A rash of discoveries

Pardon the health-related (rather than craft-related) post but I want to share for anyone who may be searching for answers.
For the past several years anytime I would go out in the sun I would burn instantly and then develop an incredibly itchy rash all over my arms and especially at the tops of my legs.  The itch was incessant and every summer I would find myself coated in Calamine lotion and popping Benadryl to cope.  It didn't matter how long I was outside or what we were doing, the rash always reared its ugly head.  My solution was to simply press on but do as little as I can outside.  Unfortunately, I also feel strongly about spending summers by the pool, ocean or in the mountains.  By August I've usually been outside enough that the rash is an ever-present sort of horror show that I just accept as the price of being Julianna.
Now, Julianna, you may ask, what did the doctor or dermatologist say about the rash?  Of course, I never talked to an expert because, well, honestly, I hate being weighed at the doctor's office so I avoid going at all costs.  Even if that means an itchy rash.
I finally reached the point this summer though that the rash was itchy enough to make the weight humiliation worth it.  But I did one last Dr. Google search.
And I found my answer.
I googled:  "itchy rash every time I'm in the sun."
I came up with several sites that hinted at a sun-allergy.
Hm, that just doesn't even sound possible.
I found one girl on one health-forum who posted very similar symptoms and she recommended switching to a broad-spectrum oil-free sunscreen.
Well, folks, it works like a charm.
For the past two weeks rather than crafting or blogging I've been at the pool or the beach.  No rash.  None.  As a matter of fact, my skin is softer and smoother than ever.
WHUCK?
Yep.
So, moral of the story, itchy rash caused by sun exposure:  cure = switch to a broad-spectrum oil free sunscreen and you'll be enjoying summer rather than enduring it.
We've joined at a gym through August (another post about that coming up) and this gym has 3 amazing pools.  It's sweltering here in Charlotte but I actually find myself looking forward to the hot afternoons since we have a cool place to spend our time.
Sometimes life's not so bad.
(Ben Fold's fans know the next line)

Menu Plan Monday

It's back.
After a brief break from menu planning (taken occasionally to prove how awesome menu planning really is) I have a menu all worked out.

Monday: Stuffed Shells
Tuesday: baked chicken, mashed potatoes, salad
Wednesday: shrimp and grits (my new obsession)
Thursday: grilled pork chops, rice, veggies
Friday: spaghetti w/ meat sauce, salad
Saturday: out to eat!
Sunday: burgers and fries

Share your menu plan here!  I love reading  them!

My Garden

I actually have a successful garden this year.
Yup.
It's true.

It's going to be a banner year for the Julianna garden.

Menu Plan Tuesday

Yep, I'm late on planning.  Meh, it happens.
Let's see what I'll cook this week.

Tuesday: Chicken fingers, rice, steamed veggies, gravy, crescent rolls
Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo, steamed veggies
Thursday, Grilled shrimp, rice, steamed veggies
Friday: homemade pizza
Saturday: baked potatoes (maybe - it's so hot here, I'm not sure I can do it.)
Sunday: Burgers and fries (of course)

Happy Eating everyone!

Menu Plan Monday

It's Monday, time to think about what to feed your family this week.
Here's what we're having:
Monday: Hawaiian Haystacks
Tuesday: Pasta w/ vodka sauce, green beans, garlic bread, salad
Wednesday: chicken fingers, mashed potatoes, salad, zucchini
Thursday: Spaghetti and meat sauce
Friday: Homemade pizza
Saturday: grilled chicken, grilled veggies, roasted potatoes, rice
Sunday: burgers and fries

Hope you guys have a happy and healthy week!

Book Report: Traveler by Ron McLarty

Sent to me by my dear friend Judy, Traveler, by Rom Mclarty is next up in my book reports.  Set in East Providence, Rhode Island the story follows a man as he goes home and confronts childhood events that have followed him well into middle age and learns the truth about what really happened all those years ago.
As mysteries go, this was an easy one to crack.  I figured out the "whodunnit" about 100 pages before the reveal.  The love story plots aren't really believable or sympathetic.  The disappearing priest plot line is so very meh.  The ending is predictable and not even very satisfying.
What I did like about Traveler is the overwhelming "Rhode Islandness" of the book.  Having lived in Rhode Island for nearly a decade it was fun to read about places, things and attitudes I know really well.  Blackstone Blvd, Riverside, NY System, the constant mob undertones, the beaches, the names, even the buildings at Brown University.  There is a comforting familiarness in all of those things and even after six years here in North Carolina I still miss a good Dells Lemonade and sometimes, yes, even a gagger. 
Rhode Island is a funny little place.  People don't leave.  They are born, grow up, go to school, get married, have kids and die all in the same neighborhood.  Of course, there are exceptions - I mean, of course people leave and of course new people move in, like I did.  But they're at a significant disadvantage.  How do you find your place in a world where everyone has known each other since their grandparents got off the boat together in 1890?  It takes time but eventually you do.
I still miss Providence.  I'd still love to go back.  North Carolina has been a fantastic place for us to live but it still hasn't felt like "home" yet.  Not deep down in my bones.  There is a culture here that I just can't get in sync with and, try as I might, I feel like an outsider looking in.  I'm befuddled by NASCAR, the love for the Confederate flag (I was behind a car yesterday that had FIVE different Confederate flag stickers on the back windshield), the southern redneck drawl (not the charming drawl, I do like that), the appeal of vinegar-based BBQ and the general love of red neck culture.
I've digressed into not the book, but if you're looking for a little piece of Rhode Island, Traveler is a great book to bring back memories.  Just don't go into it looking for a complex, intriguing plot.

Thursday Weigh In

For the first time since joining weight watchers I neither gained nor lost weight.  I stayed exactly the same.  That's great news in my world due to, you know, the hormones.  I'm due for a big loss next week if I can keep with it.