Welcoming 2014 and looking back on 2013

"Every expert was once a beginner" -President Rutherford B. Hayes

Today is New Year's Eve. All I can think about is new beginnings and starting fresh. 2013 has been quite the year for me. I hear from others how it was a horrible year but all I know that for me, 2013 has been one of the most memorable years of my life. I have been able to complete so many of my dreams and I feel 2014 is a fresh beginning. Good things will happen if you look on the bright side. That is what I attempted to do this year and just be thankful for the little things in life.

I am not sure what I should make this post about since I made a 'thankful post'. I was thinking of what 2013 taught me. I suppose that might be able to help. 

1. "Every champion finds a way. Every loser finds an excuse."-Nishan Panwar

I feel this is what 2013 was for me. I did many things and I refused to give up. Ask many of my friends on how many times I replied to their texts with 'I am too busy'. I found a way  to meet every deadline I had, even when everything looked bleak.

2.“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”  -Winston Churchill

I am writing my own story, whether or not I am remembered by history. I want to die knowing I had a great life. This was the year I learned to love and accept myself, and not in a narcissistic way. I learned to love myself in a way that I am confident in my abilities.

3.“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”  -Stephen King

I have spent the majority of my life reading but never writing. This year I really began writing and trying to learn to write. 

4.“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” -Marcel Proust

I have had the great fortune to see some of the beautiful planet. I learned and experienced new things. My eyes were opened to new things, I have a better understanding and have been renewed with purpose. I was unsure with what I wanted for my future, that changed this year. I met new people and made new friends. I stepped out of my comfort zone and now feel unafraid as I begin a new chapter. I was always afraid of what laid beyond graduation but this was the year that I was excited for what the future held. 

5.“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

I always loved traveling, but I was scared to 'leave the nest' -to leave my comfort zone. I became comfortable with who I was as a person and am okay with being by myself. I metaphorically no longer feel lost and I wander when I travel now. I learned to not plan and to be a little free. Although I still have to catch myself from planning so much, because I was living for the future and missing out the present.

6.“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.”  -Thích Nhất Hạnh

Like I said before I used to live for the future and was always stressed. When I was in Ireland learned to cherish the little things in life. Despite being a Southerner I had to go across the pond to learn that.

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Christmas gift Haul!

My new Coach. Look so professional and classy. Love it!

Inside of said Coach, so  roomy. I can fit so much in it!

Pretty self explanatory

Yes, they are delicious

Another purse! I can use this for just a regular day on town.
Tyler Rodan, comes with umbrella. I have so many umbrellas.

My new Pajamas. Have to wait for Spring/Summer

Socks, one can never have  enough socks.
Now I don't have to buy any. Yay!
And an Ice-Cream scooper that is a penguin. I have named
 him George, now whenever I eat ice-cream I can say I am
having ice-cream with George.

Such a pretty ornament to remember that I am a Florida alumna.

Me and a picture of my diploma frame. Can't wait to put it in.
Can Feb come any faster? Actually no, time is passing way too
quickly.

As if I forgot that I am an alumna, I also got 2 almuni shirts and
one for my college.

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St. Augustine, Fl: Our Lady de La Leche at El Nombre de Dios Mission

There is no charge to visit this site but you can leave a donation. It is a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary and this site is the birthplace of Christianity in the New World. The location of the shrine is known as 'the sacred acre'. Many expectant and hopeful mothers make the pilgrimage to this site to ask for the blessings of Mother Mary to conceive or to bless their unborn child. A prominent feature is the Great Cross that was erected to proclaim that this site is indeed where Christianity came to the New World; there is portion on site where there is a rustic altar built to show where the first mass in the New World took place (according to archaeological finds). On site there is also devotional statues to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, and the Stations of the Cross.

The Great Cross

This is a memorial dedicates to Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales (what a mouthful). He was the chaplain on Pedro Menendez's expedition and the founding pastor of the St. Augustine parish. He celebrated the first Mass in this new colony on September 8, 1565. (A paraphrasing of the sign on the left.)

One of the many shrines on site

The sign says: 

"Following the civil war, the Sisters of St. Joseph came to St. Augustine to teach the liberated slaves. Interred in this holy ground are 6 members of their congregation".

The chapel to Our Lady de La Leche

The Rustic Altar where the first mass was held

The believed remains of a religious monument dates to the mid-1800's. Was discovered in 2009

The coffin of Menendez

What a strapping lad this Menendez was back in the day.

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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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