Experiencing Summer Goodness

So I know it has been a while but I have been enjoying summer so much!  I have been catching up with old friends as well as making new friends.  I have also been applying for lots of jobs, reading lots of books, and doing a lot of thinking about what my future has for me.  I have been thinking a lot about transferring schools.  SPU is getting very expensive and I am just such a California girl I am pretty sure I don't want to go back to Washington.  I have also been contemplating on changing my major.  I may switch from Psychology to Elementary Ed.  I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember.  Then, when I took a psychology class senior year of high school, I loved it and decided to do that!  Now, I am questioning if that is what I want to do with my life.  I would still keep a minor in Psych but be a teacher.  It sounds so great to me!  We shall see.  I hopefully will be taking fall semester off due to transferring so then I will be able to spend some time in a classroom and really be able to observe.  Lots of things going on!

This morning I went to the bike trail and rode my mountain bike 20 miles!  It was a lot of fun and the weather was perfect.  I also got a new book to read!  I finished The Case for Christ.  This book was very good.  It gives you a lot of information and the proof of Jesus' existence on earth.  I just got Spoken from the Heart which is the Biography of Laura Bush. I started it last night and just the first chapter had me hooked.  I love reading about people lives and the things they have accomplished as well as their struggles.  I am very excited to continue.  I just love summer and California so much.  It is hard to imagine returning to Washington for any long period of time.  

I also wanted to share with you a recipe I made last night for dinner.  It is from Runners World Magazine and it turned out very delicious.

Pasta Bean Toss

1 pound whole-grain penne

2 medium red onions, thinly sliced

2 large garlic cloves

1 teaspoon olive oil

5 carrots, cut into slices

2 cups raw broccoli

12 ripe plum tomatoes, diced

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

4 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

1 can red kidney beans

1 can white kidney beans

1/2 grated parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package.  While pasta is cooking, saute in a large frying pan onions and garlic in oil until tender.  Add remaining vegetables, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and basil.  Simmer for 4 minutes.  Add beans and simmer for another 2 minutes.  Add pasta and cheese and toss.  

Finally Baking!

It's summer time and I am HOME!
I am still unpacking but it is slowly coming along really well.  I have sooo many clothes!!  Today I got to bake some cupcakes.  I tried one recipe and they turned out awful.  I had to throw all of them away.  I then tried a different recipe and they turned out better then I hoped.  They are lemon cupcakes.  Here is the recipe! 

Cake Batter...  Yumm!

First batch in the oven

Lemon Frosting

Lemon Rind for the top of the cupcakes

This mornings baking playlist!  Lots of country :)

All done!

I used a different recipe for the frosting.  I used a butter cream frosting(butter and powder sugar) and added lemon extract.  I used a ziplock bag to ice the cupcakes.  Just cut the corner off and it works almost as good as the real thing.
I also got an iphone yesterday which has been fun  :)

Beginning of Summer Treat

Since it is summer I thought I would post a summer smoothie recipe that you should try!  I am definitely going to try it once I am back in Cali in the nice warm weather.

Mango Smoothie
Ingrediets:   1 1/2 cups peeled chopped mango(Frozen or fresh)
                     1 1/2 cups fat free milk
                     1/4 cup lime juice
                     1 tablespoon brown sugar
Directions:  Put all ingredients into a blender, process until smooth.  Serve over ice.
*  It is also good when you add other fruit as well.  Strawberries or raspberries are very good!

So I will update a little on my life.  I have finished spring quarter!  It is officially summer which is so strange.  I am packing up my room today and moving out of the dorms.  I will be picking my dad up from the airport at 745 tomorrow and then be driving all day back to Sacramento.  I am very excited!  This summer will be very good.

Summer reading update:  I have finished Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure.  I will do a book review soon
<3

Beauty Tips

I am going to post something later today as well but I just thought this poem from Audrey Hepburn is a good reminder for everyone throughout the day  :)

Beauty Tips:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. 

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. 

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. 

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. 

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. 

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed: never throw out anyone. 

Remember if you ever need a helping hand you will find one at the end of each of your arms.  As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.