A Birthday Ode.

This past weekend was one of my best friend's birthdays. It's safe to say that I love her unconditionally. She is my side kick. The Thelma to my Louise. The Robin to my Batman. The Cheech to my Chong. The Ren to my Stimpy. Okay, let's stop there, I think you get the point.

I just love her and adore her and think the world of her. In a non romantic way though. It's just that I'm pretty absolutely positive I wouldn't have made it through this last year, and whether she knows it or not, I, in a very real way, owe her my life.

Our coordinating outfits were completely by accident, but not surprising. I also love this because my blue eyes almost look blue, at least in the original. I think it loses something being upload and shrinked. 

As you can see here, sort of, I've perfected the smokey eye. It's taken a lot of practice and a lot of screwing up, that's for sure. Here I did a royal blue smokey eye to add some interest. 

And so even though her birthday was earlier in the week, we waited until the weekend to celebrate. I wish I could tell you that I got completely hammered and don't remember much after this picture, but that  unfortunately didn't happen. Although I really didn't try all that hard either. I'm kind of over having the spins and puking. But we did have dinner and then went to a couple bars. It's been a while since I posted some photos, so let's get it on..  hopefully they don't mind!

 

This is her and her love. I absolutely adore them together. The three of us tend to hang out fairly often and they most certainly aren't that couple that makes you feel like you're the third wheel because they're in their own little foreplay making out world. 

This is one of my other great friends and her boyfriend. They're pretty cool too, except he doesn't really talk. She pretty much does this in every picture that's not of her directly. I'll write a post on that someday proving it. 

Another great friend and myself. We tend to share a brain most of the time. 

My favorite couple again. This is one of my favorite pictures of them. They don't know the camera's there and it's kind of intimate moment that you really don't see between them too often. Not that they don't have them, they're just not flashy about it where as others are. 

But, to my dearest friend, here's wishing you another 27th birthday all over again (we decided we're no longer climbing up the age ladder). Thank you for being you. You are amazing. 

Love, Me. 

I'm allergic to winter.

I hate winter- I'm allergic to it. Quite literally.

As soon as the warmth of the summer begins to fade and the chilliness of fall starts to set in, my allergies and asthma flare right up. They don't come on slow and perpetually get worse as the temperature drops, they start off like a freight train and stay at full force until the snow finally melts and the temperatures once again start to rise.

It's like I said, I'm allergic to winter.

Allergies themselves wouldn't be so bad if you took away the asthma. That would only leave me with having to take Zyrtec and Flonase once a day. I could handle that. But then you add on the asthma and Advair twice a day and my inhaler when needed and I instantly feel like a medicine cabinet- like I'm taking 80 pills a day just to breathe. Nevermind if I wake up with a headache, then add a couple Tylenol to the picture.. and well, you get my point.

It wasn't always this way though. I grew up in So. Cali where it's always summer and in the 16 years that I lived there, I never once had a problem. Which only strengthens my argument that I'm quite literally allergic to winter. Although, I'm pretty sure that growing up there is what contributed rather directly to my asthma. It wasn't until I moved to New Hampshire and experienced my first couple winters that my allergies started rearing their ugly head. And it was only a few years after that that my asthma decided to pop up and say hello. And it seems like now every winter they get a little worse than the winter before.

Lucky me.

And let's not even start talking about when I get a cold, which is basically the entire winter with a week or two break in between.

I've often looked for natural remedies to help ease the burden, but outside of moving to a warmer climate, I've yet to find something I can really stand behind and say, Hey! This works! .. I'm totally open to suggestions though.

I have a post coming up on Tumeric which is suppose to be a pretty big deal, however, I've found it's only useful as a spice and on my face. I read a lot about how you can use it in milk and it helps clear up inflammation all over the body, unfortunately though, it tastes pretty foul so that did not happen. Now I'm trying out Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) currently and we will see how that goes. I don't really have high hopes on it, but I'll have a post on that as soon as I come to a conclusion.

Church fail..

This past Sunday was a complete church fail. 

I’m going to blame it on the night of drinking that preceded. 

Wait... I think that’s a church fail too. 

Doh!

I ended up wearing a black bra.. underneath a white shirt. I can’t even begin to tell you how embarrassed I was  as I stood there in the perfect bathroom light noticing it for the first time. I prayed and prayed that no one would notice and that the lighting for the rest of the morning would be on my side. Thankfully the sanctuary lighting is relatively dim in comparison, but unfortunately this was my week to serve at the book stand- meaning half my time was spent outside of the sanctuary in bright and natural light. 

I do have two defenses to this atrocity though, maybe three if I can be that creative. For one, I didn’t even put two and two together until it was obviously too late and the second is that I was wearing an undershirt- just like always. I grew up wearing them whenever I stayed with my grandmother and if I don’t wear one, I feel like I’m going commando. Needless to say, I wear one under everything and up until now I’ve never had to think twice about the color of my bra. It wasn’t until now that it failed me. And now I’ve forgotten the third. 

My thoughts on.... Sake.

friend: Hey, I thought you said you had Sake?

me: Uh, I do

friend: Dude, I can't find it anywhere!

me: Did you check the bathroom closet where the towels are?

friend: .... 

Yes, my friends, Sake is no longer just for drinking and yes, I do keep mine in the bathroom with the towels.

A few days ago I watched Michelle Phan's video on youtube (check her out btw) recommending Sake as a facial toner and figured I'd give it a go. I've tried just about all of her recommendations regarding these types of things and will be posting my thoughts on those in the weeks to come.  

In prepping for trying this out I made sure to do some additional reading on it first. I like to see if anyone has posted about having bad results or reactions and what exactly Sake is suppose to do- what am I going for here, what should I expect.. ya know?

Well, the biggest thing I learned is that Sake is suppose to fade age spots and freckles- I don't have much of those if any, but I like to pre-emptive.  There's a by-product of fermentation in Sake called Kojic acid and apparently it's suppose to be kind of a big deal. I've never heard of it though before now. Anyway, it's also suppose to have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, meaning it should reduce breakouts (we could all use that) and it's also suppose to trap in moisture making it good for dry skin. 

So after doing some light reading, I decided to give it a go. I've found using natural products as opposed to marketed beauty products is a lot easier on my wallet, and in this respect, Sake did not disappoint. I also prefer natural remedies versus marketed ones for the obvious reason of them being natural. I was able to get a small bottle of Sake for $2.99, which is a lot cheaper then any marketed facial toner in the skin care aisle. 

I washed my face first, removing all my make up and leaving nothing but clean, naked skin behind. I used a cotton ball, soaked up some sake and wiped it all over my face. I didn't find that it wiped away any left behind dirt (guess I did a good job washing!) and it did leave my face feeling fresh. It didn't burn (not even on an icky pimple I have), which at 15% alcohol, I kind of thought it might. It has a nice clean scent, doesn't upset the nose at all and it doesn't feel sticky after it dries. I did let it dry and then wipe it with a wet washcloth just in case, but I won't do this the next time. 

Right away my face seemed to look a little glowey (which is a good thing) and fresh. After an hour, my face feels a little drier than normal, but it's definitely softer to the touch. This is something I plan on keeping up for the next two weeks and I'll report then whether I notice a difference and if I'll be keeping it up long term or not. 

However, in summary, I'd say definitely give this a shot, for $2.99 I don't think you'd be wasting your time or money. 

My thoughts on...

I decided to start a new section entitles.. "My thoughts on..."

This is meant to be a review section of various different new things that I try and like.. or don't like and want to save you the time and effort of trying them yourself only to find out they suck.

At first I thought this might just be beauty things.. facial cleansers, new make up, etc., but then I realized that I could really review a lot of different things because I'm trying new things all the time- whether it be wine, or food, or beer, or household cleaners, or candles.. and well, you get the idea.

All of these reviews will be unpaid, unless some one, some where decides they want to compensate me for it, which I doubt, but in case, would be open to, as long as they don't mind me saying I don't like it, if in fact I don't. Honesty is the best policy.

So anyway, my first review will be on Sake (the Japanese wine) as a facial cleanser/toner. That should be up tomorrow.

And if there's anything you think I should review, let me know and I'll think about it!

Giving thanks.

I like to think that I am thankful everyday, not just on the fourth Thursday of November each year.

But, because today is Thanksgiving and it seems to be a tradition of listing what you're thankful for today, I thought I would too.

And, honestly, I think it's a good habit to get into- listing all that you're thankful for- it makes you more aware of how fortunate you really are and therefore changes your mindset.. but now I'm getting off topic.

So, in no order of importance, here's just a smidgen of what I'm thankful for this year.

1.) That I did in deed make it through this past year. It was a rough one and honestly a little touch and go for a while.

2.) God.

3.) My family and friends.. I'm truly blessed in this regard

4.) A job. It may not be my favorite, but it's a job and it pays my bills.

5.) My health. My lungs hate me, but that pales in comparison to anything else.

6.) All the material things that make my life so much easier- my reliable car, nice clothes, my iBook, my cell phone.. all possible through my job so I guess this is a continuation of #4

7.) My ability and the freedom to get an education

8.) That I live in a country that believes in certain inalienable rights- the right to vote, to free speech, to elect our government officials, to be innocent until proven guilty, to bear arms, to do as I please with my body.. etc.

9.) Food .. I love it!

10.) My family's health.

11.) Wine .. specifically Barefoot Moscato <3

12.) That I'm so loved and supported in all that I do by amazingly awesome people everywhere I go.

I'd love to know what you're thankful for though!

P.S. I hope your turkey came out good! I can't wait for more leftovers tomorrow!

Peanut Butter Pie

There's a local restaurant around here that makes the most amazing Peanut Butter Pie (PBP) you could ever dream of. I usually have to order it with a side of vanilla ice cream just to break up the peanut butter a little bit. I've tried to recreate it a couple times, but never found a recipe that came super close. Until now.

I might add that it was while making this pie that I realized how much it would suck to be allergic to peanuts. Can you imagine? Oh, the horror!

But, anyway.

The Players:

You'll need a 9" chocolate pie crust, 12 oz. container of whipped topping (Cool Whip), 1 jar (11.75) hot fudge ice cream topping, 1 c. peanut butter, 8 oz. cream cheese, 1/2 c. sugar

 In a bowl mix together cream cheese, peanut butter and sugar. If you like a really thick, strong peanut butter flavor, add more peanut butter here. I think next time I'll add an extra 1/4 cup just to give it a little extra oomph. Don't worry though- it's still just as delicious if you leave it just as it is.

It should look like this. I could totally dig peanut butter cream cheese.

Then add 3 cups of the whipped topping and mix it all together. I used a spoon for this as I didn't want to over mix and ruin the whipped topping.

And, oh my it is so good. I could seriously just stop here and grab a spoon and enjoy life. 

 But, I have a pie to make. So scoop the filling out of the bowl and into your crust.

Smooth it out to the edges, making it as level as possible.

Now, take the lid off your jar of topping and then put it in the microwave for about a minute, no more, I'd probably o like 50 seconds. It's going to be really hot when you take it out, so becareful. Stir it together (I used a knife) and then pour it on top of your pie.

And then put your pie in the fridge for about 10 minutes, just long enough to cool the chocolate topping and let it set.

Once it's set, pull it out and take the rest of your whipped topping- about a cup and half- and spread it out on top of your pie, becareful not to mix the chocolate layer and the whipped topping layer.

The put it back in the fridge for a couple hours to set completely.

It's amazing! Enjoy!

Key Lime Pie!

This is definitely not a lime pie. This a super tart, super delicious Key Lime Pie (KLP). The difference is in the use of key limes.. or in this case, the use of key lime juice versus just lime juice. Key limes are a breed of limes all their own. The most obviously difference is their size, key limes are about half the size of your regular limes and their juice is far more acidic making it far more sour. Which in turn makes it the perfect lime for pie!

This was the first time I've attempted such a feat.. why I didn't do it earlier, I have no idea because it's super simple. I guess I just always thought that making KLP would be much too much work. But, lime is definitely one of my favorite flavors and I couldn't put it off any longer!

The Players:

You're going to need 1/2 cup of KL juice (you can use regular lime juice if you want.. but then you're just making a Lime Pie). You need 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, the zest of 1 lime and the yolk from 4 eggs. 

First, set your over to 350 and let it warm up. Here's where you want to make your pie crust unless you're like me, then take the plastic covering off your store bought pie crust!

 This was by far the hardest part of the whole thing- de-whiting the eggs. This was the first time I've ever  had to separate the two- I've avoided a lot of recipes for just this reason, but I finally gave in. After cracking the egg, gently separate the two halves of the shells and let the whites drip out into a separate bowl then I put what was left onto a slotted spoon so the white could finish dripping off and then I plopped the yolk into the bowl. It does literally plop.  I've also found this to be flexible as well because I've seen some recipes that call for 3 yolks and some for 4.. so use what you've got!

 Then add your can of sweetened condensed milk to your yolks.

 Wisk together.

 Add your half cup of lime juice.

 Now you need the need the zest from one lime. I personally don't own a zester. It's the one kitchen tool my grandmother didn't leave me- which is amazing, because that woman had everything for the kitchen that they made- except a zester.

But don't let that deter you. I used my cheese grater, which has a tiny grater side that worked perfectly.

The only difference is that the pieces come out a little longer. No biggie!

 Mix all together in a bowl. I'm kind of fond now of the longer peels.. they add color.. dimension. They let you know that it is really a lime pie.

 Pour your mixture into your pie crust. But, hopefully, unlike me, you buy the correct size- a 9inch. I just grabbed one- the wrong one, but even that small set back didn't get to me. It still came out great! Even better if you love pie crust.

Now, put your pie in the oven for 15-17 minutes.

It come out like this. Then let it cool completely on a rack and then stick it in the fridge for about an hour and enjoy!

It's really frickin' amazingly good! 

What is about me that makes everybody want to cheat on their girlfriends with me?

Seriously, w.t.f.

And what is with me suddenly feeling bad about it? It's like Catholic guilt.

Except I'm not Catholic.

I miss the old me. The one who didn't care. Who didn't really have morals.

I used to be fun.

Cinnamon Raisin Egg Nog French Toast ..

or better yet, the most amazing FT ever. No, really. It is. Everyone I ever made it for has totally agreed to that too. And some of them weren't even related. I made this after having it at my favorite little breakfast place.

If you're not a big Egg Nog (EN) fan, you'll still love it. I promise. It doesn't really carry the flavor of EN, I think the EN just serves to make it richer. Either way it really is amazing, and easy, and simple!

The Players:

And you must use this bread.

Alright, so melt some butter in a pan.

And while the butter it melting, crack open your eggs into a large bowl. First, yes, you need to use eggs. Just because you're using EN in place of milk doesn't mean you can skip the eggs. I tried this. Learn from my mistakes. Second, make sure your bowl is wide enough for your bread. I use two eggs usually, but it's flexible. Sometimes I've had just one egg and it came out just as good. Unless you're making it for a lot of people.. then you need more than one egg. 

And pour in your EN. This is flexible too. I don't have a set amount, just whatever looks good.

 

Soak your bread. Make sure both sides are covered in this yummy mixture. 

As soon as your pan is hot enough, put in your french toast. I usually cook mine on a higher low flame, but cook yours however you like, just make sure it's cooked all the way because of the eggs. I guess undercooked eggs can make you sick.. or something? I kid. 

Make sure you pour yourself a glass of EN to drink while you wait. Rum is optional, but encouraged. Mine right here is virgin. 

I like mine on the brown, well done side. This is also my favorite pan because it's 100% all purpose. See how deep it is? It works for everything. 

When it's done, top is with butter and syrup and enjoy. 

And then be prepared to be addicted. Because I assure you, it will happen. 

Tornados. I hate them.

Tuesday one of my exs called and wanted to get coffee. So I said sure, I had some time before class and I hadn't seen him in a while, and I like catching up.

What I didn't expect was everything I ever felt to come rushing back and overtake me like a tsunami.

I ended up feeling like I got sucked into a tornado, spun all around and then thrown out in left field.

I had no idea what had just happened and no idea how it got there. It kind of came out of no where.

And after coffee, we ended up breaking up again- apparently I'm irresistible to him. But this only makes everything more confusing.

I was so lost and confused as to what had just taken place. I am still so lost and confused.

You know what I love?

You know what I love? When someone says to you.. I'm just not feeling it, but what are your thoughts?

What are my thoughts? Really? Is it just me or do my thoughts not really matter here? It doesn't seem to me as though this is a two way conversation.

Juuuuust sayin.

And here's the thing. It's not that I particularly care in this situation about the break off, there wasn't anytime to build an attachment, which I appreciate- don't drag it on when you know. But rather, it's the whole.. what are your thoughts on it .. I mean, really? What does it matter what my thought are on it?

Maybe it's just me, I don't know, but I know there's gotta be someone else out there who's with me on this.