New awesome YUMMMY recipe!! Orange Peppermint Bread

This bread I discovered online and I crafted my own version of it! It is tasty and veryyyy simple to make! Also, most of the ingredients are usually found right in the house making it inexpensive!

You Will Need

1/3 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp orange zest (or more for more intense orange flavor...I DEFINITELY used more...)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup plain yogurt (or vanilla is also a tasty alternative!)
1/2 cup golden raisins, chopped

Delicious Homemade Peppermint Orange Glaze
A few drops of Peppermint extract

2 teaspoons of orange juice
1/3 cup powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 4x8-inch loaf pan. To make it easier to remove the loaf from the pan, you may want to lay down a wide strip of parchment paper, along the length of the bottom of the loaf pan, and up the narrow sides. Butter this as well.

2. Beat the butter until fluffy, about 2 minutes on high in an electric mixer. Add the sugar and beat for an additional 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until completely incorporated after each addition. Beat in the orange zest.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

4. Add the yogurt and dry ingredients by thirds, starting with the yogurt, alternating the additions. Beat only until just incorporated. Mix in the golden raisins.

5. Immediately pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Place in middle rack of 350°F oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes*, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Cool on a rack in the pan for 5 minutes. Then remove the loaf from the pan and cool for another 10 to 15 minutes.

7 While loaf is cooling, prepare optional glaze if using. Whisk together the peppermint extract, orange juice, and powdered sugar until smooth and there are no lumps. Place loaf on a serving plate. Use a toothpick or skinny skewer to poke holes in the top of the loaf and drizzle the glaze over the loaf. This helps the glaze not pour alllll over the place!

*If you are using a 5x9 loaf pan, the loaf will be done earlier. Check at 40 minutes. You can use this recipe for muffins, in which case the cooking time should be 20-25 minutes. For me I wasn't sure it was cooking all the way because the skewer wouldn't come out clean. DO NOT PANIC! It just needed more time. The bread didn't burn and it was delicous!

Best served warm and with liberal amounts of BUTTER and cream cheese : ) BON APPETITE!

TNWM

Preparing: Battling the Could Be's and Making Them Will Be's

Today I came to a realization that many of us have grown up with stars in our eyes. These stars are put there from the moment we are born. They are put there by the simple, wonderful dreams that many children have about what they want to be when they grow up. The stars are amazing and dreamlike when you're a child and they are I believe healthy in normal development. Unfortunately, all things have there time. I have found that I still have many of these stars in my eyes. They have now become a nuisance as they cloud my vision and my judgement of how to achieve my goals and dreams. I haven't realized many of my dreams yet because I haven't taken all neccessarry steps required to reach them.

My whole life I've dreamed of entertaining people. Making them smile, laugh, cry, and feel the same realm of emotions I have felt. I have definitely achieved that many times through the many performances I've gotten to do and I'm happy to say that it has left me fulfilled, but yearning for more. I want it on a broader scale. More people, more emotions, higher pay, more experiences outside the collegiate world, and ultimately to be on Broadway. These are dreams that I feel I am ready to fulfill....but I believe I've missed something.

There is an emptiness still deep inside when it comes to feeling really fulfilled. I know that I want to be on Broadway, but I've discovered something else on the way...I LOVE to teach. I love watching kids grow and learn and achieve some of the same things I did when i was in high school and middle school. It gives me such a warmth inside knowing they have learned something positive from me and that I have instilled just a little bit of my personal wisdom in each of them on a different level.

But now it comes to the point....I "could be" a teacher or I "could be" a Broadway star or I "could be" both! I've realized that all these stars I've placed in my eyes have clouded me from making my "could Be's" into "will Be's". It is time to put my childhood dreams in to real time action!

This means I have to get more serious about finishing school instead of feeling like it is a waste of my time and money. I have learned alot and I am ready to learn more. Also, I need to STOP listening to other voices...the nay sayers in my life who told me what I'm doing will never make me money and that its a wasted dream. I WILL MAKE MY DESTINY REALITY! I am ready to take those steps...I am prepared for the successes AND failures. Even when you fail, that doesn't mean you are a failure! It merely means it will just take a little more time and that much more effort to make it happen! If I get down on myself EVERY time I feel like I've failed...i will NEVER succeed!

In short...I WILL be a success....I WILL perform for thousands....I WILL teach my wisdom and experience to the younger generations and I WILL make lots of money doing it! Until this destiny is reached, I am willing to do WHATEVER it takes to get there....two or three part time jobs? MEH it's doable....will i like it? probably not...will I do it?! HECK YES!!! It WILLLL be worth it in the end...

"This is only the beginning of an adventure far grander than any I've undertaken...it will hurt...it will feel amazing....I will probably cry....but in the end every tear I shed is one more step I've taken to achieve my dreams!"

I hope I can inspire anyone else out there who feels they are falling short....DON'T give up! Take the baby steps and I promise you... you will feel fulfillment...Your destiny is chosen...it's up to YOU the paths you will take to get there my friends.

TNWM

For Today...Something Unrehearsed

Today I am writing after a stressful night. I realized last night after talking to someone that my life isn't exactly where I want it to be. I am still falling short of my dreams and my ultimate goals. Unfortunately I am still up in the air when it comes to finishing my first leg of my university career which I was more than hoping to have finished by now. Everyone seems to want to tell me that I'm doing ok and that I'm better off than many others, but it just isn't enough for me at this moment. I want to have a fuller feeling of independence. To have the abillity to extend my reach to the stars and beyond. I have had so many dreams dashed up on the rocks of irony that it seems I can never piece them together...so instead i am melting them down and starting again. This time I will approach things in a seemingly more selfish way. This time no one will step on my toes or try to trip because I will swiftly move past them. This time I will turn a deaf ear to my nay sayers and will in turn listen to my own instincts and follow MY own ambitions and not someone else's expectations. "Its time to trust my instincts...close my eyes...and leap...Its time to try defying gravity." Old lyrics from Wicked...but they still do and always will hold true to my own story. I hope that my words can give hope to those who feel like they have lost all passion for life and living for their dreams. I feel like all those parts of me that were cast in darkness and strife are now able to breathe in the fresh air and find hope in the hopelessness. For all those who don't know what to do when you feel backed into the perverbial corner...just remember why you do what you do...remember your dreams...call back those passions that started you on your path to begin with. Only then will you start to achieve fulfillment in all you do.

I hope I have helped to shed light on all those dark places...not just in others, but in myself as well. Here's to a future filled with happiness and light!

TNWM

Words...The Double Edged Sword

Has someone ever told you something and no matter how seemingly insignificant it seems you can never seem to shake it? Does it still fill you dread and doubt at what was said even though intrinsically you know its not true? Well that is how words are....they cut a wound so deep that no amount of healing can ever truly patch up those scars. People really need to be more careful about what they say. No one truly realizes the impact they might have. Say for instance in my own life...I grew up hearing a lot of things such as how to be, how to act, how to dress, when I looked bad, or had maybe gained too much weight, and etc. Those things have never left my mind. Those words have left scars that affect my personality, my day to day life, and the way I react to others. Of course over the years I have been able to overcome most of my self-concious issues and find myself as the beautiful creation I was made to be, but not without a lot of struggle and help from my friends.

My words of advice are to those who have suffered and maybe are currently suffering from harsh or judgemental words. My words are simple: believe in yourself and believe that God has made every one of us in His image. The only imperfections are the ones others point out to make themselves feel better. Believe in yourselves, believe that you are unique, and love yourself no matter what. Only when you can come to accept yourself and your flaws, can you truly show the world the precious gems you really are.

"Through the pain comes love, through the struggle comes strength, and through words we can change the world." -- Me

Keep your heads held high and if you need to look for help remember...LOOK UP!! : )

TNWM

NEW BLOSSOM!!! Introducing My Beautiful Orchid

I have been raising a very special orchid plant. It really means alot to me and I have been careful to provide it the most special attention I can give. And it seems to have paid off! My orchid has a new blossom. I am so very proud of how well my plant seems to be doing.

They have opened up a nurturing nature inside of me and I am seeing the beautiful results of my work. Starting this garden was the best hobby I have ever had!!!

In other news, I am still continuing to eat healthy : ) EVEN THOUGH camp food is very difficult to digest...I am stilllll very active as the kids keep me on my toes playing soccer, kickball, and dodgeball. ANNND I have rediscovered my love of four square hahaha! These amazing kids have brought the child in me and I am rediscovering aspects of myself that seemed lost. They are teaching me as much as I am teaching them. Even though we have just started I already know I will dearly miss most of them. With kids like these, the future seems so much brighter. They are going to lead us into a more prosperous and hopefully more harmonious future.

TNWM

The Fun is Officially Begun!!!! GLI 2010

I am about to embark on my fourth summer at Northwood University as a Group Leader/Camp Counselor with the Global Language Institute (GLI). Despite the stuffy title, GLI is in fact one of the most amazing camp experiences of my life! Kids and teens come from all over the world to learn the English language....AND most importantly to have the time of their lives! I have been a part of children's camps since I myself was a camper starting in the 1st grade. They are important parts of kids lives as that is where they learn important life and social skills and garner memories they will keep the rest of their lives. This camp is very special to me because of the things I also learn. These students and campers have given me the opportunity to experience new cultures and learn new languages. I have a blast EVERY year and I hope the trend continues! More to come as the fun rolls along! VIVE LE GLI!!!!!

P.s. My plants are alllll doing well. Since I have to live on campus for the camp I simply took them with me : ) new pics and posts on them to come!!!!

TNWM

Just A Short Thought...

I just wanted to write and say that I am a very lucky man. Not everyone gets to experience the kind of love I am enjoying on a daily basis. I have my friends surrounding me and I so much love in my life. I am grateful for where I am and for what is in store for me. I can now say for certain that I am happy. I am now just merely awaiting the destiny I have yet to discover! Its very exciting and life is just one adventure after another. It is time to start enjoying it and finding my purpose in it!

TNWM

Growing Plants

I have always enjoyed walking in gardens. Plants and flowers have always had such a calming effect on me and I always enjoyed having them around. So I decided on creating my own garden and I wanted it to be a variety of plants that I have always found the most beautiful or interesting. I will introduce them each in their own separate blog piece so you have to be patient as I have begun a true garden and I have planted quite a few plants.

I thoroughly enjoy watching each and every one of them growing. I feel that my own personal growth is somehow connected to the growth of each and every one of these small beings. I have watched them grow from tiny seeds into the tall beautiful stalks that they have become. I am very excited for each and every one of them to flower and become the beautiful plants that I've envisioned them to be.

My first plant I want to introduce everyone to is the ever growing ever tall Sunflower!

So far this one is the fastest growing and most sturdy of all the plants. It started out as five seeds, but now they are five tall standing stalks! I am so proud of them as they grow. I can almost feel as if each has a name...but I won't know until they each have produced their flowers and find voices of their own. They are like my children and I care for each of them and love them like family. THAT I believe is the true secret to a successful garden. Fill the garden with love and it will grant you the peace and serenity required to live a more fulfilled and peaceful life. God put these plants here for us to enjoy...but also care for. It is a small service we can give back.

TNWM

Disney : The Magic NEVER Dies

Thursday July 8th I got the opportunity to once again to visit the wonderful world of Disney at the Magic Kingdom! It wasonce again a day to remember. I went with all my dear friends including one Elizabeth Demarco whom I have come to value dearly in my life. I met her when I was a scared freshman in college and we were in the same class and program. She was an immediate joy in my life and has been a great friend ever since. Well thursday she had to leave Florida for her home in New York because she has a better job waiting for her there. It was our last opportunity to share our one great joy of Disney one more time before she left.

The Magic Kingdom has always been one of my favorite places to visit because the moment you walk in it is pure MAGIC! There is a feeling about the place that is simply abuzz with pure excitement and adrenaline. The moment you see the magnificence of Cinderella's castle, you tend to forget what age you are and you revert back to the age where you were happiest and most innocent. Where all the little things were all that was needed to make you happy and get you all jittery with excitement. The sights, colors, sounds, smells, and people all make the experience worthwhile.

We rode all our favorite rides and ate at our favorite places. Another nice thing about this place is that you can constantly be making memories no matter where you go. As long as you are with special people, you can make as many memories as there are moments. And I was with some very special people : ) The moments I shared with the people there are ones that I will remember for my entire life.

Disney's magic will never die for me. I will continue to love every moment I spend there and with the people I go with. Disney continues to be a place of magic and wonder...a place where I know dreams come true...and a place where love is abundant...and where people can just be free to act like kids again.

And I will continue to seek more great times there in the future.

TNWM

An Original Poem: How I Love Thee, Oh Moon

Though the morning and days are fair,

There is one at night who rules the sky and air.

She has taken many names and forms in time,

And is often spoken of in nameless rhyme.

She has been called goddess, Luna, muse, and ruler of romantic love,

As she rules from her throne in the skies above.

She speaks not a word, but says so much,

As night after night her white rays we feel and touch.

At the setting of the sun,

When the day has over and done,

I await the rising of my fair moon,

This maiden that doth cause lovers to swoon.

From my mortal place on Earth I watch this sight,

And each time I am awed by this lady's light.

As she rises higher in her graceful dance,

I feel as though I am held in enraptured trance.

How I love thee, Oh moon...

But look, the day it starts too soon....

TNWM

Introducing the Newest Member of Our Cooking Family: Herbert Harold Sanders III

On 4th of July, we realized our true culinary dreams of a tasty 4th of July cookout could not be completed without on essential thing: a grill. So as we went to Walmart to complete our shopping list, Carrie and I stumbled upon the most beautiful of sights: a display of grills, charcoal, and lighter fluid. It was the closest to spotlight moment with heavenly music I've ever had!

We scoured the display trying to find something in our budget. Then, we saw it. A small size grill, with bun warmer, for a reasonable price! Of course we immediately picked it up to give it a new home where it would be well used! I built it and Carrie then dubbed the little guy Herbert Harold Sanders III. Isn't he wonderful?

Compact and small, yet large enough for our express cooking needs! I've been learning how to do all kinds of neat things with it like indirect and direct cooking. I've already tackled hand made burgers, hot dogs, and chicken. Next I want to try my hand at fish packs and grilled fruits and veggies! Or maybe a kabob! Many adventure with this little guy are in store...who knows what we'll grill up next!!!

TNWM

LOTS to catch up on...Starting with 4th of July ! : )

Well it has been a while since I have had sufficient time to write a post so I am gonna do a series of them so everyone is caught up with what has been going on! As I wrote in the title I'm going to start with our awesome 4th of July holiday!Although I was very saddened to hear that my entire family was up in my old hometown of Pittsburgh, including my older brother Josh I haven't seen in almost three years and my baby nephew (both below),

I decided I was still going to have a fun 4th with my other family made up of dear friends. We decorated the house with a couple of fun 4th decorations and then my lovely roomie Carrie and I went out to and bought all the ingredients needed for a small cook out! We had so many fun dishes including the YUMMMMMY jello pretzel salad, my fabulous cheddar bacon cheeseburgers and hot dogs, a watermelon, flag cookies, and corn on the cob! It was a yummy feast to behold and it was so nice to have a bunch of friends to enjoy it with! Not to mention my friend Anthony who put FAR too much lighter fluid in and almost caught us ALLLL on fire as the poor grill seemed to almost go down in a blaze of glory.

After dinner, we all decided to go watch the fireworks at the "4th On Flagler" celebration. We drove to the top of the Cityplace parking garage and it was pouring down rain, but the fireworks STILL went on as scheduled and it was such a beautiful display and we had a BLAST all watching from the cars or under umbrellas while blasting our favorite music.

AND THEN!!!! WE HAD OUR OWN FIREWORKS TO SET OFF!!! (Which might have gotten us in minor trouble, but WELL worth it!!!) check out the display!

All in all, this 4th is probably one of the best ones I've gotten to spend here in Florida. It was filled with fun, laughter, and friends. Who could ask for anything more?

The love that surrounds us keeps us whole. - Me

Well everyone that's all for this one! MORE to come today! TNWM

The Joys of the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of my favorite places in ANY house! Not only is one able to show off his culinary prowess, but late at night, the kitchen floor becomes a place of gathering, tea time, and deep meaningful talks with friends til ungodly hours of the morning. These moments are the ones I value and cherish the most.

First of all, I LOVE to cook if you couldn't tell by some of my recipe posts. Cooking calms me and also gives me my own creative outlet to explore new exotic tastes and allow myself to get lost in the scents and various aromas of different cuisines. Sometimes I act as though I am a chef on one of those Food Network shows and I "teach" my roomates how to do simple things in the kitchen! It is often a riot...OR there are the times I will make an entire meal acting like Julia Child and using her mannerisms, voices, and phrases. Cooking in and of itself is an artform and hobby for me and I LOVE it.

Also, I really enjoy kitchen clean up time. More often than not it is a task that is NOT at all amusing.....but when you can clean with friends you adore and roomates who are extremely fun, then it becomes a tast WORTH doing! We will put on fun dance music and just jam the night away to our various favorite artists and genres. It has become a tradition and MUST be done at least once a week! I can remember sometimes when I was a kid sometimes hearing music while doing dishes or my sister Amber and I would randomly break into song MUCH to the chagrin of my older brother Josh! Just the thought brings a smile to my face.

The kitchen is and always will be a place where memories are made and new good times are to be had. At this very moment I am watching my dear roomie Carrie "sweep dancing" to some R&B jams and we are all laughing about the day. Even though we all have different ways of running a kitchen...It all comes back to the fact that the kitchen is not just a tool...but a place of gathering where people can share interests and ideas and be fun and creative!

I love our Red kitchen and wouldn't trade it at the moment for any kitchen in the world! Even if there ARE dishes in the sink! HAHAHA

<3


TNWM

Moments...

In acting we learn a lot about moments. Moments are pieces in time that leave a lasting mark in someone's life. Sometimes we are so busy in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we don't notice these moments.

Moments can be found at the oddest of times. Sometimes it can be a friendly smile by a passerby. Your heart skipping a beat after a first kiss. Sometimes a moment can be found by yourself watering a plant or staring out the window at the pool. I experienced a moment today when I was on a walk with my dog Gizmo and I was watching a mom holding her baby while still blowing bubbles with her little curly haired blonde girl. The laughs and giggles just reminded me of how important it is to look for these moments and cherish them.

Sometimes moments are exactly what you need to get through the day. I want to remind everyone to live for these moments and maybe create some of your own along the way!

TNWM

A Simple, Inexpensive, DELICIOUS Recipe: Cottage Cheese and Bows

Today I am presenting to you one of my ALL time favorite dishes. It is simple, cheap, and quickly becomes a table favorite! It is called Cottage Cheese and Bows. The reason for the bows aspect is because of the use of the Farfalle noodle also known as a bowtie pasta.

You Will Need:

1 box of bowtie noodles
1 16 oz cottage cheese (large curdle suggested!)
and butter

Boil your noodles to al dente and then drain. Add as much butter as you like! I like to at least see them glisten and have some still sticking to the inside of the pot...YUM! Finally just add your cottage cheese, stir, and serve! I have also tried some variations on this recipe by adding mixed vegetables, but found i only like peas added with it.

Now, some look at me and say, "YUCK! Cottage cheese with noodles?!" I just nod my head and say "Don't knock it before you try it." It has been a family favorite for years! I remember eating it as a kid and being SO stuffed that like my brother Josh used to say i was "stuffed to the buff!" I can guarantee that your kids and family will ask for it again and again!

(A good suggested side is either a nice salad or some garlic bread or both!)

Bon Appetit!

TNWM

Favorite Song at the Moment: "I'll Be Seeing You" by Billie Holiday

Before you begin to read please click the link so you can experience the song as well! (left click and open in new window it is much easier!)

This song is the absolute essence of romance. The soft brass section in the background mixed with the soothing piano and music breaks makes it impossible not to get swept away in. It is the music of memories as well.

I listen to it and I'm transported back in time to when the summer days were carefree and fun and the only money I worried about was the dollar bill to wave down the ice cream truck. It takes me back to family that I don't see much anymore and friends that I long to be along side with. If I close my eyes I can still see all those family dinners at the old dining room table in our old house and I can hear everyone laughing again. I think of the nights spent in the basement with my brothers and sister watching our favorite movies and just enjoying each other's company as we all slowly fell asleep before the movie ended.

Sometimes I listen to this song and I think of my Great Grandma Weick. I didn't have much time with her, but the time I did have was so special and there are moments with her that I will never forget. So when I hear this song and think of her, I remember her laugh and the smell of her house and of the oatmeal pies from the rooster cookie jar.

Sometimes it is so good to remember these things which is why this song is right now a favorite. It gives me a chance to forget my troubles in the present, and to remember all the good times I've had in the past. Some people listen to this song and see it as the romantic anthem from "The Notebook," but I see it as a musical transport to times far gone. As I listen I let the movie reel of my memories carry me away to better days and I find myself feeling nostalgic and refreshed and able to face the day's worries. I will always hold these memories dear to my heart as well as the people I had them with.

"I'll be looking at the moon, But I'll be seeing you."

TNWM

Recipes for All !

I've decided I also want to use my blog to help people find new and interesting ways to prepare food! I LOVE to cook its one of my passions and hobbies outside of theater and music that I believe I have a proclivity for. Keeping my hands busy is a nice way for me to relax and calm down after a stressful day. If my day was ok I will make a good chicken dinner. Bad day = dessert! I love to bake and create new gourmet drinks and desserts! Cocktails are fun as well!!!

Well for my first recipe I'm going to tell you how to do chicken in a way that isn't boring and VERY fun for summer! This is.....

Chicken Pesto and Asparagus! (borrowed and varieted from the beloved Paula Dean!)

You will need

1 tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Evoo)
3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (each cut in half)
1 Pint Cream (heavy or light as desired)
2 tbs Prepared Basil Pesto
1 Bundle of small asparagus

Heat your pan over a medium heat. About a 5 or a 6 for those with number dials! then add your olive oil. While your olive oil heats slice your three chicken breasts diagonally and sprinkle both sides with some salt and pepper. Then lay them in the pan and about 5-7 minutes on each side should do the trick. Remove when done and set aside and cover if possible. Next, cut your asparagus down and trim it up. Then cut each in half and put in the same pan you just did your chicken in. Cover for four minutes or until soft. Then, add the cream right into the pan over the asparagus and then add your pesto. Stir until it is all a nice light green. Place your chicken back in the pan and let cover and warm over a low heat. THEN...


VOILA! One of the BEST ways to cook chicken with an awesome vegetable that I have EVERRRR tasted! I suggest also making either crescent rolls or a nice garlic bread using french bread! This dish is sure to please taste buds ALLL around the table!

As my dear inspiration Julia says...BON APPETITE!!!! And don't forget that a family dinner together at the table around one dish is worth the time and effort to make! That's where memories are made!!

Well everyone, that's all for now! TNWM

The Importance of Friends

I have come to realize throughout the years just how essential friends are to my life. My friends have not only been a constant support to me through the rough times, but also my comrades during all the fun times. I don't think any of us ever really sit down and think about what friendship is. Here are some thoughts.

Friends are the ones who when you are crying after a bad break up they scoop you up and make sure they get you laughing again.

Friends are the people who don't shy away from the things that make you unique and different, but instead embrace you for who you are.

Friendship is something you need to value even more than your material possesions...because when they go missing or something happens to them, your friends are still there.

No matter how far away your friends live, they still live in your heart and always find a way to make it known.

Friends are a phone call away when you feel like Atlas and the whole world rests on your shoulders.

These are only a few ways I know who my true friends are. There are so many intrinsic and extrinsic ways that my friends have shown their love for me and I in return give them all I can give. I have developed a deep love for my two roomates and I'm sure they know it! We are an inseperable power of three and always come as a package! I don't know what I would do without these girls in my life!

My friends have become my family as my family lives scattered to what seems to be the four corners of the Earth. They have been a comfort and a release when I have tears and also the life of the party!

I wanted to write this today to tell my friends just how much they mean to me and to remind everyone to remember who your friends are and keep them close by at all times.

Love is found in many forms, but none so dear as a friend,
They stay with you through the storms, and until the bitter end.


Well everyone that's all for now! TNWM : )

Favorite Movie At the Moment: Notre Dame de Paris

This movie was in my opinion: phenomenal. It isn't a film as most people are used to, it is more a musical on tape. It is a live performance in France that was professionally taped. The score is scintillating, the set breathtaking, and the singers were indescribable!

The whole movie however IS in French with subtitles and I know that many are opposed to viewing a movie with having to look up and down at the screen. I didn't mind in the least as I already speak a good deal of French so it was easy for me to pay attention and still see the translation.

Notre Dame de Paris is based on the novel that we know as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo. The story is heavily based between Esmerelda, Phoebus, Quasimodo, and the King of the Gypsies. Paris at this time was very heavily influenced by the church and Frollo, being head priest, made sure he led the people as he saw fit. In doing so, he outlawed the Gypsies from ever setting foot in Paris near the cathedral of Notre Dame as he deemed them outlaws and witches. The story is based mostly on a love triangle between Esmerelda who loves Phoebus, and Quasimodo who loves Esmerelda. It is a story of passion, forbidden desire, and intrigue as love tries to find its way between a city divided and two peoples at war.

Not only is the story incredible, but the music is AMAZING!!!!! My favorite songs from it include *Le Temps des Cathedrales ( The Time of the Cathedrals), *Bohemienne (Gypsy), *Dechire (Torn), *Les Sans Papiers (Without Passports), and *La Cour des Miracles (The Court of Miracles or The Den of Thieves). Each song has its own haunting melody and phenomenal choreography.

Just a forewarning it is NOT like the Hunchback of Notre Dame you've seen in Disney with the singing gargoyles and friendly faces, it has a darker side to it and stays closer to the actual novel. I guarantee however if you are looking for good entertainment and a way to pass the time, the music and spectacle that is "Notre Dame de Paris" is for you!

Well everyone, that's all for now : )


* = Youtube clips of the musical!

My Dear Dog Gizmo

Today I'm going to dedicate today's post to the most amazing dog and my absolute best friend.... GIZMO!!!!

This little guy has been a joy in my life the past three years and has gotten me through SO much. I saved Gizmo from a rescue shelter that euthanizes all their pets that don't get adopted... I was volunteering at a shelter for community service hours and of course surrounded by the cacophony of loud, noisy, drooly, and often unruly dogs. I have always liked dogs and dreamed of owning one, just never one that was enormous and drools...bleh! I was cleaning floors and doing my usual duties at the pound and I finally got to the end. That was when I saw him. The smallest, most timid dog in the entire pound. He was shaking like a leaf at all the noise. He seemed emaciated and very scared. Gizmo was the only dog not barking and pounding against the cages to be let loose. I motioned him to come over to me and I was able to slowly coax him to the edge of the cage. As he slowly ambled his way to me, I saw for the first time those great big eyes of his. They showed me a story and they also showed me fear. I looked at his cage and saw that he had been there for over three months...he was on the list to be put to sleep. Well I just COULDN'T let them do that to this little guy...so I adopted him on the spot that day! I look back on that day and still assert that it is the BEST decision I have ever made!

Gizmo is the kind of dog people hope to have. He is very quiet, loving, a cuddler, not drooly, and funny as can be! He is also a fantastic listener. There have been many a night when I'm at the point of tears or utterly frustrated with life and he jumps up on my bed and rests his paws and head on my knee and just listens to what I have to say. When I'm sick he stays next to me the whole time and never leaves my side.

Unfortunately, the poor thing has been INFESTED with fleas for the past six months...I have no clue how to get rid of them permanently as I have literally tried all courses of action and forms of medications! I give him baths regularly (which is a harrowing experience of its own as he refuses to stand still and I have to chase him around the shower) so I have no idea what I'm doing wrong! *sigh* I am just trying to do the best I can for my best friend. It seems to be going better after his recent bath....but it only lasts so long before the plague of the itching pestilence returns....they may be winning the battle...but they YET to win this war!

Oh well, I'm just excited to be done with work today and to go home and be greeted by that shaggy waggy tail and big round eyes that clearly say "I LOVE YOU!"

P.s.....He also poops when it thunderstorms...but it can't be helped...

Well that's all for now everyone : )

Favorite Song At The Moment! "Can't Take It In" - Imogen Heap

This song has gotten me through so much. THIS song to me is the soaring of imagination! I first heard it on the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe soundtrack and it is perfect for such a wondrous movie and tale! The song itself is lilting and very light. It feels as if you are flying across vast oceans or over the highest forest filled mountaintops...It feeds imagination with lyrics that make you feel as though you were meant to be wherever your mind may take you...

For me it takes me away from where i am for just that glorious three and a half minutes as word by word and note by note i am transported from my kitchen to a place of my imagination...a place where the animals can talk, magical creatures abound, and I am a hero of my own story.

If you haven't heard this song or it has just been a while, I encourage you to listen to it again and for once LET your imagination get the better of you!

Well that's all for now everyone : ) TNWM (Til Next We Meet)

Thoughts on an empty library....bleh!

So here's the sitch...I at my University's library 40 hours a week...It's Saturday...NOBODY wants to be at a library on Saturday (least of all me). There are literally NO people here and the silence is so loud it is deafening! The very clock sounds as if it is trumpeting the horrifying news that I am stuck here another few hours...

Then I began thinking...and musing...WHY are libraries so terrifying when they are empty?! I find myself spooked at going to the third floor just because i feel some apparition might jump out at me or I'll be toppled over by a shelf of books and no one can here me call for help! Also, I feel as though I can feel the very life of the library...as if it breathes! SCARY right? Hahaha I laugh at myself for these ridiculous thoughts, but what else can i do? Play text twist the whole day? (which by the by I am besting my dear friend carrie at...good luck!) And I would be reading a book, but the series I am reading has 12 books and I just finished devouring book 6 and can't afford books 7-12....SUCH a conundrum...oh well...*sigh* I guess I will be content with my hours of internet gaming and shelf reading until I finally get to go home to my dog and two fabulous roomates!

On a lighter note, I have started dieting recently and discovered I LOVE eating healthy! It has made me a much more agreeable person! I also feel proud every time I shed a few pounds as it makes me feel like I've really accomplished something. ...I just remembered my dog needs a bath....FAIL!!

Well that's all for know everyone : )

Welcome! ...and words to live by!

First of all I would like to thank anyone who starts reading this blog as I hope to inspire others with my words and thoughts! Now a little about myself. I'm 23 years old, live in florida (for now), and LOVE musical theater as it is my current major. I have alot of thoughts and ideas on the world around so I figured it was time to start writing them down! I love expressing my thoughts and feelings in the written word and i hope that I can be a light to others when they feel down or even just need a laugh! That being said I would like to start on my first topic...

Why is there so much stress placed on the future? I mean c'mon.....
A time for everything and to everything its place...these are definitely words I think we can alllll live by. I see so many times myself and my friends worrying about every little thing that happens or that "should be" happening or even just when we ponder future events. I say that the future will take care of itself. I don't know what faith everyone who reads this have, but I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and that God is teaching us things that grow us and make us stronger! I know what its like to "FREAK OUT!!!" but honestly there is no real reason to do it other than sometimes it just feels so dang good to scream your frustrations into a pillow or knock them out into a punching bag! I have seen these often frequent freak outs amongst me and my friends...and trust me they do NOT end pretty and usually leads to late night refrigerator raids...but as I said before this can all be avoided if we all just take a moment....and BREATHE! It seems such a simple solution...but just taking a moment for yourself and remembering why it is you're doing what you're doing or what dreams or goals you're reaching for is key in keeping your cool. For myself I am often plagued with what in the WORLDS am i doing after college...is it grad school? "real world"? performance? teaching? The ideas themselves are not what my problem is, its the execution of those ideas and which one i want that keeps me up at night with ice cream sandwiches as a bunk mate...

I realized a few days ago that allll of my over stressing isn't even worth it! A time for everything and to everything its place...what is meant to happen will happen! All of those different ideas I have about my future are ALLL worth chasing, but I feel confident that ONE will open up and that is the door I will walk through!

SO what does all this mean? That I can breathe and focus on what matters most and that is MY life and seeking what is best for me and what feeds my passions! I hope these words have touched someone and that you can take comfort in my words!

Thats all for now everyone : )