At The Pumpkin Patch

Yay! Fall is HERE. And with that, pumpkins. Carving pumpkins is always a major event before Halloween. Each year, you carve a pumpkin, with the intent to be the coolest, most original, cleverest, finest knifework, pumpkin-carving-contest-winning pumpkin EVER! In reality, you go trick-or-treating the next day to find out your pumpkin really isn't all that great. Sad day.

But NOT this year! I have a brilliant plan.

I chose this beauty:

Ohhhhh. Don't you dare sneer! Size does not say anything about the coolness of a pumpkin (plus, I'm a starving student now and could only afford to spend one dollar on my pumpkin this year).

The reason I chose this particular pumpkin (other than the fact it was cheapest) is because of it's unique shape.

An Apple.

Am I right?

Of course.

(scroll down to look at my brilliant carving plan.)

It's going to be the pumpkin of all pumpkins.

I'll report back on Monday. Be excited. Or...

SCARED FOR YOUR LIFE.

That's probably a better Halloween approach.

Hee Hee.

Thrifty Thursday

Puritan shirt? $3.00

Pants that USED to be $70.00....$10.00

And awesome shoes. The brand is Mushrooms? What?! $4.00

Hate the hay,

Love D.I.

That's where my outfit it from today. Even though it took 30 minutes to walk there. On the way home
I shouted at a bunch of cars: "HEY YOU! YA, YOU! GOT ANY CHARITY, HUH? CAN'T GIVE A POOR COLLEGE GIRL A RIDE HOME FROM THE STORE? WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY!?" I don't think anyone heard me. I just had to keep saying to myself, "Just over the next rise, Shelby". That inspiring statement was actually written on my shirt. I was in the 10000 FT Hiking Club. And that was our motto. Too bad I never actually went on a hike with them. Maybe it would have prepared me for college.

College life is different...yet, adventurous.  For instance:

I ate a huge box of raspberries from the Horticulture department while walking to my next class. 15 minutes: 200 raspberries. Hopefully, my stomach handles that alright.


I shoved a roommate into my closet. And legitimately tried to keep her there.

I burst into tears during class when my choir teacher from High School texted me.

I keep waving to everyone...but hardly anyone waves back. Maybe it's a Utah thing?

I heard today from a boy in my Book of Mormon class that Idaho has bigger mountains than Utah. EXCUSE ME?! But, WHAT mountains? That little hill you can see when you climb on the roof? Ya, no. No mountains.

I walk into my dorm and my roommate hides her frosting/nutella/ice cream behind her back. I think she's downed a can of each.

I bang my head on my bunk bed/desk contraption every day. Hopefully, I don't loose too many brain cells.

I have too look at my creepy Child Development textbook each day. That alone gives me nightmares.


I jumped onto a desk in my Children's Literature class pretending to be a monkey. There are no Freshman in that class and I'm pretty sure there were arrows pointing at me, blinking lights, and a creepy computer voice monotonously repeating "FRESHMAN. FRESHMAN. FRESHMAN." I realized I was a bit large for desk hopping when three chairs crashed over and one hit me in an incredibly and painfully uncomfortable spot. I don't think people normally act like a monkey in college.


I bought a 5$ movie from Wal-Mart instead of other crucial needed products for survival. I'm not really sure why, because it's only going to give me a good dose of heartache each time I see it.

I danced silently in my kitchen while a boy was giving a flower to Hannah in the living room.

I listen to Billie Holiday and vacuum. Then lay on the couch and stare at the ceiling in between classes.

I save all the envelopes I receive and hang them on a clothes line in my room.

I keep creeping on people when they exchange numbers and try to inconspicuously take a picture. Awesome.


I had a Sunday Breakfast Party.

I held the sun in my hands.


There are probably a plethora more oddities I didn't mention. Living on my own I realize I love cleanliness. I love being independent. I LOVE having my own kitchen and living room and bathroom. So wonderful. I'm thinking of making a peach pie soon.

I sorta like this college thing.

Shank Yoo

I went on my first college date last night.
After shoving my roommates in my closet so they would stop giggling and to prevent them from saying obnoxious things when the boy came to pick me up, trying to hurry out of my apartment complex because fifty girls were staring at me through their windows, and fretting about how college dating is different than high school dating; I ended up at the Chinese Opera Orchestra of Shanghai performance.

Intriguing.

Fascinating.

And very oriental.

A live orchestra to backed up the singers. With instruments such as: the erhu, guzheng, pipa, sanxian, suona, liuqin, sheng, paixiao, yanguin, zhongyuan, jinghu, dizi, zhonghu, konghou, gaohu, and many traditional percussion instruments.


Try to say those instruments ten times fast.

The Maestro Wang Yongji had the greatest Chinese accent. I couldn't even understand his English. He kept saying "Shank Yoo" (Thank You) over and over and over.

I had a great time. Being at that sort of concert was such a cool experience.

So, my first college date:

Shank Yoo,

Shank Yoo.

Recipe Rendezvous

Julie, Juila, homemade food, Anna (the mastermind), and a variety of soon-to-be college goers; had a party today. It's been in my planner for weeks. It was called "Recipe Rendezvous". Basically, it's a brilliant idea where a bunch of teens who are moving out in the very near future get together and exchange easy-to-make-recipes. Are we in Relief Society, you ask? No. But hey, it's a smart idea. In preparation I decided to make one of my All-Time-FAVS to share.

Frogs Eye Salad.

Yes. It is made with real frogs eyes. And when you eat it, they hatch inside your belly and eat away at your insides causing you to lose weight at an exponential rate! Let me know if you want the 30-day trial.

It goes something like this:

Cook on stove, 

1/2 cup sugar, 

1 tsp. flour, 

1/4 tsp. salt, 

1 cup pineapple juice, 

and 1 egg

Until thickened.

Like so:

You then cook the frogs eyes.

Cook 1/2 package of acini de pepe pasta 

Boil until the pasta until it looks

Like so:

Drain the pasta. And...

Mix it with the sauce.

Add 1/2 T. lemon juice.

Like so:

Now's the fun part. 

Let your creation chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Meanwhile, have these items handy:

2 cans mandarin oranges

1 can pineapple chunks

1 can crushed pineapple

1 ctn. Cool Whip

2 cups of marshmellows

Wake up bright and early, mix everything together (oh, ya, you might want to cover the pasta in the fridge), and WAL-LAH!

Delicious Frogs Eye Salad.

It was definitely a hit judging by when Julie & Julia was over, my Frog Eye Salad was eaten and gone. So good. During the show, I copied down over 40 recipes! In this handy little book I made, organized by subject. (I've had lots of time on my hands). 

Copying the recipes:

Copying recipes once again. In a new location. But, this time, we all look like Julia Child. I think we pulled it off well.

Maybe after this little Rendezvous, I can test out all my note-cards and become as good as a chef as she was.

Now all I need is the height...

La Venezia

Remember a couple months ago when I was decently into art and exclaimed to the world through the web that I was going to develop my talent as an ARTIST?!

I didn't do a great job at that once Summer started.

Not a good job at all.

But, tonight, I decided to pull out my painting supplies, buy a canvas, and brush up my skills. (HA! 'Brush' up my skills. Get it?!)

My dear friend Kendra and I went to work.

Step 1: European Inspiration.

Step 2: A Blank Canvas

Step 3: Supplies

Step 4: A Friend

Step 5: The Mood

Step 6: Paint

Step 7: Share!

Wasn't that a "stroke" of brilliance!? (BAHAHA)

A Most Agreeable Sunday Evening

Lazing on a Friday Afternoon

You know it's Summer when you wake up and decide while slowly eating your cereal and listening to Jack Johnson to catch up on old times and watch the original Star Wars Trilogy. All three of them. In order. Right after one another. By yourself. In a towel. With four dogs surrounding you. A new pedicure. And a cool ice water in one hand.

Ya. I think that was a pretty productive day.

Reminds me of the times when I would cuddle with my dad and we would watch the now-cliche-scene "I am your father" Muhahahaha! and my dad would ask:

"Shelby, why did Darth Vader go to the Dark Side?"

As a quite bright seven year old I would respond, "It was hate, Daddy".

"That's right. It was hate. But it is even bigger than hate. It is pride. That's what Satan uses to bring everyone to the dark side. So as long as we try our best to not be angry and hateful, we can always stay on the good side."

What a good father?! Teaching me moral lessons as we cuddle together and analyze George Lucas' epic tale.

Well. I've never forgot that lesson. Pride brings me over to the dark side.

Maybe...that's just me crossing the nerd-line a little too much?

I guess right after I watched the Trilogy all day, I played video games with my bestie the rest of the night...

Oops. 

Alright, alright. You guys already knew I was a nerd.

May the Force be with you. (more like the Spirit...Keeping with this whole moral lesson :)

Dreams Do Come True In Disneyland

I, being one of the luckiest ladies this side of the border, had the incredible opportunity to spend a whole week with my best friend on a senior road trip.


FUN, HUH!?


Ya. It was. And that's why I haven't posted for a week!


But this one is a good one.


The last three days of our adventure we went to The Happiest Place On Earth. The most beautiful, the most peaceful place, I've ever been. The place where dreams come true. And time never ends.


The D-Land.

(sung) AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!


Now, like your average tourist, I enjoyed the rides, Indiana Jones, Big Thunder (The wildest ride in the WILderness!), Space Mountain, The Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain (my favorite), and the many less thrilling but wonderfully themed attractions. 
 
Unlike your average tourist, I was kind of/sort of obsessed with all the musicians at the park... Ha.
 
Have you ever seen the Dapper Dans?!?!
AMAZING.
 
Or the Royal Street Bachelors? That's the incredible Disneyland Jazz Band! WOO!
 
Or what about the Pirate ensemble? 
 
Or the Hillibilly band?
 
Or the Ragtime pianist on Main Street?!
 
I bet you didn't even know about half of those. But I did. I admired them almost to the point of creepiness actually. But, Hey! It paid off.
 
My dreams came true on that trip. 
 It all started when I was on the train about to go to the Primevil World when a soft and delicious sound reached my ears. It was the sound of Duke Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". I spotted the Jazz Band on New Orleans Square--The Royal Street Bachelors--ditched Hannah, jumped off the train and pulled up a chair right in front of them and sang along to that beautiful and inspiring tune. 

Now, I'm not really sure if I bring it all on myself with my unnatural enthusiasm, or maybe musicians just like me! But the sax man invited me up to pretend to sing on stage while he took my picture. The pianist awarded me with a necklace. They played "Only A Paper Moon" on my request. And I even got a picture with the whole band afterward! WOO! It's my dream to sing with the Disneyland Jazz Band. MY DREAM.

Only moments later, I was walking by myself down New Orleans Square (I had ditched Hannah for the musicians) and I came across another entertainment crew! 


Singing Sensational Pirates! Ha....

See this young man here playing the guitar?

Ya. He liked me. I was swaying along to one of the musical tunes and he walked up to me, leaned forward and whispered "You are swayed pretty easily aren't you?" And with a smile he continued singing and strumming as I laughed and he almost winked. Almost. The next song was dedicated to me. A Pirates Lament about women. Or something like that...






Ah. What a dream...


Or should I say, Aye! What a dream! (Ya, ya....that was pretty bad)






Hannah and I also came across some Hillbilly band in California Adventure. I'm not sure if it was my inviting smile or my overalls; but the old man invited Hannah and I to play the washboards and sing It's A Small World! Good times.

I dunno why he gave me the tiny washboard...






We also came across the incredible Dapper Dans Quartet! Love them.

And then there was Jonny. Oh, Jonny. One morning as we walked through Main Street toward Adventure land, the beautiful sound of Ragtime piano played in my ears. 

I looked up and that handsome man was playing and singing to Cruella Deville. I stopped to listen obviously. And again with my unnatural enthusiasm or inviting smile, he looked up at me and yelled "I'm not singing this song about you, young lady!". He finished the singing the song then asked me if I had any requests. I was speechless and in awe of his incredible piano talent I couldn't come up with a song. So he said he would choose one and started playing Michael Buble's "Everything". I sang along... You know that part that just keeps saying "Love love love love love love love?" Mmmmhhmmm. 


I walked away, he finished playing and winked at me.


Oh ya.


I came back to see if he was playing later on that day and someone else was playing and they had me come up and play! JAZZ! And sing! On the piano!

This girl started dancing and sticking her tongue out at me. We had fun together.

Anyway. My heart basically stopped/melted/turned into a butterfly/exploded everytime one of these experiences were experienced. Call me crazy, but the music is one of my favorite things about Disneyland. I love the entertainment. It's all old school and themed too! 


Maybe someday, Jonny or that crazy pirate will call me up and have me come live in Disneyland with them and I can go sing with The Royal Street Bachelors, play piano on Main Street, befriend the Dapper Dans, feed birds, dance with kids to Disney music, and become a legend.


This man is a Disney legend.

   
Chef Martinez. He is the oldest employee at Disneyland. Also the friendliest. Everyone at the Carnation Cafe was loved and enjoyed by Chef Martinez. It was truly inspiring. 


Disneyland pretty much is inspiring. 


And obviously, a place where dreams come true.


I hope I go back soon.


Till then, 


I'll keep on dreaming.