Happy New Year!

I made my Hello Kitty cake for new years! 

Party at my house! 

Did she just cure my anxiety?

Last week I went to go see a chiropractor. It was recommended to me by my hairdresser, because I have been suffering back pain.
I sat in the dimly lit room, with nothing but a black bed thing and a small black desk and spoke to Julie my chiropractor girl (I think she may be younger than me, if not about my age) and we talked about how chiropractors work, and how there are different kinds of chiropractors. Some that contort and crack you, and some that just poke and prod you. She is a poker and prodder.
We talked about different things that could be treated, stomach problems, back pain, headaches, and other pains, just to name a few.

She stood me in front of a mirror and showed me my posture. my right shoulder hung lower than my left. My right hip however was higher than my left. I was all messed up.
I laid down and she moved me around, poked at my back, pulled at my neck, used this thing that made a loud pop noise that helps move your spines back where they should be.
After I left I felt really good. Just all over good. I can't explain it but I felt different. I felt better.
That was last tuesday.

For the last 8 days I have been almost 100% anxiety free.
I can't explain it.
Maybe it's in my head.
Maybe I just want to feel better so bad I have convinced myself that I am better.
Maybe it won't last.
Maybe after 10 years of mild to severe anxiety, which I have tried to treat through, yoga, meditation, medication, exercise, and more medication, I have finally found a resolution.

One of my big anxieties is fire. I usually unplug all the small appliances and anything that isn't huge before I leave the house, depending on the level of anxiety that day this can include things as mundane as lamps and chargers.
Yesterday for the first time ever I left the crock pot plugged in and on while I went to work for my 3 hour shift. Not once did i worry that the house had burned down.
My mom and I once joked about how I could crock during the day and not be worried about the house burning down, I said I would plug it into an extension cord and push it to the middle of the empty garage so if it erupted in flames it wouldn't be near enough to anything to start a house fire. (I never followed through on that plan.)
I also haven't had any work related anxiety. Usually when heading into work I am afraid I am going to be in trouble, though I know I have done nothing wrong, I am afraid that I have in some way missed something and that I will have someone mad at me.

I went back for a follow up yesterday. And she was surprised at how well my adjustments held up, she was also impressed at my mental health improvements. I was more impressed at my mental health improvements then anything.
For the first time in a long time I feel good, consistently good.
I hope it lasts.

Oh, How Pinteresing!

I am still on the sewing kick on pinterest, 90% of my pins this week have been sewing related. 

Source: sewmamasew.com via Alana on Pinterest

Fat Quarter handbag.  I am afraid this may be too intense for my first sewing project, maybe my second. 

Source: makeit-loveit.com via Alana on Pinterest

shopping bag holder. I think this will make a good first project. 

Source: jaimelyn11.blogspot.com via Alana on Pinterest

how to cut glass without a glass cutter.  awesome and hella easy looking. 

Source: tumblr.com via Alana on Pinterest

This is an accurate description of my house when it's not winter. 
 

Source: sweetsugarspicecandy.tumblr.com via Alana on Pinterest

I wish I could wear my pumps at work. I wish I could walk in my pumps. 

Source: Uploaded by user via Alana on Pinterest

This one reminds me of Okinawa. 

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yep

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Wine jello shots. ...because real women are classy when they're being trashy...

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yeah that's me.




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Girl with the Dragon Tattoo *no spoiler*

I saw this movie last night. 

Holy Shit. 

I have always enjoyed watching movie adaptations of books I have read, although I am also strongly critical of them. 

I'll sit though the movie and critique it, whisper to whom ever is with me about things that are wrong, or that have been left out. 

I usually finish the movie just a little (if not a lot) disappointed. 

The Swedish version of this book pissed me off. 

They changed major parts, and they left out things I felt were hugely important. 

The American adaptation was amazing. 

It was well done.

and Rooney Mara is amazing. 

Sure there were a few things changed and left out, But the movie was already 2:45 long and I felt the things changed and left out were not too bad. 

The only thing I would have done different is I don't think there was enough emphasis on the relationship formed between Mikael and Lisbeth. 

The movie was incredible. I cannot wait for the next two.

If you have read the books, or even if you haven't, I strongly suggest the movie. 

Sew Terrific Christmas!

I've been texting Santa with pictures of the one thing I really wanted this year.
Santa got the hint. 

Thank goodness. 

Of all the sewing machines at Joanne, the one I wanted the most, had the most basic features, but also was high tech enough that I don't think I'll get bored with it any time soon. 

I've been compiling patterns on pinterest. I am very excited to start sewing. 

Source: dragoknit.blogspot.com via Alana on Pinterest

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Happy Winter Solstice!

The light at the end of the tunnel. They days will now start getting longer! 

a little vent

Yesterday I lost my work apron. Between leaving work and going to Buffalo Wild Wings (less than a mile, and I drove). I think I lost it in my work parking lot.
It's no secret that I suffer from anxiety, yesterday and today the anxiety over this has been awful. I am not that upset about the apron itself, but of the stuff in it. I hate the feeling when I loose things. Even trivial things that can be replaced. I have searched work, BWW, and both parking lots. I think it's gone.
I wish that my anxiety wasn't so consuming.
I hate anxiety.
I hate that it overwhelms my life.
I had to take 2 anxiety pills at 3 am so I could sleep.
I know how incredibly stupid it sounds, but all I could imagine was my poor work apron and it's lovely contents sitting in some losers car, or in some dumpster.
I know I am crazy, and I get attached to inanimate objects.

I don't work again until friday, and I am hoping that when I go into work friday it miraculously appears. Or someone from work calls me and says they found it.

iPhone photo dump or This weekend in pictures

Two days ago it was so nice. Now it's cold as shit again


I've been knitting


I need to bake my Hello Kitty Cake. Hopefully soon!


I made Green Turkey Chili tonight. It was awesome.

Christmas Turkey

Last nights dinner was OMG amazing. 

Turkey:

one 11-lb turkey

1/2 onion

3/4 orange

1/2 bottle of beer (amber)

(all herbs are dried)

crushed rosemary

Thyme

Garlic Powder

Mortons Seasoning Salt

Black Pepper

Rubbed Sage

I started with a beautiful naked turkey. 

I combined some dry ingredients

 and rubbed them under the breast skin and all over the sexy body

Then I shoved half a chopped yellow onion and 3/4 a quartered orange up it's ass. 

I dribbled about 1/8 bottle of beer into the ass cavity.

Sexy Beer Turkey

 I cooked the bird at 420 for 20 min then reduced to 350 for 3 hours. 

 Throughout cooking I added small amounts of beer  beer and enough water to keep the bottom of the roasting pan wet.

Also tent that bad bird in foil when it gets golden brown to prevent the skin from burning. I think this also helps keep it moist. 

She's lovely

So Lovely

Tender and juicy. 

I made the Cranberry Sauce from scratch.  

Cranberry Sauce:

3/4 cup water

1/2 container frozen OJ

1 bag of cranberries

1/2 orange

1/4 bottle of beer (amber)

3 tbsp sugar

bring frozen OJ and water to a boil. Add cranberries and reduce heat to a simmer, cook about 20 min or until it's almost the consistency you like it. it will thicken a bit upon cooling. Allow to cool at room temperature for about 20-30 more min then transfer to fridge. 

it needed more sugar but I am trying to not be fat. 

seasoned mashed potatoes 

(no picture) 

boiled 5 quartered potatoes

with 

1/2 head of garlic peeled, separated and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1tbsp rosemary

1tbsp thyme

1/2 tbsp Morton's seasoning salt

when you strain your potatoes much of the seasoning will drain out with the water but leaves a great flavor. Make sure you mash up the garlic with the potatoes

mash with some milk (and/or half and half) and butter 

oh and the potatoes tried to kill me. 

I burned myself on the boiling water. 

 I was boiling potatoes with herbs in the pot and all the herbs were stuck to the side of the pan, so i was using a turkey baster to rinse the herbs back into the boiling water. and I accidentally squirted the water out of the pot, onto myself. It was really stupid. And now I have this gross looking blistery burn on my stomach. 

So, don't do that. 

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Silly Doggies

Renji peeks from under the sheets to make sure the coast is clear. 

Once he sees that no one is looking he starts to lick the sheets. 

(yes, I have an incredibly weird dog)

He sees the camera and stops... 

Then decides he doesn't care who's watching, he's gonna lick the bed if he wants too. 

Aiko just lays in her spot, shakes her head and goes back to sleep. 

remember to like my facebook page:

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Christmas is almost here

I got the tree up some time last week. Throught this week i've been slowly decorating and making it look christmas-y in the house.

Paul and I aren't huge on holidays. I think it's because we don't have kids. But while we normally decorate for christmas, we don't go knee deep in celebration. And before this year, Christmas is the only holiday we have ever decorated for.

Our tree is a pre-lit (because the dog will eat it) white light tree. We decorate with blue and silver balls that we got a few years ago. We had 3-5 personal ornaments that we have gathered, but nothing major.

This year I hit up Target (thanks to a coworker telling me about a particular ornament that I could not live without  wanted a little) This is my haul.

yummy

HELLO KITTY!!! (the above mentioned ornament)

 A pickle, why? because I needed it to survive. 

Home for Xmas 2010-12