Camping Troubles

I sometimes feel like my parents are being way too overprotective. I love them, and I know they love me. Sometimes I just feel like they take it too far, though. They know I would never do anything wrong/illegal or disobey them so I don't understand why they think I can't handle being at a campsite (while they are there) with my friends at night after they go to sleep. I'm a straight A student, and I have never gotten in trouble before! I hate complaining and displeasing people, but I just needed to get this off my chest. I'm young and nieve, but that doesn't mean I can't live and learn a little! Even though other teenagers my age are driving themselves to parties and using illegal things doesn't mean that I would! I've never been the one to follow the path. I'm always looking for bigger and better and making sure I stay on track to get to where I want to! I don't plan on doing anything bad, and my group of friends is pretty mild in that way, too. If you have any guidance, please let me know! Thank you!

It is a beautiful day!

Up here in the sunny land of 10,000 lakes, its very hot! I just went on a quick run and..wow...i felt like I was burning up! I guess just getting over a cold didn't help too much either (by the 5th mile I was dying)...Anyways, it still is going to be a great day! My birthday is in one week (sweet sixteen woot woot!), and I am pumped. Stay off the road all of you Minnesotans! Don't fret, you guys probably still have at least a month because I have yet to make an appointment for my test. Does anyone have driver's test stories? My uncle always talks about his first experience taking the test. The arms to block the railroad were coming down, and he sped up just so he wouldn't have to wait for the train! Safe to say, he didn't pass. Also, does anyone have any party ideas? I'm a girly-girl but I also like to get dirty, too. Thanks!

Bread Adventures

Today I was bored and decided to make some bread...It stunk. Seriously, NEVER put whole-wheat flour into Cooking Light's banana bread recipe! I seriously should have just made my lemon blueberry bread instead. It is fantastic! You know what? I'm going to attach that recipe to this post (it will seriously rock your socks!). The last time I made it was for my cousin's wedding shower, and all of the guests obsessed over it and kept repeating how they thought it was from a bakery. Believe me, it is that good! It is super moist too, so don't fret if you are like me and worry about the loaf getting too dry :) http://www.joyofbaking.com/breakfast/LemonBlueberryBread.html
P.S. When I made it, I substituted the vanilla extract for lemon extract (to give it a more lemony flavor). I have also tried it without the glaze, but it just wasn't the same! You need the glaze to tie the whole thing together.

Bedtime Rant

Sometimes I wonder why the earth is the way it is. Why are we here...what is now? Why was the earth formed? Why was it formed at that exact second? Is reincarnation real? Do you ever leave heaven once you get there? I could go on forever, but that would do me no good. For some reason this is the way things turned out, and all we can do now is enjoy it and work to preserve it. However, even on earth, it sometimes incredibly difficult to focus on the beauty and magnificence of the things around you because, well, the world is harsh. It will beat down on you if you let it. To make it someday, you have to be strong. Yet, being strong does not mean being rude or ungrateful...That is where many have gotten lost. No, being strong is being the best person you can be through the sunshine and the storms. It is being nice and courteous to the person who just insulted your new hair-do, but still standing up for yourself and the people around you. That is also where many people get it wrong. If they don't have a mean side, many just assume they should just be nice all of the time, and it would be some crime against their nature to speak out against the people that were just cruel to them. You have to be strong. This is why I love to listen to poetry. Many poets share my similar views on life and beauty...and many other things. If any of you guys have the time, check out Sarah Kay especially. Her "If I Should Have a Daughter..." Poem is truly breathtaking (I know a number of people who cried the first time they heard it). Here is a link for it if any of you guys are interested...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt2JJydqtgQ
As for now. ta ta and talk to you later!