Dress [Work] Appropriate

I am in no way a fashion person, but I do like to look and feel good. I like to dress appropriately for the situations I am in. Work is one of those areas.

I have only worked in highly casual areas of companies, so, jeans were good to wear. However, I did notice

my look-good-feel-good connection was dwindling as more and more people were taking casual to newer, lower levels.

I don't think we are re-defining "casual" - I think it is just really easy to get lazy. I know this because sloth is my favorite of the deadly sins and I have gotten lazy in how I dress on many occasions. I always snap back when I think - why do you want to present yourself badly to those who control your income?

After all, I have a big mouth and I'm clumsy. I really can't be dressing sloppy when I know I'm going to mess up 500 work related things a day. If I can control how I look - if I can make it look like I belong in corporate America - maybe it will dull the fact I just erased the Internet.

Rules
Here are some rules for buying clothes.

• Thou shall only buy clothes that fit. If you need to go a size up, do it! It's better to look good that be obsessed with a size. When trying things on, get the size you think you should wear and then one up and maybe one down so you know how everything fits and lays.
• Thou shall not be a slave to trends. A couple pieces of trend clothing is great to spice up your wardrobe but your wardrobe should be made up of at least 80% basics. This will stretch your budget and then you an always build off it.

Here are a couple rules to keep you honest in this "casual workplace" world:

• No dual purpose clothes. Never wear anything you would wear to the gym, beach or with puky babies. This includes flip-flops. Sorry, I am anti-workplace flip-flops. On an unrelated note, I am pro-pedicure. 
• Work then dress. The quality and statement of your work should always surpass your clothes. Don't dress like you are some type of CEO, do work that makes people want you to be the CEO. Don't go to work proving you are sexy - work to prove you belong there.
• Dress for you. Some say, "Dress for the job you want." No. Dress appropriately for the role you are in and keep yourself professional looking so those who make the decisions to promote will have a good impression of you. Then let your work speak. If you work in a casual place and wear a tux hoping to be promoted - it will be weird. 
• Take pride. Bad day = sweats? Stop. Take pride in how you look in the workplace, even on bad days. 

Mad Maddie rules - here is what I live by:

• No flip-flops: Really. None.
  
• Pantsless Wednesday: Every Wednesday (almost) I wear a dress. At least once a week, I dress up like I am going to be meeting the CEO or going to an important meeting. It keeps me honest. You could also check out when I wore a dress everyday for a week in my 7 Days - No Pants post.
• Cover up: Side on the side of modesty - cover shoulders, no cleavage and nothing tight fitting. It might not be how I would dress for a night on the town or on the weekends, it is how I dress for work.
• Be Comfortable: I refuse to wear things that are uncomfortable. Shoes, pants, shirts, bras - whatever. Life is uncomfortable, there is no need for me to create more discomfort. If an article of clothing is not comfortable and work appropriate, I donate it. 
• Avoid Trends: I just avoid them in my work attire. I want classic things I don't have to re-buy every season or so. I can trend-it-up on my off time, at work, I will stick to things I can always wear. This doesn't mean I don't adore and wear brightly colored pumps or have no flare - I just make sure to reduce anything that would "date" me.

Thoughts

What are some of your work dos and don'ts? What do you do if you have a co-worker who dresses inappropriately? Do you say nasty things behind his/her back or do you talk to him/her about it. Is there any way a company can nicely enforce a dress-code? 

Leave me a comment!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Image of dress types from whatcanyoudowiththat.com
Flip flops from thehouseofbeck.com

Wine Tasting

Mission Level: Success

Background
I have never been on a wine tasting - not like an official one. Every little wine shop and whatnot will let you

I didn't take this picture

sample wines, that doesn't mean you learn anything or that it's a real wine tasting.

Fast forward to my stupidly-handsome man-friend who really likes learning about wine and we are on a wine tasting adventure. It was actually his friend who found our exact location which was Sand Castle Winery.

Sand Castle Winery
The Winery is located in PA. Pennsylvania is not known for its wine, let me tell yous.

However, Sand Castle Winery sits on the type of soil best for growing grapes for wine and also right next to a river. All of this mimics the same conditions in places like Napa Valley. This makes a huge difference in the quality and type of wine. The company also started by building up the vinyard first, then they built the "castle" building. This means they function well as a business. Here is some history from the website:

From the parking lot

Sand Castle Winery, nestled on the banks of the Delaware River in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is the purveyor of world class wines with a long and noble heritage.
Sand Castle's founders, Joseph and Paul Maxian, were born and raised in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, a region renowned for wine making before even the Romans ruled the world. 

In 1974 our family purchased a hillside property in Bucks County overlooking the Delaware River and our dream of Sand Castle Winery was born. In the early 1980s, we began construction of the winery building. Against all odds, and after decades of continuous effort, our Castle was finally completed in 2007.

Wine and Cheese
The tasting was done really well - we did the VIP Educational Tour which let us taste 11 wines. I have been

to some vineyards where they pour you a little wine and give you some crackers.

Not here.

First, 11 wines from tart to sweet with a little lesson about each. The guy also talked about what the labels mean - estate bottled vs.we bought the juice and bottled it here. Then we did experiments.

Love. Experiments.

We chewed on some rosemary and thyme and took a sip of wines. We even tried wine with a little lemon olive oil and wasabi. All this altered the flavor and really gave you a good idea of what foods would go with the wines. Suddenly, a wine I would never sip on my own became a must have for a certain dish I liked. I know most people know this, but, to really have it broken down was awesome. I'm very much a "sniff 'n' taste" type cook, this was right up my alley.

Also, I found a new cheese I must aquire - an espresso Asiago cheese. It was delightful! Thankfully, I can purchase this closer to home. Knowing my love of a fine cheese, though, it will be gone before I get it home.

Best conversation:

Handsome man-friend: Wait, you didn't even have breakfast.
Manda: *hiccup*

Wine cellar

Once we were done with the wine portion, the guy did takes us to where the store and bottle the wine. After a couple glasses of wine, it seems pretty impressive. He talked about the aging process and pointed out items he had talked about during the tasting - now with visuals.

In my picture over there, you can see the oak barrels where they age some of the wines - you can also see the stainless steel tanks where "naked wine" is produced.

Nope, did giggle at all. Just held on to the rail.

The Grounds
At the winery, they were set up for a wedding. We arrived around 11am and left around 3pm without a single sighting of a wedding happening. Ok, there was a some car decorated with "Here comes the Bride" and toil and whatnot - but I thought maybe they always had that setup to drum up more business. It is a very nice place for a wedding.

Beautiful

We did take some nice pictures - there are more, but, no one has sent any too me. Bummer.

My guy taking better pictures than me

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Wine label example from flavorofspain.com

Personal Mission: Stop Corporate-Speak

My fellow readians, I have started my own personal mission which my Mom believes will get me fired. I say, bring it. My mission is to remove and correct all corporate jargon, jabber and double-speak from the place of which I work. This I collectively call "corporate-speak."

Why? Because I believe words are powerful and people in high places have been setting the example of bastardizing and spewing words in a way that actually is counterproductive to what they want to accomplish. By using corporate jargon, jabber and double-speak, points are very unclear which leads to distrust and disorganization.

Another why? Using this junk-talk illustrates incompetence, insecurity and laziness. I’m ok with someone being incompetent – I am incompetent in many ways. However, I don’t try to hide it, I try to improve myself or admit some things are too much and hand it over to the better person for the job.  I am not ok with someone being lazy. I refuse to respect insecurity when it comes to my paycheck. If you are too insecure to run the show you are being paid to run, time to find another show.

I dislike this. I like to be clear. I also like to call people out when I think they should be doing better. I need better, corporate world. I need you to be better.

I see this at all levels, which is sad. We got to stop the madness, people. We all have to stop the madness.

My awesome friend Melissa is helping me in this – I have started a list of words I hear in meeting or read in emails that I refuse to use and will question with vengeance if they are directed at me. It’s actually the first page of my notebook. I have made it clear to my manager what my intentions are and I lead by example by refusing to bend words into patterns that they have no business in.

Corporate Jargon
Most companies will have their own common corporate jargon. Normal jargon is sort of like talking shop – there are words that are industry or job specific that everyone in that area understands but outside people do not.

Jargon: (noun) Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.

Corporate jargon is made up of words that no one understands. Sometimes they even battle, like in this Forbes chart:

Battle!

Jabber
This is jabber. It means nothing, however, outside people must read it and promptly make thoughtful noises and agree so as not to appear dumb. It’s sort of like when a toddler babbles without using real words and you agree with him/her and pretend to have a conversation.

Example: One Society plan and process drives budgeting and aligns resources to successfully achieve the goals of the Society’s 2011-15 strategic response.  Unity of our actions will drive our progress faster and more effectively and results in reporting a more complete story of the impact we are making in the lives of people affected by MS.   The FY14 planning and budgeting process is designed to build one organizational plan that will integrate organizational goals, strategies, deliverables and tactics and will provide even greater transparency

What the Hell does this even mean? Seems to be saying, "Our group tries to make sure our group doesn't go out of business."

I think John wrote it. . .

Double-Speak
Doublespeak is language that deliberately disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words

Example: John’s yearly review is coming up in a week. Please send me any information on John’s appears of strength and opportunity by Friday. 

In truth, what is being requested is John's strengths and weaknesses. However, opportunity has been put in - it is double-speak because "opportunity" means a favorable situation and it is being used to cover up an unfavorable trait.

I would say John is a jack-ass. But it would probably be said as he needs to work on his interpersonal communication techniques.

My Current List
How I play this game (because everything is a game) is by using only words I have heard from the source or have been said or emailed to me. I can easily going onto the Internet and pull thousands of words, I want to work with what I am given, though. Here is my list

Ignore my bad spelling

What You Can Do
Help me! Here is how you can!

Say exactly what you mean. When you write something down or are ready to speak, ask yourself if you can use a simpler word or combination to make your point. Do you need to “reach out” to John or do you need to “call” John. Do you need to “leverage your position” or do you need to make sure things go your way?

When you notice someone using jargon, jabber or double-speak simply say, “What do you mean by _____?”

We can do this, people! Take our language back!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Voiceovers

When I was in high school, actually, I really liked sound. I was more curious about how sound got into movies and TV shows and how to make them. I even had to chance to come up with different sounds for a theater production – with the sound guy, I helped create the sound of bells and rain with neither things on hand.

Not actually recording

I liked theater and I really thought people who did voiceover stuff were cool. I could fall in love with someone’s voice. I can remember a voice. I can feel them and see them. Not just professionals, people in my life. I can't remember names or faces, I can remember voices.

It seems like it’s a simple thing, to talk, but a lot goes into it. Accents (removing, that is) and pronunciation, tone, pitch and emotion. Voice acting can be harder than in-your-face acting.

I thought it would be cool to have a voiceover role somewhere. Be really rich off voicing some cartoon and living in virtual unknown-ish-ness.

First Time
I did some voice work when I worked at a radio station. The station fired me. Not for the voice stuff, mostly because I didn't know how to do my job. I didn't do a good job. It was my first job out of college. I sucked at it. I sucked at learning. It was some of my own fault and some of the fact that I was getting sicker without knowing it – my brain couldn't remember things and my depression was creeping in. I actually had no human contact unless I was at work – and it was with no one my own age. Everyone was in their 50s. Rough.

However, I got to do a couple commercials and I loved it. Man, I wish I could have been in the production department. Copy writing and voicing was right up my alley. I guess those people are also a dime a dozen. Rather, there were 50-year-olds who had been there for 40 years who were not leaving.

Other Stuff
I actually use to record my voice and listen – because it sounds different in my head and that’s weird – in order to help me memorize lines for theater or even when I was in college doing bits for the media part of my degree.

In my third job after college, we hired voiceover people for our training programs. Man, that sounds like the sort-of life. It’s like freelance, which is a world I am use to, plus doing stuff that is really cool that people pay you for.

Current
Oddly enough, I actually am becoming (and fighting to) be the voice of my company. Not in a PR way, in a training way. I have voiced two elearning programs and I hope to do more. Since I worked with sound stuff, I know how to do basic editing and computers today make everything easier.

I never got good at accents or anything that would make this marketable, I don't think. I don't have a way to do a setup where I live to even bring in some money freelancing. I would love to voice a book or maybe take a lesson or two. All of these things will never be in the cards for me, I am sure. But, it's nice to dream.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Take One Picture A Day

Mission: Take one picture everyday for a year.

The Challenge
Well, this seems simple enough. I am never without my handy Droid or access to my DropBox account. I can surely take a picture a day.

I do have questions – which I will eventually just answer:

• Should it be a picture of me?
• Or just a picture of something?
• Do you set up one place to take it?

Answer: I will take a picture of whatever I want. Then I will caption it.

I’m not sure what I am suppose to learn during this process, but, I know a lot of people make slideshows about it and you can see different haircuts and whatnot or slight ageing if they do it for longer than a year.

I’m just going to take some pictures. A picture a day. I can do a monthly follow-up. I’m a woman, I like to work on a monthly schedule. It’s familiar to me.

I hope I don’t forget this. I’m sure I will wander around and stuff looking for good stuff to capture. I don’t live a very exciting life.

Here is my picture from today!

Pear, apple, plum and an avacado pit - lunch!

Just to clarify - I am not eating the pit. I was going to try to grown an avocado tree. Then I realized it takes 5-7 years to get avocados. But, I feel bad throwing out the pit.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Graphic Designin'

Here is my list of sort-of contents I have entered. These are mostly pretty local needs. I want to get my name out and I like being creative. And cranky.

• Logo for innovation committee – Lost.
• Name for sports club – Lost.
• Logo for my own team – Approved! (doesn't count, I was the only entry).
• Logo for college equality group – Approved.
• Logo for sport club – Pending.

I've been losing a lot. I have been trying. Just losing.

Act in a Movie

Mission Level: Success

That's right, I was totally an extra in a movie. This is my big break.

 Kidding.

This was actually a very last minute deal that involved my amazingly talented boyfriend's brother and this car. And the '80s.

Background 
Both my hot boyfriend and I have been having a tough week. Frustrations are running high. Things are going wrong. Yeah, we were beaten and run down. After some chatting, he told me his brother is shooting a movie with his friends if I wanted to be an extra with him since he said he would. It might be called the Southern Heritage Cup.

Hey, why not?

It was actually fun hanging out with members of the North American General Lee Fan Club - and I only know this because one of the guys is Bill Lambing from the 2005 Beauty and the Geek show stated this in some interview once and I wanted to see if there was a formal name for the group. I never watched it, but, I knew about it. And by show, I mean Beauty and the Geek and Dukes of Hazard. I knew some of the General Lee, the car featured in the show, and. . .whatever.

My best conversation:

Al: Tomorrow we will be shooting the corn-holing.
Manda: Wait, what? Corn-holing?
Al: Yeah. What do you think corn-holing is?
Manda: No, what do YOU think corn holding is.
Al: You know, bean bag toss.

Just so we are all clear, there are two very different definitions of "cornhole" in both the noun and verb form. If you didn't know, here are the two. Now, in the south, this is the way the definitions would probably be listed. In the north, I think it would be backwards.

1. Cornholing: also known as bean bag toss, corn toss, baggo or bags, is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing corn hole bags at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a team or player reaches the score of 21.
2. Cornhole is a sexual slang vulgarism for anus. The term came into use in the 1910s in the United States. Its verb form to cornhole, which came into usage in the 1930s, means to have anal sex.

So, what is this project they are working on?

The Trailer 
I know it says coming in 2011 and it's 2013, but, this is a small group.

 

My Role
I was an extra.

The scene that they were recreating was this one where the Oak Ridge Brothers played "Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight" in a bar.

I don't have the footage to show you. It's really a bunch of us trying to keep beat to the music for a couple minutes. I didn't try, I succeeded. I was formally trained. I did get into character by yelling at my dashingly handsome and southernized boyfriend that, "Baby, you never take me no where nice! Why don't you take me to the bar to see them Oak Ridge Brothers!"

My accent is a little lost on this blog. I assure you, it was awesome.

Future Plans
Well, once everything is completed and produced, I'm sure I will be getting calls about my mad acting skills and everything.

I was also told there could totally be a speaking role for me.

I'm just saying. . .I mean, sayin', sugar!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Rejected Mission: Enter Contests

I have never won anything in a contest. Really. Now, to be fair, I also don't play them very often. After coming across this blog where this guy entered a contest a day for a year, I thought I would try to enter some contests.

But, then I worried - how much of my information is going to be thrown out there? How much span and junk mail am I going to get? How many calls? What is the risk of me handing over my stuff?

Some of my friends say they don't really care if their information gets out there. Who cares if Macy's knows where you live?

I am not a criminal mastermind. So I protect my stuff when I can. If someone wants it, they will get it. I don't have to just hand it over, though. Just because I put no value on certain bits of information, it doesn't mean someone else can't take it and use it in ways I would not want it used. I will error on the side of caution when I can.


I think there is some safety in numbers. Like if a retail store gets hacked and 1,000,000 credit card numbers are released into the world of the criminal, what are the odds my bank account will be drained? If I am one of a million people - how can that really be bad?

Well - I don't want to enter a "contest" where the "winner" gets a bank account drained.


Understanding
Contests are not altruistic things. They are data mining operations. You need to provide a set bit of information which can be worth a lot more than a $5,000 payout. Trust me, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

It actually takes very little from you for someone to pinpoint your location. For example, at the store, if you pay with a card and they ask you for your zip code, it's really not to protect you. It's because the store now has your credit card number and your billing (home) zipcode. Match these two things up and - BAM - you are getting contacted by that store and maybe they even sold the information to another agency and you have a ton more junk mail.

In fact, even Facebook in on this. I don't like cancer either, but, not only will clicking "Like" on some bald girls picture do nothing for or against cancer, it also is another data mining operations. A page can be created by anyone - let's call it Help Babies Fight Cancer - and a post goes out with a picture of some child in a hospital labeled, "If this page gets 100,000 likes, Daisy will know she is beautiful." Well, 100,000 likes equals $200 dollars when the page is sold to a commercial entity which then has access to your Facebook information.

You can read more on Yahoo! - Why 'Liking' Facebook virals makes scammers rich

Friend: OMG, like these pages to show you care. By the way, that Do No Call List doesn't work.
Me: No kidding?

Trickery in Contests
First, I am not a fan of giving up a ton of my information. I can avoid junk email through my gmail account but I don't really want to get a ton of junk mail in my mailbox.

I find even when you click "don't send me stuff" stuff is sent to you. Read this statement:

Please understand that if you opt out of receiving promotional correspondence from us, we may still contact you in connection with your relationship, activities, transactions and communications with us. Also, if you have granted us permission to share your Personal Information with third party entities for their marketing purposes, you should contact those entities directly regarding any communications you may receive from them.

I think it's weird. I know companies sell lists for money to other companies who will send you promotional junk to get your money. I often wonder how much money a company would spend on buying information, printing and shipping promotional materials to people who don't want it.

One of the ways around this is by connecting to Facebook. Most of us have a Facebook page, right? I think it's a cool tool, mind you. But, when you give someone or something access to it, it is like giving the key to your home to someone - access to everything! It is pretty easy - a one click action enters you and you go about your business while some company is going through you information. Hence you will see these things:

Entering is easy. Just log in or connect with your Facebook account to register even faster.

It doesn't make me want to buy more of your stuff if you bomb my box with glossy paper.

Actually, when I had rats, I used the junk mail as a fun toy for them. In winter, it makes good kindling for a fire - but it's summer.

Thoughts
No, Facebook is not the devil. Facebook and these enterprises are doing what they do. I like my Facebook - I like keeping in touch with people in this way. I think how the user uses these tools makes the difference. I think taking some time to understand - with a healthy dose of suspicion - can go a long way.

I'm not going to enter your contests. I am not going to link Facebook to other accounts. I am not going to like pictures from whatever tragedy to show my support. I will reach out and donate my time and money to proven organizations. I will do my best to protect my information. It's an imperfect art to me.

Mission Level?
Me entering contests - I am going to decline this time, folks.


Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Mineral Oil Test

I like Proactiv, it works for me. I soon will have to go back on the site and sign up for more of their products. I only use the cleanser, toner and moisturizer - no other reason to try other stuff when the core group of products really work well.

If you want to check out my adventure with Proactiv, you can read it in my Try Proactiv post.

Background

I'm not some type of super nature person. I like what I like and I like stuff that works. I do have a lot of blackheads which I love to attack but can't keep up with. I don't like seeing them in the mirror though I know it's hard to see them if you are just talking to me.

Proactiv now has this blackhead dissolving gel that, of course, provides the same awesome results as everything else.

Dissolve, eh? What witchcraft is this?

What I Know
If we knew how to dissolve blackheads, why do we have them? Simple, no one easy way. Good thing I have the Internet to support any view I can fathom!

I came across a site that told me mineral oil (you know, baby oil) actually will dissolve blackheads.Why? Well, blackheads - known as comedos - are made up of oil and junk and you-stuff. You know, you-stuff. Your pores are jammed with your own awesome - skin oils, sweat, dead skin, everything. There is just so much in there, sometimes, it gets stuck.

Anyhow, an oil won't mix or respond to soap. It will respond to oils. The oil your skin produces is made to make you waterproof and keep everything clean.

To the Drug Store
Mineral oil is also a good to get off sticky stuff, by the way. You can even drink it In small portions. It will oil up your insides. You know what that means - poops!

Mineral oil

No, I'm not going to drink it.

Anyhow, I trotted to the drug store to find mineral oil. I spent a lot of time circling the bath and skin care section without any luck. Then I decided to try the baby aisle.

It was in the baby aisle (which is a scary aisle) under the baby oil. If you look on the back of the bottle, it's mineral oil (plus fragrance). I left with this and ready to give myself my own facial.

If you have really fragile or sensitive skin, you might want to try to find oil without fragrance. I am inpatient and my skin is not sensitive.

I did have a professional facial once a long time ago. My skin was horrible and it didn't solve all my problems. There is always the quest to find that one thing that will solve all your problems. I think it's more like "embrace the journey" or "endure the highs and lows." I'll refine that up one day. In the meantime, I have baby oil.

Process
The process to clean your face with this stuff is fairly simple:

• Wash: Wash your face and hands. Get off any makeup or dirt. Give yourself a nice, long wash. I like to run the warm water on my hands and give my skin a nice rub so your pores open up.
• Apply oil: Keep your hands warm and rub some oil between your hands. Then massage the oil in circle motions all over you skin. Do this for a minute or so. Get into the areas you have a lot of blackheads. My nose is a huge blackhead mega-city. Be gentle, no need to rub very hard - just keep massaging. 
• Set: Run a washcloth under hot water and then rest it on your face - or most of your face if you are watching TV like I was. The point is to keep your skin warm and your pores open to give the oil a chance to go to the blackheads and say, "hello friend, run away with me!"
• Rinse: After maybe two cycles of warming the washcloth and keeping it on your skin, use it to gently wipe off the oil.
• Wash: Doesn't hurt (ok, I did this) to wash your face off with soap again to get all the oil off. 

Does It Work?

I don't know, actually, I read a lot of stuff saying how you shouldn't use mineral oil. Or it would oil up your skin. Or not. Who knows.

For me, it worked. My blackheads were dramatically reduced after one treatment. The next day, my skin felt more open. I did do a little picking-pushing (I love popping stuff) and got out some good stuff on my forehead. I don't think this is actually all important. 

I do see a reduction in the blackheads - even after a few days. My skin is normally a little on the oily side and it is not more oily after using the oil. It's delightfully smooth. I'll have my heroic gentleman caller check it out for me to get another opinion. I don't think I am around anyone else who I can ask to feel my face for science.

Future Plans

I tried this thing twice. I also got an extractor so I can get out more junk from my face. I'm one step closer to my dream of seeing how much junk I can get out of my pores in a year. I'd have to store it. It would be gross. It would be for science!

I think I will keep using this treatment - maybe once a week or twice a month. Whenever I feel like it. I will see how my skin responds. So far, so good! Give it a shot.

Also, mineral oil removes bike chain oil from skin. Yeah, I am out biking.

Also. . .
By the way, normally when your body overproduces something - like oil or even acid in your tummy - you don't want to counter it. If you think about it, your body is over producing because it doesn't think there is ENOUGH. If you counter with the same type of thing - more oil, more acid - it can actually fix the situation because your body registers there is too much and will balance itself out. This is why people will do a shot of vinegar (acid) to cure heartburn. Of course, check with a doctor. There are times this is not the best thing to do.

However, with oily skin, sometimes when you use so much stuff to dry it out, your body tries to produce more oil because it didn't think there was enough in the first place. The good thing with oily skin, by the way, less chance of wrinkles. That's what my Mom said, and she's a stone-cold fox!

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Oil from ecx.images-amazon.com
Blackhead graphic from 3.bp.blogspot.com/

Buy Something On TV

Mission Level: Success

I can actually spend hours watching infomercials. How else would I know all the problems I have - like cooking pasta - and how there is a solution for $19.99 (plus shipping and handling) plus a free gift solution!

I ended up going with the Cami Secret because, so much like the commercial says, I like to have some coverage without adding bulk. Summer is coming and the last thing I want to do is be wearing two shirts in order to make sure no one sees my bra.

They have not invented a camisole for pit stains, let me tell you. Here is the commercial for your viewing pleasure!

Background
First, I don’t have the ample bosom of the lady in the commercial  I don’t think I actually have cleavage at all, actually. However, this doesn't mean I should have a top or dress that proves that. I have a couple blouses that have a sort of cowl-neck – a draped neckline that can slip in non-professional ways. There are times you can avoid flashing your undergarments. Like, 99.9% of the time.

I have used tape before to secure unruly shirts in place. The tape actually works great, but, it doesn't allow for as much movement as can be natural. It also leaves behind a residue on your clothes or bra. This can be really hard to remove. It’s great the tape really sticks – sucks that is really sticks.

Sometimes, life is like that.

What It Is

The product

The Cami Secret is a mock-cami. It’s just a little triangle of fabric that clips to your bra so it looks like you
are wearing a cami (and hiding some bits) without having a full on cami.

I bought mine at CVS. You can actually get them at most drug stores and food stores, online and wherever, really.I was not going to be calling over the phone for something, by the way. I believe the using and acquiring of the product was the real challenge - not calling some weird hot-line and giving out my information.

I did get them in the three standard colors - black, nude and BRILLIANT white.

Pros
It’s actually a good product. The quality is good. It does look like an actual camisole. It’s smooth and even the lace strip on the top is pretty nice. It’s not sloppily glued or stuck on there. It can actually look like a real lace cami and not a mock thing.

It works by having a little piece that goes around your bra strap and snaps into itself. It’s pretty secure – it’s not just a pin or clip.

You do get three colors – I am just not sure who wants to display a nude color. Really. Nude is . . . not a sexy color. No one is like, “You know what I need, a nude undergarment to bring the sexy.”

It’s not too expensive. All around, the pros are pretty strong.

Cons
I dislike the lace detailing. I wish they had just plain ones. The lace does not go with everything I have. I normally wear very plain spaghetti strap tops, so the lace is weird to me. It is also a little bit, maybe, old? I think a clean line would be more modern and versatile. You can easily find dressy cami for special outfits. Because of the lace, I really only wear the black one because it is less noticeable.

Since I am not a top-heavy girl, I also do not have any ability to adjust the amount of skin-to-cami ratio. In the commercial, they show how the girl can go from “I’m a nun” coverage to “$1s go in here.” I only have the “I’m a nun” setting. This is because the mock-cami will only slide as far up or down as your bra strap goes. Once the strap meets the top part of the bra cup, you’re done.

Future Thoughts
I have been wearing it to work for a couple dresses. I do like it, overall. I am happy with my purchase. I will have to get something else for my going-out dresses if I want a mock-cami since it’s a little too modest for my bangin’ hot red dress with a low-cut front that I just need about an inch of coverage on.

If anyone wants that nude one, though, it’s totally available.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Product image from amazon.com

Video Blog

Mission Level: Success! (Because I have a Tablet!)

If you do one video. . .is it a video blog? Anyhow, this challenge was sitting around for a while and I finally decided to record myself talking. I don't have a webcam or anything, I do have a sweet Tablet.



Future Plans
I did it, I can't say I am super proud of it. I probably won't try another one since I am sure there is no great demand for me being on camera running my mouth.


Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Pierce Ears

Mission Level: Fail.

I don't have pierced ears. I wouldn't actually know how to even wear earrings right - what styles and colors might match what I am wearing or my head.

I took up belly dancing for a while - about two years - as a way to start getting active once I started getting healthier. I did end up going a little overboard for my condition and I ended up having to walk around with a cane and all this stuff. Ooops.

Background

One of my last shows

My belly dance teacher would make most of our costumes and earrings would always be something we'd wear. She had to make something special for me and then she was puzzled over why I didn't have pierced ears.

My Mom does not have pierced ears. Nor do I come from a culture where babies have their ears pierced before they are one for some reason. I think even if I did, my Mom would not have done it.

83% of American women have pieced ears. I am little uncommon and annoying when it comes to accessorizing. My belly dance teacher told me I should get mine done for my birthday. You know, to give me time to think about it.

I did think about it. It seems like a lot of work filling those holes with jewelry  Besides, I think the practice is a little odd. You make a hole in your body to hang stuff off of for beauty? Well, I think sometimes it can be attractive - yet, still odd.

I did get many presents of earrings from relatives and friends of the family - which I gave to any number of my friends who all had pierced ears. They knew how to make them work.

Challenge Fail
I didn't get my ears pierced. I don't think I ever will. Even surrounded by 83% if the population. It's too much of a lifestyle situation and commitment for me. I think it is a lot like my No Makeup post - I never had earrings so no one expects them and it's just not part of my personal style. For someone else who always had them, s/he can feel naked or incomplete without them.

And those little holes always looked a little weird to me.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Quad County Metric

Me in my shirt - pouting and fuzzy

Mission Level: Fail

If you remember from My Year In Biking post, I should have completed the Quad County Metric on May 11, 2013.

I did not.

Due to my knees, I felt it best I did not do the 25 planned miles I was going to do. Or 21. Or something. I did go to the event and picked up my technical shirt.

Technical Shirt: A shirt that wicks away sweat and holds in the funk.  It is usually a size smaller than what you normally wear.

Future Plans

I will try to get out and bike around this week. While I am walking much better, I still am still stiff and hurting by the end of the day. I think some light biking would be good. My Mom wants me to get my bike up on my trainer, but, I don’t know if I want to do that. That’s a lot of work.

I'm basically really lazy.

However, I do want to spend my time getting a bike rack. My dirty-where-it-counts charming man-fellow took me and my car to an awesome car wash place where I got the interior and exterior of my car cleaned in about 20 minutes. They cleaned my car so well they got the remains of the Cliff Bar Gel Shot from my cup holder, found an iPod I lost 3 years ago and shinned all my change. 

Needless to say, I think my bike needs to find a new home not in the back of my car.

Worries

Worry, worry

I am worried about my conditioning and my adrenals. I am also worried about getting my team in shape for the MS City to Shore ride which is four months away.

I have been slowing coming to terms with the fact I will not be able to ride to beat my time last year. Sure, it was under 8 hours which is apparently something anyone can do - but I did stop at all the rest stops. This year, I was hoping to really book it and become a true "fast-paced" cyclist and maybe do it under 7 hours? And by under 7 hours I mean 7 hours 59 minutes.

Not to mention, I have to get ready for Tour DaVita which is the lesser of four months away. I need to make sure I have my medication planned out right and everything so I can take full advantage of the 10 days after Tour DaVita to acomplish the City to Shore Century. 

I'm also not sure if I will actually be medically cleared to do both. In which case, I will be doing the MS City to Shore. 

The Tour DaVita costs a lot of money. It's for a good cause - but a good cause to me is also being alive. 

I'm also worried about how my belly will become more bloated the more activity I do - which sucks. I have been doing the 7 Day Core Challenge to get my midsection tighter. It is quite defeatist to workout more and be in great shape and eat right. .and develop a belly that will go away the second you stop working out. 

I'm lazy AND vain.

It’s a lot and I am worried.

Current Year In Biking

If you want to keep track – I have one success (Girls with Gears) and one fail (Quad County Metric). I’m hoping I am ready for the Nockamixon Lake Century in . . . .three months.

Girls with Gears

Date: 4/21/2013

Route: 25 miles

Quad County Metric Ride

Date: 5/11/2013

Route: 62 miles

Nockamixon Lake Century

Date: 8/24/2013

Route: 100 miles

Tour DaVita

Date: 9/14/2013-9/18/2013

Route: 270 miles

MS City to Shore

Date: 9/28/2013

Route: 100 miles

Covered Bridges Ride

Date: 10/20/2013

Route: 33 miles

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Commentary on Abercrombie & Fitch

So, Abercrombie & Fitch came out saying how they only want model-like people, and women under a size XL to wear their clothes. I actually respect A&F for their stance - or the CEO's stance.

Let's just be honest. This company wants a certain brand out there.

Cool.

I don't think wearing or not wearing A&F impacts the quality of your soul.

I accept that certain companies target certain types of people, it's cool. I may or may not be in that target group. That doesn't mean I am better or worse for it – the only thing that decides my worth is my behavior. What I do in the skin I am in is much more important that what I wear.

Anyone who thinks because A&F doesn't carry his/her size some type of self-worth is reflected really has been taught the wrong message. Some people, some groups and some companies just don't like you. At least we can be honest about our likes and dislikes, our body size and even our vanity.

I know there are a lot of people who deal with issues of self-worth and have eating disorders or other issues. This is a separate issue which cannot be solved by changing the world to accommodate imbalance. It has to start on the inside of those people. It does hurt me when I know someone struggles with an internal issue and believes this issue can be solved through an acceptance of an outside entity.

Sometimes there is no acceptance. And there is a deeper issue when the statement, “Man, if I only fit into A&F jeans, my life would be worthwhile!” than the sizes a manufacturer carries.

I use to think if I just washed my hands one more time I would find peace. I didn't find my solution in soap bubbles anymore than someone will find a peace in a cotton-spandex fabric blend.

Let's just be honest and learn to deal with things that are not always going to be the way we want, people not always responding the way we wish and the world not being a slave to anxiety.

Tolerance

Learning to be truly tolerant – truly tolerant – is to accept people have different views on the world. I don’t have to agree with A&F to be tolerant of its business model, public statements or other choices.

Every person has the power to buy or not buy from this company. And I think it's a choice, like any choice. I'm glad we have choice. We can include or exclude whoever we want and we have to deal with the rewards and the consequences of this. Not everyone is going to cater to you. Not everyone is going to like you. Some people are going to cater to you. Some are going to adore you.

And you know what? Both things are ok.

My Facebook status escalated rather quickly when I posted my thoughts, however.

This escalated rather quickly

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

No Makeup!

Women, you know who you are, go around a lot with a lot of makeup on. A lot of make-ups have SPF in them, which I hate. That can make your face look shinny.

But, not the point of this article.

Have you ever met anyone a woman who didn't wear makeup? Sometimes it's a shock and sometimes. . not so much. Now, I like wearing my makeup for both accessorizing and for insecurity reasons. I have dark circles around my eyes, a little Bell's Palsy and now wrinkles around my eyes and across my forehead.

Light makeup Maddy

So, what all do I do to myself almost every morning?

• Proactiv - cleanser, toner and moisturizer.
• Olay eye serum for wrinkles
• Stila Perfecting Concealer
• Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base
• L'Oreal - Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner
• Metallic Shadow Duo
• Great Lash Black Mascara.

What's Makeup?
There is some concern among those who wear makeup about what is in it - it use to be blood and ashes and wax back in the day. Things might have gotten either better or worse depending. Organic makeup, pure makeup and products with those types of words attached are a booming business.

Here is a list of ingredients from L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascara, Blackest Black

Water - Aqua, Paraffin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates Copolymer, Beeswax - Cera Alba, Carnauba Wax - Cera Carnauba, Steareth-2, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum - Acacia Senegal, Rayon, Panthenol, Ethylenediamine/Stearyldimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Methylparaben, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylparaben, Simethicone, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Titanium - CI 77891 - May Contain, Water - Aqua, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat.,  Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolyme, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Rayon, Polysorbate 80, Methylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Ethylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Iron Oxides - CI 77499 - CI 77491 - CI 77492 - May Contain, Ultramarines - CI 77007 - May Contain, Mica - May Contain, Carmine - CI 75470 - May Contain, Chromium Oxide Greens - CI 77288 - May Contain, Chromium Hydroxide Green - CI 77289 - May Contain, Titanium Dioxide - CI 77891 - May Contain, Ferric Ferrocyanide - CI 77510

That's a lot - and that's one product.

Noticing the World
There is a fear about being caught without makeup or not being perfect. I see my coworkers who have two or three mirrors at their desks to make sure they are "perfect" from every angle. How about we drop this need for perfection in how we look and be honest and open with what we have going on.

I know some celebrities have been Tweeting or otherwise sending out photos of their faces without makeup - but they are sort of the mutants of the world. I never grew up around people with Hollywood's resources and abundant looks so I sort of decided I would side with what I saw everyday in the people I lived and not to put much faith in these attractive, polished pictures of strangers.

Without Makeup
As I stated, I like wearing makeup. I don't see it as a need to be perfect but I do like how I look and feel when I wear it.

I wonder how people would respond, think or react if I stopped. There would be some reaction - well, if I am any good at putting on makeup. I think this is normal and natural, like when someone dyes his/her hair and you notice. At least, I notice and just file it away in my brain.

So - what would life be like without makeup after living for at least 10 years with makeup (that's right, I probably started wearing makeup in college).

Let's cut to the chase - here is me without makeup, hair back and just sitting on my couch.

All makeup off

Are you willing to be part of this adventure? Take off your makeup and post a photo of yourself for the world to see. Try going a week without makeup, figure out how it feels or if there is anything to feel.

Winners never lie, by the way - let's show the generations below us and in front of us what's really going on.

Truth

If I get some good response, I will engage in a stellar new adventure - not wearing a scrap of makeup for a whole week - that means not during work, not at play, not out to eat, nada. But, since I am also chicken, I'm not going to be doing this alone.

Anyone else in?

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Crack Command Team

Mission Level: Success

I got this challenge a while ago - and while Halloween is in October, I figured it would be a weird odd lazy good time to post this:

I can do 50% of this

For Halloween, I got my team at work to dress as the A-Team. I played Captain H. M. "Howling Mad" Murdock

Hard to tell us from the originals

BAM!

The originals

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
A-Team from stkarnick.com

First Injury

Back on Saturday, April 27 2013 I fell. I fell in front of Rita's Water Ice. I caught my heel on my pant leg and went down - directly on my left and then right knee. I didn't even have time to put my hands out until I was on the ground.

Ouch

Anyone who said humiliation doesn't work as a motivator has never fallen in front of a huge line at Rita's Water Ice. I was on my feet and back to my car (and the ice-melting hotness of my guy) in seconds. Once I got back to his place, I was able to inspect my damage.

My knees hurt and  had these awesomely painful bruises and skinning. Some people suggested I sue them. Let's face it, I fell because I am no graceful. And crap happens.

Fast Forward
I was a kid once, I totally would have scuffed knees and elbows all the time. Dumping some Hydrogen Peroxide on it reminded me of Bactine torture sessions - ahh, childhood.

After a couple days, I started to wonder if maybe I had become more of a wuss because I was still limping and in increasing pain all over a skinned knee. I also couldn't sleep due to the pain. At least when I had pain from being sick, I was too exhausted not to sleep. I once slept for three days - minus about four hours for eating and using the restroom (and getting up, walking into the living room saying, "nope, not today" and going back to bed).

Worry + Sleepy

After having to leave work early due to pain, my friend told me to go to Rothman Institute to get it looked at. Now, I don't have a good scale for pain tolerance - tends to be high - and I wanted to go to the ER if I didn't get some relief after six days.

I was beginning to worry I did some serious damage. If I can't walk, can't bend my knee and can't not want to kill people because I can't sleep due to the pain - and the pain itself sucks. . .how am I going to bike 270 miles? Or 25 miles.

Remember, I got bike rides and training and standing I have to do. (I got it all mapped out on My Year In Biking post!) An injury would totally ruin my whole. .you know, training thing I do.

What I Learned
After some x-rays and two exams, the doctors told me I did not break anything or tear anything. That was pretty cool. What I did have was a bilateral knee contusion.

The simple explanation

It sounds sort of weird - bruised bone - but what it is? It's a ton of tiny little fractures on the surface of the bone due to a direct impact injury that results in a lot of pain and 6-8 weeks of recovery time.

Best eatable ice pack

I got some better anti-inflammatory medication and instructions to rest and ice it.

I don't have ice packs, but I Trader Joe's Berry Medley fruit blend which works great. Frozen corn and peas always work great. However, you want to avoid large frozen things like strawberries or cherries.

I have turned down the pain from "everyone @#$ing die!" to "oooouch!" which is good for everyone I'm in contact with.

I did pull it together to go to my guy's house to make him some chicken soup since he got wacked with some horrible sickness this weekend. Between the two of us, we are a functioning human.

The Future
I'm still in a good deal of pain and I am not sure how things are going to do go at work since I have to stand a lot or sit and I won't have access to much ice. All the kitchens are located a good distance from me. I am thinking I will bring in a cooler and have one of the guys set up a tall chair in my training room. Should keep me from needing a cane or killing someone.

Otherwise, I think I am pretty much on my own with this. People are really busy around this time of the year. Even Twitter has been dull. Boo!

My handsome man-caller has also been awesome. He has been dealing with the flu or the zombie plague or something. Poor guy.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Berry mix from fatsecret.com

Fix My Den: Follow Up

Time for a follow-up from my Fix My Den post back in the day.

Original state

Ok. .this is not happening in the way I was hoping it would. I really haven't had much time and when I do have time, I have been helping my dashing gentleman caller with his place.

Here is what I have learned - homeownership seems to have a lot of stress and money involved all the time. I like my set-up where when I break something (like the garbage disposal for the fourth time) my super-awesome maintenance guy comes in while I am at work and fixes everything.

But, I digress.

I need to figure out what I want to use this room for and figure out where to get good, cheap stuff for it.

Really, I've been blowing a lot of my budget on shoes and food. The shoes are for me, the food has mainly been to feed other people.

Thankfully, I have not had to pay for my own alcohol. PHEW!

Future Plans
It hasn't been a complete abandonment  though. I did get rid of one piece of furniture - gave it to a friend - so I have that cleared out.

Such improvement

I am hoping one of these weekends I can sit down in there and throw out a bunch of stuff. Or at least buy some stuff to organize these piles of stuff into neater situations.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Twitter

Mission Level: Success

A lot of people have been telling/asking me:

1. Get a Twitter account.
2. What is my Twitter account.

My answer has been the same for both - I don't have a Twitter account.

That was until Saturday afternoon when I signed up for Twitter! Now, I just need to find some awesome people or businesses to follow. I was girl-sick on Saturday and some of Sunday and found Twitter is sort of boring when you don't have a lot of following-ers who post.

The Point
On the most general basis, I want to use my Twitter account as a more "public" area for myself. I have a Facebook, but, I know everyone I am connected to on there. I don't connect to people I work with and I don't make friends through it. I think I am use my Twitter as a way to keep in touch with a wider group of people with less fear of my information getting out there.

On the grand scale, I will be using my Twitter account to promote this blog. That being done in about two clicks, I intend to use my Twitter to amuse me greatly and send out some good vibes. I think my message and goal will be simple, to send out some cheer and maybe provoke some thought about helping out each other. Sometimes this world is presented as being far to polarized and begs each of us to take a side and do damage to the other. I want to stop this.

I also don't have issue with social media. Sure, some people feel overwhelmed and addicted - I find it a nice tool but never a crutch. For example, I don't take my phone into the bedroom, and if I do, it is never a distraction from what I am in the bedroom to do. When I go on vacation and I don't have service, it's not such a big deal - I just sort of miss hearing from people through it and being able to update my adventures in real time when I am unwinding.

Following
I am following about 27 entities - some people, some businesses. I feel safer following businesses and I am curious as to what I will learn. I announced my account on Facebook, so, I have about two or three friends following me.

I do get a lot of suggestions to follow Diddy and JLo, but, I am not interested in these people. I'm sure they are fine people.

Bruce Campbell, on the other hand, I'm all over him.

Follow Me
Anyhow, if you have a Twitter and what to follow me - please do! - you can find me @The Mad Maddie

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image
Image from Twitter.com