Foodie Friday: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice!

What’s better than carving and painting jack-o-lanterns?

Eating pumpkin … At least for yours truly!

I’ve already gone PSL-out and then some:

• Coffee

Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake dessert cookies & Pumpkin Spice Milano + Blue Diamond Pumpkin Spice Almonds from CVS | Quest Bar Pumpkin Pie energy bar (which we used to give away from Pretty Fit) from Market Street

• Cookies
• Energy bars

• I’m nuts for pumpkins!

Olive Garden‘s Caramel Hazelnut Macchiato

• Pumpkin Cheesecake at Olive Garden ~ this past time with my Bestie Evie ~ has been my tradition forever

Dynamic Dessert Duo: Olive Garden‘s Pumpkin Cheesecake

In fact, I used to buy a full pie for the fam to celebrate Halloween/Thanksgiving/my sis‘ birthday since college

Dynamic Dessert Duo: Olive Garden‘s Caramel Hazelnut Macchiato & Pumpkin Cheesecake

(the Fazoli’s Ghirardelli tops a close 2nd)

Pumpkin Spice Latte M&M’s ~ exclusively at Target

• Melt-in-your-mouth-not-in-your-hand candy ~ rather than just eye candy

• Even Yogurt!

I’m flipping over this YOLO–yo!

TGIF *Friday Night* Addendum

Now I’m somewhat relieved that this weekend’s Halloween party has been canceled/postponed due to t-storms (Hurricane Patricia’s just further down south) ~ so in addition to preparing for my next round, I also can have some down time …

Bring on the cozy comforts of hot cocoa & mac ‘n’ cheese, please!

Study & Soul Saturday: A & C are for …

Apprehensive

Have you ever felt that way when you had something important to face?

I most recently experienced this anxiety this morning, as I planned to close my doctoral survey this weekend to run my statistics and start analyzing my results for my dissertation. When I was about to pray the Rosary (Joyful Mysteries on which to meditate today on Saturday), I tried to calm my overwhelming sense of a ton of bricks falling on me and my sudden urge to purge those aforementioned bricks…

Then Angelic Annie approached me and snuggled up against my right side!

Face of an Angel: To the ♫tune♪ of Hinder’s Lips of an Angel♫

Therefore, she most certainly is my Right-Hand Cat!

Although Annie‘s not verbal, she’s most definitely vocal!

As I prayed, she purred!

During times like these, I’ve previously turned to other people who I’ve trusted or terminal degree grads, but I don’t want to burden anyone, even if they’ve joined #TeamDrDISPO … This time, I’ve reflected back on similar situations when I’ve overcome this apprehension:

• When I studied for my Master’s degree comprehensive exams
• When I studied for my doctoral luminary (first year) comp exams
• When I studied for my doctoral candidacy (total coursework) comps

At this point, I must allow my go-getter attitude to prevail, as it’s led me to what I consider the greatest feeling:

A sense of

• Accomplishment
• Achievement
• Completion

Based on

• Ambitions
• Aspirations
• Confidence

Here’s Angel Annie‘s and my theme song ~ ♪I Can Only Imagine♫ ~ by ♫Mercy Me♪, who performed in the Valley the weekend when she found me/I rescued her!

Beauty Tuesday: Suit Up!

Back to business …

Now that we’ve entered the †Easter† season, I’ve continued to prepare for my dissertation defense

Right down to what I wear!

I actually sought consult from my personal stylist/classmate who finished his Ph.D. two years ago

As of this month!

I ended up scoring another A’GACI number that matches up with almost all-of-the-above ~ plus has this ☼spring’s☼ on-point trend: polka dots!

Then I had to remind myself of this scripture that I came across during †Lent†:

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of †GOD† and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” ~ Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34