TOL #17 ~ Beethoven and Ballet

Once again, after a long break, I am linking up for Thinking Out Loud Thursday with Amanda! 

[get more info here!]

Thinking Out Loud #16

Happy Thursday! :D

[more info here]

I'm getting less and less creative with my introductions...Ain't nobody got time fo dat.  ;)

Thinking Out Loud #15

Wow. I've only done 15 of these since I first started? 

Slackerrrrrrrrrr

[more info here!]

Thinking Out Loud #14

Happy Thursday! :)

[more info here]

Venting ~ Thinking Out Loud #13

Happy Thursday!

[more info here]

I'm fairly sure that every TOL post I've ever written has had something to do with school.

I would like to apologize - yes, I am a professional complainer (if only that was a paying occupation...) and over the years I have become somewhat of a pessimist. I am working on it, I really am, but sometimes - such as on this blog - I have to be honest and vent a bit. And when I say "a bit" I mean pour out all my heart and soul in a few paragraphs. 

New Discoveries ~ Thinking Out Loud #12

First and foremost, Amanda, I am so sorry for not linking up yet again. I promise I still love you. <3 ? 

I have a reason for going MIA! I was actually lying in bed at 11 o'clock last Thursday night, when I remembered "I never published my TOL post! Dang it dang it dang it dang it dang it dang it dang. it."
And that was that. I didn't get around to posting anything, and aside from sharing some of my favorites, I didn't post at all between then and now.
The Worst Ever Blogger Award goes to yours truly! :'''''D (*sobbing*)

[more info here!]

 Fun fact: it has taken me 3+ months to memorize the URL for the ToL page...I'm not quite sure why I have it memorized, but now I do. Hooray for me...?

On to the good stuff:

Thinking Out Loud #11

Happy Thursday!  :D

I.  I received an 83.7% on my final English I exam, which I was kind of surprised about. My final score for the entire course was 91.98 - ssssooo close to a 92. >.<
My final exam for Geography is now open for me to take, but I have a mini-essay to finish before I take it. Personal preference and all; I don't like completing a unit without having ALL the projects done. 

II.  Sad news aside: my Penny skateboard came in the mail last week [!!!!] Meet "Kamikaze":

I had the chance to ride it at the airport in town, on the bike path where the terrain is mostly smooth. I managed to fall off once, trying to accelerate a bit too abruptly.
Remember, kids, if you start losing your balance, do not lean backward. Kamikaze shot out from underneath me and proceeded to roll away as I plummeted to the ground. I was wearing long jeans, so I was left with nothing more than a nice bluish-green bruise and a patch of missing skin. The bruise is still there. Yippee. 

III.  My little brother has been learning how to ride his skateboard as well. Only, he weighs less than a grasshopper and can barely keep the thing moving. He wiped out on his first day too, and claims he needs knee pads and elbow pads and "all that stuff."
I told him to suck it up. A great big sister, I am. 

IV.  I finished painting my bedroom! The lime green is gone...

oi...

...and is now replaced with pale blue on two walls...

my little windowside workspace

...and cream/nude/tan on the other two walls.

a quote by John Muir

I moved all of my furniture (except for the closet doors) and primed and painted everything all on my own. If that's nothing to be proud about, I give up. I think I deserve a personal pat on the back for pulling and shoving my giant loft bed - as well as a full desk - from one end of the room to the other. *discreetly flexes biceps*

V.  The county fair was a little disappointing this year. Or, should I say, my visit to the county fair was a little disappointing.
I planned to meet up with my friend (who was crowned Jr. Leader Ambassador!) but she had to help judge a cow/pig/goat show; we only got 15 minutes together and afterward got less than half an hour to walk around and observe two of the many buildings that held the attractions and such before she had to get ready for the horse show.
We got free popcorn, which was nice, but overall I was upset that I didn't get to spend more time with her.

VI.  ...But, Kaylee and Kennedi's fair was incredible! Theirs was about four times larger than mine, and there were more rides to go on and attractions to marvel over. Also, I guess there were some South African guys working the rides. If that's not super cool I don't know what is!

[source]

I almost fell off the 'ring of fire' because there were no shoulder-holders, just the kind that latches over your lap.
Imagine: feeling yourself gradually slide backward off the seat, as you're hurled upside down, however many feet in the air, with just one bar across your thighs keeping you alive. That was arguably the scariest experience of my life.

VII.  I have Pinterest now. Follow me if ya like; if ya don't like, then, well, I understand. I suppose.
Now I can pin [er, re-pin?] all the other bloggers' stuff! :D

TRUTH.

VIII.  I completed the 1,000 squat challenge by Blogilates[!!!]  If you complete it, let me know! I spent all day yesterday gloating about it because I was so proud of myself. Frankly, I still am but I won't go so far as to brag any more than I already have. Just try it. It'll hurt so badly the day after, trust me.

IX.  Speaking of physical exertion and such, dance sign-ups are coming up on the 13th! So pumped for this next dance year. I mentioned awhile back that I was working towards getting moved up into the Advanced Ballet class.
I'm still waiting for results (they're posted in the studio as we speak I type!). I've been back and forth all summer; being super confident that I'll be selected, then the next moment being incredibly discouraged. Either way, another year of ballet is coming soon!  :D

X.  I am still mildly in love with coffee. Put it this way: if I never land myself a man to call my soul mate, coffee can totally take his place. [not really. I need the lovin']
Jokes aside, I have been experimenting with different flavors and add-ins, my favorite combo being: just under 8 oz. medium brew coffee + about 2 Tablespoons no-sugar-added cocoa mix + a heaping spoonful of caramel cappuccino + 4 oz. hot water.
Another favorite that doesn't involve coffee, but coffee creamer: 1 packet chocolate Carnation Breakfast Essentials (the kind with no added sugar) + a little over 1 Tablespoon peppermint mocha creamer + 8 oz. hot water. I need to try adding some coffee to this one, to make it even more delightful.

As for now, I have a Geography essay to finish and an Algebra quiz to take. I'm truckin' right along...

Join the linkup!

~JK

Thinking Out Loud #10

Quick explanation: I missed the linkup last week because I went to church camp for 5 days.

Yes, it was fun. No, I'm not sorry. Yes, I really mean that. ;)

[check it out!]

I.  I feel obliged to say something about my camp experience this year, but it would take far too long to cover everything in one little thought box... The biggest news would probably be that I met another girl named Janessa. Yes, it is real. There are others.  O.O

II.  I also learned at camp that one can draw on oneself with a Sharpie, rub baby powder over the drawing, and hairspray over the baby powder to form a temporary tattoo that [allegedly] lasts for a month. 

Lies. All lies. Mine only lasted for two days!

III.  As well as drawing tattoos, the artist in me was compelled to also repaint my bedroom from a bright, lime green to a pale blue with nude accent walls. It's nowhere near done yet, especially because I had to buy another can of primer. Bright green does not cover easily. :p

IV.  Because I'm changing the colors, I thought "why not change the whole room?" so I've been looking at DIY room decor projects.
I like this one from Pocketful of Pretty, particularly the wall canvas. Also, I got this idea from Pinterest:

I may have to try this one out someday.

V.  Speaking of books...I have been deprived for over two weeks now! I haven't picked up a book in so long, I fear I may be morphing back into who I once was; a lazy lowlife with no care or interest in the greatness of other worlds, the feel of paper on paper on paper, the smell of old hardcovers and the joy of living multiple lives! I need a trip to the library, ASAP. 

VI.  And while we're on the topic of insanity, is it wrong that I think I may be addicted to banana bread? I've mentioned before my emotional need to have this particular baked good present in my home at all times; but the more I make it the more attached I become. I feel an actual need to have it every day, at least once. I mean come on, it could be something semi-normal, like the need for water or the need for chocolate (we'll tough on that in a sec...), but of all things, it is banana bread. 

VII.  ...And chocolate. A much more standard addiction. I do believe I am becoming a chocoholic. Hoorah; one more thing to add to my list of obsessions. 

VIII.  I'm also mildly obsessed with a girl named Dodie Clark...she's a British YouTube video-blog-maker and ukulele-playing-songwriting-glorously-magical little fairy-like individual. She is absolutely adorable and you must check out her videos. She inspires me to learn the ukulele that I've had hiding away in my closet for a year and a half now. 

IX.  Because of all the YouTube-watching I have been doing lately, my sleep pattern has been way off and I'm finding it to be increasingly difficult to get up in the mornings. There is nothing worse than waking up prematurely to my alarm (even though it is Good Morning Sunshine).

X.  And as far as workouts go, I have been skimping for a while - but I am now back on track doing pilates and yoga 5-6 days a week, as well as some random cardio and ballet stretching when I happen to think about it. I've been feeling really motivated lately, so we'll see how long I can keep this up!

Join the linkup!

~JK

Thanking Out Loud #9

Fun fact: I wrote this post in half a day, as opposed to three or more.

Brownie points for staying up late[r than normal] just for this?  ;)

[info on the linkup here]

I.  I seem to disappeared from the blog world, haven't I? Ah well, there is always an explanation...

Except for this time. Saying I've been busy with socializing and booked with dates (as if!) would be a lie. I have been busy with schoolwork (i.e. online shopping and Tweeting in between lessons) and I have been booked with trying to ration out the candy I received for my birthday.

That means not eating all the Skittles and M&Ms in one sitting. Self-control is one of the Fruits of the Spirit that I am lacking in.  :p

II.  I went thrift shopping today (Wednesday) and came upon a couple pairs of high-waisted shorts. This excited me immensely because A) the local Goodwill kinda sorta really sucks (unless you're a grandma), so a good find is actually a fantastic find; and B) I've been searching far and wide for a halfway decent pair of shorts, and came upon two! I could put "expert thrift shopper" on my resume.

III.  I have taken up knitting and made a little bunny family thanks to Dodie's knitting tutorial. Little babies are on the way!

a pitiful excuse of a yarn basket...

I feel like a 16 year old granny now.
You'd better believe I'm gonna be the greatest granny you've ever met 'coz I'm practicing already!  ;)

IV.  For my birthday, I was given a bouquet of roses that are arguably the most gorgeous roses I have since laid eyes upon. To preserve such beauties, I have attempted to dry them using hairspray. I found many tutorials, all of which have said something along the lines of "spray the flowers" "hang them upside down" and "wait 296238 weeks for them to dry".

That last step was taken from my own experience. Flowers are not quick driers.

V.   I read somewhere that green tea is good for digestion and metabolism and such bodily functions. Naturally, I decided to buy some and give it a try. The verdict:  they aren't kidding when they promise the "earthy taste" of this tea. >.<  I think my digestion is fine enough without torturing myself, thanks. I'm forever sticking with coffee.

VI.  On a more exuberant note: summer church camp is coming up! I've only been once, but that was before I had "real" friends and knew how to handle myself when certain situations arose -such as being left alone in the cafeteria... 

But anyway. That was my in-between-teenage-and-adolescence stage, when I couldn't decide whether I was depressed or lonely or happy or what.

VII.  As I've started driving (whoop!) I have realized something: the rules of the road are much more specific than they're let on. My parents don't sit at stop lights and mutter "okay, do I have the right of way or...?" so when I jumped into this I thought it'd be a little bit simpler.

Trust me when I tell you this: people do not appreciate it when you pull out in front of them. Not at all.

VIII.  Today's episode of Odd Addictions iiiiiiiis...

Mints!

Believe it or not, I think I may be a little bit addicted to peppermints. Funny story: I choked on one the first day I ever tried them.
These particular mints are bigger than the "average" mint, so when one of them decided to slip its way down the back of my throat, I spent an hour trying to swallow that dang thing. Please, do not ever swallow a larger-than-normal mint. I can promise you, unless you have an unrealistically enormous esophagus, the pain is excruciating and the minty freshness you may consequently acquire is not worth it. 

IX.  I may have mentioned my love of banana bread some time ago. I made the brilliant decision to bake another loaf - more of an experimental one this time - without a few ingredients, namely chocolate chips.

Worst. decision. ever.

Banana bread is so dull and lifeless without something in there, albeit walnuts or peanut chips or chocolate chunks. There has to be something other than bananas and flour, which is pretty much all you can taste in this most recent batch. 

Note to self: chocolate is never an option.

X.  Speaking of chocolate:

This stuff is ah.mazing. Note how I have written my name in bold, black marker; this is because no one besides myself is allowed to indulge in this. I used to mix Nutella and peanut butter and eat it with all the gluttony a child of my age could possess. Peanut Butter & Co. does an amazing job balancing the chocolate and the peanut butter; it's not overly sweet but it's not overly salty. It's incredible with pretzels.


So tell me...
Have you ever tried green tea? Your thoughts if you have?
What are the best ingredients to add in banana bread?

Join the linkup!

~JK

Thinking Out Loud #8

Another week has come and gone...

...it's time for another ToL :D

[check out the linkup here]

I.  My birthday is steadily approaching! Today is my last day of being fifteen.

Wow. When you think of it that way, it's kinda nerve-racking. O.o  I will never in my life ever be 15 again.

II.  On Sunday, two days after my birthday, I will be joining a majority of my ballet class to perform our "America the Beautiful" dance [which we did for this year's recital] at a war memorial service. I have never performed outside of the normal performance location (including the dance studio), so this is a pretty huge deal for me! 

III.  For a couple of days, I was having trouble with my Chrome account. For whatever reason, Chrome would log me out of my account upon startup and send me a pop-up message saying 'your preferences cannot be read' and some other mumbo-jumbo about my settings not being saved and such. I logged in, logged out, restarted the computer - nothing worked until I checked my download queue (at least that's what I'm assuming it was...I'm not very tech savvy). I cleared all the downloads that were in process - most of them things that I hadn't ever seen before! Since then, everything's been fine. My biggest worry was losing all of my bookmarks. I have over a dozen recipes saved on my bookmarks page; not to mention aaaaaaall the blogs I check up on every day. 

To lose those would most probably have led me into a fit of rage. My laptop would be in pieces, to say the least.

IV.  I've been looking at smartphones that are compatible with my family's plan and as much as I would love to say that I - an unemployed 16 [almost] year old - can afford an iPhone 5c, would be a massive lie.

I've narrowed it down to the Samsung Galaxy III mini, at roughly $210 dollars. The problem is, I can't seem to find very many legit reviews on it. Consumer Reports hasn't even heard of it. All I can find are bogus websites riddled with ads and pop-ups, and no one wants to deal with that. 

There is a time in life when taking a leap of faith is the only option there is. All I've got to lose is money that would take me months to re-earn... But I'll have a phone. A real phone. I'm all in at this point.

V.  In every. single. Thinking Out Loud post, I have to mention coffee.

[source]

Given that my birthday is coming up - namely my 16th - I have chosen to have a sleepover/camp out with as many of my girlfriends as I can manage [er, as many as my mother can manage. She's the one making the food...] which means the Keurig is likely to be the star of the day. That also means that coffee creamer is needed.

I came upon this guy while in Kroger the other day...

...Samosas seem to be pretty popular. I'm not a huge fan of them, but chocolate coconut creamer sounded delightful nonetheless. I have yet to try it out.

VI.  I went to Starbucks with my cousin last week. I could give you a detailed paragraph or two on why I really don't care all that much for this place, but for now, all I want to do is rave about this baby:

[source]

There are no words. None. All I can say is: get it the next chance you have. It is heaven in a cup.

VII.  As well as cookies and overly delicious frappuccinos, I have developed another obsession: french fries. Specifically the less-oily ones from Wendy's and Dairy Queen. I can't eat McDonald's (my belly does not agree with them), but every time we made a trip to a fast-food joint last week while on "vacation" (read: visiting family in Ohio), I ate way more than my share of fries.
When at Dairy Queen, dip them in the ice cream. Pure. Bliss.

[source]

^^If this is an actual thing, take me to your leader!!

VIII.  I am now officially down to 4 subjects in school. I've mentioned time and time again how I despise schoolwork, but if I don't do it I despise myself even more. Maybe I haven't explained it in that context exactly...
Anyways. I completed New Testament Survey with a score of 93.26 - barely an A. I'm determined to finish every course (with the exception of Algebra I) with an A. In my school, 93 is the lowest score you can get for an A; in most schools it's 90. So basically....my school is harder than most. #homeschoolprobs

IX.  I went to the orthodontist this week for an annual checkup. I'm actually not afraid of the orthodontist anymore; I used to be terrified, especially after one nurse pinched a bit of my lip in between my braces and the wire that connected them. But after four years of poking and prodding and pinching, I'm pretty much accustomed to the ways of the great oral-metal wielders.
(Conclusively, I won't have to go back for another year. Also, I may have room for my wisdom teeth; if so, I won't need to have them removed!)

X.  As part of some birthday party prep, Mom took me to the Amish & scratch-and-dent store where I found some coffee...

...and some WowButter that I was so eager to try, only to find that the container was cracked and the contents were dry.

even the jar is frowning. :(

Someday, I will get some hands on a [quality] jar of Wowbutter! On the bright side, I scored two jars of natural peanut butter and a jar of Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams. :D

Join the linkup!

~JK

Thinking Out Loud #7

[el linkup is here]

I find myself running out of things to talk about. This isn't normal for me! D: 

I'm not the kind of person to snap pictures when I'm having a good time - I usually forget about capturing the moment when I'm stuck in it - which is why I choose not to talk about this or that. I feel like my blog posts are boring without the photos to jazz them up. 

That being said, I probably won't have any pictures for this post. We may both be pleasantly surprised; who knows?

I.  First things first: I'm out of town for the week at my grandparents' house in Ohio! We take trips to Ohio more often than anywhere else out-of-state. As a matter of fact, our last week-long trip was in April.
I'm not complaining. My family's pretty cool. ;)

II.  I made the best chocolate walnut banana bread today, based off Katie's marble banana bread recipe. I was short on supplies (the downside to being away from home) but I made do. Mom and I took a nine o'clock trip to the gas station for chocolate chips and honey. The only time I will ever go out in public looking like a hobo is when I am in dire need.
I was in dire need.

III.  My birthday is next Friday (the 27th), so on Monday my uncles got some family members together and we had a pizza party at the nursing home where my grandma is staying. Uncle Pat made me some carrot cake muffins (my favorite) but, as I mentioned before, I took zero photographs. :p  There were sweet messages written on the inside tops of the pizza boxes that my [absent] cousin Jenny wrote for me and for Grandma.
There was Hawaiian pizza involved... so. much. yum.

IV.  The greatest moment of my week thus far was remembering that the nursing home offers free coffee and hot chocolate.
I went to town on the complimentary beverages the other day. And every day since. Mmmyes. :)

V.  This may quite possibly the most random thing I have to say in this post: I have been led to believe that my skin cannot become tanned. Or bronzed. Or anything but burnt. I have purchased tanning lotion (SPF 4) but no matter how long I lay out or how much sun I get throughout the day, I can. not. tan.
That's probably a good thing, as years from now I'll be less likely to have skin cancer and premature wrinkles, but just once in my life, I would like the experience of having a bronzed complexion.
No one suggest the spray; do not do it. I refuse.

VI.  Since we're on the subject of self-altering appearances; I think I want to dye my hair again. I'm terrified of bleaching it, so I'll probably go for the black/brown I chose last time. I'm indecisive. Maybe I'll just chop it all off and not worry about it...

VII.  I don't know what the deal is, but I have been popping Mentos mints like Dr. House pops Vicodin. (non-House-watchers: Dr. House is a drug addict - Vicodin, in particular).  If I'm bored I don't know what to do with my mouth, I eat them like candy.
I guess they are candies, more or less, so... there's that.
I used to swear by them for curing carsickness. Maybe I have some weird psychological dependence on them?...
Kidding. I am kidding.

VIII.  Not to brag or anything, but I got $45 worth of iTunes cards for my birthday, $13 of which I used to buy Bastille's album. I lauve it. <3

IX.  Honorable mention: I am [once again] obsessed with the DragonVale app. I switched iTunes accounts with my dad (long story short: I can't log into his so I made my own), which means I have to start all over on my new account.
I once had a long list of all my dragons and their names. I currently have five: Chub, Penny, Derp, Fang, and Drake. Much frustration.

QOTD:
What are your favorite pizza topping(s)?
Have you ever tried a spray tan?
Any app suggestions?

~JK

Thinking Out Loud #6

Wow. 

This week has been crazy. 

Note: I started this post on Monday, because I knew how busy I would be throughout the week. So here is my Thinking Out Loud Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-and-Thursday post for this week.

{el linkup is HERE}

I.  To kick off this post, I'm going to admit something very very important: I have found a cure for allergies/colds.
I say "cure," I mean "temporary treatment."  Take 1 teaspoon of raw, local honey (if you can get your hands on some), and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix it up, eat it, and be amazed with the results.
I come down with allergies every year, at least twice. And they aren't the kind of allergies that go away within a few days; no, this is the prevalent sickness that leaves me bedridden and miserable off and on for weeks. See, I think I've recovered, so then I go back to my regular routine of daily walks, doing the dishes, tidying my room - normal, everyday physical exertion - then those allergies decide to sneak back up on me.
This honey-and-cinnamon thing seems to be working pretty well for me, though! Granted, I've gone through the number of Kleenexes that are supposed to last a week and have only lasted me a couple of hours.

II.  I mentioned last week that my 2013-2014 dance recital is coming up this Thursday (at the time this post is published). I could go on and on about how nostalgic I'm feeling. The smell of hairspray and pounds of makeup; the laughter of 4 year old girls in tutus; the feedback of the sound system on the first day of rehearsals; the brain farts all-around, forgetting half the dances; shedding tears during the final finale...My list of dance recital loves is neverending.

III.  One of my best-dance-friends, Hannah, is graduating next year. *tear*

[photo creds to Hannah's Mom]

I love this girl so much. We haven't been in the same ballet class for a whole year now, and I'm determined to make it into the advanced ballet class next year so that I can spend her last year with her.

IV.  I'm probably going to stay on the subject of the dance recital for the next four ToL posts...
Anyways. This is what happens when one puts one's hair up into a ballet bun and proceeds to spray it with multiple layers of mega-hold hairspray. And then brushes it all out...

much volume...

V.  Turns out, the 12 year old tap girls are better than some of the 18 year old tap girls. It makes me want to-- I dunno, kick a cat or whatever that morbid phrase is.
Their little costumes look like peacocks, and they're dancing to Calling All the Monsters. A strange combination, but I. love. it.

VI.  Okay, we're almost off the subject of dance. I promise. My best friends Kaylee and Kennedi are coming to spend the night after tomorrow's performance. Yee! As wild as it sounds, we're sleeping in the bed of the truck (which, regardless of its name, is not as cozy as a real bed). We're going to fill it with huge bundles of comforters and pillows, and cuddle up as platonic lovers.

VII.  As for whatever little free time I have, I spend it revising a novelette that I finished writing two years ago. 'Tis a 21st century spinoff of Alice in Wonderland that I was originally going to make into a web series or a short film, but my number one goal at this point is to fix all grammatical errors and eventually  get it published.
It's amazing how much I sucked at writing two years ago, regardless of what my parents told me.

VIII.  VBS is this weekend - that was the absolute highlight of my childhood. Last year I worked in the nursery and watched a little girl whom I haven't seen since. I miss the days of sing-along songs with cheesy motions and crappy 90s video effects.

IX.  My coffee addiction has gotten better. My cookie addiction has not.
I made some "healthy" chocolate-peanut-butter-chip cookies adapted from this recipe.
Holy cannoli. You must try it out!

That is all I have for you this week. 

Do I get brownie points for remembering to link up, in the midst of my immense busy-ness? 

;)

~JK

Thinking Out Loud #5

My apologies for the lack of a TOL last Thursday - I had a long day of finishing a geography essay and catching up on some other schoolwork. *cringe* 

{go here to check out the linkup!}

I.  First and foremost, I have found a new obsession: coconut peanut butter.

Basically, if I could choose one food to eat for the rest of my life, this would be it. Holy mother of all things savory. *salivates like a rabid animal*

II.  Mom and I went shopping and I found some goods at Rue 21. And, as a bonus, all things were on sale.
I can't tell you how many times I've gone shopping and found nothing that really works for me - the success of this shopping trip is a huge deal for me.

III.  My friends - home-schooled and public-schooled alike - are all on summer break.
Me? Well. Because I didn't start freshman year until November 4th, I am not scheduled to complete it until October 4th of this year.

Emotions...

[source]

That being said, there is nothing keeping me from working ahead of schedule and getting caught up. Therefore, I'm doing school through the summer in the hopes of maybe, possibly, somehow starting sophomore year at the same time as everyone else.
Then there's the challenge of getting caught up to the next grade, given as I'm a year behind. Yeesh. Note to past self: DON'T SLACK OFF. 

IV.  Maybe it's because I'm spending most of my day working on school; but for the past few mornings I have had zero motivation to get up. I just want to lie in bed and sleep endlessly. Which sounds really depressive but it's true!

V.  Dance Recital 2014 is next Thursday(!!!). This marks my 11th consecutive year in ballet, and I don't see myself breaking that streak anytime soon. This year's theme is "the whole world dances" and it's really amazing. I'll save the details for another post.

VI.  Time for an extremely random statement: I have been craving cookies lately.

[source: Tumblr]

That, and ice cream. I never ever used to crave ice cream! It's not 'that time' for me so I can't imagine what in the world the pleasure-center of my brain is trying to do to me. All I know is I'm gonna be making a fresh batch of cookies in the very near future.

VII.  Is it possible to be addicted to water?
Don't give me that look. Hear me out first.
I haven't been able to go a day without at least eight cups of H2O; usually more, if you count flavored water. It's like my whole day is thrown off when I don't drink 2 glasses in the morning, and if I don't drink any at night my mouth is so dry in the morning. It's like I depend on water to keep me going throughout the day!
Not in the same way as coffee. Nothing can replace coffee.

VIII.  Speaking of coffee: I have run out of cappuccino mix, and I'm pretty sure Dad drank the last K-cup of Butter Toffee coffee. :'(
Actually, I've been drinking my coffee sweeter than usual. Normally, I like my coffee with a little creamer and nothing else, but I can't seem to get it down without a little sweetener as well. My taste buds change as often as my attitude, I swear.

IX.  My glasses decided to go funky after my second week of owning them... One of the hinges is too tight, and the more I open and closed it, the tighter it got until it wouldn't close anymore.
It literally looks like this:

Which isn't a huge deal, because the other hinge is perfectly fine and opens and closes as easily as ever. Still, it's kinda hard to shove them into a case when one earpiece is sticking out.

X.  I found something out - my last name is allegedly  an "altered spelling of Swiss German Gnaegi or Gnagy."
I'm sincerely hoping that this website isn't rigged because to say that I'm somewhat (even .02%) Swiss German sounds pretty cool, I think.  All I can say for sure is "Kanagys are Southern. We like Southern food." Not to mention, we've counted over 100 in the family, starting with Grandma and Grandpa and ending with my new baby cousin Joshua.
I kid you not. Family reunions are insane. 

~JK

Thinking Out Loud #4

{if you haven't a clue what TOL is, go here for more info}

I've made a few changes this week:

I.  I'm taking a break off from What I Ate Wednesdays, for personal reasons. To compensate, I have decided to join in on Spill it Sundays, starting this week. I would have started last Sunday, but I had a busy weekend and by the time I remembered it was far too late. :/

II.  To brush up on my ballet technique and keep myself ready for the next dance year, I have started practicing little dance combinations every day except Saturdays and Sundays, starting for an hour a day. 

I started on Monday and I have never been so sore in all my years. Lord save me. 

III.  Because the weather has been good to us Midwestern folks, Dad spray-painted a kickball field in the backyard, just like old times. I have been practicing the sport quite frequently and, again I say, I have never been so sore in all my years. 

Also, I've made some new discoveries:

IV.  Last week, I made mention of the lemon Luna bars I bought [in excess]...turns out, they come to a very close second to my favorite carrot cake flavor. I like them quite a lot. <3

V.  My preferred Peanut Butter Puffins cereal was out of stock at the scratch-and-dent store, so I settled for Mother's Peanut Butter Bumpers cereal instead.

Oh. my. gosh.

They taste exactly how I remember Reese's Puffs, just without the chocolate. Puffins was delicious, but Bumpers have taken first place this round. 

VI.  Two words: Swiss. Mocha.

Ayyy Mamacita this stuff is so. dang. good. It's like cocoa, but richer and more robust and all-around better. Plus, there's coffee in it. Can't say no to coffee!

And some not-so-new rediscoveries:

VII.  I don't cry during movies, but this is the one scene that - every time, without fail - chokes me up.

[source: Polyvore]

Seriously. This entire scene breaks my heart. The masters that are Jeff Kurtti, John Lasseter, Nathan Greno, and Byron Howard deserve numerous awards for their animating abilities. I don't think I would have cried if the characters' facial expressions weren't so realistic. I can feel emotional pain with this scene and that is incredible, especially for an animated film.
Also, props to Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore for their voice skills. I just love Tangled. A lot. <3

VIII.  Even after the fourth time, First Position never gets old (Michaela is my favorite).

[source]

[source]

                     Michaela DePrince <3

I don't think it's possible to see this film and not be inspired by it. Even if you're not a dancer, there's an aspect to this that makes everybody want to do something amazing with their life.

IX.  I made a half batch of mini muffins yesterday morning. Comfort food for the coming dissolution of the spring weather, in preparation for the scorching heat that is to come. (Eat all the hot foods before the heat wave comes in; that's my mantra for this season).

I made no changes to the recipe (aside from using a mini muffin tin rather than a regular-sized one), and they turned out incredibly! Everyone went back for seconds, which is a huge compliment on my part.

X.  Grandma went back to Ohio on Tuesday. We went out for lunch at The Barn; an ideal place to go and get some country cookin' (the poppyseed salad dressing is amaaaaaazing). After lunch, we went to my aunt's house to visit for a while before heading back home and leaving Grandma with her sister.
It was a wonderful three weeks having Grandma living with us. I was sad to see her go, but I love her more than ever having spent all that time with her!
...................................................................................................................................................................

QOTD:
~ What's your favorite comfort food for the spring/summer weather?
~ What movie/book always makes you cry?
~ What's your favorite Luna bar flavor?

~JK

Thinking Out Loud #3

If you don't know what TOL is, you can go here and check out all the details. :)

I.  I went to the Amish and scratch & dent stores on Wednesday and stocked up. Among the numerous products I found was this:

I have been looking everywhere for these! I used to be obsessed with the Carnation drink mixes (they're super good in chocolate-peanut butter-banana smoothies) and now I have found ones that have no sugar added. *double fist pump*

In addition, I came across a gallon-sized Ziploc bag filled with a jumble of protein/meal bars...

...yes...

...yes...

...so much yesssss.

Luna bars are my favorite bars so far! Out of the many flavors I've gotten my hands (and mouth) on in the past, the carrot cake still surpasses them all. If only I could switch the lemon out with them...there are nine lemon ones in that bag^^

In the entire mix is one Atkins chocolate peanut butter bar; two strawberry Soyjoy bars, a Fiber One oats & chocolate bar; two chocolate chip cookie dough and two chocolate peanut butter Luna Protein bars; two NuGo Free dark chocolate bars; four Nature Valley soft baked oatmeal squares in peanut butter flavor, and one in cinnamon brown sugar flavor; one chocolate mint Clif Builder's bar; one chocolate chip cookie dough Larabar; and nine lemon zest Luna bars.

Lastly, I scored these babes:

I tried the strawberry ones last time, and this time they had even more flavors to choose from!

Lots of packaged protein shakes have twice as many calories and just as much sugar as a candy bar; these have only 110 calories and 7 grams of sugar, with 12 grams of protein! Plus, they don't taste like cardboard and butt. That's a win right there, in my opinion.

[I tried to find a link to the website, and I found that, allegedly, the Evolve products were - or are being - discontinued. Boo.]  :(

II.  This show:

I watch this on Hulu when I go for walks on the treadmill. I just watched episode seven and I'm praying it doesn't go downhill anytime soon. Most shows I've seen (*cough* Grimm *cough*) have really sucked after the second season.
I defy the inevitable.

III.  As you may be aware, it was Mother's Day last Sunday. I may have also made it aware that I love baking.
Mom has this thing where she lets me think I'll be able to bake something for her on birthdays/special occasions, then she ends up baking stuff herself. So this time, I planned months in advance and combined two of her favorites - Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and cheesecake - to make this:

She gave it the thumbs-up, which is quite rare as I usually try and make things healthier (or at least semi-healthy). This time, I made sure to not change anything in the recipe, no matter how much butter and sugar was involved. That was a real breakthrough for me; I don't think I've baked a "normal" cake in a couple years - I've subbed in applesauce or bananas for butter, and honey and sweetener in place of sugar.
Dad actually told me that this cheesecake was so quality I could've sold it in a restaurant.
Booyah! *ultimate achievement unlocked*

IV.  In pretty much all my TOL posts I've been ranting about schoolwork...I apologize. This time I'm raving about Dad's schoolwork, because he finished his finals for this semester and has received at least six weeks off from his studies.
[Insert confetti poppers and multicolored balloons]

V.  I've stared wearing my dreaded old glasses again, in preparation for the new ones I bought last week.
I'm trying to get used to wearing them around, because frankly, I just don't have the patience to wear my contact lenses all the time. They dry out my eyes and make me look as if I'm on the verge of tears - I have had to explain myself far too many times.

VI.  I have been drinking coffee products on a daily basis; cappuccino, straight-up coffee with a little creamer, homemade mochas, you get the gist of it. I have not yet reached the point where I rely on caffeinated beverages to wake me up and/or keep me going throughout the day, but I have coffee more than three times a week - my limit was once a week, which is a great example of my poor self-control.

*inserts another ecard quote*

VII.  The weather is not looking well for this weekend. My friend and I were wanting to camp out for her birthday, but as the forecast shows, that's probably definitely not going to happen. :p  But despair not, for we have a stove and we have kabob sticks. You see where I'm going with this...

As for today, I have much planned and must be off. See you soon  :)

~JK