Changes are a comin’

Hello everyone! Long time no… type?

So here’s the deal. School starts tomorow, and I’m already swamped. I’ll be taking 19 credits:

• 16 Credits of Classes
• Voice
• Choir
• Piano

I already have work to do – readings, project proposals, and practicing. My junior recital is this semester, for which I have to prepare 7 songs (an aria and two three-song sets). Every free minute I have I will be in a practice room.

That being said, I’m just not sure I can maintain this blog as I should. I will finish the reviews I promised, but after that, I think that the best thing for me to do is focus on my schoolwork. I sort of hate the idea, but I’m not sure I can manage all of it together. I will most likely post periodic updates on my not-so-exciting life, but not much more than that. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!

This blog has been an essential component in rediscovering myself and my lie, and for that, I am grateful.

The people I have met through the blogging community have been some of the most amazing, loving, inspiring, sweet, hilarious, WONDERFUL people I’m ever had the honor of meeting, and for that I am blessed.

Please don’t become strangers: be my friend on facebook, shoot me an email from time to time, and feel free to text me:

five-seven-five six-four-two seven-two-six-two.

Got that?

Love you all more than words can ever say.

Emma

Super Duper Oops

Remember me? Goodness. Time totally gotten away with me. I am now back in Minnesota captaining a Mock Trial team. Woo! Its tons of works, about 10 hours a day, but I’m loving it, so whatevs.

I know I took a very abrupt absence, but my time was split between family and friends. Oh. And sleep. And review wonderful products!

I had a plethora of packages waiting for me!

Somersaults!

Larabars!

Cupolada Cookies!

Raw Revolution Bars!

And a few more amazing things that I didn’t get pictures of:

• Attune Chocolate Bars
• Gnu Bars
• Krema/Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter

I have almost no free time right now, due to trial (tournament this weekend and regionals are coming up), but I’ll try not to be such a stranger!

Emma

Back in the States…

First things first: as I promised, the winner of my giveaway is announced…. to find out who the winner is, click here.

And in bigger news…. I’m back in the USA. After approximately 50 hours of traveling hell, I made it to El Paso, TX, to meet my parents and the guy I consider my brother, which was a wonderful. I don’t want to go into details, but rather I want  to give a word of advice to all of my lovely readers:

Never fly US Airways when there is the remotest chance of bad weather.

When I arrived home, I found a huge stash of boxes waiting for me – Gnu Bars, Somersaults, Attune Chocolate, Larabars, Raw Revolution Bars, Cupolada Oven… lets just say that I’ll be well stocked for a while. It also means that I’ll be doing several reviews soon. Stay tuned!

And on that note, I’m off to bed. Jet lag + travel hell resulting in exhaustion = unhappy Emma.

My Google Reader is in the hundreds… please forgive me if I don’t comment. I’ll catch up on the most recent ones soon, but I can’t go through them all.

Love you all!

Quick change of plans.

Hello everyone! Sorry about the abrupt absence – I was visiting family in Sweden and had no internet access.

Regarding my giveaway: I have to apologize that there will be no Nak’d bars included. My wallet was stolen in Dublin, leaving me with zero food and money… for over twelve hours. It was either eat the bars or starve. I chose the bars. I am very sorry, but will amend the giveaway to include three Larabars, as they are very similar to the Nak’d bars – one Apple Pie Lara to replace the apple Nak’d, one normal Jocolat bar to replace the chocolate Nak’d, and then one flavor of the winner’s choice for the third.

I’m very sorry about that, but I hope you all understand!

Life has been CRAZY the past couple of weeks, and wound up being even more ridiculous last night. My flight back to the US was delayed by 4 hours… causing me to miss my connecting flights. There were no more flights to El Paso (yes, in Texas, but it is the closest airport to my NM hometown), so I was forced to stay the night in Philly. The airline didn’t even pay for the hotel! GRRR. Luckily, although my wallet was stolen, my aunt gave me plenty of money for exactly this type of thing. As I write this, it is 4:30 in the morning and I’m waiting for the shuttle to the airport. Hopefully, I can get home today.

Love you all, and I hope to start blogging regularly again soon!

Remember: you have until tomorrow to enter the giveaway!

Emma

Last day in Cork and a Giveaway

Hello there!

This is my last day in Cork. I’m on the verge of tears. This city has charmed me – made me fall in love with its people, places, and everything about it. I leave tomorrow at 10:30 in the morning for Dublin where I’ll spend a few hours, then I hope on a plane for Sweden to visit my Aunt M and Uncle C. Although I am looking forward to seeing them, I do not want to leave my blessed Cork.

That being said, I am looking forward to getting back to the states for a number of things:

• Diet Dr. Pepper (Yes, I like it more than the real thing)
• Clif and Luna Bars, PROBARS, and other yummy bars
• Cheap squash (I’ve missed my kabocha!!)
• Driving on the right side of the road
• My family – mom, dad, and doggies
• Macalester
• All of my friends – including you! Even though I have kept up my blog to a point over here, its not the same. I can’t text my lovely Meg, which has been a complete travesty. I can’t chat with other friends because of the time difference. Its been horrible.

In order to celebrate my return, I’m hosting a giveaway. What will it consist of?

Things from Ireland: Nak’d Bars, a Trek Bar, A Mule Bar, and a souvenir yet to be decided.

Things from the US: A Clif Bar, A Luna Bar, A Spooky Smores Clif Z Bar

There will most likely be some extra goodies stuck in there as well.

There are tons of ways to enter the giveaway. For each entry, leave one comment (as in, if something is worth 2 points, leave 2 comments)

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what you look forward to coming home to after a trip. (1 point)
2. Link back to this post (3 points)
3. If you don’t have a blog, leave a second comment about your favorite trip (3 points)
4. Follow me on twitter (1 point)
5. Tweet about this giveaway and let me know you did (1 point)
6. Add me to your blog roll (1 point)
7. Add me to your Google reader (1 point)
8. Follow me (1 point)

You have until December 23rd to enter – my first full day back in the States. I will use a random integer generator to determine the winner. Good luck.

Also: if you would like a postcard – send me your address! It will be a postcard from Ireland, but it will be sent from the states as I can’t afford sending a billion postcards from abroad.

I’m going to go finish packing now – SAD.

Love you all!

Emma

Frustrated

I have three full days left in Ireland – Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. I should be going out and having tons of fun, absorbing my last moments here. What am I doing instead?

Sitting in bed, sniffling.

Seriously. I’ve been sick since last Saturday with a cold, and two days ago, I woke up with two bright red eyes that were weepy and gooey. Diagnosis? Pink Eye. JOY*.

*Denotes Extreme Sarcasm.

On the plus side, I have one exam left. And I got a tattoo.

Yes, you read that correctly. I, Emma Locatelli, got my first tattoo.

Long view

Close up

Now, why on earth would I get a harp you may ask when I’ve made it clear that I’m a singer, not a harpist like my friend Anne? Well, here’s a quick breakdown:

The Celtic Harp is the national symbol of Ireland – it is found on all official documents, the euros printed in Ireland, etc, etc. I love that Ireland is the only country on Earth that has a musical instrument as its national emblem. However, for me, the harp – the Celtic Harp – means more to me than just a symbol of the place I’ve lived for four months. The harp is ancient, beautiful, and full of mystery – the last great harper lived in the 1700s: Turlough Carolan. Only in the last few years has the harp regained interest, which means many of its secrets will be hidden in time, never to be regained (unless of course someone goes Doctor Who on us). Of the harpers that live today, I had the honor of meeting one in August, and listening to her play captivated me.

But the harp means more to me than just a symbol of the place I’ve lived in for four months. This Celtic harp symbolizes the things about Ireland that I’ve fallen in love with – the beauty, the history, the hidden wonder in the country side… and the amazing music, of course.

I went to the tattoo parlor with one of the best friends I’ve made while here – she got a semi colon while I my harp. When we got home, I enjoyed a lovely bowl of soup.

Amped Up Veggie Soup

This was super easy – a can of vegan vegetable soup, heated till boiling with an added 1/3 cup of water, with chopped up brussels sprouts and mushrooms added. YUM!

And now for some other food….

This was something I had several days ago… Chocolate Zucchini Oatmeal!

My favorite type of quick bread in Oatmeal Form

I’ll get the recipe up soon – promise!

Finally, a late but still delicious banana hammock, or in my case, an adapted ants-on-a-log.

Banana, peanut butter, and raisins - CLASSIC

Mmkay… off to take more antibiotics.

Love you all!

Emma

Still sick and starting to freak out.

Hello everyone!

As per the title, I am still sick – yes, I am feeling loads better than I was, but my throat is quite sore and I have lost my voice.

Now, why is this a problem other than just an inconvinience?

I had a rehearsal for one ensemble today, rehearsals for both ensembles tomorrow and Thursday morning, and my performance/exam Thursday afternoon! Major Uh-oh!

Other than that, I had two exams today, one exam tomorrow morning (Mineralogy), one exam Thursday (my ensemble), one exam Friday (Geohazards), and one exam Monday (Geohazards). Phew!

In brighter news, I caved and bought the wallet I have been lusting after the entire time I have been here. Pictures when I have a little time to breathe – promise!

Giveaways:

Leslie:

Colossal Cookie

Good Health Natural Products

Raw Minerals

Amy’s Kitchen

Now, like Heather, I have some hot and steamy dates with some textbooks. That’s right. Plural. I’m just that good.

Love you!

Emma

Feelin’ Icky.

Hello everyone,

I’m sick. My head is pounding, my throat is sore, I’m achey all over, and my lymph nodes are swollen. Appetite? Not so much. Grossness? Yeppers.

On that train of thought, I’m just keeping this short and sweet – here’s a list of giveaways.

Funky Monkey Snacks – Cinci

Kay’s Naturals – Averie

Twelve posts of Xmas – Emily

Mmkay. Off to sleep some more

Take care!

Gone for a few days

Hello lovely ladies and gents!

I am going to be gone for several days. Tonight I’m taking off for Dublin with a few friends, and tomorrow I’ll be heading out to Newgrange – older than Stonehenge! I’m excited. And then on Saturday, I’ll be taking off with a fieldtrip for a class I’m not even in! We’ll be looking at rocks, of course – my idea of a good time.

I probably won’t be able to post for another week or so. On top of my trips, I have two exams on Tuesday, one on Wednesday, two on Thursday, and another the following Monday. Can’t wait*.

*Denotes heavy sarcasm.

Anyway, I hope you guys will forgive me. I WISH I had my US phone so I could keep in touch with some of you. Although, now that I think of it… I only have lovely Meg’s number. Chicas – send me your digits. Back in the states, I’m a texting fiend. Hit me up.

Love you, and I’ll be missing you like crazy!

Emma

Busy, busy, bee

Hola amigos!

I’m sorry about the major lack of posts in the last few days. I’ve been BUSY. In the past couple of days, I’v made serious progress on my final paper for my Geohazards class. (3200 out of 5000 down! Hurrah!), planned my final week or two in Ireland/Sweden, and practiced some music for m ensemble. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but research papers – especially about events in developing countries – are rather time consuming! Not to mention classes, friends, and all that jazz!

I don’t have any amazing stories this time around. Nor do I have absolutely amazing food – I’ve had to stick to basics that don’t take a ton of time or planning.

Roasted veggies and pasta

Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts

Strawberry Protein Oatmeal

Chocolate Almond Oatmeal

I’ll try to get recipes up soon. I have exams to study for – 3 on Tuesday! Yikes!

Giveaways:

Oikos Organics and Eden Fantasys from Leslie

24 Hour Giveaway from Heather

Artisana Giveaway from Katie

Truvia from Cinci

Kay’s Naturals from Jenny

Mmkay. Off to work! Class! Papers!

Love you all!