Christmas crafts

This was a fun and fast Christmas craft that I put together for my mother. Mom's love this kind of stuff (or at least my mom does). I bought a bunch of cheap little blue and sea-colored glass beads. I added the beads with some sand to hollow clear ornaments and topped it off with some little drift wood and shells I collected at the local beach.

They turned out a lot better than I thought they would. This is an idea I will file for latter and try again in the future. I would like to experiment with some seal glass, and a better selection of beach debris. I think they could turn out to be absolutely beautiful. 

Shore Acres 2011

Tonight I went to Shore Acres State Park with a bunch of friends. I've gone there almost every year for most of my life. This year was their 25 year anniversary of lights. As usual the lights this year were amazing, and I'm posting some of the pictures I took just for fun and memories. 

Books of 2011

I was inspired by Rowdy Kittens post on books and began to consider which books of 2011 had the greatest impact on me. I really enjoy reading and  unfortunately don't get enough spare time to indulge in it as often as I would like. I still makes notes of books I would like to read when I come across recommendations that I think I would enjoy. Now my to-read piles and lists are overflowing and ever growing. I plan to look up the two books on writing that Rowdy Kittens posted about and add them to the piles.

Even though I didn't get to read as much as I would have liked to, there was a few books that I did read this year that stand out to me as making an impact in my life. These three are books that I would very much like to read again, and recommend to anyone. 

'

Where Men Win Glory 

Born to Run

The Wild Trees

First Time Snowboarding

Learning to snowboard was number 13 on my list of things to do before I die. This weekend I accomplished that goal with a little (lot) of help from Eric who just happens to have access to a mountain. After falling a lot, and finally figuring it out a little I got to go on the lift for the first time... and it was AWESOME!

That's me being happy to be riding on the lift.

That's me trying to get off my butt. 

I spent a lot of time trying to get off my butt. That explains why my butt bones and shoulders still hurt! But even after being as sore as I am I want to go snowboarding again in the future!

Writing prompt...

What would happen if you could fly whenever you wanted? When would you use this ability?


I would be the most awesome woman in the world. And when wouldn't I!?!

First Name Meme (Procrastination)

Here's a meme on first names:

Your name? Katherine

Your nick name? Kat & Katfish

Do you like your name? Yes.

If you could change your name what would it be? Ekatarina

Mother's name (can sub father)? Colleen (nick named Cricket)

Grandmother's name (can sub grandfather)? Rose and Virgie

Children's names? N/A

Do they have any nick names? N/A

Pet's name (current or past) Anna (current dog) Rosie (childhood dog) Optimus Prime, Eleta and Raina (current bunnies) Jasper Higgins (childhood bunny) Malcome (childhood ferret) Lyle (ferret I co-owned with a high school friend) Atlas and Atlas2 (beta fish)

Your pet's nick name? Annabell, Annabananna, Simba, Dog,

Your best friend's name? TJ, Mariah and Stephen

Nick name for your friend? TeeJay, Mariah and Steeeeeve

Favourite name for a boy? ElRoy

Favourite name for a girl? Maya

Name of your car? Truck Norris

Favorite Place Name? Tahkenitch Lake

Genetics Lab Work

Below are some of the crazy machines I get to use for my genetics class this term. I'm not planning on posting much about grade school in this blog, it's where I want to develop other aspects of my life, but I though some of this stuff was really neat. I need to get a picture of the sequencing machine! That is another great piece of nerdy equipment.

This is the centrifuge that I run down my samples in. 

These are the PCR machines that we use. 

The inside of the PCR machine. Set up for two trays using different numbers of samples. (My samples are in the back) 

My DNA samples, all wrapped and ready for analyse. 

Writing Prompt Question: What is your idea of a dull evening?

What is your idea of a dull evening?

I laughed when I read this question because the first thing I thought of was a crowded club/bar with a bunch of people and really loud music. I think that is the opposite of what most people might think of as dull. Even if it is an unconventional answer, I think I'll go with my gut on this one. I do find it really boring at clubs. I don't like going out with somebody and having the loud music makes it impossible to communicate. I usually just end up sitting around wanting to go home. HOME is not boring, that's where all my cool stuff is!

Hanky Panky

I found this candy hilarious! I just had to get a picture! 

Random Act of Kindness

This weekend was my first attempt at fulfilling of my random acts of kindness. I loaded my change purse with quarters for the purpose of donating to the salvation army bell ringers as I was shopping around town with my sister.

I also donated money to the ford scholar alumni association because I got their year-end request for tax deductible donation. In all honestly, I probably would have done this anyway. I donated last year, and was planning on donating again. I only briefly considered letting it slide, before reminding myself that this month my mission was to preform exactly this kind of activity. Also, they basically paid for my undergraduate education and my goal is to one day repay them for that, and then some.

I also helped an elderly lady at the ATM yesterday. Again, I would have done this anyway, because she was so confused (my bank just installed a new type of ATM), and who can resist helping old people!? But since I am keeping track of all my nice deeds this weekend, I figured I would include it.

This is a picture of myself with a group of Ford Scholar Alumni last spring at their leadership conference. The theme of the conference was "Leading Where You Live" and one afternoon was completely devoted to all attendees preforming community services. I chose to go with this group, and rock a walking path through a housing development. 

My Me-Date

I'm a big fan of taking myself on me-dates. My me-dates can take many different forms, but the underlying goal is to enjoy being by myself, and do something that I find entertaining. I honestly think that these kid of activities help me grow as a person and become a better human being.

So tonight's me-date started at Earth Bound Beauty where they helped me relax with a nice hour long facial and mimosas. Then I migrated down the street to Savory Cafe where I had some truly delusions fish tacos, carrot soup and lemon glazed cheesecake with a mango margarita.

I suppose you could say that the them of tonight's me-date was self indulgence.