Friday, January 30, 2015
Damn! and what I'm reading this week
Damn you VRBO! Damn you unscrupulous realty companies! Damn you Parenthood finale! Damn you icy roads I'm going to have to drive on today since the chiro called in sick yesterday! Damn you face crud not clearing up to my liking! Damn, now I have to think of something happy to write about today for my one happy year!
While I'm damning it all to hell, why don't you guys check out...
11 Things Top Trainers Wish They'd Known Before Their First Workout
11 Budget-Friendly Valentine's Day Crafts (It'll be here before ya know it!)
12 Foods Nutritionists Say You Should Splurge On (I think I splurge on many of these)
9 Ways Your Hair Is Aging You (But I don't wanna change mah hair. It was enough I stopped using Aqua Net)
41 Guilt-Free Super Bowl Snacks (I'll be honest, I didn't know this was on this weekend)
Obama "Sings" Uptown Funk (I love these especially when they do Brian Williams)
19 Small Changes You Can Make to Improve Your Health (Baby steps, y'all)
Rowlf leads Muppet cover of Biz Markie's 'Just a Friend' (Told ya, obsessed with these)
Clothing Organization Ideas: Why I’m Obsessed With Folding My Clothes Vertically (I think I may have to do this!)
34 Times “Parenthood” Made You Sob Uncontrollably (Farewell Braverman family!)
14 Things You Might Not Know About Puppy Bowl (Now THIS will be on in the house!)
What are you guys up to this weekend? Super Bowl or Puppy Bowl or Kitty Bowl?
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
Egg brain, numbers and wandering criminal minds
Remember the old 'this is your brain on drugs' PSA's from the 80's?
Well, that is my brain on VRBO. I have scoured it for the past two days day and night and I swear if I look at one more listing, my brain will slide out of my nose like a runny egg. I used to like looking at vacation listings. Then I was forced to book a vacation not fully planned on the fly with only 25% availability. Try telling a control freak she can't have the rental she would've chosen had all of her options been available to her.
*twitch*
You know, I don't get how I walk almost 40 miles one week and then come back, do yoga, Walk Away the Pounds, a free weight session and a Gilad (low impact) workout and feel like I've been dragged behind a truck. I go see the chiro today so he can ward off whatever way I screwed my legs on this trip in addition to the way I screwed them from the trip before. Ahh, the mysteries of the body. But I can take him the coffee I picked up for him in Chicago and maybe he'll give me a few extra squeezes on the house.
Last night we did Gilad in Jerusalem. I'm not tracking numbers this week. Just getting back into regular exercise and regular healthy eating before I start the numbers game back up again. It makes me feel like I have some kind of control over things. I know, weird.
Dinner was orange roughy over quinoa duo.
Did anyone else watch Criminal Minds last night? So sad. But I must say, I thought Ben Savage did a great job! I'm also a fan of the length of Reid's hair. I don't know why I like him better with longer hair.
Sorry, my mind wandered.
As you were.
How far in advance do you typically plan vacations?
What's your favorite long running TV show?
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Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Our Chicago Hotel
We got a corner suite that overlooked Michigan Avenue.
Those pillows were SOOOO fluffy. I was so tired from lack of sleep the night before that after dinner, I totally dove into a pile of pillows and we napped for three hours.
They have blackout blinds which come in handy. They are on chains on the side windows and the ones behind the bed are push button so you feel fancy pants.
The living area had a nice work desk if you're into that sort of thing.
They had a sleeper sofa with some cool local art on the wall and new light. I can attest while the couch is a little hard, it doubles nicely as a bed. Someone snored...a LOT.
A nice mini bar with a 2 mug coffee maker, coffee and tea fixins, a little sink and of course your overpriced snacks just waiting for you to screw up. Walgreens is 2 blocks away, go there.
The bathroom is nice but that ring of florescent light around the mirror was blinding and unflattering. Not my favorite addition. A dimmer or off switch would've been appreciated.
The tinkletorium.
Nice toiletries refilled daily.
One of those uber close up mirrors that make your pores look like potholes. Do not look directly into it.
Two flat screen TV's for your viewing pleasure, one in the living room and one in the bedroom.
Looking down at my shopping option next door.
If you're celebrating a special occasion, make a note when you book the room. ;-)
We do love this hotel for its convenient, central location on the Mag Mile. The only thing I'd warn about is there are several hospitals and a police station close by which mean sirens, sometimes in the middle of the night and sleeping in isn't really on option if you're overlooking Michigan Avenue. If you stay on the west side, you might fare better. Also, get the parking included option if you drive in because overnight parking prices are insane.
Lots of great restaurants, attractions within walking distance, grocery stores (Trader Joe's and Whole Foods if ya need 'em) and not too far from the freeway if you want to hit the burbs.
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Monday, January 26, 2015
Our week in the Chi
Last week the Mr and I finally made our escape to Chicago. We had plans to go January 4th to unwind from the holidays but my creepin' crud infested body had other plans. Honestly, it wouldn't have been a good week to go anyway because it was like zero to 10 degrees for the high that week with 20-30 mph winds. We would've been miserable and trapped in the hotel. The next week was slightly better weather wise but health wise, I was not. It kept getting pushed back and the Mr would have to change his vacation either on Friday or show up on Monday when he was not supposed to be there to say "nope, push it back another week." I could tell he was getting frustrated and we had a small window of time left so I gave the go ahead even though I still wasn't well.
Despite having no taste for the first 3 days and minimal smell and taste for the remaining time, it was still a great trip. The first full day we walked 12 miles from Streeterville almost to Lakeview (north Lincoln Park.) We logged over 37 miles over that time and that included one day where we basically drove all day because my feet were so blistered from the 12 mile trek the day before I couldn't walk. We even ended up adding an extra day because we just couldn't bear to leave and I felt decent so we logged some more miles shopping and going to Navy Pier even though it's basically closed on the pier portion. But the ferris wheel wasn't and that's all we cared about. I am not a fan of them but I agreed to go on it because I got a souvenir penny of Navy Pier with the wheel on it and it seemed kind of lame to have a penny of something you didn't even do. I rode it on principle.
I was thrilled to walk the streets of Michigan Avenue all lit up. In case you ever want to go and make sure you see some holiday lights but can't go during the holidays, they keep them up until the end of February! I would stare at them dreamily from our hotel too. The last night we actually sat on the floor of our dark room and stared at the John Hancock building and all of the surrounding buildings to see if we could see people living their fabulous lives overlooking the Mag Mile. Then we hung over the headboard attached to the window and people watched. It was the perfect time of year to go. Cold enough to keep most people off the streets so we weren't having to dodge in and out of throngs of masses. The hotel prices were better too. We got to visit with friends and make new ones.
Wanna take a peek?
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| After walking the shoreline, a peek back at the city from the North Ave Beach parking lot at Lincoln Park |
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| Making friends at Lincoln Park while we take a rest |
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| Holy balls, what a walk! |
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| Trust me, you don't want to see what's under those bandages after walking that long. Icing the knee too. |
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| Next day was driving the northern burbs to visit the McAlister house. The new owners put a fence around it. |
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| Paying our respects to John Hughes |
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| After seeing The Wedding Ringer at the Woodstock Theater, we came out to the town square all lit up. One year, we will come here for the Groundhog Days celebration and see the groundhog Phil. |
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| The next day I was ready to re-blister my feet. The Mr contemplates jumping before another 10 miler that day. |
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| Not many people around the Bean this chilly morning. Yay! |
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| On our extra day, we took the liberty of being the only people on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier. (Not a fan of these things but checked off the mini bucket list) |
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| Our final night spent overlooking the lights of Michigan Avenue |
I can't wait to go back.
Catch me up, what did you do this weekend?
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Friday, January 23, 2015
Jailbreak complete and what I'm reading this week
Sorry I've been a little less chatty this week on responses. I took my declaration of a jail break seriously last Friday and got the hell outta Dodge to keep some spark of sanity. The neighbors saw fit to let their a-hole demon dogs out every 20 minutes to bark for 10 minutes at a time and then the other neighbors dog would bark for 6 hours at the first time the other dogs barked. These mongrels are turning me into a dog hater. No actually a bad owner hater. I want to well...do not nice things. Between that and another visit from the Christmas vandal who this time was messing with the snow on our lawn, I'm ready to pick up and move.
But enough of my trip to Twitchville, let's get to...
The Type-A Guide to Taking a Spontaneous Vacation (Gave it a go this week. I must say I prefer a bit of structure even if a rough outline)
Why Apple Cider Vinegar Needs to Be a Mainstay in Your Life (I've been drinking it 3x day to help my body recover from those heinous antibiotics)
How Otters' Unique Fur Keeps Them Warm in Frigid Waters (I. LOVE. OTTERS!)
31 Genius Uses for Essential Oils (I've been using these so much more over the past few months! Love 'em!)
The Crazy Thing We Didn't Know About Burning Fat (Until Now) (Well, I did share a similar story a few Fridays ago but in case anyone missed it. ;-) )
Why Did Old Phone Numbers Start With Letters? (I wondered this when the Mr and I were binge watching The Wonder Years a few weeks ago)
How to Avoid Emotional Eating (Will do)
Answers for 15 of Your Biggest Questions of 2015 (I don't know if they're the biggest but you know, adequate for fillers sake)
I Tried 10 Diets In 50 Days — Here's What Actually Worked (Interesting concept)
Find Substitute Ingredients (For those times when you're halfway through a recipe and out of a major ingredient)
8 Projects to Renew Every Room in Your Home (Well, la ti da!)
Why You Can’t Rely on Calorie Counts (and What to Do Instead) (Of course we can't rely on it. We're all basically screwed. LOL)
See How Much the "Perfect" Female Body Has Changed in 100 Years (I'm waiting for the roll oriented body to come back in style like Renoir's "After Bathing" portrait)
Dover Police DashCam Confessional (Shake it Off) (Best. Video. Ever. in its entirety)
Whatcha got planned this weekend?
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Thursday, January 22, 2015
Current Crushes
So let's get to it!
Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood Hand Lotion
I picked some of this up at a specialty shop but it sells for the same price on Amazon. It smells so good! It's a very light scent and it's only got a hint of rose but has a nice, clean scent. I could roll in a tub full of it.
The Wonder Years Complete Series
I bought this as a surprise gift for the Mr and I. We've been waiting for this series to come out on DVD forever with all of the original music. We binge watched the entire series from Christmas night through New Years Day. Time Life Star Vista really did a great job packaging the series. TONS of extras on the discs that any WY's fan would love as well as a reunion of all of the stars, a yearbook and they secured the rights to 96% of the music on this version. (If you're watching on streaming services, you're not watching with the original score and that music was another character on the show, for sure) Search for a coupon code, I found one online at the time of purchase for $20 off.
Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Booster
I saw Julie was recommending her favorite hair products one day and since she has like the best hair ever, I was curious to see what she used. I went to Ulta looking for the brand of shampoo she recommended and saw this Strictly Curls Curl Booster and thought I'd give it a shot. I love it! It gives some great volume to my less than voluminous hair and defines my curls. Couldn't ask for more for my naturally curly locks.
Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment
I also saw this on Julie's list and gave it a try. I don't know that I've been using it long enough to notice much difference in length but the shine I get now is amazing. I love the smell of it too and how soft my hair is after I leave it on for 5 minutes. I'm going to keep using it and review it more thoroughly later.
What are some of your current crushes?
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Wednesday, January 21, 2015
My experience with Doctor on Demand
The thought of paying my $10 co-pay *hoping* she gives me a script for meds and then getting some stupid bill for anywhere from $50-100 more between the insurance company and the doctor billing me for her time in her germ ridden office was not on my to do list. I decided I would break down and let technology be my friend.
If anyone has watched the Dr. Phil show, you've probably heard of Doctor on Demand. It's an app where you can essentially Skype with a doctor for non emergency purposes and not have to be a slave to when the doc can fit you in, travel to the office and hope you don't pick up what the guy hacking next to you has. The office visit is $40 for a 15 minute appointment and this day, I was all over that.
You register for an account and give them your address, credit card info and pharmacy info so they can send your prescription right over after your session. So I tried doing this on the mobile app and unfortunately, it kept crashing. I have a Nexus with Lollipop and have read (after the fact) complaints from other users with the same phones it keeps crashing. I was irritated because I'd just handed over all my personal info and when it tried to connect is when it would crash. Oy. Part of the info they want to know is what your symptoms are so if you're thorough, they won't have to ask you much. I listed the pertinents...length of symptoms, what I've tried to do to help it along and what meds I'm on, etc.
So I used a tablet instead since it had a camera as well. I got on the app through that and it was fine. I thought since it's called Doctor on Demand I'd hit a button and be directly connected to well, a doctor on demand...not that day. Because of the uptick in the sick people all around the country, I had to schedule an appointment whose next available slot was an hour away and they give a 15 minute window for them to contact you.. If you figured you called your doctor and they said we can squeeze you in in an hour, you'd probably be satisfied with that.
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| Screenshot of the page where you click to see the doctor |
She called the tablet and we got down to it. The call lasted 6 1/2 minutes before she shot my prescription off to the pharmacy. She was very nice, thorough and open to any questions. It was actually done so quickly that when she asked if I had any questions, I just threw her a bone to see if there were any interactions with my birth control. I knew from past bouts that you need to use back up because it affects the potency of the pills. (I can almost hear my mother putting on Marvin Gaye.) She checked my brand and was going to switch the prescription because it said it would affect the flora in my gut. Then she saw basically all antibiotics do that and I told her I take pro-biotics and she said that was perfect and it wouldn't affect me as much. After ending the call, I was asked to rate the doctor. I could use both a star rating and write something if I wanted too but I didn't.
When a week later I wasn't feeling any relief and actually getting a little worse after two days of feeling better, I called back. Yeah, it'd be another $40 but a trip to Urgent Care would now be hundreds in the new year with our deductible back to zero. I got the same doctor and this time it was on demand. I just had to fill out my symptoms and such and it connected me to her after she reviewed my 'chart.' She saw I was seven days in and said that it's very possible that I picked up an additional infection while trying to fight this one. (The Mr was sick this whole time as well as us going out all day one day and I'm sure I could've come in contact with another sickie) So she prescribed another antibiotic to take. She was super thorough, nice and I was relieved to see her face again...even if it was sideways on my tablet. When the Mr picked up the script an hour later, I just blindly popped the pill and then decided to read the pamphlet of side effects. You know how Santa's list is super long? So is the list of side effects of this antibiotic and the serious side effects are scary as hell. I called the pharmacist to ask if this was safe and she said yes and I said even though I'd had tendinitis in the past since one of the side effects is tendinitis or spontaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon? She said stop taking it and get a different class of antibiotic from the doctor.
Well, I wasn't about to pay another $40 just to get a prescription again and this was on the weekend so I didn't know if the doctor I'd been using was available. I called the customer support number in my email I got from them and told them the situation and she gave me a credit for a free call to a doctor who could see me immediately. So I talked to a different doctor and he said he was hesitant to think it was bacterial now since Amoxicillan has a 90% success rate and I wasn't exhibiting all of the typical signs of bacterial infection (basically no constant flow of green goo coming out of my face) and I wasn't a fan of trying a new med if I didn't have to. I only had one more day of Amoxicillan left so he said to finish that out and start taking two 1000 mg vitamin C doses per day and I should only require more antibiotics if 3-5 days after I stopped taking them I began seeing aforementioned green goo. Otherwise I'd just have to wait it out. He said if I needed relief I could do an OTC steroid nasal spray but those things are scary and my condition wasn't painful so I wasn't going down that road and he didn't make it sound like it would help me much anyway. I was grateful that they issued a free credit so I could speak with someone else and basically get a second opinion.
When your visits are over, the doctor will give their notes taken during the visit on how long to continue treatment or what to do before needing to go to your primary care physician if you have one.
Here are the biggest down sides I experienced. Most of you would likely use your cell phone, my app on my Nexus kept crashing. When I switched to my android tablet which had its camera on what would be considered the side if you were reading it like a book page, the app did NOT reorient or flip to match the camera position. Meaning in order for me to look normal to her on her end, I had to have the whole conference call with her being sideways like she was taking a nap. Luckily I've got good peripheral vision and it wasn't a problem but that is a MAJOR flaw with this app. It should flip like any other app and you've got people like me or elderly people who use their tablets for everything and its going to be a big deterrent for them to want to use it regularly if that isn't fixed.
Also, the whole mobile app crashing for Nexus users. They need to fix that ASAP!
Would I use it again?
Absolutely! For the little things like a cold or flu, prescriptions or maybe your regular doctor can't fit you in for a few days. This is a perfect way to see a doctor relatively fast and be on your way. They cover pediatric, psychological and lactation issues too (with different pricing). Go to their website if you want to take a peek at what they offer.
Have you ever used Doctor on Demand? Would you?
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Tuesday, January 20, 2015
My word for 2015
My word is...
Last year seemed to fly by at lightning speed and at times I just wished away parts of it for one reason or another. Something was too hard or annoying me or emotionally draining and I just wanted it to be over with. When I did my 100 Happy Days project last year, it forced me to put the concept of "savor" into practice. There were glorious days like Day 38 12 MILE WALK OF SAN FRANCISCO! (Pac Heights to Ferry Bldg to Ghirardelli Sq to Pac Heights) and then there were days like Day 85 where "woke up which means I'm alive, so...there's that" was the best I could do. And in the end that's a pretty great thing because many people won't wake up today. So this year, I'm doing a one happy year project to force myself to savor every day. I've written down something each day that made me happy. I've got the Mr doing it too. We'll see how long we both last. Fingers crossed!
I also want to savor the process of exercise and what it does for my body but most importantly the process of physical therapy and how it not just heals me but keeps me healed. I am good at some parts of PT and then other parts suffer or I forget and then gripe when I'm hobbling around. If I did everything I had to do to keep my leg muscles in tip top shape, it would probably take about 45 minutes a day between balance board work, stretching, rolling, PT exercises, massage, etc. I need to remember it doesn't all have to be done in one 45 minute stretch, I can break it up throughout the day.
Finally and most obvious when you hear the word 'savor', I want to savor my food. The Mr and I both tend to not really even look at our food when we eat and they say you eat with your eyes first. You look at something and think "damn, this is gonna be GOOD!" I want to get that kind of appreciation back for food. Smell it and take in how it looks and play my old game of food critic. Where you try to pick out what flavors pop in each bite, the texture and such. I did that a lot when we were in the throes of weight loss in the beginning and I think it served me well.
So there's my word for 2015. If I didn't choose it weeks ago, apparently my tea bag would've given me inspiration as well!
If you were to choose a word for 2015, what would it be and why?
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Friday, January 16, 2015
Jail break and what I'm reading this week
Yeeeeee-hoooooo!
Last night we watched The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306
, (affiliate link) a documentary we bought after seeing it at the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. (I bawled like an idiot through the entire thing and people were looking at me like a dork.) We make it a point to watch it on MLK's birthday every year. It should be mandatory viewing for students, no...everyone. If you have Amazon Prime, you can stream it for free.I am so ready to do a jail break. I've been cooped up in this house for weeks. Then the one day I went out, I think I got a new disease so I'm cautious. Even deep cleaning, I'm sure the air quality in the house is much less than walking around in the germ ridden world right now. Maybe I'll go out and bring a purse full of cold and germ fighting arsenal including my travel air purifier
(affiliate link) if people are hacking around me. I need to get out and walk or I'm going to bounce off the walls!But enough of my impending meltdown, let's get to...
How Cold Weather Can Help You Lose Weight Without Exercising (I'm moving to the Arctic Circle)
Why Your Period Wreaks Havoc On Your Poop Habits (Not pretty but this explains a lot)
What makes Olga run? Lessons from a 94-year-old track star (Run Olga RUUUUUN!)
Price Is Right Announcer Tries To Run Backward On Treadmill, Eats It (Georgefoolery will get ya every time)
34 Ways to Bust a Bad Mood in 10 Minutes or Less (Good tricks to keep in your back pocket for those crappy days)
Stretch, Walk, and Roll — That's How You Make Your Rest Day Active (So that's how you have an active rest day)
27 Things That Have Been Ruined by the Internet (Yep, the internet has basically ruined everything)
36 Questions to Ask That Could Make You Fall In Love (These are great questions not just for potential mates but to bring you closer to your spouse)
The mystery of the 132-year-old Winchester rifle found propped against a national park tree (This is amazing!)
Sir Patrick Stewart Makes Fun Of All Of The Worst People On An Airplane (I <3 Patrick Stewart)
Hate to Wait? The 5 Immediate Benefits of Exercise Backed By Science (All of these are absolutely true)
15 Things You Might Not Know About Schoolhouse Rock (Schoolhouse Rock is, was and always will be the sh*t.)
Watch Maroon 5 Crash Real Weddings in 'Sugar' Video (Um, friggin' awesome!)
What's on your agenda this weekend?
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Thursday, January 15, 2015
Oh Daddy
Okay, so yesterday I was talking about those family movies and in one scene in the Jason Bateman movie the family was sharing memories about their dad. When they asked Jason to share one, he couldn't think of one.
So I asked the Mr what memory he would share in that situation. He recalled when he went on a trip alone with his dad and they went to Traverse City, MI and they rolled down Sleeping Bear Dunes. It was one of the rare times that he had his dad all to himself and it meant a lot to him.
It was such a special memory that I planned a trip back for the first time since then for his 40th birthday.
I happened to fall in love with the city when we were there and it's a favorite fall vacation spot for us now.
When he asked about my dad, I had to think a bit. My parents divorced when I was 8 so I didn't get a full childhood with him like the Mr got with his dad. But what immediately came to mind wasn't a grand trip but just a simple moment. I remember Dad driving me to the babysitter's one morning and he just bought a new van back in the 80's. He would later go on to carpet that bad boy floor to ceiling but at this time, it was just the two seats up front and nothing in the back. I was sitting on the wheel well in the back and he would swerve the car slightly to wiggle me around on the back of the well. I would crack up laughing as the Doobie Brothers blared on the 8 track. He took a turn pretty hard and I flew across the back of the van to the other side. He asked if I was okay and I laughed hysterically. I was having a blast. He might've taken another turn or two sharp to send me into fits of giggles as I begged him to 'stop' but really meant 'more.' That was the joy of being a tot in the 80's, we could get slammed around the back of vans or ride in the back of a pickup truck on the wheel well with no seat belt and only good sense to keep us safe. Those were the days.
What is your favorite memory with your dad or significant male figure in your life?
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Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Downer movie night
Twas Redbox Tuesday! The rental choice of cheapskates like mah-self.
So I made some homemade microwave popcorn. Salty for the Mr and a hit of cinnamon sugar for myself.
We did a killer workout then had dinner. Spicy orange BBQ chicken, half a sweet potato and carrots. I needed to fuel up on my vitamin A.
Two movies came out that looked decent to us so the Mr picked up This is Where I Leave You and Men, Women and Children. Apparently dysfunction and books that were made into movies was on the menu.
This is Where I Leave You
(affiliate link) I tend to get a little nervous when I see all star casts like Jane Fonda, Tina Fey, Dax Shepard, Rose Byrne but then you throw in Jason Bateman and I'm sold. This is one of those movies where the family is so dysfunctional, all you can do is thank God they're not yours. The patriarch of the family dies and despite him being a not so religious man, they are told his dying wish is for the family to sit shiva. All of the siblings have various stages of issues in their lives and as you can imagine, it ain't pretty. Thankfully it wasn't drawn out too long and I love Jason so much that he saved any irritation that may have had time to form if he hadn't been in it. Then like 90 seconds before the end of the movie, the Mr...who likes to randomly blurt out what he thinks the end will be and is right 90% of the time...blurts out the end of the movie. I wanted to punch him in the gonads because the ending would've been a nice reminiscing point for us. If you like dysfunctional family dynamic movies, this is probably a decent rental for you.
Men, Women & Children
(affiliate link) If you've been following me for any length of time, you know I'm not super technological. I don't use a cell phone so therefore I don't text. This movie just kind of reinforced all of the scary crap out there and how much you could not PAY me to go to high school in this day and age. I also can't imagine raising kids with all of this technology and the crap that comes with it. My hats off to you parents for sure. The Mr made an interesting point mid movie. He said "I just realized this is like today's kids Fast Times at Ridgemont High. That was what I wanted high school to be like. This is just sad." And it was. The whole thing was just such a sad statement on what technology has done to our society and what kids have to go through now. School is so secondary to the bull crap and I can totally see why parents choose to home school their kids. It wasn't just about the kids though, it was also about marriage, deception in marriages and the Mr and I were just horrified. Especially Adam Sandler's whole situation. Communication really is the key, people. WOW. I would say if you're looking for a good time, this ain't it. If you're looking for a reason to 'lock up yer daughters Chuck', then rent it.
I wouldn't say either were bad movies, they weren't. I'd say if you've had a bad week and need to see other people's lives can be more effed up than yours, these are right on target! HA!
On side notes, we liked seeing Dean Norris in a more vulnerable role. I will never, EVER be able to look at the All State man again. *sexual heebie jeebies*
We felt so downtrodden afterward we had to watch this to cheer ourselves up.
What was the last movie you rented that made you feel like crap afterward?
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Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Free and fun fitness? Yes please!
I like to shake things up from time to time to get the bod out of its usual habits. I'm always on the lookout for online workouts to ChromeCast to the
Mike has a YouTube channel now that you can get some great free mix and match workouts! Whether you just have time for 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes, he's got some great booty kickin', ab rippin' choices. Most videos contain a modification for beginners or those with limitations they need to consider. Because Mike likes to keep things fun and silly, the workouts go by quickly. This year he's even going to add some fun vlog features that will let you in on the man behind the fitness instructor. Gotta love that!
From workouts to fitness Q&A's to Fit Tips to random stuff that will make you laugh, Mike's YouTube channel is worth checking out!
To see more of what Mike is up to, you can follow him on Facebook or at his website.
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Monday, January 12, 2015
I just want to be well, please
Well, I'm still attacking this 'thing' living in my sinuses. I'm on my second doctor since I was not comfortable with the 2nd antibiotic prescription. I popped the first dose of Moxifloxican (sp?) and THEN decided to read the side effects. It was literally enough to give me a panic attack in the middle of the night after taking it. I was never asked if I had any kind of tendon issues (obviously I do with all the leg issues and tendinitis I had when I first went to the chiro) and the first warning is about getting tendinitis or having your tendon randomly blow out and potentially need surgery. SAY WHAT!?!?! Yes, I'm sure that's probably rare however this was the FIRST warning issued! I'm talking it made the side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and such look downright wussy. Not to mention, oh, you know not being able to sense touch, temperature changes, neuropathy, psychotic episodes including but not limited to suicidal thoughts and paranoia which is what I got after reading all of those side effects. Oh yeah and heart related stuff like rapid heartbeat, fainting due to that. If there was a commercial for this stuff, it would be 3 commercials long just listing the side effects. So I called the pharmacist and asked if it was safe and she said yes and I said 'even though I've had tendinitis?' and her tone changed and she told me not to take another dose. She said Bactrim would probably be the next antibiotic step. So I talked with doc #2 and he said he was hesitant to prescribe another antibiotic because with everything I told him, he thinks it's viral. He said he had one last a month. So he said two medicinal doses of vitamin C at 1000mg each per day and only if I am basically blowing Slimer out of my face in 3-5 days should I consider another antibiotic. I told him that was fine with me as I don't like being on meds anyway especially antibiotics.
Due to me not wanting to go out and catch more crud from others, we basically stayed in all weekend. (Not fun given I already feel like I've been cooped up far too long!) So the Mr and I watched movies we got for Christmas. We finally saw Good Will Hunting. No...we haven't seen it before Saturday. I know, losers. Good movie but you probably already know that. I also saw Die Hard for the first time. Interesting. Then the Mr played his new game until I fell asleep and slept on the couch that night so in case we're mouth breathing on each other passing crap.
So yesterday I hit it hard on the holistic level. I'm evicting this crap for REAL, yo. So here are the products in my arsenal.
Vicks Personal Steam Inhaler
(affiliate link) 
This was the only facial steamer at the closest store so we went with it. I'm a little irritated that it only comes with one eucalyptus disc in there and of course they're made for one time use only. You know dang well I dried that thing out and reapplied some tea tree and eucalyptus oil on the pads the next day. You can easily get 3-4 uses out of it if you properly dry it and use essential oils to replenish the oomph.
100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Basic Aromatherapy Sampler Essential Oil Gift Set
(affiliate link) 
The Mr kindly got this off my wish list for Christmas since he knows no one in my family ever would buy this voodoo. Little did I know within 2 weeks of receiving it I would be putting it all to good use. Tea tree oil is a miracle oil and if you don't believe that, read up on my experience with it (after eating). It is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral which means it should be able to kick the butt of the sinus troll. I add a few drops of that to the steamer disk so if any of the steam penetrates in there it can get in there. Then I will occasional just take a hit of it and smell it straight up. I'm talking a good, deep inhale. I will put one drop to 4 drops of olive oil and lubricate the inside of my nose and honestly, that is the only thing that has kept my nose moisturized over the past 2 days so I'm keeping that up.
Flight Spray, Nasal Hydration Spray
(affiliate link) 
Normally when we travel, we will put a few squirts up the shnozz to keep it moisturized in that dry cabin air on the plane. This also comes in handy in the early stages of when some sinus issue is trying to come on. I was out when I started to get this but it has staved off sinus headaches in the past and gotten rid of that horrible morning congestion you can get. It's all natural so it's non-addictive. I wouldn't say it's super powerful if something has gotten hold really bad but in the early stages or as a preventative, it's awesome. When I am able to get a bit of smell going, I am going to squirt some of this Made in Maui goodness right into my sniffer holes.
Emergen-C Super Orange, 1000 mg of Vitamin C
(affiliate link) 
There are tons of different flavors for this stuff, my favorite being orange, raspberry or tropical. This is how I'm getting my 1000mg 'medicinal dose' of vitamin C twice a day per the second docs orders. You dissolve the powder in a little water and chug. If I would've remembered to take this the night I caught this crap along with neti potting, I'm sure I wouldn't be in this situation.
Speaking of which...
NeilMed NasaFlo Unbreakable Neti Pot with 50 Premixed Packets
(affiliate link) 
We take this version on our trips with us. It's plastic, easy to travel with and a very good starter pot if you're new to it. The thought of irrigating your nose freaks some people out and yes it takes a time or two to get used to it but this is the chit. My friend had sinus issues for 38 years and I told her time and time again get one of these things and she'd always say she would and never did. Finally I just bought her this kit and sent it to her (she's out of state) and she hasn't had a sinus issue since!! Another reason I recommend this one is the packets are perfectly pre-mixed with the right mix to make saline that is closest to your body's PH. To save a buck or two, I went with organic loose neti pot salt from some other manufacturer and no matter how small the dose, I burnt out my sinuses so bad my eyes got really red and I couldn't even finish a full pot. So I bought 100 more packets and will throw that other stuff away. I haven't had that problem once since I switched back to these packets. With this bout of loveliness, I've been doing it once in the morning and once in the evening before bed. *ALWAYS use either distilled or boiled then cooled water!* Regular tap water can contain amoebas that will do some rather unpleasant things.
So my mission this week is to be on the constant attack and try to kick this to the curb for good. Last night I was almost able to taste dinner after a strength workout. Let's hope it goes in that direction for good. I've been fooled before with one or two good days then boom...back to day one.
Wish me luck.
What did you do this weekend? Dealt with any unwelcome head, nose or chest guests this holiday season?
(This post contains affiliate links. Should you choose to buy through them to fight the creepin' crud, I will receive a nominal kickback toward keeping the blog lights on)
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