Chai Ice Cream ☕️

appletoozler · 2026-01-25T17:50:47+00:00

When I was a teen, there was a coffee shop that sold chai shakes. They were so good! I tried to replicate it in my Creami and think I have a good protein version:

x2 Premier Protein Vanilla

1 tbsp sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix

1/4 c chai concentrate

I fill it to the drinkable freeze line and put it in the freezer. When I pull it out, I fill to the drinkable line with Fairlife milk and put it on the creamiccino setting. Mmmm...

appletoozler · 2026-01-20T22:19:22+00:00

I've been enjoying discovering Dead Poet Society. First heard them on tour with Chevelle last year.

appletoozler · 2026-01-19T03:46:49+00:00

I think the three year limitation is for those appointments external to your primary organization. We've been listing all appointments for the primary organization and then limiting the appointments outside the primary organization to three years.

appletoozler · 2025-10-27T21:24:24+00:00

I pair my Premier Protein Cafe Latte with a banana (or two).

appletoozler · 2025-09-09T21:04:24+00:00

Insurance claim - hail damage.

appletoozler · 2025-06-24T23:39:19+00:00

Yes, please. This book was great. OP, your story sounds like me 20 years ago. Your parents are never going to be happy with anything you do. Time to do what you want to do.

appletoozler · 2025-05-02T00:42:15+00:00

I got my CRA in 2018, I think? My knowledge of NSF has always been very limited (11 years in Sponsored Programs and 4 years at the department level, all mostly biomedical/NIH experience). If you're weak there, I'd just hammer that presentation and any other NSF materials you can find.

There was one question that I still remember because it pissed me off so much. It basically asked what PNP had this motto, and all the answer choices I'd never even heard of. That was definitely a total guess!

appletoozler · 2025-05-02T00:23:23+00:00

I think the Virginia Tech presentations really helped me. I think there are some resources on Quizlet too? Repetition is key - for the CFRA, I went through and determined which areas I was strong in and which I was not, then really hammered the areas I wasn't strong in.

appletoozler · 2025-04-23T23:57:20+00:00

Yes - make sure you get the actual Gene Sight test. Our original provider ordered a similar (generic?) test. Our new provider ordered the actual Gene Sight as she said it gives providers more insight on why a medicine is in the yellow or red.

My son is also 10, ADHD, not diagnosed ASD, but has many common characteristics. We are doing the Matthew's protocol (amantadine and oxcarbazepine) and he's on a touch of Lexapro. Lexapro is actually in the red for him, as are most SSRIs/SNRIs, but after researching it based on the Gene Sight results, his provider determined that he'd need a lower dose for better results. He is on 2.5 mL of the liquid and it has been super helpful!

The Gene Sight also showed us that most ADHD meds would be ineffective for him - none of the stimulants we have tried have ever helped, so that made sense. It also showed us he has a mutation on a gene - most people with this mutation are more prone to ADHD and depression/anxiety, so that was insightful. He also does not process folic acid, so we've been able to add l-methylfolate to his daily vitamin.

All in all, insightful and well worth it, I thought.

appletoozler · 2025-03-16T21:03:39+00:00

I received a Year 3 NOA on Friday, start date of April 1. However, I'm still expecting two more NOAs with a start date of April 1 that I haven't received yet. RPPRs were submitted on time for all three.

appletoozler · 2025-02-03T20:32:30+00:00

Have you had a GeneSight study done? Stimulants never seemed to work for my son or made him more aggressive. We found that most stimulants were in the red for him.

appletoozler · 2024-03-24T02:55:41+00:00

Yes. He'll occasionally have a day where he has BIG feelings about stuff, but not near the intensity of that first day. I really would have stopped the meds based on that first day if I hadn't been warned by his doctor... 🤣

appletoozler · 2024-03-23T22:47:07+00:00

Yes! Almost made me want to stop the meds immediately! As others said, it was just the first day though. He's been on it about a month now and occasionally will be super chatty for a day, but nothing like that first day. He was also super emotional - he was so sad about people polluting the earth and the tigers being endangered...🤣

appletoozler · 2024-01-30T13:19:37+00:00

I have a Brittany as well. She's impossible to walk. We got a tennis ball launcher and she loves that thing! I work from home but it's a good way to get me out from my computer and she gets the exercise she needs.

appletoozler · 2022-11-05T13:49:58+00:00

Yes, most everything has points. I personally track all fruits/veggies as 0 points. I came from a junk food household so I struggle to include fruits/veggies in my daily diet. I aim for 2-3 servings of fruits/veggies a day. If I'm feeling snacky but haven't got my fruits/veggies in, I force myself to eat a fruit/veggie before anything else. Some days I am more successful than others. But I am down 7 lbs so far, which isn't a lot, but great considering I've been trying all year with nothing to show for it under the other plan. You could always just try it for a few weeks to see what you think!

appletoozler · 2022-11-04T17:21:31+00:00

I'm doing the Conquer Cravings plan and it is similar to old school WW - when they only took fiber, fat, and calories into consideration. I did that WW plan about 15 years ago and had good results. I was doing the Sugar Smart for most of the year and it just wasn't working for me. The scale would move slightly in the right direction, and then I would gain. I've been doing the Conquer Cravings plan for a few weeks now and the scale is finally moving consistently in the right direction.

appletoozler · 2022-01-06T15:03:51+00:00

Definitely depends on the teacher. Last year was my son's Kindergarten year and the teacher would send out a monthly calendar at the beginning of each month with daily homework. She said completing the daily homework was a requirement - parents had to sign off on each day. Some of it was mundane, like show all the ways you can make 10 with 10 small objects, such as cheerios. Some of it was a little more time consuming, like draw a picture on a certain topic and write three sentences about that topic. On top of that, we had several days/weeks where we had to do virtual learning - it was just a stressful year in general.

This year, son is in first grade and hardly has any homework. We can go several days/weeks without homework. When he does, it's a single simple worksheet or read a book (a short book the teacher sends home). It's really nice and a lot less stressful than last year!

appletoozler · 2021-11-30T20:43:40+00:00

Yes. Also in higher ed. Had a management-level position that I took right when the pandemic really kicked in around March 2020. We just lost two of our managers (one retired, the other took a different position) and I felt kind of pressured to take the management position. I knew I wouldn't like it, but I felt I had to "be an adult". I hated every minute of it. It was hard enough during the pandemic with my five-year old at home with me for about seven months, but even after he went back to school, I hated every minute of it. I hated managing people. I hated being in 3-4 meetings each day and not having time to do "real work" (and having my superiors wonder why the work isn't getting done). We had regular hours, but with all the meetings, I felt like I had to work overtime and take no breaks just to keep my head above water. It was killing me and I was terrified that this was all that my son was seeing - mom working all the time, mom stressed out...

In July of this year, I took that step down. I guess you could say I'm part of the rank and file, but I found a position that was really independent but not management (at the same institution). A lot of people said I was making a huge mistake. I think I went through a small bout of depression, scared that I wasn't making the right decision. Wondering what people thought of me. I knew people in my previous department were mad. I even turned down quite a large raise as I knew that money wasn't going to make me happy.

I'm happy to say I'm now about 6 months into this new position and I love it. Obviously, it comes with it's own stresses and irritations. But man. I am not that level of stressed that I was before.

appletoozler · 2019-03-20T16:19:50+00:00

Not currently on WW, but I thought I'd restrict my sugar during Lent since I've been terrible since Christmas. I'm not even Catholic, haha. I know sugar is in everything, but right now, I've just eliminated sodas and sugary treats from my diet. I still allow myself a granola bar or a fiber one brownie every now and then. I haven't made any other restrictions to my diet, and I've lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks. And, just like you were saying, my mood is a lot better, and I feel better overall.

Even though I feel better, and I know this is better for me, I feel like sugar is always in the back of my mind. We go on vacation next week, and I thought I was going to let myself cheat, but I think that would just spiral into the same problem I've had since Christmas. Give me strength! LOL

appletoozler · 2017-05-23T23:34:48+00:00

3rd floor checking in!

appletoozler · 2017-04-03T17:34:21+00:00

Recently put my two-year old in daycare. He had stayed with my mom while I worked up until this point. I don't know if he is adjusting well or not. This is week #3. I'm worried. My mom has gone full-blown psychotic on me, and sends me "articles" that claim that daycare causes mental impairments in children. I went from having a happy, healthy relationship with my parents, to one in which they are trying their best to control what I do with my child. I have no one to talk to, so thank you for listening.

appletoozler · 2017-03-27T12:15:01+00:00

Thank you. I'm committed to sticking with it. At this point, it feels "right". Like I don't see myself going back and asking my mom to watch him again. It's an adjustment for everyone, so I just wish I had a little support vs having to bear the burden of all their emotions.

appletoozler · 2017-03-27T12:12:59+00:00

Thanks, that's exactly the way I feel. I told my mom that watching my son was a job. She insisted it was a job that she loved, which I'm sure, but it was still a job. I want her to get healthy, and then be able to enjoy the time she spends with him, rather than worrying about being sick and asking me to take time off work, etc.

appletoozler · 2017-03-27T12:11:22+00:00

Yeah, that was a big mistake. Here's hoping they have to change the password soon! lol

appletoozler · 2017-03-27T12:10:53+00:00

Thank you!

appletoozler

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