Itchy

On and off for about the last 8 months I have been having troubles with my eyes. Most recently it's been more on than off though. Let me explain what troubles means . . . it means that my eyes (one or both) will randomly and very suddenly start to itch. And shortly thereafter start to burn. This burning itching feeling is shortly followed by the feeling of sand being stuck in my eye(s). Not on my eyelid, but in my eye. A burning itching sandy sensation that makes me want to claw my eyes out. Really, I have screamed at my eyes through my pain and tears while clawing at them to make it stop. It doesn't stop, and really, the screaming and clawing don't do a bit of good, but it's all I can think to do. To say it's painful would be the biggest understatement of the century. Some of these times I will be wearing my contacts which I will take out as soon as possible. It's really horrible when I'm not at home and this excruciatingly deplorable itchiness happens. I've started lugging my glasses and contact stuff around with me just because of it. Not too long ago the hubs and I went to see an Easter pageant and lo and behold guess what happened to me right at the start when I was trying to be nice and smile and meet a bunch of the hubs' friends? Yep, you guessed it, My eye attacked me. What a thoughtful eye I have. Thankfully about half way through the pageant and a very tomato-y red eye later it stopped eating my face off. I couldn't get up in the middle of the pageant and even if I could have I had forgotten my eye stuff at home. And because I am Blind without my glasses or contacts I couldn't just take them out and wait to get home. Nope. The thing is, you would think that taking the contacts out would lessen the horrible fire feeling in my eye, but no. It doesn't. It only makes it ten hundred times worse. Really. I am not exaggerating. There are times when I find myself sitting on the floor holding my eye (well, face, but you know . . .) with both hands and rocking back and forth it is that painful. It's true.

Then there are times when I'm not wearing my contacts and the same itch sneaks up on me. There is nothing I can do on those days. I've tried putting in eye drops, but that never helps. Believe me I've tried. All they it does is make it five hundred times worse. It is not a fun feeling, let me tell you. I was always told to never rub or scratch my eyes (apparently it's not very good to do since the skin around your eye is so thin, soft, and delicate). Well, I try to not scratch or rub my eyes. Have you ever tried not rubbing your eyes when you have a 2x4 stuck in there? I think not. I keep telling my eyes I'm sorry for ruining them, but I really really can't help it.

What's wrong with me? Why are my eyes doing this? Why is there always sand, planks, fire, itchiness in my eyes? Are my eyes broken? Have you ever had problems with your eyes? If you have a solution or idea that would make this misery stop, please pass it along.

And since I'm on the topic of misery and pain . . . I've been having Horrible headaches. They've been happening more and more frequently too. I'm starting to wonder if the two aren't somehow related. Maybe I have a brain tumor. Is that possible? I mean, I know it's possible to have a brain tumor . . . but humm . . . I never thought of that before. The two could be linked. I could have a tumor! Excuse me. I need to Google this.

Timer Friday

Yesterday I got to chat with one of my sisters. As sisters sometimes do we were complaining and gripping to each other. She had had a bad day, I had had an unproductive day. Pretty much the same kind of thing. Anyway. We were chatting away about how we need to be more disciplined. This is what I mean: The busier we are, the more we get done. The more time we have the less we get done. Sis said that her uncle put it this way: Time is like a sponge, it absorbs however much you have. So True! We agreed that we needed discipline to make ourselves get stuff done. For her it might be laundry, dishes, that kind of thing. For me it would be homework. If you couldn't already tell, I will do Anything and Everything before I touch my homework. Especially now it is incredibly unappealing to me for some reason. Who knows why.

It was at this point in the conversation we started talking about books we were reading, I mentioned I was reading A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George. Sis said she had read a book by her before, A Woman After God's Own Heart and that it sounded somewhat similar to the one I am currently reading. I've read it before too and it is a little bit the same, but there are differences in there too. Anyhow, Elizabeth George talks about timers. You know, the little kitchen timer that sits on your kitchen counter. She suggests using this timer for your day, to help you get your things done. When I read that before I thought, yea, maybe that could work. But I don't need a timer.

Well, guys (gals), I am going to do a timer experiment today. That's right. I've been so frustrated with myself about getting everything but something done (I think you know what I mean) and I just wish day after day that I would have enough self-discipline to stay on task and "git 'er done". Today is that day. I will be setting my timer for different amounts of time. When it dings I will have finished the first task. I'll set it again, and when it dings the second task will have to be done. And so on and so forth. The good thing about this timer of mine is that it only goes for an hour. So for every task I want to get done today I only have an hour to do it in. Nice. I will keep a close track and let you know how my timer day turns out. I am really hoping that this is a fruitful endeavor. And like right now, my timer just dinged so I must be off of here and on with the other stuff that awaits me.

Toodles!

Fragrance Personality Quiz

Because I have been so incredibly dedicated in getting my homework done today (or because I haven't done a lick of it), I decided I would take a little break and post a fun little quiz for y'all (ha. I did it again. and I'm not justifying it, or am I?).

I was over at Bath & Body Works the other day and while I was there one of the sweet sales ladies shoved this little quiz in my hands. I took it and found it was a fun little activity. So, I hope you enjoy finding your Fragrance Personality, courtesy of Bath & Body Works.

1. Do you have a current favorite Bath & Body Works Fragrance? ______________

2. What ingredients do you love?
A. Amber & Woods
B. Florals
C. Citrus & Fruits
D. Vanilla & Musk

3. You want your fragrance to make you feel:
A. Daring & Sensual
B. Feminine & Flirty
C. Refreshed, Sporty & Clean
D. Warm & Cozy

4. You like to wear fragrance to:
A. Be noticed & express myself
B. Complete my look
C. Feel fresh & invigorated
D. Be at peace

5. What does "me-time" mean to you?
A. Hunting for a hot pair of stilettos
B. Treating myself to a bouquet of flowers
D. A brisk jog in the park
D. My tub overflowing with bubbles

6. How long do you like your fragrance to last?
A. Long-lasting all day
B. Lingers on my clothes in a subtle way
C. When I first put it on then it disappears
D. A few hours

7. What best describes your signature style?
A. Minis, skinny jeans, heels
B. Ruffles, bows, florals
C. Jeans & tees
D. Casual, cozy, cashmere

Wanna find out what your your Fragrance Personality is according to Bath & Body Works? I hope so!

. . . If you answered

Mostly As - You heart sexy fragrances: You are sexy, seductive and alluring. [uu la la!!]

Mostly Bs - You heart romantic fragrances: You are a hopeless romantic who loves the dreaminess of love's sweet spell. [I'm dreaming of my true love's kiss . . . ]

Mostly Cs - You heart fresh fragrances: You have a fresh and playful personality... always young at heart. [aahh]

Mostly Ds - You heart cuddly fragrances: You are a cuddler who's welcoming and warm. [There's no place like home, there's no place like home . . .]

[Note: I never in my life thought I would ever use the words: sexy, alluring, or seductive on this blog. Thanks, Bath & Body Works, thanks.]

So, what is your Fragrance Personality? Do share! To start things off I'll tell you mine. Since I answered mostly Cs, I heart fresh fragrances. I'm sure you can attest that I am very playful and fresh. Well, maybe you can't. I'm not exactly sure how to portray those adjectives. Playful? Fresh? How is someone fresh? I like to feel fresh. I like to smell fresh (both myself, my house, and just in general: I like to smell fresh things). Anyhoo.

Chillin'

I am proud to say that yesterday I got absolutely nothing accomplished. Okay, maybe not proud, but it happened and I'm just trying to make the best of it. And when I say nothing I really mean no school work. At about two in the afternoon I realized I had been staring at the computer screen for a few hours trying to get myself in the homework mode and it wasn't happening. Apparently my brain was not going to cooperate with me. So I got up and went about and did some other, more important (or amusing) things. Like read and wash the dishes. That means today I need to knock out a bunch of homeworks. But, that won't happen since the hubs has taken the day to be home and chill with me. I know it won't happen, I won't pretend like it won't. And that is why there is tomorrow :D

As I have been home the past few days I have had the chance to bond with my pup even more. The first day I was home I think I confused him a little when I came downstairs a few hours after the hubs left for work and let him out of his bed. I was a little worried he would be crazy and bonkers all day long since he didn't have to be cooped up all day long. No. He was chill. Mostly he laid on the couch looking out the window, napping on and off. I was folding laundry up stairs and he came up there to find me. After he was satisfied he plopped down right next to me and slept. He did the same thing when I moved to a different room. What a little sweetie.

Look at his cute little buns and legs : ) 

Living in the Bluegrass State I pride myself in the fact that I haven't picked up on the accent and twang that surrounds me daily. However I sometimes have the secret desire to say "y'all" and wish that I could say it without feeling funny, goofy, or unnatural. Cause really, it is a sweet little word. I say that because I have the urge to say, "y'all" right now. But I feel like I have to justify myself. So I did. And I will... I hope y'all have a wonderful Wednesday.  

a little of this. a little of that.

Today is designated for homework and polishing up some assignments that are going to be officially submitted in a little over week. It's a little bit crazy, that I'm almost done with this thing called school (well, the student part of it at least). The sad thing is that I really really really do not want to look at what I have to do to finish off my projects, let alone work on it. So, I'm procrastinating a little bit. Yesterday I was just sooo productive with getting the house all tidy and such that I feel like I should have a whole day off to chill, it is my spring break after all. I suppose that's irrelevant when I have stuff to do. huh. Motivation Fairy, where are you? Come and sprinkle me with your fairy dust so I will work work work and be done. All done. Almost.

This week I get to bake a few things. Like Banana Bread. Blueberry Streusel. Some cookies (maybe). For me, right now, that is baking a lot of things. This week is going to be awesome, when it comes to the baking bit of it.

Also, I'm fixing a brunch for the ladies in my Bible Study group on Saturday. I have a few ideas of things I'd like to make, but if you have any ingenious ideas and yummy recipes that you would like to share I would love to give them a try. I always love to try new breakfast foods.

April Tree

Today I got to stay home and get some stuff done around the house. It was nice. I feel accomplished. I got all of the laundry washed, folded, and put away. That's including the laundry from last week too. Big accomplishment, I know. I also cleaned all kinds of dirty places around my house. Which might sound like a dreary thing to do, but I quite enjoyed it. My house has been in need of a scrubbing for a little while now, it was about time. I'm happy to have that out of the way.

I did find one very exciting thing this morning while cleaning my bedroom . . .

That's right. A Christmas Tree. And yes, today is April 4th. Not even kidding you. This little guy has just been chilling on the dresser for three months. A little ridiculous. Every night I look at it and think, "I really need to put that thing away." And every morning I wake up and it's not put away. No, it's taken me far too long to put this little tree away. But now it is up and away. Oh, the pleasant little surprises that fill my day.

Graduation Gift Please?

Yesterday I went out and did my weekly grocery shopping trip. I normally go to the same store to get my shopping done, but some times I like to go to a different store. It really depends on my mood. Well, not really, but I do like to mix things up a bit. And since we have five different stores that sell groceries within five mile of our house I am able to go to which ever one I feel a fancy to go to. It's quite nice. I can pick from Kroger, Walmart, Meijer, Target, and 10 more Krogers that are right near by.

Anyhow. For some reason I decided that yesterday I wanted to go to Meijer and get the groceries for the week. My reasoning was sound: I hadn't been there in a long time and I just felt like it. I am a great one to reason. So true. Or maybe not. But you will never know : ) Now, if you don't know what Meijer is I will tell you: it's a very big store with everything you could ever want, need, or imagine, in it. Clothes, food, cleaning stuff, pet stuff, toys, office supplies . . . everything. Like a Super Walmart or Fred Meyer or some other such place. So I went on my merry way.

I have a tendency to walk around and look at things, admire them and wish I could keep them forever and ever. I don't. Buy them and keep them that is. But I still admire and wish I could. Maybe that's a bad thing. I don't know. But I do know that I did this yesterday. I walked around the entire store thinking how I loved that or how cute this was. But I kept on walking towards the food. As I was walking I passed the prettiest placemat I have seen in forever. And napkins. And napkin rings. These placemats had pretty red, orange, green, and pink flowers on it. They were so fresh, pretty, sweet, and perfect for adorning my table this Spring and Summer. Oh, how badly I wanted them. But I refrained. As I always do.

Then I stumbled across the cutest, the best, the most perfect set of dishes ever in the world. They were made for me. The colors were perfect and would complement my kitchen in the ideal way. I knew right then and there that I had to have them. Here's the problem though: I have some dishes already and the hubs would remind me of this and how we don't actually need them, that it is more of a strong desire. So sensible. But seriously, I need them. I'm thinking for graduation (which is 25 days away!). I mean, why not? I won't get to participate in the actual graduation ceremony (long and boring story about that) which would have cost around $375 if I had. But . . . I'm not. So right there I am saving us $375 dollars. Bam-a-ram. What's a little graduation gift of $60 dollars compared to that? Nothing! Right? You need to agree with me on this so I can tell the hubs I'm not the only one who thinks it the perfect reasoning. I mean, I've worked hard for that degree. 21 whole months of reading and writing and going to class and teaching and observing and learning . . . 21 months. And soon I will be done. I will have graduated my Masters of Teaching program and be a real certified teacher. And as a little graduation reward/gift/present all I ask for is a set of beautiful dishes? . . . and a job, but the hubs can't get me that. This is where the hubs might pipe in and say, "When you get a job, then you can get the dishes." But what kind of treat is that?

I suppose, I don't need new dishes. I don't need anything. And I don't need a treat or present for graduating, for earning my masters degree. I just really want it. Plus, when the hubs was finishing up his Masters degree we went to Sea World. Sea World. That is more than $60, let me tell you. And no, I don't think everything needs to be fair . . . heh. Or maybe I do.

Regardless, I will stop from my ramblings right now and let you get on with your important activities. And to give you an idea of just how adorable and perfect the dishes I came across yesterday were I will leave you with this:

                              

perfect!

(note: these are very nearly the dishes I have picked out in my head. Sadly, there was no picture online to share with you, I will have to wait to do that when I get my new dishes. But they pretty much look like these beauties)

Cheers! Have a happy Sunday!