Wow...

I cannot believe how quickly the days have flown by since my last post.

November and December are busy days for me. I have spent my time writing, reading, doing school, and preparing for the Christmas season, in which I have several violin concerts scheduled. However, I only make money off one of them.

Music has kept me quite busy. I am excited to say that I began grade eight piano only a couple weeks ago. I also had my first paying violin concert last month!

The two songs that you see in this video are my favourite grade eights songs. Both very expressive and loud. :P




Okay, this made me laugh out loud. Take a look!

I've got to go! But before I do, I've got to ask... What have you busied yourself with this past while?

Today we celebrate Remembrance Day.

How thankful I am to live in a free country!

In Flanders field the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

~ Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

Movie Review: Ella Enchanted

At birth, every child in Frell is given a gift by the well-meaning but yet misguided fairy, Lucinda.

In Ella's case, the gift is more of a curse. Obedience. She must obey ever command given to her - whether she wants to or not.

If people found out, they would no doubt misuse it. Only Ella's mother and sister know. Not even her father is told of it. And then, at her mother's death bed, Ella is commanded to tell no one of her curse. And of course, she cannot disobey.

Not long after Ella loses her mother, her father remarries, to the rich Dame Olga, who brings with her, her daughters, the boy-crazy Hattie and Olive.

But actually, they have their eyes set on one boy in particular. Prince Char.

Hattie is the president of Prince Char's fan club. All the girls in it are quite crazy for him, so you can imagine why Prince Char prefers the company of the strong-willed, opinionated Ella... Except one problem. She can't stand him.

When Hattie and Olive discover that Ella is cursed into doing everything they say and begin to ask unreasonable tasks of her, Ella decides it is time to take action.

She must find Lucinda and ask her to take the gift back.

So off she goes. Her only companion being a talking book full of maps.

That is, until she runs into the cheeky elf, Slannen.

After a long, painful journey, Ella's goal remains unaccomplished. Lucinda refused to take back the gift she forced upon her! And now Ella needs help more than ever, because she was commanded to thrust a knife into the back of the man she loves, right at the moment she should be saying, "I do!"

She must overcome Lucinda's magic to save the lives of those she loves.

My thoughts:

I love this movie! The story line is very clever and Anne Hathaway was perfect for the part of Ella.

The clothing was kind of revealing. I really didn't like that.

There is a really awkward part where Ella is told to sing a song, then to dance with it, and then dance with more spirit.... yeah. I felt a little uncomfortable during that part.

I guess what mostly bothered me about this movie was the clothing. Aside from that, it was great! An odd mix of modern and fairytale, but still I fell in love with it from the very beginning.

Guest Post for Sophie's Blog

So, Sophie from {La Creativite De La Fille} asked me to a guest post on her blog. Here it is, Sophie! :) (I am so sorry I took this much time to write it.)

Hello everyone! When Sophie asked me to guest post on her blog, I was really excited! Just to let you know, I'm not too good at this whole guest post thing, but I'll do my best. :)

This is me.

The horse's name is Pride, but he isn't mine. He's my friend's friend's horse. :)

I'm a cook, a musician, a writer, a read, and a lover of life and God.

I am attempting to write a novel (my second one!!!)....

...when I grow up I'm going to be a musician...

...I am majorly picky about spelling and grammar...

 

...I love, love, love my camera...

...and I love to bake.

Here is one of my favourite recipes, for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes! 

Sorry about the pictures. I'm not much of a photographer. 

Here. I'll just get all the pictures over with first, and then you can scroll to the bottom for the recipe.

So, basically what you do, is make chocolate chip cookie dough into balls and freeze it overnight.
Here are mine.

Then you make cupcake batter, and stick the frozen balls into the batter.
Like so...

 Now bake them. Mmm....

Iced and sprinkled with chocolate chips....

The finished product. Doesn't that cookie dough in the middle look scrumptious?

For the cookie dough:
2 sticks softened butter (one stick is 1/4 of a cup)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp milk
1 tbsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips

For the cupcakes:
3 sticks softened butter
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the frosting:
3 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

To make the cookie dough, combine the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 mins. Beat in milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth. Beat in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Using a 1.5 tbsp scoop, shape the dough into balls or tubes. Freeze on a parchment lined baking sheet overnight.

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners (24 total). In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and brown sugar. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir together to blend. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl on low speed, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated. Blend in the vanilla.

Using a 3 tbsp scoop, fill the prepared cupcake liners 2/3 full with the cupcake batter. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.

Bake at 350 for 16-18 mins.

To make the frosting, combine the butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in the salt, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips!

Makes 24 cupcakes.

*   *   *

Thanks again, Sophie! :-)

ThThank

Photo Contest Entry

This is my entry for Emily from The Nerve of Verve's nature photo contest. 

Thanks for hosting this, Emily!

Photo Contest Entry

 I am entering the following photo in a photo challenge that Abby, over at Follow God - Every Day is hosting.

These pictures are just extra for your enjoyment. :)

49 questions

Hello girls! I found this tag over on an awesome blog called "The Nerve of Verve" and decided to do it!

1. High heels or boots? Boots. I've never actually tried high-heels, except at a store once! And they didn't fit. :P

2. What time did you get up this morning? Just before 8 o'clock in the morning.



3. What was the last movie you saw at the theater? Cars2

4. What is your maiden name? I'm single.



5. What is your favorite T.V. Show? "The Waltons."
6. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal.


7. What is your middle name? *crosses arms defiantly* I'm not going to say. :)

8. What food do you dislike? Macaroni and cheese.




9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? *blushes* The soundtrack for one of my favourite movies. :P
10. What characteristic do you despise? When people show-off. I know that I'm a bit of a show-off myself (at least, I think I am), so I can't imagine how much I must annoy people, but still...



11. Favorite clothing? Jean skirts.
12. Anywhere in the world on vacation? I really like where I live right now, but I've always wanted to visit Prince Edward Island, because that is where Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables lived.








13. Are you an organized person? I plan things way ahead of time, but my room is not organized.
14. Where would you retire to? I never really thought about it........



15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? 'Twould be hard to decide.
16. What are you going to do when you finish this? Do more school.




17. Furthest place you have ever been to? I'm not going to say.
18. Person you wish you could meet? Bethany Hamilton.



19. When is your birthday? I'm afraid that that is confidential.
20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Both!




21. What is your shoe size? 9 or 10. Yes, I have big feet.
22. Do you own any animals? Yes! A dog and two bunnies.




23. Any news you'd like to share? Umm.... not really.
24. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? I didn't really know. Around age eight, though, I began to realize what I wanted to be - a musician!




25. What is your favorite flower? All of them!
26. What day on the calendar are you looking forward to? December 1st. I don't know why. I just love December. Snow, baking, friends, and something else that I can't disclose because it might hint at where I live. :P



27. If you were a crayon, what would you be? Light blue.
28. How is the weather right now? Cold, but sunny. Though it was raining, earlier.



29. Last person you spoke to on the phone? A friend.
30. Favorite drink? Root beer.




31. Favorite Restaurant? Don't know.
32. Hair color? Brownish-blond.



33. What was your favorite toy as a child? Playing with my brother's lego!
34. Spring, summer, fall, or winter? Winter.
35. Chocolate or vanilla? It's hard to say....
36. Coffee or tea? Coffee!!!!!!!!!!!

37. Wish you were still young? I am still young.... aren't I?
38. Do you want to get married? Yes!

39. When was the last time you cried? I don't know. Fairly recently, I think.
40. What is under you bed? Things that shouldn't be. :)

41. What did you do last night? Had a friend over and went crazy and watched Tangled.
42. What are you afraid of? Pain.
43. Salty or sweet? Sweet!
44. Best quality you have? I can't really answer that. I could ask someone else to, though...

45. How many years at your current job? Five. *long sigh*
46. Favorite day of the week? Wednesday!

47. Favorite movie? Any classic, and Tangled.

48. Have you ever had a crush on anyone? No.
49. Do you like finding all this stuff out about your friends? Yes!