Hott Pants

There are some weird fashion trends out there. Like the whole harem pants thing? Sorry, I am not going to wear something that is referred to as, "parachute pants". Thanks, but I'd rather NOT look like I'm skydiving. Then again, I guess you could say I'm not the most fashion forward girl. That would be my older sister, Kelli. So maybe I'm not one to be judging what's "in" or "out", but while browsing the web the other day, I came across a pair of pants that I'm almost positive no one in their right mind would think about wearing. Maybe I'm wrong. You be the judge.

Ahh, finally! One doesn't have to wear their bikini bottoms underneath their jeans anymore in order to achieve this totally awesome look. SCORE. ;)

Pregnancy Fashion, 1st Trimester

Pregnancy.  It's a funny thing.  It can make you feel happy, overjoyed, delighted, and can even make you glow.  But even if you have a blissfully easy pregnancy (you lucky ducks, you), I'm sure at some point or another during a pregnancy, every woman feels not quite like herself.  And I'm putting that lightly, because really I mean that every woman feels like a chubby, round, dare-i-say-fat former version of herself.  


Now, as this is my first time being in the family way, I can't say that I know from experience of numerous pregnancies.  I have yet to make it through the second half of my first one.  However, I think it's safe to say that the first trimester can be a rough one for any woman's self-esteem.  Putting aside the fact that as pregnant women we have to deal with fun things like morning sickness, nausea, and exhaustion, among other things, and especially during the first trimester, we also deal with our bodies looking not quite so svelte as they did before.  We get bloated and feel heavy, and then eventually your stomach doesn't go back to those washboard abs Jillian Michaels kicked your butt so hard for.  Add that to the fact that maybe you're waiting a while to share the news, and people around you may start assuming you've indulged in the cupcake craze a little too enthusiastically.  All in all, us preggos can get feeling pretty down about ourselves.  


But alas, there is a cure for these first trimester doldrums.  Well, maybe not a cure, but something to pick up your spirits: pregnancy friendly clothes!  Nothing adds the cherry on top of your I'm-feeling-fat stage than that fateful day when you just can't button your jeans anymore.  But, after the emotional breakdown over you've got nothing to wear that you're entitled to, buck-up and embrace that you now have every right to wear comfy, stretchy, and forgiving clothing for the rest of those 9 months.  But, as much as I would love to sit around in my sweats all day, eventually we've all got to take that shower and get out of the house.  And so, I've compiled a list of first trimester friendly articles of clothing that don't qualify as pajamas.  Things you can wear once your regular clothes don't fit, but long before you've got to hop into maternity jeans.  However, there is a disclaimer: these things are, in my opinion, fashionable options, but take into account I am an early-twenties white pregnant person, and they may not work for everyone.  Or you may not like them.  That's okay, feel free to branch out.  


1. First and foremost, leggings.  Some might question the leggings-as-pants trend, but what the heck, I like it.  And it is a great thing for pregnant people.  There are enough styles out there that you can find ones you're comfortable wearing, whether they be thinner ones under a dress or a long shirt, or thicker ones that are more just like stretchy pants.  

1. BDG Long Legging $9.99 (on sale) from Urban Outfitters 2. Stretch Knit Leggings $19.50 from the Gap 3. Military Pixie Pant $88 from J. Crew 3. Ankle Zipper Knit Legging $39.50 from Banana Republic

2. Flowy Shirts.  You don't want to go too extreme here, and have people think you're 8 months pregnant instead of 8 weeks, but you want to go for the shirt that is not too-structured or too-tight.  One that has just enough fabric leeway to obscure any not-so-bodacious curves you've got going on.  

1. Frothy Top $19.95 (on sale) from Anthropologie 2. LEFT COAST by dolan Layered Hoodie Tee $62 on Revolve Clothing 3. Sea Stripes Tee $45 from Madewell 4. Women's Flutter-Sleeve Knit Tops $16.50 from Old Navy

3. Cardigans.  Essential for any wardrobe, pregnant or not, cardigans are a pregnant woman's friend.  They are comfortable and versatile - worn buttoned, unbuttoned, belted, over a tank or t-shirt, long or cropped, and simple or detailed, they add instant chicness to just about any outfit.  I hear they are also convenient for nursing moms - covering up any accidental leakage :).  Just do yourself a favor and stay away from the granny-ish sweater sets - that's just a good cardigan gone to waste.  

1. Heather traversa cardigan $59.99 (on sale) from J. Crew 2. Lightweight Long Cardigan $24.99 (on sale) from The Gap 3. Women's Striped V-neck Cardigans $26.50 (on sale) from Old Navy 4. Charter Club Cardigan $29.99 (on sale) from Macy's


So there you have it.  Just a few wardrobe basics that will make first trimester mom-to-be's feel cute, comfortable, and just downright pretty.  Or at least until the next time that beloved morning sickness hits, and you're spending the day hunched over the porcelain throne.  Nobody feels pretty then.  Can you tell my first trimester was awesome? So the next time you find yourself with child, remember that a new outfit can brighten just about any girls day. 

BookFace

                      Oh my dear Facebook.  How I love thee, let me count the ways:

1. I love knowing random, useless tidbits about friends and family members.  No really, I do.  Makes me feel closer, connected.
2. I love looking at updated pictures, profiles and information.
3. I love seeing things I have in common with others, such as favorite T.V. shows, places to shop, eat, etc.
4. I love to stalk.  There.  I said it.
5. I love that I can ask for advice or tips and within seconds I receive several responses, personal experiences, reviews, pros, cons.  Love that a lot!
6. I love to see funny news stories, recipes, heart-warming messages all in one spot!
7. The Hide button.  Best most useful addition to FB.  Period.
8. Facebook is a fabulous way to advertise your business or to network.
9. Coming from a huge family I appreciate the instant communication.  For example my brother broke his leg a few weeks ago and I put it on FB.  All my siblings who live away from home instantly knew and were thus not "out of the loop" which is a common complaint in families with numerous children.
10. Did I mention the Hide button?

                   BUT.....my dear Facebook, there are some things I really don't love....

1. Ambiguous status updates.  Otherwise known as "Vaguebooking" (as my sister told me)  exhibit A:{Joe Schmoe now has no right arm.}  Whoa whoa whoa..WHAT?! Joe!  Please do tell!  What happened?  How in the heck? ARGH!!! And then hair-pulling soon follows.  If you are going to post it, explain it, if you don't want to explain then DON'T POST IT! 
2. TMI updates.  I'm not talking about baby poop or vomit or anything like that because as a mother I can commiserate and I find those updates amusing.  I am talking about quite literally...TOO MUCH INFORMATION.  I don't need to know what you had for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dunch and dinner.  I really, really don't.  I also don't need to know what your cat had for said meals.  Actually, I don't care about your pets at all, unless it's a funny story that I will truly appreciate, like how your dog ate your cat.  That's funny.
3. Shout outs for one person on status updates.  Exhibit B: { Lisa Smisha JENNY I WILL MEET YOU AT BURGER KING TOMORROW AT 11!}  Ummmm......k.  There are private messages and personal pages for that sorta thing.  Figure it out.
4. Updates that so obviously exclude other people.  No not like #3.  I'm talking about, "Oh my gosh best dinner date ever with the best friends ever, Joe, Trish, Nate, Ashley!"  Especially when you know you have friends that live nearby or are in your ward or whatever that will probably be hurt by not being invited.  I'm not saying this has happened to me but I have seen it happen to other people.  Have some tact facebookers.  This ain't high school anymore.
5.  Fighting on facebook.  'Nuff said.
6.  Mass facebook updates.  "Post this on your wall if you are a mother who loves her children." Barf.  I thought the days of chain emails and letters were long gone.  Apparently not.
7.  Friend requests from people in high school that I was never friends with before.  Pretty sure you just want to stalk my pictures.  Weirdo.  And pretend like you didn't just read #4 of my pro list.
8. Communicating with your spouse via Facebook (publicly of course).  "Honey how are you?  I love you so much.  Hope you are having a great day."  Double barf.
9. Aggressive, rude or embellished political status updates.  It's fine to be political, but compassion and understanding go a LONG way.  So does tact.
10. Last but not least, naked pictures of your kids.  It's the internet folks.  You post it, it's out there.  For everyone.  Anywhere.  Anytime.  Catch my drift?

What bugs you?

Real Food vs. Fake Food

Wow, September is flying by! It'll be Christmas before we know it.  

From some of my previous posts, you should all know I'm kind of into healthy eating.  (Unfortunately, I'm also way into dessert eating--I  have dessert like 6 or 7 times a day. But that's another post.)  And you probably realize that there's lots of advice out there on how to eat healthy--like, eat "superfoods" every day, cut out refined sugar, eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, and so on.  Sometimes I have a hard time remembering all that when I'm hungry or out grocery shopping.  So, to make life easier,  the one rule I try to abide by is simple:

Eat Real Food

So simple, it seems like common sense, right? I mean, who wants to eat fake food?  Well, I'd venture to guess that most people do not follow this rule.  A lot of "food" out there is processed and filled with artificial ingredients--stuff that your body has a harder time processing and converting into good energy.  An easy way to be a little healthier is to simply eat food that is made from ingredients that are close to their original state and are not created in some factory.   But eating this way doesn't mean you have to turn into some health freak.  Here is the number one thing  I do to ensure that I (and my loved ones) eat real food.

Read ingredient lists

Easy, so effective, and yet, I bet most people don't do it. 

You know this thing that's on all the food you buy at the grocery store?

A lot of stuff on here is important, especially if you are trying to watch your weight or your fat intake or whatever.  But what I look at most is...

...the ingredient list.  This is what tells you if what you're eating is real food.  If you know what all of the stuff is in the ingredient list of a food you're eating, then chances are, you're eating real food.  

Every time I think about buying something that I've never bought before, I always, always read the ingredient list.  Even on things like bread or yogurt, because some weird stuff can be hidden in there.  Take this ingredient list from a loaf of "healthy", 100% whole wheat bread:

Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Yeast, Wheat Gluten, Contains 2% or Less Of Soybean Oil, Salt, High Fructose Corn Syrup (Adds a Trivial Amount Of Sugar), Cultured Wheat Starch, Ethoxylated Mono and Diglycerides, Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, Enzymes, Calcium Dioxide, Vinegar, Sucralose.


It starts out well.  But then there's the high fructose corn syrup and all that stuff ending in -ides and -ates.  What is that anyway?

Image courtesy of AP.

Personally, I prefer to eat this:
Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Yeast, Sugar, Wheat Gluten, Cracked Wheat, Cultured Wheat Flour. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Honey, Salt, Brown Sugar, Soybean Oil, Molasses, Wheat Bran, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Vinegar, Soy Flour, Whey, Soy Lecithin, Cultured Corns Solids. Contains Wheat, Milk And Soybeans.

Now, I can recognize what most of that stuff is.  And this bread is said to be 100% natural.  Not just, "made with natural ingredients"--because that can also mean it's made with un-natural ingredients, too.

Let's look at yogurt:

Yogurt's a health food, right?  Well, yes, but to really have it be good for you, you've got to pay attention to the ingredient list on the yogurt you're consuming.

This--

 Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Lowfat Fat Milk, Sugar, Strawberries, Modified Cornstarch, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Kosher Gelatin, Citric Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Pectin, Colored With Carmine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3. 

--not so good.

This--

CULTURED PASTEURIZED NONFAT MILK, STRAWBERRIES, SUGAR. CONTAINS FIVE LIVE ACTIVE CULTURES INCLUDING S. THERMAPHILUS, BULGARICUS, L. ACIDOPHILUS, BIFIDUS, AND L. CASEI.

--much, much better!  This yogurt, (Chobani strawberry, in case you were wondering) actually only has three ingredients--milk, strawberries, and sugar.  The fewer ingredients something has, the better.

I also check out the ingredients on not-so-healthy foods, like potato chips.  

Image from fritolay.com

My potato chips of choice (Lays) contain three ingredients: potatoes, sunflower oil and salt.  Now eating a whole bag of these is not healthy.  But I feel much better about putting that stuff into my body than I do if I were to eat chips with ingredients like these:

DRIED POTATOES, VEGETABLE OIL (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: CORN OIL, COTTONSEED OIL, SOYBEAN OIL, AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL), RICE FLOUR, WHEAT STARCH, MALTODEXTRIN, SALT AND DEXTROSE. CONTAINS WHEAT INGREDIENTS.

So, no matter what it is, from granola bars for my kids, to onion soup mixes for dinner, I always base my decision about whether or not to buy or consume a food item on that item's ingredient list.

There are lots of other ways to "eat real food" and so many great blogs and resources out there on ways to do it, but I'll save some of that info for future posts!  Actually, I just really need to get this post up! :)

Feeling Silly?

If you're like me, you have a sense of humor. And if you have a sense of humor, you will think this is funny. I hope.

Tired of your same ole drive through routine? Here is a list that can help spice things up next time you're purchasing food on the go.

Just imagining someone doing any of the items on this list made for a good laugh. So here is your funny for the day!

And sadly, I cannot take credit for the ingenuity and cleverness that is this list. All credit goes to this site.

20 Things To Do In A Drive Through Lane

1. Stand close to the speaker and yell your order, using colorful expletives in ways which would embarrass the patrons inside.

2. Drive through backwards.

3. Belch your order.

4. After ordering, cover the speaker and mic with transparent tape. Watch as customers and order-takers are unable to hear each other and, thus, each raises his/her volume.

5. Barter. Offer a Whopper for a Big Mac.

6. Walk through.

7. Speak a foreign language (make one up if you have to). When the manager comes to the mic, speak English and inquire as to why the order taker had such difficulty understanding you.

8. Repeat everything the order-taker says.

9. Attempt to take the order-takers order ("Hi, may I take your order?") before they get a chance to take yours.

10. Order confusing items, i.e., "Hi, I'll have a large orange Coke and a small medium fries, please."

11. In a crowded drive-thru line, place a HUGE order, then slip out of line and watch the fun as the person behind you is handed 40 bags of food.

12. When you arrive at the window to pick up your food, hand them several bags of garbage & ask if they'll dispose of it for you. Make sure it smells.

13. Drive through with a carload of naked people.

14. Speak in such a garbled fashion that the order-taker will think there is a problem with the speaker and ask you to order at the window. When you arrive at the window, speak in the same garbled, incomprehensible fashion.

15. Drive through with someone on the hood to accept the food.

16. Bring along a Mr. Microphone. When the order-taker speaks, aim the mic at their speaker but do so while aiming the Mr. Microphone speaker at the mic to produce excruciating feedback of their own voice.

17. One word: Flatulence!

18. Have a friend hide in the trunk. When you approach the window to pickup your order, have him start yelling and banging his fists on the trunk.

19. If you are a male, have a female friend place the order by speaking VERY seductively and suggestively into the speaker. When she finishes, have her hide and pull up to accept your order. See how many of the order-takers fellow employees have been called over to the window to "check out the babe".

20. Change a flat tire in the drive-thru lane.

Keeping Calm

Well, this post is a bit overdue but I blame that on being busier than usual what with birthdays, doctors appointments, leaving town and other things.  Plus all of my free time lately (since Tuesday, actually) has been eaten up by a certain book.  But that's another story.

But when I'm not stressing over how that book will end, I think about more lighthearted things.  Like art that I like. And I like art.  I like looking at art that makes me happy or interested, for no exact reason other than I like it.  And art can do so many different things for a room, besides just filling a space.

  

 

 You may have seen this "Keep Calm and Carry On" print in magazines or different places, it's pretty popular.  I like prints of letters and phrases that aren't too cheesy or lovey-dovey.  And do it in a bright color with fun lettering and I'm a sucker for it. This poster would be so great in a lot of different places - a kid's room, a kitchen, a laundry room.  Any space where a cheerful reminder that sometimes you just need to chill out and live life is needed.

But my favorite part about the print?  The story behind it.  This poster was originally designed and printed in 1939, by the British Government at the beginning of World War II.  It was intended to boost British morale about the war and in case of an invasion.  However, it was rarely used and only a few prints were ever made.  Fast forward to the year 2000, and the poster is found in a bookstore in Britain, which begins reprinting the poster for its costumers.  And now, especially in the last couple of years, reproductions of the print have been popping up everywhere.  And it's understandable why - the sentiment rings as true for modern society today as it did back in 1939.  You can read more about the history of the print on Wikipedia. (A plus for reading this post? You can check off your mini-history lesson for the day.)

 Like I said, you can find reproductions of this print in a lot of places.  One of those places is Etsy.  Lots of sellers sell this print very inexpensively, and all you have to do is pop it in a frame.  Along with the classic "Keep Calm" poster, you can find different colors and even slightly altered versions of the print.  One of my favorite shops that sells the prints is the Keep Calm Shop.  They have lots of different versions of the print in lots of different colors.  The print I'm going to get?


This one:

I think my surf-loving husband would approve.  

Eggy Toast

Thinking of things to make for your family can become really difficult, especially if you feel you are stuck in a rut.  Thinking of things that are healthy, tasty, easy AND cheap just adds to the degree of difficulty.  So what is a frazzled mom (or dad!) to do?

Well I was faced with that question last Friday night.  I didn't want to spend money and I didn't feel like heating up an already too toasty kitchen.  I opened my fridge and saw that I had plenty of eggs and bread and thought, "Hey..egg toast!"  Now, this is not a novel idea whatsoever but I was proud of myself for making a healthy, tasty dish in less than half an hour without going to the store for extra ingredients.  And this meal is versatile!  You can have it for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dunch OR dinner.  

You are going to need:

4-8 eggs depending on the size of your family

loaf of bread (we use Ezekiel sprouted whole grain)

mayonnaise

mustard

salt

pepper

paprika

cheddar, muenster or mozzarella cheese

First Step:  Boil those eggs!

 

Step #2: Peel the eggs and place them in a medium sized bowl.  Scoop some mayo, mustard onto the eggs.  Sprinkle on some salt, pepper and paprika and then mash together!

Step #4:  Place slices of bread on a cookie sheet and then set your oven to broil.  Put the cookie sheet of bread under the broiler for a few minutes until the pieces start looking like toast.  Take the bread out!

Step #5: Scoop the egg mixture evenly onto the pieces of toast.  Sprinkle on some cheese and place the sheet back under the broiler.  Watch carefully and take out when the cheese is nice and melty! Yes melty is a word.  I don't care what automatic spell check tells me.

After step #5 you should have yummy slices of egg toast!  Now here is where you can get creative with your toppings.  Maybe a little hot sauce?  Slices of avocados or tomatoes?  Or how 'bout some delicious guacamole?  I happened to have some leftover and let me tell you it was DELICIOUS!

Seems like a stingy meal right?  Well my hubby, who is a hearty eater, was filled after about 2.5 slices but it was so tasty he went for more!  ;)  Enjoy!

Thankful Journals

If I'm not careful, I can be somewhat of a pessimist.  I'm a worrier, a fretter.  (Is that a word??) In spite of living a blessed, happy life, I sometimes only focus on the dark side of things, though I say that I just want to be prepared for whatever is thrown at me.  I hate disappointment, so I anticipate the worst.  

But, obviously, that's not the best of attitudes.  Not very hopeful, not very happy, not very grateful.    So I try to remember to think positively, to focus on the goodness of life.  

One thing that helps me do this is a thankful journal.  I have a little book, something like one of these, although these are much prettier:

I try to write in this book at night before I go to bed.  I simply jot down something about that day for which I am grateful.   It's not always super profound; often it's something simple.  But it really helps me focus on all the good that is in my life.  

Here's a little peek at one entry:

"March 17, 2010

I'm grateful for this BEAUTIFUL day.  The weather was warm and sunny; Ryan was home from work.  We went to the Plains Conservatory and the boys feed chickens and cows.  We got dinner and ate at the park.  The kids were happy and played hard.  They went to bed nicely.  I love them SO much.  They are so special to me.  I love Ryan and the incredible father he is."

See, nothing profound, but definitely positive.  I especially love that this habit helps me capture little moments with my kids.  All moms know how easy it is to get bogged down in all the feeding, bum wiping, crying, etc.  The thankful journal helps me remember why motherhood is also awesome. 

My motivation to start a thankful journal came from Elder Eyring, a leader in our church.  I'm thankful for his words and my little journal.  Life is good.  

Awesome Workout Songs

I. Love. Music. There’s no denying it. I love finding a new song that has the ability to make me lose myself in the lyrics and melody and forget about the world around me. Cheesy, but seriously, music is my anti-drug. So, I thought I would share a list of some energizing songs that will give you that extra push you need to get off your behind and workout. Some are older songs and others are more recent. I was going to only list 10, but I got a little carried away. Enjoy and happy sweating! :)

In no particular order:
1. "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera
I’ve always loved this song, but never thought of listening to it while
I workout until I was in a spin class at the gym and the instructor
played it. It totally pumped me up and made me feel like I could do anything!

2. "Let It Rock" by Kevin Rudolf

3. "I Don’t Care" by Fall Out Boy
Great beat and it gives me a sense of empowerment.

4. "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz
I love this song. It automatically puts me in a great mood and it
practically forces me to get up and start moving.

5. "How You Love Me Now" by Hey Monday

6. "When I Grow Up" by Pussycat Dolls

7. "Bring Me Under" by Evanescence

8. "Dollhouse" by Priscilla Renea

9. "OMG" by Usher feat. will.i.am

10. "Bulletproof" by La Roux
Most of you probably already have this on your workout playlist. It is
very popular, but for me, it never gets old.

11. "Crushcrushcrush" by Paramore

12. "La la La" by LMFAO

13. "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson

14. "Shooting Star" by David Rush feat. LMFAO, Pitbull, and Kevin Rudolf

15. "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga
This is also a very popular workout song. I love the beat and it’s long
so it’ll keep you goin’.

16. "TiK ToK" by Ke$ha
I know, I know. This is probably one of the most overplayed songs ever,
but it is still one of my favorites. It pumps me up and hey, maybe some
of you haven’t heard of it. That is, if you’ve been living under a rock
for the past year. ;)

17. "Womanizer" by Britney Spears

18. "Black & Blue" by Miike Snow
"Black & Blue" is great for a jog. The lead singer has a cool and
unique voice that I could listen to forever!

19. "Daylight" by Matt & Kim

20. "Blame it on the Girls" by Mika

21. "Animal" by Neon Trees

22. "1901" by Phoenix

23. "Dr. Feel Good" by Travie McCoy
This is a fast paced song with lots of energy.

24. "(If You’re Wondering if I want you to) I want you to" by Weezer
I can't help but move when I listen to this one!

Interior Design Blogs

Interior design is a slight hobby of mine.  I say slight because if you've seen the state of my own home right now, you would be skeptical that I had any interest in it at all.  But I blame that on being young, poor newlyweds who are in a state of residence-limbo.  Someday far, far in the future when we own our own house and are planning on staying there for more than a few months at a time, I will make our little nest comfortable and cozy and just the way I like it.  But for now, I satisfy my growing interest in good home design by peeking at the blogs listed below, drooling over the beautiful homes and bookmarking things I want to try someday.  

Now, I realize that there are a lot of design blogs out there, and these are only a few of the ones I actually peruse often.  I also realize that these blogs may be highly suited to my specific taste, and some things that I may love, others may find less than appealing.  But, I like these particular blogs because while there may be an overall theme and style to the decor, there are lots of ideas that can be used and molded to fit into any style of design.  

design*sponge

http://www.designspongeonline.com/

I don't think any discussion of interior design blogs would be complete without talking about Design*Sponge.  What started off as the simple musings of interior design enthusiast Grace Bonney, has grown into a hugely popular design forum.  While the over-arching theme is interior design, the blog posts several times daily during the week, with columns on everything from design, food, travel-guides, and do-it-yourself ideas.  My favorite days are Mondays, when they showcase "sneak peeks"; basically home tours.  (See one of my favorites here.  Oh, someday I will have white wood floors and dark wood doors in my house and it will not be weird.)  I also love Wednesdays, when they post DIY ideas, and Thursdays, when they post before and afters sent in by readers.  Some people are so clever!

 
Little Green Notebook

http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/

Run by an interior designer based on the east coast, LGN is a treasure trove of good ideas and just plain good design.  I want to live in every room she does, with all the amazing fabrics she uses.  And the best part is, a lot of the projects she does are do-it-yourself that teach you how to get a certain look  inexpensively and include a lot of revamping stuff found on craigslist.  Added bonus, she's LDS. :)

 
Lonny Mag

http://www.lonnymag.com/Home.html

Oh, Lonny.  Lonny Mag isn't technically a blog, but an online magazine.  Back in 2008 when the economy was in the dumps, my favorite design magazine, Domino, closed shop.  That was a sad, sad day for me.  But thankfully, last year, a few former editors of Domino started up Lonny, an online magazine full of stuff that made Domino so great.  I still miss actually having paper in my hands to read, but Lonny has lots of great resources and lots of pretty pictures.  





Centsational Girl
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/


I like CG because it just started out as the blog of a woman in northern California who liked interior design and happened to be good at it, and has only recently gained a lot of followers.  She has great country french style, and almost everything she does is DIY.  She redoes a lot of stuff found on Craigslist, and while she may be tad heavy-handed with the white spray paint for my taste, her rooms always turn out beautifully.  I would love to have her home office for myself.  You know, because I have so many things to get done that require a home office...





Apartment Therapy
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/


And of course, Apartment Therapy. AT is not my favorite because it seems a bit more impersonal than the others (probably because they have a million people working on their blog from different cities), plus the fact that it tends to focus on more modern and minimalist design.  However, AT is still great for inspiration and it's cool that each big city has their own separate page.  




So there you have it.  Like I said, there are tons of websites and blogs dedicated to this stuff, and these are only a few.  But some of these I especially like, in particular LGN, CG, and design*sponge, because they show ways in which you don't have to break the bank to make your house look good.  There is a lot you can do with inspiration, paint, and elbow grease.  

Best Flat Irons

According to me of course!

So I have a lot of hair. Tons and TONS of hair. Like it takes me 20 minutes just to comb it after taking a shower. With a wide tooth comb. It's ridiculous.

And not only do I have a ton of hair but it's very coarse and frizzy and curly/wavy. A lethal combination. Most days my hair is thrown under a hat. I have to contain it somehow and I don't have the time to wrestle with it everyday.

On the weekends, however I have more time to make myself presentable so I embrace my natural waves and flat iron my hair. Er....I mean....never mind.


I have purhcased all my flat irons at Folica.com. They have amazing customer service and many items come with free shipping! Can't beat that! Well maybe you could beat it if the actual item was free but I digress.

So...I have found four awesome flat irons that are SO WORTH the money. And if they work on my hair they will do wonders for everybody else!









SOLIA


The Solia is my favorite. It doesn't pull or pinch and the ceramic plates just glide through the hair. It heats up to 400* and it makes my hair so smooth and soft! I have had my Solia for several years now and it works just as great as the day I received it! It fits great in your hand and the cord doesn't twist as easily as other flat iron brands (which is a good thing!)

SEDU


I also own the Sedu which was top rated on Folica.com for quite sometime. I actually like the Solia better but I think it's because the Sedu's plates are too wide. The Sedu tends to pinch my hair a bit but all-in-all it's a great flat iron and it too made my hair very soft and smooth. The Sedu also heats up to 400* and it too has ceramic plating.

HairArt




HairArt flat irons were some of my first investments and they are still awesome! They are quite similar to the Solia but I notice they are a bit harder to handle. The cord tends to contort and twist into knots very easily and it's annoying to have to untangle.

Chi

Now I don't actually OWN a Chi but I have used them several times and I know they are quite popular. The reason I don't own it is because they have a fixed heat. Meaning I can't change the temperature. And most Chi's only heat up to 370* which crazily enough isn't hot enough to get my hair straight on the first pull through. But my hair isn't like most others and I'm sure 370* is certainly hot enough for the average Josephina's hair. And perhaps for the average Joe as well, including his boyfriend.

So there ya go! Enjoy your flat iron shopping and frying your hair!

Buying Guides

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Make Your Own Granola Bars...and My Soapbox on Kids' Snacks

Get ready people.  This blog is about to take off.  We are going to wow you with our amazing ideas, incredible wit and juicy secrets in our upcoming posts.

Okay, well, I'll leave that for you to judge.  But we'll try hard.  No pressure, my dear sisters.

Today I've got another recipe for you.  But before I share it, let me tell you something I've found a bit confusing since I entered parenthood.  First of all, kids need snacks.  No, that's not the confusing part.  What's confusing to me is the type of snacks that are marketed as "healthy"--and that parents actually give these snacks to their kids, thinking it's a good idea.

Exhibit A:

Fruit snacks

Let's look at the ingredient list on these babies: CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, APPLE PUREE CONCENTRATE, WATER, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GELATIN, CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF CITRIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, COLOR ADDED, COCONUT OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, YELLOW #5, RED #40, SODIUM CITRATE, BLUE #1.

Does that sound like something that will fill your kid up with some good energy? At least apple puree concentrate is on there.  But corn syrup is the first ingredient?  Gross.  Now, I'm not totally opposed to fruit snacks.  I let my kids have them just as much as I let them have gummy bears, or Skittles.  Which I do, but they're not something I grab if we're going to the park and I know they'll get hungry.  Fruit snacks (unless they're an all-fruit variety) are not food--they're candy!

Exhibit B:

Granola bars

Okay, so granola bars are a little better than fruit snacks.  Almost all varieties have some whole grains.  But look at exactly what else this popular variety has:

GRANOLA (WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, BROWN SUGAR, CRISP RICE [RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT, MALTED BARLEY EXTRACT], WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED WHEAT, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN AND COTONSEED OILS* WITH TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL WITH NATURAL TOCOPHEROL ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS, DRIED COCONUT, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SODIUM BICARBONATE, SOY LECITHIN, CARAMEL COLOR, NONFAT DRY MILK), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT), CORN SYRUP, CRISP RICE (RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, BARLEY MALT, SALT), INVERT SUGAR, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, GLYCERIN, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL*. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SORBITOL, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SALT, WATER, SOY LECITHIN, MOLASSES, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, BHT (PRESERVATIVE), CITRIC ACID.

I'm seeing partially hydrogenated oils on there one too many times.  Now there are several organic, healthier versions out there.  But they're expensive.  And they don't always taste that great.  I figured out in the past couple years or so that I could make my own granola bars that taste delish, are cheap and not loaded with artificial junk.  My kids love them.  I just need to figure out a way to keep myself from eating them so that I have them on hand a little longer!

I've tried a few different recipes:

Granola Bars from Super Healthy Kids --this one is pretty good.  It has flour in it, and I've decided the non-flour versions are closer to the granola bars I'm used to.

Homemade Granola Bars from Kitchen Stewardship --I also like this one.  It involves toasting the oatmeal in the oven, mixing everything on the stove and then pressing into a pan.  It was tasty, but the last few times I made it, they came out thinner than I like.

And finally, the most recent one I've tried is my favorite so far.  I adapted it every so slightly.

Chewy Granola Bars (from Make and Takes) (with slight adaptations)

2 1/2 c. rolled oats

1/2 c. crispy brown rice cereal

1/4 c. coconut

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/4 c. honey

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Add all of the ingredients and mix together until combined. Press into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and score into bars. Let it set completely and then cut into bars. 

They were a hit in my household!  And this recipe is very adaptable.  If you don't like coconut (ahem, Carly), leave it out.  Add some regular chocolate chips if you like.  (I like white because they're less messy.)  Or maybe some peanut butter.  Or even pumpkin.  Lots of stuff you can do.  

Try 'em out!  And if you have kids you have to share with, good luck saving some for them!

Lentils

So since we are all on the same page with trying to eat three healthy meals a day I thought we could give each other some inspiration. Cue the lentils:

Sadly I have never cooked with lentils in my life. But apparently they are one of the "superfoods."

After picking up some pre cooked lentils from Trader Joe's I decided I needed to do something with them. They had just been sitting in my fridge. You can also buy them dried; they cook pretty quickly.

So I decided to use them in place of taco meat (turkey, beef). I dumped them in a pan, heated them up and added some salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, chili powder and some shredded Mexican Cheese. I made some homemade tortillas to go along with it and you guys, this dinner was DELISH! Lentils are really flavorful and when cooked they are tender and add a great texture. I put some tomatoes, bit of cilantro, avocado and spinach leaves in the "burritos" and it was yummy. Definitely going to be buying those lentils again!

Healthy AND Yummy Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Got some mushy, brown bananas but are sick of banana bread? (Although, who gets sick of banana bread?) Or looking for a snack that's tasty but good for you? Well, here ya go. I make these cookies A LOT. They are my go-to cookie recipe when I'm trying to watch my refined sugar intake (which, let's be real, hasn't been happening given it's Cadbury Egg season). Plus, the kids love them (T likes them better than about any other cookie I make) and I don't feel guilty if they (or I) eat them for breakfast.

Now, please note that these cookies are not these cookies. They do have some health value. So don't expect them to be the type of cookies that you would die for. But they're pretty good.

I got the original recipe here and altered it ever so slightly. I doubled it, use honey instead of agave nectar (I'm not so current with the health scene that I have that on hand) and use regular milk.

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour (I use white whole wheat)

2 cups oats

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 T ground flaxseed meal

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 T canola oil

2 ripe bananas, mushed

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients. Drop on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 min.

The dough is pretty good to eat. And no eggs, so no worries there, if you even have those worries (which I know my dear readers do not).

Get yourself a cute helper like this one.

And enjoy! Just for full disclosure's sake, I did make the cookies in this picture with brown sugar so I could avoid the whole botulism thing and give some to Ruby. She enjoyed them thoroughly.