Fill In the Blank Friday _ 10.28.10

[Via] 

1.   My Halloween plans this year will include       it's a three day event. Friday- clubbin' it up for my friend's birthday! Saturday - halloween party with my twin! Sunday - trick or treating because you're never too old :]

2.  My most memorable Halloween costume was   probably when I was younger & I would dress up and my mom would come to the school and watch us parade around in our costumes & of course take pictures!  .

3.  For Halloween this year I'm going to be       geisha girl tonight ;] & maybe batgirl Saturday/Sunday    .

4.  I've always wanted to dress up as    a goddess .

5.  Halloween free association!      candy, pumpkins, goosey night, screaming .

6.  The worst thing about Halloween is        that it's most likely always cold, making it that much harder for me to actually want to dress up   .

7.  The best thing about Halloween is       pretending to be someone else for a day     .

Happy Halloween my loves!

Creative Crepes

I signed up for a Creative Crepes class at a local Adult School, paid $35.00 a person, and was ready to learn October 21st, Thursday night.


My dad and I had originally planned to go together, but unfortunately he a last minute business trip that he had to take care of Wednesday and Thursday. Therefore, I decided to bring Sal as my replacement cooking buddy.


The night started off quite terribly. We thought we were at the right place, but I had read it wrong. We finally ended up at the right place, 15 minutes late. The class had already started when we walked in. Fortunately the teacher was very friendly and got us started right away.


First the teacher made us try crepes. We picked what we wanted inside; bananas and chocolate chips for me, turkey and cheese for Sal. The teacher told us that whatever you can put in a sandwich, you can make even tastier by putting in a crepe. I have to say, it was delicious.


Then it was time for Sal and I to make our own crepe batter. Of course, Sal had to show off with his cooking skills by cracking eggs the appropriate way and flipping the crepes in the pan. It was quite a show to watch and I enjoyed it. You could tell he enjoyed it too by the way he was smiling when everyone made a big deal out of what he was doing and all eyes were on him.


I was pretty good at it too though, but I did learn a lot. In the end we got to take home our crepes.


I enjoyed taking the class because it gave Sal and I something to bond over. I love to bake, and he loves to cook, so we can learn a little from each other.


We get to mark another thing off our list - Cooking Class!


Want the recipe for the basic crepe? Visit here!

Fill In The Blank Friday _ 10.22.10

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1.   I am       crazy; I change my moods 50 times a day, I can't ever make up my mind, and I laugh more than anything   .

2.  I wish   I could live forever with those I love  .

3.  I like       baking for my family and friends and hearing their great compliments    .

4.  I can    hardly wait for my 21st in exactly 2 months .

5.  I hope      I land the volunteer spot at the hospital I'm applying to .

6.  I think         differences should be accepted   .

7.  I was        quite upset when my daddy couldn't come to the cooking class last night with me, but Sal came instead :] post to follow    .

Non Hodgkin Lymphoma

My dad's cousin was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, a little over a month ago. It's a diverse group of blood cancers that include any kind of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. There are four different stages, and she's currently in Stage 4 - Lymphoma cells are found in several parts of one or more organs or tissues (in addition to the lymph nodes). Or, it is in the liver, blood, or bone marrow.


Now I've never been close to her because she lives an hour or two away, but family is family. When I heard about her diagnosis, I was scared. Who wants their loved ones to be diagnosed with cancer? I don't think anyone does. It's a horrible disease and a cure needs to be found! 


Through the help of Facebook, I have been able to see her progress, along with setbacks. She has allowed her friends and family on Facebook to come along for the bumpy ride she is on. I am so thankful that she lets everyone know how she is on a daily basis. My family has been sending her cards filled with hope and prayers.


She's not only a strong woman, but also a strong mother. She has four children and one grandchild. Her youngest has Type 1 Diabetes; she has always been there for her daughter's treatments and is also an advocate to finding a cure for Diabetes. It's incredible that she has so much strength and such a positive attitude throughout the whole thing. Sure, she may have some bad days, but she it seems as if she tries to always hold her chin up. 


I look up to her, not only because of her strength, but also her courage and her open heart. 


I know she can beat this, with a positive attitude and supportive family, as well as treatments in order to physically get rid of this cancer. 


Please just take some time out to pray for those that have cancer, especially my cousin. It breaks my heart that I can't do more & this is all I have.... but something's got to help right?

Fill In The Blank Friday _ 10.15.10

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1.   Blogging is       still very new to me, but I enjoy it    .

2.  A current fashion trend I wish I was brave enough to wear is   cute little hats; I mean I think I look good in hats, just not sure how everyone else would react if I showed up to class with one on  .

3.  My greatest accomplishment in life thus far is       getting into the honor society at my college, as well as making the deans list all 4 semesters I've been in school    .

4.  If I had to choose between a mountain or a beach vacation I'd choose    the mountain vacation, only because I've been to the beach plenty of times. I think the mountains would be very romantic and serene  .

5.  A talent I wish I had is      how to be fashionable. I have no fashion sense,and I'm kind of not happy with that .

6.  A talent I do have is         baking   .

7.  This week       has been extremely stressful, so I'm glad it's over!     .

If you want to play, head over to The Little Things We Do blog. Enjoy your weekend!

What I've been up to...

Work  

Class & Homework

Okay, so not all my classwork involves drawing diverse families, some of it is actually harder: studying for tests, writing papers, and trying to score a placement in a local hospital's child life department.

Visiting My Brother & Brother Coming Home

There: 

Here:

I love my family. 

Fill In the Blank Friday _ 10.07.10

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1.   The first thing I do in the morning to start my day is     check my email and facebook. 

2.  Today I wish I was   spending time outside in this beautiful weather, instead of in a cupcake shop ;]  .

3.  If I had an extra $100 in my bank account today I'd       be able to buy & donate a basket for a the Samantha Fund   .

4.  Tomorrow     I will be working all day and spending the night with my brother  .

5.  Two things that don't go together are     ice cream and pickles [talked about this in infant development class today - ha] .

6.  Something I can never pass up at the grocery store is        a carton of ice cream; especially Edy's - no beuno    .

7.  The last time I tried something new was        when I went to a greek restaurant with my friend for a cultural assignment     .

Enjoy your weekend :]

Bargain Finds _ 10.04.10

When I was away in Pennsylvania last weekend, my family and I stopped by a local flea market at an old drive in movie theater. I always focus on books, cookbooks, kitchen appliances, etc. I just love it! I was able to luck out and found a $.50 book!


Twenty Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak

The book is regularly sold at 13.99 at B&N or Borders. I was lucky enough to get it for $.50 cents! I love building up my library with these amazing books!

Cannot wait to start reading them.

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY: Book Review

I came across TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY by Jay Ashey quite easily. I was on my parent's computer and I was looking at their bookshelf. My mom had apparently bought this book awhile back, had started reading it, but then put it aside and forgot about it. I was waiting for a video to download, so I figured why not? As soon as I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. In just a couple of hours I was on page 100 already, and in two days I had finished it completely. I have to say this book is a real eye opener, and definitely something teens in school should have to read. 


I'm not sure if you've heard about it, depending on where you live, but a young male took his life just the other day by jumping off the GW Bridge. Why you may ask? Because his roommate at Rutgers University broadcasted him having sex with another male, on twitter & ichat. Pathetic? Yes. Horrible? Yes. Right? NO. Because if this man hadn't been outed to everyone on the web, he probably wouldn't have taken his life. This teen even wrote that he was going to go jump off the bridge on his facebook, adding that he was sorry. 


It's seriously sickening how some people think it's fun to make fun of others and tease them because they're different. IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, and YOURSELF. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's just not right for others to bully others for being a certain way, a way they think is wrong. 


Surprisingly this book I read is about suicide, and the snowball effect, how just small incidents can lead to big events. 


Synopsis according to Barnes & Noble:

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. 

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. 

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.


My Review:


I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I feel as if others, no matter what your age, will too. I mean I didn't enjoy the fact that Hannah killed herself, but I did enjoy the message it sent to me, as well as, I'm sure, other readers. 


The book relays all the tapes, and therefore shows Hannah's side of the story, as well as the one, out of 13 people, who receives the tapes, Clay. Page after page, we listen to Hannah on her tapes, and Clay's thoughts about the whole situation. 


I wish I could've stopped her. I wish in the end, it all seemed to be a cruel joke she had been playing on everyone; even though I knew she killed herself, I wanted the ending to be happy, with her alive. The book ended on a happy note, and yet I was still begging for Hannah to be alive. 


It just goes to show you that all of life's little incidents can greatly affect a person's life, so much that they form a ball, a snowball, and just get bigger and bigger, as they roll through the years. So next time you make fun of someone, think of how their life might be at home, or with their friends, or at work. It might not be that great, and you might only be adding to their sadness, or anger; eventually forcing them to do something they thought they weren't capable of doing, whether it be killing themselves, bringing a gun to school, etc. Be kind, people are allowed to be different. Also, don't believe everything you say about someone. I bet, if you started a rumor about yourself, say sleeping with someone? By the time it gets back to you, it might be something like you slept with 10 guys/girls one night at a party while you were drunk. Try it I dare you. It's not fun to be made fun of or talked about now is it?


My Rating - 5 stars. 

Fill In The Blank Friday _ 10.01.10

[Via]

1.   True happiness is       individualized  .

2.  The most surreal moment of my life was   when I was parasailing with Salvatore; I couldn't believe all the sights I was seeing and how high up we were  .

3.  My favorite texture is       non existent; I'm up to trying new things   .

4.  My signature color is     black, but now I'm interested in the warm fall colors .

5.  My signature style is     extremely easy going and comfortable, yet classy and sexy.

6.  If I could choose one store to spend my life savings at, it would be         probably Victoria's Secret, they have such sexy outfits   .

7.  My best thing about autumn is        the colors, cool air, halloween, food, thanksgiving     . 

Enjoy your Friday!