- I'm working my normal 30 hours/3 1/2 days, plus I have a manager's meeting tomorrow.
- I have class every day including my first BIG anatomy and physiology test Wednesday.
- I'm planning a major event at our church next Sunday night - a special kids night - and have to send out about 100 invitations for it and get posters made.
- Plus the usual - keeping up with home and family, planning my normal kid's ministry lessons, etc.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
My week
AARRGHHHHH! That pretty much sums it up. This week is going to be insane!
Confession Time...
I have a confession to make…I'm not the world's healthiest eater. I used to eat pretty well, but lately I've let myself slip into some really bad habits. Last night it hit bottom…I ate ice cream for dinner. Yes, Amanda the fitness trainer, Amanda the gym manager, the one who coaches women every day on how to get healthy and lose weight, curled up at 11:30 last night with a bowl of chocolate ice cream for dinner.
Last night was a pretty extreme example, but seriously, I do have to get my eating habits back under control. It's gotten pretty bad since I started college. I'm so pressed for time that I find myself grabbing whatever is easiest or heading to the drive-through for whatever is on the dollar menu. It's taking a toll on how I feel. I know what I need to do - it's time to just do it and get back into healthy habits again.
Last night was a pretty extreme example, but seriously, I do have to get my eating habits back under control. It's gotten pretty bad since I started college. I'm so pressed for time that I find myself grabbing whatever is easiest or heading to the drive-through for whatever is on the dollar menu. It's taking a toll on how I feel. I know what I need to do - it's time to just do it and get back into healthy habits again.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Working Mommy Guilt
I have a love/hate relationship with being a working mommy. Depending on what kind of day I'm having, I can be at either extreme or somewhere in between.
I haven't always been a working mom. I worked full time at a day care before I had our oldest son. I quit when we moved away when I was seven months pregnant, and spent almost 3 years as a full time, stay at home mommy. When I found out we were expecting our second son, I went to work part time - very part time. I worked three mornings a week from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., so I was still at home almost full time. After a year and a half, we moved again, so I quit my job, spending another year and a half as a happy SAHM.
Another move brought to us Texas and to buying our first house. After a few months, I realized we had two choices - we could continually struggle to make ends meet and barely scrape by, or I could go to work. We were tired of struggling, and frankly, the ends were not meeting, no matter how hard we tried, so I started working part-time and eventually settled into a 3 1/2 day a week, 30 hour a week work schedule. More than two years later, I am much more content with our circumstances, but I still find myself sometimes struggling with working mommy guilt.
I loved staying home with my boys, and I wouldn't trade those years for anything. But there were times when I was lonely and bored. I loved working three mornings a week - it was the perfect balance of home and the outside world. As a working mom, I have to admit, I love my job. I love what I do, I love meeting new people, l love staying in touch with my own goals and not getting totally lost in mommyhood, and I'm equally excited about training for a new career as a dental hygienist.
On the flip side, being a working mom adds unbelievable amounts of stress and guilt. Life is a constant balancing act, and I often worry about how our kids will look back on their childhood. Even though they stay with their daddy while I work, I wonder if they will resent the fact that I wasn't there as much as him. Our family is a strange mix of working parent/stay at home parent, not fitting neatly into either category. I hope that our boys will see that were doing what we had to do to make our situation work. I hope they'll understand that I was being the best mom I knew how to be, and that it wasn't easy. I hope that know that the decisions I made were all about making their lives the best we could.
I haven't always been a working mom. I worked full time at a day care before I had our oldest son. I quit when we moved away when I was seven months pregnant, and spent almost 3 years as a full time, stay at home mommy. When I found out we were expecting our second son, I went to work part time - very part time. I worked three mornings a week from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., so I was still at home almost full time. After a year and a half, we moved again, so I quit my job, spending another year and a half as a happy SAHM.
Another move brought to us Texas and to buying our first house. After a few months, I realized we had two choices - we could continually struggle to make ends meet and barely scrape by, or I could go to work. We were tired of struggling, and frankly, the ends were not meeting, no matter how hard we tried, so I started working part-time and eventually settled into a 3 1/2 day a week, 30 hour a week work schedule. More than two years later, I am much more content with our circumstances, but I still find myself sometimes struggling with working mommy guilt.
I loved staying home with my boys, and I wouldn't trade those years for anything. But there were times when I was lonely and bored. I loved working three mornings a week - it was the perfect balance of home and the outside world. As a working mom, I have to admit, I love my job. I love what I do, I love meeting new people, l love staying in touch with my own goals and not getting totally lost in mommyhood, and I'm equally excited about training for a new career as a dental hygienist.
On the flip side, being a working mom adds unbelievable amounts of stress and guilt. Life is a constant balancing act, and I often worry about how our kids will look back on their childhood. Even though they stay with their daddy while I work, I wonder if they will resent the fact that I wasn't there as much as him. Our family is a strange mix of working parent/stay at home parent, not fitting neatly into either category. I hope that our boys will see that were doing what we had to do to make our situation work. I hope they'll understand that I was being the best mom I knew how to be, and that it wasn't easy. I hope that know that the decisions I made were all about making their lives the best we could.
Friday, January 29, 2010
5 Question Friday!
1. Would you ever vacation alone?
I would...at least I think I would. Even a couple of years ago, the answer would have been no, but now I think I would. I never do things in a "normal" way - my friends who are my age are calming down and becoming less adventerous, but as I'm getting older, my sense of adventure is growing! So yes, I think I would.
2. Do you go the speed limit?
Nobody in Texas drives the speed limit! lol I usually do 5 over.
3. Why did you start blogging/following blogs?
I started blogging as an outlet. I thought it would be fun to find other people like me and to share stories and ideas. Mainly, it gives me a place to sort out my thoughts and hear ideas from others.
4. Where do you shop for yourself?
I am a bargain hunter, so when it comes to clothes, I love Ross and T.J. Maxx. I could, however, spend sinfully large amounts of money in Barnes & Nobles or any cooking/kitchen store.
5. What was the song that you danced your first dance with your spouse to at your wedding...or...what song would you like your first dance to be to?
My hubby and I both have 2 left feet - there was no dancing at our wedding. A couple of songs from our wedding that are still "our songs" are Everything I Do, I Do It for You," and "I Will Be Here."
I would...at least I think I would. Even a couple of years ago, the answer would have been no, but now I think I would. I never do things in a "normal" way - my friends who are my age are calming down and becoming less adventerous, but as I'm getting older, my sense of adventure is growing! So yes, I think I would.
2. Do you go the speed limit?
Nobody in Texas drives the speed limit! lol I usually do 5 over.
3. Why did you start blogging/following blogs?
I started blogging as an outlet. I thought it would be fun to find other people like me and to share stories and ideas. Mainly, it gives me a place to sort out my thoughts and hear ideas from others.
4. Where do you shop for yourself?
I am a bargain hunter, so when it comes to clothes, I love Ross and T.J. Maxx. I could, however, spend sinfully large amounts of money in Barnes & Nobles or any cooking/kitchen store.
5. What was the song that you danced your first dance with your spouse to at your wedding...or...what song would you like your first dance to be to?
My hubby and I both have 2 left feet - there was no dancing at our wedding. A couple of songs from our wedding that are still "our songs" are Everything I Do, I Do It for You," and "I Will Be Here."
5 Magazines I Love
- Real Simple
- Family Fun
- Cooking with Paula Deen
- Bon Appetite
- The Food Network magazine
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thankful Thursday - Relaxing at the park
A while back, when the weather was nice and I was majorly stressed, I decided I had to get away from work and get outside for a while on my lunch break. I'd been eating lunch at work, but I was tired of looking at those walls all day, so I grabbed my food, my Bible, and my journal and headed to a local park just a few blocks from my job. That was the start of a favorite lunchtime tradition!
Because of my college schedule (I take classes on some of my lunch breaks) I don't get to go as often, but I love the days I do get to head to the park. Nothing can help me clear my head and sort out my thoughts as much as reading my Bible and writing in my journal as I sit on the deck overlooking the duck pond. Since the kids are all in school during my lunch, it's very quiet and peaceful, with very few people there.
When I first started going, that peace and quiet was desperately needed. My mom and dad were going through marriage problems so severe I didn't think they would last. (They are better now but still struggling. This has been going on for over 2 years now. Hard to believe that can happen after 31 years of marriage...) At the same time, I was realizing that I needed to make a change and was considering the possibility of going back to school. Spending time at the park reading my Bible, praying, and focusing on God was a lifeline that kept me going through that time. I love it.
Because of my college schedule (I take classes on some of my lunch breaks) I don't get to go as often, but I love the days I do get to head to the park. Nothing can help me clear my head and sort out my thoughts as much as reading my Bible and writing in my journal as I sit on the deck overlooking the duck pond. Since the kids are all in school during my lunch, it's very quiet and peaceful, with very few people there.
When I first started going, that peace and quiet was desperately needed. My mom and dad were going through marriage problems so severe I didn't think they would last. (They are better now but still struggling. This has been going on for over 2 years now. Hard to believe that can happen after 31 years of marriage...) At the same time, I was realizing that I needed to make a change and was considering the possibility of going back to school. Spending time at the park reading my Bible, praying, and focusing on God was a lifeline that kept me going through that time. I love it.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Drooling over the iPad
I just got a laptop for Christmas...I love my laptop...and now I've seen the iPad and I'm wanting one SO bad! Has anyone esle checked these out online? This thing is amazing! Part laptop, part iPod, part Kindle, it combines everything I want...I could even keep my Day Planner on it and just slip the whole unit into my backpack. My entire life could be contained on one small handheld unit. I'm blown away. How can I ask for one for Christmas when I already have a laptop...hmmm...I have to figure that out!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tasty Tuesday - Easy Stuffed Chicken Breast
I love this recipe, and it's so simple to make! Just three ingredients make a surprisingly good and filling meal. Just throw together a salad or some veggies with it and dinner is done.
- 4 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 8 oz. flavored cream cheese spread (I like the garden vegetable flavor)
- 8 slices of bacon
- Place the chicken in a zipper bag and pound it until thin.
- Spread each chicken breast with cream cheese and roll up.
- Wrap 2 slices of bacon around each chicken breast and secure with toothpicks.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until chicken is done.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Menu Plan Monday - 1/25
Monday Lunch: hearty stew
Monday Dinner: slow cooker rigatoni
Tuesday Lunch: chicken and orzo frittata
Tuesday Dinner: chicken and broccoli alfredo
Wednesday Lunch: hearty stew
Wednesday Dinner: slow cooker rigatoni
Thursday Lunch: chicken and broccoli alfredo
Thursday Dinner: Mexican chicken casserole (I've been trying to cook this for 2 weeks and we've ended up eating out instead - I'm actually going to fix it this week - lol)
Friday Lunch: chicken sandwiches
Friday Dinner: beef enchiladas
Saturday Lunch: Mexican chicken casserole
Saturday Dinner: chicken sandwiches
Sunday Lunch: stuffed chicken breast
Sunday Dinner: beef enchiladas
Monday Dinner: slow cooker rigatoni
Tuesday Lunch: chicken and orzo frittata
Tuesday Dinner: chicken and broccoli alfredo
Wednesday Lunch: hearty stew
Wednesday Dinner: slow cooker rigatoni
Thursday Lunch: chicken and broccoli alfredo
Thursday Dinner: Mexican chicken casserole (I've been trying to cook this for 2 weeks and we've ended up eating out instead - I'm actually going to fix it this week - lol)
Friday Lunch: chicken sandwiches
Friday Dinner: beef enchiladas
Saturday Lunch: Mexican chicken casserole
Saturday Dinner: chicken sandwiches
Sunday Lunch: stuffed chicken breast
Sunday Dinner: beef enchiladas
Friday, January 22, 2010
Another 5 Question Friday!
1. What is better, growing old with out money or dying young and wealthy?
Hhmmmm...if I was living a good life, despite a lack of money, I'd say old and broke...as long as I had my family, I could deal with the money part.
2. Who takes out the garbage at your house?
My husband or my oldest son...usually my son. It's one of his regular chores.
3. Have you ever had the same dream many times?
Not really...I always have these weird, crazy dreams...probably because I watch too many crime shows! lol
4. Can you play a musical instrument?
Not anymore, but I played French horn in junior high band.
5. If you owned your own store, what would you sell?
BOOKS! That's an easy one. I love to read, I love bookstores, I love libraries...right now I am blogging from the library on my lunch break. I can't think of anything better to sell!
Hhmmmm...if I was living a good life, despite a lack of money, I'd say old and broke...as long as I had my family, I could deal with the money part.
2. Who takes out the garbage at your house?
My husband or my oldest son...usually my son. It's one of his regular chores.
3. Have you ever had the same dream many times?
Not really...I always have these weird, crazy dreams...probably because I watch too many crime shows! lol
4. Can you play a musical instrument?
Not anymore, but I played French horn in junior high band.
5. If you owned your own store, what would you sell?
BOOKS! That's an easy one. I love to read, I love bookstores, I love libraries...right now I am blogging from the library on my lunch break. I can't think of anything better to sell!
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