Amy's Christmas Crafts

So for the past four years I have made the presents I give out for Christmas. My items are “bath” in nature. Each year I try different recipes. It is a lot of work but also a lot of fun. Plus I like getting handmade gifts and hopefully so do those who receive my gifts. I thought this year I would “share” a picture of my items with you. On the left side are my tubes and pots of lip balm (honey, beeswax and almond oil). The jars next to the lip balm contain a eucalyptus and lavender Epsom salt soak. The Ziploc containers are a sugar scrub with a citrus spice fragrance oil. The soap is a purple/bluish color and contains canola oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, castor oil, olive oil. Some of the bars have interesting shapes and some dents due to difficulty getting them out of the molds (That’s the fun of homemade gifts right?). Behind the soap are some heart shaped lotion bars (olive oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter). To the right of the soap in the Ziploc containers are lotion made with (cocoa butter, almond oil, avocado oil, apricot oil, palm kernel oil, jojoba). Behind those is a batch of milk and honey bath mix. I was a little late getting my stuff made this year and so I didn’t get pretty containers (hence the Ziploc containers).

Happy Holidays from the Azevedo's

Well I guess it goes without saying what I am doing on Christmas Day (updating my blog). Esteban and I decided to get a family picture last night before going over to our friends Susan and Kathy’s for Christmas Eve dinner. It will go on our Christmas letter when I finally get around to writing it, but I thought it would be great to post it today and send out some happy holiday wishes to you all.

Esteban, Bellini, and I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays! May the love, peace, and joy of this holiday season fill your hearts now and during the coming year.

Midwest Spinal Pain Christmas Party

So Modern PT does not have a Christmas party. Instead we do employee appreciation parties quarterly. However, the business next to us had a Christmas party this year and they invited our staff. They had a local jazz singer, Mama Ray, and her band come and play in our gym. This band is their nurse practioner's, Gretchen, favorite so it was a special treat for her. It was a great evening filled with food, music, and great friends.

Everyone listening to Mama Ray
Gretchen and Mama Ray drinking coffee

Elva and Jerry

Courtney, Gretchen, Kelly

Me and Kathy

Lisa and Wayne

Ben and Ashlee

Happy Anniversary

Today, December 21st, is the winter solstice. More importantly however it is my parent's anniversary. I can't remember how many years exactly. Which is bad for me as a daughter. I should keep closer track of these things. However, maybe it they would appreciate me not putting it on here as it may give a clue to their ages. :-) Anyway I would like to take this opportunity and wish them a very Happy Anniversary. I am sorry I can't be there in Arizona to celebrate with you. However, I am and will be thinking of the two of you all day!

In these stressful and troubled times it is difficult to find longevity with marriage. I want to thank you both for setting a great example for me with your marriage as well as your approach to life. You two are both a shining example of what it takes to make a marriage work in both good and bad times. I love you both so very much!

Work

I will always remember my interviews for physical therapy school and the numerous questions I had about how I dealt with change. At the time it was a mystery to me why this question was so important. However, to be fair, at this time in my life I had not experienced many changes. Since then I have moved from Alaska to Missouri, opened a business, and have expereinced so many changes that it is making my head spin thinking about them. Change truly is a constant in life. However, that does not make it any easier when it occurs. Which brings us around to today. This week we said goodbye to one of our therapists, Tara. She has only been with us a short time but will be missed by everyone in the clinic. I know that with this change Tara and Modern Physical Therapy both have wonderful futures in front of them full of new experiences, friends, and opportunities. However, today I am still coming to terms in dealing with this change and tomorrow a new adventure begins. I have attached a picture from the lunch we had for Tara on her last day of work.

Back row: Me, Esteban, Jerry, Dio, Lisa, Ashlee, Cheri

Front Row: Courtney, Tara, Mellannie

Brain Coral

As promised earlier here are some pics of my beloved brain coral in our display case (along with some of our other items). I also took a close up picture of the conch shell we brought back from Grand Turk. It is covered with all sorts of wonderful stuff from the ocean however it is hard to see and appreciate the detail in the picture (could be due to the photographer) but anyone wanting to see it in person is welcome to come for a visit. :-)

Day 8

Today we were at Nassau Bahamas for the entire day. Esteban and I spent most of the day relaxing on the ship to prepare for our trip home the next day. We did go ashore and do some shopping. Esteban bought some more art and I got another piece of luggage so we could carry all our treasures home. :-) It was another relaxing day and a great way to end our trip. FYI - I did get my brain coral through customs as well as a cool conch shell. I will have to upload pictures of them later when we get them situated in our display case. I will also have to attach a picture of the art we bought when we get it framed and hung.

Day 7

So I have been remiss in posting about the last two days of the cruise. My return to "normal" life has been a little hectic (no surprise there). :-) Our Day 7 was at sea and as it turned out it was Thanksgiving. Esteban and I did not do much this day. We spent most of the time in the spa and then went and ate with our fabulous dinner buddies. The ship did serve a Turkey dinner (which I heard was good). We all did have pumpkin pie for desert (a Thanksgiving Day must). After dinner, we all went to a comedy show. Laughter is great for the digestion. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable day. It was this day that I decided that I like the days at sea as much as the days we are at a port.