21 days to Graduation...then the world is ours!

21 days to Graduation
13 days to the Thesis Presentation and Senior Art Show and last day of classes
14 days until all notes are due
12 days to a final lecture
9 days until the last day of internship
5 days until a group paper/presentation and individual literature review are due!
3 days until thesis is due again, hopefully for the last time
Then...the world is ours!


How will I fill my days when my thesis is completed and bound and when everything from all four of my classes isn't due on the same day?  Here is my plan: try new recipes (daily), scrapbook, paint more often, check out some of the local museums, especially the art museums and the butterfly museum, read book because I want to, run 5ks and run with Michelle 2 or 3 x a week, and get excited for summer fun!  Looking forward to some free time!

Endings and beginnings

Endings: Thesis is almost done...within the week.  Graduation is less than a month away!
Beginnings: Last Tuesday I was offered a full-time job after I graduate in May, so happy!
In other news: 
My wonderful boyfriend Andre surprised my with a beautiful bouquet of tulips for landing a job, working hard and just because he loves me!  When I got out of the library at midnight (Wednesday) he gave them to me!  :) ...Thank You!  They are lovely and make me smile!

I also got to have lunch with an old friend and BFF (who is trying to make it on Broadway) who was in town - Thai food, stories of past adventures and sharing of artwork.

some days you just need to go to the greeting card aisle and laugh

some days you just need to go to the greeting card aisle and laugh...do you believe in luck...i think people believe in it only if they have it.  as of late, i wonder if all this is a test of my character.  


last night i went to the greeting card aisle with my boy and laughed.  there is nothing quite like a funny card, or a series of them.  switching cards and laughing reminded me of so many times my mom and I would do the same thing.  some activities are timeless. 


yesterday was a day of donating to good causes...I texted money to my alma mater and also to one of my bestest friends...JW who is trying to make it in the big city and doing a good job at it!  He is taking his show on the road and I am so proud of him...I am so glad the world will get to see what it's like to hang out with jw on any random day through going to his show.  :)  le sigh.

3-0

I hear 30 is the new 20...could be!  Since I turned 30 I have been carded more than ever!  I chalk it up to a good hair day and maybe some moisturizer...or maybe the few days in the hospital did me some good!  30, , you're just a number, I'm still me!

Congratulations to a very good friend of mine who welcomed an adorable baby girl into this world and into her family today!  Congrats Grace and Dave!  Can't wait to meet her!

30 +1 day means...back to my thesis, until this weekend ;)

Ahhh Haaa moment

After babysitting an adorable, yet sick baby today for 4 hours, we understand how our friends who are married with children are tired by 8pm.  I found myself looking at the clock and having 7:25pm stare back at me...that's it!  It's so early, yet we were both wiped.  Props to you guys!

TV...

Some obscure and not so obscure shows I enjoy:

The Booth At The End
Smash
Revenge
Psych
Law and Order SVU (but I do miss Detective Stabler)
Private Practice
Modern Family
American Horror Story
Fringe
Louie

Is that too much???

Oh My Gosh...blast from the past...Speak and Spell

Enjoy playing the speak and spell once again!  I forgot how confusing it's voice really was.

Speak and Spell Online Version

Arts Therapy Program Helps Reach Dementia Patients - Cincinnati News Story - WLWT Cincinnati

Arts Therapy Program Helps Reach Dementia Patients - Cincinnati News Story - WLWT Cincinnati

Potato Leek Soup

Taken from my Swedish Cookbook, Potato Leek Soup:

4-5 large potatoes (cubed)

2 leeks (chopped)

1-2 cloves garlic (diced)

salt and white pepper to taste

6 cups chicken or beef broth

1 TBS lemon juice

electric mixer/food processor and/or potato masher

• Bring 6 cups broth to boil in large pot
• add diced leeks, potatoes, lemon juice, salt, garlic and white pepper
• simmer for 15-20 minutes
• when potatoes are soft, use an electric mixer or food processor to smooth out most of the lumps
• add more white pepper or salt if needed

I served this soup with a side of sausage I cooked in a frying pan of beer, PBR to be exact. The sausage was a nice accompaniment to the flavors of the soup. I might have gone a little overboard with the white pepper, but it was so good. I also only used 4 beef bullion cubes to 6 cups of water. The electric mixer and a potato masher got all of the necessary lumps out of the soup/stew. No photo, but I will say it was not as dark as the photo in the cookbook, more of a light green. I also cooked with leeks for the first time! The white and light green parts are more mild and less bitter, so I only used them because I was unfamiliar with leeks and the cookbook really didn't explain what parts to use. Hope you enjoy and try it for yourself.

2012...begins

2012...

I always look to New Years Day to see if I feel older, wiser...different? This year I do feel wiser, older and different. With one semester left of graduate school I look to 2012 and see new beginnings. In May, I will find myself walking across a stage and entering the working world again. This time focused, prepared and ready.

The snow has covered the ground and finally NY welcomes winter, at least for today. A slow start to the ski season, I grasp onto the dusting of snow and search for my long underwear and ski gear. With any luck we will be skiing in a week or two, just in time for school to begin again.

This year marks the 5 year anniversary of my blog and a big birthday for me, but I'll always be 25 and holding...