Things to do in place of studying.

Well, bloggers, it's that time again. That dreadful week of sweats, coffee, and more math than I've ever wanted to cram into seven days. Finals week. Luckily, I have but three finals, and one of them I'm not even counting because I'm cocky and not worried at all. It will probably come back to bite me later, but this is something I'm willing to accept. Unluckily, I'm pretty sure I have tonsillitis, so studying is that absolute last thing on my to do list, hence me blogging instead of studying.

In honor of avoiding my finals prep, I've compiled a list of the ridiculously exciting things I'm doing instead.

1. Blogging.
This is a given since I'm writing this blog, but still. I'm not only writing this blog, I have been perusing blogs as well. I'm trying to find a link-up I really like so that I can blog at the very least once a week, even when school begins next semester!

2. Rockin' my hips to the blues.

If I learned anything from Grey's Anatomy other than doctors are whores, it's that when you're down, dancing it out is the best thing you can do if you don't cry. The stress of school is bogging me down, what do I do? I crank up one of the best forms of music ever and get to moving. I can't actually dance at all, but it feels good! If you don't do this, do it. I promise it's surprisingly effective.

3. Baking.

We all know how I am about baking. I just cannot help it. I love it. The other day, I made cream cheese cookies. It was my first time tweaking a recipe a bit, and I have to say they didn't turn out horribly! They weren't as sweet as I'd like, but I'm pretty sure that's just the result of the cookie and my intense sweet tooth. I've been all over blogs and pinterest, compiling a list of recipes and desserts I want to try! I'll be posting about them because that's what I do. Maybe I'll start a list of recipes I've tried?

4. Reading.

I've been holding off on the reading because I know once I start, it'll be bye bye studying for finals and hello literature. I keep telling myself, just one more week, just one more week! Then, I have about eight or so books to borrow from the boyfriend and I will crawl into seclusion and bask in the glory of my book adventures. It will be heavenly.

5. Pinterest.

I cannot get off of this thing. It is so wonderful. It's an addiction. I'm on here more than I'm on facebook, which lately, I haven't been on facebook all that often. If you have pinterest, link me so I can follow you!

6. The Nutcracker Ballet.

Tonight, Eli is taking me to see The Nutcracker Ballet. It's just the one here in town because he had to work last night so we didn't get to go to Memphis to see it. I am absolutely in love with The Nutcracker. It's definitely one of my all time favorite ballets. When I was eight, my school took a trip to see it in Memphis(where I lived at the time) and I was entranced. Ever since, Tchaikovsky has been my favorite composer. I love his ballets and his fantasias after Shakespeare. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. So is my boyfriend for taking me to see a ballet which is arguably very unmanly. ;D

Legit almost burned down my kitchen.

I decided I'd be a good girlfriend and cook dinner for Eli Sunday night. Problem being, I'm more of a baker than a cooker, and I hate to handle raw meat with a sincere passion. Lucky for me, he took over the chicken cooking, and I did the rest. He's so sweet. When it comes time to cook the chicken, I pour olive oil into the skillet for him and BAM! Huge flames. All over the place. I just stand there in shock remembering the time my mom and I burned down our kitchen, until I finally manage to say, "ELI! DO SOMETHING!" He just held the skillet and let the flames burn out, but my microwave was all covered in soot. I just knew my kitchen would burn down, I was so horrified. I guess the skillet was too hot and we should've put the oil in BEFORE heating the skillet. I'll know for next time at least. We did have fun cooking together though. We made chicken parmesan over a bed of spaghetti with mac and cheese and garlic bread. Talk about nommy. The kitchen was such a mess by the time we got done, I should've taken pictures!

Speaking of pictures, I did take pictures of a pumpkin cheesecake I made the other night. I'm pretty sure by the time this week is over I will have gained ten pounds from eating it. I love pumpkin so, so much. My coworker cut up, cooked, and pureed pumpkin for me, and it was delicious. I combined a few recipes based on ingredients I have, but I'll link the main recipe with the praline toppings. Graham cracker crust, pumpkin cheesecake filling, and pecans covered in brown sugar on top. Sounds ridiculously wonderful, right? ;D
Recipe here!

I hope you all have an excellent Thanksgiving and eat tons and tons of great food with your families!

"I'm SO glad our marshmallows taste like marshmallows, mother!"

Hey guys! I hope your November is going splendidly. This is my last week before Thanksgiving break, and let me tell you, it cannot get here quick enough! I've got so much to do by Friday, yet here I am blogging instead. I'm okay with this. ;D

Last week Eli and I carved pumpkins. Yes, I know, it was after Halloween, but we didn't get the chance before Halloween! We had fun doing it anyway. I ended up with an extra pumpkin that I think I'm going to use to make my own pumpkin puree for a pumpkin cheesecake. Sounds delightful, yeah?!

Eli's vomiting pumpkin. XD 

My Jack Skellington!

This weekend was pretty busy for me with my niece's fifth birthday party and spending the day with my darling Katie Saturday. Friday started out with my car dying while I was at Target, so I had to wait for an hour before anyone was available to come get me! Turns out my alternator is bad and it's been draining my battery. Bummer. That night Eli and I went to Chuck E. Cheese's  for Zoe's birthday party. Naturally, I jacked coins and ran around with Eli playing games. Lots of pretty pictures were taken, but these are hands down my favorites!

My sister and I completely unprepared to be taking the picture!

The boyfriend and me. 

My momma, sister, and me!

Me with the beautiful birthday girl!

Then, Saturday, Katie was in town so we got the bright idea that we'd bake together. What did we decide to bake? Marshmallows, of course! It was horrid. For starters, gelatine smells terrible. It was very sticky and way too much work. They did taste delicious though. While waiting for the marshmallows to set, we made red velvet whoopie pies which were awesome! Somehow I ended up with all but two of them.

So happy to be mixing the marshmallows! (Before it thickened)

Pretty marshmallow mix.

Check out those beauties. Homeade cream cheese frosting.

The marshmallows being cut. Not an easy process.

All in all, the weekend was lovely even though my car broke down. What could be better than Chuck E. Cheese's, baking, the Razorbacks AND the Titans winning?? Have a great week, guys!

Halloween Weekend

I suck at blogging, I swear. I know I haven't been blogging since classes started, but it's really because I have nothing to talk about. I do the same stuff all the time! My apologies. 

This past weekend I actually went out though, which was pretty fun. Went to some bars in Little Rock with the boys and the boyfriend. We went to this place called The Flying Saucer that has oodles and oodles of beers from around the world. I got a hard cider, which was wonderful, and an Italian beer that was horrible. It was really bitter, so I stopped drinking it. It was that bad. I think we had to pass it around the table to get it all finished because everyone hated it. We also got to watch the Cards win the World Series. Whoo! 

Ummm...Saturday I went to Rocky Horror with Katie and Eli. I dressed as Olive from Easy A and she was Flo the Progressive Girl. We tried to get Eli to wear his scrubs and be Dr. Karev from Grey's, but he wouldn't. That's the most exciting weekend I've had, sorry I don't have better things to blog about!

Fried Deliciousness.

At the risk of putting myself into one of the biggest stereotypes of the south, I am telling you, some foods [i.e. most foods] are better fried. Blah, blah, blah, it's unhealthy and waaah, my arteries are clogging. Yeah, I get that, okay? I don't over indulge, I swear. At least, I try to behave. The point being, I, Tiffani, a few weeks ago, tried my very first fried oreo ever. And it was amazing.

It's that time of year when the county fairs start rolling in with their sketchy rides, untrustworthy carnies, and overpriced fair food. I hate the fair. I don't ride the rides, the carnies freak me out, and I hate it when they call me "sweetie." However, I do love the ferris wheel and I have a love affair with funnel cakes. For funnel cakes, I brave the fair. As it happens, Eli loves funnel cakes, loves the ferris wheel, but hates the rides, too, so we make a trip to the fair for funnel cakes and a ride on the ferris wheel. We get in line for the cakes, and I see the sign. The sign that says "Fried Oreos: $4.00." I asked Eli if we could get some since we've never tried them before. They were amazing. I can't even explain the deliciousness that filled my mouth. Oreos covered in funnel cake batter, fried, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. My friend in DE had told me of all the fried foods she gets at the fair each year, but I hadn't ever actually tried anything. I wanted to try some of the other delicious things, but neither I nor Eli could stomach it. After eating the funnel cake and two Oreos a piece, we were stuffed. Sadly, because they apparently fry twinkies, Snickers, and, wait for it....Starcrunches. I could eat an entire box of Starcrunches in one sitting if I didn't have a tiny bit of will power. 

Yes, biting into these, I heard my arteries cry out in horror. 

Haters gonna hate.

Alright, I'm not saying I'm perfect. In fact, I'm far from it. I still tend to be a judgy-pants more than I should, but a lot of that is simply because the remarks I have are sometimes witty and funny. That's not an excuse, but I'm going with it. My point is, if you do something that may or may not be morally okay, I'm not going to judge you on it necessarily.Especially if it's none of my freaking business. I know that in every scenario there are two sides to the story. Sometimes the other side is completely useless, but it's there. I'm sorry I'm ranting, but I tend to let people get under my skin. I know I shouldn't, but sometimes I just can't help it. It's more so true when certain people are judging/saying things about me that they know nothing about or only know half the story. Even more so, if you have done the same thing, or even worse, then you need to climb right on down off of that high horse you've been prancing around on, and get over yourself. Seriously, someone needs to punch you in your hypocritical face. I really do need to let it go, it's just hard. But, haters gonna hate, right?
End rant.

On to more exciting news, I have been made aware that not only is Disney Pixar re-releasing Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc. in the theaters, but also Beauty and the Beast AND The Little Mermaid. Call me a child, but I got ridiculously excited about this. Then again, I was crazy amount of excited about The Lion King, which I saw, and loved even more than I thought was possible. Unfortunately, The Little Mermaid won't be in theaters until 2013, but who cares? It's coming, and I am ready. For now, I'll just count down to January for Beauty and the Beast.

So. Much. Win.

Emma Stone and a Boyfriend

I know it's been forever since I posted, and I apologize! I've actually had somewhat of a social life(shocking, I know) here recently and I just haven't had time to sit down and update.

"Her name's Tiffani. No, it's Emma! No! Just call her 'Hollywood'"

It's Saturday night, and I'm at a wedding reception with my best friend and the one girl who hates me more than I ever thought anyone could. Talk about awkward. Accidentally made eye contact with her, and I felt like I had been staring into the eyes of Satan himself. Due to the fact people who know her may or may not read this blog, I won't disclose the reasons behind her hatred. Just know that I understand her dislike towards me, I don't like her either, and it was incredibly awkward to be in the same room. Needless to say, when she left, things got a little better. Small town wedding reception, groom has a camo cake. DJ plays mostly music I've never even heard of. Apparently, he was a DJ for clubs and what not...get the picture? It was too, too funny to watch these boys get out there and try to dance. Pretty sure I saw them doing the "lawn mower" more than anything! 

After the reception, we had plans to go to the bar with some friends. Of course, we didn't get there until late and almost didn't find a table. Luckily, two guys the guys we went with knew were there and we sat with them. We're all chatting and having a good time when one of the guys I didn't know stares at me. Our conversation went like this:

Guy - "You...look like some movie star..."

Me - "Emma Stone?"

Guy - "YES! You look just like her!"

Me - "-laughs- I get that a lot."

He calls me Emma for the rest of the night. He pulled our waitress over to the table to tell her I look like Emma Stone. Then, our friends sister got there, and she was already pretty drunk while we were on our way to being so. She's being introduced to all of us and when it gets to me I say, "I'm Tiffani." Then Eli says, "No, she's Emma!" then someone else says, "Noo, she's Hollywood!!" Poor drunk girl was so confused. Everyone that night called me "Emma" or "Hollywood." 

Hmm...maybe...

"Girlfriend...I am someone's"

I have been waiting to blog about this for a while now because I wasn't really sure how much detail I wanted to go into, but I feel like now is a good time. Basically, I've been dating this guy, Eli, for a bit now, and he's pretty awesome. Saturday he called me his girlfriend. We had all been drinking when he said it, so I didn't really think he meant it. And, of course, I had to go be an idiot about it and say he wasn't allowed to just call me that, he had to ask me. Really. What am I, sixteen? Anyway, I texted him about it later to see if it was something he actually thought about or if he was just drunk. Turns out, he was thinking about it. So, now he's my boyfriend. Totally went into girl mode and cheesed so hard. 

Those are really the only two super interesting things that have happened lately! I'll try to post more, I promise!