Things You Should Never Say

I have PCOS.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It means my hormones are all wonky... which causes a whole bunch of other problems. This has been REALLY difficult for me to not only digest, but live with. I feel as though I am battling something I can not defeat. I feel as though I am the only one battling this. I feel weak.

In order to help curtail some of those feelings, I have begun to be more open about it. I have talked with others about it, but sometimes usually, that makes me feel worse. 

So I have turned to others online.

The PCOS Nutrition Center and the PCOS Diva, in particular, have been helpful. The PCOS Nutrition Center just posted an interesting article on Facebook from the Huffington Post, 5 Things to Never Say to a Friend Trying to Conceive. 

Now, we are taking everything one day at a time and that doesn't mean we are trying to have baby #2. Keep calm and keep reading! I love this article because for so long I have felt as though my body is who I am (based on how others 'see' me). I have always been more curvy than others. I have always dealt with eczema/psoriasis/dermatitis. Now I am dealing with PCOS and its negative effects on my body. This article can be used to help with everything!

In short, the article suggests being supportive and listening; things a true friend would do. Apparently, I don't have many true friends because everyone I know (with the exception of a few) has said something on their list! For Pete's sake, if I hear one more person say, "Oh, have you tried..." I am going to be mean and tell them, "No, I'm just the biggest idiot in the world and have just been eating everything in sight/licking my skin/have been taking my chances!" (curves/dermatitis/PCOS respectively) I mean, really people! I have been trying to be nice and say that I haven't tried stuff so people think they're helping, but it's wearing me out. I've even tried saying yes, but then people get into the, "and it DIDN'T work? Are you sure you did it right?" angle of trying-to-help-but-really-being-condescending conversation.

We need to show people we care by being there, not by offering advice. Know that people who are in any situation often need a supportive ear and a shoulder to lean on. We need to be friends to one another.

This also reminds me of this short video. Let's all remember that It's NOT About the Nail!

A City Girl and Camping

I am an eclectic girl. 

I adore all types of music; from rap to Christian and from country to classical.  I adore the clean, organized lines of modern design, yet I love the frilly romanticism of vintage design.  Nothing is better than the smell of an old book, but my Nook makes it easier to tote around the books I'm reading.  See... eclectic.

All of this brings me to being a City Girl. I am a city girl because I love being able to walk to everything, have {most} everything be delivered, entertainment at all times and the sounds of the city never sleeping  make me feel like I'm home.  Then I went to college in a more rural area and I fell in love with the country.  The sounds, {some of} the smells and the easier, handmade way of life is amazing to me and I want it.

When I was little I was in Girl Scouts. We used to go to Camp Lakamaga for sleep-away camp. I loved and hated it. You see, while I want the country-handmade-life, I don't like being in nature.  The kind of nature that doesn't have indoor plumbing.  The kind of nature that doesn't have {mostly} paved roads.  Making my own path in the woods isn't for me.

That is why I love Glamping. It is the best of both worlds... it's eclectic!

I mean, who wouldn't want to go Glamping in this super adorable vintage camper?

Her name is Audree and more pictures of her can be found on The Fancy Farm Girl . Tiffany bought Audree then painted and decorated her.

There is something new on my "I want" list!!  

SATC and Me

Like I do every summer, I re-watch my favorite shows while I work on other things. I usually correct papers, make cards/crafts, clean or cook while watching Grey's, Friends, Friday Night Lights {Kyle Chandler... swoon}, or Sex and the City.

Well, I decided to watch Sex and the City first this summer. I am already on season 4 {!} and the caption on episode 1 says, "You've gotta grab 35 by the balls, and say 'Hey world, I'm 35!'"

I kept thinking about it and realized, I'll be 35 next year. I need to take 35 and figure out how to achieve my goals, all the while saying 'Hey! I'm 35!'

I know what I am going to start working on first... what are your goals, how are you going to achieve them, and what motivated you to get going?

Friday Night Knitting Club

First off, I know it's been a while. I apologize and I will {try} to get back to posting on a regular basis.

Starting now.

I have a Nook. I love my Nook! I got it right after reading The Help because I lugged that {wonderful} book around with me and it was a heavy addition to my already anvil-like bag. So, I got the simple Nook. I love it - did I mention that?!

Anyway, I bought Kate Jacobs' book, Friday Night Knitting Club, about a year ago and didn't ever really have the time to read it. Especially with school starting, I knew I wasn't going to have the time, but I bought it anyway. I read a page here, a chapter there, but didn't get into it until about two weeks ago. My students were done testing and I was feeling like I needed to get lost in a world that wasn't my own. So I started reading.

I devoured Friday Night Knitting Club and wanted more!

It was difficult for me to read because I am a slow reader. I am slow because I have to see the words as pictures - a movie - as I read, or I get disinterested. I couldn't help but see the amazing characters Ms. Jacobs described, along with the smelling the creations or feeling the textures. I finished the book last week and immediately purchased Knit Two. I finished it tonight {and already purchased Knit the Season}. I want to see these books get made into {actual} movies! I would even settle for one movie!

Who has read it? Who was your favorite character? Who would play that character?

p.s.
Can someone put me in touch with Ms. Julia Roberts? She was once linked to a possible movie and I would like to bend her ear about it. Thanks!

Lose Yourself

Last August I ran my first 5k. It was the MN State Fair Milk Run. I signed up again for the end of this month... my second 5k... my second Milk Run!!

I am really excited and terrified at the same time. I did this last year and I rocked, so why would I be terrified? I am scared that I will finish with a slower time than I did last year. I am scared that my new shoes won't be broken-in by then. I am scared that my asthma will rear its ugly head. I am scared that I will get hurt.

Well... I'm done being scared.

All I need to do is listen to the beats, say the words and my feet will follow.

I can do this and it will be awesome!!

Thank you for helping me Eminem!

'You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo!'

Making Pancakes

Yesterday while Adelle and I were at Target, we picked up a children's whisk and spatula; a Giraffe Whisk and Caterpillar Spatula from Nordic Ware (as are the pictures)!!

So, naturally, this morning we made pancakes. Adelle helped, I used the stove, we both ate. They were delicious! 

Making pancakes will never be the same... or boring!!

My Funny Girl

My blogging Mama friends, Anika at Anika Lee and B at Unexpectedly Expecting Baby, recently posted about the funny words their little one's say instead of the correct way of saying them!

I loved reading their posts because Brian and I were just talking about the things Adelle says incorrectly. For instance, today before lunch Adelle asked to watch a movie. She said she really wanted  to watch Bridge to Terabithia (she likes the cover) but I slipped in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. After some fussing, the movie started and while we ate and before her nap, she sat there completely transfixed. When I told her what we watched, she said, "Oh, Beauty and the Beets?"

Love!

I think my favorite thing she says incorrectly is guacamole. She enjoys the quesadillas from Chipotle and lately, she insists on getting 'Bacamole' with her meal (for her little bag of chips)! It's incredibly cute and I love hearing her say it. "Mommy?! We going to 'Potle for quesadilla and bacamole?" ADORABLE!!

In addition to the cute and adorable things she mispronounces, she tells little jokes too. Adelle loves dinosaurs and dragons. The other day, while eating at Chipotle (hence the little tale above), she said, "Mom? Mommy? Mama?! Dinosaurs eat bacamole. They're silly, Mommy! They can't eat bacamole! That's silly!" Oh my goodness that made me giggle, even typing it now!

Ah, my daughter is a ham!!

Thirty-One

I am obsessed!!

I love to organize things and have little containers and bins for things so I would, of course, love the company Thirty-One. Have you heard of it? I got their Thermal Tote at the 2011 HPE Silent Auction. I love it so I decided to get a their Soft Wallet about a year ago. I love that too!! I've been toying with the idea of going into the Thirty-One business, but I am not a sales person so I am not sure how it would go!!


Anyway, I have been looking for a great bag for work and have been considering the Organizing Utility Tote.

I have seen MANY posts about this bag, but the three that really sold me on it are from Tiffany at The Nest Effect, Jen at i heart organizing, and Tiffany at Teaching 2 Many Diligently. These ladies, among others, talked of how they fell in love with this bag because of how useful and stylish it is.

I am also getting the All-In-One Organizer, the Mini Zipper Pouch, and the Wristlet Key Fob for school. I am planning on putting things in the Organizer for {parent} volunteers and will keep the Mini in it with pencils, highlighters, etc. I am SUPER excited to see these items in use and think it will help the {parent} volunteers when they come in.

The last item I am getting is the Littles Carry-All Caddy for home. I think we're going to try to hold our crazy amount of remotes in it, but I'm not sure! We'll figure something out!!

One of the best things about getting all of this, two of the items were Customer Specials for the month of July!! The Mini and Little were $5 each! Plus, I got a few of the items personalized for $5 each, another Customer Special! Oh my goodness, I am SO excited!!