just because
Just another WordPress.com weblogdone!
Finished my website, SO EXCITED!
After weeks of hard work and massive linking I have finished 
Also, eat this
Eat this!
Waldorf Salad
Alison Wisneski
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Ingredients:
- 3-4 firm apples, cored and diced
- ¾ cup light mayonnaise
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 1 cup trail mix of your choice
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
Looking to impress your parents with the cooking skills you’ve gained this semester in college? Bring this salad home over fall break for a whirlwind of applause!
Start by coring and dicing your apples. Put them in a large bowl. Rough chop your trail mix of choice and place with the apples. Add in diced celery. Top with the light mayonnaise and lemon juice and toss (Key: Don’t forget the lemon juice, it acts as an anti-browning agent for the apples as well as adding a necessary tang to the salad!)
Serve immediately or refrigerate and enjoy fall tastes with your loved ones.
between
I sometimes wish I could write for a living.
I figure with a little bit of training, maybe going to school for an English degree, maybe I could have mustered up the talent to do so. I don’t know if it is just some mood I get into or what, but I get frustrated when I feel creative surges and can’t choose the medium in which I want to express it. I don’t even play around with my camera or with Photoshop or with a notebook anymore like I used to, I just get exhausted mentally at the thought. I wish I could sing, I wish I could dance, I wish I were flexible enough to master yoga, there’s so much want and not enough in the payout.
It may be the massive amount of coffee talking, but I want to grab life by everything it has and ride it out until I’m barely grasping, asking for more while my lids drop and I take my last breath. I have so much drive sometimes, sometimes I don’t. I don’t even know what I want to do when I grow up – “grow up” in the sense of the meaning that I graduate in a few months and will in turn be a “grown-up” individual with no plan and no compass to navigate me towards what I am going to do. I get so jealous of my roommate, going for her CPA and having herself prepared for what’s going to happen in her life. I am basically walking around with a blindfold and my hands extended, begging for someone to take them and lead me to where I need to be. I feel like this should be the most exciting time in my life but yet I’m stuck here wondering when it’s going to happen and when I’ll be able to make it count. So frustrating and exhilarating and frightening and amazing all at once – I feel like I’m 13 and 65 all mixed together into one massive human confusion…When is this awkwardness going to end? When will I finally find comfort?
excitement!
It’s been a steady past few days. I don’t feel a huge amount of drama and I think slowly I am beginning to normal out. No more rocky road for me (I wish I were talking about ice cream!!)
So Jon Good did some photos of me to have a cohesive set for portfolios and such. It was a ton of fun (even though it was freezing!) and it was great to have him teach me things about lighting and flash that I don’t know at all. I am disappointed to say that I am not pleased with how I look in the photos but I will say they are the prettiest things I’ve ever seen – he has some massive talent up his sleeve, I hope he becomes super famous so I can say “remember when…”
I’m going to hit up the gym today and do my best, but after a little late birthday celebration for miss Savannah, I doubt I’ll rock as hard as I could. I want to clean the house and get it all nice and sparkly like it was last week, then maybe start putting together photos for independent study. I’m hoping to pick a meal I can shoot in-studio next week. I think some sort of a chicken roll-up that my roomies can munch on might happen. We’ll see how this weekend goes. I’m going home Friday to do senior pictures and hang out with my lovely girlfriend Ashley for the night, then Saturday is Paul’s birthday celebration (I’d link to his Twitter but he went ahead and got a virus on it yesterday 
sad!). Sunday is Pam’s beautiful daughter Kendall’s baptism and I’m thrilled to get to be a part of it!! Otherwise just trying to keep busy until then…
Try working out to So Much to Say by Dave Matthews Band for a little funky pick-me-up mid-workout.
waiting
I’m having a proud moment. I know we as Christians are not supposed to be proud but sometimes I have to give myself a pat on the back for a self-made accomplishment.
I ran for almost 2 miles yesterday on the treadmill with no breaks in 20 minutes! There’s no reason for me to not be excited. I am slowly moving towards my goal of weight loss and health gain!!
I did make a little bit of an unhealthy recipe this week, but you aren’t having huge portions so I figure hey…let’s indulge
Eat this!
Baked Ziti
Alison Wisneski
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: LifestyleIngredient List
- 1 pound mostacholi noodles
- 5 cups (one jumbo-sized jar) marinara
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- ½ cups grated parmesan
- 15 ounces low-fat ricotta
Media Credit: Alison WisneskiLooking to impress your significant other with a meal that’ll knock them into a love coma? Look no further than this show-stopper! Start by preheating the oven to 375? and getting a pot boiling for the pasta. Put the marinara sauce on medium heat. Once it reaches a bubble, stir in the ricotta until smooth.
Liberally salt the water when it reaches a boil, and cook the pasta for five to seven minutes. Take a ladle-full of sauce and coat the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Pour the strained pasta in and mix in two cups of marinara, one cup mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan. Top the mixture with the remaining sauce and then the cheese. Put the uncovered dish in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Serve up with some Italian bread and a glass of fine wine and you’ve taken your date from the living room in Whitewater to a bistro in Florence!
It. Was. So. Delicious!! Making it was a joy and I only changed a few things around from the recipe I found to make it one in my own. More sauce and low-fat ricotta, yum.
Busy day today…Have to stop using my social media (cough, including blogging! cough) and compile group research into a situation analysis for my class, then study for my law quiz at 12:30, then go to the group meeting to turn in the situation analysis, then I’m taking professional headshots with Jon Good to use as a constant for all my social media/portfolio needs, then night class, then we’re hosting a birthday party for my roommate’s best lady friend. Plus Glee is on, which of course is my number one
Try working out to: Cowboy Cassanova by Carrie Underwood. This is the first time I’ve recommended something I haven’t worked out to…but damn, I can imagine pounding pavement to it
shadowed
Last Tuesday, one of my best friend’s mothers passed away. She was 49 and she was beautiful inside and out. I spent the week at home with her getting things ready for the funeral and just being there and it was a really taxing time that made me realize that life is seriously too short. There’s no point in getting all stressed and freaked out over little things that are so not big-picture items.
I’m trying to get back into the swing of things today. I planned a nice, full day of donating plasma, going to a group meeting, going to my last advising session and tutoring. Alas…plans foiled. I went to the plasma place and after going through screening was told my veins were too small and hard to find, the group meeting was canceled because nobody showed up, advising took forever because I had to explain and re-explain why my AR didn’t show my minor from the art department (because its specialized, it won’t show anything and the communications department didn’t understand…at all) and the student I tutor didn’t show up because he forgot he scheduled a meeting with a study buddy. So I did a lot…but really I did nothing. One of those days filled with fluff.
That’s okay, though. It’s so funny – I take these 300- and 400-level courses but in truth they just give you freedom to go about and do as you please. I feel like no matter what your age, you will never be mature enough to do so without at least a little bit of direction. I am going to party hard in the photo studio tomorrow and force myself into spending hours at a time in there…because I need to. I need to get a syllabus going and do things. I need to fill my portfolio. I think I’m becoming a little bit too Type-A, but that’s okay. I think I’m becoming one of those people who needs to control every little thing in their life so that nothing has the option to fall apart.
Try working out to It’s All About the Benjamins by Puff Daddy because it’s always fun to be really focused on something when doing a repetitive workout – try and think of where you were when this song was popular. I was in a camper with my family up north…had to have been around 4th grade? I love being stumped by silly things!
contagious
After having a lovely coffee meet-up with Kerri I have made the fabulous decision to keep up with this blog and work on my “personal identity.” I went to the PR and Social Media Summit here in Whitewater and got my learn on last Wednesday and was left pretty stunned – we are in a complete state of social media overkill, I think.
I believe (though it’s important, of course) that we all depend entirely too much on electronic media communication to do everything. Don’t get me wrong – it is so great to have the Internet, cell phones and everything that goes along with them, but when is it going to be considered too much? The presenters at the PRSMS really made me realize that the way the world is turning is really unpersonalized. I know that those in social media networks want you to believe they’re making it more personal…but they’re not. There’s no way you can convince me that because you read my blog, tweets, Facebook wall posts and LinkedIn profile that you then know everything about me and want to network with me and…ahh, it’s all so intense.
I am also stuck believing that I was completely raised in this fashion, and in turn will be using all of these social networks no matter what my career becomes. I don’t exactly have a problem with it, but it sure is a lot to swallow. We’re now moving into a place where our parents are completely left in the dark…and my mom was just getting the hang of email.
As for me, I’m feeling pretty refreshed and rejuvenated after this weekend ending. It was my last night at the cafe on Saturday, and working till 4 am dealing with drunks and bad tips made me realize I made the right decision. I’m talking with the Peer Ministry organization about working with some design…I smell an internship in the works I hope it all keeps moving forward for me – I want to keep feeling positive.
As for tomorrow I’ll be in the photo studio working with the other independent student, Jeremy. Lighting is my biggest fear and my biggest downfall when it comes to my photography, so I hope this study really opens my eyes to the how-to’s of photography that I haven’t mastered yet.
Try working out to There Goes the Fear by the Doves. I get a kick out of music that makes me feel like I’m running through a montage, and this is definitely one!
anything you want
I would just like to proudly update to say that I unfroze my Anytime Fitness account and decided to work my butt off yet again. I need to keep taking my fitness seriously and I’m not sick anymore!
I worked out yesterday for the first time in officially 20 days. It was intense, I sweat like crazy, I had such a red face…
…and I missed it more than anything.
Try working out to: 10 Dollar by MIA for a real sassy boost. I feel like my obsession with MIA goes well with my love for working out.
one, two, three
It’s been a busy past few weeks!
- Quit my job at the café
- Got a new job tutoring journalism
- Got a new volunteer spot teaching high school youth group at my hometown church
- Got a new kitty, Peaches (well, she’s 8…but…)
- Started my independent photography study
- Will begin my advertising campaign on Monday for Anytime Fitness even though I froze my account to save cash…
Sorry for the lack of blogging (to whoever is reading this!!) I’d like to keep up with it, if not for the stress relief, for the reminder that I am sane and can release thought!
I’ve been getting ready for graduation. Even though it’s in May, I think it’s a Godsend. I can now plan ahead for internships and portfolio reviews and really prepare so that I can be like my best friend and get snagged up the first couple of months post-grad.
As I sit with one of my four cats (June, Peaches, Mabel and Rosie…I smell a movie script) in my lap I think about the simple things. I’ve been really enjoying coffee and tea, the sunrise and sunset, friends, family, love…all of it has been really present in me and my life and I’ve learned very much to appreciate it. I think I have a little too much down time and am hoping to fix that by learning yoga! I think I might love it to bits. If I can’t find a class around here, maybe I’ll get a video…but I’d prefer to be taught in person. I have a serious lack of focus trying to do things in front of a television…surrounded by cats.
Let me clear this up – I have June at my house, Peaches at my boyfriend’s house and Mabel and Rosie at my parent’s house. I am not a crazy cat lady…yet!
I haven’t worked out in about a month…and it is beginning to take a toll on me. I haven’t really gained much weight back due to being broke and eating raw veggies a lot, but I do notice a difference. I am still proud to say I’m 5 lbs lighter and now only 15 lbs shy of my goal but…I am thinking of working something out with the gym because I miss it dearly!
That’s really about it…I hope my next post has some pictures from my independent study of food photography…yum yum!
Try working out to…ANYTHING, because I haven’t lately
food & fun
Eat this!
Cinnamon-sugar pumpkin seeds
Alison Wisneski
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Ingredient List:
- Seeds from one pumpkin
- 1 heaping Tbs. coarse sea salt
- 1 heaping Tbs. brown sugar
- 1 heaping Tbs. cinnamon
My favorite part about the short fall that we get in Wisconsin is the weather and everything that it brings along with it – including pumpkins! I try to cook with seasonal fruits and vegetables as often as possible and it is definitely pumpkin time for me. Though nobody’s pumpkin seeds beat my mom’s, these take a close second and are different than the regular standby roasters. Start by preheating your oven to 350? and spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray.
After cleaning out your pumpkin and making an adorable jack-o-lantern, rinse your seeds and pat them dry with paper towels. Spread them in one layer on the sheet, and then sprinkle with the salt and cinnamon. Put in the oven and stand by – you need to mix them every five minutes to ensure no burning. After ten minutes, sprinkle the brown sugar over and give one last toss. After 25 minutes have passed, take out and let cool before serving. Enjoy these toasty treats under a blanket with friends for a sure shot at a great night in!
Eat this!
Apple Pancakes
Alison Wisneski
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Ingredient List:
- 2 c. dry pancake mix
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 1 c. applesauce
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- ½ c. milk
- 1 capful vanilla extract
My boyfriend has a serious obsession with “brinner” – that is, breakfast for dinner. Whenever I make it, he gets a little too excited. And for someone who doesn’t have time to do big morning breakfasts, brinner seems to be the perfect concept. These apple pancakes are a new twist on an old favorite. Start by combining the pancake mix (Tip: Do NOT use “Just Add Water” mixes! It doesn’t work and gums up terribly!) and cinnamon, then creating a well in the middle. Add in the rest of the ingredients into the well, and whisk the ingredients together by rotating the bowl and pulling from the sides. About 30 rotations should do the trick – it should be lumpy, don’t panic. Using a ¼ cup measurer, you can make about ten 4-inch pancakes with a medium-heat pan. Enjoy this with apple butter and fresh maple syrup, and you won’t miss your mom’s pancakes at all!
she is love
Finally updating after forever! No internet for a week is pretty intense, especially when you’re sick and have nothing better to do. I think I’ve had my fill of the Golden Girls for a while.
My heart just broke a little bit. I was on Tasting Table just browsing and being the foodie that I am when I clicked the “Jobs” link at the bottom and was presented with “Design Intern.” They’d assist in food photo shoots and help with food advertisement. Oh, just a closet dream of mine. Everything was perfect – 10 to 15 hours a week, for credit, etc… Then I saw the dreaded words “Soho area.” I still admittedly e-mailed them expressing my massive interest and what they’d offer for a post-college grad. So awesome!
As for life, I suppose it’s looking up. I’m still waitressing, but next month have a set schedule of Sunday lunch and Tuesday dinner with three midnight shifts scattered throughout the month. That should cheer me up. I’m a sucker for a set schedule!
Having Derrik here has been such a blessing in disguise. I really haven’t been mega-stressed about anything, including that non-graduating thing. I think taking some nutrition classes and things along those lines are only going to beef up my resume. Also – I had an epic realization last night…TWO resumes! I will have a boring plain one for non-creative jobs and my cute one with some blue in it for creatives. I think that will only spice me up. I’m a spicy gal, I suppose!
Try working out to: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Simon and Garfunkel. Super fun and as a folk-music junkie, you can’t beat S&G!
