Paris

I have been trained, because I am a girl, to believe that Paris is the most beautiful and romantic place on earth.  I got to go last summer with my chorale buds.  The most romantic thing was hearing our friend Hargraves talking about how he was "saving himself" by not going up into the Eiffel Tower because it's something his then-girlfriend-now-fiancee wanted to do with him first.  Beyond that, Paris doesn't hold any particular sway over my woman's heart.

But...

These photos are too lovely not to share.

Via Brown Eyed Belle via Weheartit

Via Bourbon and Pearls via MLM

Via Simply Seductive via Stardust and Sequins

Christus Victor

Having been lately reintroduced to Lauren Lankford, her blog, the Good Women Project, and the new Deeper Story site, I can't help wondering about using this platform I have through my blog to do something radical.

I am so ready for the Church to step into the liberty and freedom from shame that Christ so freely gives and for us to develop a community of vulnerability where people can safely share and discuss the big issues without fear of condemnation.  I believe that Max and Lauren are starting something.  Something big.  And I want to be a part of it.

Right now, I'm a part of the movement off the screens, and I really don't know if me writing about these things will get anyone anywhere.  I guess, just... don't be too surprised if I go ballistic one day and spew out completely different material.

For further reading...

Compelled To Be The Reason You Say No by Max

Hearts The Bleed, & Blind Faith: Today I Drowned In Love by Lauren

Your Jokes Suck: Why I Won't Date You by Lauren

We Are The Queer.  We Are The Whore. by Tamara on The Deeper Story

New Obsession: Boys Before Flowers

I've forgotten how quickly I can become obsessed with things.  Like tv shows.  Like when I had two weeks with little homework to do my freshman spring and I watched all of the first season of Lost.  (My studious roommate hated me.)

I'm going to Korea, you know, and I'd love to learn more about the culture and the language.  My brilliant boyfriend told me about Hulu's offering of Korean shows, and I finally checked them out last week.  I checked one out, and it was dumb.  At least the first 15 minutes of the pilot were dumb.  Then Charlee recommended some particular shows.

In two days, I have watched six 70 minute episodes of Boys Before Flowers.

via South Korea Addict

Holy crap, that's 7 hours!

Granted, I didn't have anything pressing to do, and, it is all part of my culture immersion.  By the way, I'm a little worried that I'm going to get over there and only know what I've learned from Korean pop dramas.  It would be like someone coming to the States and only knowing about Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, jeans, and maybe hamburgers.  I promise before you now to not be that kind of foreigner!

Back to the show, though, it's highly addictive.  I cared for the girl after 30 minutes of getting to know her, and, the boys, they're made out to be rich snobs who hate people unlike them, but they're developing, and I find myself caring about them already, too.  They do some hilarious things, and I say "what in the world?" every fifteen minutes or so, but it's quite entertaining and it's greatly exceeded my ill-informed expectations for Korean shows.  I recommend this post from KDrama Queen if you want to learn more about the show, its explosion of popularity in Korea, and the overnight stardom of its actors.

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These are the Wonder Girls.  This song was my very first brush with Korean pop culture, thanks to my "sister" Alice.  Thanks to her tutelage, I can tell you that most of the music scene is taken by many-peopled groups like this one.  I also think that I remember her saying that they don't perform very well live, at least not the Wonder Girls.  But, feel free to watch this video.  It cracks me up.

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To take you back to a totally different country, did you know that there's an Indian fashion Ebay-esque site?!  Thanks to Facebook for showing this link in their ads!  Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to Stylish Delsi!  I will buy clothes from there.  At some point.  Before I die.

I have become an Etsy seller.

Near the end of my junior year of college, I came across 7 beautiful, vintage books on music education.  At the time, I was dating a musical theatre graduate who wanted to go into teaching, so I grabbed them up intending to pass them on to him.  Jump ahead two years, and you see me enjoying them as the sit on my bookshelf looking lovely.

It's very good to have things you enjoy around you, and I have grown very fond of these books that I've never read, but I need to not own them anymore.  With my upcoming move and the accompanying need to pack and ship my things, it's time to minimize.  And it's time to try and make some extra cash.

Therefore...

I've made an Etsy shop!

I've spent so many hours on Etsy since I was introduced early in 2009.  I've purchased plenty of gifts on Etsy, and I've seen lots of alluring things.  I know there are plenty of people out there who like the things I like and who are willing to pay money for the things, too.  It makes me sad to think of giving away these books, but, I don't need them, and someone else will be sure to take care of them, right?

My sister let me borrow her camera to take pictures of the books with.  I'll show you some of my favorites.  I've made a shop banner with Picnik.  It's kinda cheesy, yeah, but it definitely serves it's purpose.  And I made that button on the right hand side of the blog page, too, and relearned the HTML coding for it!  Hooray!

Direct Approach To Counterpoint In 16th Century Style circa 1947

Keys to Teaching Elementary School Music circa 1949

An Objective Psychology of Music circa 1953

So there you have it!  I'm sticking out neck seeing if anyone's going to grab up these beauties.  It'll be a good learning experience regardless.

As a final word, I love the term "circa."

Charisma

So this dude walks into the store.

"Where's your vendor log?"
I show him, and he starts to sign in.
"And, hi, Lindsay, my name's Alex.  I'm your HP representative!"

This dude was on the up side of life.  "Perky" and "chipper" aren't the right words, but he was... up.  Alive.  And alert.

"Well, hi, Alex.  ... High five?"
I raised my hand toward him.  (Because high fives seem much more friendly than the greeting handshakes.)

"Yeah!  Low five... or high five... or something in the middle.  Sorry, I'm slow."

He'd forgotten what a high five looked like for a second and tried to recover.

He asked if I needed anything -I didn't- then went off in search of the tech guys to push his brand.
Cool.
He came back to me about a half hour later.
"Everyone's busy," he said.
"But I'm not!"
"Well cool!  Here!"  He laid something down on my counter.  "It's a bribe to get you to sell more HP.  It's hand sanitizer spray.  Or mace.  Just spray it in the face of someone you don't like."

We laughed, then he continued.

"Really, though, when a customer comes by, just throw some HP ink in their buggy.  I mean, ring it up first, but just throw it in there.  And when they say, 'What are you doing?  I don't have an HP printer!' You can say, 'Oh really?  Well we have some over here!  You could buy one today!'"

I CRACKED UP.

Those of you who've heard my laugh know what I mean.

He begins again, "Yeah, throw a mouse in there.  'But I don't have a computer.'  'Oh, well we can sell one to you.'"

I hope you think this is funny, because I thought it was hilarious.  He has to be an excellent salesman, because I wanted to push HP, not because I believed in the product, but because I wanted this guy to keep his job and keep amusing people along the way.  It was an awesome time.

"So have people been buying a lot of HP ink today?" he asked.
"Yeah, actually.  They buy a lot.  But, I gotta be honest, a lady was in here earlier asking about our refurbished brand."
"Did you tell her it was crap?"

"Ha!  No.  I told her it was $13 cheaper!  And then I told her about how they are sometimes defective, having gone through a manufacturer twice and all, and, if that happens, we refund her money toward the purchase of the real HP ink."

"Yeah, we don't want our cartridges to be refurbished by other manufacturers.  In fact, the manufacturers don't like us because we're putting chips in our new inks that say they can't refurbish them.  But, yeah, when people go for the refurbished cartridges, I tell them that they're crap.  Well, Lindsay, I gotta go back to wherever I'm from, but have a good day, and sell HP!"

Woohoo!

Name brand

I went into an American Eagle yesterday, and I loved every piece of jewelry I saw.

Beaded thread necklace

Stone studs

Bangle set

Fish cuff

Turqouise beaded thread necklace

I really like the relaxed, youthful, I-love-John-Lennon vibes I get from these pieces.  And, I'm glad I left my money in the car while window shopping.  It helped me remember that I don't really like paying $15 for  small pieces of jewelry.  But, some of these things were on clearance.  Maybe they'll go lower?

I'm really curious about how much of these I could make or knock off.

The Newnan library and me

Last Friday, I found I had three hours all to myself in the lovely city of Newnan, Georgia.  I decided to make the best possible decision, and I made trip to the library.  I checked out Harry Potter V (my copy's waiting for me at Millie's house) and meandered to the video sections to see if there was anything good for my sister and I that night.  I didn't find anything I thought we'd both enjoy, so I headed to the magazine section.  I browsed through Wired (because my close friends, Caleb and Sweeny, have influenced me well) and picked up Real Simple, too (because I am a girl).

Wired April 2011

Vs.

Real Simple May 2011

I don't have much to add to this than saying that I enjoyed a Real Simple article called "Expertise: Five things never to say to a recent college graduate."  It's on page 87 if you get a chance to pick up the issue and check it out.  It said pretty much everything I wish all adults would keep in mind when around younger adults like myself.

And here's my favorites from Wired:
A fun tidbit

Most Dangerous Object in the Office: Superior Hiwheel Bicycle

and, very interesting,

Burning Question: Is Wi-fi Squatting Illegal?

Also, I just found this gem in the archives of Wired:
Geek Hit Phineas and Ferb...
This article praises one of my all-time favorite kid shows in the entire world.  Yes, my friends, Phineas and Ferb is right up there with Wishbone, Liberty Kids, Teen Titans, and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.  It's so clever, so creative, and so enjoyable.
I love it.

I think I'm in trouble.

My last name is McKissick.  I am predominantly Scottish, English, and Austrian, with Irish, Dutch, German, and Cherokee thrown in.  It's fun being a living, breathing product of the great American melting pot, and it's neat having ties to so many places and peoples.

I am not Indian.  I am not Pakistani.  There is no African blood in my lineage.  Nothing from Asia.  But, I'm in love with mehndi.

by Riffat, ©Jasdeep Kaur, 2007

via Weddingpicturesweddingphotos.net

Mehndi is the traditional bridal henna that decorates the brides, and sometimes the grooms, of middle eastern, north African, and south Asian cultures.  I find it so interesting and appealing, and I really want to have some on my skin some day.

Just look at these beautiful Cakes inspired by mehndi designs!

First favorite.  By Shockley's Sweet Shoppe via It's a Bride's Life

Second favorite.  By Sarah’s Pastries & Candies (Chicago, IL)

I've found another new wedding site called Wedding Nouveau (Dream in color, dream in culture).  It features multi-ethnic, interracial, and culture-rich weddings.  I love it.  Here are some of the Real Weddings I've come across that I especially like (possibly just because there's a Caucasian girl getting to dress up in pretty clothes):

Indian Fusion: Leslie and Simran Pt. 1 (in Bali)

Indian Fusion: Leslie and Simran Pt. 2 (in San Diego)

Colorful Indian Fusion: Kara and Tuhin (in Knoxville, TN!)

Bulgarian Chic: Teodora and Vasil (in Sevlievo, Bulgaria)

Leslie and Simran's wedding :: Photography by Beautiful Day Photography

In my extensive research that has lasted about an hour and a half now, I've also found so many more exciting things than you ever cared to know about!

This slideshow of exquisite mehndi designs

An Online tutorial on how to Apply henna

This list of henna techniques

This gallery of mehndi designs

This Flickr group of bridal hands

Thankfully, I've got a long while before I should even think about planning a wedding for myself.  (Remember what Mom says: "Wedding websites are of the devil.")  So maybe this will be just a phase, or maybe I'll have the strangest wedding my family and friends will ever see.

I'm pretty sure I can promise there won't be any elephants.

For more beauty, I highly recommend the film Monsoon Wedding.  I really want to see it again.  It deals with intense themes, but there is liberating redemption.  If you come over, we can watch it together.

DIY Divas

Wandering around on the webbernet, I came across this long list of DIY project tutorials from How To's Day (the list starts after the pillow tutorial).  They've all been gathered from different blogs, which is pretty cool.  I clicked through a lot of them, and here are my favorites to share!

(Click here for more about the awesome How To's Day projects.)

Instead of paying $250 for a mirror just like this, Jaime from That's My Letter made her own for $90!

A Vintage Vine shows how to make this gorgeous clock coffee table.

Terrariums!  Yes!  via Paula from Welcoming Spirit

How to turn your mason jars into blue mason jars by Craftberry Bush

And, Diane from The Inspired Housewife shows gives a Mr. Amazing DIY that's too adorable to not be on my favorites list.

And, just for fun, I think I've found a something else I want to show you.  Check out this post by For Love of Funny.

P.s.  I wore feather earrings to work today, even though I have to wear an earpiece for my radio, too.

If I visited India just once, I would spend all my money on clothes.

Woah man, guess what I found!

South Asian Bride Magazine!!

It's a small dream of mine to have some pieces from Indian fashion.  I love the bold and the bright, and I love the pride these peoples take in their cultures.  I am ecstatic to have been acquainted with this site!  It's so full of gorgeous pictures exploding with life!

Engagement shoot: Payal + Milan
Photography: Nadia D. Photography

Real wedding: Sangita +Harshal
Photography: Designer Photo

(This looks just like a scene from a Bollywood film.)

Real wedding: Pooja + Nikhil

Photography: Sephi Bergerson Photography | Fotowala

Location: Leela Palace, Udaipur

And these last ones are all from here.
Real wedding: Poonam + Chirag

Photography: Our Labor of Love 

Planner:  Bliss Event Group 

(Here's their amazing reception!)

All absolutely stunning!

Guilty Pleasures

My blogging friend Felicia is going a giveaway over at her blog!  She's got some exciting events going on (graduating college and getting married!), but she's taking time for guilty pleasures, too.  She's giving away some fun things in celebration, and you can enter for them just by commenting on her giveaway post with some of your own guilty pleasures.  I want to tell you what I wrote, and, honestly, I'd love to hear what you guys would list as your own!

Some of my guilty pleasures are...

Moseying around on Pinterest
It's a terrible curse full of beautiful and delicious things that help me unwind.

Chocolate and ice cream for sure 

I'll never turn either down.  Ever.

Earrings

I have a lot but I'll never have enough. It's awful.

Sleeping in

(Don't most people have this one?)

The Harry Potter books 

I love-love-love them, but I feel a bit guilty hanging out with them because they aren't To Kill a Mockingbird or something like that.  Silly me, they're awesome!

New favorites: Any and all feather earrings
Check this out for a tutorial to make the pair above!

Customer Stories! Part 2

A gentleman wearing a yellow shirt came to the counter and asked a tad obnoxiously, "Is there a discount for wearing yellow today?"
...

It wouldn't be polite to tell him to just go away.

What made it better was another man walking up to the counter.  He was wearing a yellow shirt.
The first man started with the second about how the second had gotten the memo, but there wasn't any discount.  I added that, yep, it was totally unfair.
The first man almost redeemed himself by telling me every joke he knew, but his impression had already been made.  It's not all that fun to be around someone who thinks he's hilarious when he's not.

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One of the things I distinctly remember from my entrance training I took three years ago was that we are not allowed to accept tips from customers.  I thought that was rather silly, mainly because I never imagined anyone would want to give me a tip for anything I'd do at work.  An elderly couple I helped two weeks ago thought differently.

They were in a small rush to get a chair, get it assembled, and get it home.  We were in a small rush, too, because we had a lot of things to get done this day.  The gentleman (who was being somewhat endearingly bear-ish instead of gentle) spoke with my manager and tried to convince him to let me make the chair.  Ok, I could make the chair, he said, but I would have to stop if any other customers came in needing help.  Before he left, the gentleman said he'd buy me dinner if I got it finished before they came back from their Cracker Barrel lunch.
I finished it in less than a half hour.  When the couple arrived to pick it up, the man shoved a $20 bill into my hand.
"No, sir, I can't take this."
"I told you dinner would be on us.  I really appreciate you doing this for me.  Go ahead."
"No, really, I'm not allowed to take it."
"Hm.  Well, where's your manager?"
The gentleman ended up talking with my manager who was outside by his car.  I caught my manager later and asked what the man had said.
"He had nice things to say, but I told him we couldn't take the money.  I told him to go online and fill out the customer service service.  That comes back to us, and I told him I could take care of you from inside the store."
Don't know if that means I'll be getting an Employee of the Month bonus, but that would be pretty groovy.  Pretty groovy indeed.

Emotional

You get to points when you just need a good cry, yeah?  I've cried six times in four days (thank you, hormones).  Bummer for me, all of those cries had to be stifled either because people were sleeping in the next room, I didn't want to get tears on my keyboard, or, you know, it's not very polite to break down when you're talking to someone.  Even when there's nothing keeping you back, though, sometimes you need help letting go with that good, freeing cry.

Needless to say, I was very curious when I saw Lauren's blog post today (perfectly titled "Signs you might be a little bit emotional").  She introduced me to this beautiful and touching birth story by Kelle Hampton.

If you're ever in need of that something to help you get that good cry, I recommend this story.   I recommend reading it period.  I want everyone to read it.

I'd love to hear about the things that get you crying.  As a normal child of the 90's, I have watched the Fellowship of the Ring a million times.  This one time, though, I don't know, I could not handle Boromir dieing.  I.  Bawled.  Sobs and moans and chokes and floods of tears everywhere.  Disturbed by my wailing, Mom came into the room to see what was the matter.  I had no explanation other than my pointing to the screen.  I was quite a sight.

Makes ya tear up, doesn't it?
 via this Flixter Lord of the Rings quiz
(How did I only get 84% correct in that quiz?!  I have shamed my generation and its obsession with the holy trilogy.  I'll tell you why I only got 86% correct.  The version I saw a million times wasn't the extended edition, and I only read the book 2.5 times.)

Customer Stories! Part 1

This dude needed large posters copied and laminated.  It was taking a while, so we started talking.  I asked him about the posters and what they were for.  After listening to him talk about how athletics had always been a part of his life and how he's now owning a training center, I was surprised when he asked, "So what about you?"  Oh!  Me?  Well, yeah, I'm working here...  But!
I told him about Korea.  He got excited for me.  As he was leaving, he said, "Well, if I don't see you again, good luck with Korea!"  That makes me happy.

Another customer made me happy last month.  I'd been redoing copies of a church program for her that the self copiers had messed up.  I asked what the programs were for, and she later asked about myself.  She loved hearing about Korea and about the good influence I would be there.  She smiled so big and started to tear up.  She told me how it was such a good thing that I'm doing this.  I love her.

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A 55 year old and a 20 year old guy came in for two pieces of furniture.  We sell large desks and bookcases and such, and they come in very large boxes.  I'm not a very strong person, but these big and heavy desk boxes are in my department, so it's my responsibility to get them to the customers' trucks when they're purchased.

There are guys who work with me, but I only feel comfortable for help from one of them.  Another had an accident in the army that has left his back completely shot.  Another was out of commission for hurting his back before, and another kinda makes himself appear too important to help with such things.  So, I often get these 70+ lb. boxes myself.

This day, I got one by myself.  I wore my body out moving the two boxes that were on top of the one I needed then getting that box onto the cart then wheeling it out to where these two dudes were waiting.  I felt exhausted, and I guess I looked it, too, because the man said, "Did you get that yourself?"  I breathlessly said yes.  This sent them into a small dialogue directed at me.
"Well aren't there any men around here?"
"Yeah, I saw one over there..."
"Gosh, don't they do anything here?"
"Obviously not."
Now, I've always taken is for granted that it's my job to get these things done, so I don't think much about it.  Well, it felt really nice to be made much of by these people who didn't know me.  All they knew was that I was a girl.  Being purely Southern (and purely men), I think this meant to them that I shouldn't have had to lift and move that big heavy thing.  In fact, we'll get this other box ourselves.
"Really?"
"Yes.  Really."
And they did!  The young fellow lifted it up effortlessly.
It was a beautiful thing, watching the one tilt and lift the box so I didn't have to.  They were a bit of a rough couple of guys, but they truly blessed me.

Along these same lines...
We have very heavy boxes of paper that we sell.  Big boxes of ten reams.  I have to move them all the time, and I don't like them, but moving one here or there for a customer isn't bad at all.
One lady needed help getting one of the boxes from its place on the floor to a cart to her car.  The cashier had called for help for this lady, and, those boxes being in my department, I went over to help.
"Oh," she said.  "I was expecting a man."

"Ah.  Well, ma'am, I have to work with these bad boxes every day.  I assure you I can handle them."
"Oh, I'm sure you can, dear, but you shouldn't have to.  You should make the men do that."
I've never been offended by any of these comments (and I get them a good bit).  But I found it quite humorous when I laid the box in the lady's trunk and she said, as if she really meant something, "You did that just as well as any man!"
I decided that she and I are going to burn our bras together.
Just kidding.

Eric Whitacre and his beautiful music

I was in the Bryan College Spring Chorale when I was first introduced to Eric Whitacre's art.  Dr. D handed us printed lyrics sheets, and he pressed play on his boom box.  He wanted us to hear "Sleep" before we began to work on it for our later concert.

We sat very still.  I remember scanning the page in my hands for the words but, after a while, I closed my eyes and just listened.  The sounds I heard melted with the sunshine pouring in through the room's large windows that day and spun magic that left us all breathless when we opened our eyes as the music stopped and we were brought back to supposed reality.

Performing that song was some milestone in my vocal development.  The music and the lyrics together glisten to beautifully every time I listen to them and every time I sing them.  They grab my guts and send my soul somewhere else.  I had never felt that about something that I sang before.  I've played my violin with orchestras and ensembles before, and I have been a part of great and beautiful things.  Instrumental pieces have moved me to tears before.  But these are our voices.  In Bryan's chorale, these were the voices of the people I love.  In Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 2.0, these are the voices of people who long for excellent art, who long to be a part of something beautiful.

God is good.

You can see my name in the right column Alto 1 section.  It starts rolling at 6:57.
That's pretty cool.

Want more exquisite poetry?  Check out this list of choral pieces.  "A Boy and a Girl" is my other absolute favorite.  It makes me want to cry.  Always.  (3:00-3:10, especially)

P.s.  I just found my face on the video!  1:00-1:07!

Cool beans!

Bryan College happiness

I visited one of my favorite places last week.  And, you know, Bryan College is one of my favorite places because of the people there.  I went for Charlee and Elise's recital, and I'm so very glad I went!

Here I am with the lovely ladies!

Another awesome part of the trip was getting to reconnect with all the people I love there and listening about what's been going on.

Dani told me something awesome.  She told me about a game called Predator.  Here's how you play.

One dude is the Predator (I see him as a T-Rex in my mind).  Two are his Velociraptor hunters.  Everyone else is a civilian (Brachiosauruses, perhaps?).  The civilians run and try not to get captured by the hunters who try to hold down the civilians while the predator walks (he can only walk) toward the civilian.  When the predator touches the civilian on the head, he is transformed into a hunter and he joins with the others.  The goal of the game is to be the last civilian standing.

This Sounds.  So.  Much.  Fun.

Dani told me about all the shrieking and running and chasing and scrambling and the bruises and the scratches.  Mayhem in the commons!  Bring it on!  I so want to be there next time they play!

Charleston

Caleb's from Charleston.  We got to go there this past weekend with his family for the Cooper River Bridge Run.  It was quite cool.  Now that I'm home and now that I've got this post going, I'm wondering why I didn't take any pictures of people (e.g. Caleb and I).  I'm afraid these pictures from our date afternoon/evening are all you get.

Saw this coming out of Caleb's old neighborhood.
Righteous.

The place is really called Kaminky's Most Excellent Cafe.  It is most excellent.  For those of you familiar, it reminded me of the City Cafe in Chattanooga, but a little classier and with fewer dessert selections, but just by looking at the cakes, the pies, the shooters, and the cobblers, you knew they were all sent straight down from heaven.

 This is what I got.  Strawberry cheesecake.  Caleb got the Happiness cake.  Both desserts were so incredibly rich and hearty.  Pure delish!  I highly recommend this stop!

Believe it or not, we got our dessert before we went to dinner which was at Fleet's Landing.  Another highly recommended place.  The service was surprisingly quick for a Friday night, the food was scrumptious, and the atmosphere comfortable yet chic.

Had to.

Avocado smoothies

Yes, I made another green tasty drink!

Avocado Smoothies!

Emma pinned this on Pinterest, and I was intrigued but apprehensive.  I find it as a mini life mission to try anything and everything avocado, though, so I whipped this up yesterday afternoon for my mom and I!  (She'd brought home some extras from a recent Savannah excursion.)

Here is the recipe from Cakie's.  It's perfect.

[January 22, 2013 edit]
[Cakie's has redone her website and that pin has been removed on Pinterest, so I'm including a screenshot of the recipe I used from Cakie's.]
 

[Edit over]

Guys.  Really.  You should try this.  As long as avocados don't make you gag, you should try it.  The consistency is so rich and creamy.  The thickness has more body than regular milkshakes.  It was more of a heavy smoothie, the homemade kind with yogurt or ice cream.  I was feeling full after just half a mug.

But of course I finished the whole thing.

It felt so wrong blending avocados with sugar.  So wrong.

 The avocado I had was perfect, too.  Just the right ripeness, fragrance, and buttery taste.

Yum!

Green Tea Milkshake

After being so tired yesterday, I'm a little surprised at this blogging kick I've got going.  I know this doesn't happen every time, but it's kinda cool seeing how things (blogging, in this case) get easier when you just start.

I have made Green Tea Milkshakes!

When I was online yesterday looking around at recipes (yesterday's dinner was delicious, by the way), I thought about finding a recipe for green tea milkshakes.  I found two and decided to go with this one.

I followed the recipe very well, even though I wasn't sure about the ice cubes and the sugar.  I had been tasting along the way, and I'm glad I followed through with all the instructions because the ice gave it more body and thesugar bridged the flavor gap between the tea and the vanilla ice cream.  I only used two tablespoons of sugar, though.

It was quite refreshing and a most enjoyable addition to an afternoon of sunny relaxation.

Believe it or not, next on the list is an avocado milkshake.  I'm pretty scared of this one.

Feathers

I was moseying on Collegefashion.net when I saw this post about feather hair extensions.  I thought they were super cool, and I decided to put them on my 101 goals list.  After some research, I found an Etsy shop that sold them at a reasonable price, easily got my sister involved, and ordered them!

Taylor and I put them in one night during our Glee/Klondike bar date.

This is the set I bought.  (Her price has understandably gone up about $5 since I saw them first.)  I'd gotten some wild greens, purples, and blues in the batch which I wasn't too pleased with, and our hair is so dark, the black feathers weren't even considered for our extensions, but we made do very well.

I also had just gotten my new coat (which was on clearance and $20 off with a coupon!) this day and was trying it out.



They can be curled, straightened, shampooed, and whatever else.  We put these in a good month ago, and, while one eased out last week, the other is still secured with a crimp bead we pliered shut.



Sister wanted to join the fun.



Good times.

Dinner

Tonight will be the third night in a row I've had to take care of all my meals myself.  I know it's not a strange thing for twenty-somethings, I know, but it's strange to me because it means my family is out of town.

The leftovers have been great, but I want to try something different.  I want to cook!  So here's what I have in mind...

Garlic Noodles!

Image: Beth M from Budget Bytes
And the recipe's from the same place!

It looks really simple, but I love-love-love pasta, so I'm very excited!

Short and sweet: a new direction

I feel very tired right now.  I don't feel like writing, but I have things I want to write about, and it makes sense to get it done than to let it wait.  I think now would be a great time to start working on the practice of sweet and short posts.  How's that?

Something short and sweet: A chocolate frog

Many of my friends on Bryan College's Spring Chorale tour went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter last month.  I was insanely jealous, as Millie and I have been wishing to go since we discovered it.  As you can imagine, it meant a whole heap when my Aaron brought me a gift from HP world!

It came in a pentagonal box just like the one in the first movie, and I got the Helga Hufflepuff card that eerily showed Helga almost moving.  Holograms these days...  And the chocolate's pretty good.

Thanks, Aaron!  You make me smile. -->    : )