phew!

So the big news in our household is that last semester - among full time course work and a full time TA position I was also applying to doctoral programs. Between writing my statement of purpose - tweaking my writing samples just so (and to be within a certain page limit) - being sure all of my recommendations and transcripts were sent in the right place - I feel pretty darn good that the application process is over. As I am sure the people writing my recommendations are too. All in all I applied to five schools and six programs! The hardest part will be - well getting in I suppose - but then deciding where to go. The following cities are up for possible Montalino re-location....

1) Western mass - I applied to the school I am currently at - if all goes well things will stay status quo (well a new apartment probably) - my family will be happy I am sure.

2) Eugene, OR - it has the program that interests me the most.

3) Seattle, WA

4) Boston, MA

and last - and most-certainly-by-all-measures least (sorry Daniel)....
5) New Brunswick, NJ - Rutgers has a good program but ugh - I don't know if I could live in New Jersey.

Moving - especially across the country is not something that has been done in my family - (my aunt was telling me that when she decided to move a half hour away the family freaked out). I haven't yet told my parents about Seattle and Eugene... I don't know why either. I am up for a new adventure but at the same time I would desperately miss western mass. I will keep you all updated.

Stripes Friday

Ron's favorite sweater inside out

Pink Thursday

It is actually Friday - but for color weeks sake it is Thursday and pink is the color
Surprisingly I found the most pink in my bathroom - uh except that I just
looked down and realized I am wearing a pink shirt. Interesting how the obvious sometimes escapes us. The comb is representative of day one of using baking soda and cider vinegar
to wash my hair I found a good tutorial (?) over here. This all began when I read the label of the body cream I use - many of the ingredients are petroleum derived.... So I began reading the label of all of my body products - the 365 "natural" shampoo (the Whole Foods brand)- contains SLS or Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Just take one body product from your home - type in an ingredient you can't pronounce and you won't use it again. So I trekked off to the store bought some new body cream (it took be 20 minutes after avidly reading the labels) and found that Jason body lotion had the best to offer me - unfortunately it dosen't work as well as the old cream - but I feel much better using it. Anyone know of any good home made body cream recipes?

No-Poo Shampoo concoction: Day one.
I took a small cup of baking soda (bob's red mill brand with no aluminum) and mixed it with warm water until it turned into a watery paste, good enough to stay put in the palm of your hand.
For the vinegar rinse I used organic unfiltered cider vinegar - I probably put in about two teaspoons of vinegar and diluted it with water until it didn't smell too strong and
looked tinted yellow color.
First I put the baking soda mixture on my hair about equal to what I regularly use for shampoo- rubbed it in and rinsed. Next I took the vinegar mixture and dumped a little on the top of my head and just let it rinse out. I dried my hair and right now about four hours after my shower my hair feels soft and dosen't smell like vinegar as I had feared. I used no hair products after drying as I usually do (it also has bad stuff in it) and it looks the same as if I had. So far so good. Keep in mind that I have short, thin, straight, white people hair. My suggestion is to substitute the amount that would be equal to what you normally use for shampoo and conditioner.

Wednesday Yellow

The first stage of Limoncello process. We usually make this in the summer but I think we are suffering from cabin fever and Ron felt the need to make some this week - it is a bright addition to the kitchen - and the smell is terrific - the house smells like lemons for a few days. This comes out very smooth and the longer it matures the better it is.

Purple Tuesday

Purple Rain 45. Yes my friends it is purple. Gotta love Prince.

Blue Monday

Another color week with Leya.

A virtual high five if you know what these are.

My note to Ron.


And the un-doable crossword book... Sunday, what was I thinking?!

:: happy new year :: vacation ongoings ::

happy 2009.
cheers to rest, relaxation, and another 365(4) days to look forward to.
peace and blessings