Smile #18

I took my first paid-time-off day to prepare for this eventful weekend (more on that in a later post).  It has been a while since I had a "binge-show-watching" day.  Weekdays are filled with work and weekends just never seem to be long enough.  Especially now that I decided to maximize my time, to be more productive during my off work hours.  Frequenting the gym, picking up new novels, and lastly taking free courses.  It's been my latest addiction.  I have completed two since graduation and finishing one this week.  Starting this week, I am also starting two new courses.  Being freely able to choose what I want to learn based on my interest makes learning a lot more pleasant.  :)

It is quite refreshing to be able to sit in front of my computer watching episode after episode.  This fall's TV lined up is impressive.  I think love is the big theme.  

The series I had my eyes glued to since its premiere, Revenge, is back.  Back with vengeance and war is to begin in the Hamptons...again.  Can't wait to see what this season has to bring.

Finally caught up to the latest episode on Reddington.  Since Netflix's announcement on releasing the Blacklist, I have been itching to binge on season 1.  Each episode leaves me craving for the next with each villain's connection to the bigger crime lord and how Red is able to tie the FBI into it.  Red perfectly balances both his business and being on the world's most wanted list.  His charm is quite addicting.

The many love shows this fall bring include Manhattan Love Story, A to Z, and Marry Me.  Each network bringing a different angle on love and I just can't pass it up.  I am all caught up to the latest drama.

Can't go through the season without some comedy.  Blackish explores the complicated issue of race and how this African American family deals with culture.  The father's crazy behavior to make his kids more "black" is hilarious!  Selfie is another sitcom I am following.  It is pretty self explanatory.  Girl being obsessed with likes, tweets, selfies transitioning to a less self center life.  The dialogues are funny and very relevant to today's society.

On the more dramatic side, I am watching Red Band Society.  Focused on a group of sick teenage patients living in a hospital.  It reminds me of The Fault in our Stars.  Each patient carries life story and being sick doesn't hold them back.  It is an empowering series.

  

I am keeping myself busy this fall for sure.  Let's hope I didn't overload.  :)  

Smile #17

No fancy dates, no exotic trips, but the weekend was filled with laughter and smiles.

Feeling rejuvenated after a long night of sleep,  Bubble came over just in time to help me run errands.  Picked up new books from the library.  :)  Parents and professors had always stressed the resourcefulness of libraries, but I usually brushed it off.  Now that I visit regularly (for purpose aside from socializing), I agree it IS a hidden gem!  New audio book to entertain me during rush hour, another personal finance book to offer advice and to straighten me in life, and a romance novel for nice, relax easy-read, all thanks to the library.  

We found Paulaner!!  My favorite Munich beer!  Apparently it is available at my local grocery store, tucked away in the corner on the bottom shelf!  I have a feeling that this might be my first step to alcoholism.  :)  

While drinking, Bubble and I decided it would be fun to play a couple challenges that has been trending on YouTube.  First, we played the Guess the Body Part Challenge.  One person is blindfolded (in our case, we just trusted each other to close their eyes). He/she holds out a finger to touch a body part on the other player and has to guess what it is.  It was hilarious!  I just said whatever comes first to mind, ew, its squishy to why is it hairy and felt reluctant to give my finger.  My poor finger!   

Then we try the Whisper Challenge.  One person covers his/her ears with music playing headphones and has to guess what the other person whispered.  Some of the responses is just so random that we both crack up.  Normal phrases went completely south!  

Sunday day, fun day!  After seeing a picture of my friend's beautifully designed stained glass cookies, I was determine to experiment with it.  I recruited my mom (I think she is here to supervise, to ensure I didn't destroy her kitchen) and Chef Bubble to be part of this mission.  

 Mom's kitchen housed majority of the ingredients.  Rolling pin, cookie cutters, measurement cups and electric mixer were all at our disposal.  Mixing, stirring, molding, crushing, each part was dealt with in careful manner.  

Crushed Lifesavor candies

The beauty is transformed!

Before

After

The cookies were a success!  It looked similar to the pictures.  Isn't it beautiful?  Would you try it?

The sugar cookie portion wasn't as great as I had hoped, but it is edible.  Caution, the hard candy portion could potentially break a tooth.  Regardless, it had been a fun experiment to try and lots of laughter involved in the process.  :)