The Greenest Day of the Year

♣ Happy St. Patrick's Day! ♣

If you are unaware (much like me before doing research to write this post) St. Patrick's day is March 17th the death date of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. He lived from 385AD to 461AD. People celebrate it, in order to honor him. Why they want to honor an Englishman who... well...you can read all about that HERE if you're interested.

I'm not Irish. I do not wish to be Irish or claim that I am. I think the accent is lovely. I honestly have no idea why Americans put so much stock into being certain nationalities, especially when they only advertise it one day out of the year.

I'm not much of a drinker and I don't know anyone who is Irish so I won't be celebrating St. Patrick's Day. If you are though, then have a wonderful day! :D

My favorite color is GREEN. Best decorating day of the year. My favorite at least.

I spent $8 at The Dollar Tree on my decorations. I bought two scarves (the one you see draped on the mirror and another one with just green stripes that I'm going to wear to work on Monday!)

I bought two bushels (bushels???) of green flowers and put them in a glass with some white rocks I had. I bought the green basket and filled it with three (a 3pk) of clover necklaces.

There is a green clover decoration under the basket. Next to the bowl is the green gold canyon candle that the Hubbins got me for Vday. Its vanilla and lime scented. Yum!

I have the Welcome clover on the front door and the clover hand towel on the oven.

These plants weren't bought recently. In fact this first one I've had for almost 10 years now. It is a form of shamrock that is native to a little part of Washington State that I grew up in. I uprooted some from the forest near my grandmothers house and mothered it. This plant is particularly sentimental to me.

This second shamrock plant I bought from an Albertson's the week of my wedding. I adore it.

These are some herbs I'm growing in the kitchen. I just hot glued little bows to them. :D I'll probably leave them. The video tutorial on how to make these bows can be seen HERE.

♣ I hope you have a GREAT Monday whether you are celebrating or not. ♣

Epictetus - A Happy Soul Philosophy

So, this quarter I’m in a Philosophy class and I’d like to share one of the readings with you. 

“The Enchiridion” by Epictetus

The reading can be found here. I’ll be posting lovely photos throughout in order to inspire.

In essence Epictetus is trying to better your spirit so everything he talks about is meant for you to take in and use in your daily life. I think this is a noble pursuit. Have you set out to use philosophy to better the happiness of mankind lately?

To quote my philosophy teacher (we’ll call him Mr. So-Crates ala Bill and Ted) Epictetus begins by providing a “basis for all that follows” with “The world has two kinds of things: the things we can control and the things we cannot. As long as we keep this distinction in mind and live our lives accordingly, we will be at peace.” Change what you can and leave everything else alone. You can’t change it so why let it bother you? Why let those thing make you unhappy?

"Epictetus"

Epictetus has examples in each of these categories. Things that we can change like thoughts, judgments, assumptions, opinions and what not. In the second things that we can’t change or influence like possessions, our bodies, and others minds. You can’t control what others do, think, or who they are.

"Waiter made a crane from a straw paper"

Let’s say for example that I’m at work (see post about my job here) at the daycare. If a parent doesn't like what is being fed to their child from the daily menu and lashes out at me by being angry and screaming at me. I feel like I’m being attacked and I end up getting upset and usually crying. I don’t take other’s anger well.

To put it in schematic form:

Cause (angry parent, screaming) à Effect (sad, crying, upset)

This is what we all THINK is happening but really it isn't. According to Epictetus this is how we ruin the schemes of our lives. Everything I’m feeling in this situation (sad/crying/upset) isn't the result of the parent’s screaming. It is caused by my thoughts and my thoughts alone.

New form!

Cause (angry parent, screaming)--> assumptions and thoughts--> Effect (sad and upset)

There. Doesn't this make more sense? How could someone’s raised voice CAUSE me to cry? I’m crying because I think they hate me. I think I will get fired. I feel bad for the baby. I have deep seated emotional issues with the sound OF screaming. Those are the reasons I get upset. I will STEW on this interaction for sometimes DAYS.

The parent was reassured that she could have a menu beforehand and approve any foods she wanted her child to eat. I on the other hand felt like this person didn't trust me now. I made a lot of assumptions and generally just made myself feel bad for no conceivable reason.

This is something that could have been avoided completely. I could still feel comfortable around this parent because she probably doesn't think about this AT ALL.

This made me unhappy. It really shouldn't have made me unhappy. I should have been able to assure her that steps would be taken. The End. Let it goooooooo LET IT GOOO *sings from Frozen* (that dates this post but whatever… it’s such a great song and it applies.)

 "Outside my work at night"

I’m not going to lie and say it won’t be hard for me. It is a work-in-progress that I have been working on already before reading Epictetus’s philosophy. This is another reason why I think it has such a ring of truth to it.

Instead of automatically blaming myself for not thinking of all possible scenarios I could have thought something like “maybe she is just afraid that her baby will eat something she doesn't want him to. Maybe she wants him to be vegan. Maybe she is just having a bad day. Maybe she doesn't feel like a good parent.”

Like Mr. So-Crates says, “The greatest challenge in the application of stoicism is overcoming our habits of thought and belief. The fortunate among us are forever taking their lemons and making lemonade. The rest of us struggle, but that’s ok: making stoicism work takes practice.

Your first response might be to react negatively”—“but remember: you learned that reaction, so you can unlearn it.”

"My Valentine tulips"

So, go forth and better yourselves in every way that is possible. Do not try and change things that can’t be changed. Take baby steps with me.

Thank you so much for following along!

Ella the Crochet Pink Elephant

Our friends, we'll call them Tee and Vinnie, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl a couple of months ago. Tee found a crochet pattern for a pink elephant on Etsy and wondered if I would make it for them.

You can find and purchase that pattern here. I'll put pictures of my finished Ella The Elephant throughout this post.

To say that this was a challenge for me would be an understatement. It might have something to do with the fact that I am a perfectionist. It could have something to do with the fact that I don’t make a habit of crocheting toys. There is a huge difference between crocheting jewelry, scarves, purses and a stuffed toy. They are just made differently. I'm not sure what to expect or how things will turn out making round bodies and trunks. Nevertheless! I finished her.

As you can see I chose to make a grey flower instead of a pink one because I knew Tee chose pink and grey colors.

I spent most of the time worried that the baby would pull something off and choke. Thus, items are sewed on so heavily that they are rather stiff in the joints.

At the same time I've been in school full-time and working at daycare Monday through Friday. Regardless of that and after a few communications with the authoress of the pattern it was sent out today. I purchased it on February 1st and it sent out March 1st. That is pretty good. What do you think?

I think the hardest part was sewing the legs on in the end. As a crocheter, sewing.. is my WORST "skill."

I think this was a challenge I needed. I should loosen up and not expect everything to be perfect or see fault where there isn't any. I can't wait to see pictures of the little angel with her new pink pachyderm.

Thank you so much for following along! 

Reading Race 10 Books

As you may or may not know I pledged ,as part of my new years resolution (see here), to read the book Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I feel like my reading habits tend toward the frivolous and meaningless romantic comedies, that are easily read and just as easily forgotten. I'm setting out to change this today. Not only am I going to read Gone with the Wind, but also 9 other books that have been recommended to me.

I do read rather quickly so 10 books for this year (yikes..only 10 months left!) doesn't seem like much of a task or goal really, but while working and going to school full time I assure you I will be challenged by this.

The books are as follows (not in reading order):

1. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
(of course) I want to read this not only because it is a classic but TWO (count them..one..two) people have urged me to read it. It is first on the list because of this reason but also because I also happen to OWN this book already. I have no excuse but laziness.

2. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Recommended to me by my dear Hubbins when he realized I was watching the cartoon Sword in the Stone for the second time (and that I know all the words).

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
This one just because it is a shame I haven't read it but also because I heard that it is completely different than my current assumptions (I assume that he is a monster who is dumb and bumbling.. I'm wrong? I must read this)!

4. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Recommended by my friend Maggie.

5. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Recommended by my mother-in-law Paula.

6. The Reader by Bernhard Shlink
Recommended by my cousin Kate

7. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
This one again by Kate.

8. A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle
Hubbins said this was a beautiful beautiful book.

9. The Innocent by Posie Graeme-Evans
Recommended by my friend Cristin (along with the other two books in the series.)

10. Rain of Gold by Victor E. Villasenor
Recommended by Laura (the same who first recommended Gone with the Wind)

Do you have any great suggestions? If you read any of these please let me know what you think in the comments! I will be posting reviews on each book. :D

Thank you for following along.

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope you all had a day full of love, happiness, and hope.

I woke up to an adorable surprise from my Hubbins. (see below)

Look at the heart garland! He brought it into the bedroom and hung it up. Sooo cute and so inspired. It really made my morning. Plus that giant Valentines card on the far right is my first GIANT card and I have been ogling them for years.

Tulips, HUGE stuffed hippo I lovingly caressed inside Walmart three weeks ago (he remembered!), a giant velvet heart full of turtle candies, giant card, a Vanilla Lime candle (see pic below) , and a spattering of fake roses.

These candles are Gold Canyon candles. They are amazing. They have amazing scents that really last but the best part is that they are never overpowering but fill your ENTIRE house. I think the price is worth it. This one has double wicks to avoid any wax build up on the sides. This is an "avon" type business. You can purchase the products and sell them on your own and host parties.

Like a good wife I hung the card up on the fridge since we don't have a mantle.

and look at the giant envelope it came in (arguably my favorite part)

Such a wonderful day! I got him an engraved copper bookmark with his name on one side and a quote from Game of Thrones. 

"Shekh ma shieraki anni"

Which means "My sun and stars" in the Dothraki language. Just in case you aren't apart of that cult following.

It is what a girl says to a guy. He says back to her "Moon of my life" and we've picked up on this adorably nerdy habit.

I also got him a little metal puzzle and some chocolates (peanut butter cup)

I also got presents from several parents at the daycare I work at (read more about my job here)

1. I got a bag FULL of candies (Dove chocolates and Andes)

2. A bag of homemade cookies (m&m!)

3. Those two chocolates in the front are a white chocolate covered macchiato ganache with a half walnut inside and on the left is a red milk chocolate heart with chocolate ganache inside.

4. On the far left is a jar of Cherry Candy Cane body butter by Beurre Pourle (Beauticology) 5 fluid ounces of AMAZING. It smells like liquid maraschino cherries. It feels amazing. My dogs tried to eat my arms off. Its perfect. It was wonderful to my sensitive skin as well. I adore it!

For the rest of the day we ate out and relaxed! I've been saving three sayings for almost 6 months to write on Hubbins' Facebook wall on Valentines day and it went down without a hitch (what.. is the hitch I was expecting?) So glad I finally got the chance.

1. You make my heart have premature ventricular contractions.

2. You make my cardiac muscle pump blood through my vascular system really quickly.

3. I love you from my head tomatoes.

How was your Valentines Day? Did you go out with friends? Have a comfy day off? Let me know.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

Thanks for following along!

Emergency Pocket: Purse Edition

There is a zippered pocket in my Merona purse (see review here) where I keep all my "emergency" items.

If you'd like to watch a What's in my Bag video to see everything inside click HERE.

Emergency pocket innards (top left to bottom right):
Pad
CPR Shield
Tissues (see review here)
St. Ives Fresh H20 Body Moisturizer Gel-Creme with Aqua Capsules (for Dry skin)
Sleep Mask
Cough Drop
Tums
Ibuprofen (gel capsules)
My inhaler
Germ-X Hand sanitizing wipes
Burt's Bees Revitalizing Lip Balm (see review here)
One band-aid

The CPR Shield is from a CPR class that I had to take for work (post about where I work here). I know how to save you. This is just a shield in case of spittle/blood/throw-up. They are disposable but the teacher gave us all an extra to keep with us. :D

I do have asthma but I rarely have asthma attacks unless something has really irritated my lungs. I have them maybe one every two weeks. It is more often while I'm sick.

Thank you so much for following along!

Lip Balm Obsessed: A Review

I'll be reviewing Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm in original today.

I currently own four lip balms. I bought Nivea Kiss of Smoothness Hydrating Lip Care with SPF 4. It is horrible. I don't like the smell, I don't like how it feels (like hard Vaseline), and I don't like that it doesn't do ANYTHING. So, I'm not reviewing that one in detail. I'm just informing you and tossing it.

Look at how much I used though... dang. I had to make SURE.

The third balm I have is regular old cherry Chapstick. My Hubbins bought it for me when I was sick. It lives in the medicine basket in the bathroom now.

Burt's Bees
Beeswax Lip Balm
with Vitamin E & Peppermint
100% Natural
$2.97 at Winco

I purchased this because as someone who is obsessed with lip balms it was a crime that I still hadn't bought a SINGLE Burt's Bees product. I saw it on sale (they are normally $3.30. Yeah.. I couldn't pass up THAT big of a sale lol) and picked it up because I was looking for something to make my lips soft.

It is tingley (I think because of the peppermint) on my lips. I love the peppermint smell even though I'm not that into all of those peppermint, spearmint, and what have you.

It has no taste. Zero taste which is a plus in my book. Its balm. It will stay in my purse in the emergency pocket (click here to see what that is) until it is needed.

I wish that it made my lips SOFT. They weren't chapped or hurting but they were a little rough.

I didn't like the FEEL of it. You know when you are outside in the blistering cold and you pull out COLD balm to put on and it is like trying to smear cold butter on soft toast. This is like that even when WARM. Its gummy and kind of weird. I can't rub my lips together smoothly.

That being said I'm IN LOVE with the peppermint tingle.

So, I went out and purchased a second (I told you I'm crazy for balms) Burt's Bees lip balm. This time It is Burt's Bees Revitalizing Lip Balm with Blueberry & Dark Chocolate. Click HERE for that review!

Thank you so much for following along!