Your Influence

Are you a person who inspires and radiates positive energy?

Honestly, I'm not sure if I even have been a positive source for the past two years.  It's quite burdening in fact and I believe slowly, but surely, I am reinvigorating my entire being and overall outlook.  I truly believe that experiencing a certain dosage of negativity will force you (in this situation of course I am directly speaking to myself) into a need for change. The environment cannot wholly be put to blame.  There are of course different factors, variables, and whatever that may be that has a chance to stir the "pot" of influence, if you will.  Despite the sources of influences, no one should allow those "influences" to be empowered. Once they are empowered then these influences can often determine and steer you in the wrong path.   I am empowering myself to make decisions that matter and not allow influences to dictate my life plan.  

Who owns the key to success? If I knew that there was one, singular, sole being that held that 24k gold key to SUCCESS, I would hunt them down and just ask to borrow it for a mere five minutes (3 minutes to caress the key and the other 2 minutes to open up that crusty door TO success). Of course, there isn't one person who owns that key, there isn't a pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow, and I don't think there is a fountain of youth (maybe there is).  I really do believe to a certain extent each person has a potential to be someone great.  The question is: do we maximize our potential to achieve that greatness? 

I wish I could dedicate more time to this life plan, thinking, and writing.  Working two jobs definitely starts to drain you and make you cherish every second of sleep.  So hopefully, I will revisit this topic one day and perhaps take a more guided approach to what I am really getting at.  Long story short, I'm ready for a change, I'm encouraging myself to think positively and try to be a better personal overall.  I just hope that these changes can be impressionable and have much better results than the ones that I am producing now.  So here's to change, better moments, and a more positive outlook on every aspect of life.  

This is me senior year in college. We took a trip to see Big Norm (may he rest in peace), the largest piggy (of course not the small piggy I am petting).  Anyways, this was a fantastic RANDOM day I spent with some awesome friends.  It was a chilly day, but we had so much fun driving along some random back roads of Hamilton NY just to find a random shack with a really large pig.  We failed to leave a "tip" in the tip box, sorry Norm, none of us carried cash, anyways...where were your owners?!

I know this is a random photo included, but I found it rather applicable.  I really enjoyed this small moment in time that I will forever share with my friends.  I am promising myself to commit to so many more random memories with friends and family.  The only thing is I must MAKE time to do these things...that I shall do :)

Yours truly.....bitty bitty bitty bot. 

Fetta-chooney

I love grilling.  When it comes to grilling I maintain a certain amount of consistency.  However, today I felt a bit ambitious.  I bought a different kind of charcoal and to top it off I actually bought a bag of hickory wood chips.  I definitely regret the change in charcoal brand.  The wood chips, I am not so sure about, the charcoal definitely let me down.  I had a pretty aggressive flame as you may be able to see.   Let's just say the grill beat me this go 'round.  It's okay, I was quite successful in another area.  

I tried a new recipe today! I made penne with a white cream sauce.  I found my inspiration from allrecipes.com.  It really is super easy! Here are the basics:  1/2 cup of butter, 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 2 cups of milk, 6 ounces of grated parmesan cheese, and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper.  So just melt the butter really quick on medium and add in your garlic.  Afterward, drop in your cream cheese, use a whisker so you can get it smoothed down.  As your sauce cools it will thicken so be sure to stir in your milk occasionally then top off with pepper and parmesan cheese. ( I actually forgot completely about throwing in my parmesan cheese!   It still tasted great! Instead of the garlic powder I chose to mince fresh garlic and add that to my butter. I also sprinkled in some parsley flakes.) So just toss this sauce with your freshly cooked pasta! I can't wait for leftovers to eat at lunch tomorrow!

Too bad the pasta completely out shined my grilling skills.  I think next week I will crack open dearest Costco recipe book for a fantastic salad. I have to commit to healthier eating and just saying "Nay" to the golden arches.   

The night has come to a fantastic close as I smell the fragrance of vanilla shortbread sweeping through the entire apartment.  It's the perfect start to the work week.  I wish you all a wonderful Monday and a productive week at work, school, or wherever your location may be.

My first bloggy bloggerton!

Please forgive me I am quite new to this blogging experience.  So, I predict that perhaps my first few posts may be quite rough, unpolished, and very misguided.  However, in the end I am sure we will come to some sort of conclusion (temporarily that is!). 

Fall is quickly approaching and I am actually thrilled! I have come to embrace the beauty of fragrances especially those that are inspired with "fall" in mind.  I have grown to appreciate my cozy apartment and the story it tells to its guests by the blend of fragrances that I have chosen for each room.  To me, it reminds me of a nice evening with family and friends around an appetizing meal sharing stories and memories. My new endeavor will be to try new recipes every week, and of course we will be keeping fall in mind.  If you have any suggestions do share!  I probably would enjoy something with apples, pumpkins, and perhaps a few strawberries. 

I had quite the day at work today, somehow I will find the deeper meaning behind it all.  I'm assuming that when the "stars align," lightning strikes, and the thunder rolls I will find my ultimate purpose in life.  So I guess direction is what I need.  I know for sure I must initiate this journey on my own and stumble upon enlightenment.  I just hope this journey will not be too long because patience may not be one of my key attributes.  However, it is surprising that I was once patient as a child. I almost believe that to be impossible but I believe I was quite the patient pumpkin.  Except for those moments when my dearest brothers would kidnap Beary and hold him hostage somewhere.  For those who do not know, Beary is my stuffed animal from my childhood.  I cannot travel without him.  So you may have seen me bustling through JFK or LaGuardia with my buddy clenched tight to my side.  Judge me if you wish.  Anyways, yes I was patient as a child.  However, I am quite impatient and exceedingly anxious to begin/continue my great travels and adventures.  


For now, this shall conclude my first bloggy bloggerton my head has been hurting since earlier today and I almost want to give myself a pat on this shoulder for not having passed out by now.  I will continue my free writing on the morrow, perhaps during said lunch break. 


Until next time.  Yours truly, new found lover of Fall :)