You can always find a reason to smile.

At the grocery store this week, I had two experiences that caused me to leave with a smile on my face. You may think it was due to some new and exciting food purchases, but that wasn't the case.

Experience #1


I've heard some great things recently about watermelon, so naturally, I'm standing at the...stand of watermelons...trying to pick me a good one. I should probably mention that my way of figuring out if it's a good watermelon, is by holding it up to my ear (which occasionally requires some shoulder balance), and knocking on it to see if it sounds hollow.

*Side note: I have no idea where I learned this trick, nor do I know if it has any real indication of the yumminess of the melon. I tend to take advice that, at times, makes me look like an idiot. For example, my Mom once caught me holding my phone and pushing it up and out like you would a fishing pole. Duh, fishing for service I told her. She sadly laughed and looked at me with that, 'what am I going to do with you?', type of look and explained that whoever told me that was probably screwing with me. I swear though, there's times when it gets me an extra bar.

Anyway, an older woman came up behind me to ask if I knew how to tell when I watermelon is good. I think you get where this is going. So basically, we're just standing there laughing, chatting, and knocking on watermelons, for what was realistically no more than a few minutes. But it was so fun.

Experience #2


When I finally made it to the register with all my yums, the cashier smiled and asked how I was doing. You may say this is normal. But sometimes don't you feel like when someone asks you that, they couldn't actually give two shits about how you are? SHE DID. We went on talking about how movies, how our weekends were, and it was so fun.

Yes, those are my experiences that made me smile. Give me a minute to explain a little more as to why.

I think we frequently forget that the random people we interact with on a daily basis are real people, too, and that you can successfully find a connection with someone, no matter how big or small that connection may be - even if it is over a watermelon. I think we also forget, when in the hustle and bustle of our days, how important it is (and did I mention fun?), to

be kind and genuine. 

Everyone, myself included, seems to always have a reason as to why they are having a crappy day. Mine was that the devils I nanny for were driving me nuts. And it may just be the crazy idealist in me that's talking, but I truly think if more people were just nice, and took the time to appreciate the little things like this, that we'd all have better days...and dare I say, a better world?

Although it was the small matter of knocking watermelons with a stranger and dishing with a cashier, these two tiny little interactions were big enough to remind me that your day can always turn around if you let it.

So put a smile on your face, and make the world a better place.

How could I not end it with that? 

Black Bean Heaven.

I'll go right ahead and say it: I miss burgers. I miss a hunk of ground beef stuffed with cheese. If you eat meat and have never had a Juicy Lucy, I urge you to try one. With that said, I find black bean and other veggie burgers quite tasty. Two of my veg friends (shout out: Court & Luke) make to-die-for black bean burgers. So finally after months of working up the courage to ask for the recipe, I gave them a shot.

And it may have been the best decision ever because these babies were so good! Not to mention easy as pie.

The ingredients are all fairly healthy and it takes about 20 minutes to get them put together and cooked. A really great option if you're trying to stay away from meat but still want to sink your teeth into a "burger."

Breakdown
You'll need:
~ 1/2 cup bread crumbs           
1 can black beans
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic
A few sprinkles of cumin & cayenne
A few sprinkles of feta
1 egg

Here's why this is an amazing little recipe. Ya just mix everything together. I'm not going to apologize for my imprecise portions of everything because that's the beauty of it. You can add as much or little as you want depending on what taste you like. Next time I'm going to try a different kind of cheese and maybe some artichokes!

I found that it was best to use a blender to mix it all (minus the crumbs) because we don't have one of those handy dandy potato mashers. Once everything is blended together, just stick it in a bowl and add bread crumbs little by little until it sticks together enough for you to form patties. Then heat up a pan, add a little butter/oil/whatever non-stick device you like, and cook approximately 4 minutes per side (flipping occasionally).

I just ate the first batch I made plain with a little ketchup but next time I plan to toast a bun, maybe add a few slices of avocado...mmmmmMMMmmm!

Real-Life Cabin in the Woods.

As a trip that was much anticipated all summer, we have just returned from a very fun weekend at my roommate's cabin. You may imagine that it was filled with the typical cabin activities: boating, bonfires, mallow-roasting, dancing juice, etc. And that it was. A blast and a half, some may call it. And while I came away with memories that will last me a lifetime (and a red, peeling nose), the cabin has left me feeling something else: FEAR.

Hence my realization of how brilliant the small town, cabin, woodsy scenes are for horror movies.

Picture this; creepy, somewhat abandoned looking motels, dark and desolate woods, winding pitch black roads, and very little cell phone service. Eeeshk, get me outta here before someone comes along and kills us off one by one. 

Let's take a look, in no particular order, at a few movies that take advantage of this perfect setting.

Vacancy
A young couple, played by Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson, stop to stay at the creepiest looking motel they could possibly find in a small, creepy town. Mistake number one - weird innkeeper shows them to what I assume to be a bedbug infested room, where they quickly realize they are trapped as victims of a potential snuff film.

There you go. You've got the small town, woodsy area where no one but absolute psychos are waiting. I bet the next time you think about taking a shortcut off the Interstate, you'll say 'nahhh.'

Cape Fear
Why don't we just start off with this (and my opinion that the title says it all):

Could Robert De Niro look any creepier? 

I debated whether or not to include this one in my list, but it takes place in yet again, a small town, and one of the most epic scenes occurs on a cabin-like boat (warning: this is a bit of a stretch).

Without giving too much away, defense attorney Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte), screwed over his guilty client, Max Cady (De Niro), fourteen years ago by hiding evidence that may have helped him win his trial. Cady becomes lean and mean in jail and gets prepared to make Bowden and his family's life a living hell. Rob man does an excellent job of scaring the poop outta me when he lurks outside the Bowden's home saying, "come out come out wherever you are...." AHH! See it now.


Cabin in the Woods
This movie is an interesting one. I don't know if I can technically call it scary, but it's got a lot of those surprising scenes that make you jump out of your seat. Even though you simply know there can't be anything good behind that trap door they're about to open, you think just maybe it won't freak you out. Think again.

Plus, and most importantly, it's got the essential aspect of two couples and an awkward fifth friend taking a trip to one of their relatives' cabins. They even stop at a run-down gas station on the way that immediately sends chills down your spine.

Also, Chris Hemsworth. Need I say more?

The Strangers 
A movie that brings me back to my best friend's basement; this one is a classic, über-jump-in-your-seat-pee-your-pants, movie. A young couple heads to an isolated home for a little vacay. But guess what, they're not alone out there. Three very scary, very determined strangers find their way into the home and set off mental, "never head to a house in the woods where there is no one around" sirens.

Here's a frightening preview.

It's these kind of movies that make you yell things at the screen like, STAY IN THE HOUSE or DON'T LEAVE HER ALONE YOU DUMBASS, whilst hiding your face in a pillow.

Funny Games
Whether or not you've caught on to it, I have a slight MEGA-LARGE fear that someone out there in the world is without a doubt, trying to get me. So to be trapped in the woods, a cabin, or creepy motel, is essentially my worst nightmare because movies over time have ingrained in me that something sinister is bound to happen.

Enter Funny Games. I think this may be the most terrifying movie my Mom and brother have made me watch (ok, they didn't make me - I love scary movies). What goes from a nice family trip up to the vacation home to enjoy some R & R quickly turns to the most twisted and psychotic chain of events. It's along the same lines as "Saw;" you're thinking, what kind of sick f*#@ has it in them to think up this stuff?!

I don't even want to get into this movie farther because it's freaking me out. But if you're in the mood for a scary one, I highly encourage you to watch this and perhaps put on a diaper.

P.S. If you're like me and enjoy most movies (aside from that Chad Michael Murray/Hilary Duff fiasco, A Cinderella Story), go ahead and catch up on all these thrillers. If you tend to be a movie snob, you might want to proceed with caution on a few of them.

Magical Mantras

As I set my bag in the little cubby at the gym, and was about to pull out my two necessities, water and iPod, I realized I was 1 for 2. iPod was no where to be found. Let me just say, working out without music is essentially like going for a run and not having tennis shoes; it's possible, but incredibly difficult for me to get through. The thought of packing it up and going home momentarily crossed my mind, but then I remembered the power of mantras. (That and that it would have been very lame if to forgo a workout simply because I didn't have some tunes).

So I sucked it up, used a few mantras, and got in a great workout.

What are these mantras, you may ask. Basically it's just a motivational sentence that you say to yourself repeatedly. Use one when you're debating whether or not to head to the gym, or when telling yourself that you just can't workout today and will make up for it tomorrow. Or when you're on that last mile and feel like you need to quit. In other words, whenever you feel those excuses coming on.

A few of my favorites:

You don't have to workout, you GET to workout.
I run to be fit, I run to be healthy, I run to be happy.
With every stride, my legs grow stronger. 
I'll never regret working out.
Suck it up, and just do it.    

They may sound corny, but remember, you're just saying it in your head (and who gives a shit anyway!). Now make some of your own - it can be anything that inspires you! Make your mantras more powerful than your excuses and get moving.

Lots of elephants.

WHOA. Check out those elephants on the blog. Shall we address them?

Yes, it is true...I have been a major slacker when it comes to Organized Chaos. Hope you haven't been shedding too many tears over my absence. As summer is winding down, I am finding myself thinking more and more about how much I miss blogging! With that said, it is my plan to keep this better updated so you all have something to look forward to [wink].

Just a quick update. Over the past two months, my service year with the Minnesota Reading Corps has ended and I am living the good life as a part-time nanny/part-time stylist at Hot Mama (emphasis on the second "ma")/part-time pool rat, which is my excuse for being so absent. Who wants to be typing away when they could be out catching rays? Does that work for you?

The other news that I'd like to share, is that I was offered a position for next year as an Associate Educator in the kindergarten classrooms; where I'll be spending another year having fun with the little stinkers. Yay, very exciting!!

With a new job, lack of sunlight and cold weather on the horizon, and a mind that is set to keep blogging, I'll be seeing you.

P.S. How cute are those elephants?