Spring Has Sprung!

Daffodils!

It's been a while since I last posted. My most sincere apologies. You see, this weird, crazy thing called "school" got in the way. It's rather unfortunate. But, what can I do? That is why I am in Pittsburgh, isn't it?

The William Pitt Union in the Glorious Weather

When I returned to the 'Burgh, I was welcomed by Mother Nature with a glorious warm hug. A two week long warm weather hug. It was absolutely beautiful until this past week, when we have had bipolar temperatures ranging from a high of 46 to a high of 70 degrees. There were a few Freeze Warnings thrown in as well. How is one to dress? In layers! I have been pulling out all my cardigans and such to be ready for whatever might come my way. Speaking of weather--thunderstorms are currently in the area :) I would text my twin sister Val to let her know since she loves the weather--and predictably would be envious--but she is at a retreat for St. John's Student Parish at Michigan State University. So, if you could say a few extra prayers for her and the hundred or so other participants, that would be greatly appreciated!

Me, Christine, and Jefi outside of Towers Patio.

These past few weeks have been filled with studying. Lots and lots of studying. 

Look at how crazy we get!

Christine and Jefi "working."

This past week I had two exams, one in Lifespan Development which is a psychology course, and one in Microbiology. The latter was what I spent the majority of my time on; there is just an infinite amount of material to remember! Between hundreds of notecards and a similar number of highlighted slides, I think I may have done okay. Nowhere near perfect, but maybe I can eek out a B? This upcoming week holds an organic chemistry exam, but I am not terribly worried about it. I will need to spend some quality time with my book and notes though! Perhaps it warrants a coffee date at Starbucks on Sunday? It is a nice environment to study in...quiet and caffeine!
Last Friday I did have the opportunity to participate in a Pitt Arts program--my first in a couple of months!--with Jefi, Valerie, and Christine. Sarah Chang was the guest soloist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and played an arrangement of "West Side Story". She was phenomenal! We were treated to a post-concert talk with the conductor, Honeck Manfred. He was very engaging and had a noteworthy sense of humor!

Jefi, Valerie, Christine, and Me at the Symphony

I have been contemplating lately what I want to do career-wise--whether to stay in nursing or pursue a different path. While nursing seems like such a practical career--flexibility, job security, in the health field, etc.--I often question whether I rushed into the decision and did not allow myself to explore all my options fully. I always thought I would have the opportunity to take classes such as "History of Latin America" or "Modern African Music" or "Introduction to Entrepreneurship", and really broaden my horizons. However, the nursing curriculum is very strict, and I will have few opportunities to take such classes except for during the summers. Someday I want to own a business, be a personal trainer, and live in another country for a while. I am trying to figure out if those dreams are compatible with my nursing education and career, or if I will have to forgo something. I am not quite ready to turn away from nursing--I will start clinicals (guided experience in the hospitals) in the fall--and would like to give that a chance. I am hoping to take some time this summer to explore as well.
And now, sadly, I must return to the books for some more quality time with them...life as a college student. However, I admit I did not do much in the way of work since the microbiology test, so that is my fault. Oops. I hope to post again soon!

Snow, Sisters, and Sweets

 Spring break has come and gone. And here I am on the Megabus once more, the last trip this school year. Only 46 days until I come home for good—just ask Mom! Which means 46 days to do a whole lot both academically and for fun! There are several things I have not had a chance to do yet, including go to the Carnegie Library to obtain my very own library card, and visit some of the Carnegie Museums for free courtesy of my Pitt student ID. But before I get back to the grind of college, I shall enthrall you all with my stories of this past week. Okay, so they might not be that fascinating, but I did have fun and have some delightful photographs to share!

Absolutely breathtaking!

Voted Good Morning America's
"Most Beautiful Place" in the United States

First, for the snow: Mom, Dad, and I traveled to Glen Arbor, Michigan on Monday to The Homestead, which sits right on Lake Michigan at the tip of the mitten—well, near where the ring fingertip would be. When we arrived, much of the town—perhaps classifying it as a village or hamlet is more accurate—was without power from a recent snowstorm, but the Homestead had power. However, they had lost power, and therefore lost water pressure, so for the first few days, we had to boil our water to kill any contaminants. The chances of contamination were very low, but just to make sure, it was advised. Our condo overlooked Lake Michigan and the two Manitou Islands—yes, Michigan does have islands! We were also very near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where we skied.

Welcome to Glen Arbor!

There was about of foot of snow on the ground when we arrived—at one point we had to take a detour (thank goodness for GPS!)—because snow was blocking our path. Tuesday morning we were able to ski, but the temperature was quickly rising. By one in the afternoon, when we finished up, it was 46°. Wednesday’s temperatures climbed to 56°, and the foot of snow was almost erased from the landscape. At least we got to ski one day! I love skiing, but didn’t get to do it any other time this winter, as it was incredibly mild both in the ‘Burgh and the Creek. Maybe next year?!

Mom and me in front of the Cherry Republic Café

We spent a lot of time in the condo knitting, watching the championships for NCAA basketball, 
viewing movies, playing Bananagrams, and enjoying lots of tea. Wednesday we did go into town to pooch around a little bit and made stops at a yarn shop, a cute Michigan themed bookstore called Cottage Books, Art’s Tavern for lunch with their chicken jalapeño soup—served on Wednesdays only, and the headquarters of Cherry Republic.

Cherry Republic Headquarters

My favorite was Cherry Republic. First off, they had great samples—cherry salsa, chocolate covered cherries—of four varieties, all of which I could enjoy, cherry jams, and dried cherries. Every morsel of cherry goodness was delicious, and we brought a few things home for friends, and Valerie and Caroline. 


On the way south on Thursday, we made a brief stop in Muskegon to visit with Aunt Kristi. We ate lunch at the Hearthstone, a cute bistro near her house. I enjoyed my crab cakes quite well! I love seeing Aunt Kristi; she’s always full of spunk! She made me promise that I would come visit her this summer, a promise I fully intend to keep! Aunt Kristi and Lake Michigan? Of course! She and Mom go way back to their days at Purdue; legend has it that they bonded over a nutrition final one late evening at the Triple XXX Diner in West Lafayette. Needless to say, the friendship has been a long-lasting one!

Now for the sisters part of the story: Within twenty four hours, I had the privilege of being both a Wolverine and a Spartan! Friday night my best friend since before kindergarten, Molly, and I drove over to Ann Arbor to visit with Caroline and Maddie, our sisters, who have been best friends since second grade, and introduced us to each other. Caroline and Maddie happen to live right next door to each other off campus, which is very convenient.

Caroline and I went grocery shopping and hung out for a bit in her house, and then headed next door to Maddie’s. Caroline had a SWE dinner that evening, so I got to hang out with Maddie and Molly. We had a Cuban dinner—black bean fritas—at Frita Batidos in downtown Ann Arbor, followed by a soft raspberry licorice stick from the shop where Maddie works. Then we were off to the Notre Dame vs. U of M hockey game at Yost Arena. Molly had to cheer for Notre Dame, as she attends St. Mary’s, which is right across the road. I, wearing Caroline’s Michigan Engineering sweatshirt, cheered for the Wolverines. It was my first college hockey game, as Pitt doesn’t have a varsity squad, and I really enjoyed it. The Wolverines won both Friday and yesterday, allowing them to continue on in the CCHA playoffs.

Handing the baton off to Valerie.

Then, the next morning, after a delightful breakfast with Jeannie at Panera, Mom, Dad, and I headed northeast to East Lansing, where Valerie and I would compete in the MSU Running Club indoor track meet versus U of M’s club team, MRun. I was an honorary Spartan, as their team was wanting for runners, since it came on the heels of their spring break. Dressed in a Spartan uniform, I ran the 3K and one of the legs in each of three relays: the 4x1600m, distance medley, and 4x400m. It was great to race again! I haven’t done much speed recently, but surprisingly I was able to run each of my miles in just over six minutes. Not too shabby! Look at all the cute photos we were able to get. If I had gone to MSU, there would be a multitude of photo opportunities, but, I am at Pitt, so it makes these times I get to share with my sisters that much more special. Next fall Pitt should be joining NIRCA, the same running club association that MSU is in, and we should compete at one of the same races, if not more. That will be awesome! We ended our day in East Lansing with church at St. Thomas, dinner at Dublin Square Irish Pub—I had wonderful shepherd’s pie and leek soup, and the MSU Dairy Store—Final Four Fudge Dribble was the flavor of the day.

And now, for the sweets portion of this post: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, and my first completed knitting project.

Last year sometime I found myself with a bowl of dead bananas calling to me, “Make us into banana bread! We want to be yummy deliciousness!” Okay, so I didn’t actually hear voices, but I decided I wanted to make some goodness out of the sorry state of those once yellow fruits. I found a good recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens Pink Ribbon cookbook, but I wanted to make it a bit healthier, so I swapped applesauce for oil and eventually nixed it altogether, used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose, and cut out some of the sugar. I also, probably eliminating the majority of the healthiness I had tried to achieve, added lots of chocolate chips. The result? Patricia’s Super-Sticky Banana Loaf. Since then, I have tweaked with the recipe even more, resulting in the final product, which is seen below. Valerie swears by my banana bread, so I promised her I would make some while I was home. It got approval ratings higher than MSU’s cafeterias, which is high praise, considering she can get roasted duck, salmon, and other fancy foods on her meal plan. I also delivered a loaf to Caroline in Ann Arbor, and made mini muffins to bring back east for my friends.

      Patricia’s Super-Sticky Banana Loaf

1¾ cups flour—all purpose, whole wheat, or a mixture

½ cup old-fashioned oats

½ cup sugar

1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cinnamon

5-6 mashed bananas

2 eggs

½-¾ c. chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Mix everything in a big bowl until well blended; it should be a batter consistency.
3. Pour into greased loaf pans or lined muffin cups.
4. Bake 55-60 minutes for a loaf, 22 minutes for regular size muffins, and 15 minutes for mini muffins. A toothpick should come out clean (melted chocolate doesn’t count).
5. Enjoy

Warning: This banana bread may become addicting… Valerie and I have been known to eat large portions in one sitting. But, hey, it’s healthy, right? J

My friend Valerie—the one in Pittsburgh—is gluten and dairy intolerant, so she can’t enjoy the muffins. Instead I made her chocolate covered pretzels using gluten free pretzels—which are actually quite delightful—and dairy free chocolate. The dairy free chocolate is the EnjoyLife brand, which I purchased from Peanut Free Planet, as they are the only mini chocolate chips that are also nut free. In fact, they are free of the eight main allergens, gluten, sesame, and sulfites! What a find! I sprinkled on green sugar for St. Patrick’s Day and packaged them in a stationery box. They look just lovely. I was quite proud of my work.

And the final project of the week? My scarf. Over Christmas break I began to knit, and I have gotten hooked. I just finished a gold scarf—yes, in honor of Pitt—and am quite proud of it. The beginning was a bit rough, but it got much easier, and I have started on my second one, this time navy blue. While at the yarn shop in Glen Arbor, Mom and I bought yarn to make shawls from a pattern the lady had. I will work on that this summer. I am hoping that someday I can make baby clothes, hats and mittens, and maybe even afghans. Homemade stuff is just so nice! I will post a picture in a few days.    

I also want to sew some more this summer. I haven’t done too much sewing since I was eight or nine, but at the hardware store in Glen Arbor, there was a very fashionably designed apron, which I loved. It was femininely cut, and if I am going to do lots of baking and cooking this summer, an apron is a necessity. I also want to acquire the skills so that I can make quilts for others like my mom has done for me. I have three sitting on my bed in my dorm, including the one I fondly call “my Linus blanket,” as it goes everywhere I go (not to class but to sleep). It went on Kairos with me, it came home with me, it went up north with me. It just brings me comfort and a little bit of home! It is like wrapping myself in a 

The Game of Frugality

The Game of Frugality

Recently I have found a new addiction: frugality blogs. Not the extreme couponing, let’s see how many freebies we can eek out of every large corporation in America type blogs, but blogs from honest to goodness, wise-spending, budget-making college students, moms, and savvy spenders alike.

To me, money has always been of interest—saving and spending it, but as little as possible for the latter. I recall when I was four or five years old saving up to buy my first Bitty Baby outfit. I counted out some random assortment of dollars, pennies, and quarters that “added up to $22.” Caroline, the wise second- or third-grader that she was, kindly pointed out that no, I didn’t have enough money to buy the raincoat and galoshes for Bitty. Now, I spend money more on Razzy Fresh and bus tickets as opposed to doll clothes, but the idea is the same. You have to save for and think wisely about each purchase, or you won’t have enough for the various things you want to enjoy.

I don’t think I want to make a career out of my zeal for finances—economist, financial advisor, or actuary—but I do enjoy creating budgets, logging expenses, and bargain hunting. Yes, I am a nerd, but someday it will pay off. This past weekend I got the pleasure of grocery shopping—one of my favorite parts of being home, save for spending time with my family—and found an excellent new deal rack at Meijer. Looking for some overly ripe bananas to make my chocolate chip banana bread for Valerie, I went to the “dead produce” rack. I didn’t find any bananas, but I did find two pounds of strawberries—among 18-20 other cartons—and a large bunch of broccoli. The going price? $0.78 each for the strawberries, and $0.25 for the head of broccoli. In perfectly good condition, might I add. It was quite a bargain! I was one happy shopper!

As a college student, I currently have a meal plan, but as a food-lover, I still enjoy recipe perusing. It’s a good brain break. Preparation for when I am living on my own in a few years, I rationalize. However, I am conscious when I am looking at the ingredients, of the rare or exotic ones, as well as the more expensive meats, vegetables, and spices. I often figure I can make something just as good for a lot less money, and probably healthier too. And therefore, I have compiled a list of my favorite frugal foodie tips and ideas for eating good food on a cheap budget. After all, the less I spend on food, the more I have for other fun excursions and expenses.

1.     Start from scratch.  This is a big one. Prepared food—whether frozen, refrigerated, or in a can, costs a lot more than if you do it yourself. Premade entrees—use last night’s leftovers instead. Some can ring in at over $2 a meal, when perfectly good leftovers are aging in the fridge. Spaghetti sauce can be made with some simple spices and tomatoes for a lot less. Bread? At anywhere from $0.99 a loaf to more than $2, I’ll bet that I could make a loaf of whole wheat bread in the bread machine for much cheaper! Cookies, chips, and other processed foods can be yummy, but they are often fairly expensive because of their convenience. Make your own, and save some dough!

2.     Try dried, canned, or frozen produce. Perhaps that is an oxymoron, but I have always loved fruits and veggies. Ask my mom how much fruit my sisters and I consume when we’re home, and she’ll attest that it doesn’t stay in the house fast. However, I figure a good portion of our grocery bill is spent on fresh fruit and vegetables, and I bet we could get very similar nutrition by purchasing many of the same items frozen, canned, or dried, as long as there is no sugar or salt added. Dried and canned beans, full of fiber and vitamins, are some of the least expensive items in the market. Raisins are a pretty good bang for their buck too, especially at times of the year when grapes are not in season! Imagine paying $1.50 a pound for grapes, when the same number of raisins is less a dollar. That’s at least a 33% savings! Frozen veggies can be a great solution for out of season fruits, quick and easy side dishes, and when on sale, can be a great money saver. After all, if you don’t hit up the bargain broccoli like me, it can be $1.50 a head on sale!

3.     Try a meatless Monday. The common thinking these days is that meat should be on the table for every lunch and dinner, when in reality, we can get plenty of quality protein as long as we vary our diets. I am not advocating for vegetarianism here, just bargain shopping J So perhaps skip the chicken or the beef a night or two and opt for beans, eggs, or tofu instead. Veggie burgers can be expensive, but combine a coupon and a sale, and you’ll probably come in way under a pound of pork. Another option, if you’re looking for substance in your meal, is to try canned chicken or tuna. Cheap and full of omega-3s (the tuna, that is!). 

4.     Combine coupons and sales. I alluded to this one in the above suggestion. A tried and true trick: combine a manufacturer coupon, such as one you find in the weekend’s P&G brand saver or Smart Source inserts, with the supermarket store, and you get an especially big bang for your buck. However, make sure you price shop; I have found that even with a coupon and a sale the generic version is still less expensive than the name brand. Usually the generic measures up—Mom says you can’t compromise on Hellman’s mayonnaise and Heinz ketchup, but we’ll have to see.

Now you have a few tips on how to save at the grocery store, but what about the other areas of your life? Some of the more expensive items in my budget these days are gifts, clothes, and eating out. Those may seem like purchases that can’t be trimmed easily, other than not partaking at all, but a little bit of creativity can go a long way. Give the right side of your brain a workout when it comes to gifts—make a set of homemade stationery or a hand knit scarf. Chances are, you’ll come out underneath the typical price tag for those items, and the recipient will get an extra bit in it as well.

For clothing, mix and match your outfits and accessories. I have found that transitioning from a school uniform to “out of dress code” every day of the week has been more difficult than I imagined. Not only have I had to expand my wardrobe, and since I hate spending money, it has become a game to see what I can do with what I already have. I have discovered that cardigans are some of the most versatile pieces of clothing, as I can wear a ton of different shirts underneath—t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, dressier mock necks—and get a different degree of dressiness with each. Also, adding a scarf or a pair of earrings that I already have makes last year’s shirt seem new!

You have probably read more than you want to know about how to save money, but really, it can be fun! If you think of it like a game, as I do, then it feels like a win if you get something dirt cheap or don’t have to spend any money at all. We all like a bit of healthy competition, and therefore, what’s a better way than to see if you can save yourself the most money?

Westward Bound!

            So, the post I promised: sorry, that didn’t happen. But, today you get a nice long one since I am on the Megabus westward bound for another three and a half hours. It was an early morning—5:15 alarm—for the 7am bus, but, totally worth it! I am so excited to be going home for spring break, as I haven’t seen the family for two months, almost to the day! Way too long. It’s always said that “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” and that is so true. My family is amazing, and I could not ask for anyone better. When choosing Pitt, I underestimated the distance between Michigan and Pennsylvania, but I’m making it work. There’s always a reason for what happens in life, so I’m just looking at it that way.

            I think I may have found that reason, which makes it even better! Throughout these past six months, I have been blessed with the community of the Newman Center at Pitt, who have really become family in the Steel City. They are some of the best friends I could ever ask for; we even call each other family. Each Monday for lunch, and Tuesday and Thursday for dinner, we have “family dinners” at Market Central, where about ten of us gather to eat together. We scout out a large enough table, say a blessing, and scatter around to find food. It is something I always look forward to, and I am sad when I have to miss it.

            In addition to family dinners, I am involved in many other ways: discipleship, bible study, Friday night Dollar Dinners, and Catholic Action. Dollar Dinners are pretty self-explanatory: I pay a dollar, and I get pasta, salad, and bread in return. It happens weekly after the 5:15 Mass, and on the first Friday of each month, there is “First Friday Feast” that features a bounty of deliciousness in a form other than pasta. Catholic Action happens post-6pm Mass on Sundays, and is a discussion about how the Church’s teaching applies to our daily lives. This past week we had a speaker about our conscience, and it was a really good topic. The Church calls us to always abide by our conscience, even when it may be very difficult. However, a little bit of suffering on earth is worth the glory of eternity in Heaven. It is like training for a race; a few hard miles may seem terrible while you do them, but the race will inevitably be easier because of your training.

            Bible study and discipleship are two of my favorite parts of the week. Bible study is with about a dozen other Tower B girls, and we are currently focusing on 1 Corinthians. Catholics tend to not study the bible like the Protestants, but in reality, that is where a lot of the Church teaching stems from. 1 Corinthians has a lot of good background on some of our moral laws, if you are interested. I enjoy bible study because the questions really challenge me to think beyond the face value of each passage.

            Discipleship stems from bible study. Each study leader selects two participants in her study (or others she knows) to “disciple,” or mentor, each spring; I am Erika’s disciple and a future student leaer. Throughout the spring I will participate in a variety of FOCUS workshops with other disciples, as well as weekly one-on-one sessions with Erika to grow both in my relationship with Erika and with God, most especially the latter. Erika’s role is to keep me accountable for working to improve my relationship with God and, as I mentioned earlier, be a mentor for me. In the fall, I will begin leading my own bible study with new freshmen students. That will be the most exciting part! I also am hoping to lead one at St. Joseph this summer in the Creek for college students that are home. One of FOCUS’s goals for student leaders is to prepare us to not only share our faith on college campuses, but to equip us with the skills and confidence to spread God’s message to all those we encounter.

            Along the same lines as a student leader, FOCUS, as I have mentioned before, has awesome missionaries that serve students on about sixty campuses across the country. The role of these recently graduated missionaries is to help college students grow in their faith at this critical point in their lives. They do so by living as Christian examples practicing virtues and seeking a greater holiness in their lives. Each missionary takes on a two-year commitment (although many stay on for three or four years) at a campus around the country, where they help people like me. The missionaries fundraise their own salary, which takes a lot of faith in God by itself, and truly devote themselves to enriching the lives of young adults. Some are single, some are married, and some even have families while doing this—Brett and Natasha’s two little girls are adorable!! I am thinking that I might want to be a missionary someday—It would be such a great opportunity to serve God and college students. Two Pitt seniors have signed on for that mission, so keep them in your prayers! We will see what God has in store for me in a couple of years.

            Transitioning into another topic, this week is spring break! Italics probably weren’t necessary, but I am so happy right now, that I decided to use them anyway. There are so many things I want to do while I am home that I don’t quite know how I am going to fit everything in. I have about 36 hours with Valerie tonight and tomorrow before she leaves for her alternative spring break (ASB) trip in Kentucky, and then I will see Caroline tomorrow night and Sunday after she returns from ASB in Baltimore. (All five of us might be home together for maybe a couple hours.) I considered doing an ASB trip, but decided that this week was probably my only opportunity to come home during the semester. I will probably get to see them both again next weekend—Caroline on Friday when Molly and I head over to Ann Arbor, and Valerie on Saturday, when I become a Spartan for the day. Yes, I am becoming a Spartan for about eight hours—Valerie’s running club needs an extra girl for their relays against University of Michigan, so she picked me up a uniform and I am going green for the day. (Sorry, Caroline! This does NOT mean I love her more! It just means that I’ll do what I can to help a girl out J ) Besides, I like running, and this will be fun!

            Mom, Dad, and I are traveling up north this week for a few days to hang out. We hope to ski, but seeing as the temps are supposed to be in the low 40s, I am not sure how that will work out. If nothing else, we’ll get a great view of Lake Michigan and some necessary R&R time. What else do I want to do on spring break? What don’t I want to do is probably a better question, but we’ll attack the former.

·      Bake, cook, and be merry—I hate not being able to cook at school! I miss the sense of accomplishment and the creativity of it. There just isn’t quite the same effect when I watch them douse my stir fry in soy sauce on an industrial size griddle.

·      Knit and craft—I finished my first skein of yarn minutes ago, and am ready to incorporate #2 onto the needles. I was hoping for internet connection on the bus to watch a YouTube video, but no such luck. (How am I writing this? Word document to be later copied to my blog) Maybe I will be inspired to do some Pinterest crafts as well.

·      Kick back on the sofa—I’ve watched a few movies over the past two months and viewed a few episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” online, but nothing beats cuddling on the couch with a homemade blanket and a fire. I have my homemade blanket with me in Pittsburgh (and brought it home—I feel a bit like Linus), so that does make it better, but not perfect. After all, there are no kitties sitting on my bed in the tower.

·      Play the piano!—I brought my favorite Mozart book back to campus with me, but always forgot to take it with me to the Newman Center where there is a piano I can play. I almost forgot to bring it home, but then I received a lovely text from Mom late last night reminding me. So glad our telepathy is working!

·      Work on scholarships and get ahead in microbiology—Yes, unfortunately I will need to do a bit of work this week, but hopefully by doing so, I will take some of the stress out of the weeks when I return. I have found that working a little bit at a time is WAY better than trying to cram. For example, this week I had three exams, two quizzes, and a lab report due (hence the no blogging), but I got a solid eight hours of sleep every night because I was able to study over the weekend for the exams. Oh, the benefits of good time management!

So you’ve probably had enough of me ranting about my life, and I will let you get back to yours now, but I just wanted to update you on the happenings of this Pittsburgher. I will try to post throughout the week with pictures and snippets from the break! Hope your weekend is as great as I know mine will be!