....too fast.

The weekend was lovely but it went by way too fast. The weekends seem so different now that Gianna is in school on Friday's. Even though Beej is home Fri-Sun still I don't think it's the weekend until Saturday now. But I will admit I kinda like having time by myself with Beej on Friday's. We usually head up the mountain to run an errand and grab a quick lunch together before we head back to pick up Bug from school. It's like having a standing "date" each week!

Gianna literally counts down the two days she isn't in school! She asked me yesterday if it was school today and I said yes and she threw her arms around me and said, "Thank you, Mom!" Lol!

Saturday I took some time out for myself and went with my sister to do a little shopping. I got a few new headbands and things to work on for Pretty Nods, found a Christmas present for my other sister, checked out the new Old Navy and drooled over everything (Old Navy is MY store, I'd wear pretty much everything in there.), and ate WAY too much lunch but it was yummy! But most of all I just had a great time chatting with my sister. I feel like we are more on the same page or similar's pages in life now and we have a lot to talk about and share.

The past couple of days have been Fall perfection! I loved it, even pulled out my cardigan, scarf and boots. The crispness in the air was magical and my hubby and I both agreed something about it made us wish for Christmas! I love the holidays and the holidays now are even more special since my family isn't around here anymore it's so great to get to spend some time with them. We go every year to the Gatlinburg area and have a weekend with my Mom's family. It's so much fun and I look forward to it so much. We've already booked our cabin and it's going to be amazing!!!!

I've been a bit lacking in my blogging lately. I forget to take pictures half the time now. My Instagram app has been messed up and that's what I usually use for photos. And the other part of me is so mixed up mentally I just can't seem to get things straightened out enough to blog properly. It's weird because I feel like I'm in such a, uh, weird place. Part of me is really happy right now, life is good, things are changing, my hubby's music is making progress in the right direction, Gi is happy in school, etc. But then there is part of me that feels so unsettled and unsure and it feels like that part of me is always in a whirlwind - thinking, planning, figuring out, hoping and day dreaming. So I guess sometimes maybe my posts seem a bit "bi polar"! Lol! So please excuse me if my posts seem a bit all over the place lately. I don't mean for them to be.

For now I've got to get my butt up and get my work out on!!!

Off to the doctor we went.....

(Happy Gianna, pre-doctor! Lol!)

Some of you may not know but Gianna has kidney reflux. Which basically means that the tubes that carry her urine out of kidney's into her bladder are too big so urine actually goes down the tubes then flushes back up into the kidneys. When it does this is carries the bacteria in the bladder back up into the more sensitive kidneys and causes infections. Last year we went through several months where she was getting infection after infection and so bad that at one point she was hospitalized because she was so dehydrated and her fever was so high I couldn't get it down. After that we saw a urologist and in August of last year she had a procedure done to correct the condition. The go in and put a solution into the tubes and it hardens and makes the tubes smaller so that urine does reflux back up in the kidneys

Ever since that procedure she has been great and we haven't had any problems.

But her second issue, and she's been dealing with this since birth almost, is constipation. Mainly because she doesn't like to go, so she holds it until she's constipated and bloated. We have to "make" her go every couple of days simple because she gets sick if she doesn't go.

Over the past month she has occasionally complained about her hips and lower back hurting, but it's random and I kinda chalked it up to growing pains. But the other day they called me from school to tell me she had been crying and complaining of back pain. So I decided to take her in to the see the dr. and make sure it wasn't a kidney issue even though she hadn't had any of the side effects she usually has when she has an infection. I also though maybe it had to do with her lack of regular pottying.

So we headed in yesterday much to her dismay. She cried the whole time we were in the waiting room and cried while they weighed her, and she cried until the dr. came in. She was so nice, we hadn't met her yet and she was very sweet to Gianna and reassured her that there would be no shots (Gianna's biggest fear at the dr.'s!) and that she wouldn't hurt her then she settled down some.

I talked to the dr. about her history and what had been going on recently and she said that her urine sample looked fine so she didn't think it was her kidneys but that she was going to do an overnight culture just to make sure since she has a history of kidney infections.

But she concluded the back pain was probably from lack of regular pooping so she prescribed her daily Miralax or the generic - Polyethylene Glycol!

Sounds great doesn't it?! Dad said it's really close to the "scientific" name for anti freeze! Lovely. So she's taking that now and she already seems to be better with that issue, crossing our fingers it continues!

But the doctor called me back this morning and after the urine culture they realized she does have a kidney infection! So she's now on antibiotic for that.

Even though it's "low grade" I'm still concerned and will probably contact her urologist again after she finishes her round of antibiotics. I think he needs to follow up and check her kidneys out and make sure everything is still in tack.

I just don't want her to have to go through all that mess again......

Learning Lessons

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” -Helen Keller

“If I could turn the hands of time, I'll turn it forward to tomorrow. I want to move beyond with optimism and growth, taking the past which has gone by as my lessons in realising the future with hope, courage and determination.”

My husband and I have discussed a lot lately about whether or not God allows things in our lives as lessons to us. I think we both agree for the most that God doesn't make "bad" or unfair things happen just to teach us lessons. Most of the situations we are in have been brought upon us by our own free will. Not everything bad is a "lesson" and not everything good is necessarily a gift. Some thing just happen as result of life. Don't get me wrong, God does bless us with gifts and I have received many of them. And I do believe that God has use situations we are in to help us learn lessons. I guess it's easier for me to see hard times as lessons from God then just to think maybe it's just part of life or maybe, heaven forbid, I just screwed up and made the wrong decision!

Lately I feel like there have been a lot of situations placed in my path of life and I'm learning lessons from them. They aren't all easy but I'm trying to take them in stride. To be honest I haven't been the greatest student - I have whined & complained, I may or may not have told God is wasn't "fair", I may have asked "why?" more then a few times, I have even pitched mental fits and mentally yelled at God for not putting me in the place I want to be now. I've also shed loads of tears and asked God to hold me because I just didn't think I could deal with it on my own. And you know the great thing about God? He lets you do both. He sits quietly while you scream and kick and whine and burst into tears, then He holds you close and mends your heart. And here recently I have needed that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily unhappy, I almost feel two sided because part of me feels SO blessed right now and I'm constantly thanking God for all of it, but then part of me is so broken and torn because of where I want to be and the "things" I want to have. I see so many people around me in the place I wish I was and learning to rejoice with me is taking me some time but I am happy for them, I can only imagine their joy and contentment and fulfillment but I desperately long to be in that place too.

I keep putting of things I know God wants me to do because it doesn't feel good to my flesh. My flesh wants to cross my arms, stick my nose in the air and say "I'm not helping. Do it yourself." But my spirit knows that God is gently nudging me out of myself and my selfishness to encourage and bless someone who is where I want to be. So that one day, if I get to be there, then hopefully someone else will respond to His voice and help me. "Do unto other as you would have them do unto you."

I can't help but wish sometimes that life was easier - that you just knew what to do and did it. I feel like I'm surrounded by people who know exactly what they want and they are going for it and living full happy lives. I'm so blessed yet something seems to be missing. I feel like there are so many expectations on me, ones that I don't necessarily want to fulfill. But if I want something else then I'm just being emotional or trying to fill voids in my life.

Am I the only one learning lessons?!

Come Shop, please!!!

My dear, dear readers.

I need your help!

I was able to sell enough headbands, hats and earrings over the past

weekend to be able to send my daughter to dance this month

and it made me feel so proud that something I took the time

to make was able to send her somewhere she wanted to go all on "my own."

Right now this is my source of "income" and obviously I need people to buy things

in order for me to be able to make money!

Right now I'm honestly trying to make money to buy my daughter's Fall/Winter

wardrobe. We have this great consignment sale everyone year and I do my best to

buy most of her stuff there so that I can save some money. But in order to save some

I've got to have some! Lol! So your business is greatly appreciated!

I have Paypal so you can pay that way online, I usually ship within a day or two of you

"ordering". Each item is handmade by me - I wrap all the rosettes, I cut out by hand all the little cloth circles to make the pom-pom flowers, all the buttons are antique (they belonged to my mother in law's mom who collected them as a girl!). I do my best to keep my prices as low as possible so that things are affordable for anyone.

These items make great gifts too so if you can justify buying yourself buy something for a family member or a friend! The stretchy bands are great for sweet little babies and everyone knows someone that's have a baby these days!!! Or a sweet little "thinking of you" gift for your best friend or sister......the possibilities are endless. And while you brighten one person's day with your gift you brighten mine as well!!!

So please, leave me a comment with what you want and your email so I can contact you for shipping addresses or just email at prettynods@yahoo.com

Thank you so much in advance!!! I appreciate your support and business!

(All antique button earrings are $5 a pair and $2 for shipping!)

Antique button pom-pom flower on a stretchy band - $8 (+$4 for shipping)

Fits baby to adult. Only one available!

Antique button pom-pom flower on a stretchy band - $8 (+$4 for shipping)

Fits baby to adult. Only one available!

Rosette flower set on a bobby pin - $5 (+$4 for shipping)

Rosette flower set on a bobby pin - $5 (+$4 for shipping)

Red & white pom-pom flowers set on a red band. Fits toddler to adult.

$8 (+$4 for shipping)

3 Black and white rosettes on a black band. Fits toddler to adult.

$8 (+$4 for shipping)

3 chocolate brown rosettes set on a light pink band. Fits toddler to adult.

$8 (+$4 for shipping)

Brown pom-pom flowers set on a cream and gold striped band. Fits toddler to adult.

$8 (+$4 for shipping)

Multi colored rosettes set on a off white band. Fits toddler to adult.

$8 (+$4 for shipping)

Weekend Re-cap

I haven't been great a keeping up with blogging lately. This weekend was fairly busy and I spent most of my time working on stuff for Pretty Nods and trying to get it sold.

Saturday morning we got up and I made French Toast. Gianna loves French Toast and it's quick

and easy to make. Spent most of the morning cleaning the house before the Bama game.

My father in law and sister came over to watch the game. We always fix a bunch of food and us girls spend most of the time in the kitchen eating. SO not good for us but oh so good!

Sunday was church.....and our customary trip to Taco Bell. My sis came and had lunch with us.

(I love her little hip flare! Too cute)

Monday we're back to school.....Gianna gets so excited! She loves it. And she always asks at bedtime "Do I have to get up super duper early tomorrow for school?!" Yup.

Yesterday I just LOVED her outfit - skinnies, cardigan and Tom?! Yes, please!

We also started dance classes yesterday. She took "ballet" for a few months at another place in town and it was so bad. The teacher wasn't teaching, I paid almost the same thing I'm paying now but instead of 4 hours a month it was 2 hours a month! Not to mention the studio was always dirty, they were unprofessional and it just wasn't the place for us.

I had high hopes for this place - it's a break off of a highly regarded Gymnastics place. And I wasn't disappointed! They were very professional, her teacher actually looks like a dancer, she's in a class with almost 10 other little girls (versus the 1 girl at her other "class), the studio was very nice and very clean, and they have monitors in the lobby where you can watch the classes going on! I loved it! Gianna did an hour class and it was so cute watching her doing plies, learning how to open and close her feet in ballet positions.....but I do think we need to work it out for her to get a bit of a nap in between school and dance because I could tell she was so tired especially that last 15 minutes of class. But she loved it and can't wait to go back!

(Tired after class - see her star sticker on her chest? She loves that part and that they gave out little packs of Teddy Grahams afterwards too.)

(Her ballet room - this was during construction but now they have the ballet barre up and all that!)

My sis and I are trying to hold each other accountable and eat right and lose about 10lbs. each before the end of October! I always do better when I have someone to help hold me accountable and vice versa. I'm working out hard - doing P90X and walking and throwing in an occasional Turbo Fire work out for extra "umph". I'll let you know how it goes......

Beej has even jumped on the calorie counting train and downloaded myfitnesspal.com app.

He gets to eat 2600 calories a day....sheesh. Lol!

I still have some headbands for sale and antique button earrings! Check them out, buy some!

I am trying my best to make some extra money to help fund all the gas we are using going back and forth to school and paying for Gi's dance and I know that she'll need recital costumes soon and that's not going to be cheap! Hoping that this little business will pick up and help me out!

Antique Button Earrings

Hiya, people!

How was your weekend? I had a great one - spent a lot of time working on new items

for Pretty Nods. Still don't have the Etsy shop back up mainly because I've just been too busy

making stuff and packaging and mailing stuff out! I'd love to send something your way too.

Still making up new headbands. I'm going this weekend to get more bands and hopefully some

new hats since Fall/Winter is coming up. So be on the look out for those pretty soon!

But for now I'm making antique button earrings. They are so cute and fun - they are going

fairly fast so get your pair (or two!) while you can. I don't know exactly how many more

pairs I'll be making since I strictly use antique buttons......

They are $5 a pair and $2 for shipping!

See a pair you love? Leave me a comment with your email address or email me at

prettynods@yahoo.com

I do Paypal so it's all safe and secure for you! I usually ship within a day of you placing an

order. And right now if you buy 3 pairs I'll let you pick out a 4th pair FREE!

Copycat

Growing up I had a "friend". We were actually what I thought was best friends for several years. Don't get me wrong, we had some good times together. She was the first real friend I had besides my siblings growing up. She had a rockin' mom I will say that too! But we had this little issue. She was a copycat. Well, sorta, I mean, I don't really know what else to call it. She had this thing where she just had to do things I wanted to do, or go places I wanted to go, or like boys I liked and she had to do it first. I can't tell you how many times I would point out things when we were shopping, things I couldn't afford because I had to earn my own money & her grandmother footed her bill, and she would go back and buy those things. And not for me but for her! After a few years we drifted apart mainly because I couldn't handle her constant mimicking me. It went from being flattering to being straight up annoying.

Years and years later we both grew up, both got married, both had kids....and the opportunity came around for us to be friends again. I mean, I figured she had grown up and grown out of feeling like she had to out do me all the time. But no, at the time we started hanging out again I had a very dear friend who in a matter of months she had manipulated and lied to until that girl didn't want to be my friend and she didn't want to be my friend and suddenly they were best friends. Really?! That didn't last long because that girl really had no interest in being friends with my best friend she just didn't want her to be friends with me. I know, it sounds so petty and cheap, right? But it happened.

During this time I announced I was going to start P90X....she ran out and bought it as soon as I put it up on my Facebook page. My sister and I showed her a tattoo idea we were thinking about getting together. A month or so later she had that exact tattoo. Yup. Exact. And this trend has continued even after we cut off our friendship yet again. We sorta agreed to be on "good terms" but not friends. So we kinda browse each other's blogs & Twitter's and such. But again several times I've said I wanted to do something, or get something, or go somewhere or like something and guess who's on top of doing it first. Whoa. This gets old. I feel like I've been thrown into some sort of competition with her that I don't want to be in. Constantly trying to do things I just genuinely want to do or like or try before she finds out and does them too. Not that we can't do some of the same things but I feel like she keeps an eye on every little detail on my FB, my Twitter, my blog. I'm scared to say anything less she pops up announcing she's doing it too. It really got to me the other day - it had already been a rough couple of days and something happened that just topped it all and I was just an emotional mess. Frustrated that she continues this game, frustrated that it still effects me, and frustrated that I had let myself hang on just enough to even know that she's still at this.

It's kinda like having an estranged sister. We were so close for so long that we were a lot like sisters in our early teen years and part of me does love her and I guess that's why the stupid, demented part of me has gone back for more of her manipulating, lying ways. But I decided for my own sanity I just needed to cut myself off completely this time. I've blocked everything I can. But unfortunately I can't block her from my blog - unless I make it private to everyone and of course I don't want to do that. So instead I'm just going to ignore that everything I put up here she's probably going to go out and do! I shouldn't worry about it, if her life is lacking so much that she needs to take on my desires, wants and hopes in life then so be it. Maybe one day she'll stop searching......

I'm sorry this has been a bit of a "rant" but sometimes it's best to just get things off your chest so that you feel better about them. What about you? Do you feel like you're ever in "competition" with someone? Or that someone has decided they are in competition with you? How do you handle it, what do you do? It's harder to deal with and ignore then you think!