Loving your Dog to Death

I love my Luna she's the sweetest, smartest, bestest dog that ever has been in the world. She's great. Today I was at a friend's house and he cousin was there with her dog. Her dog is a portly terrier mix. He's seriously one of the most obese dog i've ever seen. He looks heavier then the largest dog on this chart and he's so small.

The dog searched and found some tootsie rolls and when my friend asked her cousin if he could have one, the cousin said yes. This dog does NOT need candy. I mean he does have health issues, he goes potty a lot and has this soft growth between his front legs. His skin is white, except his stomach near is back legs there it's almost black. He's could be big because of health matters but I rather suspect the candy his owner gives him to show her love contributes to his obesity.

This reminded me so much of a time I spent 3 weeks in Cuernavaca Mexico on a homestay and the 'mother' of the house mentioned that the vet had told herr to keep her dog to a specific diet because it was obese and she did not stick to the diet. She said she loved the dog too much to not give her the treat she was begging for.

I kinda think she'd showed her love better to take her dog on daily walks and feed her the prescribed diet. :shrugs: It makes me wonder why we humans use food to show affection. When I'm feeling stressed, I eat. Take today, I've 3 major due dates next week and I'm sitting eating Doritos and blogging the opposite of what I should be doing. But this isn't about me, it's about the poor dogs who get fed too much because their woners have some mistaken belief that the food they give their pets means love. Food is sustance. It keeps us alive and allows us all to do the thing we enjoy, but it shouldn't be the most important thing in our lives. When we find ourselves thinking about food constantly, we need to back up and wonder why. Of course, its hard to when you're honestly hungry.

Back to dogs I will brag a bit and say that Luna is the perfect weight because I feed her the recommended amount of quality food just a few treats, we play fech every day and I do take her on walks. She did get a little big a couple of months ago because my wonderful sisters were putting food out constantly for her.

Every time the bowl was empty, they would put a cup of food in. I nagged them about that and they don't do it any more. Luna actually did lose a fair bit of weight when we went on vacation and I was the only one feeding her again and we were also going on lots of walks. She hasn't gained the weight back since we've returned, so I'm assuming my sisters haven't been giving her extra food.

Anyway, the gist of this entry is that giving your dog extra food he or she doesn't need is not love. Food is not love. Many other things can be love, but as a culture, we really need to get away from food as a reward or example of love.

All about MMU (That Mineral Makeup for the Non-Obsessers)

I love Everyday Minerals, totally HG for me. There are some problems with mineral makeup. For example, something it it can make your skin look really light in pics with a flash (that happens to me a lot). My skin is pretty combo and it usually disappears by lunch, but I just dust a little more powder on with the mmu and kabuki I keep here at work and I usually look fine. another bad thing, I never thought my skin looked particularly old until mmu highlighted some of my lines under my eyes. Errrg. All in all, I think its still worth the effort and undereye lines because this stuff looks pretty great on the skin and does not irritate my skin either.

One of the good things about mmu is its ease of application (once you learn how), and how it can really hide some imperfections. It doesn't make my pores look smaller, neither does it make them look bigger. They are there no matter what makeup I use :( But I suppose I'm used to them now.

http://www.everydayminerals.com/ If you order something, enter the code BmmEnc until December 10 to save 10%

You know, without mmu, I'd never have thought to mix foundations to get better colors. Now, even when I get tired of mmu and wear liquid (like last week) I tend to mix them up. For example, yesterday I mixed the Cover Girl mousse-y makeup with the CG Smoothers tinted moisturizer. Creamy Natural can look really orange on me, so mixing in a lot of the tinted moisturizer makes it match my skin tone much better. And I still get a fair amount of coverage.

Today, I went mmu again after a week away and I did miss it. I got a pretty good color match by mixing EDM Fairly Light Neutral, Sunkissed Fair, and Multitasking together. They were in various finishes including Intensive, semi matte, and original glo. I like it and will proabably wear it tomorrow again, just like this. I also used the waffle cone blush over it and then blended a it more.

btw, I love the ED fan brush, it is awesome for applying mmu blush and not going overboard. I also love their flat top brush for applying foundation. Totally awesome.

On the downside, I've been using CG lash blash for about 3 weeks now, and its already flaking. :( On the bright side, the flakes are big and thus easier to remove then the smaller flakes that just set into your skin). I'm thinking on finishing up my Full and Soft that I bought while in Williamsburg when I couldn't find any CG Lash Blast. I still bought the lash blast the second I saw some at Walmart, but still.

In more makeup news, I still cannot find the matte Milani lipsticks and am somewhat bummed. I just never think to go out of my way to check out a CVS since I know Walgreens doesn't sell it.

Also, although ED is HG for me, I still ordered the new ELF mmu.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

I got the starter kit #2. I'm a little worried about the lack of color selection, but I'll give it a whirl.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/depts_minerals.asp?dept_id=1190

Also, these little tins are so cute.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/products.asp?dept_id=1186

I got the cherry and candy flavored ones and I know its Christmas, so I'll probably go pick some up if they're available at the Fiesta on Buckner which is the closest store that sells ELF in my area. No the closest Target is sadly ELF deprived. A sad state of affairs at the time of year.

In other news, my parents need to give my 16 year old sister a camera for Christmas, seriously. I'm getting really tired of mine disapearing into her room and ending up with 20 pictures of her posing, but she never does anything with these pics and just leaves them on my camera. Bummer, this won't happen anymore if they would just buy her a camera. Please?

Cradle Robber

Well, I got asked out my a really hot guy a little while ago. I also gave him my number and he said he'd call tonight. The plan is for us to go out to the movies this Saturday night. Yay. I am happy about it, and surprised I was able to say yes. The only thing is that I reckon he's a bit younger then I am. I mentioned my sister was turning 21 and he asked how old I was. I wondered how old he was, but was afraid to ask. I reckon he's in early 20s territory. Like 21-23. I suppose I'll find out soon. I've never gone out with someone younger then me before, so this will be cool. I mean, my sisters have both had good luck cradle robbing, I feel like I've been missing out over the years :)

Now for the Post-Thanksgiving Guilt Stage

The lesson at church yesterday was based on a talk in the last General Conference from Elder Dallin H Oaks. Here's a link. It really inspired me to look at my 6 month goals and see which, to me, are good, better, and best. So these are mine, does anyone else have any goals they're thinking of right now?

My 6 Month Goals: Remember Good *, Better**, Best***
From November 26, 2007 to May 26, 2008

Health
--Lose 35 pounds***
--Take Luna on walks every day**
--Do a 5k*
--Go out to eat once a week***
--Bring lunch to work every day***
--Use all food I buy*
--Be a size 8 or 6**
--Do a workout video 2 times a week*
--Use all wellness time each week***
--Drink water constantly**
--No caffeine***
--No soda except for special occasions**

Home
--Keep trash removed from room**
--Vacuum carpets once a week*
--Keep sewing paraphernalia organized**
--Keep up with shredding junk mail***
--Water plants each week*

Time-Management
--Prioritize properly*

Social
--Go out once a week to some sort of activity (e.g. movie, museum, theater production, band, dinner)*
--Go to all YSA activities possible***
--Try harder to date*

Church
--Daily Scripture Study***
--Be current with tithing***
--Fast when proper and do so spiritually*
--Spend more time on prayers**
--Don’t forget to bless all meals*
--Get temple recommend***
--Attend church every Sunday***
--Do monthly visiting teaching*

Our Thanksgiving...

It's been a wonderful day and its days like this that remind me why I love my family so much. This is a picture of all of us today.

This one is just us siblings.

Today has been the first time we haveall been together in a long time, this is including random family members. There was Ann and her hubbie Tyson and their baby. There was Mary and her new husband Marc. There was Charlie and Phyllis and the two kids Sabina and Charlie IV. And there was me, my parents, and Kathrine and Susan. No one was in a bad mood, everyone contributed to cleaning and fixing up the house. We laughed non-stop. We played with the kids and talked constantly. There was something to eat to fit everyone's dietary requirements. I shared my love of sewing with Ann and Mary and discovered that Phyllis also sews, although only for the kids. I also found out that my Mom used to be pretty creative with her sewing. She actually used 3 sewing patterns to sew her wedding dress. I've never thought much about her sewing abilities because she never talks about them. Even though I talk about sewing A LOT, she never really contributes or offers advice.


Bro cooked everything and did a great job. He used Alton Brown's recipe for turkey and it was great. Wonderfully moist and flavorful. The only thing he didn't get right was Grandma's cheesy corn. It just wasn't creamy and spicy enough. And he used red bell peppers that looked good, but added a sweetness the dish didn't what will the corn.


Yes I ate a lot, but less then I could have. I'm full, but not stuffed today. We also have many leftovers this year, but I'm sure we'll finish them :) The weather also got seriously cold today and that's why we have the coats today even though we were all wearing tshirts on Tuesday. LOL.


Luna was well behaved and the kids liked playing with her at first, but I guess got bored with her, so we just put her in my room.


We went over to grandma's after the Cowboys game was over "Go Cowboys (G)". Then I got to have some a g'ma's corn and it was good. We also saw my g'pa, aunt Vivian, and two of her sons. They'd had dinner at their house earlier, but there just isn't space at their house for all of us and my aunt an all of her kids and their family and my other aunts and uncles and their families. If everyone came at the same time, there would have been 50 people in a relatively small area. It's not so bad when the weather is good and we can expand outside, but today the nip in he air would have made spending time outsde rather less fun. So by the time we got there, only my cousin John, his wife Adeena and their two kids and my other cousin Charlie(yes another one) and his wife Susan (yes another of those too). We visited for a few hours, just talking. We don't do that enough.


In more distressing news, my cousin John had to take his 2 year old little girl to the hospital for a bug bite that's got infected. The little boy also has a bite and they took him is as well, although his is better. Leatrice's has a black line running through it. This used to never happen, but the past month or so, Michael's had 4 bites and this is Lea's first one. I reckon they're going to have to do something about that. Dad and Brother Vanuelos went to the hospital to give the kids a blessing and hopefully they'll get better quickly and not get any more bug bites.

Yes, it was wonderful for all of us to get together and eat and I reckon we were a bit loud. Yes, we talk loudly and laugh loudly and did just about everything loudly. We were going to do the Karaoke Revolution.


It's been a good day, aside from the bug bites.

Here's me and Sidney.

This pic is just about the cutest one I saw. It's Charlie's Son Charlie and Ann's and Sidney.

On Eating and Holidays

Like many, I wonder why we eat so much during holidays. I don't know about ya'll, but for me holidays can be defined somewhat by the food consumed during them. Easter has the candy, 4th of July has hot dogs and hamburgers, Thanksgiving has the turkey, Christmas the ham, and News Years the black eyed peas.

We are a food-oriented culture, and that's okay. I love food, but sometimes lack the patience to prepare it properly, and I suppose this is why we have resturants. Convenience, laziness, quickness, tastiness, and socialization all have helped the restaurant industry grow so much. It's so hard to resist those colorful signs while traveling and in the daily life. When I live close the a fast food joint and its along the way I normally drive, I am much more likely to stop there to grab a bite, or more. If, on the other hand, I rarely see the fast food, I don't really miss it and cook my own food more often. The convenience of convenience foods really has led to so many people eating them daily instead of for the occaisonal treat.

For example, since the parking issues here at Eastfield began, I've driven to one of the many local fast food places much less often. This is also because my brother used to work almost the same schedule as I did at a building less than a mile from Eastfield and sometimes I would bring him something from one of the local places since he didn't have a lunch break and so couldn't drive away to grab anything. I think he mostly ate tv dinners. I can count on my hand the number of times I've left the campus this semester for lunch because of Bro and because it now takes so long to walk out to the car and back. That's 10 minutes or so right there.

There is a subway on campus, but I try to avoid it. It's still not really healthy, although the veggies are. Also I can rarely resist making the daily special a meal by adding a soda and chips and it can cost a pretty penny. I need to practice my avoidance for these unhealthy foods.

So I've been trying to bring food in more often. It's nice, but too often what I bring in is still a convenience food like canned soup or a frozen dinner.

Once I brought in a rotisserie chicken, but for some reason it just didn't fill me up and I was ravenous eat everything in sight by the time I got off work 4 hours later. Maybe if I bring the chicken and something a little more satisfying then salad, I'll be fuller longer.

It's odd, I was reading on a blog that most women don't eat enough calories and I have to agree. I shoot for 1300-1500 a day and when I really looked at what I was eating last week on Sparkpeople, I was sitting at 1100-1200 everyday and this is with pretty much ignoring my low carb lifestyle. Even at this calorie level, I don't loose weight, so I suppose focus is necessary.

So here are some potential avoidance strategies for when I'm craving, but not really hungry and don't need anything.

• Start sewing.
• Start working on Nanowrimo or some other writing
• Start homework
• Go outside and take Luna for a walk
• Call a friend
• Turn on Heroes or some other distracting tv show
• Remind myself of why I want to be healthy
• Look at pictures of obese people online (not a nice one, I wonder hoe effective it would be)
• Read a book

Maybe my goal should be to use these strategies for 30 minutes and if I still want it, then have it. I've heard of this before, but have not the excitment to carry it through. Maybe I will be more conscientious this time.

Short Term Goals (New Years)

• Lose 10 pounds
• Be smaller
• Take Luna on a walk everyday (no matter how short or how cold it is that day)
• Try to run a little on each walk, gradually building the walking into running
• Get 5 fruits and veggies a day
• Focus on reducing sodium content
• No caffeinated beverages.
• No sodas

Longer term goals

• Size 8 (I think I look best at an 8 with curves in the right places, but no bulges. I've only been a size 8 twice since my freshman year of high school. Once right after I got back from Germany and was jetlagged and not eating for a couple of weeks and once after starting low carb, but when the holidays happened, my newly svelte frame became a thing of the past.)
• Run a 5K
• Eat a reduced sodium, no added sugar, no high fructose corn syrup diet with some fish and soy eaten every week and also lots of fiber from veggies.

Hopefully wrting all this can help me tomorrow to resist the Thankgiving Feast. To be a good feast-er, I'll have the turkey, salad, pumpkin pie, and deviled eggs. I will eat only one bite eat of the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and creamed corn and that will be it. I woulod refuse to eat these at all, but my brother is putting a lot of effort into making them, the least I can do is taste them. I only hope I can keep it to just 1 bite and not all of it.

Also, I'm thinking of sending my parents a link to a food scale. I think it would be great for us to know exactly how much food we are eating before we eat it. Wish me luck :).

Next Sewing Project

So I finished that other dress Sunday night and last night whilst pondering Heroes(totally awesome btw) I decided to go ahead and try to finish one more dress to wear on Thanksgiving. This means I need to finish it today. Now I do have many other things I could be doing. For example, tidying up my room, cleaning the front room, cleaning the kitchen, filling the dish washer, finishing the hems on any number of dresses, sorting through my closet for summer stuff that can leave to make room for cooler weather garments, .....

This is not my pattern, but it is similar and I can't remember the number off the top of my head, so I can't search for it either.

I'm doing it with short sleeves and I'm not sure, but I may do white piping along the collar and front, or not I think it'll look classier without.

So yes, I probably don't need to try to finish another dress when I get home from work, but I will. Hopefully it won't take to long to complete. I'm making a shirtdress from an unprinted 50s Simplicity pattern. I'm not doing the zipper, and I'm sticking a circle skirt on it from one of the retro Buttericks.

I'm making it from some royal blue challis that's been waiting in my stash since last Spring. It was going to be Simplicity 3780,

but that ended up being made from a black, flowered hawaiian-esque print. This left my 6 yards of challis with no purpose :( This pattern doesn't need 6 yards, so I reckon the rest would make a glorious skirt or shirt, maybe not a shirt given challis' propensity for wrinkling. Wish my luck as I procrastinate on real work :).

BTW: My soda free thing is going pretty well. I picked up a grilled chicken saesar salad and McD and did NOT get a diet coke, instead I realized my thirst and had water. :pats back lightly: I'm a try to keep this up, but it is hard to train your brain not to expect soda at meals when you've drunk sodas with meals all your life.

Simplicity 3620

I sewed Simplicity 3620 up yesterday. It was a nice way to spend my Sunday night. I've had this slightly stipped/ribbed brown fabric wating in my stash since last Spring when I bought the last 2 yards from a clearance area sale at Jo Anns. Since then I've been searching for a way to use it, but never settling for just the one way. Yesterday, when I was looking for a fabric to go with 3620, the one leaped out at me and the pattern only called for 2.5 yards of 60 inch fabric. Now I only had 2, but I 'made it work' :) I loved the red version on the pattern envelope, but having no red fabric :( I could not completely duplicate it. I also made it using the longer length, although it is a little shorter then anticipated because I slightly ran out of fabric for one of the logner peices. I also had to worry about pattern directions because of the stripes and I think I did a good job. The sleeves and bows have horizontal stripes while the bult of the dress has vertical ones.

The whole thing is long princess seams. For some reason this dress does not look good with a belt. I though about wearing it today with brown tights and a red belt and while I am wearing the tights, the belt is elsewhere.

This dress is more 60s then I normally go for, but its also hemmed as most of my garments are not. Trade off for the huge skirt is more time spent hemming. Balance and opposition.

Another angle on the dress.

The cute little bow detail, its a little lopsided, but I've decided that just make it more charming.

I don't regret making this, its probably going to be a popular dress for me this Winter too, especially with the tights. A quick comment on the pattern. It has a ridiculous amount of ease. I cut a 16 and ended up taking in the back seam about 3 inches or so and the side seams about 2 inches and the front princess seams came in about an inches each under the bust, tapering to not in at all at the hips. That's a lot on inches, and it still isn't tight or anything. Note that some of the size problem could stem from the slight stretchiness of the fabric, butit isn't that stretchy like jersey or anything and matte jersey is listed as a possible fabric type on recommended fabrics. Anyway, I don't mide all the taking in, but it did mean the pattern took much longer to sew then I expected. Also, they don't really explain how to affix the bow and mine is a little lopsided, but only I seem to notice it. The bow is the perfect size, not small and dainty nor huge and overwhelmingly 80s.

All in all, I'm happy with it and while the sleeve gathers gave me some fits, they ended up looking sute, if a little shorter then those in the pattern illustration.

Cartwheels and Feminism: Take 2

So I lied, I didn't update yesterday because I just didn't. So cartwheels are fab and feminism is a necessary evil. See the difference? Oh that I could explain...

I thought of feminism because of a comment from my Mom. When I mentioned that I wanted to sew an apron, she said snarkily, "Aren't you the little homemaker?" This was very unlike my Mom who is never snarky or sarcastic. She's a lovely woman who was a stay at home Mom until I was 13 and then she got a job shelving books at the local library. She then worked for a government subcontractor and now works for the federal government and makes more money then my Dad, who now works at the same job she does. :) I'm in such awe that they can work on the same floor and commute to work together and still love each other. But we're talking feminism and not marital love.

Mom is of another generation, she was growing up while the feminist movement was gaining momentum. Not to stereotype(but I will) the women of that generation looked down on traditional women's work. I remember a friend of my Mom who took me aside my senior year of high school and told me I could be anything. You see I've wanted to be a librarian since I was 14 and everyone knew it. Anyway, she asked me why I'd want to be a librarian when I could be a doctor or scientist. I told her that I loved libraries and that was where I wanted to work.

She didn't understand.I knew exactly what I could be. Yes, I could have studied another subject, I wasn't going into librarianship because I had no other options. I chose librarianship because it made me happy to imagine helping people find books all day and getting paid for it.

Most women of my generation know what we can be. We can do just about anything and not doing something because of gender just doesn't occur to us. Perhaps it frustrates the older generation when younger women choose to work in traditional occupations or be stay at home moms. They feel that they fought and sacraficed for us so we could do anything we wanted to and we're using that hard won freedom to be a teacher, or a stay at home mom. I see their point, but I also see that women should not feel obligated to become a high-powered professional just because others feel she should become one. Many women want this and that is their choice. I'm happy with mine and with my 'homemaker' tendancies.

On Feminism and Cartwheels Part 1

I couldn't resist the title when it occured to me this morning after doing some cartwheels for the first time in MANY years. I suppose it was all that blood going to me head. Do cartwheels and feminism relate except in my head. The one is a childish past-time that somehow becomes unexceptional as an adult.

You do cartwheels for fun as a child. But when you grow into adulthood excercise is no longer supposed to be fun. It's a harsh, demanding time that you sffer through so you can look younger, more attractive, and be healthier. Ever heard the expression "no pain no gain" or "suffer though the pain, its better on the other side"? I sometimes wonder if we should push ourselves to do things like eliptical machines and treadmills that are boring and not fun simply because they are supposed to be good for us. Isn't it better to run outside if possible? But is running really necessary in any case? Some people love running. I like it well enough.

I've experienced the high endorphines from running and the sudden burst of energy to do more and the fun from just running through everything. But I don't force myself to run and maybe I should start. Running burns a heapload of calories, increases cardiovascular health, and can feel good. Sometimes motivation is the issues, sometimes you are embarrased to just run.

Have any of you ever felt the urge to just run, for no reason and you aren't dressed for it (maybe you're wearing high heels or something)? Have you just felt like running and said to yourself, "no everyone will stare at me, besides I'll be out of breath when I get to whereever I'm going."

Well kids run when they feel like it and jump and carry on. I envy children their lack of self-consciousness and ability to let loose and have fun with everything. Today I felt the urge to cart wheel after taking Luna on her walk and I did it and it was fun and now I want to do it some more. Let's all try to be more spontaneous with fitness. :)

BTW: Feminism to tomorrow 'cause the post is already a bit long.

Another Day, Another Attempt at Procrastination

So I've homework to do and would much rather post here. SO much more fun than descriptive statistics, although that does have to get done today, or else.

Found some pics of the extras at the set of the new Star Trek movie. Awesome that so many of us get excited to see thyat little bit of the movie.

Heroes last night rocked. I felt so bad for DL, but I'm happy to finally have some closure on the Niki/Jessica thing and the DL thing. If Niki dies soon, then I can except it because we've now seen that her powers have caused the destruction. You know what seeig Niki all drugged up reminded me of, the story Ivanova told Sheridan in B5 about her mom and the Psi Corps drugs. Same sort of thing and if the special people came out into the open as Adam wants, then (leaving off the possible plague future) the company can become a more obvious Psi Corps. Would the special people get cool uniforms to wear too? And be forced to wear gloves? If so, then its time to give Strazinski so dinero cause 'them is his ideas'.

Elle is certainly a peice of work. Love her or hate her, she definitely steals the scenes (except with teh shirtless Peter).

Some questions from me...

Whose side is the Hatian on now anyway?

At least we finally know why Nathan sees himself in a mirror like that. Not nearly as cool as being possessed by Peter though. Does Mam Petrelli have the power of persuasion like Eden? Will Peter save his GF?

Will Mohinder kill HRG? Will Mo-hotness ever get a brain to go with his genetics degree? Will he never stop believing whoever the last person to persuade him is?

Is Sylar still under the influence of those drugs Candince gave him? When will he figure out he can steal abilities again? (If he is drugged from the company) I predict it won't be long now before Sylar kill the twins, or at least Alejandro if he needs Maya to be his sidekick (every supervillan needs some lackeys after all). This is because Peter now has his memory and powers and I wonder if Sylar mirrors him? Hmmm. Ideas now.

On the health and fitness front, I've decided to make several of my own dishes for the family Thanksgiving since my bro was unwilling to change his precious recipes to make me happy. Oh bother. I'll eat the same turkey and salad and deviled eggs as everyone else, but my own mashed cauliflower, LC Green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. More leftovers for me. I suppose by doing this and making sure I walk with my sisters afterward, I can avoid the Thanksgiving bloat. Or not.

I've been trying to drink less sodas since I got back from Williamsburg. It was supposed to be a soda free vacation, but ended up being a last hurrah. lol. Also, Dad told me about a statement from the Prophet that finally cleared up the caffeinated beverage conundrum, so no caffeinated beerages for me. :| It's okay, if a little hard. I forgot on yesterday and bought a small diet Dr. Pepper with vanilla added from Sonic (love their drinks if not their menu) and I turned a corner and it spilled all over the floorboards. Usually I can pick it up and only a little comes out the top, but it this case the cup must have hit something, because there was a huge hole in the side and it was seriously spilling out. Then I remembered I was supposed to be avoided caffeinated stuff and was grateful it happened. It's still been hard to motivate myself to drink water to replace the soda I was drinking. Sometimes I feel like if I can't have soda, I don't want anything (sticks out bottom lip) and other times I don't even think about it.

I wonder if I'm a bit crabbier in this post- soda world. I actually got a post flagged at the TWOP forums because I yawned and shrugged in my posting. Seriously, actually I wonder if that's more a reflection on TWOP moderators then me. My posting was counter the current feeling on the board and I yawned, called an actor an idiot, then shrugged. Yes, the moderator told me my yawning and shurgging was rude and that's why my comment was flagged, not because it ran counter to the group lovefest with that particular actor. In a way it is seriously cool, I've never posted anything that was controversial enough to get flagged before. Awesome.

Some different and sort of healthy recipes

So I love to rush, pell-mell into things. I love to try new things and discover new things and places and can be eaily bored. Just like a character in my story (no not the MC). Last night I made naan bread, sort of. I used a mixture of whole wheat and soy flour and fried it rather then grilling. Oh, and I couldn't find my pre-minced garlic that I buy in that huge jar from Wal Mart. :( Anyway, so here's my naan recipes, although its not to similar to naan and I think of it more as just a fried bread recipe.

Healthier Naan
1 packet of Dry Active Yeast
3 tablespoons of milk
3 eggs(beaten
1/4 cup of white sugar
1 cup of hot-warm water
1 cup of soy flour
1 cup of whole wheat flour
3 tsp of salt

1.So I mixed the yeast, the water, and the sugar up and let it get all bubbly and added the milk and eggs and mixed so more

2.then added the soy flour, mixed it up

3. then added the salt and whole wheat flour and kept mixing, it was still really wet, so I added more soy and wheat. I tried to keep it just about half and half.

4.Then I put flour on the counter top and covered my hands with olive oil and started working it and just kept kneading it and putting more olive oil on my hand as it disappeared into the bread.

5.Then I turned on the oven and the overhead light and covered it with a warm, wet, paper towel and let it sit for an hour or so.

6. When it had doubled in size, I punched it down, covered it with a fresh warm towel, and then left it more half an hour or so more.

7. Then I started taking handfuls and smoothing it into a rough circle shape and making it thing and placing it on a floured tray that soon ran out of space and was replaced with another tray.

8. Then get out a skillet and turn the heat to medium (too high and you get wonderful blackmarks) and put enough olive oil in the pan to cover the bottom thinly and let it heat up. Then I sprinkled garlic salt on it since I'd no garlic :(

9. When the pan is ready, put the first peice of bread into it and let it cook for a couple of minutes each side.

It came out really tasty, but not as bubbly as the naan from the store. Still flavorful and white flour free, so A+ for effort. I was going to eat the naan with some Chicken Tikka Masala, but the only chicken bre4ast I could find was bone in :( so I simply marinaded the bone in chicken breast in the typical yogurt-spice marinade overnight and it came out looked and smelling very nice, so I stuck them in the oven cause I didn't feel like cleaning off the grill and using that. I cooked them at 425 for 35 minutes and they still needed time, but I needed work so I hope my Dad will take the out of the oven when the timer goes off. He also promised to plates them and cover them with press and seal wrap after they cool off a bit. I didn't end up making the tomato cream sauce, so right now it simply yogurt marinaded chicken, but maybe I'll add the sauce today if I feel like cooking upon entry to my home.

I also made some Pumpkin cheesecake.

Recipe
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1/2 8 oz package of neauchatel cream cheese
1/2 8 oz package of fat free cream cheese
1 cup of fat free sour cream
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
as much pumpkin pie spice as you like
1 egg
2 egg yolks
2/3 cup splenda

1. So I left the cream cheese out on the counter for an hour while workin on the naan and chicken and other things. Then I put it into a plastic bowl and nuked it for 30 sec. Preheat the oven to 325

2. Then I added the vanilla and splenda, and pumpkin pie spice and mixed until smooth.

3. Then I added the eggs and mixed until smooth and integrated.

4. Then came the pumpkin which (you guessed it) I mized until smooth and integrated.

5. Then came the sour cream and havy cream. and mixing.

7. I sprayed a small casserole dish with butter flavored cooking spray and poured the mix into it.

8. Put into oven and cook for 1 hour or until the fork comes out clean from the center.

Now it did crack on me, but as this dessert is FOR me, I don't care about it, but you may. I used all these low fat things because that's what was in the frindge and my full fat alternatives disappear. Yes, my parents buy the low fat stuff, but tehy don't want to use it and use my stuff instead, oh bugger bear.

So this is what I did yesterday and today, not particularly productive, but hopefully I'll do better in the future. And that dress I'm working on has languished on the end of my bed all weekedn, so close to being completed and yet so far. It's a good thing I'm used to curling up so there's space on my twin sized bed for me, my computer (not too often), Luna, and unfinished sewing projects and unopened mail.

McCalls 5314 and Other Musings

(note: I am completely makeup and hair brush free in these pics because I took them late at night, right after finishing the dress)

I noticed McCalls 5314 in the catalog at one of the .99 pattern sales and Hancocks was out :( and I wasn't about to pay full price for it, so I waited for the next sale and all they had was the smaller 8-12 version so I let it go and waited for the next sale and still they only had the smaller one available, so I went ahead and bought the smaller one, resolving to grade it up to a 14, not too difficult, but then I forgot about those intentions and just made it in a straight 12.

Not the worst idea I've ever had because it does fit, I just wish the sleeves were a little looser because they do feel tight even if they aren't really tight.


I'd intended this dress to be a muslin for one I would make out of the gorgeous teal polka dot silky fabirc I picked up off the 50% off rack at Hancocks, but never have got around to making it up in the teal polka dots. It was supposed to be my special dress for my vacation and just didn't happen what with preparing for the trip and school and my car troubles.

Now on to the actual construction, I used a $1 Walmart blue, scratchy, mystery fabric (its probably polyester). I love the color and always will; navy is awesome.

I made this up a month ago and nothing stands out as having been particularly difficult, oh wait, the sleeves wouldn't set right and I ended up adding more gathering so they would fit where they were supposed to, or at least, I think that's what I did. Does any pattern ever have sleeves that fit into the arm scythe? Because I've yet to find one that doesn't need finagleing. I also wish I could wear it without the camisole underneath, but this is often a broblem with wrap tops, they like to be low to get that true wrap thing going. Bummer. So here's a couple more photos of the finished product.

Now this dress is nice and I'm working on another wrap dress from a 40s pattern that will not have a neckline issue given that it goes really high and is a different sort of wrap style from this one and it will also be contracted from $1 Walmart fabric. I got there right after the latest shipment and it had 2 cotton prints that I loved and bough 5 yards f each. 5 yards is my default if I have no idea what it will become and its cheap. Sometimes if I super love the fabric and if it can be used for multiple items, I'll get more, but 5 yards is usually my limit. Oh yeah, I got a dark blue cotton with medium sized white flowers and a green cotton with small white flowers on it. Both fabrics should make for good spring dresses in a few months. In the meantime, the blue is becoming a wrap dress suitable for the spring.

In other news, the family and I went to Cracker Barrel yesterday, it wasn't as bad as I remember, but it still isn't good food(to me). The mashed potatoes have an odd after taste (no I didn't get them, my sister did and I stole a bite from her) and the collard greens were pretty inedible. I ate a few bites and couldn't finish them. I think they were cooked with beef and there was as much beef as the greens and not a savory beef either, but a stringy salty beef. Even my Dad (who loves this restaurant), couldn't eat them. On the other hand, the steak (my order) was tasty if way rare. I usually get medium rare, but this thimg was red and bloody, but I ate it anyway and it was still awfully tasty. The green beans weren't bad, a little muchy, but not bad. All in all, I don't reckon I'll give C.B. another chance. This is the second time I've gone there and had substandard food, on the other hand, the service was great and the salad was fresh and they gave us the dressing on the side without us having to ask for it.

Also, while we were at C.B. one of the waters was in their gift shop area getting something sorted out and spoke to me, man he was hot. He asked if I worked at Eastfield and we talked for a few moments Cute, but young, probably thought of me like one of his professors. I coul also be misinterpreting his coming up to me and talking to me, probably just friendliness and not flirting or anything. After a couple of moments, the people at the desk got his attention and then we had to go so sayonara nice, attractive, young man. :shrugs: I'm so bad with guys, its not even funny.

Starting Nanowrimo just a TAD bit late...

So I've been meaning to start my Nanowrimo novel for the year and have yet to start. I decided what the story would be about last month, but have kept procrastinating on starting it. Well, its 8 days in alwready so I'm mondo behind and still ahve plenty of other thuings to do, but I was inspired today and have finished planning it out (yet I'm a planner versus and fly by the seat of the pants writer) and now I like my characters and see how they relate and am actually anxious to get home and get started. This is what I will be doing instead of homework tonight. G

So what is my story you may ask and I will answer. While usually go for weird post-apocolyptic stories, this year its more in the tradition of the hero journey in fantasy. It's hopfully going to be a little but kooky, a little funny, and a lot interesting.

My M.C. is named Raina and she is content to be an apprentice to a great magician rather than striking out on her own and her fairy godmother keeps sending traditional fairy tale cliches her way to help her begin her own story and Raina stubbornly refuses to be baited and stays where she is, sending others in her place. So this is how it starts and there's a lot more to it.

My MEC(Main Evil Character) is an evil sorcerous who locks people into nightmares from which there is no rescue if they annoy her or if she feels like practicing it. I stole this idea from Heroes last week, although the character with that ability on the show ended up easily defeated for now. My MEC will be made of sterner stuff.

I'll keep ya'll updated on it, whether you want to be updated or not. :)

Back from Vacation

So I enjoyed Williamsburg last week. I didn't do much, but I enjoyed that :). Luna also enjoyed it, now I would have tqaken pictures, but I had gremlins in my camera and they are seriously strange because they left when I returned to Dallas. Go figure.

Luna and I went to the Dog park nearly every day and shy really seemed to enjoy frolicking with the other dogs. The DP in Dallas is more than 30 minutes away so I try to take her there at least once a month, but not eery day. We're going this Friday since I heard of a good resturant here in Dallas that allows the dogs on the patio and is open for lunch.

Sewed a shirt today, it was Vogue 2859 from the Vintage Vogue collection.

I love the front collar and the back wrap parts of the pattern. Here's my version which for future incarnation will necesitate about 4 inches added to the bottom, I knew it would be short, but this is mondo

And this is the back...

Closer look at the collar and the ruin it was for me :( I'm going to get it right next time.

Well, I decided that to make the shirt more wearable, I needed to get rid of the collar as it just isn't working and tada, the result.

I do like this shirt in an 80s aerobics/ballet sort of way. I think it looks great with a pair a black, high waisted workout pants. Due to its length, I seem to be worrying a lot about keeping my waistlline covered today at work and I'm much rather have another obsession.