Category: Random…

Perfectionism and Grace

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I made this.

It was a labor of love for the twins’ upcoming festivities – something I saw on Pinterest and Etsy and realized even I could probably make it.

Even me.

Someone who is not naturally crafty. Someone who generally doesn’t attempt new things like this because I don’t like to fail. Because of this, I hesitate to try new things like this all too often.

Learning more about myself through the Enneagram has been so helpful. I am most definitely a 1. I denied it at first, but as I have lived with that knowledge for a while now, I see it daily. Things must be done perfectly by me if I’m going to do anything. If it doesn’t come naturally to me, I’m nervous to try it because I might not do well.

Perfectionism makes me an excellent writer and musician. But, perfectionism will not make me a better wife or mother. I’m learning to leave room for grace. For love. For learning.

Today I tried to make something new, and I love it. And I saved us money because buying these on Etsy are not cheap (and now I understand why 😂). It’s not perfect, but I’m choosing to not care. It was made out of love and I stepped out of my comfort zone to do it.

Eighty strips of fabric tied onto twine may not seem like a big deal to you, but it was a wonderful, confidence-building learning experience for me that will continue to be applied in my life.

Practical Products I Love: Carbonite

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While I am not someone who is paranoid about things, there is one thing that used to always concern me: losing my pictures. Though I have never lost any data/pictures due to computer failure, I have always been concerned that something would happen and I would lose all of my work.

A few years ago I discovered Carbonite, and it has delivered such peace of mind! It automatically backs up everything on my computer through the Internet–and I don’t have to do anything! This proved especially helpful when the screen on my laptop died in 2009 and I had to get a new computer. I was able to download Carbonite onto the new computer and it moved everything over for me! This saved me hours (as well as tons of CDs) of valuable time.

I highly recommend Carbonite for data back-up. It’s more reliable and more secure than an external hard-drive and it requires no effort on your part. It’s $55 a year, which is a bargain. AND, if you sign up through this link you and I will both receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card!

Carbonite Online Backup - The better backup plan.

Gas Station Etiquette 101

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I spent 68 hours at gas stations throughout the month of July. This experience gave me plenty of time to make observations about what I have deemed the “Gas Station Etiquette” of a majority of the people I observed. Some of these observations were frustrating, some amusing. I decided that I needed to blog about these things because it is apparent that some people were never taught how to behave properly while visiting a gas station.

These are all things that I observed multiple times. And yes, this is intended to be humorous. 🙂

 

 

1. When arriving at a gas station and pulling up to a pump, slow down. Be aware that there are other cars and people around you.

2. When you pull up to a pump, park 1-3 feet from the pump, not 5-6. You block traffic and the hose isn’t always long enough to reach your vehicle when you’re too far away.

3. Turn off your engine. It’s the law. And it’s a law for a reason. I don’t care if it’s hot outside. You’ll survive when you get back into your car.

4. Never leave your vehicle while gas is being dispensed. Just because you really need Starbucks doesn’t mean you should walk across the street while pumping. This is inconsiderate and dangerous in so many ways.

5. Do NOT smoke near the pumps, or anywhere near the fueling area really.

True story: At one station in particular, I was standing 5 feet away from two men who were standing right next to the pump smoking while they pumped gas. Even worse, they LIT their cigarettes while pumping. Shall we go back to basic science? Gasoline and its vapors are flammable. I backed away quickly to reduce any damage that might occur should an explosion have taken place. 

6. You must always pay before pumping. Don’t be surprised or feel inconvenienced. It’s been this way for a LONG time.

7. If a receipt prints, either take it and keep it or throw it away. Do not leave the receipt hanging from the pump and don’t stuff it into the plastic brochure holders attached to the pumps. Those are not trash cans.

8. The fueling area is NOT a parking lot. If you need to go into the store, drive to one of the conveniently located and clearly marked parking spots near the entrance.

9.  Just because it is convenient for you to park right in front of the store entrance or in the middle of the parking lot (where there are no parking spots) doesn’t mean that it’s convenient for everyone else. There are painted lines for a reason.

10. When you go into the store, turn off your car. There is no need to leave it running, unlocked, unless you really want to get rid of your car. Do not leave it idling for ten minutes or more (I saw this SO many times). It wastes expensive gasoline.

I’m sure there are more things that I could share, so I’ll update as I remember more. All in all, I observed a complete lack of consideration for others during my time. What happened to putting others before yourself?

What is your biggest “gas station etiquette” pet peeve?

Practical Products I Love: “Lactose Defense Formula”

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I am lactose intolerant. Pretty severely, actually. For years I suffered, even when I did my best to avoid dairy (which is really hard to do because it appears in everything, and this was before the USDA required that allergens be on the labels). Lactaid didn’t work, so I just tried to watch everything I ate.

One day I was browsing the Lactaid area at Walmart in 2007 to see if there were any other products I could try, and I came across this one. I decided to try it, and nervously began incorporating dairy back into my diet.

Digestive Advantage Daily Lactose Defense Formula Capsules, 32-Count Boxes (Pack of 3)

The verdict: I have been taking it daily for nearly five years and I am symptom-free! I can’t express my appreciation for this product enough, nor can I recommend it enough. For less than $7 a month, I can eat anything and not suffer from stomach pain. Now I have a 3-pack delivered every three months from Amazon, which makes it even more convenient. I feel great, and I have this probiotic to thank. If you are lactose intolerant, please try this product. This company makes a lot of other digestive supplements and I’d assume they all work as well as this one!

Practical Products I Love: “Working Hands”

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I have inherited a tendency toward really dry heels in the summer (thanks, Dad!), and some summers are worse than others. In May, I started to notice that the thick calluses were already developing, much to my dismay. I mentioned this to my Mom one day on the phone, and she said that I “just had to try” this new product they found at Home Depot (of all places to get skin-care products!). So, Brennan and I went that week and I’ve been using it regularly since then.

The product is called “Working Hands” but it works on feet as well. They do make a foot product but I wasn’t able to find that at Home Depot. This product is found in the paint section.

O'Keeffe's Working Hands Cream, 3.4 oz.

The verdict: IT WORKS. Amazingly. My heels are back to normal after less than a month of using it at night (not even every day, because I forget sometimes). It has no scent and it doesn’t leave your feet greasy at all.

For less than $8, I have saved myself the cracking skin that causes pain!  I highly recommend this if you have dry skin on your hands or feet!

And the winner is…

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Shannon!

Congratulations, and thank you to all for participating! I hope to continue to get copies of books to give away!

How I chose the winner: There were four entries, so I assigned each one a number (based on the time/date of comment, first to last) and had Brennan pick a number between one and four (he had no idea why I had texted him to ask him to do that!). That’s as random as I could get! He chose number 3, which was Shannon!

Keith Urban and other things…

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I LOVE Keith Urban…it was my second concert, and it was just as amazing as the first one, two years ago. 🙂

I took 552 pictures, but only kept 60. I’m not good at taking pictures at concerts yet 🙂 See them here.

We didn’t get home from the concert until 12:30am, and I had to get up at 6am. That was fun. 🙂 I’m still functioning, but probably not for long. 🙂

I’m almost done with “Three Cups of Tea”, and it has really impacted me. I highly recommend it!

Nothing else really…I’m applying to jobs in Pennsylvania, and it looks like I’ll be moving in July/August. I’m at a point in my life where I have to make decisions, and I’m ready for a change in scenery. 🙂 So, that’s my plan.  Not sure what the Lord’s plan is yet–but I really feel like He has shown me that there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” decision to make here…stay in SoCal or go to PA. Either way is fine. 🙂

Laura tagged me, so here’s my randomness:

 The rules–

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2.Post the rules.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag at least 3 people.
5.Make sure the people you tagged know you tagged them by commenting to them.

I tag Heatherly, Heather, and Aunt Lori… 

1. If I could have any career (and morality was not an issue), I would be Danny Ocean. That’s all I need to say. 🙂

2. I love ketchup. More specifically, Heinz Ketchup. I went all the way to Pittsburgh in 2003 JUST to go to the Heinz Factory.  

3. I really hate moving…yet, I’m most likely making the biggest move (distance-wise) in my life thus far this summer…

4. My favorite color used to be orange in junior high…then it became popular, so I stopped wearing it (as much). I’ve always been one to not do what everyone else is doing. And I like it that way. 🙂 Same reason why I haven’t seen “Lord of the Rings”. No interest because of the obsession that has swept the world.

5. I love to sleep on planes. Most of the time, I’m asleep by the time the plane starts moving. 🙂 That’s why my red-eye in two weeks doesn’t scare me. I’ll sleep VERY well.

6. I really hate being told what to do. This is nothing new to my parents. I guess it is actually more of a hate of being micromanaged. If I know what needs to be done, let me do it my way. 🙂  

I’m exhausted…time to relax 🙂

Being Californian…

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Sorry for the generic post. I’ve seen many of these types of things, but this one was strikingly true. Had to share (my edited version–not all were appropriate)! I know that some of these are stereotypes, and not all apply to me, but some do…okay, that’s my disclaimer. 🙂

I’M CALIFORNIAN. THAT MEANS…

– I say “like” and “for sure” and “right on” and “dude” and “bro” and “peace out” and “hella” and I say them often.

– I know what real cheese & avocadoes taste like.

– I don’t get snow days off because theres only snow in Mammoth, Tahoe and Big Bear.
(Instead, we have flood days, smog days, and heat days, LOL)

– Summers are really hot, and winters are really cold. And by “really cold” we mean that its usually in the 50’s or 60’s and the only reason we are complaining is because we are still wearing tank tops and flip flops.

– I can wear sandals all year long. (yay!)

– I go to the Beach – not “down to the shore”.

– I know 65 mph really means 80+.

– I’ve been to “Frisco” (aka San Francisco) and have eaten fresh clam chowder out of a sourdough bread bowl.

– You judge people based on what area code they live in (i.e. “the 909”), and when asked were you’re from, NorCal and SoCal are completely acceptable terms of reference.

– I might get looked at funny by locals when I’m on vacation in their state, but when they find out I’m from California I turn into a Greek GOD.

– We don’t stop at stop signs…we do a “california roll”

– I can get fresh and REAL Mexican food 24 hours a day.

– All the TV shows you “other” states watch get filmed here.

– We have In-N-Out (Arizona and Vegas are lucky we share that with them).

My own addition to the list: Believe it or not, we actually have REAL Christmas trees, from our own forests. We do not (typically) decorate palm trees. 🙂 (Based upon a real question asked of me in Pennsylvania).