How I made my graduation cap

 Step 1: I went a week before cap and gown pickup and bought all of my supplies before they sold out. I bought more than I needed but I was better safe then sorry. I bought:
2 sets of letters*
1 Scrapbook paper that showed traveling*
1 each of scrapbook stickers- Bahamas, U.S, Traveling and Ireland*
 1 roll of a Gator ribbon
1 Modpodge bottle
2 rolls of pearls strands (1 yd each)*
1 roll of double-sided tape*
( * shows what I actually used)

Step 2: Take out your cap and measure the paper against your cap. Especially pay attention to where you need to cut the hole for your button to ensure you can wear you tassel!
Gotta be able to the world you graduated! Look at me now, world!

Step 3: Cut that hole out, son!

 Step 4: Now put the paper back on and tape it up with double-sided tape (I wrapped it like a present). I then cut out all the letters to be used and then placed accordingly. I peeled the backing off the letters and stuck them to the paper. 

Thank you Mom and Dad: for giving me the world.

Step 5: I added the pearl accents along 2 of the edges of the cap and on the underside of the cap. I did it on the underside as well because it cleans up the look 

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Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe

I have been asked by several people for my pumpkin cheesecake recipe because it is very moist and delicious. So here is my secret, not so secret any more recipe. (Makes 2 pies)

Crust:
I used the graham cracker box because my graham crackers had been thrown away by mistake. I just followed the recipe on the box for the butter. I also added a pinch of cinnamon and sugar to the mix

Filling:
1 can of pureed pumpkin (I prefer Libby's)
1 can of evaporated milk
2 large eggs
1 box of Philadelphia cream cheese
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of almond extract
1 cup of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon of salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425. And once it hits the 425 I reduced it to 400, and then reduced it again to 375 once the pie was in the oven.

Mix the sugar, cinnamon, and salt together.

Mix the pumpkin, evaporated milk and cream cheese together

Beat the eggs and the add both the sugar, cinnamon, and salt mixture with the pumpkin, milk and cheese mixture. Blend well. Towards the end add the vanilla and almond extract.

During the time that the everything is mixing you should make the crust (in a deep dish pie pan).

Once your crust is made then you should pour your mixture into the pan and then bake! This recipe makes 2 pies!



When you're about ready to put it in the oven, you should put tinfoil around the crust only (I forgot to and it burned the upper portion of the crust :( )

Bake for about 30 mins with the tinfoil on the crust and then remove and bake for another 15 minutes. The pie normally takes about 40-50 minutes to bake, so plan accordingly. Have a knife ready to check if it fully cooked, if it comes out clean after you inserted in pie then it is fully baked!

Let it cool for about 20 minutes and it is ready to eat!

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Castillo De San Marcos Parte 2! I try to be funny and snarky- hashtag edition

Some of the more glamorous shots I took of the fort.

The Spanish crest on a cannon, go Spain. Putting your crest on everything is like monogramming it. Good for you. #southern #preppy #spanishcrest

It's a doorway that was cemented up. So sad, perhaps it was another entrance into Narnia.

So 4 people slept in this bunk bed and everything they owned was put on the hooks and in that drawer space. #cuddlebuddy #bros4life #militarylife

El Necesario. The Necessary. The Bathroom. The Restroom. 

Call it whatever suits your fancy but this is where the occupants of the fort went to empty their bladders and bowels.

Looking out into the bay #gorgeous #nofilter

An inside look at the fort, so spacious and I love the inner yard

Looking out into the bay. I love the sky #blue #ocean #travel

A shot looking out from the second story of the fort looking into Historic St. Augustine. #florida #sunny #st.augustine #cannon

This was taken outside of the fort, a photo of the moat area and you can also see historic St. Augustine in this shot.

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Castillo de San Marcos- St. Augustine, Fl- Part 1

     Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the U.S, located on Matanzas Bay in St. Augustine,Fl. Construction began in 1672 and continued until its completion in 1695, at this time Florida was still part of the Spanish Empire. One can assume the placement of the fort at bay was strategic. The bay has a mouth leading out to sea and the fort is placed at a spot in the bay where men could see for miles around to ensure the city was protected. 

     About 80 years after its completion the British took over and renamed the fort St.Mark (mostly because they lacked imagination). Not to worry in 1783 the Spanish gained Florida back, but just as soon as they gained it back they have it away to the U.S in 1821.  Despite being a military fort it was only besieged twice in its history and all the change in possession were made in times of peace. When the fort was in possession by the U.S it was used as a military prison to imprison members of various Native American tribes, the first being the Seminole. 

The sleeping quarters. 

It even has its own fireplace! It can get cold in Florida (trust me). Located right next to the dungeon.

Set of buildings that contain officers sleeping quarters, chapel and mess hall.

Spanish crest

The Chapel!

The Sacristy!

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Shopping Hall from the last 2 months!

Necklace- bought on ebay for the low price of $6.50!

Lilly Pulitzer Wythe dress- ~$268+tax (I only paid about $80 because I had a $200 gc)

Marc Fisher- with all the discounts and gift cards it cost me $26.74! 

Crafting supplies for my cap - ~$35

Dress found at Francescas- ~$40

3 Athletic Shorts (from left to right) - Champion, Adidas and Calvin Klein. All together $26.40!

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10 things I am thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! (I'll need to find pictures for these)
Here is what I am thankful for:

1. Most importantly my family!
2. My family from my honour society
3. The food I get to eat every day and clean water
4. My friends who support me.
5. The fact I live in a country where there is a holiday specific for being thankful.
6. I have had the opportunity for a post-secondary education
7. I have been able to view a portion of this beautiful world
8. I was born into a loving family.
9. All of my animals, who have become my babies. I do really refer to them as my babies, some people look at me weird.
10. Coffee, I am very thankful for coffee especially since it has gotten me through college.

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'Ode to Joy' Flash Mob

So, I was looking around the internet for some distraction. I found distraction in the form of classical music with this video. In 2012 there was a flash mob of a bunch of musicians playing Ode to Joy, one of my favourite pieces used by Beethoven in his 9th Symphony. Beethoven brought the song to the equivalent of 'cult status' because it was deemed as a failure by its original writer and composer in 1785. This flash mob occurred in a Sabadell, Catalonia which is a city close to Barcelona. The bank pictured in the background hired an orchestra to celebrate their 130th anniversary.
What is unique about this flash mob is that while this type of artistic expression is normally associated with Generation Y there are some members who appear not to be of this generation. Also what is unique is that most flash mobs are usually choreographed dances to contemporary music, Ode to Joy is not contemporary nor is an orchestra a dance. Some of my favorite moments in the video: 0:19, 1:57, 3:07, 3:41, 4:10

To imagine it all began with a coin.

P.S This makes me want to learn to play my flute again

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