God Sent Us an Angel

After dinner and a full days work for my mom and I, we were in the kitchen doing dishes. With the laundry going, left-overs to be put away and a dirty floor, we began discussing the grievances of life.

“Life is so much work,” I complained to my mother, unsure of what the response would be. I half expected a “Get-over-it” answer. I kind of anticipated a “But-it’s-worth-it” reply.

To my surprise, I got a sudden “Oh my gawsh I know!”

She said it in one breath, like she’d been holding it in for days. As if she wanted so badly to share this verity with someone, but wouldn’t dare be the first to complain.

We went on.
“You have to do dishes once, sometimes twice a day. Laundry needs to be done weekly.”
“Vacuuming, mopping, dusting; and those are just chores in the house. Then you have to actually go to work to make money.”
“And some of us have school!”

Suddenly we were interrupted.

“JUST BE GLAD YOU’RE ALIVE!!!!!” we heard a little angel yell. My 6 year old niece came flying through the kitchen, halo and all. “Just be glad to be alive guys.” she repeated once more.

“You could not be alive. And then what?"

My mom agreed with her, obviously not wanting to crush her young, naive attitude towards life. But me? I wanted to set the angel straight.

Well yes, sugar plum. That’s easy for you to say! “Happy to be alive.” Ha!
You’re biggest fear is bats being in the woods.
You’re biggest disappointment is taking a nap in the afternoon.
Every penny you find gets spent on toys.
You can still get candy on Halloween!
You’re dreams haven’t met reality.

These are the exact words that flew through my head at the time. I wanted to be proud of my niece. I wanted to recognize her young wisdom and commend her. But what I really felt was sorry for her. Sorry that she would someday be disappointed. Sorry that the world will condemn her for being positive, calling her "naïve," and not take her wisdom seriously calling her "young."
But dwelling on her words I've started to feel more for them. I had a very hollow response when the words seemed to only skim my mind. But it started to sink in. Be happy to be alive.

First of all, she's six. And she is VERY wise. Most of what she says is very insightful. And I don't ever want to be the empty vessel making her feel like her words mean nothing.

I see so much of my younger self in her, with her positive outlook on life. I'm just afraid for her. I don't want her to believe people when they say innocence is a bad thing. I don't want her to ever feel naïve. And mostly I want her to always hold on to that feeling, to be happy to be alive.

I just get so caught up in the negatives I never think about being happy to be alive. I get caught up in blaming Adam and Eve for this life, and dreaming of Heaven. "How can I be happy to be alive when if I'm dead I'll be in Heaven?"

That's my thought process. And it's wrong.

What makes me think I'm going to Heaven when God clearly put me on Earth for a purpose and all I do is whine and complain and not complete that purpose?

It's something I need to work on for sure, and I thank God everyday for my little angel!

"You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-You-Are?

You're chicken, you've got no guts.

You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a wild thing, and you're terrified somebody's going to stick you in a cage. Well, baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somaliland. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself."

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Jobless.

Today was my last day at my job. I woke up and went straight to work. I woke up too late to eat and had to go straight in to my 7 hour shift. So I ate nothing until 8:00pm. Didn't know it was my last day until 7:00pm when they posted the schedule and I saw that I was not scheduled to work the 2nd week of my 2 weeks notice.

I'm a sales associate for a store in the mall. I've been working there for about... 4 months now. And I wouldn't mind continuing to work there, they just make it impossible for me to have a life.
They don't even make the schedule until Saturday. The LAST day of the week. So if you wanted to have plans on Sunday, you can't make them until Saturday night.

Because heaven forbid you try to change your availability. It takes 20 minutes just to say you can't work a certain day or certain hours in a day, and you need a manager to help you log in and type it in.
And heaven forbid you need a manager. It's always "too busy" or just not a good time!
"Come back later," is what I always got. And in my head I replied, "I have a life, and now is the time for me to talk to you. So I guess you will just find out what I have to say when it's happening," ie: quitting.

I tried to talk to her for weeks about me keeping my job through school, changing my availability, and the issues I have with getting my schedule only a day before the week starts. (uhh, I have a life.)
But every time I tried to talk to her she either said "Later," or she wasn't there.

Let's get one thing straight. I don't like work. The ONLY reason I work is because it is necessary.

I believe there are jobs I'm suited for, and jobs I'm not suited for. Once I find the right job I'll be okay with working. But stupid side jobs you have to get just for quick cash are terrible!

Last year I waited tables only as long as I had to to pay rent (4 months). It was a terrible, terrible job. I cried almost every night when I left work. Parked outside of my apartment cleaning tears off my face so my roommate wouldn't know I'd been crying. It was not a good situation and so I got out of it as soon as I could.

I worked the summer before that on a horse farm earning and saving money for rent. I wanted so bad to move out on my own, I worked 9 hour days, 6 days a week. Sometimes more. I traveled from SC to TN to GA weeks at a time for horse shows. That was an experience I didn't mind, and will never forget.

So that 7 months of work held me over so I could live in an apartment for a year. But as soon as that year was up, I jet out of that city and moved back in with my parents.

That's right, I'm back living in the small town. Driving an hour to school 4 days a week in a clunky old F150. 17 miles per gallon. 1 broke headlight. 1 broke tail light. 1 frequently flat tire. And a nice silver tailgate on a dark green body.

Moving out on my own, well, I was just so over it. I had to have this much money by the end of the month to pay rent. I had to be able to afford groceries or I wasn't eating.
Paying for cleaning supplies, electricity, toiletries, groceries.. it's all stuff you take advantage of before you live on your own.
Next thing you know you're stealing toilet paper from public restrooms, taking home extra ketchup packets and napkins from McDonalds, and eating only bread, ramen noodles and water.
(all of this is a true statement of my life.)

So here I am, jobless, living above my parents, trying to figure out where I want to go from here.

Carnival Dream Cruise - It was like a dream!

Where have I been for two weeks??

It's crazy it seems like my last post was a week ago. I knew I was lagging behind, but I had no idea it was that bad.

On the plus side, my lack of posts brought in 2 more followers! *Shoutout* Please don't let my blogging turn you away!

Okay, the first week I spent with out blogging I was living it up on a Carnival Eastern Carribean cruise! I had an amazing time with my family celebrating my grandparents 50th anniversary!

50 years! It's amazing to me that somebody could put up with someone else for 50 years! I don't know how they do it.

So we spent 6 nights on Carnivals latest and largest ship Dream. What a dream!!

We stopped at Nassau, Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten, Virgin Islands. They were beautiful and we had a blast.

Though one day I want to go through the hundreds of pictures and write about our good time, for now here is a short video that kind of shares the highlights of the trip.

Enjoy!

FRIDAY!! parody.

IT'S STILL FRIDAY!!
Only this time, I'm taking you through the best part of my weekend.

Lunch Time.

I made this video a couple weeks ago and kept forgetting to share it on Friday on my blog.

This video is not to poke fun at Rebecca Black, per say...
It is simply a way for a girl like me, with ADD, to have fun on a very boring day.

It makes me laugh.

Hopefully, maybe, it might make you laugh. Or just role your eyes and stop it midway.

Either way, nobody was hurt in the making of this video. The bagel sandwich, on the other hand, got burnt burnt burnt burnt.

Tasty Tuesday Link Up - Papa's Cheesecake

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For this tasty link up I'm going to share with you a recipe I have not had the guts to try. I finally just got the recipe from my mom, and I'm thinking about trying it some time soon.

This is the recipe for Papa Sliker's NY Style Cheesecake

That would be the cheesecake mentioned in my post Where are my tears? The incredibly awesome makings of my late Papa "Slyke."

It was one of the best cheesecakes in the world. When I was young, I didn't realize the cheesecake was his. It was lined up along the table with the cakes and other deserts, so I always thought it was Grammy's.

When I found out it was his, I was in love with the fact that he could bake. It may have been the only thing he could bake, but it was awesome seeing Papa in the kitchen.

Anyway, you get the option of baking this before I even attempt to!

Here are the ingredients:

4 large cream cheese
2 16-ounce sour cream
1 Tbsp. vanilla
6 eggs
2 cups sugar

Instructions:
Soften cream cheese (do not microwave). Add sugar gradually to cream cheese and beat til light n fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each egg addition. Add sour cream and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pre-heat oven to 350. Pour mix into springform 10" pan after putting in graham cracker crust (see recipe below). Bake until lightly brown, about 50-60 minutes. DO NOT open oven (he meant this). Let cool in oven at least 3 hours.

Graham Cracker Crust:
1 3/4 cup crumbs
1/3 cup melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
(Make first and refrigerate while you're making the cheesecake)

Press into springform pan and a little up the sides using back of tablespoon. Pour in cheesecake batter and bake.

I hope you enjoy this cheesecake recipe as much as I did growing up! Maybe it can be one of those "special recipe's" for your family as well.

If you try it, let me know how it turns out!

And if you want to share a Tasty Tuesday recipe, link up with us!

Welcome Spring! and friends...

This warm weather has got me chillin'.
Listening to my Bob Marley radio station on Pandora, sitting out in the sun, tanning, spring cleaning... the works.

Today I spent the whole day procrastinating, rather than studying.

which lead to a laundry basket full of clean clothes, new found jewelry,

and a really clean bathroom.

It also lead to the realization that with this lovely weather coming back, there are also other things to welcome back. Not-so-good things, such as, critters.

When I was spring cleaning I decided to put fresh sheets on my bed, I threw the pillows across the room and stripped the bed.

I was feeling good, feeling responsible, feeling mature..

When all of a sudden

there came this huge cockroach running across my mattress!!

So of course I screamed in hopes that my roommate would come save me.

But she didn't even hear me.

So I screamed louder as I ran and got my brand new super cute boots.

I hopped on the bed and got in attack position.

Feet apart, knees bent, eyes on the enemy.

The cockroach stopped in its tracks, looking up at me like Dr. Grant in Jurassic Park. You know what I'm talking about, when he comes face to face with the dinosaur.

"Don't move, it can't see us if we don't move."

But I've got to be honest I didn't know who was who in this situation. Am I the dinosaur? or is the cockroach the dinosaur? We both could attack at any moment.

But we both stayed frozen.

"His visual acuity is based on movement like T-Rex - he'll lose you if you don't move."

But then it became clear to me, as I gained my balance on the bed and pounded my Justin boot down on the critter - I am the dinosaur!

and I wanted to shout:

I Am Woman. Hear Me Roar.

Unfortunately I did more of a girly screech as I ran to get toilet paper to scoop him off my super cute boot.

Also I had completely moved the mattress in this battle with the cockroach and ended up standing on the box spring causing my foot to rip through the fabric, leaving me to look a whole lot less graceful in the attack. It was actually kind of pitiful.

So here begins the welcoming of spring time, and so starts the war with the cockroaches.

Bring. It. On.

[angry face]

Tasty Tuesday Link Up - Chocolate Dipped Pita Chips

No biggie.

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Today my tasty little snack is so easy.

Chocolate dipped pita chips.

yumm

These little snacks are perfect for when you are having a few friends over, a cute, semi-formal little get together, taking snacks to church, etc.

They are typically served as a garnish on ice cream or fruit. (ice cream is my choice)

And ALL it takes is

1. your favorite chocolate bar
2. Stacy's® Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips
3. And ice cream or fresh fruit, or whatever you so choose to garnish.

Instructions:

Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave. Dip the pita chip about 1/3 of the way into the chocolate. Place the chip on wax paper and put in the freezer until hardened. (about 15 minutes.)

And Waddabing! You got yourself a fancy little garnish with almost no effort.

I know, you can thank me later.

And now I present to you, my Tasty Tuesday Linky! It's a little late notice, but I hope you can join me and give us some blogs to hop!

Hometown Blues

I don't get it.

It's spring break,

and where am I?

right. here.

Doing the same old thing that I do when I'm in the city and stuck in my apartment.

What should I be doing? you may wonder.

I don't know. I should be, playing in the fields. Swinging on the front porch swing. Driving down the road with my windows down. Laying on the beach. Riding a horse. Fishing, hunting, skeet shooting...

SOMETHING where I am using energy, having fun, and enjoying the outdoors.

I mean I get so sick and tired of the city sometimes, because the only time I get to be outside is when I go lay by the pool, or when I'm walking somewhere (ie. to class, a job interview.. that's pretty much it)

Which, don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy both activities.

But I miss the days of playing catch in the front yard, or basketball at the park. The days my brother and I would head out to Mr. David's pond and fish, and when we could gather a group of friends and head out to the golf course.

I miss the days of putting on my shorts and tank top and heading out to the high school baseball games, the local mud runs, or just the BP.

I miss being able to do these things by myself knowing that when I show up, I will be surrounded by people I know and I will be socializing for hours.

This spring break, I went to the mud bog and did not recognize anybody.

I made plans to go golfing with some friends, who canceled on me.

I even revisited the high school for a baseball game and found out that everyone I used to know and associate with have either

A) forgotten all about me, or

B) moved away.

It is just crazy how much things have changed in the past 2 years. I used to be able to drive to town and stay there for hours, because everywhere I went I would see a friend. But now? I drove through town today and it literally took me 30 seconds to get in and out.

It's depressing to me.

But I guess it's a part of growing up. And it's going to make going back to the city a whole lot easier.

Now I get why people who move away never come back.

Wordless Wednesday: For Every Scratch, I Blame This Guy

Join me in this special Paw edition: Wednesday Link Up!

Welcome to the new generation.

A few weeks ago, my grandpa came down to visit me in small town, South Carolina.

I love it when I get to see my grandparents - they are so on the same page as me.

I'm an old school kind of girl, conservative - keepin' it classy. you know.

So we decided to go to Subway for lunch, one of the few restaurants in my town.

yes, I just called Subway a restaurant.

and yes, it is connected to a gas station.

On the way home from Subway, Papa looks at me. He says, "Alright Marj, let's get down to business."

And I couldn't tell you what went through my head as he said this. What kind of business??

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

ohhh. that kind of business.

"No." I told him. "I don't."

He said, "Why not?" I gave him that same old same old... I just can't find anybody I can put up with.

He says, "Well, are you dating anybody? Do you go on dates?"

I wanted to say, "A date? Papa, what is a date?"

Seriously, this generation is not a dating generation.

Is it because we're all broke? Is it because we're all insecure? Is it because nobody wants to man up and ask the other person out?

I read this quote in one of my books one time and wrote it down because I loved it so much:

"Guys today appear to be gutless, and it takes far too much hinting to get them to wake up. Basically this is an indication that their masculine character has been watered down. We want MEN back! Not the androgynous creatures created by our godless environment." - Catherine

I don't remember which book it came out of, unfortunately. But it made me laugh.

I think this is pretty funny, fairly sad, and relatively true. Our society has watered down the role of men.

But that's a different topic for a different time. I could go on and on with my feelings on that. From a conservative stand point, which would drive half of you up the wall.

Back on topic.. I don't think I've ever been on a real date.

These days, if you are "dating" someone, you generally hang out at their house, or go to a party together.

You rarely go out one-on-one. That is only special occasions.

But before you get asked to go to a party, or asked to come hang out at the house, you have to pass the texting test.

He'll text you, and if he likes talking to you, he'll text you again a couple days later. If he still likes talking to you, he'll start texting about every night, at the same time, every night.

If you continue to text each other, after a while he will text you "Hey, we should hang out." This is when you do the happy dance because the past week of aggravating texts and struggling to find a response to "yeah." and "lol" have finally paid off.

And you'll go hang out. And if enjoys your company, he'll text you the next weekend, "Do you wanna go do this?"

And it just grows from there.

Eventually Valentine's Day or your birthday will come and he will be forced to take you on a date. But that involves putting up with somebody for that long.

Which, I, have not been able to do.

BUT, instead of going through all of this with my grandpa, since we were almost home. I just simply said, "No, I haven't been dating anyone."

Cocky's Quest!

Friday night, USC hosted a campus-wide scavenger hunt.

My friends and I decided it would be cool to at least see what it's about.

Can I just say? One of the best things I've ever done on campus.

We got to the starting point a little late, just in time to get stampeded by hundreds of freshmen, full speed, making it clear their wish to, "Win this thang."

We were given two papers to lead us on the hunt - one page listed items we were were to bring back with us, and one page listed things we were to take pictures of. Each picture had to somehow have our mascot Cocky in it, and every item on the list was worth points. So the first group to get the most points wins.

People will do some crazy stuff to win.

And by people, I mean me and my friends.

We stopped countless people on the streets asking if they had "any of the following items: an unopened toothbrush, three 1987 pennies, a calender magnet..."

Then of course got looked at like we were retarded.

At one point I found myself chasing after a car as it pulled away from a stop sign, shouting "WAIT!! You can't go! I need a picture of your license plate!!"

And I bet you're wondering what this picture is all about.

If not, I'm explaining it anyway.

This item was listed as American Gothic. So we built a pitchfork out of newspaper, and my friends posed as the old lady and man in American Gothic (with cocky).

Some of the things we had to search through campus and take pictures of Greek letters, somebody in a cast, somebody walking their dog, old time pencil sharpener, a license plate from a state that starts with "N," etc.

We had to bring back items such as purple socks, an Italian-American Dictionary, a 10 of diamonds, a TeaPot menu, candy corn, sombrero's, etc.

So needless to say, we were calling everyone we knew who lived on campus and raiding their dorms for these items.

Unfortunately, I didn't think about filming it until halfway through. But we were able to document this half:

Amurrica, you're stressin' me out.

Do you ever feel like you just need to escape?

From school, from work, from stress, from friends, from family, from your country, from your life?

I do.

I need to escape right now. In fact, I needed to escape last night.

You know how right before you fall asleep, you think about everything, and sometimes you can come up with crazy ideas of how everything is going to get better?

No?

That's just me?

For example:

If things are going good, just before falling asleep I think about how great my life is, and I come up with "great ideas" of what other good situations can come my way.

If things are going bad, just before falling asleep I come up with this "great idea" of how to make it better. Only to wake up in the morning and

A) not remember, or

B) realize how out of reach and crazy it is.

Well, last night before going to bed I was having a major crisis. I just kept thinking about my rent, gas prices, my previous employment, my semester wasted because I changed my major, my current inability to get a job causing my inability to commit to a future apartment, etc.

It literally makes me sick to my stomach. They say, "You live, you learn," and expect that to make it all okay.

Yes, I've learned a lot. But I can't help but wish I were able to say, "You learn, you live."

So, amid my 1 a.m. crisis, I violently chewed out America and the crashing economy. I rhetorically asked the people, "You raise the gas prices! You won't employ me! JUST HOW, America, am I supposed to live?"

Obviously this was an ignorant statement. Don't holler at me. In anger we sometimes say things we don't mean.

So as I cursed America, I turned on my reggae music and let the memories of my past trips to Mexico and the islands flood my mind. I felt my heartbeat slow as I pictured my butt in a hammock, my fingers fondling the sand, and the palm tree breeze blowing through my pony tail. A picture a know all too well.

But suddenly the picture began to change, as it became something new to me; a picture I've never seen.

I hopped out of the hammock and jogged to the tiki hut. I grabbed a Coca-cola, poured it into a cup of ice and I handed to a cheery tourist. I directed him to the line of free fruits where other tourists stood. I smiled and waved to a happy native bringing me a coconut.

I talked to the tourist as if I ran the tiki hut; I talked to the native as if we were friends.

It was the perfect picture; a new picture. Something I've thought about and wished for, but nothing I've ever pictured. Nothing I've ever imagined as a possibility.

But last night, when America seemed too much for me, I pictured myself in the place I've always dreamed of being. Living the life I could never dare to live.

Planning is the most important part of goal setting. Management 101 baby.

So I planned.

I'm leaving for the Virgin Islands in April on a cruise. When I get off at a port, I plan to never board that cruise ship again. Just stay on the island with what I brought. Open a tiki hut on the beach, befriend the natives. If I can't find a place to live, I'll sleep on the dang hammock. I don't care.

Tasty Tuesday - Mimi's Chex Mix

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Alright guys! It's Tasty Tuesday!

err..

It was Tasty Tuesday..

YESTERDAY.

I guess that makes this a Weird Wednesday.

But it's never too late to share this recipe. This has been my absolute FAVORITE snack since I can remember. Mimi's Chex Mix

My first memory of this snack is when I was a toddler, sitting in the far back of the minivan scarfing these things down, crying my eyes out as we left my grandma's house.

Finally when I got old enough Mimi gave me the okay to not only learn, but share her recipe. My mom (the blogger that she is) documented every step of the way, making this blog post possible.

Throughout the years Mimi's changed a few things up;

pretzel sticks, cheese sticks, cheez-its, gold fish...

But no matter what you decide to put in it, there's a melted butter mixture that, when mixed with the proper amount of grandma's love, will always make this chex mix a delicious finger snack perfect for any get together.

Preheat the oven to 300.

Melt a pound of butter in med. size pot on the stove.

You can't go wrong with butter!

Butter.

get it?

Add 1/2 cup worshishtershire worsistashire worcestshire sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until the butter has melted.

Add 1 Tbsp each:
garlic
onion
celery salt

While the butter is melting, stir together 1/2 of your dry mix:

1/2 bag of each rice, wheat and corn Chex Mix

1/2 of a 9.25 oz. can of nuts or half cashews

1/2 bag of stick pretzels
1/2 bag of cheesy snacks (ie. Cheez-Its or Goldfish)

Mix these up thoroughly.

Mimi uses a large roasting pan to mix. And in fear of crushing the mix, she gently stirs with her bare hands.

I recommend washing first - just sayin'

Take 1/2 of your melted butter mixture and spread it over the Chex Mix, gently mixing it in evenly.

Now make the rest of your dry mix with the remaining Chex Mix, nuts and pretzels.

Pour the last 1/2 of the butter mixture on top. Stir it all in good.

The less dry mix you use, the tangier the flavor will be.

At this point the mix will be very gooey. It's OK to taste it! It's actually really good.

Spread the mix out on flat cookie pans in a flat layer, making sure none of the mix is lumped on top of each other. Put the pans in the oven and bake at 300, first on the top shelf for 15 minutes, then the bottom shelf for 15 minutes per pan.

Does it make a difference if there are lumps in the mix on the cookie pan?

Does it make a difference if you move the pan from top to bottom shelf?

YES. Because Mimi said so.

Remember, it's part love that makes them so good. If your not careful, the chex mix won't feel the love. Leaving you to not feel the love later.

When they're done in the oven, they're ready to eat!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know what you think!

I also hope you continue sharing recipes with me through your own blog posts or through e-mail. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your Tasty Tuesday recipe posts. And being that I don't cook, I only have so many of my own recipes to share, so I would love to share your recipes for Tasty Tuesdays!

PS. Don't cook with your cousin. He'll mess everything up and blame it on you.

I DON'T wanna marry someone if I don't have a job first!

This

is South Carolina

in February.

So I'm pretty sure you can understand where I've been for the last week.

It has been ridiculously wonderful feeling like late April for the past week.

I am so tan

(for it being February)
 

Can you believe we had snow just 2 months ago?
 

No, actually some cities near me in South Carolina got snow just 2 weeks ago!

It has been beautiful outside, in the low 70's. Tempting me to jump in the pool and get hyperthermia.
 

(if you'll notice everyone around the pool in the picture is staring at it and drooling.)

It's that get sick weather. If you don't get sick because of the inconsistent weather patterns, you might get sick because you jump in the pool in February. Or you might get sick because when it changes from 72 back to 48 you go into serious depression.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the lame-o posts. I LOVE YOU. Just remember that.

This post is just to keep you informed that I am still alive. I've also been spending a lot of time on youtube lately, taking notes from this 5 year old girl. She's smarter than most 20-30 year olds.