Tuesday Tunes...

It's been a while....

here's what's been stuck in my head for the past few weeks:

Tuesday Tunes

(Via quotebook)

Want cute, quirky Christmas music??? Go here and download this album!

So...

The 4th floor (Hematology/Oncology/Solid Tumor/Bone Marrow Transplant) Units have a support group...and I decided to go today. It was wonderful to talk to the rest of the nurses who get it. The nurses who understand how hard it is to face a child who knows they're dying or a parent who's lost hope. The nurses who get how hard it is to absolutely love a child and then have them pass away. The nurses who, everyday, see just how fragile life is.

It was nice to just sit there, talk, share, and listen.

That's all.

Love this

“If you’re feeling frightened about what comes next, don’t be. Embrace the uncertainty. Allow it to lead you places. Be brave as it challenges you to exercise both your heart and your mind as you create your own path towards happiness, don’t waste time with regret. Spin wildly into your next action. Enjoy the present, each moment, as it comes; because you’ll never get another one quite like it. And if you should ever look up and find yourself lost, simply take a breath and start over. Retrace your steps and go back to the purest place in your heart… where your hope lives. You’ll find your way again.”

There's no place like home

Friends! I had a wonderful few days off. They were full of family, heart-to-hearts with guy friends, and food! My favorite! I truly enjoy the time I spend at hoome with my mom and grandma; they are hilarious!!! ahah. At least to me.

The things is, everytime I leave home, I feel a pang of sadness. I don't know if it'd be that way if I still lived at home, but it still makes me a little sad to leave. Especially for the holidays!!! Boo.

"Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays,

'Cause no mater how far away you roam

When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly face

For the holidays, you can't be

Home, sweet home."

It's 3 a.m.....

Tuesday Tunes

A quick little post before I jet off to work.

Have you guys seen the preview for Morning Glory?

I always hear this song in the background... I love it.

I hope you all are having a fabulous start to this week!

Work hard, play hard

This weekend I went to Vegas with two of NICCU nurses. We met in our RN Residency and I am so glad to have met them...they are such fun girls! We had a blast. We danced the weekend away, slept a ton, and ate amazing food. The car ride was tons of fun, as well. I love road trips.... even if they are just 4 hours away and the only thing you pass by is desert. I utterly love them. There is just something about singing your heart out in the car and getting away from where you are. We ended our weekend getaway with a stop at Sonic.... they have the most fantastic grilled cheese. I LOVE SONIC. I wish we had more in California.

We listened to the Yellowcard CD on the way back to LA...I had forgotten how much I loved it!

Tuesday Tunes

#1- Congratulations to all my Giants fans....WORLD SERIES!!! EEEK!

#2- Hope you all had a Happy Halloween. I had to work that night... but tried to dress up as a butterfly! It's kind of fantastic working at a Children's hospital on Halloween... you see tons of medical professionals dressed up in silly costumes. What can we say.... we will do almost anything to make our kids smile!!! Here's me and one of my co-workers:

#3- We had the most terrific potluck at work last night. We had funfetti cookies, artichoke dip (a recipe my roomie gave me and one that I will have to share...it is delicious!), pasta, salad, chicken, filipino food, chips and salsa, and pumpkin cheesecake. Everything was so T.A.S.T.Y.

#4- I love my friends. They are just... wonderful.

#5- This week's tune... a cover of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream... I actually like this version SO much better:

Wow

I was skimming through Facebook the other day and noticed this as one of my friend's status updates:

"Just because the Lord is silent doesn't mean He's distant. God misses nothing."

When I read that, I just thought....wow. How great it is to know that our Lord is with us at every moment!

Find more artists like Hillsong United at Myspace Music

Tuesday Tunes

Friends... I am in LOVE with this song. It makes me so, so happy. Hope you enjoy it, too!

"You will survive

we´ll never stop wonders

You and sunrise will never fall under

We should always know that we can do anything

Go do!"

Jónsi - Go Do from Jónsi on Vimeo.

The Weekend

Friends. I was supposed to go Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times this weekend. I was really looking forward to a weekend of mountains, fresh air, cute kids, good food, and spending time with some of the nicest and silliest people on this Earth! Unfortunately, I awoke with a fever on Friday and pretty much felt awful. I was incredibly sad not to go, but I ended up having a pretty good weekend.

I went to Church, saw a couple of my greatest friends, and ate delicious food. I also got some sleep... which was much needed.

My family returned safely from their European cruise and their pictures of Nice, and Monaco, and Florence and the list goes on and on and on .... anyways, I was saying that their pictures look so beautiful. I want to travel!!

(Heart Rock... where Kait and I went hiking this weekend)

A borrowed thought

"Hindisght, I think, is a useless tool. We, each of us, are at a place in our lives because of innumberable circumstances, and we each of us, have a responsibility to move along life's road, to find a better path if this one does not suit, or to walk happily along this one of it is indeed our life's way. Changing even the bad things that have gone before would fundamentally change who we are, and whether or not that would be a good thing, I believe, it is impossible to predict. So I take my past experiences... and try to regret nothing."

R.A. SALVATORE

Tuesday Tunes

Helllo!
I just returned from a much needed weekend in Northern California. One of my really good friends got married this weekend. Congratulation Krista & Claudio! (Safe travels to St. Lucia!)
And can I just tell you that Krista looked soooooooo beautiful?


Well, I return to work tomorrow night but here's a tune for you this Tuesday.

Noah Gundersen and The Courage - Live at The Triple Door from Breathing Media on Vimeo.

Tuesday Tunes

I have twooo for you today!

1) Remember how I told you all I went and saw Donavon Frankenreiter this past weekend? Well, one of his songs has been stuck in my head since then. He ended his set on this song and it was the perfectttt ending. For more reasons than one....

2) I just love this song. No reason... ahah. Just love it!

Currently Loving

1. These Brownie Bites. I cannot wait to make them!
2. The craftiness of this bridal shower.
3. Her dress (via Luckymag.com) .... I love the color!
4. Arugula salad....MMMM. It looks delicious.

P.s. I have had a pretty good few days off, so far! I saw quite a few of my greatest friends! I went down to beautiful Crystal Cove...and the weather was PERFECT. We went to see Donavon Frankreiter... who was just fantastic live. I went to lunch at Angelo's, a delicious little Italian place by my house, with Sammy & Elle today. They are two of my favorite girls to hang out with. It's just so easy with them... and quite a few of my favorite Sabbath memories are with them. I also had coffee with my friend Suzi, and it was wonderful to catch up with her! I am looking forward to breakfast made by my mom tomorrow.... she makes the BEST omelette's!

Let's ...

celebrate life today.

Fill in the Blank Fridays

Brought to you by Lauren! Thanks again.

1. When I get a day to myself I like to..shop. bake. read. and paint. That my friends, is a perfect day off.

2. High school was.... 5 years ago!!! Wah! I feel so old. I had a lot of fun in high school. I have incredibly great memories. I remember all the code names alyssa and I would have for boys we had crushes on, beach vespers, campouts, picnics, and pretty much just having a pretty good time.

3. A little dream I have is... to own a bakery. or work in a bakery. I just would love to be a part of that. Maybe Caiti & I will have the coffee shop/bakery/floral shoppe one day....

4. A big dream I have is ... to have a BIG family. I feel like family is one of the most important things in life.... I don't think you could ever have enough family.

5. If I could drive any car my pick would be ... a range rover. I think they're pretty.... but impractical. ahahah.

6. A time that I felt really and truly beautiful was ... well, I don't have a specific moment. I can just remember how a certain someone in past would look at me... and I just felt so beautiful. ahahaha. I'll never forget the first boy who called me pretty, either!

7. Tomorrow I will.... go to church and spend the day at the beach with one of my greatest friends.

Happy Weekend! I'm off for 5 days! WOOOOH!

Work

Most of the time... I love where I work. It can be absolutely crazy, at times. It also definitely gets sad working with kids who are sick.... but I still love it. A lot of the nurses are incredible, too! Last night was a pretty slow night at work and instead of sitting around in the charting room, one of the nurses decided to go paint of the kid's nails! With her Chanel nail polish! Now ladies and gentleman, is love! ahahah.

Back to work tonight... two more days to go, then 5 days off!

Tuesday Tunes

Today's song is No Envy No Fear by Joshua Radin.

I fell in love with his music years ago.

I saw him at the Great American Ballroom in SF on the Hotel Cafe tour... and that show was just spectacular. Everyone who performed was terrific.

Anyways, I utterly love this song and hope you do too.

No Envy, No Fear from Britni Halbert on Vimeo.

P.s. got a package from one of my best friends today. I LOVE PACKAGES! We make crafty things for each other and try to send them to each other each month. We haven't been very good about it lately, but we're starting to get the ball rolling again. And look at this card she made. She used thread to make the cover. Isn't she so creative?

I should head to bed soon...but it's so much fun painting. But it's already 4:30 a.m. The thing is... I'm not tired at all!! Oh, to be someone who works night shift.... it's so weird to sleep in the dark!

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!

Fill in the Blank Fridays

1. The strangest thing I've ever eaten is strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar! they ended up being delicious. Or, I did it some ostrich meat once. It was delicious! If you're ever in the Napa Valley and in the mood for ostrich, Rutherford Grill is to the place to go!

2. I wouldn't be caught dead in a maxi skirt. oh my word, I just have not seen people pull it off well AT ALL.

3. When I am 75 I will.... be sitting on a porch with the love of my life by my side and a cup of coffee in my hand.

4. If I had to be named after a place I would want to be named Loveland. My friend Cheyenne is from there and I have always been in love with the name. (Loveland, CO)

5. My name is June Nicole. I was born in June and my mom really loved the name Nicole. She said she heard it in France and fell in love with it. What's funny is that my grandfather's name was Jun and my greatgrandmother's name is Nicolasa and they both ended up being my favorite people.

6. My all time favorite photo is a picture of my mom, my dad, and I at the airport when I was little. It pretty much embodies our lives, one of us is always leaving.

7. If I could afford it I would buy a house on the beach. That would make me immensely happy.

Thank you, Lauren!

Happy Friday! I'm working the entire weekend. YUCK!

Tuesday Tunes

I'm not very good at this blogging thing. I tend to forget or just say I'll do it later.

To help me stay loyal to my blog, I thought I'd start devoting Tuesdays to new music that I fall in love with.

So here we go...

HibOO d'Live : Mumford and Sons "Timshel" from Le-HibOO.com on Vimeo.

Mumford & Sons.... I am definitely a fan!

17 forever

I love to dance. love love love it. I want out dancing with a couple friends last night and had sooooo much fun. I love dancing freely and wish I could do it weekly.

I guess I'll have to settle for dancing in my kitchen!

Losing the battle...

I love my job.

I simple love working with kids who have cancer and other blood disorders.

I am a bald headed snob!

I relish in making my kids smile and have the best time just chatting with them.

But on occasion, it gets really hard.

Kids with first time around Leukemia's usually have a pretty good prognosis.

There are TONS of kids running around out there who are in remission and are fully functional. They come into the clinic to be seen every so often and rarely make it on the unit.

But some.... they stay for months. Or they go in and out of the hospital every few weeks. You get to know them and absolutely learn to love these crazy kids.

We recently lost one of our kids to cancer. And my, my heart hurt. I could finally see why it sucks to work on our unit. She was a fantastic kid. She was bright spirited and ever so polite. She was my first PICC line dressing change and I will always remember playing twister in her room. She had the sweetest family and it pierced my heart to hear them wailing in pain to lose their baby girl.

So here's to you, sweetie pie...way to put up a fight! We'll all miss you.

Postsecret last week

So, in the words of T.I., "live your life!"

Recent happenings

Raspberry Almond Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

via Joy the Baker.

SO TASTY and easy to make, too!

Pasta & delicious broccoli Slaw.

The Bird and the Bee, She & Him, and The Swell Season at the Hollywood Bowl

with sister taylor.

Fantastic music, fantastic company... what more could I ask for?

I saw some pillows in an anthro catalog a few weeks ago and thought, "I could do that."

So I did. & I love my new pillowcases.

& my grandma turned 71! ahah.

That's her giving my mom a biggggg kiss for all of the presents we got her.

p.s.

About a week ago, I found out that on the patients I had taken care of had gone into remission. I could not be any happier. I was so overwhelmed with emotion when I found out. This kid and their parents have fought and fought.... and hey, they won. BOO-YAH LEUKEMIA! It's days like those that I am absolutely certain I chose the right speciality to go into. I hope I always love my job as much as I do right now.

June

RN, BSN's!

Kristina... she made a beautiful bride!

What days off are made of

Started the day off at the flower market.

Scored some birthday flowers for myself-

bright carnations and beautiful hydrangeas,

which just happen to be my favorite!

I would have stayed at the flower market longer and

wandered the surrounding streets,

but I wasn't sure if I was parked legally....

So... off to LaMill!

The weather was perfect outside.

The foam on my cap was perfect- dry, dry, dry!

People watching + flipping through LA confidential = a good time.

And... they make a fantastic "mojito" (no alcohol in it, of course!)

It was perfectly minty.

Next time I go back, I am trying their orange cappuccino!

I then headed next door to Yolk

and bought this nifty little book.

I came home and found it online $20 cheaper!!!

BOOO. but I don't mind too much, I'm sure I will use it lots.

It has fantastic projects!

How I love days off!

Inspiration

Almost 99% of the time, I am being inspired at work. If it's not the patients or the nurses, it's the parents.

I cannot tell you how proud I am to work with nurses who not only know what they are doing and do it well, but are willing to make fools out of themselves for the happiness of children.

My kids are incredibly adorable and strong! They deal with chronic conditions and I have no idea how they deal with it. I swear, all they want to do is play.

And the parents.... Since I have no kids of my own, I can only imagine how hard it is to watch your child be sick. I can only imagine how hard it is not to be able to control the situation- to make things better or make the healing process go by quicker. I can only imagine how hard it is to wait and see if the chemo is working. But they do it. They stay by their child's side and help them take each medication, hold their hand and stroke their hair during procedures, and try and keep hope alive.

How can I NOT be inspired when I work/interact with people like this?

Wish list

I have been spending farrrrr too much money. seriously. My budget went out the window. It's awful. So I am making a list of things I am allowed to buy. Just these things. ahah. and a white top. THAT's it!!! I am on a shopping hiatus (except for these things) until July.

Doesn't this cookbook look lovely?

I love baking with wheat flour, so this looks perfect!

Also, this candle smells like a beautiful meadow.

I love candles like that.

I have been wanting a pair of red toms for a while now. Also, these glitter ones look fantastic. & their 9.5 fits me perfectlyyyy. Once I decide which pair I want more, I will get them!

The shopping hiatus has officially started!

What days off are made of

Scrambled eggs, potatoes, chicken apple sausage, strawberries, and freshly squeezed OJ after a FUN FUN FUN step class at the Y.

Alcove with Caiti & Carls.

Beautiful LA sunsets and house admiring in Los Feliz.

& baking yummy Cheesecake-marbled brownies.

Not a bad two days off, is it?

Oh, and I think I am due for another shopping hiatus.

I have been spending far tooooooo much money on little things.

I need to make a list of what I can and cannot buy during this hiatus, i.e. Mother's day gifts!

After I do the dishes and clean my house a bit, some tea & brownies while reading a good book sounds like the perfect way to end my "weekend."

Enjoy your weekend!

Caiti G

Happy 23rd Birthday to one of the most beautiful people I know!!!

Thank you for always providing me a with a hand to hold,

a hug when I need it the most,

a story to make me laugh,

for being someone I can count on for good music,

and for making me talk to Mrs. Hattendorf all those years ago.

I love you, sunshine.

The world is blessed by your presence.

Sometimes...

... I forget to put God first. and I hate that. I utterly hate that part of me. I wish and pray , with every fiber of my being, that one day I will be able to put Him first in every part of my life. I don't want to have to remember to put Him first, I just want to automatically do it. I want it to be an unconscious action. But perhaps, I do need that reminder? Perhaps, I need to take a minute before I make decisions and ask myself if this is what I should be doing. Or, I guess what I need to be asking myself is if that is what God would want me to do..

... I forget to trust Him. And for as much as I love Him, I don't think I trust Him nearly as much as I should. I suppose it all comes down to my trust issues...

... I forget to love people like He loves them. I forget that people are human and make mistakes. I forget that I have no idea what people have gone through. I forget that love unites us. I forget that we show people Jesus when we love them.

And though I consistently forget these things, and many more, He has never once forgotten me.

My, what a wonderful God we serve.

I found this a few days ago on quotebook and lovedddd it.

It's just a wonderful little reminder of how we should live.

I've been incredibly intrigued with love lately.

I am so fascinated by the way it transforms people.

For some it transforms them into a better person,

and for some... it leaves them heartbroken.

Really, I am just SO intrigued with the subject of love.

I'm just started The Five Love Languages and am so excited about it.

I've been away from the blogging world for quite a while! I am just now revisiting my favorite blogs and have a bunch of things I am looking forward to cooking.

I want to post pictures of Lauryn's & I's new house soon! However, I want to wait until we are done making our house a home. We're getting there...

I am still on a search for the perfect table lamp.

A day for the books....

I've have been quite busy these past three weeks! Moving+finishing school+starting a new job= a stressed and anxious ME!!!

The Health Care Reform Bill passed today/tonight. I am not quite sure how I feel about that. As a health care professional, I am scared about how this will affect my profession. As a young adult trying to make it on her own, I am worried about how it will raise my taxes. As a concerned citizen, I am terrified how this will affect Our country's economy. Will we crumble? Will we rise?

However, I am all for the idea that everyone has a right to health care. They have a right to be treated and educated about their health status. I don't know quite where I stand. All I know is that I am a bit worried for Our country. So I turn to a prayer by Donald Miller (during the Democratic National Convention).

"Father God,

This week, as the world looks .. the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are
easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don't have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Help us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.
We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.

Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.

A lot of people don't like us but that's because they don't know the heart of the average American.

Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.

Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.

Lastly, father, unify us.

Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.

And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.

God we know that you are good.

Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.

I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.

Let Him be our example.

Amen."

So tonight I pray for your health, my health, and our futures.

Hellooooooo weekend!

Happy Birthday, Krista B!! You are loved.

I made Chocolate Souffle Cupcakes with White Chocolate Mint Cream for Lo's little pre-birthday get together on Thursday night....YUM. Smitten Kitchen has not failed me yet =]

Easy art! I've been thinking of ways I wanted to decorate the walls of my new place and came up with this. Well, I had seen people put lyrics on their wall before. So I just printed some, put them in a clear frame, and added a postcard from Seattle.

lyrics from "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel.

So glad it's Sabbath! Man oh man.

Tomorrow morning apple muffins or apple pancakes???

On this gloomy Wednesday...

I have fallen in love with two things:

1)


It's been on repeat. I love it. They have several shows in LA in the new few months and they are all sold out. Hopefully, I can find a ticket somewhere...

2)
As an avid baker, I have fallen in love with the Build your own Smitten Kitchen guide. One day, my kitchen will contain all those contents!


Tomorrow=Lunch with Shannie, Baking, and Lo's pre-birthday bash. YESSSSS. All of course after a full day of studying cardiac and GI systems. Now that ,my friend, is lame.

A.C.B.

Happy Birthday to Alyssa Cheyenne Bishop.

You are so strong, beautiful, and passionate.

I hope you are having the most wonderful birthday.

Wish I could be there to celebrate with you.

May you have a million adventures in your new year of life.

I love you.

Breakfast

I love breakfast. Eggs, pancakes, coffee, stripples/turkey bacon, fruit... I just love it! This morning I had the pleasure of making breakfast with one of my best and truest friends, Shannie. We have one of those relationships that's so easy to pick up and we pretty much always understand how the other is feeling. It's lovely.

Instead of pancakes, I decided to make breakfast puffs. MMMM. Perfect with a cup of coffee. Not too sweet, but just enough.

Recipe from the Betty Crocker Cookbook:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup milk

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 eggs

1 tbspn sugar

(I added 1 tspn of cinnamon too)

Preheat oven to 375

In a saucepan melt butter; add milk and bring to a boil. Add the flour all at once stirring vigorously. Cook and stir until mixture forms a ball that does not seperate. Remove from heat; Cool for 5 minutes.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute with a wooden spoon after each addition or until smooth. Divide dough evenly among 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle with sugar (and cinnamon, too!!). Bake about 30 minutes or until golden brown and puffy. Serve with honey.

You don't really need to serve it with honey if you have generous amounts of cinnamon sugar on top. MMM. I may just make them again tomorrow. So easy to make!

Honest Abe

Today I was reading the Principles of Uncertainty and stumbled upon this quote:

"The occasion is piled high with difficulty.

As our case is new, so must think anew, and act anew.

We must disenthrall ourselves and then we shall save our country."

- Abraham Lincoln 1862

i love it!

Coffee Shops

Napa Valley Coffee & Roasting Company

''i am sitting at the coffee shop where i come when i'm home, the one that's not Starbucks, the one that plays good music and makes the town feel almost like a city... i have a theory that people go to coffee shops - well, i'm sure we go for coffee - but i think we go to feel less alone. i could write this in my room but i choose to drive across town to sit among the people. i might not talk to anyone but somehow it's better to be here..." - jamie tworkowki

This is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world. It was basically my source of residence through nursing school! ahah. Not really, but I was often there studying. Though it has the most excellent coffee I have ever had, it is more than just a coffee shop to me. When I walk through the door, somehow everything falls into place. I feel welcome and at home. This may be because quite a few of the barista's are some of my best friends, but to tell the truth... I love just about all of them. They are sweet and helpful and a part of me thinks their coffee is so good because they put love into it!

There is nothing like Sunday mornings at the coffee shop. I always made sure to get there before 9 to get a decent studying spot and beat the rush, a dry cappuccino, and of course a delicious morning bunz. As I would enjoy my coffee, I would also enjoy the various people that came in to chat with their friends or family. I would smile as the kids ran throughout the coffee shop and was often lucky enough to have a friend there with me to enjoy this time.

I miss my coffee shop. I miss morning bunz. I miss perfect dry caps and lovely baristas.

So, when I am at home, I settle for Stel's. Not the best espresso I've ever had, but definitely the best in the few miles near me. I don't expect much from them, expect a great chai mix! However, today was just one of those days where I just needed a dry cap. Lo and behold, I got incredibly lucky and got a beautiful dry cap with the near perfect foam. It made my day.

+ As I was studying k, I saw two little girls playing in the rain. How fun! They were just splashing around in their pink rainboots. It was adorable. I wished I was them and got to play instead of study.

Maybe tomorrow I will get to play in the rain. If not, I will at least make some lemon pound cake.

Renee Yohe

I love how she writes. So full of emotion, so passionate.

"so. this is what if feels like. to tear apart. this. is what we risk when we throw our hearts out. so this is losing.

i see.

i wish there was truth when i stammered that i didn't care. i wish if i said it enough it would make everything feel better. but it doesn't, and it won't, and the overwhelming powerlessness of sitting through a feeling is keeping me there. in that moment. where it ended.

blink.

half believing if i blink hard enough the things before me will vanish when the shudders fly open. but they don't. they are just sitting there. in the corner. waiting for me.

and then the fury.

if only my fist flying into the door could distract my heart for a moment. if only i could punch it's wooden frame hard enough to shake this feeling off. if only..but, who am i kidding? my swollen knuckles weren't meant to be my crucifix.

i never learned how to do this.

so this is what it's like when you finally manage to allow people to matter. they were like sharks teeth to me. they were disposable.... why couldn't you be? i think i'd like it if, there was something wrong. with me. or you. i think it would make more sense. maybe. if you could yell. or be cruel. intolerable. or if i was a bitch.

i think maybe if you were poisonous i'd let go a little easier.

my sticky fingers make it hard. and somewhere along the lines i somehow fell. and now it's done. it's over. no more stupid fluttery things in my stomache. no more tangled hands. just my tangled heart.

and the question.

is it worth it.

is it.

worth.

this?

yes. (but i'd rather say no.)"

exactly!

A few favorites

1) I love ruffles. I love love love them. Now if only I could afford a duvet, or even a sham, from anthropologie because I am in love with this bed.

2) Have you guys heard of Allie Moss?

Apparently, I am a late bloomer...but I love her!!! Corners is on repeat right now...

3) A wonderful children's book about dreams available via internet. It's not published yet, at least I don't think so...but it is such a wonderful reminder of what are dreams are and what they should be. I read it to practically everyone I know...

P.s. Looking forward to some PUC loving and making lemon pound cake this weekend. Not sure if I should do a lemon or brown butter glaze... I will let you know!

Baking Galore!

Tomorrow is my last night at Glendale Adventist. I have made a wonderful family there and I will be sad to leave them. I have learned so much for them and they have welcomed me with open arms. So... to say farewell. I made Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting via Crepes of Wrath. The only thing I did differently was use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar. Anyways, super easy recipe....and delicious, too!

Cranberry-Carrot Muffins

I know. They sound weird. But they were moist and had a wonderful cinnamon-y taste!!! Great for breakfast on the go.

The recipe is adapted from King Arthur Flour + Smitten Kitchen.

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tspn baking powder

1 tspn baking soda

1/4 tspn salt

1 tbspn cinnamon (ALOT! but the perfect amount)

1 stick of butter, at room temp

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar (use 1/4 when making the muffins and the other 1/4 for the topping)

1 egg

1/2 tspn oil

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup grated carrots

1/4 cup cranberries

Preheat the over to 450* F. It yields 12 large muffins. But if you're like me... you need a large muffin in the morning!

Mix the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugars (remember...only use 1/4 of the brown sugar). Add egg and oil, then mix. Next, mix in the buttermilk gently. Smitten Kitchen says that if you over-mix it, the mixture will curdle. Stir in dry ingredients little by little and fold in the carrots and cranberries. Divide into 12 muffin cups and sprinkle the 1/4 cup of brown sugar on top of the muffins. Bake for 10 minutes @ 450. Turn the heat down to 400*F and bake for 5 more minutes.

Thoughts