Quotables

April 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

So lots of thoughts going around in this little brain today.

Basically I’m confused….
But I’m pretty sure I know what I’m supposed to do…
But I’m still confused…
Which is confusing.
Too many things to try to explain right now so I’m just going to post some of my favorite quotes and hope that they help me connect the dots. And hopefully you like them:)


So that’s the quotables for today. Probably a little crazy and random, but hey my brain is fried and I have way too much to do. Happy Monday everyone!

News April 15, 2013

April 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

New York Times Headline: Rifts in Both Parties Complicate Odds for Gun Measure

Problems have arisen between parties regarding the background check legislation for gun safety. These party rifts could prevent the bill from being debated in the Senate this week. Democrats from conservative states have said they will not pass the legislation, while Republicans are torn over poll numbers that suggest moderates want the bill passed. 

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: Afghan Interpreters for the U.S. Are Left Stranded and at Risk

Afghan citizens who have helped the western military movement are stranded in Afghanistan; unsafe, uprotected, and unsure of what to do next. Visas that would allow these Afghan citizens to come to the U.S. and be legal are becoming more and more rare, leaving many of these people without military jobs/protection, and without a future plan.

Click here to read the full story.

Finals week

April 13, 2013 — Leave a comment

It’s almost here. Finals start next week. I’m not ready at all. I’m not ready for finals, I’m not ready to move out, I’m not ready to say goodbye to the people who have become my best friends. But time has this funny way of moving on even when we don’t want it to. In some ways I’m glad that time is going by (for obvious reasons) but on the other hand, time going by means more goodbyes and more change and moving around and getting used to places and then leaving them.

Anyway enough of this depressing rant. What we have here is a LIST of things you NEED for finals week to go smoothly. Trust me!

1. Healthy food. You’re going to be cramming and going crazy. Don’t eat out every meal. Spend an hour making something healthy, drink lots of juice and EAT YOUR VEGETABLES.

2. While healthy food is important, having some treats you love are important to. Buy your favorite treats ahead of time and have them laying around when you’re going crazy with stress. They’ll relax you!

3. Make a playlist. Have some kind of studying that you can do to music and have it ready for when you study.
4. Take breaks. Frequently! Have a twenty minute episode of your favorite TV show ready to go for a break.
5. Don’t stay up late studying. You won’t remember anything you studied. Stay up late having fun, get plenty of sleep, then spend your morning and afternoon studying.
6. Know what days you are taking your finals so you know what order to study in. Study for the first tests first….yeah? Makes sense.
7. Get ready for the day. Yeah this sounds stupid, but you’ll be more productive if you actually get a little ready for the day.
8. Get outside. Yeah welcome to Provo it’s still semi-cold. Just go for a walk and get outside for a little bit to take your mind off studying.
9. Have fun! Don’t hole yourself up in your room the whole time. Study, yes, play, yes. You can make time for both, I promise.
10. Do your best. If you study and try your hardest, you’ll get the grades you’ve been working for.

Happy Saturday everyone! And happy 13th to me:)

42

April 12, 2013 — 1 Comment

Yesterday we went and saw 42. For those of you who don’t know (like I didn’t until about an hour before the movie) 42 is a movie about Jackie Robinson, the first African American man to play in Major League Baseball. 42 is Jackie Robinson’s number. It’s the only number in baseball that is retired by every single team.

Can I just say, the movie was incredible. The actors (Yes Harrison Ford was in it, and yes I am slightly in love with him even though he’s old) the dialogue, the action, everything was perfect. When I go see movies like that it makes me so sad about the past, but so hopeful for the future. It helps me see that someone can make a difference, that things can change for the better, and every individual matter. When I go see historical movies like that it makes me want to learn all I can about the people who  the stories are about. Ask my friends, they’ll tell you. For instance, in Europe I almost bought several books about Queen Elizabeth because I was so fascinated about her. But that’s a different story.

So the moral of the story is that you should go see 42. It’s an incredible story about a man that we don’t hear enough about.


Trust me, go see it. Even if you don’t like baseball (but really who doesn’t like baseball. It’s the American pastime.) It’ll make you look at things so differently.

WARNING if you go see this movie there is some profanity and especially lots of use of the N word. They do not condone the use of this word at all, but just be aware that it’s in there.

News April 12, 2013

April 12, 2013 — Leave a comment

New York Times Headline: Rare Accord in Gun Debate on Fixes to Mental Health System

Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, lawmakers have been quietly forming plans on how to advance the treatments of the mentally ill. Many of these plans are to finance better mental health centers, train teachers, and help Medicaid cover these mental illnesses. Many plans stand a good chance of being in the final gun control bill the Senate is now working on.

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: In Immigration Debate, a Focus on New York Dairy Farmers


Dairy farmers have become the unlikely target in the immigration debate. With many New York dairy farmers hiring labor from South America, the fear that they will be deported or required not to work is a reality. 
Click here to read the full story.

What I’ve been learning

April 11, 2013 — Leave a comment

Again, there’s not really anything crafty or delicious to blog about. And my life has been crazy crazy crazy but it’s the boring kind of crazy, so there’s not much to blog about there….so I thought I’d just blog about a few things that I’ve been figuring out the past few weeks. Nothing major, but I need to get some of these things out, somehow, right?
.

  • You can feel closer to someone who’s thousands of miles away than anyone close by.
  • Music is the best therapy.
  • The family size bags of Hugs/Kisses is worth the money, guaranteed!
  • When you are excited to go to a class and do the work for it, you know you’re in the right place.
  • Sometimes you have to be yourself, and own it, no matter what other people think or say.
  • It’s important to remember that life is short, so apologize now and forgive now and don’t stay mad. It’s not worth it.
  • You can go to the airport and pretend you’re picking up a Swedish foreign exchange student. I would actually recommend this, it’s quite fun!
  • Two is better than one. Take that as you will!
  • College is stressful, but so much fun. Wouldn’t trade it for a minute.
  • If you try hard enough you can eat more than your weight in sugar daily. But you have to be willing to work for it.

  		•
    Welcome to America Lyska! Or welcome back from California Alli…either one works

News April 11, 2013

April 11, 2013 — Leave a comment

Washington Post Headline: North Korea’s threats, campy videos are drawing Internet attention

North Korea propagandist videos have been surfacing on the Internet and have become a sensation almost overnight. With video threats of attacks on the U.S. and South Korea being widely viewed online, experts are saying that for the first time in history, North Korea has gone viral. 

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: Senate Votes 68-31 to Allow Debate on Gun Legislation

Today the Senate voted for a major piece of gun legislation to be brought to debate in chamber. This is the first such piece of legislation to be brought to the floor in two decades. 

Click here to read the full story.

News April 10, 2013

April 10, 2013 — Leave a comment

New York Times Headline: Senators Reach Bipartisan Deal on Checks of Gun Buyers

Earlier today, both Republican and Democratic senators reached a compromise measure about gun safety. The measure involves expanding background checks to those buying guns from gun shows and online. This compromise indicates that more gun safety measures will be taken by Congress in the near future.

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: South Korea and U.S. Gird for Missile Test by North Korea

The U.S. and South Korea are on the lookout for the North Korean missile that experts believe could be launched “at any time now.” This longer range missile could have the potential to hit not only South Korea, but also Japan, as well as American military bases as far away as Guam.

Click here to read the full story.

Month 4

April 9, 2013 — Leave a comment

It’s official, bring on month 4! Randy’s been out three months now, and they’ve been so hard but so great! He’s learning so much and I’m learning so much, and I’m loving being independent and being a crazy college girl! It’s so awesome. I am so proud of that boy and the person he’s becoming:)

As a crazy college girl, I cook for myself. Domestic right? So last night I made one of my favorite rice dishes and it’s always a hit at our apartment, so I thought I’d share it here! Presenting…..

This is so easy and so delicious!

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·         6 Tbs. margarine or butter  (can be reduced to 2 Tbs.)
·         2½ cup water
·         1 small Onion, diced
·         5 chicken bullion cubes
·         2 carrots, medium to large
·         3 cup Minute Rice
Sauté onion and carrots in margarine.  Coat rice with margarine-carrot-onion mixture.  Boil water and dissolve bullion cubes to make chicken broth.  Add broth to the rice mixture, bring to boil and turn off heat.  Cover and let sit for about 10 minutes.  Add cooked peas if desired. Serves six at 225 calories per serving.

Carrots, onions and butter all in the pot getting ready to cook!
I love Wyler’s Chicken Bullion cubes 

All coated and ready for the water!
This recipe is seriously so good, not too unhealthy, and goes well with fried chicken (as seen above) or pork chops or just about anything!
Happy Tuesday everyone, and happy 3 months for me!

News April 9, 2013

April 9, 2013 — Leave a comment


New York Times Headline: Obama Invokes Newtown Dead in Pressing for New Gun Laws

While Congress is debating new gun control laws, President Obama made a trip to Connecticut to ensure the members of the community that nothing like Sandy Hook would ever happen again.

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: Early Line for 2016 Shows a Vice President Who’s Not the Favorite

In an early line up for the Democratic party in 2016, it seems that Vice President Biden may be trying to wiggle his way in next to former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. It’s very early to be looking at candidates, but those considering running are already getting their feet in the door. 

Click here to read the full story.