Soap Nuts, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Have you guys heard of soap nuts? They are actually the berries of the sapindus tree and contain naturally occuring saponin- basically soap that has many uses, including as laundry detergent.

I recently bought a sample from NaturOli for $1.95, plus $1.84 shipping on Amazon. To wash, you toss the linen sack with a five or so nuts into your wash and let the washer do its thang. You can reuse the nuts several times, so my sample pack is good for about 5 washes.

I chose NaturOli because they got the most positive reviews on Amazon. Most of them noted fabrics that were soft and required no softeners in the washing/drying process. My experience with these nuts is a little different. My clothes came out clean, with no scent (NaturOli notes you can add a few drops of your essential oil of choice to scent laundry), however the softness of my fabric did not seem to change. I may have not noticed anything due to the fact that I already use "environmentally friendly" laundry detergent, made by CostCo. It is basically the store brand of Seventh Generation detergent, also available at my CostCo.


Would I continue to use soap nuts? I think soap nuts are a great alternative to many common detergents that contain harsh chemicals. However, even if bought in bulk, the price of soap nuts does not compete with the price of my CostCo detergent. As of right now, I'll be sticking with the liquid detergent.

I do know the Kirkland Signature brand contains sodium lauryl sulfate, so that may sway me as I learn more about the ingredient in the future. This is my understanding right now: SLS is a skin irritant, but is not a carcinogen. Unfortunately, carcinogens are associated with SLS due to its production process- if done wrong, the carcinogens are produced and included with SLS in the products. I would love to hear any information you guys have regarding this issue. Thanks!

Mexican Dinner Party, Hai Ky & Outback, My New Apartment

Navid's birthday was this week, so to honor it a few friends and I hosted a small dinner party. I was really nervous that the food wouldn't turn out very well, but everything tasted great. The menu included chicken enchiladas, bean and cheese enchiladas, Spanish rice, Mexican inspired romaine salad, vegetarian crunchy tacos, fresh guacamole, and bean and corn salsa. And of course everyone sipped on some margaritas. Except for me.

I was so exhausted from making the food (there was a lot) that I forgot to take pictures of the food! Not to mention people started chowing down right as it came out the kitchen. Here are some pics I did manage to get.

Cheers!

With the birthday boy

Some of them got him Disaronno. It was the perfect gift.

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I have found my new favorite Vietnamese place. It is called Hai Ky and it is nestled in the corner of Guadalupe and MLK, right next to campus.

This heaping bowl of fresh ingredients was their chicken bun. I usually always order beef bun, but chicken is not only healthier for me and the environment, but also just as delicious as well. I love that they gave a generous portion of peanuts, rather than let it serve as only a garnish. Hai Ky is actually two stores down from another pho place I've been to, but the quality and taste are 100 times better (literally, read the reviews in the link). The cucumber was something I've never seen before in bun and gave it some great crunchy texture. I've only had bun so good at Kim Phung up North, but subsequent visits there showed me their greatness isn't always consistent. I hope the same is not true for Hai Ky!


While I've been trying to lay low on the eating out, I had to go to Outback to visit my favorite server and best friend. Shout out to Jessa! She supplied me with the greasiest (french fries with cheese), tastiest food (shrimp), delectable drinks (raspberry tea), and mouthwatering desserts (carrot cake). Yum!

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So I've been talking about getting apartment since I revived this blog. As of now, I am all moved into a place and living the life. Here are some "before" pictures, since I am planning on doing a few improvements to the place, as well as some organizing (please excuse the mess!)

The dining room

The kitchen

The living room (yes that is a microwave on the floor)

Built in desk

The bedroom. I don't have internet yet, so Navid and I are mooching off the school. Unfortunately the only place it works is right here on the bed.

As you can see, my place is kind of small. It's about 400 sq ft. I think it's the perfect size for one. My place is definitely older than many of the student apartments around here, which boast stone countertops, laminate wood flooring, and other gizmos like updated blinds. Those things are nice, and I definitely wouldn't mind having them, but I honestly don't mind my set up.

It's all mine.

IBD Update, Ginger Tea, Nutrition

Hey, guys. I have some great news. But first, an update.

In my last post, I discussed being diagnosed with IBD. I'm now on Mesalamine, an anti-inflammatory drug, and seemed to get immediate results after my first dose. Within one day, I no longer was in pain and didn't feel like I had to rush to the bathroom 10 times a day. Because I felt so much better, I indulged myself in Short Stop fried chicken tenders and Wendy's bacon deluxes... and now I'm almost back to where I started. Anything high in animal fat, processed sugar, or irritating like alcohol or caffeine can trigger my IBD, giving me pain and all the other fun that comes with a flare up. I definitely need to follow a strict diet or I will suffer from the consequences. I've found that it's not hard to refuse alcohol at a party. There is usually at least one other person not drinking, and no one puts on any pressure. Avoiding beef is not hard either. I just order chicken instead when I go out to eat. I have been meaning to stop eating red meat, anyway. Only time can tell how long I'll avoid coffee...

My mom has made me a big pot of ginger tea to drink. She say's it is supposed to help with digestion and inflammation. I feel so fancy drinking it out of this dainty, gold-rimmed glass. The good thing is that with the addition of a small spoon of sugar, I feel like I'm drinking ginger candy! I can definitely see myself drinking this in the future. Iced ginger tea, perhaps? I AM in Texas.

Now for my great news.

I am officially a Nutrition major!!!
It turns out it's really easy to switch, even for students with my type of financial aid. I start school 3 days and now I'm scrambling to sign up for all my new classes. But I couldn't be happier.

Meh.

My second gastroenterologist appointment was yesterday. I had a certain procedure done that involved me donning a hospital gown. I was VERY aware of the fact I wasn't wearing any underwear.

The test results gave me happiness at first, but now I'm just sad.

For one, I am relieved to finally know what is wrong with me. I have been battling this sickness for months now. I can start medication and go from there in my healing process.

Unfortunately, what I have is a disease. It will never go away. I will have to restrict my diet for the rest of my life. I will probably be on medication for the rest of my life (unless I am able to find an effective alternative treatment. Google searches render conflicting results). If I eat the wrong thing, I will be battling these painful and annoying symptoms all over again.

I am going to see my doctor again after I start medication. I am kind of fed up with him. I feel like I can never accurately explain my point or question before he starts talking. If I don't feel like all my questions have been addressed at this next appointment, I am going to see a new doctor.

Anyway, I have an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). It's called ulcerative colitis (UC). According to my doctor, it is an autoimmune disorder that causes my immune system to attack my intestines. The result is an inflamed and ulcerated colon. As you can imagine, this leaves me with all sorts of fun digestive issues.

I want to be able to eat anything. I've been striving for a healthier lifestyle anyway, but it's nice to be able to kickback and treat myself once in a while. I'm not gonna be able to do that anymore. From here on it's a strict diet. Even fruit might not be good for me because of their simple sugars. Sigh.

Hopefully I'll move on to a phase of acceptance, but right now I'm in utter despair.

Have you ever dealt with IBD, IBS, celiac disease, food intolerance, or food allergy? I know there are many, and I follow a few gluten free blogs... But I never thought that would be me.. you know? :(

I'm a Libra, Snowballs

I don't usually get too bent up about horoscopes and things like that. I can read a description for any sign and feel like some of it pertains to me. It is fun to see what they say and they can be a great source of inspiration and motivation, but I never plan anything around a horoscope.

However, there is one Libra trait that fits me 100%. Libras are indecisive.

I went through high school not sure what to study in college, whilst friends around me were already taking classes related to what they wanted to major in. My problem was too many choices. I'm interested in everything! I love art, food, music, math, history.... maybe not everything. I enjoyed studying for english but hell no was I studying it for another 4 years.
During my freshman year I had a hard time deciding what to do, I was undeclared. Even now, I've only decided to study for business because many people I know are taking business. But I felt unease in my heart.

I think I've finally come to a decision. I love food! Why not study nutrition? I can help others choose a healthy lifestyle. There are many career paths for a dietitian. Maybe someday I can work in the government for the USDA or FDA. As much as I'm frustrated with the government in many ways, I actually want to contribute to it. That's another story though.

I finally feel like this is something I want to do.

It's going to be hard for me to switch. Class registration is already closed, but there is a small opening right before classes start. Unfortunately I have another complication. I'm receiving financial aid and if I want tuition money, all my classes have to qualify for whatever major I'm in. If I switch I'd have to re-certify my classes. I might not be able to pay tuition on time.

I have to call my certification counselor tomorrow. Wish me luck.

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Today I tried Casey's New Orlean's Snowballs.

One late night watching Food Network, I caught an episode of Kid in a Candy Store, hosted by the handsome Adam Gertler. The show is kind of like Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, but only features sweet treats. Ths episode showcased a New Orlean's snowball shop and I was drooling in seconds. Snowballs are different than snowcones because the ice is shaved, not crushed. As you might have guessed already, snowballs were invented in New Orleans.

When I drove by Casey's last week, I knew I had to stop by. Today I had an opportune moment with my little brother in tow. I ordered a small with black cherry (my choice) and cola (my brothers) with some sweet condensed milk on top. The total was $2.50, a moderate price for the whopping amount I got. And boy was it DELICIOUS. The condensed milk mixed together to create this creamy, heavenly experience on my tongue.

I can't compare it to any other snowcones or balls because I haven't had any in years, but if I'm ever in the area I'll be sure to stop by again. Yum!

You can read their Yelp page here.

Going Vegetarian.. Again, College Meal Ideas

The Boy passed the Grand Canyon today. Isn't it breathtaking? I've never been, but just looking at this photo Navid sent me makes me bow in amazement to the earth. This canyon is a work of art 17 million years in the making. Mankind can make great art, but his greatest art is in being able to replicate nature, no?

Call me a treehugger, but I'd love to minimize my impact on nature. Don't want to end up like those big'uns in Wall E who had to flee their whole planet. Meat's impact on the environment is my main motivation for going vegetarian. Of course it only lasted me all of 4 months... But I want to try again. My other motivations stem from not wanting to support companies that practice animal cruelty and from learning about how humans evolved on a diet that did not include a lot of meat.

This isn't something I'm going to start now. Probably near the end of this year I will. My mom just stocked up on an 8-pack of Spam from CostCo (I know! I know, Spam is like the worst "meat" ever). I also want to wait until I see what's up with my digestive system. I've been to the doctor's twice already and I have another appointment scheduled for August.

After my whole ordeal with the realtor yesterday, I went behind his back and talked directly to the property manager. :) I was able to get in touch with the owner, who will honor some of our requests, and we've decided to go for it! I will post more about it later.

Now that I've gotten the apartment, though, I am anticipating being VERY broke. Last year my housing allowance was well over my living costs (in San Antonio) and I had plenty extra money to go shopping with, spend on food, and put in my savings account. This year, the housing allowance should be the same but the rent is waaay up. My utilities will probably take up the rest of the housing allowance, leaving very little for food. So I've been dreaming up a few wallet friendly meals.

1. Kimchi Ramyun with Egg.
Ramen is already a college staple, but adding an egg in there boosts the protein. Right when the noodles are done boiling, I swirl in a beaten egg.

2. Spaghetti.
Served above with the Italian meatballs (recipe by VeganDad) I made during my vegetarian trial. They were MIGHTY delicious.

3. Macaroni and Cheese.
Yummy mixed with sliced hotdogs and a bunch of broccoli. Serve with string beans and carrots.

4. Oatmeal.
The slow cooked kind, drizzled with some honey and topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and/or bananas.

5. Baked Beans on Toast.
Maybe with a slice of ham or Spam underneath to up the nutritional content. Serve with string beans and creamed corn.

6. Scrambled Eggs/Omelet/Quiche.
Easy to make, and delicious with anything mixed inside, from ham/spam and cheese to spinach and mushrooms. Above is some low-fat cheddar cheese and spinach quiche I made last year.

Have anymore ideas? Maybe some vegetarian friendly ideas?

I can't wait until I have to subsist on a very frugal menu! Only because I long to be independent... My parents probably wouldn't let me eat such a sad diet and would give me money if I needed it. We'll see what happens.

Summer is almost over. I honestly haven't done much these 3 months, except sit around and hang out with friends. I never did get a job. I only half-heartedly looked, and now I'm cringing as my bank account hovers right over zero. It's really nice to have a guy who will pay for you when you eat out, but even with free meals I try not to do it all the time. Sometimes it gets difficult though, because the boy comes from a family that likes to eat out together, when we get bored or hungry eating out sounds like a good option, and whenever large groups of us kids hang out the only feasible thing for us all to do is go to a restaurant.

This is making me think about my dream date. I actually have a few right now.

1. Have frozen yogurt (preferably chocolate with strawberries and almonds) and then go to Build a Bear. The boy already took me to Build a Bear on our first date :)

2. Visit Austin Amish Furniture and act like very serious buyers. I am honestly interested in seeing what kind of furniture they have, but telling the employee a story about say... me and the boy buying our first house together, or even having a baby :O would make it so much more fun. Then visit Dream Bakery (a local bakery across the road), eat decadent pastries, and laugh about how much we got away with.

3. Go to a pick-your-own farm. This is my most recent date idea. In the Spring and Summer there are black- and blueberries, tomatoes, watermelons, peaches, and much more. I wish I could go at 6:30 AM, right when the sun rises and the weather is bearable, wearing a cute sundress and a big straw hat. Then bring the big bounty home and freeze it, bake with it, and make smoothies, sorbets, ice cream, and cakes! This also sounds like a fun family activity I could bring my little brother to.

These will happen sometime soon, I hope.

Dallas was a blast! Here are some pictures.







I'm the one in the yellow, Esther is in the white, and Sharon is in the navy. If the current apartment I'm looking at right now doesn't work out, I'll get a room with Sharon. I've been working with a realtor Sharon referred me to, but he has been such a hassle!!! This morning at the crack of dawn I looked at an apartment downtown with my mom. I go back uptown and after a few hours of deliberation with my mom, we decide to go for the apartment, if the owner decides to give us a few concessions (like new paint). I asked my realtor twice if only an application fee would be enough to start the processing on my paperwork and hold the apartment until we hear back from the owner, and he said yes both times. So I drive downtown a second time to drop off my application and fee. Right after I get back uptown again, he calls saying he actually does need a deposit. Great. Luckily my older brother who lives downtown was home and about to leave. We get him to drop off the deposit. Phew. But wait! Now the realtor's told me I need to pay another fee for the guarantor form, a form I haven't filled out or even seen.

Mr. Realtor.... are there ANY more fees I need to know about? Please tell me now. Blah.

Here's a salad I made this week.


Clockwise, from the top: polenta, bacon, a boiled egg, pine nuts, and alfalfa sprouts. Topped with a homemade lemon vinaigrette and served with a side of cantaloupe. Yum.

My boy left today on a road trip to California. I miss him!