tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74512892041668205842024-02-21T11:59:20.392-06:00She's (mostly) harmlessJoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-91423118865065161542018-02-14T16:00:00.000-06:002018-02-14T16:00:08.974-06:00Self-LoveHappy Valentine's Day lovelies!<br>
In general, I'm not a fan of holidays. Halloween being the only exception. But Valentine's always gets to me just a little bit. Yes, it's commercial as hell. No, you shouldn't have to have a freaking holiday to be reminded to tell people that you love them. But you know what? Some people have issues expressing emotions like love. A day like today is a great excuse to do just that. No judgement, no shame, no fear of non-reciprocation. Just letting it all hang out, telling people how much you appreciate them. That ain't a bad thing.<br>
<a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2018/02/self-love.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-35923449005464481552018-01-30T20:17:00.000-06:002018-01-30T20:17:40.355-06:00Six months flies byWhoops. Six months since I've written a post? How did that happen? Hello old friend. I'd like to be able to say I missed you but....I haven't. Life has been busy. And a little bit shitty. Then it got fun again. And now I'm back here! So, where to start?<br>
<a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2018/01/six-months-flies-by.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-61116052136234978962017-07-09T12:58:00.001-05:002017-07-09T12:58:48.866-05:00The list of Online Bra ShoppingI've been thinking about putting together a list for awhile, because so many people ask me about it. So this is my first attempt. If this ends up being useful, I'll keep updating it with new, different, trusted sources for online bra shopping. Where do you shop online that you love? Comment with your favorites and I'll add them to the list!<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPKqW7akEvBqE49xj4nFXPb7zWFkVwwr0pTTRXmUqgb3pFIhPh8u06n4YDDfLKFausSlngv1FsN1CCUtN0QUCi92xizHV6rYsKIVy-2OADOkNFv_pLo_3ar__JVnyreqZGmiy292Y7Kg/s1600/Online+Bra+Shopping+Guide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPKqW7akEvBqE49xj4nFXPb7zWFkVwwr0pTTRXmUqgb3pFIhPh8u06n4YDDfLKFausSlngv1FsN1CCUtN0QUCi92xizHV6rYsKIVy-2OADOkNFv_pLo_3ar__JVnyreqZGmiy292Y7Kg/s400/Online+Bra+Shopping+Guide.png" width="400"></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2017/07/the-list-of-online-bra-shopping.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-86778244879692359462017-06-23T17:38:00.003-05:002017-06-23T17:38:36.620-05:00Getting back to routineWell hello there loyal readers (all three of you). Long time no see, eh?<br>
I've spent most of the spring dealing with a mess of medical issues. See, back in the day, I smashed up my teeth real bad. Long story short, they got fixed, but every 5 to 7 years I have to go in for a couple of root canals. This year, that turned into 3 root canals after several rounds of infections that moved up into my sinuses. I spent the better part of April and May going back and forth to the endodontist trying to figure out what was going on.<br>
<a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2017/06/getting-back-to-routine.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-80136929010333322982017-03-31T11:12:00.001-05:002017-03-31T11:35:56.941-05:00Flare ups & sickness<p dir="ltr">I'm in about week three of a fibro flare up. I spent about two weeks fighting joint and muscle pain, focused in my arms. It got so bad that I couldn't get out of bed one day. Self care is especially hard when you physically cannot do it. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Just as the joint pain was starting to subside, I got hit with some respiratory crud. For most people they could power through this and shake it off. For me, sickness hits me like a brick wall and takes me out for days. It's my new reality. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It's hard for me to admit when I need to slow down and rest. I rarely do when I'm feeling well. When I'm feeling great, I am a force to be reckoned with. I am on top on everything and I can handle more than most people, both physically and mentally. When I'm sick, I am knocked out. There seems to be no in between for me these days. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I need to learn to be more proactive. I got sloppy with my diet and exercise when I hadn't had a flare up for awhile. So here I am, sick and hurting again. I'll bounce back, I always do. This post is my reminder to recommit to what I know works. I have too much I want to do to spend my life in a cycle of sickness and pain. But for now, I nap, because self care comes first. </p>
JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-86347648864684338252017-03-22T10:30:00.000-05:002017-03-22T16:39:56.874-05:00The three part bra cup & Bra Fittings!<div dir="ltr">
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<i>Just a note that this Saturday March 25, I will be doing bra fittings at <a href="http://www.amour-is-love.com/">Amour </a>in the East Village, from 2 to 5. Stop in, get fitted, ask questions, and check out the great inventory. It will be so much fun!</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9arF1i98WF6yXMw4g0JohFLLT7Hr0VUx46kz-pWSjH08Zljvb-n28ZZJ2zwSoJbGS_e3r7Ee26FDHbqhDMGAgpUI6uihSs74vuJbIL1aHAWhNAuqcnHBfruQyMa9Yp6A04oSQFThtXg/s1600/3part.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9arF1i98WF6yXMw4g0JohFLLT7Hr0VUx46kz-pWSjH08Zljvb-n28ZZJ2zwSoJbGS_e3r7Ee26FDHbqhDMGAgpUI6uihSs74vuJbIL1aHAWhNAuqcnHBfruQyMa9Yp6A04oSQFThtXg/s400/3part.png" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(This is just an icon, not an actual 3 part cup bra)</td></tr>
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If you have not yet tried a bra with a three part cup construction, let me be the first to introduce you. They are amazing. I don't care what brand, I think it's a key component to a good cup fit. It's a simple enough idea - the more parts to your cup, the more easily the material can be shaped. I also think that a 3 part cup provides extra support that seamless soft cup bras just do not have. I love a good molded cup bra, but the biggest draw back (or perk?) is that your boobs are poured into whatever shape that cup was molded into. A 3 part soft cup bra will enhance your natural shape instead of making your boobs fit a mold. The top part of a 3 part bra is more forgiving and I think less likely to give you the quadra boob - at least less so than a molded cup bra. If you are a soft cup person, a three part cup will give you the shape you want. No more sad, saggy boobs. Trust me when I say that trying one of these on will change your life. I cried tears of joy when I tried one on for the first time and squealed "I'm so pretty!" in the dressing room.<br>
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</div><a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2017/03/the-three-part-bra-cup-bra-fittings.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-62510474700025221862017-03-17T10:30:00.000-05:002017-03-17T10:30:14.924-05:00What I'm into this week: 3/17/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrnLkhbMYNDG1SVvmKiPb5yTY2SE9VFidKthSXqheIhhcDgut2lBti8yK57mgZDq9jjO4z3Ms6YxD0bz__hDjX0e24C6CB0jQ4GLAenlR2HHimUUrAh5AQFeTuAKBR3gjq39UJn4LFhg/s1600/What+I%2527m+into+this+week.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrnLkhbMYNDG1SVvmKiPb5yTY2SE9VFidKthSXqheIhhcDgut2lBti8yK57mgZDq9jjO4z3Ms6YxD0bz__hDjX0e24C6CB0jQ4GLAenlR2HHimUUrAh5AQFeTuAKBR3gjq39UJn4LFhg/s320/What+I%2527m+into+this+week.png" width="320"></a></div>
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<h2>
Reading</h2>
I'm still going through my dystopian literature phase, so I am re-reading <a href="http://amzn.to/2nmtdpE" target="_blank">Fahrenheit 451</a>. It's not as dramatic as I remember, but it's still a book I find new things in every time I read it. I especially love that my yellowed, tattered, paperback copy has my notes from when I was in highschool. It's interesting to see what I found important back then, when I was just learning to think critically. There are so many parts of this book that resonate with me. The biggest thing being I am glad now more than ever that I cut the cord and stream everything. It's made me pickier about what I spend my time watching. I'm not trying to be a snob about it - there is definitely a time and place for mindless entertainment. It's when that mindlessness takes over all of your habits, like Mildred in this novel, that I have a problem with. If you haven't read Fahrenheit 451, please pick up a copy. It's a quick read and I think one of the most essential books in American literature.<br>
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<a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2017/03/what-im-into-this-week-31717.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-39028704977913965692017-03-08T11:12:00.003-06:002017-03-08T11:12:57.906-06:00The bras every woman should own<div dir="ltr">
I have spent the last few weeks researching types of bras. There is a ton of helpful information out there already. Instead of rehashing what's already out there, I'm going to give you some helpful, educational links. Then I'll tell you which ones I think everyone should have in their bra wardrobe.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNCBMVFO7-sIXaIReNcppbTIy7x2SBbwZFsbVDR3mno_6EhVyq81br8o6hSuiV2YDkg7EQEMbR_Wu5tSg9yjj-GOPZOFlEd2BexvAWojWgBwQ4PAV43jKEzx2aZZPzWZKxIaxz3WSbiw/s1600/bras+to+own.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNCBMVFO7-sIXaIReNcppbTIy7x2SBbwZFsbVDR3mno_6EhVyq81br8o6hSuiV2YDkg7EQEMbR_Wu5tSg9yjj-GOPZOFlEd2BexvAWojWgBwQ4PAV43jKEzx2aZZPzWZKxIaxz3WSbiw/s320/bras+to+own.png" width="320"></a></div>
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</div><a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2017/03/the-bras-every-woman-should-own.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-76496813123683632332017-03-03T10:00:00.000-06:002017-03-03T16:15:00.857-06:00What I'm into this week: 3/3/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrnLkhbMYNDG1SVvmKiPb5yTY2SE9VFidKthSXqheIhhcDgut2lBti8yK57mgZDq9jjO4z3Ms6YxD0bz__hDjX0e24C6CB0jQ4GLAenlR2HHimUUrAh5AQFeTuAKBR3gjq39UJn4LFhg/s1600/What+I%2527m+into+this+week.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrnLkhbMYNDG1SVvmKiPb5yTY2SE9VFidKthSXqheIhhcDgut2lBti8yK57mgZDq9jjO4z3Ms6YxD0bz__hDjX0e24C6CB0jQ4GLAenlR2HHimUUrAh5AQFeTuAKBR3gjq39UJn4LFhg/s320/What+I%2527m+into+this+week.png" width="320"></a></div>
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Reading</h3>
I have been in a reading mood this week. I polished off <a href="http://amzn.to/2my0zF7" target="_blank">Brave New World</a> and then dove right into <a href="http://amzn.to/2lEptPk" target="_blank">Dark Matter</a>. Brave New World being a dystopian classic, I felt like I was missing out on something because I hadn't yet read it. I was familiar with the premise, but it's still nice to read the actual novel. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing that I didn't find it all that dystopian. Maybe it's because it's older and I've read so many other, more shocking dystopian novels that are much newer. People having frequent sex for fun while using protection? What's so scary about that? People popping a soma anytime they are distressed? Um, isn't that basically how people use Xanex today?<br>
I flew through Dark Matter - I couldn't put it down. It was mostly fast paced and pretty darn nerdy. It touched on some really heavy physics, without being overwhelmingly specific. It's also, at it's heart, a love story. I enjoyed it and honestly wouldn't mind a sequel. It's worth a read if you enjoy a good sci-fi romp that isn't too far out of the realm of possibilities.<br>
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<a href="http://www.shesmostlyharmless.com/2017/03/what-im-into-this-week-3317.html#more">Read more »</a>JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-50758753550876843012017-02-24T10:11:00.001-06:002017-02-24T10:11:52.479-06:00Servant LeadershipI don't talk a lot about my career on this blog and I don't intend to. I keep my work and my personal lives separate. I did, however, accomplish something this week that I am excited about. I took two days off this week to attend a <a href="https://www.scrumalliance.org/certifications/practitioners/certified-scrummaster-csm" target="_blank">Certified ScrumMaster</a> training class. After two very full days of training, you can then take the test, which I took and passed. I haven't done any professional development in a long time. I'm still burnt out from spending most of my 20s doing all the extra things to enhance my resume. I have wanted to get my CSM for several years, so I'm excited because I finally, actually did it. It's not a hard test by any means, and with only two days of training, it's not a huge sacrifice like some other certifications. I didn't spend hours studying - I went home and took the test as soon as I was able. I am excited because I've been talking about doing it for so long and I finally followed through.<br />
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So what exactly is a Scrum Master? I can answer this in any number of ways and googling it will get you numerous answers. It means I've studied the <a href="http://agilemanifesto.org/" target="_blank">Agile Manifesto</a> and the <a href="https://www.scrumalliance.org/why-scrum/scrum-guide" target="_blank">Scrum</a> framework and how they help teams accomplish goals. It's most often used for software development, but really it can be used for anything you need to get done. A Scrum Master helps you follow the framework correctly. Simply put, a Scrum Master is a coach. Scrum and Agile value the concept of servant leadership, and it's very much reflected in this role. As a Scrum Master, you help people accomplish what they need to do, without doing it for them.<br />
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The concept of servant leadership isn't anything new. It's a quality that we admire in our business, government, and spiritual leaders. Most of us were probably raised with this concept; we see it early on in the bible (teach a man to fish, etc) and we see it from our educators and coaches. This is just a new title for an old and familiar role. I look at it as a framework for the type of leader I strive to be. I naturally have a take charge, let me do this for you kind of attitude that I have to work against. While some employers and co-workers appreciate this, it doesn't accomplish anything in the long run. I don't want to depend on fear and perceived authority to get the job done. I truly believe people accomplish more when they work as a team with people who appreciate them. When you enable someone to do something that they aren't confident they can do - that's an amazing feeling, for the both of you. I want to help people help themselves - this is one way I can do it at work, whether I'm in the Scrum Master role or not.JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-84367757225946918532017-02-20T10:00:00.000-06:002017-02-20T10:00:12.226-06:00Basic lingerie care<div dir="ltr">
We've talked about bra fit, let's talk about bra, or really any intimate apparel, care. Ok, you've invested in some great fitting bras. And maybe it cost you a pretty penny. You want those things to hold up for awhile, right? How you wash and dry your undergarments can affect the fit and how long they'll hold up. <br />
TL; DR version - hand wash, hang dry. <br />
Too much time and effort? I include my favorite short cuts below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEzdA0VMr1oEYxkNVMQ3q5YD290h6oC6jDORy32klqa6Zsqj7KennI2OzYMyta8XWI8sDzYHLjqU2aAlEp2nCobASlw5CeVMqi90yytFzVNW3QNNiNGXx5QsPBE1Tpwyvtjb1iwGx2eA/s1600/lingerie+care.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEzdA0VMr1oEYxkNVMQ3q5YD290h6oC6jDORy32klqa6Zsqj7KennI2OzYMyta8XWI8sDzYHLjqU2aAlEp2nCobASlw5CeVMqi90yytFzVNW3QNNiNGXx5QsPBE1Tpwyvtjb1iwGx2eA/s400/lingerie+care.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Hand wash</h2>
For your really nice stuff, hand washing and air drying is best. Use wash like <a href="http://amzn.to/2mccO5T" target="_blank">The Laundress Delicate wash</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2mbQCZQ" target="_blank">Caldera's delicate wash</a>, or <a href="http://amzn.to/2m0OW66" target="_blank">Soak</a>. Yes knitters, you can use soak on your undergarments! <a href="http://amzn.to/2m0Tb1t" target="_blank">Woolite</a> is fine too but I don't like the smell and I feel like you have to use so much more of it than the other products. <br />
Basically, follow the directions on whatever product you're using. Cold water is always best. Don't mix lights and darks, even in the sink. <br />
When rinsing, don't wring it or twist it! First off that's a hassle. Second, it's better to drain the sink and refill with clean, cold water, and gently swish. Keep doing that until you feel the garment is thoroughly rinsed. I know, it feels like a waste of water. But do a few together and you're still probably using less water than a machine load. <br />
Get yourself a good <a href="http://amzn.to/2lwoiEk" target="_blank">drying rack.</a> I know the wood ones are cheapest but they also have a tendency to mold. Go for something that is a coated metal or plastic that won't rust easily. I put mine in the tub so dripping water from the bras doesn't flood my floors. Also, it keeps it out of the way. Drying bras flat is ideal, but not always practical. I hang them by the gore on my drying rack and they do just fine. <br />
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Washing machine</h2>
Like most women, you're probably busy. Or lazy. Or both. I'm both. If this is you, invest in a couple of <a href="http://amzn.to/2m0NikL" target="_blank">mesh lingerie bags</a>. Stuff your bras in those. Make sure the bras are hooked - you don't want snags. Wash on delicate cycle, cold water. Do not put them in the dryer!! Let them air dry on your drying rack. Poof, you're done. If your home is as dry as mine, then they'll be dry by morning. If you take nothing else away from this post let it be to air dry your bras. It keeps the elastic from degrading faster than it should. <br />
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Other garments</h2>
All of the above applies to swimsuits, nylons, tights, leggings, and, yes, even underwear. Yeah, seriously, underwear. (Note, I hate the word panties. With a passion. I don't know why, I just do. This is my blog and on here were calling them underwear or undies.) Most of the time I'm not going to hand wash my every day boring cotton underwear. But I do always put them in a mesh bag in the washing machine and dryer. They just last longer. It keeps the elastic from fraying and they just don't wear out as fast. <br />
My nicer, pretty undies I do hand wash every single time. I feel pretty when I wear them so taking care of them is like I'm returning the favor. <br />
Please wash your nylons and tights. So many women don't or don't do it often enough. If you are wearing anything that close to your body, you need to wash it regularly. Seriously. <br />
Swimsuits do great in the machine in a mesh bag if you don't want to hand wash. I hand wash my bikinis but my trusty one piece goes in the machine. <br />
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Hopefully this helps you all get a little longer life span out of your undergarments. They say you should only expect to keep a bra for about a year. But I find that with proper care, they'll hold up much longer.</div>
JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-4906887023868340162017-02-19T10:05:00.001-06:002017-02-19T10:05:38.483-06:00We what I'm into this week: 2/17/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
OK, so I'm a few days late with this. It's been a crazy week!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrnLkhbMYNDG1SVvmKiPb5yTY2SE9VFidKthSXqheIhhcDgut2lBti8yK57mgZDq9jjO4z3Ms6YxD0bz__hDjX0e24C6CB0jQ4GLAenlR2HHimUUrAh5AQFeTuAKBR3gjq39UJn4LFhg/s1600/What+I%2527m+into+this+week.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrnLkhbMYNDG1SVvmKiPb5yTY2SE9VFidKthSXqheIhhcDgut2lBti8yK57mgZDq9jjO4z3Ms6YxD0bz__hDjX0e24C6CB0jQ4GLAenlR2HHimUUrAh5AQFeTuAKBR3gjq39UJn4LFhg/s320/What+I%2527m+into+this+week.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Reading</h2>
I'm reading <a href="http://amzn.to/2mbWZMH" target="_blank">The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo</a> by Amy Schumer. I wasn't a huge fan of her show at first, but it grew on me after a few years. I love how outspoken she is on issues she cares about, so I was excited to read this book. While it is humourous, it's also surprisingly deep. She examines her relationships with her parents in a way that has taken me years of therapy to even come close to. She's wicked smart and I don't know why I'm continually surprised by this.<br />
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<h2>
Listening</h2>
I'm still wading through the Dear Sugar back catalogue. In addition to that I'm also enjoying my Lady Gaga Pandora station. Her super bowl performance was fantastic and it reminded me of some of my favorites from her first two albums. Pop music always lifts my mood, especially hers.<br />
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<h2>
Crafting</h2>
I finished the Pokeball hat and restarted the Stitch Sampler shawl. I'll be plugging away on this one for awhile. It's fun and the yarn I'm using is gorgeous! I need to get back into sewing. I haven't used my machines in awhile. Once I get a weekend with less obligations, I'm picking a new sewing project to tackle.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Beauty</h2>
I am loving this <a href="http://m.sephora.com/rouge-lip-tint-P415405?skuId=1818244" target="_blank">Sephora Rouge Lip Tint</a> in Magenta. The color is great, it lasts about half the work day before I have to reapply, and even then it's just a touch up. (Which is longer and better than most "long lasting" lip colors I have purchased.) I'm hard on my lip color so a good lip stain is an essential part of my routine. This one is hands down my new favorite. Special thanks to the poor sales girl who ran around trying to help me find just the right shade. I may be a product hoarder but I am a picky one.<br />
<br />JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-86847688762031165502017-02-15T21:00:00.000-06:002017-02-15T21:00:20.691-06:00My GrandmaMy Grandma isn't doing so well. We're pretty sure she's had another stroke - a bigger one than normal. Grandma has never been one to bounce back from illness or injury very well. She has given up. We can all tell. We went to visit her on Sunday and it was up there with one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Not because it's hard to visit Grandma. It's hard to see her in her current state. She was so happy to see my sister and I. Especially my brother in law - he's just like Grandpa, everyone says so. She touched our faces like she was trying to memorize every inch of them. We have a baby shower for our youngest cousin this weekend - I'm sure Grandma is looking forward to that. The only thing she loves more than grandkids is great grandkids.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj52yp_NfH2A9393r2b993OaoNIN0U06MsZi7VOt8fEjg8RHC09rFu6Mb-VN0PQp3SK2cwFNU4mBrTxfZTVjnuSU_0HBBWuUZY3QJUQ3K7SWqZFOGQc8ivozoM3ZilYmTr5kIHzSmW1s/s1600/1487191565151-2e20c04f-2589-4fe9-a148-ede1a41161d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj52yp_NfH2A9393r2b993OaoNIN0U06MsZi7VOt8fEjg8RHC09rFu6Mb-VN0PQp3SK2cwFNU4mBrTxfZTVjnuSU_0HBBWuUZY3QJUQ3K7SWqZFOGQc8ivozoM3ZilYmTr5kIHzSmW1s/s400/1487191565151-2e20c04f-2589-4fe9-a148-ede1a41161d8.jpg" title="Grandma and Grandpa" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma and Grandpa on their 45th wedding anniversary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm not exaggerating when I say I can't deal with the thought of losing my Grandma. I've seriously been ignoring it, hoping it will go away. That's the funny thing about grief though, it always sneaks up on you...never really goes away. I read my sister's powerful blog post yesterday morning and my grief hit me like a brick wall. Facing reality when you don't want to, sucks. I've had to stop and start writing this blog post dozens of times because I keep bursting into tears.<br />
<br />
My Grandmother is responsible for so much of who I am. I know I get my big bust, fair skin, fine hair, and tendency to sleep in from her. Grandma taught me how to cross stitch, sew on a machine, and use a serger. I can firmly say that I get my love of handmade textiles from her. I've also picked up the fabric and pattern hoarding that goes along with such hobbies, but I like to think my stash is better organized. She taught me to read music, and while I never mastered the piano, I did play percussion for nearly 10 years because of the love of music she instilled in me.<br />
<br />
Some of my best childhood memories are from visits with Grandma and Grandpa. When we were young, they'd come up and visit us. I remember them taking us to the park and picking up KFC for a picnic. I don't know what it was but they loved KFC, and to this day I still associate it with Grandma and Grandpa. I remember going down to the farm and spending a week or two there in the summer. We'd take swimming lessons, attempt to golf, play with our cousins, and, of course, sew. I remember going to drive in movies and going to get ice cream. Grandma loves a good ice cream cone.<br />
<br />
Grandma spoiled us rotten. Even as kids we were vaguely aware of this. I'm pretty sure Grandma just bought us two of everything because we were so close in age and because Mom divorced when we were so young. It was a little weird, but hey, we had plenty of Barbies at all times so are you really going to question that. I remember Grandma loved going to the casino and loved to share her winnings with the grandkids. Really, she took every opportunity to spoil us all. I have always thought of it as her way of demonstrating just how much she was into being a grandma. She was just gonna do it better than any of those other grandmas.<br />
<br />
I don't think she ever missed a band concert or graduation. Had I played sports, she would have been there for those too. Even as she got older and it was harder for her to move around, she'd still make Grandpa haul her around. I moved around a lot in my 20s and she insisted on visiting every new apartment, even when stairs were hard for her. If Grandpa had been around to take her to NYC or Indianapolis, she would have probably made him visit me there too. Thank goodness for camera phones - she loves seeing pictures, especially right now. I don't have any of her and I together that are recent. I need to take care of that this weekend.<br />
<br />
I could keep going but you get the idea. She's had a huge influence on my life. This anticipatory grieving sucks. I'm not sure if I prefer knowing it's coming or having it be a surprise. I am happy I will get a couple visits in with her, especially because I was sick over christmas and missed seeing her then. Nothing prepares you for the loss of someone you love. Grief is such a complex and weird emotion, you never know how or when it will hit you. It's almost crippling some days. I thought staying busy or exercising or writing this would help. So far nothing has. I'm not sure if being there with her would make things worse or better. I feel for my aunties who are there with her every day. I'll keep chugging along the best that I can and hope that I get a few more days of quality time with Grandma.JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-70323860194819857462017-02-10T14:30:00.002-06:002017-02-10T21:05:06.445-06:00Let's talk bras<br />
I was reminded by a friend yesterday that I know way too much about bras and bra fitting. Being busty means you learn a lot about such things. Sometimes you learn the hard way. Please don't learn the hard way. I'm going to share what I've learned and hopefully you benefit from it as well. I'll also do some reviews occasionally of my favorite bras. Most of my info is going to be geared toward you extra busty ladies, but that doesn't mean my advice only applies to them. A good bra is a good bra, no matter your size and shape.<br />
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<h3>
Why a good fitting bra matters</h3>
It boils down to two things: how you look and how you feel. How you look is subjective - everyone has a different taste or style they are after. Sometimes you want to contain or minimize, sometimes you want major sexy cleavage. Whatever look you're feeling, make sure it fits correctly. More on fit in a minute. When I talk about how a bra makes you feel, I mean is it physically supporting you the way that it should. A good fitting bra won't hurt. A bad fitting bra probably will. I also notice a huge difference in my posture when I'm wearing a bra that fits. My back hurts less and I can sit up straighter. A good fitting bra is going to make you feel confident, and that matters too.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
Finding a good fit</h3>
Knowing how to measure yourself is the first step, but it's not the only thing you need to look at. It doesn't matter a whole lot if you measure with a bra on or off, or even if it fits. Unless you're wearing something that's massively compressive - that would skew things. You'll get a more accurate measurement if you have someone else help you. But most salespeople in stores don't know how to do it properly, especially that one big chain store everyone goes to.<br />
Measure around where your band will sit. Then measure around your breasts at the widest point. Subtract your band size from your bust size. Don't add anything to either measurement!!! Each inch difference is one cup size. Yes, seriously, one cup per inch. You're bigger than you thought, aren't you? Yeahhh. That happens a lot. It's ok, deep breath, we're gonna get through this.<br />
Armed with the knowledge of your size, you now have to try on. Find a few styles you like - again, doesn't matter if it's full coverage, demi, push-up, whatever. My suggestion is go to a store with a large variety of brands and sizes and try stuff on until you find something you like.<br />
You want to be able to wear the bra on the middle set of hooks. If you're on the tightest set of hooks, go down a band size. If you're on the largest, go up a band size. It's not worth buying that size if you can't leave room for weight gain or loss. When you look in the mirror, is the band riding up in back? If it is, it's too big. All of the support you get from a bra comes from the band - not the straps or the cups. The gore of the bra - the part where the underwires meet in the front- should lay flat against your sternum. It should be just loose enough to stick one or two fingers between you and the bra, but not any looser. If it's not laying flat, you need bigger band size or the cup style isn't compatible with your breasts. Move on.<br />
Did you know that cup size is not a measure of volume? They aren't consistent either. Your cup size doesn't mean a damn thing without the band size. They're a team, just like your boobs. On top of that, there are just a ton of different cup styles. Maybe we'll go into more detail on those in a later post. You want a cup that holds you in and doesn't cut you off. The underwire should encompass all your breast tissue and not cut into it near your armpits or cleavage. If it does either of those things, move along. The fabric part of the cup can cut into you too, giving you what I refer to as quadra boob. As much as your partner may be thrilled that you suddenly appear to have four breasts, this isn't a good look. I went through most of my 20s rocking this look, thinking it made me look like I had overflowing cleavage ala busty tavern wench. In reality I just looked horrible. If you want cleavage, get a bra that pushes up and lifts. You'll be able to spot the difference.<br />
Straps are the thing I have the hardest time with. My torso is kind of short between my band and shoulders. I find that I need straps that are fully adjustable. So many bras only let you adjust the straps a couple of inches. Figure out what you need and look for that.<br />
Raise your arms and see if the bra slides around. If it does, it's too big. Jump up and down. Are you jiggling like jello in those cups? It's either a bad cup style for you or it's too big. Straps falling off your shoulders and you can't adjust them any tighter? Consider a Y/racerback bra, a convertible bra, or a bra with a J hook. Bras with J hooks are my absolute all time favorite and they are so hard to find.<br />
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Ok, that ended up being a lot longer than what I thought it would be. And I still have more to say. I think this may have to be a recurring topic. I love talking about bras so seriously, send me questions! If you're local to Des Moines, let me know if you want help getting fitted! ( I mean that in a very helpful, non-creepy way.)JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-16948630990240778312017-02-07T13:38:00.000-06:002017-02-07T13:38:00.853-06:00tinkeringJust a quick note to let you all know I'm tinkering with the design again. If it looks wonky, it's because I'm experimenting. It's been so long since I've had to do any web design stuff on my own! My skills are rusty, but I'm enjoying playing around. Have patience while I indulge myself.JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-70602760392218422452017-02-03T15:55:00.001-06:002017-02-06T18:13:18.911-06:00What I'm into this week: 2/3/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
Reading</h2>
I just finished <a href="http://amzn.to/2l64a8q" target="_blank">The Thousandth Floor.</a> It was a super quick and easy read and I couldn't put it down. It was the perfect distraction from reality. Think Gossip Girl meets not-so-distant future New York. Pretty sure it qualifies as teen lit, but I don't care, it was fun, lightweight reading.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Listening</h2>
Dear Sugars,<br />
I have a problem. I can't quit you. I've given up on music, tv, and movies.<br />
Seriously, what did I do before <a href="http://www.wbur.org/dearsugar" target="_blank">this podcast</a>? Why did I not discover this sooner?! When I asked on Facebook for podcast recommendations, this was the one that almost everyone agreed was amazing. How could something live up to that kind of hype? Well, it does. I want Cheryl and Steve to solve my problems for me! They give sound advice with lots of empathy. They're like the older siblings or cousins we all wish we had. I love their message of "follow beauty", no matter how it appears in your life.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Crafting</h2>
I was so excited to start two new projects this week! I started on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stitch-sampler-shawl" target="_blank">Stitch Sampler shawl</a> for a friend. And then a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pokemon-poke-ball-knit-hat" target="_blank">pokeball hat</a> for said friend's daughter.<br />
....and then I realized I put them both on the wrong needles and had to rip everything out. Sigh. I don't want to say they were perfect and amazing and that I'm getting to be a great knitter, but I had made really solid progress. Poo. I hate having to start over. But I love that with knitting I have that option. When I picked up my crafty pursuits, I really thought sewing would be my thing. And I do still love it. Knitting was more of a what the hell, why not pursuit. It's become my go to activity to relax me.<br />
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<h2>
Beauty</h2>
You have got to try <a href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?productId=P297132&skuId=1430768" target="_blank">Sephora's cleansing water</a>. I tried it at a friend's house in November and immediately went out and bought the biggest bottle they sell for myself. It's one of the best makeup removers I have ever tried. Most removers that are strong enough to get waterproof mascara off tend to sting my eyes. Not this stuff. It's gentle and I dig the scent. Plus my skin feels great after using it. I love it so much that I sent my sister a late night picture text of the stuff telling her to buy it immediately. You know it's love when I risk waking her up with a text.<br />
<br />JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-68992550531697858862017-01-25T16:44:00.002-06:002017-01-25T16:45:38.927-06:00Do Better. I need to say something and I'm not sure where to start. So we're just going to dive right in and see where this goes.<br />
<br />
This week, I went from feeling incredibly hopeful and positive to feeling so worn out and anxiety ridden in a matter of days. Dramatic changes like this aren't uncommon in depression, but this time I feel like it's not just a me thing. On Saturday I participated in my local Women's March. It was glorious. Twice as many people showed up as they were expecting and it was very heartwarming. It was so positive to see people from all walks of life marching together, supporting one another.<br />
And then it ended just as quickly as it had began.<br />
Now I can handle people trying to discount or diminish something I believe in. We have different views and variety is the spice of life. What I can't handle is flat out lying. We were straight up lied to by the current administration, and that shows no signs of changing.<br />
The outrage on all sides was palpable. People were mad because they thought women do have equal rights and nothing has been done to them to cause such an outpouring. Other people were mad that the women's march didn't go far enough to include minorities or that news coverage focused too much on men participating.<br />
Cue the flood of facebook articles and angry posts.<br />
It seems everyone took to their preferred social media to make their outrage known. For the past 4 days my feed has been absolutely flooded with the same few articles and people's outrage. Most of the articles and statements that were made I agree with.<br />
<br />
<b>Here's my problem</b>:<br />
<br />
<i>Posting your opinion or a link to something you agree with on your social media account doesn't do anything. </i><br />
<br />
Seriously, it doesn't. You're posting to family and friends. Chances are at least half of those people already agree with you. So instead of educating or informing, you're just whipping yourselves into a frenzy, each person fueling the next. Yes, we need to stay informed. Yes, we need to keep track of this extremely facist behavior our new government has adopted. But only about 4 of my hundreds of friends has actually posted any type of call to action.<br />
If you want to make a difference, and I suspect that you do, you have to get involved. What do I mean by get involved? I mean perform an actionable task that accomplishes a specific goal. Don't like the EPA gag order? Me neither - who did you call about it? Oh, you didn't? You just posted your anger on your page? Ask yourself, how does that help? Did it do anything to change it? No. It made you feel better and allowed you to commiserate with other like minded individuals. That's fine - really, it can be very cathartic. I do it often. It's time we do more.<br />
One lesson I think we all have learned from this past election cycle is that we have to step up and do more. Voting and speaking our opinions on our chosen platform doesn't do enough. We must reach out to change minds and hearts. It's time to step it up folks. Put your money and your actions where your mouth is. I'm even going to make it easy for you.<br />
<br />
Here's a list of things you can do. They're easy and there are plenty of resources out there to help you get these things done. I am by no means a professional volunteer or political activist. I have been trying to read and gather info on what works best and what doesn't.<br />
<br />
<h3>
1. Give Money.</h3>
I've chosen to donate to <a href="https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Donation2?df_id=12913&12913.donation=form1&s_src=Evergreen_c3_PPNonDirected_banner&_ga=1.109395073.563597002.1484780302" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood</a> and <a href="http://iowapublicradio.org/" target="_blank">Iowa Public radio</a>. Even $5 a month goes a long way for organizations like these, especially when so many people chip in. Pick your favorites and set up a recurring transfer. Give up a couple of lattes or lunches a month and find the money. They need it more than you do.<br />
<h3>
<br />2. Call your representatives.</h3>
Yes, it needs to be a phone call. Online petitions get ignored. We were so comfortable signing whitehouse.gov petitions because we knew they'd get addressed. We can't count on that anymore. I won't be surprised when the petitions site gets taken down.<br />
<a href="https://www.indivisibleguide.com/" target="_blank">Read Indivisible</a>. It's free and written by former congressional staffers on what works and what doesn't. It's going to help you make those calls.<br />
<a href="https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials" target="_blank">Find them</a> and add them to your phone. You only have to do it once and it makes it super easy to pick up the phone again in the future. Call both offices in DC and in your state. For your state officials, call their local office and the office in the state capital.<br />
<br />
<h3>
3. Take Action.</h3>
I don't care what your cause is. Pick one or two you can devote your time to. Whatever floats your boat probably has an action committee that has laid out steps for you to get involved. The Women's March is promoting a 10 Actions in 100 Days campaign. Planned Parenthood Action Fund has a newsletter you can join (Pink Out/PowerUp!) that gives you at least one small task you can do that will make a difference. They give you all the tools you need, you just have to do it. <a href="https://www.safetypinbox.com/" target="_blank">The Safety Pin box</a> looks like a great option and I love that they have different levels of subscription. I'm also super excited to see what the <a href="http://www.thedreamcorps.org/lovearmy" target="_blank">LoveArmy</a> comes up with.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4. Get Local.</h3>
The next few years are going to be all about local politics. Get involved at the state and county (or even city) levels and see what you can do. Almost every party has different options on how you can get involved. All you have to do is ask. I found the Iowa Democratic Women's Caucus on Facebook. It was easy. Leadership is already in place and volunteers are always needed. Just find your local group and ask what they need help with. Again, don't just join the group and repost stuff. Volunteer!<br />
Getting more involved locally also means you get in at the ground level. You're helping pick the next batch of candidates. They all gotta start somewhere, why not help pick the new ones? We have to run better candidates, which means we have to be better about getting involved.<br />
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<h3>
5. Talk to people.</h3>
That means face to face. And it means people that don't already agree with you. Be civil and really attempt to listen. Don't hide behind your computer or phone. Take a chance and really engage with people. You may change their mind; they may change your mind. Chances are, you'll be able to find common ground. If more of us do that, then we have a clear path to move forward in a way that isn't so polarizing. There's a reason why politicians get out and do the grassroots ground game: talking to people works. And they'll talk if you show you're going to listen. We need to remember that you can have a discussion or disagreement without it getting heated and unfriendly.<br />
<h3>
<br />6. Stay positive.</h3>
Easier said than done, right? If we're going to make it, we have to work together. We have to keep hope alive. Dig down deep and figure out what keeps you going. Treat people who disagree with you with respect. Yes, even if they're jerks. They go low, we go high. That's our mantra. We need the stamina to make it through whatever the next four years brings us. Negative energy isn't going to get us through that long of a haul. Have you ever seen someone run a marathon out of anger? Reasonably sure it doesn't happen. Sure, it gives you a surge of energy at the start and gets your blood boiling. But it's not sustainable. Channel your anger into change. It's the only way we can make a difference.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am by no means an expert on this topic and will be doing these things right along with you.<br />
What did I miss? What are <i>you </i>going to do? How are you making our country and our world a better place? Seriously, I want actionable ideas.JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-74068670801483841772017-01-17T17:15:00.001-06:002017-01-17T17:15:41.649-06:00Magic numbers<div dir="ltr">
I have a bad habit I need to own up to. I don't update my Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, or chron-o-meter account with my real weight when it gets to a number I don't like. My weight isn't even public on those sites to my friends and I still don't update it. You see, once I pass that certain number, I refuse to record it anywhere. I refuse to buy it new pants. I refuse to acknowledge it. It's as if I'm trying to shun it into not ever having existed. It's a personal insult that I have done to myself which I refuse to document. It's also around that same number that I refuse to have my picture taken or wear anything but layers that strategically hide most everything. <br />
I suspect everyone has this number in their head. It's different for everyone but we all know the number where we want to be, the number that we'll settle for, and the number that we're scared of. I'm mostly OK with my body and don't hate it. Until I reach this number - then I feel miserable. Everything else I can justify or manage. <br />
Today, I hit a different milestone number. I've specifically not been focusing on weight, but on being healthier in general. Losing weight is a happy byproduct of that and I'm treating it as such. But today made me proud. Made me feel like I've accomplished something. I am slowly starting to have more good days than bad. The changes I've been making since September are adding up and seem to be helping. Stepping on that scale today was an affirmation - my body is acknowledging these changes are for the better and reacting positively to living a healthier lifestyle. <br />
I've struggled with the self loathing and the disgust of my body - both when being under and over weight. Accepting myself for who I am and nourishing the body I have has helped me get to a better place, both physically and emotionally. Trying to hide my weight from myself is not self acceptance. It's only cheating myself when I don't record things. Oh but my brain remembers no matter what. Damn right she keeps track. So I will record and I will be honest, no matter which direction the scale tips. Being honest with myself and reflecting on how I'm feeling are the best things I can do to make positive changes. It's easy to get hung up on numbers, especially when we associate value or self worth with them. I am starting to think of them as just another statistic about me that I want to log so I can see how it correlates with my overall health. Maybe then I won't get so emotionally involved with the numbers I see on the scale. </div>
JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-82572580243367490662017-01-13T15:08:00.001-06:002017-01-13T15:08:14.316-06:00What I'm into this week: 1/13/17<h2>
Reading</h2>
I'm currently reading the third book in the Outlander series, <a href="http://amzn.to/2icT8MT" target="_blank">Voyager</a>. It's along the same lines and just as long. I'm not super excited about this book or the series in general. It's pretty much porn set in a historical setting. I read it because it puts me to sleep fairly quickly, yet is also entertaining while I'm still awake. Not exactly a ringing recommendation there, I know.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Listening</h2>
"Is depression funny?"<br />
Not usually, but it is when you listen to <a href="https://www.apmpodcasts.org/thwod/" target="_blank">The Hilarious World of Depression</a>. This new podcast is amazing. The premise is John Moe talking to comedians who suffer from all kinds of mental illnesses. A friend pointed me towards this and I'm so very glad she did. I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to scream "Me too!" during almost every episode. Aside from tackling a tough topic with humor, it's incredibly relatable, sensitive, emotional, and, above all, hopeful. In episode 3, when Sam Grittner talks about his blog post on his suicide attempts and the response it got, I had to pause to wipe tears from my eyes. In episode 5, when Andy Richter talks about people always asking when he'll be able to go off his meds, I screamed "Yes! Why do they keep doing that?!". Why do people do that? There really is such a stigma around mental health and getting care. Is it just like that in the US or is this a world wide thing?<br />
<br />
<h2>
Crafting</h2>
I'm getting ready for the local Women's March, so I need to make my <a href="http://www.pussyhatproject.com/" target="_blank">pussyhat</a>. It looks like a quick knit, thankfully, because I haven't even purchased yarn yet, so I'm a bit behind. This weekend will be full of frantic knitting. Also, I really hate pink, so it's going to be hard to find a color of yarn that I am willing to wear.<br />
On deck is a sampler stitch shawl for my friend Alisha. I'm super excited because she is so excited to get a shawl and the yarn she's picked out is amazing.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Beauty</h2>
We did our Christmas gift exchange with my immediate family in January this year. Mom got us both this <a href="http://www.sephora.com/ultra-repair-cream-intense-hydration-vanilla-citron-P411587?skuId=1851096&icid2=first_aid_beauty_whatsnew_carousel1_us:p411587" target="_blank">First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream</a> and I am loving it. The scent is pleasant but very faint. It's not greasy at all. I think it's going to be great for healing dry hands this winter.<br />
<br />JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-83580390450113805332017-01-10T12:15:00.001-06:002017-01-10T12:15:31.926-06:00Surviving the HolidaysWhen most people talk about surviving the holidays, they mean making it through all the social commitments while still managing to put on some kind of festivities for the family.<br />
When I say it, I mean it nearly literally. It's apparently my body's grand holiday tradition to get sick during the last two weeks of the year. This year was no different. What started out as sniffles quickly escalated into a full on respiratory infection. Sinuses, lungs, the whole shebang. It was not pretty. I ended up missing 3 days of work and all of my holiday family gatherings. Fourteen (!!) full days of snotty nose, sneezing, coughing, hacking stuff up, and fevers didn't leave me with much else to do. In times like these, I turn to Doctor Who. I watched a lot of Doctor Who these past weeks.<br />
When I finally accepted that the Doctor was not, in fact, going to save Christmas for me this year, I started wondering about why am I always getting so sick. Is it possible that having autoimmune issues makes me more susceptible to getting sick with other crud? A cursory internet search says it's a possibility, but like most things involved with Fibromyalgia, the jury is still out. I can only speak from my own experiences, and right now, I'm going with yes. I know I've had a <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ana-test/basics/definition/prc-20014566" target="_blank">positive ANA</a>, so my immune system is all hyperactive. And the Fibromyalgia on top of that doesn't make healing any easier, especially when I can't distinguish between fibro symptoms and anything else that's bugging me. My totally unscientific conclusion is that any time your body is out of whack it makes it easier for infections to take hold and stick around. Not only do I get sick easily and often, but I get knocked out by the sickness. I've always been kind of prone to respiratory crud anyway, but the past few years whenever I get it, it takes me down for a good week. That's not normal. But it is my normal.<br />
There has to be a relationship there, I'm just not sure what it is. I know that, at least for myself, there is a definite pattern.JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-29888198386556281132016-12-19T12:13:00.003-06:002016-12-19T12:13:22.545-06:00Yet another smoothie recipe<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
Because you needed another one, right?</div>
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Actually a work friend asked for my recipe and since I typed it up for her and I'm the laziest blogger in the world, I'm making it into a post. Lucky you!</div>
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6 nuggets of Target Market Pantry frozen spinach (each bag comes with 12 nuggets of chopped, frozen spinach in them)</div>
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½ cup frozen cherries (I like the Costco organic ones, market pantry ones are fine too)</div>
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1 cup Target market pantry mixed fruit (peaches, pineapple, mango, strawberry mixture – 1 bag makes roughly 8 smoothies)</div>
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Tart cherry juice (either Cheribundi or whatever Costco has – must be NO ADDED SUGAR 100% juice)</div>
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Coconut milk or coconut/almond milk </div>
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1 scoop <a href="http://amzn.to/2hAGWZt" target="_blank">Vega Tropical protein and greens</a> </div>
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1 scoop <a href="http://amzn.to/2hMkH0O" target="_blank">Amazing greens wheat grass</a></div>
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2 Tablespoons<a href="http://amzn.to/2i7zTVn" target="_blank"> milled Flax seed</a></div>
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2 Tablespoons <a href="http://amzn.to/2h4ia51" target="_blank">Nutritional Yeast flakes</a> </div>
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½ tsp <a href="http://amzn.to/2h36ttF" target="_blank">maca powder</a> </div>
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1 tsp ground turmeric</div>
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Put it in your blender and blend. If you put it in all frozen still, you don’t have to add ice. I pre-portion everything out in freezer bags and put one in the fridge to thaw right before I go to bed. If it’s frozen, you have to use more liquid to blend. If it’s thawed out, you have to add ice but use less liquid. Cherry juice can get expensive, so I'm all about conserving it. </div>
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I have a <a href="http://amzn.to/2gUlsmI" target="_blank">Nutribullet</a> and use the bigger cup it comes with. Put the thawed fruit and spinach in there first. Add ice. Fill with cherry juice to just below where fruit/spinach hits. Add in splash of coconut milk so liquid meets solids. (any more liquid and the texture is weird) Add in powdered mixture (I pre-portion all of this too so all I have to do is dump it in). Blend until it’s the consistency of a milkshake and you can’t see spinach leaves/chunks. Add more ice if it’s too liquidy. Ends up making just over 16oz of smoothie when you’re done. </div>
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All of this is just over 500 calories, but it gives you for full days’ worth of B vitamins, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. And most of your Calcium, Iron, and fiber. (That's according to punching in all these ingredients on<a href="https://cronometer.com/" target="_blank"> cron-o-meter.com</a>.)</div>
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I cannot stress enough how easy it is to portion these out ahead of time. I think it takes me about a half hour to make 2 weeks worth of smoothie packs and powder packs. I think drinking these has helped reduce a lot of inflammation, and it has certainly helped me lose weight. If you're concerned about the amount of spinach, don't worry - the protein powder and fruit pretty much cover it all up. Experiment and see what you like. </div>
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What did I miss? What do you add to your smoothies that works for you?</div>
JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-57128613115166131412016-12-12T19:50:00.001-06:002016-12-19T12:15:31.561-06:00Meet SenorLook at this magnificent bastard. One look tells me all I need to know about this cat. I haven't met him but I know all I need to know about him from this one picture. He's a dick. Not a regular "oh I'm your average asshole cat" kind of dick, but a special kind. The kind that is only nice to his chosen person. Particular in his loyalty, I bet he takes extra care of anyone who adopts him.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.petango.com/sms/photos/1064/b468d6a5-9f30-4a97-9ab9-baf40acaafc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.petango.com/sms/photos/1064/b468d6a5-9f30-4a97-9ab9-baf40acaafc4.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ws.petango.com/Adopt/Cat-Domestic-Shorthair-Mix-33722738#.WEsKLKLVb-E.blogger" style="text-align: start;">Senor, magnificent bastard cat</a></td></tr>
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Not only is he that lovely Russian blue but he has green eyes too. Pretty much meets all my requirements for handsomest cat ever. I'd be taking him home right now if I was interested in breaking my cat to human ratio rule. But I haven't yet given up on life. So it's up to you dear internet. He's at <a href="http://ws.petango.com/webservices/adoptablesearch/wsAdoptableAnimalDetails.aspx?id=33722738&css" target="_blank">Furry Friends</a>, waiting for his person to find him.<br />
<br />JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-85256730782302823452016-12-06T11:51:00.000-06:002016-12-07T21:44:17.364-06:00Adulting as a single is hardToday has been just a lovely reminder of how mundane tasks can make it miserable to be single.<br />
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I had to take my car in to get a little scrape fixed. I'd had a little bit of an issue with the insurance company previously but I thought it had been sorted out. No big deal, drop it off, have rental car come get me, and be on my way. Nope. Couldn't possibly go that smoothly. Even though I set up a specific time to be picked up and I was actually on time, rental car company was a no show. The receptionist at the body shop called and was on hold for 15 minutes before giving up. After waiting for 45 minutes, the body shop guy gave me a ride over to the rental car place. Sure enough, they're all just sitting around in there. The rental car guy did make it right and gave me a discounted rate and all that jazz, so it made me feel a little better. Then I went to get in the rental and broke three nails. Not something I'd usually care too much about, but it was just injury to insult. I was still late to work by an hour, and my patience had been thoroughly tested.<br />
<br />
Then, I had to address getting health insurance for next year. Not an easy task on a good day, not by a long shot. I had done the research a month ago and found a great, but expensive plan. I figured out how to rearrange my budget for it and had started to cope with my new reality. Then my therapist tells me she's not covered by that company. The company says she is. I've gone back and forth with them and decided, forget it, I'm just going to go with a different health insurance company that has their shit together. Back to the marketplace I go, searching for something that covers all my doctors and that I can afford. Nothing. Not a damn thing. I see 3 medical people on a regular basis and not all of them are covered under any plan offered. Ridiculous. So I had to sit here and run the numbers, weigh the pros and cons, and figure out what I can afford on a single income budget. I finally just said fuck it and picked one of the lower deductible plans. I know most of my providers will work with me on payment plans, should it come to that. Of course, I can't get it out of the back of my head that I wouldn't have to go through any of this if I wasn't a contractor and if my employer offered insurance was subsidised. I knew what I was getting into with contracting and that the benefits suck...but man they sucked extra hard this year.<br />
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All of this, on top of raging PMS, reminded me that things would be a lot easier if I were married or even in a relationship. Nothing makes you feel more alone in the world than being abandoned when you need help. I pride myself on being self sufficient. I have dealt with worse days than this, by far. And yes I do know I have friends who would come and help, but I am a grown up and I don't need to be making my problems, their problems too. Maybe it's the time of the year or just the perfect storm of events, but adulting sucks when you don't have someone to lean on.JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-80436591483585270122016-12-02T20:31:00.001-06:002016-12-02T20:31:09.215-06:00Physical Therapy Week 2 & 3My second week of physical therapy was all about the pool. Normally, I think it's a hassle to get in and swim around because of all the changing and showering that has to be done. I'm finding I don't mind it as much. Only thing I'm worried about is my newly dyed hair turning the pool red.<br />
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I'm the youngest person in therapy so far, and I'm not sure if it makes me feel really old or even younger. I still don't feel like I'm doing much of anything during our pool workouts. But it is easy on the joints, and for that I am thankful. </div>
<div>
I'm loving my <a href="https://swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-polyester-conservative-solid-swimsuit-purple-16-8112927" target="_blank">swimsuit</a> so far too. I was worried because it was so inexpensive, I thought it might be flimsy or not fit right. So far it's exactly what I wanted. </div>
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I gained a few pounds over thanksgiving, but nothing devastating. I need to refocus on eating well and cutting out the crap. </div>
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My physical therapist introduced me to the theracane today. I am totally getting one. I think it will help break up fascia in my back way better than my trusty old foam roller. </div>
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I'm making good progress in PT, but may be doing a couple more weeks of it to keep things heading in the right direction. Next week we start building a plan I can maintain on my own. That's the part I'm most excited about. </div>
JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451289204166820584.post-57182583059711467682016-12-02T11:23:00.001-06:002016-12-02T20:18:11.427-06:00Meet GaryEvery so often I get to perusing the local animal shelter websites, looking at cats that I refuse to let myself adopt. I have a rule: cat to human ratio must be 2 cats per human in my household or the Crazy Cat Lady threshold has been breached. I will not cross that line. (Until I'm like, 50 and have totally given up on ever getting married. Then it's up for renegotiation.) Instead, I'm going to occasionally feature a cat that I think is adorable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.petango.com/sms/photos/1064/73977964-86d7-4c33-a0b4-3ae64f378db1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://media.petango.com/sms/photos/1064/73977964-86d7-4c33-a0b4-3ae64f378db1.jpg" height="246" title="It's Gary!!" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handsome Gary, all snuggled up.</td></tr>
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Meet <a href="http://petango.com/Adopt/Cat-Domestic-Shorthair-Mix-33424183#.WEGRbN8cyxw.link" target="_blank">Gary</a>.<br />
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He's currently hanging out at the <a href="http://www.smittenkittenshop.com/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitten</a> here in Des Moines. Since Smitten Kitten is pretty much the best cat store ever, of course I've been in and actually met Gary. He's a sweet old guy and still pretty spry for his age. I would have never guessed he was 16! He would be a great beginner cat since he's already grown and learned proper feline habits. He has a food sensitivity to chicken, but other than that, he's a healthy man cat who will probably live for many more years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6m7XSq4J-u7K5vWp8dbYqPH3qiytY2vULyloOEA5PMgEfQhZtE2p1Na2Q2dAiFq8fcVxnywdp59_DGgc2jM1YafiepXf0ldDqkQTZbwKsyzb3R8JoVa_unzVc90fqU_6N1NApk_ldnc/s1600/IMG_20160720_193326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6m7XSq4J-u7K5vWp8dbYqPH3qiytY2vULyloOEA5PMgEfQhZtE2p1Na2Q2dAiFq8fcVxnywdp59_DGgc2jM1YafiepXf0ldDqkQTZbwKsyzb3R8JoVa_unzVc90fqU_6N1NApk_ldnc/s320/IMG_20160720_193326.jpg" title="Picard, cat-asshole" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This *is* his happy face.</td></tr>
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Gary could pretty much be a brother to Captain Picard. Except, Gary isn't an asshole like Picard. Honestly, if I could trade Picard in for Gary, I would. But I'd feel to guilty about it, so I haven't done it.<br />
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Since Gary is an older guy, you could talk to the folks at <a href="http://furryfriendsrefuge.org/" target="_blank">Furry Friends </a>about becoming a foster. I've heard they do perma-foster situations for some older cats who don't do so well in shelter situations. But there's no adoption fee for him, so that's pretty fantastic too!JoAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06284733168436388194noreply@blogger.com0