MY BLING

So apparently when you get one of these put on your finger, and decide to plan your wedding in three months, blogging becomes a thing of the past.

But I think it is completely worth it because I am marrying the most amazing man ever!

With all the excitement we had to get a photo in. It took just a little bit of coordination, and a lot of awkwardness for that one...

but thankfully someone helped us out and took a much nicer picture for the albums!

66 days from today and I will be a STEVENS!

LATELY

So here's a look at my life lately...

I FINISHED MY SCIENCE OF BAKING BOOK!!! Now for the fun to begin! I get to experiment which is really gonna test what I learned. Stay tuned for this one!

Since I am done with that reading. Want to know what is next on my list?? Better than Oprah's, I swear. This book I stole from my boyfriend. It was a grad gift, and the organizational junkie I am...well, I just couldn't resist snatching Getting Things Done as soon as possible. The subtitle - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Exactly what I need lately...and I seriously can't wait!

And for all you Bachelorette fans out there...the highlight of my watching tonight was when my boy, looking up from his schoolwork, commented, "Man, if she picks that guy (Ames), their kids will have the biggest foreheads ever!" It is exactly these sort of comments that make watching this show with a guy so much more amusing.

MULTI-TASKING

A diva's got to multi-task. Let's face it if you decide to take on like twenty hobbies, which any diva must, there is just no way to do it all except knock out five things at once.


So I am going to confess...

I'm a multi-tasking blogger. It's new. Normally these posts have had my undivided attention, but not anymore. However, I am hoping my blogging increases from once a month to once a week. Vast improvement right? Well, hopefully if there aren't too many typos or fragments.

So you wanna know what is taking up the rest of my attention? None other than the Bachelorette. And it may or may not be because this season is pretty horrible. Because normally that show is quality!

Just kidding. Don't worry it's my guilty pleasure.

SUMMER DAYS

The problem with having a domestic diva blog is that when you aren't domestic, you got nothin' to blog about. Such is the problem with this blog. But rather than bore you with this sort of talk, I am going to tell you some of my favorite summer things. Cuz guess what people, IT'S SUMMER!!

{wraps}
I love soup. But when it's 110 degrees outside, I want something cold to eat. Enter...wraps. I'd toss a sandwich out any day for a wrap instead.  It could be the same ingredients, but something about adding that tortilla seals the deal for me.

{frozen yogurt}
I just had pink lemonade sorbet last night. Nothing tastes more like summer than that. Well, except maybe homemade ice cream. That has me consuming so much dairy that it's a wonder I don't turn into a Chickfila mascot.

{new sunglasses}
I break sunglasses like they are going out of style. At least one pair a year. No joke. But the advantage to that is I get to pick out new shades all the time. Minimal commitment...just my style!

{ocean breezes}
So maybe I don't get the real thing all time, but I appreciate it when I do. Coming back from the beach recently, I was just reminded how much I love it. Wouldn't mind being a coastal girl someday!

{pool parties}
If anyone needs help breaking in the pool this year, I'd be more than interested! ...Or a trip to beach. Just sayin'. I'd be all in.

{summer thunderstorms}
I used to think I'd like to be a storm chaser. Then I grew up a little, watched Twister a few two many times, and came to my senses. I still love them, but just from the shelter of my house.

{hammocks}
I don't know if I am allowed to pick this one, since I actually don't have a hammock..but maybe someday I will be the proud owner of one again. Because, yes, I used to have one hanging in my room. That and a 4 foot stuffed white gorilla. Wishing you knew me as a child? Yeah...i know.

{flipflops}
There is just something so easy and carefree about slipping on your flipflops. I really do have a special love of my boots, but at heart I think I'll always be a flipflop girl. If shoes were personalities, flipflops would be me. 

{sprinklers}
So I may not run through them like I used to growing up, but sometimes it is awfully tempting. Although I may or may not run through them when I go running. That'll just be my little secret!

DUDE, WHERE'S MY KEYS

Sometimes it is the smallest things that can make your life so much better. For me, all it took was finally purchasing a key hook. I lose my keys quite often, always throwing them here and there...and never in the same place twice. Barely twenty four hours later, and I am already happier! However, I will now need to work out more since I'll be running up and down the stairs less in search of my keys. All in all, I'd say it's a small price to pay.

SMORES

I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like smores. Maybe some people opt for just marshmallows instead of the whole shebang, but standing around a fire consuming excessive amounts of sugar...could life get any better??

Well, it has. Last night, I went to a restaurant whose dessert list included a "smores option". This is what they brought to our table.

There was definitely some table envy going on from the couple across the room. But I understood because I had that same envy a few months ago. I was walking by and saw several tables enjoying this unique dessert, wishing so bad to be one of them!

I apologize for the bad photos, but only had my cell phone with me to snap a few shots. Did I mention my phone is really old, desperately needs to be replaced, but I am too lazy?

Anyways, the great part about these smores is they are not just the plain old things. They are fancy smores. Brilliant if you ask me. There were three different types of marshmallows, which we decided were ginger, butterscotch, and coffee. Plus they had dark chocolate and their own home-made graham crackers covered in cinnamon. Mmm. I already want to go back!

All in all it was a great night. I only wish I had gotten a better picture of Seth and I. But that is almost impossible. This is what I have to work with...

For you Friends fans out there...see any resemblance to Chandler? Well, I ended up with a Chandler for sure!

MID-YEAR RESOLUTION

So I realize this sort of thing isn't quite as popular. I mean April certainly isn't the first of January, much less the middle of the year. But isn't halfway through January April about the time that you have failed your new year resolutions miserably? It is for me. I confess. I only had three legitimate goals this year. Figuring out my life was way too ambitious to be considered legitimate. So based off my others...

1. Blog more - YAY!! success for at least one!
2. Work out more - Ran twice (in 4 months)...it might have been "more", sadly yes, but not even close to what I was aiming for.
3. Spend more time getting ready - Left the house more than once sans mascara. Seriously, how in the world do I keep forgetting that? I need a makeup 101 class.

One outta three. Not complete failure! Phew.

But I'd like to make some new goals. Goals...resolutions...whatever you want to label them...

Maybe it all started by losing some precious pictures I snapped of my adorable nephew. Well, more like photos I got after an hour of tirelessly chasing him around trying to get him to smile. Snapped implies effortless, and it was nothing of the sort. I worked hard for those shots, which somehow accidentally got deleted. Guess it's one of those things you don't realize how much you appreciate until you lose it. Well, I have decided I love photo memories. So much that I want to...

Photograph more. Document more.

So that when I am old and grey, eccentric and crazy, I can look back on my life and remember every insignificant thing.

And yes, I do realize I am starting off my goal with a photoless blog. Don't judge.

NOTORIOUSLY BAD

So I am notoriously bad for uploading photos to my computer. For some reason, I just can't bring myself to do it. So while I am being horribly lazy. Let me redirect your interest to one of my favorite blogs (who write all the time with lots and lots of pictures). I have decided that I am too obsessed because we both cleaned out our closets on the same weekend. Kinda creepy. The only difference is she blogged about it on Monday and I have yet to...also probably the reason for our slightly different stat levels. Hah. Anyways, here are the Petersiks'.

P.S. And as a simple kind of gal, I am amazed at the amount of clothes she has. It makes me feel like a hoarder!

NOT JUST AT HOME

A diva is someone that makes any space homey. Not just her actual home. My home away from home just happens to be a boring grey cube. My fix...well, just take a look.

1. Add life. As in...a work plant! You can even name it if you like. Mine's a love fern...can you guess why??

2. Store office supplies you use a lot in cute containers. This little glass teacup does just the trick.

3. Buy a couple of your own office supplies to add more color and fun to your desk.

Voila. My diva-fied desk!!

THE BIG REVEAL

Yeah, so this may not be a big reveal, but considering my rate at doing and then posting projects in the last year. I'd say this is pretty big.

So that hint. As much as I love that cotton candy guess. (You see, I am a sucker for anything fair related. For all you Bachelor watchers, that surprise fair date with Ashley this last season...yeah, pretty much my ultimate dream date.) But the answer to my hint...was actually none other than..dum, dum dum...batting!! Batting for my new pillows!

Several blogs online show quick easy ways to create pillows from placemats and fabric napkins. It is unbelievably easy and thrifty. You can get super cute pillows for around $5 a pop. Plus, it only takes about 5 minutes to make (no joke) from start to finish. I fell in love with these placemats from Target but am not in the stage to be committing to colors for a kitchen. However, as a pillow, they would be way more versitile. Just the small bit of convincing I needed. I am obsessed!

A HINT

I just started a new domestic project that I'm in love with!! I'll reveal the final results later, but here's a hint to entice you...

Any guesses??

Plus, I scored these babies on my shopping trip for 50 cents a pack. That's cheaper than the dollar store! I couldn't pass up a bargain like that for these cute thank you notes.

I'M NOT A BELIEVER

So after reading an article in Real Simple about cleaning your tile grout using the Magic Eraser, I thought I would try it out to see how well it worked. Honestly, I wasn't that impressed with it. But after trying my problem grout areas with not much luck, I decided to give the whole shower a quick scrub to see how well it worked. Shocked. Utterly shocked. What I thought were just stains from my tub being 20 years old lifted away with no effort at all. This whole non-toxic cleaning thing...well I apparently haven't figured it out yet. My tub is now a shade of white I never knew existed...in about five minutes. Those magic erasers are safe right?? Because I seriously swear by them. They are my desert island cleaning product of choice. Not that you really need cleaning products on a desert island. But you know what I mean. I haven't given up on my toxic-free friends yet. No way, I love a good challenge. There has to be a way! This was at least comforting to read. I guess you could say I am more humanitarian than environmentally conscious. Don't worry...I still recycle. But I am not tossing my magic eraser quite yet. Maybe I'll just use that instead of bleach...

And yes, I am embarrassingly aware this is the third time I've written about the Magic Eraser. I'll stop. I promise!

LAUNDRY DAY

Today is pretty much a laundry day over here at Casa Diva. You know, when you are down to your last pair of socks...or whatever. You end up wearing tie dye or mesh shirts or whatever happens to be in the far abyss of your closet. Well, that is me today, but only in the kitchen. That's right..kitchen.

Let me explain.

I enter my kitchen. Starving....stomach growling starving! So I open the pantry. Then shut. Open fridge. Then shut. Open freezer. Slam shut. Open freezer again...BRUSSEL SPROUTS! Yep. That's it. It was my first time to try these infamous veggies...and they honestly weren't so bad. Maybe with enough lemon juice, oil, and salt anything can taste good. That or considering your other option is...ok, so there aren't any other options. They have to taste good! But to balance out, I've got cookies in the fridge almost ready to stick in the oven. Mmm...I can't wait. (I also finished off the flour, sugar, and butter making my cookies. Yeah, it's THAT bad. I am hoping no nuclear explosion happens today. I'd be the first one dead.)

So this might not the most well rounded meal, but it's my laundry day meal. It isn't supposed to make sense. And don't worry, I plan to go grocery shopping soon! (Well, at least before my cookie supply runs out)

THE LINE UP

Ok. So here's the line up of the top five products I found. I'm even ranking these so you'll know the down and dirty...


#1 - Distilled White Vinegar
Not just made for those delicious salt and vinegar chips. Nope, this baby is the first prize winner for a "non-toxic, clean your whole house with one product" solution. Simple as that. It is effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs. It works best on mirrors and as a multi-purpose cleaner.All you got to do is mix a half vinegar, half water solution. Easy peasy. I mean you don't even need to measure for this baby. Just the way I like it! Plus, if you dump about 1/4 cup in your toilet, it'll clean that annoying ring that appears. It is safe to use, plus this baby is cheap. It was around a dollar for the vinegar, and H2O is free! Can't beat this one.


#2 - Club Soda
I consider this one a great find. There you are finding yourself scrubbing away, working up a sweat, getting a little parched. All you have to do is dump a little of this on a stain and gulp down the rest. What other kind of cleaning products can you do that with? Pretty impressive if you ask me. Besides the rehydration benefits, this one is known to pull out a nasty carpet stain or two. The other benefit is that it shines bathroom fixtures like nobodies business. No crazy mixtures for this one. Just pour on a cloth, shine...and be amazed!



#3 - Hydrogen Peroxide (4%)
This baby is the safe alternative to bleach. Yes, bleach is still mentioned as a safe choice, but I do think it has some disadvantages which bumped it from this list. We will get to that later though. This solution is simply 1 cup hydrogen peroxide for every 2 cups of water. You just apply this little mixture and mold disappears. They say you should let it sit on the grout for about an hour though. But that's not too difficult if you just spray it first, clean the rest of the bathroom, then go back and scrub away.


#4 - Baking Soda
Arms getting tired? Why just let that baking soda take over. This gentle scouring powder will lift those stubborn stains away. It also will clean silver, make your fridge stop smelling funky, and can clean your drains. The list could go on and on. Seriously, check out their website or the back of a box. And can I say cheap for this one. Like ridiculous. Like I may actually be able to afford gas to get to the store now!


#5 - Lemon Juice & Olive Oil
Polishing up that wood? Look no further than you kitchen. Just 1 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup of lemon juice and you got yourself a polish for your hardwood. Also, soap scum. I know I recently mentioned my battle with that lovely buildup. Apparently adding a little lemon juice to your multipurpose solution should help solve that, but you only need a teaspoon or so. I thought about adding lemon peel instead, though, because I don't know how long the lemon would last in the solution. And as for me, I don't want to have to make these solutions every week. I am way too lazy for that.

Now with these 5 ingredients in stow. There is no surface left to be cleaned. I'll talk about a few that didn't make the list next just so you know a little more why I chose these. Even on "mother earth" type sites they list a few others to choose from...however, most of them have mixed reviews.

Let's just review my list for a minute...Simple. Check. Nontoxic. Check. Cheap. Check. Effective??

So far this sound too good to be true! No way can these can compete to the crazy chemical, lab-tested products out there. But a girl's gotta hope!

A KICK

It wasn't too long ago that you could say baking was my thing. I was on a kick. (I have NO idea what that means! Who comes up with these phrases??) I even asked for a baking book for Christmas...that was exciting to me. And don't get me wrong, I like baking, and am still making my way through that beast. I haven't forgotten about you three blog readers either...I'll post about it once I start my experimenting stage. (Figured it would be more interesting with a photo or two)



But let me tell you about the new love interest in my life. Cleaning. I know, I know...I just heard you gasp. Some raised eyebrows, maybe? You're probably wondering how I just managed to include love and cleaning in the same sentence! Maybe all those toxic cleaning fumes have been going to my head. But here is the thing that has me so intrigued...not the cleaning itself, but the cleaning products.

I really wish I knew where this all began, but I simply found myself researching cleaning products and solutions. Not high on my list of interesting topics, but for some reason it had me at hello. And now....well, you know the rest. Here I am, proclaiming my new fling to the entire blogosphere. Nuff said.

So when I started thinking more about that whole spick and span cleaning process, I had a few prereqs. Much less than most college degrees, so I figured they should be allowed.

1. Must be simple.
Let's face it. Who has the storage space to fit 20 bottles in their cabinet?

2. Must be non-toxic.
Let's just say I got my fair share of brain cell-killing fumes from art school. I'd like to still remember who I am and such.

3. Must be cheap.
Two words: I'm poor. Did I mention I studied art?

4. Must be effective.
Let's face it. I don't have Mr. Clean's arms, even if I wished. Besides, who has an hour to kill scrubbing?

Four basic things I ask of cleaning. I'll give you the breakdown of the goods next...

SNAP

...CRACKLE. POP. MMMM. (I always thought they forgot the last phrase!)

Rice Krispies are my all time favorite snack. I love them! But there are two qualifications for my treat I swear by:

1. Lazy is where it's at! No need to preciously form these krispies into a pan or quirky shape. I just use the cheater's version. Butter a bowl, sprinkle in some marshmallows, heat, then add the rice krispies, and eat with a spoon. Less work, less pans...this equals more happiness. It may not be exactly math, but it's accurate.

2. It is all about ratio. About 5:1 marshmallows to krispies is the way to go! And it's not a science, it's just all about what you like. And me, why I like marshmallows. The more jittery, hyped up, crazy feeling the better.

Rice Krispies are my anti-drug.

SPRING IS HERE

So you think I would have come to the realization that spring is here by how many times I have sneezed in the last few days, but considering I am allergic to work (the place, not the job) I didn't put it together. Not until this afternoon...

I was on my way home from work and to be honest, I am little embarrassed. Normally, I am pretty self-aware. You know, I wait until I get home to pick my nose or flex my bulging arm muscles. However, today was not one of those days. I decided to go shoe shopping today, in hopes of finding something else to wear besides my clunky, uncomfortable shoes I wore today. Pain apparently has a way of motivating.

So I stop by good ol' DSW to see what they have. (Quite a disappointment, but not what this post is about) As I walk out to my car empty handed, I notice a leggy little creature right by my door handle. If there is one thing I don't handle well, that would be bugs...more specifically, spiders. And little Charlotte was just hanging out on my door. (Hopefully naming this spider does not endear you to it, because spiders are NOT endearing!) So obviously I am not getting in my car with a spider in my way. But I don't have anything to kill it with so I start attacking it with my keys. Not the smartest thing to do to you car...I seem to learn things the hard way. So after mauling my car door to no avail, I start sticking my leg up in the air trying to squish it with my shoe...now this happens to be pretty high...ahem, not something you can be too discreet about. Although, to be honest I have no idea how ridiculous I looked at this point, because I was completely focused on the kill.

However, despite my intensity, both methods were unsuccessful. This winter has made me a little rusty apparently. So after the spider runs to hide, I have no choice but to get into my car...very slowly and with a scared look on my face. Now as I am about to pull out, I turn the other direction and notice a man beside me in his car...with a VERY amused look on his face. Oops! It looks like I was 'crazy lady' entertainment for someone today. Oh well, I am too excited it's spring!! (well, minus the spiders)

TEA SNOBS

So if you know me at all, you know I have a 'slight' obsession with tea. I have been worried lately, because I drink the stuff so much that my snobbish tendencies are due to set in any day. Thankfully, a trip to Teavana today reassured me I still have far to go. I went to get this cool new gadget to brew loose leaf tea. Now, I am not one for gadgets, but I just had tea at a friend's house and discovered this and had to go out the next day to purchase one myself. Considering how much I drink tea, I just couldn't resist this Perfect Tea Maker.

Now, as excited as I am about the tea maker, I was a little overwhelmed by all their tea choices...and their prices. A little ridiculous compared with my Kroger runs I usually make. They have like 4 different types of chai! I am way too indecisive for a place like that. They also have a "perfect teaspoon" so that you can accurately add your tea. (Seriously??) Apparently it is more of a science than I make it. Brew times and temperatures are way more important than I thought...plus those are different for each blend. I really hope someone would stop me before I ever get that extreme!

SOAP SCUM

My biggest opponent: the tub. I can clean anything in the house, start the washer with ease, but when it comes to soap scum and that vinyl curved menace, my weapons of cleaning warfare are out. And instead of battling it out for a couple hours until I've won, I turn my nose up and refuse to acknowledge its existence. Ignorance is bliss, right? I also like to rationalize that my shower still looks much better than some male showers/bathrooms I have seen lately. And since soap scum isn't black or smelly, we have gotten a long just fine for the past few weeks not getting in each other's way. However, all that has changed, because I have finally caved and went out searching for some better cleaning tools. With a few new brushes in stow, I have now approached my bathroom with a mission. And we have battled it out for the past three night's in a row (I think in my effort to make up for the past few weeks of no attempt) I am proud to say, I have come out the clear winner. See ya, soap scum!

LOVE

So in honor of February (and soon to be Valentine's Day), here's a sneak peek at my valentines! If you're loved...be expecting some little red envelopes in your mailbox soon!

PICTORIAL DYSLEXIA

Yep. I am diagnosing myself. I suffer from a case of pictorial dyslexia. Let me explain...

It started this morning. No, that is a lie. This story you are about to hear has happened before. Therefore, this morning's incident must be classified as more than just an accident. Anyways, it all started this morning when I came downstairs and set foot in the kitchen. I turned on the burner to start heating up my kettle for my morning cup of tea. As that was heating up, I thought to myself, 'Mmm. I should cook some eggs this morning.' You see, that is what prevents my stomach from rumbling in church. Not only did scrambled eggs sound delicious, but this would prevent me from future embarrassment when my stomach happened to rumble right when an 'Amen' was in order. Yeah, true story. So after my kettle whistled away, I set up my skillet to cook on the same burner. I grabbed things out of the pantry, cracked the eggs, and stirred away. At this point, I thought I'd be super talented and fix my cup of tea at the same time I scrambled the eggs. But after a few minutes all my attention is focused on the eggs. They are still really runny. And I do NOT like runny eggs. I continue to push them around waiting for them to cook but they are only partially done. Finally, I notice that the burner is simply not on. I had turned the burner off right after removing the kettle, but thought I had turned it right back on. Unfortunately, I turned on the wrong burner...burning the oven covers and some oven mitts in the process. Now, take a careful look at the picture I posted. I should be able to read the diagram to see what burner is being used, but for some reason I always pick the wrong one. It's a curse. Instead of putting the knobs vertical, could they not have put them side by side so it matched? Right should mean right instead of top means right...confusing, right? Well, maybe not to the average person, but if you have pictorial dyslexia, you bet!

Needless to say, I did not feel very diva-esque leaving my house this morning! Martha would be so disappointed!

JUST DO IT

So maybe I am stealing Nike's catch phrase, but I'm not going to lie, it's pretty catchy. And very appropriate for today. When I first started this blog, there were certain domestic things I hated. I would avoid at all possible. Mainly...mending. Ugh, even the word makes me shudder. How can that be fun?! I even tried creating a mending kit to inspire me. But today, only a couple days after discovering a hem coming undone, that shirt is already fixed and ready to wear again. It took about 5 minutes. No big deal.

I like to think (or hope) that this is an actual broader implication that I am not letting myself create excuses for things that need to be done or even things I want to do. For example, I am now planning a trip to New York in February. I am almost embarrassed at how long I have wanted to go to city and never have. Try...over 10 years! Yeah, pretty ridiculous. Now, I have been tempted to postpone it again. I mean New York, February. Probably not the most enjoyable time to walk around the city. But at this rate, if I keep putting it off...I will never make it there. Or the other million things I want or need to do. Sometimes I think it's easy to wait for the most ideal circumstances. But let's face it, in this unpredictable, snowstorm kind of world, beggars can't be choosers. I have a free flight and I'm gonna go somewhere I've always wanted to go! NYC here I come!!

DIVAS' GOTTA WORK

Part of being a domestic diva, well, one without a sugar daddy, means that a majority of my time is spent at work. Therefore, I am going to give you a little peek into my life. Better sit down, it is that thrilling. And when I say sit down, it's for fear you might fall asleep standing....

Anyways, the good news is there is something about being the confines of a cubicle or office that inspires me to write. The Sojourns of Simple Office Staff. You see, I have a title and everything.

So today, I finally drew a comparison between "the rat race" that is so often referred to in the business world and my daily office life. My new office has cubicles and walls twisted in ways that create a little maze every time I get up or return from my desk. I feel like a mouse or rat being tested to see if I can find my way to where I need to go. Now I realize this is not the meaning that was originally intended with that phrase. See I am not trying to make my way up the corporate ladder, but simply trying to return to my seat with bumping into any walls or smacking into another person. Both of which are very real possibilities. My job is laced with danger, uncertainty, and suprises. Thrilling, right?!

I'M IN LOVE

I just couldn't help falling in love with my new kettle. I mean, come on, it's a cute apple green and gives me tea. What more could a girl ask for?

NOT A COOKING BLOG

Figured I should preface with that considering my first few sentences...

I have been learning a lot about hair lately. All of which has been unintentional. I know I typically write about my cooking adventures, but I must talk out (or in this case, write out) my thoughts about non-shampooing. I'll explain in a minute what exactly that means.

Motivation #1:
A few days ago, I learned about the 6.4 billion dollars we, as Americans, spend on hair care products. I learned about all the intensive studies and NASA technology that Pantene uses to create its products, not to mention tons of chemicals. (Ahem, cancer) And for me personally, by the time I finish a bottle, my hair always has build up from the ingredients in the shampoo. I end up walking around with my hair greased to my scalp and with a frizzy bush at the end. I, for one, do not enjoy having to pick out a new shampoo every time I run out.

Motivation #2:
Then, today, I stumbled across an article which was quite the opposite to that type of product and the American lifestyle. This article is what started my curiosity. You see, I always like a challenge. But the more I thought about it...the more I actually started considering trying it. Non-shampooing that is..

Ok, ok. Here's a definition. It is not quite as gross as it sounds.

Non-shampooing:
The act of washing one's hair with a baking soda mix and apple cider vinegar rinse instead of the traditional shampoos one can purchase.

But...

Objection #1:
When I read that it was a guy who did this study. One that liked punk rock...an instant red flag went up. Ew. Guys standards are way different than us girls. But after some searching I found out lots of different people have tried this, not just one guy.

Objection #2:
My hair will most likely get worse before it gets better. I just don't know if I could handle the transition phase of this whole switch. I feel like I would need to hiberate for a month or so as not to scare people. I might not just be a freak for trying this, but look like one too!

Decisions, decisions...

SCIENCE

This post is a fair warning. If you hate science, you might just want to look the other way. The nerd that I am (and ex-nursing student) I really do enjoy science. Anatomy, chemistry, dissecting a frog...well, maybe not that last one. And not to worry...that is not where I am going next with my cooking. On the contrary, think pastries that melt in your mouth, laced with sweetness but not overpowering, smooth, creamy chocolate, perfectly whipped cream, truffles and tarts, and the most amazing cake ever created. Ok, ok...so back to my point. I finally got the Science of Baking (from my sweet boyfriend) which is a cookbook that goes into the chemistry involved with baking. (and yes, if there are any of your devout blog followers out there, I blogged about it before, twice to be exact) I was right when I first thought that all baking recipes were the same. The seemingly small and insignificant differences are actually very important. The order of mixing and slight differences in ingredients can distinguish a sunken, soggy cake from a moist, airy one. I hope to share with you the interesting parts of what I learn. And more than that, I hope I understand "the why" by the end and can stop holding my breath every time I stick something in the oven. A diva's gotta hope!