Let's start this with Friday morning... if you have them memorized (doubt it) number 12 on my list is try cooking something new each month. WEELLL I've been taking a cooking class and learning all about healthy substitutes to incorporate my list I decided I would try making new pancakes (healthy ones) needless to say it was a huge failure... such a failure that I quit cooking and had a temper tantrum- kicking and screaming, I might have even thrown a pancake :). I was so mad that I didn't even eat breakfast. This was after the SECOND batch failed... so does that still count? (picture of failed pancakes is P.O.D. for October 15th)

Item number 1 is going GREAT! I even got the roomies excited about it! After my miserable attempt at Breakfast we went to REI, DICK's, and Bass Pro to get all of the stuff for our next bog hike.

Reading materials, of course! We ended up buying the one on the left and it has come in handy so far!

Camel Back back packs- (the one with the water sack inside) Also very handy!

We went on our longest hike so far (not that hard since we've only been on two) on Sunday! We went to Dupont Forest and Hooker Falls... I can't even tell you how BEAUTIFUL it was! I'm working on making a page for the hiking section. I will be putting up pictures and descriptions of each park! Here is a couple of my favorite pictures from this hike:

Look for more photos coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who continues to stop by! I appreciate all the encouragement and enthusiasm for my project!

All that excitement to say that I finished my first book, "Eat, Pray, Love"! So excited... The last time I turned the page I had 1 page and a paragraph left, that final amount held plenty of anticipation. I honestly don't know if I even paid that much attention to what I was reading because all I could think was "You're almost done, I'M ALMOST DONE, one last paragraph...and I'M DONE!"... I've learned so much from this book, more than I've learned in a few years. Can't wait to pass it on...

So, originally I was going to use this next blog to talk about acceptance, forgiveness, thankfulness, or any of the other many things I've been thinking about lately. Instead, my attention was quickly diverted to the boys who were yelling, no, screaming at the T.V. I decided then, that I would blog about video games :)... not the game itself but all the excitement that goes into playing and I'm hoping to gain some understanding and incite into the strange workings of the male mind (wish me luck)...

It must be instilled at a young age...RAAAR!

My first instinct was to flee the scene and retreat to the bedroom. I figured I would need the silence to write all this out, then at last minute I changed my mind. I thought that my research would best be done in the heat of the action- yelling and all.

This guy is INTENSE. I would like to ask him is he's playing poker, or maybe his game is really bright?

This is how I feel when I play video games, usually because I'm losing...

This is my Taco salad... minus the beef :( Black Beans instead!

Well I tried my new cookie recipe and let me tell you they were AMAZING! This is what they look like:

TA DA! They might not look very good, but trust me, they are! The boys LOVED them last night! I encourage you to try it because they are yummy and pretty healthy too!

SERVINGS
Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies

INGREDIENTS
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons apple sauce
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 medium banana- smashed
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (I like walnuts for mine)

I also added 1/3 cup flax seed just to make it a little extra healthy!


PREPARATION
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or cover with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Cream the butter with the brown sugar until light in color, about 4 minutes. Beat in the egg until well incorporated. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and blend well. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, and nuts.

3. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Check it out, not too shabby huh?

I have a lot that I would like to say and I feel the need to say but I think I've already been on the computer too long (damn you facebook!) so I'm gonna take a break, hopefully finish my book, and then take another whack at this blogging thing :)

I'm happy to announce that I have started writing to my pen pal (#18)! I put the VERY FIRST letter in the mail this morning... Very excited for this little project to develop!

I would like to say that I have also made a new recipe- however I just adjusted a recipe that I have already made... I learned in my food class (yes, I'm taking a food class) about using healthy substitutions like bananas for eggs and applesauce for oil or butter (I've heard of the applesauce before from my middle school best friend, her mom did it all the time)... I made the above substitutions and added flax seed to my chocolate, chocolate chip and oat cookies... I would say they are pretty healthy since they are made with wheat flour, bananas, apple sauce, rolled oats, and nuts :)... Can't wait for these little guys to get out of the oven!

I'm almost done with my book- "eat, pray, love". Only 5 chapters left!!! My friend, Aminda, recommended I read "Intuitions" next. I'm gonna have to make a run to borders again to see if I can find it!


Happy Birthday to my Friend, Kyle, today and my other friend, Kyle, yesterday! I was sent these photos today by one of them, cool huh?

It's weird how you get so excited about seeing your own name in unexpected places :)

If you haven't already go vote for my #6 (I believe it is located in the blog before this one!)

so I must THANK everyone who has made suggestions to me for my list... which books to read, new recipes to try (VEGAN ONES TOO!) it's been great! I love having support of others and I'm really happy with the direction that this little "project" is heading in... I'm about to dive into another item on my list- #6 Research each state and find some cool places to visit. To make this site a little more interactive I decided to make a poll to see which way I should go about it- so make sure YOU PARTICIPATE - its at the end of today's blog)

I'll also be starting #12:try making/cooking something new at least twice a month, on Friday. Thanks to Mrs. Hedlund I will be making Mushroom Parmesan for dinner... good thing both boys will be gone!

Another item on my list of to-do's this week will be # 18: be a pen pal! I'm gonna write my first letter, and I am VERY excited to send it :)


That's all the updating I have so far... don't forget to participate in my poll (scroll down to see it!)


Thanks for stopping by!

I'm so glad to be back home and OUT of the car... It was a great weekend and I LOVED seeing people that I haven't seen in years, but driving really takes it out of you. So here's what you missed over the past few days...


Me and Matt left Friday afternoon (it was suppose to be morning buuuut someone, me, got a little sick- oops.) for Jefferson City to go to CN's homecoming. I haven't been able to go since I graduated so I was very excited to be there.

Here is a picture from the homecoming game:

The real adventure started on our way there when we hit traffic on I-40. We had only 7 miles to go until we hit the TN boarder but it was a parking lot. We both busted out our phones to see if there was a way around the traffic. According to Verizon there was a road that would take us all the way to where we needed to go. We, of course, took the exit. We should have realized right away when it was a dirt road that it was obviously the WRONG decision. To make it short, 3 hours later we make it to where we need to be. This road was the scariest thing I have been on. About 6 feet wide, curves for miles, and we were on the side of the mountain (STEEEP)... I'm surprised that I didn't have a heart attack and that we didn't cross paths with a bear. The good news is that we made it!

I don't even want to talk about Saturday because someone must have messed with the Football gods- nobody one that should have, CN included- yikes.

Sunday we had lunch with one of my greatest friends, STEVO. Then we headed back to NC. On the way back we had to shop at SHEETS- the World's coolest gas station. If you've never been there, google it! Here are some pictures I took while there:

Talk about options- WOW!

I like their advertising...

Now we are home and I can update! YAY... I'm putting up a poll tomorrow so make sure you come back to participate! I hope everyone had a great and safe weekend! Don'

First off,  I must start this blog with a HUGE Happy Birthday to my Mom... without her this blog wouldn't exist, my website wouldn't exist, my list wouldn't exist, and of course, I wouldn't exist! So, thanks Mom for bringing me into this world and inspiring me to be the person I am today. I wish everyone had the chance to meet my mom, she's one special lady!

I feel like I have so much to update but realistically I just have two BIG these to say. #1: I found a person to be my pen pal (so excited)... I only know his name and nothing else about him except that he has an AMAZING best friend. I thought it would be more interesting to get to know someone through being a pen pal rather than writing to someone I know... I'll keep you updated, of course :)

#2: For the past few weeks I've been trying to figure out what it is that I want to fast... what could I realistically give up for 40 days... I thought for weeks about something and finally it hit me last night while I reading my book (#4) I have decided to give up meat. White meat, dark meat, red meat all meat. Today is the first day of my "veganism" (ya, I made that up). Another thing to keep you updated on!

One last thought before I leave you for the day:

"Life is like a taxi. The meter just keeps a-ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still." -- Lou Erickso


Why not make the ride worth while?

A new check for my list-

#9: Watch a Star Wars Movie... of course I HAD to watch the first one (that would only make sense, right?) It was alright. It didn't turn me into a die hard fan but... o well.

I also got my new NORTH CAROLINA drivers license yesterday, woo hoo! I didn't miss a question. When I was sitting in the waiting room, my heart kept pounding- the anticipation of take the test ALL OVER AGAIN had my stomach in knots. Surprisingly people that went before me didn't pass- that really scared me.

But I passed. I'm officially a "North Carolinian" as the lady at the counter would say. Makes me sad to know that I'm not a Minnesota Resident :(

Today has been a very productive day for my "list". I went to Borders and bought a few books that I will start reading...

Ta da...

I can also now cross off #14 on the list-

#14: find out what P.s. means- POST SCRIPT :) (It was used when u wrote a message on a telegram or postcard and u forgot to mention important information) CHECK!- this can also qualify towards # 23 (learn something new every day)

I also made my care package for the month of October (#13). I got a little excited with this one and sent more than one...

I would say a pretty productive day... :)

The very first post. Wow. I never saw this actually happening. Usually I make all kinds of lists of things I want to do. Similar to New Years resolutions. But this list is something bigger than that. This list will hopefully make me a better person. Show me things about my self that I never knew, and maybe affect others around me in a positive way. So here it goes- the start to my 25th year. (be sure to check out the 25 things list and follow along as I check them off!)