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!