Monkey Bread

So I haven't done much baking lately... over Spring Break my cousin and I did lots of baking and cooking... and  although I don't regret a minute of it - I should have had a little more self control. Hehe.

Brownie Peanut butter Cheese Cake

Mini Donuts (chocolate, frosting, and cinnamon/sugar coated)

So I have been really good these past two weeks... but the urge to bake is too strong. So what did I make you ask? ... I have always wanted to make Monkey Bread - I think I may have tried it once. Either way, I have been seeing lots of recipes for it on foodgawker.com and really wanted to try myself!

I used the recipe from gourmeted.com that I saw on foodgawker. Lots of the recipes I found called for premade biscuits or something rather for the dough, but of course being me, if I am going to go to the time and effort to make something homemade - I go all the way. So here are the pictures from my baking adventure:

After mixing the dough (don't forget the salt!) and letting it rise for an hour...

Then flatten the dough, cut it into squares and dip it in butter and brown sugar/cinnamon then place in the bundt pan

Once all the dough is taken care of, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for another hour

About half an hour in the oven and Voila! Delicious cinnamon goodness!

Yes it took a long time, but it was worth it. I watched Emma to help the time pass. Cute movie - that was the first time I have watched it. This recipe passed the taste test of myself and my roommates and apparently I have reached 'Domestic goddess' status ;)

Eat.Pray.Love.

I was browsing Netflix to see what new movies were available to watch instantly and Eat.Pray.Love. was right there on the home page. I forgot how excited I was to see that movie - and then never did and then I forgot all about it. I was mainly excited to see it because she ends her journey in Bali, Indonesia... somewhere I want to visit - and very close to Malaysia. (I know I left part of my heart there, just last night I dreamed I was there) Speaking of Malaysia, I have been back in the US for 15 months now. I thought I stopped counting, but when the 23rd rolls around, it's hard not to think about it.

I enjoy movies... a lot. I love to quote lines from movies when they fit with conversation, or to send a message to someone. This usually happens with my cousin, we have very similar tastes in movies, and we have watched many of the same movies and BBC series so I like to quote things to her - most other people around us have no idea what I am talking about, but she understands. I love that.

I like movies that make you feel good, movies that make you laugh, movies with action, and even the occasional sci-fi. :) Sometimes I love to watch movies that make you think, or that take you on a journey within yourself. That is why I wanted to watch Eat.Pray.Love. Now, I realize that you don't have to go half way around the world to find yourself, because often is it not about finding yourself, but deciding the kind of person you want to be, and changing and growing. There's a song by Sister Hazel that goes "if you want to be somebody else, if you're tired of fighting battles with yourself, if you want to be somebody else, change your mind." I enjoy most of their songs and I think they have a point with this one. Although, in my way I did go half way around the world to find myself. I served a mission. Now don't think that was my only reason for going. Serving a mission is not all about you, or it shouldn't be... but there is something about getting outside of your comfort zone, eating new foods, meeting new people, learning a language, and immersing yourself in another culture that gets under your skin like nothing else. In a way, I have been doing that most of my life. In every city, every country there are new ideas, new ways of expressing oneself, different mindsets, traditions, treasures, secrets, mysteries, and people.

Last night I watched Runaway Bride. Let me just say that Julia Roberts is awesome. I really like that movie - mainly for the part where she has to know who she is, and her husband to be needs to know who she really is before she marries.

But getting back to Eat.Pray.Love. I wouldn't say that it is my favorite movie ever, but I loved seeing her experiences, and watching her journey. I love her time in Italy, just enjoying life and not feeling guilty about the food she was eating. Her time in India was very interesting, the healing and learning to forgive herself, and  in Bali - learning to love again - but more importantly all along the way, she helped others. I think that in helping others, that is when she found a version of herself that she liked. I think that is pretty profound. When we help others sincerely, it is then we bring out the best in ourselves. (In other news, my roommate has the book so I think I am going to read it :)

Life is good. It really is. Yes there are hard times, yes there are things that we can't control, yes there are good people and bad people out there, but we ultimately we choose if we are happy or not by the decisions we make. Happiness is not a destination. We choose every day if we are going to be happy or not by the things we do and say, the people we help - or don't. Life is a journey so make it a good one.

Raindrops and Milestones...

So I was just thinking about milestones that are coming up...

17 days until my birthday.... 9 months and I will GRADUATE from USU!! I will say that I am looking forward to graduating more than my birthday. Don't get me wrong, I have some awesome plans for my birthday (family dinners, General Conference etc!) but when I think about my birthday I start feel old. I know in the scheme of things, I am not old... but when I am surrounded by 19-21 year olds... I do start to feel it sometimes. But that is okay, I am not ashamed of my age, I have had some awesome experiences that I wouldn't trade for the world. I think I am more excited for graduation because that is going to mark a big change in my life. Birthdays come and go, and sometimes not much changes. I usually start to feel older at the beginning of the year anyway, when I set goals and ponder on the things that happened the past year.

One achievement I am looking forward to is getting an internship. Today I called all the firms I called last week to follow up, and not one of them are looking for interns. *Brief moment of panic* ... but I still have hope. There are a couple more on my list I am still waiting to hear back from. If they don't work out, then I will branch out. So far I have only contacted Architectural firms. I am not out of ideas yet, and I  I would like to have an internship set up by my birthday.

Today we had Jeanette Simpson talk to us. She wrote the book "Interior Design Intern to Employee". She had some good insights and things for us. So we soldier on. I just need one internship right? ... I keep telling myself that.

Today was rainy all day. I kind of liked it though. Brought me back to living in Washington(WA) or England. I would have thought of Malaysia too... but the rain there was always warm.

So now I'm back into the full swing of things. Not too many things due this week, but a couple of assignments and a test are all lined up for next week. Oh joy. Better to be busy than bored.

Also, I've joined STEPS - I will post more information about it when I get it. I went to the first meeting today. Basically right now the goal is to raise $15,000 for Red Cross Japan by April 2nd. There's lots of events and fund raising activities coming up. :)

And tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day so I need to remember to wear green! 

Natasha Bedingfield - All I Need Live at Rockwood Music Hall

I'm a dreamer, I'm a gypsy ... you've got to run to keep up with me... and if I keep my heart open, If I wear it on my sleeve, no matter what life's throwing, nothing ever's going to get to me..."

Love it! One day I hope I can see her live, that would be awesome ^_^

Internship hunt...

So the past few days have been pretty busy. I have called Architectural firms in Yorktown (VA), Newport News (VA), Phoenix (AZ), and Salt Lake City (UT). A good number of the places I have contacted are not looking for interns this summer. I e-mailed a bunch of copies of my resume and portfolio out. I did get one really complimentary response, but their firm was not in a position to take on an intern this summer. So, so far it has been a positive experience... like I said before I would feel better if I already had an internship lined up - but I know it will work out. I only need one place to say offer me an internship right? I took the weekend off, because  all of the places I have looked at have office hours from M-F. It's been nice to take a little step back and do something else.

Today was a great day. I woke up, got ready and then went to the Ogden Temple with my Mom. It was super busy! But that's a good thing :) - they will be closing April 1st (Friday before Conference) and then begin the major renovation. I am excited for that, they are pretty much revamping the whole block. The temple is getting earthquake proofed and the tabernacle is giving up its spire. There will be new landscaping and underground parking. The renderings look great.
 Then after going home and changing, my brother and I went over to our Grandparent's home for lunch. That was nice, then my brother, Grandma and I played scrabble. I won - by 1 point! Hehe I can't remember the last time I won scrabble... but this time I had words like barley, veneer and dreams - and got some of the bonus points squares so I was pretty excited.

The rest of the day I worked on getting my things ready to go back up to Logan. I even managed to squeeze in the Doctor Who(2005):Season 3 finale, and watch the Burn Notice Season 1 finale. Good shows I am excited for the new seasons this year!. :)

While I was folding and sorting my clothes, I had a Natasha Bedingfield marathon - I found a bunch of live youtube videos and other good songs by her. And I pampered myself a little by painting my toenails and then waxing and plucking my eyebrows. (Ok I realize that waxing and plucking probably shouldn't be listed under 'pampering'... but I like how my eyebrows look when they are taken care of so I'd say it's worth it)

A new Natasha Bedingfield song I discovered is "All I Need" - I'll post it in a bit. Like I've said before her music speaks to me.

Natasha Bedingfield - Neon Lights Live at Rockwood Music Hall

I have liked her music for years. I like to listen to her brother Daniel Bedingfield too. Her music seems so much more real than so many other artists. Very refreshing and honest. Love it!
You can check out her website here.

...fall in chocolate

This made me smile!

The last couple weeks of school have been pretty crazy - preparing a resume, cover letter and portfolio, mid terms, tests, REVIT house project, I was sick all last week, snow(yik)... but I was able to make it through everything until SPRING BREAK!

Not a moment too soon. Only once in my University career have I taken a really cool out of state trip during Spring break. The Interior Design dept. organized a trip to Chicago, IL back in '07 and I went. It was so great! Highlights from that trip were - Millennium Park, The Cloud Gate ("The bean"), Art Museum, Merchandise Mart, Riding the 'L', Giordanos Pizza(AMAZING), seeing WICKED at the Oriental Theatre... and then white chocolate peanut butter cheese cake from The Cheese Cake Factory afterwards... Hershey's store, Hancock Tower, Million Dollar Mile, Shopping at H&M, Oak Park - Frank Lloyd Wright, going to Columbus, Ohio for the day, more Frank Lloyd Wright buildings... okay every day was a high light :)

This year's Spring Break was off to a busy start. I had class in the morning, then drove up to Richmond and stopped by the Pepperidge Farm outlet, then ran home and packed. I had enough time to go to Ogden and do some laundry, catch up on some Man vs. Wild with my brother and then drove down to Alpine for my friend's wedding reception. It was held at the Alpine Art Center... I may or may not have driven past it and had to stop and ask for directions. Google Maps let me down a little on that one ;) Then afterwards I drove to Payson.

I had a blast with my cousin! (Well it is always a party when we get together!) Saturday we made cheese cake(brownie crust, peanut butter and milk chocolate chip base, then cheesecake topped with melted chocolate! YUM!) and then went to volunteer at the MTC. She was a trooper. I love going to volunteer there and practice my bahasa. We also got to see our cousin who works there so that was fun. Haven't seen him since he got married back in Dec. so that was nice. Then we went back to Payson and cooked dinner, some of my cousin's friends came over and we ate, and played Compatibility and Rummy. Good times were had by all. ^_^

Sunday was good. Went to church with my cousin, she taught Sunday school and did a fantastic job. Then we watched the fireside online. We also watched Fantastic Mr. Fox - I love that movie so much. You have to appreciate dry British humor to find it funny. It's a fun one to quote too. My cousin and I are movie quoting Queens. - Main quotes from things we watched this weekend - 'I'm sorry Shawn', "different", "if what I think is happening, is happening... it better not be", "it was your cousin's idea", "it's so fluffy I could die", "Life is short, and you are hot", "What?!... What?!?"

We also love music - songs from this weekend  Heart breaker(sung by Ryan Kelly) -Celtic Thunder (well all the songs from The Show), Bug a Boo - Destiny's Child, Songs by Cascada, Somebody to Love - by Queen, Me Love - Sean Kingston, Heart breaker - Tiao Cruz

Monday I went to school with my cousin until lunch time when I drove into Provo and went out with a companion of mine, then was able to see a bunch of missionaries from my mission. Tuesday I went to school for the whole day with my cousin... I love her class! Then she had a meeting after school so I went back to her apt and made mini donuts :) I had dinner in Provo and then came back to Payson to decorate the donuts, pina coladas and the Italian Job. 

Wednesday morning I drove back up to Ogden.. we got up early because my cousin had a meeting before school. That was rough, I was so tired! Then I unpacked a bit and checked things and then went out to lunch with my brother and Grandparents at the Greenery. For dinner we all went out for my Stepdad's birthday at Famous Dave's - that was fantastic. I love BBQ!

Today was a slow day. I spent a good chunk of it applying for internships. I've been trying places in Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Yorktown. So we shall just have to wait and see. I'll be working on that again tomorrow for a while. I know it'll work out but I can't help but feel a little antsy. 

Over the weekend, I was told that I need to get me a man asap. I disagree. I am fine living the single life right now. I have big plans and goals. I am doing what I am supposed to, working hard in school, going to church and busy living life. I have a lot on my plate. Now, don't get me wrong, marriage and family are a goal of mine -but that's not something I can do by myself. So for now I am focusing on what I can control. And when it all comes down to it, I am happy single. I am happy with the way my life is going. I don't need to wait until I have a husband to live life and be happy. Life is good. This next year is going to bring lots of opportunities and changes in my life and I am excited for that.