Party of Five

Someone I know decided they would write a sophisticated post on anger and our brains. Citing how we respond to anger and how it is linked to brain functions, blah blah blah. Funny enough what prompted this post was an argument with his wife. One where she got extremely angry and blurted out just about everything on her mind. The events preceding the argument however were such that this husband has dedicated his life to his computer. Oops, I mean his job and his computer. Meanwhile the wife is left to work, go to school, care for three children, dealing with new medical issues, and home business matters, AND packing a 2600 sq. foot home without any help from the above mentioned husband.

So here is my version of anger and the brain. If within a stressful situation you can count on no one to help you out, you are likely to have a mental break. Who might I ask will become the primary target? Probably the person who should be helping you  so that you do not break to begin with. In the event that you explode anyways, as that is the likely occurance when the brain is filled to capacity, all hope is that this will wake up the other person and get them to give you a hand. Caution however is advised here because what is more probable is the other party with snap back feeling justified for his/ or her anger as YOU have forced them to it. Do accept that this of course is all your fault, since that will be the only way out of this current argument.

In that case just sit down and blog about it since apparently blogging about it is better than actually solving the problem.

As usual I have gotten backed up and haven’t posted in forever, but this time I have good reason. So many darned exciting things have been happening. Lets start with this being my last class in my Bachelors program. With four weeks to complete a journey that started forever ago, it is super exciting surpassed only by super chaotic. Next I went to my best friends wedding. Now this was a very small intimate event with only the closest friends and family, but it was extremely touching and beautiful. Days later I made it to my very first theatrical event and wouldn’t you know it, it was AWESOME! I went with a group of friends to see Wicked. Now if you have any means to make it to this show, RUN! I couldn’t believe how incredible the story line, music, acting, and sets were. I want so badly to spill the beans and tell you what happens in the Oz spin off, but you have to go and see for yourself.

Finally as I mentioned previously, we recently started the home shopping experience. Actually let me reword that. We started the loan approval process. Luckily Damien’s brother has been in home sales for years so he set us up with an incredible guy who got us an amazing interest rate and clean approval. This allowed for us to officially jump in the market this week. So we went out Wednesday, found a home we wanted super bad. Made an offer Thursday morning and if you can believe it got the banks approval of our offer back the very same day. So in just over 30 days when escrow closes we will officially be home owners :)

It’s getting late but I promise to give you full scoop on the house later.

Blogged with Flock

A few days ago my son brought home a flyer for an event this weekend. It wasn’t the usual type of event you would be expecting a fourth grader to be bringing home as it was an announcement of a blood drive. As I read it over I learned that it was for a mother of one of my son’s friends. I didn’t know the details just that this woman, likely around my age, is suffering from cancer. I was shocked. I realize that cancer doesn’t discriminate and that it can happen to anyone of any age, but this seemed so close to home for me. Each time I thought of her situation it made me sad even though I have never met her. So today I went over and decided I would give blood for the first time. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous, but I must say it was one of the simplest things I have ever done that could help someone else out.
 

Here is a quick run through of the process if you have never done it. First you’ll fill out a form with general information and disclosures, and answer a simple set of questions to determine if you are eligible to donate (mostly if you don’t live a high risk party life you’re in). Then you are escorted to a cozy bed where you lie down and offer up your vein. A prick and a few minutes later you are done. No kidding. I was told I have a good vein, but 10 minutes was it. I never even saw the needle or the blood in case you are the squeamish type and thought that part might scare you off. I was then directed to a seat where I had to sit for 15 minutes before leaving but was offered an unbelievable assortment of snacks, juices, water, etc.
 

My hope in telling this story is that by eliminating any frightening misconceptions of the process you may take the time out of your schedule and head over to a donation center. One of the nurses informed me that there is a constant shortage. Best yet if you are just doing it without a person in mind to donate to, you can earn credits. These credits can be saved for yourself should you ever need them, or can be donated down the road if a loved one needs them. You can only give blood every 8 weeks, but it is my intention to start going regularly.

Tags: blood drive, donation,

I am always looking for inspiration to lose weight. Actually, more like motivation, as looking in a mirror alone is inspiring itself. They key difference here is that I want to lose weight more than anything, however with school, kids, home, work, etc. fast food becomes so darned convenient and I end up throwing the plan out the window all together. My last major incentive to lose weight was my impending 30th birthday. I got super motivated, signed up for Weight Watchers, was walking and doing water aerobics, and quickly lost 15 lbs and two sizes. I was on my way. Then I found out I was pregnant and due on my 30th achieving the precise opposite goal in terms of weight loss.
 

Since the baby was born, going on one year in May, I have struggled with getting motivated. I find myself eating all the wrong foods even when better choices are available. I now have a treadmill, a total gym, a weight lifting system, a stepper, you name it. I have no need to have to run off to a gym as I have got it all here at home. Now for the motivating part. I have in the following months a few events I really want to look and feel my best for. Starting with my best friend’s wedding, going to see Wicked with some friends, a first birthday party for my youngest, and my oldest’s tenth birthday. Holy Moly how did this happen? A DECADE! I am not going to disclose how many lbs or sizes I have put on since this guys birth, but it isn’t pretty for sure. With 4 1/2 months til this event I am super ready to get the ball rolling. I am also graduating this year and can say that a cap & gown on my current figure may leave the crowd wondering when my due date is.
 

Using what I know and seeing a nutritionist tomorrow I am planning a new me. Look for updates to my healthy eating page coming soon.

If you have ever been through the process of purchasing a home, then you can probably relate to the roller coaster we just jumped on this last month. See since Damien and I got married we have heard the opinions of many who often advise us on when we should or shouldn’t be trying to buy a home. Never really knowing when the timing would be right, we waited and waited, but have finally decided that maybe now is a good time to take the leap.
 

Needless to say starting the financing process has been a touch time consuming for two reasons.

1. Our credit has a few bruises in it.

2. Finance companies are currently knee deep in applications for finance and refinance with the market being what it is.
 
However being the over eager person I tend to often be, I jumped the gun and started home hunting early. A few weeks passed and one by one I saw each of the homes I was hoping to purchase be bought up by others. It was slightly depressing and extremely frustrating so I decided to stop looking until we had an actual approval.
 
Fast forward two more weeks and one approval we wanted came through. It did however leave a bit to be desired in terms of the amount, so while waiting from word from others our agent suggested we check out some homes in the lower range. What seemed like a unrealistic amount actually produced a few decent options. Further more if we choose to purchase a home at this amount we could be paying less than it is currently costing us to rent. So I got my heart once again set on a house now in our range only to find out that by snubbing the lower approval we now need to get it reapproved to be put on paper before we can make any offers, ugh.
 
So this morning, knowing I shouldn’t be looking lest we not get our approval down on paper until it is too late to make an offer, I went out to look at a few homes I was certain wouldn’t meet my approval (I had time to spare). The very first one was it. My ideal home.It was at the end of a culdesac, with hardwood floors throughout, four bedrooms, curbs & gutters (don’t laugh, where I live this is a luxury), a big enough yard to entertain company and leave the kids a place to play, but not too big to require too much maintenance, a patio, with a lovely yard in the front and back, and it is just under the price we should be approved for. I now need to find a balance between hoping it will all work and not getting too excited lest someone else find this adorable house and snag it up before we can. Meanwhile keep your fingers crossed for us.

Pretty much since I met Damien he has been trying to turn me into a coffee drinker. I had so many reasons to resist, but the number one reason was that I just didn’t enjoy the taste of it. Sure with enough sugar and cream I could stomach it, but why in the world would I waste so many darned calories on something I was forcing on myself. To top it off more than one cup would always lead to major stomach trouble half way through my day.

Still though Riley being the coffee junkie he is continued to try to bring me over to the dark side. And by dark side I mean thick muddy coffee stripped down to the bare bones. This is precisely how he takes his. No sugar, no cream, zip. In fact the stronger the better is how this man takes his coffee, bleck. I got lines like “just wait til you have some all nighters with your schooling”, and “when you are working mornings, bet you’ll take it up”. Bear in mind this guy used to be a Coffee bean & Tea Leaf barista, so it was his duty was to push this mud.

Then just when I thought I would never convert the sneaky sucker got me hooked on hot chocolate in coffee. Just a cup here and there got me acclimated to the taste, eventually no stomach troubles and then before you know it, Bamm! I’m hooked. I realized this week that I have been almost completely unproductive. I could barely get out of bed, felt like I needed a nap many days, couldn’t drag myself off the couch til nearly noon, and it seemed like a magnet was dragging me down every where I went. Sure enough yesterday when I was desperate to get my car cleaned out and I was dragging around again, I thought maybe there was something to the hype of coffee bringing on energy. Had a cup and got the van spotless. Then today when the inevitable yawning started up again I gave it another shot and before I knew it I started to feel normal again. Thanks to hubby I am now officially a coffee drinker.

Tags: coffeedrinker, caffeine