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


The Family That Games Together

11/25/2019

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One of the hobbies Adam and I do together is play video games. It is a staple in our lives that started when we were kids. For me it stopped and picked up again when Adam gave me a Nintendo 2DS for Christmas when we were first dating. For Adam it is something he has never stopped since he got his very first GameBoy back in the day. I thought it would be fun to interview him and see what his thoughts/memories/opinions are around gaming and to share them with you. Check out his responses below:
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Can you tell me about your first memory of video games?

“My most vivid memory of video games from when I was a kid was when I received a Gameboy color and Pokemon Red Version for my birthday in November 1998. I had been asking my parents for a Gameboy and Pokemon for a while, since it was the hot new thing and everyone had the cards and watched the anime. It was a really special moment when I received it and I still remember it to this day!"

What video game have you probably spent the most time playing?

"This question is twofold, since I definitely spent the most time over the years playing all the different Pokemon games, but that is more of a “what video game series have I spent the most time playing” thing. As for just a straight up game, it would probably have to be Halo 2. My brother and I spent an entire summer break one year playing that game (and getting insanely good at it). We both played it way more as the year went on as well, so I likely logged over 400-500 hours in that game."

What are your top 5 favorite video game franchises of all time?
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  1. "Pokemon
  2. Dark Souls
  3. Halo
  4. Super Smash Bros.
  5. Mario"

When was the first time you played video games with other people?

"The first time I recall playing video games with someone else was when my brother and I played our copies of Pokemon Blue and Red, respectively. We would sit together and talk about all the things we were doing as we were doing them in the game; which looking back on it probably drove everyone else in our family crazy. Our family made fun of how many hours we could sit there playing these games and I even recall my grandma saying “They can’t even hear us when their heads are in those games!” but you know what? I totally did hear you grandma!"


Do you prefer to play games on your own or with friends/on teams/against others?

"This one is tricky, because I am not the type of “gamer” who sticks with just one style of gameplay. I really enjoy getting to play solid single-player games such as Skyrim, Pokemon, or other RPGs, and I also really enjoy playing team based games that are competitive such as Halo, Gears of War, Rocket League, etc. At this age though, I am definitely happiest whenever I get to play a game with my friends but we are all on the same team against the game (PvE gaming as it is called), because I really enjoy the teamwork aspect without having the stress of playing competitively against other real humans. This is one of the main reasons that the Dark Souls game series is so high on my list, since my friends and I can beat the game together, fighting the enemies and bosses in sync with each other."

What do you define as a “gamer”?

"I would define a “gamer” as someone who is passionate about video gaming and sees it as an art form that it really is. There is literally no other art medium like it. It brings together the music, video, reading, and learning aspects of all the other mediums out there and makes it into one cohesive piece (as long as it is a good game). I think that people who appreciate this and enjoy it should call themselves a “gamer”, and not think of it as only someone who plays competitively or earns money from gaming."

Do you see video games always being a part of your life?

"I really do. I can’t imagine a time in my life at this point where I will altogether stop playing games. Even with the stresses of moving, college, grad school, getting married, and moving some more, I have always carved out time to play video games. As I have evolved over the years, so too have video games. You can now play them portably much easier than when I was young, and with things like Virtual Reality (VR) on the rise, I cannot wait to see what the industry has in store for the future. Video gaming is a hobby of mine that I am very passionate about, and I love getting to share that passion with others such as my lovely wife, family, and friends. "

How have video games benefited you up to this point? (List several ways if there are several)

"I sort of touched on this with the previous questions, but video games have been a universal truth in my life that have been around all of the ups and downs I experience. When I was young, video games helped me learn how to read, reason, and helped with things like my vocabulary and understanding more about the world around me. As I grew, video games were an outlet and a passion that helped me when I would feel stressed from my family or friends. Times such as my parent’s divorce, going through puberty, high school and going off to college, were all surrounded by one never-changing constant; Video games. I truly think that without gaming my life would be quite different from what it is today, which may sound a bit over dramatic until you think about how something like your favorite television show, movie, or book may have helped you through tough or trying times in your life. Video games are a fun way to relax and destress, but they also teach me more about who I am as a person, and how I can work to achieve my goals. " 


How have video games hindered you up to this point (if at all)?

"Probably the first thing that comes to my mind with how video games have hindered me up to this point is that they can on occasion be used as a “crutch” so to speak. Just like how some people will in their darker times turn to alcohol, binge watching tv shows, or overeating to make themselves feel better, so too have I been guilty of video games being this “crutch” for me. There have been times where rather than face my problems or try to fix them, I instead chose to instead jump on another game of Call of Duty. Or instead of going out and trying to make new friends and meet new people, I have chosen to sit inside and play Skyrim for 18+ hours on a weekend. My point is, people all have their own vices that they use when faced with hard times, and the reason they do these things is because they bring fleeting moments of joy and help distract us from the real issues at hand. By using video games in this way throughout points in my life, I would say it probably hindered me at certain points. However, just like alcohol and relaxing and watching TV can be done responsibly, so too can gaming. Finding the balance in life is what is important, because as they say, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing."    
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Corgi Adventures: Ace at 5 Months Old

11/25/2019

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Our sweet puppy Ace just turned 6 months old so I wanted to talk about some of the development we've seen in him through Month 5. We last left off at Week 17 so it only seems appropriate to base it off of months vs. weeks now. For starters, Ace has hit several milestones including:
  • His first night away from home (with new people)
  • A full 1 mile walk
  • Ace has mastered self-entertainment
  • Ace sheds - so much
  • Ace has a full understanding of the potty bell (and also how to abuse it)
  • Ace has been on a long car trip over the course of a weekend
  • Ace now knows the command "Bed" means to go to and lay on his bed
  • Ace can hold the "stay" command for 30 seconds - 3 minutes (depending on the level of distraction around)
  • Ace now knows socks are off limits for chewing (although he does still take them on occasion)
  • Ace has his own Instagram (check him out @allaboutthat.ace)
  • Ace can make it 6 hours in his crate without having an accident (and 8-9 hours at night)

These all seemed small as they were happening but thinking back and remembering where we started I realized these were huge milestones! Three weeks ago I was pretty sure he might never learn "bed" and that he would just wait for me to drop treats on it forever. Ace has also grown up a lot in his behaviors. He self-entertains a lot with his favorite toys, he is a lot more mellow (and open for snuggling), he seems to understand Adam and I and what we are communicating better than he ever had before, and he is in full puberty mode. He has started marking trees and light posts on our longer walks (thankfully he has not marked in the house) and he has become more confident when playing with other dogs. 

This weekend will be Ace's first experience with boarding and his first time away from home for more than 3 days. It will also be Leo's first time at home alone without Ace for that long since bringing Ace home. We are a little anxious to see how it goes, but the place we are boarding him is really nice and came recommended from several friends. I am sure he is going to have a ton of fun, I just hope he gets to the fun part sooner rather than later. The Three Dog Bakery visits are still in full swing (in fact I am sure we'll stop by when we pick Ace up on Sunday) and we get all of our dog biscuits there since they are made in-house. Watching this sweet pup develop and learn new skills has been so fun, and he has become so emotionally in-tune with Adam and I it is insane. 

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Hunter's Pie (Our Take on Shepherd's Pie)

11/20/2019

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So there is nothing I love more in the winter months than a warm, savory, hot dish of sorts. A crowd favorite is the traditional shepherd's pie, and Adam and I make some version of it every winter. This time we took a chance and left out the breading to follow our current diets, as well as used venison since we have so much in stock. We are calling it a "Hunter's Pie" and honestly it might be the best take on Shepherd's Pie I've ever eaten (and I love a good breading). 

Hunter's Pie

Ingredients:
  • Venison (meat)
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1 cup Brussels sprouts (chopped)
  • 1 cup Carrot (diced)
  • 1 cup white Onion (diced)
  • 1 cup Celery (diced)
  • 1 cup white Mushrooms (chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • ¾ cup Red wine
  • 1 Tbsp Flour (All purpose)
  • 1 cup Beef stock (or chicken stock)
  • Salt and Black pepper to taste
  • 4 cups mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes (we bought pre-made mashed potatoes)
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Directions:
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  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit
  • In a large cast iron skillet, melt ½ a stick of butter on medium-high heat
  • Cook your brussels sprouts, carrots, onion, and celery for 5-7 minutes
  • Season this mixture with salt and black pepper to taste. (Feel free to add any other seasonings you desire at this point as well)
  • Add in your Venison and cook until it is lightly browned (more rare than medium)
  • Add in your garlic and white mushrooms, and cook an additional 2-3 minutes
  • Pour in your red wine and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until the wine has reduced a bit
  • In a separate container, mix together your beef stock and flour
  • Pour in your beef stock, flour mixture and make sure everything is mixed together well
  • At this point you can transfer everything into a casserole dish, or leave it in your skillet and bake it in that
  • Cover everything in your mashed potatoes, and fluff up the surface of the potatoes with a fork. Season again with salt and pepper if desired
  • Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the surface is crisp and browned. Serve immediately
  • Enjoy!
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Running a 5K - As Someone Who Does Not Run

11/14/2019

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One of my goals for this year was to run a 5K and last Saturday I competed my second one in the past month! I intended to follow the None-to-Run plan and honestly just really failed at it. For the first 5K I worked to give myself a month to train, which really turned into two weeks of semi-training (it is important to note that I had not run anything in months and was not on an even slightly consistent work-out regimen before those 2 weeks). For the None-to-Run guidelines I had a lot of trouble with wanting to just be able to run without the extra time.  I ended up only running once or twice a week with a once a week with a Pilates work out thrown in between, which did not help me build up much endurance at all.
When it came race day at the Wizarding Run in Tulsa (would 10/10 recommend for all of you Harry Potter fans out there) I set a goal of 50 minutes. In my training I had not yet made it past a mile and a half without walking, nor past two miles total, and I had a feeling I would need to walk a solid amount of the course. The week before I took a few steps to best prepare, and when it came to the day of I really shocked myself. I ran as hard as I could, working hard to only stop when I had to and never for too long, and I managed to complete the 5K in a little under 36 minutes, blowing my original goal out of the water!
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With a surprising time, a new motivation, and one month until the next race you would think I learned my lesson and started training to improve, right? Wrong. I ran twice that week, but with the weather, an approaching vacation, and peak advising season beginning I started only making it to the gym once a week and really falling behind on training. Adam and I went maybe 4 times that whole month, and I started to have some real anxiety. So, the week before I followed the same steps I did previously, and this time I went in with the mindset that I would not run this 5K at my best. Instead I would make it a planned work-out so that I could keep training and avoid the intense soreness that followed the Wizarding Run. 
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While I still kick myself for losing sight of training, using the Wonder Woman Run as a training race was a great decision. Adam ran it with me and together we did an 8-minute-run and 2-minute walk cycle for the entire race. This (to my surprise) kept us at a 10 minute mile for the first 2 miles, and allowed Adam to finish at 34 minutes and for myself to complete the race right at 35 minutes and 7 seconds. Seeing for myself that following a running guide brought my time down, but also kept me from being so overly exhausted has been extremely motivating and has allowed me to push through training as we prepare for the Houston Turkey Trot in 2 weeks.
For fun, I made a pre-plan of Adam and I's running schedule for this week and the weeks to follow. It is great for anyone starting more "in the middle" than the average beginner. It is important to take your own health and other factors into consideration, while our work outs work for us please feel free to adjust them at your own discretion.
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Asian BBQ Chicken with Cauliflower Rice

11/13/2019

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Asian BBQ Chicken Dish

Ingredients for Chicken:
  • 1Tbs Hoisin/Oyster Sauce
  • 4Tbs BBQ Sauce (any)
  • 1/4 Cup Sesame Seed Oil
  • 1Tbs Sesame Seeds
  • 1Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1Tbs Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 8 Pack Raw Chicken Thighs
  • Salt&Pepper to Taste
  • 1/2Tbs BBQ Rub of Choice
  • 1/2Tbs Garlic Powder or 1Tbs Garlic and Herb Powder
  • Sprinkle of Curry Powder

Ingredients for Vegetable Rice:
  • 3Tbs Mirin
  • 3Tbs Rice Sake
  • 3Tbs Sesame Seed Oil
  • 1tsp Hondashi 
  • 2 Bags Frozen Cauliflower Rice (we used Great Value)
  • 1 Bag Frozen Peas
  • 1 Yellow Onion
  • 4Tbs Brown Sugar
  • 1/2Tbs Garlic Powder
  • Salt&Pepper to Taste
  • 1Tbs Sesame Seeds
  • 3-4 Eggs (Up to your preference)
  • Sprinkle of Curry Powder
  • 2tsp BBQ Rub
Directions for Chicken:
  • Pre-Heat oven to 425F
  • Place chicken thighs in a large bowl, add in all of the liquid ingredients, all spices, and half of the sesame seeds
  • Toss the chicken and ingredients together until ingredients are well mixed and the chicken is fully coated
  • Place all of the chicken thighs onto a baking pan or in a cast iron skillet, pouring the remaining sauce over the top.
  • Sprinkle the remaining sesame seeds over the chicken.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes in a pan, 35-30 minutes in a cast iron skillet, or until the internal temperature is 160F.
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Directions for Vegetable Rice:
  • Chop your onion into small pieces.
  • Set a pan to medium (on a scale of 1-10 a solid 5-6), add brown sugar and onion pieces, and cook stirring occasionally until the onions are translucent.
  • In a much larger pan, set the temperature to medium and allow it time to heat up.
  • If your frozen vegetables are able to be micro-wave steamed, start micro-waving them. If not, pour the frozen ingredients into the large pan.
  • Once the vegetables are de-thawed (whether by pan or micro-wave) and the onions are translucent, pour the onion mixture into the larger pan. 
  • Add your remaining ingredients (excluding the eggs) and cook together at medium heat.
  • In a small bowl, crack and scramble your eggs, then add them in to the mixture.
  • Continue to mix well until the eggs fully cook into the dish. Once they are and a lot of the liquids in the pan have evaporated you'll know it is ready to serve.
  • Plate your rice and place your desired amount of chicken on top.
  • Boom-Bam! A delicious and low-carb dinner.
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10 Things Your Academic Advisor Wishes You Knew

11/12/2019

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While I have only been an academic advisor for 6 months now, and I work in an office that is more hands-on than most advising offices, I thought it would be fun to make a list of things Academic Advisors wish students knew going in. This is based off of collective ideas and thoughts I've heard around the office, so I hope you enjoy the tips!

1. Book Your Appointments Early

It is not to be rude or to make things more challenging, but when enrollment starts we fill up. We often can't take additional walk ins because we are in back-to-back appointments for weeks. If you book your appointment early you can be sure to get in, if you miss your appointment there is still time to schedule another, and it leaves room to ask questions as they arise before your enrollment opens.
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2. We Are Here For You

If you take nothing else from these tips, take this one with you. We want to help you. It is not only our job, but it is something we are passionate about. There is no question too small and there are no stupid questions. I can't tell you how many students either don't ask me a question they have and end up missing out on something that could have really helped them. At the end of the day, we want to help you be successful. Period.
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3. When We Send You An Email, Read It

Anytime I send an email to a student, and I can confirm that it is like this for the advisors that I know as well, it has valuable information in it. Things like: your professor says you are going to fail if you miss any more classes, you need to get your holds lifted or you won't be able to enroll on time, scholarship applications are due by this date, we have amazing tutoring resources that could help in classes you are struggling with, and even information about mental health resources for other things you might be struggling with. So if you receive an email from your advisor, please take a second to read what is likely valuable information.
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4. We Are Humans

Crazy, right? To think someone could be sick sometimes or go on a vacation every once in a while; but it is true. We are here to help you, and we love our jobs, but sometimes life happens to us too and we may need to reschedule an appointment. That does not make us care any less, it is just what makes us human. 

5. We Can't Give You Professor Recommendations

A big misconception I hear about on what academic advisors do is when I hear complaints about, "well my advisor is the worst because they told me to take ... class!" Or "Ugh my professor is the worst, I can't believe my advisor would tell me to take their class." The classes we "tell" you to take are classes you need to graduate, we have no control over when it is offered or who is teaching it. And we can't tell you not to take a class because of the professor, because opinions on teaching styles are often so subjective. We can recommend classes/options/electives that other students have enjoyed, but for those it is still really up to you on if you choose to take them over another option.

6. Know Your Degree Plan

When you first begin at most institutions you are given a degree plan for your major and your academic start year. Whether that is a sheet of paper, a fancy degree works website, a giant book of majors, or a combination of the three, you have access to what classes you need to graduate. Part of being human is that advisors also sometimes make mistakes. We do our best not to, but seeing so many students it is hard not to miss some things.
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Venison Gumbo

11/7/2019

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After our trip to New Orleans you could say Adam and I left inspired. We have always talked about Gumbo and Crawfish Etouffee but have never actually made it ourselves. With most of the ingredients already taking residence in our kitchen we decided to go for a venison gumbo. I should warn that this recipe lasted us almost a full week, only coming short because we shared some with friends at work. With the northern winds blowing in for a chilly week it has been the perfect lunch/dinner, and it seems like the gumbo continues to gain flavor each day.
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Venison Gumbo

Ingredients:
  • ​1-2lbs cubed venison (we used a combination of different cuts)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 & 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1& 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 1 small green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small white onion, diced
  • 8 ounces beer (a dark beer preferably)
  • 4 cups chicken stock (we probably used 6 cups)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 pound Andouille sausage, cut into coins (or smoked kielbasa)
  • 1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
  • Cooked white rice or corn bread, for serving (we made corn bread)
Meat Prep Directions:
​Soak venison for 24-72 hours in milk or a milk-water mix covered in the refrigerator. 

Kitchen Tools Needed:
  • Dutch oven cooking pot
  • Metal whisk
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Cutting board
  • Knife
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Directions:
  • You will want to have everything prepared before you begin to cook, since this dish’s base will be a rue. If you burn a rue there is no going back, you just have to start over.
  • Chop all of your vegetables (onion, bell pepper, celery) and mix together in a mixing bowl. This mixture is called your trinity.
  • Have all of your ingredients nearby, since once you start cooking things will move fast.
  • With all ingredients prepared and nearby, pour your vegetable oil into your large dutch oven cooking pot, and heat on medium-high heat.
  • Once the oil is nice and hot, pour in your flour and begin stirring immediately!
  • Continue to stir the oil/flour mixture (rue) until it has reached a dark brown, Hersey’s milk chocolate bar color, and it should be the consistency of wet sand.
  • Once your rue is ready, pour in your trinity and add your bay leaves 
    • BE CAREFUL! Hot oil and liquids don’t mix well and can be dangerous, so please always pour away from yourself and be ready to reduce heat if any dangerous splashing of hot oil should occur.
  • Continuously mix the trinity and rue. Eventually your trinity mixture should start to calm down and not bubble as much, as well as your onions begin turning translucent; these two things indicate this step is done
  • Next, add in your garlic, cook an additional 30 seconds - 1 minute, and then pour in your beer as you keep mixing an additional 2-3 minutes
  • Mix in your chicken stock and reduce to a simmer (low-med heat)
    • At this point you do not need to continually mix, since your rue is done and so you are in the clear from “messing it up” so to speak.
  • Add in your seasonings and cut sausage
  • You should pre-brown your venison in a separate pan, but do not overcook the meat, as it will continue to cook a bit in the simmering gumbo.
  • Add in your venison and stir
  • Let the gumbo simmer covered for 45 minutes - 1 hour, until your vegetables are fully cooked and your venison is cooked to your liking. This part helps bring all those flavors together.
  • Serve your gumbo with some white rice over top, or pour it over a nice slice of cornbread! No matter how you enjoy it, this dish will warm you up and taste delicious!
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How to Give Better Gifts

11/6/2019

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We are approaching my absolute favorite time of year - the holiday season - and a few of my coworkers and I have already started to think about, pick out, and even purchase some of the holiday gifts for our friends, families, and secret santas. I pride myself on picking out thoughtful, fun, and occasionally elaborate gifts for those close to me, whether it be for the holidays, their birthday, or just a rough day in general. So here are a few tips that have really helped me whether getting a gift was a well-thought out process or a last minute grab!

1. Keep a list on your phone

Every day people drop hints on things they want or like or think are cool, whether it is intentional or unintentional it can help to read in to those things. I keep several lists on my phone's "Notes" labeled "Office Birthdays", "Friend Birthdays", and "Family Birthdays" that has a person's name, birthday, and random things I have thought of or has been brought up in conversation that could be a good gift. It is not a perfect system but overall it is pretty effective. 

My favorite is finding something my friends have openly said they want and then getting it for them months later after they've forgotten. I have at least 2 gifts on my list for people that this is the case for.
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2. If you see something early, buy it (especially if it is on sale)

Disclaimer **within reason. If you see something you know a friend or family member would LOVE and it is not out of your price range at the time, buy it then. I can't tell you how many times I have found the perfect gift that I could have afforded at the moment but waited because it was not close enough to the holidays, and every time I regret it. The fact is I end up spending waaaay too much in November and December and either have to super stretch my budget, or skimp on gifts I wish I hadn't. On top of it sometimes the item sells out or is discontinued between the nearest holiday and when I find it. Last summer one of my favorite stores had a going out of business sale in July and I bought over half of my family's gifts their for over half off and ended up saving money during the crazy holiday months.
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3. Stay Organized

Are you a gift-giver on a budget? Or just the kind of person who always forgets what they got or plan to get someone? Keep a running Google Sheet. It helps Adam and I budget what we are able to spend, keep track of what gifts are for who, and gave us an idea of what we were looking for during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. We ended up saving almost $200 the first year we started this trend, and it helps us reference what we've already given family members. It also helped because in joint gifts (either from Adam and myself or from multiple family members pooling in) we were able to keep track of who was pitching in for what. 
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4. Stock up on some universal gifts

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This may seem counter productive, but it is not what you think. If you have the opportunity to stock up on universal gifts like an Alexa, an iHome, a classic book, a coffee mug with candy in it, etc. it can really save you in a pinch. It happens so often that a birthday comes up or someone brings an unexpected guest to a family holiday event that require a last minute gift, and it is not always reasonable to run to the store. Having a few back-up gifts that are easy to wrap can be a life saver. Personally, I love to overstock on Bath and Body Works products when there is a sale so that I can combo a few as a gift if needed. That works well because if we end up not needing them for a long period of time Adam and I can still use them ourselves so we don't feel as though we wasted money buying those items.  

5. Think about the person

This may seem obvious, but to sometimes it is easy to get wrapped up in getting a "good gift" vs. a gift the person will appreciate. Ask yourself, is this person sentimental? If yes, a picture or something from a memory is a great gift; but if the answer is no it is important to look more into gifts the person might find "useful".
Another good question, is the person going through a major life event? One of the best gifts I've ever received was a cookbook of recipes compiled from my grandmother's kitchen. My aunt went through all of the cookbooks and note cards, even scanning some instead of typing them if it was a recipe she wrote by hand. My aunt gave copies to all of our family the first Christmas after my grandmother's passing and I still believe it was the perfect gift. It carries so much sentimentality, but is also something I've used 20+ times over the past year. It was very relevant to what was happening in our lives right then.
​One last tip to consider, what is something this person will actually use? It ties in to the other two questions but is still strong enough to stand alone. This is something I really struggled with for a while because I would think of things I live vs. what another person would like. Coffee mugs are amazing if you drink coffee/tea at home, but for a person who hates coffee or is always on the go it may be better to consider other options. This especially applies to children. When choosing gifts for kids it is so easy to think of what we liked as a kid or interests we want kids to take on, but it is much more beneficial to ask their parents what their interests are or if you are able to ask the kids themselves. Every year I debate getting my brother a book or a cool science-y toy, but he loves football and playing video games so gifts revolving around those things mean so much more to him. 
I hope these tips can help you this holiday season, and maybe just in general! Giving something to someone else is a gift all on its' own, and it feels great to give something that brings them joy. What are some of the best gifts you've received and why were they the best? What are some of the best gifts you've given to others? Let me know in the comments.
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Engineering Majors as Harry Potter Characters

11/5/2019

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Being a huge Harry Potter nerd surrounded by other Harry Potter nerds, there was a night recently that was discussed which harry potter characters fit the different engineering majors that we advise. We had so much fun coming up with them so I hope you enjoy our list as much as we enjoyed making it!

Chemical Engineering - Draco Malfoy

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Aerospace Engineering - Madam Hooch

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Biosystems Engineering - Neville Longbottom

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Architecture/Architectural Engineering - Luna Lovegood

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Civil Engineering - Fred & George Weasley

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Mechanical Engineering Technology - Harry Potter

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Industrial Engineering - Ginny Weasley

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Mechanical Engineering - Dean Thomas

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Fire Protection and Safety Engineering - Seamus Finnigan

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Computer Engineering - Percy Weasley

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Electrical/Computer Engineering Double Major
​- Hermione Granger

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Construction Engineering Technology - Minerva McGonagall

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Electrical Engineering Technology - Collin Creevy

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Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering Double Major
​- Cedric Diggory

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Thank you for joining! We based the characters assigned to each major off of personality, how studious they were at Hogwarts as students or teachers, some of their interests, and some of the general personality tropes we see in the different characters. Disagree with any? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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Caring for Ace: First Weekend Away

11/1/2019

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Have you ever known someone to be so "extra" that they gave you step-by-step instructions on how to take care of their pet/child? After years of babysitting and dog sitting I always appreciated the notes, but was never sure if I'd be the same way in that situation. With my cat I always asked friends to just check on him once and clean his litter if it was full, nothing to crazy. Yet last weekend on Ace's first weekend without Adam and I since we brought him home I found myself making a manual on how to care for him. Check it out:
While this is a little over the top, Ace's first babysitters said it was helpful! They said throughout the weekend Ace did really well, he listened to commands (well, excluding "Crate"), he did not chew up their belongings, he listened and did not eat their dog's food, and went all weekend without an accident! His areas of weakness? Whining at night, playing a little rough with the other pup (a mini yorkie), and jumping on the couch. So all in all, a good experience! We are so thankful that we had wonderful people to watch him, and I am glad to know that he is a happy pup no matter where he is or who is with him
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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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A Few of My Favorite Things

9/27/2019

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So, yesterday was my birthday, and I thought it would be fun to do a “few of my favorite things” post. I have a lot of favorite things, but the more I thought about it the less I wanted to talk about material possessions. I thought about my true favorite things and my favorite parts of yesterday, this past year, and my life as a whole. Realizing I’ve been alive for a quarter of a century is a little surreal and gave me time to contemplate what I’ve found to be important. Warning: this will get a little sappy. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Quality time with my friends and family.

Whether it is an evening hanging out with my husband or watching Bachelor in Paradise with my friends, a weekend with my parents or extended family, my wedding and seeing a lot of Adam and I’s friends and family in one place, the skype chats with my close friends from graduate school, or a phone call from my high school friends, they all mean so much to me. Quality time is my number one love language and I’ve found that I really cherish the company of others. I hope I can get better at reaching out on my own to keep better communication with all of my family and friends, but I'm grateful for the talks that I have and have had.

2. Thoughtfulness.

Yesterday my sweet friends decorated my office, a coworker bought me my first maple bacon donut, and I had so many kind and thoughtful messages from texts and social media that made me realize how lucky I am to have so many great people in my life. No one had to message me or get me anything, but they all thought about me enough to reach out and it meant a lot.

3. My sweet pets.

Almost 2 years ago we took in sweet Leo, and now 2 months have passed since Ace came into our lives. I am so grateful for those fur babies and the love they bring to our household. 
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4. My faith.

Something that constantly helps me push through good and bad days is my faith. My faith that rough times will pass. My faith that I am growing and learning every day and that I am not who I used to be and that is ok. My faith in God and his plan. My faith that giving back to our community and to others is a worthy investment of time. My faith in that you reap what you sow, and that the work we put in today will reflect in what happens in the future (for most things).

5. Strength.

The past 3 years have shown me a lot about myself. Some of it my own, but I’ve always known I could be a strong person. Mostly it is the strength in others. Learning to rely on my peers, my team members, my supervisees, my supervisors, my friends, and my family’s strength. I heard in a presentation recently that a bad team member or supervisor can sometimes have the “superhero” complex that they have to do everything on their own for it to be done right, and that it is faster to get it done than to teach others. It is a toxic mindset that does not allow growth for others, but also puts a lot of pressure on an individual. It is a mindset I used to live in. I’ve found that I work with and have worked with incredibly talented and capable people who are valuable and can contribute if they are given the autonomy to. It is one of my favorite things. I’ve learned to see the strengths in others and to trust them and rely on them, and hope that they also know they can rely on me.
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Adventures of Ace: Corgi Puppy Weeks 14-17

9/24/2019

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Here we area gain catching up on the past few weeks of Ace's life! I had a small typo as it will actually be the weeks 14-17 since we have already talked about week 13. If you are raising a corgi pup or maybe just love dogs in general I hope this is a fun and helpful read.
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Age: 14 Weeks Old
Ace has really adjusted to us at this point and is becoming very open. We noticed that he only barks when he wants attention whether that be from us, strangers walking by, or other dogs. We had our first visit to the Three Dog Bakery and he had a blast! He loved all the fun smells, and we got him a new harness, collar, and adorable OSU bow-tie. At this point Ace is 95% bell trained. He rings the bell whenever he wants to go outside and has not had any accidents. Sometimes he even takes naps by his potty bell so he can ring it when he wakes up. Ace had another round of shots and another de-wormer, but we are on the right track. Ace can consistently sit and is better at "down" or "lie down". He weight about 10lbs at the vet's office so he has almost doubled in size since the first week we had him (wow!) and his coat has thickened out into a beautiful and shiny black.

Age: 15 Weeks Old
We started off this week with Ace's first day of obedience school! We went to K-9 Kinetics in Stillwater, OK and Ace did pretty well. He was not the only pup there, there were about 8 dogs and 16 people in total. We were very proud because for the first time Ace was surrounded by dogs and people in close proximity but he did not bark at anyone! He really showed us how well he can "lie down" and even learned how to get on and off of objects. There were several other things covered in the class, but these were some fun ones he really started to master. We went to the Three Dog Bakery again as a reward which was great! Ace has been having a lot of energy in the evenings when we get home from work so we've started to be more intentional with play time and taking longer walks. It has really shown because he is back to sleeping almost all the way through the night. 

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Age: 16 Weeks Old
Ace had his second week of school this week and he worked on "drop it", "leave it", and "bed". He is doing really well with his training and seems to have a lot of fun doing it. Adam and I have started waking up earlier to take Ace on a 20-30 minute walk every morning and it has helped Ace and us alike. We feel more active and motivated but it also gives Ace a chance to stretch his legs and run out some energy. He also has slept through the night every single night since we started doing it and I think it is because we wake up earlier so he is not waiting quite as long (who knew 30 minutes would be the difference). Instead of using treats for all of our training we've started taking some of his dinner and using the pieces as treats to do training before feeding him the rest, that way he is not overdoing the calories. We also have started trying different bones to help with his chewing habits. We are steering clear of raw hide for now but have been trying some natural fruit and meat bones. He chews through them really quickly but when he gets restless they can really make a difference! During week 16 we also took Ace on his first stay at a hotel. The power went out in our apartment for about 7 hours so at 9pm we decided to get a hotel for the night. Ace did not respond to it well at first, but after about a half hour in his crate he adjusted and went back to sleep. The new bones really helped with this.

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Age: 17 Weeks Old
While school was canceled for this week it did not stop us from learning many new tricks! We worked on "be sad", coming when called (even in busy places),  and "heel"-ing. He has this really cute habit of sitting with Adam and I in the restroom whether it is to go or to take a shower. It feels like he is guarding us but I think it is just because he likes to be around us. We did have to discontinue giving Ace rope toys because he chews them to the point of eating them and they are rough on his stomach, but he does really well with rubber toys. His favorite game is still tug of war or "chase" with the cat. We switched up his diet (the slow integrating way) to the Hills Scientific Puppy formula and his bathroom breaks have become more consistent. We went in to the vet for more hook worm medication and to get Ace's weight and he is up to almost 14 pounds! He has over doubled in size and is now half the size he will be in less than a year. We are shocked our sweet pup has grown so much but he still has quite a bit more to go. Stay tuned for more updates next month!

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Classic Country Rum Cake

9/23/2019

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Last Christmas was the first one spent without my grandmother, Connie Otto (or CiCi to us grand-kids). My grandmother was a phenomenal chef. She could cook almost anything, and she could bake too. She was the type of person who always had a dessert or appetizer on hand for when company came over, and we couldn’t visit without gaining 5+ pounds in a week from all of the delicious treats. A classic one I remember her making is her Rum Cake. It is very simple, with a glaze to match, and reminds me of the sliced pound cakes served in coffee shops. This weekend I felt inspired to pull from her recipes (courtesy of the book my Aunt Becky made with all of CiCi’s favorites) and I found myself fixated on the Rum Cake recipe. After making it I realized there was no way I could keep it in the house, Adam and I would eat the whole thing if we did! So I brought it to work where it was devoured by lunch. Check out the recipe below: 
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Classic Country Rum Cake

Cake Ingredients:
- 5 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 & 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 sticks butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp rum extract/flavoring
Directions:
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another (I melted and cooled the butter before starting)
- Slowly mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients until smooth.
​- Pre-grease a cake pan (i chose a bundt cake pan) and pour in mixture.
​- Bake at 300F for an hour. When done make glaze:
Glaze Ingredients:
​- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp rum extract/flavoring
- 1/2 cup water

Glaze Instructions:
- Put all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook at high heat until it begins to boil.
- Once the boiling mixture looks clear bring the heat down.
- While the cake is still hot, pour over the top and let it drip down onto and into the cake. (I used a bundt pan for the cake so I removed it from the bundt pan before glazing it).


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At home my husband and I enjoyed it with some chocolate ice cream, but we brought most of the cake to work after letting it refrigerate over night and it was a hit!
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    I am a student affairs professional, an amateur chef, and an adventurer at heart.

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