Pretty Physicist

Fur Baby Friday

2012-02-24T07:32:00.000-05:00

Today I am linking up with Mrs. Monologues to share some fur baby lovin'.

This is my handsome little boy, Einstein. I am just SO in love with this little man.

Autumn and Mittens, two of my baby girls (with hubby in the background, lol)

Callie, Mittens' twin, who is the BIGGEST Daddy's Girl in the world.

And I'm also going to share some fur baby lovin' for my brothers and sisters - my parents' cats:

Smokey and Bandit (remember the little kitten we rescued? He got to be SO big and handsome!)

Jasmine, who is Einstein's twin sister

and last, but not least, Samantha, my parents' 20 year old cat

Science of Beauty #4

2012-02-22T06:00:00.003-05:00

Of course to look good, we have to be able to see! How else can you apply makeup correctly or do your hair? Not to mention the fashion statement that glasses make. However, how many of you understand what is happening in your eye that causes you to be nearsighted or farsighted? Do you know how your glasses or contacts work? Do you know what the numbers on your prescription mean?

In a healthy eye, the light from an image comes through the eye and goes to the lens. The lens works just like a lens for glasses or contact lenses and refracts (bends) the image so that it can be focused on the retina and your optic nerve can read the data and your brain can recognize the image.

I have nearsightedness, also known as myopia (which, frankly, is easier to say. lets all say myopia instead of nearsightedness). So what is happening in my eye is that my lens is focusing the image in front of my retina.

via Wikipedia

If you have myopia, your diopter (the number in your prescription) is negative. The higher the number, the stronger your prescription. The diopter is a characteristic of the lens itself, related to the focal length of the lens. Lenses for myopia are concave. Concave lenses cause the light to diverge, therefore extending the focal length so that the image is focused on the retina.

via Wikipedia

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is the opposite condition. The lens in your eye focuses the image behind your retina. Lenses for hyperopia are convex, which shortens the focal length of your eye. Diopter values are positive.

via Wikipedia

If you have astigmatism (like I do), your eye is not shaped like the eyes above. Your cornea has a slight "football" shape to it, which causes the images to refract differently than a normal eye and also causes standard contacts to not fit properly. Your eye literally focuses at 2 points instead of 1. This is corrected with lenses that have special "cylindrical" values in the prescription (If you have cylindrical and spherical values in your prescription, you have astigmatism. If you only have spherical values, you do not have astigmatism.).

via lasik.md

The PD length that is written in your prescription is the pupilary distance - or the distance between both of your pupils. This is necessary for glasses so that they are made correctly. For example, I had an old pair of glasses that gave me terrible headaches every time I wore them. My contacts were fine, but my glasses were torture. By the time I finally took them back to the doctor, it was too late for them to fix them (they were out of warranty), but the PD length was wrong. Basically my glasses were trying to focus my pupils outward instead of straight ahead, and it was giving me headaches.

It is VERY important that you take care of your eyes (after all, you only get 2) and see a qualified eye care professional. You should NOT get headaches from your glasses or contacts. If you do, see your doctor because it can be one of many problems - even something as simple as an incorrect prescription or incorrect PD length.

Happy Fasnacht Day!

2012-02-21T07:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Fasnacht Day/Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras!

Today in Central Pennsylvania is Fasnacht Day. A fasnacht is basically a donut. It is traditionally made with potato flour and fried in lard. They are amazeballs delicious! You can eat them plain (which is how I like them), or you can have them glazed or coated in powdered sugar. My dad likes to cut them in half, spread butter on them, and microwave them to melt the butter (my dad may or may not be distantly related to Paula Deen with his love for butter, lol). My BFF Juli likes to put syrup on hers.

Fasnachts are a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food meant to use up all of the lard, fats, butter, and sugar which are traditionally fasted from during Lent. I am about 75% Pennsylvania Dutch (which is not really Dutch, but very old German - like 1600's German).

Since tomorrow starts Lent, the Physicist household will be eating a little differently (as we do every year). Mr. Physicist (who was raised Catholic) will not eat meat on Fridays. I (who was raised Lutheran) go along with it, so we don't have meat on Fridays. We haven't talked about what we're giving up for Lent yet (we'll probably do that over dinner tonight), so I'm not sure what I'm giving up.

Last year, Mr. Physicist gave up sugar. He lasted 2 days. Kind of sad, really. I gave up meat and made it all 40 days plus some.

My heart just hurts ...

2012-02-20T06:48:00.000-05:00

Blogging has given me some amazing things, but also some not so great things. Like right now. My heart just hurts for some of my blog friends. It is absolute torture knowing that I'm hundreds of miles away from my blog friends and that I can't be there for them when they need friends.

Like right now. I want to fly down to Louisiana and wrap Megan in a big hug. She needs love from friends and family more than ever right now, and I wish that I could be there to just hug her and let her cry it out.

I also want to fly down to Atlanta. Chelsea is now alone while her boyfriend pursues his dream of being a baseball player (he's at Spring Training for the Philadelphia Phillies right now!). She'll visit him a few times, but she'll miss him more than anything. and I wish I could be there to hug her and cheer her up. But I'll settle for meeting her when she comes up here to visit him! :)

While I'm in Atlanta, I'd also want to visit my Bloggy BFF Ashley. She has been working ridiculous hours at work because she's had so much to do, so I just want to take her out and have a good time - get her to relax and maybe even meet her future Mr. Run With Me. ;) (OK, so my heart doesn't hurt for this Ashley, but I can't go to the ATL without seeing her!!)

Another blog friend going through a hard time is another Ashley. I want to fly to California and visit this sweet little lady and hug her too.

So ... while having blog friends is amazing ... it breaks my heart that I am so far away from them when I want to comfort them most. Can we please just get a Bloggy Airline so we can visit each other for free any time we want??

Realizations ...

2012-02-17T08:48:00.000-05:00

Looking back at Monday's post, there are some things that really define who I am.

My family and friends
Cooking
Reading
Science

Looking back at my blog posts, I've posted about the first one and the last one, but not much about the other two. So I've made a few decisions regarding my blog.

First of all, I removed all of the ads. I don't blog to make money, get followers, or get free stuff (although I'll take any of those items, if you're offering). I blog for me and I need to keep it that way.
Secondly, I'm going to keep the "Science of Beauty" posts, and hopefully I'll get back into them next week.
Third, I'm going to try to post a new recipe every week. I love to cook, so there is NO reason why I shouldn't be able to post about food. Honestly, I can't believe it has taken me so long to realize this.
Fourth, I love giveaways and blog swaps. I love to pick out items for people and send them off to them and have them be surprised with what they get. So I hope to do a few more giveaways (once I find good things ... I'm not going to send crap), and maybe even host a blog swap.

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T06:48:00.001-05:00

7 years ago, the love of my life asked me to spend the rest of my life with him ... and the rest is history! I have not regretted one minute of the last 7 years ... and I hope we'll have 700 more!

So below is a picture of my ring and my wedding band. We have matching wedding bands (exactly the same except mine is thinner because I wear 2 rings). That was my one requirement in a wedding band. My parents have matching wedding bands, and that's what I wanted too.

He picked this out all by himself

So Happy Valentine's Day to all of my friends! Whether you have someone to share it with or not, the most important thing today is to love yourself - so go get pampered! :)

Getting my blog out there ...

2012-02-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

If you read my last post, you know that I'm a bit confused about my life right now. I'm not sure what I want out of my career and I'm not sure what I want out of this here blog. I enjoy blogging, but I want to be blogging about something that I feel is value-added. I hate when I feel like I write about "fluff" subjects. Yes, sometimes I'm OK with the "fluff" (and keep in mind this is just my opinions about what I write - I happen to love reading other peoples' fluff), but generally speaking, I want to make an impact.

So today I've decided to link up with Neely to get my blog out there, and maybe in the process, I'll figure out what it is that I really want from this little old blog. So if there is something that you would like me to blog about more, please let me know. I beg you.

Why do I blog? Easy. It is a release for me. I can talk about what I really think and what I really feel without the fear of rejection or judgement (well, judgement that I hear - y'all may be judging me for all I know). I've met some amazing friends through blogging, and I really do love you all. I've been staying off of twitter recently (because my hubby gave me a rash of crap about being on my phone all the time), but I'm @prettyphysicist on twitter, or you can always text or email me!

Now ... on to the juicy stuff.

Random crap about me.

I have my BS in Physics with a minor in Math and I *almost* have my MS in Quality Assurance. My husband has his BSEd in Physics and Earth and Space Science and has his MSEd in Instructional Technology.

I am married to the most amazing man I have ever met in my entire life. I am convinced that he was created just for me. We will be married for 5 wonderful years next month. Not a day (hour or minute) goes by that I am not completely in love with my soul mate.

We have 4 cute, cuddly little kitties. I love my cats. They are my children. Until Mr. Physicist and I have babies of our own, they are my only kids. I can't imagine my life without them. They have personalities of their own, and I am convinced that they understand what I say to them - as evidenced by the insane looks they give me sometimes.

I love to read - everything from reports and studies related to my work to science text books (yes, I'm THAT nerdy) to trashy romance to teen lit. Reading is my stress relief.

I love to cook. Cooking is my way of showing my friends and family how much I love them. My family has Sunday dinners every Sunday (unless there is bad weather or something), and Sundays alternate between my house and my parents' house. Yesterday I made a beef roast, a roast chicken, vegetables, and potato filling and my mom brought desert.

I love tea. To me, nothing is better than curling up on the couch with my hubby and kitties, reading a good book, and drinking a nice cup of tea.

I started a weekly post series called "The Science of Beauty" where I research the science between beauty claims or beauty products. I'm kind of blocked right now, so if you have suggestions or questions, PLEASE let me know!

I am trying desperately to get back into shape. After my junior year of college, I gained a lot of weight. I'm convinced most of it was birth control related (even though my doctor says that it isn't possible), but I also became less active as my back problems (4 stress fractures that will never heal from an old gymnastics injury) got worse. So here I am, 6 years later, heavier than I want to be, not feeling sexy like I should, and trying to get back into shape. I'm being met with all sorts of obstacles - back pain, weather, location, time, etc. but I'm working at it slowly but surely.

I am allergic to bananas.

I dye my hair darker because I don't like how I look as a natural blonde.

I don't wear makeup. Partly because I wake up at 5 AM every day for work, so I do as little as I can in the morning (I also don't do my hair - I'm blessed with naturally stick straight hair). Partly because I'm just no good at it. So if you've got some good makeup tutorials, send them my way! :)

I am a bargain shopper. I was raised to be careful with my money and to not pay full price for anything if I can get it on sale. So I check prices, scour bargain racks, etc. Saving money brings a smile to my face. My hubby is also VERY good at saving money, which makes us a perfect team. Prime example? My car. 2004 Oldsmobile Alero. We bought it in 2005 with only 4,500 miles on it for $6000. KBB value was $10,000. I still drive this car every day and (knock on wood) I have had NO problems with her, and she now has 105,000 miles.

So I hope y'all loved getting to know me ... I know I'm looking forward to getting to know you!

Thinking ...

2012-02-10T11:09:00.000-05:00

I've safely returned from my business trip to the UK. It was an amazing time filled with LOTS of work and LITTLE sightseeing, but the information that I've learned and the relationships that I've made will help endlessly with my work.

However, during my trip, I got to thinking about what I want to do with my life. Everything about my life. I'm still thinking. So while I think about it, I don't know how much I'll be blogging ... but I promise I'll still try to read your blogs! and if I decide to stick with blogging, I hope you'll stick around through this small interlude.

guest post - An Unstyled Life

2012-02-09T06:00:00.002-05:00

Since I'm in the UK and not here, J from An Unstyled Life is here to tell you some of her fave spring items. J is a sweetheart and has an amazing blog - go check her out (after you read her guest post, of course!). Not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous that Texas gets spring WAY before we do up here in PA ...

Hi, y'all! I'm J and I blog over at An Unstyled Life. I live in Texas with my husband of nearly 7 years, and our spunky two year old daughter, M. In Texas this time of year, the weather is absolutely crazy. Our spring starts a bit earlier than everyone else's so it starts getting warmer a lot sooner. So, since spring is right around the corner, I figured I'd tell y'all about my go-to beauty items for spring.

First and foremost is Clinique's Sheer Tinted Moisturizer.

I love this stuff. It's got an SPF of 15, it's light and airy, yet gives me enough coverage that I can skip the foundation. It also seems to last much longer than a bottle of foundation and the price isn't so bad!

Next is Maybelline "The Falsies" Volum' Express Mascara in very black.

There are actually two kinds of this, the regular and the flared. Always go with the flared. And use an eyelash curler. I curl mine with a heated curler before I put the mascara on, let it dry a bit, and then give my lashes just a little bump with the curler again. This mascara doesn't flake and it's easy to remove. Plus, the $6 price tag ain't so bad!!

Last, but not least, is Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in rose.

I love, love, love Burt's Bees products. You'll never catch me without Burt's Bees chapstick on my lips, and if I'm out somewhere, I'm definitely rocking the tinted balm. It gives you just enough color. Kind of that just kissed look, ya know? Plus it keeps your lips extremely moisturized. I love it so much I own every shade. Get some, it'll change your life.

And that's it. I spend a lot of time outdoors, so I don't really need any blush in the spring or summer, and I like that fresh, natural look, so I don't wear any other eye makeup. Pair this with a messy ponytail, a v-neck tee, and a pair of boyfriend capris, and you've got the perfect Texas spring look.

Thanks so much for having me, and it you're ever down in Texas, give me a holler!

guest post - Hogespodges

2012-02-08T06:30:00.003-05:00

While I'm out of the country on a business trip, I've scheduled some posts ... one of which is one of the sweetest bloggers I've ever met! Joey is absolutely adorable and is so much like me it is scary. :) Oh, and best part? My husband LOOOVES oreos, so you KNOW I'll be trying this.

Hi friends! I'm Joey.

Oh, and that's Mr. Husband.

You can usually find me over at hodgespodges. Jess is kind enough to let me take over her sweet little blog while she's out of the country. Hope you're having a blast, Jess!!

I thought I'd share with you a pretty yummy and easy dessert recipe.

Why?

Well, because I am in love with dessert. And eat it any chance I get. And yes, that even includes eating dessert just after breakfast. Or, you know, for breakfast. It's true, I love sweets.

Oreo Truffles

What you'll need:

A package of oreos
Almond bark or candiquik
8 oz bar of Cream Cheese

First you want to smash up all the oreos. This part is way fun but can be a little messy. Be sure not to puncture the back otherwise chocolate dust goes everywhere. I do not know this from experience. Okay, maybe I do.

yeah, I used a hammer. so what?

Pour all the oreo dust into a bowl and mix in the cream cheese. I dug right in and just got my hands dirty. A spoon was a little tough to use.

Roll the goo into little balls an place them onto a cookie sheet and place them in the fridge for about an hour.

Once the truffles have had a chance to firm up, melt the candiquik and roll the truffles around. Be sure to cover the entire treat then place back onto the cookie sheet. For easy clean up, you might want to line the sheet with aluminum foil. The chocolate will harden into a shell even if you leave them out, but I prefer to keep these cold, so I placed them back in the fridge.

Lastly, Enjoy!

Thanks again for having me, Jess!

xoxo

guest post - Glitter and Dirt

2012-02-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Guest posting for me today is one of my closest blog friends - Amber from Glitter and Dirt. To be honest, I can't even remember how we started talking, but I love this girl, and I'm sure you guys will too! So after you're done reading her post, go check out her blog!

Hey hew new friends! I'm Amber!

I blog over at Glitter and Dirt! I blog about just everything-my kid saying wonky things to me, bad dates, good dates and just life in general stuff. I even blog about why my picture is of me holding undies that say trouble! Haha I'm a marketing genius in training and I'm excited to be here!

Since our favorite Pretty Physicist is off gallivanting in
the UK for work, I figured why not do a fun post about the UK?

So Jess, please don’t worry, I have your trip all planned out for you.

First stop?

Westminster.

I need you to stop by the House of Parliament, maybe pass a
law or two. Then stop by Windsor Palace
and mess with those awesome security guards. I’ve always wondered how they don’t
laugh or snicker or act bothered by what’s happening to them. Also, do your
cheesiest “I’m an American” pose in front of said Palace. Haha

Before you leave Westminster, please check your watch and
sync it up with what’s considered the most accurate clock in the world, Big
Ben. It’s attached to the Palace so it’s not too far away!

Next, you MUST go to Bath. Jane Austen always sent her characters
to Bath and London for va-cay so it must be a pretty happenin’ place.

Would you stop by Manchester as well? I mean, Manchester
needs no explanation-hot soccer players.

Would the hubs mind terribly if you
kidnapped one and brought him to me? Thanks.

Lastly, you need to visit Wales. I need you to find Prince
Harry and send him my way. You can leave the kidnapped soccer player in his
place, just don’t forget to bring home the hot prince.

And while you visit these places, don't forget to people watch and look at the cars. They aren't as different as Japan's is from ours, but they're still different!

Have fun girl! Can't wait to hear about the food and fun!

guest poss - A Classy, Southern Wife

2012-02-06T06:00:00.003-05:00

Today is my first day in the UK ... as you read this, I am probably wrapping up my day. While I'm away, I've scheduled some amazing guest posts with some pretty awesome bloggers. To kick things off, today's guest blogger is Christin at A Classy, Southern Wife. One of my favorite bloggers, and an absolute sweetheart, she is real and honest and I absolutely love her! Oh, and I'm convinced that she looks like Kate Middleton ... head to her blog, check out her pictures, and tell me you don't see it ...

How to Learn to Cook

While Jessica is away, she so kindly asked me to guest post. I blog over at A Classy, Southern Wife. If you're into healthy eating, running, fashion, home decorating or everything in between, be sure to stop by my blog and say, "HI!"

Before my husband and I got married, we were eat out-aholics. Probably 4 nights/week we went out to dinner. Which isn't good for your waistline. Or your wallet.

Once we got married and bought a new house, we knew we needed to cut back on extra spending, and one way to do that was eating at home more. It has been a long time coming, but over a year later, the husband claims that I've become a "great cook!" So, how'd I do it?

1. I started super easy. Most casserole dishes are pretty easy, especially if you find "5 ingredients or less." You mix some stuff together and throw it in the oven for however long it tells you to. Pretty simple.

2. Once I mastered some casseroles, I started looking for other dishes/recipes that were easy. One of my favorite sites is Cooking Light. There are always a ton of healthy, easy recipes there. You can also Google a bunch of ingredients you have in your fridge and see what recipes come up. That's a good way to use what you have without having to go to the grocery.

3. A little while after that, I started to realize what ingredients/spices went together, so I would get creative and make up my own dishes with what I have in my fridge. For instance, chicken breasts + diced tomatoes + oregano + basil + a little parmesan cheese = a super easy, healthy dish.

4. These days, I love trying new foods. I recently made a spaghetti squash dish, and I've also been on a kale kick. Once you begin to enjoy cooking, it's fun to experiment with new foods.

5. For us busy ladies out there, also don't forget about your Crock Pot. I've had a recent love affair with mine. How simple is it to drop some food in a pot and have it ready when you get home?

I hope some of these tips are helpful. Be sure to stop by my blog for recipes!

Nerves ...

2012-02-03T07:13:00.000-05:00

Well y'all ... today is my last day of work until next Friday. I leave tomorrow night to spend 4 full days in the UK on business. I'm nervous. Like big time.

I am traveling with the president and chairman of our company, who is a super nice man, but just the fact that he is PRESIDENT freaks me out. Not in a bad way, but I need to be on super good behavior.
I have never flown across such a large body of water as the Atlantic Ocean. I don't like crossing rivers on bridges ... I'm not sure how I'll feel crossing the ocean in a plane. But hopefully I can sleep through it.
I will be spending 3 solid days working - I have some training on new products that I'm going to be responsible for, and then I'm doing some training on our current products that the group in the UK needs to know how to support (sorry I'm so vague, but I figured the technical details would be a little too much).
and last but not least, I'm REALLY going to miss my hubby and the kitties. Mr Physicist and I don't spend much time apart unless I have a business trip (he doesn't travel for work). (oh, and I can call him Mr Physicist because his undergrad degree is in Physics and Earth and Space Science)

So what does my schedule look like?

Philadelphia airport. yes, the runway is that close to the river. #scary

leave Philadelphia at 9:30 PM Saturday night
arrive at London - Heathrow at 9:30 AM Sunday (local time)
report to "work" 9 AM to 5 PM Monday - Wednesday
leave Heathrow at 12 PM on Thursday
arrive at Philadelphia at 3:30 PM Thursday afternoon

It'll be a busy few days, but I'm looking forward to it. I think it'll be a good experience for me - I just get nervous about stuff. I'm a nervous person. If I don't know what's going to happen (or what's planned) 100%, I get anxiety. Does that happen to anyone else?

Maybe though, I'll get to meet my girl crush and she'll want to go shopping and hang out ...

So anyway, I have some great guest posts scheduled, so be sure to check them out! Have a great weekend and a great week, and I'll see you (maybe) next Friday!

XOXO

It's OK!

2012-02-02T07:33:00.000-05:00

I haven't done this in a while and thought I'd do it today ... because there's a lot that is (or should be) OK with me today.

it's OK ...

That I am ridiculously nervous about my business trip. I've never left the country before and I'm traveling with the president of our company.

That I'm really going to miss my hubby and my kitties while I'm away. Makes me sad just thinking about it.

That I am fully intending to go buy a new shirt (or 4) for my trip. I need to make a good impression, right?

That I'm bummed that I can't find a chaise that I really like. I want a red/burgundy one that is arched at the legs.

like this, but burgundy and not leather

That I fell off the wagon of my pesctatarianism ... I had a hamburger on Tuesday, but I don't feel bad about it because I KNOW where the meat came from (it was from a friend's farm), and I KNOW that the cow was not mistreated and was only slaughtered because it was more humane than letting him suffer with a broken leg.

That I still consider myself to be a pescatarian, and it is a personal choice. First of all, I don't like meat very much. Second, once I saw Food, Inc. and saw how the animals are treated, it made me never want to eat meat again until those practices are stopped. So I've decided to only eat animal products that don't require the animals to die (dairy, eggs) and animals that I have (in the past) killed myself (clams, crabs, shrimp, fish, etc). I don't force anyone else to do it, not even my husband. I will still buy him meat for dinner, but I get it at the local farmers market or at the local Mennonite grocery store, where I know they are locally raised animals.

That I only ran twice this week. Neither was spectacular - I think I walked as much as I ran - but it was my first time in a very long time, and it felt good. I don't want to push myself too hard too fast, because after 2 days, my back is sore and my shin splints are KILLING me.

That I would have put more pictures in this, but blogger was being a biotch and wouldn't let me. (so that's really not OK, but I had to include the reason why this is sparse on pictures)

You're not a genius ...

2012-02-01T11:26:00.000-05:00

Sometimes and Always

2012-01-31T07:13:00.000-05:00

My new "usual Tuesday post" - Sometimes and Always with Megan, over at Mackey Madness. If you don't already follow her, you are seriously missing out. She's amazing.

Sometimes ... I love to travel for work and meet new people that I've only communicated with through e-mail. Putting a face (and a voice) to the name is always fun.

Always ... I get sad to leave my husband and kitties and I get anxiety about the travel.

Sometimes ... I really enjoy exercise - like the mile that I ran at lunch yesterday.

Always ... I pay for it the next day. My back doesn't like when I run, so I'm paying for it with a pinched nerve today. Doesn't mean it'll stop me, but my back puts up a good fight.

Sometimes ... I don't want to eat Mexican.

Always ... Who am I kidding? I ALWAYS want to eat Mexican. :) In fact, I'm pretty sure my stomach just growled thinking about the Camarones a la diabla that I had Saturday night. Amazeballs. Best part? The restaurant is only 7 miles from my house (closest restaurant to my house), and this meal only cost me $10.50! Ohhh yeah.

looks amazing, right?

Sometimes ... my kitties drive me insane - crawling all over me, sleeping on any part of my body that they want (including the top of my head), and sniffing my face - all while I'm trying to sleep.

Always ... I love it. They're all my babies, and I know they wouldn't do it if they didn't love me.

Now it's your turn - Go link up with Megan!

Book Club and Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-30T06:54:00.000-05:00

I recently participated in a Book Swap with The Nerdy Katie and Blonde Undercover Blonde. I love to read, and it was such a fun swap! I loved that they gave the option of receiving a paper book or an ebook.

I was paired up with the SUPER sweet and wonderful Vicki from My Vickilicious Life. Check out her blog to see what I sent her (which is the first book in a series that I really loved). She sent me the first book in a series that she really loved. From checking out her page on GoodReads.com, I could tell that we have very similar tastes in books, which made choosing a book SO much easier! She sent me a Nook book and I sent her a Kindle book.

Vicki sent me Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs. It is a romance and it was a quick, easy, fun read. When I get home from work, I like to unwind with a book that doesn't make me think too hard. It was great, and I absolutely loved it. In fact, I really want to get the rest of the books. I highly recommend it!

.... AND as an unrelated topic, I also want to announce the winner of my $25 Erin Condren Gift Card giveaway. Please e-mail me at prettyphysicist (at) gmail (dot) com with your full name and mailing address.

Congratulations Vicki! (and yes, I laughed out loud when I saw that you were the winner, knowing that I was planning to announce it in this post)

The Science of Beauty #3

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

After last week's hair post, I got a few questions, so I'm going to answer them here ...

1) What do you know about dry shampoo?

"Dry shampoo" is a misnomer. Don't get me wrong, I love the stuff. But it doesn't really "shampoo" your hair. All it really does is absorb the oil and you can either brush it out or shake it out. Either way, it doesn't remove any dirt and it doesn't remove product. It can also really dry out your hair. I find that when I use dry shampoo, my hair feels bone dry and it tangles easier. Don't forget that if you're not washing your hair, you're also not removing any product that you may have used the previous day. This means that you may end up with 2X, 3X ... maybe even 4X the amount of product in your hair. For this, I'd recommend using a clarifying shampoo once in a while to remove the "gunk" from your hair.

As for dry shampoo itself, there is no reason NOT to use it ... BUT there is an excellent reason not to buy it. It is SO easy to "make" yourself. Some ideas?

corn starch
baby powder
face powder (loose powder, matched as closely to your hair color as you can)
cocoa powder (I'd recommend this for dark hair, and be careful of the chocolate smell ... could make you hungry all day)
flour

Personally, I keep a container of baby powder in my bathroom to use on my hair, but I've also used loose face powder and had great results with both. Honestly, I think that my hair reacts better to them than the dry shampoo (which could be a reaction to the aerosol propellant)

2) What shampoos and conditioners do you use and like?

I have spent a lot of time (and a fair amount of money) to find shampoos and conditioners that I like. I have thin, fine hair. It is stick straight, even when I try to curl it (if you think you can get it to curl, please come to my house and give it a shot). Currently in my shower are Dove Intensive Repair shampoo and conditioner. They are not sulfate free, but they moisturize my hair nicely without weighing it down too much. Since my hair is color treated, it tends to dry out. I have also used Aussie and Frizz Ease in the past and loved them. Shampoos and conditioners that I cannot use? (Please don't take this as a negative post towards these brands, they just don't work with my hair - they may work with yours though, so give them a shot) Pantene, Tresseme, and Suave. The last one disappoints me because I found an AMAZEBALLS smelling Suave shampoo (Suave Rosemary and Mint, I'm in LOVE with the smell) but it makes my hair feel like straw, so I can't use it. Sadz. However, one Suave product that I love and use regularly? Suave dry shampoo. Less than $3 a bottle, smells great, and I prefer it over all of the other brands I've tried.

Friday Five

2012-01-27T07:14:00.000-05:00

5 Things that I REALLY want for our house ...

This, with a reading lamp behind it, a big squishy pillow, and a nice warm blanket. Perfect for reading, no?

a manual pasta maker. I just feel like it would be so rewarding (and healthy) to make pasta by hand.

a pizzelle baker. So I can actually get them, since stores here don't sell them.

a nice cozy headboard

and it wouldn't be a "want" list without this one ...

100 Followers Giveaway!

2012-01-26T06:00:00.003-05:00

A few days late, but it's better late than never! To thank everyone for following and reading my little old blog, I'm giving away a $25 Erin Condren gift card. To enter, use Rafflecopter below. The winner will be selected on Monday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Packing Advice #1

2012-01-25T07:50:00.000-05:00

As most of you probably know, I'm heading to the UK on a business trip in a week and a half. The weather there is sort of like the weather here (except they have lots more rain). The first thing I want to make sure I KNOW what I'm taking is a coat. I can plan the rest of my outfits from there. So I need your help choosing a coat to take with me.

Red pea coat

Pink/Tan plaid pea coat

This length and pattern, but mine is purple and white (I bought it last year, don't have a picture of it, and I can't find it anywhere online to get an actual picture of it)

So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me look fashionable but warm and comment below with your choice - 1, 2, or 3

Sometimes and Always #eleventy million

2012-01-24T07:01:00.000-05:00

I have no idea how many of these I've done (and I'm too ~~lazy~~ tired to go back and count), but it is definitely one of my favorites!

Sometimes ... I come across a book that I LOVE.

Always ... I still fall back on reading my tried and true favorites (a.k.a. Harry Potter!)

Sometimes ... I get nervous meeting new people.

Always ... I know that that's how you make new best friends!

Sometimes ... certain a-hole coworkers make me angry and want to tell them what I REALLY think of them - especially for butting into my projects and trying to interfere.

Always ... I keep my mouth shut and take the high road. I trust karma to take care of him.

Sometimes ... I wish that I didn't have to work and could stay home and read all day.

Always ... I drag myself to work because I've gotta be an adult and earn a living.

Sometimes ... I don't want to be nice to people I don't like.

Always ... I do it anyway. Being nice to someone you don't like isn't being fake - it's being an adult.

Sometimes ... I miss being in college.

Always ... when I remember my thesis (WHICH I just mailed to the graduate office yesterday!), I have second thoughts and I'm all of a sudden happy I'm NOT in school.

Sometimes ... I think I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have such a wonderful husband.

Always ... I know I am. and I can't believe we're almost married 5 years!

Now it's your turn! Go link up with Megan! :)

The Science of Beauty #2

2012-01-23T11:17:00.001-05:00

Today's topic: hair.

Before I go into my discussion, it is VERY IMPORTANT to note that the health of your body shows in the health of your hair. If your hair is dry, brittle, weak, etc, there *MAY* be a medical cause and you should see your doctor. There are many diseases (most are not life-threatening, so please don't panic) whose first symptoms are dry, brittle hair and loss of hair. Please take care of your body - it is the only one you get.

The most common sulfate in shampoo is Sodium Laureth (or Laurel) Sulfate, SLS for short. SLS is a surfactant. How a surfactant works is pretty basic: The SLS molecules bond to dirt and oil in your hair. One end of the SLS molecule is hydrophillic, which means that it is attracted to water. The other end is hydrophobic, which means that it is repelled by water. The hydrophobic end is the end that bonds with the dirt and oil. The hydrophillic end bonds to the water you use to rinse your hair, so that when you rinse your hair, all of the dirt and oil are pulled away with the water. In most cases, if you have an allergic reaction to a cleansing beauty product, it is because of the sulfates. Sulfates, specifically SLS, are known irritants. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to check your labels for presence of sulfates. Sulfates are not harmful to your health, but CAN dry out your hair and cause color-treated hair to lose color more quickly. Whether or not you use sulfate-free shampoo is entirely up to you. Personally, I've found that certain shampoos with sulfates make my hair look like crap, while others don't. Trial and error, people. Try different brands until you find what works for you!

"Foaming" shampoo. Contrary to popular belief (and those old Herbal Essences commercials - and if you don't remember them, I officially feel old), lots of foam and suds when you shampoo is not a good thing. When you have lots of suds, it means that you are using TOO MUCH shampoo, which is just wasting product. The excess suds are bonding to air and just washing away. You only need enough shampoo to lightly lather your hair. The shampoo should lubricate your hair and scalp so that your fingers can move through your hair. I have found that shampoos with pumps are the easiest way to meter this. 2 pumps of shampoo is all that you need.

Shiny hair or voluminous hair? Did you know that you can't have both? The cuticle (outer layer of your hair) is like a shingled roof. When the cuticle lays flat, light reflects off of the cuticle and your hair is shiny. When the cuticle is raised, the hair strands are further apart and your hair has more volume. Shiny hair is healthy hair. When the cuticle lays flat, it is protecting the inner layers of your hair from damage.

Split ends. When I hear all of the ads about "repairing split ends", I just shake my head. Your hair is dead, just like your nails. Your hair grows about 1/2 inch every month. There is no way to repair split ends - your best bet is to just trim them off. You can temporarily make split ends appear better, but it causes more damage in the long run, because the "split" can transfer further up the strand.

If you have any questions or topics you'd like me to address, let me know!

If I could ...

2012-01-20T06:59:00.001-05:00

First of all, I would like to say ... Holy crap! 100 Followers?!?!?! Thank you ALL for following, I hope you like what you read, and I hope you'll stick around and maybe tell your friends. ;)

Now, on to my post ... lol

I am linking up with the Adventures of Team Pancakes for today's version of "If I Could ..." because this topic is one that is very dear to my heart, and one of my goals for 2012!

If I could meet any 4 bloggers, they would be ...
I'm not lying ... this is probably one of the most difficult lists I have EVER made, simply because I cannot include EVERYONE that I want to meet. Seriously, the list is like 20 people long. So please don't get offended because I haven't listed you, chances are I want to meet you too! :)

4. Megan - whe is one of the most honest, real, sweetest people I have met through blogging. I think we would become instant BFFs, and she is just the kind of person that I want to surround myself with. I imagine we would just hang around, eating and chatting, and our husbands would probably become BFFs too, which would be awesome.

3. Christin - We have become friends through twitter and blogging, and I just love her personality and really want to meet her. Maybe she'd help me be a better runner, then we'd go find some yummy food and wine somewhere and hang out. Our husbands might even get along too (if it wasn't for the fact that her husband's Broncos beat my husband's Steelers ... lol)

2.Vicki - we have been chatting on twitter and through text, and we were recently paired up for a book swap. she sent me this awesome book that I am half-way through and I LOVE IT! I can imagine us hanging around, drinking coffees, and reading ... then maybe some yummy foods and shopping. :)

1. Ashley - we e-mail back and forth almost every day, text, FB, tweet, etc ... but we haven't met in person. I need to meet this girl that is seriously my best blog friend and will likely become an IRL BFF once we DO meet. :) and I imagine that we would stay up all night, just talking and eating and drinking and laughing. It'll be like we've been friends forever, even though it's the first time we've met.

So now it's your turn ... head over to Team Pancakes and tell me who YOU would meet if you could. :)

Traveling!

2012-01-19T08:18:00.000-05:00

Y'all, next month I am going on a business trip to the UK! I can't deny it ... I'm pretty excited!

So here is where y'all come in ...

1) The next couple weeks, I'll be posting a few "should I pack this ... or this" posts that I REALLY want your input on!

2) I'd love to have 3 guest bloggers while I'm away. I'll be away from 2/4 through 2/8, but I only need guest posts on the week days. So if you're interested in guest blogging, let me know!

3) Do you have any advice for traveling out of the country? Legit, this is my first time outside of the US, so I'm pretty nervous.

4) My flight TO the UK is overnight, so any tips for getting GOOD sleep on an airplane? We're landing in the UK at 9:30 AM, so I'm guessing I'll be expected to be alert and functional ...

Hope y'all have a LOVELY Thursday! :)

BLACKOUT

2012-01-18T08:04:00.000-05:00

Click here.

Sometimes and Always ...

2012-01-17T06:50:00.000-05:00

As always, linking up with the lovely Megan at Mackey Madness. If you don't already follow her, you are seriously missing out. Now, without further adieu ...

Sometimes ... I really don't mind my job.

Always ... when I am at work and I have a migraine, I want to kill everyone who crosses my path.

Sometimes ... I am so tired of doing grad school work.

Always ... I know it will pay off, and I am super excited that my thesis will be submitted to the Graduate Studies board this week for final approval!

Sometimes ... all I want to do is sit around and read.

Always ... I do whatever cleaning and cooking I need to do. Then I sit around and read. :)

Sometimes ... I think that I should read a new book or watch a new movie.

Always ... I fall back on Harry Potter.

Sometimes ... I can't think of what to blog about.

Always ... I come up with more ideas for my "The Science of Beauty" series, but I don't want to post it more than once a week.

Now it's your turn - go link up with Megan! :)

Accesory Swap!

2012-01-16T11:52:00.000-05:00

Jessica @ Stilettos and a Fishing Pole hosted an accessories blog swap ... love it!

I was paired with the gorgeous Ashley at While we're young and B-e-a-utiful, who did an amazeballs job at shopping!

gorgeous, warm, purple scarf. don't mind my crap in the background. I wanted to snap pictures quickly before I started wearing everything! :)

2 adorable bracelets (which I'm sad to report that one of them is already missing because my klepto kitty, Einstein, decided he wanted it for a toy, lol)

A belt - you can never have too many belts!

and last, but certainly not least, Hello Kitty hair bands! Hello! Does Ashley know me or what?? :)

The Science of Beauty #1

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is the first post of my new series, and I'm so happy you're all here to join me! I'm going to start off with a question that I was asked by a follower.

The follower (I will keep all identities private if you ask me questions) asked about apple cider vinegar and using it on your face. Ladies, apple cider vinegar is an EXCELLENT product that you can use on your face! First of all, vinegar is naturally anti-bacterial. As I'm sure you all know, acne is caused by bacteria in your pores. I can't guarantee it because everyone's skin is different, but using apple cider vinegar (it smells the best of all of the vinegars) on your face *should* reduce your acne. I would recommend taking it one step further and making a mixture of green tea and apple cider vinegar (50/50) and apply it to your face like you would a stringent before bed and sleep with it on. The vinegar will help destroy the bacteria and the green tea will help reduce redness, swelling, and irritation.

My second mini-topic is also related to acne. If you have acne, your skin may be oily or it may be dry or it may be a combination. One of the best things that you can do, no matter your skin type, is to moisturize! First of all, acne products dry out your skin, so you want to replenish that moisture. Second, a lot of acne is caused by dry skin clogging your pores! The more you keep your skin moisturized, the less dry skin you have to clog your pores (be sure to exfoliate too!). Third, when you moisturize your skin, your body needs to make less oil to keep your skin nourished, and less oil = less breakouts. Clean and Clear makes an excellent line of moisturizers, which I really like. Personally, I use Cetaphil because it is made for sensitive skin and it has SPF50.

If you have any questions, PLEASE don't hesitate to ask me. If you don't want to ask your question in the comments, feel free to email me at prettyphysicist(at)gmail(dot)com

Tag, I'm it

2012-01-13T07:21:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by the lovely Ashley, at Episodes of a Mixed Girl.

Ok so here go the rules to this thing:

You must post these rules.
Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.
Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her

11 Things about me ...

I am deathly afraid of roller coasters. Like I freak out and try to jump off. Yeah, hubby learned that the hard way. Needless to say, I'm off the hook for roller coasters now.
I could read/watch Harry Potter endlessly and never get bored with it.
I am 5'1" and even buying the short length in pants, they are still sometimes too long.
I pierced my own belly button in 8th grade science, but let it close up.
I did not get my ears pierced until I was a sophomore in college, and I still don't wear earrings often. In fact, my holes *may* have closed back up.
I prefer my fish to be raw or very rare. I don't like cooked fish.
My current job is my first *real* job out of college, and I have been here for almost 5 1/2 years.
I have only owned 3 cars in my entire life, and I still have 2 of them (my daily driver - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero, named Raccoon Killer, and my "toy", a 1986 Pontiac Fiero, named Half Pint).
I rarely wear makeup. I love makeup, and I continue buying it, but since I wake up at 5 AM for work, I just never feel like taking that effort.
I don't curl my hair. It doesn't hold curl, so I don't waste my time.
I would rather sit at home watching TV or a movie with my husband than go out to dinner and a movie.

The 11 Questions Ashley asked me ...

1. What was the last thing you bought? My Clarisonic Mia. and I love it already.

2. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? Do I have to go to work today? I don't wanna go.

3. What did you do for your last birthday? Went out for lunch with my hubby, then to my parents for dinner.

4. What was the last thing you ate? Last night's dinner - Eggplant parm and tiramisu

5. If you had to choose between Facebook and Blogger? Which one? Blogger, hands down.

6. Name three things that make you happy. My husband, my friends, my family.

7. What is one of your resolutions for 2012? To cook more and eat out less.

8. What would you do if you were given one million dollars? My off our debts, and my parents' debts, then open a GIANT cat rescue

9. What would be your theme song when walking into a room? Baby Got Back.

10. What is something you wish you could change? The government (and I'm leaving it at that, no need for arguments)

11. What is your favorite television show? Big Bang Theory

Now, my 11 Questions for my 11 Lovelies ...

If you could have dinner with any 3 people, alive or dead, who would have have dinner with?
If you could do any job in the world, what would it be?
Would you rather be rich or happy?
Facebook or Twitter?
If you could change anything that happened to you in 2011, would you?
Who is your favorite musical artist?
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If you could move anywhere in the world, where?
Do you like snow?
What time do you wake up in the morning?
What is the last thing you do before going to bed at night?

And last but not least, my 11 Lovelies (in no particular order) ...

Ashleigh @ Life As I Know It

Kasey @ Domesticated Hygenist

Celia @ Just Trying To Find My Way

Tara @ Fabulous But Evil

Vicki @ My Vickilicious Life

Amanda @ Simple Girl, Simple Pleasures

Christin @ Classy Southern Wife

Megan @ Mackey Madness

Ashley @ Adventures of Newlyweds

Sarah @ 90 Percent Blonde

Kate @ Dancing in the Minefields

New Feature!

2012-01-12T14:35:00.001-05:00

Starting next week, I will be starting a new feature "The Science of Beauty", where I will explain the science behind beauty products and why they will or will not work. If you have any products that you want me to review, just comment or email me and let me know!

It's OK!

2012-01-12T07:52:00.000-05:00

It's OK!

... that I am SO ready for this weekend to be here that I really want to schedule a vacation day for Friday. I just need time off to relax, and 2 days on the weekend isn't cutting it because that's my only time to clean and do laundry. Unfortunately, I have a TON of work, so that's not going to happen.

... that I am obsessively checking the tracking on my Clarisonic Mia (yes, I caved and bought one. Can't wait to get it! That bish needs to get here NOW!)

... that I have been reading ebooks constantly now that I have a Nook. I had a Sony Reader before, but something about the Nook makes it easier and more convenient to read. Oh, and probably that I have found a cheap site to buy ebooks. and I can download library books right from my Nook now. Definitely loving it.

... to always be looking for new books to read. If you have suggestions, send them my way!

... to really want to do more beauty reviews/topics, but like from a science perspective. Like WHY a certain product works better or can't possibly work at all. Would y'all be interested in that kind of stuff?

... to really want Mexican. Again. Today. and every day. I can't help it. I love Mexican food.

... to wish that I had more time to blog and read blogs and comment on blogs, but work ties up all of my time, and since I didn't get the raise I was hoping, I may have to get a part-time job to earn extra money because my bills went up more than my raise ... good times.

Sometimes and Always ...

2012-01-10T07:14:00.000-05:00

Sometimes ... I get a little disappointed that I lost 2 followers after announcing my giveaway winner.

Always ... it's their loss - I'm awesome and if they were only following for my giveaway, then I don't need them.

Sometimes ... I get home from work and don't feel like making dinner.

Always ... (well almost always) I suck it up like a big girl and make dinner. My wallet and my waistline would not appreciate if we ate out every day.

Sometimes ... I miss coaching cheerleading.

Always ... I remember the high school girl drama and think twice. All of a sudden I don't miss it anymore.

Sometimes ... I wish I didn't get bloggers block so often.

Always ... there are some pretty amazing link-ups to fill those days.

Sometimes ... I miss having good friends that live close and that I can talk to all the time.

Always ... I'm thankful for my blog friends, and hope that some of us can become better friends (and even IRL friends!)

Your turn ... go link up with Megan!

Sony Reader

2012-01-09T08:41:00.000-05:00

As you may know, I got a Nook for Christmas from my hubby. It is replacing my Sony PRS-300 Reader Pocket Edition. I am selling this, if anyone is interested. I am asking $75 (including shipping) for the reader, the red Sony leather cover, and an A/C power supply (I consider the USB cable included with the reader, since they came together - I purchased the leather cover and A/C power supply separately). If you are interested in purchasing this, let me know. If I don't get any takers by Friday, it'll go on eBay.

Glasses

2012-01-09T07:19:00.000-05:00

I hate shopping for glasses. I'm not gonna lie. I love looking at glasses and trying them on, but I hate the pressure of the salespeople in the stores.

That's why places like GlassesUSA.com appeal to me. You can go to their website, upload A PICTURE OF YOURSELF (how amazing is that??), and try on the glasses you want ON YOUR FACE, with no pressure from salespeople!

My husband and I both wear prescription eyeglasses. I also wear contacts. I love to make sure that my glasses are stylish, but also complement my face. And 100% honest, I don't trust salespeople. Their job is to sell product and most times they get paid on commission. Naturally they're going to tell you whatever you want to hear just so they get the sale. Not gonna happen when you buy them online!

Going to the store with my husband to buy glasses is a PAIN! He is so picky and has to try on every pair in the place. I can't wait to go home and try this website out with him! Another great thing about GlassesUSA? They have an easy return policy. If they make them wrong, they redo them free. If you don't like them, you can exchange them.

Right now, they have a few sales going on right now AND they have a 100% Satisfaction guarantee and a 110% Price guarantee! Have some FSA (flexible spending account) money floating around? Buy yourself (or a family member) a new pair of eyeglasses. They accept all credit cards, so if you have a credit card associated with your FSA (like I do), you can just pay with that! Easy as pie! Trust me, I'll be ordering my husband a pair, and at least one pair for myself!

New Year Sale:
Take 20% off any pair of eyeglasses and get FREE US shipping with the code: New2012
Take 10% off any order of prescription glasses. Code: Blog10

This is a sponsored post by GlassesUSA.com. I was compensated for writing this post, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

2012-01-06T06:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! :) I can't even BEGIN to tell you how thankful I am that this week is over. I swear, the short weeks always seem longer than the regular weeks.

My weekend will be full of cleaning and organizing and laundry, and maybe some baking.

So now onto what you REALLY want to know ... who won my giveaway. Drum roll please ....

The winner is Ashley from Run with Me. Congratulations! :) Thank you to EVERYONE for entering! :)

It's OK!

2012-01-05T14:49:00.000-05:00

It's OK ...

... that I haven't worked out yet this year. Something tells me that exercise while congested and unable to breathe is probably not a good combination. ;) I promise, once I can breathe, I will start working out.

... that I haven't eaten meat since Sunday. Damn you pork and sauerkraut. Really trying to be a pescatarian ... especially after getting the encouragement from Katie. I can do this!

... that we haven't taken down our Christmas decorations yet. We're leaving them up until after Saturday, because Saturday is Russian Christmas. (and yes, my hubby's family is Russian, so they at least acknowledge it).

... that all of my Christmas money is going into kitchen things. I love to cook, so I want to treat myself to good equipment. Like this amazing can opener. I can finally stop destroying the cheap ones ...

... that even though hubby got me a Nook and it is my 2nd favorite Christmas present, my Hello Kitty watch is my FAVORITE Christmas gift this year. First of all, I love Hello Kitty. Second, it shows that hubby really knows what I like, because I love everything about it. Oh, and hubby said that it is apparently one of the least expensive gifts he got me. Regardless, I'm in love.

... that I haven't felt like doing ANYTHING by the time I get home after work because a) it is FREEZING outside, so I just want to curl up on the couch under a big blanket and read and b) I haven't gotten out of work on time ONCE this week, so I am just wiped out.

So. What's OK with you?

2012 - The Year of Me

2012-01-04T07:03:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012! Yes, I already posted about goals for the year, but since that post, I've done some serious thinking and decided that this year - 2012 - will be the Year of Me. I'm going to take care of ME.

1. I'm going to take better care of my body. It's the only one that I have and it isn't really replaceable.

lose 30-ish pounds. I need to lose about 20 to get out of the "overweight" range on the doctor's chart, but 30 is not unrealistic.
stop eating meat. I don't like it, so I don't know why I eat it. I guess out of convenience. After a long day at work, I just don't feel like making 2 different meals - one for my meat-eating hubby and one for my pescatarian (no meat, but seafood and dairy) self. But I need to make more of a conscious effort. Meat makes me feel "heavy". Not fat heavy, but dense and sluggish heavy.
Run my 5K on 5/5/12.

2. Advance my career.

Assuming all of my approvals go through, I should have my Masters degree in May. It has been a very long process, but I will be ecstatic when I'm finished.
In February, I should find out my work goals for the year, as well as my annual increase and any title changes (I'm getting an assistant, so I should be getting a title change). If it isn't acceptable to me, I will start looking elsewhere. End of story. I refuse to continue to not expect more for myself.

3. Stop taking shit. Yes, that says TAKING, not TALKING. I don't talk shit.

Stand up for myself when people are condescending and arrogant and disrespectful.
Cut people out of my life that are not helping me to be who I want to be.

I encourage all of you to make 2012 the year of YOU, because if you don't, who will?

Blogger's Biggest Loser

2012-01-03T07:09:00.000-05:00

Ok, I don't usually post twice in one day, BUT ... I'm linking up for THIS ...

Like many others, I am at my heaviest weight. I won't tell you the number, because it makes me sick just thinking about it. Anyway, I would like to lose about 30 pounds to get back closer to my "ideal" weight. By doing this linkup, I'm hoping that it will hold me accountable.

So here is how I plan to lose that weight, and what my obstacles are:

1) Eat healthier. Obstacle? My hubby likes some really unhealthy foods and I feel like a bad wife if I don't make his favorites. Also, sometimes I am just so tired and hungry after work that I snack on whatever I can find and I don't feel like making dinner. Planned course of attack? Keep the crap out of my house. Keep healthy snacks and pre-prepare as much of dinner as I can so that even when I'm tired, I can still make a healthy meal.
2) Exercise more. Obstacle? My back pain. Planned course of attack? Either find a better doctor that can give me some relief, or just work through the pain. Because losing some of the weight will probably help my back pain.

Sometimes ... and always ...

2012-01-03T06:58:00.000-05:00

Linking up with the LOVELY Megan over at Mackey Madness again.

Sometimes ... I get really depressed going back to work. (and no, it has nothing to do with not liking my job - I miss my hubby and kitties after spending so much time with them!)

Always ... I remember that we need the money and I need to work now so that hopefully when we have babies, I don't have to.

Sometimes ... I curse blog world for making me want so many things ...

Always ... I save up money to get these amazing things ... and usually they're worth it (currently saving up for the Clarisonic Mia)

Sometimes ... I have giveaways.

Always ... I feel like I'm pimping them out, but I think this one is pretty great and I think y'all should enter! And I WILL ship internationally. Oh, and if you tell your friends and they say you sent them, if you win, I'll add a little something extra to the goodies!

Sometimes ... I really want to get up and run or workout.

Always ... my back pain stops me. Right now I have a pinched nerve, which makes even walking painful. I REALLY wish I could find a doctor to fix this.

Sometimes ... I love winter.

Always ... that is before Christmas. Now that Christmas is over, I'm ready for spring.

Now go link up with Megan!

My Favorite Things!

2012-01-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

Now that Christmas is over, I want to give away my favorite things to one of you lovelies out there. Included in that package will be:

1. Avon Glimmersticks eyeliner. By far, the best eyeliner I have ever used.
2. Nivea lip balm. I have an addition to lip balms, and Nivea is one of my all time favorites. Smells good, tastes good, and keeps my lips super smooth.
3. Victoria's Secret The Hand Cream. Hands down, my favorite hand cream.
4. Bath and Body Works Pocket Bac in Japanese Cherry Blossom. I love the convenience of this little bottle and the scent is great.
5. Konpeito. One of my favorite candies, it is Japan's answer to mini bite-sized rock candy. Addicting!
6. Extra Dessert Delights Key Lime Pie gum. Sugar-free and super yummy!
7. A Hello Kitty change purse. Because we ALL know my love for her! :)
8. Smarties. My all-time favorite American candy.

And there may also be a few other goodies thrown in ... ;)

To enter, use Rafflecopter below. Winner will be picked on Friday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just wanted to say ...

2011-12-23T08:07:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to stop in and wish y'all a VERY Merry Christmas! I hope that your holidays are filled with love, laughter, family, friends, and everything good. I may or may not be blogging next week (we're going to visit my in-laws, and I'm not sure how long we're staying, nor do I know what my internet/time situation will be), so just in case, I also want to wish y'all a Happy New Year! Be safe! I hope that 2012 brings only good things - for all of us!

2012 Goals

2011-12-22T20:03:00.001-05:00

Christin summed it up best when she said that "resolutions" somehow never seem to make it, but if you call them goals, they're more likely to happen. So I'm making a list of my goals for 2012 and putting them here on the blog so I feel more accountable.

1) Run a 5K.
2) Meet Ashley IRL (and any other bloggers that are interested in a blate!)
3) Limit eating out to once per week.
4) Make and stick to a grocery budget.
5) Get back to a "happy" weight
6) Make at least one new recipe every month.
7) Read at least one new book a month.

So what are YOUR goals for 2012?

True story ...

2011-12-22T07:28:00.000-05:00

True story ... I've been a bad blogger this week. I apologize, and I hope to be back to normal next year! Here's just a little of what my days have entailed ...

... spending the last 3 weeks rushing testing to get it finished before the holiday so that we can get OE (Original Equipment - customers like Honda, Suzuki, Bombardier, etc) approval on some new equipment.

... running 3 production trials in the beginning of this week.

... having 6 (yes, 6) different projects that need my attention right away.

... being a little sickie and crashing as soon as I get home.

... I have a vacation day scheduled for tomorrow, but it's looking like I need to come in for at least 2 hours.

... Oh, and I have to come in for an hour or so on Christmas day because I have stuff that HAS to get done and frankly, I don't trust anyone else to do it right.

Hopefully I'll be motivated to blog tomorrow! I am still reading blogs, even if I don't comment. I promise.

Sometimes and Always!

2011-12-20T07:20:00.000-05:00

My favorite link-up!

Sometimes ... I try to wash my hair every day.

Always ... it ends up being every other day. LOVING dry shampoo and the fact that I'm *supposed* to have my hair up at work at all times.

Sometimes ... I wish my husband was more romantic.

Always ... he surprises me and does something super sweet.

Sometimes ... I run in to Walmart for something.

Always ... I regret it. My Walmart is super trashy and dirty, and I'm just skeeved out when I go in there.

Sometimes ... I get annoyed with my kitties when they want to play when I'm doing something, like cooking dinner.

Always ... I stop and play and act the protective momma, because they're my babies and that's how I am!

Head over to Megan's blog and link up with her!

Ham BBQ

2011-12-19T17:56:00.001-05:00

Ham BBQ is a Pittsburgh thing, and one of my husband's favorite meals. It is quick and easy to make, and it's a yummy change from pork or hamburger BBQ.

Chipped ham is a PA thing. "Chipping" lunch meat is like a very very fine slice, sometimes called "shaved".

Ingredients:
14 oz Heinz ketchup (and it MUST be Heinz ... After all, Heinz IS a Pittsburgh company$
1T cider vinegar
1T worchestershire sauce
1T water
2T yellow mustard
2T brown sugar
1 lb chipped ham, roughly chopped

1. Mix first 6 ingredients over medium, simmer 10 minutes.
2. Add ham and heat through.
3. Serve on hamburger buns with dill pickle chips.

If you try it, let me know what you think of it!

Need your help ...

2011-12-19T10:24:00.000-05:00

Ladies, I need your help with my hair.

My hair is a little longer than shoulder length. Fine. Stick straight (but can sometimes get a little frizzy). Dyed darker than my natural color. Gets oily if I don't wash it (or use dry shampoo) daily. Not heat-treated (unless you count using the heater in my car to blow it dry in the morning on my way to work - blowing my hair dry at 5 AM or earlier during the week just is not happening).

This picture is from last year, but my hair is about the same length and a little darker.

Now that you have my description, the problem:

The ends of my hair get all tangled and knotted when I wear my hair down, which makes me not want to wear it down.

Can you recommend any good shampoo and conditioners? Can you recommend anything else that might help me deal with my hair? Even any cute hair styles ...

Time flies ...

2011-12-19T07:18:00.000-05:00

I have been up since 3 AM, and at work since 5 AM. This is the first Monday I've worked since October. This is going to be a long week, even though I work 4 days then I am off until 1/3/12.

2012. Wow how time flies ...

I have to pick up the last of my Christmas presents today (they're out being personalized) and I am DONE Christmas shopping! If you have to go out shopping this week, you have more patience than I do.

Are you ready for the holidays?

Happy Monday ...

Not here ... but

2011-12-16T07:11:00.001-05:00

You can find me here today, guest posting for Kasey, the Domesticated Hygenist, while she is in Las Vegas. Lucky chica!

Happy Friday! :)

Oh, and help Michelle get to 1000 followers ... go follow her blog!

It's OK ...

2011-12-15T06:55:00.000-05:00

It's been a couple weeks, and I've really missed doing this ... so here we go! :)

It's OK ...

... that the 4 gift cards that I have to buy for Christmas gifts for my in-laws has taken me 2 weeks to get ... and I still haven't gotten them. Really, I should just make hubby get them. :)

... that ALL of my Christmas cards are in the mail, and a Christmas present to a very special blogger, my newest BFF. :)

... that I have been seriously unmotivated to work since December started. I swear, I'm like a child ... this close to Christmas, I'm basically useless.

... that I know some of the things that hubby has gotten me for Christmas ... he knows some of what I got him, so its fair.

... that I am SO excited for him to open his REALLY big present because I know he'll love it. And I can tell y'all what it is because he doesn't read my blog. I got him a framed panoramic print of Pittsburgh. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh and moved out to this side of the state about a year before we met, and I know he misses it, so I thought that a print of his favorite city (which will hang in the living room above the TV) was perfect!

... to be REALLY hoping for THESE under the tree on Christmas morning ...

... and to not care that having those shoes would make me a total nerd. :) I think we've proven that I am a nerd already.

... to be incredibly thankful for all of the blog friends that I have made this year. So many of you have touched my life, and I like to think that we've become good friends! :)

So go link up with Neely and Amber and tell them what's OK with you! :)

Dear 14 year old me ...

2011-12-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

Dear 14-year-old me ...

... that boy that you are "so in love" with? he's not the one for you. after a lot of pain (physical and emotional), you will realize it and be better off.

... being smart is cool.

... take school seriously - it is the only way to get ahead in life

... once you graduate, you won't talk to most of the people that are your "best friends" in high school

... no matter what you do in life, you MUST remember that on 11/4/2003, you MUST go back to CWHS and meet the Physics teacher. (see here)

... be true to yourself and never let anyone change you.

... the world does not revolve around boys

... nor does it revolve around cheerleading/gymnastics

... STOP doing gymnastics NOW. Your 27-year-old self would appreciate if you would stop BEFORE you get 4 stress fractures.

Love,
Me! (in 13 years)

More swaps!

2011-12-14T06:15:00.002-05:00

I got a little "blog swap" happy this season, and signed up for a BUNCH of swaps. So below are my goodies from 3 more swaps!

First up, Megan and Julie's Ornament Swap! I was paired with Amy from Oh So Charming, who is an absolute sweetheart!

This adorable ornament, with a sweet saying in it.

an "S" ornament, since my last name starts with "S". I don't know about y'all, but I hardly have any "S" ornaments because "S" is apparently a VERY popular letter!

A candy cane. Already gone. Lasted no lie like 3 minutes. (oh, and see all the cat claw scratches on our nice wood table?)

Cute picture holder.

Head over to her blog to see what I got her! And if you don't already, go follow Megan, Julie, AND Amy!

Second swap was the Cold Hands, Warm Heart swap by Much Love, Illy and Sandy a la Mode. I was paired up with Yvonne from Simply Yvonne, who is ALSO a sweetheart. I swear, I am so lucky to get paired with the best people!

a sweet hand-written note!

Hello Kitty socks! because we all know how obsessed I am with her!

adorable gloves - that I can still use my iPhone with!

and even though it's hard to see, a super cute pink scarf! Love Love Love it!

So head over to Yvonne's blog and check out what I got her, and be sure to follow her, Ilene, and Sandy!

Last, but certainly not least, is another ornament swap. This one was held by Elizabeth. I was paired with the super sweet Amanda, who is one of my newest Twitter and Blog friends, and my Words With Friends competitor. ;) She was recently in France and Spain and brought me back this GORGEOUS hand painted ornament. Thank goodness USPS decided to be gentile that day and it arrived safely and intact!

So go check out Amanda's blog and Elizabeth's blog and follow them too!

Sometimes and Always ... 2

2011-12-13T06:58:00.000-05:00

This is my new favorite link-up and I hope y'all join! :)

Sometimes ... I get bored when I'm home all day.

Always ... I get back to work and I'm miserable, hating my job, and wanting to quit.

Sometimes ... I get really stressed out.

Always ... I obsess over things and I'm convinced it's going to make me sick.

Sometimes ... I get a one-track mind and all I can think about is what is making me angry or upset.

Always ... I eventually get over it.

Sorry this one is such a bummer ... but I just got back to work after a 3-day weekend and NO ONE did anything I asked them to do AND I found out that I am one of the lowest paid people here. Like the people in manufacturing with the high school diplomas make more than me, in a management/engineering position with a BS and a few months away from my MS. Yeah, pretty upset about that.

How the Glitz Stole Christmas Swap Goodies!

2011-12-12T06:00:00.013-05:00

For Lindsey and Raven's blog swap, How The Glitz Stole Christmas, I was paired up with Katie from Heart Like Mine. They are ALL sweethearts, and if you don't already follow them, you really need to go do it now. Seriously. I'll wait here. You go follow.

Ok. You're back. Now we can continue.

I'm writing this like a week early because I just received the package, and I wanted to get it ready because a) I wanted to record my true feelings right after opening them and b) some things will be used before the post date.

This is what I pulled out of the box. A big wrapped present. Excited already!

Inside that big wrapped present were smaller wrapped presents. It reminded me of Christmases when my dad got my mom jewelry and I wrapped it in a bigger box, inside a bigger box, inside an even bigger box, etc.

First thing I opened - nail polish! I love the glittery nail polish! In fact, just a couple hours before opening the package, I had just gotten my nails done in a different glittery polish. Can't wait to try this ... maybe on my toes tonight.

Next was this pretty picture frame. Right now it is on my book case, because I don't know what pictures I should put in it, but I'm thinking that since it came from a blogger, I should put blate pictures in it! :)

A pretty snowflake ornament. The cats are going to have fun trying to take this off of the tree. ;)

A pink sparkly pen. :) At least the guys at work won't steal my pens anymore. :)

And last but certainly not least, a Hello Kitty ornament! Finally! Some HK for my tree! :)

So a BIG Thank you goes to Katie for my package, it was amazing and I love it all! Go check out her blog to see what I got her ...

And 2 more BIG Thank yous go to Lindsey and Raven for hosting this swap! Love you ladies!

Cookie swap

2011-12-11T20:46:00.001-05:00

I recently did a cookie swap with some food bloggers. I made my great grandmother's snickerdoodles, which are a family holiday tradition.

Ingredients:
1 c softened butter
2 c sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 c AP flour
4 T sugar
2 T cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375F (350F if convection).
2. Beat butter, add 2 cups sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Beat until combined.
3. Add egg and vanilla, beat until combined.
4. Add flour, mix well.
5. Cover and chill 1 hour.
6. Roll dough in 1" balls.
7. Mix 4 T sugar and 2 T cinnamon.
8. Roll dough balls in cinnamon sugar mixture.
9. Place 2" apart on ungreased sheet and bake 10 to 11 minutes or until edges are golden.
10. Let cool on wire rack.

5K?

2011-12-09T14:09:00.000-05:00

It's semi-official. I'm thinking about running the 5K during the Pittsburgh Marathon weekend, May 5th.

Currently, I am not a runner. So I will literally be going from couch to 5K in 5 months.

I haven't registered yet because
a) I'm afraid I'll chicken out and/or my back won't be able to handle it.
b) I haven't confirmed our visit with my in-laws - we'll probably do that at Christmas.

So wish me luck, and send lots of encouragement ... I'm going to need it! :)

That time I got nerdy ...

2011-12-09T07:18:00.000-05:00

When I walked out of my house at 5:45 AM for work this morning, I looked up at the sky like I do every morning. See, I live in the middle of nowhere. For those of you that live in cities, you can't imagine the beauty that I can see from my backyard every clear night. I look up and see a sky full of stars and planets and the moon, and I am just in awe of the beauty.

Hubby and I LOVE Astronomy. We both have backgrounds in Physics, I did undergrad research in Astronomy and he taught Physics and Earth Science and Astronomy before changing his career to IT. We visit planetariums, science centers, and observatories on vacations. We went to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on our honeymoon. We have a small telescope but want to get a bigger one. We are nerds, through and through.

So I thought I'd share some information about my loves with you. After all, I just realized that I have never actually gotten "nerdy" on this blog, so now is a perfect time to start! :)

1) When you look up at the sky on a clear night, not everything that you see is a star. The easiest way to tell the difference between a star and a planet? If it "twinkles", it is a star. If it is solid, it is a planet. The reason behind this is that stars emit light, which gets distorted in our atmosphere, so it twinkles. Planets reflect light, and reflected light does not get distorted in our atmosphere. (The reason we don't notice the twinkling effect with the sun is because it is so large and so close and you're not supposed to stare directly at the sun).

no, this is not my picture. but yes, I can almost see this many stars.

2) Winter nights are the easiest nights to see a sky full of stars and planets because there are generally less clouds. In the summer, clouds help trap heat so while it is warmer, it is also harder to see the stars.

3) Most of the planets can be seen with the unaided eye on a clear night. Mars always presents itself as orange-tinted. Jupiter is the largest planet in the sky, and Saturn is a close second. Pluto cannot be seen with the unaided eye (and yes, I still consider it a planet - don't even get me started on that!). Mercury is very difficult to see with the unaided eye because of its close proximity to the sun. It can usually only be seen right before sunrise or right after sunset.

Mars

Venus (left) and Jupiter (right)

4) Tonight is a lunar eclipse. Did you know that lunar eclipse can only occur at a full moon because the moon must be directly across from the sun? Lunar eclipses do not occur at every full moon because the Earth's orbit around the sun is slightly inclined, so while there is always a full moon, the Earth does not always block the light. If you want to see the lunar eclipse in your area, check out this website to see when you can see it.

For the iPhone at least, I know that there are apps that you can point up at the sky and the app will show you what the stars and planets in the skies are.

Do YOU like anything that is considered nerdy?

Welcome to all my new followers! Hope you stick around and enjoy! :)

Christmas Village

2011-12-07T06:15:00.000-05:00

Monday night, hubby and I went to Christmas Village. I have not been there since I was a child, and he's never been there. It's just one more thing on the list of "Things I want to do before baby, because it will be a completely different experience after baby".

Just a small part of the lights display. They use almost exclusively the big C9 light bulbs. I can't even IMAGINE their electric bill.

More light display.

About 1/4 of the big train display. There's actually another one inside one of the gift shops.

Throughout all of the walkways are little wooden paintings. This grouping was Charlie Brown. There was just about everything you can imagine. I liked the Grinch ones, Garfield, and the Twas the Night Before Christmas ones.

Also on the pathways were little buildings. Each one had a different theme. This one was the Reindeer stable.

And of course, we HAD to go on the Kissing Bridge! ;)

Some nice man offered to take our picture because the "self-picture" just doesn't work. Yes, I'm ghostly pale. I'm not wearing any makeup. and it was cold. After all, this is PA in the winter!

So we finally made it to Christmas Village. It's surprising that it took so long, considering it is a 6 minute drive from our house. None the less, we did it. and I'm happy we did. :)

Sometimes ... Always ...

2011-12-06T07:09:00.000-05:00

Linking up with the lovely Megan over at Mackey Madness for her 1st Linkup for Sometimes and Always. She started "Sometimes and Always" on her own, and people loved the idea, so she made it a linkup! How awesome is that??

Sometimes ... I can't stand checking Facebook because I'm SO tired of seeing all the babies and pregos.
Always ... I do it anyway, and make myself insanely jealous.

Sometimes ... I like my job.
Always ... I can't stand some of my coworkers. Especially one certain douche. And THAT'S putting it nicely.

Sometimes ... I get frustrated when people try to force their beliefs on other people.
Always ... I stick to my beliefs.

Sometimes ... I want a new job/career.
Always ... I don't want to give up my seniority here and the flexibility I'll have when we have babies.

Sometimes ... I try to bring up the "babies" conversation with hubby.
Always ... I get super excited when HE brings it up, even if it is a casual mention while we're at Christmas Village about how "the strollers with the big wheels seem to be much easier to maneuver than the other ones. we'll definitely need one of those." (am I pathetic for getting excited about that?)

So check out Megan's blog and linkup with us! :)

Nail Polish Swap

2011-12-05T06:35:00.000-05:00

I did a nail polish swap hosted by Tara at Fabulous but Evil and Celia at Finding My Way.

I was paired with Sarah at Shades for E.V.E.R.Y. Adventure who sent:

Some yummy tea bags. Sorry I didn't snap a picture of them - I used them up so quickly, I forgot!

Sally Hansen nail polish. Yes, I'm sure you think the colors are plain, but I like to wear more neutral colors on my hands because a) they match with more outfits and I have acrylics and don't do my own nails and b) if I wear bright colors on my hands, all the guys at work make fun of me - and I just don't want to deal with that.


This A-DORABLE Penguin. I have along history of Penguin love. 1) I love Pittsburgh, and the hockey team is the Penguins. 2) The night before my wedding, I watched "Happy Feet" for the first time with my mom and my bridesmaids. 3) They're just so freaking cute!

Thirty-One

2011-12-02T11:54:00.000-05:00

Do you or someone you know need a lunch bag? My friend Abbey, who is a Thirty-One consultant, is running a special on the thermal totes, including a new one! These are GREAT totes for lunch bags! The zip tote is $10 and the new cinch tote is $15, and they are available in all the colors shown below. The zip tote is regularly $15 and the cinch tote will not be available to the public until January and will regularly be $20, so it's $5 off of each!

If you are interested in ordering one or want more information, just send me an e-mail.

The zippered tote can be personalized for $7 - your choice of words or initials and color. There is a shipping and handling charge and PA sales tax (because technically she's selling them to me).

I love Thirty-One products - they are high quality and they really stand behind their products and support their consultants. My friend does this so that she can be a SAHM to her 3 handsome little boys, and Thirty-One supports her in everything she does. After all, the name Thirty-One comes from the verses of Proverbs 31. From the Thirty-One website:

The Proverbs 31 woman is dearly loved and respected by him and her children, yet she is an individual in her own right. She manages the home and property with kindness and integrity. Her savvy business skills are partly brought about by her desire to serve others, to do good deeds and prosper.

The Vet

2011-12-02T07:09:00.000-05:00

I totally had another post planned for today ... until I had to take little Miss Mittens to the vet. My sweet little girl had a tooth become abscessed.

So I took her to the vet last night. THAT was an ordeal in itself. First of all, Mittens weighs about 14 lbs and is the "protector" and "momma cat" to all of the other cats. So when I tried to put her in the carrier, she freaked out because she's never been separated from her twin Callie in the almost 5 years that we've had them. So there were claws flying, growling, hissing, howling, etc. Blood was drawn (my hand, 2 places). But after lots of tears, I got her in the carrier. I felt like a horrible Momma. So I drove her to the vet. She cried and howled the whole time. I think she was searching for the other cats to make sure they were OK. I felt so bad. I cried on the way to the vet, I cried while I was at the vet, and I cried on my way home from the vet.

The vet says it'll be a quick surgery and they should be calling me before lunch to let me know how she's doing, and I'll be picking her up after work today, but I missed her last night. She usually snuggles up with me in bed. So I'll be thinking of my oldest baby girl today while she's in surgery, and while I'm sure everything will be fine, I certainly would appreciate any prayers or thoughts you want to put out there for her.

Have a good weekend!

Three Cheese Manicotti

2011-12-01T07:01:00.000-05:00

Last night I tweeted about my 3 Cheese Manicotti, and some of you asked for the recipe. No lie, it is super easy. There are only 2 of us, so I make the full batch but freeze half. That way I have a nice homemade meal in my freezer for nights I don't feel like cooking.

Ingredients:
1 lb manicotti, cooked to package directions and cooled (you can also use jumbo shells for stuffed shells)
1 lb ricotta cheese
8 oz shredded mozzarella
1/2 c grated Parmesan
1 egg
Salt, pepper, oregano to taste
1 jar of your favorite sauce (I make my own)

1. cook and cool the manicotti
2. Put a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of your baking dish.
3. Mix cheeses, egg, and spices in a large bowl.
4. Transfer to gallon sized ziploc bag. Cut off the corner.
5. Pipe cheese into manicotti (I usually do half in each end).
6. Arrange manicotti in baking dish. Top with additional sauce and cheese if desired.
7. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Christmas gifts ...

2011-11-30T07:12:00.000-05:00

Christmas in our house is kind of a big deal. I spend hours upon hours searching for the perfect gifts for all of my friends and family. My husband is no exception. Except this year. I'm getting close to our pre-set limit, and I still haven't gotten him anything AMAZING. So I am racking my brain to try to come up with something awesome that fits within the remainder of the budget. I just can't seem to think of anything that will make his jaw drop ...

Let me preface this story by saying that I don't like surprises. Yes, I know gifts are supposed to be surprises. But I'd rather not be surprised. I don't go so far as to snoop in e-mail or around the house (we share our e-mail passwords - we have nothing to hide from each other and some bills come to mine and some go to his).

Last night, he decided to torture me a little bit. See, this time of year, we are not allowed to open packages that are not addressed to us. We both do a lot of online shopping - him because he hates going in stores, me because some of the things he wants/needs aren't available locally. So yesterday he got 3 packages. I was a good girl and didn't open anything. Proud? You should be. It took AMAZING amounts of self restraint.

So where does the torture come in? He mentions how excited he is about what is in the box. Apparently it is something I've wanted for a while, but it isn't exactly made anymore. Apparently it is still made in one form or another, but not the same. Well, he was able to find one new in the original packaging and he's super excited about it. Seriously, this package is less than 10 inches x 10 inches x 10 inches, and I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell it could be. Why did he have to tell me all of that? Seriously ...

So now all that I can think about is what is inside that box ... for the next 26 days ... this is going to slowly kill me.

Oh, and one more addition to my Christmas list for anyone that wants to buy it for me. :)

Sometimes and Always ...

2011-11-29T07:09:00.000-05:00

Stealing (well, not really stealing because I told her about it) this idea from the Lovely Megan over at Mackey Madness ... it's just too good of an idea not to use!

Sometimes ... I get bored when I'm home alone with a day off of work.

Always ... I wish I could go back to being at home once I get to work.

Sometimes ... I really want a baby.

Always ... I change my mind (however briefly) after spending time with my nephew.

Sometimes ... I take vacation days because I need a day away from work.

Always ... Once I get back to work, I regret taking that day because no one else does my work and I'm now an entire day behind ...

Sometimes ... I feel so far behind because I don't have time to check out twitter and all of the blogs I want to read.

Always ... if there is something I'm missing, PLEASE @ me on twitter, e-mail me, or text me. All 3 go right to my phone, which is always there. If I haven't commented on your blog, I apologize (and if there is something you really want me to see, e-mail, tweet me, or text me). I've been so caught up trying to get Christmas shopping done ASAP so I can relax and enjoy the rest of the year, and frankly, I'm still recovering from Black Friday.

Sometimes ... I think I'm stupid for going out shopping on Black Friday.

Always ... I go out and do it anyway. And don't regret it, because it's fun. My mom and I spent 9 hours out this year. I got home at 8:30 AM, relaxed with hubby for a few hours (but didn't sleep more than 15 minutes), and then hubby and I went out around 4. :)

Thankful

2011-11-23T06:00:00.003-05:00

Saving this for the day before Thanksgiving ...

I am THANKFUL for ...

... my amazingtastic husband, the love of my life. There is no one in the world that I can even imagine wanting to spend the rest of my life with. He's supportive, loving, protective, encouraging, perfect. He's the best man I know, tied with my daddy.

... my family. I am blessed with 2 loving parents, 2 brothers, nephews, 2 sisters-in-law (one brother's wife, one hubby's sister), a brother-in-law, 2 in-laws, aunt and uncle, cousins, and numerous grandparents. Around the holidays, I always get a little sad, thinking about the family that I've lost in the last 9 years - my Nana (mom's mom), my Grampop (dad's dad), My Nannie (great-grandmother, Nana's mom), and my Uncle Barry (mom's brother).

... my kitties. My cats are my children, and I love all of them. I am so thankful that we were able to rescue them and give them homes when they needed them. My biggest wish is that one day I can have enough money to open a HUGE cat rescue with free spaying and neutering so that no more cats are homeless and hit by cars.

Autumn

Einstein

Zeppelin, RIP 5/5/07 ... we still miss you baby boy

Callie

Mittens

... our home. I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and love in our hearts.

It's half of our yard and garage. Sorry, don't have a picture of the actual house.

and last but not least ...

... my friends - "real-life" and blog. Juli, Ashley, Tara, Ashleigh, Ashley, Kate, Megan, Erica, and so many more. If I interact with you through blogging and/or twitter and/or text, I consider you a friend, and I love you.

What are you thankful for?

The Halls are Decked ...

2011-11-22T07:07:00.000-05:00

I mentioned last week that hubby finally caved and agreed that we could decorate this weekend. And decorate we did! Below is just a quick peak at our decorations in the Living Room.

Our tree. and yes, there is a wrapped present already under it

Our cat angel tree topper. My grandmother always had one growing up, so I knew I had to find one. Searched for 2 years to find it.

My village. It's hard to see but I've got about 9 houses and a bunch of smaller accessories

My nativity scene. Yes, they're cats. I love them.

Oh, and this bracelet was laying on the tree skirt this morning. Some klepto kitty thought the tree skirt needed bling apparently.

Rally to 1000

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Look Alike Friday

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Linking up with Mrs. Monologues for Look-Alike Friday. For today's look-alikes, I raided the blogs of my favorite bloggers to show their twinnies!

First up ... Ashley from Run with Me

and her twin ... Bianca Kajlich from Rules of Engagement

Second up is Christin from A Classy Southern Wife

and her twin, Kate Middleton.

And last, but certainly not least, two bloggers ... Pink Lou Lou from Confessions of a 20 Something and Carissa from Carissa Explains it All

And their twin (if Rissy dyed her hair blonde), Carrie Underwood

So do you agree with my look-alikes?