Pasta, pasta, pasta

So I’ve gotten back in the gym (yay me) and I’ve been eating lots of fruits and salads, rice cakes and oatmeal, fat free coffee creamer and all that jazz. I actually like rice cakes. :-/
Anyway, so apparently clementines are in season now. I picked up a few at the local market and killed them within a day. The next week I went to the bigger market and got a case. Yes, a case of clementines. They’re that good. Instead of munching in candy or chips, I’m eating clementines and bananas…which is all good for me. Except one thing.
After eating fruit all day and working out in the evening, there’s only one thing that will satisfy my tastebuds.

Pasta.

I’m not talking about watered down stuff. I’m talking hearty, stick-to-your-bones pasta. I started getting spaghetti with mushrooms from Mama Santas in Little Italy (can’t beat it for $8). But lately I’ve been on am Alfredo kick. And honey, my Alfredo is serious.
None of that fettuccine from the box. Nope, I gotta have fresh pasta.
And none of that right out the jar stuff. My stuff is upgraded!

But I know it’s undoing all my good workout efforts.

What’s an alternative? I’m doing good by staying away from potatoes and white rice and fried foods. But it seems like I shifted from one bad eating habit (French fries) to another (rich pasta)
I can’t win!

15

This is what happens when you let a 15 year old boy near a new toy. They take it over.

This is how the nephew and I spent Christmas. Gotta love it.

Hope you all had a great holiday (or are having a great holiday, if you’re still celebrating).

Bitter cold!

This crazy, dry, cold Cleveland air is doing some serious damage to my locs. I’ve lost 3 in the last week despite using a leave-in conditioner and washing regularly.

Looks like I’ll have to wash and deep condition twice a week. I just got my hair retightened yesterday, and my consultant was commenting on the same issue with her locs. When we take them out of a ponytail, we have to manually pull them apart…and it’s a chore. A few months ago, I could take the rubber band out and my hair would just fall. It’s so stiff now, but still growing!

Any natural folks got suggestions for maintaining moisture in the bitter cold? It hasn’t even gotten REALLY cold yet.

Also, now that the semester’s over, expect more pointless posts like this.
And that new Clipse album is the business.
And my guy is great. He’s studying for his comprehensive exams now. I’m blogging and watching football! We went to church together this morning for the first time. Awesome time! The pastor is Scottish and very spiritually grounded in The Word. Nah, it’s not a down-home Baptist church, but I could see me going there regularly. Non-Black churches are an experience — YOU START AND GET OUT ON TIME!
And I can’t wait to go home. I have 3 dinner reservations already!
And Ingram totally deserved the Heisman. No question.
And I really can’t wait to see my mom.

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Now playing: Clipse – Popular Demand (Popeyes) [feat. Cam'ron and Pharrell]
via FoxyTunes

one and done

Follow this timeline between me and my mom’s sperm donor.

So this fool is forgiving me for not calling?

I have not had a verbal conversation with this man since 2003. Before that, 2000 when he showed up at my graduation with a stack of scholarship applications. Before that, maybe 1994 or so at my grandmother’s funeral. He found me on facebook a few months ago.
My mother didn’t start getting child support until her “child” was a teenager.The last time I saw his mother (in 2003) she cursed at me in a church and asked me why I was there.

I finally crafted a worthy response, one that showed him exactly how I was feeling.  It was a relatively short message full of 27 years of being fed up with his lies and immaturity…and I sent it to his step-daughter too.

…and I’m done.

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Now playing: Raheem DeVaughn Feat. Floetry – Marathon
via FoxyTunes

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Now playing: Clipse – There Was a Murder
via FoxyTunes

skin care

I mentioned in an earlier post that my skincare regime had been stepped up…and it has.  It’s simple and cheap.

In the morning, I use an unscented Neutrogena bar ($2.50) and apply a facial moisturizer ($9.99) with SPF.
In the evening, I use a mild astringent ($2.49), Neutrogena bar ($2.50) and then apply a facial moisturizer ($9.99).
After the gym, I take a little more time.  I use a cleaning cloth ($2.14 on clearance!) after I shower.  I use a Clean & Clear gel cleanser ($3.99), then the Neutrogena bar ($2.50)then a moisturizer with SPF ($9.99).

Simple.

Combine these simple steps and inexpensive products with drinking plenty of water.

Easy as that.

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Now playing: Raheem DeVaughn Feat. Floetry – Marathon
via FoxyTunes

Thanks.

I’m spending Thanksgiving in DC with my uncle.  He’s sleeping now while I work on some assignments due next week.

Give thanks daily. 

Before and after (33 months)

For the first time in 15 months in Ohio, I let a professional touch my hair.  Awesome.  After much coordination of conflicting schedules, Miss MaliKatt and I met for the first time…and she is such a doll!  (It’s funny that I didn’t meet her until after I’d referred clients to her.)  I was long overdue for a retightening, but I just couldn’t sacrifice an entire weekend to get it done.  Last time I did my hair was before school started in August.  Yikes!

Before:

After:

Unfortunately, I didn’t even think to snap a picture with her.  Just trust me when I say she’s gorgeous, her hair is beautiful and her dog, Mattie Sue, is the cutest blonde Cocker Spaniel this side of the Mississippi!  Miss Mali retightened my hair and even did some repair work (which no one had ever bothered to do before!) and tried her best to undo some of the knots I’d caused.  She was so sweet, even had candy and pretzels out for me.  She also put in a few new locs where I’d lost locs before, like around my hairline.

In 3 months, these babies will be 3 years old.  Can you believe it?

2 3 last things
1.  Yes, I’m looking for any excuse to use PhotoBooth
2.  Check my skin.  My skincare regime has officially been stepped up…and it’s sooooooo working!
3.  Yes, blue is my favorite color.

Good, better, best

Tonight in class I was telling a classmate about how I quickly snapped out of a funk while sitting in my car earlier in the day. I’d just come from picking up my ride from the mechanic (simple oil change, tire rotation and balance, etc.) and was getting a little down thinking about these 13 hour days I have 4 days a week (Monday – Thursday, I leave home at 8 and get done with school at 9 or 10). As I thought about it, I also thought of my grandmother, how long her days were, what she did during the day, and her complaints. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I’ve got it good.   I straightened right up and went about the rest of the day.
Thinking about my grandma always makes me have a GOOD day.

When I got home (about 20 minutes ago), I checked the mail and saw 2 packages from Oyin Handmade. I celebrated my sister’s birthday by buying myself some new products. My day got a little BETTER when I saw the body butter bar and the whipped pudding. I can’t wait to try it out.  Their poo bar and Greg’s juice are part of my regular hair-washing routine.

The goods

Even better than that is the little note they put on my invoice. You see, on their site they have this cute video explaining why it takes so much time to receive an order, and how they sing while preparing products to fill orders with love. When I ordered my stuff, I left a note with my payment asking that they sing a Donny Hathaway song when they prepare my goods. They did!

A Song For Me

Since everything I ordered was in envelope #1, I checked to see if I’d accidentally picked up someone else’s mail. I had not. It was for me too. It was from B&N! My mom had briefly mentioned getting me a book. I told her I didn’t want the details so that I would be surprised…and I was. I have the BEST mom EVER!!

The Conscious Cook

I had a pretty good day.  How about you?

Creepy birthday celebration

I was invited to a birthday celebration tonight. It was at a guy’s house. I totally knew the guy was gay before I met him.
How did I know? 1st he lives in Lakewood. 2nd, check out the decorations.

After sipping on some cherry coconut rum punch (seriously!) I was greeted by his partner. I already knew. Lol

Retail therapy on a student’s budget

On the weekends, I make sure to hit the gym hard and study for 3 hours minimum while on campus.  It doesn’t sound like much, but studying after a workout (and the accompanying sugar-free coconut soy latte that I reward myself with) is extremely productive.  The energy boost from whatever hormones/chemicals/drugs are released after running and lifting is real.

Today, I went about my normal Saturday routine and headed home around 5ish.  While driving down the main boulevard here in Depressingville, Ohio, I noticed that the used bookstore was open.  I’ve been trying to get to this bookstore for over a year – no lie.  Each time I ride by, they’re closed or I’m in a hurry to get somewhere.  The stars aligned today. 

The place looks like a dump on the outside, and the inside isn’t much better.  They don’t get points for aesthetics.  But what they DO get points for are bargain finds!  Check out what I got for $7:

Within my budget.

Karl Marx’s Critique of the Gotha Programme with appendices (1938)
Arnold Bergstraseesr’s Goethe’s Image of Man and Society (1949)
Albert Chandler’s The Clash of Political Ideals (1940)
Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

I read all of Judy Blume’s books when I was little and LOVED them!  That book was only 75 cent.  The others, especially the Marx with appendices, will be useful for general Public Administration knowledge.

Did I mention it was only $7?

No, it wasn’t nicely organized.  No, it doesn’t have a website.  No, it isn’t always open when they say it will be.  And, no, the employee didn’t go outside to smoke his cigarette.
It’s a $2 bookstore.

There is another, more famous used bookstore in the area that’s housed in a former Twinkie factory.  I’ll make it there soon.