Pumpkin Cuppies |
So, it’s December 3rd & it feels like only yesterday it was still Thanksgiving. As much as I love the holiday season, I–like many others–hate how quickly it goes by. My MCAT date is just around the corner so naturally, my heart is pumping more blood than it should for a stationary person. I think I might die, maybe? I’m 100% capable of doing well on this test if I just study & stop watching cheesy shows like Charmed all day. Whenever you’re stressed or feeling like your life is falling to pieces, you just have to remind yourself that it could be worse, but you’re going to take control of the current situation to the best of your abilities. You’re going to look at yourself in the mirror & remind yourself that you’re capable of handling the hurdles & if you can’t, then ask for help. Certainly there is no shame in asking for help from your family &/or friends.
Speaking of which, let’s go down the “what I’m thankful for” road since my family never makes these types of speeches at our Thanksgiving dinners.
6 Things I’m Thankful For
1. Family
This also includes my friends that are like family to me. I have magnificent parents that are always supportive. I can’t thank them enough for existing & giving me all the necessary tools in life & more to not be a tool myself. Without the many people I speak to on a regular basis, I’m 99.9% positive that I’d be insane or angrily typing my thoughts out somewhere.
2. Pumpkin Pie
Ummm it’s the best pie so I’m definitely thankful for its invention. On a serious note, I’m thankful that I was born with working taste buds, because there are people in this world that cannot taste very much or can only taste one or two tastes. If it weren’t for my supertaster abilities–this is a real thing, by the way–I wouldn’t be able to impress my family & friends with my ability to make some delicious noodles!
3. Health
Whenever someone tells me that they have nothing to be thankful for, I have to resist the urge to backhand them. If you’ve got a roof over your head, clothes on your back, a working refrigerator, & you were born without a plethora of genetic mutations & diseases, be thankful. Be glad you were born with all of your working limbs & that you’re alive. If you’re going to sit around & mope all day, stop breathing our oxygen & go do something productive. Life isn’t fair, but you can make a difference small or large.
4. Not Being Born a Woman in Another Part of the World
Surely America has many problems with gender discrimination, but I’m glad that I was born female in this era in this country rather than oh, I don’t know, Saudi Arabia where it’s illegal for women to be seen driving or walking around without a man. The growing amount of feminists would surely make the suffragettes proud!
5. Science & Technology
Because the human race cannot advance if our science & technology is non-existent. We’ve come such a long way only to be lead astray by non-scientific/medical celebrities like Jenny McCarthy who tell us not to get our children vaccinated. I’m glad you read a book, sweetie, but until you graduate from a medical school or have a Ph.D. in immunology, sit the eff down & shut up. Get your child vaccinated!!!
6. Ryan Gosling
Thank you, Rygos, for breaking up with Eva Mendez. I’m so glad you’ve finally seen the light. I hope that you find a much better significant other that will actually want your babies. Thank you for being a celebrity who cares about humanity & animals. Keep doing all of your charity work, boo! Thank you for being beautiful inside & out & hilarious all around. Thank you for giving females everywhere hope that not all men are completely testosterone filled bags of cells.
Updates
2 new recipes & 1 new album. Hope those that celebrated had a wonderful Thanksgiving & that those of you who aren’t in ‘mericuh had a wonderful November & an even better December. I’m also thankful to my 5 readers & how you continually show me that you read my posts. I don’t think I’d keep this up for so long if I didn’t have an audience, no matter how big or small.
Vivian
As a close friend of many a pre-med and current med school students, I wish you the absolute BEST of luck with your MCATs!
I’m a huge pie fan as well (pie > cake, always!) Pecan is my favourite, but pumpkin pie with a dollop of Cool Whip is one of the most delicious things in the world 🙂
Tiff
Thanks Vivian! I think we will have to disagree on which pie dominates the pie world because I’m clearly a huge pumpkin fanatic! Although Trader Joe’s recently started stocking pecan pie ice cream & I may give it a chance because of their success with their pumpkin pie ice cream.
Darianne
Ahhh that looks so good! I’ve been on pumpkin overload since September and it still going! And might I add your Thanksgiving dinner looked incredible, I’m not wanting it all over again!
Tiff
Pumpkin is the best!
Joyce
I’ve yet to have pumpkin cookies before. Looks delish! ^_^ I wholehearted agree with #1,3,&4! Especially #4…we may not think about it much, but really as women we are definitely very lucky to have quality and freedom of speech. It’s scary to think of a life of the complete opposite. Thanks for your thoughtful post 🙂 Keep in touch!
Joyce @ carouselstreet.com
Tiff
Ahh Joyce! I keep forgetting to reply to your comments &/or visit your blog. I always think that I covered everyone only to realize there are so many people I haven’t visited yet. Whoops!! I’ll get to your place soon enough!
Yeah it’s one of those times when you have to step back & realize that it’s never been a better time to be a woman! Can only imagine what it’ll be like 20 years from now. It’ll be nice to know my daughter (if I have a daughter in the future, here’s hoping!) will grow up in a time when she’s not afraid of speaking her mind or running for office!
Agent Q
I couldn’t agree more. What a great list of things to be thankful for! As a Gender Studies major in undergrad, I would like to add the fact that we have Gender Studies included in college curriculum. Getting exposed to works by historical figures that enabled women’s movement sparked this part of me that I didn’t even think I had. I can go through a list of things, but the most important part is being assertive through critical thinking. Being introspective helps, of course. I’m thankful you brought this up. 😀
In response to your question, I honestly don’t know why I don’t categorize my posts. Maybe because it simply didn’t occur to me or because I’m lazy. It could also be because I don’t want to over-categorize things? Hmm…I honestly don’t know. I do plan on doing it starting January 2014.
Tiff
Assertive through critical thinking is right! There are lots of things that people make a big deal out of that I tend to roll my eyes so far in the back of my head, but this new age & feminist movement seen within the media (celebrities talking about feminism) & online (tumblr) is really neat. Although, when it comes to Tumblr, there’s just a lot of reblogging & not much doing.
Cat
This is a great list! Too many people look over how lucky they are to be healthy and to have so many science and technology advances. I didn’t even think about the taste buds thing, but I totally agree with you there (even though I’m not a fan of pumpkin things 😉 ). Every time I read an article about how something like measles have increased due to people like Jenny McCarthy… it annoys me so much! I wish people would do their own research on the topic of vaccinations.
Also, good luck on your MCATs!
Tiff
By all means, science isn’t easy. I struggle with it all the time, but when people blindly follow a celebrity & her showboat of an agenda, it is dangerous. The doctor she cites was discredited & fined. I think he might’ve been incarcerated for fraud. Probably should fact check me on that, but he definitely was punished for his misconstrued “evidence” & “data”. There have been plenty of articles since then & a court ruling stating that the development of autism has no correlation with getting your child vaccinated.
Thanks! I’m definitely going to need allllll the luck I can get.
AnneMarie
That pumpkin cuppie looks delicious. -drool-
I love your list of things you’re thankful for! Why did you choose six things out of curiosity?
And I prefer apple pie (or any kind of chocolate pie) over pumpkin but I do like a slice of pumpkin pie during Thanksgiving. It’s odd. It’s like my taste buds adjust just for the Thanksgiving season. Taste buds are a wonderful thing to be thankful for. We’d all be missing out on so much if we didn’t have them.
And AMEN to being a woman in America. It comes with its struggles but we are very privileged in this day and age.
Wishing you the best of luck on your MCATS. You got this. (: Stay away from Charmed for now and then use it as a reward after you’ve studied for hours.
Tiff
It was originally just going to be 5, but I added a 6th one because I am thankful that there is some sort of representative out there that gives women everywhere hope that not all men are good for nothing dickheads. I may be obsessed with Rygos, but let’s not forget that he really does symbolize a standard. One should never feel like they’re settling for anything less than they are compatible with.
GIRL, I crave pumpkin pie year round. It is a novelty so it’s probably why you adjust for the holidays, but apple pie is my jammmzzz too. I love pies in general, besides pecan. That has got to be my least favorite pie.
Thanks, AnneMarie! I need all the luck I can get. I stayed away from Charmed for a while & got hooked onto other shows in the process. I have impulse control problems….
Liz
A FELLOW SUPERTASTER OMG. It’s such a rare species! 😮 I struggle, though, with certain foods because they’re so overwhelming in the taste that I can’t tolerate it (e.g. broccoli).
I love pumpkin pie, too. 😀
I, too, am thankful for the science/medical technology that we have today; it’s so amazing and has changed to much (and helped immensely).
Tiff
I was told that the super taster gene was a dominant one & that a good chunk (25%) of the population are super tasters. Sooo I guess we’re kind of rare haha. That’s why you can trust my cooking!! I attribute my ability to fix or whip up a good meal due to my super taster gene. Easy to recognize what recipes need more of or less of. Brussels sprouts are really bitter to me & bitter melon & wines are often way too strong for me to handle. I can’t even handle cognac…it makes me want to yack. But otherwise, I keep eating things multiple times to make sure I don’t like it. Can’t judge too quickly!
Alice
First and foremost, nice new recipes! I am a fan of tofu and i shall tell my mother to cook agedashi tofu ….just because i can’t but i only want to eat lol. also, the pumpkin cuppies..hopefully. (if the oven in our house isn’t broken, that is..)
I’ve never come across any pumpkin pie here, not even the high end restaurants that drain my father’s wallet have it. it’s always the classic, usual apple pie…which i’m not gonna complain because i love apple pies. the only cooking method of pumpkin i ever have is pumpkin soup/puree lol
frankly, i think life is a shit. a total messed up bummer. it can be great for 5 minutes before some crap happens and then out of nowhere, your day gets ruined, etc. still, i follow your saying that one should be thankful about something. i complain a lot and i hate stuff/people on daily basis but i still respect what i have…like even the most ordinary things like a house, a bed, a car even though they’re not luxurious or wide or whatsoever. it’s funny because my parents are very envious people; my mother always thinks it’s “funny” to say out loud her jealousy like, “oh look they have better cars/houses…so big so luxurious etc…ah~ if only we have those too..” etc and it makes me sick sometimes, y’know.. that when i’m sick of it, i tell her that it’s already good enough we have our own house and cars, etc. i personally think it’s alright to, well… ask for more because humans always ask for more but yeah, being thankful can be really hard for some people, regardless of age.
No.5 is extremely important, ha. technology and science rules~ i can almost imagine and make up a futuristic sci-fi scenario for the future of planet earth haha …kidding ..or maybe not 😛 technology is definitely the new fashion ;P
i believe in science and logic and proofs and maybe that’s why i’m agnostic despite the religion label on my birth certificate and whatnot. people around me seem to hate it though because they think an agnostic person equals to an evil non-believer. pfft. ridiculous, really.
one thing though… i’m not sure why that dude said don’t get your child vaccinated lol it actually made me laugh a little..
Your no.6 is a total win! haha cracked me up 😛
i’m not a huggggge fan of rygos but i do admit he does look good~ ah, you thanking rygos for existing is like me thanking chris pine for being captain kirk :))
Tiff
Girl! You’re young & plenty ahead in life for you. You just really have to make the best of what you have. A roof over your head is better than a newspaper on the street. But you could be happy with being homeless too, I don’t know, it’s really your preference. If you’re not happy with your life, you should try to change what you can control to make it better. The things you can’t control, you just have to remind yourself that you can’t do anything to change it.
Life is unfair & it will ways be unfair, but it can also be absolutely beautiful or wonderful, even if for a moment. It is worth living so you can expand the moment into a whole hour or a day or week or year or to the rest of your life. Now that you’re here, alive, & well, it’s your responsibility to make your life worth it!
Had to include my love, Rygos. I don’t believe in a higher power, but I believe in Rygos hahahaha. I’m kidding. He’s just one of those celebrities you think aren’t real because he’s so attractive & kind. Let’s not forget that he’s charitable too. I care a lot about philanthropy, so learning about his trip to the Congo just made me want to capture him in my pokeball.
Also, I feel you on the nonbeliever ordeal. I’ve gotten into plenty of arguments with people about sanity, insanity, morals, & science it’s just not worth the debate anymore. I’ve had someone tell me they think if they didn’t have religion, there’d be no reason to not murder or steal. Then when I asked why I’m different or anyone else who’s atheist or agnostic, they couldn’t think of a reason & deflected. There are more religious people incarcerated than there are nonbelievers. So, his argument was really bad. I’ve stopped trying to discuss religion & science with people because it’s useless bickering unless it’s with someone who is naturally curious & into science. They’re never going to change their opinion the way you never will change yours. What they deem is logical is the opposite of what you view is logical. You can spin their arguments any way you want to support your arguments, but they’ll continue to just be dicks about it. I just ignore it. There’s really no point. I know that I’m a good person & obey man’s laws. I treat people the way I wanted to be treated, hell, I treat people 100 fold better than they treat me. I think nearly everyone is selfish so I have my days when I hate everyone too, but you just have to surround yourself with people that genuinely care & love you. Even if that’s one person, it’s better than 10 assholes that pretend to be your friends.
Tess
Might I say YESSSSSS to #6 – he finally broke up with Eva Mendez?? Sweet!!!
Your post definitely warmed up my heart and made me think about what I was thankful for as well. (Although I haven’t really enjoyed anything pumpkin, hopefully one day I will enjoy it as much as you!)
Tiff
Aw thanks! Yes, he finally did it. He has no business being with someone who doesn’t want his beautiful babies. Boyfriend be lookin’ for a hunnie who can settle down with him & give him babies. Eva clearly isn’t right for that! Now for him to get together with Rachel McAdams again…..come on you two, shippppp.
You are either obsessed with pumpkin or you’re okay with it. You must try pumpkin pie to become obsessed with everything pumpkin flavored! Put that on your to-do list, woman!
Christine
I totally agree with your number four! Sometimes I think that women are still battling a lot of injustices here in the U.S, but I often forget to consider other countries.
Tiff
Many women take for granted our right to vote or just our right to wear whatever the heck we want. So when election year comes around, I make that effort to vote. Women’s suffrage is not a transatlantic right, but it damn well should be.
Uglyfish
That’s a great list, I often think the same as number 4, I’m grateful for where I was born! This is a very inspirational post, makes me want to shake a few people around me who are mopey that their life isn’t where they want it but won’t do anything about it!
I can’t believe there are people out there, with no medical training who will preach to people about medicine, and vaccinations causing problems. It’s more concerning that people will listen though, vaccines save so many lives!
I’ve never had pumpkin pie, I should try it one day though!
Tiff
Aw thank you & I’m glad you felt inspired. 🙂 It’s okay to mope, but we have to remember to do something positive to get ourselves to stop moping around. Can’t get back those minutes you wasted complaining! 😉
Don’t get me started on that vaccination topic. It really lights a fire in me. Public health, y’all!!
EAT YOURSELF SOME PUMPKIN PIE!!!!!