Let's talk....

Listen I know what you're going to say. You're going to tell me I promised that I wouldn't fall from the face of the earth. That I said I would stick to a schedule and then I just disappeared.

best snuggles ever

To be fair, you're right. But in my defense.... I was hogtied in the back of some van tired* see picture to the right.... And there's a little human that demands every bit of my attention when I am awake and let's be honest, He deserves all of that and more. And well I have a little story to tell you in order to make it all okay and for you to forget forgive the fact that I completely fell far from the face of the earth. There's a little back story and some suspense. I know what you're thinking. This is going to be so... Boring. And, well you're probably right. HOWEVER it's something I've wanted to do for a long time like years and I'll explain why I haven't and then we can all feel warm and fuzzy again inside?

So, whaddya say? Deal? Deal!

Okay so it all started in 2011, I went for my horrible dreaded   Wonderful annual exam, ladies you know what I'm saying, gents. You will NEVER understand. Anyway the doc was checking my throat and was like hmm I feel a lump. Now when I say lump it was a nice little friend. Not too big but not teeny tiny either. It was on the left side of my neck/throat and I have no idea how long it was hanging out.  She said lets make an appointment with your pcp to get that looked at,. Thus began the last 5 years of life. I went to a primary Doctor that recommended me to an endocrinologist. For those of you who don't know endocrinologists are specially trained physicians who diagnose diseases related to the glands. Now the first word she used was the scariest word I have ever heard. Cancer. She told me if it is cancer it's the easiest to cure they just cut it out and then I'm good to go. At first I was like ok this doctor isn't going to sugar coat anything. She's gonna give it to me straight. So we made the second appointment for a cat scan with contrast, which literally makes you feel like you are peeing your pants. Remember to pee first because you never know.

After the cat scan we made to appointment for the  second word that makes me nervous biopsy. I had 6 little needles stuck into my neck. But the bad boy on the left side of my neck decided to be a bitch and not cooperate. We tried to drain that guy twice. If you're counting that was sticks 4 and 5 stick number six was with an ultrasound to guide the needle into the mass.

Much to the doctors dismay Gretchen as she has been named since then was not filled with fluid, she was filled with mass and would drain. " well it's not hurting anything right now." Okay sure it's not even bothering me so we're good. I go back for the biopsy results which lets be honest if you hVe ever waited for biopsy results it's like the longest time of your life. You're waiting to hear the word benign. It's right up there with the words "happy hour is 2 for 1". Some of the best words you will heard or at least it was for me. But here's the thing. I hate going to Doctor. To be completely honest I only go now because I have a kid and my husband guilts me into it. Damn kid always making out to be a better person ;) .

Anyway, I went for a second opinion, because, I'm not that trusting of people. So the second opinion was amazing! Turns out I knew a ton of people that worked in the office which made me feel so comfortable to begin with. This doctor said lets get labs and an ultrasound to take a look. So that's what we did. She came back with the same answer. If it's not bothering you there's no rush to do anything. Of course if it gets bigger, then we wanna to look at it. Okay, cool.

This lump, goiter, nodule whatever it is has been a little hitchhiker since then. The problem is that now it's growing. After Magoo was born it increased drastically. But the catch is that if you don't know about it, you can't even see it.so Gretchen knows how to be discrete. What a bitch. Let's fast forward 4.5 years because we didn't do anything about Gretchen in the meantime. I went to a pcp in July of 2015. They did an ultrasound and took blood "oh yeah I see fluid and debris" ... Thanks, that's comforting. "But your thyroid is functioning just fine, but I want you to see an  ENT" again for those who don't know an ENT specializes in ears, nose and throat.  So this doctor says and I wish I was kidding "I'll just cut it out, and part of your thyroid and you'll do be fine, won't need any medication or anything" okay so I'm no expert, but I don't think it worlds like that. AND I'm moving 1000 miles away next week. He was totally cool with that. Then reminds me oh yeah but you have to pay 500 first then I'll do it. So thanks, but no thanks I'll wait. Gretchen has been with me since I was 21. We've bonded.

So now here we are, may of 2016 I have a new job with great health insurance and we are starting the process all over again. More labs and ultrasounds and ENT appointments and biopsies. And the word cancer was thrown back out there. So, do we think I have cancer, not so much right now. Is that a possibility ABSOLUTELY. Will we know anything until after the other word I hate, the biopsy, nope we won't. All I do know is that I have a tiny human, who depends on me to make sure that I am 100% at my best. So now we wait for the biopsy, and try not to think of the what if's and we STAY AWAY from Doctor Google. And focus all of my attention on Magoo, you remember him right?

Because it's a scary thing the unknown, but I know that I have an amazing support system regardless of what the biopsy says and regardless of weather I have the nasty c word or just have a hitchhiker forever.

I'm learning to find the positive side of everything. And that everything does happen for a reason. So I'm starting my story here, maybe there are others out there with the same experience. Welcome! Pull up some rug and hang out.

I'm not he best poster, but I'm Workin on that. Let's be patient okay.

I hope that little story will allow you to forgive me for being so rude and ignoring you for what feels like forever!

Until next time...

A quick Little...

...DIY project..( and fun surprise at the end )

So I have wanted to make something for Magoo's space that we could use in his room as he gets older, and then throughout the house when he is a teenager and is sick of it.

The inspiration:  

We went to A.C.Moore. I love that store it's right up there with Hobby Lobby for my top 2 craft stores. They have amazing deals and prices all the time! 

I saw the glass blocks and lights on an end cap. Of course it caught my attention like a shiny object. 

($5.00 on sale originally 6.97)

($2.99)

(2.99) 

Okay it is super easy to do this but first make sure that the opening is on the bottom.  

Remove the backing of the vinyl that your purchased and place it onto the glass cube. 

 Use a crafting stick ( or a pencil) to transfer the vinyl to the glass. 

Remove the white and then put the lights inside.

Turn it on to check it out. 

Violá you are done!

Like I said it was incredibly easy. Took me all of 10 minutes to do. and cost roughly $11.00 to complete, people are selling them for roughly $20.00 or more. 

I love it and can't wait to put in in Magoo's Room!

Now for the surprise, I was introduced to Erin Condren planners by none other than Nikki (Honest Fox Blog) I bought one for my birthday. A gift to myself, and now I'm giving you a gift too. Follow this link and save $10.00 off your order!

http://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/christinagalbreth0117

Seriously check it out, I can't wait until mine shows up and I will for sure post a review!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Until Next time...

We had our first....

..Snow fall!

And my snow bunny was out there playing in the snow. He LOVED it!

It was super windy and also 7 at night. Bret was home with man flu... and all of a sudden it was a frickin winter wonderland outside.

We watched the snow for a good 10 minutes. Then we all got bundled up and went out to play. Bret watched from the door with his parent on face time to see Magoo in the snow for the first time. It was fun! I am a true winter baby! I love the snow and all things cold.

It made my week!


I will keep this one short just like the snow we had.


Until next time, say warm and...

Christmas was...

... so much fun!

Lets be honest..... this blog has been sitting neglected for the whole holiday season! I know, and I am sorry. But like we all say Life Happens right. Let me try to wrap our Christmas and new years here in a few short paragraphs. 

It was Magoo's first Christmas that he understood what was going on. We had the Elf on the shelf that we looked for every morning, and we taught him what Santa says "oh oh oh" he says it backwards but he's 1 and its adorable. (#don'tjudge)  Now I know all of the readers here don't celebrate Christmas. In my family we celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. The holiday's are about family. So whatever you celebrate, I hope you enjoyed it.

For Christmas Eve we usually have an open house, anyone that wants to stop by is more than welcome, we exchange gifts to brothers and sisters, or aunts and uncles that we wont see on Christmas. It is a tradition that we started years and years ago. We would all go to church and then come back to our house and everyone would visit with my Mam-Mom (grand-mom). We would have dinner and then once everyone left, hang our stockings, read the night before Christmas. This year was Bret and Magoo's first Christmas Eve with my family. We had lived in Florida for the past 3 years, so he got to experience a Christmas in PA. I tried to incorporate his families traditions to make  him a little more comfortable. I know how it is being far away from your family for the first holiday season. Its hard, it sucks, and you just don't want to.

Christmas, was Christmas. We woke up too early, opened presents that we got each other and for Magoo along with gifts sent from our family in Florida, then we went up to the kitchen and started cooking my breakfast casserole (recipe to come) . This was all before 7:30, I call that a Christmas miracle! Magoo held strong until around 1030 then he needed a nap and slept for a good 3 hours. He's getting so big!

Then we all opened presents and we relaxed. Fast forward 2 days and we had the Day after Day after Christmas party. It was great getting to hang out with some cousins that we haven't seen since the wedding. There were ugly Christmas sweaters, football and catch phrase. It was a really good time.


Now here I sit January 13th 2016 I cant believe that the holidays are over. But there are better things to come along this year! New Jobs, vacations, weddings, babies (not mine) but its all good things happening this year!

I hope 2016 is great for you too!

Until Next time...

30 before 30 UPDATE...

... I am happy to announce that I have a update to my 30 before 30 list. I have been planning this post for a while and well obviously it hasn't been written until right this second. I apologize but as we discussed, I am pretty terrible a this. Anyway, as you all may or probably don't may not remember I had a list , kind of like a bucket list of things that I want to do before I am 30.

Here is the list again for a refresher--

1)Travel Abroad

2) Get Married

3)Run a 5k

4) Buy a house

5) Adopt a puppy

6) Go skydiving

7) Have a honeymoon

8) Lose 20 pounds

9) Grow my blog

10) Witness a proposal

11) Be a maid of honor

12) Treat someone to a Random Act of Kindness 

13) Go an entire week without social media

14) Visit the florida keys

15) Go ice skating at Rockefeller Center

16) Go horseback riding

17) Pay off my debt

18) Do a cleanse

19) Sew a quilt

20) Have a cousins reunion

21) Go on a girls only weekend

22) Send Bret to Tallahassee for a FSU game

23) Get a couples massage

24) Buy a NEW car

25) Have another baby

26) See the rockettes during Christmas

27) Vacation in California

28) Donate my hair

29) Serve food during the holidays

30) Start a new family tradition 

 

 

Well lovelies I am happy to announce that I can cross off # 30! We have started a new family tradition. I didn't realize when I started it that it would become a tradition, I just wanted to watch a movie. It actually started in 2012 ( I know how could I not realize it was a tradition) . The night of thanksgiving my in-laws were at our condo and I just didn't want to watch football anymore. I can only handle no little football. So I thought for a change we could watch a Christmas movie since it was officially the Christmas season. Santa arrived in the parade, Christmas was coming. So we decided to watch Christmas Vacation.

 

And now every year after dinner and dishes are done, yes while listening to Christmas music. We snuggle in and watch Christmas vacation because everyone needs a little Eddie in their life after a large meal.

Of course we say all the famous quotes with the movie. But this is one tradition that I started with Bret. I know some people go out shopping for their tradition. What ever it is I hope you enjoy it.

What are some of your tradition for the holidays?

 

As always, until next time...

A Christmas Craft....

I am SO beyond excited to post a craft for you all FINALLY a Christmas Craft!! ( I am a hopeless crafter, Give me a glass of wine, a hot glue gun, and I'm in my happy place) I have been wanting to post a craft since the wedding so bad and I am way to freeking excited about it. Okay now I LOVE Christmas I really do. It has been extreamly hard to get into the spirit of the holidays when you are singing about letting it snow and its 80 degrees outside. Well this year is a little different. Now that we are in PA and not FL its bringing the holiday feeling back.

As you know we just got married, and of course I am that newlywed that needs to have all the things that say we are married around, so I can look at them all the time. So for some of my holiday crafts I am making ornaments for our tree. The first one I am doing is a Pinterest inspired craft with my own little twist on to it.

The Inspiration

I bought the products used here at AC MOORE, Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Lets be honest you will be able to find majority of them at any craft store.

You will need:

• Acrylic Paint 
• Clear Christmas Ornament (i am using plastic, Toddlers and glass not a good mix.. I got mine at A.C Moore for $1.00 super excited about this will need to get more!)
• A wedding invitation 
• Scissors 
• and Mod Podge 

Okay for your first step you want to take a wedding invitation that you have left over*we all know this is a common occurrence* and cut it into strips. I am going horizontally so that you can make out some of the words.

From there I twisted the strips, You can leave them the way you cut them out. 

I wanted to be fancy.

Once the pieces are twisted put them into the ornament

Next you will want to take a small tip paint brush and pant on your

Family last name on the ornament ( I went the step farther and put EST 2015 on the back

that decision is yours if you want to put it on the back,front, or not at all)

I used Acrylic paint which scratches off way too easily, so i sealed the paint in with Mod Podge

(if you are new to crafting get yourself a big jar of this stuff you will use it for basically everything you do, its glue, and a sealer. Its a must have in every craft corner)

I couldn't find my sponge brush so I used a paper towel bad idea

Always, always, always use the sponge brush. But you want to coat that bad boy all over. Okay let it dry, it wont take too long to dry, but over night is always safe before you hang it on your tree. 

Now becuase I am impatient and wanted it to be completed before I left it to dry over night this is why we cant have nice things

I added the bow. I was unable to get pictures, all cameras were dead and i didnt feel like looking for batteries *I will post an update on how to do the bow.*  But i just took my glue gun and wrapped a small piece of the trim around the metal of the ornament. and then placed the bow "in the middle" of the ornament and boom sha-ka-la-la you have your ornament. I did take these finished product pictures this morning.

Front, Back and Bottom. 

Alright there you have it. All in all it took about an hour and a half to complete everything. 

Drying time not included. 

If this helped you at all leave me a comment below with a picture!

If you want more craft tutorials let me know that too!!

As always,

Until Next time...

We have ...

... and Elf on the Shelf!

His name is Sly and Bret and I enjoy it more than Magoo does. He showed up last year and decided to come back again this year.

When he first showed up in 2014

He flew in the on black Flriday.. A little early but to us that is the start of the Christmas season. This year since we are currently at my parents, My little Sister and Brother are enjoying looking around for Sly every morning. They read the story so they know not to touch him but that he is listening to them.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

 (Bret sang I came in like a wrecking ball,. No wait I came in like a dradle when we found him here) 

Day 5

Day 6

 So Far he has been pretty low key. I can't wait to see what else we come up with, Its hard for us to figure some stuff out because we have a dog and Magoo is 1 so he will want to touch him. Do you have an elf? What were some of your favorite things that he did?

Shorter post tonight, I'm so tired I'm falling asleep on my keyboard. I will have an update to the 30 before 30 soon!!

Until Next time...