#28: Read 100 books

I have actually read a couple of books, 3 to be exact. I have been busy and haven't had time to update. The 3 books I read are all by Linda Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper series.
Part of the reason I have not updated frequently is because my laptop bit the dust. So I have been using the Hubs' Mac and I honestly do not like it as much. One I do not know how to use the functions as well as I do on my gateway. One of the things I can figure out is how to copy and save the book covers for reviews. So here are the reviews, but with no pics. If I ever figure it out, I may add them.

This was my least favorite of the Linda Fairstein books so far. I just did not like the story and it took me a little longer to read. If it were not part of a series I probably would have put it down and moved on. I found myself more invested in the main characters than the story and that is why I finished the book. I wanted to see what would happen with them.


I was praying that the Alexandra Cooper series was not taking a nose dive after reading Death Dance and not being thrilled. Well, I liked this book. Back to the old Linda Fairstein. This is book nine of the series. I am more invested in the main characters than the story. I just want to see what happens with them. It is nice to have an interesting story as well.


Yes, more Linda Fairstein. Did I mention before that I love a series. I think I am going to read a non-crime book next though. Take a mini break. One of the reasons is this series is almost over. Then I will not know what to read.
If you want to see my 101 in 1001 list, it is here.

READ MORE - #28: Read 100 books

my pink hair + some inspiration

I finally did it- I streaked my hair pink! I've had pink hair dye in my bathroom for almost 2 years and never used it. Finally decided to take the plunge. I'm so happy with how it turned out! I wanted it to blend in with the rest of my hair so I pinned up the top layer and just put streaks on the bottom layers. It blends really nicely and looks great when my hair moves.

Here are some other hairstyles/colors that are inspiring me right now:

READ MORE - my pink hair + some inspiration

white shoe d.i.y.

You Will Need:

White Shoes
Fabric Paint in varying colors (I used gold, hot pink and black)
Studs, gems, sequins, or some other detail
Superglue/Hot Glue/Thread and Needle (to put your detail onto the shoe- I used superglue)
Paintbrushes
Shoelaces! or ribbon (something I don't yet have...)



Do It Yourself:

1. Paint your shoes where you want them painted.

2. Grab your details. In this case, studs from spikesandleather.com

3. Adheare them onto your shoes where you want them. I used superglue because it's stronger than using a hot glue gun.


4. Enjoy your awesome new shoes! And don't forget to get some shoelaces at some point...

READ MORE - white shoe d.i.y.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

It has been a couple of months since I started my 101 tasks and this is the first new recipe I have made. I have been cooking, occasionally, but nothing new. So last night the Hubs says that he wants some stir-fry. I have never made it before and was just winging it. No recipe to follow or anything. Definitely not my normal style, but I think I was creative and it tasted good, according to the Hubs. I was not hungry, so I did not eat any. It smelled very good though. Basically I just used what we had in the house. And I did not measure anything.

Shrimp Stir-fry

Ingredients:

organic carrots
yellow pepper
frozen broccoli
frozen green beans
frozen organic corn
garlic
large frozen shrimp
olive oil
organic vegetable broth
rice
salt and pepper

Since the carrots were fresh, I cut those up and sauteed them in some olive oil and minced garlic cloves. I let that go for a couple of minutes. Then I added the chopped yellow pepper. I added the broccoli, green beans, and corn and let that cook for a while. After that cooked for a couple of minutes, I added the shrimp. I added the vegetable broth and let it simmer. I added salt and pepper to taste. Then I made some basic white rice. Put the stir-fry on top and Voila! a good dinner. Very simple, healthy, and yummy. I must say I am impressed with myself and will be adding this to my list of future dinners.

I hope this makes the Hubs realize that if he TELLS me what he wants to eat I will cook it and generally with decent results. I am just terrible at meal planning.


To check out the rest of my 101 in 1001 look here: My List

READ MORE - #22: Make 10 New Recipes

Updates

I have been so busy lately I have not been updating my blog. I don't think it is that I have been very busy, just not managing my time very well. Ever since the snow in the beginning of February I have not felt like myself. I cannot wait for Spring. I feel much more alive and ready for the world when the weather is nice. So what has been going on...

After 1 year of having different hours and different days off than the Hubs we will finally have the same hours...we may even have one day off together, don't know yet. I will miss the people I currently work with and I know I will not enjoy my work life as much, but this will be great for my life outside of work. The Hubs has been trying to be positive and act like the different schedules was not bothering him (one of the reasons I love him), but he could not hide his excitement when he found out. So I am happy about this change coming.

I have not been working out consistently. I know my weight is up and for the first time I do not want to get on the scale. I have got to get my motivation back I just don't know how. I am hoping that with the coming of nice weather my motivation will return. I have definitely decided that I am going to get back into swimming. It is the one exercise I think I can stick with. I found an online training site that does speed drills and stroke drills, etc. so I am excited. Especially since one of my goals for 101 in 1001 is to swim 300 hours and I have not done 1 minute, not a one.

My skin and I are having a battle. I have never had acne or bad skin so this is new territory for me. I have been trying different things and I see progress being made and I have come up with a new routine for my face and its cleaning and will be updating that. Luckily it is only one section of my forehead I am battling with, but it is enough. And in my process of trying to make it better, I initially made it worse. So I will discuss the good and the bad.

I have been reading books, so I have some updates on what I have been reading.

I bought some green products and some ingredients to make my own and will be updating that.

I have been slacking on school. This is part of my all around lack of motivation. Luckily I am in an online program and they are very understanding of working schedules so it has not impacted my grade even though I have been submitting late assignments, but this is not like me. I am working on improving this as well.

So what is my explanation for my overall slackdom and lack of motivation... I am blaming it all on the Snowpacolypse, the Snowmaggedon, the 55+ inches that have poured down on the DC area in the last couple of months. I felt like all that weight of the snow was on me and I could just not get from under it. But as the snow melts, the heaviness and lack of life I have been feeling is melting away as well. New life. Yes. And that is what has been going on in a nutshell.

READ MORE - Updates