world, in each other) is a little like a full-time job.
You want a man who knows that women have a secret, and even though he can’t know what it is, he is smart enough to want to live in its light.
Most important, you want a man who can continue to surprise you, for a week, a month, a year, a lifetime, which is to say a man who has a big imagination, and who is willing to use it to win your heart.”

— Pam Houston, in her article 10 Signs to Run for Your Life (this was the article insert titled How to Recognize a Good Guy When You See Him.)

As a junior in college, I get to see a WIDE array of outfits on...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:03:30 -0500

As a junior in college, I get to see a WIDE array of outfits on campus every day. The outfits and clothes tend to be unique, but the shoe-trends stay the same. I guarantee that if you walk onto any big university in the country, you will see at least 3 out of the 4 options here on any given day. When it starts to get chilly, the UGGS and rain boots come out…When it starts to warm up, the gladiator sandals and Chacos are in full swing. So for those of you looking for some new shoe styles to try out…or maybe for those of you who want to feel like you’re back in school…grab a pair of moccasins and Sperrys!

1. UGG Australia Dakota Moccasins in Chestunt, $220.52 = This pair is pricey! They are probably worth it though with their water-resistant fabric and furry lining…I’m kind of cheap though so I hit-up American Eagle or my local Native American tourist store to pick up a pair of my very own. These look really good with cuffed skinny jeans or leggings.

2. Converse, $45 = You really can’t get any more classic than Converse. You can find discount pairs at places like Ross, TJ Maxx, Plato’s Closet, or Rugged Warehouse. Guys and girls on campus still wear them on a regular basis. They pretty much go with anything.

3. Burberry Equestrian Knight Rain Boots, $199.00 = I don’t typically see too many girls on campus rocking Burberry, but a few have these high-end rain boots. You can buy great pairs at Target or DSW though for a fraction of the cost. These can be worn well with jeans or leggings and they’re great for winter snow or that annoying drizzle.

4. Sperry Top-Sider Bluefish 2-eye Boat Shoe, $79.00 = This may have been the one out of the group you weren’t prepared for…random right? Boat shoes…who knew? But they are CRAZY on college campuses…People love ‘um. I haven’t picked up a pair yet, but I saw some cheap, discounted ones at my local shoe store that practically look exactly like the Sperry brand. I even heard they have some good ones at Wal-Mart. I would love to splurge for a pair of these though because they come in so many great patterns and designs…

5. Chaco Eclipse EcoTread, $70.00 = These are all the rage in the summer! They are actually really comfortable and offer better support than their $10 Old Navy counterparts that most college kids run to. They can be worn with shorts, skirts, dresses, jeans…really anything.

6. UGG Australia Classic Tall, $179.95 = I can’t believe that UGGs keep getting more and more popular…The interesting thing about these boots is that you either love them or hate them; there really is no middle ground. I happen to love them just because my feet are always cold and these keep them warm (as opposed to the Converse which let all the water and cold air in). Sometimes you can find them on sale at department stores…Or you could buy them on Ebay for even more competitive rates.

7. Gladiator Sandals = The ones shown above were on Zappos.com, but you can pick up a pair of these almost anywhere. Before the weather turned cold all the girls were wearing them all the time. They are really flattering on everyone and they look great with dresses, skirts, or tunics and leggings. It’s too chilly to wear them now, but maybe you could find some on sale to buy and then save till spring.

"In life we do things. Some we wish we had never done. some we wish we could re-play a million times..."

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:36 -0500

“In life we do things. Some we wish we had never done. some we wish we could re-play a million times in our heads. But they all make us who we are, and in the end they shape every detail about us. If we were to reverse any of them we wouldn’t be the person we are, so just live, make mistakes, have wonderful memories, but never ever second guess who you are, where you have been, and most importantly where it is you’re going.”

- (via eletheowl) (via kimm—) (via loveisjustlove)

Compliments...Give 'em! You won't be sorry...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:29:33 -0500

You want to know what really makes someone’s day? A compliment.

It’s something so simple, right?

You look beautiful today.
I really love your hair…where do you get it cut?
Your shoes are so cute…
Those glasses look really good on you.
That dress really brings out your eyes.
That suit looks great on you; It really fits well.
That was so kind of you to let that person get in line in front of you…
Thanks for holding the door for me! So many people forget about chivalry…but obviously not you.
You are so funny! I love your sense of humor…
You are such an understanding person…I love talking to you.
That purse is so amazing! Great taste!

Pretty easy…..right?

I have to say that nothing makes my day like a compliment whether its from a stranger, a friend, my sister, my boyfriend, etc. And GIVING compliments makes my day too. It automatically makes me feel happier when I tell someone else something great about them just because I can see how much it means to them.

Giving someone a compliment means: “I have taken time out of my day to notice something about you. I have stopped selfishly thinking about what’s going on in my day to make yours just a little bit better. I see you.”

I wish more people took the time to notice who’s around them; to care about someone else more than they care about themselves.

Candy Cane Cookies These would be wonderful holiday desserts!...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:21:18 -0500

Candy Cane Cookies

These would be wonderful holiday desserts! They look scrumptious and I can’t wait to make them. They have hardly any ingredients and the process to make them doesn’t even look too intense…but people will love them for the creativity, yummy-ness, and holiday cheer!

Ingredients

1 box sugar cookie mix
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 egg
1/3 cup softened cream cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus additional for surface
Red food coloring
1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a bowl, combine sugar cookie mix, melted butter, egg, cream cheese, and flour; mix together to form dough. Separate dough into 2 equal portions and place in 2 different bowls. Add red food coloring gradually to 1 bowl of dough, kneading together until desired shade of red is created. To second bowl of uncolored dough, add peppermint extract and knead together. On a floured work surface, shape each dough into balls and then roll each ball into 1/4-inch-wide ropes, each about 6 inches long. For each cookie, carefully twist some of the red and white ropes of dough together and shape into a candy cane. Spread candy canes out on cookie sheets and bake on the top shelf of the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool before serving.

From the food network website.

“I think one of the greatest things about modern America...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:06:24 -0500

“I think one of the greatest things about modern America is the computerization of medical records. As a volunteer sheriff I can look up anyone’s psychiatric records or surgical histories. Yeast infections…there are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we’re downriver from that old bread factory…”

—-Dwight Schrute….I laugh so hard at this quote every time I hear it.

S’more Brownies!! The recipe we’ve all been waiting...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:55:27 -0500

S’more Brownies!!

The recipe we’ve all been waiting for…the delicious ooey-gooey texture of the campground: the s’more! I can’t wait to make these…they look delicious and I bet everyone will love them. They are simple to make and would be a great autumn/winter treat with a steaming cup of cocoa, coffee, or cider!

Ingredients

Crust:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch fine salt

Brownie:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 large cold eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour

Topping:

4 cups large marshmallows

Directions

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8 by-8-inch square baking pan with foil so it hangs over the edges by about 1 inch.

For the crust: Lightly butter the foil with some of the melted butter. Stir the rest of the butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the brownie. Put the butter and chocolate in a medium microwave safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on 75 percent power for 2 minutes. Stir, and microwave again until completely melted, about 2 minutes more. Alternatively, put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl on the pan without touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted. Stir the light brown and white sugars, vanilla and salt into the melted chocolate. Add the eggs and beat vigorously to make a thick and glossy batter. Add the flour and stir until just incorporated.

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the top is crispy and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and carefully position a rack about 6 inches from the broiler and preheat on low. Layer marshmallows across the top and toast under the broiler until golden, (keep an eye on it, it can go quick), about 2 minutes. Cool on a rack, gently removing the brownies from the pan using the aluminum flaps. Carefully separate any marshmallow from the foil and fold away. Cut into 12 (2-inch) squares.

Seriously, who gets married on a precipice of a body of...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:19:59 -0500

Seriously, who gets married on a precipice of a body of water?

Hilariously awful….if that’s even a way to describe the amount of ANGER I would have if I were her.

Haha….Why can’t I have my very own Canadian?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:13:44 -0500

Haha….Why can’t I have my very own Canadian?

HOW TO KEEP YOUR GROCERY BILL LOW, BUT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:10:21 -0500

HOW TO KEEP YOUR GROCERY BILL LOW, BUT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE HIGH:

Never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. Everything looks good then—you stop thinking about saving money or eating well and become on of those tragic figures who arrives at the checkout with a half-eaten box of Ho Hos.
Buy fish and fruits when they’re in season locally.
Don’t assume that just because a food is advertised, it’s the cheapest. Compare prices, bargain hunt, enjoy the thrill of the chase.
Buy generic when you can’t tell the difference from national brands (sometimes all you have to do is read the ingredients and you’ll find that they contain the EXACT same thing).
Be prepared to pay more for organic, vegan, or chemical-free foods.
For the freshest vegetables seek out farmers’ markets and look into community supported agriculture programs in your neighborhood.
Buy leaner cuts of meat (I’m a vegetarian so….) so you’re not paying for fat drippings and gross gristly portions.
Watch as groceries are scanned—so often the two-for-$5 Sorbet special rings up as $3.99 each. I ALWAYS check my receipts to make sure everything came out at the right price.
Someone once told me “Clipping coupons is how the rich stay rich,” but I seldom want any of the items discounted in the weekly circulars. Coupons can be deceptive—25 cents off a premium brand can still make the item more than you’d pay for the generic brand. You may also be tempted to buy stuff you never knew you wanted simply because you have a coupon.
Always make a list!! Have this written in stone!!

From the Girl’s Guide to Absolutely Everything.