Something Nice For The Holidays

 

  So I’ve made it a goal of mine this holiday season to do something nice for someone I don’t know.. So I had met a lady named Maria at the bank, and she really liked my green scarf Tabitha made me for Christmas last year. I asked her what her favorite color was, a poof! There you have it! She was so surprised and she liked it a lot!

I love the feeling of doing something nice for someone, and having them genuinely like what you’ve given them.

If I don’t post again before Christmas, hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! {I’m hoping to post again before then though!}

My Time To Vent

I am normally not a negative person, not at all by far but lately I’ve just felt like plain old Mrs. Grinch! I don’t know if its because I’ve been slightly more stressed out then normal or if its because I feel like I have no support. A friend or family member is supposed to support you through all of your decisions, especially when your trying to become a new person.

I can’t say I don’t have support from anyone because I do, but it just feels like I’ve heard every excuse in the book to not be there for even the smallest of things for me such as my debut open house. You don’t have to buy anything AND you don’t have to book a party but just having the support of people, and to know there are going to be there for me would be nice.

I can’t wait until Christmas Eve when I finally get to see my sister, its going to feel so good to be able to laugh with and at her in person! If there is anything keeping me from becoming a total grinch its knowing there are only 20 days left until I get to pick her up at the airport!

 

And The Countdown Begins

 

 

 

Although this is a horrible picture taken very fast, I just wanted to share with the world that the countdown has begun to Christmas Eve! I can’t wait to pick up Tabitha and Joe at the airport! I have missed her so much, I can’t even begin to put it into words! Well, countdown with me!

Well Another Update!

 

Since the last update I have lost 6.2 pounds, adding that to my last 4, puts me at 10.2 pounds so far! PLUS 6.1% of body fat!

I’m excited and very happy with my numbers so far!

The Magic Of Reading

 

I just not to long ago finished reading the book The Last Song written by one of my many favorite authors Nicholas Sparks. Like  a lot if not most of his novels this one took place in North Carolina, a state located on the Atlantic seaboard, one of the many places that if I have been there I have never really visited. {After reading all of his books it is on my to visit list!}

This story is mostly about seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller, and it draws you in from the very beginning. I never wanted to  leave the story but at the same time it felt like part of my reality. I could relate to the stubbornness, the forgiveness and the crazy thinking of all of the characters. I won’t tell much more of this book, but just know its one that I personally loved.

Its very rare a person can find a book they can say that they love, I’ve read numerous books this year and yes while I can say at the time I really enjoyed reading them, that I would recommend reading them or that I can read them over again, The Last Song along with a lot of other Nicholas Sparks books added to my love for reading. They let you escape from the crazy things in life, the headaches, and all in all just let you imagine.

A lot of people have a hard time reading, whether they just find it boring or they just can’t see everything happening, but for me it is my creative outlet. Although I am obviously not writing the story I am drawing out every emotion, every movement, every thought just as I picture it happening.

If you want to keep up with the books I am reading I will post which ones I am reading, have read already or will be reading. Thanks for listening. 

Another Update.

 

Its been a while and I’ve had some minor set back in the weight loss department, but its nothing big enough to make me stop! So I fixed my “problem” and in one week I have lost 4 pounds. Which I think is pretty good.

Since July 23rd I have lost 3 inches in my thighs! :) I am sooooo excited!

I’ll keep you updated and before you know it you won’t even recognize me ; )

My 21st Birthday!

 

Where to start! This was one of the best birthdays that I have ever had and I want to thank everyone at the beginning of this post for all of the gifts and birthday wishes it means a lot!

I have three dinners {not all in the same day of course}, and first we start of at my moms, on Sept 9th.

 

  I am so happy that my mom could be persuaded into making me my “mamaw” dinner consisting of : Chicken, fried potatoes and green beans!  So good!

Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. {one of my favorites}

  

 

Corey, Quentin and Melissa all got me the same card!  I love it.

 

 

 

 

Melissa and Quentin bought me a pair of earrings, a matching bracelet and a one of kind addition bracelet. So beautiful!

Aunt Joyce made me a cute pouch with lavender inside. {It smells so good!} (I had to zoom in so you could get an idea because the word “pouch” doesn’t do it justice)

 

Mom and Ryan both gave me money, and with that I bought myself The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack and a coffee maker with a grinder.

 

Its all fancy looking huh?

 

 

 

 

 

Carl bought me a gift card to Casal’s De Spa & Salon to get pampered. 30 minute facial, manicure, pedicure and addition money towards a cut and color. Its a perfect gift! I never take time to just simply relax and get the princess treatment!

Here are some random pictures I thought I’d add in also.

  I have to pause and explain this one to everyone: I said “get together for a picture” so that’s what my mom did….she got together for the picture. What a goofball!

 

 

Carl cutting the cake and being told by “The Supervisor” that his pieces are to big! lol

It was a good birthday party we ate my meal I had been missing, cake and watched a video Aunt Joyce and Uncle Chuck brought. I can’t remember off the top of my head what the comedians’ name is but it was funny. Although Ryan, Quentin, and Uncle Chuck  aren’t in any pictures they were there…I promise! 

On the day of my birthday Carl gives me two birthday cards. One serious and one funny. The one plays the song “I’m so excited” and he said it reminded him of me because I’m always saying that. :)  One had a bunch of scratch offs, of which I won absolutely nothing… just my luck! (he won on all of the ones I bought him for his birthday!) The other card has a gift certificate to Cards & Collectibles, a store we had been in a couple days earlier, and I wanted to buy a bunch of craft stuff to make a Christmas craft so once again another perfect gift!

We then went out to breakfast at Bob Evans, and came home and watched A Nightmare On Elm Street movies. It was so nice to be able to relax and just spend time together, it was exactly what I wanted.

Later on we went out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse, I got to order my first glass of wine…

the sad part was I didn’t even get carded!! (Do I look old to you!?) I am bad at the ordering of wine, I thought red wine would be great but it wasn’t. I guess I wanted a white wine.

In addition to everything Carl had bought me he also bought me two things of perfume and bras from Victoria Secret.

Thank-you for everything Carl it was the perfect birthday!

The next day we went to his moms for my last birthday dinner.

 

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My dinner of choice: Salad, chicken, rice and her cheese biscuits.

 

            

                        I thought the card was so cute!

 

Can you guess my birthday gifts theme? :)

 

 

 

 

The Twilight Saga: New Moon dvd and soundtrack. A team Switzerland t-shirt and an Edward bookmark!

 

        

And my cake!

 

 

 

 

 

A couple days after my birthday I got my birthday gift from my sister Tabitha…

 

Everything is hand written and personalized and made me feel like part of her was here.

 

 

I’m so excited to dive into my books and drink some yummy coffee! Also the coffee cup says “My Favorite Mug: this is the mug I drink out of when I brew my Starbucks coffee, read my new books, and think about my sister Tabitha :)”  I read it and I know it was supposed to be funny, but I just started crying. I never have a day go by that I don’t miss her and think about her.

Thank-you EVERYONE once again for all of the amazing gifts and for celebrating my birthday with me. (I’m sorry its taken a while to post, but I’ll try to stay updated more often!)

Eventually, Even I Have Good luck!

I have been waiting for about two years now for my seizure doctors to believe me in the fact that I don’t have seizures anymore. (I’m not on medication or anything) I can look at cop car lights and nothing happens, I’ve even watched the movie Avatar if you’ve seen it you would know that its enough to make a person have a seizure if they have them anymore. Its been over two years and I haven’t had one.

Every year I have to get a paper signed by my doctor, Doctor Weiss, with his “permission” to be able to drive. Well this year I had 2 choices. #1.Take medication and then he would sign the papers. [cheapest medication i found without insurance was $50.00 for one month supply] (Why would I take the medication if I have been fine without it for so long???) or #2. Get a take home 24 hour EEG done. {a lovely cost of $850.00 without insurance} Which would you do? Well I knew I didn’t have seizures anymore, so why not just prove it with the EEG? There is the chance that yes I could be wrong but I just thought it would be better in the chance I did pass.

Well, ladies and gentlemen…..drum roll please….. :) I PASSED THE EEG! (In case you couldn’t already tell!) I now only have to get a paper signed in four years, just so he can check in and make sure everything is doing the same! Four years, I am so excited! To top it all off when I got the bill in the mail there was a “special program adjustment” of $369.00 and now I only owe $481.00, which is totally worth it for the freedom!

A big thank-you to everyone for supporting me and pushing me to take the test! And a very big thank-you to Carl because without you I would’ve went into a mental stress down and probably caused a glitch in the test results!

I feel like such an Old Lady!

 

I don’t have any pictures to put up, well actually I do but I’m to exhausted to put them up! :( I can honestly say I have been in mostly great health up until now and who knows why the sudden change in luck?

On Sunday the 15th I woke up in the middle of the night, tossing and turning trying to make my back stop hurting, trying to be stubborn and just stick it out. Well, that didn’t work so good. When my alarm went off for Carl and I to get ready to meet my mom I thought it was time to tell Carl . I couldn’t breath  in normally, I had to take short  breaths or I would get an excruciating pain in my lower left part of my back, right on my ribs. I thought I was dying!  We got to the ER at the hospital in Youngstown, and the pain got so bad I couldn’t even walk, Carl had to push me in a wheelchair. After we checked me in Carl noticed that he had red stuff on his hands… hmm what is that? DRY BLOOD from the wheelchair!!! So gross! That's when we saw the blood all  down the side of the wheelchair! (strike #1)

We walk back to my room and right when we get there I asked speedy gonzalez (I had to follow this lady back there who was to stupid to realize I couldn’t walk that fast) if I was allowed to use the bathroom, she said yes and gave me a cup. . . Ok, when I was done I was honestly like “what am I supposed to do with it now?” They told me to take it to my room and put it on the counter. . . Which is exactly where it stayed the duration of my time there. Unsanitary? (Strike #2)

Were in there for a while and then the nurse comes in to take my blood pressure, she was the biggest idiot i’ve ever seen in my whole life, and I am not just been critical or mean in any way, I promise. She put a sleeve on my arm then started the machine, then the machine didn’t stop! It kept going and the sleeve popped off. “hmm I don’t know why that happened lets try again.” Did it again. Then she decided to try a bigger sleeve and it didn’t work either. She then realizes after four or five tries that there is another patients name in the machine and thats why it wasn’t registering to stop. (Strike #3---you would think 3 strikes and your out right?)

Ok, maybe its because I was raised by the mom that I was raised by but I notice when things aren’t clean. I know I know horrible, (lol)  but there was a gross yellow spot on the bed. (ewwww, Strike #4!)

While were waiting for the doctor, there was another doctor talking very inappropriately on the phone with someone very loudly. I can honestly say I wouldn’t go back to that hospital...

Diagnosis :  Costochondritis.

Definition : Costochondritis is an inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone or sternum.

Cause : Well although when I look it up online it says the cause is unknown, the doctor told me its from sleeping with the fan on. WEIRD?

The next night my left arm started to swell up, turn red, get sore and was very very very warm to the touch compared to the surrounding areas. Carl and I both thought it could possibly be a blood clot, but thankfully when we went to the ER in Salem (instead on Youngstown ) it was just a infection caused by my immune being so weak from taking the steroids because of the Costocondritis. (just my luck)

And to top it all off about to weeks ago I twisted my knee  and it hasn’t healed right. (Its the same knee I had to have surgery on after I sprained it when I was younger) So I am going to try to make an appointment for maybe Monday?  I don’t know what is wrong with it but I feel like my kneecap isn’t attached correctly if that makes any sense.

Well, we will see what happens and I will update as soon as I know anything. 

Carl’s Birthday’s

The Birthday Boy!

 

I’ve been waiting since Christmas to be able to celebrate his birthday because last year we weren’t together for his birthday. I was out of town at my grandparents, and then he went out of town so this was my big shot. I had been looking up a lot of things we could do and although it didn’t go quite as planned I will tell you what we did get to do.

For our 3 day celebration I got to have him all to myself for the first day, which was his actual birthday--- July 21st. The day didn’t go as planned because I was hooked up to an eeg test for seizures (blah blah blah) this isn’t about that… So we got a very very very late start. So we went to our dinner reservations at The Harbor Inn. I had heard about it being this “amazing” place and we should try it.

This is a picture of The Harbor Inn. I thought it seemed really beautiful. Every Wednesday they have dinner and “a cruise” there. Dinner is around 6 and the cruise is around 8 and until around 10.

We got there earlier then our reservations so we went ahead and sat down to look at the menu. We each decided on a salad to start off.                                                                                                                                             

Carl decided on the traditional caesar salad. Very different looking compared to your normal “salad in a bowl.” lol

 

My salad was a Gorgonzola salad, I had never had one before so I figured why not. It was actually really good. :) Have to also include a picture of the dinner rolls because they were very good.

Now onto the main course. It took a while to decide but, we both decide to try things we either haven’t had before or don’t have very often. Carl decided to try Wild Boar Tenderloin which included wild mushrooms, red pepper, roasted garlic aioli and 18yr balsamic, it also included green beans and potatoes on the side. I decided to have Sea Scallops: char-grilled, pear-bacon-cabbage hash, champagne mustard sauce and brown butter spatzel.

So now it is my job to tell you about the “wonderful meals” that we both had. I wasn’t lying when I said the bread and the salad was good, and when I tell you that this food was the worst meal I have ever tasted it is no exaggeration. Carl and I both kept eating to make the other feel better, which didn’t work. I wish I could zoom in on Carl’s meal because he ordered the meat to be cooked medium well and it in parts came out RAW! He said he could barely even tasted what the boar was supposed to tasted like because they piled on top of it so many mushrooms and other things.

My meal expectancies were not very high once I took a look at the food, but I tried it anyways. So in the item description it said char grilled not BURNT! The “brown butter spatzel” was nothing but pure butter, and the hash was just awkward, and to top it all off they had HONEY MUSTARD covering all of it, they can call it a “champagne mustard sauce” all they want but it was gross. Honey mustard on scallops?

We also had reservations to go on a romantic boat ride afterward but I was to disgusted to pay that company anymore money and Carl agreed. The amazing boyfriend that he is, could tell I felt HORRIBLE, and he thought he would take it upon himself to make me feel better on his birthday! So because of the fact that neither of us even came close to finishing our “meals,” he took me somewhere I should have taken him in the first place LONGHORN STEAK HOUSE. Simple, but so good. The reason he knew it would make me feel so much better—They have amazing house chips and dip!

We we supposed to go to the movies, but it had to be postponed because we both ended up sick. We blame the wild boar!

DAY 2: My Family

Pizza. Cake. Presents and the goofy bunch!

Mom bought Carl some new more colorful tshirts to wear!

                                 Pause-------Smile--------Ok next……

The front of Corey’s card he bought for Carl had two bees both saying “boo.” Can you guess why it was so funny? (if not….you can always do what Ryan did and say “what are boo bees?"

                                     Look at the pretty wrapping paper!

                                     Carl got the Twilight Scene It Game!

                                                       Ryan’s cute card!

 

 

Yummy Oreo Blizzard cake from DQ!! Carl’s favorite blizzard.

 

 

 

Can you imagine everyone singing the happy birthday song? Its so off key!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I missed Carl blowing out the candles and I asked him to do it over again which is why he was laughing in the second picture. The third picture if you pay attention has no flames in the candles, no smoke from just being blown out, and he is staring at me probably thinking “did you take it yet?”

It was fun and thanks to everyone in my family for making him feel like he is part of our awesome family!

 

DAY 3: His Family!

Burgers and hot dogs on the grill, with popchips, unsweet tea to drink and Ice cream cake to top it all off! Although I didn’t take a picture of the food it was very good. I miss being at a place with an outside grill!

 

Doesn’t it look like the cake that never ends?! :)

 

 

 

So pretty though!

 

 

 

Now this game looks vintage. ;)

 

 

 

I thought I would bring out the side of my family to their family. Lets play games!!! Carl and I had a lot of fun!

 

 

 

Carl’s sister Andrea. I told her I would buy her starbucks if she smiled for the camera. :) See how well that works!

 

I love this picture of his mom. She isn’t looking at the camera but I think its cute because she’s laughing at Carl.

 

 

Over all I think his birthday went pretty good. Some plans went bad, but more then most of them went good. I can’t wait to celebrate many more birthdays with him! :) Thankyou everyone who helped!