Breakfast

So I must confess, I don't really like oatmeal all that much. I can eat about half a bowl before I just can't handle the consistency any longer. But I've been feeling a little heavy lately foodwise. Like I need to detox a bit for a few days, up the fruit and veggie intake. The other night I had a smoothie for dinner because the thought of a meal made me ill.

For breakfast I was inspired by one of my favorite healthy bloggers, Heather Eats Almond Butter. She eats oat bran all the time. For breakfast, for lunch, for a late night snack. And she tops it with some of the most delicious looking combos.

I'm a total convert. Here is my morning bowl. I cooked it without sugar and just added a spoonful of nutella and bananas after it cooked.


p.s. I bought my oat bran at kroger, it's in a box where all the oatmeal is for $1.67.

p.p.s I was doing more reading after this post and found out oat bran has a better nutritional profile than oatmeal. Which is awesome, because I much prefer the bran's creaminess.

Christmas Vacation

I was such a lazy pig today.


cider with whipped cream, yum!

I slept in. Took a long bath. Went out for a newspaper and half off Christmas candy. Ate some candy. Stole the Wii for my room so I could have netflix on my tv. And then I proceeded to eat, watch movies, read, and eat some more.

Christmas vacation: success.

Merry Christmas!

My stack,


Jon's stack,


My stocking contents (Jon did them this year),


The KINDLE! Mama and me were happy campers with our matching gifts,


I've downloaded World War Z, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Hunger Games (to reread). But I'm taking suggestions.

What have you read lately?

Holiday Confessions

I try really hard to not get all caught up in the consumerism of Christmas. But I can't shake the nagging feeling as the hours tick by that I need to order just one more thing from amazon before the time to ship runs out. The problem: I really can't think of anything else to order.

I'm getting like 5 presents this year because I told my parents there wasn't much I wanted or, more importantly, needed. (And um, since I'm confessing things, because they are paying my car payment this month.) But because I know what the 5 items are I NEED THEM NOW. Worst waiter ever.

Every year I make grand plans to decorate cookies, this year was no different, and every year I remember that cookie decorating is just not my thing. Or so say the dozen gingerbread men I fed the dogs after they languished for a week.

I tread a really fine line between expectations for the season and realities. And it has nothing to do with family gatherings and everything to do with how many Christmas movies I should watch and all of the things I should bake. When the truth is, I don't have the time or the energy to accomplish all of the movie watching and baking I think I should.

That said, I did manage to make Oreo Truffles last night while watching Miracle on 34th Street (the remake which is my favorite):



You should all probably make them immediately.

Peppermint Mocha Goodness

First off: Holy grammar problems, Batman, regarding yesterday's post. I guess that's what I get for posting while exhausted. Oops!

I went out with my mother today to help her finish up her Christmas/Birthday shopping. Jonathan turns 16 on Thursday and in typical teen boy fashion has asked for his favorite meal (subs from our favorite shop but he wants TWO of them) and video games. He's also getting a wallet and an extra set of keys to my parents' truck. I refuse to believe this kid will be driving soon. Ugh.

I was feeling slightly bummed about my lack of funds for presents this year. So my mama cheered me up with a cupcake. Peppermint mocha. Yumness!



Tomorrow I'm going to attempt canning apple butter for gifts. There's a thousand ways I can screw this up, so let us pray.

So there was this.

Goal: check.


(why do I look so awful here? ugh. not my best angle, that whole shooting upwards thing totally exposes my chins.)

I like symmetrical things. In high school I began my experience in a first period class with a teacher with whom I ended my senior year aiding during first period. It was a symmetry that I loved. When I walked into freshman orientation at UK at Memorial Coliseum I shook President Todd's hand. And when I walked on stage at Memorial Coliseum last night I shook it again. A symmetrical event that I again adored.

Even if the rest of the night/day was miserable. I think it a sleep deprivation thing since I've been up half the night studying for an 8am final. I also managed to literally bust my ice on some ice yesterday. Fun times.

But now it's officially over and everyone can stop hearing me talk about it. I'm pretty sick of it myself. But I do feel different today, like some terrible weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It feels pretty freakin' sweet. What's next in life? QUESTION OF THE WEEK. Stay tuned, I suppose.

Day Whatever.

After 9am or so I will have successfully completed all of the requirements to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree.

I will then celebrate after commencement by hibernating, like a bear, through Christmas.

That is all.

Day 29

I've walked this path for 6ish years. 2 years longer than I ever expected. 1 year more than I definitely really expected.



I think back to those first few years of this journey and laugh at how young I was. How naive I was. At all of the things I did wrong. The experiences I missed out on. How none of this really turned out how I expected it to.

But that's life. You can plan all you want but no where does it say you are guaranteed things will go how you want them to.

If I've learned anything in six years, besides lots of history and how to get a minor in English while rarely reading the assigned books, it's to stop planning and start living.

I have no earthly idea what I'll be doing a year from now. I only hope it's not living in a gutter somewhere. The uncertainty is giving me hives, but I'm also learning to embrace how exhilarating it can be.

On Graduating

Graduating from high school and graduating from college have turned out to be such vastly different occasions.

When I graduated from high school a cake was ordered a week in advance. I mailed invitations. My mom threw a party. My entire family came including both of my aunts and my cousins. People gave me money, lots and lots of money that I didn't need. And I blew every bit of it in just a few weeks time hanging out with my friends.

For college I've bought a dress. I don't think anyone in my extended family knows there is a ceremony on Friday, because it wouldn't matter and they wouldn't come. I don't have invites to send out, or a party next Saturday. My mom, my brother, my dad, my childhood best friend and Riley will be there. We might go out to eat somewhere semi nice afterward. Or we might stop somewhere cheap for burgers. There will be no money, which is the most hilarious part because I could actually use a few bucks for something of purpose this time around.

Undeniably this is a much bigger deal than graduating from high school. And yet it feels like just some mundane thing I'll do on Friday and go about the rest of my life the next morning.

Day 27 & 28

I feel like we've already had buckets and buckets of snow and it's not even Christmas yet.



I hate snow in January, February, and OH THE HORROR... March. But this before Christmas stuff means I've snuggled in every weekend with baking supplies and movies while the snow falls. It's been magical.

Day 25 & 26

Today I bought a dress, a short sweater to go over the dress, a pair of shoes and some nail polish in preparation for my graduation ceremony on Friday.





I also went inside of Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn for the first time in a while and uttered words like, "I'm going to stage a fake wedding just so I can register here."

Day 24

My levels of anxiety:

Level 1: mild discomfort, general uneasiness

Level 2: persistent butterflies in stomach, queasiness

Level 3: inability to fall into a deep sleep

Level 4: never-ending heartburn from fun things, LIKE WATER

Level 5: the fear of my father dying creeps back in, including the desire to go watch his chest rise and fall in the middle of the night

Level I'm currently operating at: ALL FIVE.

Day 23

Tomorrow I write my last paper as an undergrad.

And to celebrate, on Friday I've set aside time for decorating gingerbread men. I'm so hardcore, obviously.

Day 22

Merry Mod Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

I finally ordered my Christmas cards. Thanks, Shutterfly!

Day 21

My aunt found her cousin, my great aunt Frances' son, recently and shared the news with me tonight.

Our new relative is in his 70s. He graduated from Columbia. He's a history professor (retired now) who lives in North Carolina and recently wrote a novel (Russian historical fiction). One of his sons teaches Arabic and English in Kuwait. Another lives in Long Island and works in finance.

*jaw open* what the hell?

I had a moment where I was all damn, where did my side of the family go wrong?

And then, obviously I come by this history nonsense honestly.

Day 20

I downloaded the Realtor.com app for my phone and I'm OBSESSED. I can't stop searching for homes.

I want to buy this immediately.

$129,000 - 1 acre - 1900 square feet - 4br, 3ba - built in 1940

Day 19

Boy's* Best Friend



*I don't care that he's about to be 16, I still can't call him a man yet.

Day 17 & 18

Dammit! Forgot again. In all fairness I've had nothing but Italian on the brain this week. The good news: the oral exam is finito and I've only got 3 classes left!



I'm working on Christmas candies this weekend for gifts for my neighbors. Muddy Buddies (Reindeer Crunch), Peppermint Pretzels, Fudge, and Red Velvet Cake Balls.

I ♥ this time of year!

Day 15 & 16

It snowed yesterday. I had class. Starbucks didn't give me a holiday cup. No wonder I forgot to post last night.