Currents (copied from Alex... she's so inspiring!)

Thoughts: I should be reading for my Microbial Pathogenesis class tomorrow instead of reading/writing blogs. 

I love tanning (I went this afternoon... glorious). 

Blessings: My husband. He keeps me motivated when I don't want to do what I should. Except right now because he doesn't know that I'm not working on homework...

Hank. I seriously love my dog. He has been really sick the past couple of days and all I want to do is cuddle up with him and love on him. 

Although I take it for granted sometimes, being in the DO/PhD program. Having my education funded. Being able to really make a difference someday (when I eventually get done with school)

Our lifegroup. We were so blessed to already have a home church and to meet 20-something year olds to share our lives with. No one in the group is the same and everyone brings something else to the table. All of them are wonderful people.

Our bridge card. I am so thankful that we have this aid this year. I was able to buy so much food to cook and freeze for the month and I know that not everyone can do that. Thank you tax payers.

Struggles: This new budget. I hate having an allowance. 

Committing to working out 6 times (with stretching and walking counting for 2 of those days) in preparation for my half marathon in May. But dang will I look good.

Loving myself so I can love my husband better.

Classes. Oh are they going to be tough this semester. So. Much. Reading.

Projects: Similar to Alex... I have a lot. Most of them have to do with crocheting. I too, am working on an etsy page. Though, realistically I won't have things up and going until summer time and by then who wants to buy hats and scarfs??

Here's some of the things I am working on though: Snowflake doily suncatchers, cross stitch "Welcome" sign, doily angels, shawl, fat bottomed purses, and some odds and ends jewelry making.

Favorites: As I said earlier, tanning.

Running (I did 4 miles earlier today)

Crocheting.

Reading my nerdy books (If you like the Lord of the Rings you would like this series: The Wheel of Time)

The piano music Sterling has on. Every song puts me in a place. The current one sounds like a lullaby... I feel like I should be going to bed. Soon.

My clean house and freezer stocked full of food. I took advantage of this three day weekend by buying an enormous amount of food and cooking a TON of stuff. I made lasagna, goulash, veggie bean chili, eggplant parmesan, taco meat, hamburgers, chicken breasts, meatloaf, butternut squash soup, tomato-avocado salad, salsa, and lots of sandwiches. Oh and for fun I also made (from scratch) chocolate cupcakes with frosting. My freezer is stocked for the month. This is such a relief. Also, the laundry is done, the floors are vacuumed, the bathrooms are wiped down... all that needs to be done is the kitchen. And I am not looking forward to that.

Desires: To be on a beach.

To not worry about student loans.

To know where I am going to live next year.

To be closer to my family.

To go to bed. I'm tizired already. Oh but wait... I have reading. Sick.

To see all my friends from MP.

And with that, I leave you to do that reading I've been complaining about. Ughhhhhhh. At least I have diet coke and chocolate cupcakes!

Yarn=Love

Sorry long time no post. I'd like to tell you I'll get better, but chances are, I wont.

I have come here today to admit something about myself to you all. I have a sick obsession with yarn and the ability to use a hook to create things. Crocheting. I'm addicted. Is there a Crocheter's Anonymous out there? Because I need to join. 

There is some good news that comes with this sick obsession. People will buy the crap I make. No joke. I went to Lansing's Old Town to several little shops (which I lovingly call "Crap Shops" but I still love them) and found, to my surprise, several crocheted items. I'd like to add that I can totally make said items (and in some cases, in way better quality...). 

Light bulb, on.

I can make money crocheting? Sick. They are fueling my addiction! 

But I love it. 

I'm even considering opening up an etsy page to share some of my creations. First I'd like to get your opinions on some of the crap I make :) So I'll post some pictures, and you can honestly tell me if you could see yourself  (or anyone for that matter) interested in purchasing anything. Or tell me what you would change about something to make it better :) I make a lot of my own patterns up so I totally have the power to do so.

For any of you who share my love of yarn, Joann's is having an online yarn clearance sale. FYI.

Now pictures!

Hi! It's me and I'm modeling a head band. I like head bands because I don't like my hair to get all yucky. This could also be a hat. I have to figure out if I want it to tie in the back, or fasten by some other means. Next time, I could also make it one piece. I like the flower, but it's not a deal breaker.

Here it is again... not on.

Hahahaha... coasters!

This is a "doily" snowflake. I need to put some "stiffy" (yes it's really called that) on it to stiffen it up. I have this idea in my head to use fishing line and have three or four of these together with a suncatcher crystal to weigh it down that you can suction cup to the window. I don't know if that makes sense to you, but I'll post pictures when I am done!

Okay, so this is my unfinished Angel. Her body didn't get hard enough so she needs to be "stiffied" again. She also will get hair and some decorations in her dress. Again, pictures will be coming of the finished project!

Another snowflake :)

I made several of these scarves for Alicia's wedding. I love the pattern and they are really cute!

It's actually a lot cuter in person. Just a little wristlet wallet. I like the button :)

This is my pride and joy. I made the pattern myself and it took some brainstorming, let me tell you what. I still need to line the inside with fabric (because yarn stretches and has holes...) but I LOVE this bag. When I get better at it, I plan on using some cable stitches and maybe doing different colors/sizes.

In addition to all of these things, I made some (really cute!) scarves for Christmas presents. I loved them because they were extra long and I put pockets in the end to stick your hands in. I plan on making one of those for myself in the near future.

I may or may not have made lingerie for my friend Alicia's wedding, but that's a little inappropriate for the blog ;)

I'll update with some finished pictures later on :) 

Two posts in a row? Who is this girl??

Day #9: A photo of yourself when you were a baby

A ton of hair from day one... and the chubbiest baby born in 86.


Day #10: A photo you like for any reason

I love these beautiful ladies :) And I think we ALL look great in this picture haha!


Day #11: A photo of a night you loved

Headbanging at my 21st birthday bash! Awesome night!

Day #12: A photo of when you were happy

The night Sterling proposed! Look at those smiley faces :)

Sorry it took so long... Day #2!

Yeah, exams, weddings, and Christmas are coming up so I apologize for leaving you all hanging on the photo project ;)

Day #5: A photo that makes you laugh.

Hahahahaha... his face!

Day #6: A photo of someone you love.

My husband of course :)

Day #7: A photo of something you stand for.

Science education... we need more scientists!

Day #8: A photo of something you enjoy doing.

Crocheting... duh.

Stealing :)

After seeing Whitney, Liz, and Alex do the 30 day picture project (sometimes in a week... sometimes in a month) I decided I need to do this, just because it looks fun :)

Before that though, some stories.

This morning Sterling and I got up to go and work out. I was already kind of sweaty, but I blamed it on our new fleece sheets (that we saved $70 on black Friday and are like heaven!). We went to the gym and it was pretty warm in there. I ran a mile and was so sweaty that I needed water really badly. I went to the water fountain and on the way back I got really light headed. I made the right move and headed towards a bench. Now for the scary part. I sat down on the bench, and basically blacked out. My eyes were open and it was pitch black. I was still coherent though. My airways were starting to get constricted and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. The worse part was that Sterling was just across the room running on a treadmill and he had no idea what was going on. I couldn't move, all the energy had left me. Normally in these kinds of situations I panic and make things worse. I just sat back closed my eyes and focused on breathing and staying calm. Finally Sterling realized what was going on and when I opened my eyes I still couldn't see anything. It was the scariest thing. When I was finally able to see, I was so dizzy and lifeless I wasn't sure if I was even going to make it to the car. Sterling told me that I must have been sitting there for about 20 minutes. I got a glimpse of myself and I had no color in my face at all, my lips were whitish blue. I am better now. I hadn't drank much water the past couple days and Sterling and I think I had a case of heat exhaustion and dehydration.

When I was walking away from the bench (which was right next to the free weights, mats, and exercise balls) I saw two people working out within ten feet of me. You read my description of myself... how could anyone see someone like that and not say something? I sat there scared to pieces because I couldn't see and could barely breathe for twenty minutes and not a single person asked if I was okay. I think that is the worse part of this story.

Story #2. Sterling and I are condo/house searching :) We had plans to wait until he had served for 6 months so we can use the VA home loan, but if we save up a down payment by May, we may just buy then. The sooner we get out of renting the better. This is so exciting! We aren't planning on staying in Michigan, but we are currently paying $830 a month in rent. That is more than a mortgage payment. Since I am going to be here for (at least) the next 7 years, it seems silly to rent for that long. And to have a back yard? Oh... that would be amazing. It would be great if we could lease to own starting in May, but we'll see what happens. Keep us in your prayers that we can make good decisions.

Onto the picture project.

Day #1: A favorite photo of just yourself.

This is me. I love sweatpants. I like to dye my hair a lot. Doritos are my downfall in life (I will eat the whole bag if left to it) and I enjoy drinking cheap beer :)


Day #2: A photo of yourself from at least one year ago.

New Years Eve two years ago. I love my hair in this picture. I also love how "special" we look :)


Day #3: A photo that makes you happy (I know exactly what picture to use!)

This picture never fails to make me smile. Honestly though... didn't it just put a smile on your face?


Day #4: A photo of a place you'd like to visit.

Based on my love of the language, I need to go to Paris, France someday. Someday...


Stay tuned...

I feel like this semester is flying by. No, wait, this YEAR is flying by! I mean, I feel like we just got married and here we are coming up on 4 months! Holy moly! It's almost December! Ahhhh!

I am so excited for Christmas break though. The amount of crafting I am going to do is ridiculous. I can't do any other craft though, until I finish making scarfs for Alicia's wedding. I'm done with three, I have five more to go. I can finish about one a day if I spend a couple hours working on it, however, seldom do I have a couple of free hours to spend crocheting. If only...

When I was little my mom used to make these GORGEOUS "doily" angels for tree toppers and other decorations. She found the pattern book for me (which is now considered vintage haha) and I can't wait to start making them. Seriously, they are so pretty (pictures to come!)

This is a random post if you haven't figured that out yet.

Food :)

I love food so much that sometimes I am surprised I don't weight 300lbs. I think there is nothing more satisfying then trying out a new recipe and it ending up freaking fantabulous (yeah, I know that isn't a word). Take my butternut squash soup for example. I've never made anything using a squash, but I know that they are healthy and can be really tasty. So I bought a squash and found a recipe for butternut squash soup. I got my onion chopped, my spices out and prepared my blender. Then I wondered... how the heck do you peel a squash? Then I proceeded to hack away at the peel until it was gone. Probably not the most efficient way... but the peel was off and we were in business. I was skeptical at first... 

BUT OH MY GOODNESS!

After my first bite all I could think of was how I had been missing out on this wonderful food my whole life! I called my friends, I called my mom, I texted my husband... The world HAD to know! And this was just after the first bite! I ate the left overs all week and then the next week I made another batch. 

Don't worry, I'll share this wonderful recipe with you. And if you don't like it, I don't know if we can be friends anymore.

I wish I could be ambitious enough to try more new recipes. However, I simply do not have the time. I should be studying right now (like always) but I wanted to share my wonderful experience with squash. Sometimes I think I could be a vegetarian. Don't get me wrong, I love meat, but I haven't met a vegetable that I don't love. And there are so many out there I haven't tried yet! I just think that I could fill my life trying all these new foods/recipes. 

Speaking about food... Sterling and I finally squeezed our date night in. However, I didn't get home until about 8pm which is way later than our normal meal time so we scarfed instead of talked, but it was still fabulous. We went to Sultans, a Mediterranean  restaurant which was so good. I love chicken shwarma. And the pita bread! Sterling ordered us arabic coffee for dessert. I only suggest this for the avid coffee drinker. It is literally made out of grinds. The bottom of the cup (which is a tiny tea cup... telling you how strong this stuff is!) is full of sludge from the grinds and who knows what else. It kicked my butt. 

I need to go and get ready for church. We are learning about Revelations right now. I don't know much about the end of the world, but it's scary to think about. I like the way Riverview is presenting it though. Instead of telling us how the world could end any time and how we need to repent all our sins (as I've heard before), they are explaining the message that Jesus gives to all the churches and how we can apply them to ourselves in these times. It's gooooood (and you can check it out by following the link!)

http://rivchurch.com/

And the recipe:

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/butternut-squash-soup/Detail.aspx

***** I used unsalted butter instead of margarine. Also... there is NO need for that much cream cheese! Seriously though! I used between 2 and 3oz. I also put red pepper flakes and cumin in instead of cayenne. I just used half of a white onion and one large squash. I didn't measure it out, but it worked out well :) Enjoy!