Decisions Decisions

Loving my clipboard

So we are trying to get the ball rolling with our kitchen face lift but the one thing is that I am horrible at actually making a decision when it comes to the color of granite. I say "I" because James is at the point where he doesn't even care and just wants me to pick what ever I want. Over the weekend we went to a granite warehouse where there was just slabs upon slabs of granite. When you walk in they hand you a clip board to write down colors you are interested in and let's just say I was in heaven and could have spent HOURS in there. Well unfortunately we only had about 35 minutes to spend since we had a contractor coming to the house to take a look at replacing our floor. Let's just say I will making at least one if not four two trips back. 

Massive warehouse, talk about over whelming. 

Below are a few samples of things we liked. Hopefully I will make a decision soon. 

I ended up really liking this color and of course no one has it in stock!

~Kim

Tooth Fact Tuesday

Muscles we Use to Eat

There are 43 muscles in the face. Certain ones used for smiling, frowning, raising your eye brow, puckering your lips and so on. Today we will look at the exciting muscles used when we eat! There are four of them; Temporalis, masseter, lateral pterygoid and medial pterygoid. The temporalis, masseter and medial pterygoid raise the mandible (lower jaw) up against the maxilla (upper jaw). A good way to remember this is My Teeth Meet using the first letter for each of the muscles! The lateral pyterygoid's primary function is to protrude and open the lower jaw when chewing and is also used to help in conduction with the medial ptyergoid to move the jaw side to side. So next time you are having a snack you can think about your exciting muscles of mastication!

~Kim

What Goes Up Must Come Down

With cooler weather quickly approaching I have been trying to get outside and run as much as I can. I know once it is too cold out it's all over and I dread long runs on the treadmill. While I was on my run this morning I realized that every time I get to a certain intersection I always have a battle in my head on which way to go. If I go right, it is a shorter and flatter way home. If I go straight it goes up a mean and nasty awful hill and is longer. Just about every time I end up pushing myself to go straight. Although going up the hill is brutal and I hate every second of it, once it is over I feel better about myself that I did not quit and got it over with. Even though it is a longer way home, the majority of it is down hill or flat from that point forward.  I feel like this can relate to a lot of things in everyday life. Do you go right and take the easier route or do you go straight and challenge yourself to get stronger? Next time you are faced with this dilemma really contemplate the person that you want to be. Just a little food for thought today my friends! 

~Kim

Inside my Make Up Bag

Here is a look at a few of my favorite things. I am not a big make up person so I tend to just stick to the basics to make myself look presentable and a lot of times don't even put any on!

I am a big fan of Bare Minerals. I find them easy to use which is a big plus in my book. I also use their "Well Rested" eye brightener paired with the Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser.

I love Clinique's cream eye liner and mascara. I will admit though that I have not purchased mascara in years. My mom and grandmother always save me theirs when they receive the free gifts from Macy's! As well as Lancome Juicy tubes. I have at least 10 that I have gotten free!

Has anyone else tried the Almay eye make up removed pads? They work great for the nights when you are just so tired and want to get your make up and get into bed. I first tried these free with the purchase of eye shadow :)

This will be next purchase as soon as Target has it in my color. I have read the reviews of many other bloggers out there and it seems to be amazing! 

Happy almost Friday

~Kim

Tooth Fact Tuesday

I recently picked up the new Sonicare Diamond Clean toothbrush. I have always been a very big fan of Sonicare toothbrushes. I have tried a lot of different electric brushes but this brand is by far my favorite and I always recommend it to my patients. 

How it works:

The carefully researched and patented sonic combination of approximately 31,000 brush strokes per minute and the specific reach of the brush head as it sweeps back and forth are what create Sonicare’s unique dynamic cleaning action. This unique combination achieves the clinically proven disruption of plaque biofilm, even in hard-to-reach areas.

I have seen the difference that it makes with my patients and it is worth the money! It even comes with a USB charger so you can charge it with your computer! 

~Kim

Weekend Recipes

I made a few different recipes this weekend that I thought I would share with you. First off our Jalapeno plant has been growing like crazy this year and it is hard to think of things to do with all of them. I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest of course and thought I would make it for the husband. 

Cream Cheese Filled Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

Ingredients:

20 whole, fresh jalapeños
2 8-oz blocks of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 to 2 pounds of bacon

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and set aside.

2. Cut the jalapeños in half, lengthwise. Remove the seeds and membranes. Stuff each jalapeño half with cream cheese. Wrap each jalapeño half with bacon. Secure with a toothpick.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. If after 20 minutes the bacon doesn’t look brown enough, turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes to finish. Just keep a close eye so they don’t burn! Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Tequila-Glazed Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

            1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

            1 teaspoon chili powder

            3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

            1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder

            6 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 pounds), skinned (I always use chicken breasts)

            3/4 cup pineapple juice

            1/3 cup tequila

            1/4 cup honey

            2 teaspoons cornstarch

            2 teaspoons water

            2 teaspoons grated lime rind

            3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

            1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat 

1. 2. Combine the first 4 ingredients in a small bowl; rub evenly over chicken.
2. 3. Bring the pineapple juice, tequila, and honey to a boil in a small saucepan; cook until reduced to 3/4 cup (about 10 minutes). Combine cornstarch and 2 teaspoons water in a small bowl, and stir well. Add cornstarch mixture to juice mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in lime rind, 3 tablespoons lime juice, and red pepper.
3. 4. Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Cover and grill for 5 minutes on each side, basting occasionally with juice mixture. 
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5. Hope everyone had a great weekend!!
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7. ~Kim

Friday Finds

So I took the plunge and did what so many others are doing. I bought colored skinny jeans. I am not sure exactly how I feel about them yet but I am hoping that they will look cute with some boots this fall. I went with pink, I was hoping for green but this was all they had in my size!

So I have also decorated my house a bit for the upcoming fall season. I def did a pumpkin theme!

Still have yet to paint my front door!

I recently bought this lantern and think I will change the contents inside with the seasons!

Hydrangea's from my aunt's garden!