Baking Sunday

I am nesting.  Whenever nature plays its evil, painful, bit*hzilla inducing plague of the lady parts on my I start craving food like I am knocked up.

So knowing that I needed to make some easy grab and go breakfast, as well as craving short bread like CRAZY I decided to make two simple, cheap and relatively easy treats.

First off was my Nana's Russian Tea Cakes.  They are basically short bread rounds, infuse with vanilla beans, lots of organic butter and chopped pecans then covered with powdered sugar.

They are by far one of the most quickly eaten cookies on the cookie trays my Nana used to make every wnter.

Nekkid bawls:



Clothed in sweet confectioners sugar:



The final thing I made was Creme Koekga.  Its a breakfast cake with creme fraiche, vanilla, pecans, brown sugar,  and organic eggs.



This is one of the cakes my Nana used to make us and we would get to take some for lunch desert.

Its full of yum and easy to make and the ingredients are cheap too.

 

Ok nap time for this tired sleepy ewok.

KJ

Hike and NOTD!

So my fiance, dog, and I went for a 5 mile hike at the Clark reservation.

The last time we went the mosquitoes were so terrible we made it about a mile before literally RUNNING for the Jeep.

So this time armed with water, sandwiches, dog snacks, and Deep Woods Off we went on the Long Trail Loop with PuppyChupra Kayne Michael.

Can I just say my dog is HILARIOUS?  He kept sticking his head in the rock crevices and barking, or pulling Crash to the egde of the cliff face and trying to look over.

Crash said he about had heart failure.

But Kayne LOVED climbing rocks, walking the trails, and getting to drink out of the stream.  Here are some pics:





Some Scenery:







And my nails?  well I tried to do UV-less gel overlays, and that didn't work out.  They ended up cracking or lifting.  So I said "screw it" and took them off.  Then I used my Nail Magic Base coat therapy, and two coats of Beauty secrets Hardener.  THEN I used 4 coats Wet and wild Meet my Magenta that I frankened with China Glaze "Strawberry Fields" and OPI "OPI Red" MMM was just too sheer by itself.

So I ended up with this color:





There is still a SLIGHT visible nail line (VNL) and I didn't do an accent nail.  I have some Holographic Bar Glitter from Sally Hanson Xtreme Wear that I am toying with throwing a coat on.

But not until tomorrow.

I am REALLY trying to go at least three days before changing nail color.  This is day 2, I would like to make it until Friday, I am not going to lie, I may decide to play with some striper polish, or add a coat of Fairy Dust or 9021Orange if I don't go crazy with Bar Glitter LOL.

Soon I will be posting a recipe for a super absorb-able and less greasy cuticle creme that I have been using with great success.  I have been playing around with the ingredients and currently it has petroleum and I am toying with finding an alternative like Whipped Castor oil or Beeswax, though I am leery about bees wax because I feel like they need it more than I do...

So whats your opinion?  Beeswax ok for us to use, or should we leave it to the bees?

KJ

Nails...Nails...NOTD!

LOVE this manicure!  I actually wore it three days!  (this is a record in case you are wondering)

It is Sally Hansen xtreme wear in CRUSHED with 9021Orange on top.

Simple but fabulous:





My nails are actually getting MAD long.  I am seriously thinking maybe overlays?  dunno, maybe a dumb idea.  My nails are just so thin I feel like they need support!  Nail Bra!

Let me know in comments what you do to keep your nails strong!

RW

Sugar busting...and food puuuurn

So I have been REALLY trying to eat low fat and no sugar.  Let me tell you, going into a gas station now I am just AMAZED at the high fructose crack syrup treats that are freaking EVERY DARN WHERE!

I have finally found my body surprising me. I FINALLY don't drool when I see something sugary. I can remember how crappy I felt and NOT eat it. Still. Now if I eat an apple I am shocked at how good it is where before I would have said "An apple? I want a 'lowfat' poptart" Now, I KNOW low fat isn't necessarily healthy and I know low carb isn't either. I have just been trying to eat my daily requirements of fruit, and veg and if I am craving something I do a low calorie version. My fave?

Grilled cheese Hungry Girl style.
2 slices low carb no sugar bread (who stone ground wheat or 12 grain is good, just make sure its smaller, not those gigantic pieces!)
1 Tablespoon Brummel and Brown spread
1 piece fat free cheddar cheese
1 laughing cow light spreadable cheese. (I like bleu cheese flavor, but I love stinky food cheese)

put one half of the Brummel and brown on one slice of bread and place on hot skillet. place cheddar on bread in skillet..
Now spread the Laughing Cow Cheese on the other slice, put in n the bread in the skillet.
Use the other hald tablespoon of Brummel and brown to spread on the back of the bread slice.
Wait about a minute (med low heat) and flip, cook other side for another minute, serve with tomato wedges! ok that's just me...
I can't believe I have made these over 10 times for me and the fiance and never took a picture. But other pictures of some of my diet food creations:
Turkey burger with baked center cut bacon and reduced fat cheddar and low carb Kaiser roll:

Reduced fat vegan Caesar Dressing on Romaine with Turkey Bacon



Stuffed Green Peppers with 90% lean ground beef, and low fat part skim mozzarella string cheese


And breakfast oatmeal with flax, toasted wheat germ, sliced apples, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and splenda:

Hungry? me too!

Autumn= time for comfort food!

So Autumn to me means its time to whip out my slow cooker and make some rib sticking chili, stew, and utilize those squash before winter is upon us and fruit is a thing of the past (sigh)

So I don't know about you but the idea of throwing together some things in a pot, leaving it on, and coming home to a house smelling like food is my idea of a good day.

I know a lot of people never leave their crock pots unattended, personally I just throw it on the stove and plug it into a surge protector and the house hasn't burned down yet *knock on wood*  But even so, a lot of crock pot recipes are the types that you can come home, turn on the crockpot, and then go do whatever for 4 hours and come home et voila! dinner is DONE mang.

So in celebration of the season of the crock pot I am listing a bunch of MY personal favorite recipes, in hopes that you will enjoy them.

Crock Pot Autumn Roast so easy it should be criminal.  This fills the kitchen with SUCH wonderful smells.  I have tried many roasts and darn it all those southern woman know their meat!

Chalupas Not taco bell! I omit the green chilis (personal taste) and use low carb tortillas to wrap these up.  They are excellent as a leftovers on Taco Salad.  Serve with peach salsa if you can find it.

Pumpkin Soup My Nana was southern and raised me,  Thus we ate pumpkin, A LOT.  It didn't help that at one point we had pumpkins hanging from our pine trees in the vegetable garden.  This recipe is SO GOOD, coating the pumpkin in butter (I use Brummel and Brown) and cooking for an hour is well worth it.  I also use vegetable better than bouillon to make stock, and use center cut bacon.  SO GOOD.

Crock Pot Corn Chowder     Diana Rattray KNOWS her recipes!  I have tried several of hers and found them tastier than even my beloved church recipe cookbooks that I collect!  These recipes are ones handed down from generations and hoestly you can taste the proof in the food. A fellow cookbook collector and self made culinary goddess her about.com recipes are truly unique and delicious!

Kielbasa Casserole   In Minnesota we call casserole "hot dish" everywhere else in the country they look at you as if you have lost your mind.  Never the less this hot dish is not only insanely simple, but I have use grated blanched sweet potatoes in lieu of frozen hash browns  to make this low glycemic.  Also I used cheddar soup mix halved with fat free sour cream for tasty results. Experiment!  This also tastes great with browned ground turkey or low fat ground beef.

So I hope you pull out and dust off those crock pots and let the savory smells waft through YOUR kitchen this Autumn!

Who do you love?

There are many blogs I subscribe to that when they have new posts I do a happy dance.

You KNOW the feeling.  When your blog feed of choice shows you a new post and its like getting GOOD mail when its usually bills.

So without further ado, my blog heroines and heros:

Scrangie fellow animal lover and nail polish aficionado.  I have been following her for over a year.  Check her out, you won't be disappointed!!

Robin Moses  I admit I was late to the game on finding her site,  But now I make it my Monday, Wednesday, Friday stress relief.  Not only is her art inspiring but she and her clients are HILARIOUS, you owe it to yourself to check her out.

Miss 80Millions  this Canadian nail blogger never ceases to amaze me with her creativity.  Her youtube tutorials are easy to follow, designs are easy but chic and are in steps so that you can stop at simple, or go elaborate. 

I have two swatch homies that never cease to amaze me with the beauty and precision in which they apply color!

Enamel Girl  has picture perfect nails, and lots of swatches.  I may be a tad jealous.

Lextard  I started stalking her on her Flickr feed.  Everytime I wanted to know what a nail enamel looked like I.R.L.  She usually had it.  (that britch!  LOL)  Her application is always smooth and flawless.

Loodie Loodie Loodie  She is the Mr.Science of the nail care world.  All the questions and bad habits you had with your nails she answers in a totally hilarious and down to earth way.  And it doesn't hurt that she loves good food, just like me!

Black Nail Polish and Lip Gloss  this lady is the mother I wish I'd had!  Teal hair, rocking eye makeup, long natural claws.  She is funny, sweet, and a font of knowledge.  A blog I cherish.

So I bet you wonder WHY you don't see your blog here.  Its not that I don't follow or don't love it, I am just doing a longest subscriptions first!

Check out these awesome blogs and tell me what you think!

KJ

Blingernails Give away!

So I am late to learn about this give away. The winner gets three polishes from pIcture pOlish (Awesome Aussie Brand, but again everything Aussie is awesome) To enter go here: http://www.blingernails.com/2011/08/picture-polish-giveaway.html

Some deets from Blingernails:

"pIcture pOlish is hosting a giveaway to win THREE polishes of your choice from their own range (this doesn't include the Ozotic brand).  They have a fantastic choice of shades to choose from"

pIcture pOlish is located here: http://www.picturepolish.com.au/  on the web to look at their beautiful colors.

Good luck to anyone else who enters!

NOTD-Wet and Wild Franken

Hello readers of mass destruction. Today I have a manicure using a slightly frankened version of Wet and Wild "How I met your Magenta" with "9021 Orange" over it and OPI "OPI Red" for accent nail art. Nothing fancy to gussy up the WnW HIMYM, I just added 5 drops of China Glaze Strawberry Fields and 9 drops OPI "OPI Red" Then mixed the bejeebus out of it. I like how it turned out! The above is 2 coats WnW HIMYM Franken with 1 coat WnW 9021 Orange. I think it turned out nice! WnW has been surprising me with the quality of their polishes. I have 6 bottles of OPI in similar colors to WnW and have to say the WnW chips a LOT less and usually only starts on day three. (Which by then I am literally panting to change my manicure) The OPI on the other hand is usually chipping for me by the end of day one. Now to be fair I am HARD on my manicures. I have 4 cats, a tortoise, a turtle, a dog, and a fiance to take care of, my nails take a BEATING. A friend of mine suggested that I try gel polish, saying that I could still paint over the color as long as I used non acetone remover. However with the frequency in which I change my nail color, it seemed like a waste of time to me. HOWEVER, when I go out of town for 7 days in October I am SERIOUSLY considering getting a gel manicure in a neutral color so that I don't have to mess around with lugging polish. I am doing wedding coordinating, hair, nails, and makeup for the Bride and her entire Bridal Party. So needless to say a 7 day french manicure might be just what I need so I don't obsess over chipped nails. Then I could do a review! LOL Ah the depths to justify a nail care purchase. I need to go out and buy some more Acetone, however I was in the Emergency room all last night for a terrible migraine. They tried Toradol and Benadryl and it didn't help. So they gave me Thorazine. MAN. I instantly felt like I lowered my IQ by 20 points. Its lingering too. Then my O2 stats kept falling below 90 so they hooked me up to O2. And it was cold as a meat locker in the room. I had a minor panic attack once the doctor saw me and was in the middle of putting on my shoes and clothes and leaving (for some odd reason I had this foreboding that I was going to have a bad reaction to the IV meds, and I did) but one of the nurses who knows my sister in law came in and talked to me and got me to relax. I told him about my weird fear and anxiety (which is NOT normal for me at all) and he said if I felt like that again to tell him right away and he would walk with me around the floor, that maybe I just had nervous energy or my back may be n a bad position and be irritating my nerves. He was wonderful. So Today I am resting in bed, Doctor AND Fiance orders. Hope you are well! KJ

Who do you love? Right now.

So I posted before about how much I love certain brands of things. But there are lots of things that I am loving right now that have nothing to do with polish (I know...WEIRD)

Well. I have had time to use, and use and use and I wanted to post an updated WHAT I LOVE, now.

1. Nail Magic Base coat therapy. Available at Sally Beauty, I am on my second bottle and am going to be going back for a third. It has replaced CND Stickey and Instant Artificial's as my Holy Grail of Nail Bases. You do need to apply two coats so that your polish does not stain (If you are like me and wear dark China Glaze, Sinful Colors, and LA Colors)I love it so much I am going to be buying some for my Nana.

2. Blue Cross Cuticle Remover. Also Sally Beauty staple. I use this on my dry feet, Chris' cuticles, and oh yeah, to remove cuticles from my nails.

3.Olive Oil in an empty nail polish bottle. I actually BOUGHT a sterile nail polish bottle and put in some organic extra virgin olive oil with just a few drops of Evening primrose and vitamin e. Every time I think about it I swab it onto my cuticles (And my fiance' cuticles) and let it soak in. I use to have hangnails lke cray cray, but now not the case!.

4. Poshe Top Coat. Yes I know the old Poshe was supposedly better, and something about the new Posche people don't like. But you know what? This top coat dries like instantly and keeps my mani fresh for three days with no chipping. I don't care if it is made from the tears of lonely puppies, it works. ( I actually would care about the puppies, I love puppies, and kittens, and all baby animals.)

5. Suave Naturals Rosemary Mint Conditioner. I have used this conditioner three bottles now. My fiance Chris loves it, I love it. It doesn't weigh down the hair, rinses clean but leaves hair soft but not coated. Plus the smell is rad.

6. Wicked Scentuals (Etsy) Liquid Blue soap. This soap is so complex...like old skool blue Coast, and vanilla, and awesome. We have almost used up our sample bar and are going to buy a pound. It is cleansing but doesn't strip the skin, is a perfect face wash for me. And the scent lasts for a long time without being overwhelming. I actually caught a kid sniffing me in the grocery store and when i looked at him he says "You smell like happy" LOL.

7. My old retainer. YES I said retainer. My teeth are actually floating again and I called my orthodontist and he said "start wearing your retainer at night again" its been freaking 10 years since I wore that thing! But here I am once again wearing it. My Dentist does not cover orthodontia but my old Ortho said if I came back to MN to bring it and he would adjust it or replace it for free so my teeth would stay straight. Wearing it keeps me from grinding my teeth in my sleep too.

8. Laughing Cow Light spreadable cheese. This is the shiznit. 50 calories, 2 grams of fat, add a slice of fat free cheese and low carb bread and a tablespoon of low fat buttery spread and you have a decadent grilled cheese that is 1/8 the calories and fat of a normal grilled cheese.

9. Brummel and Brown Yogurt and Butter spread. Tastes just like butter, 65% less fat, grills up awesome, you can bake with it, perfect on a piece of toast.

10. Straight Leg Lunges. OK yeah, actually I HATE these. But I make myself do 90 a day on top of my plie squats, normal squats, Horse stance squats, and Russian Twists abs. Adding in the other weight and resistance stuff I do while watching netflix I am finally starting to loose thigh, and gain muscle. WIN.

So what are you loving right now?

KJ

Fingerpaints Fall Fashionista Collection

So I just found the Finger Paints Fall Fashionista Collection in Sally. I was looking for a Sally Hanson "Eel skin" by Tracy Reese dupe.

I applied this polish and let me tell you, I can't stop looking at it!

I am going to link to the Polishaholic (who I follow and I suggest you follow too!) so you can see her swatches as my camera is broken (I will be able to fix it, I am handy with Panasonic stuff)

Follow the link and tell me what you think!

Just in case the link is broken:
http://www.thepolishaholic.com/2011/08/fingerpaints-fall-fashionista-fall-2011.html

Also, just got my paws on some POSHE top coat. Man, this stuff is damn near perfect! no tip wear, nice easy formula. Granted it has only been a week using it (three polish changes, I have a problem) But so far I think it may be the answer to my prayers!

Also, Have been using Nail Magic Base Coat Therapy for about 6 months now. I CANNOT say enough about hot much this base has helped my thin, brittle nails! Now my nails are stronger, more flexible (remember when the dog took me down the stairs and I majorly broke a nail? I have fallen down three times with long nails and although it HURT no break!)It has the added bonus of helping polish adhere so your mani last longer (but with how much I clean, cook, scrub, and type it is a miracle to make a manicure last three days, this does.)

I have to say I like this better than Instant Artificial's...Which I loved but hate that it thickens, which I have NOT had a problem with Nail Magic Base Coat Therapy.

I may actually have to see about sending my Nana a bottle since we have the same nail problems.

KJ

OK that is just crazy sauce: Period cycle and Lunar Calander

So since I have terrible periods (we are talking emergency room, handful of vicodin, puking because the pain is so bad periods here) I am un-naturally interested in my cycle. I ALWAYS comes between the 7th and the 9th. But this month, it is coming on the 3rd! (I am pre-spotting and PMS'ing like a raving banshee.)S needless to say when friend said she was tracing her cycle online I said 'I wanna do that?!"

So after asking my fiance WHEN I had gotten my period and how heavy it had been when (he has the uncanny ability to remember me talking about mundane sh*t like "Uh I have CLOTS in my period" or me bitching about having stained ANOTHER set of panties, when will my period be over!? SO he ironically was of GREAT assistance in this endeavor!

SO what did I find out? First off? I have 26 day cycles between periods. Second my periods go from Heavy to Medium to Heavy to Light to Heavy and so on.

I also found out that two days AFTER the moon is half Risen, I get my period. Like CLOCKWORK precision here. Be it cloudy, rain or muggy my uterus can sense her Buddy.

Now I am just spotting, trying to reign in PMS and stay cool.

To get your own fascination with your Aunt Flo visit: http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/




Don't say I didn't warn you.

KJ

Yay superflous nail post!

WHEN was the last time I got to sit down and do a great manicure AND show it off AND talk about products?

Yeah.. very excited to have things calming down in the cat cave.

First and foremost thank you Miss80Millions for patiently giving me advice on spongeing, her vids can be found HERE and HERE

So onwards! I have a fantastic mani to show y'all I used the following:

My super duper base which I recommend to EVERYONE Salon Science Instant Artificial's If you have weak nails that break easily this is your nail stuff. Available at Sally's Beauty everywhere.




"Misa "Femme Fatal", Sally Hanson Extreme Wear "Crushed", and Sally Hanson Salon "Hidden Treasure"




Topped off with Sally Hanson Strengthening top coat. Just a quick side bar, this top coat is NOT fast drying, it was the only top coat I have left because I am out of fast drying and well, I am having some issues with formulas! This is normally my French top coat only, but I have to say it IS hard, shiny, and does strengthen.



OK So the method:

I wanted a manicure that "looked" kind of batik but was shiny (of course) and had depth.

So I first applied one coat Misa "Femme Fatal" a beautiful red with a slight orange warmth.

Then I sponged on Sally Hanson Extreme Wear in "Crushed" I did two applications using the sponge method (great tutorial for it here

Make sure when doing this manicure that you apply the nail color to the sponge and then dab it once on a piece of paper. This helps to make the color apply better not gloopy.

After letting the "Crushed" color dry I applied two coats of Sally Hanson Salon "Hidden Treasure" (note NUBAR 2010 is an EXACT dupe and can be bought here AND Nfu oh has a dupe as well and can be bought here )

After applying those and letting them dry I applied my top coat and voila!



Look at that flash!



I could not stop looking at my nails:



Hope you enjoy and have a happy day!

KJ

Nails-complicated

So this floral design took me 45 minutes to do...

This is the left hand: (clickable)



this mess is the right: (clickable)



Thumbs:

Left:



Right:



Yeah no doubt someone is right handed!

KJ

DIY Laundry Soap

So as many of my readers and friends know, I am broke as a joke.

Some serious costly things in our house were processed foods, cat litter and laundry soap.

So now that I make our bread, make our pizza dough, and make all baking mixes from scratch (which was a LOT easier than I thought it would be!)

We couldn't replace cat litter with the cheaper thicker grain kind (the kind that doesn't clump urine, just makes it go to the bottom of the pan...ewww) We are buying BOXES of cat litter instead at a discount place (clumping, and unscented, works for us since I clean their boxes daily)

Now for Laundry soap.

First a little background. I am sensitive to smells. I HATE the way most laundry soaps smell. I grew up hating the way TIDE, GAIN, and ERA smelled.

I used Dreft unscented for the longest time but it didn't get my clothes clean.

I even tried Ivory snow (which has a light scent) but still, clothes came out not that clean.

So I went online to an awesome Pioneer Women forum and researched laundry soap.

There were a few recipes that required liquid soap, but I was really looking for a powder. Then I saw some powder recipes but they called for castile soap, I wanted something I knew worked and smelled good (if I had to have scent I wanted it to be CLEAN smell)

So I got Fels Naptha and used that.

Once ground Fels Naptha will give you about 2 cups soap flakes.

I add 4 cups borax, and 4 cups washing soda (soda ash)

This gives me a total of 80 ounces of product. Around 145 tablespoons.

1 TBSP equals one normal sized load.

So the basic recipe is 1 cup soap flakes (you can use ivory, dr. bronners, ZOTE, Fels Naptha, or another castile soap)

1 cup borax

1 cup washing soda.

Now here is the reason why my numbers are different.

I used Fels Naptha which is a heavy duty soap. So I doubled up on Borax and Washing soda.

Results? Worked perfectly.

Now the 1 cup each mixed together recipe may work perfectly if the soap you use is Ivory, or Kirk's Castile or Dr. Bronners.

But A soap like ZOTE or Fels Naptha which is specifically made to be heavy duty I find it works good to double the other ingredients.

But here is the thing: Experiment, try mixing soap flakes,such as ivory AND fels naptha, 1 and 1/2 cups each borax and washing soda. Experiment and find out which one of these recipes and conversions works best for your soiled clothes.

And note that you will be using about .05 cents per load vs. commercial detergents which cost about .25 cents a load.

I use 3 tablespoons on my fiance's work clothes, and since the commercial front loaders have 2 wash cycles I split the soap between the two and he ALWAYS has his clothes come out soft, clean, and smelling good.

Give your own recipe a try and save some time and money!

So how do you do it?

Grate the soap with a fine grater into a bowl (takes about 3 minutes)
Add your Borax and washing soda (amounts depend on which soap you use: Heavy duty laundry soap I use 1 cup soap to 2 cups each borax and washing soda. Regular soap such as Ivory or Kirk's Castile I follow the 1 bar, 1 cup each Borax and Washing soda)

After you grate the soap (and this part is optional) Mix it in with the borax,washing soda and pulse it in a food processor for about 2 minutes.

(Otherwise you can just mix everything together and have it be more chunky)

I recommend using a food processor because the smaller the soap the more quickly it dissolves.

Store in an airtight container, add essential oil scent if you wish.

KJ

Baked and half baked goods

So First for the win:

Fauxroni, Chreeze, and vidalia onion pizza on home made dough, with home made sauce:



Amish Sweet Bread:



And...

Matzo Crack:



Don't ask me how many times I had to make each to get them perfect...

And a fail!

Cinnamon rolls:



Wait...WTH is wrong with them...Sits up pondering...didn't add freaking cinnamon.

F-it they are sweet rolls instead. Eat em.

KJ

OPI Cajun Shrimp

These are definately summer nails. I am debating whether or not to add a coat of Sally Hanson gold flakies over it. part of me thinks "wow pretty!" the other part says "get up? its nap time biotch!"

I think nap time wins...I don't even think I have the energy to do top coat right now. At least my toes and fingers are painted and I have brushed my teeth, showered, and am resting up for laundry

Here are my nails. HORRIBLE picture:



Thats all for now. Looking up Cajun Shrimp online is better to see the color.

THis is perfect

KJ

I have Syringomyelia.

I have had it since 2004. It is post traumatic and sometimes I feel like it has completely taken over my and my fiance's lives.
I have Syringomyelia, Syringomyelia does not have me.

Syringomelia symptoms come on suddenly after a fall or minor trauma. Symptoms include but are not limited too:

Inability to regulate body temperature
Loss of sensitivity to hot and cold
Numbness and tingling
...Loss of Bowel and bladder control
Muscle weakness
Spasticity
Paralysis (in severe cases, quadriplegia)
Chronic pain
Neuropathic pain
Chronic severe headaches

Nail crap and Nivea Soft review

So I FINALLY got my hands on some China Glaze Crackle polish!



But I do have pictures of a few other mani's to tide us all over until I can cook or try a new product.

Oh Quick review first, Nivea sent me some lotion to try for a week Nivea "Soft" for body and face.

Went on quick, absorbed fast, made my face feel too greasy but on my body was AWESOME. It worked like a thick cream without feelig greasy or taking forevr to absorb. 5 hours later and after vacuuming the whole house and spending 3 hours outside with the dog my skin is still moist and comfortable but not the least sticky.

Made me get a small bump on my chin (I have a super sensitive face!) But otherwise I think I am going to ditch my Neutrogena and buy a big bottle before they DC it!

Here is my sparkle mani:



T'Jours!

KJ

Medic alert bracelet your will WANT to wear

Thank you Michelle Vorbeek again for saving my life.

Example here


My medic alert bracelet is just over a year old and I wore it to the hospital the other day and the lady said "Ah! I like this! Where did you get it?"

Even my nana has a Michelle Vorbeek Medic alert bracelet now.

All the kewl kids are getting them for reals.

Keep cool and safe, I wonder if she can add compazine to my bracelet...???

KJ

Sulfite allergist gives new list of "No No" foods

So I am allergic to sulfites and sulfa drugs.

I have to be seriously careful about what I eat.

So imagine my surprise to find out a new list from my allergist of no no foods.


Following foods contain Greater than 100 ppm of sulfites (very high levels, strict avoidance advised in people with sulfite allergy)

* dried fruits (prunes)
* bottled lemon juice (non-frozen)
* bottled lime juice (non-frozen)
* wine
* molasses
* sauerkraut (and its juice)
* grape juices (white, white sparkling, pink sparkling, red sparkling)
* pickled cocktail onions

Between 50 and 99.9 ppm of sulfites (moderate to high levels of sulfite, avoidance advised in people with sulfite allergy)

* dried potatoes
* wine vinegar
* gravies/sauces
* fruit toppings
* Maraschino cherries

Between 10 and 49.9 ppm of sulfites (low to moderate levels of sulfite, may cause symptoms in people with severe sulfite allergy)

* pectin
* fresh shrimp
* corn syrup
* pickled peppers
* pickles/relish
* corn starch
* hominy
* frozen potatoes
* maple syrup
* imported jams and jellies
* fresh mushrooms
* imported sausages and meats
* cordials (alcoholic)
* dehydrated vegetables
* various cheeses
* corn bread/muffin mix
* canned/jarred clams
* clam chowder
* avocado dip/guacamole
* imported fruit juices and soft drinks
* ciders and cider vinegars

The Hell? Maple SYRUP?! I freaking love maple syrup. I already use rice vinegar and am lactose intolerant anyway so the rest of this didn't bother me so much but...Corn muffin mix? Corn muffin tops are a staple in our house I make them and toast them in the toaster oven!

And if I can't have my pickle relish on my Tofu Pups I would want to pass away from it. I LOVE pickles. Hell I make my own! Can I eat those?

Ugh....sucky new list.

Crash (fiance) said "So basically you can't eat anything without risk of dying?"

Uh yeah basically that.

KJ