Approachable

The other day I had a group meeting and had some time to kill.  This is unusual for me, but it also means that I needed to get some things done.  I went and sat at the park and it was a flashback to Italy.  It was strange.  I sat in a park doing homework and watched as people played basketball and children played on the jungle gym.  I was minding my own business and got interrupted by a little 5 year old. 

She informed me that she was in kindergarten, that she went to the local elementary school and had Mr. R as a teacher.  Had I had Mr. R went there?  I told her that sadly I had gone to school somewhere else.  Her favorite time was free time.  What was mine when I was 5?  What did I do now?  Well, I go to school, I am in college.  What do you do in college?  I learn in the classroom, I read and I sometimes do presentations.  I’m learning to read.  You get up in front of the class like show and tell. What do you bring to share with the class?  Sadly, again I had to tell her that our presentations were not like show and tell.

This little girl was Hispanic and our conversation went on a little longer.  I met her 2 year old sister and she told me about her 16 year old brother.  All the while I was thinking about the fact that I love when this happens.  I love when I get interrupted and get to have an adventure by sitting at the park.  I love being approachable. 

I know I don’t approach strangers.  And it seems weird to want to do that.  But just think about how the boldness of that little girl.  It’s a boldness that makes me inspired, but also worried for her.  My heart breaks for the world that she is growing up in and the things that she will have to face.  But I am so thankful for the way in which made me think and made me smile after a very long day.  In Italy people have no qualms about walking up and asking about your business.  To be honest it was refreshing.

That is something that you are finding refreshing in life?

100

Do you remember kindergarten and the 100^th day of school?  I remember bits and pieces.  I mean it was a long time ago!  I think the reason I remember it most is because I have a brother and 2 sisters that went through it after me {I know…cheating}.  But…it was a big celebration!

This is the 100^th published blog post on this little blog. 

It’s growing up! 

In the grand scheme of things this is a little thing and really it doesn’t mean much.  To me, it means that I’ve stuck with it.  I’ve kept going even when I feel like I’m the only one who even reads it or thinks about it.  Thanks for journeying with me, even on the weeks where maybe there was one {or nil} blog posts.  I am loving being able to blog.  I write way too many in my head and they just don’t make it to the page.  So thanks for sticking with me as I continually learn how to balance being a working student and blogger {and keep real life friends!}

I am so excited to keep documenting this adventure in life.  I would love to hear some adventures of yours as well, so either email haleighgirladventures@gmail.com or leave comment!

Spice it up: Chai Peanut Butter Cookies

Remember how I told you I made these cookies?  And then I told you that I would post the recipe.  Well here it is.  It’s one of those make it smell right before you put them in the oven kind of recipes.  I guess what I’m saying is have fun with the recipe and change it if you like!

 1 cup butter softened

1 cup peanut butter {your choice on chuncky or smooth}

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 cup Chai Latte powdered mix {I used 2 Keurig packets but they get expensive!)

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, chai, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. {I leave out the salt because I use salted butter.}  Stir into batter.  Roll into ½-1 inch balls and roll in white sugar.  Put on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern. {They will expand so leave a little space!}  Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown.  Enjoy!

I think that they are more flavorful after they cool.  I also like to make them small to go with tea or coffee. 

Getting Creative

I like to think I’m creative and looking back on this weekend there was some creative moments.  But I feel like they weren’t my creative moments.  The ‘creative juices’ as we call them, they just weren’t flowing.  I’m not really sure why.  But I’m ready for them to be back.  I’m ready to enjoy them and smile and laugh over them.  I’m ready for a little more time to get my stuff in order and remember which part of the state the stamp pad and sketchbook are in!

So for those little moments:

Saturday was making pancakes for my roommate and me and adding some extras in.  We used a trick I learned from a friend of slicing up a banana and then drizzling honey over it.  You let it soak while you cook the pancakes and it makes a great syrup topping.

Then it was making cookies with my friend and neighbor.  She wanted to make Chai Peanut Butter Cookies.  Can you say amazing!?! {Recipe coming this week.}  My roommate said they tasted like Christmas {I agree}.  I am so making them again…

There was an impromptu beach bbq with some of the roomies, a cousin, and friends.  We tried to play a game and it was a bit of a failure.  Games are supposed to make you laugh right!?

Sunday I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and it was wonderful.  I got to mull over the Sunday morning message and wash a lot of dishes.  It was all worth the picnic in the end.  I guess you could even say that I got a little creative trying to fit everything in the picnic basket!

Being the bad blogger that I am, I don’t have pictures for you.  Not a one.  Visit back this week for the cookie recipe, you are going to want to make them!

Cute as a Button

Last week was stress week, this week is overwhelmed week.  Or at least that’s how I feel.  But I’m not going to let that get to me.  Unfortunately the blog is suffering for it.  School comes first…

Yesterday was beautiful May day.  It always sneaks up on me, so I end up celebrating with pretty flowers all month instead of just the first day.  Are you familiar with May day?  I’ve always wanted to create a tradition for that day…but like I said it always sneaks up on me!

Last week I had  to design and give a training session for my training and development class.  My partner {who also happens to be my roommate} and I did a training on sewing a button.  As a snack I made some easy sugar cookies and creatively tried to figure out how to make them look like buttons.  For some reason one of my roommates thought that we were going to sew the cookies to the fabric.  That would have been interesting!

In the process...here they come

Sugar cookies are so easy and these ones are no chill.  Bonus!  I end up eating way too much dough during the process so by the time I get to the actual baked cookies I don’t really want one.  Does that ever happen to you?  And I usually burn or overcook the first batch when I make sugar cookies.  I broke that streak this time!

So here are the yummy cuties right out of the oven:

Anyone interested in a recipe?