DIY lurve

So I joined pinterest a little while back and as you fellow pinners out there know, it can be kind of addictive .  There's just something about putting all your ideas/unrealistic dreams into boards that makes them seem somewhat more tangible and makes you feel like a more classy and accomplished person.  These dreams and ideas don't necessarily need to actually take place.  You just have to pin about it and the effect is almost just as good.  That's what's so amazing about pinterest.  

Another common trend I've noticed amongst the pinning world (it's its own world now, that's how amazing it is) and it's that people LOVE to pin all things DIY.  For those of you new to the term, DIY means Do It Yourself.  AKA, homemade, craftsy, made from scratch things that you would never even imagine!  You're thinking, "That sounds kinda cool!", and believe me so was I.  Oh my gosh, DIY cake stand, DIY vintage dresser, DIY wreath................. DIY bent popsicle stick bracelets???  Okay....... What?  At first I was a little intrigued by the DIY ideas, but more and more I saw DIY projects that just....... aren't all that practical.  Okay, stupid is a better word.  I didn't know popsicle stick bracelets were coming back in style.... or ever were in style....... (side note, it got 10,493 repins.... whoa people) ..... And I think it's safe just to stick with the store bought laundry detergent, especially when some of the ingredients include things you can't even pronounce in 5 syllables or find in the United States.  Or the ever so popular endless ways to refurbish newspaper.  Really - just THROW IT AWAY.  Newspaper doesn't look good on canvases hung on your wall, decoupaged into various vase shapes, or printed on your beautiful freshly painted red nails.

This is when pinning gets a little out of control... people get pin happy and feel like they can't stop!  You don't have to pin that hideous t-shirt braided scarf, even if you DO have plenty of grungy t's taking up space in your closet that you should probably toss in the garbage anyway!  Be better than the pin.  Say no to the outrageous time wasting projects that 99% of the time don't turn out the way you hoped they would anyway.  Or.... you could keep doing it and keep providing me with more reasons to laugh when I'm on pinterest.  

So in light of the DIY spree, I thought I might for once contribute my piece to the unnecessary, waste of time, and ridiculous home-remedy puzzle.  And let's see how far it gets!  To preface the motivation behind it all - I am in a Food Science lab class that teaches us the science behind cooking different foods and we (scientifically and very officially) test... *cough*.... cook..... for 3 hours to study foods!  ... and occasionally partaking of our science experiments.  mmmmost delicious and well worth college class I have ever taken.  (warning: do not eat the experiments of normal science lab classes!)  Today we studies food emulsions and their properties.  We made mayonnaise as well as margarine, then got to spread them on sandwich rolls and eat them!  Personally, I thought both were pretty good!  (obviously I would never make my own margarine and it is simply just much easier to buy it at the store, which makes it so appropriate for this post!!!)

The margarine recipe is as follows, and I'll just leave the rest to social media!

Water Phase: 

• 75g water                                       
• 2g salt
• 2g nonfat milk

Fat Phase:

• 70g shortening
• 50g vegetable oil
• 1g monoglyceride

Blend water phase ingredients together, bring to boil and set aside.  Add vegetable oil and shortening together.  Heat to 60-65 degrees C.  Add Monoglyceride and dissolve.  Mixing with a hand mixer, very slowly add hot water phase to oil phase.  When all water phase has been added to oil phase, continue mixing.  Place in ice bath and stir to form margarine.  

*picture looks disgusting, I know

I'm sure some people saw this pin, were too bored to read all the way through the post, and gave up on the re-pin.  But those of you who gave it the chance and read it all the way through, or are just plain and simple bored with your lives and spend hours delving into pointless blogs (like this one), I hope you follow your natural pinning instincts and repin.  You owe me the repin if you gave one to the mason jar chandelier guy.  Yeah, I'm talking to you.  You know who you are.  Have a great day clicking that mouse away, creating your imaginary dream house/wedding/chef cousine and remember:  it's the pin that counts.  

Official.

I got a cool new waterproof watch to war when I'm teaching private swim lessons.  that way I know when to stop teaching so I can go home.  Since that's the best part of swim lessons.  now i'm all fancy because I look really smart with it on my skinny little wrist.  I kinda like looking nerdy/smart with a watch on, and even better, one that I won't have to take off when taking a dip.  That screams ultimate nerd.

So anyway I like looking nerdy and official.  I feel like an important person when I turn my head just so, and simultaneously twist my forearm to an angle where the time on my watch is visible.  I see the time, then I get back to what I'm doing.  it's great.

PS - being nerdy has it's perks.  The watch has many special features to play with when bored or in need of looking official when messing with said watch.  They include: a timer, stopwatch, alarm, a feature that counts for you to check pulse, the time, date, AND an indiglo button for looking official in dark places. 

hmph.

It is a curious thing, dating.  A few friends from school and I have often pondered our history on the subject and how we are just so...... well, "unlucky".  What's not to like about a cute fun and interesting 19 year old girl, who may have a lot of personality?  We sure don't know.  

It was until I read this article. Sarcasm at it's finest. One that I swear was meant for my eyes.  Now considering all the statistical probabilities of finding a guy of genuine personality, attractiveness, and intelligence, I see why I'm still seeking Mr..... Okay.  That is why I say hmph.  

Respect the lady in the suit!

Here's me in a nutshell.

Except maybe not so glamorous.  And not in such a cool looking chair.  Or binoculars.  Creep.  

But just like this girl, I too look authoritative in that sexy one piece.  I mean, once I put that glorified onesie on, I don't let nothing stop me.  Respect the lady in the suit!

What I call home.

I have been very bad with the blogging recently.  Oh well.  Certainly not an area for me to brag.  BUT!  I will simply refresh you on what has happened since last blog.

One:  I turned nineteen.  What a day!  My friends all threw me a kingly birthday, filled with good food,

inside jokes,

 outrageous outfits,

 and together time that makes me feel most loved.

 It truly was the best day.  Oh, not to mention, I took my two hardest finals as well (Immabeast)

Two:  I finished school, and moved home!  Arizona was my destination, and no one could interfere.  I was coming home.  I have been home since the 23rd of April, and have been up to no good *like always* ..... I'm such the daredevil, I know.

Three:  iWork.  Holycow.  I knew lifeguarding was going to be tough, and take up the majority of my life, but did not expect the bossyness of it!  It's taken over my life!  I teach, I coach, I guard, I get certified!  ... all while getting paid, thank goodness!  It is a joy to be doing something while at home, but it is keeping me very busy to say the least.

Four:  I'm not sure what else!  Is that sad or what?  I mean I guess theres lots more going on, but what more to say?!  haha this summer will be a lot of work.  That's the simplest way to put it.  But it will certainly PAY OFF.

I'm over it

Why do finals have to take over my life and haunt me like a living nightmare at every waking moment!?  I'm over them.  Don't they have any compassion on my poor nerves? I know ice cream does. So much, that I might run out soon.  Shoot.

Things I get to look forward to in the near future:

• Miss myself turns 19 woop woop!  (I don't know of anything significant about 19, other than the LAST year of teenhorribleness) ps I want this watch ruullll baaaad. 
• Real 100% fully charged sun.  Which also means shorts, tan lines, and highlight hair.  AZ, here I come.  Whether I like it or not.
• a ride. I'm tired of using my legs.  I don't know how people did it back then.  I know I couldn't have.  Thank goodness for Henry Ford!
• No school for 4 months, whaaa???
• Lots of down time with the broseph (short for brother Joseph, who coincidentally, is my brother).  I've missed this boy, and we get to hang out for long time!
• Did I mention that school is over?!  I don't think even I understand how much this will help my sanity. 
• I CAN MAKE MONEY.  Lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons will soon take over my life once again!!  I am a poor starving student and am getting by on the skin of my teeth!  Which brings up another good point.......
• I CAN EAT REAL FOOD.  We all know this one should be at the top of the list. (and for good reason!  Mama Mooney is Emeril Lagasse in the flesh!)
• I will have time to read what I WANT!  I spend so much time as it is, reading text books and scholarly garb that my mind is filled with so much smart stuff, it just wants a break to fill itself with fluffy fun stuff.  Like Pride and Prejudice stuff.  It likes that.

In the meantime I sit in Provo.  

Cold. 

Bored. 

Pale.

Hungry. 

I think I might be over Provo too.  Sorry, nothing personal BYU!

Futures

You'd think I would have thought about what really lies ahead for me by now, being in college and all, but it took me one year of college to figure out what I'm doing here.... in college.  

I finally declared my major (dietetics!  Yay!).  Registered for classes for that major in the fall.  Applying to countless jobs, basically anywhere they are hiring, and getting very little out of it.  I even applied to be an anatomy TA for the fall to get some extra service hours for dietetics, and my interview is tomorrow!  Found a place to live in the fall, which was a miserable process (thank goodness it all worked out great).  It seems like school is the main reason for all of these plans.  Hmm.  Well, I guess you have to surrender yourself to your goals, if they mean that much to you.  And at BYU, if you don't give your 100% into school, you get semi good grades, then you look like a slacker because everyone else are flippin geniuses.  It's getting easier to give that 100%, now that I've gotten the hang of it (and maybe because American heritage isn't killing me).

If all goes according to plan, my future is set!     

 

This is why I love John Mayer

Say what you want about him but you can not deny that the man has talent.  Not only is his music pure genius, but his writing is too (well I guess that's a given, since he writes his own songs), but still.  I've read a lot of his fan blog lately, and no, I never thought I would be one of those people, but it's very interesting and entertaining!  Now..... all that's left to do is meet him....

Here's one of his posts that I really liked  

"Simple."

Lazy Sunday

Today has been a great day for lots of reasons.  I woke up really early for someone like myself (maybe it only seemed that way because we lost an hour to day light savings), and went to stake conference.  The meeting was great, and I couldn't help but dream of home in 2 weeks with my family.  In only a week and a half I'll get to see Joey!  Whoop!  Second reason today was sweet (ha ha pun) was because of..... food!!  Duh what else?  Actually, I can't really call it food, or else I would have a major sugar headache and food baby if I ate this for a meal.  I was browsing through Annie's Eats cooking blog and saw these cupcakes that looked delicious, decided to make them, and what do ya know... they were.  I'm always worried about trying new recipes and whether or not they'll turn out right, so when I took the first bite, it was one of these scenarios: chew.... chew..... mmmmmm yup, that's good.  They are called "Snickerdoodle" cupcakes, and something with a name like that will never disappoint you, flavor wise.  

So I took a picture of them with some real snickerdoodles.     

Now that I'm on my way to professional pastry making (and photography of course), I'll go and enjoy the rest of my Sunday.  :)

March is going to be great.

Many of the past few months have seemed so busy and eventful since being at college, but I know that March, by far, will school the other months in craziness. Let me shed a little light on how this is so...

It started off with the Joshua Radin concert that roommate Allie Brown and I went to. The concert was amazing, and such a needed breath of fresh air in the middle of a stressful week.

Here's a pic of us with the man, J Rad.

Then, if you add in school, there are a trillion midterms and tests I've had to take in only the past week. Who knows how many more are to come, as the semester finishes up.

I've been playing on an intramural soccer team with a friend from my soccer team last semester, and we have been having a blast. What's even cooler is my brother Daniel got to join the team and the fun. I MISS SOCCER SO MUCH and love being able to kick a ball around every once in a while, even if it means a few bruises and scuffed knees from the turf. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

More importantly, there is a certain brother, who is coming home from his mission in less than 2 weeks and I can not bloomin wait to see his happy RM face, and give him a huge hug. I seriously was just a little 16 year old baby when he left, and feel like time has just flown by since. I can't wait to have my best friend back and make some more good laughs with him. Love him so much.

Not only does broseph come home from his mission, but 3 days later, my beautiful and amazing sister, Angela Mooney will become Mrs. Angela McAferty and I couldn't be more happy for her. I get to fly home on the Friday before and see everyone and be there for Annie's wedding. For the first time in 2+ years, every member in our family will be together, and in celebration of Annie's wedding. I'm so lucky to have them.

This is the greatness of March, and I can't wait to experience it! And, judging by the eventful weeks that are to come, the rest of March is destined to be great.

I'm new at this

I am not a follower. I like the way I live, and I like it to be characteristic of me, and not after the manner of another person/trend.... buuuuut, I made the exception. I made one of these huuur things. A blog. I'm not entirely sure how to use one, or when I'll ever get around to keep it bompin, but I'd figure I'd try it out. And just for the sake of having one (and to convince myself I'm not following the crowd), I'll try to keep it as original as possible, the 100%, not watered down version, all Chris you can get. In the mean time, enjoy my random thoughts and whims. They are plentiful.