Blog Every Day in January Day 25: Catching Up

So I think I've put off writing a real entry long enough for things to actually happen...meaning this post will actually have real content!!!!

Wow!!!!!

I'm just going to do this in bullet points, because it's been so long since I've written a real post here that I have literally forgotten how to string together paragraphs. *Shrugs*

• In reference to Thursday's post in which I was blogging from the living room couch in my apartment at school, it turns out that in my room at school, the corner where I sleep has mold growing on the wall. No telling what kind of mold it could be, but it's probably not the kind I should be sleeping next to. Feels good, man. Feels good to be paying rent on an apartment where I literally can not sleep in my own bed for fear that I'll wake up with mold poisoning.
  
• Yesterday I went into the high school where I'm student teaching to observe, and I actually am getting pretty pumped to start!! I've talked about this before, but I'm slowly starting to gain back my motivation as this winter break comes to a close. There's still a bunch of stuff I need to do but I feel a whole lot less overwhelmed by it. I mean...I am still anxious and afraid that I'm just going to be the worst student teacher ever...but I think I've gone into survival mode where it's like OKAY NO TURNING BACK MELANIE JUST GO IN THERE AND STUDENT TEACH LIKE ITS YOUR JOB WHICH IT KIND OF IS ITS LIKE A FULL TIME JOB ONLY YOU'RE PAYING TUITION TO DO IT.
  
• Side note: I have really not been feeling like myself lately! I was talking to one of my roommates about it the other day about how I think I've been having like a bit of seasonal depression. I've really been struggling with blogging every day this month, and with getting myself prepared for student teaching. I also feel like I didn't put much effort into socializing over the holidays, which is so not like me. Maybe it's this crazy weather we're having, or maybe I'm just freaking out over big transitions in my life that are about to happen/are coming up in the near future. Or maybe it's a combination of the two. Regardless, I've been trying to pull myself out of this funk all break and it's been happening--albeit rather slowly. Maybe I just need to see the sun again. IT'S BEEN SO LONG.
  
• I made this flourless chocolate cake as a gluten-free dessert option for a dinner party I went to yesterday, and even though I majorly effed up the recipe due to lack of the proper tools, it was SO GOOD. It was basically like a chocolate truffle in cake form...but it was so rich that only like a sixth of the cake was left and now I have a giant wheel of chocolate sitting in my fridge. Such is life.
  
• The pictures I posted in yesterday's entry was from the same dinner party with the chocolate cake! I actually posted those pictures really quickly while I was at the party, knowing I wouldn't want to write a post when I got home because it was already getting late and I knew I would be too tired. It was super fun, and it felt nice to be social again! Also I gave maybe the worst speech of my life...but also maybe the best speech of my life? I don't know, I guess it depends on how much alcohol you've consumed to determine whether it was good or bad.
  
• I'M GOING TO FRANCE THIS SUMMER!! And potentially other places, but those aren't set in stone and I'm not about to jinx it. But yeah, it's been in the works for a while and I officially found out on Thursday. I am SO PUMPED. I have a feeling that I'll just been talking about it ad nauseum for the next five months, so prepare yourself for that. I CAN'T FREAKING WAITTTT.

I don't remember how to end blog posts. Is this how you end them?? Do I just hit publish now???

Blog Every Day in January Day 15: Addicted to the Sims

My friend Victoria managed to get me to download the Sims Freeplay app onto my iPad, and I'm telling you right now, it was a mistake. I've only had it since Sunday and I've already wasted hours of my life trying to get my sims to make money and build relationships and establish careers, MEANWHILE all of those things have gone downhill for me within a span of four days.

I figured I would share the stories of my sims with you, since my own personal story currently refers to the six hours I've spent today glued to my iPad just tapping and tapping and tapping. Anyways, I decided to model my sims after all of my favorite celebrities. Enjoy.

Meet Hannah Montana! Now, I know what you're thinking. "I thought Hannah Montana was just Miley Stewart aka Miley Cyrus in disguise???". WRONG. Two months after the series finale of Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus-Stewart decided that college wasn't for her, and moved to France (hence the striped shirt and bourée). She got so caught up in her Parisian bliss that she could no longer identify with her outer Miley, and decided to fully embrace her inner Hannah. She now goes by Hannah Montana and nothing else!! 

Enter Justin Bieber who, after a career-destroying week where he both egged a neighbor's property to the point of trial-worthy-damage and was then found with cocaine in his possession, was forced into rehab. It was in rehab that he decided to abandon his music, his haircut, and, most importantly, his swaggy. Now he dresses like a cowboy...or as much like a cowboy as a free version of the Sims would allow.

Selena Gomez (left) had a nervous breakdown after Justin was admitted into rehab, feeling that she was responsible for all of his problems because of their breakup. The guilt drove her to insanity, and she cut off all her hair and left showbiz to try and make amends with Justin...only to find that he was trying to mack on Hannah Montana. Justin and Selena are enemies now. Although, she did make friends with Hannah. ...or did she?

Harry Styles (right) is just having a nice time! After One Direction split up, he found that his pleasant disposition and kind heart just wasn't cut out for celebrity stardom. No one is really sure how he wound up in this town, but he's loving the simple life.

Harry just can't handle watching the 10 o clock news.

Meanwhile, a romance is blossoming between Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber...

Uhhh...Harry and Selena are just minding their own business, planting some corn at midnight.

WAIT WHAT'S HAPPENING?

JUSTIN BIEBER PROPOSED TO HANNAH MONTANA!! Now they're shacking up!

Also Justin took Hannah's last name, because THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY GUYS. MOVE WITH THE TIMES.

Justin Montana

And before I called it a night, I managed to create one more sim...

First name, Beyoncé. Last name, Beyoncé. Nickname: Sasha Fierce.

Blog Every Day in January Day 12: Fun Drinks for My Friend's Birthday

Today was my friend Victoria's birthday, and since one of our favorite YouTube series is You Deserve a Drink, I figured it would be fun to create some drinks with pun-y names related to Victoria. They turned out pretty good, so I figured I would share the recipes with you!

Victoria Rosé Wine Coolers

The name for this one was easy, since her name is Victoria Rose (she distinguishes her middle name because she knows someone else with the same name). As it turns out, real Rosé wine is a little out of my price range (a lot out), I just used blush wine. Pink moscato probably could have worked, too! This drink was good in concept, but wasn't the most exciting of the three. I think this could have used some more fizz and less wine. I probably won't muddle the strawberries next time, and instead keep them frozen to keep the drink cool. The chunks were a little...grotesque. Also, I used diet strawberry kiwi sparkling water, but I'm listing in the recipe to use peach seltzer because that's what I originally wanted to use but forgot to buy. Hence the diet strawberry kiwi whatever whatever.

Ingredients
-Peach seltzer water
-Frozen Strawberries
-Pink wine of your choice

Instructions
1.) Thaw your strawberries and muddle them at the bottom of your cup OR keep them frozen to use as ice cubes (choose your own adventure!)
2.) Fill your cup about 2/3 (give or take, depending on taste) with peach seltzer
3.) Fill the cup the rest of the way with wine (assuming you have accounted for space at the top so you don't...you know...spill everywhere. How drunk are you?? Jeez.)

IF IT'S YA BIRTHDAY SHAKE SOME NOISE

This drink name is a pun on a very aggressive birthday song. Nevertheless, it was SO FREAKING GOOD. I'm serious, make this. I don't have anything else to say except for YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS.

Ingredients

-2 or more scoops of Vanilla ice cream (depending how you prefer the consistency of your milkshake)
-About a shot of Bailey's Irish Cream (or more if you really love Baileys)
-Milk (JUST A SPLASH AHH)
-About 1 tbsp of Nutella (don't go too heavy on this stuff, a little goes a long way!!)

Instructions
1.) Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend them together.
2.) That's it that's the whole recipe idk what you were expecting it's a milkshake.

Schnapp-era Zinger Shots

She's a voice performance major!!! Do you get it???? GUYS I'M HILARIOUS. Anyways, this shot was RE-DONKULOUS. While I was prepping it, the entire kitchen smelled like lemons and we 100% thought it would be disgusting, but O M G IT WAS SO GOOD. And it was like stupidly easy. We also tried an alternate version, which added orange juice to bulk up the volume and make it more like a cocktail and WOW so good. Try both!!

Ingredients (for 2 shots)

-1 1/2 shots of peach schnapps

-The juice of 1 lemon

-Lemon sugar (mix the zest of 1/2 a lemon with about 1 tbsp of sugar)

-A shaker full of ice

Directions

1.) Use the squeezed out carcass of your lemon to rim the shot glasses, then dip the shot glasses in the lemon sugar. THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'RE BEING FANCY TONIGHT.

2.) Pour the peach schnapps and lemon juice into the shaker and cover it and shake it up like that Florence and the Machine song that everyone is like obsessed with.

3.) Pour the shots into the shot glasses and enjoy!

I'm pretty impressed with myself for making these up. Like I ain't no bartender, but WHATEVER. MAYBE I SHOULD BE.

...Uhh.

Make these drinks and let me know how they turned out for you! 

Blog Every Day in January Day 4: My Saturday in Photos

Blog Every Day in January Day 3: The Common White Girl Tag

I want to start out by saying that I am writing this entry from my new iPad air that I got for Christmas, and if that doesn't make me a common white girl then I don't know WHAT does.

Anyways, there's this tag that's been circulating around the internet called the "Common White Girl Tag" which is, presumably, for Common White Girls to answer. And obviously, I am not a Common White Girl, but I HAVE been told by a handful of people that they sometimes "forget that I am not white". I'm not sure what that says about me or my friends, but you know what? I have a right to do this tag! COMMON WHITE GIRL IS A STATUS YOU ACHIEVE, NOT SOMETHING YOU ARE BORN INTO.

For bonus points, I will be answering every question with a selfie taken from my new IPad air that I got for Christmas. HOW MUCH MORE COMMON AND WHITE CAN I GET?

1. Favorite Starbucks drink? 

Or a "grasshopper" when it's not winter. You get the idea.

2. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 

If we're talking shower, hair, AND makeup. In which case we are being very very ambitious. Today I took ten minutes, and my look today says "you're lucky I did the bare minimum of hygiene standards". 

3. How many selfies do you take on a daily basis? 

Lots.

(Taking this selfie was intense and I had a brief existential crisis. AM I COMMON AND WHITE YET?)

4. How many IG followers and pics do you have? 

5. Do you ever say “LOL” or “OMG” out loud? 

(Yes but I wish the answer was no)

6. Do you wear the same clothing item more than once? 

I don't understand this question. Are you asking me if I like...burn my clothes after wearing them once? Is that what you common white girls do? You only wear every item of clothing in your closet once?? DO YOU REALIZE HOW WASTEFUL THAT IS. CHECK YOUR WHITE PRIVILEGE.

Oh wait are you asking me if I wear clothes more than once before washing them? Yes, if they aren't dirty. Jeez why didn't you just say so.

7. Are you racist? 

No look I'm eating very ethnic cuisine, obviously I am not racist.

8. How many tweets do you have? 

9. Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr? 

I'm not gonna lie, my tweets are HILARIOUS. I should be twitter famous. Except for the part where my account is private. Well...fame is relative.


10. What do you spend most of your time doing? 

Sums it up.
 
11. Who are your favorite YouTubers? 

*ding* The artist formerly known as dailygrace aka Grace Helbig 

And

The vlogbrothers! Yes, my fingers are double jointed. Get over it.

Those are my top two, but there's more than just those. I can't be takin' selfies all day JEEZ.

12. How often do you do your nails? 

Not often

13. Are you a shopaholic? 

What

14. How many times have you watched Mean Girls? 

I'm a mouse...duh.

(Lots)

15. Do you own a lot of clothes? 

 Who, me?

(Yes.)

16. Do you take pictures of your food before you eat it? 

Why would anyone ever do that.

17. Do you wear makeup everyday? 

Obviously not

18. What are your average grades in school? 

GOOD ENOUGH.


19. How do you usually style your hair? 

 Is "hot mess" an official hairstyle?

20. Do you always look presentable? 

U b the judge

So what's the verdict? Am I a common white girl??? Let me know!

Blog Every Day in January Day 2: Things I Would Like to Do

Today I went to the movies and crossed off an item from my personal list of Things I Would Like to Do. The item being "Go to the movies by myself". It's a weird goal to have, but I've always wanted to go to the movies by myself because I'm always complaining to people that I never watch movies because I don't have anyone to watch movies with...which is stupid because watching a movie isn't really a social experience. It's just I get really self conscious when I go places by myself, and I know I'm not the only person that feels that way, but it really bothers me that I feel so awkward when I'm alone and I've been slowly trying to break out of that shell. Because I do actually enjoy doing some things on my own.

Anyways, the main point of me talking about going to the movies alone is that it was an item on my list of Things I Would Like to Do, which is not really an official list and is always a work in progress. It's kind of like a 30 by 30 list except the items on it aren't exciting or difficult to accomplish. Like "organize my makeup collection before February" isn't necessarily something that would make it onto a 30 by 30 list, but it is one of the more urgent items on my Things I Would Like to Do List. So here it is, the constantly changing and not-very-difficult-to-accomplish list of Things I Would Like to Do:

1.) Go to the movies by myself. 

2.) Organize my makeup collection before February

3.) Make croissants from scratch even though it will literally take three days.

4.) Try all of the products from my Birchboxes from the past 6 months.

5.) Perfect giving myself a blowout.

6.) Read the A Song of Fire and Ice series, preferably before I graduate.

7.) Live on my own without relying on my parents for financial support.

8.) Get over my fear of making caramel based sauces.

9.) Own more teacups.

10.) Take a trip to the West Coast. Or several trips. Who knows.

12.) Take a trip on the East Coast. Shouldn't be too tough.

13.) Chicago sounds cool too.

14.) If we're talking about traveling, then yes, I would very much like to see Paris/FranceTheCountry and London/EnglandTheCountry. And I also want to go back to Vienna and Germany and Hungary and okay just a big ol' trip to Europe whatever this is my list I get to decide what's on it.

15.) Travel to the Philippines again now that I'm old enough to remember the experience.

16.) Find a bread recipe that is not ridiculous to make but also doesn't taste like hot water in bread form.

17.) Paint the shelves on my TV stand coral.

18.) Buy a big candle from Bath and Body Works.

19.) Put up some wall art in my bedroom at home.

20.) Clean the shitshow that is my desk at school. And the rest of the room while I'm at it.

21.) Go shopping in Kennett Square, PA and eat duck flatbread at Byrsa Bistro again.

22.) Start a vlog with my sister.

23.) Bake and decorate a nice cake. You may be surprised to know that this is something I have never done.

24.) Finish reading the Divergent series even if it's going to make me super mad and hate everything and everyone.

25.) Listen to more music in general.

26.) Make risotto. 

27.) Find a better bronzer and blush. Like for my face.

28.) Perfect my Tortilla Española, which is currently a hot mess.

29.) Organize my wallet/receipts/cards. Yikes.

30.) Learn how to sew.

There is probably tons more where that came from, and things get crossed off and added all the time. I usually take winter break to accomplish some of the things on this list, but there are obviously a few things that will have to wait.

How about you? Do you have a 30 by 30 list or one like mine, or are you the type of person that just does things without putting them in list form? 

September in October: THE MAGIC OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Back in September I went to Lancaster with my sister and her husband and some of our friends, and we all went to my favorite fall activity...

THE PENNSYLVANIA RENAISSANCE FAIRE!!

I did a lil' vlog about it, so y'all enjoy:



We went during the Celtic Fling weekend, so there were lots of men in kilts and tons of plaid, and we also watched some very underwhelming highland games. I didn't manage to get that on camera, but I'm sure you can use your imagination...

SELFIES FOR DAYS

Overall I would give this outing 4.5 turkey legs. It would have received the full 5 if not for the rain.