Summer No-Bake Cakes

I was stumbling around the internet today trying to find a good cake to bake to expand my baking repertoire and cheer everybody up! Everything looked great, but I was not excited about turning on the oven in this 92 degree weather.

Here's an idea: What about a cake that I don't have to bake? So I continued to search around and it turns out I'm not the only person who had this idea! Here are the recipes that I found for easy, heat-free cakes! Click on the name of any of the cakes and it will send you to the recipe!

Orange-Rasberry Dreamsicle Cake

"Full of zesty tropical flavor, this creamy freezer cake is made with swirls of raspberry and orange sherbet as well as vanilla ice cream atop a crunchy coconut macaroon crust."

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Refrigerator Cake

"This no-bake cake spares no indulgences, piled high with six layers of peanut butter cream and chocolate graham crackers, and finished with a sprinkling of peanut butter chips."

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

"Creamy, refreshing and full of strawberry flavor, this stunning no-bake cheesecake takes just 25 minutes of prep time."

Chocolate-Malt Ice Cream Cake

"Sweet and surprisingly guilt-free, this is the ultimate ice cream lover’s cake, made with lowfat chocolate and vanilla ice cream and malted milk balls for the perfect crunch."

Mango, Lime, and Ginger Cheesecake

"This decadent cheesecake is full of zingy flavor, with crystallized ginger, fresh mango and lime zest, all on top of a spiced gingersnap cookie crust."

Hazelnut Crispy Cake

"Transform your kids’ favorite crispy marshmallow treats into an elegant after-dinner sensation by topping them with a velvety hazelnut spread and a handful of chopped hazelnuts."

Berry Layer Cake

"For a satisfying summer treat, try this cake made with cinnamon graham crackers and creamy berry filling, topped with a dazzling arrangement of fresh raspberries and blueberries."

Almond Macaroon Ice Cream Cake

"Coconut macaroons, toasted almonds and a chocolate shell topping transform this no-fuss chocolate and vanilla Swiss almond ice cream cake into an out-of-this-world creation."

I take no credit for these recipes. I found them on Woman's Day!

Now to clean out the fridge and find room for one of these beautiful summer cakes!

Summertime is Finally Here

That old ballpark, man, is back in gear... Doesn't it just make you want to sing a Kenny Chesney song? No? Well then, I will continue with my post!

So summer has finally arrived. I finished off my first year at Virginia Tech studying to be an elementary school teacher and got to watch my admirable older sister graduate Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's in biology. The experience helped me to, once again, put my life into perspective and realize that college is more than partying and socializing, but it is about getting a strong education so you can work to do what you're passionate about and make a difference here on this earth. If I want to be successful in doing so, I need to make a few changes.

During my first year, I lost my way a few times, but during those times of wandering around aimlessly looking for the right path again, I learned what I wanted from myself. I learned what I needed to do to stay on the right path of happiness and self worth. However, those things, such as confidence and a better devotion to friendship, are not something that just click overnight, but they are a things that have to be absorbed, if that makes sense.

This summer is going to be about change or, self-building, if you will. I want to continue to build my relationships with my family and friends, continue to find my faith in His word, devote time to service, read more inspiring and motivational books, and find what makes me truly come alive.

“I hope your dreams take you... to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known."

When Praises Cease and Seasons Change

My sisters and I dedicating our time for the cause at Relay for Life!

"Whatever you are doing, whether you speak or act, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

As most of you know, religion is pretty new to me. Back in December, I accepted Christ and became an active follower of God that found joy in walking with Him daily. As of recently, I'm ashamed to say, I've lost that.

I don't know if it was joining a sorority and being scared of being judged, the stressful schedule that came along with changing my major, or the health issues that arose, that caused my Faith to slowly dwindle down to only praying during desperate times.

Recent events, however, have made me realize how unfulfilled my life is everyday without acknowledging God and appreciating the life He has given me. Relay for Life was a gentle reminder about how truly lucky I am to be here and has brought me to appreciate the small things on a daily basis.


The loving relationship I've recently developed with my parents gave me more to live for. The encouraging friends that I have found in my sorority have given me a reason to believe that not everybody is mean. The rut that I was in with Bryson is now over. Why am I not happy?

The answer: I have lost Christ.

"I will not take my love away, when praises cease and seasons change. The whole world turns the other way but I will not take my love away."

God, I know that you can give me what I need to live a fulfilling and morally righteous lifestyle. I promise myself to you once again (sorry for being led astray).

Busy, busy, busy, ouch!

I wanted to post here and apologize for my absence on my blog. I try to recruit readers through a giveaway, and then it seems like I fell off the face of the Earth! Well I'm back and I will be posting more frequently.

Here is my excuse (not that you guys are really upset with me, right?): First of all, I rushed a sorority and was filled up to the tip top of my head with homework and events. The good news, however, is that I got in! I'm officially a member of Gamma Phi Beta!

Secondly, I got injured and have had a slow time recovering. Last week, and outlet in my room shocked me and burned the wall while I was unplugging a lamp. I placed a work order through my residential advisor and an electrician came, looked at it, and cleared if for use. Well, two days later I went to unplug my phone charger and POP! There was a huge flash of light and a buzzing noise, my hand got stuck to the wall, and my bed got completely burned. The rescue squad came and took me to the hospital I got a pretty good electrical burn and a good little execution. I will be okay, but the pain medications and treatment have left me really groggy lately....and I may or may not be a TAD scared to use electronics.

On top of all of that...I've had 6 tests within the last week and a half. Ugh.

Any how, I am back now! I am currently sitting outside of my class and getting ready to go in, but I can't wait to write to you guys and let you know about my Gamma Phi Beta experience so far!

CSN Stores Giveaway Winner

Well the CSN giveaway has ended, and I'd like to congratulate Dana for winning $15 for CSN stores!

Thank you to all of you who participated! Your advice for my apartment and bibles versus have been really inspirational to me.

If you only stopped in for the giveaway, well, I hope you stick around!

Prayers and Pancakes

HAVE YOU ENTERED MY CSN GIVEAWAY!?

February 6th is the last day to enter!

I haven't posted in awhile, and while my first reaction is to apologize to you, the truth is that I'm genuinely upset. Writing is a release for me and I could have relieved a lot of stress in doing so. My excuse? College and the flu. Yuck. I will apologize,however, for not responding to all of your guys' emails. I promise to catch up on that this weekend.

Out of all the numerous things that happened over the last couple of days, I wanted to write about an event that I went to on Sunday for my Campus Outreach group. Please understand that it is hard for me to write about this. The experience was overwhelming, and I can't exactly grasp how I felt about it. I just wanted to share it with you.

The title was pretty catchy: "Prayers and Pancakes." I assumed it would be casual prayer and then a group dinner consisting of pancakes, naturally, right? It was much more intense than I expected it to be, and quite frankly, I wasn't prepared.

Everybody sat down in a circle and bowed to pray. One of the leaders, Chip, started off by asking us to pray to God to forgive our sins for 2 minutes in silence. "Alright, I got this down," I thought. After those two minutes were up, he asked us to continue to close our eyes and bow our head, but to confess our sins out loud. Panic attack slowly crept in. Slowly, one by one, people around the circle started to recall their sins. They were all much more philosophical and spiritual than my trivial confessions were, and I instantly felt an overwhelming amount of grief.

I wasn't the only one. As I peeked up (which yes, I felt guilty about doing), people were wiping tears from their eyes and sniffling their noses. We continued to do this with prayers for other Christian groups, other countries, etc.

The atmosphere made me start to cry as well. The amount of love and desire for God overwhelmed the room and made me realize how much work still needs to be done for me.

God, please forgive, for I have doubted you and your love for me. Thank you for staying with me when praises cease. Bless me with the ability to live through your word.

Learning to Live on the Rock

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:7

If I told you that I'm one hundred percent confident in my relationship with God, I'd be a liar. If I told you that God has made me do a complete one eighty, I'd be a liar. If I told you that there aren't moment that I doubt Him, I'd be a liar. Learning to walk with God on a daily basis takes time. I have my moments.

Recently, I had to take my name off of the lease that I signed for my apartment. Long story short, I got a couple of knives thrown in my back for what feels like the hundredth time. Once again, I felt my faith shake beneath my feet. It wasn't because I lost my living situation for sophomore year, but because once again, somebody that I cared for left me to hang. The more that people hurt me, the lower my self esteem goes, and the more I start to feel a form of depression creep up. Sometimes it feels like people genuinely don't care.

Today, I have found peace in a verse that my Bible study leader sent to me upon hearing what happened:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." -Matthew 7:24

Today I learned that people and worldly pleasures are like sand in a storm. If you build your house upon the sand, it will slip out from underneath you when it rains. If you build your house upon a rock instead, your house will stay intact. God is our rock and we need to build our faith and dependency upon Him.

Don't get me wrong. If somebody is in your life for the long haul then you are truly blessed! It is wonderful to find love. It is never bad, however, to have something that is undeniably permanent; God's love.

Are you living on the rock or the sand?