Gee, Your Hair Smells

Remember that commercial back in the '70's?

"Gee, your hair smells terrific!"

That also happened to be the name of the shampoo.  I don't remember what the shampoo smelled like (terrific?) but I do remember how everyone seemed to compliment the person that used it.

I took the plunge and bought a new shampoo last week.  I felt like the brand I was currently using was not doing anything positive and it was time for a change.  I steer away from chemicals, after realizing that was the reason why my scalp would itch so much (same chemical in shower gels and I can't use those).  Anyway, I chose a shampoo with a lavender scent.  I washed my hair with the new shampoo.  All day I noticed how nice my hair felt.  Softer and more body.

RT comes home and I tell him about my new, exciting purchase.  He sticks his nose into my scalp and inhales and declares that my hair smells awful.  Bella starts laughing.  She walks over and smells my hair and says that it smells bad and starts laughing.

I'm thinking it's a joke.

 A little while later, RT approaches me and says that he is being honest.  He doesn't want me to walk around thinking my hair smells good, when everyone else is thinking the total opposite.

I grab the bottle and have him smell the shampoo.  I mean, some people are not lavender people.  He said, "If you stick your nose in there, that's what your hair smells like."  I said, "I don't think normal people are going to stick their nose into my scalp to smell my hair."

Oh, and Bella was going along with it because she thought it was a joke.

Just when you think my life's journey isn't scary....  Yes.  These are real conversations I have with my family.

If I happen to bump into you, go ahead and tell me that my hair smells terrific.

Passwords

No.  Not the game show.  The word that you use to get into your accounts.

Yes, we all have a billion accounts with a billion memorized passwords.  We are told not to use the same password for every account (does anyone do this?).  Don't use a real easy code, like 1234.  Don't use your name, date of birth, etc.  And, then we should change these passwords often (what??)  Half the time I can't even remember the User ID.  And then I have to remember a password?

I do have some really good passwords that I don't think RT could figure out.  Heck!  I can't even figure out half of them!

I've taken to writing them down in a notebook.  I'm now finding that it would be most helpful if the notebook had them in alphabetical order.

RT suggested putting them on my computer.  What if I forget my computer password?

Maybe having all these ID's and passwords are good for exercising our minds.  Or, maybe it has the opposite effect and makes us lose our minds quicker?

I imagine being kidnapped, having a gun held to my head and being told to type in my password.  I would probably ask, "How much time can you give me?"  and, "How many chances do I get?"

Why is it that I can spray some perfume on myself and I feel like the scent is immediately lost.  Then there is my daughter, who uses half a bottle of spray  sprays perfume on and the entire house smells wonderful?

Maybe it's my choice of spray?

Maybe I need to use half of the bottle?

Vegetarian Diaries - Vegan Brownies Dairy Free Option

I mentioned a week ago that we were looking for some dairy free options for desserts and, guess what I found!  Vegan Brownies!

Bella loves brownies and since she is the one with the dairy problems, I thought a brownie dessert recipe would be perfect to test.

There is a link for gobs of details and pictures for the recipe.  My family (the non-vegans) actually enjoyed these brownies.

Here's the recipe:


Vegan Brownies
recipe found here

ingredients:
1/4 cup almond butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup + 2 TBSP melted coconut oil
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 flax eggs*
1/4 cup + 2 TBSP white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup chocolate chips


directions:
Oven: 325F
Line 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside

In bowl, whisk almond butter, brown sugar, syrup and melted coconut oil until it resembles carmel.

Add cocoa powder and whisk until shiny and smooth.  Add in vanilla and salt.  Stir until mixed in.

Add flax eggs, whisking until it is well incorporated.  Whisk in flour.  You might have to switch to using a spatula at this point.  Mix until no flour clumps remain.

Add chocolate chips and pour into prepared baking dish.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Cool for an hour.



*flax eggs:  2 TBSP ground flax = 6 TBSP water whisked together and set aside for 15 minutes

I used peanut butter instead of almond butter
I used half the sugar and I didn't use that much syrup (I'm not big on sugar)
I substituted white flour, because that's all I had on hand


If you make these Vegan Brownies, let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

My Weird Dog

Didn't think I would have that many things to write about under this title, did you?

Went for an evening walk with Pippen.  He was his usual excited self.  We walked around a park and I noticed a person lying in the grass with their dog.  I was hoping the dog was on a leash.

But, alas, the dog was not on a leash and as we were walking by, the dog jumps up and runs toward us.  I pulled Pippen aside, point at the other dog and say, loudly, "No!"  The dog stops, looks at me, and then turns around and runs back to his owner.

So, yea.  I am now able to communicate in the dog world.

Move over, Cesar Millan!

Vegetarian Diaries - Dairy Free Options

So, I fell a little off the wagon after my two week Vegan Challenge.  I've pulled myself together and am back to cutting out as much dairy as possible.

A while back (a few months ago) we figured out that dairy has been giving Bella some bad stomach aches.  During the Vegan Challenge, she said that she felt really good without the dairy.  We are now looking for more dairy free recipes.  Especially sweet treats recipes.   Oh and something that is equivalent to ice cream.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Happy Fall!

Wow!  Time sure flies when you're having fun!

I thought I would put some links to some of the Fall/Halloween crafts that I've blogged about in the past.

Time to get your craft on and get ready for the fall season!

Halloween Crafts

Bat Pencil Cup
Extra Crafts - using construction paper, owls, witch, ghost, foam monsters
Mosaic Pumpkin - using paint chips
Mosaic Pumpkin - using construction paper
Owl - using construction paper
Pony Tail Craft - using ribbon
Pumpkin and Ghost - using Popsicle sticks
Pumpkin Magnet - using foam
Spider - using pipe cleaners
SPIDER
Spider (under $1 craft)
Witche's Hat