so just after oh let's say 5 minutes of research... i can tell you that there are a shit ton, yes a shit ton of people out there that are chasing that whole "blog about it" mentality. people write about anything and everything. it is absolutely amazing. know what is not amazing? i am one of those people. oops.
anyway, the article below, and the article i'll link at the end pointed out some interesting things to me this evening. blogging can broaden your career, can evoke emotion, passion and understanding on things you otherwise may not have had previously. it can make you think and it can show others how you think. blogs are good. but to many, it is a lifestyle. to me, it is not. duh.
anyway...there are some out there (like below) that feel as though a blog is a great resume builder. personally, i don't want my boss reading my blog. i mean sure, it can be slightly witty, can show you how i think or speak, and it might even make you want to engage in further conversation on any of the topics discussed...but lets be honest, this whole a resume is "static" whereas a blog is ...well, not... is one thing, but i dont know if i would say... "okay mr...or mrs/miss supervisor, screw my resume, years of experience, and hard work.. take a look at my blog..you'll find more of what you are looking for there." umm no. sorry. i don't buy it. and chances are, they won't either.
now sure, there are ways to show creativity, and perhaps "ideas" about how you many process thoughts, or how you handle situations through out life that are always good to witness, but i don't think that a blog is the best way to put your professional step forward. do you? certainly not mine anyway...hell, i don't even write with capital letters in this thing. don't they teach you that in like...oh idk, 1st grade. oops.
regardless of all of the professional mumbo jumbo that has been taken in, there were a few key points that i can try and work on moving forward to maybe, oh idk...not be so "static".
1. stay strong
2. be short
3. have a genuine connection
4. be passionate
5. have one good piece of research
as far as the strong thing... looks to me like you need a beginning middle and end. none of them can suck.
as far as the be short thing... i am short. my blogs aren't. tough luck.
as far as the having a genuine connection... i would say that any connection is a good connection. those that don't connect probably won't read. those that read and don't connect, stop reading.
as far as the being passionate thing... if you have learned anything, know that i am passionate about alot, and chance are...there will be alot more to come. life is sweet, but life is short.
as far as the having one good piece of research. well, look below. and well...look here. (click the here)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
blog away
apparently you can blog your way to a better career. sure the current career is great...but when i read that i can do this and have a better career, who wouldn't be curious? thanks to cnn.com and 5 simple things, i can climb my way to the top. chances are, you can too.
1. Career change is easier with a blog
Most people have trouble with career change because they know what they want to do but they can't get a job doing it. A blog allows you to show people your ideas and your investigations in a given field. Make your blog an exploration of the field you want to be in, and sooner than you realize, you will be qualified to be hired in that field. This is not rare. It happens all the time, in a very wide range of fields.
2. You can skip over entry-level job tracks with a blog.
Because a blog focuses on your ideas, rather than your experience, you are more likely to be able to persuade someone to let you skip the bottom rung.
Also, as you are linking and responding to other bloggers in your field, you are building a network of people who know you as someone with a reputation in the field, and they can help you land a job above entry-level.
3. Part-time work is easier to get if you have a blog.
Pew Research reports that most moms would rather work part-time than have a full-time job or be a stay-at-home mom. This means that almost every mom is the U.S. is competing for the jobs that are engaging, well-paying and part-time. How do you stand out in this crowd? A blog is a differentiator when the competition to get the job you want is fierce. You don't need a lot of readers; you just need one reader who is able to hire you and is impressed with what you post.
4. Long-term unemployment can be overcome by blogging.
If you've been out of work for a while, your resume probably has a hole in it, and your network is waning. A blog can solve both problems by showing you as intellectually vibrant and engaged in your field. Your blog is a better calling card than a resume if you have been out of the workforce.
5. Blogging builds a network super fast.
LinkedIn is a great way to display the people in your network. But how do you build that network?
By making real connections with people based on ideas and passions. A blog is the perfect way to meet other people who think like you do and who are in your field. Blogging also allows you to focus your connections on other top performers, since blogging about career topics self-selects for engaged, motivated, ambitious people.
If you want a stable career, and if you want to take charge of where you're going, then you should be blogging. If you already have a blog, here's how to make it better. And if you do not have one,here's a good place to start.
1. Career change is easier with a blog
Most people have trouble with career change because they know what they want to do but they can't get a job doing it. A blog allows you to show people your ideas and your investigations in a given field. Make your blog an exploration of the field you want to be in, and sooner than you realize, you will be qualified to be hired in that field. This is not rare. It happens all the time, in a very wide range of fields.
2. You can skip over entry-level job tracks with a blog.
Because a blog focuses on your ideas, rather than your experience, you are more likely to be able to persuade someone to let you skip the bottom rung.
Also, as you are linking and responding to other bloggers in your field, you are building a network of people who know you as someone with a reputation in the field, and they can help you land a job above entry-level.
3. Part-time work is easier to get if you have a blog.
Pew Research reports that most moms would rather work part-time than have a full-time job or be a stay-at-home mom. This means that almost every mom is the U.S. is competing for the jobs that are engaging, well-paying and part-time. How do you stand out in this crowd? A blog is a differentiator when the competition to get the job you want is fierce. You don't need a lot of readers; you just need one reader who is able to hire you and is impressed with what you post.
4. Long-term unemployment can be overcome by blogging.
If you've been out of work for a while, your resume probably has a hole in it, and your network is waning. A blog can solve both problems by showing you as intellectually vibrant and engaged in your field. Your blog is a better calling card than a resume if you have been out of the workforce.
5. Blogging builds a network super fast.
LinkedIn is a great way to display the people in your network. But how do you build that network?
By making real connections with people based on ideas and passions. A blog is the perfect way to meet other people who think like you do and who are in your field. Blogging also allows you to focus your connections on other top performers, since blogging about career topics self-selects for engaged, motivated, ambitious people.
If you want a stable career, and if you want to take charge of where you're going, then you should be blogging. If you already have a blog, here's how to make it better. And if you do not have one,here's a good place to start.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
life, scratch that. my life.
thanks to a friend of mine, i have a show that i call, well, an obsession...most like many girls around my age and it is called... Sex and the City. the thing with this show for me isnt so much the sex, or even the city, but its the lifestyle. sure the glitz and the glam of the big apple is great, and the nights out, the clubs and the lofty apartments are even better...but, its more so the bread and the butter of what Carrie, the main character is all about. her writing. her lets call it "blogging" because in today's time, print is unfortunately becoming a thing of the past. she, a young woman is making a living on writing about well.. sex and the city. now, i may not like to write about those two things, but i do however enjoy writing about my thoughts, my impressions, my fears, and my likes. i like to write about my experiences, and even more so my future. so, future...that's a tough one. not everyone can have the lifestyle of the modern day Carrie and get away with writing and living the life that so many would wish too, so we make it work... and i, am making it work...but, could there be more? could there be something out there that i never even once considered? some may think so...
so as i lay in bed, and i pick up the phone a friendly and energetic mom speaks on the other end, oddly enough incredibly enthusiastic about a thought. her thought is this.."sara, you can write you know that? you really can! maybe its something that could be something, you know for me i feel like im telling you, from something or someone else to you that it could be good...idk, im serious!" me; "well thanks, i enjoy it..but lets leave it at that, and i'm glad i can provide a little bit of something to enjoy through out the weeks... lets move on". but um, well, she didn't move on. for some odd reason, it was insisted upon me that i look into writing, yah know because well "it only takes on person" [insert naivety here]...just like it only takes one person to pick up the next country star from a bar in Nashville, or one scout to see a child athlete prodigy play the game of their lifetime.. dreams like that are far and few between [insert negative perception here]. but hey, i promised her this.. i'd write, and well...i'd share and see what happens. perhaps not share with my in her words "GM's or whoever they are called" but share with whoever i may. so; my stories, my thoughts, and even my pressures of what its like on a raft in the middle of the ocean at your twenty somethings... this is a long one so hang tight, if you so choose..if not, see ya! ;)
when i was younger i had a pink diary. it was padded and it had a lock, that looking back you could probably pull it apart with bare hands, but uh.. to me.. that thing was locked up TIGHT with TWO keys. duh...this thing was like a part of my body, and to be honest folks, i still have it... crazy right? it was full of absolutely nothing worth anything, but it does show that i have always gone to writing for some sort of, lets say, outlet. then, as time flew i turned to writing poetry, yep go ahead and judge, i would too. anyway, i have pages and pages of lines of sonnets, and bonnets and honnets or whatever those damn things are called. they were a perfect escape. again, as time grew on i became writing letters. letters to people that would never ever see them.. it was an absolutely therapeutic process through some pretty heavy times and it was by far the best thing that i could have ever called medicine in a time were no medicine would cure the ache. so, college came and it was full of books, and papers.. so writing took a halt, and thesis and essays came to the front. my freshman year, after deciding to go to school for sport and entertainment i had to take an English class. this class was by far one of my favorites, and actually had absolutely nothing to do with what i decided to do with the rest of my life. [crazy to think that i had it all figured out by freshman year right?...or did i?] i was given tasks like; find an ad in a magazine and describe it using adjectives and descriptions that make someone who has never seen the ad before be able to draw it down to the last brush swipe. i was also urged to write about a memory. so in 8 pages i wrote about the passing of a friend with absolute vivid detail. i still have that paper. and now, a few years past i have found another outlet, but only this time...people can respond, share their thoughts and even pass a little judgment of their own. what is nice about it is the fact that this judgment is usually positive, and if it's negative, well...i don’t care, and chances are i'll never know either way.. PERFECT for a perfectionist if you ask me. but then again, you didnt ask.
so this whole thing has been great... i have been asked to write about experiences, what i have learned and who i have met but i feel as though i have done that already. i have talked about PR opportunities, talked about hospital visits, talked about entertainment and the business...but there might be something i am missing? i appreciate the business in which i work, and i am thankful that i have a position that i am sure is desirable to many. i work long hours, and i get paid a, well...i get paid. but, is there something more? is there a way to combine the fun industry and job which i immerse myself in and a, let’s call it a hobby or outlet that i enjoy? i work with a lot of bloggers who review and shoot shows and sometimes i wonder...how do these people make a living? how do hey get started, and how the hell can i do that? it would be like the best of both worlds, but then again.. i am not writing about thoughts or idealistic dreams, instead i am writing about a business, a show, an artist or a song...all great things, but still not quiet what i see fit... so i post the question... what is out there? what could someone in their young twenties who is finding things along the way that they enjoy do to make the best out of the short life that we are given and the blessings that so many have brought attention too... do i insert more patience and see where it goes?, or do i make drastic decisions to send letters and thoughts to journalism outlets across the east coast? now, let’s not be silly... i am no modern day Carrie, something we figured out a good 1,000 words ago or so... so what is next, what is this whole future thing all about? chances are it’s not a 9-5 job..ever, and its not pulling up the big girl pants and making drastic decisions to run away and live freely..bc uh, i don’t get paid enough to be able to do that.. and well, time will tell all..but, if there something that i can do combine what i love, what people tell me that i am slightly talented in and make a living with it, i am up to the challenge.. or at least the dream.
and hey, without the big apple, the bright lights, and the sexy apartment style living... some things can seem a little more realistic. right? after all, the challenge in one’s life is like a story or blog in itself. it has a beginning where it sets it all up, an ever changing yet constant middle, and an ending, and hopefully a future..
to be continued...as is life.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
may justice be served
blogs are a place of opinion, a semi private, also known as public forum of thought. i rarely think i use this blog as a place to appropriate judgement or negative nature. i don't think that i use it as a tool to place blame, or even a place to spark distaste. but, please, if you don't mind me while i discuss a little topic known as the Penn State Scandal. it has been a long time since something in the news has captured and offended me as much as this...disclaimer: the thoughts below are mine alone.
Now, my immediate thoughts are of sympathy for a man and a program that has been built on trust, compliance and loyalty. Joe Paterno is a legacy. People worship this man, and in his old age, this scandal is something that could potentially remove all of his hard work of building such a clean respected program and place it into absolute shambles and in the minds of many an implacably corrupted program. but, of course, after reading the 23 page grand jury report my thoughts are otherwise. this is a man who by law did what he was expected. he after being told of the sick behavior that Jerry Sandsusky (JS) engaged in told his direct supervisor, and left it in the hands of the decision makers of the University...those who did nothing for a week, and neglected to get police, or even University Police involved in what should have been reported immediately. so, after being aware of what has been reported, telling those who are supposed to control the issue, and then going on to coach a football team and lead young student athletes, nothing was done. nothing. meanwhile, his fellow coach, his friend is preying upon children, and those who are in the position of power to change it, turn their backs. so who is responsible now? does he not have the moral obligation, the societal obligation to take things into his own hands? to put the game aside and concentrate on what has been brought to his attention? does he not, as a man in his position have the power to make a change? i think he did....but, as the story goes, he didn't, and neither did anyone else.
"Never mind the ruins he will leave behind. Paterno has said that if the allegations are true Sandusky then fooled everyone, but he didn't. He didn't fool Paterno because Paterno has known about this since 2002. He was told face-to-face, point blank without ambiguity." By Howard Bryant, ESPN.com
my thoughts and condolences go out to the now young men, who have for years had to hold their pain and anguish, their fear and their confusion inside for so long. if that is not heartbreaking, i dont know what is. chances are they would have been told to keep quiet or pushed aside in the attempt to have their story be heard....until now. they were taken advantage of. they were preyed upon, and they were victimized. they were made to feel that they would be punished to report a thing, and that nothing was wrong at all. JS used his position of power, his idealistic "friendship and role model" persona to engage in sexual activities with not one but so far reported, 8 children. it is even harder to believe that after years, YEARS of silence, and quiet investigation this University, this program is now being scrutinized. This is not about a football game that they will play in front of national television on Saturday, or even about how "Joe Pa" will leave behind a legacy....this is about a man, and 2-3 university officials who did wrong.
"But Penn State president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley, vice president for business and finance Gary Schultz and coach Joe Paterno should be held to a higher standard. So should The Second Mile, a charity that was founded to help children. Whether or not Sandusky is convicted, each was faced with a critical choice with damning information and chose to protect the program. This is what power has become. More accurately, it is what power has always been, in existence to protect itself.
There is no defense for the number of people in positions of authority who had an opportunity to stop Sandusky and did not."
if by law any of these men are found innocent than i can only hope that justice will be served for their wrong doings, because it is absolutely not fair for those to be taken advantage of in any state; not mental, not emotional, and certainly not physical. this man is a sick individual and should absolutely not be remembered for the national championships that he may have been part of, or the fact that he helped raise up such a well respected program within the NCAA. instead he should be known as a man that is absolutely responsible for ruining the lives of so many. he should be known as a man that is sparking a national controversy due to his lude and obsessive behavior, and he should absolutely be reminded for the remainder of his days on this earth what the severity of his wrong doings have become.
i look forward to seeing how this unravels, as i am sure do many, but when Penn State hits the field on Saturday i can only hope it is not about the game, but it is about those men who have had their lives negatively altered by the decisions of others. i can only hope moving forward that a positive light is shed on all those who are taking the steps to bring justice to men who did nothing to help those in need and let it be an example moving forward that this behavior is not accepted, anywhere...
"Sports might not be as important as law enforcement or religion, but the betrayal of trust is just as deep."
Now, my immediate thoughts are of sympathy for a man and a program that has been built on trust, compliance and loyalty. Joe Paterno is a legacy. People worship this man, and in his old age, this scandal is something that could potentially remove all of his hard work of building such a clean respected program and place it into absolute shambles and in the minds of many an implacably corrupted program. but, of course, after reading the 23 page grand jury report my thoughts are otherwise. this is a man who by law did what he was expected. he after being told of the sick behavior that Jerry Sandsusky (JS) engaged in told his direct supervisor, and left it in the hands of the decision makers of the University...those who did nothing for a week, and neglected to get police, or even University Police involved in what should have been reported immediately. so, after being aware of what has been reported, telling those who are supposed to control the issue, and then going on to coach a football team and lead young student athletes, nothing was done. nothing. meanwhile, his fellow coach, his friend is preying upon children, and those who are in the position of power to change it, turn their backs. so who is responsible now? does he not have the moral obligation, the societal obligation to take things into his own hands? to put the game aside and concentrate on what has been brought to his attention? does he not, as a man in his position have the power to make a change? i think he did....but, as the story goes, he didn't, and neither did anyone else.
"Never mind the ruins he will leave behind. Paterno has said that if the allegations are true Sandusky then fooled everyone, but he didn't. He didn't fool Paterno because Paterno has known about this since 2002. He was told face-to-face, point blank without ambiguity." By Howard Bryant, ESPN.com
my thoughts and condolences go out to the now young men, who have for years had to hold their pain and anguish, their fear and their confusion inside for so long. if that is not heartbreaking, i dont know what is. chances are they would have been told to keep quiet or pushed aside in the attempt to have their story be heard....until now. they were taken advantage of. they were preyed upon, and they were victimized. they were made to feel that they would be punished to report a thing, and that nothing was wrong at all. JS used his position of power, his idealistic "friendship and role model" persona to engage in sexual activities with not one but so far reported, 8 children. it is even harder to believe that after years, YEARS of silence, and quiet investigation this University, this program is now being scrutinized. This is not about a football game that they will play in front of national television on Saturday, or even about how "Joe Pa" will leave behind a legacy....this is about a man, and 2-3 university officials who did wrong.
"But Penn State president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley, vice president for business and finance Gary Schultz and coach Joe Paterno should be held to a higher standard. So should The Second Mile, a charity that was founded to help children. Whether or not Sandusky is convicted, each was faced with a critical choice with damning information and chose to protect the program. This is what power has become. More accurately, it is what power has always been, in existence to protect itself.
There is no defense for the number of people in positions of authority who had an opportunity to stop Sandusky and did not."
if by law any of these men are found innocent than i can only hope that justice will be served for their wrong doings, because it is absolutely not fair for those to be taken advantage of in any state; not mental, not emotional, and certainly not physical. this man is a sick individual and should absolutely not be remembered for the national championships that he may have been part of, or the fact that he helped raise up such a well respected program within the NCAA. instead he should be known as a man that is absolutely responsible for ruining the lives of so many. he should be known as a man that is sparking a national controversy due to his lude and obsessive behavior, and he should absolutely be reminded for the remainder of his days on this earth what the severity of his wrong doings have become.
i look forward to seeing how this unravels, as i am sure do many, but when Penn State hits the field on Saturday i can only hope it is not about the game, but it is about those men who have had their lives negatively altered by the decisions of others. i can only hope moving forward that a positive light is shed on all those who are taking the steps to bring justice to men who did nothing to help those in need and let it be an example moving forward that this behavior is not accepted, anywhere...
"Sports might not be as important as law enforcement or religion, but the betrayal of trust is just as deep."
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
laugh
i couldn't help it... here are 10 things i laughed at today. hopefully you'll do the same...
Ha! C'mon...that was good.
Ha! C'mon...that was good.
motivation
okay, take your shoes off...now, put your neighbors shoes on... tie the laces, or wrap 'em up tight. feel anything different? (work with me people, its a metaphor) so, do ya? .... probably not, but here is the point; it is always very important to put yourself in other peoples shoes, or if not another persons shoes literally, at least in someone else's mindset. ask yourself, what would i do differently? would i have laughed at another's misfortune or would i have extended my hand to help them up after a fall? what motivates me? what would motivate me if i was in a different situation? what if all of my blessings weren't there to call my own, and instead i was full of hardship after hardship, and lesson after lesson...would i be more humble? or would i just work harder, because after all with hard work comes reward, right? personally, i have found that during the many moments of sara spastic nature, putting myself in another's shoes tends to not only remind me of what is important but it brings me back to earth and in turn motivates me to do better.
i try and think like this sometimes. it isn't always easy, and i'll be the first person to say that i can be rather negative. i usually am the first one that tries to laugh it off or hold a bitter grudge...but, if i was given a different deck of cards, say i was sick like so many,or hungry...and i mean starving, or i was put right back in that hospital room during Christmas two years back with a very unhealthy dad with a different turn out, and an even more scared mom.... would things like this in life motivate me the way they do now? no, because everyone gets up, and gets their kicks from some different. but, it is because of things learned along the way that we each find new reason to take an extra step, or learn a little more. its important to be true to ones self, but remember that there are plenty things in life that are too precious to control, too big to grab hold of. so, in order to deal with whatever comes your way, in whatever shoes you have on i think it is important to have an open mind... and for me, to try and find motivation in the not so obvious.
1. Be Thankful - it can always be worse. always. you could be hungry, you could be sick, you could be homeless, and well, you could not have any shoes at all...
2. You cannot change others, you can only change yourself. you should be positive, and with that others will follow. manage up, and time will tell.
3. Don't give up, its too expensive to quit. hard work does pay off, be proud and be true to you.
4. Even when you think they won't, family will always support you. the good ones anyway.
5. Health should NOT be taken for granted. if you have bad genes, be healthy. life is short.
6. Weather. Rain, Snow, Fall, and Summer, because... God is good, and things so simple are the most beautiful. look around every once in a while... because hell, some can't even see at all. sad right?
7. Others - a healthy desire to be fit, or flattered can only make you feel better if in moderate dose. a healthy you is a better you. a better you is a confident you.
8. Parents. A good marriage, one that is built on love, trust and passion through tribulation.
9. A comfy bed. Yes, a good bed will motivate any stressful day.
10. A good friend. Quality friendship will always motivate you to be a better person, therefore a better friend in return. give and you shall receive.
Now, put your own shoes back on, but remember to keep the simple things in mind... this is something i urge because it can get a little hectic sometimes. people can be mean, family can be rough, and bosses can be tough. but, if you are thankful, and motivated to do more, do better, and be more kind, good things have to come in time, and you know what.... if they don't, it's okay too..you just need to remember to breathe. take it from me, because hey we all won't be able to breathe forever. "today is a gift, that's why they call it a present."
i try and think like this sometimes. it isn't always easy, and i'll be the first person to say that i can be rather negative. i usually am the first one that tries to laugh it off or hold a bitter grudge...but, if i was given a different deck of cards, say i was sick like so many,or hungry...and i mean starving, or i was put right back in that hospital room during Christmas two years back with a very unhealthy dad with a different turn out, and an even more scared mom.... would things like this in life motivate me the way they do now? no, because everyone gets up, and gets their kicks from some different. but, it is because of things learned along the way that we each find new reason to take an extra step, or learn a little more. its important to be true to ones self, but remember that there are plenty things in life that are too precious to control, too big to grab hold of. so, in order to deal with whatever comes your way, in whatever shoes you have on i think it is important to have an open mind... and for me, to try and find motivation in the not so obvious.
1. Be Thankful - it can always be worse. always. you could be hungry, you could be sick, you could be homeless, and well, you could not have any shoes at all...
2. You cannot change others, you can only change yourself. you should be positive, and with that others will follow. manage up, and time will tell.
3. Don't give up, its too expensive to quit. hard work does pay off, be proud and be true to you.
4. Even when you think they won't, family will always support you. the good ones anyway.
5. Health should NOT be taken for granted. if you have bad genes, be healthy. life is short.
6. Weather. Rain, Snow, Fall, and Summer, because... God is good, and things so simple are the most beautiful. look around every once in a while... because hell, some can't even see at all. sad right?
7. Others - a healthy desire to be fit, or flattered can only make you feel better if in moderate dose. a healthy you is a better you. a better you is a confident you.
8. Parents. A good marriage, one that is built on love, trust and passion through tribulation.
9. A comfy bed. Yes, a good bed will motivate any stressful day.
10. A good friend. Quality friendship will always motivate you to be a better person, therefore a better friend in return. give and you shall receive.
Now, put your own shoes back on, but remember to keep the simple things in mind... this is something i urge because it can get a little hectic sometimes. people can be mean, family can be rough, and bosses can be tough. but, if you are thankful, and motivated to do more, do better, and be more kind, good things have to come in time, and you know what.... if they don't, it's okay too..you just need to remember to breathe. take it from me, because hey we all won't be able to breathe forever. "today is a gift, that's why they call it a present."
fairytale
blogs are supposed to be personal, aren't they? well, one would think...but then again it is just simply a place to jot down all of those crazy thoughts one has through out the day or week and chances are, i (meaning me) won't be the only one that sees it. so, here goes nothing. its absolutely no diary with lock and key, but yet i'm oddly okay with throwing it all out there... because after all, there shouldn't be much to hide. life is pretty simple for me... good family, good friends, fun college, good job, twenty somethings, and learning to ride the wave. use this as a little prep for just your average girl, to be a little more of a dreamer, because today... was full of just that. mom and dad, don't get wild, its just a little blog.
okay, i can sit for HOURS, i mean hours searching pinterest, looking at magazines, and talking to friends about anything and everything engagement/proposal/wedding... i guess its that little Cinderella fairy tale thought process every girl has right, who knows? my friend Courtney and i will laugh about things like rings or hair, dresses or bridal parties, and hell even the what or when, or how or who...and well, i love every second of it. it is of course crazy to think about at only (yes only) 23, but don't judge. it is bittersweet to see that people that i went to HS with have recently been engaged or said their vows and are starting a family in an attempt to find their happily ever after... or what about how our parents have already been wed for years at my age...yet may be quick to show concern, all in good manner i'm sure.
now i realize, everyone has a different path; mine is a little something like family, college, job, career, family, and then comes the *idea* of marriage, house, kids and the rest is history i'm sure...all in good time. regardless, everyone has a different timeline, or different plan... so like i said, no judging.. just simply day dreaming...
i love looking at invite ideas, hair styles, DIY projects, and beautiful pictures. i cant help but put myself in those shoes and wonder what it will be like...and sure, call me idealistic, but a girl can dream all she wants about what a wedding day will look like... joe, don't go running just yet ;)
there are more things out there than one even has the budget to actually bring to fruition. There are picture ideas, dress ideas, color ideas, centerpiece ideas, pre wedding ritual ideas, there are blue ideas and new ideas, old and all borrowed ideas but i'll tell ya what, i can't wait to at least attempt to bring my, or our fairy tale to life. and hey, mind as well start researching while there is still no reason too...it is always nice to have a little something to gossip about in the meantime.
gotta love an afternoon of Internet browsing... it can't hurt right?
okay, i can sit for HOURS, i mean hours searching pinterest, looking at magazines, and talking to friends about anything and everything engagement/proposal/wedding... i guess its that little Cinderella fairy tale thought process every girl has right, who knows? my friend Courtney and i will laugh about things like rings or hair, dresses or bridal parties, and hell even the what or when, or how or who...and well, i love every second of it. it is of course crazy to think about at only (yes only) 23, but don't judge. it is bittersweet to see that people that i went to HS with have recently been engaged or said their vows and are starting a family in an attempt to find their happily ever after... or what about how our parents have already been wed for years at my age...yet may be quick to show concern, all in good manner i'm sure.
now i realize, everyone has a different path; mine is a little something like family, college, job, career, family, and then comes the *idea* of marriage, house, kids and the rest is history i'm sure...all in good time. regardless, everyone has a different timeline, or different plan... so like i said, no judging.. just simply day dreaming...
i love looking at invite ideas, hair styles, DIY projects, and beautiful pictures. i cant help but put myself in those shoes and wonder what it will be like...and sure, call me idealistic, but a girl can dream all she wants about what a wedding day will look like... joe, don't go running just yet ;)
there are more things out there than one even has the budget to actually bring to fruition. There are picture ideas, dress ideas, color ideas, centerpiece ideas, pre wedding ritual ideas, there are blue ideas and new ideas, old and all borrowed ideas but i'll tell ya what, i can't wait to at least attempt to bring my, or our fairy tale to life. and hey, mind as well start researching while there is still no reason too...it is always nice to have a little something to gossip about in the meantime.
gotta love an afternoon of Internet browsing... it can't hurt right?
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| Pinterest - "Where we met, Where we Married, Where we Live" |
Saturday, November 5, 2011
wanna be chef
Saturday; more particularly, a Saturday off. so, the to do list today....wake up, laundry, while doing laundry go to Harris Teeter, back to the apartment, then switch over the laundry, then to the gym and then...Scones and Granola! YUM! After that...relax!
Scones: (i like chocolate chip...the mini kind)
1/2 cup whole milk
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (or cranberries, or whatever...)
preheat oven to 400. in small bowl beat together milk and 1 egg. in large mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. using hand pastry blender, add and mix butter until coarse. add wet mixture to dry mixture. stir with wooden spoon until like dough. fold in choc chips. on counter top spread out flour. place dough on flour and flatten to approx 3/4 inch thickness. cut in triangles, place on sprayed pan. bake until slightly golden. enjoy with coffee. coffee is a must.
next up, autumn granola.. autumn being the key word.
4 c. oats
1 c. almonds (or your favorite nut)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
pinch of salt
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. pumpkin puree
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. raisins (optional!)
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum and set aside.
3. In a bowl, mix together oats, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, maple syrup.
5. Add sugar mixture to dry ingredients and fold until everything is coated.
6. Spread the granola mixture onto the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and mix. Bake for another 25 minutes or until the granola is golden brown.
7. Let cool.
Can you tell that def wasn't a recipe i typed up...*thanks ash*
gotta love saturday's off...
and now, shower, eat, and football..yes!
Scones: (i like chocolate chip...the mini kind)
1/2 cup whole milk
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (or cranberries, or whatever...)
preheat oven to 400. in small bowl beat together milk and 1 egg. in large mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. using hand pastry blender, add and mix butter until coarse. add wet mixture to dry mixture. stir with wooden spoon until like dough. fold in choc chips. on counter top spread out flour. place dough on flour and flatten to approx 3/4 inch thickness. cut in triangles, place on sprayed pan. bake until slightly golden. enjoy with coffee. coffee is a must.
next up, autumn granola.. autumn being the key word.
4 c. oats
1 c. almonds (or your favorite nut)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
pinch of salt
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. pumpkin puree
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. raisins (optional!)
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum and set aside.
3. In a bowl, mix together oats, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, maple syrup.
5. Add sugar mixture to dry ingredients and fold until everything is coated.
6. Spread the granola mixture onto the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and mix. Bake for another 25 minutes or until the granola is golden brown.
7. Let cool.
Can you tell that def wasn't a recipe i typed up...*thanks ash*
gotta love saturday's off...
and now, shower, eat, and football..yes!
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| the healthy alternative! |
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| mi favorito! |
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
short and sweet...very very sweet
home for the wedding festivities was full of memories. good ones. first there was the rehearsal, great times, great food and fun had by all... and then there was the wedding day, of course never a dull moment thanks to mother nature, and lastly an absolutely romantic evening filled and followed by fun...some maybe having a little too much ;)...
aside from all that wedding bliss i learned a few things on this weekend that are slightly unrelated, a little bit random, and well..perfectly me. here goes.
1. i dont have enough serotonin in my brain....don't ask.
2. my camera is difficult to use in dark lit areas..alot of blurry photos makes a very frustrated photographer.
3. i love getting dressed up...like really dressed up.
4. i can drive in the snow, and i panic when doing so.
5. i do not like gummy flavored vodka, at all.
6. i have a very handsome boyfriend, especially in a suit.
7. i am surrounded by great family and close family friends.
8. i have the best best friend in the world. be jealous. very jealous.
9. my beds' new sheets are the perfect cure for any bad day
10. i dont like halloween - no news there...although my pumpkin carving skils...legit.
so like i said, fairly random..but a good mix of my thoughts over the past few days.. looking forward to a busy basketball week, (it's baaaackk) and maybe a little cooking. scones for sure again. SO GOOD, and maybe some granola as well... other than that.. gotta find some new ideas.. something not so big, the whole huge casserole thing.. not workin' for me. welp, pictures and thoughts are sure to follow.
adios!
aside from all that wedding bliss i learned a few things on this weekend that are slightly unrelated, a little bit random, and well..perfectly me. here goes.
1. i dont have enough serotonin in my brain....don't ask.
2. my camera is difficult to use in dark lit areas..alot of blurry photos makes a very frustrated photographer.
3. i love getting dressed up...like really dressed up.
4. i can drive in the snow, and i panic when doing so.
5. i do not like gummy flavored vodka, at all.
6. i have a very handsome boyfriend, especially in a suit.
7. i am surrounded by great family and close family friends.
8. i have the best best friend in the world. be jealous. very jealous.
9. my beds' new sheets are the perfect cure for any bad day
10. i dont like halloween - no news there...although my pumpkin carving skils...legit.
so like i said, fairly random..but a good mix of my thoughts over the past few days.. looking forward to a busy basketball week, (it's baaaackk) and maybe a little cooking. scones for sure again. SO GOOD, and maybe some granola as well... other than that.. gotta find some new ideas.. something not so big, the whole huge casserole thing.. not workin' for me. welp, pictures and thoughts are sure to follow.
adios!
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