The Ever Evolving Smith

  Spread Joy! Yes, we all find that spreading joy often includes money that makes the world go 'round, but we can all agree it's not about the money even though that meets a need. I recently got to spread a little around to a young person, which made her instantly burst into tears. The backstory on me, is I have some medical issues, and sometimes I have someone come in to help me clean-clean the house. In life God has a knack for sending people to us that we can either relate to, share advice with, and/or just flat out bless. Well, there was a certain someone I instantly knew needed something from me. It ended up being what I was raised to do - share kindness and give of my time. Her job can be lonely and simply talking uplifted her spirits, so to speak. Without divulging her personal experiences and in honor of keeping her privacy, I will just say that having a dad who dealt with severe mental illness, alcoholism, and who ultimately committed suicide when I was just twenty-one...

Use Scrunchies when washing your face! Sounds odd, right? Well if you are like me, you do not enjoy washing your face all while the soapy water slides all the way down to your elbows. Sometimes it even makes a mess all over counter. No matter how efficient you try to be taking your face off for the day, that water finds a way down to your elbows and counter. Boo! First world problems, I know, but still it's a nuisance nonetheless. I have cheap, awesome news for you! I recently learned of this little tidbit. What is it you ask? Go and buy the cheapest fabric scrunchies. Nothing fancy here just the cheapest you can find. The bonus is they don't even need to match. Score! Note: I find it does work best with a normal, softer fabric. Pop them on your wrists and wash away mess-free! The water gets trapped at the scrunchy level, leaving your arms and elbows dry and clean. Then, whenever you deem fit, throw the scrunchies in the wash for a cleaning and reuse over and over.  Here's ...

Sorry everyone, I have got to call out a group and I hate to do it but it’s time —> “some” Medical Professionals. I really do love you all, and there are so many things we couldn’t survive as a community without you, but there is this one thing I see pop up. It’s apathy for the non-exciting sports injuries.   Two weeks ago yesterday, our youngest who is a freshman, was playing his beloved football game at school. Towards the very end of the game during the 4th quarter, our son made a great tackle, but he also took a knee to the center of his chest. You know, of course it was just right where the shoulder pads didn’t cover: in the center. He shook it off until the end of the game (this kid will play through most anything!) We iced him down and watched him overnight and by the next day the very bottom area of his sternum was incredibly swollen; it looked like a tennis ball was under his skin! However, Saturday that was all but gone but still the center of his sternum hurt. We iced...

Wow! I realized today it's been 8+ months since I wrote, and that blog post was four days before my world as I knew it changed and I would lose one of the most important people in my life. This year has been monumental for us all for sure, but for me personally, a little more I feel. You see my best friend, outside of my husband, my Mom, passed away in March. It was just a few days after my last blog post. My sister and I feel that God took her home just before the crazy world of 2020 exploded in to what we are all living now. We had just lost my second-dad, my step dad, about a year and a half prior to losing my mom, and she was never really quite the same without her soul mate.  "This Covid Thing," as we called it, would have scared her more than it already did. She would be disappointed that people have made it what it is, and that even as small as a sickness could divide a country of how it should be dealt with over this year. She would want us to wash our hands, ofte...

I saw this curve from an article regarding handling the whole COVID-19 scene and found it interesting. Making the decisions for our nation as whole is a tough job. When it comes to health needs, especially with a new strain of an existing virus, all elected leaders, the CDC, and the WHO are faced an impossible task. It takes leadership and self discipline most don’t have to 1) Make the tough decisions against what you might want to do yourself and 2) Follow through even when you don’t want to. It’s not so much about prevention as it is slowing down the rate people get sick. I don’t envy the job of our President but I am grateful he’s trying to lead us in a direction so we don’t have to suffer the way Italy, China, and others have. [You don’t even have to be a fan of the man to respect the Office of the President and the job that entails.] I’m not a doomsday-type nor a freak-out-type. I prefer cool, calm, AND swift action. Like - You wait too long and I’ll just make the decision for y...

Impromptu game night after dinner just because. 🏆 We played  some “Bones” AKA Dominos,  then some Poker. My husband Will, as usual, won both games (of-stinking-course 😝). Lots of laughs and  memories were made tonight because we made the choice to do so. I’m a big stickler I’m eating dinner together. It doesn’t happen every single night, but it’s most often. Everyone has full lives and it’s the time we get to learn more about each other, laugh with each other, and be silly because we can. We had actually finished dinner and the boys had gone upstairs when I had them come right back downstairs for some quality time as a family. ❤️ As I was getting ready to post a Poker picture on social media of how I was “up,” at least for a while before I let Will win 😜, when I saw that Luke had taken pictures with my phone of his older brother Tyler. It’s quite obvious in the, “what are you doing face,” picture below. 😂 Brothers seem to have a love-hate relationship growing up,...

I have found the holy grail of exfoliation! This is my absolute favorite at-home tool EVER so far! This has totally replaced my loofah. Back in the early part of December 2019, my mom and I went to Walmart to grab a few things. We were shopping for a few things we actually needed to get, but really just spent time together talking and meandering through the aisles. She told me she had bought a pair a pair of shower gloves, but she really would like to find something that exfoliated a little better. We looked at all the options Walmart had to offer when I saw these bad boys. They are the Equate Beauty Charcoal Gloves, and Walmart sells them for just $2.98 currently. They have held up well and still working as if they are brand new. Here's their link:  Equate Beauty Charcoal Gloves . My mom and I each bought a pair! Let me just say - these are both great for a "dry brush" rub down to exfoliate all your parts, and they are great just to use as a loofah/washcloth combo. ...

So I bought myself (and our family) a little slice of luxury. My review for it? It is DEFINITELY worth the money! After spending quite some time researching Amazon, I landed on the Homitt Electric Spin Cordless Scrubber. It came with four different types of spin brushes to clean with, a device to hang it up for storage, and can extend to 47 inches. There are other models out there, some less and some more expensive, one with a storage "tree," etc. However what I found I wanted was the most "horsepower" in 300 RPM. Get-it-done-fast type of RPMs. Let's face it, no one wants to clean the bathroom, so the more efficient and faster time we can get it done in, the better. Plus, this model can hold the charge up to 90 minutes, which was more than similar options, and it takes less time to charge it at just 3.5 hours. Remember with this little treat, you don't just have to stop at the bathroom. It suggested, which I will be trying next, to use it on your basebo...

As we are already ending the 3rd day of the new year in 2020, a scripture popped in my mind as I was writing in the Christian Planner I bought for myself from christianplanner.com, so that I could, 1) Actually learn to journal consistently, and enjoy it and, 2) Plan my month/day out. I’m the type that will try and do 30 things at once if I don’t keep a to do list! Anyway, Psalm 119:105 popped in my head after reflecting onto doctor appointment with my Rheumatologist yesterday. [It wasn’t the best news, but all will be alright. I have to makes some changes to my medication and in my daily regimen of self care.] So the scripture say: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” I always think it’s funny when specific scriptures pop in my head. Not like “ha, ha, lol” kind of funny but funny as in God telling me “I got you.” It makes me smile and I know I wouldn’t think of it on my own, but with Jesus, I do. Today, that scripture and chapter read to me as a reminder that ...

Happy New Year to 2020! You made it!! I read a picture shared on Instagram yesterday that says - “A toast to the old you: If you feel inspired to use the new year to help you reset or change habits: great. And yet: The old you has survived every terrible day, every hard thing, every awful circumstance, and every heartbreak you’ve ever felt. The old you is a FIGHTER, and that’s worth celebrating.” It cheered on YES!! I’m not one that is big for making New Year’s Resolutions. Mostly because it’s just a to do list for the first week or two of the new year until it gets shoved to the bottom of the priorities. Sorry, not sorry. That’s the sassy in me! What I am big on, is often reflecting on the hardships and the victories of the year/quarter/month/week. I like asking myself and my family, what went well? What did we overcome? How can we make it better? My husband Will and I have this thing with our boys, who are now teenagers, where we daily ask: What was the best thing that happened t...