Happy Thanksgiving

Living Proof - Full

I wanted to try Living Proof - Full after I saw the Jennifer Aniston infomercial talking about a newly discovered technology for thinning hair. I've always had fine hair but over the past few years I've noticed more hair in the shower drain and I can see more of my scalp where my hairline meets my forehead. This thinning hair thing is a source of great annoyance. I've been on the look out for products that help make my hair look thicker. I know there is nothing that can actually make my hair thicker than it is. I know whatever the product does, it's not actually permanently altering my hair.  I get it.  With that being said and reading a plethora of reviews before I bought it, I went ahead and bough the travel size to try out.  The majority of people that tried the product liked.  There were a few negative comments but after reading what they had to say I wanted to try it anyway.  The negative comments seemed more in line with someone that wanted to wave a magic wand over their head and magically transform their hair into Brooke Shields' circa 1982. My expectations weren't that high. Like most of the reviewers, I liked the scent. It's sort of a woodsy, citrusy smell. I've used it three times since I purchased it Friday evening.  My hair does seem a little fuller than usual but nothing over the top and I can get the same results from a little mouse and an upside down blow out. My ends were a little more dry afterwards but I used some Fekkai glossing creme and that smoothed things out.  My normal hair is not usually dry or frizzy. There is one thing that makes it unlike anything that I've tried before and will help it establish a place in the regular line up. It makes my scalp less noticeable and that is awesome. I bought mine at Ulta but I it's available at Sephora (unless it's in JCP) and our Nordstrom's has it. It's a little on the pricey side at $24 for 8oz but a little goes a long way. I used a nickel sized amount and it was plenty of coverage.  But I also have fine, shoulder length hair.  Different hair types and lengths may need to use more. The scalp coverage is a huge reason this is a keeper for me.  I can't say that everyone will have the same results but for now I'm a fan, even if that means I have to use glossing crème for a smooth finish. 

The Freshman Fifteen

 In my youth, I was never concerned with what I weighed or how I looked.  I was always thin and could eat whatever I wanted.  I was also decently active so even in high school, my weight was pretty steady.  When I started college, I was definitely a victim of the Freshman 15 due to lack of movement and late night border runs after the bar.  Fortunately that weight came off as I started a regular running routine with my roommate.  From that point on, my weight was pretty consistent and I worked out 2 or 3 times a week.  My body wasn't at it's best, but I certainly didn't hate the way I looked and would enjoy putting on a nice outfit to go out. All that changed during my pregnancy with Goose.  I had morning sickness throughout the entire pregnancy and definitely ate for two (give or take a few).  I gained a ton of weight but figured I'd be able to lose it once I had the baby.  Fast forward eight years and that never happened.  In fact, I steadily gained weight over the years.  Only two or three pounds per year, but still too much for someone that was already overweight.  I'd always tell myself that I'd start exercising again and that I'd watch what I was eating and I'd get back to feeling good about myself but that didn't happen.  I had a goal over the last year to lose as much weight as I reasonably could before we went to a family wedding in May.  That didn't happen.  I didn't lose any weight.  In fact, I was at my heaviest.  Finding something to wear for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding was a nightmare.  I didn't like the way anything fit my body and nothing I tried felt comfortable.  I ended up going to the Nordstrom's personal stylist and she helped me pick out something that wasn't a complete disaster.  The tipping point came when I saw pictures of myself. I was a completely different person in my head then I was in pictures. I don't think I've ever had such a low opinion of myself.  It wasn't entirely because of vanity.  It was also because it was just so unhealthy.  I knew that if I didn't make a change, I wouldn't be happy with myself and  I'd be impacting my long term health too.  Over the next couple of weeks, I started making small changes but nothing significant.  During this time, I also started a new job.  I basically had to buy a new wardrobe due to the fact that my previous job was jeans & tshirts casual and the new job was business casual.  It had been awhile since I was in that type of job and my old clothes didn't fit anymore.  I decided to only buy a very basic wardrobe with some transitional pieces like wrap dresses (thank you Banana Republic) in the hopes that I wouldn't have to buy in-between pieces if I lost weight.  I wanted to use this new start as a motivator to get healthy. It's helped that my supervisor had been on a "get fit" journey and has been great with encouragement and support which helps me stay on track.  She turned me on to myfitnesspal.com and that helped enormously. As of today, I've lost about 25lbs and I'm pretty proud of myself.  I still have a ways to go to be where I want to but I know I'll get there.

It's Not Monday

In a quest to be "on top of things", I've booked our flight for my sister-in-law's wedding. I was about to book our hotel room, but hit a little snag. The couple have reserved a block of rooms at a fantastic hotel and scored at great rate to boot. I'm counting down the days until we'll be there. Any chance I get to stay somewhere that someone else cleans the bathroom and I'm all over it! I tried booking on-line with their reservation code and was surprised to see the difference between the price we'd have to pay versus the price we thought we were paying is about $400 before taxes.That's a big jump in price for a 3-day hotel stay so I called the hotel to figure it out.Turns out the block of rooms included in the contract only includes rooms with a King bed. Because those rooms don't fit a roll-away bed and they don't allow more than 2 guests in those rooms, we're stuck with getting a double room. Which means we have to shell out more money. Even if we could get a King room, the wedding rate wouldn't include the first night we'd be staying. Since we planned on going out a day earlier than we need to see the sights, it's not included in their contract and the price difference is about $200. There are a few things that could happen so we have some things to think about.  

1.) We could  just pay the difference. 

2.) We could change our flights and fly out a day later than planned. This isn't my favorite option because we'd be getting into the city around late afternoon on the day of the wedding rehearsal. Since S and Goose are in the wedding, that would be cutting it close in terms of checking into the hotel and getting ready for the evening.There wouldn't be a flight change fee but I've looked and there aren't any other non-stop flights that work with our schedule which means a lay-over.

3.) Sister-in-law could ask to have double rooms included in the contract. The front desk let me know that she could call and have it included in her contract if there were double rooms available. This would take care of nights #2 and #3 but night #1 would still be about $200 more than we originally thought.  This is also not a favorite option because I think it's bad form to make that kind of request and she's getting married and has enough things to worry about.

If I had my choice, I'd pick option #1 but we'll have to see what S thinks and go from there.  I like to have things in place so being prepared to have something ready to be checked of the to-do list and then having to table it makes me grouchy.

Quintessential Monday

  By 8:00a today, checkmarks in the "today's Monday" category have been sufficiently checked off...

1.  Unexpected Wi-Fi restore session at 5:00a so I can balance checkbook and watch Netflix while on the treadmill

2.  Only able to get 30 out of planned 60 minutes on treadmill (see #1)

3.  Forgot to put mini pizza bagels in the freezer for Goose's lunch...so a quick 6:30a trip to the grocery store for more

4.  Forgot to grab a yogurt out of the refrigerator for breakfast (I usually get one for each work morning)

5.  Because of #4, decide to get McDonald's sausage biscuit for breakfast instead.  Pulling up to order and realize I do not have my wallet.

6.  Decide it's necessary to drive home to get said wallet because while forgetting breakfast is not ideal, forgetting to grab a frozen meal out of the freezer and therefore not eating until dinner would be even less ideal.

7.  Run home and grab wallet forgetting again, both yogurt and lunch.  All before 8:00a.

8. Fast forward to 3:24p when I finally look at the clock.  Sheer panic fills my body as I realize that there is no way that I'm going to be on time for Goose's school for a 3:40p pick up.  Crap! 

9.  Finally get to school.  See Goose standing outside, where he's been for 10 minutes.  This wouldn't be so bad but it's 18° and it's the first time EVER that I've been late for work.

Fortunately none of these things are true emergencies or even "real" problems, but they did make for a long day.  As for Goose, he was easily swayed into forgiveness with a hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookie from the Starbucks drive-thru.  I even remembered my wallet ☻!