Random Resolutions for a New Year

At this point in the year, everyone makes resolutions.  I have a few of my own made, although they were made before the new year...I hope they still count...yeah, they'll count if I say they do!  There are a few, I must admit, but very attainable and reasonable goals.

Resolution #1:
Grow my faith.  I want to continue this path I've discovered with God's word.  I have great support from friends and family so I know I can be successful.  This resolution is a little easier than most because once I get started reading scripture, it's hard to put it down.  Not only is it the word of God, but it's also a history lesson, and I love history.  I'm using a study Bible to really understand what it is I'm reading.  Within this version of the Bible are historical descriptions that give context to the time and place where the different books of the Bible were written.   This makes it easier to understand what was being said and what messages were being passed on.  I know this resolution will be a lifelong resolution...and I'm ready for that challenge.

Resolution #2:
Exercise more.  Yes, that's right....exercise more.  I want to run some races this year.  Some co-workers have already signed up for a Warrior Dash and are encouraging me to do the same.  It sounds FANTASTIC!  But I need to build stamina and durability before I can even begin to think I can run a race.  There are little motivations along the way....certain websites have contests that award prizes for working out...I might try a few of these for inspiration.  Other motivations include feeling better, sleeping better, and having more energy.  Those in themselves are good enough motivation.

Resolution #3:
Eat better.  This goes along with exercise but in itself is a separate resolution.  To perform better, or exercise more, I need to start fueling my body better.  But it is also important for other health issues to begin a healthier diet now.  Better to do it now with only 26 years to reverse, rather than later down the road with 50 years of habits to reverse.

Resolution #4:
Become fiscally smarter.  When I bought a house I realized that I was not as fiscally smart as I could be.  I discovered I need to be more diligent about saving and the way I spend my money.  My house is much closer to work now, so I can go home for lunch.  I need to take more advantage of that convenience.  So in the new year, I look forwards to becoming more disciplined with money matters.

So four resolutions later, we're finished.  Phew...my new year is going to be busy.  I want to be successful at each and every resolution.  If I can take just one step forward in every area, become a little better in each area, I'll be happy this year.  It will be something I can build on for years to come.  So wish me luck...Happy New Year, welcome to 2013!

Valiant Try...On to 2013

When I looked at my previous posts, the blog profile informed me that I hadn't posted since the beginning of August.  I'm gonna go ahead and blame that on several factors.

Factor #1:
I bought a house.  Yes, I am a proud homeowner now!  It's challenging, frustrating, wonderful, and I love having ownership of something.  Yes I own my car, but somehow a house feels more mine.  Don't ask why...chalk it up to a random person's thoughts.

Factor #2:
School.  This last semester has been the most grueling since I started my masters at OSU.  When everything was said and done, I believe I wrote four papers, two paragraph essay questions every week of the semester minus two weeks for exams, and compiled a powerpoint presentation in which I had to narrate it and send it in for credit.  Yay me right?  Well, the semester ended successfully (straight A's, thank you very much), and I'm still trucking along.

Factor #3:
Work.  My best friend went to Durant where her husband started his career and two other colleagues found better opportunities for themselves.  Needless to say, at one point or another in the last 6 months or so, we were short staffed.  While the bright side of that was major overtime, the downside was less personal time.  And what time I did have was devoted to house, school, and of course Duke!

Factor #4:
Duke.  This should really be factor number 1.  He's almost like a child, although I can leave by himself for a couple of hours while I'm at work.  But he still runs the household so...factor number 4.

As I look back over 2012, I also found that I did some growing.  Most of the growing happened religiously.  The aforementioned best friend, as well as two other friends and co-workers, helped me find my faith again.  I don't know if I've ever been that religious, or had much faith to lose, but I always believed there was a God.  I just believed less structurally.  Now, with their help, I'm reading His words  and studying them.  I'm building a foundation that will make my beliefs stronger, and probably more coherent.

2012 was quite a year.  I'm looking forward to 2013 with enthusiasm and excitement.  I plan to grow as a person and better myself.  I also plan on being a better friend and family member...and thank God for all the blessings I have on this earth.  Here's to 2013!

I Want to Write a Book

Hello world.  I've been reading a lot lately since I'm in between semesters at school and its a great release for me.  But then I got to thinking...could I write a masterpiece?

Yes I can, if I had an idea.  It's not the easiest thing in the world.  I really want to write something, but what?

I thought about a children's blood bank book...which the different blood cells being cute little cartoon characters.  Creative right?  Yeah...I'm not sure what kind of adventures the blood cells should go on, and what kind of adventures wouldn't scare kids.

I also thought about a mystery set off the coast of Louisiana on a uncharted, mysterious voodoo island.  But that's where I get stuck.  What happens there?  Who goes there?  How can it still be uncharted?  I think I'm too into logistics to figure this out.

Finally, I thought about a romcom type of book with a romance between a beautiful blood banker and a dashing doctor.  Fleeting hope right?  Yeah...I get too technical when trying to write this and use terms only a lab person would know.  So...not quite there.

So...I get stuck.  I want to write a book, but about what?  Maybe you all who read the blog have some ideas??  Could you give me an idea for my next great masterpiece?!!!

Addictions of a Random Person

Today I bought a bag of cookies.  Not usually a big deal, but these cookies were unusually good.  So good, I hate half the bag in one day.  Not really conducive to weight loss goals, but I sure got a sugar high.  I began thinking, I may be addicted to cookies.  And that naturally progressed to what else could I be addicted to?  This is what I came up with...

Cookies
Of course I've already mentioned cookies, but I figured I'd make my point one more time.  I love COOKIES! ;They come in chocolate, peanut butter, sugar...pretty much anything under the sun can be in a cookie.  And I'm addicted.

HGTV Design Star
My thought this summer was that I needed a TV show to watch while all my others were on hiatus. And voila, HGTV Design Star. I'm very involved with these people now. There was even an episode when I cheered when one contestant was thrown off, and Duke started barking...I guess I got a little carried away... I also find myself looking around the house seeing what it is I can design star in my house. This may be a dangerous addiction...

Petsmart
Duke doesn't find this so troubling...but when he gets a job to help in the buying, well downgrade from addiction to past time! I'll go in for one item and I come out with three toys, treats, and the other thing I went in for. But there are SO MANY TOYS! I may be more excited by this than Duke. Each new style of toy is a new play opportunity for us both! Okay...so buying stuff for Duke has become an addiction...there could be worse ones! (see cookies above!)

Pinterest
I would love to meet the person this doesn't apply to. Okay...there are still some people who haven't been sucked into this vortex of crafts, home design, and random funniness...and I would love their willpower! But it's not all bad. You get to share ideas, find things you would never see otherwise...it's a whole new way to completely DIY your life. So, this may be a harmless addiction...if there is such a thing...


The Phrase "Sexy and I Know It"
This phrase was made famous by LMFAO...and I can't stop saying it. I don't know why...maybe it's line with "I'm bringing sexy back...". Well, now that I've brought it back, I'm sexy and I know it!! It's just catchy...especially when you start in to "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah...". That part is fun...I made a baby laugh doing that!! But I don't think I go a day without saying it or thinking it...I've got the sexy fever!!

The Word "Huh"
I think my hearing is shot. I find myself using this word as much as "the" in everyday conversation. I think...(deep breath)...dad might have been right...SHOCKER! Playing music that loud might actually cause hearing loss. I'm no quite ready to admit I have a problem...but "huh" is my new favorite word. I know it's not proper manners, but its so easy to say it. But, on the bright side, it could be my short attention span...I could just be zoned out! I'm sorry...I'm just not listening to to you!

The Vampire Diaries
My name is Stacey...and I'm addicted to VD (Vampire Diaries). The first step is to admit the addiction...but I swear it's not a problem....AWESOME.TV.SHOW!

Well those are my addictions.  Some are harmless, some are just downright weird!  (Okay...maybe not weird...just out of the normal!)  I think this is the part where I would say I would work on them...but we all know I'm not.  And in truth...I'll probably be adding to this list!

A Father's Day Masterpiece

It may be a little late for such a post, since father's day was Sunday. But it was a spectacular day for cake making!

My father is a fan of golf. He plays it and sometimes I catch him watching it! So naturally, on the day honoring him, I paid tribute to his sport. I made a golf course cake complete with cake balls that were suppose to be golf balls.

**Disclaimer - the cake balls don't actually look like golf balls because the candy coating dried quicker than I thought it would. So it kind of looks like a golf green with ping pong balls. Hey there's an idea for another cake...beer pong!!**

It was super easy to make. I mixed a cake mix from Betty Crocker...super moist...then baked it in 2 9" pans, like I would for a layer cake.

I then crumbled one of the cakes up and added vanilla frosting. I mixed that and made cake balls from one of the round pans. I put the balls in the fridge for about 30 to 40 minutes to harden.

While that was hardening, I pulled the other cake out of its pan and put it on a large serving tray (you can use whatever you want, I used this to "set
the scene"). I mixed green food gel with vanilla frosting for the grass and frosted the cake. I then used cupcake frosting (same thing as regular frosting, only its in a can and mine came with tips to change the frosting design). I chose the one that made leaves and I frosted around the edge of the cake.

Next I cut a hole in one area of the cake using a round lid I found. I dug out some of the cake with a spoon and fork. (I didn't cut all the way to the bottom. I wanted it to look like a tee hole). You may have to fix some frosting.

After this, the cake balls were mostly hard. I melted the candy coating as directed by the package and dipped the cake balls in. As I've said before, I meant to make dimples in the balls to look like golf balls, but the candy dried quicker than I thought it would. At this point I would have put the cake balls in the fridge to harden, but since they were hard before I finished dipping, I added them to the cake display.

I also made a flag out of wood skewers and paper taped around the top...shhhh, that's super secret!!

The end product was a hit and delicious! A semi-successful baking endeavor!

The Love of My Life

I think the inaugural post on my new blog will be about Duke...the love of my life!

I adopted him in mid-January when he was a mere two months old. Little did I know what I was getting myself into!

That first picture is my sweet baby the first day he came home. We didn't do a lot that day, he was shy and not quite use to me, or I him.

But that quickly passed. We began to get to know one another and love each other. For the past five months it's been joy and headaches, love and frustration. And I would not do any of it over again!

I have never known such worry or such carrying. I think he's sick at every unusual behavior...and I'll admit, I did take him to the vet because his nose was dry. I thought it meant he had a fever...he didn't. Just silly new mom worries! And I make sure he looks tough in front of other dogs. He sees one he doesn't like, he gets to bark without reprimand...at least for a little while. He wants a belly run, it's his! That little guy is so cute when he needs his belly rubbed!

The other picture is a current picture of Duke. He got a new toy today from Grandma and Grandpa. He's doing his best to annihilate it at the moment, and succeeding! He is a sweet dog, unless your stuffed or contain squeaker...then your in trouble!

What I've learned over these last few months is that we have to vacuum and bathe during the day, otherwise we're going to wake the neighbors. He doesn't like the sound of a vacuum, and not just mine, any vacuum. My mom vacuumed this morning and Duke was not having it. And a bath may be the meanest thing I do to him. He runs around the house for a good 15 minutes barking at me and trying to dry himself by dragging his head
across the carpet. Whatever helps!

Whatever he does, good or bad, I still love that little guy. He is apart of me now. I knew my life was going to change when I adopted him, but I had no idea it would be this good!

Yes ol' Duke is the love of my life.

The Creation of New

Hello world.  I have created a new blog that I hope I can keep up with.  I have titled it "A Little Bit of Random" because anyone who knows me, knows that I am a completely random person.

The content of this blog will include everything from crafting and cooking to fitness and shopping.  I also have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, so there may be a few random postings about science and history, or anything I deem interesting.

I should apologize ahead of time for the randomocity that will spew from my brain.  You are truly a sport for continuing to read and support my blog!  Thanks!