Happy Leap Day!

Okay, it's Leap Day... but let's not pull an Anna Brady and zip off to wherever our significant other currently is. Lets get one thing straight... if he hasn't proposed yet, there's probably a way better reason behind it than he's waiting for you to pop the question. So return that plane ticket, dump the rose petals, and ditch the engagement ring... (do you get a boy an engagement ring? see, this is just too complicated.) Got that out of your system? Good. 
So what's with this Leap Day business? There's a certain fascination in something that happens only as often the Olympics, so here's a few fun facts that you probably never knew...


1. You have a 1 in 1461 chance of being born on Leap Day, and currently about 4 million people worldwide can say their birthdays fall on the special day. 


2. There is a Leap Day every four years... usually. It gets nice and complicated every now and then. There is not a Leap Day added if the year is perfectly divisible by 100... However, if the year is perfectly divisible by 100, but is also perfectly divisible by 400, then we still get a Leap Day. Sufficiently confused? yeah... me too....


3. Sir James Milne Wilson, the eighth Premier of Tasmania (yeah... I'm sure you know exactly who he is....) was born on February 29th 1812, and died on February 29th 1880 at the ripe old age of 17.


4. In many places Leap Day is considered as unlucky as Friday the 13th. In Scotland it is considered unlucky to be born on February 29th (sorry James). In Greece it is considered bad luck to get married in a Leap Year, and even more so on Leap Day. 


5. Though in many other places February 29th is considered quite lucky indeed. Hence, the flocks of women trying to snag their man on that date. 


So, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed your Leap Day, and if your man still hasn't proposed by the next one... then I guess it'll be acceptable for you to propose to him by then. 


beegleeful always

This is Awkward... You've Finished The Hunger Games

Let me guess, you've just read the Hunger Games? If you haven't, climb out from under that rock, and grab a copy. Apparently they're flying off the shelves, because the three books are somehow managing to cover eight of the top nine spots on Amazon Best Sellers: Best Teen Books  list. But don't let 

the name of that list deceive you! this book  will appeal to 
readers of all and any age. We all read it for different reasons. A lot of people picked up the first book because it was required for school, but found that they couldn't wait for the next two. Others began reading skeptically at the suggestion of a friend. And others still picked it up for the fantastic reasoning of wanting to the read the book before the movie comes out. However you ended up with it in your hands, its safe to say that now that you've devoured all three books, you've found yourself saying "whats next?"

I'm an extremely fast reader, so I have to have my next book planned ready to fill the void, and ease the mourning of finishing the current one. Assuming you've found yourself needing to fulfill a similar problem, let me offer some assistance.

The Uglies Trilogy

by Scott Westerfeld

In a post-apocalyptic society, all sixteen year olds are given an operation to make them gorgeous and are then sent off to live a life of partying and pleasure-seeking in Pretty Town. Before the operation, everyone is an "Ugly." Tally is eagerly anticipating her upcoming sixteenth birthday and her transformation but, weeks before the event, she befriends Shay, who shockingly doesn't want to become a "Pretty." Shay heads off to a rebel encampment called "The Smoke" to join others who intentionally avoided the operation. Tally stays behind but ,on the day of her sixteenth birthday, instead of receiving the operation, she is whisked off to Special Circumstances, home of the secret police. There she is given a choice: Locate The Smoke, and betray her friend, or stay ugly forever. Tally initially chooses to act as a spy, and the tracking device she wears helps the "Specials" locate the renegades, starting a devastating chain of events. David, who grew up in The Smoke, falls for Tally, not knowing she is a spy. As Tally spends time in The Smoke, she grows to appreciate the people and lifestyle, has a change of heart and works hard trying to undo some of the damage she has caused. (Review from bookangles.com)

This series is fantastic, and it has something to offer everyone. It's not new to the scene, but as there is no approaching motion picture it has yet to pick up the notoriety of the Hunger games. Never the less, it is most definitely a MUST read. 

The Maze Runner Trilogy

by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind. (Review from Amazon.com)

Let me start off by saying, that I have not read these books. But don't let that deter you! They're absolutely next on my list. All of the book blogs are raving that its the best trilogy after The Hunger Games. If you beat me to it, make sure you tell me how much you love it!

Delirium

by Lauren Oliver

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love. (Review from goodreads.com)

I just finished this book, and thought it was absolutely fantastic. It's reminiscent of The Uglies trilogy, but with a different agenda. I guarantee you'll love this if you loved The Hunger Games. 

Stolen

by Lucy Christopher

British teenager Gemma is drugged and kidnapped in an airport, whisked away to the remote Australian outback by Ty, a young man who’s decided to withdraw from society, but not without a companion—even an unwilling one. Written as a letter to her captor, Stolen traces Gemma’s descent into Stockholm Syndrome as she begins to feel for her captor. In a sly display of writing prowess, Christopher almost makes it possible for the reader to feel bad for the monstrous Ty, as well. But it’s Gemma’s strength and clear-headed narration that keep the pages turning long after your skin has started crawling. (Review from thedailybeast.com)

I'm in the process of reading this book, and so far I can't put it down. Unlike The Hunger Games, and every other book on this list, this one is set in the present day, and follows an all too possible plot line. Stolen is written in a very creative way, as a letter from Gemma, the captive, to Ty, the captor. It's in a different category to rest on this list, but trust me, you'll love it just as much.

Honorable Mention

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

The main character, a teenage boy named Charlie, addresses letters to an anonymous friend. Charlie is a sincere and sensitive character, who suffers from episodes of depression sparked by sexual abuse as a young child. His best friend commits suicide before he starts high school, and while starting over he is drawn to a crowd of friends who support his individuality and love for writing, music, and poetry. His story contains bits and pieces of any reader's story. The novel's style may touch on various teenage topics like experimentation with drugs and alcohol, sexuality, making friends, family relationships, and loss, but it does not dwell on any of these topics. This lack of focus is what makes the story seem so realistic and true to so many Teens who read it. (Review from booklust.com)

This is a far simpler read than the rest on this list, and perhaps more suited for a slightly younger audience, but it is well written and deserved a mention nonetheless. If you read The Hunger Games because of the impending movie, then you should put this on you 'to read' list for the same reason. The movie adaption of this book hits screens some time later this year, and it promises to be a dream, not to mention it will be Emma Watson's first big screen appearance since the Harry Potter movies. All in all, this is a book (and movie) that promises to make a big impression. 

So go out, and read a book, and if you find something better than whats on this list, be sure to let know! 

bechanceful always

Happy is, as Happy does

I'm making the conscious decision to be happier. I don't think that anyone who knows me could accuse me of being miserable, or negative by any means, but I think that there is always room for improvement. I attended a Women of Faith conference this weekend in Dallas and one of the speakers said that he believes that the key to success is smiling while you talk. That sounds easy enough right? But how many of us actually smile the entire time we're talking? If you think about it, I think you'll find that you really only smile if you're talking about something funny, or, lets be honest, a boy. So I'm making the decision to smile more. Audrey Hepburn said it best when she said that "Happy girls are the Prettiest girls."

I'm in a great place in my life, with great friends, and infinite possibilities ahead of me. So as far as I can tell, I have no reason to not try to be as Happy as I possibly can be. 

beethankful always

I simply can't stop watching

I simply can't stop watching  Downton Abbey and I am continuing to be quite convinced that I was born in the wrong decade. I suppose I should be grateful that I wan't born into the time of WWII, rationing, and Spanish Influenza. Though, I can't help but long for the elegant evening gowns, chivalry of courting, and fantastically planned dinner parties. The Masterpiece Collection does a fantastic job of presenting the glamorous side of life in the early 1900s, without hiding the harsh realities faced in such times, expertly weaving tales of love, blackmail, sickness, life, wealth, and poverty. The costumes, sets, and language transport the audience back in time as well as any DeLorean could. And I can't say that I mind getting pulled into the cool blue eyes of Matthew Crawley every Sunday evening.

Sadly I am finally caught up, after being episodes behind, and I now find myself at the end of the current season. Season three, hurry up please!


All in all its a dream that I'm happy to be caught up in, check it out, and get caught up before the next season is upon us!




beedelightful always

Apparently it's Birthday Season

I love Birthdays. Not just my own, but just Birthdays in general. I'm a ridiculous gift giver. I think "Oh, I'll go ahead and get this Present, her birthday's not for another month, but I'll just get this taken care of ahead of time." Yeah... all that really succeeds in making me do, is continuing to buy, and tweak for a whole month. I'm also very much a fan of gift baskets. Sure, you can give someone a gift in a gift bag, the object placed carelessly inside, the bag soon to be disposed of. But I much prefer to arrange gifts in a useful and creative container. I put together a basket of goodies for my best friend's birthday and bundled them all in a very functional purple basket that matches her room. Included in the basket was an SFA rain jacket (so she can stop stealing mine), a collection of her favorite candies, and homemade Mini Oreo Cheesecakes. I think what takes an ordinary gift (or any object for that matter) is in the details of the presentation. Anyone can take a bag of candy and toss it into a basket, but to present something lovingly and creatively shows an added level of commitment to the presentation. I'm a huge fan of mason jars. I think they are extremely under appreciated, and have infinite possibilities to go from ordinary to extraordinary. I took plain mason jars, and replaced the circular disks in the lid with more decorative paper, tied a tulle bow and the mouth, and filled the jars with bright candies. The overall effect was very charming. 


I am very much morally opposed to the idea of raisins. I think Johnny Depp's character Sam, in Benny & Joon had it completely right when he said  "Well, they taste sweet, but really they're just humiliated grapes. I can't say I am a big supporter of the raisin council." Even more offensive than raisins would be the candy Raisinets, trying to disguise the disgraced grapes in a chocolatey suit of armor. However, despite my distaste for them, Mycah is very much a fan. So I grabbed four bags, weighing in at almost 3lbs. But as much as I'm not a fan, I still thought they deserved a slightly 'prettier' presentation than the yellow plastic wrappings. So I poured all four bags into a brown paper bag (another ordinary to extraordinary object). I folded over the top, and attached a paper doily to spruce things up a little bit. with a two simple holes made using a hand held hole puncher, I was able to thread tulle matching the one on the jars through to secure the bag, and tied it in a bow. 

It was also Kelly's birthday on the same day. She requested Chocolate Cupcakes. I made the cupcakes following this recipe: 

And I was extremely happy with how they turned out. I added flower toppers of melted yellow chocolate under a bright purple icing. I shaped the flowers in the same way as in the directions for the Mini Oreo Cheesecakes. I placed the cupcakes in a cardboard cake box, and tied it with a tulle bow. 

All in all, it was a successful gift giving event that I was rather excited about. I have the birthday of another close friend coming up in the next few days, and I look forward to putting something together for that birthday too! I hope you have fun showering gifts on the people in your life. 

beeblissful always

How Did I Miss This?

I recently watched  Midnight in Paris for the first time, and I'm wondering how we had managed to avoid each other for so long. We are the soul mates that ride the same train to work every day, oblivious that the other exists, until the magical moment that we find one another. Wipe the tears, roll the credits. 

I absolutely love a good period drama. I can't get enough of them. But I'm also a sucker for a good old Rom-Com. This movie wonderfully combined them both, keeping me entertained the entire way through. Owen Wilson is charming as always, while Rachel McAdams is reminiscent of her Regina George role, playing a somewhat snotty character (though her fiance is roaming Paris alone at night, that might make any woman a little tense.) My favorite part of it all is the significance put upon classic writers and painters, bringing them back into the limelight. More well known names like Picasso and Hemingway are sure to be recognized right off the bat, but there are also some really great characters and references that may turn up a few head scratches, and a quick google search to fully appreciate, such as Zelda Fitzgerald, or Owen Wilson's exchange with Luis Buñuel referencing his film The Exterminating Angel.

All in all it was a wonderfully made movie, set to a fantastic score, that I would absolutely recommend. Two thumbs up.


beeinsightful always

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes

Two of my very close friends will both be turning the big 19 on Thursday. Woah. 

Kelly is easy to please, Chocolate Cupcakes... No problem (that's tomorrows project though) but Mycah is a tougher cookie. She doesn't like cupcakes.... ummm... who doesn't like cupcakes? That's like saying you don't like The Beatles. You just don't say it. But for some reason or another, she's not a fan, so as an alternative she will be receiving Mini Oreo Cheesecakes. Yum! They're pretty simple to make, here's what you'll need:

• 2 Packages of regular stuffed Oreos (actually 1 1/2 packages so if you have an opened package that'll work fine!)
• 2 Pounds of Cream Cheese (4 Packages... sounds healthy right?)
• 1 Cup of Sugar (it just keeps getting healthier.... and more delicious)
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 4 Large Eggs, room temperature
• 1 Cup Sour Cream (you can use light, it'll taste the same, and a few less calories to worry about!)
• a tiny pinch of Salt

Step One

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.  Woah, that was a tough step. I hope you made it through okay.

Step Two

Place 15 Oreos in a large ziplock bag (the ones with a slide zipper work better as they are more secure). Here's the fun part, go ahead and take out your day's frustrations on the cookies.. Smash the cookies up into small pieces, but don't get too carried away or you'll end up with powder, and we're looking for small 'chunks' of cookie. 

Step Three

Mix the Cream Cheese in a large bowl with a hand mixer until smooth. Slowly  add the sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, and mix until combined. Add Vanilla.

-Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl regularly or your mixture will be inconsistent.

Step Four

Beat the eggs in a glass bowl until light and airy. Be sure to use a glass bowl any time you beat eggs (especially if you're making a meringue)  it will allow them to 'fluff' up better. Plastic bowls are grainy and retain some oils from previous use that prevent the airy outcome wanted. Slowly add the eggs while still using the hand mixer.

Step Five

Sprinkle the pieces of cookie and fold in using a spatula (not the hand mixer).

Step Six

Fill muffin tins with paper liners, and then place one whole Oreo in the bottom of each, these will serve as the 'crust'. Fill each liner to the top with batter, don't worry they won't rise much at all so go ahead and fill them up.

 

Step Seven

Place in the oven for 30-35 minutes. The tops will rise a tiny bit, and show small cracks in the center when done, though may still jiggle a little upon removal. Let cool, (they should settle back down flat, or even become a tiny bit concave in the center) and then refrigerate (unncovered) for at least 5 hours. Makes about 30.

Optional Flower Toppers

I added small chocolate flowers to my cheesecakes to finish them off. To make these (they don't take long, I had them done well before the cheesecakes were even out of the oven) melt Candy wafers in your chosen color and using a piping bag trace small flowers onto Parchment Paper. When the first color was dry I went back added a yellow middle to them. Let the flowers harden completely in the refrigerator. add them to the Cheesecakes when they have cooled significantly so that they don't melt as soon as they're placed, but be sure to add them while the cheesecakes are still a little warm, so that the chocolate will melt just enough to adhere itself the surface. 

 

Step Eight

ENJOY! 

beecheerful always

Wet Paint!

I'm having a little too much fun customizing this page... Thanks to the creative minds at shabbyblogs.com for the assistance!

 

Single Awareness Day

Being Single, I am very much aware of what today is. Today promises to be a day filled with pictures posted all over Facebook of 'flowers from my love' and people obnoxiously wearing pink and red, heart themed outfits. Can't wait. Okay, okay, so it's not all bad. What better opportunity to craft it up? I refrained from my original idea of anti-valentines cards, I'm probably a bit too young to be that cynical. But I did come to the realization that, who really wants a card for Valentines day? You can't eat it, you can't spend it... you look at it for a little while, then you put it in a drawer with all the other cards you've ever recieved. So instead I integrated my Valentines cards with Candy this year, Stripping classic foil wrapped bars of their generic paper wrappings, and replacing them with slightly more festive alternatives. Enjoy. I'll be spending this holiday with the only Valentines I need: Chinese takeout, a terribly cheesy Rom-Com, and my Girlfriends. Sounds splendid. Spend your day with someone you love, whoever it is.

beejoyful always.

(even on Single awareness day)

Feet First I think...

To Blog, or not to Blog? That seems to be the question lately. I'm always locking myself in my room to write, or craft, or play the guitar (okay, practice the guitar, I'm not quite at 'playing' standards yet) and I constantly find myself sitting at my laptop in jealous awe of the creative blogs circulating through cyberspace. So here I am, attempting to jump in with both feet... I hope the water's not too cold! 

beewonderful always