A Little of This, a Little of That.

You know those Pinterest mom's everyone loves to hate? The ones that make soap, and design killer parties, and somehow have it all together, all the time? I'm not that mom. I'm so NOT that person. What i am though, i guess i would call is multifaceted. I have a certain natural knack for most things creative. I know, i know, SO modest right? But hear me out.

This is an abstract of the "Heart" nebula seen here. This was accomplished during naptime

I have been singing, approximately, since i could speak. I draw, i paint, i sculpt, i knit, i write, and i am an award winning photographer, and that's in my spare time. I also make skin care products, am a bitchin cook (who plans on opening a restaurant before she's 35), and in general if you give me a few hours, some alone time, and House (or Say Yes to the Dress) in the background, you're going to come back to something colorful and vibrant, and the house is probably going to smell great.

This photo was the first that ever won me an award. I was 19, and since then several hundred copies have been sold. Copyright protected. 

 This isn't to say i'm Susie Homemaker. My house is a mess for starters. But really, here is the problem. When you are at least moderately skilled in everything you're interested in, it is hard to stay interested for very long. 

Today's naptime project.

Of course i am always practicing, learning, getting better, but when there's no challenge? When a concept isn't mysterious or difficult anymore, i really just lose interest. So i cycle through hobbies, at the rate that most people cycle through shows to binge watch on Netfllix. Every couple weeks i have gotten bored again with whatever was keeping me focused and i switch interests again. This week, i am painting, and knitting, i guess in an effort to draw out the period before change happens again. In two days i have finished two paintings, and am half way done with making my son a knit Mjolnir toy, complete with his name in runes sewn into the side of the head of the hammer.

I do this all in my spare time. The time between raising my son, moving, dealing with the house, and the Army, and making sure my husband and son eat something resembling food at least 3 times daily. 

Yesterday's naptime project.

In short it's exhausting, but if i'm not busy, i am going stir crazy and this is sort of my own personal form of therapy. If i am busy, doing something creative, i can only devote, say, a quarter of my brain power to stressing about moving, finances, medical concerns, and Thoren's therapy, as opposed to the 100% of it, it can occupy when i have nothing else to zone in on and keep my busy. So our house is full of paintings that i have no where to put, dozens of knitted scarves, blankets, and wrist warmers. I have a shelf full of skin balms, and a box somewhere full of celtic knotted leather jewelry. Eventually i'll need a storage unit to deal with it all, but the alternative is total exasperation. So here we are. On the upside, we will never lack for things to put on our walls

Carry On

So today i have FUN's song Carry On stuck in my head, and it just feels so appropriate. The perfect anthem to a new chapter in our lives, and an exciting, albeit terrifying new journey for us. As you all know, i have been sick for quite a while, and now that we know why, it has become abundantly clear to all concerned parties, that our family needs more support and resources than we have available to us in our current situation. So after almost a year of doctors appointments, struggles, stress, and heart ache, the fight is over. My husband is being honorably discharged from the Army, due to our personal circumstances, and we are relocating to Idaho to be with family.

It's the odd combination of feelings.

Relief that we don't have to fight anymore, that my family and i will be somewhere close to an abundance of family. Fear of the unknown, and of leaving relative financial security (the pay isn't great, but it's reliable and we have always made it work). Uncertainty of this new area we are going to, that none of us have ever lived, but excitement for the same reason.

It's confusing.

At the end of the day we are happy, we are anxious to load a truck up and leave, and never set foot in Killeen, or Fort Hood Texas ever again. I am overjoyed to be getting away from the Texas healthcare system, and the bureaucracy that makes it function in such a way that it serves everyone BUT the patient first. I am excited to be able to work on scheduling my surgeries and starting a brand new journey toward health and happiness. To get established with a doctor, neurologist, cardiologist, psychiatrist and surgeons that i trust, and can actually rely on as valuable resources.

I am happy, and i am terrified, but i am ready. We are ready. I know we need this, and so, i know we will make it work. It's time.

I will always be grateful for the experiences the Army has provided us, the impeccable training my husband was fortunate enough to receive, the many places we got to visit, and the absolutely incredible people we have met along the way that i truly feel will be a part of us for the rest of our lives. It's been stressful, taxing, at times heart breaking, and completely amazing, and it will affect us forever. I am so proud of my husband, not just for the commitment he made to this country, but also the commitment he made to his family. In the end it was our commitment to the 3 of us that made this decision clear, and we are fortunate enough that caring NCOs helped us get to the place we are now, heading toward a significantly safer situation.

So really, today i am grateful.

And now i need to go pack. Have a great day guys. XOXO

Momma's got a business?!!

That's right folks! While i have yet to set a name to this awesome new venture of mine, i am VERY excited about it. I have recently started making and selling homemade lotions, lip balms, and salves with completely natural organic, and pure unrefined ingredients. Things like virgin coconut oil, pure organic shea butter, beeswax, olive oil, and essential oils. They are so skin happy, and i am just in love with doing this. I have a few products for sale right now, and the breakdown goes like this:

Pure body butter (not containing essential oils) - 4oz for $8, 8oz for $14
Lavender body butter (w/ lavender essential oil) - 4oz for $10, 8oz for $19
Peppermint lip balm (w/ peppermint essential oil) - 2oz for $5, 4pz for $8
Congestion relief cream (w/peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender essential oils) - 4oz for $12, 8oz for $22
Muscle pain relief cream (w/ peppermint, clove, and lavender essential oils) - 4oz for $12, 8oz for $22

All prices not including shipping, deals made for multiple orders. The body butters, both, but especially the lavender make great diaper rash creams, or all over healing creams for mild to moderate skin irritations. If you are interested in buying, please email me at ashleydehaven@live.com with what you want, your shipping address if you're not local and your paypal information so that i can send you an invoice. Only accepting paypal at this time, unless you live locally.

I am so excited about this guys, like.. Obnoxiously excited. It is so nice to be contributing to our income in a meaningful way again. I hope you are all having a fabulous day, and i hope to hear from some of you :)