Girls Only: Product Reviews (September)

Throughout the years, I've noticed a huge trend in my self-esteem: I feel most beautiful when I use beauty products that are worth every shiny penny. Specifically, what my hair smells and feels like has a huge effect on my overall happiness, which is very likely why I'm drawn to expensive products. If I can feel beautiful simply by washing my hair with a specific product, isn't it worth it to spend the money on?


Shampoo: $46 / litre
Conditioner: $67.50 / litre



Because I'm going to end up buying these products anyway, I've decided to make use of that monetary loss by posting a product review every month. To define "product," I mean anything that can be found in the bathroom, specifically in the shower. And, simply because I'm addicted, chap stick counts too. This month, I've gone and done something super spiffy totally on accident: I chose a product perfect for the end of September! What better way to welcome autumn than with a shampoo and conditioner that reminds me of fallen leaves?

Down the street from where I lived in Oshkosh was Salon Mode, a beautification sanctuary overflowing with Aveda products and amazing stylists. I visited the same stylist for the 5 years I lived there, and I always walked out elated, feeling my absolute best. Between my first and last visit to the salon, my money situation fluctuated greatly—addicted as I was to the Aveda products, for the majority of the time I was living in Oshkosh, I was unable to afford Aveda, let alone regular haircuts! Every once in a while I'd splurge on an 8.5 fl oz bottle of Aveda's brilliant™ shampoo and conditioner, fall in love all over again, and mourn my dusty bank account. 

In early September I decided to put an end to the silliness of my Aveda-less shower and order whatever I wanted from the web site. I now have those huge bottles of brilliant™ shampoo and conditioner, and I also ordered a sample-sized rosemary mint shampoo that I'm very excited to try.


Another pro: shiny, healthy-
looking hair even when you're
overdue for a trim!



Aveda has a lot going for them with their brilliant™ line. Not only are the bottles earth-friendly, the shampoo and conditioner also bathe your hair in nourishing, plant-derived ingredients that relieve your scalp and locks of everyday build-up and impurities. But it's super gentle, too, so it leaves your hair feeling silky instead of stripped. Even though Aveda's products are pricey, they eliminate the need for leave-in conditioners during the post-shower/pre-styling regimen. (Please note that this doesn't mean I won't be using a leave-in product eventually. I already have one in my online shopping cart....) This is a miraculous circumstance considering I have a very hard time finding a conditioner I like. Some conditioners are really runny, and others are so thick it's like putting lotion on your hair, which leaves my scalp greasy in less than 24 hours.



This product also smells phenomenal, hence the comment about falling leaves. I wouldn't define the earthy scent as "strong" so much as "long-lasting." It will stick with you for hours after you use it, reminding you of the great service you've done for your hair.

To end this post, I'm going to share a tip with you that I wish I'd had the common sense to figure out like 20 years ago.

Unfortunately for those of us who hate having their hair pulled, most companies that manufacture styling tools create their hair brushes in two separate pieces: the handle, and the section that holds the bristles (which I'll call the "head" for lack of a known technical term). This is a stupid practice, because that little crevice where the handle meets the head is the perfect place for your hair to get caught, causing it to tangle, pull and break—which causes pain and frizzies! I bought the brown brush because it was manufactured as one piece and doesn't snag my hair. However, it is a combination of cushion and round brush (short nylon bristles and long plastic bristles), and because I have very thick hair the short bristles keep it from passing completely through and leaves my hair tangled. Plus, I don't really think the short bristles add/enhance shine or any of that jazz they advertised. If you can avoid it, try not to buy a brush that has two segments. It can be damaging and painful.

Next time I post a "Girls Only: Product Review," expect to read about either the rosemary mint shampoo, or a new face wash and lotion. Or maybe both!

I'm such a loser! And that's a good thing!

When it comes to weight loss, a lot of people only stop at counting calories. I can't knock this practice, because obviously it works. But because of my experiences with Weight Watchers, I firmly believe that calories are not the only thing you should consider. If a food is high in fat, but has very few calories, you're not doing yourself any favors.

As a Weight Watchers member, I've learned a lot of helpful tips that should have been as obvious as a Robert Pattinson's decision to ditch Kristen Stewart in response to her "momentary indiscretion." (BOOM.) Per WW's advice, I have made a significant effort to drink more water. I read in multiple articles that if you drink a glass of water about 30 minutes before each meal, you will not only eat less, but it helps your body break down the food. Also, thirst is commonly confused for hunger, and water can be incredibly filling. But if you're a crazypants like some people I've met and you don't like water, there are other options. Black coffee, diet sodas, or a bouillon cube dissolved in one cup of water are all appetite suppressants worth zero points. My mom and I also really like Ice.

A concept that I struggled with for the first 10 weeks is WWs' claim that you can eat whatever you want. But let us consider the following scenario: you could either eat 6 McDonald's Chicken McNuggets for 7 points, or you could eat 7 ounces of a boneless, skinless chicken breast. Seems reasonable, right? It's 7 points either way. But when you consider the way Points Plus Values (PPVs) are calculated—the PPVs increase the higher the fat, carbs, and protein are—it really doesn't make any sense that you should be eating McNuggets over a grilled chicken breast. With McNuggets, your 7 points are fat and protein, and with the chicken breast, your points are mainly protein, making the chicken breast the healthier choice. The chicken breast will also satisfy you much longer because it takes your body more time to process protein than it does carbs. Also, you get way more food with a 7 ounce chicken breast than 6 McNuggets. (And just to cover my ass, I am by no means trying to bring down McD's. I used to work there, and I love their food. In fact, I love their food so much that I can guarantee I wouldn't be as heavy as I am had I made healthy choices during my 2.5 years as their employee.)

A hearty "mmm" to both.

I'm really not trying to argue that the WW's slogan of "you can eat anything you like" is misleading. Quite the contrary, I'm pointing out exactly what WW has taught me to realize through this motto. You can absolutely eat anything you want, but they just want you to make smart choices. If you decide to have a WW-friendly meal, you can indulge in a HUGE plate for about 12 points (think corn on the cob, chicken or steak, a vegetable of your choice, and a side salad with light dressing). But if you know you want to splurge, I would suggest you save your weekly points (you get 49 extra points per week) and control your portion sizes when that moment comes. Take the time to read labels, and be cognizant of the food you're putting in your mouth, and you can't go wrong.

Hi, my name is Death von Temptation. I live at Dairy Queen, and while I am probably the most delicious thing on earth, I’m worth 37 points, which is 76% of your weekly points. Don’t I seem so much less tempting when you realize what else you could have eaten if you'd ordered a small?

Shall we take a moment to elaborate on what I mean by "cognizant of the food you're putting in your mouth?" I heard a story at one of my WW meetings that made me face-palm, even though I was new to the program. One of the members had decided to go out to eat at Portillo's, an American-style restaurant in Illinois. Portillo's has an amazing chopped salad, which sounds like a great choice because lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions are free of points. Even icky celery is free. But the ditalini pasta, bacon, and Gorgonzola cheese are a lot of points, not to mention Portillo's super fatty housemade dressing. The salad is huge, though, so I'm sure you could get away with eating half of it and not completely slaughter your points for the day. Like I said, just pay attention to the foods you're eating, because buzzwords like "diet" or "light" or "100 calories" aren't synonymous with low point values.

And now to be very, very clear. I would suggest WW to anyone who is down on themselves and completely at a loss on how to get started. I started WW in May, and I've lost a total of 15 pounds (which could have been more had I dug my heels in and stuck to the program the entire 3 months). However, I only follow the program and weigh in on the same day every week. I do not stick around for the meetings. For some reason it just doesn't do it for me to have everyone clap for my success. While I appreciate the sentiment, it doesn't motivate me. In lieu of meetings, I surf the web site. The WW site has everything you need if you're willing to take the time to sort through recipes, advice columns, and success stories. With the web site, you have endless meetings at your fingertips. And when you go to weigh in, they will give you a weekly pamphlet that is totally worth the whopping 5 minutes it takes to read, and it pretty well sums up the meeting highlights.

If you do start the program, my main suggestions are: 1. Track every single point that goes in your mouth, and 2. Do not quit. A lot of people think that with the knowledge they gain about making smart choices and counting PPVs, they can stop spending the money and do it on their own. I have heard so many stories about how this theory fails. Every. Single. Time. I'm not exactly sure why this is, but considering the weight I've lost while on the program, I'm really not in an experimental mood. My guess is that is has something to do with the fact that you're spending money every month. It would be a huge waste to spend $50 per month and not benefit, so that keeps me motivated. (Keep in mind that this is way less than you would be spending on any other weight loss program.)

Track like crazy, stick with the program, and make smart choices! Ironically, by posting this blog I have made a very poor choice. I should have chosen something other than the turtle pecan cluster to pick on.

You can be done reading here, but if you want

suggestions about good foods to eat, keep reading.

For those of you who are like me and you can't stand handling food unless it's on its way to your mouth, here are some quick and easy ideas on how to feed yourself, no pans or ovens involved. (And for those of you who like to cook, the Weight Watchers web site has a tremendous amount of recipe ideas, and most of them look delicious.)

Taco Bell has a Fresco Menu. I order 3 grilled steak soft tacos "fresco style," and that is only 11 points... but whenever I eat out, I add a 1- or 2-point buffer. You can get hard or soft shell, with steak, chicken or ground meat, but you do have to specify "fresco style." It's delicious.

Jimmy John's has the Unwich. You can get any sandwich on the menu as an Unwich, which means they remove the bread and wrap your sub in lettuce instead. A Turkey Tom, Pepe or Big John unwich will cost you  2 whole points. The Thinny chips will cost you 3.5 points per ounce, and there are 2 ounces per serving. But with a 2-point sub, you can probably spend the 7 points on the bag of chips if you want them, like I would. And pickles are free of points, so consider those too!

And even though I might have spoken against McD's earlier, they still have options. The 10-piece McNugget is 13 points, which is good for a lunch or dinner if you ate lightly during other meals, or skipped snacks. The Big Mac (without Big Mac sauce) is 12 points (14 points with the sauce), and the Quarter Pounder without cheese is 11 points. Their fruit and maple oatmeal is 7 points, which is a great breakfast or dinner idea.

Don't forget about Weight Watchers endorsed products like Smart Ones, Lean Cuisines, Lean Pockets, and Healthy Choice, just to name a few of the more popular brands. If you are craving Chinese food or pizza, they have a crap-ton of choices to satisfy you. Lean Pockets have pizza varieties that are 6 or 7 points, and I've eaten plenty of delicious Healthy Choice Steamers meals for 8 points to kick my craving for Chinese food. There are also individual serving thin crust pizzas out there for 8 or 9 points, depending on if you get just cheese, pepperoni, or margarita.

Also, Skinny Cow is a godsend. They have a Heavenly Crisp bar that, granted, is not at all filling, but holy buckets is it the most delicious chocolate bar I've ever had for 3 points. As opposed to a Hershey's bar, which will cost you 6 points, and I just think Hershey's isn't as good anyway. There are other things too, like Special K Pastry Crisps, worth 3 points for 2 crisps.

Progresso Light makes a MEAN clam chowder, and they have a ton of other varieties as well. Each serving is 2 points, and there are 2 servings per can. You can have a huge bowl of soup for 4 points!

If you like eggs for breakfast, I would suggest using refrigerated eggwhite substitute. Eggs themselves are actually kind of high in PPVs (I think 2 points per egg), but 3/4 of a cup of refrigerated substitute is 1 point. That's plenty for an egg, canadian bacon, and (1/2 slice of) cheese on an english muffin in the morning.

At work, I like to snack on Triscuits, which are (for most varieties) 1 point for 2 crackers. I also really like Pretzel Crisps (which Weight Watchers has their own brand of) at 3 points for 11 pretzels. Also, Laughing Cow Cheese has Light cheese wedges that are less than 1 point each. I like to get plain pretzel crisps and top them with cheese for a 4 point snack.

I think the snack that will give you the most bang for the least...uh, buck... is chips and salsa. For most baked tortilla chip varieties, you can have like 24 chips for a whopping 4 points. And most salsas are FREE of points. You could have 48 chips (which is a PILE) for 8 points! The other option is beef jerky. If you shop at Aldi, you can get a CHEAP bag of beef jerky and the whole bag is only 6 points because it's all protein.

Never forget: fruits and vegetables are zero points. I usually bring an apple, nectarine, grapes, or cherries to work for snacking purposes. Keep in mind that even though corn and potatoes come from the ground (which I think technically classifies them as vegetables?), I don't consider these items vegetables, because an ear of corn is 2 points, and a baked potato is enough points that I haven't bothered to look it up. So I call these "starches."

Lastly, I will never ever ever give up on popcorn. I searched high and low, and Jolly Time Healthy Pop is a dream come true at 3 points for 4 cups of popped popcorn. I think you get something like 8-10 cups of popped popcorn per bag, and it's totally worth the 6-8 points in my book.

My point is: Don't think you're limited or have to start cooking. When I started with the program, I had a panic attack for the first two weeks. I wouldn't eat anything that wasn't in the book, or had a point value on the box. When my mom cooked a keish for breakfast our first weekend on the program, it pissed me off and a half. I was all, "How dare you cook something that I can't count?!" But if you measure all the ingredients you're using, and calculate the PPVs, you can eat ANYTHING. Don't panic. There is an answer for everything, and always a healthy substitute to consider.

Sites that have helped me on my 3-month journey:

Exercise 4 Weight Loss: Weight Watchers Points

Dotti's Weight Loss Zone: Restaurant List

PPV Calculator

One More Pound

Minneapolis, MN

Holy crap. Not only can I not say "Minneapolis" without thinking super hard about it, but I can't spell Minnesota without Google's help. This should be a fun blog. Maybe I'll stick to mostly pictures?

On August 16th, 2012, the Giant and I went on a 5-day trip to Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. I decided that instead of packing a bunch of activities into our 3 available days (we spent all day driving on the 16th and 20th), we would spend most of our time being super lazy in the hotel. I would classify my job as high-stress, though often times enjoyable anyway, which made me think that the best philosiphy would be to "relax and wing it."

Of course, I didn't want the 8-hour drive to be boring, so we went about 30 minutes out of our way to visit La Crosse, WI, where I used to live. We saw my old house, my favorite restaurant, and even made time to drive up Grandad's bluff and take some pictures.

"The trouble with resisting temptation is it may never come again."
The Giant said that is the worst advice he's ever been given. I agree.

On our first full day in Minnesota, the Giant and I went to the Mall of America. Truly, it was awesome. It's huge and bright and chaotic, and the rides have virtually no lines because everyone is busy being a silly pants and shopping instead of riding.

The rides.

The most amazing Lego display I've ever seen.

That night (Friday) we went to have dinner with my original work director at Wells Fargo. She left Chicago for an underwriting position back in her hometown, so we are happy for her, but we miss her to death. I cannot express how much fun it was to see her again, and meet her husband! In fact, they got married the very weekend the Giant and I were in Minnesota! Congratulations to them both, because they're perfect together.

The second day (Saturday) we spent mostly at the hotel. As part of the Giant's birthday celebration (his birthday was on the 22nd so I decided to use the entirety of the vacation to celebrate), we ordered room service. I almost wish we hadn't, because their chicken wings were the most delicious wings I've ever had. They were crispy and juicy in all the right ways, and they were flavorful. If you ever get a chance to go through Plymouth, MN, you need to stop at Woody's Grille and try their wings.

After half the day was brilliantly used up on eating wings and watching Shark Week, we decided to get off our butts and go to the nearest waterfall, which was in Minnehaha Park.

And then we found a cannon. After launching an attack, I tried to make it bend to my will. It didn't work, but it was fun to try.

On the third day (God created dry land and plants?) we visited the restaurant that was the entire reason we planned the trip in the first place: Space Aliens Grill & Bar. The food was REALLY good, and the decor was amazing! I tried to take a bunch of pictures of the decorations, but it was difficult considering the lighting was very dark and my camera is just really bad.


The outside and inside.

The cieling and walls.

On the ride home we decided to stop at the Crystal Cave in Spring Valley, Wisconsin.

For anyone going on a long drive, I would highly recommend stopping at a cool restaurant, or going somewhere for sightseeing purposes just to break up the drive. It helps a lot. The drive felt really short, and we were able to do something active together every day of our vacation.

Random Thoughts for Lack of a More Focused Blog Idea, but it Beats not Posting for Another Month

Because I've been going through a dry spell, here are some thoughts that I frequently have, but I’m not really sure how to turn them into a full blog. They cross my mind a lot, but I don’t focus on them for any length of time.

Marriage—So many of my friends are engaged or are already married. (Congratulations to my beautiful sister, by the way, who just became engaged this past weekend!) I wonder what it would be like to spend the vast majority of my time outside of work with the same person day after day for many years, possibly even the rest of my years. Am I capable? I think of how selfish I am with my time and my money, and I wonder if “willing” to compromise will translate into “able” when the time comes.

Money—Before this job became permanent (which just happened this past August, yay me!), I was constantly worried about saving money. And even though the job title is permanent, that doesn't really relieve me of these worries. I still wonder how much money I should save for a trip before I fulfill my travel plans? After all my bills are subtracted from my paycheck, how much can I put in my savings account and still afford to treat myself? Though I love long vacations that take months of planning and saving, I am very much an instant gratification type of person—my vices are books, eating out, and hair-care products. However, I do realize that if money were to become tight those are the exact things I would have to give up. No matter what, I am determined never to fall backward into that nightmarish place where the best you can do is “make ends meet" and hope that some amazing miracle happens and money is suddenly in abundance for no apparent reason.

Losing Weight—Not only do I feel horrible about my body image (I swear I get more malicious toward myself with every pound lost), I am also concerned with my health. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking to buy a larger pant-size, but it’s also embarrassing to have to go through the wiggle dance every morning to try and shimmy my pants over my hips. Lately I’ve been struggling with Weight Watchers, and I think it started in Minnesota. I went to MN specifically for a restaurant, so I really wasn’t watching what I ate during vacation. I’m having a hard time losing that weight now, and really struggling to keep it off once I do lose it. I feel more lost than I did before I was part of a program with a support group! I’ve started to consider working out, but that is a painful experience, even though I use all of the inhalers prescribed to me. (For those of you who don’t know, I have acute asthma with three triggers: cold weather, cigarette smoke, and exercise.) At any rate, three months ago I hit the weight I told myself I would NEVER reach, and I’m determined not to go back down that road.

Let's just say the Giant and I were incredibly liberal in our food choices.

Family vs. Love Life—This past April I was faced with the difficult decision of going to Florida with my parents, or the Giant and his family. Of course I chose to visit Disney World for the first time in ten years because it’s what I wanted to do. But I was worried about the affect my decision would have on my family’s feelings. In this situation, there are no serious consequences because my parents would rather I have the experience that’ll make me the happiest. What about holidays, though, where do I spend those? The Giant brought this idea up the other day, and I grazed right over it. No thanks, not a thought I want to have right now. I don’t like disappointing my family, even though I’m a big girl and can do whatever I want, which they constantly remind me. But that doesn’t liberate me of guilt.

Next time I will post about my adventures in Minnesota with the Giant. Maybe I'll even throw a few overdue pictures up there from Disney World!