Eating Raw

I decided to eat "raw" this week. Nothing crazy. I'm not going on any diets. I don't have an eating disorder. But I've been feeling horrible. And my allergies have been so bad.

All of this reminded me of an article that I read in the JAMA. About eating raw for a week. It cleans everything out. So I'm giving it a try. I have lots of fruits and veggies on hand. Something that is not the "norm" around here. Because seriously, they're so expensive!

I'm going to eat 1 fruit, veggie, or type of nut about every hour. Ugh! I never eat this much. But I need to try something. I feel like I belong in the gutter right now. Why do I feel so sick? I'm hoping this works. Another rain storm would be a good thing too! ♫

Quick Kitchen Helpers

I really like these. Not really for me. They're just not my style. But to make for my neighbors. They're the Quick Kitchen Helpers from Crochet Soiree. And the pattern is free!

I like to make them little gifts, from time to time, for my neighbors. I think these would be nice for the Fall. When I take over some of my garden veggies. Now, I just need to get some cotton yarn. Is it crazy that I'm this excited about the entire process? I just like to see my neighbors get excited with this little gifts. ♫

Daddy's Baby Afghan

Isn't this a cute blanket? I really like it. And with all my friends having babies, it would be a nice gift idea. It's a free pattern from Crochet Soiree. I'm putting the Daddy's Baby Afghan on my list of "To-Make-Crafts." I'm thinking it would be great for "Baby Jelly Bean." Just with some bright fun colors! I can't wait to start it! ♫

25 Random Facts About Me

I was sitting and talking to Dr. M this morning. We were waiting for rounds to start, which were really late today! And we decided to just sit and talk. It was like a little more in depth, get to know you session.

It made me think. There are lots of things that people don't know about me. Maybe I should do a post about some random facts. So here goes. 25 things you probably didn't know about me.

1. I don't like to hug people. I don't know why. But since I was little, I've been like this. Except, I like the big bear hugs that my friends give me. Those are the best!

2. I don't ever get tan. I have light skin. Pale to be exact. If I'm in the sun too long, I turn red. Then I peel and return to white.

3. My hair was black when I was little. And as I got older, my hair has lightened. All natural. In the summer, it just turns more red every single year. Thanks Dad!

4. I LOVE candles. It's ridiculous. I have them everywhere in my house. Nothing expensive. Most are from Wal-Mart and Target. I have a few from Hallmark too. But I LOVE to light candles.

5. Scarves are my favorite things ever! I LOVE to buy them. And I LOVE to get them as gifts. I seriously wear them all year long. I have so many different styles. But I really do love a nice scarf. :)

6. Beef and broccoli with noodles is my favorite thing to eat for lunch. So yummy!

7. I have a minor chocolate obsession. OK, it's a big problem!!!

8. Dangle-y earrings are my favorite kind of jewelry. They just make my day brighter.

9. I get so excited to get mail. I really do. I think my mailman used to think I was nuts. Now he understands my LOVE of mail. Nothing is better than getting a handwritten letter.

10. PBS is one of my favorite channels to watch. OK, so I only have 3 english channels. 2 when the weather is windy or bad. But you know what I mean. :)

11. I'm a little bit obsessed with polka dots. No lie! I like just about anything with polka dots.

12. I like to go to small towns. They just make me happy. There's just a feeling you get when you're in a small town. Especially in the South.

13. Antique shopping is one of my favorite things to do. Not for the fru-fru stuff. But for quirky things. Lots of things from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 70s make their way into my home. :)

14. I hate feet. All feet. No matter what they look like. Feet are just so disgusting! So I'm funny when it comes to my own feet. My toenails are always painted red. Because I hate feet. I almost never wear sandals. And I always have shoes or socks on. End of story!

15. Peonies and gardenias are my favorite flowers.

16. I HATED pink until I moved. Now I like it. A lot!

17. Men with deep voices...they make my toes curl. :)

18. No one really calls me by my real name. My uncle used to call me Pink. Part of my family calls me Junior. People call me Rae. My parents call me "The Kid." My friends call me lots of different names. But these are 3 of the more common ones: Lola, Chiquitita, and Chaparrita.

19. I like a good accent. Men from the South...love their accents. I just can't help myself! It's probably a good thing that I don't live in the South. ;)

20. I have lots of Goddaughters. And I LOVE them all so much! How many do I have? I have 7 and 1 more is due in October! :)

21. I really like being a homebody. It's a little funny. But when I don't have to work, I like to just stay home and do what my friends call "Old Lady" things. You know, clean my house, work in the yard, garden, craft, cook, bake, watch movies, read books, and just hangout.

22. Blue eyes are like heaven to me. They really are amazing.

23. I never turn down a bed in a hotel. I don't know why, it just creeps me out. I usually take 2 blankets. I put 1 on top of the bed, and use the other to cover myself. I know, I'm weird.

24. I like to go shopping alone. I don't know. I just feel more peaceful. And I go early in the morning. When the store first opens. And if I have to go to Wal-Mart, I go at 3AM. Not many people are out at that hour.

25. I LOVE rainy nights. Oh there is nothing better than a rainy night. It makes the evening so calm. And you sleep the best!

So there you go. 25 things you probably didn't know about me. Funny, huh? I hope you learned something new. Whether you're part of the family or just a random reader! Now it's back to work for me. ♫

Finally

I was starting to lose hope. You know, in my yard and garden. Nothing has been blooming. My tiger lilies are begging for some help and relief from the desert sun. And all plants are just stems with green leaves. Not very attractive at all.

Then in my few hours of time off from work, I decided to tackle some more yard work. I swear to you, it never ends! But to my surprise, this little beauty had bloomed. Isn't it beautiful?

This is a plant my Mom gave me this Spring. And at one point, I thought it had died. But no! With a little TLC, and a whole heck of a lot of water, my Barrio survived. 2 of them actually. :) "Barrios" are what they call hollyhocks around here. Not sure why. But they do.

So I've got one bloom. Now if my lilies, lirios, or even my gladiolas would bloom, I'd be a very happy lady! Oh, and I could really use some veggies from my garden. Everything seems to be growing a lot slower this year. ♫

Shorts.

These are everyone's summer essentials. Shorts. Me, I haven't worn shorts, in public, for over 9 years! Yes, I'm 27 years old. I'm anywhere between a size 3-7 depending on what's going on. And I don't wear shorts. Did I mention...I live in the desert southwest. Here, it's easily over 100 degrees for almost 60 days a year!

Why don't I wear shorts? Um, I'm not really sure. Maybe because my legs are white as sin. Yes, I know, wearing shorts would help. But when you go from white to red to white, it's horrible! I've never been tan in my life! And then, my legs. I'm just not crazy about them. Sure, I workout a lot. I've got some cute muscular calves. But my thighs. Ugh! I've never liked them. Not when I was 16 years old and a cheerleader. With little to no body fat. Not now at 27 with a trainer that kicks my butt!

So there you go. Me and my evil enemy...shorts. I do wear pj shorts to sleep in. I really enjoy my old cheerleading shorts for working out at home. Never at the gym! But not even in my own yard, do I feel comfortable enough to wear shorts. It's something that I need to get over ASAP. You know, being that it was a cool 101 degrees yesterday. Oh, and the temperature is on the rise again! ♫

This is Love!

It's Monday. And I'm still at work. Tired, hungry, hot, in need desperate of a shower...and did I mention...tired. So when my mail arrived today and I saw this...



I about died! This is LOVE! And just what I needed to help me get through my day. By the way, I just might have to marry the man that sent this to me. Even if he's just a friend, lives 1000s of miles away, and is some big time super star! It's still love!

Right now, I'm hiding out in my office. Eating a pineapple flower and a chocolate strawberry. Oh, I think I've died and gone to heaven! I should have been the one sending the gift. Thanks! You know who you are. It meant a lot. And Congrats on your weekend. :) ♫

Dateline

I miss Dateline! I used to watch it. You know, every week! What twice a week? I think that's how many times it comes out. But the point is, I miss it! A lot!

You see, after the whole TV conversion thing last summer, our local NBC station's signal is for the birds! I don't get NBC anymore! Oh and the whole recording shows...well that's out the window too! But I at least get to watch my favorite ABC shows online.

But our NBC station, it saddens me so! I have to record "The Biggest Loser" at J's house. Because I have to watch it for school. But Dateline, oh how I miss you! I LOVED your stories! And I LOVE Keith Morrison...



Looks like I'm not the only one. :) But don't judge me. I like the way he tells a story. I first thought his voice was a bit creepy. Then it was soothing. My best naps came when I was falling asleep to some story he was telling. Sure it had to do with murder, but I slept like a baby. I know. Weird. But it's true. And I miss his story telling. I wish our local NBC station would get it together already! ♫

Sunshine

Funny. That's what I thought when I got to J's. And I was checking my messages. "Cowboy" has been looking for me. Calling the Ranch. And J and the guys refuse to give him my home phone number and my cellphone number. So he called the Ranch today, when I'm assuming J wasn't there. And he got my extension from one of the ladies that works in the packing department.

And there was my message from "Cowboy." Him singing these parts of Steve Azar's "Sunshine" that go a little like this...

"Your dark hair draped across my pillow, since I finally got it right...I've waited so long, so long, so long, for someone like you...Baby you're my sunshine...You're my sunshine...Everybody needs a little sunshine."

It made me smile. How he knew it's one of my favorite songs, I'll never know! But he did. And it made me smile. There's just something about that voice. :)

I guess what makes me really laugh is that he and I have known each other for a long time. Since we were little. I want to say, I was in middle school or something like that. And we've never really talked to each other. A little over a year ago, we "ran" into each other again. At breakfast. With our families. Not more than "Hi" was said between the 2 of us. And literally a year went by before we seen each other again. Again we were at breakfast with our families.

And since then, he's been calling the Ranch. Because he knows that I work there. But never when I'm at work. Unless I've got a real good group of friends, that intercept the calls. I've never gotten a message from him before, but J will tell me that "Cowboy" called. And I don't have his number. He doesn't have mine. We really don't talk in front of our families. The last time we seen each other, a friend was trying desperately to set us up. But hello! We were with our families. :P

So there you go. I needed a little bit of "Sunshine" today. Especially with what happened earlier. And what I got home to. And what the weekend has in store. No one ever wants to go to a wedding alone. Especially when they're going to be the "Maid of Honor." But those are my weekend plans. That message, it really made me smile. Made my weekend! ♫

SPF and Summer

It's almost summer. In fact, if you listen to Big M, it is summer. Whatever. We've already hit triple digits here. And my sunblock is as much a part of me, as breathing. I'm not lying! Here's a quick run down...



I use Neutrogena Healthy Defense for Sensitive skin. It has an SPF of 50. And I use it for my neck and face every single day! It's a moisturizer. And even on those days that I don't wear makeup, I use this.



I also use this Neautrogena product every single day. You see, I have sensitive skin. That burns extremely fast. And it's painful. So in the morning, I slap on some Neutrogena Ultra Sheer in SPF 85. Yes, SPF 85 baby!



The last sunblock that I use is Bull Frog Sport in SPF 50. I've used this since my cheerleading days. When we would bake in the sun during our "3 a days." It was horrible! But this sunblock, helped to make it a little more bearable. And because it is a Sport Sunblock, it is sweat and waterproof. And we even applied it to our cracks. Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm talking about our hair parts from our silly double french braids. Yes, your scalp gets burnt too!

And with all sunblocks, you need to reapply. The 1st one, well it's good all day. Under makeup. But if you're sweating and playing in the water, I would reapply. At least once every 90 minutes. The body sunblocks, definitely you need to reapply every 90 minutes!

I use the Bullfrog when I'm doing yard work, or working out outside. You know, when you're sweating. Another great product that Bullfrog makes is a bug repellent sunblock. Good stuff! Don't forget your sunblock. Especially if you're as white as I am! And try and eat some tomatoes every day. They're "Nature's Sunblock." :) ♫