The Makeover Challenge ended... a long time ago. While I did try a lot of stuff, namely tanning and waxing my chest, overall, I'm not too happy about it. Not at all. I did however shave and do like it off a little bit, although much to Tiffany's displeasure.
Tanning is something that I did enjoy. I'm not sure how much effect it had on my skin tone, but I didn't burn in Jamaica, which was the main idea behind it. It does leave you feeling happy and warm, which is important especially from someone working overnights and sleeping during the sunny hours. It costs a lot, however, and I'm not sure it's worth it. Plus the stigma associated with it is something I generally fight against. I don't really care about my appearance. Not to mention the whole cancer-death-dying aspect of it. I can't judge people who do it though as most of the folks I saw tanning were neither orange nor leathery. In fact, I saw many more of those at the beach.
I didn't post about it because it happened the night before we left for Jamaica, but I did Nair my chest. It was pretty crazy; put the stuff on and with one swipe of a rag, I didn't have any chest hair. Or t least not on the top part that could stick out from shirts. The burn directly after the fact is more than a little concerning, and I do wonder what the hell is in that stuff that can kill your hair in no time. It can't be healthy. Now, three weeks later, I'm starting to scratch at my chest more and more as the hair is slowly regrowing, no doubt thicker and fuller than before.
Overall, I did pretty bad with my makeover and as a result, I'm worried about future Sacrifices. I don't have much problem with true sacrifices, having to give stuff up, but when I set out to do something new and incorporate it into my life... that's a whole different ballgame. We will soon find out just how successful I can be, but the makeover gets a dismal 7. In fact, I may have to capitalize that... my score is a Dismal Seven.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Green Christmas
As I have been away, enjoying my new marriage, and the Christmas season, I have not taken on any new sacrifices this month, but I can guarantee that I will make sacrifices after the New Year. So... This is an honorary post about a sacrifice made by the lovely and talented Carrell Olinger. I will undoubtedly not do it justice.
The spirit of sacrifice may fit better with another christian holiday, but Christmas is definitely the time that the most can be sacrificed. Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but with so much time and energy, not to mention money, put into the holiday each year, how can it not be?
Think about it, every house gets a tree, which generally costs between 40 and 100 dollars, and will be thrown away in less than a month. On that tree, people put ornaments, and then cover with tinsel galore! You probably keep the ornaments, you may even purchase a few more, but the two or three boxes of tinsel galore! is usually a pain to fight with and leaves with the tree. And string with lights that are kept on as long as somebody, anybody, in the house is home and awake. And some people go crazy with the lights:
That's an extreme case, but notice the part right after the town loses energy and just before the nuclear energy backup is switched on. Those lights cost a fortune! And that hurts the environment.
Then under the tree are countless presents, each wrapped neatly in fancy paper and topped with a bow. I'm using a website here, that wrapping paper produces an extra 6 billion tons of waste each year. Christmas cards! "The 2.6 billion holiday cards sold each year in the United States could fill a football field 10 stories high." And where does all that waste go? Right in the laps of our children... and our children's children.
In response, the Green Christmas movement arose. While from the outside, they may look like bah-hum-bugs out to spoil everyone's holiday cheer, the idea is simply to reduce the waste of Christmas, which Carrell Olinger took to heart this year. She set out to have a holly, jolly Christmas, without all the excess.
First step, there was an early declaration by many in my local family and friends circle to cut back on gifts this year. My four gift-laden trips to the car yesterday had me wondering how much some people took this to heart, but I believe Carrell succeeded in the gift count, lowering her total number of presents from last year. Today, I will investigate this, and see how much of an impact it had on the overall giving experience.
I know she cut back on the decorations. Using pine branches as a staple, she decorated with the seasonal smell and look without using the local Wal-Mart. I do recall a "lights are the important decoration" sentiment being said, which is very true, but I believe she was able to last the season without strands of light or fake candles in the windows.
And lastly, she just got a tree two days ago. At no charge, it was a real steal! Except she didn't steal it, she took it off the side of the road. There are pictures to follow.
All in all, I'm very impressed with her dedication to the sacrifice. I'll verify and report back with a final grade. Just another case that life is more interesting when you're sacrificing.
The spirit of sacrifice may fit better with another christian holiday, but Christmas is definitely the time that the most can be sacrificed. Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but with so much time and energy, not to mention money, put into the holiday each year, how can it not be?
Think about it, every house gets a tree, which generally costs between 40 and 100 dollars, and will be thrown away in less than a month. On that tree, people put ornaments, and then cover with tinsel galore! You probably keep the ornaments, you may even purchase a few more, but the two or three boxes of tinsel galore! is usually a pain to fight with and leaves with the tree. And string with lights that are kept on as long as somebody, anybody, in the house is home and awake. And some people go crazy with the lights:
That's an extreme case, but notice the part right after the town loses energy and just before the nuclear energy backup is switched on. Those lights cost a fortune! And that hurts the environment.
Then under the tree are countless presents, each wrapped neatly in fancy paper and topped with a bow. I'm using a website here, that wrapping paper produces an extra 6 billion tons of waste each year. Christmas cards! "The 2.6 billion holiday cards sold each year in the United States could fill a football field 10 stories high." And where does all that waste go? Right in the laps of our children... and our children's children.
In response, the Green Christmas movement arose. While from the outside, they may look like bah-hum-bugs out to spoil everyone's holiday cheer, the idea is simply to reduce the waste of Christmas, which Carrell Olinger took to heart this year. She set out to have a holly, jolly Christmas, without all the excess.
First step, there was an early declaration by many in my local family and friends circle to cut back on gifts this year. My four gift-laden trips to the car yesterday had me wondering how much some people took this to heart, but I believe Carrell succeeded in the gift count, lowering her total number of presents from last year. Today, I will investigate this, and see how much of an impact it had on the overall giving experience.
I know she cut back on the decorations. Using pine branches as a staple, she decorated with the seasonal smell and look without using the local Wal-Mart. I do recall a "lights are the important decoration" sentiment being said, which is very true, but I believe she was able to last the season without strands of light or fake candles in the windows.
And lastly, she just got a tree two days ago. At no charge, it was a real steal! Except she didn't steal it, she took it off the side of the road. There are pictures to follow.
All in all, I'm very impressed with her dedication to the sacrifice. I'll verify and report back with a final grade. Just another case that life is more interesting when you're sacrificing.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Sweeeeeet!! It's over.
So it's now December 3 and I'm just getting around to writing about the end of my No Sweets Challenge which ended three days ago. Truth is I was on a two day sugar rush and then crashed and am just now getting back on my feet. Just kidding.
The challenge started out rough, really rough. I think that was a result of the caffeine more than the sugar, which I think I started drinking with tea. But after the first week, it went really smooth and I didn't have any problems. I actually liked it!
I did not however write much about it... or anything else for that matter. It's almost like without sweets in my life, my life's just not as sweet.
I did do stuff. I even thought stuff. I could have written about a lot. I kept meaning to film all the candy we still have in the apartment... I bunch of fun-sized MilkyWays, a couple of fun-sized Butterfingers, a full sized Snickers, a bag of peanut M&M's, and some other stuff - all leftover handouts from Jane at work... a bunch of the Milky Ways are now gone though.
And it didn't take much before I ate too much. Three Hershey kisses was enough for me at midnight on Friday. I had a Coke yesterday and had to share it with Tiff because I couldn't finish it. I no doubt will fall back into the sugar-filled diet I've grown accustom to, especially as I'm about to head off to Jamaica - I'm getting married! - but for now I'll hold off on the sweets. Thank you very much.
As far as ratings go... I did okay. I slipped up once. I had some soda and a small piece of cake... it had been looking at me for hours, just begging to be eaten. Unlike the vegetarian challenge however, I do feel the difference in my body and will probably think about it each time I eat too much sweet stuff. So I'll say a 23 out of 30. Again, it's not too bad.
The challenge started out rough, really rough. I think that was a result of the caffeine more than the sugar, which I think I started drinking with tea. But after the first week, it went really smooth and I didn't have any problems. I actually liked it!
I did not however write much about it... or anything else for that matter. It's almost like without sweets in my life, my life's just not as sweet.
I did do stuff. I even thought stuff. I could have written about a lot. I kept meaning to film all the candy we still have in the apartment... I bunch of fun-sized MilkyWays, a couple of fun-sized Butterfingers, a full sized Snickers, a bag of peanut M&M's, and some other stuff - all leftover handouts from Jane at work... a bunch of the Milky Ways are now gone though.
And it didn't take much before I ate too much. Three Hershey kisses was enough for me at midnight on Friday. I had a Coke yesterday and had to share it with Tiff because I couldn't finish it. I no doubt will fall back into the sugar-filled diet I've grown accustom to, especially as I'm about to head off to Jamaica - I'm getting married! - but for now I'll hold off on the sweets. Thank you very much.
As far as ratings go... I did okay. I slipped up once. I had some soda and a small piece of cake... it had been looking at me for hours, just begging to be eaten. Unlike the vegetarian challenge however, I do feel the difference in my body and will probably think about it each time I eat too much sweet stuff. So I'll say a 23 out of 30. Again, it's not too bad.
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