Call me the Crockpot Queen!!

My Crock Pot Creation! (it goes really great as a chili/soup, as well as its a really great chip dip or inside a taco)

…Okay, okay, so maybe I’m just the princess. But have you ever used a Crockpot? Its seriously one of the best inventions since the fork!! I love mine, and well, this week, my roommates. I was feeling a bit inspired (thanks to my handy dandy Pinterest) and decided to actually make one of the hundreds of recipes on my profile! And lucky for me, it was actually super easy and I had all the ingredients in my fridge.  (Except for the black beans, but I just bought those a the little grocery right outside my apartment.)

So anyway, back to my Crockpot! All I did was throw in some frozen chicken (still frozen!), salsa, black beans, a can of corn, and an entire container of cream cheese. To make it a little more “Colleen-esque” I added some leftover mushrooms and some diced tomato. (PS. I love mushrooms and add them to most things…) But that was it. I just let it sit for six and a half hours and it was ready for eating! And eat it did I!! It was delicious!

I could take some of the credit, but for real, it was the Crockpot! It did all the work, and I would suggest any college student to get one! It’s an addition for any college kitchen! Just throw in what your cooking, go to class, when you get back its ready for eating… it’s the magic food machine!

**Please note:  The Crockpot is not allowed in dorm rooms without kitchens, and it is highly recommended not to leave the Crockpot ON unattended for extended periods of time.

I’m in Tallahassee

One of the wonderful things about taking a summer break (and having a totally supportive backbone of friends and family) is the adventures you get to have! This week, I’m visiting the Florida Capital as well as Florida State University as I “move in” with my long term boyfriend, Michael. So far, I’m learning what its like to live with roommates, what its like on a campus much bigger than my own, and remember what its like to go bowling with shoes that are too big!

Most out-of-staters know what it is like to experience a new apartment with new roommates… Well, not me. Since I have Gracie (my four legged companion), getting a roommate always seemed to make my move even that much more complicated. (And when I was given an opportunity to live where I do now, looking for a roommate really didn’t seem necessary.) So, here I am, not only living with my boyfriend (which can be a challenge in itself, I guess only time will tell…); I’m also living with two other girls, Gracie, and Mike’s friends down the hall. Things could get complicated. So far however, I’m absolutely loving it! Its only day two, but we’re already seeming to have a blast, which leads to the next part of this blog…

BOWLING!! (I had a few other adventures today, including rearranging my new apartment, adjusting to sharing Gracie, and eating some really great chinese food; but those ones I’ll save for later…)

Today I went bowling! I realized that no matter where or what college you choose, we all have the same issues and most of us enjoy the same things… Having fun with each other! College rivalries, bad publicity, good publicity, and every little thing in between really don’t seem to matter over a slightly completive game of bowling…. (Did I mention the Penn Stater won?!) Hahah. Just kidding. But I was humbled to know that when the group was talking about life and getting comfortable with one another, we all have the same worries and problems, and its our friends that really get us through it. I think its important not to forget that…

One of the games I won!

Summer! Summer! Summer!

Gracie on the beach, watching the waves.

Gourmet Cupcakes from LuLi’s Cupcakes in Historic St. Augustine! (Can you say YUUMMMM!!?)

My boyfriend, Michael and I hanging out on the beach with Gracie

Sigh. What an insane two weeks it has been!! I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m sure feeling the “THANK GOODNESS for SUMMER!!” vibe today! After a long stressful Finals week, seeing some of my great friends graduate (and celebrate with them), then packing up, flying on an airplane with Gracie, layovers and security lines, starting my summer class (only 48 more days until PANAMA!), and going to the eye doctor, it surely has been one busy, stressful, and well worth it two week build up to FINALLY FINALLY being home!

Today, for the first time in about two years, I went to the beach! It was awesome! Having a hometown in Florida most definitely has its perks, especially when they include a relaxing drive through St. Augustine to a beach on a warm, cloud free, cool breezy summer Thursday. (Did I mention no one else is out of school yet, so I had the whole beach to myself?) It was awesome!! I worked on my tan, played fetch with my little four-legged friend, and then enjoyed gourmet cupcakes and vanilla ice cream in the old historic district. It was great!

Next week I’ll be picking up and traveling to Tallahassee to live with my boyfriend of 4 years, exploring Florida State University, and learning how to live with a roommate who doesn’t have four legs and a tail. I’ll keep you posted!

Gracie and I enjoying some sand, sun, and summer breeze!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

 

Opening night is always rough for a show. After doing stage managing for four years I have a little experience with this. There is the pre-show jitters, the last minute fixes and of course there is always that one prop no one can seem to find but somehow ended up in the same dimension as Dracula and Big Foot. There is a stillness that occurs just before I give the curtain speech. I take a moment to allow myself to take it all in. We are putting on a performance, we are trying to relay a message. This time we are trying to discuss the issue of racism through the play To Kill A Mockingbird, and while this is an old play unfortunately these themes still exist. Through this medium of performance, we are able to give our protest to injustices that go on in the world there are many people involved that can give their help to further the cause. Opening night was a success thanks to all those involved, we shall see how the rest of the shows go!

I Will Miss You

Once again Penn State is where one meets great people from different backgrounds. If you feel different then you will find someone who is more different and unique. What matters is we all blend our uniqueness and provide a diversified environment for our university where our academic and social aspirations flourish.

Emine you are one of the nicest I have met here in Abington and you have brought so much joy and happiness to my life within a very short period of time. You are smart, friendly, helpful and most of all unselfish. Academically, you have offered me and others help and socially even better. Your smart managerial skills and endowment was timely and very effective in my campaign for running for SGA vice president. I am glad to have had someone like you on my campaign team. Together we planned, organized, coordinated, controlled, monitored and displayed to Abington a splendid campaign which yielded an ultimate victory. I am glad you would be investing some of these qualities in the SGA next semester. It would be needed and appreciated.

As you get ready to go back to your home country the Netherlands, I wish you the best and I believe you have been missed there as we here in Abington will miss you too. Take things easy and I wish you good luck on something I believe only me and maybe few others know. You surely know what I am talking about. Keep in touch and hope next semester will be much better than this exciting one.