BOISE STATE GRADUATION 2013

My baby sister--who is not so much a baby anymore--graduated from Boise State last weekend with a master's degree.

I am so proud.

Rebecca Jolley is a master of English, rhetoric, and composition. 

The graduation ceremony was a miserable, three-hour affair. BYU-I ingeniously divides up the majors into different buildings to makes the ceremonies go faster. 

But not Boise State. After the 2,000th student's name was announced, I was ready to sell my LIVER on the black market to make. it. stop.

In my defense, I was sick. And I had forgotten my phone back at Becca's apartment, so I had nothing to do but wallow in misery. But then, as if to make up for what they just put us through, glitter rained down from the ceiling for the last 10 minutes. 

Apparently, falling glitter makes me happy. 

Becca was blessed with some awesome friends during her Boise State experience.

Her best friend Kevin, graduated with the same master's degree.

A Hawaiian friend in their major, had the matching leis made for her and the other 4 master of English, rhetoric, and composition graduates.

We continued to take many, many pictures, but I'll only share the few successes. It's not that Becca isn't pretty to look at. 

She just seems to have an inability to be photographed with her eyes open. 

Lovely lady.

This is my new favorite picture of my family.We had such a wonderfully happy weekend and this picture just seems to illustrate that. 

With the Big D.

I think our parents did alright by us, don't you?

In exchange for the cost of her master's program, Becca accepted an assistanceship and taught 100 level writing classes. Here she is in her classroom. 

And here she is by her desk...looking all professor-like.

Then Becca showed us around Boise. We picnicked, window shopped, admired local art and mocuments, and watched giraffes fight at the local zoo. 

Seriously people, if you have never seen giraffes fighting, you're missing out. Go YouTube it. 

We also oohed and awed over countless geese and their new hatchlings. 

Don't mess with the mamas. They mean business.

Goslings in a row. 

I took more pictures of these guys than I did of Becca. It's embarrassing, really. For your sake, I'll only share 5% of them.

Last one.

I suddenly have the urge to snuggle something. 

And finally, Becca's happy dance. It had to be shared. 

Next time you see her, ask Becca to demonstrate this happy Snoopy dance. It is hilariously accurate.

Bursting with Love and Pride,

Rachel

HOUSE TOUR {master bedroom}

After living in this house for almost a year, I decided it was time to decorate the place! My focus the past two months has been the master bedroom. 

Here is the same room, a long time ago. 

Here, we've added wainscotting and the wood ceiling. You can read how we built the ceiling step-by-step in THIS post. 

And here is the room with paint and stain. Isn't that ceiling awesomely amazing? My husband is a genius. 

And again, here it is today. 

The rug is 20 bucks at IKEA. I haven't seen a better price for the size and contemporary style. 

I made these wall hangings for a pop of fun color. They represent the states where we each grew up and the state we currently call home. More to come on how I made these in a future post. 

This family heirloom hutch was in the dining room before Andrew built me the big, beautiful new dining room table for Christmas. (I think I shared it with my Instagram friends, but I need to post about it here next!) The new table + the hutch made dining room look too crowded. So we moved it in here instead. 

I traded out the displayed dishes for books and picture frames. I thought it seemed more bedroom-y that way. 

Then I tackled this ugly, cheap bookcase. Sometimes you just have to find a way to work with what you have. I would eventually like to fancify this even more with trim and paint, and disguise it as a nice piece of furniture. But in the meantime, to match the hutch, I added wrapping paper to the back with double stick tape and lined it with washi tape. 

This was the ugliest corner of the room, so I tried my hand at (artificial) flower arranging in hopes of livening the space up. I'll talk more about this project in the future. 

The antlers were kind of an accident. They just "appeared" on this wall one day from where they used to hang in the garage. My husband's silliness turned out to be a stroke of brilliance. I LOVE the look of the antlers in this room.

The couch is actually on a piece of our sectional that wouldn't fit in the great room. So we improvised and created a sitting area in here as well. I got the pillows from THIS etsy shop. The owner was so kind and willing to work with me, the pillows were the best price around, and of excellent quality. 

Andrew built the bed and nightstands over three years ago. I'll never get over how amazing they are. Just like Pottery Barn...at a fraction of the cost. 

They tie in with the wood ceiling beautifully. I think the furniture grounds the lightness of the walls and balances out the darkness of the ceiling in a perfect way.

The round mirror was a $4.00 thrift store find! I love it when that happens.

The quilt was a Christmas present to ourselves. It is part of the Threshold collection at Target. It can be difficult sometimes, to find bedding that is a balance between frilly and masculine and pleases both the husband and the wife. This was Andrew's favorite, so I went with it...a decision I have not regretted. The longer we have it, the more I love it. 

I've had a problem with the clutter that always accumulates on the nightstands as a result of...living life. Chapstick, lotion, coins, phone chargers, receipts, books, wallets, pocket knives, measuring tapes, pens and pencils, notepads, glasses of water, etc. 

Rather than fight the inevitable, I decided to be practical and just roll with it. Or hide it better...take your pick. 

I built these trays, to collect and disguise it all. 

My tray hides a book, a notepad, a pencil, and six bottles of essential oils. You wouldn't even know it unless you stood directly over it. It is a beautiful thing. 

These trays will eventually get holes drilled in the ends to add rope handles. I will post more on this project too!

This month, I moved on to the horrifying task of organizing the office/project room (I don't call it a "craft room" for Andrew's sake). But I think I may come back to this room eventually and add some black rods and floor length curtains. Sheer white? Burlap maybe? 

So there you have it! It's fun to share what I've put together. Thanks for stopping by! 

Linking here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. 

HOUSE TOUR {master bathroom}

I know it's been awhile since I've given a room tour of this new house of ours. 

If I wait just a little longer, the house will be more complete! That's what I keep thinking.

But with Andrew working much of the time in another state, and then breaking his wrist, not much else has gotten done. Such is life. I am going to show you the master bathroom anyway. It's close enough. 

Here are the before's. 

I'll begin with the vanity.

Jump ahead several months and Andrew and I add crown, Andrew builds cabinets, and I paint walls a lovely grey-blue called North Star from Sherwin Williams.

Then the checkerboard tile floor begins.

Yeah, that right. I'm taking your picture.

Base boards are on and Andrew builds the concrete counter top. 

Then the sinks and light fixtures. 

The sinks were inherited for free. (yay!) We will eventually switch out the faucets for oil-rubbed bronze. It works for now. 

Andrew adds a tile back splash and we've started moving in! 

Since then, cabinet knobs have been installed..and Andrew has called my bathroom rugs "Grandma-ish". At 5 bucks a piece (from Ross), he just has to deal with that. 

What's left at this point? Kick plates, mirrors, and upper cabinet storage. To function until then, we've had a cheap Family Dollar mirror propped up on the counter these past 9 months. Wow. Has it really been 9 months already?

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Here is an example of what we hope for eventually. Two individual mirrors and a mini cabinet running up the middle. 

My lovely representation.

Just last night, I assembled this jewelry holder thingy...for lack of a better word. I used this thrift store find from several years ago, some suggestions from friends, and turned it into something useful with paint, chicken wire, and fun mismatched vintage knobs. 

I've been in need of a more effective/practical jewelry organization system for some time now. The chicken wire will hold clips and earrings. Necklaces and bracelets will hang from the knobs. 

It'll mount to the wall right above the counter there. 

Let's move on to the shower progression.

Here is Lane, my brother-in-law, who did all the tiling for it. It was a big, time consuming task, and he did a wonderful job.

We actually used some of the cheapest possible subway tiles from Home Depot. 

Interior completed. I like.

The best parts are the double shower heads, one on each end. Now I don't have to sing solos while I shower.

The outside tiling is almost finished. 

What a mess! This is the result of trying to move into and live in a house that isn't finished yet. 

And here is the shower door. The day we went shopping for it, there were limited options in our price range. And we were on house decision number 2,785,37 and 1...and sick of it all. So we picked one and called it good. But I'm not a fan. *sigh*

This door is what looks Grandma-ish to me. 

But then there's the tub!

More cheap, white subway tile. I love it with the wall color. 

The tile is almost completely grouted at this point. My Monet prints are ready to hang (they now hang above the towel rack), and the wood wrap around the tub's base is on. Andrew did such a masterly job on this!

I love, love, love this unique look. I wanted to include lots of beautiful wood in the master bath to carry on the feel from the master bedroom's wood ceiling. 

One more look.

And a few weeks ago, Andrew finished the tile on the lip of the tub too. 

It's coming along!

And the grand finale, here is our private little toilet room just after the toilet was installed. 

Ta-dah.

That's all folks. Which room should I show next?

Adios,

Rachel

THE END OF A LOVE AFFAIR WITH SUGAR {part 4}

Confused? This post is number 4 in a series. You can catch up by reading:

{post #1 here}

{post # 2 here}

{post #3 here}

TREATMENT
Candida is supposed to be very difficult to be rid of. This is how I am working to do it.

First, I'm taking essential oil capsules 3x a day for 10 days to cleanse my intestinal tract. These contain oregano, melaleuca, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, and thyme. Next, I'm taking a probiotic 3x a day for 5 days. Then, I will give my body a rest for 10 days before  reassessing my symptoms. I expect to probably have to go through the cycle one more time. Throughout, I am drinking about 60 oz of lemon water a day and turning my diet completely upside down. 

This diet I speak of? I hate it with the power of a thousand suns. 

DIET
In order to fully cleanse the yeast, I can't eat anything that would continue to feed them. This includes all sugars (natural and artificial), wheat, grain, starches, gluten, dairy products, or fungi's (like mushrooms). I am not eating fruit. I am not eating bread. I am not eating milk, butter, or cheese. And I am not even eating POPCORN. Just lots of vegetables, eggs, meats, and beans. 

I would never agree to such a strict diet permanently. It is just during the cleanse. Then I will reintroduce the fruit, starchy vegetables like potatoes, real butter, oats, brown rice, sweeteners like honey and molasses, sprouted grain breads, and POPCORN.

Let me emphasize the fact again that I really. really. love. popcorn. And to be without it causes great emotional pain.

WITHDRAWALS
The candida gets angry with me each time I cut off another one of their food sources. It really is amazing the way the Lord has given me guidance in bits and pieces...just enough for me to handle at one time. It wasn't until recently that I learned it's best to cut foods out slowly and work your way up to the complete diet. But that is exactly what I did, by accident.

First it was the sugar and white carbohydrates. That withdrawal was the pits. Then I cut the bad fats and used organic olive and coconut oil for cooking. I went on like this for a long time before learning dairy feeds candida. Goodbye milk and cereal. Goodbye cheddar cheese. A few weeks later all gluten grains had to go. This step was hard, but manageable. I could live without my bread and tortillas.

Then, when I decided to cut the fruit and starchy vegetables...I hit the hardest withdrawal yet. That is what I've been dealing with for the last week. Would it be dramatic to say it's been one of the most difficult weeks of my life? Well, that's what I'm saying. And it's been downright hellish.

I think I've finally cut out the last of the food that candida can eat. And now they hate my stinkin' guts and want to spend the last moments of their little lives making me miserable. 

FRUSTRATION and ROADBLOCKS
There seem to be a lot of them.

• My cravings have come back in full force. It's as if my mind CAN'T stop thinking of donuts. Honey smothered toast. Popcorn. Cookies. Cake with an inch of frosting. It's torture. 

• An interesting withdrawal symptom has been that my face always feels...inflamed. Especially my lips. Like I'm slightly sunburned or dehydrated. It doesn't hurt. It's just weird. But with all the water I've been drinking, I know I'm not parched. But apparently others have experienced this too.

• The emotional impacts have been the biggest surprise. Cravings this week are accompanied by a miserable depression. The smallest things send me to tears. I had a meltdown after waking up one morning with the intention of making a veggie omelet...only to find we didn't have eggs. Our Valentine's dinner date was a bust. I ate my salad with hearty vegetables, beans, and egg--something I usually love--only to find my low morale turning everything tasteless and unsatisfying. Sitting across from Andrew's plate of pizza and pasta was almost more than I could bare. 

• I am always eating and I am always hungry. Rarely does my food satisfy me. I eat my veggies with lots of protein and healthy fat, but my body remains unimpressed by anything other than the junk it craves. It's like I will never feel full again without a piece of bread or hunk of cheese.  Then the "hunger pangs" drive me mad...and I find myself hating the entire blasted world. 

• I'm bitter and angry that everyone else can eat anything they want and be okay. It's not FAIR!

• My fragile mental state is compounded by a frustration with the many views on what should and shouldn't be eaten on a candida cleanse diet. Just when I think I'm doing it right, I read another contradiction. I've found variances on the following items: green apples, sweet potatoes, quinoa, butter, yogurt, hummus, carrots, and even popcorn. Its especially hard that I really want to eat these things. But I've decided to be safe rather than sorry with most of these. 

• I'm losing weight. I have definitely found the perfect weight loss plan. However, at maybe 110 pounds and a naturally petite build, I am WELL aware that weight loss is not desirable.

• People are noticing my change in diet and commenting that I don't need to lose weight. This makes me grumpy. (See above bullet point)

• I spend every spare moment in the kitchen. The food I'm eating these days all require significant preparation of some kind. I spend hours cleaning, chopping, thawing, roasting, mixing, and preparing in order to have enough to eat for three meals a day. I took for granted how easy it was to spend 3 minutes whipping up a sandwich for lunch. Or grabbing a quick handful of tortilla chips for snacking.

• Our itty-bitty town has one hole-in-the-wall health food store. Maybe it's easier for others to eat all natural and organic. But we are severely limited 'round these parts. 

• Healthy eating is expensive. We ate a lot of fresh food before this...but not this much. And all the candida diets stress organic produce. Without being 100% on this point, our monthly grocery bill has already DOUBLED.

AND A FEW HAPPY FINDS

• I've discovered an essential oil blend, DoTerra's Slim and Sassy (with grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon) that people use while trying to lose weight because of its natural ability to soothe appetite and cravings. Well, what do you know? They also soothe the insatiable appetite and cravings of a candida cleansing gal like me. It somehow grounds me mentally and emotionally too--keeping Crazy Rachel at bay. It works. Just ask Andrew. 

• I am learning some fun new ways to eat. I am becoming a substitution expert and love the recipes I'm cooking with previously untried vegetables, herbs, spices, and other ingredients. I look forward to sharing a few in a future post. 

• This current bout of withdrawals shouldn't last more than a week before I begin to feel...stable again. I'm almost there. 

So I think I am currently on a road to what I hope...and PRAY FERVENTLY will result in long-term healing. Sorry I'm so grumpy in the meantime.

Wish me Luck,
Rachel