"Be yourself. The world worships the original." ~Ingrid Bergman
Sometimes I find it difficult to be myself, because I spent the majority of my life not allowing myself to be "me". I was always adjusting my own desires in order to please other people. If I was going out with someone, I would let them choose the activity and the place. I never made the decisions and I never complained. If anything, this was a very comfortable way to live. It is easy to just be what other people want. But it also leaves a HUGE void in your heart and soul.
I am still a work in progress (and will always be), but I have come a long way in figuring myself out and what I want to do with my days and my time.
I have learned what my values and priorities are. I love spending time by myself painting, cooking, and exercising. I love spending time with my boyfriend. I love traveling. Something I have been ignoring for far too long now, is being social with other people besides Stephen. I have made a promise to enjoy myself more and socialize this semester! To start things off, I went to wine night!
Almost everyone brought a bottle of red wine, which is fine, because I love reds!
There was lots of cheese. The one with the cranberries was incredible.
A lovely platter of cheese and crackers.
And chocolate!
I had a pretty fun time. A few of our new grad students came. It made me really wish that I was still at the beginning of my masters instead of knowing that I have a very difficult and challenging few months ahead of me. I will finish, but it is not gong to be fun.
And on to other things...
This morning, I wanted to make pancakes, but I didn't have any milk left. It is okay, though. I used beer!
Beer Pancakes
a little less than 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tbsp vega shake and go powder
1/4 cup white ale
1 egg
I topped the pancakes with a blended frozen banana. It made for a very delicious breakfast.
Lunch was another awesome sandwich Sunday. I made real BLT's this time. I liked using a softer lettuce, rather than iceburg.
Dinner was burgers!
A simple sirloin burger with pesto in the patties, mozzarella and parm cheese, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and greek yogurt.
A very beautiful burger.
Aranitas (fried shredded plantains) on the side (and some brussel sprouts for me) made for a great meal!
Now for the exciting part of my day! I made my first bread pudding using the challah I made the other day.
Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding
I soaked the bread in a custard mixture and added dark chocolate chips.
All baked up and ready to cool off and cut up.
This is the way bread pudding looks like in Puerto Rican bakeries. Other bread pudding have huge cubes of bread, with custard poured on top. I like how solid this bread pudding is. Plus, with homemade challah, you cannot go wrong. This dessert is something to enjoy and be proud of!
In other news, I crossed of number 4, Finish a book. I finished Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand. I really liked it and am sad that I finished, because I am not going to read another new book for a while. I need to focus on my research and reading articles. Don't worry, I will still cook and paint a lot, but as far as reading for pleasure goes, magazines will be taking front stage.
Hope you had a great weekend!
NO. You. Didnt. Just. Make. Chocolate. Chip. Bread. Pudding. !!!!!!!! YESSS <3
ReplyDeleteso far you're starting off on the right foot this semester by celebrating with none other than wine and cheese.. ahh bless the delicacies we're so fortunate to enjoy <3
xoxo
Astrid, I've done the same thing in relationships, and it makes me feel even worse when the relationship ends. It's like I betrayed myself a little bit.
ReplyDeleteWine and cheese is a great way to start the semester, and OMG that chocolate chip bread pudding looks amazing!
Boy it's been a while hasn't it! Sorry about that I've been in a funk lately but I'm trying to work out of it. Nice starting out here seeing one of your paintings!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to come by and thank you for voting for my Bigstridea! I can't remember if you blogged about it? If you did I appreciate that too. So since you haven't been by in the past few days I'll let you know here:
I WON! I found out a few weeks ago but wasn't able to say till last Thursday after they announced it first. I couldn't have done it w/o your support! Thank you!
wine night = sounds lovely :)
ReplyDeleteit's funny, with josh his job means that i end up with default time to either be alone or socialize without him - i used to hate it, but it's grown on me (of course i miss him but i like the 'me time' too!)
It is very important to have your own social connections outside of a relationship, but it can be so hard to do when time is limited. That "balance" word comes into play again, and it seems you have a pretty good sense of it :)
ReplyDeleteCheese, wine and chocolate? What can go wrong there? As for the new grad students, I bet you a bottle of red that they're wishing they're where you are--near the end--instead of just starting at the beginning.
I love how colorful your food turns out! A lot like you paintings, and I guess a lot like your personality! Lately I have not patience for books, so I just do magazines. I keep a nice balance of "The New Yorker", "Marie Claire", and "Us Weekly"....gotta have my trash
ReplyDelete