summer!

I’m so excited. I’ll be spending this summer in Newport, RI. (and I already have a killer tan!) Living with my boyfriend. And although I haven’t technically found a job yet I’m hoping I’ll be nannying for an adorable family. (here’s hoping) But I am absolutely positive that this summer will be the best ever. All my friends and I will finally be in the same town for the whole summer. My boyfriend is not leaving for ANY part of the summer and thus don’t have to be in a long distance relationship for any of the summer. It’s the last summer before I go to college and my boyfriend and I go our separate ways. 8 hours separate to be exact. I’m determined for this to be the best summer of my life. I need to remember that after a year with only long distance friendships and absolutely no drama, adjusting back may take some time. I vow to let drama roll off my back this summer. I refuse to get caught up in anything that might detract from my summer of perfection. I also vow to go running at least 3 times a week. I’m losing 10 lbs. IMMEDIATELY. I also vow to eat healthy. Besides my occasional donut I will cut out my usual pile of junk food. I’m replacing my Hostess with hummus and pita and apples and peanut butter. I can do this. Right? 

finally home

I've been doing everything I've been dreaming about for the past four months. Being home has been just as amazing as expected. I've seen a lot of my friends and been baking and cooking a LOT. The first day I got home I made chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns. And since then I've made raspberry squares,  macaroons, a mozzarella, tomato, pesto panini, and cooked maple glazed salmon. I think I've gained like 10 lbs and I haven't even been home for a week yet. We also have been preparing for Christmas. Lots of decorating, cooking, and shopping. It's been heaven. I have been missing Sam though. It has been weird not waking up every morning and seeing him. But I'm very excited for Christmas to roll around. I've gotten really good gifts for everyone on my list so I'm excited to see them open them all! We just got our Christmas tree today (late I know but they were waiting for my return home!) look how cute it is!

That's my brother on the right. Look at all the presents!

judge me. it's fine. i'm judging myself.

So everyday the school I work at (which I should tell you is almost flat broke) pays for a huge box full of cookies to be delivered to the faculty lounge at 9:30 AM. Once I found out about this I was first overjoyed and then perplexed. Why is this school paying for all these cookies to be delivered everyday? Is this the best use for this money? Although I am still rather perplexed, my thought is that if they are going to do it I might as well enjoy them. So at about 9:20 (to get there before the rush) I leave my desk and walk all the way across campus for four mediocre cookies. And it basically makes my day.

my boss is trying to kill me

My boss just came into my office with a huge tin of cookies and offered me one (never one to pass up on a cookie I obviously obliged). After taking one bite she handed me five more (literally five I'm not joking) and stood there to watch me enjoy my treat. What looked like a harmless cookie was actually filled with some mystery goo inside. I literally cannot describe the taste to you but it was vile. It looks like something between fig paste mixed with some molasses or something. But because she had handed my five more and was standing there watching me I did my best to choke it down. As soon as she left I promptly threw away the rest. But my question is WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE COOKIES???? Hell, they can't even be defined by the word cookie, but why are they masquerading as such?!?

thanksgiving fondness

I'm sitting in my freezing office, pondering whether or not it's worth it to walk down the hall and turn on the heat. I'm in the Middle East, working at a school. And at the moment I'm not only freezing but also thinking about how much I'm going to miss Thanksgiving back home. Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday, right after Halloween (what other holiday not only allows you but ENCOURAGES you to stuff your face with candy??). And that's why Thanksgiving is a close second... (encourages you to stuff your face with other fantastic dishes). So in the spirit of my current homesickness I'm posting delicious pictures of my dream Thanksgiving meal.