Flip Ultra HD

After 18 months of video from my cell phone, we decided it was time to get a better recording device! So, I went thrift-shopping online and was able to get a brand new Flip Ultra HD camcorder for $36.00! I had an Amazon gift card that I used and was able to get money off my purchase a few other ways as well. Needless to say, we're excited to finally have this! Some friends of ours introduced us to the flip... and the rest is history! :) They're cool. You can see some new video on our youtube channel!
Yay!

Cooking Tips, Cooking Tips, and More Cooking Tips

I was just surfing the E-Mealz blog and came across this...

Cooking Tips, Cooking Tips, and More Cooking Tips

I always need a few extra cooking tips!
I hope it is insightful!

Wanderlust...

First, I have to let those who made the dump cake... it does not turn out like a fluffy cake. I should have mentioned that when I gave the recipe. It's a pretty thin "cake" that is basically a fruit on the bottom w/crunchyish top kind of cake. Just to clarify. I had a few questions about that.

Now, where do I begin!? There is SO much that I could discuss in today's blog...
The fact that the world did not end... (I was not one of those "followers," by the way, and it makes a sad representation of Christianity when someone falsely prophesies).
The pain it is to be a landlord...
The trouble our president continues to make...
The annoyance of trying to buy a car...
The amazing deals I've been getting lately...
The issue about the rising gas prices...

Gas prices... that makes me think... and it gives me something positive to "blog" today! I think I have a serious disease. Actually, I know I do. I mean, it's plagued me since I was a child, but I've only been able to peg it down recently and figure out what it actually is. "This is a positive blog?" You may be asking...

Well, yes. It is.

This disease I have, I guess, it really is a positive thing. It's called Wanderlusticism. (Yup, made that up myself). Basically, what it is, is a desire to travel to every possible place I can, see as many things I can, and learn about the people, the culture, the differences, etc... It's positive, because it helps me have dreams and goals. Of course, it's a pretty shallow and selfish disease, I do like it and don't want to get any help for it... Not yet, at least.
When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be like my dad (except for being a hunter). I am a definite "daddy's girl." My mom and I are close, but I already know I'm like her... probably too much like her that it clashes sometimes. :) One way that I know I am certainly like my father is his desire to travel and see the world and experience life. I LOVE that about him... and I think, my Wanderlusticism is an inherited disease from him.

I've always loved geography, always LOVED maps, know how to use a compass, and most of all - LOVE traveling... much of that comes from my dad. I know it has. So, when I was little, I decided I wanted to go to every state in the United States - whether it was driving through or staying in that state... I wanted to visit each one before I died. It was kind of my #1 "bucket list" item as a child... and when you're a kid... getting to 50 states in your lifetime seems impossible. :)

I've changed since then. When I was in my late teens, I realized that it was a bit easier to travel. So I gave myself a new deadline... 30. This was all well and good... I had money and I had time. :) I traveled a bit here and there in high school and college and I've been to MANY of the states. Now, however, it's a bit more difficult to travel - it's expensive and takes time I don't really have anymore... but I'm still shooting for my goal.
Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to check off a bunch of states with my husband as we toured the West coast together. AMAZING! We went to Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. When I was pregnant, my friend and I went to Colorado - driving through Iowa and Nebraska... and then driving up through Wyoming, South Dakota, and Minnesota. A few years before that, I traveled to Georgia with the Dack family to go on a camping trip... we drove through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, up South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Indiana, and then home...
A few years before that, I took a road trip with another friend (when in college), and we traveled to Banff in Canada... but went through MN, North Dakota, Montana, and then up to the boarder... A few years before that I traveled to Missouri with some friends that are like family to me... We hit Iowa, Missouri, and even made it to the boarder of Kansas.  When in high school, I traveled with a singing group and also went to Missouri... My senior trip was to the east coast... we hit Washington D.C. (a territory, I know), Pennsylvania, and Ohio (and others I've already mentioned).
I've been to Michigan, New York, and Florida a few times.

So - I have 2 1/2 years left... and this is what needs to be covered:

Out West: Idaho.
Out East: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Down South: New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.
Way Far Yonder: Hawaii and Alaska.

Meanwhile, we need to get our little man to Australia to visit his family!

17 states... and for some reason... I'm going back to that daunting feeling of impossibility...
I do love my wanderlusticism, but it has its drawbacks.
Once I'm 30 and finish those 17 states (hopefully) - I will be turning my focus onto bigger things... like, going to the British Isles, backpacking through Europe, Italy for our 25th anniversary, and eventually seeing New Zealand! :) For now, I'm thinking as locally as possible.

I think I need to go back to what a wise friend once told me, "It's not where you go, it's who you're with."
And with that, I say, friends and family are always welcome to travel with me! :)
I blame my dad for this.