Much Needed Fall Break!

Words cannot describe how badly I needed Fall Break to get here this year. The stress of the week leading up to our 4-day weekend was too much to handle. I had two papers due the same day, a BAD bout of sickness, tests, regular class assignments, club meetings, opera rehearsal, and the medical struggles of my 91-year-old Grandma to grapple with. I was too exhausted, too stressed out, and stretched too thin to enjoy the week. Needless to say, I *sighed* a HUGE breath of relief when Friday at 5pm rolled around and I was able to escape all the stresses of the week and skip town with my favorite man!

Part 1: Yakima Get-Away!

Dustin and I stayed at my "in-laws-removed" in Yakima, WA (Central/Eastern side of WA). For those who don't follow that relation, we stayed with Cody and Audre and Gabe. Cody is my Sister-in-Law's brother...so my brother's brother and sister in-law and nephew. Make sense? Good.

Anyway, here's a rundown of our awesome activities!

We played with the cutest baby ever!

Picked pumpkins from a pumpkin patch!

Tasted quite a few yummy wines from local vineyards

Picked our own  apples from an orchard down the road

 Now that's what I call *teamwork*! Before I realized what was happening, my strong boy had me scooped up onto his shoulders to help me reach the highest apples! =)

 

Some of us even got baby snuggles!

And to end the great trip, we saw beautiful fall colors and the gorgeous  Mt. Rainier on our drive home

Part 2: Tacoma Fun!

Upon arriving back home in Tacoma, the Fall Break fun continued! 

I was able to relax and simply watch T.V. WHAT? That never happens!

 

I was able to finally go bowling with Dustin and Dylan! It's their Monday night ritual, but I'm usually too bogged down with homework to join them!

 

My speech therapist informed me I could start singing again! Big smiles all around! Now I just need to gradually work up to singing full-time again!

I treated myself to a much needed  massage. It was heavenly!

(clearly not me...but you get the idea!) 

And I even had the time to squeeze in a last minute haircut! I feel like a new woman!

I'm not thrilled to jump back into the stresses of school and the crazy routine I lead, but luckily for me, I still have many more things to look forward to, including:

1. Celebrating my 22nd Birthday!
2. Halloween!
3. Singing again!
4. Thanksgiving!
5. Random little moments of spending time with those I love!

Here's to hoping everyone else had a relaxing, rejuvenating, and re-energizing fall break!
Everyone deserves it!

Entering to Win a Giveaway

PinkPeonies is giving away cards from JenniferHallsmark

Click here to see more!

 

Blogging About Happiness

Today was just one of those days where the world was on my side! Don't you just LOVE days like that? For that reason, I've decided to blog about anything and everything that makes me happy! Starting with this particular arrangement of 'American Boy' that I just discovered last night (Afro-Blue from 'The Sing Off')

 

These inspirations of 'happiness' appear in no particular order, just as they come to mind!

1. My family. There are some rough times going on with my family right now as my 91-year-old Grandma battles medical issues. I know my mom is having a tough time, but I still love my family and wish them only happiness!

2. Fro-yo with Friends! Yay Two Punch Tuesdays at Gibsons!

 

3. Wheel Of Fortune. Yup. I just went to live auditions tonight and was randomly selected to be on stage, AND I solved the puzzle! I couldn't be happier! Here's to hoping I can actually get on the show! And a special thanks to Melanie for coming with to keep me company!!!

4. Getting a 95% on the first paper I wrote this year for Music History. I pulled an all-nighter, I felt confident in my argument, and it turns out that I nailed it!

 

5. This boy. We've had our ups and downs, but after time apart, we're back together and very happy. He just puts really big smiles on my face...all the freaking time.

6. While we're on the topic, I love the little surprises from Dustin.

7. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Covered Caramel Apples. 'Nuff said.

  

8. The opportunity to be a cast member in Up With People! Words cannot describe how ANXIOUS and EXCITED I am to be a part of this organization!

Up With People Website

My 'Up With People' Blog - check it out!

9. Fall!!! And the fact that it's October...AKA My BIRTHDAY and HALLOWEEN!

10. Passages! And my Passagees! And Camp Parsons! Everything about Passages, really!

 11. 'What She Said' - I miss getting to sing with these girls (and our new mems!) Dumb vocal nodes.

 

12. My puppies.

 

13. These girls. My lifelines!

 

14. Snuggies! Especially since our house is freezing!

15. Cake decorating and all the fun I have with it!

16. Being woken up with a kiss! Aw!

 

I could go on and on. So many things/people/moments make me happy...but unfortunately homework isn't one of them. I've procrastinated enough today, so now it's time to get my reading done! Bleh.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like FALL!!!

Enjoy a little Wynton Marsalis on the awesome jazz standard, "Autumn Leaves," while you read! 

(Man, this piece is genius! It blows my mind every time!)

Fall has arrived! My favorite!!! The weather is cooler, the air is crisper, and my senses are all a buzz for cinnamon spice, pumpkin anything, and warm apple crisp! The latter is what inspired this post, in fact!

I walked in the door from opera rehearsal tonight ITCHING to bake something fall inspired! I knew I had graham crackers to work with, so I Googled "graham cracker recipes." That lead me down the path of wanting to make some kind of apple crisp, but I only had applesauce to work with. NO PROBLEM! Behold, the most delicious, easy fall dessert EVER! It literally took me 5 min. to throw together!

There's no title for it. But my housemates lovingly entitled it "Fall in a Bowl" (it makes your taste buds do a little happy fall dance!)

Here's my take on the recipe...I adjusted a few things to my liking!

Ingredients:

2 cups applesauce (cinnamon, preferred. If plain, add cinnamon to it!)

1/3 cup brown sugar (the original called for 1/2 cup and it was a bit much)

1/3 cup chopped nuts

1/3 cup oats (mixed with a little wheat germ if you have it. If not, no biggie!)

1 cup roughly crushed graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup butter (or margarine) softened
Cinnamon for garnish

Whipped topping/ice cream (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Pour applesauce in a 9X9 pan.

In a bowl, mix brown sugar, nuts, oats, graham crackers, and butter. 

Sprinkle on top of applesauce.

Sprinkle on a bit of cinnamon if so desired!

Bake for 15-20 min. until the top turns golden.

Serve warm in a bowl (it's not thick enough to hold itself together on a plate).

TA DA! So good. So fall!

I'll be sure to post more of our Halloween house decorations once it's daylight and I snap some photos! Go bake!