Stripped

Do you ever just feel like stripping?

Whoa, before you take it the wrong way, I mean stripping off the make up, the trying-to-be-cute clothes, the hair products - the fake you?

I've worn some kind of make-up every day since I was in middle school, it makes me feel pretty. It hides my flaws and blemishes. It makes my eyelashes longer and darker. Don't get me wrong I love cosmetics, but essentially, it makes me a different person.

I'm not exactly sure what I wanted to accomplish out of this post, but just to assure you, that you are beautiful underneath it all.

There once was a time when I didn't leave the house without make up on, but I've become more and more ok with it. Not to mention it's better for my skin to give it a break every once in a while.

Here's my challenge.

Post a picture of the 'done up' you and the 'stripped down' you.

Be comfortable in your own skin.

Feel beautiful from the inside out.

Love you.

If you accept this challenge I would love to see/hear about it.

Will you leave your link below?

You all inspire me daily and I admire your bravery :)

(I tried to make a button for this challenge but couldn't figure it out so please leave your link below if you do want to participate :)

My acceptance speech

If you love the Oscars - raise your hand.

Oh, you do?! Me too. Like I stated last week, I've been watching it in my parent's living room, sitting on the couch with a yummy dinner in my lap for as long as I can remember. I absolutely love the glitz, glamour, fashion, and acceptance speeches by the fabulous winners.

Just for fun, what would your acceptance speech consist of? Who would you thank? Would you go for the quick witty banter or long heart-felt approach, or a little of both?

I think after my night, mine would go a little like this -

I would like to thank my mom and dad for cooking a bomb.com dinner. I would like to thank Jennifer Hudson for inspiring to consider Weight Watchers. But most of all I would like to thank my sister Hanna for going to get a coke slurpee with me after I've been craving one all weekend. Without any of these people this night wouldn't have been possible.

Ok, maybe I could have been a little more eloquent than that... ;)

I really wanted to share my favorite dresses of the evening! 

Jennifer Lawrence - didn't know who she was till tonight - she was smokin!

Love her simplicity and eye make-up!

This color was absolutely beautiful on her - a little revealing but gorgeous none the less

Oh Reese - lookin a little like 60's Barbie but that's why I love ya :)

And last but not least Anne Hathaway's white dress she wore in the beginning of the show, I believe it was Marchesa and I couldn't find another photo for it ANYWHERE! I though it was stunning! She is so animated and fun to watch - James Franco, not your best performance.

I would LOVE to hear who your favorite dresses were and what your acceptance speech would be!

Hope your weekend was fabulous :)

PS - more on the rest of the weekend tomorrow, we spent the morning at Hooter's and I'll explain more tomorrow in my Tuesday letter to Bryan. 

Awkward.....or Awesome?

I'm participating in a fun little contest over at my cute friend Jessie's blog.
She is having a 'Funniest Hubby Picture' contest! Do you have a an embarrassing/funny/incriminating photo of your husband?

Ya know one like this one:

Ok ok, let's be fair, maybe one of both of you like this one:

I'll go ahead and take the laughs for that one...pretty awful. LOL

Anyway, hop on over to her blog and enter!

Thankful...Friday a little late

However, late is better than never, right? :)

Last week I gave it dedicated an entire post to my Harley kitty - a little crazy-cat-lady, I know. But I sure do love that little fur ball.

66. Kisses from my husband - I love those lips!

[taken last April on Alki at sunset <3]

67. My mom - I really don't say it enough. Seriously, this woman is amazing. I love her more than coke slurpees [and if you know me, you know that's a lot] She drove kinda far out of her way on Monday to bring me Gatorade, pedialyte, and kitty litter, for Harley of course but I couldn't make it to the store to get it myself. She stayed for a minute said she loved me then turned around and drove right back home. I'm seriously spoiled, however, I want to make sure I NEVER take her for granted. I love you mom!

68. The Oscars - Growing up in my house, Oscar night meant something special. It meant Dad made a fancy dinner that night, and my mom and I sat in the living room huddled on the couch ooh-ing and ahh-ing about the glamorous dresses and handsome suits. We love movies, therefore we love the actors. Hopefully this Sunday I can be sitting in my parent's living room doing that very same thing :)

69. Best friends - This past weekend I was able to spend an entire weekend with this little cutie. I'm so blessed to have such lasting and amazing friendships. We took an adventure to the other side of the lake we live on, enjoyed a bonfire, ate a TON and laughed a LOT :) Best kind of weekend with my best friend. Can't get much better.

and last but not least

70. This little stud muffin aka the next AMERICAN IDOL - CONGRATULATIONS Stefano! You are making all of us so proud! You better believe you'll have most of King County voting for you! You are living the dream and it started in our home town! Get it! :)

What are YOU thankful for this week?

What are your weekend plans? I get to spend a lot of time at Hooters... yeah, more on that on Monday. Until then, I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend! Soak up some sun [if ya got it in your neck of the woods!]

Let's talk about anxiety

I've mentioned it before here and there, but I've never really gone into detail about my struggle with anxiety.

It started when Bryan and I first moved out on our own, back in 2007. I knew that it was the right thing to do. I was paying rent to live at my parent's house but was still having to live under their rules and curfews. For a girl who had lived on her own for two years prior and then coming back to that, it was very hard. Not to mention when you're 20 years old you think you know everything about everything. So, in November Bryan and I found and moved into our first apartment. It was small, not in the best neighborhood, but it was ours. I was paying rent to come and go as I pleased. I was happy.

[2008 after we moved out together]

In December I noticed I wasn't sleeping very well and found myself many a night falling asleep on the couch watching TV. And the nights that I was falling asleep in my bed [or trying to] my anxiety was so bad, I felt like I couldn't move - I felt trapped - paralyzed - in my own body. I would cry and Bryan would wake up and rub my back, get me water, and assure me that everything would be ok. But again, being this new 'independent' woman that I was, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I read books and internet articles about ways to calm your mind before you go to sleep and ways to relax your body. Nothing worked. My next step was to see one of the doctors I worked for. She prescribed a low dose of Ambien. I loved it at first, It was knocking me out AND helping me stay asleep, I thought it was the wonder drug. Then I started noticing things like I would remember falling asleep on the couch but wouldn't remember waking up to get there and in the morning I felt like I had had a hard night of drinking. I decided this medication was not for me. [If you are on it and love it I'm so happy for you. Unfortunately my body just didn't mesh well with it.]

After much consideration [and a year later without being on anything], I decided to talk with another physician and he ended up prescribing me Lorazepam I feel like it's definitely made my night time anxiety more tolerable however I don't want to be on medications forever, and know for sure I won't be able to/want to be when I get pregnant. I'm still exploring other options such as seeing a therapist to get to the root of what is causing my anxiety and also hypnotherapy; I'll let you know how that goes, not sure when, but hopefully soon.

So what's my point?

Anxiety sucks.

It's embarrassing. It makes me lose sleep. It stresses me out to think about the anxiety  attack I may have tonight before bed.

I'm not exactly sure what causes it or why it happens worse some nights than others, and I hate that I've just dealt with it for this long.

So my question is, have you or anyone you know ever dealt with anxiety? Whether it's during the day or night time, work or every day situations. What were your/their solutions? Was it embarrassing for you/them?

If you don't feel comfortable leaving a comment, please email me at

alhutson0513@gmail.com

Thank you so much for letting me be honest with you and for not judging, it means a lot.

Love you all long time.

Mama Cass says...

via

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me

Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me ♥

PS - Check back later for my "Let's talk about it" post of the week - See last week's here AND a really yummy recipe for Mexican-restaurant-like Spanish rice :) Yum.

the way I see it

The way I see it, 

there's no other place I'd rather be recuperating than at home surrounded by a couple of my favorite things.

Hope you all are having a great evening and are surrounded by things you love.

And maybe watching Glee in a half hour if you're a Gleek like us :)

Today's Letters Inspired Tuesday

Today's Letters: Dear Bryan, this weekend was full of, well, a LOT! We had our first bonfire in our fire pit, enjoyed two sunny days in a row, and attended our first hockey game together. Love you more than seeing the hockey players get into fights! Dear food poisoning, I really don't appreciate your springing up on me in the middle of the night on Sunday, and I really don't appreciate your staying for as long as you have. Please evacuate ASAP. I feel like Emily on 'The Devil Wears Prada' when she says, "I'm just a stomach flu away from my goal weight." I've lost almost ten pounds since yesterday. Dear said hockey players of the Seattle Thunderbirds, I had NO idea things got that out of hand! My idea of hockey is from watching 'The Mighty Ducks' not seeing you check each other up against the plexi-glass, holy cow! Dear husband, thank you for holding me last night until I fell asleep, when I get anxiety attacks it's really hard to make them go away, but knowing that you kept your arm around me until I slipped into sleepy-land made it a little easier. I love you.

Have you ever had food poisoning? Please pray for me, I contracted [what I think is food poisoning] on Sunday night and have been in pain since :( First the flu now this? I just want a break! 

PS - please see inspiration for this post HERE - they're pretty cool.

PSS - speaking of anxiety, that will be my 'Let's talk about it' post tomorrow, make sure you check back.

Ready for the weekend & a yummy recipe

Ohmylanta! I thought the weekend would NEVER get here!

Monday was great, Tuesday was ok, Wednesday is when it all started going down hill - I've had an emotional latter part of the week, but I am in full belief that this weekend holds much happiness! 

I'm hoping to visit this baby girl after work

You might rememer her from here - she was still in her mommy's tummy :)

Welcome to the world Iyla Vonn Sas <3

After that my best friend Kelsy - who you might remember from here and here, is coming to spend the weekend with me. I love her more that Harry loves Ginny.

AND we will be going out for some pomegranite margaritas with a few amazing co-workers who you might remember from here and here.

Ahhhh yes, just what I needed after a crazy-busy-hectic-tearful week!

But before I depart to spend a weekend relaxing and with good company, I had to share this recipe with you! I've made it before and Bryan and I absolutely love it and I hope you do too! I tweaked a little bit since it calls to grill it (which I'm sure would be delish) but it was in the 40's here last night I decided to stay inside. Serve it over rice or with some garlic toast, either way it's a crowd pleaser :)

Mock Lobster - from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 packed TBSP brown sugar

1 tsp dry powdered mustard

2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 cup pineapple juice

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I use the filets)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400degrees F

2. In a saucepan, combine the soy sauce, oil, garlic salt, pepper, brown sugar, mustard powder, ginger and pineapple juice. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Boil for about 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. When cooled, place the chicken into a large resealable bag and pour the marinade over it. Press out as much air as you can, seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to marinate.

3. Place chicken and a little bit of the marinade in a glass baking dish and bake at 400degrees F for about 30 minutes, flipping the chicken over after 15 minutes. Cut into the chicken to make sure cooked all the way through and the juices run clear.

My two cents:

-Again, I put in the oven instead of grilling it and it turned out really nice. Just keep an eye on it, since there is soy sauce in the marinade the juice tends to burn a little if you leave it too long.

-The chicken is nice and tender after sitting in the marinade, try and leave it in longer than 2 hours if possible so it soaks as long as possible. I try to use thin filets as opposed to thick breasts, I just like the taste better.

-The marinade is pretty salty so no need to add additional salt.

What are you doing on this fine weekend?

Making any yummy recipes?

Going somewhere fun?

What ever you do or make  I hope it's wonderful♥

girl crush number 2

Don't judge...

But what happened to this Lindsay Lohan?

Poor Lindsay, can't seem to make a right decision if her life depended on it :(

Alas, my second girl crush is on the old Lindsay, red hair and all. Loved her in Mean Girls, Freaky Friday, Georgia Rule and Herbie Fully Loaded. Not the best cinematic experiences I've ever had, but I just really liked her when she had her act together.

Sigh.

Any girl crushes as of late you'd like to fess up to?

Thankful Thursday - Ode to Harley

Today I'm thankful for my little [almost 12 pound] fur ball.

Let me preface this by saying, I'm kind of crazy about my cat...

But I'm NOT a crazy cat lady....

I think...

Dear Harley,

It's been almost a year since you walked in and surprised me with a big blue bow around your neck. I wanted you for so long even before I met you, and Bryan knew it. He drove far and wide to find you and bring you home to me, I couldn't have been more excited. From the very beginning you've been a cuddle bug. You love curling right up next to me or Bry and staying there until one of us gets up.

You quickly adjusted to our apartment and loved exploring and playing on/through/under everything. I swear you were a dog in another life - you loved baths, you 'begged' for human food, you perk your ears up when someone comes to the door or when you hear our keys jingle. You're our little guard kitty.

You're not even one years old yet and you are already a huge mancat, what happened to the baby kitten that fit into my hand? You are fluffy and full of love still. You nip at our hands when we touch your belly, but we can't help it, we love your big belly! I hope you love our new home as much as we do, there's so many more places for you to explore!

Thank you for being the best cat I could've ever wished for. Even though you drive us up-the-wall crazy sometimes, you sit by us when we're sick, cuddle us when we're cold, and sleep right between us some nights. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're kinda spoiled... but until we have real babies [not fur ones]

I'm ok with that :)

Do you love your fur babies? Do you take pictures of them? I feel a little crazy but I love my little guy :)

Anothony Hopkins says...

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived." ♥

From the movie 'Meet Joe Black' Anthony Hopkin's character William Parrish



PS - I'm thinking about starting a new blog topic, I want to call it "Let's talk about it" things that we are all thinking but rarely talk about or say. Kind of like my pap smear post this morning, they may be things that I find awkward to talk about or things that aren't PC... either way, I'm trying to be more real and honest - first and foremost with myself, and with others. What are some topics that make you nervous or are awkward for you to talk about, if any?

Let's talk about pap smears...

That's right.

I said it.

Let's talk about that lovely medical check that all of us women get to enjoy every year - the pap smear. Because as you read this, I'll be getting mine. Like I've referenced before, I got my first pap last year and I was crying even before the doctor even had me undress. I cried during and I cried after. Let's just say I was more emotionally distressed than it physically hurt LOL

Despite my complaining and tears, I decided to do a little more research as to why it's important to get these awesome procedures done and not just to get my yearly prescription of birth control. Of course I hit up my trusty friend Google - and just started with the obvious, "Why is getting a pap smear important?" Here is a couple of reasons that I found yearly pap/physicals are pretty important.

-not every test is accurate

-no one can predict when/if you will develop cervical cancer

-this procedure enables health care providers to detect early precancerous changes in the tissue of the cervix and treat them before they become cancerous

-Between 60 and 80 percent of women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer haven't had a pap smear in at least 5 years

-A woman may need more frequent pap smears if: she has had more than one sexual partners, she has had an abnormal pap smear, became sexually active as a teenager, etc.

After understanding more of the risk factors and preventative measures, I guess I need to take it more serious, buckle down, put my big girl undies on, and take it like woman. Right? Right! So on that note, wish me luck. These are going to be a couple of things I will be thinking of to try and take my mind off of what's going on, even though I know it's for my own good. 

[holding hands]

[summertime & cute flip flops]

[being in a hot air balloon]

[baking yummy cookies]

[watching American Idol with my sweetie later]

[being happy when it's over]

Adios Amiga's, catch you on the flip side - 

have you scheduled YOUR yearly pap?

Today Letter's Inspired Tuesday

(flowers delivered to work yesterday by my wonderful hubby :)

Today's Letters: Dear sweet husband of mine, this past weekend we celebrated Valentine's day a little early by visiting one of our favorite Seattle restaurants and treating ourselves to a movie. I love you more than tulips in beer bottles, coke Icee's, and Christian Bale's performance in 'The Fighter' [that's a LOT!] Dear Jimmy John's, It is with deep sorrow I must say you have lost the race to Jersey Mike's - they will forever be our favorite sub sandwich shop, nothing beats a #13 with pickles and bacon. Good try though. Dear Lady Gaga's Grammy Entrance, what the what?! you have fully outweirded yourself. I get it, you want to be different, avantgarde, outrageous...but an egg? However, you must be doing something right because people are still talking about it this morning! Dear Bryan James, thanks for giving me butterflies when you come up behind me in the kitchen and put your arms around me. Ten points for a tush squeeze too!

What gives you butterflies?

PS - As always, please see inspiration for this post HERE - Tim and Em are UH-mazing <3

Past favorite Tuesday Letters include:

The one where we had ice cream and watched Jersey Shore

The one where the Seahawks shocked the state and Bryan made me a heart

The one where we found out we got the house and Bryan's bowling card

Hall and Oates say...

What I want, you've got
And it might be hard to handle
But like the flame that burns the candle
The candle feeds the flame

What I've got's full stock of thoughts
and dreams that scatter
You pull them all together
And how, I can't explain

But you make my dreams come true ♥

On a night when bad dreams become a screamer
When they're messin' with the dreamer
I can laugh it in the face
Twist and shout my way out

And wrap yourself around me
'Cause I ain't the way that you found me
I'll never be the same

'Cause You make my dreams come true ♥

Last post of the day, I promise.

Hope your Love Day is just as fabulous as you are! ♥

The house that built me

The House that Built Me

There once was a house that built a woman.

It kept her safe and her secrets.

It held family dinners at the kitchen table and deep conversations in the living room.


It listened to her favorite songs on repeat.

It saw many tears and even more laughter.

It helped raised three children and an orange and black kitty.

It was always the place for her to come and be herself.

It's front porch witnessed her many kisses and a few heartaches.

It helepd her get ready for dances, Friday night football games and her wedding.

It had a bedroom and soft place to lay her head at night.

It stayed warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

It's where she spent endless hours on the phone giggling.

It's where she came home from a hard day at school to her mom sitting at the kitchen table waiting to give her a hug.

It's the house where she realized she'd met her soul mate and where that soul mate came to ask her parents for her hand in marriage - four years later.

It is still and will always be home. I'm thankful.

Is there a house/home/apartment/condo that built you?

PS - thank you to Miranda Lambert's Grammy performance for the inspiration to write this post

Dear Bryan...

Dear Bryan, 

my forever Valentine, 

husband, & best friend -

I love you more than words.

I love you more every day.

I love you for you.

Happy Valentine's Day my love - even though this may not be your favorite holiday, thanks for making it special for me ♥

I'll be writing your Tuesday letter tomorrow :)

Happy Valentine's Eve recipe!

Good morning beautifuls!

I hope your Sunday is fabulous!

On this eve of one of the greatest holidays ever, I wanted to share a sweet treat that was a big hit in my house/at work - sweets for sweets :)

Chocolate Eclair [Cheater] Cake

Ingredients:

1 box of graham crackers [3 pkg's in a box, I use Honey Maid]

2 boxes of 3.4oz instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk

1 8oz tub Cool Whip

for chocolate topping

1 cup sugar [see 'my two cents']

4 TBSP baking cocoa [not the kind you make on a cold night]

2 TBSP milk

4 TBSP butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl add the instant pudding powder, 3 cups of milk, and entire tub of cool whip. Stir until you make a smooth batter.

2. Prepare chocolate topping by beating sugar, cocoa, milk, butter, and vanilla together.

3. Take a 9x13 glass dish and start by laying the graham crackers down whole on the bottom of the dish. Then cover the graham cracker layer with a layer of pudding batter and repeat layers one more time. [It should go graham crackers, puddin, graham crackers, puddin, graham crackers]

4. Spread prepared chocolate topping on final layer of graham crackers and put in fridge to chill over night.

5. Serve cold and enjoy, it goes fast!

My two cents:

-When I found the recipe it just said 'sugar' for the chocolate topping. In my opinion, it was a little grainy and it may have been better with powdered sugar. 

-Make the day before, it needs time to get all soft and yummy for the next day.

Happy Valentine's Day eve! I hope you all have a fantastic love day tomorrow - or if you're like us, I hope you had an awesome time celebrating it early :) Loves!

[look at those yummy layers..mmm]