Making a Difference

Some of my favorite quotes. Happy Monday!

“The only people who can change the world are people who want to. And not everybody does.” 

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

"Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does."  

"I wondered why somebody didn't do something.  Then I realized, I am somebody." 

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” 

"The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all."

"I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.  

"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile."

I Found My Keys

Today in class I was chatting with this guy next to me. He told me he'd been married for almost a year, and he never thought he'd be married so young. Then he gave me this analogy: He asked me if I'd ever lost my keys and then kept looking for them once I found them. I said of course not, and he said that's like finding your other half, you don't keep looking once you've found it.

I hope my future husband says cute things like that to strangers when we're married. I could tell he really loved his wife.

I'm Back!!

Yes, I know it's been over a MONTH since I have blogged and I really don't have an excuse other than I had a little break and felt like doing nothing, then life got really busy. But anyway I have a lot to update the 3 people who read this blog.
We'll start with Laurent's birthday! He turned 21 at the end of August! His birthday was the first day of school so we celebrated a little early. The weekend before we went to Jackson Hole and went whitewater river rafting! It was his first time, and we had SO much fun! We bought a few of the pictures and a frame that has Snake River written on it. It is now hanging on the wall in his apartment. Later that weekend we went to Las Vegas for my cousin's wedding, then back to Logan just in time for him to start school. On his birthday I made him a home-cooked meal! Props to me, right? He said he liked it so let's hope he wasn't lying. It has been so nice to spend more than a weekend at a time with him. I'm used to seeing him for 3 days once a month, I'm so happy he's a little closer to me now.
Next, I moved to Salt Lake City. It's been a little hard adjusting to living here-in such a big city, but I'm making the best of it. School has started, and so far so good.
There are a lot of strange people who live in this city. I had the pleasure of coming into one on one contact with one of them. Next to my place of employment there is a salon, I decided to go get my hair trimmed after work one day, I walk in and the first red flag is a middle aged Asian man running the front desk. I'm in no way raciest because in other lines of cosmetology work, Asian's kill at doing nails. But for some reason this looked a little suspect to me. He seemed really excited to see me, and practically pushed me down on the chair and told me to wait-only five minutes! About ten minutes later I see him coming my way with a grocery bag in hand. He hands me the bag and says, "This for you!" I look inside and to my horror there are about 7 rotten bananas! I politely thank him, although in my head I'm thinking, WTF? I wait about five more minutes and decide to make a break for it. When his back is turned I quickly dash out the door, leaving the bananas behind. I expected to see him running after me in my rear-view mirror as I drove away, but luckily I had escaped. I guess I was too scared to let someone cut my hair who offered me black bananas as a treat.
Anyway, those are the highlights of the last few weeks. I could include a lot more, but I promise to start blogging regularly now. It’ll be easy with school back in session cause it seems I can always find something better to do than homework.
P.S. Keep checking back, because I might have a guest author writing here in the near future!

College Application Essay

As I have been applying to a new school, I have also had to re-write acceptance essays. I thought I would share this one here:
The world is often looked at with a flat and non-dynamic perspective. Many people are concerned only with their local spheres of interest. In the course of my life I have seen many different cultures and people. In addition to being born in Namibia and living in Oxford, England, my family’s travels have taken me to close to twenty other countries. In these travels I have seen shantytowns of South Africa in contrast to the opulent lives of Americans. From this contrast I have noticed that although the African people lack material possessions they are generally happier than their “richer” American counterparts. This observation has led me to ponder what matters in life and has shaped my goals for college. While many go to college with introverted aims I am seeking my degree with hopes to better the lives of those around me and use my education to benefit others.

Sweetie Pie

I love to create beautiful food. Mostly cakes or desserts. For four years I have been a cake decorator at Baskin Robins where I have learned it all. Lately I have been trying my own creations at home. I decided that I also need to learn to make things taste good, I'm really good at the aesthetics side of things, but really don't know much about cooking/baking. Until a few months ago I haven't really cooked/baked much and I decided to start big. With a Black Forest cake. Absolutely the most delicious thing EVER! It turned out amazing! Shocked myself, and my family!
I have been following this darling blog that has inspired me. I needed to take a treat to some people today so I selected her recipe for carmel filled snicker doodles. They turned out so well! I have surprised myself with desserts I have made at home, take a look!


Here are some other creations I have made over the last little while...
Crayon box cake for Drew's school cake auction! (Best cake competing! In my opinion...)

Chocolate mint clown cup cakes-just for fun!

Now this isn't the actual picture of the cake, but I made an identical one to this at Baskin Robbins the other day.

Anyway, I've done a few wedding cakes over the years, and tons and tons of crazy birthday ones. So if you or anyone you know need a cake let me know! I've even started making my own ice cream cakes at home!

Ni ryari izuba, Rizagaruka, Hejuru yacu, Ni nd' uzaricyeza ricyeza

I think about my beloved Rwanda everyday of my life. Sometimes the stories I heard, and things I saw still haunt me. I know I was only 3 years old when the genocide happened, and not even living in the US at the time, but I can't help but feel anger towards America for turning their backs on the people of Rwanda who were being slaughtered everyday.



America, the Land of the Brave? Think again. So many lives could have been saved if they put in even a little bit of effort. Over a three-month period over 1 million innocent men, women and children were murdered. Why? Because of hate. I came to Rwanda 17 years after the genocide, but yet I was told they STILL find bodies every 2 weeks or so. I figured out that, that is equal to FOUR 9/11 attacks a day. Yes it is a travesty when anyone is a victim of a hate crime, but what makes the victims of 9/11 more important than the Tutsi's of Rwanda?



I try to stay positive because my experience there was wonderful, and I met so many brave compassionate people who watched their families killed right before their eyes, yet they have forgiven those who trespassed against them, so why should I still feel anger?

A piece of chocolate a day keeps the psychiatrist away

I have an addiction to chocolate. I literally eat ONE piece a day to keep me sane. I figure I exercise about 1.5hrs a day (plus running around at work all day) so I can allow myself this little luxury. I LOVE Dove Chocolates for the little sayings inside each wrapper. I won't share them with anyone unless they promise to tell me what it says.