Friday Lists: Books!

When I was in middle school, I used to attend all of my mom and dad's Indian community get-togethers. They usually comprised of pujas, housewarmings, birthday parties, dinner parties, music parties, etc. At every get together, I never had any people in my own age group to talk to, because either everyone was much older, or significantly younger. So these parties weren't necessarily too much fun for me.  

So I took books everywhere with me. My parents spoiled me, and got me as many books as I so wished, and I cannot be more grateful for this fact. While I had an iPod, my own laptop, and later a fancy new phone, my mom and dad spoiled me more with books than with anything else. (Well, maybe with clothes too, but that's something entirely different...) The one thing that I've learned to do now is to always keep a book on me, in case I'm in a position where I can get easily bored. 

However, since college started, my reading list has grown larger and has not diminished. For every one book I read, I add three books to the list. It's absolutely ridiculous! And I find I often don't read as often as I used to simply because of my brain getting over worked during the semester with studying. (I swear, this totally happens. This winter break, I didn't write as much I as usually do, only because I had to do a 25 page behemoth essay, and the sight of my keyboard made me want to gag... well maybe not, but it felt like it!) However, my new year's aspiration this year was to read more, and I am sticking to it! I just finished reading some more Camus (The Fall) this week, as well as reading my Genetics textbook for fun. 

Anyway, for this Friday list, I'll share with you some books that I currently have on my "WANT TO READ" pile, and as always, please do share if you have any books you would think would be fantastic for me to read as well! 

This section's the fun list, because it's mainly light-hearted, fictional, not too serious stuff.

This is a group of biology/scientific books that I'm waiting to get my hands on. Some of these books are some that I've wanted to read for a while, and others are some that I've heard about in passing and really want to know more about! :)

--Sheilly

Songs of Home

Songs of Home from shellahhhh on 8tracks Radio.

January 2013

January 2013 from shellahhhh on 8tracks Radio.

3 Things

I usually do pictures for these posts, but I just needed to have this song here. I don't know why, but this whole week I've been going on YouTube to hear this song far too often. It may be because I saw the episode of How I Met Your Mother with this song just the other day, and it's reminded me of the sheer catchy-ness of this song.

I finally finished my Christmas shopping! And by that I mean, I finished it for my college friends! I've decided to make some cookies and give them in tiny boxes to some people, some bracelets and earrings I've made, and my roommate gets some rather silly things I've found! The bag up there just screamed to me, despite it being a Valentine's Day bag, I thought it was perfect for her!!!

I got my Genetic Engineering book! I got my Genetic Engineering book! I got my Genetic Engineering book!

Sorry, I'm really excited for this class, and looking through the textbook is even more exciting. I had it shipped to my house, and when I opened it, my dad said I looked like a kid at Christmas. I'm already on chapter two... :) 

-- Sheilly

Three Things: Being Home

I've found it difficult in the past, to really get into different forms of projects around the house. Usually, when I'm home, I go on cleaning sprees and reorganize everything in my mom's kitchen... which drives her nuts when she's looking for something. This year, I've hit a road block in the cleaning/organizing because I can't get my hands on an over the door spice rack. 

I can't find them anywhere. 

So, in order to circumvent going stir crazy looking for this spice rack, I've decided to do some other house projects like painting some terracotta things my mom bought in India. This picture was from when I was still in the middle of of painting it, but it's done now!

I've also taken a new fancy to taking a lot of outdoor shots of New Hampshire as well. This one was taken as I was going into the Michael's near my house. 

I've also been baking a lot! I keep finding myself in baking aisles at Grocery stores and picking up random things, without any idea how to use them! However, I've experimented a lot, and cookies are definitely something that I've really enjoyed playing around with. So far I've made some cinnamon chip cookies, nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies, and a pomegranate dark chocolate chunk cookie! Playing around with ingredients is definitely a lot of fun, and I love playing around with new flavors and foods. I'm going to make a peppermint mocha cookie this weekend, and if all goes well, I think I'll do a week of delicious cookie recipes for you all! 

I hope everyone's been having a great January so far!-- Sheilly

Pomegranate Limeade

If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit obsessed with pomegranate. Last year I found some interesting ways to utilize the fruit after putting them in a salad for Friendsgiving. While some didn't go as well (pomegranate salsa...), I still haven't given up! Today I tried making pomegranate limeade, and it was so good!

Now every recipe I've seen for this limeade has always utilized the pomegranate in juice form. And while I love pomegranate juice, I find it too sweet at times and I just love pomegranate arils and how juicy they are!

Needed: Pomegranate arils, one lime, sugar, and ice.

Start by getting the juice from your lime. I found cutting it in fours and squeezing them out worked better than any other way. After that add sugar and water, to your liking.

For the pomegranate portion, I took a couple of the arils out, and put them in a little cup of water with sugar to create a syrup. I let that sit for a couple of minutes before combining it with the limeade. Once I stirred the syrup and limeade together, I served it with ice and pomegranate arils.

Some fun things you can try with this recipe is to freeze the arils just a bit before serving. Put them on a tray and stick them in your freezer for like 10 minutes. It makes this drink so much more refreshing.

--Sheilly

2013 Aspirations!

I suppose I should have written this yesterday? Oops.

My goals for this year:

• Take the 365 challenge! A lot of bloggers have done it before, and I think it's a fun idea! So far I'm two pictures down! 
• Start the Couch to 5K challenge! It's not so much to lose weight, as it is to become healthier and enjoy running! 
• On that note, continue eating more organic healthier food! I started this semester, and I feel so much better already. I haven't gotten sick at all, and finding new recipes is so much fun as is using fresh ingredients to make everything with. :)
• Read a little more for fun. I went 2012 reading three books for fun. Three. THREE. Unacceptable! I'm definitely changing that this year. 
• Explore a little more. Find new places, take more pictures. Escape! 
• Write about everything. I've always found writing helps me remember things more, and since I've started this blog, I know my favorite memories have been immortalized, and I can't wait to see how much more I can share! 

2013 is going to be exciting for me, and I can't wait to do more of these as the time comes! What are your aspirations, goals, resolutions for this new year? :) -- Sheilly