DECISIONS=STRESS

Which one should I pick???????????

I really want a new computer. If I go that route, do I get a PC or invest in a Mac? But then do I really need a new computer? I also want to go back to school for another Masters. Do I save my money for that? But won't I need a reliable computer for school? And then, I really want to take a vacation because thinking about these decisions: computer or no computer, school or no school, school and computer is stressing me out!

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LEMON-CREAM CHEESE CUPCAKES

DELCIOUS! Well, that's what I hear. I haven't tasted them due to some restrictions this week. I needed to bake something for the office, but didn't want to bake the "usuals." So, I went to Kraftfoods.com and found this incredible recipe!!!!! The best part of it...It's super cheap and you get to frost the cupcakes! I love frosting cupcakes! Enjoy! :)

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 1 hr 34 min
Makes: 24 servings, 1 cupcake each

What You Need:
1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding
1 cup water
4 egg 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

Make It:
HEAT oven to 350ºF. Beat cake mix, pudding mix, water, egg whites and oil in large bowl with 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 to 24 min. or until 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 mixer on low speed until well blended. Frost cupcakes.

Kraft Kitchens Tips:
Substitute: Prepare as directed, using PHILADELPHIA 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese.
Special Extra: Stir 1 tsp. lemon zest into frosting mixture.

PURE GENIUS.

I've been looking at different things on YouTube for work regarding North Korea and I found the clip below by Hanvoice. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Whoever came up with it is a PURE GENIUS!!!! I still get goosebumps everytime I watch this. So amazing!!!!!!

Plus, this is why I am doing what I can and able to do to raise awareness about the situation in North Korea. For more information about North Korea and how you can help/do, please visit:

Open Doors USA's website::www.opendoorsusa.org and

Open Doors Blog:: www.spiritualcourage.wordpress.com.

I'M THINKING ABOUT...

Getting BLUE contacts. Yes or no?

A QUOTE.

"The real measure of our lives will not be all the things we obtain or all the goals we achieve or all the successes we acquire. Real success will be the relationships we have built the lives we have touched the people we have loved and who have loved us and invested in us."

Wide Awake, pg. 230

PUBLISHED. CHECK.

So...I wrote a book review for Open Doors USA's blog. It's about North Korea. Of course, my friend Ange had to edit it for me so that I actually sound good. :) You should read it and then order the book HERE or Amazon.com. After you read it, you should really recommend it to someone. :)

Anyway, I've never had anything published. Although one of my grad professor did tell me that my paper on the Dutch family structure for my anthropolgy class should be published in an Anthropology magazine. (Because so many people read that!) Of course, she said it again when I used the same paper for her other Anthropology class. (Don't worry, she gave me permission to use it and I had to add more to it.)

Enjoy!!!!!

:(

I'm not a HUGE baseball fan, but I like going to games though. Anyway...this is a very sad day for Angels fans. :( Read it HERE to find out why. He was only 22 years old.

And this ARTICLE makes me sad, angry and sick to my stomach all at the same time. The part that gets me is:

"Witnesses told police that the victim was fighting with a man when another man came from behind and punched his head, causing him to fall and hit his head on the concrete step. The two assailants ran away before security and police arrived, Martinez said."

I don't care who started the fight and who was in the wrong, but I hope that the cops catches the two *boys (I wanted to use another term, but thought that I should stay PG on my blog. :)) and punish them to no end. I would've have more grace if they actually fessed up, but since they didn't and chose to run away instead, I really don't care what happens to them when they are captured. They just better not plead NOT guilty and walk away with a ton of money due to emotional damages or something. Just like those who pleads NOT guilty in rape cases or murderers who does it as well. Yeah...I'm sorry...they knew exactly what they were doing. If you can't tell already...INJUSTICES gets to me EVERY SINGLE TIME! :)

Hmmmmmm...I am summoned for Jury Duty in May....maybe it'll be their case. Watch out boys. I'm not even going to hear or pay attention to your plea. If I'm picked to be on your case, you are automatically guilty. Enjoy! :)

CAFFEINE + CHURCH

Caffeine: Today I had a lot of caffeine. A LOT. I had a cup of Starbuck's coffee because I was desperate and it's the only thing we have at the office. So, I made a cup, added some water and sugar and downed it. Then, I decided to go to Peet's and get a soy latte. I ordered a small cup and it had 2 shots of espresso. Then, I had a virgin Margarita that contains a bunch of sugar, ate candies and cookies and now I'm very jittering. I feel like my heard is beating fast and it's about to pop out. I've never had this much sugar in my life in ONE setting!

Church: A few days ago I posted a blog about church. I just want to clarify one thing...I'm not quitting church or God. I'm just simply questioning it to kind of help me make sure that my motives are right. I also posted the status on my Facebook and Twitter account. To my surprise, I had people texting, emailing, CALLING me to check if I was ok. I just want to say that I AM OK. :) Really. I'm not trying to cover it up or anything. I simply wanted to hear what others had to say. So, once again... I AM OK. I am not drifting away from God or my beliefs. I'm just taking a little break from my "usual routine" to experience other way of "church."

THIS IS WHY I DROPPED OUT...

I read an article this morning about becoming a billionaire. I knew I was doing the right thing when I dropped out of school last month! So, now I'm just waiting for the money to start rolling in!!!! Click HERE to read the article. Enjoy!!!!!

WHAT IS CHURCH?

I've been battling with the definition/meaning of church recently. It has been a mind battle for me. I feel guilty when I don't go to "church" on Sunday mornings and when I do go to "church" I feel like it's more out of force and make sure that I make it so that people can see that I was there. Going to "church" has been feeling more and more like a roll call in class for me. If people see me there, I wouldn't get questioned. If they don't see me there, I can expect a few texts in the days following asking where I was. Granted, they care about me, but at the same time I hate the feeling that I have to go to "church" just so that I won't get questioned. And when my answer is simply "I didn't feel like going" and/or "I wanted to spend time with God...alone," I get this appalled look as if I just committed a crime or something.

I don't believe that "church" is about Sunday mornings. I don't believe that "church" is a building. I don't believe that guilt should be associated with "church." I don't believe that I need to give an excuse to why I'm not at "church." I don't believe that I need to attend "church" in order to earn brownie points with God.

I do believe that CHURCH happens every day and in every and any settings. I'm still learning...

What are your thoughts????

MY FUN FUND!

If you would like to contribute to my fun fund, please feel free to do so! :) Thanks so much friends!!!!!!

MY INBOX.

Look what came through to my inbox today. MEET ATTRACITVE ASIAN SINGLES NEAR ME!!!!! Ummmmmmmm.....Ok. Hmmmmmmmm......how did they fine me??????????????????

I'M ADDICTED...

Thank you Pepperidge Farm for creating such delicious fishy crackers! AND...thank you Kimmie for introducing them to me in college. I remember the Costco sized box that was ALWAYS full for 4 years. :)

I love you little chedder, baked fishy crackers! You are so good in my tummy!!!!!!!!! :)

I'M OFFICIALLY...

A drop out! Yay! I've never dropped out of school in my life, but I did it. On Sunday, 3/15, I was sitting on the couch studying for my Biology exam and I was like "I don't want to do this anymore." So, last week I went online and dropped my class. I haven't felt this free and released in awhile! It's such a great feeling! So, yay!!!!!!! I'm offficially a drop out. I couldn't be any happier. I thought I would regret it, but I haven't felt any regrets at all and every day I'm getting happier and happier. It's such a strange thing.

THIS WEEK SO FAR...

Lately, I've been really passionate about being an advocate for North Koreans. I just finished reading Escape from North Korea and on Monday night I'll be going to see the "Crossing" at Biola. Please see the following preview.


Crossing - Trailer from LiNK Global on Vimeo.

Please pass this trailer along to your family and friends!

To see a screening of this movie, please go to http://www.linkglobal.org/ to find out if there's a showing at a place near you or request one! This link also shows how you can be involve and support the cause.

As a wise friend and I have said this more than once: We MUST be the voice to the voiceless. I can no longer be ignorant about this anymore. So, will you please join me in spreading the word? The least we can do on our part is to become aware of the situation and to pray.

After participating in various events focusing on North Korea the last 2 years and reading the book, I am so GRATEFUL for the life I have here. I have it easy. None of my problems (big or small) can ever compare with the struggles North Koreans faces every day.

A SIMPLE WAY TO HELP SEND A BIBLE!

To learn more about this simple action, please click on the picture above. This is definitely something your whole family can do! Also, please pass this on to all your friends! Thank you!

PROCRASTINATION.

I'm procrastinating. Yeah!!!!!!!!! Just like the old days. Brandy locked up in her room WORKING on homework. Kimmie taking a nap. Me...procrastinating and trying to find others to procrastinate with me except I'm home and there's no one to procrastinate with. :(

So, here's a recap of my week...

1. Had dinner with the Reeves. Love you guys so much!!!

2. Went from a high to low within seconds, but ended the week a little bit above the middle. I've never realized how evil people can be, especially Christians. It really made me re-check my heart, motives, actions and words.

3. I am starting to like and embrace other Asians. I'm not so turned off by them anymore. I even went to a Korean market and a Tofu House for dinner. No stares this time, which is nice.

4. Just because I'm more open embracing those of my own kind, I am no where near attracted to Asian men at all beyond friendship. I just want to clear the air before rumors get started and people starts to ask me questions. I've had a few already. So, unless the Asian boy looks like a TALL, BLONDE guy, then the answer is still no. :)

4. I love living in a big house. There's a living room with 3 full couches and a very cozy love seat. We all have a spot that's our own in the room to spread out with our laptops and papers. It's great!

5. I've decided for the next 3 months, I'm taking a break from church and its duties. I'll still be going to church, just sneaking in and out. I'll miss playing with the kids too! :( It's just for a couple of months.

6. I've decided that I need to live on a budget. This kinds of scares me. I haven't decided how I should approach this subject. So, if you are an EXPERT in this area, please HELP ME!!!!! I know a few of you are really good with your money, so please pass on your advice!!! :)

7. I'm getting back on track with working out. It's been almost a year. :) It's time. I've exercised 3 times this week! That's a good start right?

8. I want to start my own news station and only report good and happy things. All the stuff that's on the news now just makes people depressed and scared. It's just retarded.

9. The thought of moving up to Redding, CA makes me happy. Don't know when that's going to happen, but when it does happen, it will be a glorious day!

10. I am missing my friends, near and far. :(

5 WAYS TO MISERY.

My friend Gina showed me this video and I LOVED IT!!!!! Hope you'll get a good laugh from it like I did. :) Enjoy!!!

AND I WANT TO LIVE HERE...

Interesting articles on the web today. I've already posted one earlier this morning. You can click HERE to read it. Here are two more articles. One talks about the HAPPIEST PLACES (Disneyland isn't even on the list!) to live in the States and the other one about a CAVE HOME. Now if I can just move the cave home to one of the happiest place, like Hawaii, I think I would be quite happy. :)

WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN A CAVE HOME IN HAWAII????

PROBABLY WILL NEVER BE ONE OF THESE...

Here's an ARTICLE that I read/skimmed through this morning. I don't think I will EVER become one of "those" people. They've taken being cheap to a whole new level! I don't have a problem with being cheap, but when it's this extreme, it's just not worth it to me. We'll see as the recession continues. :)

What do you think???????