United States

1. Volcano National Park

I've already been to Oahu, but I'd love to go back and visit the Big Island. The beauty of Hawaii is unmatched, in my opinion, and I can only imagine how amazing it is to stand next to an active volcano.

2. Eat Lobster in Maine

Everyone loves lobster, but how many actually eat it right from the source? Any true lobster lover has to make their pilgrimage to where it all goes down - Maine.

3. Go to Burning Man, Nevada

I'm not really that much of a partier, but I figure Burning Man has got to be the best darn party on the planet. I can't possibly miss that, can I? Plus, it speaks to my inner hippie.

4. Raft the Grand Canyon

The husband and I visited the Grand Canyon for approximately 14 minutes on our way from California to North Carolina, but I really want to go back and enjoy it. What better way to enjoy one of the natural wonders of the world than by rafting down the Colorado River?

5. Visit Niagara Falls, New York

Definitely another natural wonder, Niagara Falls is simply too close by to miss.

6. Visit the Statue of Liberty, New York City

I've been to New York City and done much of the touristy stuff I wanted to do, but I've still never seen the Statue of Liberty. It's such an important piece of American history that it just doesn't seem right to not visit.

7. Wine Country, Central California

 I still can't believe I lived in Central California for nearly two years and never made it to Napa, Sonoma, Alexander, or any of the other amazing wine-growing valleys. Well, it didn't help that my spouse doesn't drink and my dearest friend in CA isn't a wine drinker, but still. It must be done!

8. Key West, Florida

Visiting Key West will help me with two things: First, I really want to go see what's going on down there, and Second, I'm petrified of long bridges. I figure the ridiculous stretches of ocean spanned by tiny concrete structures will help cure my fear of a horrible drowning death trapped inside my car.

Central America

1. Zip Line in Costa Rica

I've already been to Costa Rica, and have, in fact, driven from San Jose all the way to the Pacific Coast with a friend, but we didn't have a lot of time to check out the more picturesque regions of the small country. We were there looking for property during the dry season, so there were no rainforest excursions. I'd love to go back with the husband this time and check out all Costa Rica has to offer.

2. Chichen Itza, Mexico

The Mayans were an advanced civilization capable of amazing things - not the least of which were building these amazing pyramids. I'd love to go to Mexico to see these awesome structures.

3. Underwater Museum, Cancun, Mexico

I've got a phobia about scuba diving and the husband's always asking me if I'll ever conquer my fear. I think this would be just distracting enough to make me forget I could drown at any moment.

4. Belize

The husband and I both have a thing for monkeys, rainforests, and all that. Belize sounds like one of the most amazing parts of Central America and I'd love to visit.

South America

1. Macchu Pichu, Peru

 This is a must-see on most people's lists and for good reason - it's looks amazing!

2. Amazon River

Despite a game involving the Amazon River on our very first computer in the early 90s in which I always got killed by blow darts, and that dang anaconda movie that scared the pants off of me when I was younger, I'd love to see the Amazon River in all its glory.

3. Easter Island

Easter Island is fascinating. It's a cautionary tale regarding exploitation of resources and the mysterious Moai heads astound.

 Europe

1. Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland has always been on my list of must-visit places. Who knows, maybe I'll even try haggis?

2. The Highlands of Scotland

Fewer places are more austere than the Highlands of Scotland. I've felt drawn to them my entire life, now it's time to check them out in person.

3. Ireland

Ireland is definitely another must-see in the UK.

4. Bruges, Belgium

Aside from an inside joke with the husband about Bruges (regarding a rather dry Colin Farrel movie), Bruges seems like one of the most architecturally interesting cities in Europe.

5. Croatia

Croatia is becoming increasingly popular with tourists, and for good reason. It's beautiful, relatively inexpensive, and so far bereft of any crazy economic-related rioting.

6. Reykjavik, Iceland

Talk about geothermal activity! Iceland has got all sorts of cool stuff going on.

7. Spain

I love food, I love wine, and I love architecture - what better to place to get all three than Spain?

8. Portugal

I admit that one of the main reasons I want to visit Portugal is for, well...port. But hey, you drink one 40-year-old port, you've got to try them all, right?

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The plight of the honeybee is becoming fairly well known. Colonies are collapsing at record rates and honeybees are disappearing faster than we can figure out why.

One step to take is planting a bee garden, a garden filled with plants that attract and support honeybees. I couldn't find a pictorial list of flowers that attract bees so I decided to make one myself, if for nothing else than future reference and an idea of what my backyard will (hopefully) look like some day.

Annuals

• AstersClick image for source

• Calliopsis

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Usually during the break between semesters I like to drive down to the central Florida coast to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. It's a lengthy drive and there are many things I could think of that I'd rather spend 8 hours doing, but the trip is always worth it.

Especially when I get to hold such a cute little boy and spot manateesA typical drive sees me stopping only once, to get gas and something to eat in Savannah. This time, however, I finally stopped at the Le Creuset outlet store in South Carolina. It's taunted me every time I drive by for months, but I always assumed that even at the outlet stores Le Creuset cookware would still be far outside my price range.

I was particularly uninterested in the drive home on this trip, so I decided to assuage my curiosity and finally stop.

Oh. My. God.

I couldn't believe the sales they were having.

I'm going to love you and kiss you and hug you and call you George...I found this 2.75 quart round French oven in the trademark Flame color. List price? $220. Outlet store price? $137. Ridiculously-mind-numbing-wharehouse-sale price? $54.

I about went weak in the knees when I saw that price. I know many people might not have much use for a 2.75 quart vessel, but cooking for the husband and I is difficult in a larger pot. This is perfect size for so many things.

I'll sing you lullabies and tuck you in and give you all of your favorite treats whenever you want...Then I found this 4.25 quart soup pot with cover, again in the Le Creuset trademark Flame color. List Price? $255. Outlet store price? $161. Oh-my-god-I'm-going-to-scream-out-loud-and-scare-all-the-octegenarians-browsing-the-store-wharehouse-sale price? $67.

I can't even tell you how excited I am to make arroz con pollo, bouillabaise, paella - you name it, I'm going to make it. Beef burgundy? Get in my belly. Chicken noodle soup? Kneel before my enameled cast iron cookware.

Easily the best $130 I have EVER spent.

My Flickr Mosaic

After a nice, long six week break I am slowly trying to get myself back into the groove of things. Spring semester turned out to be even lighter than I’d originally intended, because, as it turns out, if you want to take a class on business management – you kind of have to have a job.

Imagine that.

Seeing as that I don’t, I decided to drop the class. I’m only into my second week of classes and I can already feel the difference. I’m still busy everyday, but nowhere near as crazy-insane-I’m-going-to-kill-people-busy as I was last semester.

Which is a good thing.

I was starting to think that TA was going to start slipping horse tranquilizers into my beverages.

All that being said, I’m happy to have finally figured out that I’ll be graduating spring semester of 2012. Four incredibly long years and I’ll finally be finished with the-degree-that-would-never-die.

After that I have to decide whether or not I want to go to culinary school or if I want to try and get a job. I’m taking a magazine article and feature writing course this semester and I’m really enjoying it. I think it’s something that I could definitely see myself doing as a career. Hopefully once I get more comfortable with the whole process and style of writing I’ll loosen up a little and gain my creativity back.

Right now my work is little more than “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Do you know where your children are?”

Well, do you?

In the perfect way to wrap up a particularly gruelish semester I am heading to Florida for the next week.

Although it won't be the idyllic scene I've provided (of my brother-in-law's awesome surfing prowess), seeing as it's December and all, it will still be a far sight more comfortable than the bone-chilling temps we've been getting here in NC.

I'm sure all my family in Calgary will be laughing at me for think that 30°-40° F is bone-chilling, but I am a big baby. So there.

I hope to make something fun with my sister while I'm there, so I'll try to post something. Or I might just spend all my time playing with the most adorable nephew in all of existence.

Hasta luego, mi compadres.

It's finals week - which means I will likely be going out of my mind for most of it. Thanks to the lovely schedule mandated by the place that's proctoring my exams I've only got three days to take 5 tests.

Yay.

But then I'll be done.

And back to cooking lovely things on a regular basis and playing videogames until all hours of the night with TA.

No more 3 or 4 paper weeks like it's been for the last month. At least not for the next 6 weeks until spring semester starts.

Winter break, here I come.

TA and I met up with his family on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for Thanksgiving this year. A beautiful house right on the ocean, delicious food, and family. We've had a lovely time so far.

I thought it only appropriate to voice how thankful I truly am for the many wonderful people and things in my life.

I am thankful for my amazing family, friends, and loving husband. I am truly fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life.

I am thankful that in this time of economic woe TA and I have been able to keep our heads above the proverbial water.

I am thankful for the opportunity to be in school, pursuing an education that will enable me to reach lofty goals I've set for myself. I gripe and moan about the papers, the deadlines, and the stack of textbooks that is slowly rising as tall as I stand - but I know how very lucky I am to be able to chase my dream.

I am thankful for red wine, micro-plush blankets, skinny jeans on sale, Christmas lights in my neighborhood, cast iron skillets, the sound of the ocean, palm trees, bacon, French vanilla coffee creamer, and the smell of tanning lotion on a hot day.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving too.

Up until a few years ago I worked as a server. I'd like to think that my last job, here, was the catalyst that pushed me into the cuisine I now enjoy.

However as wonderful as that job was, it had the same drawback that nearly every single hospitality, retail, or customer service job enjoys - an almost complete lack of healthcare . Sure it was offered to those employees who were lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) enough to maintain a full-time schedule, but the premiums were astronomical and the coverage shoddy, at best.

A restaurant in San Francisco has adopted a novel approach to providing their employees with healthcare though - attach a surcharge to each guest's bill. A mere $1.25 per diner and it covers the cost of providing each employee with health insurance.

Delfina's owner didn't simply want to raise the menu prices to cover the costs, he decided instead to include the consumer in the decision to make better choices for everyone.

I think it's admirable.

You can read the article about it here.

Sadly I eat most of these foods - and regularly.

That's probably not good.

Top 5 Menu Items Most Likely to Contain Parasites