FREE!

Today, I got a new addition to my world. "What is it?", you ask. Well, it's my very own customized mouse pad, and you can get one too! Do I have a deal for you! I got it FREE, yes, FREE! (relatively) weeee! All you have to do is go to this website, and upload your picture and all that business deal-y bop, then when you get to the check-out page, all you have to do is add coupon code MSPD99 and pay S&H, only $2.99. It takes maybe a week or so to arrive in the mail.

So here's the picture I used:
...and here is the finished product:
The color did actually come out closer to the picture, it just looks lighter and more blue in the photo!


I know lots of people have a laptop with a built-in mouse, but I have an external mouse, and it doesn't seem to work well on shiny paint. Well my desk just so happens to be shiny paint, so it worked out perfectly!

<3

Some of these animals are SO cute! I especially love the donkey staring into the camera!

Bliss

Why I'm going Anti-Green:

I think it speaks for itself. But, nonetheless, here's the source, including a video from the "designer":

Most Stupid Piece of Eco-Friendly Furniture


Poor guy, though... he just did it to fill the class quota, and it's not a bad idea in that sense, but........

I'm not good at coming up with clever titles.

I'm finally settled in in Rohnert Park again, and getting ready for school to start!
I've been unpacking and decorating, and I'm finally ready to share! I came and looked at the complex before I moved in and everything, but I still didn't realize how nice it really would be.

Everything is done for the most part, there might be a few changes, but here it is for now. I'm gonna post about some of the things I made and what not in the next few days I think, so this is an overview.

Oops... I haven't been updating at all. I promise there are more elaborate/exciting updates to come. I have been busy moving this past week, and before that, I was waiting for things to be blog-ready. It'll make more sense when I post it.

For today, a link.

I'm sure you've all heard of FML. It offers funny, sad, frustrating, embarrassing, etc. stories from people's lives. Well there's nothing wrong with it, I suppose, but I've found a sister website I like a lot. It's called Gives Me Hope, and it is uplifting, optimistic stories of people helping others, random acts of kindness, and many other things.

Another sister site I've come across (there are probably more) is Makes Me Think. Similar to GMH, but the stories do just what they promise— to make you think.

So, are there any others out there?

CHOCOLATE.

Ah, chocolate. I only know 1 person who does not like chocolate, so this seems like an appropriate post.

Now I'm not going to go all Julie & Julia copy-cat, and make a recipes blog, but I will include recipes from time to time! I was sent this recipe, and had to try it! It's a Chocolate Cake in a Mug, and it takes 5 minutes if you don't take pictures after every step. So here it goes:

The Ingredients:
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional, I didn't use this)
A small splash of vanilla extract (I didn't use this, either)
1 large coffee mug (microwave safe)























Step 1
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.

















































Step 2
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

































Step 3
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.


















Step 4 (optional)
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Step 5
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.


The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate, if desired.

















AND VOILA!
click play!



































Well, for me it didn't go quite as planned. I spaced it and forgot we had no oil in the house, so I used butter instead. Also, I think I had the power level too high. It turned out pretty heavy and spongey for me, and was still good as long as I had the whipped cream! I'll definitely make it again, and make sure to follow the recipe more strictly; but regardless, it's a great recipe.

Ok, ok, ok.

So I've been getting a slow start.

I am prepping for some future posts, but I thought since I haven't posted yet, and since this video is wonderful, I'd share.

Any performer, composer, writer, artist, dancer, poet, crafter, any type of creative person really, I highly recommend watching the whole thing through. If you don't consider yourself one of these things, I think you'll still enjoy it.

I love the bit about her aunt, and the poem just running through her.
It's about 20 minutes, so if you've got the time, watch it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/453