Im a Redhead!

So the other day I was thinking about my hair...more specifically the color of my hair, I'm not really sure why but anyway I was thinking about all the conversations and weird little things that have happened to me because, I am a redhead! Can I just tell you that I have had a LOT of conversations and experiences that happen because of my hair color. 

So I got to thinking, "what if I didn't have red hair?" I'm not entirely sure but it got me to thinking about all the experiences I've had so I've decided to share once a week (maybe more...) a little memory, conversation, fact, story or weird questions asked, that I remember happened because I'm a redhead and then my thoughts on it.

So here goes... #1 WHERE DID YOU GET THAT RED HAIR?

When thinking back the first thing I remember is being asked over and over and OVER again as a kid is, "where did you get that red hair?" Now this might not be as common with every red head but in my family I am the only one with red hair so I got asked all the time to which I usually responded that "I didn't know" or "umm I don't know God gave it to me"... They would then tell me that it was probably from eating too many strawberries or red licorice or any other food that is red. So does that mean you got your brown, black and blonde hair from eating foods that color? Id say I definitely got the better end of the deal, the only black food that I can think of that tastes good is an olive.

My name is Shaylee, I'm a redhead and my hair food tastes better then yours. ;)

Banana Bread

We had a box of bananas at the hotel go bad...(really they were disgusting) so I decided to take them home and make banana bread out of them. When I actually took them out of the box and discovered how truly nasty ewwy gooey they were I wasn't sure they would even be good for bread, they were literally falling out of the peel but my mom assured me that they would make really good bread, so I did.

I found 2 recipes for banana bread and decided to try them both! The first recipe was simple and it does taste good but the 2nd recipe had ingredients that just made it sound like it should just taste better! My mom said she liked the simple one best and my dad liked the 2nd one and well I just prefer zucchini bread over banana : )  But because the 2nd one suits my fancy that's the one I'm going to share! (If you want the simple one let me know.)

Spicy Banana Nut Bread

1/2 C Margarine
1C. firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1tsp. vanilla
1 1/4C. all-purpose flour
3/4C. whole wheat flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
1 1/4 C. mashed bananas
2 Tbsp. milk
1/4 C. chopped nuts

Place margarine and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Add egg and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy. Blend flours and remaining dry ingredients; then add alternately with bananas and milk. Spoon into a greased 9x5x2 3/4-in. loaf pan. Sprinkle top with nuts, pressing lightly into batter. Bake at 350 for 55-60 min. (unless you are using glass pans, which in my experience means less time, keep an eye on them) Cool, then remove from pan. If allowed to age, flavors blend. Makes 1 loaf!

And 12 loaves later....yum!

Little fun story!

So I am not good at math and I had to times each recipe by 4! Well I was having trouble figuring out what 1/3 x 4 was so I called my brother Tyler (he's the mathematical one) and asked him if it was 3/4s and he said, "yeah that's right." Ok thanks. Hang up. Then I put the 1/3 measuring cup in the 3/4 cup and think, "there is no way that 4 of those would fit in one of these, I'm just going to have to do it the long way." Then Tyler calls back and I answer... "That's not right is it?" "No its not, its 1 1/3." "I didn't think it was right, ok thanks bye."

A Puddle of Clouds

I love reflections! 

I actually got down on the ground to take this and I honestly just stayed there for a second just looking at it because it just looked so neat! I mean, I know they 're just clouds but I guess there was just something neat about looking at the clouds on the ground ha ha!

Picture Itch

Love Love Love! <3

Different But Oh SOOO Good!

I highly recommend this! It is SO good! We used garlic bread but other than that, followed the recipe. Here.

Fall is in the air...

...Which we all know means hunting and of course the changing of leaves! 

My Uncle Ricky shot this! Its so big!

See more awesomeness (fall pictures) here.

Mental...

A few mornings ago I went running and then that night I went for a walk and can I just tell you that getting exercise really does change your attitude and how you think of yourself. 

It's mental, I know! Definitely a good mental though!

I'll look in the mirror and think that my body looks better because I went running when obviously my body hasn't changed from just one day of running. Isn't that funny? 

It also makes me aware of what I am eating and how much I am eating. I think things like,"I probably ran the equivalent of that cookie (probably something with less calories but you get the idea) off this morning, and it was hard work, do I really wanna eat that and flush that hard work down the drain?" Sadly this doesn't always work for me and I give in more than I should but its always on my mind. 

The change in my attitude mostly applies to work. Not that I am ever really mean to people but I've noticed that I actually make an effort to be more kind rather than just, "here's your keys and there's your room (and don't you dare complain or I'll show you how annoyed I can be. lol)."  

I've also noticed that when I run I am rarely actually listening to my music. I am thinking. It is a great way for me to clear my head and just..ponder. 

Time to cook!

  With summer pretty much gone, school started and friends gone I seem to have a lot more free time. Which I like to use to do activities or in this case make goodies I find on pinterest! 

  

  If you know me well you know I don't "cook" often but I like to bake! Well...I saw a few things (on pinterest) that I wanted to try and although I later realized I never actually cooked anything, just mixed ingredients together, Hey, I made "real food!" 

I baked a few things as well...:)

We all know I love granola bars! ahintofhoney.blogspot.com

The 2nd thing I made was,"Grape Salad." In my mind sour cream and cream cheese should never be mixed together but despite the nasty ingredients  I thought this salad was super delish! I admit, I made my mom taste it first.

4 pounds seedless grapes

1 (8oz) Pkg of cream cheese

1 (8oz) container of sour cream

1/2 C. white sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

4 oz chopped pecans

2 Tbsp brown sugar

Wash and dry grapes. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Add grapes and mix. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans mix again and refrigerate.

"Zucchini Bread" is next! Got this recipe from my mom. 

This is the pretty "plain" loaf.

 These 2 are the good ugly loaves with chocolate chips and nuts. The first loaf completely fell apart when I tired to get it out of the pan. It is pictured in the bag... (Note to self: Wait till bread cools COMPLETELY)

Lastly we have my favorite!"Quick Chicken Salad." I  have actually had this before and it is SO good! We love it!

2(12.5) cans of chicken

3/4 C. Mayo

1C. red grapes halved

1 green onion (I used like 5)

1 stalk celery (nah!)

1/2 C. diced apple

Salt and pepper to taste

Pecans and Cashews

In bowl, combine the chicken, mayo, grapes, green onion, celery, apple and S&P. Mix. Serve on rolls, bread or croissants, sprinkle with cashews or pecans. Can be served on lettuce.  We used pita bread, SO YUM!

Bracelet

Another activity I found on pinterest! This one is a little rough around the edges, its the first one I've made but I wore it today and I got a lot of compliments on it! So if you need an activity to fill, oh...30 min or so this is a winner! Love it!

Front 

Back

Pinterest activity gone mom...sounds good to me!

First of all..please excuse my weirdness...I don't know what I was doing there on the right. :)

Pinterest loads my mind with all these ideas.. and this is one of them but when it actually comes down to doing some of them I need a little help...from my mom. 

I bought the material and other necessary items for this skirt but I'm pretty sure we only used the material.

I sat down at the sewing machine and well..kinda started to sew when dad came in and asked my mom for her help to which she responded, that I was her slave for the day and that I would help dad in exchange for her helping me! So I kind of jokingly said something to the effect of, "ok, you better have my skirt done when I get back." 

So while I was "helping" my dad, which consisted of holding the "dummy" end of a tape measure while he measured and measured and RE-measured the poles for the "roof" trying to make a square, I was thinking that I really didn't matter how long it took because the longer I was out there "helping", the less work I would have to do on my skirt. Ha ha. 

So to finish this up, the skirt was my idea but I did very little in the sewing process but... I'm good with an iron ;). My mom is an expert sewing machine and made it in no time at all and she did an awesome job and I love her and this skirt!