Monday, June 17, 2013

Farewell My Fair Weather Friends Pt. I

This is quite possibly one of the toughest posts I've ever written. Partly because I'm acutely aware that quite a number of my friends read this, and may take great offense to it. And partly because this topic is so very personal. However, after a bit of advice from a "friend" I've decided that in order for me to truly move on, I've got to get this off my chest.

I've come to the realization that amongst other things, becoming a parent can change a friendship. For some, it strengthens the bonds of friendship, making it nearly indestructible. And for others, it leaves it in tatters until no amount of past history can do a thing to repair it.

In my weight-loss journey post a while back, I revealed a bit of info about my pregnancy. That was only the tip of the ice-burg. In order for you to truly understand my post, you're going to need to know more about my pregnancy.

My pregnancy was hands down the most difficult period in my life. There are really no words to describe how depressed I was. Not only did Jasmine come as a complete surprise, but at the time, I had just moved into a new apartment with three roommates and had just begun my junior year of college. James was also living in Charlotte three hours away.

One of my roommates was horrible. She was the typical "college roommate horror story" type that you occasionally look back and reflect upon once you've moved on. She ate what little food I could eat without throwing up. Which at this point wasn't much. She and her boyfriend would invite their friends over almost every night and they would smoke "illegal substances" in the apartment. Not too many people will argue that weed smells disgusting, however, for a pregnant woman, it's about 20 times worse.

Along with a very fragile emotional state, medically, I was falling apart. It was one thing after another. The first trimester, was pure hell. I vomited every. single. day. So much that my doctors grew concerned because I kept losing weight, and couldn't keep a thing down. They eventually had to put me on Zofran, which is a common medication prescribed to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. At this point I was going to school everyday; sitting next to students complaining about how tired they were because they had stayed up all night partying.

A few weeks after that, my blood work came back with some troubling results. Apparently my blood platelet levels were abnormally low. Somehow, I had developed something called Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. To this day we're still not certain what exactly caused it. The doctors speculated that I was just one of the unlucky 7% of women who randomly develop it during pregnancy. Because there was reason for concern, they prescribed steroids, which I was required to take three times a day, and scheduled me for weekly visits to have my blood drawn and monitored.

Still, I went to class every day. Then went straight to work afterwards. And then I went home to my tiny little apartment and curled up into a ball and cried. Every. Single. Night. I honestly can't recall one night in that apartment when I didn't cry myself to sleep. I was beyond depressed. It was so bad that one of my professors pulled me aside one day to ask if everything was okay. 

Now years later, I have to wonder why is it that none of my friends (with the exception of one of my dearest friends) came over to check on me. How did they not notice that I lost almost 14 lbs in two months? These same friends I had comforted as they had gone through their trials. These same friends that I had listed to complain about their relationships, jobs, and life. These same friends that I would have all but walked over hot coals barefoot for. They suddenly seemed to have lost my number.

That apartment became my own little self-imposed prison. I didn't go out an mingle at night. I didn't eat in the cafeteria with friends. I never even had guests over. I went to class, came home. Went straight into my bedroom and closed the door and stayed there until it was time to work. Sometimes I would eat. Most of the time I didn't. 

I began driving home frequently to visit my friends and family. Every time I was in town, I would always go out of my way to make sure that I spent time with everyone. I started noticing that suddenly they had things to do and couldn't meet with me. They had homework to catch up on. Or plans with the family. Except I would get on facebook and see that they were at the movies with friends. 

By my second trimester, I had moved to Charlotte with James. Things had simmered down a bit, and it finally seemed as though we were through the worst of the storm. Boy were we wrong. 

To Be Continued...

Photo cred) Tumbler

Thursday, June 13, 2013

A Lovely Blog Hop

Welcome to A Lovely Blog Hopwhere each Thursday we have the grand opportunity to meet and connect with lovely new bloggers, such as myself! Now you have something to do and somewhere to go on Thursdays!
 Enjoy!

Rules (Not really rules but a guide):
1. Follow your host and any co-hosts (if it applies).
I am Rekita @ Her&Nicole and I am the first linky. 
Leave me a comment so I will know who to follow back.

Your Co-Hosts:
Quana (sponsor) | The Accidental Military Wife

Lauren | Fizz & Frosting



2. Link it!
Link up your blog or anything else you find lovely. Share your family, fashion, food, crafts, or anything that you love this week. Please, please, please, share the love and include a link back to this blog hop.

3. Spread it!
This is a blog hop after all, so hop around! Visit other blogs and say Hi!

4. Grab it! 
Grab the button and place it somewhere in your blog or add just the link. Preferably in your blog post. 
This is to help us promote this blog hop, believe me, the more the merrier! Or post the link somewhere in your blog. 



5. Tweet it!
Please help me to promote this blog hop by sharing it to others. 
So tweet it to show everyone where you link up on Thursdays!

6. The most important rule of them all, HAVE FUN BLOG HOPPING!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

On the Cheerios Commercial Fallout

Last week a few of you asked me how I felt about the Cheerios commercial fallout. To tell you the truth I had an angry response drafted and ready to post by Tuesday morning.

It's still sitting there.

I decided to do something a bit different. Today, I decided I'm not going to give "them" the response they so desperately need in order to validate their argument. I'm not going to paint a target sign on my blog and subject my family to the insane antics of the infamous anonymous Youtube commenters. I am certainly not going to tarnish my blog or my reputation by publishing a seething post in retaliation.

I am better than that.

Instead, I'm going to acknowledge that it happened.  I've written a few posts about some of the issues James and I have encountered in public-- the sideways glances, the angry glares and hushed whispering--these things actually do happen. So often that we've become somewhat immune to it.

So today I'm not troubled by this outrageous display of pure and undiluted racism, I'm saddened that so many people are shocked. Today my heart is heavy for the future generations that just might have the unfortunate experience of encountering this type of behavior.

Still, I remain hopeful that I will live to see Dr. Martin Luther King's beautiful dream of brotherhood and acceptance become our reality.

Until then, my family and I will continue to serve as a reminder that love knows no color.

Cheerios commercial fallout, interracial relationships, families


P.S. As far as I'm concerned my family and I have become Cheerios biggest supporters. Seriously, we are going to live, breathe and eat cheerios non stop for the foreseeable future. Other companies, please take notes on how to be this awesome.

P.S.S. In case you haven't yet seen the commercial, check it out...

Monday, June 10, 2013

10 Awesomely Cheap and Easy Father's Day Crafts

With Father's Day right around the corner, wives and children all over the country are scrambling to find the best gift for their dad. Today, however, I'm going to give you 10 awesome reasons not to spend hours in the store in search of that perfect gift. Check out this awesome list of insanely cheap and awesome Father's Day crafts that both you and the kids can make for the special guy in your lives.

Father's day, gifts, diy


The first four projects are aimed at adults,but have no fear, your kiddos can still join in the fun. Just be sure to keep an eye on them as most of these crafts involve glass, chemicals and scissors.

I've been in love with these since the day I first spotted them on Pinterest. They are super easy to make and look fantastic on a nightstand or mantel.


This project is a great way to display your favorite photos of the guy in your life. Who knew an old empty soup can could be so useful?


I also found this little gem a while back on Pinterest. How awesome is this? Word of advice, don't wait until the day before Father's Day to attempt to make this gift. You're going to need a bit of time to drink the Whiskey so you'll have an empty bottle. Not a bit drinker? Call over a few friends and have a ladies poker night.


This shaving cream is a great gift for that special guy in your life. It's super easy to make, smells wonderful and is great for sensitive skin. 

Here's one for both you and the kiddos to do together. This project is a bit more difficult than the rest, so be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to finish.


Is this not adorable? Imagine how great this will look in a frame on your mantel? Don't feel obligated to stick to this pose or phrase. Get creative with it! Personalize it and make it yours. 


Another super simple yet completely adorable project. All your kiddos will need are their hands, colorful construction paper, scissors and tape.


Everyone loves a puzzle. Now your guy can enjoy a puzzle along with some of his favorite memories.



Here's another messy project for your kiddos to enjoy. Instead of the typical handprint card, let them switch it up a bit and get playful. Your guy will appreciate the humor.



10. Daddy Tool Frame
This is almost too adorable for words. Once the kiddos are done putting this together, just pop in one of their favorite photos of them and daddy, and voila, perfection.
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The best gifts are the ones that come from the heart, and these heartfelt gifts are sure to put a smile on any Dad's face. As always, if you try out one of these crafts, come back and leave a link to your project so I can show you off. Have another awesome idea for a homemade Father's Day gift, leave the link here or shoot me an email at tasutton22@gmail.com.

Happy Crafting

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

10 Fun Science Projects for your Kids This Summer

10 summer projects your kids will loveSummer has officially arrived! If you're like most parents, you're probably scouring the internet in search of activities to keep the kiddos busy and active this summer. What better way than to incorporate some learning into the mix?

The best thing about these experiments is that they are designed for kids of all ages, are chemical free and child safe. You can rest assured that no harm will come to your little ones while they are having fun with these experiments. Kids of all ages can get involved; remember, it's never to early to get your children's brains active. Bonus: establishing that learning can be fun at a young age will encourage your children to strive for academic excellence in the years to come.

Keep you children's brains active and their imaginations expanding this summer with these 10 awesome summer science experiments that will have your kids telling everyone you're the coolest mama on the block.

summer, science experiments, activities, learning, education, children

 Let the experimenting begin...

This summer give your kids the permission to get loud. Real loud. This simple science experiment will teach your kiddos all about how sound is made.



This neat experiment will teach your little ones where rain comes from. When you're done creating your rain jar, sit back and watch as the warm moist air from the water inside the jar rises and mixes with the cool air that is created by the ice cubes on top of the jar. This will cause condensation which will cause "rain" to fall inside the jar. 



By using only sugar, water, and food dye you can teach your children all about density and concentration and have an incredibly fun time while doing it. This super simple and colorful experiment will have your kiddos enthralled by science for years to come.



This super simple project will teach your children about geode rocks. Take advantage of  how long it take for the project to complete and use the time to read all about geodes. Here's a great resource that will teach you all you need to know about these beautiful rocks.



Every kid loves a volcano. Teach your children all about volcanoes using this super cool experiment. All you need is a coconut, vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, food dye and a big imagination.



Here's another excellent lesson in density that is just as educational for adults as it is for children. The best thing about this project is that all the supplies can easily be found in your home.



Now that you've worked up quite sweat from all these awesome science projects, take a quick break and have your kiddos prepare a blender free slushy. This project does require overnight prep, so be sure to read the instructions and set everything up the night before.



Teach your kiddos all about gas with this fun experiment. All it requires is a bottle, balloon, baking soda and vinegar. Simply mixing the ingredients will form carbon dioxide and will cause the balloon to inflate before your very eyes.


Disappearing Egg Shell
Find out what happens when you submerge an egg into a bowl of vinegar. This experiment will take a few days so in the meantime, you'll be able to work on another few projects in the process.



Keep cool this summer with this colorful experiment. This easy-peasy project is just as educational as it is eye-catching.

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Now that you've finished up all these projects, keep your kids interested  in science by putting together a fun kit for your next science experiments. Check out this Homemade Science Kit Gift Basket + Printables

As always, come back and leave a comment in the comment section below if you decided to do one of these projects with your kids. Have any other interesting science experiments that we would be interested in? Send an email to tasutton22@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Until next time,
    

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

How to Schedule A Post In Blogger

blogger, posts, scheduling
As bloggers we all know we can't be everywhere at once. We have lives outside of the computer screen. We have kids that require our attention. Jobs that we need to focus on. Husbands that we need to spend time with. That's why being able to schedule posts to publish automatically is so important.

For SEO purposes, timing is everything. Publishing posts at the same time is great for Alexa ranking and Google Page Rank. It also allows your readers to become familiar with your posting schedule and will give them something to look forward to.

By scheduling your posts, you can unchain yourself from your computer and spend more time focusing on  life outside the computer screen. Here are a few quick steps that will have you scheduling your posts in no time:

1. Click on new post and write your new post
  

2.Click the schedule button on the right hand side of the post settings sidebar and choose the time and date option and choose the time you would like your post to go live. Hit the done button when finished.



3. Once you hit done, click on the publish button as you typically would. Don't worry, hitting the publish button will not publish the post, it is just the final step to schedule your post.

Now, sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor and your new found freedom.

Do you have any tips yourself that you think new bloggers could use? Feel free to link them up in the comment section below or send me the link to tasutton22@gmail.com and I'll feature it on my blog.

Until next time,


Monday, June 3, 2013

Adventures At The Farmers Market

This weekend my momma-in-law ( AKA Momma B) surprised us with an impromptu visit, which gave us the perfect opportunity to do something we had all been dying to do; check out our local Farmers Market.

My love for Farmers Markets started shortly after watching Fat Sick and Nearly Dead.  Just two weeks after watching it, James and I happily walked into Bed Bath and Beyond and purchased our first juicer. Five months later I'm still convinced it was the best purchase we've ever made.

The upside is that because of our juicing, the three of us are more healthy than we've ever been. Gone are the days of trying to force feed Jasmine veggies in an attempt to keep her healthy. Now she happily drinks her fruits and veggies and begs for more. Instead of trying to make sure that we're eating veggies for lunch and breakfast, I can juice up our vegetable and fruit intake for the whole day, and get it done in one shot.

The downside to our juicing fest is that it can be a bit costly--enter Farmers Markets. In order to cut the costs we've started finding more inexpensive ways to stock up on our fruits and veggies. Lately we've been hitting up the local Korean grocery store and getting our hull at a reduced cost, however, after our trip to this particular Farmer's Market, I foresee some more early mornings spent perusing the amazing selection of produce at the Matthews Community Farmers Market in our future.

This market has a huge selection of pesticide free produce, along with grass-fed beef, pastured pork, free-range and pastured chicken, soft goat cheese, fresh baked goods, local honey, jams, eggs from free-range chickens, fresh cut flowers, pastas, herbs, herbal soaps, hand-made baskets, hand-made pottery and other crafts. Basically, the Matthews Community Farmers Market has it all. If you live in the Charlotte area, this one is well worth the trip.

Do you enjoy Farmers Markets? Any tips for a Farmers Market newbie? Also, if you're interested in juicing, be sure to check out Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. This link will take you directly to the free version on Hulu. Enjoy!