Super Easy Oatmeal Banana Cookies

I'm really not much of baker. I'm more of a cooking kind of gal! Also, I try to avoid eating my weight in butter. But when I saw this really easy recipe for healthy cookies I knew I had to give it a try. And you know what? They're good!

Recipe is from Skinnytaste:

Ingredients:

    • 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
    • 1 cup of uncooked quick oats*
    • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray a non-stick cookie sheet with cooking spray or use a Silpat.

Combine the mashed bananas and oats in a bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips and place a tablespoon of each on the cookie sheet.

Bake 15 minutes. Makes 16 cookies.

On the Search for a Meaningful Job

There's an article floating around the interwebs on how my particular generation is obsessed with finding meaningful work as opposed to sticking with a job and getting good at it, in turn making that work meaningful.

While I think the article brings up some insightful points, such as, not everyone is special; I still believe my generation has a point of their own: why not search for something meaningful? We are the generation that has begun to challenge the idea of processed foods, has become more culturally aware (still an ongoing battle though) and has become increasingly philosophical in questioning the institution of marriage and the American "path to happiness". While I still believe in certain mainstream belief systems, it's the questioning part I applaud. My generation likes to ask, "why?"

So yeah, I think overall we have a problem with being sort of entitled (we were children in the 80s and 90s, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US??). And we tend to get lusty over certain things. For me, it's travel. For others, it might be a shiny car. Generations before seemed to be content with a lot less. I say "seem" because it's all speculation anyway.

The point I'm getting at is why not look for a meaningful job? Whether it's an office job that makes you smile, or a construction site that you fancy working at, or a acting gig that brings purpose to your life...I do believe it's better to search for meaning rather than being a mindless zombie day in and day out. Despite our entitled-ness, I still think when you know you know. Within reason, I live for that search for meaning. I think it's a return to being more human after the robotic work life the industrial revolution put into place. The article above fails to recognize that the work culture we know to be true from the last 100 or so years is purely circumstantial; but searching for meaning has always been the human quest from the very beginning.

In short, I do think it's possible to be a good employee while also going after the desires of your heart. Keep on, keeping on Gen Y! 

Favorite Thing Thursday

These are a few of my favorite things:

1. Arranging Fruits and Veggies in a Basket

I might be a basket case, but I get immense joy out of displaying and arranging produce in baskets. Am I big weirdo? Or do you like doing this too?


2. The TimeHop App

via

I'm pretty obsessed with this app since I'm all about nostalgia. To put it simply, it's an app that tells you what you were doing on this day 1-5 years ago (as told through social media). It pulls from Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, among others, to gather this information. Although it's a weird occurrence for me to be jealous of myself when I see I was vacationing in France this time 4 years ago. Can I be jealous of past me?

3. Star Trek Into Darkness

via

Forget the fact that I fancy both Spock and Bones. This was hands down the best Star Trek movie I've ever seen. I couldn't. take. my. eyes. off the screen. I especially loved seeing a futuristic London and San Francisco. I'm a nerd.

As A Reminder

I met my father at the hospital this weekend, for which he had to take an ambulance to because of extreme shortness of breath and a clammy feeling to his skin. Not a fun experience. He has some health problems that are related to some later-life weight gain, as all Americans seem to. He also has some genetic conditions that don't help, such as his micro-valve leak in his heart.

He's doing fine now. Mostly this scare is a reminder of a few things:

1. As much as I hate hospitals and doctor appointments, sometimes you just gotta go. Pay attention to your body and don't "wait it out."

2. Continue or start a healthy lifestyle. Consider a smoothie in place of that 5th cookie. Try to walk at least 30 minutes a few times a week. I was forced to walk around in London to get around; American life is so sedentary and I HATE it!

3. Call your parent today and tell them you love them.

I hate that I'm at that age where I have to think about these things. But this weekend is a reminder that there's not much of a choice anymore. 

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's really very acceptable:

• to watch How I Met Your Mother marathons on Netflix. Damn you Netflix! You take over my life and take advantage of my joblessness. I'm almost caught up to the new season premiere! Of all the characters, I'm most like Robin--somewhat dry humor, harsh attitude to dating, loves travel, laughs at anything too overly emotional, but has a secretly soft core. Except, I like kids. 

Suit Up! 

• to wrap myself in freshly-out-of-the-dryer sheets even on a hot, hot summers day. It still feels so nice, even when I'm overheated.

• to want to punch some man who chastised me for taking the train in Italy and how I should have rented a car instead. Screw you, guy. I adore trains! And I'm missing them right now! I'm thinking this train obsession began with watching Thomas the Train as a child. 

• to drop everything else you're doing to listen to some Billy Joel whilst sipping slowly on a perfect cup of coffee. This equals a perfect afternoon.

Wedding Time!

In early August, I attended one of my best friend's weddings. Well actually, I was in the wedding. It was a glorious, laid back day and I've never been more relaxed being a bridesmaid. Maybe that comes from experience? This is the fourth wedding I've been in. AND YES, I'm starting to hear the "always a bridesmaid, never a bride!" jokes. Original, people. 

This really is the age that people start to push marriage onto you. Is it possible to marry travel???? I mean, I'll totally commit to that. 

Ahem. Anyway, here are more wedding photos from a fab day. Enjoy...

Rachel, the bride, is on the left. Next to her is her sister Tessa. Deidra and I are on the right and we are Rachel's sisters too...sorority sisters! Sigma Kappa, what?!? 

I'm usually a 'deep in thought' kind of person. 

Rachel and Zach seeing each other for the first time. They met when they were college freshman and have stuck together ever since. Before the "Awwwws" commence, I think a nod of respect is more in order here. We often fantasize relationships to be this fairytale experience, but here is a couple that has learned to stick it out through all the hardships. Respect. 

Obligatory bride & baby photo (not hers, by the way). 

By the way, Rachel's dress was MAGNIFICENT! 50s-inspired and beautifully beaded! 

Rachel, you deserve all the good things! I was overjoyed to be a part of your big, beautiful day. Cheers! 

Made You Laugh

I've been having a rough time with job-hunting and not really doing that much since finishing my dissertation. It's the post-London, post-dissertation blues. I know I'm being slightly dramatic, but it's weird to go from having an abundance of stuff to do to not that much at all. So here's hoping for a job soon! 

Until then, a light-hearted post with some pictures to make you smile: 

 How I felt when I was writing my dissertation; so actually, I'm glad thing is done with!!!

 Truth. 

 I swear I'm not anti-relationship. 

My addiction. 

Seriously...this is real??

Where I'm at currently. 

Ugh. 

Ashley's Steps for Getting Over Reverse Culture Shock (Step 3)

DUN DUN DUN... Here is the last step on how I've been getting over reverse culture shock...

3. Create Something Pretty Out of the Pain

The irony of this blog post is that it is itself a tool in helping with my recovery of reverse culture shock. Reflection is a important step to getting through culture shock and reverse culture shock. While keeping a journal or blog might seem juvenile to some, it's interesting how all pride flies out of the window once you actually start writing your feelings. This can be a simple statement of "Today I feel..." and finishing that sentence with your thoughts on how it's been to be back.

Beyond writing, making a photo album of sorts has helped me TREMENDOUSLY. It might seem painful to drudge up photos of your home abroad, but it actually does help. I've been using Shutterfly to compile a book of photos (and you can add text!) on my year abroad. It makes my memories into something tangible that I can share.

Both of these things have been an exercise in reflecting on my great experience and expressing my grief over saying goodbye to it.



***

I could go on with more steps, but I'll stop the series here. Following these steps have helped me with my sadness over London, although some days I really miss it. I joke sometimes that London was a break-up of sorts. I loved it so, but we weren't gonna get married, so it's time to move on!

The important thing to remember is that this is a PROCESS. Note the use of the word 'getting' in the title. I think there will always be that part of me that wants to hop on a plane and go live in London again. It's the part of me that thrives off of adventure and new experiences. What I want to focus that energy on now is having new experiences in my hometown. I don't have to hop on a plane every time I want adventure. I'll always be a traveler, of course; but this is not the only interesting thing about me. Time to work on the other aspects of Ashley.

Lastly, I'm planning a trip to London next summer for my graduation. I've heard this is the last step in closure: going back to the place you lived and saying a final farewell.

Until then, London. Now I'll be mentioning you less and less on the blog. As it should be, old chap!

On Job Hunting

How I feel when I have to input in my employment history for the 98,748,290,000 time:

***

How my mood changes when I get a call back:

***

That is all. 

(Summer) In Sunny San Diego

In the summertime, when the weather is fine...

 I go to the beach as much as possible. I'm such a beach person. I'm convinced that swimming in the ocean is the best stress reliever. 

 I force my pals to have European style picnics with me. Especially after I learned San Diego lets you drink wine and beer in some parks. Yipee!

 I go to BBQs where awesome people wear shirts like this. 

  ....and eat strawberries and cream...

...and grill the most beautiful piece of meat you've ever seen. And tasted. 

 I mean, I think I might be obsessed with BBQ. 

So I *try* to balance it with the occasional healthy meal. 

And now that the boys of summer are (almost) gone, fall will show up (or as the Brisitsh always say, autumn. It's never fall, only autumn). No matter what I call it, I'm ready for a season in where I'm feeling more settled. And dressed in tights.