Fun things in my Profession

Its not everyday that a client like this comes around wanting a hair style/color like what I am about to show you. In fact its very rare in my smallish town, so when she found my website and looked me up I was super stoked about what she was describing! Before I tell you anymore I have to say it took me 4hrs to accomplish this look just wanting to make everything perfect!

In walks "client pink" to my shop for a consultation about finding a new look she sits down in my chair and we talk about what she is looking for and how to achieve it. "Client Pink" says to me I want a new fresh cut something mid lengh to my shoulders that has some layers/volume but can be washed and worn since she is an outdoors type of girl. Ok I say no problem! Than "client pink" say  I would also love to change the color as well. I am looking for something Pink almost all over that might be low matanice. "Client Pink" already has reminisce of pink highlights in her hair that some one else has put in, she also has about a 2" grow out from the crown of her head...

This is what I had to work with, so I said challenge excepted! I sent "client pink" on her way to came back the next week after I do a weee bit of research for a new cut & color that fits her desires, but also when I have all the time needed to do this incredible challenge! So comes the part where I pick out the pictures to show her of what I have in mind and what will fit her needs but also from what she has now without damaging it further.

Here are the pictures I came up with and the one decided on...

Liked the intensity of it but I did explain the upkeep of this style & that there was going to be grow out. So not this...

Liked this one a little bit better the way it was wrapped in the hair and was showing underneath so there was less grow out to have to worry about later on. Still wanted a bit more Pink!

Perfect! We found the one that's closest to what "client pink" was hopping for! It had a lot of pink to it, it was underneath the hair so it would make grow out not noticeable! Than I informed her that I could even achieve the 2 colors of pink side by side! YEAH!

Now for the cut that's going to compliment this color. I picked something a tiny bit shorter with more funky disconnected layers that was really going to show off the pink underneath!

Something along these lines! Remember it has to be wash and wear also!

Color A = Wella multi blond blondor with 20vol
Color B= KP /8 10vol

I started with a Wella technique called Glamazon. You make a small diamond shaped pattern on the top of the crown...Than taking vertical weave slices @ back center point of diamond place foil and apply Color A. Continue around both sides of diamond working towards the front.

After all foils are place i applied Color B to all diamond shaped section to make an even natural color. Let that proses until the blond reaches a light yellow color. Rinse & dry.

Color C= Urban Shock Pink 1/2 tube (hot pink)
Color D= Urban Shock Pink 1/2 tube with conditioner (pastel pink)

After completely dry, part out same diamond pattern on top of crown as in the beginning. Your going to be placing foils same way you did to put in the blond but this time even thinner sliced grabbing only light yellow strands. Your going to be placing 2 foils side by side one with Color C and the next one with Color D so you have 2 pinks living in the same slice. To do this around both sides of diamond until all light yellow strand are placed into foils. Leave pinks on for 20min. Rinse.

While rinsing out "Client Pink" hair I could just see how beautiful and unique it looked, could not wait to put her new cut in and style!

And now..Drum Roll Please..Afters

WOW EEEE! looks amazing! "Client pink" LOVED IT! Everything just worked so well together!

Time to pay the Doc a visit!

I am defeated :(, I finally had to call my Dr this morning about getting in to have her look at my wrist. I have over the last couple years had some soreness or stiffness in my right wrist where my Carpal bones meet my Ulna and Radius bones.

Its always been one of those things that I can most of the time ice it, baby it and move on. I work with my hands a bunch doing sometimes the same thing over and over everyday. Yes I know what your thinking Carpal Tunnel syndrome, but alreay? I mean I am 25yrs old and have only been working in my industry for 6yrs. I really wont know anything until I meet with her tomorrow.

Anyways I finally broke down and made the appointment, when I woke up this morning my fingers and wrist where swollen. Not huge but defiantly not normal, plus it was sore oh so sore. It feels like, you know when your hands have been out in the cold to long, your joints get sore and stiff that's what it feels like. This constant dual ache in my finger joints and that ache continues to run up my arm to my elbow. Yesterday (Monday) it was feeling the same way and I could not get the swelling to go completely away I was very frustrated cause there were things I wanted to do. I even had to take work off today cause its the most annoying feeling pain ever and it just dose not want to quit.

I am a wee bit nervous for what they might find out which makes me want to bake something. I nervous bake or stress bake lol calms me down. I really do want to figure whatever it is out since its hindering me from work and from finishing my baby quilt that I'm almost done with!! It hard to rest when you don't feel sick but at the same time kept from being able to do things. Helps when the weather is crappy like it is today...

yucky gray, cold, rainy yuck

Ill tell you it dose not help my pissy mood through. I would much rather be at work doing something creative and fun than looking out my window thinking about all the crafts & baking I want to be doing right now!

St. Patrick's Day

This is one of my Favorite holidays and times of the year! Tulips are in bloom, warm weather is on its way! I am pretty sure there is a lot of Irish in me, white skin, blue eyes, light hair and my family loves their alcohol! I am not a religious person by any means, even though this holiday's foundation is built from Saint Patrick bring Christianity to Ireland! The main reason I like it is that they celebrate it by eating a feast of yummy food and drinking alcohol! Every one is just a wee bit Irish on St. Paties day!

This year Mike and I are celebrating with a little pairti at me Daid house with corn beef and cabbage, Irish car bombs and of course my contribution cupcakes...not just any old cupcakes but...

Chocolate stout filled w/ Irish Whiskey Ganache, & topped w/ Baily's Irish Cream frosting!

Yes its so amazing it needed to be in bold underlined print! If you want the recipe and to see how they turned out it will be on my Whats Cooking page under March 17th! One cute little romantic side note is I had my 1st kiss with Mike on St. Paties day 2011, Guess its the luck of the Irish ;)!!

Nerd Addition Moment

I'm totally addicted to this iPhone app called Draw Something!

If you don't have it you should get it, NOW and draw with me( said in a somewhat loader high pitched voice). Its like pictionary all the time, it gives you 3 words to chose from

You pick one word and than begin drawing it! At 1st your like WTF mate but than you learn to love it and laugh off your ass at what other friends draw!

You can only chose from Black, Red, Yellow, or Blue at the beginning until you buy colors but it is just so much fun to try and make people guess what you have drawn! You get coins for each picture someone can guess of yours! So as your drawing it on the screen the app keeps everything you do as soon as you start drawing so whoever your playing with can see every funny thing you did. After your done you send it off and when ever the friend wants they can look at the picture see everything you did and try and guess! OMG its addicting!

I am an iPhone junkie and am not afraid to admit it!

Rainy/Windy Oregon Day

Sound familiar? Yes another nasty day here in beautiful Oregon. AHHHHHH where is Spring already I want some sun any sun, cold sun is just fine! But there is good news..Mike and I were running around doing our errands, well and our power went out for 3hrs so it forced us to go do something. As we were running around Mike found a shamrock cookie cutter that he just had to have! He is just a giant kid at heart its so cute! So as the story goes we got home put everything away and made Irish Whiskey sugar cookies with Bailey's Irish Cream frosting! Yes in spirit of St .Patricks day! Oh did they turn out Om Nom Nom!

Rolled sugar cookies with a twist!

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1egg

1/2 teaspoon Irish Whiskey

1-1/4 cup All purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon backing powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream together butter and white sugar.

Add in egg and blend well, while still mixing on low add in Irish Whiskey.

Add all dry ingredient and mix.

Cover and Chill dough for a least 1hr.

Preheat Oven 400 degrees

Roll dough out on floured surface about 1/2 inch thick and cut into shapes

Place cookies 1inch a part and bake for 6-8mins let cool before frosting.



Bailey's Irish cream Frosting

• 1cup confectioners’ sugar         

 • 1/4 unsalted butter, room temperature

 • 1T Baileys Irish Cream

Cream butter untill fluffy

Add in confectioners sugar a little at a time

Than add in Baileys Irish Cream

Oh yes & 5 drops or so of green food coloring!



As the days Fly By!

As I am sitting here on my butt after a long day at work getting the energy to clean up the dishes, I am reminded that I need to get my butt in shape (in this case round is not an acceptable shape). I really wanted to have a fun thing to look forward to but that would also force me to push myself to physically feel better, so I signed a team up for the Terrain Mud Run in Eugene may 12th. Now I know that might be asking a lot, I however will not be running but speed walking this event hahaha don't make me laugh; me running! Its 3 miles of dirty dirty mud in all forms with 20 obstacle courses to test your skills on, you will be covered in mud at the end. Here is the awesome news... At the end is live music free beer and food! So ill be able to put all those calories I just burned right back on lol! Actually I am so excited for it, I wanted to do it last year but was not quite in the right place to do it. Now if I could only get off my butt and train. You'll love this, Our team name is Oregon Muddies!

Terrain Mud Run 2012

I have to say with my work schedule I have been finding it extremely hard for me to get on a normal eating and workout routine. I leave the house at 9am & find my way back home around 8pm or so after being on my feet all day so you can see where a normal work out schedule in complicated. I am going to have to decide if giving up some sleep & my coffee in the morning is going to be worth it. I have always been better at working out in the evening but working late every night dose not permit that to happen. I am going to have to set up a schedule this weekend and stick to it until my body knows it by heart!

Chicken, Its whats for dinner!

Baked Whole Glazed Chicken!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Rinse fresh/thawed chicken in cold water.
Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and spray nonstick spray on foil and rack.

Place on rack, season with black pepper, salt and garlic powder.
Baste with part of the Balsamic BBQ Vinegar Glaze.
Starting at 1 hour, baste chicken every half hour unil cooked.
Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until internal temperature reads 180 degrees.
Let rest for ten to fifteen minutes then serve using remaining glaze as dipping sauce.

Balsamic BBQ Vinegar Glaze

By centercutcook.com

1 cup balsamic vinegar

3/4 cup ketchup

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1. In a sauce pan, combine balsamic vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, black peper, and garlic powder. Stir then simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by about 1/3.
2. Season chicken by lightly sprinkling it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Once the chicken is cooked through, allow to rest for a few minutes before serving. Be sure to serve the remaining warm balsamic bbq sauce for dipping.

Rainy Oregon Days

What happens in the Mackey/Elsbury house on a gray rainy day in Oregon is well not a whole lot of anything but baking & cooking, there is some Bruce Willis movie watching, Lego building and of course laundry! Thank goodness we got out in the yard and mowed the lawn yesterday cause today it was a little nasty out. I managed to make some yummy banana bread (pictures to come), it was my 1st banana bread by myself came out a little crispy on the outside but I forget our oven is old and runs a little on the hot side. All in all it turned out pretty dang good! Mike did a delicious whole chicken in a glaze with home made stuffing,  wow weee tasty!  Then tonight he made two different kinds of bagels cinnamon raisin (for me) and tomato pesto, my man is amazing!  I will put pictures and recipes up for all our delightfully delicious creations! Tajuan learned mommy likes him much better in a cute short puppy cut, and mommy learned its really hard to cut a straight line with a wiggly puppy!

Watched Tears of the Sun and Set Up

Very good movie, kind violent and sad but well done action! Of course its Bruce Willis!

It was OK, kinda predictable and also hard to follow in some places but its Bruce Willis so can't be bad!

Crock Pot Mongolian Beef

Crock Pot Mongolian Beef

This turned out so good! I made some changes to my recipe but Ill post the hole recipe from Very Culinary blog another yummy thing I found on Pinterest! All recipes on here can be found on my Whats Cooking page as well! Again everything I changed is in bold and didn't do is crossed out!

Serves 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 4 hours on low

Ingredients
• 1 1/2 pound flank steak or ball tip steak (used a lean sirloin steak instead)• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup white wine• 1/4 cup cooking sherry ( I used 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce)• 1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar( I like vinegar so I used a hole tablespoon)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon molasses
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon dried onion (I didn't use onion)• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter or sunflower butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 scallions, chopped (used green onion)

Directions
Slice the meat thin and coat evenly with the cornstarch, shaking off any excess.
Put all the liquids and dry spices into the crock pot, add sunflower butter (or peanut butter) and mix well.

Everything but the meat!

Add garlic and scallions. Put meat on top, toss gingerly.

dose not look the best but turns out so yummy!

Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Serve over white rice.
 (Served it over white rice and yellow, red, orange mini bell peppers)

om nom nom!

Print this recipe (originally from Notes from the Heartland)

Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have been baking like a made woman! I just made as the title says Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies! I am on Pinterest and love seeing the recipes people find and this one I found which took me to Chef in Training blog and I wanted to try it! I added some directions that I thought needed to be there but I put them in Bold so you could tell what I added!

Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

semi-sweet chocolate chips

Shredded Coconut

Put shredded coconut on a cookie sheet and broil until toasted.

It was my 1st time toasting coconut and it took me two tries before getting it right.. The thing that final worked for me was putting parchment paper on a baking sheet and only putting a little coconut so it is all spared out not lying on top in piles than only putting them in for like 1min @ 375 degrees. Check them often and kinda shake them around on the pan!

Cream butter and sugars together.

Add in eggs & vanilla blend well.

Add all dry ingredients and mix together.

Add semi-sweet chocolate chips

Roll into 1-inch balls and press some of the toasted coconut on top.  I use a cookies scoop!

Bake at 375 F for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Surviving the 25th Birthday

First and for most I must give you the 7 major things survival list of what you will need to survive your 25th birthday before I go into details of how I made it past mine!s

1) Drinks (notice the s @ the end) that should go without saying!
2) Really good friends by your side!
3) A Family or 2 to help you through your quarter life crisis time!
4) Very helpful, attractive man that can cook & clean! (optional)
5) High heels cause they just make your sagging butt look better!
6) Of course a cute outfit!
7) You cant forget your quarter crisis theme song!

Now you're ready...Or are you? Ok I am being a little dramatic but when you do reach 25yrs it seems so unreal just because it is one of those ages that is always talked about. The age your car insure goes down, the age people start thinking about marriage, kids and houses. The age you must start using age defying products and under eye creams. Its also the age you realize that you cant eat everything you want, and 21+ was not that good to you in the weight department so now you have to work your butt off to keep it off lol.

 I guess lets face it, theses days people find their soul mates much later in life and 30 is the new "lets think about kids and making the American dream ours" age. So yes as you know I did survive turning 25 and I am now over my quarter life crisis hump after much needed rest, cake/deserts and pouting!

Let me start at the top of the survival list!
          1) Started out the birthday week with the friends on Sunday night for dinner & fish bowl margaritas at a local Mexican food restaurant. Than moved on to the bowling alley where I was turned onto this amazing drink called oatmeal cookies, yes as good as it sounds! Monday night had the family over for a big pot of ground turkey chili, mimosa's and the banana peanut butter muffins! Tuesday continued with the other side of the family for sushi & Saki tasting. We moved on to meet the whole family (SURPRISE) for desert at a Hungarian restaurant with some good red wine called Bulls Blood!
          2) There are 5 of us girls from middle/high school that all have our birthdays in February and every year we still manage to celebrate it together on one day! This year we were minus two girls (the twins) but they were in our thoughts as they get through some tough family times.
          3)  I have many families that wanted to show love and support. I have my mom's side, my dads side, my adopted family side aka ( mom's best friend/ my god parents) and many more people I consider my family! All of them spent time with me and spoiled me!
          4) My oh so wonderful man showered me with love and understanding! Sunday took me shopping for clothes, got me a cute new outfit for birthday dinner with the girls, that covers #6. Monday he made me eggs Benedict one of my favorite breakfasts and cleaned house. Tuesday morning made me chocolate chip and peanut butter stuffed french toast with a mimosa! 
           5) I didnt wear heels out :( but I wore super cute new flats, so I sported the saggy butt look!
           6) Covered that one in #4 's mumbo jumbo...
           7) I went with a wonderful new song that my man found & than sent to me Oh Darling (feat. Cady Groves) by Plug In Stereo! 

I have to say I survived very well with only a few break downs & minor pitty parties here or there. These are some pictures from the birthday dinner with friends!

After the drinks and dinner!

Three of the 5 feb birthday girls!

Good friends all through middle school & beyond!

A Midnight Snack

This recipe is going to sound a tiny bit wired but you cant knock it till you try it. This is my sweet tooth curving snack recipe and it tastes just like a warm oatmeal cookie!
(TYT)=To Your Taste

Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal

Take 1/4 cup oatmeal

mix in Milk (TYT) about 1/4 cup for me

cook 1min again depending on your oatmeal preference (creamy or runny)

Than when its nice and warm add in about a Table spoon creamy peanut butter (TYT)

and a sprinkle of mini chips (TYT) mix all together and let the chocolate melt.



Take a big bite and enjoy! Its so good and not as bad as a cookie so snack on!

Snow Days

Well I was hopping for a snow day today but as typical Oregon weather goes it snowed at night/early in the morning and now we only have a small dusting with the sun out melting it all way (sad face).

All I wanted was a day of cold so I could cuddle up and watch movies! oh well I'll just enjoy my morning coffee and hope maybe my clients will cancel lol! I could totally use another day of movies and baking!