My Favorite Movies- Christmas Specials, Part Two

Join me now for the (not at all) dramatic conclusion to Christmas Specials, Part One!

(I have too much free time.)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Oh, how I love the Grinch. A misunderstood, antisocial grump who lives in a cave with his dog, and believes he has the power to prevent an entire holiday from occurring. He has cojones to spare, but I guess when your heart is three sizes too small, you have a bit of extra room. I love the songs, the animation, and the reassurance that (despite my secularism) Christmas doesn't have to come from a store (much as I like that, too), but it is what you make of it. And there are some things that are more important than jing tinglers and who carnio fluxes. Also worth mentioning, my cousin Ashley has this crazed, lunatic smile she sometimes does, and I swear, it makes her look exactly like ol' Grinchy Poo when he's about to engage in some hardcore holiday thievery. You know the one. All his teeth are bared, his antennae (aren't they?) twirl, and he gives his most wickedy-grinchedy grin. It's pure Ashley, that grin. (Ashley does not normally resemble the Grinch. Just when she smiles while feeling particularly wicked.)

Frosty the Snowman
Of all the Rankin-Bass specials, this one has the most comedic appeal, thanks in large part to Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante. I always loved the part, after the kids have built Frosty and are shouting out possible names, the youngest one cries out "Oatmeal!" It gets me to this day. My memories tied to it are quite intertwined with also watching Twas the Night Before Christmas, and untangling strands upon strands of lights to put in windows and on the tree. Especially the color lights that had those plastic flower-shaped surrounds. Do they still make those? I always liked them best. Frosty is one of the only four specials made and aired in the 1960s that still airs today (others being Rudolph, Charlie Brown and the Grinch.)  Which explains why you may have never heard of Misters Vernon and Durante. I actually have a story about Jimmy Durante, courtesy of my dad and his brother (my Uncle Richard.) They grew up in/around Burbank in the 60s. One day, I'm not sure whether to be funny or out of genuine desire, they called a local radio station and requested some Jimmy Durante. The dj scoffed and told them no way, because "no one wants to hear Jimmy Durante these days." He was wrong, because none other than Jim Nabors called, and told him he did. This all played out over the airwaves (or so I've been told.) This is why I'm 32 years old, but understand references on a geriatric level. And more relevantly, Christmas isn't Christmas unless I've seen Frosty while decorating. It gets me in that mood.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
If you don't find yourself disgusted, at some point, with all things holiday-related, then you're either Martha Stewart, or you aren't doing it right. Charlie Brown speaks to the disillusioned soul within us all at this time of year. Luckily, Charlie had Linus to remind him, there is real meaning to the holiday season, and it's still there, even when everyone around you is concerned with their own self-serving desires and whims. I believe that is why this special endures. Our society is ever-increasingly driven to acquire the latest of everything (myself included), and seems to be hurtling further and further away from anything meaningful. For Charlie and Linus, it was the birth of Jesus and not letting commercialism ruin their holiday. For me, it's togetherness with family (even though they usually drive me crazy, we're usually able to reign it in for a day) and enjoying all the little, mundane parts of the Holidays that combine to make them special.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Of all the specials of all time that ever have aired anywhere, this one is my favorite. More than any other, it reminds me of my dad, making sure we saw it, even if it sometimes meant being a little bit late for a company Christmas party. Much like with Frosty, the holidays just aren't the same without Rudolph. My heart always hurt for the Misfit toys, especially the sad little doll, whose only flaw (according to Romeo Muller and a few websites) was that she didn't feel loved and had low self-esteem. I recall asking my parents what was wrong with her; they never had an answer, so I'd be sure to tell them "I think it's because she doesn't have a nose. But that's ok, because she can talk and cry!" Perhaps I was always secretly hoping to find her under the tree on Christmas morning? Overall, I love a good misfit story, and Rudolph is chock-full of 'em. My sister and I quote this all throughout the year (mainly King Moonracer's "come closer" and "footman! Show them to their chambers," and Sam's "Pull up an ice block.") I've always adored the style this was made in, the music is charmingly done, and should I ever have children, I will carry on the tradition of watching these guys whenever it airs. While it has very little to do with traditional Christmas themes, the idea of being yourself, warts and all, is one of my favorites.

It occurs to me that I have many, many more favorite holiday specials/movies. More than space here would allow. So, I'm considering a part three. Or doing something a bit more specific. Either way, hope you've enjoyed my lists of favorite Christmas specials! They may not be the most original or cutting-edge, but Christmas isn't always about that :) And that's a beautiful thing.

Catch Up

Haven't really posted a lot in the last several weeks, what with it being the holidays and all. I've been sick, been kicking ass in my phlebotomy certification course, and pretty much eating chips like they're about to stop being made.

Yeah, I'm all healthy and awesome and shit.

Haven't hopped back on the TAGT train yet, and I hate to say it's the plan for the new year, because I think new year's resolutions are kind of useless. It's less about feeling pressure to make a big change with the new year, and just the nice sort of lining up of the want to get back into my old healthy habits, and that sort of thing being a little easier to execute in January. No big whoop.

My other hopes for post-holiday madness will be starting my garden from seed- at an appropriate time of year. Last year, I tried it months after I should have, then I was gone helping my sister recover from a wreck. This year, I should be employed and unable to flit off to play Florence Nightingale for ailing relatives. If I'm here to actually look after seedlings and plants, then my hope is I'll be here to harvest the suckers and make preserves and such. I have at least a few plans for posts about that in the new year, so check back :)

Anyway, hopefully everyone's holiday season is not causing too much stress or weight gain. I have a few more Christmas related posts on the way, and possibly some recipes, and maybe some Christmas memories posts. Hope your December is lovely so far :D

My Favorite Movies- Holiday Specials, Part One

I have a secret. It's not a dark secret, not scandalous, and it would probably not in any way affect my future as a state senator. It doesn't involve wetting the bed, the natural color of my hair, or my undying adoration for Tom Petty. I love holiday movies, holiday specials, pretty much holiday anything. I hear your groans, the "we saw this from light years away!" protests. And I admit my transparency. I also admit, I friggin love holiday movies and shows. Here are my favorites, and why I love them so.

Christmas With the Kranks
The first time I saw this was just because it happened to be on tv, and I happen to hate channel surfing. It stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis as a couple who decide to take off Christmas, just this once, and the chaos that follows their decision. As much as I love Christmas, I can admit to wanting to just skip out on it and avoid the stress and the calories sometimes. If you don't find yourself tearing up a little when Luther gifts the Scheels then you probably have no soul and should probably be forced to watch Sarah MacLachlan ASPCA commercials until you grow one.

Bad Santa
Certainly not the warmest and fuzziest of all Christmas movies, but definitely one of the funniest. Billy Bob Thornton is Willie, a scuzzy, always sauced professional criminal, whose heist of choice is casing malls while playing Santa. He meets the naive, practically abandoned Thurman Merman, who attempts to befriend Willie, believing he is actually Santa. After learning Thurman's mother left, his father is "climbing mountains" (jailed for embezzlement), and his only guardian is his senile grandmother, Willie moves in. Thurman starts to grow on Willie, and he becomes a sort of father figure. Willie meets bartender Sue (Lauren Graham), gets blackmailed by head of mall security (Bernie Mac), and attempts the heist with his partners in crime, Marcus and Lois (Tony Cox and Lauren Tom), only to find out they have other ideas. Cops come, shots are fired, but in the end, we learn family isn't limited to the one you were born into.

Twas the Night Before Christmas
Based loosely (pretty loosely) on the Clement Clarke Moore poem, this is a Rankin-Bass cartoon about a clockmaker who decides to build a clock to entice Santa to town, after a group of punk-ass adolescent mice write a letter to the local paper, claiming Santa doesn't exist- and sign it "all of us." I loved this one as a child, as it and Frosty remind me of decorating the house and tree. And I also have always loved anthropomorphized mice. And how Albert realizes that sometimes, the adult thing is to have faith in magic.

Home Alone
It seems like everyone should know about this one, and that it only seems right that you see it at least three times every December. Seeing it as a kid made me kind of envious of Kevin, either way, really- he was either going to spend Christmas in Paris, or have his whole huge, lovely home all to himself. Not that he got to choose, but if I may be so bold as to overanalyze this movie, I think his options represent a dichotomy we must all feel, at some time- do we continue with the (possibly tired) traditions, or do we forge our own path to holiday happiness? Plus there's beating the baddies, a mysterious, creepy neighbor, and John Candy. And the house. There is something so early-nineties about it that has stayed with me all this time. I have house envy. It makes me want to move to whatever Chicago suburb this house is located in because house.so.purty. The house used in the film is actually in Winnetka, Illinois, and is currently a tourist attraction about "getting your house in the movies."


Trying to post all of my favorites into one entry apparently caused some hiccup with my computer or Blogger, so I have to split this post into 2. So stay tuned for the epic conclusion of "Holiday Specials, Part One."

Thoughtful Gifts for the Hard to Buy For

I'd already written up a gift guide for hard to buy for moms, then realized, my ideas are actually helpful for everyone. I just happen to have a HTBF mother (my dad is the total opposite), so I have a couple of decades of figuring out what to buy for her under my belt. Not that the road hasn't been paved with last minute dvds and random tchotchkes,  but I think I've come a long way as a gifter. So here in time for Black Friday, are my tips for gift giving, for the hard to buy for in your life.

1. Just ask them what they want. Yes, this is glaringly obvious. No, I don't mean it at all in a smart assy way. I realize that sometimes, we so want to surprise loved ones with spectacular gifts, that we overwhelm ourselves trying to find the perfect one. Then, we wind up scrambling last minute and wind up with something that may not be anywhere near what we'd intended. So, instead of trying to be sly, just ask. If you want to surprise them (and who doesn't, really?) discuss it in a way that is less like trying to suss out info, and more like a general conversation. Something like "I've always wanted the Charmkins windmill, but ebay is ridiculous. How about you?" 
2. Set up a family wishlist. This is especially helpful for families with younger kids/teens at home, or families who do a name/gift exchange. Amazon is a great option for general wishlists (you can even organize items by how badly you want them), and if you hate being out and about during the holiday season, you can shop right from home. Elfster is a secret Santa organizer site that is simple to use and can be linked to your Facebook account. You simply invite family/friends to the exchange, they answer anonymously asked questions and/or fill out a wishlist, names are drawn and gifts exchanged. It's Secret Santa without the hassle.
3. Answer these questions- What do they hate to do, what do they love to do, what have they always wanted to try? My mother's lone request all these years has been for a clean house. There are several reasons why that never happens (she refuses to do it herself, chief among them.) So I say, if you want to know what a person truly wants, answer these three questions. Delving further into things, knowing what they value most- services, experiences, or things- is also key. So if your mother hates cleaning, is always complaining about it, pay for a maid service. If she is unwilling to allow strangers into her home, volunteer to do it yourself (and actually DO it, don't say you will then reneg because you're broke. Or cheap.) If someone is interested in developing a skill, experiencing a once in a lifetime event, or just would like a weekend away (if your budget allows), figure that thing out and make it happen. This one also allows for time spent with loved ones- which is important to many, and free.
4. Let gift cards supplement, not supply. I am a fan of gift cards. As someone who has never been good at on command wish listing (and who is prone to whims), they take the headache out of things. But they can be boring, and I have heard a few people complain that it's no fun to buy them. With that in mind, I say let a gift card add to the overall gift, and not be the entire gift. If your sister hangs out at the library, figure out her favorite authors or genres, buy her a book- and tuck in a B&N or Starbucks card. If your brother loves cooking outdoors, get him a cast iron cookware set and a card for Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's or Lowes. If your parents never make time for themselves, buy them an outfit and add a certificate to their favorite restaurant. You can still give gift cards, but putting a little more thought into a gift is always appreciated.
5. Give of yourself. This one kind of ties into #3, but with a more DIY angle. If you are a talented photographer, graphic designer, knitter, baker, put those skills to use! If you are good with editing and design software and know a couple of new parents, design a birth announcement, print it on heavy card stock and have it framed (I've done a couple using Picasa, and I've seen others on Etsy.) If you are handy with a camera, take a family portrait or offer to photograph your nieces, nephews, cats-in-law, etc. Cook a gourmet meal, offer to babysit, wherever you see a need you could fill, offer to do that, and do it.
6. DIY Gift baskets. No matter what you could offer to do for some people, there will always be those that prefer things over all. This is ok! There's a reason gift sets abound during the holidays. They are easy. Many have brand recognition. And some have hefty price tags. If you have many to buy for on a limited budget, try buying mini sets and breaking them up. Stores like Bath and Body Works, and many cosmetics brands offer these kinds of sets every year. If you have several teen girls to buy for (or even older women! as long as they like health and beauty products, this will please), buy several sets or travel sized products, a cosmetics bag (Wal Mart and Target have many affordable and stylish options), and round it out with little things like small candles, chocolates (or other candies) and nail polish. You could even do a more specific set, such as a pampering routine, mani-pedis, skincare, hair styling. I suppose girls can be easy to buy for :) If you have more guys to gift, movies, video games, gadget accessories (who isn't always looking for a charger cord?!), and even grooming kits are good ideas. My assumption is that you probably know the people you're buying for well enough to know what they are into. So if you have a brother, cousin or nephew who is more into cooking than power tools, get him a cookbook and some kitchen tools. And stuff em in a crockpot or a heavy-duty enameled cast iron pot that will last them forever. The options are pretty much endless here. 
7. Big Ticket Ideas. If your dad's dream has always been to restore an old car, but he never looks for one, get yourself online and look for one. Between Freecycle, Craigslist, and local classifieds, you might just luck up and find something that someone wants to get rid of cheap (or maybe free! My brother was once given a 1950 Ford car. You just never know unless you look!) If you have a big or even limitless budget, pay for a vacation for someone. If you know someone who is always doing for others and never takes "me time," pay for them a room for a weekend. (Don't book it before you give it to them, unless you know their schedule backwards, forwards, and upside down. You wouldn't want to spend hundreds on a trip that can't be taken.) If you live near any hotel-casinos, and know your recipient will have no issue with the gambling, you can also provide a meal for them, perhaps a massage, room service, or gift card to an onsite store. If someone's idea of getting away from it all actually involves leaving everything behind, consider renting a cabin, or even a room in a b&b. If it's going to be in an area you're not that familiar with, be sure to research beforehand, and create a list of suggestions. Restaurants, historical sites, shops, theaters, museums, spas...base it on their interests, and schedule them a trip.

I hope you found this list helpful! It's not original information, but I think it's relevant and good info, and hopefully it gets your creative gifting juices flowing! Comment below your creative gift ideas!

Gettting Back on the Horse

So, the last two weeks have been kind of a crapshoot, healthy habits-wise, and I'm tired of feeling like...crap.

To avoid the usual rambling post of  "Gee, I hope I do better next time!" I'm saying this: I intend to be back on TAGT this coming Monday. Perhaps this is nuts, given that Thanksgiving is four days later, but I've never really gained weight during the holidays (and if nothing else, I can call it my refuel meal. At least the things I like to eat aren't too far from the plan, anyway.)

I'll not only be restarting the Think and Grow Thin plan, I also plan to kind of do a sort of review of sorts of each chapter. Maybe something like "this works for me, this doesn't, you might try this." I honestly have not found that much info on this book or plan online, outside of Amazon reviews. I'll do (hopefully) shorter recaps of each day, any recipes I try, and just any sort of helpful tidbit I may stumble upon.

As for my previous entries, I think I am going to delete them, and maybe post a summarization of why it didn't work out the first time around. I believe in being honest about my failures, holding myself accountable, and if it helps someone else to know that I tried, failed, but have decided to try again, then I'm totally happy with how this all worked out, good, bad and ugly.

So check back Monday, when I intend/hope to have begun anew :) A month off, but better late than never.

The Lo Mein Substitute You've Probably Been Missing Your Whole Life

This is a grandiose title. I'll admit it. But if you're the kind of person who thinks vegetables make a suitable substitution for pasta, read on!
You will need:
1.25 cups RAW broccoli slaw. No sauces, no nuts, nothing. Just straight up broccoli slaw
1 tsp healthy fat. I used olive oil, but coconut would be great, too
3/4 cup frozen mixed veggies (I used Bird's Eye pasta primavera mix)
Kraft Lite Toasted Sesame dressing- I used around 1-2 tsp
Heat your oil in a skillet on med-high heat. When it starts to sizzle, throw in your slaw and veggies and stir it around enough to get a decent coating of oil on everything. You can keep stirring, or you can let the mix rest for a minute or so, to get some nice color and searing action. But don't let it sit for too long! Thirty to sixty seconds should achieve the desired result. Repeat the stir-sear-stir process until you are happy with the results (about 10 minutes, you wouldn't want still frozen vegetables.) Now, drizzle on the dressing, stir again to coat, and serve up your lovely plate of stir fry!
If you are serving no other sides, I would say this serves one. But if you are having a larger meal, it should serve 2. Other options include adding some shrimp or bay scallops or imitation crab to the mix about halfway through cooking (small scallops, if that's what you go with!) Some almond slivers, water chestnuts or scallions wouldn't suck, either.
So it might not be exactly like lo mein, but it has the right elements- slightly noodly, bits of crunchy veggies, a slight hint of grease. But so, so much better!

DIY Brush Cleaner

If you're a makeup junkie, fan of beauty vloggers/bloggers, or anyone in between, you've no doubt heard of the Sigma brush cleaning glove. It looks like an oversized, silicone over mitt, with raised patterns on it, for washing/rinsing/refining your makeup brushes. It's a great idea, it's pretty cute, and the sucker actually works. Thing is, it's nearly $40. For a bumpy oven mitt.

Really?!

I've seen a few resourceful types find cheaper alternatives (some have actually been oven mitts), some making squiggles on plastic clipboards with hot glue. If I've realized two things during brush-clean-a-palooza, it's A) I'm a lemming and B) my brushes can be SO MUCH CLEANER!! And without the hefty price tag!

I loved what SecretLifeofaBioNerd did for hers, with the clipboard and glue gun. I have no glue gun, even less cash, but still managed to pull off a similar project with I think decent results. Instead of glue, I used puffy paint. Yup, good ol', relic of the '90s puffy paint. I know for a fact this stuff will hang on until/unless you practically take a chisel to it. My mom "personalized" some insulated cups for us for Christmas one year, and after many, many dishwasher trips, the big C on my cup is just as gobby-blobby as the day she did it. Plus, glitter. My puffy paint has glitter.

I do not own lots of brushes, and none are really that large, so the different areas for each pattern aren't that big. I just dabbed until it looked right. I did roughly follow, to the best of my abilities (puffy paint bottle and arthritis permitting), the patterns on the actual gloves. It's obviously not exactly like the original, but I'm ok with it. Plus, if there's an area that doesn't work that well, I can try again on the other side, or scrape off and start anew. The best part? This puppy didn't even cost $4 to make! (Including tax!) So, if you're pining for that silly mitt, but can't/don't want to shell out the bucks, try making your own! These clip boards come in several colors, and puffy paint in even more, so you're likely to get a combo you love. And on the super-cheap!

TAGT Day 8- A Vast Improvement

I'm proud to say, I no longer feel like a complete and utter failure.

Yesterday's (day 8, late post again, whoops!) food intake was nearly perfect. I've swapped out scrambled egg whites for the protein shake, and I think it has helped tremendously. As for the Fiber One, I think I'm going to switch to a different, lighter cereal for weeks 3-4, because a serving is 1/2 a cup. TAGT plan requires a cup and a third. That is a lot of dry, twiggy colon blow to have to choke down. Plus I think it's causing some stomach discomfort, so either I'll lower my serving, or start getting Kashi. Probably the Kashi.

Lunches I have pretty much no problems with. I'm generally awake by noon, and I happen to like sandwiches, so yeah, no problems there.

Dinner, I tried the Southwestern ranch dressing cup I made. It was not great on plain baby spinach. Brian tried the dressing itself, and was not a fan. I should have expected that, as I do not really care for that particular seasoning on its own (the McCormick Perfect Pinch Citrus SW or something like that.) It just seems to be an unbalanced flavor, imho, it's missing sweet or spicier. But nothing ventured, nothing gained :) glad I tried something new. And it was actually ok on my tomatoes.

Snacks are fine, when I'm awake or home or remember to eat them. I still have a bit of an issue with really late night snacking. Last night I had an Oreo (just one!) and later on, a mini bag of pretzels with some hummus. So I'm not binging like crazy, and Oreo aside, I think my snack choices have been fairly decent.

Also of note, we bought a food scale last night. I think I may not be eating enough protein at dinner, which surely has led to some less than healthy choices over the last week. I'm not sure if I'm to be weighing 8-10oz cooked or raw. Either way, I had 7.5oz cooked chicken last night, and I think it was a big part of why I didn't go loco on a bag of chips last night.

This week, I'm focusing on a lot at once. I now have homework to do, I'm working on upping my water intake, and trying to get into a normal sleep routine. Plus doing a lot (A LOT) of house cleaning. I'm one busy bee for sure! But I'm already excited and hopeful for my first weigh-in (which will be monthly, if I can manage it), and I'm hoping to just keep getting better!

TAGT Day 7- Not Quite

This whole crazy sleeping thing is throwing a wrench in things.

I woke up at 2pm today, and jumped right in, basically, to the proper meal for the time. I did really well today, mostly- my scheduled meals (minus breakfast and snack 1) were spot on, and I got in another hour of movement. Which involved some much-needed housework, so double yay!

I did just have a slip up, in the form of baked Lay's and some fat-free ranch dip I just made. Which I washed down with chocolate milk. On the plus side, the dip was 1 serving, split with Brian, I did have too many chips but not to my usual binging standards, and the milk was also fat free and was two swigs (which I estimate at about 12oz, based on the glass it was in.) This was not a raging success, but also not a failure. Plus, I have readied tomorrow's dinner, chicken for Monday night, and I made 9 servings of fat free ranch dressings, using Greek yogurt, skim milk, ranch seasoning, and various salt free seasonings. They include Jamaican jerk, onion and herb, vegetable, citrus Southwestern, sweet & smoky Southwestern, and a mix of the veggie and onion/herbs one without ranch. Southwestern is usually my favorite kind of ranch, so I'm really hoping those turned out nicely.

As for the ranch dip? Let's just say, if you love it, and you're looking to reduce fat and calories in your snacking, try it! It's just 2TBSP plain nonfat Greek yogurt and 1.5 tsp ranch dressing mix (the powder.) It was really tangy and even Brian liked it. I'll definitely be making more! It'll be so good on tomatoes.

So today was the end of the first week, and I'm slightly disappointed in myself. Disappointed because I know I could have done better. However, I'm learning not to beat myself up over things- perfectionism, falling short, dwelling on it- are ways to stress oneself into a binge. I'm definitely better prepared for the start of week 2 than I was for week 1, so that's a success in my book.  I'm hoping to try some hypnotherapy to curb cravings and help with the overeating, but there were times over the last week, when I had eaten what I was supposed to, but was still ravenous. I take a carb blocker that seems to help with bloodsugar spikes, but I would love to find an appetite suppressant to help me get over those humps.

All in all, I'm glad I'm doing this, even though it is difficult. I've reached the point in my life where I have to accomplish something, because honestly? I haven't. Pretty much ever. I don't want my next 32 years to look like the first 32. I've also begun classes for phlebotomy certification, which is exciting. As for week 2? Bring it on.

TAGT Day 6- Ehhhh

Sorry for the day late posting. I actually fell asleep at a decent hour last night. It didn't last all night, sadly, but I feel like I'm starting to catch up on much-needed rest.

My eating yesterday was totally off plan. I'd been toying with the idea of not having a refuel meal/day, but wound up having a straight up cheat day instead. No breakfast, Zaxby's for lunch (we'd never been, they just opened, and onion rings. Eeks.) We checked out a new Mexican grocer and the lovely proprieters gave me (but not Brian, aww haha) a free empañada de piña, which I would eat for breakfast on the regular if I could, and for dinner I had a Southwestern salad. Dessert was a sampling of Mexcian cookies and later on a yogurt. I recorded everything, and was still 900+ calories under goal. And ya gotta love Mexican coconut cookies...5 are a serving at only 120 calories. Their sugar content isn't outrageous, either.

According to plan, Saturday is supposed to be the day of the refuel meal (and not an entire day), but I figure, I half-assed that yesterday, so today is going to be as close to the plan as I can get (wasn't awake for breakfast. Oopsies.) The best thing I did yesterday was walking for a little over an hour, and hopefully we'll be out and about long enough today to do that again. Not that I can't go walking on my own, I just like it when exercise and my to-do list naturally converge. I'm also increasing my water intake, so even though week one has been far from ideal, I am slowly (molasses-covered sloth slowly) making little improvements that add up to a greater whole. And for that, I am proud and a little excited :)

Holiday Tv Specials Schedule

Just posting a head's up and a link- if you look forward to holiday specials every year, make sure to bookmark this site- Holiday Tv Specials Schedule. I've been referencing it every year since about 2006 (it is updated annually.) Be sure to catch your old favorites, and check out new offerings from Hallmark, ABC Family, and the major networks. I'm looking forward to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Muppets/Lady Gaga Thanksgiving special and Carrie Underwood in the NBC remake of The Sound of Music. 

Are you ready for the holiday season to be in full swing? Or are you waiting for January 2nd? Comment below!

**I am not affiliated with Chiff.com, I'm just really fond of their website**

TAGT Day 5- Getting (sorta) Better

Today, I'm happy to report, was a vast improvement over yesterday. Intake-wise, anyway. Last night, the cravings hit. Maybe cravings isn't the right word...just the overwhelming memories of all my favorite junk foods, how it will be a long, long time before I'll feel ok to indulge again, and how all this means missing out on Halloween candy and Chinese food with Brian (such is our preferred way to observe Oct. 31.) On top of that, I was ravenously hungry really late last night, and wound up eating 17 (yup. Holy sh!t.) Chocolate chip cookies. I managed to not go over my sugar allotment, somehow, but still. Seventeen cookies. Never again.

Today began with the shake and cereal, and I have to say, I'm rethinking the shake thing. I hate foamy textured foods. About halfway through, I had to fight the urge to vomit. It was more than a little unpleasant, and I was still feeling gaggy later in the afternoon. I also weighed myself, and I'm 8 bloody f*cking pounds heavier than I was the last time I weighed myself, several months ago! Oh I wanted to scream and kick and throw things...but, despite wanting to do all of that, followed by drowning my sorrows in a bag of chalupas, it steeled my resolve to stick to the plan.

I was unprepared for snack #2, so instead of yogurt I wound up having a piece of steak jerky. Not my favorite, but it was good for low carb, decent protein, and even fewer calories than the yogurt. Dinner was pretty perfect. I do plan to get a food scale soon, and I need to figure out the whole measuring protein thing. I don't think I'm eating enough protein at dinner.

If I can somehow manage to ward off the severe hunger pangs, I think I will finish week one decently and head into week 2 with a good grip on things. Thing is, I'm honestly hungry, not just bored or wanting to eat some feelings- my stomach growls, I feel puky from low blood sugar, and I get a little nauseous. I guess it's part of the territory, sadly, so I need to find a way to handle it. Overall, I'm really proud of myself today. I had plenty of opportunities to have the drive thru or cheap junk foods that I like, but I didn't succumb. Yay me :)

TAGT Day 4- I Suck at This

Just to preface this- I'm writing this in the spirit of total honesty, keepin it real, being true to myself. To not admit failure would be doing myself a disservice, and I'm not particularly good at or comfortable with lying. That said, I suck at dieting, am terrible at change, and feel like a failure.

Today could have been great. Instead, I'm writing this, admitting how far below ideal I came. Instead of going to bed at a decent hour, I was still awake when 5, 6, 7am rolled around. And I hadn't actually had the allowable snack since before midnight. By 6 I was ravnous, so I made a sandwich (should have made the breakfast shake, but wasn't feeling it.) I had my sandwich and a serving of chips. Then another. Then another. Then probably another still, I stopped counting after serving #2. Around 10am, I finally fell asleep, and woke up around 2 or 3, then continued to sleep off and on until after 5pm. It starts with simply being unable to fall asleep, then I find myself a week later, living like a vampire.

I haven't eaten at all between 6-something this morning and about 7:10pm. And frankly I don't feel like cooking rice or chicken or eating salad. It's frozen chimichangas, because as far as today's concerned, I've thrown in the towel.

Tomorrow will be different. For starters, I have an appointment that I would prefer not to miss, and I'm hoping to hit the bed at a decent hour. Even if it means taking a melatonin or sleep aid (which I'm not a fan of, as they leave me unable to function for much of the following day. It's part of what got me here now.) I'm not giving up. I've just had a lousy day, that's left me exhausted after doing pretty much nothing. Tomorrow will be better. I will accept nothing less of myself.

TAGT, Day 3

Just a quick update (I may do this everyday, helps with accountability)- today was an improvement over yesterday. Still not 100% but better. I had the dreaded breakfast protein shake (why oh why did I choose vanilla?!?), an apple roughly 2 hours after that. Then, I slept. All. Damn. Day. I woke with glaring pain in both ears, and I have just felt unwell since this past weekend. I thought my sleep last night would be better, but despite hauling my butt to bed at around 1am, trying to sleep while feeling like every breath was full of glass shards, sleep just wasn't going to happen. It could be the crazy weather of late. Or I'm developing asthma! What fun :| It's always something.

Anyway, I still had to do a bit of make-do where meals were concerned. I had lunch very late, and wound up eating a chicken breast sandwich, made with the smaller of the two Hummus is Yummus chicken breasts I made last night. It was really good, and made me think of all the after Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches I've eaten in my life. Dinner was a repeat of last night's (only the chicken was a new flavor), and I tried a little sprinkle of Mrs. Dash's Onion and Herb seasoning on my salad. I think trying new things- even though this plan seems to be the antithesis of that- is key to not getting fed up with this lifestyle. There are so many salt-free seasonings these days, that it should take a while before that happens. (Side note, anyone else tried the new Mrs. Dash seasoning packets? The option to have salt-free tacos is pretty exciting for me. That may be a refuel meal.)

Tomorrow, I am fully prepared for, thanks to Brian. I'll be trying a new veggie side dish, so check back tomorrow for that! :)

Hummus is Yummus Chicken

I dedicate this recipe to my bestie, Dinnah. She's a pescatarian, and will likely never even eat this version of the recipe, but if not for her, I may never have had hummus. And I probably wouldn't forever associate the words hummus and yummus. So this is for ewe, Dinnah! <3 I'm trying to come up with fat and salt free options to season my chicken while doing TAGT. I have a few salt free seasonings, a couple of Southwestern ones from Mrs. Dash that frankly, I do not like unless they are added to other things. Like chili. Or brown sugar. I'm weird. I might have them mostly because they were the only options available at the time. My other option is a tiny jar of Sunny Spain from Penzey's, which is their salt free lemon pepper seasoning. It's such a basic option for flavoring a "healthy" meal, but that doesn't have to mean boring. For this recipe, I decided to pair this seasoning with some roasted red pepper hummus- thinking tangy will go well with tangy. As for the fat content- yes, hummus has fat. A serving is 2 tablespoons, which contains 3-4 grams of fat. I figured, I could use a small amount and get the flavor punch I wanted, for minimal fat. And I have to say, .6 grams of fat for an entire piece of chicken is no dealbreaker for me. I'll shut up now. On to the food!

You will need:

• 1 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 3/4 tsp hummus (I used Fresh Hummus Co. Roasted Red Pepper)
• 1/2 tsp salt free lemon pepper seasoning (I used Penzey's Sunny Spain)
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp minced, dried onion

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Cover shallow baking dish with tinfoil (or not, if you have nonstick baking dishes.) Place chicken breast in dish. Sprinkle on lemon pepper and onion powder seasonings. Measure hummus, and rub onto surface of chicken. I wound up kind of making a paste-like rub out of the hummus and spices. When you are satisfied with the spread, sprinkle the onion flakes on top. Bake for 40-50 minutes (I actually made two, and baked them for about an hour, with great results.)

This makes a lovely, tangy piece of chicken, and the chicken I have prepared using this method has all come out nice and juicy. For you pescetarians out there, I can tell you Sunny Spain is great on tilapia. Just sprinkle some on the fish, make a topping out of feta and chopped, seeded tomatoes, and bake. Penzey's Pasta Sprinkle (another salt free option, btw) is also good mixed into the fish topping. Hope you try these and enjoy!

The Plan, So Far

There's a saying, about the road to hell being paved with the best intentions. I think that sums up much of my life.

This past Sunday was to be the start of my following the Think and Grow Thin plan. I planned for it (but not very well), but Saturday night, I wound up with a stomach bug or some other sort of intestinal unpleasantness. So my Sunday was spent on the couch, sleeping, or running to the bathroom. My eating was nowhere near what I'd planned to do. I started out not eating very much at all (a sandwich, with about half the meat I normally do), or too much of the wrong stuff (potato chips! Lots of hummus! Stouffer's mac and cheese!) Sunday was just a no go kind of day.

As for Monday, I wasn't awake for breakfast. For lunch, I had a salad instead of the sandwich and chips I'd planned for (I actually had no allowed chips.) The rest of the day I did decently, having apples at snack times, dinner was almost perfect- you're supposed to have brown or long grain wild rice. I only had yellow. I did portion out a cup of it, so at least it's helping develop a habit. I even cooked two more chicken breasts for the next two nights. I like to work ahead sometimes :)

I can say, I'm thankful for the hiccup in my plan, because it reminded me, if something isn't flexible, it will break. I'm going to follow this plan, but with some tweaks that I think are more beneficial to me personally. My #1 trigger food is actually chips. So, despite the fact that I actually control myself fairly well when faced with a bag of baked Lay's, I've decided to have a mixed greens salad in place of the chips. Surely extra veggies won't hurt, right? Other than missing breakfast, having yellow rice and no chips at lunch, I was pretty much on point for everything else. My snacks were apples and yogurt (with chia seeds), my chicken was prepared without added fat or salt, and I actually measured my salad for dinner, instead of grabbing a couple of handfuls and calling it x-amount. I did have some peanut butter and some Fiber One and skim milk after dinner. I'm still about 800-plus calories under goal according to MyFitnessPal, so I think today was a vast improvement, even if it wasn't perfect.

A final note, if you are interested in following this plan and need ideas for seasoning your meats, or you are just looking for good fat/salt free options, I recommend Penzey's Spices. They offer many salt free varieties. I am currently using Sunny Spain, which is a lemon-pepper seasoning, which is great on chicken, tilapia, and would probably be just as tasty sprinkled on salads. Check them out here. And check back tomorrow (later today?) for a crazy-easy chicken recipe!

Weeks 1 & 2, Think and Grow Thin

Today it starts! Three months of massive, life-altering change. Or at least that's the plan.

If you're following along with me on this journey, the plan is this: every other week, I will post about the nutrition plan for that period. On Saturdays, which is the day you're allowed a refuel meal, I hope to post a healthy recipe that I made that day (worry not, no tofu-seaweed wraps here.) Progress will be posted monthly, as will any random thoughts along the way. Also, hoping to post any different and new workouts I try, meaning different or new to me. I have Zumba for Kinect and have tried it once so far. It's something to work up to.

Now onto the meal plan!

For breakfast, I'm going with Option 1, which includes a protein shake made with 8oz water, 6 frozen strawberries, 1 scoop whey protein, and flax seed oil. Since it's easier to come by, I will be taking a flax supplement. Rounding out breakfast is 1 1/3 cups dry, lightly sweetened, whole grain cereal (such as Kashi. I like the really crunchy one.)

First snack of the day is one piece of fresh fruit (choices being apple, orange, pear or mango. I'm going with apples.)

Lunch will be Option 2, which consists of a 12" turkey breast sub on whole wheat, double meat, with mustard. It will be hard to give up cheese, but you're allowed to add romaine lettuce, spinach, tomato, onion, sprouts, vinegar and pepper only. I do like adding plain broccoli slaw to a sandwich, for the crunch, but it's not allowed. For a side, you can choose between a 1oz bag of baked potato chips or one banana. I choose chips, as I hate bananas.

Snack 2 will be 6oz nonfat, no-sugar-added yogurt. I'm debating whether or not this will be artificially sweetened yogurt, or some plain Greek with a tablespoon of Polaner All Fruit or Sugar-Free Smucker's stirred in.

Dinner will be Option 1, which is 8-10oz boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breast, cooked without added fat or salt, 1 tablespoon nonfat sauce, 2 cups of one or a combo of asparagus, spinach, kale, broccoli or green cabbage (I think broccoli slaw would be great for this), and one cup of brown or long grain wild rice.

Snack 3 can be 1/2 an apple or pear, 1 peach, or 1 clementine (I choose clementines, as long as I can find any, otherwise it'll be apples.)

The only drinks allowed are zero-calorie ones. I'm trying to give up soda, and I drink a lot of teas, and really need to work on my water consumption.

The thought of eating the same meals day in and day out is both appealing and kind of soul-sucking all at once. On my own, not thinking about things, I usually do eat the same old things. But having to do so really makes my "you can't boss me around!!" side come rushing to the surface. It's worth it to try if it means improving my health. I will still be using My Fitness Pal to record my meals and workouts, because having to be accountable for my daily behaviors does seem to help keep me on track, and I've been really good about using it for the last few weeks. Refuel meals are not supposed to be an excuse to abandon all good sense and run for the border. I have a few ideas about what I'd like for those days, so look forward to those (hopefully) every Saturday.

So these are weeks 1 and 2! Fingers crossed that I keep it up and it leads to lasting change. Here I go :)

Apple Pie Oatmeal

I'm not going to pretend I made up the whole concept of this oatmeal. I did, however, come up with this particular version of it (by throwing stuff into a pot one morning; that's how I like to cook!) The nutritional stats I got by entering the recipe into MyFitnessPal. If you don't like oatmeal because it's always been more like oatmush to you, I suggest trying this. Especially with the steel-cut, because it has a thicker, chewier texture that has a more pleasing mouthfeel for some people. Squishy food. I completely understand and share the aversion. Even better, this makes about 4 servings, so it's a pretty quick breakfast option- just heat and go. (not so much quick the morning you make it, of course. But the mornings after, those are heat 'n go.) Hope you enjoy!

You will need:

• 1 cup Steel Cut Oats (I used Quaker)
• 3 small apples (used Red Delicious, but any small 2-2.5" diameter apples will work)
• 1.5 scoops Vanilla Whey powder (used Body Fortress brand)
• 8 tsp unpacked brown sugar
• 1/2 TBSP ground cinnamon (or use apple pie spice mix)
• 4 cups water

Bring water to boil in medium pot. Meanwhile, core and chop apples into bite-sized pieces (you can leave the skin on if you prefer it; I peeled mine.) When the water has reached boiling, stir in the oats, and return to a boil. Then stir in the whey powder, apple chunks, sugar and cinnamon (and a pinch of salt, if you like) and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, uncovered, for 20-30 more minutes, stirring often, until it reaches desired texture/consistency. Serves 4. Keeps for one week covered in fridge. Just add a splash of milk, stir and microwave for about a minute on high.

4 servings- 269 calories- 48g carbohydrates- 3g fat- 15g protein- 34mg sodium- 16g sugar

If you don't like brown sugar, feel free to substitute with maple syrup, agave, stevia, whichever sweetener you like! Or you could even go without, and let the apples and oatmeal speak for themselves (so to speak.) I just divide the oatmeal between 4 containers (sorry, I don't have specific measurements, I just put equal spoonfuls into each container until it's all divided equally.)

I love oatmeal, and even though it can be time consuming, it's an inexpensive, satisfying and endlessly customizable breakfast option. If you prefer other fruits to apples, try cooking the oatmeal plain, then stirring in a tablespoon of Polaner All-Fruit to your bowl (I love doing this. And I usually add cinnamon to it, in general.) The Polaner is also good stirred into a cup of plain yogurt.

Try this recipe? Like it? Need some tweaking? Let me know!

Lifestyle Changes, via Think and Grow Thin

I am fat. There, I said it.

I am fat for a variety of reasons. Initially, I gained a bunch of weight before I began kindergarten (for reasons unknown; I started the summer average sized, and by the end of that summer, I was a little fatty.) I was involved in sports as a kid, I was not fed the junkiest foods (nor the healthiest, but I can promise you, I grew up before feeding your kids solely from the drive-thru was the way things were done), and for at least half of my childhood, I didn't eat sugar (hypoglycemic, threat of bodily harm from mother.) In sixth grade, I started developing an eating disorder, it really took hold in my first couple of years of high school. By the time I was 18, I was probably 150 pounds overweight, and when I actually ate breakfast, it usually consisted of a honey bun, Doritos, and a liter of Mt. Dew. I really wanted to be a vegetarian in high school, which is ironic, as I mostly ate not meat, in a poor attempt to be healthy, but still mostly ate junk. Fast forward six years after high school, I gained even more (mostly after moving in with my now fiance), and here I am now, extremely overweight...no, obese. I am obese. And it sucks and for the most part, I did it to myself. (that does not mean I think it is at all ok to fat shame, to ridicule, or otherwise be a jackass to anyone who is overweight.)

I will be 33 in a little over 3 months, and I am hoping that I have at least made a noticeable dent in my weight loss journey by then. I purchased a book over a year ago that I think will really help me with this. It is titled Think and Grow Thin, by Charles D'Angelo. The basic premise is that you can change your life in 88 days, 12 weeks, three months. The program entails eating the same meals everyday for 2 week periods- the same breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. At the start of each new 2 week period, there is usually some change, such as cutting out the dry cereal allowed in weeks 1-2. It doesn't require anything special (beyond protein powder), and the wherewithal to eat the same damn things daily for 3 months. I figure, no big whoop, I tend to do this anyway. I think it's harder to do when you have to plan for it, if that makes sense. However, I plan to make this work for me by getting back into the habit of planning/cooking ahead, so I have no excuses NOT to keep up with it. You are allowed a "refuel meal" on Saturday, which can be anything you want, but within reason. Which is probably what keeps people from losing it totally and binging on Whataburger and Taco Bell and Krispy Kremes within the span of 45 minutes.

My personal tweaks to this plan include keeping up with My Fitness Pal, which I have been using sporadically throughout this year, and supplementing with a carb blocker called Carb Intercept by Natrol (recommended by my counselor for helping control blood sugar spikes), biotin, chia seeds, and if I ever remember to buy them/have the cash, CoQ10 and flax seed oil, or the 3-6-9 I think mix of the good fats. I really liked that one when I took it. I think it's a mix of flax, fish and some other oil, and doesn't make me feel like I'm burping sushi. Always a good thing :) The fun (hahahahahahaha.....oy vey) starts October 27, and hopefully by that day in January, I will have progressed muchly. I will try to update regularly, and maybe even post dinner ideas (not that there is much wiggle room, but it could be a motivating thing for me.) If you're interested in checking out the plan, Think and Grow Thin is available on Amazon. I feel like I should have posted a review of it, but it's not a new(er) book. I will say, Charles D'Angelo lived what he wrote, there are lots of testimonials from his former clients, and it really does cover almost any aspect of weight loss you could imagine. So stay tuned for October 27, when all the fun begins!

First Impression Review- Jordana Eyeliners

For a couple of months now, I've been hearing/reading about a brand called Jordana, that is apparently sold everywhere, and yet, nowhere. I've heard mostly good things, that their products are affordable and good (and not just "they're good...for affordable makeup.") So I've been on the hunt, and recently discovered that my local Walgreen's does, indeed, sell Jordana (I'd previously thought they don't; the section is just extremely tiny.) During my last trip there, I picked up a Twist and Shine balm stain (review is coming!) and two eyeliners. This is my review of those liners.

Liner one is the 12 HR Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner pencil in 04 Purple Fix. Initially, I thought it would be a close match to Urban Decay's Rockstar liner. It swatched pretty close, UD's has a bit of brown in it, whereas Jordana's is deep purple with sort of maroon-fuchsia shimmer. When I first swiped some on my wrist, I thought, "jackpot! Urban Decay competition for a whole $2.49!" When I applied it to my eye lids.... it was a bit of a letdown. It applied chunkily, some of it flaked off into my eye, and it just was not what I was hoping for. When I tried smudging it, it wouldn't budge. I think I waited too long to try to do that. It definitely is smudge-proof after it's set, so surely the 12 hour claim is not for the sake of marketing. It really is a gorgeous color, and I'm not giving up on it just yet, because I think it can be worked with. I think it would work really well with the shadows in the last Fun Palette.

The second liner is the retractable Easyliner in Sterling blue (which was a whole $1.39, thanks to a 60 cent savings from balance rewards.) It applied a bit smoother than the 12HR pencil, is a thinner line, and a beautiful peacock-y blue. It was a bit easier to smudge, but wore off in places when I tried to keep smudging it. It's not labeled as a long-wear type liner, so I didn't find that unusual. I think it would work great with purples, deep bronzes, and other shades you'd find on a peacock feather. Or even as a pop of color on a more neutral eye.

Pardon my crappy pic. Non-phone camera's charger cord is still m.i.a.

Current verdict, they seem to be pencils that have a slight learning curve. The colors are gorgeous, I just need to figure out how to get the best out of them. And for the price of either, I am definitely willing to find out how to best use them. Would I recommend them to a friend? Yes, but I would warn her/him that the 12HR may be a bit temperamental, work with it quickly, and one eye at a time.

**These products were purchased by me for personal use/review purposes.**

Book Beatdown #1: Furniture Building

I'm trying a new kind of feature here today, and calling it "Book Beatdown." It is less about two books beating the snot out of each other, and more about my opinions, and which one I prefer. Of course, this only works with similarly subjected books, so I won't be comparing The Shining to Charlotte's Web. Partly because that would be silly, and partly because I've read neither of those. (but I have seen the movies of each. Several times!)

Cover images from Amazon

For the first ever installment of Book Beatdown, I bring you two books about building your own furniture, a subject becoming very near and dear to my heart (as a fan of DIY and a person who actually owns very, very little furniture.) That said, let's move along to the first book, PlyDesign: 73 Distinctive Projects in Plywood (and other sheet goods) by Philip Schmidt. This is a book that speaks to the designer-maker soul in anyone. If your aesthetic taste runs toward the modern end of the spectrum, you may want to check out this book. The basic idea here is that plywood is good for more than just bike ramps, subfloors, and treehouse walls. You can build many functional, good-looking projects with inexpensive plywood! A few projects call for engineered wood products, and some even allow for substitutions (such as MDF in place of plywood.) Projects on my wish list include the Indoor Doghouse, Twinkle Board, and Avocado. Avocado is labeled as a storage unit, but is such a fun, funky shape, I think it'd make a cool cat play/nap structure. Some projects are a little more design-oriented than others (such as the Symbiosis Chair), and some are pure fun (Drunken Monkey.) Standout projects include a dining table for four that disassembles and folds flat into a 3-foot package, and the hardware-less shelf, which comes together and apart without- duh- hardware. 

Book two is The Handbuilt Home by blogger Ana White. If you have never been to her blog, feel free to go check it out now. The book contains 34 projects, ranging from bunk beds, coffee tables and an entertainment center. There is a section on building basics and some of her "best tips and tricks." The projects are classic, meant to hold up to family life, as well as simple and inexpensive to build. If you prefer Pottery Barn to cb2, you may want to check out this book. My wish list includes the Farmhouse bed, Modern Project table, and Kitchen Island. The most mind-blowing project is the Adult Adirondack chair, which she says cost her five dollars in lumber to build. Five. Dollars. I paid more than that apiece for my plastic ones, that are now cracked. I also love the Lego table for its looks and hidden storage.

So, which book won this bibliographic brawl?

....The Handbuilt Home!!

Why did I prefer this book? First, the overall style of the projects and the book itself are much more my speed. I appreciate clean lines and modern style, but my heart is a rustic ol' gal. I live in an older house (built in the 20s or 30s I believe), which is now in need of dire repairs and updating. Something about Ana White's book makes me believe that even someone like me- a woman who would much rather run away screaming than commit to the massive undertaking that is remodeling this house- could make her own media center. When I first looked through it, I told Brian I wanted one of almost everything in it. I've also added it to my Amazon wish list. 

So, if you are looking for projects that are interesting to build, look straight from Make magazine, and want to make something cool looking (and functional!) from plywood/MDF/etc, then PlyDesign might be for you. If you prefer farmhouse style, want something that will stand up to years of family use, and cost a fraction of what you'd pay at a mass retailer, then The Handbuilt Home may be more your speed. 

**I found both of these at my local library. Reviews are my honest opinion. I really enjoyed these books and wanted to spread the word.**

Summer Favorites

Being a chubbster, one can (correctly) assume, I am no fan of the heat. Humidity makes me want to punch kittens. Combine the two, and you've got yourself the right conditions for Satan's taint. Oh don't act shocked I said taint in a public place, you should hear me cursing at the self checkouts in WalMart. That said, there are some things I do actually kind of like about the season- swimming, camping, the warm breezes at night, and looking forward to fall. Which, let's face it, is my main object of seasonal adoration. Sweaters and boots and corduroy, yes please.

That said, here is my list of things I have enjoyed this past summer. Not that it's over yet. And not that I'm not wishing it were. I've come to accept it as a part of life, and maybe, just maybe, when I am a more fit person, I will enjoy it more, because the minute I am of a proportionate height/weight/muscle combo, I will parade naked. Or, at the very least, in a cute, skimpy outfit, because, why not? Here's the list :)

• Queso con Mambo, Sao Paulo's, Austin. I could eat this frequently and not get tired. Fatter, sure, but I'm seriously debating whether or not that is a bad thing.
• Youtube beauty vloggers. ThatGirlShaeXO. Vintage orTacky. Grav3yardgirl. Leighannsays. XSparkage. Dkycutie78. Not my entire list of channels I've subscribed to, but these ladies make up the bulk of my watching time. I want a cupcakes and makeup party with them for Christmas.
• Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt spray. It smells really nice. It does provide texture, like bedhead, imho, and it will bring out any natural curl you have. Since I have little to none of that, I've used it before twisting my hair into 2 sections on top of my head, and going to sleep like that. The next morning, I have mermaid-worthy waves/curls. Sadly, I tried to make them stick around with NYM'S volumizing hair spray. Not a good plan. So yes, this works, I like it, but if you want the look you're after to stick around, use some good old fashioned max hold hairspray with it.
• Pastel Nails. I'm pale, and probably shouldn't wear neon colors. So my nails have mostly rocked the summer as though it were still spring. Except for the weeks I've worn Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Mermaid's Tale. Let's just all agree now, summer= mermaids, mmkay? I also love Zoya's Pixie Dust in Liberty. I love blues hues.
• I've really enjoyed smelling like Pacifica's Wakiki Pikake (which I also scored a tube of the body butter @ TJ Maxx recently for $8!), Ulta's Creamy Coolada Crackling Sparkle Mousse and Dragonfruit Parfait lotion, and Escada Especially, despite the fact that it is not too long-lasting. It's light and sparkling and pretty, which is perfect for summer really, it's just got the lasting power of a sparkler. And as always, Pacifica's Island Vanilla, which is good year-round in my world.
• When I've applied my face, I've reached for my Naked 2 and Fun palettes, a Wet n' Wild mascara, the name of which escapes me (released earlier this year I think. Skinny, purple tube. Lengthening, I am almost positive), Pacifica's Berry Guava lip balm, Nyx Matte Lip Cream in Milan, Nyx Retractable liner in Deep purple, shadows in aqua/teal shades, and Palladio blotting papers. A few new items to this (meaning, I just got them within the last 2 weeks) are Nyx's Butter gloss, a Revlon Kissable Balm Stain, and Rimmel's Stay Glossy 3D gloss. I love the Nyx glosses, especially Strawberry Parfait on top of the Balm Stain in Sweetheart. It's a bold, hot pink, which I would have to say is my other lip signature for the summer so far.
• Accessory-wise, I've gone from dangling earrings to smaller (but not tiny) ones. My favorites are a pair shaped like anchors, in a blue and white stripe, that remind me of something Betsey Johnson would have designed. The others are some pyramid and round studs, of varying degrees of sparkle, that I got at Lane Bryant (which, your size or not, they have some seriously cute jewelry.)
• On the tv, Breaking Bad. Almost nothing but. I would get into a show just before its final season, but my god, chemistry and meth and crime after crime have never been so interesting to me before. I still have the occasional fling with the trash coming out of TLC, and the new Arrested Development episodes on Netflix. Netflix is usually it, as far as my viewing habits go. Oh, and True Blood, except I think Jesus doesn't want me to watch it during any season of it. I saw the first two episodes, then no more satellite until last week. Just in time for the last two. No spoilers, but seriously?! What the hell, True Blood? What the hell?

I think this about wraps up my summer favorites, and what a long list! Which is probably a good thing. Maybe my days of summer grumpiness are soon to be a memory. I am hoping, by next summer, we'll have moved to Austin, I will be in a better place, physically, and I discover plenty more favorites to share :) Hope you have had an exciting summer!

More from Austin: Zilker Botanical Garden

I will try to keep the babble to a minimum and let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy :)

The rose garden

Love the glads!

And the cannas.

Hello there, Mr. Dragnofly

love it 

The koi were playing with these lilies. Or snacking. 

The cannas. I want a yard full!

Tiny path. Or I hope it was a path...

Can I have one for the backyard? 

Gingko tree- smelled lovely :)

I would have loved this as a child, and built lots of fairy houses :) 

Japanese tea house

My favorite! 

Parking lots should all look so nice

I need this. Really. 

Want.

Bean teepee

I know this was a bunch of pics, but I hope they were enjoyed :) I can't speak highly enough of this place. For two dollars, you get to walk around this lovely and amazing space. I wish I'd had the energy to have walked through every inch of it (that, and that I'd dressed for the weather. It is hot. So, so hot.) We even crossed paths with a family of younger kids who were enjoying watching the koi playing around the lily roots, and I don't know many little girls who wouldn't have enjoyed the butterfly chairs. For more info, visit the Zilker Botanical Garden website.