Not quite a year ago I took a big risk and changed jobs. I left a position where I was making good money and working the typical 9-5 M-F to return to a place that I really missed. You always hear the bad things about retail jobs; rarely the good. In my situation working M-F wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I had to use personal time for doctors appointments. Think about that. I have 3 kids. They all go in for regular check-ups once a year, for dental cleanings twice a year, for eye exams once a year, and one of my kids sees a specialist monthly. How many appointments is that? Even if I could schedule all 2 together for the well care appointments that’s 16 appointments! That doesn’t even count appointments for myself or sick visits for the kids. Do you have 16 or more personal days? And forget about wanting to attend a school function or field trip, it simply wouldn’t happen.

I’m sure many of you are wondering why I couldn’t take an unpaid day or simply work flex time. I wondered the same thing. I worked for a successful family owned business with a very compassionate CEO. One would fully expect that this leader would see the value in flexibility. For whatever reason, that didn’t happen. After 5 years I decided I wanted my time back. I missed my Tuesday off more than you can imagine. Going nearly anywhere during the weekday is amazingly less stressful and much quicker. I wanted to be able to go to appointments without using all of my vacation and personal time. An opportunity to return to my previous career was presented to me and I took it.

During the five years I was doing the 9-5 gig, I was always commenting on how much I missed the jewelry industry. That’s where my passion was. That’s where my freedom to have a career and a family was. That’s where I belonged. A lot has gone on in the past 11 months that I never could have made it through without my current coworkers and support from my company.

So how do I feel about that decision a year later? One word - Blessed.

Technorati Tags: Following Your Passion, Job Change, Working Mom

The thrill of video games is lost on me. While I’ve played old school Nintendo, it’s been years since a video game controller has touched these hands. I take that back. I am certain I have moved them while cleaning, but I certainly haven’t used them for their intended purpose. I’m not one of those anti-game system or anti-tv moms. I allow my children to play more than their fair share of video games and probably let them watch way too much television. It’s just that those things don’t capture my interest.

Last year when the buzz of the new Nintendo Wii was everywhere, I paid no attention. I had no idea what made the Wii different. Honestly, back then I probably didn’t even realize that it is different. When or why my interest got sparked escapes me, but this Christmas I decided I was going to treat my children to a family gift; a Wii. It was quite the challenge getting my hands on one. Thanks to a kind hearted delivery man, I was able to surprise the kids. Without his extra efforts it never would have happened.

Unfortunately the surprise was ruined by a snoopy 11 year old. The game console was hidden in my closet, behind other packages and wrapped in FOUR bags; two if which were tied shut. Yeah, it took some serious “investigation” to uncover this surprise. I was not a happy mom when I learned about his discovery. I refused to let it ruin the fun for the rest of us though. I doled out the consequence for his action and let go of the irritation his actions had caused me. The rest of us got to enjoy our new toy two weeks sooner than my little private investigator.

You know what? I actually enjoy playing this video game. I haven’t played much, but when I do play we have a great time. Just like when I was a kid, I suck at baseball and tennis. Some things never change, eh? Bowling is where it’s at for me. I’m still average, but at least I can hang with the kids. One of these days I might venture out and play other games. The Wii gives me a fighting chance where other game systems did not. Who knew?

Technorati Tags: Wii, Nintendo, video games, Nintendo Wii

There have been numerous studies over the years validating the belief that positive thinking has an affect on ones health. It also relates to ones ability to succeed. The saying, “If you think you can, you will. If you think you can’t, you won’t.” is something to live by. If you find yourself in a challenging situation, don’t look at all the reasons you cannot overcome the obstacles. Focus on all the ways that you can succeed.

Unfortunately my current boss has gotten trapped in a negative spiral. There is a manager in training at my store. We were closing last night and I made mention of the ongoing negativity. Obviously it’s affecting our stores performance in a not so desirable way. I asked the MIT to bet a coffee on what time today the first positive statement would come out of my boss’ mouth. He chose 11am and I chose 12:30pm. He joked with me that I was being negative choosing such a late time. Who won? Well, neither of us really. When I arrived at 3:30pm today he still had not heard one positive statement. It had been 6 hours. And she wonders why the stores isn’t meeting expectations? Feeding the store with a bit of positive energy would be a good start.

And now I am charged with finding a nice way to broach the subject and hopefully make a positive change.

I can do this.

Technorati Tags: positive thinking, negativity, success

Tonight I went to dinner and a show with my sister-in-law, Jill. The show was Soiree Cabaret. A performance of songs from many different Broadway shows. We had a wonderful night. My son Jeremy is the red head not at the end, but on the far left side in the video. I will upload a few more videos of the kids tomorrow. They did a wonderful job!

There was a time in my life when I weighed more than 200 pounds. My opinion of thin girls during that time was vastly different than it is today. Back then it never occurred to me that the thin beautiful women I would cross paths with could have weighed as much as I did at one time. Perhaps my goal to be a thin girl seemed so unobtainable at the time, that I never stopped to think whether or not any other woman might have already transformed her life in the way I dreamed. I would be lying if I didn’t admit to being jealous of their gorgeous figures and “luck”.

Three years and more than 80 pounds lighter, I look at thin women much differently. I realize now that perhaps the tiny and curvaceous beauties I see could have been big and beautiful at one time in their life. Just like me. Sure, some women have been blessed and have always been thin. That doesn’t mean they don’t bust their butts to stay that way.

Although it’s been quite some time since I weighed 200 pounds, I still have a difficult time seeing myself as thin. I realize that probably sounds strange. Logically I know that I am thin. I am thrilled to buy size 8 [or maybe even size 6] clothing, but I do not feel thin. Do not misunderstand me, I don’t plan to lose any more weight. I know I don’t need to lose more weight. I also like the way I look. As a matter of fact, I feel good about the way I look! It’s just when I think of myself, I don’t think of myself as thin. The image of “overweight Sindy” is the one that’s imprinted on my brain. Thus the reason that instead of feeling like a “thin girl”, I feel like a “fat girl in a thin body”.

What’s the difference? I suppose the difference is that I know I have to work at it daily to stay this way. I can do it. And I will do it. It’s just not simple and it certainly takes commitment to stay this way. It has given me a new respect for all women, though … and that’s a good thing.

Technorati Tags: losing weight, body image, fat girl, thin girl

“Silence is the true friend that never betrays.” -Confucius

It is true that sometimes silence is the best option. My life has been anything but quiet in recent months. Unfortunately the mundane parts of my life have been so intertwined with turmoil and euphoria that nothing seemed appropriate to blog about. Silence had become the safe answer; the right answer for this time in my life. However, today I decided it’s time to find my voice again. That voice doesn’t have to share those things that remain better left unsaid, however there are plenty of things worth sharing.

I am looking forward to letting you back into my life. Thanks for hanging out and waiting for this day to come! Thanks for understanding that silence is sometimes necessary.

Technorati Tags: silence

Joshua has been spending a great deal of time making things with his K’Nex as of late. I love seeing his mind at work. Sometimes the creations are straight out of a book, other times they are modifications of what he has seen, and he even creates his own designs.

Last night he got the notion to make things for the Christmas tree. It started out with a few small snowflake ornaments. They’re clever and he found his own way of getting them onto the tree. By the end of the night he had crafted a tree topper. It took us a few different attempts to get it on the tree without swaying or falling off, but we did it.

We haven’t put any other ornaments on the tree yet, however I am still in love with our tree already. I love that it has that special touch from Joshua. Forget a traditional angel or star, this means so much more! Creating memories … that’s what it’s all about.

Technorati Tags: K’Nex, Christmas ornaments, ornaments, tree toppers

Last year I started a new tradition with my family. I asked each of the kids to name as many things they are thankful for as they are years old. I wonder if they remember doing so? It should be interesting to compare this year’s answers to those they provided a year ago. Once they have made their lists, I will share them.

Without looking at what I had to say a year ago, here is what I am most thankful for in 2007 in no particular order.

1. My Own Space
2. Jeremy
3. Joshua
4. Justine
5. Friends that have listened to the same complaints for nearly the entire year, and have remained extraordinarily supportive while doing so.
6. My sister, Tina.
7. My dad
8. My boss
9. The entire staff at my store.
10. A compassionate landlord.
11. Other family members that have each reached out to me in different ways.
12. Pumpkin pie
13. Jeremy’s passion for singing and acting.
14. Joshua’s passion for music.
15. Friends for Justine at our new home.
16. My positive outlook on life no matter what I am facing.
17. Playing UpWords with the kids.
18. Justine’s “fashion sense” - it’s fun to see what she likes [and doesn’t] at only 7.
19. My laptop
20. My digital camera
21. Working for a company I love.
22. Spending time alone with each of my children.
23. K’Nex
24. Kisses from Justine
25. Hugs from Josh
26. Being able to get ahold of my teenager nearly anywhere on his cell phone. LOL!
27. The SciFi Channel
28. Myth Busters -The Discovery Channel
29. A washer and dryer inside my new home!
30. Good coffee.
31. The Weight Watchers program.
32. Weight Watchers Giant Fudge Bars
33. Intelligent children.
34. Shoes.
35. Full Body Massages [I am way overdue for one …]
36. Contacts [I need to go pick up my new pair.]
37. All of the “extras” [computers, clothes, nice things, plentiful food, etc.] that I am blessed to have.

Some things remained the same and some are quite different from last year’s list; 36 Reasons To Give Thanks.

Technorati Tags: thanksgiving, giving thanks, blessings

As I dole out the consequences of my teenagers actions, I find myself recalling how my friends and I would have reacted when we were his age. My friends had all kinds of rules that we followed quite loosely. For example, Molly wasn’t allowed to call boys. So, she didn’t. I did, from my house when she was over. Stacey wasn’t allowed to see Patrick anymore, but we that didn’t stop us. Rather than him picking her up for school in front of her house, he’d pick her up around the corner and down the street. When she was hanging out at my house we’d often go for a bike ride that just happened to have a pit stop at his house. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. We broke the rules.

As a parent I find myself making rules that as a teen I would have found [or did find] a way around. Does that mean that I shouldn’t make the guideline? No! That means I just have to work that much smarter to make sure that my teen doesn’t find all the loop holes I did all those years ago. I never realized how helpful my rebellious side would be all these years later. Knowing the ways I bent the rules challenges me to make sure my teen doesn’t have it quite as easy.

I wonder though … is it worth it? Or did those experiences make me a better person? If so, am I cheating my son out of some life lessons that might serve him well?

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: parenting, parenting teens, breaking the rules

Recycled paper takes about 60% less energy and water to make than new paper.

Technorati Tags: trivia, recycling

I was. I decided to take the kids to Abuelo’s for my birthday. It was my kids, my 11 year old niece, and me. The kids were really well behaved and the food was delicious as usual. I had the stuffed chicken medallions [see picture]. The medallions are breasts stuffed with chorizo [Mexican sausage] and then lightly fried. Fattening, eh? And that is before you even consider the side dishes. I guess it’s a good thing I don’t go there very often.

If you have one near you, I recommend checking them out.

Technorati Tags: Abuelos, dining out, Mexican cuisine

Celebrating with the kids tonight. We’re planning on going out to dinner, but I haven’t decided where. My dad’s birthday was Monday and he went to a local steakhouse that I have never been to. I called him during dinner and he was telling me how wonderful the steaks are there. Perhaps I should check them out tonight.

Decisions, decisions …

For those of you wondering why I was in search of a recipe, I needed to make Cajun Meatballs in exchange for a hair cut and highlight. :) I have amazing coworkers. Of the less than 10 people I work with, 2 of them are hair stylists and coloring artists. David recently moved here from Texas and is missing the southern cuisine. So, in exchange for some food he’s doing my hair. Can’t beat that!

I found a recipe for Cajun Meatballs. Last night after work I went and picked up the ingredients that I didn’t have on hand. This morning Justine and I made both beef and chicken meatballs. All I can say is WOW. They are so delicious! It took me by surprise, actually. I don’t typically like spicy food, but these are so good it’s worth it! I hope they live up to David’s expectations. :)

Jeff and Josh tried them and were equally as pleased. They are going to make a batch for the family to keep.

Do any of you have a tried and true, delicious Cajun Meatball recipe?

Yes, this really is Sindy asking for a recipe. Heh!

As parents we have it much easier than our own did. If I needed help in math, my parents had to know how to do the work or figure it out using my textbook in order to help me. In this day and age the internet connections us to a multitude of resources to assist our children with their work.

My children learned early that Google is their friend. I remember in 4th grade Jeremy found the answers to an extra credit crossword puzzle online. Being young and naive he shared that fact with his teacher. She still gave him credit, after all the point was to find the answers and there was no restriction as far as what resources could be used to do so. Googling can find the answers, or tools to assist you in getting the answers. If you need help with math, check out Math Is Fun. Joshua’s math teacher actually recommended the site, but Josh found it the other night while googling for help simplifying fractions.

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