Last week I graduated from BYU (more on this later) and made this AMAZING cake. Ok, so mom made it while I was curling my hair or whatever, but it is one of the best cakes I have ever tasted! I found it on this blog and I absolutely loved it. It has almond extract in the cake and the frosting and also is not overly sweet. The recipe takes a little bit more effort than most cakes, but it is totally worth it!

Ingredients 

1 Cup Butter
1 Cup Water
2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
2 Eggs
1 1/2 tsp. Almond Extract

Directions 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

In a small sauce pan, add the water and butter and bring to a boil. 

In a mixing bowl, add the flour and sugar. Pour the boiling water and butter mixture over the flour and sugar mixture. Beat well. Add the baking soda, almond extract, sour cream, and the eggs. 

Mix again, scraping down the sides at least once. Pour the batter into a 9x13 or larger pan. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the middle is set. Let the cake cook for 20-30 minutes before you ice the cake.

Icing

1/2 Cup Butter
1/4 Cup Milk
3 1/2-4 Cups Powder Sugar
1 tsp. Almond Extract

Bring the butter and milk to a boil in a small sauce pan. Add the remaining ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Once the milk and butter are boiling add them to the bowl and mix. Add more powder sugar until you get the consistency you desire, but you should be able to pour it. 


This morning I woke up at four a.m. to take my roommate to the airport. As I was driving home light was just starting to peak over the mountains, making them this beautiful backlit mass on the horizon. I started to realize how much of an attachment I have to Provo. I knew that I would miss all of my friends and family when I left, but I never thought I would miss Provo itself.

I moved to Provo five years ago. My aunt and uncle dropped me off at my dorm and the square mile that is campus became my life for the next little while. These past five years have been some of the hardest, most challenging, beautiful, and magical of my life. Provo has witnessed me change as a person.


As the days tick down to when I move I am a little less annoyed by the potholes in the road. I don't mind all the pedestrians I have dodge when driving to Katie's or the obnoxiously long street lights. Instead I embrace each of these as part of Provo's personality. I am nervous about moving away from this place and closing this chapter of my life; it has been one of the best and it is hard to say goodbye, but at the same time, I'll always have a little bit of Provo with me and take it wherever I go. 

This semester has been an interesting one. At the beginning of my senior year I had an idea of what I thought my life would like come April. Well, it's not April and my life looks nothing like I thought it would. I spent the fall semester applying for what felt like every job under the sun but nothing ever worked out. After a crucial conversation with my father, I decided that I would apply for graduate school, which had never been on my radar.

I spent a few weeks thinking about what I wanted to study. I love the arts and wanted to find a program that would fit well with my business degree. I started applying to several architecture programs. I was set on going to an architectural program when another school reached out to me about their health care management program. I decided to apply. After waiting for what felt like years I finally got a response--I had been accepted to the health care management program! It was not where I thought I would be (which seems to be a pattern in my life), but I knew that it was where I was supposed to be.

This morning I officially accepted my admission to Johns Hopkins University sooo....

I'm moving to Baltimore!

I've never been to Baltimore. The extent of my knowledge is limited to the remake of Hairspray with Zac Efron so I'm assuming everyone sings and dances there. I am still getting used to the idea of living in this metropolis but am also very excited. I love how close I will be to DC and have even contemplated living in DC and commuting but have made no final decisions. That's probably just an unrealistic dream, but whatever, I'm going to enjoy it while I can. I also realized that I will probably be moving into my first unfurnished apartment and have subsequently been having IKEA-filled dreams. (Prepare for an onslaught of home decor posts if this is the case). 

Has anyone been to Baltimore? Any advice?

By the way, this was my first thought when I read my acceptance letter:

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This has been one of the most chilled out finals week of my college career. I had one paper that I needed to write and that was it. In the past I have not been so lucky, but I have found some ways to still relax in the midst of it all. 

I am sucker for the 'little things' and I am super girly so naturally my fixes do not take a lot of time and are pretty girly too. Here are just a few ideas if you need a small vacation from finals or just life in general.

Face Mask

I looove face masks. They always leave my skin super soft and feeling refreshed. My favorite is Say Yes to Tomatoes and is available at Target for about $12. 

 

Bubble Bath

I don't know what it is about bubble baths but they just make everything better. I like to use a formula that utilizes aromatherapy elements as well. I am partial to lavandar,eucalyptus, and mint. Bath & Body Works has a great line of aromatherapy products for $13--Stress Relief is my favorite. 

 

Manicure

See, super girly. Getting a manicure, either by me or professionally, does wonders for my mental state. I stick to the 'classic' colors usually: bright reds/pinks and nudes. Every now and then I'll get a French manicure. I found this amazing color by Butter for $15. I also really like OPI, Essie, and NYC Color.

 

Herbal Tea

This past semester I discovered how much I love herbal tea. It warms up my whole body and smells wonderful! The trick to herbal tea is to put a little bit of sugar in before you drop in your tea bag. I feel like it is a little bland without the sugar. Honey is also a great addition. My favorite brand is Twinnings and can be found at most grocery stores. 

 

So there it is: my secret to surviving finals week. All simple and all quick. Any other simple stress relievers? 

I recently wrote about all the books I want to take on my trip to Europe and found that there were way to many to possibly read while I was there since I will mostly be reading on planes and trains (no automobiles). My friend and I were also recently talking about all the books we wanted to read and my list doubled, I swear. Luckily I am going to have a pretty relaxed summer after I get home from Europe so I should have lots of time to cross several off my list.

  • The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
  • Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
  • Les Miserables, Victor Hugo 
  • 1984, George Orwell
  • Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck 
  • Hot, Flat, and Crowded, Thomas Friedman 
  • David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell 
  • Night, Elie Wiesel 
  • Dracula, Bram Stoker
  • 10 Little Indians, Agatha Christie 
  • Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller
  • Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
  • Superfreakonomics, Steven Leavitt & Stephen Dubner 
  • The Book Thief, Markus Zusak  
  • Mere Christianity, CS Lewis 
  • Tender is the Night, F Scott Fitzgerald 
  • The Hobbit, JR Tolkien 

Life comes at you fast doesn't it? At the beginning of this week it felt like I had so much to time finish all those To-Do list items and now I find myself wheezing because of the lack of time. How of my room is packed? Zero. Sometimes I find myself hoping that I'll walk into my room one day and it will have magically packed itself. Remember that scene from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when Harry and Dumbledore visit Slughorn and Dumbledore magics the room back into order? That's what I want to happen to room. 

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That's what I'm talking about. I would like to stay that I have resolved to pack at least one box everyday, but I think everyone involved knows that's not going to happen. So I'll play and continue to wait for Dumbledore and frantically get it all done two days before Jarvis and I head east. 

It's the week I never thought would come: Tomorrow is my last day of classes at BYU and then finals start. By this time of the semester I am usually binging on popcorn and ice cream because I don't have time to cook due to my frantic studying. I assumed this semester would be the same but I happily found that I have zero finals--yeah, you read that right; I have no finals. I have two essays to write but that's it. So instead of stressing about finals I am watching chick flicks and editing pictures. By far the best final week ever. 

I have several long flights and bus rides  during my summer tour of Europe. I love roads; I can spend hours looking out the window as the country rolls by. As my trip inches ever closer though I have started compiling a book list. My mother instilled me with this terrible habit of buying books for every trip. We'll head to a used bookstore, buy an armful, and then leave them in random airports after we've finished them. Smart? I have no idea. Practical? Absolutely.

I'll have limited room so the selection process this time is going to be pretty stringent but here are some expert (aka what I found when I searched "books to take to Europe") suggestions:

Any other suggestions? What have you read on long flights?

Here's a sneak peek from Katie's session!

Remember that camera I got for Christmas? Well I have my first photo session today! My old roommate Katie asked me to do her 'senior' pictures a few weeks ago and today is the day. I could not be more excited. I found this gorgeous orchard and the owners agreed to let me shoot her pictures there. Photos to come :)


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This is Bern. I'm going there. This looks like something straight out of fairytale! I'm not flying in so I won't get this amazing view but I'm ok with that. The itinerary for Switzerland is still pretty fluid. We're going to the temple for sure but that's really the only plan that has been made. The group is going to be right in the Alps so hiking is also a high priority. A friend told that I'm so close to Interlaken that it would be a crime not to go. 

This is Interlaken...I could probably be persuaded to go here. Actually, I really want to go here. Again I reached through my foggy memory and vaguely remember another Samantha Brown segment on this Swiss treasure. I guess I owe my entire itinerary to Ms. Brown. Has anyone ever been to either of these places? What else should be on my list?

Is it kind of weird that when I decided to go on another study abroad one of the highlights was getting a Kennedy Center backpack? I got a backpack for Jerusalem but it wasn't one of the nice Dakine ones that I had coveted since I got onto campus. A backpack is an important part of international travel and I was not going to be robbed again! Having a BYU study abroad backpack is almost a status symbol on campus; it's entrance into a secret club. This year BYU got new ones and they're amazing! They 'sold out' faster than Kate Middleton's engagement dress but I was able to snag one. I love it. It is an obnoxious orange but has a zillion pockets, is made of canvas, and has a leather bottom--all of which are ideal for heavy travel. So watch out, Europe, my backpack and me are coming.

It is official: I have booked a ticket to Prague. The first I heard of Prague was when I was about twelve. I went through this phase where I watched Samantha Brown's Passport to Europe everyday after school. I'd come home, make a sandwich, and settle in for an hour of glorious travel. I only remember bits and pieces from a handful of episodes, but Prague stood out for one reason: Samantha bought a huge strudel for $1.50. I was sold--I had to go there. Now that I am older I still am going to Prague for the strudel. Sure I'll see other places, but the dessert is my first priority.  


I've only recently begun researching Prague because I wasn't sure that I was going. Prague is one Europe's hidden treasures, I think. I only know a handful of travelers who have it on their bucket list, let alone have actually have gone. Prague is beautiful, though! I am so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to go. 

Prague has many of the classic European sites: castles, museums, shopping, etc. I am definitely going to do all of these things, but I am also going to take advantage of some of the unique things that Prague has to offer:

  • John Lennon Wall
  • Prague Jewish Museum
  • Prague Castle
  • St Victus Cathedral
  • Charles Bridge
  • Ghetto Museum
  • Golden Lane

Prague has a wealth of palaces and castles. I only have a few days to spend in Prague and it's going to hard to choose what to see!

Summer is tantalizingly close and I am getting antsy! Aside from the freedom to travel and take spontaneous, I most excited for all the delicious summer foods. (This may be an exaggeration because I am actually most most excited for all the books I am going to read, but I digress.) As I was perusing the internet today I came across this great article full of awesome sandwich recipes that I am going to try this summer!

I was reading another blog this morning when I stumbled on this video about different accents in Britain and Ireland. Just watching it makes me check my countdown to the day I leave! I forget that other countries have just as many different accents as the US does. 

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How amazing is this print? I'm going to need more wall space one day. 

I love General Conference. It is always one of the best weekends of the year and this was no different. There were so many good things that I can't possibly put them all in here. I love this quote from Elder Rasband though. It makes it seem so simple. President Monson also quoted a poem that I loved. It puts things into perspective. 



For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: It might have been!

— John Greenleaf Whittier

Long post here...sorry! I recently had to submit a writing sample with an application. I spent a few days mulling over what I wanted to write about. I eventually decided to write a 'historical fiction' short story about my preparation and flight to Israel three summers ago. So, here's my first short story.


The day had finally come. I felt like I had received my big, white envelope accepting me into the program only a few days ago. In reality, I had been planning this trip for months. My visa was processed, bags were packed, and tickets were purchased. The day had come.

I had never flown out of the country before and my nerves were starting to bubble to the surface. For weeks I had been thinking, “Israel…what am I doing?! I can’t move to the Middle East.” I actively had to push these thoughts out of my mind and remind myself what an amazing adventure lie ahead. Everything was going to be fine. I could do this.

I had woken up that morning at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m. My stomach churning, I ate a breakfast of Cheerios and toast. I did little more than nibble at my breakfast as I tried to ignore my apprehension. After an adequate time pretending to eat, I threw my bags in the back of the SUV, buckled myself in, and began the hour-long trek to the airport. The whole ride was an internal tug-of-war that took the form of  an ‘80s rock song: Should I stay or should I go? The closer the airport came, the more frantic I became.

My aunt and I pulled up to the airport. I knew that decision time had come. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. My passport was not going to remain empty any longer. I timidly walked into the airport lobby and scanned the crowd for more nervous looking college students. I had met a handful of my fellow travelers the day before at our orientation meeting, but the odds of me remembering any of them under my current duress were minimal. I must have had a look of terror on my face because they recognized me before I found them. Introductions were made, goodbyes were said, and bags were checked.

After going through security, our travel group congregated outside our gate and began the long wait. We had arrived several hours prior to departure to account for any security issues that may arise. We began getting to know each other and shared our nerves. I was relieved to hear that I was not the only one nervous about the idea of living in Israel for the summer. The time came and we boarded our flight to Phoenix. This flight and the next to Philadelphia passed without issue. The hours were filled with more mental preparation and the beginnings of spoken excitement. 

The gravity of my decision did not become real until it was time to board the flight to Tel Aviv. We landed in Philadelphia and checked the boards for our departing gate. Unsurprisingly, our gate was on the opposite side of the airport in a remote terminal. Thinking that I was just going to wait at another gate, my companions and I grabbed dinner and strolled through the airport. When we finally arrived at our gate I was surprised to see another set of security barriers, my first brush with Israel. After what felt like an abnormally long time, our group passed through the stringent security. Seeing this unsuspected security checkpoint made my nerves hit their strained peak. Why was more security needed? Was it really that dangerous? Was it too late to turn around? My Cheerios would still be waiting, right?

I entertained these thoughts until our flight was called; I was about to pass the point of no return. For the second time that day, I inhaled deeply, handed over my boarding pass, and walked down the boardwalk.

As I settled in for the 12-hour flight, I looked around at my fellow passengers. There were old Muslim businessmen returning from a deal in the States, young Israeli children flying home from a field trip, and a smattering of  Jewish college students taking advantage of their birthright trips. It was an odd collection of people, and I was beginning to understand just how diverse my end destination was. My happy farewell to my anxiety came to an abrupt halt when the door closed and we pulled away from the gate. I was committed and there was no going back.

At some point during the flight I fell into a light sleep. The hours drug on, interrupted by the occasional school child being scolded by their chaperone. I had come to a fragile peace with my decision when the captain announced that it was time to prepare for final landing. Any sense of peace and acceptance I had been feeling in the previous moments evaporated. I had spent the whole flight worrying about my fear and anxiety of living in Israel that I could not remember what I was supposed to do at the airport. Our director had gone through a laundry list of do’s and don’ts that ranged from passport control to baggage claim, and I couldn’t remember anything. Reaching through the fog of the last thirty-six hours I remembered a shred of instruction: follow the green dot. What was the green dot? I couldn’t tell you, but I knew I was supposed to go through the door with a green dot and none of the others.

The plane touched down in the afternoon sun and pulled up to the gate. It took me thirty minutes to deplane and find the other members of my travel group. We looked around the airport for the green dot, which was nowhere to be found. Knowing that we would eventually need our bags, we started toward baggage claim. When I thought I was in the clear, we came to passport control. Panic set in as I remembered that I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. Was I supposed to say that I was a student or just a tourist? I knew one of them was definitely wrong, but which one? The line in front of me was getting shorter by the minute and the answer was not anywhere closer.

“Next.”

I stepped up to the window, smiled timidly, and handed over my passport. The official asked me what the nature of my visit to Israel was. My mind went into a sort of frenzy: it was time to choose. Student or tourist?

“I’m touring the country for a few months. I’m just seeing the sites.”

She gave me a once-over, stamped my passport, and told me to enjoy my stay. A wave of relief spread over me. I had chosen correctly. I once again met with my travel group on the other side and headed for baggage claim. We walked through large grey doors and found ourselves in a massive room with ten baggage carousels. I took in my surroundings and looked to opposite wall and there it was: the green dot, our salvation.

We waited for bags to appear and then pulled them off the carousel. We made sure everyone was accounted for and walked towards the green dot. As we passed through, we found our professors waiting for us, just as our director had specified. We had made it. I was finally in Israel. Everything had gone smoothly. The day had finally come. 

I try to read the news at least once a day. I'm partial to the BBC but I'm not picky. It probably has more to do with my love for the UK than anything else to be honest. I also read tons and tons of blogs. If there was a degree for blog stalking I would have a PhD. It's kind of a problem. I've found so great articles in the past fews and just wanted to share some. The content is pretty diverse, but this is a situation where it's ok to pick-and-choose. Enjoy!

 

Interesting article by OneRepublic singer/songwriter about writing songs

This entire blog is so inspiring, plus she posted her and her husband's love letters

Jeopardy's turning 30 and they broke down the most popular categories so we should all start stuyding

Great interview with zoologist Jane Goodall

Article on the Eiffel Tower

This blog with lots of how-to's, travel tips, and other random goodness

So, this is happening :) More on where this is later! 

Hint: Can you say fjord? 

This semester I'm taking a watercolor class. I love art and took all the studio classes I could but couldn't seem to find the time at BYU until this semester. Watercolor has always been the medium that I struggle with the most so I wanted to challenge myself. 

I'm getting ready to do my final project. All the students were tasked with creating a project that would stretch them and that they would find difficult. I struggle with two things (at least): mixing colors and time management (maybe?). It takes me a long time to finish one painting so I want to try to finish two or three. I've decided to do a series of stained glass windows. They have very vivid colors so this should be a good challenge. Here are the ones I think I'm going to do:



When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

— Samuel Johnson

London, London, London. Home to royalty, castles, and high fashion. It's everything a girl could want. London is the most anticipated city on my itinerary. I have dreamed of the day when I finally visit this city of dreams. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I don't believe that I am actually going to be there. 

Planning for London has been a bit overwhelming. There's so much to do and see that I don't even know where to begin. Plus I've romanticized it so much that sometimes I think I'll get there and some handsome young man named Rupert or something will show up and give me a personal tour of the city. But we can't all be Mary-kate and Ashley (Winning London, anyone?) It's just all too much.

London is full of amazing museums like the British Museum with treasures from all over the world, the National Gallery with the British monarchy's official portraits, the National History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and those are just the first four listed on most sites! I can't possibly see all of those in few short days that I will be there. The name of the game is definitely going to be prioritizing. 

Aside from the museums there's all the shopping that London has to offer! Let's be honest, this is going to be the mostly likely way that I'll run into Kate Middleton, my fashion icon. Not that I'll be able to afford anything but a girl can dream. Harrod's has a beautiful tribute to Princess Diana so I'll definitely be stopping there. London is also home to tons and tons of flea and flower markets (Camden and Borough are highly recommended).  

The plus of going to London during high season is that all of the palaces will be open for tours. How can you go to London and not see Buckingham Palace? I will not, however, be one of those obnoxious tourists who tries to get the Queen's guards to smile, but I will definitely be scheduling a tour of her house. Thanks, Your Majesty. Kensington Palace will also be open. I want to tour the gardens--I've heard they're beautiful. I've also already looked up if they serve tea (herbal, of course) and they do, so that's happening! London is going to be dream! Maybe I'll even run into Eddie Redmayne...

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