Today, I decided to update my blog with a post on things that I have been currently enjoying within the last few days or weeks. So here goes...
1. Blogs (no shocker there!)
Here's a list of some blogs that I have been almost religiously following and have encouraged me to start my own in the first place:
- She Learns As She Goes by Kelli Taylor
Link: http://www.shelearnsasshegoes.com/
- Rejoice Always by Sarah Berry (aka Strawberry)
Link: http://rejoicealwaysblog.blogspot.com/
- Country Girl Cinderella by Ryan Kelly Murphy
Link: http://countrygirlcinderella.blogspot.com/
- White Fields Community Church Blog
Link: http://www.whitefieldschurch.com/white-fields-blog/
- Chocolate-Covered Katie: The Healthy Dessert Blog
2. The New Les Miserables movie
My friend from my brick-and-mortar school, +Andrea Bulthuis, recommended that I listen to some music from the new Les Miserables movie that just came out and she was right. It's really neat how beautiful all those voices are. My favorites are Anne Hathaway's "I Dreamed a Dream" and Samantha Bark's "On My Own." Look them up on Youtube, they're incredible! I haven't seen the movie yet, but it's coming out on DVD and Blu-ray on March 22nd, so check your local Redbox! :)
3. Chocolate Banana Smoothies, Gluten-Free Pizza, and Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese: The Classic and Italian
Of course, I'll give you some recipes! Stop begging, sheesh...
Super Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1 tbsp. of cacao powder (You could probably use cocoa, but cacao's probably better.)
1/2 cup of almond milk (You could use regular milk, as well if you're feeling rebellious.)
1/2 tsp. of instant coffee (Just trust me on this.)
1/4 tsp. of vanilla
Blend all ingredients to the consistency of your pleasing, and voila! Enjoy.
Gluten-Free Pizza
Ingredients:
Udi's gluten free pizza crust
Marinara Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
(If you like simple cheese pizza, this is all you need, but if you're a supreme fan, like me, or just sausage, just pepperoni, Hawaiian, whatever, find the ingredients you need at the grocery store and prepare them for pizza topping!)
Follow the instructions on the pizza crust bag, add toppings, and bake until hot and ready!
The Classic Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
About 1/2 a stick of butter
Slices of cheddar cheese (BUT PLEASE DO NOT USE THE SLICED PLASTIC-BAGGIE KIND THAT YOU FEED TO PRESCHOOLERS! For crying out loud, you're going to eat this! Invest into the nice Kroger block of Sharp Cheddar Cheese that's really not so expensive and slice it. Good grief, man. Live a little.) Yes, of course you can substitute for any cheese you want. :)
2 slices of Udi's Gluten-Free Bread
This is very simple, guys. Heat up the pan with a square of butter. While it heats up, put the slices of cheese between two slices of bread, then put it in the pan until it gets golden brown and delicious on one side. You will periodically need to keep adding butter to the pan. Then flip it. Repeat. Make sure the cheese is melted and the bread is to your liking. Remove from pan, and eat!
Italian Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
2 slices of Udi's Gluten-Free Bread
Sliced Mozarella cheese
A block of Parmesean Cheese
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Powder
Butter
Ok, guys, here it is: the recipe to one of the best grilled cheeses of all time. Take a small pan and cover the face of it with aluminum foil. Place the two slices of bread about 1/2 an inch apart from each other and grate some parmesean cheese on top. Sprinkle some italian seasoning and garlic powder on top and bake in the oven until the bread is slightly toasted, and cheese is melted. Here comes the grilling part. Heat up the pan with a square of butter. Put a couple of slices of mozzarella cheese between the two pieces of the garlic parmesean bread. Place the sandwich into the heated pan and grill. Periodically add squares of butter, and flip the sandwich as the cheese melts and the bread toasts. When the sandwich is to your liking, remove from the pan and enjoy!
4. YouTube Videos
I have particularly been watching some videos from Blimey Cow, Blimey Cow Vlog Channel, Kirby everyday, Lizzie Bennet Diaries, The Skit Guys, and HISHE (How It Should Have Ended).
5. Baking
Currently, I've been working on a cookie project, trying to find multiple recipes for gluten-free cookies. So far, I've done several peanut butter cookie variations...details to come. A lot of it is all thanks to the "Chocolate-Covered Katie" blog. :)
6. Teaching!
I absolutely love to teach. It's a way that I can share what's on my mind, and spread the truth to others. Last month, I led youth group and talked about God's transformation of the heart. I'm hoping to lead again soon, but in fear that any of my fellow youth group buddies will read this, I won't post the topic yet...but I will eventually. :) Also, I'm co-directing a middle school production of Beauty and the Beast, that will hopefully come out in April.
7. Reading
I finally got around to starting Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games series) but I'm on a break for reading it right now so that I can catch up on school reading. So NO SPOILERS! Also, coming soon, I'll be posting my complete summer reading list. If you're interested, I'm trying to read a lot of the classics, especially Jane Austen's novels. I hope to have read all of her novels by high school graduation. I'm not off to a good start, considering that I've only read Pride and Prejudice (and it's my favorite book after the Bible, for the record).
8. Writing Scripts
Inspired by directing plays, I got on a script writing frenzy once again. I just finished my first draft of Pride and Prejudice, and I'll probably get around to eventually writing more scripts based on classics.
9. Clarinet!!!
I started clarinet in the fifth grade, but I've been picking it up more recently, and I've fallen in love with it again. I'm currently working on Carl Maria Von Weber's "Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra in E-flat major." I was going to play it tonight at Veritas's Student Connections Music Night, but since I only have a minute to play, I'll probably play Mozart's Sonata.
10. Alto Sax: Charlie Parker
I'm working on a bunch of Charlie Parker music in my private lessons right now, and it's certainly not easy! But it's definitely a lot of fun. If you're a jazz maniac, I strongly suggest finding some of his recordings. Some of the tunes I've been playing recently have been "Moose the Mooche," "Yardbird Suite," "Anthropology," and "Dewey Square."
Phew! So, there's a window of what's been going on in my free time lately. I'm hoping that you guys like some of my recommendations and try out the recipes!
Don't forget to leave me a comment or some feedback. :) I'm also always looking for new blogs to read, so if you'd like to share yours, send me a link! It would be great to share verses or prayer requests as well. :)
Here's a question for you: What's going on in your life currently? Any spiritual growth or general updates?
My friend from my brick-and-mortar school, +Andrea Bulthuis, recommended that I listen to some music from the new Les Miserables movie that just came out and she was right. It's really neat how beautiful all those voices are. My favorites are Anne Hathaway's "I Dreamed a Dream" and Samantha Bark's "On My Own." Look them up on Youtube, they're incredible! I haven't seen the movie yet, but it's coming out on DVD and Blu-ray on March 22nd, so check your local Redbox! :)
3. Chocolate Banana Smoothies, Gluten-Free Pizza, and Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese: The Classic and Italian
Of course, I'll give you some recipes! Stop begging, sheesh...
Super Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1 tbsp. of cacao powder (You could probably use cocoa, but cacao's probably better.)
1/2 cup of almond milk (You could use regular milk, as well if you're feeling rebellious.)
1/2 tsp. of instant coffee (Just trust me on this.)
1/4 tsp. of vanilla
Blend all ingredients to the consistency of your pleasing, and voila! Enjoy.
Gluten-Free Pizza
Ingredients:
Udi's gluten free pizza crust
Marinara Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
(If you like simple cheese pizza, this is all you need, but if you're a supreme fan, like me, or just sausage, just pepperoni, Hawaiian, whatever, find the ingredients you need at the grocery store and prepare them for pizza topping!)
Follow the instructions on the pizza crust bag, add toppings, and bake until hot and ready!
The Classic Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
About 1/2 a stick of butter
Slices of cheddar cheese (BUT PLEASE DO NOT USE THE SLICED PLASTIC-BAGGIE KIND THAT YOU FEED TO PRESCHOOLERS! For crying out loud, you're going to eat this! Invest into the nice Kroger block of Sharp Cheddar Cheese that's really not so expensive and slice it. Good grief, man. Live a little.) Yes, of course you can substitute for any cheese you want. :)
2 slices of Udi's Gluten-Free Bread
This is very simple, guys. Heat up the pan with a square of butter. While it heats up, put the slices of cheese between two slices of bread, then put it in the pan until it gets golden brown and delicious on one side. You will periodically need to keep adding butter to the pan. Then flip it. Repeat. Make sure the cheese is melted and the bread is to your liking. Remove from pan, and eat!
Italian Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
2 slices of Udi's Gluten-Free Bread
Sliced Mozarella cheese
A block of Parmesean Cheese
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Powder
Butter
Ok, guys, here it is: the recipe to one of the best grilled cheeses of all time. Take a small pan and cover the face of it with aluminum foil. Place the two slices of bread about 1/2 an inch apart from each other and grate some parmesean cheese on top. Sprinkle some italian seasoning and garlic powder on top and bake in the oven until the bread is slightly toasted, and cheese is melted. Here comes the grilling part. Heat up the pan with a square of butter. Put a couple of slices of mozzarella cheese between the two pieces of the garlic parmesean bread. Place the sandwich into the heated pan and grill. Periodically add squares of butter, and flip the sandwich as the cheese melts and the bread toasts. When the sandwich is to your liking, remove from the pan and enjoy!
4. YouTube Videos
I have particularly been watching some videos from Blimey Cow, Blimey Cow Vlog Channel, Kirby everyday, Lizzie Bennet Diaries, The Skit Guys, and HISHE (How It Should Have Ended).
5. Baking
Currently, I've been working on a cookie project, trying to find multiple recipes for gluten-free cookies. So far, I've done several peanut butter cookie variations...details to come. A lot of it is all thanks to the "Chocolate-Covered Katie" blog. :)
6. Teaching!
I absolutely love to teach. It's a way that I can share what's on my mind, and spread the truth to others. Last month, I led youth group and talked about God's transformation of the heart. I'm hoping to lead again soon, but in fear that any of my fellow youth group buddies will read this, I won't post the topic yet...but I will eventually. :) Also, I'm co-directing a middle school production of Beauty and the Beast, that will hopefully come out in April.
7. Reading
I finally got around to starting Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games series) but I'm on a break for reading it right now so that I can catch up on school reading. So NO SPOILERS! Also, coming soon, I'll be posting my complete summer reading list. If you're interested, I'm trying to read a lot of the classics, especially Jane Austen's novels. I hope to have read all of her novels by high school graduation. I'm not off to a good start, considering that I've only read Pride and Prejudice (and it's my favorite book after the Bible, for the record).
8. Writing Scripts
Inspired by directing plays, I got on a script writing frenzy once again. I just finished my first draft of Pride and Prejudice, and I'll probably get around to eventually writing more scripts based on classics.
9. Clarinet!!!
I started clarinet in the fifth grade, but I've been picking it up more recently, and I've fallen in love with it again. I'm currently working on Carl Maria Von Weber's "Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra in E-flat major." I was going to play it tonight at Veritas's Student Connections Music Night, but since I only have a minute to play, I'll probably play Mozart's Sonata.
10. Alto Sax: Charlie Parker
I'm working on a bunch of Charlie Parker music in my private lessons right now, and it's certainly not easy! But it's definitely a lot of fun. If you're a jazz maniac, I strongly suggest finding some of his recordings. Some of the tunes I've been playing recently have been "Moose the Mooche," "Yardbird Suite," "Anthropology," and "Dewey Square."
Phew! So, there's a window of what's been going on in my free time lately. I'm hoping that you guys like some of my recommendations and try out the recipes!
Don't forget to leave me a comment or some feedback. :) I'm also always looking for new blogs to read, so if you'd like to share yours, send me a link! It would be great to share verses or prayer requests as well. :)
Here's a question for you: What's going on in your life currently? Any spiritual growth or general updates?
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." --Philippians 1:6
1. YOU INCLUDED MY BLOG. #win thank you so much hayley. :D love you.
ReplyDelete2. BLIMEY COW. BLIMEY COW VLOG. KIRBY EVERYDAY. SKIT GUYS. oh my gosh. yes.
3. writing scripts!!!! that's so cool! I have always been intimidated by that prospect. . . but maybe if I tried doing it based on a classic, like you said, it would work better. it's a really cool idea! I'd love to read your draft of P&P. :D
1. Hahaha, no problem, it's an awesome blog!
ReplyDelete2. I KNOW!!!!! I practically stalk their youtube, twitter feed, facebook, Kirby Everyday, and Kelli's blog..... My sister thinks I'm obsessed.
3. Thanks! I'll try to send it to you by email. Warning: It's about 70 pages....