Saturday, November 22, 2014

Random Babblings - Brawl of the Wild


Happy Saturday!!  Today is a big day in my little town.  It's not just a normal Saturday.. let me explain:  I live in a semi-small town in Montana.  I live in Missoula, Montana.  Population about 112,000 if you count the surrounding area.  It is a truly beautiful place.  If you've never visited, you definitely should!.. Anyways, back to today.  We are a college town.  A college town that loves our football time.. The University of Montana Grizzlies (UofM).  We've been very blessed to have many winning season in our history, including a couple National Championships.  I love my Griz.  However, I may be a little bias since I grew up in this town and graduated from the University of Montana a few years back.

Now, on to why today is so big...

We have a rivalry.. not just any rivalry...  a rivalry that even has it's own name, The Brawl of the Wild!!!  We have a rivalry with another college in Montana, the Montana State Bobcats (MSU)  Montana State is in Bozeman, Montana.  This rivalry game has been going on for a very long time, it began in 1897!!  Now, doing a bit of research, that makes it the oldest rivalry in NCAA Division 1 and the 11th oldest west of the Mississippi River.  It's crazy!!

Our towns and fans live for this game.. Once a year (for football at least) pretty much all eyes in Montana our on this game!  Now for a few more stats ...  UofM leads with the most wins (Yeah, go Griz!), current status have 70-37-5.  The kind of fun thing is there's also a trophy for the team that wins. The Great Divide trophy goes to the winner of the game and that school has it for the year, and until the loose.  


Now, this year is extra fun, because this year the game is in Missoula ... which means, a lot of this town will shut down and eyes will be on this games... Fingers crossed for a UofM Griz win!!  

University of Montana Football Stadium

Monday, October 27, 2014

Products I've Used Up


Ok - so I have to admit something... in preparation for this post, I obviously have to keep my empty products.  Which means I have this basket of empty products sitting on the desk I use as a vanity.. which essentially makes me feel like a trash hoarder!! ... So, to free myself of a little garbage in my life, it's time to share my trash with you!! Here we go...


Dry shampoo - Yes, I know there are four different types of dry shampoo in this picture, but for a while I was on the hunt for the perfect dry shampoo.  I used the tresemme one, I'm not sure what the exact name of it is, but it's the one with the green cap and black bottle.  It worked just fine, but the thing I hated was the smell.  It wasn't a bad smell by any means.  I could just smell it throughout the day and I felt that it was slightly overpowering.  Not my favorite.  So, the hunt began for one that I loved.  

I first tried the Batiste brand.. Even though only two are pictured, I have tried three.  I can't remember the name of the one I tried first (sorry!) but the ones pictured are the Dark & Deep Brown and the Original.  Both of these are great.  They don't have an overpowering smell and the Dark & Deep Brown one is tinted.  Which means if you have dark colored hair, you don't have to worry about getting that white cast that some dry shampoos. In addition they actually work.  I know, right?  A product that does what it says it should! Make sure that you rub in any excess to your hair and watch your hair come back to life. Another bonus, I feel like this keeps working throughout the day. Bonus!

Suave - Of the four pictured, this one is probably my least favorite.  Don't get me wrong, it works and I'm not saying that I wouldn't re-purchase it .. It's just, if I had a choice, this probably wouldn't be the one I'm reaching for.  I feel like there is a fine line between applying the right amount of product and too much.  This is one that can cause that white cast on your hair super easily.  There are times when I would use this, do my hair, and then at some point I would catch myself in a mirror and I would feel like my hair almost looked grey in spots.  I found that I could easily avoid this but applying this to my hair, letting it sit, and then kind of rubbing it in. Most of the time I could avoid the white cast, but I had to be very aware of the amount of product I was using.  I don't know about you, but when I'm usually using dry shampoo, it's usually because I'm running late and need to get out the door quickly.  On those days, I don't want to have to think too much about the products I'm using.


Garnier Fructis, Volume Extend, Dry Shampoo - This one, by far, is my favorite.  All of the good qualities listed above, this one has.  In addition, I am in love with the smell!!  No surprise there because most Garnier products smell amazing!  This product is so easy to use, you don't get a white cast,  and it's long lasting. Something I've started doing on nights when I know the next morning I am not planning on washing my hair, I'll spray a bit of this in the areas I tend to get the most oil.  Then when I wake up the next morning, this product has been working throughout the night and there is less oil to deal with.  I also like to use this on freshly washed
hair.  Sometimes I find that my hair when it is freshly washed can be a bit to slick and has a hard time holding a style.  Adding just a touch of this adds a bit of texture and can make styling a bit easier.



Eye makeup remover - This is something I'm constantly using, using up, and re-purchasing... and to be honest, there's only one type I use and it's the Mary Kay Oil-Free Makeup Remover.  I have used this stuff constantly for 7 or 8 years.  Here's a little bit of a disclaimer - I am a Mary Kay Consultant, but I am for personal use only and so that I can get the consultant discount.  I have a few friends who regularly purchase things from me (one being this very item), but I am not doing this for a career or to make money. I just love a few products and have yet to find any other ones to replace them with... Now, on to the product... This stuff is pretty much the most amazing eye make up remover I have ever used... I remember using noth Clinique and Neutrogea's eye makeup remover but the Mary Kay one knocks those out of the park.  It's removes all eye make up, even waterproof, with ease.  No tugging, residue, or left over make up!! It's awesome and I am never without it!


Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation - Pictured above is shade 820 and 840.  What I love about this product is it applies easily, evens out your skin tone, but doesn't completely wash you out.  Your skin still looks natural but just better.  I have loads a freckles and too full coverage products can tend to make me look plastic by covering them up.  the 3 in 1 foundation allows me to even out my skin tone but still look natural.  I still need to add some concealer to cover up the ever hated under eye circles and any bad blemishes I have, but for the most part, this product can cover most things. 

Until next time loves! 

XOXO 

Monday, October 20, 2014

Slow Cooker Chili


I am a lover of my crock pot ... I actually think it is pretty much the best invention ever.  I'm not going to lie, I love being able to throw things into it, go about my day, and then come dinner time I have a wonderful meal waiting for me!! Now a little bit ago I had my lazy day and decided that chili seemed to be the perfect dinner for that lazy day (sorry pizza, the cold weather made you a runner up to chili!) ... Mind you, because there is just a little prep work, my whole day wasn't lazy.  But it's definitely worth it!!
Here's the recipe that I used ...

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground hamburger - browned and seasoned with salt, peper and onion powder
  • 1 cup white onion, diced
  • 1 Anaheim Pepper, seeds and stem removed, diced
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced
  • (1) 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained
  • (1) 15 ounce can pinto beans, drained
  • (1) 14 ounce can beef broth
  • (1) 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • (1) 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • (1) 1.25 ounce packet McCormick Original Chili Mix
  • Optional ingredients for toppings - grated cheddar cheese, diced onion, Fritos or saltines

Instructions
  • Brown the burger and season with salt, pepper, and onion powder;
  • Add in ingredients to the crock pot, stir, cover, and set to LOW for 8 hours. Do not open lid during cooking time.


I also added in some bacon and red/orange/yellow peppers.  I had some in the fridge that needed to be used.  Check out my previous blog for the way I discovered to easily cook bacon! It's seriously life changing, at least for me!!

And.. that's it!! .. Super easy!  I served it over some Fritos to add a little crunch!


Click here for the link to where I found the recipe! 

Monday, October 13, 2014

Easiest Way to Make Bacon!


I love to cook and usually don't struggle with much.  However, I have to things that seem to be impossible to make successfully ... chocolate chip cookies and bacon.  Yes, I do know how random that combination is, but I still struggle none-the-less.  But, as of today ... I have one less thing to struggle with.  I found the easiest way to make bacon!!

While making chili in the crock pot (recipe coming soon!) I stumbled upon directions to make bacon in the oven! Yes! The oven, no more bacon grease popping up to burn you, or under/over cooked bacon!! It was truely amazing!! Here's what I did:


  1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees;
  2. Line a baking sheet with tin foil... I but a couple layers down to make sure for easy clean up;
  3. Line your bacon on the sheet;
  4. Cook for 20 minutes; and
  5. ENJOY!


Really, it's that simple!!

Click Here to go the the website where I found the recipe

Saturday, October 11, 2014

A Free Weekend - Redefined!

Remember when we were in our teens and we couldn't wait until we were older.  We couldn't wait until we could do whatever we wanted.  How blind to the real world were we? What we didn't realize is when we were younger, we had the most freedom that we ever would have.  Yes, before we could drive, we were a little more restricted, but still free.  School took up such a fraction of the day and for the most part come 3:00 we were free.  The part time, after school and weekend job that we had was mostly for fun money.  Oh, those were the days. 

My boyfriend has a mistress, let me introduce you to her. (Stick with my, I promise this will all come full circle)...  She is a very needy mistress and during the summer she can take up almost all of his time.  She requires swinging a bat and playing with balls and there are usually a lot of people involved.  Now, now, get your mind out of the gutter.  My boyfriend is a wonderful man who is anything but unfaithful... his mistress is softball.  When we first started dating, I will admit I was warned.  I was asked more times than I can count "You know how much softball he plays, right?".  I will also admit, I didn't believe their warnings when they told me he played pretty much from snow melt to snow fall.  That was not an exaggeration!!  Softball season starts around the end of April and goes through September and then fall ball starts for a few weeks. 

I can almost guess what you're thinking, come on, it can't be that bad. And for the average person it isn't.  For the average person who is only on a few teams, this wouldn't be that bad.  My boyfriend, however, isn't the average person.  He's on about five teams!

1- Co-ed slow pitch (plays every Friday)

2- Men's slow pitch (plays Mondays & Wednesdays)

3- Men's traveling slow pitch

4 & 5- Men's  fast pitch (Plays Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday.  He's on two teams). 

Our summers are full of softball games and tournaments.  It's a lot of fun! I have had the chance to met some amazing people and develop great friendships.  The only down fall is we have very full schedule during that time.  So, last night when I was getting ready for bed, it dawned on me, this is the first weekend since April that we don't have softball on the books! Suddenly I felt like I had all the time in the world.  It also helps that because I have a government job, I also have Monday off.... On the freedom!!

Now, comes the reason for the way I opened this blog ... Here I am, faced with a weekend that is essentially a free weekend.  The only thing we have scheduled is a birthday party for my boyfriend's younger cousin.  Suddenly I start filling the weekend up.. but not with fun things.. with this stupid adult chores and responsibilities that have to get done... Cleaning the house, errands, grocery shopping.  Please tell me that I'm not the only one that hates grocery shopping ... oh! and laundry! This is not the freedom of adulthood that I had envisioned!  I had so looked forward to growing up and doing whatever I wanted... Now, I am an adult and I still don't have the freedom to do whatever I wanted. What were we all thinking!?

I have now decided that I am going to make sure that I have a fun weekend.  Yes, the adult stuff has to happen, there's no way around it.  But, it looks like Saturday is becoming a movie marathon day.  Time to get caught up on all the movies I have wanted to see but haven't yet ... or even just binge watching my favorite shows on Netflix... and ordering pizza.  Getting a marathon of my favorite shows may get vetoed by the boyfriend.. I'm not sure a marathon of Gilmore Girls is what he would call a relaxing day! Saturday is a no adult responsibility day!!  It's been a long time since the boy and I have been able to have a day when we get to spend time together just doing nothing.  Sometimes it's the simple things in life that are the most enjoyable!

I'm not really sure that was a earth shattering point to this blog and I think it's one that's fairly simple.  Life goes by so fast... how many times have to written down the date and go, gosh I can believe its already *insert month*, where has this year gone?" ... I have a co-worker that's response to that was always, "I know, it's almost Christmas".  The first time I heard her say that it was only late spring and It thought she was crazy.  I remember saying some form of, Christmas is still months away.  And then came the day in late fall when I said, gosh I can't believe it's almost Christmas.  My co-worker promptly responded with, I've been telling you this for months!  Life goes by so fast and in a world where what we have is never enough.  We're always chasing the next best thing.  I think we, especially me, need to slow down, enjoy what we've got, and spend the quality time with our loved ones.  We all need a few more lazy weekends!