Cara's Corner

I Tried a Side of Hair With My Meatballs

2009-05-17T18:12:00.001-07:00

Today is my dad’s 50th birthday, so I, my brother, and his fiancée Rachel planned a surprise party which was quite a hit! After a weekend of cleaning the house, shopping, and running around like a banshee woman (party planning at its best), it was nice to sit down and eat some good food with friends and family. One of the foods that I had been looking forward to enjoying was my Grandma Rosie’s meatballs, which are the best I’ve ever had. Seriously. The best.

As I forked the first meatball and lifted it up to my mouth, I noticed a thick, curly gray hair dangling from the meatball. Sadly, my meatball moment was ruined. Now I’m sure that I just got unlucky and that there weren’t any other hairs, but hair in my food is something that I am repulsed by. Not only would I not be able to eat that meatball, but I probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy any of the other food on my plate. So I was left pondering…exactly how many hairs does the average person consume without seeing/knowing?

To answer this question, I got online and searched the all-knowing Google. Unfortunately, I did not find anything (if you do…please inform me, I’m curious). I did, however, find an article that is even more disturbing.

Did you know that bread products contain human hair? Well, not exactly…let’s rip out a person’s hair and mix it in the dough. But there is a protein called L-Cysteine that is found in human hair…that is put in bread…eck and ugh.

All I have to say is…thank God I don’t eat bread anymore (thanks South Beach Diet).

Guess Where I Found the Gizmo?

2009-05-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was at home by myself for most of the evening-Mom was at her showhouse and Dad was working late. So I thought I would be nice and do laundry, clean up the house, and make dinner. The whole time, I had the TV on for background noise.

After about three hours of doing what made me feel like a "mom," I decided to sit down and actually watch some TV. I really wanted to watch one of my favorite shows, Ugly Betty on ABC, so I had to change the channel but I couldn't find the damn remote control ANYWHERE. (And I have NO idea how to change the channel on those Comcast digital cable boxes...nothing like a regular TV.)

I looked on the La-Z-Boy, IN the La-Z-Boy, the sofa, underneath everything, the kitchen, cabinets, the floor, every single nook and cranny. I even looked in the bathroom, laundry room and even the basement, accompanying each failed location with a colorful word of frustration.

I finally gave up...I figured I was just upset, the remote was probably right in front of my eyes, and that I was just looking past it like I do all the time. So I would just wait for Mom or Dad to get home and ask them to look for it.

Before sitting down to watch whatever was on the channel that I couldn't change, I thought I'd get a glass of water. So I got a glass out of the cupboard and went to get the Brita from the fridge and lo and behold...I found the remote IN THE FRIDGE!

I have no recollection of placing it in the fridge and/or WHY did I even subconsciously think to put it there? Am I going crazy or has my habit of misplacing things gone to the next level?

Flying broccoli and mounds of butter

2009-04-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was my good friend Corinne's 20th birthday, so a bunch of the girls and I decided to throw her a surprise dinner. At first, this was no easy task. We had all of our plans made and then Corinne, obviously not knowing, asked us all to go out to eat with her. So we had to work around that and all had to come up with various "reasons" as to why we couldn't make it. After dealing with a very upset Corinne who thought she was going to be alone on her birthday, we continued to plan, plan, plan. And result, suprise was a success!

I picked up a few of the girls and drove them to the Hibachi grill while Kristen blindfolded Corinne and drove her separately. Here are some of us waiting for the birthday girl...

When she finally got there, Corinne was stunned and completely surprised! We had a great time being entertained by the hibachi chef. I love all of the cool tricks they do...especially when they throw broccoli at my face =) And of course the food is amazing...I mean, just look at the butter they use!

After dinner, Corinne was blindfolded once again and we went back to one of the girl's apartments for some Cold Stone cookie dough ice cream cake...mmm! We then ended the night by hitting up a PGN party!

All in all, I'm glad that Corinne was suprised and know that she had a great time.

Good news

2009-03-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

This week started off kind of crappy. I haven't been sleeping well so I've been very sleep-deprived and cranky. I also have a few projects and a bunch of busy work to do because it's the last few days before spring break. My phone sucks and has decided that the battery should only last for about an hour (for the third time since I've had it). On top of all of this I'm getting really sick...sinus infection maybe?

Without my phone, I haven't been able to check my e-mail and have felt so lost. Yes, it's sad (but true) that I depend on it. So after an early start this morning, class, work, then the gym (God knows how I managed to run while feeling so sick), I had a few minutes to stop at a computer lab. I checked my email and to my surprise had an e-mail from Hershey!!! Here's my favorite part of the email:

"We are pleased to invite you to visit “The Sweetest Place on Earth.” From over 100 applications, your propensity for service coupled with your education and current experience combine to make you a capable candidate for the Summer 2009 (HIP) Hospitality Internship Program with the HERSHEY Resorts Group."

Also cool to know..from over 100 applicants..I'm one of 24 to be chosen!! It feels so good to know that even while the economy is facing a recession and not many companies are hiring, I've been given the opportunity for great work experience. I really am proud to know that I'll be working in one of the best hospitality internship programs!!

Some Things That I've Done

2009-03-01T16:42:00.001-08:00

Follow the trend and copy/paste this into your blog! Then bold the things you've done!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

"Blue, White raise it up..go THON...beat cancer!"

2009-02-24T20:33:00.000-08:00

THON weekend...here and gone. For those of you that don't know, the Penn State Dance Marathon ("THON") is the largest student-run philanthropic event in the United States. It is a 46-hour dance marathon to celebrate the raising of funds to contribute to the Four Diamonds Pediatric Cancer Fund affiliated with the Hershey Medical Center.

Phi Gamma Nu was announced as (once again) one of the top 5 organizations to raise the most money (over $71,000). The better knews is the grand total...yet another record high!!!!

We had 6 dancers (3 pairs of 2) who stay on the floor, without sleep, on their feet the entire time for the 46 hours. I'm so proud of all of them...they all did great!

Meanwhile, I was in the stands of the Brice Jordan Center with the rest of Phi Gamma Nu and the pledges (who made an AMAZING banner to represent!)...dancing like crazy and supporting our dancers! Not only was there fun dancing and entertainment, but every hour we got to do the "line dance." Every year, THON has a theme..this year's being "Dream Forward" and there is a line dance to go along with that. It also incorporates popular events that have happened in the last year. Click here to watch it! One of my favorite parts, is when we throw our hands in the air in the shape of the four diamonds.

I wish I could explain just how proud I am to have been able to contribute to such a large donation. But being able to see all of the families and hearing their stories of lost children and cured children is a life-changing experience. It also hits home even more for myself because we (PGN) just lost one of our THON children. Gavin was a new addition to our THON family, but unfortunately passed a few weeks ago. We did get to spend time with is family, who were helped a lot by being a part of THON and also our two other families.

I look forward to spending another year preparing for THON 2010 by standing on streets with cans raising money, writing letters to friends and family for donations, calling alumni for help and especially getting to know our THON families even more!

For more info about THON, visit THON.ORG

"Success is Sweet"

2009-02-11T08:40:00.000-08:00

I just (literally 5 minutes ago) interviewed with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts for their summer Food and Beverage internship. I'm very excited because I think that the interview went very well. For once, I had a great answer to every question and felt confident with all of my answers. If only I had the ability to read the infamous Human Resources poker face. In a few weeks, I'll know the result..1st week of March!

Updates

2009-02-05T15:33:00.000-08:00

Classes are still going smoothly and seem fairly easy (knock on wood). But most importantly, I'm no longer a "new member" of my b-frat! We picked our new pledge class--Alpha Rho's. From what I know, they seem like some pretty cool kids. I look forward to getting to know them more..and potentially get a little (crossing my fingers)!

I'm really looking forward to this weekend, when I'll be in Baltimore for some wedding planning festivities! I hope we all find some great dresses to look at/try on!

As for other interesting news in my life...(I feel like I should be 13 for what I'm about to say) I have a CRUSH! It's purely harmless, but crazy exciting. I haven't had a real "crush" in YEARS! I'm sure nothing will happen but it's still fun =)

Also, I got my hair colored yesterday and I no longer have red hair! I've been trying to get rid of it but my first attempt didn't really work...I only ended up with red hair and blond highlights. Now I'm a brunette. The bottom layer of my hair is all dark brown and then throughout the top has the same brown low-lights with a few blond highlights just to warm it up a little. So...no more red!

I Will Forever Speak in "Interesting Fact"

2009-01-21T15:23:00.000-08:00

I can't really explain why, for confidentiality purposes, but pledging turned me on to interesting facts. So out of curiosity, boredom, and perhaps some procrastination, I Googled "interesting fact of the day." My results were pretty generic, but my favorite is FactMe.com. It has everything under the sun. The following are my Top 10 favorite "Random" interesting facts.

1. There are only four words in the English language that begin with the letters "dw": dwindle, dward, dwell(ing), and dweeb

2. In the 1500s, houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

3. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosnt mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

4. o.k. stands for "oll korrect." In the late 1830's and 1840's, the abbreviation fad began with many of the abbreviated expressions being exaggerated misspellings. One predecessor of OK was OW, "oll wright," and there was also KY, "know yuse," KG, "know go," and NS, "nuff said."

5. Starbucks Corp. spends more on health insurance for its employees than on coffee beans.

6. The average person sheds million of skin cells each day -- even during sleep. Dust mites in your bed feed on them; so much so that the weight of a mattress will double every ten years because of the dead bugs inside! (Eeew!)

7. There is a Superman picture or statue in every episode of Seinfeld! (what!?)

8. "Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia" is the fear of long words. Ironic, right?

9. There is a seven-letter word in the English language that contains ten words without rearranging any of its letters, "therein": the, there, he, in, rein, her, here, ere, therein, and herein.

10. US Airways makes $10 million each year from ads on tray tables and napkins in their airplanes.

Hope you learned just as much as I did today! Next time you're bored and don't feel like spending hours on YouTube...hit up FactMe.com.

Getting back to normal.

2009-01-17T16:44:00.001-08:00

I'm just realizing that it's been far too long since I've told the world what's new in my life...

I've been back at school for about a week and a half so far; unfortunately my break came to a fast and bittersweet end. I was pretty "under the weather" mood-wise due to finding out that I have PCOS (a fairly serious health problem that will be with me for the rest of my life) and also from losing my cat. And it didn't really help that I was home alone for the last week of my break and then alone at my apartment at school for almost 4 days. But now that I'm back with my friends (who I've missed like crazy), back to a schedule and starting a new healthy lifestyle to better my health, things are looking up!

My classes this semester seem like they are going to be very interesting:
-Rock & Roll from the 1950's on
-HRIM Finance
-HRIM Marketing
-Advanced Hotel Management with computer simulations
-Intro to Psychology
-HRIM Human Resources
Also, now that I have a better work schedule and I'm not pledging, I will actually have time to study and learn!

The diet that I have to follow to control and potentially reverse my PCOS is pretty strict. I have to stay away from sugar and processed foods and it's important to eat little to no gluten. That means no bread or pasta for the most part. Brown rice and oats are okay...so is the occasional piece of high fiber whole grain bread. I've been doing okay, eating a lot of veggies, chicken, tuna, etc. But I think I'll get sick of these things soon. So if anybody has any good snack ideas or recipes...fill me in!

My Baby Girl

2008-12-23T13:58:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, we found out that my cat Fichi has a tumor. My parents wanted to try to help her so they tried feline chemotherapy, but it turns out not to be working. When I picked her up from the vet today, the Dr. told me that it will proably be time soon to say goodbye. So I'd just like to take a moment to say how much I love her. This might sound crazy to some because she's "just a cat," but in my eyes she's much more than that. She is a little person, with so much personality, spoiled to death, sarcastic, dramatic, a little princess....Fichi knows how to take care of people when they're upset or not feeling well and is very independent at times, but can also be your shadow when she needs attention. So right now, I'm just spending time with her and giving her loads of hugs and kisses. We'll see how things turn out...

"Making the Most of Your Break..."

2008-12-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

Yet another college semester has come and gone. I had planned to leave State College immediately after my last final on Friday at 12:00. But as luck would have it, we got an ice/snow blizzard in...the one day that it decides to snow in State College before February!!! I was extremely bitter, because I was already stuck there until the last day of finals...a lot of my friends were done on the previous Friday. So, I was determined to go home. So I packed my car and hit the road (driving approx. 15 miles an hour, of course). Long story short, I made it home safely and now I'm completely bored.

I have absolutely no money and my one friend that still lives here is in the same boat. So my options are....nothing. Ugh. Oh..I can live at the gym (which is much needed)...that's about it. I found an article that is supposed to help me "make the most of my break." A lot of crap it is....basically it tells me to work (I don't have a job at home anymore), volunteer (Um...why would I work over my break to NOT get money?) or travel abroad (soo...spend money that I don't have?). Looks like I'm in for a boring break. But I'll keep my fingers crossed and maybe something amazing will happen...hmmm....

Formals and such...

2008-12-14T16:29:00.001-08:00

This weekend was great...especially since it started on Thursday.

Thursday was the Initiation "celebration" for us lovely Alpha Pi's. It included an apartment stop for each pledge class (Alpha-Lambda's, -Mu's, -Nu's, -Xi's and -Omicron's) that is still together at Penn State. We then ended up at K9...a PGN apartment that is frequented a lot. Crazy night and so much fun...we deserved a night just for us after the long pledging semester! I brought my camera to take pictures...but certain activities led me to forget. I did manage to take one with one of my pledge sisters Rachel. She then went on to steal my camera and take about three thousand pictures of herself...this is one of her many quirks!

Friday was great for more than one reason. First, it was the last day of classes for the semester from Hell (woo!). Secondly, it was the Redifer Semi-Formal!!! Redifer is where I work and every semester there are HRIM interns that work there. Their "final exam" is to plan an event and it always turns out to be a semi-formal for all of the students that work there. This semester, the theme was "Starry, Starry Night" and it was so hot! A bunch of us got together before at my friends Lindsay and Jill's apartment. Then we walked over and had a blast! Photo shoot...

Saturday was probably the best. It was Phi Gamma Nu's Winter Formal...soo much fun! We rented out Pi Lambda Phi Social Fraternity for the night, had dinner catered by Clems (although they ran out of food so I got to eat a bun...mmmm), socialized, danced, etc. I also got initiated into one of the many secret societies in PGN (shh...I can't say anything else)! Great times! More pictures...

After such a great couple of days, I am in no mood to be studying for my five finals (ugh!) Only 5 more days to go...

It's finally over!!!

2008-12-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

I made it through the semester of pledging and can now happily say that I am a brother (or sister, if you will) of Phi Gamma Nu Professional Fraternity!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! I had the hardest but at the same time the best semester so far. I have met 106 of the most amazing people (19 of them being my fantastic pledge class) and am proud to say that I am part of their family. I can't wait to spend the rest of my time at Penn State getting to know them even better! I love them all and.....

Alpha Pi's raise your glasses to the sky...brothers and sisters till the day we die!!!

Taking a moment...

2008-12-01T17:20:00.001-08:00

As you know, this past week was my Fall/Thanksgiving break from college, so naturally everybody was home spending times with friends and family. On Saturday, my pledge Dad, his best friend (another Phi Gamma Nu brother) and two of their friends went out to eat and on the way home, they were hit head on by a drunk driver. The 21-year-old pre-med student, driver and owner of the car-one of their best friends is now dead, and Eric (the other PGN brother) is in ICU. So far, Eric suffers from a broken hip, he has had two surgeries due to a punctured diaphragm, and also had a bypass heart surgery.

It breaks my heart and brings me to tears to think of the loss and pain that these families and friends must be going through. Only two weeks ago, I was in a severe (no injuries Thank God) accident where we hit black ice on the interstate, spun many times and slammed into the guardrail twice. Myself and the other passengers are so fortunate to be unharmed. These situations are such an eye-openers. When I think of these situations, I am reminded to not take life (even the "bad" times) for granted. I am reminded of the amazing love that I am surrounded by from my amazing friends and family who are there always to support each other. I'm just so very thankful for everything.

Please pray for the Garrett (my pledge dad at home recovering), Eric (in ICU), Mike (at home recovering) and most importantly for the lost--Jason's family and friends.

Here we go...

2008-11-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

So this marks my first attempt at blogging...sort of. I used to blog on xanga.com but that was a while ago and didn't last very long. You can thank my future sister-in-law (rachelsramblins.blogspot.com) for this new obsession. I'm sure that I will soon become addicted. Feel free to follow along to see if I'm surving my crazy life of: taking waaay too many classes for one semester at Penn State, working 20 hours a week and pledging co-ed Phi Gamma Nu Business Fraternity (Alpha Pi's..woo!), which has become my life...

Oh and Happy Thanksgiving!!