new beginnings...

Well....I went to the orthodontist this morning for a consultation for braces. Eek..I was told about a month ago by my regular dentist that instead of Invisalign, she recommends that I get metal braces.  I cringed as the words came out of her mouth.  I regularly get mistaken for a high school girl, even though I am 22 (almost 23) and married, so the thought of metal braces gave me a sickening feeling.  I asked her why she thought metal braces would be a better idea and she informed me that I have a cross bite on both sides, an open bite, and crowding.  Since braces are in the ballpark of $5,000, she explained that it would be better to dish out all that money and get my teeth completely fixed.  Therefore, that is how I ended up in the orthodontist chair this morning at 11am.
During my appointment today, I had to take several pictures of my mouth and spoke with the dentist.  As he was finagling his way through my mouth, he explained to me that an option of mine is to have oral surgery to break my jaw (my upper jaw is more narrow than my bottom).  Money signs immediately came to the mind when he said oral surgery and due to the fact that I have zero dental insurance...that isn't an option.  So after much discussion, I opted to get ceramic braces on my top and metal braces on bottom.
 Unfortunately, my treatment time will be up to 2 years :( I was not happy about that; however, I want my teeth fixed, so that is something that comes along with the process :/ I got a great deal--around $4,900 for 2 years of braces, ceramic, retainers for post braces, and it includes all my appointments, etc.  Thankfully, we have $4,000 saved up for my braces that I can pay when I get my braces on and then we can do monthly payments the rest of the time period.

WARNING: these pictures are NOT pretty. no judging, please and thank you :) 

here is a before picture. cross bite, over bite, and crowding is apparent.

again. awkward picture. but the blue things in my molars are separators which are trying to make some space for this quad helix thing i will have to get put it to push my upper molars out.

i am in so much pain.

next monday, i have another appointment to get impressions and rubberbands will be put on my molars where the separators are now. 

then...

march 7th: a new beginning with my braces. 

here's to the next 2 years....   

lemon brownies!

Monday brought me some free time due to no work and class not starting until 6pm.  Mike was at work and I was sitting at home putting some finishing touches on my homework and catching up on some shows from Hulu+.  Of course I was multitasking and decided to browse around Pinterest for a couple minutes.  Well, I came across the recipe for lemon brownies.  I thought to myself, "Well, I do love lemon squares and I definitely love brownies, so I should give this a try!"  Luckily, I had all the ingredients besides lemons.  I sped over to Wal-Mart, bought 2 lemons, and came home eager to try this little recipe.  Unfortunately, I was rushed and had no time to take pictures :/ however, without further ado...

Lemon Brownies

ingredients:

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 t salt

1 stick butter, softened

2 eggs

juice from 1/2 lemon

zest from lemon

1. combine flour, sugar, and salt in large bowl.

2. mix in butter.

3. in another bowl, whisk the eggs with the lemon juice and zest.

4. add the eggs/juice/zest to the larger bowl and mix well.

5. grease 8x8 pan with butter.

6. bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

7. remove, let cool, and glaze.

recipe for glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 T. lemon juice

additional lemon zest

 {i made the glaze that was provided in the original recipe. it was good, but i prefer a light layer of cream cheese frosting :)}

i hope you enjoy this fun, new recipe! mike and i loved it!

God Bless..

  

 

 

 

inspiration..

I love, love, love when I stumble upon some inspiration for our home.  I was browsing through Tumblr and came across this room...

Eek! :) This room provides the perfect mix of fun and relaxation for our guest bedroom.  The best part is that the elements are easy to find and appear to not look too expensive.  Thankfully, I have a bright yellow chair that resembles the coral chair in the picture.  I'm sure I can find a similar lamp either at Wal-Mart or Target and T.J. Maxx will come in handy when finding eclectic pillows, a basic white comforter, and some cute art. 
When finding inspiration for home decor, it makes me even more thrilled and anxious to complete our house renovations!

Hope everyone has a lovely week! God Bless...

psalm 139

Recently, I have realized how vital it is to be yourself.  To have the ability to embrace the way that God has created you is absolutely beautiful.  Psalm 139 always comes to mind when I am reminded to just be me, Lacey Renee Cessna, and God will be pleased. :)  

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

 ¹ You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
   Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
   your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
   and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
   I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting. 

:) 

p.s. on a completely different note, does not this place look DIVINE??!! .....oh, to live by the beach.

 

God Bless!