The Toy Story...

I always hate the chore of purging through toys. It seems each January with the incoming of new toys, old toys and random bits and bites need to be moved out to make room. Upon my most recent purging expedition, I found it quite difficult to put the toys into the bag, clothing and books fine, but teddy bears and dolls that’s another story. It’s called Toy Story. Like any child, my daughter has watched Toy Story 3 a number of times. If you haven’t seen it, the plot is situated around Andy donating his toys and the toys being upset by it. A whole movie dedicated to the toys plight in loyally sticking with their owner.

It had to be done but not without much indecision as to who would get the cut. Some toys remained purely out of seniority reasons while others, mismatched and missing from their larger counter parts got a gentle placement into the donation bag. I even found myself apologizing to the toys that ended up on the cut list, promising them a more loving and needy home. I only hoped that someone would see their use and would purchase them off the shelf of the local value village.

Places to Donate Old Toys (No particular order)
Value Village
Local thrift stores
Good Will
Women’s shelters

It’s important to remember that these places are there to help those a little less fortunate in the community. Giving them old broken and unusable toys or donations because you are too lazy to go to the dump, or recycle is just not being a good member of the community!

To Shave or Not to Shave....Not for the Squeamish!!!

Unsure how to shave your pubic hair properly? Upon extensive research there are a number of websites that can give you a step-by-step guide to get a close, nick free shave. My question is - do I want to rely on ANY of these sites, most of which seem depthless and carelessly written to assist me in bringing a sharp piece of metal to my genital areas?

TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE

What is the obsession with finely trimmed or even fully shaved pubic areas anyways? Also known as "Pubic Topiary", it has become custom in many cultures. Not only has it increased in popularity but it is becoming a "norm" with the vast majority of Canadian women and even an increase in men regularly shaving their legs, armpits and bikini lines or genital areas. For me, it suddenly became an aesthic "need" to shave below the belt. I had an overwhelming desire to further attract my partner to that area and with being clean shaven, the sensitivity levels (in my opinion) become heightened. My dreams and hopes of having a smooth and beautifully soft pubic region distracted me from the real truth behind shaving your bits.

WHERE TO BEGIN

Google Search – How to shave your pubic hair. Difficulty Rating – Easy SAYS WHO? This is a delicate procedure, almost like surgery. Time Required – ½ hour. Maybe I am an amateur but this does not seem like a whole lot of time. How quickly am I to be moving this razor here ? Options – Natural/Bush, Triangle, Landing Strip, Freeform, Brazillian, Full Brazillian, Pyramid. I have options? Under what rock have I been living to not know there are options on how to style your "bush".

Screw the list of instructions. I decided to write a list of my own. Funny enough they are very parallel to the instructions you will find on any of those *coughs* depthless and careless websites.
Be prepared. Have a brand new, fairly good razor and shaving cream. Whatever you do...do not use soap!!
Trim, trim, trim. Those little razors aren’t meant to cut down a whole forest so trim the bush to a short patch.
Spend some time in a nice warm shower. Not only will the warm water soften the skin but it will also help to relax the hair follicle.
Do a little exfoliation. A LITTLE! There is no need to scrub yourself silly down there. It will only irritate your skin unnecessarily.
Apply shaving cream. I laughed when I read the instructions on the can and it said to not apply internally. DUH!! Please heed this warning. Remember this is a sensitive area we are dealing with.
With your fresh blade shave first in the direction of hair growth, then follow in the opposite direction. Try to resist in shaving over the same spot over and over again.
Rinse the blade often. A clogged blade will do nothing but cause nicks.
Rinse and cleanse the shaved area before patting dry. Avoid rubbing dry with a towel.
Moisturize. Try to avoid using heavily perfumed creams as this will do nothing but burn and sting causing a rash and discomfort.

New Years List....Better Late than Never!

Okay so I suppose this kind of drifts away from my attempts of being the new and improved Rockabilly Gal, but I had to share this ingenius little gem. PLUS it is about a month or two late.  I still think it's important.   It's a new year and although I still have not given up hope with regards to my wants of pin curls, circle skirts and fun swallow tattoos, I have made a list of things I want to accomplish. I am not a believer of making New Year's Resolutions.

Why make a bunch of promises to myself that I probably won't keep?  Only then to feel guilty for breaking the promises I kept to myself.  It seems like a bit of a vicious circle if you ask me.  So instead of making resolutions, I have made a list of things I would "like" to accomplish.  

1) Do something about this house.  Its a lovely little house, but it's old and we have had it decorated the same way for 5 years now.  I know...don't fix what ain't broke.....well there are a few things that I think could be fixed and a few things that just require updating!!! So although this is one entry on my list it is a very involved entry!

2) Have more sex! (Please dear lord, don't let my kid read this!) Yes, I said it.  Why shouldn't I say it?  Why can't I say it.  I want to do 'it' more.  Lots more.  In different ways more.  Okay so you get the idea. Did I mention lots.....Okay...okay...

3) A craft a month.  I always get it in my mind to do a craft blog, but honestly, there are literally thousands upon thousands of craft blogs. I would just be doing something everyone else has done.  So to simplify things and to appease the craft lusting demon within (still thinking about list entry number two..sorry) I am going to...no I am going to try to do a craft a month.  

4) Take better care of myself.  Yeah yeah yeah.  This goes on everyone's list for revamps for the new year.  I am not saying that I am hopping and totting off to the gym.  I am not saying that I am going to give up my favorite little treats and start to drink alfalfa smoothies and chew on tree bark.  I am just going to breathe more deeply, smile and laugh more, treat my body better. My one and only vessel through this crazy life and I still have a few years left to ruin it.  I would love to lose a bunch of weight, but just like quitting smoking, I am not ready to take the plunge head first into the murky waters of exercise and diet changes.

5) Get a tattoo or two.  I have so many ideas of tattoos I want. Want Want Want.  I know it's marking my body.  What will they look like when you are fifty? sixty?  I don't know and I don't care.  I want!  (STAY TUNED FOR MY UPDATE ON THIS ONE!!!)

6) Did I mention more sex?

7) Better the relationships with the people around me.  I have found over the last few years, I have taken to my electronics, my own little vices and have put aside the importance of spending time with the people that I love.  Surprised?  A housewife who is all giving all hours feels like she needs to give more?  It's a different type of giving.  It's a mutual enjoyment of time.  Sharing the fun things that we used to. Damnit, THEY will join me in this venture or ELSE!!

8)Do what I love. This relates to more of a professional interest. I have spent my whole life not sure what I want to do with it.  Probably why I don't have an actual certified career.

SO there ya have it.  THE LIST.....THEEEE LIST....okay maybe just one of the many lists!   Will be reporting on my adventures and how I am conquering these!!!

Love this Recipe!!!!

I started taking a real interest in cooking and baking about a year ago. I just started collecting successful recipes. A recipe classifies as successful in my house if it brings the praises of delicious and yummy from my family. I like recipes that are multi-functional. Meaning they can be used for more than one meal. This recipe is just that. Check it out!

Pizza/Focaccia / Calzone Dough - Basic Recipe

2 cups of all-purpose flour ( I usually substitute in one cup of whole wheat flour)

8-g pkg of quick rise yeast

1 tbsp of olive oil

¾ tsp of salt

Stir 2tsp of flour with a ½ cup of warm water and the yeast in a large bowl. I let it stand for about 5 minutes until it is bubbling before stirring in the remaining flour, ½ cup more of warm water, oil and salt. I stir this all up in my mixer using the dough paddle. I let this mix until the dough is smooth for about 2 to 3 minutes. I then either spray or rub some butter a boil and put the dough in. I cover it with a clean kitchen towel and then let it rise for about 1 hour. The dough will rise and it should get about twice in size.

Pizza – Brush olive oil along the bottom of your pan and then press your dough into the pan. Cover it with pizza sauce, pizza toppings and cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 15-20 minutes.

Focaccia – I find if you are looking to make focaccia bread, I let the dough knead in the mixer for a few more minutes. Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan or dish with ¼ cup of olive oil and pat the dough into the dish until it fits and brush with olive oil. I sprinkle it with a little bit of coarse sea salt and then back at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes.

Calzone – I divide the dough into four portions and one at a time role each out into a circle. I add pizza sauce , toppings and cheese on half of the circle before folding over the other half and pinching the pocket closed. I brush the tops with oil and bake for about 15 minutes at 425 degrees. You can also make smaller pizza pockets with this recipe or even dessert pockets.

This is the type of recipe that I just love. This is a preference pizza over take out and my family likes the different options.