Stories... April

One of my desires for this blog is to have a place to share stories about good people, brave people, considerate and humble people, those who are the overcomers, those who are striving to overcome, men and women who are givers, sharers, wave makers and peace makers alike and most of all...those who have hearts of kindness and who live their lives in Gratitude and Grace.

This month, January 2013, I am featuring a woman whom I'm so proud to call my friend.  Although I have not known her for more than 2 years, I have watched her blossom and grow in her self made business, all while caring for her 2 babes and loving husband.  She was the first person I thought of when I decided to host stories of others on my blog...She truly is a woman of much Grace and as you will see...a heart of Gratitude!  Here is April's story...

If you would have known me growing up you’d never think I’d be doing what I am today! Put simply, I was a tomboy. I was the only little girl in the family, I have an older brother, and I grew up in a neighborhood full of boys. So I had to be tough! I loved it though. I learned to be strong, stand my own ground, and never let anyone run me over. I was never really a girlie girl, but I did love my horse collection and flirting with boys! But my flirting was more of the “she punched you, she must like you” kind of thing for a while. J

I loved (and still do) sports so much that I earned a dual degree in Athletic Training and Physical Education. I had envisioned having a career of teaching sports during the day and being on the sidelines of football games and taking care of athletes in the evening. But a funny thing happened while I was in college…I fell in love. Never really imagined that I would find someone who loved me so much they wanted to spend their life with me, but it happened. And that was where the vision I had planned out for my life stopped and God’s plan took over! Today, life is totally different from what I had planned out, but I’m loving every minute of it!

A couple years after my husband and I got married I had this feeling come over me that just came out of nowhere. All the sudden I felt like I just wasn’t complete, something was missing. Out of nowhere my heart said “Yeah, it’s time to be a mom.” It wasn’t even anything I had to think about or fight with, I just felt it one day. Fast-forward a little and BAM… I was pregnant!

Now at this point I was still a tomboy at heart. I still didn’t like many girlie things, still didn’t like pink, and I really didn’t like dresses (still not a huge fan). So deep inside I felt like I was having a boy. I honestly couldn’t even imagine what it would be like having a little girl. Heck, basically everyone thought I was having a boy! Well surprise!!! It’s a girl! And from the moment I first held my little McKenzie, the tomboy in me started to step back a little and I finally let my girlie side come out.

Kenzie modeling a tutu
from Kenzies Treasures!
www.kenziestreasures.etsy.com

My husband has been blessed with a great job that allows me to be a stay at home mom. It is the BEST job in the world too! But, as every stay at home mom can relate, if you don’t have a hobby or something to do that can take your mind off of being a mom every now and then, you will GO NUTS!!! When Kenzie was just over a year old, I saw a tutu that a friend of a friend made. I thought hey, that would be fun to make for Kenzie! And that is where the next “so not me” adventure began!

One of my friends turned me on to a site called Etsy.com. I decided to open a shop on there just to see if I could sell a tutu here or there to help pay some bills. I named my store Kenzie’s Treasures, after my beautiful daughter who inspired it all. Never could I have imagined that it would grow to be what it is today! I have been open for almost 3 years and it is now a flourishing business!

So now my girlie side is in full swing when it comes to my store! I make tutus, tutu dresses, doll clothes, hair accessories, and even dog tutus! This is so not what I thought I would be doing in life, but God had a different plan for me, and I’m sure glad He did! 

It’s tough sometimes having to juggle being a mom during the day, working on orders until all hours of the night to keep up, answering customers, and still trying to get enough sleep. But God has blessed me with a way to stay home and raise our two children, and still help earn money for our family. Not only that, but I have met a couple amazing people because of my business that have changed my life and the way I see certain things.

April and her beautiful family

One person in particular has helped me appreciate my children and life so much more. I was contacted by a couple different people within a short period of time through my store. I won’t go into detail, but one lady had a very difficult situation her daughter was being faced with, and the other lady was a co-founder of an organization that provides support and help for just such a situation. I knew it wasn’t a coincidence that these ladies had contacted me at the same time, God was showing me that I could use my store to help others who needed comfort.

www.ProjectSweetPeas.com

I have since become good friends with Kate, the co-founder of the organization Project Sweet Peas. She, along with many other division leaders all over the country, help bring comfort and support to families and babies who are in the NICU, and to families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. It is an amazing, loving organization that I support with all my heart. Because Kate just happened to contact me through my store one day, I have gained a wonderful friend, learned to appreciate every moment with my children even more, and am reminded everyday that God’s love can bring us through even the hardest times.

So even though I thought I had a good plan laid out for my life, and I would never get into the “girlie girl” kind of stuff…it looks like there was a different plan in the works for me. And I’m ok with that, I wouldn’t trade it for the world! I’ve learned to never dismiss anything as a possibility for the future, and to say “Ok God, what’s next?!”

April is still has her tomboy moments...
but now she share's her love of sports with her biggest fans!

April and her Very Smart daughter, Kenzie!
Hi Kenzie!!!

Kenzie's Treasures on Etsy  

Kenzie's Treasures on Facebook      

Project Sweet Peas Website 

Project Sweet Peas Facebook Page 

A Perfect Nights Sleep

Good Morning!  Princess and the Pea here, reporting to you after a great night of sleep! Yes, I felt it necessary to let you know that I had a great nights sleep as this seems to be a rare occurrence these days and I am full of Gratitude for my rest last night!

Anyone else relate?  I know one of my issues in the last 3 months has been the breakdown of my favorite pillow.  Yes...it finally has resorted to being a flat pillow with lumps instead of the nice semi firm poofy and moldable pillow it used to be.  Gosh I sound like I'm talking about some parts of my body here...but I digress!  Anyway... I have been in search of the perfect pillow for months now... to replace my long lost buddy.  So far... All I have come up with is a stack of new pillows for our guest room and a very tense, sore neck and shoulders.  Thank goodness for the essential oils...lavender has saved the day...or rather the nights for me...helping me to settle down into a deep, restful sleep.

Enough about me.. I came here to share this awesome article I found today on sleeping positions and wanted to share it with the rest of you!  I hope you find it helpful... Ni Nite! zzzzzzz

____________________

FINDING THE PERFECT SLEEP POSITION

By SUMATHI REDDY

Tossing and turning all night to find that perfect sleeping position?

Experts say there is no one right way to sleep. But for people with certain types of pain and medical conditions, there are positions that can help keep problems from getting worse and may even alleviate them. In some cases, sleeping in the same position night after night can itself create pain, such as neck or shoulder problems.

"It's important that people take time to think about how they position themselves when they sleep," said Peggy Brill, a Manhattan orthopedic physical therapist. "Rest is important for the muscular skeletal system to recover" from the day's stresses, she said. "The proteins get back into the muscles, there's rejuvenation of the body, so you want to be in a healthy anatomical position when you sleep."

The most common sleeping position is on the side—57% of us at least start the night in that position, according to a nationwide survey of more than 2,000 people performed for mattress maker Temper-Pedic  North America. That's followed by the back—17% of people opt for this position—and the stomach, 11%. Most of the remaining respondents said their position when they first go to bed varies each night.

Moving around during the night is common. Videotaped sleep studies have found that adults might change their position between three and 36 times a night, with the average person switching about a dozen times. The tendency to shift in one's sleep decreases with age.

Each sleep position has benefits and disadvantages, although sleeping on the stomach generally isn't recommended because it can constrain the neck. Lying flat on your back, for instance, may be good for the lower back but can exacerbate digestive and breathing problems—and snoring.

"You want to make sure that your joints are not being excessively compressed or muscles put in abnormally shortened or stretched positions," said Mary Ann Wilmarth, chief of physical therapy at Harvard University Health Services.

Dr. Wilmarth said that always sleeping in the same position can cause problems. Consistently compressing the body on one side or stretching another side over time can create an imbalance and result in soreness or pain in that area or exacerbate an existing condition.

In general, for most painful conditions, experts say choosing a mattress that isn't too firm or soft is ideal. Something that conforms to your body without creating pressure points works best. And surrounding yourself with multiple pillows usually helps. Getting comfortable when you sleep is important because a lack of sleep can cause joint inflammation and lowers your pain threshold, experts say.

Sometimes the right sleep position changes. Maurine Netchin, 65 years old, used to sleep on her stomach when she was younger. In recent years, the Manhattan resident started sleeping on her left side to avoid light streaming through a window. With the help of Ms. Brill, the orthopedic physical therapist, Ms. Netchin discovered that sleeping on her left side was aggravating an old injury to the rotator cuff in her left shoulder. She now sleeps on her right side hugging a full-length body pillow between her knees. The position allows her to keep her left shoulder and arm in a neutral position, akin to sitting in a chair with arm rests.

Here are some common conditions that may be helped by specific sleep positions.

Obstructive sleep apnea/snoring.Stay off your back, sleep specialists say. This potentially dangerous sleep disorder results in breathing interruptions caused by a blockage or narrowing of the airway, often resulting from the tongue or tissue in the throat collapsing. It's often accompanied by snoring. Roughly 10% of sleep apnea patients can be cured by changing their sleep position, said Eric Olson, co-director of the Mayo Clinic's Center for Sleep Medicine in Rochester, Minn. While there are many sleep products designed to keep people off their backs, Dr. Olson and other experts recommend sewing a tennis ball onto the back of your night shirt to avoid rolling on to your back. And for people who want to stay on their back, he suggests elevating the head by at least 30 degrees or using a wedge pillow.

Acid Reflux. Sleeping on your side can help this condition, commonly known as heartburn. Back sleeping can pose problems because the head isn't elevated relative to the stomach so gastric contents can bubble up to the esophagus or back of the throat. Another solution is to prop up your head with pillows or to raise the head of the bed by two to four inches by placing bricks or large books under the front legs, sleep experts say. Some studies suggest that sleeping on your left side is better than the right in terms of alleviating reflux, but experts say the evidence isn't conclusive.

Back pain. The rule of thumb for many back problems is that sleeping on the back is the most comfortable. Keep a neutral position, with your spine aligned as if standing straight. Avoid flexing forward, for instance, by sinking into a mattress that is too soft, or bending backward, said Nick Shamie, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at University of California, Los Angeles and spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

For people suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis, in which nerves are pinched in the lower back, lying in any position can create significant pain except, perhaps, when the knees are bent.

"When these people are sleeping, whether on the back or side, they like to bend their knees because that brings their legs up and opens up the back of their spine," said Dr. Shamie. Spinal stenosis patients often place a pillow under their knees when sleeping on their back or between their legs if sleeping on their side. Adopting a fetal position while sleeping also helps ease pain for many patients, he said.

Shoulder pain. Avoid sleeping on the side with the painful shoulder. Sleep on your back with a small pillow to support the bad shoulder. Or, if you sleep on the other side, hug a pillow.

Also, if the neck isn't adequately supported, you could get compression of the nerves that go from the neck to the arm, said Harvard's Dr. Wilmarth. "That's when you can get numbness or tingling, usually with the compression of a nerve from the sleeping position," she said.

Neck pain. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, experts advise people with this condition. Turning the neck to the side compresses the joints. "Sleep on your side or back," Ms. Brill said.

Also, use a pillow that is as thick as the space between your neck and shoulder, and position it above the shoulders so they don't become hunched, she said. "You want a soft down pillow or something similar that you can kind of bulk and put into the hollow of your neck and support your head," Ms. Brill said.

Joseph Feinberg, director of the physiatry, or rehabilitative medicine, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, suggests supporting the neck.

This helped Loli Wu, 45, an investment banker in Manhattan, who said he used to wake up with horrible neck cramps. Dr. Feinberg diagnosed a herniated cervical disc, the result of years of imperfect posture.

In addition to physical therapy, Dr. Feinberg suggested Mr. Wu use a rolled towel in his pillowcase. "Since doing that I have not had a reoccurrence of the neck cramps," Mr. Wu said. "I stick to it religiously now."

Write to Sumathi Reddy at sumathi.reddy@wsj.com

A version of this article appeared January 15, 2013, on page D1 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Find the Perfect Sleep Position.

To view this article in its entirety please go HERE.

This article has been reposted with the permission of its author, Sumathi Reddy.

__________________________

Now Go Have Yourself A Deep, Restful Sleep!

Green Monster Smoothie

One day my friend and fellow artisan, Jess Yelvington, shared a Green Monster Smoothie recipe on Facebook. I absolutely LOVE smoothies.. my all time fave being the old standby, Strawberry Banana.  I could drink a smoothie everyday for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy with that choice of flavors.  But this 'green monster thing' had caught my eye and upon reading the ingredients...it caught my sense of adventure too! Oh Why Not!

So I gathered all the ingredients and threw them all together for my first Green Monster Smoothie and I dare say... the second it hit my taste buds... visions of Strawberry Banana evaporated and the Green Monster quickly replace it as my fave!  I'M HOOKED!!!  And I can safely say... I'M A GREEN MONSTER SMOOTHIE LIFER!!!   Can't wait for you to try it too...better yet...for you to spring it on your kids and family!  

Since I am beginning this lil journey of posting about Well Being, I figured this would be a great start...to share with you the blessed bliss of a Green Monster Smoothie!  Now I have made a few, not many, tweaks from the original recipe to suit my lifestyle and to lower the calorie intake, which is why I have given you the actual brands of the products I use.  But you can choose whatever brand you prefer for yourself and it will be just as good I promise!  Now...enough of me... ready for the best smoothie recipe ever???

Green Monster Smoothie

1 cup       Unsweetened Almond Milk

1/2 cup    Stoneyfield Vanilla Yogurt (sweetened w/stevia)    

1 TBL      PB2 *powdered Peanut Butter (substitute almond, peanut butter if desired)

                (I use PB2 due to less fat and less cals)

1              Frozen Banana Sliced

1-2 Handfuls  Fresh Spinach

1 scoop   Xyngular LEAN Protein Powder  *I use because it only has 44 cals and is

                loaded with vitamins/minerals ...not all protein powders include them

Add all the above ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  ENJOY!!!

Be prepared to have a Big Smile and a very satisfied tummy!!!

                                         

                                    Your reward for making it through this post is below!

                                  

Well Being...What does it mean to you?

Well Being... 

What does it mean to you?  

Well Being... To me is... 

Balance...

Mind...Body...Spirit...

It seems I am always in a "season of change" in search of the seeming elusive... Balance!

I feel sure I am not alone!

Therefore, I'm starting a new series on Gratitude n Grace 

where I will post my finds...

thoughts...

experiences...

in my personal search of Balance... 

~ Mind ~

~ Body ~

~ Spirit ~

Be sure to look at the Topics Cloud to the right and select the topic 

you would like to read.  As I post about Balance I will label 

them accordingly, to make it easier to find...

keeping in mind that truly

they are all interconnected...

as we are! 

xo

Best Of All...

I would LOVE to hear from YOU

 and give you the opportunity to share as well!

If you have anything you would like to share (ie: an experience, a recipe, a picture, a blog)

 with the rest of us concerning any of the topics on this blog.  

Please write me so we can set up a time for you to do so.

selahgay@gmail.com

This blog is about Gratitude n Grace I would like to keep it as an uplifting place for myself and others to share 
encouraging thoughts, experiences and of course 
a chuckle or three!  

As I will be sharing and discussing some physiological, psychological and spiritual topics 

I feel I must include this disclaimer to my blog:

I do not proclaim to be an expert at anything... including health or counseling, therefore please use good conscience sense and check with your practitioner if you have a health condition before trying any recipe, essential oil, massage, or any other practice that may alter your present condition!  

(click here for expanded version)

She has Inner Resources

Ohhhhh Eloise!  You stole my heart back in 196*^%$*% when I received my first book Eloise At Christmastime from my big sister...(who by the way has ALWAYS been smaller than me!)  I remember where we were living, a fancy shmancy 2 story apartment in Meyerland and my sister, Nesta (as I have always called her) was working at Joske's department store wrapping gifts!  Of course I could have my facts wrong...but this is how I prefer to remember it!  (said in my most innocent Eloise voice!)

Over the years Eloise has continued to be my all time favorite book and in my opinion, one of the best descriptions of how I envision myself as a child...even today.  Her reckless abandon screams out from inside my much older self...screaming to be let loose and enjoyed on a daily basis!  Funny how we see ourselves... and yet how we actually allow ourselves to be seen by others!  Sure I have my Eloise moments where everyone looks at me and wonders what in the world is she thinking... but for the most part, I'm pretty reserve...but for those who have known me...anything can be blurted out at any time...even surprising...ME!

So why am I talking about Eloise today???   Well it all started with a dream.  One I experienced last night.  I won't go into all the details here but just a small part that still brings a grin upon my face.
   
     I was in a room full of familiar faces... I was a young girl...and I was talking with a young friend who was a boy.  I asked him if I had ever shown him how I could fly.  He looked surprised and replied with a chuckle and an unbelieving, "No!"  I knew he had not ever seen me as I knew I had never revealed this...ability...to anyone but myself.  I looked around and everyone in the room was talking with each other...much like in a social setting but it looked like a classroom... a large room with white walls and dark wood floors and the same dark wood around the windows and large wood doors.  The sun was shining outside, lighting up the room through the tall multi-paned windows.
     I then looked back at my friend and began to concentrate on lifting off the ground, which I started to do immediately.  My friend had this shocked look on his face as he watched me rise off the ground higher and higher.  Much to my delight others began to take notice as well.  I wanted to squeal  but knew I needed to keep my attention on what I was doing or I would begin to lower in elevation.
    By this time most everyone was watching in silence and amazement as I continued to rise higher and higher....almost reaching the ceiling which was vaulted with wood beams. When I was about 5 feet from the ceiling I stopped and maintained that height for a few seconds... I could tell that it would take a concentrated effort to reach all the way to the top...so I took my mind off of all those gawking eyes and open mouths long enough to make my way all the way to the top.
     After reaching the ceiling, I proceeded to do a back flip much like a swan dive but in a perfect circle... I had the biggest smile on my face as I did it so effortlessly.  Then as easily as I rose up.... I let myself back down, steadily landing on my feet.
     There was a lot of hoopla going on about what I had just done...but it wasn't anything to me.  It was as easy as walking to me...but I knew once it was revealed to others...it was something special... innate within me...but I also knew...it wasn't only me that had this ability...but all of us.  ~end~

The child within has no fear to do what is natural or unnatural...

When I decided to share this magical dream with you, I went in search of a picture or drawing that would best depict the scene. I couldn't find what I was seeing in my minds eye, so I attempted to draw it out.  While I was drawing I recalled Eloise... and the many wonderful action pictures that I so loved of her adventures.  That's when I found this lovely drawing of her... from one of her books. It portrays exactly how I was feeling as I began my accent to the ceiling... and what a wonderful caption to go with the action... "She has Inner Resources"   Yes...I agree.  WE DO...

Now, why, you may ask, am I sharing this silliness with you today?  I believe it's a message...a message for each one of us willing to listen and apply to our own lives.  We Can Fly!  YES!  We Really Can!  There was no doubt...no fear... that rose up within me in this dream.  It was matter of fact.  It was precise and clear as to what I wanted to accomplish and didn't stop for a moment, after looking around the room at all the people who may take notice, to question whether I could or couldn't do this thing, or what would others think, or how was I going to keep my concentration while others were watching... I just did it.  Hey... maybe NIKE was on to something... Just Do It!  Sounds simple...and truly... it is!

The Moment Of Truth Has Arrived

Only WE make it difficult, scary, impossible.  What lies dormant within YOU?  What are you wiling to do about it?  We are not guaranteed a tomorrow... But we DO have THIS MOMENT to rise up and do a backwards swan dive!!!  So glad I did... and so will YOU!   I Promise! 

A Year In Pictures 2012

To Close out 2012... I figured I would do a Year In Pictures sort of review...

I do hope you enjoy it with me as I reflect on just some of the amazing things I have to be Grateful for...

I started off the year of 2012 by painting the above painting for and donating it to the
St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children to raise awareness
and funding for these beautiful  children.

Postage Stamps with the above painting available at

my ZaZZle Store

BING!  HE DID IT!!!!
Ben Graduated from University of Texas 2012
YAY!!!

Ben GRADUMATATED!!!
Doesn't he look SMART?

AND...
CHRIS Graduated from the ART INSTITUTE!!!


WE ARE SO PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM!!!
 

My Sis, Char and my Brother, Buddy
and Mom and myself...having lunch at Ski Shores.
It had been years since we all were together at one time! 

Chris and his mom...me 

Dan and Grayson chillin and watching the squirrels.
Dan and I love to take time on our patio together... 

Mom (rt) and her friend at Thanksgiving Dinner at Mom's place!

Josh P. and Rachel P. worked their fingers to the bones getting
Poppy and Fern up and running!  Congrats!!!

Troy and Leslye Got Engaged!!!

John and Yoko aka Chris and Katie

One of my Birthday Pressies!

Received many gifts from friends over the course of the year...
I am so blessed with having so many friends... so very blessed! 

The Whole Fam and Dogs at
Christmas 2012

Heather, Josh P. and Rachel P.
Christmas 2012

Heathers Birthday Party Dec 2012

Heather started her new business... HELP!  HeatherStyleMe

Heather and Katie at The Trail of Lights
Christmas 2012

Josh and Heather at the Elephant Room 2012

Josh and Bella at Christmas 2012

Ben and Hannah at Christmas 2012

Mom and Day doin' the Jitterbug back in the 60's
I thought and dreamed of Dad a lot this year...

Ben in Dad's old Marine's jacket...
He looks so much like Dad did as a young man! 

Oh My!  I had no idea that I would be painting so many pumpkins this year...
They now live all over the United States and the U.K.!

I painted several leather things.... This wallet now belongs to Rachel! 

The Fluffy Chicks a shop and blog I share with my Sister, Char,
came into being in 2012!
www.thefluffychicks.com

Sitting Bear now lives in California with my friend Christine.

Bumbles flew off to "bee" a gifted ornie from an
aunt to her neice!

KiKi the Diva Shopping Kitty will soon be heading to a new home!

Candyman Snowman now lives in England with my
friends Paul and Lisa

Bird Keeper Snowman

Jack Splat now lives in Canada with my friend Denise

Works in Progress for Mistletoe Market in Nov.

I hosted Tracy Verdugo from Australia at Paint Mojo Texas in
Wimberley Texas Oct 2012

Tracy showing her techniques

Rachel Rockin' the Mojo

Lots of Beautiful Artists and their Paint Mojo Paintings

I started using Young Living Essential Oils

R.I.P. 18 Wheeler... We Miss Ya Buddy! xo

Zola and Gray open their package from NeeNee!!!

Zola and Grayson trying on their mom, Bella's new Scarf!!! 

Bella has now been a part of our family for THREE YEARS!
We Wuvs You Bella Buttons!!!

Last Painting of the year...
Abstract Kat 2012

  That about caps off my 2012 year.

Best News Ever...

We didn't all burn up on 12-21-12...

that was an accomplishment to be Grateful for as well!

I'm soooo ready to begin 2013...

I have a feeling this will be a 

BIG YEAR!!!

Blessings to ALL

Happy New Year!