Tulips for the Cure

It's that time of year again. Tulip time!!! No, I'm not talking about those beautiful spring flowers. I'm talking about tulips for Elizabeth's Garden, which is part of Komen North Texas Race for the Cure. This is my second year to be on the tulip committee. I really enjoy it because it lets me be my crafty self. We are able to decorate tulips in any way we like, being sure to leave an 8 1/2 by 11 space so a message can appear on the tulip. We sell tulips for $10 each. You can buy them in honor or in memory of a survivor. All tulips are displayed on Race day. My favorite part of the day is walking through the tulip garden, reading all the messages, and watching Survivors find ones that have been made for them. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. I've been decorating LOTS of tulips lately and am still not done. If you would like to purchase a tulip let me know. You can also do so online here. I've included some of my creations below.

tulip bling

supplies

tulips to be done

I finished this one last night.

kitty paws

zebra print & shoes; fyi, shoes are not easy to draw

I really like this one!

tulips on a tulip

daisies & animal print, some of my faves

Happy Mother's Day, Mom & Grandma!!!

April 2010

I love my Mom more than words can express. She is more than a Mom to me, she's my friend. She is an amazing example of what a Christian woman is supposed to be. She's a fighter, SURVIVOR, strong, loving, smart, a terrific daughter and friend. She's a hard worker and has been an educator for more than 30 years. Mom is fighting cancer for the third time and she has a wonderful, positive attitude. She KNOWS God is going to bring her through this once again. I pray to God to give me her strength. Her situations don't bring her down and define her. Mom is an example to so many that fight the same fight as she is. When someone in town is diagnosed with cancer they contact mom for advice and support and she joins the fight with them.

I love my Mom. This Mother's Day was a great time to spend with her and show her what she means to me and our family. It was a wonderful time spent with all of them.

Courtney & I joined Grandma at her retirement home yesterday morning for a continental breakfast. We brought her roses and a balloons to which she exclaimed "how sweet!". We took Grandma to church at the home and then we headed back to Mom & Dad's to help prepare lunch. Right before noon we arrived back at the home to pick Grandma up for lunch. She didn't remember we were coming so we found her in the dining room and got to her before she sat down and started eating. I think she enjoyed the visit to Mom & Dad's, even though she doesn't say much. After being away a few hours she exclaimed "I'm ready to go. I need someone to take me home.". This was music to our years. She was calling the retirement home HOME!!! It has not been an easy transition for her since my Grandfather passed away and she resisted the change a lot. Thank you God that she is adjusting.

Mother's Day spent with both Mom & Grandma was fantastic. I couldn't ask for two more beautiful, strong, and courageous women to be related to. Thank you God.

How to Get Rid of Hiccups

So I got the hiccups today at work. I HATE having the hiccups. They drive me crazy, they are loud and disruptive, and I feel like I can't breathe when I get them. So being a huge fan of Google, and using it daily, I decided to see how to get rid of them other than just holding my breath or having someone scare me. Many of the tips were pretty humorous. I hope you think so as much as I did. OH, and did you know that hiccups are involuntary spasms of the diaphragm?! Who knew?!

*Plug your nose and ears then swallow 20 times as fast as possible. (How is it possible to plug your nose and ears with your hands at the same time? And I didn't have cotton balls laying around here at work!)

*Distract yourself. Sing a song, go over your 7 times tables (7 x 1 = 7, 7 x 2 = 14, etc) until the hiccups are gone.

*Squawk like a chicken while flapping your arms and bobbing your head as if you were pecking at something. Bugawk!

*Stand on your head and drink small gulps of water from a sports bottle. (Seriously?)

*Exaggerate your hiccups by inhaling right as you hiccup - this will result in a long and loud "huuuaaagggghhh" that'll either be funny or embarrassing depending on your environment, but after 2-4 of these the hiccups should be gone. (Um, no.)

*Think of the ugliest person you've ever seen. Now picture them naked, rolling naked down a hill or riding a bike and slathered in A-1 steak sauce. (My personal fav!)

*Eat some pickles.

*Take a shot of lemon juice.

See, funny right? I think what eventually cured mine was my laughter after my co-worker told me which other co-worker to picture naked.

So next time you get the hiccups remember these tips and either do them or laugh about them. Either way those pesky hiccups will be gone! :)