Impossible to please ourselves.

So I used to do some plus sized modeling. At the time if you would have asked me I would have given at least 60 things I wished were different about my appearance and mostly my figure. Now of course that I'm older and plumper I'd give anything to have that figure back. I have never had low self esteem. I have actually always been a pretty outgoing and confident person. But like everyone there was always things I would change. In this picture I had an almost totally flat stomach and I did at least 1,000 sit ups a day. I was a little addicted to excersize but for the most part healthy. But if you asked me then I would have said I had a long way to go. Now if you put me back to that figure forever. I would be so happy. It's very unfair that even though I'm a confident person I couldn't appreciate what I had then. Oh well at least I'm still happy and positive.

Must read before the movie.

You have most likely seen previews for the new movie Divergent. I highly recommend reading the awesome book before seeing the movie. I am currently reading the second book, Insurgent. I can barely tear myself away from it. I can't wait for the movie. Other then then main male character seeming less lovable in the previews then he is in the book, I think it looks good. We shall have to see when it comes out. I just hope my hubby finishes the book before we see the movie!

Hair tips

So I may be a little obsessive about my hair. I put little to no effort into it before leaving the house but I am a loon about keeping it healthy. So I have gathered up a few of my favorite tips for keeping your hair healthy.

▪Only use a deep cleansing shampoo once a week or so.

▪When shampooing your hair start from the base of your neck and lather upwards. This helps add volume!

▪You don't need to apply shampoo to.your ends when you rinse your scalp it washes your ends without stripping all the moisture and damaging them.

▪Use a hair mask once a week. It helps add back nutrients to your hair.

▪Use dry shampoo to extend the time between shampooing. Daily shampooing can strip and ruin your hair causing split ends. It also helps add volume.

▪Use your favorite serum or oil (I use Argan oil) right after you get out of the shower. Just like it helps if you lotion when you get out of the shower this helps lock in the moisture.

▪Try to avoid heat on your hair but when you do use it use a good heat protector.

▪Don't brush it too much when it's still wet. This also causes split ends.

That's it. I hope these tips help you keep your hair healthy.

My ultimate favorite Banana Bread recipe!

If you're like me you love how convenient store bought goodies are. However, I keep feeling more and more turned off by all the additives they put in. I know some of it is to make it stay fresh but I have been making a real effort to find cheap easy to make recipes for my favorite treats.

I have adored banana bread since birth pretty much. But with my nut allergy I can't usually buy store bought stuff because it has walnuts. If you can have walnuts and like them in your banana bread feel free to add some to this recipe! I have so many allergies and sensitivities that I prefer to make grow or raise most of what I eat. I'm blessed to live on a large ranch where that is possible! Anyway down to the nitty gritty here's the recipe for my favorite moist banana bread!

Cook: 1 hour Yield: Makes one loaf.

INGREDIENTS
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

You don't even need a mixer!

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

This recipe is sure to please and the best thing about recipes like this is you can do it with or without nuts or cinnamon. I love customizing my own recipes! Good luck and have fun baking!

Homemade Goodness.

Now I know that people are busy but why do we buy so much stuff pre-made? I have found in most cases that it takes hardly any time at all to make several things at home. I make a lot of homemade soups just with whatever left overs I have. I rarely ever buy chicken and rice soup because even when I'm sick it is just really easy to make and costs about the same but tastes way better! Today I'm trying my hand at homemade banana bread! While making it I thought geez this is easy and the ingredients that go into a loaf cost about a dollar. The loaf is huge and I normally pay about $3.99 per loaf at the grocery store and even then I have to carefully read through all the ingredients to make sure there are no nuts or nutmeg. When you make it from home you know what is in it because you are the one who put it in! I have always loved cooking and baking so maybe I'm partial but I just don't know why people would not do this stuff. I also have the extra push with my allergies but most of what I buy from the grocery store is ingredients. I try to avoid pre-made things. I'm not saying I never eat hamburger helper or I never buy something frozen so I can just microwave it when I get home. But I do make an effort especially on my days off to try making things homemade from scratch. That way I know how long it takes and can allow time during my workweek! I also do shortcut recipe's sometimes. I buy Rhodes frozen bread dough and turn it into many various things. Monkey Bread is a favorite shortcut recipe in my family! What are your favorite homemade or short cut recipes? Post them in the comments. If anyone actually reads this Lol. :)

Tough decisions.

So there comes a time in most adults lives when you have to have conversations about the "What if's" I just had the life support conversation with my husband recently. Thinking back on the conversation now. I feel I could have been a tad more helpful. Basically I said don't pull the plug cause even if like. 01% of people have ever come back from whatever it is. I'm a wacko and usually in the .01% although that's never helped me win the lottery. Then I said I mean like if there's no hope then pull the plug. But don't do it because you think people think you should. You know how I hate it when people act like sheep. So basically all he got from me is hold out hope but not for too long and peer pressure is bad... Heaven help him how does he deal with me. I can't make decisions. I'm used to just pulling the princess card and making others decide for me. Lets just hope he never has to make that decision. Really how do boys deal with me?

Update

So it's been a couple of weeks since my husband and I lost his grandpa. The things that have been hitting us recently are little silly things. It feels weird to cook for just 2 people. It feels weird to shop for groceries and not buy his bricks of cheese and his coffee. Last night my husband and I just sat in the doorway to his room and finally let ourselves feel the overwhelming grief. We both have been feeling guilty for enjoying our one on one time. I know we shouldn't but we have been taking care of one person or another for most of our marriage. I think we forgot how much we enjoyed spending time alone together. Even typing that makes me feel guilty. Don't get me wrong I would give anything to have grandpa back here with us. I keep finding myself saying when grandpa gets back..... Because I think my subconscious has him just on a fishing trip in my mind. I wish he were just on a fishing trip. I miss him like crazy. I miss him when I come home from work and I have nobody asking me how my day was. I miss him when the dogs are running around like loons and there is no grandpa there threatening to ear mark and brand them and bob off their tails. I miss him when I sit at the dining room table and he's not at the head of the table. I miss his old war stories. It's so strange that just a few weeks ago was Christmas and I sat with him after Christmas and listened to all the stories he had remembered through talking to family that day. I just miss him and every time I smile since he passed I feel guilty for being happy. I hope that my husband and I can learn to enjoy living just us together without guilt. I would give anything for a big grandpa hug right about now.