Confessions of an Amazon Woman

I am about to divulge my personal experiences and opinions about the Smooth Away hair remover (As Seen on TV). Hair removal is a personal topic...but for the sake of knowledge I will be sharing it with you. In detail. If you do not wish to read about my hair removal...Please stop reading. Thank you.

I opened my Smooth Away box and found a lovely carrying case for all the pieces.


My heart began to pound with anticipation. Was it truly instant? Would it really be pain free?

When I opened it, I was affronted by a bold STOP sign. This made me a little nervous. It didn't look that difficult...why the bold warning?

I read the instructions. The directions were clear. After applying the "flex-crystal hair removal pad" I was suppose to "gently buff the area in circular motions with slight pressure...DO NOT PRESS TOO HARD."

Wait, what? How will I know if I'm pressing too hard? I gave it a try anyway...

The flex-crystals are also known as very very fine sandpaper. Hmmm...

I tried removing the hair on my legs since this is one of the common areas we like to have smooth and hair free. I buffed in circular motions...and buffed....and buffed...and buffed. It worked after a while. And my skin felt really soft. However, each flex-crystal pad was all used up really quickly, it seemed. With one sheet I could only "smooth" from below the knee to the ankle...and it didn't quite last long enough to smooth every inch perfectly.

It took about three sheets of flex-crystals to get my legs smooth...but not completely hair free. And it took about 15 minutes.

Now, I do have a disclaimer...which is what inspired the title of this post. I sometimes refer to myself as 1/3 Amazon Woman. I don't really know what this means...but to me it means that I have very dark, thick hair. I grew up with friends that have blonde hair, fine hair, or were Asian so they have very little body hair! They can all go for a week without shaving...and you'd hardly notice! Then there's me--the girl that has to shave every day if I'm wearing shorts all summer.

This may be a little bit too much information for you...but it influences my verdict.

The Verdict:

This product is not for me. However, women with finer hair may enjoy the ease of buffing away hair and exfoliating with a relatively easy product. The bottom line is that if you've got a shower and a razor...you'll be able to remove your hair more quickly and completely.

At least I'll stop wondering when I see the infomercial...

As Seen on TV

I'd like to confess something. I have a weakness for TV infomercials. I always want to believe that everything is as easy as the announcer says it will be.

When I was in high school, my mom got me the Handystitch for my birthday. I was SO excited. Except that unfortunately I could never get the Handystitch to actually stitch anything. Still, it was fun to try!

Recently I was amazed to find out that my aunt owns a set of Sham-Wows! I even saw one in her car. I didn't have time to do any of the tests you see on the commercial...but the next time I am at her house, I am totally going to get a carpet sample, spill a can of pop on it, and then use the Sham-Wow to soak up every inch of moisture. Or something.

Anyway. Can you see that my innate optimism makes me an easy target for all these miracle gadgets? Luckily I've never actually spent my money on these things. Yet. Actually I have.

Last night at Target I saw this:

Oh my gosh...I have watched these ads a thousand times! Women painlessly and effortlessly smooth away all the hair on their entire bodies! I'm pretty sure that's what the commercials say...

Anyway, since I didn't have to pay shipping and handling....and I know that all of YOU at home are dying to know if this works....I decided to try it for you. I haven't had time yet. But I will. And then I will share if we should buy stock in this company and throw away all of our razors...or if you all should laugh at me for even trying it.

To Be Continued...

Bless His Heart....I think.

Last night I came home from a meeting and my husband was hard at work in the kitchen! He was making breakfast for dinner--bacon, eggs and hash browns!

For about 15 minutes I was able to check my email and relax until dinner was ready. That was a treat! I love it when el maestro makes dinner! But then I walked into our little kitchen and realized why I don't always love it...

I don't know what kind of a cook you are...but I'm definitely more of a clean-as-you-go type person. Really, I usually make sure the kitchen is clean to start with...and then its so much easier to clean up at the end!

My husband....not so much. He makes a mean breakfast. But somehow there is always bacon grease spattered from one side of the kitchen to the other. And grated potato on the counter. And the floor. And the side of the microwave?!?

The funny thing is that it doesn't bother him. And I'm sure he would have been willing to help clean up. However, after a scene like this, I'm somewhat hesitant to let him back in the kitchen.

Maybe that was his plan all along...

Nah. He was just being a team player and making dinner. Bless his heart.

New

I've been a little lax on the blog postings lately. For one reason...because my husband makes fun of me when I have a boring post;) But also because even I haven't thought of anything interesting enough to blog about!

But now, blogging should be a little easier. You see...since I started my blog, we've been using the laptop computer that I got as a gift from my parents when I graduated from high school. That was a looooong time ago. Especially in laptop years.

Today I am posting from a new, sleek, beautiful laptop. And I love it. My life may never be the same again.

Now that I think about it...ease of posting doesn't necessarily equal interesting posts.

I will try again tomorrow...

Just Right

Last year I shared about my morning chore. Making coffee is an important job in many households. My husband simply won't function without it.

For me, the importance of this ritual varies. I'll go on a huge coffee kick...and then decide to stop drinking it because so much caffeine can't be good for you. Then I'll have a particularly sleepy morning and start drinking it again!

Lately I was thinking about the reasons its nice to have a cup of coffee in the morning. And I decided that its all about the comfort. Holding a nice warm mug in your hands and sipping something that warms you up. It is so....nice!

But for me, a lot of the comfort has to do with the mug I'm drinking from. It has to fit nicely in the hands, have a certain amount of weight to it...and it should be cute! I have a thing for cute mugs.

If you'll excuse me, I have some coffee to drink now.

A long day...

Yesterday was a long day. It was the start of parent-teacher conferences, and although the students were dismissed after lunch...we teachers still had much to do.

For me, conference week is spent running madly from one conference to the other...trying to get to as many as I can so that I can say something like, "Your student's English is progressing just as we would hope. S/he is doing really well with speaking and listening, and now we'll really start to work on reading and writing." Or something like that. Except in Spanish most times.

But I'm serious about the running. Most teachers have 25 conferences to do. We specialists have as many as 7o students on our caseload! So while its virtually impossible to make every conference, we really try to get to a lot of them.

This experience is compounded for me because our school used to be two schools. Our two campuses are separated by a large playground. And each day we have to make the trek from one side to the other--rain, snow, or shine.

Normally this is fine. We've got umbrellas coming out of our ears and its good to get a little exercise! However on days like yesterday, the four minute (if you're speed walking) journey just seemed too long. May I please explain?

Here was my schedule for yesterday:

8:15 WEST SIDE Get to work, prep for the day, first two classes on same side.
10:35 EAST SIDE Two classes on this side...then travel back for lunch!
11:50 WEST SIDE Lunch. Take care of paperwork until first conference.
1:30 EAST SIDE Conferences number one and two. Except the second conference was suddenly postponed until 3.
2:30 WEST SIDE Meeting for WASL planning.
3:00 EAST SIDE Second try for the second conference. I end up interpreting.
3:35 WEST SIDE Another three conferences.
5:00 EAST SIDE Last two conferences of the night. Call me the interpreter again.
6:05 WEST SIDE Meet el maestro at the car. Drive to the pizza place. Get dinner, go home, and collapse!

Thanks for listening.
The End.

The Luck 'o the Irish!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I knew there was a reason that I impulsively bought this box of Lucky Charms on Sunday! What a perfect morning for them! And look how charming and vintage Lucky looks...

I hope you're wearing green! If not...consider yourself pinched!

Love,

Beth

Cupcake Pops!

On Saturday morning, I grabbed all my ingredients, my apron, and my slippers, and I drove 20 minutes on gravel roads to The Ranch (also known as my husband's childhood home). My dear mother-in-law had a chocolate cake waiting for me...baked, cooled, and crumbled in a food processor.

While she assembled all the other ingredients (melting chocolate, m&ms, sprinkles, lollipop sticks, and a cookie cutter) I mixed 3/4 of a tub of chocolate frosting with the crumbled cake crumbs.

Notice the lovely apron? Mamapua made it...and I won it in a drawing on her blog!! It came in handy for this messy venture...

See, Emily, reading blogs every day can pay off!!

When the frosting/cake was a consistent texture, we began making cake balls. We made about 50 of them and put them in the freezer.

After about 15 minutes to chill, we pulled them out of the freezer and I began to form them into cupcakes. This was a slow and painstaking process. We discovered that next time, we would make the cake balls a little bigger. The bigger ones make cuter cupcake shapes.

Then it was off to the freezer again! (Next time we're going to try using candy molds for the bottom of the cupcake. It took a loooong time to make all these! Or we will invest in more than one cookie cutter!).

When they were chilled and firm, we began the dipping process! Each cupcake bottom is dipped in chocolate...

Placed upside down on a cookie sheet...and then stuck with a lollipop stick!

We did this another 48 times...it was faster with two of us! I would dunk it and Beanball would take care of the lollipop stick. Then we waited again for the chocolate to cool and harden.

Finally it was time for the fun part...the pink topping and sprinkles! First we melted the white chocolate with two or three discs of red melting candy.

Then we started our assembly line again. I would dunk the top of the cupcake in the pink chocolate, and Beanball would place an m&m on top and sprinkle the sprinkles! Then we stuck the finished products in Styrofoam disks so they could harden.

I'd say the finished product was worth the effort...

What do you think? We wrapped each individual pop in a cellophane bag and tied it with a cute ribbon.

Of course...no matter how cute they are, we need to know if they taste good!

I was nervous...but it was well worth the effort! Oh, it was a delicious and flavorful treat! I can't wait to try it again!

Courage!

My favorite blogger, Pioneer Woman, has introduced me to a new blog! It's called Bakerella. And it's inspiring! Inspiring in a very sugary and caloric way.

Recently, Bakerella flew to visit PW at the Ranch and teach her how to make Cake Pops, Bakerella's inspiration that has been featured in food magazines, blogs, and the Martha Stewart show!

Aren't these adorable? They are actually little cake balls that have been shaped like cupcakes, dipped in melting chocolate and decorated. And they're on little lollipop sticks! For Bakerella's instructions, click here.

Bakerella's site has a dozen or more ways that she has decorated these cake pops...everything from Christmas to Election Day. So I've been feeling inspired. Just yesterday morning I was thinking, "These would be great for a bake sale! They're so cute I'm sure they'd sell in a snap! Maybe someday I'll need to bake something for a bake sale, and I'll bake these."

As luck would have it, that opportunity is now! The YMCA came to the staff room at school yesterday to ask us to donate to their yearly fundraising campaign. (Our principal is a campaigner for the Y as well, so they had an "in" at our school!) The representatives mentioned that a bake sale is going on all week to benefit the YMCA.

So, my goal is to make some cute cake pops, package each in a cellophane bag, and take them to the Y early on Saturday morning for their biggest day of the bake sale! This will be more fun that just writing a check, and I'm hoping the 40-50 cake pops you get from one batch will generate more money that I could give!

Soooo...the question is....who's with me? I'm a little scared and overwhelmed to try such a big project. Who wants to help me on this philanthropic endeavor?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Beanball?

You have such a nice big kitchen and all....

Greetings this dark Monday morning...

Brrr! The chill in the air is back with a vengeance...as evidenced by the snowflakes and hail that fell throughout the weekend. The part I don't like is that it is also dark...who's evil idea was it to spring forward?!?

Oh well, the sun will be up eventually. Even if I have to walk to work in the dark.



What are you up to this week? I'm not sure myself. I know I've got friends that are working out after school. And a school meeting tomorrow night. We'll probably also go up and visit my in-laws one evening since my FIL is recovering from knee surgery.



Speaking of my in-laws, recently I've been enjoying a lot of stamping. A friend from work is a Stampin' Up consultant, and my mother in law has long enjoyed this hobby (and has lots of great tools!). I really like the feeling of making a nice card, and then sending it off to someone in the mail, or sticking it in the box of cards for the someday its needed.

Most of my creations are replicas of someone else's work. And that's fine. I still feel successful. The cards are still cute. But earlier this week I made one all by myself. Sort of. I saw a Christmas card I liked and used the format for a spring card. So not really. Anyway, it makes me happy.

I needed a thank you note for a friend at work that took care of me on a bad day. This will work!

I realize now that I really have nothing interesting to write this morning. So I guess I'll go dry my hair now.

Mental Note

For the first time ever, I forgot about Daylight Savings. I set my alarm for 8:00 so that I would be ready to leave for church at 9:15. And then I woke up when my clock said 7:45...and I realized, we were suppose to Spring Forward last night!

Which meant that I had 30 minutes to shower, dress, dry hair and apply makeup. Which is very difficult for me to do.

Happily, this is the mental note I have made:

When your husband convinces you to stay home from church, he may just surprise you with breakfast in bed! Mmm...french toast. I'm pretty sure The Lord will understand this once;)

Fashionably Late?

Monday was my baby sister's birthday. My BABY sister's 17th birthday. Someone help me, please.

I think she looks like me. What do you think?

How am I suppose to handle the fact that my baby sister is not so much a baby anymore. I mean, she's had her drivers license for over a year now. A year and five days. Oh my gosh...

I remember when she was born. I was almost seven. In first grade. Grandpa came to watch Em and I while mom and dad went to the hospital. She was born with a red face and black hair. I think. It was 17 years ago, after all.

I brought her to first grade for show and tell. She was pretty cute. But I liked her even more as she grew up a little. She was an adorable toddler. Seriously, SO cute. Oh. The cutest.

One Halloween, Em and I realized that she would want to eat our candy if she could. And we realized that sometimes, Mom would let us kids eat a piece if the baby didn't see. So we would ask, "Mom, can I have some C-A-N-D-Y?" My baby sister caught on pretty quickly. Have you ever heard a sweet, squeaky little two year old voice say, "Mommy, can I have some C-A-N-D-Y?" She's been a good speller ever since.

These days my sis spends her time studying (Hello? I told you not to take so many AP and Honors classes!) and singing. She's a member of the prestigious Jazz Choir at her school. Mmhmm. Her voice will put you to sleep. In a good way. I wish I could sing like that.

My baby sister is passionate and adventurous. She spent a couple of weeks in Africa over the summer. Just look at her with her Compassion Child. That's right. My 17 year old sister pays a certain amount of money every month to support this beautiful little girl. (She gets that generosity from her other big sister. As much as I may try I don't have that gift quite so naturally.)

Rumor has it she's heading to Mexico this summer.

Happy birthday, wonderful, beautiful, baby sister. I love you.

Trials

Do you ever feel like your life is one giant treadmill, and you're panting and sweating and running as fast as you can, just so you won't fall off and be thrown against the wall?

I've kind of been feeling that way. There are so many things that I need to accomplish, but it seems I can never get ahead. I'm always finishing one thing right before I turn into a pumpkin...and then I rush to begin the next thing.

In times like these, there are things that will inevitably be left undone. A birthday post for your baby sister, for example. You see, I asked my husband to post a nice birthday poem for her while I was on a long awaited date with the girls. However the birthday post didn't exactly come to fruition. I'll get it done eventually, when I have time to sit down and sufficiently proclaim all the wonderful things about my baby sis.

And by the way, has anyone ever tried explaining to their cat that you DON'T want to play with him this morning because when he attacked your feet at 5:30 AM it really hurt and so you are ticked at him. Yes, still upset because those 30 minutes of sleep before your alarm went off would have been very valuable!

I just don't think he gets it.

Good luck, this fine Wednesday. I hope you accomplish all that you ought to, and that you have a few minutes to spare!

POST 100!!! Also Titled: If You Don't Like This List, You are Foolish...And I Pity the Foo'

Yes, folks...you read the title correctly! This is post number 100! I was so luck to receive a wonderful apron from my sister-in-law...she was giving it away as a prize to celebrate her first year of blogging. I thought about doing the same thing..but all I have made recently that would be of interest are a burrito and a pile of dirty laundry. I doubt anyone would want my laundry...and the burrito was short-lived, given the proximity of this post to dinner time.
Instead, I decided to post a list of things that everyone should like. Notice I said "should" instead of "does." Should you find yourself not liking anything on the list, you should feel ashamed. I wouldn't admit it, that's for sure.

1. Water
2. kittens
3. Puppies
4. Toast
5. The Wheel
6. The inclined Plane
7. Corners
8. Chair Legs
9. Canteens
10. Farmhands
11. Satisfaction
12. Winning a Game
13. Not Losing a Game
14. Pencils
15. Sleep
16. Geese Flying
17. Not Stepping in Goose Poop
18. Not Stepping in Animal Poop of Any Variety
19. Better just say "Not Being in the Proximity of Poop from Any Creature."
20. Pockets
21. A Clean Dryer Vent
22. Names
23. Vocal Intonation
24. Having an Excuse
25. Having a GOOD Excuse
26. Numbers
27. Rooting for the Right Team
28. Fire
29. Good Looking People
30. Confectioner's Sugar
31. Spastic Colon (just kidding)
32. Authors
33. Bones
34. Knowing Things
35. The Assembly Line
36. Hamstrings
37. Meals
38. Storage
39. Mandibles
40. Skills
41. Ladders
42. Lincoln Logs
43. Phrases
44. The End of a Long List

Yeah...That'll do for now, Kids. Of course, there are many more thing to consider...But I have a burrito to finish. Too bad you didn't win it...it's delicious.