1. Your shower isn't cold enough
2. The a/c is too cold and you have to step outside to warm up
3. You're pleased to find you don't have to wash off your makeup, because it has already melted off.
4. 86 degrees at 7am feels like a cold front.
5. Hair dryer? No need. Go outside with wet hair and it's dry in 5 minutes. Besides, blowing hot air in my face? No thanks.
6. It's just not worth going to the store if there's no covered parking.
7. You're worried the cookie dough you just bought will start cooking before you can get the car cooled down.
8. Seat belts are optional if they are hot enough to burn your fingertips off. A real possibility.
9. You need a down comforter to counteract the a/c
10. You'd rather stay inside with the a/c than take a "refreshing" dip in the pool, because you know that pool water will be hotter than a jacuzzi.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
How to Function in Arizona
For all of my not-so-lucky friends who are dealing with freezing weather this time of year, I invite you to move to Arizona. However, there are a few things you need to learn first:
1. You need a car
2. People who tell you you don't need a car are either messing with you or they have addled minds from walking in 117 degree weather to the bus stop. A bike is always nice for the good months, but there are crazy hot months. Just as you don't want to walk all over in minus-18 degree weather, you don't want to do it when it's hot.
3. A yellow light means go faster. A turn light that has just barely turned red means go faster.
4. Rush hour is a pain. Avoid freeways between 5-6pm. Avoid going against the grain between 5-6pm. If you have to turn at an odd spot without a light, or if you have to turn left out of a driveway, just turn right, or just loop around the neighborhood. Trying to get 20 cars to coordinate and hold their position while you squeeze through and pray no one hits you is just not worth it. I'm hoping this is common sense for all of you.
5. Don't drive anywhere at night when it's raining. I don't care if you grew up in Seattle, this rule is because of everyone else on the road, not you.
1. You need a car
2. People who tell you you don't need a car are either messing with you or they have addled minds from walking in 117 degree weather to the bus stop. A bike is always nice for the good months, but there are crazy hot months. Just as you don't want to walk all over in minus-18 degree weather, you don't want to do it when it's hot.
3. A yellow light means go faster. A turn light that has just barely turned red means go faster.
4. Rush hour is a pain. Avoid freeways between 5-6pm. Avoid going against the grain between 5-6pm. If you have to turn at an odd spot without a light, or if you have to turn left out of a driveway, just turn right, or just loop around the neighborhood. Trying to get 20 cars to coordinate and hold their position while you squeeze through and pray no one hits you is just not worth it. I'm hoping this is common sense for all of you.
5. Don't drive anywhere at night when it's raining. I don't care if you grew up in Seattle, this rule is because of everyone else on the road, not you.
- First, everyone from Arizona starts granny driving the second a small mist or drizzle appears.
- Second, because it rains like 3 days a year here, the water has nowhere to go except the streets. So you're literally driving in lakes that a day ago were filled with dried-out sage and sand. Go slowly. Unless you have a jeep or raised truck, this is not the time to sling your car through every puddle you can find. They aren't puddles. And they will drown your car.
- Third, because it rains like 3 days a year here, the streets are not prepared for rainy settings. Remember those nice reflective round things in Seattle streets? Yeah, we don't have those in Arizona. So you can't see the darn lines. At all. Even when you squint. Neither can anyone else, especially at night. You are literally putting your life in the hands of a fleet of cars driven by people who turn into 98-year-old blind women as soon as it rains. Like a pumpkin.
6. YOU NEED COVERED PARKING. Once you make the mistake of parking in the uncovered spot because "it's closer and I'll only be gone for 5 minutes," you will realize that 5 minutes equals an oven. And I mean that in a literal sense (everything in Arizona is literal). How long does it take for your oven to preheat? 5 minutes or so? Same thing with a car. When you have a nice, strong heat source bearing down on a poor defenseless car, guess what? It's gonna warm up, just like preheating your oven. And when you put a frozen pizza in the oven, it's going to cook. Just like you're going to when you climb into your uncovered car. GET COVERED PARKING. There's a reason why people will drive around for half an hour here in a parking garage looking for a spot, even though the entire uncovered roof of the garage is empty. Also, only consider apartment complexes that offer covered parking. Doesn't matter if it costs extra. Pay it. This will help your car last longer, so really, it's an investment. Or whatever helps you justify it.
7. Get central A/C in your apartment. A window unit is nice, but it should only be a supplement to central A/C. Unless you live in a cave or underground, you will absolutely not be cool enough without central A/C.
8. The warm winters really are worth the summer heat. Everyone has A/C, and just be prepared to sweat a little when you walk from your car, but really, it's a way better trade-off than being so cold you don't think you'll ever be warm again.
9. Take frequent trips to the ocean. California's beaches are only about 5-6 hours away, and the humidity and moderate temperature will be a welcome respite from Arizona. I always find myself glad to get back to the AZ too because it's warmer in AZ than on the coast, and you get used to the warmth.
10. Welcome to Arizona. It's lovely here. Learn to appreciate the beauty of the desert, keep your eyes peeled for hummingbirds and lizards, and you'll like it here. I do.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
If you want to cry happy tears
One of my favorite shows is Pit Bulls and Parolees. It is a "reality" show that follows Villalobos Rescue Center, which is the largest pitbull rescue in the world. Its owner, Tia, opened it 20 years ago in California, but it recently moved to New Orleans (at the beginning of the show's fourth season). With around 200 dogs, it requires quite a few workers, and Tia hires parolees in need of a job to work here. This (obviously) is the recipe for a total disaster, but Tia is one of the strongest women I've ever seen, and she keeps this entire operation running smoothly.
Reasons to watch Pit Bulls and Parolees:
1. Dogs and puppies playing and being happy=happy me. Every show has several "heartwarming" moments (much as I hate that word) that just make you happy and go "aww."
2. The owner of Villalobos, Tia, is a true inspiration. It's amazing how she never seems to lose faith in life, even though she has seen some really awful stuff. Her rather unique background and skill set is exactly perfect for this job, and in every episode you will just be astounded at how much she can do, what she knows, and what she endures without even batting an eye. Maybe some people might get frustrated with the lengths she will go to to save a dog. Maybe they think it's just not worth it, or that she would be better off spending that vet money to save other healthy dogs. But you know what? Someone has to be 100% committed to saving lives, or we never have a higher standard to aspire to. And she is it. She never puts a dog down unless it is absolutely in the DOG'S best interest, and she won't hesitate to do what is necessary to save a dog that everyone else thinks should be put down. More often than not, that doomed dog turns out to be the perfect fit for someone later down the line.
3. I'm very passionate about saving both animals and ex-cons, and this show does both. If you're interested in watching the positive outcome of members of society that everyone has written off, this is the show.
4. These are somewhat scary-looking parolees and workers for a sheltered, innocent person to watch, but that's exactly the point of the show: don't judge a book by its cover. Tia is married to a convict (who is in prison now), and she, her kids, and employees are all covered in tattoos and piercings. Perhaps a straight-arrow religious person might look at them and cross the street, but if in my life time I do half the good that Tia does every day, I'll be okay. Tia is easily going to heaven, regardless of what she looks like.
5. The loyalty and respect this type of job/life/organization commands and draws out. It's really kind of amazing to see these former hardened criminals, covered in tattoos and having spent half their life in prison and gangs, willing to do anything for Tia and the dogs. These guys have found a purpose in life, and while some don't make it for the long haul, the others who do are really becoming men under Tia's tutelage and mutual respect. She doesn't baby these guys, that's for sure. But the responsibility and trust she places in them works. And they return it tenfold.
6. The never-ending emotion and passion Tia and her girls especially have. Again, these look like hard people and it's true that they've seen and endured a lot, but it has not turned them. Each animal that passes away, every miracle adoption, every upsetting picture or inspiring story affects them deeply. Every person and animal deserves a kind thought, and these women (and sons and parolees) go above and beyond. Not to sound like a hippie, but with all the good vibes and thoughts they send, how could the world not be better?
7. New Orleans! Maybe most people don't know this, but absolutely adore New Orleans. The city, the magic, the spirit, etc. So I love seeing how the people have embraced Villalobos.
8. The good the publicity of this show does. Sure, it's made things difficult because now everyone knows to dump their dogs here (shame on them), but a lot of dogs get adopted out too because they're profiled on the show. I've fallen in love with the pit bull breed because of this show, and I know I'm not the only one.
Reasons to watch Pit Bulls and Parolees:
1. Dogs and puppies playing and being happy=happy me. Every show has several "heartwarming" moments (much as I hate that word) that just make you happy and go "aww."
2. The owner of Villalobos, Tia, is a true inspiration. It's amazing how she never seems to lose faith in life, even though she has seen some really awful stuff. Her rather unique background and skill set is exactly perfect for this job, and in every episode you will just be astounded at how much she can do, what she knows, and what she endures without even batting an eye. Maybe some people might get frustrated with the lengths she will go to to save a dog. Maybe they think it's just not worth it, or that she would be better off spending that vet money to save other healthy dogs. But you know what? Someone has to be 100% committed to saving lives, or we never have a higher standard to aspire to. And she is it. She never puts a dog down unless it is absolutely in the DOG'S best interest, and she won't hesitate to do what is necessary to save a dog that everyone else thinks should be put down. More often than not, that doomed dog turns out to be the perfect fit for someone later down the line.
3. I'm very passionate about saving both animals and ex-cons, and this show does both. If you're interested in watching the positive outcome of members of society that everyone has written off, this is the show.
4. These are somewhat scary-looking parolees and workers for a sheltered, innocent person to watch, but that's exactly the point of the show: don't judge a book by its cover. Tia is married to a convict (who is in prison now), and she, her kids, and employees are all covered in tattoos and piercings. Perhaps a straight-arrow religious person might look at them and cross the street, but if in my life time I do half the good that Tia does every day, I'll be okay. Tia is easily going to heaven, regardless of what she looks like.
5. The loyalty and respect this type of job/life/organization commands and draws out. It's really kind of amazing to see these former hardened criminals, covered in tattoos and having spent half their life in prison and gangs, willing to do anything for Tia and the dogs. These guys have found a purpose in life, and while some don't make it for the long haul, the others who do are really becoming men under Tia's tutelage and mutual respect. She doesn't baby these guys, that's for sure. But the responsibility and trust she places in them works. And they return it tenfold.
6. The never-ending emotion and passion Tia and her girls especially have. Again, these look like hard people and it's true that they've seen and endured a lot, but it has not turned them. Each animal that passes away, every miracle adoption, every upsetting picture or inspiring story affects them deeply. Every person and animal deserves a kind thought, and these women (and sons and parolees) go above and beyond. Not to sound like a hippie, but with all the good vibes and thoughts they send, how could the world not be better?
7. New Orleans! Maybe most people don't know this, but absolutely adore New Orleans. The city, the magic, the spirit, etc. So I love seeing how the people have embraced Villalobos.
8. The good the publicity of this show does. Sure, it's made things difficult because now everyone knows to dump their dogs here (shame on them), but a lot of dogs get adopted out too because they're profiled on the show. I've fallen in love with the pit bull breed because of this show, and I know I'm not the only one.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
How simple is Simply Orange?
I am a Northwest girl at heart, and I do my best to eat and use all-natural products and ingredients. My favorite store is Trader Joe's, and I only use soap that I (or my mother) have made by hand, using natural, trackable ingredients.
I recently stumbled across an article that details how Coca-Cola makes their Simply Orange orange juice (original investigation by Bloomberg Businessweek).
I love orange juice, and usually always have a carton in my fridge. I am picky about this as well, and don't drink anything that isn't 100% orange juice, so Simply Orange has been a past occupant of my fridge. This article, however, concerned me because it explains that in order to preserve the orange juice, the oxygen is sucked out. However, sucking out the oxygen also sucks out the flavor, so hired flavor/fragrance companies engineer "flavor packs" to reinsert the orange flavor and smell. Because the flavor packs are made of orange elements, they aren't listed on the label. But it sure isn't "all-natural" orange juice anymore.
At the end of the article, it advises us to stick to juicing ourselves, going to a juice bar, or just eating an orange. So I decided to research and see if there are ANY production orange juices that don't use flavor packs, or if it's time to buy a juicer. The orange juice I drink now is from Trader Joe's:
So I googled "Does Trader Joe's orange juice use flavor packs?"
I found this: http://www.toxinless.com/orange-juice
Someone already did my research for me! Trader Joe's, as always, proved why it is my favorite grocery store, because it does not allow the use of flavor packs in its orange juice.
So, dear readers, be careful about what you eat, because even if it isn't listed on the label, it still may be in your food.
I recently stumbled across an article that details how Coca-Cola makes their Simply Orange orange juice (original investigation by Bloomberg Businessweek).
I love orange juice, and usually always have a carton in my fridge. I am picky about this as well, and don't drink anything that isn't 100% orange juice, so Simply Orange has been a past occupant of my fridge. This article, however, concerned me because it explains that in order to preserve the orange juice, the oxygen is sucked out. However, sucking out the oxygen also sucks out the flavor, so hired flavor/fragrance companies engineer "flavor packs" to reinsert the orange flavor and smell. Because the flavor packs are made of orange elements, they aren't listed on the label. But it sure isn't "all-natural" orange juice anymore.
At the end of the article, it advises us to stick to juicing ourselves, going to a juice bar, or just eating an orange. So I decided to research and see if there are ANY production orange juices that don't use flavor packs, or if it's time to buy a juicer. The orange juice I drink now is from Trader Joe's:
So I googled "Does Trader Joe's orange juice use flavor packs?"
I found this: http://www.toxinless.com/orange-juice
Someone already did my research for me! Trader Joe's, as always, proved why it is my favorite grocery store, because it does not allow the use of flavor packs in its orange juice.
So, dear readers, be careful about what you eat, because even if it isn't listed on the label, it still may be in your food.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Making and coloring natural soap
So my mom and I learned how to make cold-process soap a while ago, and over Christmas break, we made another batch, but it didn't hold the color very well with our synthetic colorant. That's fine, because I don't mind the natural-colored soap. But it DID motivate me to research how to properly color my soap. See, I decided that I'm going to make this my new hobby. I have my beadwork, but sometimes a girl just needs to rest her hands a bit! So soap it is!
In this path of colorant discovery, I'm realizing that I really don't want to use commercial/synthetic/mass-produced colorants. I want to go natural. I've always wanted to keep my soaps as natural as possible, so I like the idea of using things like kelp powder or paprika or alkanet to color my soaps instead of mica powders or waxes. Plus, soap gets washed down the drain. I want my oceans to be there in 20 years, thanks.
I've realized that I want to buy some of these herbs fresh, dry them myself (hello delicious-smelling apartment!), and then use a mortar and pestle to grind them up to a powder for coloring. This is a great, simple post on using a mortar and pestle: http://cutemojo.com/2012/05/how-to-use-a-mortar-and-pestle-to-make-powders/
What I'd like to try, especially for swirling, is pull out a small amount of the soap once it traces, then color it with the powder, then swirl it into the main mixture and pour into the molds. I've seen it done, I'm just not sure how strong the powders will be. Fun experiment though, and it's not like it will ruin the soap if it doesn't color it deeply enough.
In my Internet vortex, (I have 25 tabs open right now! eek!) I learned that infusing herbs into oils before I use them in my soaps is another great way to increase color: http://www.lovinsoap.com/2011/07/color-soap-naturally-infusing-oil-with-herbs-and-spices/
And then, depending on the herb, I may put slightly larger pieces (like seed-sized pieces) into the soap at trace for either an exfoliant or just decoration. So there you have it, a three-fold way of increasing the herb presence in my soaps AND colors, the natural way.
In this path of colorant discovery, I'm realizing that I really don't want to use commercial/synthetic/mass-produced colorants. I want to go natural. I've always wanted to keep my soaps as natural as possible, so I like the idea of using things like kelp powder or paprika or alkanet to color my soaps instead of mica powders or waxes. Plus, soap gets washed down the drain. I want my oceans to be there in 20 years, thanks.
I've realized that I want to buy some of these herbs fresh, dry them myself (hello delicious-smelling apartment!), and then use a mortar and pestle to grind them up to a powder for coloring. This is a great, simple post on using a mortar and pestle: http://cutemojo.com/2012/05/how-to-use-a-mortar-and-pestle-to-make-powders/
What I'd like to try, especially for swirling, is pull out a small amount of the soap once it traces, then color it with the powder, then swirl it into the main mixture and pour into the molds. I've seen it done, I'm just not sure how strong the powders will be. Fun experiment though, and it's not like it will ruin the soap if it doesn't color it deeply enough.
In my Internet vortex, (I have 25 tabs open right now! eek!) I learned that infusing herbs into oils before I use them in my soaps is another great way to increase color: http://www.lovinsoap.com/2011/07/color-soap-naturally-infusing-oil-with-herbs-and-spices/
And then, depending on the herb, I may put slightly larger pieces (like seed-sized pieces) into the soap at trace for either an exfoliant or just decoration. So there you have it, a three-fold way of increasing the herb presence in my soaps AND colors, the natural way.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Numb3rs is underrated
I've been watching Numb3rs on Netflix during the break. It's my second time watching the series, but I just really love it.
I think these are what I like most about it:
1. Charlie and Don are an awesome sibling duo. As the series unfolds, it becomes apparent that this has not always been the case, and they spent a long time out of touch, but when the show starts, they are becoming friends, as well as brothers. It's awesome because both brothers are so crazy smart in their own way that each brother has an unspoken awe of the other one's talents.
2. It's the cleanest show on Netflix right now, I'm positive. I didn't even notice until the second season, but I realized that there is very, very little swearing, and no sex scenes. Actually, the closest we get to a sex scene, everyone still has their pants on. Blood and gore are kept to a minimum. The cameras don't just sit and focus on it like some other shows do while I'm trying to keep my dinner down (ahem SVU).
3. There is very little drama. The show has its own continuing story arcs like the cute Charlie-Amita dance, but there is no main antagonist besides the criminal-of-the-week, and we don't really strongly dislike any of the characters, even Millie, who ruffles feathers at first, but then settles in as one of the crew. Basically, there is never any deep, traumatic drama that leaves me feeling unsettled at the end of the show. Which leads me to the next favorite:
4. Each episode ends with the brothers and usually their dad or friends engaging in gentle banter and such. It's very heartwarming (as much as I hate that word) and makes me smile. That's a win in my book.
5. Each character is just a good person. They are good people. There is a scene where Alan stops by the office to see if the boys want dinner, but he declines to interrupt their heartwarming little sibling moment, and instead asks Megan to come by the house for dinner. She is just his son's co-worker, so really it should be a bit more awkward, but I love how they get along too. All of the group members are just friendly and likable and get along easily with each other.
5. It draws attention to the importance of math. I'm terrible with math, but watching this show makes me realize how important it will be to make sure my kids do well and enjoy it. Plus, I like how the crime solving aspect keep it from being too nerdy.
6. Charlie and his friends' nerdisodes are hilarious. Most shows have some aspect of them just geeking out, like making ice cream from liquid nitrogen (I did that in high school!), or making things explode through high school science experiment type stuff. I love it. It's so funny. Like, the world's most brilliant minds and they are thoroughly entertained by scientifically determining how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie. They really are kids at heart. (and boys will be boys).
7. Random little comments that make me laugh, because it's so true life. For instance, there is a time when Charlie is with Don, Sinclair and Granger, and Charlie says, "the odds of that, it would be like all four of us getting struck with lightning on the way home." Enter Sinclair: "...and it's not even raining." Astute observation, buddy. I love how all of these characters are so intelligent in different ways. They complement each other so you never feel like any one character is smarter than everyone else. Even Charlie has to be schooled by the others sometimes.
So if you haven't watched Numb3rs yet, I suggest you start. It's a detailed, intensive show, but it is also lighthearted and cute. Good combination.
I think these are what I like most about it:
1. Charlie and Don are an awesome sibling duo. As the series unfolds, it becomes apparent that this has not always been the case, and they spent a long time out of touch, but when the show starts, they are becoming friends, as well as brothers. It's awesome because both brothers are so crazy smart in their own way that each brother has an unspoken awe of the other one's talents.
2. It's the cleanest show on Netflix right now, I'm positive. I didn't even notice until the second season, but I realized that there is very, very little swearing, and no sex scenes. Actually, the closest we get to a sex scene, everyone still has their pants on. Blood and gore are kept to a minimum. The cameras don't just sit and focus on it like some other shows do while I'm trying to keep my dinner down (ahem SVU).
3. There is very little drama. The show has its own continuing story arcs like the cute Charlie-Amita dance, but there is no main antagonist besides the criminal-of-the-week, and we don't really strongly dislike any of the characters, even Millie, who ruffles feathers at first, but then settles in as one of the crew. Basically, there is never any deep, traumatic drama that leaves me feeling unsettled at the end of the show. Which leads me to the next favorite:
4. Each episode ends with the brothers and usually their dad or friends engaging in gentle banter and such. It's very heartwarming (as much as I hate that word) and makes me smile. That's a win in my book.
5. Each character is just a good person. They are good people. There is a scene where Alan stops by the office to see if the boys want dinner, but he declines to interrupt their heartwarming little sibling moment, and instead asks Megan to come by the house for dinner. She is just his son's co-worker, so really it should be a bit more awkward, but I love how they get along too. All of the group members are just friendly and likable and get along easily with each other.
5. It draws attention to the importance of math. I'm terrible with math, but watching this show makes me realize how important it will be to make sure my kids do well and enjoy it. Plus, I like how the crime solving aspect keep it from being too nerdy.
6. Charlie and his friends' nerdisodes are hilarious. Most shows have some aspect of them just geeking out, like making ice cream from liquid nitrogen (I did that in high school!), or making things explode through high school science experiment type stuff. I love it. It's so funny. Like, the world's most brilliant minds and they are thoroughly entertained by scientifically determining how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie. They really are kids at heart. (and boys will be boys).
7. Random little comments that make me laugh, because it's so true life. For instance, there is a time when Charlie is with Don, Sinclair and Granger, and Charlie says, "the odds of that, it would be like all four of us getting struck with lightning on the way home." Enter Sinclair: "...and it's not even raining." Astute observation, buddy. I love how all of these characters are so intelligent in different ways. They complement each other so you never feel like any one character is smarter than everyone else. Even Charlie has to be schooled by the others sometimes.
So if you haven't watched Numb3rs yet, I suggest you start. It's a detailed, intensive show, but it is also lighthearted and cute. Good combination.
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