Ivy the Photographer

Ivy knows how to work our phones. I have quite a few of her original portraits. The majority are stored on my laptop. So here are a few that I have on my phone.

Fitocracy Website Review

I have been a member & app user of Fitocracy for about 4 months. I'm not entirely sure.
Fitocracy is a mix between a social networking, fitness diary, and game website. Track your workouts, earn points and level up and get feedback from other people. I think it is a great idea but the website needs a lot of work.

You cannot fix workouts after a week.
The app and the website aren't very user friendly.
You cannot delete your account. You have to ask a moderator to send a message to the developer on a weekly basis for your account to be deleted.
The website ONLY works on Chrome. My laptop is too old to work with Chrome. I've tried. This isn't a major gripe because I have other computers I can use, but it is inconvenient.
I have one workout that doubled itself - because the app wasn't functioning properly. I tried to immediatly delete the activity but the app fritzed out on me.
I have a 10 mile hike that materialized out of nowhere. Unless, of course, it was another user error because the app is difficult to use.
I have a 20 mile hike which I know is user error and I supposedly fixed that immediately.

I really don't think the points adjusted after I fixed the workout. So I feel like I am being unintentionally dishonest.

The app and the website should not be that difficult to use.

A good idea. A bad product.

Do you know of a similar website and app that does it better? Let me know!

Don't Fall Asleep

Just some random updates. I know, my life is terribly interesting, right?

First off, the $20 makeup challenge vlog. This is still in the works. I purchased the makeup. I filmed it and it was 30+ minutes long. I really don't think I can edit it because of all the yammering I did. So I filmed it a second time. And apparently my skin had a reaction to one or some of the products. I didn't change a darn thing. I don't understand it. So I am thinking about "cheating." I still want to film this makeup challenge but I need to use something on my face that will keep me from having another possible allergic reaction. I am getting pretty pissed off with my skin. It's getting sensitive in it's old age. This is the third time I've had a problem with products. Well, no, not really. I think I've always had problems.

This week, we are down with family again. Ivy was here by herself (well, without Mommy and Daddy) visiting her grandparents. Ryan and I got some time to ourselves and we got to have several quiet dinners and late evenings without worrying about getting home at a certain time. Children have curfews? No... no. NNNNOOOOO. The parents are the ones with curfews because they have to be home for the kids' curfews to be valid. Ivy has just been a loving little girl. She's been so polite and sweet. I just want to buy her fun stuff. Is she ready to drive yet? Hey Ivy, what kind of BMW do you want?

Choo chooooo! Oh look it's the ADD train! It seriously derailed my thoughts. Damned shiny, glittery, train. Oooooh pretty!

Last week, she was visiting. This week, Ryan and I joined her. Next week I return home. I will be going to a conference for work. I refuse, at the moment, to go into the brain-draining details of why conferences suck so much. Then one of those days, Ryan comes home to go to a whole day of training for work. And then a day or two later, Ivy comes home.

I have pretty much decided that even though I got makeup for my birthday, I'm going to go ahead and get a bike. But I'll wait until the end of August. I have also decided to look into a membership to a gym. I've also decided to equip all computers all over the world with this magical device that prevents you from jumping through the darn thing to wring my neck with what I'm about to spew all over the internet... And if you know me in real life, remember that I come equiped with knives and a gun.

Hold on to your britches homegirls. It's a doozy. I've decided I'm fat. There I've said it. I really need to lose weight. Do you know me? Have you seen my pictures? Then you'd probably want to slap me into next week. Because everyone who does see me when this shit flys out of my mouth, I swear I somehow walk away with bruises. Anyway... here's the secret. I've learned to wear clothes that fit. So no, it doesn't look like I need to lose weight. But I am not happy. I do not feel good. Mentally or physically. I am inching closer and closer to the weight and size (so help me when I look at my profile) as I was when I was 8-9 months pregnant.

Now, before I go any further... please realize that I am a proponent of shape. People need shape! I support the Dove campaign. Screw what society says is beautiful. Shame on those people who have gendered-weight hate.  If you are comfortable with your body, then so be it. You are happy and beautiful. I just am not. I don't want to be a skeleton. I just want to feel and look healthy. I want to fit into my clothes. My heart and mind are scaring me lately. And I think it has to do with the fat on my body.

History, because we love even more of a story... I am considering myself anorexic. I had a battle with it in high school and early college. And I still have some of the mental anguish with the disease and sporadic tendencies. So I'm slapping myself into the current category of EDNOS. Maybe I'll talk about that some other time. Digression into digression.

I'm throwing it out there. I am going to make an effort to change my life with healthier options.

Mid July MPM

Short and simple... Menu Plan Monday

Sun - Links - I had a PBJ sandwich, Ryan wasn't feeling well
Mon - Chicken parm & alfredo - Hot links
Tues - Pizza - Ate out: Sushi!
Weds - Ranch chicken
Thurs - YOYO: I'm going out, Ryan ?
Fri - Steak and potatoes
Sat - Slow cooker BBQ chicken from Simply Scratch

I scratched out what we had planned and added what we ended up doing.

Making it Up as I Go Along

So let's talk cosmetics.
Instead of a bike for my birthday, I got make up. It's just make up, right? This year, I learned that not all make up is equal. You've got high end cosmetics that you find at department stores and have a pretty price tag. And then there's the cheaper stuff that you find in drug stores and super markets. I used to walk around not knowing the difference between MAC and Cover Girl. It's all the same, right? Right?? Why spend $$$$ on a single eye shadow instead of $ on four? I know why now. The quality is much better. 

Honestly, I've never been into cosmetics. And I can only guess why. While I was growing up, my mom was never really into make up so I never sat with her as she put it on, she never put any on me. I think I only played in her make up once. As a teenager, I never really spent what little money I got on cosmetics. I never had any little girlfriends or BFFs - no one to really play with make up with.

I was 10 when I got my first "make up". It was a little case that had all the basics. A blush, a bronzer, a few eye shadows, several lip glosses and a tube of mascara. Thinking back, having the mascara in that kit is odd. I used it as real make up even though it was marketed as a toy.

A couple years later, still using that garbage, a 'friend' asked me why I didn't wear make up. Hell, for all I knew, I was! So then I decided to spend my allowance on a few Cover Girl cosmetics. It was all I knew. After that I never really messed with make up. Just didn't do it. I did accumulate more over time but didn't really put any effort into anything on a daily basis.

I think I got into make up after I graduated high school. I got contacts and had to cover the bags under my eyes. After years of dating, I was gifted with Clinique freebies so I was introduced into the world of high end cosmetics. I bought an eye shadow duo and a foundation. Still, I never really did my make up much.

College came and went. Did my make up sometimes. By this time, I had myself figured out. I didn't need cosmetics to feel comfortable in my skin. I was happy with me, au naturale. Still, I had accumulated some more make up but didn't do it all the time. I'm just lazy like that.

Skip ahead a few years and I finally got into make up. I got foundation matched to my skin tone. I still only accumulated cosmetics here and there. Cover Girl and Clinique is what I stuck with. Then came along a little lady named Dita Von Teese. Kerplewie! I really loved her glamourous look. And red lips. Somehow, I found out about MAC and got a lip liner and lipstick. And a Christian Dior gloss. But at the time, I still felt the red didn't look good on me. That was like two years ago. And this year, THIS YEAR, I finally get into messing around with make up. Hellooooooo YouTube Beauty Vloggers and Gugus.

I've spent more on cosmetics this year alone than I have my entire life. Maybe that's an over-exaggeration. I really don't think so. I'm still trying to get over the sheer amount of products that are used. Primer for face, eyes and eye lashes. Bronzer, highlighter, blush. Foundation, concealer, powder... I think you get the idea.

So I have two make up vlogs I'm going to do this week.

One is a $20 make up challenge. You purchase as much cosmetics as you can for $20 to create a full face or something. Here's what I got for $19. All of it from the elf line which is $1 or $3 depending on what you get; regular line or studio line. This vlog will probably be a review of the products too because I've never used some of this stuff. I don't know what I'm doing with some of these things.

e.l.f.: 1. Tone Correcting Powder 3$; 2. Contouring Blush & Bronzer (dusted/bronzed) 3$; 3. Brightening Eye Color Quad (butternut) 1$; 4. Matte Lip Color (nearly nude) 3$; 5. Mineral Infused Mascara (black) 3$; 6. Tinted Moisturizer (porcelain) 3$; 7. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter (fair/glow) 3$;

Twenty Dollar Challenge at Nineteen Dollars
Could also consider this an elf challenge

Another vlog I'm going to do is a five minute make up challenge. Can I do a full face in five minutes? I guess we shall see. 

So let's talk about my birthday. We planned on moving apartments and I was going to get a bike for my birthday. But we ended up not moving and I decided I didn't want to try to carry a bike up a flight of stairs, through the apartment and through a tight squeeze galley kitchen. I got high end cosmetics instead. I'm starting to replace Cover Girl with the good stuff. I'll probably vlog this too. The following picture isn't all of my high end make up. I'm just starting to get into MAC.

MAC: 1. Viva Glam VI Lipglass; 2. Carbon (matte); 3. Blanc Type (matte); 4. Naked Lunch (frost); 5. Fig 1 (matte); 6. Brun (satin)... I purchased 2 & 3 in May or June. but everything else I got for my birthday.

I'm really liking the MAC cosmetics. Should I save that for a review video? So I think that covers it, girl.

Pinterest Addict

Why do you pin?
I pin because I'm inspired to do something 100% of the time (or 50% of my pins {10% success rating meaning that I've actually done something that inspired me through searching Pinterest}). Confused? Good, join the crowd.
Here are some of my completed Pins!

Salsa Blanco (modified from this)
Memory Jar
Tried this packing technique (which still didn't keep me from brining three bags)
Made Christmas gifts out of these
Made this cocktail for my friend's birthday
I love potatoes! And fried pickles apparently.

And several more things out there. Recipes, crafts, life hacks... The internet has decided that it is fed up with me and is no longer willing to cooperate. Else, I'd have a longer list of my completions.

Edited to Add:

I'd like to finish my post and I'll probably add to this again later. But these are the thoughts I have regarding Pinterest.

First off, there are a lot of people who sit and waste their time all day long just looking at stuff. "People Pin for weddings they'll never have and houses they'll never build." The internet, like TV, in my opinion turns people into zombies. Pinterest is a catalyst for that.

But there is praise out there for Pinterest. Just like Facebook and Twitter and other social media outlets, Pinterest is becoming a career resource. Rather, people are using Pinterest for their careers or jobs. For instance, since I'm a teacher, I have four 'boards' dedicated to work. One is for general work topics (classroom management and organization), one for food science, one for interior design, one for sewing etc.

The people behind Pinterest also are attempting to address self confidence too. This is a good thing because people who are susceptable to images that can harm them, won't see much of that. There's controversy over this because even though they don't allow 'thinspiration' or images promoting self harm, there's fitness "motivation" images that could be considered thinspiration too.

My opinion is that Pinterest is helpful more than harmful although it can be addicting for certain people.

White Sauce

"Mexican" Ranch Dip
Salsa Blanco

Who cares what you call it, it's freakin awesome.

I first had this dip at a local taco/burrito dig called Chiloso. I always got this sauce with everything. Chips, nachos, breakfast tacos (ugh, yes). And then another hometown-local burrito chain that no longer exists had it. For two years, I looked everywhere for the recipe. I know it should be an easy recipe to make. But I wanted to have the exact, perfect recipe. Never found it.

And then came Pinterest. After about a year of pinning, I found a copy cat recipe of Chuy's jalapeno ranch dip. I honed in on that recipe so fast it'd make your head spin. So I looked and it seemed pretty on target for what I wanted. Except it has tomatillo in it. I'm sure what I'm looking for didn't. And this was a rather large recipe so I halved it.

1 1/3 C mayo
1/3 C buttermilk
1/3 C jalapeno, canned
1 Tbsp jalapeno juice
A small bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 packet of dry ranch mix - I used the larger packet, I think there's a small packet.
1 Tbsp lime juice

I chopped the small handfull of cilantro and blended everything together in the blender (we dont have a food processer) until it was all chopped and creamy.

I guess this is right. It's still a bit tangy and salty. But daaaaaaamn it's good.

Is Complaining Worth It?

Two stories. Chronological is logical, chrono?

I went to Ulta (and this complaint isn't about them) and purchased some cosmetics. I don't remember what all I bought but I know I picked up two NYX cream eyeshadows. One is a blue-green iridescent sea foam color and the other is a really deep shade of plum purple. I tried them both that day and wore one that evening. When I was putting on my makeup, I noticed a burning sensation on/in my eyes. I attributed that to my contacts and the abuse my eyes take when I put them in.

I went out, had fun and came home and took my makeup off and noticed my lids were marroon. Did the makeup stain my lids? No. The burning was back and my eyes started swelling. I then realized I had an allergic reaction. The only difference in my makeup routine was the NYX cosmetics.

I contacted them via their website to let them know what happened and received an email back saying someone would contact me. The next day, I got an email from someone in their HR department asking for my phone number or for me to call her. I called the next day and it was automated: call during our business hours. It was Easter weekend so I figured everyone was on holiday. Okay.

Following week, I call again. Wrong hours, they're in California and I was off two hours. So I called later. "I'm sorry, she's out on a business trip." Okay, following week "I'm sorry, she's not in the office yet." I haven't called back or emailed again yet. But I plan to. I just got really busy with work and things. I mean, I spent some money on their product. I even went back to Ulta to tell them and they helped me out a bit - get/use a gentle primer. Okay. I'm still too chicken to try the product again. What do you do with a mid-range product that is used but you have an allergic reaction to. You can't give it to someone else, that's unhygenic. It's really pretty. I liked the color. Very beautiful on and it was so nice to use. Anyway, they'll be hearing more from me soon.

Here's Ulta story 2.
I'm a card carrying member and I get member benefit emails. A coupon for free eyebrow waxing was sent to me. "Go to your local Ulta Benefit counter for a free eyebrow waxing on your birthda!" So we went. When I got there, someone was asking the cosmetoigist questions. No big deal.

But then I was walking around the counter for five minutes. It's kinda sad that I know the girl's problem and solution. 'Her makeup melts off her face. She should use a primer. But some of the combination isn't working so there is no telling what the problem is. So try this product.'

They'd all go off to find said product and would return to the counter. Same conversation, same action. Three times. Not once did the cosmetologist ask me if she could help me, even to just see what I needed and return to who she was dealing with. I must've walked around that counter for ten minutes. That's poor customer service right there. And it's not like she didn't see me. I was all over that counter.

So I went to look around for other products that I wanted. The girl never returned to her counter so I got my stuff and left.

The email never said to make an appointment, so I didn't do that. Just showed up. Sure, I can certainly do it myself. I just don't mind taking advantage for a free offer.

So I'm sending two emails.

Menu Plan Monday - Birthday Week

We arrived back home (again) on Sunday. We spent a week at home and decided, what the heck. Go back and visit with family some more. Didn't to an MPM... we ate out pretty much every meal.

It was pretty low key. Ivy and I went to one of my Aunt's house to swim and have dinner. I made that awesome flag cake for Fourth of July. Sadly, my nephew and mom got a stomach virus or something and we couldn't hang out as much. But we bought a new car! Exciting because we've had only one car for about 5 years. Three of those years it wasn't an inconvenience because Ryan and I worked at the same place. Two of those years, Ryan dropped me off at work. The fact that Ryan got a job necessitated that we needed a second car.

Yesterday was my birthday. I woke up to some awesome stuff. I was taking my medicine and had a mouth full of water. Ivy came into the bedroom and started jabbering at me like usual. I was listening of course but couldn't reply.

Ivy: Mom you're awake!
Me: Mmmhmm
I: Mom!
M: ??
I: Mom! Look at me!
M: *turning so I can look*
I: *points at me, matter of factly* Happy Birthday.

She was totally serious, by the way. I wish I had been able to video/record that moment. I could not stop laughing.

I got to open up some presents. A very lovely coffee mug and some gift cards to some of my favored stores. I had an appointment so we ate at a restaurant that we used to frequent, Chiloso. Yummy breakfast tacos. I get eggs, potatoes and queso on mine. Then I had my appointment. Hooray for prescriptions. Got another little gift at this point, a necklace and another gift card. And we visited Sprinkles and got some cupcakes. I was really tired at that point so we went back home and I took a nice long nap. After that, we went to the bank for car paperwork. I had gotten an email for a free eyebrow waxing at Ulta. I like free and I do need my brows waxed. The rest of the Ulta story is a whole other post. I'm angry. We ended up at Marble Slab for ice cream - which my butt really didn't need. Then we went home. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching a movie with Ivy, dinner and the usual low-key evening events of parenting a two-year-old. And, to top off my evening, I did a vlog (which I need to quickly edit and upload).

Aren't you just so thrilled to know every little detail of my life? I know. Totally boring. I posted this on Facebook the other day: If Morgan Freeman narrated it, my life would be infinitly more awesome. I was watching Shawshank Redemption. I love that movie.

We should be spending this week packing up. We are supposedly moving in 5 days. But I'm sure we have this odd feeling of "we can take a few days to move, it's not a priority." So here I sit, writing a blog.

Did you get through all that okay? Here is the MenuPlanMonday for this week.

Sunday - Pizza: just a frozen one. We got home later in the afternoon so we didn't cook. Just went to the store for groceries and picked that up.
Monday - Hamburgers - I had goat cheese on my burger, YUM!
Tuesday - Nachos
Wednesday - Chicken parmesan with alfredo sauce
Thursday - Ranch chicken with baked beans
Friday - Steaks and mashed potatoes
Saturday - Hot linksI've been wanting to do some more link-ups. Tell me, what link-ups are out there? I'm horrible at Googling and I can't find any.

Have a lovely week!

I just can't help myself

Food. Food. FOOD. FOOOOOOD!
I'm stuffed from this morning's coffee and donuts, celebratory lunch (hot link, grilled corn on the cob, and potato casserole - no dessert yet). Guh! How can I even think of food when I'm this stuffed?! We are starting to get into some serious fooding. And I need to get into some serious running and exercise routines. But it's just. so. darn. hot. 

I can sit and spend hours looking at food blogs.

Star Spangled Jello - About 10 years ago, a relative made some jello cake for 4th of July and I loved it. I asked for the recipe and was told where I could find it. Did I? Of course not. But I just saw this not five minutes ago. I think this may be a variation of it. I swear I will make this.

Simply Scratch - Ryan has been finding and following food blogs and then cooking up recipes found there. So I just got suckered into petting a kitty cat. Ahem... So I started following them too. Simply Scratch is one of the blogs I like. Strawberry buttermilk pancakes oh my god. Seriously, this cat is just sitting by the mouse and when I'm scrolling, she's trolling my arm 'pet meeeeeeee-ow peeeeeet meeeeee-ow'. I'll post the picture later.

I cannot tell you why, but I have been wanting food that has goat cheese/feta incorporated somehow. I'm not overly fond of it. I find it grainy and bitter. So naturally, every time I see it, I want it.

And I really want to like oatmeal. I know it is good for you and filling. But damn the texture. Ick! I saw a vlog/youtube channel... you're doing it wrong (or something) and the 'right' way to do it looked good. I may have to look into it. Link? Ok! Here ya go!

So. An entirely random food post.
And to keep it mixed up... My newest nephew was born yesterday at 6:04 pm weighing in at 7 pounds 3 ounces and 20 inches. Welcome to the world Gaberial Paul William.

Let them eat cake

This cake will kill you. This cake will kill me. Happy birthday America! You can blame this cake for the deaths of your citizens.

I was going to vlog this. Then I just got so into making it that I forgot what I was doing. My husband, and I think my mom, asked me about this cake. So I decided to make it again.

Back Story
I (read: we) moved away from home. I got hooked on a little-known blog called The Pioneer Woman. This was when there was no differentiation of her posts (no "Pioneer Woman Cooks") and I started cooking some of the recipes that she posted. That summer, my parents came up for a visit and I made this cake a day or two before they left. It was delicious. And I hadn't thought about it since. Until this year. Like I said, I know Ryan was talking about it and I think my mom mentioned it so I made it today. My mom and I went and got everything we needed. I don't think I even put the fruit on it when I made it the first time. I don't know... itsbeensooooolongagooooo.uuuuugh.

Back-to-Today Story:
Anyway, I remember I didn't make the full recipe. And it was a pain in the ass to convert it again. So... for the record and for my sanity, I'll give you the conversion for a half recipe. And for your curiosity, here's the link to the original recipe posted on TPW. Because I live in the real world, I do not (nor does my mom) possess commercial baking pans at 17x12.5" or piping bags with star tips. I used a 9X13" pan and a gallon sized zippy baggie for the icing.


AAAAaaaaand *headdesk* about the stripes. Don't get it? Shame on you!


In the process of making the icing, I think I may have killed the hand mixer that my mother has had since who-knows-when that is surely older than I am. It's avocado green if that gives you any indication. For some reason, my cake batter didn't turn out as thick but I was using a hand mixer, not a stand mixer. Who knows. It should taste just fine though. But if someone ends up face down, totally not my fault.


So here's a converted/half recipe for Barefoot Contessa's Fourth of July cake on The Pioneer Woman Cooks.



FOR THE CAKE:
1 stick + 1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
1.5 cups Sugar
3 whole Eggs
1/2 cup Sour Cream (Not Low Fat)
3/4 teaspoon Vanilla
1.5 cups Flour, Sifted
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp Cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt (Use just under half Teaspoon Regular Salt If Kosher Salt Is Not Available)
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

FROSTING
12 ounces pound Cream Cheese (1.5 - 8oz. Packages, Not Low Fat)
1/2 pound Unsalted Butter (2 Sticks)
3 1/4 C Powdered Sugar
3/4 teaspoon Vanilla
1 pint Blueberries
2 pints Raspberries (Wash And Pat Dry)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.

In a mixing bowl, mix unsalted butter and sugar together on high until light and fluffy, about a minute or so. Add eggs, two at a time. Mix after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, kosher salt and baking soda. Turn mixer to low and gradually add flour mixture to butter/sugar mixture, one scoop at a time. Mix after every addition. Keep adding the flour mixture, mix until just combined. Do not overmix!

Pour the thick cake batter into the pan. (It’s much thicker than regular cake batters.) With a knife or offset spatula, spread the cake batter evenly over the pan. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.


To make the cream cheese frosting, in a mixing bowl, add cream cheese and butter. Whip to combine. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until thoroughly combined, scraping the sides once during mixing.

Put about 1/2 the frosting on the cake. Mark off the area of the stars with a toothpick. Prepare a pastry bag with a large star tip and fill up to 2/3 with icing. Fold down both corners to keep icing from splurging out the top. Gripping the folded-down end tightly under fingertips and start squeezing two lines of frosting at the bottom of the cake. Make two rows of raspberries on the cake, then add another two lines of frosting.
Keep repeating: two lines of frosting, two lines of raspberries, two lines of frosting, etc.

Fill the square in the corner with a nice layer of blueberries. With the star tip, squeeze little dollops of frosting all over the blueberries. Variation: Simply frost the cake with all the icing and sprinkle raspberries and blueberries randomly and generously all over the cake.

Sad Tears of Desperation

We are being "harrassed" by our current apartment complex.

Hello LenaBena,

Here are the top 10 reasons why you should STAY:

1. WE APPRECIATE YOU & WANT YOU TO STAY! Oh good for you!
2. You won't have to clean out every closet and drawer in your place. I have to do that anyway on about a monthly basis.
3. You don't have to buy boxes and pack up everything you own. Jokes on you! I still have my boxes from the last move.
4. We are so close to all the best "fun" in town! Love the " " around the word FUN. Because what's more "fun" than a Whataburger and two gas stations?
5. WE APPRECIATE YOU & WANT YOU TO STAY! You don't say? See #1
6. Your car already knows how to get here without you thinking! Whoa! When did I become Tom Cruise in Minority Report?!
7. You know where everything is in your neighborhood grocery store! That's the thing about a chain grocery... It's all mapped out the same.
8. You have a great dry cleaner and a convenient membership at the local gym or video store! You don't know me!
9. This is your home and you have great friends that live here too! ... HAAAAAHAHAHAHAhaaaaaaaa!!!!! What friends? The ones that were aiming the gun or the ones being aimed at?
10. WE APPRECIATE YOU & WANT YOU TO STAY! See #s 1 & 5 I guess you couldn't come up with ten actual reasons for us to stay. That's why I'm leaving!

Make the right decision and STAY! Call us today to sign a new lease and reserve your apartment for another year!

Sincerely,

Your Team at Desperate Apartment Complex

This is not the first email or other contact we have gotten from them begging us to stay. This is ridiculous. They weren't ready for us to move in, they're not ready for us to move out.

Quick Summer Craft Tutorial

Oh look! A craft tutorial!

I'm not sure where I first saw this idea but I saw it on Pinterest recently.

So I kept this idea in mind. I knew I was going to the beach this summer and I knew I wanted to do this little craft. I also knew I wanted to vlog it. So it did. Granted, mine is not as classy and "purdy" as Ms. Stewart's but it works for me. I really just wanted to do a quick one. You can do different types of jars too. Right now, mine is sitting on my dresser. And I'm reminded of driving up and down the beach, cooking nachos, starting my love affair with coffee, and playing bartender and creating a new beverage with a naughty name.


I hope your summer is going a great as mine is! Happy crafting!

San Antonio Vlogs

Just a couple of vlogs from San Antonio. I have maybe one more to do but for now, enjoy!

Potty Training... WHUT?

When Ivy turned two, we got her a potty chair. We were just simply introducing her to the concept. We didn't force her to sit on it. Just a suggestion. "Wanna sit on your potty?" Sometimes she would, sometimes she wouldn't. No big deal. We would just occasionally ask her.

A few months ago, she would sit on her potty and potty just a little bit. Still no forcing and we would celebrate it - no matter if she did anything or not.

She recently started to become interested in sitting on her potty quite often but still not doing anything. But a couple of evenings ago, after her bath, I asked her if she wanted to potty and she said yes. And WHAMMO!!! She went!

Ever since this weekend, she's been going to the potty more and more. Without us even asking! She'd just go and show up to one of us naked! Lots of laughs on a cute little baby booty streaking the living room - SUPRPISE!

She loves to flush the big toilet. She has two options now. She can use her own potty chair. Today, we bought a step stool and a toddler seat for the big toilet. Either way, she is one happy potty girl. We aren't forcing it. I think it just clicked with her.

So what did we do? Who knows? But it's working.

Menu Plan Monday over coffee

Back from visiting family and a mini-trip to San Antonio. Back to the real world. Back to Menu Plan Monday.

I am (we are?) going to try to make a better effort of losing weight. My 'fitness' goals did not happen. But I swear, I don't want to buy new clothes because they're too small. I want to buy new clothes because what I have is too big. I've downloaded some apps to my iphone. Fitocracy, Nike+ and 5K Runner which is probably wrong but it is the couch to 5K app. All free apps.

Bought some fruit today so I'll be adding that to what I eat. Apples, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. Oh! And watermelon. I love fruit. I just hate having to prep it before I eat it. Ugh! First world problems - I have to wash my fruit and cut it and put it in a bowl before I eat it. The downside is that I've added coffee to my diet. Whooboy! I blame you, Jessica! I would blame Starbucks but that was only occasional because of the price. I usually only purchase because I have a gift card or I get a frapp which will probably be no longer happening. Who knows.

Coffee. Husband got himself a french press and a grinder a while back. When the weather was cold, he'd have that and I'd have a hot chocolate. I was never really into coffee. But since last weekend, I've had a kurig coffee, and regular ol pot coffee. I can totally tell a difference in the flavor of the coffee that Ryan made which is much richer and not watered down. I do kill it with sugar and cream though.

I got two awesome mugs while we were in San Antonio. A handmade pottery mug from Jus' Cuz Pottery and an Alamo mug. Nothing off the wall or BA but still pretty nifty. MUGS! My first year teaching, a student gave me a mug with some candy for Valentine's Day. I keep it at work. But now I will really use it for coffee - probably at work. I also have a vintage Strawberry Cupcake mug - but that's geared toward children. How can it be a coffee mug? Where did I get that? ... An old supervisor I think?

Tell me, what is your favorite coffee mug (or mugs) and how do you take your java?

Here's my awesome mug from Jus' Cuz. I take it with a lot of cream and two heaping teaspoons of sugar. Good morning!

So, what you all came for... The MPM!

Sunday - Pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches - via Simply Scratch - however we just used bottled BBQ sauce.
Monday - LOs if they make it past lunch, Pizza if they don't
Tuesday - Fondu
Wednesday - Fried fish and shrimp
Thursday - Nachos
Friday - Ranch chicken
Saturday - Pizza if we have LOs on Monday or stir fry if we eat pizza on Monday.

San Antonio

The plans were simple. Well, for me anyway. Husband wanted an actual itenerary. Aaaaand there went the vacation. Noooooo. I'm kidding. I know how he is. He likes to have everything mapped out - A B C D... And I am a bit more spontaneous.

Tuesday, we arrived and went directly to a record store, ate lunch at Pho Sure (not recommended) and back to the record store. Then we went to another store and checked in to the Inn. We then rested a bit then walked the Riverwalk. Once back at the Inn, we went to a bar, The Friendly Spot. They had a great beer selection, not that I drink beer, but awful food. We went back to the Inn, picked up the car and attempted to eat at Dough Pizzeria but the wait was 1+ hours. Skipped that and went to Sushihana which was excellent! Then we went to another shop and retired for the evening.

Wednesday, we went to the Alamo and then to Sea World. I got a free ticket for being a teacher and we got a discounted ticket and parking through my credit union. Despite the discounts, we were not happy with the place. Yes, we saw a Shamu show and I got what I went for, it was just disgusting hot, packed and not really what we were expecting. It was just shows, rides and a little water park. Nothing like an aquarium or little learning areas. Meh, whatever. So... We had lunch at Dough Pizzeria which was amazing! And there was no wait this time which was even better. And the tiramisu? To die for. We went back to downtown for Market Square. I made good on my promise to myself. I became a coffee drinker over my beach weekend with some girlfriends and wanted a cool mug. I got two. I also added to my pressed penny, refrigerator magnet and owl collections. We went to another shop, rested at the Inn and the had dinner at a burger place called Chris Madrid's. The burger was huge but was really yummy! After that we called it a night.

Thursday morning, we made plans to pursue my dorky hobby but I got frustrated and gave up. Maybe next time, letterboxing. We went ahead and went to the Natural Bridge Caverns which was better than I expected. Got a few more pressed pennies and another magnet and we went back to SETX.

Quiet and relaxing vacation that was full of amazing food!

Pictures and vlogs coming soon!

New Hair!!

What's in my bag - beach bag edition

Getting in the Mood

Probably not quite the mood you're thinking about. Find your way out of the gutter and we will have a little chat.

Being more specific, what gets you in the mood for summer? I love summer for a lot of different reasons. There are certain songs, movies, books (although I typically don't re-read a book just because it's summertime), smells and flavors that just remind me of summer and hid a sweet spot in my brain. In my most recent vlog, I ask a few questions about summer. What does summer mean or why is it special to you? How do get ready for summer aka what puts you in the summer mood? And when does summer really start? We all know I'm from Texas and summer is practically year round in my neck of the woods.

Spoiling it for a little bit, I mentioned music in my vlog and that I like to create playlists for CDs so I have a few lists for you. Aren't you thrilled?!

Music
Cruel Summer by Bananarama
The Tide is High by Blondie
Surfer Girl by the Beach Boys
Surfin USA by the Beach Boys
Go Outside by Cults
Summertime by Janis Joplin
Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet
Pipeline by Dick Dale
Dog Days by Florence and the Machine
This is by no means all that I would put on my summer playlist. This is just what I like and could just build a list without looking for inspiration.

Books
I just finished Divergent by Veronica Roth. I don't think there's a summer feel to the book but I'm putting it on this list.
Anything by Sarah Dessen (Young Adult) but specifically Along for the Ride
The Disenchantments by Nina Lacour *I haven't read this one yet but will
The Girls of No Return by Erin Saldin *I haven't read this one yet but will
The Hunger Games trilogy by Susan Collins
Delerium and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver Although Pandemonium is set in colder weather.

Movies
The Lion King
The Little Mermaid
Lilo and Stitch
North Shore
The Endless Summer
The Sandlot
Jaws
Summer School
National Lampoon's Vacation
Independence Day
Dirty Dancing

And there you have it!
I hope you have a great summer (H.A.G.S.!)
Stay cool and do something fun