Daytime TV Shows

I am not a huge television viewer, which is really upsetting to my husband who loves TV. I grew up very busy with dance, and was unable to spend hours upon hours in front of the television. I actually do not think this is a terrible thing, quite the opposite to be honest. But the last few days have been glorious, I have had the opportunity to explore so many daytime talk shows that I really enjoy!

My favorite is the new show, ‘The Real,’ which is broadcasted on Fox. Have you seen this show? It is definitely gearing towards a younger, more ethnically diverse crowd, perhaps those that may have watched ‘The View’ or ‘The Talk.’ I do believe the ladies of the ‘The Real’ have some polishing up to do, but overall they are quite entertaining and I love all the ladies wardrobe choices. Did you catch today’s episode with Christina Milan?

I had no idea she had her own wine distributing company or that she was a producer/writer. Ha, the things you learn when you actually watch tv!

My second favorite daytime show is ‘Live with Kelly and Michael,’ also on Fox. (I am in no way endorsing Fox!!!) A few weeks ago they had a show with Nicole Murphy, Michael’s fiancée, which had me dying. Nicole revealed Michael’s Top 10 Things You Don’t Know About Michael …

Nicole is absolutely gorgeous! Like honestly! Her B-O-D-Y! I am crushing so hard! And I heart her personality! I would die to meet her in person.

Nichole in a swim suite, like really! How old is this woman? What type of exercising does she do? I need to jump on that bandwagon ASAP!

What daytime television shows do you watch?

Michelyn

My Curly Girl Revelation

It has been about 6 years since I encumbered the big chop! What “chop” am I referring to you ask? The moment when I realized that I wanted to be free of my relaxer (hair straightener) and wanted to celebrate my natural hair.

Well, there was also the fact that I was about to give up my title as Miss Wisconsin USA and I felt a need for a change. It was almost as if I had a midlife crisis of sorts… What could I do to signify this next chapter in my life? Chopping my hair to my collarbone, the shortest I have ever worn my hair, begin the transition to natural hair seemed like a good starting point.

This was a few months after the big "chop" so it had grown out quite a bit!

The last six years have been interesting with the exploration of my curls. I seem to have 3B type of curls. Naturallycurly.com explains 3B as: “well-defined, springy, copious curls that range from bouncy ringlets to tight corkscrews. 3b curls' circumference are Sharpie size. Type 3b hair can be straightened, but it's definitely a chore. Type 3b hair generally isn't particularly shiny and its texture can be quite coarse. Gels and creams work best to reduce frizz and add definition.”

Now that all of my relaxed hair has grown out, I still struggle with finding curly hair products that maintain my curls like the stars showcased below. But, I do not regret my decision to go natural since it is so simple. I workout quite a bit (5-6 days a week) and maintaining straight hair is virtually impossible. I personally never straighten my hair; rather, I visit a professional to tackle that task. I do not agree with the above description about the shine of my hair… In my opinion, my hair is shiny and
healthier than it was when I relaxed it.

Some stars with 3B curls include:

Keri Russell

Bernadette Peters

Alicia Keys

Do you have curly hair? What type?

If you transitioned to natural hair, why did you decide to take the plunge?

What hair products do you love?


Michelyn

Keeping Yourself & Family Safe: A Few Tips

Over the last few days I received an email from my father pertaining to precautionary tactics we all can employ to keep our personal identity safe. Actually, he simply re-sent this message to my husband and I, and, of course, I now wish I had taken the original email more seriously.

In addition, I have been perusing the internet pertaining to keeping your house safe in case of a home robbery.

FINANCIAL &IDENTITY MATTERS:

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put ‘PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work
address. Also consider not having your name, address, and phone number listed.

4. Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks. Or, more importantly, never carry your card with you in your wallet! (Very glad, that I NEVER carry my SS card with me!)

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel… Keep the photocopy in a safe place.

This was the most frustrating when waiting on the line… Of course when I want to make a purchase I practically know my CC numbers by heart, but when in a panic! Jeeze! Also, I only carry around minimal CC (credit cards), in general. I am contemplating not carrying them around at all, unless I know I’m making a big purchase. The fewer CCs that you need to have changed the better!

PROTECTING YOUR HOUSE:

1. Invest in a home security system.

2. Avoid placing valuables near windows or in visible locations. Also invest in window treatments that conceal the inside of your home.

3. Excellent exterior is very vital, especially if your yard is dotted with dark and shrubbery areas. You need not spend a fortune on these lights. Efficient flood lights shall do the needful. Motion sensing lights are also quite popular as they trigger with the slightest motion. You may also heat sensing lights that turn on automatically when a human body is detected.

4. Shrubs and overgrown trees can prove to be an asset to the burglars. Assure that you prune overgrown and large trees. Moreover, you may also use landscaping as an advantage. Try to plant some thorny plants and shrubs with prickly leaves around your apartment as a natural barrier to deter the thieves.

5. Avoid storing your valuables in obvious hiding places such under your pillow and mattress or inside a cookie jar, etc. Better yet, buy a home safe for all valuables and important documents.

6. All the exterior wooden doors should be made of solid wood with at least 2 inches in thickness. Nothing can be better if you can install metal doors.

7. Doorknobs do not offer any reliable security. Install deadbolt lock in all the exterior doors. Also install peepholes in all the doors. I have been watching quite a bit of BGTV and saw a cute remodel in which they installed gorgeous glass doors… Although we were not considering a glass door- thinking that will nerve occur in any home of mine!

8. Make it a habit to lock windows, sliding glass doors and draw the curtains during the evening time and when you are going out.

9. When going out of town, put your mail on hold with the USPS. Also consider purchasing timers for your home lights to give the impression that you are home.

I have never been an extreme worrier, but I will now be going through all these precautionary steps and more. Hope you all decide to take a walk around your house, and employ some of the financial/identity precautionary methods too.

Michelyn

Keeping Positive: Head High Yet "On A Swivel"

It has been a few days since I last blogged; and I had true intentions of 21 days of continual progress updates per my 21-day detox plan. Unfortunately, my life was completely turned upside down during a trip to  a local grocery store. I am not going to get into the specifics of the event here - but, as I stated on my Facebook page, please be extra vigilant in these dangerous times. I would consider myself a pretty observant person, not easily distracted and always on a mission (you remember my to-do list discussion). However, what I have come to learn is that some people are so desperate and in need of a "quick fix" (to get drugs or simply cash that they did not out-rightly earn), that they will target damn near anyone, even in broad daylight on the busiest day of the week (ie., Sunday), in a nice suburban neighborhood.

Wow! I have not had similar feelings of complete astonishment since I won the title of Miss Wisconsin USA, albeit that astonishment was pure bliss; whereas, currently I am in a state that can not be described completely in words. I am now filled with turmoil, stress and anxiety, and complete disbelief of the events on Sunday. I am trying to not labor on the things/actions that I could have done differently (I was not even on  my cell phone! or distracted in any way!)... I am a very critical person, especially of myself, and I am battling with chastising myself when I am the VICTIM!

It is my hope and intent that this situation does not turn me into a coward - one who is afraid to enjoy life and all the great things around me. I am certain that I will heal from these events, eventually. I can replace all the materials things taken from me! I will recover from the internal ramifications because of the loving support of my husband, parents, relatives, and dear friends... I wonder if those perpetrators can say the same if they were in my shoes? I think not, they are filled with emptiness and lack of love, support and overall human basic needs. I can say that I am filled to the brim and beyond!

My 21-day detox plan has been put on delay... I will get to that task shortly in my life. Currently, I am centering my soul and mind; trying to remind myself of the positive things that are currently occurring.

Michelyn

Day of Rest & Detox

Well hello from Starbucks! 

Coach Kemp has begun his July recruiting schedule a tad bit early with a little "teaser" trip to Indianapolis. He left early this morning and is planning to return home in time for dinner! His four-day trips will commence this Wednesday! Since he left, I decided to take it easy today. Ha, you see that "to-do" list in the corner. That actually was not on purpose, but after looking at the photo, I figured it was quite fitting. Do you write to-do lists? I am notorious for them. I have about three on our fridge right now, two of items to purchase at Home Depot and Bed, Bath, and Beyond; while, the second is my general to-do list with things like change address for things such as my credit card, car payment, etc. I know iPhones have the list app, but I have an affinity for actually marking or crossing items off the list! (I can't believe I'm sharing how truly nutty I am). Now, my lists are never in sequential order as my next line of business is to browse and enjoy our area mall. The mall close to our house is a Westfield Corporation, similar to the two in Madison.  Jason was ecstatic during his interview stay to report that the mall would be to my standards. Think I should go walk around so I will know the lay of the land. 

Yesterday's update post alluded to my progress, but I neglected you all of pictures.... Well,here is the progress from a room full of boxes to the mess now sprawled out in our two-car garage. 

This is right after the movers left.... Not too bad, right?

Around 5:00pm when I thought this would never end....

The garage aftermath! I promise this is a two-car garage, but the boxes have completely taken over! 

The heavens opened last night while opening an un-identified box that was upstairs in our master suite. It was around 11:00pm, Jason was laboring over some new outdoor furniture and I decided that my unpacking of boxes upstairs could wait. I had a very enjoyable Lush bubble bath!! 

Detox Update:

Coach and I recently joined a boot camp style gym here in Toledo, frequented by many of the UT athletic department employees.  Well, they provided their members with an optional 21-day Detox Challenge. I figure since I have many new things going on in my life, why not start out this whole experience from a different prospective. I have never done a detox of any sorts and SUCK at diets... So as you can see, my past experiences indicate that this will be a huge failure. I got to thinking, many of the bloggers that I follow document their work-outs and/or diet plans to keep themselves accountable, maybe I should give this thing a whirl. So, for the next 21 days I will document my food intake in hopes of sticking to the plan. 

The Plan:

Vegetables (no white potatoes)

Fruit

Fat

Quality protein

Water

Basically, the plan consists of very, very, clean eating for those of you familiar with the "clean eating" philosophy. 

I will get more specific tomorrow about the Detox as well as my food intake for Day 1. 

Michelyn

Move-In Update!

Well hello from Chick-fil-A!

I had to return a few items from our wedding registries that we got multiples of and decided to get a Diet Dr. Pepper and share some updates on our progress.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that the movers arrived bright and early yesterday! Coach and I stayed up until past midnight opening boxes! We only took two breaks - one for brunch and the other for dinner. Each of those breaks also consisted of visits to Home Depot and Lowe's. I have been to two of the many Home Depot's in the Toledo area. And, today we again went to Home Depot and Lowe's! It was a nice change in pace to get dressed for the mall for my returns at Macy's and Williams-Sonoma's, despite the fact that I ran in and out quite quickly!

I am proud to state the HUGE process we have made in opening boxes. Sorry, no pictures but I can share that there are NO boxes in the Living Room! Woot woot. But, one would not want to enter our garage! Pure mayhem! Do you know if local trash service providers will retrieve large amounts of trash on off-days? Our weekly pick-up is on Fridays, but we can not wait until then, and more importantly, all of our trash will not fit into our curb trash receptacle.

Well, I am off to start organizing the kitchen! Yesterday we purchased an additional storage unit from Lowe's, pictured below, and Jason completed assembling it this afternoon after another trip to Lowe's. Lowe's and Home Depot are man's best friends. He has gotten so many toys the last few days....

Michelyn

Hip hip Hooray for Friday

So, in my last post way back in May, the title also expressed my excitement for a looming Friday. Well, today my Friday excitement is magnified times 1,000 since tomorrow we MOVE-IN to our FIRST home!!!! (Hmm, thinking I can't express my true excitement in multiple exclamation points, but I think you folks get the picture.)

Wow, it's been a long 6 weeks since Coach Kemp originally left Fargo for our new adventure at the University of Toledo. Yes, we spent nearly six weeks apart. Let me tell you, those weeks flew by especially the month of June. Is it really July?!? 

I will need to do a better recap because it was filled with me hosting the 3rd Annual North Dakota Response to Intervention Conference, my 5 year Miss USA anniversary trip to Vegas, a quick trip to Toledo, a few job interviews, and packing/ finishing of reports in Fargo!! Yes, people I did all the packing solo. Wait, wait let me take that back. Coach Kemp did pack a few items that he was certain I would "accidentally" forget to pack. Dag, how does that man know me so well, hehe! I, of course, was eyeing a few things to " forget", but he made that task impossible!! Actually, I did rid ourselves of his worn-out office chair! Michelyn - 5 Coach Kemp -0. 

Overall, the whole packing thing wasn't too terrible.  I did do quite a lot of moaning and complaining to my husband, but overall, pretty simple. Lets see what I think tomorrow when the movers come. I admitted to Coach that I did a haphazard job labeling boxes. I did get to a point, where things were being placed in random boxes simply because they fit. There are also a good number of boxes with no labels. Don't judge!!! I'm sure by our 3rd or 4th move that I will be a professional. If I may toot my own horn for a second, it's my blog so I can do that, our moving specialist did comment how well I did. He sees packers everyday, so I'm patting myself on the back for a job well done. 

Then, I drove solo from Fargo to Toledo on a multi city Midwestern tour through Minneapolis, Madison, and Chicago to visit with some friends and family. It was impossible to see everyone, but I got in as many visits as Michelyn possible (3-5 people each day :) )!! 

For the past eight days, Coach Kemp and I have been residing in an extended stay! Check out the cute kitchen. 

 I'm currently doing laundry, packing our bags and getting ready for the movers arrival at 8am!!

Hope your summer has been swell. 

Michelyn