Zoku Milkshake Recipe

Hey readers! It’s Vivian and Geneva (check her out at A Touch of Sparkle, her blog is super cute), and today we have done a little collab post about a fun, easy and healthy recipe! If you didn’t know, we are sisters, and live at the same house so we do a lot of activities together. For Christmas we were both given a Zoku milkshake maker. These are so cool, and we’ve already found so many uses for them! They essentially make any drink instantly into a slushy or milkshake. Pretty sweet! This is a really simple milkshake that has no added sugar or sweetener or anything, just plain old, healthy ingredients easily found around the house. It’s satisfying, with a chocolatey taste and perfect for breakfast, a quick snack, or healthy dessert. This recipe is best made with a Zoku at hand, but if you don’t have one, it can also be done just as deliciously by using a frozen banana (make sure to peel it before you freeze) and some ice when combining in the blender.

Ingredients (makes one shake)

-one spoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder

-a good amount of milk (we didn’t measure it, just sort of poured it in)

-a large scoop of peanut butter

-one banana (frozen if no Zoku)

-chocolate chips (optional- only recommended if making a healthy dessert, not breakfast)
-ice (optional-only with no Zoku)

Milkshake Recipe

1. Combine all ingredients into a blender
2. Blend thoroughly, so that the mixture is totally liquified
3. Pour into cup or Zoku (if no Zoku, finish here and enjoy!)
4. Use the Zoku spoon to mix the shake and scrape off of the sides of the cup, as instructed by the manual
5. When mixture is nice and frothy and frozen (approximately seven minutes, more if a thicker texture is desired), enjoy!
6. For an extra treat, crush chocolate chips and sprinkle on top

Alive in the Rain

the sky

it opens

for me

for you

for the first time in a long time

the world is clean

fresh

alive

awake

green

i feel it stirring

under cold, shoulder-drenching feet-soaking life-giving water

i breathe

i drink

i splash

i'm wet

and alive

alive again

stirring

awake

breathing

alive

droplets of water

dripping

down strands of hair

into rubber boots

and old sneakers

dripping

breathing

alive

awake

stirring

growing

drinking

wetness, cold, soaked

pleased

refreshed

clean

thank you

-vivian


-i am so happy because God has finally blessed us with rain here in CA. we have been in a drought for a long time and the el niño (we have been waiting for the rainy season, which is called the el niño) is finally here. it is wonderful, i love the rain, and i love seeing the grit get washed from everything. thank you God.-

Leibster Award

Wonderful Abby from Abby and the Pens (check out her blog she is amazing) nominated me for the Leibster award (thank you so much Abby <3). I am so stoked to do this because honestly, I love answering these things and I feel really special being nominated and all. 

So here are the rules:

1) Link back to the person who tagged you

2) Answer all 11 questions

3) Tag 11 bloggers who have less than a thousand readers

4) Ask them 11 questions

5) Let them know you've tagged them through social media

Ok, so here are my questions and answers!

1. Last song you listened to?

Ooh, um, well I was listening to a lot of Fun songs earlier today, I can't remember which one was the last one I listened to...I think it was One Foot or Why am I the One (I love Fun- their music is awesome).

2. Favorite Children's Book?

This is so hard, but I'm going to have to go with Wind In the Willows, if that counts. I have a beautiful illustrated version with watercolor paintings in it, and I love the language. But I suppose that's kind of a chapter book so my favorite picture book is probably The Giving Tree.

3. Inspirational Quote?

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you've always imagined."

-Henry David Thoreau

4. Ice cream or cupcakes?

Ice cream totally. 

5. If you could live anywhere for a month where would it be?

Middle Earth of course.

6. If you could eat lunch with anyone who would it be?

I'm going to have to say all the bloggers I've gotten to meet. It would be so fun to hang out with you guys and talk and plan posts together. It would be an awesome lunch. 

7. If you could instantly speak one language fluently, which one would you choose?

Well, I'm learning Spanish right now so it would be kind of handy to just instantly know it. It would also be great to know Tolkien Elvish, just for the heck of it haha.

8. What are three things/people that inspire you?

1. Books

2. Pinterest

3. Other bloggers

9. When was the last time you laughed and why?

Well I was laughing pretty hard today while reading auto-correct fails...I know I waste my time sometimes but they were really funny and I was dying.

10. What is something that makes you happy?

Looking through my sketchbook, having cool shoes to wear, and my dogs all make me happy.

11. The best thing about blogging so far?

Probably just the joy it all brings- the comments and the feeling of getting new posts up, I just love it all and I think about it all the time.

Ok now I have to think of 11 questions, here we go-

1. What's your favorite board game?

2. Favorite sandwich?

3. Any pets?

4. What superpower would you have if you could have any?

5. Favorite breed of dog?

6. What's the font on your blog called?

7. Who's a role-model in your life?

8. What's your lucky number?

9. Favorite season?

10. Favorite book (or if you are like me top 5)?

11. Early Bird or Night Owl?

And here are the eleven people I tag (some of you may have already done it so sorry but you can do it again if you feel like it :)

-Nadia from Coffeessions

-Zelus from My Hopeful Pencil

-Vanessa from Simply Me

-Nadia from Not Yet Defined

-Wanda from We Heart Dreaming

-Geneva from A Touch Of Sparkle

-Shelby from Every bit of Lovely

-Sydney from Sydney's Website

- Elly from A Little Sparkle

- Noor from A Little Bit of Sunshine

- Anna from The Three Musketeers

- Adelaide from Down by the Willows

Whew that was a lot! Thanks for reading everyone!

Falling Kingdoms Series (Books 1-4) Review

Falling Kingdoms  is a high fantasy series by Morgan Rhodes, who also writes under the pen name Michelle Rowan. Falling Kingdoms follows several people, princes, princesses, rebels, commoners, sorceresses, who are all poised on different alignments of a vastly complicated battlefield. It escalates quickly in the first book, the murder of an innocent wine-sellers boy from one of the three provinces starts the snowball rolling, and soon enough two of the countries in the three country land, Palasia and Limeros, have joined forces to take over Auranos. And underneath all of the fighting and politics lies a mere legend, four crystals called the Kindred, lost in the land, that allow you to wield all the elemental magic and become an equivalent of the god. But nobody seems to be able to locate them, let alone use them.

SPOILER ALERT

Falling Kingdoms was by far on of the best series I read this past year. It was thoroughly thought out and meticulously planned, and no subplot or minor detail was left unanswered. I found it very interesting to read a book from multiple sides at once, and I loved the idea that one side could never be all the way right. I was intrigued by the first book, captured by the second book, enamored with the third, and by the fourth I pretty much breathing Falling Kingdoms. The characters were all excellent, their personalities and decisions closely correlating with backstories and emotions. I enjoyed the lack of solid love triangles, instead the romantic interest was easily and quickly shifted, like in real life. The differing perspectives also gave you insight on things that were going on with other characters, and lies that were being told and believed, which was wonderfully infuriating.

The characters were all stupendous. My favorites were definitely Cleo and Magnus, I liked how their strong personalities continually clashed after the forced marriage. I also loved how Magnus often had a sarcastic or witty comment in his thought process. I found Jonas the most boring to read from honestly, but I found myself laughing the most when reading from him. Lucia was a joy to read sometimes, and a burden others. I found her the most interesting during Alexius's brief appearance. In the fourth book she was obviously very confused, and I often felt more pity for her. I really was enjoying the relationship between her and Cleo, and was disappointed when it shattered. I hope the friendship is brought back in the fifth book. Lysandra, I was so sad when she died in the fourth book. I actually think that was not a good choice, because she was a very strong character, and the specific mission she died doing seemed essentially just an excuse for her to die. She did't really get a reward for dying, just was in the wrong place at the wrong time. So that was sad. Felix was...interesting. By the end I really liked reading about him, but in the beginning I was a bit more suspicious, like Lysandra. I thought for a while he might be the fire kindred, so when Kyan made an appearance I was surprised. I must admit that I grew to hate Kyan almost as much as I hate King Gaius. But even Gauis, whom I was sure was evil to the core, showed a strange snuffed out heart when speaking of his lost love from the island. Rhodes was really able to convey depth and complexity throughout each character, and I don't think there was a single static character in the whole series.

The concept was creative, taking the typical country versus country siege and turning it into  a full scale chain of events involving three different lands uniting into one under a single, tyrannical king, who approached each subject differently and strategically in order to gain power. I liked Mytica and all it's provinces a lot, and I liked reading about them. The Kindred of course brought in an interesting twist, as did the watchers and elemental magic. I liked how the lust for the magic interweaved with the political conflict, hinting at ulterior motives and differing levels of hunger for the crystals.

King Gaius I absolutley hated, and all I can say is that he had better be dead after that fall, otherwise I'm going to be pretty frustrated. I'm happy that Magnus and Cleo fell in love after all, there was sufficient foreshadowing to get you to believe it might happen but enough squabbling and negativity to make you a serious doubter. Go Magnus! Lucia becoming pregnant threw me for a loop, that was a clever one, especially since Alexius was dead and unable to help her (poor Alexius!).

Bringing the Kraeshian empire into the mix was something I originally thought a mistake but then understood as the story progressed. Now I understand completely, and I'm simply dying to know if they will succeed in conquering Mytica. I don't like Amara much, but I can understand why she behaves in the way she does, and part of me hopes that she ends up taking over the Kraeshian Empire (not Mytica) because those people need a woman ruler to slap them back into reality honestly. The sexism in that kingdom makes me sick.

The fifth book is coming out in 2016, and all I can say is that it better hurry because I don't know how long I can wait. I need answers!

Did you like Falling Kingdoms as much as I did? Who was your favorite perspective to read from? Comment below!

Wanderlust- Entry for Teenage Blogger Central Contest

wanderlust (n): A strong desire to travel.

"when we are in the act of wandering, we need to be present, not watching it through the lens" -theodore finch

"you're off to great places! today is your day! your mountain is waiting, so...get on your way!" 

-dr. suess

the pull of the globe calls you
the unseen places
the unmet people
untasted foods
newness
lusting after the experience of not being totally safe
a little out of comfort zones and carefully drawn circles
surrounded by new people
new breath
you wander through the forests
the eye openers
the oceans
you wonder what is the meaning behind so many license plates
the words they spell
for you know they do indeed spell stories

you can only feel totally vulnerable in that wonderful way

when there's nothing to protect you

you immerse yourself in the other

the other than comfort

and that's where you find your space

wandering is much like art-

it should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed

you choose

coffee and hot chocolate from different sides of the globe, or perhaps different sides of town stains your notebooks
where you chart your carefully unplanned travels
with a graphite pencil and a watercolor paint brush
leaves and pebbles and shells
stuffed in pockets
glued to pages
momentos
you leave something behind in return
a thought
a movement
a promise
a whisper to the cold air surrounding you

trees and campfires are home to the wanderer

they don't judge by location or comfort

the entire earth is worth every second

the busy streets and cheerful hubbub of cozy cafes and different languages cover you like a blanket

understanding is another luxury

that you don't need

you can revel in curiosity

and unanswered questions

this beautiful planet is your true home

and you love her

for she cares for you

teaches you

and she beckons you to the unheard of places

the dangerous

the complex

and mysterious

step on the ledge

she whispers

live it like you mean it

you whisper back
I am afraid
she replies
do not be afraid, for as long as there is sun in your hair and flowers at your feet
you are safe
for if the sparrows are given what they need,
then you will surely be given yours as well
by the one who made you
who made me
who made this
be pleased that you can walk his earth
you are blessed
so don't ignore it

the planet dreams

and you breath with it

up and down

a single, solitary, relaxed motion

for even the earth must sleep

a backpack carries
everything
your postage stamps and watercolors
only what you must have to live can wander
you are given the gift of lightness
and freedom from want
the creeping, vicious woman want is
is forced to disappear when you decide to ignore her

your hiking boots

or sandals

or maybe bare feet

touch places

that in turn touch you

an impression forever engraved in your chest

for all the notebooks in the world can't record the moment like your mind can

the stamp of where you've been

your hand is an empty passport

so go

fill it up

be free and wander

give in to the whim

the will

the why

give in to curiosity

push fears away

roam the earth as she was made to be roamed

walk the road less traveled with your sand-dusted heels

sing a song unsung with a dry tongue and smiling lips

tell new tales with a worn out ink pen and an only slightly crumpled notebook

go

be free

get lost

wander

-vivian

an original art piece also by vivian, to accompany the poem and to be accompanied by the poem

Sketchbox Number Two!

I just got my January Sketchbox in the mail, with a few new things to try that I have absolutely no idea how to use, haha. I'm really excited about the chance to learn new materials that Sketchbox has presented me with, and I'm stoked about the materials. So here they are!

Here's what it looked like this time.

Here's what it looked like when I opened it

I got these neat watercolor stick things- pretty cool.

Here's what they look like

Here are the papers it came with (descriptions of what each thing is, and the artist's bio)

Here's the featured artist for this month- so neat

I got these super cute art "trading cards" they are really samples of really nice watercolor paper, and I'm excited to do a trading card!

Here's this neat water brush-pen thing that allows you to control exactly how much water gets on your paper when blending, which is super nice.

So that's what I got for the January Sketchbox- all pretty neat stuff that I'm very excited to use!

New Years Updates

So it's a new year. I think the new year is such a fun fresh start, so promising and open to do with whatever you make of it. So I think for the new year there is some new stuff we should cover about this blog.

You've probably noticed a bit of change in the design, I went the all-white look with pops of color, I think it makes it more sophisticated and professional looking. If you have any tips or feedback on the design feel free to give it, I want to know what you guys think about it.

Another big thing, I have made a brand new blog button (much better than the old one in my opinion). If you have my old button on your blog I would be really happy if you were able to update it, but no worries if you don't.

Also you may have spied the new pages on my blog- the Library page is all my short stories, so feel free to read those and be sure to comment and give me tips on how I could make them better. The covers and harmonies page- there's a good one. That one is some covers and stuff I've done recording on my new keyboard, and also with my voice. Some are classical, some are totally modern songs, some are worship, so check that out and listen in if you feel like it.

I now have a blog survey. It is located on the sidebar. Please take that so that I can get feedback on how I can make this blog better.

Last but not least, I finally got a Bloglovin'! So follow me there if you have it, I am excited to see the new blogs it will bring.

Anyways, I am super excited to embark on this blog as of 2016! And I can't wait to read all of your blogs! If you have anything to say or add or any suggestions, please comment! Thanks for a great 2015 everyone!