Cute Widdle Elephants!

 

"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being."

Abraham Lincoln

Bloodhound Gang

They are not The Beatles. Their lyrics don’t express a sense of peace or reveal a deep meaning. They are simply The Bloodhound Gang, a group that is talentedly silly. I listen to them when I’m feeling sarcastic and a little bit frisky. The band formed in the early ninety's as a punk/alternative band from Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Their melodies are energetic and fun and the words they sing are devilishly hilarious. I don’t take my music too seriously. Yes, I like the classic musicians and bands, but, I find music that is a little out of the box to be a great mood lifter. Gimme a band that screams about Jesus being a Mexican with a crowbar, stealing hubcaps from cars, or a song about the alleviation of having to bang your ex on their birthday. It’s a nice, comedic relief from most music. Sometimes artists just take themselves and their music too serious. It’s refreshing to see a band make comedy into music, and make it sound so damn good.

Take-A-Listen

Tuesday Treats

      I've never really liked raspberries or white chocolate. So I didn't think I would chow-down on this White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, but oh, I did.

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions for deliciousness:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together cookie crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
2. In a saucepan, combine raspberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to boil, and continue boiling 5 minutes, or until sauce is thick. Strain sauce through a mesh strainer to remove seeds.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt white chocolate chips with half-and-half, stirring occasionally until smooth.
4. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in vanilla and melted white chocolate. Pour half of batter over crust. Spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over batter. Pour remaining cheesecake batter into pan, and again spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over the top. Swirl batter with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.
5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from pan. Serve with remaining raspberry sauce.

Enjoy!

Human Barbie - Rihanna

Some people just have that spunk, that flare, that fire. Rihanna is one of those people. Her style is so extraordinary mainly because she’s not afraid to don a mixture of fashions. She can rock a baby-pink tutu, a sailor hat and leopard print boots and look amazing. She’s one of my style icons. She literally looks gorgeous no matter what she has on. She can pull off the rock star look without fail. Decked out in pearls and lace, she conveys an inherent girlie-girl. Or just wearing jeans and a tee-shirt, she resembles someone who would be voted best dress by her classmates.

If I could have her talent, her confidence and her wardrobe, my life would be complete.

 

 

Moving Worries and Wonderment

It’s never easy to move. It’s always complicated and stressful. Don’t get me wrong…I am excited to relocate to California, but it’s bittersweet. I’m used to moving around, as I went here and there and everywhere during my adolescence.  I’ve lived in Florida for nearly six years now and I’ve sort of forgot what moving is like. My brother will be flying into Southwest Florida International Airport in a week. He’ll be accompanying me on the loooong (and dreaded) cross-country drive to California. We plan to leave Tuesday, April 26^th. The closer I come to my moving date the more anxious, sad, excited and scared I get. It’s hard to have all of these differing emotions going on inside of me, but I guess it’s normal. The list of things I will miss in Florida will be short. However, I am going to miss my boyfriend, Rich. Our aspirations for our lives are very different and it’s time to do our own things, in order for us to grow. However, it doesn’t make it any easier having to leave the life we had together. We have two cats, Buster  (my cat) and Smuckers (Rich’s cat), and he will be keeping them, since I’m not exactly sure what apartment I’ll be living in and I don’t know if they’ll accept cats. So, technically, I’ll be losing three loves of my life in this new adventure. Hopefully, if things go well, Rich will send me Buster, once I get settled.

I know I could prevent myself from feeling sad and anxious, simply by not making the move to California, but I know I will regret it if I don’t move. I pray everything works out. I just keep reciting the quote, “In the end everything will be okay, and if it’s not okay, then it’s not the end”.  So, here’s to hoping that a risk pays off with reward.

Sweet Little Things.

 

     I was perusing etsy today, looking aimlessly at the beautifully handcrafted art that is available for sale. I stumbled upon a darling little shop called a rose without a thorn and I fell in love. There’s not many things cuter than these prints. I absolutely love the pale pastel colors that these prints are available in. Also, the adorable children in the digital prints are potentially the sweetest, most adorable illustrations of children I have ever seen. I love their bright, enchanted eyes and their charming rose-colored cheeks. I want to enlarge these prints and hang them on my walls. The innocence and loveliness of the images creates a sense of harmony, and who doesn’t love some harmony in their life and on their walls?

 

 

& they even have paper dolls (ahem, not that I still play with them, ahem)

 

Check out the A Rose Without Thorn A Thorn etsy shop!

Cute Widdle Pandas!

"Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." 

Edward O. Wilson