Black Friday Madness?

I'm not one of those insane people who wakes up at 3 am to hit the malls for Black Friday shopping. In fact, I've never done any Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving, not once in the 18 years I've been alive. But today I did go out with my dad to run some basic errands. So I felt like I was kind of a part of the Black Friday madness.
I've been feeling kinda sick since Wednesday. I've had some minor sinus headaches, a sore throat, a stuffed up nose and just achiness on and off, which hasn't been fun. I guess being around so many sick people in college finally caught up with me :( This morning, I woke up with another headache, I was sneezing a lot and couldn't seem to clear my nose. Around noon, my dad invited me to go run errands with him and he said I could pick out some stuff at Whole Foods to take back with me on Sunday. Well, how could I turn down a Whole Foods trip, even if it meant I had to go other, more boring stores? I tagged along, and I wasn't diasppointed.
First we went to Walmart, so my dad could pick up some Fresca (his favorite soda) and look for packing papers, since we're moving in a couple of weeks. I was surprised that the store was much less busy than it was on Tuesday when my mom took me and my sister to get Thanksgiving stuff. I guess all those insane people had already gone home after their early-morning buying frenzy. So we got in and out of there pretty quick, though we didn't find the packing papers and had to go to Lowe's to buy those. After Lowe's, my dad surprised me by taking me to Starbucks. I got the mocha light frappuccino with a pump of peppermint (just like I got on Tuesday, in my last post). And as soon as I started sipping the delicious drink, I felt better. My headache disappeared and I felt less congested. We went to Whole Foods next and their free samples, along with my Starbucks, helped keep my hunger at bay til we got home (I didn't have lunch until after 2, so I would have been pretty hungry without them). I picked out all the stuff I needed (including the delicious new Silk soymilk flavor, mint chocolate, which is a seasonal drink--I'm such a sucker for all things seasonal) and we left. I loved having the time to just talk with my dad about stuff while we made our way home.

So my Black Friday wasn't hectic like some people's, but it was just the way I like it--quality time with my family, getting out of the house for a couple of hours and Starbucks!

Sister Time



Goofing around in the CSU bookstore



Me and my almost-15-year-old sister are close. Really close. Despite the miles between us most of the time (since I'm away at college, of course), we manage to stay almost as connected as before I moved out. We get along a little better, too, because when we're around each other, we know we have a limited time to spend together, so we try to make the most of it. I'm really enjoying Thanksgiving break--we've had 4 days together already and we have 5 more ahead of us. And Christmas break will be even better, since I have a whole month at home! I'm really excited for that, but I'm also having a good time right now.

This afternoon was the first time that it was just the two of us hanging out. Our mom dropped us off at a Starbucks so she could run a few errands and we were pumped to get our Starbucks fix. We only go once a month at most so it's a real treat for us (there aren't any within walking distance of CSU and I don't have a car up there). My sister's not a fan of coffee, and I only like it if it's in latte form, but we both LOVE Starbucks. We were especially excited about the holiday drinks that are now available. My sister loves the Frappuccinos (she usually gets the strawberries and creme one) so she got the peppermint mocha frapp. I really don't like whipped cream, so when I get a frapp I always get the light version. I ordered the mocha light frapp with a pump of peppermint. I really like the combination of chocolate and mint, but I don't like too much sweetness so I just got one pump of the peppermint so it wouldn't be overwhelming.
It was a really, really good drink! Even though it was in the 40s outside (and people kept opening the door near our table so we couldn't take our jackets off), I thought my drink was even better because it was cold. Peppermint is such a refreshing flavor, and it's so much better cold. I was a little surprised by how much I liked my drink, and I'm definitely going to order it again soon. My sis loved her drink too; we exchanged sips and we both liked each other's drinks. But the best part wasn't the drinks, it was talking and laughing together, complaining about the cold in a joking way and just catching up. Not really talking about school, but just bonding. It was one of the best afternoons I've had in a while.
I know the next few days will be busy with prepping for the big day (Thanksgiving, of course), but I hope to continue to spend some quality time with my little sister. We're best friends, and I hope our close relationship lasts the rest of our lives. After all, sisters are the closest friends and the worst enemies...I hope there aren't too many 'enemy' moments!

Me (left) and my sister in Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park
over the summer

3 New Thanksgiving Desserts

Sick of the typical pumpkin or pecan pie on Turkey Day? I know I am, which is why I went on a baking frenzy (well, not really) this afternoon and made some desserts that will hopefully be refreshing after years of pie.

Up first are pumpkin scones. These will also work at breakfast, but will be good for a simple dessert. I adapted the recipe from the Stonyfield Farm website--I changed the plain low-fat yogurt to plain nonfat Greek yogurt (it adds some protein and more thickness than regular yogurt), lowered the sugar content a little and substituted apple pie spice for the nutmeg since there wasn't any on hand. I also nixed the glaze since I thought they'd be better on their own.  Here's the recipe: 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp apple pie spice, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 cup plain Oikos brand Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup Eggbeaters...Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder and salt, spices and sugar in a large bowl, stirring with a fork. Add yogurt, Eggbeaters and pumpkin and continue to stir with a fork until the dough is very sticky. Scoop the batter into an ice cream scooper and place each scone on a nonstick cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with real maple syrup, if desired.

Next are pumpkin "cheesecake" brownies. Cheesecake is in quotation marks because the cream cheese-like topping is actually made from yogurt cheese, which is similar in texture to cream cheese but is much much healthier (lower in fat and higher in protein). Yogurt cheese is pretty simple to make, just strain 6-8 oz. of nonfat Greek yogurt (in this case, vanilla flavored) in a colander lined with cheesecloth for 3 hours--the end result is yogurt without the whey, so it's very thick and creamy, like cream cheese. The brownie base is made from scratch, so you control what you put in. Here's the recipe: 1 cup pumpkin puree (divided), 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 cup Eggbeaters, 1 cup sugar (divided), 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup Oikos vanilla Greek yogurt (made into yogurt cheese), 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice...Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Mix 1/2 cup of the pumpkin, vanilla, Eggbeaters and 2/3 cup of the sugar until well combined in a medium bowl. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; stir until no lumps remain. Pour into pan. In a small bowl, beat yogurt cheese, the remaining pumpkin and sugar and pumpkin pie spice until smooth and creamy. Pour yogurt cheese mixture over brownie batter and swirl with a knife. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Finally, pumpkin apple pie. I got this recipe from Whole Foods, which always has delicious, healthful recipes and interesting ideas. I thought this sounded pretty good, since it's a combination between the classic apple and pumpkin pies, but it sounded unique too. Here's the recipe: 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp cinnamon (divided), 1/2 tsp salt (divided), 1/3 cup water, 2 Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored and thinly sliced), 1 egg, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1 1/2 cans pumpkin puree, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 cup skim milk or original Silk soymilk, 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers, 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tbsp organic maple syrup, 5 tbsp canola oil, 3 tbsp Silk Nog (their version of eggnog)...Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Put brown sugar, cornstarch, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt and water into a medium pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Add apples and cook, tossing to coat in sugar mixture, for 3-4 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk egg, white sugar, pumpkin, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, cloves, ginger and milk until well combined. Set aside. Add crushed grahams and 3/4 tsp salt to mixer set on low. Add syrup and canola oil to mixing bowl and beat on low speed until the mixture looks blended and crumbly. Pour in the Nog and continue mixing on low speed until the dough is moist and holds together (about 15 seconds). Add in a teaspoon or two more Nog if the dough seems too dry. Using your hands, press dough evenly into a nonstick pie plate and pour apple mixture in. Spoon pumpkin mixture evenly over the apple mixture. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375 and bake until filling is just set in the middle, about 40 more minutes. Set aside to cool completely before cutting into slices. Garnish with apple slices or pecans, as desired, or with a drizzle of organic maple syrup.

Try one (or all!) of these unique dessert recipes this Thanksgiving--who knows?--maybe it'll become a new tradition!

Being Thankful

Oh, yes, Thanksgiving--the time of the year when it's okay to eat a little too much turkey, when you don't mind waking up early to watch the Macy's parade or get a jumpstart on holiday shopping and when you get to spend some quality time with favorite (or maybe not-so-favorite) relatives. But it's also a great time to reflect on the year and consider what you're most thankful for.
In late August, I started my freshman year of college. I was soooooo nervous to be on my own but my parents really have helped me so much with that by welcoming me back home a couple weekends each month and texting me daily. Without them, I wouldn't have made it this far. They are also so great about driving back and forth between home and my dorm and believe me, it's not a short trip. And they provide me with plenty of supplies, from makeup to money to food. I am so so thankful for them. I am also very thankful for the great education I'm getting at CSU.
I am thankful to have a loving home environment. I love the house itself and even though we're moving into a new house soon, I know the love and support will always be there. I will always have a place to call home, which is very comforting.
My sister and I have a great relationship. Sure, we get into a few fights but so do most siblings. Being three-and-a-half years apart, we are more like BFFs than just sisters. Our bond is really strong, and I think being away from each other has only made it stronger. We text and email regularly as well as using Facebook to stay connected. And I just love spending time with her when I come home; I am so thankful for my nine-day vacation from school because it means nine days with my little sister.
I am thankful for the friends I have found at CSU. Even though my roomie and I have a somewhat rocky relationship, I have found companionship with a few girls on my floor and just going out to dinner with them is so much fun, not to mention a great break from the dining hall!
My life, like pretty much everyone's life, has its ups and downs. Not every day goes the way I might have wanted it to, or maybe there were just a few really bad moments in an otherwise fun day but I am just thankful to be alive and have the life I have. I am thankful every day to be able to wake up and go about my day and even if it's not the best day ever, I'm just glad to be alive.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to say thanks to someone that you're thankful for, but try to make the thankfulness last all year long, even on Black Friday when that last iPad is sold and you're left empty-handed!

The Final Countdown

Thanksgiving break is less than 24 hours away...can you believe I'm super-excited? Tonight was more fun than usual since I went out for dinner at Panera with one of my friends from my floor and afterwards we got frozen yogurt even though it's freezing outside! So I had a fun night and now I'm back in my room trying to pack (I only have a duffel for now but my mom's bringing up a huge suitcase when she picks me up tomorrow so hopefully that'll fit all the clothes I need for the next 9 days).
I'm more tired than I thought I'd be, considering how excited I am to go home. It might seem like not such a big deal, but when you've been miles away from your family for nearly 3 weeks, it feels so good to be back home. For one thing, I'll have my own bathroom and I won't have to wear flip-flops to take a shower. The food will be so much better (and not just on Thanksgiving either), my bed will feel so good and I won't have to worry about someone keeping me up when I want to go to sleep. And of course, there's the whole no school thing. That will be amazing! I really just can't wait to be back with my family again, and spend as much time with them as possible. I can't wait to get back in the kitchen and start cooking again--that's something I really miss at college. I can't wait to play board games, to watch the Macy's parade with my fam, to just spend time with them and appreciate the comforts of home.
It's gonna feel so good to get out of the dorms. Now all I've gotta do is figure out how to stuff my clothes into this tiny bag!

The Home Stretch

Ever notice how the days drag on right before a big break? Like those last few days before summer vacation begins, every hour seems to last a day. That's how I feel right now, just a couple of days before Thanksgiving break officially begins. It feels even slower now than it ever has, since I'm also eagerly anticipating seeing my family and going home, which I haven't seen in almost 3 weeks.
The school days themselves seem to go by as usual. It was the past two weekends here that really dragged. I know, I know, the weekends usually fly by. Not when you don't have anything fun to do.
Now it just seems like I'll never get a break from school, never get to sleep in my own bed and have my own bathroom, never get to play board games with my family and go out to eat with them. I know that Friday afternoon will come but I can't help wishing it was Thursday. Since my classes are on a block schedule (I have three of the same classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday--minus one of those on Friday--and two other classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and today's a Tuesday, I just want it to be Thursday. Not that Wednesdays are bad, it's just one more obstacle in my dash to the finish line. Of course, it's not the 'actual' finish line--that comes in about a month when finals are over and Christmas break begins (and I'm really looking forward to that, a whole month of no school--college is way better than HS!) But it is a 9-day break from school and I am definitely thankful for that.
In the meantime, I will try to keep busy doing homework that's due after break (so I don't have to waste my break doing HW), planning out the recipes I want to make when I go home (I haven't actually cooked in over a month, how sad) and packing. I know it doesn't take three days to pack but it will help me get in the Thanksgiving break spirit :)
How are you spending your last few days before break?

Yay for Cold Weekends?

So this weekend's my last before I head home for Thanksgiving break! I can NOT tell you how excited I am for 9 days of my own bed, bathroom, delicious food (and not just on Turkey Day), free time and getting to be with my amazing family. Some days, the 132 miles (yes, I looked it up, thank you Mapquest!) between us just seems like so many more, especially when I'm counting down to a weekend at home. For some reason, they always go by way too fast though, since I'm usually going-going-going. Plus it probably has to do with the whole "time flies when you're having fun" thing.
Not that weekends on campus aren't fun, they just aren't nearly as fun. And they seem to drag. Last weekend was pretty long and dull, because I had a lot of homework to do and other stuff like laundry. Plus my friends from the hall went back to the Springs, so I was kinda lonely. Oh, except my roommate was there (as usual...she lives only about 30 miles away, and hasn't been home once except for one night!) but that's not really thrilling, since we're not friends. We talk occasionally, but she pretty much is hooked to her computer or leaves way late at night, interrupting my sleep. So yeah, we're not that close.
This weekend should be a little better...maybe. It's only supposed to be in the upper 30s and possibly snow tomorrow, so there's not much of a chance I'm gonna go outside to get away from my room. I might get to go out for dinner, but otherwise I'm going to the study lounge just down the hall so I can escape my room which is plagued with germs (yes, my roomie is sick with a cold, constantly coughs and spends most weekends completely in the room besides meals and bathroom breaks...so I'm not going to get much of a break from her this weekend, especially since she's sick :[ ). Maybe I'll brave a short walk, but only with coat and gloves.
And I do have more homework to do, not to mention laundry, just so I can give my mom a little break when I do go home. I have a math paper to write (really, a paper in math?), an essay to start (it's due the day after break, so if I don't want to be a slave to my laptop during break, I need to start it soon) and possibly study for a wildlife ecology test right after break. What is up with these teachers scheduling tests/papers for right after break? Couldn't they push it back a week to give us a chance to actually enjoy our free time? Oh, and spring registration officially begins for me at 3:20 p.m. on Sunday, so I'll frantically be trying to get into the classes of my choice at that time.
Another 'must-do' is watch SNL on Saturday. It's one of my favorite shows, and it really helps me unwind after a long week. It's new this week, too, so it's going on my weekend checklist.
Other than that, not much. I really hope I can do something with my friends, though, even if we just grab a frozen yogurt (crazy in this cold weather, I know, but there's a really good place that's only a ten minute walk from our dorm). I hope your weekend goes well too and is more exciting than mine. But I'm not complaining too much...less than a week til I go home :)