30 Days: Day Ten.

DAY TEN: BULLET POINT YOUR DAY OR WEEK.

Today looks something like this:

(1.) Clean up apartment for viewing. Check!

(2.) Run to the store to get more hair bands. Check!

(I want to make some t-shirt head bands :) Tutorial to come once I have a few made!)

(3.) Laundry. It's only half done :)

(4.) Catch up with 181 blogs. Check!

(5.) Find a recipe for dinner.

(6.) Post blog for today. Almost done!

(7.) Reorganize blog binder.

(8.) Work on t-shirt head bands.

(9.) Start making more paper roses.

(10.) Make popsicles. 

(I bought a mold and I'm excited!

(11.) Shower.

(12.) Go through magazine rack and cut out pictures 

I keep meaning to cut out.

That's all I can think up right now...

Trying not to overload my day and all :)

Can't wait to finish that DIY!

These headbands are great!

30 Days: Day Nine

I know I said I needed a dat to catch up...

but here's nine of thirty!

DAY NINE: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE PROUD OF?

Me and Jacob were talking about this all weekend.

Well, in a round about way.

As you can tell from my previous posts about self confidence etc I have a hard time being all supportive and proud of myself.

I recognize that I've done something good, but I have a hard time being like

"You know, I'm damn good at what I do..." And etc.

But weirdly, when I read this question, I knew exactly what I was proud of.

I have taken a huge step in my life and I've taken it away from anything familiar, anything comfortable.

When I got on the plane in Portland, Oregon with my one way ticket to New Haven, Connecticut I knew there was no going back.

I always wanted to travel, to move away from home, to be able to say,

"I tried that," "I lived there," "I've seen that!"

Yes, it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done.

But I am proud of the fact that I am working through the hard parts, pushing to make every day better, to make a connection and experience new things, to be uncomfortable and learn from it, to see everything I want to see, to visit the places I've only dreamed of.

I did it, you guys.

I'm making this life what I want it to be.

For that, I am proud.

One Downfall of A Weekend Off....

So I've been away...

Jacob and I needed a nice weekend away so we planned this whole thing in New York over the weekend.

It was such a great weekend too.

Here's an image to sum it all up for you:

I have to work today but tomorrow I'll be catching up on my weekend, my belated hair tutorial and some more of the 30 Day Challenge!!

Until then, I'm curling back up with the iPad in bed to wait out this thunder storm and do some reading before work.

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?!

30 Days: Day Eight

DAY EIGHT: MY GOALS FOR THE MONTH.

Source.

As you may know by now, I'm moving to Toronto with Jacob next month.
The exact date is still...up in the air...
We're basically waiting for his Visa to go through, etc.
We know for sure it's not the 1st of the month,
so we're hoping at least by the 15th.
But who knows.

Anyway, I have a few goals for myself the first month up there!!

1. Make two friends: I want to make a friend base up there this time. Yes, I know people down here in New Haven but I never got close to anyone.
And I regret that.

2. Take a cooking class: These are expensive, however, and since I may not be able to work up there right away, I'll need to savor my money. But we'll see :)

3. Seriously start to build my writing portfolio: This means volunteer writing and making many inquiries about writing positions. I need to start pushing for this.

4. Forget my social fears: Since making friends is hard for me, I really want to just let it all go and be myself, and see who that attracts. Making friends is almost harding then meeting guys haha

5. Be positive: I know the next month or two will be difficult for me, being in a city where I know nobody again, potentially being unemployed and alone (Jake may be getting the night shift...boo..) so I need to remember to stay positive or it'll be hell.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can work on these goals??
What's your favorite way to meet new people?
How do you stay positive?

7 Questions: #8

Wow, it's been a grip of time since I've done this!

Lets get it started!

Ladies, who feels me??

1. What do you do when you're sick? (Do you act like a baby? Tough it out? Have any weird cravings? Cry?)

I'm probably the biggest baby there it. No joke. Then I get mean, because I don't feel well and it must be everyone else's fault, no?

2. What do you do to find motivation when you feel you've lost it?

Honestly? Music, movies or blogs. When I'm feeling low, I usually just want to lay in bed and do nothing. Subsequently, I end up watching TV or movies and most of the time I watch something that subconsciously motivates me!

3. Do you wish time away or do you savor every moment?

I do both. I have lazy days and I have days where I savor everything but I think it's ok to do both :)

4. If you could be any mythological creature, what would you be, and why?

At first, I would say mermaid like Gentri, but I feel like there has got to be something out there that was totally bad ass...

5. What is your current biggest weakness and are you working on fixing it?

I think one of my biggest weaknesses would be my lack of self confidence. I think if I had just a little more of it then a lot of things would be different. I don't really know how to work on it. I try and stay positive and happy thinking that'll bring more of it...any suggestions??

6. How do you greet someone when meeting them for the first time?

Usually: Hey, I'm Freya, it's nice to meet you! Then I find something on their immediate person and ask a question about it, like their hair or if they're wearing a piece of jewelry or something. It breaks the ice :)

7. How do you grocery shop? (Do you write up a list? Go in with no idea what you're looking for? Have meal plans? Bring your own shopping bags?)

I usually make a list but then forget it. I take my bags when I remember to, which is actually pretty often and most of the time I have a meal in mind...lets face it, I love cooking so going shopping is a lot of fun to me :)

30 Days: Day 7

DAY SEVEN: WHAT IS SOMETHING (OR SOMEONE) WHO HAS IMPACTED YOU?

I spent a few minutes reflecting on this question.

When normally asked this question, 

I would reply my family.

My parents, who've worked hard 

their whole lives to be the best and to provide 

for my sister and I.

My grandmother, who has been there since

I literally can remember.

I couldn't imagine a better influence on my life.

My sister, who is so strong and I look up to

in everything.

But I wanted to give deeper then that,

to think of something who I may not have known for

very long but who impacted me greatly.

And I think I have the answer!

This is me on my college graduation.

I am currently hugging my Advisor,

D.L. Richardson.

I took one of his Communication courses as a general education 

requirement when I was a theater major.

It was after that class that I decided I wanted to write again.

For the next 2 and a half years, he was supportive,

he told me not to try but to do.

He took special time to work with me,

he was so great when I had no idea what I was doing.

I wish I had stayed in better contact,

but maybe one day, I'll contact him again and show him

what I've made of myself.

And thank him.

Recipe: Spicy Chicken Sandwiches

So on Sunday, Jacob and I decided to have black bean

burgers for dinner, since I made these for dessert:

Except I used half as many strawberries and added blueberries and raspberries!

We don't eat a lot of carbs, let alone sandwiches.
So we decided to see how many different sandwiches and burgers we could make to use up all the buns!
Sunday = Black Bean Burgers
Monday = Salmon burgers (Jacob made and they were delicious!)

Tonight??
Spicy chicken sandwiches!!

I used this marinade but made my own Cajun seasoning.
And since I didn't have lemon pepper, I just added the juice
of one lemon. Then I mushed it all up,
added the chicken breasts and they sat in the fridge for about
4 whole hours!

Note: I didn't add oil to the pan because there's oil in the marinade.

To go with the sandwiches, I looked for inspiration on Pinterest
and decided in the end to make my version of a Southwestern Salad.

For my salad, I used Romaine lettuce, 2 avocados, 1/2 of a yellow and orange pepper (I really like my food to be colorful!), half a can of black beans (rinsed) and 2 tomatoes. 

Then I grated just a little bit of cheddar cheese to top it off.

For the dressing, I used the juice from one lime, 1/2 cup olive oil, one bunch of cilantro chopped and 3 tablespoons of sour cream, with salt and pepper to taste. I put all of it in the food processor.

It was delicious! A nice mix up from the normal salad, ya know?

As I normally do, I went all out and was making cocktails too!

On Sunday, I made Sangria, or at least my version.

In a big a bowl I put 1 container of blueberries,

1 container of raspberries,

1/2 a container of strawberries, cut up,

and 1/4 a watermelon, cut up.

On top of that, a poured

1 liter bottle of white wine,

1 bottle of Framboise,

2 shots of Citron vodka,

3 shots of Ruby Red vodka 

and just a splash of cranberry/raspberry juice.

After a day in the fridge, man that stuff is delicious!

For Jacob, I made him a grapefruit and lime French gimlet.

It's basically 2 shots of gin on top of three big ice cubes, 

fill the glass 3/4 the way with club soda.

On top, splash a good drop of lime juice and grapefruit juice,

and a splash of St Germain.

I shook once in a shaker and added the peel from the grapefruit. 

It was delicious and I don't even like gin!

Overall, it was a successful dinner!

Do you have a favorite way to make chicken sandwiches?

Or how about Sangria??