Madly, Deeply the diaries of Alan Rickman

 Madly, Deeply came today and I'm so excited to read it! I absolutely love Alan, he was an amazing actor. His witty musings and Rickmanism's as I call them are great. Random musings and some of the things he has written I can totally relate to.

His words can be hilariously funny as well as incredibly sad, and at times even a touch of arrogance. That English wit seeped through the words throughout the book.

His diaries are similar to the 1 line diaries that are all the rage these days. Celestial One Line a Day Diary

He talks about life and life in the acting world. There are also drawings and doodles on the pages. 

"Quiet pleasure of preparing food for friends. {Name of friends} The sun emerged and we spilled into the garden." 

I just love this one, it's so whimsical for me. I visualize him and his friends sitting around a table with glasses laughing and chatting about life or work. 

"3:40 am Awake trying to locate one worthwhile nameable emotion that deserves this sleeplessness..."

This is absolutely me when I have insomnia! I literally will lay awake at night trying to figure out why I'm awake and unable to sleep.

I can't wait to finish the book, I'm sure I'll be reading it all over again once I'm finished.

Sylvester Stallone moviethon

It's just another peaceful Sunday. I'm drinking coffee and munching on crackers. The sun is out and it's slightly cold outside. 

I have a huge list of stuff to do and at the moment I haven't even started it. lol Instead I'm watching or rather listening to "The Expendables" movies as I am online. 

There are 21 days left until Christmas arrives. I have my shopping done, all I need to do is wrap what I have and get the rest off layaway at my work. 

I am a huge fan of them and am slightly confused as to why I literally just watched them yesterday for the first time. 

I'm a big fan of Sylvester Stallone and Jason Stratham so really I should have watched these movies when they first came out, but I am not a sit in the movie theater kind of person these days. 

I haven't been to a movie theater in almost 10 years. At the moment it's more like I'm listening to the first movie like one would listen to books on tape. The next movie is Sly's Samaritan. 

The Regal Rules for Girls: How to Find Love, a Life --and Maybe Even a Lord -- in London

Well I finally finished the book. While I did enjoy it, I did find that it has a creepy stalker vibe to it. You really have to take the contents of this book with a grain of salt and the use of your own common sense is advisable. Mrs. Fine talks about her life in London and what she experienced when she moved there. Call me crazy, but I find that some of what she wrote to be a bit exaggerated just a teeny bit. No seriously it has to be exaggerated a lot. 

This book is great when it comes to the aspect of places to visit and not to visit when in London. Mrs. Fine doles out some beauty advice, books to read, places to visit, where to shop as well as dating and life advice. She gives you all the information you need to move to England, from getting a VISA and places to look for when looking at schools or places to live. I literally took notes on a lot of this stuff!

Then comes the disturbing bit.. she literally tells you how to land an English gentleman by stalking. She tells you exactly where to go to find them and what to do and not to do to attract them. She makes the English gents out to pretty much not have an ounce to romance in their entire being. She also makes it seem like they are stupid and can't navigate outside their own social circles. She says that you need to be in charge of them and guide them. She literally makes them out to be pathetic. 

The Regal Rules for Girls: How to Find Love, a Life --and Maybe Even a Lord -- in London

Is leaving butter out a good thing?

Growing up we always left the butter dish out on the counter. We used it daily and preferred the butter to be softened for our toast, English muffin or bagels. Mind you the butter didn't last long, maybe a week if that so it was always being replaced. 

Someone in a Facebook group I'm in asked if it was safe to be left out. I was always told that it was, but other's had different opinions so I did some research and found that butter does go bad if left out for too long. 

So due to the high fat content it is less susceptible to bacteria, which keeps it from spoiling right away. Most butters will last 14 days on the countertop.

So here's some tips...

1. Minimize light, heat and air exposure. Air exposure will oxidize the fat in butter, making it more susceptible to spoiling. Light and heat can also break up the fat molecules.

 

2. Keep it in an opaque, airtight butter dish. A French butter crock, the Butter Bell, will protect against all exposure. You just add water to the bottom and put the butter in the top half and then put the top on the crock. The water keeps the butter moist.

 

3. Leave salted butter out. Salt has preservative qualities and it also protects against bacteria, so the salted butter has a longer shelf life on the counter. 

Making a list and checking it twice!

For as long as I can remember I have always been a list writer. I wrote them in high school to know which assignments to do and in what order. The shortest amount of time always went first and the longest was always last. 
I still make lists now, but this time it's in hopes of getting myself back on track and to help me be more organized. I was watching a video on YouTube and the guy had said that you should write down things that you have got to do. He said that by writing the list you are in fact putting it to memory. 

I have always done this myself only it was just a list of everything that I needed to do mixed in with wanted to do. So, everything that needed to get done was literally lost in the eternally long row.
I have a weekly planner that I bought, and I have been writing my lists in there day to day lists. Everything that needs to be done is written first, then after that's gone, I add to the list and keep moving. This planner stays tucked in my purse and I'm always looking at it and crossing tasks off.

Amazon has some amazing planners. This floral one is what I use at home, I bought a smaller one to keep in my purse from work.

2021-2030 Ten Years Planner: Monthly & Weekly Schedule Organizer Agenda with Notes/Goals/To do list 10 years Calendar With Holidays Blue & Gold Flowers (2021-2030 Planner)

Would you give your dog cannabis?

An acquaintance on Facebook mentioned that she gives her pup cannabis infused treats. This to me seems a bit dangerous to the pup's health. I mean she said she gives her pup straight cannabis baked into some dog treats that she bakes. 

I've never heard of giving them straight weed, but I have heard of giving them CBD oils. If your pet ingested weed and is having side effects, then it could be one of these... 

~ Vomiting 
~ Acting wonky with uncoordinated movements
~ Lethargy
~ Drooling 
~ Breathing rough
~ Rapid heart rate
~ Dilated pupils
~ Hyperactivity
~ Agitation 

A friend who gives the CBD oils to her pup actually said that the oils are different from actual weed. The oil is a compound that is actually found in Hemp, and it doesn't contain the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol aka THC. THC is a compound in weed that causes the psychoactive properties. 

CBD Oil for Dogs: What You Need to Know

So, hide the weed infused edibles and give your pets something that is safe and good for them.

Hemp Oil Dogs Cats - Anti-Anxiety, Arthritis, Seizures, Pain Relief - Hip Joint Health - 100% Organic Calming Drops - Omega 3, 6, 9 & Vitamins B, C, E

Billion Pets - Hemp Oil for Dogs and Cats - Hemp Oil Drops with Omega Fatty Acids - Hip and Joint Support and Skin Health - Anxiety and Stress - Pain

PetHonesty Senior Hemp Mobility - Hip & Joint Supplement for Senior Dogs - with Hemp Oil & Hemp Powder, Glucosamine, Collagen, MSM, Green Lipped Mussel, Improve Mobility, Reduces Discomfort (Chicken)

Phone calls go both ways...

I had an old friend complain to me because I don't call her. Mind you she hasn't called me once since we reconnected a year ago and I have called her a few times. We recently unconnected because she was rather rude about it. The phone calls go both ways.

I am horrible at keeping in touch with people you can ask my siblings and they will agree. I am really bad at it. I don't call anyone unless I have a question, or I need to talk to them about something that is important. I really don't know what to talk about.

Look my life is boring. I literally go to work and come home. Once I'm home I put my pajama's on and I'm in for the day. I literally don't leave the house unless it's to go to work or the dumpster at the end of the complex to toss trash out. It's about a 10-minute walk because I really enjoy my walks and take my time getting there. It really helps that I only go at night so no one will talk to me.

I literally do everything online. My bills are paid online, they are almost all on auto pay and I also have my groceries delivered via Instacart to my doorstep. The only time I go to the store is to get my mom's medications.

There are times when I want to call someone, but then I don't want to be a nuisance and bother them. That is literally what pops into my head every damn time.

So yeah, I will 100% admit that I'm horrible at keeping in touch with people especially family and I do hope you know that I love you more than anything in this world. I'm working on doing better.

So, in the end "friend" ... don't be upset with me for not calling you when you don't/NEVER call me. The phone literally works both ways.

Celery Juice is amazing!

 I woke up feeling off this morning. It Works sells a product called Just Celery. I made a glass of it and sat sipping it while doing a morning Zoom. You really have to like celery to really enjoy it.

No seriously you really do. lol This Just Celery mix is a good way to start the morning and there are numerous health benefits to drinking it.

The Just Celery juice is...

~ Anti Inflammatory

~ Reduces high cholesterol

~ Lowers high blood pressure

~ Cleanses the liver

~ It's rich in electrolytes, potassium, and vitamins B&C.

~ Fights infections with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties

~ Helps reduce bloating

~ Aids with digesting

~ Reduces the risk of UTI's!

What is the cheapest way to go?
The best way to go is to join the Loyal Customer 90 Day Challenge Program. If you use this then you will get my 40% discount on all purchases. Once the 90-day challenge is over then you get to keep my discount permanently!

What is the 90 Day Challenge?
To get the 40% discount you would do a 90-day challenge for Any of the products. Meaning for example you start with the Keto Coffee and then try any 1 item in July and 1 item in August.
That would avoid the membership fee and make ALL of the products 40% off retail. The 90-day challenge gives you the chance to get the results you want at the lowest price possible.

What happens if you leave the 90 Day Challenge early?
Because you left the challenge early you will be charged the $50 membership fee.

My favorite British Christmas traditions

1.} Christmas crackers are usually put on the table and opened up after the meal is over.  You can find some here! 

**********

2.} Christmas movies and shows are usually on my Kindle year-round, but I tend to catch the British ones on Brit Box as well.

Some of my favorites are 
- The Vicar of Dibley's Season 1 episode 8: "The Christmas Lunch Incident"
- Keeping up Appearances Season 2 episode 11 "The Father Christmas Suit"
- Are you Being served Season 3 episode 9 "Christmas Crackers"
- Are you Being served Season 4 episode 7 "The Father Christmas Affair"
- All Creature's Great and Small {1978} Season 2 episode 14 "Merry Gentlemen"

**********

3.} I always look forward to the Queen's speech. She makes one every year on Christmas Day and has been doing so since 1957. 

**********

4.} Going to my brothers on Christmas Eve has always been loads of fun. We always watch a movie or two, it's mostly the Christmas Story or Elf. lol 

The Rosie Project

The Rosie Project is by Graeme Simsion. This was an interesting book. I just finished it an hour ago. I will admit that the beginning was rather boring for me, but it did get more interesting as I continued to read. 
I will also admit that the only reason I even read it is because Henry Cavill will be staring in the movie based on the book! I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the Rosie series, and I definitely will if they are made into movies!

The character Henry is portraying is Don Tillman, a genetics professor who created a 16-page survey to find the right wife for himself.

So far so good!

My Mom had a visit with nurse Angie. Her blood sugar numbers have improved and look good. She said the only pain she's in is from pricking her fingers to test her sugar levels. So, Angie suggested getting a tester that attaches to her arm and it tests the levels for her.

She did decide not to have the visiting nurses come because she has PT twice a week on Wed & Thurs. The good thing is that we can get the nurses to visit if Mom wants it later on down the road.

We are also watching the amount of sugar intake. I'm buying a lot of sugar free stuff or low in sugar if I can find it. I bought a tray for her walker and some tennis balls for the two back legs of the walker so she's getting around and getting her own food from the kitchen. Her exercises are being done and meds are being taken as they should be. So far so good!

Hey folks!

 Hi! We have a product called ThermofightXx, it boosts your metabolism and puts your body in fat burning mode. It also helps stabilize your blood sugar, as well as burn extra calories.

We had some product models test the product for 90 days before it was released and the average weight loss was 31 pounds more when combined with a healthy diet than those just dieted alone.

​

It contains green tea phytosome. You just take 2 capsules once a day!!​ Many clients have been pairing this with our Fat Fighter that blocks 60% of carbs and 30% of fat from your biggest meal of the day so when you do eat bad, you can block that out.

Just a quiet Thursday

 I was up at 3pm today, the first in forever. Technically I was up at 8am, but I had a migraine and it literally hurt to turn the lights and open the blinds. It's not as bad now as it was, but omg the pain was across around my head and down my neck. I have my blinds open, I'm lucky that I don't get much light thru there, but I only have 1 lamp on and a couple smaller lights so it's not as bad.

I really love this light bulb that I got from Amazon. It's called a Stained Glass bulb.

I was worried that it would get too hot and maybe catch on fire or break, but it's not supposed to do that.

It gives off a super soft glow and looks great! I need another one for my other lamp, lol.

Have you ever found a high school friend's Facebook, someone you haven't spoken to in over 20+ years and get so excited. Then not friend them because you figure they won't remember who you are? That was me a few hours ago. Honestly, I was a boring person in school. Nothing has changed.

I found a few people I went to school with. I remember them so clearly and I have missed them the entire time I'm away from Oklahoma. I miss the laughter and talking about Motley Crue and just being together with people who had amazing positive energy. I miss those days.

Here's 5 things I do if I'm having a bad day

Everyone has bad days that tend to sneak up on them. How you react to them will result in how long the bad day will last. Change your mindset from negative to positive and you'll see the bad vanish and you'll find yourself having a good day.  

1. What are you grateful for?
I go over everything I'm grateful for once I wake up. Thank you for allowing me to wake up thins morning. Thank you for the ability to sleep in and wake up naturally to the sun streaming in through my windows. There's sooo much to be thankful for you just have to look.

2. Give myself a spa day! 
I have a spa day kit that has face masks, my favorite nail polishes and other relaxing things. I take a shower and put on a clean pair of pajama's and get to pampering myself. I always put on some calming music and I'll chill and watch a movie or two. my favorite's are currently "The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings" trilogy's. Both are on Amazon Prime video and are the extended versions. 

3. Meditation
It's super hard for me to meditate, I will be brutally honest about this. My mind is like a computer with 100+ tabs open and I have no bloody clue where the music is coming from and who's talking.  It's like I sit to meditate and there's the constant yacking of my thoughts. So I will lay down at the end of the night and meditate then with the lights off. When the lights go off my mind will begin to hush and it's easier for me to do it then. Also it helps to fall asleep because my body gets so relaxed. 

4. Reading
I'm currently reading the book by Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan "Clanlands". This is a great book. I really love it as it talks about the show the two of them are doing "Men in Kilts". 

5. Drink a cup of tea or coffee
Depending on my mood I'll make a cup of tea or coffee in one of my favorite cups, or I'll even grab a glass of wine if I'm feeling fancy. lol

Tastle coffee

This coffee is amazing. It's my new favorite instant coffee. I've used it in morning shakes and I've also added some to smoothies and milk shakes. I know the latter sounds weird, but it tastes good!

I have tried just about every instant coffee that I could find and disliked them all. They were too bitter and acidic or just tasted disgusting.  This magic elixir outshines them all!

I just received  mine yesterday and so fast. I've had 2 cups of coffee and added some to my vanilla meal replacement shake.  This tastes amazing in the shake.

Once the jar is empty then I'll be reusing ight add a bank. I'm literally about to ho buy 2 more so that I can add them to my back up coffee stash. I will be using one at work.

Here's how I make mine.. 

1.) Put one heaping spoon full of the Tastlé coffee into your cup. I always use a tablespoon for mine as I like strong coffee.
2.) Pour hot but not boiling water into your cup. I boil water in a tea kettle and then pour it in, I like my coffee hot, but usually wait a few for the water to cool before pouring.
3.) Add Sweetener or milk to your preference, stir and enjoy. I add my creamer into the coffee and it's all good. 

"With a premium blend of finely roasted beans, from the finest crops available, Tastle Coffee brings you the sumptuous taste of freshly brewed coffee without the hassle of traditional coffee machines. Our company strives to ensure the best quality roast, to maintain a superior tasting and satisfying cup of coffee every time. With a superior grade of Arabica beans, the raw green coffee is roasted to perfection to bring out the exquisite flavor and aroma. The coffee is then ground perfectly and brewed through a series of many sterilized percolators. Once roasted and ground, the coffee is brewed to specific quantities at 180 Degrees C with natural pure spring water. Tastle Gold contains Arabica coffee beans and uses a 'Freeze Drying' preservation process. This provides a much finer higher quality instant that dissolves much more efficiently, delivering the great taste that Tastle promises with every product."

Thank you Chime bank!

My goal was to have my credit score up to 700 by the end of December, but it looks like I'll be getting it up earlier!! I'm so very grateful for Chime I just can't express with words. Ya'll on Jan 1 of last year my Trans Union score was a huge 0 and was 0 for 49 years!! Now my goal is to be over 800+ by December! There's NO fee's and each account comes with a savings account as well.

We’ll both get $50 when you open a Chime bank account and set up direct deposit! https://chime.com/r/lisasteinmetz

My favorite skin care tips.

As a teen I washed my face three time's a day. In the morning, when I got home from school I washed the make up off and then again before bed. I was lucky that I really didn't have any skin problems.

I mean yeah I'd get a pimple here and there under my chin because I had a habit of resting my chin on my hands while in class. I'd also get them on my cheek every so often because I'd rest my head on my hand while watching video's in class, I mean c'mon.. some of those video's were bloody boring!!

One of my favorite go to's back then was Noxema and Clearasil! I still love me some  Noxema and have some of it in my bathroom, only now I tend to use it on sunburns and dry skin. it works wonders for both and I love it!

I always used the tinted Clearasil cream and then I was set. I never needed to put any foundation on when I wore that I just did the eye shadow, liner and mascara and lip gloss and I was ready to go to school. 

Now as an adult I have a different skin care routine. I'm using more "adult products" so to speak. The things I'm using now actually come from It Works! 
I wash my face with the Refresh cleanser. My skin feels so soft and clean. It has Chamomile in it. 

In the morning I use the Protect cream. It doesn't matter if I leave the house or not, I'm usually in  front of the computer screen so it helps to protect my skin against the blue light coming from the screen. I always add some of the Radiance cream to the Protect cream and apply them together. 

Then at night I use the Repair night cream. My skin feels and looks so much better than it did before. I can definitely see the results in my skin. My complexion is starting the even out and not look as blotchy and uneven. 

I always buy the It Works! BeautyWorks Collection.
It's definitely a game changer in my skin care routine!

My favorite New Years Rituals

With 2020 over it's time to bring in some positive energy to the new year. Focusing on the positive of 2021 is a great thing to do. I mean who needs to remember all of the negative crap that was 2020? 

At midnight I did a little ritual and prayer for a positive 2021 filled with love, laughter and new beginnings and that led to meditation.

I wrote down my goals and intentions on a piece of paper and placed them under a burning yellow candle. If you don't have yellow then white will work fine as well. 

I have a bowl of pink Himalayan salt in my bedroom with bay leaves in it to cleanse the negative energies of the past.  Each month I flush the salt and then replace it with more salt and bay leaves.  I have some sage incense that I burn as well and waft it around my room. 

Healthy hair habits I swear by

 I am a big fan of trimming my own hair. I've been doing this since I was a teenager. I've given myself so many bad bang cuts it's not even funny, the zig zag look amused me I guess.

I always wanted to be a hairdresser so I figured I'd use myself as a guinea pig. Needless to say I never because a hairdresser. Just couldn't cut it. lol

Now all I do is trim the rough edges and split ends. I usually keep my hair in a ponytail or up in a hair clip while I'm at work so it's not very noticeable. At least I don't think it is.

This is my weekly routine...

~ Washing your hair daily is really bad for you, your stripping away some much needed oils that keep your hair and scalp healthy. I was my hair and condition it every other day. I use Tresseme Full & Thick or Pantene's Repair & Protect, it depends on my mood to be honest.

~ Once a week I use a hair mask to add more really hydrate my hair. I actually don't have just one brand that I use, I love trying different kinds. 

~ I always brush my hair before taking a shower, this helps to combat my hair breaking. Wet hair  is more prone to breaking, so I brush it to help hinder that. 

~ They say you should have a hair cut every two months. This helps to keep your hair healthy. Personally, I haven't had a hair cut since last year. I do try to get one once a year though. I usually get one in July around my birthday on the 1st.

~ Last but not least leave in hair conditioner. I use Pantene's Pro Moisture Mist Detangler.

~ I also take care of my hair from within by drinking collagen and taking biotin supplements. I put my hair in a pony tail when heading for bed. 

Calm among the Chaos

 

2020 feels like one HUGE game of Jumanji. Everything and everyplace feels like it's in complete chaos.  Who ever is playing the game, please for the love of all things cheese STOP! We've had enough already!!

On mornings when I work, it usually consists of me waking up and rushing to get dressed and out of the house on time. I'm usually rushing because I have been having a hard time sleeping. This bloody pandemic is messing with my sleep. lol No rest for the wicked eh?

My night time ritual is this owl on my desk that is lavender infused and is amazing. It sits on my desk and is very calming and makes me a bit sleepy. It's also super soft! 

A nice cup of It Work's Sleepy tea is amazing as well. 

On days when I'm not working, I'm usually up ay 7:30am and on Zoom with my ItWorks teammates. Getting some early morning work in before I crawl back in bed for a little more snoozing. I definitely sleep better on my days off because I can sleep in longer. 

I'm doing a lot of personal development in the early mornings as well and meditating at night when I'm laying in bed. It's what work's for me so I go with that.