So in a quick search of a couple of products that we need to replace I found the following:
--Klean Kanteen now has an insulated kanteen that can be used for coffee.....it even has a re-designed lid for sipping pleasure. We'll probably have to pick up two of these since we've been wanting to add to our coffee containers and we love Klean Kanteen. The new wide mouth makes it so much easier to clean by hand and the containers hold up so well when my husband has to take them into the field for work.
--Preserve Products now has a toothbrush subscription program where a new recyclable toothbrush can be mailed to you every 3 months! They also now have a variety of colors available. I probably will just stock up again next time I head toward a bigger town that carries them, but it's great to have this newest option.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Good news, Good day!
SO....I got the full time job! I had been told the good news was on its way, but it was so nice to get the call on Thursday with the official job offer. After ten months in the making, I start the full time position the end of February. It's nice as it gives me an additional month of subbing, enabling me to give an appropriate heads up to the school district that I will no longer be available.
I worked at the new job last week, as I'd been asked to cover for an additional week. It's definitely a transition into full time employment, but after not being employed consistently for ten months I'm really enjoying arriving every day to a job I believe in. Its nice to feel that you're contributing something positive to other individuals and its been great to work with other like-minded people. I also got my first official paycheck and I'm definitely glad to have my own income again. On Monday I should be able to pay off our credit card and by the beginning of summer we will have paid off two other big bills. Once I get that first full-time paycheck I'll also be able to start paying back my student loans, which will be incredibly satisfying. Thanks to having this second income, we should be in a good position by the time my husband gets out of the military in about a year.
Beyond the good news though, today's been an incredibly rewarding day. I had some of the other wives from my husband's unit over for a brunch this morning. I've been cautious about social engagements within his unit for the last several months for a variety of reasons, but today was really satisfying. Our husbands have had to work a lot lately, so it was nice to have the four of us together to gab freely and offer support to each other. After they left, I had just enough time to make a grocery list before heading over to a birthday party for my dog's friend.....and yes, you read that right. ;-) The birthday dog's owner had done a really cute job of making dog friendly birthday cake and ice cream which Anna definitely enjoyed! (I didn't take Roxi as I figured she'd have a hard time with some of the other dogs and I was afraid she'd piddle on their carpets!). Anna and I stayed for about an hour, but quickly learned that 9 dogs is 2 dogs too many. After the dog party, I headed out for the grocery store and was able to do our beginning of the month stock up for less money and with less people there (which never happens during pay day weekend). I also bought a variety of items to use in the new crock pot, as one of the wives brought me her crock pot cook book this morning! So this evening now finds me, finally blogging, crock pot doing its thing, and dinner cooking on the stove. Somehow last night after work, the laundry, cleaning, and a lengthy catch-up phone call with my sister was accomplished too. So yes, today (and really the end of this week) has been a very, very good day! And tomorrow is looking like a good day for sweats and a phone call with my best friend :)
Hope each of you is having a good day too! :)
I worked at the new job last week, as I'd been asked to cover for an additional week. It's definitely a transition into full time employment, but after not being employed consistently for ten months I'm really enjoying arriving every day to a job I believe in. Its nice to feel that you're contributing something positive to other individuals and its been great to work with other like-minded people. I also got my first official paycheck and I'm definitely glad to have my own income again. On Monday I should be able to pay off our credit card and by the beginning of summer we will have paid off two other big bills. Once I get that first full-time paycheck I'll also be able to start paying back my student loans, which will be incredibly satisfying. Thanks to having this second income, we should be in a good position by the time my husband gets out of the military in about a year.
Beyond the good news though, today's been an incredibly rewarding day. I had some of the other wives from my husband's unit over for a brunch this morning. I've been cautious about social engagements within his unit for the last several months for a variety of reasons, but today was really satisfying. Our husbands have had to work a lot lately, so it was nice to have the four of us together to gab freely and offer support to each other. After they left, I had just enough time to make a grocery list before heading over to a birthday party for my dog's friend.....and yes, you read that right. ;-) The birthday dog's owner had done a really cute job of making dog friendly birthday cake and ice cream which Anna definitely enjoyed! (I didn't take Roxi as I figured she'd have a hard time with some of the other dogs and I was afraid she'd piddle on their carpets!). Anna and I stayed for about an hour, but quickly learned that 9 dogs is 2 dogs too many. After the dog party, I headed out for the grocery store and was able to do our beginning of the month stock up for less money and with less people there (which never happens during pay day weekend). I also bought a variety of items to use in the new crock pot, as one of the wives brought me her crock pot cook book this morning! So this evening now finds me, finally blogging, crock pot doing its thing, and dinner cooking on the stove. Somehow last night after work, the laundry, cleaning, and a lengthy catch-up phone call with my sister was accomplished too. So yes, today (and really the end of this week) has been a very, very good day! And tomorrow is looking like a good day for sweats and a phone call with my best friend :)
Hope each of you is having a good day too! :)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Whew!--Authentic & Changed
The week went by in a whirlwind of the new routine! Luckily yesterday was a restful day especially since today included a spontaneous trip to look for a new sectional. It's now 10pm on Sunday evening, my bed is calling my name, and I'm finally trying to post and catch up on everyone's blogs from the previous week. But to be honest, at this point, I still wouldn't have it any other way. I got asked to cover this coming week at work also, and I'm looking forward to the extra time, training, and money. While it's still not official, there may just be a silver lining of the unemployment cloud headed this way....
However yesterday I had some thoughts....about the concept of getting caught up in the working cycle as a means to pay off that which you don't actually get to enjoy all that much in your own home. As the husband and I talk about purchasing an additional couch/sectional, a larger more comfortable bed (my husband is tall and I admit I completely like to take up my side of the bed), and a replacement TV for the broken one in our garage....I began to think about how much time I've actually been able to spend enjoying the couch we do have during these last couple of weeks. Thus I stationed my rear on the couch for most of Saturday and the husband and I indulged ourselves with some really well done instant Netflix documentaries (The Garden; Dear Zachary--check them out!). While I'm unsure about the timing of these purchases I do have to offer the other side: we're being intelligent about current sale prices, delivery options (which necessitates pick up in Houston), and investing in pieces that will fit our lifestyle for years to come. Basically we are looking to create a comfortable, functional, inviting home...and we're headed toward a financial situation to make some of the purchases we've been waiting on. Although the very, very guilty frugal side of me has her own hesitations. Yet, I also have realized that currently I'm working because I WANT to be working, to be utilizing my brain and skills to help other people in a meaningful way, and so I'm not working unhappily as a means to buy us things. (Although the potential paychecks will be fabulous for getting us out of debt and prepped for the changes that will occur in the next year.....all of which is still possible with the said purchases.)
All these thoughts though lead me back to the point of this blog. As you all know, for months I've been debating where this blog is headed. The one thing that I keep coming back to is the title that I selected when I started writing: Simply Authentic. Thus I really feel that this blog's purpose is for me to be truthful and authentic about where I/we currently am/are on this journey of simplicity. I will readily admit that marriage has altered who I am, my current location has altered the options available for some of my enviro-simple inclinations, and having to consider a second individual's desires has also led to compromise on some things.....thus the person who I am now and how I am living is a very different reality from my existence when I first started this blog. Although none of my passions have changed, I also feel that I've entered a period of just not knowing how to move forward to put my passions into daily practice. I feel in some ways that this move and adjustment to marrying someone with a slightly different mentality has made me face how many of the other side think and exist. It's definitely a far cry from the sustainability bubble and social justice focused circle I had surrounding me during the last several years....and it's been a challenge. Thus as mentioned in previous posts, the most authentic thing I can say is that I'm still trying to figure out just how to approach some of these things.....while still being, well ME.
But the nice thing about the support of the blog world is that you realize that simplicty is so many things to so many people. Rhonda over at Down to Earth consistently advises that you must tailor simplicity to where you currently are in your life....and so that is how I'm trying to proceed forward. So you probably will notice some postings here that contradict previous postings or confessions of "regressions" back to the "mainstream," but I think the thing that makes me feel secure about continuing is recognizing that I truly can only post about where and who I am now. And the best way to proceed forward is to be authentic about it all....after all simplicity is sort of like the ocean that I love so dear...sometimes its an ebb and flow process.
So all THAT being said, here is a listing of some of the changes that have occurred...just to clear some of the air ;)
Confessions:
--We get plastic bags often at the store and use them to pick up the feces of our pets. I know this is environmentally unfriendly...however paper bags are not an option due to maggot issues in the trash can.
--I no longer clean with baking soda and vinegar....instead I've sold out to Clorox Green Works and to be honest I'm not even entirely sure why....and for those horrible green water stains we have here I've also had to resort to tougher chemical cleaners...
--We also use paper towels frequently, mainly to wipe up Roxi's pees (we're having house training issues alot lately); although we do use old bath towels too and to wipe their feet when they come inside.
--I can't kick my long shower habit. They've gotten shorter since marrying but some days nothing soothes my soul like a good long shower.
--I didn't want to pay shipping ordering my veggie mascara from back home so I just bought the cheap, unhealthy drug store kind.
--I finally broke down and threw out 2 pairs of those old, smelly ballet slippers I've had for years...and felt incredibly guilty in the process.
--Since there aren't a lot of good used business clothes options around here, I invested in a bunch of new work clothes for this new job.
--I threw a soup can in the trash at work because they don't recycle there (although this is something I'm going to work on if I do get hired on there....).
--I hardly even worry about organic or local produce, since there isn't any available around here right now and the dogs & winter rains demolished everything we'd planted.....
--I've been drinking cheap coffee bought in bulk rather than the kind that helps save people and the planet.
And I'm sure there are many other slights I could list. Yet in producing this list I did have to remind myself that at least I'm cognizant of the fact that these are slights to the health and vitality of ourselves and planet, whereas many others wouldn't even question these behaviors/choices. And I also reminded myself of many of the positive things that we really are doing for ourselves from a financial, health, environmental, and simplistic standpoint...so maybe even though I've changed...I'm still hopeful we're not doing too bad.
As always, here's to you and yours----head up, heart strong, and renewed.....
However yesterday I had some thoughts....about the concept of getting caught up in the working cycle as a means to pay off that which you don't actually get to enjoy all that much in your own home. As the husband and I talk about purchasing an additional couch/sectional, a larger more comfortable bed (my husband is tall and I admit I completely like to take up my side of the bed), and a replacement TV for the broken one in our garage....I began to think about how much time I've actually been able to spend enjoying the couch we do have during these last couple of weeks. Thus I stationed my rear on the couch for most of Saturday and the husband and I indulged ourselves with some really well done instant Netflix documentaries (The Garden; Dear Zachary--check them out!). While I'm unsure about the timing of these purchases I do have to offer the other side: we're being intelligent about current sale prices, delivery options (which necessitates pick up in Houston), and investing in pieces that will fit our lifestyle for years to come. Basically we are looking to create a comfortable, functional, inviting home...and we're headed toward a financial situation to make some of the purchases we've been waiting on. Although the very, very guilty frugal side of me has her own hesitations. Yet, I also have realized that currently I'm working because I WANT to be working, to be utilizing my brain and skills to help other people in a meaningful way, and so I'm not working unhappily as a means to buy us things. (Although the potential paychecks will be fabulous for getting us out of debt and prepped for the changes that will occur in the next year.....all of which is still possible with the said purchases.)
All these thoughts though lead me back to the point of this blog. As you all know, for months I've been debating where this blog is headed. The one thing that I keep coming back to is the title that I selected when I started writing: Simply Authentic. Thus I really feel that this blog's purpose is for me to be truthful and authentic about where I/we currently am/are on this journey of simplicity. I will readily admit that marriage has altered who I am, my current location has altered the options available for some of my enviro-simple inclinations, and having to consider a second individual's desires has also led to compromise on some things.....thus the person who I am now and how I am living is a very different reality from my existence when I first started this blog. Although none of my passions have changed, I also feel that I've entered a period of just not knowing how to move forward to put my passions into daily practice. I feel in some ways that this move and adjustment to marrying someone with a slightly different mentality has made me face how many of the other side think and exist. It's definitely a far cry from the sustainability bubble and social justice focused circle I had surrounding me during the last several years....and it's been a challenge. Thus as mentioned in previous posts, the most authentic thing I can say is that I'm still trying to figure out just how to approach some of these things.....while still being, well ME.
But the nice thing about the support of the blog world is that you realize that simplicty is so many things to so many people. Rhonda over at Down to Earth consistently advises that you must tailor simplicity to where you currently are in your life....and so that is how I'm trying to proceed forward. So you probably will notice some postings here that contradict previous postings or confessions of "regressions" back to the "mainstream," but I think the thing that makes me feel secure about continuing is recognizing that I truly can only post about where and who I am now. And the best way to proceed forward is to be authentic about it all....after all simplicity is sort of like the ocean that I love so dear...sometimes its an ebb and flow process.
So all THAT being said, here is a listing of some of the changes that have occurred...just to clear some of the air ;)
Confessions:
--We get plastic bags often at the store and use them to pick up the feces of our pets. I know this is environmentally unfriendly...however paper bags are not an option due to maggot issues in the trash can.
--I no longer clean with baking soda and vinegar....instead I've sold out to Clorox Green Works and to be honest I'm not even entirely sure why....and for those horrible green water stains we have here I've also had to resort to tougher chemical cleaners...
--We also use paper towels frequently, mainly to wipe up Roxi's pees (we're having house training issues alot lately); although we do use old bath towels too and to wipe their feet when they come inside.
--I can't kick my long shower habit. They've gotten shorter since marrying but some days nothing soothes my soul like a good long shower.
--I didn't want to pay shipping ordering my veggie mascara from back home so I just bought the cheap, unhealthy drug store kind.
--I finally broke down and threw out 2 pairs of those old, smelly ballet slippers I've had for years...and felt incredibly guilty in the process.
--Since there aren't a lot of good used business clothes options around here, I invested in a bunch of new work clothes for this new job.
--I threw a soup can in the trash at work because they don't recycle there (although this is something I'm going to work on if I do get hired on there....).
--I hardly even worry about organic or local produce, since there isn't any available around here right now and the dogs & winter rains demolished everything we'd planted.....
--I've been drinking cheap coffee bought in bulk rather than the kind that helps save people and the planet.
And I'm sure there are many other slights I could list. Yet in producing this list I did have to remind myself that at least I'm cognizant of the fact that these are slights to the health and vitality of ourselves and planet, whereas many others wouldn't even question these behaviors/choices. And I also reminded myself of many of the positive things that we really are doing for ourselves from a financial, health, environmental, and simplistic standpoint...so maybe even though I've changed...I'm still hopeful we're not doing too bad.
As always, here's to you and yours----head up, heart strong, and renewed.....
Friday, January 15, 2010
Potential New Routine
Whew!--This week is ending in a whirlwind. To be completely honest though, I've been loving it! I started the new on-call position on Monday and have spent the week adjusting to the new routine. Somehow we're managing both the car sharing and the dog responsibilities well--mainly thanks to our (commuter) friend down the road and the fact that our work sites share a parking lot on post. The training for the new job is going great and two open positions were posted today (3 of 5 employees are moving w/in 1.5 months) with my chances of receiving one of the two being fairly high. So if all goes well, I hopefully will have consistent employment within the month!! Definitely exciting---especially since I've been applying for this job since the end of last April!
The position itself has just enough routine and flexibility that it should work out well. There is a mix of small group training, larger group presentations, and one-on-one counseling appointments which keeps it interesting. I'm really looking forward to having a job that will benefit soldiers transitioning out of the service and its nice to be working in an area that will add to my resume. The computer system seems easy to use and my new coworkers are wonderful (although only 2 would be left if I do get hired). The environment is very fun, open, and welcoming. This morning they even had a welcome breakfast for me.....and took my dietary choices into consideration! In further discussions, I've learned that my coworkers are also liberal, Christian, and military spouses.....so it's nice to feel a bit more normal in my skin around this place. (Although I haven't decided when/whether to discuss recycling as an option for offices on post and the negative health effects of reheating left overs in plastic... :-)).
Beyond working the 40 hours this week, I've also continued the new running and eating habits. We only get half an hour for lunch which pretty much necessitates bringing lunch from home--which is what I always do anyway so it works out well! I've been able to maintain more balanced meals throughout the day---usually with my smoothie for breakfast, carbs for lunch, and veggies for dinner----although it's put a damper on the husband and I fixing a true dinner together so I need to swap the carb and veggie times. Even with the running and the improved nutrition, I don't know that I feel myself getting in much better shape just yet!!
In addition to work and health considerations, we managed to bake bread and pizza dough, take care of the animals, talk about our budget concerns for the upcoming year (mainly focused on where we would like to be by the time we return to Oregon in about a year), and do some light household chores in the last week. This evening we even got in a walk for the dogs and I was able to get the main household chores done (bathroom, laundry, dusting, etc). Tomorrow we're off to run some errands in a nearby town, get my hair-cut (I finally booked with a soldier's wife after trying to get in for two months), and then head out to dinner with friends. Although life is busier this week, after six months of decreased activity it feels great to be more productive. Part of the potential upcoming transition is going to be the need to focus on maintaining peace and simplicity of self even in the midst of more. Thus I think it timely to include as a closing thought the following anonymous quote posted in my supervisor's office, "PEACE: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
May each of you have a rewarding weekend! Here's to keeping my fingers crossed and prayers lifted about the upcoming job....and as always this week continued thoughts and prayers are directed toward the nation of Haiti......
The position itself has just enough routine and flexibility that it should work out well. There is a mix of small group training, larger group presentations, and one-on-one counseling appointments which keeps it interesting. I'm really looking forward to having a job that will benefit soldiers transitioning out of the service and its nice to be working in an area that will add to my resume. The computer system seems easy to use and my new coworkers are wonderful (although only 2 would be left if I do get hired). The environment is very fun, open, and welcoming. This morning they even had a welcome breakfast for me.....and took my dietary choices into consideration! In further discussions, I've learned that my coworkers are also liberal, Christian, and military spouses.....so it's nice to feel a bit more normal in my skin around this place. (Although I haven't decided when/whether to discuss recycling as an option for offices on post and the negative health effects of reheating left overs in plastic... :-)).
Beyond working the 40 hours this week, I've also continued the new running and eating habits. We only get half an hour for lunch which pretty much necessitates bringing lunch from home--which is what I always do anyway so it works out well! I've been able to maintain more balanced meals throughout the day---usually with my smoothie for breakfast, carbs for lunch, and veggies for dinner----although it's put a damper on the husband and I fixing a true dinner together so I need to swap the carb and veggie times. Even with the running and the improved nutrition, I don't know that I feel myself getting in much better shape just yet!!
In addition to work and health considerations, we managed to bake bread and pizza dough, take care of the animals, talk about our budget concerns for the upcoming year (mainly focused on where we would like to be by the time we return to Oregon in about a year), and do some light household chores in the last week. This evening we even got in a walk for the dogs and I was able to get the main household chores done (bathroom, laundry, dusting, etc). Tomorrow we're off to run some errands in a nearby town, get my hair-cut (I finally booked with a soldier's wife after trying to get in for two months), and then head out to dinner with friends. Although life is busier this week, after six months of decreased activity it feels great to be more productive. Part of the potential upcoming transition is going to be the need to focus on maintaining peace and simplicity of self even in the midst of more. Thus I think it timely to include as a closing thought the following anonymous quote posted in my supervisor's office, "PEACE: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
May each of you have a rewarding weekend! Here's to keeping my fingers crossed and prayers lifted about the upcoming job....and as always this week continued thoughts and prayers are directed toward the nation of Haiti......
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Steps Toward Health
So it's now the following morning and unfortunately the hub is still tied up at work. The cat is swishing his tail on the window ledge enticing Roxi to leap at him through the curtain. In other moments the dogs are busy holding their own combatives tournament in the middle of our living room. At this point in the day everyone has been fed, loved on, and gotten ready for today. Hopefully the husband will be home in the next hour or so and will be able to get some decent sleep as our bedroom is on the back half of the house. However after being awake since 5am yesterday and at work for over 24 hours now, I'm not banking on him going on our evening run....
Like others who are attempting to get healthier with the New Year, the husband and I have doing an evening run together and trying to eat better. Ironically our "get-in-shape" steps are due to my being weighed at my annual exam, realizing my "fat" jeans that were easily pulled off while still buttoned last December are now incredibly tight, and the hub feeling a bit too solid around his middle after a month's absence from morning PT. Implementing an evening run has been really wonderful as it gives us something to look forward to together at day's end while releasing workday and household frustrations, and it allows us to push each other more than we could on our own. His one rule for me is "no stopping and no walking," but as long as we keep moving I can jog as slowly as needed. So far it's worked and I've been able to get over my one tricky spot in the neighborhood.
Additionally, after finishing Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, I've been incorporating more whole foods, especially fruits and veggies, into our diets. I really enjoyed the different viewpoint of that book and its reminded me to look at ingredient labels and to return to a more veggie-based diet. Since getting married I switched from a primarily vegan diet to being vegeterian but I am realizing that an increase in carbs, dairy, and portion size has led to the increase in my wasitline. Although my husbad isn't a huge eater, for some reason in recent months I had convinced myself that it was healthy for me to match my portion sizes to those of a 6'4" man! ;-) Somehow an increase in produce on our 1st grocery run of the month cost just a little more, but our food supplies and meal variations are also stretching more. Unfortunately....weight never comes off quite as fast as it piles on ;-)
While on the topic of health, I'm also contemplating going back to school....again. I've researched going into nursing (or other direct health practice options) many times over (as that's where the jobs are), but have always hesitated due to the additional cost and the need to complete prerequistes. However I've discovered that I could reasonably take many of the prerequiste courses online (or locally) during the coming months. The biggest catch is the competition that exists to get into nursing school back home (490 applicants, 48 slots for the one year program), but completing the prerequistes would serve me regardless due to their related nature to my current fields and the continued mental stimulation. While financially this might not make the most sense in the present, I feel the long term pay off may be more beneficial. (And most financial advisors agree that educational debt is one of the few debts that pays off in the long haul.) A recent news article estimated that 600,000 nursing jobs will be created within the next 8 years, and many of the jobs that I'm most interested in for public health would require a nursing degree in the rural sector. So while it's just a thought at present, it is an option that I'm going to start planning toward....something to keep me more mentally occupied here and something to keep me working toward the future that I hope my husband and I will be able to have together.
Still have a few topics left to cover but will get to these later. ;) Enjoy the day!
Like others who are attempting to get healthier with the New Year, the husband and I have doing an evening run together and trying to eat better. Ironically our "get-in-shape" steps are due to my being weighed at my annual exam, realizing my "fat" jeans that were easily pulled off while still buttoned last December are now incredibly tight, and the hub feeling a bit too solid around his middle after a month's absence from morning PT. Implementing an evening run has been really wonderful as it gives us something to look forward to together at day's end while releasing workday and household frustrations, and it allows us to push each other more than we could on our own. His one rule for me is "no stopping and no walking," but as long as we keep moving I can jog as slowly as needed. So far it's worked and I've been able to get over my one tricky spot in the neighborhood.
Additionally, after finishing Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, I've been incorporating more whole foods, especially fruits and veggies, into our diets. I really enjoyed the different viewpoint of that book and its reminded me to look at ingredient labels and to return to a more veggie-based diet. Since getting married I switched from a primarily vegan diet to being vegeterian but I am realizing that an increase in carbs, dairy, and portion size has led to the increase in my wasitline. Although my husbad isn't a huge eater, for some reason in recent months I had convinced myself that it was healthy for me to match my portion sizes to those of a 6'4" man! ;-) Somehow an increase in produce on our 1st grocery run of the month cost just a little more, but our food supplies and meal variations are also stretching more. Unfortunately....weight never comes off quite as fast as it piles on ;-)
While on the topic of health, I'm also contemplating going back to school....again. I've researched going into nursing (or other direct health practice options) many times over (as that's where the jobs are), but have always hesitated due to the additional cost and the need to complete prerequistes. However I've discovered that I could reasonably take many of the prerequiste courses online (or locally) during the coming months. The biggest catch is the competition that exists to get into nursing school back home (490 applicants, 48 slots for the one year program), but completing the prerequistes would serve me regardless due to their related nature to my current fields and the continued mental stimulation. While financially this might not make the most sense in the present, I feel the long term pay off may be more beneficial. (And most financial advisors agree that educational debt is one of the few debts that pays off in the long haul.) A recent news article estimated that 600,000 nursing jobs will be created within the next 8 years, and many of the jobs that I'm most interested in for public health would require a nursing degree in the rural sector. So while it's just a thought at present, it is an option that I'm going to start planning toward....something to keep me more mentally occupied here and something to keep me working toward the future that I hope my husband and I will be able to have together.
Still have a few topics left to cover but will get to these later. ;) Enjoy the day!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Confidence Boosters
So today I've pretty much been flying solo around the house. My husband's on 24 hour duty which means he hasn't been able to come home at all today. So I spent the day keeping myself occupied and taking care of what needed to be done around the house. I did three loads of laundry, made MY first loaf of bread (I will admit it wasn't quite as good as the hub's), ran for 30 mins at the neighborhood center and got a new air filter, took the dogs on a 2 mile walk, checked on our frozen outside pipes and set them to drip once thawed, washed Roxi off after she dug 3x today, had a pep talk with a friend from home who has a big interview next weekend, and picked up the house and yard. I spent this evening heating up left overs and making a delicious salad, playing with and taking care of the pets, and online comparison shopping for a 2nd vehicle. At the end of today, I feel glad that I was able to get a decent chunk of stuff done around the house without my husband, but I definitely missed having his helping hand along side of mine.
I also had some thoughts about confidence. I start my new on-call position on Monday and so I've been mentally preparing myself to enter this training period with confidence. I'm well aware that how I perform during the next two weeks may determine whether or not I am granted the next full position that opens. Rationally I recognize that I'm a competent learner and an intelligent individual, but for some reason internally I always feel apprehensive and incompetent when it comes to starting any position that entails my taking on responsibility. It's a stark contrast to how I felt as an undergrad student and in the beginning stages of my first full time job. I'm not sure if this lack of confidence came about as a side effect of the negative atmosphere of that first job--a place where youth was seen as a defect and back stabbing on cases was common. Or it may be that my first real job snapped me into the harsh reality of the ways of the world. Or if it was the reality of personal life that those that are nearest to us are all fragile pieces of a greater puzzle. Whatever it was--my confidence in my abilities as an employee and as someone who desires to make decisions that impact the lives of others was greatly dwindled.
Ironically this lack of confidence is something that many of my fellow friends and past coworkers admit to feeling as well. Whether or not this is due to surrounding myself with individuals of the same nature or this is becoming a common occurrence among my generation I'm not so sure. What I do know is that during the last several years it takes a few days of mental preparation for me to exude the level of confidence needed to meet the desired expectation when interviewing or beginning a new position. Thus my mental pep-talks for myself began today. Sometimes this takes the form of mentally replaying my resume in my mind and thinking of all the incredible experiences I've been able to play a part in. Generally I think of what the upcoming position will include and let myself know that I've already done all of those tasks in previous jobs before too. Other times this incurs telling myself that I'm in my late 20s and that I should pull myself together. Sometimes I think about other individuals who are my age and the numerous things that they have been able to do (something about collective age action...maybe vicarious experience?!). But for the most part, I'm able to bundle it all together and do a wonderful job of hiding the more insecure interior....so let's just hope I "get the job done" in the coming weeks as well! ;-) I know I have the abilities...it's just persuading myself to use them in manners that might impact the lives of others....for better or for worse.
There are several great things as of late, including: money savings, running, eating healthier, potential courses to take, and the lodging of complaints...but these are all things I will talk about in another posting. May each of you have a wonderful day ahead full of confidence for whatever comes your way!
I also had some thoughts about confidence. I start my new on-call position on Monday and so I've been mentally preparing myself to enter this training period with confidence. I'm well aware that how I perform during the next two weeks may determine whether or not I am granted the next full position that opens. Rationally I recognize that I'm a competent learner and an intelligent individual, but for some reason internally I always feel apprehensive and incompetent when it comes to starting any position that entails my taking on responsibility. It's a stark contrast to how I felt as an undergrad student and in the beginning stages of my first full time job. I'm not sure if this lack of confidence came about as a side effect of the negative atmosphere of that first job--a place where youth was seen as a defect and back stabbing on cases was common. Or it may be that my first real job snapped me into the harsh reality of the ways of the world. Or if it was the reality of personal life that those that are nearest to us are all fragile pieces of a greater puzzle. Whatever it was--my confidence in my abilities as an employee and as someone who desires to make decisions that impact the lives of others was greatly dwindled.
Ironically this lack of confidence is something that many of my fellow friends and past coworkers admit to feeling as well. Whether or not this is due to surrounding myself with individuals of the same nature or this is becoming a common occurrence among my generation I'm not so sure. What I do know is that during the last several years it takes a few days of mental preparation for me to exude the level of confidence needed to meet the desired expectation when interviewing or beginning a new position. Thus my mental pep-talks for myself began today. Sometimes this takes the form of mentally replaying my resume in my mind and thinking of all the incredible experiences I've been able to play a part in. Generally I think of what the upcoming position will include and let myself know that I've already done all of those tasks in previous jobs before too. Other times this incurs telling myself that I'm in my late 20s and that I should pull myself together. Sometimes I think about other individuals who are my age and the numerous things that they have been able to do (something about collective age action...maybe vicarious experience?!). But for the most part, I'm able to bundle it all together and do a wonderful job of hiding the more insecure interior....so let's just hope I "get the job done" in the coming weeks as well! ;-) I know I have the abilities...it's just persuading myself to use them in manners that might impact the lives of others....for better or for worse.
There are several great things as of late, including: money savings, running, eating healthier, potential courses to take, and the lodging of complaints...but these are all things I will talk about in another posting. May each of you have a wonderful day ahead full of confidence for whatever comes your way!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Home Fixings
So I know I posted last month about how at times cooking from scratch is not the most cost effective method, but this month I am being reminded just how much home "fixings" can be the better deal.
--The husband's new bread maker is turning out to be a wonderful addition. He's already made 3 loaves: white, whole wheat (AMAZING!), and granola. We also used it last night to make homemade pizza dough. So while it will take many loaves to equal out of the cost of the machine, we're still getting savings via the ingredients on each loaf of bread not including the health benefits. It's definitely nice knowing what exactly goes into each loaf of bread, and the taste really is a million times better than any store bought loaf.
--We also noticed that Roxi was limping on her left paw after we had taken her on her first big vet trip. Since we have to take her back for a booster vaccine later, we really didn't want to have to make yet another vet trip in the interim (and pay yet another office visit fee!). So the husband got on the internet and discovered that what was wrong with her paw appeared to be an inter-digital cyst. In further research he also discovered some home remedies via blogs and other posts. Since the stuff they suggested using didn't appear to be anything that would harm her (just in case our diagnosis was off), we went ahead and bought the stuff to try fixing it at home.....and it totally worked! We ended up soaking her foot 2x a day in Epsom salt and warm water, and then applied ear cleaning wash by a natural pet care company to the growth areas. In less than a week there's only one little spot still visible and in a few days it should be gone too.
*On a side note, this is a major public health phenomenon too....a large percentage of individuals in the United States (and probably globally w/ internet access) tend to research health symptoms online before seeking medical attention....never a bad idea although questionable treatments should probably always be discussed with an individual in the medical field BEFORE attempting at home care....
Just a couple examples of home fixings that really are the better deal! Now if only on this chilly Louisiana morning, I had double panes on my windows!
--The husband's new bread maker is turning out to be a wonderful addition. He's already made 3 loaves: white, whole wheat (AMAZING!), and granola. We also used it last night to make homemade pizza dough. So while it will take many loaves to equal out of the cost of the machine, we're still getting savings via the ingredients on each loaf of bread not including the health benefits. It's definitely nice knowing what exactly goes into each loaf of bread, and the taste really is a million times better than any store bought loaf.
--We also noticed that Roxi was limping on her left paw after we had taken her on her first big vet trip. Since we have to take her back for a booster vaccine later, we really didn't want to have to make yet another vet trip in the interim (and pay yet another office visit fee!). So the husband got on the internet and discovered that what was wrong with her paw appeared to be an inter-digital cyst. In further research he also discovered some home remedies via blogs and other posts. Since the stuff they suggested using didn't appear to be anything that would harm her (just in case our diagnosis was off), we went ahead and bought the stuff to try fixing it at home.....and it totally worked! We ended up soaking her foot 2x a day in Epsom salt and warm water, and then applied ear cleaning wash by a natural pet care company to the growth areas. In less than a week there's only one little spot still visible and in a few days it should be gone too.
*On a side note, this is a major public health phenomenon too....a large percentage of individuals in the United States (and probably globally w/ internet access) tend to research health symptoms online before seeking medical attention....never a bad idea although questionable treatments should probably always be discussed with an individual in the medical field BEFORE attempting at home care....
Just a couple examples of home fixings that really are the better deal! Now if only on this chilly Louisiana morning, I had double panes on my windows!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Holiday Ramblings & Moving Ahead
The holidays are coming to a close, but it's been wonderful spending two weeks relaxing with the husband. While we didn't take a road trip like we'd discussed (especially since we're still paying off our Thanksgiving weekend trip), we did take several day trips and were able to see some newer areas of western Louisiana and eastern Texas. While neither of us are big on exchanging gifts, we did acquire another pet during the holidays. We'd been talking about trying to find a second dog to keep Anna company and hopefully out of trouble, and so two of our trips were in pursuit of another dog. After visiting the saddest looking humane society on our second trip, we headed home with another pooch on the backseat. She is the jolliest little creature you can imagine coming from such a sad place and after needing a full visit to the vet. We're still working on house training her and are home remedying a sore foot we noticed after the vet visit. She appears to be an Australian Sheppard mutt mix and is estimated to be about a year old also. We named her Roxi.....
So our days are back to revolving around the pets (well and currently attempting to run off the extra 10 lbs I've acquired in this place!!)...taking them out and instituting a better feeding schedule. Major, the cat, is pleased that Anna is now entertained by Roxi rather than by him. And I'm hoping to make some more of those homemade treats for the dogs, as the oatmeal really helped Anna's coat when we first got her. With two dogs and less humidity currently, I'm hopeful we can get through all the treats before they mold---as the last two batches I made a few months back molded within 2-3 days.
We had some fabulous care packages delivered to us during the holidays as well. The husband had a cooler-full of meat arrive from his father---I never knew as a vegetarian that I'd be so happy to discover meats on our front stoop! My parents mailed us decorations for the house and tree (including LED lights and old school decorations!!), yummy goodies (it truthfully didn't feel like Christmas til Mom's cinnamon rolls arrived!), and a couple of packages for us to put under the tree. My granny sent a box of goodies for us and the pets. My sister, brother, and their families sent holiday cookies & fudge, great smelling Slab soap, homemade washcloths, homemade laundry detergent, & other goodies. Everyone's contributions were not expected but so appreciated....and made it a bit easier to be so far from home for the holidays.
We also have done a bit of shopping after the holidays to use some of the gift cards that we had and to get other items that were needed (aka replacement bras for me; a kennel for the new dog). My sister included a gift card to Target as she knew that my husband has been wanting to acquire a breadmaker or crock pot....so we picked one up the other day. His first loaf was made last night and it's pretty delicious! Its been fun seeing him excited about his newest gadget, and this gadget can apparently make jam too! This breadmaker gives me hope that we really will get to a more self-sufficient stage eventually. Sometimes it feels like moving here and integrating my life with someone else's has made it much more difficult to live as simply as I used to want/was able to do. However this has been good for me in many ways as I've learned how difficult it is to live a more sustainable existence when the system and resources are not available to help you, and I've learned to beat myself up less for the areas where I "fail" to be green enough. Slowly, I'm realizing that we'll get to those greener pastures of a few acres, grow a lil' garden, bake some bread from scratch, and beat down our debt....but it will probably look different than I ever would, or even could now, imagine.
My mom also pointed out to me in a recent conversation that while I might not currently be able to live as "green" or "authentic" as I'd like....my influence and interest in these areas have boiled over to other individuals, such as my family and friends. Every little bit helps..... So here I am headed into the new year, open to the fact that who I am is constantly changing, hopeful for the future and what it holds on multiple levels, and enjoying the little moments that I am currently granted....while continuing on that journey of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Good night :-)
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