WHAM!

This morning I woke up three hours later than I was planning on.  Dumb electricity went off during the night and my phone had died the previous evening and I didn't plug it in...  It was a rough morning! 

But then this little song has been playing in my head all morning and it really knows how to lift a person's mood!  I love it!!  :)

Don’t Forget to Brush!

Growing up I hated the family dentist… Actually, I don’t think that hate is a strong enough word in this scenario – I abominated the dentist!!!

He had an identical twin brother and I never knew which one I was going to see, not that it really mattered because they looked exactly the same! The only difference was one would talk to me about wanting to set me up with his son who was my age – I was like 8-9!? Seriously, who wanted to be set-up at that age anyway!

Random note: Okay, so maybe he knew me a little bit better than the other one… I was in kindergarten when I had my first “boyfriend’ and never thought that boys had cooties. Also, had I seen a picture of his son I would have immediately jumped at the chance! I met his son a few years later when my family moved and I transferred schools… He was a hottie!

Let’s see…. Where was I? Oh yes… The dentist!

My mother would force me into the car for a trip to Vernal and I dreaded every passing mile that brought me closer to their office. As soon as the door was opened, you would smell laughing gas. To this day, I can still smell it… Ick!

He would check things out and then if there was work to be done he would put on the gas. I hated that stuff – really hated it! He would always ask if I wanted it and I would always say NO! His reply was always that kids loved this stuff and I should just let him give it to me anyway… It really didn’t matter what I thought or said he would put the mask on anyway! Then for the next what felt like hours I would be breathing this nasty gas that made me feel like I was leaving my body behind – I never felt like laughing, I felt like crying! It was awful!!!

Fast Forward to college….

I went to my cousin’s husband who was a dentist in the area and he checked things out and I had to have a cavity filled. He proceeded to give me a shot and while the needle was in my mouth I felt a crazy shock go from my mouth to my head. I could literally trace its path with my finger. I jumped and he asked if I felt a shock, I told him yes. He asked that I trace it with my finger and when I did he left. He came back with another dentist and had me trace the path again – at this point I was SUPER nervous! I thought that I was going to have a blood clot and it would follow that path to my brain and I would be dead within the hour. I never understood what exactly happened that day – all I know is that literally half of my entire head was numb. There was a definite line on the left side starting at the top of my head all the way down my neck that was completely numb! I never went back!
Fast forward to today almost 10 years later…
Went to the dentist for the first time after having paid for dental insurance for the past four years. I tried, made appointments, couldn’t get my hands to let go of my steering wheel when I needed to go inside. But, I am almost 30! I am suppose to be a big girl and be able to go to the dentist by myself.
So, I made an appointment and actually went inside! I told myself that I would buy a new outfit complete with shoes if I would just go! Rewards really work for me! ;)
Three dentists and about six months later – I am starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I have experienced infections, abscessed teeth, root canals, crowns, bridges – and sadly I am not even done.
If I could go back right now and change anything – I would definitely have changed my dental hygiene habit to make it even better. I always brushed, but am terrible with flossing! Well, that has changed….
For the next little while I will be nursing not only my mouth, but also my pocketbook back to health… Good grief dental work is expensive!!!

Niagara Falls!

This past weekend I loaded up my suitcase and two friends for a quick road trip to see Niagara Falls for the first time. I was so excited!!

We left my house Friday after I got off work and literally jumped in the car and started driving. My GPS hates me as it made us go through every small town in the state of Pennsylvania! Danielle claims we were following the Heritage Route (she said she saw a sign) – I, on the other hand, dubbed it Highway to Hell! ;)

Finally after a couple of stops for gas, stars, and slowing down due to extremely thick fog – we made it to Buffalo, New York! That is where Andy’s brother lives and they kindly let us stay in their home for a couple of days. When Danielle and I made it up to the guestroom this is what we found. I thought it was absolutely adorable and so welcoming…

Woke up bright and early Saturday morning and it was fun because they have four kids ranging from ages 2-9. The kids informed me that they always have Waffles on Sunday and then they did their chores while I showered and got ready.

I opened the door to find the oldest daughter ready to give me a lesson on her new sewing machine. So, downstairs we went and I “helped” sew together a purple hamster for her friend at school. We then put everything away and played Wii Dance while waiting for everyone to get ready.

Then it was off to the Falls! They were gorgeous!

I didn't realize that there were two sections to the Falls - American Falls and Horseshoe Falls.  Both of which were beautiful - but Horseshoe Falls are the Falls I thought about when someone was discussing Niagara Falls. 

American Falls

Entrance to Canada!!  We walked across the bridge which wasn't too scary!

Canada and off to the right you can see the overlook on the American side...  That was super scary to walk out on!  I pretty much stayed in the middle and handed my phone to one of my friends to take pictures with.  Also, you can see the Ferris Wheel that we went on and I thought I would be fine but ended up wanting to pass out...  It was super scary!

The lights that shines on the falls so you can see them...  They were so pretty when it was only the purple color - too bad!

American Falls lit up!

Beneath the Falls - If you look close enough you can see the Maiden of the Mist waving.

This is a picture of Horseshoe Falls...  I thought that this was a cool picture!  I loved seeing the two rainbows right next to each other - to me it means everything is going to be alright!  ;)

Danielle, Andy and our new friend Murray the Moose!

Overall, the trip was a ton of fun although I think that I would like to go back when I won't feel so rushed! 

MARCH MADNESS!!!

In about 15 minutes my favorite time of the year begins...  March Madness!  NCAA Basketball Heaven!

This year I have UNC winning it all - I hope they don't let me down!!  After watching Tuesdays game of BYU vs. IONA - I know this is going to be a great season fulls of talent and amazing skillz!  If only I was lucky enough to go to one of the games!!!  It is on my bucket list!  :)

GO UNC!

Yea Mon - Jamaica is AWESOME!

My friend Molly and I purchased tickets and a hotel for a quick little vacation to a little island called Jamaica.  It was AMAZING!!! 

First of all, we flew First Class - it really is just as awesome as I thought it would be.  We boarded first, they gave us little drinks and warm cookies and nuts...  It was heaven!  I was actually sad when the flight ended!

We finally landed in Jamaica and grabbed a taxi to our all-inclusive resort Sunset Beach Montego Bay.  We were upgraded to an ocean front room with a patio that literally opened right up to the beach!  I was so excited that I woke every morning before the sun and practically jumped out of bed with my swimming suit on!

The first night the entertainment was a steel drum band that was so cool!  I hope the videos show their awesome moves and ability to play!

We mainly stayed on the resort to just relax on the beach with our little smoothies that they would give us.  The last day we went zip lining and I thought I was going to die for the first 8 out of 9 lines...  Practically every picture they had of me was of my eyes shut and a VERY scared look on my face!  She has those pictures so I will have to grab them when we swap pictures! 

I loved every minute - even when I realized that I was having an allergic reaction to the sunscreen Molly let me borrow because I ran out of mine.

An act of kindness...

My friend, Andy, made dinner for me and a couple of friends last night.  It was delicious!  :)

It was also the first time that I can honestly remember someone of the opposite sex making dinner for me!

He made this yummy Ziti - which I had never had before.  I was in charge of dessert and therefore threw together Nutella Strawberry Shortcake.  It was actually pretty good and the perfect light dessert to that amazing dinner!  I am hoping that if I keep telling Andy just how much I loved his cooking that he will offer again in the future!  After all these years, I now understand why men love having a wife that will cook them dinner!!!  I wanted to put my feet up and yell for Andy to bring me a Diet Coke from the fridge.  Ha! 

I will admit that I had a hard time just turning the kitchen over to him or letting him chop up the onion his own way (I may or may not have pulled out my chopper and showed him an easier way).  I attempted to play the piano and then the guitar because I was hovering - no cook likes that!  But my playing was terrible because I was too distracted by what was going on in the kitchen...  Well that and because I am not very good at either the piano or guitar and I felt bad for his ears!  :)

So, Andy, thanks!  It was really nice to have someone else be in charge of making dinner!

Random Note:  I will be in Jamaica in six days!

February - Valentine's Day

February is a month of mixed emotions for me. 

I don't think it is just because I am single either...

This February is the second anniversary of my changing my outlook on life.  Two years ago, February, was one of the hardest months - I made a lot of poor choices and hurt my family. 

This year it hit me extra hard and I was really struggling - then the worst day of the year was around the corner - VALENTINE'S DAY!  A single persons personal Hell...

But something weird happened - I received chocolate covered strawberries from my brother and his family.  They were delicious and helped lighten my dark and sour mood.  The next day I received flowers from another brother, homemade Valentine's from my sister and  her kids, yummy cookies from the parents and then even MORE flowers from my other sister. 

I went home that night and found a lovely card from another brother and a sweet homemade Valentine with yummy suckers from my sister and her family.  It completely made my mood change!

I was brought to tears by the love that my family has for me!  And I know that not because of the flowers, strawberries, cards, suckers and/or cookies....  But because the past two years, they have really been there for me! 

Emailing me loving words of encouragement
Holding me up when I couldn't hold myself
Flying out to see me when things were a little rough
Purchasing a Wii because they knew it made me happy (Thanks Dad - not only am I grateful, but so are all of my Wii Dancing friends!)
Helping me move into a more suitable environment
Cleaning my room of hazardous materials - thanks Erin and April!  :)
Crying with me on the phone when I don't understand things

That to me is L - O - V - E!! 

Family - you mean more to me than life itself...  I am here today because of the love and strength you have shown me!  Thank you for everything. 

I LOVE YOU!!!