Each family member of mine makes the same dishes for the same holidays every year. I am very much content in the safety and familiarity of the ritual of our family gatherings. For Thanksgiving: Nana makes orange jello salad with fruit inside and marshmallows on top; Papa makes the stuffing, the ham with pineapple, the turkey, and green bean casserole; my mom makes a large pan of sweet potatoes with toasted marshmallows on top and some sort of salad or veggie dish, and also makes another turkey; I make a homemade pumpkin pie; my aunt buys a chocolate pie and bakes a blueberry pie and brings some sort of unrecognizable salad glop of some kind; my other aunt and uncle bring themselves and that's it...my mother provides our home and all the plates and silver wear and drinks-she loves coordinating these things. I just like the pie and sweet potatoes, to be honest. But the smells of our usual foods are comforting and inviting, and mean good memories, warm hugs, loud laughter, and full bellies. This year will be different for me, though, because in addition to my mom's side thanksgiving meal, I will be attending Dane's mom's and dad's dinners as well to meet new family members and try new dishes. I am nervous and excited! I really hope they like me and that the atmosphere isn't painfully different from my own home, or at least not different in a bad way. I doubt it will be, the parts of his family I have met so far have been excellent cooks and extremely friendly. I cannot wait to feast.
Christmas is the most diverse holiday for me of all. I visit two or three different events on my stepdad's side, one on my mother's, occasionally I'll go to my biological dad's side, and then there's Dane's mom's and dad's sides of the family as well. I love the food at the Christmas morning brunch the best, held by my great step grandparents. There are so many various kinds of eggs and bacon and biscuits with gravy, honey, jam, you name it. I love the coffee and angel food cake and one uncle even brings sushi! On Christmas Eve, my step grandparents will usually hold a gathering at their house with chips and cheese dip, mini meatballs, and Christmas cookies. We will eat and then open a present or two just to keep us satisfied so we can get some sleep before the big day. Last year we went to a relative on my stepdad's side out in the country for the first time, and it was a wonderful experience! New people, games, and food! I absolutely loved it. I love the smells, sights, and sounds.
Dessert has got to be my favorite part of both of these holidays, I have such a horrid sweet tooth, self control and discipline have to be begrudgingly enforced upon myself. I am not so much a cake or pie person, I am only partial to pecan pie, but I am a chocoholic! Especially around Christmas time when there are all kinds of peppermint chocolate candies and sweets, I just go nuts! My favorite indulgences are a peppermint mocha from Starbucks and homemade fudge I had last year made by Dane's grandparents.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Keepin It Reel
I have the special talent of making superb pancakes just like Marie in the movie. It began at a friend's house where I and a few other girls had slept over. We woke up the next morning, and I was the only willing volunteer to help the host make breakfast. I whisked the pancake mix, eggs, milk, the usual ingredients...but then thought that something else might sound good in there too. So I added my secret ingredients and everyone went nuts over my one of a kind chocolate chip pancakes. That was my first experience in making pancakes, but since then I have become an expert by practicing and watching to know just the right moment to flip, the precise chocolate to batter ratio, etc. It is an art, really. I love the smell of the cooking batter, the stickiness on my hands, my sometimes burnt finger tips, the smile on Dane's face when he eats them, watching him attempt to create a masterpiece (which are usually way undercooked for fear of burning them). I also enjoy making crepes because of the many different toppings you can add, but as for pancakes, I just eat them plain. I cannot stand syrup! It is liquid sugar, way too sweet and rich, and would ruin the blissful fluffiness I adore.
I do think that you can fall in love with someone within three days, without a doubt it can happen. It's not rocket science, it's just a matter of being comfortable around one another. Not a mushy gushy fireworks kind of feeling necessarily, just someone you can talk to about anything, and laugh with and hold hands with. Someone who is your best friend but you really want to kiss them at the same time. People have a natural instinct to bond with people or not, sometimes your personalities click, sometimes they clash, sometimes they fall together perfectly like puzzle pieces. I think it's really just about being together and feeling safe with that person, not like you have to try to impress them, but that you can simply be yourself and that's more than enough for them. Love isn't really about the physical attraction as much as it is the connection and bonding between two spirits, because when it comes down to it, who you are is on the inside, and if you only love the outside of someone, you haven't really found them yet to know if you love them or not.
My favorite movie is impossible to narrow down, but the qualities of a great movie in my mind are this:
Good music, highs and lows through music
Real plot, realistic goals, believable plot, meaningful plot
Real acting, passionate acting, lively connection between characters
Consistency throughout scenes
At least a little bit of romance
Surprise ending, plot twist, believable plot twist, logical surprise ending
Comic relief throughout
The kinds of movies I don't usually care for too much are those that are crude in one way or another, whether it be overbearing foul language, a lot of (unnecessary) sexual content, too much gore and/or violence, etc. I do quite enjoy dramas, action, and even the occasional horror film, but I do believe these are just as easily accomplished without the secular additives. I do appreciate the fact that movies have ratings as warnings for the content, but anymore, a PG13 or even a PG movie (where kids will definitely be present) can get away with an awful lot to still be considered PG. This is unsettling to how all conservativeness has simply gone out the window and how desensitized our society is to such vulgar content on an enormous screen in public or even in our own homes.
I watch movies quite often, we don't have cable at my house so I love an outing to the theater to see a new release! Or, what I like maybe even more is renting an old classic to watch at home with a friend with a big comfy blanket. I like to have a cup of hot tea or cocoa to watch a movie with at home, I definitely like to be warm. Going to movies is a typical bonding experience for my family and me, but my friends and I, or Dane and I, prefer to stay home to watch one. Dane is kind of a home body, and so am I, but where going out is concerned, among the small list of places I go, movies would have to be at the top.
Your Personality and Film Use Results
I do think that you can fall in love with someone within three days, without a doubt it can happen. It's not rocket science, it's just a matter of being comfortable around one another. Not a mushy gushy fireworks kind of feeling necessarily, just someone you can talk to about anything, and laugh with and hold hands with. Someone who is your best friend but you really want to kiss them at the same time. People have a natural instinct to bond with people or not, sometimes your personalities click, sometimes they clash, sometimes they fall together perfectly like puzzle pieces. I think it's really just about being together and feeling safe with that person, not like you have to try to impress them, but that you can simply be yourself and that's more than enough for them. Love isn't really about the physical attraction as much as it is the connection and bonding between two spirits, because when it comes down to it, who you are is on the inside, and if you only love the outside of someone, you haven't really found them yet to know if you love them or not.
My favorite movie is impossible to narrow down, but the qualities of a great movie in my mind are this:
Good music, highs and lows through music
Real plot, realistic goals, believable plot, meaningful plot
Real acting, passionate acting, lively connection between characters
Consistency throughout scenes
At least a little bit of romance
Surprise ending, plot twist, believable plot twist, logical surprise ending
Comic relief throughout
The kinds of movies I don't usually care for too much are those that are crude in one way or another, whether it be overbearing foul language, a lot of (unnecessary) sexual content, too much gore and/or violence, etc. I do quite enjoy dramas, action, and even the occasional horror film, but I do believe these are just as easily accomplished without the secular additives. I do appreciate the fact that movies have ratings as warnings for the content, but anymore, a PG13 or even a PG movie (where kids will definitely be present) can get away with an awful lot to still be considered PG. This is unsettling to how all conservativeness has simply gone out the window and how desensitized our society is to such vulgar content on an enormous screen in public or even in our own homes.
I watch movies quite often, we don't have cable at my house so I love an outing to the theater to see a new release! Or, what I like maybe even more is renting an old classic to watch at home with a friend with a big comfy blanket. I like to have a cup of hot tea or cocoa to watch a movie with at home, I definitely like to be warm. Going to movies is a typical bonding experience for my family and me, but my friends and I, or Dane and I, prefer to stay home to watch one. Dane is kind of a home body, and so am I, but where going out is concerned, among the small list of places I go, movies would have to be at the top.
Your Personality and Film Use Results
Monday, November 18, 2013
This is...
This is the meeting of his lips to her face
This is the first kiss, the first burst of flavor, the bite of the fruit of knowledge when everything becomes so clear
This is the beginning of the love story, for every kiss was like the first
This is what we all should learn, to kiss and love with all our might until the very end, for we are not all fortunate enough to live in ignorance of when the end shall come
This is the beginning of her new life
This is the end of theirs
This is the first and last kiss
This is the first kiss, the first burst of flavor, the bite of the fruit of knowledge when everything becomes so clear
This is the beginning of the love story, for every kiss was like the first
This is what we all should learn, to kiss and love with all our might until the very end, for we are not all fortunate enough to live in ignorance of when the end shall come
This is the beginning of her new life
This is the end of theirs
This is the first and last kiss
Monday, November 11, 2013
Inspired
He took a moment to himself
A thing we all often should take
He turned from me so that I could not see his eyes, he was no fool
Those deep chocolate eyes were unable to speak falsely
You could learn anything you'd like to know just by looking into his eyes, like windows
He gazed across the vastness of the glassy pool
As if he were searching for the answer there
He stood without moving, but not without breathing
I could see his breath
For when he breathes it's more than breathing
He is pulling life into him and it fills up his entire beautiful body
And when the meeting of life and his body has taken place
They part ways for a moment
And the life escapes through those breathtaking pink lips
Satisfied to have met with such an inspired soul
I watch him breathe while I take no true breaths of my own
Only short gasps of desperation, anticipation, wonder
I am a ragdoll in my swing
Succumbing to the sway of the breeze in my hair, on my skin
I long to touch and drink in his curly locks and soft skin
I shoot my gaze down in a moment of coy embarrassment at such a thought
My toes reach downward to kiss the damp sand below
The amazement of the relief I feel overwhelms me
How weightless I feel since flinging my cumbersome pack from my shoulders
With three simple words I uttered to my best friend only moments ago
Oh how the moments seem like hours to me
He raises his arms, parallel to the dusty shore
To embrace the sea life beyond where he stands
I bound from my seat and race towards my companion to embrace him
In all of his flawlessness
He turns to smile at me with his porcelain teeth and his cherry cheeks
A prominent dimple on his left
The smiles disappears after the moment of the surprise hug
And he fixes his eyes directly on mine
I try to speak, but my mouth is like rust
Which can only be oiled by his succulent kiss
He senses my worry
And lightly his fingertips dance across my hair
He speaks for me, the words I've been waiting to hear
Since the day I met him,
"I love you, too."
Thursday, November 7, 2013
The Spoofs
'Twas a breezy Autumn day
When the Spoofs came out to play
Fall was in the air
But the leaves seemed sort of bare
They were green, but that was all
Not nearly colorful enough for fall
There was certainly work to be done
But the Spoofs would make it fun
Whoosh! Swish! They all came out
From under their grass beds with a joyous shout
Each little furry fairy had a special job to do
Some would hold the paint, some would hold the glue
Tiny brushes grasped within their itty bitty paws
Stroke both up and down and side to side to ensure there will be no flaws
Spoofs love to paint the leaves each year as they sing and dance and laugh
They mix each color with tender care, I can tell you on their behalf
Sunset gold and striking crimson
Chocolate, pumpkin, canary, cinnamon
All the bright bold colors you see in the fall
Are created by the smallest creatures of all
They're precise in their work, so you'd never guess
That they're favorite part is when they get to make a mess!
They fly and whiz by, dance, and jump up and down
Through the branches of the trees till the leaves trail to the ground
When they're satisfied they sit and wait with an anxious smile
Waiting for someone like you to come jump in a leaf pile
So when the calendar begins to nudge you towards November
And the leaves start to change, you can always remember
To keep your eyes fixed and perk up your ear
You never can be sure when a Spoof may be near
If you don't spot one, there's no need to shed a tear
They'll be back to bring the magic when autumn comes next year
When the Spoofs came out to play
Fall was in the air
But the leaves seemed sort of bare
They were green, but that was all
Not nearly colorful enough for fall
There was certainly work to be done
But the Spoofs would make it fun
Whoosh! Swish! They all came out
From under their grass beds with a joyous shout
Each little furry fairy had a special job to do
Some would hold the paint, some would hold the glue
Tiny brushes grasped within their itty bitty paws
Stroke both up and down and side to side to ensure there will be no flaws
Spoofs love to paint the leaves each year as they sing and dance and laugh
They mix each color with tender care, I can tell you on their behalf
Sunset gold and striking crimson
Chocolate, pumpkin, canary, cinnamon
All the bright bold colors you see in the fall
Are created by the smallest creatures of all
They're precise in their work, so you'd never guess
That they're favorite part is when they get to make a mess!
They fly and whiz by, dance, and jump up and down
Through the branches of the trees till the leaves trail to the ground
When they're satisfied they sit and wait with an anxious smile
Waiting for someone like you to come jump in a leaf pile
And the leaves start to change, you can always remember
To keep your eyes fixed and perk up your ear
You never can be sure when a Spoof may be near
If you don't spot one, there's no need to shed a tear
They'll be back to bring the magic when autumn comes next year
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Child's Play
When I was younger, I always wished for the time to pass more quickly. Be careful what you wish for, it is unreal to me that I am about to graduate high school already. I really wish I had some of that time back to just relax, when things were simpler and everyone got along. Although, my ten year old self certainly would have appreciated a day to be a grown up. I'm sure I would have spent gobs of money on milkshakes, candy, and barbies. I probably would have taken my friends to the movies and to Incredible Pizza. The best part would probably be telling people what to do, little kids hate to be bossed around, yet they all long to be the boss. As a young adult now, I think I would enjoy being small again evenn more than I would have loved being bigger back then. I would utilize nap time to the fullest, and bask in the fact that coloring and watching Disney movies is completely acceptable. I would laugh myself silly knowing that algebra and long essays were not to be expected of me, and that homework would merely consist of knowing addition, subtraction, and how to spell simplistic words. I know now from experience, although I am still quite young and naive, that rushing the time is the worst thing you can do, because you will only end up sitting there dreading each slow passing day. The time is going to pass anyway, might as well sit back and enjoy it.
I wouldn't say that he was the most important person to me, but he was pretty high up there. I had a crush on the same guy from preschool all the way through middle school. Our mothers are still good friends to this day, but back then my mom stayed home and his worked, so we would babysit him and his sister on a regular basis. Perfect opportunity to become close to him. We were childhood bestfriends in every way, but were too shy to confess our crushes, so our puppy love remained silent. We eventually told each other about our mutual feelings one summer when my mom had taken us to get smoothies. It was very awkward and adorable...I will never forget it. We are still good friends, but unfortunately do not get to see each other on a regular basis as he goes to Glendale. He has blossomed into an extremely handsome, charming young man. I suppose this could answer the question about a friend who reached a different level of popularity as well. He is a star basketball player and adored by every girl who sees him. When we were younger, we used to play role-play type games together, we would take our favorite shows and characters and pretend to be them and go on adventures. I always thought he was going to be my first kiss when I was in elementary school. If only I hadn't been so shy, I am anything but shy now. I'm glad that I have grown into the person I am today though. Perhaps that experience shaped me into my outgoing personality.
There is nothing more I wish I would have known as a kid, because I believe that ignorance is bliss and innocence should be preserved for as long as possible. When you're a kid, you think that everything and everyone is good and nice, sort of like Little Red Riding Hood. Kids, or at least me as a kid, always put their trust in people. Now, I wish I didn't know how dangerous that can be. I have been deceived by many people, and it has caused me to put up a barrier-a thin barrier, but a wall none the less. I am wary of people and their promises occasionally, but I am a person who is always of good intentions, so it is hard for me to imagine someone setting out to hurt someone else, the idea just seems impossible. I am saddened by some people's dishonesty, however I am somewhat grateful for my knowledge so I am not constantly being fooled and taken advantage of. It's strange, growing up. There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to be older, then I transformed and wished I could only stay young forever like Peter Pan. Now, I have seemingly entered a new phase in which I yearn for more independence, responsibility, freedom, and adulthood. My parents laugh at me, and tell me I don't know how good I have it right now. I'm just going to have to trust them, because after all, they were children once too.
Books for Kids
Title of the book: The Night Before Christmas
Author of the book: Clement C. Moore
Is there an author's bio in the front of back of the book? No.
Describe the cover in a detailed sentence: It is a picture of Santa Clause, smiling at you, driving his sleigh and his scarf blowing in the wind. The title is encircled in a wreath like circle with various Christmas ornaments, peppermints, and trees.
Does this book...
have animals as main characters? No.
use rhyme? Of course!
teach a lesson of some kind? Not really, it encourages kids to believe in Santa.
have monsters or creatures? Santa could somewhat be considered a mythical creature, as well as his flying reindeer.
have kids as characters? Briefly the story mentions the children as they are tucked into bed.
have adults as characters? Yes, the perspective of the story is that of a grown man.
use humor? Yes, some lines are giggle worthy.
have illustrations? The illustrations in this book are detailed, bright, cheery and delightful, they are my favorite that I have seen to depict this classic tale.
use color? The pages are nothing but colorful!
use actual photos? No.
have a more sentimental/lovey tone? Most definitely, it is all in high spirits, describing imagination, hopes and dreams, wonder, magic, etc.
lots of words per page? The pictures take up much more room than the words, sometimes there will be one paragraph for two pages.
one word or phrase repeated throughout? No.
Copy down your favorite/most interesting sentence in the book: "As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the courses they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too."
What ages do you think this book would be appropriate for? I believe all ages would appreciate this book, it is an excellent pick for a family to enjoy together.
Why? It touches all hearts, because everyone, at one time or another, believed in Santa Clause.
Is this a book you would have liked as a kid? I adored this book as a kid!
Why? I loved all of the descriptive words that paint the picture in your head, and it gave me hope of someday meeting Santa.
# of pages: 30
Author of the book: Clement C. Moore
Is there an author's bio in the front of back of the book? No.
Describe the cover in a detailed sentence: It is a picture of Santa Clause, smiling at you, driving his sleigh and his scarf blowing in the wind. The title is encircled in a wreath like circle with various Christmas ornaments, peppermints, and trees.
Does this book...
have animals as main characters? No.
use rhyme? Of course!
teach a lesson of some kind? Not really, it encourages kids to believe in Santa.
have monsters or creatures? Santa could somewhat be considered a mythical creature, as well as his flying reindeer.
have kids as characters? Briefly the story mentions the children as they are tucked into bed.
have adults as characters? Yes, the perspective of the story is that of a grown man.
use humor? Yes, some lines are giggle worthy.
have illustrations? The illustrations in this book are detailed, bright, cheery and delightful, they are my favorite that I have seen to depict this classic tale.
use color? The pages are nothing but colorful!
use actual photos? No.
have a more sentimental/lovey tone? Most definitely, it is all in high spirits, describing imagination, hopes and dreams, wonder, magic, etc.
lots of words per page? The pictures take up much more room than the words, sometimes there will be one paragraph for two pages.
one word or phrase repeated throughout? No.
Copy down your favorite/most interesting sentence in the book: "As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the courses they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too."
What ages do you think this book would be appropriate for? I believe all ages would appreciate this book, it is an excellent pick for a family to enjoy together.
Why? It touches all hearts, because everyone, at one time or another, believed in Santa Clause.
Is this a book you would have liked as a kid? I adored this book as a kid!
Why? I loved all of the descriptive words that paint the picture in your head, and it gave me hope of someday meeting Santa.
# of pages: 30
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