Be who you Are

"Be who you are and say what you feel,

because those who mind don't matter,

and those who matter don't mind."

- Dr Seuss

I really love Dr Seuss.  I love the poems and rhymes he made.  I found this one recently.  It works perfect for me.  I hate when people side step what they are really trying to say or pretend to be someone or thing that they are clearly not.

 

This was a great weekend.  Mike and I kicked it off by going to an Aces Game with Samantha, Hans and Jacob.  Jacob did great at the game and was so entertaining.  He had 2 cow bells and was ready to cheer, mostly at the correct times.  When the music would be his little foot would start stomping on the ground.  We had a great time watching him as much as the game.  Sadly the Aces lost in overtime. After the game we played with Samantha and Hans new X-box Kinect.  It will definitely take some getting used to.  But I can see it being a lot of fun. 

 

Saturday we got up and went to a free Tai Chi lesson at The Oriental Healing Arts Center.  Mike even got up at 8:45 to go with me.  It was interesting.  It was out first experience and I could see liking it if you spent the time to cultivate the practice.  After Tai Chi we did some running around went to Boarders Book and got "The Dirty Life," then went to Petco and saw some adoption puppies.  The puppies were so cute and cuddly.  We wandered over the Michaels and I got 2 new Cricut Cartridges, normally $80.00 on sale for $9.99!!! I was happy.  Then we went to Costco,  OMG Costco is CRAZY on the weekends but we managed to get in and out without getting run over by a giant cart.  After watching some football, reading and napping, we went to our friends’ house, Lindsey and Chris' for dinner.  We had really yummy Garlic Chicken with rice, a salad and brownies with ice cream for desert.  We also got to meet their newest addition, Greighson.  He was born on my birthday this year (7-15-10), but was not due to be born until Halloween.  So WAY WAY early at 1.65 pounds, 12 inches and 24 weeks 6 days pregnant. He stayed in the NICU until Thanksgiving, but is now home and on Oxygen and doing well.  We played Taboo and Cranium, drank strawberry daiquiris and caught up.  

Sunday Morning we taught our Sunday School kids, we had 8 today.  They are so fun.  After Church we lounged at home.  For dinner we went out to Sullivan Steak House, with 2 free burger coupons we had.  The burgers were really yummy and so were the fries.  Now we are going to go read and go to bed early.

Henna Hair Dye

So I decided I wanted to try something new with my hair.  I am sad to say that genes did not bless me... as I am 24 and starting to grey/white.  I am too cheap to start paying to go to the salon every 6-8 weeks to get it professionally dyed plus I do not really like the thoughts of tons of chemicals being that close to my nose.  I looked up a few "natural" options such as an organic hair studio in Anchorage but it was still $60+ each time to get it dyed.  Again I am too cheap.  After some more research I decided to try to dye my hair with henna.  I read a bunch of reviews online or different companies and decided to go with Henna Hut's Dark Brown Hair Dye   (http://hennahut.com/dark_brown_hair_dye) along with their Henna Oil (http://hennahut.com/essential_oils) and a hair dye kit.  Here is what I got in the mail.

My first step, well really second after research buying it, was to do a strand test.  I "harvested" some hair from my brush and from what fell out in the shower and split it up into 4 different groups.  One was my control.  The other three I would dye for 30 minutes,  45 minutes and 1 hour.    I mixed the henna with a little bit of water to make a "yogurt" consistency. And the dyed each of the 3 samples.

After 30, 45 and 60 minutes I would rinse out the henna and allow the hair samples to dry. After the hour was up I did not see a drastic change in the color, which was the goal.  I was "planning" on keeping the samples to compare 48 hours later.  Since the henna can take up to 48 hours to completely set in... however after Mike took a shower he shut the door to the bathroom, where the samples were, so the cat would not get them and the air movement of the door made the paper towel and hair samples fly and disperse. So I decided that I would just do the recommended one hour when I did my head.

Friday night Mike was working nights and Hans also had to work.  So Samantha, her sister Kim, and I all went to the Aces Game against Idaho Steelheads. The game was good with an exciting ending. A Win for the Aces in OT.  After the game they helped me put the dye into my hair.  Here is a before picture of my hair from the back

 Lets just say it looked a little gross and green but I loved that it did not have a chemical smell at all, actually it had more of a organic smell that is hard to describe, maybe manure is a good way.  Now the reason I waited until Friday to dye my hair is there were warnings and comments online about the henna doing weird things to grey/white hair.   Such as turning it green or blue for the first24 hours after it was dyed, but promised that after 48 hours the henna would set in and the hair would not be blue. To say the least I was a little nervous, but feeling adventures.

After leaving the dye in for an hour I washed it out, here is what my hair initially looked like

and here it is today, 4 days later

I am not disappointed with the results but henna did not cover up the greys.  The greys did turn a bit green for the first 2 days but when i washed my hair it came out.  It might have dyed them a little but you can easily see, when you look that the greys are there.  Maybe I am going to have to just go with the grey for now, but will continue to search for a option to cover the greys.

Busy

We have been busy this week... with what? good question?? Yesterday Mike came to my office at lunch and we went Ice Skating at the oval outside. We went to the Aces game last night with Hans, it was a good game, but we lost in a shoot out. Tuesday night I went with Mike to an Oh so Exciting presentation on his retirement benefits and what the state does blah blah blah. It was really good information but it was long (almost 2 hours) and they provided NO snacks or drinks.

Mike goes back to work tonight... I am not so excited about that. Tonight after he leaves and I clean up dinner dishes I plan to go to the gym and attempt a run, but we will see. I also plan on uploading and ordering some pictures online for scrapbooking. I have two events coming up for Scapbooking, a night on the 27th and then a 12 hours Crop on the 10 of April called Crop for Cancer. I mentioned it before but if anyone would like to donate let me know.

I miss Callen so much. I was at the hockey game last night and about the 3rd period, normally when things get exciting, I crashed (emotionally). I was just over come with sorrow and missing him. I hate that it comes and goes as it pleases. I wish I could make and appointment with grief hash out our problems and get on our way... but I know that is not how it works. Grief is showing up when it wants to, saying "ready or not here I come."

Happy Birthday Mike

Yep, Mike is 24 today! (Boy we are getting old) We do not have a lot planned for today. I work and Mike is going out to the Valley with Hans. We are going to an Aces game tonight with Samantha, Hans, and Jacob. Then Mike might be going out with some buddies to celebrate with some drinks, after the game.

Mike I love you so much and cannot believe this is the 9th birthday I have celebrated with you. I cannot believe we have been married for over a year already, and have been to so many places together. Thank you for putting up with me and Java! Love you

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This week has gone by crazy fast, but I am so ready for the weekend. Saturday we I am going to a movie with Samantha and then we have our Dinner for Nine group at night. Then Sunday is the "big game," we will be watching it at Samantha and Hans place. I am strangely making a Turkey to eat for 1/2 time... we got the turkey from our neighbors for Christmas, so i decided to make it, not sure what else I will make with it??

In other news I have found a different CSA type company to try out. It is called Full Circle Farms (http://www.fullcirclefarm.com/). This is what we are getting in our box to be delivered the 10th.

Veggies
1 bunch Broccoli
1 pound Roma Tomatoes
1.5 pounds Red Potatoes
2 each Yellow Onions
1 each Bunched Carrots
1 each Spinach
1.5 pounds Garnet Yams
1 pound Zucchini
2 each Hass Avocados
1 each Green Bibb Lettuce
Fruit
4 each Bosc Pears
4 each Pink Lady Apples
4 each Murcott Tangerines

Now I like this one a lot better so far, you can alter what you want in your box... for example we were supposed to get kiwi, Mike and I really do not eat kiwi so we could substitute Avocados for them, yummy! You can also order additional food from them like bread mixes, eggs, organic candies and chocolate, and additional fruit/veggies, for an additional cost. I am ordering a Bake At Home Multi Grain Bread to try. Normally for the Anchorage area the cost of a box is $40, however for your 1st order I found a coupon for $15. So $25 for all those veggies and did I mention they are all ORGANIC!! One of the reasons we are trying this one out is because they can deliver out in Kodiak when I am there this summer. Veggies and fruit out there are pricey so I think this is a good alternative.

Busy Weekend

Mike and I have had a super busy weekend. Friday we went out to dinner with our dinner for nine group at church. We went to the restaurant at the end of our street called Rays Place, it serves Vietnamese food. I had vegetable fried rice and Mike Teriyaki Steak. After dinner we went to the Aces game. It was a good game but we lost 3 to 2 in Over Time. Then we went to Kohl's since they were open until midnight. We spent $65 and saved $175. We got a heating mattress pad for our bed... it is so nice.

Saturday we went to an Open House for a my coworker. It is a beautiful house in south Anchorage with an amazing kitchen. Then I had FLL where the girls did an awesome job programing the robot! Saturday night Mike and I went to the Aces game again. They won 7-1! It was a good game with 6 of the goals scored in the first period. We had to leave 1/2 way through the 2nd to go and pick up Samantha, Hans, and Jacob from the Airport. They came back from the sun and the fun in Arizona and Nevada.

Today we went to church this morning. It was youth Sunday. They did a great job leading the service. For the Sermon we had a Nooma video that we have seen with the youth before. Mike and I highly suggest watching some here is the web address Nooma.com, you can also find some on Youtube. This afternoon I made Cream of Mushroom soup, a red kale/ bean soup and prepped the Brussel Sprouts for dinner. Then I went to Bible study. When I got home we had Steak and Brussel Sprouts. They were very yummy. Here are links for the recipes that I used for the soups.
Cream of Mushroom

http://homecooking.about.com/od/soups/r/blss2.htm

Red Kale and White Bean Soup

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/02/rustic-red-kale-and-white-bean-soup.html

and the Brussel Sprouts

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/goldencrusted-brussels-sprouts-recipe.html

Aces Win! Aces Win!

Picture taken from : http://www.alaskaaces.com/news/aces/200910/aces-drop-preseason-opener-to-kalamazoo

We went to the Aces games Wednesday and Thursday night with Samantha, Hans and Jacob! Wednesday they lost in an extra periods 3-4 but last night they won 2-1!! It is nice to have hockey back. The games this week were preseason games and they were against the Kalamazoo Wings (Michigan). It was also the annual Paint the Rink Pink event for cancer awareness. So the ice was pink, the Aces had on pink jersey, and really ugly pink socks on. Surprisingly to all of us Jacob did really well at the games. Samantha bought he really cute earmuff type earplugs to protect his hearing.

Tut Tut Looks like Rain,

Rain, rain, and more rain. That is what we had this weekend and the forecast is for the week. Fall in Alaska, at least there is not any snow yet!

This week is the start of hockey season! The Aces first preseason game in on Tonight! Hopefully they have as good of a goalie as they did last year. Jacob will be going to his first hockey game! Well unless you count all the games he went to last year in Samantha tummy! They got him little earmuffs for him to wear so the noise does not injure his ears.

Sunday after church Mike and I cleaned and winterised the condo. We put up plastic on all the windows except the big solarium one. We might try to put plastic on at least one section of the solarium, because there is only one pain of glass in a section.

I also made a door draft guard for the door the goes out to the porch. And it only cost 4 dollars to do it! (what you need- one leg of an old pair of jeans, some quilt batting/ stuffing ( I had some laying around at home, thread, and 1.5 bags of pinto beans.) I took and old pair of jeans that had a hole in one leg and cut them in half. sewed the bottom of a leg closed. Sewed the edge of the leg so that the tube was one width. Then I took 3-1 quart ziplock bags and filled them about 1/2 full of pinto beans (about a 1/2 a bag each). Dropped one of the bags into the pant leg/tube. Filled the leg to the knee with left over quilt stuffing. Dropped another bag of beans in, filled to almost the top with stuffing, dropped the last bag in and sewed the top of the pant leg closed. Your done! If you wanted to you could fill the entire leg with beans but that seemed a little excessive to me. You can also fill it with sand or kitty litter, but I really did not want Java using it as a little box. The door draft guard will help to keep the cold air out of the Condo and to keep the warm air in. I will post a picture of it all done!