tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23585361726585800692023-11-16T08:57:43.365-08:00The Millers: Magic and MayhemTiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-71242195730511516992013-10-22T14:08:00.001-07:002013-10-22T14:34:58.633-07:00The Scoop on Scabies and Lessons Learned<br />
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I think I can safely say that the scabies infestation we became aware of last month has been overcome. There is a lot of misinformation about scabies that I had to weed through and I learned quite a few lessons on the power of prayer and the power of priesthood blessings, and some unexpected lessons. I do want to share some of the things on my mind. <br />
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{Misconceptions About Having Scabies: Just to Lay a Few Things at Rest...}<br />
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Scabies is highly contagious--yes--but really, it's highly contagious among people you share extended skin-to-skin contact with. Has to be longer than a hug or a handshake. I spread it to Kaia and Morgan because 1) scabies really like child skin and 2) I bathe, dress, care for, and snuggle my little darlings. For some reason, scabies don't really like man skin, so Steven was never infested. If they tried to invade, they must have given up. Scabies mites like the warmest parts of the body, so in between my fingers is where they set up camp. I've worn medical gloves during the day and wrapped my hands during the night so as to keep the scabies on me and not allow them to re-infest my children. It worked. <br />
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Scabies is not an airborne disease, it can't spread by me opening my door, and they don't jump...they move 1 inch in an hour. They are seriously slow and need prolonged skin contact to transfer. They are the size of a pin prick, and unless you know what to look for, you can't really tell that they are there until your body builds enough histamines up to alert an invasion--that takes 4-6 weeks! The life cycle of a male scabies mite is two weeks, the female lives up to a month, laying up to 3 eggs per day...there's some molting and mating and burrowing that goes on during that two week period. It's gross to say the least. Scabies mites can live up to 3 days off of their host. Interestingly enough, scabies mites cannot live above 120 degrees of heat, nor survive below 30 degrees. We froze our day to day stuff like shoes, knitting (I had to have one project), wallets, belts, etc.<br />
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It's come to my attention from a couple of people that some misinformed ward members have put a nix on any kind of visiting us, no one is allowed to come over or drop something off, etc. Okay...let me put this one to rest because I have a feeling that we might be treated as if we have leprosy if this doesn't get cleared up quickly. We took extreme measures beyond what our doctor advised to make sure we were healed and that it didn't spread further. Yes, it's harder to deal with than lice or bed bugs because it's really difficult to spot these scabies mites with the naked eye...you can at least see lice and bed bugs. But it's not a chronic, forever infestation if you take the right measures...<br />
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The night before I went to the doctor, I asked Steven to give me a blessing because my "eczema" had gotten so out of control that I was contemplating getting on this extreme diet and I knew that I could but questioned if I should--if it was the right step for our family. In that short and sweet blessing, I was told that I would quickly find out what the problem was, that it would be manageable, and that I would be successful in treating it.<br />
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I woke up the next morning and knew that I just had to cave and spend the money we did not have and go be seen by a doctor. After a very short visit, we were immediately diagnosed with scabies. Yuck. My doctor advised us to wash the sheets, towels, clothes daily for the next two weeks, spray our mattresses and couches with RID. She gave us all a prescription cream called Permethrin that we put on from hairline to the bottom of our soles, allow it to stay on the skin for 8-14 hours, then it is washed off with a good warm shower. The doc said once we had accomplished this, we were free to go out and about as we normally do...reapply 14 days later, and we should be good to go. We might have been just fine, following those instructions, but I knew how I would feel about being unsure, so I decided to quarantine our family for those two weeks--it's only two weeks...I could do it. <br />
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I came home and felt uneasy about things, so I started researching and reading all of the horror stories about scabies infestations. I decided that I wanted to take an extremely disciplined approach and limit the possibility of re-infestation as greatly as I could. I bagged everything and anything in the house that was a soft good and set it in the third bedroom, wiped out all of the closets and cleaned from top to bottom. Our stuff has been quarantined for 5 weeks now. By the time I unpack it, some of it will have been left for more than 7 weeks. If they were in our clean clothes somehow, they dead now...I left out one set of sheets for each bed, two towels for each person, and two complete sets of clothing for each person. Still, something was telling me I needed to do more. I FELT PROMPTED TO QUARANTINE OUR FAMILY FOR THE DURATION OF THIS INFESTATION. I felt extremely prompted to especially make sure that our ward family be protected from this infestation for whatever reason, I don't know, but I stand by my prompting. The doctor, when I called two weeks later to follow up, thought I was crazy for being as meticulous as I was. I CONTINUED TO FEEL PROMPTED TO FOLLOW THE DAILY REGIMENT I HAD DEVELOPED UNTIL I WAS GIVEN FURTHER PROMPTINGS.<br />
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Steven gave me another blessing, this time instructing me that the success of healing was entirely dependent on my faith in the Savior's ability to heal, to instruct, and to bless. I was told I would be able to discern correctly from all of the research and reading I had done to know what was the right battle plan for our family. I was also reminded that Heavenly Father gave Adam and Eve dominion over <u>all creatures</u>...even the ones that creep! About this time, President Uchtdorf had given his talk and had instructed us to doubt our doubts and not our faith. It was a growing experience that I will go into a little more later on. <br />
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So, I stuck with it, much to the misery of our family...I thought we had been re-infested at the 2 week mark. After doing some research a week later, I discovered that our bodies were reacting to the scabies remains left behind, that we had not, in fact, been re-infested. We worked hard at using both conventional medicine and alternative
medicine to beat this--as I felt prompted by the Spirit that it would
work for us. At two weeks, we did a second round of the Permethrin cream and took advantage of the effects of Diatomaceous Earth. We took 1/3 part food grade DE and 2/3 part grapeseed oil and half of a bottle of doTerra's Clove Bud oil and combined it into a household spray bottle, used it every night after taking showers. Diatomaceous Earth cuts up the little scabies bugs and dehydrates them--kills them. Grapeseed oil clogs their feeding tubes. Clove Bud oil kills them. Steven and I worked DE into our mattresses and couches, covering them with plastic. We worked DE into the carpet. Diatomaceous Earth is amazing stuff and completely safe for humans and animals to be around. We also bought an enzyme cleaner called Kleen Free that interrupts the scabies molting process and forces them to leave the skin--this we sprayed on our plastic-covered mattresses and furniture, used to clean the tub and sinks, sprayed on commonly used things like door handles and light fixtures. I soaked my hands in Klee Free--it was amazing the first time I used it on my hands...about 15-20 scabies bugs came out of my skin. The skin on my hands felt quiet. That's when I knew we had really gotten somewhere. From then on, my skin had cleared, the devil itch had died down, and I felt strengthened to know that with the Lord's help, I figured out the combination of things I needed to undertake in order to help us kill the scabies and be cured. It worked, but it worked because the Lord had given His care and instruction to listen carefully. <br />
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We took an extremely vigilant approach to having scabies. I hope that our careful measures haven't given rise and made a mountain out of a molehill...when, really, we took a most serious approach to tackling this problem. We did a heck of a lot more than most people do to cure it, and we took extra measures to make sure it didn't infect anyone outside of our family. Please see this as a great love and respect for our acquaintances, friends, and ward family. We are not lepers...we are not dying. We're doing great and my hands look better than they have for a very long time...it seems that the eczema I'm used to battling has cleared up as well, although winter hasn't hit just yet...<br />
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{Lessons Learned}<br />
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My mom, bless her heart, constantly advises me to find out what I'm supposed to learn from a trial. She must feel like a broken record, I'm sure...and I sometimes just want to bemoan my sufferings and be validated. I was really good about keeping positive-mostly--for the first 3 weeks. Weeks 4 and 5 have been extremely difficult. We're now at week six. I've learned a lot. <br />
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<li>I have a greater understanding of the Savior's involvement not only in my family's comings and goings but His involvement with our health. I know the Savior a little better now as a healer. Some people call him the Master Physician, which I think is so intriguing. He made our bodies. He knows how to fix them--if it is in line with the will of Heavenly Father. </li>
<li>I have never known such isolation and loneliness. I learned a lot about myself--my needs. It sure confirmed my suspicion that I don't do well without the friendships of my ward family and friends and extended family, I don't do well without opportunities to serve other people. I rely on my relationships for strength--and I understood for the first time why it's important to physically show up and be there for other people, because it was then that I missed that kind of support myself. At first this made me angry, because just when I needed support I felt that I couldn't ask for it because I didn't want to ruin someone else's life by giving them scabies. I really honor and love the friends that took the time to stop by and run us supplies or a dinner or an activity for the kids. I hope they have been blessed tenfold for taking just a little bit of time to break my isolation and offer some relief. One of the sisters walked right into the house, like there was nothing to be afraid of and stocked my fridge with some lovely apples and staples like milk and butter. She was a nurse, so I suppose she knew better than I did that this was not as scary as I had made it out to be in my mind. But it meant a lot. And the two priests that came over and brought us the sacrament after all those Sundays we weren't able to go and partake...I will never take that ordinance for granted ever again or take for granted what those teenage boys do for hundreds in our ward--they provide a dose of the power of the Atonement, administered weekly. I sort of think of them as the Savior's pharmacy technicians now. Thank goodness I kept it together while they were here, but I sure lost it once they left. I understand myself a lot better than I did before. There is more to mortality than breathing in and breathing out and taking care of the basic needs of a family--and that it's a noble undertaking to be involved in church, to have friendships, to go experience the outdoors and to stop often and serve another person. </li>
<li>I learned that life can be whittled down to just a few basics to survive. I also learned that just surviving is kind boring and draining. I miss the beautiful soft things that make a house cozy--throw pillows and curtains and a closet full of cheerfully, colored clothing, furniture that breathes (I hate using plastic on our couches!). I am grateful for all of the soft things that make life a little bit more comfortable. I am grateful for what we have. We have more than what we need to survive...that means we're crazy blessed. </li>
<li>I learned that children can adapt to really hard circumstances and be perfectly happy (although there were plenty of cabin fever moments). I have spent more time with them then I have before. Before I knew it, we had created a new daily ritual-tradition of nap time after lunch--I sit in the chair in their room, curled up with a good book, and sit there with them until they drift off. They comply with nap times a lot better than they have before. They have driven me crazy and made me ache for time to myself which I couldn't have because there was no where for me to go and no one for me to visit with...I learned that I really do need a night off each week and I am itching to get back to that Tuesday night off of Bliss. And I learned that I really need to develop better habits when coping with fighting children. Still working on that one. </li>
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I haven't yet reached the point where I have enough humility to say that I am grateful for this experience, I know I will get there one day and hopefully soon. I have learned a lot. It has changed the way I look at a few things and I know I will be cautious/borderline-paranoid for a long time about trying clothes on at the store and sterilizing hand me downs and things we buy at second hand stores like DI or Once Upon a Child or Fashion Runway. I am really looking forward to being around people again. I am worried that I might have a bit of shock being around more than just my two children and husband. I am grateful for the prayers and fasting that others have done on our behalf. I am ever so grateful to my Savior for His help, the angels the stopped by (on this side of the veil and on the other side of the veil...), and the phone calls that came every once in a while. I hope we never, ever, ever have to go through this again! I am happy it is over...on to new adventures, please!<br />
<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-11320953927559214022013-07-19T11:52:00.001-07:002013-07-19T11:52:11.860-07:00Life Test #713--Fail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />I haven't been posting again and I know, it's lame. I do what I can.<br /><br />Steven volunteered to be one of the six priesthood holders for our ward's Girls Camp--3 shifts, Steven volunteered for the last shift. He got up yesterday morning at 4:30 am and left at 5:30 am. I, of course, cannot sleep when he's up getting ready for a long-haul kind of day, so I verbally ran through the list of things he needed to take, we double-checked everything and said our goodbyes. He kissed the kids asleep in their beds, got in his car and headed to Sawtooth National Forest. He spent the last $25.00 in our account to top off his tank so he could get there and back. How were we going to pay for gas for the next two weeks? How is he going to get to work? Would there be enough time to make up the two days pay missed? I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to convince myself that it will all work out, that we're going on faith--when really I feel like we're absolute idiots for tempting fate. This would be the first time that Steven would be away from all of us for more than 12 consecutive hours. And he was 15 miles away from the faintest bit of cell reception. You probably can see now that trouble was a-brewin'...<br /><br />I went on a walk/jog last night to try to wear myself out and better my chances of actually getting some kind of sleep. Steven used to work overnights, right? I would be fine. Except I could call him at work if I was feeling scared or had insomnia. I could call my visiting teacher if an emergency happened here at the house. With both Steven and my VT (she's a YW leader) up at Girls Camp and out of cell signal, I realized quickly that I was more vulnerable than I've ever been as a young mother of two.<br /><br />I did not sleep well--or rather at all. I think I finally dozed off about 2 am...I didn't stay asleep for long as I kept waking up to a small creak from the house or hearing the kids shift positions in their beds. I turned on movies to try and get myself out of panic mode. Oy vey. I fell back asleep around 4 am. And then Kaia woke me up at 5:30 am. I told her to go back to her room and look at books and magazines quietly so I could get some more sleep. She ran into her room, slammed the door--which woke Morgan up to a rude start--and proceeded to scream and shout. At this point I'm feeling raw. I can feel the panic building up in my chest, while the anger rose in my throat. I closed my eyes and focused on breathing. Steven would be in cell signal around 10:15 am and home around 11 am, I could survive until then. Kaia and Morgan decided to cry and whine for most of the morning. I watched the clock for 10 am, then for 10:30. No calls. Then at 11 am, the blessed event, he's got cell phone signal again. But, my heart sank and the tears started to sting my eyes..he called me to explain that he's an additional hour and a half away, and that he and the other priesthood holder are still on duty while the girls went swimming at a hot springs. He would hopefully be home by 4 am. WHAT? How was he going to get home? He wouldn't have enough gas! He just assumed I'd be okay with this? EXCUSE ME?<br /><br />Fail, fail, fail. I lost it. I went nutters. Steven's saving grace was being far away from this tempestous, contentious, hysterical woman.<br />
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So, we learned a few lessons today. And the day is still frickin' young, so there might be more lessons yet.<br />
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#1. Don't volunteer for extra church duties if you don't have your affairs in order. Using the last of the gas money for a good endeavor doesn't mean the tank is going to magically refill itself. Sacrificing stupidly does not promise miracles.<br /><br />#2. Being out of cell phone signal causes the wife (me) to have panic attacks. These get so much worse when on very little sleep, having frayed nerves, and when dealing with bratty behavior from the fruits of my loin. This was not at all a pleasant experience. I had no idea it was going to be so out of control. <strike>Better get a prescription for Xanax or Valium if this situation comes up again...</strike> Prepare ourselves for this situation a little better...like seeing each other the day before. <strike>Or maybe not getting into this situation again...</strike> Or perhaps going out of town myself to visit family (this means our affairs need to be in order...meaning the MOOLAH needs to be there). Or giving myself an allowance to spend lots of money on yarn and fabrics and give myself a fiber high. Better yet, let's employ all three.<br />
<br />#3. Communication is without a doubt the #1 priority on my list. Screw romance. I just want to get to a point where dealing with non-communication and miscommunication isn't such a common way of life.<br />
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#4. Have a little more zen when the plans completely do a 180. I suppose I would have handled this much more swimmingly if I had gotten through at least one REM cycle, had seen Steven the day before and not been at odds with each other the whole week long, had eaten breakfast, and had given the children some Melatonin since I knew that putting them to bed at 10:30 pm would mess with their sleep schedule.<br /><br />So, here we go:<br /><br />Dear Tiffany,<br /><br />I hereby certify and validate that this experience was horrendous, frustrating, and dramatically different than what you had hoped for. I also grant permission for you to laze about today and forget about the house and laundry, and employ only the minimum survivalist parenting tactics.<br /><br />It's okay to be pissed about this. Carry on, warrior.<br /><br />Hugs,<br />Tiffany<br /><br /><br /><br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-74024674049333754922013-04-29T23:17:00.000-07:002013-04-29T23:33:06.015-07:00Honesty is the best policy, after all...I have no idea how many people read this blog. I'm guessing about five readers. In all honesty, half of the time I post, I wonder if there is anyone else out there who is reading this besides my two cousins, my mother, and two of my friends, Candice and Safa. I'm hoping that because my audience is on a limited scale, in addition to the fact that these five people love me despite my plethora of bad habits and flaws, I may embark further on my journey towards whole-heartedness aka being vulnerable. Disclaimer: This post is terribly, modestly, <i>honest.</i><br />
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The life lesson that I am ever so buried in right now is how to be honest. Honesty seems to conflict with being kind more often than not. I have tried out "being kind" for several years. In some cases, it was exactly what I needed to do in order to keep peace and let go of the small crap that seems to get under my skin. But in other cases, I was doing friends and family members alike a huge disservice. I have become absolutely, horribly terrible at saying "No" when I need to give myself a break and voicing "Yes" when, indeed, something has hurt me or royally @#!*% me off to no end. It's a passive aggressiveness hiding in a counterfeit peacemaker's cloak. I also feel like I'm constantly walking on eggshells, making sure I always say the right thing, rehearsing future discussion points over and over, obsessing over how someone might react to something. It's exhausting. I'm tired of listening to myself think. Would I be bold enough to adopt a radical honesty policy? No way. That kind of transparency makes people around you uncomfortable. But, it is something that I need to practice more. I think it might move the mountains that seem to hedge my relationship path.</div>
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So, onto being honest. Here's your first taste. Brace yourself.</div>
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Nah, it's not that bad...but it's not something I'm proud of.<br />
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I have a huge swearing problem. I have never said the F word--ever--never ever ever. And never the Lord's name in vain--that's just crazy bad business. The D word and the A word and the H word...sometimes the S word...that's where my problem lies. It's more like tempered farmer swearing. But rarely does it actually make it to my lips. When something frustrating comes up, and I push it aside instead of managing my emotions...without fail it always ends up with me yelling inside my head and I habitually swear about whatever I'm furious about.</div>
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Example: We have had a lot of crap hit the fan. A lot. Financially, yes, in addition to a few other areas. I am going to reveal something that may shock the socks off of you. The second life throws us a curve ball, which then hits us in the head and then proceeds to explode, I have a crap-mantra that races through my head instantly.<br />
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It's George Clooney's voice whispering in duress:<br />
" @#!*% , we're in a tight spot... @#!*% , we're in a tight spot!"</div>
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I have a George Clooney swearing problem.</div>
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So, enter my current life lesson. Steven and I, for the first time in the six years we have known each other, are being totally honest. There's a lot of ugly stuff surfacing...things that we were bothered about or didn't mention to the other person because we were trying to "be nice." Anyways, with all of that complete honesty coming out...there has been some actual swearing. (Gasp! I know...I am so human...I'm working on one flaw at a time, people...) In the past, if either of us swears, the other one gets all crazy offended and judgmental. With all of the honesty coming out...the swearing has become a bigger problem. It never happens in front of the kids. It's not our finest phase in life. I think we'll attack the dragon first and then address the demon later. </div>
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With all of this honesty going on, I find myself easing up on being so harsh with myself and Steven, with others that I care about. Hopefully I'll keep the pendulum swinging back and forth until I strike the balance between being openly honest and appropriately kind. </div>
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I remember a quote above a hallway door that I would see coming back from Miss Pineau's AP English class. I do confess that I have found it to be very true. And very freeing. Especially for one such as myself who has significantly less brain cells than when I was in high school, when remembering things was as effortless as breathing.</div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-76343908396575564922013-04-26T22:07:00.002-07:002013-04-26T22:07:50.537-07:00A snarky kiss will get you n o w h e r e, Bub.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nothing says, "I'm here. You're safe..." like a kiss on the forehead. </div>
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It's the small things that make all the difference. </div>
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I've tried to explain it to Steven so many times. He smiles and shrugs. He kisses my forehead without knowing just how powerful it is. I love the way I feel when I get a kiss on the forehead; I feel steady and calm even though I'm terrified seconds before. Steven is pretty good at it. But something has been holding him back from being a forehead-kissing pro. Drumroll............Steven is a </div>
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<i>snark</i>. </div>
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Sometimes he thinks he's real funny and he'll blow a small zerbit on my forehead. Tonight, though, he decided to kiss my forehead "Shawn Spencer" style. There was a recent "Psych" episode where Juliet blows Shawn a kiss, but instead of blowing her a kiss back as ya do, he smacked his lips with a wide smile twice or maybe three times, I'm not entirely sure. Steven thought it was hilarious. I just thought it was ridiculous. But, Steven being Steven, decided to make it his own. So I was given a "Shawn Spencer Smack" on the forehead. I was not amused. He then apologized profusely and then rectified the situation by placing three good kisses on my forehead. It b a r e l y restored my faith in his kisses. Next time, he might not be so lucky...<br /><br />What is it like being married to an irreverent, snarky, pot-stirring tease? </div>
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It's <strike>exhausting</strike> err <strike>frustrating</strike>...um, well....it's <strike>the cross I have to bear whilst being his wife</strike>...<strike>the trigger for bipolar hysterics</strike>...it's...it's...</div>
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It's interesting. We'll leave it at that.<br /><br /></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-64484806956405242712013-04-23T09:57:00.001-07:002013-04-23T22:19:44.676-07:00Hello, Helen. Goodbye...Helga.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOpq45g13SHoSAHMVkzvExxyC-4fnr20s67JVBwpUb7shUz-xwI7AuP9PdddYfGUmOuuGD0eq7E_w5WIYndAY6hPLW8jSRCUwnjRJ4Oo09d_oWmqbtWL-SPqttneSUBEZU8aS9y7EVqk/s1600/quote-facebody+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOpq45g13SHoSAHMVkzvExxyC-4fnr20s67JVBwpUb7shUz-xwI7AuP9PdddYfGUmOuuGD0eq7E_w5WIYndAY6hPLW8jSRCUwnjRJ4Oo09d_oWmqbtWL-SPqttneSUBEZU8aS9y7EVqk/s320/quote-facebody+(1).png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Today I plucked and waxed my eyebrows. It felt good. Life feels so much better when you feel more like a Helen of Troy and less of a Helga of Trouble. No offense to those who are named "Helga." I've decided that I need to take care of myself. Not that beauty is all that matters, not that I'm not--err--content with what I'm rocking right now...It's just that I don't feel confident. I feel squishy and lost...two things which never go together well, <u>e v e r</u>. Speaking of which, I don't care what every one else is saying, I want to lose 50. I'd settle for 35. Steven and I are going to--come @#!*% or High Water--take a getaway trip to this DIVINE bed and breakfast down in southern Utah this fall or next spring (see: <a href="http://thecrescentmooninn.com/">http://thecrescentmooninn.com/</a>).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBU0k2-bg2iI970faiXGnbDZhVZV325aREBaGmXWPQgp-xNyqat0_D-CD1F88r769XEi1cB7May92Tsgt_CGFWdry1tw0FVSBB_CMTiorA3WBE6Uuzv8Zb3PW0igLvsiGB47a4IYG6eE/s1600/CrescentMoonInn_01+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBU0k2-bg2iI970faiXGnbDZhVZV325aREBaGmXWPQgp-xNyqat0_D-CD1F88r769XEi1cB7May92Tsgt_CGFWdry1tw0FVSBB_CMTiorA3WBE6Uuzv8Zb3PW0igLvsiGB47a4IYG6eE/s320/CrescentMoonInn_01+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The luxurious B&B in Kayenta, UT. Been dreamin' of escaping to the Crescent Moon Inn for a year...</td></tr>
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And I want to feel like a hot mama by then. So, baby steps. Unfortunately Mother Nature messed with my plans to get my butt in gear exercise wise. So it's yoga for this week, walking daily next week...and we'll see what comes next after all that. Next month's menu is going to be less Macaroni and Cheese (which I kid you not, we have eaten Mac & Cheese 15 times this month...can you tell I haven't been functioning?). Time to get back to cooking from scratch and have the bulk of our diet be fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meat. Butter is non-negotiable though. :) I also am dying to try this "Sassy Water" detox recipe:<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Sassy Water </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1 Cucumber Sliced thin</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">2 TBS grated Ginger root -- you can use a microplane (just be careful don't injure yourself like Matt)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1 Whole Lemon - Sliced</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">14 Mint Leaves</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Add to 1 Gallon of Water and Drink daily for 7 days!</span><br />
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The month of May shall be a fresh, new month to start renewing my energy and to boost my esteem. And to detox from all the junk and crap I ate in April...<br />
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And I want to start maintaining a confident, neat, comely appearance. No more crazy awful eyebrows. And I am dying for a hair cut--haven't had one for a year and a half and I feel like Mahana. Maybe I'll just throw caution to the wind and spend my last tiny paycheck on a haircut.<br />
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I have not let myself go...I knew what was happening...I chose to diaper my children instead of investing in haircuts and hair dye and pedicures. I chose to pursue other things than taking the time each week to pluck my eyebrows. I rarely have occasion to "goose up" (as Steven puts it...) aka gussy up. But I still have to look in the mirror and see Tiffany each morning. It felt good to take care of the kids. It feels good to spend a little time on me.<br />
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Shaping those brows got me on a kick. I want to keep going. I'm going to try a couple of things I've seen on pinterest and see how it goes. And who doesn't love a Queen Helene Mint Julep face mask...it's in the works. I also want to paint my toenails a fabulous color and get my heels under control. Fetchin' genetic trait. I hope Kaia doesn't have to deal with the obnoxiously dry and cracked heels that seem to mock every step you take. And then you feel all self-conscious when you wear flip flops which just should never be the case. Long live Teva flipflops. I live for the warmer months when I can live in flip flops.<br />
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Pinterest Experiment #1: The Blackhead Buster<br />
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Take gel facial wash (I am going to use Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap...because it's so lovely...) and mix 1 T of baking soda, 1 T sea salt. Apply to damp skin with a cotton pad. Leave for 5 minutes...<br />
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The link wasn't working, but that was in the description. I'll let you know how it goes. And what I did to get it off of my schnozz.<br /><br />UPDATE: It did indeed help with the blackheads on my nose and chin. It did not extradite them, which would be too good to be true, anyways. I'll keep searching for a good blackhead remedy.<br />
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Pinterest Experiment #2: The Heelinator<br />
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<div class="ERSSummary" itemprop="description" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
A simple and very moisturizing exfoliating foot and body scrub that is easy and fast to make at home.</div>
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Author: <span itemprop="author" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wellness Mama</span></div>
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Recipe type: <span itemprop="recipeCategory" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Beauty</span></div>
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<div class="ERSIngredients" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
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Ingredients</div>
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<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">1 cup of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00507T7XO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00507T7XO&linkCode=as2&tag=herbkati-20" style="color: #80bf61;" target="_blank">epsom salt</a></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">ΒΌ cup olive oil or almond oil</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">1 teaspoon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GTQ65I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005GTQ65I&linkCode=as2&tag=herbkati-20" style="color: #80bf61;" target="_blank">liquid castille soap</a> (optional, makes texture slightly smoother)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">10-15 drops of <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/go/essential-oils/" style="color: #80bf61;" target="_blank">essential oils</a> (or more- optional)</li>
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<div class="ERSInstructions" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="ERSInstructionsHeader ERSHeading" style="clear: both; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
Instructions</div>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;">In a small bowl, mix all ingredients and add essential oils or scents until desired scent is achieved.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Store in airtight container and use a teaspoon sized amount to exfoliate feet or body as needed.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;">Rinse after use.</li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><br />All while catching up on last night's episode from The Voice. Woot woot! This is gonna be good...</span></div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-40279021563683967892013-04-22T00:20:00.002-07:002013-04-22T01:22:12.291-07:00Dealing with yet another disappointment...Tonight, I made the absolutely worst mistake...I listened to my voice messages. Right before turning off the light to fall asleep. Poor Steven had to talk me off of my emotional rocky cliff.<br />
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Lesson #1: Never listen to voice messages before bed. You will inevitably pay for it.<br />
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My mind had just slowed down to a sleepy pace and then BAM! it's off racing again. It was a voice message from one of the mom's whose child I tend. She talked with her hubby and their kid and decided that they were going to find a different situation that would better suit their child's needs. So, I was fired via a phone message. Kinda lame. We're barely able to make ends meet on our own and now...oh, now I don't know what will come of all this. This is the second in-home employment opportunity that's been pulled out from underneath my feet just this year...and in both situations the parents are doing what's best for their child, so I can rationally understand but it doesn't take away the sting of disappointment or the waves of anxiety that come crashing over me. We were counting on this income. Things were finally working, and smoothly for that matter...I feel angry. I feel like I've bent over backwards to accommodate the family and their needs, regularly facing inconsistency (they cancelled on me often) and a bit lower pay then I would have liked. I've been tied to my house and the schedule so that there were never any conflicts. Their child was fun to have over, but had some pouting issues (which Kaia has adopted...oy vey) and frequently spent the day telling me white lies about this, that, and the other. It was going to end at the end of May. I don't understand why it had to end when we had 4 more weeks to go. Quite unnerving for me. To put it as Jane Austen would, "I can hardly keep my countenance."<br />
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What am I doing wrong? I don't get it! I've been honest, I've been patient, I've been easy to work with.<br />
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I'm trying to see the silver lining. If anything, I've learned that a signed contract is absolutely vital. And that I must require payment for each day they contract me to keep my schedule open, so if they cancel, I don't have to worry about coming up with the funds to diaper our children.<br />
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Steven is being great, telling me to shrug it off and let it go. That it will be nice for me to have a break. That I'll get that time back to be just with our children. That perhaps the Lord isn't letting me get comfortable with working and being a full-time mom. And logically this all makes sense. Is it penetrating my soul yet? No way, Jose. Right now, I'm feeling a strange union of anger and chaos. It burns the soul, it burns...<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-66104009739803483862013-04-20T21:23:00.001-07:002013-04-20T21:26:14.338-07:00And....we're sort of back...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">This is where I am at:</span></div>
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I haven't been blogging very much lately...hardly at all, really. And the truth of it is that a few major calamities have surfaced and I've been absolutely overwhelmed with trying to cope with it, keep up with regular day-to-day life, and maintain the ability to keep breathing. I'm not sharing details. It's personal and hard to deal with as it is...But just know, I am totally struggling and totally aware that I am not alone. I haven't blogged lately because the things that are on my mind aren't ready to come out yet, if ever, and not because I am repressing anything--rather I am trying to respect the process of healing and all that comes with it.<br />
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I'm sorry if you're upset I don't post pictures of us. I'm not in a place to tackle the weight of keeping pictures posted. Someday soon. I will keep posting these little pictures and quotes. They make me happy. Like giddy happy and when I look at them, I feel like I can breathe again. One of my favorites right now is this one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQT7tzIE-ohxmurdYkONnqhgotIb_-5GOo0bpsSQFLJJpWxkSg-kO_apoguzoJwTVgSLt6lqAfPi1JGNMY6l8OPHdVaagLhs_MYE_Egxkj4KrzwI3EIIaLh39vkbcbM2b9WiIienEnI7s/s1600/484170_484919238223249_122474821_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQT7tzIE-ohxmurdYkONnqhgotIb_-5GOo0bpsSQFLJJpWxkSg-kO_apoguzoJwTVgSLt6lqAfPi1JGNMY6l8OPHdVaagLhs_MYE_Egxkj4KrzwI3EIIaLh39vkbcbM2b9WiIienEnI7s/s320/484170_484919238223249_122474821_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right now I am processing life literally by the hour. If God ever gave me a talent that I absolutely adore, it's the ability that I have been given to compartmentalize. I see each new hour very much the same as other people view a new day or a new month, or even a new year. This brings a lot of order to my universe when I feel like aspects of my life are getting eaten alive by a big black hole. So each hour, I process life as it is--which can be rather gruesome at times--and it balances me, steadies me, allows me to live the truth instead of clinging onto what was not. Acceptance. What a beautiful step in the grieving process. Don't get me wrong, the other steps are great, too. It's awesome that we have emotional reflexes that are predominant in every human being. It allows us to truly relate to any other person at any given time. The grief cycle gives room for <i>connection, </i>to ourselves individually, to those around us. I love when I cycle through and rest on acceptance for awhile before I get whisked away for another battle round.<br />
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I read the below quote a lot as well. I have to accept today for what it is, myself for what I have become, my circumstances for what they are. But that doesn't mean I'm ever going to stop <i>believing</i> that He in all of His mysterious ways will be able to completely heal the gaping, festering wounds credited to mortality. This quote seems to keep alive in me something that is vital to the workings of the Atonement: <i>hope. </i>I have to pray, to have dreams and a clear vision of where I want to be, and I've got to believe that after all I am able to do, He's going to get me there.<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-62053578839980262722013-03-08T22:40:00.001-08:002013-03-08T22:40:08.490-08:00Something Aunt Kim tried to teach me before she passed away...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I remember several months before my Aunt Kim passed away, she sent me an email with a link to a youtube video. It was an excerpt of a BYU devotional given by Elder F. Enzio Busche.<br />
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I remember her telling me often that I needed to enjoy the journey, to allow myself to move through life at my own pace--she said I was a mover and a shaker. I have always enjoyed being busy. I have always needed too much on my plate in order to function. When I viewed this video for the first time, the portion that struck me the most was "Avoid rush and haste...divine light develops in places of peace and quiet." I thought about my Aunt Kim's example. She was a woman of many talents and tastes--she had a full life and she accomplished a lot of grand things. But Aunt Kim had a steadiness about her, a stillness about her, that helped me on so many occasions. I miss her. I am glad that she is in my family and that I will meet up with her someday and enjoy her spirit and company again. I wish I had listened closer and not let the lessons she taught me pass over me too quickly.<br />
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I think I allow myself to get too busy...I have had to break the habit of glorifying over an overly busy schedule. In order to set the distractions aside to accomplish stillness, I need to let go of loving busy-ness. I also need to continue to say "No, thank you" as kindly as I can. People more often then not will not like being told "No", but at this point I just can't see how you can draw water (or help/support/quality time/friendship) from an empty well (an empty emotional/spiritual/physical reserve).<br /><br />My favorite symbol is a beehive. The thrift, the industry, the resourcefulness...the sweet reward of hard work. I love it. I want to balance things a bit better so that I can love my schedule/workload as much as I love those attributes that a beehive signifies. I will try to be busy with the important things and try much, much harder to carve out time for meditation and calm stillness. My spirit is parched and neglected...not so much because of lack of material--I study plenty out of the scriptures, the Ensign, devotionals, etc. I think my studies have not reached the influential potency that it could have if I took the time to be still during the week.<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-20606334999616867452013-03-05T06:50:00.002-08:002013-03-05T07:05:48.710-08:00This little piggy went to the bank, and this little piggy came home...<br />
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Yesterday, I met up with Steven as he was coming into town. We met at the bank. Steven stayed in the van and watched Little Rascals with the kids (our kids are a NIGHTMARE at the bank...it's like they smell money and suckers and start to hulk out or something...). I went in and opened my own personal "wife" checking and savings account. I relieved Steven from his post and he went into the bank and opened his own personal "husband" checking and savings account. We're doing this. So far it has been refreshing and exciting to move forward with this budgeting method. I really think it's going to work.<br />
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I also reactivated my mint.com account (PEOPLE, NEWSFLASH! THIS SITE IS AMAZING! WANT TO BE MORE ORGANIZED IN FINANCES? SHEBAM...OPEN UP A MINT.COM ACCOUNT. YOU'RE WELCOME...) and updated our financial information. It's a little painful to see the credit debt and student loan debt totals, but truth is truth and there's no wiggling out of that death grip--debt is debt. When we consolidate Steven's loans when he is done with school, we might just die from shame. Until then, I will allow the mortification of our debt to motivate us to pay it off. It's crazy because we don't go and spend money on fun outings or clothes or get the new iPhone...we want to pay off our debt and have been chomping at the bit to get going on it. We're just not bringing in enough money. So, I thought we would at least hunker down and <b>really </b>get a tight grip on our spending--even though it's all necessities of life and debt payments, I wonder if we could make our money go even farther. It's also been frustrating for us because Steven hardly sees his paycheck before it's gone. With us having separate bank accounts, we can each take care of paying for a cell phone, gas, and expenses that we normally take care of (example: I usually buy diapers and Steven usually picks up a redbox movie once a month) and feel like there's balance in the spending now--I don't take his paycheck and spend it all by myself on our monthly expenses...he will get to handle what expenses he wants to take care of. Woot woot for less resentment, not that he's ever expressed that but I feel like it might be there underneath the surface.<br /><br />I also started to inquire about MMI's services. Why not just take the plunge and get it over with? Steven and I were talking about what was holding us back from using debt counseling to help us get out of debt. Our biggest concern is if it will negatively effect our credit. But late payments and being over the limits are also negatively effecting our credit, plus it would be a relief to get the payments down to a manageable amount instead of going without shampoo and baby wash and qtips (toilet paper works, too, people...we're still very hygenic...) for months and months. Lower interest rates are also looking good right now since the majority of our credit lines have 23%-29% interest rates (store cards will rob you blind...).<br /><br />I am also making progress by saying "No." I have to officially give my first "No" this morning. A lady in our ward that I've never met before stopped by my house to ask me to come over today for lunch. Not going to happen with a three year old and an 18 month old who turn into crazy people when new people are around. I'm just not in a season where that would be either relaxing or enticing to go and do that. Maybe when my kids are older and less needy. Ugh, I am cringing at the thought of making that phone call...Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-67267803929256917712013-03-03T21:55:00.001-08:002013-03-03T22:07:20.619-08:00& that's okay.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I<span style="font-family: inherit;"> am exhausted. I promise I will blog sometime in the next few days about our whirlwind weekend. I don't have the required amount of energy to give it the proper explanation. Spoiler: Steven and I have such a great support group. I had no idea just what my bishop was talking about when he looked me dead in the eyes and said, "They that be with us are <em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">more than they</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"> that be with </span><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">them." The Lord sent promptings to many angels and we didn't know what to do with ourselves. It was a special weekend. But I am exhausted--more than I have ever felt before. I will share as much as I can--some of it is too sacred to go into, but I will share what I can. & that's okay.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">One of my professors back in college told me that if you acquire the same bit of information from 3 reliable sources, it was considered valid evidence to back up a claim. Since I've had 3 relatives in the last 48 hours tell me almost verbatim the same piece of advice, I guess I better pay attention and use it. I am going to rip back my obligations down to the bone and for the next 2 weeks cancel any extra, non-vital commitments. I am taking a mental health vacation. I am going to learn how to say "No" without feeling guilty. And I'm going to say "No" and stick to my guns. And I'm going to be okay with saying "No." I will try my darndest to master the basics again and fill my empty reserve right now. I will scale back and slow down. And if 2 weeks isn't long enough, I will extend it as needed. & that's okay.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">I'm also going to choose 4 areas to improve right now in my life and spend 1 week working on one area, then move to the next area and work on it. These are things I stress about. These are things I could feel more peace about if I stopped for a minute to research, pray about, meditate on instead of pushing it to the back burner. These are the 4 areas I am most worried about in life. I've chosen: finances, temple work, food storage/self reliance, and one on one time with Steven, Morgan, and Kaia. </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">This week I'm going to investigate debt counseling, open a "wife" checking account for me and a "husband" checking account for Steven, and I'm going to check on an online savings account that's been inactive for awhile--see where it's at (I think there's $4.00 in it), to reactivate my account on mint.com (it's a great place to keep track of money accounts/balances), and to inventory items in our home that we don't use but could sell to close the "oh-crap-how-are-we-going-to-pay-for-this?" gap. <a href="http://www.funcheaporfree.com/2012/10/the-7-bank-accounts-every-family-should.html">Here's</a> the link for the financial plan I am going to pilot, and if it works, I'll take it to Steven and get his thoughts. </em></span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">Each week, I will pray and study about that area of my life, I will focus on it for one week, and then I will let it marinate for another 3 weeks. I love to compartmentalize things. I work best that way, in an all-in fashion. To take a break from it after a while and pick up where I left off. & that's okay. </em><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">I feel a lot of broken right now, or maybe I am just a little broken right now and can't see the truth because my feelings are so raw and close to the surface. But either way, I am struggling, & that's okay. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;"><br /></em></span>Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-8028298646356394542013-03-01T10:03:00.002-08:002013-03-01T10:10:52.708-08:00A Poor PilgrimAfter a rather off morning, I decided to take a shower to see if that would help get me out of this funk. I was all set to get up, practice the song I'm singing in Relief Society this Sunday, and go grocery shopping. Steven went to try to save the morning by picking up a strawberry turnover for me and donuts for him and the kids...but the card didn't work...which means I won't be grocery shopping today. When it rains, it pours, and if I've learned anything from the past year, it is to expect a monsoon. Apparently, the economical climate we live in right now has plenty of monsoons and little time to air dry before the next storm.<br />
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So, I showered. Which usually helps me feel refreshed enough to start the day over again in my mind. I don't know why, but standing under the water made me feel empty. I felt like a shell of a person...and I understood myself. I am sad, I am scared, I am angry, I am hurt, I am lonely, I am full of doubts. I had a song creep into my head, and at first, I couldn't remember where I had heard it before, or what all the lyrics were. It was just the intro playing over and over until I could finally recall the first bits of lyrics. It seemed to slowly trickle in and after some time I could remember most of the lyrics. And I started to remember housing this song--that's what performing feels like to me. It feels like a house guest that comes to stay for a little while...it comes and goes and you get to know it better and better. Soon, you know it better than you know yourself. And then it's gone. It's stay is over. And you wait vacant until the next tune softly knocks at your spirit. Anyways, I remember feeling the deep resonance in my chest that flickers when the lower notes are sung. And then I remembered the very ending of the song. And it occurred to me that I had sung it before. It was the first solo given to me in high school. The lyrics confused me then, but I tried to understand them and feel them as best I could. If I were to sing it now, I would collapse on the stage. I wouldn't be able to get through the piece without a break down--or it would be my best performance yet because I know exactly now what the words mean.<br />
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I've had a vicious inner struggle these past few days. I want to make Heaven here. I want to be able to set life in its proper scope and function. I want to feel like an eternal soul that is here for a brief mortal experience, to bring Heaven here since I'm not ready to be brought There. I feel like I might be able to start to live that soon...but for now, I need to accept that I am a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow. To feel it completely, to voice the depth of it, so that I can let it go.<br />
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I am a pilgrim of sorrow<br />
I'm left in this wide world,<br />
This wide world alone.<br />
Aint got no hope,<br />
Got not hope for tomorrow.<br />
Tryin' to make it, make Heaven my home.<br />
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I am a poor pilgrim,<br />
A poor pilgrim of sorrow<br />
I'm left in this old wide world,<br />
This old wide world alone.<br />
I ain't got no hope,<br />
I aint' got no hope,<br />
Got not hope for tomorrow.<br />
Tryin' to make it,<br />
Tryin' to make Heaven my home.<br />
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Sometimes I'm tossed and I'm driven, Lord.<br />
Sometimes I just don't know,<br />
I don't know which way,<br />
Don't know which way to turn.<br />
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I heard of a city called Heaven,<br />
And I'm trying to make it,<br />
Tryin' to make Heaven my home.<br />
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Sometimes I'm tossed and I'm driven, Lord.<br />
Sometimes I just don't know,<br />
I don't know which way,<br />
Don't know which way to turn.<br />
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I heard of a city called Heaven,<br />
And I'm trying to make it,<br />
Tryin' to make Heaven my home.<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-81669931936869549712013-02-25T20:42:00.001-08:002013-02-25T20:47:34.493-08:00I have no idea what to write. My children were angry at me all day long. So was the little boy I tended. I thought it was going to be a good day. I have no idea how to feel about it.<br />
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My husband was very critical of me today. I feel very lonely, very forgotten. I have no idea how to let that go. </div>
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My house is unkempt, the dishes waiting to be done, the laundry piled--clean and dirty, the floors need to be cleaned, the bathroom scrubbed, the beds need to be made up with new bed clothing, the trashes emptied. I have no idea how to manage it all. I have no idea how it feels to have a well-run home. </div>
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Dinner was chicken pot pies. The crappy, cheap ones. Everyone hated it. No one was pleased. No one cared that I rushed home to make sure there was something to eat. That they wouldn't go to bed hungry. I have no idea be the homemaker they expect me to be. </div>
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My solo in church yesterday was a disaster. I have no idea how I could have prevented that. </div>
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My resources are so limited. I have no idea how to make it all work. </div>
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My calling scares me. It requires so much of me to make it happen. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to keep going.</div>
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My energy is gone. I have no idea how to get it back. </div>
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My faith is wavering, it feels smaller than a seed. I have no idea how it is going to sustain me.</div>
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My efforts seem so pale to what is required, what is needed to be responsible and confident and sure of myself, of life, of the future. I don't have anything else to give. What I can offer is not enough, I am always behind. I have no idea how to settle for such meager accomplishments. </div>
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My blog seems like a waste of time. It seems to be a drain of my last little bit of energy at the day. I don't think anyone cares what I have to say, especially when life is so dark right now, so scary and chaotic and unnerving. No one wants to read what's really going on with me. They don't want to hear about the demons, the hardships, my dark thoughts and frustrations and fears. I have no idea why I keep posting. </div>
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I have no idea what to write. Other than the truth. The truth is...the truth is that I'm a failure. I have failed. I am not enough. I don't have what it takes to be strong and resilient during the most damn awful trials I have ever been through. The truth is that I don't get to move past these wounds or these crosses to bear, to make progress. I am a failure. I have bad luck. I am forgotten. I have been sent here to fail over and over and over again. The truth is that I don't have it in me anymore. The truth is that I have been beaten. It's over and I've failed. And I have no idea how to wake up to that tomorrow and live with it. I guess I'll just be a failure day after day. Because it doesn't get any better, doesn't make a difference how hard I try, what new mantra I learn or conference talk that I read to inspire me to keep going or goals that I set or baby steps that I take. It is what it is. Hopeless. And it's only going to get worse. </div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-16342879572896269532013-02-23T19:38:00.004-08:002013-02-23T19:38:46.587-08:00Silly Little Woman...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kaia says things in such a unique way that I thought I should probably document it before I forget them. I will also translate for you.<br />
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"Can mean Morgan watch Bobabuilder?"<br />
<i>"Can me and Morgan watch Bob the Builder?"</i><br />
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"Could you go to the 'puter and play the mucus?"<br />
<i>"Could you go to the computer and play the music?"</i><br />
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"Can I talk to Christmas?"<br />
<i>"Can I talk to Chrissy?"</i><br />
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"Jakie, Evie, and Lilar are down in Tuah."<br />
<i>"Jakie, Evie, and Lila are down in Utah."</i><br />
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"Mom, I want to play the pleeano."<br />
<i>"Mom, I want to play the piano."</i><br />
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"Dad, you're crunchy..."<br />
<i>"Dad, you're scratchy..."</i><br />
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"I am a big gale in the whole whaled."<br />
<i>"I am a big girl in the whole world."</i><br />
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"Acoubeda."<br />
(Her catch-all word she used to say when she was 2)<br />
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"Can I have a peanut sandwich and honey for lunch?"<br />
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"Grandma and Grandpa Hatkiss"<br />
<i>Grandma and Grandpa Haskett</i><br />
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Me: Say whale.<br />
Kaia: Whale.<br />
Me: Say world.<br />
Kaia: Whaled.<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-48732786969870319902013-02-22T22:40:00.001-08:002013-02-22T22:43:00.688-08:00The Terrible TrifectasI had some less than pleasant trifectas waltz all over my day.<br />
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Trifecta #1:<br />
Kaia, Morgan, and J.<br />
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Kaia and Morgan are both dealing with their own horrible trials...Morgan is cutting two molars and Kaia has a UTI.<br />
J came over today and he was very confused as to why Morgan and Kaia crashed after eating breakfast. I explained to him that they weren't feeling very good. So I got to spend some one-on-one with J...if you can count sewing in the same room as him. He would get very frustrated if I didn't say something remarkable to his imaginary scenarios he was cooking up. So, today I flew from one child to the next, answering questions remarkably, getting this and that, and disciplining my grumpy couple of turkeys.<br />
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Trifecta #2:<br />
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Yeast Infection, UTI, and Hemorrhoids.<br />
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What worse than dealing with one of these? Well, I'll tell ya. Now don't go all "TMI" on me. Just hear me out. What's worse is when you have all <i>three </i>of these at the same time. I literally have not been functioning well the past two days because I can't find a comfortable stance--sitting, standing, walking, dashing, lying down. It all hurts. The reason why I'm bringing up my current discomfort is that I found a plethora of helps to get through a UTI/Yeast Infection/Hemorrhoids doctor-free (because the reason I'm dealing with two of these issues is the aftermath from the antibiotics I was taking last week...thanks, but no thanks, doc...). So. Hemorrhoids? Take Cayenne Fruit capsules. It seriously helps and makes a difference. Take probiotics or consume enough (yogurt, sour cream, raw milk, etc, etc) that you're able to get a grand dose of it each day. UTI? Take a dose of goldenseal capsules--only take it for 7 days in a row--it's pretty potent stuff. Also take 1,000 mg of Vitamin C every hour while it's still <strike>plaguing you </strike>a nuisance. Drink unsweetened pineapple juice and unsweetened cranberry juice. Also, run to the store and get D-Mannose with CranActin. Mannose is a natural sugar that looks similar to glucose but, guess what? Your body can't break it down, so it eliminates it as fast as it can. It grabs onto the the E-coli bacterium (what's caused the infection) and puts it into a death grip--it's stronger than the bacteria. Beat that, yo. Out with the bacteria, in with restoring yourself to the ability to pee without crying. Yeast Infection? Stop eating sugar and carbs (basically a diabetic/celiac diet! yahoo!), and start rinsing with half water and half 3% hydrogen peroxide (I rinse with this every time I use the restroom). Again, get serious about those probiotics--you can use them internally and externally. Use probiotic yogurt instead of Vagisil every time you're uncomfortable...the probiotics crowd out the bacteria and restore a "healthy flora" to your lady bits. I found an additional remedy that I tried, but I'm only 75% sold on it because it hurt like <strike>hell</strike> CRAZY for the first 5 minutes, but it truly did clear up my yeast infection:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif;">"This treatment took care of both internal and exterior discomforts and itching. For internal : get a small bowl and add 1Tbs table salt, 1 cap of apple cider vinegar, and 1Tbs of hot water. Then place a tampon in the mixture and let it soak up as much as possible. I left mine in the applicator and pushed just a lil out to make sure it got soaked up. While that is soaking up you can make your mixture for the external treatment. You get 1/2C warm water, 1Tbs salt, and 2Tbs of apple cider vinegar. Clean out as much of the infection from your hoohoo as possible. With a clean and soft rag, soak your rag in the solution and then GENTLY apply to labia and vag opening. Do not put rag inside you! Hold the rag the rag there for a few mins or until the slight pain goes away. The longer the better. Its not a searing pain with this one. I did this twice just to be safe. Then with a fresh clean rag, soak a corner in hydrogen peroxide and again Gently apply it to yourself. This will be the most comforting thing. Then you take the tampon you have been soaking till now and insert. There will be some discomfort along with it but just bear with it! If you can do this, you are on a fast track to feeling worlds better! Go sit down on the couch and relax a little while. The longer you keep it in (a movie length is best) the more I felt I was getting rid of the infection. Then remove it. If you are uncomfortable down there after you remove it, then apply the peroxide as same before with a clean rag again. I didnt experience any more external itching or internal after this. I did this twice a day. After three days it was about gone!"</span><br />
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Your lady parts are going to sting, but I noticed after a few hours of doing this that the biting pain was gone and I felt like things were healing at a pretty fast pace. I'm not trying to embarrass myself. I'm simply offering home remedies that work and work quickly. I'm feeling SO much better tonight. :)<br />
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Trifecta #3:<br />
Empty gas tank, Ran out of minutes on my phone, Ran out of time.<br />
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'nuff said. Holy Moses, feast and famine...feast and famine...<br />
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At least I'm not a chicken.</div>
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-77728290746895769832013-02-21T22:08:00.001-08:002013-02-21T22:08:35.011-08:00Today was interesting. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I almost melted the stack of dishes I hid in the oven (it was my first time trying out this sneaky method of taking care of the dishes). Lesson learned: don't hide dishes in the oven if you're a brain dead zombie like me.<br />
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Today, I wasted 1/4 tank of gas getting lost on the return journey home from Twin Falls. Apparently I can't talk to Chrissy when I'm trying to drive somewhere local. The conversation is so awesome that it distracts me from my dull existence and I end up struggling to find my house or my babysitter's house, both of which I visit regularly. I'm taking a hit in my gas allowance. Lesson learned: call Chrissy after arriving at the destination.<br />
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Today, I did something I rarely do. I forgot a list of things I had written down. I then tried to remember them off of the top of my head, but since I've hit the brain dead zombie stage in life, it took me a grand 20 minutes before I could remember them all. It was really embarrassing. Lesson learned: write the list down on your hand so you don't have to remember to take the list that's supposed to help you remember what you wrote down.<br />
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I'm just giving you the top 3 of many interesting blunders that I succeeded to perform today. I'm starting to wonder if I need a CAT scan or just a frontal lobotomy in general.<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-32944689616982463272013-02-20T20:56:00.001-08:002013-02-20T20:56:45.409-08:00Exhaustified.I feel like I have mono right now... not that I've ever had mono. I'm sure it's just chronic fatigue. I had it back in high school (chronic fatigue, that is). I'm really not pushing myself, I've slowed down quite a bit. And still I feel like I'm in a constant state of EXHAUSTION. Despite all this, I have great ambitions to seize the to-do list by the shirt and give it a good shaking. But I am not able to accomplish very much, though the intention is there, the energy is not.<br />
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Today, I hemmed Steven's new pair of temple pants that I gave him on his birthday back in 2011. Talk about slow on the get go...<br />
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Today, I waxed a rocking chair that a friend gave me. Then I waxed the piano. And the antique large spool and milk stool I have on display in my living room. I also waxed the wooden knobs on the coat rack that will be hung soon by the front door. I also waxed the stool next to the piano and the metronome my Grandma Haskett left me.<br />
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Today, I packed up the baby gear I had set out to entertain Miss C when I was to tend her. No point in having it out--there's no one here who's willing to play with it, and now that I won't be tending Miss C, I don't see the point in continuing to trip over it. Steven was sweet enough to put it all down into the crawl space.<br />
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Today, I started cutting out quilt blocks to make a rag quilt. It's going to go to a sweet little chap named Eli. I sure hope he loves the colors. I hope his mum doesn't mind the fact that I had to make a rag quilt instead of a regular quilt because I don't have any batting on hand.<br />
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Today, I filled my aromatherapy jug with rosemary oil to hang in my car. The tie broke on it, so I fixed it and put it back on, and then the little handle broke. So, it'll have to wait until tomorrow.<br />
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Today, I helped Kaia clean the playroom after Morgan and Kaia royally trashed it. I seriously hate cleaning up toys. But it makes Kaia happy to have some help.<br />
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Today, I rotated the laundry 6 times and almost had the wherewithal to fold all six batches--two of them were abandoned. I'll fold it tomorrow.<br />
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Today, I lent a book to a friend who is having troubles with her 6 month old. That darn turkey is giving his mum a run for her money--he refuses to sleep longer than 15 minutes day or night. I hope she finds her answer quickly.<br />
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Today, I finally cleared out my shadow box and replaced all the items with antique/vintage/unique sewing and knitting bric-a-brac. The colors are so much fun. But I have four empty compartments that are screaming to be made whole. I will have to be patient until I have pocket money again.<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-58035690045409058622013-02-20T09:12:00.002-08:002013-02-20T09:12:46.784-08:00World's Worst Blogger Award Goes To....I forgot to get a post in last night before heading to bed. Honestly, I was on a turkey buzz and didn't have the wherewithal to even try to wax <strike>poetic</strike> <strike>pessimistic</strike> in any fashion last night.<br />
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Steven interviewed for a Nursing Assistant position with an assisted living facility in Twin. He got the job on the spot. The owners were very impressed with him--as if that was a grand sort of surprise--and are eager to get him started this Friday. He will work Friday and Saturday graveyards--which after trying to survive Glanbia's 3-day-marathons-of-12-hour-graveyard-shifts, this'll be a walk in the park for him. So, I cooked a turkey dinner to celebrate (yes, I had <strike>a thawed turkey ready to go because I'm so prepared like that</strike> a bird that was thawed and had neglected to make it for our Valentine's Day celebration which we postponed to Sunday but didn't even celebrate it then. No Valentine's Day for us. What's new...)Steven called after his interview to announce that I'd better get that turkey in the oven because we was goin' celebrate in a mighty fine way t'night.<br />
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And it was a delicious, scrumptious, divine dinner indeed. We didn't eat until 8:30 pm because Steven worked until 7 pm, I had an Enrichment meeting at 7 pm and then had to practice a song with my accompanist (which I will be singing this Sunday), so I got the turkey going and baked the rolls and chilled the "bubbly" before I left the house, Steven went to go get "cold stuff" from the store with the kids on his way back so we could have a celebratory dessert as well, Steven then got the mashed potatoes going and made CREAMY, AMAZING turkey gravy. We ate in the living room since the kitchen was way scary and we did not have any inclination to battle that beast. So we stuffed ourselves full and then ate some more, put the kids to bed, and watched a Criminal Minds episode (which it totally did not hit the spot, it was an odd episode, so we watched Go On afterwards to try and end the night on a sarcastic note). And then we hit the sack because we were fighting a turkey-induced coma. I slept GOOD. And then we woke up to lots of snow, which meant I wouldn't be tending J today (his dad can't work in the snow--he hauls hay) so now I've got the whole snowy, cold day to get some tidying up and some sewing/knitting/cross-stitching done. Yay for days I don't have to go anywhere.<br />
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I will try to post again tonight. No promises, though. Because if I have to wear the "World's Worst Blogger" sash, I plan to live up to it.<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-56847611064339613092013-02-18T21:35:00.001-08:002013-02-18T21:37:44.701-08:00Rough day? Yup.It's been an odd, off, awful sort of day. The kind where you strive to be productive all day long while your brain turns from mush to tar and you feel like you've got mono. It was that day.<br />
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Morgan is teething and or sick. Kaia rounded of her splendid stint of awesome behavior by screaming "Oh my G**!" over and over from the bathroom. Like I said, a rough day. Everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. And to sum everything up, I am electing to sleep on the couch tonight after squeezing in as many Psych episodes as I can before crashing. Yup, one of <i>those</i> days.<br />
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I want to acknowledge at least the few things that I did take note of today. First, if you'd like to have your socks rocked off, try this recipe:<br />
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http://www.ourbestbites.com/2013/02/chicken-sausage-gumbo/<br />
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It was my only accomplishment for the day. It was so good. And Kaia actually ate it all gone, too. That's how good it was. I also attempted to watch Gone With the Wind, since I was feelin' all southern-like, and realized that this is NOT the kind of show you want your 3 year old daughter watching--she will begin to start acting out like Miss Scarlett O'Hara...It is also the kind of show that is impossible to pay attention to when you're trying to run a house and raise children.<br />
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Steven started a project tonight. He's making me a new bathroom shelf because the one we have right now is <strike>a piece of </strike> no longer meeting our needs and has been exiled after I wonked my forehead right on the corner for the <strike>5,000th</strike> 5th time in the past week. I used some colorful, whispered language and indicated that said shelf better be gone by the end of the night. Here is the inspiration for the new shelf:<br />
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It will be twice as long and have double the knobs. I've had the stuff to do it for a couple of months now. It makes me a little frustrated that I had to undergo multiple encounters of pain and agony before finally encouraging this project along. Steven's doing a great job so far and hopefully, we'll have a place to hang our towels again soon. And it will <i>not</i> be hung in such a way that would endow such violence on a poor short person like me.<br />
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I've been invited to three baby showers in the last few weeks, and so I have got to get cracking. I first have to hem Steven's temple pants, finish sewing his Valentine's Day gift (he knows what it is...once I finish it, I'll post pictures of both of our gifts...the one he gave me is pretty amazing...and he made it from scrap wood...), finish sewing Steven's tie I was supposed to have done for Christmas, then start on my baby shower projects which include 2 quilts, 1 blanket, and 2 burp cloths. And at some point I need to clean the house and catch up on the laundry, because it's all getting a little out of control...<br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-18484216000757205082013-02-09T08:56:00.002-08:002013-02-09T08:56:31.407-08:00Blog VacationThings are getting a little dark around here. I'm going to take a break and try and get my perspective back and just focus on getting through the daily grind successfully. I'll be back in a week. <br />
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<br />Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-30650695134586589392013-02-08T06:31:00.001-08:002013-02-08T09:51:12.854-08:00That's it.I worked, reworked, revamped finances for 6 hours. I turned it inside out, upside down. The gist of it all is still the same. It's going to be very, very rough waters ahead. I updated my resume and references and also Steven's. I applied for a receptionist job that only works ya on Saturdays and Sundays, so I could still be a Mom for the most part. I don't know how to drag myself through this again. A person can only handle feeling incompetent and disappointing for so long until it swallows him or her whole. an I am starting to get the the point that I just don't want to care about it anymore.<br />
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The only significantly positive thing I did today was bake a cake. Which is not good for my health nor the health of my family because sugar + stress just INVITES a whole mass of colds and illnesses. So, in a way, I didn't do anything positive today at all.<br />
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That's it. Voila, a whole day where generally everything turns out worse in the end. I'm going to bed. Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-76036019929417132672013-02-06T20:32:00.002-08:002013-02-06T20:34:55.013-08:00Picking up the pieces...again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A lot happened today. I cleaned the kitchen top to bottom in one go. That hasn't happened since I was pregnant with Kaia. Usually it takes two or three days to completely scrub everything down. It was an achievement. I know it will be trashed by two small children by the end of tomorrow. But it was pristine today, damn it all, and I will hold onto that fiercely. <br />
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The crap did hit the fan today, though. And it kept blowing it around until it became a grand mess. We had quite a few setbacks surface today...and then a grand-finale muck storm of sorts: it's not going to work and we have to start over again. The short of it is that Steven will be avidly job hunting--again--and I will try hard not to fall to even smaller pieces. <br />
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I acknowledge that these things happen for a reason, and I only want the best situation for us and our friends, family, and acquaintances...it royally messes ya up though after time and time again, there is a brief flicker of hope--a calm in the storm--just for it to bottom out and leave you drowning again. I am amazed that I haven't shattered into a thousand unrecognizable pieces yet. I am amazed that though I feel broken and numb, though I understand that tomorrow is coming with all of its beasts at the ready, that I will be able to breathe in and breathe out and make a go of it again. I must be absolutely nutters, insane, psychologically unstable...Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-67048088661769448792013-02-05T19:50:00.000-08:002013-02-06T07:26:25.735-08:00Whooped.Ever have a very productive day, but you feel totally unsatisfied by then end of the day because you felt like you were just trying to keep up?<br />
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Yup. That was today...I feel like I just want to be lazy tomorrow. <br />
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Most exciting thing today: I tried bay scallops for the first time. It was....not bad, but I think I need to be exposed to it a few more times before I'll commit to actually being comfortable with it.<br />
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Goodnight. Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-58917309138855829212013-02-04T20:13:00.003-08:002013-02-05T07:22:08.254-08:00Locked, Loaded, and LoavedToday, for FHE, Steven and I hired a babysitter and headed for the country. We met up with a couple in our ward who are gun enthusiasts (they recently started S.W.A.T. training as they are part of Search & Rescue...how cool is that?) and they gave me a shooting lesson. I've never EVER shot a gun before. Before last week, I hadn't even held a gun before. It's been a journey, but I've come a long way since taking Rape & Aggression Defense classes. I've wanted to learn how to shoot ever since. So, here is my very first time shooting a gun. My aim is not very good, and I keep "muzzling" Steven and our instructors. But I will get better! They are very good at teaching and I am looking forward to future lessons.<br />
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Steven and I took our family out to eat--to sit down and eat--and boy was it the best meal ever. It's called The Farmhouse Restaurant. They make a specialty bread called "Basque Bread." I wanted to try it. It was so delicious. The whole entire meal (including the BEST apple pie a la mode I've ever had in my entire life) was truly scrumptious. I told the waitress that I really loved the bread. She said you could buy a loaf from the restaurant--they sell them by the register. So I bought one!<br />
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Check this loaf out:</div>
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They bake the bread in a stock pot. This seriously made my day. <br />
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A long, very adventurous day...maybe I'll tell ya more about it another time...</div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-61071005307473821022013-02-03T13:50:00.000-08:002013-02-03T13:58:29.374-08:00Meet Sheila...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is Sheila.
I shall call her Sheila and she shall be mine and she shall be my Sheila.<br />
Sheila is my new minivan! Yes, I have advanced to the next level of motherhood (but apparently haven't matured enough to NOT name my car...I'm sorry, but I just had to! P.S....Steven said that he doesn't name his cars, but if he did, the Subaru's name would be "Brad"...so technically, he did name his car but is unwilling to own up to it...). SO fun to finally have my own car--this is my very first! We are going tomorrow to get it registered and plates put on it. It is a 2003 Honda Odyssey. Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358536172658580069.post-48942307821197940612013-02-02T16:10:00.000-08:002013-02-02T16:10:55.540-08:00Crazy Little Thing Called Nyquil...I'll bet you have wondered, "Where the heck did she go? Where is her daily blog post for the last two days? Did she fall off of the face of the earth?"<br />
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The answer is: Nyquil. And also a few things that happened but are too "of a personal nature" and will not be divulged here. Sorry, not going to air out that dirty laundry...<br />
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I have been gone...not just mentally absent but physically removed from my present positions as mother, wife, contributing member of society, etc, etc.... Our mild head colds turned into acute sinusitis and then decided to take a turn for bronchitis. We spent almost the entire day Friday at the doctor's office, the pharmacy, and the store trying to provide the right sorts of remedies to fling us into healthful action. It took Walmart a whopping TWO HOURS AND FIFTEEN MINUTES TO FILL OUR FREAKING PRESCRIPTIONS. (No offense Patrick...I'm upset with the Twin Falls pharmacy techs, not all Walmart pharmacy techs...). I was pretty pissed off after sitting in front of the pharmacy while other people who had indeed dropped their prescriptions off after I did were receiving their prescribed remedies before I did. This was almost absolutely unbearable as I was feeling like death-warmed-over-by-the-very-feverish-fires-of-the-seventh-circle-in-HELL. Anyways, suffice it to say that one I could have cared less about blogging, I was darn well determined to feel better and that spells antibiotics and N-Y-Q-U-I-L. Which then meant that I would not be in any kind of right mind to blog late in the evening as it probably would have been 1) incoherent 2) a smorgasbord of cuss words or 3) nothing you would have cared to hear me wax on about whilst enjoying that warm bubble of Nyquil bliss that wells up in ya chest (Yes, it's a good thing I don't drink. I would enjoy it too much, I think...).<br />
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Nyquil is also the reason I didn't blog Thursday as well. I had opened up a new post, uploaded the pictures, and was in the middle of typing up a cute post about--well, you can just read about that tomorrow. I don't know what happened. One minute I was trying to find the right adjective, the next minute I'm waking up to the sun peeking through our curtains and Steven has all three pillows. It's completely blank what happened in between. I suspect that Steven decided to take full advantage of my weakened state and drag me back to bed so I couldn't spend another 30 minutes blogging about--well, you'll see tomorrow--so he waited for that Nyquil to kick in and then knocked my out with a frying pan or something (which might explain the splitting headache I had yesterday morning); but then again, maybe I just fell asleep on the keyboard and then army crawled back to bed. Like I said, I'm not entirely sure about what happened. All I know is that it involved Nyquil. Blessed Nyquil.<br />
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<br />We are feeling much better. <br />
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Thank you and Good Night. Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633209120732098705noreply@blogger.com2