My Holiday Solution

Linking up an older post to Tuesdays Gone!

Well, if you saw my last post about Christmas frustration you know that I've just had enough of the crazy obligation to spend, spend, spend at this time of year. In that post I promised a special announcement coming soon. Here it is!

I have started a new Facebook page that I hope you will enjoy. It is called "A Healthy, Home-Made Holiday." My goal is to share tips, recipes, crafts, music, or anything else we can find that will add to our holidays without subtracting from our wallets. The healthier the better on the recipes, but of course we all know that this time of the year is not for dieting. Don't be overly strict in that area. I would love for this page to be for EVERYONE to share on! Please don't hesitate to add your own thoughts.

I don't want this page to be limited to Christmas only. There are other winter holidays, and I want to respect the traditions of everyone. I'd love to learn more about Kwanzaa from someone who celebrates it! I'm going to keep the page going throughout the year, too. It seems like every month there is a new holiday that we could find a more healthy and frugal way to celebrate.

Please share this page with your friends. The more the merrier! I'm hoping to really change the way we look at the holidays. I want to bring us back to the old-fashioned days of hand-made gifts, family stories, and precious memories being in the forefront of our minds. Not how many gifts can be counted and how much we saved because we were spending too much to begin with.

Enjoy!

Lazy Days

This weekend I had some scheduled lazy time. Yes, I actually penciled in time to just lay around and do nothing. Then I found a blog prompt asking whether lazy days make you feel rested or if they make you feel unproductive. I've got to tell you... I cherish my lazy days more than ever lately.

My husband used to tell me that I didn't know how to relax. This is partly true. I feel like I always need to be doing something. It is probably no wonder than when I finally do slow down I crash. The couch, the bed, it doesn't matter where I am. Reading has become a bit of a problem, even. As soon as I open a book I'm asleep not too long after.

Since I started working, though, I find that I'm enjoying my time to sit down and not think much more. As a teacher I am constantly thinking from the time I walk in the building to the time I leave at night. Of course I also have grading papers and lesson planning to do at home, so I don't leave work at work too often. There are times, however, that I make plans to do just that.

The last couple of weeks I've gotten my lesson planning done on Saturday morning. Once that's complete and uploaded into the required area I turn school mode off. I'm done for the weekend. Monday morning I pick back up and go to work early to get copies made or to work on a bulletin board. Sunday is MINE, though, and I'm finally starting to see the benefits of relaxing time.

Up until now I have been a stay-at-home mom and student, or I have worked while Daniel stayed home with the girls (for one year). This is the first time we are both working at the same time. Suddenly there is no one to run those errands during the week that used to be done, leaving all weekend to hang around together. Now Saturday is filled with errand running and getting things done for the girls. Hair cuts and those pesky types of chores aren't something I can send Daniel out to do for me, anyway. Our Saturdays are usually filled from the time we get up in the morning until around 4 pm. This includes catching up on any of the household chores that got neglected throughout the week. When Sunday morning comes around I need a break from Saturday!

So, yes, I used to feel very unproductive on a lazy day, but all that has changed. I now feel like I have worked hard enough to deserve the break. I look forward to the times we have nothing planned and we can all kick back together to watch a movie or read in our separate corners of the house. It doesn't matter what we are doing, really, as long as I don't have an obligation to get anything done!

Left Brain/ Right Brain

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain	||||	20%
Left Brain	||||||||||||||||||	76%

*results won't usually add up to 100% as this test measures each side seperately

I found this quiz here and decided to give it a try. I knew, of course, that I would lean toward the more organized, orderly side. I really do get uneasy when I don't know what is coming next. Routine is very important to me. I didn't expect, however, to quite bit so unbalanced. Wow! Here is what the quiz says about the left and right brain:

Left brain dominant individuals are more orderly, literal, articulate, and to the point. They are good at understanding directions and anything that is explicit and logical. They can have trouble comprehending emotions and abstract concepts, they can feel lost when things are not clear, doubting anything that is not stated and proven.

Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively.

Overall you appear to be Left Brain Dominant.

Unfortunately I can tell just by reading this that Daniel is right brain dominant. I really think that is the source of most of our disagreements. We just approach life differently. Fortunately we are both learning to see it the other way a bit more, though I must admit that it is difficult for me. The lack of directness is what gets me the most. It feels like someone is not quite being truthful with me. Anyway, I thought this was pretty interesting. Go take the quiz for yourself. Which side of your brain is more dominant?

Fall

I saw this question on ilaxSTUDIO and it got me thinking. I used to swear Fall was my favorite season. For the last couple of years now, though, Fall has really beaten me up. I'm not so sure I look forward to it anymore. Here are some things I love about the season, and some of the things that I really don't care for.

Love:

1. Wearing sweaters and jeans- some of my favorite clothing

2. The smell in the air when people are using their fireplaces and fire pits

3. Roasting marshmallows with friends and families in fire pits

Don't love:

1. Whatever autoimmune disorder this is that I have kicks in to high gear

2. Holidays start to really throw routines off (at school/ work and at home)

3. The short days (I used to love this, but lately it's annoying)

So, maybe I don't love Fall as much as I thought I did. Maybe I need to find a new favorite season. Which one do you enjoy most?

Seven Things...

I saw this fun meme over at Patrick's Place and thought I'd play along. This week's theme is Seven Things I'd Like to Get For Christmas This Year.

You know... I honestly don't have a Christmas list running in my head, but I'll try to come up with the seven because dreaming is always fun. Here they are:

1. Projector for my classroom

2. Bicycle so I can ride next to Daniel while he runs

3. Throw pillows for my couch

4. A cute sheet set for January

5. The Pfalzgraff "Naturewood" dish set I used to have and would love to have again

6. Gift certificates for massages

7. A CD of train sounds

I have to be honest, though... I'm really not in a hurry for any of these things. I'm pretty content with life right now. Every week there are things for my classroom I wish I had, but I find a way to work around that, too. The biggest thing on my list is for my girls to have an enjoyable Christmas without all the "things" getting in the way. I'm really looking forward to our annual Christmas light trip, and I'm getting excited to spend a few days up north with my in-laws.

Right Now I Am...

I found this on Mommy Has to Work and loved the idea, so I decided to do one of my own. It sure makes me stop and think about what I'm thinking and doing. Enjoy!

In a hurry…. for my daughter and husband to stop arguing over pre-teen issues so we can get on with enjoying our time together

Thankful….. that my husband takes care of these issues so I can get a break. I've already been fighting with her for an hour; it's his turn.

Excited…. about my lesson plans for this week. I'm teaching my 5th graders about natural disasters, and I'm not assigning homework. What a fun week!

Happy…. that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I'm ready for a bit of a break from work, and I am looking forward to a movie date with my family the day after.

Wishing…. I wasn't feeling so crummy. That the doctors would figure out what is wrong with me and how to treat it.

Enjoying…. my husband getting ready to go out running now that he's done arguing with the pre-teen. I'm glad he is still enjoying the sport even though I can't.

Thinking …. well, I'm really trying NOT to! LOL I'm just trying to wind down and relax.

Taking…. a moment to just enjoy my bedroom and the peacefulness it offers. I don't do that enough.

If I Could Travel Back in Time

Today's Prompt: If I could travel back in time it would be to.... the month before I got sick.

First I want to apologize for yet another post about being sick and how I wish I wasn't. Secondly I would like to thank those of you who have stuck by me and listened to my whining and complaining. But, I seriously expected to be so much more improved by now that I am just losing my positiveness.

I do have a doctor's appointment this evening and will be checking on my latest symptoms. Unfortunately some of my previous ones have come back (the headaches), some never went away (the foot pain), and some new ones have been popping up (pain traveling UP my leg that feels like my leg has been broken). The pain is grating on me to the point that I burst into tears over REALLY stupid stuff- like seeing a runner working out on my way to work. I am SO grateful to be working, but that is really the only thing I have the energy for. In the evenings I lay on the couch and watch TV- or I go to bed at the exact same time the girls do.

Anyway... if I could go back in time I would go back to the month and week before I got sick. That week I had my best run ever. I also went to the gym and did a spin class. That was so much fun! But, I think I would chill out and not do these exercises. I sometimes wonder if one of those didn't kick off this stupid, stupid illness, or injury, or whatever the heck it is. I know that's silly... I know I didn't do anything to cause this. At the same time, I just can't stop from thinking that I could have done something differently. Maybe I'd just lay around on the couch and watch TV. I could handle that. I'm kind of tired of doing that now, but I could do it for a week.

My Favorite Special Occasion

My favorite special occasion is Thanksgiving. It is the only holiday I can think of that doesn't require gifts. Although Halloween also doesn't require gifts, we usually wind up spending way too much money on costumes. Thanksgiving is unique because it can be made just as simple or complicated as we wish.

For the past several years, with the exception of the last, my family has celebrated with just the four of us at my mom and dad's house. It seems that since all four adults have been working we just don't have time to get together as often as we would like. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to slow down and enjoy our day together.

This year we agreed to do just a ham. Usually we do both a ham and a turkey since my mom is allergic to poultry. I think my husband is into simple but fun this year. It was his suggestion to skip the traditional turkey. I think everyone was okay with that, but I do think I may miss having a bit of bird. That's okay, though. There are two pot-luck meals at work that week, so I'm sure I'll get my fill. We'll have to find a way for my dad to get some turkey, though. He misses out now that it's just him and my poultry-allergy mom at home.

The day after Thanksgiving we are going to see a movie. Our family does go out to do that too often, so if there is something my husband and I really want to see in the theaters we are sure to go. We've actually only been to the movies about 6 times in the 12 years we've been together. Four of those times have been in the last two years. I think we are more likely to go now that the girls are old enough to enjoy a film. This year we are going to see the new Muppet movie. Ever since I saw the first trailer I've been excited. I know.... I need to get a real life! I think we are all going to have a blast.

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday: 11/13/11

This is my first time linking up to Straight Out of the Camera Sunday. Enjoy!

This is Amber with her karate instructor. I am so proud of how well she is doing in her sport. This picture was taken the day she tested for her orange belt (she passed). Since then she has done her first tournament (and won first place in the kata competition), and she is training for her next one at the beginning of December.

Great Honor

I decided to link up this older post for this week's Thirsty for Comments.  I am planning a unit on Betsy Ross, our first flag, and the National Anthem in the coming weeks.  I am SO excited these are part of the standards I have to cover.

As I was reflecting on Veterans Day and preparing for that post I started thinking about my job. At first I was thinking about how to bring the importance of the day into my classroom. Then a HUGE realization struck me. I'm an American History teacher. How special is that! I get to bring the importance of our military men and women into my classroom each and every day. I don't have to wait for a special assembly or date on a calendar. I am honoring the men and women who have served for our country since before we were even the United States of America. My job suddenly became a whole lot more important in my mind.

Not only do I get to teach my students about the events that led up to the forming of our nation, the drafting and signing of our ever important constitution, and life in the United States up through the industrial revolution, I get to teach my classes about what this all means for TODAY. I get to teach them how to look at our past mistakes and help to change the world around them so we don't make those same errors in the future. Teaching has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I'm sure this happens for every teacher at some point. For me, it was as I was preparing to present this special occasion. It finally "clicked" that my link to the future is not just a nice thought that we have as we enter the teaching field. I truly play a part in the future. What if what I bring to the classroom inspires the next great president? The next great inventor? The next great doctor or lawyer? The possibilities are endless.

I get to teach my students about some of the basics of being an American. I get to teach them to stand when the Pledge of Allegiance is recited or to take off their hats when the National Anthem is sung. I get to teach my students about the respect for various traditions we have in our country and the meaning of those traditions. I really do have one of the most cool jobs in the world. I'm not only teaching academics; I'm teaching character, and I'm teaching habits that WILL follow our children throughout their lives.

Veterans Day 2011

Thank you to all the past, present, and future service men and women in our community. I appreciate all you do to keep us safe and free.

To the families of soldiers: Thank you for sharing your husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters with the rest of America. You truly make a sacrifice every time they leave your side.

Invisible Illness- 30 things

I originally saw this meme here, and I wanted to participate. Unfortunately I just didn't have time then. Here it is, though:

1. The illness I live with is: The illnesses I have had diagnosed are endometriosis, Fibromyalgia (I didn't believe this for years. I am recently starting to believe the diagnosis was correct), hypothyroidism, and carpel tunnel syndrome. The issues that have gone undiagnosed are what the doctor is calling an "inflammatory disorder of unknown origin, possibly an autoimmune problem." I believe this is probably the Fibromyalgia rearing its ugly head.

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: Diagnosis ranges from 1993 (carpel tunnel) to 2011. I'm sure I'll get another diagnosis in 2012 when I can finally get insurance and see a specialist.

3. But I had symptoms since: Most of my symptoms started after a bad car accident in 1993. The inflammatory disorder, however, really kicked in at this time last year (2010).

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Since being hospitalized for my symptoms in April I've had to learn that I just can't do everything I want to. All of my energy goes to work on the week days. In the evenings, I'm done. I've had to adjust to not exercising on a regular basis because of the pain and lack of energy.

5. Most people assume: That I am perfectly fine. I hide my pain well, sometimes even from my family. I don't like to complain, and I don't want life to be all about my illness.

6. The hardest part about mornings are: I am to the point where I wake up in pain in the morning and go to sleep with it at night. I hate getting out of bed knowing it's all down hill from there.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: I've given up on medical shows including Dr. Oz. They all contradict each other and themselves in various episodes, and nothing they advise seems to work for me anyway.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my laptop. This is the best thing my husband has ever encouraged me to get. Not only does it help me with my work, but it has become a lifeline for me. When I was in the hospital, it was the first thing I asked for. When I spent four months on the couch because I was too sick to do anything else I realized I could write to alleviate the mental pain.

9. The hardest part about nights is: being grouchy with my family because of the pain and going to bed right after our daughters do. It seems I have no private time with my husband.

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins: 1-3. I have given up on vitamins and supplements after reading new research on the potential dangers. I do take a Synthroid for my thyroid condition every morning. Sometimes I give in and take medication for the swelling in my body, but the neurologist has warned me about taking too much. She has limited me to 3 doses per week because too much can cause bounce back symptoms, and the medication will stop working. Most times I suffer through my pain and just go to bed when I need to.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: enjoy chiropractic adjustments and massage. Unfortunately both have started to seem like a bit of a waste of money. The adjustments sort of feel miserable for a couple of days, and the massages seem like they work until I get out to the car. Fortunately my husband has gotten great at mini-massages, and I get those often.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I have said a million times that I almost wish my recent illness put me in a wheelchair rather than leaving me where I am. I know this doesn't make sense to most people, but that would be visible to remind not only everyone around me but MYSELF that I do truly have a reason to be limited. I, myself, sometimes forget that this is a very real problem I'm facing. And, when I can't walk anymore I get frustrated. Being just that much "worse" would give me a reason to be angry. It doesn't make sense, but it's the way I feel.

13. Regarding working and career: I am lucky to be something that I have a passion for. Teaching really does help me to feel I am being productive and gives me something to wake up for in the mornings. I apologize that my children and family don't give me that same sense of accomplishment. I am grateful that my family understands what drives me and gives me joy.

14. People would be surprised to know: I don't think at this point that anything can surprise the people around me.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: I can choose to work or live, really. I don't get to do both in a day. If I exercise, I would not make it to work. On work days I basically melt into the couch as soon as I get home. We do a lot of TV watching and chatting on the week nights. Weekends I have to watch how much I do so I don't land myself in bed by 8 PM.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Working a full-time schedule is something I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do. Although I am employed part-time I am definitely not working part-time hours! We really weren't sure, in July, that I would get here.

17. The commercials about my illness: make me laugh. Since I am not positive what I have at this point, I watch all the commercials about different arthritis medication and drugs for similar illnesses and think about how I could easily have died while taking the Lyrica. It seems like there are all sorts of wonder drugs out there, but the truth is that there are millions who have tried everything with little to no relief.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: running! Oh, I want to be out there, but it doesn't look like that will happen again. For now I'll just keep encouraging Daniel to sign up for a race so I can watch.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: the gym. Working out had become such a big part of my life that I never thought we would always have a gym membership. For now, we gave it up, though, because even Yoga at the end of the day is just not a possibility right now.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: blogging. I was casually blogging before, but I wasn't invested in it. I have come to realize this is not just an outlet for me but a place for others to discuss the issues I bring up and share their own lives as well.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: go running. I would also take my girls out to do a fun activity I always thought I would introduce them to as they got older. Some of the outdoor sports I've been waiting for the girls to get old enough to do are now things I can't play. I would love to give tennis a try with my daughters, but I can't handle the quick movements and the running.

22. My illness has taught me: that my family is really good at pitching in. Up until I was hospitalized in April I put all the pressure on myself to get everything done in the house without asking for help. Daniel has been wonderful with getting the cooking and cleaning done. The girls are old enough to handle chores, and we have definitely started to assign more for the girls to do.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: they know someone who has gone through the same thing and they did just one change in their life and are perfect now. While I would LOVE for that to be true, I find that hard to believe. If it is true, that is incredible, and I am VERY happy for that person, though!

24. But I love it when people: encourage me to follow my doctor's advice and see if I can get some relief. I love when ideas are thrown out that are practical and given without judgment.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "Let the Wild Rumpus Start!" Max from "Where the Wild Things Are" is my inspiration. He was able to direct his anger into his imagination. When he came home, his dinner was still warm. In my mind I have a wild rumpus when I need to. What am I talking about? When I REALLY need to I close my bedroom door and have a wild rumpus tantrum listening to loud music and crying myself crazy. Whenever I'm ready, Daniel makes sure my dinner is still warm, too.

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Do what you need to in order to get through. Everyone is different, and no one really knows what kind of help you need. ASK for what you need. You are important and you are NOT whining when you can't do something you feel you should be able to.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how connected the emotional and physical body is. I definitely feel worse when I am mentally exhausted or upset.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: coming to visit me in the hospital. I never realized exactly how lonely and scary the hospital is. I think we all THINK we understand this until we are actually there. Many times I know I wasn't "with it" while I was there, but it was nice for people to stop by and let me know they were helping Daniel and the girls.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Unfortunately I missed this week, but I'll be a part of it next year!

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: like you want to know what my life is like since becoming very sick with an invisible illness.

Four Books I Love

I read a prompt to list four books I love. I've decided to change that just a little bit and go with four authors. I couldn't possibly narrow my selections down to only four.

My #1 FAVORITE author in the world right now is Jodi Picoult. If you haven't ever read one of her books, do so! Go to the library right now. Well, finish reading this post first, then go. Picoult is an author who will pull at your heart strings. She is FANTASTIC at taking a controversial issue and looking at both sides of the story. You may recognize her name from the movie "My Sister's Keeper." If you enjoyed that story you should read "Handle With Care." I'm, right now, in the middle of "House Rules." Oh, such great material!

Another of my favorite authors writes all types of books, but I am most into her series. Her name is Debbie Macomber. She is a Christian author who writes inspirational non-fiction books, she writes romance, and she writes what I would call "women's fiction." The ones I really like are the Cedar Cove series and the Blossom Street series. The only problem with these books, I think, is waiting for them to come out. I do have to admit that I forget from one book to the next sometimes, and it takes a while to catch up. That's okay; that would happen no matter the series.

Karen Kingsbury writes Christian fiction, and even though I do not consider myself a Christian any longer, I think this author's writing is great. Her stories definitely give the reader something to think about, and I like books that make me feel something. I always connect in one way or another with Karen Kingsbury's characters. My favorite book of hers is "One Tuesday Morning," a story about 9-11.

And, when I'm in the mood for a thriller, I look to Karin Slaughter. Her books always keep me at the edge of my seat, and they always surprise me. My heart pounds as I read her stories, never knowing what is going to happen next.

Who are your favorite authors? What are your favorite books?