Shopping Today, Baking Yesterday (and the day before)

Ok, it's seriously SERIOUSLY been wayyyyyy tooo long since I have blogged!  I know that I keep getting way behind in our other ministry blog and I figured it was pretty bad for this one, but almost 2 whole months have gone by!  That is SERIOUSLY out of control!  But, here I am!  We are venturing out today to do our pre-Christmas shopping... meaning, scout out what in the world's out there!  Being in a new country, we are going to have to put out our feelers.  Not only for where and what to buy, but looking for the cheapest prices...  It really does feel like the start of the Christmas season, which I know seems a bit early to be starting in October, but I think the coldness of the season here plus all the rain makes it seem a whole lot closer to Christmas.  Although, I was reminded yesterday that yes, there are only 2 months left!  Every time I think of counting down the days, I am reminded of that scene from the Grinch in the beginning where the Whos down in Whoville are Christmas shopping and it is the most chaotic thing EVER!  And, there is someone always shouting out how many hours are left to buy all those gifts :)  Funny!

To kick of this season, I start getting in that mood of wanting to BAKE!  Tuesday night, I busted out all the ingredients to make my apple pie!  Now, seeing that they don't have crisco here, I had to ask for a pie crust recipe without crisco.  I got one, but then I perfected it to my liking.  And now, I couldn't be happier!  I experimented with Bromley apples, since I know have access to them living here in the UK, and seriously liked them!  YUM!  Different than those granny smith in the way that they cook and their flavour is just a tad different, but YUM.  I think next time, I am going to experiment with putting different spices into the crumble topping.

My next baking adventure was last night.  I made pumpkin bread.  And seriously?? I LOVE all things pumpkin!  Just a couple weeks ago I made pumpkin cream sandwiches!  Deeeeellliiiisssshhhh!  The bread was a mix from Trader Joes that one of our friends brought us from the states.  It was suggested to make a streusel topping which I played around with and decided it was exactly what they bread needed for the topping!  That, drizzled with a bit of icing and it made the bread!  Everyone in the house LOVED it! So much so, that there is hardly anything left of it!   I have a tin of pumpkin in my cupboard that I am saving for something really great... apple pumpkin butter.  Once I make it, I will let you know how it turned out.... if anyone really reads this thing :)

That's all I can think of for now!  Happy baking!

Seriously? Seriously!
Trista

Rainy Day Box-o-Fun

I just realised that the blog title makes it sound like it rained today, but it didn't!  I am anticipating all the rainy days we will eventually have and decided that I am going to make a rainy day box-o-fun!  Hitting up the art supply store today to get my free art supplies definitely added to that box-o-fun {if you want to read more about my day, you can visit my other blog... parklondon.blogspot.com}  I am open to any suggestions that anyone has about what to add into my box-of-fun!  I will tell you what I have so far:

*a half finished scarf*

*acrylic paints and canvases* 

*sketch book*

*charcoal stuff*

That's not very much stuff!  I must think of some more fun *cheap* projects!  

I know it's seriously short, but I am getting very sleepy!  Must get to sleep!  Church in the morning! 

trista.

Fun Project of the week!

I was trying to figure out how to organise my work space.  Suzanne had given me some containers that were originally for some wall art to use as pencil holders that I had placed on my desk a couple of weeks ago.  After looking at them for a couple of weeks, I decided they needed some "tristifying", which basically means that they needed a trista makeover!  I thought with some cute paper and some rubber cement, I could come up with something cute to put on my desk.  While I was at the grocery store yesterday, I picked up some wrapping with cute flowers and butterflies.  After working for a bit once I got home from the grocery store, I decided it was time for a break and created my cute pencil holders!  All it took was cutting them down to size and rubber cementing the paper on.  Next time, I would probably use thicker paper as I had to double up otherwise the writing from these cardboard canisters shown through.  Doubling it up caused some creasing on the bottom and top that I don't exactly love.  But, for now, I seriously LOVE them!  They work great and look super cute on my desk!!!!

xoxo

Coffee and Tea! Sounds good to me!!

A few years ago, I decided that I did NOT want to drink coffee EVER again!  I began drinking all kinds of tea.  I LOVE tea!  There are loads of flavours to choose from!  I was doing really well with not having any coffee whatsoever, until Saturday.  When I had my very first cup of coffee in a very long time.  {Hubby did remind me that last year while we were in Paris I had a cup of coffee, but I couldn't recall}  Anyway, it was decaf {I clearly don't need the caffeine} and so tasty!  I have to admit, I didn't stop drinking it because I didn't like it, but I had to stop because I couldn't live a day without it!  Seriously!  No GOOD!  And, the place that I was working at when I decided to stop had a pot of coffee on all day, so I would drink it all. day. long.  Unhealthy!  No one should drink coffee that much.  That led to tummy aches and headaches, blah blah blah.  Oh, and in the midst of that, I had heard something about green tea being good for you.  So, I made the switch.

But, the other day, David had coffee and I could taste it in my mouth.  Seriously!  I could!  So, I HAD to HAVE a sip... or three.  That led to me making my own cup on Saturday from those instant via coffee packets from Starbucks {one of my FAVOURITE places EVER - not just because of their drinks, but because of the amazing ministry opportunity God has given me there right now}.  Oh, and I chatted with one of my friends early that day who said I should treat myself to coffee once a week.  So, instead of it becoming a necessary essential part of the day, I decided that I want to keep it as a special treat and stick to decaf.

While I was working the other day, I had gone to Starbucks for some chai tea {my absolute FAVOURITE!} and seeing my special Starbucks mug from the states that I had them put my tea in, I decided I wanted to be fun and take cute photobooth pics of me enjoying my Starbucks tea.  So, here they are:)

Ending with my Favourite!!!

Must get Recipes!!!

Hi those who read my blog.  I need YOUR help!  {picture smokey bear pointing finger at you and saying "only you can prevent forest fires}

Basically, this AMAZING place I live in does not seem to have crisco...

What that means...

I am MISSING a very major ingredient for my very special most amazing PIE CRUST that my wonderful aunt had taught me how to make...

Reader, here is where you come in....

Any delicious pie crust recipes?  Post them to my blog so I can experiment and hopefully find a good one!

Mind you, my aunt's in my all time FAVOURITE!  And I know it's going to be different, but, without pie crust, that means NO PIE!  And that is a serious tragedy!  Especially if you know how much my hubby LOVES...

APPLE PIE!!!!

One other recipe that I am looking for....

PIZZA DOUGH!!!  {YUM}

Seriously looking forward to what you post!

I LOVE PINK!

In case you haven't figured it out by now, my favourite colour in the whole entire world is the colour pink! I hated it when I was younger, but I have now grown to LOVE it!  It is the most beautiful colour!!!  And because I like it soooooooooo much, I buy things that are pink.  If I had my way, I am sure our whole bedroom would be pink, but because I love my hubby and know that he probably wouldn't like that very much, it's not pink...  It's blue.  But, because I can't have an entire room full of pink, I get super excited when I get a pink accessory.  So, the other day, I was at Marks & Spencer (a grocery store just by our house) I poked my head over at their clearance.  And guess what I found!?!  PINK SHOES!!!  I have been looking for flats that I can wear out and about when I don't want to wear flip flops but have NO desire to wear trainers.  These are the perfect in-between shoe!  And the best part!?!?  They were CHEAP!!!!  Living on a missionary budget doesn't allow to buy things very much at all and forget paying full price!  That's why I charity shop!  But, occasionally you can find GREAT deals in store, just like these shoes...  So, before I continue on about how much I seriously am EXCITED for these shoes, I'll just show you a picture:)

Or two...

I seriously LOVE pink shoes!!!

Yummy in my Tummy!

Today was.... BAKING DAY!!  YAY!!  About a month ago, one my dearest friends from the states sent me a care package with some of my favourite things!  Among those things that I have been missing were two bags of the Trader Joes gluten free brownie mix!  YUM!!!  I just have to say, I totally made a mistake!  The back of the bag says to bake for 30 mins or until a toothpick can be stuck in the centre without gooeyness coming out with it.  Well, I did that little test, and SERIOUSLY!  It did not come out clean after 30 mins of baking time.  So, I kept it going and going....  till I burned the brownies... OOPS!!!  No good!  It was sooooo silly of me!  Normally, I know my limits, but I was just having a very hard time telling if it was done or not.  The brownies were making this bubbling effect which really made it seem like they were not finished.  Also, with this oven, I think it tends to bake on the hotter side of things and it just seems to go a lot quicker.  So, they were probably done right on time, but I didn't listen and baked them longer.  And, for the first time EVER, I used a silicone baking pan which seemed to change things a bit anyway.  The good news is?  I still ate some!  And, I have another bag to play with.  I will probably wait a few weeks till I have recovered from burntness of this batch.  

On the upside!  I made Sweet Potato Bread!!!  It is the best thing I have EVER had!  Well, at least today anyway!  The funny thing is, we have been looking for some sort of pumpkin bread thing which is one of my most favourite things EVER and can't find a mix and the pumpkin in a can is actually quite expensive!  Since it's not autumn, there aren't any pumpkins to puree even if I wanted to!!!  NOPE!  NONE!!  So, I am now decided that this sweet potato bread is the next best thing.  It has almost all the yumminess pumpkin bread would have... I subbed a few things out for healthier options... and you could add whatever spices it doesn't have that pumpkin bread would have as well!  SUPER EASY!!!!  I have heard some very funny things about sweet potatoes... know anything?  I am thoroughly convinced they are one of my favourite things!!!  By the time I baked this bread, I knew I needed to watch it and take it out on the earlier side... so I did.  It only took 20 minutes!  A lot shorter than the recipe said, but I knew that probably would be the case as I didn't not use the size loaf pan they said to use cause I don't have one and I probably won't get one until absolutely necessary!  I can't wait to have some yumminess in the morning!  I think I will go to bed now dreaming of sweet potato bread..  It makes me want to watch ELF!! SERIOUSLY!  It smells like CHRISTMAS!!!  Oooooo!!! Christmas in London!!!! It's gonna be AMAZING!!!  And, the weather today is really dreary.... that makes it seem like autumn and winter are right around the corner....

Seriously? Seriously YUMMY!!!!

Fun projects!

I love it when I get to do fun little projects that don't take up too much time!  Back when I was in York, I found the cutest art shop EVER!!! It was SERIOUSLY, super CUTE!  I had a little bit of money with me and I found a good deal on a couple of textile paints and some felt like material.  I have been trying to figure out ways to spruce up some basic clothes that I have that have become boring to me and some fun to them!  Since I have misplaced my paintbrushes during the move, I can't use the paints yet (hopefully soon) but I can use the fabric!  I decided to take one of my plain white jumpers and add some cuteness!  I love how bright our room is when you open all the curtains.  I can imagine how much fun it would be to hang a wedding dress from these windows and shoot away!  It's great for getting fun, soft lighting on this dreary day for detail shots!  So, here on the right is a picture of my boring jumper.

Here is my finished flower!  It was soooo simple!  I just made a template of a petal, used the template to cut out the pieces of fabric and then hot glued it all together!  In the back, I added a safety pin so that I can pin it to my clothes so that it's not permanent.  I wasn't ready to take that serious step!  Not yet anyway...

I went to the library yesterday and found some fun fashion books that I am hoping to get some fun tips out of...  More projects to come!!!!!

Seriously!  It's fun!!!

My Lost Recipes

My wonderful aunt is has such a gift for baking has given me a few really great recipes over the past few years.  Some recipes that I uses ALL the time!  I put those recipes in a very special zip lock bag before we moved to London.  I made sure I packed them in a very safe place since I would be seriously sad if I ever lost them.  Well, guess what?????  They are lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now, seriously!  If you know me, you will understand what this means!  My perfectly yummy pie crust recipe?  Gone!  My delicious apple pie recipe that David LOVES so much?  GONE!  The only banana bread recipe that I actually like?  GONE!  My favourite cranberry muffin recipe?  GONE!!!!!  And my most favourite most delicious CHOCOLATE SILK PIE RECIPE?????  Yep, you guessed it... GONE!!!  No where to be found!  I have searched high and low!  Gone through every piece of luggage we brought over!  Even went through every box that was on the crate, just in case I remembered incorrectly and possibly put it in one of those boxes.  Torn every board game apart, searched through every book!  NO recipes to be found.  What on earth am I to do????

Here's the problem... My wonderful Aunt is serving the Lord in Peru with her family on a short-term mission trip.  I can't exactly get the recipes from her until she gets back which is sometime at the end of the week.  I am CRAVING pie.  ESPECIALLY the chocolate silk pie.  Ok, wait, maybe I am also craving the baking part of it!  But, by waiting another week, I will have time to let my mouth water even more for it!  And then, when I actually can get ahold of the recipes, they will taste SO YUMMY!  It obviously is worth the wait!

The good news is, I learned something about the flour here.  IT'S NOT THE SAME! So, basically, they don't have something called all-purpuse flour.  Instead, there is plain flour or strong white flour.  I have made a few batches of cookies with none of them turning out as they should.  Wanna know why?  It's because I have been using plain flour this whole time, when I really should have been using strong white flour!  Had I would've had my recipes, the pie crust would have turned out absolutely WRONG!  So, by waiting, I found out the info I needed to know and found the correct flour today while I was at Whole Foods.  The only other thing I really need to get is a rolling.  Which, I couldn't get anyway this week.  So, someday I will have everything I need for a pie, including the recipe.  I can't wait for that day, seriously! I can't!  Until then...

Seriously???  Seriously!

P.S.  I find it funny this blog entry immediately follows the whole yummy dessert blog... go figure:)

What I love about Dessert

The greatest/worst part about moving to another country is getting to try all the AMAZING foods there are.  Being that we live in such an international area, there is just about any food imaginable within reaching distance.  The Camden markets have stalls with so many things to choose from!  Falafels, savoury crepes, mexican food, lots of meat I don't eat.  But because I have a super sweet tooth, what do I go for???  The DESSERTS!

 I remember when I was younger and I was first learning how the spelling difference between dessert and desert and my dad always said "Dessert is spelled with 2 "s's" because you always want seconds!"  Never before in my life have I known this to be true until now!  My sweet tooth has kicked up into overdrive and oh boy do I just want to eat every dessert possible!  The little grocery store down the street has everything from cream puffs, to eclairs, sticky toffee pudding, to chocolate swiss rolls, to chocolate mousse cake, magnum bars...  The list is ENDLESS!  Every time I hit the grocery store, one of those little desserts tempts me over and over again until I cave under the pressure!  My newest favourite thing here are nutella crepes!  Easy to make right in your own home or easy to buy when out at the markets.  The yumminess of the crepe drenched in butter with a super thing layer of nutella topped with a light coat of sugar leaves me drooling for more!  Biscuits everywhere!  These funny ones called Digestives that in no way leave your tummy feeling better than when you first ate one.  Instead, they leave you craving for more!  Seriously!  Too many DESSERTS!

The first few bites of dessert are the most mouth-watering bites!  The ones to come after allow to really taste the different flavours and such.  Before you know it?  It's gone!  Just like that!  This amazing YUMMINESS gone!  And for a spilt second, it leaves you wondering if you really could have seconds or not?

The good news is, I am on a budget - both in $ and in calorie!  We have the most AMAZING park right our or front door that I can run in!  The next step will be training for a marathon?  Perhaps if I can actually find one that is NOT on a Sunday as they all seem to be here.  Maybe my tummy would feel a bit better if I stopped stuffing my face full of this yummy goodness!

So, seriously!  If you ever journey over here, be prepared to taste the wonderfulness of the DESSERTS!  But, be prepared to take a nice long run the next day so that you don't feel as bad when you indulge the very next evening!

Seriously???  Seriously!

My New Favourite Phrase...

We have a phrase that we use in the house quite often.  We started using this phrase back in April when we had to pack up all of our belongings that we wanted to have with us in London and stuck them in the small recording studio at Shoreline in Morro Bay and Bon Voyage, see you in London, hopefully towards the end of June.  Many things we packed up that week.  Including things like pots and pans, a very nice knife set, mixing bowls, spatulas, DVDs, art supplies, cutting boards, board games, warm jackets, shoes, bath towels... and the list could go on for quite awhile.  We had an idea that there was the slight possibility that the house we would move into would actually come furnished and although we weren't quite sure what kind of furnishings might be included, we thought better to ship it over than to have to re-purchase.  And since we didn't have much room in luggage we were actually taking with us, we were unable to fill those bags with those types of odds and ends.  Clothes and such were a bit more necessary:)  What I personally didn't take into account for where those in-between weeks, including the last few days living in Cayucos as well as those first 2 months living here!  Since we said goodbye to those belongings, our new favourite phrase has been "It's on the crate!"  Oh, maybe we should buy some mixing bowls... Nope, they're on the crate.  Oh, perhaps I could use a nice silicon spatula.  No, it's on the crate!  Or, how about a new board game.  Maybe not that one because I think I might have that one on the crate.  It is seriously one of the funniest things EVER!  Because you can almost be guaranteed that there is a thought about needing something or wish I had this or that that the phrase that will follow it will be "It's on the crate!"

The crate should soon be arriving, Lord willing before our first Bible study on the 30th.  It is really going to be like Christmas!  Unwrapping all those boxes and musical instruments!  Oh what fun!  Then this phrase will be long gone forgotten in the memories of this household.  Oh the days when we used to use these 3 pans to make meals for everyone!  How we would have to quickly clean our pots and pan out after use so the next person could make their dinner or scramble their eggs in the morning.  What funny memories!  I am very grateful that the Lord provided this crate in order that we wouldn't have to buy all new things once we got here especially seeing that we had them already and stuff can get expensive and all add up!  I will seriously jump for joy once I see those 10 boxes of ours crammed into the reception rooms along with everyone else's boxes!  Seriously what a day that will be!  But, for now, it's ALL on the crate!

Seriously?  Seriously!!!

Why I like being short

So, the funniest things seriously that happened the other night.  David and I were getting back to our hotel room after an intense day of house hunting (obviously this happened before we had our new home... I am a little behind in posting this).  The room that we had was so funny because it was below ground and didn't have any windows.   The hallway that leading to the room was very narrow and slanted with bright red carpet.  It was lined with interesting paintings and the ceiling had these cool led lights that were motion censored.  Every time we walked down the hall, sets of them would go on depending on what section of the hall we were in.  The floor was the funniest part (aside from the red carpet) it also was very slanted and uneven.  I guess that's what happens when things are built a long time ago.  But anyway, I titled this "Why I like Being Short" and believe it or not, I really really have a point!  So, we were walking through this very colourful hall and in front of us was this really really really tall man.  I have seen so many tall people here.  Not just tall like my friends from MB, but even taller.  It makes me wonder how I am so short.  Anyway, as we were walking, I was noticing that as the floor slanted up, the ceiling slanted down.  The man was walking quite a ways in front of us and I started thinking of this one time, that my family and I had gone to some really cool caves in Northern California, and there was this one cave that kept getting smaller and smaller (like tunnel status).  So much so, you had to crawl.  Very uncomfortable.  And it also reminded me of Willy Wanka and the Chocolate factor with the small room thing... vague memory can't remember exactly why that reminds me of that :) But, as he proceeded down the hall, he was getting too tall!  He had to lean his head over sideways just to fit!  How crazy to be that tall and have to always duck!  Then, I started thinking of all the times I have complained about being short.  But, then I realised, I really do have an advantage sometimes, SERIOUSLY!  When people have to turn their heads sideways, I don't have have to.  When people have to crouch down to get down the staircase that has abnormally low ceilings, I don't have to.  When walking down the street and there is a tree with branches blocking the sideway and people have to duck, move the branch or walk around, I don't have to.  I don't have to watch out when going through a doorway and I never have to worry about the shower faucet being to tall.  Why???  Because, God made me short for a reason!  Otherwise, I am sure that I would definitely be having to ice my head a lot more.  I have plenty of other things that I have to watch out for, so to not have to worry about being to tall to get through any place is a really great thing!  Instead, I have to watch out for being swallowed into a crowd of tall people.  Or, buy a step ladder to reach things in the cupboards.  Or even make sure that I really step over the tub when trying to get into the shower so I don't bang up my knees and shins.  I love being short, seriously, I do!

Seriously??? Seriously!!!

If I only had a brain...

I am trying to remember the last time I knew where my brain was... guess what? I can't remember! I am hoping to find it in London! Yes, I am! Cause if it really isn't there waiting for me, I might be in a whole heap of trouble, seriously!

I was giving my friend a haircut today and we were talking about how busy things have been lately. Actually, the conversation started out by talking about hair product and tangles. That proceeded to go into the funniest conversation I think I have had all day... Being a "blonde" my hair can tend to get a little bit more tangled when it is longer. At the moment, I haven't had a haircut since December, which is driving me BONKERS anyway, but it is getting to that point where when it is wet, the comb doesn't quite go through it easily. Instead, it takes a little of maneuvering through the tangled mess of blonde into a nice combed down time to blow dry tamed mess. What I never thought about is this... I have this silky sirum stuff that I use after I comb it out. Yes, AFTER! What my friend pointed out to me today is that I should really try using that before I comb through my wet hair! DUH! Where I have been since the time I entered beauty school? Not really sure! After I had this epiphany, I proceeded to explain how when I wash my hair, I mix purple shampoo with my regular shampoo which keeps my hair from looking like a golden gong. But, for whatever reason, it tangles my hair. And, unfortunately for me, I can never seem to fully rinse out the shampoo! So, once I am towel drying my hair, I am forced to turn on the ice cold water from the sink and dip my head under it to rinse the rest of the shampoo out. REALLY! SERIOUSLY! WHO DOES THIS? ME, I do I do! She then comforted me and said that I must really just have too much on my brain that I can't seem to rinse all the shampoo out of my hair the first time! And yes, I am hoping when on the other side of the pond, I will actually find my brain and remember how it's done. Or, maybe even possibly once I get my haircut next week and it's must shorter, more manageable, healthy, and soft, the shampoo will just rinse out super quickly! So I hope!

Seriously, it's funny! Especially if you know me...

BTW, All I keep thinking about is my funny story from last night's Bible study I told from being in line at Disneyland... So, if you were there last night, it's been making me laugh. all. day. long! SERIOUSLY!

P.S. Have you ever tried to switch to reading military time? I am working on that right now. It just looks so foreign!

P.S.S. My computer has EXTREMELY funny voices that I discovered today as I was switching over the time to military time (which by the way, is normal time in London - not known as military time over there...) But, anyway, you can set up your computer to tell you the time every so often and I definitely laughed at that for hours. It reminded me of this card that hubby and I discovered on bluelettermountain cards where it was a talking monkey. You could just type in the birthday wish you wanted it to say and then you could choose the voice. We named our monkey Nigel and he most definitely had an australian accent. And, we pretty much sent that card to EVERYONE that year for their birthday... It was funny! Seriously funny!

FUNNY!!!

I LOVE Bananas!

Ok, Really I LOVE BANANAS!  Ask David, or ask my mom!  Ask anyone who has lived with me or really really really close by me, it is my FAVORITE snack!  SERIOUSLY!  But, the reason I am blogging about bananas is I just discovered the GREATEST snack ever at Trader Joe's thanks to my mom!  And, since I should be in bed, but I am getting warm by sitting close to the heater, I figured, I might as well blog about bananas!  Then, I can get my hands warm from typing and the rest of me should warm up because the heater is close by.  Plus, jabbering on about things is ALWAYS fun for me anyway, so what better thing to jab on about than BANANAS!  But, you might be asking why am I so cold?  So perhaps I will answer that first and move onto BANANAS!  Ooooo!  And I have a really funny story that I might have to make a second blog entry about because it's just THAT funny!

I am freezing because we had a birthday for a friend of mine!  SO MUCH FUN!  It was a super secret spy scavenger hunt party which means of course...it's outside!  In the evening, in the rain!  So, yes it's raining pretty hard, and it's dark so you can't always quite tell just how deep the puddle right in front of you is!  Yes, many puddles I tromped through not realizing how deep they were until I splashed water up my jeans.  The good news?  Yes, I was wearing my most AWESOME zebra striped rain boots with snowboard socks!  So, my feet stayed nice and warm and dry!  Which, having wet feet is never good!  Because, it's STINKY!  So, with my dry feet and soaking everything else, we traveled around town finding clues and searching for the next location.  I had such a great time and AWESOME JOB to the brains behind the operation.  I do have to say that I accidently skipped a clue reading way too deep into another clue and accidently ending up at the last location with still one more location to hit.  Oops!  So, now I am trying to get thawed out, dried up, and nice and warm before hitting the hay. I have a hard time sleeping when I am cold.  Party favor?  An awesome cool glow stick bracelet.

Back to the bananas...

Normally, I buy regular bananas at the store.  But, I can't eat more than one a day because sometimes they upset my tummy when I eat multiple.  But, through one of my friends, I discovered nothing but bananas flattened at Trader Joe's and that quickly became my snack of choice...Until this weekend!  When my mom introduced me to?  Freeze dried banana slices!  Which, the only ingredient is?  BANANA!  Yummmmmmm!!!!  It's a great little treat of absolute yumminess!  Just make sure you don't eat the desiccant packet inside the bag.  I am most certain that would ruin your  desire to eat them.

Wanna know the funniest thing ever????  Aside from purple, I really don't like the color yellow.  I think it's only because I can't wear the color and I always see the cutest things ever in yellow, but no...that color doesn't exactly look that great on me. I have come close to purchasing a mustard purse, but alas, no other yellow comes up in my wardrobe.  My dislike from the color could also come because when I was younger, I used to sport these very yellow sweats...which I would wear in public...even to a Warriors game!  But, the worst part about it?  I would pair these sweats with either a mint green top or a purple sweatshirt.  What in the world was I thinking?  I am also sure that those items of clothing resided at the top of my wardrobe list of items I enjoyed wearing the most!  Seriously!  It's FUNNY!

Well, I will have to blog about the other funny story tomorrow.  My eyes are getting sleepy and I am finally warm!  Good night!

Claymation...yep! I said it!

Hello blog readers!  (We really should come up with a new team for blog readers...that will have to be saved for another blog though).  A funny quirk about me is my dislike for claymation.  In case you have no idea what claymation is, dictionary.com's definition for claymation is as follows: an animation process using clay or plasticine figures that are moved and filmed using stop motion photography to create a lifelike look.  My definition of claymation: CREEPY!  Let me tell you how is all started...

I attended a Christian school from K-12th grade.  In high school, every year at the beginning of the school year, we would attend a spiritual emphasis retreat.  It was a GREAT way of getting everyone away in the mountains for a couple of days to reconnect with one another from being gone the whole summer, to be immersed in the Word, as well as to get to know others that might be newbies.  I always enjoyed going because it really deepened relationships and was so God-centered.  There were always activities to keep us entertained as well as main sessions that focused on teaching the Word.  At night, after all the funness of the day, we would have some down time and all gather in the main auditorium to watch a feature film.  I can't recall which year it was although I am almost positive it was senior year because that year we went to a different set of mountains for the retreat and I have the picture of that auditorium stuck in my head.  But, because that was 8 years ago, who knows!  Anyway, one evening, the deciding authorities that be decided to play...............WALLACE AND GROMIT!  And YES, you guessed it!  a CLAYMATION film!  WHOA!  Never before had  I EVER experienced the likeness of this creepiness!  There they stood on the screen, moving so awkwardly, with those weird facial expressions and big hands that looked like they could squish something in an instant.  And worse of all!!??  HE HAD THE WRONG TROUSERS!  Oh man!  What could be worse!  Maybe the BIG oversized mouths!  I am not totally sure...But, seriously!?  It was very very very very VERY strange to me.  Now, I know that there a many I am close to that love Wallace and Gromit, so much so they have purchased box sets of these dvd's.  And if you too are a fan, that's totally awesome!  For some reason or another, it just gives me the shudders.  You know that feeling when you almost get goosebumps, but it starts as this really strange jittery feel and then causes you to have to shake it off?  Yes, that is exactly how it makes me feel.  Very similar to how clowns make me feel, and many other things on a very long list of things you should never accidentally tell people because they come back to tease you later on :)  Seriously, it gives me the crazies!

The story progresses a little further.  Last Easter, we were at our front yard neighbors' house having dinner when they decided to put on a movie...YEP!  It was claymation!  But, I actually have to admit, I couldn't say no because it was a Jesus film!  And to say no to that, would be in very BAD taste.  So, do to circumstances beyond my control, my eyes became EXTREMELY heavy while watching and I fell asleep (another story for another time, but it involved a very long drive to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert, 0 hours of sleep the night before Easter, and I recall my first ever experience with children's minsitry).  Either way, it had been established that claymation was not my favorite type of film to enjoy and ever since then, I have seen multiple copies of Wallace and Gromit and now something to do with sheep laying around.  The best part about it?  The Wallace and Gromit box set has a pop-out hard plastic cutout of both of the characters on the front!  Not just your normal DVD box.

What really cracks me up about this whole situation?  I know, that sooner or later, I will be forced to sit through these movies.  I already have such a problem keeping still, I can only imagine what it will be like for me as a squirm my way through one of these full-length features.  But, it really is inevitable, considering the events taking place within the next couple of months.  Ready!  Here I come, to tackle Wallace and Gromit head on.  My first move?  To add a picture of them on this blog...wait, Seriously?  No way!  I think I will pass on that and save it for another time!

Seriously!

How my brain thinks

So, although I should be cleaning our really small space because my parents are coming into town tomorrow (which is such a HUGE blessing) and I am cutting a friend's hair in the morning, I am actually sitting here on the computer, searching gluten free recipes.  The question is, how do you ACTUALLY pronounce xantham gum?  And what EXACTLY is this thing?  And, why do I NEED it in my gluten free stuff?  Is is a SUBSTITUTE for something that actually has gluten in it?  Is corn starch gluten free?  Or do you actually have to purchase one that says gluten free on the box?  What about the difference between potato starch and tapioca?  Besides the price?  And, are all of these just THICKENING agents?  So many QUESTIONS!  If in fact I do have to make the switch to a gluten free diet, how do I find really yummy recipes that are, you guessed it! Gluten Free?  Hopefully soon I will be able to actually find out the answers to these crazy questions.  Seriously though, the challenge?  Find the BEST gluten free pastry recipes!  More to come!  The first recipe I really really really want to find!?!  Chocolate Croissants!  Yummmmmmmmmm!!!!!

Short & Sweet!

Seriously?  Seriously!

Elf!

Yes, one of most favorite movies in the whole wide world!!!  And, the best part about that movie is something ALWAYS reminds me of it!  And, if you know me, even the slightest bit, you might know that to hear me quote from elf is pretty normal.  In fact, I can pretty much say that it happens on a daily basis.  Seriously!  But today, I actually lived out a scene from Elf!

The past couple weeks, I have been inconvenienced with a slight cold.  Nothing too bad, just what's been going around all over church.  So, I decided that after having this for so long and not really seeing much improvement, it was time to get to the doctor to get some meds.  Now, if you have scene Elf, you may recall the scene where Buddy goes to the pediatrician with his dad to get the DNA test.  He sits on the table with paper that is sanitary for patients and then begins shoving his mouth full of cotton balls.  I enter into the room to see the table with paper on it and plop myself down to wait for the nurse to come in to take down all my symptoms etc.  I spot the jar of cotton balls and then contemplate on how yucky tasting cotton must really taste!  Not like cotton candy, that's for sure!  So, while I am sitting there on the sanitary paper in the "Morro Bay Room" which makes me laugh anyway, I am playing the movie through my head; while in between I am playing skee ball on my ipod touch.  The doctor comes in and checks my throat etc and concludes I do in fact have the same cold everyone else has and it's time to go on the antibiotics.  But, the best part of the scene is yet to come.

They needed to test for something else and guess what I got to have?????????????????  YES!! A FINGER PRICK!  Just like Buddy!  Only, mine was definitely testing for something totally different.  The nurse comes in to perform said task and I am remembering how much Buddy screams when he gets this finger prick.  I am trying to remember the last time I have had one...wait!  I don't think I have ever had a finger prick!  I have definitely had shots, but all in my arms.  And, the last shots I had happened right before I went to China, and WOW did they hurt!  So, Mr. Nurse cleans my finger and preps it for the tiny needle.  He pulls out this funny looking contraption and I forewarn him that I am a nervous one when it comes to anything that has to do with needles being shot into me!  So, sorry if I jump (or scream uncontrollably like Buddy).  He prepares to stick me with the needle. Wait for it, wait for it.  BAM!  Nothing happened!  All that build up and something went wrong with the needle! Then out of nowhere, he has another contraption and has to prep my finger again and then wait for it, wait for it, BAM!  OOOOUUUUCCCCHHHH!!!!!  This time there really was a needle and it definitely got me!  I think back to Buddy screaming!  But, no!  I am too tough to scream.  Jump slightly and let out a little ouch, but that's it!  Then, I press the cotton against my finger and think, "my finger has a heartbeat."  Oh Buddy!

It made me laugh, but I was glad to finally get out of there!  Seriously, I was!  Praise the Lord that I was able to get some antibiotics to get this cold out of my system so that I can be healthy again!

Seriously?  Seriously!

The funniest thing EVER! Thank you to Lauren and Kristina!

So, I know that I have another blog...parklondon.blogspot.com, but I have so many funny trista-isms that I thought it would be really fun to write them out!  My brain works in such crazy ways, that sometimes, I even have to laugh outloud!  When no one is around!  To point of tears!  And, what fun is that all by yourself?  It is way way way better to share that with friends!  Especially because I can hardly ever remember all of the details when it is time to share them with other people.  So, yes, on to blog #1...

It all happened on Sunday.  One of the GREATEST days of the week!  I love being at church to learn more about our wonderful amazing Creator!  Another really fun aspect of church is the fellowship and God has totally blessed me with such an AMAZING church family!  It is definitely going to be a little emotional when it comes time to say "See you later" to many of them.

On this particular Sunday, I had one of the most memorable moments EVER!  The Friday before, David and I were having a date night when Lauren called and left a message.  She asked if I had time to cut Kristina's hair and had suggestions as to what kind of haircut she should get.  So, I phone her back to let her know that I was unavailable and suggested that something shorter with some fun layers would be SO CUTE!  She proceeded to inform me that Kristina couldn't possibly wait another day and they would take her somewhere to get her hair cut that evening.

-Didn't think anything of it, until...

Sunday morning at church when I actually saw Kristina and wanted to see what she had decided to do with her hair and that is when one of the funniest things I have ever heard about a haircut all came gushing out...

Lauren and Kristina decided to go to a Super Cuts in town to get her hair cut.  Quick, cheap, always can get a last minute appointment!  They were sitting...IN THE SHOP...waiting for the appointment, when Kristina decided that she really didn't need to spend the $ on this particular haircut.  So, what did they decide to do??? LEAVE...Wait for it...it gets funnier!!!  I believe at this point they decided to head back to Lauren's.  Why you might ask?  Oh wait!  To find the dollar store CRAFT scissors to chop Kristina's hair off with!  Now, let me point out that craft scissors are the jagged edged ones, from the dollar store, that are incredibly dull.  And while they may look like fun to play with, they work much much better on scrapbooking...I believe that would be considered their intended use.  But, what I LOVE is the creativity in this!!!  I would NEVER have even considered craft scissors!!!!!!!  I would have not done the haircut.  Nope!  Hair sheers!  They work fantastically!

As Kristina is explaining me the process of "the haircut" I begin to inspect her hair.  And might I say that Lauren did a splendid job giving her choice of tools as well as the lack of professional experience.  My favourite part is yet to come...

I asked Kristina about the layer idea because I had suggested layers thinking they would be so fun for her.  Kristina then tells me, "Wait, you can't see the layers?"  Oh hmmm....  I am looking??  Oh yes!  I can totally see where the start of the layers were!  I love it!!!!  By this time I am not only looking EVERYWHERE for Lauren, but I am also questioning those many months of my life I spent in beauty school!  And why I actually purchased that pair of sheers when, in actuality you can use dollar store craft scissors!  My the things you can learn from your close friends!

I finally find Lauren and all I can do is laugh and point at Kristina with that look on my face that says, CRAZY!  I NEVER would have imagined this!!!  It's so GREAT!  YOU ROCK!

Needless to say, Kristina, the length is such a great length for you!  And I give you mad props for having the "whatever" attitude about your hair!  I need to seriously have some of that rubbed off onto me!

And Lauren!  I give you props for being so gutsy like that and just taking the initiative to try something new and fun!  Have you ever thought about a career in hair!?!

Seriously one of the funnier moments with my AMAZING, overflowing with joy, super excited on fire for Jesus friends!!!!

Would love to hear any fun hair stories from anyone!!!

Seriously? Seriously!