They are so beautiful!!

Hi Coffeeine, I like it made from scratch with lots of mini marshmallows!! How do you like yours? And how are you today?

Awww, thank you! Have you figured out how to show an avatar yet? I'd love to see yours
History assignment, that sounds like a project. What's your major?

Picking a major is a huge decision! Psychology is a good one though, but I understand if you are interested in something else. What other major are you interested in?

I’m derailing this slightly back to hot chocolate because I will always be a sucker for the nestle Abuelita (pretty sure it’s normal but with cinnamon and maybe some other spices but I love it so much).

And also yep halfway through is about right to spontaneously question everything you thought about your major choice. (Did that two years ago after swearing up and down that I was one choice stick to it and leave) You’ll figure it out.

Star, that sounds delicious! There's a recipe in my cookbook for homemade hot cocoa that is really awesome, I haven't made it in a long time though.

After reading like water for chocolate a couple years ago all I want out of life is to try that hot chocolate recipe. It starts with 3 different kinds of beans. I suspect I won't. Though I did try to make croissants the other day (which I have ALWAYS wanted to try) and they came out very tasty buttery rolls. I'm going to try again with some modifications to the butter and a recipe from the joy of cooking which rarely lets me down. (I just gave up and bought a copy after texting my mom to figure out which version I grew up with ) It is the 1997 version in case anyone is curious.

Star, this is my recipe for hot cocoa:

1/3 C sugar
1/3 C unsweetened Cocoa (I use dutch process)
dash of salt
1/2 C water
3 1/2 C Milk (I use whole milk)
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Marshmallows or whipped cream.

In a saucepan combine sugar, cocoa, and salt. Stir in water. Bring mixture to boiling, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Stir in milk. Heat just to boiling, DO NOT BOIL. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Beat with a rotary beater until frothy. Serve with whipped cream or marshmallows. Makes 5 (6 ounce) servings..

That sounds nice. And more plausible than toasting but not burning cocoa beans

I saw this bottle of chocolate milk. And I wanted it. And I almost grabbed it. Then I remembered that i’m lactose intolerant and that would be a TERRRIBLE idea. Then I actually read the bottle and it was dairy free so I decides it was fate and brought it home. Apparently it’s made of pea protein which sounds vile but it’s actually really nice and that makes me happy. I have no idea how the flavor compares to actual chocolate milk since I can’t remember drinking chocolate milk since early childhood but I do like this chocolate drink.

There are also lactase pills to aid with lactose intolerance. I discovered them in 2009 on a trip to the USA

(The lactose intolerance was luckily only a phase for me, lasting about 11 years, caused by undiscovered gluten sensitivity. About 4 years of gluten-free diet helped my immune system forget about that.)

They do exist. They work for my mom. Even with them I'm still better off just avoiding entirely though. I do use them for the occasional ice cream though

Hello all~

Aleah, gonna try that hot cocoa recipe you posted! Mmmm yes picking a major is a big deal...it seems like everyone I know with a Psych major doesn't do anything with it and they are working average jobs to boot so from a financial security standpoint I am beginning to wonder. I had an ideal job in mind, and it does pay well but I am just beginning to wonder if I really want to spend like the next 30 years listening to and assisting people deal with their various life issues..... As for the other interests I feel like business management could help me land something in leu of the ideal job, and it would assist me with helping a friend in a planed joint business venture.

Star, lol maybe you are right! I think in time I will get there, but if I am really honest....I fee like I began this journey because I was forced to do so. Growing up all I ever heard was college was the only way you are going to get a decent job, etc. I didn't have any other plans that seemed to appease anyone at the time so I just went with it.

How is everyone today?

ETA: Coffeeine we posted at the same time! I know what you mean, my mom wanted me to go to college, my dad felt that women belonged in the home. When I graduated from high school, there was no money for me to go and I didn't qualify for a student loan because my dad made too much money. I tried nursing school, but I wasn't cut out for that. I eventually went back for an associates degree in business management/banking and financial services, but it really didn't get me anywhere. Now I'm on disability, so I don't have to worry about those things.

I know this is weird coming from someone who has been on a very conventional path (honors student->college->grad school) but I think it's important to remember that there are millions of ways to be a successful adult and most of those have a lot more to do with you being a happy and fulfilled person, your college major does not define you. If you talk to adults who seem content with their lives, almost nobody took a direct path, people figure things out and make transitions and go back to school or get jobs with almost nothing to do with their majors because they found other ways to market their skills. Absolutely learn and explore things in college, it's a big decision, that has gravity, reconsidering is important, but also no matter what you conclude (keep psych do business management, do some of both, you probably have at least a psych minor already), I think our society really undervalues nontraditional paths, and that's to the detriment of a lot of people. You're a person who is going to figure things out no matter what those are and how long or twisty that journey is you deserve to be a fulfilled happy awesome human. tldr we push college as the end all be all of accomplishment and we really shouldn't because it isn't and yes it can be wonderful and helpful and I wouldn't have not gone for the world (but I'm also a school loving weirdo who may never leave and simply graduate to being a professor and basically never exist outside of an academic environment which as awesome and wonderful as that path is for me, is pretty abnormal)

Unfortunately, our society measures success in dollar signs. And relationship statuses. Right now no one would consider me successful because I'm divorced and on disability.

That's because society "cares".
But only about itself - and even that rather badly.

Just popping in to say hello! It's been so quiet!