if at first you don't succeed....

I decided that I didn't like my "finished" look-so I decided to cut more around my face. I got a lot of the old color out! Almost gone! No straightening, just blow dried.

cutting my own hair

Alex has left for work, and I was left to look at the mirror. I saw boring hair:








So I decided to look for videos online-how to cut layers into your own hair. I am still trying to grow it out, but add a little creativity to it. I found this interesting post with a girl who used kitchen scissors-I used craft scissors from Hobby Lobby.

So I decided to attempt this feat myself.


I brought my laptop into the bathroom, wet my hair, and followed the girl's instructions.











This is how much hair I cut off.



I then used a razor on part of my hair-yes, the kind I shave my legs with. The girl did it in the video, so I thought I would try it.





Then I blow dried it.














I finally straightened it. The front really doesn't look that different-I mostly just trimmed it and added back layers. It was fun to try. The sides still look a little messy, but I think it's all right for my first attempt at cutting my hair. I've trimmed my bangs before, but not much else. It was fun, and I will definitely be trying this again.

PS-disclaimer: I do have a mother-in-law who can cut hair. Therefore, I knew that if I ruined my hair, I could ask for help.

little delights

The more I cook, the more I enjoy cooking. Cooking, baking, mixing, chopping up and letting cool. It's just so exciting to mix a number of ingredients together, put the mixture in the oven, and out comes something delicious! Or grating up carrots, adding some lemon juice, pineapple, raisins and refrigerating-yummy carrot raisin salad.

This morning I watched a video from allrecipes.com about making chicken and broccoli alfredo. I found it browsing. Here's the link. I plan on attempting this tomorrow. It's pretty simple, which is good for me.

Today's fun recipe was chocolate chip banana muffins! Here's the recipe.

British rebellion day

Alex made this comment about 3p.m. "You've spent most of your time in the kitchen." This is because I attempted to make chicken wings (Alex's meal tomorrow night), then made a double batch of oatmeal raisin cookies and a double batch of carrot raisin salad. Why? Well, because we were going to a 4th of July get together at my sister-in-law's house. I used her recipe for the cookies, and they were delicious! I made a total of four dozen, and two never made it out of the house.


I always enjoy time with Lacey and the Jandreaus. I found out today how much they enjoy blowing thing up-including a stuffed Elmo, poor thing. It was hilarious and impressive.

Alex and I joined David to meet his family at First Family for fireworks. We showed up about ten minutes before they started. Wow, this church can really put on a display of fire explosions! They were beautiful, and it was fun to sit back in the grass with people I enjoy.

Dishes were waiting for me at home, and it felt good to finish them before sleep. That's where I'm headed after finishing this. Good day to celebrate the declaration of independence.

weekend again

I have on my agenda for today: cleaning and planting flowers with Lacey. It's been a while since planting flowers, but it will be fun to hang with my sister-in-law. She's great.

Before starting this, however, I just want to take maybe 30 minutes to chill. I am then gonna hit the house with cleaning frenzy-bathroom, kitchen, and floors. Oh, and laundry, I forgot about that. I like to get things done early, but when I get back from Alex leaving, I just want a brief transition time. Thus the reason for this post.

Alex's meals today were left over bbp roast beef for sandwiches, chips and dip, carrots, ranch dressing, apples and pb, and buffalo strips. Two meals. Leftovers or super-easy. I like getting things that are already made, because it makes packing meals much easier. Maybe sometime I will switch to making most everything myself, but this works well for now.

Off to wash some dishes! I didn't wash any yesterday, so we have quite the pile!

comfort

It's amazing what a blow dryer and a little mascara can do for my self esteem. I showered and breakfasted like normal, but I felt like I could hardly move. I hadn't actually put on makeup or fixed my hair for a few days, and I think I was feeling drab.

I then just decided to put on makeup, and blow dry my hair. Since I've been letting it grow out, I have been less motivated to spend the extra time. However, I felt put together and pretty. I also felt more awake and ready to conquer the day.

Although we have nothing specifically planned for today, I thought I would attempt chicken enchiladas again. It isn't super hard, but it does require some extra time. Brownies or cookies seem an appropriate addition to this meal, although I will have to practice self control. I don't want to blow up like a balloon just because I know I will be loved and accepted no matter what. That is not taking care of the temple God has given me.

cooking and grocery shopping

Yesterday I went shopping without a list. I usually try to make a plan of meals for the week, and then make a list of the foods I will need. This time, I became uncomfortable in the house by myself, so I left before making a list. I went to Aldi, and bought stuff I knew we needed and what I know Alex likes to eat. I bought frozen chicken fingers-two different kinds, and cheap frozen hamburgers. Although I have not had to cook every meal for every day, I felt like a needed a break from "almost all from scratch" meals.

Last night was dirty rice mix from a box. It was tasty, but definitely super salty.

I made a list of all the food in the house. Well, I didn't actually inventory everything, I just did it from memory. I then took the list of foods (from the recent grocery trip, and what we already had) and made a list of meals possible from the food in the house.

I have found in the past month that we don't always stick to the plan. I have food on a certain day, and then I will change my mind and make something else. Or sometimes we go over to someone else's house for dinner, and so I don't make what I had originally intended. So this time I am just going to use my list of meals. I will have to think ahead because some of the meat is in the freezer, but defrosting something fairly quickly isn't the end of the world.

Aldi helps me from overspending. That's the danger of going shopping without a list. I just wanted a break. I know that this time it was OK, but I shouldn't make a habit of it.

A friend's mother said the other day that she didn't make a plan, she just bought what she knew her family would eat, and then she knew they would eat. That's how I shopped this time.