The Sunday Soups

-I am a college student.

-I am, 99% of the time, quite broke.

-If I am not eating food at the present moment, then I am likely hungry and/or thinking about food.

All of these things are related, you see.

As I mentioned in this post, when the school year gets crackin', eating becomes hard work. I try to find something portable, filling, and for the most part, instant.

The answer to that?

Sunday Soups.

I have discovered that if I cook up a big soup on Sunday, the only day when I typically have time, then I've got lunches and/or dinners to pop in the microwave for the next week.

I know you're not really supposed to eat the same thing for like a week straight, but come on now. It could be Ramen, after all.

But anyway, I wanted to try out soups because it doesn't cost much to cook up a big pot of it, they're healthy and they taste delicious. The good ones, at least.

There's a site I found that I like a lot, and it's actually where both of the soups I made came from!

It's called Oh She Glows.Seriously. Even the name is enticing. I found it and thought, "Yes. I too would like to glow. Show me how."

It's a site filled with delicious vegan recipes that even myself, who eats far too many chicken nuggets and animal by-products to be anything close to vegan, loves. 

Last week, I made the Carrot-Apple-Ginger soup.

(Please enjoy the phone-camera quality of the following photos.)

- Recipes for both soups here. -

And because I wasn't thinking, I never got a picture of the finished product. But it turned out as a creamy, bright orange, flavorful bowl of happiness.

In one word, it would be fresh. But also very, very (surprisingly) filling. That sucker has a pound and a half of carrot ground up in it, not to mention one or two apples.

Yum. 

And it's perfect for the onset of harvest-fresh apples!

This week's soup, which I am enjoying at the present moment, is the Red Lentil, Butternut Squash Curry soup.

Ok so...mine looks nothing like the photo for the recipe does. At all. But it's still wonderful!

I'm a sucker for curry, too. I ate a lot of Indian food in high school, considering many of my friends were Indian. 

My best friend's parents own an Indian restaurant, so I've become horribly spoiled with that.

Anytime I go elsewhere, it's just...not right.

But I have to say, that soup is good. Like I-will-gladly-eat-it-every-single-day kind of good. And it smells awesome when it's cooking, as does anything cooked with onions and garlic.

So needless to say, I will be continuing the Sunday Soups tradition, at least until I run out of good soups to try.

(Which won't happen. I bought a cookbook. Get excited.)

Next weekend is the Pumpkin Festival round these parts, so I will post a recipe I crafted myself...the pumpkin spice smoothie! It's delicious. I can't wait.

As for this weekend, me, Tom, my roommate and her friend headed to the Marigold Festival, which was actually adorable. Such a fun day!

Except for the duck....

Things in costume freak me the heck out.

Who could be behind those freakishly large eyes?

My Thomas.

It was too sunny for him, but I like to imagine it's his reaction to the above ^^ photo.

 Happy Monday!!

Big Girl Time

I have to be honest...

I'm thrilled for all my friends who keep scoring post-grad jobs at the start of their senior year. But seeing all the Facebook statuses is totally freaking me out.

I figured I would at least have until winter or so to start the search.

False.

Apparently, you should start it nine months out.

I was looking online yesterday for people who wanted grads, and thought "What am I doing?! This is not real life."

The idea of having a big girl job keeps me up at night, I swear. It's not like I haven't worked before; I've been working since I was sixteen.

But I've always had more school to look forward to.

So now, suddenly, since I'm not doing grad school, (not yet at least; you never know!) I have this whole new phase of life happening, called "career."

It's the typical cry of the college senior.
"What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

Myself, circa 1995, complete with tutu and glowing red eyes.

I read somewhere that to find your true passion, think back to yourself between the ages of six and 11. What kinds of things did you like to do? What interested you most?

For me, it was writing. Storytelling. And it never went away.
But until I complete my first book, (underway, by the way. More than halfway done.) I have to find something fairly stable to support my endeavors until I hit the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Shoot for the moon and all that, right?

In the meantime, here I will be, studying at school, praying I have all my credits covered, and running a newspaper, all while trying to squeeze in some final college memories to reminisce about when I'm old and visiting with my college roomies.

What did you enjoy most as a little kid? Does your career involve that/ do you still enjoy it?

I'd love to know!

Happy weekend :)

Septiembre.

Well, hello!

I have been M.I.A. for awhile. 

Let's just say, the first week back at school and the newspaper SLAMMED me.

But now I think I am used to the insanity, and I can resume blogging!

First, a brief recap of things on my camera:

My roommate Katie. I adore this picture. (Sorry Katie, I love you!)

Part of the staff, in an awkward newspaper family photo in the new office.

My uncle coaching my cousin's football team. It's kind of hilarious to watch five-year-olds run around in massive shoulder pads. Like rocks with legs.

My babies and me. Funny face time.

(No, they are not really my babies. But I would steal them from my aunt if I could.)

My cousins' pirate ship, constructed by my grandpa and my uncle. How cool is this?!

When did September get here?! Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled. Fall is the absolute best time of the year.

But seriously, it snuck up on us.

Also, bear with me, (is that the correct "bear" in this sense? Things I should know...) because I am currently undergoing a kind of blog identity crisis. It will be one year old in November, and I am thinking about what direction to take things. So, I will likely do some layout and post content changes in the next few weeks.

Happy September!

DIY little jar thingies

I eat baby food.

Yes, it's true. 

But let me lay it out for you...they are cheap, they're easy to bring to work and it's real fruit (I don't eat the chicken and potatoes type stuff)  so it's a quick, healthy snack. My friend actually gave me the idea, and seeing as how I am always hungry but also fairly broke, I thought I'd try it out.

My roommate was awfully concerned the first time she came home and found baby food on the counter.

So was my boyfriend.

Rightfully so.

Anyway, I like to keep the jars because they're cute and little and I just knew something could become of them.

So in a random DIY fit one morning last week, I created these little guys.

I wrapped some grey sparkly yarn around the jar (part of it was still sticky from the label so that made it easy) and the silver swirls are a sticker I found on clearance at Michael's. I made a second one and used it to store paper clips, but I definitely want to make some more. 

Tomorrow is the first day of classes! Woo!

Video: Trip to Springfield

 Hello!

I made a video of our trip to Springfield. It's clearly one of my first attempts, but it was kind of fun.

Some disclaimers:

1.) There is a scratch on my camera's screen. Poor thing. So that's what the large, gash-like looking line is from. In case you thought the sky was falling apart.

2.) Music starts kind of suddenly a little bit into it, so be prepared.

3.) The music is "Friday Night" by The Darkness.

4.) I've been singing a lot lately. You'll get a glimpse of that magic.

Springfield 2012 from Heather Swick on Vimeo.

I bet you really want some fair food now. And let me just say, if you've got a hankering for anything...anything AT ALL...on a stick, they've got it.

Pizza on a stick?

Yes.

S'mores on a stick.

Done.

Want some deep-fried Kool-Aid on a stick?

It exists.

Alligator on a stick?

Sketchy, but yes, they have it.

We also got to watch a cowboy stick his head in a barrel of rattlesnakes and saw at least a thousand giant, blinged-out belt buckles.

It was everything I had ever hoped the State Fair would be and more. 

The Illinois Capitol Building.

The Dana-Thomas House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900's. 

Botanical Gardens.

I found a new effect! We celebrated 15 months yesterday, so a kissing photo was necessary.

Thank you, Tommy, for the lovely day:)

Life Tales: Bugs in the Graveyard

Confession time.

I hate bugs.

Hate.

Hate.

HATRED.

I would rather have a root canal than see a spider. Not exaggerating. And I've actually had a root canal before.

So yesterday my job took me to one of the largest, oldest cemeteries in the state, Springdale Cemetery.

That place is practically ancient, and it gives me the heebie jeebies.

Woods at the cemetery. Bugs live here.

I went there last week to interview the general manager, and afterward, I had to get some photos for my article. Well, lo and behold, it was raining for the first time in ages. Extra creepy. I got one photo.

So yesterday I had to go back. It was super hot outside, and the manager and I bumbled along in a golf cart throughout the 239 acres of death. It's gorgeous there, don't get me wrong, but still creepy.

Now, I'm not allowed to be fearful on a story. I have to focus, get what I need to get and get done. (See  carp story.)

Not the case yesterday. I screamed so much at every little bug that I think I terrified the man, and he works with dead people all day. That's no simple feat. And I got a pretty nasty bug bite on my foot, too.  

But I would try to bounce back.

I'd be screaming one minute, and the next I'd be all "What was the thinking behind placing the pet cemetery off to the west of the ravine?"

At one point he was totally silent, and I thought it was because he was admiring the ethereal beauty of the cemetery. Wrong. He was watching me frantically shake leaves off my leg.

Professionalism at its finest.

Also, this weekend Tom and I will head to Springfield for the Illinois State Fair and to do some tourist stuff! I love mini weekend trips. They are the best.

Happy Wednesday!

Dear vehicle... those weren't for you.

Once upon a time, there were 24 white cupcakes with lime buttercream frosting, all made lovingly for a summertime party with friends.

Then I ate two, and there were 22 remaining. (In case you can't subtract, like myself. I may have done that calculation with a calculator. Kidding. Or am I?)

And after making sure the car cooled off properly for the cupcakes not to melt on the three hour drive to said party, I packed them into the car, snug and safe.

Safety is an illusion...

Five minutes into the drive, a car slammed on their brakes suddenly.

And 15 cupcakes face planted onto the back seat.

That means there were 7 left for a party of definitely more than 7.

I gave the rest to my boyfriend's family. I made the frosting by hand. Time to invest in a good cupcake carrier.

Because plates with tin foil just don't do the trick.

The fun didn't end there..

Halfway through our drive, a nasty, threatening storm reared its ugly head over the poor, helpless cornfields. We needed that rain, but not while we were on the road!

My car was blowing around and we couldn't see much of anything, so we took shelter beneath an overpass, like everyone else. It was a rather stressful drive.

I cursed myself for watching "Twister" over and over again as a child.

But we made it, the storm cleared, and eventually we even got to swim.

My roommates and me. Being attractive.

Then we passed out while watching "A Series of Unfortunate Events." (Much like the drive there.)

Party animals.

But it ended up being a lovely weekend trip.

My Tommy. He's cute and plays guitar in a Spiderman hoodie. Dreamy :)

Happy Sunday!