The Sunshine To My Day : )

So.... I just wanted to tell you about how amazing my days are lately. I spend every morning helping teach a Pre-K class. I absolutely love it and those little cuties honestly make my day : ) Before doing this job shadow, I really wasn't sure what I was going to do in the future. People have told me my entire life that I would make an amazing teacher, but I never thought much of it. Well..within the first week of teaching the little munchkins I have found  my calling. I have realized how much I love working with kids and I decided to go into elementary education next year! I am so happy with this decision and I am so thankful to have gotten this opportuniy to help teach at the elementary school. Everyday one of them says something that makes me roll on the floor with laughter. They are just too cute!! : )

Also, I made a batch of vegan oatmeal cookies today (my favorite cookie ever!!) and I must say, they turned out scrumptious : )

This Is What Democracy Looks Like!!

As many know, Scott Walker has been trying to pass a new budget repair bill that will change the lives of many public state workers. Being the child of two teachers and a possible future teacher myself, this will affect my life greatly. I have been hearing complaints and arguments about this bill for almost 2 weeks now. Although my community is not in support of the teachers or any other public worker protesting in Madison, I still feel extremely lucky to have gone to Madison and protest with my family for the past two days. I don't even know how to describe the emotions you feel when entering the state capital and thousands of people are chanting as the sound of constant drumming is taking over the entire building. It is truly incredible. I know many people are for this bill, but what most of them don't understand is that this is passed the point of money now, it's about rights. Taking away unions takes away the voice of the people.

Here's the actual bill itself. Please read it carefully before making judgements.

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/JR1AB-11.pdf

And here is a summary of the bill.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/us/12unions.html?_r=1

The Joy of Vegan Baking :)

This year was the first time I ever made a legit new year's resolution. And I am set on keeping it! I decided to go vegan for new years! So recently I have been baking up a storm and experimenting with baking vegan style! It has been super fun and everything has turned out just scrumptious :) So here are some recipes of my recent masterpieces haha :)

Berry Pie

Ingredients :

    3 cups berries of your choice
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    4 tablespoon flour
    pinch of salt
    double vegan pie crust

Directions:

Put berries in pie crust. Mix flour and sugar and sprinkle over berries. Put top crust on top, crimp edges, trim off excess dough, and cut a few slashes in the top with a sharp knife. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 400 degrees.

German Apple Cake

Ingredients-Cake:

3 Apples peeled and cut into slices

1/2 cup non dairy butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tbsp non dairy milk

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

Ingredients-Topping:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cinnnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. lightly grease 9 inch round pan. mix butter & sugar. Add applesauce & milk. Finally add flour & baking powder. Stir until just combined.

Add the batter to pan and arrange apple slices in a circle on the top of cake. Mix together the 3 topping ingredients and sprinkle over cake.

Bake 30-40 minutes, wait 15 minutes before unmolding from cake pan.

 

The Future...

Senior year is coming and going right before my eyes. I can't believe that four years ago I was a timid little freshman...it feels like yesterday! As we wrap up first semester, graduation almost seems to be right around the corner. With graduation comes many important decisions that could decide my future. Although U of Vermont has been my dream school for so long, I have recently realized that graduating $200,000 in debt is probably not a smart idea. So, I'm starting to lean towards my second choice, Northland College in Ashland. Yes it's small and in the middle of nowhere, but something about it is just very appealing to me. I toured it a couple of months ago and fell in love. All of the students and faculty feel so much like one giant family...and everyone was super welcoming! The school is filled with hippies and dreads (which is a-ok by me!) and is so focused on the environment it's unreal. Despite the size, Northland seems almost perfect for me! Ofcourse it doesn't hurt that they also gave me a nice sized scholarship :) I'm starting to think alot more about what is truly the right thing to do for my future, and i'm so excited to see what God has planned for me! I give all of my trust in Him and I know He will lead me in all the right directions :)

Here is a verse that has really been speaking to my heart lately!

I will say of the Lord.  He is my refuge and my fortress:  In Him
       will I trust." 
                                                                                     - Psalm 91:2 

Roadtrip!!

November 28th was my 18th birthday!

Yes I know that was a very long time ago...but I wanted to share what I did for my birthday anyway. For a few years now I have been obsessed with the band NeverShoutNever. And two days before my birthday, they just happened to be playing in Milwaukee!! Yes i know....it must be fate :) so  my lovely friend Alyssa and I decided to make the 6 hour trek and spend the weekend in Milwaukee (all by ourselves) and go to the concert!! Staying in a hotel without your parents is quite odd. but I could definitely get used to it! Seeing Christofer Drew live was undescribable! He is truly amazing! A great thing about the concert was that I got the chance to discover a new artist! The opener for the show was Carter Hulsey...a friend of Chris. He is outstanding! I now have a new obsession :) I had a crazy good time and it definitely made me realize how grown up I am becoming!

Here are some pictures from my birthday! enjoy :)







lunch at jimmy johns

fancy hote robes!!







birthday pie I made all by myself :)





Carter Hulsey