Two of my new favorite things

Did anyone else have a hard time with technology today? I had to restart my work computer three times. The updated Flash Player that I needed installed only works on Internet Explorer and not Mozilla.  Then our copy machine went on the fritz!  Utter techie weirdness!

In addition to that, a little bit of snow came to the mitten! I don't know if I'm excited about it or not.  I love Fall, so I'm sad to see it go away.  However, I'm warming up to the idea of winter.  Why?

I have two new favorite things that will keep me warm for the winter!!!!

New Favorite Thing #1:  FUZZY SOCKS!

Yes, I'm wearing two different socks.  I love them both!  The ankle, purple and black socks is fun and warm.  The longer black, white, and gray sock is so comfy that I sometimes forget that I'm wearing it!  Fuzzy socks are great for lounging around the house on a lazy, chilly day.  It's also breathes well, while my feet are nice and warm, they do not get all sweaty!

New Favorite Thing #2 Running Gloves

This was an impulse buy at Target.  I needed a pair of everyday gloves for driving to work, walking the dog, and running.  These gloves are amazing!  It keeps my hands warm.  The material is the same used for running t-shirts or shorts, so it allows the skin to breath without causing sweaty palms.  I love the material because it's also very light weight and flexible so my hands move just as freely as if I wasn't wearing gloves.

So if today is the beginning of snow in Michigan, I say BRING IT!

I also want to leave you with a cool song that has been stuck in my head all day.  I have no idea why, but it's a feel good song, so why not share the love:

Loki "Loco" K - An Update

So I know that I skipped out last week.  Honestly, the things I want to write in my "eating healthy" weeks I can't until I get a much needed piece of machinery back into our household.  (What?)  I will explain later.

This week is typically a "How to stay active" post," but I'm changing things up a bit.

I wanted to give you all an update on Loki.  His been with us for a little over 6 months and he is doing great!  Also, he has definitely been keeping us active!  With daily walks/bike rides, and obedience training, we have been up and about with our furry friend!

With that said, I give you Loki's video blog debut.  First up, some old tricks that he already knew before we adopted him:


Here's one more:



But, that's not all. We've taught him a couple new things as well! Come when called, High five, and catch (with food):



The best one is "Park." Loki gets really excited when new people come over, so we taught him to "park" so that he doesn't get in the way and barrel people over with his hearty welcome. This was a really easy command to teach and he has been doing well with it. Check it out.



Having Loki as part of our family has been such a treat. It's so awesome to come home and see both my husband and our dog open the door and greet me with smiles (and in Loki's case wiggles). I will have to get a video of that for you guys soon. It's the absolute cure to a bad day!

Besides, how can you not smile when you look at this face!

Isn't he handsome!?

A Low Key Anniversary

On 10/16/10,

This tomboy got married!

So on 10/16/11 (well, 10/15/11), Marcin and I celebrated our One Year Anniversary with a romantic dinner at Opus One.

Pic Source

We had a great time!  During our dinner:

1) We got a complimentary bottle of champagne!

A surprise for us - all thanks to our former wedding coordinator and friend . . .

Wedding Coordinator Extraordinaire Sarah!

Sarah now works for Opus One and she called ahead to let them know we were coming.  We were treated with like VIP's!



I had the duck . . .

and it was delicious

Marcin had the Surf & Turf. . .

 

I got to have a few bites. . . YUM!

 The owner came out to let us know that Sarah had called a head.  So we made sure to convey how AWESOME she is and how much we love her!

We also ordered desserts, but the batteries ran out on my camera!  :(  I had a delicious creme brulee!

But before we got to our desserts, we were presented with a nice gift from the restaurant. . .

HALF A POUND OF DARK CHOCOLATE!!!!

Took us a whole week to finish this bad boy!

Needless to say, we Wined & Dined on our first year anniversary!



On our actual anniversary (Sunday), we took a family bike ride with Loki, hung out at home and caught up on our DVR, and cooked dinner.  I made a crock pot Mac & Cheese recipe that I got from Pinterest!

Twas Yummy!

Next year, we are thinking of doing a mini trip to Traverse City.  Looking forward to that!



And thus, October comes to a close.  I can't believe that November is right around the corner!!!  See you then!

Hello my name is Jessica . . .

. . and I've been a blogger slacker!!!!

Sorry guys :(

Work has been rough the past month - crazy busy with events and a lot of new things in the works.  I've been so burnt out when I get home, the last thing that I want to do is go back on the computer and blog.

Both Marcin and I have had pretty hectic weeks at work.  Then our weekends have been eaten up with social commitments.   Sigh. . .

So here is my slow attempt to get back in the blogging game.

So this is "Fashion/Beauty" week on my blog schedule.  I've been mostly writing about beauty tips and tricks before my hiatus.  Basically I sort of hit a "A-HA" moment back in July when I got the July Glamour Magazine with Blake Lively on the cover.

(Sidebar - I have a girl crush on Blake Lively!  I started watching Gossip Girl for the last season and a half.  But what really sealed the deal in my girl crush was her role in the Green Lantern.  She had the best line that redeems all comic book heroines!)

In her article she said,

"Style is how you say, "This is who I am today.'"

When I read that, something sort of clicked for me.  While I'm not exactly a trend setter or fashionista as Blake or my fashionable friends, I don't have to fit into a cookie cutter mold of style.   So I haven't been posting about my outfits because who am I to say that something is stylish for the masses.

If it's stylish for me, then that is all that matters!

So if I feel a bit girlie one day for a wedding, I can rock this look:

At my friend, Angela's wedding

 If I'm feeling sporty, then . . .

At the UM vs. San Diego game . . GO BLUE!!

If I'm feeling random . . .

I'm calling this Rustic Chic.  Don't ask about the horse.  LOL!

 So style is really what you make of it, not what others say is "in" or "cool."

Although, I do have to say, trends are cool to watch and experiment with - just be money conscious about it!  Oooh, do I detect a new post idea???  Stay tuned next month . . .

;)

Next week, check out my Anniversary post!  Marcin and I celebrated our one year anniversary!  It will also be the 6 month anniversary of adopting Loki!

10 LAYERS OF ME

This marks my 250th post on the blog!!!

I honestly never thought I would reach this point when I started this blog 3 years ago . . .

Normally this week would be about "active living," but I haven't started my dance classes yet, so I really do not have anything.  

Instead, I pulled this blog survey from my first personal blog.  It's a survey I took in 2006 and 2007.  I want to see how my answers changed or stayed the same . . . so here goes!

LAYER ONE: ON THE OUTSIDE
Name: Jessica

Birth date: May

Birth place: Dearborn, MI

Current Location:  My house (2011); Organizational Studies Program, UofM (2007); Academic Advising Center, EMU (2006)
Eye Color: brown
Hair Color: black
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Taurus

LAYER TWO: ON THE INSIDE
Your heritage: Filipino, Spanish
What Shoes Did You Wear Today: Silver flats (2011); black flats (2007); black boots(2006)
Your weakness: Social Media (2011); shopping (2007); sleep(2006)
Your fears: Something happening to my family (2011); going to the doctor about my headaches (2007); falling asleep at work and get caught (2006)
Your perfect pizza: Cheese, black olives, and bacon (2011); Cheese, green peppers, pepperoni (2007 & 2006)
Goal you'd like to achieve: Maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle (2011);  Get out of debt (2007 & 2006)

LAYER THREE: YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW:
Your most overused phrase(s): Wicked (2011); Holy Goo! (2007);"Seriously" - Damn Grey's Anatomy! (2006)
Your thoughts first waking up: “Is it my turn to let Loki out?”(2011);"I just fell asleep!"(2007 & 2006)
Your best physical feature: My eyes . .or my smile (2011, 2007, and 2006)
Your bedtime: whenever:  10:00-11:00 pm (2011); whenever (2007 & 2006)
Your most missed memory:  waking up in the hospital to find a plush Garfield toy from my dad (2011);hanging out with my friends in the UC (2007 & 2006)

LAYER FOUR: YOUR PICK:
Pepsi or Coke: Pepsi (2011, 2007, & 2006)
McDonald's or Burger King: Burger King (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Single or group dates: any kind of date (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Adidas or Nike: neither (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Lipton Tea or Nestea: Lipton (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Cappuccino or coffee: Coffee (2011); cappuccino  (2007 & 2006)

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU?
Smoke: An occasional cigar (2011); No (2007, & 2006)
Cuss: why yes, thank you for asking! (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Take a shower: yep . . .the only way to wake up in the morning (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Have a crush: yes I do and I married him!  (2011)
Think you've been in love: Yes  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Like(d) high school: hells no  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Want to get married: Yep, and I did!  (2011)
Believe in yourself: Sure do!  2011); I do, but I have my moments of insecurity (2007 & 2006)
Get motion sickness: Quite frequently (2011); sometimes (2007 & 2006)
Think you're a health freak: Yep, but I let myself indulge (2011); Ha! Right (2007 & 2006)
Get along with your parents: Sure (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Like thunderstorms: Only if I can stay home, curl up on my couch and watch T.V. or read a book (2011, 2007, & 2006)

LAYER SIX: IN THE PAST WEEK
Drank alcohol: Yes
Gone on a date: yep
Gone to the mall: No (2011); Yes! LOL! I told you, it's my weakness! (2007)No (2006)
Been on stage: No; (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Eaten Sushi: No (2011 :( ); yes (2007 & 2006)
Been dumped: no (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Gone skating: No (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Gone skinny dipping: nope (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Dyed your hair: no (2011, 2007, & 2006)

LAYER SEVEN: HAVE YOU EVER
Played a game that required removal of clothing: no (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Gotten beaten up: no (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Changed who you were to fit in:  Nope (2011);  I changed my communication style (2007 & 2006)

LAYER EIGHT: GETTING OLDER
Age you hope to be married: I was 29 (2011); hmmm . . before I'm 30 (2007 & 2006)
Numbers of Children: 1 or 2 (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Describe your dream wedding: NAILED IT!  (2011); small and simple with lots of dancing at the reception (2007 & 2006)
How do you want to die: never really thought of that  (2011, 2007, & 2006)

LAYER NINE: IN A GAL/GUY
Best eye color?: brown  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
best hair color?: hmmm . .don't really have a preference  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Height: Taller than me! 5'7-5'10  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Best first date location: Royal Oak  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Articles of clothing: Not preppy   (2011, 2007, & 2006)

LAYER TEN: IN THE NUMBERS
Number of people I can trust: 4 (2011); 2 (2007 & 2006)
Number of CD's I own: yeah, that would take awhile  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Number of piercings: two in each ear that I never put earrings in  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Number of tattoos: 0  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Number of times been on T.V.: 2 or 3 times (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Number of times my name has appeared in the Newspaper?: A couple of times  (2011, 2007, & 2006)
Number of scars on my body: 1 – almost all healed (2011); 4 - man I'm clumsy! (2007) gosh... right now, two. (2006)
Number of things in my past that I regret: one (2011, 2007, & 2006)

So there be my layers . .aaarrrg!  

The Beauty Detox – A Book Report

Hello September!

While it is still warm out (hello mugginess in the mitten!), it’s that time of year when all the kids gear up to go back to school (or are currently experiencing their first week back at school).  On campus, more and more students are walking around, waiting in lines at the local coffee shops, and coming in and out of buildings as they map out their fall schedules.

In honor of “Back to School,” I give you a report on the book that changed my whole thinking on healthy eating:

The Beauty Detox by Kimberly Snyder, C.N.

The author, Kimberly Snyder, is a licensed nutritionist who has worked with ChanningTatum, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Vince Vaughn, and Drew Barrymore.  I happened upon her website/blog through a celebrity gossip website that I frequent.  Needless to say, her advice and tips on her blogs intrigued me and I order the book late March.  She advocates a raw food/vegan lifestyle, but advises on ways for meat eaters can maintain their love of meat and still lose weight.

Once I got it, I read through it quickly to get the basic gist of her concepts.  I started practicing some of her tips as I read through her book and saw immediate changes (increased energy, better looking skin, and weight just melting away).  Wanting to take this weight loss to the next level, I took the book with me on our honeymoon and read each page very carefully. I even brought a highlighter with me to make notes.  In a way, I studied this book!

Just like being in class again!

 What I like about this book:

Her approach:   

I know that some of you read “Detox” and thoughts immediately went to the “Master Cleanse” or the “Juice Detox.”  That is not the case here.  In Kim’s approach, “detox” and “cleanse” are verbs not nouns.  She writes about changing the way you eat and the order food is eaten to support the body’s natural way of detoxifying and cleansing itself.  

In addition, this is not a 2 week highly restrictive program. This is a lifestyle change.  By increasing your water, vegetable, greens, and fruit intake, you fuel your body with natural foods that the body can easily digest.  Of course, this is something that we all know about, but . . .  

Her focus:

Kimberly explains how the process of digestion works in the human body and that the order we eat food affects that digestion process.  If we eat improper food pairings (e.g. carbs + protein), or eat out of order (Protein before fruit), our digestive system goes into overload and more energy is needed into to digest the food.  When the body can’t completely digest food, the undigested food and toxins get pushed away from the internal organs and create fat.  

However, an efficient digestion (with proper food pairings in the proper order) equals more energy freed up in the body to heal other areas – melt away fat, smooth skin, strengthen hair and nails (the “beauty” part of the diet).  So it’s a vegetarian/vegan/raw food diet with a twist.

Her phases:

Now, I’ve tried the South Beach Diet and the Eat Clean diet and saw some results.  Unfortunately, after two weeks, my energy levels dropped and I felt like crap.  With these diets, the first stages are highly restrictive for a short period of time.  The crappy feeling is the built up toxins freed up from the body and no way of getting out of the body.  In a sense, the body is detoxing too fast.

Kimberly advocates a different approach in her phase.  Instead of being highly restrictive in the beginning, you start with a less restrictive phase for a month (instead of two weeks), the second phase is a little bit more restrictive, and the third phase is the most restrictive.  She strongly recommends that you stay in each phase for at least a month before thinking of moving into the next phase.  This is to ensure your body is detoxifying and cleansing in an efficient way without causing a “crash.”  I've gone through the first two stages and saw results (went down a size, noticeable difference in my body shape, and most importantly, no crash!).

Her open-mindedness

One of the biggest thing that I appreciated is her open-mindedness that not everyone will be like her.  While she is advocating a raw food, vegan lifestyle, she realizes that some of us will not give up meat.  When she educates her readers about the pitfalls of animal protein and dairy, she also gives alternatives and/or best practices to continue to maintain an omnivore lifestyle.

If all of this intrigues you, I encourage you to:

1. Go to Kim’s blog
2. Get her book
3. Follow her on Twitter
4. Follow her on Facebook . . .to  learn more.

Kim is so friendly and very responsive to tweets and Wall Posts.  It’s like having her as your personal nutritionist!

*I do not personally know Kimberly Snyder or is any way, shape, or form compensated for this post.  It’s just THAT good of a book!

Wild Card Week - Q&A

August just flew by didn't it!  Soon it will be September and it's "Back to School" time.  Since I work in an academic setting, I still pretty much live by semesters.  It's a bit different then when I was a student since I have to think at least two semesters ahead of the current one.  But I still long for Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation like every other student.  This time, I get paid to be on vaca!  I even like Spring Break.  Even though I'm still at work, the campus is quiet so it's calming.

So, I started this new weekly format for my blog and the fourth week of the month is the "Wild Card" week.  I had other plans for this week post, but I got a few questions from my last post that I wanted to write in more detail here.

Q&A - From the My Top Three Beauty Advice

From E B posted in the comments: 
This is great advice!  Question..how often are you supposed to clean/replace your sponge?  How do you make sure it doesn't grow bacteria?  Any advice on that?  Thanks friend! 

JustJayTomboy: 
That is a great question.  I'm a bit of a germaphob myself (comes from being a daughter of a nurse).  So here are steps I take to keep the sponge sanitary.

Step 1:  When you are done washing your face, rinse and squeeze the sponge until all the product has washed out (basically when the water runs clear).

Step 2:  Once all the product has washed off, give the sponge one final squeeze.  The sponge should be just slightly moist.

Step3:  Store the sponge in a separate container.  I had a extra travel soap container that I use:

I use the bottom portion that had the ridges so that air could circulate on the bottom . . .nerdy, I know!

Step 4:  Store the sponge and the container out of the way when not in use.  I put it in "my" drawer in the bathroom and bring it out only when I use it.

By following this, I usually keep the same sponge for about a month-month and a half.  Usually when I throw it away earlier than that it's because I got lazy in taking my mascara off before washing my face and the sponge gets dark because of it. 

From T K posted on Facebook:
I have a question about beauty tip #2 - What can you use in the AM to wash your face? I don't like how oily my face feels in the morning, so I always wash it...is there a particular product, like cold cream, that is acceptable for the AM?

JustJayTomboy: 
Well, after about a week of switching to only washing at night, I noticed that my skin was less oily in the morning.  Sometimes, the excessive washing may cause the skin to become more oily.  Try washing your face every other day with a mild soap during your morning shower.  Then, as you get more comfortable with the idea of not washing your face (and by washing I mean using a product), then try just rinsing your face with cold water.  Normally just rinsing my face in the shower is plenty enough.  When I get out of the shower, I continue with my toner, face moisturizer, and eye cream.  But it only works because I was my face at night - every night. 

So there you have it.  I hope I tied up any loose ends from my previous post!

Good Night folks!