Day 23 ~ A Reminder

Yesterday was a bad day. A real crappy day.

I got a call from my husband yesterday while I was grocery shopping. He found out they are doing major layoffs at the site he works at and the contract workers were the first to go. Needless to say, his last day will be this coming Friday. Although it was a contract job, this was unexpected, but as you know with corporate business, it is nothing personal. It is always a numbers game. So we are right back where we were 10 months ago and I woke up mad. Not mad at anyone, just mad at the circumstances. Mad at life. I spent all of yesterday in shock and most of this morning mad. I don’t worry about me, my wants, my needs, it is my children who I worry about. It is that fear of how will we provide? Yes, I know it will all work out fine, but the job market really stinks, there is not much out there and it is scary. I am so thankful for the fact my husband has a second job because although it won’t pay all the bills it is still an income and we are very fortunate for that. I spent most of my morning whining and bitching and moaning until I heard this little voice saying "LORD ALMIGHTY, SSSHHHUUUTTT UP!!!!!” Yes, it was me talking to myself. “Jennifer, pull it together and stop your bitching! This is so pathetic! You are so blessed!” I swear it was strange, just like a movie. I decided that minute I would stop the negative and focus on the positive because I am blessed. Everything is so relative. You look at the aftermath of the earth quake in Haiti and the tragedy involved and how so many people don’t even have their basic needs and I am complaining? So many have lost their family and friends and I am bitching? It made me really take a second look at my situation and realize how lucky I really am because I am VERY BLESSED.

Later in the day I got a call from a very close friend who had gone through the same financial struggle we are facing once again. She wanted to meet us for a little shopping and dinner. I was still feeling a little down and at first said no. The truth is I can’t afford it. Well, she was not taking no for an answer and finally convinced me to meet her with the kids. I figured there is no harm in looking, plus some good company would be a good distraction. Remember, I am done whining. Well, I had no idea what she had in store for me. Not only did she take myself and the kids to my very favorite restaurant (Zao Noodles) her treat, but proceeded to purchase each one of my girls something special. I said no, but once again, she wasn’t taking no for an answer. As for why she did this, she did it to make me smile. She did this because she knew I would say no at first, but that ultimately she would win, and ultimately it would make me laugh and the kids would love it. She did this for me because she wanted to let me know that no matter how bad things got, that she was there. What she did was remind me of the fact that it isn’t the things you have, the home you own, or the cars you drive that make you happy, it is the people in your life that count. So I sit here tonight and smile, and really feel like everything will be alright because I am truly blessed.

My new thing for the day was a wonderful surprise from a dear friend and the reminder of how truly blessed I am!

Day 22 ~ Dinner with Friends

Tonight we had new friends over for dinner.

My husband has a friend at work that we have been meaning to have over and tonight he and his wife came for dinner. When they arrived they came bearing gifts. I had made pasta for dinner but found myself forgetting my meal all together to eat what they had brought us. I had baklava, CHOCO sandwich cookies, pismaniye and loads of fresh pita bread with hummus and baba ganoush. So many of these flavors I have never had before, and they were delicious. I must say it was WAY better than my pasta!

After dinner we all sat and visited and laughed and had such a good time. Even as I type this I wonder why we didn't do this sooner and plan on making sure we have them over again.

Today my new thing was new friends over for dinner and it was the silver lining to a hard day.

Day 21 ~ Under the Stars

Tonight my husband and I took some time to sit outside and spend some time alone. We borrowed a fire pit from my neighbor, bought a new beer, and sat outside and relaxed. We rarely get time alone, and it was so nice to snuggle under the stars with a warm fire. It is great to have him home tonight, where we can just hang out together.We must have sat out there for 3 hours and just enjoyed the fire pit.

To be honest, I have always wanted a fire pit so when my neighbor offered hers tonight I jumped at it. We have never had one in our backyard so it is definitely something new, something we plan on getting this year for sure. My hubby, a warm fire, and a cold beer. What a great night!

Day 20 ~ New Day New Food

Today was a day of major indulgence, trying our new taco shop in town!

Where I grew up there were taco shops all over town and in my mind, even when taquitos are bad, they are still good. I LOVE Mexican food. Yes, I know taquitos are probably not the healthiest choice but there is nothing like rolled tacos with gauc and cheese. Not to mention carne asada chips, don't get me started.

We got a new drive through taco shop in town and I have been so excited to try it. I miss my Los Panchos, and Good Old Sombrero's back home. I decided to surprise my hubby with some good ol' Mexican taco shop food: Carne asada burrito, and to my surprise they actually had my favorite ROLLED TACOS. I grew up in San Diego and with my friends back home rolled tacos are an added food group: grains, vegetables, fruits, fats and oils, milk and dairy products, Protein, and rolled tacos. Ok, so maybe I am over exaggerating, but I do love them and in all honesty I do not know one person back in good old San Diego who isn't partial to some good taquitos!!

So that is what we got tonight and I was as happy as a lark. My husband was thrilled and the girls loved their tacos! Boy, this trying new foods and resturant thing ROCKS! One thing I learned was if I am going to keep this up I better take on some major exercise because if I don't I am afraid of what my butt will look like at the end of the year.

Day 19 ~Tried myself a Rueben

I admit I am one of those girls who finds something I like on a menu and sticks with it. Today I tried something new and that included a Reuben.

I am sure most of you know what a Reuben is, but for those who don't the Reuben sandwich is a sandwich made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian or sometimes Thousand Island dressing, on grilled or toasted rye bread so states the Wikipedia!

What did I think? I thought it was pretty darn good! I do love sauerkraut, so can you really good wrong when that is involved? A little salty, but a little lip smacking good. It is so funny how we can go to 10 different restaurants and I can guarantee my husband will order a hamburger, that has cheese and bacon, and I will order some sandwich, that has avocado and chicken. I guess it is that fear that if I order something else, it may be terrible, and now I just wasted money on a crappy meal. Well, today I tried something new and it taught me that there are SO many great flavors out there that are just waiting to be tasted!! I think this is going to be my favorite part of this year. Trying new foods!

Day 18 ~ Started a new challenge

Today we started this challenge as a family. I consider our family pretty close but thought this would be a fun challenge to tackle. Ours is slightly modified but here is how it is posted on Oprah: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Peter-Walshs-Stripped-Down-Family-Challenge/2

Rule 1: No Cell Phones or Texting
Technology allows us to keep in touch in 24 hours a day, but that doesn't guarantee meaningful connections. "That's the confusion," Peter says. "You could lock yourself in a room and send a thousand e-mails a day and 100,000 text messages, but you are not connected."

For one week, ban the use of cell phones, texting devices and PDAs in your home. The short texts you often receive from your kids may just turn into real conversations!

This is easy for us. My kids are too young for cell phones and I rarely use my cell phone. As for texting my husband and I are very slow so we avoid it all together.

Rule 2: No Electronics
How many times have you found your family watching the same show in different rooms? Can you even count the number of fights your children have over who gets to use the computer next? "[Shift the focus of the family, and particularly children, away from self-parenting, away from TV, away from passive entertainment," Peter says.

Give your family the gift of peace and quiet by banning all electronic devices for one week. Institute family game nights, nightly story time or a daily walk to the park. By the end of the week, your family will realize the greatest entertainment in life comes from spending time with one another.

I have to use the computer for work and my blog but swear to only use it for those instances. I also plan on saving it for night when the children are in bed and when my husband is working. Today was the first day of no TV and I was so nervous about it and whether I could stick to it. The truth is, when I am getting dinner ready it's normally the perfect time to put something on and have the children relax. Today they knew there would be no TV and it actually went really well, and I enjoyed not having a battle about it. We played with Lego's, blocks, went to the park (no rain today), read books and had a really good time today.

Rule 3: Prepare and Eat Healthy Meals Together
For families, no room in the home is more important than the kitchen. "The kitchen nourishes your family in so many ways," Peter says. "If your children are not receiving that nourishment—and not just the stuff into their mouths, but the stuff into their beings—if they are not getting that around the table, where are they being nourished?"

Stripping away the junk food and make healthy meals together is an instant way to reconnect. Try it for a week and you'll find that everyone in your family will feel better about themselves mind, body and soul.

The girls and I all sat around the table tonight and ate together and it was so nice. I normally cook healthy food but I admit I am normally standing, not sitting and enoying my time with them.

Rule 4: Clean and Organize the House
Your home should be your sanctuary, and clutter does nothing but create tension and unrest in families. "If you're not connected to your home, if you are not connected to where you live, if your home doesn't bring you peace and calm and focus and harmony, where are you getting that from?"

Still working on this one but I am really liking the office right now it is beautiful and clutter free!!

Rule 5: You Must Hug and Say "I Love You" to Each Family Member at Least Once a Day
With so many other distractions in your life, you may be neglecting to do the one thing your family needs even more than the latest video game system or designer dress. Everyone needs love and affection, and here's your chance to let your family know how you really feel about them.

This is not a problem. I think I must hug and kiss my husband and girls a 1,000 times a day. I love you is something I say all the time. I always want them to know that they are the loves of my life. We are all like that in this family.

Under this rule, moms and dads have a special assignment—have a date night! "One night once a month is worth a hundred weeks of vacation at the end of the year," Peter says. "Once a month, reconnect."

We love date night but we just never get to it. My hubby works a lot and it is hard to find a babysitter but this will definitely be something we shoot for this year.

Rule 6: Create 6 New Stripped Down Rules at the End of the Week
This week may have been difficult, but it's also been eye-opening. Look back at what worked and what didn't. Continue to build upon the positive things that came out of the challenge by creating six new rules as a group and follow them for years to come.

Looking forward to what we come up with at the end of the week!

Day 17 ~ Recycling

Holy mother of goodness and grace! What did I get myself into? As I posted yesterday I started stripping down the house of clutter and this is a HUGE project.

I continued boxing up things, throwing things away, building a massive shred pile and organizing the home. This is definitely a process. I really didn't think my house was all that cluttered but the paper work is the one thing that is getting me. I feel like my head is going to explode. Needless to say I got a lot done today but I will continue on for the next week going through each room of the house.

Something new we did today was teach the girls how they can recycle. We also made a promise as a family that for the 2010 year we would give up paper and plastic bags at the grocery store and stick with our recycled bags.

The first thing we did was took the girls to the recycling area and showed them how you recycle cans. At the recycling centers where I grew up, you would take all your cans, put them in a giant bucket, and they would weigh them. Where I live now you load them into a machine and one by one they are counted and crushed, with a loud ROAR, CRASH, CRRRRRRR, you get the picture. The area also has a smell of stale beer and soda pop which for some reason makes me laugh. I often compare the experience to a rock concert. You leave with your ears ringing and with the faint smell of stale beer on your clothes.

My mother use to take me as a girl to recycle cans and we would go get a treat after with the cash back. It was a fun thing. That is what I wanted to do with my girls too! I want it to be something they will continue to do as they grow older. My view on recycling cans is you are getting payed to take care of the environment. I mean, I would do it for free, but heck, if you want to pay me for it then by all means. I don't understand why people wouldn't recycle.

Needless to say, the girls thought it was awesome and I am so glad because I expect my girls to teach their children someday! As for the recyclable bags, I love this idea. I plan on sticking to it!