3rd times a...

So, ladies and gentlemen, I am writing this post to finally let you all in on the crazy.

About 3 weeks ago I made a very scary, strange, and unexpected decision. I decided to apply to Butler University. This was something that I had considered multiple times before, but always just set those thoughts aside. I had finally reached the edge of insanity, due to seriously missing certain types of music, and I was ready to take the plunge. Well long story short, I was accepted. It was incredibly difficult to plan everything so quickly; at times I wanted to just throw my hands up and surrender myself to Oklahoma. Everything eventually fell into place and I feel I have gained back some of my control. I will be moving back to indiana in 2 days and I am still overwhelmed. I am also very excited. There have been a lot of great things about moving out to Oklahoma, and one of them has been finding myself. I was brought back to life this year and I am so ready for this next step. It will be challenging and it will be scary; I cannot wait!

This is all so new. I am so scared. I keep questioning whether or not it is right. But I am going with it. Cross your fingers :-)

Ok Great

Dear Blog,

I have not forgotten you. I will return after the storms have settled; I will have stories to tell.

Love,

Aly

thats what you get

I stumbled across this sweet video on a friends facebook this afternoon...

A couple, married for 62 years, stops to share some music :-)

Last night I had an allergic reaction...lovely. I have been having trouble sleeping and decided to take an ambien. I dont usually use it because I like to get to sleep on my own. Every once in a while though I need it. Well I only had the generic form and apparently I am allergic to it. So no more of that. I still have gross swollen eyes today.

He's right on top of us!

I have not been keeping up with my blogging lately. I have been crazy busy and have been in the middle of some big changes. Hopefully everything will slow down soon, and I can get back to writing :-)

I love reading cookbooks; almost as much as I love reading novels. There is something wonderful about taking them all out and just browsing. Maybe that is crazy, but I love it. And since this is my blog, I think Ill talk some more about cookbooks.

I have this ever growing list of cookbooks that I want. I take pictures on my iphone if I really want them.

My current wish list includes:

1. The Art and Soul of Baking by: Cindy Mushet

2. How to be a Domestic Goddess by: the wonderful Nigella Lawson

3. The Art of Eating by: M.F.K. Fisher

4. Herbs & Spices; the Cooks Reference by Jill Norman

5. Cheese & Wine by Janet Fletcher

6. Hors d'Oeuvre at Home from: The Culinary Institute of America

7. Vegetable Love by: Barbara Kafka

8. The Modern Baker by: Nick Malgier

9. Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Bread

10. All of Jamie Oliver's cookbooks :-)

Okay, so this is a little insane; I am completely aware. This is a list that I have been putting together for a long time. It was longer but some of the books have been removed by the kindness of Mr. Frank. Most girls would get mad if their boyfriend got them cooking stuff for a holiday, not this girl. I am like a child a christmas. I have a great collection of cookbooks that friends and family have gotten for me...some that I have purchased for myself. They just never get old.

The other thing that I love is the new Fine living Network, or the Cooking Channel. I get to watch Jamie Oliver, Julia Child, and Iron Chef Japan (which was my favorite show as a child; I know this is strange, but you are probably not surprised)!

Tonight I made an awesome burger. It was a beef patty with salt and pepper. I topped it with basil, green onion, garlic, smoked cheddar and monterey jack cheese. I ate it before I could take pictures...

(Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

I am so thankful to always be surrounded by people who, despite the frequent location changes, are always loving and welcoming. I have been so blessed to have great friends and family in my life. They have always been so supportive and have always been there for me to lean on. I admit that I tend to shy away from leaning on shoulders. I can be stubborn and most of the time I do my best to cover up my emotions. But I always know that you are there. I hope that you know how much that means to me. I am learning to let myself go sometimes and it feels good. In the past I have been afraid to be too needy or too emotional; It got to the point where I just cut that out completely. But thank you for letting me know it is ok to cry. It is ok to have off days, and it is ok to be angry sometimes. I am opening up my bottled emotions (don't be afraid, I'm not doing it all at once) and I'm letting you inside. So thank you. To my friends, and my family. For slowly prying me open. I love you and today I am thankful for you.

hiiiiiilarious soymilk advertisement. poor mom.

8th Continent Soy Milk

I remember when my youngest sister Syd was really little, she could not say some words. A few sounded like curse words. Especially the word frog... She never really did the repeating thing, but I have heard plenty of kids saying things they shouldnt.

Today is Sandi's Birthday and we went out to Mama Rojas tonight for some yummy Mexican. There is never a time where I do not want Mexican food, and the sad thing is that I do not have access to my favorite Mexican restaurant Real Hacienda. Some may say that it is not authentic, but I do not care. I could eat Arroz Con Pollo all day every day. I would most likely die very young, but no need to think of that.

Dinner was hillarious. It was Sandi, Dad, Mollie, myself, and a couple of friends. The friends, who shall remain nameless, told a story that I am still laughing about.

The Tale of the Husband and Wife.

There once was a husband and wife. One morning Husband woke feeling odd. He spent the day moping around, and once his wife even found him sprawled across the floor as he was tired of not knowing what was wrong. The husband, a very athletic and energetic man, even took a nap this day. Throughout the day he just kept saying that he did not feel like himself. As the day came to a close, the husband told his wife he needed to soak in the bathtub. He felt that this was what he needed to feel better. As he bathed, the woman came into the bathroom to get ready for bed. When she walked by the tub, she glanced down at him and immediately started laughing. She had figured out what was wrong with her dearest husband. She had found that her hormone patch had somehow transfered to her husband, so the feelings he had throughout the day were that of hormone changes... He was, for a day, experiencing the hormones of a woman.

I died when they told me this. We had to be annoying people in the restaurant with our loud laughing. The Mrs. told the story and the Mr. just sat back and shook his head. It was so funny to watch their retelling of this story, and how funny she thought it was. She could not get over how he was reacting the whole day, and of course everything made sense when she saw the patch. She said that he would just mope around, and put his hands on his face saying he just was not himself. He was a good sport when she was telling us and even made jokes about his milk letting out. So funny.

We watched The Young Victoria tonight. I am so in love with this movie. If you have not seen it and you are female you should watch it now. If you are male you should also watch it and take notes...

I am back home today, and I am actually pretty sad about it. I do love oklahoma, but when you have a couple of weeks like I just had...

I havent written about the Camp Meeting thing that we did...and I probably wont actually. It was great, and I am so happy we all got to be up on the stage together... minus band leader Donnie. We took a million snapshots, but this one of me and mah ladies I

really love...

it is blurry and terrible, and i love it

oooooklahoma where the wind comes sweepin down the plain.