Back To School

So school has started and already the freshness of the year has worn off. I am already having to convince myself to do homework and stay on task, and the beautiful bags under my eyes have come out of hibernation. The stress of IB is back, and I can officially say that things are back in swing, well because its mid September! On the night before the big day, I saw a tweet by Elle Pothier, that said "I dont want it to start because that means it will end." And I thought to myself, "Wow, how can people actually like school and everything that comes wit it?" But then I realized that she doesnt go to Suncoast and that she probably has had a normal high school experience (something which I have not had). But anyways on the first day of school I thought to myself, Goodness only 179 more days and I'm done with these people, this schedule, and this stress. Only to finde myself on the second day of school dreading for it to end. But what happened in between? I'll tell you what happened. We became seniors. Over the summer while working on our EE's, CAS Project's, and Senior Portraits me and all of my classmates transformed, "We are almost one of them." When I returned to school we all had this bond. Something that took 3 years, but somehow we all respected each other, we understood each other, and now we knew that we would miss each other. Something happened over the summer, that made us all friends when we returned to school. There were cliques but now those cliques were broken and expanded, somehow allowing everybody in with their own special place. We worked together to feel important and above the rest of the underclassman and we all had this intangible self confidence where we didnt really care what other people thought because had all reached a point where we knew. We understood why Suncoast was so special. A place where people can come from all over the world to unite and learn together about things that normal people cant understand. And maybe it was the semester of TOK that allowed us  to see the year differently with a new perspective, and see eachother with a new perspective. I'm not sure what happened but its amazing. I have suddenly this feel good confidence that lets make break boundaries, I have dozens of new friends who think I'm cool, and cute and funny. And I can look around my classrooms, and hallways and talk to anyone that I feel like, even if I've never met them. This year is going to be amazing and go by too quick I'm sure. But I hope this angelic force field sticks around long, because I cant wait for these memories to be made all around me. And when it ends, I'm pretty sure I will be sad, and cry a lot. I am going to club meetings everyday just putting myself out there happy to be alive. I am staying after school voluntarily to make things for charger pride, and believe it or not I finally went to a birthday party. All of my years at Suncoast I had never been invited but now that I have real friends I do real things!

Progressing to Chefhood

So Wednesday my mom and I decided to cook dinner instead of my dad doing it, like he has everyday for the past 17 years. Anyways, I really want to actually be a good cook and not someone who relies on a combination of boxes to throw together something I found on the back of a cereal box. Lol, No I want to be able to by fresh ingredients and on a whim throw together something great like my Dad. So to start off my journey my Mom and I made this yummy recipe we found on Pinterest.

Bruschetta Chicken

It was really good and very simple to make, not to mention the recipe will make more bruschetta than you need for 3 chicken breasts so the leftover bruschetta you can make is the bomb.

We pounded the chicken and before placing them in the oven painted them witl Olive Oil, Sea Salt and Pepper. Then popped those babies in.

This was the chicken in all its glory. It was delicious. We paired it with zucchini that sliced and then steamed in a pot. Along with a baguette that we cut, oil, and sprinkled some Parmesan cheese on. All in all it was great, and the leftovers were killer. And it was a real easy meal.

Recipe

3 or 4 chicken breasts
4 or 5 small tomatoes, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 small red onion, chopped
3 tsp. olive oil
3 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1/8. tsp sea salt
Handful basil, chopped

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (if you choose to bake your chicken rather than grill). Sprinkle some salt and pepper over top, cover and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes (depending on the size of your breasts) until juices run clear.
2. Meanwhile, combine chopped tomatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and basil in a bowl. Refrigerate until chicken is ready to be served and spoon over top of the chicken.

Notes
Serving Size: 1 chicken breast + 1/3 cup bruschetta • Calories: 176 • Fat: 4.3 g • Carbs: 8.1 g • Fiber: 2.3 g • Protein: 27.6 g • WW Points+: 4 pts

Morning Visit to Lakeside Park

So our little English Cream Golden Retriever, Dude, is a love. He loves the beach, he loves us, we love him and he loves to sleep. He is so lazy despite being a youthful puppy that he wont even play to get his energy out. So the only way truly  to get him tired and not just lazy is to take him to the beach where his soul is rejuvenated and he can run and swim for days. We happen to go a lot but I have just decided to actually start keeping track of my life. So for now this will be the first you see of him. Meet Dude. The 1 year love of my life.

Meet Dude the most handsome dog at the beach.

He is a lover of the ocean, one day I'll buy a house on the water just for this dog.

Oh and we have a little Chihuahua who thinks Dude is the best thing since dry kibble, and she thinks she literally is his mom. She will swim as far out as she needs to to make sure he is safe in the water. Poor thing gets 10 times the workout he does with those squaty legs

My Momma and I

He likes to lay in the water, like i said he loves to be lazy.

His action shot. Tongue out, Suns out

This little nugget swims out so far, and needs to rest before she can make the long trek back,

Full Moon, Star of Bethlehem, and USA heads to the World Cup!

So last night there was a full moon, big and round shining in the backyard. Jupiter and Venus were the closest to each other they have been in the past 3000 years, and the United States Women's National Team beat Germany 2-0 in the semi finals, and on playing in the World Cup on Sunday! What a day, I can't say which is more beautiful...

This picture I captured of the full moon (after minutes of struggling with the correct camera settings)

This little guy who was having some weird circular meeting with like 10 other frogs in our front yard

My sad image of the Star of Bethlehem (venus and jupiter)

Or Kelly O'Hara scoring the 2nd goal officialy winning the game, in addition to Carli Llyod's PK goal

HMMM can't decide

First Day of the Rainy Season

We have been extremely lucky to have nothing but sun this summer, so far.... But all good things have to come to an end, and frankly our plants could really use some water, they seem a bit thirsty. So today the rain finally came. Thunder, Lightening, everything. Lucky for us though a rainbow was soon to follow completely across the sky, and the sunset was amazing. I love when the clouds trap the light and project an strange orange color across the sky.

The Rainbow just behind a palm.

Strange orange light escaping through the branches.

Hopefully, if we get more rain this summer sunsets like tonight's will come along too!