Early on-set Alzheimer’s..at age 25?

Okay so I don’t really have alzheimer’s but sometimes I totally feel like it! I know my forgetfulness happens a lot of times when I am distracted but still sometimes it’s just ridiculous! I either do something and totally don’t remember doing it, or can’t find essential things or just totally space out!

For example, the other day we decided to celebrate the good weather (and the fact that we actually at the beach..well a timeshare by the beach) and go lay out at the pool. Normally I am good at prepping my skin for summer by going tanning so I don’t burn (since I have pasty white skin). However, this year I didn’t and I also didn’t really feel like hurting the whole week so I was really good about putting sunscreen on (or so I thought). It was a good time of laying out by the pool, relaxing reading, and good conversations.

As the night progressed I started to notice that my right arm was starting to hurt and was really hot. Finally I looked in the mirror and this is what I saw…

 

The right side was defiantly bright red and burnt while the left was still it’s natural pasty white color..what the heck?! I racked my brain to remember if that side had been in the sun more..but no it was actually my left side that had been more in the sun. This totally doesn’t make sense! After a few minutes of being really confused..it hit me…when I was being so good about sun screening my exposed epidermis I had one of my total space out moments and put sunscreen on my left arm twice and totally missed my right! Really?! sometimes I wonder about my own sanity!

What are some of you crazy forgetful moments? Any good sunscreen stories?

Off he went, in to the wild blue yonder…

Hello! My name is Lauryn and my blog home is over at LauReality. I want to thank 20-Something Bloggers for giving me the chance to discover a whole new network of bloggers! I've enjoyed checking out Ashley's adorable page and all of her wonderful commenters!

Reading about Ashley and her Air Force hubby reminded me of my own personal experience with that branch of the military. The Air Force has always been my favorite of the armed services. They're the ones I've learned the most about and actually had some interaction with, and who doesn't look good in those Blues? In all honesty, the reason for my military favoritism has to do with my high school boyfriend and the fact that he joined the Air Force after graduation.

Being the naive, yet supportive high school girlfriend that I was, I made sure I had the hats, the sweatshirts, the coffee mugs, the bumper stickers... I even considered going to college in Colorado to be near him at the Air Force Academy. Thankfully I came to my senses and realized that our relationship was not the stuff of great romance, but rather the stuff of kids who knew very little about life. We learned a lot from each other, but eventually we parted ways. Our relationship may not have moved any mountains, but it's what has happened since we broke up that has really stuck with me.

While we were together this boyfriend (let's call him Bob) had only planned to take a few classes at a community college and become a mechanic. He was a talented athlete who had lots of interests, but no one had ever given him the motivation to reach for those goals and he struggled quite a bit academically. Throughout our relationship I had always encouraged Bob to go after those more lofty aspirations and to apply to some good schools. As he neared graduation, he was being pursued by several incredible schools. I kept encouraging him. Heck, I even helped him write his admissions essays (remember the part where I mentioned being naive? yeah).

Bob went on to do great things. He eventually ended up at the University of Michigan, with his tuition being paid for by the Air Force. He's watching his professional dreams come true, and I'm very happy for him. For years after we separated he's told me that if it weren't for my support and encouragement, he would still be living in our hometown fixing cars. I honestly couldn't be happier for all that he's accomplished. He deserves happiness as much as anyone, but I also can't help but notice the irony.

According to him, because of my encouragement Bob graduated from one of the best schools in the country. And yet here I am unsure that I'll be able to find a job, wondering how I'll ever repay my student loans. Note to 17-year-old self: Apparently writing kick ass essays for someone else does little to further one's own career.

Whenever I think of the Air Force, I'm reminded of a time in my life when I was less concerned with asking questions and more focused on creating opportunity. In the end, you never know what kind of lasting impression a person will have on you. We really can't discount any of the relationships that come our way, because there's no way of knowing what direction your life will take for having walked alongside them. When it comes to life and love and learning, the sky's the limit!

60 Pound bag..

Right now I am typing this from Cali!! Whoot Whoot :)

I know that the economy is facing some hard times but seriously..the baggage fees for airlines are ridiculous! As if flying hadn’t gotten annoying enough going through security, now you have to worry about paying for you bags too (and all those people who “never heard of the change in policy”!) Since now they charge you for both bags I was trying to be a frugal flyer and get all of my stuff packed into one big bag with one carry on (not an easy thing to do when I will be gone for 3 weeks and as Tori Spelling says.. “You have to have many options for the different moods you are in”..so true!) Anyways, I got everything situated just right the night before I headed out to the airport with just the last minute things to put in the bag in the morning.

Everything was good to go until I picked up my bag to take downstairs and realized that it seemed exceptionally heavy. Oh no! Am I going to go over the weight allowance (don’t even get me started on that..grr). The Hubs tried to weight the bag (by weighing himself and then himself with the bag) and said it was 51 pounds which is just one pound over the allowance. Good I thought, I can just shuffle a few things around when I get there.

Let me just add in really quick that I had first planned on just dealing with the fees and packing too bigger bags so that I wouldn’t have to worry about the weight or room. However, I was trying get around spending the excess money and decided to forgo that idea and just bring a smaller carry-on.

Okay now that I have said that I will continue..

So I get to the check-in area and boy was it crowed! Also, apparently now American Airlines has it where you have to do the self check-in and then get in line and have them weigh your bags..not a very smart or efficient way of doing it if you ask me. As I got in line to check in I saw a scale so I weighed my bag..60 pounds..there is no way?! The Hubs couldn’t be that off! I totally thought the scale was broken or something and decided to ignore what it was telling me (always believe airport scales). I did the whole self check-in thing and then moved to the next line for the baggage all the time nervous that maybe the scale was truthful.

Oh and let me just vent some more by saying that it is totally crazy that it cost more to pay an overage fee than it does to just pay for another bag..what is up with that!

As I approached the lady at the counter almost in panic mode..what am I going to do if it is over? There is no way I am going to pay an extra $50! I set the suitcase on the scale and saw the number…59 pounds..oh no! And here is the convo that came next..

Me: oh no let me move some stuff around

lady: okay but hurry there is a long line

Me: okay give me one sec (as I open my bags and try to move everything around..why oh why did I put my undies on top?)

Me: okay let’s see now

Lady: it’s 55 pounds

me: I’m sorry just give me one sec (now with half my luggage strewn all over the floor in front of everyone.)

Me: okay how about now?

Lady: 51 pounds

Me: are you serious?!

Nice Lady: it’s okay..i’ll let it slide.

Me: Thank you so much!

I was very grateful that she took pity on me and I tried to ignore the evil stares of those around me who I was holding up!

The hard part was the fact that I couldn’t fit everything in the smaller carry-on that I was now checking in so after I dropped of the bags I had to run through the airport carrying extra shoes and clothes in my hands as I went to security (I didn’t have a bag to put it in since I had to check it)! As I raced through the airport to security I was dropping my shoes all over the place (big shout out to all of you who were kind enough to point out or pick up said dropped clothing!)

Once I made it through security I headed straight to the Hudson news place and purchased a magazine so that I would have a bag to put all of my crap wonderful clothing in. However, I should have just stuck to my original plan because I still had to pay for both bags and didn’t get the benefit of having more room! After that everything went well but I am beginning to loath flying!

What are some of your crazy airport stories?

Cali Bound :)

First I want to say a Huge thanks for all of your prayers and support! You guys are amazing :) Andy is doing well, they just took him in to about a 4-5 hour surgery for temporary skin graphs. They are going to try and do as much as they can depending on how his body holds up. Please continue to pray and thank you again for all of the encouraging words and prayers..God truly is mighty to save and his power and glory are being shown right now! Katie and the rest of the family are doing really well and they amaze me with wonderful attitudes and trust in the Lord.

Now on to other funtastic matters…

In less than 24 hours (because I didn’t want to do the math) I will be getting up at the crack of dawn..heading to philly airport and then cali bound!! whoot whoot! Carlsbad here I come and then on to Bakersfield..oh how I have missed you! There are several dinners in the freezer and laundry is done so hopefully the Hubs will survive ;)

I will hopefully have internet access so I plan on trying to blog as much as possible..though I don’t know how realistic it will be! So if you don’t hear from me for a while you’ll know I haven’t forgotten about you! I am also bringing the Hubs camera (since I don’t have one of my own) so I planning on having tons of good pics to show you guys too!

Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully the next time I talk to you all it will be from the wonderful west coast!

Urgent Prayer Request!

Andy Smith was in a serious motorcycle accident on Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Andy was on his way to work when he ran into the back of a pickup truck that was stopped in the middle of the road. He was taken to KMC and then had to be air-lifted to the Fresno Burn Center at Community. He is currently in critical condition and 50% of his body has 3rd degree burns. He is estimated to be here about 4 months with about 1 year of rehabilitation.

Andy is a strong believer in Jesus Christ and we know that the Lord allows things in our lives for a reason. He is a very strong man who is loved by many. He is engaged to his fiancé Katie and they are set to get married this November.

Andy is a fun-loving person who has a passion for Christ and seeing others come to know Him.

Katie is a good Childhood friend of mine. She is the most amazing girl and an awesome woman of God! I can’t imagine how hard this is for them, their excitement for the upcoming wedding couldn’t be masked, but she is very strong and I know that God will get them through this. He has a plan for them and I am excited to see where this lead them!

Please pray for them as Andy starts to recover. They were afraid they were going to have to amputate his left foot but as for now he has a strong pulse in both feet!! Praise God!

They have a long road to recovery ahead. Pray for guidance for the doctors, strength for the family and Andy, and comfort as the figure out what lies ahead!

Thank you!

Oh and they are posting updates on his condition at http://www.carepages.com/carepages/updatesandprayersforandy

Stop the Slackerness!!

I hate to admit it but I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to posting the wonderful awards bestowed on me from some fabulous bloggers!

Please know that I feel so honored and it totally makes my day…I just am not the quickest on turn-around!!

First, Alli made my day, life, week..with this award:

Thank you so much!!!

I am racking my brain to think of 7 things that I have had yet to reveal about myself…

1. I use sugar free coffee syrup in my oatmeal..and I have to have oatmeal every morning.

2. I am addicted to Diet Coke but I spend way too much money to buy the bottles instead of the cans.

3. I have had more jobs in the last 3 years than the rest of my life combined (We need to move b/c there is no where left for me to work in NJ)!

4. I go through paper towels quicker than you could ever imagine..thanks mom for that habit :)

5. I love to make gourmet food for the hubs every night but I then fix myself the same thing every night…which is mostly veggies..yumm!

6. I take the cheese off my pizza and just eat the crust (which the hubs likes cause then he gets the cheese).

7. I am in the process of starting an amazing etsy store for my mother-in-law and myself…updates soon!

well that’s about all of that..don’t worry I have many more weird traits that will be revealed eventually!

I want to know more about all of you so I am bestowing this award on all of my fellow readers! I know it is kind of a cop out but I just couldn’t decided. Please don’t feel obligated..but I would love to hear your 7 things! Thank you for being a faithful reader!

Now for the next wonderful goodness..

Brittany Ann bestowed on me this amazing award..

Thank you so much!!! I am totally honored :)

I loved reading about her t-shirt keepsake and it got me thinking…what do I like to collect that takes me back to different times in my life, that no matter how much I try not to I continue to buy more, that has got me through tough times, and that I can’t live without???

That’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks …my Workout DVD’s!! please don’t judge!

so I thought this was funny because apparently the charles is a camera hog and as soon as I sat down to take the pic…well you see how it turned out!

 a whole self dedicated to my obsession!

some of my favorties!

I have gotten a pretty good collection going of all different types of workout dvds (but when the hubs asks.. I totally don’t have enough and need more..hehe)! I love them with all my wildly beating heart :) First let me say that I tend to get addicted to one thing and do it over and over again until I get tired of it  and then I move on. this happens with  my workout dvd’s, foods, tv shows, crafty projects and just about everything! However, my workout dvds take the brunt of this weird behavior. I find one dvd that I really get into and do it every morning till I can’t stand the thought of it again and then I move on to a new dvd.

Some of the things I love..

There are so many different dvd’s out there that when I get tired of one I can do the next.

I tend to stick to some of the same trainers..and I even start to feel like they are my workout friends (not in a crazy stalkerish kind of way though)!

If they are getting on my nerves too much I can just turn them on mute or turn them off.

I never have to worry about what I should wear because hey they wear the same thing every day!

When I go back to a dvd that I haven’t used for a long time I am immediately transported back to that time in my life. (which is one of my favorite things)

and lastly they always help me feel better when I have had a bad day!

Now I am going to pass this on to 10 other people to partake in the festivities. To clarify..You are suppose to write about a keepsake that is dear to you and tells something about you and pass it on to 10 other bloggers…

1. We Yam What We Yam

2. Becky @ The Branches

3. Teryn Ashley

4. Poptart

5. Bee Creative

6. Blondie Goes Blog

7. More than an Army Wife

8. Amber @ Life as we Know It

9. Ocean Dreams

10. Sunshine Meg

Have fun girls!

Spandex Where Art Thou??!

Do you remember when you were a little kid and you wore what I like to refer to as biker shorts? You know..the ones that were spandex like and really not flattering and you would wear them with an oversized t-shirt with a little clip-tie on the side with ruffle socks and keds? good times..good times!

Well what ever happen to those?? I know the leggings are back (and yes I do have a few pairs of those) but I can’t seem to find any biker shorts! Now don’t write me off right away!! there is a specific purpose that I have for these shorts. I have a dress that I really like to wear in the summer but I also like to be comfy and not worry about showing the goods when I sit down. I want to be able to wear something under so I don’t have to mess with flashing peeps. the dress is just above the knees and I don’t want people to be able to see the leggings (though that would be really cute too) so the leggings I currently have won’t really work! I have been on the lookout for biker shorts that you wont be able to see, but they have to be tight so they wont look bulky! I have looked all over target and tj max, I even looked in the little girls section, but no luck! Apparently little girls today are way more fashionista than I was! I dont want to spend a lot and i’m not looking for hard core biking shorts with all the special material..I just want simple biker shorts for the good old days!

Any ideas? Am I totally crazy for trying to bring back the bikes shorts of our youth?

Now I will leave with some bikes shorts turned 2009 pics..

What do you think??

Have a great afternoon :)