In It for Life...

As if just trying to eat healthy isn’t hard enough, I’m going to give you something else to think about. I’ve mentioned the documentary Food, Inc. before (See In a Heartbeat…), but I’m going to elaborate on it a little more now. This documentary goes straight to the source, farmers and ranchers, to uncover the truth about where our food comes from. The results are shocking. Too often the powers that be dictate how our food is produced, instead of the way God intended!

A journalist by the name of Michael Pollan is an expert on the subject of food and appeared in the documentary. The author of Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual has shared his knowledge with many and has even appeared on The Oprah Show. I’m going to share a few of my discoveries with you now.



Poultry and Beef

Chickens are pumped full of antibiotics to be ready for slaughter in half the time nature intended. In addition, the chicken has doubled in size over the last 60 years. The chicken breast is in such high demand that the people in charge of having them produced have gone to horrific extremes to make it readily available. Look for chicken and eggs that are labeled as free-range. Free-range chickens are allowed the proper time to mature in the proper environment.

In addition, look for grass-fed beef and milk from grass-fed cows, also known as pastured dairy. God created cows with the intent that they would eat grass. Lots of times cows are fed certain feeds and hormones purely for the purpose of fattening them, making them mature quicker for slaughter, which is unhealthy for us.



Processed Foods

Basically everything you buy in the grocery store is processed. There are very few products in the store that you can buy that haven’t been put through some crazy process of creation. Even the foods low in fat are high in sugar, leading to a continued unhealthy lifestyle. The advertisers keep the truth away from you because they know if they just slap that fat-free label on the front of the package, your interest will be peaked.

Many people say that they can’t afford the actual good, healthy food. What they don’t realize is that unhealthy, processed foods will eventually lead to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, among others. You can pay more now or later when you are paying for your healthcare.

Cook for Yourself

You should cook at home, from scratch as often as you can. There are tons of restaurants out there that want to cook for you! Don’t let them. Or at least let them less often. They are going to add tons of salt, sugar, and fat that you would never dream of using. When you begin to cook for yourself with natural ingredients, you will see many changes in your life. You will feel better on so many levels.

What to Look For

Look for farmer’s markets when you can. Your local farmers are not looking to sell to mass corporations; they are just looking to sell what they’ve grown close to home. Plus, you will have the opportunity to ask the farmer directly how they grow their food.

Read labels and educate yourself. If nothing else, this post should just make you think a little about everything you bring home from the grocery store. I know there is no way we can change every habit that we have, but we can make small steps. We might not even be able to buy these specially-labeled products in our stores. I’ve started by just buying more fresh produce and less processed boxed and canned goods. As time passes, we can all slowly add more changes.

Check out the Mexican restaurant Chipotle. You can eat anything there and rest assured that it is natural and healthy. It is a fast-food chain whose creator actually cares what he is feeding to the public. I can speak from experience that their food is delicious!



A few of Pollan’s Food Rules:
1. Eat food.
2. Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.
3. Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.
4. Eat only foods that will eventually rot.
5. Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.

“It’s not that hard to eat well if you’re willing to put a little more time into it, a little more thoughtfulness into it and, yes, a little bit more money.” –Michael Pollan

Use your fork up to 3 times a day to vote for what you believe in...

In High Demand...

Mondays can be brutal. Today was no exception for me. The day started out pretty normal. I was moving through my list of tasks, actually pretty quickly for my procrastinating self. By late afternoon, I had paid some bills, balanced the checkbook, worked out, and now the laundry was washing and drying.

I was folding a load of blues, which consisted of pajamas, underwear, and workout clothes. After a few minutes, the whole basket was folded into piles of like items spread out on my bed. I had a small pile of underwear in my right hand and a short stack of t-shirts in the other. I put the underwear in my upper right dresser drawer, then bent down to put the t-shirts in the lower left dresser drawer. As I pulled the handle and the drawer came out, I was shocked by what was inside!

I found ants, thousands of stupid ants‼! They were scurrying around as if I had just disrupted their ant bed, you know outside, in the ground, where they’re supposed to be! The only thing I could think was to get them out of my house. I rolled the empty hamper over and filled it full of the ant-infested clothes from my drawer. I quickly pushed the hamper outside onto the back porch. I could deal with that later. I had to hurry and get rid of the ants still in the house.

I didn’t want to spray the ant killer from the can into my drawer so it could seep into the wood and ruin it forever! So, I got a wet paper towel and started killing by hand. I swiped them up in the towel while mashing down, then ran to the sink to drown them. I know it sounds inhumane, but they were ants infesting my t-shirt drawer‼

Eventually the mass majority had bit the dust. I decided to check the other drawers and sure enough the drawer above was infested as well. I got an empty basket, filled it with the infested clothes, and ran it outside with the now-infested hamper. I proceeded to kill the ants in the shorts drawer, and luckily that’s where it stopped. I didn’t hesitate to use the ant killer spray along the edge of the carpet behind the dresser and on the lower edge of the dresser.

I took a moment to breathe. Now, it was time for me to handle the ant-infested mess outside. I had put all of the clothes into the hamper and used the basket for the clothes that were now pest-free. I must have gone through 25 articles of clothing outside where it was like 100 degrees. I had to shake out each piece of clothing, sometimes beat it against the railing, flip it inside-out, and do it again…not a fun way to spend my afternoon.

Of course the wind was blowing profusely, which meant that as I shook out the clothes, the ants flew back on me and stung the poop out of me with their vicious venom. These were fire ants by the way, not little baby carpenter ants. After a couple hours overall, my superwoman abilities brought peace to the world again. Well, I still have to refold the clothes, but that can wait until tomorrow!

The positive thing is that I found some clothes shoved back behind the drawers that I haven’t seen in a long time, so they’re like new…

The Bottom of the Hamper

In a Jiffy...

Today marks my 50th blog post. The time has passed so quickly! It’s been fun, therapeutic, and encouraging. I’ve told you funny stories, told you serious stories, but mainly, I just shared my life with you. It’s a great feeling knowing that someone is out there waiting to read what I have to say, even if it’s just a handful of folks. For a couple of months now, you guys have followed along with me, listening to my ups and downs within my job search. I think it’s appropriate that I had a job interview today.

I felt like the interview went well today. The company seems great, and it’s a wonderful opportunity. Due to the fact that I’ve had so many disappointments in the last year, I’m a little gun-shy. No matter how optimistic I want to be, there’s always that feeling deep down that maybe what I’m going through is just another disappointment. I suppose time will tell. I do have faith that what is supposed to happen will happen. I have no regrets. I prepared myself for the interview the best I could. I went in and showed the awesome person that I am and let them know what I have to offer them. I kept it real, so to speak.

Maybe it’ll work out; maybe it won’t. Regardless, I’m beginning to think that I’m seeing a very awesome story unfold. The best stories are rollercoaster rides. People triumph over trials and difficulties. My story would be pretty boring if everything went right all the time. Of course, I’ve got to have a great story to tell. I’ll sit back, enjoy the ride, and remember that it can’t be like this forever. I know that if this job doesn’t work, I already have my sights on another direction. I know that no matter how difficult an experience is, no matter how much hurt it causes, there is a definite reason for it. I know that one day, maybe soon, a really great opportunity will be out there waiting just for me, maybe somewhere I least expect it.

I have come to realize that no matter what kind of tough situation I go through, my positive attitude is what will keep me sane and lead me through it. I have good days, and I have bad ones. Today is a good day because an opportunity has been presented to me. I’ll have to wait a little longer to find out if it is opened for me.

Even if it’s not my turn, I’ve got that list of endless possibilities to rely on…

In the News...

Well, the verdict is in! My first canning experience was pretty successful (See In a Pickle…). Well, two out of three ain’t bad. After all of that slaving over my hot stove, I have yummy fruits to show for my labor.

I have to admit; I’ve been in the blackberry jam for a while now. It just didn’t need all of the pickling time the okra and pickles did. It is so delicious! It’s sticky and gooey and superb on toast. I’m so delighted it turned out well.



The next thing I savored was the pickles, and they turned out just like I thought they would, except they are super crunchy! The ice water soak did the trick. I do like a bit of a sourer pickle, but these are great alongside sandwiches. I think next time I make them, I might add a little bit of sour to the mix.

I’m not a big eater of pickled okra, so I let Justin be the tester for those. He says, “They’re kind of funky.” Like I said, two out of three ain’t bad! I tried them myself, and they weren’t very good. I’m pretty sure the problem was a combination of things. The first problem was that I needed to choose shorter stalks of okra. Because the stalks were so long, I could only fit 5 or 6 in a pint size jar. Therefore, there was too much pickling liquid in each jar, which made the okra very stout with vinegar. Oh well, lesson learned.

Overall, it was a great experience. Just the jam is worth the time put into everything. I feel like a pioneer woman now. Maybe I’ll try to churn my own butter next. Well, not really…

It never hurts to try something new. You might succeed; you might fail. But you’ll never know if you don’t try…

In Bloom...

From what the books say, television developed from the radio. People would sit around as a family and listen to talk radio shows, variety shows, FDR’s fireside chats, and even advertisements. Picture was eventually incorporated, first in black and white, then in color. Over the course of my 28 years, technology has evolved more than ever imagined. I remember a time when there was no remote control and no VCR, much less a DVD player. Now, the 3D TV is the next big thing, something I have absolutely no interest in by the way.

The first television set I ever remember watching was the one we had when I was a very little girl. I guess it was from the ‘70s because it was old-school. I believe I remember 2 dials, one for the sound and one to change the channels. We had the foil-wrapped bunny ears to help us pick up our 3 or 4 channels. Our TV couldn’t have been more than say, a 14 or 16 inch. The TV sat on a rolling stand, and it was the only one in the house. There was no VCR or remote control even. Back in those days, we actually had to get up off of our butts and change the channel or turn the volume up. Do you think it’s possible that the TV is the cause of the obesity epidemic in America?



As time passed, my parents brought home one of those giant wooden console TVs, the type that makes you cringe today. The TV screen was embedded in a giant wooden frame that housed the speakers. I guess the goal with this type of TV was to make it look like a piece of furniture. It sat on the floor since the wooden frame created support, and back then, we thought we had hit the big-time. Today I just remember how so many of my friends had newer TVs that sat on top of the console TV when the console TV went out. People utilized its furniture-like qualities and turned it into a TV stand. I would have at least put a sheet over the thing so as not to confuse visiting viewers. Sometimes I wondered if they had so many TVs because they had surveillance cameras.



Over time, the console TV eventually went out, so my parents brought the old-school TV on the rolling cart back out of their bedroom. This just goes to show, the ‘80s was about the time they stopped making things the way they used to. Of course, I was so young back then, I have no idea what the time-line was, but we eventually got one of the new modern, black tube TVs that sat on a stand and (gasp!) had a remote control! I guess times were getting better for my parents, so we started acquiring things like a VCR and cable. Cable brought so much variety; we had no idea what to do with our 17-20 channels!



Over the next 10 years or so, my parents traded the TV out at least once more, and my brother and I got TVs and VCRs in our bedrooms. Of course, my family was a little behind the times. We weren’t in the position to run out and buy the next great thing. I actually value that because I don’t feel the need to run out and buy the next big thing now that I’m the adult. In my opinion, this is the time when families all across America began to separate from the family togetherness that was valued from the Leave it to Beaver days. That darn TV became so addicting, and it was too easy for everyone to go to their own room and watch whatever they wanted to, since the tastes of 4 people were never the same in our house. I remember my brother and me fighting back in the wood TV console days about whether we were going to watch GI Joe or Gem. I don’t remember who won, but I’m pretty sure my mom made us alternate and…share‼ My, how times have changed.

For the last 7 years, since I’ve gotten married, my husband and I have gone through a few different TVs, still utilizing the TVs from our childhoods…imagine that! A couple of years ago, we were tired of watching the 18” that I got when I was in junior high, since our bigger TV went out to that big scrap yard in the sky. We bit the bullet and went out and bought a large flat-screen TV, nothing too extravagant but a big deal for us. We’ll have it probably as long as it keeps on working. These days when you buy something new in the electronics category, it is obsolete by the time you get it in your door, since the techies are out there constantly designing the latest and greatest! This means our 2-year-old TV is already ancient.



I have a love/hate relationship with my TV. I really enjoy watching so many different programs and movies, but all too often, it keeps me from enjoying more cultured and thoughtful activities. Thank you Philo T. Farnsworth for inventing the deal that started the thing that lead to the invention of the contraption that contributes to the state of mush our brains are currently in now!

“Television: Chewing gum for the eyes.” –Frank Lloyd Wright

“Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.” –Alfred Hitchcock

“I believe television is going to be the test of the modern world, and that in this new opportunity to see beyond the range of our vision, we shall discover a new and unbearable disturbance of the modern peace, or a saving radiance in the sky. We shall stand or fall by television - of that I am quite sure.” -E.B. White

I guess this gives us something to think about besides American Idol, One Life to Live, and CSI…

In Your Own Words...

I just love music, all kinds of music. There is music for every occasion, for happy times, sad times, mad times, triumphant times, devastating times, loving times, and even just feelin’ goofy times. No matter how my day is turning out, I’ve got music to fit my mood! I listen to just about every genre imaginable, some more than others of course. A couple years ago, a friend from school introduced me to one of the greatest musical concepts of all time… www.pandora.com

On this website, you can customize your own radio stations. Say you’re in the mood for some James Taylor. You type in his name, and Pandora will play you his music and music with similar styles. It’s genius, right? My IPOD can’t do that! I can play specific genres. I can make my own playlists. I can even shuffle my music, but I can’t play nonstop James Taylor and friends.

You can even combine multiple favorite artists and get a great musical cocktail. Just imagine what Jimi Hendrix mixed with a little Brooks & Dunn would sound like… I’m guessing it would be a little like Lynyrd Skynyrd. Pandora is really great if you have something very specific in mind that you want to listen to like Eric Clapton unplugged. Type it in, then there it is for your listening pleasure! I really love Pandora, obviously.

With Pandora, the musical flavor of your choice is at your fingertips…

In Short Supply...

For a couple of weeks now, I’ve been hearing from parent friends of mine about the outrageousness of the current school supply lists. Recently, I received a local school bulletin listing all of the school supply lists for Pre-K through 6th grade. As I look over these lists, I have questions. If I was a parent, I would want to know why my kid needs so many glue sticks. Are the children required to show up with every item on the list the first day of school and leave it all at school? When I was a kid, we had a cabinet at home that contained school supplies, so when we ran out, we just got more. I don’t remember having such in-depth supply lists, but then again I was a little kid. I don’t remember much from those days…

Some of my friends seem to think they are supplying items for kids that show up empty-handed. Pre-K through 2nd grade requires 6 small glue sticks. That is approximately one glue stick a month. What are these kids gluing? We used good ‘ol Elmer’s when I was a kid…you know, back when kids ate glue! Wait…I just read the list a little more closely; some grades also require bottles of glue. Interesting… I get that kids supply tissue for the whole classroom, but...say an average class is 20 students. If each student brings their required 3 boxes of tissue, then the class will have 60 boxes of tissue. That is approximately 8 boxes of tissue a month…What?? I know kids are messy and they have runny noses, but is this really necessary? Or, is this needed in case only 10 kids bring the tissue?

I do not quite understand why this particular ISD is giving out name brands for supplies, such as: Kleenex, Crayola, Fiskars, Elmer’s, and Zip Loc. Are they getting some sort of sponsorship? I don’t think that 5-year-olds need Fiskars scissors and Kleenex tissue. I think they need what their parents can afford. Wow, 6th graders need 48 #2 wood pencils. Can’t you just see your 11/12-year-old with 2 handfuls of pencils on the first day of school? They will all be broken by lunch from that stupid pencil snapping game that kids like to play, oblivious to the frustration they will cause their parents! 4th graders need a nylon pencil bag. What if the kid wants a vinyl pencil bag? I remember when I was in school, I just put my pens and pencils in a pocket in my backpack. Uh-oh! They forgot something…what about the backpack? What are the kiddos going to put these 30 lbs of school supplies in? Maybe the parents figured that out before they sent their kid to school today with a plastic grocery bag…

Just thought I’d throw a little humor into a day that was surely stressful for many. Parents, kids, college students, drivers that had to deal with new cell phone prohibition in school zones, teachers, bus drivers, and all other school faculty are probably excited, depressed, happy, mad, thrilled, frustrated, and/or scared after the first day back to school. I’m certain that by the middle of next week, school will feel like the new norm again! Best wishes for a safe and happy school year.

If you are unaffected by school, get out and learn something new so you won’t feel left out…

In and Out...

I worked in retail for four years; therefore, I refuse to participate in Tax-Free Weekend‼ Here in Texas, we save a whopping 8.25%. Man, what a break! Seriously folks, this is not a deal, especially not with the back-to-school craziness going on. It was just this year that Texas decided to move this “holiday” to the weekend before school starts. Seriously?? I’m sure there was some sort of good intention here; but really, it just encourages procrastination. Here’s the lowdown…from my perspective anyway.

Scenario 1: Skip Tax-Free Weekend

If you skip Tax-Free Weekend, you avoid the hassle of moody, rude people. Everyone is now stressed because they waited for the weekend before school starts to buy supplies and clothing for their kiddos. The people that work in retail are not capable of keeping up with your outrageous demands, so the sales floor is going to be a wreck. You will have to shop around a mess. Oh! And there’s the crowd of people you will be dodging, the traffic you will be trying to avoid, and the long lines you’ll be waiting in just to check out. Personally, I would rather carry in a coupon to save 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% that my favorite stores offer throughout the year, save more, and avoid the hassle.

Scenario 2: Participate in Tax-Free Weekend

By participating in this event, you will save 8.25%.

If you spend:
$100, you will save $8.25
$200, you will save $16.50
$300, you will save $24.75
$400, you will save $33.00
$500, you will save $41.25

If this savings is worth it to you, then good luck!

Scenario 3: What Might Have Been

It is possible that some stores take away their sale prices to make more money this weekend. Here’s an example: Say you buy a $20 t-shirt over tax-free weekend. You save on the 8.25% tax, which makes your total = $20. If you bought that same shirt last weekend, it might have been on sale half-off for $10 + the sales tax of 8.25% makes your total = $10.83. You would have saved yourself the headache AND $9.

It’s hard to predict what will be on sale and what won’t over the weekend. You might even get some really great deals if you run out and shop.

As for me and my family, we can be found in a cocoon-like state inside of our home this weekend…

In a New York Minute...

A New York minute is much faster than a Texas minute. I bet if I was in New York I’d have a job by now. I love Texas too much, so I guess I’ll just have to keep waiting. Johnny Carson once joked that a New York minute is the amount of time between a traffic light turning green and the car behind you honking their horn, in New York of course. I have come to realize in recent days that what they say about the possibilities being endless is true. However, sometimes that isn’t enough. You need doors to open for you in the form of opportunities to achieve those possibilities. If I had the appropriate amount of money, I could pursue many possibilities.

($) Soda Money
($$) Gas Money
($$$) Electric Bill Money
($$$$) Mortgage Money

My Possibilities (in no particular order):

($$$) Start designing and building my own lamps, furniture, and accessories in hopes that someone would want to buy them.

($$$) Buy cheap furniture at yard sales and refurbish it for resale.

($$) Get off my whiny butt and start volunteering for Dwell with Dignity (a nonprofit organization that decorates free housing for deserving homeless families).

($$$$) Get a certification to become a teacher.

($$$$) Get a master’s degree to become a professional writer.

($) Keep writing my blog and hope the right person sees it someday.

($$) Work for free as an intern for an indefinite amount of time to gain experience, assuming there is a firm out there that has work for an intern, with all of the recent layoffs. No one wants to fetch coffee for free and learn nothing in return.

($) Continue to spend hours a day searching online job sites for “possibilities” that typically end in disappointment.

($) Peruse architecture and interior design company websites for job openings since no one ever advertises.

($$$$) Have some kiddos.

($$$$) Open my own store full of my crafty creations and furniture.

($$) Find seasonal work at Hobby Lobby, or find seasonal work for a business open primarily for Halloween or Christmas or any combination of the above.

($$$) Start a career in sales or claims adjusting.

($-$$$$) Mix and match any of the above.

As Billy Blanks says to me every day during my excruciating Tae-Bo workout, “You gotta give something to get something.”

I definitely know that something’s gotta give…

In the Doghouse...

When I was a kid, my parents had these sayings that drove me crazy. Now that I’m older, I’m able to decipher what they were really trying to say. These quotes that seemed like they were just meant to make me feel like a small child were really from a very serious and prestigious parent code. I have enclosed the short verbal version, followed by the long deep-thought version. Read on:

1. “If you keep making that face, it’ll freeze that way.”
Meaning: I wish you would quit distorting your face, especially in public. It’s embarrassing. I’m hoping that if I tell you your face will stay ugly, you will stop.

2. “I’ll give you something to cry about.”
Meaning: You are whining about something very stupid. It is frustrating. If you keep on, I will spank you for being a baby. Thus, making you cry harder.

3. “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
Meaning: You told me you want something I can’t afford. This is what I say to make me feel better about not being able to buy it for you. Other times, I say it because what you have asked for is extremely outrageous, and I’m appalled by your greediness at such a young age.

4. “If you eat those watermelon seeds, you’ll grow watermelons out of your ears.”
Meaning: Normal people do not eat the seeds of watermelons. You are a kid, so you do weird things. This is my way of trying to get you to stop this weird habit.

5. “Because I said so.”
Meaning: I got nothing. I just want you to do what I said.

6. “If you eat your boogers, you will get worms.”
Meaning: What you’re doing disgusts me. Having worms is even more disgusting. Maybe you will think so, too.

7. “I brought you into this world. I can take you out.”
Meaning: I labored for hours and hours to give birth to you. You are frustrating me so bad, I am reconsidering that choice.

8. “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Meaning: If someone does something bad to you, you shouldn’t do something bad in return. Just because Mommy seeks revenge doesn’t mean you should, too.

9. “If everybody else jumped off a bridge, would you do it, too?”
Meaning: I know that you think you should get to do everything that everybody else does. What you don’t realize is that what you want to do is just as stupid as following people off a bridge. You just don’t see it yet.

10. “I will knock you into the middle of next week.”
Meaning: I am so frustrated with you right now. I am thinking about hitting you very hard. If I were to hit you right now, being as mad as I am, you would be hit so violently that you would fly through time (think about how hard Superman hits).

11. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Meaning: I tell you to do things that are good, honest, and kind because I am trying to raise you up right. I have a lot of wisdom that you don’t understand. If at some point you see me do the opposite of what I have told you to do, you should just ignore it because there is a very good explanation for why I did it. I just don’t have time to discuss it right now.

12. “I’ve got eyes in the back of my head.”
Meaning: I have this motherly intuition that tells me you are getting into trouble. I tell you that I can see you when I am not facing you, so that I may dissuade you from making faces and gestures behind my back. Oftentimes, I am facing a window and can see what you are doing in the reflection of the glass.

I hope that this post is therapy for all of your built up frustration with your traumatic childhood. Now that you hear yourself saying these same things to your children, maybe you’ll stop. Or, maybe you will laugh a little harder as you realize that you have become your mother.

See ‘ya in the funny pages…

In the Heat of the Night...

I’ve had this fascination with wood light fixtures ever since Justin and I made a cedar lamp for my dad for Christmas last year. All through school, green design was drilled into me. It is important that designers choose natural materials that are good for the environment and are easily recyclable. We are the innovators, and people will listen to us…well, they’re supposed to anyway!

2009 Cedar Lantern (my design)

My greatest dream is that I will one day be able to produce (and sell) furniture and accessory designs that are modern and stylish. I’ve looked into the art of woodworking, and it is something I would like to pursue at some point. I always tend to choose expensive hobbies, so it will have to wait for now. Maybe I’ll eventually take a class on woodworking that will provide the tools and wood that I need (for a fee). I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Wood is very appealing to me. I think it would be an awesome selling point to use mainly wood to create all of my designs. Once I’m famous, my use of wood will be what puts me in the history books.

Some Inspiration

I think what draws me to wood is the natural beauty that it radiates. No two pieces are just alike! I have always liked Frank Lloyd Wright’s furniture designs, even when so many folks are very critical of his furniture. Come on people, he was designing modern furniture way before the people were ready for it. They couldn’t appreciate it and just complained about the discomfort of his pieces. Often, wood was the medium he would use for his own pieces. Of course, I would strive for total comfort with my designs, but my creativity could never go to the depths that his did.

1933 Taliesin III Table Lamp (FLW)

1937 Barrel Chair (FLW)

"The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his client to plant vines - so they should go as far as possible from home to build their first buildings." -Frank Lloyd Wright (I think we have a similar sense of humor.)

If you build it, they will come…

In the Line of Fire...

At first I was excited about my 10 year reunion coming up in 6 weeks. Now, I’m getting a little antsy. What do I have to show for myself? I’ve always been concerned with what other people think about me, unfortunately. I have no job, no kids, and my appearance is not what I hoped it would be. Yeah, it’s a pity party. Bear with me.

Ever since I graduated from college, my life has been so out of control, well my control anyway. I’ve always had a plan: finish high school, go to college, get married, graduate college, get a job…URK(as in squealing car breaks). As you all know, I have yet to complete the next aspect of my plan, not for lack of trying certainly. I was so hoping to do that before the reunion came up; that way I could say, “I work for a large architecture firm in Dallas.” That would give me pride in myself and my accomplishments. I’m often just embarrassed and ashamed of my lack of place in this world. There are things about this life I cannot control, but I do get the opportunity to decide how I handle those things. And, the truth is, what I haven’t accomplished doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ve made progress!

I think it is no coincidence that as I’m writing this, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day comes on my Pandora station. This song was popular back when I was in high school. Here are the lyrics:

Another turning point;
a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don't ask why.

It's not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on a shelf
In good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories
and dead skin on trial.

For what it's worth,
it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

Wow…God never ceases to amaze me. Now that this whole post seems so juvenile…I have accomplished many things after high school that I have to brag about. Here’s what I’ve accomplished:

• I have an Associate’s Degree.
• I performed with the Kilgore College Band at the Texas State Fair.
• I know some World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes (haha).
• I have a Bachelor’s Degree.
• I made the Dean’s List.
• I contributed to a piece of art in the Dallas Museum of Art.
• I’m a member of a professional organization.
• God and I are great friends.
• I am married and have stayed married for 7 years.
• I am one part of a truly happy marriage.
• I am an incredibly awesome housewife.
• I’ve lived the big city life.
• I’ve been fortunate enough not to have to borrow from my parents.
• I’ve completed two 5Ks.
• I’ve ridden in an airplane.
• I’ve survived several Halloween haunted houses.
• I’ve made lamps, furniture, artwork, and jewelry.
• I use power tools.
• I write a soon-to-be award-winning blog (hehe).
• I shoot guns.
• I witnessed the construction of Cowboys Stadium.
• I met Hayes Carll.
• I quit biting my fingernails.
• I’ve been to a Nascar race.
• I play in the ocean often.
• I’ve been to many big name concerts, including the sandbar section at Kenny Chesney.
• I was present for the birth of my nephew.
• I played in 14 inches of snow and made a snowman.
• I’ve been to an old plantation house.
• I’ve seen 3-D movies at the IMAX.
• I’ve been to New Orleans and (uh…uhm) Bourbon Street.

My 5 Year Plan:
1. Still be great friends with God.
2. Still be married to my wonderful husband.
3. Have a job that I could not have gotten without my college degree.
4. Have 2 kids.
5. Own a home.
6. Be content with what I have, even if it’s not everything I had dreamed of.

I realize I have nothing to be ashamed of, but every day is a struggle. I know this time of my life is of vital importance to my future. The way I handle it will build the foundation for all of the other challenges I will face. I’m keeping my chin up, trying my best to change my circumstances, and keeping the faith that God knows what’s best.

This is my life as I know it. Guess I’m doing pretty good…

In a Name...

Today I attended Metrocon10 Expo & Conference. This event is designed to display the latest and greatest in commercial and residential interior design products and services. Approximately 3,000 interior designers, architects, design students, and industry professionals in the region attend every year. This expo is generally like any other I’ve ever gone to, including expos for cars and guns (blah), except way more interesting…to me anyway. There are over 250 vendors featuring products such as: floor coverings, paints, open plan office furniture, floral arrangements, healthcare furniture, lighting, graphics, modern hospitality furniture, window treatments and screens, kitchen appliances, fabrics, outdoor textiles, etc. You name it, you’ll see it there. The best way to go to these things is with a buddy because sometimes it can be kind of awkward to speak to the vendors, especially when you are not “with” any company and have no experience to talk about.

I made a few observations when I was there that I thought I might share just in case one of these vendors should ever see my blog. I’m not sure if they get a lot of feedback, and there are definitely some things they could change to be more successful if they choose.

1. Send out a representative that is personable and friendly. If your rep is looking down at their Blackberry as I pass by, I’m not going to stop.

2. Be friendly. I remember the representatives that show an interest in me and what I have to say. I also remember if you lose interest in speaking with me when someone “more important” shows up to talk with you.

3. Encourage your representatives to speak to me first. Show me you’re eager to educate me about your product or I’ll walk past you, and you will have missed your opportunity.

4. Think of your job here as an educational tool. I may not be in a position to specify your products. Don’t bother trying to sell me your product right now. If you take the time to educate me about your product, I am more likely to use your product or at least recommend it in the future.

5. Don’t discount me because I am a student or unemployed. One day I will be employed and will remember if you treated me poorly.

6. Have samples on display that are appealing to the eye. If your product is boring or you are only offering text-heavy booklets, I’ll have a hard time remembering your product.

7. If you want people to remember you, give out something for free. It doesn’t have to be big, just a pen or a coaster. However, bags are best. I looked at over 250 companies today. That’s a lot to absorb.

8. Offer some sort of sweepstakes for me to enter. A $50 Ipod Shuffle is incentive enough for me (heck, a $20 Starbucks card is good enough), and I’ve left my card in your jar, which you can use to contact me in the future.

The Fun Freebies I Acquired:

• Admission
• Literature
• Catalogs
• Pretzel M&Ms
• Sprinkles Cupcake (my favorite freebie)
• Job Leads
• Industry Contacts (by way of business cards)
• Paint Samples
• Cork Coaster
• Pens
• Mirrored Spy Glasses
• Reusable Vendor Bags (the absolute best way for me to remember you)
• Bottled Water
• Note/Sketch Pads
• Sweepstakes Entries

I enjoy attending this show for the knowledge that I gain. I always learn something new. You can tell the good and bad experiences I had just by my list above. There are so many companies out there selling similar products. I am the type that is willing to overlook a large profit for proper service. One day I will be out there specifying products and these experiences will guide the decisions I make.

I look forward to the day when I can say who I’m “with”…

In the Still of the Night...

Since tomorrow is Friday the 13th, it got me to thinking about the origin of the stigma behind the date. This date is known to be a bad luck day, but I enjoy it. It means a night of scary movies for me, including the movie by the same name. It seems that in some walks of life, Friday is deemed an unlucky day, and currently 13 is considered by many to be an unlucky number. These two together create the ultimate bad luck day. No one knows the exact origin of the stigma, but there are a lot of theories.

Possible Theories Linking Friday and 13 to Bad Luck:

• Jesus was crucified on a Friday and there were 13 diners at the Last Supper.
• A tale in Norse mythology suggests that Frigga, the goddess of love and fertility was banished from her people when she failed to convert to Christianity. It is thought that Friday was named for her. They called her a witch, so she gathered every Friday with 11 other witches and the devil (total of 13) to curse the people. Friday was known as “Witches’ Sabbath.”
• The Templar Knights (protectors of Christian pilgrims during the Crusades) were arrested by King Philip in France on Friday, October 13, 1307.

Trivia:

• Changing your bed on Friday will result in bad dreams.
• Leaving for a trip on Friday is a bad omen.
• Many cities do not have a 13th Street.
• Many buildings do not have a 13th floor.
• Room 13 is usually skipped in hotels, as is floor 13 in many high rises.
• There are 13 witches in a coven.
• There are 13 coils in a hangman’s noose.
• The 13th Tarot Card features the Grim Reaper and is known as the Death Card.
• Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy, and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.

This all seems a little spooky to me. Coincidence…or not? I’m not really superstitious, but on this particular day, I think I’ll refrain from opening umbrellas indoors, stepping on cracks, and walking under ladders.

After all, with my recurring bad luck, I need all the help I can get…

In that Regard...

When folks I know and love find out they’re having a baby, I quickly get started with my super special baby gift. I have to get started early because my special gift is time-consuming. Lots of people I know crochet or quilt baby blankets or booties. Some people make special baskets or towers of gifts. But, I discovered something unconventional from the retro October 1986 edition of The Workbasket I found at my mom’s house a couple years ago. It was a pattern for needlepoint baby blocks, complete with stuffing and jingle bells.

Needlepoint refers to several kinds of crafts with a needle, but this one in particular is the craft of using plastic open-weave canvas, a large needle, and yarn. Typically, this craft produces the type of tacky treasures you would find in grandma’s house. But, I found this pattern so interesting and different that I had to give it a try. After tweaking the pattern over the years, I think I’ve finally got it about perfect. The amount of some colors didn’t make sense and some of the pictures on the blocks were hard to decipher. I think every set I’ve made have been different in some way from each of the others. So, I took away a little here and added a little there and have come up with, what I think, is a one-of-a-kind treasure for moms and babies.

The project itself is fairly easy and inexpensive, but the time spent laboring (pun intended) is priceless. My best estimate is a total of 26 hours. I actually really enjoy needlepoint but haven’t come up with very many projects that aren’t hideous. I don’t know how many poorly made mini-trunks my mom ended up with when I was a kid. You gotta start somewhere, right?

Just in case you were wondering, these are available for purchase, really. However, you must place your order two years in advance (you know, cause you can like, predict that sort of thing)…

In the Mood...

Sometimes, I get the itch to shop. Once it’s on my mind, I can’t forget it. Today, I scratched my itch and went outlet shopping! Now, I’m not just any shopper, I’m an expert bargain shopper. I don’t get to go very often, maybe a few times a year. I wait until I accumulate coupons to get the very best deals that I can. Usually, I find a smart bargain, combine it with my coupons and save a bundle. It fires me up and gets me excited! I kind of enjoy the savings more than the purchase. It makes me feel like I’ve beat the system, like I’ve gotten one over on the man.

Claire’s
1 Necklace + 5 Pairs of Earrings = $30 (Saved $6)

Jockey
3 Tank Tops + 9 Pairs of Underwear = $36 (Saved $61)

Maurices
1 Pair of Flats + 2 Tops = $48 (Saved $28)

Gap
2 Tank Tops + 2 Vintage T-Shirts = $27 (Saved $17)

These prices are great for the quality. I’m sure you can go to Wal-Mart and get it just as cheap if not cheaper, but you won’t match the quality!

Total Spent: $141
Total Saved: $112
Seeing the 60-year-old woman with no bra on in a see-through orange midriff baring tank top: Priceless…

In the Name of Love...

Today, 8/9/10, marks mine and Justin’s 7th wedding anniversary. I’ve been working hard the last week on some special surprises I have up my sleeve. Of course, the sun did not set before I had my share of tears over my bad luck not cooperating with me. After a few bobbles along the way, the day produced one of our most memorable anniversaries yet.

I started the day off getting my atmosphere set up for the 7 course Italian meal I was serving for dinner. Yes, being the super awesome domestic executive that I am, I decided to try one for the books. At this point, my recipes have already been collected and my grocery list prepared. There was no way I could buy the groceries ahead of time or Justin would have known something was up. My plans for the morning included finishing my atmosphere, finishing my second surprise, and a trip to the grocery store.

The next step was to finish up the other surprise I was working on. I really needed my printer and scanner to work for me today. I was working on a collage of our vacations in Galveston/Crystal Beach over the years. Since our vacations started in the years before digital pictures, I had to scan pictures that had been printed to put them on my computer for formatting and reprinting. When I go to scan the pictures, my all-in-one printer starts acting a fool. It’s telling me I have a problem with an ink cartridge. Of course, it doesn’t tell me what is wrong or whether it is the color or black ink cartridge. After some short-lived troubleshooting, I give up and decide I should just go out and buy two new cartridges. Problem solved, right? Wrong…

It’s around brunchtime, and I head out to the grocery store with list in hand. Of course, now I have to make a pit stop I hadn’t planned on to pick up the dreaded ink. I quickly take care of that little issue and head on over to the grocery store. It all went pretty smoothly and quickly. Luckily, I was able to find everything I needed or at least some sort of substitution. My stressed out self was back home by 1:00pm., already off-schedule…

I lug all of my bags into the house, put the cold stuff in the fridge, and head to the printer with my ink. I pop in the black cartridge and voila, my printer is acting like that printer I know and love again. I quickly hook up my laptop and proceed to scan. You guessed it; now I’m getting another error message. I have been scanning this exact way for years and have never had a problem. Did I mention I have bad luck occasionally? I get smart and think camera memory card! Rejected! This memory card is not compatible with my printer. Now come the boat loads of tears. I call Justin to whine about my trouble, and he suggests the memory card from our old camera. I just had to be done with it or I was going to lose my mind. I eventually compose myself and decide it’s just time to move on and start cooking.

It’s about 3 o’clock now and, I put on some music which immediately makes me feel better. I start mixing and stirring, chopping and folding, shredding and whisking, beating and pouring, all in the name of love. As I begin to calm down and several burners are going, I change my mind and decide to try the old memory card and of course, it works! I can’t give up now; I scan, scan, scan. I get everything fixed up, ready to go, printed out, pasted on and my day has immediately brightened profusely! After a couple hours of feeling like Rachael Ray in the kitchen, I put the main course in the oven and rush off for the quickest shower known to man. I hurry back to cooking because Justin is due home any minute. I meet him at the door, and the look on his face is worth all of the trouble my day has brought.

He’s like a kid in a candy store, mesmerized by all of my visible creations. He joins the party again after he gets cleaned up, and we cook together until everything is ready. He excitedly takes pictures of everything (which is one less thing I have to think about…love!). We thoroughly enjoy our evening of some of our favorite things: music, food, laughter, and one another.

So, our 7th on 8/9/10 becomes nothing short of another great one for the memory books…

THE MENU

Course 1
Stuffed Zucchini

Course 2
Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup

Course 3
Pizza Margherita

Course 4
Italian House Salad

Course 5
Mile-High Lasagna

Course 6
Green Melon w/ Lime & Lemon Sorbet

Course 7
Tiramisu Layer Cake

In that Case...

Brown paper packages tied up with string…these are a few of my favorite things. I guess maybe this stems from all the years growing up with comic strip and foil wrapped presents. I appreciated my gifts no matter what they were wrapped in (sometimes they just came in a plastic grocery bag). Come to think of it…when I would receive a Christmas present with one of those stick on bows on it, I thought I had hit the big time! It’s about what’s inside that counts, right? Well, every once in a while, everyone would like to receive a nicely wrapped package with string and bows.

When I worked at Mervyn’s years ago, I had to wrap packages sometimes. There was a method to it: crisp, clean, geometric perfection. People weren’t paying for a crinkly, taped up blob of a package (think a package of socks wrapped by a man). Now, I’m definitely not the best gift-wrapper in the world, but I know a thing or two. Sometimes I am in a hurry and can’t take the care I would like to, but in an ideal situation, I have several tips for a beautifully wrapped package.

My Best Tips:

1. If you can, buy better quality wrapping paper. The thin stuff will be see-through and will tear at any prick from a pointy corner.

2. Look for sales and clearance on wrapping paper, bows, cards, and tape. Just because you don’t need it right away doesn’t mean you can’t purchase it in advance. At least one person in your circle of friends and family will get married, have a baby, have a birthday, and/or have an anniversary in the next year.

3. If you have an odd-shaped item, put it in a box for a geometric shape that is easier to wrap or come up with a creative way to wrap it. Don’t be afraid of making baskets and grouping several small items together. You can always wrap them up with cellophane or tulle.

4. After you cut your paper, fold your edges over about ¼”, and the crooked edge that you probably cut will be hidden.

5. Double-stick tape is your friend. It will allow you to secure the package but leave the tape hidden.

6. Crease your paper with the edges of the gift as you go for a crisper look.

7. When you do the triangle fold on the two ends, try not to end the fold in a point. Instead, cut off excess paper and end the fold with a flat edge, preferably lined up with the edge of the gift.

8. The best bows are made with the fabric wired ribbon. This allows you to make the ribbon do exactly what you want it to because most thin, paper ribbons have a mind of their own.

The receiver of your gift will like anything you give them in any way you give it in. However, if you present a beautifully wrapped package, they are bound to love it.

If all good books had good covers, more people would appreciate them…

In Memory Of...

Today brought very sad news for me and generations of other architecture and interior design students. The news that one of our favorite architecture professors passed away moved quickly through the grapevine of our school network. Professor Richard Ferrier taught freshmen all the way to graduate students. He was the very first teacher any of us students had in the architecture department. He taught the 400 student architectural survey class that had to be held in a large auditorium. It brought my first real taste of big university classes. The class was so large because it served as an elective for all majors. He had to have three teaching assistants for such a huge class. The class was designed to teach an overview of the major developments of architecture, art, and design and how they relate to society and culture. He enjoyed sharing what he loved with us and made us love it as well.

He was a great teacher and an award-winning practicing architect. They always say that those who can’t do teach. Professor Ferrier definitely could do it and teach. He always talked to us about Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and how much it inspired and intrigued him. He took a group of students every year as a short summer course. He loved to fish out at Lake Whitney in North Central Texas and talked about its beauty and peacefulness often. He definitely had a sense of humor, often telling jokes that were misunderstood. He won more awards than anyone can count and absolutely loved architecture and art. The textbook for his class was a compilation of his notes and the important things he wanted us to take from the class. He just simply wanted us to understand what he was teaching us and provided us with the easiest method to do that.

I pulled out that old ‘textbook’ and looked over it, and it reminded me of a time when I loved school, when everything was still fresh and exciting, before the frustrated and stressed feelings had set in. This proves that everything about school wasn’t bad. I loved my architectural history classes and typically did extremely well in them, such as this one in which I pulled an ‘A’ and was exempt from the final. I’ve always felt that good teachers produce good students. When you have a student eager to learn and you teach them in a way that they can understand and appreciate, you as a teacher have done your job very well. Professor Ferrier laid the foundation for my education. I’m just sad to know that so many more students will not be so fortunate to learn from his as well. However, the students that did have the honor to learn from him will carry his passion, thoughts, and ideas along with them throughout their careers.

My biggest regret is that I didn’t take part in his annual pumpkin carving contest. He meant business and wanted for his students to learn, but he also found time to have fun and expected the same for us. I took this class 8 years ago, but I distinctly remember two pieces of wisdom he shared with our class: 1. Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. 2. If you're a female and you plan on getting married, do it before you start your career. You'll have a hard time changing your last name once people know your work by your maiden name.

Thanks for the memories Professor Ferrier…

In Other Words...

My mother-in-law sent me an email forward today that had me laughing my butt off while rolling on the floor, figuratively of course. It goes like this:


I want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, or have the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can’t go to Wal-Mart without wearing blinders for fear of seeing butt cracks and other things that might blind me! You know who you are that sends me these pictures! I laugh until I have to go to Wal-Mart for more depends.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don’t know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels.

I can’t sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one’s nose.

Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans-fats I have consumed over the years.

I can’t touch any woman’s purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa’s Novena has granted my every wish.

I can’t have a drink in a bar because I’ll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.

I can’t eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.

I can’t use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer buy gas without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer doesn’t crawl in my back seat when I’m filling up.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Fanta since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put ‘Under God’ on their cans.

I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.

AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can’t boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face…disfiguring me for life.

I no longer go to the movies because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS when I sit down

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda agents in disguise. And I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

I no longer buy cookies from Neiman-Marcus since I now have their recipe.

THANKS TO YOU I can’t use anyone’s toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can’t ever pick up $2.00 coin dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over.

I no longer drive my car because buying gas from some companies supports Al Qaeda, and buying gas from all the others supports South American dictators.

I can’t do any gardening because I’m afraid I’ll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.

If you don’t send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor’s ex-mother-in-law’s second husband’s cousin’s best friend’s beautician . . .

Oh, by the way.....

A German scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Don’t bother taking it off now, it’s too late.

PS: I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by e-mail that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet.


I get tons of forwards every week that always make me wonder if they are true. You do know that you can’t believe everything you read, right? If you are ever wondering whether any of these stories are true, you should go to: www.snopes.com. They’ve got every urban legend/rumor/truthful forward on file. You just type in a few key words from the email into the search box, and usually it will bring up your email word-for-word. They research these stories to see if they are real and then let you know if they are true, false, or true and false. I always check with them first before sending any emails like these, because I definitely don’t want to be the one passing around the false information that Starbucks doesn’t donate coffee to our nation’s troops while overseas because they oppose the war.

You do realize that the dumb people that make up these lies sit back and laugh as you gasp at your screen in awe, because you just discovered that potato chips are really donuts minus the holes fried for 2 hours with salt added instead of sugar.

If you don’t tell 20 friends about my blog in the next 42 seconds, you will get very bad news in the next 12 years‼ Beware…

In the Know...

I’ve had an epiphany. As everyone knows, we have an epidemic going on in our country called obesity. I am in the process of working my way out of that statistic and keeping my future family out of it, too. I’ve really come to some strong realizations over the last year. My epiphany stems from the idea that people who smoke will quit if the prices of cigarettes are raised enough. We have seen that the tax hike on cigarettes has caused many to stop or at least cut back. I got to thinking…being overweight is costly. I’m not even 30 years old, and I probably could have bought a car on the amount of money I have spent trying to lose weight. Fortunately, the light bulb went on in my head this past year, and I discovered the easiest and cheapest way to do it. Buy fresh food, which yes, is more expensive. The processed junk is cheaper, but not in the long run.

1. Eat less. Cook just enough for one serving for each member of the family. If seconds aren’t available, then no one can eat them. If you are not overeating and you are now eating the good stuff, you’ll find that your price on groceries is about breaking even AND you feel better. Which means…you save money!

2. If you are eating healthier, you will become healthier; you’ll visit the doctor less often and have to fill prescriptions less often. Which means…you save money!

3. Everyone knows how expensive and unhealthy it is to eat out. If you do it less often or not at all…you save money!

4. Quit buying diet books and diet pills. They don’t work anyway or else you would have already lost the weight by now. Guess what…you save money!

5. Just get out and move. Walk around the block, play a sport with a friend, or do an exercise video or work out on a machine you already have. Don’t buy any special video or piece of equipment. Just sweat old school, and you’ll save money!

6. Don’t subscribe to some weight loss/food group. What if you can’t afford to be part of the group anymore and now you’re on your own? If you do the work yourself…you save money!

7. When you live a healthy lifestyle, in the long run, you’ll be able to avoid diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. (unless it’s hereditary). You won’t have to worry about buying the medical supplies which accompany having some of these problems. Which means…you save money!

Over the years, I have bought books, pills, videos, exercise equipment, meal plans, and joined gyms. I stuck to none of it! I have figured out that when you truly CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE for the long haul, that’s when you keep the weight off. You have to learn how to feed yourself appropriately while feeling satisfied. I eat sweets and fried foods in moderation, so I never feel deprived of any of my guilty pleasures. You have to burn off more calories than you take in to lose weight. It’s simple science that no one wants you to be educated about, because so much money is made every year on people who are overweight, whether they are continuing to add the pounds or trying to lose them.

We are so misguided in this country. You don’t have to have money to lose weight; you just have to have determination and seek out the free education that will lead you to your goals…


July 2009


July 2010

In the Line of Duty...

Well today was the turning of a new leaf…maybe…I guess. You never realize that something profound is going on in your life until after it has already happened. Today I began the preparation for mine and Justin’s attempt to relocate. With his help, I finished up his cover letter and resume. Since I’ve been job hunting for what seems like forever, mine just needed a little tweaking. I had to personalize them both to companies we are interested in working for. We aren’t really responding to any specific ads for employment but just sending our names out there in hopes that someone will need one or both of our services. Long shot, right? We have faith that if it’s meant to happen, it will.

This process takes so much time:
1. How big of an area are we considering?
2. What companies are out there that we would consider working for?
3. Will we be able to find appropriate housing?
4. What are the companies we want to apply to?
5. What is the preferred method of application to each of these companies?
6. What is the email address/mailing address for each company?
7. What special requirements for applying does each company have?
8. Complete cover letters, resumes, etc. for each company.
9. Attach to email or print, stuff, and address envelopes. Press send or put in the mailbox.
10. Wait…

The seed has been sown, so I suppose we shall see if it will grow. I sent out a total of 10 submissions. As we hear of new opportunities, we will pursue those as well. We realize that this may not happen right away, but it’s worth a try anyway. I’ve also started browsing the local employment ads again. I don’t enjoy uncertainty, but it’s kinda my life now. I just roll with the punches.

In addition, I finally have a good analogy for the way not having a job after nine years of college makes me feel. It's like when you're a kid at the grocery store, and your mom tells you, "If you're good, you can have a piece of candy on the way out." Then, after you've tried real hard and been on your best behavior all the way through the store, she says, "Ah...you don't really need that. It'll spoil your dinner."

Don't fret my friends...I'm not discouraged. We'll see if my Father thinks it's time for me to have that piece of candy yet. ;)