Oh, my hair! (Lots of embarrassing photos of my hair through the years...)

Okay, this is a silly post, but in light of everything going on with the coronavirus, I thought everyone could use a laugh! I was going through photos today to get some inspiration for a post, and I couldn't help laughing at all the super embarrassing hairstyles I had throughout the years.

I totally blame my mom for the ones through my childhood. Why on earth did she think that I needed a mullet?!

To be fair, I have naturally curly hair and my mom said it was "like a bush" when I was a kid, hahaha. So, I'm sure she just did what she could to make it manageable.

Just do me a favor and don't turn any of these into a meme, okay? 😂

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Clearly, my mom thought my bangs were getting in the way...

Aside from the hair... seriously, what the hell was I wearing?!!!

When my mom said I had hair "like a bush", I'm pretty sure this is what she was talking about...

I look like I belong on the cover of an 80's band album with this mullet...

Even worse...

I literally couldn't tell if this was a photo of me or of my brother, Brian. I only knew it was me because of the earring!

There are so many things wrong with this picture... the mullet. The matching sweat suit. And even the paper "glasses" I have in my hand (and that I made for Nathan!)

This was my second grade school photo. Nope, not joking...

It only gets worse as my hair grows longer!

I believe this was my third grade school photo...

Could I look any more gumpy?! My mom even gave me pigtail braids. I was dressed like this because we were taking a field trip to Greenfield Village.

Mmmm hmmm. No caption needed.

Always the bridesmaid...

I went through a phase where I was SUPER obsessed with the White Sox, especially Frank Thomas. I wore a White Sox hat all the time!

This was my ninth grade school photo. Remember when it was cool to leave a bit of hair pulled out of the front when pulling it back?

I wore my hair like this pretty much all through high school...

Occasionally, I would do something different. Like these mini buns all over my head!

One day, I felt like cutting all of my long hair off and dying it red. It was my first time getting my hair dyed, or making a super drastic change like that... and I loved it! It's cringey looking back. I even handmade the coat I was wearing in the photo (in sewing class at school).

Let's not forget the red streaks in my hair, the zig-zag part, and even the eyebrow piercing, hahaha. (Oh! And Jerry's and my matching necklaces--a grain of rice with each other's names on them inside a little capsule.)

I went through a phase where I wore two pigtail buns...

This was my "wedding hair"... my hairstylist was Niki (and I miss her SO MUCH... if anyone recognizes her, please let me know! She went to work on a cruise ship in 2003 or 2004, and we lost touch. I loved her.)

When I was pregnant with Eli, apparently I had a bob...

I went to visit Jeanie (along with my mom and our friend Audrey). We went to a salon and I actually asked for bangs! First time in my life.

I went through a pigtail phase for a little while, until I saw the photos from the Indy Mini. After that, I was horrified, hahaha.

To treat me after I'd lost 100 pounds, Jeanie took me out for a makeover. I had my hair highlighted and a blow-out (it was amazing!) and I LOVED how my hair looked!

After the color grew out, I kept the same cut and my natural color for pretty much the last decade...

Then there was the time I was on The Dr. Oz Show, and Ted Gibson (from What Not To Wear) styled my hair! He cut it a little too, and it was funny the way he asked. He clearly wondered who the hell cut my hair and what they were doing! (It was me... I'd cut my hair)

For a while, I started wearing my hair curly again. Sometimes I'll do this, but it mostly reminds me of high school.

On a few occasions, I used hot rollers to style my hair... it made my hair look BIG. Not so much in this photo, though.

Once I discovered the "messy bun", it was all over. This is how my hair looks pretty much every single day. I'm not proud of it, but it's SO easy and practical!

 When I discovered I could do a LOW messy bun instead of just the usual high messy bun, I started doing that as well...

The messy bun is the best!

(Just a girl and a squirrel, look out at the mountains :)

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RECIPE: Super Hearty Beans and Rice

When Jerry and I went to the store to get some groceries, it was clear that people had been picking up all the non-perishables. I always make sure to keep these ingredients on hand because if nothing else, I know I can make this dish--something my whole family loves!

This is one of my very favorite dishes when I just want to EAT and feel full. It's meatless, it takes less than 25 minutes to make, and it's very healthy and filling. It's perfect for days when you don't really feel like cooking but you feel like you should make something anyways. And it tastes delicious!

Here is a printer-friendly version!


Super Hearty Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup long grain white rice
2 tsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 (15 oz) can red beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can black beans (do not drain)
1 (15 oz) can petite diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
1/4 tsp garlic powder (or one clove garlic, minced)
1 cup frozen yellow corn
1-1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
Toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, onions, etc.

Directions:

Cook the rice according to package directions.

While the rice is cooking, heat a large skillet over med-high heat and add 2 tsp. oil. Add the onion and cook until the onion is soft, but not brown. Add the red beans, drained and rinsed, to the skillet. Then add the black beans, with the liquid, to the skillet.

Add the tomatoes with their juice, the garlic powder, corn, chili powder, and cumin. Stir to combine well. Bring just to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer about two minutes.

When the rice is done cooking, stir the rice into the bean mixture. Add desired toppings. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition info does not include toppings...

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All I Really Need To Know I Learned From Squirrels

This is one of the most fun posts I've ever written! I was inspired by the keychain I posted yesterday, and I started to think about all of the life lessons we can learn from squirrels. This is written tongue-in-cheek, but there is a lot of truth to it.

I know there are people who disagree with my feeding of the squirrels, and I heard it loud and clear. But I disagree. I love these squirrels as much as I love my own pets. Fox squirrels can live to be 18 years while in captivity, but only live an average of 7 months in the wild! One of the major causes of death is exposure to severe winter weather. I'm more than happy to fatten them up and feed them all through the Michigan winter.

My whole family adores "our" squirrels, and feeding them is one of the highlights of our day. Most of them will come eat from our hands, while others are more skittish until they learn from the veterans that we're cool.

Anyway, there are a lot of life lessons to be learned from squirrels. I tried to find photos that were fitting to some of these life rules--enjoy! ;)

*There will always be people who dislike you, so just be your true self. They're not worth your time. Some people will try to hurt you just because they can. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. You are perfect and you are loved just the way that you are.

*Being kind to people can make life so much easier and more rewarding.

*Stealing from others is not okay. There will be more to go around eventually.

*It's not nice to tease others, no matter how different they look.

*Take good care of your teeth.

*It's okay to be wary of strangers. Make them earn your trust. But it's also okay to let your guard down when you feel it's safe.

*Always look both ways before crossing the street.

*Be patient. Instant gratification is the exception, not the rule. (Unless you are an Amazon Prime member)

*Be grateful for what you have. If someone is generously offering something to you, well, beggars can't be choosers. They are being kind to offer. Be humble.

*Sometimes you just have to go out on a limb and step outside your comfort zone.

*Be determined. When you know what you want, go for it!

*Always have a plan for getting out of a sticky situation.

*Be cautious and aware of your surroundings. Listen to your gut feeling if something feels off.

*Walnuts are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which may lower risk of heart disease, dementia, arthritis, and even depression.

*Exercise daily. Run like someone is chasing you (running in zigzags makes it even harder for someone to catch you). Do push-ups and planks for upper body strength.

*Be organized. You never want to forget where you place your things.

*We should mind our own business; it's not nice to spy on others.

*If you fall down, get back up and try again.

*Ask for help when you need it. There are always people willing to help.

*Save for the future. You never know when you may need it.

*Save some for the others. Gluttony is a no-no.

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Haha! I covered everything I could think of. Feel free to share your own thoughts if you learned some life lessons from squirrels :)

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How We'll Be Staying Busy While the Country is Shut Down

This squirrel keychain (affiliate link) has been on my Amazon wish list for a while, and I thought it was a great perspective for all the chaos going on now. Squirrels are chaotic, but I think that's why I love them so much. They are as crazy as me :)

And no matter what my stress level, if I can take 10 minutes to sit out on the deck and feed them, it makes me forget about what's bothering me for a few moments. Squirrels are the best!

Jerry was off work today, so he let me sleep in and he got up with the kids (I let him sleep in yesterday). When I woke up and walked into the living room, he told me that the kids' schools were closed until APRIL 14!

I had no idea this was even a possibility. I was completely stunned. I don't even think we've had any confirmed cases of coronavirus in our county.

Yesterday, the big news was toilet paper. Today, the world is pretty much closing down until further notice. It's truly unbelievable.

I also woke up feeling sick--nothing serious, but a dry throat and nose, and later a stuffy nose. Some post-nasal drip. Probably the same thing that Eli had yesterday (he was feeling better today).

This next month is going to be completely out of whack with routines. I won't be going much of anywhere (not having to drive the kids to school will be a nice break, and I'll have some time that I can do some things for ME--I really need to destress, and this could be a good opportunity to do so. I'd like to finish up Nathan's ceiling and work on a couple of wood projects in my garage.

I can't help thinking of all the people who have full time jobs and whose children have to stay home from school. What are they doing? (I know there are a lot of full-time parents that read my blog--how are you handling work + childcare?)

Today, Jerry and I went to the grocery store at 8:00 AM to get supplies that will last a couple of weeks (also some meds like ibuprofen and Mucinex--which are staples in our house. I just want to make sure that if we DO get sick we'll have meds to help with the symptoms.) I made sure to get cat and dog food, too.

When we first got there, I was surprised that there weren't many people. Less than 10 minutes later, the place was packed! I immediately went to the medication section to get that taken care of. After that, we noticed that there was very little meat, no eggs, no milk, obviously no toilet paper, and no rice (my family eats a LOT of rice, and I was bummed to see it was gone!).

Thankfully, we don't drink bottled water (we fill reusable water bottles with tap water). There was NO bottled water left in the store. (The water bottle below is cheap and it's my VERY FAVORITE--I collect water bottles as a compulsion, but this one is the best I've ever gotten.) So, if you can't get bottled water, just try refilling a reusable water bottle.

Luke sees the bottle and knows it's for "ice". He knows that I always have ice it to chew and he always wants some when he sees the bottle. Then he feeds it to Joey, of course ;)

Anyway, I felt really sad as I saw everybody rushing around and throwing things in their carts in a flurry... I started to think of elderly people who can't get around that fast trying to grocery shop in that chaos. I offered on Facebook to help anyone who had a loved one needing help, and I'd get groceries for them. Especially the elderly, who are at the highest risk for this virus.

I also worry about jobs. Thankfully, Jerry's job is very secure. They would do ANYTHING not to shut down his production plant.

However, they loosened up on the sick days--now, if anyone is sick they are not allowed to come into work. They don't get paid sick time, but they aren't penalized, either. If anyone shows up with symptoms, they are sent home. And they also implemented a rule that people have to be six feet away from each other at work (I don't know how that's going to happen, but we'll find out when Jerry goes to work tomorrow.)

I'm super grateful to work from home in this situation. I can be here with the kids (I know most parents choose not to or are unable do so). This isn't a "vacation" by any means--Noah started asking immediately after school if he can go out with his friends this weekend and if he can do a video game tournament (in a facility, not just online) on Tuesday.

I feel bad about it, but I told him no--the whole point of staying home is to prevent spreading this virus. We really can't afford to have Jerry, our main breadwinner, to get sick. So, we are taking as many reasonable precautions as we can.

I told the kids that I will have a list of things that I expect from them during this break from school--since it's NOT a vacation.

Mandatory:

*Chores (my kids have it very easy; I do most of the chores in the house. So, I'm making a list of things they'll have to do every day.)
*Reading time (an hour a day)
*Physical activity of some sort (an hour a day).

I promised to do it with them, too. It'll be good for all of us.

With nice weather we can do things outside:

*Walk at the state park.
*The boys can play baseball together--they played baseball together today at the park.
*Eli has a baseball hitting net and Noah has a punching bag that they both enjoy using frequently.
*Take a picnic to a park if it's warm enough.
*On bad weather days, we can have a movie marathon.

As a family:

*Family game night
*Family movie night.
*We can take Joey for nighttime walks.
*Spring clean the house.
*Cook dinner together.
*Sit on the deck and feed the squirrels.
*Long bike ride in Metroparks.

Socially:

*I told the kids to Skype with their friends--they can talk to everyone at once, so it's as close as they can get to sitting in a room with their friends and chatting.
*I'm not opposed to them seeing their friends occasionally, assuming everyone is completely symptom-free.
*Jerry and I would like to invite couples over here and there to play board games or something--to at least see people other than ourselves!

I'm trying to to worry too much about it, but this whole thing is pretty scary! I worry about the economy--even if this all starts dying down in a couple of months, the effects on the economy could last for a long time. I'm going to be stingy with money to try and build up more of an emergency fund in case something should happen (Jerry gets sick for a while or they shut down his plant).

Anyway, I hope that all of you are staying safe! It's hard not to get sucked into the media hype, but ultimately, we all want the same things--for everybody to be safe and get this over with as soon as possible!

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Toilet Paper By the Square? Really?

Eli stayed home from school today because he's sick.

Ordinarily, I would just think it's no big deal--he has a cold with the classic cold symptoms. And I'm pretty sure that's all it is! But with this huge coronavirus outbreak, I kept him home from school--he doesn't have a fever, but he's congested, coughing, and feeling very tired (he slept all day).

Yesterday, I noticed we were running low on toilet paper, so Jerry stopped to get some on his way home from work. He went into Kroger and then sent me this picture:

There was NO toilet paper!

What the heck? I haven't been on social media much, but if I had been, I would have seen that people are hoarding toilet paper. Why toilet paper? I don't get it.

This coronavirus is getting a little crazy. I know that it's serious, and I'm taking it seriously, but not to the point of "hoarding toilet paper" seriously.

However, we needed toilet paper and the hoarders took it!

In these cases, I try to think outside the box when it comes to finding something we need, and considering Lowe's is pretty much my home away from home, I thought that they might be in stock. Most people don't think of Lowe's when they need something like toilet paper.

This morning, I dropped Noah and his friend off at school, and on the way home I stopped at Lowe's. Sure enough, they had toilet paper! I bought a couple of packages. Later, Jerry asked if he should pick up one more, just to be safe, since everywhere is sold out (I even looked on Amazon, and nothing was in stock). I told him to go ahead and grab another pack.

Well, Lowe's was sold out by 2:30 PM! When I was there at 7:45 AM, they had about 60 packages (I checked the app to see what was in stock before I went). By the time Jerry got there at 2:30, it was ALL gone.

I told him to try Staples, and thankfully, they had another few packages in stock. I'm not one to hoard supplies, but when people make it completely unavailable, it's kind of nerve-racking.

Out of curiosity, I looked up toilet paper on eBay to see if people were selling it at insane prices, and I couldn't believe what I saw:

People were selling it BY THE SQUARE. How ridiculous is that?! Do buyers not read the description before purchasing?

Seeing how many things have been canceled over the last few days, I'm really glad that we canceled our trip to San Francisco. And now I'm wondering whether Eli and Jerry should go on Eli's class trip to Washington D.C. at the end of April. I'm SO glad that I bought insurance with their tickets, so that we can cancel for any reason up until the date of the trip and get a full refund. We'll wait until it gets closer to decide.

This whole situation with the virus has been so surreal. I don't think my kids fully understand what a big deal it is that whole countries are closed!

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