dear martha

Dear Martha,

I grew up watching your shows just about everyday.  My mother was, and always will be, a Martha follower and lover.  We have a million Martha Stewart cookbooks, my mom is always saying things are "good things" and admiring her website.  You were an inspirational woman.  You grew up in New Jersey, you built an empire out of nothing.  You created a magazine, you were a mother, you were then a single mother, you created books and television shows and websites and inspired a generation of women to make things from scratch. 

Martha, I admired you growing up.  Then the cracks in your perfect façade started showing.  It started with the rude comments about people in interviews.  Then moved on the charges of fraud and a prison sentence.  Now, you continue with your elitist attitude and inappropriate behavior around other celebrities (including this interview where you told Bethenny, a self-made millionaire, that she was a pest).  With your recent comments, I'm totally over you. 

In a recent interview, you called out all of us "non-expert"bloggers.  But, I don't care. 

I don't care because I don't blog for you.  I don't care because I don't blog for my readers.  I don't care because I blog for me.  I blog because I love life.  I blog because I love connecting with other people.  I blog to find inspiration.  Essentially, I blog for me.  "Who are those bloggers?!" you asked in your interview?  We're empowered individuals who aren't afraid to share our lives with the world.  We celebrate each other, help each other and have an amazing community.

So, feel free to hate us Martha and are not expert selves.  We'll get along fine without you.  I mean, we've made it this far.

P.S. I love this Post from Lisette about this situation.  You go girl!

five {things i'm geeking out over} on friday

Newflash: I'm a total nerd.  I bet most of you understood that already and knew this, but I'm just coming out of the geeky closet "officially" for you today.  For the Five on Friday linkup that I love so much, even though I have neglected it the last couple weeks, I'm going to be sharing with you five things I have been GEEKING OUT over for the last few weeks.

{one}
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

 

 

 

OH MY GOSH.  I die.  Essentially this is a modernized version of "Pride and Prejudice" as portrayed via Lizzie Bennet's vlog.  I'm obsessed with it and most are shocked that I haven't been following it since the very beginning.  I've been a longtime nerdfighter and love pretty much any project Hank Green is involved with.  I heard about LBD, but I didn't start watching mainly because at the point it began I was: PLANNING MY WEDDING.  However, now I'm over a year into wedded bliss (!) and my next semester of college won't be starting until January/February, so I have some time.  Plus, I'm on my four days off after finishing the graveyard shift at work, so boo yah!  Binge watching LBD! 

{two}
Super Mario Brothers

We finally bought Super Mario Brothers for the Wii.  I have never been so excited to feel so incredibly inept at something.  Seriously, I suck at it (it's been a lot of years since I've played Super Mario...) especially in comparison with my husband, who is ridiculously awesome at everything that I am terrible at. 

{three}
Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up

Okay, so this isn't really a geeky thing...considering it's a beauty product...BUT OH MY GOSH I AM OBSESSED WITH IT!  If you're addicted to Highlighting and Contouring (which I am, because I have a ridiculously round face...seriously, even at my thinnest I had a round face) this stuff is the best luminizer I've ever used.  It has a gorgeous color, it isn't glittery and it goes on so easily.  Love it so much.  Also, I use this Highlighting and Contouring technique from Maskcara, but I use different products because my skin tone is very light and acne prone.  If you're interested in learning about my makeup or skincare routine, let me know! 

{four}
POP! Vinyl Bobbleheads

So, I talk about this is my "About Me" section, but I love the POP! Brand Vinyl Bobbleheads.  Seriously, it all started when my husband and I were dating.  We would go to Barnes and Noble for our dates all the time.  And one day when we were browsing I saw the most ADORABLE Princess Leia Bobblehead figurine.  Seriously, I was dying over it.  We didn't buy it, but I immediately looked up the brand and saw all of the adorable ones that they have!  Our first Christmas as newlyweds, my husband did get me the Princess Leia bobblehead and now we're slowly growing our collection.  Recently we got a limited edition Iron Man 3 one, which is awesome. 

{five}
Diet Dr. Pepper

This stuff has been my lifeblood the last few weeks.  Mainly because, rotating shifts mean no normal sleep pattern.  Meaning, caffeine is necessary.  And I HATE SUGARED SODAS.  Seriously, hate them.  They're way too sweet.  Plus, I grew up in a home where we never, ever, ever had sugared soda (my mom and dad are both diabetic, but it was a real blessing for me in the end).  It's so good!  However, I will admit I tried the whole "Dirty Diet Coke" thing that everyone has been so obsessed with...I don't get it.  I didn't like it at. all.  Blegh...

third time will be the charm

P.S. I finally got my blonde back!  I love it so much, it's not even funny...

We have been super busy the last couple of weeks and I can't possible fathom all of my thoughts in one blog post ("My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations"...John Green reference?  Anyone? Moving on...).  So, we'll start with Monday (September 23).  Later in the week, JD's little brother, Willy would be entering the LDS Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT and then report to Canada to serve a two year mission for the LDS church.  We intended to be with the family in Spanish Fork, UT on Monday night, then spend Tuesday and Wednesday "day" there before heading home on Wednesday evening.  JD was going to be working until noon on Monday, then we would head down to Spanish Fork, UT.

I'd been having some issues with my sinuses for a while now and was avoiding getting into an ENT until I was on my new insurance (because the $6,000 deductible my parent's had was not appealing).  So the week before our planned trip I called an ENT listed on my insurance who had great credentials.  They could get me in on Monday at 8:00 a.m., otherwise the next opening wasn't for a few weeks.  So, I took the Monday appointment even though my husband couldn't come to the appointment with me.  My mom graciously volunteered to take me to the appointment, then JD would bring our car and meet us in Salt Lake.

My appointment was with Dr. Alt at the University of Utah Hospital (P.S. if you live anywhere near there and have sinus issues GO TO THEM, they're awesome).  I had a CT Scan right before my appointment and then we walked over to the hospital clinic where the ENT clinic is.  After meeting with the nurse, then working with the doctor and his team of residents I learned that I am full of nasal polyps.  Again.

Since I was sixteen, I have had this surgery every two years.  Now I'm approaching 21 and having my third sinus surgery on December 20.  I was so upset.  I felt defeated, I wondered what was wrong with me, I wondered if there was something I wasn't doing to prevent them.  My doctor at the clinic was wonderful.  Even when I started getting teary finding out I had to go under the knife again, he was very comforting and supportive.  He is a professor at the University, he is performing tons of studies on why people get nasal polyps and what causes them for each individual case and (best of all) 95% of his patients haven't had to have the operation again.  So, I'm at least feeling confident this time around.

My husband was by my side the last time I had this surgery.  However, he was my just boyfriend back then and didn't have to deal with me 24/7.  So, this time around will probably be a bit of a shocker to him.  But, I have my fingers crossed that recovery will be smooth, we won't get any big surprises and all will be well.  I really do feel incredibly comfortable and confident in my new medical team.  They are caring, they are smart and they have cutting edge technology.  So, fingers crossed that we never have to do this again!

More installments of the last couple of week's shenanigans will be coming shortly.  Until then fellow bloggers!

the book abuser and book preserver: a love story

(I couldn't find a picture on my phone of the hubs with a book...boo!)

My husband and I both love books.  We love reading, we love bookshelves, we love getting lost in stories.  We look forward to building a home with lots of bookshelves and teaching our children that amazing feeling of opening a book and having your universe changed.  It's a wonderful thing to have a spouse who also loves books.  However, when we first got married and were moving into my parent's unfinished basement apartment (the one we still live in, however we have more bookshelves now and better system) we were unpacking our books and my husband just about had a heart attack while going through my book boxes.  My books had dog eared corners, the spines were cracked, a few had covers taped onto the book.  He was pretty surprised when he exclaimed, "Do you not take care of your books?!"

I was pretty much shocked.  Seriously, didn't everyone's books look like that?!  How do you read a book without it getting worn?!  My thoughts were, "If you read a book over and over, it's going to wear.  But that's what makes it amazing!"  Yeah, JD thought a little differently.

At this point I was bound and determined to prove him wrong.  I said we should open up his book boxes and check out what terrible shape I was sure his novels would all be in.  Yeah...I was even more shocked when I found his books were in incredible shape.  No dog ears, no pages falling out, spines barely had cracks in them.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  "Do you ever even read these books?!" I blurted out.  His response was along the lines of, "Do you ever even care about the condition of your books?!"

To be honest, it took us a while to understand each of our book loving techniques.  I love to read and mark and love and devour every word to the point that the book looks nothing like when it was purchased.  I want to enjoy every little detail and mark and tab all of the pages and parts I enjoy.  JD loves to read and enjoy the books without ruining it.  He loves to preserve books, which is part of why we have so many antique books and are in pristine condition.  He sees books as invaluable and necessary to preserve for our someday children.

In life, you find that compromises are essential.  Whether it be with a professor, a spouse or a co-worker, sometimes you have to see that you won't always get your way.  Sorry to break that to you this way.  JD and I made a compromise that day.  I'm not as rough with books (Meaning I'm not dog ear-ing corners or ripping covers.  However, I still mark them and highlight because, duh), he's not as strict about his books (Meaning he won't have an aneurysm if there are highlighter marks or notes in the margins of our collection.  He now says it gives them "character," which really means he understands the saying, "happy wife, happy life.").  So, compromise makes life much easier.  Even over silly stuff.  Just an FYI for ya'll.

Peace out bloggers!

(Because I never got over the "peace out" thing that ended around 6th grade.  Deal with it.)

(P.S. This book = AWESOME!  Totally practical guide to just being a little bit happier.  I love it.  You should check it out.)

i hate my hands

Yeah, so I've always had a thing about my hands.  There's always one part of a woman's body that no matter how thin, thick, tan or pale they are, they still hate.  The hands are mine.  Even when I had that cute teenage body that I thought was fat (I'm angry at myself now for thinking that) my hands were just, bleh.

I was a nail polish addict.  Constantly buying up and finding new polishes.  Trying to paint my nails thinking somehow that would make them appear less childish and more womanly.  However, when I would get nervous I'd bite my poor little nails on my little hands down so far it wouldn't make a difference. 

Then I discovered something amazing: acrylic nails.  They were my life blood for a long time.  They made my hands look womanly, they gave me amazing confidence and they were just all around awesome.  I was a huge fan.  Then, I was getting ready to go to college and going and getting a set of acrylics all the time wasn't exactly cost effective on my limited budget.  So, the nails had to go...

Oh how I missed them.  However, last week my mom took me to a doctor's appointment in Salt Lake and afterwards decided we should get our nails done.  Especially after such a disappointing and upsetting appointment (more details on that later), I was thrilled with the prospect of a little pampering.  And, I'll tell you something...

I feel amazing. 

So, as I've talked about before, make sure to make time for yourself and do things that make you happy.  Even something as trivial as a set of acrylic nails can give you a whole new outlook on life. 

It also helped that I got my hair cut and colored later on in that week.  It was like icing on a very amazing cake.

Sorry that this post is just, blah...I've got a lot on my mind that I'll elaborate later.