Saturday, July 16, 2016

Nerd Alert: the Library

   Depending on which social media sites you follow me on, you may or may not know that I love going to the library. It's actually where I write a lot of these posts. Unfortunately, I don't seem to know many people who enjoy the library as much as I do. Some say libraries have become obsolete with the digital age. I beg to differ, and here's why.
     1. Free Stuff
   Now, this might be obvious, but some people seem to forget; you can rent stuff from libraries FOR FREE. I'm talking unlimited access to works of fiction, comic books, travel guides, audio books, CDs, self-help books, books that will help you learn a different language, and even free ebooks! One of the libraries I frequent has free movie rentals for one week, while another charges $1 for two weeks. Lately, one of my favorite things to rent is audio books. In a typical day, I commute between jobs for approximately an hour and forty minutes. This means I can typically finish an eight hour audio book in a week, which is nice because I don't have a lot of time to read much nowadays. Libraries also offer free (limited) access to the internet. Some even let you rent a Kindle for a few weeks!There are many great materials that are free at your local library.
     2. Quiet Atmosphere
   I love that libraries tend to be quiet, but not too quiet. It's the perfect place to write, because I feel like I'm not excluding myself from the world as much. Plus, overhearing conversations between the librarians or other patrons is entertaining.
     3. Discounted books
   Two of the libraries I visit have a room set aside where you can purchase used books, CDs, and movies. Libraries also periodically host book sales as well. I love browsing these sales, because I almost always find some treasure or another.
     4. Events
   Right now, most libraries are in the midst of summer reading programs. I love participating in these, since most enter you into a contest to win gift cards. Libraries also host book clubs, outings, writers groups, and movie nights. There are programs for children, teens, and adults. It's a great place to meet people who love books just as much as you do!


   Those are some of the reasons that I love going to the library. In fact, some weeks (or even days) I patronize more than one. I have found all sorts of interesting materials on a wide variety of subjects. I hope to see more people supporting their local library in the future!

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Puppy Chow

I have discovered that I like to cook, but I prefer more simple recipes. Luckily, this is one of the simplest recipes for those I-need-something-sweet-right-now-for-a-binge-watching-session moments. I first made this recipe in a high school cooking class years ago. I absolutely love it! I will warn you, it's a bit messy. It wasn't too hard to make this recipe gluten free, since there are many different brands that sell GF rice or corn squares. You may also use regular wheat squares if desired. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


Ingredients
  • 8 c. GF toasted rice squares (or really any type of Chex cereal)
  • 1 c. dark chocolate chips
  • ⅔ c. honey peanut butter
  • 2 c. powdered sugar
Directions

  1. Put the chocolate chips and peanut butter in microwave for 1.  Stir and microwave 30 more seconds if not completely melted.
  2. Pour chocolate mix over cereal. Stir until everything is covered.
  3. Put the powdered sugar in a bag; add cereal-chocolate mix; seal, shake, and enjoy!