Chocolate

Paris has just acquired a new award to add to their trophy case. They are now the chocolate capital of the world! 


You can blame the French president Nicolas Sarkozy who was elected in 2007. Sarkozy perferred drink is chocolat, the very best. His 24/7 excitability – some call it dynamism – are attributed in part to the capital's current choco-manie.

Theobroma cacao, or dark chocolate (containing at least 60 percent cocoa) is good for the health, the libido, the mind, and the morale. 

What better way to fuel the French man's appetite than giving him the finest chocolate?

However, evidence shows that the rise of chocolate in Paris predates and goes beyond Sarkozy's infatuation. 

The annual Salon du Chocolat has done wonders to raise Paris's profile. The nationwide decrease in liquor consumption, thanks to Sarkozy, has also been a contributing factor. So naturally, chocolate is the ideal, socially acceptable substitute.

But the main reason for the rise is easy: French chocolate has become exquisite in its simplest incarnations, and excitingly wild in its extreme expressions.

Since France's great pastry chefs started breaking away from the famous restaurants where they were employed, chocolate-making has slipped out of the grip of the industrial candy-makers, local bakeries-pastry-and-chocolate-shops, and local neighborhood chocolatiers.

Silly? Yes, but it is the French and it is Paris, City of Chocolate.

Fanciful Forts

When I was little my brother and I would make forts all day long. We leave them up for days or until our mom told us to take them down because they were becoming a hazard when she was trying to clean the house. We ditched our rooms because we thought these were cooler. We would eat, watch TV, play games, and pretty much live in these forts. Looking back, I loved creating these. The memories I have from building them I will treasure for ever. The little kid inside of me is telling me to make more forts. Now that I am older and have all that experience under my belt I think I could create a pretty dang good fort. If I were to make forts now, I think they would look a little something like this....

How To: Make the Best Cookies You Will Ever Eat

I am about to introduce to you the cookie that will revolutionize your taste buds. It combines all the best ingredients into one cookie of perfection. 

Oatmeal, check.

Peanut Butter, check.

Chocolate, check.

Here is the Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookie that my mom and I have been baking together since I was 8 years old!

MAKES: about 18 cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oats, can add more if you really like them
1 cup peanut butter and chocolate chips, again - can add more if you would like

Method
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, mix together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla and egg until well blended.
3. Slowly combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter just until moistened. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Drop by tablespoonfuls on to lightly greased cookie sheets.

4. Roll dough into size and shape of preferred cookie onto lightly greased cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the oven, until the edges start to brown but not completely done in the middle. 

6. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

7. Enjoy!!

Follow: Happy Easter!

Never Settle

Ways to Live and Not Merely Exist

1. Do what you LOVE and do it often

2. If you don't like something, CHANGE it

3. If you don't have enough time, MAKE time

4. If you are looking for the love of your life, STOP

5. They will be waiting for you when you START doing the things that you love

6. If you don't like your job, QUIT

7. Start doing the things YOU love

8. Stop over analyzing, life is SIMPLE

9. All emotions are BEAUTIFUL

10. When you eat, APPRECIATE every last bite

11. OPEN your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are UNITED in our differences

12. Ask the next person you see what their PASSION is and share your INSPIRING dream with them

13.  TRAVEL often, getting LOST will help you find yourself

14. Some opportunities only come once, SEIZE them

15. Life is about the PEOPLE you meet, and the things you CREATE with them, go out and start creating

16. Life is SHORT

17. Live your DREAM

18. WEAR your passion

Fear

A lot of the time I get caught up in the fear of being wrong. I doubt myself, I doubt my creativity, I doubt that I have good ideas. This is so easy to do when you compare yourself to others. It's like that little voice in your head that tells you, you just aren't good enough because everyone else out there is better. Except everyone is different. Everyone has their own unique sense of self and what they believe to be creative. Therefore, you cannot compare. The truth is that when you doubt or have fear, you are holding back, you don't pursue with all that you have. You have to embrace the fact that you CAN. You have to believe, because those who believe they can do things, do them. They do them without fear and to the best of their ability. I feel that it is important to know my vulnerabilities and not allow them to stop me from going after my goals and what I am passionate about. I don't want my fear to hold me back. I want to push ahead with reckless abandon. I WANT TO BELIEVE. 

Transformation

For all of the loyal "So You Think You Can Dance" fans out there you understand why this is my favorite dance of Alex Wong. First to make it that much sweeter, they brought Twitch back as his partner. As we all know, Twitch is the master of hip hop and I love that he incorporates his own style into it. The idea behind the dance is very creative and the energy level sustains, even grows, throughout the entire piece. Just from watching this, it makes you want to get up and dance with them. Ultimately, my favorite part is that Alex went from being a professional ballet dancer to performing one of the best hip hop routines I have ever seen. He went against all of the ballet stereotypes and proved that he is capable of blending in next to Twitch, the show's hip hop sensation. His ability to do this demonstrates that he is transforming and evolving as a dancer. It is very difficult to be professionally trained in one area and then perform this naturally in another area. This goes to show you that Alex has real God-given talent that is beyond impressive to watch. 

Just for kicks: 

This is another one of my favorite dances from the show. It is so breathtakingly beautiful and captivating that I get goose bumps every time I watch it.

Confession

I have a confession to make, I cannot smell... 

I have come to realize that this is a blessing and a curse. It allows me to not smell gross bodily functions, odd odors, and rotten food. However, I do not have the ability to smell all the good things! I feel as if I am missing out on a whole facet of life sometimes. Like I am not able to experience what everyone else is. So many times people ask, "do you smell that?!" and I either happily or begrudgingly reply no depending on if it is good or bad. I am determined to be able to smell. I try really hard and sometimes I think I can, but I wonder if I am just imagining it. Over the years I have come to smell certain things. So far i can smell burning candles, food cooking on the stoves, and my dad's cologne. Just last month I opened the dryer and a huge wave of freshly scented laundry hit me! it was such revelation! I was so excited I didn't know what to do! I kept opening and closing the dryer door to make sure I could actually smell it. So now I can add fresh laundry to my list. And yes, I have gone to the doctor for this and he says that my sense are "maturing," it will just take time (hopefully not too long!). Because I can't smell very well this also means that I do not have good taste buds. I have to heavily season my food in order to fully taste it or else it seems bland to me. This also means that i can eat most foods that people cannot stand because I can't really taste them. When my senses do "mature" I wonder if I will be able to smell all smells or just particular ones. What if they are all good? What if they are all bad? I am praying that it is a mixture or all good! So far I can only smell pleasant smells, let's hope it stays that way!

Bucket List

Essentially, I feel like everyone has one of these whether they know it or not. At some point, everyone says, "I want to fill in the blank before I die!" Writing down your aspirations on paper turns them into goals, makes them attainable, tangible, doable dreams to work towards. There is a sense of fulfillment that comes with imagining the future, as well as crossing off the things that you have done. Some people make a bucket list and store it away. Over the years I have made, redone, and updated my list. Hopefully I will have done most of the things on my list before I too kick the bucket, you only live once right?

1. learn to surf

2. backpack through Europe

3. skydive

4. run through lavender fields

5. scuba dive in Australia

6. deep sea fish in the Caribbean

7. kayak in New Zealand

8. take more pictures

9. see the northern lights

10. learn another language

11. draw more

12. live in a cottage

13. find the best breakfast place

14. see a concert in another country (preferably Mumford and Sons in Europe)

15. run up the stairs of the Empire State Building

16. see a meteor shower

17. find the perfect chair tea latte

18. ride in a hot air balloon

19. run a marathon

20. do the Warrior Dash

21. roadtrip across the US

22. live on a ranch

23. ride on an elephant

24. learn how to ride a dirt bike

25. travel to Israel

Julie & Julia Challenge

There are three things in life that are therapeutic for me:

1. driving

2. running

3. cooking

I absolutely love to do these things and find that I unconsciously think the most while doing them. One thing I have missed this year is the kitchen at my house. I miss cooking whenever I want, making up my own recipes, and cooking for other people. I recently watched "Julie & Julia" and was fascinated by Julie's and Julia's motivation and determination to rise to their personal challenges. They were so inspiring because even though they was surrounded by people that constantly doubted them and told them that they was never going to make it, they never listened. They stood their ground , rose to the challenge, and proved them wrong. Julie promises herself that she would blog about cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook that contains 524 recipes in 365 days and she did it. Someday I want to make that same promise to myself!

Home Sweet Home

My mother is always sending me packages of photo albums she put together, journals, cut outs in magazines and food that she made. I think my mom is the Queen of Hospitality. When we have people over to the house she wants to make sure that they feel comfortable in every way possible. She will stuff their faces with her good cooking, talk their ear off, make sure they feel at home, listen for hours to people's concerns, and then send them home with leftovers and desserts. Some may think she is trying to put on a show, but if you look past the surface you will realize that she genuinely loves to do this. She doesn't feel the obligation to do it. However, she does want to do it because it brings her and others joy. It's not only the people she loves doing it for, she loves being of service, she loves to help and provide for the people she cares about. My mom has inspired me in more ways than one but I hope that I can someday show this much love to the people I care about also. 

Favorite Dish

I am not the person to have a favorite food. I am mostly the type of person that loves all different kinds of foods and can't choose my ultimate favorite, but this has slowly but surely become my favorite. 

Goat Cheese, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Chicken

original Joelen recipe

serves 4

2 large boneless skinless chicken breast, each halved horizontally

2 oz goat cheese, softened

2-3 slices sun dried tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 egg

1 cup breadcrumbs

1 teaspoon dried oregano

salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Pound each chicken breast half thin, about 1/4 inch thickness.

In a bowl, combine the goat cheese, tomatoes, and spinach to create the filling. Season with sal and pepper to taste. Place 1/4 of this mixture on one end of each pounded chicken breast. Roll into a large tube, making sure to keep the filling inside the chicken.

Set up your dredging station but placing the flour in one shallow dish, whisk the egg  in another shallow dish and the breadcrumbs and dried oregano in another shallow dish.

Carefully dredge each stuffed chicken breast in flour to coat. Next, dip the stuffed chicken breast into the whisked egg. Lastly, roll the stuffed chicken breast in the breadcrumbs. Place each coated stuffed chicken breast on a baking sheet and once all are coated, bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.

Modern Swiss Family Robinson

Often times I dream of having a modern day Swiss Family Robinson house when I grow up. It would be complete with various unnecessary yet awe-inspiring features such as: an indoor lazy river, swings, an aquarium, slides instead of stairs, revolving doors, secret underground tunnels connecting my house to my friends' so that we could hang out and see each other, and a huge wall filled with books! This would never happen because if it did I wouldn't be able to believe it and I would never leave my house. However, if it did this is what it would look like...

Life Via Water Slide

This video always reminds me of the days when my friends and I would float down the lazy river. But what if we actually traveled like this in real life? What if we did our everyday activities via water slide? 

First, life would be way more exciting. You could travel anywhere at anytime. You would have an excellent view of the city. This form of transportation is fast and easy. You would never get hot. In the winter they could heat the water in the slides like you would heat a jacuzzi. You would overcome your fear of heights really quick or else you would never leave your house! And the best one, you would never have to deal with traffic or bad drivers ever AGAIN! Barclay did another spin on this advertisement except he traveled on a roller coaster; also an interesting concept. Transportation systems of the future? I hope so!

Spring Break Scars

Over spring break I received a battle wound and when I came back to Dallas I showed all my friends. I was very proud of it. One of my friends, Kristen, is pre-med and loves all things related to the body. I am pretty sure she has medical websites bookmarked on her computer. She told me that I should have gotten stitches, but it was fine that I didn't. I just needed to keep a close eye on the healing process. This scared me a little bit and I was very careful to watch my pride and joy try to heal over the following days. I would ask Kristen every day about its' progress and she would tell me all the facts about what was happening while my body was healing itself. She told me that the ultimate outcome of any healing process is the repair of a tissue defect. Tissue damage in humans triggers a response marked by rapid blood clotting and sends epidermal cells to the injury. When the wound removes all the layers of skin, new skin will form on the edges of the wound and it will heal from the edges to the middle. I am not going to act like I know all the ins and outs of what that means because I don't. As long as I can ask Kristen what's going on I feel like it's ok. 

It is amazing to think every little minute detail in our body works together perfectly in order for it to function properly. It's crazy to believe that our body is fighting off bacteria, repairing tissues, sending messages to the brain, and contracting our lungs to help us breathe all at the same time. What if we could somehow heal instantly every time we got hurt? Like in the movies when superheroes get stabbed or shot and it instantly heals right in front of your eyes. 

A. That would be awesome with a capital A

B. Band-aids would go out of business and

C. Kids would be indestructible on the playground

I don't know what I would rather have: listening to a kid cry every time they got hurt or dealing with a rowdy child that could never get hurt. Maybe it isn't such a good idea. However, God had a good idea when he made us. His creative juices must have really been flowing that day because the body is a fascinating thing. 

Welcome

Last night I was looking for a book and found a whole stack of pictures instead. My mind started thinking of all the different crafts I could do with them. So procrastinating even more than I already was I began cutting, folding, and pasting. The final result at 3am was this collage I made for the door to my room. Sometimes I get in these crafting moods where all I want to do is craft, apparently last night was one of them! I love making homemade gifts and creations for people. I think that it makes it more personal and meaningful because you know that the person giving it to you put a lot of thought and effort into it. These are some of the next projects that I want to make:

   

Natural Favorites

There are some things in life that can take your breath away. For me natural scenery takes my breath away in an instant. The world is full of unknown places that are yet to be discovered that I wish I could go and find. I have been blessed to travel to as many places as I have, and over the years I have collected pictures of places that I have been to that have literally taken my breath away. God's creation is so vast and beautiful. Nothing is left out and nothing needs to be added. It is perfect. So perfect to where it can leave a person breathless even speechless. I love these moments. When I traveled to Alaska with my family we went on a lot of different hikes. My favorite was in Ultima Thule. Once we climbed to the top everyone just stopped and stared. No one said anything, nothing needed to be said. We just stood there and let the beauty of creation sink over us. When you find something so amazing and beautiful you have it treasured in your memory forever. I have the mental picture that my memory took that day and I will never forget it. 

The Cave

It's empty in the valley of your heart

The sun, it rises slowly as you walk

Away from all the fears

And all the faults you've left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat

You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see

But I have seen the same

I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope

And I won't let you choke

On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain

And I will change my ways

I'll know my name as it's called again

Cause I have other things to fill my time

You take what is yours and I'll take mine

Now let me at the truth

Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears

I can see widows and orphans through my tears

I know my call despite my faults

And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope

And I won't let you choke

On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain

And I will change my ways

I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands

And see the world hanging upside down

You can understand dependence

When you know the maker's hand

So make your siren's call

And sing all you want

I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now

And I need to know how

To live my life as it's meant to be

And I will hold on hope

And I won't let you choke

On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain

And I will change my ways

I'll know my name as it's called again

I am turning into my parents

When I was little everyone would always say how much my mother and I looked alike. There were many occasions where people would come up to me, pinch my cheek, and say, "aww sweetie, you are going to grow up to look just like your mother." 

Recently, I have realized that not only do I look like her but I am starting to act like her! Whenever my mom tells a story she tells absolutely every single detail you could possibly imagine. Sometimes it takes her fifteen minutes to tell one story. I was talking to one of my friends from high school about my weekend and after I finished she said, "Hannah I think you inherited your mom's long story telling." Already? Ok, not good. That wasn't supposed to hit until I was about 40. What is even worse is that I am starting to act more like my dad as well. My dad is really goofy and I have definitely already inherited his trait of laughing so hard that nothing comes out. What is even more awkward is when we are together and this happens. Another habit that I have picked up on of his is mixing all my food together. Especially at Thanksgiving. I use a bowl instead of a plate and just combine all my food together and then eat it. Whenever my family puts in a movie he will always start out watching it but he can never finish it. By the end of the movie he is dead asleep. Thankfully, I haven't gotten to this stage yet. I have gotten to the stage where I can sleep anywhere at anytime. On airplanes with crying babies, trains, the floor, standing up, you name and we can do it. If I am tired I am content sleeping anywhere just as long as I get to sleep. 

I love my parents and there are qualities that I do strive to have of theirs. On the other hand, these were some of the qualities that as a kid I swore I would never have. Look how far that got me? Not only am I turning into my mom, I am turning into my dad too! Double threat!!

Child-Like Faith

No one can resist a cute kid. Or at least I can't. 

Meet Finley.

My 3'2, 36 pound, 4 year old, only girl cousin. She is an only child and was born and raised in Minnesota. Finley is a ball of energy, constantly joyful, giggles all the time, and is full of life. 

Her favorite pastimes are swinging, twirling around in her tutu, snowball fights with Dad, swimming, coloring, and asking way too many questions.






Finley's a deep 4 year old, lemme tell ya. She is a curious one and is constantly amazed at how things work. She is the type of kid who will ask you something and before you know it, it has turned into this frustrating argument between the two of you.

Partly because you have been talking about it for the past hour....

















And partly because you actually don't know the answer to her question and she is calling you out on it because you are trying to make it seem like you do. Gotta love those kids.

Even though Finley is only 4 and I have lived 16 more years than her, sometimes I think she knows more about life than I do. There is an ease with which she believes things, she gives simple answers to complicated questions, and isn't afraid to fall down because she knows that she can pick herself back up and try again. 

I always learn something new whenever I am with Finley. She reminds me that you don't have to be a little kid to have a child-like faith, which is something I admire and hope to have. For some of us it's hard to revert back to when we were kids and didn't have a care in the world. There was nap time, endless Goldfish, and the extent to getting in trouble was time out.

Just because we are older doesn't mean we are any wiser. Leave it to a 4 year old to make you feel like you still don't have life completely figured out yet.