So Tired Is I, Sleep Is What I Has Not

So tired is I, Sleep is what I has not. Yep. I so just pulled a Yoda.

Anywho! I got some blood test results done if you guys remember; and I have good news today! It's taken so long for the results because I actually had to go in for a second test. They didn't have enough blood for the first one, somehow. Anyway; I have a type of mono called "Epstein Barr" or something like that, and I've had it for so long without knowing it that I'm in the recovery stage. So fluids, vitamins and rest should do it. The best part: I'm not contagious! So there's no hassle at work! I love it. :)

I'm so excited though! I might get to see Austin within the next 2-3 weeks! I'm counting down days, literally. He said he might get to fly down if he gets leave after he gets back from Cali. I'm hoping. I'm praying. I really miss him.
If he can't then I plan on flying over to see him sometime SOON. I've got enough saved up; I've got paychecks coming in. I'll make it work.

I'm nervous too though. I have a wedding coming up that I have to photograph. Well, TWO actually. Just that this first one is on the 7th of June. That's like, a week away. I still don't have a purple shirt to go with my slacks. I need to go shopping. But I'm just worried I'll mess up and ruin the bride's perfect day. This is my first wedding! I'm not getting paid for it, I'm doing it as a gift to the couple (it's my cousin's wedding...). I've been working my camera all week though. Practicing on shots, finding light...ect. Just be praying for me and the couple.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah

I Hate My Immune System

Ladies and gents, I hope you've had a great Friday!
I'm trying really hard to enjoy it myself, and I am, when I'm not sleeping or so unfocused it's like I'm not really awake anyway. Yes, I hate to say it, but I'm sick.
Again. I hate my immune system.
On Memorial Day weekend. When I have an 8-hour shift tomorrow. When I've missed TWO days of work already. When I get Sunday AND Monday off. I'm sick. I have the flu. Poo. :(

I've been so, so tired the last couple of weeks, it's killed me. I haven't been able to focus. No matter how much I sleep, I'm tired. (I slept for 15 hours total out of the 24 hours of my day Wednesday, and I was still exhausted). Then Tuesday, I was nauseous and throwing up and all that good stuff.
I finally got tired of being tired. I went to the doctor.
After getting checked out, it was found that I have a fever, but the initial check-up said I was fine. The fever and my extreme exhaustion and headaches were odd, so the doctor ordered blood tests.

I hate needles, and I usually get sick watching my blood get taken. I took the notion to watch this time though, because why not? If I'm interested in being a pediatrician I should get used to it. I did good. Pretty okay...I only got sick after the nurse left.

Anywho, I got a CVC test done and a Mono (short for Mononucleosis) test done. I got the results for my CVC today. I'm normal, thank the Lord. The doctor said it looked like a viral infection, well, the flu, to be more specific. Lots of rest and fluids. Yes, ma'am!
My mono test results come in tomorrow, or they're supposed to. I'm kinda nervous. I've had mono before, and I know it's in my body still, just in-active. I know the resting period for mono is 30 days. I can't have that. I have a job. I have bills. I don't have time for swollen spleens and body aches and fevers.

I hate my immune system.

I have to be taking like eight kinds of pills right now, so I don't understand. I'm taking women's vitamins, regular vitamins, Biotin, vitamin B, Clariton...and now Tylonol every eight hours! How much more help could I give my body???

Well, please be praying. That's all I'm gonna ask. I'm going to sleep.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah

Oh, before I forget:

  Remember those who have served and whom have paid the ultimate price for your freedom. Thank a vet this weekend. They deserve it. Have a great weekend!

Something That Makes You Sweat

I have so many adventurous things I want to do with this blog I can't think straight! I might just start another one! I already have my May Marine Motivation Challenge side-blog currently hosted on tumblr. I think that's enough for now. I might switch this one up a bit when Austin deploys though. Maybe.

I don't know. I'm just blabbing.

Wishing everyone a good weekend!

-Sarah

May Motivation Challenge!

Yes, another challenge. As you can imagine. This one is starting tomorrow.

I mentioned that Austin was going to California sometime in early May. Well, I've decided that while he's gone and training across the continent, I'm going to be doing my own "training" here at home. I'll be getting up early, getting my exercise in everyday, and eating healthy-healthy.

I'll be taking my current weight and BMI and when Austin gets to go back to NC, I'll compare it to my weight and BMI then.
Hopefully we'll see some good results.

But since this isn't a fitness blog, and I don't plan on turning it into one and boring you all with pictures of food everyday, I'll be hosting this challenge on Tumblr.

You can find the page called May Motivation Challenge here! Or copy and paste this link:
http://maymarinemotivation.tumblr.com/

And keep on touch on Facebook too! :)

Thanks for reading!

Miss Sewing Monster

A sewing monster has been born. My mother (I love you mom!) asked me to write a list before this last Christmas. I, for sure she was only half serious, wrote one just soothe her. I wrote ridiculous things on that list (plane tickets, a new camera, a camcorder, a new car, ect, ect). I also wrote a few serious things (an easy-to-use sewing machine, a GPS for travel, headphones, socks, ect, ect)

My mother got me a sewing machine. It even had "easy-to-use" in the title. I've been hand-sewing for a couple of years. It comes naturally, and I kind of like the long time it takes. Makes everything I sew even more precious. However, this last project has me pressed for time, so I got out the sewing machine.
I've never used a sewing machine before in my young eighteen year old life. It was complicated but I'm getting the hang of it.

I read the directions at least 3 times over before actually preforming the threading steps.

I just practiced on a scrap piece of fabric I had. 

It took me a bit to get the hang of it though...

I think I did okay though. :) Hand-sewing just seems so less complicated, but even just sewing this little square together would have taken me about an hour with all the stitches put into it.
Sew,Mama,Sew! has a lot of cute, free ideas to sew I might use.

I can't wait to get started on some real projects now though. I have a few skirts I've been meaning to try, and a dress I found on Pinterest. I have to find some things I can sew up for Austin too. What I like he has to like, period. If I like sewed little trinkets, he has to...haha : )
But I've also got to get this first little project out of the way. I can't say anything about it yet, but I will when the time comes! Promise.

Oh, and in addition to the healthy lifestyle I'm adopting, I've decided that I will try a different tea every day; preferably in the mornings before exercising! Today's was "White Tea Berry" made by Mount of Olives Treasures.

It was pretty good, one of my favorites I've had so far. I didn't put anything in it, but I chilled some of it after I tried it warm. It was really good with some ice. I think it's the berry taste.

Thanks for reading!

-Sarah

Crazy About Pinterest

 Hello everyone!Yes, this post is about the awesome site Pinterest!

I love lists. List make my world go 'round and 'round. Without them I would be nothing (sorry Aust!). So when I discovered Pinterest a few months back I was in awe. Suddenly I was surrounded with lists on top of organized lists. Of everything and anything you could imagine.


Yesterday I went through my Pinterest and made a couple of boards. I went a little crazy. Everyone following me was probably thinking how much of a Pinterest nerd I am, but whatever. It's an awesome site, I love it.

You can check out my Pinterest page here!

 

I also made a cute board calling Making It Work<3.
It's made for all of the Marine girlfriends/bestfriends/
wives out there. It's full of gear, tips and cute quotes to conquer the "military love" lifestyle.
I've pinned a lot of pins for the upcoming deployment in January. It's so far away, but I'm afraid that it's going to sneak up on me and before I know it all my time to spend with Austin before he goes away for a year will be gone. In a way, I kind of want him to go ahead and leave so he can come home and be back already...as weird as that sounds. I just want to get it over with. (I'm sure he feels the same-getting it over with) 
If you're on Pinterest and have an significant other in the military, you should follow my board. I update it frequently (as frequently as I'm on pinterest-which is everyday).

Well, I also have another board that you all might want to check it. It's all green and eco-friendly. It's full of natural and homemade beauty products you can make at home! I made this board for my upcoming life-style turn around. With all of the reading I've been doing lately, I finally notice just how bad a lot of the everyday products you use are for you!
I've been checking labels and ingredients every time I get something at the store now. If they have it, I get the most natural and organic brand they have at the market of the product I want. It's a bit more pricey but it's better for you and the amazing green Earth God made for us. :)
Over the course of time, I'll probably post up some DIY's using the technics from this board. You'll probably see the homemade translucent powder really soon (as soon as I find the green clay!). You can make so much of it for so little; it'll really be better than buying the really expensive stuff from the store. What I'm looking at in the mean-time are all of the Tea Tree Oil recipes. There are so many uses for it!

The last board I'm going to share with you is my Workouts/Health Foods :). It's full of fun exercises and workout plans to get you in the best shape! Most of them are pretty easy too and only require 15 minutes a day or so. (Because I know I don't have enough time in the day to spend three hours exercising...) I have a few yoga sequences to go through too. I haven't tried any yoga, but I've been thinking about it.
I'm just not sure though, because yoga is originally a practice of some other religion and I really don't want to be un-knowingly or knowingly worshiping another religion...
(I don't want to get into a whole religious philosophic thing, so we'll save that for another post.)
But feel free to follow any of my boards and I'll follow yours too!

Just email me at slhallphotography@gmail.com and let me know about your pins and boards! Also, feel free to ask me any questions about anything else you might want to know!

Thanks for reading and go check out Pinterest! Now!

-Sarah

How To Improve The Taste Of Water

Evening everyone! I'm going to make this post short and simple.

So many people complain about drinking water, which I understand. It does have sort of a "blah" taste, but it's so good for you! You really need to drink about a gallon of water at least everyday. It de-toxifies your body and keeps you hydrated and feeling good!

I added grapefruit and blueberries this time.
A very good combination!

It can also help your acne and you'll find that you feel more energetic every day!

I know a few simple tricks to make that "blah-blah" taste of water go away:

• Add fresh fruits! This seriously is the best thing. I usually leave mine in overnight with a bunch of ice in the picture to keep it fresh and cold. I usually use lemons (and I toss in a bit of mint if I can get my hands on some!), but you can use any fruit of your personal preference! 
• You can buy flavored drops to put in your water now specifically made to make it taste better. Though I would watch which brands you buy and look at the ingredients first. Some of those flavorings are really, really un-healthy and completely take away the point of drinking water.  
• Adding fruit juice is a good way tot improve the taste of water too, so you don't have to go through the hassle of buying expensive fresh fruits. 
• Make your water bubbly! Some people prefer the taste of sparkling water to regular. Though again, watch which brand you buy and check your ingredients! 
• Flavor your ice cubes. Put in store bought flavoring before freezing, or take the fruit idea from above and chop it up into your water before freezing your cubes. You can have different tastes to choose from each time you get a drink! 
• To get your water intake, you don't necessarily have to drink water. You can drink tea. Fruit and herbal teas are known to be better for you then "black tea" or "English tea". There are tons of flavors to choose from! 

Hope this helps some people with their water dilemma. I know regular water can get a little boring, but honestly, the possibilities for water flavoring are endless. You just have to find your favorite!

Thanks for reading,

-Sarah

Catching Up

It's been a couple of days since I've posted on here and I thought I'd update you all.

I am over my flu, thank the Lord. After a week of taking off work, multiple anti-biotics and tons of prayer, I am fully recovered and have shifted back into my normal routine again. My boss was even awesome enough to schedule me on for the rest of the week (weekend and all) so I can make up some hours I missed.

Monday, (Martin Luther King Day) Austin had the day off at Base so he called and checked up on me. Said a "little birdie" told him I was sick. I have yet to find out who that birdie is, but I am making it one of my priorities to be on the look out. Austin said he'd be really busy the next week or so though...and I haven't a clue what to get him for Valentine's Day. I've never had to worry about him being far away for it...so now I haven't a clue what to get him. I still have to ask if he's set up his postal address...

I'm not going to be able to see him as soon as I thought I would too. I thought I was going to be able to visit him the weekend after Valentine's Day, but that's probably not going to happen. Financially, I'm just not up for it right now. My clutch decided to take a nose-dive and die on me, and it cost me more than I want to put on here (and all out of my savings too!). Then I have a property tax to pay on top of it. So I was thinking of pushing the trip on to March or April...I don't want to wait too long because flight costs go up though...
I just miss him. I can't wait to see him again : )

On another note; an update on my challenge. It's been going smoother than I thought it would and way, way faster too. After shunning any and all soda, drinking either water or unsweetened tea or coffee and eating only 1200 cals a day, I am down to 126lbs. I'm thinking a lot of that was water weight though, honestly, because I can't tell much of a difference.

I'm going to have to up my exercises I guess. I'm skinny enough, I just need to get toned again. Which is a lot harder than loosing weight.

Yep.

I went up to Lexington yesterday, up to my college's main campus. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is bigger than I thought it would be. I'm taking the classes online, through an Online, On Demand Program. I can start my classes whenever I choose. I was taking a scholarship I had won through a SKILLS USA competition to get it filed and use it on some of my classes.

Being in the college, surrounded by other students almost made me wish that I was taking classes on-site, instead of online. I just loved the feeling of all the people and classrooms. It's something I'm thinking about in the future. Probably not at BCTC, but when I transfer to a State University. I need to get out more.

Thanks for reading!

Sarah

Sickness and Revisions

I don't get sick very often, but when I do it gets bad. I mean, I had to take off work today I felt so bad. I haven't taken off work once in the past 5-6 months I've been working there so it sucks to break my on-going record. I went to work sick on Wednesday and Thursday, but I guess karma is getting me today.

My nose is literally raw from of the tissues I've used, and I'm so hungry, but every time I eat I get sick. I haven't had a decent meal in two days. I've got these chills too that make me really cold and then I get really hot like I've been standing next to an oven for hours. I'm in my bed now piled up under three blankets with the heater on. 

Oh, and the fatigue! I just can't get enough sleep. Even now, my fingers keep hitting the wrong keys because I'm just so tired. I've been cat-napping all day, and when I wake up the same thought goes through my head every time "I feel so useless, I need to..." but then I've drifted off again.

So, I'm sorry for this boring post. Head fuzzy and all that.

I have had some time to look at blog in a new light though. I've been re-reading it between my unconscious states and have decided to change a few things. Some revisions, per say.

I mean, the whole "couple thing" will still be a big part of the blog; just not the focusing object. I made this blog with the idea of focusing on myself more, getting more independent. I'm still thinking on everything. The blog may even take on a new look.

I know its confusing to make changes when I've just started and such, but I'd rather make them now then when I get more publicity. So sorry for any confusions, and just be looking for the more updated content on my blog. I'll keep the posts I've already posted and probably the general "look" of the blog, but it'll take on a more personal "Sarah-ness".

I don't know. I"m still thinking about everything, and the good idea fairy + a fever probably doesn't equal to much anything good.=p

Keep your fingers crossed and please be praying that I make a quick recovery! I know I am.

Thanks for reading!

-Sarah