NRRP: Missouri is not Misery

UPDATE! (see bottom of post)
So as some of you may know, I quite recently road tripped down to Missouri, quite suddenly, on the weekend before finals.  And it was grand.

I feel some highlights of the trip are necessary.  And if you don't find them exciting....well sad day.

First highlight happened in West Union, Iowa.  Not an exciting town, and not a particularly exciting reason to stop, but it's what you make of it!  You see my father, which Van friend and I are both quite well acquainted with (shocker there), has been looking for a fork lift to add to his rental business so being the good person he is Van friend pulled over to take pictures an such to see if le father would be interested.  At this point, it may be beneficial to mention my parents had noooo idea I went on this trip, and this stop definitely drug out the process of informing them, solely for entertainment reasons. And how so? you may ask.  Well in one of these pictures, my face is quite perfectly photo-bombing the forklift.....and father, nor mother caught it so I am biding my time to reveal my whereabouts that weekend at the point that will maximize both shock and hilarity. Mwhahahahahah


Highlight two.  If you ever happen to be in Colombia, Missouri and have some time to kill, head downtown to India's house.  It's not a very big or fancy place but it's a delicious and fabulous, authentic Indian cuisine restaurant.  The owners are first genertation Indian and the food is just.....gahhhhh beyond words.  Seriously beyond amazing.  We dined on Chicken Masala and Chicken Korma with sides of naan, mint chutney and tamarind chutney.  NOM.  After indulging and enjoying pure culinary bliss, we headed back to the minivan.  On the way back however, the sidewalk is blocked off so Van Friend decides we should just follow the college kids walking on the road ahead of us.  "Follow the mob; you're less likely to get hit," is his logic.  Of course, no more than two seconds later there are headlights RIGHT BEHIND ME. Cue the running!! Six of us are booking it down the street, two of us very full with delicious Indian food.
"My mother doesn't even know I'm here!"  "Yeah, no big deal I got ran over in Missouri! I just hopped in a van with some dude!"  I may have been yelling these things as I sprinted ahead of the high-heeled college girls.


Earlier in the week, I learned how to make genuine Tiramisu from a lady who was visiting the US from Italy.  Let me tell you, it is delicious and fantastically simple.  The most difficult part is waaaaaaaiting.  So Saturday,  while staying at Van Friend's brother and sister-in-law's home, we were given the the task of preparing the deliciousness. Gahhh.  And they had an espresso machine meaning that not only was I extremely happy every morning, we could also make genuine tiramisu,  Needless to say, they were quite impressed by our culinary skills.  We enjoyed the fruits of our labor while watching Guardians of the Galaxy.  It was a beautiful moment.

One last thing I must mention:  The home where we stayed is built on the bluffs just outside of Jefferson City.  While some aspects of the house are a bit wonky, the reason behind it is that the architect designed it so the occupants would never be without a view, and he succeeded.  One of the walls in my room was simply a large window, which showed the white-light cityscape of Jefferson.  Definitely an amazing view to fall asleep to.

^^The view from my room of Jefferson City

<<Where's Waldo

Seriously this trip was all sorts of fabulous and the little bit of escape from reality I needed.  And then they invited me to join them in Florida...just met these amazing people by the way.  Curses.  Seriously I need to work and attend to my responsibilities!! So tempting tho....

UPDATE: Mother, and Father, are now aware of my travels.  I showed Mom the below picture after asking if she had seen the picture of the forklift Van Friend had taken for le padre.  I zoomed in on my face and waited....She saw me but it didn't sink in that I HAD BEEN IN MISSOURI until I stated, "Yeah, that's how I study for finals."  Her face....Priceless.

Go There
Wanderlust
Batman
Jim Carrey
PS. If ya'll would enjoy the recipe for tiramisu, let me know and I'll post it!

NRRP=Non roomie related post; How I prepare for finals....

As you may have guessed this is not related to the roomie, so for those of you who read solely for the torments given by roomie and his cat, I am sorry.  Truly.

For those of you not in college, or have never been, or are super smart, let me paint a picture of pre-finals week for you: Students mill the library, trying to find an open corner where they can plant their face into a computer or book for the next 8 hours and cry their tears of frustration  All final projects and papers are due on the same day so there is a pointless yet all-consuming effort to both prioritize and simultaneously work on said projects.  It is a seen of chaos and despair, one we all know will end in netflix binges as result of overload and loss of the ability to care.  Finals are this week, meaning this past weekend was the beginning of prep/go time....Me? I spent it on an impromptu road trip to Missouri....

I blame my wanderlust and friend who lives out of his van....yes that last statement is true, but more on him in a minute.  So last week, I'm surrounded by projects to finish and papers to proofread while trying to balance a socialish life...yeah they don't always play well together.  So I meet my Van Friend for coffee and eats and we get talking about his travels and where he's headed next-this is Wednesday by the way- when he mentions he's considering heading down to Missouri for the weekend to grab his tools and some more clothes to put into his current vehicle he's driving for the winter.  Coconversationontinues, wanders, and he all of a sudden decides to invite me along for an impromptu road trip.  Like I said my wanderlust has been growing and said friend is well aware so this is not helping me.  Like a good student with at least 5-7 projects to finish I decline with a, "Oh I wish!!"  But once the seed is planted...I ask when he's leaving, you know out of healthy curiousity. Apparently he plans on leaving around Friday morning...Friday, the day I don't have classes, Friday, the day I was going to blast through alllllllll pending projects...Hmmmmm
"Well keep me posted on your plans, I'll see what I can accomplish."

And you thought Red Bull gave you wings...Let me tell you, there is nothing more motivational than a impromptu, happy-go-lucky road trip to kick me in gear, as I discovered.

  Thursday alone I finished three projects.  Every waking moment was literally spent doing something homework or project related.  I had a five hour break that consisted of gym time, club Christmas party, cooking a freaking fabulous meal with a friend -that I met over free hot dogs at about 11:30 pm a few weeks back...I may have to post that story soon- and then back at it until 2 am.  Friday at 6:30, my alarm screams and I roll out of bed, shower, breakfast and crack open the laptop to start-and finish-another final project.  40 minutes of filming myself talk and untangle a ball of yarn- which represented conflict and peace (yeah I'll explain if you want me too but we'll leave it at that for now)- I peer review a paper, subit, and then start reviewing another one for a friend.  As I am doing so, I get a text, Van Friend is on his way.  I'm packed, ready to go, and at 11 a.m., the weekend before finals, with an exam at 10:30 on Monday. I REGRET NOTHING.

Seriously, I don't. Even with getting back at 2 am on the day of a final AND a presentation.  I made it through and I can guarantee the memories of that trip will last a lot longer than my memory of that exam. I met fabulous people, ate amazing things-haven't ate that muh ginger....ever. It was fabulous.  I also almost got hit  by a car, but we'll do those fun details next post...because seriously people don't you know it's finals week?!  I 'm busy!....

Photo credits

Willy Wonka

Tony Stark

Wise Guy

Friends have no regrets

Also, Shut Up and Dance With Me

Thanksgiving, Cookie Dough, &Emma Stone ( I wrote this on Thanksgiving, just a wee slow at posting....)

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving all you lovely people! I'm back home and I'm ecstatic to spend time with my family and to, of course, to eat the many delicious things that have been prepared.  I love cooking, baking and tasting what other people make so the fact that Thanksgiving lets me do that in the company of amazing people is beyond fabulous.


Tuesday I headed to a nearby city to a "weird and possibly offensive Thanksgiving"  I was invited about a month ago as the result of a chance meeting at a Barnes & Noble with a fabulous person from English Club (I am a word nerd, so sue me)  and their roommate.  As soon as she said weird and  possibly offensive, I was immediately excited and willing to whatever it took to make it.  That turned out to be making potatoes.  Psh. done.  And as  a bonus, we were encouraged to come costumed as Thanksgiving themed things.  Dressing up=YES.  Seriously.  Halloween is my favorite holiday, though veryveryvery closely followed by Thanksgiving.  So combining the dress-up portion of Halloweeen with the deliciousness and togetherness of Thanksgiving makes this girl extreeeeeeeeemely happy.  So upon arrival, I was greeted by, "Hi glad you made it! Do you want your face painted?!" These are my kind of people. I met many a fabulous people and it sounds like Christmas may be a repeat of the dressup-weird-and-offensive-theme.  Cannot wait.



Also last week for an ugly sweater party(also one of my favorite things) and a Thanksgiving  bonding event for a campus club, I made some Eggless, Edible Holiday Sugar Cookie Dough Balls.  Yes you read that correctly.  In fact let me state that again, just to make it real for you, EGGLESS HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH BALLS TO SHOVE IN YOUR MOUTH AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.  Yep that sounds right, especially since I had no evidence of said goodies by the time I returned home that night.

 
As a result of that self explanatory possible, many have asked for the recipe so I figured a blog was a appropriate place to post it!  I got the general frame work from both HERE and HERE(this one will make a little more) and then modified it to suit my tastes/needs.  The "holiday" part comes from me wanting to make something a little more exciting than just plain old sugar cookie dough balls, and the cookie dough balls instead of cookies came from the lack of eggs aaaaaaand lacking the funds to buy them.  Yes, I am lacking the moneys to buy eggs #collegelife.
But without further ado, here is the main focus of this post (seriously, let's be honest.)

Holiday Cookie Dough Heaven

For more: (adapted from the Cupcake Project)

1&1/3 c. all-purpose flour

2/3 c. French Vanilla Cappucino/Creamer powder (I used Maxwell House)

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 c. milk or water (add as needed)

Pumpkin Spice ( I just dumped to taste...) OR Ground cinnamon and allspice with just a dash or 2 of ginger.  (more cinnamon than allspice).  This was another ingredient  I kind of dumped to my digression...whoops

For not at much (but still a good amount)...(adapted from Polish the Stars)

• 1/2 c. butter, softened
• 1/4 c, granulated sugar
• 3/4 c.  brown sugar
• 1 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/3 c. French Vanilla Cappuccino/Creamer powder (I used Maxwell House)
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1-2 Tbsp. water/milk (add as needed)
• Pumpkin Spice ( I just dumped to taste...) OR Ground cinnamon and allspice with just a dash or 2 of ginger.  (more cinnamon than allspice) . This was another ingredient I kind of dumped to my digression...whoops....

"Baking:" 

Cream the sugar and butter together.  Then add the vanilla, seasonings and flour. Mix until cookie dough consistency, adding the milk/water as needed. Next, eat directly from the spatula  roll into balls to 

a) Serve and share

 b) Have an eating contest with yourself, or 

c) store in the fridge for a few weeks, or a few months in the freezer

Also sorry-not-sorry for 2 Emma Stone Gifs



Photo credits

Kirby 
Emma Stone
Emma Stone 2
Chris Hemsworth is not sorry

Childhood: Ruined. And also, Thank Youuuuuu

First and foremost, thank you!  I'm pretty sure a friend I was with recently thought I went crazy when I started jumping up and down with a joyful OHMYGOODNESS as I saw my blog had reached over a thousand views.

^^^Alan Rickman's/Snape's reaction=pretty close to that of friend who witnessed my outburst.

Maybe it's not a big deal to anyone else, but to me it was pretty amazing.  So thankthankthankthankyou.  I'll post a treat of sorts at the end.  I need to time to think of something suitable for such amazing people.  (Also on an unrelated note, I think the volume of my computer is possessed as it randomly will get louder.....)

I am a nineties child and dang proud of it. I religiously and shamelessly jam to The Spice Girls, Backstreet, and N*Sync , I feel nostalgic when I see  a cassette tape or Walkman, and I am still a bit attached to CDs over digital music.  Also Pokemon. (The original 150. Please.)  I was obsessed  Again, no shame.  Seriously though,  in second grade, I would write my name on my papers as "Ashley/Misty Andrews"  (I tried to get away with just writing "Misty" on my paper once but at that point my teacher didn't find my identity crisis cute anymore.)  My "Student of the Week" picture was taken on a day when I was wearing my "Misty" outfit (yellow Tshirt with coveralls.)  I had a bit of a problem. Obviously.

                             Alright adult content past this point; You have been warned
I was attempting to be productive on a Saturday.  Yes, reread that a few times.  I had every intention of being productive in the a.m. but yeahhhhh one phone call with mother to vent/cry about life (it's been a reeeeeeal long week; don't judge me), which led to us shopping online together over the phone, meant that two hours later I decided I should probably stop eating things and do SOMETHING.

By this point, Linda and Alfred had arrived home.  They said hello and disappeared into Alfred's room and turn on the TV.  And then the noises start.  AHHHHH One Republic save meeeeeeeeeeee.  Now if this isn't bad enough on its own-which it is- I catch a snippet of the show that's playing in the background.  It's Pokemon.  THEY ARE WATCHING POKEMON RERUNS WHILE GETTING DOWN N' DIRTY, HOT N' HEAVY, DOING THE NASTY etc.
That is all levels of wrong and disturbing.  Just....Just....NO!  My childhood has been forever tainted.  I'm not sure how to move on.  This week has been rough as it is and now all cutesy Pokemon nostalgia and the guilty pleasure of playing it once in a while is just....dirtied. Soiled.  I feel so wronged.

And treat, as promised: A few of them because ya'll deserve it!

How Frozen Should Have Ended
Adam Levine Impressions
Boy Band Parody Because bahaha and 90s

Photo Credits
dancing dumbledore
The original crew
watson
She's the Man

Wake up!

I'm still alive! Just reassuring-or disappointing?- anyone who had a twinge of doubt.

Anyone here THAT person? You know, the one whose alarm goes of at 6:03buttcrackofdawn a.m. and the eyeballs instantly pop open out of sheer pure excitement at this beautiful, glorious day, and instantly spring from the confines of your blankety prison that was holding you back?


Orrrrr are you like me, with less than 8 hours of sleep where your snooze button is that sneaky voice of a frenemy who tells you that one more time wouldn't hurt.  Curse you frenemy.




So my friends, I have compiled a list of tried and true techniques that I, yours truly, have experienced, unintentionally solely for your benefit and entertainment.  You are welcome

1.) Drink at least 16oz. of water approximately four hours before you have to wake up.  Your bladder becomes bff's with your alarm clock as they both have the shared ambition of getting you out of bed.

2.) Have a roommate who cooks for his girlfriend at 5am and the tantalizing smells of bacon arouse you from your slumber, only to drop you into a pit of sadness when your consciousness realizes it's not for you....and you will encounter a kitchen in shambles and manymanymany dirty dishes.



3.) Said roommate could also have a cat who will relentlessly go into heat (this is now the 4th time in 3 weeks....) and find it of utmost importance to scratch and mew at your door because you two ARE OBVIOUSLY BFFS FOR LIFE.

4.)  Fall out of your bed, but in such a fashion that you AND the bed flailing to the floor....
....Yes this happened. You see, I have a twin box spring and mattress in my humble little closet with windows.  However, said bed is extraordinarily uncomfortable.  So, I tried to remedy the situation by placing my other mattress, the one I slept on for the first month of my adventure, on top said rock of a bed.  Now this second mattress is the complete and utter opposite composition the box spring and mattress.  It is suuuuupppper squishy, so much to the point that if you sit or lean on one spot, that crater or dent will disrupt your sleep for the next two days.  This mattress also does not like sitting still on top the other two so it's a bit like sleeping on a squishy, uneven, sled.
  Last week whilst reaching for my alarm, the momentum of my arm swing down to alongside my bed, both my bed and I were sent sailing and sliding and flailing to the floor. I'm pretty sure Alfred was concerned why there hysterical laughter coming from my room at 6:30 a.m.
 This is beyond a doubt the most effective and entertaining way to wake up.
I highly recommend it.


Anna
Dumbledore
bed
unfair!

Updates and Distracting Myself....

Right off the bat: Sorry not sorry.
Alright bear with me because I'm trying to distract myself, and this post revolves around the reason.
But first few updates on this apartment life oh mine to answer questions I've received:
1) So Linda turned out to be not as normal as the initial encounter, a fact that my land lord let me know after her room stayed empty for a few weeks after her supposed move-in day so it's still just Alfred, Mothball, and I....and usually Hilda.
2)Mothball is getting her lady parts taken are of and there is relief abounding through the apartment.
3) Mothball's belongings had vanished from the bathroom the next morning! Halleeeelujah I was quite relieved.  Casual conversation with Alfred revealed that Surprise! she was driving him nut with the constant meowing so she was banished from his room.

Fun fact: After I work out, I try to guzleguzzleguzzle water throughout the day in order to stay hydrated.  And it helps me not to want to eat all foods within reach.
  So this lovely, rainy evening I am standing in my kitchen in front of my laptop-I rarely sit....ever..- and scrolling through pinterest halloween food ideas  articles for an assignment whilst Alfred's music blares from the bathroom as he stars the shower. Important fact in this story.
So I'm typing, scrolling, typing scrolling when all of a sudden WHOOOOOOOSH, the copious amount of water I have drank throughout the day hits my bladder and I have to pee like Sea Biscuit....except there is only one bathroom and I am not a guy so the great outdoors is not an option.

Now Alfred is one of the few guys I know that will take lonnnnng showers, a fact my bladder and I are acutely aware of. Ohmanohmanohman ohhhhgoodygoodygumdrops...ohhhhkayyyy focus.  Read article....all I can hear is the shower running....curses! Alright ummm....newspaper ad! Hmm yesssss what IS on sale this week? Anything used to make delicious Halloween treats?? *Concentrating fiercely on connecting what to make with what is on sale whilstignoringthesoundofrunningwater*  Ad is finished...Oh man...AHA! BLOG!  And so here I sit. Like I said, sitting is something I rarely do so this is how you know it's a crisis.  If you see me sitting, immediately assume something drastic is happening or shall soon occur.  Lalala, just perusing gifs and expounding on my glorious li- THE BATHROOM DOOR HAS OPENED BYEEEEEEEEE!!! *Sprints/hobbles as fast as possible*


Sources:
Sheldon is the Master
Amy's Life
Captain Jack

Rantity Rant Rant

jkadhasjdhaihdslk! I am fuming.  And just to get the explanation for the over abundance of gifs:  I love these characters. and they are kind of  expressing my exact emotions.  I will not apologize.
But why so angry? You might ask. Excellent question! Please, bear with me while I enlighten you.
By now we know I am living with a cat.  Now I know your probably already thinking, "Oh no, not another cat rant," and trust me I wish it wan't.  But it is! So bear with me....or close the window.  You have the power!

Anyways.  I am living with cat. Cat is not mine.  I, over the past few weeks have grown to detest this cat.  Thankfully, she usually is locked in Alfred's room, especially when he is not home.  SO I come home this evening and see the cat at the top of the stairs, which is quite strange but he's forgotten her outside his room before so whatever.  I shuffle to the bathroom and discover there have new installments, such as a cat tree. And cat food. 
And a litter box that does not have a lid and I'm pretty sure it hasn't been cleaned in at least A WEEK.  I now notice the smell that is starting to permeate the apartment.  It is sickening and makes me feel disgusting.
I am mad. Beyond mad.  And cat, Mothball, is deciding to see how far she can push my " hate you," button, by rubbing against my legs every second I stop moving. Squirtsquirtsquirt.  Also, now since I have locked her in the bathroom, as I do not want her spraying everywhere, she is meowing, and scratching, nonstop.  NONONONONOARRRGGHHHHH
 OhmywordIcouldkickyou.  ^^ looks of loathing equivalent to that felt towards cat^^

It would have been  different if I would have been asked, or even have it mentioned to me in passing.  I understand that yes he lives here,but so do I.  We share the bathroom.  We do not share his bedroom.  Therefore, what is his, i.e. Mothball, should kept with his things.  This can't go on though.  I don't want to take a shower in a bathroom that already reeks.  I don't want to eat and cook in a house that stinks of cat feces.

I hate confrontation but I just might despise this situation/cat a wee more.  I don't want to get the landlod involved if I don't have too but I guess we will see what happens.....  Communication and respect go along way when living with someone else.  Just saying.
Whew.  If you made it to the end of this, congrats!! Here is your reward:  Peter Hollens in all his accapella amazingness!

avengers
damon
olanrogers
supernatural