My Special Place

I believe that everyone needs some time to themselves, especially mommies! This might be a bit selfish (some have told me that it's healthy though), but I've always made some time for just me. If I've always tending to people or things around me, at some point, I'll crash, and it's just better for everyone when I prevent that by taking time out to tend to Me!

My "special" place (for quiet/alone or regrouping time) is actually at the gym! I can't seem to get alone time in my house! This gives me an extra motivation to exercise, to get my body and my mind in better shape! I can have at least 20 minutes on a machine to get my legs going but to refocus my mind -- often I pray, and some times I just try to sort through all the different ideas in my head.

Photo Credit: Image: Boaz Yiftach / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When I don't get enough sleep...

When I'm run down, it seems like most everyone around me, especially the littlest member of the family, revs up even more! I remember when I used to teach, the lack of sleep for whatever reason didn't effect me or my day much. Could the aging process attack my energy level or is tending to a 2 year old much more draining than tending to 100 16 year olds -- and for the record, I am NOT pregnant!

I've had the sleep discussion with myself plenty of times. I stay up way too late having "ME" time, and I'm actually going to try to vary my routine and see if I can overcome the fatigue! Yawn.

This post is part of the Blog Dare's Prompt: When I Don't Get Enough Sleep.
Image Credit: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Best April Fools' Joke

It's been 2 years, and for most people involved, not forgotten! My colleague who was teaching her last day before maternity leave, and I think she was about 38 - 39 weeks pregnant, played a great joke on the high school principal! Our principal is a great guy but was always so nervous about my and my colleague's pregnancies, and she played him right into this!

During one of her classes, she created the scene, with a pool of water below her stool where she was sitting, and the school nurse by her side, and she buzzed the office, telling them that she was going into labor! The principal rushed over thinking he'd need to drive her to the hospital, asked for her keys, what her car looked like, where it was located, and told her he'd bring it to the front, all with his worried and frantic look; my colleague and her class then surprised him with, "April Fools!" And boy was he shocked and relieved! I wish I could post the video she has on her facebook, but in the doorway behind the principal was the assistant principal who had the opposite reaction -- huge smiles; during the joke, which he didn't know about either, he was excited that someone would be going into labor on the job! Crazy people I worked with!

If I Won the Lottery...

Normally I don't think about these kinds of things often because it can lead me to a play I just don't want to visit . . . the black hole of discontent which continues to grow and feed on my negativity! But for a few minutes, I'll indulge!

Don't know how much Powerball is now, but I'm thinking an extravagant amount, which would allow me to:

1. Pay off the house -- no debt whatsoever would be great, right?

2. Put money into savings/retirement and college fund for the kid(s)

3. Build a house in Africa for our medical missionary friends

4. Purchase a home for my parents to retire in

5. Pay for others' international adoptions

6. Set up some kind of investment so that I can continue to have funds to help organizations whenever necessary

7. Take vacations to San Francisco, Asia, and maybe Europe.

8. Spend a little bit more and buy a few more adorable cloth diapers!



This post is part of the Blog Dare's Prompt: If I Won the Lottery
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Smart Consumers

I strive to be a smart consumer and realize there's so much that I've gleaned from the blogsphere but also people I interact with each day. In thinking about what encompasses smart consumerism, I've boiled it down to three points!

1. Find out what deals are available.
The internet is so helpful in matchups and the best use of coupons in conjunction with the sales ad! The way I see it, we really don't need to pay full price for the majority of things with all that's available to us.

2. Understand the value of the deal.
I struggle with this because I'm a deal-seeker! Some times the excellent deals still do not equal the value -- it's hard to admit, but I might still have to pay a little more than the deal found to get the best value for the product, because I'll end up with a better product. It's also good to remember that spending money, even if it's a good deal, is still spending money! And every little bit, in either direction, adds up.

3. See through marketing strategies.
Some times I deliberately avoid deals I find because I recognize the marketing strategies behind the sales pitch and cannot agree with what's happening. But I think part of this is also making sure that I'm not making emotional purchacs and buying simply to buy or because it makes me feel good!

In essence, a smart consumer is SMART. She or he will be thinking through the entire process and willfully makes purchases. Are you a smart consumer?



This post is part of the Blog Dare's Promp: How I am a smart consumer.

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Vitamins - do you or don't you?

Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Long before my married years, my gynecologist recommended taking a multivitamin and calcium tablets daily; the multivitamin would ensure that I was getting all the essential nutrients I might have missed in my diet, and the calcium would protect me as I got older, as most of calcium storage is built up in your twenties. Dutifully, I followed the regimen of taking my multivitamin and calcium before I went to bed -- I did it in my single years and into my early married years.

I still try to make sure I remember my multivitamin and calcium now, but some times I'm overcome with Mommy Brain and can barely remember what's next on the To Do List. My husband also likes to take herbal supplements, so I've added a few herbs to my supplements.

Overall, I do advocate a healthy diet and vitamin supplements just to ensure proper nutrients are in place! Here's to good health!


This post is part of The Blog Dare's prompt: Vitamins.

Pre-Mommy Childbirth Fears

About two years ago, I was going through the library's collection of all the What to Expect books and Googling all online articles and forums about childbirth! All through my pregnancy, I was certain of learning about everything that would be happening when my ball of a baby would emerge from me. But it was about the 8th month that I began to really let my nerves get the best of me. While I hadn't fully committed to a drug-free birthing process, I was strongly leaning that way, even when my doctor informed me that she wanted to induce one week before my due date. Up until the labor and delivery nurse asked if I wanted the epidural, I debated whether or not I really should . . .

Would my child be normal if I used drugs?
Would I be effected negatively if I used drugs?
Could I handle the intense contractions brought on by pitocin?
Would pitocin cause me and my baby harm?
Can't I just stay pregnant?

A friend of mine worked as a nurse anesthetist and personally knew the one who'd administer the epidural, so I went ahead and got it -- for me, there were no problems from the epidural, and I believe my child is fine (in spite of her "normal" toddler antics).

Fear can be so debilitating, robbing us of enjoyment and fulfillment of life. Looking back, I wish I'd just learned about the options and chose what I wanted, regardless of scare stories that I was told -- just taken the truth at face value. I was so wrapped up in my childbirth fears that I failed to research what would happen the first week or month after childbirth (and I even wanted to stay pregnant?!?) -- now that one threw me for a huge loop! But I guess if I knew it all, this blog would not have been born, and I'd have been on a different road. Thankfully we all survived and are well . . .and we'll just have to conquer our fears one day at a time.

This post is part of the Blog Dare's prompt: Pre-mommy childbirth fears.

Scrapbooking

Before my daughter was born, scrapbooking was a cinch! I'd usually wait for a long weekend or school vacation to spread out all pictures and scrapbook paraphernalia (various papers and stickers which I had picked up on sale a the craft store, cutter, 3 scrapbooking scissors) on the floor of our spare bedroom. I was a bit disillusioned in thinking I could keep up even after my daughter was born; an infant's frequent yet short sleeping times coupled with an infant's inability to be mobile allowed me to only be about 4 months behind in scrapbooking. However, now that I only have 2 hours during the day to myself, my scrapbooking is nonexistent! I'd even decided on just using photo albums, but perhaps I'll give myself a second chance with a tip from one of my friends.

She's outlined a system to make a scrapbook covering the span of a year in only 3 nights, which you can check out here! Using a rather detailed plan of deciding to use a specific number of pages to cover a year, concise choice of photos, and focused scrapbooking, she's made this system work wonderfully for her family!

I'm not sure I can be as deliberate about keeping to a certain number of pages for each year, but I might give it a try before my daughter's birthday -- fingers crossed!


This a post about the Blog Dare's prompt "Scrapbooking."

To coupon or not?!?

Little One and I had a one-sided conversion the other day at the grocery store, when I had a mini-extreme-couponing grocery trip, which ended with, "Don't pay full price for anything! Use your coupons!"

Coupons, coupons....I love coupons; actually, the truth of the statement is I love getting a good deal! I'm not sure how I turned out this way, but I'm a nut-case when it comes to saving -- one of my friends would make fun of me when I'd look quickly to the bottom of my grocery receipt to see how much I saved!

Using coupons does not cheat anyone because the manufacturers pay the store back the value of the coupon plus eight cents. Some times my smart couponing causes the cashiers to give me strange looks; few have even questioned my integrity, but I remind them that I'm only printing my allowed 2 coupons from either coupons.com or from the manufacturer's site -- copying coupons IS fraud!

I've always tried to use coupons. About a year ago, I took my couponing to the next level and started using websites which help match sales and coupons for the best deals! I still get coupons from my Sunday inserts, but I also print coupons from coupons.com. Some of my favorite sites are Bargainstobounty.com for her Meijer deals, Thefrugalgirls.com for her drugstore deals, and Savingslifestyle.com for her Kroger deals. By putting in more time to research, I can save 50-60% off retail prices (and I'm not dumpster diving or buying extra coupons online).

The wealth of information online truly is incredible. Search, find, and share!


This was part of the Blog Dare Prompt Couponing!

Valentine's Day -- yes, no, maybe?!?

During the different seasons of my life, my attitude and perspective on Valentine's Day has varied. When I was younger and probably more cynical about love, I would joke with my friends about "Singles' Awareness Day," for obvious reasons! Strange how self-deprecation seemed to help the situation. Later on, while in the dating/honeymoon season of life, Valentine's Day was the typical, romantic, rose-colored holiday. But as I think about it today, Valentine's Day is just a nice reminder to let the people who you love, who also love you, know just how valuable they are to you. It's not about romance, but true appreciation and love, whichever form that love appears in. I do like the roses that my husband will buy, though honestly, it's not necessary to spend extravagantly -- but I look at Valentine's Day as a celebration of thanksgiving for all the love I have in my life.

This was part of the Blog Dare Prompt My thoughts on Valentine's Day.

Dear younger self:

Dear younger self,

I know you're having a good run at life! You're aiming high for your goals, though some times too focused.

As a mother now, I urge your to run, jump, and laugh like you don't have a care in the world! I know there are things that worry you and people that you'd like to make happy, but don't let any of that steal YOUR joy and confidence. THIS is the time to explore -- be spontaneous and adventurous for those days are numbered! Not to fret; there are joys and difficulties in each season of life, but it doesn't get any simpler. Revel in you and the life God has given to you today. Laugh, and laugh often, even at yourself -- everything's ok!

And I'll take these words to heart as I go about my day today.

Best wishes, and I'll see you in the future!

Love,
Me


This was part of the Blog Dare Prompt What Would I Tell My Younger Self.

A Fear I have For My Children

"Say, 'Please.'"

"No."

I've had this "conversation" too many times in the past month, and it's left me frustrated and confused. Was it out of my 19 -month -old's stubbornness that she kept refusing to say please or was it just a lack of understanding and immaturity? I just didn't want her to grow up and be "that kid" who was ill-mannered and rude.

In this country, we really are privileged. For our family, we are above the poverty line, yet my husband does not bring in the "big bucks" that we think he deserves. We are forced to make choices about how to spend our money -- what can we actually afford without going into debt and what can we splurge on. And I want my children to realize the gifts and opportunities they have, some as simple as the freedoms all Americans share. I've interacted with enough children and adults who come from an arrogant perspective that they deserve or are entitled to certain things that I want to help my children truly appreciate all they have.


This was part of the Blog Dare Prompt What I Fear Most For My Children.

My First Post - May 26, 2010

May 26, 2010 -- first posted using Wordpress' free site (In case you're wondering, My first post on blogger was on June 11, 2010 about a free smoothie!)

I’ve toyed with this idea of blogging, but thought I didn’t have anything original to add to the blogsphere. I might be right; but perhaps I’m wrong. Remember that first year teacher who was so optimistic and wanted to inspire that optimism in her students, the one who brightly and confidently responded that everyone has an original story to tell? So I figure this is a good time to live out the line I’ve repeated many so many times I can’t even remember now. (We can try to start counting now if you let me know.)

In the past, it’s been easy to find identity in my career – teaching high school students. In 10 months, I went from having 120 kids to having 1. The year that has followed has actually be a confusing time for me because I have trouble identifying who I am. Sounds strange, I can imagine. But here’s the reason for writing, I’m trying to discover the new me in my new role as mommy.

One thing I know is that I love to save money! So I’ll have a few thoughts in that area…and I’m working on something big, so stay tuned!

Looking back at what I've learned about blogging and also myself, I wouldn't change anything in that first post. Everyone has their unique beginning and continues on his/her own journey, learning from personal experiences. For myself, I've learned that I can try to model blogs that I enjoy and gain much from, yet adapting things to better suit my personality, values, and lifestyle. And I do thank you, reader, for being part of this journey.

The News

For the most part, I like watching the local news. My husband and I have our favorite news anchors and meterologists -- the hubs has full confidence in one news station's meterologists versus the other station's, and I think he's accurate in his conclusion! The station with the more accurate and less dramatic meterologists also happens to have a more balance appproach in how they present their "news" pieces, but you can still tell when there's a rather slow news day! I still prefer to watch the news to stay connected with local news than to read it online. Now the national news . . . that's another story!

Friday Follow

Happy Friday and New Year's Eve!

This has been an exciting year, and I'm really looking forward to the new year. I hope to (and I may need your help with these):

1. get to 200 Facebook friends before the end of January (and there'll an awesome giveaway from Sweeter than Sweets when Discovering the Me in Mommy's resolution is resolved)!

2. dig deeper with the Blog Dare

3. be wise with financial resources and my time! =)


If you enjoy giveaways, take a look at my low-entry giveaway list, and feel free to add yours!