Good-bye March

March 10

Abby found a little piece of tin foil on the floor and got it stuck on her nose.

March 18

Got to hang out with some of my favorite people!  Their spring break was ending when mine was beginning, so we didn't get to see each other very much.

Apparently I like to collect water bottles.  I always have at least 2 wondering around the house.

March 19

Baby bald eagle at Squaw Creek.

March 19

Words cannot describe how much I love this photo.  It is so simple, yet intriguing all at the same time.

March 26

Got to watch this beautiful bride marry the man of her dreams!  (She is my little in my sorority, GAL.)

Just a little something I made.

22 Accomplishments: March Update

The month of March is over.  This is what I have accomplished according to my 22 accomplishment list: 
-Sent out 1 birthday card this month.  
-Tried a raspberry.  Not too bad--I like them better than strawberries.  (Yes, I know I'm strange, I don't like strawberries.)
-Took our family photo of the month while we were at Squaw Creek.  Have gotten many comments on facebook on how well dad looks.  Just 2 months ago he barely had any hair.
-52 week portrait project is going strong.  Love this project!  Definitely going to keep doing this one in the years to come.  Maybe I'll do different themes each year...we will see!
-Read Marrying Daisy Bellamy by Susan Wiggs.  
-Watched the following movies: The French Connection, Shakespeare in Love, Gigi, All About Eve.  (I had seen Gigi many times when I was a little girl, but I didn't remember any of it so I had to re-watch the movie.)


This is what my list looks like now:
1.  Make dinner for a family who is going through a tough time. (January 22, 2011)
2.  Get back to my ideal weight.
3.  Finish college.
4.  Get a 'big girl' job.
5.  Go a day without getting on the computer (or getting on the internet via iPhone.)
6.  Send birthday cards to all my good friends. (January, February, March)
7.  Make a Christmas advent tree like this one.
8.  Fix and paint my desk chair in my room.
9.  Try 5 new foods. (Soy beans, raspberries)
10.  Create (and do) a cleaning schedule to keep my room better organized.
11.  Take a family photo each month for a year. (January, February, March)
12.  Do a 52 week portrait challenge. (Have completed 12 weeks so far)
13.  Feel more comfortable cooking, especially meats. 
14.  Plant tulips in mom's garden. 
15.  Do a painting.
16.  Clean out my closet.
17.  Finish the quilt I started 4 or 5 years ago.
18.  Learn to make French Toast.
19.  Reach $2100 PCV  in my Silpada sales for 3 2 months. (February)
20.  Go on a family trip.
21.  Read 20 books.
  Here is the list I've read so far:
    1.  Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin (I love this author!  She is one of my favorites.  I've read every single book by her.)
    2. Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah (Good, but wasn't expecting the last twist.  Hit a little close to home.)
    3.  Marrying Daisy Bellamy by Susan Wiggs. So good!  One of my favorite out of the Lakeshore Chronicle series.  It has been really hard to not spoil the book before mom read it.  So far, so good!

22.  Watch every movie that made 'Best Picture' in the Oscars.
 Here is the list: I've marked off the ones I've already seen.  There are a few that I've already seen, but I need a refresher before I check them off the list.  (Too bad, I could cross off another 6 movies...)
*Note: The ones that are marked out but don't have a date by them are movies I've already seen in the years past.

1928 Wing
1929  The Broadway Melody
1930  All the Quiet on the Western Front
1931  Cimarron
1932  Grand Hotel
1933  Cavalcade

1934  It Happened One Night
1935  Mutiny of the Bounty
1936  The Great Ziegfeld
1937  The Life of Emile Zola
1938  You Can't Take It With You
1939  Gone With the Wind
1940  Rebecca
1941  How Green Was My Valley
1942  Mrs. Miniver
1943  Casablanca
1944  Going My Way
1945  The Lost Weekend
1946  The Best Years of Our Lives
1947  Gentleman's Agreement
1948  Hamlet
1949  All The King's Men
1950  All About Eve (March)
1951  An American in Paris
1952  The Greatest Show on Earth
1953  From Here to Eternity
1954  On the Waterfront
1955  Marty
1956  Around the World in 80 Days
1957  The Bridge on the River Kwai
1958  Gigi (March)
1959  Ben-Hur
1960  The Apartment
1961  West Side Story
1962  Lawrence of Arabia
1963  Tom Jones
1964  My Fair Lady
1965  The Sound of Music
1966  A Man for All Seasons
1967  In the Heat of the Night
1968  Oliver
1969  Midnight Cowboy
1970  Patton
1971  The French Connection (March)
1972  The Godfather
1973  The Sting
1974  The Godfather Part II
1975  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1976  Rocky
1977  Annie Hall
1978  The Deer Hunter
1979  Kramer vs. Kramer
1980  Ordinary People
1981  Chariots of Fire
1982  Gandhi
1983  Terms of Endearment
1984  Amadeus
1985  Out of Aftrica
1986  Platoon
1987  The Last Emperor
1988  Rain Man
1989  Driving Miss Daisy
1990  Dances With Wolves
1991  The Silence of the Lambs (February)
1992  Unforgiven
1993  Schindler's List
1994  Forrest Gump
1995  Braveheart
1996  The English Patient
1997  Titanic
1998  Shakespeare in Love (March)
1999  American Beauty
2000  Gladiator
2001  A Beautiful Mind
2002  Chicago

2003  The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

2004  Million Dollar Baby

2005  Crash

2006  The Departed

2007  No Country for Old Men

2008  Slumdog Millionaire

2009  The Hurt Locker

2010  The King's Speech

Tuesday Tunes: Only Grace by Matthew West

It has been quite gloomy here lately.  Spring should be here with sunshine and warmer weather and instead it is cold and grey, and snowing...or at least it is suppose to snow.  I haven't had much going on lately in the last few days and I think the gloominess is starting to get to me.  (I was SOOOO looking forward to warm weather while I had an entire 11 days to do whatever I want thanks to spring break.)  In an attempt to bring up my spirits, I decided I wanted to redo my recipe book.  I think it is going to be a much longer process than I intended, but oh well.  It will turn out really cool when it is all done and finished--then again, when is a recipe book 'finished'.  In another attempt to brighten my day I painted my toes a nice hot pink color!  It always amazes me on how much painted toes can make me just a little bit happier.  I am such a girl :)

12|52

March 24

Lately I've been looking up a bunch of recipes to try.  The first one I tried is a fresh pasta with bacon and peas.  This is the first time my family has tried a new recipe and the entire family liked it--at least from what I remember.  This was a big step and I found the recipe!  (Bonus points for me!)

A few days later I tried this Bird's Nest Cookie recipe.  Everyone liked this too, but hey, it had chocolate!
-Note: I altered the recipe a little.  I didn't use the entire bag of chow mein noodles.  I eye-balled it to how much I wanted the noodles to be covered in the butterscotch chips.

If you try any of these recipes, let me know what you think!

Friday Five

Today has been quite uneventful.  I spent most of the day watching tv and wondering around on the internet.  Sadly, I have had a lot of days like this, but hey, I'm on break!

1.  Yesterday marked my first day of spring break!  whoo--hooo!!  I made these yummy treats. I altered the recipe a little--guess that makes me a pro baker now!  haha.

2.  Woke up to snow on the ground this morning.  And on Monday it was 81 degrees.  What is up with that?!  Oh yea, and we are suppose to get even more....

3.  Found this today on the internet.  I have one word--WOW.  This is such a cool way to document a pregnancy.  Must remember this when the day comes....

4.  Watched All About Eve from the Best Picture category of the Oscars.  Good movie, I liked it.  Recommend if you want to see an old black and white movie.  I have realized that if I want to watch every Best Picture winning movie by the end of the year, I have to watch between 6-7 movies a month.  I better get going on that list.  (However, when I looked at the movies I watched this month, I've hit 5 or 6, so I guess I'm not too far off.)

5.  Going to a wedding tomorrow.  This is the first of the six I have been invited to this spring/summer.  It is going to be a busy year!

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you had a good one!

Yesterday...

March 19, 2011

...I didn't shower
...studied for a test--made a cheat sheet, don't worry we were allowed one!
...it rained, thunderstormed, and hailed.  All three separate storms with sunshine in the middle.
...ate lots of food
...spent a lot of time on pinterest and facebook--such nice ways to distract a student from studying
...cleaned the sink in my bathroom
...took Abby for a car ride where her ears blew in the wind, tail fluttering, barking at anything and everything and nothing at all
...found this new song, actually mom did...it is called Jesus Rides the Subway by Trevor Morgan.  How great are these lyrics?!

He says

You can lay your burden down

You can lay your burden down

Oh maybe you've been kicked around

But you can lay your burden down

...took some sunset pictures after the thunderstorm
...Abby howled a lot
...read a few more chapters in Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin.  (I've already read it, but reading it again before the movie comes out!)
...the countdown to spring break is beginning to be unbearable.  (After 6:45 today I'm free!!!!)
...I realized I haven't posted my self portrait from last week...oops!
Week 11: March 17
Not the picture I had intended on doing, but Abby just HAD to come outside and she just HAD to be in the photo with me

Tuesday Tunes: Who Says by Selena Gomez & The Scene

Who says

Who says you're not perfect

Who say you're not worth it

Who says you're the only one that's hurting

Trust me

That's the price of beauty

Who says you're not pretty

Who says you're not beautiful

 I had to pick this song because it is so inspiring.  It is a song that anyone can relate to--young and old.  It is awesome to see someone who is a role model to tons of little girls have such an inspiring song with a great message.  (I grew up with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera--not the best role models for a 10 year old.)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Squaw Creek

Yesterday my mom, dad, and I traveled the northern tip of Missouri.  We went to a nature refugee called Squaw Creek.  It is mostly a safe place for bald eagles to live.  We were a little late in the year so we only saw 1 bald eagle.  While we went around the refugee we saw tons of birds and a beaver!  This was the first time I've seen a beaver that wasn't in a zoo.  (This was almost more exciting than the eagle!)

After we went to Squaw Creek, we traveled to Stanberry to find my great grandparent's grave.  (My dad's mom's parents.)  It was pretty cool, while we were there we found some other relatives too.  (My dad's mom's parent's brother--did you follow that one?)  And someone else, but we aren't exactly sure how they are related.  We need to do some research.  It was interesting though, because on one of the tombstone, there was a relative whose name was Elizabeth, which is my middle name.  I guess you could say part of my name is historically in my family.  Then again, Elizabeth is pretty common, but still it's pretty cool!

In all, the day was a little cold and gray, with the occasional rain, but we had a great time getting out of the house and having some good, quality family time.  What a great way to spend a Saturday!

Friday Five

I was going to do a Friday Five in photos today, but I haven't emptied my camera yet.  Especially since I'm going to be using it tomorrow and will want to upload photos after we go to Squaw Creek.  Alas, here is Friday Five in words.

1.  Finished the second half of the movie Gigi.  It was on my Oscar movie list.  I remember watching it a lot when I was little, but I didn't remember the movie at all.  It was alright, but I have to say, I give mom props for being able to get a little girl to watch it.  I couldn't understand half the things they were saying.  Maybe it is the old VHS tape we have...

2.  Did a little studying.  Story of a college student.

3.  Went with mom to help her take my grandparents to the doctor.  What an experience.  (They are 89 and 88--need I say more?!)

4.  Finally bought the new Matt Wertz cd.  (It came out on Tuesday.)  One word---AMAZING!  Definitely go check it out.  You won't be let down.

5.  Going out with the girls tonight.  Better get going!

Night everyone!

I Wish...

I wish.......

...I were a better student.
...My friends got together more often.
...I didn't talk myself out of things.

...I were a better writer.

...I didn't have seasonal allergies so I could enjoy the spring weather.

...I knew what I wanted to do with my life after school--and knew how to get there once I figured it out.

...I didn't waste days that I was unhappy.

...The words 'cancer' and 'chemo' weren't in my vocabulary.
...I had that special someone and didn't have to worry if we'd ever find each other.
...I was more daring.
...I could keep my room/living space cleaner.
...I could go back to being a little girl that was always taken care of...
...Yet at the same time, I wish to become a mother and become the care taker.
...I didn't over think things so much.
...My hair cooperated more.
...Some of the little things mattered more.
...More people used snail mail.
...I were more creative.


I am not normally a negative person, but these are just some of the thoughts that have passed through my mind the last year.  A year where I have learned how precious, delicate, and uncertain life can be.

Tuesday Tunes: Find Love by NLX

Sunday night I was studying for a test (and watching an old episode of Brothers and Sisters--multitasking at its best!).  At the end of the episode, they played this song.  It was the first time I've heard it and I don't know what it is about the song, but it really appealed to me.  Hopefully it has the same affect for you too!

10/52

Week 10 of my 52 week project.  Taken yesterday, March 12th.

12of12 March 2011

01.   Good Morning.  I was up before every one else in the house, which is rare!

02.   Finished the newest installment of the Lakeshore Chronicles by Susan Wiggs.  They are my all time favorite books! 

03.   Dad putting in the new faucet. 

04.   Abby watching all the commotion.  A few minutes later she was snoring.

05.   The new faucet.  Looks much better than the rusty old one.

06.   Grapes.

07.   Watched a lot of news the past 2 days about the earthquake/tsunami that happened in Japan on March 11^th.

08.   Self portrait.

09.   Sunset.

10.   Me and Abby.  She was sniffing my chin.  What a goof!

11.   Macaroni Grill in minutes (from the freezer).  Yum!

12.   Tonight’s Oscar winning movie is Shakespeare In Love.

Friday Five

1.  Studying--at least I got a head start on my flashcards...
2.  I started pinterest and I'm hooked.  Don't know if that is a good thing or not.  As if I need something else to do on the computer.
3.  I can't help but wonder what has happened to our world.  I know the earthquake/tsunami that happened in Japan is not something that happened by man, but it is scary to see what our world is like in a broad sense.
4.  Tonight mom and I went to Home Depot to buy a new faucet for our kitchen sink.  While we were out and about I could start to feel my allergies kicking in.  Not good :(  Usually I don't start seeing signs of them till mid or late April.  Guess they have decided to start early this year!
5.  So excited for the 12 of 12 tomorrow!  Is it sad that I plan what I want to take pictures of? (Or at least some of them.)

Happy Friday!

Shape Collage

I found this awesome download that creates images out of your own pictures.  It creates shapes and words.  I haven't been able to explore with it yet, but this is what I've created so far.  Thought I'd share it with you.  Click here to get the download!

Tuesday Tunes: Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World

The last few days I've been trying to pick a song to display for my second Tuesday Tunes. I originally wanted to do Faster by Matt Nathanson just because it is his newest song and will be the first single for his new cd.  And I am in love with it!  However, because it is SO new, the only videos I could find were crummy ones that people took at concerts. That is when the search for a new song began.

Last night dad and I watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid. That movie is hilarious! I highly recommend you watch it--especially if you need a good laugh!  Once that movie was over dad changed the channel to The Cinderella Story. I'm sure at one point in my life it ranked as one of my top movies considering I own the DVD.  But I know dad never sat down to watch it with me, so this was a BIG shock.  He was the one to change to this channel, not me.  At the end of the movie they play Jimmy Eat World's Hear You Me.  I don't know what it is about his songs, but they always tend to speak to me.  So here is his song...I hope you enjoy!

22 Accomplishments

 I got this idea from a friend, but I'm modifying it :)  I have created a list of things to do by the end of the year.  And because this is my 22nd year, I am going to [try] to accomplish 22 tasks.  Some of them are real things I'd like to accomplish, while others (most of them) are just fun things to try or do.  Stay tuned for updates!

1.  Make dinner for a family who is going through a tough time. (January 22, 2011)
2.  Get back to my ideal weight.
3.  Finish college.
4.  Get a 'big girl' job.
5.  Go a day without getting on the computer (or getting on the internet via iPhone.)
6.  Send birthday cards to all my good friends.
7.  Make a Christmas advent tree like this one.
8.  Fix and paint my desk chair in my room.
9.  Try 5 new foods. (Soy beans)
10.  Create (and do) a cleaning schedule to keep my room better organized.
11.  Take a family photo each month for a year.
12.  Do a 52 week portrait challenge.
13.  Feel more comfortable cooking, especially meats.
14.  Plant tulips in mom's garden.
15.  Do a painting.
16.  Clean out my closet.
17.  Finish the quilt I started 4 or 5 years ago.
18.  Learn to make French Toast.
19.  Reach $2100 PCV  in my Silpada sales for 3 2 months. (February)
20.  Go on a family trip.
21.  Read 20 books.
  Here is the list I've read so far:
    1.  Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin (I love this author!  She is one of my favorites.  I've read every single book by her.)
    2. Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah (Good, but wasn't expecting the last last twist.  Hit a little close to home.)
22.  Watch every movie that made 'Best Picture' in the Oscars.
 Here is the list: I've marked off the ones I've already seen.  There are a few that I've already seen, but I need a refresher before I check them off the list.  (Too bad, I could cross off anther 6 movies...)

Wings The Broadway Melody All the Quiet on the Western Front Cimarron Grand Hotel Cavalcade It Happened One Night Mutiny on the Bounty The Great Ziegfeld The Life of Emile Zola You Can't Take It With You Gone With the Wind Rebecca How Green Was My Valley Mrs. Miniver Casablanca Going My Way The Lost Weekend The Best Years of Our Lives Gentleman's Agreement Hamlet All the King's Men All About Eve An American in Paris The Greatest Show on Earth From Here to Eternity On the Waterfront Marty Around the World in 80 Days The Bridge on the River Kwai Gigi Ben-Hur The Apartment West Side Story Lawrence of Arabia Tom Jones My Fair Lady The Sound of Music A Man for All Seasons In the Heat of the Night Oliver Midnight Cowboy Patton The French Connection The Godfather The Sting The Goodfather Part II One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Rocky Annie Hall The Deer Hunter Kramer vs. Kramer Ordinary People Chariots of Fire Gandhi Terms of Endearment Amadeus Out of Africa Platoon The Last Emperor Rain Man Driving Miss Daisy Dances With Wolves The Silence of the Lambs (February) Unforgiven Schindler's List Forrest Gump Braveheart The English Patient Titanic Shakespeare in Love American Beauty Gladiator A Beautiful Mind Chicago The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Million Dollar Baby Crash The Departed No Country for Old Men Slumdog Millionaire The Hurt Locker The King's Speech

Friday Five including 9/52

1.  I am really liking the new font I put on my blog.  And I added a favorite list on the right side.  Apparently I can't stick to one look for too long.  At least this time they weren't drastic changes.  We will see what next month holds....

2.  I finally finished reading Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah last night.  It was a very good book, but I wasn't expecting the last half of it.  I'm glad I made it through the book, even though it touched a little bit too close to home.  But overall, good book!

3.  Lots and lots of laundry.  And it's all my clothes.

4.  I cannot wait for the 12th just so I can do the 12 of 12 for this month.  I don't know what it is about this project, but I absolutely love it!

5.  Another photo project: 9/52

Here is the story behind the picture:  I woke up at 8 something this morning--which seemed early since I didn't go to bed till 1 am.  I wondered out into the living room and found Abby was snoring-like usual.  I really wasn't ready to start my day eat yet so I went back into my room to lay down and maybe get a few more zzz's.  I knew Abby would wake up soon so I left the door open a crack.  Sure enough, within minutes, I heard footsteps.  Miss Abby came in to say 'good morning'!  (She used to do this when she was a puppy, but has stopped over the years.)  She loves sleeping in my bed so I helped her up and we had some cuddle time.  Thankfully I had my camera close by.  I had yet to take my picture for my 52 week project and therefor this picture was created.

Beside yourself

Rainbows have a significant meaning in my family.  Rainbows signify hope.  When I was 8, my mom had a pretty serious surgery.  She had been praying for God to send her a rainbow to let her know that everything would be ok.  The night before her surgery, I sat in the kitchen drawing.  I drew her a picture of a rainbow.  Not knowing my mom's prayers, God showed her her rainbow through her daughter.

Last summer dad was diagnosed with cancer.  We had a great support system around our family and he received many, many cards.  One of the cards had this saying on it and the quote has stuck out in my mind every since.

It only seemed right to put the two together.  I personally have not gone through a serious medical condition, but this is how I now things are going to be alright.  A rainbow that means hope and a quote to remind me that God is always beside me.

Tuesday Tunes: Songbird by Eva Cassidy

I want to start something new on here--Tuesday Tunes. I love music and mostly I love finding new music, or at least new to me. My first Tuesday tune is a song called Songbird sung by Eva Cassidy. After yesterday's tears I thought this song would be appropriate today. This song has sung me to sleep countless number of nights. I can't pinpoint exactly why I turn to this song, but it never fails me.

I don't know if it will have the same affect on you as it does me, but either way I thought I'd share it and hope it might give someone else comfort in the still of the night.