Happy day! I woke up to beautiful sun and chirping birds, even though it’s my first day of the spring quarter at Clark, and my first day back from spring break. 
But more happiness! My first class isn’t until 1:00pm, so I got to walk home in the beautifullness and take awesome pictures! Washington state may be pretty dull in the winter, but we have gorgeous springs. 
Even more happiness? I turn 17 on Wednesday!
Here’s today’s pics, they all got squished, I’m not sure why…
I’m dreaming of leaving Washington right now. Not I’m leaving and never coming back!”-leaving but, “See you after spring break!”- leaving. I want to go to a beach laying on the edge of a crystal blue cove, or an inlet hidden by giant mermaid-esque rocks. If you’ve ever watched the movies adapted from Nicholas Sparks’ books, then you just might be feeling the same longing that I am. I dream of a beach with green grass peeking through the sand, of bleached wooden boardwalks that lead from a downtown carnival, and of sitting on a blanket at sunset, leaning on the muscular shoulder of Liam Hemsworth. *sigh*
Absolutely lovely. I’m not saying that I don’t appreciate our beautiful Pacific Northwest beaches (werewolves, anyone?), but they are rather cold. Year round. The water is always freezing! Nice on hot days, but not when you’re on spring break in the middle of March. Believe me.
Kind of gloomy isn’t it?
Beautiful! This is Hodlen Beach again. I want to go there! Maybe I’ll find a bronzed, volleyball-playing hunk to keep me company. ;] I wouldn’t mind having him spill a drink on me…
Now although I’m deathly afraid of tsunamis, and I was before Japan had their’s, I still dream about staying in this sort of house, if only for a weekend! I will also say that I loved the movie.
If I didn’t have plans to visit Seattle and clean up our Pacific beaches (which I really do love, bring on the driftwood fires!) I would book a flight to North Carolina in an instant. Who knows? Maybe I’ll channel my inner Sparks and set on of my novels there. ;]
Over the past week I have made chocolate covered coffee beans a total of 3 times, and they never lasted longer than 2 days before they were eaten. I meant to post earlier about them, but I didn’t take sufficient photos of the process I developed, and then I lost my camera with the pictures on it and couldn’t do ANYTHING! I found it on Monday. It was underneath and behind my bed, but I was remaking it so I caught a glimpse of the corner of it. Hmmm. I like the word glimpse.And glimmer. I love g-l words! Anyway…
Making the coffee beans is beyond easy. I thought about it for a while after I had a craving for some, and this is what I came up with!
Supplies:
If you noticed, mine look like piles of dung. I’m currently trying to come up with a way to end up with smooth tops. Maybe cutting a larger hole in my chocolate bag? Maybe using a mold? Other than that, this batch turned out very well. Although my white chocolate wasn’t cooperating and gave me difficulty as I tried to decorate my beans with the astrological signs…
Another DIY soon to come, this one jewelry, and related to Emma Watson!
I love music. I’ve also discovered that blogging on a regular basis makes me feel very accomplished! Along with the special song I picked out for today, I have a little DIY experiment that I tried last night… But I’m volunteering at an elementary school, reading to kids in Spanish for Read Across America, so I can’t spend much time on the computer!
First off: “We are Young” FUN
I’m not a huge fan of the video, it makes me kind of uncomfortable. But the lyrics and the melody of the song make me feel like driving all over town in a little crappy car, like in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.” I also love how in the beginning it’s just pure and clean, but then it gets fuzzy and techno-ish, then back to clean and pure. ABA form lol
I admit that I completely copied Heather, over at the Hopeless Notebook, hopefully she doesn’t mind… I can’t help but admire a good idea!
Recently I have completely adored anything with vivid black and white patterning, specifically zigzags, but ikat like patterns and stripes fit in there too. Here are a few of the things I just love!
I think I might be deleting this blog after a while, Blogspot is way easier to edit and personalize, and all the blogs I follow use it, but I haven’t decided yet… I could probably get more readers there!
I bought this from F21, only $10! I just dont know where to wear it. Too short for church, to cold for school...
From A Beautiful Mess, just adorable!
It’s been a while! O.0
So today is photo monday, plus there is a get-to-know-you interview that my cousin offered from her blog, Llamas & Lace, which you should definately check out! Interview first, then pictures (which are pretty awesome, if I do say so myself).
11 “Random” Things About Me:
1. I was born in Fairbanks, AK.
2. I lived in Africa for two months.
3. The thought of living in a landlocked country stresses me out!
4. I adore quinoa, South American grain-stuff.
5. I truely believe that green tea and a good attitude can cure ANYTHING. (you can quote me on that.)
6. I love paper! I get excited by a brand new sheet of white paper. There are so many possibilities. *.*
7. I used to dream of being a spy/assassin, like Bourne, when I was in elementry school…. AND middle school…
8. I have jump-roping skills! and roller-skating skills.
9. Cereal is amazing. like Honey Nut Cheerios, Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs, Fruity Pebbles, Honey Bunches of Oats, and Frosted Flakes. I could live on cereal…
10. I could play “Uno” for hours on end, and win. Oh yeah.
11. I’m allergic to apples?
Questions from cousin Jessie:
1. Favorite season?
Winter and Summer! By the time they’re both halfway through, I get bored of them…
2. Worst smell you’ve ever experienced… haha!
Not quite sure… Possibly something rotten that I made the mistake of sniffing.
3. What song resonates the most with you right now?
“Somebody I Used to Know” by Goyte. Not only to I adore the melody, his voice, and the video, but I can personally apply it. Sadly.
4. Favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor?
Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz! I had no problem answering that one hahah
5. Your worst habit?
Imagining things that aren’t there…
6. Greatest fear?
Rodents. Ick. I’ve had multiple, quite creative, nightmares about them.
7. In a zombie apocalypse, what would be your weapon of choice?
Some type of highpowered automatic weapon, plus an awesome longbow I could sling over my back. 
8. Favorite board game?
Stratego! Look it up, it’s strangly fun.
9. Do you prefer black & white or color photos?
Black and white portraits, color for everything else.
10. Greatest regret
Dating in high school. Bad idea.
11. What you look forward to most in 2012
Summer, and camping haha!
Here are the rules:
Here’s a DIY thing, but not the best. It’s pretty self-explanatory. I think I might be ditching WordPress to go to Blogspot… Anyway!
I LOVE OWL CITY! “Fireflies” was the song of the summer in 2009, one of favorite summers ever, so I have a lot of good memories connected with the electronic sound. :] I really want to buy his album Ocean Eyes. Another of my favorites is “Vanilla Twilight.” Who doesn’t love that song? It pretty much yanks on my heart strings!
Also, here’s two photos of mine that I found in my library, took one in December, the other a few weeks ago.
![In my backyard :]](http://diyjunkie808.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/img_29891.jpg "Cherry Drops")
Here’s my favorite flavoring ever:
I wish I didn’t have to say this, but all rights reserved to Stark Relief Photography (that’s me). Don’t take it without permission, or I will track you down and cause you pain.
Anyway! So our Christmas tree was themed blue this year, so I made paper bird ornaments! These pictures are from when I did that, but the process can easily be altered to make pretty much whatever you want, garlands, window strings, yadda yadda hooda! Just be creative.
Stuff:
Here’s a variation that is on my list of things to do, I’m going to make leaves and birds, maybe clouds too. :>
Step one. Trace out however many birds you want. I will be referring to any shape you decide to make as bird. It makes it easier to type this.
Step 2: cut them out, then lay them over the same patterned paper (or a different one, if you’d like), because if you did it like I did, all your birds are the same direction.
Step 3: if you’re birds are double-sided, spread them with glue, and before you stick the next side on, add you string! Make a loop for an ornament, a long string for a garland, and add a bunch more! (haha you’ll have a flock x))
After that, let them lie flat while you wait for the glue to dry, then you’re pretty much done. Ta-da!
Just educated myself on the SOPA and PIPA bills. I can’t help but think of that song someone remixed of a tv interview, “We gonna find you…”
Anyway. This does a perfect job of explaining what the bills are about, because I can’t! By the way, check out TED.com, it’s pretty awesome. (if you think about it, what I’m doing on this little blog will be banned as a part of these bills!)
Here in the Pacific Northwest, down by the Columbia River, we do not get a lot of snow. When we do, everybody freaks out and drives like maniacs, crashing into poles, fences, and what-not. In my memory, we have never gotten more than a 1 1/2 feet of snow. And that was practically a blizzard, almost four years ago. Most people living in Clark County moved here from somewhere else. Louisiana, Texas, California, North Dakota: you name it. My family and I moved here from Fairbanks, AK. We’re pretty accustomed to snow, so when there’s 2″ on the ground and they cancel school, I’m simultaneously overjoyed and disgusted. Heck, I love not having to go to school, but come on people…. Anyway, it’s been a steady 40 something degrees for the past 3-4 days, and in the past 2 days we’ve been having off and on flurries. It never stays on the ground longer than an hour, but I’m hoping school is cancelled tomorrow. =D
If you haven’t heard of the French macarons by now, you must have been living under a rock. Quotes Robyn Lee, from seriouseats.com, “The macaron that I will expound upon this week is a dainty French cream-filled sandwich cookie which, in its best form, will fill your soul with warm, fuzzy happiness after one bite.”
I personally have never eaten a macaron, but I do not intend to stay this way for much longer! Today I went by the library to pay some fees *ahem* and picked up a cookbook from the display table. I felt kind of bad, cuz it was the display. But oh well. The cover photo was what first caught my eye:
“I ♥ Macarons” by Hisako Ogita
Upon closer inspection, the inside content is filled with some fantastically clear and beautiful photos too! I can’t wait to try out the recipes, because no other recipe I’ve found has made it so simple. Not that I haven’t found many other recipes, oh believe me, I have! In fact, here’s one that looks utterly fantastic to me, as peppermint is one of my favorite flavors ever. O.0 Check it out—>
Peppermint and White Chocolate Macarons
Oh so cute! I think the white filling needs candy cane specks in it.
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for now, ta-ta!
April 9, 2012
Liana
