a semester in pictures

It's all so surreal. Today is April 20th, in less than 25 days (22 to exact, AH) it will be time to pack up and move home. Literally feels like just yesterday we were moving in, trying to make this place ours. I feel like we've done a pretty darn good job. Here is first semester (clearly I'm a little late, forgive me)

August:
we moved in..

we had our first meal of many together (at 10pm, after we realized we had zero power in the kitchen)..

 we reunited with the boys..

 Mariah entered her last year as teenager..

we became mothers..err Mariah did..to Cappy..the dirtiest, laziest fish you'll ever encounter..may be it was the Rum someone fed him one night..

September:
made a quick trip to vermont..

al came to visit and everyone got to meet her crazy self..

I entered my last year of being a teenager and we had our first party..

we stayed busy in the kitchen..

October:
 We temporarily had a pet spider..

 everyone got to taste momma lem sauce and meatballs for the first time and their lives all changed a little bit..

greens and beans was introduced..again, lives changed..

 our favorite turkey burgers were made for the first of many times..

 we got inventive and made our own pumpkin..

 that later became pumpkin muffins..

 carved pumpkins, that resembled things..except mine..whose having an identity crisis..

clearly had the best costumes on the block..

November:

drank lots of butter beer and butterscotch-flavored treats..

 mariah and emily took over the kitchen for the first time and succeeded..

 we failed miserably at making this cookie..

 but to make up for it, made the most delicious s'more cookies

December:

we decorated our tree the day after thanksgiving break..

 made delicious treats..

 had a Christmas party..

 love, love, love our neighbors..

 and jenny!

 no party is complete without shots all around..

love our boys..

 Santa stopped by...

we missed each other so much we had to come back over break..

 to do wild and...

 crazy things..

On a whole we...

drank too often..

 never had a dull moment...

 learned quickly emily would lose her head if it wasn't attached..

 baked, a lot. and at odd hours (that's 1:44 am)...

 made and served hundreds of jell-o shots..

 learned having your own apartment is not fun. like cleaning to toilets not fun..

there can never be too many taylor swift jam sessions.

not everyone likes glitter..but that won't stop me..

stay tuned for this semester!

odds and ends

 This is how I spent my Thursday evening, after a glass of wine and enjoying the sunshine-y afternoon and before devouring Freshens frozen yogurt with cookie dough bites, and sprinkles. Obviously.

 Pounding chicken until the neighbors began to think there was some questionable behavior occurring in our apartment

 Putting to use all the thoughts that had been running through my head all day.

Yep. I think about what I am going to stuff my chicken with for dinner throughout math class#1, math class#2 and business communications presentations. again, sorry mom.

This is where I spent my Saturday afternoon:

 I haven't had to take these bad boys off since then

 (the day these break/ go missing, I might shed a tear, or two, or a whole rivers worth. This $7 Kohl's purchase was the best purchase of my life)

Sunday I came home to an apartment with none of this:

None. Zero. Not even a single packet. Who am I to not have a spare packet let alone spare box some where? I have lost my mind.

Good thing Wegmans is right around the corner. Plus I needed to refill my latest obsession for the week (see below) and I needed dinner. Sushi to be exact. Which, I could probably eat every day if that was possible. Thank you N for introducing me.

This is my latest food phase:

I hate these commercials more than anything, like change the channel I dislike them that much. It's a good thing they are so tasty.

Despite the fact that it was 7:56 am on a Monday morning and I was walking to the bus, I think I had the biggest grin on. I walked outside without a coat, to sunshine, capris and shorts everywhere and campus a buzz with happiness. It's amazing what the sun can do. And the fact that there is just 3 more Mondays I will have to do this and 4 more Wednesdays. 

Now all I can think about is my pile of school work  laying out by the pool, grilling and fresh vegetables from the garden. One more month. One more month, from today, exactly, summer break will begin.


Sophomore year, where did you go?

I stumbled across a new blog today. I am ready to bake her whole recipe section especially this, these and definitely these, too.

writers block may be the cure-all?

Maybe writers block is a good thing. A very, very, dangerous, yet very, very good thing.


Like this good:

Yes, that is indeed a layer of graham cracker crust, a brownie layer, a layer of fluff topped off with another layer of brownie. We may have had a gold mine. A extremely caloric gold mine, but calories don't count on the weekend, right?


I've been hiatus for quite some time, since before spring break. Today we spent the whole afternoon concocting this and that. Probably because I missed the kitchen so much I felt the need to bake granola bars, a cake and these bad boys, which will be named Mad Good Brownies, the naming of these bad boys will be explained a bit later. In the mean time let's take a look at these babies again and try not to drool, every where.

Now, we don't usually make granola bars, a cake and brownies all in one sitting, nor do we ever have that many baked goods in the apartment, ever. Today was an exception. Earlier in the week we made tasty, healthy brownies on a study break, sadly there was probably 4 left, obviously we needed to restock. The cake? Well, that was a birthday cake for one of our favorite boys, Steve. His birthday is tomorrow, and since we adore him, a cake he would get. Back in high school Tess and I made Steve a cake with the lyrics to Hey Stephen by Taylor Swift due to his undying love for her, and the fact that song was written for him..so today we decided that we would re-create that cake..(yes, it's out of a box. shoot me. we just don't have unlimited baking supplies on hand)

 Decked out with Easter Bunnies and all, obviously we needed to make it as obnoxious as possible. 

Now, on to the Mad Good Brownies. Every time I go visit N at school, I bring him treats. I always have, probably always will. 1. It gives us an excuse to bake, 2. Ever since I started, I'm pretty sure him and his friends expect it and get more excited about the treats coming their way than my actual self. At first, N was a selfish little boy and wouldn't share any of his treats, well, when I heard that, I handed out his treats to his friends, now they sneak into his room and steal them. Sorry for letting everyone have them N!


Being the astute little student I am, I obviously don't sit in math day dreaming about what my next creation in the kitchen will be. Sorry, mom :) Tuesday morning I burst in the door to Mariah so excited to pour out the millions of thoughts I had going through my head. I knew that I wanted this treat to be special, more special than the usual funfetti cookies that are always a major hit in Oswego, or rice krispy treats or brownies, there was no special reason but I wanted to do something we'd never done before. Make my own recipe. After narrowing down my idea to some thing in the realm of S'mores brownies and doing some research online seeing what other people had done, I decided just exactly what would be made. Of course, we had to make a run to the store mid way through, but hey, that's all part of the process. 




Mad Good Brownies
1/2 plus 1/3 cup butter, melted
18 Graham Crackers 
1/2 cup sugar
2 boxes of your favorite Brownie Mix 
(plus the ingredients the brownies call for)
1 Jar Marshmallow Fluff


Preheat oven to 350.
Crush graham crackers until fine. Melt butter in the microwave. Combine crushed graham crackers, butter and sugar in bowl. Spread into a greased  9 x 13 pan. Layer half the brownie mixture on top the graham cracker crust. Heat fluff in the microwave for about 30-40 seconds or until spread-able (watch so it doesn't explode, we learned from experience!) Spread on top the brownie layer with a spatula. Finally, pour the rest of the brownie mixture on top. 
Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 


Wait to cut until cool, this will be almost impossible, self control, just keep repeating that to yourself. You'll be glad you did.


Now, where did the name come from? Pretty awful and generic, yes I know, but it's fitting to the reason we created them. N and I, and all of Fairport for that matter says the word mad as our adjective of choice. We both say it without even thinking and my roommates are always commenting on it. N says it a whole heck of a lot more than me, and whenever he visits its often their form of making fun of him. Since this beautiful creation is for him, mad good brownies just seemed so fitting.


After making these, try not to eat the whole pan. It may be hard and we may have if I didn't already send a picture taunting N with just what exactly he'd be receiving.

oh you know, just the happenings on the set of CSI:NY

 I've started this, stopped this, started and stopped again for quite some time. I hope no one has been sitting, waiting for my final California post, well because writers block has taken over, but let's hope it's moved on to some other writers head.

How many people can say that they got to go on the set of one of their favorite shows? Probably not many, but thanks to my wonderful uncle who just so happens to work at CBS and has connections, the set of CSI:NY is where my mother and I found ourselves Wednesday afternoon of our trip. How freaking cool. I had been looking forward to this day for so long, not wanting to wish my vacation away, I waited patiently. Good thing we went shopping the day before, what does one even wear when they could be in the presence of a movie star?! Okay, I may have gotten a little ahead of myself, but hey one can always dream. After quite the bout of traffic we had finally gotten to Studio City and were in the CBS lot. 


We were greeted at the gate with a personal parking pass and got to park right up front by the warehouse. Once parked, our personal chauffeur greeted us in a golf cart ready to show us around. Being the important worker he is, before we could start our tour he had to finish up some work so we got to see his office (how much golf paraphernalia is too much?!), we also saw the lumberyard and the mini home depot-esqe store they had which contained any thing you could think of. 


Off we went in the golf cart zipping here and there, seeing all the different places. It's like a whole little town in there! First we went to NY Street. It's a street with all different things like stores, a cafe, an apartment stoop and they switch out what goes in for each show depending on what they need. Also if cars need to be driving by, they just go in circles around the street. We got to see where Entertainment Tonight is taped, the HUGE broadcasting center, various lots where sets were being made for pilots..fun fact about pilots...about 20 will be shot and less than a handful will make it. Aka LOTS of money lost if your pilot does not end up becoming aired. Due to the low chances, they reuse a lot of older sets and change them up so they can work for the pilot.

 and finally..the best part:

more like closed set to everyone but us!


Basically, my uncle is pretty darn awesome and got us on the set of CSI:NY, which I happen to have gone through a phase in high school where all I taped every episode possible of the show (sorry for hogging the tivo, daddy) and watch hours and hours of CSI. My goal in life was to be one of them. Had my life planned out perfectly and every thing until I came to the realization it's not as glamorous of a job as they make it seem. Boo. One can always dream though. We met tour guide Tom after exploring and began the tour!

Mac's office (looks just like on TV, who'da thunk!) Flat Teddy even got to sit on his desk! (Flat Teddy made her rounds on set, she was everywhere!)

We went to Mac's office, the morgue, interrogation room, the interview room, ballistics, the jail, the lab and the precinct. 

 If you look closely out the "window" it's the backdrop of NYC which lights up at night

 The morgue, if I wasn't wearing a skirt they were gonna put me on the table..then again even if I wasn't, not sure how I feel being on the table they dissect you on when you're dead, when I'm not dead.

  Lab equipment

 
The Precinct. Looks identical to TV and it's pretty big, they change this around and use it for different sets, too. The episode we watched the night before oddly enough took place in a library but was taped in here!

Ballistics..we probably shouldn't have played with them because we ended up here..

just kidding. we stayed out of jail..

 Tom the tour guide with Flat Teddy and a gel body they use to shoot/ test bullets with

Blood. which is made of a syrup like material. weird.

 Lies. This is not the 35th floor, nor does this thing move.


We got to see some of the other sets like houses or apartments they are taped in and learned all the inside secrets. SO cool. You'd never know that the space they are working in is as small as it is, it seems so big on TV. Watching the show you'd never know how much goes into it. Fun fact, CSI NY and Miami are both taped in California, who knew?!

After exploring the set and being in total awe, we got lunch at the Commissary and we were on our way back to the house to sit by the pool and drink some refreshing spritzers lemonade and make strawberry shortcake with the most gigantic strawberries of my life! We picked them up from the guy on the street and as my father put it "they were as big as a door" they were huge and so good. When I think of fresh strawberries I think of the little babies we get from the Farmer's Market. These were no little babies. Needless to say after dinner we gobbled that up.


Thursday, ah how was it Thursday, our last day already?? Aunt Donna, mom and myself started the day off at Pickles because dad would of probably had our heads if we didn't go there at least once. All he does is rave about Pickles so off we went for breakfast before the outlets. Dad and B have always liked corned beef hash and I just never tried it, we eat cb and cabbage at home often, I've just never tried hash before, so I decided why not with poached eggs (something else I've never tried). Why have I not had this ever before in my life? It was delicious. I could of ate the whole thing if it wasn't the serving wasn't the size of a small child. After we filled up on breakfast off we went to Camarillo Premium Outlets. Holy moly. This outlet mall could eat ours twice. It was HUGE. Outlet shopping is something my aunt and I do whenever we're together so it only seemed fitting we spend our last day shopping. J Crew happened to have my absolute FAVORITE shorts ever. I have two pairs that I got last year and hadn't been able to find them since and what do you know they had them. Not only did they have them, they weren't too expensive and with my college discount, I was a happy camper. Also, I got a $50 sweatshirt for $17. I love me a good deal, or two! Also, got me some new kicks. It was time for new running sneakers, I had mine since high school and almost put a hole through them. Of course they had sneakers with purple in them, that was an easy choice. After shopping, we some how worked up a mini appetite despite our huge breakfast and decided to stop at Los Arroyos for some nachos. We nachos turned into nachos and lobster quesadillas.

So darn good.  


After breakfast, shopping and lunch we headed to Trader Joe's (a new personal favorite store) and then home to pack (boo!) We were a littler nervous as to how much we accumulated over the trip (two shopping trips) and whether or not it would all fit. Crazy thing about being in warm weather is you can pack outside, crazy thing number two, rolling your clothes as opposed to folding saves you lots of room! We fit everything in nicely and got to enjoy the sun too.


3am Friday morning the alarm went off, yikes. Too. Early. It was time to go home, I feel like we just got there! Another 5 hour flight of wanting to pull my hair out, a long lay over and then quick flight and we were finally home. All that crazy nonsense travel was most definitely worth it. I hadn't been to California since I was a little one so I barely remembered anything and am so glad I got to go. So many good times and memories I have. Thanks momma :)


When we were leaving the set of CSI, Tom had told us Gary Sinise had something for me but the admin office was closed so they would mail it to me. About a week after we got home my father sent me a picture..

Yes, that is a package addressed to me, Miss Meli Lembo from Mr. Gary Sinise. Oh you know, we're buddies. I died a little bit when I got the picture. Naturally I needed this hand delivered, no way, no how would I let this go through the mail again, it'd be just my luck it did not find it's way to me. So Sunday my parents met me at the B'Ville Diner  for breakfast, naturally I got corned beef hash because it is my latest obsession and they delivered my package.

My newest prized possession. Thank you so very much, Gary Sinise you made my day and quite possibly my life.


Finally.


Dear Momma,
I am so glad I got to spend my spring break with you, I wouldn't of had it any other way. I had so much fun spending the week with you and I will cherish all the memories we made over the week. Thank you for making it one of the best weeks/ vacations I have ever had. After spending a whole week with you every minute, it was quite hard going back to school and not seeing you every day, all day. I love you so very much, thank you.
Love, melissa anne


Dear Daddy,
Thanks for staying home for the week to take care of DD so mom and I could go away for the week. We wish you could of been there with us but thanks to you and all your suggestions, it was kind of like you were there! Thanks for everything you do and did to make the vacation possible. I love you very much.
Love, sweetpea


Dear Aunt Donna and Uncle Doug,
Thank you so very much for letting us invade your house for the week. Thank you for being such great hosts, taking us all over and showing us around. I'm so glad I get to see you not only once but twice this year. I cherish the memories we made that week and will always remember our trip. Thank you for making the week so awesome. I love you both very much!
Love, Meli


Up next, I promise, cooking will make its return debut.