Hana Elite Flat Iron Review

A while back, I read a review for the Hana Elite Flat Iron on Classic Annie's blog. I was totally envious! I love a good hair tool and thought it was so cool that she received one to review, free of charge.

You can imagine my delight when the kind folks at Misikko, the makers of Hana hair products, contacted me shortly thereafter to ask if I'd like to review it! I couldn't say yes fast enough. Unfortunately, it arrived around the time I was packing up my apartment to move. I owned it for a few months before I even got the chance to try it out!

It was apparent by the packaging that this is a high quality, well-made product. I remembered that Classic Annie had noted that the iron worked best for her when she used it on very small sections of hair.

I'm so glad I kept that little tidbit in mind. On the money, Classic Annie! This iron definitely works best when worked with slowly. Problem is, a lot of mornings, I only have time for the 5 minute flat iron job. I tried that with this and it was not a good match. (My GHD is best for that task.) For special occasions, AKA the 25 minute flat iron job, this little guy is amazing. I used it for New Years Eve and my hair felt incredibly silky and looked great.

But lately it's not often that I have 25 minutes of time and energy to dedicate to my hair, and I hated to see such an awesome tool sit in my drawer with such limited playtime. So I decided to see if I could find a happy medium. The above photo is post- 11 minute Hana flat iron job. Okay, maybe 12 minutes. Either way, I was pleased! Feeling good is always worth a few extra minutes. Always.

The temperature is adjustable, making it an accessible product for girls of all hair types. My hair has thinned out quite a bit in the past couple of years, so I use a lower temp than I ever would have before.

This is definitely one of the best hair straighteners I have ever used. My hair is unruly and requires rather expensive upkeep. Unfortunately I can't do the $40 or $50 irons - they just don't really work for me. High-end hair tools are pretty pricey and I am really grateful to have received this. Even though I already owned a really nice iron, I always feel better with duplicates. If you've ever had a blowdryer or flat iron break the morning of a very important day, you too know the value of owning more than one.

Thank you again, Misikko and Hana. I love it!

Vlog with BHB - Winter Beauty

Welcome to the 21st Century, JGIWC! I have recorded my first vlog! BHB came over last night and we ate goat cheese pizza, drank wine, and recorded this. It's very silly and perhaps even slightly informative. And definitely not our last. Enjoy!

Foodie Teddi

I have gotten a few requests for a post about recipes for meals as seen on my Instagram account. A lot of the food I make is more thoughts and ideas than actual recipes, but however you slice it (pun intended), I am happy to share.

I've made Skinnytaste Pasta with Butternut Sauce, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach twice (now there's a tongue twister!) and I loved it both times. So tasty. (Can't find the photo, sadly. So take my word. Dee-lish.)

I made Foodie with Family Slow-Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken. Honestly, I didn't love it nearly as much as I wanted to. This recipe makes a ton so I halved all the ingredients. The sauce just did not get thick enough. Thinking of trying a different recipe with similar ingredients, because I do like these flavors!

I adapted my own version of this All Recipes Creamy Pesto Shrimp. I used a Knorr dry pesto packet and combined it with a combo of 1% milk and water - no heavy cream here. This came together nicely - very simple to make. It was nothing groundbreaking or spectacular, but a solid, tasty meal that was a cinch to throw together. Next time, I would skip the shrimp, add a great side salad, and have a Meatless Monday.

I've made Skinnytaste Petite Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Loaves twice. I love the controlled portion size and cuteness factor of this. I like to keep a few and give a few away. I have several in my freezer right now. Yum.

If I need a quick and easy lean protein, I turn to frozen turkey burgers or turkey dogs. (I use Applegate Farms brand.) I season with salt, pepper and a little truffle oil. Sometimes I'll melt a slice of cheese on top, depending on what else I'm serving it with. Kale Caesar salad, baked sweet potato fries, grilled mushrooms, mac and cheese, and peas are favorite "side dishes" of mine.

If kale is my main salad green, I need a thick, flavorful dressing to complement the texture and taste. I use Newman's Own Creamy Caesar dressing and shaved parmesan. (I love salad dressing. I'd rather use the full serving and skimp elsewhere. I am just not one of those "lemon juice is a dressing!" people.)

Frozen sweet potato fries are always in my freezer. I love the Alexia brand or Ore Ida. Sliced mushrooms are always in my fridge. I love to toss them in a pan with a little salt, pepper, and truffle oil.

Which brings me to truffle oil. It's an investment (my bottle was $30) but worth every penny. I use it on ... well, everything that I can, as evidenced by the rest of this post.

If I'm making boxed mac and cheese, I either use Kraft or Annie's. The old Teddi would make a pot, eat the whole thing and call it "dinner". I won't ever give it up, but now I put it on a plate (instead of a bowl) alongside one veggie and one protein. Don't get me wrong - I still eat a lot of it, but not as much as I used to and it's part of a more balanced meal now (instead of being the meal itself).

I also love to make my own pizza using a multigrain crust, part skim mozzarella, jarred tomato sauce, and truffle oil. It's so easy and yummy. Served with kale Caesar salad and wine, this is my go-to "Girls Night In" dinner.

I definitely need to broaden my horizons. My repertoire is pretty small - it's all been about simplicity and convenience thus far.

Next on my list of recipes to try:

Skinnytaste Whole Wheat Pancakes
Self.com Warm Berry Baked Oatmeal
Skinnytaste Mushroom Kale Lasagna Rolls
Skinnytaste Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Real Simple Mustardy Kale and Butternut Squash
Eat Live Run Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Chocolate Ganache

What else should I add to that list?

Twenty-GREAT

This year, I vow...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

13.1

You may have noticed that the very first "vow" I took for 2013 was to run a half marathon.

And that's because I am. On June 8, 2013, I will run the Allstate Life Insurance Chicago 13.1 Marathon as a member of the Greater New York chapter of Crohn's and Colitis Team Challenge.

This is a huge challenge for me, both physically and mentally. I'm incredibly excited and admittedly anxious. Official training doesn't start until March, so right now I am mostly concentrated on the fundraising aspect. I created my donation webpage over the weekend and sent my first official email out yesterday. I've been thrilled to see a few donations come in, but I've got a long way to go.

I am running this with and for my cousin Julie. She was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2000 and her life has changed deeply because of it. Over the past 13 years I have watched with great admiration as Julie has fought this disease and at times, for her life. Through seemingly endless infections and countless hospitalizations, she has never lost her sense of humor or zest for life. This year we will both turn 28. I count Julie among my best friends and she inspires me every single day. She makes me so proud, and I hope to make her proud this summer as I stand behind her and run beside her.

So I'm going to ask all of you for a favor.

Please support me. If you want to make a donation, please visit my webpage. Every dollar gets CCFA closer to a cure. It would truly mean the world to me. And if you can't offer support financially, I will be equally elated to receive your encouragement emotionally. Words of kindness and good wishes are always appreciated.

I know everyone likes an incentive, and I love a good giveaway. The first reader to make a donation of $13.10 or more will receive this DVF "Love is Life" key fob. It comes with its own little dust bag and makes the perfect gift for you or someone you love. "Shopping" for a cause... you gotta love it.

When you donate - make sure to include in the "note" box that you are a JGIWC reader! I will contact you via email to get your address.

I turn 28 in two days! Woohoo!

#teddifail

Today was supposed to be the day that I regaled you with photos and tales of #teddieight, my birthday party spectacular. Sadly, I came down with a double case of the flu and the stomach virus last week and had to cancel.

WAH!

Oh hey BHB!

So today instead I will tell you to get a flu shot if you haven't already. And to get Tamiflu if you've already contracted it. I have never felt worse or been sicker in my life. So take care of yourselves! It's just too easy to catch something this time of year. Lately I've had so much on my plate that I've put sleep on the back burner when really it should be my first priority! I am striving for 7 hours of sleep when I should really be striving for at least 8. I'm going to listen to the health mags. I'm unplugging an hour before bedtime and I am not hitting snooze in the morning. 

Sleep lots. Wash your hands often. Take Airbourne. Bundle up. Don't get sick.

Luckily, birthday parties can always be rescheduled, and I'll be healthy to turn 28 on FRIDAY!

#teddieight Lust List

11 days 'til my birthday! A girl can dream...

Oster MyBlend Blender

I love that my smoothie can be a "one pot meal" with this little gadget! Pink, please!

lululemon Run: Inspire Crop II

I own a pair and I want more. Actually, what I really want is lots of lulu gift cards so that I can just buy these myself.

kate spade Things We Love coffee table book

My coffee table arrives Friday! What better to accessorize it with?

Elva Fields Gorgeous Glittering Day necklace

I've wanted one for so long and they're all so stunning.

J. Crew Arabelle dress in hummingbird floral

Dreaming of wearing this to a summer wedding.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM

Hey, I said a gal can dream!

Alex Woo Little Faith Lotus Blossom

A lotus blossom represents new beginnings, and I think that's what 28 will be all about.

In 2013, I vow to...

Last year, I set ten goals for myself on the first day of each month and gave myself until the last day to complete the list. Some were silly; some were serious. Some I accomplished and some I did not. I thought about doing it all again this year but I decided that 2013 is different than 2012, and in turn deserved something different. So I sat down with a bowl of Haagen Dazs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and wrote down the following "vows" for the new year.

Tell me: what vows will you take in 2013?

2012 in a nutshell

(borrowed from SGG!)

Favorite trip? Austin with one of my dearest friends was relaxing and delicious. LA to visit my closest friend from Birthright was wonderful and eye-opening. Charleston for my best friend's wedding was a weekend and experience I will never forget.

Favorite book? "The Innocents". I read a lot of good books last year but that one sticks out.

Favorite movie? I didn't see a ton of movies and I didn't love anything that I did see. If I absolutely had to pick, I would say "To Rome, With Love" or "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". EDIT: I just remembered that I saw "Silver Linings Playbook" right before the new year. So I pick that! It was phenomenal!

Favorite TV show? The League. I started watching it in real time a few months ago and caught up on Seasons 1-3 on Netflix over the break. Let me just say that I don't care about football and I don't understand fantasy leagues but this show is pure genius and every single episode has me in stitches. When I started watching it, I kept thinking that it felt like a sporty, younger version of Curb Your Enthusiasm, so I wasn't surprised to learn soon after that one of the creators actually used to write for Curb! Rodney Ruxin is my hero and I cannot get the "Shiva Bowl Shuffle" out of my head.

Favorite song? Album? Any great playlist at SoulCycle.

Favorite purchase? It's always tough to pick just one thing, but favorites include my kate spade charm heels, Jonathan Adler seahorse lamp, and anything from lululemon.

Favorite meal out? Congress with Sara in Austin is at the top of the list. Food in Texas will always have a special place in my heart. I also had two really spectacular meals in New York (well, many more than that - but two that stand out in particular) - one at Catch in the Meatpacking District and one at The Farmhouse in Bedford. 

Favorite new recipe? So glad you asked! My new kitchen deserves its own post. I'm doing a lot of experimenting but I've already made Skinnytaste's Pasta with Butternut Sauce, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach twice. Highly recommend!

Favorite day? It's impossible to pick just one. My birthday party. The Sports Bra Challenge. The day I met B, the day he said "I love you" for the first time, and the day we celebrated 6 months are my top 5.

Favorite development? MY APARTMENT! All roads lead to home and while this one was windy, bumpy, and long... it was worth every tear.

Favorite outfit? A navy dress and chandelier earrings when it was warm out. Oversized sweater, Minnie pants and Frye boots when it was cold out.

Favorite holiday? My birthday. :)