I'm all Sensored Up ~ My Journey Living with Type 2 Diabeties

Hey Friends, How are you today?

I have decided to try reeeeally hard to come in

and share on a daily basis with you what's going on

in my life. 

I don't know about you but

sometime I wonder if anyone really cares or

wants to know. 

But,

I do know when I see

some of my dear friends post,

I love to read know what's going on,

what they are creating

or how they really are doing on a

more daily basis. 

I am going to try and

use this as a way to journal my life and

share where I am on a more frequent basis.

DISCLAIMER...if you are squeamish don't go any further.

So...

Yesterday I had my bi-annual check with my

Endochronologist(sp?).  I'm never sure what to

expect, or say when I go.  This time it was

very different from the past 5 years of appointments.

This time  I talked with a Endo Nurse Practioner.

I really liked her and felt like I actually got

a more thorough visit.

What came out of my visit was me being

given and Dexcom Sensing Unit.

Now when I say given, I mean they

inject a needle into your side which has a sensing device,

and this reads glucose leves between 280-300 times.

Its a way to chart what your glucose levels are doing

and see more clearly what is going on.

She encourage me to do this because they are

finding out, that patience like me, who's

A1C's (monthly reads of how your glucose is doing)

isn't always an accurate picture of what really is going on.

Please don't get grossed out...this is the actual monitor

that is on my left side...

I am to wear this sensor for a week.  Check my blood

glucose once every 12 hours and then add that to my

monitor, that is collecting the data.

Here above, is the monitor that is giving me a read of 120.

This is so cool cause I can click OK and see at any given

time what my levels are.

For those who have never seen an actual Blood

Glucose Kit this is the one they actually gave me.

You have your needle, Glucose Meter, see the

strip in it? and the strip container.

It's something you have to get use to as a Diabetic.

Now, right now I am considered Pre-Diabetic. 

I had early simptoms, excessive peeing, drinking

fluids, and extreme weekness and being tired.

I have always maintained an normal weight and

was very taken back with this diagnosis as

many like me, assume that it usually shows

up later in years when you add extra pounds.

Me, well, I have the genetic link...

By watching what I eat,

(Yes you can eat sugars, just keep it small)

monitoring my glucose levels,

seeing my doctor regulary and taking my meds...I am

able to keep myself in a PRE-Diabetic state.

I go back next Thursday to turn in my

monitor.  I am REALLY excited to

see what they have to say about what is going

on.  And, if need be to help me tweak a few things.

Isn't Modern day technology AMAZING?

If you have any of the symptoms I described,

please read further or see your doctor about early detection

of Type 2 Diabeties.  It could save your life.

Be Blessed,

Lorena

Tea Time Tuesday ~ Tea Vinettes ~ Dining Room Tour ~

Hello Sweet Tea Loving Friends!

Today I am linking up with my dear sweet friend

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

for yet another amazing week of

sharing our love of all things tea.

If you come to my home as you enter, to your

right you will see my

*Tea Themed* Dining Room.

My Love for ALL thangs Tea began

 over 25 years ago when I was decorating

my first home.  Loving to shop at

quaint flea markets, antique shoppes

and thrift stores it is really where it all began.

And... through the years, family, friends

and moi have continue to add to that collection.

I began first with Tea Cups and then all

things tea began to follow.

The bulk of my collection is English bone

china which is my favorite,

but,

I am sure there are other makers

sprinkled within...the main theme is...

what strike me as pretty and of course roses!

I have been re-arranging some of my

shelves in my hutches, walls and dining room,

 so I thought you might like to see them.

Instead of sharing one or two items,

I'll share them all! lol

A full view into my dinimg room.

My Sweet Hutch, that houses most of my

*Rose Chintz* by Johnson Brothers.

I have been thinking about painting the insides of this hutch

or

placing lighter wall paper behind...what would you do?

A collection of blue cups and plates.

I do love to arrange my things in

unique ways...out in the open for all to see my

eye candy...I LOVE eye candy!

More cups and collectibles...

yep, I also love milk glass too!

Below is my *new* hutch that I created using

a *butlers* pass through are we have.

It had cabinets below...but not on top.

I took a shelf that was my daughters

hutch above her desk and turned it

into another display area for me to play with!

I hope you enjoyed my sharing of my

wonderful collection of tea things!

Many have such wonderful sentiments behind

them and make me feel so good when I view them.

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Golden Honey Granola

Hi Friends!

I am Joining

WOW us Wednesay

over at Savvy Southern Style

be sure to stop by and see all the

fun things talented bloggers do!

I don't usually share much in the way of

recipes or cooking.

I am a much confessed lover of baking

but do not enjoy cooking meals unless

they are quick and easy.

So, yesterday when I ran across this Granola

recipe, something of which I had been

wanting to make up, I thought you all

might enjoy it too.  It's yummy and somewhat

healthy...

GOLDEN HONEY Granola

Dry Mix...all these together:

6 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1 Cup Dried Cranberries

1 Cup Dried Rasins or Apricots

1 Cup Sliced Almonds (Optional, my Fam does'nt like nuts)

1 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Cup Light Brown Sugar

1/2 Tsp Salt

Wet Mix...heat these together:

1 1/2 Sticks of Butter

1/2 CupsHoney

In a Large bowl add all dry ingredients and mix

them together well.

Melt butter and then add honey to the hot mixture

and pour over the dry ingredients.

Mix all ingredients well together.

Spread mixture onto a parchment or

foil lined large cookie sheet.

Place in 350 oven

30-40 minutes

I put my buzzer onfor 10 and checked

and stirred these until they were golden.

Cool...then place in an air tight contain.

TIPS:

I do think I may have over cooked my a bit

so next time I will try 30 minutes instead.

I also may experiment with other ingredients like

dried pinapple, banana chips, dried apples

and add these once this has baked.

Hope you have enjoyed this!

I'd love to know if you are going to try this!

These make great gifts too!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

While the Cats away...the Mice will play? Creating and so much more!

Hey friends!

I have been a busy girl...

already getting an early start on my

goodies I make for the holiday season!

Would you like to see what I have been doing?

A sweet Pink Santa...and those cone trees

are available for sale too!

Making roses like crazy...can't keep up!

These are for sale for you to use on your own

projects...I offer many color choices too.

These sweet petite doves are some of my favorite things!

I have done them in sets and offer them in pinks, lavender and aqua.

I did some of these flatter ornies last year but this

year I decided to add these sweet birds to the

mix.  I am sooooo pleased with how sweet these look!

I have so much more I have been listing in my etsy store.

I will be running a

10% discount off your entire purchase

 til after Labor Day.

So I hope you will

stop by and start your Christmas Shopping early!

**********

I am also always clicking cute pictures of my

2 sweet kitties...

here are some recent photos!

Sorry bout those glowing eyes...but look how my

Chloes paws are crossed...just too precious!

Again...Chloes paws are crossed...

she looks perplexed? lol

Awe the life of a cat...

napping!

Thanks again for stopping by!

Love your comments!

Be Blessed

Lorena

~~~I've Been Inspired...AGAIN!!!~~~ Refashion, Repurpose, Upcycle? ~~~Fun ideas for updating clothing using a glue gun?~~~

Hey there sweet blogging friends!!!

I am joining WOW Us Wednesdays

over at Savvy Southern Style...

Cool, inspiring and great ideas...
Hop on over to check it out....

Before I get going on my planned post...

I just want to say Thank YOU so much

from the bottom of my heart, to those

of you who stopped by and sent me and

hubby well wishes on our 25th. 

Your kind words mean so much!

And,

I haven't been in much due to the fact hubby

was out of the country for 2 weeks...

yep, he was gone on our special day...

but we will be doing something soon

to celebrate this wonderful landmark in our

marrige!

Okay...onto my post, lol!

The creative bug has bitten me again...

or

is it just my ADD kicking in...

this girly flirts with that all the time...

I am sure! lol.

This post is about Clothing...fun ways

to refashion, repurpose, update or

as the new term I have been seeing calls it...

UPCYCLING!

Anyway...

I am  a girly girl, who loves clothes, shoes, and

accessories...
anyone else relate?

I have been a thrifty shop-a-holic shopper since

my sweet momma drug my sisters and I to

flea markets and thrift stores as young'ns.

It's in my blood. 

 Even when I could afford

department store clothing, I still do and will

make many a jaunt to my favorite thrifting places.

So...last week I challenged myself...

after spending some wonderful time looking through

various sights on *Upcycling* and *Refashioning*

of clothing on etsy doing a google search...

 I decided I wanted to add my own touch to some

~thrifting finds and in my Closet Items~.

My inspiration...

 lace, rosettes or more Victorian-ish styles that are

everywhere!  There is a victorian/bohemian side

of my personality which seems to be attracted to those

softer, lacier clothing.

Wanna see what I have done?

In my challenge to myself,

I did NOT buy any of the trimmings...

I used the wonderful supply that I already have.

Now the 1st 3 shirts were found

at a local SalvA, recently!

 This simple gauzy shirt...needed some lace

in just the right places...

I then added a *Made* rosette using some

satin trim...

This is a yummy coral color that I wear a lot!!!

Now you can see, this top already had some

pretty lacy trims....

But...my inspiration was adding the fun mix

of laces, tatting and ribbon, down the front,

 because I was copying from

a similar type shirt I have borrowed a few

time from my daughter. 

In the center in a tatting piece that wasn't finished,
so I knotted it...

I love carmel colors and this one is my

favorite re-do so far!

It was a tad too short, so I added this longer

lacy panel all around and then

*coffee* dyed some lace that I attached

all around the collar area.

I cannot wait to wear this fun little sweety...

well actually I can't wait to wear them all! lol

HINT...

Not only did I used my sewing maching but I

found Fabric Glue Stiks and used them

on many of these projects.

We will see how this holds up during

washing, but it made the job a tad easier

to do.

LAST...

Some other simple ideas that I have done to

existing tops

are adding jewels and more lace to simple

tanks and t's.

This tank already had pretty lace at the bottom

and

I just added some pretty lace around the top

and a fun satin ribbon rosette!

This simple, inexpensive (less than $8)

T had some jewels added in a fun design...

and since they seem to make V-necks

too low for me...I always add

a lacy Patch across to hide my

girls behind!

Another white T got more lacy touches all over...

I am NOT done yet...

I do have a few other items I am working on...
so stay tuned and from time to time
I will continue to share more of my

*upcycling* *redo* *refashion* *repurpose*

on some of my other clothing!

Hope you enjoyed this and will be
inspired to look beyond the plain...
and see a *new* item for you
 to wear!

Be Blessed,
Lorena

A Silver Wedding Anniversary~~~25 Years Ago Today!

Today *I* Celebrate 25 Years of Marriage with my Beloved!

Where did those years go?

So much has changed since that day!

We vowed before God

for better,

for worse,

in sickness,

in health,

for richer,

for poor,

til death us do part...

And like all of us, so much of those vow

really tested our love for each other.

But there is no one else I'd rather have

by my side through it all!

Many more years to come and with

God's help they are even the best yet!

~~~***~~~

Thought you might enjoy a few family pictures...

Michaela's 1st Easter in 1992.

My favorite Family Picture done for a

church directory!

This was our latest family picture taken again, for

a church directory and if I remember

correctly it was about 4 years ago.

So, as you can see...we have aged somewhat

gracefully (I hope) over these past

25 years.

The Lord was so good to us, when

we thought we'd not be able to have children

he blessed us with a beautiful daughter...

who is going be 20 in December.

Again, where did those years all go?

Be Blessed!

Lorena

***Sharing Recent Etsy Shoppe Listings***

Hello Dear Blogging friends!

Thanks for stopping by today!

In between my cleaning and sprucing up my home

I have been inspired to get a few goodies

finished and listed in my etsy shop.

I'd LOVE for you to stop by and take a peek!

I did a line of crosses and have more to finish up...

but I offer them in pinks, white and lavender too.

I also introduced a new category *Office Rose Goodies*...

as it seems many of the items I have been working on

lately fall in the to organization and office area.

This tray is soooo versitile...its magnetic...can hang or

even be used in your vanity area for bottles...

many colors to choose from...

each one comes with a matching rose magnet!

Then I love finding these old clipboards as they are such

a pretty way to keep papers organized!

This was a trash to treasure redo...or castoff picture that I didn't

like and decided to create a unique HEART of Roses on...

very 3 dimensional and so pretty to!

And besides roses...hearts rank up there in my

love category!

Okay, so I put this last picture in because I forgot to showcase it

in my recent Master Bath Spruce up.  This piece once

housed my pins and brooches, but when I made my

blingy wreath, well I came up with this...

using a mixture of my pink roses and some vintage bling!

Hearts and roses...

doesn't get any better than those two together!

If you like what you see...I am always happy to custom make

these for you...so just let me know!

There you have it....a few goodies that I have been

working on recently.

Thanks again for stopping by...

I certainly LOVE hearing from my sweet

chic friends!

Be Blessed!

Lorena