Oily Experiment📓

My microbiology professor is amazing! I love her as a person and educator. She believes in her students and inspires them to WANT to learn! She inspired me to WANT to do an experiment. Can you believe that? Want to know how? She allowed me to do a little test with my oils. And y'all know how much I LOVE my oils. I had the help of some pretty awesome classmates too. Thanks, Janlyn, Justin and Shannon! 

HERE'S WHAT WE DID:

 

We were given nutrient agar plates which is pretty much a little petri dish with this gel like substance that has certain nutrients that inhibits bacterial growth. We used different bacteria for different oils. (Side note: I really wanted to use clove oregano and thieves but I was out of those. Sad day.) We divided our plate into 5 sections with a marker and labeled them with different times. 0 minutes was our control for the experiment. We used a sterilized loop to streak that section with the bacteria only. No oil. Just bacteria. That way we could see the growth WITHOUT the oils and compare it to the growth, or lack of hopefully, WITH oils. 

We put 2 milliliters of our oil into a sterile tube and got 2-3 loops full of our bacteria and mixed it with the oil we chose and obtained samples from that mixture to streak our plate with. Kind of hard to visualize I know...much easier to see in person! But stick with me here! 

We dipped our inoculating loop in that mixture and streaked the plates in the 5 different sections labed with the times. The times were in intervals of 0 minutes, 2.5 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes and 20 minutes. We would streak a specific section and wait (X) amount of minutes before we streaked the next one to see how the oils would hopefully decrease the amount of growth over time. 

Shannon used the bacteria "bacillus subtillus" (which isn't pathogenic or anything but nonetheless it's a bacteria. And the point of this experiment was to test the oils affect on the growth of bacteria)  and the oil she used was peppermint. 

Justin used the bacteria "mycobacterium phlei" which is typically not pathogenic but there have been a few reported cases in which M. Phlei caused infections in individuals with compromised immune systems. The oil he used was melaleuca. 

Janlyn used the bacteria "staphylococcus epidermidis" which commonly causes infections on medical devises such as catheters, shunts etc...it's known as an opportunistic pathogen which basically means it's only infectious if it has the proper environment to grow in. The oil she used was purification. 

I used "E. Coli" which is more common for everyone I'm sure. It lives in the digestive tracts of humans and animals and while there are many different strands that cause many different things the most common way to come in contact with E. Coli is to eat infected meat that has not been cooked properly which causes an upset stomach. The oil I used was lemon. 

We performed this test on 04-10-15 and placed our plates with the streaks of bacteria/oil in the incubator which is a toasty 37 degrees Celsius (body temp). Because bacteria (most of them anyways) love to grow at body temp. Convenient huh?? 

Y'all check back on 04-13-15 to see the results! Hopefully growth was very limited. Guess we will find out! I will be posting pictures and everything y'all don't wanna miss it! 

Co-parenting

Co-par•ent 

Verb

(Especially of a separated or un married couple. To share the duties of parenting a child) 

Yikes. That sounds so....harsh. But does it have to be that harsh? Not only the whole "separated or un married" part but the SHARE part. To share is something your parents have tried to instill in you since you were a toddler. Let's be honest though who really enjoys to share? Your CHILD at that. But it's fair right?! So it's what you do. Not to mention you want your child to have contact with their dad. More than just contact...a relationship! That's what every kid deserves. A fun, loving, healthy, trusting relationship with each of their parents. 

Not that Garrett or I owe anyone an explanation or anything but here it goes...

When these feelings of a lack of feelings first occurred to me I tried to hide them. Kind of push them to the side and just ignore them. I kept thinking to myself "they'll go away...hush hush conscience let me sleep" But they didn't go away. I then started to take it out on him. Why? This isn't his fault! It's not even my fault! It's not a fault at all! It happens. And not over night. Ever heard the saying "sometimes the smallest of things take up the most room in your heart"? That's the T R U T H. Whether they be good or bad things it doesn't matter-they just sit there and occupy space that could be filled with love and happiness. Small stupid things began to pile up and stay. 

I've prayed. Pleading for God to give me back the feelings i lost!!!! I've cried (bawled actually). I've tried to make it work. But it hasn't. 

I believe that kids are a HUGE blessing! How a person can NOT think that two people creating a human being isn't a miracle is beyond me. I also believe that God hand picks individuals who he trusts to raise one of his most precious gifts. God chose Garrett and I to love and raise and teach and support and care for Presley. And just because we are not together does not change that. Not in the slightest. 

I pray every single night that Garrett and I continue to co parent Presley in a way that teaches her what respect is all about. And as hard as this has been I know it's ultimately whats best. 

And who knows?? Maybe we will somehow find a way back to each other in the future. I ask that you all please keep us in your prayers. For now though, I will continue to love/respect Garrett for who he is. 

Presley's daddy. My friend. ❤️ 

LLP

So it's cold and flu season...ew. 

And if you live in West Texas it's ALWAYS allergy season. 

My 15 month old has terrible allergies and stays pretty congested. Runny nose, wet cough, waking up in the middle of the night wanting to suck on her binki but can't because she can't breathe through her nose...the whole 9. I used to put children's Zyrtec in her bottle at night time as needed (per instructions from doc) but I have recently discovered a miracle y'all! 

                     •LLP• 

Lavender 

Lemon 

Peppermint 

It's amazeballs pretty much. It acts like Vicks but without all the harsh chemicals! I diffuse 3 drops of each at night for PK and rub 1 drop of each mixed with coconut oil on her chest and bottom of her feet: morning and night. 

You guys I am not a "organic" or "health nut" type of gal. But when it comes to medication I have never been a fan! I hate swallowing pills, hate the side affects and hate that most medicine damages the kidneys in some way. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE knowing that I can help Presley's allergies -n a t u r a l l y- 

And this stuff isn't JUST for allergies. There is an oil for literally everything you can think of. 

-snoring 

-ADHD

-depression & anxiety 

-cold & flu 

-fever blisters 

-sinuses 

-sleep issues 

-bug bites 

-PMS 

-nausea 

-arthritis 

-back pain 

-headaches 

-acne 

                   YOU NAME IT 

                      (Oils fix it) 

That's all folks. ✌️ 

M A G I C in a bottle.

No I'm not referring to wine- although I do think that also falls under the category of "magic in a bottle."

I'm talking about YLEO's. Young Living Essential Oils.
My dad first introduced me to them about 6 months ago. He purchased his from the local drug imperium because they were cheaper than most brands and easily accessible. He then persuaded me into trying them and I was a huge skeptic...like no, dad these silly oils that I rub on my feet and temples and wrist will not get rid of my sore throat...and I was right. They didn't.

                                                         ----BUT----

Although I did not get the results I wanted with that brand I very much liked the idea of oils as an alternative way to heal/maintain health. So I did some research and ran across the Young Living brand and immediately knew I wanted to try them. (I'm a compulsive shopper it's a real problem y'all) But I am SO glad that I am because they actually DO work. Let me tell you some things I have used them for...

STUDYING

-Okay so I am a full time student who has recently been cramming for finals (y'all pray for me) and the first oil I purchased was Clarity. It promotes a clear mind and alertness. I used one drop on my finger and rubbed it on my temples and behind my ear every Monday, Wednesday and Friday before my class and I noticed a difference. Now before you shake your head and call me crazy why don't YOU do some research. Or not. You can just take my word for it :) A study performed at the university of Cincinnati found that inhaling this oil increased mental accuracy in students by 28%. Pretty cool huh? My classmates and I diffuse this during our study sessions and we LOVE this stuff.

SLEEP
 -If you're a parent you are probably rockin' the same sleepy eye-bags like me. But we wouldn't have it any other way right? Unless we COULD. Well ya CAN. And even if you're not a parent you can't tell me you don't love your sleep. Lavender is commonly known for its soothing properties but it is the most versatile of them all and really no home should be without it in my opinion. I diffuse 5 drops of this and 5 drops of my other favorite sleep enhancer Peace & Calming with water at night in my room and Presley's room. Works like a charm. I also rub it on the bottom of her little baby feet as well :)

HEALTH
 -People your health is a SERIOUS thing!!! Why not take every precaution you can and avoid visits to the doctor/sick days at work? I didn't actually purchase this oil at first. A friend of mine allowed me to borrow hers for a few days when I had an awful sore throat. It was so dry and sore and came with a pretty nasty cough. I applied the Thieves oil to my throat/chest area, the bottoms of my feet and diffused it for 2 days and BAM it was gone! **Here's a quick piece of info for your trivia file: This oil was named after thieves who were stealing from homes of those who had died from the plague. They covered themselves in cloves, rosemary and others to keep themselves from getting sick** They also have hand sanitizer, wipes, household cleaners, all kinds of stuff with this oil. I love it!



Y'all these are just three ways I have used these oils in my everyday life but there are SO many ways you can incorporate these oils in yours. Here is my Pinterest page with all my go to "recipes" for oils! https://www.pinterest.com/connielauren92/yleo-magic-in-a-bottle/

I am receiving my starter kit here in a few days and I am SO SO excited it's crazy! I got it as an early Christmas gift (Thanks Gare) so I will have a few samples if any of you are at all interested let me know!

I will end by saying this for those of you who think this is some sort of "voodoo". I firmly believe that there are forms of medication that are God given. Such as these oils. Before we were blessed with the power of  science, medicine and technology people had to use things from the earth. They couldn't go down the street to Walmart or Walgreens to get Nyquil or Vicks. They used what was GOD GIVEN.

Presley turns •O N E•

On October 1st of 2013 God gave us a baby girl who was PERFECT (still is) 

 

She was definitely a surprise and we were not 100% prepared for the way our lives would change but we are so happy they did! Each day we fall more and more in love with her and learn new things EVERY day! 

We celebrated her first birthday October 4th and I wanted to share it with y'all ;) 

Her crown is from a shop called Londy Lou on Etsy and the girl that makes them can customize them to fit your needs and wants! 

Her cookies were AMAZING y'all! They were yummy and so cute! I received lots of compliments! Briar Garcia out of Lubbock, TX made them and she is so talented and can do any theme you need! She is on Facebook and Instagram! 

Her invitations were also ordered off Etsy from a shop called Trendy Butterfly! She had all kinds of formats to choose from and you have the choice of printing them on your own or having her print them for you. Very cute and affordable :) 

Her "Birthday Babe" onesie was ordered from a shop called Lola and Darla! They have TONS of cute clothing! Most of it has glitter on it like this birthday onesie but it actually stays on through the washer and dryer and isn't irritating to the touch! 

Alicia Junod out of Lubbock, TX took our maternity, newborn, and one year pictures and she is awesome! She will even drive to Plainview if need be! So talented and fun to work with. She is always so patient with Presley when it comes to trying to get a good picture and truly enjoys what she does! Christmas is just around the corner and her hot chocolate mini sessions sell fast! Contact her on her Facebook to book an appointment! 

Her cake was really cute and very good! I probably should have ordered a smaller size but--- it was from united and they did a GREAT job :) and obviously cheaper than most places. Especially since they will just smash it up anyways! Her highchair was mine from when I was a baby and my sweet mom was nice enough to paint it this very pretty pink color called "pale pink" from Mccoy's. Turned out great! 

I always joke and say my mom is a mild hoarder but it turns out her hoarding tendencies come in handy! She used this rocking chair for all 3 of us and had it painted by our cousin Leigh Ann Bradley! She paints all kinds of stuff! She can be contacted on Facebook under the name "Leigh Ann Lawson Bradley" she's very talented! 

All of these wonderful things we were blessed with were very cute but of course they are just materialistic. What's most important to us is that we have had Presley in our lives. This past year has been so life changing to all of us. That sounds so clichè and I know that but it truly is LIFE CHANGING to have a baby. She is the absolute light of our lives and we love her so very much. 

All about that treble.

http://youtu.be/7PCkvCPvDXk 

"All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor has a catchy tune with an awesome beat that is sure to be stuck in your head for days! It's definitely one of my shower jams....

Well when she says "bass" she's referring to her figure or "curves"...now don't get me wrong I love that this song is promoting self confidence! And I'm a fan of Trainor's. 

But if you know me I'm not...uh...a "BASS" kind of gal. I'm 5'5. Size 2. Lanky. And rock my chicken legs. I'm what the song refers to as T R E B L E. Which is just as important and beautiful as bass. Right?! Wrong. According to the song she's "bringing booty back.." And also says "tell them skinny b****** that" ANDDDD...refers to skinny women as "stick figure silicone Barbie dolls" 

Whoa. It just got real. 

And let me say AGAIN---love love the song. And I take no offense to it. I sing along in the car/shower shamelessly. I just think the song is doing the opposite of what she intended it to. You can't encourage one group of people by putting others down. 

I mean why can't we be all about that treble? AND bass?

She also says her momma told her that "boys like a little more booty to hold at night" okay.....don't we have enough songs talking about women's bodies being acceptable for men? Enough. 

& I'm living proof not ALL do. My fiancé likes my flat backside just fine. (Or pretends to anyways. Thanks hun i appreciate that) ;) 

So ladies I guess my point is this: you're ALL beautiful. Bass OR treble. 

Just saying.

                     •WARNING• 

this is a very whiny/complaint filled rant. But I'm a woman so naturally I'm allowed to do that every once in a while...here it goes-

If you're a young mother, you feel me when I say this: 

It rrrreeeeaaaallly gets me all hot and bothered when people have the nerve to take time out of their day to walk over to me at the grocery store, or restaurant, or pool, or wherever, to compliment on how adorable Presley is and immediately follow it with this question "Is she yours hun? You look way to young to have a baby!" no no no...they aren't asking me that because they actually think I look young. They are asking me because they're-for a lack of better words-judgmental. 

*eye roll* 

.....uhhhhm yes she is mine and yes, captain obvious, I am young. Most of you are probably reading this and thinking to yourselves "geez chick relax it's a compliment to be called young..." And some people do mean it in a polite way (or at least i think they do) but the real problem I have with it is what 90% of people do next.... 

Take a very quick (very obvious) glance at my hand. My LEFT hand. In search of a ring. And when they see I'm wearing one they look shocked. Presley is 10 months old now and this happens to me almost EVERY time I am out and about with her. Look, before I go any further let me say I am a Christian (a proud one) and I will be the first to admit I did things a little backwards, yes, but I'm no different than you. You are not my competition. And if you're the type to notice a young mothers left hand before anything else (including the little miracle sitting in her shopping basket) well then you'd be in the same boat as me my friend. 

We ALL fall short of the grace of God, people. But don't be so quick to judge because it is not your place. 

Alright that's all... 

Carry on :)