Snowflakes

I took this photo last night, on my apartment balcony railing. When I took the photo I did not really see anything special about it, just a bunch of fluffy snow on a black rail. I went inside and started editing the photos, and I cropped this one so it was centered more, when I cropped it, automatically it zoomed in, and I saw the snowflake in the center. When I fixed the lighting it popped out even more, perfectly captured by the flash of the camera to show it's glistening icy little appendages. I have been in awe ever since.

Snowflakes are amazing tiny pieces of art, God takes the time to make sure every piece of ice that falls from the clouds all over the Earth, is unique and different! You will not find two snowflakes that are exactly the same anywhere on the planet. The fact that these light as air works of art make it to the Earth's surface without being torn to pieces is another miracle. In the photo you can see the sharp edges of some of the other snowflakes and how they pile on top of each other and lay at all different angles.

I realized once again the Amazing power of God while looking at this photo. If He can take the time to create every snowflake and make sure it glides down gracefully in one piece to the ground below, through all the stormy winds and harsh conditions; then surely the people He created in His own image are much more important and He keeps His eyes on us as well. We go through many storms and harsh conditions and yet we can also glide through life, thanks to the watchful eye of our Lord and Creator. He made every one of us as unique as the snowflakes, and with much more care and purpose. If we take the attitude of the snowflake and just let Him blow us around in life and put us where He wants us and to fulfill whatever purpose He has for us, we will be just as graceful and beautiful; instead of bouncing around and falling where we may.

Take time today to thank God for allowing you to land where He wanted you to, and for creating you as a uniquely beautiful being, and thank Him for your purpose and your place and for helping to guide you safely through the storms and winds of life to get here.

Life in Columbus

It has been a while since I posted last, life has been changing a lot since August, so I will try to update as much as possible.

In August, Caleb and I moved to Columbus, Ohio. This put us a little more in the middle of our sets of parents in Dayton and Pittsburgh. We are living in Dublin on the Northwest side of the 270 belt around Columbus and we love our little area. We are a mile from each of our jobs and have a two bedroom apartment in a lovely complex.

Caleb is working the the Ohio Adjutant General's office here and loves his job as the Tricare Coordinator for Ohio National Guard. He works as a mediator/liason between the veterans and the current members of the National Guard and helps them with thier Tricare insurance needs. I think he likes the satisfaction of helping people who need it when insurance can be very confusing.

I am working at Target Portrait Studios, which I am finding out is kind of like working at a zoo around the holiday season. I love doing photography, which is probably surprising a lot of you, since I am actually a Licensed Massage Therapist. I had some opportunities here with massage that fell through, and with the holidays around the corner I wanted to get a job I knew would happen quickly, instead of waiting around for someone to call me about a position. So I applied for photog jobs and got one immediately and have been loving learning all about it ever since. Capturing milestones and family love all the time is very rewarding and also stressful at the same time.

We have had some big changes, but we are loving every minute of our new surroundings and new jobs. We have fun with new friends and love to see family more. We are getting to see all our old friends as well which is a great plus to only moving an hour away! The holidays are going to be hectic, but they will be great as usual. Hopefully hunting goes well for the Fennick men after Thanksgiving and they have a good time together. Life is always changing, and in that way, staying the same!

Recipe for Taco Balls

I invented something new tonight for dinner (new to me anyway), and I wanted to share it with you if you were interested. This may be a good kid friendly recipe. If you want to get kids to eat veggies more, puree some and them for some of the liquid ingredients.

Taco Balls
1 Pound Lean Ground Beef (Meatloaf mixture if you prefer)
5 TBSP Breadcrumbs
3 TBSP Milk (cream if you prefer)
2 Eggs
2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 Tsp Salsa (if you want more add more, but this will change your consistency, more bread crumbs may be needed and less milk)
1 Packet Taco Mix
½ Tsp Vegetable Bouillon (I love this, you don’t have to use it)
Pinch of salt
Enough Cooking Oil to fry balls in, unless you choose to bake them
Your favorite sliced cheese (mine is Sharp American) 5 Slices

Mix all wet ingredients first with a whisk, then add meat and stir well, then add dry bread crumbs. Mix until good consistency for meatloaf or meatball making. Add Taco Mix, you may need to add milk one tablespoon at a time if your mixture gets too dry.
Shape into balls about the size of a ping pong ball, maybe a little bigger and drop carefully into hot oil, fry until dark gold on all sides and done in the middle. (you can also bake the balls in the oven, set to 375 degrees, keep a close eye until they are done. )
Take out of oil or oven and immediately top with sliced cheese. Allow to sit until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

I am not a huge fan of Salsa, so I think I will omit it next time, use it if you want. This recipe is easy and yummy, so try it one night this week!

Massage Signatures Survey, please help me with this info

This is a survey type blog post, I need lots of input!

Have you had a massage at a spa or resort that had some kind of signature move, set up, or adde bonus? Tell me about it please:

Would you enjoy a foot soak with relaxing warm water and aromas as your medical history is taken?

Would you enjoy a bowl of aromatic steaming water under your face while you are laying face down on a massage table?

Would you enjoy a hot towel with aromatic oils rolled under your neck while you are laying face up?

Would you like to have your hands dipped in paraffin and left to soak while the rest of your body is massaged?

Would you like a deep conditioning treatment on your hair while you get massage?

Would you like to have a sugar or salt scrub applied to your hands, elbows, knees, and feet while you get a massage?

Would a mini facial as part of your massage make you melt?

Men: what would make a massage memorable for you?

Pregnant women, women with children: what would make a massage memorable for you?

What do you wish you could get during a massage that you have never been offered?

I would greatly appreciate any info you can provide!! This will be applied to future endeavors in my career! Thank you!

Pizza Sandwiches

I made something new last night and wanted to share it with you!

Pizza Sandwiches:
1 loaf sliced Italian Bread
Fresh Mozarella (this will come asa ball or log, not dry shredded stuff in a bag)
Fresh Shredded Parmesan (this usually comes in a bowl container, it is not bright white, it is off white, yellowish clear and stiff and crunchy)
Pizza Sauce
Butter
Garlic (I like to get the little jar of Garlic, its ready to use anytime)
Griddle

Take as many slices as you need for tops and coat them in garlic butter, then "grill" them on the griddle until golden brown.

Take as many slices as you just grilled and use these for bottoms: spread pizza sauce on one side, then shred your mozarella on and sprinkle on the parmesan, then lay on whateber pizza toppings you like, we used pepperoni, tomatoes, and zuchini ribbons. Then lay these on the grill so the toppings are still on top and grill until golden brown on the bottom.

Remove from griddle when done and place the already grilled tops over them, then enjoy!

First Blog in a long time

Sometimes, you just need to write, and since I am a closet writer, that is what I do when I feel the urge. This post is just about life and how its been for me lately. I realize most people don't care, but some may find solace in the fact that the stuff that happens to them happens to others.

The JOB:
My husband got a great job workiing for the Adjutant General (Headquarters) of the Ohio Army National Guard. This meant he would work 8-5 in Dublin, OH; an hour and a half from our home in Dayton. So he commuted for two months while we did the military thing and waited for moving orders and everything to play out.

The APARTMENT:
I don't know Columbus very well, so I didn't have a clue what the good neighborhoods were, where anything was, where the jobs were. So I did lots of research and realized I would love to live close to where my hubby's job is, Dublin. I centered my search there and the third apartment I saw I loved, and so did he. I kept looking though to scope out areas and apartments and prices. After over 70 apartment searches, we settled on the third one, a mile from his office.

The DRAMA:
We didn't get to see the apartment together until a week before we moved in. I was told one price in the beginning then he was told a different price, then I was told a different price, then the apartment changed, then we couldn't talk with a manager, then the leasing agent got snooty. Yep, it was drama at every turn to get our dream apartment. Eventually I contacted the Property Management company that owns the apartments and they worked it out at the original price. All that was just APARTMENT DRAMA. Now comes the JOB DRAMA: I was looking for a massage job in Columbus and had applied at a lot of places, and got an interview at a beautiul spa in Dublin, very small and nice. I tried to work there but between the spa being closed and not telling me (I drove and hour and a half to get there) and the owner lieing, A LOT, I decided it was not worth the stress and had to leave before I really got to start.

The MOVE:
We packed up our stuff and moved August the 14th with a ton of help from friends and family that we were very very thankful for. Then realized, our hot water didn't work, a ceiling fan came away from the ceiling and is still hanging there funny after it tried to blow up, an exhaust fan doesn't work, one tub drain won't hold water, the washing machine will not balance for anything, a toilet paper holder is falling off the wall, a couple of lights don't work, and so on.

The UPSIDE:
We love our apartment despite its flaws. We have two balconies, one with a door off our bedroom. We have a gorgeous master bathroom with a large tub. We have an indoor and outdoor pool with a sauna and a full workout facility. Our internet is working and we are very close to my husband's job. I have interviews this week and we are making new friends here. We are half way between our parents, which makes visits much easier. There is a much better job market here than in Dayton. We are together and starting this amazing journey. Our closets are insanely awesome and we have a washer and dryer in our home, makes a lot of things much better. We are healthy, we can work out whenever we want, we have health insurance finally. My husband has a great job and we get to see eachother more now. We get to discover a great new city and area that has tons of things to do and sites to see and learn about and explore. We are both in a new place that we don't know, so no one has an advantage. God is providing and teaching us a lot of new things and we are very excited to experience them. The UPSIDE definitely out weighs the other stuff!

Do you think massage is for Skinny People?

I am finding that a lot of "heavy" people think massage is only for "skinny" people. That is just not so! If that were so then heavy people wouldn't have any health problems or stress, and to be quite honest: if anything, additional weight causes health problems and stress on the body!

Myth 1: I will break the table/chair!
Truth: You won't they are made to withstand a lot of weight, if you're really worried, go to someone with an electric table

Myth 2: The massage therapist doesn't want to see my fat!
Truth: Just like any other body, we don't really see the body or the nakedness, we see the need.

Myth 3: I won't fit on the table.
Truth: If this were the case neither would tall people. There are wider tables and there are table wideners. I have table wideners to accomodate larger people.

Myth 4: I have so much fat there is no way a massage will have any effect.
Truth: Circulation and body fluids and Fascia can still be accessed, and in some cases massage can work like exercise and help with fat. There are many things besides muscles and tendons that massage works on.

Myth 5: I hate the way I look so I don't want to take my clothes off.
Truth: THEN DON'T We do massage all the time with clothing on the client.

These are just 5 of the excuses I hear from people. Always talk to the massage therapist if you think there could be a problem. There should be a way to work around it, or many times you will find it is not a real problem at all.

Massage and your pregnancy

Are you pregnant? Do you have swollen feet, hands, and ankles? Does your back ache all the time? Is your baby pushing on your Sciatic Nerve? Do you have trouble sleeping?

There are many joys and many trials during the 40 weeks of pregnancy. But if you are in your second or third trimester you can get massage and help alleviate many of those trials. Massage can remove some of the fluid built up in your extremities and reduce your swelling. It can help to manage the pain in your sciatic nerve from all the pressure put on it. Massage can help to lessen the pain in your low back from the additional weight you are trying to hold upright when sitting and standing.

Any massage is good for pregnancy once you get through the first trimester. The first trimester is often when women lose children and massage is not recommended by most therapists until you get past that point. The best prenatal massage is with a special set of cushions or a special table meant to accomodate a pregnant belly; these set ups can give you an hour of relief from the weight of the belly and also your mammary tension because of special holes or wells for these areas. If the special table or cushions are not available your therapist can use pillows to frame your body and make it more comfortable. Somtimes sitting in a chair sideways is comfortable to have your back worked on and your extremities without the trouble of getting on a table.

Massage can also help you relax during labor, having your hands and neck and feet worked on during your labor pains can help you control your breathing and slow your heart rate. Keeping you in control of your labor helps you to enjoy it more.

If you already recieve massage and are pregnant, don't stop the massage all together, just wait until your first trimester is done and then resume your massages. Keep your therapist informed of your pregnancy trials so they know what to help you with.

If you are pregnant and want to try massage, call your local massage therapist and talk with them about thier comfort with pregnancy. You can find a good fit for you very easily.

Pregnancy massage is also helpful to get a bond with your therapist and then when you have your little bundle of joy, they can help you with some of the healing aspects of massage after the birth and help with massage of your little one.

Massage is not a Luxury

I haven't blogged in a while, and this topic has been on my heart for weeks, so I am putting it out here for you to chew on.

Massage is not a luxury, it is a means of healthy living. I am not saying I know a whole heck of a lot about healthy living, look at my photo and you can probably tell that I am an overweight young woman. I am vehemently working on that as I have all my life. But I do know a heck of a lot about massage and I continue learning all the time. I say massage is not a luxury becuase that is how most people see it. For the wealthy and the affluent massage may look like a way to lose yourself for an hour a week or every other week, but it is so much more than that. For the middle class and working class massage looks like something only the rich and priviliged are allowed. THIS IS NOT SO!

Massage as a means of healthy living and rejuvination can be available to everyone and should be. I agree that it is expensive right now, but there are ways around that. You should see massage as a way of helping with medical treatments. It is like your favorite necklace with all your outfits: it goes with all your health care regimens.

Massage can help with almost any medical problem, stress problem, emotional disorder, chronic disease, etc. I AM NOT SAYING MASSAGE CURES THESE THINGS OR TAKES THE PLACE OF MEDICAL CARE! I am saying massage helps with the medical care and can help with some of the areas medical care can't.

Massage can help you relax which helps your breathing, in turn getting more oxygen to your entire body to function better: think of this as a tune up for your car to get the oil, air, and gas moving properly.

Massage can boost circulation, carrying more oxygen and nutrients to your entire body and carrying toxins away to expel them: think of this as having your ducts cleaned and flooding your house with clean fresh air now that the toxic junk has been removed.

Massage can release more good hormones and chemical in your body to help your body deal with depression and mood disorders and some hormonal imbalances: think of this as a huge gulp of air when you surface from a deep dive in the pool.

Massage is not for the wealthy or something you only do when you're on a nice vacation. Massage is a way to feel good and if you can't afford $60 for an hour consider these alternatives:
1) Ask for a half hour session at $30 an hour
2) Ask if you are eligible for any discounts, you'd be surprised
3) Ask if you can trade a service you provide for massage
4) Get massage less often, but still get it (monthly or every other week)
5) Go to a school's clinic and get an hour for the price of a half hour
6) See if your insurance will cover your massages, many do now
7) Ask your doctor or chiropractor if they offer massage as part of thier office sessions
8) Your gym may offer massage as a side feature for very low cost to you as part of membership
9) Your office may offer massage at a discount right in the office, take your legal 15 minute break and get a massage
10) When you take a cruise or exotic vacation get a massage instead of a bar package, your body will thank you.
11) Ask for massage as gifts intead of things you don't need
12) Budget for massage as part of your health care budget expenses
13) Get massage instead of one of your mani/pedi appointments each month, you don't have to breath the harsh chemicals and its more comfortable than sitting in an uncomfortable chair trying to talk to someone that doesn't speak the same language as you
14) Talk to your massage therapist, many of us will offer you a discount or figure out a way to get you in without the highest price
15) If you can afford massage please continue to get them at regular price so your therapist can help people not as fortunate in life as you.

Salt Fork State Park Lodge, Lore City, OH

I spent an amazing weekend at one of the most gorgeous places in Ohio! Salt Fork State Park is close to Cambridge, Ohio. It has a huge resort type lodge, with great 5 star quality rooms, service and food. We were treated like royalty all weekend and got to hike and walk in nature's beauty with lots of wildlife, including deer that walk right up to you and baby fox pups curled up on some rocks by the lake. If you are out in central ohio you need to spend a night in this place. Every room has a balcony with enough room to sit on chairs and eat a picnic or take in the sunrise or sunset, with privacy, as each is fenced off between the rooms.

The rustic beauty of the lodge is breathtaking and the many conference rooms and fireplaces were perfect for the marriage retreat we were attending. Every member of the staff was very caring and courteous and smiled. The food was great and in abundance all the time, every time we had a break, almost every hour or hour and a half, there was a nice spread of food waiting for us.

If you are concious of the earth and going GREEN, they are the place for you, everything is made of recycled materials, to the pens and notepads in the rooms and the cups and wrappers on the food and drinks. If it isn't able to be re-used it is recylable. The soaps and shampoos were even green products. You had glass and ceramic instead of the usual plastic coffee cups and water cups, and knew you were helping the planet by staying there.

The website shows come photos, but you have to go and see it for yourself, the photos don't do it justice!

New Bag

I am a purse woman, I love purses and I have finally gotten myself down to having only two at a time, the really dressy one that stays in a nice bag until it comes out for a one night debut, and my everyday haul-it-all bag. I had been carrying a very large purse, as usual, but my shoulders were suffering and so was my brain as I tried to find things in the cavernous bags. So after seeing my sister's cute little bag from Ariat I looked for mine. I went to 5 stores in two hours and finally ended up in the luggage area at Target. There it was, a little less fashionable, but very shoulder friendly. A hands-free type as well if you know what I mean (it can go across your body and your arms and hands are free to carry other things, or to help you not to fall during hiking, like I did this weekend!). The brand is SwissGear, as in Swiss Army, its considered a day bag or gear bag, for people who are traveling, and who doesn't travel all over creation on a daily basis? Perfect!

It has three compartments, two on the front and one hidden along the side that is the entire width of the back. It has plenty of space and a very nice padded strap that can either go over one shoulder or across your body. The across the body variation is great for hiking, shopping, carrying bags, etc. because it gives you both arms and hands totally free without worrying your bag is going to fall off your shoulder!
My one draw back, I don't like carrying a bag that is on my back, because I am always afraid I will be walking somewhere and a thief will open my bag and take stuff and I won't know! But I am paranoid, so go figure!

Come Check Out My Website!

www.courtneyscaringmassage.com

Garden Veggie Pizza Recipe

Need:
2 cans refrigerated crescent dough sheets, roll out on cookie sheet and bake at 350 until golden, this is your pizza crust
One 16 oz container sour cream
One packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
1 Cup chopped carrots
1 Cup chopped cauliflower
1 Cup chopped brocolli
1 1/2 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese

Mix Dip mix with sour cream and spread over completely cooled crust. Sprinkle cheese over dip mixture. Sprinkle all chopped veggies over cheese. Regriferate for at least one hour and serve cut into peices. Keep extras in the refrigerator!

My Living Room After Drill Weekend

My living room looks like a command center when Caleb gets home from a weekend of drill with the National Guard!

Massage as a Gift

Have you ever had someone to get a gift for, and had no idea what to get them? Massage is the answer here.

Administrative professionals day is coming up, why not get chair massage in your office for all the admins? Or get them gift certificates for massages.

Mother's Day is coming up and who deserves a massage more than your mom or wife? Get her a massage and keep the kids for a few hours so she can enjoy it fully.

Wedding Anniversaries and Birthdays are also great massage gift times. Soon it will be Wedding and Graduation season, brides and grads are always stressed, massage can remove some of the Zilla from Bridezilla and help the new grad get out of the fetal position caused by finals.

Do you know someone that is retiring? Get them a massage to start thier new chapter in life and remove some of the stress the last 40 years has inflicted.

This is a short list of people you can get a massage for as a gift, massage is the perfect gift for anyone at anytime.

Fruit and Protein Smoothie

I love smoothies more than anything else that goes in my mouth! Here is a recipe for the one I made today:

1 Cup frozen whole Strawberries
1 Cup frozen whole Blueberries
1 Cup frozen chunked Mango
2 Banana Popsicles
2 Cups Berry Mixture Juice
2 small scoops Whey Protien Powder
1 Cup Plain Low Fat Yogurt

Put all this in your blender and set to Highest Speed and blend until all is mixed and smooth, pour and enjoy!

I always have frozen fruit in my freezer and yogurt in the refrigerator. I buy canisters of whey protein in either chocolate or vanilla flavor to add the necessary protien for nutritional purposes. If I don't have protein I will get a bad headache and because fruit has natural sugars so the protien also helps to keep from having a sugar dive later. I hope you enjoy your smoothies!

Spring!!!!

It is 45 degrees and SUNNY! This is probably a teaser but I will take it right now, I am so tired of dreary winter gloom days. The sunshine in the mornings is the best way to start a day. Waking up is easier, which makes it easier to get out of bed and get moving. Sunshine and warmth makes driving so much more fun, especially the stick shift, my little truck is a fun toy on days when it feels like this. For some reason, driving with the windows down and shifting my way onto the highway is an escape from winter's dullness.

Opening the windows for fresh air makes the whole home feel new and clean, even if it isn't and the rays of sun making dust gleam remind you of that. The smell of fresh air flowing through my home makes cleaning less of a chore. Turning the electric lights off and opening the curtains always makes me feel better too.

SPRING, new beginnings popping out of the earth and the start of sinus season and the end of flu season. Throw open the curtains and the windows, even if today is the only day we get to enjoy this way for another month!

I'm Not a Drummer

Drumming up business seems to be a slow game. And I am no drummer. But I am learning to get my business cards out and to get my little marketing goals met. I get creative in spurts and try to get as many ideas down on paper as I can before the fleeting moment passes.

Marketing myself is tough for me, I have never been one to try and get my own attention. And I hate it when there is any kind of "spotlight" on me. So trying to hand out business cards and marketing material that is about me and my business is hard for me to swallow. But I am getting better.

So what I am asking is that if you have any marketing ideas for the self employed Massage Therapist, let me know! Give me "drummer" lessons! I am open to a lot of ideas!

The Food War

As some of you know, I am the pickiest eater ever. This can cause some problems sometimes. As some of you also know, I started eating salads this past summer, at the ripe age of 24. Don't laugh too hard, you might hurt yourself.

A lot of food goes uneaten for a while in my fridge and pantry because I just don't realize it is still there. I think I mentioned this somewhere in a previous post about shoving things to the back of the fridge and then finding them later. Now I have started trying to empty the fridge before I buy more stuff. That is hard to do as some things you run out of faster than others. But I think I am doing a better job due to the fact that we finally got some deer meat into our freezer this week.

Part of using what I have is trying to figure out a monthly menu. This has been a domestic challenge for me, as I find it hard to come up with that many meals at once. But it does save on trying to come up with ideas while I am grocery shopping. And thus buying food I don't need and won't use!

So one way to save on unneccessary food costs: menu planning by what you have and only buying the "accessories".

Snow Snow Go Away

I know that I live in the North, but I am ready for Spring to shoot through the snow and let us see its bright greens and new life!

I love Spring more than any other season of the year. When everything starts popping through the earth in March and April and the snow melts so we can see grass and dirt again, I get giddy!

I love to wake up with sunshine in the morning instead of darkness. It is much easier for my body to realize it should be awake, if the rest of the world is waking up outside my window too.

I love that Spring is symbolic of new beginnings. New plants, new trees, new grass. Just like God makes us new in Him. And I love that Easter is in Spring to remind us of that fact!

So here's to Spring! May it come swift and warm and take this snow away!

Kitchens

Oh, cleaning the kitchen up again! I love to mess it up while cooking, but I hate to clean up afterward. I admit, as I have before, keeping a clean kitchen is quite the struggle for me, there are always dishes laying around and cups and so on sitting everywhere. I try to get a handle on it, but for me it is daunting for some reason!

It is great to mix things up, bake everything, make yummy sauces and salads, but it is quite another to clean up after they are gone. I also forget things are in my fridge and just scoot them around for a while, until I realize they have been in there far too long and like today, dump them out and wash the smelly containers.

If you are thinking I live in a pig pen, that is not true, a little cluttered at times, but its not that bad beyond the kitchen! And about once a week I clean like crazy and everything is back to normal order. I know that if I did this regularly during the day I wouldn't have these problems, but somehow that just doesn't happen for me!

Do You Want a Massage?

Hey to all of you that have ever read this blog! I want to give you some information on my massage business so you can tell all your friends and get signed up for an appointment!

I graduated from SHI Medical Massage School on October 25, 2009 and got my License for Massage Therapy for Ohio on January 15, 2010. I have an office set up on Orchard Lane, in Beavercreek, Ohio.

I love to do deep massage work, as well as light relaxation massage. I take a full medical history for each client and keep it on file for future reference and to add to it as needed. I keep medical notes on all the work I do so that I know what works and what doesn't for each client. If I feel that the person needs it, I will take thier blood pressure to ensure I am not going to hurt them by doing massage. Each massage is catered to the client's needs and specific requests.

I use massage specific tools and products to ensure a clean, relaxing, professional approach. I offer many discounts including a discount of 15% for all clergy and military. The Hand to Hand Program is a great way to get discounted massages as well, all new clients will recieve 15% off thier first massage. Anyone they refer to me that gets a massage will recieve 15% off and the client that referred them gets 15% off thier next massage! Every time you refer someone they get 15% off and so do you!

My prices are the average for the market, $60 for one hour. I take 1.5 hours for the first massage to allow time for the medical history and information gathering, but you will still only pay for one hour!

So talk to everyone you know and let them know to get in contact with me for thier massage needs. Ask your chiropractor if massage would be helpful in your adjustments; schedule me for a health fair, ladies night, party, wedding, birthday party, company event and more! After all, you usually feel better after a massage, if not, something went wrong!

Sickness

No one likes to be sick, for any reason; at least I don't know any sane person that likes to be sick. I certainly don't. I hate the inconvenience to be completely honest.

I hate the fact that even though I could get up and walk around, I don't want to because it wears me out. I hate that when I cough it feels like my chest will break open and my lungs will fall out. I hate that fevers make my whole body hurt, like my skin is made of tiny razors slicing into my muscles.

But illness is also an awareness of how good my body feels when it isn't fighting an invader. It shows me not to take advantage of my good feeling days and allows me joy that I will get better, probably not as quickly as I would like, but I will.

Illness also reminds me that I am not in control, God is, and He is much better at being in control than I am, no matter how much I may disagree. God allows me to get sick for one reason or another, and He allows me to be well again. Just like He allows doctors to go through years of training to know how to help me and gives chemists the good brains to know what will help my body fight this infection the best. For that I am thankful!

SuperBowl Cupcakes

After sitting in my apartment sick from a sinus infection for a few days, I got beyond bored and decided I would make cupcakes for the SuperBowl! So here they are, the Colts and the Saints!! ( I know the saints are black and gold, but the black just wouldn't go dark enough so it turned out kind of purple! )

Getting the word out about Massage Envy

Massage Envy is coming to The Greene, in Beavercreek, Ohio. This may sound like great news, but I would like to give you some education about what I have been told by people who worked at Massage Envy and people who have had appointments there.

First, Massage Envy requires a membership from you. I know that personally I don't like having to buy packages up front and pre-pay for things I haven't experienced yet. I don't like membership fees and not knowing where that money is going.

Second, Massage Envy only gives you a 50 minutes massage. You have to schedule for an hour, but you only get 50 minutes. The other ten minutes is for undressing and redressing and an introduction.

Third, Massage Envy overworks thier employees. From the former employees I have spoken with, Massage Envy required them to work 10-14 hour days with no break between clients. That is 10-14 massages in a day!! Imagine doing that kind of work and still feeling good at the last 2 clients of the day. You don't get the same energy or good mood from your therapist if they are completely worn out. And now multiply that by 5-7 days a week. Makes for one sore, tired, gloomy person working on you.

Fourth, Massage Envy doesn't pay thier therapists very well. They charge an average price of $40 for an hour (remember you are only getting 50 minutes of that hour). Thier therapist makes a tiny fraction of that price for themselves, and they are encouraged to refuse tips.

Fifth, Massage Envy drives the market down for other massage therapists in the area. You have seen what happens to the small business grocer when Wal-Mart moves into town. That is the same thing that happens to small business massage when Massage Envy moves into town. It looks great at first, cheap prices and you can get an appointment at almost any time you want. Here are a few things that causes:
1) Massage Therapist paying rent, paying for insurance, paying for thier continuing education requirements charge a standard fee most of the time, that fee right now is right around $60 for an hour. Some are more some are less, but that's the average.
2) You may get an appointment any time you want, but you probably won't get the same person twice. So you have to put your trust in a stranger every time, you never get someone that learns your body and your needs and caters to them.
3) If you aren't happy, you are stuck with the package you had to buy at the beginning, and they don't do specials or many discounts.

Sixth, Massage Envy doesn't usually take any kind of Medical History or keep detailed notes of what they did for you at each session. When I sit down with you for your first appointment I allow a half hour free of charge to take a detailed medical history, to see what your body needs and make sure it is safe to work on you and what work is safe and what isn't. I find out what kind of pressure you like and if I can use other tools and techniques catering your massage to you specifically. I even take blood pressure if needed to ensure you are safe in my hands.

I could go on with other reasons, but I think you see the point. I am not calling for an all out boycott and I am not saying the therapists are the reason Massage Envy isn't a good idea, many good therapists get stuck in the Massage Envy scenario. There are also many people there that only know how to do Swedish Massage, they don't know any other techniques or modalities or use of any tools to enhance the massage to your needs. They know how to "relax" you and how to put lotion on you, and that is it. Many chiropractors and doctors will not send thier patients to Massage Envy.

Please take these thoughts into consideration when you are looking into the new flashy Massage Envy in your area.

My Bliss for Today

Clear your mind as you read this entry, and imagine everything...


Walking in from outside the smell of warm chocolate and caramel gently tickles your nose and rumbles your stomach. The cold air from outside loses its chill at the thought of the warm caramel brownies now cooling on the stove. The dishes are done and drying on the counter, the cupboards are neat with rows and stacks of dishes and glassware all waiting for the next use. The leftovers are stacked neatly in the refrigerator in thier little matching containers with blue lids. The table is clear of dishes and glasses and waiting for you to sit down to enjoy one of the brownies with a glass of milk once they cool after a few minutes. AAAHHHHH, relaxation.

Myrtle

In doing the study on Esther, we learned that one of the translsations of the name Esther is "Myrtle". I was at work this past week and talked about Myrtle and someone mentioned that we sometimes get Myrtle in, I had no idea what Myrtle was, so I was ecstatic when our delivery that same day had some in it! I picked up some other flowers to go with it and made the arrangment below. The second photo is the actual Myrtle, the green leafy peices of a bush.

You can ignore the bare bones simpleness of the arrangment, I am not a professional, I just work as a clerk at the florist. But I chose purple and gold themes for this arrangment because Esther was a queen, and a good one at that! This arrangment is to symbolize Queen Esther.

The Myrtle smells kind of like a spice, almost like rosemary, it is a pleasant aroma, which makes me think that a pleasant aroma of the Lord floated off of Queen Esther, the Bible tells us everyone around loved being in her presence.

I hope you enjoy some of my musings on Esther, I am learing so much through the study and I feel like passing some of this knowledge on to you....

Pat Robertson Comments on Haiti and a Prayer for Haiti

I want to be the person that denounces what Pat Robertson said on his show, The 700 Club, I am a Christian and I think what he said was absolutely wrong. You can google it if you don't know what I am talking about, but he said that the Haitians brought the Earthquake on themselves based on a myth about them selling their soles to the devil, which is wrong on too many accounts to list.

The fact that this "reverend" has said so many things like this and that he acts like he sees things when he is praying is at the top of my list for blasphemy. He makes Christians look like people full of hate and pious behavior, which I was raised and educated against. As a christian we are to love people and pray for them, even if we don't like them or they are bad. There have been plenty of times someone has wronged me or been a bad person, and the human nature that rules most of my life made me want to say really hateful and mean things and do hateful things, but instead I put it aside and prayed for them, and believe me it is harder to pray for them than to do anything else, but it feels good when you realize you acted as Christ teaches instead of giving in to the devil!

Pat Robertson gives Christians a negative light, and I think as a Family of Christ it is time we get him off of his pedestal, I honestly think th eentire show, The 700 Club, could be done away with because many on that show cast a negative light on Christianity and take in a lot of money to better themselves and thier "show". I have watched it a few times, and I know a few people that watch it so they can say they went to church. If that is the "church" you are getting it isn't worth your time, take the plunge and go to church in a building.

I have prayed for the people that watch Pat Robertson's show, and I have prayed for Mr. Pat Robertson as I will do again right now, you can pray with me if you like,
Dear Lord, I pray that you will keep the Haitians and all the relief workers there in your hands of protection and love. I pray you will get the rest of the living buried out of thier piles quikly and allow them to yell out with energy You give them until someone hears them. I pray for all the people who are missing loved ones and who have lost loved ones, that you would give them peace and show them you have not forgotten them. I also pray for the hearts of those who have given of thier money and thier time to this cause, I thank you for them and thier willingness to help out. I pray that you would bind the devil in this time in this situation, keeping the looters and gangs in check and helping to keep the tensions low. I pray for all the injured that are trying to get medical attention, that you would allow the countries and militaries from around the world to get there in time to offer the medical assistance needed. And finally Lord, I pray for Mr. Pat Robertson, that you would open his eyes and his heart to Your true calling and Your message and that he would make You the center instead of himself. I pray You would reveal yourself in a big way with him and lead him to walk in Your path and not his own. Please receive all the glory and exhaltation from everything You do and all you are working in this day Lord! Thank you for all You give and all You take away, it is in your name I pray these words Father, Amen.

What is Massage For?

Yea, I know you were wondering when massage would come into this blog, since it is massaging the soul, etc. I know. Now is the time.

I just became licensed in Ohio for massage therapy, so I am now officially an L.M.T, Licensed Massage Therapist!!! Yeah! Which means now I feel more comfortable talking about massage on this blog.

What is Massage For? Millions of things. If you thought it was just for relaxation, I can assure you, there is a huge treat out there for you to grasp. Massage can be a means of pain management, arthritis treatment, diabetic aid for circulation and nutrition, blood pressure assistance, helping the loved ones we have that are passing into the next phases of eternity to get there more gracefully, helping those losing someone to handle the physical side of greif and loss more easily, relieving stress and tension, removing fluid and stiffness from joints, releasing the muscles that cause TMJ disorder, releiving tension from repetitive injuries, getting warmed up and loose before sporting events, lengthening and stretching for dance and sports and yoga, prenatal aid and newborn aid, aligning the spine and cranial bones for sinus pressure and other problems, quieting the body to remove some congestion that causes migraines, helping chiropractics work better and more effectively and comfortably. As you can see this is a long list and I have just hit the tip of the iceberg. If you have questions send them to me, I would love to help you understand more about massage!!

Esther with Beth Moore

I am in the second section of the Bible Study from Beth Moore about Esther, and I am already learning so much about myself and My Lord! I love this study because I don't think any woman can fully understand womanhood, at any age, fully. Being a woman is hard, I am not saying being a man is easy, but I don't know anything about being a man, so I can speak experientially ( I think that is a word!) on how hard it is to be a woman. In fact, that is the title of the study, It's Tough Being a Woman.

I don't know if anyone reads this blog, but if you do please share with me what being a woman means to you. Whether you are a young woman, a single woman, and older wiser woman, a middle aged woman, a woman with a husband and 14 kids, or any other kind of woman, tell me what it means to you to be a woman.

There are as many women as there are types of jeans in this world, they all fit into different categories and styles and positions and purposes. But one thing is true about every woman, and this is something you can be sure of and take to the banks ladies:

"For I know the thoughts I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 words of God our Father in heaven, NKJV

You can be sure, God made you a woman and not a man on purpose and you will fulfill that purpose when you follow after Him and seek His will and great purpose for your life!

SMILE, Your life was made for a reason!!

Most Fragrant Rose

I am not a huge fan of purple, or purple roses for that matter. But this one caught my eye. I recently started working at a small florist and we get all kinds of things in, while scanning the buckets of another local florist I saw these, but thought nothing of them. When I paid for my purchases the sales person pulled the rose pictured out of a bucket and said I had to smell it. I did and I was shocked. Normally roses have a very faint smell, almost undetectable, but these smell like the strongest Rose Water Perfume that ever graced your nostrils.

I have also been told recently that of all the roses to have a perfume about them, lavender roses are usually the most fragrant. The smell of flowers is fading due to the way we grow them these days, but if you find a good one, grab it up, it will be worth it. The smell of this Allure rose in my living room graces me every time I come home.

Tiny Touches for Togetherness

As some of you have seen I made curtains from bed sheets for my living room. I have now made them for my bedroom! I also used the sheets to make wall hangings and a monogrammed pillow case for my bed. I found some complimentary fabric for the top of the dresser and some wall hangings as well. Take a look!!


These are the curtains, made from King Size bed sheets, I finished some edges after cutting them in half and putting a hem in the bottom and used hoops with clips to hang them on the curtain rod. (ignore the air conditioner, I live in an apartment)


These wall hanging are peices of material from the curtains and the dresser scarf, I framed them and on the two small ones I used
Wallies brand adhesive wall decor on top and then hung them over the closet, which is straight across from the bed, so you see these when sitting on the bed.


The dresser scarf is a peice of twoille fabric that is in contrast to the walls and the curtains, it has a cream background with light green flowers. It is simply folded nicely and placed over the top and sides of the dresser to add dimension to the room.


And here is the bed, with the monogrammed pillow case. I took some of the left over material from the curtains and folded it in half and stitched up the sides, leaving the already finished edges open at the top, then took yellow paint and painted the "F" in the center, after that dried I took pearl colored fabric paint and went over the yellow, making it a creamy yellow color with pearl accent and stand out on the material. Pulling the colors in from the rest of the room.

It doesn't take a huge amount of money or know how to give your home a unique and very personal touch. Use your imagination!

Keeping Good Things Good

Do you have a Bible that you love, or a favorite hard back book that you love and want to keep safe and sound? Maybe you love to read and always have a hard cover book under your arm or in your bag when you are out and about, but they get banged up in the shuffle of life.

I have a Bible that needed a cover, but I wanted something that shouted ME! I love uniqueness, in case you hadn't notices that about my blog already, and I had some quilted material left from a sewing project that I loved. So I put two and two together and came up with the following:


If you would like to sew a simple Book/Bible cover yourself just follow these steps!

1) lay the book on the material the way you want it to be showing (lay the covers of the book on the wrong sides of material)
2)fold material over edges to the desired covering amount, I like to have deeper pockets so the book won't slip out when it is opened.
3) Cut the material so you have 1/2 inch on either end extra for turning under for finished edge.
4) Cut material so you have 1/2 inch extra on top and bottom for turning uner. NOTE: you want to have a 1/16 inch on the top and bottom wiggle room for the book.
5) sew all raw edges at your 1/2 inch margin to give a crisp appearance.
6) Fold sides in to desired depth again and pin in place.
7) Stitch along the very edge of your top and bottom of pocket to make the pocket. Be careful not to sew across the open edge of the pocket, otherwise your book will not slide in.
8) snip all loose threads and slide your book/Bible in, see how it looks!

You could add handles or buttons or any fun details you want!

Wealth and Glory

It's Beautiful!! Have you ever walked into a mansion and been taken aback by the opulance and wealth surrounding you? The Palace at Versaille is the picture that comes to mind when I think of glamorous wealth. I have cleaned houses that are mansions, with many many rooms and tables set all the time with a gorgeous crystal and china setting. The glittering chandeliers and grand staircases.

But the people that lived in that palace, did not get to take the gold and glitter with them when they died. Glory belongs to God. As I read Esther 1 I was in awe of the blue and white and purple of the Garden that Xerxes held a banquet in; the gold goblets that his guests were drinking out of, all of the made one-of-a-kind; the floors made of mother of peal and a few other glamorous stones and things used to pave the ground of the garden. But Xerxes didn't understand that all the things he had, all the lands he took over didn't mean a thing, he would be the same as the beasts of the earth when he died, the only thing known to him being his body. Psalms tells us this, and we should each remember it. You work hard for your money, but in the end it is not yours to be proud of, it belongs to God and the glory that money brings belongs to Him as well.

New Year's Resolutions...Yep

I haven't done resolutions in a few years, not keeping them seemed like a good reason not to make them. So this year, after a stirring message and challenge from my pastor yesterday, I made up a list.

Getting Up Everyday at an earlier time
Have more patience with people that are difficult
Spend More time daily in God's Word
Get more involved in my church
Keep my Body in check, God gave it to me to use for Him, it should be usable

I am sure more will come up, but for now that is my list. Feel free to check in with me and see how they are going. I hope God shows you what areas you can focus on too. Resolutions don't have to be improving on something, or losing or giving up something, just changeing something. Dictionary.com tells us resolution is:

> a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
>the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc

You can do this, God doesn't lay things on our hearts that we can't do!