Hello, There, Pretty Girl: July 2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009

I want a guilt-free Manwich, please!

Remember the days back before you cut rotted corpses out of your diet, and your mommy would make you Sloppy Joes? MMM.

Well, with Lightlife's Smart BBQ, you can relive those delicious - if not cruel - days of BBQ'd morsels spread over your face. If you want, you can add onions and other seasonings and make a Manwich! Yum-yum.

I had bought this with some Not Dogs in early June, and it was sitting in the back of the fridge, just asking to be prepared and become a nom-nom.

When I first bit into it, I thought there had been some mistake. It even has those occasional chewy large bits you can find in pulled pork. It tasted SO real, not something I've come across often in my Meatless Adventures.

I actually recommend eating it without bread, because that way you can fully savor the barbecue-simmered "shredded veggie protein".

The powerful taste in this little package made me eager to sample more of Lightlife's work.

My Rating:

trials and tribulations of VEGGIES!

Okay, so you already know I'm a Vegetarian. What you don't know is: I hate most veggies, and (most) salads disgust me.

Yeah. I don't like squash, celery, cauliflower . . . okay, I mostly hate everything BUT broccoli, corn, potatoes, and peas. I am a very picky girl, so its more difficult for me to be vegetarian and get full/get the nutrients I need.

But, I'm a very artistic, creative teen. I design clothing, make music videos, write stories, do photography, and a bunch of other stuff. Now, I'm going to make LUNCHES!

In an old-fashioned lunch box, to arrive at a later date. The first project of Veggie Creations will be making my very own ~~metal~~ tin lunch box. That way, no one else in the world has one just like mine. I might invite Avery over and we can do that together, I might get her a plain ~~metal~~ tin lunch box and we can both have them. The won't match, but they'll be twins. Like, uhm, fraternal twins.

Anyway, this was inspired by Katy. She bought an adorable Hello Kitty metal lunch box on our mission trip, and I thought, hmm. If only I were to have a cute little lunch box, I might be motivated to make lunch everyday.

I'll take regular lunch to school for the first week or so, and then when Avery can come over we'll start taking our very own special-designed lunchies. YAYYY!

Now that I've sidetracked once again (I think I have ADD) I'm going to finish talking about said lunches.

I intend upon including plenty of nutrients in each meal. So I'll have to have protein (nuts, beans, or a type of egg), fruits (I prefer pre-sliced fruits in cups and extra light syrup), veggies (the ones I like), dairy (yogurt, cheese, milk, an ingredient in other foods), and grains. Also, water or juice (most often water.) OR MAYBE SOUP! If you can't tell, I love soup.

All of the Food Blogs I have seen are Vegan-oriented. This is mainly a Vegetarian (Lacto-Ovo, at most) Food Blog (but not even a Food Blog at all.) But from time to time, I'll see a Vegan meal that I'll like and use it.

On the completely opposite note, when not stressing out over what to eat, I am being tackled by accusations that my tofu REALLY IS chicken. So, most of my meals will not include "Veggie Meats". From time to time, I'll include these in my lunch box because I have the appetite for a Veggie Burger or Buffalo "Wings".

I'm busy "designing" my very first Back To School lunch, and I intend it to be a "Meats and Cheeses" meal.

Countdown until School (and, resulting lunchie-muchies): 8 days.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

will this turn into a veg*an food blog?

OH NOES! ATTACK OF THE VEG*AN FOOD BLOGGZZZZ!!!!!!

*nomnomnom*

We all are dead from ze vicious meat-free food-blog.

So, we all know I can't cook worth a shit. Well, I can make a pretty mean Mack 'n' Cheez (yes, I really did mean to spell it that way.) Bring shells to boil, pour in cheese, and pepper until the cat sneezes (which is super-batman because I don't even own a cat.)

Now, the difference between me and all the aforementioned Food-Bloggers (not that they aren't brilliant in their own right) is that I am a teenager trying to keep up a 4.0 GPA (of course, the mastermind behind Vegan Teen Cuisine is, naturally, a teen.)

I don't have time to sit back and make a four-course meal before school so I can get full at lunch, packed with the nutrients I need.

To tell the truth, I haven't started eating exactly "healthy" yet. But I'm meaning to, starting the First Day of School. And so far, I've had trouble. I've been looking for quick recipes that:

- I can make in the morning,

- That will stay warm until lunchtime, and

- That taste like sweet mouthgasm-y goodness.

And I don't have time to sift through 20-something pages to look for sandwiches and the like. ARGH!

So I've decided to post my own tried-and-true recipes here from time to time, and repost things I like from other sites. Yeah, this blog is going to get huge, remember, I still put up the monthly playlists, occasional nonsense, and the rare "holy-crap-let-me-forward-this-to-everyone-i-know!" inspirational/tearjerking beauty.

And I'm going to segue to the meat-talking business.

I effing hate bacon.

This segue happened because I happened on Vegan Teen Cuisine and something very, very bad happened *shudder*. She made BACON COOKIES (no pigs were harmed in the baking of this DISASTER, but many, many Lindseys were. . .)

Bacon is fruitless (and I'm not talkin' grapefruit here.) Bacon has no purpose. I think I was damaged by the fat pieces on one when I was younger.

I would rather eat 100000000000 tomatoes (another food I hate) than ever, ever touch a piece of bacon.

My dog has a piece of bacon every morning.

Isn't the carnivorous monster just adorable? (Please do not lecture on his eating habits - I have no control, I'm a 15-year-old, REMEMBER?! I would change his diet if I could.)

I've tried and tried, but my pep talks on being a vegetarian are to no avail. He just . . . loves his disgusting bacon.

So, as I've segued enough, I'm gonna end this with: I may post recipes once-or-twenty but overall, this isn't just a Food Blog.

P.S. I promise to tag those entries with "vegetarian" or "vegan" according to the animal-less-ness of the product.

P.P.S. For those of you wondering what type of Vegetarian I am, I'm a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian. I will never lessen or add to this diet. I eat eggs (not much anymore), I drink milk. I have heavy-duty reasoning and I don't want anyone to try and convert me. I don't do the convert-y thing on anyone . . . except my puppy.

super-awesome veg*an recipe sites/food blogs.

Yeah, I've just stopped changing the number. I'll add them when I feel like it.

Just click the links to discover endless recipes for the vegetarian body. Don't say there's nothing to eat!

An added bonus: Veggie123

read me on webook?

A few months ago, I discovered something thoroughly amazing. A website where you could post the novel you were working on, or collaborate with other authors, and get feedback on your work. This little gem of a site is worth its weight in gold, because since I started "webooking", I have felt generally better about my work, and gotten a healthy dose of constructive criticism along the way.

You can check out my projects here and give some feedback if you wish.

Since I now feel the need to brag, I'm going to post my two all-time favorite feedbacks.

This is an excellent start, but it still needs something in my opinion. Clearly you are going for a "short punch", and I can appreciate that, but consider this:

First, suggest that something terrible happened to "cap off" your otherwise good vacation.

Then, spend a bit more time in description of arriving at the parking garage, and the father "wending his way" down to a chosen parking spot. (This will allow tension to build a bit.)

Thirdly, consider adding the mother's voice, and let that voice suggest the terror SHE sees which prompts the kids to "hide". As it stands, it's just a "do it because mom said so" moment, and therefore lacks in verisimilitude.

I REALLY like the music in the background (for your main character), and would have liked to see that developed just a bit more.

Very nice start. Your writing is clean and crisp.

See, that was EXTREMELY constructive.

And. . . for the kick of all-flattery:

I absolutely love the concept of this: the idea is original, the structure interesting, the writing punchy and unique and the characters are coming to life. Myra, especially, is very three dimensional and I love the way you convey her through the blog entries. Would love to read more and see where you take this! :D

A special "thank you" to Webookers RikScott and emmalea_21 for their insight into A Reluctance To Fly and The Blog Of Myra Monopoly, respectively.

"good morning, sunshine"

"Good Morning, Sunshine" Exercise Routine

There are many wonderful benefits to doing a quick workout in the morning before you get ready.

It regulates your appetite, gives you a big psychological smile, and factors into good weight loss (read this article to discover all the wonderful things morning exercises do for your body.

one. You know in the movies where the girl wakes up and does an exaggerated stretch and yawn before climbing out of bed? Well, do it! It's actually beneficial to stretch before you do anything else in the morning. And a long yawn helps your lungs wake up, too!

two. Try to stretch the length of your bed, extending from the tips of your fingers to the bottoms of your toes. You might feel your spine elongate. Hold a few seconds and breathe a few deep breaths.

three. Throw open those curtains! Sunlight will naturally wake up your body and fill your room with light so you don't bump into things. It's also ten times better than artificial lighting - and studies show natural light helps you do better in school!

four. Twist your body from side to side. Reach down to your toes without bending your knees (don't worry, you don't have to reach all the down!)

five. Go to the bathroom and splash some cold water on your face. This should wake you up and remove the eye-crusties while prepping your skin for facial scrubs and makeup.

six. Okay, lazy bones, now it's time to get some hype! Do some jumping jacks.

seven. Try following this full-body workout (it includes more jumping jacks and some stretches!) I request doing the stretches at the bottom before AND after you do the workout.

eight. (optional) You can couple this "good morning, sunshine!" morning exercise routine with my "simple and sudden" morning wash routine.

nine. Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast full of good nutrients and milk/juice.

ten. Instead of watching t.v. or getting on the internet in the time left before school, go over your homework. Make sure you didn't make any spelling/mathematical mistakes and that you answered all the questions.

(early) playlist for august.

1. Sunshine - Stephen Jerzak

2. Doorway - IO Echo

3. All The Pretty Little Horses - Grant Campbell

4. Start Again - Mark & Alex

5. Atlantis - Whispertown 2000

6. Rock What You Got - Superchick

7. Too Fake - Hockey

8. Don't Forget - Demi Lovato

9. Sound Effects And Overdramatics - The Used

10. Yellow Butterflies - Meg And Dia

These kids. . .not hanging themselves.

A little something I posted on Xanga about cruel children, entitled: "These kids should still be watching Spongebob, not hanging themselves. . ."

One of the most prevalent memories of my middle school years, is the day I saw a faculty member (a counselor, NO LESS) blow off bullying. I remember that I was in the office, waiting for something, when a boy in the year above me walked calmly into the office and sat down in a chair. The lady asked him why he was there, and he said, "A boy in my class is being made fun of for his mental disability, and they steal his things and chase him around the room, and I want it to stop."

To this, the counselor replied: "If he wants someone to know, he'll tell us. Now go back to class." And with that, she walked off. She just left. I sat there, thinking that it was so wrong, and yet . . . she knew it was happening and did absolutely nothing to prevent it.

I'm sure that she didn't realize that bullied children's voices are weak. More often than not, kids who are picked on aren't the ones who report the bullying. Why must someone else's cry for help be ignored, just because they aren't the ones suffering?

I just stumbled upon an article that announces that, since the beginning of this year, five students have committed suicide because the bullying would. not. stop. It isn't harmless anymore; when you make fun of someone these days, they kill themselves. Everyone should be able to look past their hand-me-down clothing or whatever merits these insults because they have nothing to be ashamed of. But bullies do.

These five kids, who obviously did not deserve to be put in that situation, probably didn't even realize how permanent suicide is. I mean, two that I know of were only eleven years old. They should still be watching Spongebob, and writing letters to Santa (okay, well, maybe not that far.)

Society has come so far, and I'm beginning to think we're moving backwards instead of forwards. Sixth graders are thinking they're too fat, and take diet pills in order to "fit in". Their peers put children in such a small cage, confine them to certain beliefs, tell them "you're too fat." or "you're ugly." or "fags should go die." And so little boys and girls stop being themselves, they give up and become plastic mannequins, in order to please someone who will never be their true friend, no matter how hard they try.

You can't let bullies win. If you accidentally say something hurtful, go back and apologize. They may not forgive you, and it may be hard, but at least you know that you didn't win as a bully. Everyone says mean things sometimes, and as long as you apologize and try to keep yourself in check, you aren't a bad person.

You can't let bullies win. If someone is bullying you or a friend (or even someone you don't quite know), you aren't being a "rat" if you tell a trusted adult. If it persists, tell the police. I know it's hard, and you feel as if you're doing something bad if you tell on someone. But if that behavior causes someone to feel like killing themselves, you have to help. I'm sure that person will thank you someday, and you'll even thank yourself.

You can't let bullies win. Don't sink into a sea of guilt for being who you are. Let yourself shine. I know people take this with a grain of salt, but they shouldn't. I'm guilty of this myself: I'll read something that tells me to be happy about who I am, then continue to search for something that will make me better. But at some point you have to admit that you have faults. Just because you aren't as good at math as the new kid is, doesn't make you stupid. On the same note, sometimes bullies make fun of you for things that AREN'T faults. Homophobic/racist slurs are NOT okay, and you have a right to go to a school that keeps you safe from bad comments like that.

Don't be like that counselor, don't let a bullied child slip through the cracks. Any sign at all that someone is being picked on, ask them. Ask their friends, ask people, because if you keep searching, someone will admit that someone bullied them or a friend. You have to keep trying, even when you are wrong about a possible victim, because five children, is five too many.

I leave you with the words that every bullied child should live by:
Popularity is overrated. Be unique.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

suggested "essentials" list

1. Shampoo & Conditioner
2. Loofah/Washrag
3. Eyeliner, Mascara, & Eyeshadow
4. Hair Protector For Straightening/Curling/Blow Drying
5. Mouthwash & Floss
6. Lipstick/Lip Gloss
7. Perfume
8. Body Wash or Soap
9. Facial Scrub & Moisturizer
10. Hairspray
11. Baby Powder
12. Razor & Shaving Cream Or Depilatory
13. Deodorant/Antiperspirant
14. Blow Dryer
15. Flat Iron Or Curling Iron
16. Bubble Bath, Salts, Or Oils
17. Lotion/Body Butter
18. Nail Polish
19. Toothpaste & Toothbrush
20. Hairbrush/Comb
21. Shower Cap/Jumbo-Sized Hair Clip
22. Foundation

*I recommend using scrubs and body washes with exfoliating beads. They make your skin much softer and wake you up.

**I also recommend that you use same-scented lotions, cleansers, etc. That way smells don't mix and make you stinky. If you can't find a certain scent that matches your shampoo, opt for scent-free.

"simple and sudden" morning routine

You only have an hour before you have to leave for school or work, but you just woke up and you have a HUGE morning routine (after all, you are a girl.) So what do you do? Do you skip the bath, put the hair in a ponytail, and apply your eyeliner in the parking lot? Have no fear, Super-Time-Manager-Lindsey is here!! I can show you how to be showered and completely refreshed (without skipping) in 20 Minutes. Then it's up to you to get dressed, fix your hair, apply makeup, eat breakfast (a healthy girl is a beautiful one, as I say) and do whatever with the 40 Minutes left.

Use a timer or alarm clock (can be found on most phones) to set each step to the noted time, so you don't lose track of time. Be sure to reset timer for each set.

Shower Prep (Time: 5 Minutes, assuming you don't need to collect your shower products)

One. Collect all of your shower and hair products, make-up, clothing, etc. before you start and carry it to the bathroom. I recommend using a stylish cosmetic case and putting all of your essentials inside of it. You can find an "essentials" list above this post. (Time: 0-1 Minute)

Two. Use a comb or brush to detangle your hair pre-shower. Don't rush through it, do it properly. Combing your hair BEFORE you get in the shower ensures that your tangles don't get worse while washing your hair. (Time: 2 Minutes)

Three. Wet hair thoroughly under the shower. First use hot water to free up leftover oil, dirt, and remnants of hair products. Then rinse with cold water to add shine. Use your fingers to massage your scalp while doing both of these. However, do not tangle your hair again while doing this. (Time: 1 Minute; 30 Seconds each)

Four. Put a small dollop of shampoo in your hair, massage into the scalp and work through to the ends (without tangling.) Wash out. Do not take time with this, simply massage it in and rinse it out. (Time: 1 Minute)

Part 1 (Time: 5 Minutes)

One. Put shampoo in hair, massaging it in. Put up with hair clip or shower cap, so you can properly apply moisturizer. Leave in for 5 Minutes.

Two. Apply facial wash/scrub, massage your face, working it properly around your eyes. Leave this on for 5 Minutes.

Three. Apply hair depilatory to legs, or spend the remaining minutes shaving. Be sure to follow leave-on directions for dipilatories (most are for 3 minutes, so this works out well, assuming it takes you 1 minute each to apply the shampoo and facial scrub.)

Four. Leave all these on your body as directed. Most salons suggest leaving the shampoo in for 5 minutes. It is also suggested you leave facial scrubs on for the same amount of time. Sally Hansen Spray-On Shower-Off says results come as soon as 3 minutes, and that is why I put that as the last step.

Five. While waiting for these to work (if you use a depilatory instead of manually shaving, I suggest that you brush your teeth, use mouthwash, and floss. If you'd rather do these later, that's fine. You can simply check your myspace, finish your homework, or watch television while you wait.

Six. When the timer dings, thoroughly rinse off your legs, face, and hair. I suggest this order because if there are exfoliating beads in your facial scrub, some get caught in your hair, and washing your hair then getting beads in it adds an unnecessary step.

Part 2 (Time: 10 Minutes, Set Twice On 5)

One. Apply conditioner, massaging it in as you did with the shampoo. Repeat the step with the shower cap and leave the product in for 5 minutes.

Two. Wash your body thoroughly with body wash, soap, etc. (3 Minutes)

Three. After you wash your body, apply facial moisturizer, body lotion/butter. Applying baby powder makes your skin softer, but be sure your skin is completely dry after the lotion is applied, or else it will create a milky, sticky substance when it mixes with the powder. (2 Minutes)

Four. Rinse out your hair after the timer dings. Dry it by gently squeezing the ends. Brush/comb it once again, or wait for Step 5 to do that. Reset your timer after it dings. (2 Minutes)

Five. Blow dry your hair. Be sure to apply a protector for styling your hair with heat, so you don't damage your hair. For maximum strength, bend over and flip your hair over and dry the "inside". This better dries your hair. Feel free to brush or comb your hair again. (3 Minutes *this could be more according to your hair thickness and length*)

See? 20 Minutes. And now you're clean and ready to do whatever you want with the 40 Minutes you otherwise might have wasted. Congratulations.

*Feel totally free to add and remove steps according to your needs.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

theories on "a separate peace".

So, I just finished reading A Separate Peace and I'm emphatically pleased with the resulting Summer Reading Project.

Anyway, while reading the book, I stressed to myself that I read for leisure, and as a rule don't force myself to think too much about what this or that means. Sometimes those thoughts would occur to me unbidden, but I had never asked myself to invent those thoughts.

I had previously enlisted in the help of SparkNotes (as an exploration tool - not as a cheat site) and expected most of my work would be done AFTER reading the novel.

But a funny thing happened - I really didn't need that much help. The thoughts seemed to flow, and as they did, I grew accustomed to one recurring thought that I really liked: What if Phineas wasn't a boy, but an extension of Gene's mind?

That is to say, Gene had two inner beings. Phineas - the gentle, loving, innocent child who went to Devon School; and Gene - the headstrong, intelligent, and enemy-making grown-up about to be shipped off to war.

Notice that Phineas disappeared right when Gene had to grow up (when he had to enlist in the Military) and as Finny gets more and more ill, the war becomes more real and life-like around Gene and Devon School.

Another weapon in the artillery of this argument is that Gene mentions several times that they are "one". This could be taken in an assortment of ways - the last of these not being they had too close of a friendship, they were merely different parts of the same person.

And of course, that last statement I just made could be taken separate ways. They had conflicting beliefs, like you may have when you are arguing with yourself whether or not to do something (for Gene it was whether the war was real or not) and sometimes one part of you wins an argument and you do something you probably shouldn't (when Gene and "Phineas" leave the school and go to the beach.)

Well, that's my take on things. Take it with a grain of salt - I may just be crazy.

the only other blog i update

Remember when I said, and I quote:

I don't really keep up other blogs - I get bored too easily.

Well, it was mostly true. Except for this little gem of a blog and another one I started two months ago, and I keep it up pretty well.

(That's only because I post once a month.)

Check it out, and tell me what you think. Should I just move it over here? Or is it pretty nice as it is?

Playlist For July

1. Guess Who Batman - Lily Allen
2. I'm In Miami Bitch - LMFAO
3. The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage - Panic At The Disco
4. Does It Offend You, Yeah - We Are Rockstars
5. Don't Forget - Demi Lovato
6. Mother May I - Mister Owl (aka eatmewhileimhot)
7. I Didn't Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was A Wizard - Chiodos
8. Liquor & Love Lost - Bring Me The Horizon
9. Dark Blue - Jack's Mannequin
10. Come Round Soon - Sarah Bareilles

Hello, There, Pretty Girl