Orange You Glad You Are A Cowboy?

Here is one of my all time favorite sites from homecoming.  I love that every homecoming week the library fountain turns orange.  How spectacular does that look?  It is just a sight to see, perfect for pictures and just all around happy.

Homecoming has come and gone for another year.  It is just sad that we (as in students) start planning a year in advance for the next one.  Soo much time and effort is put into homecoming.  Don't get me wrong, I did not put a lot of effort into this years house decoration but I feel like I have done my part, no matter what anyone else has to say about it. Don't mind my rant--For crying out loud I am graduating in less than 60 days, can you see why I have zero motivation to do anything that involves my sorority?  I have way more important things going on, like trying to find a job.  Anyways,  I hold homecoming near and dear to my little heart.  I am just ready for the campus to go back to normal and town to slow down.  The only thing that upset me a little bit about this past week, Starbucks was a zoo!  It took me way too long to get my daily caffeine fix, just saying.

 

I did happen to have the perfect opportunity for the most wonderful picture.  If you know me at all, you know that I am an extreme girlie girl.  The AGR/Theta house dec was just that, on one side of it anyways.  They had Mrs. Potato head, lots of flowers, OPI nail polish and lipstick!  How perfect is that?  It was also nice to see all of my old friends that now have big kid jobs come back to their "home."  I just realized that no matter where I end up going for my job or what I do, Oklahoma State will always be my "home."

Step 1) Dip fried okra into ranch!

Step 2) Chew, Chew, Chew, waiting on the verdict.

Step 3) Thumbs up! Excellent side choice

Ohh!  If you follow me on twitter (Lindseyll for those of you who don't) you noticed my twit pic from Saturday.  I made friends with a few Nebraska fans at Bad Brad's BBQ here is town.  The original is in my hometown so I am a little obsessed/crazy about this place.  It was an hour fifteen min wait...needless to say I had time to make friends.  After this chit-chat about the game, we got to talking about food and giving them my expert advice.  They told me they have never had fried okra in their life.  I almost fell over into my grave at that moment.  I told them they had to try their fried okra and get some ranch dressing to dip it in, that makes all of the difference, believe me!  So after they all got their food I went over to their table and wanted to see if they did, in fact, get okra with ranch dressing.  Guess what?  Every single one of them did!  It was priceless!  They were amazing with the taste!  I asked them if I could take a picture for my blog and they all started laughing hysterically, we made a scene...I am okay with it, though.

Breaking news--It is my birthday week!  So get out your stamps and Hallmark cards!  I'll be waiting by my mailbox!

Maroon 5 In Tulsa

Today is off to a wonderful start.  It feels like such a great fall day although I think it is going to feel like summer by the end of it.  Today is Wednesday but it feels so much like a Monday...it is just going by so slow.

Last night was wonderful!  One Republic was amazing, I was not that excited about them at first but they were really entertaining.  Maroon 5 was just amazing, words can not even describe how wonderful they were.  They played a lot of old stuff and that made me so happy.  They played the song "She Will Be Loved."  I can officially die happy now, maybe that's a little overdramatic, but really.  The only setback, I forgot my camera, thank you IPhone!

 

Wise Words

Have you ever reached a point in your life when you felt like you could not take anymore and you just wanted to run, run far away?  I am at that point right now and it sucks. Everyone keeps telling me not to worry about it because God has a plan.  I know that, I never even questioned that.  I just want to know what path I need to take, there are so many options presenting themselves right now.  It really is overwhelming.  So, that is why I have been away for the past couple of days.  I have had a lot to deal with...

"Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him." (Psalm 37:3-5)  I am trying to remember this passage every time I get stressed out about my life and where the future is going to take me.  I have a feeling others are experiencing the same thing right now, so there you go!

In other news, I now have Beauty and the Beast and the complete season 1 of Glee on DVD.  My life just got a little bit better.  All I need is some Ben and Jerry's Phish food, Pink Sweatpants, an oversized frat tee and I will be in heaven.  I am actually thinking that is how I am going to spend fall break or, at least, a portion of it will be going down that way.  Breaking news--Let's talk about how Oklahoma had an earthquake today....I never thought I would get to say I experienced one!  However, now I can state that as a fact, mark that off of the to-do list.

Like usual, I was at my second home (Starbucks) working on homework...I just had to share this.  Look at it melting down my cup.  I thought it made for a wonderful photo opportunity.

Black Bottom Heartache Cupcake

I decided to try a new cupcake recipe and I came across this one book that I picked up a while back ago.  Please note that I am not an avid lover of chocolate.  My sister must have stolen that all away from me because that girl LOVES her chocolate.  However, I do welcome any and all dark Godiva chocolate with a raspberry filling, I hold a special spot in my heart for that.  With that said, this cupcake is pure chocolate!  If you like, love, adore, and or worship chocolate, this is for you!  You need to go buy the ingredients now and make it ASAP.  That is a direct order.

Black Bottom Heartache

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

5 tablespoons natural unsweetened coco powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Place 12 paper liners in cupcake trays.

2. Whisk together flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

3. In separate bowl mix water, oil, vinegar and vanilla.

4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the wet ingredients.  Mix until smooth.

5. Pour batter into paper liners.  Fill three-quarters of the way to the top.

6. Spoon a few tablespoons of the filling into the center of each cake.  The cupcakes will now be at the top of the paper.

7. Bake for 25 minutes.

8. Coll for 5 minutes and then place on a baking rack.

Filling

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese

1/3 granulated sugar

1 egg

2 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Cream sugar, cream cheese, and egg with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.

2. Fold in the chopped chocolate with a rubber spatula.

 

Everyone that tried this cupcake said that this was the best one they have ever had.  Kristin has sampled all of my cupcakes and she wants this one for her birthday, that is how good it is.  I took a plate to Starbucks for them to enjoy.  I like sharing my baked  goods with others, it gives me joy seeing their face light up.  There is just something about home-made goodies that you get...almost a warm fuzzy feeling.

National 4-H Youth Science Day Experiment

Yesterday was National 4-H youth science day experiment.  I went to help out for a little while in between my classes.  It was so much fun!  The kids were so excited about it.  They were having a blast!  These were the two kids that I helped, they are brother and sister and 13 months apart.  The little girl is older.  It is almost like me and John Paul. Almost like twins...but not really.  I think they had a good time and learned a lot!

 

 

After the science experiment, I decided to enjoy the day.  I went for a manicure and a pedicure.  That was relaxing as always, a good personal investment.  Then I picked up Kristin from class and we spent the rest of the day together.  It is so nice to have a best friend that you can hang out with all the time.  It is never dull with us either, it is always fun and exciting.

Taylor Swift In OKC

I am pretty sure that as much as I do not want to admit it...Taylor Swift has a window into my soul. It is like she stole my diary or something. Her songs can pretty much sum up my life and it somewhat scary sometimes. I am sure every other girl in the world thinks the same thing but whatever, it's alright. Not many girls can say that they got to be front row at her concert but I can! My roommate and I went to see her in OKC last spring and it was awesome! We might have been the oldest girls here, but you know what I am perfectly okay with that. I do not mind one bit!

Tonight while having coffee with Kristin, she asked me if I have heard the new song "Speak Now". She told me that it sounds just like me. I kind of laughed it off because I was not sure what it was about because I have not heard it. So, as soon as I got home I downloaded it and to my surprise, it does sound just like me. Sometimes I feel like my life would make a hilarious romantic comedy with everything that has happened. Let's just hope it has a happy ending, I guess we will wait and see.

I do not really like Tuesdays at all this semester. This day feels like it has gone on forever! I think it is past my bedtime , maybe that is the other reason. I am such a grandma, I like to get a full nights rest. I do not function without sleep, I get a little cranky. I made a decision that I am going to try a new recipe every week. Tomorrow I am going to make dinner and a new cupcake for some friends. They will be the judges to see if the cupcake is a hit or miss. I'll post the review, recipe, and pictures tomorrow!

A Real Treat

This morning when I woke up it was 40 degrees!  Talk about sheer bliss, except for the fact that feels more like winter than it does fall--but I was okay with that.  Today I got to wear a cardigan, again!  An hour before my test off I went to Starbucks for morning coffee and a quick study session.  Who sat down beside me?  That's right, Coach Ford.  May I point out that this is not our first-morning coffee exchange.  We are pretty much besties...well okay, not really.  But I can dream, right?  My test went well, I am so glad it is out-of-the-way. Now it's just time to breathe...

It is initiation week in adeepi land.  It is a busy time, I took the high road and ordered my g littles presents.  I probably should have made them, but I really did not have the extra time to do that.  I hope the like them, I am sure they will!  Who does not like presents?  I know I sure do (a cough 24 more days until my birthday) excuse me, I have had a cold.

In other news, it's also National 4-H Week!  Not that I am an active member of 4-H anymore, but it hold 10 years of fond memories.  I am an avid supporter, I guess you could say.  Cheesy as that may sound...it's the truth.  Those are some pictures from my Sr. year in high school.  Everyone meet Sid the Sloth, who was really a show steer.  He might have been my best friend at that time in my life.  He loved cake (cattle cake), I kept some in my pockets at all time to give him. He just loved getting treats.  I don't think I have ever been more heartbroken at that moment when I put him on the truck.  You would have thought one of my family members passed away or something, I was a hot mess.  There is just something that you gain from growing up in the 4-H program.  I am happy I got to experience it.

Little known fact

 This weekend everyone is going home or on a little getaway.  I have a test on Monday, so I am not moving much.  I managed to make some note cards today, so I am making steps in the right direction.  This weather is awfully pretty, though, I want to play.  Maybe tomorrow I will go to the zoo or something like that.

Ps, by the way, It's now October my Birthday Month! Yippee!  I am kicking things off right with a dinner date with one of my Glittles tonight.  I can not wait to start receiving cards in the mail from family and friends.  I should work for hallmark or something....I LOVE birthday cards. I keep my cards...I don't know why, but I have all my cards either on a board in my room or a shoe box. There is a little-known fact for you. I like cards, the end.