Greek Salad and Perogis! They go together ;]

 Greek Salad: 
Arugula, kalamata olives, tomato, cucumber, artichoke hearts, feta cheese

Dressing: 
Splash of red wine vinegar, lots of olive oil, salt, pepper, tbsp of dijon mustard, oregano, juice of two lemons!

 I love making steamed broccoli with a little bit of "crunch" to it.  
Stick it in boiling water for only 2 or 3 minutes.  Don't let it get mushy!
Add salt, pepper, and a little butter and a "SMIDGEN" of olive oil.

 Perogis! 
Buy them at the store frozen (: So good with sauteed onions, garlic and cream.

DINNER with the family during Christmas break (:

Chad the Kitten!

A year ago, I bought a kitten.  She was gray with specks of white in her fur and she was a sweetie (: I still have her...and she gave birth to a kitten a few months ago.  October 11th to be exact.  He has grown up so fast and he's such a cute one.  We were calling him Chad (after the other African country...Chad...where one of my roomates went on a mission trip) but I think his new owners are going to name him Gispee.  So cute!  I am glad he's going to a good home.  My brother's girlfriend's mom is going to be the best kitty-mama.  Love her!

November leaves fall
We pack up and leave
Happy to get away
Not just from the papers and to-do lists.
But from the daily grind
Now we wish we could freeze in this moment
Relaxing
Can we?
Now watch the snowflakes fall...

THANKSGIVING

I have a lot of extra time on my hands right now.  It's Thanksgiving break and I have the whole week off!  It feels so nice to be at home in Seattle and curl up and read a book or search the web with NO worry of due dates or early morning yoga to teach.  I just wanted to post some of my findings.  I love browsing weheartit.com and ffffound.com and finding cool pictures.  These are some festive ones that made me feel all warm and fuzzy or just ones that I thought were cool.  Enjoy! (:

Sometimes I feel like doing this.  But I know I'd regret it.

 These deer look chilly.  But they're so beautiful!

 This looks like the most fun swimming class.

 Can you buy me some boots like these?! Please?

 Furry meets feathered.

 Gummy hearts look delicious and loving.

 A healthy breakfast never looked so cute.

 Nostalgia.

 What the photographer sees.

 It's snowing at my house right now.  This November looks more normal.

 I can't wait to make one of these around Christmas time. Yum!

 I like to envision pilgrims looking like this.

 Mm mm MM!  Nothin' like a homemade pumpkin pie!

 Sometimes it's important to remember that you CAN know best.

 Oh how I'd love to have a tub like this to soak in on a cold night!

Wintry wonderland.  I'm getting into the holiday spirit (:

FRUIT LEATHER!

I found this delicious recipe for fruit leather.  I haven't tried it yet, so, maybe I can't stand behind my claim that it's "delicious".  But, baked fruit and lots of sugar is USUALLY good :) Try it out!!

Georgia Pellegrini food blog - Fruit Leather!!!!!!

PARFAIT POR FAVOR

Last night, I made a little parfait for myself because I was really hungry after doing a Jillian Michaels workout DVD....it was tough!!!  Kinda cute, I thought, how you can make food look SO delicious just by putting it in a cute little dish.  

I used yummy vanilla, Greek yogurt.  Then, I layered it with some cheap granola.  So delish :) 

Cooking

Garden Pasta Salad by: me!

How to make this tasty delight.....perfect for summer nights! mmm!

Needs:  

-A few cups of any kind of pasta besides spaghetti/fettucine

-Veggies...whatever sounds good!!! I like: tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions,     

cucumbers!

-Olive oil (a few tablespoons)

-Splash of balsamic (white balsamic if you have it)

-Lots of lemon juice :)

-Sea salt

-Pepper

-Feta cheese 

-Oregano to sprinkle over everything!

First: Put some water on to boil for the pasta

Then: Start slicing and dicing all the veggies

Next:  Put the pasta in the water once it's boiling

Also:  Salt the water a lot...so the pasta has a salty taste :) yum!

If you would like to:  get a cute bowl out to place your pasta in when it's ready

Then:  Take the pasta off the burner once it's nice and squishy (however you like it)

Next:  Drain the pasta and cool it by showering it with cool water until it's a good temperature

Finally:  Add the spices and olive oil and whatnot!!! Sprinkle it at the end with that delicious feta!

Now...stuff yourself and don't feel guilty...because this stuff is heeealllthyyy!!!! 

Yay for summer!

I remember.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xo8At6XEqE&feature=related

Listen to this song. It will make your day better :)

LONG TIMES

Sometimes I have long times.
Long times when I just don't want to think about what I should think about.
I am having lots of mixed feelings these days.
It's so annoying not to be comfortable.
I should be comfortable.
Each day, it's getting better because I'm putting my trust fully in God.
It's a hard transition for me.
Who knew that I needed this wake up call.
I did.
Now I'm awake, but that doesn't mean I won't have little trips and little falls.
I'm so thankful God is so forgiving.
One day this will all work out. :)

treats

Life is full of treats.  I just found a treat in my devotional book called "Lady in Waiting: Becoming God's Best While Waiting for Mr. Right."  

God is the fountain from which all streams of goodness flow.  

He is the center form which all rays of blessedness shine.  All

our actions are, therefore, only good insofar as they have a 

reference to Him:  the streams must revert to their Fountain, 

the rays must converge again to their Center. 

If love for God is the governing principle, this powerful spring will

actuate all the movements of the reasonable creature.  The essence of 

religious faith does not so much consist in actions as in affections. 

Though right actions may be performed where there are not right

affections, they are a mere carcass, utterly devoid of soul, and 

therefore, of virtue.  On the other hand, genuine affections

cannot substantially and truly exist without producing right actions.  

Let it never be forgotten that a devout inclination which does not

have life and vigor enough to ripen into action when the occasion

represent itself has no place in the account of real goodness.  

What a model for our humble imitation is that divine Person who was 

clothed with our humanity!  He dwelt among us so that the pattern might

be rendered more engaging and conformity to it made more practicable. 

His life was one of unbroken, universal charity.  He never forgot that we 

are compounded both of soul and body, and after teaching the multitude, 

He fed them.  He repulsed none for being ignorant, was impatient with 

none for being dull, despised none for being loathed by the world, and

He rejected none for being sinners. Our Lord encouraged those whose

forgiveness others criticized; in healing sicknesses He

converted souls;  He gave bread and forgave injuries.  Christians must 

seek to express their morning devotions in their actions through the day.  

I wish I could just not have any fears.  
I have so many thoughts that get in the way of me just being me...in the moment. 
I wonder...what if?  When will???  What am I going to????/ Etc...
This mind of mine needs to just CHEEEEEIIIIILLLLLLLLL OUTTTT.  
So much stuff is happening all around me and I could really be a part of it.  
But first...I need to stop fearing the unknown.  
God really helps me with that but sometimes I just don't want the help.
Or I'm too selfish to remember that He even wants to help.  
I look at my devotional book and my prayer journal before I go to bed.  
Instead of writing down my prayers or worshipping God for ten minutes.  
Sometimes I can be so lazy.  
But..maybe it's because I had more intention of going on a run that day than worshipping the one who made my body so it can run.  
Wow I'm selfish.  
Lord please help me to be less selfish and more like You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I had lab.  I talked to two guys that I have known all quarter, just because they sit next to me.  But, today I worked with them and I actually got to know them.  They were so nice!!!  It's just so silly how I will go for months without finding out any normal information like what high school my friends went to, or what their major is.  Now, I feel that I have more of a connection with them and it is really nice.  I guess I just want to remind myself to be more open with people and get to know them...not just reside next to them in class everyday without offering more of myself.  

Secondly, I want to talk about what I've been up to the last months.  I don't really know...just going and going and not thinking about this blog thing.  But, I want to start recording my findings and little random thoughts so that I can look back.  

Lately my roomies and I have been talking a lot about cats and how lucky they are.  They can lounge all day, wander the streets at night and not get raped, and they are so fuzzy and cute.  They can give themselves baths with their own tongues and they never smell bad...well my cat has been known to secrete some potent gases...but they're usually pretty stink free.  I wish I was a cat. 

Today was a day that went by so fast.  Do you ever have days like that?  I wake up and it's 11:30 PM and I could have accomplished so much more...but I opted to have fun and go with the flow of my procrastination instead.  Surprisingly, though, I don't regret today AT ALL.  Not one bit.  In fact, I can't wait to have another day like it...maybe tomorrow?


Lately I've been working out everyday (except Sabbaths) and I feel reallllly good.  Exercise is so good...OLIVIA DON'T FORGET THIS FEELING! (I need reminding sometimes...like when I'd rather keep sleeping than get up and run three miles...sometimes that sounds sick and unappealing)


P.S. There are six days until Spring Break


ONE DAY I WILL SIT
ONE DAY I WILL SIT IN A HOUSE
ONE DAY I WILL SIT IN A HOUSE WITH A CAT
ONE DAY I WILL SIT IN A HOUSE WITH A CAT AND ICED TEA
ONE DAY I WILL SIT IN A HOUSE WITH A CAT AND ICED TEA WITH A BACKYARD
ONE DAY I WILL SIT IN A HOUSE WITH A CAT AND ICED TEA WITH A BACKYARD FILLED WITH CHICKENS.

FEELIN' LIKE THIS TODAY..

Sometimes I just feel like sittin down and doing nothing but right now I can't do that.  I have things to do, people to see, places to go.  THis bunny is so cute though, it made me feel good about being frazzled.  It's an Angora rabbit.  Who knew animals like this even exist?  Thank you Jared for showing me these bunnies.