Finding My Routine Again

There are some things that have fallen by the wayside with Max around. I used to be so scheduled. That took awhile after having all of my kids--getting that routine back into my life. But with my older kids in school, I had it down! Not so much now. I'm a few days behind on my To Do list--but the one thing I've really been procrastinating on---finding auto insurance quotes. This isn't something horrible--just something that requires a bit of time, since I like to shop around. But if there's a moment in my day to get online---that is one moment of my day I can be catching up on my sleep (or the growing laundry monster in the basement)!!

Growing Older

Have you heard of prototype 37c? You know, I have never really been one to worry about wrinkles. Honestly, I've never been one to worry about much. I'm sure when gray hair and wrinkles begin to appear I'll feel differently--but for now, I'm quite Okay with growing older. In fact.....my birthday is in 2 weeks---and I can't wait!

Growing

When I was growing up there weren't such things as hgh supplements. Well, I'm sure athletes could get a hold of it, but us normal folk---never heard of it. My brother always thought he was short, and never seemed to start a growth spurt. I remember he used to put Iodine in milk to help him grow. I'm not sure it worked...but today (at age 41) he's over 6 feet, so I'm really thinking he didn't need to worry about it!

Baby Acne

We are slowly but surely heading into the 'baby acne' state. My midwife always said, "As soon as mom is feeling good enough to take the new baby for pictures, the acne hits and you have to wait awhile!" I have suffered with acne my entire life. Because this "baby acne" is a glimpse at how this child will react to changes in hormone levels throughout their life---I'm really hoping these next few weeks are really mild. I've read up on different acne fighting products,found acneticin reviews, I've tried every over the counter remedy known to man---and I still have really poor skin!! Hate that!

SWAG

It's kind of funny when you go into the hospital to have a baby. There is you, your overnight bag and hopefully...your husband. But when you come home, not only is there a new life in your hands---but bags full of baby supplies and promotional products. Now I'm not complaining---take home gifts are always fun. We've been home about 4 weeks, and I'm barely going through all of the sacks and envelopes and paperwork that came home with us. I hope that means that I'm starting to get back to my normal self.

Have You Missed Me??

So.....life with a newborn is a bit more than I expected! But I'm hoping to get back on track and start back into this "blogging" thing. Lack of sleep does create some interesting spellings---that's for sure.

Having a new baby is always fun. Those first few weeks when you can just snuggle with them while they sleep...HEAVEN! It is fun to watch each individual personality start to develop--each new baby different from the last.

It's been fun---and I'll keep you posted!

Making Business Better

I have been researching some business opportunities in our area, and you know I'm getting pretty good at it! Those nifty little buttons that say--click here to learn more--I LOVE them! I have found some free online classes in chocolate dipping as well as a free course at the local community college that fits right in with what I'm wanting to learn. With gas pricing starting to rise again--it's nice to find online educational helps that fit right in with my little niche business!

Cancer Clubbed

Has cancer touched your life? Last month at a fundraiser for a friend whose 8 year old son was just diagnosed with some horribly rare cancer the woman hosting the get together said something so true. We always say "cancer touched"--I opened this post with that---has anyone you love been touched by cancer? But what more appropriate is---Has anyone in you life had their life hacked up, spit out, stepped on and clubbed by cancer? It's a devastation that compares to nothing else. With all of different cancers out there these days, Breast, Prostate, Colon, Mesothelioma, Pancreatic, Brain, Blood--you name it--there is a cancer for everything. And it's just humbling when you think of the numbers. Is there really any way to combat such a villain?

Finding Help

Having suffered with acne most of my life, I am getting pretty tired of having to work on it. Why is it that some people just have perfect bodies and perfect skin. Then you get others with less than perfect bodies and terrible skin? I've been looking into "other" acne factors and found some information on food allergies and skin damage over at www.phisoderm.org. I'm not sure it will help with what I need---but every little bit of knowledge helps!

Or Just Good Lookin'

Is this winter weather killing everyone else? I mean, just as it feels like it's finally going to start warming up--it starts snowing again. Last Friday I saw patches of grass....GRASS! But by Sunday morning---we had another foot of snow. What is that? More than the cold--the dryness is killing my skin. I've been going through lotion, eye cream, and lip balm more than ever before, and my skin still doesn't feel normal. I can't imagine what people with Eczema must suffer through.

Lookin' Good

I've been starting to work with a new company for my health care supplies. I've enjoyed using some of their energy and cleaning products--but really would love to find acne pills that work. I mean, I'm 38 years old....and I still have facial problems! I was reading other people's blogs, and I can honestly say---I don't think I'm alone. Not that that makes me feel any better--but it is nice to know I'm not the only one!

Vancouver 2010

How were the Olympics for you? I didn't get to catch much--well, except for the USA hockey games. How exciting were they? The thing I noticed...there weren't any 'doping' issues mentioned. I don't know if that means the athletes are clean (doubt it) or if they've found something a little better for them to work as their testosterone booster.

I remember growing up and loving to watch the Olympics. However, becoming the 'adult' I've noticed that it doesn't leave much time for TV watching. Which is too bad, I hear there were some amazing moments!

Holidays

What a crazy month! You know I've been waiting for February hoping that life would slow down just a bit...but it hasn't! Between family, school and health problems--it's been one of the busiest months ever! You can probably tell by the length of time between posts, eh! I just wish I had an energy auditor to let me know how much I'd be using every day in order to store some up!

Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day were very big in our "business"--so I'm really glad those are over! However, I will miss the income from them!

Fun and Games

We spent yesterday at my sister's house. Her son had his 10th birthday party and with 18 boys between the ages of 8 and 11...there were plenty of chaotic moments. It was funny how there were some boys that just ran with the crowd and others that felt the need to put themselves in positions of authority. One boy, sat at the table protecting the potato chip bowl and announced to any boy that if they wanted chips, they had to wash their hands. So my sister put a bottle of anti-bacteria goop next to him as a trade out. Not that disinfectant hadn't been used on almost everything in preparing for the party. There is a nasty stomach flu going around this area, and she wanted everything germ free. She used the wipes after everyone was gone too. With four kids of her own, I don't blame her!

Job Search?

Tomorrow I will be applying with a temp agency. I'm a little nervous about it, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Is it the fact that I've been out of the loop for 13 years? Is there guilt in the fact that I'm leaving my 5 year old home with his dad while I work? I had made a goal to be a stay at home mom until my kids were in school--and my little one won't start Kindergarten until next school year. I'm not looking for some huge full time job--but something to help stretch the paycheck would be awesome! I've done a sales job search in my area, and haven't found anything that fits my schedule. I need mornings--in fact, I need to be home before my husband's restaurant kicks into gear, so he can make it in for the lunch crowd. I will keep looking, and temping if possible--but I'm thinking my heart will be more into it come next August when my baby gets on that school bus!

Energy Wanted

I am not a big breakfast eater. I never have been. I remember in high school I would come upstairs to head out to the bus, and my mom always had a little plate of scrambled eggs waiting for me. Those poor things were wasted every.single.day! In college I would try a weight loss drink or a protein shake in the morning. But I found that I would get a bit queasy after them. Not so much the drink--more of the fact that my stomach was happier still being asleep.

It's the same today. I know I should eat breakfast--but I just really don't want to. If I were to just wait and let my body kick in and get hungry--breakfast would start around 2 in the afternoon. So this week my goal is to find something, anything to get into my body when I wake up. You know, try to kick that metabolism into gear. I don't care if I lose weight---I would just love to find something to boost the energy level!

The Job Search

I have spent the past couple of weeks looking for a job. You know---it has to be the best fat burning supplement ever! I have been running non-stop and it's quite exhausting! That's saying something coming from a mom with 4 kids at home. I'm never this tired! I've been looking for mostly data entry or accounts payable jobs, but then I found one that goes into hospitals and performs the hearing tests for the newborns. Now THAT is the one I want!!

Holiday Madness

Have you noticed that right after the holidays end, there is a barrage of diet supplement commercials. First it was xenadrine rfa x and then P90X---I'm starting to feel targeted. Yes, I know I could probably benefit from every one of these products---I'm just too poor following the holidays to afford the help!

I'm hoping that Valentine's Day will be a little less forgiving---although I'm sure there will be a whole new set of commercials starting then. Of course, by then, I could afford all of them! :)

P90X Dreams

As I was putting the house to bed last night, I wandered into the family room to turn off the TV and the lights. The P90X commercial was on, and I will admit--it's always a huge temptation whenever I see it. 90 days....who can't do anything for 90 days? I can't even stay on the best diet supplement ever for 90 days! But the results always amaze me. Thin, trim and healthy people smiling at me in the "after" photo. So last night I broke down. I have a friend who Facebooked about starting her 90 days. She is a huge sporty gal---biking, skiing, snowshoeing...she does it all. I figured out of anyone--she would be the one that survived the 90 days and will be beaming at me from one of the photos. I was wrong! She made it 1 week! Actually--she made it 5 days! She said that everything was fine, she just couldn't handle the fact that she was always hungry.

Yeah---that would be the one thing to knock me off the wagon too!

Bluefly Accessory Wall

Do you watch Project Runway? I have to admit, that it's kind of an addiction in this house. Well, it's DVR'd and watched in the free moments later--but I LOVE it! Tim Gunn is just the cutest little guy. When the models come in for the last time before the runway portion begins, Tim always tells the designers to use the "Bluefly.com Accessory Wall" thoughtfully. Not being a designer, I tend to forget the need to add shoes and jewelry to the look--but what presentation wouldn't be amazing by simply adding a beautiful pair of Christian Louboutin shoes to the mix??

I will tell you that this year, I'm NOT voting for the hometown girl! Usually, in other reality shows, if there is a person from Chicago--I'm rooting for them. This season the Chicago girl is Ping....and ya know....I'm just not feelin' it!

A Good Resolution

As far as girls go, I'm usually considered very Vanilla. Yes, the pony tailed, no-make up mom in lounge pants and slippers dropping her kids off in the mini van! You can just picture me now, huh? Well, not this year! 2010 has been the year of "beauty" for me. Why not...I'm 38 and not that far from needing eye cream for wrinkles! My husband's work had their holiday party on January 10 and I actually shopped for make up. I haven't purchased make up since the Chicago Bears lost their last Super Bowl 4 years ago! Anyway--I purchased a new make up bag to keep it all in, and I made the resolution that I wouldn't leave my house without my make up on, and my hair tidy. You would be happy to know---it's the 22nd of January...and I've lived up to that resolution so far!

Yay me!

Missed Oportunities

I was having a conversation last Thursday night with a woman in my neighborhood. She's quite a bit older than me, and we really don't have much in common but it was interesting to talk. Turns out that several years ago, she and her husband had had the opportunity to invest in Aspartame. Yes, THAT Aspartame. It was just getting started and the developers were looking for investors to drop $1000 to help get them started. She said that they had the money, but were looking at other options and inevitably turned the investment down. I couldn't believe my ears! Aspartame....they would have like a gazillion dollars by now! That would be like turning down an offer to put a little money down to back a phentermine diet pill! As I stood there with my mouth agape, I tried to think of anytime in my life when I've let any type of opportunity slip away. Maybe they weren't as huge as her opportunity lost....but who knows where we would be right now, had we been willing to "fail fantastically"....for that is always when others find the most success!