Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you! My family and I traveled down to Florida to visit my grandparents. It took us about 19 hours, but we made it. It was BEAUTIFUL on Christmas, sunny and high of 80 degrees. Christmas day consisted of going to mass, sharing gifts, going to the pool, enjoying a delicious dinner, and watching a movie. My Mom, Grandma, Chris, and I spent some of the afternoon at the pool (although I don't think that I got much sun, oh well). It was a great day with my family, hope you had a great day as well!


Christmas Day Pictures...

Mom, Me, and Grandma

Grandpa and Grandma

Family

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Sign above the theater

I finally was able to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying! My Mom was nice to buy me tickets and come along with me :) We bought the tickets a couple months ago and I was anticipating it ever since. It was a 10 out of 10! It exceeded my expectations. Although we were seated in the second to the last row, we could see well and still enjoyed it. 

What to know more about it? Here is the description from the website:
"See acclaimed star DANIEL RADCLIFFE (Equus on Broadway, Harry Potter film series) and Tony® Award winner JOHN LARROQUETTE (Night Court, The Practice) make their Broadway musical debuts in this hilarious fable of executive dreams and office romance.

With the aid of a trusty self-help book How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, wily window washer J. Pierrepont Finch (Daniel Radcliffe) enjoys a riotous rise up the corporate ladder. Can he get the promotion, the corner office and the girl, or will he learn balancing business and pleasure can be precarious—but hilarious and oh, so much fun?"

Me

Mom

I got to see Daniel Radcliffe! I was so nervous that his understudy would be playing that night, but nope, it was him. He was fun to watch because he played such a silly character AND he sang. The only other time I have seen him act is on his serious act in Harry Potter. Overall, the play was funny and very entertaining. I would highly recommend seeing it! Darren Criss (from Glee) will be taking over Daniel Radcliffe's part starting January 2nd. I actually wouldn't mind seeing it again, it was that GOOD! 

Amazing Day in NYC!

Yesterday was quite a day in NYC! My Mom and I left the house early afternoon. The primary reason why we  went to NYC was because I really wanted to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway which features Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter :) ) The play didn't start until 8 pm so we decided to go early and explore other parts of the city. 


We first wanted to check out Chelsea Market. Click here for more info. We walked which was about 2.5 miles, but it was nice outside (besides the little sprinkling). We walked around Chelsea Market and got to see lots of delicious food. We weren't hungry then, so we didn't eat there. The coolest thing was we saw Emma Stone (from Easy A, The Help) and her boyfriend Andrew Garfield (from the new Spider-Man)!!! I was walking inside and I saw Emma Stone eating lunch! I told my Mom and she said "No way!" I said "Yes!" and so we had to walk back to where they were sitting to check it out. I didn't know who the guy was but my Mom informed me it was Garfield her boyfriend. I wanted to take a picture, but I was too afraid. There was no one around them, so I didn't want to attract attention. I wonder how many people actually recognized them? I was surprised I actually did. It was very exciting. I had to walk pass them at least five times to get several looks. Ha! I even asked if we were going to see any famous people, and I did!!

Outside Chelsea Market

After Chelsea Market we headed to Little Italy and Chinatown to find a place to eat dinner. I had never been there before. We took the Subway for the first time and we were successful, although it's a little confusing. We ate at a restaurant called La Mela. It was delicious! 


After eating dinner we took the Subway to Rockefeller Plaza to see the giant Christmas tree. It was beautiful as usual. Lots of people were ice skating. Since we had some more time to spare until the play started, we stopped to get some drinks and a cupcake from Junior's. It was nice to sit outside, people watch, and enjoy some sweetness. 

Christmas tree in Rockefeller

Then it was finally time for the PLAY!! It was definitely a 10 out of 10. Check out this post about How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. 

Simple Potato Soup

I'm home for Christmas break! And you know what that means? It's cold here (and in the house especially). What's the best thing to eat when it's cold? SOUP, of course. Last night my mom suggested making some potato soup. I volunteered to make it since I love to cook. She said that she doesn't really use a recipe but the way she makes her potato soup was adapted from a recipe at some point. It is really easy to make it didn't take long at all. 


Simple Potato Soup
Ingredients:
8 potatoes skinned and cubed
6 cups water
6 bouillon cubes (chicken flavor) 
1 cup milk
pepper, dill, cumin (any spices you would like to taste)


Directions:
Boil the water and bouillon cubes in a large pot. Add the potatoes and spices. Stir and keep boiling. After about 15 minutes the potatoes should be soft. Use a spatula to mash the potatoes against the pot. Leave a few chunks of potatoes in the mixture. Turn the heat down and add the milk, stir. Turn the heat to low. Stirring occasionally let it sit on the stove for another 10 minutes. ENJOY! :) 


It tastes really good with some sprinkled cheese and saltine crackers. 


Serves 5. Time: 40 minutes

Princess of China (feat. Rihanna)

I got the newest Coldplay CD MyloXyloto from Scott for Christmas. It has some really great songs on it, including this one: Princess of China (ft. Rihanna).

Hi My Name is Rudolph

Last Friday, I was Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer....well my hair was! I found this tacky Christmas hair on Pinterest (of course!) Here is the official blog I got the idea from: Princess Piggies. My awesome friend, Beth did it for me. 

Materials needed: 

LOTS of bobby pins (I believe there were 21 in my hair!)

Large Red pompom

2 googly eyes

Sock (for the sock bun) 

3 brown pipe cleaners

Hot glue gun to glue the nose and eyes to the bobby pins

LOTS and LOTS of hairspray 

Refer to the link about for instructions....

My friend's Erin and Beth posing with Rudolph

Festive Popcorn

For the Advent Party last night I made white-chocolate covered popcorn with M&M's that my mom has made several times. I think it's delicious and some other people at the party thought so well. (We also had Oreo Balls since those always seem to be a big hit) Below is the recipe for the popcorn.


Ingredients:
3 Popped bags of plain/salted popcorn
9 Blocks of Almond Bark vanilla
2 1/2 cups of red and green M&M's
2 Blocks of Almond Bark chocolate for drizzling (optional)
Wax paper, big bowl, baggie


Directions:
Melt the vanilla Almond Bark and mix in a big bowl with the popped popcorn. Stir really well to get all the pieces coated with vanilla. (It may feel like you are smashing the popcorn, but don't be afraid to stir hard!) Then mix in the M&M's. Stir well! Put the mixture on wax paper and spread out so it dries quickly and not in clumps. Melt the chocolate Almond Bark and spoon into a plastic sandwich baggie. Cut on corner and drizzle over the popcorn. It will probably take about 30-60 minutes for it to completely dry. Break apart and put in a bowl. Serve and enjoy :)

My friend Erin with the M&M's

YUMMM

Waiting in Joyful Hope

It's about time that I write a solid blog post! Last week and this week have been crazy, but it is almost over. Yesterday I gave three presentations and today I took two finals. Now all I have left are three finals next week. Then, it's home free! Can't wait to get home to celebrate Christmas and travel to Florida to visit my grandparents as well. Speaking of "can't wait" last weekend I went on retreat that was all about waiting or anticipating. 

A group of us from the Catholic Center stayed at cabins by Kentucky Lake. It was great to get away for a weekend. There were a total of five talks and I gave one of them. They were the introduction, God's plan for you/vocations, Chasity, Advent, and the second coming/heaven. Each one of them was thought-provoking and I felt like I grew closer to God and to the others girls on the retreat. I gave the God's plan/vocations talk for the girls. I enjoyed giving the talk and adding in some of my opinion as well. 


Here is a prayer that I like. I found it and decided to include it as my concluding prayer.

Almighty God, father God, God of great mercy. I love and am grateful I can come before you knowing you accept me as your child whom you love.  Thank you so much dear Jesus that you are with me where ever I go. Like a child in his mother's arms I come to you. Take ownership of me, guide me, prompt me, teach me, and instruct me dear God in the way I should go. May your great plan for my life be fulfilled so I may be closer to you. Thank you dear God for all you have done. Amen.

(Originally written on 12-9-11)

The Afters - Light Up The Sky

When I’m feeling all alone and so far to go
The signs are nowhere on this road guiding me home
When the night is closing in
It’s falling on my skin
Oh God will You come close


Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me


When stars are hiding in the clouds
I don’t feel them shining
When I can’t see beyond my doubt
The silver lining
When I’ve almost reached the end
Like a flood You’re rushing in
Love is rushing in


Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me


So I run straight to Your arms
You’re the bright and morning Sun
To show Your love, there’s nothing You won’t do


Light, light, light up the sky
You light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me


Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You are with me
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You are with me
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Busy, Busy

I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't been able to update my blog. Well, considering I left my laptop charger at home, I have to go the library every time I need to use a computer! But I will put up some new posts soon!