Cast Iron GLORY

Behold: the cast ­iron­ pan pizza


This pizza is the best thing that ever happened to me, other than y’know my birth and whatnot.
it’s pretty delicious. And by delicious I mean LIFE. CHANGING.

That’s right. This pizza is like finding true love. Probably better, because you’re not really allowed to eat your true love.
Not in this society, anyways.
oh, I am so alone.
ANYWAY
PIZZA
PIZZA IS SO GREAT

This particular pizza is made in a gigantic cast iron pan, which is ideal #1 because it’s like a tiny oven in and of itself, allowing for optimal baking quality and #2 because you don’t
have to ever clean it. Just let it sit and collect up all those flavors. because that’s why I don’t clean it, not because I’m lazy.
I just want to use this opportunity to say that most pizza recipes found on baking blogs really piss me off. It’s probably the use of imperatives that causes it more than anything:

“Let the dough rise for blah blah hours” “heat the oven to 550*”

YOU DON’T KNOW ME, FASCIST BAKER
YOU DON’T KNOW MY PROBLEMS

For all you know, I might like my dough to rise for 3 hours instead of 1 or 5.

I might want to bake my pizza at 500* or maybe my oven only heats up to that temperature, you don’t know.

Being sponsored by King Arthur Flour doesn’t give you the right to DICTATE MY BAKING PROCEDURES especially with pizza, which is something everyone has a different preference for. Thin
crust. Deep dish. Cheesy crust. Maybe you like your crust a little burnt or a little uncooked, because you are an animal.
It’s like a savory Starbucks up in here!
I give up.

But if, by chance, this pizza seems like the right one for you, basically just heat that oven right on up to your temperature of preference (which you should probably prefer to be
around 500* F), plunk that pizza dough in the (maybe well­oiled?) pan (and maybe let it sit for an hour but that’s just a suggestion), throw some pizza­-ey ingredients on top (or leave it plain, if you enjoy that minimalist look for your food. and if you hate flavor) and bake it for as long as you want (or until the crust looks like a dark golden-­brown, around 15 minutes). And then enjoy (OR NOT!! WHATEVER YOU LIKE!!).

Okay, I kind of get the imperatives now. That wasn’t even a proper recipe and it took forever to type.
But still.
This is America, after all.

LUSH (more organic stuff I put on my face and my hair....)

I know, it's been a minute since we posted. But really, when you have nothing to writ about, you have nothing to write about. So... sorry, not sorry.

I recently purchased several items from a cosmetic company called LUSH. They are committed to making all natural, organic, chemical free products such as soaps, conditioners, shampoos, facial masks, acne treatment, moisturizers, deodorants, etc. They also do not test their products on animals. I heard about Lush through one of my favorite youtubers, and decided to give it a try. No worries, I am still in love with Chagrin Valley, but it doesn't hurt to branch out, am I right? Of course right.

Of all 5 products I purchased, I love all 5. Seriously, these products are wondrous, and I am so peeved that I spent so much time and money putting chemicals in my hair and going to the dermatologists to be prescribed 500 different chemical/ medicinal treatments for my skin which NEVER WORKED. I have found the Mecca of skin and hair care products. Combined with Chagrin, I have achieved the status of WUNDERHAIR. I will explain in the following paragraphs:

Firstly, I love the shampoo bars from Chagrin, but I found recently that my hair has been a tad dry, probably due to the delightfully scorching weather around these parts. I purchased the "American Cream"  (clever, no?) conditioner from Lush. Firstly people, this thing smells like... a garden of just... dreams and rainbows and puppies. It is delightful. Some of the ingredients are as follows: Vanilla pod infusion (yummy), fresh organic oranges (ORANGES, PEOPLE), fresh strawberries (There are strawberries in my hair. Literally), clary sage oil, and lavender oil. There are other ingredients, less interesting, too numerous. Sorry if oxford commas annoy you, but I will never stop using them.
This conditioner, besides making me smell like everyone's favorite smell ever, makes my hair very light and soft. It is very de-tangling as well, so if you have that problem then you should check this out. PICTURE TIME:

 

Alright, the second product is a facial moisturizer called "Celestial". Before this, I was using a moisturizer from Neutrogena which I am pretty sure was making my face break out into oozing craters like nobodies business (Sorry Neutrogena...but...you kind of are awful). Celestial is the lightest, best covering moisturizer I have ever used. Not to mention the heavenly scent it exudes from your pores is other-worldly. I was slightly concerned when it arrived and I saw how small the container is, but this thing will last me until Christmas. You hardly have to use any to get full face-coverage. Highly recommend. It has a very vanilla-y scent.
 

 

(I think this eyebrow is just chronically...up)

 

The next product is a facial mask entitled: "Mask of Magnaminty". It's got mint in it... so... You can use it for your face and/or back. This container is a pretty good size. I've done the mask three times so far, and I really like it. It seems to really close up pores and reduce redness. And it smells like mint and grass after a rainstorm, so that's a plus. You only have to leave it on for 5-10 minutes, so it's a nice one if you are pressed for time. It is very cleansing.

 

 

The next product is probably my most favorite, because it has healed my skin. Which has not been this clear in 2 years. It's a gel called "Grease Lightning", and you just spread it on your trouble spots twice a day, and it works wonders. At least, it did for me. And after years of dermatologist visits and pills and 1,000 different creams three times a day, this has been the cheapest, most effective product I have ever used. It is beautiful. And I love it. My skin has almost completely healed in only 1 week.

 

 

(I don't know what this face is and I don't care)

 

The last product I purchased from Lush is a toner water called "Eau Roma Water". It is basically a cold tea infusion of rose hips and lavender, so again with the amaze-smelling face. I put it on once a day before the moisturizer and after the grease lightning, and it really helps keep my skin hydrated. I have naturally pretty dry skin, so I need all the help I can get. Also, keep this in your refrigerator and spritz it on in the morning and it will feel so nice. Especially in the summer, eau lala! 

 

Not going to lie; these products were on the pricey side. But you know what? They work. And I'm not putting chemicals and all sorts of nasty bad stuff on my hair or my skin anymore. I mean, skin is your largest organ...so you should probably be nice to it and treat it well. Or it will turn on you. Now, just as a rule, one should read all ingredients before using. Just because someone says they are organic and chemical free does not necessarily mean that they are. These products are, but I am given to understand that there are a few Lush products that are less then chemically free. Just as a warning, read all ingredients before use. These 5 are great though.

One more thing I started doing recently is drinking an absurd amount of water. I got a glass water container from the grocery store (Voss...that fancy Norwegian water) and I've been drinking about 2 1/2 - 3 of those a day. It's been helping with the skin issue and the insomnia issue and the depressed issue. Yay nature.

That thing is bigger than it looks. One of those is about 28 ounces. YUMMAY. Put fruit in your water too. It makes it more appealing. And pretty. And presentation is everything. Right?

 

 

 

The Secret Garden

Annie and I decided to watch "The Secret Garden" today. It was one of our favorite films growing up, and I recently found out that Francis Ford Coppola was one of the executive producers for the film, which was a fun fact, realizing that one of my favorite directors was involved with one of my favorite films as a child. I am not sure what it is about "The Secret Garden" that is so appealing to me. It has an aura of mystery and tragedy that is unapologetically woven into the tale. I remember it being the first film I watched that made me cry. I think I was about five or six years old at the time.

The movie, based upon the book by Francis Hodgson Burnett, reflects the lonely lives of abandonment led by two ten year old children living in a gloomy old mansion in the English countryside. One child is abandoned by her parents through their deaths, the other, bedridden and sickly, is rejected by his deeply distressed and
heartbroken father. The story has something very tangible and earnest about it. It is a story of healing through nature, but it takes real loss and tragedy and turns haunted memories into joyful ones. It also not only heals the children, but it also heals the adults in their lives.

The movie is filmed with a lot of simplicity: it is a story originally meant for children, so there aren't any "big" scenes to film. But the cinematography, combined with the truly gorgeous score makes the film very moving. There are also so many subtleties in the film that I noticed watching it this time around that I never noticed before. Fun fact: Elijah Wood and Kirsten Dunst were both turned down for the roles of the two children in favor of two unknowns, (Heydon Prowse and Kate Maberly) which always makes me happy. 

The Doldrums of Post-Graduation

Well... it has been awhile. And I have to say, despite the amount of homework I have had to complete in order to graduate from college, which I did last weekend, I have been avoiding this blog. I have not felt like writing, and I have not been inspired to write anything lately. And although I have plenty of things to write about now, such as five days in NYC, various fantastic concerts, people thinking that I am racist, and the horrible nagging fear of having my wisdom teeth extracted, I just do not feel like writing about these things as of yet, so instead I will just be writing about not wanting to write.
 
There have been a lot of incidents leading up to this complete lack of inspiration, but I believe the band Keane says it best "everything is changing, and I don't feel the same". That pretty much sums it up right now. Everyone is moving on with life, and I can't stop that from happening. It just feels like I am standing in the middle of a room while everyone I care about is leaving it in slow motion, and I am powerless to stop it from happening. And most of this "leaving" is in the form of things you are supposed to be really happy about, such as graduation or marriage. And while that's really great and exciting, it's also kind of the saddest time I have ever experienced. So I suppose that is why I have pretty much been watching Lena Dunham's show "Girls" on repeat for the last month.

After graduation, I just felt this void. It was not this crazy wonderful experience. I did not feel accomplished, I did not feel relieved. I felt horrified, and scared, and alone. I just stared at that piece of paper declaring me a Bachelor of Arts and all I could think of was the time... the time and money and work that went into that little piece of paper. A paper that did not even have my major on it. I don't know what I had expected, but I thought maybe it would have all the jobs that I had to work in order to get through college listed on there, or maybe all the sleepless nights somehow accounted for, or all the people who had helped me pull through it with their names listed, or all the pain I had gone through transferring and my trouble with the registrar and all of my personal relationships with people all written down there somewhere. But all it said was "Bachelor of Arts".

I guess I am writing this down because I am sure I am not the only person who has felt this way before. So hopefully if you are going through the same thing, you will be able to relate.

And hopefully I will find something real to write about soon.
 

More on Shampoo Bars

Since there was such a big response to our post about using organic shampoo bars to replace normal shampoo, I thought I would post a few videos below that I found helpful when I was trying to find more information on organic shampoo. Both videos were made by "venusinfurs", and the first video discusses her overall experience with organic shampoo bars. In the second video, she compiles a very helpful collection of reviews on various shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley. As she states in her video, just because she might have used a bar that does not work for her, it does not mean that it won't work for you, so keep an open mind whilst watching. My personal favorite bar is the Auburn Henna. I really love the smell, and it adds a lot of shine to my hair, as well as volume. It is specifically designed for people with red hair, however, so it may not be the best for those of you with different hair colors. Also, she says in the first video that she only brushes her hair once a week, and I don't do that. I still brush my hair once a day, but as she says, there is a significant decrease in the amount of time that you have to spend brushing it to keep tangles out. Beneath the videos, I've posted the link for Chagrin Valley, so you can peruse their website at your leisure. I hope this is helpful for all of the people who expressed an interest in these products.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/

D IS FOR DEMON AND FOR DERMATOLOG​IST

Today I thought I’d give you all some very handy information.
This information is in regards to the exact identity of the Devil.
So, yeah, pretty important.
The Devil. He is your dermatologist. Not someone else’s. Yours.
Let me clarify. I HAVE ACNE. I HAVE IT ON MY FACE. We’ll stick with that information for now, that feels like enough. I’ve had acne for years now, and there’s no end in sight. So my parents, being the merciful and visually gifted people that they are, saw my plight and started looking into finding a dermatologist for me. Because my face looked like Pompeii on a daily basis, I was more than okay with that.
So this first dermatologist put me on antibiotics and this facial cleanser that smelled and looked like rotten eggs.
Absolutely nothing changed.
We lost hope for a while, I figured out how to use makeup, it was fine.
Then it started getting worse, so my mom sent me to a different doctor, one who very professionally took down my symptoms and plugged them into WebMD to get my exact diagnosis. Not really. Maybe. Took about that long and cost infinitely more. She prescribed antibiotics, cleaner, gel, lotion, and a medicated moisturizer. I put all this crap on my face in the morning, washed it off at night, put more on, washed it off in the morning, put more on, etc. This crap cost an amount of money I was afraid to look at when my mom came back from the drugstore with the receipt.
A few months later, after using these prescriptions religiously and getting absolutely zero results, I went to a music camp for a week and forgot my medicine at home. So I spent a week washing my face zero times a day. At the end of the week, I had next to no acne on my face. At all. This was probably due to my drinking about 10 gallons of water every day as well as not torturing my skin with the medication.
So I stopped using this stuff.
My skin continued to be fine, not particularly good at times, but never really bad. Then I had another appointment a little while ago, after my skin had been AWESOME for like 2 weeks. The dermatologist looked at my skin, said “oh, I can see you’re really starting to have bad breakouts right now” and prescribed about 50 more things for me to apply to my face.
Immediately after starting this new medication, my skin got HORRIFICALLY bad. The cleanser she gave me was chafing my skin and irritating what was already an issue, and the moisturizer (which is about 50% WATER in the first place) did NOTHING.
So I just quit. I got my mom to buy me some coconut oil, because the internet said so. I continued using the cleaner in addition to the oil, and nothing really improved, just stabilized. Then I dropped the dermatologist’s regime entirely, used Burt’s Bees cleaners and the oil, and in about 2 days my skin was back to normal.
I mean, use your common sense, obviously. If the prescription meds work for you, glory hallelujah, you found a dermatologist who has had the demon exorcised from their mortal soul. But most of the time, the deal with skin cleansers is the same as the deal with shampoo. They give you a cleanser that will strip your skin of every bad and every good thing, forcing you to spend more money on an unnecessary moisturizer (any artificial moisturizer will contain water, I guarantee you that, meaning that it WILL do you more harm than good) to repair some, but not all, of the damage. It’s a vicious cycle. If you feel the need to exfoliate, cinnamon is like a miracle, and baking soda will also do the trick. And it’s cheap. This is a win-win situation here.
Instead of giving grotesque before and after photos, I’m just going to show you the beginnings of a Totoro poster I’m making for my baby brother. It’s adorable. Unlike my skin.

You Should Probably Not Use Shampoo Anymore

Alrighty, so most people get real grossed out when I tell them that I haven't used shampoo or conditioner in my hair for over 5 months. I was perusing around the internet sometime last year, when I found an article describing what shampoo really does to your hair. In the article, I read that back in the good old days, people just used soap to clean their hair. Just ordinary, every day soap like you would clean a dish with. But then, around the beginning of the 20th century, detergents came along. Guess what shampoo is? That's right. It's detergent. Like you would use to scrub the scum off of your bathroom floor. Whose brilliant idea was it to wash your hair with that? Shampoo actually strips your hair of all of its natural oils that keep it healthy. So guess what was invented next to counteract the nasty dryness that shampoo was causing? Conditioner. It was invented to cover up the damage that shampoo does to your hair. Of course, it's all presented like it's such a great thing that you should definitely rub through your scalp every morning.

When I read that I was essentially putting in my hair the same stuff that I would put in my dishwasher, I did further research, and found a company in Solon, Ohio  (Chagrin Valley Soap) that makes a bunch of organic, natural soaps, including "shampoo bars", which are used on hair.

I started using these shampoo bars, and let me tell you, it was not pretty. It took about a month for the soap to strip all the gunk out of my hair that the shampoo and conditioner had left behind. It was pretty disheartening.

Now however, I have been using the Auburn Henna shampoo bar for 5 months, and it is brilliant. All it has in it is babassu oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, organic palm oil, organically grown henna, organic coconut milk, organic hibiscus, indigo, and rosemary extract. Sounds pretty dandy compared to what you would read on the back of a shampoo bottle.

Anyway, I used to have to wash my hair every single day, no exceptions, or it would get oily and dried out and FEEL so dirty. I hated going one single day without washing my hair.

Now...I only have to wash it twice a week. It's ridiculous. And even on the days when it starts to look a little dirty, it still feels clean. It saves me so much time in the morning. Also, it makes my hair naturally soft, so I have not used conditioner since November. I know.

I order one shampoo bar about every two months. They're about $13.00 after shipping and handling. But they arrive pretty quickly, and they smell so good. All you do is just create a lather with it and rub it through your scalp. It's pretty darn easy to use.

I know that some people like doing the baking soda/ apple cider vinegar rinse. I just didn't find that that worked for me. The vinegar started making my hair turn blonde, and I personally like being ginger.

I would definitely recommend this product to anyone. Literally, anyone. Also, they make really great soaps. I've been using their dead sea salt soap and it's done better things for my skin than years of visits to the dermatologist. Mother nature strikes again.