:: things we can make ::

woohoo! november's is up already. i am an overacheiver (or just tired of keeping quiet!)

so i have been into craft/food/all kinds of blogs this past summer...so i've decided to do something about it! my goal is to make something at least once a month (which i think is completely achievable).

just a note...some things i can make completely by myself,and other things require help from significant others.

this is a very special edition of ::things i can make :: it is definitely not a things i can make...it is a thing we made together.

we could not have "made" this special treat without my dear sweet hubby, without my Father God ~ the creator of all things AWESOME, and the prayers and encouragement of some super awesomely amazing friends and family.

and unlike all the other :: things i can make :: i'm NOT going to give a step by step tutorial...because that would be GROSS and completely TMI and if you aren't sure you should ask your mom!

so without further ado....what God has created within me!

update on the 10 minutes

...i'll be honest...the ten minutes is difficult (if you aren't sure what i'm referring to click HERE

i can be known to come in from work, sit on the couch for "just a minute" and that minute turns into an hour and then i have stuff i really need to do.
so i punish myself (bad joy). if i dont do 10 mins today...i have to do 20 tomorrow. it can add up pretty quickly. so much that ive had to do an hour (or more) on the weekend. arg.

i'm still trying to make simple steps. even when i don't do my 10 mins
~ pick up all five pairs of shoes i have under the couch
~ throw the junk mail away
~ clear off the kitchen table
and it helps! but its not enough! i have to discipline myself enough to actually do the 10 mins!

like right now i could:
~ fold clothes
~ put sweet hubby's hunting mess up
~ load/unload the dishwasher
~ clean off the "island" (old kitchen table) and counters
~ straighten the bathroom
~ etc...etc...etc...

WOW! i need to get to work!

so yeah...more discipline...less propping my feet up (though sweet hubby helps around the house sooo much! i love the mess out of that guy!)

...i'm going to do today's 10 right now...

:: things i can make ::

so i have been into craft/food/all kinds of blogs this past summer...so i've decided to do something about it! my goal is to make something at least once a month (which i think is completely achievable).

just a note...some things i can make completely by myself,and other things i need help from significant others.

this month a made a very stereotypical simple craft. with the help of some super awesome kindergarteners of course :).

materials:
pumpkin
sharp knife
paring knife
ice cream scoop
pen
cinnamon
candle
matches

*special note: do not allow children to handle the knife...they could cut their fingers off!

step one:
cut a circle around the stem and remove stem (you will need to keep it though!) - make sure to slant the knife so that you can put the stem back when you are finished

step two:
remove the icky slimey insides and seeds...let the kids help (and play with it) - this is when the ice cream scoop comes in QUITE handy (you can also separate the seeds from the gunk to roast later)

step three:
trace the outline of the face/object you would like to be on your pumpkin with a pen (i did leaves a few years ago all around the pumpkin and it turned out SUPER cute)

step four:
cut out the outlines (a paring knife is great for details), remove and throw away

step five:
sprinkle the inside of the pumpkin completely with cinnamon so that it doesnt stink when you light it

step six:
light candle, place in bottom of pumpkin, and put the stem back on

step seven:
display for all to see :)

:: things i can make ::

so i have been into craft/food/all kinds of blogs this past summer...so i've decided to do something about it! my goal is to make something at least once a month (which i think is completely achievable).

just a note...some things i can make completely by myself,and other things i need help from significant others.

this creation took the assistance of my blessed mother. without her...i would not have had the equipment needed to make this beautiful creation.

that being said...here we go

materials needed:
magic bullet (thanks mom)
various fresh fruits/veggies
various frozen fruits
small container or yogurt
milk
knife

time required:
maybe 5 mins

result:
super smooth and sweet smoothie :)

directions:
get materials (dog treats not required)

i used kiwi and baby carrots for my fresh fruit this time (one day i want to try apple)

strawberry yogurt (though plain and vanilla make good smoothies too)

and strawberries for my frozen fruit...fooled you with the blueberries didnt i? (bananas* and blueberries...yum...maybe next time)

peel (if neccessary) and cut the fresh fruit/veggies into small chunks

put the yogurt in the bullet cup first (...ive learned order does matter...just in time until completion though)

add fresh and frozen fruit and veggies (the more frozen stuff the thicker the smoothie)

add milk to the top of the bullet cup

screw on the bullet blade

put the bullet cup in the bullet base

get ready to whir :)

whir :) (press the bullet cup so it blends)

continue "whir-ing" until thoroughly blended (this may require a couple pauses to shake the bullet cup)

you can actually see and hear when it is completely blended...pretty cool

enjoy

just a note:
* bananas freeze well - wait until ripe, peel,cut in half, freeze in a ziplock bag - take out what you want when you want it (and surprisingly they don't really freeze together)

the fruit/veggies/yogurt you use will vary the color of the smoothie...don't be grossed out

:: just 10 minutes ::

i have a confession to make.

I AM A MESSY PERSON.

I AM A VERY MESSY PERSON.

whew, im glad i got that off my chest! now, if being a messy person wasn't enough...i just have to complicate it a little.

I AM A VERY MESSY PERSON AND I HATE MESSES!!!!!

yup thats me. messy while despising messes. leaves me in a conundrum.

there are many (many) times i have talked to my sweet husband about hating how messy our house can get. but i look around and realize ~ the mess is mostly mine!
the 6 pairs of shoes under the couches and kitchen table ~ yup mine
the opened mail fanned out across the table ~ you guessed it mine
the magic bullet parts on the counter ~ again mine
the sink of dirty dishes ~ ours (finally something thats not all my fault)
the onion skin and potato peelings on the floor and counter ~ i blame it on me attempting to cook
the dirty clothes on the bedroom floor ~ hey i may be able to wear them again

i think you get the point. im messy. but it drives. me. crazy. beyond. crazy. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (i had to get that off my chest).

this summer i did a little bit better controlling the mess. life was pretty relaxed and i found some pleasure in keeping the house straightened (gasp, its true). but school started a little over three weeks ago for us. school = work, i teach, sweet husband does campus ministry. so three weeks of full time work plus about a week of prep...that being said...our house has gotten a bit cluttery...well messy honestly.

and again it drives. me. crazy.

so i came up with a plan. a 10 minute plan. just 10 minutes monday through friday.

it boils down to this:
as soon as i get home (immediately after walking though the door...immediately!)
set the microwave timer for 10 mins (and only 10)
straighten, wipe-down, wash, put away the 6 pairs of shoes, you get the point
when the timer goes off ~ stop..sit down, prop my feet up, eat a snack, rest

it only adds 10 minutes to my work day but makes my evening so much less stressful and more relaxed. i no longer have to be overwhelmed by the clutter...oh happy day :)

i tried out the 10 minutes today for the first time...and look at all i got accomplished:
shoes put away
floor in living room, kitchen, and bedroom picked up
counters, stove, and kitchen table straightened and wiped down
dishwasher unloaded
sweet hubby's work stuff organized
tools put back
laundry started

i say it was a very successful 10 minutes.

and i came away with only two rules...and both of them have to do with the dishwasher
1 ~ start working on dishwasher tasks LAST
2 ~ if you start unloading and loading and the timer goes off...finish before you stop

thats it success in 10 minutes :)

now for me to feel caught up on housework i just have to fold laundry, ill tackle that after my rest...

:: glaucoma and me ::

this summer i went for my yearly exam...eye exam that is.
having been in glasses since 4th grade, this is of significant importance to me.

everything was going just "run of the mill" when near the end of my appointment my eye dr (lets call him dr h) goes "do you have a family history of glaucoma."

me being the naive silly one that i am said "well i think my grandfather had to have surgery to remove it"
silly girl...he had surgery to remove his cateracts....

that being said...no i was not aware of any history of glaucoma. "WHY?!?"
and dr h says..."the hole in your optic nerve (which everyone has) is much larger than it should be. lets run some more tests. oh and medical insurance will now cover your eye doctor exams and tests because you are a "glaucoma suspect". someone who one day MAY develop glaucoma."

...ill be honest...i freaked out a little. but he said one day i MAY develop it...so breathe joy, breathe.

i was to return for some "baseline tests" so "we can monitor your eyes to see if there are any changes through the years"

so tests...pictures of my optic nerve, peripheral vision flashy light test, heat picture of my eyes, touch my eyes with the plastic thingy....tests.

i survived each and every one of them. "you'll be getting a phone call in a week or so to review your test."

...no phone call. wait another week (me calling them would mean that i would have to take some initiative..and well i didnt) still no call. wait another week...get a voicemail "we have the results of your tests, call us so we can review them. i call them back, "oh wait, i can't go over them on the phone, dr h wants you to come in and go over them with you as soon as possible."

that was definitely not was what supposed to happen, so i conned sweet hubby into going with me.

we arrive to go over my tests. i passed the peripheral flashy light test with flying colors (dr h even showed me where i cheated). the other tests were ok too...my pressure was not too high...the picture just showed what the doctor saw. but the heated picture...that is where the problem was. apparently, you should have fan like heat coming from the optic nerve going out to the edges of your eyes...i do not.

so the official diagnosis was glaucoma...at 27...i have glaucoma.
...or a major injury to my optic nerves...but dr h feels pretty confident that it is glaucoma.

so what does that mean for me?
i have the pleasure of taking an eye drop a day. thats it. simple as that.
the eye drop Lumigan, should keep my pressure from spiking and therefore prevent further injury or enlargement to the hole in my optic nerve.

if it doesnt, then i could start to lose my peripheral vision, and if we dont do something about it, i could slowly lose my vision. if i lose any of it, i cant get it back. thats is why dr h is so glad we "caught it" so early.

so side effects of Lumigan:
~ my eyelashes will become longer *reversible with discontinuance of drop

~ my eyelashes will become fuller *reversible with discontinuance of drop

~ my eyelashes will become darker *reversible with discontinuance of drop

~ my beautiful brown eyes will become browner (no matter what color your eyes are the drops make them browner)*non-reversible

~ my eyelids may become darker *reversible with discontinuance of drop

~ dry eye, scratchy eye, eye fatigue (these are the side effects i am actually experiencing)

i have decided that i can handle this...and i can conquer this..."it aint nothin but a thang" (i cant believe i just said that)

so i have been on the drops for two weeks now (no i havent noticed any difference in my eye lashes).
i went for a follow-up appt to test my pressure and look at my optic nerve again. so they touched my eye with the icare tonometer (anyone that says they cant feel it...is lying...and i wear contacts) and my pressure had gone up (gasp). definitely not supposed to happen. so they retested...it was a little bit better, but not what dr h wanted to see. what to do what to do?
im to continue with the Lumigan, and hopefully my pressure will drop a little bit more. dr h also added another drop to help with my eye fatigue, scratchy-ness, and dryness.

but like i said, i can handle this...im not going to let it conquer me. its just a lable, and believe me, i know that anyone can overcome lables :)

Things I Can Make

so i have been into craft blogs this summer...so i've decided to do something about it! my goal is to make something at least once a month (which i think is completely achievable).

so for the month of august (it's actually one of my summer goals which you can see here) my goal was to make the skirt seen here.

this was a pretty lofty goal being that we didn't own a handy dandy sewing machine UNTIL hubby came to the rescue. he decided he was tired of having to ask people to hem our pants, and there was no reason we couldn't do it ourselves, so we bit the bullet, and bought a sewing machine.

the machine sat around, hemmed some pants, sat around, sat around, got put away, hemmed some more pants...you get the picture. so i decided to get over my anxiety and try it...i mean the project wasn't costing me anything (the shirt was from hubby's goodwill pile)...so what did i have to lose.

of course every good craft blogger has great before and after pics...well mine aren't so hot...but hey...let's look at before...

i started with an XL men's dress shirt and then i removed the pocket and sleeves

then i cut it to pieces literally...because i didn't know what to do next honestly.
so i cut the collar off to try to decide where to do the top seam..then i just cut straight across where the armpit of the shirt was.
after buttoning the shirt, i folded over where i cut, ironed the fold to make sure it was straight and sewed. this was my first time sewing so it was pretty interesting but i did it...and even used a backstich or two :)

the skirt was too wide...not even touching my sides...so i turned the skirt inside out, lined up the bottom and sewed up the side about 2 inches in. well im not THAT small so it was too much and i got to pick out my seam...

i then remembered that i wanted ties on my skirt...so i took a break from the skirt to work on the ties.
i ironed the sleeves, putting one inside out so they matched exactly. then cut what i wanted the tie to look like. next i sewed up the open edge, then turned it inside out to hide the seam. tada ~ two ties

then i kinda measured where i needed to sew the sides of the skirt to fit better, and pinned the ties where i wanted them to be so they would be sewed inside the side seam. and again i sewed up the sides.

this time the results were much better and the skirt pretty much fit. but i needed to taper the top to fit my hips better...so i just put the needle about an inch below where i wanted the taper to start...and i sewed up again at an angle...and there once again was success :)

:: see ::

TADA!

:: summer lovin ::

oh summer how i love thee!
the sunshine, the heat, the spontaneous storms, the tan lines, the sweat, the bar-b-ques ....oh happy sigh :)
summer is most definitely my favorite season...and this one, though almost over, has been wonderfully enjoyable!

:: summer successes ::

~ i have the hottest husband ~

~ my house is cleaner (please don't mis-read that...i said cleaner not clean) ~

~ up-to-date with laundry ~

~ ordering and loving a king bed ~

~ discovering embedded links ~ enjoy :) ~

~ amazingly wonderful, "oh my goodness, you too" friendships rekindled ~

~ rediscovering joy (like joy joy, not myself)

~ oh happy sigh ~

:: summer failures ::

  

~ all of our doors are still not painted ~

~ classroom is not even close to being ready ~

~ the lasagna, the fried deer steak (my hand is almost healed), the any type of food I attempt ~

~ i still canNOT cook...grrr ~

:: summer goals ::

~ i really REALLY want to make this...i even have the shirt to make it with ~

~ oh and this too (and yes i have another shirt just for it too) ~

~ paint the stinkin doors ~

~ le classroom ~

:: summer habits ::

 ~ craft blogging... OH MY GOODNESS I LUV FINDING CUTE CRAFT BLOGS!!! ~

~ for inspiration ~

~ stumbling ~

~ reading, reading, reading, oh and what i should be reading ~

~ cutting the grass / mowing the lawn ~ oh the bruises...and sweat :) ~

~ thrift store shopping!! oh what success! ~

:: summer travels ::

the traveling has been oh so adventous and enjoyable (and i typically don't care for travel)

~ we went here for some training and to be loved on by super awesome national staff ~ oh the love ~

~ here, here, and here for some awesome vacationing ~ ps...stingrays scare the mess out of me! ~

~ and travels to come ~

~ and we have the second best dog sitter ever!!! the best moved away...how dare she... ~

DEAREST SUMMER,

PLEASE DON'T END!!

LOVE,

ME

some deep questions

Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

1.How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
um 6 or 21

2.Which is worse, failing or never trying?
they both hurt.  i am more comfortable with never trying then failing...not that that makes it better or worse...its just comfortable.  in giving people advice i would usually say that trying things and giving it your best effort is always worth it so take the risk of failing (except jumping off the balcony at the nat...thats just crazy

3.If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
we feel like its expected...even when it really isnt...or if it is the people that "expect it" shouldnt matter.  and you never know until you try (haha see above)

4.When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
unfortunately...im a chicken...

5.What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
the lack of peace and joy...not just Christmasy peace and joy...but genuine deep down lasting peace and joy.  it would help us all get along :)

6.If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
anything with puppies or zoo animals :) training and cuddling them

7.Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
...probably settling...but since i've settled i believe in my work more and in myself more...kinda finding what i believe in by settling.  but who knows about tomorrow?

8.If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
ummm sleep in more, had kids sooner, married my friends off...sounds like a bucket list in the making

9.To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
to a large degree...meaning "its all my fault" hehe.  for a large part i am dependent on others to assist in making decisions (even the little ones)...but i actually am controlling the course (they should have drivers ed for this course though seriously)

10.Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
...doing things right...very very closely followed by doing the right things...its the perfectionist, control freak, performance anxiety inside of me...

11.You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
point out the good in her.  defend her without becoming "defensive". "oh are you talking about ____. she is amazing.  did you know she saved the whales and took all the graffiti off my house all while babysitting a newborn and writing her thesis?" that is exactly what i would try to say

12.If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
love much - even when it hurts

13.Would you break the law to save a loved one?
um...depends on what i was saving them from...jail - no...creepy person - possibly...death - most likely

14.Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
most definitely

15.What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
process life...i over analyze and over anxietize...all while pretending life is perfect and im ok.  oh wait thats not just me....but i feel like its just me...IS ANYBODY OUT HERE?!?

16.How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
because not everyone likes books and puppies as much as i need books and puppies and justin :)

17.What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s
holding you back?
have a kid...fear...finances...insurance...fear...fear...NEEDLES!!...responsibility

18.Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
yes...fear! (see above)

19.If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
australia of course. they have kangaroos and sunshine and aussie accents and sunshine and an outback on every corner :)

20.Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
no - unless the light in the button doesn't come on...then i press it again (just one more time) if the light stays off it stays off...

21.Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
joyful simpleton :) though being a genius has its benefits...i should know :) bwahaha

22.Why are you, you?
because God needs me to be me and likes me just the way i am :) and He wants to use me too.  i truly believe He used experiences in my life to mold me just the way i am...perfectly imperfect

23.Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
i try...i dont want to be the naggy, clingy, i told you so friend...but sadly sometimes i cant help it...

24.Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
losing touch...its sad...but it happens and life goes on...

25.What are you most grateful for?
my life - the good, the bad, and the ugly :) the hard and the happy :) the smiles and the tears :) the opportunities and the fears (i just rhymed :) )

26.Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
...this is a tough one because i do not remember large (really large) chunks of my childhood...and new memories happen every day...but i rely a lot on the joy of past memories...but the memories that are yet to be made may bring joy as well...so as long as i dont have to lose the memories that are yet to be made once they are made then i would choose to lose all of my old memories

27.Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
yes...sometimes you just know...and sometimes it takes forever to figure it out...and sometimes the perspective of the "truth" changes over time.  so what is truth?  is there truth? dont answer that...i dont like debates

28.Has your greatest fear ever come true?
nope...every time i think it may be i overcome the fear that is staring me in the face

29.Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
actually yes...and it has made a difference in many aspects of my life today...but the time ten years ago doesnt matter a lick

30.What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
playing circus in the backyard in georgia...we were all a part of the circus...even Ter the monkey walking on the top of the swing set

31.At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
when sharing the passion and love the God has placed in me - oh and my wedding DAY (make sure you read that right)

32.If not now, then when?
i think just because i have felt passionate and alive in the past does not mean that there will not be more moments and opportunities to feel more passionate and more alive.  i just have to seek those opportunities

33.If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
i have achieved it but i should pursue to continue achieving it...when the passion and life is lost what is the point?  therefore continue pursuing the passion and the life until you find it and it finds you and the meeting of the two is one huge emotionally intimate mess :) and then chase after it again :)

34.Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
isnt it so refreshing...i love it :) it helps that i tend to be a quiet person and many times prefer the quiet over the projectile vomit of too many words and ackward conversations.

35.Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
because they are protecting what they love - even when it hurts so many others.  people will do amazing things for the people/causes/religions they love and think are right.

36.Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
yes and no.  i think the holy spirit leads us and guides us and gives us the ability to discern the difference (i mean eve ate from the tree didnt she) but we dont always listen...or we choose to ignore what our conscience.  but sometimes there is no way of knowing without stepping out and experiencing for yourself

37.If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
uh haha well...seeing as though i dont actually have one...um...if i did..probably...because the people at work would harass me about it...i would move away...change my name...and find a job where people didnt know i was rich...and i could do my job because i loved it not because i needed it

38.Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
more work that i actually enjoy doing.  but what does that look like?  guess i have some self-reflecting to do

39.Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
not today nope.

40.When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
rarely if ever...i dont like the dark...at all...though metaphorically i feel like we all do to some extent each day with each decision we make (deep huh?)

41.If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
mom, ter, and aly-issa....but wait and sher...and dad...oh this list is going to get long

42.Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
uh no...besides...according to the people that really matter i am attactive and even famous.  when you matter you matter and your looks and the gossip that follows you cant change that.

43.What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
i am alive but am i living?  breathing and having a pulse means im alive.  pursuing my dreams, aspirations, and the things that makes me feel fulfilled and joyous means im truly living.

44.When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
ouch - deep down i think we should always choose to do what we think/know is right...but sometimes the fear deep inside us wont let us...so find a buddy and do it together :) besides...who decides it is right...because if i get to decide what is right...well...i may be wrong (see below)

45.If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
its the perfectionism and performance anxiety that comes out in all of us...silly fear of failure...and societal expectations...we want to be superman and conquer the world...not let society actually see us in our weakness...

46.What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
wear althetic shorts and ts more...and jeans...and ponytails...and eat with my elbows on the table (oh wait i already do that). talk more openly about my faith (sad isnt it)

47.When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
...saturday when hubby could have sworn i was hyperventalating...but in all actually i was just crying..

48.What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
snuggling, kisses, puppies, getting people to share their life and their feelings. yes :)

49.In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
yesterday possibly...the day before that no...the day before that definitely not...mainly because i cant remember now and its only been 3 days...

50.Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
i am leaning on the guidance of those close to me, but ultimately the decision will be mine....arg....i wish i had an operation manual that would say "hey silly pick this one because it will make you happy and be amazingly awesome"