Weekend Recap

Well I finally took the time to get some photos off my camera again - remember that recipe I gave you a link to awhile back, for the brownie in a mug? it's AMAZING. It looks like this:

I didn't have any cocoa like the recipe asked for, so I just made the batter with the peanut butter and threw in the chocolate chips and it worked out just fine - heavenly, in fact!

I had a blast at the wedding this weekend! There are no pictures however, because like a fool I neglected to bring my camera with me. Someday, I will get better at this. Of course someday, maybe I will have a camera that takes decent pictures.

I got pretty adventurous tonight: first, I went on a super fun website that offers a great window into your fashion - awesome for those of us who are what you might call "not gifted" in the whole fashion thing.
I also concocted my own recipe to use up the eggplant I purchased specifically to teach myself how to make eggplant.

I cut half the eggplant into slices and tossed them in a frying pan with some tomatoes, a little olive oil, and some garlic salt

 I browned the eggplant, and while I was doing that I toasted an English muffin from the good old IGA store.

 After the eggplant was well-browned, I layered half of the tomatoes on each half of the English muffin and topped those with slices of the eggplant. I sprinkled a little more olive oil on, and then added mozzarella cheese over the top of them.

 I did have to throw them in the microwave to finish melting the cheese, but overall they were pretty good. I can't say I adore the texture of the eggplant but I can deal with it, and this was a tasty and healthy meal. Of course I had to finish it off with the world's best gift to man.

Aldi's brand my friends. It will change your life.

Anyways, that's all the news I think. Got any updates from your weekend?? Hope it was great!

The sayings and doings of a happy world

Guess what? - life isn't as terrible as it sometimes seems when you're getting both checks rejected and your credit card is full so the Walmart person is putting your whole carefully, methodically, painstakingly, lovingly selected cartload of items back while you go cry of embarassment in the parking lot.
Life is actually a really pretty neat thing.
Life has things like going for walks in cool fall air.
Life has things like staring a little girl with big brown eyes and long brown hair straight in the eyes and saying,
"ok, repeat after me: God..." And having her say "...loves us!"...four times in a row.
Life is meeting another person in a similar situation as you, and having a good laugh over the awkward things that are part and parcel with being single and alone in church - the weekly "turn and greet your neighbor" fiasco that leaves you fidgeting madly with your bulletin...the not knowing where to put your eyeballs that is neutral and doesn't involve staring accidentally at anyone else...the moments where everyone who's gone to that church for a bajillion years breaks into laughter at a common church memory and you smile uncomfortably..all those joyous things.
Life is being told by someone you just met that someone else you barely know has "talked you up" to them...and pretending to be embarassed but really wanting to cheer.
Life is having the door opened for you.
Life is having to go into the little boys bathroom, sounding off at the top of your lungs that you're coming in and delivering half of your "this is not a playroom, wash your hands with soap and come out now" speech before you get in the door only to find a 3rd grade boy staring wide-eyed at you as he hastily zips his pants, surrounded by small children whipping water and pumping tree-size amounts of paper towels.
Life is finding a place to give back while knowing that you're the one who will really benefit.
Life is very, very good.

Thoughts Recently

1) Is there a point at which one has said "I just have one more question!" so many times that one simply falls over empty-brained?
2) If I watch just one more episode of this tv show (insert either Gidget or I Love Lucy) I bet my dreams will contain (insert either wild 70's music or black and white images).
3) To leave the dishes for tomorrow, or to not leave the dishes for tomorrow...
4) I had no idea one could wake up so early and lift weights every morning and still have such jiggly arms (jiggle jiggle)
5) If I go to Walmart one more time....
6) I looove my pink carnations and sweet pea pink candle, and who cares if they clash with my red couch!
7) Handsome young man...ooh another handsome young man...oh. another hick.
8) Reading the Anne books always makes my heart so happy
9)  The battle of the dinner...can I really hold out for dinner while I cook it all, or should I snack now...or eat a small dinner now and a big snack later...or a big dinner later and a little-ish snack now...oh dear.
10) I wonder how the people living upstairs managed to get a small elephant into their apartment.
11) What a lovely day for a walk....I love walking, and I'm so glad tha-what is that monstrous hill doing there?!
12) coffee...coffee...COFFEE!!!!
13) Now that I've had family stay, and sweated to death, and been chilly, and cooked, and cleaned, and had a good cry in it....maybe this apartment feels just the tiniest bit like it could be home.

Settling In

Well friends here I am, settled-ish into my new, very spacious, never-been-lived-in-before, apartment. I've spent thousands of dollars in the last week buying things for the place, paying the security deposit and rent, filling up on groceries, and setting up utilities and so forth. Whoever taught the lesson on how much moving out can cost skipped my high school apparently! My dad called my decorating style "Early Poverty". Fabulous.
I cooked my first meal on my own in the new place - my dad and sister stayed for a few days to help me get settled and he did the cooking, but this time it was up to me and I was kind of proud of the results...I've never cooked fish before, but it was delicious!
I'm actually thinking of taking a few cooking classes around here - once I have some money again! They have a few at a local bakery that look pretty fun and interesting, and I could meet some people there. I also might start volunteering with the local library and/or theatre association - just depends on how exhausted I am once I actually start at the new job. It's funny though - with all the stress of moving I'm not even worried about the job, I'm too busy trying to get life figured I guess!
Well, back to settling for me, but answer me this while I'm gone: Should I volunteer at the church on Wednesday nights with a children's program, or should I take a creative writing class at the local community college? Answer away in the comments below!

Welcome, Welcome

Welcome, old friends and new friends :) So, this is the new blog - what do you think? I kind of like it myself - obviously! Anyways, this is where I will be regaling you with tales of my moving adventures and with creating a new life, for the first time all on my own. I can't promise I'll be real regular with my updates, for sure not until I have actually found a place to live, gotten settled in, and started at the new job. But I'll do my best, and hopefully we'll have fun together!

Well, that's it I guess. Just a short note to get us started. Thanks for following me into this new adventure - talk to you soon :)

-J