Riddle Me This, Batman...

 

Why is it that whenever I paint my nails, they get ruined? More specifically, why is it they get ruined hours after I've painted them?

Here's the scoop: I painted one coat yesterday afternoon while studying for my license exam. I let them dry, dry, dry. I had a snack. I painted the second coat at least 2 hours later. Again, I was studying and letting them dry. Hours later I went to bed. And this morning? Some of my nails have the stupid texture of my sheets. 

Why? Why does this happen?

I've tried, and loved, Sally Hansen's Insta-Dry stuff, but don't have any and really was hoping I could go without it... but it's looking like I need to buy more. Sigh. 

Any tips or tricks out there? Anyone with the answer?

Simple, Delicious!

When I left work last night, I was starving. It seemed I was hungry all day and it wasn't for lack of eating. I had my breakfast sandwich, a good lunch and an afternoon V8 juice (though I usually have a little more to my afternoon snack). Anyway, it had been a long day, I was a little stressed, hungry, and tired. Then I got home and realized I needed to figure out what to make for dinner. I wanted something kind of fast, but filling too. Eggs? Grilled cheese? Nah. Not appealing.

I took out a few chicken breasts and tossed 'em in the microwave to defrost. While that was going on, I poured a little olive oil in to a pot and let it get hot while I coarsely chopped about half an medium-sized onion. I sauteed the onion and soon added the chicken breasts. I seasoned with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and lots of garlic powder (I forgot to get fresh garlic the other day!). I let those cook for a bit with the cover on while I prepared some plain couscous according to the directions on the box. Then, I added a can of diced tomatoes to the chicken and onions, a couple pats of butter and a little white wine I had left over. Next, I added some frozen cut leaf spinach... I'd say it was nearly 2 cups....but it was frozen and in little clumps, so it may have been less. I let that simmer for a while, maing sure the chicken was cooked through and the spinach was thawed. Finally, I fluffed up my couscous, put some on a plate with a chicken breast and spooned the tomatoes, onions, and spinach over the couscous and chicken, added lots of the juice.

It was so good! So simple! I just let it all cook while I took care of the dogs, got the mail, etc. AND I have leftovers for lunch and dinner since I made a few pieces of chicken. Mmmm.

I Think I Was a Lounge Singer in a Former Life...

Cuz I cannot STOP myself from singing at the top of my lungs in the car.

Especially when Aretha Franklin happens to be playing.

What were you in your former life??

Happy Belated Blogoversary to Me!

I had the best intentions to celebrate my Blogoversary... or at the very least shout out a "Happy Blogoversary To Me!" On time, that is. Oh well.

At any rate, my wee little blog is one year old. I can't really believe it's been a year since I started this thing. Ah, such a humble beginning. I mention it now because I'm approaching so many one-year anniversary dates... I defended the diss nearly a year ago (the 19th)... left the Evil Empire and the Wicked Witch nearly a year ago (technically the 18th was my last day)... and on and on. I may or may not end up subjecting you to some reminiscing posts in the near future...

I also couldn't help but notice that after my wee little blog was started, some other blogs were started... like my sister Kim's blog, Kim's Spot. Kim shares craft projects, recipes, and funny stories about her kiddos. I dig the Word of the Week feature. 

My sister Amber's blog, A Little Bit of Everything, chronicles her trials and tribulations being a student in a Physician's Assistant program... yup, she discusses things like makin' it through her first male genital-rectal exam and a newfound love of her Neti Pot. Honestly, I think I have a harder time with the Neti Pot. Ew.

Then there's my brother Brad's new blog Project Metamorphosis. (I can't help it, sometimes I accidentally say Project Runway...even though I don't even watch that show!) Anyway Brad is working hard on becoming the best person he can be- spiritually, physically, emotionally- and is sharing his steps along the way. Personally, I'm excited for him to share some of the awesome food he eats (hint, hint).

Finally, my good friend N recently started her blog, N's Wonderful World. N does a lot of scrapbooking and stamping and card making. And she's dang good at it too! You should go check out her super-cute Valentine's cards here. So stinkin' cute. Anyway, she writes a lot about her crafty projects, food, and whatever else strikes her fancy.  

I love reading these blogs (in addition to all those other blogs I read and love). I love seeing what everyone is up to, but I'm one of the youngest in a large family, so I'm coming from that place when I say, "I had a blog first!" :-D

I'm Like SO Hard Core

I've been trying to exercise regularly these days. Normally the winter months are time for hunkering down and hibernating, but this winter I decided to take a different route. I figured the exercise would help with my RAW as well as get me in shape, improve cardiovascular health, manage the crazy amount of tension and stress I deal with every day at work, give me more energy and help me sleep better. And it really has (gosh, I shudder to think about how I would feel if I hadn't been exercising 4-5 times a week).

I can't afford a gym membership right now, which is fine because let's face it, I feel guilty leaving the puppies alone again after being home all day. Plus, once I get home, especially in the cold weather, I really don't want to leave again. Yeah, I'm kinda lame that way.

Since I have a Netflix subscription, I decided to check out the plethora of workout DVDs available. After I "wasted" a couple of my at-home DVDs with lame yoga workouts a while back, I checked out the videos I could view instantly online and have since found a few I love.

Crunch Super Slim Down with Ellen Barrett is probably my favorite. It's billed as a "Pilates yoga blend," which I really like. I've tried Pilates and yoga DVDs that were so boring I couldn't bear to finish, but this workout is a nice mixture that keeps you moving. There is someone demonstrating modifications in case you're new to the workout or need a little less of a challenge for whatever reason. I like that I can change things up that way. Plus Barrett's style of instruction is easy to follow and is NOT irritating or overly peppy. It's a challenging workout when you "keep your core strong and pulled in" and after 40 minutes, I feel like I've gotten a good workout without feeling exhausted...instead I usually feel energized!

Another Ellen Barrett video, Crunch Burn & Firm Pilates, has also been on my go-to list of workouts. This is more of a cardio workout filled with Pilates-inspired moves, as opposed to actual Pilates (apparently some people ripped this DVD up in their reviews because it "is NOT Pilates". OK, sheesh). I like this video too, but I do it less often than the others partly because I get tired of doing squats and lunges (there are a LOT of squats and lunges). The last 10 minutes is supposedly mat work, but I've skipped it to do something else or stretch/cool down on my own. Again, love Barrett's style!

Lastly, I love Crunch Candlelight Yoga with Sara Ivanhoe. Hmm. Apparently I've become a huge fan of Crunch workouts... they're not even paying me to say this (I wish)...

Anyway, this video is all about relaxation. Who doesn't need more of that?! Ivanhoe (who I think is Marisa Tomei's twin) emphasizes that you're there to relax and breathe and even says, "close your eyes, there's nothing to see on the screen." How often do you hear that on a workout video? She also stresses the importance of going at your own pace and stretching as far as "feels good to you right now." OK, yes, Ivanhoe is wearing a bunch of bracelets that jingle and clink on the floor sometimes... and yes, sometimes her soothing, calm instructions in her Marisa Tomei-ish voice grate a little on my nerves, but it's not too bad. I love that this video really helps me get stretched out and relaxed. In fact, when I really feel hard core, I'll do 40 minutes of Super Slim Down, and then another 55 minutes of Candlelight Yoga, just cuz it feels so darn good!

Those are a few of my favorites at the moment. I like them so much that I'm thinking of buying them for my very own! Have any of you tried these? Got any faves of your own? Do tell...

Cowboys and Other Such Things

 Last weeked, while lying on the couch in misery with a drippy nose and pounding head, I discovered The Pioneer Woman. I'd heard her name mentioned by other bloggers- erm, I mean, I'd read her name written by other bloggers- but wasn't familiar with her blog or her story. These bloggers usually spoke of her with a mixture of awe and love... maybe even a little fear...like you'd talk about Superwoman or some other superhero.

So, tried of lying on the couch, but having no energy to move and sick of watching movies, I decided for no apparent reason that it was time to check this Pioneer Woman out.

I'm so glad I did. 

Her photography makes me drool. I wish I could do that. Maybe some day when I get a good camera I'll try out photography classes online and read all her previously posted instructions and tutorials. For now I'll just drool. (She also offers lots of photos for free to download and print, like the one shown above!)

She cooks too. She just wrote a cookbook that might be my next purchase (too bad her book tour is over) because her recipes sound amazing and the photos she takes of the food also make me drool with hunger.

PW is a great writer- so honest and hilariously funny, I find myself laughing out loud, especially when she tells stories about her kiddos (or punks, as she calls them).

But I'll be honest...the thing that has kept me going back for more all week long... is the cowboys. PW is married to a real live cowboy and lives on a ranch. She tells about how she met her "Marlboro Man" in a story she wrote here. Last weekend, in the middle of a sea of kleenex (from my drippy nose, I wasn't weeping or anything) I sat there reading this beautiful story for hours. It kept me happy and content. Well OK, maybe the cowboys aren't the only reason I go back. It's clear that she's so in love with her husband and her kids and her life on the ranch. And I love those things about her blog. The cowboys are the bonus! But, reading her stories made me think of The Cowboy...my cowboy...in ways I haven't thought about for a while. Like Wrangler jeans and big belt buckles, pressed and starched shirts, cowboy hats, Dr. Pepper, muscles, and thoughtful silences. It made me miss The Cowboy a little...all cowboys, really. It made me miss the West.

It's OK. I've got plenty to read on PW's blog to give me my fix and keep me happy...for now. If you haven't checked out PW's blog, please do. I'm willing to bet that just about anyone could find something appealing on her site.

Wisdom from The Office

 

http://www.nbc.com/

I have been frantically trying to finish up a project all week (and what a crazy week it's been!) but thought I'd share ...

First of all, I love NBC's The Office. I admit, I didn't get it at first. If it was on TV I would flip the channel and find something else to watch. 

But then...I worked in an office setting. Suddenly, I got it. The humor made sense, the situations and personalities were so ridiculously true-to-life it was... well... ridiculous. And then I got my stapler put in Jell-O (Thanks Scotty.)

I became an honest-to-goodness convert. I have the DVDs and can quote lots of lines... much like my undying love for Will & Grace. I firmly believe you can find an applicable quote, scene, clip, whatever, for most of life's situations.

So, imagine my excitement when students approached us to "help" (read: do the whole thing) them with a presentation on relationships using The Office as a framework. They wanted to focus most on Jim and Pam, but the show is rich with material in many ways, I couldn't focus only on them. Here are some bits of wisdom I've gathered:

The Office on Online Dating: “Yes. It is true. I, Michael Scott, am signing up with an online dating service. Thousands of people have done it, and I am going to do it. I need a username, and... I have a great one. "Little Kid Lover". That way people will know exactly where my priorities are at.” -Michael Scott

The Office on Women: “Women are like wolves. If you want a wolf, you have to trap it. You have to snare it. And then you have to tame it. Keep it happy. Care for it. Feed it. Lovingly, the way an animal deserves to be loved. And my animal deserves a lot of loving.” -Dwight Schrute

The Office on Being Single: “What is it like being single? I like it! I like starting each day with a sense of possibility. And I'm optimistic, because everyday I get a little more desperate. And desperate situations yield the quickest results.” -Michael Scott

The presentation went well tonight, in spite of some technical difficulties (someone accidentally hit a switch and turned off my projector and DVD player). A couple attendees even suggested we put on another presentation to continue the discussion about healthy relationships and communication. Hmm... maybe...later.

I'm Baaaaack!

Yes, it's true. I'm alive and FINALLY posting something. It's funny how many times family & friends mentioned that I hadn't posted anything for a while. I know...I was the one NOT posting. :-)

I started a post last Monday, but didn't get to finish it, partly because my rage had passed (which was partly what I was going to write about), and partly because I was just so darn busy at work. Last Tuesday afternoon/evening I started feeling sick- sneezing constantly and really HARD, tired, headache-y, etc. I took the afternoon off on Wednesday thinking I could rest and feel a bit better to make it through the week (I had a really jam-packed schedule). I slept all afternoon on Wednesday, but stubbornly dragged myself to work on Thursday feeling completely crappy. My coworkers chastised me and told me to go home, but I just couldn't bail on my scheduled appointments that day. However, before the end of the day, I had our office manager cancel everything for Friday- I just couldn't do it. If I were sitting alone all day in a cubicle somewhere it would be one thing, but I sit with people all day long. I look at them and they look at me. And let me tell you, I looked awful. And every time a sneeze built up (for like 2 minutes), my eyes would water and twitch, I'd tense up, and I'd get the strangest looks...and really, who wants that when they're sick? So I literally laid around all weekend. I didn't do laundry, I barely cooked, and I took about 9 naps. Today I'm actually at work and feeling better than I have since last week, so that's progress.

Other than that... I honestly think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), only I'm more rageful than depressed. Winter back in Wisconsin has been an adjustment for me, to say the least. I mean, I usually want to stay in with a warm blanket and a good book, go to bed super-early, and eat lots of hot soup in the winter, but this has been a bit different for me. I decided I had SAD last Monday when I went to jump in the car and leave for work later than I wanted to and had just enough frost on my car windshield to require a scraping. I was so mad! At frost! I was mad about the bitterly cold temperatures and the slightly slippery intersections! I was just sick of winter. Maybe my disorder is more aptly named RAW (Rageful About Winter). Hmm... perhaps.

So, imagine my reaction to read this on weather.com: 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREEN BAY HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT CST TUESDAY NIGHT.

* SCATTERED LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES ARE EXPECTED TODAY... BUT THE STEADY SNOW WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL LATER TONIGHT. IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

* 3 TO 7 INCHES ARE LIKELY BEFORE THE SNOW DIMINISHES.

* SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL MAKE FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITIES.

Super.

In all reality, I'm just so happy to be less sick that I'm not thinking much about this piece-of-crap snow storm. Or maybe I'm in complete denial.

And how are YOU this fine Monday morning?