101 in 1001

I was going to make a list of 10 green things I wanted to accomplish in 2010. Instead, I am going to do a 101 in 1001 list. Yes, I am going to try to accomplish 101 different new things in 1001 days. I am going to start 1/1/2010 and my 1001 days will end 9/27/2012 (yes that does include the leap year in 2012). Wow, now that the dates are written out that is a long time.

So here it goes:

The mission: Complete 101 preset tasks on 1001 days.

The criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Items that have been completed will be strikedthrough.
Items that I am currently working on will be green.
GOING GREEN
1. This is the biggest one...Get the Hubs on board with the "green" lifestyle
2. Convert all cleaning products to eco-friendly ones, preferably homemade
3. Convert all beauty products to eco-friendly ones
4. Get educated with books and documentaries
5. Reduce the use of paper towels
6. Shop locally and at farmer's markets
7. Start composting (5/11)
8. Use recycled toilet paper
9. Reduce water usage10. Figure out a way to reduce junk mail

TRAVEL
11. Visit friends in NC (2/2010)
12. Visit a US city I have never been to (7/2011)
13. Travel outside of the country
14. Visit friends that are moving to Omaha
15. Go to Vegas (7/9-7/16/2010)
16. Go see a Broadway show
17. Visit 5 attractions in the tri-state area that I have never been to or don't remember
18. Go to a vineyard (7/12/10)
19. Actually take pictures during my travels
20. Visit a National Park

CREATE
21. Track my 101 in 1001 experience in my blog
22. Make 10 new recipes (10/10) +3
23. Take an activity class just for fun and not related to Grad School (3/11/11)
24. Start making my own hair and beauty products
25. Give homemade products as gifts (and for feedback)

EXPAND KNOWLEDGE
26. Finish Grad School(12/7/10)
27. Read 50 books that are not crime related (17/50)
28. Read 100 books not including 50 above (19/100)
29. Re-read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and remember why I love the book so much
30. Watch 5 documentaries on eco-friendly living (5/5)
31. Go to 10 new restaurants (10/10) +1 last updated 8/16/11

32. Go to an opera (5/16/11)
33. Learn to correctly tie a bow tie
34. Learn a new language
35. Be able to accurately label a US map
36. Be able to accurately label a map of Africa
37. Be able to identify 5 constellations
38. Learn about a current political issue and be able to speak on it intelligibly
39. Learn how to change the oil in my car

ORGANIZE
40. Finally change my name on all documents
41. Organize and clean my entire home
42. Paint the guest room
43. Donate clothes and shoes that the Hubs and I no longer wear
44. Make the bed every day for 1001 days
45. Make sure the kitchen is clean every day before I go to work for 1001 days

RE-CONNECT
46. Send Christmas cards (12/2010)
47. Meet 3 online friends in real life (7/3/2010)
48. Have a GTG with people I have not seen since high school
49. Restart "Girls Night Out"
50. Go out to lunch with my mom and mother-in-law (5/8/2010)
51. Spend the day doing whatever the Hubs wants to do
52. Join an organization that will help my career goals

GIVE BACK
53. Donate to Sankofa International
54. Pay for the meal of someone behind me
55. Volunteer at a food bank or shelter
56. Donate to charities through CFC every year (2/3)
57. Put money in someones expired meter
58. Go to church more regularly

FINANCIAL/LEGAL
59. Get term-life insurance for the Hubs and I
60. Get a living will and trust for the Hubs and I
61. Reach our goal for our E-fund (2012)
62. Open ROTH IRA's for the Hubs and I
63. Become debt free except for the mortgage
64. Update my resume and have it reviewed by others
65. Make an actual effort to find my dream job
66. Research a stock and invest in it
67. Put $5 in savings for each task completed

HEALTH
68. Run 3 miles in 30 minutes
69. Run in an organized 5K
70. Train for a 10K
71. Swim 50 hours (1/50)
72. Eat vegan for a day
73. Eat raw for a day
74. Attend a spinning class once a week for a month
75. Go on a run with the Hubs
76. Get to my goal weight the healthy way
77. Go to a naturopath doctor (1/24/11)
78. Go to the doc and have the TTC discussion (OMG!) (2/11/10)

GOOD FOR THE SOUL
79. Spend an entire day with my goddaughter (just us and maybe the Hubs)
80. Get dressed up for a night on the town with the Hubs
81. Convince someone else to start 101 in 1001 (1/1/10)
82. Write down 10 reasons why I love the Hubs and give it to him (6/13/10)
83. Surprise the Hubs with a romantic evening
84. Embrace my inner beauty, Diva, bombshell, sexpot for a night
85. Watch a sunrise
86. Watch a sunset (3/18/10)
87. Kiss the Hubs in the rain

JUST FOR FUN
88. Buy a pair of shoes I want no matter the price (12/7/10)
89. Go to a professional tennis match(8/2-8/3/10)
90. Do B-pics as a gift for the Hubs
91. Go see "Sex and the City 2" with the girls(5/28/10)
92. Do Karaoke (12/25/10)
93. Play in the rain (6/11)
94. Get the Hubs to act like a kid as much as I do for an activity (12/31/11)
95. Buy a gift for the Hubs that will really surprise him and not worry about the price
96. Stay in a fancy room in a hotel for one night (maybe the penthouse!)
97. Go see Cirque du Soleil (7/13/10)
98. Take a dance class
99. Grow my hair for 1001 days only getting trims
100. Play Trivial Pursuit and learn some things (3/19/10)
101. Do something rewarding at the end on my 1001 days!!

Holidays

I know I have been MIA for a while. It is due to the holidays. I find them physically and mentally exhausting. I love my family and despite what they think I love being around them; it just drains me. I have had the energy for this in the past because I normally take 2-3 weeks off of work during this season. That gives me the time I need to recuperate. I did not do that this year because I am trying to replenish the leave I used for the wedding and the Hubs injury. I honestly did not even realize that I "needed" that time off until I did not take it this year.

It is not just the family I find draining. It is all the Christmas music, shopping, twenty-four seveness of it that drains me. And since I did not, I have been drained and now I am sick. I have not updated my blog, cooked, really cleaned (hanging my head in shame), or anything for weeks. I think since Thanksgiving. I am surprised the Hubs is still here now that I think about it.

In coming to this realization, I realize that I am an introvert. An introvert is defined as "
(psychology) a person who tends to shrink from social contacts and to become preoccupied with their own thoughts". Those who know me may say DUH, but I did not see myself this way. I do love going out, having fun, etc. etc., but I become drained from those outings and need my time alone to recover. Nothing wrong with that (in my opinion anyway). And now that I understand my psychoses I can handle them in a positive way. I will definitely take time off around the holidays in the future. I know I need it for my mental and physical health.

Oh yeah, and since I love to read (probably a quality of an introvert) "The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World" is added to my reading list. Yes, I am branching out from my crime, serial killer reading.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Kwanzaa Everyone!!

Accomplishment

Today I finished the 9-week Couch to 5K program. What a sense of achievement. I don't think I have ever committed to a workout and seen it to completion. I am proud of myself. My time sucks, but I know it will get better. That is what I am going to work on now, my speed. I also need to find the motivation to do weights. I have always liked cardio, but not running. And while I still have a love/hate relationship with running, I do like seeing the progress. Now I have to find a way to get that out of lifting weights.

On top of completing the program, I am also down 6 pounds since the beginning of October. 15 more pounds to go.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It is Thanksgiving 2009 and this year I have sooo much to be thankful for. This year in June I married the man of my dreams. It was perfect day and a perfect wedding and I would not change one thing about it. Also this year the Hubs was shot on the job. At the time we had only been married for 1 month and it was the day before his birthday. Definitely not how I thought I would spend that day and not something that I ever thought would happen. But thankfully it turned out ok. No permanent damage done. But that day showed me how fragile life can be and to appreciate every day that is given to you. Based on those two things alone I have lots to be thankful for.

Even though my family thinks I am not family oriented, I really am. It is just that I am slightly introverted, or maybe very, and I need periods of recuperation from my large, loud, loving family. Anywho, I love that my family is always there for each other. When times get rough, we drop everything and gravitate together. Unfortunately we have had to pull together in times of bad to frequently this lately...the loss of a parent (love you Aunt Janice), a shooting, others being rushed to the hospital, and just having too much on your plate and needing a break. But every time we are there for each other and there is not greater feeling. I am truly thankful to have my family.

Every day remember to give thanks.

Recipe of the Week - Cheddar Corn Chowder

It's that time again. Recipe of the Week. I have to admit I am starting to like cooking these recipes. Well, I guess that is if the Hubs like them. But so far I have had only one fail. So far, so good.

This week I decided to make corn chowder. Perfect for tonight because it is rainy outside. So nothing like a good, hearty chowder. The smell is amazing. I am actually still in the process of cooking. Right now I am letting the potatoes get tender.

I got the recipe from Proceed with Caution. You can probably see that I LOVE this blog. I did modify it a little, making it vegetarian.

Cheddar Corn Chowder

2 Tablespoons good olive oil (I don't know what that means, just used what I had)
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (1 large onion) - (I only used 1 cup, not big on onions)
1/4 cup flour (I used whole wheat)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric (I didn't have this so I left it out)
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
3 cups chicken stock (I used vegetable stock and used 3.5 cups)
3 cups medium-diced white boiling potatoes, unpeeled (1 pounds) (I used 4 cups)
5 cups corn kernels, fresh (5 ears) or frozen (1.5 pounds) (I used 2 lbs. of frozen organic corn)
1/2 cup 2% milk (I used plain soy milk)
2 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.

Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, old bay and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender (it may take longer, I just let them simmer).

If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob and blanch them for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain. (If using frozen corn you can skip this step.) Add the corn to the soup, then add the milk and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Note: After I added the corn I decided to add some more vegetable stock. So I used a total of 4 cups of vegetable stock. I also added some extra Old Bay, salt, and pepper for the added ingredients. Also the Hubs is going to add some chicken strips to his, so he will have chicken and corn chowder.

And the verdict is....Yummy.

If I make this again i would add more vegetables, celery, carrots, red pepper maybe. It would give more flavor.

The Repercussions of being a Slacker

Well I got motivated enough to go to the gym today. It has been a while, maybe a week. I could definitely tell that I had not been in the gym in a while. I did W8D3 of the C25K program. Um, there are only 9 weeks of this program so I am very close to the end. Yeah, I was dying. I did it, but I did not look like someone who has run this distance twice. Needless to say I will be doing this distance again and then attempting week 9.

It is sad how quickly your body reverts to slackdom. Absolutely ridiculous. The way I felt tonight in the gym has motivated me though. I know I need to get in there or do some other form of physical exercise at least 3 times a week. I just want to finish this 5K program and be able to run it without walking at all. Is that too much to ask?

Slacker, Underachiever

These are words I used to use for my brother all the time when he was in school. (In the most loving way possible of course.) He was just content with getting a B in school without studying instead of studying and getting an A. How are we related?

Well now, that is me. I am in grad school and I am just not motivated. This is so not like me. If I get a B in this class, which is where I am headed, I am going to be so upset. But I cannot muster up the energy or effort to get that A.

On top of that I have been slacking on working out. I was so motivated last month with the Rocktober Challenge. But now, I don't even know what happened. I think I have worked out once this week. I am definitely working out today, so that would be twice. But I am definitely not doing what I want to be. I could make excuses, like the weather sucks right now and I just don't want to leave the house when I don't have to. That statement is true, but it is just an excuse. I have to somehow find that motivation I had last month. Oh motivation.....where are you???

I refuse to let this one bad week curtail my fitness goals. In the past, one week of no exercise would turn into months of no exercise. Not this time. Not gonna happen. I am gonna get up and do it.

That is gonna be my mantra, just get up and do it.

Recipe of the Week - Sea Scallops

The Hubs has tried several times to make scallops and the results have been....well, not good. He had given up on them. So the last time we went to the wharf we got a pound of scallops for me to give it a go.

I got the recipe from the Food Network.

16 medium diver scallops, cleaned
1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for searing
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups field greens

In a medium bowl, marinate the scallops with olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let them marinate for 20 minutes.

Heat enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the scallops. Cook quickly in each side until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove from the heat and place 4 scallops around a mound of greens. Repeat.

I did not use the field greens and just made the scallops.

I figured out what the Hubs was doing wrong each time he made scallops. He was using waaaay too much oil, well in his case butter. (I am trying to get him out of that unhealthy habit).

If I made this recipe again I would not add the salt, but other than that they were very good. Yeah, because we both love scallops.

Recipe of the Week - Black Bean Enchiladas

So last weeks recipe was a fail, for the Hubs anyway. I liked it and ate leftovers a couple of times. So this week I was trying to be positive and continue on with my quest in becoming a domestic goddess. A healthy one at that.

I found this recipe on Annie Eats and modified it a little.

Here is my adapted recipe.

Black Bean Enchiladas

For Black Bean filling:

• 2 cans organic black beans, rinsed and drained


• 1 tsp. EVOO


• 1/4 c. chopped onions (I am not an onion person)


• 4 cloves garlic, minced


• 1 1/2 c. corn kernels (I wanted to use the whole can)


• 1 c. pico de Gallo (recipe below)


• 2 tsp. ground cumin


• 1 tsp. chili powder


• 1 c . Reduced Fat Mexican Cheese

Side Note: Tasted the filling and it is so freakin good. If the Hubs doesn't like this something is wrong with him.

For the enchiladas:

• Black Bean filling (from above)


• 6-8 Whole Wheat tortillas


• Enchilada sauce (recipe below)

Directions:

To make the black bean filling, place the black beans in a medium sized mixing bowl. Partially mash the beans. In a medium sized skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic and sauté for 4 minutes. Mix beans, corn, pico de Gallo, cumin, and chili powder into the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove the pan from the heat, mix in cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.

Grease a 9×13” baking dish. Preheat oven to 350°. To make the enchiladas, spoon some of the black bean mixture down the center of a tortilla. Fold sides over the filling and roll up. Place seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour sauce over the tops of the enchiladas. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese and bake 2-3 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

Recipe for Pico de Gallo (adapted from Proceed with Caution):

• 5 plum tomatoes, diced


• 6-oz. of pickled jalapenos (I didn't use the whole can, I thought it might be too hot for us.)


• 1/4 of a sweet onion (Again, not an onion person.)


• 1 to 1.5 c fresh cilantro


• 1 to 2 avocados


• juice of 4 limes

Combine all ingredients except avocado and lime juice in a large bowl and refrigerate at least one hour. Dice avocado(s) and add to the bowl, along with the lime juice. Toss together and let sit for 15 minutes.

Side Note: Can I tell you this is so good. And there was some left over. Future plans for this, whole wheat tortilla chips. Yum!

Also in an attempt to be more healthy I made my own enchilada sauce. I got the recipe from here. Of course I modified it a little, trying to be more healthy.

Easy Enchilada Sauce

• 3 tsp. EVOO


• 1 tbsp. whole wheat flour


• 1/4 c. chili powder


• 2 c. organic vegetable stock


• 10-oz. tomato paste


• 1 tsp. dried oregano


• 1 tsp. ground cumin

Directions

In a medium saucepan heat oil, add flour, smoothing and stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook for 1 minute. Add chili powder and cook for 30 seconds. Add stock, tomato paste, oregano, and cumin. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken and smooth out. Adjust the seasonings. Serve atop your favorite enchiladas.

And the verdict is...Pass. The Hubs loved it. He said it was the best meal I have ever made. So for new recipes my record is 2-1. I will definitely be making this meal again. Now to find my recipe for next week...

Review - Homeade Laundry Detergent

I have been using my homeade liquid laundry detergent for a couple of weeks now. So what do I think? I love the stuff. I did make too much of it. That was my fault for not fully reading the directions. It was very easy to make just too much. I was trying to keep it in the pot until I needed it, but the Hubs made me throw it out. It is very cheap to make so he said I was not wasting that much money. So ok I threw it out.

I did make some modifications though. I could not find the Dr. Bronner's Mild Baby Soap, so I used Burt's Bees soap, no fragrance. The mildest I could find. I cannot remember the actual name of it. Also, I think the recipe said to use 1/4 c for each load and I felt I needed WAY more than that. I used 1-1.5 c per load. So out of the 4 quarts of detergent I kept (the recipe made 10 quarts I think) I got 18-20 loads of laundry.

One positive I did have from this is our clothes smell great. The other night I was laying next to the Hubs and his shirt smelled so good. I love the smell of fresh laundry.

This time I am going to try dry detergent.

Here is the recipe I am going to use (modified from The Good Wife):

1 bar of soap (I will be using the Burt's Bees again. It is easier to find)
1c borax
1c baking soda
1c washing soda

Each load will use 2tsp. of detergent. I might cut this recipe down just in case we do not like it, but I have heard nothing but positives.

I will let the Hubs decide which he likes best and that is the one I will use.

Rocktober Challenge/ Holiday Challenge

So I finally weighed myself. My weight seems to go up and down, so I can be positive, but I think I lost 4 pounds doing the Rocktober Challenge. If that is true, I am amazed. So now the hard part...keeping it off.

I am starting a new challenge for the rest of the year. It is based on a points system and the person at the end with the most points wins bragging rights. I am not starting off too good. I think I was a little burned out from working out 29 out of 31 days. But so far this week I have only worked out once. It is only Tuesday, so I have some time to recover, but that is not good. Fortunately for me working out is not the only way to get points.

There are points for eating home cooked meals, drinking enough water, wearing sunblock, not drinking alcohol, etc. This is more of a total body challenge as opposed to just fitness. The truth is I do not care if I win or not. I am the least competitive person I know. But somehow these challenges inspire me. I like having other people to be accountable to, not just myself.

In other fitness goals, I have 2 more weeks of the C25K program. Other people said that week 5 was the hardest and that is when the majority of people quit, but I am starting to have my difficulty now at week 8. It is definitely mental, but I cannot seem to be able to run more than 2.5 miles. I think I may be going too fast in the beginning and am burning out. So tomorrow when I go to run I am going to start off slower. I also learned that I need to listen to slower music in the beginning of my run. It helps with my breathing. So I am going to try to rearrange songs on my iPod and see if that helps as well. I am not going to give up though. I am going to complete this program and run in a 5K when I am done. That is my goal. And I would like to lose 20 more pounds. That is my ultimate goal.

So what I am going to work on for this month - eating correctly. I think I need to invest in a food scale because I think I eat healthy the majority of the time, but maybe my portions are too big. I am not a calorie counter at all so I will have to see how this works. I think I am also going to try to cut out carbs after lunch. Being a vegetarian I think this is going to be a little hard because that is where I get my filling food, but I am going to have to find alternatives.

So that is the plan.

Rocktober Challenge - Week 4 and more

The last week of the Rocktober Challenge is done!!! This challenge tested me not only physically, but mentally. I did things I never thought I would be able to do. I did miss 2 days though. So for the 31 days of October I worked out 29 days. I personally think that is amazing. Yes, I will toot my own horn. There were so many days when I did not want to workout. There were so many days when I thought I could not do another day, another sit-up, or take another step on the treadmill. But I did it. WOW!

10/22 - 20 minutes on treadmill and strength training
10/23 - went to the pumpkin patch and ran around with a bunch of 5-year olds (most tiring exercise of the whole month)
10/24 - arms, back, and abs
10/25 - NOTHING. (but I got myself back together. I did not want to fall apart at the end.)
10/26 - circuits of jumping jacks, abs, and legs while watching The View
10/27 - w7d2 of c25k
10/28 - Total Body Pilates and abs
10/29 - w7d3 of c25k and abs. I think I may need to do this week of c25k again, or at least one more day of it. It was a struggle and I don't see how I can add to it in the condition I am in now.
10/30 - level 2 of the 30 day Shred
THE LAST DAY 10/31 - repeated w7d3 of c25k.

I still have room from improvement though. I think I have hit a mental roadblock with running. I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to get past 2.5 miles continuously. This may not be a long distance for all, but for a non-runner like me I am impressed I can even do that. But I have to figure out a way to push myself.

I also need to work on my diet. For the most part I would say I eat pretty healthy, especially during the week when I am at work. It is when I am off that I am concerned. I enjoy waffles, but I think I am having them to frequently. And then there is the occasional Oreo (but that is only when I go to VA for work). I think I am "treating" myself for having to go out there. But no excuses...I have to do better.

The real results will be seen tomorrow when I finally weigh myself. I have seen changes in my body and my jeans are too big, but I would like to see changes on the scale. I have not weighed myself all October. The only way I accomplished this was having the Hubs hide the scale. So tomorrow I will see. Hoping the results are indicative of the work I put in.

My Battle with "Being Green"

It is not emotional, spiritual, or even financial (and that is usually the issue for me). So what is the issue...it's immunological. That's right, my own freakin body is fighting my quest to be green.

A little backstory: Sometime in my early 20's I started developing food allergies. I don't know why or what happened, but there they were. It started with bananas, i think. But in that list of food allergies are sunflower seed/oil/etc. and almond nut/oil/etc.

So what does food allergies have to do with being green? Well, sunflower oil and/or almond oil are in probably 90% of organic products for your hair and skin. Why? Because they are so great.

Benefits of sunflower oil: It is very high in essential fatty acids; helps moisturize, regenerate, and condition skin. Good for sensitive skin (just not mine).

Benefits of almond oil: It is a great emollient for softening and conditioning skin; rich in essential fatty acids.

Therefore, it is used for lots of stuff; lotions, lip balm, soap, conditioners, etc.

That means I have to read the ingredients of everything. It can be very annoying. So I finally found chapstick that does not contain either of these oils from Dr. Bronner's. This is great because I can buy it at target. And soap Shea Moisture (also can be bought at Target). Conditioner: Giovanni (also at Target). Does anyone else see how much I love Target. And yes as I am writing this I am pronouncing it Tar-jay because it is where I get all my fancy products, so its better. Duh.

But other items are not so easy. It took me months to find a facial moisturizer with SPF that was "green" and did not contain sunflower and/or almond oil. But, with persistence I finally found it. The issue is I have to buy if off the internet and I don't really know how great it will work. But I am optimistic. Keys Solar Rx Moisturizing Sunblock SPF 30 was voted the number 1 Moisturizing Sunscreen by the Environmental Working Group for 2009. That means it is the best green product in the category. AND it does not have sunflower or almond oil. So I am off to order this product.

Review to follow.

Recipe of the Week - Fail

So this week I tried something new. Butternut Squash and Vanilla Risotto that I got from here. I have never had or made risotto before so I was not sure how it would taste, but it looked good and I was willing to try it. All I knew was that it was similar to rice and they made it on every episode of Hell's Kitchen this year.

Now I think I cooked it the appropriate amount of time, but it was a little firm. I cooked it longer, but it was still firm. That is what is in the directions (tender, but firm), but the Hubs said it tasted like it was not done. To me it was the same texture and firmness as rice you get at Chinese restaurants.

As you can see from the title, it was a fail. I personally did not think it was bad (believe me I have no issue saying something I made was nasty). On the other hand, the Hubs did not even give it a try. Well ok, he took a bite out of what was in the pan and decided he was going to eat something else for dinner.

I will admit, I was a little pissed. It is fine with me if he does not like something, but he did not even try it. He has never had risotto either, so I told him it was similar to rice, but I guess he wanted it to taste like rice. Whatever. So from now on I will stick to ingredients he has had before because obviously he is not into experimenting. Guess there is no point in me trying quinoa or bulgur. Guess I will stick to making pasta dishes.

Recipe of the Week- FAIL. Better luck next week.

Winter Hair Routine

I have been developing a routine for my hair. Trying to make the amount of time I spend on it shorter and more efficient. I am also trying to protect my delicate strands from the harsh winter weather.

Weekly

Co-Wash with Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Conditioner (this can be bought a Target)

Detangle with the same conditioner - To do this I divide my hair into 4 sections. Put a good amount of conditioner one the section. Comb the conditioner through with my fingers. Then detangle with a large tooth comb under the shower stream. The twist the section. Repeat for all sections.

Then I completely rinse the conditioner out of my hair with lukewarm water while still in the twists.

Once out of the shower I use Curls Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner as my leave-in and then sytle my hair. My hairstyle of choice for this winter is 2-strand twists. I do this on wet hair and style with my homeade shea butter concoction.

Bi-Weekly

I clarify my hair with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of lemon juice mixed with conditioner. I have been using Aussie Moist Conditioner (this can be bought at any grocery store). It is pretty cheap and doesn't have bad products for my hair. Then I follow my weekly routine from above.
Note: I am clarifying my hair so frequently because I work out a lot. Therefore, I get a lot of sweat build-up and I need to clarify.

I am hoping that by doing this routine I can keep my hair from breaking and improve growth during the winter months.

I know I need to add some deep conditioning treatments in the mix. Maybe I will try to do them on the weeks I do not clarify. And while my hair seems to be sensitive to proteins, I think it might benefit from a protein treatment every once in a while. I am going to try it out and see what the results are.

You may have noticed there is no shampoo in this routine. That is because I follow the No-Poo Method. Find out more about it here. I personally believe it is the best method for curly hair whether you are black, white, or somewhere in between. If you have curly hair I would definitely recommend you try it.

Recipe of the Week

Well this week I did not make anything special, but I wanted to make sure that I cooked something this week. So I made some baked salmon, baked potatoes, and asparagus. Yes, I know not exciting in any way. Not as good as what I made last week in any way. But I am going to find something good for next week. Then we will see if the Hubs like it.

Rocktober Challenge - Week 3

Three weeks down of the Rocktober Challenge. This is such a mental and physical challenge, but it is so rewarding. I know I cannot keep this up forever, but from doing this challenge I know that I can work out 5-6 days a week with no problem. OK, probably 5 days. It is very hard for me to work out on my days off. And I have realized this even more doing this challenge. When I am off, I like to be OFF. But I digress, here is what I did this week. I did miss a day, so bad. It was because of work and not planning well. My body did enjoy the day off and unlike how I would have done in the past, I jumped right back into my workout the next day.

10/15 - P90X Yoga
10/16 - 30 min Boot Camp Cardio
10/17 - NOTHING! so bad
10/18 - W6D3 of C25K
10/19 - elliptical and strength training
10/20 - W7D1 of C25K
10/21 - elliptical and strength training

I also realized something yesterday. I need a smaller pair of jeans. I was able to take off my jeans while they were still buttoned and zipped. This is a huge deal for me. Since I am not weighing myself this month, and because I am my own worst critic, I have not really noticed if I have lost any weight. I know that I am stronger and have greater endurance and I have started to change my mental outlook on working out, but I have not really been able to tell if I have lost weight. Well, I guess I have since I need new jeans. But I will be waiting a while before I do that. Good to know though.

Bad Hair Day!

OMG. I am having such a bad hair day. I must admit I have not had many since reading the Curly Nikki blog. I mean my hair is nowhere near as fabulous as hers, and there are good days and OK days. But it has been a while since I have had a bad hair day. I wish I could just stay in the house and worry about it tomorrow. So what did I do to try to help this situation...Pulled my hair into a high pony puff and keep it moving.

What is sad is this is how I used to wear my hair all the time. I mean every day. I knew it was bad then and I felt like i was having a bad hair day everyday for like a year.

Hopefully I will have a better day tomorrow. But it is funny how your hair can ruin your entire day.

Recipe of the Week

This is my first week of "Make a New Recipe a Week". Today I made Evelyn's Favorite Pasta. I got it from here. Apparently it is a take on a recipe from the Cheesecake Factory. I have never had it there, but this recipe is very good. And on top of that it is healthy. The real test is whether or not the Hubs likes it. He is not that picky so if I like it he should. And the verdict is...YES! Now the quest to look for the recipe for next week.

Rocktober Challenge - Week 2

Week 2 of the Rocktober Challenge is done and I am on to week 3. I will admit it is getting hard. I am trying to mix up the workout so I am not doing the same thing all the time. And the weather is getting cold fast so just doing outdoor activities that could count as 30 minutes of physical activity is not happening. So here is what I did for week 2:

10/8 - w6d1 of C25K
10/9 - total body resistance band exercises and abs - 1 hour
10/10 - w6d2 of C25K and arms
10/11 - elliptical for 30 min. and legs
10/12 - 30 min. arms
10/13 - walked the US Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center - 1 hour
10/14 - repeated w6d2 of C25K. I did so much better this time

So that is what I have done. I am really trying to do this every day. It will be a huge accomplishment for me to have done all 31 days at the end of the month. I know the Hubs is proud of me and that make me want to keep going. I am proud of myself too and I do not want to let myself down.

Going Green: Laundry Detergent

As I have to replace my traditional products I am buying "green" ones. I personally think it is a waste to throw all the old stuff away and I have been using it my whole life so using it for a little longer is not going to have any more detrimental of an effect on my health than it already has. So I am getting "green" laundry detergent. In fact, I am going to start to make my own. I am a chemist at heart, so this is right up my alley...and it is like 10x cheaper than the free and sensitive products i was buying before.

There are several recipes for DIY detergents here. I was going to do the powdered detergent...easier, but the Hubs says he would rather have liquid so I will give it a try.

The recipe I am going to use is:

• 1 quart water (boiling)


• 2 cups of bar soap (grated) I am going to use Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Organic Bar Soap


• 2 cups Borax (found in the laundry aisle)


• 2 cups Washing Soda (found in the laundry aisle)

Very basic and if I don't like the results, I haven't wasted much money. And there are several recipes so I will just try another...maybe powder.

I will show my results when I have them.

Can you force yourself to enjoy something? I really don't know. I have been trying to force myself to enjoy working out and I have been working out every day this October as part of the Rocktober Challenge. But, I must admit I still do not LIKE working out. I am hoping at the end of the month I will see big changes in the way my clothes fit and this will give me more motivation. I am not going to lie, I want to see the changes on the scale too.

Another thing that I do not enjoy is cooking. I do not understand this. I come from a family that cooks, my mom caters, my grandmother bakes cakes that people fight over. But still, I do not like cooking. So I have decided that I am going to make myself do it. I am going to pick a recipe from one of the several cookbooks we have in or house and once a week I am going to make that recipe. Once a week may not sound like a lot, but this is going to be a challenge for me. Because if I don't enjoy something I just chose to not do it. Ask my husband. He always asks "What did you make for dinner tonight?" Um, nothing. I know I am a bad wife. Trust me I do feel bad, but still. So I am going to move my way over to the cabinet with the cookbooks and pick one. Keep you posted.

Rocktober Challenge - Week 1

Week 1 of the Rocktober Challenge is done. Woo hoo! I did 30+ minutes of physical activity every day. That is not something I ever thought I would say. I used to say, how do those people go to the gym 6-7 times a week. All I can do is 3. Well obviously that is not true. I went to the gym 6 of the 7 days and every day I did over the 30 minutes. It was very hard for me to get my activity time in on day 7. I worked some unexpected overtime and because of that I did not get to go to the gym. But I found a way to get in so physical activity and I am very proud of myself. I was doing leg lifts and heel touchers in my chair at work and I walked for about 15 minutes earlier in the day and broke a sweat.

So here is the breakdown:
10/1 - walked Annapolis Mall 2x (broke a sweat)
10/2 - elliptical, strength training, and abs
10/3 - on the dance floor til 2am and w5d2 of c25k program (2x in one day, WHAT?!)
10/4 - 30 min. elliptical and 10 min. treadmill
10/5 - w5d3 of c25k program
10/6 - elliptical, strength training, and abs
10/7 - 15 minute walk, leg exercises in the chair

I will admit, getting in the 30+ minutes a day is not easy. But it is great having others to be accountable to. If I have learned anything this week it is that I am stronger than I think I am and I need group support. So now I am on to week 2.

Rocktober Challenge!

So one of the girls on TN started the Rocktober Challenge and in my quest to be healthier I decided to join. So I am dedicating myself to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day in October. It is already day 3 and I have been doing it. This is more than just taking the steps to the office or parking in the back of the parking lot. This is actual physical activity.

Day 1 - Week 5 Day 1 of C25K

Day 2 - 10 min warmup on elliptical and strength training

Day 3 - dancing in the club (hey, I was sweating so it's working out)

I think about 25 people are doing this challenge, so we have each other to hold each person accountable. I think I have been needing this. I usually do all my working out alone, which can get boring and I don't think I push myself as much.

So I will be keeping a log of my daily activity and remember, I am also Scale free October. So I am hoping that at the end of the month when I finally step on the scale I will be pleasantly surprised. We shall see.

Weight Loss Update

I have been working out and trying to eat right. I am on week 5 of the couch to 5k program. I have also started strength training. That is going to be the hardest part for me. I hate lifting weights, but I am going to make myself stick to it. I have also decided that I am going to start Weight Watchers. The Best Life Diet just was not working for me. It says that there are some things that you cannot have in your diet, and I just don't believe that. Everything in moderation...isn't that what they say. So I ordered the WW guide and calculator off of Ebay. Yes, I am too cheap to actually join the program, plus I do not think I need the group support. Not for that anyway. I have already started my daily food log while I am waiting for my items to arrive. This actually helps me watch what I eat. And "they" also say that keeping a log is good for you. Maybe I should start listening to "them".

I have also decided that I am not going to weigh myself at all in October. This is going to be hard for me. I weigh myself all the time. I never like what it reads, but I do it all the time. All it does is go up and down and it is frustrating. I think it is detrimental to my goals. So no weighing myself in October. I will see if this helps me lose weight. I will see.

Going Green: Buying Organic for the Budget Conscious

I am the type of person who buys organic without thinking of the price. I know, bad, bad. But right now it is just me and the hubs so we do that. It most likely will not be that way forever and I will have to put myself on a shopping budget. I still want to buy organic, but what if it does not fit into my budget? Well, there are some things that you should buy organic (whether you are trying to go green or not) and there are some that it does not make that big of a difference. So when should you make the investment to go organic.

The Environmental Working Group scored food pesticides levels on a variety of produce from 1 to 100 (1 being the lowest). These pesticides can cause a variety of health problems including risks of cancers and hormone imbalances.

These fruits and vegetables have higher rankings due to pesticide use or absorption:

The Worst (you definitely need to buy these organic)

• peaches


• apples


• bell peppers


• celery


• nectarines


• strawberries


• cherries


• kale


• lettuce


• grapes (imported)


• carrots


• pears

The Cleanest (save the money if you cannot afford it)

• onions


• avocados


• sweet corn


• pineapples


• mangoes


• asparagus


• sweet peas


• kiwi


• cabbage


• eggplant


• papaya


• watermelon


• broccoli


• tomatoes


• sweet potatoes

Check out the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides here. Happy and Healthy shopping.

Going Green

The Thornton household is going green. This can be extremely overwhelming, but we are going to take baby steps. There are already some green things we did in the household, some intentionally and some not. We use some eco-friendly cleaning products. I use EF hair products, but that was more for my hair than the environment, so its a two for one. So as we use up our products, we will be replacing them with EF ones. We will be changing the soap we use, the food we eat and where we get it, and many other things. So we will be going to farmers markets and trying to buy local and organic, etc. I somehow convinced Eddie to be on board with this, which is good. So I have been reading so much info and some things I just cannot do. But we will see. I will be updating my progress.

Punctuality

I always wondered how very punctual people ended up married to people who are notoriously late. I first observed this in my parents. Why dad is one of those people that believes if you are 15 minutes early (sometimes 30) you are on time, if you are on time you are late. Every year my as a Christmas gift my dad get tickets for our family to go see a play on New Year's Eve. So every New Year's Eve me, my mom, dad, grandmother, one of my cousins, and one of my aunt's goes to see a play. I love it. But anyway, every year my dad is in the car waiting for my mom, blowing the horn getting frustrated, and every year my mom is moving at her own pace. This is their routine when they go places together. And they have been married for 30 years, so I guess it is not a deal breaker.

Well I have inherited the punctuality gene (I don't think this really exists) from my father. While I usually don't get places early, I am always on time. The Hubs on the other hand. I don't even think he attempts to be on time. How he ended up in a profession where punctuality is key I will never know. To try not to frustrate myself whatever time he tells me he is going to be somewhere I usually add 1/2 an hour. But obviously this is not enough time either. I don't know why it frustrates me so much. I mean, I know he is not going to be on time so I don't see why if I give him that 1/2 hour buffer and he doesn't get there for 45 min. I am upset, but I am. Then he complains about his best friend who is also notoriously late. I know he is worse than him, but how do you complain when someone does the same thing as you?

I just don't understand why he can't be somewhere at the time he says he will be. Is it really that hard?

Bucket List

I have been thinking about things that I want to do in my life before I leave this earth. Everyone is telling me I should do x,y, and z before I have kids. I don't see how I am going to get any of this done before that, but maybe if I plan right and stay healthy I can do some of these things in retirement and hopefully be young enough to enjoy it.

1. Go to the 4 tennis Grand Slams (Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US)
2. Run a 5K and then a 10K
3. Look better at 30 than I did at 20 and then better at 40 than I do at 30
4. Come up with one fabulous gift that will really surprise my husband (and not care about the price)
5. Get back into swimming
6. Figure out a way to grow bra strap length hair
7. Start my own business
   

Hopefully I will add to this list and start checking some things off.

Changing the face of the blog

I have changed the look of my blog. I will probably do this often. If I could change the paint colors and decor of my house this often I would. I get bored with the same decoration easily. Changing my blog makes me think of how bad I want to redecorate my home. I have wanted to change my the color of my living room since....well since it was painted. I think I just want a richer color. Obviously there are some things that I cannot change (lack of finances). So, I have chocolate furniture. So whatever I do must coordinate with that. I do have accessories in my living room, a painting, vases, not so much that it couldn't change though. I just want something different. I also want to repaint my bedroom. Also a color I have wanted to change for a while. I think most of the problem is I let the hubs pick the colors, so it was never what I wanted. Why, oh why did I do that? Then we also need to paint our guest bedroom. I think we are going to do something in the green family. That way if we have a child (cannot believe I am even thinking about this), the color could apply for a babies room. Never would have thought that changing the color of my blog would lead to so many thoughts.

Obama's School Speech

Today President Obama is giving a speech for school age children. This speech is supposed to inspire children to stay in school, do well, and stress the importance of school. Think this is a great idea, you know, the first Black president explaining to children that you can accomplish anything if you work hard and do well? NOOOOO! This is the biggest controversy since his health care plan. So what is the issue. Some parents and law makers are afraid Obama is trying to push his political agenda. Yes, push his political agenda on kids that cannot even vote. Yes, because they are going to go home and tell their parents..... I cannot even finish that statement because I don't know what negative impact this speech could possibly have on children. Many of them may not even listen, but for the ones that do I don't think it would be anything but inspirational.

There was this woman on the news last night crying about the effect this speech would have on her child if they were forced to listen to it by the school district. She said she would have to keep her kid out of school to avoid it. And there are district that are refusing to play his speech in school. I will not even get into how this is public school and really in my opinion they should not have a say or send your child to private school. So what do you think it is? Is it ignorance, is it racism, is it complete lunacy? I really do not know. I just hope that after the speech is made and the true contents of the speech are out for the public that these naysayers will admit that they were wrong and maybe even decide to show the speech later. But they will never admit they were wrong. God forbid Obama actually have something inspirational to say that could really affect the way children look at school. God forbid this is positive for our nation. I know if I had a child they would definitely be watching this speech. I would probably record it so they could watch it at the beginning of each school year. Just to see a black man make it to president is inspiring to me. Makes me feel like I could achieve anything and I am in my 20's. What kind of impact could that have on a child?!

Read the speech here.

From the Couch to a 5K

So....I am trying to lose weight and get fit. So my friend on the ND told me about this program "from the couch to a 5K" and I am doing it. I started on week 4 of the program since week 1-3 were more walking than running and I had already been running. Well, it was hard. So I did week 4 for 2 weeks. So 3x a week this was my routine.

Walk for 5 min
Jog 1/4 mile (3 min) - that means going at 6.0 on the treadmill, which for me is running

Walk 1/8 mile (90 sec) - i think this is at 4.0 on treadmill
Jog 1/2 mile (5 min)
Walk 1/4 mile (2.5 min)
Jog 1/4 mile (3 min)
Walk 1/8 mile
Jog 1/2 mile

You can run for time or distance. I do for distance. In the beginning I can do the jog at 6.0 but then the further I go the slower I get. So I did that for 2 weeks.

This week I am starting week 5.

3x a week

walk for 5 min
Jog 1/2 mile
Walk 1/4 mile
Jog 1/2 mile
Walk 1/4 mile
Jog 1/2 mile

I will let you know how I do. Might be another 2 week program.

When I complete the program I plan on finding a 5K in my area and running in it. So that is my plan. Now if I could just get myself to do the strength training portion consistently.

i wish...

i wish i was not an adult sometimes. that i did not have to worry about getting the bills paid, saving for the future, etc.

i wish i did not have to think about what was for dinner.

i wish i had enough money to not have to think about it. not rich (though that would be nice) but enough to do what i want.

i wish i had a job that i loved. something that i would want to do no matter what the pay was.

i wish i had the energy i did when i was in college.

i wish i could lose 20 pounds without doing anything.

Cassia Treatment

I have heard so many natural hair folks talking about henna and cassia treatments for their hair. So finally, I decided to do a cassia treatment. Cassia makes your hair stronger, healthier, shinier, and it is the best conditioner on earth. (If you want to learn more about henna or cassia go to http://www.hennaforhair.com/, it is not just for black people haha).

So my cassia recipe consisted of 150g of cassia, honey, castor oil, jojoba oil, and enough filtered water to give it a yogurt consistency.



I know the color looks funky, but it is worth it. And it is completely natural, no chemicals. Which is important to me.

Then i smooshed it all in my hair and covered it with a plastic cap. I left it in my hair for about an hour and a half.





I used about half a bottle of cheap conditioner to wash it out. Washed, conditioned, and detangled my hair as usual.



So the results...my hair has never felt so soft. Also, my usual no shine hair actually has some. I love this stuff. I will definitely be using it again. And I will unleash the inner mixtress in me and come up with different recipes. My goal is to increase the shine in my hair. If I can accomplish that I will be ecstatic.

Unfortunately, because of my crazy work schedule last week I did nothing to my hair so I have no pics just yet of the wonderful results. But when I get some I will update.

Weight Loss

So it has been 2 weeks since I have started my weight loss plan.

How have I done??? OK I guess. I definitely have been working out more and I think I am starting to notice a difference. My endurance has definitely improved.

I have been reviewing the goals for Phase I of my plan:
I have not weighed myself since the initial weigh in. That is hard for me, but I am sticking to it.
Increase activity level - doing
Stop eating at least 2 hours before sleep - doing 99% of time
Eat 3 meals and 2 snacks - doing
Drink more water - trying to do, but makes me have to go to the bathroom to frequently
Eliminate alcohol - AHR and AC trip are done. I will start the no alcohol now
Take daily supplements - still have not started doing this, need to

Working out is still very hard for me. Even though I can see some progress it is still a battle. It is so frustrating. I see these people who love going to the gym. Why can't I be one of these people. I tried doing this workout program P90X, but I am not in good enough shape to do it as you are supposed to. I do try to incorporate the program into the workout. I would love to take some dancing lessons. I think this is a workout I would love. Like salsa. But because I work nights that might be a little hard, but I am going to try to see what I can find.

At least 2 more weeks of Phase I so let's see how I do.

Getting in Shape

Being in shape has been a constant battle for me my entire life. I was a big kid and lost weight in my teens, but starting my senior year of college I started putting on weight. So I am trying to set a goal to lose 20 pounds. The problem...I hate working out. I have not found a workout that I will stick with for life or something that I enjoy doing. Every time I go to the gym it is a battle. The entire time leading up to it all I think about is how I do not want to do it. When I get there it is not that bad, but that constant battle is frustrating and I think it is why it is never long lasting.

One of the plans I tried before was the Best Life Diet. It is a plan by the guy who works with Oprah. I tried this a while ago but like everything else I eventually quit. So I am going to try again. It isn't really a diet, but a life change. You know, eating better and working out more. My eating habits are pretty good, but it is the working out where I really need help. Also I probably do not eat enough calories in a day. So while I am eating healthy foods, I am not eating enough. I have to work on that too.

So here are the Phase I objectives:
Duration: a minimum of 4 weeks
You weigh in once at the beginning and not again for 4 weeks (that is gonna be hard for me)

Increase activity level
Stop eating at least 2 hours before sleep
Eat 3 meals and 2 snacks (you have to eat breakfast, which I do everyday)
Drink more water
Eliminate alcohol (I will start this part in 2 weeks after my AHR and my trip to AC)
Take daily supplements (I have never been good at this, but I will try)
(I love in this phase that you do not have to change what you eat just yet, but I am going to try to eat as healthy as possible)

So this is my plan for the next 4 weeks. I am going to start including more strength training in my workouts and I can do that in the house. And I will go to the gym more. I think I am going to try to find we some classes to take to (break up the monotony). I also have my 2 fitness buddies that will keep me on track.

I am going to to this! I will have to keep repeating it to myself. Wish me luck.

Why don't black people know how to have fun?

Ok...I guess I should say some, not all.

So last night, the hubs and I (that was for Heather in case she reads this) went to our favorite local restaurant, Stonefish Grill, for what they call Karaoke night. So we are there, eating some food, and having some drinks waiting for some fun and entertainment. So once it gets started who gets up to perform....only people trying to get their record deal. That's right. I thought karaoke was supposed to be people who can't really sing gettin up there and doin the damn thang on their favorite song. (That was my plan anyway.) I was gonna get up there and sing me some MJ "Man in the Mirror" and rock it out. But I was not going to be the only person making a fool of myself. If I was going up there it was going to be expected that I could sing, which to make clear I definitely cannot.

So what did the night end up being? The same 4 or 5 people singing ballads hoping that there was some music exec in the audience. Really? Really? I was so pissed, but Eddie said something that really stuck with me. He said that black people only like to have fun at the expense of others not themselves. I mean I guess he is the same way. He would never get up there and do karaoke, but he would definitely sit back and laugh at someone else.

So I ask, why don't black people know how to have fun? All my life I was accused of being white and only hanging out with white people and blah blah blah, ignorance ignorance ignorance. But that is not it at all. And all of my friends are not white. I just like to have fun. I like to live life to the fullest and laugh, whether it be at myself or others. So I just hang out with people that have the same outlook as I do. So if I would have gone out last night and my friends would have been in the crowd, we would have gotten up there and made a fool of ourselves and had the best time ever. But I was not going to be the only one up there not looking for a record deal. So that will probably be the last time I go to the Stonefish Grill talent show with these bougie black people that don't know how to have fun.

Why ask why???

Is there a benefit of asking questions when you will never get an answer? I have been asking myself why did this happen to us. We haven't even been married for 2 months. Why such a big trial in our marriage so early? Then I ask myself, why was he so lucky? I mean trust me I am so grateful. I thank God everyday that he was lucky, that angels were with him, but why was he lucky or blessed when others aren't? He is the first person on this department to be shot and live. When I type that it is really like...WOW! No one has survived before on this department. Seeing the photos of his truck I think of how the end result could have been so different. I try not to think about that, but it is hard. Especially when you have to hear the story over and over and when I change his bandages and see that an inch this way or that way and who knows. Why can't I just be ecstatic that he will make a full recovery and be fine? Why do I have to ask why???

Updates

So yesterday we got to go see the hubs vehicle. I thought it was a miracle that he was not more seriously hurt before, but after seeing his car I know that angels were truly watching over him. It was very disturbing to see. I am so glad he is going to be ok and a full recovery is expected. Tomorrow we go for his first follow up appointment to see how everything is going.

Eddie says that after going through this experience he knows that we can get through anything. And I know he is right. You know when you are getting married and saying your wedding vows sometimes it feels like it is just words. You may not have really thought about what it really means. Or you may think we have years before we will be faced with x/y/z. But here we are, married a little over 1 month and we have already been through "in sickness and in health". Definitely not how or when I thought it would be, but here we are. And you know what, I know I can deal with it. Where I thought I was weak or would become a basketcase, I realize that I am strong. I am just glad to have my baby home and ok. Now let's see how I feel when I have to go back to work. I will feel like a mom having to go back after having a baby...ok, maybe not that bad, but my version of it.

Happy Birthday Hubs!

Today is the Hubs' birthday! We are supposed to be at the John Legend concert celebrating, but we are not. Today we are just celebrating the fact that he is alive. Yesterday I got a phone call that no wife ever wants to get. As I think about that phone call it gives me chills. I can hear the Hubs' voice in a state of panic and feeling helpless that I was not there. What caused this state of panic? The Hubs calling to tell me that he was in an ambulance and had been shot. Now as the wife of a police officer you know that there is always a possibility that you will get this call, but you never really think that it is going to happen. I definitely was not thinking that it was going to happen since he was not at work. I remember praying the entire way to the hospital that he would be ok. I was just praying "Dear God, whatever you do, please just let him live." I could think of nothing else. I could not even remember how to get to a hospital that I passed everyday for 4 years while in high school. All I could do was pray.

Well, God answered my prayers. And the Hubs is here to celebrate his 31st birthday. And even though most of the day was spent in the hospital and now he is sleeping, finally, it is the best birthday ever because he is alive. He is able to move all his fingers and all his toes and he is going to be ok. What better gift could a person possibly get. Hundreds of prayers were answered. I haven't even gotten a chance to give him his gift and he did not open his cards, but you know, none of it is important. I now know what is. The fact that I can look into his eyes and he can look into mine is all that I need.

So while this is not how either of us planned on spending his birthday, we are both just happy that we still have this day to spend together. God has a way of showing you what is really important...LIFE!!!

So to the most wonderful husband in the world. I love you more than you will ever know. Happy Birthday Baby! From~ Your Sunshine

PS Thank you to everyone for you thoughts, prayers, and phone calls. They mean so much to the both of us.

What's for dinner???

I am trying to be a better cook...and cook more frequently. It is very hard to cook for the hubs. If he would tell me what he wanted to eat for dinner every night, I would find a recipe and cook it. But noooo....he wants me to come up with something different for him to eat. This is something I have never been good at. I will just eat a bowl of cereal.

So to in my attempts to change this, I watch a lot of the Food Network. No I am not trying to be a world class chef, but they have recipes for all skill levels. So tonight, I made Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad. You can find the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/grilled-eggplant-and-goat-cheese-salad-recipe/index.html

So we will see how the hubs like it. If he does, it is very easy to make and I would definitely do it again. If not, I tasted it and like it so I will make it for myself. Will keep you posted.

Happy Birthday Tony!

Today is my baby brother's birthday. Anyone who knows me knows that my brother is like my favoritest person in the world. Yes, I know I am married and I love the hubs dearly, but the bond I have with my brother is very special. In the 23 years of his life, he have never had a real fight. Don't get me wrong through the years he has gotten on my nerves and I know I have gotten on his, but no fights. Even in our adult age we still act like little kids when we are around each other. We do all the things we did when we were kids; we wrestle, and tease, and act as stupid as we possibly can.

This makes we think about relationships between all siblings. I know people that cannot stand their siblings. This always makes me sad. I could not imagine not being crazy about my brother. I can't think of anything that would make me not talk to him. And everyday I thank God that we have the relationship we have. I remember when we were young and my mom would tell people about how we get along, they would always say that we were weird. But why are we the ones that are weird. Why isn't it normal to have a wonderful relationship with your siblings. I know my mom gets along with hers. She talks to one of her sisters everyday, probably more than once. Don't people want to have this kind of relationship with their family?

So anyway, to my brother Tony, Happy 23rd Birthday! Have a Wonderful Day! Be Safe. From your favoritest person in the world. Your Big Sis.

My Favorite Things Edition 1

Soooo.... I am no Oprah or anything, but to let you get to know me a little I thought I would let you all in blog world know some of my favorite things of 2009. Here is my list.

Favorite

1. Summer Accessory - Cole Haan Genevieve Small Triangle bag





This was a gift from the Hubs. He gave it to me in the winter and i had been waiting to pull it out. Now I carry it everywhere and in my eyes it goes with everything. I took it everywhere on our wedding and honeymoon. I love it and I love him for buying it.



2. Electronic - Amazon Kindle 2





This was my wedding gift from my parents. I love to read. That is a lie, I am obsessed with it. I think I have already read over 10 books this Summer alone and it is only July. I mean this gadget isn't perfect; there are some things I can think of to improve it. But to have a portable and you can really read anywhere. I know it is the nerd in me that loves this, but to be able to travel and throw this device in my fav summer accessory and keep going.



3. Favorite Books - Temperance Brennan Series



From my fav above, I love reading. Beyond that I love reading a series. My Summer series of 2009 has been the Temperance Brennan novels by Kathy Reichs. She does the character Bones on Fox, but even though the character has the same name it is not the same. Anywho, because of my love of forensics, I am obsessed with these books. I probably read one every 3 days. I am almost done the series and hope there are more to follow.


4. Favorite Hair product - Shea butter





I have natural hair (no relaxer). Some of you may not understand that, but in the black community it is a big thing. For some it defines you. It is not always accepted in the corporate world and you always get looks and stares from people who either love that you are natural or hate it. I try not to get into all of that. But, I have been natural since 2003. It is kinda sad, but I have just started to really pay attention to my hair and try to make it as healthy as possible. So in my search for healthy hair I have found Pure, Unrefined Shea Butter. It is the best. I make so many concoctions with it and my hair loves it. I use it every day in something.

RIP MJ

So today Michael Jackson was laid to rest. Despite people views of him no one can take away the impact he had on millions of people across the world. No matter how you feel you have to admit that was one of the best memorials for a person. Everyone will remember where they were and what they were doing the day MJ died. His music will live on forever. So to the man...the legend...RIP...finally.

August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009

Gone too Soon.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! This is definitely not something that I ever thought i would do. I am normally a very private person. But here I am, really loving my life, and wanting to remember these moments. I am not really a picture taker so here is my way of capturing the moments. So when I am old hopefully I will have this to look back on. I don't know how often I will post, or what I will post about, but here it goes. And so the journey begins....