Sweet Love and Ginger

In My Head

How I Spend my Me Time

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Recently Jenn of Hello Brio wrote a post called How I Spend My Me Time. There after it was picked up my a few other bloggers, and I thought it was a pretty solid idea. I have had a lot of me time lately since you know it’s hunting season, also known as leave your significant other for a stinky cabin in the woods season. Anywho, we are here to talk about me not him so let’s get down to business.
All the questions below were provided by Jenn, and my answers are listed below.
What do you watch or read during me-time?
It changes based on what I have/have not finished on Netflix. Right now I’m watching the Tudors. I also have been known to watch Bones, and random food/farming documentaries. I also have a deep love for magazines, I get quite a few each month so I spend some time flipping through those and my past collections for inspiration.
What do you wear during me-time?
Sweatpants, a t-shirt and slippers.
What are your me-time beauty products?
Ha! Me time is not about beautifying for me. If anything I like apricot scrub, and a good honey face mask. I love the way my skin feels after I put this face mask on. Instructions are below.Avocado & Honey Face Mask
1/2 an avocado, mashed
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Spread the mixture over face and neck and let set for 15-20 minutes then rinse off.  

Current favorite nail polish?
Eek I don’t paint my toe nails myself. I usually just wait until some event happens and get them done then leave that nail polish on until it chips off itself or the next big event. I also use pedicures for personal rewards, like lasting through a 2 week cleanse or finally putting up a certain weight at the gym.

 

What do you eat/drink during me-time?
Tea! I think this is a given with me. Right now monks blend is my absolute favorite. I find eating during my me time kind of a pain so I usually make my own ramen or go to the standard blue box mac and cheese. Also sushi, there’s a place I can get take out right down the road and it’s awesome.
Current favorite candle?
Right now because it’s the Christmas season I have a vanilla chai candle and a pine candle that I have been alternating.
Do you ever have outdoor me-time?
Yes! Brody loves his weekend long walks. I always consider outdoor runs me time, and in the summer sometimes I go kayaking or read in the back yard. I also consider gardening more me time than a chore because it helps me relax.
Would you ever go see a movie alone?
Probably not. I’m not really a fan of seeing movies in the theater, I much rather prefer the cheaper rental on my own TV with whatever food I want in whatever clothes I want. Besides theaters are always cold, and not everyone appreciates it when I take my shoes off, but let’s face it I’m going to do it anyway.
Favorite online shop?
I don’t shop online much, but right now it’s Modcloth, because it’s where I got my wedding dress, and I’m pretty in love with that.
Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time?

I usually spend my “me time” in the tub, or crafting. I’m a blend of introvert and extrovert so I need a lot of alone time in order to function like a normal human being. Even Chuck knows this, and has in the past pushed me into the bathroom with a glass of wine and a stack of magazines for a bath before I took his head off.

I also want to add that the little guy above is usually hanging around during my me time, and by hanging around I really mean asleep on me in some way shape or form.

The Reasons I Blog

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Someone asked me recently why I blog; shortly after laughing at
the fact that I have made less than $100 at this thing so far this year. I’m
sure I came back with something snarky, but since I was slightly inebriated at
the time I’m not exactly sure what I said, but that comment and laugh will stay
with me for a while.
People it’s not about the money. Really I just think it’s cool that I can
make anything at this thing, even if
I don’t see a dime of it, which I don’t because the pennies I make go right
back into buying cook books, camera gadgets, blog sponsorships and all that
other fun stuff. Actually when you add all that up I’m probably a couple
hundred dollars negative.

The thing is that I would be buying that stuff anyway. I would be writing here anyway. I would be churning out new
recipes anyway. I would be learning
to use my fancy camera anyway. These
are things I enjoyed and started doing years before I was told I should start a
blog.
The best part of this blog is that it gives me an outlet for all of
it as well as a place to record memories, and big events. It’s a place I can
look back on my thoughts and feelings and remember it all.
Yeah I have plans to take my blog further. Yes I would love more
followers, and to make more money. However I wonder if anyone doesn’t feel that
way, I mean we all just want to be liked right? What’s so bad about that?
I experiment with different ways to accomplish this but at the end
of the day this blog is still about me, and my interests, and stories, and
feelings. I can only hope that those things shine through to you above all
else. I’ll never try to be a sellout, though I may try to be a comedian or
Martha Stewart from time to time, but even after 2+ years I’m still a newb, and
still trying to figure out my own voice. Hell I’m still trying to figure out
what I want out of life, and my career, how can you expect me to have this blog
thing down perfectly?

What are your feelings on those who make money from blogging?

Currently.

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Everyone seems to be doing these currently, recently, what I’ve
been up to, kind of posts lately. I guess they’ve always done them I just never
really caught on to that band wagon, not that I haven’t tried once or twice. It’s
just not the kind of thing that lasts for me. Sometimes I just feel so separated
from this space; like you guys have no clue anything that goes on in my life. I
mean yeah, I come here a few times a week, and drop a few lines about my new
favorite recipe, or ideas for upcoming even menus, books, cocktails, link ups
and all that nonsense, but do you guys really feel like you know me? I guess
the better questions is do you want to know me?

I feel like you do. I love learning more about bloggers in
these kinds of posts so I’m gonna roll with it and you can tell me to stop at
any time. No guarantees that I will but you can feel free to throw it out
there.
Writing: my
workout plans and results to help keep me motivated. It’s really working well.
Eating: Everything
green. I cannot explain why I have been having these insane green veggie cravings.
Maybe it’s the season.
Working: my butt
off at work. I seriously need a break from all that. Memorial day weekend
please come sooner.
Wishing: I wasn’t
so busy so I could my butt in the woods. I’m feeling unbalanced right now.
Practicing:
creativity. Since it seems to have slipped away from me lately. 
Learning: A lot about
photography. I’m a slow learner so it’s taking me a while but I love the way my
pictures are improving. Thank you Pinch of Yum!!
Attending: Lots of
baby & Bridal Showers
And Searching: for just the right thing. It’s not easy when you want
to do more than just grab something off the registry.
Trying: Desperately to
reduce the amount of things that we have. It is another of those slow and
steady projects I have. Consumerism is a suffocating disease.
Listening: to Lana Del
Rey. I am addicted.
Loving: Being able to
sleep with the window open, and smell the fresh spring, post rain mornings.
Making: A real effort
not to be so hard on myself. If dinner isn’t on the table on time, or if it is
and it’s nothing special, it’s not the end of the world. If the house isn’t
clean I’m not going to die, it’s not like the queen of England is coming over.

Craving:
Doughnuts. I blame instagram.
Thanks for playing along. What have you been up to lately?

32 Things That Make Me Happy

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Two Thirds Hazel

I’m doing this link up because a) its fun b) its got a great sentiment. It is pretty hard to come up with 32 things that make you happy off the top of your head compared to how easy it is to come up with 32 things we hate. One of the things I am working on this year is my bad attitude (and my big mouth, they kind of go hand in hand), so this link up seems to be a good exercise in that. So without further a due let’s get this happy party started.

1) My engagement ring. (insert gagging) It’s small and simple and I love that it reminds me that there will always be someone to listen to my list of things I hate.

2) Hot tea. Seriously BEST. THING. EVER.

3) Wine. Second BEST. THING. EVER.

4) A good cozy sweater.

5) A roaring fire. Inside in the winter, outside in the summer.

6) People who except my big mouth, and forgive my misgivings, and my antics.

7) Wild flowers, especially daisies.

8) Rainy days. Because sitting by the fire with tea, or out on the porch watching it, and doing exactly nothing is perfectly acceptable.

9) Normalized excel spreadsheets. Yes I am serious. It makes me giddy when things are appropriately organized.

10) When Brody pushes whatever I’m working on out of his way so he can sit on my lap/chest. It seems annoying but it so damn cute and I love that he loves me that much that he likes to be close to me all the time. Yes you should fear for my children.
11)  Chick Dates. There is nothing more therapeutic than an actual plan to hang out with someone you can talk to for a couple hours.
12) A really good metal concert. The head banging, heart pounding, body crunching, sweaty mass of pure adrenaline is downright euphoric. Letting go of absolutely everything, including social convention is the most unbelievably freeing thing ever.
13) Clean and soft sheets on the bed. I cannot say this enough.
14)  That Chuck read a blog post where I stated the above and has made the bed every single day since. That my friends is true love.
15) Three cheese macaroni and cheese with shells.
16) Throwing Dinner Parties. I have no idea why, I know it tends to stress most people out, but I absolutely love it. I love the cooking, the prep, decorating (if necessary), and of course the people, and conversation.
17) When Chuck picks up his guitar.
18) Garlic & Basil. I should have been born Italian.
19) Sitting in a boat, fishing off the dock, swimming or anything else that involves water adventures. I am a Pisces after all.
20) Motorcycle rides.
21) Thinking about the possibilities of the future.
22) Getting out of work early.
23) Getting good mail. Beads I ordered, clothes, pen pal packages, magazines, you know, the good stuff.
24) Pasta. Especially this, this, this, or this. Ok maybe all of it. made any way.
25) Friends who don’t get mad when they don’t hear from me in 3 months.
26) Bath time.
27) Remembering my college days.
28) Singing and swaying to soulful sultry music while I cook dinner. I love Micheal Buble, Joss Stone, Lana Del Ray, and I’m just going to stop now.
29) The first hot shower at home after a weekend in the woods.
30) Game nights with friends!
31) Being creative, whether it be beading, drawing, painting, sewing, or weaving, I love taking some time out to focus on nothing but the craft. It’s very relaxing.
32) McHoney Buns.

Spring Reflection

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Spring is here, at least is supposed to be. We will just ignore the single digit temperatures of the last few days.
It is the season of rebirth and rejuvenation. Maybe that’s why
I am feeling the need to check back in with myself since the turn of the New
Year. A lot of things have been swirling around in this little head of mine, as
I’m sure they have for you too. Spring does that.
I think it is important to take the time to look around at
where we stand both backward and forward and make conscience efforts to better
our selves. New Years is not the only time that we can do this, it just seems
to be the only time that most of us do.
Sitting down and looking at the past couple months I have made
some huge strides toward some of my goals and been left stagnate on others. If I
were going to rate myself I would probably give myself a C-.
I’m not going to be hard on myself or make excuses, because that’s
all a waste of time. Instead I’m going to take that evaluation and move forward
with it. I’m going to re-establish my goals. Some may alter slightly, my plan
of attack for some might change (since clearly the past one wasn’t working),
and some I may simply drop, or trade for new goals.
5x7 or 8x10 Hand Drawn Print "Oscar Wilde Quote - To Live is the Rarest Thing" - Calligraphy and Watercolour Flowers
I am on a journey to becoming a better person, the person that I
want to be. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. I know. I also know
that I’m not going to be successful in everything I set out to do. The thing is
that if I don’t try, if I don’t strive for something then what exactly am I doing
here? I don’t want to simply exist. I don’t care if I am remembered or even if I
touch another person’s life. I simply want to live fully and completely love
who I am and what I stand for.
This doesn’t seem like it’s a lot, or that it’s impossible,
it just takes a little effort. Right?
Have you checked in with yourself lately? How would you rate yourself? What are you going to do to better that rating?