Monday, December 3, 2012

Sometimes, dogs need Xanax too

I am currently in the process of moving and the whole ordeal has been pretty rough on my dog Sampson.  The poor guy has developed anxiety and separation anxiety.  In an earlier blog post, I mentioned how he had been peeing on my bed.  Apparently that was an early form of his anxiety from moving!  

Although he hasn't peed on the bed since then, he has been piddling a lot and also, while he normally loves riding in the car, he has been absolutely freaking out!  In fact, he has been just freaking out in general.  The other day, he was carrying his bone in his mouth and just walking in circles whining!  Finally I decided to call his vet and find out what I can do to make it easier on him.  

What he suggested was basically a puppy form of Xanax- a sedative, anti-anxiety medication that will virtually knock him on his butt and make him "happy."  Sampson is only going to be taking this medication for ten days max because we want this to aid him, not have him rely on it.

Sampson relaxing after his puppy "Xanax."



Any pet owner who is experiencing problems with their dog ranging from motion sickness to G.I. problems, will find the website http://www.diamondpaws.com/health/drugs.htm useful.  This website lays out what over the counter, human medicines are or are not safe for dogs and their recommended dosages.  It is extremely useful and I urge you to check it out.

#MyDogNeedsToGoToTheSpa


Friday, November 30, 2012

Saving the Day with Cheesecake

I know everyone gets into the Christmas, baking spirit around this time of year.  However, we often run into the problem of what to make!  Personally, my favorite thing to do after finals week is to go home and cook with my mom, it really helps de-stress me! 

Today I am posting a recipe for Peppermint Bark Cheesecake.  Make this and you will be sure to impress anyone- and also de-stress yourself a little (-:


Photo courtesy of: http://countrypleasures.blogspot.nl/

Crust:
            2 – 3 cups finely ground chocolate graham crackers*
            6 – 8 tbsp. of butter
            1/3 cup of sugar
            1/8 tsp. salt
*Note: 2 cups is fine if you only want crust on the bottom, but no sides. Use 2 1/2 – 3 cups if you want sides.
Cheesecake:
            5 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
            5 eggs
            2 egg yolks
            2 tsp. vanilla
            1 3/4 cups sugar
            1/8 cup flour
            1/4 cup heavy cream
            10 oz. white chocolate
            1/4 – 1/2 tsp. (to taste) peppermint extract
            Red food coloring
Chocolate Ganache
            6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
            2 tbsp. powdered sugar, sifted
            4 tbsp. cold (important!), unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
            1/8 – 1/4 tsp. (to taste) peppermint extract
            Crushed peppermints
Process
.              Get out your cream cheese, eggs and cream and let sit while making the crust so that they are at or close to room temp by the time you need them.
.              Grind up crackers in a blender or food processor if necessary. Mix crumbs, sugar, salt and butter in a bowl until combined and press into the bottom and if you want, about an inch or two up the sides of a 10″ spring form pan. Place in a preheated 350 degree (F) oven and bake for 10 minutes. Take out to cool. Turn off the oven.
.              In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, egg yolks and vanilla; mix until smooth.
.              Add in the sugar, flour and heavy cream and blend until smooth. Do not over-mix as this will create more air bubbles which can contribute to your cake cracking.
.              Melt white chocolate on the stove over low heat or in the microwave. Mix into cheesecake batter.
.              Transfer 1/3 cheesecake batter into another bowl. Stir in peppermint extract and a few drops of food coloring.
.              Pour 1/3 of the original batter into the prepared crust. Drop in spoonfuls of the peppermint mixture on top. Pour in the rest of the original batter over that. Finally, drop in spoonfuls of the rest of peppermint mixture and swirl it all around with a knife, but don’t over mix.
.               Place in the oven and then turn it on to 400 degrees (F). Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the oven down to 200 degrees (F).Full size: Bake for 3 hours. Then turn the oven off, prop open the door slightly and let cool for 1 hour. Finally, place in your refrigerator and chill for a full 24 hours.
  Small size: Bake for 2 hours. Then turn the over off, prop open the door slightly and let cool for 1 hour. Finally, place in your refrigerator and chill 12-24 hours. Remove spring form pan.
.               To make topping, melt chocolate on the stove over low heat or in the microwave. Remove from heat and let stand for 3 minutes.
.              Using a small whisk, stir in powdered sugar, followed by the pieces of butter. Stir in peppermint extract. If the mixture is too thin to spread, place the bowl over ice water and stir for a few seconds or until it thickens.
Quickly spread a thin layer of chocolate on top of the cheesecake (if it gets too firm, put it back on the stove over low heat for a minute or so). Sprinkle with crushed peppermints and gently press them into the chocolate. Let set at room temperature for at least 10 minutes before serving.


#CheesecakeSolvesAllProblems!


Recipe courtesy of: http://countrypleasures.blogspot.nl/

"I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues"

As a nanny, one of the problems I run into is finding a family friendly movie with a positive message.  Today, so many movies lack the same principals and quality of those from when I was growing up such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast or Snow White.  I feel that even though movies are dubbed "children's movies" there are so many that basically rot their brain.

I like to show movies to the kids I nanny for that teach them something and leave them excited about what they just watched.  One movie in particular I recommend for ANY age group is the movie The Lorax.

Based off of Dr.Seuss's book, the movie teaches children about air quality, ecological protection and awareness and greed.  Through multiple songs in the movie, children are left singing about these issues and are excited to practice the main theme of the movie: protect and growth of trees.

The character the Lorax, is known for saying, "I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues."  Through the movie, the children learn about why we need tress as well as letting them grow.  The kids I nanny for love the song, "Let it Grow," which promotes tree growth.

All in all, if you are looking for a good, family friendly, educational, fun movie for anyone under the age of 12, watch The Lorax.





Thursday, November 29, 2012

Why Washburn is the #1 Choice

Here is part two of my podcast about why the college I currently attend is the #1 choice. 
 Enjoy!


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Choosing The Right College and Major

Here is part one of my podcast called College is a Lasting Decision.  Part one is called Choosing the Right College and Major and focuses on just that!

Enjoy!


Monday, November 26, 2012

College is a Lasting Decision

Over the next two days, I will be uploading a two part podcast series called College is a Lasting Decision.  Tomorrow I will be discussing choosing the right college and the next day I will be discussing why Washburn University, the college I currently attend, is a great college choice!

The point of this podcast is to inform prospective college students about not only how to pick a college, but what a good college can offer you.  Every college student goes through these battles and at some point in time, have to choose a college.

Enjoy!

Summer in the Mountains

One of the things college students struggle with most is money.  Sometimes, students have a hard time finding a job for the school year and then again for the summer.  Today, I would like to give you, my readers, an option.  Why not spend a summer as a camp counselor?

That is the very question I asked myself last year when I considered applying to be a camp counselor.  I decided that while I would be receiving pay, I also would be receiving food and a place to stay at no cost to me.  With that in mind, I set out to find a camp that was very different and very far away from Kansas.

I found my home this past summer at the Green River Preserve Summer Camp in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.  I left at the end of May and did not return home until mid August.  While there, I was exposed to a new climate, animals, plants and experiences.  In a single session, the kids will be taught multiple different activities, partake in daily mentor hikes, learn simple farming, go on a two day pack-out/hike-out camp-out and most of all, learn to find themselves and "Be the best me at GRP!"

The camp itself is an educational nature camp that is located on over 6,000 acres in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains.  The owners, "Mama" Missy and Sandy are two of the sweetest people you will ever meet.  Missy runs the camp, and Sandy enjoys the camp, mainly teaching fly fishing and tying.

I urge everyone, at some point in their college career, to spend a summer giving to others and becoming a camp counselor.  The personal rewards and experiences are unlike any you will ever receive.

I spent my summer as not only a counselor but also the lead photographer of the GRP's media team.  Below I have created a slideshow of my photographs from this past summer.  (To see photo captions, click full screen then click show info in the upper right.)





#GRPStaff!