I live, I eat

Over and over I have been seeing the Madison Reed advertising for their hair dye. I love to have my hair colored in a salon, but let's face it, that's money. I don't mind dying my own hair. Though I find it a pain. When I was young my mom would streak my hair with some of her dye. I already had honey blond hair but she dyed her hair a light blond (and still does to this day) which added lovely highlights to my hair. As I grew older, I also grew more adventurous. I always felt like I could do whatever I wanted to my hair. All else fails, cut it off and grow it again, or dye it another color. I finally settled on black. Sure, I first did black when I was a rebellious teen. Later, it was what I was comfortable with, like it was the hair color I was meant to have. Occasionally, I would do the long drawn out process of color correcting it to either a red or brown, but I always went back to black. After counting the measly money left in my pocket, I felt it was time to swit

The Beta Test Group - The Beginning A long while back I kept seeing little ads for a beta test group that Chalene Johnson was putting on for a diet program on Facebook. After I caved in and joined I found that they had done this in a couple of rounds so they had a couple groups at different times. (It is an interesting concept of paying to be part of a test group, even though it was reasonable priced for what it was. You are pretty much paying them to be their guinea pig.) In the end it was done in two sections which were paid for separately (both still a relatively small cost). There was so much information coming at you, and for someone that likes to know the ins and outs of what information is out there, stuff from doctors, hospitals, dietitians, etc.  It seemed like a good amount of people were losing weight based on the program. After the beta test groups were done, they were going to go live with the full program. Being a beta tester we got a free membership for the first rou

So I have tried a Bento Box from MM. Lafleur twice now.  The first box that I received was okay, but just didn't hit the mark and I sent it all back.  They too realized that it just didn't happen for us and they offered to send me another box without the $25.00 fee. As per the norm, they will charge you a $25 fee for the styling that will be put towards anything you buy from your box. This is a newer charge they have enacted that wasn't charged on my first one. If you go to the MM.LaFleur website, you will see a nice variety of quality clothes. That was what I really was looking for. As I am trying to pick up my style and look more professional, I really need quality.  I'm posting this little bit from their website about them: Sarah LaFleur was your typical woman in finance whose closet was packed with blah-feeling pantsuits. Back then, she dreamed of a more inspired wardrobe for herself and all professional women. When she launched MM.LaFleur in 2013, she made i

Note:  Update to this review will be at the bottom of the original. I live in Alaska. I'm not joking when I say that Alaska has been voted the worst dressed state. And it's true. There are of course some exceptions, but overall we are pretty in need of style. I moved up here about 18 years ago from Arizona.  Arizona has style. I was used to dressing up to go out or hang out with my friends. I wouldn't be caught dead without some light make up. Low and behold, after a few years up here.... I can go without makeup and only put on a full face for a serious occasion, I have crocs in my wardrobe (more than three pairs), hiking clothes are everyday wear, xtratuf boots are classics, if it didn't come from rei it looks like it did. Such was my life. I noticed that when I travel, I try to pick up my style a bit so I didn't totally stand out. Especially going to Europe, but year after year, it appeared harder and harder. My wardrobe just didn't have what it took. And

Lest I say that when I heard about Walden Farm's products I was super curious.  I looked for this stuff everywhere and could only find it at my over priced natural foods market and on amazon.  In general, I would say that most of the products were a bit over $5 each.  They have chocolate and carmel sauce, a variety of salad dressings, PB and Jam, Ketchup, and BBQ.  When you are cutting your diet and these things are no longer permissible, this is like finding the holy grail. (Insert singing angels here.) I started this quest with a couple of salad dressings.  I bought the honey Dijon, the berry vinaigrette, and the ceasar.  The first one that I've tried was the ceasar. It was flavorful, but still not quite what the original is. When I looked at the ingredients, I saw that it was pretty much made up of spices, flavor, vinegar, and thickening agent.  As this has no calories, sugar, fat, but has a slight amount of sodium I saw this as a free food. I went a little heavy with the

Macaroni-Potato Salad From  Hawaii Magazine (Serves 8) ½ lb. macaroni 8 hard-cooked eggs 3 red potatoes, cooked and cubed 1 Tbsp. salt 1 Tbsp. vinegar 2 cups mayonnaise ½ tsp.     ground allspice ½ tsp.     pepper 1 package frozen peas, thawed and drained (10 oz.) Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Separate egg yolks from egg whites. In a small bowl, mash yolks and chill. Chop egg whites; put into a large bowl with macaroni and potatoes. Stir in salt and vinegar; chill overnight.    Add egg yolks and remaining ingredients; gently mix into macaroni mixture. Chill.