Jelly Belly recipes

Jelly bellies are not only my favorite candy just because they taste good, it is also because of the fact that you can make “recipes” with them. By this I mean you can eat a few at one time and they will taste like some sort of recipe.

Combine all of these flavors together by eating them all at the same time:

(I stared my all time favorites)

For the bakery lovers:

1       Cotton candy, 2 French vanilla and 1 Piña Colada tastes like a wedding cake

2 Sunkist lemon and 2 coconut makes a lemon meringue pie

2 strawberry jam and 2 French vanilla makes a strawberry shortcake

*2 blueberries and 1 buttered pop corm makes a blueberry muffin

*2 green apples, 1 cinnamon, and 1 honey bean makes apple pie

For the coffee lovers:

*1 chocolate pudding, 2 cappuccinos and 1 raspberry tastes like a raspberry mocha

*2 cappuccinos, 1 chocolate pudding, 1 A&W cream soda makes a tiramisu

For the fruit lovers:

1 kiwi, 1 strawberry jam, 1 cantaloupe and 1 blueberry makes a fruit salad

For the sweet tooth:

2 A&W root beers, and 1 A&W cream soda makes a root beer float

1 Carmel corn, 2 toasted marshmallows and 1 chocolate pudding tastes like s’mores

*1 top banana, 1 chocolate pudding, 1 crushed pineapple, 1 strawberry jam, 1 very cherry and 1 French vanilla makes a banana split

2 chocolate pudding, 1 French vanilla and 1 A&W cream soda makes a chocolate milk shake

 Unique recipe:

1 mango, 1 lemon lime and 1 chili mango makes mango tango salsa

           I spent many summer days with my neighbors testing recipes out. When any of us got jelly bellies we would all sit around and try out recipes we found and we would even give “points” to the person who could guess correctly what the combination of jelly bellies made who ever won the most points by the end got to keep the remaining jelly bellies. For many years I always asked for jelly bellies for my birthday. My parents always thought it was a strange gift to want until one day I had them try out the recipes and they agreed it was a lot of fun and then they no longer questioned my gift request for jelly bellies. To this day I still love hanging out with friends and telling them to eat the jelly bellies I give them and have them guess what the recipe makes. It’s also a very fun thing to do when you are babysitting because it keeps the kids entertained and it is also fun to make up your own recipes. (441)

Five beauty tips I live by

Here are five beauty tips and tricks I cannot live without

1.      Moisturize your skin, especially your face.

Even being a teenager you should moisturize your face every day. Moisturizing your face will actually make your face less oily in the long fun because in a way it tricks your skin into not making as many oils because your skin can tell that the skin already has oils (which is actually just the lotion or cream you used) if you do have oily skin stick to a lotion that has a thinner formula rather than a thick cream like formula, because your skin may have difficulties soaking in the thicker formulas.

 

2.      Drink plenty of water

Always have water on hand. Drinking water as many people know is very good for your complexion. It can reduce breakouts and even out the texture of your skin. This is because the skin in your face will be more hydrated and this will give the skin more elasticity and evenness. Not to mention drinking water is one of the best things you can do for your overall body as well.

 

3.      Use blush

Even when running late for school and you don’t have time to put makeup on quickly brush on some blush and you will instantly look more awake and healthier. The blush will give you a glow that will make your whole complexion look much more put together.

 

4.      Wear simple jewelry on the lazy days

Wearing simple jewelry will instantly make you look put together, even if your outfit isn’t too great. The jewelry will show that you put effort into what you are wearing, yet still it will look like you didn’t try too hard, and it won’t be overpowering to a simple outfit.

 

5.      Sleep as much as possible

Everyone one knows that sleep is important. It helps your mind, soul, physical strength and yes, even your appearance. When you get more sleep your whole face will be brighter and luminous. Of course we all know getting the right amount of sleep is close to impossible, but when you get the chance to go to bed at a normal time take it because your body will be thanking you the next day! (374)

 

 

If i had a million dollars

The song if I had a million dollars by the bare naked ladies (who, if you don’t know, are actually men) can cure any sadness. This song is fun to listen to because the lyrics are very random and funny, yet still very catchy and creative. The combination of singing and talking makes it even more enjoyable because it makes the song more casual and personal to the listener.

 If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to walk to the store
If I had a million dollars
Now, we'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more
If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
But we would eat Kraft Dinner
Of course we would, we’d just eat more
And buy really expensive ketchups with it
That’s right, all the fanciest ke... dijon ketchups!
Mmmmmm, Mmmm-Hmmm

            I like this part of the song because it just makes me laugh. This song is just a feel good song if you are ever feeling down just listen to this song and it will bring a smile to your face. Whenever I listen to this song I always think of how fun this must have been to write. Just a few best friends/band mates sat down and wrote the most random song, knowing that it would bring happiness and giggles to whoever listens to it. That just sounds like it would be a great job, getting to make so many people happy while enjoying yourself and acting goofy.

If I had a million dollars
I’d buy your love

                     This part of the song also shows the still “romantic” side because it cute that someone would try to use money to buy love. This part of the song manages to be serious, yet funny.

                     Some fun facts about this “if I had a million dollars” by the bare naked ladies.

                     When the bare naked ladies sang the part of the song “But we would eat craft dinner” fans used to throw macaroni and cheese on the stage, at first it was cute but it got very annoying. Unstead the band asked the fans to donate Kraft dinner at the local food bank.

                     They sing the line “I’d buy you John Merrick’s remains” it refers to the “elephant man”. He had a disease that caused him to be very deformed. Sometimes when the band is performing they will change the words to “I’d buy you John Davison’s remains” he was a goalie for the New York ranger’s hockey team. The bare naked ladies love hockey.  (426)

My heart will go on

The titanic theme song “My heart will go on” is one of my all-time favorite songs. The combination of the beautiful sound and melody as well as the lyrics makes it a very emotional song that can relate to anyone. 

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

This part of the song represents, to me, that even once people you loved more than anything leave the earth there heart still remains and your hearts will be together again someday, nobody ever leaves forever. This song really has helped me through tough times because it raises your hope and faith in knowing that you will see your loved one again someday. Love is too strong for it to only last for a life time and not forever.

        If you have watched the movie titanic then this song has an even greater impact on you because the story line is so beautiful of something that actually happened years ago. The song is so powerful because it makes you think of all the people that we hoping for a better life, but instead they died and had to watch their family die with them on the horrible day of the titanic sinking.

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on

        Almost everyone has felt this songs truth before, were they could tell that someone is always there with you, even when they are “gone”. I believe your body has a way of healing when you miss someone because you can feel there presents around you and they give you the strength to carry on, thus your heart carries on with them as the song states.

You can see this song from many angles. That’s why I think this song is so great. It can trigger the heart strings on so many people and in so many different ways. It can help people heal; it can also give them hope.

I thought this song was perfectly placed in the titanic. This song made the movie more powerful and emotional. Even the heartless people could possibly shed a tear when they watch the movie because of this song. Even if you don’t listen to the lyrics and listen to just the actual song you will see it is influential in itself. The enchanting, and in a way haunting melody gets me every time. (425)

Danni N.

My big, unrelated family

         Many people definitely take neighbors for granted, or it may just be that they got a crappy set of them. In my case I am extremely lucky with the people who live right next me. I moved into my house when I was very young and pretty much the whole street had many kids my age, as well as my sisters age. All of the kids have known each other for pretty much our whole lives. Our summers when we were still quite young consisted of swimming in a little kitty pool together every day. As we got older there were not quite as many opportunities to be around each other because our schedules started to get booked but we still were all very close. In our free time we jumped on the trampoline, played games that we made up called “don’t wake the kitty” and “level 4”,as we liked to call it,  of our detective game. We were always more creative around each other and we were always the happiest around each other. It was like growing up with many brothers and sisters. Now that we are all teenagers we are still very close, but I would say it’s even more in a personal way now. We know that we may not be able to trust some of our friends at school, but we can always trust our neighbor family. Now our summers consist of swimming (this time in a bigger pool, thank god) and going from house to house eating popsicles. Around this time of year we have a Christmas with just our neighbor family. All of the kids met at one house and exchange gifts. Everyone always gets exactly what they wanted because we all know each other so well, some may even say too well.

         The adults of the kids in our neighborhood are exactly like having another few sets of parents. They are always there to give advice and tell you when not to do something stupid. They are always cooking things with all of their kids in mind (meaning all of their other neighbor kids). The moms can always hang out and sunbathe together, or talk about the kids together. (In other words gossip about parenting techniques that did and didn’t work on their kids) The dads love to golf together and play sports with the kids. Our neighborhood is like one big, confusing family. And I am so lucky. (407)

Danni N.

Clocks

           

What would our world be like without clocks? It seems like clocks are either what slows down the day, or gives us hope. For example as a kid in school you look at the clock pretty much every 5 minutes. The clock seems to make the day slower because the clocks make you realize how slow time is traveling. At the same time clocks can give you hope because when you look at a clock you will always know there are fun things ahead, and if you are going through a bad event the clocks are proof that only In a matter of time things will get better.

            There is always a lot of complaint about the clocks that are usually in schools, you know, just the boring ones that take a little bit of effort to read, in other words they are not digital. I wonder if school administrators ever though that they should put digital clocks in the school. I bet they have, but they realized that it was a school, and what is school without having to think about things, even if it is torture having to look at the clock and figure out it has only been 3 minutes since you last checked the time.

            Something I honestly have pondered a few times is how people when about their lives before knowing the exact time, because there were no clocks, or not many.  How would you know when to meet up with people at the park, or when you needed to be at the barber shop for your monthly trim? I guess things were just simpler then, and clocks were not as needed because their lives weren’t as face passed as they are now. They could just show up around the right time and everything was fine. Now time is detrimental for your job, school, and pretty much, well, everything.

            It’s amazing how the appearance and technology behind clocks has evolved. Clocks are one of the oldest inventions, so I guess time was not much of an issue when clocks were not around because time was determined by how high the sun was in the sky. I think having clocks has messed up with our natural way of doing things. In the “cavemen” years the people did things pertaining to how they felt, for example if they were tired then they went to bed. Now a day if we are tired we don’t go to sleep until the clock hits a certain hour. (417)

            Danni N.

Don't complain, instead see its beauty.

            Many people hate the snow. But I believe they just never give it a chance. Walk outside when the first snow of the year happens with an open mind and you will understand why snow is a magical thing. Breathe in the cold air; the air you breathe seems fresher and cleaner as it enters your lungs. The air even smells fresher. It is like the snow is clearing the earth of its pollution.

            Many people also hate snow because of the fact that it is cold. Well when someone is injured they go into an ice bath to relax their muscles. The same goes for being out side in the cold, once you go inside after being in the snow and warm off, your muscles feel more relaxed.

            When it snows, to me, it feels as though I am in a snow globe and I am not part of the world anymore, I am in my own world. The sounds around me become mute long enough for me to enjoy the beauty.

            Snow is such a beautiful thing because it interacts with all five of the sense. Sight- it looks wondrous as it falls to the ground. Touch- obviously it is cold. Smell- the earth around you smells different, it smells fresh. Hearing- when you are outside in the snow all other sounds seem to muffle and give a peaceful quietness. Taste- the snow seems to taste fresher than any water you could possibly taste because it’s so cold and refreshing.

            When it is someone first time seeing snow they absolutely freak out at its beauty. They jump around in it, they watch it fall to their face, and they indulge in the fact that it can interact with all of their senses. If only each snow fall could be like our first, well it could. If we just saw they beauty every time, instead of complaining the first second that you know that there is a chance of snow. I couldn’t imagine Christmas without snow, or even the long winter days before Christmas without snow. Snow still entertains me to this day. I think there is a reason for snow; to entertain the restless kids that can’t wait for Christmas!

Here are some unique ideas of things you can try out in the snow:

1.    Build ramps on the hill by packing snow into a pile, when you ride over them over them with your sled there will be a bump in the road and you will fly and pick up even more speed!

2.    If you have a trampoline, build a snow wall around all of the legs of the trampoline leaving room for a door of a crawl space. That way you will have your own little winter house outside!

3.    Use water tubes for sleds, they move much faster on snow because of their slick material, plus you can fit a couple people on each one! Have races to test out the fastest tubes.

4.    On a very cold day when you don’t feel like playing outside just grab a cup of clean snow and bring it inside. Then pour in your favorite pop to make the perfect slushy. Some ideas for what to pour into the snow are: chocolate milk-(crush up some Oreos and add to this), any kind of juice, any kind of pop.

5.    If you have snow drifts and piles of snow where all of the snow is piled up from shoveling call it the Great Wall of China and have two teams. Then have a snow fight, one team gets to have the wall to hide behind.  

6.    Instead of making a family of snow men, try making the biggest snow man you can possibly make. This may take a few peoples cooperation.

7.    If you live in a cul-de-sac or a road were not many people drive through. On a very icy day go to the biggest hill in the neighborhood that ends with this slick cul-de-sac or road. Make a big jump/ramp almost all of the way down the hill so that you will gain more speed and fly onto the cul-de-sac, the ice will continue to carry you further and further!

 

Enjoy the snow this year if you are lucky enough to have snow where you live!!! (720)

 

Danni N.

 

What? Still 2 more weeks!?!

Is it just me or is everyone only thinking about one thing at this time of year? CHRISTMAS! I seriously cannot get my mind off of Christmas, you may say “yeah well I am a Christmas freak too! “But I can almost guarantee that you are not as fanatic about it as I am.

 

I have always been this way, since I can remember. I have always loved not only Christmas, but just this time of year in general. I love everything from decorating, to caroling, to wrapping presents. Everything I do this time of year has some correlation to Christmas.

 

SCHOOL GOES BY EXTREAMLY SLOWLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I fell like every day is literally ten times longer the few weeks before holiday break. I don’t know what it is, but there is just something in my blood that begins to spread to my whole body until at this time, a whole 2 weeks before break, I cannot think and I just can’t concentrate on anything because every single thought that pops into my brain has to do with Christmas.

 

            So I don’t know about you, but I will be counting down the days until Christmas arrives. I will grow more and more exited as each day gets closer to Christmas. The thing I love the most about Christmas are just the little things that make people happy, like the lights on the tree, the logs burning on the fireplace, and seeing family and friends that you miss dearly. Remember, as always, this Christmas season to enjoy every minute of it because Christmas miracles only happen once a year! Happy holidays everyone! (275)

Danni N.

Elf Spaghetti

So you’re lying around and all you want to do is eat. Does that sound like you during the Christmas break? Well when in doubt elf spaghetti it out. This is a great way to have something to do with the people you are around during this time of year!  The movie “Elf” is a must see. It’s fun to get in some comfy, lazy clothes, turn on the fireplace and watch the movie with a big steaming mug of hot chocolate.

Ok so you know the part in the movie when buddy makes his own unique elf style spaghetti for breakfast? Well you can make that in your own home. Keep in mind that it is way more fun doing this with friends or family! (If your mom is a clean freak then I would suggest waiting to do this until she is out of the house because it does get a little messy!)

Here are the ingredients:

1. Spaghetti

2.  M&ms

3. Mini marshmallows

4. Frosted chocolate fudge pop tarts

5. Sprinkles

Once you have all of these items added into a heap, cover it with loads of maple syrup along with heresy’s chocolate syrup. (Remember if you are on a strict diet you should stay far away from this concoction)  Then for the most fun part, put your hands into the spaghetti and crunch all of the ingredients together until you get the consistency you like.

       Then enjoy this messy finger food! Some may absolutely hate this elf breakfast, and some May thoroughly enjoy it. Which preference will you have? You never will know until you try.  (270)

                 Danni N.