I forgot to post an update about the natural shampoo experiment in my last post! Oh the shame!
I quit.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, but I could not get the ratios right. I figured that after 5 weeks of either having dull or oily hair, it was time to find a different solution. So I'm now using an organic shampoo that I got at our local grocery store. It's called Organix (in Teatree Mint) and I found it at Albertsons. I love it. I know that I say that about everything, but I really do! I tried going back to our regular Garnier shampoo, but it made my hair extra poofy and it made my scalp itch like crazy. Even after the salon visit (for a hair cut and then again to get it colored- curse you gray hair!) my hair didn't feel super soft and clean like it used to. It felt pretty dry and, again, it made my scalp itchy. The homemade shampoo may have been more difficult that I planned, but the benefits of it are amazing! I don't have fly-aways like I used to (minus the evil gray hairs that defy gravity no matter what I do), my hair is always soft and shiny, and any dandruff/itch issues I had before are gone, especially since I started using the organix. I read somewhere that teatree oil is good for your scalp, so I'm not sure if it is this specific shampoo that has caused this change or just the organic stuff in general. Either way, I'm hooked. And I highly recommend this to everyone. Oh yeah, and since this shampoo doesn't have all the crap that regular ones do, its perfectly safe on colored hair. I just had red highlights put in and none of it came out during my last shower! Amazing!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
food, books, and resolutions.
Once again I have neglected the blogs. With classes, the decision to do a home-made Christmas, and a mini-vacation, I have been incredibly busy. And, lets face it, more than a little lazy. I started this post forever ago, but never got a chance to finish it until now.
Ok, thats a lie, but it's the thought that counts. Or something.
I'm going to try to be brief here, but since there's some catching up to do, that may not be possible. So let the dumping begin:
Food:
I've been cooking a lot more lately. We stayed with Nick's grandmother while in Milwaukee, and that lady can cook. A lot. A small snack generally meant that the table was covered in many goodies, and desert involved a choice between three cakes. We ate so much while at her house (there is no refusing grandma!) and once we got home, it seemed almost wrong to just grab whatever from some blah restaurant when deliciousness could be created at home. And Janet gave me a few of her recipes.
No, I will not be sharing them. At least not until I can get her approval to do so.
I will share my chicken fingers recipe that I thought I was a genius in creating, and after having done so, I realized it was very similar to the one on the Bisquick box. So I'm not a genius. I didn't get an pictures taken because we gobbled them all up, but I'm sure you can imagine what they looked like. (Just imagine something really yummy.... and by something, I mean chicken fingers, because imagining cupcakes would just be wrong in this scenario.)
Chicken Fingers of Ultimate Deliciousness
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced to resemble fingers (1/2 inch strips)
- 2/3 c. bisquick
- 1/2 c. parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
Heat over to 450. Grease cookie sheet (Misto or pam it). Add bisquick, cheese, salt, and paprika in a gallon ziplock bag. Dip the chicken in butter, put into baggie, shake, and then place onto sheet. (Do this in batches. The bag can't hold all of the chicken at once, I tried.) Bake for about 14 minutes, flipping the strips at the 7 minute mark.
Books:
I've sort of been on a reading kick these last couple of weeks since I didn't have much time to read before Christmas and school starts up tomorrow. I didn't get in as many books as I hoped to, but I think I did pretty well. It also helped that I read mostly YA, so it was easy to tear through them.
Everlasting by Alyson Noel
So I finally finished the last book of this series, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it ended. Or at least I think I am. I can't really remember how it ended, not that the series isn't memorable or anything, I read it while we were traveling (which means I read it on very little sleep.) This isn't the best YA series I've ever read, but I did enjoy reading it. The thing that bothers me about a lot of YA series is that the couple can't ever just be together, there's always something that keeps them apart. I understand that this keeps things interesting, but it can only go on for so long before it becomes annoying. This series was based on that very thing. In the last three (?) books or so, the main couple weren't able to physically touch each other, which was a different spin on the whole "they can never be together" theme, but it ended up becoming kind of preachy. It made it feel like a forced chastity belt, and that annoys me. I get it, you don't want to encourage teens to have sex, and maybe I should stick to reading adult novels if I want there to be sex, but it seems unrealistic to me. Anyway, I didn't like the series as a whole and I recommend it, but I won't be reading it again. And it's still better than Twilight. Or at least mostly better.
"The Infernal Devices" and "The Mortal Instruments" by Cassandra Clare
Ok, so I actually started reading the "Immortal" series (Noel's series) because I actually wanted to read The Mortal Instruments, but couldn't actually remember what it was called and looked up "Immortal" instead of "mortal" and Noel's series seemed interesting so I read it. That was a terrible sentence, and I'm sorry, but that's the best I can come up with. Anywho...
"Infernal Devices" was published after MI, but is actually the prequel, so I started with that one. The two books that are out right now- Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince- are awesome. The female lead reminds me a little of Arabella, from The Female Quixote, and I instantly fell in love with her. This series is set in Victorian England, and oh how I love it! Here's a synopsis. Unfortunately the third book doesn't come out until the end of this year, so you may want to read MI first.
"The Mortal Instruments" is set in modern-day New York (and fantasy places). The characters are a little younger and so you get a little more of that teenage angst in these books, but not so much so that it makes you want vomit and burn your eyeballs (or perhaps teenage angst only has that affect on me)- or perhaps ID seems a little more mature because of the period it's set in and has nothing to do with the age of the characters? Either way, I love this series. The characters are well developed (albeit a little predictable) and I was hooked from the moment I opened the first book. I mean, any book that features a sticker that says "Otaku Wench" on the backpack on the main gal, is definitely on the awesome list! That being said, the ending to the third book was so good (for me) that I am hesitant to pick up the fourth one. I like happy/complete endings (yeah, I'm sappy that way) and I'm not ready for that to go away.
I can't decide if I like Jace (man guy from MI) or Will (ID) better, but I do like ID a little more than MI- which I'm sure is not the case of most people. I hate to keep comparing everything to Twilight, but the more YA series I read, the more I realize how bad it was. This series is so good, that it ranks up there with The Hunger Games. Yeah, it's that good. And one of the best things about it is that the whole not-having-sex thing wasn't really an issue. They didn't have sex, but not because of some crazy notion of chivalry or curses. Ok, kind of, but it was much better that anything I've read so far!
Sorry if this makes no sense, I'm starting to get really sleepy and the husband is playing some music that has caused my brain to stop working.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
I was so excited to read this book, and so glad I didn't have to wait 6 years for it to come out like so many of Martin's loyal fans. That being said, it sucked. Martin is a great writer (by my standards) and I have loved this series. He is able to create characters that I either love or love to hate, and he has a real knack for killing them off at the most unexpected times (something that I believe makes a great series truly epic) and I loved him for it. This book was like one of those annoying filler episodes in anime- there was no real point to it. He introduced one new character who I think may play a bigger role in a future book(s), but other than that, there was no real development. The husband found this review (which is the first normal person review, if you scroll down on the page) and it explains exactly how I feel about this book, only in a much more eloquent and clever way. There are some spoilers in it, but I think it's better that you read them than actually read the book. Seriously. Will I read the next book? You bet your behind I will! I just hope he doesn't disappoint.
Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
I love the Dresden Files. Butcher is awesome, Dresden is awesome, Bob is freakin' awesome! That being said, this book wasn't as funny as his other ones, and I really don't like that Bob belongs to Butters in it (which isn't really a spoiler). I hope the next one is a little better.
Resolutions:
Its that time of year again. Yay.
This year, I want to be furiously happy. And get pregnant again. This means that I have to start taking better care of myself, both physically and mentally. I have to get back on my metformin and I need to get off of the anti-depressants. So here's the plan (not exactly a resolution, but I'm OK with that):
-Exercise daily
-Take metformin, which means cut out bad food (anything fried/greasy and super fatty)
- Cut out high fructose corn syrup
- Eat more veggies
- Get back on prenatals (because the sooner its in your body, the better)
- Get IUD removed (tmi? oh well!)
- Train for half marathon.................. yeah, you read that right. Nick and I don't plan on trying to conceive until June or so and, lets face it, if it's anything like the last time, it will take a while. I think that I will probably do Duke City (in Oct.) but I am seriously considering doing the Rock one in Vegas (Dec) instead (I can't remember what its called.) I always thought that running for hours was crazy, but I honestly think that I need to do something crazy if I'm ever going to change. What do I want to change, you ask? My lack of motivation. I am so lazy, so unmotivated, in almost everything that I do. And I hate myself for it. I think that the husband, though he will never actually say it, resents me for it. I can't be like this anymore, not if I want to be a good wife and a good mother. I can't. So something crazy it is. I really think that after finding the courage to do something so outside my comfort zone, will help me in my day-to-day activities. And the exercise will do wonders for my mental health. And if I happen to get pregnant before I actually compete, that's OK. At least I will know that I can do and, hopefully, I will be motivated to get back out there after that baby is born!
Well, there you have it. I'm off to bed now, I have to get up early tomorrow morning. And I'm going to be happy about it!
Ok, thats a lie, but it's the thought that counts. Or something.
I'm going to try to be brief here, but since there's some catching up to do, that may not be possible. So let the dumping begin:
Food:
I've been cooking a lot more lately. We stayed with Nick's grandmother while in Milwaukee, and that lady can cook. A lot. A small snack generally meant that the table was covered in many goodies, and desert involved a choice between three cakes. We ate so much while at her house (there is no refusing grandma!) and once we got home, it seemed almost wrong to just grab whatever from some blah restaurant when deliciousness could be created at home. And Janet gave me a few of her recipes.
No, I will not be sharing them. At least not until I can get her approval to do so.
I will share my chicken fingers recipe that I thought I was a genius in creating, and after having done so, I realized it was very similar to the one on the Bisquick box. So I'm not a genius. I didn't get an pictures taken because we gobbled them all up, but I'm sure you can imagine what they looked like. (Just imagine something really yummy.... and by something, I mean chicken fingers, because imagining cupcakes would just be wrong in this scenario.)
Chicken Fingers of Ultimate Deliciousness
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced to resemble fingers (1/2 inch strips)
- 2/3 c. bisquick
- 1/2 c. parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
Heat over to 450. Grease cookie sheet (Misto or pam it). Add bisquick, cheese, salt, and paprika in a gallon ziplock bag. Dip the chicken in butter, put into baggie, shake, and then place onto sheet. (Do this in batches. The bag can't hold all of the chicken at once, I tried.) Bake for about 14 minutes, flipping the strips at the 7 minute mark.
Books:
I've sort of been on a reading kick these last couple of weeks since I didn't have much time to read before Christmas and school starts up tomorrow. I didn't get in as many books as I hoped to, but I think I did pretty well. It also helped that I read mostly YA, so it was easy to tear through them.
Everlasting by Alyson Noel
So I finally finished the last book of this series, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it ended. Or at least I think I am. I can't really remember how it ended, not that the series isn't memorable or anything, I read it while we were traveling (which means I read it on very little sleep.) This isn't the best YA series I've ever read, but I did enjoy reading it. The thing that bothers me about a lot of YA series is that the couple can't ever just be together, there's always something that keeps them apart. I understand that this keeps things interesting, but it can only go on for so long before it becomes annoying. This series was based on that very thing. In the last three (?) books or so, the main couple weren't able to physically touch each other, which was a different spin on the whole "they can never be together" theme, but it ended up becoming kind of preachy. It made it feel like a forced chastity belt, and that annoys me. I get it, you don't want to encourage teens to have sex, and maybe I should stick to reading adult novels if I want there to be sex, but it seems unrealistic to me. Anyway, I didn't like the series as a whole and I recommend it, but I won't be reading it again. And it's still better than Twilight. Or at least mostly better.
"The Infernal Devices" and "The Mortal Instruments" by Cassandra Clare
Ok, so I actually started reading the "Immortal" series (Noel's series) because I actually wanted to read The Mortal Instruments, but couldn't actually remember what it was called and looked up "Immortal" instead of "mortal" and Noel's series seemed interesting so I read it. That was a terrible sentence, and I'm sorry, but that's the best I can come up with. Anywho...
"Infernal Devices" was published after MI, but is actually the prequel, so I started with that one. The two books that are out right now- Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince- are awesome. The female lead reminds me a little of Arabella, from The Female Quixote, and I instantly fell in love with her. This series is set in Victorian England, and oh how I love it! Here's a synopsis. Unfortunately the third book doesn't come out until the end of this year, so you may want to read MI first.
"The Mortal Instruments" is set in modern-day New York (and fantasy places). The characters are a little younger and so you get a little more of that teenage angst in these books, but not so much so that it makes you want vomit and burn your eyeballs (or perhaps teenage angst only has that affect on me)- or perhaps ID seems a little more mature because of the period it's set in and has nothing to do with the age of the characters? Either way, I love this series. The characters are well developed (albeit a little predictable) and I was hooked from the moment I opened the first book. I mean, any book that features a sticker that says "Otaku Wench" on the backpack on the main gal, is definitely on the awesome list! That being said, the ending to the third book was so good (for me) that I am hesitant to pick up the fourth one. I like happy/complete endings (yeah, I'm sappy that way) and I'm not ready for that to go away.
I can't decide if I like Jace (man guy from MI) or Will (ID) better, but I do like ID a little more than MI- which I'm sure is not the case of most people. I hate to keep comparing everything to Twilight, but the more YA series I read, the more I realize how bad it was. This series is so good, that it ranks up there with The Hunger Games. Yeah, it's that good. And one of the best things about it is that the whole not-having-sex thing wasn't really an issue. They didn't have sex, but not because of some crazy notion of chivalry or curses. Ok, kind of, but it was much better that anything I've read so far!
Sorry if this makes no sense, I'm starting to get really sleepy and the husband is playing some music that has caused my brain to stop working.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
I was so excited to read this book, and so glad I didn't have to wait 6 years for it to come out like so many of Martin's loyal fans. That being said, it sucked. Martin is a great writer (by my standards) and I have loved this series. He is able to create characters that I either love or love to hate, and he has a real knack for killing them off at the most unexpected times (something that I believe makes a great series truly epic) and I loved him for it. This book was like one of those annoying filler episodes in anime- there was no real point to it. He introduced one new character who I think may play a bigger role in a future book(s), but other than that, there was no real development. The husband found this review (which is the first normal person review, if you scroll down on the page) and it explains exactly how I feel about this book, only in a much more eloquent and clever way. There are some spoilers in it, but I think it's better that you read them than actually read the book. Seriously. Will I read the next book? You bet your behind I will! I just hope he doesn't disappoint.
Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
I love the Dresden Files. Butcher is awesome, Dresden is awesome, Bob is freakin' awesome! That being said, this book wasn't as funny as his other ones, and I really don't like that Bob belongs to Butters in it (which isn't really a spoiler). I hope the next one is a little better.
Resolutions:
Its that time of year again. Yay.
This year, I want to be furiously happy. And get pregnant again. This means that I have to start taking better care of myself, both physically and mentally. I have to get back on my metformin and I need to get off of the anti-depressants. So here's the plan (not exactly a resolution, but I'm OK with that):
-Exercise daily
-Take metformin, which means cut out bad food (anything fried/greasy and super fatty)
- Cut out high fructose corn syrup
- Eat more veggies
- Get back on prenatals (because the sooner its in your body, the better)
- Get IUD removed (tmi? oh well!)
- Train for half marathon.................. yeah, you read that right. Nick and I don't plan on trying to conceive until June or so and, lets face it, if it's anything like the last time, it will take a while. I think that I will probably do Duke City (in Oct.) but I am seriously considering doing the Rock one in Vegas (Dec) instead (I can't remember what its called.) I always thought that running for hours was crazy, but I honestly think that I need to do something crazy if I'm ever going to change. What do I want to change, you ask? My lack of motivation. I am so lazy, so unmotivated, in almost everything that I do. And I hate myself for it. I think that the husband, though he will never actually say it, resents me for it. I can't be like this anymore, not if I want to be a good wife and a good mother. I can't. So something crazy it is. I really think that after finding the courage to do something so outside my comfort zone, will help me in my day-to-day activities. And the exercise will do wonders for my mental health. And if I happen to get pregnant before I actually compete, that's OK. At least I will know that I can do and, hopefully, I will be motivated to get back out there after that baby is born!
Well, there you have it. I'm off to bed now, I have to get up early tomorrow morning. And I'm going to be happy about it!
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