A Meal & Some Merriment

Man, oh man. I have completely but this blog somewhere on the back burner this past week. I'm still getting situated with this semester, getting the hang of classes and my schedule. I had a frisbee tournament this weekend, New Years Fest in Tempe. I had a great time, even though the ending scores weren't the best or any where close I still had a great time, I even scored a point! I am so beat up, scraped, bruised and very sore, but it was worth it.
So life has been amazing lately and I have been taking a lot of time to just think about how lucky I am and how great it is to be surrounded by amazing family and fantastic life. My plate is overflowing with school, work and involvements but I like it that way. I just found out that I'll be interning with one of the largest clubs on campus, and I'm super excited!




So if you want to hear about something other than my life here's a little something I cooked the other day. I cut up some chicken breasts and used this Orange Sauce Panda Express sells now, yum! While I cooked up the chicken, (which is very scary because the outside looks done and the inside is still raw, I had to pay close attention to it!) I cut up zucchini and grilled that in another pan. I love zucchini, and it is so simple, just chop it up,sprinkle some salt and pepper and cook! To cook the sweet potato, I used the bag that you see in the picture that the potato is resting on. My grandma gave me it, and it is amazing! You can use any kind of potato, wrap it in a paper towel, stick it in the padded bag in the microwave for a few minutes, and there you go- a baked potato. It's genius! Anyways, pretty simple meal that tasted delicious and felt like it was a fairly square meal with protein, veggies and all!




Hope you all are keeping up with school and/or work and enjoying every second of life!
Alex

Chow Down

So I've had the ingredients to make puppy chow since my Penn State friends were around. I was planning on making it with them because it had kind of become an inside joke, which basically dealt with trying to make it in a dorm with a tiny microwave, and eating it stale months later. Anyways, we didn't get around to it so I decided I'd whip it up last night. If you've never had puppy chow, you're missing out! It's pretty simple to make, is very delicious, and makes large portions so it's easy to share/ bring to a gathering! Now, after saying that it is pretty easy, I'm going to say that I kind of messed it up. I think I didn't put enough butter in it/didn't let it melt long enough to the chocolate was a little chunky. Nonetheless, it is simply delicious and I cannot stop eating it! Here is the recipe so you can try it yourself and maybe make it better than I did!




Ingredients
9 cups Chex cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Measure cereal and set aside
2. Melt together the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in the microwave. Stir, then microwave about 30 seconds longer, or until it can be stirred smoothly. 3. Add vanilla, then pour over Chex cereal. Mix together so that the cereal is coated in the chocolate mixture.
4. Put in a large resealable storage bag, add powdered sugar and shake (the fun part!) until the cereal is coated

I cut this recipe in half, because I didn't need quite that much for just me, but feel free to adjust it however you'd like! You can portion the finished product into smaller resealable bags and bring them to class or work with you for a little yummy snack! Or leave them in a bowl on the counter so you can snack on them as you please, which is what I've been doing... warning, they disappear faster this way!

Well I should get back to reading and homework now, just thought I'd share a quick, fun recipe! Hope everyone had a great weekend and a good Monday!
Alex

Enlightenment

Classes have resumed, and it's back to school life again. I am more than excited for my classes this semester. I truly feel inspired to learn, even after the first day! All of my professors seem to truly enjoy their subjects, and are eager to teach. I feel like I am really going to get a lot out of this semester from my Career Development class and figuring out a career path, to my Environmental Design lecture and getting a better realization of the world around me. I haven't been this excited to learn and go to class in quite a while. I can just tell already that this semester is going to be worth the money spent on books, stress over papers and lack of sleep from studying that may accompany the enlightenment I get through these classes.

"Do stuff. be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. stay eager."
— Susan Sontag

I am eager for this semester and I hope all of you out there that are in school too realize how awesome truly learning is... as cheesy as that sounds! One of my professors created his syllabus with multiple quotes on every page, and I love them all, so you might see me posting a lot of quotes in the future!
On another note, I got some film for my SLR, finally! So I shall be doing some photography soon, and hopefully I can figure out how to transfer it to the wonderful world of the internet!
Hope all is well, enjoy the rest of your week!
Alex

The Choice

Worked all day, I just want to lay down and not use my brain at all. But I can already feel the semester stress start to set in and feel like I need to start getting ready in some way.

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself; I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it."

Let's choose to be happy, as many days as we want.
I get the choice, it's a wonderful realization.
Have a good Saturday night, and a happy day,
Alex

Day Off

Today I had a much needed day off. I haven't had a day off with no big plans in forever! It was nice to just make a to-do list, put my iPod on shuffle and just get some things done and unwind. I just found out I'll be getting a new roommate, snd I needed to clean out the other side of the apartment I'd taken over and clean my side that I'd completely piled with countless clothes, bags and random things. My apartment received a deep cleaning and it felt good to do it, and now to look at it! Life has been going fantastic, everything is just falling into place. I got another job at a restaurant in a resort in Downtown Phoenix I start next month... exciting!
Well I've been meaning to put these pictures up for a while now, so here they are. My sister, best friend and I went to Tempe Town Lake and took out a boat from my work, It was a sunny beautiful day, perfect to be outdoors! We went out to eat at a Mexican food place on Mill ave. called Hippie Cove. It was delicious and the owner was super nice. We sat by the window and people watched and ate great burritos. It was a fantastic day with some of my favorite people.





I had my sister take a couple outfit pictures of me, so I could put them on here.. so here you go!



Shirt: Forever 21 (from my Mom)
Cardigan: Anthropologie ($30)
Shorts: Goodwill, cut by me! ($5)
Shoes: Ross ($15)
Necklace: Vintage ($10)

I'm going to go get ready, then go to a meeting for Special Event Planners Association(which I just found out I got an officer position as VP of Creative Services, woo!), then I have a Skype date with my Australian friend!
I hope you all have a good night!
Alex

Book Club

Since it has been Winter break, I have been reading a lot lately. I love reading and being able to escape through a book, but I usually get too busy during the semester to actually finish a book. So over break I've finished two books and thought I'd tell a little bit about them, 'cause I don't know about you... but I like to find out about new books to read.

The first one I finished was All That Matters by Jan Goldstein. I found it at a book sale on campus and randomly picked it up. It was surprisingly really good. Basically a girl attempts suicide and fails, but is brought back to appreciate life by her grandma who is getting increasingly sick. It was cute and quite inspirational :]


The second one I just finished a couple of days ago. The Catcher in the Rye has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite sometime and I have tried to read it about three times and could never finish it. I think you have to be in a certain state of mind to read it, and kind of accept the negativity of Holden, the main character. Once you get past his pessimistic outlook, and read it as a character study you can get pretty into it. I'm glad after the fourth time reading it, I finished it and it was pretty good. There was a a lot of cussing and use of the word 'phonies' but it was pretty funny in parts because there's a part of me that goes through the same mental process as him sometimes.


Overall, they were both good books and I'm looking forward to finishing the next book I began last night. It was super dead at work today so I got a good portion of it started. What are you reading right now, or what is your favorite book you've ever read?
I worked all day then got home and did laundry, nothing too exciting, but it's relaxing and I'm enjoying it. Have a good night, and a great weekend!
Alex

See Ya Later

So my apartment is once again empty, just me and a room full of balloons and confetti. My Penn State friends have all left and now here I sit looking over the dozens of pictures we took over the week they were here. From one of the most amazing New Years ever, to exploring the Arizonan desert with some east coasters, to singing, dancing and laughing hysterically, the time they spent here was absolutely great.
Two out of three of them are in a sorority, and I'm always jealous when their 'big sister' decorates their room with streamers, candy and little gifts. I've told them countless time I want to join a sorority for the sole purpose of getting my room decorated all cool. Well, I guess they got the memo and while I was at work all day New Years day they spent the majority of the day doing this:



As for New Years, we didn't go to the huge Tempe Block party, or go to a huge party and pick up guys. We went to a family friend's house where my whole family was. We went over there and lit sparklers, played the Wii, danced, popped streamers and did a toast at midnight. It was everything I would have hoped for and more. All of my favorite people in one place, I couldn't have been happier. It was a great way to start off the new year and decade! I got to wear my awesome new heels and even though my gold nail polish didn't quite go, after about 15 outfit changes, I still rocked it.



We spent another day out in the desert, shooting cans , eating lunch, standing around a fire, and taking pictures, lots of pictures. It was weird having them be so excited to see a cactus and some of the simplest things that I don't even give a second glance. It really made me appreciate where I live, and all the beautiful things I'm surrounded by everyday.



We spent the rest of our time eating Mexican food, shopping[maybe a little too much], swimming, and just hanging out. I can't get sad that they're gone, although I am definitely going to miss them, I am just so incredibly happy to have friends like them. Even if I do only get to see them a few times a year. It's not good bye, it's see ya later.
It was a great way to begin the decade. The start of a new age.
Hope everyone is enjoying the New Year!
Alex

PS: I need a good resolution for the new year! What's yours?