Shoes

I think Girls Just Wanna Have Fun said it best, "decisions are the worst." I am torn.  Not in any important way, but I would love opinions.   Zac and I finally have a little bit of free cash, so I decided it was time to buy the necessities.  I have 2 new bras on the way (which I am pumped about) and I ordered a new pair of running shoes and a new pair of work shoes.....well 3 pairs of work shoes.  I just wanna say, I LOVE Zappos.  Free shipping both ways!  I feel guilt free about the ordering...but I am struggling trying to decide which shoes to return.  I absolutely love my new running shoes.

Aren't they cute?  They are perfect!  My big problem is the work shoes.  I ordered 3 pairs, 1 was an immediate no, as far as the other 2 are concerned, I kinda hate them both.  I have worn each pair at work for a couple hours...no big differences in how they feel. These are my options....

 

or these....

There's not much difference...I know.  The ones on the top are $65 and the ones on bottom are $90, so again, not a huge difference.  I have been rockin' a pair of nikes for a long time and they are shot.  I keep wearing these around the house, one on my left foot, one on my right, debating.  My family was no help, Maggie said the ones on top, Annie said the bottom, Mom said they were both terrible (which I found to be incredibly helpful).  Maybe I should return both and get a second pair of athletic shoes like these

 

or these

maybe these 

could be these

This is my dilemma.  Darn you Zappos and your free shipping you give me FAR too many options.  I am stuck.  I just don't have any interest in continuing to order, try, return, order, try, return and so forth.

So here I am, 10:30 at night, in my pajamas and mismatched work shoes deciding which I hate less...left shoe, right shoe, or ordering more shoes.  

And for your viewing pleasure...Shoes

Random Facts, Volume 1

I have a secret.  Well, if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time it may not be so secret, but...I can't spell.  I mean, I can, but only the big tough words (thank you doctorate).  When it comes to the little stuff I've got nothin.  I think it is a mental block for certain words.  I just can't get them right.  Apparently this comes from my Dad, or at least that is what Mom says on her little blog.  Here are just a few on my list as I would like to write them: perferable, suprise, recieved, akward, emmensly,  onrey, maintainance, and sadly enough,  I occasionally type ov instead of of.  It's absurd, and embarrassing, but true.  I just hope you don't prefer to be immensely surprised cause it won't happen from me.  

Now get out there everyone, and have a fab day full of proper grammer and correctly spelled words!

Halloween Kiddos

I watched this video this morning (cause that's what's appropriate to do when you should be getting ready for work) and was cracking up.  Jimmy Kimmel asked parents to record their kids' reactions as they told them they ate all their halloween candy...it's classic. 

Most of the kids react in a sort of bratty meltdown fit (understandable when there are mini-chocolate bars involved), but the kids at 3:08 are totally worth the watch. 

I am also fairly certain this is how Zac would react if I ate all his peanut butter cups.  

Enjoy!

Hazel Jane

Last Saturday I had the distinct honor of throwing my best friend a baby shower.  Courtney has been my best friend since 6th grade.  We are two beans in a pod she and I.  Courtney is now pregnant....like 26 weeks, I think.  In other words, super pregnant.  Courtney's family is spread all over the place, so I knew I wouldn't be the only shower thrower, but I was darn well gonna be the best!  We had it in a little chapel turned coffee house, so we had adorable mis-matched chairs and tables and plenty of stained glass windows.  I was able to beg, borrow, and steal all kinds of decorations from family and friends and it turned out absolutely beautiful.  I have the pictures to prove it!

I turned Aubrie Grace loose with my camera and here are a few gems she snapped.

Maggie

 Penelope (aka LP, Elle Pea, Pea, Nelly)....ha-larious! I love that chin and that scowl!

 Courtney and baby Elle Pea

 Lyndsey, Cheryl (Courtney's Ma) and Emily

Cheryl, Cindy (Court's MIL), Michelle (SIL), and Courtney 

Mama Janie 

Me 

Caroline (aka Carolbean, Bean, and the Beans) 

Victoria and Lilly 

She is a camera pro!  Plus, no one doesn't smile for a 5 year old with a camera.  I took over after than, with mom's much nicer camera.

Beans had to help....until she started asking me to open things for her :) 

Court with the quilt I made her.... 

and the onesies I made.  I don't like the iron on patches that say how old baby is, so this was what I did instead.  PS....embroidery takes FOREVER!

So that was my best friend's shower.  I ran a very loose ship.  People did what they wanted.  I barely moderated the "games."  The guy who owns the place ran a very loud coffee machine at random.  And it was perfect.....except for the guy who came in with his McDonalds and set up shop with his laptop at a back table.....he was clearly not invited.  He didn't seem phased.  

I can hardly believe that my best friend is pregnant, let alone that far along.  About now is when things will start taking a turn for the waddles.  She told me she is starting to get more tired again, and she cannot imagine that her body can make any more room for that bean.  It will my friend, oh it will.  And I will be there to laugh at your thick calves and swollen ankles and try my best to find you horizontally striped pajama pants.  Now that's love! 

Prayers for David

I have been doing lots lately...but I am putting all of my adventuring posts on hold to share a prayer request with everyone today.  One of my patients has a son, David, that was diagnosed over the weekend with a brain tumor.  David is a college freshman, so he's quite young and I am sure this is a highly difficult thing for him to process.  He will be undergoing surgery this Wednesday.  Up until then, please pray for David, pray hard.  He and his family believe in the power of prayer.  Please join me in lifting all of them up and feel free to share, share, share!  Thanks prayer warriors!

Super clean

I am a big ol' fan of doing it yourself.  Whether it means craft projects, or painting your own house, or building your own house for that matter, I say YOU CAN!  I also say "what I lack in know-how I make up for in ram-y-ness and impatience", so...there's that.  But, for the most part, I do things myself.  Maybe it's because I would love nothing more that to use only all-natural handmade products and sit in my living room surrounded by reclaimed-barn-wood tables, but who wouldn't!  

My newest project in DIY, making my own laundry soap.  Woot woot!   It was super easy.  The only real issue is that my food processor kinda sucks big time.  Nonetheless, it was easy and now you get to know now it's done.

Start with the products you see below.  I got all of them at Wal-Mart.  

First things first, cut up all that Fels-Naptha in to little, more food processor friendly chunks.

Process.

Try to get the little chunks super fine because you want them to dissolve quick, fast, and in a hurry so you aren't waiting forever to put your clothes in the washing machine.  This was as good as it got for me.  I could have probably done better with less in the processor and if I let it run longer, but Zac was watching t.v. while I ground the heck out of the soap and he kept givin me the big stink eye. 

After all the chopping, I put half of my Fels into 2 gallon bags, the added 1 cup at a time, Borax and washing soda until my boxes were empty.  I could have weighed it, or just eyeballed it, but I didn't.  Do whatcha want, just combine all 3 in close to equal portion.   

After my bags were close to the same amount full, with close to the same amount of stuff, I poured on bag into a big container and mixed it up better, then right back into it's ziplock home.  

That's it.  That's all it took.  Clean up consisted of washing or rather rinsing a few things and then wiping off my counters....and smiling and offering to make brownies to appease Zacman.  

I used it for the first time last night, 1/8 cup for a full load of laundry.  I am curious to see what my clothes look and smell like when I get home.  Mostly because my house smelled SUPER clean for a whole week after I made this stuff!  I don't know that I'm observant enough to see if my brights are slightly less bright, but I sure know about stinky man socks, the true test of a soap's cleansing powers!

So, in summary, it is in no way hard to make your own laundry detergent.  At the very least, your house will smell nice, and that in itself is nice. Get on board ladies!  Just imagine how fantastically smug you could feel next time you are in the the laundry detergent isle and can say "oh I don't need any, I make my own."  Your friends will be impressed :)

Be Our Guest!

My mama has left the building!  Mom has been out of town on a camping adventure with her friend Jayme.  The sisters and I took turns filling in for her while she is up to her eyes in shenanigans.  Jump on over to her blog,  Janie Fox Talks, and read away!

Be my guest...

P.S...stealing the thankful reminders at the end of the blog from here on out!

What I am thankful for

1.  awkward ring tones

2.  down comforters

3.  ugg slippers from wal-mart