Nesting and tracking devices

This post is mostly sound effects.

Whew. Let me cut to the chase. I have been a bad friend, wife, daughter, blogger, pal, concubine, elevator rider and car driver these past few months. This past spring I started to get really, really sick, after months of feeling icky and mostly bad. I couldn't figure out how to fix it, I tried everything. I couldn't eat without major issues (I will spare you the disgusting details, sadly I have been talking of nothing but poop and farts and belching to my dear, sweet friends.) I was tired, foggy brained, well I still am but I am sitting on the other side of shitsvill following a few five hour doctor's appointments these past few weeks. Turns out I have no stomach acid, and I have low thyroid levels duh. Among other things. I didn't know how important stomach acid is, I mean. Holly shit! Its super important. I am taking supplements now, and doing yet another cleanse and working with great doctors who actually believe me. I admit, I busted out crying the first time I saw my new (and seventh) doctor recently when he said that he believed me and didn't brush me off with a "oh you are over thirty," or "Yeah, that is normal for a woman your age..." You know that looking down at the floor while you talk, nodding absently and you just know he is thinking "I could really murder a philly cheese steak...this bitch is hysterical...and some of those pickles I like..." I'll say it, I don't like doctors. Except for the ones that make me better.

Oh yeah, tracking devices. I had a test where I swallowed a tracking device, it was orange (um, hopefully so that I am not obligated to fish it out of my poo later, although I am on a first name basis with my poo currently.) Poo says hi.

Nesting, right. So in the midst of all of this hoopla Osh and I are nesting like birdies. Right now its all over the place, but we are installing our new closet this weekend. Three stooges sound! One thing I get to do tomorrow, aside from eat lunch (air punching!) with my lady pals, is order our new bed!

I have been waiting for the custom upholstery sale at Crate and Barrel to order it because I had my heart set on a cream fabric. I didn't like any of the ones that the bed comes in. I have never actually ordered a piece of furniture before, and had to wait and stuff. I always buy floor models on account of my cheapness. In this case though, I just had to have the exact right bed because, well, damnit, I do. So there.

Full disclosure: I am not a huge fan of Crate and Barrel. But, the hight of this headboard is perfect for me, so I overlook.

Isn't catalog styling so funny. 


I am imaging something like this:


I love the tone on tone, modern, cool, but still cozy right? Those lamps are making me hot and sweaty too. I like the wall color of this room below too, plus the black and white thing going on. I never go for those hanging pendants in the bedroom, far to fussy for me.


I would feel like a mediaeval princes rolling around on that fur. Love the not-nightstands, and the art too.

Ok, now this picture I am showing you because I am attracted to the pale, creamy walls with pale creamy curtains too. I know that this makes my Josef Frank dreams into competition but...I have an artist's brain. What can I say.


I also like the simple, basic yet cosy look going on here. O would never go for that chair, but the fabric? Yes indeedy do.


One thing that I really want to do is instal a mantel. Ours would be wooden, to match the others in our house. We are not cool enough for marble, but this one is just right isn't it? It would go on the wall that currently has my dresser, and I am thinking of putting a mirror over it so I can still apply my face there. I will explain this convoluted idea when you see our closet.

What is your favorite creamy white paint y'all?

Comments

  1. My whole house - literally every square inch except the backsplash behind the stove - is Benjamin Moore Mountain Peak White. Doors, trim, walls, ceiling. It's on the yellowish side of creamy white, similar to the picture above with the creamy wall/curtain combo. (And, if you're curious, the backsplash is lacquered and shiny Galapagos Turquoise and it looks marvelous.)

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    1. Jenni, that sounds awesome! I will look it up :)

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  2. Favorite creamy white paint is Martha Stewart Starched Linen MS160. Not sure of the brand, but the Ben Moore guys can look it up. They can mix other brand paints. (I shouldn't have to tell an artist this, but the color depends on the space and the light. We have tall ceilings and a lot of natural light, and MS160 looks like a bright, warm ivory.) I never tire of it. Happy to show you in person if want to see it. -Amy urban_farm_wife

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    1. Hey Amy, that sounds great. My local Lowes has MS paint, going to check that out this weekend. Yeah, I have to get a tiny pot of it, and paint it on several walls and live with it. I take sooo long to decide about paint.

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  3. I live in a gorgeous creamy white house in San Miguel de Allende in MX, but alas I did not paint it so I do not know the exact color. Probably a Mexican brand anyway, unless Sherwin Williams colors here are the same as in the US. BUT when I lived in Santa Fe, my go-to creamy white was Alabaster White by Sherwin Williams. to me a perfect mix of just slightly warm, but not sterile. I did a little googling just now and found this article on finding the perfect warm white, which I know from experience can be tricky. Of the five colors in this article, I'd go with the Southern Living guy with the Ivory White, but that's just me.

    ps... so sorry to hear of your "issues"... I am hypothyroid and right now completely adrenal fatigued as well. Some docs say it's important to treat the adrenal glands first, then approach the thyroid gland because if the thyroid gets all spiffy and working great, it puts more stress on the adrenals... who then go "huh, what?", then they get further stressed. I haven't found a doc down here conversant in all the ins and outs but I did find a good website last week with a guy who I think I'm gonna consult with... I read all his stuff and he is way up on everything... good articles. www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com I am in no way affiliated, just want to share a good resource. and, si, I am taking some bragg's apple cider vinegar daily now to boost my stomach acid as well. Best of luck, sending good thoughts and happy nesting! pss... www.stoptheythyroidmadness.com (which I found via Amazon) is a great resource for adrenal and thyroid stuff. If you already know all this, sorry, but I think it's pretty important, at least it has been for me... so worth mentioning.

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    1. Thanks Carol for your sympathy! I am sorry to hear that you are also dealing with adrenal and thyroid stuff. Its sucks! I am lucky that I finally found some docs that listen to me. I swear I have almost physically hurled myself at some :) Thanks for the website suggestion, I am most certainly going to check i out. I love Braggs! I am so glad that I do, whew. Thanks again for reaching out, I appreciate it.

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    2. Maybe if you hurled *on* them... That would get their attention! Suerte...

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  4. ahhh... link to article mentioned above solly
    http://www.thewriterandresidence.com/finding-the-perfect-warm-white-5-designers-weigh-in/

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    1. Thanks! I can't wait to check this out, such a life saver!

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  5. Favorite creamy whites: Ben Moore Navajo White OC-95 and White Sand OC-10

    Girl, you just seem to always have some cruddy health issue shit going on. I am so glad that you found a doctor that will listen and work with you. I swear, sometimes I have absolutely no faith in the medical system. I'm curious, though. How exactly does one go about losing all their stomach acid?

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    1. Dude! Tell me about it! It seems that all of the issues come from low adrenal and thyroid function, which no doctors diagnosed until now. I wish I knew how you loose stomach acid! So interesting, but I know its due to low thyroid function. The pills I am taking now are making all the difference, and with time we will find a way to fix my glands, and then I will be like an anime ninja with shinny eyes mid-ninja move. All.The.Time!!

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    2. That's so crazy. It seems that you pretty much have to go in and tell the doctors what you have anymore before they can treat you. Self diagnosis. What a pain in the ass.
      I was wondering about the stomach acid because I have been drinking Kangan water (alkaline water) for about a year now. I've been thinking of slacking off because I'm not so sure it's doing anything helpful. And sometimes I worry that it may end up doing something like kill off all my stomach acid. Hell. Who knows?

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    3. Hhmmm, not sure about the water. If you ever get acid reflux after eating, that might signify low acid levels, it's counterintuitive, yes, but try drinking a tbs of apple cider vinegar with your water?

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  6. Poor Michelle! I hope they get you fixed soon. I can't imagine how frustrating / painful that must have been. Glad you're with some good doctors. I'd love to see an illustration of this orange gps device though! You find humor in the madness, love it!

    Love the ikat-ish print on the chair and the new bed! Woohoo!

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  7. First time I've ever read your blog. Long time low-thyroid sufferer tho (since I was 11!). Sorry to hear you joined the club. It really does get better though and having an understanding, knowledgeable physician makes all the difference. All the best of health to you!

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    1. Wow! I can't imagine going through adolescence with low thyroid, I am sorry!

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    2. My iPad went crazy, as I was saying.. Thanks for your comment, I hope you come back to my blog again :)

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  8. Our bodies are way too complicated aren't they!? Glad you are on the way to feeling good again. I hear you on doctors. Most don't have the time to figure you out... or want to, they just want your money. I have practically ran out the door after visiting some. After dealing with Graves Disease (hyperthyroid) then to hypothyroid then Celiac Disease and now finding major gut issues I am so sick of it all. Really hoping my body will snap out of all the crap and start working good again. Anyways good luck to you. I feel your pain!
    Your place is going to look amazing!

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    1. Thanks Jodi! I appreciate the sympathy. It is nuts how bad our medical system is, but I am lucky that I live in a big enough city where alternative medicine is available. I hope that you find the right path for you and your health. Sending you healing vibes!

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  9. Hey Michelle - I've been admiring your art ever since Emily H's site sent me your way a few months ago! Anyhow, I've seen you mention things about your health a time or two and I just wanted to encourage you to investigate tick borne diseases. My dad is an OB/GYN and so I jumped from doctor to doctor for almost 4 years (with no answers) until I took matters into my own hands and made an out of network appt with a chronic fatigue specialist. I was SHOCKED to say the least all the testing came back and my immune system was in shambles and my lyme culture was a big fat positive. I grew up in Missouri and got bitten by ticks quite often but until my immune system shut down in 2009 with a year long battle with mono, my immune system kept the bacteria in check. You don't have to have even noticed a tick bite or even seen a rash and the current diagnostic testing is really poor. I've just had similar health issues as you, as well as the hypothyroidism (Lyme bacteria is notorious for screwing up the HPA axis) and until I got on the proper treatment, even the armour did little to help. Sometimes the only symptom is fatigue - but tick borne diseases are opportunistic and affect each patient a little differently, based up their immune system and own chemical makeup. I know you've probably been searching high and low for answers and I don't presume to know everything you've been dealing with, but just know that this could be a possibility. It's very difficult to go against the medical grain - in fact, most doctors don't even believe that tick borne diseases exist in non-eastern states, but that is the farthest from the truth. If you need a recommendation for any docs in your area, let me know. The doctor that diagnosed me was in Utah, but he is part of a group called Holtorf Medical and I believe they have opened an office in Marietta - even if it's not Lyme you are dealing with, they specialize in hard to diagnose and treat health conditions like hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. I pray you will find answers soon - there is nothing more frustrating than knowing your body is working against you but not knowing how to fix it. Love and prayers to you, my dear. Don't ever give up - don't ever be satisfied until you get to the bottom of this!!

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment. I appreciate your perspective! I am sorry that you got so sick. I am going to get tested at my next doc. appointment. Luckily we have a great naturopath doc group near me (well, this is Atlanta so...like 20 miles :)

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  10. Good! Make sure you use a more reliable blot (I'm sure your naturopath will know the best ones) - don't know if you've read anything about diagnostics for tick borne infections, but they are notoriously insensitive and come back negative on a lot of folks who actually do have lyme disease. Even the CDC says that Lyme is a clinical diagnosis as the tests are so unreliable, you can't use them to diagnose or rule it out either. IGeneX is a good lab and there are several others as well. I was dx using a new culture (I actually have a picture of the Lyme spirochetal bacteria they found in my blood - barf!) but it's pretty pricey and not the first one I would try. I'm so glad you are seeing a naturopath - After my experience with Western medicine for the last 5 years, I am convinced our system is broken beyond repair - the only thing Western Medicine does well is acute care - there is no time or compassion anymore for chronic illness - we just get dismissed and sent to the next specialist or worse, painted as a maligner or hypochondriac. I'm so hopeful you are going to get to the bottom of things soon - press on, sister! Continue blessing the world with your beautiful talent. When I'm not spending 800 bucks a month on treatment, I'm totally saving up for one of your original pieces - I've been lusting over them since I hopped on over to your lovely site. Take care!

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