Birthday: March 29th 2013

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19th birthday, anxiety, anxiety disorder, aviation, birthday, california adventure, cars, Disneyland, e, eating, eating disorder, fun, fun time, fun times, health, Photography, recovery, shopping, style, time, transportation

So last month was my 19th birthday, and it kind of feels weird to be 19. I found it to be a weird age.

Last year, I went to Disneyland with one of my best friends for my birthday, and dicided to go this year with my best friend to Disney’s California Adventure. Last year, wasn’t so great of an experience, being the fact that I ended up getting sick. But this year, I really prepared myself for the long day ahead of me….

Before we left, I had 5 minutes on my side to get ready. And in those 5 minutes, I decided to paint my nails. I know, I know, I am crazy, but I have one of those fast drying nail top coats from Sally Hansen’s. Practically save my life! Now I was completely dressed.

….And it was worth it. I ended up going on lots of rides and eating lots of food, in fact I ate MEALS and not candy. Since I have developed such a sensitivity to sugar and sweets, I decided to stay away from most of it, to keep my fuel in my tank. Overall, pretty worth it. I really had to stop and check in with my body to see if I was running low on energy, and I think that’s what really saved me from the increase of anxiety and the later crash.  All in all, great experience! It was full of: excitement, adrenaline, and pure happiness. Couldn’t have asked for a better birthday!!

The Bostons

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Art, boston terrier, dogs, gaming, grass, love, outside, outside playing, pets, Photography, plants, playing, ripley, Spike

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  Ripley Today was a great day for photography, since it has been gloomy and rainy outside. I decided to …

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Book Review: “Brain on Fire” by Susannah Cahalan

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autoimmune disease, book, Book Review, books, brain on fire, brain on fire: my month of madness, brain on fire: my moth of madness, ks, literature, memoir, mysterious disorder, novel, novels, susannah cahalan, young adults

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

I was walking to the register to buy my books at Barnes & Noble. On my way there I saw a brightly, large book that caught my attention. But after doing a double take, I realized that the title sounded oddly familiar. Brain on Fire…

Once I looked inside and read, I realized that I had read an article about Susannah Cahalan and it mentioned about her “brain on fire,” a mysterious disorder that happened to be an autoimmune disease. While reading this memoir, I was intrigued and at the same time, very sympathetic. I felt what she (and the people that loved her) felt, the frustration and anger, but also the loneliness and isolation. I know how it feels to be misunderstood. Been and still being a person of no specific diagnosis, I had truly connected with Susannah and her story. What really struck me was how simply she put her writings down (just my guess) and had published and shared her story to all people around the world. I have always wanted to write a memoir of my own since I was 10 years old. After reading her memoir, it gave me the courage and strength to write and share my own story. I am hoping to inspire those with similar situations, just like Susannah Cahalan has inspired me.

Do I recommend this book?
Well as you all know by now, YES! Definitely! I recommend this book to young adults and above. I especially recommend this to those that are having a hard time with their own diagnosis, and to those who need a more understanding of those who are suffering from real, live diseases.

Dad’s Chili Beans Recipe

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chili bean recipe, chili beans, chili beans recipe, chili beans recipes, chilli beans, chilli beans recipe, chilli beans recipes, christmas dinner, christmas dinner recipe, christmas dinner recipes, dinner, diy, Family, family recipe, food, food recipe, food recipes, Photography, recipe, recipes, red kidney beans, tbsp garlic, tutorial, vegetarian, warm recipe, warm recipes, winter, winter food recipe, winter food recipes, winter recipe, winter recipes, winter time

Diced Onions

Roast Meat

Fatty Roast Meat

Putting Aways Fatty Roast Meat

Hot Chili Mix by McCormick

Slow Cook w/Crock Pot

Chili Beans

Hey peeps, it’s Winter!
This is my favorite season of the year. Not only because of Christmas when you get tons of presents and have fun family gatherings, but because of the nice cooling weather. I just love putting on my thick wool socks and cuddling up in my blankets while… EATING CHILI! Yum!
My dad usually makes Chili around this time of the year. And what better to eat it when it’s most necessary! This meal always seems to fill me up and make me feel relaxed and warm. If you want to know how to make the BEST Chili Ever, then just check out my dad’s most famous Chili Bean Recipe down below.
Enjoy! And feel free to make your own twists & changes to the recipe.

RECIPE
1 Pack Chili Mix Powder
1 lb Red Kidney Beans
2 Containers Vegetable or Chicken Broth
1 Whole Onion
1 Tbsp Garlic
Chuck Roast (or any Roast)
(Extra Light Olive Oil)

QUICK DESCRIPTION

First, get the Roast, broth, and beans ready.
- Slow cook the Roast on a low heat over the stove (with Extra Light Olive Oil).
- Prepare your 2 containers of broth in a Crock Pot.
- Turn your Crock Pot on ‘Warm’.
- Put your beans in the crock pot with the broth leaving it on ‘Warm’.
Next, Prepare the small ingredients.
- Dice the whole onion. This should give you at least 1 cup.
- Dice or Crush the garlic.

After your temperature is set on your Crock Pot, Roast is fully cooked, and your ingredients are ready, add your ingredients together. This should include: broth with your onions, garlic, Roast, beans, and Chili Powder Mix. If you want, you can add your Roast ’till the end. Slow cook on the ‘Warm’ setting for at least 4 hours until you get your desired texture and taste.

To add, in my dad’s version, he had used Hot Chili Powder Mix and Vegetable Broth. We don’t usually add Hot Chili Mix, but a Mild Chili Mix.

And that’s pretty much it! Simply a delicious recipe.

- Danielle

Update: New Member of the Family

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adopt a dog, adopt a pet, adopt a puppy, arts, boston buddies, boston terrier, boston terriers, nap time, Photography, single second, update

Spike

Spike and Ripley

Spike and Ripley

Hello there.
I have come back to this topic about Spike, our newest family member. Spike was adopted by the family a month ago. Spike and his new best buddy, Ripley, are now best of friends. They both have the cutest personalities, and both together just really makes the household complete.

Spike and Ripley are around each other every single second of every day. When it’s “nap time” they end up cuddling with each other. Spike and Ripley play rough ALL the time, we end up witnessing them crashing by the end of the day! I believe Spike is now really happy. A little secret, I think he’s spoiled, and he loves it!!

Lox Toast

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breakfast, breakfast meal, egg white, fish, fish recipe, fish toast, fish toast recipe, food, jewish lox, jewish lox recipe, jewish routes, lox fish, lox fish recipe, lox fish toast, lox fish toast recipe, lox recipe, onion recipe, recipe, taste preference, toast, vegetarian, wheat bread

Lox Fish Toast

Lox on Toast

Cheese and Egg White

Lox Toast

Hi. Today, I am giving you a simple recipe for Lox Fish Toast. Personally, I don’t enjoy eating fish, but my mother really does enjoy eating this meal.

My mother was raised Jewish, and this little meal is one of the most popular meals in the Jewish community. Lox Fish Toast can be made many different ways, depending on your taste preference. If you want to go the traditional route, then just simply add tomato and onion to a bagel. Not to mention, this breakfast meal is great for vegetarians!

Recipe

Lox Fish
Wheat Bread or Bagel
Cream Cheese
Egg White or Eggs
Cheese
(Tomato)
(Onion)

New Member of the Family

Buddies Forever

Welcome Spike to our family!

You cannot believe how excited and happy I am; Ripley now has a new buddy! Ripley and Spike have been playing catch and tag with each other, as well as cuddle with each other at night. It’s great to see that Spike feels just right at home!! All I have to say is that we are now growing as a family TOGETHER, and there is nothing better than that!

Ripley’s Story

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alien, alien resurrection, animal story, arts, background story, boston terrier stories, boston terrier story, breeder, dog bowls, dog stories, dog story, happy dog stories, happy ending dog stories, happy ending dog story, happy ending stories, happy stories, happy story, help animals, help boston terriers, help dogs, mr ripley, neglectful breeders, Photograph, Photography, rescue animal, rescue boston terriers, rescue dogs, ripley, screech, sigourney weaver, stories, story

Ripley at 6 Weeks

Background story, I had wanted a dog and was looking for one with my mom. This was when I was at a plateau of recovering from a medical condition. Getting a dog was the best next step to helping me recover.

I had first gotten Ripley two years ago when he was  5 1/2 weeks old from a breeder who had neglected to take care of him and his litter pack. (But I spread the word around to friends to adopt the rest of the litter.)

I had chosen Ripley, because of his spunky attitude. Funny thing, first thing he did when I walked in the room was screech. It caught my attention right away! He didn’t stop there: he had fallen into dog bowls, and chewed the tips of my hair. I thought this dog was crazy, but weirdly to say, the right fit for me!

Today, people say that Ripley and I have the closest bond any owner/pet could have. He had gotten sick, when I had gotten sick, and vise versa. He comes with me to the doctors everytime! This little guy is just my life-saver! Honestly, I don’t know where I would be without him!! Thanks Mr. Ripley!!!!

What is your animal story? I would love to hear about it!

Transitioning Your Room for Fall & Winter

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cleaning out your closet, closet organizing, closet space, organize, organizing, ottoman, room organizing, season clothes, seasonal cleaning, seasonal clothes, seasonal clothing, seasonal organizing

I had these drawers full of my capri jeans and high waisted shorts from Summer. I had decided to make more closet space (not done). I did indeed make more closet space by cleaning out my sweaters, since people have told me in the past that it’s not good to hang up your sweaters anyway. I put my favorite sweaters in the drawer that was full of my former Summer shorts.

Then, where did I place my shorts?

I put them in a hidden place where I put most of my “as needed” accessories, my ottoman.

This one is from my local Target store. Very easy to store your: yearbooks, books, and your out-of-season clothes.

Of course, you can use another storing source. Such as under your bed (w/drawers or not), cuby holders, or storing boxes. Either way, it’s the same concept of being accessable to only your neccessary items in your room for this season.

Hope this will become helpful to anybody whose closet or drawers are being too overcrowded!

- Danielle

Road Trip!!!

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boston terrier, boston terrier in car, boston terriers, CA, car ride, carlsbad, dog in car, excited, excited boston terrier, excited dog, fun, fun road trip, puppies, puppy, ripley, ripley the boston terrier, ripley's believe it or not, road trip, road trips

Road Trip

My mom, Ripley, and I decided to take a roadtrip to Carlsbad.

As you can see, Ripley really enjoyed the ride there. Ahhh, I don’t know what I would do without this bundle of love!