I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone who kept my family in their prayers lately. I'm so grateful for all of you and I appreciate you all so much! My mom finally got a diagnosis from the doctors, and she did indeed have a stroke. It was the kind caused from a blood clot, and not the bleeding kind, which apparently is a good thing. There was a clot in her Pons which is part of the brain stem which accounts for the numbness and mobility issues she has been having, as well as in her occular part of the brain (which accounts for the vision problems). The doctors now need to figure out why she had 2 blood clots travel to her brain since she doesn't possess a single lifestyle or any other factor that causes strokes to begin with!
What scares me is that they really can't do anything about it except physical and occular therapy, and she's supposed to take one baby asprin a day. I am so scared that she will have another blood clot travel to her brain and that it will be worse than this has been. Although I suppose I should trust the doctors when they say that she will be ok, that's why they're the doctors right? :) I mean hey I didn't go to medical school, and my extent of knowledge is what I learned in Clinical Neuropsychology many moons ago (and lets be honest, the biggest thing I remember about that class is the jello brain mold we had to eat) and what I've read on the internet! :)
Teenie-weenie, aqua polka dot bikini! And it is in fact my "goal bikini", as in it is going to be what I'm proudly wearing pool-side come October when I go to Vegas. That is hoping that it's warm enough to wear outside in vegas, if not, well our hotel in Cedar City has a pool. I got a great deal on it at Old Navy thanks to my rockin' employee discount. Now I just have to get my butt into gear to wear this:
with this as a cover up, but in white not black:
I've also been reading the funniest book called "Skinny Bitch: a no-nonsense tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous!" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. I'm only on the first chapter but I already have a ton of quotes from this book that I love. My favorite so far is: "Soda is liquid Satan...now don't go patting yourself on the back if you drink diet soda. That stuff is even worse...when methyl alcohol, a component of aspartame, enters your body, it turns to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic. Laboratory scientists use formaldehyde has a disinfectant or preservative. They don't fucking drink it. Perhaps you have a lumpy ass because you are preserving your fat cells with diet soda." Now I'm not sure if this is really true, and I'm going to dive into my advanced nutrition book to research this, but it's totally funny nonetheless. No wonder I have so much cellulite, I mean i'm preserving it all by the amount of diet coke I drink :)
I am so not tired right now, even though I should be going to bed since I have to drive my mom to work in the super early morning. I had been tagged for this survey a while ago so I decided to do it, and let me just say it's about my favorite topic EVER, the hottie hot boyfriend Brian! I hope he doesn't mind me doing this, if he does, too bad! It's my blog after all :)
1.) Your names: Stacey Beth and Brian Christopher
2.) How long have you been together?: It will be 9 months on Thursday
3.) Are you married?: Uh that is a definite no, but that is totally fine :) I am having a BLAST dating him! It is so relaxing to date outside of Utah where there is no pressure to get married!!!
4.) What's the dumbest thing you've ever fought about?: Um...haha we've fought over bowling...actually that was probably our biggest "fight". Though it is a little more complex than just bowling.
5.) What was the first thing you bought for each other?: He bought me a smoothie, and I bought him a frosty a few days later.
6.) Where was your first date?: The coffee shop by my house that I still don't know the name of.
7.) What was the first movie you watched together?: Our second date was to the Dark Knight.
8.) Do you remember your first kiss?: Oh like I can forget this. Brian tried to kiss me on my doorstep after our second date, but me, being the ditzy girl I am, turned my head before I realized he was trying to kiss me. Don't worry, I made up for it the next day and kissed him while at his office :) However he'll never let me forget the fact I turned my head and he thought he ruined his chances with me.
9.) Who asked who out?: I can't remember, I think Brian asked me out though.
10.) Was it love at first sight?: I don't believe in love at first sight. Hello, it's called lust not love.
11.) Do you believe you are soul mates?: Yeah I do!
12.) When was the last time you saw each other?: Today, we went to Madison with his family to go out to lunch to celebrate his dad's birthday!
13.) Last time you talked on the phone?: This morning, I called to see if he had gotten his dad his gift from the both of us.
14.) Last time you talked on the net?: Like 2 hours ago, no we're not annoying and have to talk 24/7, it just worked out that way today.
15.) Your favorite memory?: Oh when he took me to Chicago for 3 days and we went to the Melting Pot for dinner. I loved walking through the streets of Chicago all dressed up at night, taking the subway, and eating such yummy food! I felt like I was in a movie and it was so romantic!
16.) Whats the sweetest thing youve ever done for each other?: Hmmm Brian has done so many sweet things (like taking me to the Kalahari, to Chicago, and what not)! I think another one that stands out to me was when he left a note on my car. It didn't really say much, but I think that was the moment I realized I loved him...and yes it was relatively early in our relationship and I didn't tell him I loved him til like 2 months later ha ha.
I made Brian a blanket, so I suppose thats probably the sweetest thing I've done for him :)
17.) When did you first say "I love you"?: We were in the Wisconsin Dells and it was late at night and I told Brian I loved him. It wasn't terribly romantic on my part though...
18.) What are your "pet names" for each other?: He calls me "babe" and I call him the same, or sweetie.
19.) do you think your significant other is the one?: Well...I suppose ;)
20.) How many times a day do you kiss?: Not nearly enough damnit! We're too busy running our own law office and/or being a slave/visual merchandise expert to the Baby Gap to see eachother every day, so when I do see him, we kiss a lot ;)
21.) Do you hold hands?: Yup, but it is kind of hard to do sitting down since his arms are extra long and mine are extra short.
22.) What's your favorite feature of your significant other?: well are we talking physical or not? Physical, well he has the greatest brown eyes ever, and non-physical? His desire to help people and how respectful he is towards me.
23.) How long do you think you'll be together?: Oh just one forever (inside joke)
24.) What's the longest you've ever been apart?: I think it was a week we went between seeing eachother. Which is sad if you consider we live 15 minutes apart. Like I said, life gets hectic.
25.) Have you ever broken up?: Not really, but we have been on the rocks for a few hours at a time.
26.) Would you like to have children together? If yes, how many?: ZERO! I am anti-having babies due to my job. However we will get at least a dog, and if I do change my mind, 2 kids at the most.
27.) What reminds you of your sweetie?: the creepy guy on SNL, the West Wing, anything Marquette, the Brewers, and Coca-cola.
28.) Do you have a special song?: Yup sure do, it's called "Space" by Sara Buxton, or our favorite hymn to sing during communion, "Come to the Table".
Have you ever...
29.) stayed out together 'til the sun came up?: Nope, I think our latest is like 3:00 am
30.) Skipped work just to be together?: Well he is his own boss, so technically it is not skipping work, but I have distracted him from what he should be doing.
31.) Stayed up all night watching movies together?: Uh how about asking if I've stayed awake during a single movie...I tend to fall asleep during them.
32.) Gone on vacation together?: Sure have! To the Kalahari, Wisconsin Dells, Chicago, and Vegas/Utah in October baby!
33.) Fell asleep in each others arms?: Yup, greatest thing EVER!
34.) Got caught daydreaming about each other?: stupid question...yes
35.) Stared at each other smiling?: Sappy but yes
36.) Say something disgustingly mooshy: "I would take old dudes and kill 'em" "kill 'em with kindness?" "no, with an axe" "Oooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh" "Then I'd cut 'em up into pieces" "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" "then I'd grind 'em up in a meat grinder" "YES!" "Then I'd put 'em on bread and eat 'em" "I guess you could say you had yourself a manwich?" "yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah" "oooooooooooooooooh"
(this is from one of our favorite SNL clips ha ha, yes one of our mushy things is we watch SNL together on most Saturdays. You can watch the clip below)
So my life lately has been quite worrisome. My mom hasn't been feeling well for about 2 weeks now, and it just keeps getting worse. It started out she got new glasses and the prescription wasn't working for her. She couldn't see out of them at all. She went back to a different Opthamologist and he said that it was slightly off, but not enough to cause that many problems. However, seeing that she has prisms, and bifocals, they decided to order new lenses to see if that would correct the problem.
In the meantime, my mom started having double vision, and she was driving around with one eye closed (if she uses her eyes seperately she sees normal out of the eye, but using both she sees double) and what not. She also experienced numbness down one side of her body, and she was having balance issues as well. Her primary physician told her to go to the ER immediately, and after a series of tests they ruled out a stroke, a brain tumor, and a heart attack. Three things that are extremely extremely great to rule out, but it still left a mystery as to why she was feeling ill.
She went to a neurologist and he has come to a few conclusions as to what is going on. Blood tests and a MRI will confirm and rule out the possiblities of what it could be. In the meantime, her situation hasn't really improved, and now her right eye is turning in (think in a lazy eye type of way) towards her nose. She does however have a black pirate patch to wear over the bad eye so she can see, and as a result she will randomly come by my room and go ARRRRRRRR! It's kind of fun having a pirate for a mom ;) Needless to say she's banned from driving and she's not allowed to use sharp knives in the kitchen.
The reason I write all of this is not for sympathy or pity, but for anyone who reads this to please please keep her in your prayers. I have no clue what I would do without my mom, and she really is the most amazing woman. She has brought my family through so many things, including helping me with a million problems whether it was a broken heart, a bad grade, or any other small problem. I go to her with EVERYTHING!! and I can't imagine going through life, getting married, having babies (or raising a puppy if I'm permanently going to be anti-having babies haha) without her there. So please, please, please keep her in your prayers that she can get healthy and better!
This is my mom and I at my graduation dinner at Rusty's Ranch House.
2. Do you like yourself? Hell yes, I'm awesome. I mean I have a great family, a hottie hot boyfriend, I have a decent job, I'm not mooching off of the government, and I have a car...I mean I have a lot going for me right there. What more could I possibly want? Minus 40 pounds of me to go away ha ha.
Yes, I definitely would. In fact I want a kiss right now damn it...
Yes, but then usually when the time comes around to wear it, I change my mind.
Today, well today is a fat day in my world.
The printing on my Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper can.
I honestly have no clue...neither?
Last night I had a dream that Brian and I were in Utah and he fell in love with a girl I know from SUU who also happened to date one of my exes and then they got married and I was all alone.
Just customers I helped at work
I want a McChicken, fries, and an orange drink from McDonalds.
Not every day, I'd say 4-5 times a week. Some nights I fall asleep before I get around to it.
Habbage, which isn't a word, but there you go
Earlier tonight!
ME? Never! j/k
There's a taco song?
I'm sure I have
Lick it! Biting it is evil, like chewing on ice.
Not so much no, but today was a good hair day.
19. What color is your favorite hoodie? It is navy blue and from American Eagle
Sure have!
mmmm yummy yes!
Law and Order: SVU on TV
1, Canada
Not really, no. They never needed to be
Maybe...I lean more twoards no but you never know.
If he's paying, yes!
Only if he flung peas at me first.
Lots of jewelry!
Just Cinderella's. Though one night I slept next to the castle in...some southern utah town with the name of either Blanding, Moab, or Monticello
Maybe twice a month
I don't have math class, but I liked math class!
Yeah when I was little
Only the water squirty kind.
Seriously? This is a lame question, who can't?
No one, lonely, i'm so lonely, got no body for my own...
white
I don't think so
Sure have, took one from Milwaukee to New York, and the one at the Zoo!
Sure have, I am so in love right now actually.
yes but it's a piece of shit.
Sometimes
No, my lips are just naturally awesome
He has like 4 court appearances he has to make. Poor guy.
To stab you with? Yes!
YES!!! The ones at the Wisconsin State Fair rock! Oh man I can't wait for the State Fair, cream puffs, mozzerella sticks with ranch, sky glider (for an undeterminable amount of times), deep friend oreos, deep friends veggies, free BINGO!, the shammy guy, hot tubs, milk for 25 cents, and moo cows. Seriously, the WI state fair rocks.
Can't say that I have
What time my mom wanted me to drive her to work in the morning.
Rascal Flatts new CD Unstoppable
In regards to what? I prefer boys when it comes to who I want to get makey-outey with
Just the top layer, so annoying
This morning. I woke up at 3:45 and I had to work 9-6. I just wanted sleep and I couldn't fall back asleep and I got frustrated around like 5:30 and started to cry ha ha. I'm such a nerd.
Haha yes, like every day.
Yes, to a point.
Nope
Playfully, yes.
Fall!
Pink!
Nope not one bit...
Sure don't
Brian! It's amazing how well freakishly short arms go with freakishly long arms in order to make hand holding possible.
Not really, sometimes I'll fall asleep with it on but I always feel so unrested in the morning.
Dislike, oh yes.
yeah it's pretty amazing.
Never if I can avoid it. I"m not so much of a phone talker anymore
Dinosaur!
I bought a shirt today at the Gap...I need better coping mechanisms, and to save money for Las Vegas!
No, not at all
On Wii fit I'm the hula champ! In real life, not so much.
Forgive? Yes. Forget? no.
Sure do, I'm a Visual Merchandise Expert with the Gap
Yes!!!
Brown gap workout pants, a yellow gap tank top, a grey american eagle hoodie, and red underthings...yeah zero things match on me right now ha ha.
So I decided to create a recipe blog to keep track of all the recipes I find and want to try. I have put a link on my sidebar for those of you who would be interested in checking it out! :)
So, continuing with my last post about a Rascal Flatts, I had to post another cool thing. I'm a nerd, with too much time on my hands, but I came across this and thought it was awesome.
Rascal Flatts has a song that is a love song, but the interesting thing is, they wrote it without using any pronouns. If you think about it long and hard, there are boy loving girl, girl wanting boy, type songs, but none for people with same sex attraction. They were quoted as saying:
"We actually have some gay people that work with us, and we have a lot of friends that are gay, too, and I know that this song has inspired them,” said singer Gary LeVox during an interview at CMT earlier this month. “I know that coming out was tough on their parents and on them and the whole entire family. For a long time, some of them didn’t get to hear ‘I love you’ from their dads or be accepted in that way. … It’s helped a lot of our friends. That’s what’s cool about our music,” says guitarist Joe Don Rooney. “You can interpret (it like) that. If you get that — it’s perfect. If you are someone who’s gay or someone who’s straight, you still feel something from the song, and that’s what we want.”
I am amazed by how much progress has been going on for the gay communities (go Iowa!), and this is just another example of how common this is going to be. I also think it's awesome that these 3 guys are all Christians, and idenfity themselves as such, and are not afraid to speak out on this controversial topic. Most media figures who are Christians are usually very anti-homosexuality. I think it's great that they will be so bold as to say such statements as above.
In the article they also were saying in 1992 some radio stations refused to play a Garth Brooks song because it was pro-homosexuality. Though it shouldn't have taken 17 years to get to this point, I'm glad it at least has evolved here. I'm also extremely grateful that I have evolved in my own thinking about homosexuality, and have realized that we're all equals. It comes down to who you sleep with behind closed doors, and that is none of my business whatsoever.
And without further ado, the lyrics to my second newest favorite song:
"I should have stolen every moment Now there's a page With not enough on it Where we belong I guess I'll never understand it Why do we take it all for granted Until it's gone 'Cause then it's gone
Love who you love With all that you have And don't waste the time That flies so fast Love who you love And say that you do Hold on as tight as they'll let you Love who you love
Give all you've got Like it's your last day your heart and soul Before it's too late And pull them in so close Enough that they can feel it With every single breath that You're breathing Breathe it in again and again"
To start off, those of you who have an itouch or an iphone you seriously should download the Lose It! application if you're into the whole food tracking thing. It's a food journal, but it has like every food you could ever want in the database, plus adds a cute little graphic of the food to make everything look fun. There also is a database of nutritional contents for restaurants as well. You type in your height, weight, goals, etc and it calculates your calorie need per day as you lose weight, plus it also creates graphs of your goals. I am addicted to it!!
Moving on, so Saturday I decided I don't want to look back on my life and regret anything. I don't want to wonder where time went, I don't want to feel like life passed me by. I have come to this conclusion many times, but this is the first time I have actually felt a huge huge desire to take action on it. I'm letting go of regrets, letting go of jealousy, and focusing on what I have and being happy with it. Also, I'm going to get into shape (ok that's the 15,000 time I've pledged that, I realize this ha ha) because it will add so much to my life. Plus, Brian and I are going to Las Vegas (and Utah!!!!!!!!) in October and I want to be able to wear a cute swimsuit without feeling icky, and I want to turn heads (yup, I'm so vain, and yes I think that song is about me).
Speaking of songs (nice transition eh?) I downloaded the new Rascal Flatts song an hour or so ago from Itunes, and their new song "Unstoppable" pretty much sums up all of the feelings I have in words better than I could ever say, so here are the lyrics:
So, so you made a lot of mistakes Walked down the road a little Sideways Cracked a brick when you Hit the wall Yeah, you've had a pocketful Of regrets Pulled you down faster than A sunset Hey it happens to us all When the cold, hard rain just won't quit And you can't see your way Out of it
You find your faith That's been lost and shaken You take back what's been taken Get on your knees and dig Down deep You can do what you Think is impossible Keep on believing, don't give in It'll come and make you Whole again It always will, it always does Love is unstoppable
Love, it can weather any storm Bring you back to being born, again Oh, it's the helping hand When you needed it most The lighthouse shining on The coast That never goes dim When your heart is full of doubt And you think that there's no way out
It's unstoppable Like a river keeps on rollin' Like a north wind blowin' Don't it feel good knowin' Love is unstoppable So, so you make a lot of mistakes
-Rascal Flatts, "Unstoppable"
I think part of what I love most about this song is that, well to me anyway, it is saying how love is the driving force behind all of this. I know Brian is a huge reason why I want to make these changes, and he is such a support, and seriously pushes me (in a good way) to be a better person.
Oh and those of you who have noticed my weight loss thing on the side, no I didn't gain 15 pounds ha ha I just adjusted my goal weight to have a buffer...and I gained 5 pounds ;)
