Happy Thanksgiving

It's here-Thanksgiving @ school! My skilled roommates and I all worked together last night to prepare for our big(ish) feast. We set the table and dawned it with name tags, a pumpkin spice candle, fall flowered centerpiece, and lots of thanks (We wrote what we are thankful for). I'm gleaming with domestication ;), but really. This morning I chowed down on a hearty breakfast. I must keep energized for the evening of cooking and hosting, so I made...

What do you get when you take...

 &

 +

=

A minute muffin

1/4 cup flaxseed meal

1/4 cup egg white

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon 

Some brown sugar (I pretend that this stuff is good for you, so I load on...sometimes)

1 tsp olive oil (found this unnecessary)

I then toss in some bananas, or chocolate chips (any kind), coconut, pumpkin, gosh you name it...I add it! 

I then pop it in the microwave for 1 minute, great for impatient cookers like me:)

I top it with the rest of my banana (or apple) and you can NEVER forget the beloved peanut butter. A little splash of milk, a spoon, and my mouth are the finishing touches...nom nom nom. 

Remember, looks are deceiving and the rule of thumb while making this is...Be creative! 

Last, but certainly not least is the revealing of the "remixed" Thanksgiving evening...

#1 Turkey Chilli

#2 Sweet Potato Chips (Homemade)

  #3 Applesauce (Homemade)

#4 Autumn Apple Salad

#5 Cornbread muffins

#6 Brownies

&

Wine.

That's it. The Thanksgiving feast. I will be sure to post the hopefully successful photos of the lovely dinner! I'd love to know...

What is your favorite dish for Thanksgiving?

Hm...

I have loads to chat about this rainy, dreary evening. Let me start off with, 38 days until Christmas-can you believe it? Christmas music has been playing quite frequently here. I love Christmas music because I always know the lyrics and the music is just so jolly. Listen to these and you are guaranteed a Christmas spirit jolt:

This Christmas by Chris Brown

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Colbie Caillat

Mistletoe by Colbie Caillat

The Christmas Song by Justin Bieber Feat. Usher (don't judge)

ANY new Michael Buble song (I recommend All I want for Christmas is you)

Baby It's Cold Outside By Lady Antebellum

...And my guiltiest pleasure...Kenny G, any song really.

Along with the tunes, my roommates and I have begun watching a Christmas movie every Sunday. Well, so far just this past Sunday. And the movie of choice you may ask, Family Stone. Both cheerful and tearful. My Christmas spirit is comparable to a child who still believes in Santa Claus (which I do). No decorations have been put up, but a little bit of baking did occur. 

This baking was sprung on for two reasons: my obvious excitement for Christmas (basically just the holiday season) and my recent lack of clinical. I went from 6 days a week of clinical to 2. I twiddle my thumbs, take naps (unheard of), workout twice a day, and cook constantly. I'm going nuts, so to alleviate my anxiousness, I baked. What did I bake? Christmas cookies, duh...

I took some of these

 And made some of this...

Sugar cookies with peppermint pieces and peppermint kisses on thee top! Can you say addicting? I'd love to share with you the recipe, but I did not exactly follow one. I'm sure they will be made again. Then, I shall remember how they were made, and hopefully not eat as many or as much...batter? :) 

As I said before, I do not know what to do with all of my free time. Relaxing makes me tired/lazy, so I work out...a lot and watch my roommate twiddle her thumbs too. She plays volleyball and their season is finally over, so neither of us know what to do. We took a walk and tried mastering sweet potato chips, success. One more roommate to mention. She knows what to do with her time (she doesn't have much), but today she had ZERO classes, must be nice! So, I came home after a long day to these...

Still warm...

Honey mustard pretzels with seasoning. They too are addicting. Next on the list of cooking: something healthy...or Thanksgiving dinner :) I will return with the feast's pictures and aftermath. Thanks for listening, oh, and any suggestions as cooking eggplant (other than eggplant parm)?

And we meet again

I'm not sure I remember how to do this-it's been a long time. Here's my life in a nutshell:

1. I have clinical 6 days a week aka my social life is slacking. Sad story

2. I have an apartment. Fully furnished, acceptable roommates, and a really big television. My life is turning around.

3. Food still owns my life, as a result I dream of baking, I think about cooking, and I eat a lot of food. 

4. It snowed before Halloween. Unprepared I was, so I cleaned off my car (Pearl) with my floor mat. True story

5. Newest obsession aside from Converse, popcorn. Yes, you heard right POPCORN. I love it especially with spray butter, Parmesan cheese (try it), and lime & salt flavored. Salivating

6. Speaking of salivating I'm going to present to you what's been cooking in my kitchen...

 We splurged-scallops and shrimp. What did we make...

Beans, peppers, onions, cheese. Homemade tortilla chips, guacamole, Spanish rice, and salsa. It was delicious. I want to eat it all over again, and again...

What else has been made? More seafood. Seafood pizza to be exact and the newest addition, banana bread/honey/peanut butter/chocolate/yogurt. I cannot take responsibility for the masterpiece but she can...(my roommate)

7. Oh, I forgot to mention, I have begun listening to Christmas music...54 days left, savoring each second.

8. I watched Elf...a month ago.

9. I have a "Reach for the Stars" book where I write down all of my bucket list items, here's what I got....

 I also have...

1. Learn to tie a tie

2. Sing Karaoke

3. Carve a pumpkin

4. Ice skate this winter

Help me think of more, please :)

10. Fall is my favorite season

11. This is lucky number so I'm stopping here and I am promising to blog much more. Hopefully I provide you with some comic relief!

Home away from home

Well folks, it's official. I'm back in West Chester. Here's my life..

1. Wake up at 6

2. Workout

3. Go to football practice for hours on end, but enjoy every minute

4. Eat

5. Bond with friends

6. Sleep

7. Repeat

Golly, my life is exciting! It is so exciting that I've finally decided to religiously begin blogging again, I pinky promise! That's all for today...Now, I'm leaving you with my morning view...

Goodmorning and goodnight West Chester!

Did you laugh today?

Bridesmaids, have you seen it yet? Please tell me you have. I know I did. I saw it for 3 dollars. I saw it in walking distance of my house. I saw it here...

I stole this picture offline. Not taking credit, but ain't it cute? Rinky dink, old school, quaint, and perfect. Enough about the BEST theater around...let's get chatting about Bridesmaids. Started out slow, but gradually became funnier and funnier until tears of laughter went rolling down my cheeks. I never laugh out loud, but this time I did. Please, if you have not yet seen it, GO! What are you waiting for? 

I actually cannot stop thinking of this movie. I still laugh out loud about it. Especially this scene, do watch...

She is trying to get attention from the cop who she had a falling out with...

I hope you laughed because I cannot stop. 

If not here are some quotes...

"I've seen better tennis players on a tampon commercial."

"I'm glad he's single because I am going to climb him like a tree."

Okay, only two for now. You just need to go see it for yourself. 

I laughed today, did you?

As Nas would say, "Welcome Back"

It's official, I'm home...almost. I got through my 8 hour flight, phew! Now, I'm tapping my foot, twiddling my thumbs, writing on my blog, and waiting for my final flight into Harrisburg-yippee! Boy am I exhausted, but I think I conquered jet lag.  I'm not only exhausted but excited to return home to...

1. Pretzels. London is anti-pretzels

2. Water with ice. London is also anti-ice.

3. Free water

4. Free loos aka toilets aka bathrooms

5. A clean kitchen. I am baking/cooking deprived. No more bagged rice please

6. Air conditioning. Although not completely necessary in London, it is needed here at home. 

7. American food. London makes a mean flapjack (oat bar not pancake), but by golly do they lack in the tasty cuisine department.

8. My friends, of course

9. And, oh, my family ;)

All in all it is relieving to be home! I will indeed miss London, so so much, but I will someday return! Okay, this blog post is lame, but I'm a tad fidgety, and since I finally have wi-fi, I'm writing a lame blog....At least I met my expectations! Cheers and to me, "Welcome Back"!

Madame Ripper

Today's To Do's:

1. Shower

2. Meet at 8:45 for Madame Tussuads

3. Get to Madame Tussuads early enough to avoid a long que and eat a little breakfast

4. Eat breakfast and stare at the never ending que (Not an initial to do)

5. Wait and wait and wait

6. Enter Madame Tussuads after paying more than I wish to share

7. Take pictures with EVERYONE 

    - Especially the following: Beyonce, to prove my bum is just as large and in charge, Christina Aguilera, because she is my idol, The Beatles, self explanatory, Jessica Alba, because she is my girl crush, and any hot male celebrity, so I can pretend that we are dating. 

8. Upload photographs

9. Jack the Ripper Tour

I did it. I checked off every to do! Phew, rough life. Did I mention I did not have class today? Did I mention I have one more day left of class? Did I mention all of the other add-ons to my to do list-nope, so here it goes...

1. Ate a triple chocolate muffin. I had it microwaved. I ate it all.

2. Stood in line for an hour and a half

3. Went through a "haunted house" at Madame Tussuads. Really, it was just a hallway with snorthing, snarling actors getting in your personal space. I also had two of my friends screaming, tightly squeezing their eyes shut, and latching on for dear life through the 3 minute "scary" hallway.

4. Went on a Chocolate World-like ride, by myself. The carriage only seated two and there was three of us. At the end of the ride there was, of course, a paparazzi moment, where I smiled too soon. My photograph ended up looking more like a mug shot.

5. Saw a 4D superhero skit and laughed through the entire 10 minutes. It was childish and wonderful in every way! I teared up when it ended and demanded to see more-not really, well maybe a trace of a tear.

6. Bought a chocolate covered apple with jimmies after a herd of school children elbowed their way in front of me in line...how rude!

7. Got a brush burn on my elbow from doing planks in my room while listening to "Walking on Broken Glass"

8. Had a charming, effervescent Jack the Ripper tour guide. He was handsome

9. Took a picture with the tour guide and learned some new British slang. Here, it is not sweat pants, it is, ready this is a mouthful, track suit pants.

10. Sat on my bed writing this with my sandals still on and my purse hanging across my chest.

Ya know, today was pleasant, exciting actually! I met a lot of celebrities-wow! I was so star struck that maybe I am mistaken, but most of the Stars were quite silent. They didn't have much to say. Frankly, they didn't say anything at all. Nor did they refuse/accept my autograph request. Huh, who would have thunk it? 

Anyway, I am going to do a separate post on the details of my Jack the Ripper tour. I have oodles to say about the eerie walk! Eh, but here are some pictures to peer at...

My boyfriends

No particular order because mister Pitt would be first)

I slipped them all my number. I wonder if they will call? Who will I hear from first?

Me and the girls...

Aka my twin, yeah?

I hope you agree because I have a plan. My plan is to convince people that we are twins. Identical twins. Then, we can pull a Parent Trap. Don't worry, I talked this over with Nicole. Keith Urban will NEVER know and Nicole and I, well, we will NEVER switch back! Genius, I know.

...Or maybe, we're twins?

Last, but certainly not least...not my twin. Nor would I want to be her twin because that means we would be related AND that means it would be even creepier if she was my #1 girl crush...

Well all, that tis all I need to share for now. I do have an overfilled album of Madame Tussuad pictures, but I have done enough sharing. Good rest of the evening to you!

You're 20 today.

“He would sing Happy Birthday, and he would sing in the loudest, most obnoxious, off-key tone. For him, every day was a birthday.”

Dear Ry,

Happiest Birthday to you! Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of you to the world and to remind you and others how appreciative I am to have you in my life. I am forever thankful for the time we spent together and the countless memories too, for those memories are a comfort now when I lovingly remember you (You are probably laughing at my unintentional rhyme right now). You would be happy to know that your friendship keeps making me a better, stronger person. You showed me that I can function in the face of tragedy. You taught me the vocabulary of grief so I can comfort others when they need it. I never would have asked for it to be this way, but if this is what I can take from it, I will. I can't say it has been easy learning to live without you, but I can say it has been easy loving, laughing, and smiling at the person you became. I cannot thank you enough for the gift of friendship you shared with me, for it was remarkable in every way. Now, I will cut to the chase, since I am most likely embarrassing you with my public sappiness (Even though I know, deep down, that you are a softy). So, Happy 20th Birthday to the best friend anyone could ask for. May today bring tears of joy for you and everyone that has ever loved you, I know I always will. 

Love always,

Laura :)

“Fly free and happy beyond birthdays and across forever, and we'll meet now and then when we wish, in the midst of the one celebration that never can end.”

 I miss you...

I owe you...

Pictures. I owe you pictures from the British Museum. Only a few though, because I cannot find all that I had taken.

We are such tourists...

 

The museum was free, but I did a little donating, American Style...

Boy, did that feel good.

Lauren's thoughts on the Museum...

...Thank goodness it was free!

It was quite beautiful though. Maybe we just weren't in the museum mood. There was some potential...for the museum being interesting, but not for us being in the mood.

Did I say beautiful? Maybe that isn't the appropriate adjective...

 Of course, I zoned in on all of the skeletons. I guess I should also admit that I indeed name  all of the bones on display.
bones as I moseyed pas

For the most part, we entertained ourselves...

...and maybe others too, as we found many more objects to creatively/maturely pose with (The pictures I still must locate). ;)

My favorite pose: Lauren on top of a Lion sculpture outside. A security guard came stomping up to us and pointed to the clearly visible sign "PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB STATUE". He asked if we want to get arrested. Of course we do not, but he cleverly said.."GOT CHA!" Almost funny...We are however, infamous for overlooking these signs. "NO PICTURES" , we never see those signs, until a dressed up, made up (lipstick and all), large women (?) points out the sign...this happened to me. Or "PLEASE DO NOT PUT FEET UP ON SEATS"...Oh, we miss them all. Street signs too, or "Don't walk" signs (Those are the worst to miss, buses DO NOT stop). Enough rambling now. I hope you enjoyed my pictures from the museum with potential! Also here is a look at my photography presentation...

I am to present my pictures in a way that I visual them being used, so I chose billboards. 

They may be a tad blurry, as I did copy these from my powerpoint!

Ta-da!

Ending my Sunday

 

Meet breakfast. Well, brunch. On the menu: White flat coffee, breakfast burrito, and good company. I give the Breakfast Club 5 stars!

The sign above read: "That was different, you looked at me and it made me nervous." This place had a lot of character. My belly is satisfied. After the food overdose, we went to the Columbia Road Flower market! The market was conveniently located in our back yard (if we had one). The market was busy. The market was loud.

  

Lots of flowers and lots of people, people on a mission.

 All flowered out, we headed to the British Museum. We were excited for two reasons:

1. The Museum was easy to find. We didn't get lost! A pleasant surprise

2. Admission=free That was our favorite part.

We meandered around for a bit, and quickly noticed that we found joy in taking silly pictures of one another. I will soon post those to show you what we got out of the British Museum.

Now, I must go work on a powerpoint and enjoy my last Sunday in London!