Easing The Pain Of Canker Sores

A week or so ago Hubby developed a canker sore. This was something totally new to us. He gets ulcers fairly usual, and he's had his wisdom teeth coming in...needless to say he's got a high pain tolerance, but this was different. He began complaining that this was seriously hurting him, and that it was hard to eat or talk. The poor guy was rubbing Orajel and anbesol around in his mouth like it was candy and it still wasn't easing the pain. He wasn't happy, I wasn't happy...NOBODY was happy. Well we began talking about dragging him into the dentist when it hit me...Essential Oils!

I pulled out my hand dandy books and soon
 knew what to do...Melaleuca!
Why Melaleuca?
It's Antimicrobial, Antiseptic, and Antiviral!

Hubby is the biggest skeptic I know and honestly it took me a solid twelve minutes to convince him that putting an essential oil in his mouth wouldn't kill him. ( Oh but a stranger offers him a free food sample and he eats it no question...go figure...) So he clearly did not believe that a simple essential oil would work better than the commercially made crap he had been using but he decided to try it anyway.

I put just one drop on a Q-tip and had him put it directly on the sore. We then began watching one of our shows and about twenty minutes later I asked him how the pain was. I swear you guys...he paused and then his eyes widened and he said " Wow.....the pain is gone. I forgot I had a sore, that's CRAZY. Why didn't you give that to me sooner??" Well excuse me...

He began putting the Melaleuca on his mouth before lunch and dinner and right before bed, so about three times a day. Within a week the sore was gone and I was back to my happy Hubby. So if you've got a canker sore try it out...you will not be dissapointed.

Also.....because a possible cause of canker sores is due to stress I began rubbing Bliss ( calming blend ) on the bottoms of his feet before bed. It seems to help him sleep a little easier and wake up a little more relaxed. I've also diffused it with some lavender on particularly stressful days so everyone can get a little bit of a calming blend. If canker sores are a big problem and you find that you're stressed out a lot I would highly recommend LXR ( Anxiety Blend ) for diffusing, applying at night, and even applying it to your feet or wrist during the day as well.

As always you can find all of these
 high quality essential oils at Spark Naturals and
 you can use coupon code " Bubble " to 
save 10% off your whole order! 

And that is how I became a caterer for a weekend.

Alright so for those of you who might not know: my Hubby runs the maintenance side of a summer camp. Awesome right? Right. Well a few months ago his partner (who runs the booking/scheduling side) left to take over another job and this left Hubby working both positions which is usually something he can handle but for this group he couldn't use the caterer that the camp usually uses because the group was only 23 people ( the normal guy won't cook for any group less than 25). This is where that part of our marriage that the term "partnership" got thrown around and long story short I ended up cooking for them ( totally by myself) while my amazing, awesome, fantabulistic sister watched Munchkin all weekend long (by herself) for the first time. Needless to say this past weekend was a very humbling one for everyone involved.

Let me just share a few facts:
1. The kitchen utilities have been in service longer than my mother has been alive.
2. I have not once turned on a stove in that kitchen prior to Friday morning (AKA: first breakfast for the group)
3. I have never cooked for a group of people larger than seven.

This is basically how things played out:


  1. ( Thursday Night)
Hey....you've got this. You're a great cook! You've cooked for lots of people, they love your food. You'll be fine, it's only three days. You've got this tiger!







2. (Friday Morning)
UGH. Why am I up at 4 a.m.? Who eats breakfast at 6:15?!? Ok, pull it together, let's do this.....set up the waffle griddles, make the mix, this is easy. No problem. Maybe I really can do this.



 

3. ( Still Breakfast)
OH MY GOD! Why are the griddles not hot?!? What happened? I swear I turned them on, they were on and now they're not. What is going on? Oh good lord I tripped a breaker!!! The coffee maker, the warmer, the cooler and both griddles are off! Why? Why did I volunteer for this?! Where is the breaker? Where is another outlet?!?!



And I really could have used someone like Wanda Sykes to just be like:

 

 

   4. (After fixing the breaker and moving griddles) OK.OK. You've gotten the worst out of the way, it's easy peasy from here baby. No worries, just keep making waffles and let's start on that bacon. 

5. ( Halfway through making breakfast)
What demon bacon is this!!? It's burning in seconds and tearing apart! Why?!? I hate you Smithfield. I hate you so much. PLEASE just cook normally and stop splitting and just be normal!What evil pig did you come from? We're halfway through this and I will not be under-minded by bacon!






6. ( Thirty minutes until breakfast)
Wait...I need more waffle mix. Uh-oh. I'm out. Like....out.out. Like there is no more mix and that means I cannot make any more waffles and OH MY GOD why did I even try this?? How did I run out!!?!? Oh no..how many is that total??  I give up, I give up. Mark my words...I GIVE UP!








7. (Twenty minutes until breakfast)
* Hubby walks in while I am frantically counting waffles and tells me everything is fine and to calm down *











8. We hastily figure out that everyone can have one waffle and most will be able to have seconds. Get drinks,fruit, cereals, and sides out. Group starts to line up and I put on my best smile making the plates and passing them out.







9. ( After Breakfast is served)
Thank the LORD! HALLELUJAH! I made it!! One breakfast down!





That is how it went word for word, emotion for emotion. It honestly got a lot better as the weekend progressed and it helped that this group was the most fantastic, wonderful group I could have asked for. They were super nice and one wonderful lady and her son brought me flowers because she has cooked for groups and knows how stressful it can be. Towards the end I got the art of timing down a little more and things got a little easier plus I did have help on the last breakfast service, and Hubby helped for dinners. All in all it was certainly a learning experience. I have a whole new appreciation for caterers I can promise you that.

Truths

It wasn't too long ago that the awesome ladies from Rants From Mommyland made an awesome post about " What I say vs What I actually mean" and I couldn't help but add a few more:


What I Say: 
" Aw, babe I'm sorry you had a hard day."

What I Mean:
" Really?!? I just changed my nineteenth poopy diaper and haven't gotten to sit down for more than three minutes all day. Oh and I managed to wash clothes, clean the house, and set something out for supper but please....go on about your "hard" job."



What I Say:
" Does my hair look ok?"

What I mean:
" I haven't shampooed my hair in two days....ok three....can you tell? Alright...just how noticeable is it?" 

What I Say: 
" THAT is going to be an awesome movie, I can't wait to see it."

What I mean:
" I can't wait for half a year to go by so I can finally rent it from RedBox."



What I Say:
"  Hey.....did she make a noise?"

What I mean:
" I totally heard her make a noise, and I'm pretty sure you did too so I'm going to call attention to her next noise because I'm fairly certain you'll go put her paci in if I do."



 
What I Say:
" Do you think she would benefit from some socialization?"

What I mean:
" I need some socialization with another adult or mama is going to lose her mind."





What I Say: 
" We need to get a few things at the grocery store before we can cook tonight."

What I mean:
" I don't feel like cooking, and I know you hate grocery shopping so I think we're going to end up at Olive Garden."

It's like they don't even know me

Apparently a big part of  your blog finally getting out there goes hand in hand with getting hit by spammers about 50 times a day. It's the worst in the world. I'll get a notification on my email that says " four new comments awaiting approval for Life Inside Nickie's Little Bubble" so I get all excited and rush over to Blogger only to find that it's only ads for electronic cigarettes ( I don't smoke) or Vera Wang top Fashion Blog ( I'm too poor) at least do your re-search spammers. If you really knew me you would post things like:

1. Awesome Pictures of Sharks
2. Bloody Hell! Harry Potter behind the scenes movie photos!
3. New Museum exhibit featuring Egyptian stuff and/or Dinosaurs
4. Anything with salted caramel in the title
5. Anything with " vampire " in the title....ok...almost anything.
6. Free Sewing patterns
7. How to grow a garden like a friggen boss

You know...I just realized that this list could be from either a seven year old boy or a 60 year old woman, I'm eclectic like that.

In other news:

I was browsing pinterest and found this little gem. YUP, it's a pregnant belly ring with a car sign on it. I cracked up laughing on this one. Why the baby on board sign? Are people trying to run into your belly/vagina so much to the point where you need a sign to make them use a little caution?? If you're still in the love making stage of your pregnancy wouldn't that creep your husband out???





Hubby and I apparently have NO more boundaries. I was in the bathroom doing the things you do in the bathroom and Hubby walked in once to ask me where his shirt was and then again to see if I thought it looked right on him. Now....first of all.....I don't think there is one man in the history of husbands who knows where every things is in his own house. Seriously, it's like he thinks I move things around every half hour.

The shirt it in the closet where shirts are hung, it doesn't take a genius. Second of all the first time was bad enough, I gave him a look of horror and yelled " CLOSET!" then he opens the door again and just stands there asking how it looks like he's suddenly a JCrew model. I was horrified. So ladies, here's the warning: when you have a baby with a man all mystery is out the window. Kiss it goodbye, along with your baths.

Mother Truckin' Call of Duty

My Hubby is 26 years old, and he is a big time man's man....I'm pretty sure you can drop him anywhere on earth with just a pocket knife and pick him up a month later at the log home he built with his bare hands. He is a guy's guy, he also plays Call of Duty or whatever the name is now....Modern Warfare, Zombie Something, Guaranteed to Annoy your wife v.3...I'm not sure. I don't really mind him playing because he usually waits until the baby is sleeping and there's nothing else to do in the house, and he bought these AMAZING headphones that cancel the noise out of the game completely. The only thing I hear is him talking which I can live with.

However a few nights ago my brother spent the night with us, and they played together. The only problem was that he only has one set of headphones so he decided not to use them.

Holy War Zone Batman

I forgot how much noise that game produced. There is gunfire, explosions, other players, the video game speaking, and of course their reactions to it all. I sat there staring at the computer trying to write a blog post and thinking about throwing the breaker to the house when I came up with this list:

The Top 5 Things To Do When Your Guy is Playing COD

1. Take this opportunity to give your kid a history lesson about how crappy war is. There are loud noises, lots of casualties ( might want to edit this for the little ones) and frustrated, angry women.

2. Every time the word " shot " is uttered eat one Oreo.

3. Make him put a dollar into a jar every time he curses ( my hubby doesn't curse...and when he plays this game he does, I think there's something in the water or maybe I should say controller). Use the money to buy you something nice tomorrow....maybe some earplugs, just a suggestion.

4. Before your guy starts playing set the sleep timer on the t.v. for random time increments. Make popcorn and watch the magic happen.

5. If he has a microphone on ( fun tip: they are super sensitive and pick up every noise) feel free to ask very loudly if he remembered to pick up your tampons from the store on his way home. Another route would be asking about his hemorrhoid cream...feel free to be creative on this one.


There ya go! Remember if all else fails you are free to visit my blog and rant about it. I'm here to listen, in fact we can start a support group. We'll meet on Tuesdays, I'll bring the cupcakes.

Printable V-Day Coupons

Alright everyone, I have made a printable coupon book for your significant other to print out, staple together and hand over to you. I love these coupons because they have consequences...like all good loving gifts should have. Enjoy.

 

Just click Here and Here 

My Sweet New Bed

 

  

I meant to post these a few days ago, but this is my amazing bed that my Hubby built. I'm debating on painting it or just staining it. He thinks it would look better with paint, but I sort of like the wood look. Please feel free to tell me what you think. 

Apparently when my Hubby leaves town Munch will take it out on the diapers with a grand total of eight poopie diapers. EIGHT. It was like the NeverEnding Story except no giant-white-dog-dragon thing and lots and lots of poop, and maybe not like the NeverEnding Story at all.

I bought a pattern for a baby dress for munchkin that I'm going to try and put together for my first time ever learning how to sew. I don't have high hopes but my mother in law and granny in law does..everyone needs a dream I guess. I have never even held a sewing machine so I was eying it today like it was some opponent that was going to randomly lunge at me and stab my fingers. I'm still not convinced that it can't happen. Wish me luck.

Musings of My Mountain Man

Here's a fun fact about me: I married a country boy. He isn't redneck...he can mingle with the best of 'em if he chooses to and he is a lot smarter than what you might think based on his beard, but he is definitely rooted in country soil. He hates electronics or social sites, he craves being outside and working with his hands. He loves hunting, fishing and camping. He is an awesome, wonderful guy, but there are some things he says that just make me shake my head. Without further ado here are" The Musings of My Mountain Man"

1. Guys can't cry. Not unless it has something to do with their daughters, the military or Old Yeller. period. I don't care if you get shot....you are not allowed to cry.


 2. If you don't pee outside at least once a day, you're not living right.



3. A shower is the only time that it is acceptable to not have a pocket knife on your person.


4. There's "Preptober" where halfway through the month you quit worrying about shaving for " No Shave November" which is pretty self-explanatory. Then comes " Decembeard" and "Manuary". "Manuary" finally leads up to "Februhairy"
Me: " So...then you shave?"
Him: " No."
Me: ?


5. Always carry an Ax in your truck



6. You can put a RoseArt crayon on a piece of paper, and press down in a line and there will be gaps! Gaps! THAT'S why I never won any coloring contests.

 

7. She's about ten pounds of crazy in a five pound sack.

Pictures Credit  HERE this girl is flippin' talented!

JUST like Edward Cullen, but less sparkly and moody

I am feeling very accomplished today. We only have a few more gifts to buy (like three), then the stamps to put on our Christmas cards and then we are officially finished! YAY! This is awesome, but I feel like I'm somewhat masochistic during the holidays. I have this neurotic side that HAS to get all the gifts done within the first 12 days or so of December, and then as soon as I get the gifts wrapped and put under the tree I get impatient and want everyone to open them all. Whenever the recipient comes over I have to force myself to not thrust the gift on their lap and say " open it, open it" like a little kid.  It's literally mental torture to have something you know someone is going to LOVE and have to wait weeks for them to open it when it's just RIGHT THERE! I just want to spread a little Christmas joy is that so bad? Yes it is, as my husband lovingly points out....

" If you let everyone open their gifts now, when we see them on Christmas they wont have anything to open from us. Then you will feel awkward for them not having anything from us...ALTHOUGH they already got their gift. Then you will want to bring something else for them to open and we just can't afford that vicious cycle."

Touche Hubby, Touche.

Why do bad poopsplosions happen to good people?

 

Well the sickness seems to be passing. My lungs still feel weak, but on the bright side I no longer have a hacking cough that usually only accompanies someone who has been smoking since they were five...seriously it was a bad one. The sad part is that it could have worked out to my advantage just a few short weeks ago with that HUGE Black Friday crowd outside of Belks because NOBODY would have wanted me next to them, but eh what can ya do? The munchkin is better too, she was all smiles this morning which was a whole heck of a lot better than last night.

Last night she had a poopsplosion. My spell check is telling me " poopsplosion" is not a real thing, but I along with all the other parents out there are here to tell you that yes it is. It is a diaper that is so horrible it is literally like she had an explosion...of poop. I feel like I'm a little late in telling you this but consider this a warning: I'm talking about poop now...you might want to put your food down for a moment. Maybe just finish the meal and then come back to the blog because, as I am quickly learning...parenthood is messy, and gross. Anyway back to the poopsplosion....we were just finishing up dinner when she started to get a little fussy and make some noise. That was also when the smell hit us both. Hubby graciously volunteered, because I had changed a dirty one earlier and so he took the little one down the hall to the nursery. It was then that I heard " Oh my God. Seriously?!? HOW?? HOW???"

I started laughing, and making my way down the hall to go help, but when I walked in he was just staring at it like a man faced with the task of building the pyramids. This of course brought me to more laughter, but then when he turned to tell me to either help or go away he accidentally let munchkin's foot get away from his grip and it of course lands smack in the poop. This took me out of my laughing spell because if there is one thing you do not want around your walls, silver picture frames, and great-grandmas castle piggy bank it's a poopy wild baby foot. She of course starts kicking and wiggling, and I sound like Rose from the Titanic screaming " Don't let go. Hold onto the other foot.Never let go". Hubs is still trying to get the wild poop foot back in his grip ( I swear he acted like it was radioactive flesh eating lava rather than poop. Not saying poop isn't horrible, but it does wash off and hey man you're a parent now it's going to get a lot worse than this) when I start pulling the dirty diaper out from the baby, munchkin then manages to smear her poop foot all over Hubby's hand which he in turn makes a jumping motion and yells out " UUGGHH gross" and that of course makes me drop the poopie diaper from the changing table to the floor.

Needless to say I will be investing in some carpet cleaning equipment, also possibly an " Everybody Poops" book for my husband.

Meds, Chicken Blood, oh and Welcome

I realize that it is probably not the best idea to start a blog when you, and your whole family of three are sick and on medication but hey when you want to write you've gotta write, right? We have been sick for about four days now. My little one ( 4 months.) started it all with a small cough that turned into a hacking cough which then spread to me, and I spread the love to my husband, oh what fun. After a four hour long E.R. trip we found out that she has Bronchiolitis and RSV, I am assuming that is what my husband and I have as well, but who knows. The little one is actually the least bothered by it out of the three of us thank God, so at least we have that going for us. RSV isn't fun it's pretty much a hacking cough with TONS of congestion and mucus. My little slice of the virus also included nausea and MONSTER headaches...painting a lovely picture here aren't I? So here we are lounging on the couch, myself getting sucked into the amazing world of Pinterest, and my husband reading.

This is not a normal sight in my family I assure you. My husband is a smart man, but he HATES  reading in the same way that some people hate malls, or crowds which come to think of he hates as well, which is completely opposite of me....anyway I digress. When the hubby finds something interesting to him whether it be making your own slingshot, doomsday preppers or oddly enough couponing he will actually read about it. Today was something called The Foxfire Book . This is a set of books about " lost arts" and "old-timey things" the very description of the book he was reading is this : " Hog dressing, log cabin building, mountain crafts and foods, planting by the signs, snake lore, hunting tales, faith healing, moonshining, and other affairs of plain living. ". Sweet. It was in this moment that he turned to me

H: " Hey babe...I'm on a chapter about home remedies for sickness.."
Me: " Uh-Huh..."
H:  " It says here if a child has an illness you should prick their finger, putting a drop of blood on a piece of corn which you then feed to a black hen."
Me: " Specific....well go get me a damn chicken "
H: " Black Hen...and that would mean we would have to prick her finger"
Me: "We'll try it on me first"
H: " It says childhood sickness"
Me: "I'm a child at heart!"
H: " This is science it doesn't work that way!"

Well we never tried the backwoodsman voodoo or would things involving chikens be considered hoodoo? I don't know, either way no ones finger was pricked, we are all still sick and this is where I am leaving you, but first a quick intro. I'm a new mommy and I'm from the Southern parts of the United States. I started this blog simply because I like to write and I think that some of the things I do are interesting and who knows maybe someone, somewhere out there will want to read about it. I like making crafty things, baking, spotting deals, and finding out little tips and tricks all of which I plan on sharing. This is simply a peek inside my little bubble.