Unitask

It sucks when people don't listen to you. When I speak I say what I feel. I'm not the type to beat around the bush. I find it difficult to understand people when they have duplicitous meanings to their words. I feel that if everyone would be straight with one another the world would be a much happier place. 

I've been sick all weekend. Missed two graduation parties. But dutifully dove my mom back and forth to Fro Ro so she could attend the DC party. Other than that I've been in bed dying. I have a sore throat, cough, runny nose, and my back and abs hurt from coughing. Now I'm up late cause I slept all day. When I saw sister she asked if I was felling better. I said no. When brother texted me he asked if I was doing better. I said no. When I picked up mum she asked me twice in the span of 10 minutes if I was better. Both times I said no. So I finally get home and am sleeping when I get wake to a text from sister:

"I'm home. Glad you're feeling better,  Natalie. Hope tomorrow is even better!"

Seriously. I often wonder how I was born into this family. It's weird when people only see or hear what they want to see or hear. Why ask if you don't care enough to listen?! It makes no sense! 

Lesson: If you are in such a rush all of the time it can be difficult to absorb what is around you. Live in the moment. Be on time. Stop over scheduling yourselves. Work on unitasking and you won't need to multitask. When we multitask little bits of information go unacknowledged. 

Feeling a fall sort of way

Will I ever have someone that I will be able to rely on enough to share my fears with out immediate remorse?  I doubt it.  I'm the type of person who enjoys being alone but still gets lonely.  But when there is someone there I get tired of their company because I feel as though I cannot be me after they begin to judge me.  Who needs all that?  I'd rather hang out by myself in my judgement free drama free world.  But the downside of avoiding human interaction is that I also don't get to enjoy the good things like love and compassion.  I'm just not ready.

Maybe someone will come along one day and say this to me and I will know that they do understand.

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

The Easy Test

Why is when we know that a test is going to be "easy" we under prepare for it?  Wouldn't it make more sense to study more for it so we ace all the easy exams giving us a little wiggle room for the harder ones? 

Whatever I aced this sucka!

Jumping through hoops

So it's time to sign the little lady up for kindergarten and we are down to two options.  The local public school or the awesome independent school the next town over (can you guys which one in leaning toward?).  The application process for the public school was a bit frightening. 

"Had your child ever been convicted of a crime?"

"Has your child been expelled or suspended?"

I'm not ashamed to say I was a little scared by these questions.  I mean they wouldn't put it on the if it hadn't happened before right?  

The application for the independent school was more like a college application.  We had to file for financial aid online just like a college student applies for aid using the FAFSA.  And the questions were very in depth about the child's intelligence and character.  They want to make sure the child will be able to keep up and fit in.

"How well does your child interact with others?"

"What types of books does your child enjoy?"

Sheet filing of both applications and returning them I waited patiently

If I had a husband or if Lorelei's father were involved the decision may have been easier.  Having someone there with a second opinion and other ideas on the whys and why nots.  I mean how do I know which school will be best for her future?  

Plastic bin revamp!

This song was playing in my head while I wrote this at work.  Enjoy the love of Jesus, friends.  He is always there guiding us through it all.




I love Pinterest and from time to time I actually get to create one of the fun diy projects I so laboriously pin to a board with a promise to myself that one day I will do several projects to accent my home or fill my belly.  Unfortunately, I am like most Pinteresters (I like making up words, sue me), in that I don't often get much further than the actual pinning.  Sometimes I will shop around for the items I need to create a project, mainly because shopping is so fun though.  During winter break I got a creative hair up my butt and did some fancy projects from my Pinterest page.

I also made some smoothies and tried some exercises but you won't catch me bragging about those!

I saw a Pin long ago that I thought was just the cutest and smartest idea.  The creator took cheap plastic drawers and mod podged some handsome matching scrap book paper to the drawers to hide the contents.  I instantly remembered my big sis (a very fashionable and posh little lady) expressing distaste for the plastic bins she kept in her spare bath to hold her large assortment of hair junk because she was embarrassed people could see her unorganized "mess."  I of course instantly sent her the link and she exclaimed over the lovely images but I'd bet $1,000 she never tried to fix up her bins.

But I did...

This one I did for Lo's bedroom.
Here is the before:

 

And here is the after:

 

The next one I did for all of my hair and nail supplies.  

The beginning:

 

And the end:

 

I want to share my secrets with you all.  This is kind of annoying project if you don't know how to cheat at measuring the bins.  I found a YouTube video that showed a lovely school teacher using a square of wax paper cut to width and height of the the bin.  She used her nail to mark where the handle was centered on the front of the bin and then used this as her template.  Genius!

The second tip I have for you is my own idea.  I used wrapping paper instead of the suggested scrap book paper.  It was far more pliable and I could use what I already had in the house!

Hope you enjoy!  Happy pinning!

New hairstyles for the little one

Due to snow days and her upcoming trip to Maryland this week, I was able to get two hair styles on Lo this week. 

The first was ok. It looked a little messy the next morning. But I'm not a fan of using so many rubber bands because they cause hair breakage.  I really enjoyed the look of the two strand twists intertwined with beads.

The second was my favorite because I love protective hairstyles. This one looks kind of romantic. We added a soft pink headband with pretty flowers on to it for school.

Loc maintenance

So I have taken to making my own hair products for my locs.

I have this delicious concoction I'm currently using that is making my hair so soft and shiny.  I've been getting tons of compliments, even in my predominately white suburban hole in the wall town.  The mix:

Pure unrefined Shea butter
(This company sells it by the brick.  Well worth the minor expense for all of its uses.)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D9NV2D4/ref=cfb_at_prodpg

Pure unrefined extra virgin coconut oil

Jojoba oil

Peppermint oil

~Whip the ingredients together and apply to scalp and down the shaft of your locs.  This has been a great protectant on my hair during this cold dry winter.

I've found this new locking butter also.  It smells delicious and is supposed to help with dry scalp.  I've tried it twice now and i'm a fan.  I'm always wary of anything that has beeswax in it but there must not be much in it as it is pretty far down on the ingredient list and there really is no heavy build up felt.  Not too strong of a hold either.

Cocnut Lemongrass by Lockology www.lockologyforlocs.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E494P4U/ref=cfb_at_prodpg

Happy hair days!