Dream It, Do It

I'm Alive I Promise

2011-10-01T13:50:00.001-05:00

Our happy family!

Well the past several months have been very eventful! First and most important Jeff and I welcomed our little bundle of joy into the world on August 8th, 2011. He is the most beautiful little boy and we love little William more than anything.

This was just a quick update. More details will be coming soon!

Guinness and Bailey's Cupcakes

2011-04-24T19:34:00.002-05:00

Well instead of doing my homework I decided to finish up this post about these delicious cupcakes I made a few weeks ago. Jeff has an extreme love for Guinness, so when I stumbled upon this recipe for Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes I knew I had to make them. I am a sucker for sweets and these looked too good to pass up.

The cupcake is a chocolate Guinness base with a chocolate ganache filling and an insanely alcoholic Bailey's laced icing. Since I'm 5 months pregnant I had to make a separate batch of plain vanilla buttercream icing for my share of the cupcakes. These ended up being a huge hit with everyone, and Jeff has been begging me to make some more of them sometime soon.

Guinness and Bailey's Cupcakes:

Yield: 24 cupcakes
Ingredients:
For the Guinness chocolate cupcakes:
1 cup stout (Guinness)
16 tbsp. unsalted butter
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1½ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

For the Bailey’s ganache filling:
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
2 tsp. Bailey’s Irish cream

For the Bailey’s buttercream frosting:
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
4-8 tbsp. Bailey’s Irish cream (I used 6 and it turned out super strong)

Directions:
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. Combine the stout and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the eggs and sour cream to blend. Add the stout-butter mixture and beat just to combine. Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed just until incorporated. Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling them about 2/3 to ¾ full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the ganache filling, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until simmering, then pour it over the chocolate. Let sit for one minute and then whisk until smooth. If the chocolate is not completely melted, place the bowl over a double boiler or give it a very short burst in the microwave (15-20 seconds). Add the butter and Bailey’s and stir until combined.

Set aside to let the ganache cool until it is thick enough to be piped (I left mine in the fridge a little too long and it got kinda thick, so watch it close because it cools pretty quick). Meanwhile, cut out a portion from the center of the cupcake using the cone method (I had a filling attachment with my piping bag and used that instead or cutting out a piece of the cupcake). Once the ganache has reached the correct consistency, transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a wide tip and pipe it into the cupcakes.

To make the frosting, place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar until it is all incorporated. Mix in the Bailey’s until smooth. Add more if necessary until the frosting has reached a good consistency for piping or spreading. Frost the cupcakes as desired.

Source: Annie's Eats

Bless this House Cross-stitch

2011-04-18T17:40:00.007-05:00

After months of slaving over this cross-stitch project I have finally finished it! I am super excited that I got it done before Jeff and I move into our new place on June 1st.

I love the way that the project turned out in the end and I love the frame that I found for it; especially since the frame was on sale :) I got the kit on sale at Hobby Lobby for about $5 and I've been working on it on and off for several months. Unfortunately I wanted to post this so bad that I was lazy and didn't take any decent pictures, I just have the ones I took with my phone.

This is one of the first progress shots I took of the project, at this point I had only been working on it for a couple of weeks. I had started in the middle, like you do with all counted cross-stitch, and then I decided to make my way to the left side and work left to right. The piece was pretty long, about 18 inches wide, so working from one side to the other was easier because I could fold over the fabric I wasn't working with.

I was about halfway through when I took this picture. Spring break was a couple weeks after I took this and our 8 hours in the car to New Orleans gave me a huge boost in progress, I just can't seem to find the picture I took :(

Here is the finished product literally right after I finished it. As you can see it still had the creases from where I had it in a hoop.

And last but not least, the finished product all framed up and ready to go on the wall. My favorite part about getting this project done was how excited Jeff was for me that I finished it. This is the first thing that I have made for our first place together, so it has a ton of sentimental value.

I already have about 3 or 4 more projects lined up to work on next, but I need to get through these last few weeks of school before I can devote any large amount of time to them.

Disney College Program: My Final Thoughts

2011-01-17T01:29:00.003-06:00

This past fall as some of you know I participated in the Disney College Program. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and I will never regret doing it. I was a Skipper on the Jungle Cruise in the Magic Kingdom. I absolutely loved where I worked and the people I worked with.... most of the time that is. Like any other internship this is a job, and you will be working very long hours most of the time. You will also work holidays and weekends... yes I know it sucks. I worked Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years while on my program, but in the end it was all worth it. Being a Cast Member makes you part of the magic of The Walt Disney World Resort, and it is our job as Cast Members to make dreams come true for both the young and old.

Being a Cast Member mean that the perks are pretty awesome. First and foremost, you get to go to Disney World for FREE! And during my program they were having a special promotion that we got to go to the water parks for free too. As a castmember, you also get merchandise discounts, hotel discount, cruise line discounts, and ticket discounts. During the Christmas holiday our cast member discount was raised to 50% off, which was pretty awesome because it applied to all Disney merchandise except for movies and CD's.

Now I will warn you, the housing situation seems great but as one of my friends so adequately put it, she "hates Price Management and their stupid apartments... they can take their stupid rules and shove it where the sun don't shine". The company that manages the apartment complexes absolutely blows. The rules are ridiculous, the security guys are assholes, and if you break a housing rule you can be terminated from the program. The housing is the biggest bad mark on the program in my eyes. I would recommend living in Patterson or Chatham, stay away from Vista. Patterson is the newest complex and where I spent my program. DO NOT LIVE IN A 3 OR 4 BEDROOM APARTMENT because it is 2 people per room meaning there will be 8 people max in an apartment. Though this sounds fun.... you will have no space in your kitchen for anything. I lived in a 3 bedroom so there were 6 of us, and well there was never any space in the fridge at all. Plus 6 girls in one apartment.... no bueno.

Despite the lousy housing situation, I would recommend this program to anyone. I have loved Disney since the very first time I went there when I was 4 years old and I love it even more now that I have been a Cast Member. If you have worries about seeing the backstage stuff and it ruining the magic, don't worry, being a part of the magic is such a rewarding experience. So if you have ever wondered if the Disney College Program is right for you, I say do it. You only live once and to have an opportunity like this is, in my eyes, a dream come true.

I'm Back

2011-01-16T01:42:00.002-06:00

Well after about a year of experimentation with different blogs I have decided to return to Blogger. Wordpress was beginning to be a pain in the ass, and to be honest not that cute. I'm currently in the process of trying to get some of my posts from my Wordpress over to Blogger so hopefully that wont take a small army and a minor miracle.

It's good to be back :)

Tinker-Belle Cross-Stitch

2010-08-10T01:47:00.004-05:00

This project was one that I worked on while on a road trip because it was the perfect size to work on in the car. I love working cross stitch kits in the car because I feel like I am accomplishing something while sitting in the car doing nothing.

This project stitched up really quickly, I was able to finish it in only a couple of days, the greatest difficulty I had with it was using the pearl filament thread on Tink's wings and wand. That stuff is a pain in the you know what but in the end it turned out really pretty, with just the right amount of sparkle.

I omitted a part on the pattern that was supposed to go above Tink between her wings because I thought it was silly looking to have her name there labeling her. It is must more appealing and I like the simplicity of it just being sly Tink looking like she is up to something like always.

I had a spare frame lying around and I gave it a couple quick coats of purple spray paint any tada! I'm done. I decided on purple for the frame because it matched the back stitching around Tink, and I thought it would be fun.

My First Completed Project of the Summer: posted 2 months late oops

2010-08-03T01:52:00.001-05:00

Over the past couple of months I have been working on several different craft projects and I am just now getting around to posting them. One of the first things I made was a memo board for my room.

I made it using THIS tutorial from Moda Bake Shop, and I love the finished result. I tweaked the tutorial a little bit just cause a few of the steps I did differently and I used some different materials but overall it's pretty consistent with everything else. I used a charm pack from Fig Tree Quilts called Fresh Cottons, and I love the finished result!

I used a frame that has been laying around my parents garage for almost a year now and I figured if it hasn't been thrown away or used yet then it was fair game for me to have. I toyed with the idea of painting it, but in the end I am glad that I didn't because I love the contrast of the wood grain against the fabrics.

The hardest part of the project was making sure that the ribbon stayed taught enough so that it would hold the photographs when it was all finished, but they all turned out the perfect tightness except for one that is in the bottom corner so it's kinda hidden. I love the ribbon I ended up using because it covers the seams from where I sewed the charm squares together but the edges are sheer so it gives it a cute little effect.

This picture isn't very true to color but it is a nice close up of both the ribbon and the buttons. In the tutorial it called for a variety of buttons but I liked the idea of them all being uniform and cohesive so I used the same buttons for all of the placed where the ribbons crossed.

I wish I would have taken in progress pictures but I always think about doing it after I have already completed the project. I pictures on the board are 4x6 so that gives you some idea of the scale of the whole thing. Also on the frame I mounted hanging brackets on both sides so that it could be hung either vertically or horizontally. I love this project and my mom has already hinted to wanting one for herself.

My Newest Project

2009-12-19T11:34:00.004-06:00

I just finished this the other day and I am super excited that I finished it. I was thinking about giving it to my sister for Christmas but I think I have decided to make the whole set and then frame them. I just bought the Tigger one the other day and I still need the Piglet and Eeyore ones so that I have the whole set. I think they would be super cute for a nursery but I have a few years (like 6) before I have kids, so who knows what I finally end up using them for. The picture quality isn't that great cause my camera is dead and I left the charger at home in Texas and I am in Florida.

I love Disney!

2009-10-05T10:00:00.004-05:00

There is nothing more wonderful than the Disney College Program! I have loved this experience since day #1 and will never regret doing it. I have learned so much from being here and my program still has 3 more months before it is over.

I have met so many amazing people, some of which I know I will continue to have wonderful relationships with as the years go on. I have decided that at the end of my program I am going to return to school and graduate while maintaining seasonal status at Disney. That way I can continue to work at the Jungle Cruise. When I graduate I would love to return to Disney and audition to be a member of the entertainment department.

I am truly looking forward to what these next 3 months have in store for me. I could have never guess that I wold be having the experience that I am having now. Some people may think that this is a load of crap, but I believe strongly that your dreams really can come true. I feel like I am living a fairy tale and each day gets better and better.

Have a Magical Day

Thoughts on the first Month

2009-09-21T09:33:00.002-05:00

So I have been a Disney World castmember for a month now and I absolutely love it. I love my job working at the Jungle Cruise in the Magic Kingdom. Last night on one of my boats I had a little girl come up to me at the end and said she wanted to take a picture with me. She was the cutest little thing ever, she even let me pick her up for the picture. I have been told that I have a really good boat by alot of people, even some of the other skippers who have rode my boat say that it is good.

The thing that sucks the most about the college program is living in the housing. I am at Patterson and the apartment is great and so is the complex but, the security policies SUCK. You can't have anyone over after 1 AM, if they arrive after 9 PM you have to check them in with a drivers license, and your visitors must be 18 years old. So if my sister wants to come visit me and see my apartment she can't because she is a minor.

I bought 3 books yesterday at Barnes and Noble, I figure since I don't have my sewing machine with me here I am going to be doing a ton of reading to keep me occupied in my off time. I do have some cross-stitch kits with me that I could also do.

I'm here

2009-08-26T21:16:00.003-05:00

I have officially been here for a week, and I love it. I found out that I am working in Magic Kingdom as a Jungle Cruise Skipper, which is one of the most sought after jobs to have in the Magic Kingdom.

Today was my second day of training and I got to drive the boat around the track without guests and I practiced spieling.

Packing

2009-08-08T21:07:00.002-05:00

I have been in the mists of getting all my stuff together and packing for my adventure to Florida for six months. I am pretty close to getting finished but I still have quite a bit to do before my parents, my sister and I leave Texas on Monday. I just got a new laptop today which i am currently using. I am really excited about it and I think it is going to work out great for when I am in Florida.

I'll post later when I get my packing stuff alittle more organized so that I can show off what I am planning on taking. Thats all I have for now.

Have a Magical Day!

I'm alive

2009-07-31T08:59:00.002-05:00

I have just returned from my week long vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was an absolute blast despite the fact that y digital camera broke early on into the vacation and I had to buy a disposable camera to use. I had a lot of fun and returned home with a tan and not much sunburn. (Oh and the beach bikini workout book worked great! So if you are looking for a great workout to get you in shape for the beach I recommend picking one up)

I got my wisdom teeth taken out and that really sucked at first but the swelling has gone way done and I don't have much pain. The main thing that sucks is I can't exercise and I am on a liquid diet for a few days.

After I have recovered a little more I am back to packing for my move to Florida and I am hoping to make another Vlog before I go/while packing. We will see what happens. I am off to take some pain meds and go to bed for the night.

Have a magical evening.

Packing

2009-07-11T00:58:00.002-05:00

I have begun my initial stages of packing for my CP and I am kinda glad I am doing some of it so early. My main motive is the fact that I have to get everything I am not taking and store it at my parents house while I am gone, which has proven to be a little more challenging than I thought.

Done!!

2009-07-02T23:48:00.002-05:00

I am officially done with school till next January!!! I am very excited about that, I leave for Disney in less than 48 days! I just finished packing up all my stuff in my apartment for my journey home tomorrow, and I have to say you never really realize how much stuff you have till it is all in a pile in the middle of the living room. That is pretty much it for now, time to do some sewing. I finally have the time to relax and do some of that (I spent $50 bucks at Hobby Lobby getting fabric for 2 dresses I plan to make). Off to crafting!

Have a Magical Day/Evening

Last Week!

2009-06-29T10:28:00.003-05:00

Today starts the final week of summer school, and I could not be more excited because I wont have "school" again till the spring semester. I am going to be taking 2 classes when I am down at Disney but I wouldn't count that as school.

This time next week I will be lounging by the pool at my house and not having to worry about papers, or homework or tests! I can finally finish the book I am reading for fun and work on my craft projects that are sitting half completed. It's going to be wonderful!

Well that's all folks, Have a Magical Day

A Few Updates

2009-06-21T19:52:00.006-05:00

I felt like updating so here is how the next 59 days till Disney are going to go (surprisingly most of my time is booked/planned out):

This week(June 21-27): I am in my second to last week of summer school. I have a group presentation in my music class about Fantasia on Tuesday, on Friday I have an essay due in my American Lit class and a test in my Music class. This is also week #2 of my beach workout.

Week 2(June 28-July 4): Finals week! I have a two day Spanish final on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I also have my English final exam on Wednesday. Thursday I am done with summer school and I get to go home.

Week 3(July 5-11): Finally I have a full week without school. I am mainly going to be getting my stuff organized since it's all in boxes and I need to find what I am wanting to pack and take with me to Disney. I also get the lovely task of cleaning out the garage with my mom. Week #4 for my beach workout.

Week 4(July 12-18): Same as week three. Week #5 for my beach workout.

Week 5(July 19-25): Time to get packed for my trip to South Carolina, my flight is on the 23rd at 1:35. It is leaving from Houston so I will probably drive down there the morning of with my mom. Last week of beach workout.

Week 6(July 26-August 1): Myrtle Beach with my BF and his family.

Week 7(August 2-8): I get home from South Carolina on the 2nd of August, hopefully I wont be super sunburned. Time to chill and start to officially get things in order for Florida. Last full week in Texas.

Week 8(August 9-15): My mom, sister and I are leaving for Florida on the 11th to attend the Melaleuca Convention (its a business my mom and I do, I'll tell you more about it if you message me). The convention lasts through the 15th and that is when my Dad, brother and Bf will be arriving in Florida.

Week 9(August 16-19): Family vacation time/ spend time with me before they leave me in a different state. We are going to go to Universal and do other stuff in the Orlando/Tampa area. On the 19th they are dropping me off at Vista Way for me to begin my Disney CP adventure, and i think they are leaving the next day.

So that is my next couple of months. Have a Magical Day!

Beach Body Countdown

2009-06-15T22:05:00.003-05:00

So at the end of July I am going to Myrtle Beach for a week with my boyfriend and his family. Well I have never been one to be super self-conscious about my body but I felt like since this vacation is devoted solely to going to the beach I decided to workout so I am all toned up for my trip. Also I figure it will help me fight off gaining weight while on my Disney CP because I have heard that you will gain weight while doing the program.

Today I bought the book "The Six-Week Bikini Countdown" and began my first day of working out. The book uses a combination of cardio, weight-training, pilates and yoga. Tonight my bf and I did the first day which is about 50 minutes of cardio, and it went ok. I haven't legitimately run any distance since I ran track in middle school, so it was a lot for me, but I am really excitd about the workout program. And my bf said that he will do the running with me, which is nice, since running alone can be boring.

I am hoping that when I get down to Florida that I can keep up this workout at least every other day or so.

Officially Have a Roommate

2009-06-12T16:18:00.003-05:00

As of a couple days ago I officially have a roommate for my Disney College Program. We found each other through the Disney CP group on Facebook. Her name is Megan and I really think we are going to get along great.

We have already started talking about what each of us is bringing, and stuff like that. I am really glad this has been figured out and that on the first day I will know my roommate and also that we wont have a ton of duplicate stuff. Well that is all I have for now. Hopefully I will have more updates soon.

Have a Magical Day!

Mini-Breakdown

2009-06-09T14:24:00.003-05:00

So, this morning I had my first (of probably many) breakdowns about summer school. For those of you who don't know, I am taking 10 credit hours of summer school all in only the first session (which is a lot). I looked at my calendar today and almost everyday from tomorrow on I have some form of test or quiz or project to tackle.

Well this morning at 5:50 AM, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and was in a pretty bad mood through most of my Spanish class. I kept trying to figure out how I could drop one of my classes and if I would get a refund or not. But then I realized, I just have to make it till July 2nd and summer school will be over.

Once summer school is over I get to go home and do nothing for 21/2 weeks, then I am going to the beach for a week, and then only a week and a half later I am going to be in Disney. I guess it was looking at the broad scope of things that got me to realize that, hopefully, summer school wont be so bad.

Rolling Stone Necklace and Earings

2009-06-03T20:13:00.005-05:00

I made these for the craft challenge on craftster.org. The challenge was to re-purpose a magazine. Well as the title says I took a magazine and turned it into a necklace. I used an Esurace ad and also a Flight of the Concords ad to make those awesome little folded stars. I then Mod Podged them to give it a nice glossy sheen. Add some beads and chain and you get a necklace that will be the envy of your friends :D.
And now the pictures:

My New Sundress

2009-05-31T18:53:00.005-05:00

So here is the story, I started this dress last October. I had gotten the entire thing put together, lining and all, but never put the zipper in or finished them hem. Well I got busy with school and had a few medical problems that sprang up so the unfinished dress got put in a box never to be seen again till last week. SO yesterday I pulled it out and finally finished it.

I am really happy with how it turned out. I lined the whole thing because the flower fabric was pretty see-through all on its own. I used Simplicity pattern 3745. I think if I were to use this pattern again I would lengthen the straps just a bit, but other than that I love the way the dress fits. So here are the pictures.

Here is the finished product, and below is a close-up of the bodice.

Updates

2009-05-29T15:25:00.002-05:00

So, it is now time for an update. My mom and I have official figured out our plans for when I go down to Florida. We are leaving Texas on the 10th of August and hoping to arrive in Orlando by the 12th (it shouldn't be too hard to do, we allotted time for stops at night). We then are going to attend the Melaleuca Convention from the 13th to the 15th.

Then my dad, sister, my boyfriend, and possibly my brother will either drive or fly down and be there by the evening of the 15th. We will then commence our "vacation" by doing stuff like going to Universal and Sea World (save the Disney visits till we have free tickets). Then on check-in day they are going to drop me off and help me get settled etc.

I have a feeling I will have the greatest number of people with me at check-in, but that doesn't bother me one bit. I am very much a homebody, so having them there to drop me off will make me feel a lot better.

Now that this is figured out it is time for more waiting, only 82 more days.

Spiked Cheesecake Bars

2009-05-27T19:08:00.005-05:00

Today I tried out a recipe from my new cook book; the Spiked Cheesecake Bars.

Recipe:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, divided
3/4 quick oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 package (8ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 granulated sugar
1/4 cup and flavor liqueur, such as coffee, orange or hazelnut (I used coffee)
2 teaspoons milk
1 egg
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line bottom and sides of 8-inch square baking pan with foil, leaving 2 inch overhang.
2. For crust, beat brown sugar and butter in bowl of electric mixer at medium-high speed until creamy. Combine 3/4 cup flour, oats and baking soda in small bowl; gradually beat into sugar mixture in bottom of prepared pan to form crust. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside on wire rack.
3. For filling, combine cream cheese, granulated sugar, liqueur and milk in mixer bowl. Beat at medium-high speed until smooth. Add egg and remaining 1 teaspoon of flour; beat until well blended. Spoon filling over hot crust. Bake 38 to 43 minutes or until set. Cool completely on wire rack.
4. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over cooled cheesecake. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight for best flavor and texture.

As you can see from the top picture, the chocolate exploded in a couple areas. I think for a first attempt they turned out OK, but in the words of my boyfriend, "I mean they're not great". The next time I make them I think I am going to modify the crust to where it is more like a regular gram cracker crust on a original cheesecake. Other than that the cheesecake portion has really good flavor.

Work Problem

2009-05-20T17:38:00.003-05:00

I figured out the other day that the job I have for the summer probably wont work with my school schedule. So now I have to task of figuring out what I am going to do for a job over the summer. I have a shop on etsy.com but I haven't posted anything because I really don't have any crafts to post yet. I have some vintage patterns that I am going to post once I use them, and some jewelry I have made that I just haven't taken the time to post yet.

I am going to talk with my supervisor tomorrow and see if I can figure something out because that would make everything easier. I really need to make some money so that when I go to Disney I will have some extra cash before getting my first paycheck from being down there.

New Cookbook

2009-05-17T20:04:00.003-05:00

This past week I was able to go home for a few days and I got a new cookbook when I went shopping with my mom. I am very excited about it! I can't wait to try some of the creations that are inside :) especially the Spiked Cheesecake Bars, English Muffins, Caramel Walnut Banana Torte, Black Bottom Cupcakes, Old-Fashioned Pound Cake, and the Banana Chocolate-Chunk Cupcakes. Luckily I don't have much to do for the next few weeks, so I have plenty of time for baking!

Hopefully I can master a few of these recipes so when I go to Florida I will be able to make my roommates lots of goodies.

Finished!

2009-05-12T20:17:00.002-05:00

I am officially finished for the semester. I took my last final this afternoon, it was terrible, but I don't care because I am done and I ended up with an A in my English class.

Now I can relax, somewhat, and do arts and crafts in my free time when I am not working. I just went to Hobby Lobby today and got some new projects to work on and also some supplies for one I am currently working on.

I have 99 days till I arrive in Disney and I absolutely cannot wait. But before I go to Florida I am going to Canada for a week with my parents and my sister to meet here boyfriend. It will be interesting to say the least. I'm also going to South Carolina at the end of July with my boyfriend and his family for a week. We are going to the beach, so I am excited about that.

Hopefully this summer will be relaxing and not too hectic. We will see.

Have a magical day!

Finished Product

2009-05-04T23:56:00.006-05:00

I just finished this project the other day, and today I went to the store and got a really awesome frame for it. I love how the red frame and the pillow in the cross-stitch match. What really made me like this project is that the cat looks like the cat my boyfriend has, and the dog looks like my dog. Enjoy!

School is Almost Over

2009-04-27T13:36:00.005-05:00

I'm sitting in the computer lab on campus working on an essay draft I have due at 3 and I just can't stop thinking about how close the end of the semester is. It makes me very happy to know that I am going to have 3 or so weeks off before I start summer school. Granted I am going to be working during that time, but I really don't care about that because I will be making money.

The end of the semester is killing me though. Right now I am supposed to be working on a critical interpretation essay rough draft that is due for peer editing at 3. The essay is focusing on Shakespeare's Othello and has to include 5 outside sources. It really is not that hard but it is rather time consuming because it has to be 7-8 pages long and a minimum of 2200 words.

After I finish the essay I need to write a speech that has to be 6-8 minutes long about the importance of protecting yourself against skin cancer, and how to avoid it. I am not too worried about the speech because I have personal experience with family members who have had terrible cases of skin cancer. Skin cancer runs on both sides of my family, so you can see I am definitely pro natural skin color and anti excessive tanning. The only thing I need to make sure for my speech is that I don't turn it into a rant about how excessively tanning is killing yourself, but rather make it an educational informative speech about the proper way to protect yourself against skin cancer.

Once I finish these things I am pretty much free and clear for the end of the semester in these two classes. I have the final draft of my essay due next Monday and that is no big deal, and technically after my speech tomorrow I don't have that class anymore.

I am just so ready to go to DISNEY!

Dream Places to Work

2009-04-24T11:33:00.005-05:00

I got this idea from another blog and decided it would be fun to do it too. In the fall I am going to be an attractions cast member at Walt Disney World as a part of the Disney College Program. I thought it would be fun to share with y'all the places I would love to work at while in Disney.
First: The Great Movie Ride in Disney Hollywood Studios
Second: The Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom
Third: Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom
Fourth: Jungle Cruise in Magic Kingdom
I think any ride at Disney would be great, but these are my top four that I would love to work at. Sadly I have to wait till August to find out exactly where I am going to work, so we will see what happens

My Next Quilting Project

2009-04-21T18:44:00.002-05:00

For my next quilt I want to do something simple because I want to be able to finish it in a reasonable amount of time. I was looking at doing some thing like this, it is really simple and I can make it look whatever way I want because I can change up the fabric choices really easily. I am seriously considering doing it with different Disney fabrics. I really like this one: And there are a few more that I like too, I got a gift card to Hobby Lobby for my birthday so I think it is about time for me to go and spend that. I probably should wait till after school gets out so I am not distracted from my studies, but as it is I am distracted by the fact that I am going to Disney in the fall. So we will see what happens =)

woot.com I love you

2009-04-11T00:43:00.006-05:00

So tonight I was waiting up to see what Woot, if you don't know what woot is, it is a website that everyday they sell something different at discounted prices. It's cool you should check it out woot.com. Anyway I wanted to see what they would have today and to my surprise it was something fabulous! The Magical Musical of Walt Disney, Original Motion Picture Soundtracks with Full Color Book. They are original from the 70's when they were first released. I then went to sellout woot and bought a record player because I didn't own one. Yes this was probably one of my sillier buying binges but I couldn't help it, it's Disney. Now it is time for me to get a job so I can afford these buying binges.

New Checks

2009-04-05T15:57:00.014-05:00

I was in need to checks today, so I decided that there is nothing better than ordering Mickey and Friends checks from Wells Fargo. I am super excited about them, but it's going to take 7-10 business days till I get them and can use them. Here are some pictures of them:

Speech about net neutrality

2009-04-04T22:20:00.006-05:00

Currently I am supposed to be working on a speech I am presenting on Tuesday about net neutrality, but instead I have been updating my blog layout and watching The Day After Tomorrow. So I figured that if I wrote a blog about what I should be doing, it would help me finish writing my speech.

Basically the idea of net neutrality is the idea that all internet traffic should be treated equally. For my speech I am arguing in favor of net neutrality mainly because I am in favor of it. There are several well know internet application companies that support it as well. They include: Google, Yahoo!, Ebay and several others. One really great website I found about the subject was SaveTheInternet.com.

So, seriously that's all I have so far. I have a ton of work to do before Tuesday, but I am not too worried. We'll see how it goes.

Counting down the days!

2009-03-31T23:41:00.004-05:00

I arrive in Disney 141 days from now (well almost 140 because it's 11:45 at night). I absolutely can't wait, this summer is going to seem so long because I am waiting for something to happen. So far I have been trying to figure out how I am going to maintain my status at school so I can register when I get beck from Florida. I really want to start packing and everything but I've got a while so I have to hold back the urge! The waiting is killing me!!!

Current Progress

2009-03-27T00:09:00.004-05:00

I started this cross stitch over Christmas break and thought it was really cute mainly because it looks like my boyfriends cat and my dog. As you can see I've only gotten the dog started. I'm bummed I've been so busy with school and haven't had time to relax and work on it. Hopefully I'll have some progress updates soon because I really want to finish it because it is so cute.

Disney College Program

2009-03-22T22:36:00.006-05:00

I found out today that I was accepted to participate in the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World. I am really excited about having this opportunity because it is something that I have wanted to do since I was only 12 years old. When I got my invitation to be a part of the program in the mail I started to cry because I was so excited. This is basically what it is about (taken from the Disney College Program Website):

Program Overview

The Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World® Resort is a one-of-a-kind, Disney-designed combination of education and work experience. Disney College Program Cast Members have the opportunity to:

Build transferable skills that include relationship building, problem solving, and written and verbal communication
Obtaining and embracing these skills will help make participants an asset to any employer they have in the future, and these skills also will be helpful in their personal development.
Explore networking opportunities at the Walt Disney World Resort
Participants have numerous opportunities to meet Disney leaders, attend learning activities hosted by Disney executives and make the connections they want to learn more about the professional roles available at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Tap into educational opportunities that offer new courses coupling academic theory and Walt Disney World management expertise
All participants have the opportunity to take courses and possibly earn college credit. These classes will provide additional insight into the leadership and management concepts you're learning in the workplace.
Earn real-world experience with a leader in the industry
The Walt Disney World Resort has an international reputation for excellent Guest service and training, in addition to its popularity as the number-one vacation destination in the world.
Make friendships that cover the globe
Disney College Program Cast Members work with a diverse Cast and live with people from around the country and possibly the world.
Enjoy the privileges of being a Walt Disney World Cast Member, including free theme park admission admission for you and your friends, and discounts on resort accommodations, merchandise and more
Cast Members enjoy a wide variety of discounts at the Walt Disney World Resort and within the Central Florida community.

As a part of the Disney College Program I get to be an attractions cast member, which means I get to work on one of the rides at Disney World. The program is open to all majors, and there are several roles to chose from for the type of work you would like to do.

Another great thing is that the apartment you live in while in the program is only for college program participants and they have 24hr security, so you don't have to worry about who you are living next door to. I can't wait till I start my program; I'm scheduled for arrival on August 19th.

Spring Break

2009-03-14T13:13:00.003-05:00

It is not officially spring break, and school is out for a week. Unlike many college students my spring break does not included getting trashed on a beach in Mexico. No my spring break is going to be much better. I get to stay at home and relax, work on the many craft projects I haven't been able to finish, and catch up on some much needed sleep. I'm going to see Andrew Bird in concert on the 21st and I'm looking forward to that.

The Jonas Brothers

2009-03-03T19:46:00.006-06:00

OK, so yeah I'm almost 20 years old, but I absolutely LOVE the Jonas Brothers. In the beginning I thought they were kinda lame, but I went to a concert with my little sister and mom and I fell in love. I've been to 2 concerts and I'm going to see them again this weekend. I just can't get over how wonderful they are, not just their music, but them as people. They are good boys and they always say they just want to make their mom proud. Plus Joe is just too cute for words.

The Watchmen

2009-02-17T23:59:00.004-06:00

I just finished reading the graphic novel "The Watchmen" and it was amazing. I have never read a graphic novel before, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but in the end I am glad my BF influenced me to read it before seeing the movie. Now I am just hoping that the movie does the book justice, and it doesn't turn out like so many other movie versions of books, terrible.

First Week

2009-01-24T01:17:00.004-06:00

I made it through the first week of the semester, and I think things are going to go good. All my professors seem pretty fair with their grading policies and the amount of work they give out. I am a tad worried about my English class because my prof has a really heavy accent, but I think it is something I can adapt to. The worst part of the semester is all the reading assignments I'm going to have to do, but hey it could be worse.

My Very First Quilt!

2009-01-17T17:40:00.011-06:00

So I finally finished my very first quilt I have ever made. It was my dads Christmas present but I had to give it to him half way done then finish it before I went back to school for the semester. The top quilt is made out of pairs of jeans, I even left the pockets on some of the squares, and I backed it with a sheet(a trick I learned from my granny Smith). I am really excited about how it turned out. Sorry about the pictures, the photo quality isn't too great.

Messy Houses are Good for Kids

2009-01-08T09:41:00.003-06:00

So my siblings and I have always been pretty healthy. We have never had asthma or anything like that and we would only get sick on occasion; and that RARELY happened. I stumbled upon this article today and I found out that my being messy contributed to my good health. I thought it was pretty interesting, and I've always believed a few germs are good for you.

Finals = No Good

2008-12-08T08:25:00.005-06:00

So, I love college but I hate finals. This semester I have 4 finals, 2 today in about an hour and a half and two on Wednesday. I can't wait till they are over and I can do arts and crafts all day!

The Day After Turkey Day

2008-11-28T22:09:00.004-06:00

So today, I braved the crowds and went sopping, and surprisingly there weren't that many people out and about. Of course I wasn't going sopping for anything major like a TV or a Wii, I just wanted to use my 25% off your entire purchase at Michael's coupon. I ended up getting my 3 roommates Christmas presents, and the supplies I needed to finish my parents gifts.