Summer '11 in iPhone pictures

Apparently, I only take iPhone pictures of my dog and Travis.

Exclusivity.

I really hope my title is actually a word. 

My summer has been incredible, I have been able to catch up with friends, make some extra moolah and even go on a vacation. I think this summer has been a true wake up call for me in the friend department though. Without going too in depth, I have been hurt for awhile over the fact that some friendships of mine feel strained and disconnected. At times I have felt excluded. I felt like I had been dumped, singled out and left to dry. For awhile I blamed myself...

 "I'm not fun enough"

"They must hate me" 

blahblahblah. 

Then it hit me. Exclusivity stems from insecurity. 

Unless you have done something major to hurt a friend, the reason for their moodiness is most likely one thing. You have something that they don't. Ever since I realized this, I have been able to better understand the ebb and flow of my friendships. While I do hope that a year from now I can say that all is well with my friendships in question, I will not dwell on the people that have hurt me. I will instead think fondly about them and hope that whatever the problem is, they sort it out. The friends I do have are the most wonderful friends I could ask for, loyal, funny and caring.

The only thing I choose to be exclusive about is my happiness because that is worth protecting more than anything.

Sorry..

My life has been a little busy lately and I haven't even thought of good things to blog about! I have not forgotten about this dear blog though, I am simply suffering from "bloggers block"

Here is a video me and my puppy made for you all today. I hope this satiates your thirst for Bloggy Woggy posts.

I will be back soon. 

Candidly Speaking...

I interrupt this irregularly scheduled blog to bring you this special announcement. 

I cannot take a good candid picture for the life of me. 

I went to a lakehouse yesterday and blew bubbles. Well, that is not all I did but it was definitely a good chunk of my day. Whilst blowing bubbles, a charming young lad snapped pictures. 

One would hope to look like a radiant beach/lake goddess gracefully blowing bubbles in the wind but this is apparently not my style. 

So now, I give you, "Candid Erin...blowing bubbles"

And for the grand finale...

We will now return to your regularly scheduled blog.

Goodnight.

Do I Have to Put a Title?

I don't always think of a good title for blog posts. Oh well. 

When I'm not working I've been spending time with family/friends as well as COOKING! 

I do love to make food, it is just so rewarding! Last week I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread...

Just wait till you see the inside... 

Here is the recipe from CuisineNie 

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• one can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees;. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar with pumpkin until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips, and pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.
   
   
   This week I have also had a little time to play around with my new lens! 

 

Wowzers, I've been a productive little lady! For that I give myself a pat, pat, pat on the back.

Taking The Time.

Every so often, when my life gets a little hectic, I have to stop and remind myself how lucky I am. 

I think in this day and age, it is so easy to lose sight of the things that are important because we are taught to think bigger, go faster and climb higher. When my schedule starts to get busy and filled to the brim, I begin to run on auto-pilot so I can be efficient and effective in whatever I have going on. However, I always crash and realize I've been living with blinders on. 

I'll get this overwhelming feeling that I haven't hugged my family enough or that I haven't stopped to just be thankful I am still running around on earth. My "crash" just happened in the past few days. 

I've spent all of my summer so far trying to hurriedly complete tasks wether it is at home, summer school or work. My goal this week is to separate my "schedule" from my life. Yes, I want to do a good job at work and make sure I'm staying on top of things, but I also want to lay in bed with my mom talking about nothing, laugh so hard that my stomach hurts, take pictures of things that inspire me, catch up with old friends and just be thankful for all that I have.  

Life's too short but my love for it is so large that I want to fill every second with meaning. 

That's my goal this summer, to take the time to be happy and find purpose in the mundane and relish the good times I have.  

*I hope whoever reads this will do the same.*

Happy Birthday Brother!!!

 My baby brother turned SIXTEEN today! 

I can't believe he has gone from this

And this..

 To this! 

What a guy. Happy Birthday Jonathan! Don't grow up too fast.