My Best Friend, Valerie Manwill

I want to thank all of my readers first off by saying, "It is a pleasure writing for you and this is going to be one FANTABULOUS blog this week so don't stop reading now, it WILL get better, I promise!"

Now, Valerie Manwill has been my friend since the beginning of Junior High School on into High School and further on into what we adults call life....lol

She has always been there for me, through "the good, the bad, and the ugly".  In short, that phrase is comparing what my life has been, not hers.  Now, if my memory serves me right, Valerie was there when I had to have my spinal fusion surgery in 8th grade.  It was either that or get to go on a summer trip to Australia and New Zealand, but my spine was curving into my heart and lungs so I really didn't have a choice.  In the end, she was always there for me, beginning to end.

Now in High School, there was a time when I was in drama class with Mr. Anderson.  Anybody remember him? Does he still work there at that high school? Who knows? I'm getting side - tracked.  I was in a play called the Christmas Carol and since I couldn't hardly remember any lines, I got to be the town spokeswoman, who only read about two or three lines, and the ghost of future past, who walked through the fog and stood by a tombstone while moving my arm from the right to the left, or maybe it was the other way around.  Either way, Valerie fits into this scenario because all of the English classes had to come watch the play and I am pretty sure she watched me embarrass myself.
On a little side note, I was sweating to death because when I was the town spokeswoman I wore a dress, but I didn't have time to change so I had to put that heavy black robe on over the dress by the time it was my time to be on stage as the ghost of future past, to put it shortly, it was a long night and we did the same thing for two or three nights in a row. She was there beginning to end.

The next few years flew by and I didn't see you again until 2013 when we saw each other at the Centerville Single's Ward.  It was great seeing you again. It was like no time had even gone by but I know you have gone on your mission to Peru and maybe a couple of other things that I don't know about and that's okay. Before we saw each other at the church, we haven't seen each other in 5 years, but we still remained best friends. I think that is a testament of friendship right there.  If it's not, I don't know what is.

I hope you and your growing family have a great time in Arizona. If you decide to come back, you'll come back and we can hang out again but until then my friend, I will text you as always and no matter what, you will always be my best friend.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate it. I will post another one next week. Until next time.

The ABCs of a Good Mom

Hey everybody, sorry for not posting in another week. I promise to post every week from now on, thanks to my readers.  I found this information that you will read on Pinterest and I found it interesting, and I found the photos on Google. Just letting you know ahead of time.

THE ABCs OF A GOOD MOM:

• Ask me about my day
• Be present when you're with me
• Celebrate my little victories
• Dote on me
• Encourage me when I'm down
• Forgive my mistakes
• Grow with me
• Help me when I need it
• Insist I eat vegetables
• Joke with me
• Kiss me when I don't want you to
• Listen to me
• Make memories with me
• Notice when I do something right
• Organize me until I can do it myself
• Play with me a lot
• Question me about my day
• Read to me or with me
• Smile at me
• Turn off my electronics
• Understand me
• Value me
• Wait patiently -- I'll get it someday
• XXX and OOO me everyday
• Yell less
• Zero in on what makes me, me

Thank you all for reading. I am going to be posting another blog tomorrow night to make up for the one I did not do last week. Look forward to it.  Until next time my friends.

Diversity

Hello everybody, this is my second blog post this week and I want to talk about Diversity.  It is all around us, everyday.  First, let's take a look at the definition of diversity.  Diversity means a feature of a mixed workforce that provides a wide range of abilities, experience, knowledge, and strengths due to its heterogeneity in age, background, ethnicity, physical abilities, political and religious beliefs, sex and other attributes.  Second, let's take a look at the origin of the word diversity. The specific root of "diverse" is the Latin verb "divertere" (the prefix "di" or "dis," meaning "aside") meaning to "turn aside." That Latin word combined our pal "vertere" to turn with "uni" one to give a basic sense of "turned into one" or "all taken together."  I would like to give you some quotes on diversity by Maya Angelou now.

"We all should know that Diversity makes for a rich tapestry and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color." 
    - Maya Angelou

"It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength."
    - Maya Angelou

Diversity isn't just about Black or White, it's also about race, sexual orientation, language, age, socioeconomic status, nationality, religion, education, national origin, political, occupation, ethnicity, immigration status, disability and life experiences.

DIVERSITY = Everyone is individual and different.
EQUALITY = Equal access to opportunities.
INCLUSION = Inclusion is a sense of belonging; feeling respected, valued for who you are; feeling a level of supportive energy and commitment from others so that you can do your best at work.

Different
Individuals
Valuing
Each other
Regardless of
Skin
Intellect
Talents or
Years.

The Cultural Iceberg:

Surface Culture

• Food
• Flags
• Festivals
• Fashion
• Holidays
• Music
• Performances
• Dances
• Games
• Arts & Crafts
• Literature
• Language

Deep Culture

Communication Styles and Rules:

• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Eye contact
• Personal space
• Touching
• Body language
• Tone of voice
• Handling and displaying of emotion
• Conversational patterns in different social situations

Notions of:

• Courtesy and manners
• Friendship
• Leadership
• Cleanliness
• Modesty
• Beauty

Concepts of:

• Self
• Time
• Past and future
• Fairness and justice
• Roles related to age, sex, class, family, etc.

Approaches to:

• Religion
• Courtship
• Marriage
• Raising children
• Decision making
• Problem solving

Attitudes toward:

• Elders
• Adolescents
• Dependents
• Rule
• Expectations
• Work
• Authority
• Cooperation Vs. Competition
• Relationships with animals
• Age
• Sin
• Death

Thank you again for reading. I will post again next week. Until next time my friends.

Stress Management

Hey everybody, I am going to be talking about stress management, how to communicate through stress, the signs and symptoms of stress, how to use aromatherapy for stress relief, and 30 ways to de-stress in less than 10 minutes. Yesterday was National Stress Awareness Day and I want to help people with that in any way possible.  I haven't posted in the last two weeks because I wanted to take a break. Thank you for your patience my friends.

30+ Ways to De-Stress in Less than 10 Minutes

1. Listen to your favorite tunes
2. Head outside
3. Stretch
4. Meditate
5. Read for pleasure
6. Walk, bike, or skateboard around the block
7. Count to 10
8. Dance
9. Journal
10. Write down 10 things you're grateful for
11. Doodle or draw
12. Tell some jokes
13. Call a friend
14. Chew a piece of gum
15. Focus & notice your present surroundings (grounding)
16. Disconnect from tech
17. Look at a happy photo
18. Squeeze a stress ball
19. Watch a funny YouTube video
20. Punch a pillow
21. Deep, slow breathing
22. Read an inspirational quote
23. Spend time with your pets
24. Practice yoga poses
25. Do 20 jumping jacks
26. Do something nice for someone
27. Sit in the sun
28. Visualize a safe comforting place
29. Pick some flowers
30. Give yourself a neck massage
31. Take a shower
32. Kick a soccer ball

65 Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Cognitive Symptoms:

• Inability to concentrate
• Seeing only the negative
• Anxious or racing thoughts
• Difficulty in decision - making 
• Trouble learning new information
• Constant worrying
• Nightmares
• Guilt
• Poor judgement
• Forgetfulness, disorganization

Emotional Symptoms:

• Depression, general unhappiness
• Low self - esteem, lonely, worthless
• Overwhelmed, like losing control
• Frequent crying spells, suicidal thoughts
• Moodiness
• Apathy
• Irritability, short temper
• Agitation, inability to relax

Physical Symptoms:

• Nervousness, shaking
• Weakness, fatigue
• Twitching, tremors
• Aches, pains, tense muscles, muscle spasms
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness, light - headed
• Chest pain, palpitations, rapid heartbeat
• Frequent colds and infections
• Loss of sex drive/ability
• Excess belching, flatulence
• Unexplained "allergy" attacks
• Weight gain/loss without change in diet
• Ringing, buzzing, popping sounds
• Cold or sweaty hands/feet
• Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing
• Clenched jaw, grinding teeth
• Hair loss
• Acne
• Rashes, itching
• Numbness
• Hot/cold waves
• Sweating
• Tingling
• Low energy
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Heartburn
• Panic attacks
• Sense of vomiting
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty breathing

Behavioral Symptoms:

• Changes in appetite
• Sleeping too much, too little
• Social withdrawal, isolation
• Aggression, hostility
• Overreactions
• Defensiveness, suspiciousness
• Problems in communication
• Obsessive or compulsive behavior
• Nervous habits (nail biting, fidgeting, pacing)
• Low interest in appearance, punctuality
• Stuttering, rapid or mumbled speech
• Procrastinating, neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Lies/excuses to cover up poor work
• Increased number of minor accidents
• Excessive gambling, impulse buying

Aromatherapy for Stress Relief

Did you know that the art of aromatherapy can be traced back the the great ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome where essential oils were valued for their many uses?

Lavender:

Calming, overcomes nervous tension, depression and chaotic energy.

Eucalyptus:

Increases brainwave activity and counters mental fatigue. Promotes clarity of mind and increases energy.

Peppermint:

Effective at nerve relaxation; it relieves pain, promotes healthy digestion and increases energy.

Citrus:

Invigorating, calming, and reassuring. Also helps with depression.

How to Communicate Under Stress

Speak Carefully:

1. Be specific.
2. Stay focused.
3. Say less.
4. Stay it with tact.

Listen Attentively:

1. Receive criticism successfully.
2. Accept what is said without giving advice.
3. Don't interrupt.
4. Listen with empathy.

Respond Accurately:

1. Be honest.
2. Get all the facts.
3. Check all your interpretations.
4. Listen to yourself.

Thank you all for reading. I am going to be posting another blog later this week. Until next time.

Easter

Hey everybody, this year, Caleb got to REALLY enjoy his Easter. I will show you pictures of what he got and details of what he got this easter. I will also go over how excited he was to decorate easter eggs for the first time all by himself the day before Easter, so let's get to it.

Here are the things Caleb got for Easter:

For Candy he got:

• 24 Easter eggs filled with mini milky way candy bars
• an egg filled with a mini strawberry plushy that you can hang on your purse
• an egg filled with hopping bunnies
• a bag of goldfish
• marshmallow bunnies
• a box of mini teddy cookies
• 2 packages of Cadbury chocolate and caramel eggs
• a gummy Spongebob Krabby Patty
• mini gummy worms
• Mickey Mouse gummies and stickers
• a bag of Dove chocolates
• chocolate and peanut butter eggs
• chocolate eggs
• a bag of Hershey kisses

For Books he got:

• Sesame Street - Elmo and the Bunny Hop

Dr. Seuss's:

• I wish that I had duck feet
• Are you my mother?
• Because a little bug went Ka-Choo!
• There's a Wocket in my Pocket!
• One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish 
• The Best Nest
• Oh, the things you can do that are good for you (All about Staying Healthy)
• Hark! A Shark! (All about Sharks)
• On beyond bugs (All about insects)

For Toys he got:

• Mr. Potato Head (comes with 13 detachable pieces) - my grandma  bought him for Caleb, he has been having so much fun with it, and having me help him every time, especially with Mr. Potato Head's arms :)
• Full Function radio control car - signature edition - batteries included ( Orange Camaro) - his Aunt Beverly and Uncle Dave bought this for Caleb, he has been having so much fun with it

For Miscellaneous he got:

• a stuffed elephant wearing pajamas with little chicks on them
• an outfit, a 4T green shirt, and a 3T pair of shorts ( but the shorts don't fit him right now)
• a Paw Patrol mat that he eats his lunch and dinner on, I think I've  achieved the right way to control messes now....lol.....at least sometimes.

Now, he got to color and dump each egg in each dye color by himself and by the time the water was cool enough, he was able to take the egg out of the dye as well.  In the meantime, he took a spoon, and stirred and mixed the dye around each egg so it would dye well, but some of the eggs had more than one color due to that process.  I guess it's all in fun. No harm done and I can't wait until next year. I know Caleb can't.  He is still eating his candy....lol.

Thanks for reading. Sorry it was late. I will post again sometime this week. I appreciate you all so much for just listening to what I have to say. It means a lot to me. A special shout out to my grandma, Aunt Beverly, and Uncle Dave for buying those toys for Caleb. I appreciate it so much, like you don't even know. Until next time.

Top 40 Inspirational Painted Rock Messages

I am just going to put these out there because I thought they were all really simple, fun and easy to follow.

Life is tough, but so are you.
You are capable of amazing things.
Just breathe.
Be the reason someone smiles today.
I Love You, A Bushel and a Peck.
Do what makes your soul shine.
Laugh more.
Follow your bliss.
You got this.
Life's a journey, not a race.
Be silly. Be kind. Be honest.
Have courage and be kind.
God knew my heart needed you.
Think happy thoughts.
Hakuna Matata.

Bibbibi Bobbibi Boo.

Just keep swimming.

You are strong.
Be humble.
I think I can.
Family.
Not all who wander are lost.
I am thankful.
I am grateful.
Life is what you make it.
Live, Laugh, Love.
Be a little boulder.
Today I will by my own superhero.
You don't have to be perfect to be amazing.
Mistakes are proof that you are trying.
If you can dream it, you can do it.
Be awesome today.
It's cool to be king.
Say yes to new adventures.
If you create it, it will inspire.
Be buddies, not bullies.
Go after dreams, not people.
I saw that -- karma.
Never stop looking up.
Have faith in yourself.

If any of these rang a bell or made you think about something, comment below. I will post again on Easter Sunday. Thank you for reading.

Caleb's Dentist Appointment

Caleb has an up and coming appointment with his dentist on Monday.  It's not that he hates to go but he doesn't enjoy it unless he gets something out of it, like a juice at Maverick or a toy that he always gets when he is done at the dentist, which I always end up losing at one point or another.

Caleb, I think, has had 3 or 4 dentist appointments so far with his current dentist. I know that because we've kept all of the floss, toothbrushes, and toothpaste that you get in a little bag when your done at the dentist. We've also bought a couple electric toothbrushes over the last few months, because you are supposed to switch out toothbrushes every 3 months. I guess that's why they give you one every time, right before you leave. If your lucky, you also get to pick out a couple stickers, on which I have put on his box in the cabinet that holds his toothbrush, toothpaste, ear drops, and other medicines that he takes, but I am not gonna talk about that.

I had Caleb switch dentists when he was two or three years old because the other dentist kept sending me emails about a girl named Becky.  I mean, they couldn't even get his name right and they said we missed more than 4 appointments but we only missed one, so instead of going to Bountiful every time, we now go to Layton every 3 months.  It used to be every 6 months, but I guess Caleb's Medicaid pays for him to go to the dentist every 3 months and I'm not complaining.

Now, at the dentist, we go in, I say we are there, we have to wait about 10 - 20 minutes, in the meantime Caleb gets chalk all over his clothes and hands. Before we get called back,  I try my best to rub as much as the chalk off as I can. He gets x-rays taken of his teeth every time and then we are moved to one of the seats where he gets his teeth cleaned.

While he gets his teeth cleaned, my mom has to hold him down, that and taking pictures of the x-rays too, he won't let me hold him. Here is where it gets good. We have to take two buses to the dentist and if Caleb is good on the way there, he gets his teeth cleaned with red velvet cookie dough flavor and if he is bad on the way there, he gets grape flavor, which he hates with a purple passion. Get it? Grapes are purple? They're also green, but I was just making a joke.

Then after all of that is done, the dentist comes in, checks out his teeth with a mirror and something else I don't recognize the name of, and then, he says Caleb does NOT have ANY cavities.  Even though sometimes I forget to brush his teeth, he still has perfect teeth.  I'm hoping he won't have any cavities on Monday. I'm gonna cross my fingers.

Thank you for reading another post. I won't be posting again until next Saturday...so until next time my friends.  Have a great day!!!!