Beyond Ridiculous

So, this is a new post because this has gone too far. At first I was waiting to be more well to post something new, then six weeks of pneumonia later, I wanted to have a good amount of time to upload Birthday pics of The Boy and Christmas pics, and then the whole thing was just way to daunting and I kept putting it off, and then The Girl had a birthday and got Baptised and I was waiting on pics for that because I forgot my camera (because I'm brain dead that way), and now things have just gotten Way Beyond Ridiculous, so I'm posting none of the Pics or updating you on anything, I'm just posting to get over this Humongous Mental Block I've developed.
So there.
The Almighty Liz

What Has Liz Been Up to Lately?

So, John and I have been very industrious as of late, and I've decided to brag.

I hung pictures! My bro-in-law, Apollo, did our family pics and some individual shots. You can view more of his work at:

http://www.smiletodayphotography.com/

He's awesome.

Lotion! I've been working my fingers to the bone! I've had a lot of traffic and orders to fill, and lots of new projects as well. My newest project is a face mask, which I am wearing as we speak. It's amazing, and I love it.
This is the closet that John built in our basement next to the washer and dryer. It was desperately needed, as we were hanging all of our clothes on the water pipe since there wasn't enough room in our minuscule closets, eek! Didn't he do a great job?!

This is the other side of the closet. Now we have a cozy little sleeping area for guests!

This is the biggest project. I didn't take before pics because I didn't think of it, so take a moment and imagine all of those toys covering every square inch of the floor OF MY ENTIRE HOUSE. Now, they are categorized and tidily put into clear bins and tucked onto those shelves. Aaaaah, now doesn't that feel better?!

A better shot of the genius organization.

A bonus shot of my cat. I love when she sleeps on the back of the couch. Sometimes it looks like she's melting off the couch. Hilarious!

The Almighty Liz

Just a Little Gushing

John has a neat trick.
You see, when I look in the mirror, and you girls out there can probably empathize, I don't see pretty. All I see are things that need fixing, the imperfections, the flaws. My hair is not full and lustrous enough, my skin is starting to sag and get wrinkles, my pores are the size of craters and my endless battle with acne rages on, my darn eyes are two different colors! Ect ect ect and on and on and on. I have a list of over a million things I'm pretty sure. But then! My husband takes me in his arms and tells me I'm gorgeous and all that insecurity about myself melts away and I believe him. One look and two words and I feel like I'm the most exquisitely beautiful woman to ever grace the Earth with her presence. I wish I could bottle that up and send it as a gift to every girl on the planet because even if it only lasted a minute, every female needs to feel like that just once. I get to feel like that every day.
I do love that man.
The Almighty Liz

Finally Fall!

Well, I don't know about all of you fans out there, but here in the Midwest Fall hasn't really made an appearance. Until today! It's been mostly 80 degrees or thereabouts, but we woke up to 28 degrees and frost this morning! Does this make me happy? Um, no, sorry. I'm a warm-weather-summer-type girl, and I despise the cold. I've been loving the extension of warm weather, but it's okay because I made Erik's Halloween costume out of really warm material, and I was worried he might have to be naked underneath it this year or die of heat exhaustion. So, I guess there's a silver lining in everything.
The Almighty Liz

Awwwwww...

My son just came up and sang me twinkle twinkle little star to make my headache feel better. Can I get an "Aw" from the crowd?!
That is the child that is going to take care of me when I'm old and feeble.
The Almighty Liz

Liza's Lotions!

So, good friends and loyal fans, I have some exciting news! My good friend Dana, who introduced me and my little business to the world last week, is doing a giveaway on her blog! Here's a link:

http://danacheryl.blogspot.com/

Head over and read all about it!

For the giveaway, this post is all about my lotions. What I sell, how much they are, and how to have me do a custom lotion just for YOU. This is the thing I'm passionate about: making something that works for YOU and only you. Making a lotion that fits your unique needs, so it's as special as you are!

All of my lotions are customizable, so if they look pretty good to you, but there's an ingredient in there that you react to, just let me know, and I can leave it out! Or, conversely, if there's an ingredient I have that you'd like added, I can do that, too! I make every lotion up individually when you order it, so when you order I don't go to a shelf and pick up something I made a month ago and send it to you, I sit down with all my ingredients and mix it up after you put in your order, then send it to you. Thus making customization a breeze! This is in addition to the 100% custom lotions that I make for individual customers. The 100% custom lotions are for those of you who see my regular formulations, and they just aren't going to work for you, or you have no idea if they will work or not! That's when you contact me, and I'll will sit down and ask you a bunch of questions, do a little homework, and come up with the best solution for your needs. Sometimes that is a lotion I already have formulated, but most times I come up with something completely different that's just for you.

Further, all of my ingredients are as natural as I can get them, and organic whenever possible. Even the more chemically sounding names, like cetyl alcohol, are derived from natural organic vegetation. So you can feel good about what you are putting on your skin!

In addition to all of that good stuff, I also wanted to add that my products are cruelty free, not tested on animals in any way, shape or form. All of my products are also vegetarian at least, and vegan where I can manage it, which includes most of the lotions.

All prices include shipping if you are in the US, and if you are international, add $2 to the price. I also offer free samples of everything that comes in the cutest little jar you ever saw, and holds enough face lotion for a week, or enough hand and body cream for 2-3 uses.

So, without further ado, here are all my "off the shelf" formulations!

A quick note: my regular vendor for avocado butter was out, so I bought from another vendor, and it's not the same. Namely, it's got beeswax in it, so right now, all lotions made with beeswax are not vegan, but as soon as I run out and restock from my original vendor, it will be. Thanks!

Liza's Light
Face Lotion For Oily Skin
Distilled water, Rose Hydrosol, Grapeseed oil, Chardonnay oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Olive oil, Kukui Nut oil, Jojoba oil, Jason's 5,000 IU Vitamin E Pure Beauty oil, Cranberry oil, Camelia oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Polawax
1 oz(will last 6-8 weeks)--$6
1/2 oz--$3
1/3 oz--$2

Liza's Quenchaide (your skin's new favorite beverage!)
Face Lotion for Dry Skin
Distilled water, Glycerin, Helichrysum Hydrosol, Cornflower Hydrosol, Argan oil, Calendula infused Olive oil, Rosehip oil, Grapeseed oil, Chardonnay oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Jojoba oil, Cranberry oil, Camelia oil, Jason's 5,000 IU Vitamin E Pure Beauty oil, Colloidal Oatmeal, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Avocado Butter, Shea OR Cocoa Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Polawax
1 oz--$7
1/2 oz--$4
1/3 oz--$3

Liza's Blotch Be-Gone
Face Lotion for Acne Prone, Oily Skin
Distilled water, Neem Hydrosol, Chamomile Hydrosol, Rose Hydrosol, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid (1%), Hyaluronic Acid, Grapeseed oil, Chardonnay oil, Calendula infused Olive oil, Tea Tree oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Kukui oil, Jason's 5,000 IU Vitamin E Pure Beauty oil, Jojoba oil, Camelia oil, Zinc, Cetyl Alcohol, Polawax
1 oz--$7
1/2 oz--$4
1/3 oz--$3

Liza's Simplicity
Face Lotion for Sensitive Skin
Distilled water, Seabuckthorn oil, Jojoba oil, Cranberry oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Polawax
1 oz--$6
1/2 oz--$3
1/3 oz--$2

Liza's Love Your Skin Hand and Body Cream
Distilled water, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Avocado Butter, Kukui Nut Butter, Mango Butter, Almond Butter, Jason's 5,000 IU Vitamin E Pure Beauty oil, Rosehip oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Polawax
1 oz--$7
1/2 oz--$4
1/3--$3

Liza's Lizard Skin Elimination Cream
(Eczema treatment cream, but it's also good for any kind of dry skin. Very healing and soothing)
Distilled water, Glycerin, Colloidal Oatmeal, Honey powder, Allantoin, Cocoa butter (higher concentration), Avocado butter (higher concentration), Kukui butter, Mango butter, Almond butter, Vitamin E oil, Rosehip oil, Olive oil, Argan oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Polawax, Leucidal (all-natural preservative)

Liza's Luscious Lipbalm
Cocoa butter, Almond butter, Avacado butter, Mango butter, Cherry Kernal oil, Blueberry oil, Olive oil, Jojoba oil, Grapeseed oil, Chardonnay oil, Kukui Nut oil, Candellia Wax, Glycerin, Distilled water, Polawax, Truvia sweetener
1 tube (standard chapstick tube size)--$3.50
Flavors for the lipbalm, you choose any flavor or combonations of flavors, it's up to you!:
(you can also get it in natural, with no added flavor or sweetener, and with every 2 lipbalms I sell, I go get another flavor)
Mint
Peppermint
Vanilla
Almond
Coconut
Pineapple
Maple
Lemon
Banana

Liza's Un-Clog Me Facial Mask
(for acne prone, oily skin)(a small note: when I was formulating this mask, I had some clays that were out of stock, as denoted with an * in the list, when I went to order ingredients. As soon as those come back into stock, I will order them, and they will be then added to the final formulation)
Bentonite clay, Blue clay*, French Green clay, Moor Mud*, Red Kaolin clay, Rhassoul clay, Sea clay, Sea Kelp Biofermament, Distilled water, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Jojoba oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Tea Tree oil, Tumeric Root powder, Chamomile Hydrosol, Neem Hydrosol, Honey powder, Clary Sage essential oil, Mint Extract, Green Tea extract, Eidlwiess extract, Polawax

In addition to these, I've always got something on the back burner that I'm formulating. I'm always coming out with new things (especially right after an influx of orders, because then I have money to play with, lol!), so keep a sharp eye on this post, as it will be updated as I develop new products.

The Almighty Liz

Success at Last!!!!

So, I think it is finally safe to say....
ERIK IS POTTY TRAINED!!
Monday will be three weeks since he had a poopoo accident. He hasn't gone at anybody else's house yet, and only in his little potty in his room, but I'm still counting it.
The Almighty Liz

I'm so Excited!!!

Well, my political post was a RESOUNDING success (sarcasm)! Lol!! Kidding. I wrote that mainly for me.
So, why am I so excited, you ask? Because Dana, whom some of you know and is a good friend of mine, has interviewed me for a giveaway on her blog!! I do believe all you have to do to be eligible for the giveaway (correct me if I'm wrong, Dana) is post a comment to the interview. She did an awesome job, and what a great opportunity for me to brag on myself! :D
Here's a link to her blog so you can all do what I know your dying to do--run over and read it!!
http://danacheryl.blogspot.com
Your Welcome!
The Almighty Liz

Political Schtuff

Normally, I don't do this on my blog, and I might delete it yet, but I figure, it's MY blog, I can do what I want.
So, many of you Liz Fans out there might know about the huge stink over President Packer's General Conference Talk. For those of you who aren't aware of it, basically one of the leaders in my church gave a speech at our semi-annual world wide conference, and for a few sentences of a twenty+ minute speech addressed our views on homosexuality. If you didn't know, my church is not for this life style. We are also not for bullying, belittling, being mean or hateful or anything similar to this to anyone who chooses this life style. We are very much Christ centered, and He was pretty clear on His stance to love EVERYONE. And so that is our stance.
So, the homosexual community got ahold of this, and are throwing themselves a royal fit over it. They've even petitioned the leaders of my church to change our doctrine/repeal the speech/ect ect. Does anyone else get the hypocrisy here? They claim that everyone should be able to live/think/feel however they please, EXCEPT the Mormons, because we think differently. I mean, we MUST be brainwashed right? Because how could you possibly think their lifestyle is wrong? This makes me a bit....mad. In an Irish-type of way.
Let me say here that I know that not every gay person feels this way. I'm speaking only about the ones who are being so very loud right now.
A representative has issued a statement in rebuttal of the gay community's petition (and it was a specific group, I just can't remember the name right now.) I think he summed it up well, and I might hunt it down and put a link up in a minute. In fact I will right now, so you all can read it if you wish, because if I try to cliff-notes it for you, I'll screw it all up.
http://beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/church-mormon-responds-to-human-rights-campaign-petition-same-sex-attraction
One thing I love about this response is that he pointed out the things that we HAVE supported gay rights on. Even I didn't know about them. (which just shows I need to keep up better)
Anyway, that's my little rant. I know I'll piss someone off, and that was not my intention. My intention was to vent my own frustrations. Feel free to debate people, I love a good debate. But I'll say right now, so fair warning, that if you get nasty, call ANYONE names, or are just being an all-around jerk, I will delete you. Disagree all you want, but keep it clean. My blog, my world.
The Almighty Liz

I'm Back!

Mostly, anyway. :P
So, the oral surgery itself went fine. The only snag was that my insurance wouldn't pay for general anesthesia, so I was awake for the procedure. I do NOT recommend that, and I am NEVER doing it again. After we got home, for the next few days I couldn't eat or drink enough to stay hydrated, and then I had a bad reaction to the Vicoden they gave me (think lots of puking), which landed me in the hospital last Monday. It took several days for the Vicoden to exit my system, so I was uber nauseated for that time. I think it was Thursday or thereabouts before food wasn't completely revolting. On the bright side of that, I lost three pounds, and that on top of hitting my goal weight the week before! That's 23 pounds I lost since last April-ish people! Yes, I am now so gorgeous I'm hard to look at. You've been warned.
And here's a big shout out to Elise, who watched my son for four whole days while I felt like utter crap and only wanted to die. She's the BEST.
So, I started to feel at least partly human just in time for my super awesome brother-in-law and his equally awesome wife to come home on leave. We went to dinner, and we've had some family fun, and it's been beyond lovely to see them again. We miss you guys bunches!!
My best friend who lives states away from me (which is just Not Fair) is also in town with her husband and children visiting her side of the family, and they carved out some time to come see yours truly. We had some good food, and some good fun, and I promise we will beat the pants off of John at Four Point Pitch next time guys!! He totally deserves to have his head deflated.
Also, my grandpa is still in the hospital, but we are thinking we might finally be getting everything that's been wrong with him fixed once and for all, and they might move him to a rehab center soon, which is a definite step up. Prayers? Pretty please?
So that was last week in a nutshell, and now I need a nap, lol! I'm seriously almost all the way better though, and I actually can't wait to start working out again. It'll have to wait until Friday, but it is so GAME ON come then. I have to keep my girlish figure AND my chocolate somehow!
The Almighty Liz

MIA

Well, I'm getting my wisdom teeth extracted tomorrow. Fun! (sarcasm) So I will be out of commission until I feel better. Some time next year I'm sure.
A couple of prayer requests before I go:
My grandpa. He's back in the hospital, and could use all the help he can get.
My twin nieces. They are three, and going through some adult stuff. No good.
Anyway, try to hold yourselves together until I get back. Just remember, I'm not dead, I'm just in a lot of pain. Wait, that came out wrong....
The Almighty Liz

Monday FHE

It was an interesting Monday. The weather was AWESOME, and Erik and I went to Wal-Mart, mainly to pick up a new microwave. Ours bit the dust on Saturday, and let me tell you, living without one, even for a day, sucks.
I made chicken and dumplings for dinner tonight, and they were super duper uber good. Then we went for a walk to the grocery store and got some pumpkins. 'Tis the season and all! Watching the kids race each other is always way fun. We were checking out our pumpkins, when Erik stuck his hand out to the cashier, and said, "Hi, my name is Erik." He shook her hand, and then ran off. He's been doing that lately. I have no idea where he got it, but it's freaking hilarious!! The looks on people's faces....! While Erik and were at Wal-mart, I spied these cute little pies. They were about the size of one medium sized slice of pie, only round, and only fifty cents each! So I bought a good variety and that was our treat for FHE. Why is watching your children really enjoy their food give one such a warm, fuzzy and fulfilled feeling? I love it.
It was a good day.
The Almighty Liz

Ugh!!!

I do not know what the FREAK is up with my children today, but they are driving me bananas. Bouncing off the walls, sassy, destructive, and pain inducing (that's mostly Erik)...I'm about ready to throw them out the window. And of course, John is gone until tomorrow night. Nice.
The Almighty Liz
ETA: It got better. I took the kids out to the Huddle House for dinner, where they charmed the waitress and all the diners, played tick-tac-toe nicely with each other (Jonni confided to me later that she let Erik win, lol!), and were very good. Until we got home anyway. :P

Much Delayed Review

Okay, so we've had the Sleep Number bed for just shy of a week, I think five full nights. My initial reaction was LOVE, and now that I've had a few nights to try it out, it's turned into ADORATION!! I worship this bed. It wouldn't have been so good without the topper we got for it, but with the memory foam IT'S PERFECT. I've been running on pure adrenaline for several weeks, and now that I'm able to sleep again, I'm beyond exhausted, lol! It's like my body is saying "finally, now we are going to get caught up....for the next month...." John really likes it too. He's one of those people that likes a constantly changing sleeping surface, I think, kinda like a cat, so this is perfect for him. He can adjust to to his heart's content, so we're both uber happy with it. Which is the point of a Sleep Number bed after all: to make both people in the couple happy, and it works. How did I live before we had this?!!
For those of you thinking "why should I get one, it's just a air mattress!" You are so totally wrong. I can see it if we didn't get the topper like I said, but with the topper, it's not air mattress-y in the least, not even a little bit. It's soft and fluffy and wonderful, and I'm totally in love with it.
The Almighty Liz

I'm So Excited!!

Our new sleep number mattress is coming on WEDNESDAY!! Two more nights and then, hopefully, I can get a good night's sleep....
Oh, and I ended up getting a 4 inch, 3 lb density memory foam topper for the new mattress, and it should be here this week as well. My giddiness is immeasurable!
The Almighty Liz

New Mattress!

So, my mattress is shot. It's eight years old, and it's just gone cahpoohey. Neither John nor I have had a good night's sleep in over a month. I keep getting sick, and I just don't have the energy to do anything at all. So, several weeks ago, the search started, and last Monday, Labor Day (when the sales were good), John and I ordered one! I'm really excited about it, because it's a Sleep Number bed. I have high hopes for it. John and I are polar opposites when it comes to how soft we want our sleeping area, and I think this will be our solution. They are MIGHTY expensive, though, so we got the cheapest one. That means it is a little less-than in terms of comfort, so my next project is a super good topper to put on it to make it perfect. Anyone out there in blogger land have any good suggestions? I've done some legwork and a lot of online research, but I just don't know what's good because I haven't slept on one! Our mattress should be here in two weeks, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
The Almighty Liz

Erikism

Okay, if you go back around a year, you'll remember that Erik used to ask me, at least daily but more often several times a day, if he could be a pumpkin when he grew up. This lasted a really long time, but did fade away after awhile. Now he has a new thing that he tells me everyday, and here it is:
"Mom, you're not stupid, you're smart, and I love you."
Several times a day people. I'm not sure if someone told him I was stupid and he feels the need to counteract this negativity with as much positive reinforcement as possible, or what, but it always gives me the giggles.
The Almighty Liz

Pic-a-pahlooza!

So, I have been hugely remiss in posting this summer, so I thought that I would give all you fans out there a huge glut of pictures to calm all those Liz Cravings I'm sure you are experiencing. Your welcome!

This was Beth's surprise birthday dinner.

Renae was having....issues, lol!

The carnage after the meal.

Yes, I WAS there.

Aw, aren't they cute? (and I'd feel remiss if I didn't point out Lydia on the left. She was having a Bad Night.)

And the cute facade falls to the wayside...

Another awwww pic.

These are all the kids left at home. Such lovely, well mannered adults this woman has raised!

Or not!

And a pic with the transplants of the family. At least we can behave, right?!

Nope, we've been tainted!

This is a walk the kids and I went on around our neighborhood.

I feel the need to tell you the truth about this fire hydrant. Erik informed me that this is a very dangerous robot cleverly disguised as a fire hydrant. So be on the look-out people! These are everywhere!!

Vicious attack dog? Or something to stomp on?

Jonni's school playground, the destination of our walk.

Will somebody PLEASE let these poor kids out of jail!!?

The Almighty Liz

Round and Round it goes! Where it Stops.....

....nobody knows! Erik has strep again. Poor kid. Poor me, too! Lol! This time, I'm out of my penicillin too! I've lost it somewhere, so I've been looking for a couple of days and can't find it anywhere! So, that's bad timing to the nth degree. BUT! My doc is calling me in a new script, so I'll have that before the day is over. John, perfect husband that he is, is coming home from work early to take our poor sick boy to the doctor. He really is pathetic looking too. I know how he feels. Strep is No Fun.
The Almighty Liz

It's My Birthday!

Once again, is that super special time of the year: my Birthday! This year's birthday has begun crappily. My cat peed on my luggage duffle bag thingy that I had yet to unpack from my trip last week to Savannah, GA. (more on that later, I'm waiting for pics from the other girls that went because I forgot my camera, doh!!) It had all my clean clothes, which didn't get dirty because I was on the beach so much I didn't wear hardly any of them, and my new and very expensive tennis shoes, and all of my make up, to name a few things. So I had to do damage control first thing this morning. Happy Birthday, Liz! Not!!
The Almighty Liz