Down Mulberry Lane

Still trying new recipes and more of my life...

Today, I tried a sweet'n sour stir fry.  I really tried hard to eat it, but it was so yucky!  It was way too much tomato flavor than what I was expecting.  I ate about half, but then I couldn't eat anymore.  I like stir-frys in general, but this one wasn't to my liking.  I couldn't fall back on the family meal, because my daughter made the potatoes, with cheese and sour cream in them, and the loaf had cheese in it.  I guess I could have eaten corn and WW bread.  Actually, I did eat some bread, cuz I was so hungry. 

Today I spent a good portion of the day arranging paperwork for our Living Well meetings at church.  I put together a notebook with monthly dividers so we can plan ahead.  I typed up some recipes.  I hole punched our planning pages and inserted them into the binder.  I addressed some postcards and will mail those out tomorrow morning, I hope! 

My van got fixed.  My brakes have been squeaking each time it rains, likely because we live on gravel and the dirt just makes for nice squeaks.  But as of lately, they sounded different, although, I didn't think they acted different.  Well, we had put every other vehicle in for something or other in the last couple months that it seemed time to check the van.  Dh actually wanted to fix my doors as the lock/unlock button never opened any doors and I had to do them manually, but they were often stuck in locked position or open position.  Two doors wouldn't even open with the door latch.  He figured it was just from living on the gravel because this was a sporadic problem, although it had worsened considerably the past couple months.  I guess something was broken in the doors... they all had to be replaced... and Dh also fixed the door open light/alarm as that was always on and dinging even when every door was shut.  He just mentioned for them to check the brakes cuz I had said something recently and they found the back brakes to be broken, the lines were even broken... so those were completely replaced... the front were fine.  Well, nearly $1000 later, my van works!  UGH... Dh thought maybe $300-500 tops but almost $1000.... he gave up his bale spear money so my van doors would work.  It was frustrating to run out in the rain and stand there and manually open one door, then crawl in and HOPE you could get a door open for the rest of the family.  I am sure the girls will appreciate this fix so much.  My car now smells of cigarettes from the shop, but it works. 

I got a hair cut.  The day after Dh's birthday, I decided to cut my hair.  My daughter had an orthodontist appointment, so she had to sit and wait for me.  They cut off 6 inches... I didn't realize it had gotten that long.  I am trying to cut the "color" out of my hair.  The trial of coloring my hair wasn't good.  My head itched all the time and I didn't "love" the color... I feel more comfortable just being "me".  Cutting off the colored hair will take time, but it will grow back soon enough.  As for my hair cut... I'd show a picture, but wouldn't ya know that the very day after I got it cut, I got this HUGE ZIT on my nose!  Since I do not know how to photo edit, you will have to wait to see it.  It is just above my shoulders, the back is layered with long layers... just the bottom 2 inches or so.  The sides she layered up to my bangs... so it is still the length of the back, but with shorter layers.  Everyone says they like it... it's different from the one length haircuts I've had for many years.  I am finding it a bit harder to care for.  My hair is curly and after lying on it... it goes flat.  I tend to sleep either on my back or my side and I wake up to one side curly and one side wavy/long/flat... really, it looks longer than the other side until it is washed and it curls back up.  So, no waking up and heading out the door on the run... I definately will argue for a shower as my new DOOO does not sleep well.  I think it is too short to pull back at the moment (I could with a pony tail and some barrettes), but Dh is glad for that.  He likes my hair down and says he likes this hairdo.  It looks best Moused... but of course... my skin breaks out from mouse... so yah, I think that is the reason for the HUGE zit on my nose and on my cheeks and all over!  I woke up the day after with half of my face bright red... it was just beginning to break out when I awoke and each hour I could feel more and more eruptions coming to my face.  ARGH!  I should have told the gal NO mouse, but I was too polite and just let her fix my hair... cuz I was shopping afterwards and I knew the hair without some help at that moment would not look good walking around.  Hopefully I will find a happy medium... with getting my curly hair to cooperate without adding too much goo and heat styling products.  My hair is dry (curly hair is always dry), and using irons or dryers causes split ends within a few uses. 

Well, that's catching up for now.  I need to work on the checkbook and do some bills.

Warmly, ~Melissa