Vivian Vana Stevens
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I'm Vana, and this is my blog.


VooDoo Fest 2019 Review

10/29/2019

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Festival in General

VooDoo Fest was 3 days packed with music, food, and fun. From roller coaster rides to a decorated "cemetery", it was very themed and a ton of fun. Around 64 bands/performers played over the course of 3 days and that included all different types of genres including rock, pop, EDM, and more. Each day began around 12pm/1pm and finished up by 9pm/11pm. It was not only a music festival, but also falls on the weekend of or before Halloween as per New Orleans tradition. This means that there are an insane amount of incredible costumes and during some of the shows it was not uncommon to see whole families at the festival along with the crazy 20-30 somethings. 

Line-Up

There were so many different genres and bands ​that it was hard to go wrong. Personally, I am so sad I was not able to see Post Malone, and I wish so so much that he'd been scheduled for Friday or Saturday instead, but Guns n' Roses and Bassnectar were both incredible main night acts as well so I think it would have been hard no matter who played Sunday. One thing I also enjoyed about the line up was how fun it was to walk around the grounds and catch artists you didn't necessarily know. There was not a single artist I didn't enjoy while there, I only wish I could have seen Bae Miller (canceled due to whether) and Post Malone. Check out the line up here for more details.
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Food/Drinks

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While the food was a little pricey, it really wasn't too pricey. There was a long line of booths similar to the BAR booth pictured but with sturdier structures. that were set up to have similar labeling and decorations, but were essentially food trucks from around NOLA. This was called the "Forked Up Food Court". My favorites  were the pretzels at Bratz Ya'll! and The Big Cheezy's Grilled Cheese (yum!). I also did not hear any complaints about anything ordered from our friends, which is saying something because we came with a group of 30+ people.
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For beverages there were cans of water, High Brew Coffee, Red Bulls, Seltzer Water, Sodas, Beer, Wine, and Cocktails. There were also quite a few hydration stations to fill up water bottles, hydration packs, or canteens for free. The coffee was great considering that the days are long and a quick boost can really make a difference, but I also enjoyed that the bars were selling White Claws at every bar in the park. 

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Uber/Transportation

The transportation system was extremely organized and efficient. On Friday night  we left a little early during the Guns N' Roses and Big Gigantic sets, meaning that while there was a line for anyone seeking an Uber it was not a super long line. We arrived, asked for help on how the process worked (there were ropes and people scattered everywhere), and ordered our Uber. That evening there were only 4 of us so it only took 10 minutes for our Uber to arrive and get through the lines. 
On Saturday our group was a bit larger, including 6 people instead of 4.  The Ubers in line were pretty strict on only taking 4 individuals at a time, so we needed an Uber XL and getting one at the festival gate was unlikely. There were also a lot more people leaving at once because we stayed for the full Bassnectar set. We took advice from the Uber driver who dropped us off and walked 4-5 blocks away from City Park before we attempted to call one. While the wait was still around 10 minutes it did allow us to have an Uber that fit all of us at once, was about the same price as the 4 person rides, and we were able to avoid some of the initial traffic going back into the city from that area.
All in all the separation of Lyft and Uber, the nearby parking, and the racks for bicycles all seemed to provide adequate and reliable transportation for attendees. While my experience was pretty limited I did talk to others who took different routes and no one seemed displeased with the system. In fact, one of our drivers commented that of all the years he has worked VooDoo Fest this one was the most efficient for Uber/Lyft drivers.

Staff/App

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Throughout the festival the staff was great. They were nice, they were helpful, they offered ADA services to individuals who needed them (including interpreters for those Deaf or Hard of Hearing), and consistently sent out helpful updates about the festival. This translated into the App. The VooDoo App was extremely helpful in sending push-notifications to inform patrons on any changes to the shows or times, entrance locations, messages from sponsors, and other helpful information. When first downloading it I was worried because it did not show a lot of information, and even after purchasing my ticket there was no way to log anything for it to recognize that I had done so. However, a week or two before the app started to develop and gain different features, and even allowed you to build your own schedule for the shows you wanted to see and when. 

My Experience

Personally, Adam and I had a great time! It rained a lot the first night which was pretty rough, but our ponchos made it bearable. It helped that we signed up knowing rain was a possibility, and it did not get to cold even with the weather being the way it was. You can see a picture of us and a few of our friends below on night one all 80s themed dressed and poncho-ed up! A bonus to this was the Speak Easy lounge, a hidden lounge set for individuals who registered for the festival in the largest group/groups through Fevo. Originally it said that the top 3 groups would be chosen, but as the festival grew closer we noticed the marketing changed to "groups over 50, limited to top 3 groups". Our group, the Three Eyed Ravers, placed 2nd with 32ish people, and while we weren't technically granted admission to the Speak Easy Lounge, once we found it the entrance staff let us in anyway. In the Speak Easy Lounge there were tables, chairs, and a bar that served cheaper drinks than what you could find at other bars in the park. This was a great place to meet new people and for us to get off of our feet every once in a while. It really added to our group's experience and made me consider looking at the VIP or Platinum passes for future years.

By Saturday the weather improved immensely so a few of us took some time to explore the French Quarter. We had breakfast at Cafe du Monde, checked out some of the street art, and tried gelato macaroons at a corner cafe. Since Adam and a few others in our group had never visited New Orleans before this weekend it was an added bonus to the festival because of all of the exploring and history the city has to offer. At the festival the grounds were pretty muddy still, but everyone who had appropriate shoes (rain boots, teevas, or washable Walmart shoes)  didn't mind. The festival was a lot more crowded which could have been because it was Saturday or because it was not raining as much, but even so it never felt "too crowded". You could always get semi-away from large groups if needed, and the views of  the stages even from farther back were still really good.

We weren't able to stay through Sunday because Adam and I needed to be back for work and my sister needed to get back for an accounting test, but the friends who did stay said it was a blast! VooDoo Fest was a lot of fun and I hope we can make it back sometime in the future. 
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VooDoo Fest in NOLA: 2019 Packing List

10/24/2019

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So this year is my first time going to VooDoo Fest in New Orleans and I am stoked! Adam is also coming and we are meeting his friends (several of whom have gone many times) as well as my younger sister. VooDoo Fest is a large music festival in New Orleans typically taking place on a weekend around Halloween. This year it is October 25-27th and there is a wide variety of artists from big to small and almost every genre you can imagine. A few to name include Post Malone, Guns N’ Roses, Brandi Carlile, Rezz, Bassnectar, and Beck to name a few. As an added bonus our group (the Three Eyed-Ravers) won second place as the second largest group so we are all getting bands for unlimited free amusement park rides at the festival.

This is not only my first time going to VooDoo Fest, but also my first time attending a music festival all together. As such I have been pretty peculiar on what I am packing since I’ll only be bringing a carry-on bag for the trip and I want to make sure I don’t miss anything. If you are going to VooDoo Fest, or any music festival in general, feel free to check out my lists for tips! (Edited 10/29/19 post-festival)
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Vana's Packing List:

Adam's Packing List:

Friday:
Guns N' Roses Crop Top
Metallic Mesh Shirt
Ripped Black Jeans (Walmart)
Leopard Print Shoes (Walmart)
Edgy Jewelry
Rain Jacket
Sunglasses
Small Purse
​Poncho
​Drawstring Bag
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Saturday:
Sunflower Romper
Hippy Jewelry
Hiking Sandals
Sunglasses
Rain Jacket
Small Purse

Airport Clothes:
Shorts/Athletic Pants
Fitted T-Shirt
Vans
Friday:
Ripped Denim Vest
Bright 80s Pants
​AC/DC Shirt
​Rain Boots
Rain Jacket
Sun Glasses
Leather Bracelet
Poncho

Saturday:
Jeans
T-Shirt
Sweat Shirt
Rain Boots

Airport:
Sweat Pants
T-Shirt
Sweatshirt
All-Bird Tennis Shoes

Everything In Between:

Ear Plugs
Rain Ponchos
Toiletries
Glitter
Make-Up
Hair Bands
Socks
Germ Ex - this was a necessity!
Wipes
Toilet Paper
Water-Proof Blanket
Sunscreen
Ibuprofen/Advil/Asperin
Portable Charger
Plane Entertainment (books, video games, etc.)
​Gold Armor Rub Sticks
Our Festival Wristbands
​Cash
Zip Lock Bags (this was a life saver for our phones)
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Homecoming at Oklahoma State University

10/23/2019

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There is nothing quite like a homecoming at Oklahoma State University. This year (2019) was my third homecoming in Stillwater, OK and it is one of my favorite times of year. In Stillwater homecoming is celebrated from the Sunday before when we dye the fountain orange, filled with chili cook offs and harvest carnivals throughout the week, and closes with a parade and the Saturday game itself. However, my favorite part of homecoming would have to be the traditional Friday Walk-Around event. Several streets around campus are closed because of the massive crowds that flood south campus to see Greek Life's house decks, Residence Halls' Orange Reflections, a plethora of food trucks and food stands, and so much more. If you have never attended an OkState homecoming walk-around I would 10/10 recommend planning a trip to Stillwater for next year's festivities (tentatively set to fall on Halloween weekend 2020). 
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It is important to know that OkState's homecoming is more than just an event for the students. Alumni and the Stillwater community play a huge role in different events that occur, overall attendance, and general support. Even so, the students put in hours - weeks - and months of preparation for an OkState homecoming, and it can look different for each student on what they participate or help with. There is a board of students dedicated to planning and coordinating homecoming as well as regulating the Residence Halls and Greek Life Homecoming Sweepstakes competitions. There are also a number of organizations that host alumni reunions, Greek houses only being one of them, throughout the weekend. Thousands of people flock to Stillwater to reminisce, see old friends, visit students, and to enjoy the fun! For a recap video of this year's homecoming check out this link. It does not do the week justice in showing all that goes on, but it will definitely give you an idea of why you should consider making your way to Oklahoma for a great homecoming event! To recognize the many students and supporters as well as show the schedule from homecoming check out the Homecoming Publication for 2019.

5 Must-Dos at OkState's Homecoming Walk-Around:

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1. Pineapple Food Stand

Every year there are a number of groups and programs that run food stands as fundraisers. My personal favorite for back-to-back years is the pineapple food stand! This group makes jerk chicken and serves it in a halved pineapple, but what I love is the "Cowboy Juice" served with dry ice in a fresh pineapple. It is very tasty, non-alcoholic, and makes for some great pictures! If pineapple is not your thing there are a ton of other stands to check out and support a good cause.

2. House Decks

Is it really a walk around if you didn't make it to see a few house decks? The time that goes into pomping these is insane, they are made entirely out of tiny pieces of tissue paper glued and stuck between chicken wire. A lot of the time there are big moving parts and intricate mechanics involved as well. This year Adam and I couldn't resist getting a picture in front of the Dallas, TX themed house deck.
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3. Pictures with Pistol Pete and Theta Pond Lights

By Theta Pond you can get in line for a picture with Pistol Pete, Bullet, or just with your friends/family in front of the Go Pokes lights! Depending on the time of day either is a great photo-op!

4. Metro Minis Donut Truck

For all three homecoming walk-arounds Adam and I have attended we have managed to get a Metro Mini Donut Dozen to split! With pumpkin spice, pecan bomb, bedrock, and so many other flavors they have never disappointed! This year there were 2 Metro Mini food trucks out, one along Monroe with the other food trucks and another in between Greek houses. 
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5. Meet up with friends!

Homecoming is all about "coming home" to Stillwater, get your friends and family involved! There are always a mixture of small groups, large groups, children, and even pets at the different events and tailgating. I really enjoy the time spent with those close to me.
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Summer Cake

10/16/2019

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Summer cake is a pineapple-coconut-walnut mixture of absolute deliciousness and joy. It is everything I loved about spending a week at my Cici's (grandmother) house and is equally as good in the winter as it is in the summer. The pineapple-coconut flavors remind me of vacation and the walnut is a great compliment to level out the sweetness with a little bitter/savory side. The cake is incredibly easy to make and I am excited to share it! 
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Summer Cake

Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Finely Chopped Walnuts
​- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 3/4 Cup Unsweetened Flaked Coconut
- 20oz Can Crushed Pineapple with Juice
- 2 Eggs
- Cake Flour (or all-purpose as a sub.)
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- Pinch of Salt
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla
FDirections:
- Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl
- In a separate bowl mix eggs, vanilla, and pineapple; then add and mix with dry ingredients.
- Pour into a greased 9X13in pan (we use a Pyrex)
​- Bake 35-40 minutes (35 is typically plenty for us but it is good to have a range) at 350F or until a butter knife or toothpick can be stuck in and come out clean.
- Let cool for Almond-Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting or make a Glaze Icing and pour on while the cake is still hot. Both are below!

Almond-Whipped Cream-Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
​- 8oz Cream Cheese
- 1&1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Almond Extract (or more vanilla as a sub.)
- 1 Cup White Sugar
Directions:
​- Put all ingredients into a stand mixer bowl.
- Mix with stand mixer and medium to high speeds for 3-6 minutes (or until the frosting is nice and thick).
- Once the cake is cool carefully spread the frosting over.
*Optional - add toasted coconut on top of the frosting for garnish

Hot Glaze

Ingredients:
- 1 Box Powdered Sugar
- 1 Stick Margarine
​- 1 tsp Almond Extract
Directions:
- Melt the margarine in a pot.
- Add the sugar and the extract.
- Bring to a high temperature and continue to stir for 2-3 minutes or until it comes to a boil
- Drop the temperature and continue to stir until it settles into a thicker but still some-what clear liquid.
- Poke small holes throughout the hot cake and carefully pour the glaze over the top. 
*Optional - add toasted coconut on top of glze for garnish
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Holly's Hash-Brown Hot Dish

10/14/2019

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Recently I reached out to a lot of my friends for family recipes that Adam and I could make and add to our family cook book. There is a recipe I have been dying to try from our close friend Holly because it is a true "Minnesotan Hot-Dish" recipe. It is packed with ham, cheese, hash-browns, calories, and love. Holly came to visit us this past weekend and with the first real cold front of the season it only seemed appropriate to make a huge plate of hot dish! 

This recipe is cheap and easy to make, it  freezes well, and it fed 3 adult humans from Thursday-Sunday. You can add an egg for a yummy breakfast, or just enjoy it microwaved when you're in a rush. It is pretty calorie heavy but a winter must. It should be noted that I did forget to use the Parmesan cheese as an end-factor to sprinkle on top for a nice crust and instead mixed it in with the rest, but rest assured that it is great either way!
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Holly's Hash-Brown Hot Dish

Ingredients:
- 8oz Diced Ham
- 16oz Sour Cream
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar
- 1&1/2 Cups Shredded Parmesan Cheese
​- 1 Tbs Garlic Powder
- 2 Cans Condensed Cream of Potato
- 1 Pack Frozen Hashbrowns
Directions:
- In a bowl mix half of the bag of frozen hash browns with the cheddar cheese, diced ham, garlic powder, sour cream, and condensed cream of potato. After it is well mixed, add in the other half and continue until it is well mixed.
- Pour ingredients into a greased 9X13in pan (a deep one is preferred). Spread out the mixture evenly.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly on top of the mixture.
​- Bake at 375F for 1 hour.
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Oklahoma Academic Advising Association

10/11/2019

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Happy Friday! As some of you know, I am an academic advisor at an institution in Oklahoma currently. I am still in my first 5 months in this role, but I was given the opportunity to not only attend the Annual Oklahoma Academic Advising Association (OACADA) Fall 2019 conference, but I was able to join the OACADA committee as a member at large. While this is not my first professional conference, it was my first state-only and my first academic advisor specific professional conference to attend. If you are an academic advisor in Oklahoma and you are not sure what OACADA is or if you should join, definitely check it out at the link here. For a little more information here are some details about how the day went: 
The conference was a 1 day Friday conference in September, which worked out perfectly for advisors with a busy schedule who needed something during work hours. It started around 9:00 AM and went until a little after 2:00 PM, allowing for the Oklahoma State Regents to speak and present, keynote Kathleen Smith to give an exceptional kick-off to the conference, 2 program sessions (with 8+ programs to choose from), and a lunch meant for mingling. 

One benefit was the intention from the committee to build a community within advisors around the state, demonstrated through the ways our groups were broken up during an afternoon activity. Another was how cost effective the conference was for a professional development opportunity. It ranged from $55-70 depending on if you were a member and got the early-bird discount or not, and signing up to be a member resulted in a fun new-members gift with stickers and a lapel pin. What stuck out to me the most though was the incredible kindness and sincerity of the committee and their want to serve and support academic advisors in the state of Oklahoma. It is clear that they stuck to their mission and the conference theme, and I am excited that I was able to be a part of it. They welcomed me in even as someone with significantly less experience in the field and have been very supportive of me and the team as a whole. 

I look forward to more OACADA conferences, as well as the NACADA regional and annual conferences to come. If you are an academic advisor out there looking to build a community check out OACADA, and if you don't live in Oklahoma, know that OACADA is affiliated with NACADA (The Global Community for Academic Advising) and is here to offer an outlet for your work specifically. If you have any questions or want more information, feel free to reach out to me or check out the links included.
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Breakfast with the Stevens Family

10/9/2019

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My absolute favorite meal is breakfast, and if I had to choose a favorite food, a lot of my top competitors would be breakfast foods. This stems from a love of sweets and eggs to a borderline unhealthy level. For example, Adam and I's every day breakfast habits stray significantly on the weekends. So for any one curious, or any friends and family coming to visit, here are a few of the potential meals you can expect to eat when staying for more than a few days:


​Knock-off Ohana Bread. After making it a few weeks ago Adam and I can't get enough of it. A favorite is to chop up some deli turkey, throw it and a slice in the microwave, and then fry an egg with a gooey yolk to set on top. It is delicious!
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Staying for a weekend? There is a chance we will cook a decent sized meal at least one of the days. This can include strawberry pancakes, egg scramblers (with mushrooms, bacon, and spinach), and some french pressed coffee. What a way to start the day!


Is it more of a grab-and-go kind of morning? Then you better be careful, Adam and I tend to splurge hard on a lazy weekend. We can grab a waffle egg-bacon-cheese sandwich, kolaches, a pecan roll, and cake donuts from the Red Rock down the road. And what kind of fall morning would it be if we didn't grab some nitro brew coffee to go with it?
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Last, but not least, our most common meals are either 2 fried eggs on toast, or a yummy quiche/egg bake. Quiches and egg bakes are so perfect for a morning on the go, and they are packed with protein and veggies. These are what Adam and I stick to throughout the week, and perhaps what helps us stay nutritious after a sugar-filled weekend. We are working on our eating habits, but are already on a good track as far as Monday-Friday go!
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Coconut Crusted Salmon

10/7/2019

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Do you ever get a hankering for a specific food or dish? Maybe a craving for a specific flavor? Well, last night it was all I had in me not to order take-out Chinese from Adam and I's favorite american Chinese restaurant in town for their coconut crusted chicken. Lately Adam and I's diets have not been great; we did indulge in cookies and donuts this weekend, so we wanted to finish the weekend strong with a healthier meal. We have a ton of ingredients left over from the Ohana Bread, so I realized I could try to make my own coconut crust on something we already have. Next thing I knew we had mushroom tortellini, pan-fried coconut crusted salmon, and asparagus ready to go. For the tortellini I bought a pre-made bag at Walmart that took 4 minutes to make, and the asparagus was a great-value steam-able bag from the frozen food isle. We tossed the tortellini in pesto sauce and the asparagus in walnut oil with walnuts, salt, and pepper. It was delicious! Here is the recipe for our coconut crusted salmon that really hit the spot:

Coconut Crusted Salmon

Ingredients:
- 2-4 Thawed Salmon Fillets
- 1/2 Tbs Curry Powder
- 1/2 Tbs Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
​- 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
- 1/2 Tbs Onion Powder
- 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 3-6 Cups Vegetable Oil (depending on pan size)
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Directions:
- Start to pre-heat the vegetable oil in a pan to 300F.
- While waiting - In a bowl scramble the 2 eggs together and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix together flour, bread crumbs, coconut, garlic, curry, and onion powder.
- One the oil is ready, take a fillet, coat it in the egg wash, lightly set and press it into the dry ingredients bowl on each side, then set it on a plate with a paper towel. Repeat until all 2-4 fillets are ready.
- Take the plate over to your pan and carefully set the fish inside the pan. Allow to cook for 4 minutes in the oil before gently flipping to cook for 4 minutes on the other side.
- Once fully cooked set the fish on a plate with a clean paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Repeat the process. 
- Once all fillets are cooked, plate and serve.
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Last 90 Days - Week 1

10/5/2019

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Last week Adam and I started Rachel Hollis's "Last 90 Days" Challenge. The first week had a focus of accomplishing your "5 to thrive" for a week straight. We did not know much about it besides the general overview in the link above, but we were invited to join by a coworker. I've heard of a few of Rachel's books and have been recommended to read them or to follow along with the activity books and I just haven't gotten around to it yet. The 90 Day Challenge came at a great time because all of the points she makes are correct. We are hitting a time of year where it is colder and you don't want to be outside as much, when food is everywhere and diets go out the window, when it is easy to grow negative about the goals you have not yet accomplished, and when traveling and visiting family can be stressful. 
So, for the last 90 days of the year (93 if you started on September 30th by mistake) Adam and I are working on our "Five to Thrive" by completing a few activities every single day. These include:

  1.  Drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water 
  2. Waking up an hour earlier before everyone else 
  3. Give up one category of food for 30 days
  4. Move your body every day, whether it is a walk or scheduled exercise
  5. Practice gratitude by writing down 10 things you are grateful for

So far we have been really successful with drinking more water, finding a way to move every day, practicing gratitude, and I've had a good time with cutting out a food category. I chose to get rid of candy in the month of October because I have been eating so much recently and I already feel better. Adam did not choose a food for this month, he said he'd prefer to wait until month 2 so we shall see.

The other area we've been struggling in is waking up an hour early. This stems from the hour not really being for individual time because waking up an hour early just wakes the dog up an hour earlier. To cope we realized we'd already started our wake up change a month or so ago when we decided to wake up at 5 AM or 5:30 AM instead of 6 or 6:30 to give us the chance to go on a morning walk with the dog together every morning and adding a run in on other mornings. This really encouraged me to keep going because I realized that the Five to Thrive does not have to be 5 new things you've never done before. Instead, this can be things you've been working on, it is just being more mindful and working for consistency. 

The first week has been good overall, but I realized I have not yet watched on of Rachel's videos or kept up with the recommended live stream. This week I look forward to reading through the email and hopefully making time to add in the live stream as well. For anyone else on this challenge or anyone wanting to join this challenge it is not to late! Check out her website and let me know how it  goes for you as well.
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Popcorn Deer Nuggets

10/4/2019

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It is not often Adam and I are fortunate enough to have wild game in our freezer, but when we do we make good use of it! Between Adam's Dad's once a year hunt and our coworker and close friend that hunts often we have been able to acquire some really great venison. Wild game can be difficult to cook with, so for the recipes we make this round I want to be sure to share for anyone unfamiliar with it. We made some deer nuggets last week that were so good we ate all of them in one sitting, and if you are ever able to make them, you are sure to love them too!
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Popcorn Deer Nuggets

Ingredients:
- 1 Carton Original Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Venison (we used 3 4oz strips, but you can use as much as you want)
- 1&1/2 Cups Flour
- 7 Cups Vegetable/Cooking Oil (or enough to fill your pot half way)
- 2 Cup Bread Crumbs
​- 1 Tbs Garlic Salt

Tools:
- Pot
- Food Thermometer 
Directions:
- Wash venison carefully with water, then place in a dish large enough to hold all that you have.
​- Pour almond milk over the meat until it covers it entirely. 
- Cover the pan with saran wrap, tin foil, or whatever you'd prefer. Place in fridge for 48-72 hours. 
*Leave for 2-3 days*
- Remove meat from almond milk, washing it off with water. Slice meat into small bite-sized cubes (approximately). 
- In a bowl mix flour, garlic salt, and bread crumbs together.
- Take cubes of meat and coat them in the flour mix.
- Fill pot with oil and heat it to 320F-350F.
- Once heated up put meat cutlets in the oil to cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove and place on a plate with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
- Let cool and enjoy!
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Leo's Gotcha Day

10/2/2019

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2 years ago on September 29th Adam and I picked up our sweet cat Leo. He was 6 weeks old, coated in fleas, and in need of a forever home. Since then we have been through many adventures and in honor of him I thought it would be fun to write him his own interview page. So here it goes!
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Leo Stevens
Named After: "Loke, the Leo in Fairy Tail"
Favorite Color: "Blue"
Favorite Treat: "Cheese"
Favorite Flavor: "Salmon or Chicken"
Favorite Weather: "Warm and sunny"
Favorite Vacation Spot: "Venice in the spring"
​Favorite Hobby: "Chasing the dog, napping on the floor, or taking walks on my leash"
Absolute hates: "Shots, and therefore, the vet. I will have my vengeance one day"
Favorite Movie: "I am a big fan of Kiki's Delivery Service, but I also love the Aristocats as it is similar to the way my parents met"
Favorite Nap Spot: "The living room window sill when it is open"
Friday Night Plans: "I hope I'll be able to curl up in my favorite chair and watch a movie with my mom and dad. Maybe if the dog settles down he can join us too."
Favorite Celebrity: "Ernest Hemingway - did you know his home serves as a refuge for cats?"
​Guilty Pleasures: ​"Sleeping near the dog and sneaking treats and toys for him, and crashing mom's blog pictures"
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What Constitutes Your "Purrfect" Day: "A perfect day for me is a simple one. I wake my mother up at 4:30am and she responds by feeding me before going back to bed. The dog sleeps in so  that I can snuggle up to my dad's feet in bed before they start to wake up. Once everyone has left I stay in bed for a while longer, enjoying the warm sunlight through the window.  Later I take a long stretch, chase the dog around the house, play with my favorite feather toy, and if I'm lucky my mom will give me some catnip."
Special Talents: "I have been training to become the next cat-ninja-warrior for quite some time now. I have mastered the art of running stealthily, climbing on things, pouncing on pray, and finding very secure hiding spots"
Hunter or Gatherer: "Definitely hunter. Although I have been known to steal food from my brother Ace's bowl"
If I was a Dessert, I would be: "I would be a dreamsicle because life with me is the true dream"
Favorite Day of the Week: "Sundays because my whole family is usually home"
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Knock-0ff Ohana Bread

10/1/2019

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After spending my honey moon in Disney World there is one memory my husband and I consistently bring up and talk about, and that is our breakfast at Ohana's. I have a big obsession with Stitch and we both fell in love with the food and the atmosphere. After a guava juice mimosa we were seated and had some of the best breakfast bread either one of us had ever tasted. Since then we have tried to re-create the deliciousness, experimenting with different recipes and ways of baking it. The truth is we still have not been able to replicate the look/exact flavor, but this recipe is pretty dang close! We love this recipe we've been able to create together, and while the egg wash finish does not give it a perfect golden-brown color it does give it a light crunch of texture. Check it out:
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Knock-Off Ohana Bread

Ingredients:
2 Tbs Coconut Flakes
1 Cup Crushed Pineapple
5 Cups Bread Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
3 Egg Yolks
6 Tbs Apricot Preserves
2 Tbs Melted Butter
2 Tbs & 2 tsp Shortening
​1 Cup Water
1 Tbs Active Fast Growing Yeast
3/4 Cup Pineapple Juice
​2 tsp Salt
All-Purpose Flour

Needed Tools:
- A stand mixer
​- A bread hook
- Plastic wrap
- Cooking Spray
- 9in by 13in baking pan
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Directions:
​- In a mixing bowl pour in the yeast packet and the water at room temperature. Stir it and then let it sit for a minute or two. After that add pineapple juice, 3 egg yolks, shortening, bread flour, salt, and sugar. Set the bowl in the mixer, attach your bread hook, and mix on "1" or "low" until it is well mixed. Then pick the speed up to "2" until it looks like a well-mixed ball of dough.
​- Once well mixed spray the dough ball and the mixing bowl with cooking spray, cover the top in plastic wrap and let it sit for 1 hour.
​- After one hour has passed, take half of the dough ball and (using flour to prevent it from sticking) roll it out flat.
​- Spray cooking spray inside and around the 9inx13in baking pan and lay the now flat dough into it. Take 1/4 cup of your crushed pineapple and 2 Tbs of the apricot preserves and spread them evenly over the dough.
- Now take the other half of the dough, roll it out flat, and place it on top off the apricot/pineapple coated dough. Cover pan with plastic wrap and let sit for 40 minutes.
​- Pre-heat your oven for 325F.
- In a separate bowl mix your egg, coconut flakes, melted butter, 4 Tbs apricot preserves, and 3/4 cup crushed pineapple in a bowl.
- Take out a pizza cutter and run it through your dough in the pan to make 2in by 2in squares. Then, take the separate bowl mix and evenly pour it over the top of the dough. Spread it out well, and bake for 30-40 minutes or until you can stick a butter knife in it with no dough residue. 
- I recommend enjoying it as soon as it is cool enough to pull apart, but it also refrigerates well if you cover after it cools.
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    I am a student affairs professional, an amateur chef, and an adventurer at heart.

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