Christmas Blues

I was having a big case of the Christmas blues because my parent's didn't have any decorations up this year. We had our Christmas party on Sunday and my mom borrowed a little tiny tree from her work for the party. It isn't the same when you don't have any of your own decor, or rather any decor up. My mom's new slogan this year has been, "It's still Christmas even if the tree isn't up." Bah hum bog! I took matters into my own hands. I got a real tree, thank you Ashley, and had it delivered last night. My parent's were busy watching Psych on the computer so they didn't see the deliverey. Another factor on my side is my parent's bed time. They go to bed before 9 pm. They were fast asleep by 10 pm and I was setting up a real Christmas tree all by myself, which was really fun because I got to choose all of the ornaments and such. My mom was smelling the pine in her dreams and couldn't believe her eyes when she awoke to a Christmas tree. Lots of questions were entering her mind: when!?, how!?, what!? My blues are gone and I don't know if it's because I got a tree or because I surprised mom and dad, but I am certainly happy about it. I take the saying 'if there is a will there is a way' very literally. Merry Christmas!

I won an ipod touch. Thank you Bank of the West. I am still figuring out how to use it . If I could say something without judgement from anyone, I really wish it had a camera, Oh well. I have been manifesting an ipod for some time now. Who knew I would get a brand new one, let alone a sleek ipod touch.

I am still behind in getting into all things merry and Christmas. I haven't stepped into a shopping center all month. Time is running short, but that is how I roll with almost everything- last minute. Anyway, I don't really believe in participating in the consumerism of the holiday. Maybe one day when I have to be Santa I will be different.

I had a birth last week. It was beautiful. More details to come.

I got bangs. Wahoo. They are really fun. I have noticed something unpleasant though, my forehead breaks out now. The breakage outage is mostly around my hair line which is better than mid-forehead, but still unsettling. Pics soon.

Lastly and perhaps most exciting, both of my sisters are bringing girls into the world Spring 2011. Congratulations to Shelley (baby number 1) and Heather (baby number 4). Joy is errupting from every vessel of my body.

Clean air please

It can seem insignificant to reduce, reuse, and recycle- ESPECIALLY because Utah makes it so diffucult and non-friendly. However, maybe if everyone rallied together and did just one thing we could go from red alert to yellow alert for the next 6 months. I kind of want to be able to breathe and the air outside is discusting. Damien Rice jokes about bottled air but I don't think it's too far off.

Many people, including my dear parents, think that environmental issues such as global warming is conspiracy and when debating it turns into an 'it's God's plan' argument. In response, God via Jesus created this world with tlc. Therefore, do whatever you want to it? No, consider the lilies of the field. That field is on it's it way to being a toxic waste facility. 

p.s. Christmas is the time of ultimate consumption. Please, for the sake of everyone, be responsible for your footprint.


p.p.s I am as damned as anyone. I don't write this post from a place of superiority, I write this post from a valley with trapped toxic air :)

Attention Santa

Dear Santa,

Thank you for being jolly, wearing red, and encouraging Buddy go to New York to find his dad. Here is this year's wish list.
-Counter top bathroom vanity filter unit from ewater.com
-Aria diffuser from Young Living
-Products from Young Living: Core Supplements, Animal Scents shampoo, Feelings Kit, Dreamcatcher, Awaken, and Sacred Frankincense.
-An Alaskan Husky puppy with both eyes blue
-A PC laptop
-Sonic Care electric toothbrush
-Sunset Bronzer from Mineral Essence
Thanks SC.

Love,
Stacie

Inner Child

Here I am having a blast in the leaves on Sunday. Thank you leaves because I will soon resent you when I am hauling you away with my dad. 

p.s. leaves provide a lot of warmth. maybe that's how mary ingles survived...

"Ask and ye shall receive" - Jesus

Madsen Cycles: Can I be the winner?



Click on the picture so I can win!!! :)

Autumn Ecstasy

This is my favorite time of year for many reasons. Along with the beauty, comes excitement and bounty.

I have eaten in season and that brings me great satisfaction.

My heart has been absorbing a lot information which has got my mind stirring. I have been taking classes, attending meditations, and getting a lot of body/spirit/emotional work done on myself.


I have been unusually sentimental and sappy. I am remembering every detail so that I can write it down for my brother who is not able to enjoy autumn this year. My cursive is getting faster and less legible. There is something so beautiful about a hand written letter. It is my joy to write- the physical movement of ink on paper and  the creative process.

I discovered a new beautiful place, Pole canyon. Wow! I can't think of a more luscious escape this time of year. The colors are brilliant and the landscape is open so the whole canyon is exposed.


The music scene is hot. Fall is always my new music season. I have been loving Josh Ritter, Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs, Wilco, and Ben Kweller. Also, I just finished Inkheart on cd. I LOVED the narrator. I commute for about an hour everyday so I can get through books and music pretty swiftly.

As far as books are concerned, I discovered the children's non-fiction section at the library. This has brought me much grief because I can't read as fast as I want to. Also, I am reading Gone with the Wind. I am pacing myself with that monster. Also, because I am reading Gone with the Wind, I have a heated sensation to learn more about the civil war and civil rights. I don't like war history, but GWTW has romanced the civil war in a huge way and I firmly believe that civil rights is an ongoing issue today.

I am hopelessly enjoying the last of the green before the white and never-ending brown winter. I am determined to like winter this year. Here is my plan: buy good boots so my feet don't cold and wet, participate in a winter activity, and spend more time outside in the sun hours. I would love to include an Alaskan Husky in my plan, but my parents won't go for it.

Because I feel bountiful, I am offering a new treatment for $20 It is a compilation of light massage, acupressure, and emotional release. I want to get more familiar with it before I charge full price. If your heart has been as open as mine this season, please come and enjoy!

Also, for everyone who is sick, (it seems like everyone) come in (or I can come to you) and get a raindrop technique or lymphatic work. Feeling ill is awful. Health and wellness is an option even during "flu season." I am not as concerned about money as I am about the people I love being well. We can always work out a deal. I am wheeler and a dealer :)

Dream State

All I know, is that I am sick of opening my blog and seeing the "bookworm" post. I learned a cool piece of information that I want to pass on about sleep.

When we go to sleep, we are connecting to our spirits. We are remembering our mission in life, getting answers to prayers, and communicating with....whoever you communicate with. Usually, almost always, right before we wake up, we have these outlandish dreams about five headed monsters or totally bizarre circumstances. That way, when we wake up we only remember the weird dream because it blocks out all of our messages and communications that help us in this life. However, there is a way to retain the information you want instead of the chaos. Before you sleep, offer a prayer to remove all unclean things from your sleep state. The first night I did this, I learned a really cool piece of information that I use almost daily.

Try it! This simple act could change things for you. Really, it's the simple things that change and impact our lives. Happy sleeping!

Book Worm

I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stiegg Larsson. I love a good mystery and by about page 50 I was hooked. Until page 50, I was considering returning it to the library. Here is an honest review offered by a person who rarely reads mystery novels: I thought the author was really tricky. I liked his angles and his layout of the story. I did get a bit nervous when some of the trails weren't uncovered, but it's a series and I didn't know that going in. The book is probably meant to be read by adults- as there is some graphic descriptions. In the end, I am not dying to read the next book, The Girl who Played with Fire, but it's on my to-read list, for sure.

As for books I am dying to read the sequel, I am on the waiting for Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and getting really impatient! Hunger Games was probably one of the better books I have ever read. I remember about a year ago when my mom was raving about the series and I sort of dismissed her drawn out passionate description of the books. That is because, my mom also recommends books like Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. Anyway, Hunger Games had me thinking for days. I couldn't absorb it quickly enough.

Also on my list of sequels, is Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. I loved Eat, Pray, Love- which was not her first book, but her first big success. I forgot how much I liked her style of writing until I went to the movie, twice. She is fun, witty, and everything connects. For those of you who like her, check out her Ted Talk.

I feel bad for those who don't enjoy a good novel. To really enjoy reading there has to be a shift. It's like you read the one book that changes your mind about reading. From that time forward you are willing to take a chance on another book because you remember you enjoy reading. Reading is good for my soul. It is an escape as well as a grounding experience. For those non-readers, thanks for reading this post about reading!

Oh My Glod!

The countdown begins!

August 28, 2010, at the Lincoln Memorial site, Glenn Beck (aka Glod) has a message to save America! 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/14/colbert-rips-glenn-beck-f_n_576146.html

Sweet Baby James

April's pregnancy flew by so fast. I hardly prepped myself for this birth. About a week before baby James came, I talked with April about her wants, wishes, and fears. In preparation for this birth, she took a hypno-birthing class. She seemed pleased with the class and believed in the principles. I concluded a few things after our talk, she was flexible with her birth plan and not totally convinced that natural childbirth was a reality for her. Her energies were more focused on what to do with two children, because one way or another, she was going to have two children soon! I admire her wisdom and priorities. Inside with my thoughts, I wanted her to have a natural childbirth experience because I knew she wanted it!

 April opted to get started on pitocin to avoid going over and/or having an enormous baby. She started around 7 a.m. I got there around 9:30 a.m. Dialation was slow but contractions were coming steadily. When I walked into the room, I knew April was totally present. She was assertive, confident, and calm. I have always known April to be confident, but then and there, she was more. April asked questions and was responsible and engaged. The nurse was awesome to work with. She was very knowledgable and supportive of natural childbirth. I knew that no matter what happened, we had a winning team and April was in good hands.

For the first few hours we sat around. I rubbed her feet, we played cards (I lost everytime), and we talked. Also present, was Brett (husband), Mom, and sisters. There was a lot of support and good energy in the room. April led the way, the team was synergistic and open minded with every milestone.

Finally the decision came, should her waters be broken or remain in tact? It was decided to break them since she was on the highest dose of pitocin, and not opening as fast as expected. After her waters were released, labor started coming on strong. There was no turning back. The dosage of pitocin was immediatley halved and then halved again. Her body took over and knew exactly what to do.

With all of the pairs of hands, we were able to use counter pressure on every surge. Also, our hands were there to serve, comfort, and love April throughout the time in between surges. All too soon, it was time to push. She made it! Within a few moments of pushing, baby James flew out!

It is amazing to know the nature of a baby when he/she arrives. We all knew James was happy, calm, loveable, and beautiful. He hardly cried except when roughed up by the staff. Breastfeeding was established easily and almost immediately.

I was most touched when April's other son, Luke, came to meet baby James with Grandpa. I watched April as her heart grew. Sometimes, it seems like the heart isn't capable of more love and then it is. The love radiated beyond the walls of our hospital room. As I observed, I was reminded again of the powerful combination of family and love. Nothing can touch that.

Congratulations again to April, the woman, mother, and dear friend.

Beacon Bros

If you say 'beer can' with a British accent it sounds like you said 'beacon' with Jamaican accent. Okay, I think I have exhausted that enough. It still makes me laugh though, really really hard...

This is actually a post promoting The Beacon Brothers- as in Kevin our beloved friend who filmed Footloose in Utah. I have this co-worker who is slightly obsessed with them and I am forced to listen to their music.  I actually like it. They have a cool style. I am not too keen on most of the lyrics, but the harmony and music is pretty.

When you get an extra music minute, check them out or not.

Camping Pictures

Summertime Camping

I went camping on Saturday with Melissa. We got my favorite spot! I was so pleased. Usually when I go camping, I tag along with an outdoorsy master. I don't lift a finger to help with fires, food, tents, and the like. Not to speak for Meliss, but she's the same--we just hang out and let the experts do all the work. However, this was totally different. We did it all!! It was all fine until the sun went down and we killed the last of the orange embers. It was pitch black. I brought some fine reading material with me. All three volumes-mind you! Needless to say, I was totally spooked. Suddenly all sounds were threats lurking outside of our tent. Luckily, I fell asleep at some point.  In the morning as we were enjoying breakfast and building another fire, we encountered upon a visitor. He was friendly. I was doing most of the talking until he asked this question: "Did you guys drop a litter over there?" My face fell as I was thinking about what he just asked. It could have meant two different things: Did I drop off a litter of kittens? or Did I go to the bathroom over there? The answer to both of these questions is "Yes, but not over there and none of your business!" Melissa, picking up on my loss for words, replied to his question with "No, we haven't dropped a lure. We didn't bring our poles. What types of fish are in the river?" Saved! and WTF!! I felt like an idiot. Oh well. Later, when I explained my inner monologue to Melissa, we were laughing and laughing and laughing.

For those of you who aren't getting them on fun exotic vacations....

Summer is perfect to get a massage because your probably more active, your skin needs TLC from all the sun exposure, and rates are low! Take advantage! Hope to see you soon. I am pretty good :-)