Three Blessings

In my Psychology of Adjustment class, we were given an extra credit assignment. After reading, 20 Weeks to Happiness: Can a course in Positive Psychology change your life? by Richard Handler, we were given the task at the end of every day to write down three good things that happened to us, and why we found them beneficial. This would be done over a month's span, but the professor told the class that we can continue this until we wanted to. We didn't have to stop it because the deadline for the assignment had passed, if this had helped us at all. So here is where I will document my three blessings, every night for a month. I will also continue blogging about my life in general, so no worries. 


My Three Blessings
1. Going to, and enjoying, my Intro to Child Life class tonight. 
     Recently I changed my major [yet again] to Family and Child Studies with a concentration in Child Life Specialist, but I was quite nervous going from wanting to be a teacher and work with children in the classroom, to wanting to work with children in a hospital setting. However, when I walked into this class I was quickly introduced to three warming people who I sat with, and then my professor who just seemed to be such a happy, enjoyable person, with a willingness to teach us all that she knows, being a Child Life Specialist herself. I'm really happy to be given the chance to take this class, along with volunteering in an actual hospital setting, even if it's required. I can't wait to start learning next week and throughout the whole semester. My guess is that not one day will go by that I will not learn something that I can take with me to my next classes, as well as my future profession.


2. Getting a few things off my chest with my boy [friend?]
     Sal and I have been going through a rough time in our relationship this past month or two, which have led to our recent break up. We haven't stopped talking, but we're seeing each other less frequently. I'm not exactly sure where I want us to be or even end up. I'm only 20 years old and I want to be able to enjoy these last years of college by going out whether it be to the gym, lunch on campus with some friends, or parties, without anyone telling me I can't. I know it sounds rather harsh, but that's just the way I'm feeling, and I intend to be truthful throughout this whole thing. Who knows, maybe I'll get the chance to study abroad or intern in Florida at Disney World. I just want to always be available to say YES! I mean you only live once. So after a tearful conversation, I have some thinking to do, but at least he knows were I stand, as well as I know where he stands. 


3. Receiving & Giving a Hug (Several times)
     I know it sounds a little cliche. "Oh I got a hug and it made me so happy;" but it's so true. Hugging someone you love, whether it be your mom, grandpa, spouse, boyfriend, partner, child, it makes someone feel loved, wanted, and truly happy. Sal gave me several hugs today, the first was just so ... magical?... passionate?... loving? I mean it's like in that instant the person can feel all you're feeling and transfer their emotions from one person to another. There's truly no other feeling that comes close to the kind you get when you hug someone special in your life. 

Other than that labor day weekend was spent down the shore at my friend's shore house near Ortley Beach. We spent the day on the beach, grabbed lunch, and then spent the night in Surf Club & on the boardwalk. It was such a great girl's day/night. 

We danced our little butts off. I even got on stage with the band The Flying Mueller Brothers. I don't even know what got into me, but I definitely will never forget that and I intend to be more outgoing and do things that I've never done before, to fully enjoy life. 

sweet, sweet school

I started my first day of classes today. I went 'back to school' shopping with my girls, Hayley & Alisa, yesterday. I got some great outfits. 

$69 dollars were spent at Forever 21 - I bought a Fall coat, 2 pairs of jeans (for $10 each!), and an olive colored cardigan. 

$52.00 dollars were spent at H&M - I bought a hat, a cardigan, a white t-shirt & tank top, and a black cardigan sweater.

$29.99 dollars were spent on Candie's boots from Kohl's (for half off)!

Unfortunately I couldn't wear any fall/winter clothes I had just bought, so today I wore a white t-shirt, denim shorts, and cute sandals from Mandees. I try and manage with what I have in my own closet. I usually don't buy clothes for myself, but thankfully I was able to treat myself this month. 

Aside from classes starting up again, I have been baking nonstop, and along with that I have started a baking blog. It will document all my baking adventures, including ice cream because of my brand new ice cream maker ;]

You can visit it here

I'm going down the shore this weekend with my two girls, while Sal will be camping with his friends. Lately we've been seeing a little less of each other because we are young and we need to get our futures in line. It was my idea, because I want to be able to have more fun going out with my friends. It's not like I want to be with any other guys, I just want to be able to hang out with my friends whenever and wherever. I also want to be more involved on my campus. It's tough being a commuter student [any tips would be greatly appreciated]. 

I actually just recently quit my job due to a feud with my boss about having inflexible hours [I couldn't work Tuesday nights from 5:30-7:00 PM because I have class]. Therefore, being unemployed, allows me to try and find an on campus job, which should help me get more involved. 

I'm looking forward to class this semester. 

something new to encourage my craving

An ice cream maker! 

This morning my father and I had plans to go to the local flea market after my daily errands. However, when I got home he said he needed to run to the bank. I didn't understand why I couldn't come, but I'm glad I didn't push the subject. I stayed home and waited for him to return. Just a few minutes later, a Fed Ex truck arrived at my house. I was a little concerned because I didn't think anyone ordered anything in my house, so I grabbed a key [I mean it could be used as a weapon, just in case, right? haha] I answered the door and the box was addressed to me, from Neiman Marcus. Now I was really confused because no one in my household ever orders anything from the store. As soon as I opened it up I had the biggest smile on my face! My own ice cream maker! I couldn't wait to open it up and start making ice cream, however, I have to wait 12 hours for the bowl to freeze. 

As soon as I start creating my ice cream, you better believe there will be pictures, along with recipes :]

"Wow, you don't even need milk with these!"

Banana Caramel Cakes are to die for. I made them the other night for my family and my brother, whom we would be visiting at college the following day. Again this recipe is from the recipe book Cupcakes by Pamela Clark


Sour Cream Banana Cake                          Filling & Decorations
     6 tablespoons butter, softened                    13 ounce jar caramel sauce
     1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar               1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped
     2 eggs                                                   2 medium bananas (14 ounces), sliced thinly
     1/2 cup self-rising flour                             3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate
     1/2 cup all-purpose flour
     1/2 teaspoon baking soda
     1/2 teaspoon allspice
     2/3 cup mashed overripe banana
     1/3 cup sour cream
     3 tablespoons of milk


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 6 or 12 hold muffin pan with paper baking cups.
2. Beat butter, sugar, and eggs in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
3. Stir in sifted dry ingredients, banana, sour cream, and milk. Divide mixture among baking cups; smooth surface.
4. Bake large cakes for 25 minutes, and small cakes for 20 minutes. Take out & cool.

5. Remove baking cups from cakes. 
6. Fold 3 tablespoons of caramel into cream.
7. Cut cakes horizontally into three slices. Re assemble cakes with remaining caramel and banana. Top with caramel- flavored cream.
8. Grate chocolate with vegetable peeler and sprinkle over cakes. 

9. ENJOY :]

My parents have said they're amazing & you don't even need milk, because they're so moist! My brother and his roommate love them and said they're amazing, as well. Sal's parents said they were very good too. In my opinion, they're delicious! I would definitely make them again, for a party or for myself :]

From heaven or the oven?

My parents are absolutely amazing. They always push my brother and I to do our best and always taught us to excel in what we're good at. Sure we've excelled in whatever we've put our minds to, whether it be school, sports, or a job. Lately though, I've been highly interested in making cupcakes. I've always been a baker, but I've never made anything besides a pumpkin cheesecake from scratch. Therefore, my daddy, so graciously bought me a Cupcake book. He loves to see me baking and enjoying what I'm doing; he also doesn't mind eating the final product ;] 


This book, by Pamela Clark, has a numerous amount of cupcake recipes, along with pictures of every cupcake, and some baker's tips in the back. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in trying new and delicious cupcakes. 


I've made two different kinds of cupcakes over the past few weeks: Cloud Cakes & Banana Caramel Cakes.





Cloud Cakes:
Strawberry Swirl Buttercake                      Fluffy Frosting                 Decorations
     6 tablespoons butter, softened                    1 cup sugar                   pink sugar
     1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract                      1/2 cup water
     1/2 cup sugar                                         2 egg whites
     2 eggs
     1 cup self-rising flour
     3 tablespoons milk
     3 tablespoons strawberry jam



Directions: 
1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees & prepare 6-12 hole pan with paper baking cups
2. Beat butter, vanilla, sugar, eggs, flour, and milk in a small bowl with mixer on low speed until ingredients are combined. Increase speed to medium, and beat until mixture turns a paler color.
3. Divide mixture in baking cups. Divide jam over tops of cakes & use skewer to swirl jam into cakes. 

4. Bake larger cakes for 30 minutes & smaller cakes for 20 minutes. Take out and let cool. 

5. Make Fluffy Frosting
     a. Combine Sugar and water in small pot; stir over medium heat, without boiling, until sugar is dissolved. 

     b. Boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes. [should be thick but not colored]
     c. Remove from heat & let bubbles subside
     d. Beat egg whites with a mixer until soft peaks form
     e. Add syrup in a thin stream, while mixing & beat for 10 minutes

6. Spread frosting on cupcakes & sprinkle with pink sugar. 

I couldn't get the frosting exactly how I wanted it, but hey it was my first time making cupcakes from scratch and everyone loved them, so that's all that matters. 

Thanks Daddy <3

                    

Finally... the post about Florida

I went to Florida for 10 days in July to spend time with my family down there with Sal, my brother, and his girlfriend. It was rough at first, because we all wanted to do different things, so we fought occasionally, but overall I had a memorable time, that I wouldn't trade for the world. From Venice Beach, the mall, and the Sea Shell Factory, to Siesta Keys and Englewood Beach, Universal Studios, and Parasailing, as well as Jet-skiing. We experienced so many adventures together during this trip, allowing Sal and I to cross off Parasailing and Jet-skiing off our list, and let me just tell you I would definitely do it again! 


The rest of this story will be told in pictures.

Siesta Keys

Steak & Shake [Boy I wish they had these up North]

Englewood Beach

My 'little' brother

His girl

Sea Shell Factory

Venice Beach

Parasailing

Harry Potter - Universal Studios

A Goodbye Picture

I just want to thank my grandmother for so opening her heart and home for us to stay at for 10 days. We had a heart-to-heart talks and I will never forget them. I'm so grateful to have such a loving family, even though they may be miles and miles away I know they're only a phone call or plane ride away and they'll be there for me at any time, day or night. I can't wait to go back and visit, but I'm kind of hoping my 'come to jersey for my 21st birthday' will speed that up! :]

Sliding Into Home: Book Review

Yet another book review, however, these past books aren't on my Book List of the Year, I decided I can't read books from a list and I just need to buy whatever book interests me at that time. I promise I'm going to update you all on my amazing vacation to Florida, as soon as I find the time to sit down and type it [because it's pretty long, I mean I was there for 10 days!]


Anyways, this time I read Sliding into Home by Kendra Wilkinson. I had wanted to go to her book signing in Jersey, but unfortunately I had work and wouldn't make it there in time. So, after weeks of checking every bookstore in Jersey, and a few in Florida, my brother finally found it while Sal and I were parasailing [yes, we did! - details at a later date]. So when he found the book I was ecstatic to start reading it. So as soon as I finished the two other books I was reading, I quickly started and ended this one. It was such an easy read! Now, I loved how unique and different Kendra was on The Girls Next Door. I loved that she got away with doing pretty much anything, from flashing people from the top of a hotel, to being loud and obnoxious [by the way, I love her laugh]. But to me, on the show, she seemed more dumb than anything. 


All I can say is, I'm so glad I read the book. 




Synopsis according to Amazon

KENDRA BARES ALL

Fans of the E! smash hit series The Girls Next Door fell in love with sporty Playboy beauty Kendra Wilkinson’s care- free spirit, infectious laugh, and down-to-earth nature. Now that she’s moved out of the world’s most famous bachelor pad and into her own delightfully chaotic world on Kendra as wife to NFL star Hank Baskett and mother to their newborn son, we’ve watched her hilarious antics as she adjusts to domestic life. But how much do we really know about the fun-loving star? In this humorous and optimistic, sometimes heartbreaking, but always unfailingly honest memoir, Kendra reveals the highs and lows of her extraordinary journey.
She wasn’t always the quintessential girl next door. Before she was a reality television superstar, Hugh Hefner’s girlfriend, or one of the most popular Playboy cover models ever, Kendra was an athletic tomboy whose father walked out on her family when she was a little girl. She grew into a rebellious teenager with a serious drug habit before she quit cold turkey and beat the odds to graduate from a high school that almost didn’t give her a second (or third, or fourth) chance.
Following her rocky teenage years, an out-of-the- blue phone call from Hugh Hefner changed everything. Kendra dishes candidly about life in the Playboy Mansion: the sex, the parties, the show, and even her relationships with her Girls Next Door costars—Hef, Holly, and Bridget. She tells the true story about how she and Hank met and built a relationship in secret while she was still Hef’s girl- friend and a public face of Playboy. Finally, she reflects on the slew of unexpected changes in the short space of a year that have brought her sliding into home from Playboy party girl to wife and mother with a blooming Hollywood career. If you think you’ve seen all of Kendra, think again. She’s only warming up. . . .

My Review


Let's just say I loved this book and have seriously been inspired by Kendra. She went through some pretty rough shit when she was younger and she'll tell you straight out everything that happened in her life, from drugs, rehab, and sexual encounters with men AND women, to the happenings in Hef's room, the truth of The Girl's Next Door, and falling in love with Hank. I was inspired because she had been through so much shit and still came out on top. Many people told her she wouldn't amount to anything, but she proved them all wrong. Sure she had to take extreme steps to get to the top, but hey, she still got there. Now she has a loving husband, an adorable baby, and a future that has it's arms held wide open for her. The possibilities are endless, as you can tell with her new book, as well as workout dvds. She's on a mission, but it's not to prove to anyone that she can do this, because she's already done that. It's to do whatever her heart desires at that given point in time. She's seriously such a role model and has given me the strength to do great things in my life, and take as many risks as possible, because you just never know.