Truth Tuesday

Here's an amateur sketch, by yours truly . . .

•  Does anyone else have such issues at work? I was freezing today in my studio. I'm seriously considering packing my snuggie for tomorrow. Opposite problem in the winter. Logan is typically a frozen tundra during the winter months. You put on all the layers you can to protect yourself. You wear the thickest socks you own. And sweaters. You must wear warm sweaters. So in the winter, I go to work dressed to protect myself against a blizzard, only to get in the VFX studio and have it feel much like an Easy Bake Oven. Pretty soon, I'm mopping up a pile of my sweat with the sweater on my back. And yes, my very impressive art is also very dramatic. I feel I must clarify that I actually do not sit in the studio naked. The walls are glass and my coworkers can see inside, so that would be mighty awkward. Also, that was supposed to be a fan in my hand but it very much resembles a tulip . . . or something. 

• I full-fledged bawled for myself a total of three times last week. That's a lot. I do cry pretty easily but usually not for myself. I guess I'm afraid of being a wuss (oh, the irony!). I was so sick with allergies on top of my sinus infection and I had just HAD it. I was sick of being sick! Typically when I get sick, it only lasts a few days before my body fights it off and bounces back. This time, however, I was a pathetic sick person. I kept trying to do all the things I regularly do as well, and I think it set me back even more. So yeah, I felt like I was wandering through a dark abyss all last week. I took naps every day (I'm not a napper), my exercise was at a bare minimum (I need exercise every day to stay sane), and I wanted to act out violently to just about anyone who crossed my path. So yeah, not a happy week. I went back to the doctor and got some new antibiotics, and this week is off to a much better start. You don't have to worry about me killing you in a fit of rage after all.

• I absolutely love to create! I've found it's even more of a joy to create things with my husband. One day maybe we will create a baby, but for now we will stick to things like patio furniture. Brian built a sectional for our deck! I showed him a picture of something I liked and he just got out the tools and whipped it up! I even helped sand and stain. I also made the cushions for said furniture. It ended up being a really rewarding and fun project to work on together. Also, we saved tons of cash! Outdoor furniture is so expensive. It was much cheaper just to do everything ourselves, and it really didn't take up too much of our time. Since finishing the furniture, we've eaten dinner out on the deck almost every night. I'm also constantly camped on the new furniture, writing and reading. I'm out here right now typing up this silly blog post! 

• A few weeks ago, I had a dream that I forgot to celebrate the Fourth of July. I woke up in a serious panic. If you know me, you know I'm a holiday freak. Also, July Fourth is one of my favorites. I most definitely went out and bought an American flag shirt the day after my nightmare. 

• Father's Day came and went! My dad is the most difficult person to buy gifts for, mainly because he doesn't ever want anything. So like a six year old, this year I made him a candy poster. I knew he would get a kick out of it and I also knew he would for sure eat the candy bars. 

Well, I'm off to see Jurassic World. I haven't seen it yet because, I'll be honest, by the previews I thought it was going to be totally stupid. But according to ticket sales and the reviews people are giving it, I was totally wrong. My bad! I'm glad I was wrong though. I mean, the original Jurassic Park is such a classic.

Peace XO

Sunday Best: Glorified Loungewear

shirt: Old Navy, joggers: Smith's Market, sandals: Delias, heart sunglasses: American Eagle 

Oh, hey! A bunch of pictures of me wearing clothes! 

I'm really happy about the fact that joggers are so fashionable right now, because they are basically just glorified pajama pants. Except I can't wear my pajamas to work. I mean, maybe I could. After all, I'm on the radio. You can hear me but you can't see me. But still, I try to keep it semi profesh (that's totally a real word). This past week though, I really struggled when it came to getting myself ready. As many of you probably know due to your running noses and itchy eyes, it's allergy season. And the fun thing about allergy season is that I'm allergic to allergy medicine. Thanks body, you are hilarious. Also, I've been battling a sinus infection for the past two weeks. I even went to the doctor. The doctor! That's a big deal because I have a great phobia of doctors and hospitals. I avoid them at all costs. And I'm on an antibiotic. An antibiotic! I can't remember the last time I was on an antibiotic. Probably grade school? Maybe? Mom? 

So yeah, I don't want to be like, a Debbie Downer . . . but I've been kinda miserable. Especially because I despise being sick. I mean, who in their right mind likes being sick? I'm not good at resting. At all. So I've continued to go to work, do yard work, exercise (or attempt to) during this weird illness and by doing all these things, I think I've stopped myself from getting better sooner. Maybe one day I'll learn my lesson. 

I wore this outfit midweek. Nothing like my favorite floral joggers and a top knot to kick a sinus infection in the rear. Best of luck to all of you fighting off allergies. Take some extra Benadryl for me since I can't (okay, don't really take extra).

And a sidenote: I really do have a major case of wanderlust just as my shirt professes. Ever since getting back from Thailand, I just want to go on more exciting trips. One day I might get Thailand documented on the blog. One day . . . 

Team Munch!

Last weekend, we ran a dog-friendly 5k. All the proceeds from the race went to Four Paws Rescue, which is where we rescued our Munch from. I was pretty upset because days before the race, I caught a really terrible cold. If I were better at resting when I'm sick and paying attention to my body, I wouldn't have run the race. But I'm not good at resting. I'm the most terrible at resting. I can also be really stubborn. So Friday night, I was set on running and nothing could change my mind.

Brian and I got really festive and made our own race shirts that had Munch's face plastered on them. With how cute the shirts turned out, I'm thinking we need to start making and selling Munch merchandise ;).

Saturday morning, I could hardly breathe. I ran the slowest 5k of my life, but I finished and didn't finish last, so I'm okay with it.

It was such a good time to see other dog lovers come out to the race with their canine friends. There was a man with the most beautiful German Shepherd that I wanted to dognap, but I controlled myself. It was also a lot of fun because Munch basically had a fan club. All of the volunteers from the shelter recognized Munch right away. He was pretty happy to see all his old friends.

Now I think we need an excuse to make a Luna shirt.  

Sunday Best: Getting Down to Business

dress: Rue 21, blazer: Maurices, tights: TJ Maxx, heels: Old Navy, necklace: Forever 21

Let's talk about colds for a minute and how dumb they are. If you are sick with the stomach flu and you're throwing up, you obviously stay home from work. But where do you draw the line for the cold? Every time you get a runny nose do you call in sick? 

This week, I developed a cold. My throat is on fire and when I speak, I sound like a teenage boy going through puberty. This is definitely a problem since I am a radio deejay for a living. However, I had so much to do at work this week that I didn't want to take time off. I felt like I couldn't. So I trucked along all week with cough drops and water bottle in tow. Yep, I'm that girl. The girl that goes places sick and spreads my germs to everyone.

Then today, we spoke in church. I put on my tribal print dress with blazer and told myself I'd get down to business, just like I had all week long. I spoke over the pulpit with my raspy voice and said a prayer to God the entire time that I wouldn't burst into a coughing attack. No coughing attacks occurred but I did decide to draw the line. After speaking, I came home, changed into sweats, buried myself beneath blankets, and zonked out for several hours. Sometimes it's more important to get some rest rather than get down to business. If it counts for anything, I really liked my outfit today. Even if I only wore it for an hour.   

Sand in my Breeches

How was everyone's Labor Day weekend?

Mine ended up being quite fun, besides the mountain of used tissues that kept growing and growing next to my bedside. Despite my pal bronchitis sticking around all weekend, making it difficult for me to do much, I managed to talk Brian into letting me out of the house a little bit. I am bad at resting. I get so bored. So after much begging from me, BWell drugged me up and took me to Bear Lake. I think just being outside in the nice weather was good for me. The sun felt so nice on my shoulders and I felt happy just being cuddled up to Brian on our quilt, toes in the sand. We played frisbee in the water too, which was a blast. We didn't get too rambunctious though. Since I kept running out of breath quickly, Brian made us take plenty of breaks in between playing. That boy I married is a champ. 

I also threw together a little video last night of our Bear Lake adventure. It's nothing fancy, so don't get too stoked. You will be thrilled to know though, that my voice is raspy throughout, so feel free to watch and mock. I seriously sound like a boy going through puberty. Not joking. You can also view me creepily recording a little boy build a sandcastle without his knowledge. I'm a creep. With a teenage boy voice.  

I also feel like I should give due warning in case any of my fellow broadcast students are watching this.

WARNING: I did not use a tripod. I did not use a mic. The cuts are jumpy. I basically broke all the rules. I am a rebel. This is very much a "home video". 

There, I feel you've  been warned. Watch on! 

Song: Corona & Lime by Shwayze. Download it. It'll make you want to ride in a convertible and snap your fingers. I have no doubt.

Overcast Days

These pictures were taken during the last bit of July. We planned a day to go to the beach with our friends. That morning, the sun was out beaming down on us and we were excited to spend the day getting tan and splashing around in the lake water. Well, as the day progressed, grey clouds began gathering in the sky. By the time we made it to the beach, the blue sky had turned dark and gloomy. Our beach day was no longer sunny, but very overcast. We made the best of it and played some frisbee, and took turns seeing who could make it further out into the cold water.

Some days are overcast days. And that is just out of our control. We can't always control when the sun is going to shine, but we can always make the best of our circumstances.

I am sick at this moment. I came down with bronchitis, yay. What a perfect back to school gift. I've been a little bitter about it. Especially since tomorrow is Labor Day and I am not sure how much energy my coughing body will have. I missed the 80s dance put on by my University on Friday night and I cried. I put on my 80s clothes and cried, and Brian rented 80s movies for me to watch so I would stop crying. I also cried because my family invited us to go to California for the weekend to play in the ocean, but I couldn't go because I'm contagious. I am not good at being sick (as you can tell from all my crying). I am an angry sick person. I'm also a dramatic sick person (I think I've declared I'm going to die about a hundred times this weekend). Brian forced me to the doctor yesterday, because I have a phobia of doctors. No, I really do. But all in all, I guess it's better to get sick the first week of school rather than the last when I have finals. And I guess it's better to be sick during a long weekend so I have more time to try to make myself rest. I am trying my best to enjoy this "overcast moment" in my life, but man, it's hard.

I hope you all have a fun Labor Day. Wash your hands and take your vitamins, so you won't be a sicky like this girl.

I guess things could be worse and I could be sick for Christmas? That would be pretty tragic.

Smooth Sailing. Or Not.

It's day 5 of being sick, and I'm not digging it at all. There is a reason I have a good immune system, because when I am sick I go crazy and drive everyone around me crazy.

Being sick is just lame. Especially when you get sick right before the weekend. That's what happened to me. So what I was hoping would be a weekend full of fun ended up being a weekend full of Brian pampering me, as well as our garbage cans getting full of used tissues.

I went to the university's wellness center on Friday. The doctor who helped me made me feel slightly uncomfortable. He hunched over the keyboard and pounded each key as he typed out my symptoms. He hit the space bar extra hard and I'm surprised it didn't break. And then he didn't warn me when he lifted up my shirt, which shouldn't irritate me, but it kind of did. You know how most doctors say something like, "Okay, now I'm just going to lift up your shirt and you take some deep breaths for me." No. None of that with this weirdo. He just went ahead and nearly ripped my whole shirt off my neck. It's cool. I always look forward to being violated when I have a head cold. I hate going to the doctor. I avoid it at all costs. I almost cancelled my appointment about five times before actually going, but Brian wouldn't let me. I guess that makes him a good husband.

I also had my blood drawn at the doctor, and I didn't even pass out this time. Why am I so pathetic when it comes to being stabbed with needles?

Well, BWell and I spent the weekend watching some good cheery conference. Okay, I've gotta be honest, due to my under the weather condition I actually fell asleep through a couple of the sessions, but what I was awake for was great. And we also discovered a new strawberry banana smoothie recipe, which seemed to do wonders for my throat.

We used this recipe. And then we sipped at the deliciousness and cuddled, and in between sipping and cuddling I sniffled. After this weekend, all I can say is that I hate being sick and I love smoothies. And I love my husband. So much I think my heart is smiling.

Sunday Best: Pinky Swear

I've never been a girl who is fond of the color pink. I like little hints of it here or there. I think other girls pull it off nicely. But whenever I wear lots of pink, it makes me feel queasy.

Well, I've been telling myself I need to embrace the femininity of pink more completely. Give pink a chance. On Wednesday, I really did embrace pink since I strolled about in a pink top, pink necklace, pink earrings, AND my nails were even painted pink. Now that's a lot of pink. And it actually felt good. Wednesday was so busy. I was constantly going, I had a short break for lunch and dinner. But running from classes, to meetings, to study reviews, to volleyball games was a little more enjoyable feeling so lady-like and bright dressed up in pink.

oxfords: Fashion Box, jeans: Kohl's, blouse: thrifted, necklace: Smith's, earrings: F21

Well, it appears that April Fool's decided to play a mean trick on me, because I've been down with a gnarly head cold all weekend. So I think it's time for bed. I'm hoping I'll wake up and magically be better. If I don't get better soon, this nose of mine will be rubbed raw from Kleenex. Boo. 

Puke

As a child, I must have had plenty of worst nightmares.

Like my friends finding out what boy I had a crush on. Or like falling off the monkey bars and cracking my head open. Or my dog dying. Or my mom not being home when I got off the school bus.

But probably my worst of the worst nightmares I had as a child was puking in public. Or just puking at all. Back in the day, when I was about four feet tall, I took ballet lessons. After one of my ballet recitals, my family and I stopped by Taco Time since it was late and we were starving. Later that night, I remember waking up and feeling completely sick to my tummy. In a half sleepy daze, I attempted to scurry down the ladder from the top of my bunk bed, where my brother Jace was sleeping peacefully in the bottom bunk. I then blindly wandered through the darkness and down the hallway toward the bathroom. I was determined to make it to the toilet. Well, my stomach beat my determination and I puked all over the wall. It's a scarring moment which I'll probably have engraved in my brain forever.

Luckily, that was my very worst experience throwing up. I remember watching many a kid chuck up on the school bus, leaving the rest of the kids to suffer through the rest of the ride with the putrid smell of throw up reeking through the vehicle. I couldn't help but always feel terrified for the thrower-upper. What a horrible and degrading experience; to be the kid who threw up on the bus.

Last Sunday, I had the not so great experience to deal with some puke. So I serve in the Primary at my church now and have been for a couple months now. I teach the four-year-old children, and let me tell you, it's a jolly good time. While sitting and enjoying singing time last Sunday, one of the girls in my class was acting odd. She is usually the type to be very animated and dramatic and very involved in everything going on. She wasn't acting so on this day. On this day, she was slumping over in her chair, sprawling out on the floor and making small whining noises. She then informed me and my partner teacher that her tummy hurt. So we took her to her dad. He soon brought her back and informed us that she was just being dramatic and was fine.

Well, he was wrong. Real wrong.

About ten minutes later, the girl came up to me and said, "Teacher, I still don't feel so good." So I rubbed her back and told her I'd take her to the bathroom. Promptly after telling her this, puke suddenly escaped her mouth. I jumped back and watched the throw up land on the ground where my shoes had just been. With that, I grabbed her arm and drug her into the hallway and in the direction of the ladies' room.

We never made it. She threw up two more times. I'm pretty sure she had peaches for breakfast.

Her parents came pretty soon after and began cleaning up her puke. In the meantime, I sat on the couch and rubbed the girl's back and wiped off her face. When I asked her if she was alright, she sadly replied with, "My dress is dirty," and she pointed to the spot on her dress where some puke must have dribbled.

Puke is bad. And watching a kid puke is just heartbreaking.

I don't plan on having kids for a while.

Gag Reflex

"Now I'm going to swab the back of your throat. We need a sample of your mucus to check for strep."
Oh, how lovely.
Of course, it will probably be a breeze. One quick swab and then my throat will be left alone.

"You have an hour left," announced my stats professor from the front of the room. I glanced at the clock and then looked quickly back at my paper. I had not made much progress in the last fifty minutes. I quickly thumbed through all the blank pages I had left.

Come on, brain! Think!!

I studied this stuff for three hours straight the night before with my study group. I could do everything fine then. But as much as I tried thinking, I couldn't get past how heavy my head felt. Was it just me, or was it swelling? I felt like I was going to tip over from the weight of it.

Ah! Focus, Kelsey. T-tests. Not mucus-filled head. Work out the T-test. 

She walked forward, holding the swab out. She had put a mask over her face. I felt like an infected animal. Oh, how I despise being sick. I despise it with all my being.
As she reached her swab toward me and told me to open wide, I tried to think back on the last time I had been in one of these horrible doctor offices, being treated for some despicable illness. I couldn't remember when the last time was. It had been a couple years, at the least. I lost my train of thought after I realized her hand was in my mouth. It was going back further. And further. And further.

"Ten more minutes!" 

Whoa, what? Only ten? Where did the last fifty minutes go?  

I feel my nose start to drip. How embarrassing.

I reach down and grab another tissue from my tissue box I brought from home. How embarrassing again. Stupid tissue box. It seems to be grinning menacingly at me, saying, "Go on, Kelsey. Take another tissue. Wipe your nose raw."

I quietly wipe and turn back to the problem. I start plugging things into my calculator, praying it will reveal an answer to me that might make sense.

I only have ten more minutes. Well, probably nine now.

I feel the swab run against the back of my throat.
That wasn't bad.
Oh, it wasn't over yet. This lady was swab happy.
She kept rubbing,and it almost felt as if she was rubbing with an almost vicious nature. I started feeling discomfort.
"This may bring your gag reflex on. Don't back away from me."
I don't feel like those two sentences should be used together. Unless you are a bulimic and your finger is talking to you, maybe. But even that would be very strange.
I feel my body coil and I begin to gag. My body starts backing away, as it should.
Fight or flight.
Good body.
However, I try to do as I am told and demand my body to give into the evil gagging swab.

"Only two more minutes!" 

I am trying not to panic. 

It doesn't work. 

I about knock everything off my desk, and in the process, the pile of used tissues in my lap goes falling across the floor. 

I feel like a disgusting, disgrace of a person at this point. 

I frantically grab in different directions for the mucus covered tissues, hoping no one noticed. 

I am running out of time, so I start to guess and just write things down.

Maybe by writing something down, I'll manage to pick up a couple points from the darn 20 problem question I forgot how to do.

I am really gagging now and it is bringing on my awful dry cough. Except thanks to our friend, Mr. Swab, it is no longer a dry cough. I cough in her face, sending spit and who knows what else straight her way. I quickly cover my mouth as she pulls the swab out. I am so utterly embarrassed.
Good thing she put that mask on.

I gather up my things and quickly hand my test in.

I walk outside. 

The weather is unbelievably nice today. 

Too bad I can't enjoy it. 

I pass people who are out enjoying the nice day, wearing shorts and trying to catch a tan. 

I look at the ground and pull my sweatshirt tightly around my fevering body. 

Why must my nearly flawless immune system fail me now?

I sure hope I passed stats. I want to be done with math already.

If you run into me, I could sure use a hug. I promise I won't cough on you.