quote of the day

Life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat; the redeeming things are not happiness and pleasure but the deeper satisfactions that come out of struggle.

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

Quote of the day...

"Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives."

-C.S. Lewis

new design

Just put up my new design for the blog. 

Let me know what you think! 

(I may or may not tweak it while I still have this 30 day trial of photoshop ;)

Berry Tarts

Las week I was blogging around and saw this recipe, so obviously I had to try it out. Especially since berries were on sale at the market.

They turned out delicious...light and fresh and summery.
I used cherries, blackberries, and strawberries but I am certain they would taste good with any type of berry.
Next time I am thinking of cooking the filo dough in the muffin pans first, then adding the berries and cream for a more fresh taste.
They would be great to bring to a barbeque for a fresh dessert...you can even make mini versions by putting them in a mini-muffin pan with just a couple of berries inside for some bite-size little treats!

21st Birthday

For my Birthday, Zygmunt came out to California!.
So I showed him the sights: In N Out, Newport Beach, Wings n Things, Old Town Temecula, my backyard...you know the real gems of California ;)
But really, it was an amazing weekend!

Macarons

the other day I made macrons...and let me tell you, they were delish!

these are the ones i made.
after i followed those directions...

i divided the batter into thirds and added different colored food coloring to each. 

& in the middle of the two cookies...

pink: mixed berry jam

yellow & green: lemon/lime frosting

in one week...

i will be with this wonderful fella once again 

(for a nice birthday weekend :) 

i simply cannot wait! 

hike.

My mom and I are going on hikes this week. 

Gorgeous weather. Gorgeous scenery.

home.

I flew home for spring break this week.

& I could simply not be happier. 

Pictures from the week to come soon...

great.

This video has been going around the blogging world, 

but I can't seem to get enough of it. 

His voice is just so beautiful. 

So if you haven't seen it yet, 

take a listen...

invisible children.

& if you can't spare 30 minutes...

spare 30 seconds.

Invisible Children : Intro from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

& sign the pledge...

Kony 2012

I saw this video on facebook...Now I want to share it with as many people as possible. 

We can make a difference. 

Take 30 minutes out of your day to inform yourself. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO. 

To learn about the horrible things happening in Africa. 

To HELP. 

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Help change the lives of the Invisible Children in Africa. 

We can help in small ways. 

Do something. 

oh yeah,

and last week... 

I got glasses!

anyone who knows me, knows I have a slight infatuation with glasses.

I think they are great. 

So my friend Anna's brother, Dave, gave me some. 

And I'm obsessed. 

prize.

So my friends have this thing...

Where they get each other prizes. 

Just randomly to cheer each other up. 

I wasn't apart of it because I was in Austria last semester.

But today, I got one!

I'm a little obsessed with tea. And tea parties. And tea cups. 

So they got me this little gem to cheer me up. 

& it really did. 

Love these girls so much. 

this week.

Let's be honest. This has been quite a week. No, quite a month.

It's been really great, but also really really hard. 

But I'm learning so much. About so many things. 

I have the greatest friends that anyone could ask for. 

I have an amazing family. 

I have a wonderful life.

And sometimes it is really hard to stay positive and to be strong. 

But I'm learning. And I'm really trying. 

& by the way...this song is great. 

Not really one for praise & worship type songs, but they are really great. 

loving...

52 moments.

they are working on posting 52 inspiring phrases 

(all on beautiful photographs)

take a look 

back.

i forgot that i had this blog... 

not that i really have time for it, but i think i might start posting again, just for the fun of it. 

here are some pictures from random bits of my life... 

i promise my life is more fun than those pictures make it seem. 

it's been a hard week, but i have amazing friends and family. i'm loving most of my classes. i have the freedom of a car now. 

tonight we have a valentine's dance. saturday is one of my best friend's birthdays. snow is falling outside.

what can i say? i'm a happy girl.