Professional Manicure! and other news...

I haven't had a professional manicure since June and with one of my friends' wedding in a week I figured this is as good a time as any...

I got OPI Lincoln Park After Dark. I love it. The other little hand is my 4 year old daughters.

In other news I have a new primary doctor and am hopefully on the way to being pain free or at least knowing what is going on with me...

Changing Directions and Goals

My original goal to run the 5k in February is going to be moved til the Summer. It's just not going to happen with upcoming dental work and other things going on. I need to focus on getting myself physically better(I have a lot of health issues that I have been neglecting) so although I will be trying to get to the gym more it's more to facilitate getting better and making my body healthier.

Not seeing this as a fail just as a new direction that will be better in the end...Just gonna stay positive!

Some Things I've been up to...

It's been a busy few weeks - with work, getting the kiddo ready for school, trying some new cooking techniques and some other stuff.

this was my attempt at pudding - let's just say this was the nicest it looked. FAIL

this was my crockpot mashed potatoes that I made. these came out really good. sadly I have no after pictures :(

and these are the latest additions to my nail polish collection. really digging Essie lately and picked up Stylenomics and Trophy Wife. I'm really thrilled with both of them!

I have also been using this to lighten my hair and I have to say with all the coloring I have done to it in the past years this is cleanly and gently making it a lovely blonde! :) SCORE!

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Mac & Cheese!

I'll admit before I lived on my own - not counting college - I was a boxed Mac&Cheese girl. Then I discovered cooking and I'll take the homemade any day over the boxed stuff.

easy ingredients - simple is always better! I use Velveeta but you can use what you like! 

I also use a quick cook pasta. But any kind will work!

everyone in the dutch oven! love this a definite must in the kitchen! 

get that pasta in there too!

mix and melt!

and done! delish! my 3 year old LOVES this too and will eat bowl fulls of it!

Old Family Favorite with Some New Twists

I really enjoy cooking but have since kind of let it go in favor of exercise so I don't spend as much time as I used to on it but still try to make at least 2(if my schedule allows) meals a day. And I love to try new things!

The meal I made last night is a take on a recipe my Mom makes quite a bit.

i use Uncle Ben's rice. Mmm good stuff. 

follow the directions as indicated on the box..(and no I'm not great at following directions but I made myself here - rice is tricky enough!)

this is the pan for the veggies. I put in some Olive Oil

then added the veggies - canned green beans, peppers, onions, fresh garlic, carrots and i added fish to the mix also. But you can add pretty much whatever you want here. 

everything coming together - then after about 10mins or so I added Greek yogurt and spices to make it a more complex taste. 

the rice ready and somewhat strained I combined everything and let it sit for another 20 minutes.

and done! Yummo. Not exactly like my Mom's but simply delicious! 

Manicure Fail!

After reading this blog - http://www.thenailasaurus.com/2012/04/gradient-nails-picture-tutorial.html and some others that showed the new gradient nail trend I wanted to try it myself.

This is the prep beforehand...

mixing...

i used a sponge and well..

this was the result.

I'm going to try it next time with maybe lighter colors and not so loose nail color. But hey I tried, and not all things we can excel at. That's why I will be tweaking this until I get it right...

Stay Tuned for more updates on this ongoing experiment!