Spots of Sunshine

Today I returned to the testing center for another Madame La Guillotine test. The girl who handed me my test commented on my class number (525) and said I must be really cool to take an upper level class and that she had not seen anyone in such a high class. I informed her that she had not seen any upper level courses in the testing center because we should not be taking tests. She laughed...I cried a little inside. Oh Madame, why do you give us tests instead of papers?

Oh well.

Because I was taking an exam I got to do an old tradition of mine - the test chocolate. This started in 3rd grade when my teacher gave us chocolate before our core tests. It is a delicious tradition.

Also, when I left the testing center someone had posted little happy thoughts to anyone who wanted them. Isn't that awesome!?! I took one. I was SUPER happy about my test and touches by their gesture. 

Good day!

The good, the bad, the ugly.

I love smoothies!!!

(this is the good part by the way)

I saw on Pinterest that someone used a smoothie base and then froze them to use later.

I loved it.

So I did it and I have been eating them all week!

These are some of the frozen muffin tin things.  

I haven't put them in a bag yet.

They are made from oranges, greek yogurt, and spinach.

Hunter says that they look like troll food.

I figure troll food must taste really good because these do.

So I stick one of those in a mason jar and add berries.

Actually this morning I added 2 or them and then many berries.

To many actually, it when from sweet to a bit tart.

Still tasty though and super healthy

Finally I add some coconut milk (because I no longer drink cow milk) and blend with my hand blender.

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the final result.

Instead I drank it.
Delicious!

On to other things

(this is the good, the bad, and the ugly)

This has been a most entertaining week.

Let me explain.

I started this week with a pretty bad bout of insomnia.

That took up the first half of the week.

I also had a bit of a sore throat but I thought that may be because of the cold weather and not sleeping...unfortunately it got progressively worse as the week went on.

During this time of unrest I worked at the temple on Monday and on Tuesday I gave a presentation.

That was by far the easiest presentation I have ever given.

You wouldn't think it would be since I put it together Tuesday morning but I was very blessed and am very, very grateful.

Blessings, blessings.

Oh, this is Megan's USB that she let me put my presentation on.

His eyes glow when he is plugged in.

Super cool.

Finally Wednesday night I slept.

And Thursday night actually, after I filled in another grant application.

Friday was pretty fantastic.

Hunter and I did our monthly Costco trip which also includes a trip to Karen's for her piano lesson.

This Friday we also went to campus to:

Turn in my grant application and pick up stuff from the department.

Go to the library.

Go to the advisement center and get Hunter an appointment.

Shop (we got Hunter a BYU Spiderman t-shirt...yep those exist) and read before Hunter's appointment at the advisement center.

Wait for Hunter while she met with an adviser.

Go get Hunter's oil changed.

While we waited for the oil change Hunter bought me lunch.

Then we went to Hunter's piano lesson,

and then Costco,

and then Wal-Mart,

and finally home to watch Skyfall.

Friday was very busy.

Since I was finally sleeping I looked forward to a long sleep Friday night.

Unfortunately it was not meant to be.

At about 2:00 am I woke up with my eyes molded shut and my throat (which got progressively worse over the week) swollen and raw.

I had all the symptoms of strep throat and pink eye...at the same time.

I was not a very happy camper, especially since I am supposed to study for a Cyndy exam this weekend.

BUT, I am trying to focus on the positive.

I wouldn't have gotten an antibiotic for my throat unless something drastic happened...like pink eye.

+1

We also had the antibiotic I needed at home so I didn't have to go to the InstaCare

+2

I was able to catch up on a lot of sleep yesterday and still study while I was bedridden.

+3

So, really, if you think about it with some perspective, the end of my week was a blessing.
In disguise of pink eye and strep throat.

Sometimes you have to go through the crappy but God's timing is always best.

1. For example if this had happened at the beginning of the week I would have bombed my presentation.
2. If it had happened in the middle of the week I would have missed necessary work hours.
3. If it had happened even one day earlier I would not have had groceries for the month.

I am desperately praying that I will be able to take my test on Monday.  

I don't think it will be a problem, I technically am no longer contagious.

I just look like a stoner and sound like a smoker.

No big deal.

I really am truly grateful for my blessings this week, no matter what form they came in.

Happy Sunday all!

♥ ♥ ♥

In other news...

This week has been a pain and oh so good.

I have had a massive amount of things to do.

They all got done.

I love to do lists that are completely checked off.

I don't have much to say this week except a quick, wonderful story.

I work in the temple on Mondays which is really fun and I love it very much.

This last Monday the temple was absolutely full because of the holiday.

We completely ran out of lockers and were rushing around trying to find space for the constant influx of people that were pouring into the temple.

In fact by the time I left at about 10:30, there had been almost 1000 endowment ordinances done.

That is absolutely amazing.

It was glorious.

It gets better though.

I was upstairs waiting with some other workers for a session to finish.

I looked up and saw my good friend Cameron standing there with his mission companion.

I quickly walked over to him and shook his hand, because you cannot hug missionaries.

We got to speak for a few moments before he headed out.

Why is this so miraculous?

Well, let me tell you.

Cameron is one of my little brothers best childhood friends.

After some time away from the church he came back and decided to serve a mission.

He is serving in Arcadia, California now.

He left for Arcadia on Tuesday, so I was able to see him right before he left.

I was so grateful to see him.

He will be such a fantastic missionary.

So, excellent start to the week, the week is done, and I am getting ready for the next list.

Surprisingly, or not, it is significantly longer this week.

Oh well, we do our best.

I was going to be better...

I was going to be better at posting...

but good gravy guys, life is nuts right now!!!

(little lizzinator kind of sums that one up for me)

Let's see...the last real post was on the last day of 2012.

Well, 2013 has been grand for the most part.

I had to reapply to grad school for the museum certificate.

75 bucks baby.

The miracle there is that my GRE scores were still good.

Which was good because I was not taking that awful test again.

I am without a car - by choice - and it has been REALLY good for my legs.

Let me tell you, Bathsheba would be jealous of my legs at the moment.

 The weather has been a bit nuts though.

Here is a pic from a random day on my way to work:

Here is a pic from the very next day:

Yeah, the weather has been a bit like that all January and into February.

Along with the snow we have a lovely little thing called inversion.

You can't tell but the actual mountains are a bit lower than that dark line.

The inversion and my asthma are not friends right now.

Still, I'm not hating on winter, I have actually really liked the snow.

I actually think I like it better walking in it than driving in it.

It is much prettier.

In other "walking to work and school news", this is what I saw the other day:

Some people are so awesome...or creepy.

As for other new year changes...

I started working at the temple on Monday mornings instead of Thursday mornings!

I LOVE it!!!

It makes Sunday seem a little bit longer and is the absolute best way to start the week.

Seriously guys, I recommend it big time.

I also love walking to campus from the temple - it just feels good.

Let's be honest, I'm just loving walking, especially when it looks like this.

___________________________________________________________________

There isn't much else to say.

I caught the awful cold that was going around and have literally been in bed for the last week.

My wonderful cousin and roommate Hunter helped me do my schoolwork by pushing me around campus in a wheelchair because I was to sick to stand (much less walk) for more than 5-10 minutes at a time.

So she took me up to campus in a wheelchair and helped me do my 2 hour long assignment for my museum class.

I am so very grateful for her.

Happy Sunday folks!

Maybe next week I'll actually post again so the update won't be as long.

♥ ♥ ♥

The resurrection of Project 52

On 1 August 2010 I started a little project which I called "Project 52".

It was a weekly photo journal basically documenting my first year of grad school.

Well, I decided to do it again...except the first year of grad school part...that is so very done.

The first Project 52 was focused on moving forward in my life.
This next one is more about documenting the inner change that is happening at the moment.
So, once a week I take a picture that attempts to show the "theme" of my week, how I have been inspired.

We'll see how it goes.

If interested there is a link to the project on the right hand side of this page.
If not, don't click on it...simple eh?

_____________________________________________________________________

Quick addition to this little post.

As I was updating the Project 52 blog I decided to click on #4, the newest post.
It brought up 4/52 from this year and 4/52 from 2010.
Interestingly enough I was going through pretty much the same thing...not quite but close.
Life was crazy busy, I didn't have enough time, I was stressed etc., etc., etc.

The picture was VERY different for several reasons.
First: I was 3 years older - my face looks slightly different.
Second: the picture itself is artistically different.
Third: my perspective of my trials were VASTLY different.

Moral of the story?

I am infinitely glad I have changed these past years.
These projects are a definite evidence of that.
Yay!

♥ ♥ ♥

Shampoo free and other cracks in my universe...

Hunter has made me a HUGE fan of Dr. Who.

The new version.

I haven't tried out the original yet.

I was incredibly ill for a few days...and we watched all 5 seasons together.

Yep, that is what we did.

...and I won't be doing it again.

My favorite Doctor is the current one, actor Matt Smith.

His first episode had to do with a crack in the wall of young Amy Pond's wall.

This was more than a crack in her wall though, it was a crack in the universe.

(gotta love Sci-Fi)

I thought of that episode this morning when I got out of bed and found this:

This is the crack in MY universe.

My favorite, most comfortable, most gloriously broken in, set of sheets tore.

Granted they had a small hole before but apparently during the night my foot got caught in them.

Now I have fleece sheets on my bed.

Warm, but not my favorite, most comfortable, most gloriously broken in, set of sheets.

Those have been officially retired.

_______________________________________________________________________

As far as other "cracks in my universe" here is a funny.

Last night I decided to try a homemade hair mask.

My hair has been really great recently but I put it in a bun yesterday and it came out in a fro.

I really should have taken a picture but I didn't.

So I made a hair mask out of honey and olive oil and put a shower cap on while I took a glorious bath.

When I went to rinse out the mask I had forgotten that water does not really take out oil.

It did feel kind of weird but I thought, "oh well, it will dry just fine."

This is what I woke up to:

So I went upstairs to whine about the state of my hair and here were the reactions:

Cita: Oh look how shiny your hair is!  The frizz is totally gone!

Me: But it is so oily!

Cita: Just wait until it dries it will be great.

Bug: Why are you whining, just wait till it dries!

Me: Guys, it is dry.

All: Oh...how do you get it out?

Me: Good question.

Bug: At least it is shiny.

So I will be washing my hair again today.

Although, don't judge me, if it gets rid of the frizz I am totally going to do it again....

...and again...

...and again...

...and again until the dry winter is done.

_______________________________________________________________________

In other news, since Thanksgiving I have been going shampoo free.

Like, none.

Sounds gross right?

Look at you passing judgement so quickly.

Naughty, naughty.

About a year ago I read a blog about a woman who had gone, what she called, 'poo free.

I thought it was interesting, but it took a while for it to work and I didn't want to go through all that.

Well, since that time I've read quite a bit about it, and when my shampoo was almost gone and I was so poor I didn't want to spend money on more, I decided to try going shampoo free.

It took a bit (between 1-2 weeks) for things to balance out but then I realized how glorious it was.

It is harder, in some ways, than using store shampoo.

Here is a list:

1. Like with any homemade thing there is an adjustment period while your scalp and hair figures out what the heck you are doing.
2. You have to figure out what your body needs BY LISTENING TO YOUR BODY.  Very different than just dabbing on a specific amount of shampoo.  For example is my scalp dry today?  Less baking soda then.  Is it oily, more baking soda etc.
3. I'm still trying to figure out the "conditioner" (really an acidic clarifier to counteract the baking soda).  I've been using an apple cider vinegar mixture but (mostly because of the nasty dry winter here) my hair is SUPER frizzy.  Last night I tried honey, which she recommended also, but I'm also going to try lemon juice which is something other people do.

So, with the adjustment period etc. why am I still going shampoo free?

1. Winters here are sooooo dry.  All of my skin dries out, peels, breaks, bleeds...including my scalp.  My hair also dried out, split, and broke every winter.  I used to use every product I could think of to help, and they got increasingly more expensive and it didn't make a huge difference.  I HAVE NOT USED ANYTHING THIS WINTER!!!  Nada, none.  There has been no need.  Sometimes, my scalp feels a little itchy because I used to much baking soda and it dried it out a little bit but other than that, there is no dandruff, not split ends, no extreme hair loss.
2. My hair is thicker.  I thought maybe I was making that up in my mind, but no, others have commented that my hair is feeling thicker.  I'm just not losing as much hair as usual.
3. It is shinier, healthier.  I love it.

Yep, totally recommend it.

I've also started using a natural face cleaner as well composed of castor and olive oil.

It is GLORIOUS!!!

I've never had zits disappear so fast, my skin is tighter and softer, and most importantly, MY WINTER DRY FACE PEELING IS GONE!!!

Interested?  Here are the links to Simple Mom (the blog I referenced when I started this process).

Going shampoo free

Cleaning your face naturally

_______________________________________________________________________

Last day of 2012!

Make it a good one!

Last day of the year!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Well, a week ago anyway.

Happy end of the world!

False...it did not end, people need to learn their ancient history better.

Happy anniversary parentals!

Well, about 2 weeks ago anyway.

Happy eternal marriage Laurie!

Well, almost 3 weeks ago anyway.

um...not to good at staying on top of things apparently.

um....

Happy New Year!

TOMORROW!!! Yes, a day ahead, sweet.

For Christmas I got a desperately needed new 'point and snap'.

I've been working on the settings to calm the flash down a bit.

I'm not a huge fan of automatic settings.

I had fun taking pics of the familia with it.

The Madre:

The Padre:

Stephie:

TayTay:

Bug (who cannot take a normal picture to save her life):

Aliswan, TayTay, and Bug:

Now that I have a camera that takes pics in focus I am hoping I will start posting more.

We shall see, things are a bit nuts right now.

Adios!

Accomplishing goals and snapping out of it.

I go through ups and downs just like any other person.

Lately I have been going through a down.

Dislocating my shoulder and being out of it for the last 2 weeks didn't help all that much.

This week was kind of a testament to my state of mind.

Didn't really work.

Couldn't really focus on school, or thesis, or...anything.

My room is an absolute pig-sty...scratch that, my apartment (the parts that I touch) is.

So, this weekend I am trying to snap myself out of it.

I spent the morning doing menus, schedules, and setting goals for the week.

Life will continue to improve.

That is the plan at least.

I know because I wrote it down.

One of those goals is to update this weekly.

So despite a pretty uneventful week, I AM UPDATING!!! 

Take that melancholy.

I spent the morning planning (as stated above) but also watching videos on lds.org, specifically the Mormon Messages.

If you are feeling a bit down I totally recommend this.

Big time.

Speaking of complacency...which has been my theme for the past few weeks...here is one of the videos I watched this morning.

I hope your Sunday is happy because it is your choice if it is.

Happiness is perspective, perspective is a choice.

♥ ♥ ♥

Mountains of Miracles and Mountains to Go

This week was absolutely insane for me.

Meaning it drove me insane.

Let me explain:

Monday: 

meh, not to exciting.

Tuesday: 

I started off the day like most days, biking to work, working for a few hours and then heading to class.

Class was in Special Collections in the library and it was absolutely awesome.

For class we are preparing an exhibit and we went to Special Collections to look at old photos but ended up finding boxes and boxes of journals, writings, and books from the woman who donated the collection we are exhibiting.

In a word: AWESOME.

On the way home from class I needed to stop by the Creamery to pick up some ingredients for the dinner we were going to cook for our visiting teachees.

As I was biking to the Creamery I had to bike around a construction sign and go on the grass.

Hidden under the beautiful fall leaves was a nice big rut.

My front tire got stuck and instead of just letting myself fall I jerked my handlebars about to stay upright.

There was some seriously loud popping in my left shoulder.

My first thought was, "Oh crap, I think I just dislocated my shoulder"...which was promptly followed by me trying to move my arm.

I couldn't move it, it just sat there on my handlebars.

Then the pain hit like a freight train.

Oh my goodness it hurt SOOO bad.

I was stranding there straddling my bike and I realized my vision was getting really blurry, I thought I was going to vomit everywhere and there was this unbelievably loud rushing sound in my ears.

My next though was, "Oh crap, I think I'm trying to pass out...ummm...GET OFF THE BIKE!!!"

So I stumbled off my bike, put the kickstand down as I threw my backpack down and laid beside my bike.

I stayed there a good 5-10 minutes before I could move.

When I got up I tested my shoulder and despite some pretty significant pain, I was able to move it.

Because of that I thought that maybe I hadn't dislocated it.

So I thought, "Well, you haven't dislocated your shoulder, I still need to get the groceries".

Yep, I'm a bit of an idiot.

Anyway, quick ending:

I biked to the Creamery 

(people looked at me a bit oddly, probably because I was white as a sheet and looked as though I was about to pass out),

got my groceries and ate a mint brownie

(I needed the sugar),

and biked the rest of the way home.

After talking to the padre (who has had extensive shoulder and knee problems) we came to the conclusion that I had very likely dislocated my shoulder and that it needed to be looked at first thing in the morning.

I was in some excruciating pain but I eventually went to bed and thought maybe I would sleep it off.

Wednesday:

After not sleeping really at all I made an appointment at the doctor's office.

She thought that I had dislocated the shoulder but that it had popped back into place.

Just to make sure she sent me to the hospital to get an x-ray.

Final prognosis was somewhat miraculous.

Apparently it is not unusual to have the joint pop back into place.

What was unusual was that I had no pinching or tearing of the muscles and ligaments surrounding the joint.

Everything is just pulled and SUPER sore.

So, I am in a sling for the next week or so and then...well and then I will try to avoid ruts.

Thursday:

I was able to do my shift at the temple with minimal pain.

Major blessing.

Afterwards I went to class and came home to a big bottle of ibuprofen and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Friday:

As a class (or 3/4 of one) we drove to Ignacio, Colorado to go to the Southern Ute Museum.

We spent most of Friday driving.

Except a quick side trip to Hovenweep National Monument.

That night we stayed in the most disgusting, cold, revolting $22 a night motel that I could ever imagine.

It put the worst hotels I stayed in while traveling all over the Mediterranean and Europe to absolute shame.

Saturday:

Left Cortez, Colorado first thing in the morning and headed to Ignacio.

The Museum was AMAZING!!! and I loved every minute there.

After the Museum we went to Monte Verde National Park!!!

These are of the Cliff Palace.

This last photo is of the Spruce House.

Shortly after this we made our way back home and got back around midnight.

Very quick trip, but really good.

♥ ♥ ♥

There was the week!

Crazy right?

♥ ♥ ♥

This week...ugh.

This week was...not the best week ever but not the worst either.

It was just...ugh...or maybe...meh?

After a glorious General Conference last week I was really excited to go to the temple with my padre Monday morning...SUPER early.

5:45 am anyone?

Actually it was good that we went at that time because about halfway through the session I started to get really, really, really sick.

Dizzy,

nauseous,

tunnel vision,

loud wave like sounds in my ears,

my face started to fill with snot,

coughing commenced,

...yeah, not a good morning for me.

I made it through the session but went directly to bed when we got home.

...and stayed there...

...for pretty much the rest of the week.

Tuesday I got out of bed for 1.5 hours to go to my class.  

Thankfully Hunter lent me her car or I would not have made it the 1.27 miles to the museum.

Wednesday I got out of the horizontal position for an hour to go to theory hour at 5pm.

Yep, again I got a ride to and from the meeting, followed by promptly getting back into the warm comforts of my bed.

By Wednesday I was starting to feel a little better though, all the rest was good.

Thursday I was able to do my shift at the temple, sleep a little, and then head to class.
We had Thursday's class at Brick Oven over a 16" pizza.
After that lunch I went to an early dinner with the Cita, Stephie, Hunter and Bug at Olive Garden.
It was a delicious day overall I think.

I spent the evening with the Cita watching Snow White and the Huntsman (which kind of sucked) and the Vice Presidential debate (which really sucked).

Friday I was feeling much better and was able to spend time with the familia who were on fall break.

We did family names at the temple all together first thing in the morning.

and yes, it appears that it is impossible for us to take a normal smiling picture together.

...except for maybe Stephie, she is always smiling.

☺

Right after the temple we came home, picked up our backpacks and family history, and headed to the Family History Center in the BYU library.

The Padre was still wearing his pink sweatband from the Thursdays BYU soccer match.

At the library Bug studied for her permit test, Stephie read a novel, I researched copyright and trademark law, the Padre worked on a project for the Cita, the Cita and Hunter did family history research.

It was a good time.

Afterwards Bug and the Padre went to the DMV (Bug now has her driving permit folks, avoid our neighborhood...just kidding...kind of) and I went to bed because the morning wiped me out.

Saturday, still tired but I was able to do a CrossFit workout with Hunter, go to the blackout Homecoming game (which we lost...grrr), and ended the day at Aunt Karen's with homemade pizza and fun games with the extended familia.

Things I am grateful for this week:
1. My roommate Hunter who took care of me in my sickness.
2. My familia who did the same.
3. My professor who was very patient with my illness this week.
4. That my head cold didn't include barfing and that it only lasted about 5 days until I was nearly back to normal.
5. My Heavenly Father who blesses me with all of these things.

Here is hoping that next week is a little better on the health side of things so I can go to work...and afford groceries.

♥ ♥ ♥