Riddle me this.

Riddle me this internet.  How do you break up with a hairstylist but keep going to the same salon?

I love the salon I go to.  It keeps my Ulta Rewards points up and I can stay a platinum member, therefore my points don't expire.  But.  I want to switch to a different stylist.  I used to rave about my stylist and about how I LOVED how he cut my hair.  But lately...?  Not so much.

I haven't been loving the fact that my appointment ALWAYS starts a half an hour later than it's scheduled.  I haven't been loving the fact that even though I've said over and over that I don't like a lot of layers in my hair because it makes it poof up and then I can't throw it in a ponytail when I need to, I still get freaking layers in my hair.  Annnnnnddd, no matter how many times I correct him on how to say my name, he always gets it wrong.  I understand it can be tricky.  I've lived with being called the wrong name for at least 20 of the 25 years of my life, but after two plus years... Annoying and frustrating.  

Someone, please help me.  I'm past the point of trying to make it work and now I know I just want to go to a different stylist.  I don't like awkward conversations, so I don't really want to just tell him that I want to go to someone else.  I've cancelled two of my last appointments because I've been putting this off.

So, what do you suggest?

OCM

I'm going to talk about some lady stuff.  Some lady beautifying stuff.

Have you heard about the Oil Cleansing Method, or OCM?  I've recently heard of it and I'm giving it a try.  Basically, instead of using a face wash that has too many chemicals that I can't pronounce, I'm using oil to wash my face.  It sounds counter productive, but it's not.  You clean oil with oil.

I've only been doing this since Saturday, and I'm clearly not an expert, but I've already noticed a huge improvement in my skin.  My face is a lot less oily and my makeup looks fresh.  I started reading about this on Pinterest last week and it went from there.  I haven't noticed a decrease in any acne blemishes, but a blemish I did have yesterday morning is gone today, which is very rare.  I've been struggling with adult acne for the past year or so.  It's been as bad as it was when I was a teenager.  I went to the dermatologist last summer with little to no results.  Cleansers that used to work for me, no longer do.  My skin is changing as I'm aging.  Womp womp.  So, I thought to myself, "Let's try this OCM thing.  Clearly, it won't hurt because nothing else is working."

I've been pleasantly surprised.  When I went to wash my face pre-shower post workout last night, it looked like I had just applied my makeup for the day.  No oily face for me. 

Let's break down what types of oil I'm using on my skin.  First and foremost, OCM calls for Castor oil because of it's cleansing properties.  Over at theoilcleansingmethod.com, it says various ratios and some suggested oils to mix with the Castor oil.  I read in my research this weekend that jojoba oil is a good oil to mix with the Castor oil because of its moisturizing characteristics.  So, I went to Trader Joe's and picked up some jojoba oil.  I found the Castor oil at Walgreen's.  I mixed a 3:2 ratio.  Three parts Castor oil to two parts jojoba oil.  I mixed it in a travel sized shampoo/soap container.  I think next time I'm going to try a 1:1 ratio.  I've read that finding the right oil to mix with the Castor oil and the oil to oil ratio varies from person to person so there is a bit of trial and error associated with it.

Here's what you do at night before bed time.  You wet a wash cloth with super hot water.  Wring it out carefully without burning yourself and lay the wash cloth over your face for a minute or until it starts to feel cold.  Next, you massage about a teaspoon of the oil into your face for a minute or two.  Then, you take your wash cloth and wipe your face off and pat dry.  Boom.  Done.  Easiest face washing ever. 

My face is super soft after doing this.  I've been using the prescription retinoid I was given last summer at the dermatologist as well.  Apparently the retinoid is supposed to help with adult acne and aging skin.  We'll see how long using that lasts...  Then, in the morning in the shower I just rinse my face off with water and apply some moisturizer like normal post shower.

Anyway, I wanted to fill you in on a new nightly routine.  I'll keep you updated with any major results, but so far, it's pretty fantastic. 

Kitty.

Boots says, "My toys."

Twenty-five.

As I previously wrote about, I had a birthday party over the weekend. Let's post some photos shall we?

Side note, these pictures were taken on my iPod and the photo quality isn't super great...

If you want flowers, but yourself some flowers.

My to-do list the morning before.

Mustache cake I made. Better pictures will be a Jacques soon.

In the three pictures Sean and I took, I look great but Sean looks red and drunk (which he wasn't).

Thanks to Katie for bringing the mustache straws!

Playing Cards Against Humanity - the first time.

Katie and her party hats. I can't remember what type of dinosaur she said she was.

The aftermath the next day.

It's my party...

Did you know it's my 25th birthday next week?  Whoa, when did another year fly by?!

Have I told you I'm having a birthday party?  I'm determined to make my 25th birthday better than my 24th birthday.  In an effort, I'm throwing myself a mustache themed birthday party.  I'm making myself a mustache shaped birthday cake.  I'm going to make cupcakes.  I'm going to serve meatballs or lil' smokies because that is what I like.  I'm going to eat queso dip and tortilla chips because I also like that.  I'm going to drink grown up cocktails.  It's going to be a grand time.  In preparation for this, I've been making lists of food to serve, groceries to get, alcohol to stock up on.

Friends and family are invited, obviously.  I want to take the time to celebrate the people that have made the past year of my life so great.  So, are you coming to my party?

I'm a bad blogger.

Apparently, I'm not very good at this keeping up with life thing.  My life gets a smidge busy and I completely drop the ball on blogging.  Sorry. I'll try to be better!

I have a plan for trying to be better.  I think I may get up early in the mornings and blog/check email and social media/have some alone me time.  I'm not sure how this is going to last since I love me some sleep, but we'll see.

I went to the dentist yesterday.  He said he can tell I'm flossing more.  I count that as a win in my book. 

There isn't too much going on.  My days basically go like this: sleep, work, run errands (if applicable), gym, dinner, sleep.  Rinse and repeat.  I'm getting over a cold and slowly am feeling a bit less miserable than the day before.

Anyway, what's new in your life?  I'll try to keep you more updated on mine!

2013

Happy new year!

I know, I know.  I haven't posted since November 14.

Goals for 2013:

• Keep flossing.
• Get back on the lifestyle change gravy train (you know what I mean)
• A new gym just opened up last week in my area so I've joined it (and got a great deal) and in conjunction with the above goal, obviously keep going and working my butt off - literally.  So far, I love the gym which makes going a lot easier and better.
• Save up some more money so Sean and I can go on a nice honeymoon.  The only requirement is something warm and all-inclusive.  Suggestions?
• Renew my passport with my new name.  Probably needed for the above goal.

It looks like 2013 is going to shape up to be a good year.

No big deal, I just grew a lemon.

So... this happened.  Actually, it is a totally BIG deal.

Picked lemon!

I picked a lemon off of Lemon Tree, my dwarf Meyer lemon tree.

Pretty.

And then I cut into it.  Sean and I ate some.  Tasted like a delicious lemon.  Two more to go for the 2012 growing season. 

Side project.

I know, I know.  I haven't been posting.  I've been really busy, blah, blah, blah.

But!

I have a little side project I want to let you in on.  I've been working on another blog that is strictly about baking and cooking.  Check it out here.  I posted my first recipe on it and it went live early this morning.

I really enjoy cooking and baking and I wanted to document that.  I wanted it seperate than this blog, though because this blog contains some personal information about me.  Whereas, that blog will not.  That is going to be strictly about baking and cooking.

So, check it out from time to time.  Perhaps starting following that blog so you can see updates.

Happy Monday!

New Calorie Counting App: My Fitness Pal.

Last week, I started using a different calorie counting app on my iPod touch.  I began using My Fitness Pal.  I'm pretty much in love.

I used to use the LoseIt! app.  I've used that one on and off in college and more so over the last year.  I'm going to do a little list bullet style to communicate my thoughts on both apps.  These are simply my opinions and they probably differ from someone else. 

My Fitness Pal:

• More user friendly.  I also like the web based program as well.
• There are more brand name foods listed in the database.
• The barcode scanner actually works.  Huge difference from LoseIt!.
• Once all food and exercise have been entered for a day, I click a "complete this entry" button and it says if I keep eating and exercising the same as I did that day, I would weigh X amount in 5 weeks.  That makes me think about my long term goals.
• Recipes can be created, just like in LoseIt!.
• There's really nothing I haven't liked about it - yet.

LoseIt!

• I've used it for years.
• It has a better looking web based program, but looks don't matter all that much.

I couldn't think of anything else for LoseIt! - obviously.  I'm happy I made the switch.  I've been religiously entering everything since last week and I'm loving it.  This is something new that has kickstarted me back into lifestyle change gear. 

I apologize for my lack of posting.  There hasn't been much going on since the wedding, so not very much to blog about.  I'll try to do better! 

Wedding pictures!

Yesterday, I got the disc of wedding pictures from the photographer in the mail.  Thanks for sending it to me so fast Mom!

Anyway, there are some really great pictures.  I haven't finished looking through att 1500+ of them yet, but there are two I saw that make me tear up when I look at them.

The first one, is one of my mom and I right before I was going to see Sean for a first look.  My mom had just laced me into my wedding dress and my veil had just been put on.  We're both crying and the photo shows a lot of emotion.

The second photo, is one of my dad and I.  We were both crying.  He had just gotten Charlie to walk down the aisle and we were at the bottom of the stairs waiting for our walk down the aisle. 

I have a lot a pictures I love, but both of these pictures tear at my heartstrings.  Both are very emotional moments with two of the greatest people I know.  I love them both very, very much. 

Anyway, after I finish going through all of the photos I will post a few of a my favorites here.  Going through the photos last night was like re-living our wedding day all over again.  Stay tuned.

Sean's photo shoot with Boots.

I love these pictures. They make my heart smile.

What kickstarted me (again).

So, there I was last Friday.  Getting ready for work.  Thinking about how badly I want to run a 5K again.  My thoughts drifted to last year's Monster Dash.  My thoughts drifted to Christa and Katie.  My thoughts walked me to Facebook.  My thoughts were the reason for this post.

So, there I was on Saturday.  Taking a break from cleaning my apartment.  Perusing blogs I enjoy reading.  There's a few blogs I haven't been keeping up with since before the wedding, like Can You Stay For Dinner?  I came across this post, which then led me to the original and full blog post on Flintland.

This blog post is what solidified my return and desire to run again.  Seriously, click that little link.  You will not be sorry you read it.  It moved me to tears because I am that girl.  I'm the girl who can barely run and I think it is amazing people like the writer are out there. 

If you didn't figure out from the above Facebook postings, Christa and I are running the 5K while Katie is running the half marathon.  If anyone else wants to run the 5K with us, let me know!  Katie had the genius idea today at work that if we had five girls, we could all dress as the Spice Girls.  Truly great idea.  So, I'm recruiting three more people - not strictly female.  We could do away with two people since we could be the Spice Girls post Ginger Spice leaving the group.  If this happens, I would like to go on the record and say I call Sporty Spice. 

Alright, enough of the Spice Girl tangent.  Moral of the story?  Read the linked blog post, for you won't be sorry.  I hope your week is going well.  Tomorrow is hump day. 

Ever so slowly.

Ever so slowly, life has begun to calm down post wedding.  Wedding planning is still a not-so-distant memory, but it is gaining more distance with each passing day.

I would like to thank everyone who made the wedding possible, especially my parents.  Without their love and support, it wouldn't have been possible.  The wedding was everything I ever dreamed about and it was utterly perfect.  When I think back to that day that was merely a month ago, snippets of memories flash through my mind.  People have posted a lot of these memories on Facebook in photo form.  There's a few though, that I don't have a photo of yet.  I've tried to describe them as best as possible.

Starting out the day cuddling with Charlie. (Becky's photo)

Fixing Christa's shorts after they ripped. (Katie's photo)

Being in the church basement with only my mom and photographer.  I wouldn't have gotten dressed for my wedding any other way.  I'm happy that the only person to see me in my wedding dress (besides photos) was my mom.  It was a special time for us.  Anyway, crying with my mom in the church basement right before I was to go and see Sean and begin our photos.  That will always be special to me.  I'm looking forward to seeing those photos.

Walking down the aisle doing the ugly cry because a minute before my dad and I had been crying together. (Rebecca's photo)

The hand off.  This photo doesn't even need a description. (Rebecca's photo)

The, "We are married." conversation Sean and I had quick. (Rebecca's photo)

First dance with my husband. (Rebecca's photo)

Charlie was the most dedicated dancer of the night.  He was probably saying, "More." (Becky's photo)

So, thank you (again) to everyone who made that day possible and everyone who was a part of that day.  You all mean so much to me and I love you.


Ever so slowly, life is going back to the way it was before.  My wedding dress will get preserved and the decorations will be incorporated into everyday life.  We'll be set in the housewarming department with all the gray vases we have.  I need to get that stuff from my parents house.  I want to make curtains out of the table runners.  I have plans for that stuff.  My mom is going to make three thousand white dish scrubbers with all the leftover tulle.

Ever so slowly, I begin to look forward to what life has in store.  It's just getting good.

Free Concert!

Miss Katie and I are going to the free Wilson Phillips concert tonight at the Minnesota State Fair.

Granted, this is the only song we know, but it will still be a blasty blast.

What are you doing tonight?  Happy Friday!

Haircut

New haircut

I got a haircut.  And this is my "professional" picture at work.  Really, I needed to upload this picture somewhere on the Internet so I can link to it for the IM system and my picture appears.  Sorry it's so small, it needs to be this small.  More complicated than it should ever be. 

Happy Monday!

Hello!

Hello!  Hey!  Hi there!

I'm taking a cue from Katie and starting this week at work I've been dressing (more) for success.  I'm dressing for the job I want, not the job I have - or something like that.  Perhaps feeling a bit better about myself?  That's still to be decided.

I really just wanted to check in and say hello.  I've missed you. 

Wedding is over, as well as the stress headaches.  Below are a few of my favorite pictures from the day.  Sean's sister Rebecca took the first two and the bottom picture was from Katie's camera.



This shows a lot of the emotion of the ceremony. Tears all around.

My handsome husband and I after the ceremony.

Sean and his mom were dancing, but Lilly and Charlie wanted to dance, so we all danced a bit together.

Happy Thursday!!

Wednesday thoughts.

A truly great thing: not weighing yourself for two weeks and when you finally do stop avoiding the scale, it is down six pounds.  It was a fantastic way to start the day.

Also, August 10th has showed up on Weather.com's 10 day forcast.  As of right now, there is a 60% chance of scattered thunderstorms.  I know it will probably change, but you better believe I will be stalking the forecast until the wedding day.

Please do an anti-rain dance for me.  Thanks.

The final countdown.

There is a mere 11 days until the wedding.  This is the final countdown.

You're welcome for getting that song stuck in your head.  I received my daily email from Project Wedding this morning and it told me there is 11 until days until the Big Day. 

Sean and I have been talking about how we'll be glad to get the wedding over.  While it will be a great, fun, and memorable day, we're also excited to get back to a "normal" routine and back to "normal" life.  I'm especially excited to get the craft projects out of our second bedroom and our apartment can start look "normal" again.  What is this "normal?"  Our apartment and lives have been clouded with wedding projects and things for the better part of six or seven months.  So, maybe what was "normal" isn't really "normal" anymore?  Anyway, I digress.

Two weeks from today I am getting a much needed haircut.  I'm going back to my shoulder length hair, thank goodness.  I'm sick of this long, thick, tangled mop.  It takes too long to blow dry and straighten every morning.  All I do is wash it, comb it, and let it air dry.  I've been growing this out for two years.  It's time for it to go.

Happy Monday everyone!  Enjoy the (hopefully) beautiful day!

The garden last week.

Notice the field of tomatoes in the back. Much larger now.

A perfect sunflower.

Gardening is one of my newest favorite things now.  Just look at that sunflower!  It's beautiful.  Last night, Sean and I saw there are more sunflowers blooming now and it is more beautiful than this.

I can't wait to harvest some tomatoes.  Also, I am looking forward to picking the last tomatoes on a plant and then pulling the plant out of the ground to make more room.  The huge tomato bush (20 tomato plants all leaving on each other and making one collective plant) is getting kind of annoying.  I'm ready to harvest.  Clearly, I'm a little too eager. 

Last night while I was watering, Sean pulled out the last of my pea plants.  He picked all the pods of the plants for me to save for next year's pea crop.  We didn't harvest a ton of peas, mostly because I only planted eight or ten plants.  Next year though, I have big plans for the pea.  I also have big tomato plans, but that's a whole different blog post. 

Please note the bug on the sunflower leaf in the lower left corner of the picture.  So everyone knows, it was a real ladybug and NOT an Asian beetle.  It was beautiful, just like the sunflower.  It was bright red (not brown red or orange tinted).  That ladybug reminded me of visiting Grandma and Grandpa McKenzie during the summer.  Grandma would give me a jar to collect ladybugs and I'm talking real ladybugs, before the Asian beetles.  Anyway, on the north side (I think...) of their house had an area that moss would grow.  In that moss I could also find bright pink colored ladybugs.  They were fantastic.  In the jar I would get from Grandma, someone would help me poke holes in the lid so air could get in there.  I would put leaves, grass, and small twigs in the jar as well.  I don't remember how long the ladybugs would live like that, but this memory is starting to get foggy.  I can't remember if Travis ever collected ladybugs either. 

Anyway, the point of the story was the ladybug I saw last week made me a bit nostalgic.  That is all.
How is your garden doing?