This weekend has been a good one. It started with not working on Friday after a few days of long hours, and hard core interpreting. Friday I woke up and took my sweet time getting ready for the day, and then drove down to see my oldest sister who recently moved to Utah. My mom was staying at her house helping with the move and to juggle the kids. It wasn't a set plan until my mom called me and told me to come down. I hadn't seen my mom since last November at Thanksgiving, so was excited to see her for a little while. I drove her over to my grandparents house to stay as my dad was getting in to town on Saturday.
Instead of driving all the way back to Ogden, only to have to wake up at the crack of dawn to get back down to the South Towne Expo Center at 8 am, I decided to spoil myself a little and book a hotel all to myself. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express just off of 106th South for the night. I went and checked in to the hotel after dropping my mama off at the grandparents, and got all my stuff unloaded. Once I got all my stuff in to the room, I sat down on the bed and listened to my surroundings and all I could hear in my room with my king size bed was sheer and utter silence. It was pure bliss in that moment. I didn't have to be anywhere, say anything, call anyone, or do anything if I didn't want to.
This was bliss because I was able to relax after what had been a hard week personally. Some of my friends and family might read this and think I was over-indulging myself, but really this was me just taking a self-imposed "time-out" from the stresses of life and having "me" time.
I went over across the street to the South Towne Mall and spent a couple of hours shopping. No big purchases were made: a couple of new bras, makeup, and some skin care stuff to pamper myself with. This shopping trip wasn't made in a hurry while on a break between appointments, or with another person telling me where they wanted to go....it was just me meandering around an unfamiliar mall to stores I wanted to take peruse around in. It was true retail therapy, without buying tons of clothes I may or may not wear. It was also some good exercise as I wasn't just lounging around doing nothing.
This wasn't a trip or evening that lacked a typical "Lisa" moment however. I was making my way to the food court when I realized I didn't have my new coat I received as a gift. I practically had to stand still for a moment to think about where on earth I could have left it. I said a small prayer that I would know where to find it. I nearly ran back to the first store I had been and found my jacket. Thank heavens. If I had lost this jacket, it wouldn't have been the first to suffer the same fate of other new jackets (including a new Gap jacket I lost my first semester of marriage in the Old Main building at USU, but I digress).
I left the mall with Subway sandwich, chips, and sugar cookie in tow and went back to my hotel to relax. I turned on the TV to watch the Olympics a little and eat. But I took a long hot shower first enjoying the fact that hot water doesn't run out like it does at my apartment, then settled in to bed to eat my dinner and relax. Once again, utter bliss. I slept better than I have in ages due to the fact I was able to sprawl out and sleep.
I am thinking that as long as I volunteer at the Expo like I have for the last 3 years now, then I might make this a tradition. It is totally worth the $$.
The expo went well as can be expected, spent some extra time with my mama, met my dad at his parents to say hello, and then drove back to Ogden feeling renewed and refreshed.
Sunday, February 28
Wednesday, February 3
The Best Kind
This post is totally going to come across as corny, but to heck with those few of you that actually read this. I write this for me.
I have been sitting here thinking about the fact that I talked to both of my sisters this evening, and talk to my mom every other day or so.
Thinking about the relationships/friendships with my sisters and Mom, I can't help but smile.
Maybe even laugh.
I say laugh because my sisters' can be relied upon to make comments on my Facebook status' that make me laugh...so hard that my sides hurt, and so hard that my laugh goes silent, and gets louder.
I feel so lucky to have them as my family. They are built-in best friends. To me, that's the best kind.
I have been sitting here thinking about the fact that I talked to both of my sisters this evening, and talk to my mom every other day or so.
Thinking about the relationships/friendships with my sisters and Mom, I can't help but smile.
Maybe even laugh.
I say laugh because my sisters' can be relied upon to make comments on my Facebook status' that make me laugh...so hard that my sides hurt, and so hard that my laugh goes silent, and gets louder.
I feel so lucky to have them as my family. They are built-in best friends. To me, that's the best kind.
Monday, February 1
Funkdified....
I have been in a blogging funk. I used to do it every 2-3 days, but it's been a while since I have found the motivation to really blog about something. Half of my blog list of people I like to keep up with seems to have gone the same direction as me. I just haven't had much to say lately. I am in a writing/blogging FUNK. I need to get out of it, and hopefully soon. It doesn't help that I see so many people commenting on other people's blogs all the time.
Any advice??
Any advice??
Thursday, January 21
Couponing
A couple of months ago, my sister Katie and I went to a meeting here in Ogden where a lady taught us about different ways to save $$ in your grocery budget. It included getting more than just one copy of the local newspaper for multiple coupons, and establishing a stash of coupons to choose from. The lady who taught us told us about a website called pinchingyourpennies.com that has women who post lists of great deals EVERY WEEK at local grocery stores. You get better savings on using coupons on things that are already on sale. You can price match as well to help with not having to go to EVERY damn grocery store in your area to get great deals.
The lady said that using multiple coupons on sale items might seem like you were spending more money, but if you stocked up on things, it would save you money in the long run when you went to make your shopping list and realized you didn't need to buy more of something when there might not be a deal happening on a particular item that week.
She stated that since she has started "couponing" she has been able to bring an estimated $1000 dollar monthy budget down to $250 dollars a month (she has a large family). She says that she NEVER buys anything at full price.
She warned us that we wouldn't see near that big of a price reduction immediately. She said that it would take up to 6 months. Initially you spend what you normally do, but maybe you start getting more bang for your buck. I found this to be true.
Every Sunday I sit down and go through the 3 copies of the newspaper that we get and cut out the coupons for products I know we could use. I then organize them into the FOOD and NON-FOOD categories. I like to make the first part of my grocery list with things I already have coupons for, then add the things that you don't get normal coupons for i.e. milk, bread, eggs etc. I have been doing this for about a month now. I find that I don't price match and I don't shop at the local grocery stores. The lady told us that we should support local food stores, but after a week or 2 of shopping at Smiths, or Family Fresh, I just knew that I would save more money at Wal-Mart. What used to take me 45 minutes to grocery shop now takes a little more than an hour, but it's worth it.
In the last 4-5 weeks alone of doing this I have saved $35 dolllars a week, except this last week due to the coupons not being as good as usual, thus I saved $20 dollars. For example, if our weekly budget for groceries is $100 dollars, and since I have just started this, I will still spend that $100 but get groceries worth $135 dollars. One week I saved the average $35 but ended up only spending $85.
So yes, I am that lady in front of you that you have to wait for in line at the cash register because they have to scan my coupons.
Go ahead. Roll your eyes, and exaggerate your sighs of annoyance. I don't care because I am saving money and you're not!
There's just something to be said about the first time you get to the cash register and you find out the total of $139 grocery bill is then brought down to $105 (this is with tax)! Then you realize that you can get toothpaste for free, and soap for 7 cents a bar.
Take that Uncle Sam! You already get enough of my taxes.
The lady said that using multiple coupons on sale items might seem like you were spending more money, but if you stocked up on things, it would save you money in the long run when you went to make your shopping list and realized you didn't need to buy more of something when there might not be a deal happening on a particular item that week.
She stated that since she has started "couponing" she has been able to bring an estimated $1000 dollar monthy budget down to $250 dollars a month (she has a large family). She says that she NEVER buys anything at full price.
She warned us that we wouldn't see near that big of a price reduction immediately. She said that it would take up to 6 months. Initially you spend what you normally do, but maybe you start getting more bang for your buck. I found this to be true.
Every Sunday I sit down and go through the 3 copies of the newspaper that we get and cut out the coupons for products I know we could use. I then organize them into the FOOD and NON-FOOD categories. I like to make the first part of my grocery list with things I already have coupons for, then add the things that you don't get normal coupons for i.e. milk, bread, eggs etc. I have been doing this for about a month now. I find that I don't price match and I don't shop at the local grocery stores. The lady told us that we should support local food stores, but after a week or 2 of shopping at Smiths, or Family Fresh, I just knew that I would save more money at Wal-Mart. What used to take me 45 minutes to grocery shop now takes a little more than an hour, but it's worth it.
In the last 4-5 weeks alone of doing this I have saved $35 dolllars a week, except this last week due to the coupons not being as good as usual, thus I saved $20 dollars. For example, if our weekly budget for groceries is $100 dollars, and since I have just started this, I will still spend that $100 but get groceries worth $135 dollars. One week I saved the average $35 but ended up only spending $85.
So yes, I am that lady in front of you that you have to wait for in line at the cash register because they have to scan my coupons.
Go ahead. Roll your eyes, and exaggerate your sighs of annoyance. I don't care because I am saving money and you're not!
There's just something to be said about the first time you get to the cash register and you find out the total of $139 grocery bill is then brought down to $105 (this is with tax)! Then you realize that you can get toothpaste for free, and soap for 7 cents a bar.
Take that Uncle Sam! You already get enough of my taxes.
Comfies
When I shop for semi-professional clothes for work, I am all about cute AND comfortable. While I was working full-time as a foster mom, I was all about dressing comfortably in washable clothes due to the fact I became a walking drool bib and snot smearer (aka giant tissue). One of the hardest things about coming back to work was getting used to dressing professionally again. Jeans and a shirt were my former "coming home and relaxing" routine.
THIS IS NO LONGER!
I have come across some black fleece drawstring pants and a zip up fleece jacket at Target (one of my favorite stores!) for a very inexpensive price! I bought a set right after Christmas with some $$ I received, and after having to wash them a little too often, I went back and got another pair. I am super anal about whether or not the pants are long enough, even with shoes and these are totally just that! I come home and change in to these or something like them. I love that sweats are not the ones our mom's used to wear that are SUPER tapered at the bottom. They make them almost in a boot cut simply hemmed style now that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. I can wear them to go work out, I can throw on a DownEast tshirt under the jacket and go do my grocery shopping.
Maybe some of y'all are totally against going out in public like this, but guess what??
I DON'T CARE!
These new finds are comfortable and warm in these cold Utah winters. Wahoo!
THIS IS NO LONGER!
I have come across some black fleece drawstring pants and a zip up fleece jacket at Target (one of my favorite stores!) for a very inexpensive price! I bought a set right after Christmas with some $$ I received, and after having to wash them a little too often, I went back and got another pair. I am super anal about whether or not the pants are long enough, even with shoes and these are totally just that! I come home and change in to these or something like them. I love that sweats are not the ones our mom's used to wear that are SUPER tapered at the bottom. They make them almost in a boot cut simply hemmed style now that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. I can wear them to go work out, I can throw on a DownEast tshirt under the jacket and go do my grocery shopping.
Maybe some of y'all are totally against going out in public like this, but guess what??
I DON'T CARE!
These new finds are comfortable and warm in these cold Utah winters. Wahoo!
Tuesday, January 5
Diabetes Presentation
Today I went to a local middle school and gave my first ever presentation on diabetes. I spoke to 4 different classes. I was a little hesitant to do this since my only memories of middle school was of hyper, defiant, unruly kids. But to my pleasant surprise, they kids were great. They were very respectful, and quiet....at times almost too quiet.
I had an outline for my presentation prepared, so the first class got what I would like to call the "rough draft". The kids were responsive to my questions, and asked lots of questions in return.
Then.....there was the second class of students. Everything went great, until I started talking about needles/syringes, and then a kid on the class decided to pass out. He totally slumped over in his chair, head fell back, eyes rolled into the back of his head, and color totally drained from his skin. A kid was sent to run to the front office to get some help, and the teacher and I got him to come to, and then offered him a trash can in case he threw up. Long story short, he was fine. He wasn't sure if it was the fumes from the freshly painted classroom or me talking about needles that made him sick.
And ALL I could think of was "oh great, I made him pass out talking about needles!" I wasn't even graphic or anything. He just blacked out. I felt so bad, and silently freaking out that this was my fault. The teacher just reassured me that I wasn't to blame. But how can you NOT feel bad?!!!
I am scheduled to go back sometime in April to the same school to talk about diabetes...I really hope I don't have the same effect on the students!
I had an outline for my presentation prepared, so the first class got what I would like to call the "rough draft". The kids were responsive to my questions, and asked lots of questions in return.
Then.....there was the second class of students. Everything went great, until I started talking about needles/syringes, and then a kid on the class decided to pass out. He totally slumped over in his chair, head fell back, eyes rolled into the back of his head, and color totally drained from his skin. A kid was sent to run to the front office to get some help, and the teacher and I got him to come to, and then offered him a trash can in case he threw up. Long story short, he was fine. He wasn't sure if it was the fumes from the freshly painted classroom or me talking about needles that made him sick.
And ALL I could think of was "oh great, I made him pass out talking about needles!" I wasn't even graphic or anything. He just blacked out. I felt so bad, and silently freaking out that this was my fault. The teacher just reassured me that I wasn't to blame. But how can you NOT feel bad?!!!
I am scheduled to go back sometime in April to the same school to talk about diabetes...I really hope I don't have the same effect on the students!
Friday, January 1
New Year's Resolutions
As with every year, and with many people, I have come up with a list of resolutions for this new year. I hope that with some effort I will be able to say next year that I was able to stick with at least one SIGNIFICANT resolution. We'll just have to see how it goes.
Here ya go:
-stop swearing as much as I do
-pray and read the scriptures more often
-becoming more patient
-losing weight
-eating better-
-managing my diabetes better
-managing my time better
-showing more appreciation
-cooking more meals at home
-budgeting more
That's a few of the things on my ever-growing list. Happy New Year!
Here ya go:
-stop swearing as much as I do
-pray and read the scriptures more often
-becoming more patient
-losing weight
-eating better-
-managing my diabetes better
-managing my time better
-showing more appreciation
-cooking more meals at home
-budgeting more
That's a few of the things on my ever-growing list. Happy New Year!
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