The Summer Child

Food Talk with a Cheese Lesson

2011-12-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

Three finals, two papers and a partridge in a pear tree....
I am almost done with this semester! The end is so close I can taste it! Speaking of tasting things, since Christmas break is only a few short days away for me, you know what that means! It means I shall be back to my cooking/baking madness! I fully plan on making my famous Chocolate Peanut butter cookie Dough Cupcakes, several batches of my renowned Beer Batter Bread (the type and brand make all the difference), and my salted chocolate caramels. I will also be trying some new recipes and use my family as my testers.

I swear, I have to have the best job ever! I love my job. I get to work with cheese, wine and goodies all day. I love when a customer comes up to me with a question and I get to be a part of their party planning. My boss calls me the Cheese Princess because I normally run the cheese section in our little shop.

Speaking of cheeses, currently my favorite cheese right now is the Bucherolle. It is a French Goat Cheese. It ages from the inside out! The inside core is a yummy, tangy, crumbly goodness, while the outside is a smooth, creamy and slightly buttery, all surrounded by a mold rind. So delectable!

This lovely cheese can be eaten with crackers, fruit, bread and wine. If you felt so inclined to pair some meat with it, I would suggest something light and not heavily seasoned. Perhaps a nice French Ham or a little Prosciutto di Parma. A nice white or sparkling whine would pair nicely with this lovely cheese.

Another amazing cheese is Vintage Gouda. It is aged 5 years and is a wonderful hard, snacking cheese. What I love about this cheese is that, because it is aged, it has little milk sugar crystals in it. Those crystals provide a nice little crunch in the cheese. It has a lovely caramel flavor. Its almost like cheese candy!

Now that I have succeeded in making myself hungry, I shall go to bed. I have work in the morning and I must be fresh and ready to go.
Peace-
Summer Girl

Exhausted College Child

2011-12-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!
It has been one busy summer and fall to say the least! My best friend from Nebraska came for a surprise visit in June, both my cousin and high school friend had their perspective weddings in July and August (I was in both weddings!), and I started my senior year of college.
It is almost the end of fall semester and I am feeling the crunch. I have a huge paper due Thursday and three medium/small papers do before and after. Needless to say, I'm ready to pull my hair out. Life here is good. I have been helping my mother construct her own website, blog and Facebook page for her ministry and books she is writing. I now hate anything to do with websites and computers, but I do now possess a small skill of creating and dealing with websites.
Because I am an English Literature major, the senior project, the one that my graduation depends on, is naturally a huge paper. Thankfully they have the option of a creative writing piece if you have the GPA. I had the GPA and I just received my approval to write what I want to write. The piece I am constructing is several excerpts from a book I am writing. My plan is, after graduating, to finish the book and hopefully have it published!

Oh squirrel moment here but I forgot to tell everyone that we got a Puppy! Well, he isn't much of a puppy anymore. Say hello to Deacon, our 6 month old, 120lb Great Dane Puppy!

Here he is with my 7 year old Golden Retriever, Sophie.

This is Deacon as a baby. Notice the huge difference.lolz

He is such a lovable moose.

Well I am going to sign off now because my homework is calling my name and I must answer.
Have a wonderful day, don't let this gloomy weather get ya down!
-The Summer Child

Last Hurrah

2011-06-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Since this is my last blog for my Maymester English class, I have decided to break tradition and talk about something other than my normal. I wont be talking about my ducks, who are all sleeping next to me as I write this outside. Oh my word they are so cute! They all have their little heads tucked behind their wings and seem to be resting peacefully. They are growing up so quickly. Ducks have to have the cutest sneezes ever!
Anyways, I was saying, I wont be talking about the amazing cupcakes I made for class today. Every one loved them...or so they were kind enough to say.lolz I wasn't quite sure how they would turn out due to the hot weather and the fact that I froze the icing, but the icing I found does better if it has been frozen ahead of time. It stiffened up much better than the last time I made the cupcakes.
Anyways, another mind bunny. I wont be talking about those things. No what I am going to talk about is how boring my summer is going to be with no summer class to attend.
This short Maymester has shown me that it is possible to have fun with a summer class. It does help if you, 1. already like the subject that you will be studying. 2. Have friends in the class. and 3. Like and get along really good with the professor.
The last class was the best by far. We got to present our video poems and we did a super fun, and super hilarious exercise. I think the best story by far was Jordan's that I got to finish with the Platypus. Mine was pretty funny because I had a violent stuffed animal war going on.
I loved the dynamics of my class, I had easy going classmates and the subject matter was right up my ally. Now my summer is beginning and I don't know what I shall do with out getting up every morning at 7:15 to get ready for my class....oh wait. I'm going to love not having to get up that early. That is one thing I wont miss.
Anyways I'm going to go finish my other stuff and watch my ducks in the sun.
Peace,
The Summer Child

Mind Bunnies and Graduation

2011-05-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

This week has been a weird one. My laptop's space bar is on the fritz, my sister graduated high school, and the weather has been crappy. My sister graduated Friday, and for anyone who has either graduated, or had a sibling graduate, you know that your mind goes out the window in the flurry of stuff that happens during preparation. I had completely spaced any thought of homework for summer school all because my sister's stinking graduation ceremony and dessert reception afterwards took forever. By the time I got home I completely spaced I had things due. It was nice to talk with some old classmates at her graduation though. Many of the graduates had siblings in my graduating class, so I knew them and their families pretty well. Saturday consisted of working and then attending an open house. I despise open houses. The only good part about them is the food. I don't like being around a lot of people and eating in front of them whilst being expected to make small talk. I don't like big crowds. I thought my own open house was my personal hell. You want me to stand here and talk to people as they come in and give me money. Why can't I go read??? It took every ounce of self control yesterday to not reach into my purse and pull out the book I had been reading earlier. I settled for sitting on a chair with a warm kitty in my lap. It isn't that I dislike conversing with people. But it always seems that there are people I cannot stand at open houses and then I am forced to talk with them. Hence my option for hiding.
When my sister's open house comes up, I fully plan on climbing up a tree with my food and not coming down till everyone leaves. My sister is the social butterfly of the family where I prefer solitude.

Anyways, This weather has been pissing me off. What is with all these dang tornadoes?
Get your act together mother nature!
till later,
Summer Child.

You Don't see Pickup Trucks or Vans here.....

2011-05-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

Chicago is not called the windy city for nothing. If I could sum up my weekend in 3 words they would be: Cold, Yummy, and Fun. Cold due to the nasty weather that hit Friday afternoon. Yummy due to all the food we ate. and Fun due to all the fun we had!

Friday:
We left the school early. Correction I was woken up at 6:30...that is early. I was not happy. I had no coffee. We got to the school and loaded up our two vehicles, a pickup truck and a 7 passenger van, try parking those tanks in city garages. Not a fun task. I digress. All ten of us, 4 boys, 4 girls and two adults (my parents) loaded in to the vehicles and drove to Chicago. My car just had myself, my dad and Anna. All three of us squished in the front seat of the Truck. Not uncomfortable but cozy. We had a nice pleasant ride there. Once at the condo we were staying at we unloaded our stuff, got rooms picked out and got ready to head downtown. Our first stop was the amazing Chicago City Public Library. I only got to see the first floor, and I didn't event get to peruse through any shelves but just the lobby was HUGE!!!!! If they had let me peruse through the first floor I would still be there. We then walked to Columbia College and saw their theater class do stage combat scenes. Very interesting. Then we walked to Water Tower (there was a lot of walking involved this weekend). Once in Water Tower (WT) we were allowed to spilt into groups and shop till it was time for High Tea. I found a super cute top at AE and then it was time for Tea. We walked to the Ritz only to be told our reservations were at their sister hotel down the road.(Whoops!) We made it there and were seated immediately. For those of you, like me, who did not or do not know what High Tea is I shall explain.
High Tea at the Four Seasons(5 Star Hotel) You are seated at a table and are asked to choose a tea out of several options. Once you make your choice you are brought a little plate with 5 different sandwiches to eat.

You eat and then they bring out your selected tea.

I chose a Berry blend, it was alright. Then they bring out a tiered tray that has mini scones, mini cheesecake, little cookies and lemon poppy seed bread. They also have at the table spreads for your scones. There was the AMAZING lemon curd spread, a sweet butter, and a jam/marmalade of some sort. I dislike jam and marmalade so even though I gave it a try, I mostly ate the lemon curd spread on my scones and lemon poppy seed bread. They then brought out our individual tea pots! It was so much fun. We all shared tea and had lovely conversations. After tea was finished Anna, my sister and I all went back to WT to continue shopping. I wanted to find some jewelry to match my top and the other two girls wanted to just shop. After that we met up with everyone at the Nike store. By this time, the weather had changed drastically. It went from 85 and lovely to 45 and nasty. None of us had long sleeves on. I was in a t-shirt and one girl in our group was in a tank top and sandals. We began our long trek back to the condo and stopped at Old Navy to grab a few hoodies that they had on sale. Afterwards we all went back to the condo for the evening and had pizza from Giordano's. I personally think I like Gino's East a little better. But it was yummy nonetheless.. We sat around and talked and had a nice evening.

Saturday: We woke up and Anna and I made breakfast. We cut up various fruits, made pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage. After that filling breakfast my parents, Anna and my sister all walked up to the Whole Food';s Market. AWESOME store. Then we walked back and I took a nap. After we got back we sat around for a little bit and then got ready to drive to lunch. Lunch was had at Emilio's Tapas. Talk about an amazing restaurant and excellent service. You order a few dishes and they bring it out on little plates for everyone to share. I enjoyed the community feel of the food service.

After we ate we dropped most of the kids off at a record's store and the rest of us went back to the condo. I took a lovely nap to gear up for the Blue Man group show we were gonna be attending. We all got back into the cars and headed to the concert. By now it was not just cold, it was pouring rain. We parked our cars in the parking garage and walked about 2 blocks to the theater. The concert was awesome!!!! Lots of fun. We were all pretty exhausted by the time we got back to the condo.

Sunday: We got up to a nasty, rainy, windy morning. After everyone finally got up we thought we would walk to the Yolk, a breakfast restaurant three blocks away from the condo. The walk there was awful! The wind was so strong you felt like you could take flight. Rain pelted us viciously. When we got to the Yolk the wait time to be seated was over 40 min. We all opted to hit up the cafe that was only 1 block away from the condo and all traipsed back to it and ordered food and carried it to the condo to eat in warmth. We then finished packing and cleaning up and left for home.

All in all it was a lovely weekend but the weather was the only downside and navigating a huge pickup truck and van through the city was no easy task either.

Warmer weather better be on its way back.

-The Summer Child

Summer!!!

2011-05-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

So since I am leaving for Chicago early tomorrow morning, I figured it would be nice and tell y'all what I will be doing while there. I am going with my parents and the current seniors of my old high school. We leave tomorrw and will be going to Columbia college for their Art program thing. They are having all these different workshops and such. Then we are going to a super fancy hotel and having High Tea. Then we will go shopping. I am hoping to find a cute top. Saturday we will be shopping more I believe but I know for sure that we are going to a Blue Man group concert!!!! SQUEEEE!! Then on Sunday we are going to Millinium Park for the free Celtic Fest and then we are going home.

Here is the beginnning of my first essay:

Those amber eyes held my gaze, freezing me to the spot where I stood. Those eyes, never blinking, had a calculating look to them. It was as if he was examining me to find my weakness to exploit it. Slowly more amber eyes joined the pair in the dimly lit alley way near the forest. The pack of feral dogs slowly stalked into the alley keeping their distance, but making it very clear I was their prey. Their low growls reverberated off the brick walls and I was cursing myself for forgetting the pepper spray. The sweat dripped off my forehead and rolled down my cheek mixing with my silent tears. I could taste the salt in my mouth as I licked my lips. I slowly began to take a step backwards when I heard another noise, just to the right of me. I looked to my right to see, him standing there, with that sick smile plastered on his face while watching me. My heart stopped beating and I felt light headed. He snapped his fingers and the dogs responded by closing in on me blocking all and any possible chances of escape. I did the first thing I could think of; I screamed and then passed out.

Anyways I will be writing about my trip when I get home!

Peace!

Summer Child

First Day of My First Summer Class

2011-05-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

Today I start my first ever summer course. Correction, it is actually a Maymester, which is an entier semester of classes crammed into 4 weeks. This means that I am in class every tuesday, wednesday and thursday from 9-12:50. Now normally, I have issues focusing for the normal class time which is about 1:15 long. I am such a squirrell that focusing for that long is going to be interesting. I am enjoying getting up earlier though, because I feel that I am actually accomplishing things with my day, instead of sleeping it away.
Anyways, this blog is gonna continue with my ramblings about the weather and other such adventures I have.
This summer class is fun already and I can't wait to see what other knowledge I soak up this month!!!
Till Later,
-The Summer Child

Ps. Im going to Chicago this weekend!!!!!!! SOOO excited. And our puppy is gonna be born soon!!!

2 Memories from my childhood

2011-04-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

#1.

Panic grips me slightly as I remember this memory. All I remember is falling and seeing black and green washing over me and my mother screaming.

I was four. We had been at our friends the Gillum’s for about a week visiting. They lived in a state park that Mr. Gillum helped run. Their house was by a little pond that was covered in green algae, or as I thought, green goo. My parents warned me to stay away from the pond. But Garren, their son who was about my age, and I were like any other child at that young age. Once told not to do something we just had to do it. We didn’t out right disobey our parents but we did push the limit by playing on the discarded rail road ties that lined the pond. It was the day my parents and I were supposed to leave for home. Garren and I were once again, by the pond walking on the old rail road ties. Our dads were watching us and telling us to be careful. I think it had rained the night before because my little feet somehow slipped on the tie and in I went into the nasty green pond. I hate going under water and I absolutely detest ponds. So falling into that disgusting pond was my biggest fear coming true. In I went, the nasty blackish green water washed over me and as I was pulled out I had algae all over me. I was bawling, my mother was freaking, and my dad was laughing. I was immediately put into the tub with a sound scolding. Then we went home.

#2.

I was three. I have always loved animals. The poor cats my parents had hated me because all I wanted to do was cuddle them, but they being older aloof cats, wanted nothing to do with a sticky handed toddler “cuddling” or in their eyes, squishing their regal bodies. I was outside playing and I saw my dog Bud playing with something. I toddled up to him and he dropped his prize at my feet. It was a dead black bird! I was delighted because I had an animal that wouldn’t run away from me. I had always wanted to touch a birdie and now I had one! I picked it up by its wing and toddled up the steps to the back porch to show my mom. I walked into the kitchen with the bird and cried “look what I have”. My dear mom turned around and saw me holding a dead blackbird dripping with saliva. She screamed, "ugh get that out of here!" My happy little face dropped in disappointment. I remember feeling super sad that Mommy didn't like my new toy. I dropped it on the porch and was then hauled off for a bath and instructed that we don't pick up dead animals.

worst thing ever

2011-04-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

This is for all the guys who may ever read this blog. That's if anyone ever reads my stupid ramblings in the first place.
Never, ever,ever ever, ever, ever, ever tell a girl she is built like a linebacker. I don't care if you think you are complementing her, you aren't!!!! You will take her small amount of self esteem and smash it. (not that I would be speaking from experience or anything...) Especially if she grew up thinking she wasn't pretty and struggled her whole highschool experience with not being small and petite enough for boys to take interest in her, telling her she is built like a football player will just kill her inside. She will take it as she is ugly and fat and not feminine. No matter how much of a tomboy she may have been or is, no matter if she lifts weights and is extremely toned or sculpted, and no matter if she has a large bone structure and is slightly overweight, every girl wants to be treated like a princess at some point and wants to be told they are beautiful.

Then again, if any girl is reading this and totally understands what the crap I'm ranting about and is starting to reach for the icing, don't. Instead, reach for your iPod and play P!ink's song "Freaking Perfect" and refrain from punching the idiot who stupidly and ignorantly commented about your build. Oh and just because someone consumes the proper amount of protein needed to survive on a daily basis with out passing out does not automatically mean that is the reason she is big boned or apparently resembles a linebacker.
Retard.

I know everyone is built differently and I rejoice in that fact. I'd hate to be a cookie cutter figure and I love my curves but sometimes the "innocent" things stupid people say can hurt for a while.
*The Extreemy Tired Summer Child*

Weather and Books

2011-04-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Winter,
I do believe that this week you have started to conceed that you cannot hold us in your icy grips for much longer. Saturday and Sunday were amazing, yesterday was a little dissapointing, but today is pretty darn good. Here I sit in my back yard on my lovely recliner in the sun doing homework thinking to my self, "Life can't get much better." Oh, did I mention that I am also sipping a large glass of sweet tea. Yup, you can take a girl out of the South, but you can't take the south out of the girl.lolz Summer is soooooo on its way and I can't WAIT!!!
Flip flops and tank tops and shorts and amazing tan here I come!!!!
-The Disgruntled Summer Child.

*I refer to Fey like they are real in this blog just for the ease of writing. I swear I am not crazy.lolz Nor am I Irish. I just love Celtic Mythology and Fey Stories.*
So, I know the title of my blog sounds a little weird, especially since its almost summer, but if you all dont mind reading for a little bit I will explain where I got the inspiration for my blog name.
So, I am absolutly addicted to reading. Right now Im reading Red Glove by Holly Black. I have read her "Farie" novels before and they are pretty decent. She has an interesting take on the Fey Folk. For those of you who are uncultured or generally unknowing, the Fey Folk are the fairy people that mostly come from Ireland myths and bedtime stories. Most authors when writing about the Fey Folk make them little people who are extreemly mischevious and that you have to placate them with bowls of milk, honey and bread, they dont like iron or salt. Its mostly the part that htey are little people that annoy the crap out of me. If I find a fiction book on the Fey or Celtic stuff I will flip through and check how they are described, if its not to the specs that I feel are extreemly important, I immediately put the book down and dont bother. Now I know people say authors have a right to interpret things how they want but still, when it comes to stuff like the Fey, I get a little pissy if its wrong.
Here are a few Authors who got things just about right and are all mostly on the same track.

Melissa Marr: she writes the Wicked Lovely series. There are the Summer, Winter and Dark courts of Fey in her novels.
Julie Kagawa: She writes the Iron Fey series. This series also has three courts, Summer, Winter and Iron. Iron makes so much more sense because they Fey rely on nature to thrive but with all the technology and pollution that is going on it makes sense that iron, the one thing that is poision to all Fey in every myth and story, would take over and end up creating mutant Fey.
O.R. Melling: This author was my first experience with Fey novels and I absolutly loved them. Hunter's Moon is the first in her lose series and had me hooked from the beginning. Here there are only two courts, the Seelie and Unseelie courts, but they are also referred to Summer and Winter.
Cassandra Clare: Ok, so she isnt really an author on Celtic Stuff, but I absolutly love her!!!!!! Her first book City of Bones was amazing and had me hooked. She weaves all sorts of mythological creatures into her writing as well as love and such. She includes deamons, and vampires in her novels but doesnt kill the true idea of a vampire like some awful writer I could mention, but I wont complain about that. I read that certain writer's books only to properly state my case against them.

As you have noticed, most of the fiction books about the Fey refer to two courts, Summer and Winter. I got my blog title name because I was born in the summer and because in almost all the books the summer courts are the "good" ones and the winter/dark/iron start up all the trouble. so there is a long explination for how I got my blog title.

Wow this is mostly turning into a blog about books, sooo not the path I was planning on taking with todays write up. I promise to write a post all about my favorite books later this week, but right now I have more pressing matters to attend to, like complaining about my leg.
So I have been, this entire winter and spring, faithfully working out so that I can get down to a healthier weight. Since graduating highschool 5 years ago I have gained over 45 lbs. So in January I decided no more. I have, since the beginning of February lost almost 15 lbs. I am so proud of myself. My hope is for by June/July to loose another 20-25ish lbs. and pray I still fit into my bridesmaid dress for my cousins wedding or else I will have to get it altered.
My main point is, since the nice weather has been comming around I have taken to jogging. For those who know me they know I hate jogging. But when your bike is out of commission and walking is just too darn slow, jogging is the only option. Well it appears that due to jogging I have somehow pinched my sciatic nerve. http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/sciatica-topic-overview (info about the sciatic nerve and treatment).
I have pain in my left leg and that awsome "im falling asleep not really, oh crap im going numb" feelin in my left foot with every step I take. Now will that keep me down? Heck no.lolz unless Dr. Mom ties me down which she all but stated she would do today if I didnt rest. I wont let a stupid little injury stop me from my goal, but perhaps I should limit myself this week to just toning my arms with weights.
Anyways I think I have written enough to bore my reader to tears by now so im gonna go do some reading.
Peace-
Summer Child.

Super Sunday!

2011-04-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Glorious! Simply Glorious!!!! Its April and we are having a wonderful, unseasonably warm 84 degree day today! It is so nice out I cringe to think what this week may look like, but I will think about that tomorrow. After attending church in a super cute little halter dress ( I have been working very hard this spring on loosing those pounds and it fit pretty good, still have a little more work to do though..) I went out and picked up my pair of shoes I have been wanting forever! A pair of low cut black Chuck Taylors that were A. on sale and B. I had a coupon for 30% off...I know how to shop!lol I rode home from the store with my moon roof open, my windows down and singing my lungs out to P!nk's song Perfect. Once I got home I walked into my house to see that my mom had started to change over her closet, and for once, her immaculate room looked worse than mine. We decided to stop cleaning and take a bike ride on this amazing day. We decided to ride into town, which is south of our home, and there just happened to be a nice strong South West wind blowing making our ride into town a nice little work out. Mom said it would be nice if we stopped in to see our friend Miss M. in the nursing home since it was only a block away from our original destination, which was food eatery for a smoothie. We visited our friend for a half hour and then we left. It felt good to know that that short half hour lifted her spirits. My mom and I split an amazing Black Cherry smoothie before riding home, this time with the wind at our backs. All in all the trip was about 10 miles and I am extremely proud of myself. I have been working so hard to get back into shape and that ride was easy.
When we got home, mom decided that it would be fun to pull out our patio furniture. Thankfully Dad stored it in an easy access place so in about 20 minutes we had our patio furniture pulled out. Granted after this week dear mother nature will drop cold weather on us and we wont be able to use them till May, but oh well.
So here I sit, soaking up the rays of sun, praying that my bike ride and work outside gave me at least a mini tan, my Italian skin just loves the sun, but apparently not as much as my mom's, who has Cherokee in her and beats me every time in competition. sorry squirrel moment.
I hope everyone enjoys this amazing weather and keep in mind that Summer is comming.

-The Disgruntled Summer Child

Pretty Weather on a Sick Day

2011-04-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

So it figures, on one of the nicest days yet this spring, I am stuck inside puking my guts out. Yes, I know, lovely mental picture for everyone. But I spent the entire day on my coushy green recliner wishing my head would stop pounding and that my stomach would stop pretending it was an ocean during a sunami. During one of my stronger moments yesterday, I let my dog out to go potty and felt the amazing warmth. It was seriously warm enough for shorts and flip flops. I was annoyed to the nth degree! Between sipping ginger ale (my favorited drink for being sick) and nibbling on oyster crackers, I was able to get in some reading. I am currently reading the book Beastly by Alex Flinn. I have always loved any story about Beauty and the Beast and then when I saw that there was a movie comming out I just had to read the book first. But funny thing. Apparently when books get made into movies, all of the sudden, you cant find them at the library. If you could just see my waiting list for books I want at the library, currently its up to 12, you would know how serious I am about good fiction. Anyways, sorry, another "squirel" moment.

Ok so obviously its been over a week since I started writing this post. I am now healthy and sitting writing this post instead of reading for class. Yesterday was another beautiful day but I had to work! Thankfully I got off around 4ish and was able to take a 2 mile jog/walk with my dog. Then afterwards I scrambled to get ready for a dear friend's wedding reception. I had to work during the wedding but I was informed I was still invited to the reception. It was a beautful reception and my friend was extreemly happy to see me. I wish her and her new husband the best of luck!

Anyways my dear puppy Sophi is wanting me to get off my butt and go outside to play with her. Its extreemly breezy out but I need the break.

Have a great Sunday yall!

-the disgruntled Summer Child

Flip flops and Tank Tops...

2011-03-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

Flip Flops and Tank Tops is what every true Summer girl is made of.
Dear Winter,
Yesterday was AMAZING weather! I am so ready for the 90 degree weather and am very eager to work on my perfect tan. I heard a little rumor that you may be taking away our nice weather here soon, and I must encourage you to do no such thing! I thrive in this weather, it makes sitting in my 5, hour and 15 minute long classes almost bearable.
Keep up the good work and Don't even think about dropping the "S" bomb on us!
The Disgruntled Summer Child.

Now that the formalities of my weather complaints are out of the way, I am free to ramble nonsense. I sit here, sipping a cup of coffee and wondering how I shall spend my next 5 hours of freedom before I am made to go into work for the evening. Sadly enough, I thought Irish Cream flavored coffee would be good, but in all honesty, it is DISGUSTING! No matter how much milk and sugar I dump in, it still has that nasty, blech aftertaste. This is definitely the last time I buy this kind of coffee. I think sticking with regular dark coffee is the safest, and then applying flavored creamer.
Anyways, sorry, squirrel moment.
Since I have approximately 5 hoursish before I must go to work for the evening, I have a few choices before me.
A. Read the articles I have and highlight stuff for my paper.
B. Look up more articles/ books for my up coming paper.
C. Play SIMS on my PS2.
D. Read a book I got from the library.
E. Clean my room.
or F. Clean up the house for mom.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.....
I normally would include, "Go play outside with Sophie" but since it's kinda muddy out, I don't want to have to give my dog a bath.
After a few minutes pondering my list, I think I will do A. and B. It is in my best interest to be productive, even though I don't want to be. I would much rather waste my afternoon gaming, but I can have all summer to game.
Well, this is me signing off,
Get yourselves out there and enjoy this amazing weather!
-The Summer Child

Spring is in the air...

2011-03-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

yes, i know i normally start off with a letter of complaint to dear mother nature about how i hate the weather, but today i feel like talking about my weekend. this weekend i made granola bars with my mom. not just any granola bars, but the best stuff in the world! i was also able to take several walks with my dog and parents outside. this lovely weather has allowed me to be outside more and i am truly enjoying it. yes i know that its prolly gonna snow again, but, this little peep of spring gives me hope that it truly is coming. no, its not exactly flip flop weather, but that doesn't mean i haven't tried.lolz
oh the granola bar recipe:

3/4 c of honey
2 tbls of unsalted butter
3 c. rolled oats
1 1/3 c slivered almonds
1 c. of your choice of dried fruit (i used dried cranberries and cherries)
1/2 c creamy almond butter, or any other nut butter.
1/4 c light brown sugar.

Directions.
1. preheat oven to 325 F. in small saucepan heat 1/4 c. of honey and butter till butter is melted, about 2 min.
2. In large bowl mix rolled oats and almonds and drizzle honey/butter mixture over it, stir to combine. Spread mixture evenly on a rimmed baking sheet/jellyroll pan. Bake until golden brown, about 20 min. stir occasionally. Let cool completely on sheet, about 10 min. Return to large bowl and add dried fruit and stir to combine.
3. Spray jellyroll pan with nonstick spray. In sauce pan combine 1/2 c of honey, almond butter, and brown sugar over medium heat. Cook stirring occasionally till mixture comes to a boil and sugar dissolves, 10 min. Drizzle over oat mixture and stir until combined. Transfer to pan and firmly press granola into dish. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
4. Cut into bars of choice, eat and enjoy, store in air tight container for about 5 days.

The quality of your ingredients makes all the difference!
Enjoy this weather,
-The Disgruntled Summer Child

Monday March 7th

2011-03-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Winter,
I thought we understood each other last time I wrote you. Friday it looked like you actually understood what was supposed to be happening with the weather. But, today, well, to say you failed would be an understatement. I miss my flip flops, tank tops and shorts! Get your act together!
-A disgruntled Summer Child-

My favorite parts of summer: watermelon, sprinklers, laying out in the sun, baby animals, picnics, cooking with my mom...