Snow Day Ya'll!

Sometimes I post on Tumbler. Check it out! I put up random pictures about things that I have been up to. http://jensciejohanna.tumblr.com/

It's a SNOW DAY!!!! Stay safe and warm everyone!

French Toast Muffins!

I saw this recipe on Pinterest and knew I had to make it! They were so good! Make them and try them for yourself! The recipe is really easy and most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen.

The recipe:

1/3 c. butter, melted
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg (preferably room temperature)
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. milk

Topping (option: cut topping in half*)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a medium-large bowl, sift together all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir until combined, but still a bit lumpy. Don't overmix. Scoop batter into muffin tins that have sprayed with cooking spray. Using a large ice cream scoop, I got 8 medium-large muffins out of this batter; I think you could get 10-12 muffins by distributing the batter a little less generously. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they just start to turn a bit golden at the edges.

For the topping, mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Place melted butter in another small bowl. Dip the warm muffins in melted butter (you can dip just the top, but it's even tastier to dip the whole muffin!), then dip/roll the muffin in cinnamon sugar. *May have left-over topping; the extra topping can be used for dipping, while eating the muffins (oh my). Another option is to cut the topping ingredients in half. CONSUME, ENJOY, GO CRAZY!

2012 Goals

2012 Goals:

Simplify My Life

This includes how I live my life and financially. I tend to spend money on things I "think I need" but it is not all necessary.

Become More Financially Responsible

Money has always seemed to be an issue for me. I am living life from paycheck to paycheck right now. I need to prove to both myself and my family that I am independent and responsible.

Pray...often

I want to pray about the things I am struggling with more often then when I talk and complain about them. My relationship with Christ has not been as strong as I would like it to be, I want to have that desire again to get deep into His truth and help it shape who I am.

Grad School

I am hoping and praying that I get accepted somewhere. However, if I do not I will need to find an alternative.

4.0 GPA

I would love for this to happen to finish my undergraduate career! This requires hard work and focus along with many hours spent in the good ol' ROD Library.

Become More Intentional in Communication with Others

I often give people my tired and busy self. I want to be more intentional with people in my life showing them that they are important to me and that I do value their presence in my life.

Discover Who I am

This sounds way too overly cliche, however, I really do want to do this. I compare myself to others and forget who I am. My struggles that I have had lately have been defining me in ways that I wish they would not. I want to learn to take my struggles and learn from them and become a stronger individual, but not run from these things.

Really.... the main thing I want to accomplish in 2012 is to be happy. This seems simple, but 2011 showed me I have a lot to work on, but who doesn't? I want Christ to show through me, not just live inside me. I want to tell more people about Him and what He has done for me and what He can do for them!

Friend... under construction

It's late and I should be sleeping, but I have something on my mind.

I have realized that ever since the death of my dad I have been stubborn. I know that I have definitely gone through some major changes in my life because of this, but the way it affects me today bothers me. My attitude toward my family has not been the best I will admit. I was "daddy''s little girl" and now at times I do feel like a third wheel. However, I have realized that I, myself, have made me become that way. I haven't been as involved with my family as I should be or as helpful. I don't always agree with situations, but sometimes I need to look from their point of view. I want to be a better daughter and sister.

From realizing that I have not been the best family member I have also realized I am not that great of a friend at times:

I am not that involved: I often blame this on being busy and needing to study, when in actuality I am just really tired and need rest or want to stay at home. I am a HUGE homebody. I want to become a friend who makes efforts to become more invested in friendships.

I don't open up: But when I do I vent so much that I scare people away. I need to find a balance. Friends are people you can trust and who've got your back.

I am judgmental: Because I had to mature a lot faster than most people my age because of my dad I tend to be quick to judge. I assume I know what they are thinking, whether they are being fake or not, or whether they will be truthful and honest with me. I am scared to trust others at times. I want to become a friend who listens and cares. Only God is the one who can judge others, my job is to love.

I know I cannot just change this overnight. But with God's help I can become a more loving friend. One who intentionally invests in others. One who is not quick to judge. I really need to work on this loving attitude not only in my friendships, but also within my family relationships. I need to learn to be submissive at times. I like to think "In 10 years will this argument even matter?" My dad is gone. This is a fact. What I carry away from his life and how he lived it is the part of him that will continue to live on within me.

Christmas Break!

Christmas break is finally here! It is so weird going from being very busy for an entire semester to not having anything to do. I have kept myself occupied by working both my jobs and doing some Christmas shopping. I am almost done... I am a procrastinator when it comes to this. Every year I tell myself I will start in October and buy things as I see them, but of course this never happens.

Let it snow, let it snow, SERIOUSLY, let it snow! Where is the snow? This year I actually was ready for snow and I anxiously look out my window expecting it to be there in the morning. However, it is still SO nice out- which I'm not complaining about. I just love having a white Christmas, but this year seems like it is more of a brown, warmer Christmas.

I am looking forward to next semester. I only have class around the noon hour so hopefully I will get a lot of hours at my jobs. It is finally my last semester of undergrad! Fingers crossed I will be in grad school in the fall! It is hard seeing my friends become college graduates and obtaining jobs. However, once I finish all of my education I will love what I do. I am so excited to become a speech-language pathologist. All of this schooling is teaching me patience and is helping me to become an outstanding professional. It is definitely difficult at times, but in the end it is going to be completely worth it!

GRAD SCHOOL= DONE!

I FINALLY sent all my grad school forms in the mail yesterday! It feels so good to be done! Now...I have to play the waiting game. I will not know if I got accepted or not until March. That seems like forever away. I applied to UNI, Kansas State, University of Wisconsin, and Central Missouri. All of these school have very high quality programs in the field of speech-language pathology. Any of them I would be very pleased to be accepted into.

Finals.... the dreaded end of the semester finals are here. This week I have three test which is actually better than previous semesters I have had. My first test is on Tuesday at 5:00 so I have a "free" day tomorrow to study. My tests are in Augmentative and Alternative Communications, EdPsych, and Neuroscience. Neuro will be far the toughest one to study for, but I am up for the challenge. I have stocked up on Mountain Dew and coffee for the week. Caffeine makes the world so much better :)

Grad Schools

I have narrowed down my list of grad schools to five.

• University of Northern Iowa
• University of Minnesota
• Loyola University
• Towson University
• University of Maryland College Park

I need to start the application process soon. This week I am really going to focus on writing the essays that are required. This is such a nerve racking process (not to mention expensive!). I wish I could just fast forward and be in grad school. However, this is not the case and I need to buckle down and start this process.

I got a second job for this semester.... I am now a custodian at the Dome and Mcleod Center! haha. It is a perfect job in addition to my daycare one. I get to set my hours and work as much or as little as I want. I get paid $9.00 which is why I really wanted it! Hopefully this semester I will not be as stressed over money as I have been in the past.

School is ONE week away! I cannot believe it! This next semester is suppose to be the hardest one of my college career, but I am ready! Bring it on!