late night kitchen adventure

PC and I have this habit of playing video games in the evening for hours. Inevitably we will turn to each other and our respective stomachs will gurgle and grumble. 

"I'm hungry," he says. "What is there to eat?"

And then it is my job to figure out something to make. Usually I resort to chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven, covered in vanilla ice cream and slathered with chocolate syrup. But last night I didn't have any cookie mix, we were all out of ice cream and there was no chocolate syrup to be found.

That is when the miracle of the internet came into play. To the Googles! Because the internet knows everything. I typed in various ingredients that were stored in the pantry and tagged on the word dessert. I was greeted with hundreds of recipes, so I sorted through various ones that sounded appetizing and that we also had all the necessities. Mostly I wanted to only use things that we already had because a) it was late and i didn't want to go anywhere I didn't have to and b) going to the store means spending money, and I really just can't do too much of that at the moment.

So I found a recipe that was just exactly what I was looking for and I set to work. I got out all the ingredients I would need and started measuring them out and mixing them together.

After a couple minutes of measuring and mixing, my arm was tired from stirring everything together and I just wanted to sit for a bit. But the dough was looking fabulous and the oven was hot, so I spooned the dough onto the cookie sheet and set it to bake for 10 minutes.

The dough, undergoing transformation.

Ten minutes later I was greeted with piping hot chocolate chip scones that were absolutely delicious. Seriously you guys, I am turning into quite the little domestic housewife, except for the whole not actually being a wife part, you know how it goes.

We had a couple for dessert last night, and a few for breakfast this morning. The dough yields about 18 scones depending on how big you make them. I just used a table spoon, so some of my scones were a lot larger than others, but it's really up to you to decide how big you want them to be.


Chocolate Chip Scones
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 egg, well beaten plus milk, to make 1 cup
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450. Grease or spray a large cookie sheet.
Stir together dry ingredients including the sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture. Add chocolate chips (or raisins if you want, or nothing if you're a plain jane kind of girl (or guy)), stir to mix well. Beat egg in measuring cup. Add milk to make 1 cup. Stir into flour. Drop roughly tablespoon size scoops on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

*You can knead 15-20 times and roll out and cut if you wish, but I prefer the ease of the drop method*

don't be scared

say hi to mr. turtle! 

(a picture to help comfort you as these changes take place on my blog)

I know! I know! The place is looking a little different around here, I moved the sofa, bought a new floor rug and some matching throw pillows, a little potpourri, the works. You may have also noticed the new name? Do you like it? Please say you like it. 

It took me forever to decide on a new name. I contemplated taking a poll, but then I wondered how many people would actually comment? And then would I hurt anybody's feelings if I didn't pick their suggestion? And then I decided that I needed to eat some chocolate chip cookies while I tried desperately to conjure up a name that wasn't overused, too cliche, and still managed to sort of convey what I am all about. 

I started by looking up idioms. Lots and lots of idioms. I liked "Rolling With The Punches" because I have to learn about how to do that, I like "Show Your True Colors" because I like to think I'm not fake here on TheBlog. But really, all the idioms I looked up didn't seem to make the grade. Though I was reminded of quite a few that I will have to figure out how to put into regular blog conversation. (No room to swing a cat? Come on! That is priceless people. Priceless.) 

But then I realized that all of the idioms that I actually liked using, we all about this whole idea of being yourself. Combined with the whole idea of trying to find out really who I am since the big split with PC, and I figured that I needed something deeper than an idiom. So I started looking up quotes. 

I found love quotes and inspirational quotes, but then I clicked on the encouragement quotes and found all sorts of good things. Quotes, I felt, were a little too long for a title though. But I found just the perfect one that went with the design I already had in my header. 

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,
the master calls a butterfly." ~ Richard Bach

So there it was. The quote that perfectly matched the design and the idea of the blog. Now I just needed a title? And lo, but where would I be without a title? So I mulled over different combinations of words and nothing was really doing anything for me. But you know a caterpillar turns into a butterfly and then has to figure out how to be a butterfly. There's all this new stuff that goes along with it!

And well really, when you put it that way, who does that sound like to you? That's exactly what I was thinking. 

So look around a bit, peek through the stuff on the walls, have a look at the pictures, try out the new sofa (but don't spill anything on my new red slip covers!) and chow down on some pop corn - it's extra buttery, just for you. 

PC meets the Arboretum and I need a new name

Days like today make me want to go camping. I miss when I could afford to take vacations. But now it's all about school and work. I can't miss too many school days during the semester or my grades will suffer, and I can't miss too many work days because my bank account suffers.

Someday I will take a nice vacation. And I will go lounge around the sunshine. But for now, I'll have to be content with what I have. And actually, today was a really good followup to the horrid day I had yesterday.

But guys, I have to tell you something important. A lot of things in my life have changed, and so has this blog. I don't feel right calling it "My Life's Graffiti" anymore because that dealt more with my artwork (hence the whole 'graffiti' idea, you know?). But now I've moved my art stuff over here and this blog has become more of a place for writing (and photography since this post doesn't have a lot of words).

So I am trying to come up with a new name for TheBlog. We all know it needs to happen, so if someday in the near future you find yourself stumbled upon this blog and it might look a little different and have a different name, just know that it's still the same place with the same Natalie, and that you're not lost in cyberspace!

lately, june

I have been thinking an awful lot about the future lately. I wonder where it will take me? I wonder what I will do with my life? I don't think I will be a teacher forever. Mostly because I don't want to be a teacher forever.

But I do make awesome chocolate chip cookies...so you know. There's always that.

However, I am thinking that I would like to just be a housewife. And raise some kiddos and sell artwork from my own handcrafted/vintage decorated beautiful house. I think that sounds perfect, but don't you?

I have also been thinking about names. I have always liked Gabriel for a boy and no one, but no one can talk me out of that one. But girls names have always been difficult for me. I fall in and out of love so easily with girls names. And I don't want one that's popular! No thank you! I will not be naming a daughter of mine Emily or Madison or Taylor. Those are not bad names, but everyone is named that it feels like.

However, I do like Tenlee. I'm not sure why, but I do. Tenlee Jane? Maybe? I don't know. It will be a long time before I have to use it though, so oh well.

This is a doodle I created at work the other day while it was slow. And then Prince Charming and Pengowen came to bother me for some fruit smoothies and a hot chocolate. I love it when my friends come bug me at work. It seriously makes my whole shift that much better.

But oh I do love my job. And now that summer school is done hopefully I can work more? Except that only time will really tell. But I have been filling out job applications too, so maybe something will turn up soon? One can hope. I am tired of being broke.

But I am not tired of thunder storms. We got our first one of the summer the other night. I was sitting on the back porch painting when the wind started to move all of my supplies anywhere it wanted and I ran around gathering up my stuff and hoping my pencils didn't fall through the cracks of the balcony.

The sky, however, was mighty gorgeous. I mean, vibrant! And pink! I just wanted to sit on the porch and stare at it until it went away, but I had to finish my painting instead. So I left window open and painted while I listened the deep rumble of the thunder. When I moved to the couch I could watch the lightning for a bit and then count to see how "far away" the thunder was, like I learned from a book I loved in elementary school. Thunder Bread? Thunder Cake? Something thunder and there was a Babushka and I read it over and over and over again.

But here is my painting, all finished. I posted about it over here on my art blog, but this is the final final painting. It's the biggest one I've done all semester! A half sheet of watercolor paper. A half sheet!

Except well, beautiful. Really. I love the little bumble bee. Too cute.

How is your summer?

my favorite season

Do you know that the sun is finally shining? And the trees! They are green! It's amazing! I live for Idaho in the summer, it's beautiful. Idaho in the winter is fantastic too, don't get me wrong, but there is just something about summer that I can't get enough of.

People always pop the question, would you rather live in perpetual heat or never ending cold? I find that a majority of people always answer cold. Cold, cold, cold, they say! It's easier to put on layers, and you can only get so naked, they say! Let them have the cold, I say.

They can keep it. I would rather stand in front of a fan than shiver in front of a fireplace. But that's just me.

And also? I live in Idaho. It doesn't get 185 degrees here in the summer, though it can get up in the hundreds. And those days? They really don't bug me so much. I'll spend it at the lake, submerged with the fishes. Maybe I'm just biased though, because I was born in the summer. So perhaps that's why it's my favorite?

Or rather I really like running around in tank tops and shorts. My favorite ensemble. And flip flops! I love flip flops! Or thongs, depending on where you're from. I used to call them thongs all the time when I was little, and for the beginning years of my life I had no idea that a thong was also a type of underwear.

But maybe I love summer so much because that always meant school was out, there was no homework, and I was free to climb trees, ride my bike, pretend to be an Indian, jump on trampolines, conspire with the neighborhood kids, and cause all sorts of trouble in the great out of doors. In shorts! My legs could be free!

It doesn't get dark until 9 o'clock in the summer time. Twilight was my favorite favorite hour to be outside. Running in the grass barefoot, playing with the dog, completing expertly maneuvered cartwheels after the sun had gone down but it wasn't quite pitch black yet.

And the thunder storms! I live for thunder storms. That low rumble followed by a spear of bright white lightning! Oh! I can't get enough of that stuff.

But lately it seems that the last couple of years have taken summer a bit longer to come out. But now? Now I think she's finally here. It's supposed to be 82 tomorrow. I can't wait!

My Dad

This is my dad. He pretty much rules. He's also a pretty big ski bum and he loves him some spicy food.

My dad is amazing. Wanna know why? He's a total man of God and him and my momma worked hard to bring us up right. Also? He stared cancer in the face and beat it to a bloody pulp. (He is super man, I tell you.)

Guess what else? He has a totally rad car.

Tell me that you do not love that car. You can't do it can you? That's because it's beautiful!! We have never had a car this fancy ever and every time I sit in it I grin like an idiot. Can't help it, you know? There's just something about a convertible that wins over a girl's heart. 

Plus, this picture is my dad's FB profile picture:

Proving that I am, in fact, his favorite child. pphhhbbbttt!

Happy father's day, Dad. ♥ I love you a lot. 

this one has a lot of pictures

Some of you may have noticed how I was conspicuously absent from blogworld this weekend...no? You didn't? Well, I suppose I'll just tell you where I was anyway, seeing as how you're just brimming with curiosity and all...

I went back home this weekend for the first time since the semester ended. It was for a momentous occasion, even! How special is that? It was a once in a lifetime event! You see, I have this brother. He's kind of cool and stuff. Sometimes. (I don't want to boost his ego too much, even though I don't really think he reads my blog...)

Anyway, this brother dude that I have decided that this year would be his last year of high school and he hopped on board the graduation train for class of 2011. Him and all 282 of his friends.

(he's the tall one in the middle, in case you forgot)

And while I was home I got to do lots of things! Fun filled things! The kinds of things that you can't do in M-town because there are no people here (usually) that are my friends! 

First off, I got my hair done by the amazing and talented Ariel, who I've known since high school. It's been a couple years since I spent any amount of time with her, and well, I missed her bunches. And she did a fab job on my hair. And also, I'm super bummed that I didn't get a picture of us together, so this one will have to do: 

You can't really see my hair, but you can totally see the awesome helmet that I found at Target. I tried to get PC to try on a completely lame head protector with me, but the best I could do was make him take my picture. You're welcome. 

In addition to being photographed with amazing head wear, I also got sit in (but not ride in! how rude!) my dad's new addition to our family. We call it Bumble Bee. Bumble, say hi to everyone, everyone say hi to Bumble:

(PC sitting in the driver's seat) 

Oh yeah, and I hung out with PC and our friend Pengowen, who had the most awesome shirt ever:

So there you have it. The most awesome weekend in the history of weekends in the month of June in the year 2011. Yes. Please. 

Deal: Explained

Last week I did the 6 word memoir, so this week I'm going to explain it.

If you hang out here in my corner of the internet often enough you would know that January was quite a painful month for me, and February wasn't much better. A certain Mr. Prince Charming and I ended up calling it quits after just over two years and I was really quite down in the dumps about it. I quit eating, I had no motivation to do anything, I really only wanted to hang out with my mom, and I spent an inexcusable amount of time crying my eyes out.

It was one of the absolute worst times in my life, and I really honestly thought it would never ever end even though everyone kept telling me that it would take time. Time! I thought that time would never end! I figured everyone was just crazy and that I would be stuck feeling like that forever and ever amen.

You see, I'd spent the last two years building my life around him because he said he would never leave. He promised that he would always be there for me, through thick and thin. And I believed him. Walking out of that relationship ripped my heart clean out of my chest. I didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't know who I was or even where to start to begin to even figure that out.

I was completely and utterly lost without him. Words cannot describe the intenseness of extreme heartbreak. You can try to explain it, but unless you've really been there you honestly have no clue what it's like. I kept waiting for something to happen. For my motivation to come back. I kept waiting to be happy again, but I felt like without him there it wasn't possible.

We decided to take a month where we wouldn't see each other. At first we weren't going to talk to each other, but hello, it's me and the big PC. We really don't know how to not talk to each other. But we did make good on not seeing each other. No more eating together, no video games, no trips to the mall, nothing.

I didn't want to go through with it. I didn't understand why he didn't love me anymore, and I desperately wanted to know what I had done wrong. I thought in that month he would find someone new and forget all about me and then, well, where would I be?

What I didn't realize is that during this month I would spend time with my friends. You know, those people I'd been neglecting in my state of wallowing in self pity. I bonded with my roommate. I watched TV with Zelda. I lost 15 pounds. I went out for pizza and movies with a guy from work. I ever so slowly started to figure out who I was again.

I didn't need him. I am still my own person and I can't rely on someone else to build my identity for me, it's something I have to do myself. You have to be yourself before you can love someone else anyway. That month apart turned out to be something so beneficial to my wounded soul, even though I had no idea what I was in for at first.

I have a new found respect for Special K snack bars, I started taking self portraits again after avoiding the camera for months and months, I went to the gym (on a regular basis! with a friend!), I went out and I did stuff. I studied at the coffee shop because I couldn't bear to spend more time in my dorm room than necessary, and you know what? It. was. nice.

Although I'm really still on the path to discovering who I am, I have a better sense of it now. And I like myself better than I did the last few months of my relationship with Prince. I make more sense to myself now. I'm more comfortable with my flaws, and I know that I will always have people around who love me more than words can describe. Jesus will always be there for me, and so will my parents and family. It took losing him to get myself back. Life is a journey and this is just the beginning.

So you can take me or leave me, but: I am me. Deal with it.

rain flowers

Here is some eye candy for your enjoyment. These are just a few of the flowers that I saw today walking around campus. It would appear that spring is finally here, just in time for summer.

I am loving the water droplets. It rained a bunch while I was trying to watercolor, but I think the rain makes things beautiful.

wherein i confess to you my true colors

Can I just tell you something? 

I am not a people person. 

And that makes me nervous, a little bit. 

I'm more inclined to become annoyed with strangers than have patience. I'd rather not talk to you if I don't have to. If I'm surrounded by a lot of you, I'll find a quiet corner to be by myself after an hour or two. 

It's not that I don't necessarily like meeting new people, it's just that well, really, I'm not that great at making conversation. And sometimes I can come off too strong or too sarcastic and then maybe hurt your feelings and then I beat myself up about it for days. For days! I am not kidding! I am the type of person who will have a conversation with you and then afterwards I will analyze everything we said and worry that I did something stupid to make you think less of me. Yeah, I know right? Weird. 

Also, I'm not that great at making friends. All of my friends have made friends with me, I didn't go seeking them out. Usually something circumstantial throws me in with new people, and from those new people a couple of them befriend me, and then voila, new friends for Natalie! Did you notice how none of that involved me being proactive and heavily involved in the friend making process? 

Therefore, I am still in kindergarten in regards to making friends with someone. Even my best friend in elementary school is the one who came up to me and said, "I'm _____, let's be friends." (Because that's how it's done in the kindergarten world, everyone knows.) 

Unfortunately, I'm also not one to keep a friendship going. If you don't text me, I probably won't text you. And trust me, it's not because I don't like you anymore! Sometimes I make plans with people, but to me it's always awkward and I spend hours (hours!) wondering what we'll do? What should I say to you? Where should we go? Heaven forbid we become bored, then what? And it's just a lot more worry than I can handle sometimes. But now, now if you plan something, great! I might show up and be entertained. Or maybe I will just decide that I'd rather stay home and sit on the couch watching TLC and DiscoveryHealth until bed time. You know, because both options are fun. For me, anyway. 

However, this has presented a problem to me as of recently. Mostly because I have no one to hang out with here in M-town. All my ready-made friends are gone gone gone with the exceptions of a one Prince Charming, a one Missile, and one of the "Sirs" from my freshmen year if any of you remember that time in my life (except I haven't actually spent time with him yet, he's just here. Again, a product of the whole lack of motivation to make plans with people). 

Prince told me I should make friends with someone from my summer painting class. I don't know if I could do that. I don't know how you make friends with people? Plus, I get scared and my heart beats really fast and then words get caught in my throat and I feel like no one really wants to deal with that. Kind of like talking on the phone... 

I really don't know how I ended up not necessarily liking people all that much. I tend to roll my eyes a lot and wonder about other people's intelligence levels. I'm not actually a mean person, I promise! I mean, I have to talk to people at work, and hopefully none of them think I'm mean otherwise I don't think I'd still have a job. But it is what it is, I think. And I think that even though I don't like approaching new people and I like being alone sometimes, I don't like being lonely. I need more friends. 

I'll have to work on that, hmm? Do you want to be my friend? (Probably not now, after I insulted your smartness and said I roll my eyes a bunch, huh? It's okay. I don't blame you.) 

Where Is The World Headed?

I'm glad I'm not in Kansas right now. Do you want to know why? Because of this guy.

If there's something I'm passionate about, it's art in the education system. Not everyone is cut out to be a doctor or a scientist or a famous mathematician, so why do the people in charge of the education system think that's how it should be run? Also, if we're trying to compete with Asian countries' education systems, why are we cutting the budget anyway? Mind = boggled.

Also, in addition to art being part of the education system, I think it's everywhere. And this Kansas guy just cut the whole state budget for the Kansas Art Commission. I mean, seriously? What I really don't understand is why everybody has to hate on art. We all enjoy it. Have you ever been to a museum? Have you ever been to a gallery?

Have you ever watched Bob Ross on television? Do you have paintings in your own home?

I just don't understand how math and science can be valued more than visual, performance or musical art. Without those creative outlets we would live in a highly boring world full of people with no imaginations. We're essentially cutting off the hands of our populations by taking away funding for art (and education!). I just don't see where this guy gets off shutting down state funded art programs. Does he even really have any idea the impact of that?

And then to say he's setting a trend and hopes other states follow his lead?? How utterly rude and assuming of him. I'd like to slap him upside his dumb political infested head and ask him just exactly what's wrong with him. 

Deal

1.) Six Word Memoir: Write about a significant time in your life in just six words.


I am me. Deal with it. 

It took me a while to figure out what six words worked best. After all, how do you really narrow down who you are to six words? We're so much more than that.