oldies but goodies

I'm missing some friends and a boyfriend today, so I thought I'd reminisce a little bit and show you all some of my favorite ever pictures.

Celebrating w/ S & J the end of the awful MCAT. Also pictured: the traveling dress (on Sara).

My first summer in Michigan at the Sleeping Bear Dunes (recently voted most beautiful place in America by GMA, or the Today show... I can't remember which).

Happy Birthday to someone..I can't remember who, and it was likely not important. What is important is that this was my first of many trip to Addison's.

The Roots n Blues n BBQ Festival (coincidence alert: wore this shirt today).

Nerding out in our Team Twilight shirts.

Celebrating Sara's acceptance to med school!

Happy New Years from Harpos!

Finally done with school and still in love, 8 semesters later.

Happy Grads!

Back in Michigan!

Reunited for the Roots n Blues n BBQ festival once again.

Reunited again for S's birthday...and the last time I saw her. Since January. Sad Christmas.

Before Jake's musical.

pinterest palette

I tried really hard to find alliteration for pinterest with a food term, so my lame attempt with palette is as close as we're getting, people.


We've been trying out some pinterest recipes up here in the molly's musing household. Here they are:

Buffalo Chicken Mac n Cheese {from noblepig.com}

This was a good one. My family ate half of the pan in one sitting (and it made a big pan!). My mom was actually the one who made this, because I have been getting back into school mode and had a lot of homework the night we made it. I definitely enjoyed it though! I would recommend it if you like any buffalo chicken recipes.

Oreo Crumb Cupcakes {from yourcupofcake.com}

These cupcakes were the bane of my existence. First of all, they are semi-homemade, but they still toke me forEVER to make! The cake part turned out pretty good, but I think there is a typo in the instructions for the icing. I used 3 cups of powdered sugar to make it, but I think you actually need 2.5-3 pounds. I know that sounds weird, but my mom and I made icing from scratch other day and that's about how much we used for that icing. This icing turned out really liquidy and looked like it's melting off the cupcake. I took a picture, but I'm afraid to post it because you WILL laugh at it.

Buffalo Chicken Wraps {from Can You Stay for Dinner?}

Have you noticed a theme in our family's tastes? Yes, another buffalo chicken recipes. These were delish as well, and the best part about them, is they are only about 100 calories per wrap! And they're baked! And crunchy! And delicious! I recommend these if you have any affinity at all for buffalo dip :).

*All pictures on this blog are from the various blogs I found the recipes on. Their awesome photography is just that, theirs. Not mine.*

movie (and book!) review

As you all may know, I had a wonderful 12 day break from school not to long ago. I did go to St. Louis for the majority of it to hang out with my main squeeze, but we didn't do much other than just relax and hang out (which was absolutely perfect and exactly what I wanted to do).

Moving right along, I have been flying through books lately. In fact, I read 4 books in the last 2 and a half weeks, which is more than I can say of myself for the last year. It's a total disgrace. I love LOVE reading, I just haven't had the time. It's a shame.

So here they are. It's not as much of a review as it is a I loved all of these books go read them list.

First up, East of Eden by John Steinbeck. The story of two families interwoven throughout several generations, Steinbeck wrote this book to describe the Salinas Valley in California for his children. It's amazing. Go read it now.

Second, Look Me in the Eye By John Elder Robison. This is a memoir written by a gentleman who was not diagnosed with Asperger's until he was in his 40s. He knew growing up that he was different, but he didn't realize that his differences were an actual medical diagnosis or that there were other people like him in the world. Each chapter is a unique story about his experiences growing up. Also a great read (especially for the majority of the people who read this blog), although I will admit I got frustrated because he tends to jump around in his life a bit, which made it lack continuity for me. He's a great story teller though, and you will definitely be engaged. I own this if anyone wants to borrow it! Side note: His brother wrote Running with Scissors which is also on me "To Read" list.

Up next: Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley is a novel about a Manhattan lawyer who thinks she has everything she wants: a great boyfriend, a loving family, a job that she dislikes but will make her a lot of money, and a great NYC apartment...that is, until said boyfriend proposes. Chick lit at its finest...this book kept me up until 1 am one night because I wanted to know what she decides to do with her life. I'm not saying it's going to win a Pulitzer, but it is a fun, easy read that you could read over a few weeks if you're really busy.

Finally, I just finished Marley & Me by John Grogan this morning. Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you have seen this movie (or are resisting for unknown stupid reasons), and the book is shockingly similar to the movie. In fact, so similar, I don't know which I liked better...which is rare for me. The movie definitely didn't exaggerate Marley's crazy behavior. Also, unless you don't mind people seeing you cry, read this alone. You have been warned.

Finally, my movie review. Basically, I hated this movie. I was bored, and if I hadn't been watching it with a friend, I would have turned it off and not finished it. That's all you're getting out of me, because I don't want to spend any more of my time talking about it ;).

What have YOU been reading and watching lately?

whippy cake

Okay everyone knows I've recently become obsessed with Pinterest, no big surprise there (Cortney, still waiting for you to joinnn). I do think one of the benefits to this lovely gem of a website is that it has made me step my game up as far as my fashion goes! Anyway, one of my favorite accessories are these super adorable hair..barrettes? bows? Not really a great word to describe them other than cake.

From the Fair Fare Collection

From the Liberty Belle Collection

From the Petit Fleur Collection

Seriously adorable right?? I didn't think I would be able to pull it off, but I totally can and so can everyone else I've seen wearing them!

So why am I blogging about Whippy Cake? Because they are having an AWESOME giveaway this week! Just click on this link and go there to learn more! Seriously. It's amazing. Check it out!

movie review

Remember a few blog posts ago when I said there were about 40 movies in theaters that I wanted to see? Well okay, not 40, and I didn't see all of them, but I did see two of them so I thought I'd pass along my thoughts.

First up was Crazy, Stupid, Love. I LOVED this movie (like 4/4 stars, 10/10, buy it as soon as it's out on blu-ray loved it). Not a huge surprise because it has a bunch of my favorites (Emma Stone, Steve Carell) and a really, really, really attractive man (here's lookin at you, Ryan Gosling), but then again so did the movie Valentine's Day and it sucked.

Without spoiling anything, Crazy, Stupid, Love is about a man who has recently found out his wife of 25+ years has been cheating on him with another man. Although heartbroken, he takes a young womanizer up on his offer to reinvent himself and dive back into the dating pool. It is definitely laugh out loud hilarious (not only speaking for myself here, but for the really loud guy next to me who wouldn't shut up), has some moments that will tug at your heartstrings, and makes you feel good in the end. Also, it's worth $10 just to sit there and watch Ryan Gosling with his shirt off.

Next on the list was 30 Minutes or Less. I didn't like this movie quite as much as I loved Crazy, Stupid, Love, but it was pretty funny. It also had a few of my favs (Jesse Eisenberg, adore him, and Aziz Ansari, SO FUNNY). Sam and I went and saw it while  I was in St. Louis this past week.

Review in a hurry: A lazy pizza delivery stoner gets hoodwinked by two even lazier morons into robbing a bank so that one of them can hire a hitman to kill his father. Highjinx ensue. It's funny, but probably a renter.  I would probably give it 3 out of 4 stars. Maybe 2 1/2.

happiness is...

Seeing great friends (who can be found here and here) for a delicious dinner.. sorry my iPhone washes people out. Can't use that same excuse for the awful posture and really lovely arms.

Missed you two.

procrastination

Tomorrow is my FINAL final exam for the class I'm in. That's right, you  heard me. Three tests for the same class all crammed in to one final's week. Needless to say, I can't stand the thought of studying any longer. We get a 12 day break after tomorrow (HALLELUJAH) and I just need to make myself focus for about 15 more hours. 7 of which will be spent sleeping.

Regardless, for the next 10 minutes, I'm going to write down all of the random thoughts I'm having in hopes that doing so will alleviate my wandering mind of them and I will be able to focus back on diagnosing and treating pancreatitis and UTIs.

• One of my biggest pet peeves is someone telling you that they will call you and then failing to follow up on it. 
• Along those lines, if you DO remember to call me back..please do not talk to your friend, or your friend's pet, or the horrible driver in the next lane. I realize not all of these circumstances are avoidable (my mom is a HUGE fan of waiting until I'm on the phone with someone to ask me how my day was..really mom?) but let's be serious. I didn't call to hear you baby talk an annoying yippy dog. 
• My brother and his girlfriend got a Shih Tzu a few months back. Until they did so I didn't believe that any dog could be as wonderful as my little hot mess Bellsy. Gus is just slightly less cute than her though. And he likes to snuggle with me, whereas Bella does NOT.
• There are like a million and 5 movies I want to see in theaters right now. To name a few: Horrible Bosses, Thirty Minutes or Less, The Help, Crazy Stupid Love, gLee 3D!, One Day... the list goes on and on. I think this calls for a movie a day for the next 12 days. 
• I am officially going to Houston for my fall break! HELLOOOOO ANNA!
• I am still mourning the end of the Harry Potter series. Twilight, it's ugly stepsister, just isn't doing it for me anymore. I did watch the Goblet of Fire several times lately to say what's up to R. Pattz. I don't even know why I find him so attractive.
• A girl from my high school was my waitress at lunch the other day. I remembered my whole "cutting the friend fat" blog post and made very little eye contact. To be fair, we didn't really like each other so it's not like I was being THAT rude..And I did leave her a good tip. 
• Now that it is not 150 degrees outside, I'm resuming my running-outside-to-get-in-shape-for-Allie-and-Cortney's-weddings plan. Tomorrow, that is.
• I am a firm believer that the color purple stimulates your memory. Use purple pencils (not purple lead, people) and/or purple pens EVERY DAY, I say. 
• I get to see Sammy on SUNDAY. Counting down the hoursss!

Well there you have it people. 10 whole minutes of my random thoughts. I'm obviously not as fast of a typer as I thought I was...

light at the end of the tunnel

I haven't updated the blogosphere about school lately, so I guess it's time for me to do that. I try not to interject school into my blog because school is not happy and organization, crafts, and friends ARE happy. Regardless, it is a big part of my life right now, so I suppose it does deserve some sort of attention.


Anyway, this week marked my final week of actual class (lab, lecture, clinicals etc) for the summer, and it actually went well. I got a b+ on the exam I studied very little for (but WHO CARES it was wedding weekend!), passed my final test out with 100%, and played a very feisty 58 year old in a syphilis scenario. All in all, not a bad week! Next week is "finals week", which means I have 3 tests...all for the same class. How much sense does that make? After that, I get a whole TWELVE DAYS off. So excited for that! Then fall starts..and fall brings babies, and cute kids, and pregnant women (aka peds and OB). Too excited about that. The only thing I'm NOT excited about for fall are my thousands of pounds of books. My back is not a fan of the books.

Even though this summer has been really hard, I've really appreciated the intensity of it all. I think it has definitely made me realize this is in fact what I want to do, because it is so hard yet I love it so much. I just can't wait for the next 9 months to pass so I can start being paid to take care of people, rather than PAYING to take care of people :).

technology overload?

I am more or less obsessed with Apple and every single one of their products. For example, I currently have this:

And this:

AND this:

And now I'm dying to buy this:

At what point does one say enough is enough? I think I would use the iPad, I truly do. Do I NEED it? No, probably not. Do I want it? Yes, desperately. It would be so convenient to take back and forth to class, especially considering my books are weigh about 30 pounds a piece (I'm not joking, I've weighed one of them and it was 12 pounds). I am, however, completely broke and am living off student loans. Some of my other friends (not mentioning any names) tend to forget that loans are something that you actually have to pay back. I do NOT forget this...but the iPad is so pretty, and so lightweight, and so pretty, and so functional.

I'm probably going to be able to talk myself into this one.

Wedding Weekend

I feel like my last post was such a bummer, so I'm going to follow it up with the awesomeness that was my friends Jess and Kevin's wedding this past weekend. I unfortunately don't have any pictures of the groom, and very few of the bride (I'm so sorry guys!) but I cannot be held responsible because I didn't start taking pictures until late in the evening and by that time I was lucky to get any. Let me point out that they had an open bar, and the father of the bride picked out some very. good. wine.

Bonding with friends!

Singing to Celine.

Laughing until we cry.

Tearing up the dance floor...

Reuniting after far. too. long.

 All in all, a successful weekend.