The delicious Blood Orange

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First off –I don’t like oranges.  At least I thought I didn’t.

As posted before, I think it’s pretty neat that Californians can grow citrus trees in their front yards.  Lemons, grapefruit, oranges, not to mention: the Blood Orange.  I first discovered this creation one February afternoon with my friend, Cassidy.  He had a handful of oranges and offered me one.  I politely accepted the fruit –even though oranges really aren’t my favorite treat.  He told me that it was a blood orange and I was suddenly curious.  I had remembered reading about blood oranges for a school project and always wondered how they tasted.  I began to peel the fruit and was surprised when red juice started to dribble down the rind.  I soon made it to the deep red, fleshy  fruit and took a bite.  Talk about delicious: (Blood Oranges are exceptionally juicy with a sweet-tart kick).  I quickly gobbled up the fruit and couldn’t stop thinking about how good it tasted even the next day.

Now this very whole time, there had been a bowl of oranges on the table at home; but because I was so used to detesting oranges, of course I hadn’t tried one.  I later heard my brother, Kennedy, talking about how we had blood oranges and my ears perked up right away.

“We have blood oranges?!” I exclaimed.

Kennedy: “Yeah”

Me: “Alllll of these are blood oranges?”

Kennedy: “Yeah…”

Haha, and I ate about 2 or 3 of them that very afternoon.

They’re smaller than regular oranges.  I’m going to post a youtube clip of peeling a blood orange.

The funniest thing is how now, I actually like oranges.  They’ll be another comforting reminder of home to me when I’m back at the “Y”.  Back at the “Y”, Good Morning Susan: Back at the “Y”  ~Coming soon in just 7 months from now!

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Pickup Place: college is amazing

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I wrote this email home a few years ago about a group of friends living in the Pickup Place, a house in my neighborhood, and about my friends, Amber and Jordan.  They were musicians, comedians, actors, businessmen and creative geniuses.  Call them my mentors if you’d like, I aged years in just hours of conversation over business, music and politics.  I owe a lot of my ideas and success today to the support and example of these great people:

September 28, 2009

Pickup Place, the only house in our ward, was once inhabited by football players and random normal people.  They were interesting my freshman year because they were my FHE (Family Home Evening) brothers, the upstairs part at least-and these were the random normal people.  I love football, and football players, but I never really got to know them.  Last year, I think I had only one friend in Pickup and began to forget about that rundown house, with the ancient kitchen sink, and peculiar 6 rooms transformed to potentially house 12.  This year, my third year in BYU 22 (YSA Ward), is different.  It’s like something amazing happened, and I think it stems from some sort of magic within Joel Ackerman, once known as Mr. BYU, now a comic for Humor U and part of the Orabrush campaign…it’s like one film major was all it took to attract composers, musicians, marketing specialists, and other actors to this once forgotten abode in my BYU student existence.  Suddenly, it became a magical house of creativity and business.  A link to the outside world, but not through the boredom of stock markets or econ-the bain of my existence, no, through the curiosity of stand-up comedy, musical recording and all the potential of facebook advertising.

I’ve spent the past couple weeks playing with these people, these crazy guys.  Watching Joel compete for BYU’s Humor U stand-up comedy team-and he totally made it!, watching Joel’s brother, Dave compete in another stand-up club, playing my music for people, analyzing lyrics, and discussing the marketing methods behind Jeff’s project-The Orabrush.  Next, let’s not forget my amazing composer roommate: Amber Masterson.  A few days ago, she, our friend, Jordan Rose, and I played in a drumming circle of fantastic energy.  They were of course better than I, but it was so much fun.  She wants to write film scores and plays improv accompaniment for UVU dance classes.
Just being surrounded by all of this creative energy inspires me.  Moves me.  Excites me about the future and the possibilities of life.  I really want to look into some internships for this summer related to marketing, and I’ve been pondering finding some sort of company related to specific cultural groups…there’s gotta be a way to make money with all of my skills and interests rolled into one, I just have to find it…college is amazing.
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No Provo sleepover is complete without a Cosmo Cougar Pillow-Pet!

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Dinner Party

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Hawaiian Haystacks, mmmm

The Nelson’s hosted a dinner party this Provo visit.  Rachel and I brought toppings for Hawaiian Haystacks, while Trina and Kyle made chicken and rice; Michelle picked up some Creamery Ice Cream, and our party was set!

When I first moved to California I noticed a sudden increase in sent and received text messages and I’ve decided that it’s most-likely because it’s cheaper than spending minutes on a couple hours of conversation–Especially since we all live miles from each other–but in Provo, although we do text, I remember physically visiting each other the most; and dinner parties are a common past-time.

Sometimes students will play games after the meal or watch a flick.  This evening we mostly just chatted and played some music.  After Rachel and Jon left, the rest of us watched Invictus.  It was a simple but enjoyable get together.  I’d prefer good company to an opera any night!

Michelle and I love Creamery ice cream!

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A Pipe Cleaner Christmas

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It’s New Years Eve and time to bid farewell to 2011.  My trip to Provo was great and now I have at least two or three BYU Student Living posts to share!  For those who aren’t familiar with this Good Morning Susan category, it’s when I write about topics pertaining to life as a BYU student.  Not just the price of tuition but real student living.  I photo attacked Rachel’s apartment in Elite, gushing over their extremely clever idea of decorating a small Christmas tree with pipe cleaner ornaments.  Talk about cheap, creative, and ingenious!

Rachel, Tausha, Ellie, Emily & Michelle's Pipe Cleaner Christmas!

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JSB testing

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Fall semester 2010 officially ended last week by Friday evening, approximately 10 PM, -well for the stragglers. 

I waited 30 minutes in line at the Joseph Smith Building for my last test.  It wasn’t so bad.  I played a game on my ipod while I waited.  Testing in the auditorium of the Joseph Smith Building is no big deal, but definitely not my favorite place.  You’re crammed in those little seat/desks with people right next to you, in front of you, and behind you.  If you have left-handed issues like me, I guess you just suck it up and write sideways like always during lecture. 

I’ve never been a fan of testing centers.  Since I  always procrastinate, the promised extra time  the system gives, doesn’t help much if I cram the night before; but maybe that’s a personal issue…

All in all I’m sure there’s a few upsides to testing centers.  Leave a comment if you can think of any.

Don’t worry, this won’t be the only post this Christmas.  I’ve got some pictures I want to put up later from a party.

Happy Monday, and Happy 5 days to Christmas!

-Sariah

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Reading days and Bookstore packaging

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Y Mountain. Classes are ending, it's almost finals time!

As another BYU semester comes to a close, students are gearing up for one last hurrah over a reading day weekend.  “Reading Days” are the days that we’re supposed to be studying for the upcoming Finals week, and lots of students do, but not everyone.  I’ve got 7 events listed in my Facebook for Friday and Saturday alone, which means this social network at least, is all a buzz.  Too bad we aren’t Hornets…cause then I could totally make a pun out of that; but I guess you wouldn’t be laughing too hard.

In my case, I’ve got one more paper, and a large homework assignment to complete before I can even start dreaming about making it to any of those parties; but before I dive into the world of Stigmas, I’d like to mention the packing and shipping office in the basement of the BYU Bookstore.

It’s an odd little corner you can find just East of the art prints section.  Wander down the hall, you at first don’t seem to belong in, and turn left, right before entering the Book Store backstage employee-only warehouse.  It’s a small, white, cinder block room, with boxes on the wall and a counter with 3 or 4 computers and a bell.  I like to bring them white boxes covered in packaging tape.  The clerk weighs my packages at a $1.90 each, and I hand him a blue debit card in return.  And that’s how you send off 15 or so CDs to friends all around the world…or just the country.

-Sariah

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Tim Tams in Utah

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Tim Tams, now available at Smith’s

Editor’s note: If you’re wondering where to buy TimTams in Utah, the answer is you can really only get them during Christmas time at a grocery store like Smith’s or Macey’s. I’m not sure why they only come around during the holidays…but I can’t seem to find them at any other time. If you’re someone who does know where to get the goods, leave a  comment below. Now onto the story:

I’d like to say that I had a real Tim Tam Slam this weekend, right here in Provo City, USA, but unfortunately that’d be a lie.  I can say though, that I’ve seen Tim Tams at the Smith’s grocery store, and although we didn’t eat real Tim Tams this weekend, we did buy a couple packages of Keebler Grasshoppers and pretended they were Tim Tams.  Yep, we sucked our hot chocolate and egg nog dry with those Grasshoppers, and Kyle called it a Grasshopper Shlopper.  Give it a try sometime, though I bet it doesn’t beat a Tim Tam Slam; and I promise you that Mo and I totally saw carmel and milk chocolate ones last time we bought groceries.  They exist, and they’re here!

If you don’t know what a Tim Tam Slam is, (never mind Grasshopper Shlopper), it’s what happens when you bite off the short end on either side of your Tim Tam (or Grasshopper), dip it into your milk, and suck through the other dry end like a straw.  You get a taste of chocolate goodness (in this case minty chocolate) and a creamy soggy cookie that you better catch before it plops right into your cup.  Mmmmm.  So good.

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Caroling in the Square

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I love that Santa is wearing flip-flops

The snow has officially melted, but we all know that wasn’t the last of it.  I was walking through Brigham Square today and saw a group of students dressed in a variety of costumes from the nativity scene, and Santa Clause in a plastic chair.  The girl in the back, on the left, is my favorite.  Looks like she’s supposed to be the Christmas Star, wrapped in gold fabric and Christmas lights.  They were caroling and Santa gave a hearty “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!” to all the students walking by.

In an unofficial flyer competition with Divine Comedy, their event reads: “Carollama 2010 annual food drive”.  For $2 a person, $3 a couple, you can go around caroling 6:30 PM tonight (Friday), and 5:30 PM tomorrow night (Saturday) with real llamas, for canned food!  I’m assuming all proceeds go to the food drive as well.  Oh and they’re meeting in the NE corner of the Law Parking Lot if you wanna go…plug complete.

Divine Comedy was handing out flyers too for their show this weekend, tonight and tomorrow as well, 7 and 9 PM shows, JFSB auditorium, $5 presale, and $6 at the door.  You might want to check that out too.

And since we’re listing all events happening this weekend, I’m personally going to “Christmas Around the World” at 7:30 PM in the Marriott Center.  Tickets for that are $9 I think, with a student ID.  Over 200 dancers in dozens of costumes, performing folk dances from all over the world, once tonight and twice tomorrow.  Either way, this weekend’s packed.

-Sariah

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Winter fashions and student ratings

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"I do believe that the peacoat originated from a coat that sailors wore..."

It’s December in 2 hours.  We’ve made it through another fall semester at BYU and the snow is on the ground.  The permanent fashion for men and women on campus has and still remains the peacoat.  Usually in black, but every once in a while students will venture into colors like red or blue, these are most often the girls.  I have a peacoat, two actually: black and blue, haha.  Ironically when I google search peacoat though, most of the images are of male models; but  I do believe that the peacoat originated from a coat that sailors wore, who were generally men.  Got it.  This story could be wrong…so don’t quote me on it.

You’ll get used to the snow, and hopefully it won’t take you four years.  I like it a lot now actually, and snow boots are a must. I remember when everyone wore UGGS, haha, but now it’s just whatever.  Rain boots have been in lately too.  I don’t own a pair, but someday I might.

BYU usually requests that students fill out these “student-ratings” surveys online near the end of semesters.  I used to think it was no big deal, until one day my professor told us that they’re actually  a tool the university uses for grading a teacher, and I believe if they aren’t being rated above an 8, it could be bad-news-bears for them…say goodbye to tenure kids…which = not good.  So, rate your teachers honestly, and if you’re sweet, rate them high (but honest 🙂 ).  After hearing this, I think I’ll actually do my student ratings this semester (I usually never do them…).

-Sariah

Please do your student ratings.

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