February Favorite Things

Hello all!  This is my monthly favorites post.  This is a random list of foods, events, podcasts, movies, fashion, makeup and anything else I enjoyed throughout the month.  Here are February's picks: 

Dry Shampoo  

     I know I am so late on this one. I don't know why I was resisting,  I have longer hair now and I do not want wash, dry and curl my hair every single morning. Thank you to  my sister for giving me her Oscar Blandi dry shampoo powder.  It's a game changer for getting ready in the morning.

Alba's Kukui Nut Oil

     It is winter time and my skin is dry. Lotion was not cutting it, so I turned to a body oil. I love the sweet nutty smell. Smoothing it on moisturizers and relaxes me. I have soft hydrated skin- take that winter!

Eyebrow Threading

     Nothing make me feel more put together then when I get my eyebrows done.  A threading place open near my house and I got a Groupon. I actually did not like the first visit, but after a few times, I am sold on threading over waxing. The results seem more precise and I feel well-groomed.

Nuun 

     These are tablets you add to water to get for electrolytes and vitamins. I usually used these during the summer when I am feeling really dehydrated. The dryness of winter and being sick really made these come in handy.  They come in a lot of flavors, but my favorite is Grapefruit Orange. Check out the different flavors at http://www.nuun.com/

My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding 

     This is a TLC show currently streaming on Netflix.  I felt inspired to clean my house and get my nails done. These woman love rhinestones and really who can say not to bling?  I found their cultural advise to be almost all the opposite advise of my culture- and yet I really see how it can work either way. I feel like I learned something and was very entertained.  You should check the show out.

 

Radiant Orchid

 

     This is the color of 2014 according to Pantone.  I just like purple, so I am more than happy to celebrate it all year long! Per the Pantone website, this color reflects the mood of 2014 "An invitation to innovation, modern and versatile Radiant Orchid encourages creativity and originality. Imbued with a harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and its rosy undertones emanate great joy, love and health."

 

Hope you all are well and had a wonderful month. What were some of your favorites?

Reading Reviews- February 2014

Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby

     This reminded me a little of The Night Circus, but it was less about magic and more about finding where you fit in.  This was the author's debut novel and she definitely has storytelling talent.  I read it in 3 sittings, but only because I was forced to do other things required by life :)

Verdict: I will be on the look out for more books by this author.

Your Network is Your Networth by Porter Gale

    

     I started listening to a new podcast "Glambition" and the author was a guest.  Something about the title of the book appealed to me, so I bought it (I rarely buy books).  Each chapter has short practical exercises.  I did find myself skimming through the "real life" stories because I thought they were rather extreme examples of success (i.e. woman takes a swing dance class and then choreographs the famous Swing Khaki Gap commercial).

Verdict: This book was just what I needed to help me examine what is up with my life.  If you like stories, this book is full of it.  If not, they are easily skimmed and there is an end-of-the-chapter summary so you can double-check you didn't miss anything important.

Why Men Fake It by Abraham Morgentaler

     The author is a medical doctor but he is also I really insightful person into human nature.  I was genuine surprised at how much this book about men explored gender issues in today's changing world. The doctor explaining medical stuff with stories and humor.  I listened to this as an audio book and found myself laughing out loud.

Verdict: Great read for men and woman. Bonus-turns out chivalry isn't dead.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

     This is a book about Germany during WWII and is narrated by the Grim Reaper. As you can imagine, he was very busy during this time and pretty depressed. I didn't like it or dislike it.  It just didn't stand out as special or unique.  I feel like I have read this story before.

Verdict:  The book is about to become a movie, so there is a lot of buzz about it. I mostly likely will not see the movie.

EZ Anatomy and Physiology by Barbara Krumhardt

     It was either this or the Anatomy for Dummies and I never like the Dummy books. This book was part of channeling my inner nerd and looked manageable compared to regular anatomy textbook. I liked that each chapter had quizzes with fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice and T/F,so you got to review the chapter material three times. Although, I stopped taking the quizzes after chapter 2 :)

Verdict:  I would prefer a cartoon version with songs, but this book is in definite second place.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

     I was fortunately to get this as an audio book, read by Tina Fey! It is an autobiographical tale told with lots of exaggeration and humor.  It is almost like a comedic version of Lean In(much more relatable), giving career and life advice to woman.

Verdict: Loved it!

Soy Sauce for Beginners by Kirstin Chen

 

     I read this based on a nods from Amazon reviewers.  I really disliked the main character and found the whole story stereotypical and unrealistic. For example, her friend sleeps with the guy she is seeing and she kinda strugs it off.  Ummm no... that is not how girl code works!

Verdict: It was like I was reading a different book then the reviewers on Amazon?

A Grumpy Cat Book by Grumpy Cat

 

     I do enjoy the Grumpy Cat on people Facebook's post, so I thought this book would be a fun read.  Do you know Grumpy Cat also has his own website, TV shirts and mugs!

Verdict: Grumpy Cat's owners are brilliant!

The Complaining Challenge

 

    
     After reading this article in the Glamour March 2013 issue, I thought I would give the challenge a try- no complaining for a week.  The author felt the challenge helped her reset her thinking and even influence those around her positively. Doing the challenge just didn't work out for me, because I discovered complaining does have some noteworthy benefits:

• Complaining fosters bonding. Hi my name is Rani and I am a sugar addict.  Turns out complaining about the cupcakes and cookies in your office gives you something in common with other sugar addicts and it creates a support system. I got a FaceBook message from a friend asking for help with the extra frosting that was in her fridge.  We share out sugar shame moments and get through them one cookie at a time.

• Complaining can facilitate productivity. I was talking with someone on the phone this week and mentioned I was getting over the flu, so was she.  We whined in solidarity for a moment and she totally went out of her way to help me with my request. 

• Complaining can start a friendship.  I've worked with someone for the past 3 years and have never really said more then hi. This week she had the zombie flu and I can empathize. So we have been checking on each other all week and have talked probably more than the entire time we've worked together.

• Complaining can encourage others.  I see this at CrossFit all the time. You see a workout and think that looks hard and then someone else bigger and stronger says "that is gonna suck" and immediately you feel better. Whew if they think it sucks, maybe I am not so weak.

     There was one situation this week in which not complaining was definitely beneficial. My co-worker announced she accepted another position and guess who would be getting a portion of her workload- me!  Perfect opportunity to not complain and so I didn't. I said "well if I have to do extra work, I am glad it is payroll." That helped managed my stress about the new workload.

     I think complaining is part of being human and if used correctly can really generate some positive social connections. I did try a few days of not complaining and honestly I felt insincere. Like I was being overly optimistic, almost to the point I was lying.  When it comes to complaining less is more, but some is good.

What do you think? Could you go a week without complaining? And would that be a good thing?

Bison Burgers

     What does bison taste like?  Not like chicken :)  It taste very similar to beef.  It is sweeter, lighter and not gamely.  It is good.I was thrilled to find ground bison at Costco!  So I made up some burgers:

Seasoning:

1 lb ground bison
1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp onion powder

.5 tsp black pepper

.5 tsp garlic powder

Preparation:

Mix ingredients together in bowl and form patties.

Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side

     For something a little extra I made a caramelized topping by sauteing shallots with honey and a dash of cayenne pepper.  Give the cows a break and try some bison. Yum!

Feeding the Inner Nerd

   

      Lately, my inner nerd has been longing to learn something new.  I tried to get into a Project Management class and that did not work out. So my next choice was anatomy. My inner nerd is random like that!  Turns out I will be studying both.

     First up, I got a Baron's EZ Anatomy and Physiology book.  I've tried studying anatomy before- even got the coloring book, but I could never stay focused.  This book is basic and has quizzes at the end of each chapter, so I should be able to do it. My goal is to get through all 23 chapters in February and then move onto Kinesiology. Kinesiology for Dummies is not yet published yet- I am not even kidding- I hope it comes out in March though.

     After missing the registration for an online community college class in Project Management, I found an online class through Career Academy.  I actually found it through Groupon for $99. The series of 14 classes are online videos and exams.  I have a year to complete and will get a certificate. So take that community college! Seriously, though I am excited. I have been wanting to get a Project Management certificate for several years and this seems like a a perfect storm of opportunity. Fingers crossed.

     Learning is my version of having a hobby. This is probably why I like to read so much. Also, my MBA is 5 years "old" now and I just feel like it is time for some new goals. Wish me luck!

Roxy Recipe- Chicken Chow

     

     

     Roxy is getting a culinary upgrade to real food! No more highly processed dog kibble. The vet found a heart murmur, 3 leaky heart valves and mentioned putting her on high blood pressure medication.  Rather than spend $$$ on heart meds, my sister and I decided Roxy's diet would change.  Diet changes work in people with heart problems- right?  I know this sounds expensive, but how much can a 7lb dog eat?

      

     My sister came up with recipes, made them in batches and froze individual portions. She swears if you add some salt, humans can enjoy it too. Here is a sample recipe:

 Chicken Chow

Shredded or Cubed Chicken- 4 cups

Brown Rice (Cooked)- 1.5 cups

Carrots-1 cup

Cauliflower- 1.5 cups

Peas- .5 cup

Chicken Stock- 1 cup

Water- 1.5 cups

Cook in crockpot for 4-6 hours.  .

     

     Roxy is thrilled to be on a real food diet! Her eyes light up at meal time.  It's only been 3 weeks but already she has increased energy and less itching.  Also, Roxy has become quiet talkative- this from a dog that hardly barks.  We got 6 months til the vet sees her again and we are hoping to a healthier and happier Roxy. 

     I'll be posting updates and sharing additional Roxy recipes. Do any of you already feed your pets real food diets?  If not, your dog really wants you to read these links and consider ditching the kibble.

• The Best Dog Food  
• Feeding Your Dog Real, Fresh Food
• My Dog Eats Paleo

Advice From a Sickie

     The flu is hitting California hard this year. Since December, it seemed people around me have been getting sick and then getting sick again and then sometimes again. Now it is my turn and still  sickness snuck up and surprised me? I am very good at denying that I am sick. I was excessively tired and had body aches (everything from my teeth to the arches of my feet hurt). Then I had to take Claritin for my "allergies."  It wasn't until my chest hurt from breathing, that I realized I was sick.

     Of course once you acknowledge it, the symptoms snowball!  So I have spent the past 7 days resting and trying not to get "more" sick.  This is a weird combination of symptoms: body aches, very cold, chest congestion, tired. Basically, my body is dragging, but my mind is sharp and getting bored from all this resting. Usually I can sleep sickness off, but not this time. This time is serious.

     I don't know how I manage to ignore that I am getting sick every time? I am writing this blog post in hopes I learn to pay better attention.  If I could go back to last week when I started not feeling good, I would take Vitamin D, get rest and drink some grass-fed bone broth. Instead, I pushed forward with my schedule, chastising myself the whole time for being weak.

     Health is the greatest thing and should be safeguarded.  So if you are feeling a little run down, give yourself some TLC. Experts say the flu season will go through February and March, so please take care of yourselves and each other. If you are sick, stay at home. We have to stop passing this flu around!  Hope you are all in good health :)

P.S. I did get the flu shot this year and I am still sick. So don't think you can slack off on self-care if you go the shot too.

Hello February 2014 :)

   

     One month into the new year already!  How are things going? Are you keeping your resolutions?  This year I didn't make resolutions instead I had a "themes" of Simplify and also to Be Deliberate. So I thought I would do a check-in on how that is going.

     Simplify has been quite easy. After months of being over-busy, I was ready to downsize my schedule.  I started making a daily to-do list (cause I like to check off items) to help get the most important things done.  One surprise is that you can do only the things on your to-do list and still be tired. I thought that doing only what is important would exempt me from that. Magically thinking- I know. Some days are still busy, but at least I know I am working on priority stuff.

     Be Deliberate has been a game changer in my stress level. Instead of worrying and worrying I think about what I have control over, make the best decision I can and then stop worrying about it. For example, I wanted to register for an online class but needed a special permission code from the instructor. I called. I emailed. No response. So I let it go and just accepted that it was not meant to be. Basically, I do whatever is in my control to change or affect my fate and I let the universe take care of the rest.

     Themes have been incredible effective at keeping me on track and bringing peace into my life. Sorry if this sounds a little new age, but it really works. I hope 2014 is treating you well so far.  How are you resolutions going?