Sometimes...

Sometimes I feel like I am stuck in a rut.

This happened several years ago as well...and I don't remember how I overcame the seemingly endless rut into which my life is stuck.

Does this ever happen to you? Does anyone know how this feels?

I think I am moving ahead with adventurous plans, forging new trails in the life of Delia. Lately, I find that I am in the same place I was several months ago, a big muddy RUT of my life. I am not progressing. Life is boring. Honestly, I want to cry a little from feeling this way.

So, I do what I think will help.
Take some community classes...still in the rut.
Plan adventurous trips. Rut, Rut, Rut.
Cry in frustration.

I think the answer maybe to backup to where I felt I was on level dry ground and take a different approach. Now, if I can only remember where that was...

Lemon-Cream Cheese Cupcakes

This is what they are supposed to look like...(from Kraftfoods.com)


This is what mine look like...


And then I dressed them up with a strawberry slice...definitely tasty...

Lemon-Cream Cheese Cupcakes (from Kraftfoods.com)

1 pkg (2-layer size) white cake mix
1 pkg (4-seving size) Jell-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 cup water
4 eggs whites
2 Tbsp. oil
1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar
1 pkg (8 oz.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, egg whites and oil in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 min. Spoon batter evenly into 24 paper-lined 2 1/2 inch muffin cups.

Bake 21-24 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min., remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, beat sugar, cream cheese, butter and juice with electric mixer on low speed until well blended.

Frost cupcakes.

**DELICIOUS!**

These are the first cupcakes I have EVER made and they turned out so tasty!

Things I learned:
1. When making desserts like this have a game plan on how to get rid of them. (I am not a huge dessert eater...luckily I live with roommates or after a couple of days I would have thrown them away.) I only ate 2 and 1 bite.
2. I am not a very good recipe follower, which is why I tend to cook and not bake. It is okay to get the measurements a bit off when cooking.
3. I don't have any good bowls for baking and mixing.

Variations that would be tasty:
*Use the cake as the shortcake in "Strawberry Shortcake", yummm...
*Use the frosting as a fruit dip. One of my roommates finished the extra frosting by dipping fresh strawberry's in them.

Watch Out Bob Ross

I am taking an oil painting class on Wednesday nights. Last Wednesday was my first class. The teacher is awesome...seriously, picture Mr. Miagy from Karate Kid with a Brazilian accent. (He is Japanese but born and raised in Brazil).

Here's a secret...I am a horrible drawer. I know I have no business signing up for oil painting. BUT...after the first class I think I may have some untapped artistic genius.

This is the tree I drew. It may not look like much, but it is 1,000% better than any other tree I have drawn. Antonio (my teacher) said it was great and was very pleased. So, if each class I get even 50% better, I may be the next Da Vinci...or at least as good as Bob Ross.

Sorry friends, no pre-ordering paintings. You will just have to wait a couple of years until I have enough to sell...and then see them at a gallery (aka my house).

Street Witch

On my way to the food court with CHAY and ryaN, I had an encounter.

The sidewalk in front of our building is a covered walkway that construction companies set up to protect innocent pedestrians from falling concrete.
As I was turning the corner to enter the walkway, what can only be described as a "street witch" put a HEX on me.

She jumped right in front of me (a little hop in my direction).
One arm up with the hand in a claw position, the other hand also up holding a lit cigarette.
Teeth bared, mouth slightly open. SCARY TEETH.
Wise, somewhat mocking, eyes.
Moon boots for shoes.
A tattered skirt, shirt, and coat.
Long ratty brown hair.
What did the curse sound like? A hiss like a cat makes.
My heart jumped and I was frozen in place for about 10-15 seconds.
Thankfully I recovered quickly and stepped around her and kept walking.

Thanks to CHAY and ryaN for your protection...oh wait, all they did was laugh...and avoid the hex.

I never knew a trip to the food court could be so dangerous.

Excited, Oh! So Excited!

For those of you who don't know...My brother Joe has been in the CVICU for just over a week. He was intebated (put on a ventilator to help him breathe), last Thursday afternoon. I have been a wreck ever since he called me from the hospital to tell me he was there. So scared, so very scared. I love my brother and couldn't fathom the possibility of not having him around anymore. My family, nay, they WORLD needs Joe. He is that fabulous!

Well, good news. He has been breathing on his own and is doing well so they took him off the ventilator today! He is doing well (well he is still in the CVICU), although still has some recovery time. Joe is already asking when he can go home...sadly, I am assuming he will be there for at least a week, if not longer.

I am just so happy, so happy that I want to cry. Words can't express how happy and relieved I am. I have been so worried. I know that there is still some danger, but I am cherishing this miracle and looking forward to the next one!

3 Things

3 Things That I am Grateful For Today:

*The peace before a spring or summer storm. I love the sky, the smell of the air, and the anticipation.
*Technology. Instant updates from Misun. The ability to chat at Joe while Misun holds the phone to his ear, so that even though I am not there he knows I love him.
*Family. Without whom life would not only be extremely boring, but wouldn't be worth living.

What's In A Name - Part 2

I am not a nickname person. I don't usually call people by a nickname or give them nicknames (exception is Big Dave the Korean, but I don't call him that, I just call him David...usually). I think it all started when I was little and they had this show called "Little House On The Prarie." Everyone called me Nellie, EVERYONE. Certificates from primary and my savings account were in the name Nellie. That was until I would get teased that I was as horrible as Nelly Olsen from "Little House...". She was so mean and I was so nice and didn't want to be associated with such a horrible person...so...I transitioned myself to D'Nell. I think this took place in 1st, 2nd, maybe 3rd grade. I don't really remember I was really young, but I hated when people called me Nellie and was a little snotty to them...and still am a little bit.

I think from that experience I just stopped liking nicknames, they were associated with "mean teasing" and I didn't like it. However, I am happy to report that Young Womens, some friends from High School, my stay in China and subsequent years living in Logan have got me somewhat over this...and some nicknames...by some people are okay and I even like it.

Nicknames I have had or currently have:

DaNarla (hockey name, so the hockey players won't know who is screaming mean things/profanities at them)
Narla
Nelly Furtado
Salami Head
Nellie (if you call me this, I am likely to hate you forever or kick your ...)
(Unless you are my niece or nephew)
Smellie Nellie (I wouldn't try calling me this one either.)
D'Nellie
Boron
D'Nellieeee
Delia (I know, this is my name...and also a nickname...long story)
(not everyone gets to call me this either...if you try it...I might dislike your for a couple of days)
Dill Pickle
Pickle
Buck Wheat
DJ Dirty Nellie (the story behind this is confidential. You must achieve friendship level "Midnight" to hear the story)
(Family is excluded from hearing the story)
(You may have heard the story by other friends who were once friendship level "Midnight" but have since been downgraded to indifference level "D")
(If you hear this story and repeat it and I find out...I may instantly and without warning downgrade your friendship status)
(***This may be the best/funniest story you are likely to hear***)
Dirty Nellie (see above)

What's In A Name

Do you have a nickname (or multiple nicknames)?
What are they?
Do you give other's nicknames?
Do you like to be called by your nickname by anyone or just the person who gave you the nickname?


**the picture is from Nan Jio Ba Jay Street in Beijing. A place where one of my nicknames was born.**

New Shoes New Shoes

Every Girl needs new shoes every once in awhile. Well on Saturday...I was treating myself. I called it "You've been 30 for a week and haven't had a complete meltdown so you get a reward day." I went shopping to one of my favorite stores TJ Maxx/Home Goods at Brickyard. I tried on no less than 12 pairs of shoes...really cute ones that I would have purchased if I had a bigger budget. I finally settled on these pink beauties. I have been on the look out for some fun dress up shoes. I still need 3 or 4 more pair to make the collection complete.

After purchasing the shoes, I promptly went to get my toes done...in a matching pink color of course. Instantly, I felt renewed POWER and INVINCIBILITY to face another week of being 24...oops...I meant 30. Ladies, isn't it amazing how such simple things like getting a pedicure of finding the right pair of shoes, etc can just give you that extra little boost when you are having a bad day? I love it.

So, the next day I went to see my newest niece Hannah. Her big sister Liberty had her new pink shoes on too. Of course I needed to get a picture of us together. I think hers might be slightly cuter...I mean sparkles and a bow? How could I top that?


This me and my cute nieces. Liberty is such a good big sister and loves Hannah...a little too much. Erin has to SAVE Hannah from Liberty's love on a daily basis.