Suncreen Damaged Tervis Fixed with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is all the rage and I am hooked!  This is some cool stuff!  Apparently,  there are 101 Uses for Coconut Oil and I've got another one to add to that list.

Tervis tumblers are also all the rage lately.  (They've been around since 1946, actually!)  Although the Tervis company has a LIFETIME GUARNTEE, I was still looking for a way to restore my tumblers that have been etched by sunscreen.  As a researcher, the first place I went to look for information on how to fix my cups was on the internet.  I found that someone suggested using toilet bowl cleaner!  Ew!  Most of my searches ended with more information about how great the Tervis return policy is.  I was still looking for my own fix, though.

So, back to the coconut oil.  Coconut oil is also touted for its success in reminerlizing teeth.  I don't really know what that means, but it sounds good.  I starting using coconut oil with a little baking soda added to it to create a paste as my new toothpaste.  I'm freakishly IN LOVE with my new coconut oil and baking soda toothpaste!  It is so different and it does such a good job.  I feel like I've just spent time at the dentist while drinking a pina colata.  Delightful! 

While brushing my teeth one weekend, I spied my Tervis tumbler and had an idea.  Why not try my "toothpaste" on a cup?  The cup couldn't really look any worse...

Tervis Tumbler all etched from sunscreen.

The lid also looking shabby.
 Reminder:  Most chapstick, lip balms, and lip sticks have sunscreen in them.

In this picture, notice that you can't even see through the cup!

Again, notice that the glass is so foggy that you can't even see through it.

The "toothpaste"  Coconut oil and baking soda mixed to the thickness of a traditional toothpaste.

Regular ol' Arm and Hammer

Coconut oil is solid!  (Not what one typically thinks of as "oil".)

I use a wooden coffee stir stick to put the toothpaste on my toothbrush and used that to spread some of the paste onto my cloudy Tervis tumbler.

I started with a test strip.

And made a note of the time.

While I was waiting on the concoction to work, I noticed that a sand dollar I had on display was a little dusty.  How about a little coconut oil?

Beautiful!  Remineralizing?

After ten minutes, I wiped off the paste.

Lo and behold!  It took off a lot of the scum!

The shiny stripe is hard to see, but it really did work!  So, why not try the whole cup?

OMG!  For about ten minutes, I rubbed the coconut oil and baking soda "toothpaste" all around the cup...inside and outside.

 

SIDE BY SIDE

 

 

Fashion IPDP and Mission Meet

A few days have gone by since I created my mission statement and I think it is working for me.  I like that I do stop to think if this thing/situation will make me smile.  At times I have to be creative to look for a way or reason that is hidden... but I usually do find it.  Even the Tervis tumbler that I got on the sale rack at Publix reminds me, "Have a Coke and a Smile".  I don't have to be literal - as in have a full calorie Coke, but it is a good idea to take the time to enjoy my coffee (in said Tervis tumbler).  When I'm looking at the half empty (Or is it half full?) cup, I think that I should look forward to when it is all the way empty.  That is when I will fill it with water...which is good and healthy and in turn that makes me smile.

 

Is it really possible that this is so easy?  I dunno.  But I sure do like it...and that makes me smile.

When I was jogging yesterday I reminded myself to smile.  Smile because I CAN run, because I AM running, because I took the longer path, because the music on Pandora pushes me to not quit, because the sun was shinning, because I was going to my kids' ball games, because it is a perfect quick/no excuses reason to run from point A to point B, because a few weeks ago running a mile would have been too much, because I get to go to the game in sweats and not feel like I look  dumpy...  All of that in just a few songs and a trip around the lake.  I smile because of the beautiful crooked palm tree that I just ran under.   That tree grows that way in nature - not because someone cultivated it to grow at that angle.  And I smile because I high fived the branches as I ran under them.  =)

Another thing to note:

This school year I have been working on my "Fashion IPDP" and that ties nicely into my new mission statement.

A little back story is necessary:
About ten years ago the district came up with a document called and Individualized Professional Development Plan (nicknamed "Ippy Dippy").  We used to have training sessions on how to write SMART goals and even had subs brought in so that we could use a whole school day to dig into the data and write our IPDP...submit that to the principal...revise it...work towards meeting the goal(s)...revisit it at the end of the year...file it into the TASK Box.  Ugh.  Now, we just do it online.  Some principals still make a big deal out of it and my guess is that some just go through the motions.  The truth is that it IS a good thing! I actually LIKE writing it.  (Although I hate math, I freakishly LOVE looking at data and trends.)

Anyway... back to the "back story":
In an attempt to have a lil fun with the IPDP, I decided to write myself a "Fashion Ippy Dippy" many years ago.  I started off by saying, "If I wear more skirts, I will look more professional, and that will raise student test scores."  And lo and behold, that year my students' test scores raised!!!  A lot!!!   (From a 42 to a 74)  Every year since then I've been creating a fashion IPDP. One year I said that I would change my accessories every day. Another year was to wear more flowers. But this year my fashion IPDP has been to wear fish. Yes, you read that right. My motto is from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming!"  Dory, the little blue fish, sweetly sang her little tune and as she and Marlin (Nemo's dad) traveled great distances.  I feel like learning is like that.  For many years I have spoken to kids and used that lyric as a bit of a cute and nice way to teach them not give up...no matter how far they were from reaching their goal.

So, this school year I have worn a Dory pin on my ID badge and accessorized EVERYTHING with fish.  I have fish pens, fish paper, fish stickers, fish earrings, fish rings, fish bracelets, fish necklaces, fish bracelets, fish décor, fish screensavers...  I have one fish, and two fish, and red fish, and blue fish.  And it HAS worked!  The kids know to look for the fish and I refer to being persistent a lot so my hope is that it will some how sink in via osmosis.

All of this to say, that my mission and my fashion IPDP (although not at all intended to go together) do blend seamlessly.  And to end on another cartoon movie quote:

Developing My Mission Statement

I kept thinking, "Let go and let God".  And that all felt so good and so right.

But...I was faced with a situation that was upsetting me.  Whatever.  Let go and let God.  Let go.  Let go!  Let!  It!  GO!  But I can't.  It ruffles me all up.  Another  Angel Richards sound bite is..."Don't own other people's stuff.  These issues spill over and somehow become part of my "responsibility".  So, how do I "Let go"?  Well...I...let...it...go!  I literally said it out loud and made my fingertips bunch up and spring out in a "letting go motion".  Man, that felt so good!  =)  LIBERATION!!!!

On another positive note, I asked my "old" (as in former and now retired) principal to write me a letter of recommendation.  I got it in the mail.  What a huge joy!  It's filled with real anecdotes that make me shine.  I need that validation.  Or perhaps I don't need it but I am so grateful for it.  When those words are printed and put out into the universe it feels good.   I said, "Yes" to the right person at the right time all those years ago when I was looking for my first ever teacher job.  I gave of myself to a person, a school, a staff, a group of kids, a community...  At the time that I agreed to work for her, it was my only job offer.  It wasn't like I really had a ton of choices.  (That was when there was a surplus of school teachers.)  As I think back, it was so easy and effortless.  I didn't know what I didn't know and just did what I thought was best.  Done. 

That leads me to another Angel Richards quote:  "Keep Calm and Do You!"  That is what I was doing all those years ago.  That is what I need to do now.  Nothing has changed.  Easy.  Piece of cake.

I think that I need a mission statement.  What is my mission?  What is my ministry?  If I knew that, then I would know better who and when to answer "Yes/No".  So, let's think about this...

Possible "Missions"

• Be happy
• Smile
• Be Christ to someone
• Be loyal to family and friends
• Spread love

I kind of like, "Smile".  That is something that I can do.  I can do it if it actually makes me happy or even when I'm acting as if I am happy.  I can make it my mission to smile to all.  Coworkers, bosses, parents, kids, strangers, and of course my family...  Currently, I do smile for the bulk of my day - either as an expression of joy or as an "as if".  I think that it is unexpected and easy.  I've always been drawn to people who smile and have the up turned lips... 

So, would it be possible to do that?  Say, "My mission in life is to smile"?  Could it really be that easy?  And what if I don't want to smile?  What if I am truly sad?  Will I feel like a failure if I pout or cry?  I don't want to shut down that side of myself because it also can't be healthy to bottle that up.  Is there a way that I could allow for the option for "a good cry"?

Revision:  "My mission in life is to smile except when I am sad."  But, that gives me a huge open door to cop out when I just don't feel like smiling or when I simply want to be less that what I should be.  Should I define sadness as death...almost like "loss of life or limb"?  I could do that and be quite literal about it.  Just allow myself to not smile when someone is truly ill, injured, or in a grave situation.  That would mean that I can have permission to be sad when: someone/something is dying or when someone/something is in a grave situation.

Is this my mission?

I would say "Yes" to anything that furthers my mission (aka anything/anyone that makes me smile).  How would that work when I'm asked to do something that I don't want to do?  Well, I think that I find a way to make it a win-win.  For example, I don't want to pull weeds.  That typically doesn't make me smile.  But, I do get to do something physically active, be in nature, listen to music, get some sun, and make the yard look better.  Why, "YES!"  Yes, I DO want to pull weeds!" 

What an easy thing to do.  I'm feeling like a huge pessimist though, because I'm looking for ways that this won't work...but I just can't find any faults right now!

I feel like I need to repeat my mission to make sure that it still sounds good. 

My mission in life is to smile

except when there is loss of life/limb.

Done.

How should I smile?  With teeth?  A grin?  Mona Lisa style?  "Smize" a la Tyra Banks?  Hummm....  That'll be my next conquest.

Helping Others Transform

In trying to ready myself for what is to come for me as far as my work goes...and I've been doing A LOT of reflection lately...I was just feeling overwhelmingly lost.  Plus, for Lent I gave up excessive TV watching and traded that out for more reading/writing. The kids and Shawn are outside throwing and catching balls and I've got the time to write. 

Now, what to write about...  Cindy's 48th birthday came and went.  She died when she was 38 so that makes this ten years of me "celebrating" her birthday without her.  But, as each milestone comes and goes it does get easier. 

One of my amazing co-workers, Angel Richards, is a life coach.  She has a business called "Helping Others Transform" or "HOT" http://helpingotherstransform.com/ and I  REALLY try to take her tips to heart and put them into practice as soon as possible.  She puts a lot of clever one-liners on Facebook.  Around mid March, I happened upon her audio  BLOG about saying No and Yes.  And that lead me to thinking...

She spoke about turning down things when you are afraid.  Don't feel guilty.  The more you say, "No." the more opportunity to say, "Yes!" And to be ready.  Dig deep.  Figure it out.  What's the root?  Obligation?  Fear?  Comfort?  Say, "Yes!"  Step out in faith! 

I just wanted to stay with this for a while.  What I struggle with is knowing when to give which answer.  I guess that is the trick in being true and honest with yourself.  I feel guilty saying no to people I know need/want something from me.  I feel guilty saying yes to some of those same people and even in some of the exact same "do over" situations.  So, what does that mean?  I think it goes back to not really knowing myself.  That's the root of my problem.  I don't know who I am and what I want to be as far as my role in others' lives.  Do I want to be thought of as loyal to someone who isn't worthy?  How do I know who is worthy?  (Mainly I'm thinking about work and relationships with friends - not the actual people in my family.)

I want to do unto others.  I want to be Christ to someone.  I want to be the smile a stranger isn't expecting.  And yet, I want to not get railroaded and get used or find myself in a co-dependent situation.

I want to be friendly to everyone and spread joy but then I get my feelings hurt when it isn't returned.  Why?  Why do I allow my feelings to be on display?  To get themselves hurt?  Is it because I'm still defining myself by what that other person does or says?

Then, I put myself out there to be the extended hand and get my hand bitten!  Should I keep extending myself?  Wall myself up?  Both?  I'm not able to quote the Bible but I know it says something about 7 times 70 times...  Ugh!

And at a new school who is who?  Doesn't everyone deserve a chance and a second chance and maybe still another?  Maybe I'm the one who is the off-putting one!  Especially since I'm not even able to define myself or my role at this site.

So, "Let go and let God!"  Continue to be open.  Continue to let God guide me.  Keep trying to be Christ to someone.  It ain't supposed to be easy...but this is HARD!

I define myself by what God wants me to do, be, say...  I need to keep myself open to His messages so that I can walk through the path He has chosen for me.  Perhaps these inner struggles are what helps me to have confidence and clarity as I walk His road.  The road/path has been chosen for me, I just need to open myself to knowing that God is in control and that I am His servant. 

So, back to the NO/YES thing.  I say...YES to God and what he wants for me.  And I say...NO to distraction, temptation, and things that remove the Holy Spirit from being my number one priority. 

How could I possibly feel guilt or regret or obligation... if that is my guide?  I can't!  With God's help, I'll be defined as the vessel He wants for me to be.  YES!

Amen.