2010 Christmas Card

Here it is in all it's glory...

This is the mock up of our 2010 Christmas Card. Coming to a mailbox near you soon!

Yes, Clint and I look like we are in costume, because we ARE! We dressed up as a 1950's husband and housewife this year for Halloween. Clint was so handsome in his fedora hat and dress up clothes, and I loved playing around with my hair and makeup. I got some makeup inspiration from none other than the fabulous Kandee Johnson of course :) I also called my beautiful Nana, who was a 1950's housewife, along with a former model and she gave me some hair advice :)



Photo Card Details:
1. I designed this card at See Here. I got 20 Cards for FREE
2. I only had to pay for the shipping, which was around 5 bucks!
3. You can get this deal as wel,l by signing up for a new account

4. I liked the cards so much in fact, I ordered New Years Cards too!

Fedoras and Pin Curls,

Taylor

Feliz Navidad

Here is a little video of our home with all our Christmas decorations up. I may make some wreaths this year, but basically everything else is up.

Enjoy!

Here is a tutorial for the snowflake garland: Click Here
Here is a tutorial for the hanging ornaments: Click Here
p.s. I didn't follow the paper ornament tutorial exactly. I didn't buy the grommets, I just used a hole punch and tied with clear fishing line, then added curling ribbon.

Love, Allspice and Snowflake Garlands,





p.s. leave nice comments if you like my posts :)

Wish List... as Requested

This post is for my family, who have asked for a wish list from me.

This list is a bit extensive, but hey, ya can't blame a girl from dreamin :) Besides, my anniversary is only a few weeks after Christmas (hint hint to the hubby) and my birthday is a month after that!

Here are a few goodies I have had my eye on:

31 Bits 
Necklace

Click Here to go to 31 Bits

Orglamix
Gift Certificate

Click Here to go to Orglamix page on Etsy

DKNY "Pure" Fragrance

Click Here to go to DKNY Pure

Starbucks Gift CertificateIf you have not yet seen what a mocha frapp does to me, your missing out, I'm a riot! Just ask Clint

MAC Goodies:

Cream Color Base
Color:Fawntastic


Lipstick
Color: Myth

Eye Shadow Colors I like (in order of preference):
Brulee

Shroom
Dazzlelight
Scene
Print

Brushes:
#224 Fluffy Domed Brush
#219 "Pencil" Brush

*There is also another brush company which is MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE! Kandee recommends them, but they have a $25 minimum for an online purchase ;( Here is my wish list for Crown Brushes

Chop Block:

I've wanted a huge chop block to leave on my counter for some time now. Not sure of the dimensions needed... wait I'll measure the space...

... ok, 22in x 22in would need to be the MAX size. I have no preference in color or finish of the wood.

Ok, that's all for now.

Much love and Christmas Cheer,


Tay

Blessings in the form of simple things

Clint and I were busy running around town yesterday getting our Operation Christmas Child box together.  This is a fun activity that you can do with your friends of family to spread a little joy to children that are less fortunate.

Watch this quick little video and see what it is all about!

You can just pack up a box (either a plastic box or an actual shoebox) with items that are age and gender specific and then look up a drop off location near you.  Each box does cost $7 for shipping and handling.
You can include little toys, books, games, toiletries (no liquids I don't think), clothing, shoes etc.. in your box and brighten up the holidays for children around the world.

The deadline to send off boxes is November 15-22, so best to get your box sorted out this weekend.
You can get all the information you need about the Operation Christmas Child program here as well as detailed instructions on what to put in boxes and where you can drop them off.

After what seemed to be hours and hours wandering around Walmart searching for the perfect little treasures for the child that will receive our box... the picture below is what Clint and I picked out for our little boy aged 5-9 years old. We ended up only spending probably right around $20!

The whole time I was in the toy section of the store I kept thinking that anything we get this deserving child in some malnourished, third world foreign country will be treasured and appreciated as if it were an heirloom. When we turned the corner of the toy section I received a virtual slap back into reality when I witnessed a very obese child (the same age range as the child we were shopping for) in the toy section with his mother. The kid was throwing a tantrum because he wanted some new Iron Man figure... or it could have been a video game of Iron Man... I couldn't stand to stay on the aisle for very long with all the crying and screaming. It was sad. That little boy for sure didn't appreciate or treasure the shoes on his feet, or the clothes on his back, the regular meals he receives and from what I gathered.... was feeling very entitled to the overpriced toys he was carrying on about.

With that being said... Clint and I stopped right in Walmart and prayed a little prayer that this box would be filled with the right gifts for the precious child that it is meant for, whoever or wherever he may be.

Blessings and Jolly Ranchers,
Taylor

Happy Birthday Meriah Jayde!

I'm an only child.
None of Clint's siblings have any kiddos

...yet
I have a beautiful, smart and funny niece!
Her name is Meriah Jayde and she turns 7 today!

My oldest best good friend, Monique (we met when we were 9 years old) had Meriah 7 years ago today! I remember driving the 6 hour drive from college back to Ventura to be with Monique in the delivery room. I ended up not making it to the delivery, as Meriah decided she was going to be born way faster than we all thought. Needless to say she was and is to this day a blessing to all who know her.

This is a video I made today for her:

Dear MJ,
  You are a smart, beautiful girl. Always remember that Jesus loves you and He is always with you. You can always talk to Him and even if you don't hear Him, He always hears you.

P.s. Mo- Happy day that you gave birth :) 

Australia, Taupe and Cakeballs

Here is "part deux" of my Favorites.

#6 Australia

If someone gave me a chance to have duel citizenship with another country I would definitely choose to be an aussie! I lived in Australia for part of 2005. I love the food, I love the culture, I love the people, I love the beaches, I love the geography, I love the national history... I love Australia!  I love how young of a country Australia is, there is still so much to be discovered, settled and explored. Much like the US, Australia is a melting pot of people (hence the great food and culture). Oz has snow capped mountains, red dirt deserts, crystal bleaches, prairies,  and everything in between. Oz is approximately the same size as the continental US... but Oz's population is only about 20 million! Australians are really proud of being Australian... they have a yummy national animal as well... Mmmm Kangaroo steak... yummy!

Here are just a few pics from my time down under.

My name is pronounced without the "r" at the end in Australia

Visiting Steve Irwin's Zoo

Notice anything different in this car? Oh, and the oncoming cars?!

This is where my love of Thai food started. (This was my friend Jessica's birthday dinner)

Yep, that is the man himself... Steve Irwin

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands

#5 OPI - Over The Taupe

I love this nail polish. I like that it is a great mix between grey and brown, I wear this on my toes and nails all the time.

These aren't my nails... just a google pic I found :)

If you like this color, but can't imagine spending the $10-15 for an OPI nail color. You can also try Orly's "Country Club Khaki"

#4 Cakeballs

I was introduced to the magical deliciousness that is the cakeball earlier this year. What is a cakeball you ask? Many would say that Cakeballs are the new cupcake.How do you make these little bites of heaven?

It's so easy, it's hard to believe... Simply take one box of cake mix, one can of frosting and create truffle-like bundles of tasty innovation! You can make cakeballs in any flavor or flavor combo you like! Chocolate cake mix with vanilla frosting... red velvet cake mix with white chocolate coating, funfetting cake mix and vanilla frosting... the options are endless! I have had them dipped un hardening chocolate, rolled in frosting, sprinkles..... etc.

Here is a basic recipe example to start with:

Bake a cake according to directions on the box.
Let cool, and then break up cake into tiny pieces (you can use the food processor for this).
In a large bowl, mix in one can of frosting with the cake crumbs.
Use an ice cream scoop to form balls of cake.
Freeze on sheet pan until hard.
Melt coating chocolate with double boiler OR carefully melt choc chips in microwave... stirring often.
Dip cakeballs in chocolate and let excess drip off.
Enjoy!

Mmmmm Cakeballs!!!

That's all for now... stay tuned for Part Three!

Leave me comments and subscribe so I know someone actually reads this thing.

Oxi, Burt's and Orglamix -10 of my Favorites (Part One)

A fabulous blog that I follow by Kandee Johnson sparked an idea in this little noggin of mine. Recently Kandee did a "Top 10 Favorite Things" blog post.

My "Top 10 List" comes with some prefacing however. First and foremost, my #1 Favorite is and always will be my Heavenly Father. My #2 favorite is this wonderful, loving, and handsome husband of mine named Clinton Smith.

My Handsome Man

Now, without any further ado...
here is the first installment of my Top 10 favorite's (in no particular order)



#10 OxiClean
I have found OxiClean (both the powder and the spray) cleans carpet, fabric, clothing, upholstery. 

I even have a mini spray bottle in my purse at all times!

#9 Burts Bee's Facial Scrub
This scrub smells like a yummy Thanksgiving Dessert for your face. It's all natural, it gently exfoliates your skin as well as moisturize it.  This little jar lasts for months. I got mine at Whole Foods, but you can find it at most health food stores.



#8 Orglamix
I am still a fan of Bare Mineral makeup, however, in Maui there are not any Sephora stores- and let's face it not many places to buy makeup other than Walmart. What is a girl to do? Well, I discovered Orglamix mineral makeup. This awesome woman Cheri owns this small business. Orglamix is an awesome brand. I can vouch for the quality and the price is VERY VERY affordable. Everyone should take a look at the Orglamix Etsy shop and if you buy anything tell her "Taylor in Maui" sent you.

I switched from Bare Essentials "Medium Beige" foundation ($30) to Orglamix "Bamboo" Mineral Foundation ($14.99)!!!

Part Two... to be continued :)

Cartwheels and Couch Potatoes

Thanks to everyone for your continuing prayers for my back.
I am definitely a long way from doing cartwheels,  but my physical therapist did say that if I can stay basically pain free for 5 days that I'll be through the thick of it. I was told today that I can go the the gym and walk on the treadmill and my fabulous Physical Therapist extraordinaire gave me some exercises I can do too at the gym too! No more feeling like a couch potato!
 
The irony is that about a week before I even started becoming disabled, I had begun a fast. I stopped eating sugars (this includes fruit and alcohol), breads, pastas, rice, and most other simple carbs.

What do I actually eat you ask?
Mostly lean meats, fish, lots and lots of veggies, low-fat cheeses, beans, nuts- mostly almonds and tamari flavored sunflower seeds, more veggies, eggs, fat free yogurt, cottage cheese, homemade hummus, homemade soups, salads, ohhh and veggies! Below is kind of the pyramid I'm following.

Well even after basically being bedridden for all this time I have actually lost 8lbs! Ha, just imagine how great I'm going to feel (and look) once I am able to go to the gym (Hopefully tomorrow!)

I am still not able to sit upright (like in a chair) for more than 25-30 minutes without feeling discomfort, but hey... sitting all day isn't good anyways! I just lay on the ground wherever I am and I get instant reflief. I do a few extension exercises and I feel better right away! Luckily I have only been in houses when this situation has presented itself... otherwise, I may have to start taking my yoga mat with me everywhere I go!

Which reminds me, I saw these cool yoga mats and thought I should share them. I have had my boring yoga mat for goodness knows how long... I might have even brought it from Cali when I moved here? So, keep this in mind folks when shopping for your secret santa gifts this year!

Laying horizontal and enjoying my ice pack,
Taylor

Pain in the Back (Part two)

"Back Issue of 2010"
In addition to seeing the MD at Kaiser I was also referred by a friend to a doctor that specializes in Network Spinal Analysis. Never heard of it? Neither had I. Through some research, and now 4 appointments with the doctor, I am still learning.                                                                                                                                                                                         Here's is the basic idea:
The doctor gives me gentle and precise touches to my spine that cues the brain to create self adjustment and ultimately - healing. These specific and low force touches (like the weight of a dime) to the spine, is supposed to assist the brain in developing new strategies to combat stress, dissipate tension, and create a more self correcting spine.
Is it working?:
I definitely don't think that it had hurt anything. The doctor's office is this beautiful historic home in old Wailuku town, it's about 100 years old with original hard wood floors and 12 foot ceilings. I walk into the treatment room and am welcomed by warm hawaiian breezes coming in through beautiful oversized windows that are dressed in white chiffon window sheers. There is soft instrumental music playing in the distance and I lay on a massage table for about an hour being gently touched. Who wouldn't be relaxed?

No, this isn't me. My doctor doesn't have a leopard masage table either!
Just a picture of someone performing Network Spinal Analysis

Then came the weekend:
This friday was one of the worst days. I am talking about not being able to get into or out of the car by myself, forget about getting into the bathtub without Clint's help. Walking and sitting was painful, and the only relief I got was when I was completely still laying on my back with an ice pack strapped to my back.

Saturday morning I sat in a warm bath with some epson salts in it and felt a wee bit better. Here is a video I took on the way to Tiffany's clinic.

*Not sure why the alignment got all screwy-sorry! I reluctantly visited Tiffany's physical therapy clinic Saturday afternoon. I warned Tiff that I could barely move, but we went never-the-less. As we walked into the clinic she could see that I was going to have to take it really slow. Actually when I say walk, I really mean hobble. She insisted on gifting me with a lumbar support pillow to use while I sat in the waiting room and told me to take it home and use it anytime I was sitting. When I went back to see her it was probably pretty comical to see how I managed to get into the table. Imagine a slow moving beached whale... and you have an idea. Of course Clint helped me every step of the way. Luckily Tiffany has a fancy table that has an electronic lift on it, so after seeing how minimal my range of motion was she lowered the table to ease my accent. Once I got on my belly I was fine, no pain at all. Ah sweet peace! During the following hour Tiffany checked my range of motion and with 5 to 10 extention excercises I was already improving. This is what she had me start with By the time I left her office my pain was probably at a 2 and I had walked in right about at a 6 out of 10! My range of motion was greatly improved and by the time I did my last set of back extensions I was able to go "all the way up" and lock my arms straight. This position is much closer to my "End Range" Which is a huge improvement!                                                  Tiffany is pretty convinced I am dealing with a disc issue not a pinched nerve, and had confidence that with rest and these excercises the protruding disc will go back where it belongs and I'll be fully ablebodied soon! I was worried about telling the Dr. Albuy and Tiffany about eachother, like I was cheating on the other one... but all my worries were squelched when I was honest with them both about the care I had gotten from the other and they were supportive of eachothers treatments. Dr. Albury might even be referring patients to Tiffany's clinic in the future after she saw the immense steps towards recovery I made after seeing Tiffany. So, there you go! Tiffany blessed me by giving me free PT treatments and a free lumbar roll and soon she might be getting some new business! Long Blog post made short... I am definitely on the upswing now. My mobility is greatly improved since Friday. My range of motion is coming back and I am so thankful to my wonderful husband for being so patient with me, for cooking, cleaning, and making it easy for me to be bedridden. I'm still not sure why this trial came to me, but I know the Lord is Good, and I can see the blessings coming out of it already.  Thanks to Tiffany Pragnell and South Shore Physical Therapy, Dr. Cindy Albury, Megan Franks, and all the blessed women in my bible study that prayed for my back tonight.

Pain in the Back (Part one)

ok... before I get into the "update" here is some quick background on my back.

Ever since age 16... bout 13 years ago... I have had low back pain. I think I noticed it when I got my first job, which was making smoothies at a health food store. Standing on my feet for more than a few hours would always cause my low back to hurt and I never really gave much thought to it. School dances, work days, football games... you name it it was a sligh pain in the back. It was never too serious, more like annoying and then would go away and I would forget all about it.

Ok, now skip ahead to college. I waitressed and I also spent a lot of time on my feet walking around the little college town I lived in and I'd say about 2 or 3 nights a month my back would hurt, still just slightly annoying, but nothing I worried about. I was an assistant yoga teacher at my college and I was pretty active overall.

Now lets review that last 4 or 5 years... I have had a "bad spell" about once every year. In 2008 I went to a chiropractor for relief... it helped tremendously. That is until the next "epidode" about 9 months later. In 2009 my course of treatment was to go to Physical Therapy for about 2 or 3 months. It also seemed to have worked, and thankfully was covered by my insurance at the time. I was what I would consider to have been an excellent PT student. I did all my "homework" in addition to my "in-clinic excersises." Problem was that as soon as PT ended so did 90% of the "at-home" exercises that I was prescribed to do :(

My Lumbar Spine

Okay, now we are caught up to "Taylor's Back Crisis of 2010" I have been in pain for a month now, the last week has been the worst. I cannot sit, stand, lie, crouch, bend over, bend backwards or bend sideways without the help of a person or a stationary and sturdy object. Getting into and out of a car I feel as though I am about 102! I was passed today in Walmart my a 90 year old man with a cane! I have been seeing my primary care physician at Kaiser Permanente as well as an alternative medicine doctor. First I'll blog about the exchange I had with the Kaiser MD...


10/15/10

Health Update: X-rays brought no answers, can't be the bones. Could still be disc, muscle or nerves.

Here's how the convo basically went with the doctor today after getting the x-ray results:

Taylor: After hearing the x-ray results, where are we as far as you ordering an MRI?

MD @ Kaiser: " No need for MRI at this time if symptoms persists beyond 2 weeks then we would consider that."

Taylor: I have been in pain for a month already! I'M NOT waiting 2 more weeks. I can't work, and I'm in incredible discomfort all day!

(I'll spare you the rest of the mini rampage I went on... Let's just say that I always maintained a civil tone and pointed out that i was sure he was just trying to follow protocol, but that this situation is different and I stated my case as such)

MD: Oh... ok, I understand, I'll put in for the MRI request right away.

One would think that when a doctor sees a seemingly healthy 28 years old that hobbles into his exam room that cannot get up on the table with out help much less sit or stand up all on her own... (forget about sitting up from a lying position all by herself) ...you would think he would want to help, not prolong my pain for 2 more weeks!

Summary: I wish I had primary health care that didn't force me to be a bully and was really interested in my recovery

Enjoying the lack of gravity on my spine while lounging on the couch,

Taylor

Pancakes

I just came across this website and thought it was way to cool to not share with all of you! This guy, Jim, makes all these crazy pancakes for his daughter and I think it is sooooo cool!

Here are a few of my favorites:

You can visit his website http://www.jimspancakes.com/
He also has a facebook page!

Poolside Video and Aloha Bentley Ohana

So we are house-sitting right now and I have been going to the pool for my morning hour of bible study instead of the beach (like I do when I am at home). So, here is a little video I took whilst out the other morning.

I have felt extremely blessed to be house-sitting and not at my actual home the past week and a half. You see, our really close friends Beckee, Levi and Baby Hannah just moved off Maui all the way to Harrisburg, PA and with them went a little part of my Maui family.

Being here and not at my house I think has been really good for me because I kinda feel like I'm on vacation and when I go home I can imagine that the Bentley family will still live a 2 minute walk from my house, and I will be able to see my beautiful friend Beckee get more and more pregnant looking as the days go on, and then we'll throw her a baby shower for baby #2 and Hannah joy will have a little brother. I know that when I move back into our condo it will probably hit me that they are gone, and I am enjoying avoiding the inevitable for a little longer.

Here is a picture from the Bentley's going away party:

With a heavy heart and tired eyes,

Nite nite... Taylor Marie

p.s. please feel free to leave comments and "follow" this blog aka "subscribe" (upper right column of the blog).

What's in a name

I just spent the better half of an hour searching through blogger to find a blog name that isn't already taken. You wouldn't believe the amount of "Taylor" blogs out there. Here is little taste of what I was up against:

tayblogs.blogspot.com - taken
taylorsblog.blogspot.com - taken
blogbytaylor.blogspot.com - taken
taylorsmith.blogspot.com - taken
taylormarie.blogspot.com - taken
ringger.blogspot.com - taken

and my personal favorite was taylormade.blogspot.com - TAKEN!!!

You see I really wanted the url to be "taylormade" because I have fond memories of running for school secretary in elementary school and my motto was "Taylor Made." No, I didn't win, in case you were wondering, but I don't think I really minded. It was probably more about being in the spotlight, and seeing my name on posters up at school. You see I had just started to like my name.

To understand the metamorphosis from hate to love we have to go back a little bit. I went to school from 1st to 4th grade in Texas. There were not ANY other little kids named Taylor in Texas from 1988 to 1990. None, not a one... you can google it. There were only old men with the last name of Taylor... and I had heard of a singer who's last name sounded like a breed of dog, and her first name was Taylor, but she didn't count because she most definitely did NOT go to Colleyville Elementary School. You know who did go to my school? Girls with amazing names like Tia, and Whitney and Ashley and Cindy... oh to be a Cindy! I hated my name. I even "changed" my name in the 3rd grade. I started writing Marie Ringger on all my papers and turning them in. One day my teacher, Mrs. Starnes, called me up to her big oak desk and asked me if this was my paper that she was holding? Well of course it was mine, she was holding a spelling test with a star on it and in her perfect penmanship she had written "Good Job" at the top. She said that unless she got word from my mother that my name was officially being changed, that Marie was only to be written on my papers after the name Taylor. Well, I wanted the credit for the spelling test you see, so out went my name change!

We moved back to California about a month or 2 into my 4th grade year. In California the girls had all different kinds of names. There was a Shelaine, a Jolie, a Moriah, and that was only in my class. There were many non-cookie cutter names, and I was one of them! So, seeing my name on that Class Secretary poster was a pretty good feeling. This is when I started to love my name.

Well I guess I got on the "blog bandwagon" too late. Oh, well. It's just like I always say... everything happens for a reason.

With a long unique name and a new blog...

- Taylor Marie Ringger Smith ;)