November 14, 2009 at 9:10 pm (Fun Times, Life in General)
Tags: Baking, Cake
So this is the cake I made. It’s a two layer butter cake with strawberry icing. The cake itself is made from scratch the icing is Pilsburry Strawberry, which apparently Walmart is the only one who carries the strawberry flavor. I’ve seen the stores carry Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines but both of theirs are two sweet for me.
First shot: I forgot to start taking pictures until halfway through icing the first layer. Anyway see the purple plate…I love that purple plate I only got two when I first moved in and now I’m wishing I had gotten more. I love that plate. I’ve got matching bowls too. Anyway first layer…
Second layer going on…see that lip? I have no idea how happen…it’s never happened before. Afterwards I realize I should have cut the lip off to make it easier to ice. Note: Excuse the messy counter.
The cake is fully iced now…doesn’t it look yummy?
I broke out the decoration tips and made a happy face with the extra frosting.
Top side shot.
Side shot!
I’m now going to go get a slice of said cake cause all these pics are making me hungry. Its a very delicious cake. I’ve made it once before but I had cream cheese icing. So far I’ve made a strawberry cake with strawberry icing, vanilla icing and cream cheese icing (respectively). I’ve made vanilla cake with strawberry and cream cheese icing. And a boat load of cookies. Next is pie! I like pie!
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November 14, 2009 at 5:46 pm (Life in General)
Tags: AT&T internet, costumer services
I finally have a reliable internet source. Woot on that! I was afraid that it would be ClearW’re all over again. I must say ClearW’re was easier to set up. But it sucked on connecting to more than one computer and the connection was super slow when it did connect and you had to angle it just right for it to be picked up all that.
So I knew I wasn’t going to go back with them, plus they are pretty expensive when you start going up in connection speed. Instead I went with AT&T, I knew Jen had them so I was like I’ll try them. Considering what I was looking for they were the less expensive. $37.95 a month. This was for their basic speed without a phone line. Timewarner would have been $50 after the first 3 months. With bundling other services, I didn’t want a landline. I don’t talk on the phone enough to warrant a landline on top of a cell phone. And cable is provided with my rent.
So my first receipt as I told you guys were that it was suppose to be activated on the 11/13. Which was very confusing since I was during self activation and set up. Anyway I stayed home Friday waiting for a package/person to come and set it up. But nothing happened. On top of that I had homework I needed and I wasn’t being able to connect to anything after I posted on here. Well I wake up today intent on cleaning the whole place. But first I wanted to mail one of the Netflix movies. So around 11:45 I went out and noticed I just missed the mailman which meant he wouldn’t be picking up my movie. I was rather sad, went back to my door and there was a note saying that he had tried to deliver my package but no one was home. Um…dude you didn’t even knock…how rude.
So I shuffled up to the office where he had left the package…which is weird since he was just now leaving my building and going to the next one (read: he totally left the package up there before he left the note on my door…jerk). I get the package back home and start set it up. But it’s like call this number to register service. Well I call but my cell phone doesn’t have access to that number. Gah! So I call the help line…an hour and half later I’ve finally got everything set up. Most of that time was spent talking to a machine that kept going in circles. The man who finally talked to me was name Bob…how great is that?!
So far I’m liking the speed. I haven’t tested it on GuildWars yet because I couldn’t find my copy or my dad’s copy of XP so I have to go buy it from school. It’ll only cost $5…in theory. I’ll probably have the IT people do it, that way if something weird happens they already have it. And be responsible.
I’m going to do a post with the cake pics from yesterday now. ‘kay bye
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November 14, 2009 at 1:14 pm (Life in General)
Tags: Friends
Last night my friend made a comment that stuck me the wrong way, I’m sure she didn’t mean it the way I took it but I still need to talk about it. So when she was talking me home she made mention that the lady in charge of the subcommittee of my scholarship made mention that she thought I was one of the strongest scholar to go through what I’ve been through. And that she understands that it’s been a rough semester for me. She also thought that I’ve been very dedicated to doing a good job with all the things I’ve been doing lately. Including my application work, my prior work history, and that jazz she’s just really impressed with me as a person. Now all that said made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
But then Jen goes “So she’s telling me all this and I’m like I helped too.”
What? Ummm my undergrad work is all me. Yes you said something about the program and scholarship but you weren’t the only one and nor were you the first one. In fact I had already plan on coming back to school this semester, I never said I wasn’t for some reason you thought I was along with all of my family. I had already been researching the program and the scholarship. I had people on the committee talking to me about the scholarship. So if you have some grand notion that you were the one who is responsible for me getting the scholarship and getting into the program…yeah no. Yes I asked you for advice on my personal statement because you just graduated from the program. I thought you would know what they would be looking for in a candidate. Yes I asked you to hang out with me while I worked on a paper. Is it my fault that you seem to think I’m not able to do stuff by myself all of a sudden? I will admit to having some qualms about doing that but that was with my Dad. And he never ever did homework for me. If I had a paper I had to write it first and then he would look over it, make suggestions and we would talk about it. Brainstorm together, not only on my things but also on his stuff. I think that’s what I was going to miss not someone doing my work. I’ve never had that done before. I stand on my brainpower it’s what makes me who I am. I also think it rubbed me the wrong way because she’s trying to find a better job and granted that person is in a place of power…I am making a good impression on a lot of people in power at Jackson Library. I was making impressions on people when I was a student worker. It’s not my fault that you haven’t been able to do the same and you’ve worked there. Don’t use me as a way to get yourself noticed.
But I have notice that she’s kind of taken over things. And I’ve mention that I don’t like the fact that I feel like I have so many people telling me what I need to do for my degree. Anyone who knows me know that a bulk at authority, well authority who don’t respect my smartness. I just think if I tell you I have a paper to do or a project to do, that’s not an invitation for you to say this is what you need to do. For example I told her I was going to the public library to do some observation for the project/paper I have due in LIS 600. The library I was going to just so happen to be one that my old boss is the branch manager of now.
Somehow I get an email from my friend saying she’s made lunch plans for our old boss and her husband and that that would be a good time to ask for an interview/ get an interview, um, no first of don’t assume I need your help. Second of all if I’m having lunch with them it’s to have lunch with them not to do homework, time to catch up and stuff.
And then you go and make a statement like that, no I’m sorry don’t claim my hard work as your own. Now that you realize you’ve made major mistakes in your career path. It’s time like this that explain why I don’t like asking people for help or advice, because then they feel like they have a right in your success. Now I’m not saying that my friend hasn’t been helpful, just don’t try to take over. I’ll never be that type of person who will be okay for others to get the credit of my work.
Like I said maybe I’m taking this the wrong way. There’s a chance that it’s all my fault. Maybe I should be more careful of what I say, like when I say things like “I couldn’t have done this without you.” Honestly it’s just a saying people. I think I’ll be less open with my schoolwork, problems in life general. Well until I can find a friend who doesn’t try to take over my life. No living through me because your life isn’t what you wants it to be. I think it’s the same principle that got me so upset when her husband and I had that slight argument and he said, “Well you didn’t listen to us when we told you to buy use furniture.” Again I never asked for your advice you decided to tell me, I don’t have to listen to you. Second of have I complained about my spending money on quality furniture that I love so much…yeah no.
I think I’ve just spent to much time with her as a friend, but you know when the person has no other friends to hang out with it’s kind of hard to just distance yourself some.
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November 13, 2009 at 1:13 pm (Family, Life in General)
Tags: Grandma, AT&T internet
Yesterday was the homecoming services for my Grandma, “Big Red”. I actually was able to go in while the casket was open. It’s a big deal for me; I wasn’t able to do that with my Dad. I just couldn’t make myself do that. I don’t know for some people it’s a way of closure, for me not so much I guess. Also everyone else was going to be going in, even my sister so I decided I could do it. Halfway up the aisle I broke down in tears, I just couldn’t help myself. Thankfully my brother was willing to give me his shoulder so he walked down with me. It was the first dead body that I have ever seen and I didn’t like it all. I don’t think she looked like my Grandma at all, but I guess that’s okay. I do believe that her spirit what made her my Grandma, is already in heaven. My Dad’s mom was there with my Grandfather and Aunt, since I was able to sit my Mom; I went and sat with her to get some motherly love. I’m just glad the day is over and done with.
I came back kind of early, I just needed to be in my own home. Plus I didn’t know if the AT&T people were going to come and set up my Internet today. The original receipt I got had them slated to come today, however the emails I got afterwards (there were like 5 of them) had them coming Monday. I would like them to come today simply because I need to do homework and the Internet is being stupid. So I can only hope they come today but I there’s a bigger chance that they are coming Monday. Just as long as it’s before 4pm.
Today I need to clean my place. I sort of cleaned before I left but not really. I need to wash clothes, vacuum, sweep and mop, clean off the dinning room table, clean my stove and clean off my desk. I’m thinking about changing the living room set up. I’m not sure. I also have some fall window stickies I need to put up.
I made a cake this morning because I wanted too…and also I found another cake decorator thingy I want to try out. Maybe I’ll take pictures and post them.
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November 7, 2009 at 3:06 pm (Family, Life in General)
Tags: Grandma
So yet again the Angel of Death has visited my family. This time he took my Grandma, my mom’s mom. I must say I’m handling this way better then I did my dad. A few tears this morning when I was telling my friend that she had passed. She died of natural causes. We think she knew the end was coming, she had recently been talking about grave plots and insurance things these last few months.
We also think she was sicker than she was letting on and that she just didn’t want to tell anyone to burden them. We’ll never know for sure. The funeral is going to be sometime next week.
Now I’ve got two guardian angels looking after me.
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November 6, 2009 at 1:13 pm (Life in General)
Tags: Alvin and the Chipmunks, Netflix, Psych, Sketchers, Space Chimps, Tennis Shoes
Those two things have nothing in common other than me. XD
So I’ve been thinking about getting Netflix for the last couple of months. My dad had it and it seemed like a pretty good turn around. I mean everytime I turned around he was getting new movies. My mom continued the service and she was telling me that I should get it cause she thought I would like it. I decided to go with the two week free trail. I do like the fact that they have a lot of videos to choose from. I signed up for it on Tuesday and I got my first shipment on Wednesday, that’s a good turn around. I got the first disc of season 3 of Psych, Space Chimps, and Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Alvin and the Chipmunks was okay, I’ll probably never ever watch again and I’m glad I didn’t buy it. Space Chimps was very funny and I watched that twice before I sent it back. In fact whenever I find that for less than $10 I’m so going to buy it. Disc 1 of Season 3 of Psych was as funny as I thought it would be and put so much in perspective for season 4. Once it’s for under $30 it’s on my list to buy. Right now Target has it for $40 and Walmart doesn’t haven’t it at all. Online it’s going for $45…on E-bay it’s going for $50. Overall I’m liking the service and for unlimited video exchange it only cost $20/month. I think I can swing that.
As far as tennis shoes goes I need some I’ve been trying to buy since this summer. The thing is I need serious shoes, not for fashion shoes. I have plenty of those. But I need some that are meant for cross-training. One’s I can wear when I go walking or strength training. Those cost some money. So I’ve been looking and waiting for a good sale to come around. I’m going to get look this weekend. Hopefully I’ll get some this time around.
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November 5, 2009 at 6:56 pm (Life in General, Money)
Tags: Grocery Shopping, Harris Teeter Triple, Target
My shopping trip from Harris Teeter Triples…
All right, here we go, I must state that I did not go into the store with any preplanned list. I had no concrete idea of what I was going to get. I know I said I was going to do a list but I gave up I just didn’t want to go through all that sitting up there on those hard chairs. I figured since my coupons were all nicely organized I could just thumb through them in store and if something was on sale that I wanted/needed I could decided if I wanted to buy it.
For those of you who don’t know Harris Teeter triples all coupons up to .99, so if something is .75 (I’ve never seen one for .99- if it’s a $1 or more it doesn’t triple or double) it will triple to $2.25. That’s a good thing. However there is a limit to 20 coupons used in one transaction, and if I’m not mistaken in one day…it’s linked to your VIC card…if don’t have one go get one now!
Okay so first thing first my receipt was over a foot long. I got some things for free, a lot of things for under $1 and the rest on some good sales. I only had a few rules, only get things that was on sale and I had a coupon for and if it wasn’t on sale I had to have a coupon that made it close to free as possible if not free at all. For instance Bird’s Eye frozen vegetables were not on sale, it was $2.69 and I got for .44. I got it because it’s the Asian Medley…that would be perfect for when I try the fried rice again.
Here’s are some things that I’m really excited about:
- Airwick’s compact I-motion starter kit, originally for $10.99 on sale for $7.99 I had a $4 off coupon, got it for $3.99. I’ve been wanting to try this for a while, since I don’t like air freshener sprays.
- Bounce Dryer Bar (2 months) originally for $4.99, on sale for 3.99. I had a .50 off coupon, tripled for $1.50, got it for $2.49. (Not an awesome deal but it made it worth my while to try a new product.)
- Scrubbing Bubbles Foam Shower Cleaner, originally $3.49, on sale for $2.50. I had a .75 off, tripled to $2.25. Got it for .25.
- I got two Oral B toothbrushes for free ^_^
- Prilosec OTC 14 day originally $11.49 on sale for $9.99, I had a $3 off coupon, got it for $7.99. Again not an awesome deal, but my mom just got prescribed to take these by her doctor. But since they are over the counter, her insurance doesn’t cover them, they way to expensive…$12 for a 14 day supply…really? I’m glad I was able to grab these for her. That’s $12 she can save. And I’m out $8.
In total I spent $31.94 and save a whopping $49.01. Just under $50. I paid just over $30 for $80 worth of food. That’s super awesome in my eyes.
Then I had to go to Target to get some Clorox Toilet Bowel Cleaner Wand Pads Refills, I was down to my last one after cleaning my bathroom today. Harris Teeter had them for sale $3.99 for a 6pk. Well I didn’t have a coupon and my friend said I would be able to get them cheaper at Target. So went there and guess what they weren’t cheaper. Well not really, the thing was their 6pk and their 10pk for some odd reason were the same price $4.10. Of course I got the 10pk, in theory it’s a better price to get the extra 4 pads for just .11 more.
So that was this week’s shopping, for dinner I cooked “Chicken” and Broccoli Alfredo. It turned out all right but the noodles could have been cooked just a bit longer and the fake chicken just tastes funny no matter what I stick it in. *Sigh* Now I’m going to bed.
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November 5, 2009 at 2:56 pm (Family, Fiction Writing, Life in General, Money, Personal Finances, School)
Tags: Ren Faire, NaNoWriMo 2009, School Project, Grocery Shopping, MorningStar Farms, Internets
I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those people who can write in a blog/journal every single day. I just don’t think my life is ever going to be that interesting. So anyway, I did start the NaNo story and promptly fell behind. But that’s okay I’m going to catch up one day…like soon. I promise. It’s just so many things distracting me. And I didn’t plan and so now I’m winging it and that’s not an excuse it’s just facts. I haven’t written in so long that I’m out of practice. So I’m not focusing on getting to 50,000 or even 25,000, I’m just focusing on writing a story. I think the basis of my story is awesome. Granted because I’ve been so wrapped up in Halloween the past month that it’s going to have a tinged of dark side in there. But it’s going to be an awesome story even if it kills me…which it probably will because as of now the plot stinks like no body’s business.
In other news I’m breaking down and going to pay for internet. I know shocking, but since last weekend my hacked connection has been very weak. And I don’t like that, not at all. I live off the internet.
I got an A on my fun project…she was really impressed with my knowledge of cartoons and creating websites. Go me. I’ve got some serious papers due this month, another reason why I need the internet, it’s not convenient to come up to the wireless cafe (these seats hurt my bottom) or ride up to campus. I don’t want to be there all day and then I don’t want to ride the with my friend back…her car is still not cleaned out. Plus her husband always wants to ride there and he doesn’t understand the fact that I’m not there to keep him company. It still wouldn’t be worth having a car over either.
So my mom and brother did come last weekend but we didn’t make it to the Faire, I felt like crap the next morning and then it was rainy and muggy and just plain gross. So we opted not to go. Instead we went out to Cracker Barrell, I hadn’t been there in years, in fact I’ve only been there once and I didn’t like it. But they love it so we went and it was a lot better this time. Still can’t eat a full serving of pancakes anymore but the syrup was so good. We then we shopping, so I could find a winter/fall coat…then I realize I don’t wear coats. So I got a hoodie from the man’s department in Target. It’s so comfy.
I tried one of those new recipes I found on MorningStar Farms site, and it was pretty good. I’m going grocery shopping again today because Harris Teeter is have triple coupon. I hope my friend’s husband has to work…I don’t like going shopping with him. He’s like a spoiled five year old who keeps asking are we done and throws a fit if he can’t get something special. I’m still trying to see what she saw in him other than a chance to have a kid without birthing the sucker. Oh well. Laters!
B.J.
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October 31, 2009 at 2:38 pm (Life in General, Money)
Tags: Grocery Shopping
I forgot to write a post about my grocery-shopping trip last week. So I’m going to write and post this as if I had written it last week.
Before I went to the store I stopped and got $40 dollars out of the bank. I had hoped only to spend that much at the store total. I originally only planned on going to Harris Teeter. The on down the street from my house, so you do know neither one of those things happened right?
Okay so we did go to the Harris Teeter, and the problem was that there just weren’t a lot of things on sale in general. Nothing that I needed rather was on sale. I still have a problem of compulsive spending, i.e. two 12pack soda. Granted I spent $2.50 on each. There were too many things I bought that weren’t on sale, but I tried to get things that I had coupons for. In total I spent $35.52, and I saved $17.81.
Why go to the other store? Well, I didn’t get any of my staples, because in general Harris Teeter’s staple prices are very expensive, compared to Lowe’s Food. So we went to Lowe’s Food. I spent way more here, not that many things I had coupons for. For instance like the Pamprin that I needed to get or else I would die from pain. However there were a number of things that were on sale. For instance the Morning Star Farms items were 3 for $9.99 like I said. Although Harris Teeter did have some of the items on sale and for .33 cheaper, but not all of those were the ones I wanted to get. In total I spent $62.80, yeah I know I so didn’t want to spend that much but I needed a lot of things since I was almost out. I saved $20.07 most of that was rewards savings. I hate that they’ve changed their rewards system. Although I never actually cashed in any green points, I wanted to save them for a rainy day. Now I have to wait till I get $5 in rewards before I get a $5 print out. I’m at $1.22. I’m still not sure how the system works; to me it doesn’t seem worth it.
In total I spent $98.32 and saved $32.88. But I now have way too much soda in my fridge, the two 12pks and a 6pk (it was on sale at Lowe’s for $1.35- it was on sale and then there was a coupon on the item itself.)
B.J.
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October 30, 2009 at 2:19 pm (Life in General, Personal Finances)
Tags: Dietician, Printer, vegetarianism
Has anyone seen that movie being played this year on tv? I haven’t, and I’ve been waiting for it. I had to go the clubhouse and check it out cause I wanted to watch it so badly.
Okay so I ended up getting the new printer, I asked enough people who believed it was time to recycle that printer and the price for the new one was a good price. It took a while to get it to set up properly.
At any rate as you know I went vegetarian back in the summer. Well I kind of didn’t do it right, well right in the way that most doctors think you should do it. By slowly eliminating meat from your diet over a period of months. I just stop eating meat altogether in one day. But I have to confess I was craving meat for weeks now. And I hadn’t been feeling so good since then, headache and lethargic and a little dizzy every now and then. It felt like when I’m low on iron.Which I probably was because I hadn’t been taking any supplements. Well yesterday I had to give in. At first I tried to fight it cause I was sure people would say see I knew you couldn’t handle it. But then I was like well I don’t care, and no one was really like that. Very supportive. I ended up going to Wendy’s and getting a small cheeseburger. I had no adverse affects and to tell you the truth my soul was happy afterwards.
I’m not giving up on the vegetarian deal, I just don’t know what to do now. I mean maybe I’m one of those weird people who need to have some kind of meat every now and then. I really need to go and talk to a dietician, maybe I’ll do it some time in November. I did email the one on campus today to see if I can set up an appointment. But I would have to pay the health fee and I think its like $120. That’s a lot of money, if I can make it till January hopefully I’ll get a refund. Well I need to figure out what I’m going to buy for groceries this week. Laters!
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