2:34 am and crawling into bed has never felt so good. They say that everything must come to an end, that every chapter of every book must be closed at one time or another, but I will not let this door slam shut; I will fight with everything in me to keep it open.

Did you know that dancing the twist is a hundred times more fun when done on bed-sheet-covered wood floors? I know because I've tried it and have the embarrassingly sore muscles to prove it. I also recommend making spontaneous trips to Walmart to buy junk food and squealing while running through a rainy parking lot (oh wait, maybe that was just me doing the squealing...).

And then when it's all over and I've laughed all I possibly can laugh, there is reflection. Do you know how special it is to find friends that are more like family? Around which you can act like a total idiot and they still somehow manage to want to see you again? Sometimes water can be just as thick as blood.

It's hard to stay emotionally stable when your best friends prepare to move away. It sucks, it really does. But this dear dear family that I love so very much is going to have such an amazing adventure, I know it. I will miss them and jump at every future opportunity to go to Chicago, but I'm trying to swallow my selfishness no matter how bitter it may taste.

Sympathy is not my aim because I know this situation has happened a hundred and one times before. Sometimes I feel that I hold onto things too tightly but I don't care. I believe in good strong friendships with roots as thick as trees, the kind that are as comfortable as crawling into bed a few hours past your bedtime.

I love you, Hintz family. Thank you for everything. ♥

  always in charge of the food, of course ;)

I'm not going to pretend there's something deeply sentimental oh-I-made-this-drink-every-year-with-Grandma! about this recipe. There's no special story surrounding it, but here's all you need to know: Watermelon! Lime! Sugar! Yay! Oh, and it tastes best when enjoyed out in the sunshine.

M and I made this drink the other day; it's so incredibly refreshing and perfect for this time of year. It's such a versatile recipe too--you can adjust the sugar/lime/watermelon levels exactly to your liking. And it's a great way to use up mealy watermelon! You could add in so many amazing mix-ins too: mint would be so yummy, and I'd love to try out basil. I'm excited to see what you guys create! ♥



Watermelon Lime Agua Fresca

ingredients
+ 7-8 cups chopped watermelon
+ 1/3-1/2 cup lime juice (freshly squeezed is best)
+ 1/3 cup sugar (or to taste)

method
Puree watermelon in a blender or large food processor until completely smooth. If desired, strain pulp. Stir in lime juice and sugar until completely combined. Chill before serving.

Enjoy!

I made a video that involves my silly self rambling on and on about my favorite books and stuff (just don't judge the quality and my inability to put my love into words)...



And because it's question I'm asked so often, here's a compiled list of titles, some of which didn't make it in the video but are worth reading nonetheless:

+ Wild by Cheryl Strayed
+ Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
+ Paper Towns by John Green
+ A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
+ The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath by Sylvia Plath (duh)
+ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
+ To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
+ Clearing by Wendell Berry
+ The Dirty Life by Kristen Kimball
+ Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
+ A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
+ The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
+ The Crazyladies of Pearl Street by Trevanian
+ The Coal Tattoo by Silas House
+ Educating Alice by Alice Steinbach

Read 'em, love 'em, and feel free to spazz out about them with me. They're worth it.

 Happy Saturday.

I think I am turning into a somewhat of a farm girl--well, as much of a farm girl as you can be smack dab in the middle of the city. The other day I was sitting outside reading (an ACT prep book, if you must know) and I caught myself first laughing at the antics of the chickens, and later, crooning to one who was pecking at my chair. Me! Crooning at a chicken! I've found myself slipping into an Oklahoma accent at an alarmingly increasing rate, too...maybe that has something to do with it? ;)
Regardless, I've mustered up an affection for those thirteen chickens that I didn't know was there. It's fun to have chickens, it really is. You should have seen how flustered I got when we spotted a hawk flying above the sycamore trees--cue panic button and run run quick quick get the chickens in their coop!!! A few of the chickens have names and the movie Chicken Run is quoted on a daily basis because man, those directors really knew what they were doing. However, while I'm totally cool with holding the feathery-plump part of the chicken, I must confess that I am utterly, thoroughly, and completely repulsed by their feet. No seriously, it's a panic button "ewwwwgetitawayfromme!!!" type thing every single time.
And in the midst of getting caught up with the chickens, I suddenly realized this week that there's less than a month left of school. Once again, cheers to the panic button!