Bakin' or Bacon

Angelina and her bacon.  I knew she liked it, but I had no idea she LOVED it.  We went out to dinner the other night, and they had unlimited bacon pieces, and Angelina was in Heaven! 

The very next day we went to Trader Joes and they were sampling....

Yep you guessed it BACON!

The other morning I was getting ready to bake, and was getting the ingredients ready.  I told her I needed the "Bakin' Soda."  But I said it with a twang....and this was her response

"Bacon, did you say Bacon?  I love Bacon!"

I really wish I could play a recording of her saying it.  She said it fast, ran it together, and was just too precious. 

Just a short story for you tonight!

All Or Nothing…Why?

How come it seems so many of us have the mindset of All or Nothing? That if you can’t do it all, you won’t do anything at all?

I for one has a bad case of this. In just about every aspect of my life.

- If I don’t get everyone done in the day that I wanted to, I feel like I did nothing at all.

- I manage to eat healthy for 3 days straight, I have one bad snack/meal, and I feel like the last 3 days don’t matter.

- If I don’t have time to sew 4 wallets, I don’t even bother sewing 1, (Which I do have time for)

- If I’m thinking a two mile walk is too hard, I don’t even start with the first mile.

　

This morning I knew I wanted to wake up and exercise. I decided the night before that I would pop in my Walk Away the Pounds Dvd. I had it all set in my computer so all I had to do was push play. When I first started walking I felt good, motivated, and proud that I was actually doing it. As it had been a long time since me and Leslie Sansone walked together.

I get about ½ way through the workout and was contemplating going for 2 miles. I felt the need to push myself, that the one mile was too easy. Although it was harder than I remembered it being but I was beating myself up inside by telling myself I NEED to be doing more.

The One Mile Announcement came and I was done, I reached to shut it off, and even more I pushed the stop button I was talking myself down. Feeling guilty that I didn’t push myself harder. Once again forgetting the fact that I had exercised and I went the Full Mile. Never giving myself enough credit.

I am putting a stop to this TODAY!!!

I had a long list of “stuff” I wanted to get done today. I won’t bore you with the details, but the normal cleaning house, laundry, dishes, ect. What I wanted to get done, and what I actually did get done are two different things, as I’m sure most of you understand. Yesterday I would have put myself down for not getting everything done, and feeling that in turn I didn’t do anything all day.

But TODAY, I keep reminding myself what I DID do all day. Woke up, exercised a full mile, made French toast for Me and Angelina, cleaned the kitchen up while I did that. I even made burritos to freeze for later quick meals, 20 of them! I played Just Dance on the Wii with Angelina, she did some home school work. Started a load of laundry, and am blogging now. So in the end who cares if the bathroom didn’t get cleaned today, it will be there tomorrow. J

I ask you, what is more important…

A Clean Bathroom, or a game of Pretty Pretty Princess?

I challenge you to keep the All or Nothing Mindset at bay. If your like me, its pretty easy to feel guilty…but end this with me TODAY!!!

Teaching: The Thin Line of Sharing too Much

First of all today I wanted to start out praying for the People of Japan. I have distanced myself from the news coverage on purpose, I just can’t bare to watch, but what I can do if pray for them.

Its just unbelievable!

I live near the Seattle area of Washington State. We have been expecting “The Big One” for many years now. What shook Japan, could very well and probably will shake here someday. Such an unnerving feeling, imaging preparing for something like that, not knowing when it will hit, but knowing that it will.

-So what do we do?

We don’t prepare.


Its like I’m telling myself, if we don’t talk about it, don’t make a plan, or prepare, it won’t happen. But I know this to be untrue. I feel like I might jinks it, and how awful is that?

While I was out this morning, Angelina was watching the news with Daddy. She asked me if Daddy called to tell me what happened in Japan? She said there was an explosion and lots of water crashing boats cars and buildings.
*Update: Turns out she was watching coverage at Grandma and Papa’s house yesterday.

I was forced to have a short conversation about what happened.
Earthquake under the ocean floor, shook the ground, made the water go “crazy.”

-Tried to keep it on a 5year old level.


I told her that we need to keep those people in our thoughts and prayers, lots of people are hurt and don’t have a house now.

“Why…did someone take it?”

-No, when the ground shook it made if all down, cracked the house.

“Oh that’s ok, Phineas and Ferb will drive there to fix it!”

(Which was yes the cartoon she was watching at the time of this conversation.


So at that point I ended the discussion, but I know deep down I need to talk to her more about this. Not so much as what happened and is happening in Japan, but more so what could happen here.

But this is where I’m torn. I want to share with her, but not share too much. I don’t want her to be scared about it happening here, I want her to not worry. And to keep me from worrying as well.

I think we will take the next couple of weeks and slowly dabble in the much need conversation, and most importantly fill the tub we have for our emergency earthquake kit, which embarrassingly is empty at the moment.
　
　
I know a lot of people that read this blog aren’t local to me, but if you are…are you prepared? How did you teach your child(ren) about Earthquakes and not scare them?
And if you aren’t local…how did you prepare for other disasters, ie…Hurricanes, Tornadoes, ect.?

Just Let ‘Em In

I think we can all agree that a big reason driving can be so frustrating is that people think they can just cut people off.  That they are all High and Mighty and can just “sneak in!”

I have a suggestion to end this…that is to,

 Just Let ‘Em In!

I was driving around running errands alone the other day.  Not a care in the world cause lets face it I was alone!  I was in stop and go traffic on a road that surrounds a mall.  There was a white SUV in the middle turning lane waiting to get into my lane.  I watched the following unfold…

The driver inched forward, and had ever right to maneuver in front of the Black SUV which was in front of me.  The black SUV had other plans apparently, cause he wouldn’t let the White SUV in. 

This is where I sat back and wondered why?  Why not let that SUV in?  We were in traffic, barely going anywhere, everyone needed to give and take, but the Black SUV thought other wise.  (Maybe the High and Might mentality.) 

The White SUV continued to inch forward and the Black SUV did the same, not budging.  Then the inevitably happened, the White SUV was running out of space, gunned it and basically was forced cut off the Black SUV.  Of course the Black SUV got mad, revved the engine and laid on the horn.  All the while I’m sitting back shaking my head still wondering why?

I am not condoning what the White SUV did, but they were forced to do what they had to, considering they were out of road. 

So going back to my suggestion, the Black SUV should have just Let Em In…agreed?

Lets take a look at all the feelings that arose in those very few min that past.

Frustration
Anger
Aggression
Embarrassment
Guilt
Feeling Annoyed
Irritated

Many of those I’m sure both parties involved were feeling.

And who knows what those feeling led to in the next minutes.  It could have set them both up for continued frustration through out their day.  All because someone wasn’t willing to just take a turn, and Let ‘Em In.

I encourage you the next time you are driving, in traffic or not, be that nice guy, slow down, motion, wave, and Just Let ‘Em In.  And by all means SMILE while you do so!

To Smile Or Not

There seems to be a debate on just how many muscles it takes to smile, verses how many muscles it takes to frown. Some say,

-22 to Smile, 37 to Frown

-13 to Smile, 33 to Frown

-17 to Smile, 43 to Frown

-14 to Smile, 72 to Frown

Although the exact number of muscles used is unsure, I think we can conclude that smiling takes less energy than frowning.
Indeed it is important to exercise as many muscles as you can, but I for one would rather perfect the few it takes to smile instead.
　
Charles Darwin was among the first to suggest that we are capable of changing our own moods just by the simple act of smiling. Facial Feedback Hypothesis “*states that facial movements can influence emotion experience.” Now that is some exciting news!

Just imagine you are at the next staff meeting, bored as always…now imagine yourself forcing a smile. Facial Feedback suggests that you will now enjoy your meeting, you will actually contribute and share your amazing ideas, everyone will listen, and you will get a pay raise. All because you smiled! Now how easy was that?
At first glance you may think that I’m exaggerating, a Smile will not get me a pay raise…this is of course unless you have “that kind of boss.”

With a Smile you are

Happier

Which makes you more approachable
you easier to talk to

more friendly (and who doesn’t like Friendly?)

You will have more confidence,

Maybe even enough to present your ideas that you just know will work.
Which in the end may lead to a pay raise.

Who would you enjoy being around, listen and talk to, and potentially give a raise to….
Someone who Smiles or Frowns?

-I think I know which you’d choose!

　
Have you ever watched a person yawn? What usually happens next…your yawning yourself. The same is true when you see someone smiling….You Smile Yourself!!!

Lets change the world

One Smile at a Time!

　
　
The last couple of days at work I challenged myself to make sure everyone that leaving my store leaves with a Smile. There are some tough cookies out there, and even a tickle probably wouldn’t produce a smile. But I find more often than not when I share a smile, most share one back.

So my challenge for you is to go about your normal day, however that may be, but today SMILE all day long!!! I dare you to come back tomorrow and try to convince me you didn’t just have one of the BEST days ever!!!
　
I will leave you today with a favorite quote of mine,

“Your Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”

- The movie Annie
　
　
　

*Wikipedia definition

40 Days 40 Nights

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and Angelina and I were able to attend Mass with my Mom.  We went to the Church where my sister was married in, that's already been over a year ago.  Father Brian, truly an amazing Priest. 

At the 9:00 mass, the School Children attended also and even read the readings to us.  That in itself made it extra special.  During the Homily, Father told a story geared towards the children, and in simple terms for them, shared with us that during this season of Lent...,

there are things that we need to survive,

somethings are nice to have but not necessary,

and there are things that we need to add into our lives to make us better Christians. 


It was put in such a beautiful way where the children understood, but also the adults in the room understood as well. 

I know God has a plan for me, just as he does with everyone.  And its almost like a secret, or present under the Christmas Tree, you just want to know what it is.  You want to make sure your on the right path, you just want to skip to the "best" part, you want God to just tell you already. 
But part of the journey is...

 the journey itself. 

Imagine skipping to the best part of a movie or book, without the beginning the "best" part won't seem that good after all.  I want to begin to see my journey as the best part...the best part of what?  That I'm not sure, but I want the best to be the best that is can be!  So to reach that I have to walk and take baby steps.

During this time of Lent I am going to start taking those steps.  I know we are taught that Lent is a time of fasting, giving up something.
 Most people I know will give up something unhealthy, chocolate, sweets, pop, coffee, ect. 
And all those are wonderful things, each time you want to reach for it you will remember why you are giving it up to begin with. 

That's the important part. 

 For me this during this season I want to become closer to God, and instead of "giving up" something, I'm choosing to

 Give Myself something. 

To grow as a Christian and a better Me.  I am not 100% sure how I am going to go about this, but I'm sure God will lead me in the direction that is right for me!

Angelina and Me after Mass with our Ashes

3rd Message From All Cashiers

I'm pretty sure most cashiers are worried about getting robbed, and if not I guess I'm alone and should change the title to this post to "A message from Me"  But none the less....

THE Worst time to be reaching into your pockets is just after you hand me your cash and my till flies open. 

You'd be surprised as to how often this happens. 


Now you are informed...carry on now!

:-)
*High Five if you agree!

Broken Hearts

Oh bummer I can't find where I found this craft at, if I find it I will add it in.  I changed things up a bit to fit Angelina who is 5, but the root "game" was thought up by someone else.

Angelina knows how to count to 100 and can say each number by looking at it.  We are moving on to actually reading the numbers in word form.  Starting slow with 1-10.  To help her with this we made our Broken hearts.

As you can see I cut out 10 identical hearts.  One side of the heart I drew the number, on the other side I wrote the number out in word form.  Then I cut each heart into a broken heart.  I was careful to cut each broken heart out the same as I knew she would just try to match each heart as in a puzzle, and I really needed to her be paying attention to the actual word.  (With me on this?)  She was really excited to try something new, and even played it three times in a row.

The first time I put all the words in a pile, then all the numbers in another.  She took a number the had to find the word.  We did it the opposite way next, then I mixed it up on the third time.  She was so proud she showed Daddy right when he got home. 

Just thought I would share this idea, it was quite simple and a lot of fun, never mind a learning tool!!!  Happy Friday Everyone!

Go Fish

Today I thought I would play a little game with Angelina.  She loves to play Go Fish, ever since her Aunt Kelli taught her how to play.

Even though the game Go Fish is educational in itself (knowing your numbers, matching skills, plus the taking turns, winning losing aspect as well), I decide to shake things up a bit.

I cut 26 index cards in half, and wrote out the alphabet in Upper Case and Lower Case.  Then I mixed up the cards, and we play Go Fish by asking each other for the Match to each letter.  Angelina loved playing the new game.  After two rounds of that we made up a new game and instead of asking for the actually letter name, we asked each other using the Sound of each letter.


This also helped me in knowing what we need to work on more.  A little side note:  The first game I won...(hard to let someone win in Go Fish, lol) the second game she won...and she immediately suggested playing again to "break the tie"  :-)

Just thought I would share a cute easy craft with an added game in the end!  Enjoy!

A Perfect Mix of Business and Fun

Many of you guys saw this on my Facebook Page (Facebook Me) I posted it after we arrived at the park, and captioned it "Business first, now play time"  And it was exactly how our day went.  Like the title of this post, it truly was the perfect mix of business and fun!

We had a couple of errands to run, and a bill to pay, then it was off to the park.  It was a beautiful day, it sure seemed like it had been quite some time since we had seen the sun here.  Angelina was a good sport at all the stores, knowing we would soon be running around and playing on the toys. 

While watching Angelina play and run and laugh, I leaned over and gave Mike a kiss...(tmi??)  And I told him I love days like this. 

Next up are some pictures that I took at the park with my phone.  Enjoy!

A bird that we didn't know what it was...any ideas?

She LOVED the "big girl" swing

Really hard to take a swinging picture with a phone camera that has a delay lol

We tried to be funny, and pretend she was reading over this boys shoulder

A friendly competition of Checkers

Feeling Hunger Vs. Feeling Thirsty

Can any of you tell the difference between Feeling Hungry, and Feeling Thirsty?  Its very hard to separate the two, and maybe impossible. 

This past week we have become more health conscience.  On Monday I watched a documentary called The Beautiful Truth, and it added to what I already knew about the healing properties of fruits and vegetables.  (I would love to write a blog about the documentary and about The Gerson Therapy, and in the future I will)  To sum it up in one sentence, its about Max Gerson and his "findings" on how eating solely fruits and veggies can heal the body from the common cold to cancer.  If you like documentaries and enjoy learning, I highly recommend The Beautiful Truth.

So anyhow...many of you know that I have diabetes.  And where as I am getting a tad better, I am still far from where I need to be.  (Side note, I lost another 2.8 pounds)  :-)  On Monday after Mike was home from work, we took a trip to the fruit market that's about 2 miles from our house.  Extremely close if you ask me.  We purchased a handful of different fruits and veggies, and when we got home we dusted off our Jack LaLanna Juicer, and had our very own homemade juice.  I will admit the first one wasn't very tasty.  We had added too much Kale to the mix.  LOL  But we juiced again last night and it was much better!  MUCH better!

Now that we have that tangent taken care of, lets go back to my original question.  Hunger Vs Thirsty, a fine line! 

I noticed this first hand the last two days.  Especially last night.  Here's my story...:-)

Yesterday I was very busy around the house, cleaning laundry, errand running, dinner making, ya know the basics right?  All this and I was forgetting to drink my water.  I had fixed Stuffed Peppers for dinner, which were so delicious by the way!!!  Not 20mins after dinner, I felt hungry pains or hunger pangs rather.  I was, you are not serious I just ate dinner and now your hungry?  But then I remembered how busy my day was with the lack of water, and I knew I was just thirsty.  I got a bottle of ice water, chugged it, and what do you know?!  I wasn't "hungry" no longer.

So I will leave you with a challenge...next time you think you feel hungry, think back and see when was the last time you drank water!  :-)

How Do You Classify A Day of Nothing?

I texted Mike (Hubby) this morning...

"Do U mind if I do nothing today? :-) "

His response:

Lol I don't mind at all!  As long as you are enjoying your day off!"

This is one of the many reasons I love him!  So now here is my question, How do YOU classify a day of nothing? 

Nothing

No Dishes
No Laundry
No Shower (Yes this is true I didn't take a shower today)
No Work
No Cleaning
Pretty much nothing in the way of improving the living quarters


But now let me list the things I Did Do

Did Do

Woke up :-)
Took care of Angelina's needs all day (of course)
Went to the fabric store (No I wasn't alone this time)  lol
Got materials for a couple of projects
Made two coin wallets
Straightened up the living room (Not actually cleaning but cleared the room)
Teeny bit of grocery shopping
Kept updated with Facebook
And am writing my blog


So all in all it wasn't a day of "nothing" per se!  A very fun relaxing day.  But now I have my work cut out for me tomorrow.  Mount Laundry needs to be dealt with! 
I apologize for no blog last night.  If you are a friend on facebook (My Facebook Page) then you would know that I was having issues with Blogger.  Hope to have two blogs up tomorrow!  Got some exciting news!!!  Happy Almost Friday!  :-)

Yet Another Issue I have

Does anyone remember the 2nd post I wrote?  The one about journals, and how often I buy new journals but yet never journal?  Heres A Reminder

Well I am this same exact way with new Day Planners.  I bought a new one about a week ago, and have yet to write in it.  I think the reason why is that I don't want to wreck it, or make a mistake.  But who cares...its Mine!!!  LOL

So tomorrow I'm breaking it out and writing it in!  So if you want your birthday in my new planner, give it to me!!!  :-)

I Feel Lighter Today

And there is a very good reason I feel that way!  I weighed in 2.8 pounds lighter this morning!  I was so surprised and excited to finally see the scale go down!  It was motivation for the whole day let me tell you!

What's even better is I really haven't done anything different this week.  Other then, eating more lettuce with dinner and occasionally for lunch.  Drinking more water, and probably most importantly not sitting myself in front of the computer as much.  Oh yeah and a few Cardio Max Dvd workouts thrown in :-)

So I'm here to tell you with little changes, and just being more aware, things do start to move!  LOL 

Sorry for the late and short post today.  Its 11pm, and its freezing in my house, I'm off to bed where the heater is plugged in and on!  Night Night All!

Helping My Sister With Her Resolution

One of my sister (Kelli's) resolutions this year is to

Bring a lunch to work, instead of buying. 

Which I love.  Buying a lunch everyday can get expensive and not as healthy.  She saw my bag I sewed the other day and loved it.  She wanted one for herself, and it would be her new Lunch Bag.  Two of the fabric from my post yesterday was for her.  I worked on it last night and was able to finish it up for her today.  She hasn't seen it yet!  She requested a few changes to the bag, or rather add-ons.  A longer pocket on the inside, big enough for a fork or spoon.  (Which is a great idea)  A way to close said pocket, and she wanted to somehow be able to close the top of the whole bag.  The pocket, I added a snap, and I added two strings of material to tie the bag shut on top.  I am very pleased with out it turned out!

While I was sewing her bag, I was sewing an extra bag with the same pattern.  (With out a snap on the pocket)  I was tossing around the idea in my head about maybe giving a bag away on my blog.  What do you guys think?  Good idea?  Would you guys use a bag like this?  Let me know what you think!!

I'm off to work tonight, but then coming home and hoping to start the bag for my Mom!!!

$1 Mistake

I should make a rule that I can not go to the fabric store alone!

Some of you might remember my post about the material for my quilt.  Here is where I typed about it, Click Me

Today I headed to the Fabric Store (yes alone). I was so excited after making my bag yesterday, my mom and sister really liked it too. I was going to surprise them with a bag of their own. I went into the store hoping for a sale, I mean who doesn’t right? I went over to the cotton section and I see a sign…All I saw was,

$1.00

I’m thinking, Wow its just my day today, $1.00 a yard, SCORE!!! The next hour was spent picking out fabric. I picked out my moms bag, my sisters bag, and 2 others to just make for fun! Also Mike has been wanting me to make him a quilt…and at $1.00 a yard, yeah I picked out 4 different patterns! They were beautiful, but manly. Imagine how hard it is to find material for a Man’s Quilt. J

I’m heading up to the cutting counter with 12 bolts. I was getting 1 yard of each to make it easy. The store was so slow, 2 ladies were cutting my material. We were just chatting away, and I know I mentioned at least once, “This is such a good deal!” So off to the check out counter I go with my 12 yards of different fabrics. Super excited to get home as soon as I can to get started!

The nicest lady there was ringing me out. (I’m very lucky I had a nice one, you’ll soon find out why) And I can barely see the total as she working, as its only on her screen, but even far away I could tell it was a pretty high total. But I just figured once she hit “Total” the sale price would override the regular price. She hits total on her screen, and says “That will be $86.blah blah. (After I heard $86 I tuned out the change, lol) I about fell over, $86!!! I asked her, “Aren’t these on sale…*pointing to the back where the signs are* She then says “Oh yes mam they all rang up…” (Wait for it, wait for it!)

$1.00 OFF

One Flippin’ Dollar Off. That’s what the sale was!!! Not what I was thinking! I guess I had my blinders one when I walked in, and got so excited! I was so embarrassed, you have no idea. In cases like this, they more then likely will make you buy it. You Cut It, You But It! This is where I got lucky. I apologized and explained what I thought it was, and told her how embarrassed I was. She was very nice about the whole mishap, and even asked “Do you want any of it, or do you just want to forgo the whole order?” I felt so bad, embarrassed (Did I mention how embarrassed I was?!) and guilty, I knew I had to buy something! So purchased 4 out of 12, and instead of $86.whatever, it was $20. I paid as quickly as I could and ran out of there.

It amazes me that I even thought it was only $1.00 a yard, that would be an amazing sale! Steal of deal if you will! I should have known better.

I am going to wrap this post up with a quote…

“If its too good to be true, Read the Fine Print!”