100th Anniversary Weekend

I'm so sorry that I haven't been blogging recently! I've been so busy with school and family stuff that I haven't had time too. So anyway this past weekend I went to a party for the Croatian Church's 100th Anniversary. The pictures pretty much sum up all the fun I had!

This was me being goofy with one of my best friends. We performed Croatian Kolo (traditional folk dancing) for the special occasion.

Performing Kolo.

I'm taking pictures with some of the girls i'm friends with.

I'm doing a basket weave with some of my friends.

Taking a picture with one of my best friends!

I love the way the light fixture looks in this picture! Again, another great friend of mine.

So yeah, that pretty much sums up my weekend. Hanging out with all my Croatian friends, going to a Croatian party, and having lots of fun!

I got my dress from the Juniors section at Macy's and I couldn't find it online in case you guys were wondering. The brand is Bar III. My necklace is also from Macy's.

My favorite songs right now:

Story of My Life by One Direction

Adore You by Miley Cyrus

*I'd like to thank both Kristina's because I took some of there photos for this post, thanks guys!

Quaker Instant Oatmeal

As a blogger it's my job to let people know what I do and do not like. Judging from the title you can probably guess what I'm talking about today... Yup, OATMEAL!

I LOVE OATMEAL!!!!!!!

I swear, sometimes I think I resemble my grandparents. I have a bowl of oatmeal a day.. Yea...

In my defense oatmeal is really good for you and it's also extremely tasty, so don't you dare mess with my oatmeal!

I love the Quaker Instant Oatmeal because it's easy to make and you can just stick it in the microwave and be done with it. You could also make it over a stovetop if you would rather do that. Quaker Instant Oatmeal also has really good flavors and I love all of them! (Once you get started you get addicted- beware, the oatmeal craze is approaching.)

I'm going to show you how to make Oatmeal in the microwave:

1. Grab a package of Oatmeal and pour the contents in a bowl big enough so that it can boil inside the microwave.

2. Pour 2/3 cup of water in the bowl and stir the mixture.

It may not look pretty now but wait and see!

3. Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes.

4. Let it cool for about 2-3 minutes so that the water all evaporates and then eat the healthiest and tastiest thing ever!

Okay it still doesn't look pretty but since when did looks matter right?! It's what's on the inside that counts. *Say that last line with a look of tearing up and clutching your heart.*

Oatmeal is such a great snack when you get home and it fills you up enough until dinner comes around. I love how it's great for you too!

Yea, I didn't have a hard time finishing my food- I eat this stuff like candy. Seriously- what's wrong with me, who's ever heard of a high schooler who loves oatmeal?!

If you are looking at this blog post with an "Ew that's, disgusting" face, don't judge it before you try it-you never know until you try something :)

Eat, Sleep, Love Oatmeal <3

Sweaters

It's that time of year again when the leaves fall and you start to wear sweaters to school/work and all that good stuff. I thought that I would share some of my favorite sweaters. I love sweaters personally. I basically live in them throughout the fall and winter months. They are just so cozy and stylish at the same time.

In advance I would like to thank Jessica C. for generously giving me most of the sweaters I have shown here on this post.

I would also like to say that since I have been given these sweaters I do not know where you could buy them so use these as examples for some that you can maybe find or buy somewhere.

1. This sweater is gorgeous- it's the perfect cozy fuzzy sweater and perfect for the fall/winter months.

2. I love this sweater because it has stripes on it. I got this at target a few years ago and it's just a go to sweater that's comfortable.

3. I love this sweater! It's so bright and colorful and it adds a nice colorful touch to otherwise dark colors that you would normally see in the fall. I got this sweater from GAP.

4. This sweater is another great sweater for the winter and I love the color on this one since it looks flattering with my eye color (which is blue.)

5. I love how this sweater is sparkly and fun and has a bit of sheer on the back of it. It's not the warmest sweater and definitely more of a fashion statement but I still love it.

6. This is one of the most comfortable sweaters I own! It's oversized and I think that's why I love it so much. I love the way it falls on me and it just gives off a really relaxed look.

7. Another gorgeous sweater! I love the stripes and color. Again- it brightens things up a bit in the sea of brown and dark fall/winter colors.

8. I think the collar on this sweater is just so unique and just adds a bit of coolness to the sweater.

9. Another sweater I would wear to a fancier occasion, the sparkly collar totally umps up a look.

I hope you guys enjoyed the sweater post today! Let me know if you enjoyed it or if you have constructive criticism on how I should run my blog.

I am thinking about doing a mini guide on what to wear for the holidays once it comes a little closer so let me know if you would be interested in something like that.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

There are no words to describe this cake..

It is the best thing that will have ever happened to you and that's still an understatement!

This is my absolute favorite cake of all time! I was even contemplating whether or not I should share the recipe. But I would hate to deprive someone of the goodness though so here goes:

You Will Need:

1. 1 1/2 cups of sugar
2. 1 cup of vegetable oil
3. 3 eggs
4. 2 cups of all-purpose flour
5. 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
6. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 1 teaspoon of vanilla
8. 1/2 teaspoon of salt
9. 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
10. 3 cups of shredded carrots (judge by how it looks, you don't want it to be too carroty either- use at least 2 cups.)

*This version of the recipe does not contain nuts as I don't really like nuts in my cakes- sorry!*

Also Note: I made a double batch so don't be surprised when it looks like I used to much of something.

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 13x9x2 pan. (If doing a double batch- find a bigger one!)

2. Shred your carrots- make sure you clean the skin of the carrots before shredding them.

3. In a large bowl mix together the sugar, oil, and eggs. Mix it until it looks like this:

I accidentally got some carrots it, if you were wondering what that orange thing was.

4. Stir in the remaining ingredients except for the carrots.

5. Stir in the carrots until it looks well blended.

6. Put it in the oven for about 35-45 mins. Make sure you check up on it frequently by sticking a toothpick down the middle. If the toothpick comes out dry it's ready. If it doesn't, it's not.

7. Once the cake comes out of the oven let it cool for about half an hour. Then start to make the cream cheese frosting.

*The cream cheese frosting is optional- however, carrot cake needs and deserves something on top of it so if you choose not to go with cream cheese frosting put some powdered sugar on top of it.*

Cream Cheese Frosting

*I find that for a single batch this is too much cream cheese frosting and not in a good way, so cut the recipe in half if you are planning on making a single batch or leave it the same if you are making a double.*

You Will Need:

1. 1 package or 8oz. of cream cheese
2. 1 tablespoon milk
3. 1 teaspoon of vanilla
4. 4 cups of powdered sugar

1. Mix everything together in a medium sized bowl using one of those small electronic mixers I have shown below.

2. Pour over your cake and then stick the cake in the fridge until you are ready to serve it!

Hope you guys love this recipe as much as I do! Just look at how pretty and appetizing it looks!

*Both of these recipe's are Betty Crocker's and the book I got the recipe from was the 40th Anniversary Edition.*

Standardized Test Prep

So tomorrow I'm taking the PSATs and I'm getting a little anxious, (which I tend to do) so I decided that to help reduce my stress levels I would blog some tips that will help keep you (and me!) calm for any standardized test that comes your way!

1. You have to get a good nights sleep. To do well you need to be well rested- try and go for 8 or 9 hrs at least.

I know that this is where the anxiety comes in but try and listen to music, write in your anxiety notebook, read a book, drink hot chocolate before going to bed, or just hug a stuffed animal! Stay calm, you're going to be okay!

2. Eat a healthy breakfast in the morning before your test.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day right! I'm not a breakfast person, usually I just run out the door with a granola bar in my hand. On test day however, give yourself some time to eat a real breakfast. Maybe I'll even make something I had for dinner a couple of days ago..

3. Arrive on time to the testing center.

You need to give yourself time to mentally prepare yourself for what's coming up. Rushing in the door a minute before the test starts will stress you out- not what you need before the test. Just go to your testing room, pull out everything you need. Sharpen your pencils, etc. Then listen to some music or read a book and just relax.

4. Test time

When the instructor hands out the test make sure you listen to the directions being given. Focus and try your best. Remember that if you don't know the answer to a question skip it and come back to it later. (Don't guess either, if you leave it blank no points are taken away, but if you get it wrong 1/4 of a point will be taken away.) Answer the questions you know first so that you get those right. Then, when you have extra time, go back and try to work out the problems you didn't know.

5. Good Luck! I hope this helps for those of you taking the PSATs tomorrow. The same suggestions above apply for any type of standardized test you may be taking. Just remember not to freak out- it's the practice SAT, do your best and when you get your results work on the material you need to get better for the actual test.

*None of these pictures are mine- they were all taken off of Google Images*

Summer- Croatia 2013

I realized that I never shared what I did over the summer!

This summer I traveled to Croatia which is in Europe across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. I am Croatian as I may have mentioned just a couple times before... Okay maybe lots of times before but yeah. I went to Croatia and visited lots of family and friends which was great!

I also got to practice speaking my Croatian which has become a bit rough over the years.

My family stayed at my grandparents house for four out of the five weeks we were there. They live in Zadar, right on the coast. It's so beautiful and the best part is, everyday is a beach day!

Going to the beach in Croatia is a lot like the beach in New Jersey. Only, in Zadar the beaches have rocks rather than sand, they don't have lifeguards, and they sell corn on the cob, ice-cream, and doughnuts at the beaches.

People also love to tan, play cards, read books, socialize, and play water games at the beach much as they do on the Jersey Shore.

The most common thing to do is play some games, read, etc. and when you get hot you run into the water (which you can now do since you've gotton so used to walking on the rocks at this point.)

Isn't that sunset just beautiful?!

I miss going for walks at night with my family!

One of my grandmother's gorgeous roses

One of the best pudding cups in the world!

Me with my grandparents

Oh yeah, I also learned how to drive (stick shift/manual!) in the parking lot of a croatian supermarket!

We didn't spend the whole time on the coast though. We also went and visited family in various other parts of Croatia for a week. It was so pretty, the scenery is just gorgeous so the car rides really don't even seem that bad when you listen to music and just stare out the window.

Just look at the view!

The food is ten times better there than it is here, the people are friendlier, it's a much more relaxed vibe, and has an overall really family feel and sense of welcoming which is always really nice, especially when you're so far from home.

Croatia is such a carefree place- I would highly recommend a trip with your family. Zadar has the perfect family atmosphere and there are so many cools things to see and places to go visit. The history is so rich and interesting too. It's a great cultural experience and a chance to visit a small country that many people haven't heard of before.

I never get sick of going to Croatia and I have new adventures every time I go which makes telling people about your vacation so much more interesting!

Exercise- Induced Asthma

About a year ago I found out that I had exercise- induced asthma during pre-season of soccer. It's one of the worst feelings in the whole world.

I just remember not being able to breathe or get any oxygen into my lungs. It honestly makes you feel like you are about to die. I was so terrified that I started to cry and that made things 10 times worse.

If you feel like that ever while exercising, don't push through it. It's really serious, especially if you can't get oxygen into your lungs. Then it really could become harmful to you.

A trick I learned from my athletic trainer before I got my inhaler was to try breathing through my nose and out through my mouth whenever I started to wheeze. (Don't think you can get away without an inhaler, when you have a serious asthma attack you are going to need it!) It helps a ton and calms you down. You also start to get air into your lungs again although it may take a while until you feel better and even longer to get over the shock that you had an asthma attack.

*Don't continue exercising after an asthma attack that day! You need to get your lungs to relax and exercising again isn't going to help that.*

If this happens more than once go to the doctor!! I can't stress this enough, don't try and avoid it because I did and I started wheezing every time I would go running. Not being able to play on the field since you haven't gone to doctor yet and got yourself an inhaler since you were too stubborn isn't fun either.

*Make sure when you get an inhaler that you also get a spacer. It helps bring the medicine to your lungs because you are not supposed to taste the medicine- you want it to go to your lungs, not your tongue.*

Also, when you get your inhaler use it! It's not there for decoration. Again, I didn't use my inhaler about 3 weeks ago since I thought for some reason this time I wouldn't wheeze and then I ended up having a full out asthma attack which really freaked me out so I started using it again BEFORE practice- not when I got the asthma attack.

Exercise- Induced Asthma definitely got worse for me since I would continuously not use my inhaler when I first got it. Some things are okay to fight through but if you seriously cannot breathe stop what you are doing! Don't put yourself through it.

Now I have to use it anytime I'm doing any sort of running or activity that makes you pant or breathe heavily.

I just thought I'd share that with you since I don't want any of you to make the same mistakes. Please, if a doctor gives you an inhaler, use it!

Breakfast for Dinner

Breakfast foods are my absolute favorite. So tonight I had breakfast for dinner.

We made eggs with steak. It's the best dish ever, the eggs are your breakfast and the added steak make it dinner!

To make yours you'll need: (For 3 hungry people)
1. 6 eggs
2. 1 tablespoon of butter
3. half a steak
4. A large pan

1. Cut up the steak in nice small pieces and scramble your eggs.

2. Put a pan out on the stove. Raise the heat to medium and put your butter on it.

3. After your butter has melted swirl it all over the pan and put your steak on.

4. Make sure your steak is nice and cooked and then pour your scrambled eggs into the mix.

5. Once your eggs are as cooked as you'd like them to be your done!

Voila- Breakfast for Dinner!