...And so the journey begins

#27 and #28: Read Books

2011-12-02T17:29:00.008-05:00

I have not updated my 101 in 1001 in a while. But that does not mean that I haven't been doing anything. I HAVE been reading. And I love getting suggestions from people on a book to read in a genre I have never read before and absolutely loving that book. This has happened to me recently. I know want to read more...Historical Fiction. Didn't even know this was a type of book. Crazy I know.

Anywho, here is what I have been reading lately.

In September, an online book club I am in decided to read a book related to September 11 given that is was the 10 year anniversary. 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers was selected.

The story was written from the perspective of people inside the towers. This account was taken from survivors, 911 calls, cell phone calls to loved ones. While this was not the best book ever written, I am really glad I read it. It was definitely hard to get through and very sad, but well worth it.

After reading this I needed something light. Well, light for me anyway. So I read the latest from one of my go to authors Kathy Reichs, Temperance Brennan novels. Flash and Bones is the 14th book in the series. It was not my favorite, but was an easy read. It was also sans the love interest that I like so that was a bit of a let down. However, I know I will read the next book when it comes out.

Then I went on to another favorite, the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. Live Wire is book #10. I know I have mentioned before that I love a series. A lot from past books is tied together here. I think there is going to be a spin-off or there may already be one. It was ok, but I think sometimes people lose their edge in a book series.

Off of recommendations from some internet friends I read the next two books. I thoroughly enjoyed each.

Still Alice is the story of a Harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. This story was so engulfing. I could not put it down. I was reading this book long after I should have gone to bed for the night. There were some touching moments in this book. You couldn't help but relate it to your own life.

Next I read Empress Orchid. I loved this book. This is the historical fiction I mentioned before and as much as I am not a history fan, I loved this. It is a wonderful story of one of the minor concubines of the Emperor of China. If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, you will like this as well. I cannot wait to read another book in this genre.

So since September I have read 5 books. I have a long list of others I cannot wait to get through. Thank God for the library.

#27: Read 50 Non-Crime Books

2011-08-29T19:02:00.004-04:00

With Death as a narrator, this book was wonderful, dark, and moving. Set in Germany during the Nazi regime, The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel a nine-year-old girl during the time. You follow her as she lives and steals. It really was a great book.

#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

2011-06-17T17:53:00.002-04:00

Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mom by Amy Chua

I first heard of this book on a message board I frequent. There was an article in the New York Times (I think?) comparing Chinese mothers to Western (American) mothers and child rearing. I have no children, but the Hubs and I often discuss how we would raise our hypothetical children. You know how it is. You see a child doing something you would never let your child do or watching/listening to something you would never let child. Yep, we are those people.

The Hubs and I are also have a lot of criticisms of how we see children raised today. The "everyone gets a trophy" mentality makes me want to puke. The sense of entitlement. Well, despite how I think I would be with my kids, I am no Amy Chua. To quote a friend, "that woman is a beast." It all starts on the first page as she lists the things that her daughters could not do.

I will admit I got some pointers and I saw some sides of crazy I don't think I would want to venture to. But it was a good read.

#23: Take an activity class not related to Grad School

2011-05-24T07:14:00.000-04:00

The Hubs and I needed to restart Date Night. When you are married, you can get into a routine and sometimes you need to remind yourself that a good marriage takes a little effort. So I was on a quest to find something fun for us to do. I mean, I love going to dinner, but I wanted something a little different.

What did I find...A couples cooking class.

We went to Culinaire and had so much fun. It was a seafood class and we got to make 3 different seafood dishes that we had never had before AND we did it together. We both had a great time and we got to take the recipes home.

Chilled Thai Crab Salad in Endive

Seafood Stew with Garlic Toast

Salmon En Papillotte with Creamed Leeks and Couscous

Vegetarian Chili in the Crockpot

2011-05-23T06:36:00.002-04:00

The Hubs and I are trying to get fit. We did a "diet" called the Fat Smash Diet. I discussed it on my other blog. Part of it lead to us eating a lot of beans. And I mean a lot. Well, I got tired of lima beans and was trying to find something different. So I went on the search for a vegetarian chili recipe in the crock pot.

I wanted the recipe to be as healthy as possible and made from dried beans. I was surprised that it was hard to find a recipe that was made from dried beans and not canned. After searching and searching, I found 2 recipes that I modified to come up with my recipe. I am sorry, but I do not remember where I got these recipes.

Vegetarian Chili in the Crock pot

Ingredients

~ 1.5 cups pinto beans (dried)
~ 1 cup kidney beans (dried)
~ 1/2 - 1 cup kidney beans (dried)
32. oz vegetable broth
water
28 oz. crushed or diced tomatoes
7 oz. can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
red/yellow/orange pepper (diced)
1/2 - 1 onion
2 - 3 carrots
4 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz. frozen sweet corn
salt (as desired)
shredded cheese, sour cream, chives to garnish (if desired)

Directions:

Rinse dried beans thoroughly.
Place beans in a container. Completely cover with water and soak beans overnight (at least 8 hours).
Rinse beans until water runs clear.
Place beans in crock pot.
Put 32 oz. of vegetable broth on beans. If beans are not completely covered with liquid, add water until they are. Add salt if desired.
Cook on high for 3 hours.
Meanwhile, chop onions, carrots, and peppers and set aside.
After 3 hours, add diced tomatoes and all diced veggies.
Add liquid from can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Depending on desired hotness and chipotle peppers. (I like mine rather mild so I only add 1 pepper. If you like yours really hot, I recommend blending the entire can into a puree and then adding to crock pot.)
Add salt if desired.
Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Until beans are soft.
When almost done (last hour), add frozen carrots.
Season to taste with salt.

Verdict: The Hubs and I love this recipe. You can eat it alone or put it over brown rice. It is very yummy. I made this when we were doing the Fat Smash Diet and we were on a limited diet. I also use all organic ingredients from the beans to the veggies. I usually cook this overnight. About 3 hours before I go to bed, I will start the beans. Right before bed I will add the rest of the ingredients. The Hubs gets up for work about an hour before me and he will add the corn. When I get up I turn the crock pot off and the meals is done. This will last us an entire week. Delicious. And this recipe is easily customizable. You can add whatever veggies you like. You can add potatoes. You can do whatever you want.

28: Read 100 Books

2011-05-13T18:26:00.005-04:00

I have read 2 books in the past month. Both crime related. I seem to fly through this type of book. Even when I am exhausted I keep reading.

First I read Chosen to Die. This was given to be by a co-worker when I was still reading The Count of Monte Cristo. When I fiiinally finished that book I hoped right on to this one. This is what I consider my light reading. Ha ha.

The day I finished this book I jumped right in to Patricia Conwell's Port Mortuary. It is the 18th book in the Kay Scarpetta series. I absolutely love a series. I think I have mentioned that before.

Oh. And can I say I am really loving the library. While I love my Kindle I am trying to be more money conscious. I can request the book at the library and go pick it up. Free and easy.

I love reading.

#28: Read 100 Books

2011-04-07T12:01:00.001-04:00

I debated on whether or not to classify this book as crime or non-crime. I decided to count it as crime. Really it is a classic, but definitely crime and revenge based.

I finally read The Count of Monte Cristo. I never read this in school. It was always on the list of optional/select the book. Seeing as it is a million pages and I always procrastinated I never was able to read it. I read things like "Snow Goose" or something like that because it was less than 100 pages. Well, I finally decided to tackle this book. I really liked it. It was a million pages and due to work obligations and life it took me for.ev.er to read, but I finally made it through.

It was even better because I never watched any of the movies on the book, so I really did not know what would happen. I also like that it as real literature. Language has been "dumbed down" as I have gotten older and to read a classic, literature book was...refreshing. It makes me want to read more classics.

On to my next book.

Helllooooo World

2011-04-06T16:59:00.001-04:00

Hello Blog World.

Wow. I have been away for a while. Part of that is I have been really busy. Another part is laziness. Another part, the biggest part, is that I have not completed much of my 101 in 1001.

But, at last, I have completed some tasks and every day I will be posting about what I have completed.

If you started a 101 in 1001, how are you doing with it? I know for me it is hard to stay motivated.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

2010-12-28T11:20:00.004-05:00

The Hubs and I decided that we needed to try new foods and flavors. So I suggested we try recipes from different areas of the world. We decided to start with Asia and had Asian Week. I made 2 recipes based off of that idea.

Recipe 1

Pan Seared Shrimp with Soba noodles and Broccoli

source Proceed with Caution

Ingredients:

For the Shrimp

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used EVOO)
1 1/2 pounds of shrimp (21/25 count), peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon granulated sugar

For the Sauce

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
2 teaspoons water
2 scallions, sliced thin

8-12 ounces of Soba noodles, cooked and drained

2 cups of broccoli

Directions:

Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. (Double if pairing with noodles)
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over high heat until smoking. Meanwhile, toss shrimp, salt, red pepper, and sugar together in a bowl. Add half the shrimp to pan in single layer and cook until spotty brown and edges turn pink, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat; Using tongs, flip shrimp and toss until all but very center of shrimp is opaque, about 30 seconds. Transfer shrimp to large plate. Repeat with remaining oil and shrimp. After second batch has stood off heat, return first batch to skillet along with sauce mixture and toss to combine. Cover skillet and let stand until shrimp are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add cooked soba noodles and broccoli along with remaining sauce. Toss to combine, then serve.

Verdict:

We absolutely loved this recipe. The flavor was wonderful. On top of that it was exceptionally easy to make. Plus these are ingredients we usually have in the house. Definitely getting added to the recipe rotation.

Recipe 2

Kung Pao Shrimp

source Men's Health Magazine

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
5 small dried chillies or 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (I only used 1/2 tsp., but I don't like it too hot)
6 scallions chopped, save the greens for garnish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 large red pepper, seeded and chopped
1 pound medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts. plus more chopped for garnish

Directions:

Combine soy sauce, orange juice, vinegar, cornstarch, and sugar in bowl. Set aside.
Place a wok or large pan over high heat and add oil. When oil is lightly smoking, toss in chillies, scallion whites, garlic, and ginger.
Stir-fry for 30 seconds, until fragrant, but not browned or burnt. Add bell peppers and cook for another minute, stirring constantly with spatula. Then add shrimp and peanuts, and cook until shrimp turns pink, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the sauce and cook just long enough for it to thicken and form a light sheen around shrimp and vegetables, about 30 seconds.
Serve over a scoop of brown rice, sprinkled with chopped scallion tops and peanuts.

Verdict:

Another yummy dish. This one was selected by the Hubs and we both loved it. Very easy to make and we love the flavors. Also uses ingredients we have in the house regularly. I did add some (did not measure) hoisin sauce because we like the sweeter flavor.

#27: Read 50 Non-Crime Books

2010-12-27T11:12:00.000-05:00

Room by Emma Donoghue

To 5-year-old Jack, Room is his entire world. It is all he knows. Any more than that gives the book away, but think Jaycee Dugard. This book was really good. I will admit the first 60 pages were a little hard to get through, but after that I could not put it down. It was just a little hard reading the book from the perspective of a 5-year-old. But actually that makes the book what it is. I highly recommend.

Tons of 101 in 1001 Updates

2010-12-26T10:40:00.002-05:00

Completed

22. I have completed and exceeded making 10 new recipes. And can I tell you the Hubs and I love both of these recipes and I have made them a couple of times. Blog posts on both to follow.

29. I FINISHED GRAD SCHOOL. I am so excited about this. It is really a huge accomplishment for me. And I did really well in the program. Now I just have to focus on finding a ~~job~~ career related to my field. I am working on that.

46. I (We) sent Christmas cards this year. They were made by my wonderful "sister-in-law". We have gotten so many compliments on them. You can check out her wonderful creations on her blog The Life of Me. You will not be disappointed. She is fabulous.

88. I bought a pair of boots that I love. I have been searching and searching for a pair of tall boots that could actually fit my thick legs. Well I finally found some on Shoes.com. They were not crazy expensive, but they are what I really wanted. And on top of that they were 15% off, with free shipping, AND i got a 12% rebate from MrRebates.com. I am in love.

92. I did Karaoke. My family has HUGE Christmases. The past two years our entertainment has been karaoke. I rocked out to So What by Pink with 2 of my cousins and my 2-year-old goddaughter. And yes she thinks she knows the words. It was so fun.

Working On

27. I read another non-crime related book and it was wonderful. I could not put it down. Separate post to follow.

30. I watched the documentary King Corn with the companion piece Big River. Wow. More to come on this too.

31. Now that I have finished school, I am working on learning all the countries in Africa and being able to accurately label them on a map.

And that is what I have been doing.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

2010-10-09T12:04:00.005-04:00

I made another great recipe from the food blog The Way the Cookie Crumbles. This time it was a wonderful, flavorful pasta. Honestly, I cannot go wrong with selections from this blog. If you are in need of ideas make sure you check it out.

Taco Pasta Salad (serves 8-10)
source The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Ingredients:

1 pound wagon wheel pasta (I used whole wheat bowtie pasta)
salt

1 (10-ounce) package frozen corn (organic)

1½ cups salsa (organic)

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed (organic)

2 medium tomatoes, diced

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

8 ounces (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese

3-4 tablespoons lime juice

1 large (or 2 small) avocado, peeled, seeded, and diced

1 tablespoon cumin

2 teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ cup olive oil

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta. Cook according to the package directions. Drain; stir the frozen corn into the pasta to cool the pasta and defrost the corn. Stir the salsa into the pasta and corn, then add the beans, tomatoes, cilantro, and cheese.

Squeeze the lime juice into a small bowl and add the avocado; stir to coat the avocado. Remove the avocado from the lime juice and stir it into the pasta mixture. Add the spices, garlic, and ½ teaspoon salt to the lime juice, then slowly whisk in the oil. Stir the dressing into the salad. Serve immediately or chill for up to 1 day (longer if you don’t add the avocado).

Verdict:

OMG. This was so good. I am really thankful to because I did not pay attention to how much this made. If the Hubs didn't like it, there was no way I would have been able to eat it all by myself. But that did not happen. He loved it and I did too. It was so much I was going to take some to my mom so it would not go bad. But I never got a chance. The Hubs was eating the leftovers everyday. That never happens. It was so good I have already given the recipe to 6 other people (I did not take credit for this recipe). One person already tried it and they loved it as well. You will not regret making this wonderful meal.

Bad Blogger

2010-09-22T17:37:00.002-04:00

Ok, I have seriously been a bad blogger over here. I have so much going on. I read a really great book, I have a new recipe to post from an amazing food blogger, I am in my last semester of grad school, and I am sure there are tons of things on my 101 in 1001 list I have completed or am working. But I have been so busy I have not even had a chance to look at the list.

But there will be posts coming up about the book I read and actually 2 new recipes I have tried that were yummy.

So there is more to come.

I have been blogging over on Journey to Green and if you stop by there soon you can get a discount on a wonderful, natural, aluminum-free deodorant that actually works, as well as other all natural bath and body products from the fabulous Etsy seller, Rachel of Soapwalla Kitchen. So run over there and check it out.

I will be posting here soon.

#28: Read 100 Books

2010-08-21T17:51:00.004-04:00

I have been a bad blogger. Well, for this blog anyway. I have been plugging away at my green blog and I hope you all will check it out. Journey to Green. I will try to be over here more, but with the other blog, my last semester of grad school starting Monday, trying to stick to going to the gym 3 times a week, and everything else I have going on; it might be tough.

But on to my 101 in 1001.

I have actually read 2 books. I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I really enjoyed the entire series. I am even more excited that they are making a movie. I have the Swedish version on my Netflix queue and should be getting that any day now.

I plowed through the rest of the series The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I could not wait to see how it ended. Really, this is a must read series. I just hope the movie does it justice.

Making Changes

2010-08-10T14:13:00.002-04:00

I have got to make some serious changes for my health. I too few months I will be thirty. I am not looking forward to this day at all. In fact, I am a little depressed about it, but I am trying not to think about it. I have decided that I will be even more depressed about this day if I do not start making changes to my diet and start consistently exercising. I tried the Insanity. Honestly, I am not there yet, but I will be. I want to lose 29 pounds. Really, more but I would be happy with 20. Way at the bottom of my blog is a ticker of my progress.

So basic changes, I have to watch the number of calories I am eating. I have been eating with reckless abandon and that is NOT like me. The Hubs keeps recommending that I go to a nutritionist. I am all for that, but I have to do some research. I do not want to go somewhere and they are trying to give me some pills or B-12 shots as a solution. That is not for me.

I have been going to the gym, but I know that is because I am in the midst of my little break between semesters. I am going to attempt to make a conscious effort to work out 3 times a week once school starts again. Hopefully, I will be able to fit that in. When I worked different hours I would go to the gym all the time. But since I changed my hours it has decreased and decreased. I have to change that.

I also need to find some variety in my meal plans. Frankly, I am getting bored. And when that happens, I start eating crap.

And basically those are the keys to getting in shape anyway. Work out more and eat less. So that is what I gotta do.

I just need to get motivated. And that is my biggest issue. I already know that more than one day a week I cannot get up at 3:30 and work out with co-workers, but I will do it once a week. I want to work out with the Hubs, but he likes to go too late. So I just have to convince myself to go alone. As Nike says, Just do it. And I will. I have to.

#89: Legg Mason Tennis Classic

2010-08-06T20:50:00.009-04:00

This week the Hubs and I went to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic (LMTC). For those of you that don't know I am a HUGE tennis fan. Let's say that again, HUGE. And this was my first time ever seeing tennis live. We got tickets for Monday night not knowing who was going to play that day. We got to see James Blake practice and play, unfortunately he lost. And we got to see Fernando Verdasco. Ok, can I say damn good looking by the way. That was the highlight of Monday though. The other single's players we saw I was not familiar with. We did get to see a doubles match with Baghdatis and Wawrinka, but I am not a doubles tennis follower.

Highlights of Day 1

The real highlight of Day 1. While watching James Blake practice, he hit a pop ball into the stands. And I got it. How did that happen? Well, it was coming straight for my head.

Me: OMG. This ball is going to hit me in my head and all these people are going to see. (this is what I was thinking)

I put up my hand and just try to block my face. The ball hits my hand and bounces on the ground in front of me. I grab it and put it in my purse.

The Hubs: You should have caught that.

Yep, that what I got from the Hubs. Um. All I was thinking about was not being bashed in the head by an out of control tennis ball.

Anyway, we had SO much fun that day AND the announcer kept talking about who was playing the next, that we decided to buy tickets right then for the next day. Woo hoo.

So, on Day 2 of my LMTC experience I got to see Andy Roddick, John Isner (who I think I have a crush on), and the Bryan brothers who were not playing that day, but received an award for being the winningest doubles tennis team in the whole history of tennis. Ok, seriously, I was like a kid in a candy store.

Ok. I have to explain my crush on John Isner, and yes this started before his marathon match at Wimbledon. So anyway, he is like 6 feet forever and I have a thing for tall guys, but on top of that he does this thing before he serves where he bounces the tennis ball through his legs like it is a basketball. And I don't know why but I love it. It is something like this.

Can you even see that? Well, anyway that is the extent of my crush. Besides, he is a baby.

Okay, so I got to fulfill a dream that I have had forever and the Hubs who is not a tennis fan at all enjoyed himself. He said it was better to see live than on tv. Whatever, it is great no matter what.

And we decided that next year we are getting tickets again. And now I want to see more professional tennis. I think I am more hooked now than I was before. Yes, a monster has been created.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

2010-08-03T07:40:00.003-04:00

Marinated Pan-Fried Salmon

source Jenn Cuisine

I think this is the first recipe I have made from Jenn Cuisine. I love her blog, but sometimes her recipes seem a little out of my league. But, I kept looking at this recipe for weeks and finally decided to try it.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup tamari soy sauce
1/4 cup sweet chile sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons minced chives
2 salmon fillets
2 tablespoons canola oil (I used extra virgin olive oil)

Directions:

In a bowl whisk together the marinade ingredients, then pour into a sealable plastic bag. Add salmon fillets to bag. Squeeze out all air and seal the bag. Push the marinade around to cover both fillets.

Let marinate for 20 minutes.

Heat skillet on medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil to pan. Cook fillets a couple of minutes on each side, until done to your satisfaction. (I like mine cooked all the way through, some like a little pink in the middle). The marinade will caramelize will cooking.

Serve on top of a bed of lettuce, or accompany with your favorite veggies.

Verdict: This was delicious. I don't cook with sesame that often, so when the Hubs walked in the door and smelled the marinade he says what is that weird smell? I was thinking, great. Waste of my time. But, it wasn't. We both loved this recipe. In fact, I am making this again tonight and I will be doing probably 6 fillets. So definitely getting added to the list of recipes.

Hope you enjoy this recipe too.

Side note: I also cooked some rice to go with this and it was great.

Other blog plug... I started a new blog about going green. I hope you all will check it out. Journey to Green.

New Blog Alert!!!

2010-07-30T19:40:00.002-04:00

I started a new blog. It is really just getting started so don't expect a whole bunch right now. It is focusing specifically on me going green. So you will not see those kinds of posts here anymore. I will probably take the ones here and slowly move them over there. Sshh!! Don't tell anyone.

I am glad that all of you have been reading this blog and I hope you will continue to, but please come check me out at my new home. And make sure you follow me so I won't be so lonely.

Thanks.

Come on over to my Journey to Green. Hope you like it.

Kinky Curly Curling Custard Review: Part 2

2010-07-25T16:17:00.002-04:00

Part 1 is here. There you can see my 2 attempts at using KCCC to style my hair.

So its almost a week later and here is my official review of KCCC and KCKT.

Ingredients:

Kinky Curly Knot Today: organic mango fruit extract, organic slippery elm, organic marshmallow root, organic lemongrass, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, citric acid, phenoxyethanol and natural fragrance

Kinky Curly Curling Custard: botanical infusion of water, horsetail, chamomile, nettle and marshmallow, organic aloe vera juice, agave nectar extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), pectin, citric acid, potassium sorbate and natural fragrance

Pros: I like that this product uses organic and natural ingredients. That is very important to me. And it allows for the product to easily wash out of my hair. I like the smell of both products. The scent is hard to describe, but it is not perfumey or overpowering. They smell clean and fresh. I like that my hair did not feel crunchy when it dried.

Cons: My hair had serious shrinkage using this product, too much for me. Because of the amount of shrinkage this is only one day hair and for me that is no bueno. I need to be able to wear a hairstyle for a week. Yes, a full 7 days, until wash/style day and this was not cutting it. It just did not give the wet look I was going for.

But, the product is not bad. I wish I would have had the courage to try it when my hair was shorter because it might have worked. I have noticed that my hair is longer and thicker than many of the YouTubers I have seen have success with this...even if our hair is the same hair type. So maybe I have passed my hair length for this product. I do want to try it again, but it is frustrating to spend time doing my hair and then having to do it again. We will see. I am going to keep the products around, so maybe when I have some time off from work I will try it again.

Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair OIl Review

2010-07-20T18:10:00.010-04:00

Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil 300mL $4.99

Ingredients: Each 100mL of oil is prepared from: Mehndi (henna), Amla, Harar, Bahera, Neem, Brahmi, Kapur Kachri, Dugdha, Lemon oil, Rosemary oil, Lecithin, Sugandhit Dravyas, Nariyal Tail

What is all that? They are all ayurvedic herbs that have a variety of benefits.

Mehndi - hair strengthener; dandruff reducer; hair colorant

Amla - a conditioner; controls hair loss, stimulates growth, and controls premature graying

Harar - anti-inflammatory; analgesic; purifier

Bahera - hair rejuvenator

Neem - clears dandruff; natural antiseptic; natural oil balance for scalp

Brahmi - cools the scalp; controls dandruff; makes hair long, dense, dark, and lustrous; strengthens hair roots

Kapur Kachri - stimulates hair roots and growth

Dugdha - prevents graying

Lemon oil - cleans scalp; natural antiseptic; natural oil balance for scalp; refreshens and rejuvenates the scalp

Rosemary oil - is good for treating hair fall or shedding and dandruff. It stimulates the hair bulbs to renew activity and prevent premature balding

Lecithin - protein

Sugandhit Dravyas - improves blood circulation to hair roots and follicles; eliminates dandruff; soothes flaky scalp

Nariyal Tail - coconut oil

Yeah that's a lot. But this stuff is amazing. I found this searching on Amazon for something to help my itchy scalp. Then after I found it there I saw it on every blog and forum for natural hair care. So apparently this stuff is popular and I was just out of the loop. Nothing new. And from what I have found there are two different formulations, but I use the one in the green bottle pictured above.

Typically I make my own hair products, but this has so much stuff in it and it works, so for me to try to make something similar on my own would cost a fortune. I use this on my scalp and to do my 2-strand twists. Others use it as an oil rinse or deep conditioner. There are just so many uses. Even the Hubs tried it and liked it. He has very coarse hair and the products he has used according to him are usually soaked up through the night. He used this one night and he said the next morning his hair actually felt soft. I have never seen his hair feel soft so that is saying something. ;)

I have been using this product for a little over 2 months and I love it.

Pros: No more itchy scalp and my hair is so soft. I can use this product for so many things. I can add it to my deep conditioner (or use it alone as a deep conditioner), as an oil rinse, and as a pre-poo before I shampoo and condition my hair. I know some people will use it on their body too. I'm not there yet. Another pro is that the Hubs loves this for his hair too, so its good for men and women.

Cons: The only negative I can say of it is that coconut oil is a solid at room temperature. So if it is in a cold climate it will become a solid. The bottle is not designed for a solid and it can be difficult to get the product out. Just run it under some hot water and it will liquify.

Kinky Curly Curling Custard

2010-07-20T09:41:00.018-04:00

What is that you say? Yes, Kinky Curly Curling Custard, from here on KCCC, is the new product I am trying on my hair. This product combined with Kinky Curly Knot Today (KCKT) is supposed to give all curly hair types amazing, curly, bouncy hair. This can be used for ethnic and non-ethnic hair...all curlies. That is the claim. And the product also says that it is all natural and organic, if that is important to you. It is to me.

All Kinky Curly products contain NO: petroleum, mineral oil, silicone, alcohol, plastics, acrylics, parabens, carbomer, or wax. Yes, all of these ingredients can be found in conventional hair products and are not good for curly hair.

Ingredients:

KCCC: botanical infusion of water, horsetail, chamomile, nettle and marshmallow, organic aloe vera juice, agave nectar extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), pectin, citric acid, potassium sorbate and natural fragrance

KCKT: organic mango fruit extract, organic slippery elm, organic marshmallow root, organic lemongrass, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, citric acid, phenoxyethanol, and natural fragrance

So how do they work, you ask?

Well, depending on your curl pattern you can use one or both products to make amazing curls. Some people with looser curls can use KCKT or KCCC alone. Most ethnic curlies have to use the products together. That is what I did.

Trial 1 (which did not turn out the way I expected)

This was done on clean, sopping wet hair.

I did not use enough KCKT on my hair and once it dried you could definitely see that. Also, once completely dry my hair was crunchy, which from everything I read and all the videos I watched on YouTube is not supposed to happen.

Here are some pics.

Just done. Hair still dripping wet.

About an hour later.

Completely dry.

Can we say shrinkage? When my hair is wet, it usually touches my shoulders. This ended up being a big, curly fro. I liked it, but it was not what I was going for and I cannot wear my hair like that to work. That means that I would have to wet my hair and do it again to go to work. I don't think that is going to happen to often.

Trial 2

On clean (shampooed and conditioned) sopping wet hair add KCKT. You have to use a lot of this and I mean A LOT. I have done this process twice and the first time I did not use enough of the KCKT. For my hair length, texture, and thickness I had to use 1/2 of the 8oz. bottle. Yes, half. KCKT does now come in a 32oz. bottle, so if I really like the results I will get the bigger bottle.

After conditioning my hair in the shower, I divided my hair into 4 twisted sections and left it like this as I applied the KCKT. I completely saturated each section in the product. Then I divided that section into 3 sections and clipped the rest aside. I used my Denman brush and worked the KCKT through the section. I took a small amount of KCCC and put it on the root. Then I took a little more and spread it through the section. I again took my Denman brush and worked the product through the section. Then I twisted the completed section to keep it out of the way. I repeated this process with my entire head.

I can already see the difference by using more KCKT. The curls are more defined and have more hang time.

Immediately after. Hair still sopping wet.

About 1 hour later.

Completely dry.

Trial 1 v. Trial 2

Sopping wet.

Completely dry.

Ok. I think I figured it out. I will definitely be trying this one again. Seven years of being natural and I finally figured out the wash and go look. Not exactly wash and go, but it looks like it. And I wish I had video because it moves and bounces and is not stiff. The hardest part was letting my hair dry completely before I started messing with it. I have serious issues with hand in fro.

These products can be bought online and at Whole Foods and Target (yep, just recently).

Also, check out all the videos on YouTube on the subject.

This is the application video I used for Trial 2. From miss HeatherNicole. Definitely subscribe to her videos. She is great.

Check out Her YouTube video.

Vegas Baby!!

2010-07-19T12:09:00.008-04:00

The Hubs and I and another couple went to Vegas for a week. (Who does that?!) Yes, a whole week. We stayed in a time share just off the strip. I had never been to Vegas before and the Hubs had only been once for a trade show, so really, this was our first experience.

Neither one of us a gamblers, so we did not really know what to expect.

So we left Friday the 9th for our trip. We do not fly that often, so I cannot say we usually fly XYZ company, but this time we flew with Delta and I must say, never again (well, unless the price is too good). We were supposed to leave BWI at 530pm EST and connect to our flight in Memphis and be in Vegas at 850pm PST. Well due to weather in Altanta we left over an hour late. So for that hour we were stuck on the plane. All they kept saying was they were rerouting. So there were like 11 different connecting flights in Memphis that were missed by various passenger. We were stuck in Memphis for the night. We got vouchers for new flights, hotel, and food. The flight and hotel I was cool about, but Delta gave us $6 each for 2 meals. What the hell were we supposed to eat for $6 each? So we stayed at the Radisson for the night and ate there for dinner and breakfast, which both sucked and was not covered by the $6. The room was fine and they had Sleep Number beds which were nice to try out.

The best part of the holdover was the next day when we got to fly first class from Memphis to Vegas. First Class baby, yeah. Having never flown first class before, let me just say this is the way to fly. To bad I can't afford it.

So finally Saturday morning we made it to Vegas. We did so much I cannot remember it all. We went to the pool, I got a tan, we went clubbing, gambling, to shows, to Nevada's only vineyard, had fabulous meals, and did A LOT of walking. I even had to go shopping and by some walkable shoes that were not tennis shoes. Oh yeah, I even went to the gym.

I was also able to check of some of the items on my 101 in 1001.

15. Go to Vegas

18. Go to a Vineyard

19. Actually take Pictures during my travels

31. Eat at 10 new restaurants

97. See Cirque du Soleil

Some photos:

Various Hotels

We went to Serendipity the Ice Cream Shoppe. I tried to go to the New York location when we were there, but it was an 1.5 hour wait and that was not worth it to me. They are famous for their Frozen Hot Chocolate and if you ever get a chance to try one I highly recommend it. I meant to take a pic of the one we got, but since I always forget to take pics...I forgot. We did get a shot of someone else's though.

We got to see the water show at the Bellagio.

We went to a Winery. Yes, Nevada, the middle of the desert, has one winery. It is about 1 hour north of Las Vegas. The proprietor is so friendly and funny and they do complimentary tastings. I have never been to one that did not cost some money. It is never a lot, but it has always cost something. Many of their wines are made from grapes for nearby states, because it is a desert. But they do have a small vineyard and they do make some wines there. I think this is the first year they have been able to harvest the grapes and make a sellable product. They also have a wonderful restaurant that has some of the best lobster bisque I have ever tasted. If you ever go to Vegas, take a couple of hours and drive to Pahrump Winery. It is worth the trip.

We also had an opportunity to see an NBA summer league game and it so happens that the Wizards were playing. We got to see the #1 draft pick John Wall in action. We also saw some of the other players walking through the hotels and playing in the casinos. I didn't know who they were, but the Hubs did.

We saw Cirque du Soleil, something I have been dying to do for years. You cannot take pics inside, but you have got to go. We saw KA at MGM Grand. Even the Hubs was in awe. The martial arts is amazing and it has a story line that can be followed. We only got to see one show on this trip, but it was so worth it. And our seats were fantastic.

We rode on the gondolas in the Venetian, but those pics sucked. We went to Studio54 in MGM Grand. And we ate at some amazing restaurants, but they deserve a post of their own. We ate at RM Seafood and StripSteak both in Mandalay Bay. Plus we had coupons that we got from restaurant.com.

I think we walked through every hotel/casino on the strip. My dogs were barking at the end of the day. I definitely needed the extra days off from work when we got back. But I definitely needed this vacation and I enjoyed it immensely.

#28: Read 100 Books

2010-07-04T18:14:00.003-04:00

Because I am in grad school this summer and it has really been kicking my butt and seriously time consuming, I had given up one of my favorite past times, reading. But I could not take it anymore. I enjoy it. It relaxes me and helps me shut off my mind and fall asleep at night. So I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I really enjoyed this book. I know others haven't, or thought it was slow, but I really liked it. And if I am not mistaken, a movie is out or coming out. I am really not sure which. I would be very interested in seeing that. Oh, another thing I love...it is part of a series. You know how I love those. I have already downloaded the next book to my Kindle. And I go out of town Friday for a week so I am sure I will read that and more while I am lounging at the pool getting a tan. Yes, some black people like to get a tan.

Insanity

2010-06-29T16:28:00.004-04:00

Image from extremefitnessresults.com

So the Hubs got the Insanity workout videos. And apparently he bought them for me. I thought it was something we were going to do together, but whatever. So I decided to start it today. It is the same format as the P90X that we have except it is more cardio based and you only use your body weight. I like that part because I have enough body weight to get a hellafied workout. So DAY 1 is a Fit Test that you do every two weeks to measure your progress. You are supposed to do a different exercise everyday and be done it 60 days. You workout 6 days a week for 9 weeks. I already know I am not going to get in 6 days a week. First, I do not want to work out that much. The idea is not appealing. 3-4 times a week is good to me. Second, I want to go to the gym with the Hubs once a week so I will be doing something different there. Also, I am trying to workout with some co-workers once a week. Third, I am in grad school, taking 2 classes this summer and it is very time consuming. In fact, I should be doing school work right now.

So I am going to embarrassingly post the results of my Fit Test. I guess I have no where to go but up. So as long as I improve, I should be good.

Let me tell you. I was sweating my ass off at the end of this. You do each exercise for a minute.

Switch Kicks - 78

Power Jacks - 36

Power Knees - 69

Power Jumps - 20

Globe Jumps - 6

Suicide Jumps - 11

Push-Up Jacks - 13

Low Plank Oblique - 30

A blog I read, Fitness Freak, inspired me to get started. But she is the Fitness Freak and I am...not. So her results for day 1 were WAY better than mine. At the end I hope to at least be where she is starting off.

I figure if I am realistic this is going to take me 15 weeks to complete. Maybe longer. I go on vacation next week for a full 7 days. So I will not be doing it there. Because of the couple the Hubs and I are going on vacation with we will probably work out, but it won't be Insanity. It will probably be worse.

I really want to get in shape though. And I have to find something I can commit to. Hopefully this will be it.

I want to get away, I want to flyyyy away!!

2010-06-26T19:41:00.003-04:00

Dear God, make me a bird, so I can fly far...far away from here. (said in my best Je-nay voice from Forrest Gump)

Oh yes, I need a vacation. Yes, that is a NEED. I am exhausted. Right now I would not even care where I went. If someone said, you wanna go to Wisconsin or Iowa, I would be all for it. (Nothing against Wisconsin or Iowa, but they are not on my top list of vacation destinations). Sorry. I have no motivation for school, exercising, or eating appropriately. I have been taking copious naps or just going to bed early. And no, I am not pregnant. (Before anyone asks).

Lucky for me in about 2 weeks I will be on my way to Vegas, baby. I have never been there and I cannot wait. On top of that with my days off and the days I will be gone I will be off of work for a little less than 2 weeks. OMG I cannot wait.

It has been a while since I had a vacation. Well, I did go visit some friends in NC for a long weekend. I love going there, would even consider moving there, but it was not the greatest trip. First, the Hubs' truck was broken into the night before we left. Yes, one night without an alarm on the vehicle and someone broke into it. So, we were going to cancel, but after that I just felt we really needed to get away. So instead of leaving early in the morning we left much, much later. After car repairs. Then after being down there for one day, I got sick. I mean real sick. I will spare you the gory details, but it was bad. There is nothing worse than being sick when you are away from home. So I am not even sure I can count that as a vacation.

I did have a girls weekend in AC, but I am starting to realize a weekend is just not long enough.

So I will be spending 1 week in Vegas. Yes, I know that is a long time for Vegas, but I have found some off the strip things to do. And I need this. Hopefully I will come back tanned and rejuvenated. CANNOT. WAIT.

Are GMOs in your garden?

2010-06-20T11:33:00.003-04:00

I try to not be preachy to people about my food choices and why I do and don't eat certain things. One of the reasons is I don't like it when people preach to me and another is that I am not perfect in my decisions. Sometimes I don't do things for financial reasons, like I can't afford to buy everything I eat organic, and sometimes because I just don't wanna. I like syrup. Sorry. I do. I tried using 100% pure maple syrup, but it isn't the same. And sometimes I want waffles with syrup. I have cut back significantly, but sometimes I have a craving. Buuut, anyway, I was having a conversation with co-workers about how much we spend on groceries a month. Well apparently the Hubs and I spend more on groceries each month than some families of 4. This does not bother me because as they always say, you are what you eat. So when asked why we spend so much I went on and on about the dirty dozen and GMOs. It was then mentioned that you could avoid GMOs by buying local and from roadside stands. Well, that is not actually true.

Agrochemical multinationals (read Monsanto) are not just manufacturers of GM soy and corn, they are also in the vegetable seed business. And those seeds can be bought for your home garden. How did this happen? Well, agrochemical companies bought up seed companies. So over the last few decades we went from having hundreds of companies selling seeds to a handful. Yes there are some anti-trust questions that can be raised here, but this is more about the environmental and health effects.

So by having a handful of companies owning the seed supply, diversity is seeds has significantly decreased. This leads to increased attack from insects and disease, which then leads to increased use of pesticides and herbicides. But that's ok because the same companies that own the seeds also produce the pesticides. (That was said in my most sarcastic voice).

This basically means that if you buy conventional seeds or if you buy fruits and vegetables from the local food stand there is a HUGE chance that they could be genetically modified. You always have to ask. There is no benefit of using organic practices in your personal garden if the seeds you purchase are genetically modified. You will be wasting your time.

The best thing to do is buy organic seeds which by definition cannot be GM. Research the companies you buy from. And this part can be hard because companies are bought and sold all the time. But basically, it is all in the seeds.

For more information on this topic, go here. They also have a handy flow chart that shows which parent company owns the smaller seed companies.

...and now you know.

Happy Anniversary!!!

2010-06-14T14:36:00.011-04:00

Yesterday the Hubs and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary. I cannot believe one year has passed so quickly. The thought is just crazy. I had a great day too...would have been even better if I did not have to go to work. Lesson learned though. We have decided that we will not work the day of our anniversary (or whatever day we are celebrating it) any more.

So, Sunday morning we exchanged gifts. (More on that in a minute.) Went to work. Came home. Then went to dinner. We went to Oceanaire in DC. I love this restaurant. While we were there we were trying to figure out the last time we were there. We know it was for Valentine's Day one year, but we couldn't remember when. Needless to say, it had been years since we had been there and it was far to long of a gap in visits. The food there is de.li.cious. Every day the menu has subtle changes based on what is good at the market. It is also recognized by Slow Food DC as being a restaurant that buys as much local and sustainable food as possible. This is something that is very important to me. Also Executive Chef, Rob Klink, has become a staunch advocate in protecting marine life. So not only did we enjoy amazing seafood, but I could feel at peace eating it, which made it taste even better. They also made special menus for us celebrating our anniversary and we were able to keep them. It was actually the Hubs' idea...he is sentimental like that. One of the many reasons I love him.

Also as part of our Anniversary Celebration, they gave us a wonderful dessert. I believe it was called the Baked Alaskan, but it was a fine layer of chocolate cake, topped with strawberry ice cream (it tasted homemade, but I am not sure), topped with whipped cream. Then it is drizzled with 151 and flambe. OMG. This was so good. I wish I was not stuffed because I really wanted to eat.it.all.

So back to gifts. My DH knows how I love a certain accessory. No it is not jewelry, but it is jewelry for me. I love purses. I am not a jewelry person. I wear the same earrings every day and I only wear rings because they are my wedding set. Other than that it is a rare occasion. But give me a good purse and it will kick up my outfit a notch. You can look stylish in jeans and a t-shirt with the right purse. I will admit I was not expecting this, but I was definitely loving it. This picture I am about to show does not even do it justice, but if you see me in the near future I am sure I will be rocking it hard.

What did I get the Hubs you ask. I got him the Extreme Driving Stock Car Driving Experience at Try It Racing. So he will get to drive at neck breaking speeds around a racetrack. What was I thinking. God I hope he does not hurt himself. I will be riding along for 5 laps. NOT WITH HIM THOUGH. With a professional. I ain't tryna get killed. Nope. But I think this will be so fun. His guy friends are jealous. And to top it off he thinks my gift to him way outdid his gift to me. What is he crazy?

Anyway, all in all I think we had a fabulous 1 year anniversary experience. Cannot wait til next year.

Venus Williams, what are you thinking?

2010-05-26T16:23:00.005-04:00

Its tennis time again. It has been going on for a couple of days now and I could not be more excited. I got to see my favorite tennis player in action, Rafael Nadal, and he looked like he was back to his old self, pre injuries.

Well, today I was watching tennis and Venus Williams was playing. Well actually its going on right now and her outfit is so crazy I had to take my attention away from my favorite sport to blog about it. Now I had seen pictures of it a couple of days ago, but seeing her with this outfit on while she is playing...no words to describe it. I am sorry I missed her first match because the commentators are not commenting on it and I wonder if they are just trying to ignore it or if all the comments are over. It is so distracting. But it is taking my mind off of her semi lackluster performance.

What is that lingerie? How much money does she have for a clothing allowance? And this is what she chooses. Where are her people to tell you "umm no honey, uh uh. Not this time. Keep it in the bedroom"?

Are parts of this outfit see through? Has she not seen what other tennis players where?

Oh, and here is the money shot....

Is that her ass? Nope. It is her flesh colored bloomers. WHO DOES THAT? Of the Williams sister, Venus is my favorite. But I think she needs a real friend to tell her this was a HUGE mistake.

#28: Read 100 Books

2010-05-18T10:43:00.003-04:00

I love Harlan Coben. I love his writing style, his wit, his characters. He has a series based on a character Myron Bolitar and I have read every one of those books. Caught is not part of the Myron Bolitar series, which made me a little skeptical (I have been let down by other authors in the past), but I decided to give it a chance. It meshes two very different stories and somehow he does it wonderfully. One story is straight from the show To Catch a Predator and the other involves successful men hiding a terrible secret. And somehow he finds a way to intertwine these two stories. Also, some of the characters from the Myron Bolitar series make cameo appearances. A fun, easy book to read. I recommend.

#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

2010-05-18T09:55:00.005-04:00

I recently read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. This book journeys the story of a family that moves to Virginia and decides to eat locally and in season for an entire year. I admired there level of commitment to eating locally. It inspired me to do better in my own life. Some of the book made me a little jealous. Like they had tons of space to make their own garden and grew a wide variety of food. Most of the food they ate during the year came from their own garden. Also, they live in a community that supports local eating. Their neighbors have their own garden or farms. They also had a large farmers market community. I don't live too far from Virginia, but I do not feel the same community to local living here. I was also jealous of the amount of storage space they had to save for the winter. Part of my issue with being able to do this is I do not have the space.

The book also has a ton of recipes specific to the season. The recipes and more information can be found on their website. The sounded so yummy and when I get a chance I plan on making some of them.

This is definitely a book to read if you want to know more about how to eat in season and the vast benefits of doing so. And since this is educating myself on green living it also covers #4 on my 101 in 1001 list.

More reasons to eat ORGANIC

2010-05-17T07:05:00.005-04:00

Recently I posted about pesticides on fruits and vegetables and the ones that are the worst (The Dirty Dozen). Now there are even more reasons to eat organic fruits and vegetables. A new study in the journal Pediatrics associated pesticides, specifically organophosphates, to cases of ADHD in the US and Canada. Research is suggesting that exposure to these pesticides along with other environmental contributors may be contributing to attention problems in children. In a study of 1100 children aged 8 to 15, those with the highest levels of dialkyl phosphates (a breakdown component of organophosphates) had the highest incidence of ADHD. It is already known that children that work on farms and near pesticides have more neurological problems, but this study is just from regular kids with no added exposure risk.

Does this mean that there is a definitive link? Does this mean that the pesticides are causing ADHD? No. Even the author of the research stresses that this is only an association. However, in my opinion, an association to this degree means more research needs to be done. This research SHOULD have been done PRIOR to allowing these pesticides in the US food supply.

So does organic produce cost more? Yes. But what will the price be for the potential added healthcare costs?

Read the TIME article here.

And now you know.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

2010-05-10T18:52:00.005-04:00

Salmon Pesto Pasta

source The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Since we enjoyed the last recipe I got from this blog, I wasted no time in trying another. And it looked pretty easy to make.

8 ounces pasta (I used penne)
12 ounces salmon
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
5 ounces evaporated milk
1/2 cup pesto (recipe below)
grated Parmesan, for serving

Bring a large pot of water to boil. When water is boiling, add a teaspoon of salt and the pasta; stir to separate. Cook pasta until al dente; drain. Pour evaporated milk into empty pot and simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup. Add cooked pasta to pot and stir to combine.
Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat broiler. Line a baking sheet or pan with aluminum foil. Season skinless side of salmon liberally with salt and pepper, sprinkle with zest, then rub with olive oil. Broil until salmon is no longer translucent and if firm when pressed, about 10 minutes. Remove from broiler and sprinkle with lemon juice. Use fork to flake into bite-sized pieces. Skin will stick to foil and can be discarded.
Add salmon to pasta mixture and stir over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat and stir in pesto. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Pesto

For my recipe I used prepared pesto. My feeling is that until I know the recipe is good, I do not want to spend too much time on it. So if this is added into the rotation, I may decide to make pesto from scratch. Until then, that's ok. Plus I do not have a food processor. I could probably use a blender though. But for those that choose to here is how you do it.

Makes 1/2 cup

1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
5 medium cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves, rinsed thoroughly
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, Italian (optional)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
pinch of salt
1/4 cup (1/2 ounce) finely grated Parmesan cheese

Toast pine nuts in a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until just golden and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the nuts to bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade.
Add the unpeeled garlic to empty skillet and toast until fragrant, shaking the pan occasionally, and the color of the cloves deepens slightly, about 7 minutes. Let the garlic cool, then peel and add to food processor bowl.
Place basil and parsley in heavy-duty, quart-size, zipper-lock bag; pound with flat side of meat pounder until all leaves are bruised.
Process nuts and garlic until finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients except cheese; process until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down with flexible spatula.
Transfer mixture to small bowl, stir in cheese and adjust salt. (Can be covered with a sheet of plastic wrap and placed directly over the surface or filmed with oil and refrigerated up to 5 days.)

Notes: I used a pound of salmon. We really like salmon, so the more the better. As mentioned above, I used prepared pesto. Oh, and I always add more cheese than the recipe says. I just can't get enough of it.

Verdict: Well, this recipe combined all things that I love, pasta, pesto, and salmon...oh, and don't forget cheese. So off the bat I knew it was going to be yummy. And it was. Now we will just have to see how the Hubs feels about it.

The Hubs' Verdict: He loved it too. Yeah. We actually were fighting over who got the leftovers. I definitely will be making this again...very soon.

#22: 10 New Recipes

2010-05-06T17:18:00.005-04:00

Whole Wheat Pasta with Greens, Beans, Tomatoes, and Garlic Chips

source The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Before I get started on the recipe, I am a messy cook. OMG, it is ridiculous. I make the biggest messes. Food is dropped on the stove, the counters, the floor, everywhere. I usually have to sweep the floor after cooking. I think part of the reason is my novice kitchen, but that is another issue.

So on to the recipe. And this was adapted from Cooks Illustrated, which is obviously for more skilled chefs than I, but it has garlic in the title so it is worth trying.

3 tablespoons olive oil
8 cloves garlic, 5 cloves sliced thin lengthwise, 3 cloves minced or pressed through a garlic press (1 tablespoon) Example 1: sophistication, garlic press really
Table salt
1 medium onion, diced small (about 1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
14 cups kale (loosely packed) or collard greens (1 to 1 1/2 pounds), thick stems trimmed, leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces and rinsed, water still clinging to leaves
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped
13 1/4 ounces whole wheat spaghetti
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup), plus additional for serving
ground black pepper

Directions

Heat oil and sliced garlic in 12-inch straight sided saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and turning frequently, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer garlic to paper towel lined plate. Sprinkle lightly with salt. (Ok, really, am I supposed to know what kind of saute pan I have. And honestly does it really matter.)

Add onion to pan; cook until starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook, stirring constantly, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add half of greens to pan; using tongs (which I do not have and realize I need), toss occasionally, until starting to wilt, about 2 minutes. Add remaining greens, broth, and 3/4 teaspoon salt; cover (pan will be very full); increase heat to high and bring to strong simmer. (What does that mean?) Reduce heat to medium and cook, covered, tossing occasionally, until greens are tender, about 15 minutes (mixture will be somewhat soupy). Stir in beans, olives, and tomatoes.

Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven (what that what? can't you just use a pot? well I did and it worked fine.) over high heat. Add spaghetti and 1 tablespoon salt; cook until pasta is just shy of al dente. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add greens mixture to pasta, set over medium-high heat, and toss to combine. Cook until pasta absorbs most of the liquid, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Parmesan; adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, passing garlic chips, extra-virgin olive oil, and Parmesan separately. (You should start the pasta at the beginning of preparation.)

Notes:

I used spinach instead of kale or collards. I used 2 10 ounce packages of spinach. I don't know what it equaled loosely packed, but it is resulted in plenty of spinach for the recipe.
I used vegetable broth instead of chicken.
I used 28 ounces of 14 and I am glad I did. The Hubs always complains about pasta that is not "saucy" as he calls it. So hopefully this will be enough.
I did not use the kalamata olives. I love them, but the Hubs is not a big fan, so to make it easy I left it out. I did not miss them in the recipe.
I did not have to add any salt and pepper for taste in the end. It was full of flavor.

Verdict:

I loved this recipe. It was so yummy. The mixture of beans, spinach, tomatoes, and yum garlic was delicious. Add some Parmesan cheese and the garlic chips on top and this is a bomb diggity meal. I just hope the Hubs loves it as much because I definitely want to add this to our regular rotation. I am glad it was serve immediately because I was starving. Hopefully it will taste just as good heated up.

Updated with the Hubs' reaction: He loved it too. Yeah. He ate dinner after I did and I was sitting watching tv while he was eating. He was making all these sounds, like, mmm, mmm...so he must have thought it was good. Definitely adding this to the list of repeats.

GMOs and Why You Should Avoid Them

2010-05-04T17:10:00.008-04:00

What is a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)?

In my previous post on deciphering produce codes, I discussed briefly how 5-digit codes beginning with 8 should be avoided at all costs. These items are genetically modified and here is why they should be avoided.

Genetic engineering or genetic modification (GM) of food involves the laboratory process of artificially inserting genes into the DNA of crops and animals. The resulting product is a genetically modified organism (GMO).

Scientists engineer certain crops so that pesticides are built-in to every cell. So when an insect bites the plant, the pesticide splits open their stomachs and kills them. What crops can be genetically modified? Well, anything really, but the ones being focused on now are soy, corn, canola, cotton, and sugar. Biotech companies claim that the pesticide Bt, from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, is a safe because it has a history of use by organic farmers and it has been used as a natural insect repellent. However, the Bt-toxin found in GMOs is thousands of times more concentrated than the natural spray, is designed to be more toxic, has properties of an allergen, and unlike the natural spray cannot be washed off. Another GMO is engineering crops to be able to withstand Roundup, the weedkiller. So farmers can spray the crops with tons of Roundup and it will kill the weeds, but not the crops. Moreover, studies have shown that Bt even in lower doses found in the natural spray can be harmful.

Bt is extremely similar to two other bacteria, B. cereus, which causes food poisoning, and B. anthracis, which causes anthrax. That's right, ANTHRAX. It is so similar to both of these it cannot be distinguished without sophisticated testing.
Bt secretes many of the same toxins as B. cereus when growing. That's the one that causes food poisoning. There is also mounting evidence that the spores can germinate in humans and live for extended periods of time in the respiratory gastrointestinal tract. But because they are so similar, individuals who have gotten sick may have had it attributed to B. cereus when it was really Bt.
REMEMBER DDT, for 30 years it was purported as a safe pesticide and extremely safe for humans. These same studies have been done on Bt. How long will it take for it to be banned?

Many studies have shown GMOs to be harmful to your health. Doctors are prescribing non-GMO diets to patients with allergies, infertility, immune problems, and a host of other issues. A position paper by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) stated that "several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM foods." The results are ALARMING. Some examples:

When female rats were feed GM soy, most of their babies died - as opposed to 10% of rats feed natural soy. For the babies that survived, they were smaller and had problems getting pregnant in the future.
When male rats ate GM soy, their testicles changed color. (yep, that's right.) They had altered sperm. Even the embryos of GM feed mice had significant changes in their DNA.
In the US, 2 dozen farmers reported that thousands of pigs feed GM corn became sterile. Some had false pregnancies and others gave birth to sacs of water. Cows and bulls became infertile when fed the same corn.

What does this mean for you?

Studies are done on rats and other animals to determine the effect that they will have on humans. GM products caused infertility, altered sperm, and GIVING BIRTH TO SACS OF WATER. Not only does this affect the person or animal eating it, it affects their embryos. That also means that if the animals you eat are feed GM food, it is getting into your system and being passed on to you offspring. YES, it is that bad.

So what can you do?

Eat organic, especially where the above mentioned foods are concerned.
Read ingredients.
Stay informed. Everyday biotech companies are trying to add food to the list of GMOs. They are also legislating to Congress to try to lift restrictions on GMOs. Like, they do not want to have to label produce as a GMO. You can make a change with your vote.

There is a helpful shopping guide that lists GMO-free foods by category and brand from baby formula to candy. It will definitely surprise you and make you a little sad. It can be found as an app for your iPhone or iPod touch or be downloaded and printed as a shopping guide.

My nestie friend SuperGreen made this convenient booklet. The info can be printed here and bound like this. She got it laminated and printed at Kinkos. All photos are from SuperGreen.

Thanks to my nestie friend SuperGreen for this info and pointing me in the right direction.

More info can be found here and here.

The Institute for Responsible Technology has a wealth of information.

Hair Comparison

2010-05-04T15:38:00.011-04:00

So the other day I looked at some photos of our At Home Reception for our wedding. That was August of last year. I didn't realize how much my hair had grown. I guess when you see it every day it is hard to tell. Then last Saturday I saw some people I hadn't seen in a while and they all commented on how long my hair was getting. So I thought...time for a photo comparison.

August 2009

May 2010

I have also been thinking about dyeing my hair. The Hubs is against this because the last time I dyed my hair i chopped it all off. The color was too different from my natural hair color and it grew so fast, I just couldn't maintain it. I am thinking about henna'ing (is that a word) my hair. I am a little afraid. I don't know what the results will be and it is permanent. It would put a reddish tint on my hair, but I don't know how obvious it would be. I have brown hair and I have seen some of the results on other natural people and the color barely shown. They mostly do it for the benefits to the hair. But what if the color does show, what if it is uneven, what if I hate it?

Here are some close ups of my actual natural hair color

When I look at these I think, what color is my hair? And I think it is actually pretty. But because it is this sandy brown color it can appear dull sometimes. So I will keep doing research on henna and hair and maybe I will make a decision on that subject. I do know that I will not be using any conventional dyes on my hair ever, so its either henna or nothing.

I must say, I am impressed with the growth i have seen in less than a year. I guess taking care of your hair can really make a difference ;)

Deciphering Produce Codes

2010-05-01T19:05:00.005-04:00

I just posted a link to the new list of pesticides in produce. So, how do you know if a fruit or vegetable is organic. There is actually a very easy way to determine that just by looking at it. The price look-up (PLU) code. The PLU code is an international numbering system that identifies each produce item so that cash registers can ring them up automatically.

A 4-digit number indicates CONVENTIONALLY GROWN produce. These products use regular pesticides approved by the FDA, but not necessarily the best thing for you. (That is my opinion).

A 5-digit number beginning with a 9 indicates ORGANIC produce.

A 5-digit number beginning with an 8 indicates GENETICALLY MODIFIED produce. In a nutshell, STAY AWAY from this type of produce. I will go into more detail about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in another post, but basically STAY AWAY.

For example, Pink Lady Apples (one of my favs) have the PLU code 4128. An organic Pink Lady apple would be 94128 (these are the ones I buy). A genetically modified Pink Lady apple would be 84128. Got it? Good.

Why is this important? I have been in stores that have a big sign reading ORGANIC PRODUCE. Then I look at it and it has a 4-digit number. This means it is conventionally grown. Is it harmful to you? Maybe, maybe not. But if your intention is to purchase organic, don't you want to make sure that is what you are buying?

I do. And from knowing these 3 simple rules I can always decipher the code.

Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

2010-05-01T18:56:00.002-04:00

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has updated their list of the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 for produce. The old list can be found here and there are some significant changes. I received a preview of the list (it will not be officially posted until May 10), so I am giving it to my few blog readers.

Celery has beat peaches as the most pesticide ridden produce....way to go celery. AND blueberries were added to the dirty dozen. Take a look at the entire list here. This site also explains how the list is determined.

It is also a guide for the budget conscious, like myself. I cannot afford to buy everything organic, but if it is one of the dirty dozen I make sure I do. I save my money on the clean 15.

Hope this helps people make wise and green decisions. Happy and Healthy Eating.

#22: 10 New Recipes

2010-04-27T19:11:00.003-04:00

Shrimp, Feta, and Fresh Herb Mac and Cheese

Source Annie's Eats

Ingredients

1 lb. rotini pasta (I used whole wheat)

1 lb. raw shrimp (31-40 ct.), peeled and deveined, cut in half (if desired), tail removed

10 oz. feta cheese, crumbled and divided

zest of 1 lemon, divided

1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs

2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped and divided

5 tbsp. butter, divided (I used unsalted)

4 tbsp. all-purpose flour (I used wheat)

3 cups milk (I used plain soy)

2 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped

8 oz. Gruyere cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente following package directions. Drain well; set aside. Add raw shrimp to warm pasta and toss. The heat from the pasta will partially cook the shrimp.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400F. In a small bowl, combine a handful of feta, a pinch of lemon zest, panko, 2 tsp. of parsley, and 1 tbsp. of butter, melted. Toss with a fork to combine; set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt remaining 4 tbsp. of butter over medium-high heat. Once butter is melted, whisk in flour to form a paste. Cook 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly, until golden brown. Whisk in milk. Continue to heat mixture, stirring frequently, until it bubbles and thickens, approximately 5 minutes. As soon as the sauce thickens, remove from heat, stir in remaining feta, Gruyere, remaining parsley, remaining lemon zest, dill, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture over the pasta and shrimp; toss well to coat.

Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2 - 3 quart baking dish. Sprinkle breadcrumb-feta mixture evenly over pasta. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbling. Remove from oven and allow to set for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes: In my opinion, zest of 1 lemon is too much. If I made this again I would use maybe 1/2 a lemon or less. And I like lemon. When I was mixing the cheese mixture with the pasta I added more milk. I would use 4 cups of milk instead of 3 for a more creamy mixture. I used jumbo shrimp (21-30 count) and did not cut in half. I wish I did. More shrimp would have been in each bite.

Verdict: It was good, not great. I think it had too much lemon. The Hubs enjoyed it more than I did, but he is not as picky of an eater as I am. I think I am going to take a break from new recipes for a while and focus on the ones I have made that we enjoyed.

Quest for Two-Week Scalp

2010-04-26T14:24:00.006-04:00

August 2009

I have been natural for a long time...since 2003. Maybe one day I will write my natural hair story...maybe. Even before I was natural I washed my hair a lot. Now I wash my hair every week. Many natural ladies are on a quest for 2-week hair. Basically they are trying to get one hairstyle to last 2 weeks. Well that is not my issue. My styles last. My issue is my scalp. After one week of life and the gym and whatever else, my scalp is begging to be cleaned. It gets itchy and I just can't take it anymore. I want 2-week scalp. I have been asking myself if I really should be trying to achieve this goal. I do go to the gym and I am trying to go more. So after sweating and everything maybe I do need to be washing my hair every week. But sometimes I am lazy. And I just don't wanna (I am saying this in my baby whining voice). But I am going to still try to see if this goal is achievable (for my hair).

What I had been doing for a long while now is:

Weekly

wash hair with conditioner, making sure scalp is cleaned (Giovanni 50:50 Balanced)
condition hair with same conditioner
detangle under water
use Curls Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner as leave-in on ends of hair

Then I would use my shea butter mix to twist my hair. I would leave in this style for the week and then have a twist out on weekends.

Bi-Weekly

mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with conditioner to cleanse hair and scalp
then follow as above

Trial 1 (for the past 2 weeks)

I really did not want to start using shampoo on my hair. I have not used shampoo on my hair for a couple of years. The only time I do is on the rare occasion I go to a professional hairdresser or when I am about to get my hair braided. But I thought maybe the conditioner was causing build-up that was making my scalp itch, so I gave it a try.

Week 1

Wash hair with Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo
condition hair with Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Conditioner
detangle
use leave-in as above

Then I followed the same routine for styling my hair. I normally do not apply oils directly to my scalp and I did not this time.

Results: My hair felt very clean and I thought this was going to be good. However, after I went to the gym I had itchy scalp again. The only difference is this time my scalp was dry and flaky...still itchy though. Adjustments needed.

Week 2

I did the same as week 1 except when styling my hair I added Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil to my scalp. It contains lemon, an astringent which controls sebum flow helping to prevent dandruff; henna and other herbs which coat the hair, protects from oxidation, and maintains natural hair color; and amla which strengthens hair roots.

I also added this to my hair after going to the gym to try to control itching.

Results: The itchy scalp still came. It did not come as early in the week as usual, but going to the gym twice (or maybe 3 times) this week and by wash day I was ready to wash my hair. My scalp was not dry, but ready to be washed.

I was going to continue using the shampoo for a month thinking that maybe it is taking my hair and scalp some time to adjust, but I am moving on to another method. I really do not want to use shampoo on my hair anyway so I am not too upset that this did not work.

So for the next month I am going to use an herbal mixture to cleanse my hair and scalp.

This will be my routine

Cleanse hair with Amla/Shikakai Herbal Cleanser. Recipe below.
Condition hair
Detangle
Final Rinse. Recipe below..

I purchased Ayurvedic products from Amazon to use in this mixture.

Recipe:

boil a cup of water
transfer water to a bowl
add 1 heaping spoonful of shikakai powder
add 2 heaping spoonfuls of amla powder
allow to steep for 15-13 minutes
strain the mixture to remove herbs and keep the liquid

This will be my cleansing rinse.

What are Shikakai and Amla?

Shikakai acts as a natural astringent. It clears dandruff and cleans dirt accumulated on the scalp. It can however be drying on the hair.

Amla is a conditioner. It controls hair loss, stimulates growth, and it controls premature graying of hair (bonus!).

Final Rinse Recipe

1c boiling water
pinch of horsetail
pinch of nettle
pinch of marshmallow root
pinch of rosemary
allow to steep for 15-30 minutes
strain and keep liquid
add approx. 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar at the end.
few drops of liquid vitamin E
drops of essential oil for fragrance (optional)

What do those things do?

Horsetail helps eliminate dandruff and stimulates growth.

Marshmallow Root is soothing and an emollient. It contains mucilage, which is a protein. (I try to avoid proteins because my hair does not like them, but I think just a little will be ok...hopefully.)

Nettle improves circulation. In hair rinses, it stimulates growth and improves scalp condition. It can be mixed with rosemary and rubbed on the scalp for shiny, glossy hair.

Rosemary is good for treating hair fall or shedding and dandruff. It stimulates the hair bulbs to renew activity and prevent premature balding.

For more on Ayurvedic products for the hair look here.

For a breakdown of what various herbs do look here.

I got these recipes from Trenellm on YouTube.

Updates to follow. I will also take more pics because my hair is A LOT longer now.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

2010-04-22T16:39:00.003-04:00

Salmon Burgers with Cilantro Mayo

Source Annie's Eats

Ingredients:

1/2c red bell pepper diced (I used one whole pepper so a little more)

6 tbsp. panko bread crumbs

1 garlic clove, minced

1lb. salmon fillets, skinned, boned and finely chopped (wild Alaskan is best!)

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp. salt

1-2 tbsp. vegetable or canola oil (I used EVOO)

For the cilantro mayo:

1 garlic clove, chopped

1/2c mayo

1/2c cilantro

dash of cayenne pepper

squeeze of lemon juice

For serving:

burger buns

green lettuce

sliced red onion

sliced tomatoes

Directions:

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the diced bell pepper, panko, garlic, and salmon. In a small bowl combine the egg white, soy sauce, lemon juice, and salt. Add the liquid mixture to the bowl with the salmon and toss gently until well incorporated. Form the mixture into four equal sized patties.

To make the cilantro mayo, combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process until well combined and smooth.

Lightly coat a grill pan or skillet with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Cook the patties about 5 minutes per side, until cooked throughout.

Place the burgers on the buns, spreading one side of the bun with cilantro mayo. Top as desired with lettuce, onion, and tomato.

NOTES:

I forgot to get cilantro, but I had some dill. So I made dill mayo instead.

I toasted the burger buns and that was a nice touch.

I used the wrong type of spatula at first and two of the patties fell apart a little. But once I figured it out I got 2 nicely made patties.

VERDICT:

Delicious. We both loved this meal and it will definitely be made again and again.

Some of the comments made by the Hubs: "Best meal I ever made. He could eat this every week. He would go to a restaurant and love to have this meal." I must say that made me feel pretty good. This recipe is very easy to make and these are ingredients we have in the house anyway, so definitely a go to for us.

I tried to take pictures, but I need to work on that skill.

For the rest of my 101 in 1001, look here.

Earth Day 2010

2010-04-21T17:00:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is Earth Day.

Interesting Earth Day Facts:

Every ton of paper that is recycled save 17 trees
It takes 50-70 gallons of water for a 10 minute shower
More than 20 million (that's 20,000,000) Hershey's kisses are wrapped each day. That is 133 square miles of tin foil. All of that can be recycled.
If every newspaper was recycled, 250 million (250,000,000) trees could be saved each year. Unfortunately on 27% of all American newspapers are recycled.
If you brush your teeth for the full 3 minutes (which you should if you don't) and leave the water running, you are wasting approximately 8 gallons of water each time.

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day and reduce your environmental footprint?

And on top of that there are some Earth Day 2010 freebies.

Target - Mail in 5 plastic bags to Terracycle, 121 New York Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08638 and get $1 back to spend on a reusable shopping bag.

Disney Store - Bring in SIX empty plastic bottles or soda cans to the Disney Store on 4/22 and get a free Friend for Change and Disney Store youth sized baseball cap (made out of 100% recycled materials). Limit 1 per guest, while supplies last.

Hanes - Buy 3 Hanes products and mail-in a rebate for a free Earth Day T-shirt. And, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree, up to 20,000, on Hanes behalf. Offer good until May 15th.

BBC Earth - Free download of the First Episode of Planet Earth "Pole to Pole" on iTunes. Offer good until April 26th.

Babies R Us - Get a f ree reusable tote bag with printable coupon through 4/22, plus 25% off all clothes and shoes you can fit in the bag.

Pottery Barn - Earth Day Celebration at Pottery Barn Kids with giveaways, activities, and story time on 4/22.

Happy Earth Day Everyone!! Enjoy.

Evelyn's Favorite Pasta

2010-04-19T11:00:00.004-04:00

This is not a new recipe for me, but I have now made it twice and the Hubs and I love it. It is the only vegetarian meal that the Hubs doesn't say "If this had meat...".

Evelyn's Favorite Pasta

source Proceed with Caution

1/4c EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

3 cloves garlic, minced, pressed, or grated (I did minced)

salt and pepper

2 Chinese eggplants (I used 1 large eggplant)

1 large head of broccoli

1 can artichoke hearts, halved or quartered

15 cherry tomatoes, halved

1/3c pine nuts

1/4c kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

1/3c freshly grated Parmesan cheese (low fat to make it healthier)

1/3c prepared pesto

8-12oz penne pasta (I used Barilla Plus Wheat) (I used the entire box)

handful of fresh basil, cut into a chiffonade

Directions:

Remove the ends from the eggplant. Slice long ways, in thirds, and lay on a cutting board. Heavily salt cut sides of eggplant, cover with paper towel and then another cutting board. Place a weight on top of the board. Let stand for 30 minutes, then rinse eggplant well and cut into 2 inch long pieces.

**NOTE** I do not have 2 cutting boards (I have a beginner's kitchen). So I used plates and for a weight I use cans of soup or beans or whatever and cover the entire plate.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. When the eggplant is ready and chopped, place in a large bowl. Add chopped broccoli, artichokes, and tomatoes. Combine garlic and EVOO in a small bowl with about 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper; mix well. Add EVOO mixture to the vegetables and toss to coat. Spread on a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with olive oil. Roast vegetables for about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, start heating water for the pasta in a large pot. Heat a small saute pan over medium heat, and add pine nuts. Heat for a few minutes, tossing frequently, until nuts are lightly toasted, then set aside. When the pasta water has come to a boil, salt generously and add the pasta. Cook according to box instructions.

When the pasta is done, drain and add to a large bowl. Add roasted vegetables, kalamata olives, cheese, pesto, and toss to combine. Serve and garnish with toasted pine nuts and basil.

This recipe is so good. It has a hearty texture (which I believe is why the Hubs doesn't miss meat). This recipe was enough for dinner that night, lunch at work 2 days for me, and dinner another night. That is a lot.

One thing I will say is this is not a week night dinner for me. It doesn't take THAT long, but it is a little long for me. I definitely want this to be a meal I make at least once a month.

Just righting this entry makes me want to make it again. It is that good.

For the Kitchen Part 3

2010-04-19T09:12:00.006-04:00

Ok. I am adding some things and making some modifications.

One thing that both the Hubs and I want is a good wok. I have no idea how to determine if the wok is good or not. I do know that I want stainless steel (I think) or cast iron??, I just know that I do NOT want something with nonstick coating. I am trying to eliminate that from our kitchen. I also know that it needs to be pretty big. Our biggest pan we have now is definitely not big enough. So the search and research for the perfect wok is underway. I have no idea what I am looking for. I think I am going to have to ask my nesties about this one. I know I don't want to go on the cheap for this. I can't believe I said that. I just know I want something that is going to last.

One thing that I have modified is the food processor I am looking at. I still stand by my statement that we are not the Neely's, but again I want something that is going to last. I am not saying that the original one I was looking at would not last. I mean it was a Kitchen Aid. I think I just need something bigger. This one has a 7-cup capacity and I think I need maybe 11-cup or more. Kitchen Aid has a 12-cup one for significantly more. I am just trying to plan for the future. I want to be able to puree, as I said before, but my future plans for a food processor are extensive. I know that if we ever have children I want to make their baby food. I also want to start making my all-natural hair products. So I need something heavy duty. These are the two I am considering

Both can be found at Bed Bath & Beyond.

The rest of my shopping list can be found here.

For the kitchen Part 2

2010-04-16T16:38:00.004-04:00

Part 1 of this list can be found here.

Since I am trying to cook more and surprisingly the food has been really good, I am thinking of other things I want for the kitchen and my cooking escapades. I have been loving Amy's Organics. I love their pizza. It's organic, all natural, and has no GMOs. Oh yeah, and it is soooo yummy. But I have been thinking, I can make my own pizzas. Lots of people have been talking about pizza dough that you can get a Trader Joe's for like a dollar. Of course, there is not one near me. But I know one of my health stores I have been going to has to see something similar. I am not yet to the point of making my own dough from scratch, but I would like to get there. So, to make my own pizza i need a pizza stone. I like this one from Crate and Barrel.

Going to various sites would lead me to believe that if I have a pizza stone, I need a pizza peel board. Something to but the pizza on after it is done. Right now I have been using a plate, but I guess that is not the correct chef thing to do. So I guess I need something like this which can also be found at Crate and Barrel.

And on top of that I need a pizza cutter. But I guess I can get that anywhere.

So now to make pizza I need three new kitchen tools. This better be worth it. And by that, I mean the taste.

This list is getting longer and longer and I have not purchased anything. Guess it is time to go shopping.

What I want to buy...

2010-04-12T13:06:00.000-04:00

for the kitchen. This is going to be my ever growing list. Hopefully I will cross things off and add things on as I start working in the kitchen more.

I am trying to cook more. I have found recipes that I want to try, but then I realize I do not have the appropriate tools in the kitchen. So I have been developing a list of things to buy. I am kinda excited about this.

On the top of my list are these Bamboo Utensils from Crate&Barrel.

These utensils are certified organic and bamboo is a sustainable resource, which is a huge plus for me. But because they are wood they also will not damage the nonstick surface on the pots I currently have (which are also on my list to replace).

I also want to buy a food processor. Damn, these things can be expensive. We ain't the Neely's over here. I mean the Hubs will probably never use the thing. I just want to be able to make some purees, chop some things without my eyes watering, and it will be quick. So I will keep searching. I do like these Kitchen Aid food processors from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. And they come in three colors to match your decor or spice it up.

A hand blender (or immersion blender for the fancy). This is great for soups and purees. Honestly, when i saw immersion blender in a recipe I had to Google it, so definitely I am not one of the fancy. But I see how this could be extremely useful in the kitchen. I like this one from Cuisinart and the price isn't too bad.

We also need some new knives. We received some when we first moved here, but I will admit we did not take very good care of them. They had wood handles and we threw them in the dishwasher, so now the ones we regularly use feel like we went outside and chopped down a tree for the handles. I think you could actually get a splinter if you are not careful. They are getting very dull too. To be cost effective, I just might get a knife sharpener because DAMN knives are expensive too. Can you believe they can cost over 1K? Really? For a non-chef? I wanna know what these people are cooking in their homes, because I definitely do not need that. I thought these were fairly reasonable. I know Henckels is a good brand and these aren't too crazy. And now that I look at this set I guess the set we have probably has a sharpener in it. Yeah that shows how much I am in the kitchen. I will make the ones we currently have work until I have some extra money laying around for something like this.

Getting back in the game

2010-04-10T09:48:00.002-04:00

I have been slacking out working out for....well, since the beginning of the year. Yeah, I know, I know. I don't know what it is. I just cannot get motivated. I have been doing better since the weather has been nicer. And my plan is to actually go to the gym today. I have learned (well for me anyway) that it is a lot harder to re-start an exercise program than start from the beginning. I think this is because my expectations of myself are higher now. I know where I was and it is frustrating that I cannot just easily return to running and be where I was when i stopped. It is utterly frustrating. So I have to formulate a plan.

The planner portion of my brain (the whole thing because I am never spontaneous) needs a plan to get back into a routine. I am going to start the Couch to 5K (C25K) program again. So today when I go to the gym I am going to attempt week 4. I don't see the point of starting at the beginning because it is walking and I know I can do that for an extended period of time.

Last time I did the program I did it based on distance, this time I am going to to the time. By doing this I can easily run/jog/walk outside. It is harder to know your distance when you are outside. There are also programs for your ipod that chime over your music so you know when the the walk/run interval is up. I just think that is so cool.

So the plan is for 3x this week to:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

My run time is slower than the distance:time conversion, but my walk is faster. So, I should be able to accomplish this. Today, I am doing the treadmill though.

I also NEED to go buy a swimsuit. I am supposed to swim 300 hours in my 101 in 1001 and I have not done 1 second let alone an hour. So that is my next step.

#27: Read 50 non-crime books

2010-03-30T13:40:00.004-04:00

I just finished reading The Help. It was recommended by my nesties. It is seriously one of the best books I have ever read. I woke up early and stayed up late to read it. It is based in 1960's Mississippi and is about a white woman writing a book on the delicate balance between white women and their maids. It is told from the point of view of the maids and the woman writing the book. I have to put this up there with To Kill a Mockingbird. Seriously, everyone should read this book.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

2010-03-26T18:36:00.003-04:00

I am on a roll right now with cooking, well for me anyway. Two weeks in a row, that is a roll for me. Ha ha. So tonight I turned to my Food Network recipe box once again. This time a Giada DeLaurentis creation.

Fusilli with Spinach and Asiago Cheese

Ingredients

1 lb. fusilli pasta

1/4 c. olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

1 (9-oz) bag of fresh spinach, roughly chopped

8 oz (1/2 pint) cherry tomatoes, halved

1 c. Asiago cheese, grated

1/2 Parmesan cheese, grated

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but slightly firm to the bite (8-10 minutes). Drain pasta reserving 1/2 c. of cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (2 minutes). Add the spinach and tomatoes and cook until the spinach wilts (2 more minutes). Add the cooked pasta and toss. Add the cheeses, salt, pepper, and the pasta cooking liquid and stir to combine.

Notes: I used mini fusilli because it was all I could find and it was not wheat. I have not had regular pasta in a while. I used organic spinach (one of the dirty dozen). I used Romano cheese instead of Parmesan because that is what I had. I also added a little more salt for taste at the end. Just a pinch.

Verdict: Yummy. I had to reheat it because the Hubs got home about an hour after he said he was. But I will definitely be making this again. Also next time I will add more tomatoes. I was thinking about it when I was cutting them, but decided to follow the recipe. Next time I will use the entire pint.

The Battle with my Skin

2010-03-25T15:13:00.004-04:00

Back in February about a week or two into the Blizzard of 2010 my forehead started breaking out. I have never really had issues with acne so this was new to me. I mean, I have gotten the occasional bump here and there, treated it, and it was gone. But this was different. My entire forehead was breaking out and no matter what I did it would not go away.

I knew it had something to do with my anxiety over all the snow. I don't know what my issue was, but I just felt like it (meaning the snow) was never going to go away. I started thinking maybe I had SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder) or whatever that commercial is about how the cold and winter affect your mood. I don't know, maybe I do. But anyway, my forehead was breaking out and it was not going away.

So I had to think of something. Several of my nesties use the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) and they say it is great for acne so I thought I would give it a try. The method involves mixing oils to clean your skin. I know it sounds kinda crazy, but it does work. Anyway the method calls for using sunflower oil and of course I am allergic to that so I had to try something else. Several nesties said that they used jojoba oil instead. Bet, I had that in the house anyway. So I used the jojoba oil a couple of days to clean my skin. OMG, what a mistake for MY skin. The rest of my face looked great, but my forehead got even worse. It was not the substitute oil for my skin. Huge no no for me. I was about to give up this method, but I thought I would give it another try. So i mixed EVOO and castor oil and added a couple of drops of tea tree oil. OMG, wonders for my skin. The acne started drying out and clearing up.

I also to some micro-retin-A from the Hubs that he got from the dermatologist and started putting that on the affected area.

I also was coming to the end of my conventional moisturizer for my face, so I went ahead a bought the number 1 rated moisturizer by the EWG from Keys. While there I also bought their Healing Foaming Face Wash. I have started using both every day and my skin is 95% back to its old self.

So now I am a person with a face regimen. So every day I clean my face with the face wash and moisturize. Then once a week I do the OCM. It works for my skin. I will go into more detail about my version of the OCM soon. I am so happy to have my skin back. It has been a little over a month, but it has finally happened. So that has been my battle. I have made some mistakes but now I have products in my life that will be there for a long time.

The Sunset

2010-03-19T11:57:00.006-04:00

This is for the Hubs. He is so frustrated with where we live and most of the time I don't blame him. We moved to this condo thinking it would be a great investment opportunity and a nice starter home. It is a revitalization area and because of the nationwide economic turndown, it has taken a little longer to become a nice area that either of us anticipated. They are still building in the area, which is a good sign, but some of the bad parts have not turned around as quickly. I still believe that this home was a good investment. It is close to the Metro and close to DC. Those things are always a plus. But the Hubs is not impressed. And he is getting frustrated. But sometimes when I look out the window I do not see all of the negatives. I see this.

Yes, I know if the nasty building outside my window was gone the view would be 1000 times better. But it was still a beautiful site. Watching the sun disappear behind the trees, ah, you just know that something so beautiful did not happen by accident. And yes if I were a better photographer the true beauty of the scene could have been captured. But this reminds me that sometimes life isn't as bad as we think. Because I did not "plan" to view this sunset. It was just a beautiful night and I happened to look out the window and there it was. It was just what I needed right at that time. I will have to remind the Hubs to take a look up sometimes and not always look down.

And it just happens to check off another item on my list.

#22: Make 10 new recipes

2010-03-18T18:36:00.005-04:00

Shrimp Scampi with Linguini

taken from the Food Nework recipe courtesy of Tyler Florence

I love seafood and I love easy recipes. Something about spring has brought me back to life. While I do not love cooking I just feel like doing things in general. So for dinner I decided to pull open my Food Network recipe box and try something new. Hopefully this will be as successful as my last new recipe. I want to have a couple of easy go-to recipes in my arsenal.

Ingredients

1 pound linguini
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 large shallot, finely diced
5 cloves garlic, sliced
Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
20 large shrimp, about 1 pound, peeled and deveined, tail on
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley leaves

Directions

For the pasta, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. When it has come to the boil, add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the linguini. Stir to make sure the pasta separates; cover. When the water returns to a boil, cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is not quite done. Drain the pasta reserving 1 cup of water.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) until the shallots are translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper; add them to the pan and cook until they have turned pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the pan; set aside and keep warm. Add wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons oil. When the butter has melted, return the shrimp to the pan along with the parsley and cooked pasta and reserved pasta water. Stir well and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over a bit more olive oil and serve immediately.

My edits:

I used whole wheat linguini and I forgot to get some parsley so I just used some dried. I also followed the pasta instructions on the box because I knew the Hubs would complain about al dente pasta.

The verdict: It was good. When something does not taste as great as I thought it would, I have no idea where i went wrong. Was it the wine I chose? Did I cook it too long or not enough? I know one thing, I had leftovers and it tasted better to me than it did after it was immediately cooked. So maybe the flavors needed to settle. I know I will make the shrimp scampi again because that was delicious and flavorful.

To check out the rest of my 101 in 1001 click here.

#4: Get educated with books and documentaries

2010-03-18T16:25:00.003-04:00

You gotta love Netflix. I was on a documentary kick, so not only did we watch Food, Inc., we watched Good Hair. Every time I hear those words together I cringe. I have been natural since 2004, so I am used to hearing the stereotypes. I also have learned how to do my own hair (which is actually not common in the black community). And for the most part I make my own hair products. So nothing said in this documentary was new to me, but it was interesting to see the billion, yes that is with a "B", dollar industry at its finest. It is amazing to me that people will go without food to have their hair looking good. It was sad to see black children and teens thinking that they had to look like the white people on tv to look "good". And to see how this idea carries over into adulthood. But delivered by Chris Rock, you have no choice but to laugh.

#30: Watch 5 documentaries on eco-friendly living

2010-03-18T15:59:00.005-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, the Hubs and I watched the Academy Award nominated documentary Food, Inc. I told the Hubs I would not send it back to Netflix unless he watched it with me, so FINALLY i got him to. I had already heard a lot of the information presented in the documentary, but I really wanted the Hubs to see it so he could get a better understanding of why it is important to me that we eat better. I think his eyes were opened a little, but I think he is still skeptical. I also think he feels that eating conventionally is just more convenient. But since I do 98% of the grocery shopping I am not worried.

He was convinced that I was trying to turn him into a vegetarian, but that is definitely not the case. I just wanted him to understand where the food he buys from the grocery store is coming from and what is actually done to the food to get it from the "farm" to the store. I call it a "farm" because if you see the documentary you will realize that it is not a farm in the sense that most people think of a farm. I will admit that something like this is what turned me vegetarian, but that honestly was not my intention.

I just think everyone has a right to know where their food is coming from and whether or not it is truly safe to eat. Once you have the information, what you decide to do with it is up to you. To find out more about this documentary, go here.

To view my 101 in 1001 click here.

I didn't even know I had a...

2010-03-16T12:26:00.007-04:00

CROCK POT.

How long have I had one?? No idea. I think my mother-in-law got it for us when we moved in, so that would be 2007. Yeah, that long ago. I was recently telling the Hubs that I wanted to get one so we could start having more home cooked meals. And everyone was telling me how easy it was. I was about to go buy one. Then I come home the other day and apparently the Hubs found it in the closet. Then he asks if I knew it was there. Um, no. So I am off to find some recipes.

Another great thing is I have been wanting to get away from canned beans. I have been reading that a great way to cook dried beans is in the crock pot and then freezing them. So yeah, I am excited. On my way to being a domestic wife...well, maybe.

#28: Read 100 books

2010-03-11T12:32:00.004-05:00

I have actually read a couple of books, 3 to be exact. I have been busy and haven't had time to update. The 3 books I read are all by Linda Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper series.

Part of the reason I have not updated frequently is because my laptop bit the dust. So I have been using the Hubs' Mac and I honestly do not like it as much. One I do not know how to use the functions as well as I do on my gateway. One of the things I can figure out is how to copy and save the book covers for reviews. So here are the reviews, but with no pics. If I ever figure it out, I may add them.

This was my least favorite of the Linda Fairstein books so far. I just did not like the story and it took me a little longer to read. If it were not part of a series I probably would have put it down and moved on. I found myself more invested in the main characters than the story and that is why I finished the book. I wanted to see what would happen with them.

I was praying that the Alexandra Cooper series was not taking a nose dive after reading Death Dance and not being thrilled. Well, I liked this book. Back to the old Linda Fairstein. This is book nine of the series. I am more invested in the main characters than the story. I just want to see what happens with them. It is nice to have an interesting story as well.

Yes, more Linda Fairstein. Did I mention before that I love a series. I think I am going to read a non-crime book next though. Take a mini break. One of the reasons is this series is almost over. Then I will not know what to read.

If you want to see my 101 in 1001 list, it is here.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

2010-03-05T12:47:00.003-05:00

It has been a couple of months since I started my 101 tasks and this is the first new recipe I have made. I have been cooking, occasionally, but nothing new. So last night the Hubs says that he wants some stir-fry. I have never made it before and was just winging it. No recipe to follow or anything. Definitely not my normal style, but I think I was creative and it tasted good, according to the Hubs. I was not hungry, so I did not eat any. It smelled very good though. Basically I just used what we had in the house. And I did not measure anything.

Shrimp Stir-fry

Ingredients:

organic carrots
yellow pepper
frozen broccoli
frozen green beans
frozen organic corn
garlic
large frozen shrimp
olive oil
organic vegetable broth
rice
salt and pepper

Since the carrots were fresh, I cut those up and sauteed them in some olive oil and minced garlic cloves. I let that go for a couple of minutes. Then I added the chopped yellow pepper. I added the broccoli, green beans, and corn and let that cook for a while. After that cooked for a couple of minutes, I added the shrimp. I added the vegetable broth and let it simmer. I added salt and pepper to taste. Then I made some basic white rice. Put the stir-fry on top and Voila! a good dinner. Very simple, healthy, and yummy. I must say I am impressed with myself and will be adding this to my list of future dinners.

I hope this makes the Hubs realize that if he TELLS me what he wants to eat I will cook it and generally with decent results. I am just terrible at meal planning.

To check out the rest of my 101 in 1001 look here: My List

Updates

2010-03-04T17:35:00.004-05:00

I have been so busy lately I have not been updating my blog. I don't think it is that I have been very busy, just not managing my time very well. Ever since the snow in the beginning of February I have not felt like myself. I cannot wait for Spring. I feel much more alive and ready for the world when the weather is nice. So what has been going on...

After 1 year of having different hours and different days off than the Hubs we will finally have the same hours...we may even have one day off together, don't know yet. I will miss the people I currently work with and I know I will not enjoy my work life as much, but this will be great for my life outside of work. The Hubs has been trying to be positive and act like the different schedules was not bothering him (one of the reasons I love him), but he could not hide his excitement when he found out. So I am happy about this change coming.

I have not been working out consistently. I know my weight is up and for the first time I do not want to get on the scale. I have got to get my motivation back I just don't know how. I am hoping that with the coming of nice weather my motivation will return. I have definitely decided that I am going to get back into swimming. It is the one exercise I think I can stick with. I found an online training site that does speed drills and stroke drills, etc. so I am excited. Especially since one of my goals for 101 in 1001 is to swim 300 hours and I have not done 1 minute, not a one.

My skin and I are having a battle. I have never had acne or bad skin so this is new territory for me. I have been trying different things and I see progress being made and I have come up with a new routine for my face and its cleaning and will be updating that. Luckily it is only one section of my forehead I am battling with, but it is enough. And in my process of trying to make it better, I initially made it worse. So I will discuss the good and the bad.

I have been reading books, so I have some updates on what I have been reading.

I bought some green products and some ingredients to make my own and will be updating that.

I have been slacking on school. This is part of my all around lack of motivation. Luckily I am in an online program and they are very understanding of working schedules so it has not impacted my grade even though I have been submitting late assignments, but this is not like me. I am working on improving this as well.

So what is my explanation for my overall slackdom and lack of motivation... I am blaming it all on the Snowpacolypse, the Snowmaggedon, the 55+ inches that have poured down on the DC area in the last couple of months. I felt like all that weight of the snow was on me and I could just not get from under it. But as the snow melts, the heaviness and lack of life I have been feeling is melting away as well. New life. Yes. And that is what has been going on in a nutshell.

#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

2010-02-10T18:45:00.000-05:00

I read two non-crime books in a row. And I loved both of them. Swapping Lives is not like any book I have read in years. I am definitely not a "chick-flick" kinda book reader. Again relating books to movies, this reminds me of The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, sorta. A single journalist from London swaps lives for a month with a mother of two, with a husband from the Connecticut suburbs.

Parts of this book really made me look at my life. Even though I am not a mother, I could identify with the rut that the mother in this book was in. Sometimes you get so caught up in the routine of the day. I was just telling the Hubs that sometimes I feel like everything but a wife. Some days I feel like a mom (even though I have not kids), a maid, a student, and employee, etc. and after all that I forget that I am a woman and a wife. Sometimes it is hard to break that cycle, but I realize it is something I have to work on. I have to remember the fun loving person I was before we got married. I also have to remember that everything is not my responsibility. I do have a husband and we are supposed to be equals here. I have to let him take care of some things.

Despite the epiphany this book made ME have, it is a very light-hearted, fun read. It definitely took my mind away from the record breaking blizzard DC is experiencing at the moment. There may be a post about that if I can get to it.

#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

2010-02-03T12:30:00.004-05:00

Just finished reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Great book. I could not put this book down, which is not typical for a non-crime book for me. It is a story about two boys from Kabul, Afghanistan and the journey their lives take. How one simple decision can change a person entire life. It brought a new light on Afghanistan for me. Several places that are frequently mentioned in the news in a negative light are shown how they used to be before the Russian invasion and the takeover by the Taliban.

#28: Read 100 books

2010-01-28T22:12:00.003-05:00

I finished another book. I actually finished a couple of days ago, but haven't had time to update. I love reading series, getting invested in the characters, not being able to wait and see what happens. This is book number 6 of 10. I highly recommend the Alexandra Cooper series. She is a NY DA in charge of the sex crimes unit. Great series.

#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

2010-01-22T09:37:00.005-05:00

I read my first non-crime related book, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. It has been a long time since I have read a book on a different subject. I would have never read this book on my own, but it was the next book in an online book club, so I thought I would give it a try. It took a little will for me to get into. I think part of the problem was it was not my typical subject matter. But once I got into it, I liked it. It is the a story on various people revolving around one central event. It reminded me of a cross between Crash and Vantage Point. Yes, I will relate books to movies whenever I can.

#9,21,44,45,56,58: Update

2010-01-06T19:16:00.003-05:00

So some of my 101 tasks are going to be ongoing for the 1001 days. I will periodically update them to keep track of my status.

#9 - Reduce water usage
I think I am doing pretty well with this. I was very wasteful with water. I have since stopped letting the water run when I am brushing my teeth. I think I read somewhere that it saves 8 gallons of water each time you do that. I will have to look up the actual numbers. I also used to let the water run for the shower until it got hot, then I would turn on the shower. I realize that the shower faucet puts out more water than the showerhead, so I know I am saving water there. I have been looking up other ways I can cut back on water usage and I don't know how dedicated I am for some of them. I know some people follow the motto "if it's yellow, let it mellow" (with regards to the toilet and flushing), but I don't think I am there yet. Maybe as I continue on the journey to becoming more "green" I will adopt that one??

#21 - Track my experience in my blog
Self explanatory.

#44 - Make the bed every day for 1001 days
I had to modify this one a little. I know. But, I am only going to commit to making the bed when I am the last one out of it, which is 99% of the time. The weekend this challenge started the Hubs had taken off work. So I was knowing I wanted to make the bed, but he was still in it. Once my day gets going I am not going to go back and make the bed. So, I have made the bed every day that I was the last to get out of it, so far.

#45 - Clean the kitchen every day before work for 1001 days
I have been doing this. Now what I consider cleaning the kitchen with regards to this challenge is to make sure there are no dishes in the sink, the counters and stove are cleaned off, and the floors are clean. So I have been doing that so far.

#56 - Donate to charities through CFC every year
Now I have to admit that for 2010 I had to sign up for this before the new year. But this year I donated to the Marine Mammal Center. They rescue, rehabilitate, and then release marine mammals. They also have a huge educational component, which I love. I have a special place in my heart for marine mammals. Hopefully I will get to go visit this facility one day (maybe get to check of another task by doing it).

#58 - Go to church more regularly
Well there has only been one Sunday since this challenge began and I did go to church. For me going to church is such a great experience. I always learn something and I feel like it is always related to something I am experiencing in my life. This past Sunday, Dr. Washington spoke on the determination needed to achieve your goals. Definitely something the Hubs and I needed to hear.

#28 Read 100 books

2010-01-06T18:59:00.005-05:00

I just finished reading Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker. So it took me 6 days to get me through this book. I liked this book; it kinda reminded me a the Saw movies. You know, what would you do to save the life of someone you loved. Parts of the book frustrated me because I wanted the truth to come out. I would recommend it to someone who likes crime/suspense books.

101 in 1001

2009-12-28T10:05:00.073-05:00

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 usage
10. 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 (12/50)
28. Read 100 books not including 50 above (16/100)
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
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 300 hours (1/300)
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
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

2009-12-24T06:57:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-30T23:34:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-11-26T09:45:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-19T17:44:00.006-05:00

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

2009-11-16T23:18:00.004-05:00

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

2009-11-14T11:29:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-13T15:03:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-08T09:36:00.004-05:00

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

2009-11-05T11:47:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-03T17:03:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-31T15:24:00.000-04:00

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"

2009-10-30T16:25:00.005-04:00

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

2009-10-29T20:00:00.005-04:00

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

2009-10-29T11:45:00.005-04:00

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

2009-10-25T11:40:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-24T09:45:00.007-04:00

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!

2009-10-19T11:49:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-16T17:22:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-16T11:47:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-15T12:50:00.004-04:00

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.

2009-10-14T12:22:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-08T10:21:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-10-03T11:52:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-30T13:34:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-26T08:49:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-22T11:32:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-18T17:41:00.004-04:00

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

2009-09-12T12:34:00.008-04:00

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.

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

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

Changing the face of the blog

2009-09-11T11:11:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-08T10:55:00.005-04:00

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

2009-09-08T10:37:00.003-04:00

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...

2009-08-31T18:17:00.004-04:00

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

2009-08-28T20:17:00.006-04:00

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

2009-08-17T08:33:00.002-04:00

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

2009-08-03T09:57:00.003-04:00

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?

2009-07-30T09:59:00.003-04:00

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.