tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90727461483426071922024-02-18T19:44:06.364-08:00The Kitchen FloorThis is my world.Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-16657020295212040412015-12-08T17:19:00.000-08:002015-12-08T17:19:46.274-08:00EncountersHave you ever encountered someone from your past, who you used to be very close to (or perhaps WANTED to be close to) and you see that they are now very close to someone else?<br />
You see the joy that they now have because of it.<br />
And it's refreshing, in a way.<br />
It's like an affirmation that you letting them go really was the right decision, because now they have this joy with someone else that they couldn't have with you.<br />
And that's a really cool thing. Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-17617197670130559922015-01-06T18:18:00.000-08:002015-01-06T18:25:32.298-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"One of the remarkable things about love is that, despite very irritating people writing poems and songs about how pleasant it is, it really is quite pleasant."</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Lemony Snicket, <i>Horseradish</i></div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-51301081208598177362014-11-23T12:35:00.000-08:002015-07-15T19:12:03.488-07:00WeirdA few months ago, when I was living in Portland, Oregon, I had a conversation with an artist fellow at the Goodwill Outlet who was searching for audiobooks to listen to while he worked on projects. He asked if there was anything I recommended.<br />
I suggested two works to him: <i>Leviathan,</i> by Scott Westerfeld, being a steampunk retelling of World War I, and a delightful nonfiction titled <i>The Disappearing Spoon, </i>by Sam Kean, which is a history of the periodic table of the elements littered with entertaining anecdotes. <br />
When he asked which one he should start with, I told him to start with the nonfiction.<br />
He raised an eyebrow. "It's that good?"<br />
I insisted that it was. But then, in a moment of insecurity, I shrugged. "Maybe I'm weird." <br />
"Oh, I've no doubt that you are," he replied, "But that doesn't mean that you can't also be right."<br />
<br />
His last comment stuck with me. <i>Being weird doesn't mean that you can't be right. </i><br />
It immediately brings to my mind the Church and the radically counter-cultural ways we are called to live our lives. Giving generously to the poor. Inviting people into our homes. Showing love to the unlovable. We are called to live in a way that doesn't make sense to most of the world, but makes perfect sense if you believe in a Creator who is going to set the world right again, and who is asking us to be a part of it along with Him.<br />
So let us be bold.<br />
Let us live without fear and be a part of bringing His Kingdom into this earth.<br />
Let's be weird.<br />
<br />Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-11869496545630759722014-10-02T09:34:00.001-07:002014-10-02T13:55:19.457-07:00Mandilynn Makes Pretty Things.<script src="https://www.etsy.com/assets/js/etsy_mini_shop.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">new Etsy.Mini(10060114,'gallery',3,2,0,'https://www.etsy.com');</script>I thought I'd try something a little different for me and start up an Etsy shop! I've always loved wearing and making unique accessories, and now I'm sharing them with YOU! Take a look. :) Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-27315646867968703302014-03-29T15:58:00.000-07:002014-03-29T15:58:15.401-07:00"Vaguely Homeless"
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To say “I travel a lot,” is a bit
of an understatement.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I play in a band, and we
sometimes tour for months at a time.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I love it.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I love every aspect of it.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Meeting new people, trying new foods,
sleeping on the floors of strangers, getting up on that stage every
night with my best friends and playing songs together, trusting God that He will take care of us every single day.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But I don't know where home is anymore.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I haven't stayed anywhere for longer than a
few months in almost two years.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It feels like pieces of me are
scattered all over the country.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Places I want to be, people I want to
spend time with.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When boys at parties ask me where I'm
from, I smile and answer that I'm vaguely homeless at the moment.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
They usually reply with something like,
“Oh man, that's so cool!”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yes. It is.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
sometimes, </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I can't help but wish I had somewhere - or someone -</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
to come back to</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
and know that I was where I belonged. </div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-74064410774934911272014-03-29T15:22:00.000-07:002014-03-30T10:30:42.397-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xVSwLpWoiQrxLmEfzJF0qgq9iUtyQ7_ebKnn7wpm5nX1mPQlT5-e-DKdtHTmpAuJ31HHG3C3Uh2gRN0bKOf9i7VlCXvLrVz3sgeC_nm3EmvQFRz9s1UpDzhzc_YmmoR7OLX3Yo683us9/s1600/Brownies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xVSwLpWoiQrxLmEfzJF0qgq9iUtyQ7_ebKnn7wpm5nX1mPQlT5-e-DKdtHTmpAuJ31HHG3C3Uh2gRN0bKOf9i7VlCXvLrVz3sgeC_nm3EmvQFRz9s1UpDzhzc_YmmoR7OLX3Yo683us9/s1600/Brownies.JPG" height="640" width="550" /></a></div>
My sister's mother-in-law's brownie recipe! (I'm posting this here partly so I can find it easily later :P)Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-7051378698604169802013-12-11T20:30:00.001-08:002014-03-30T00:28:30.708-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"You know one me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just like I know one you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But you can't know every me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And I can't know every you."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
- David Levithan, <i>Every You, Every Me</i></div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-24192384002590817702013-11-24T13:17:00.002-08:002013-11-24T13:17:25.719-08:00A Walk in the Woods<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdATJtSd0D_oJtg0OaNBdoAnpCl0qOO25qIsBI1u-Qo4aT5HGbp48dbIibACLiLiPdKLJ1ETDDY_QlsJkA817s6KGYs37FcKIFK3f7tXIph6bHtSN1uZBMFFSiuu-8fAFvKPtWNcGnXwGh/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdATJtSd0D_oJtg0OaNBdoAnpCl0qOO25qIsBI1u-Qo4aT5HGbp48dbIibACLiLiPdKLJ1ETDDY_QlsJkA817s6KGYs37FcKIFK3f7tXIph6bHtSN1uZBMFFSiuu-8fAFvKPtWNcGnXwGh/s400/IMG_0125.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter is so lovely sometimes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYF7XTwLSHgm8VbvAeFKr6jF4DjEwkNuKp7fiC8tWpOvsndyTwW00ddfmdR-8QtoadQl9yfUvOYWzVj5VOBRB6GLVsNgnMMBMdZOCimHzjTf0S2UrmYCQbGjbKHywV35DlXOyx1k8Cz7R/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYF7XTwLSHgm8VbvAeFKr6jF4DjEwkNuKp7fiC8tWpOvsndyTwW00ddfmdR-8QtoadQl9yfUvOYWzVj5VOBRB6GLVsNgnMMBMdZOCimHzjTf0S2UrmYCQbGjbKHywV35DlXOyx1k8Cz7R/s400/IMG_0124.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees. Frost.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3Mhg6sh8ESRBnjlcwLVWmHQl7EXANTrodHi7FC-7rUX1BPAKZYMkh33RHxmBKx8Kco5AgvQ5GIRiO68UImDYS8IpVE1f5apobvHq-fAEImofYWGHaci9uu3N25UyOPKFGrt1XZ1x4_uC/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3Mhg6sh8ESRBnjlcwLVWmHQl7EXANTrodHi7FC-7rUX1BPAKZYMkh33RHxmBKx8Kco5AgvQ5GIRiO68UImDYS8IpVE1f5apobvHq-fAEImofYWGHaci9uu3N25UyOPKFGrt1XZ1x4_uC/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frozen spiderwebs are so beautiful. Walking through the woods and seeing them everywhere feels so magical.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-1073559201370708102013-10-23T12:41:00.002-07:002014-03-30T00:24:39.911-07:00Music You Should Know About: Lauryn Peacock<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3013589304/size=medium/bgcol=333333/linkcol=0f91ff/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://laurynpeacock.bandcamp.com/album/keep-it-simple-let-the-sun-come-out">Keep It Simple Let the Sun Come Out by Lauryn Peacock</a></iframe><br />
<br />
I first met Lauryn two summers ago, when we were both on tour and happened to be staying with the same host family. I didn't actually become acquainted with her music until several months later, when my brother-in-law, Tyler, put on her CD in the car one day. Since then, her debut album, "Keep It Simple Let The Sun Come Out," has become one of my favorites and is probably my most-listened-to album of the year. <br />
The album, produced by Daniel Smith and full of guests such as Mike Weiss and Denison Witmer, weaves together stories of love, loss, regret, hope, and healing; painting pictures which are sometimes carefree, sometimes haunting, and some both at once. Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-89195023232343055012013-09-20T21:46:00.001-07:002013-09-24T19:47:16.562-07:00Untitled<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two strangers</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Each with their thoughts</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Walking hand in hand</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Under the moon</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He climbs the fence
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To go down by the lake</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Glances back with a smile</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Are you coming?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
She hesitates</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And she wants to say “No.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But she doesn't.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No, she doesn't.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two strangers
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Walking hand in hand
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
By the water
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Under the moon</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Without her permission</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He kisses her lips
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And she wants to say “No.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But she doesn't.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No, she doesn't.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-77668531397898587972013-09-18T13:20:00.000-07:002013-09-18T14:51:33.726-07:00Thankfulness<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(A list I actually compiled last December; I stumbled across it again today and decided to share it.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm thankful for:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Outer space, and all its terrible and
beautifulness that declares God's glory over and over again.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Science. All the wonders and mysteries
of how the world is put together. All the little details. The
miracles.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Fantasy books, stories, and all of my
favorite authors. Each of them has changed my life a little bit.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-My dear sisters and their husbands for
being such awesome role models and for always encouraging me to be
the best that I can be.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-God, for being Him. Enough said. All
the amazing things He does I wouldn't be able to list right here.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Food. Vegetables. Forests where you
can pick food right off the path and eat it.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Music. The bands that have gotten me
through rough times.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-The fact that I get to be in a band
and travel all over the country. I can't even express how cool it is
that I get to do that.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-That God always gives me what I need.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Basically everyone I have ever met or
had a conversation with. I wouldn't be who I am today without all the
other people who got me here.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Coffee, tea, and fruit smoothies.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Hospitality.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Sharing. Seriously, that verse of
“Mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice”
serves to make life SO MUCH more awesome.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-The internet.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Snail mail.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Art.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Theater.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Spending real life time with real life
people.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Spring time.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Clean clothes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Cookies.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Okapis, giraffes, owls, squids,
hedgehogs, turtles, and all the other animals that make life that
much more silly or cute or fantastic.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-That the Real World is so much more
fantastic than we are often taught to believe.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-That I had the privilege of being
homeschooled.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-That even though we are so constantly
rebellious and selfish and we screw up constantly, Grace is still
amazing. We never run out of second chances, or seventh, or
twenty-eighth, or four-hundred-and-ninety-fourth.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Colors. Pink and green and purple and
red and black and white and blue and all the other colors.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
-Creativity, and all the wonderful ways
that it can be expressed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-66405861317153904762013-06-17T10:36:00.000-07:002013-06-17T10:36:56.989-07:00Dear Christian<div class="post_body">
<div class="post_body">
Dear Christian, take heart.<br />
No matter how tired you are, no matter how broken, no matter how drained<br />
Hold on.<br />
There is healing. There is comfort. There is rest.<br />
There are safe places in the world.<br />
Not a stronghold, but a place to be vulnerable.<br />
A place to cry.<br />
A place to be healed.<br />
When the church comes together as a family, crazy things happen.<br />
Those magical moments when you are exactly where you are supposed to be, and God is present.<br />
A group of friends hanging out in an attic<br />
A family sitting around a kitchen table, talking and drinking tea.<br />
A group of musicians meeting at a farm to sing and play music for each other.<br />
Like the safe places of a secret society<br />
Strangers become allies<br />
News is shared<br />
Souls are encouraged<br />
Hearts are broken, so that they can be remade.<br />
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast.<br />
It starts small. Seemingly insignificant.<br />
But it grows.<br />
It grows and grows, becoming ever more annoying and intrusive, until it takes over everything.<br />
Transforming.<br />
God does crazy things!<br />
Look for Him.<br />
Wait for Him. <br />
Wait.<br />
And do not give up hope.</div>
</div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-6964413821010843732013-06-16T16:36:00.000-07:002013-06-16T16:36:59.313-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">"His rule gives room for good things to run wild, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, His rule gives room for good things to run wild!"</span>Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-78989152256025463812013-06-11T10:33:00.000-07:002013-06-11T10:33:53.036-07:00Caramelized Banana CakeMoist, caramel-y, and not too sweet, (not to mention really easy to make) this is the kind of cake you can snack on all day, or save for those nights when all you want to do is eat dessert and watch movies. <br />
(This recipe is adapted from the book <i>College Cooking</i>. I thought their version turned out really crumbly, so I added an extra egg.) <br />
<br />
<i>Ingredients:</i><br />
<br />
1/2 cup butter<br />
1 1/2 cups sugar<br />
4 eggs<br />
2 tsp. vanilla<br />
1 cup milk<br />
1 tsp. salt<br />
4 tsp. baking powder<br />
2 1/2 cups flour<br />
<br />
1 cup brown sugar<br />
3 bananas<br />
<br />
<i>Directions:</i><br />
<br />
1. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, vanilla, and milk. Add dry ingredients, stir until smooth.<br />
2. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly in 13x9" pan. Slice bananas and arrange in pan. Pour batter over bananas.<br />
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until done.<br />
4. Remove from oven and immediately invert onto cutting board or baking sheet.<br />
<br />
Enjoy! <br />
<br />Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-30934140541482701732013-05-06T13:17:00.001-07:002014-03-30T00:27:48.761-07:00Music You Should Know About: Fable Cry<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=511028510/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/transparent=true/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"><a href="http://fablecry.bandcamp.com/album/fable-cry">Fable Cry by Fable Cry</a></iframe>
Fable Cry is an adorable and creative brother-sister duo from Nashville, Tennessee. Together, Zach and Kirstie combine folk tales, shadow puppets, and stage makeup into fun and whimsical songs with a live performance that is simply magical.<br />
Find more at <a href="http://www.fablecry.com/" target="_blank">http://www.fablecry.com/</a> Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-34173825285438216292013-04-09T10:45:00.000-07:002013-10-22T20:41:07.997-07:00Cake in a Mug!Everybody loves cake. But sometimes you're too lazy or too impatient to bake a whole cake.<br />
Solution?<br />
Cake in a mug. The best use for a microwave I have yet found.<br />
<br />
Find a large mug. Then find these things:<br />
<br />
3 tablespoons flour<br />
1 teaspoon sugar<br />
2 teaspoons cocoa powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon baking powder<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
2 tablespoons milk (Or water, or coffee.)<br />
1 tablespoon oil (Or like half of a banana)<br />
1 tablespoon peanut butter (Or jam, chocolate sauce, or whatever you like)<br />
Some chocolate chips. (You know, if you like those.)<br />
<br />
Mix everything up in your mug, then microwave the mess for about 1 minute.<br />
<br />
Hooray, instant cake!Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-59149891051395522522013-02-06T16:05:00.001-08:002013-02-06T16:05:57.516-08:00Good GodI used to have a lot of worlds.<br />
<br />
But, one by one,<br />
<br />
They all started dying.<br />
<br />
I guess I'm not a very good god<br />
<br />
After all.<br />
<br />
<br />
This poem came together in about ten seconds sometime during my Junior year of highschool, my thoughts being something like this:<br />
There are lots of things that we, as humans, try to create. Sometimes they're good, and sometimes we're proud of them. But they don't always last. Situations and relationships fall apart and there's nothing we can do to fix them. We are terrible, selfish gods.<br />
Thank God that we aren't the real God. Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-18573819353027010982013-01-18T10:49:00.001-08:002013-06-17T17:34:58.957-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">If you're tired of starting over, stop quitting. </span>Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-85376043449360708352013-01-08T13:55:00.000-08:002013-04-10T15:58:30.029-07:00Apple Cupcakes!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ME4t5c742g2AxTZlQvqfZOXeGomWugrgezPEBaUUn9ie2pQ2M2pri5Ujfc_QSlfOMRLz4aRLoKJA5bGfI2givaYfD2dIEpGBMszKH0d1ctoHcCtrt9OZ1JS-mmVGA2wzNYR8663xfB9n/s1600/HPIM3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ME4t5c742g2AxTZlQvqfZOXeGomWugrgezPEBaUUn9ie2pQ2M2pri5Ujfc_QSlfOMRLz4aRLoKJA5bGfI2givaYfD2dIEpGBMszKH0d1ctoHcCtrt9OZ1JS-mmVGA2wzNYR8663xfB9n/s200/HPIM3061.JPG" width="148" /></a>Okay! So, I'm a child who loves to bake, and I've been a little obsessed with cupcakes ever since I first saw the show Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. I found this recipe on the internet a while back and have been meaning to try it out for months. I finally got around to making these last night, and they were absolutely amazing. <br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Ingredients:</i> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1-1/4 cups flour*</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 teaspoons baking powder
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 teaspoon salt
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 eggs, room temperature
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 cup granulated sugar
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 cup vegetable oil
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2-3 baking apples, like Fuji or Granny Smith. </div>
<br />
*I ran out of all-purpose flour and ended up using about half cake flour. I don't know if it makes much of a difference.<br />
<br />
<i>Directions: </i> <br />
<br />
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.<br />
2. Line a cupcake pan with baking liners. Mix together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.<br />
3. Add other ingredients except apples, stir until just combined. <br />
4. Grate your apples with a cheese grater. (Or get whoever is standing around to do it for you. ;]) Stir apples in with everything else.<br />
5. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan until almost full.<br />
6. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, 25-30 minutes. <br />
7. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.<br />
<br />
Makes 12ish cupcakes. <br />
<br />
<i>Frosting:</i><br />
<br />
Icing is not an exact science. I tend to just throw things together a little bit at a time until it tastes the way I want it. If that seems intimidating, normal buttercream or cream cheese frosting would probably be great with these cakes. Or, hey, just skip the frosting altogether. They still taste great without it. <br />
For these cupcakes, I used:<br />
A stick of butter<br />
A few spoonfuls of plain yogurt<br />
A teaspoonish of vanilla<br />
A spoon or two of brown sugar<br />
A few cups of powdered sugar<br />
The end result was a little runny for proper buttercream icing, but I didn't want it to be too sweet. It gets softer at room temperature, and hardens when it's cold. It should be kept in the fridge. <br />
<br />
Enjoy! :)Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-12187796637000120602012-12-28T17:29:00.000-08:002013-04-10T16:01:40.946-07:00It Began As Nothing. <div class="_38 direction_ltr">
This poem is one that I wrote last fall as a contribution to "The Scariest Thing In The Dark" EP, which is a collection of spooky stories and songs put together by my brothers and sisters and the band Insomniac Folklore. (It's been described as the most terrifying children's album ever!) The full EP can be listened to and downloaded <a href="http://insomniacfolklore.bandcamp.com/album/the-scariest-thing-in-the-dark-e-p" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
It began as Nothing <br />
Or, rather, a pile of Nothings<br />
That used to be Somethings<br />
<br />
A pile of scraps<br />
<br />
Too worn and too mismatched to be used for much<br />
They sat, unnoticed and forgotten<br />
<br />
'Til, one day, in a fit of inspiration,<br />
You took the Nothings<br />
And made them Something. <br />
<br />
You took your thread and your needles and set to work<br />
<br />
You created it.<br />
<br />
You gave it a heart<br />
You gave it two eyes<br />
You gave it sharp teeth<br />
<br />
And,<br />
<br />
Whether by accident, <br />
Or knowingly,<br />
<br />
You gave it life. <br />
<br />
You sat it on a shelf<br />
And left it to be<br />
<br />
But,<br />
<br />
When you turned out the lights<br />
Closed the door<br />
Climbed under the covers<br />
<br />
It<br />
climbed <br />
down.<br />
<br /></div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-81363050466828148802012-12-24T22:14:00.001-08:002012-12-24T22:14:59.421-08:00Happy Things.A few things that make me happy. Just because sometimes I need to remind myself that life is beautiful. <br />
<br />
<b>Going to the bank.</b> No, really. I like going to the bank and chatting with all the tellers and filling out deposit slips the old fashioned way. It makes me feel incredibly Grown Up.<br />
<br />
<b>Clean clothes. </b>They smell so nice. <br />
<br />
<b>Learning.</b> Foreign languages, chemical compounds, spectra of light, black holes, outer space, giraffes, the laws of physics. I adore learning about our world and how it all works. <br />
<br />
<b>Making things.</b> Cooking something delicious. Sewing my own clothes. Drawing a picture. Raising a houseplant.<b> </b><br />
<br />Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-61342295412774407482012-12-18T12:56:00.000-08:002012-12-18T12:56:39.260-08:00Not Waving but DrowningOne of my favorite poems, by a woman named Stevie Smith. <br />
<br />
<div class="poem">
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
Nobody heard him, the dead man, </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
But still he lay moaning: </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
I was much further out than you thought </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
And not waving but drowning. </div>
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
Poor chap, he always loved <span class="annotation" id="annotation-1">larking</span> </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
And now he’s dead </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way, </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
They said. </div>
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
Oh, no no no, it was too cold always </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
(Still the dead one lay moaning) </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
I was much too far out all my life </div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
And not waving but drowning.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
</div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
</div>
</div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-61422828588502069652012-12-15T22:30:00.000-08:002012-12-15T22:32:31.052-08:00Always Winter, Never Christmas<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Always winter, never Christmas.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This was part of the curse that was
upon the land of Narnia in <i>The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. </i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As a kid, reading
this book, the only thing that crossed my mind was, “Oh, how sad,
there's no presents,” and that was the end of my thinking.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The symbolism of it
never really struck me until recently when I was thinking about the
winter solstice.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Because what is
Christmas, really?</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
December 25 is the
day that has been celebrated for centuries as the return of the sun.
It's when people first started noticing the days getting longer
again. It marks the end of the darkness and all the fearful
wondering, <i>“Will we have enough to eat? Will my family be safe?
Will we survive this? Will the light ever come back? Is everything going to be okay?"</i></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Christmas means
that all your waiting has paid off and the seasons are finally
changing. Christmas means <i>hope.</i>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Christians
adopted this winter holiday, the celebration of the sun's birthday,
to celebrate something even greater – the birthday of the son of
God.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Christ, the
promised savior, who people had been waiting for for thousands of
years. When he arrived, the <i>whole world</i> changed.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In <i>The Lion, The
Witch, and The Wardrobe</i>, the arrival of Father Christmas meant
that the White Witch's power was weakening and that Great Lion Aslan had
returned to Narnia.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The waiting is
over.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The King has come
to set things right.
</div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-31818478157709886762012-12-15T12:42:00.002-08:002012-12-15T12:44:32.077-08:00All Glory to God<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
From a collection of poems and prayers titled <i>Interobang,</i> by Norman Habel.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If I can't be honest with you, Lord</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I can't be honest with anyone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
You are the only person I know
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Who can take it</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
no matter what I say</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
People are offended if I'm honest.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
They want to hear nice things</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sweet words of happiness</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gentle hymns to a gentle God</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Smiling somewhere</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
on a red velvet throne</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well I'm sick of being phony</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
and I don't like to act</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
as if there's nothing wrong</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
with me</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
or my friends</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
or the world</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
or you</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes I want to scream at you</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
and let it out</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have a million</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Unanswered prayers
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
stuck in my craw</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I want you to listen</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
when I yell at the sky</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pound my pillow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
kick the ground</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
throw stones at the stars</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
slam doors</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
or swear at the world</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Perhaps that's not giving</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
all glory to God</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
as others do</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
with folded hands and frozen face</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
but for me it means</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm paying you</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
the highest respect there is.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It means I trust you with the truth-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
all the truth.
</div>
Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072746148342607192.post-28259006037114362452012-09-26T17:48:00.002-07:002012-09-26T17:48:42.085-07:00Birds and CagesVisual journal from a while back. Simple, but I really like the colors.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBggmg5-acO3pz92MKvE8-ejKRG96y6SZBl1ANTUfZ3zSmiL6lvGYxaeZDQLgGSgM9vfEBtSb5sQaDbvYIY3dZ2yfy-Tr8ra21t8ksTfh_tqceK2Goq4PP5J9WiF6dh-qSdsDR63_QVCtG/s1600/HPIM2797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBggmg5-acO3pz92MKvE8-ejKRG96y6SZBl1ANTUfZ3zSmiL6lvGYxaeZDQLgGSgM9vfEBtSb5sQaDbvYIY3dZ2yfy-Tr8ra21t8ksTfh_tqceK2Goq4PP5J9WiF6dh-qSdsDR63_QVCtG/s400/HPIM2797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If you want her to stay,<br />give her a home.<br />Not a cage.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Mandilynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08328755753838438752noreply@blogger.com0