One of my favorite things about the world of blogging that I have so recently become acquainted with is all the giveaways that bloggers do! Ashley from After Nine To Five is doing an awesome, winner-takes-all, 35 prize give away in honor of her birthday! Want to get in on the action? Visit her blog here.
Good luck! ;-)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A Story of Christmas...
In my usual fashion, I have spent much time reading other blog's, and ignoring the fact that its been two months since I posted anything. However, I have learned SO much about blogging from reading other blogs. A few of the big things that I have realized the need to focus on in my posts are more pictures (and better quality- can't wait to get the DSL camera I have been wanting for FOREVER!), a little less writing, and sticking to one topic per post. So, here is a little over view of a few things from Christmas.
For those of you out there who are avid DIYers, I found a very creative idea for a festive centerpiece bouquet from Martha Stewart. Its very simple, and easily made by even the newest DIY convert, yet so pretty!
Her directions said only to use the white flowers, but I added the green thinking it would be more Christmas-y. In retrospect, I think that I would have liked the all-white look better, but it still turned out nicely. Don't you think? (Yes, yes, I know, I needed to iron my table cloths.)
And it's not Christmas with out Christmas cookies, right? My friend Jess and I have made it an annual thing to get together and bake 4-6 different types of cookies in one night. It was a blast and they were DELICIOUS!
Peanut Butter blossoms on the left, chocolate cake cookies in the bottom center, my grandma's gingersnaps (my favorite) on the bottom right, and good ol' chocolate chip on the top center and top right. Mmmmmmm....
Merry Belated Christmas everybody! :-)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
A Tragic Opportunity
This post is the editorial that I wrote for the December edition of our company newsletter.
Penn State
Link to David Brooks’ article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/opinion/brooks-lets-all-feel-superior.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=david%20brooks&st=cse
A Tragic Opportunity
by Lacey Reapsome
The
wrong doings of these iconic figures in society hve brought many people pain
for the victims and their families, and anger toward the man who would dare to
do such a thing to innocent children and those who sat idly by. It has also brought about a broken, hurting
student body, both current students and alumni, whose laments have filled
editorial pages and facebook pages.
I
am reminded of a quote from Napoleon Hill, in which he stated that “Every
adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal
or greater benefit”. It is hard to turn
from our pain, anger, and self pity and realize that life is bigger than we
are, and that every adversity is an opportunity to become stronger and better
people, and an opportunity to reflect on our own faults and to learn and grow
from the failures of those around us.
David
Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times, wrote an article on November 14th,
2011 entitled Let’s All Feel Superior.
In his article, Brooks brings to light the psychological realities of
the human minds ways of dealing with horrific situations. Normalcy Biases, Motivated Blindness, and
self-deception prevent us from consciously believing something that our eyes
see. Our minds instinctively protect us
from viewing horrifying scenes. Brooks
references an experiment in which people were shown images, some containing
sexual content. Those participants who
were uncomfortable with sex never let their eyes dart over to the uncomfortable
parts of the pictures. In other words,
some element of the mind was aware of the content of the pictures before the
eyes drifted that way, thus preventing the eye from gazing upon something the
viewer did not want to see.
While
a large majority of us sit back and judge the actions of Joe Paterno, Mike
McQueary, and many of the other people who were somehow informed of the horrifying
acts of Jerry Sandusky with children in the showers of the locker rooms of the
Penn State football program, there are very few of us who would have the mental
strength and gumption to intervene or even to simply report the incident. Our self-deception allows us to fixate on the
facts that we like, and suppress the ones we do not. Brooks references a book entitled Blind Spots,
which points out that “when it comes time to make a decision, our thoughts are
dominated by thoughts of how we want to behave; thoughts of how we should
behave disappear.”
If
it is scientifically proven that we, as the human race, would, in a large
majority of cases, do the exact same thing that Joe Paterno and Mike McQueary
and a host of others did, why then do we feel that we can sit back and point
our fingers in astonishment and question how THEY could have let this
happen? What we should be doing instead
is to focus on the opportunity this tragic situation presents to us as students
and alumni, as citizens of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I'm back!!!!....?
Ok, so I realize that I haven't blogged in weeks months. I am not quite sure how so many people (especially mothers!) not only blog EVERYDAY, but do so including beautiful pictures of their lives and wonderful details of their interactions and passions and all the things that make them tick.... I am jealous that I have not yet been able to get there, but I do intend to. someday. For now, I am going to attempt to make up for my extended leave of absence with a long post touching upon as many of the subjects I said I was going to blog about as possible. Here it goes...
Since my last post on August 23rd (feels like that was only a week ago, where has this fall gone!?), I have been to three weddings, including being the Maid of Honor in my sisters wedding on September 24th, which was beautiful and amazing, and soooooo much work for all of us involved .....and, might I add, soooooooo worth it! :-) These endeavors have only enhanced my own wedding planning as I garner ideas and vendor business cards...speaking of which, our next two wedding "to dos" are choosing the guys' tuxes and planning out our ceremony.....so exciting!!!
(On that note...
Bridesmaids' dresses are all in, but, I have a quandary which I would love to hear your ideas on.......I found out a week ago that one of my bridesmaids and her husband are having a baby!!! {YAY!}....in JUNE!!! {WHOO HOO!}......which means that she will be like 36 weeks pregnant at my wedding {YAY!.....?}.............
....some of you have probably figured out my quandary by now, which is what to do about her DRESS?!?!? (Its a little big on her now....but 8+ months pregnant is probably going to need more than "a little" room). I am so excited for them, and so excited to be an [unofficial] "aunt" again.......but what about the dress?....hmmm...........{praying about this one}.... )
Moving on........I have also had a few opportunities to do some FALL shopping and have put together a few fun, fall outfits using some of my new pieces {pictures to come}.
Scrapbooking and sewing have been in the same situation as blogging...back burner-ed...however, I am going to get some Christmas projects going soon, so stay tuned (or re-tune, since I have been M.I.A. for 10 weeks). :-)
In the cooking realm (the ONE thing that NEVER gets back burner-ed no matter how busy I am) I have been LOVING fall time cooking and baking. Pumpkin bread, baked sweet potatoes, and butternut squash soup have all been thoroughly enjoyed. More baking in general because its cool out and the heat from the oven feels cozy has additionally led to more last minute whip-ups such as banana bread, raisin bran muffins, and homemade pizza. Pumpkin sheet cake, with a creamy, cream cheese icing, was my most recent kitchen production, which was a HUGE hit with all. {I will attempt to post a few of these recipes this evening}.
On the family front, my mother has spent the past three weeks in her hometown of Kingsburg, California (3,000+ miles away) helping out her mother, my grandmother, feel better and get some much needed tasks done. Meanwhile, my poor dad, God bless him, has been such a trooper taking care of three teenagers (yes, I said THREE TEENAGERS) at home by himself, without a working septic system! Then, this week, his cell phone and the vacuum broke in the same day (when it rains it pours I guess). So I am trekking up to State College for part of this weekend to give my family 24 hours of my undivided support, and arming myself with my own trusty DirtDevil [unfortunately I don't think there is much I can do for the septic situation].
Reading....Christopher and I have begun reading "Heaven Is For Real" together, and are loving it. If you have not read this book yet, please consider doing so. It is such a great reminder of the innocent, trusting, all-consuming faith that children have, and our need to mirror that child-like faith in our relationship with Jesus Christ. This book is also an innocent, matter-of-fact, and amazing account of a moment in heaven which a 3-year-old boy experienced while on the operating table. We are about half way through and I have already laughed, cried, and prayed with the family of this little boy in their recounting of such a real-life, yet so supernatural experience.
That's all I have for now, although I PLAN to get on again tonight to share some pictures and recipes that I do not have with me at the moment. Until then! :-)
Since my last post on August 23rd (feels like that was only a week ago, where has this fall gone!?), I have been to three weddings, including being the Maid of Honor in my sisters wedding on September 24th, which was beautiful and amazing, and soooooo much work for all of us involved .....and, might I add, soooooooo worth it! :-) These endeavors have only enhanced my own wedding planning as I garner ideas and vendor business cards...speaking of which, our next two wedding "to dos" are choosing the guys' tuxes and planning out our ceremony.....so exciting!!!
(On that note...
Bridesmaids' dresses are all in, but, I have a quandary which I would love to hear your ideas on.......I found out a week ago that one of my bridesmaids and her husband are having a baby!!! {YAY!}....in JUNE!!! {WHOO HOO!}......which means that she will be like 36 weeks pregnant at my wedding {YAY!.....?}.............
....some of you have probably figured out my quandary by now, which is what to do about her DRESS?!?!? (Its a little big on her now....but 8+ months pregnant is probably going to need more than "a little" room). I am so excited for them, and so excited to be an [unofficial] "aunt" again.......but what about the dress?....hmmm...........{praying about this one}.... )
Moving on........I have also had a few opportunities to do some FALL shopping and have put together a few fun, fall outfits using some of my new pieces {pictures to come}.
Scrapbooking and sewing have been in the same situation as blogging...back burner-ed...however, I am going to get some Christmas projects going soon, so stay tuned (or re-tune, since I have been M.I.A. for 10 weeks). :-)
In the cooking realm (the ONE thing that NEVER gets back burner-ed no matter how busy I am) I have been LOVING fall time cooking and baking. Pumpkin bread, baked sweet potatoes, and butternut squash soup have all been thoroughly enjoyed. More baking in general because its cool out and the heat from the oven feels cozy has additionally led to more last minute whip-ups such as banana bread, raisin bran muffins, and homemade pizza. Pumpkin sheet cake, with a creamy, cream cheese icing, was my most recent kitchen production, which was a HUGE hit with all. {I will attempt to post a few of these recipes this evening}.
On the family front, my mother has spent the past three weeks in her hometown of Kingsburg, California (3,000+ miles away) helping out her mother, my grandmother, feel better and get some much needed tasks done. Meanwhile, my poor dad, God bless him, has been such a trooper taking care of three teenagers (yes, I said THREE TEENAGERS) at home by himself, without a working septic system! Then, this week, his cell phone and the vacuum broke in the same day (when it rains it pours I guess). So I am trekking up to State College for part of this weekend to give my family 24 hours of my undivided support, and arming myself with my own trusty DirtDevil [unfortunately I don't think there is much I can do for the septic situation].
Reading....Christopher and I have begun reading "Heaven Is For Real" together, and are loving it. If you have not read this book yet, please consider doing so. It is such a great reminder of the innocent, trusting, all-consuming faith that children have, and our need to mirror that child-like faith in our relationship with Jesus Christ. This book is also an innocent, matter-of-fact, and amazing account of a moment in heaven which a 3-year-old boy experienced while on the operating table. We are about half way through and I have already laughed, cried, and prayed with the family of this little boy in their recounting of such a real-life, yet so supernatural experience.
That's all I have for now, although I PLAN to get on again tonight to share some pictures and recipes that I do not have with me at the moment. Until then! :-)
Pumpkin Sheet Cake
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Zucchini Pizza Casserole
Last night for dinner I decided to try something new. I have been "trying something new" a lot recently, which Christopher is always wary of because sometimes he doesn't like it (he is a hearty eater, but a little picky). Although he constantly tells me that he doesn't like onion or zucchini or any number of "new" foods, he often eats them and even enjoys them, so I have learned to either avoid telling him what is in the meal (which is difficult because he likes to snoop in the kitchen when I am cooking), or just convince him to try it, which is harder said than done and usually depends more on how the food looks than how it smells or tastes.
Regardless, this recipe was Christopher approved (he helped himself to a second serving, which means he liked it)! I hope you enjoy it too.
Zucchini Pizza Casserole
Ingredients:
4 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can (15 ounces) Italian tomato sauce
1 medium green pepper, chopped
Directions:
Place zucchini in strainer; sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 10 minutes. Squeeze out moisture.
Combine zucchini with the eggs, Parmesan and half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Press into greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add tomato sauce; spoon over zucchini mixture.
Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; add green pepper. Bake 20 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 6-8 servings.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Zucchini-Pizza-Casserole
Regardless, this recipe was Christopher approved (he helped himself to a second serving, which means he liked it)! I hope you enjoy it too.
Zucchini Pizza Casserole
Ingredients:
4 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can (15 ounces) Italian tomato sauce
1 medium green pepper, chopped
Directions:
Place zucchini in strainer; sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 10 minutes. Squeeze out moisture.
Combine zucchini with the eggs, Parmesan and half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Press into greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add tomato sauce; spoon over zucchini mixture.
Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; add green pepper. Bake 20 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 6-8 servings.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Zucchini-Pizza-Casserole
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Crepes
Crepes
2 cups of flour (I use whole wheat)
6 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled
4 Tbsp sugar
3 eggs
Dash of Salt
1 cup milk (to desired consistency)
Mix the batter and allow time for it to rest before cooking. Melt one tablespoon of butter in a skillet. Pour three tablespoons of batter and swirl around the pan into a thin circle of batter. Cook the crepe for one minute until the edges set up and the top is slightly moist. Work a spatula or fork under the crepe and flip. Cook 45 seconds to one minute more, and transfer to a plate. Serve with your favorite jam, jelly, marmalade, or other spread or filling. Dust with powdered sugar (optional).
Friday, August 12, 2011
Induction Day
Hello World!
I thought it appropriate to begin my blogging journey with an overview of the original intent/purpose of this blog with the knowledge that it will inevitably evolve overtime. As of today, here is how I visualize this blog:
Generally: a location to share and record the great blessings of life; an outlet for sharing inspiration and creation with others; a venue for the instantaneous exchange of knowledge and wisdom; a timeline journal of the growth and experiences of my present and future family;
Specifically: starting small I plan to share recipes and home making tips I use; excerpts from books and articles I am reading; photos of travel and the beauty of creation;
Today I am a "single" woman, engaged to be married to my God given partner, teammate, and companion in life next May (2012). Today is the first day of the rest of my life (corny and overused phrase I know), and I intend to use it to do everything I can for God, to the absolute best of my ability.
So here's to new experiences, friendships and sharing, and to the blessings of life! :)
I thought it appropriate to begin my blogging journey with an overview of the original intent/purpose of this blog with the knowledge that it will inevitably evolve overtime. As of today, here is how I visualize this blog:
Generally: a location to share and record the great blessings of life; an outlet for sharing inspiration and creation with others; a venue for the instantaneous exchange of knowledge and wisdom; a timeline journal of the growth and experiences of my present and future family;
Specifically: starting small I plan to share recipes and home making tips I use; excerpts from books and articles I am reading; photos of travel and the beauty of creation;
Today I am a "single" woman, engaged to be married to my God given partner, teammate, and companion in life next May (2012). Today is the first day of the rest of my life (corny and overused phrase I know), and I intend to use it to do everything I can for God, to the absolute best of my ability.
So here's to new experiences, friendships and sharing, and to the blessings of life! :)
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