Wowza

This picture was taken with my phone on Christmas day.  For once, I'm glad it wasn't snowing on Christmas.  

Gorgeous.  Isn't it?  There definitely isn't scenery like this in Kansas City.

I officially have one week left of Christmas break.  Fieldwork starts next Monday! Hopefully I remember something from school.

Thanks for reading!

Peppernuts

Merry Christmas!!
I thought I would share one of my favorite Christmas recipes.  No Brichacek Christmas was ever complete without peppernuts.  It's impossible to eat just one!
P.S. Horses really like these too!

What you need:
1 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup molasses
2 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Cloves
1/2 tsp Ginger
1 1/2 tsp Baking soda
1 tsp Allspice
1 1/2 tsp Anise
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
10 cups of flour


1. Boil sugar, margarine, corn syrup, and molasses.  Let cool.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients (minus the flour) to the cooled mixture.  Make sure the mixture is cooled, especially before adding the eggs, or you will have some fried eggs in your mixture.  (No lie, this happened to me.)

3. Add the flour, one cup at a time, until you can need the dough.  I don't think I used all 10 cups to achieve this.  

4. Roll the dough into ropes and cut them into small slices.  

5. Place them on a baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.  

We usually eat them plain, but grandma told us they used to dip them in coffee.
Enjoy!

I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore.

Not that anyone would really be able to tell the difference between a Nebraska and Kansas sunset, but the point is that I am back home in Nebraska!  Even better, I get to spend Christmas break at home on the farm until I start fieldwork on January 6th.

Last Thursday, Dad, Nick, and Sarah came down to Kansas City to help move me out.  Although moving is always so much more work than originally planned, we managed to have a good time.  Besides loading up all of my stuff and cleaning out my apartment, we managed to see lots!  We went on a Harley Davidson tour (Sarah and I went shopping during this), ate at Oklahoma Joe's, went to see the lights at the Plaza and the Crown Center, and went on a Boulevard tour.  

Unfortunately, when we finally got back to Omaha and unloaded everything, I realized I had a lot of unpacking to do.  (Sorry, Stacey, for leaving my stuff all over your house.)  But on the bright side, I get to live with my sister!!! Camp Sister starts now!

I have to say, I'm pretty excited for Christmas!

Hey, guess what?

Just finished my last day of school today.
I'm happier than a camel on Wednesday :)

We are never ever getting back together....like ever

See this polo? It's my Rockhurst "professional" polo.  I hate it.  I've worn it for every practical, consumer simulation, in my nightmares, and other random Rockhurst functions.  Just in case you were wondering, it's not flattering.
You know that experiment by Pavlov?  Where he rang that bell every time his dogs were fed.  Pretty soon the dogs just started salivating at the sound of the bell.  That's what happened with this polo.  I start nervous sweating the moment I put this polo on.
But that's not going to happen anymore, because I am done, done, DONE with every presentation and consumer simulation I will ever do!  All I have left is one test on Monday and one Tuesday.

This girl is almost done with school.

Apartment Tour

It's almost a week until I move back to Omaha.  Yippee!!

Of course I will be a little sad to move.  I love the neighborhood I live in.  I finally can get around (mostly) without a GPS.  And of course I have made some amazing friends here.

I also love my apartment, and I wanted to document (mostly for myself) what my apartment looked like.  This was my first place of my own I was able to decorate (dorm rooms do NOT count).  I had so much fun picking out decor, arranging, and crafting for my apartment.

This took me all of last Christmas break to make.
You can find the tutorial here.

The chalkboard and mail organizer I made.
You're lucky.  The date is rarely ever updated.
I used drawer handles turned upside down to hold the chalk and eraser.
The tutorial for my mail organizer is here.

I found this knob board long before I moved into my apartment.
It's one of my favorite pieces.  The potholders are from anthro
and I made the apron.

These were old containers from my mom and I just added the chalkboard paint.
I found the wooden spoons at Dollar General and I just spray painted them.

This used to be an old wine and beer bottle.  The picture was designed by Patrick.
I cannot get enough of this basket.

Angela & Brittany
I found this frame in abandoned in a shed at home.

This tray  on my coffee table is one of my favorite parts of my apartment.
I found the unpainted tray at Hobby Lobby and just used spray paint and painters tape to make the chevron pattern.
I found the book at an antique shop and the teacup is from Anthro.

Kitchen/dining room

Living room
Please just ignore the horrible mismatching furniture.
I am a poor college student.  What did you expect?

My bathroom (nautical of course)

The green hydrangeas are my favorite.

These were super easy to make.  These were old picture frames I had and I used
youtube to teach me how to tie some neat looking knots.
(Get it: it's "knot-ical" haha)

This basket is the perfect hideout for my nail supplies.

My make up brush holder. The rhinestone were extra buttons from shirts and cardigans.

This is where I keep my make-up, hair accessories, and what ever else fits.

If you can't tell, I'm a sucker for baskets.
This reminds me of the baskets that we used at the pool when I was younger.

Here is my necklace holder and marker board (a must for studying).
The marker board is just an old picture frame with scrap booking paper.
 My dad helped me make the necklace holder.
 For some reason he wasn't nearly as excited  as I was about it. 

This is the top of my dresser.  I stacked my favorite books here.  The "Little Swimmers"
book on the top is my favorite book my grandma used to read me when I was little.

The chevron straws were left over from a bachelorette party.

                             

So this may look like a big mess, but it is the most functional piece in my bedroom.
There is so much storage available here. I keep my textbooks, crafts supplies, and  purses here.

My desk area.
The tutorial for this mail organizer can be found here.

My bed and headboard.  The headboard is just made from picture frames.

Close-up of my pillows.

Can you tell my sequin pillow used to be a shirt?

Thanks for reading!

KC Vacay (sort of)

In a couple weeks my family is going to come down to KC to help me move back to Omaha.  Everyone is my family is thinking, "Ugh.  We have to help Angie pack, clean, carry all of her stuff to the trailer, pack, drive to Omaha, and then help her unpack.  There better be pizza in this for me."

On the other hand, my dad is thinking, "What moving???.... Brichacek family vacation!!!!!!"

Yeah, that's right.  My dad is way more excited about all of the KC stuff we're going to do than helping me move.  (Shocker? I know.)  Although it will be a moving intensive few days, we'll have to squeeze in some fun stuff.  "When in Rome," right?

Here is a list of the places I recommend you go (and the places we may or may not be going) if you ever find yourself in KC.

1. Boulevard Brewery Tour
I have been on this tour 3 times already and I will be going on it again when everyone comes down.  It never gets boring.  It's free, the tour guides are hilarious, AND you get free samples of beer at the end.  Enough said.

2. The Plaza
If you're looking for great shopping and restaurants, this is the place to go! Right now, they have the Christmas lights up and they are TO DIE FOR.

3. The Crown Center

So I really haven't been to this place very much, but I do know that from November to March they have an outdoor ice skating rink.  So. Much. Fun. Last year when Sarah and I went we saw a proposal there! The light display is also pretty stellar too!

4. The World War I memorial

So this is a pretty cool museum, but if you're not into museums you should still come check this place out because there is an amazing view of downtown KC from here.  You can even take the elevator to the top of the tower (for like $2) and check out the view from up there too.

  

5. Oklahoma Joe's
There are three big BBQ places in KC: Oklahoma Joes, Jack Stack, and Gates.  Everyone in KC has their favorite, but I'm telling you Oklahoma Joes is the best!  The original one is in a tiny gas station, but that stops no one from coming. The line is often out the door.  It's that good, and believe me, it's totally worth the wait!  I recommend the z-man sandwich and you absolutely MUST try their fries.


6. Pizza 51
Best pizza I have ever had (except my mom's of course).  They have a special where you get a HUGE slice of pizza and get to pick any 5 toppings to go on it.  Get the bread sticks.  I don't know what they put in their dough, but it could be magic.  That good.  Oddly enough, this place also started in a gas station.

7. Quay Coffee
You may have already seen my Quay Coffee post.  You can read all about my obsession with this place.  If you're looking for great coffee, an adorable place in the River market area, you don't want to miss out on this.

8. The Roasterie
Another great KC coffee place.  They actually roast all of their beans in KC.  There are a few locations throughout the KC area, but their downtown location is where it's all made.  You can take a free tour here too.  Oh, and did I mention their coffee is also amazing?!?  I'm going to have to stock up on their coffee before I head back to Nebraska.  AND they just started selling K-cups for their coffee.  SCORE!

9. Rivermarket
During the warmer months, there is a farmer's market every weekend.  They sell all of the typical farmer's market stuff, but there is also a flee market.  Some of my classmates have found some pretty good stuff there. More than anything, it's just a fun atmosphere to be in.

Have any other suggestions?

*Most of these pictures wouldn't exist if it weren't for my sister Stacey.
**I would have never known about most of these places if it weren't for Patrick.  He's really good at finding the fun places to go.

Thanks for reading!

"Miss You" mugs

I completed this DIY a while ago, but couldn't post it because Patrick would have seen it.

I found the tutorial for these here.  I just loved the idea.  It was actually really easy and didn't take long at all.

You just use a sharpie and bake them for 45 minutes.  

If you're going to try it, here are a few tips:

-Print out a state outline to trace (work smarter, not harder)

-Use eyeliner to initially trace the state, then trace around it with the sharpie.  The eyeliner just wipes off!

-Get rid of all your long distance friends/boyfriends except for the ones that live in states like Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico.  Totally kidding.  But seriously, who decided on the shape of Maryland anyway?!?

The possibilities with a mug and a sharpie are endless.  

Thanks for reading!

That light at the end of the tunnel. I see it.

So I haven't written for a while, but I have an excuse, I promise.

Last week was crazy.  I had my very last lab practical on Tuesday.  If you know anyone in any kind of medical related field, you have probably heard about lab practicals.  They are my least favorite part of school.  You study and practice and study and practice some more.  Finally the day of the practical comes and you can't think about anything else.  Food doesn't have any taste, you are sweating even though it's 30 degrees outside, you have to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes, and going to your morning classes is completely pointless.  Your time FINALLY rolls around and your hands are shaking as you pick the case you will be presented with (praying it's not that one topic you forgot to look over a second time).  You somehow stutter your way through your case, remember all of the things you forgot as soon as the timer goes off, listen to your teacher's critique, and pull your concentration together to write your documentation.  Torture I tell you.

Anyway, I AM DONE with these horrid things.  Celebrate everywhere!

On Friday, everyone in my class had to present our research projects that we have been working on for the past year.  The last few months have been so busy getting data, writing the paper, and putting together the poster and presentation.  The presentations lasted most of the afternoon and I am sooo happy it's finally over.

Here is a picture of my amazing capstone group I have worked with over the past year (our poster is in the background).

Jacque, me, Sophia, Ginny, and Alexa

Alexa (from Mad Wife Skillz) and I decided to have a little photo shoot since we happened to be dressed in Christmas colors.

A normal serious one

Reindeer

A Bluejay and a Loper

Rudolph and Santa

A Christmas tree and a present

And the best part of the weekend was that Patrick got to come :)

21 days left! Can't wait!