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Cupcake Adventures of two AC Bloggers

4/20/2011 11:41:00 AM • , , , , , • 3 comments



The culinary world is a buzz with its newest favorite craze. Cupcakes.What is not to like about these darlings? They are personal sized cakes thatcan be decorated to be anything the baker can think of. From basketballs to TVdinners, flower baskets to faces. If you have the time and the talent, you can makeyour cupcakes be anything.Personally, I love cupcakes. Anything that is a miniature version of somethingis awesome in my book.A couple of weeks ago, Brittney and I were talking about doing a joint blogpost. Something that was both creative and fun, something that we could make andshow off. After much debate we decided to make cupcakes. From there we made aquick trip to the magical Internet to get some ideas about what we would be making.There, we realized we just aren’t as creative or artistic as some of these people. I couldn't make this if I tried



There are cupcake artists who can create the coolest things on top of acupcake. We are just not that talented nor did we have years to dedicate to the art ofcupcake decoration.We decided to make two flavors of cupcakes- Red Velvet and White WeddingCake. Let me just say that wedding cake is the best flavor of cake. I could eat it allday every day. The plan originally was for us to make 24 of each flavor cupcake, fora total of 48. There was a flaw in the plan. We wrongly assumed that the recipe wasright and the yield amount was correct. The recipe lied. We had nearly 70 cupcakes,mostly red velvet; it took seven hours from start to finish to create our mini cakemasterpieces. I think we have a legitimate future in the world of cupcake-making, or at least cupcake-eating.




This was an impressive mess. I don't think there has ever been a bigger cupcake mess


Seven hours of cupcake baking, decorating and taste-testing…It was pretty intense and my kitchen was nothing short of a disaster afterward. I can’t complain though, I had a blast. Andrea and I might not be professional cupcake-bakers, but I have to admit I was pretty impressed by the final products overall.



Sure, there were a few ugly ones, but they were delicious none the less and we even wound up with some darn good-looking cupcakes. We had cupcakes that looked like lady bugs, Pokeballs and landscapes and seascapes…there was even one with a badger face on it in honor of the AC mascot. There were cupcakes topped with cream cheese icing, buttercreamicing, sprinkles and/or fondant. We got pretty crafty!



A few things we learned during our cupcake adventure:


  • Fondant is frustrating to work with and tastes like Play-Doh…onlysweet instead of salty (yes, I ate Play-Doh as a kid and I know you didtoo).


  • No matter how much time is spent Googling cupcake decorating ideas and how much stuff you buy at Wal-Mart to create what you’ve found…it’s not going to turn out how you initially envisioned.We used some of the ideas, but about 60 of the 70 or so cupcakes made illustrate our own creativity coming into play. It’s more fun
    improvising, anyway.




  • The recipe only provides guidelines. Andrea knows this… Good thing she made the cupcakes and I just observed. She could just look at the batter and know it needed more this or that… She did well!

  • Chips and queso = the perfect snack to balance out all of the sweettaste-testing.Making the mess is fun and easy…cleaning up, not so much.


  • There is no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon/evening with a good friend, just laughing and having a good time. We all need to take a break and have some fun.

TJCSGA

4/17/2011 07:07:00 PM • • 0 comments


Last weekend was busy for the most part, but that would be an understatement. You see, I was in Austin for the annual TJCSGA Convention. Which stands for Texas Junior College Student Government Association. Basically, all the community colleges in Texas who are involved in TJCSGA with their student government get together for a convention that is completely student run, and does a pretty awesome job at that.

Amarillo College this year was president school, and our representative for that was non other than Anthony Najar who happens to be the SGA President of our college also.

But let's begin.

Day 1: Thursday I was early to rise with my luggage all packed and a box full of campaign materials. Although I was worried thinking my luggage would be overweight and I would have to pay a fine, everything turned out to be OK. Making it to Austin was unbelievable considering we were snowed in to go there for Community College day. I feared the same thing would happen again with this crazy panhandle weather. But all was good. The first day was very casual without having to dress up nice. We had icebreakers, massage chairs, our general assemble, and our region meeting. It was pretty exciting to see Anthony Najar as our president for TJCSGA. I was also excited to serve as Region Parliamentarian during our region meetings.

Day 2: Honestly, it's hard to remember what all went on with everything we had to do. Whether it was getting ready for campaigning or going to workshops. There was always something on the table to do. But there was sure a lot of eating going on.

Day 3: This was the day the speech and skits happened. AC decided to do this year a Napoleon Dynamite themed campaign. We had shirts, chap stick, buttons, and gum. I did the speech Pedro did in the movie, Trevor Brown did the Napoleon dance. It was a very memorable moment for me, and a quite funny one too.

Day 4: Sunday. We had our last General Assembly at the Capitol on the House Floor. We also had our elections. The speeches that were given by the board members were very emotional. And we ended the meeting with the new board present, which I am now a part of as AC's Representative for the State Parliamentarian position.

With new things awaiting me next year I find this to be very exciting. And hope to represent AC to the best of my ability.

Tree hugger

4/08/2011 02:47:00 PM • • 2 comments


Trends make me giggle. Someone, somewhere does something that someone else says is cool and before you know it, it's everywhere. Bell-bottom jeans and peace signs in the '70s, big hair and tight leather in the '80s...

I always wonder who really starts these trends. I mean, how do I start a trend that spreads like wildfire? Oh, well.

To get to my point, a recent trend that I have noticed is this "being green" thing that is suddenly the trendy, cute, cool thing to do.

In all honesty, it annoys the heck out of me. Not "being green," but rather the fact that it's nothing more than a trend. We finally seem to be onto a trend that could be somewhat beneficial to the planet...but how many people really, truly understand what "being green" is all about?

I don't really care if you have a peace sign tattoo, own a t-shirt with a the recycle symbol on it or wear TOMS. You're not a hippie. You're not a tree-hugger. You probably don't recycle. You probably don't even know what being environmentally mindful really means.

Okay, okay. I'm stereotyping (and ranting). But how many people go out and buy a pair of TOMS because it's for a good cause? How many people actually understand the process of recycling and actively recycle appropriate materials? How many people actually understand what the entire "green" movement is all about?

So now that you all know how strongly I feel about this (at least I hope you do), I am going to take the liberty to share with you a few tips on actually "being green." Follow these steps and you'll look trendier and cooler than anyone else out there. Dear Mother Earth will think so, anyway.

If you are thinking about taking the environment a little more serious and being a little more appreciative of all that this earth has provided us with, I recommend treehugger.com. They have done a wonderful job of providing practical information about what you can take to be more earth-friendly in every area of your life. They also have several links to other helpful websites.
So, we can't all go out and buy an eco-friendly car and remodel our house so it's solar-powered and filled with pricey new appliances that run on less power and waste less water. BUT, I guarantee that everything on my list is perfectly doable.

Think about these things:

1. Next time you visit the coffee shop, don't use the paper or plastic cup.
If you're going to be there for a while, ask you're barista if they have a cups "for here." They do, and they will let you use them. Your coffee or tea will taste much better in a real cup, anyway.
If you're on the run, take your own tumbler or cup. I understand that cups and lids are made of whatever percentage of recycled materials now...blah, blah, blah... This is fine and dandy, but they still wind up piled in the landfill somewhere and making the cups (from recycled materials or not) uses up a considerable amount of energy.

2. Stop buying bottles of water. Or if you do, reuse them. If cute and trendy is your thing, find a cute and trendy water bottle and make use of it. Plus, it's way less expensive in the long run if you just keep refilling the same bottle as opposed to spending $1 or more every time you are thirsty. You can fill your handy dandy water bottle with other beverages, too.

3. Invest in some cute cloth napkins. Mine are just solid green...but I like them. Instead of going out and buying napkins that will just wind up alongside all of those Starbucks cups and plastic bottles in a landfill, I just own a couple sets of nice cloth napkins that I can wash and use over and over again. Extra points for the cloth napkins that are made of organic materials. This helps cut back on the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides in the environment.

4. When doing laundry, try to avoid the "hot" cycle setting. Cold water is best, but even warm is better than the energy-eating full on hot wash. Wear things like jeans two or three times before tossing them in the wash, and use the same towel a few times too. Avoid the dryer by hanging things to air-dry, when possible, and cut back on ironing (who enjoys ironing, anyway?).

5. Shut off the water while brushing your teeth. Wet the toothbrush, shut the water off, brush, then turn the faucet back on to rinse. Simple enough. Don't take half-hour long showers, either.
Likewise, when doing dishes, avoid leaving the water running constantly when rinsing.

6. Walk or ride your bike. It's good for your body, and the environment will appreciate it too. If you're only going to the coffee shop down the street or a few blocks away to pick up an item or two from the grocery story, walking won't kill you, I promise.

7. Never, ever, ever litter. This one really gets to me. Very little irritates me more than when I'm driving down the highway and see the driver in the car in front of me roll down the window and throw an empty cup or whatever else out. You'll probably run into a trash can shortly after parking, so just leave it in the car for a few more minutes.
Smokers, don't throw your cigarette butts on the ground.
And if you see a big piece of trash, do a good deed and pick it up. You'll feel good about it.

8. Start a recycle bag or basket. Just have a bag in the kitchen that you can drop newspapers and magazines in when you're done with them. You could also have a basket for aluminum cans or bottles or whatever else you tend to use lots of. When it's full, stick it in the car and drop it off next time you drive by those big green dumpster-looking things for materials to be recycled.

9. Take your own bags to the grocery store, or recycle the ones you take from the store. I actually pick up a reusable shopping bag as a souvenir wherever I go. I have a Dallas Cowboys one... and my favorite one is probably my Whole Foods bag from Santa Fe.

These are just a few simple things I try to live by. Nothing elaborate, but it makes a big difference. Imagine if everyone lived by a handful of eco-friendly rules.

AC Honors/England Trip

4/06/2011 04:49:00 PM • • 1 comments

The Honors Program here at AC is taking in some new directions for the next upcoming academic year. A more variety of classes are becoming available to reach out to more students. And I find this being very much needed. Experiencing being part of the honors program this semester has helped me realize that more students need to be doing this. I've heard stories about students taking classes they don't necessarily need to graduate, but take them anyway since they are apart of the honor's curriculum. So they reach outside of their majors to take classes.

Judy Carter provides an Honors Seminar course that helps plan things for next year to happen with the honor's program. Being currently enrolled in that class I have gotten an amazing opportunity to help out the class and learn some very interesting things about goal setting.

Next year will introduce a select group of students who will serve as presidential scholars, and specific classes are provided for this group as well.

But on to another note, the honors program takes an annual trip over the summer and this year they will be going to England for eight days.

So what I'm trying to say here is that the honors program provides an excellent amount of opportunities to take advantage of with your stay here at AC. Not only does it look good on a transcript, but it really molds you into becoming a wonderful student. And even though this person was already pretty great I know personally a Hanna Osteen who just may be one of the best persons I know, and I'm glad I do. She's a member of the honors program and many other various activities.

Every year this program is trying to do something to engage new students. When people think honors they think hard classes or maybe that their not cut out to do that, but when in reality everybody has a chance and deserves to take a look in joining. So go ahead and do something outside of your comfort zone and do something different.

Because it may just be the one things to lead your life in a new direction!


The levels of friendship are varied and complex, tread with caution.

4/05/2011 07:29:00 PM • • 2 comments

A wise man once said, "Friends are God's way of apologizing for our family" and when you really think about it the friends that really matter, they are the family that you make. Yes, some people are lucky enough to be friends with their family but sometimes the people that you share DNA with are the most dissimilar to you. I would like to dedicate this post to all the different kind of friends I have had over the years.


We all know that there are levels of friendship; I like to think of it as the friendship pyramid.
Kinda like this but less creepy

The base is made up of acquaintances, friends of friends and people you think look vaguely familiar. Usually the denizens of this level are people that you have met for a few hours and then see them later you don’t know whether to let it be known that you know who they are, in case they think you are crazy or they don’t remember you. These people I like to give them the subtle, ‘what’s up nod’ nothing too formal. It acknowledges that you know each other but you are not inviting them over for tea and crumpets.
technically this doesn't go but it's pretty great

The second level is, school friends, classmates and work friends. These people are their own group mostly because we act a certain way around them.
These people are cool to hang out with from 8-5 Monday through Friday, but inviting them out of this environment can cause problems. Especially if you are in a competitive company or class with them. Many people in this section seem to think that going out with you while not part of class or work is a hidden sign for them to become a covert ninja spy. Who only pretends to be cool until they can use the information that they have learned from you to their advantage. They are the ones that will use the fact that you had a glass of wine with dinner as proof positive that you are an alcoholic and will begin your destruction.
Yes, tell me your weakness...

Level three is the transition phase. I like to think of it as friend limbo. This can be a good friend zone or a bad friend zone. Say that a member of the bottom two tiers has proved their awesomeness and you have deemed them eligible to compete to be in another tier. Then this is a good place for them to be. Or it could be bad. Say someone from the top two tiers has shown how unawesome they are, they can be kicked down to level three while their status is being reevaluated. This is also the only time that the friend pyramid and the love pyramid completely mesh. Members of the love pyramid don’t like coming to this level, mostly because it kicks they out of the other pyramid. If you have every watched the Scrubs episode about the friend zone it greatly explains this transition.


Fourth level is the people that are not your best friends but are still pretty cool. These are the people that know you well enough that you feel you can be more of your self around. However you don’t go full on you around these people. Say you are a really big Pokémon fan, but it’s not something everyone knows. You don’t bust out with the whole Pokémon roster. You pretend you only know the original 150 since that was cool when we were young, and see if anyone else starts naming obscure Pokémon, or whips out their DS. Then you know it is safe. You might also recognize this zone from when you first start dating someone, it’s kind of similar to the beginning of a relationship. There is a great quote that says, “Love comes slowly. The running across a field into someone’s arms comes later in the relationship. Once you’re sure that they won’t laugh if you trip and fall on your face.” Ladies these are the women that you ask to go to the bathroom with you when you are at a party. The relationships you have with close friends greatly resemble love at times. People need to love you to want to hear about your strange neurosis and idiosyncrasies. Typically with this level you still need to have some set ‘plans’ about what you are going to do, rather than just be together.
This comes up when you google being awesome.

The fifth level is for your best friends, siblings and family members that you are really close to. These people have something in common; they love you, even when they hate you. These people know that you are actually vulnerable and cry more than you let on.
These people are there even when you think that there is no one else. They will come and get you when you run out of gas, and they won’t even tell you that you are stupid. They know all about your obsession with Pokémon and they are ok with that. These are the type of people that you feel comfortable lending money to in any situation. They are also the ones that know more about you than even you know.
Snowman revenge = <3

The very tip of the friend pyramid is your Best Friend. This person you can go long times with out talking to but the second you see them it’s like no time has gone past. Ladies if you don’t know whom your very best friend is, since we tend to have 5 best friends. Think about getting married. The guy or why is not really important. Who is the first person that you ask to be a bridesmaid. That is your very best friend. A best friend is someone you can do hang out with and have no plans and you still have fun because you are hanging out together. They can be polar opposites of you but you still get one another. My best friend is very conservative, from a tiny town in South Texas, and totally different from me, but we get along so well despite all of that. If the friendship pyramid corresponded with the food pyramid a best friend would definitely be the refined sugar at the very top.

Tell me about your friends, do you agree with my friendship assessment. Or am I just insane. Let me know in the comments.
-Andrea out.

Youtube

3/30/2011 10:23:00 PM • • 0 comments

Normally I would talk about something directly related to Amarillo College, but today I have something different in mind.

Ever watch youtube videos? Or better yet, youtube videos of youtube sensations who have over a million views? Did you know they actually get paid for that kind of stuff?

Yes, up to $300,000 or more a year can be earned for these people.

The fact that they get paid a whole lot is not something I really wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk more about my favorite youtube star Natalie Tran who currently does videos on her youtube channel named communitychannel.

Now, I guess I like this person since my sense my sense of humor is a little odd, but it looks like a million others can say the same thing.


Natalie Tyler Tran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBFemUCm6Io

I remember the first time a watched her videos was in the summer of '09. How it happened, I don't know, because I did not even know of this person. But that accidental stumble across her youtube channel may have been one of the greatest discoveries I've done on the internet.

The topics of her videos all pertain to situations we do in real life. Well, most situations we do in real life, some of her videos are just the weird things she does that she thinks we do also. She enjoys, "your mum" jokes, and makes them all the time.

At the end of her video she always does a response to the comments she got in her last video that she made. It can be very entertaining at times.












I never really watch youtube at all very often, but I will go every once in a while just to see the new videos posted by this person. Sometimes I'll get carried away and watch 20 videos, and each video tends to be around 3 minutes. Which leads to an hour of watching videos.

I'm not into other youtube stars, mainly because I don't know any others, and I'm OK with that.

If there is any videos of youtube starts that you watch out there feel free to write them down in the comment section.

Until next time...

Relax!

3/28/2011 07:54:00 PM • • 3 comments

What's wrong with this picture?
Simple. That hammock is empty. I should be right there, right now.

I don't know about you, but lately, I've been kind of feeling like the Little Engine we read about as kids. You know, the one that kept telling herself, "I think I can. I think I can." Eventually, she did, but it was quite the long and tiring process.

It's tough juggling everything that life tosses at us, and if you're anything like me, you always let people throw new things at you without dropping something to keep the show running smoothly. Things can get wobbly...

This blog is simply about staying afloat- keeping your chin up, even when the pressure and stress of everyday life is trying to swallow you up. Trust me, writing this is just as much for me as it is for you.

_________________________________________________________
Adding "no, thank you" to your vocabulary...
It really is okay to pass every now and then. If you are stressing about how you're going to make time for something, it's probably too much.
One of my professors recently gave me this advice:
"Don't just say 'no,'" Jill Gibson told me. "Instead of closing the door completely, see if there is someway to work things out."
Opportunities are everywhere and it can be really tough trying to choose the "right" path. Meeting that fork in the road where I know I have no choice but to choose one way and leave the other makes me sick to my stomach, but it happens.
Mrs. Gibson's advice was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. It really is possible (and wise, especially as a college student) to negotiate some kind of reasonable compromise.
"I would really love to help out, but my education is my priority right now...is there any way I can help out doing _____ or _____ for a while?"
Just saying "no" might burn the bridge, but a gentle and sincere "no, thank you" could be a great favor not only to yourself, but to everyone around you too.
It also always helps me to make a list. Fold a piece of paper hot dog-style down the middle, label one column "Pros" and the other "Cons" and start scribbling away. When I see it on paper, it almost always seems much clearer.

Take a few minutes to make a cup of tea...
...or coffee or to fix yourself your favorite healthy snack.
Tea is my personal favorite. It takes less than five minutes to boil a cup of water and steep some tea and it instantly makes me feel better. It's warm and soothing and the smell is calming. That, or I'm crazy!
Plus, getting up to grab something to drink or munch on gets you away from the computer or book...out of your chair and away from the source of stress. This gives you time to breathe, which is very, very important, in case you didn't know.

Speaking of breathing...
According to my degree plan and transcript, I needed a physical education credit in order to graduate in May. Yoga looked most appealing on the list, so I signed up for a class at the ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m. twice a week.
Best. Decision. Ever.
Seriously.
What does this have to do with breathing?
Part of the practice of yoga is relaxing breathing. Deep breaths, in and out through the nose, allowing your lungs to fill completely before slowly letting it all out. It's amazing how relaxing this is in itself.
Add soothing New Age music and the poses and you have yourself the perfect start to your day. (I also enjoy yoga in the evening to calm me down after a rough day.) And guys, you can do yoga too!
Meditation and/or prayer also help with stress. Focus on the positive, because it almost always outweighs the negative...even on really, really rough days.
Remember that "Pros and Cons" hot dog list I talked about before? Try making one for your life.

Take time to remember what really matters...
Staying optimistic can be really tricky sometimes, but it's so worth it.
Answer this...
I'm struggling, just downright in a bad mood and having a lousy day, I'm going to:
A. Mope about it. My life sucks, I'm exhausted and miserable...
B. Pretend that everything is just fine and keep plowing through it.
C. Take a deep breath (yoga breathing!), make a cup of tea (or whatever suits your fancy), and zone in on that light at the end of the tunnel (it's there, I promise!).

"A" is the easiest to do, I can guarantee you that. Sometimes I wish I was five again and could throw myself face-down on the floor, screaming and bawling my eyes out. Really, I do. But I'm 21, so I think that's considered socially unacceptable by now...
Just think of how much time is wasted by focusing on the negative. All of the negative energy eats at you, making you miserable. Smiles may be contagious, but bad moods are pretty catchy, too.
I have to be careful about "B." It's tempting, but then that negativity just eats away at you from the inside. I was called a "volcano" once...not because I'm darn hot sexy, unfortunately. It was because I would bottle things up and eventually lash out at someone undeserving or wear myself out trying to stay calm. I could try to grin and bear it, but it would eventually catch up to me.
"C" is the correct answer, if you didn't figure that out by now. It's not the easiest, but it's the healthiest and the one that will make you feel best in the long run.
Respecting yourself is number one. Go ahead, be selfish. Admitting your only human and facing your weaknesses...concentrating on the positive, fighting through the tough times and bearing in mind that cliché, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

I know this one is lengthy, and I apologize for that. Thank you for bearing with me. As I said before, this one was just as much for me (if not more so) than it was for you.
We're halfway through the semester now...the end of something is in sight.
"I think I can. I think I can."










Word

3/28/2011 12:13:00 AM • • 0 comments

Now, I don't know if you were able to tell this about me, but I love books.

I tend to read all the time.

And this semester has been no exception to that.

I've been on the common reader team this year, and I've read a whole lot of books. Which means I have a list to make.

  1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: It took me forever to finally remember the title and not call it, "Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close." This book is by far one of my favorites in general to all the others I have read. The writing just made me want to read more and more. And there were few pages that only had one word on them that made it feel like a page turner, literally and figuratively. Again I don't like to give summaries, just read it, end of story.
  2. Blue Hole Back Home: Just read it.
  3. Touching History: Ever just read a book and have a sudden fear overcome you even though you knew you were perfectly safe? Yeah, just read it.
One book that caught my interest was the "9/11 Report." it's a graphic novel, and in all honesty I have never read one of those before. It was different, and made me see more than my imagination could create in a realistic way. It's something that I had to have a certain mindset when I was reading it. I would have to say it was very appealing to the eye. I never considered reading graphic novels until I read this one.

But on another note, I did read a book for fun, "13 Reasons Why" it made me think about life, and if a book does that then I'm happy.

Oh yeah, and I won't talk much about the Hunger Games Trilogy, but I've read that and have to say, "Just read it."

And to leave you with something to look forward too here's a list of upcoming blogs from me:
  1. Youtube Sensation
  2. R U OK?
  3. Restaurants
  4. AC Honors Rocks!
  5. England!
  6. TJCSGA State Convention
They may or may not come in that order.

But other than all this I do have to say that this semester is going pretty great. The weather is getting warmer, outdoor activities are starting, and classes are almost over. Of course if you're returning to AC like me next year then you're in for a treat since a whole Institution Theme will take place called "Reconstructing 9/11."

Can you believe it has already been 10 years?

I call time out one adulthood

3/24/2011 09:44:00 PM • , , • 4 comments

With spring break sadly behind us, and the rest of the semester and finals left to face, I felt a longing for the way things use to be. I want to officially take back every time I ever said I didn’t want to take a nap in kindergarten. I would like to make amends to all the teachers that I drove crazy when I refused to lay down, by taking a nap every day at school now. It is the only fair thing. I did learn a few years ago that children no longer get naps at kindergarten, which saddens me because when they are adults they will not have fond nap time memories.

This blog post however is not about my love of naps, it’s about nostalgia and things that I remember from being a kid that I wish were applicable to me as an ‘adult’.





  • Dunkaroos -These were the most delicious snacks in the world. When ever I would open my lunch box at school and see them nestled between my cheetos and my sandwich I would break out in a little dance. Apparently they were discontinued which saddens me to no end. Speaking of school lunches, do you remember the tables in elementary school where the seats are attached to the table and we had to sit boy girl boy girl?




  • Lunch Boxes-I still have the first lunchbox that I ever got. Actually it looks a lot like this one. I loved this lunchbox. Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers was my favorite cartoon when I was five. The thing I loved most about lunchboxes was that there was a lunch inside of them. There was no thinking involved. When it was lunch time you were going to eat what your mom had made or you traded with the people seated next to you. There were no lunch plans, worrying about where to go, no you went to the cafeteria opened your lunch box and ate. Bringing your lunch is not so much fun when you have to make it.

  • Notes from your mom- I want this to be taken as a legit reason for me not being in class. Or work for that matter. I know we are all adults and need to be responsible but sometimes I don't want to get out of bed and be an adult. I want my mom to have power in my life for getting me out of things every once in a while. I also wish that the threat of calling someone's mother still had the same effect. I'm sure there would be no war if mom's had the power that they did when we were children.


  • Toys in meals- I love kids meals, what is not to like about a meal that comes in small portions and includes either crayons, a drawing space or a toy. We need an adult meal. Kind of like a kids meal but with more food and an adult beverage. I loved going out to eat and knowing that there would be something to entertain me while I waited for food.



  • Toys and Cartoons- Quick! Think of your favorite cartoon. Chances are if you were a child in the 90's like I was then we thought of many of the same cartoons. I remember when Cartoon Network first started and use to have contest that would let kids vote for what would be the newest show they produced. Such wonders as Courage the Cowardly Dog and Cow and Chicken came from that. Or the shows on Nickelodeon, Double Dare, Are You Afraid of The Dark, and Hidden Temple. Hidden Temple was actually my favorite. That giant stone face made me feel all kinds of smart. You can actually watch episodes of Are You Afraid of The Dark on YouTube. The episode about the house next to the lake where the old man can't sleep because he is haunted still scares me to this day. Speaking of toys I think we should all rebel and make it socially acceptable for us to play. Not build or research or study. Just play, go to the park, swing or go on the slide, anything that lets us be free and just enjoy life. Where we can go out in public with our heads held high after a great game of tag or Red Rover.


This is just a short list of things that I miss from my youth. If I had the time (and if people would read it) I would go on for hours. What are some things that you remember from your childhood? Do you also have a fondness for the same things I do? Do you also miss nap time? Tell me in the comments.

Competitive nature

3/24/2011 05:36:00 PM • • 2 comments

Ever think humans can be just a little too competitive sometimes? I'm not talking about in the athletic field. That's to be expected. I'm talking about the more bizarre things human nature drives us to devote their lives to being the best at...
List number three is proof that we'll turn just about anything into a contest.

List #3:
Random competitions

What exactly are these things? Poodles. But not
just any kind of poodles- these are living, breathing
art canvas poodles!
Ren Netherland is the only professional photographer allowed to capture the magic that happens at the "creative grooming" competitions that happen annually throughout the U.S. The story linked above from the Daily Mail includes more of Netherland's painted poodle photos and more information on the competitions.
Grand prize for an exceptionally decorated pooch is usually around $1000. Maybe I should adopt some poodles and start practicing...

2. Oh, Finlandia
Finland features wife-carrying contests, cell phone and
rubber boot throwing contests, world sauna championships,
swamp soccer, anthill sitting contests... You name it, the
Finnish probably already have a competition based on it.
Check out this story from the BBC News for more detailed
descriptions of Finland's many unique contests.

The Sumo Suit Athletics World Championships
happened in England for the first time in 2008. The
tradition is still going strong with participants from
around the world donning sumo suits every August,
ready to run and jump around for a medal.
The rules? They are posted on the site linked
above, but it's pretty basic stuff... remember your suit
must be foam-filled, not inflated! Also, women are allowed to
wear child-sized suits to make the competition "equal."
Interested in participating? Register right here. Contact information for the Ross
Williams, the brilliant mind behind this event, can be found on the website. On the
website homepage, Williams says this whole gig just "seemed like fun" (and admits that
he was at a pub...) when he came up with the idea.
Um...what?!
"If you are looking for unique, wacky, and
physically challenging, this even if for you!" the website
says of this interesting contest in Wales...
All you have to do is race your bicycle across a six-foot
deep peat bog and back with a snorkel on your face. Don't
worry, the bikes used have lead-filled frames and water-filled
tires to "ensure grip." Oh, and you'll have to wear a lead weight belt
so you don't drift away. Sounds like tons of fun, right?
And this isn't the only unique event you can find in Wales! Check out
Green Events, Ltd for a full list of events and festivals to participate in. I
like the idea of the Real Ale Ramble...

5. Lookin' for somethin' closer to home?
How about the Summer Redneck Games in East
Dublin, Georgia? The event happens each July and
admission is only $5.
This year's contests include Redneck (toilet seat)
horseshoes, watermelon seed spittin', the armpit
serenade (picture from the website photo gallery),
mudpit belly floppin' and bobbin' for piggy feet.


These are only a few of the outrageous contests I found...but they
were some of my favorites.Would you compete in any of these?

Awesomeness

3/24/2011 04:06:00 PM • • 0 comments

I think the thing I love most about school is just being on campus. Being surrounded by the people who share a somewhat common goal can be an experience of great Awesomeness.


I think college is a time for memories to be made, goals to accomplish, and even find love. There is a lot that can happen.
It has been said that the first two years of college is a waste of time, and I disagree with that. These two years or more you spend at Amarillo College is just the beginning of greater things to come, and a lot that you do here can deeply affect what you end up doing later.

But I'm not here to talk about what to do or not do at AC, so I'm going to stop now.

Amarillo College is Awesome, and I think that's all there is to say about that.

On another note I found my book collection of the book series titled A Series of Unfortunate Events.

I will admit that these books are a bit more directed at kids, but I don't really care because it only takes a day to read one of the books so it makes me feel good about myself. And it happens to be a really good story at the same time.

But other than that how was your spring break?

I feel that people tend to always have some interesting stories tell. I wish I could say the same. I didn't do much other than swim and just hang out with some friends, but sometimes that's all I really need to have a great life.

I believe my next blog will be a list. I don't know what kind, but it will be a list nonetheless.

But until then, as my friend Eric likes to say, "shalom!"




Life on Hold

3/10/2011 10:30:00 AM • • 1 comments

During the coming week as we all know is Spring Break. And of course it is a time to relax, maybe go somewhere fun and just not think about school work for a whole week. With this in mind I feel like I'm putting my life on hold, which is a good thing, because school has been ruling my life these past couple of months. It'll be the time I get to not worry about anything, not have responsibilities, and not worry about due dates.

Of course, I could just get a jump start and study ahead and be one step up in class, but that never happens. No matter how hard I try to do that.

But yes, spring break will be my time to just let all my worries float away, until they slowly return on that Sunday night right before classes.

If I may ask, what are some of your plans for spring break?

I never seem to do much, but the week always goes by to slow for me. Because I like the feeling of being busy, as if I had an important life to live.

I always use this week to reevaluate my priorities in life. I feel with everything going on I never have time to just be myself and do the things I love, like read a good book, or just play video games until the middle of the night.

I mean, I'm not trying to come off lazy, but I feel if we never have "me time" then how can we make time to have with others. Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with my friends every time I get. I just feel some times I have to just be alone, but it always seems when I don't want to be alone that I have nobody to hang out with. But I think that will be the biggest problem I face this spring break. Which is better than having to face tests, and research papers.

I like to keep things simple.

In my Honors Seminar class I recently learned about handling my goals and other things in life. And the part I like the most was keeping goals simple. Because accomplishing one thing leads to the motivation of accomplishing another and then another to where you've just accomplished one big thing.

Focusing on one big goal gives the feeling it may never be accomplished, because some goals can last years and years.

By keeping my goals simple I've learned that procrastination can be avoided.

And to tell you the truth... I'm a lot happier with the way I do my school work.


List #2: Spring Break in Amarillo

3/07/2011 04:18:00 PM • • 5 comments

Spring break is only a week away. I am in desperate need of some downtime and can't wait.

If you're like me, however, you're not going to be attending any wild beach parties over the break. Thanks to work and an effort to be financially responsible, I'm staying right here in Amarillo.

At this point, I am honestly just thinking about catching up on sleep and reading a good book or two, but for fun's sake, I thought I would make list number two all about ways to make spring break in the Texas Panhandle more interesting.

So here is your spring break itinerary:

Day #1

If the wind is willing to stay calm long enough, grab a few cans of spray paint and head out to the Cadillac Ranch on I-40 West past Soncy. Take some friends, family or your significant other and have fun decorating the old cars planted in the ground. It's a fun opportunity to snap some photos too.
How about some putt-putt or go carts in the afternoon? When was the last time you really just let loose and let your inner kid out? You know you want to!
Sports World off of I-27 and Hollywood has a nice outdoor mini golf course and a go cart track. They also have batting cages and other fun stuff to keep you busy. Wonderland Amusement Park also has a mini golf course. Getting too windy out? Check out Lights Off Golf inside Westgate Mall.
End the day with some ice cream. Doesn't get much better than Braum's, in my opinion, but two new frozen yogurt places (Frazzleberry and Just Chillin') recently opened and Amarillo also has a Marble Slab and Coldstone Creamery.

Day #2

The Don Harrington Discovery Center at Medi Park is featuring a robotic dinosaur exhibit this month. Student discounts are offered. Visit their website for a list of other events they have going on.
Medi Park is a beautiful place to enjoy a picnic and feed some hungry ducks too! The Amarillo Botanical Gardens also are located nearby.
Day #3

Pack up a picnic, load up the bikes and head down to Palo Duro Canyon where a full day of fun will only cost $5 per person (12 and under are free). Beginner or advanced rider, the Canyon has a trail perfect for you. Not a rider? The trails are also equine and hiker-friendly.
Don't forget your sunscreen and plenty of water!

Day #4
Make today a museum day.
Day #5

Take a little time to support the Amarillo Zoo. There is no entrance fee, but donations are welcome (and I strongly encourage you to support our local zoo so it can continue to grow).
You might also take today to visit the Route 66 historic district (take Georgia Street north to Sixth). There are some fun little antique shops and you'll need lunch so grab a burger at the Goldenlight. The 806 (best coffee shop in town) is also on this block.
The Tascosa Drive-In reopened this month, so you might check out what movies are on their screen tonight.

Just a few ideas! :)

A thank you to teachers

3/06/2011 08:29:00 PM • • 1 comments

I want to tell you all a story about how I became who I am.

I remember being 12 years old sitting in class reading a book. The teacher pointed me out and said, “why aren’t you doing your homework?” I answered him by saying it’s already done. He praised me in front of the class, saying she will go far, that was the first time I remember being embarrassed for being praised.
I remember being 13, a freshman in high school and the teacher I looked up to so much telling me I could do so much better. Why was I selling myself short? For the first time I was ashamed for doing just enough to get by.
I remember being 17 and having the only teacher that challenged me that semester praise my poem, when everything else I had worked so hard on had been merely ok.
I remember being 20 and having my advisor tell me I would never be a doctor, why was I even trying.
I remember my teacher’s only goal for class was not to challenge us to teach us something new or to expand our horizons, it was to make me cry. To make me feel so small and stupid so that I felt like I could never succeed. I remember giving up. I remember telling myself that they were right and I couldn’t do this anymore.
I remember being 22 and finally knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I remember being confident in the things I had been taught and the way I had been raised and knowing that I would succeed.
I remember late nights filled with anxious fidgeting and gallons of caffeine, blood shot eyes and fingers cramped from typing. I remember skipping one class to finish a project for another, and sleeping through a third. Draped over textbooks and manuals in a library.

Every teacher I have ever had has affected my life in some way shape or form. Some for the better and some for the worse. Regardless these people have shaped who I have become. I know that this is a small compensation for all that they have given me but I want to say thank you to everyone who has taught me anything during my life. I hope one day to inspire someone half as much as you all have inspired me.

Novels, Stories, and Pages with Words.

3/05/2011 09:46:00 PM • • 3 comments

The thing you're doing right now, right this instant, is... reading.

How did I know that? Well... it kind of makes sense doesn't it?

But yes, we all do it. And if you're like me, you try to read a book a least once a month, and on vacation at least once a week... or less.

I never was much of a reader. Not until I got to college that I decided that I would try to read a book for fun as often as I can.

And the outcome?

I've read at least 40 books since the summer of '09. Which seems kind of a short amount when you think about it, but it's more than the amount I've read in my life before that: 3. Ok... I may be exaggerating a little bit, but I am excluding all those Dr. Seuss books from the list.

So for now, I'm going to talk about books I've read.
I will also not provide pictures of them because as they say, "don't judge a book by it's cover."


Books:

  1. Little Bee: This book makes me happy. I cannot go much into detail, but I always enjoy a book that makes me feel good afterward. Although it does have sad parts, it also leaves me thinking about life, and that always makes me feel like it was an amazing read. The story is very simple, yet complicated on every page. I'd give a summary of the book on here, but that can be easily found just by typing the title of the book into Google.
  2. Will Grayson Will Grayson: I'm always a sucker for high school stories, mainly because those were the best years of my life. OK, I lie, but reading stories about high school makes me imagine how my life could have been. And that is kind of what this books does. I read it in a day because I didn't want to put down. It didn't even have parts where I thought to myself that I really want to find out what happens next. It was just nice to see the story unfold of two teenagers, who's names happen to be Will Grayson.
  3. South of Broad: This is my final book to talk about, although I could go on. This is probably the first book I read that felt too much of an adult novel. But the language was beautiful and the story unfolded perfectly. I love reading a book with a lot of moments that I don't want to accept what happened, but I have to, and keep on reading. This book did that quite a few times. It was worth every minute I spent reading.

Books seem to give me something to when nothing else seems fun.
And I always feel smarter afterward.

But I love to here recommendations on what you have loved to read.

But no Harry Potter, or Twilight. I don't live under a rock, so I've heard about those already.

Kinds of students

3/04/2011 01:45:00 PM • • 3 comments

Did you miss me?

I know it's been a little while since my last post and I apologize for that. This past week got a little out of control, but I survived. (Aren't you all thrilled?!)

A very kind woman named Carol contacted me early last week through my school e-mail. She works with Onlinecollege.org and made me aware of their blog, which is actually very interesting.
Most recently, they posted about the world's most historic colleges. I found some fun posts like Awesome Electives Off the Beaten Path and 10 All-Time Funniest SNL College Skits. They also have some really helpful posts on topics like boosting your grades and handling college expenses.
I enjoyed what I read and I definitely recommend them to all of my fellow college students.

One thing I noticed is that every one of their blogs that I stumbled upon was set up like a list. "Best of" this and "Top 10" that. It inspired me to make my own little series of lists.

My next few blog posts will be lists of things that pertain specifically to life on an Amarillo College campus. I already have a few ideas, but I'm up for suggestions if there are any lists in particular that you want to see.

And today's list is going to be... (drum roll...)

Nine Kinds of Students

1. The curve-killer kind. I really try not to rely on curves to pass me, but those extra points sure are nice. Of course, a class wouldn't be complete without that one over-achiever who aces everything and completely kills the possibility of a curve for everyone else. I would suggest that you do your less-perfect classmates a huge favor and intentionally miss a few questions so we can all get a little boost, but that would make me selfish. If you're willing to make the sacrifice, however...

2. The never shuts up kind. Even the teacher looks like he/she wants to kill this student. Whether this student is asking stupid questions (forget what your mom told you when you were five, stupid questions do exist), acting like the class is their personal audition to be a stand-up comedian, or just blabbing endlessly about something no one cares about...this has got to be the most obnoxious student out there. Just shut up, please.

3. The slacker kind. In other words, the kind I'm always fortunate enough to have in my group for that big project that's due at the end of the semester and makes up 80 percent of the final grade. This student is either going to never show up for anything or show up just to waste up space. This student is either going to stick it out to mooch off of the A that the rest of the group busted their butts to get or actually be semi-considerate and bail out completely. If you are this student, save everyone else the anger and frustration and drop the class.

4. The fashionably late kind. If 9 a.m. is printed on the class schedule, the instructor is in the middle of lecture and the class is full when you show up...the class probably started at 9 a.m. I'm not talking about the student who comes in within five minutes of class starting- everyone is guilty of that now and then. I'm talking about that one student that casually rolls in 30 minutes late on a regular basis and seems totally oblivious to the fact that they are disruptive. They come in, set their stuff down, make sure the instructor knows that they have arrived... Ever notice that this student is usually sipping on a cup of coffee or eating their breakfast? What's even better is when they set their stuff down, sit for a few minutes, then get up and leave again to go grab a drink from the vending machine. Really, people?

5. The kind you want to be best friends with. They are always there. They seem to take great notes and they have pretty good grades. This person might be a good contact in case you have to miss class. Don't take advantage of this person, though. Be willing to return the favor.

6. The pretty kind that tries really, really hard to sound intelligent.


This may be extreme, but you know the kind I'm talking about. They twirl their hair. "Um," "like" and "whatever" seem to be the only things that can come out of their pretty little mouths. I'm pretty sure they really think that college is the way it is portrayed in Hollywood films. They have a really tough time walking across campus in their cute little stilettos and the Amarillo wind doesn't settle well with their hair-dos. Sorry, ladies. Looks may matter, but you really need a functional brain, too.

7. The "I'm an honor student, yet still completely stupid" kind. Ever noticed how the ones that are supposed to be the most intelligent of us all are really the ones that don't have an ounce of common sense in their bodies? One recent encounter was a student who was seriously baffled by the fact that odd-numbered classrooms are on one side of the hallway while the even-numbered ones were on the other. Sigh.

8. The kind that wears their pajamas to class. I honestly don't even know what to say about this. It's so cute that you are in your twenties and still own pink fuzzy Tinker Bell pajama pants (I do too), but could you seriously not find something else to wear? Anything. Ever heard about dressing to impress? Yeah, well college would be a great place to do that. Not saying to wear a suit and tie or a business skirt and blouse...just dress like a human being, for crying out loud.

9. The quiet kind. You never even know they're there. They show up to class, take care of business and carry on. It's kind of nice.

What kind of student are you?