weekend update + life update

Written January 6th. There's alot more to get caught up on, but let's start here.

As of three weeks ago,I was wrapping almost non-stop preparing for Christmas. A corner of my room was piled crazy high with gifts! I also got to visit with my mom and aunt v. We had Rubio's for lunch. Mmm! We laughed so much talking about my grandparents and about upcoming Christmas plans.  At least three days a week the past 2 weeks my room has been so messy with all wrapping materials out, shreds of Christmas wrap scrapped on the floor and price tags or tape adhered to my hands or clothes! I love it though.

Christmas was so great; I was so happy to spend it with my family.

I've been feeling a little better since a month ago (been sick since September for those who didn't know)...major respiratory problems. Had a picc line placed on October 9th to receive IV antibiotics. Went through two separate rounds for two different bacterias in lungs/trachea. I am still not feeling 100% better (phlegm still thick and green, gross, I know) and needing suction more than my normal, but I am thankful to have some energy back and actually do things outside of the house. It can get depressing being cooped up inside everyday all day. I now feel a cold a brewin'.

I went to my ward's Christmas at the beginning of December.We had a greek dinner, watched a short video on the birth and life of Christ, sang Christmas songs and socialized, socialized! Of course you know I took some photos with some of my favorite people! That was my first time doing something fun with many friends in three months!

I am still experiencing pain everyday. My back and arms especially have been the worst (the left leg has gotten some relief). I am still on pain medication. Met with a pain specialist a few weeks ago and he suggests I take a longer acting medicine and keep current pain med for breakthrough pain. It's been a mess and now just waiting for my primary dr (who is back on my team) to write the script for the new med...which might not be til January 30th.

I didn't send out cards this year (handmade or sending a bunch out). I narrowed my list from around 60 down to about 30. Extra special exceptions! :)

Talk soon!

Easter weekend

Easter is truly one of my favorite times of the year. What Easter means to me goes beyond the bunnies and chicks and peeps and chocolate. Now, while I do enjoy most of those baby animals or candy, Easter is all about who makes life possible and that is Jesus Christ.

He was crucified and died for our sins. And then, He did what no one else has done or could do: He was resurrected!

Because He conquered, I know that the grave has no victory.

Some of you might have seen a movement called, #BecauseofHim floatin around the internet?
I saw the awesome short video that was simple yet so profound. It has made me think all week all the blessings that are in my life, because of Him.

Because of Him, I belong to a wonderful family. and someday, my family can be reunited again in Heaven. Because of Him, I gain strength through my weaknesses and challenges I face in this life. Because of Him, I have so much hope for the future and comfort knowing I am never alone.

I was blessed to have the company of my cousin Richard and a few friends stop by for a visit throughout Saturday. It was nice, because it was a good distraction for me to take my mind off the worries of the world. I love how positive and loving my friends and family are. They are always there for me and help me, without knowing they are helping me (and sometimes they really do, like run errands for me!) It's so great to have them in my life.

waldo, the funniest.

Then on Easter Sunday, I went to Sacrament meeting at Church and came home early to visit with my dad, stepmom, brother and sister. The Easter bunny did in fact visit me and gave me cute and yummy treats (but I didn't take a picture of it all) :( but I more importantly did some good photos with my family! Plus, my stepmom did my nails (she's an awesome nail tech)! so yay for pretty french tips! I always love spending time with any of my family or good friends! It was special because my dad gave me a nice, red journal that had belonged to my grandpa Henry. He didn't write anything in it, but I will always cherish it and will definitely fill it up with my life's adventures and thoughts.

I then ended my night watching the Hallmark movie, "In My Dreams." Did any of you catch that Sunday night? Or do you like Hallmark movies? I am a sucker for them and almost all of them made me cry, but not this one! haha.

sibling selfie!

Overall, it was a good Easter weekend. I hope all of you got to spend time with your loved ones and had fun, in however you may celebrate :)

hope. in the new year.

Happy New Year!

I'd like to share what I posted on facebook earlier today,
         "Cheers to the new year! May we leave all the negative behind and surround ourselves with the positive! May your days be bright all the year through. Turn your doubts into possibilities born of faith! Reach out to those who may be forgotten or seem like they are having a bad day. A smile & kind word can make a difference! Thank you family & friends for enriching my life. Love to all!"

I want to start the new year right, especially with a brand new post for the first day of the new year! Yay! The past few weeks have been insane and there's so much to get caught up on on the blog. I feel that this year is going to be AH-MAZING! Do you?! I am so excited because there are some things that I do know that will be happening this month, like MY BIRTHDAY! haha. I've seen around the webosphere that some people choose a word for the year to focus on and help them to stay grounded.

My word for the year is: hope.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Time and time again I remember that my hope is in God. How comforted I feel to know that His Spirit can be with me, through all the days of my life. The Spirit is there to help, guide and comfort. That really brings peace to my soul.


"The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!" Lamentations 3:22-2

I find hope as the thread that keeps my faith alive in Christ and that through Christ and because of Christ, he gave hope to the world! How thankful I am for that and for the life and mission Christ gave.

Did you pick a word for the new year? What is your word?

because I appreciate you...

Because we love to spread cheer around here, I want to give a little Christmas cheer to one of my readers. My gift to you. You all have been the best. You all have treated me with kindness and always offer words of encouragement and positivity. I wish I could give everyone I know a little gift, but I can't, so we'll have this giveaway instead, ok? :)

With only 13 days left til Christmas eve and 14 days til Christmas day, this giveaway will only run until Monday so that there is plenty of time for me to ship the prizes to the winner before Christmas!

Up for grabs is a copy of Susanna's Christmas Wish by Jerry Eicher. It's a cute Amish-Christian Romance story. You could head out to your local starbucks and enjoy your favorite cup o' joe or hot chocolate while reading this book because I am giving you a $5 starbucks gift card too! Oh and a little surprise will be included as well.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Please read the rules at the bottom of the rafflecopter widget.

Good luck & Merry Christmas, from Santa's little helper! :)
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Christmas party-time!

Over the weekend, I was delighted to be able to attend my ward's Christmas party. It was a great opportunity for me to wear my first ever vintage-esque dress from ModCloth (No I was not compensated for my thoughts on my modcloth dress, but if Modcloth reads this post, I'd be happy to receive product for an honest review lol)! I chose this evergreen frock and it did not disappoint. I loved that the material was thicker, which was great because it was cold outside baby!

The Christmas party committee did an amazing job. The decorations were awesome. I especially liked the white Christmas lights draped on the ceiling, plus there were lighted Christmas trees. I am lame because I totally forgot my camera as I headed out the door. Our taxi driver was being a little impatient (he arrived early) and well, I got distracted and left my camera, that was in plain sight, on my table. sad face. Photos from Amanda's phone will have to suffice.

There was also a table for decorating gingerbread houses and a hot cocoa table complete with all kinds of add-ins. Oh and dinner was delicious! We had prime rib, baked potato, caesar salad, orange slices and cake. The caesar salad dressing was divine! I could eat that salad everyday.

After dinner, there were wonderful Christmas musical numbers and in between each performance, a member of the bishopric read the birth story of Jesus Christ.

It was the perfect night to really getting into spirit of Christmas.

this is happening.

Let the Christmas festivities officially begin!! Happy beginning of December!

Yesterday, my friend Cherilyn that I met in jr. high came over. I got to meet her dad, who is a painter. He painted a super cute Christmas scene on our living room window. It was nice to visit with them. They are so down-to-earth and friendly.

3 generations :) Before

After!

Today, this is what was happening: writing out Christmas cards!
Oh yeh. I just made a dent in my list of who I send cards to. But hey, it's a good start!

Do you guys know Lena of Lena, B Actually?
She's so sweet and has always been great at reaching out and helping the "little guy". I've sponsored her blog before and loved it. You might be interested to link-up on her blog for Passion For Fashion as well. There a few more days left to link up your thanksgiving outfit or black friday outfit and if you don't have the time, no worries because she co-hosts it every friday. I'm helping Lena out with her blog today by guest posting because her & her family are having a bit of a stressful time.  Go check out my post for my thoughts on my favorite ways to communicate.

and don't forget this giveaway if you haven't already entered :)

Thanksgiving recap + giveaway!

Just poppin' in this weekend to ask, how was your thanksgiving? and to share a bit about my thanksgiving.

My little friend P. was here, so we played with these leggo type blocks that she made into a van for me haha. I enjoyed some fresh air outside while she rode her bike. I called my mom and also talked to my grandparents (mom was at their house) and texted many friends and a few family members.

earrings:gift // shirt: target // skirt: target
(don't mind my pink chihuahua cup)

Around 4 p.m. everyone started coming over. I took some photos of Sandy slicing the turkey and Maria was helping prepare the ham. I thoroughly enjoyed green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. Later that night, while I lay in bed, I started writing out my Christmas card list!

Now that this weekend is coming to a close, how about we have a little fun! Lookie lookie.........

I am so excited to let you all know that I am participating in a giveaway over at Life with a side of Coffee. Many thanks to Christine for putting together this awesome giveaway! Here's what is being given away: Taylor from Pink Heels, Pink Truck is giving away a month of Large Ad Space plus 5 tweets which comes to a total of $35 normally. Jennifer form Busy Being Jennifer is giving away $20 credit to her shop, Homespun Happiness. Britt from Sunny Tales and Happy Mail (that's me!) is giving away $5 to Starbucks and Christine? Well, she's giving away a free month of large ad space and $10 Starbucks totaling the Starbucks gift card to $15!

And remember Christine's crazy holiday ad sales going on! Get space starting at only $1!

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what i wore: fuchsia + leopard

skirt// tagunder, shirt// target, earrings//the icing, scarf//amazon

Life,
I am so thankful for you. I am so glad to be here.

I am glad that the U.S. has special days designated to celebrate special times, like Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's Eve (my fave!) Now, I know some people will say, "why not celebrate everyday as though it's a holiday?" Now I completely agree with you, but there are some who get so wrapped up in the busyness of  life and all the material things life can offer. I am not saying I don't like nice things because i do, but you know what I mean, right?

I am a total list maker, so let me list a small portion of things I am thankful for, because really, even though I complain on the daily and sometimes get easily annoyed, deep down, I am thankful and that makes my heart happy.

I am grateful for the things that are unseen: love, joy, faith & hope.

I am grateful for delicacies + foods that give me energy & nutrition like oranges, pineapple, eggs & brocolli but also those "naughty" items like french fries, cheeseburgers, tacos, chocolate chip fraps and the chips that go with salsa.

I am grateful for my quiet family members and for my loud family members.

I am grateful for service + giving. So many times in my life I have been helped above & beyond, I am so happy to be able to give + serve when I can.

I am grateful for tv shows that grip at my heart strings or that just entertain me where I don't "need" to think. Thank you to the writers of Parenthood, Revolution, The Paradise, Downton Abbey, Once Upon a Time and Hart of Dixie.

I am grateful for my funny friends, my smart friends, my old neighbor friends, my friends that live close and my friends that live far away.

I am grateful for my body and the strength and mobility I still have.

I am grateful for nature. The mountains and meadows are calling my name.

I am grateful that blogging even exists. It has allowed me to feel wanted, to express myself, to share and to connect with so many wonderful (mostly) women. You all are so fantastic and dear!

I am grateful to have a laptop & digital camera.

I am grateful for all of the postwomen and postmen who drop & pick up our mail. I love it, I love it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and may you be gathered with those you care about.

from the holiday weekend

hey lovelies! I'm back!! So how was your 4th of July weekend? I know many people went out of town or did fun activities like swimming, hiking, playing games, bbq'ing and seeing fireworks! What did I do on the 4th? Well, I did rock the red, white & blue. And other than that, the only other thing that really made it feel like Independence day was the tasty hamburger i chowed down!(you'll understand in a minute), but i did not forget the meaning behind this special holiday: our freedom.
Freedom in this country and freedom in Christ!

 

By 6 p.m. I was getting tired, tired of sitting in my chair.
By 7 p.m. my back, neck and shoulders were hurting and I was so exhausted! I didn't even turn on my tv once I laid down.
By 8:15 p.m. I fell asleep! I was bummed at myself for not staying up and at least lighting sparklers that I've had sitting in a drawer since New years eve! We can kinda see some fireworks from our backyard, but I totally did not feel well.

Friday and saturday....I did some "summer" cleaning...one, sorting papers for recycle and others to the "need to shred" bag! Also, made some oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookies for the first time! They came out yummy! [i unfortuntaly spaced to take pics, but will next time, because everyone loved them!] I've eaten four so far. Most of them, I gave away to friends. While browsing others reviews on Allrecipes.com, I learned that adding baking powder, or baking powder in general, helps the cookies to rise and not turn out flat and crispy! Wow! I had no idea!

Sunday was the best day of the 4-day weekend. I got to go to church with paco. We had such a good time. I got to hear other's testimonies, which two of them struck me. It was like God knew what I needed to hear. One of them made me teary eyed. I don't remember exactly what was said, but I believe it was divinely planned in His grand scheme of things.

So, after sunday school, paco and I waited for the  reserved bus to pick us up. We arrived, waiting a few minutes early. Our pick-up time was 3:15-3:45. At 3:40, we both went outside to wait figuring they'd be there any minute. We were both sweating and spraying ourselves with the spray bottle I had in my wheelchair pocket! lol. Well, by 3:59, I called the emergency #, which is the weekend supervisor since sundays their dispatch office is closed. Them not showing up or being that late has NEVER happened to me before in the last 5 years, so I wasn't afraid to call! I called, left a message and never heard back from them. Paco kindly waited outside in the at least 105 degree heat majority of the time to keep an eye out, poor guy. After I was out there for a while, I went back in and we agreed that if they didn't show up or call by 4:15, we were taking the city bus home. Paco called to see when the next bus came. While I was inside, I texted paco and said at 4:26, "let's go!" So we walked to the bus stop which had no bench or awning for shade, however, i was so grateful for this little scrawny tree that provided just enough shade for us! The bus came, had working a/c and we made it home without passing out!

We were laughing, ok, mostly I was laughing at the situation, while we were walking back to my house from the bus stop! Thanks to Paco for maintaining such a positive attitude in such an unfavorable circumstance, especially for the first time we've gone to church together in years.

It was a blessed weekend indeed.

Oh! and I  watched Dirty Dancing on Lifetime! a total fave!

the spirit of the Irish day

Happy St. Patrick's day!!

I am not Irish, but today everyone can be!

The only "st. paddy's day" thing I did was wear green. I don't drink green beer or any beer for that matter and I do not like corned beef & cabbage...so yehhhh.

Oh and I am really starting to like the name Patrick. Maybe a middle name for a baby boy??

Here are some pictures of me today. 
and Look I caught a HUGE THREE LEAF CLOVER! WOW!

top o' the evenin to ya

kiss me?

I know there's the saying of something like, "let the luck of the Irish be with you", but I don't really believe in luck. I like blessed to be the meaning of what lucky is.

You know when people are about to go take an important test, or go to a job interview, I really hesitate on saying, "good luck." I mean to wish them the best and all good fortune or good energy for those things lol.

From one little leprechaun to another,  I  leave you with a prayer of blessings, courtesy of my aunt nancie:

May your thoughts be as glad as the SHAMROCKS, may your ♥ be as Light as the song, may each day bring you bright "HAPPY HOURS" that stay witb you all year long. 

Interpret it as you wish :)

Be Blessed.
Rainbows & pots of gold.
-B

Valentine's day wrap-up

valentine' day 2013 proved to be one of the best and sweetest valentine's I've ever had, even though my social status has always been, so far: single.

I hung out last night with two of my "beary" good friends, Tessa & James. We had dinner that Heide made..we love tacos, rice & beans! 

James made "earthquake cake"--a recipe that he got from him mama in Texas. He made it his own with adding red food coloring and attempting to make hearts in celebration love day and he also used regular chocolate cake mix vs german chocolate cake mix, that walmart couldn't even keep stocked! :( 

It came out looking like steak! bahahahhah. 

now it's coined " earthquake heartbreak steak cake"

It was so fun to spend time with these two friends of mine and still celebrate love, because....

"Valentine's day is NOT just for lovers!" hahahahah

Poor Tessa has been so exhausted from teaching that she fell asleep about an hour after dinner. I heart my love!

We all gathered in the big living room and watched, Liberal Arts. It stars Joshua Radnor from How I met your mother and Elizabeth Olsen--sister of the famous twins. I really like her and her acting and also HIMYM. I could definitely watch this movie again. It portrays how sometimes it's hard to grow up, but then also, how someone young is wiser, more intelligent than her peers, but still needs to experience life.

Here are some sweet and thoughtful valentine's that I received from my sweethearts:

v-day sweets & notes. do you see that sexy brown m&m? that's me! lol

the most delicious NON-CALORIE cupcake ever!!

a new mug to add to my collection since i keep breaking mine!

fun package from my family. I LOVE the notecards, Hello!

surprise from my cousin Richard!

Hope you all had a lovely and sweet day celebrating the love/s in your life!

It's all about the love, yo!

and now i'll leave you with a few out-takes:

eeeks! i looked scared lol

Rawr! that means i love you in Dinosaur. t-rex here.

Day 3 of my birthday bash weekend will be posted soon. xo