I Don't Know Why I'm Still Laughing About This!

Scene takes place in the corridors of the art building. Discussion about arachnophobia suddenly emerges. Enter characters.....

Classmate 1: If you think about it, arachnophobia is pretty irrational.

Me: No its not!

Classmate 2: Well,  they're bigger than you.

Teacher: Yeah, but some spiders can kill you.

Classmate 2: Yeah, that's true

Me: I once heard of this spider in Iraq that if it bites you... you're dead!

Teacher: There's no antidote?

Me: Nope

Classmate 1: I once heard about these ants in the jungle that carried off an entire baby...

Me: *pauses*...what?

                                                  (cue eruption of laughter)

                                                           Scene Close

And The Best Proposal EVER Award Goes to.......

                                                  Edward Rochester to Jane Eyre!!!!! 

Maybe I'm a little too sentimental, but wow, when I heard this proposal I 'bout jumped out of my seat! I won't lie...a few girly squeals did escape.And perhaps an "Awww!" or a "You get yo man girl!". It was Precious! TOO precious!

       The proposal takes place in the garden at night ( did someone say perfect scene? ) Jane thinks Mr. Rochester is about to marry someone else when he finally reveals his love for her! Which is as follows (more or less): 


       Edward Rochester:  I offer you my heart, my hand and a share of all my possessions.
I ask you to pass through life at my side, to be my second self and best earthly companion.
 My bride is here, because my equal is here and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me? 


       I love you as my own flesh!  I beg of you to marry me!  Say, "Edward, give me my name." Say,"Edward, I will marry you." 
 Jane, I must have you as my own, entirely as my own. Will you be mine? Accept me. Marry me....Make my happiness, I will make yours. 


If I get proposed to, someone's gotta step up their game. 






                                                    The standard has been set.....

Just The Way You Are

      Have you ever met those people who are completely beautiful? Not just outwardly beautiful, but most importantly, inwardly beautiful! I know this girl who is just beautiful! She has a great personality, radiates joy to those around her, is super talented and when she talks- people listen. Yet she is always complaining about how beautiful she isn't . I'm probably such a hypocrite for writing this blog, but hey, who said I was perfect?  
     I used to think that shallowness was just an American issue. But it's not. It's an everywhere issue. It's a human issue. I could probably enlighten the world about how we should value ourselves because we are made in the image of God. And that might make you feel good for a second. But I'm wasting my time unless you really believe it's true. I won't pretend like it is not hard. I know it is. People are always trying to figure out ways to create standards that no one can actually reach. What gets upsets me the most is how everyone says beauty is on the inside, yet they seem to contradict themselves at EVERY SINGLE TIME! Its like people all of a sudden become a better people once they look attractive or something. The sad part is that people buy in to it and wouldn't depart from the lie even if you revealed the truth.
     Any who, I wish people could see how beautiful and precious they truly are. And stop waiting for others to validate their beauty. Because honestly, people LOVE to validate others appearance. To rank people in order from "best created" to "worst created"- how sick is that? And when you walk around like you don't have value, people will take advantage of that. Even sicker. 
    Basically what I'm trying to say is stop waiting for people's approval and be brave enough to love you. Not in a cliche Mary J. Blige way (although Mary is on point sometimes). Simply be okay with you. Stop striving to be what you already are. The world is always going to be the way it is; to smile in the face of it all not only makes you victorious- it makes you even more beautiful! 

Red Bull Smoothie- Just What the Doctor Ordered

Okay, so I just found a new recipe that could be just what the doctor ordered (if doctors actually recommended that you drink Red Bull )! It is healthy, full of fruits, full of energy and 100% delicious! 



Red Bull Smoothie:


1/2 can (8.3 fl oz) Sugar Free Red Bull energy drink
4 fresh strawberries (sliced)
1 banana (sliced into smaller pieces and frozen)
1 mango (sliced into smaller pieces)
1 cup orange juice or fruit juice of your choice (a little lemon juice might be nice)
 *Add ice cubes if needed
Put all the ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth, serve immediately for best taste!

Fashion Advice for the Broke College Student

     Let me start by saying that I am NOT the most fashionable person in the world. When writing on subjects such as this one, it is important to show oneself humble because, really, you can't just give fashion advice and be prideful about it. That's not cool. 
    While I am not the most fashionable of young women, I'd like to think my style is somewhat unique and very cute. I'll be honest, In my formative years, I experimented with certain fashions that are not to be experimented with, i.e. the excessive layering of prints that don't match, flare jeans as leggings or even an occasional ripped under shirt here and there. I also went through a stage where I wanted to dress like a gangster boo. Shameful, I know. That was until I discovered the dress, a perfect solution for the thick, petite figure. 
I am often asked about my outfits.  Many of you would be surprised to know that a majority of my clothes come from Goodwill. Yes, Goodwill. I am not the one to spend excessive amounts of money on clothing (though I do get a little out of control at times).
Here's the breakdown:


75%  of my clothes come from Goodwill
15%  are from Forever 21
5%    are hand-me-downs
2%    are free
3% from random stores like Target and Ross




Most of my clothing items cost less than $10 each. Usually less than that even. Here's the secret.

Cardigans are a staple item

•  They are easy to find in thrift stores because lots of old people give them away (creepy, I know). I always buy a bright colored one. Yellow ones are my favorite. Next to that is red, then grey. 

Vintage Tee's are also great if you find a good one

• Don't waste your money at Forever 21 looking for a vintage tee that isn't really vintage. Thrift stores have real vintage tee's for a lot less! 

        

• Dresses are a thrift store's best kept secret. Most of my dresses come from the thrift store in fact! Why, because NOBODY looks in the dress section of the thrift store. So all the vintage, boho, classy dresses are left alone for me to find. I have actually found really nice dresses from stores like Anne Taylor Loft (what I usually find), Express and American eagle. 

    

• Skirts are easily found and easy to fit in to your wardrobe. All it takes is a nice shirt and a cute belt! There are TONS and TONS of interesting skirts to look through!

If you're a broke college student like me, then perhaps Goodwill is the place to start looking. I understand that Goodwill is a little weird to some people, but for me it does just fine. Don't abandon regular stores though! You definitely need to keep your style fresh and interesting with some new items! But if you're pinchin' nickels together like me, don't hesitate to stop by your local thrift store and take a look around.

* I will not neglect to mention that after saying all of this, my favorite store in the whole world  is Anthropologie :)

Racism in the Animal Kingdom: It's Real.

      If you'd have asked me a year ago whether I thought animals are racist, I would have laughed in your face! I would have told you, "Animals can't be racist". But now I know that indeed, animals can be racist. 
     It all began a few months ago when my mom observed certain exclusive behaviors amongst our three pets. I have one dog and two cats. 
       My favorite, Alex, what adopted from an animal shelter when I was 10. I was NOT a responsible ten year old when it came to pets. I used to swing poor little Alex around by his legs and throw him around. Please don't call animal services on me....Besides, Alex still loves me. Personally, I like to think that I'm his favorite too. 
      The second cat, Brownie, was adopted from a home in Sandy Springs. Brownie is my least favorite. It all started when we got her. She was so scared that she ran in to a hole in our wall and lived there for a week! When we finally got her out she peed all over our apartment carpet, wouldn't let me hold her and did I mention she peed all over our apartment carpet? To this day I still believe that she is a feral cat. 
      We got our dog Lacey last. We picked her up from the Humane Society for mother's day. She was smaller than Alex and SO STINKIN' CUTE! Lacey is a dumb, yet friendly addition to our family. She does have PTSD due to out neighbor's insane teenage son who used to shoot paint balls at her (smh). She is also deathly afraid of balloons. 
     Lacey and Alex have light brown fur, Brownie has a dark chocolate coat....see where I'm going with this? Lacey and Alex jump Brownie when we're not looking. Seriously, for some reason they both don't like her. Alex (The Thug) attacks her randomly, for no apparent reason. Lacey barks and nips at her whenever she looks at her. Yet Alex and Lacey have no problems with each other. They're pals! Through constant observation, I have determined that Alex and Lacey are indeed racists. 
      There are two ponds on campus here at the university. Everyone knows that where there are ponds, there are ducks. Almost all of the ducks at this pond are normal. They have green heads, brown feathers etc.... Except one. There is one white duck. I really don't know how that happened by the way. During my walks to class I often observe these ducks. I began to notice that the white duck was ALWAYS by itself. The other ducks stay in groups, while the white duck sits under a tree or behind a bush. They rarely fraternize. In fact, there was only one occasion where I saw the white duck even near the others. That, people, is clear and indisputable animal racism. 
     If you keep your eyes open, you will see it too. Don't let animals fool you with their little beady eyes and soft fur. Many of them are animal racists. You need to be aware of this when adopting and grouping animals. You may have a racist in the bunch without even knowing it....

Resolve

 

re·solve/riˈzälv/

Noun: Firm determination to do something.

Verb: Settle or find a solution to (a problem, dispute, or contentious matter).

   I heard somewhere that" sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same". I have decided to do the right thing about my "No good, very bad idea" ( see "I'm Going to Hate Myself When I Read This Later" post). Strangely, when I read that post later, intense shame and regret did not accompany me! In fact, my honesty was unremorsed. I knew I would eventually resolve the issue, so I can't say I'm surprised. 

Here's the short story.

I talked to the Bestie about my problem for awhile and she listened intently like she always...usually does. She gave me her honest opinion, which was slightly more optimistic than mine (...optimistic people...smh). 

Curiously, later on that week, I got a chance to see the manifestation of the consequences of this "bad idea" in another person's life. It wasn't pretty. In fact, it was ugly enough to turn me away from this "No good, very bad idea" once and for all...probably. I think that somethings you can do away with entirely,while others you may have to fight with over and over again.

    Any who, confiding in a friend made all the difference. When we hold secrets or worries, eventually, they end up holding us. Sharing your burdens with someone always lightens the load. 

So what of this "No good, very bad idea"? Well, we jumped it in a dark alley and stomped it's behind up and down the street! I dare say it will be showing it's face around here anymore, and if it does....I'll be ready.

Mango Upside down Cake Recipe

Mango Upside down cake is probably one of my favorite desserts! It is quick, cheap and easy to make! If you don't like mangoes, this can still be a delightful dessert for you! Once cooked, mangoes develop a more buttery taste and a softer texture. If you like to bake, I encourage you to try this one out with your loved ones! 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of lemon or lime juice
• 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 or more ripe mangoes (according to taste)

For Cake:

1 Box of Yellow Cake Mix

• 3 large eggs
• 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

Directions :

1. Heat oven to 350º F. Grease a 10-by-10-inch baking pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil, along with the amount of water called for by the package directions. Beat until well combined.
3. Pour the melted butter and lemon/lime juice into the bottom of the prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with the brown sugar. Spread the mangoes evenly over the sugar, then pour the batter over the mangoes. Place in oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes. Unmold onto a serving dish with a lip (to contain the juices).

* If I have extra Mango left over, I like to finely chop the mango and mix it with a little brown sugar. Then I stir the mixture into the batter so that the cake will have more flavor and moisture!

Just Friends?

    Today I was having a chat with one of my girlfriends. We have often had a particular conversation about this guy who had taken interest in her. Whenever my girlfriends come to me about guys, I take the opportunity to analyze the situation. I listen objectively to see whether or not the guy is actually interested or if signs are being misread.
     Since being at PBA for so long, I have become VERY aware of this whole "just friends" issue. The word "D.T.R" (Defining The Relationship) makes me shudder. It used to be a weekly occurrence that someone would come to me about a friendship that was misinterpreted. It happened all the time! I even noticed whenever I would spend time with a guy, they were constantly suspicious as to whether I thought more of our friendship than there actually was. I think what makes the situation worse is both party's inability to actually speak on the issue. Instead, I would just get awkward looks across the table or intentional separation (probably what I found most annoying). It was like guys just couldn't man up and say something! I once met a guy that would purposely forget a girl's name once he met her, just so that they would know that he had boundaries. I'm sorry, but that's a little degrading. Although I do understand his intent. 
    I have also been on the other side of this situation. I have misinterpreted friendships. I have read more in to it than there actually was. It makes you feel like such a loser and causes you to question your judgement. 
Back to the friend.
    So after analyzing the signs that this guy was giving, I determined that this guy was indeed interested her...better yet, flirting with her. She had not done anything to sway his feelings or encourage his actions. Yet he persisted in doing things like getting very close to her, wanting to spend time alone, getting jealous of her with other guys, telling her how cute she looks, treating her different from other girls etc... Dude was down for the count!...Or so it seemed.
   Today she tells me that they had the dreaded D.T.R! During this D.T.R, the guy claims, to his utter horror and bewilderment, that he has NO idea that she liked him. He actually thought that they were just friends and nothing more. First, the guy is not gay. Second, what??? Come on! 
That's it! I've had it with guys pulling this one! 
Don't get me wrong, I can see how it's the girl's fault for reading too much in to it. However, I wave a HUGE pass in this situation because dude was NOT clear at all. All I'm saying is: Be up front. A little honest communication could have made the situation sting a lot less! I think Guys should definitely take the lead on being open and honest. Be aware of how your actions can be interpreted and don't just flirt just because it's something to do. Think about the fact that your intentions may not always be as clear to someone else as they are to you. D.T.R's can be a lot less painful if only people weren't to afraid of a little honesty. Sooner better than later. In not doing so, you risk the relationship all together.

Romance and Similar Observations #1

    I always take a few days to think before posting blogs such as this. I have so many thoughts and opinions about this subject that it's hard to focus on just one area. That is why I am making this a "blog series" (if that's not already a word, then It will be made official by yours truly). 
I don't get asked why I'm single by many people other than my mother. I assume its because it's:
(a) Obvious
(b) My friends know me too well
(c) People just don't care


     I think answer (a) is most likely. 
     Trust me, I get it. You know, I don't talk like other people, I'm a little nerdy, too self aware, maybe its because people treat me like I'm 16 (which,again, I understand. The round little nose, short stature, soft voice and chubs really do a great job in convincing people that I'm still in high school) . Whatever the case, I get it. 
I won't lie, I do occasionally cringe when I see the iconic "happy couple". You know, the ones so unaware of reality that you just want cut through their thick, nauseating cloud of oblivious romance.  I'm nauseous just thinking about it. 
    As I grow older, I realize that I don't look at love the same as I did when I was younger, naturally. I've seen enough to identify mistakes made over and over again. I can tell you who's relationship might have a chance and whose probably doesn't. What annoys me most is people who think they've accomplished something just because they've been together for over a year. Even worse, the ones who have completely dysfunctional relationships and think that somehow it will continue just because it has for years. In my opinion, whether a doomed relationship has lasted 1 year or 15; if you're not together the rest of your lives then you've wasted valuable time. Harsh, perhaps a little too black and white, but it's what I think. 
      Anyways, not to go too far off course, I am going to piggyback off of a fellow blogger's post about why she's single. Please realize that I am disillusioned to the idea that being in a relationship equals happiness. Though I might sound like a feminist, I will say that, though enjoyable, being in a relationship is not my goal in life. So, without further a'do, here are the real reasons why I'm single.
Why I'm Single:


1. Simply because I haven't met the right person.
2. Guys just don't get me.
3. Guys think about themselves too much.
4. I'm not ready to share that much of my life with another person.
5. "Love is too big, too honest, too brutal, and too heavy for me to fall into it now." Translation: I'm not ready.
6. I don't want anyone to see how messy my room is.
7. I haven't found anyone who loves John Mayer as much as I do (it's a deal breaker).
8. I'm pretty shy.
9. I have high standards.
10. Finally, I don't think I could honestly handle the blow of a failed relationship. Not at this point.


    There it is! The honest to goodness truth. Despite all of my jokes and comments with my girlfriends, the real truth is that I am so terrified of being in a relationship that I don't even want one! Wow! Such a wimp! I can sit and analyze another person's relationship all day 
long, but when it comes to my own I just sit in the corner like the nerdy kid at school! 
   Well, Until I'm ready to jump in the frigid waters, I'll bring you my observations in the meantime!  Trust me, I really don't mind.  

Attempt at Sanity= Fail

   
      This blog was supposed to keep me sane, yet, I find myself on the verge of insanity once again!
This week, I have had an immense amount of free time on my hands. When I say immense, I mean everyday  from 2pm to bedtime I have had absolutely nothing to do. Well...I'll be honest. I have things to do, but they're mostly mundane and tragically productive, ex: cleaning my room and finishing my art projects. Actually, those are the only things I have to do at this point. Unless, I were to create painfully boring tasks for myself, like studying for a test a month in advance or starting a project that is due in May. See what I mean? 
     The problems started when my phone was cut off by Metro PCS once again. At first I thought, "It doesn't matter, I don't need it". Boy was I wrong! I really took my limited social contact for granted. I see that now. This unfortunate event has caused me to become entangled in to Facebook's evil, luring web.
    This week has found me glued to the computer! I even tried getting addicted to this Canadian TV drama (sad, I know). However, It made me realize that Canadians aren't just a happier version of Americans...They are Americans. They just say "sorry" differently. Why couldn't a more foreign country have established themselves next to us? I mean, there's Mexico already, why couldn't Brazil or Turkey have been our neighbors? Look people, I love a Canadian as much as the next person, but what I really appreciate is a good foreign culture! 
    Anyways, off my soapbox. I could probably write a long list of reason why my life sucks right now- starting with the unfortunate cellphone situation. But, why complain? It doesn't fix much.  At night, before I go to sleep, I find myself planning ways to get out of this town! I plot it out before remembering that I have no gas, no money and no one to go with (which increases my chances of getting kidnapped...yes...I think about these things). But then I realize, no matter where I go, I am always planning ways to get to the next place. Although, I'll admit, this town is about as dead as it can get.
    The thing is, everyone I thought would be there for me during this transition, is not . And for the first time in perhaps my entire life, I find it hard to have a social life (especially now that my cell phone stole what was left). Not to sound entitled, but most of my life I have been the one reaching out and maintaining friendships. Yet, when I need it the most, I have like 4 friends that actually know how I'm doing on a regular basis.I mean, I get that "You're busy" but c'mon, how long does it really take to send a text or write "How's it goin'" on somebody's Facebook wall? (I spend every waking hour on there anyways...you know where to find me) Don't get me wrong, I'm not "Super Friend". I haven't maintained some friendships in the way that I ought to. But wow, since I've transferred and haven't heard from many of my friends who were so "sad" I was leaving. Perhaps the dumbest thing is that I stayed an extra semester because I thought I would miss people too much! Too bad the Georgia university systems don't really accommodate for unnecessary semesters out of state. Not saying that it was any one's fault but my own. I have just had too much time to see it all too clearly. 
    Off my soapbox again. I'll just outwardly say that I'm dissatisfied with my life at this point. I need a break. Sadly, I don't get one for another month approximately....then I have to work so not really. I'm sorry, but all my optimism has gone down the drain! And if you really know me, you know how little that was. 
Everything in me is telling me to end this post on a happy note, but I wont. People tend to overreact when they realize that I'm not all sunshine! Big Whoop! I'm a real person. Cynicism intended.