Aw, shucks!

(My lovely husband and I, on our honeymoon in the Caribbean.)

So, I just had to blog about this, because it warmed my heart, and this is the time of year for warming hearts, isn't it?

As I was working on a craft (to be blogged about tomorrow or Wednesday), I noticed Chad (my lovely hubby) had been working on his own along side of me! Okay, I know, I know, adorable right? I mean, he didn't even SAY anything. I didn't even NOTICE for a while. But one minute, I looked over to see what he was doing, and he was a few minutes into his own version of the craft... I loved it! But, that's not even the good part...

So we were watching a special tonight on t.v. about Disney World, and how it get's transformed into a magical Christmas dream-land, full of lights and ornaments and everything beautiful, and as I was feeling all special and warm and happy, Chad handed me something he printed off the computer (I was totally unaware that he had been working on something else on the computer... (through all of this, I've realized I'm very oblivious to what is going on around me). But anyways, this is what I was handed:

Um, ok, can I say butterflies in my stomach?! Silly of me, maybe... but irresistibly cute of him? Yes! This is what it says:

"You're invited!"

(...and then on the inside...)

"To enjoy a special night out with the man you love.

When: Tomorrow Night, 11/30

Where: SHHH... It's A Surprise

Do you accept?

Yes (check box)

No (check box)"

And then he wrote with a pen "I LOVE YOU! LOVE, ME" (which is what we tell each other all the time). He even added a note on the back that said "Made especially for you by: Your Husband"...

Oh my gosh, I almost died. I checked yes, of course, and scribbled "YES!" three times next to it, and then he told me to dress nice! AW! I cannot WAIT!

It's the little things, people... the little things.

Have a wonderful, magical night, and I encourage you- do something little for someone you love- you never know how much it may mean to them!

:::SLL::: 

Project: DIY hurricane vases for $2 each!

OKAY,

I'm not sure about you, but I have a serious obsession with hurricane vases. There are so many possibilities for decor when you own these vases, but the problem is they are SO expensive. I was contemplating using these for the centerpieces of my wedding back in August, but even finding them thrift they were running $8-$10 bucks each... not that bad until you consider needing them  for 25 tables. No, thanks. So, for
under $2  each, you can make your own! And don't worry about going out to buy expensive fillers for them... just use what you have around your house.
I used sea shells I collected over time, sand from a craft project, and dried bouquet filler. I wanted to do a fall or Christmas theme, but
this will do for now.

What you need:

-candle holder, vase-

(Take a trip to your local dollar tree and pick up whatever style candle holders and vases you want, making sure the top of the candle holder is flat, and the bottom of the vase is flat)

-gorilla glue-

(I just used a tiny bit, so I suggest getting the little squeeze tube, not the big container, unless you do a lot of crafts. Even still, a little gorilla glue goes a long way)

-text book, game, something heavy-

(make sure it is something that can lay flat)

So, here goes:

Step One:

Flip the vase upside down. Take the candle holder and coat the top (the end the candle would stick into) with glue.

   Step Two:

Immediately turn the glued side upside down and position it in the middle of the bottom face of the vase. Position it as perfectly centered as possible, but if you move it around too many times, I suggest starting over and add more glue.

 

  Step Three:

At this point the entire vase structure should be upside down. Place a heavy book or game on top, balancing it carefully. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes or until dry.

Step Four:

Fill with candles, seashells, sand, or anything else you would like. For Christmas, try filling with pine cones, dried leaves, dried berries, or even ornaments, and surround it with a wreath as your table centerpiece. Then set it up in a place where people will see it, and let the compliments come flooding in!



                                       :::SLL:::

Project: Custom headbands...

Want to learn how to custom make your own headbands, for very little money, with no limitations on the style? It is SO easy, and I will show you how to do it. There's nothing complicated about this, and you definitely don't have to be creative or talented, because it is so simple. This first post will show you how to make a headband with a flower blooming off the side of it.

What you will need:

-headband-

(you can get this from the dollar store, a pack of three actually, in ALL different shapes and sizes)

-scissors-

(if you have nice material scissors that's great, if not, regular scissors should work)

-hot glue/hot glue gun-

(I think this is the best way to go. You can try material glue, but it needs to dry fast and STRONG)

-a (fake) flower-

(go to Goodwill, the dollar store, Wal-mart, anywhere really. I got a bouquet of the white flowers I use for 50 cents! You can't beat that...)

-ribbon-

Ok, let's start...

:::::Step One:::::

Start pulling apart the layers of your flower. If you don't have any layers to your flower, skip to Step Two.

Pull off any rubber, metal, plastic, material fasteners that keep the layers together. You want nothing other than the material layers of the flower so that when we glue it to the headband, we won't be dealing with a bulge in any area that would interfere with the flower sitting flat on the band. Once all the fasteners are out, glue each layer back together with hot glue in the arrangement you would like.

:::::Step Two:::::

Take the newly assembled flower and poke a hole through the middle (if it doesn't already have one). You can do this easily by hammering a nail stright through the center and into a piece of wood.

Then, take the ribbon and loop it through the center. Flip the flower over so the bottom is facing up. Tie a knot, flip the flower over, and pull the ribbon tight so the knot on the bottom is flush with the flower. This will allow you to tie a knot as close and as tight on the front of the flower as possible. Turn the flower around again, remove the knot on the bottom, cut the ribbon leaving a 1/4 of an inch left, and glue the remaining ribbon to the bottom of the flower. If you want to be extra neat and tidy, cut out a circle of ribbon and place over the glued ribbon to give it a nice appearance. It is the bottom of the flower, so it isn't a big deal, unless you are OCD like me. : ) Next, turn the flower around once more, and do the same (cut the remaining ribbon, and neatly glue the remining over the side of the knot). LASTLY (yay!), glue the flower wherever you wish on your headband, and wear it with a killer outfit. THE END!

:::SLL:::

Lately

So, my lovely hubby has been home for over a week from work now. His doctor ordered a time of rest. It is bittersweet, because my not having a job makes for endless opportunites to spend with my husband… all day long! I love it! But at the same time, when it's a beautiful day outside, I find myself left to stare at my man passed out on the living room floor from exhaustion… not only does his pain tire him out, but every one of his medications proposes a side effect of drowsiness. So, I am making best of our time together, even if it may not be ideal!

We have been able to enjoy the outdoors a lot since he has been home. The fall leave were BEGGING for me, and the sunshine pushed me over the edge. I just HAD to go to the park. : ) Here are some pictures from our little field trip out of the apartment…

It was such a beautiful day, and we weren’t the only ones taking shots of the breath-taking scenery. Still, Chad wanted to take a nap. He had a rough day physically, so we brought the quilt my nona made for me and he attempted to take a little rest (the big white arrow is pointing at him).

All in all, it was a wonderful time. I love sitting in the sunlight, listening to the trees rustle their leaves, and enjoying the beautiful creation God made for us.

A few days later, on our way home from one of Chad’s doctors appointments, we decided to make a spontaneous trip to the beach! I love the beach, and although you may be thinking “But it’s NOVEMBER!” don’t worry… it was a little warmer than 50 degrees out, and the sun was setting, and we weren’t planning on swimming. Although it was a little chilly, we could not pass up taking a few shots of the view… enjoy!

:::SLL:::

My husband is my SUPERMAN...

A little picture I made for us... : )

To an aching, ouching, ooohing society full of pains and ailments, fybromyalgia is not a new monster. This disorder attacks one’s, well… everything! From constant fatigue to an all-over aching body, a person suffering from FM has the hardest time doing even the most simple of tasks- like rising every morning. It is a constant struggle, and it seems impossible to get one’s body to cooperate. FM is largely considered and labeled a woman’s disorder, and while the current ratio of cases of FM in men and women is 9:1 (women holding the majority), there are many men who suffer daily with fibromyalgia who get overlooked…

…and I married one of them. If you have or know someone close to you that has fibromyalgia, you may have an idea what it is like living with a sufferer of the disorder. My husband, Chad, is no exception from the common symptoms, and actually has it much worse than most. FM for my husband is said to exist due to the fact that he has Systemic Lupus, which is a whole other story. Combined with secondary (to the Lupus) epilepsy, and something mysteriously wrong with his ankle, Chad is a medical mutt. And I am the dog-owner! Taking care of his needs can be challenging sometimes… just being honest. But is it worth it? Of course… I LOVE dogs, afterall.  But seriously, I’ve never met someone with so many reasons to complain that never complains! I would be a rotten person to be unwilling to serve him.

This is what a typical day looks like for us newlyweds- yes, we are newlyweds. My husband is 27, and I am 21, and yet sometimes I feel like I married an 80 year old! (I guess it’s a good thing I ADORE the elderly!) As the morning rolls around, and it’s time to wake up, I’m up in a flash. I tear open the blinds to absorb the sunlight, take it in with a deep breath, grab my cell phone off the charger, and whip around to embrace my husband and the exciting day we have ahead of us… but all I embrace when I spin around is the sound the let’s me know my husband fell back asleep… loud snoring.

Insert sigh.

Over the next 15-30 minutes, my husband sets his snooze a few times, get’s up, lays back down, gets up again, goes to the bathroom, lays down on the living room floor, stretches, lays down for a little more… and then sits. For a long time. Silently. I mean, I’m literally there wagging my tail like a puppy just brought home from a pet store and I can’t WAIT to play! But my husband is just fighting with the task of being able to take a breath without feeling pain, and to clear the clouds from his brain (please excuse the unintentional rhyme).

It is HARD. As a wife, I sometimes feel neglected, forgotten, unwanted, and like a fly on the wall. He is trapped in his own little world, and I feel like I don’t even make the tiniest bit of pretty music to cheer him up. But I’ve been learning. And if you are in my position, I hope you are learning too. But to be learning, you must be TEACHABLE. Do research on whatever your loved one is struggling with. Try your hardest to communicate with them, to understand them. It is NOT as easy as it looks, but it wouldn’t be a big sacrifice if it was easy. And sacrificing is necessary when you are trying to love someone that is suffering, no matter what the disorder or disease or illness.

If you are in this position, think about how to meet your loved ones needs first, and not your own. You have a lot more power to control your comfort and happiness, but for them, they are using all the power left within them to control the pain and just get through each day. Keep that in mind!

:::SLL:::

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