Busy Monday, January 26

Today's 'To-Do' List

• Call Doctors offices for Tax Info
• Call Hospital Billing
• Go through coupons
•  Make Menu & Grocery List
• Write this Blog 
• Lunch with Peter
• Groceries
• Pick up tax info from doctors offices
• Clean up around the house - All day thing I've already been working some on it. 

Menu

• Monday - Chicken with Rice and Chinese veggies
• Tuesday - Eat Out
• Wednesday - Spaghetti w/Italian Sausage
• Thursday - Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
• Friday - Pizza
• Saturday - Rosemary Porkloin w/Baked Potatoes and some type of veggie probably peas, I like peas
• Sunday - ? We might be going to a Super Bowl party if so then we'll be eating there and bringing a potluck Item I'm thinking "Ryan's Rocking Salad" ... this is also the recipe I've been meaning to post up here because it went over so well at the potluck. It really doesn't look appealing and you have to about dare people to eat it but after everyone tried it everyone loved it!
  If we decide not to go to the Super Bowl party (Peter and I really don't care about sports we'd be going more for the social aspect). Then I'll make tacos. 

This Week's 'To-Do' List

Tuesday, we have project club. The girls will be sewing pillowcases that have buttons on them so they get to learn how to sew on buttons and work with interfacing. The plan is just to eat out because eating before 5 o'clock is harder on the kids and the club meeting starts at 5:30 and won't get out til well after dinner so we are just going to swing through a drive through on our way out to the meeting.

Wednesday, we have 4-H STEM club. Normally the two 4-H club don't fall in the same week but this club was canceled last week because the club leader was sick.

Thursday, Katherine has her Washington D.C. meeting but shouldn't really affect things too much since it is during her normal after school time. Here in a couple weeks I'll be having a meeting down there at the school with her. I still cannot believe I'm going on a school field trip and to all places Washington D.C. I'm excited two brand new things to me!

Friday Peter will be out playing cards but otherwise I think it should be a pretty easy night thankfully.

Saturday we are going to the movies at 9:30am. Why so early? Well Peter's work bought tickets for all the employees (yes all the employees of the hospital which is needless to say a lot!) and through this month they've been renting out the theater for hospital employees and their families. The kids picked out for us to go see "Into The Woods".  Also, Saturday starts the Tri-State Kids Fair but it also runs through that Sunday so we may wait until Sunday. 

Last Week

Oh goodness... Do I have to remember last week?

Well I worked a lot. I ended up going to the grocery store several times during the week because I kept forgetting things.

Monday of course there was no school so the kids and I did a lot of yard work and I did a lot of running around.

Thursday was Parent-Teacher conferences but I didn't have enough time to go around to all the teachers.

Friday Brielle stayed after school to work on a school assignment with another girl. That turned into a fiasco where they didn't finish, the other girl kept canceling and basically I end up getting a hold of the teacher because the other girl is not letting us talk to her parents to try and make any sort of arrangements... It was a lot of stress and thankfully the teacher I was talking to did not doubt Brielle's want to complete the assignment.

I also found out this weekend that Peter never sent in the insurance information so everything is getting billed to us so now we have that huge fight. Basically we've been paying for insurance but every so many months we have to fill out new forms to say NO we don't have other insurance that can pick up the bill first. If you ask me it's stupid and unnecessary! But thus why one of my things to do was to call up the hospital billing office. I've yet to receive a call back though.

There was something else that happened Saturday too I can't remember what... there was a lot of stress Saturday... a whole lot of stress.

Sunday I took Johanna out to the wedding expo and we spent the day there. We left in the afternoon to have a very pleasant lunch then went back to watch the fashion show and listen to a speaker. I have no clue if I'm doing the right or wrong thing as the maid of honor but I sure am trying to be helpful and supportive and try and help her narrow down what she 'really' wants. It made for a good day though it was a very rainy day.
We actually walked for awhile downtown trying to find some place to eat and everywhere was closed because it was Sunday. On our way back because though I'd lose my parking spot we needed to get some lunch we noticed that Fetta Speciality Pizza was open! Now neither her nor I had been there before but we had an extremely positive experience and it really made things great. There were people flipping dough into the air, our server was attentive even after we paid our bill... It was really nice!

Today is the first day I can remember where there are no kids or husband home! I actually got to sit down and drink my coffee before it went cold. I've been able to clear out my expired coupons because I've been so busy I haven't bothered with couponing really lately.

...

And long break was talking with insurances got everything figured out and now understand the paperwork!

....

I'm off to the rest of my day I hope everyone has a great week! 

So not Monday Post

... So it's Wednesday not Monday by time I got around to posting anything.

Little update I suppose. Yeah instead of posting the kids were off school so I made them help me in the yard. Plus we did some window shopping at the Dollar Tree. The Dollar Tree is way across town so in all the years it's been there this is only like my second time there. More on that in a bit.

So Friday I got off work early came home and started working on things... truth be told I can't remember what things I just remember being very busy and then Brielle got home and I had dinner in the crockpot and we started getting ready for Homecoming.

My little girl is growing up so much. When I mention to people about Homecoming they are like, "Wait a minute she's not that old...." and I have to remind them that she's 14!

Just so hard to believe!

Peter went to his card game Friday Night so I drove Brielle into her dance and then came back home with Katherine. She was a bit miffed but I told her she's only 10 and not allowed to stay home alone yet.... Truthfully I think she'd be fine but I'm over protective and I know it.

I asked Kat on the way home after dropping off Brielle what she wanted to do and it was decided we were going to turn on Pandora to some techno and have a dance party. Leave it to Katherine!

We later had some folks stop by so it put an end to her dance party but it was all good.

Brielle had fun at her dance too.

Saturday, I spent the day working on the yard. I raked and I used the leaf blower and I bagged.... about 3 or 4 hrs straight. I had Pete handle the kids because Brielle was going to a friends house for a birthday sleepover and then Katherine was going to a friends house for a sleepover. I just worked on the yard... lots and lots of work on the yard.
Saturday night Peter and I went out to play cards together and then hung out with some friends until midnight because we didn't have kids so we could.
Apparently I've been made maid of honor of my friends wedding next year... I'm wondering if she's joking or not.... *smh* So I've been buried in looking at wedding stuff thus the trip to the Dollar Tree Monday since things are going to be on a budget trying to get some good ideas while saving money.

Sunday, I worked on the yard again raking, bagging and just working my tail off for several hours. Peter went and got the kids back that afternoon.

Monday there was no school so yup back in the yard but I had the kids to help this time. Also we went to lunch with Peter, we did the window shopping at Dollar Tree which the kids had never been there so they were all over the place they loved it since things really are a dollar there unlike Dollar General or Family Dollar. I got groceries too... though I had to send Peter out for peas last night since I forgot to get some and I just realized this morning I don't have enough eggs for the week. Blah! It is what it is I suppose. I'm really trying to be careful about where my budget is now that we are out of the holidays since my budget went out the window pretty much December.

Anyways that is where I'm at. Probably won't see another update until next week.
STEM club got rescheduled so I don't have to do that tonight but last week we had that snow day so tomorrow I have Parent-Teacher conferences at the High School from 4pm-6pm and I'll be there that whole time sadly. This weekend is the first weekend without any scheduled plans we've had in a long time! So not sure what we are going to do it will be a total change of pace that's for sure.

Hope everyone has a great week.
I still hope to get some recipes up just I need a bit more free time... Okay or not make posts like this one. :)

Catching Up Some - What I've Been Up To

So... yeah it's been over a month since I've posted. I'm sorry! I really am awful and disorganized. I'd like to get my life back in order but first I need a moment to breath.

First I'd like to say...

Happy 2015!

December's big thing is I was babysitting Nora who was then 7 months old. I was getting off of work at 2pm driving over to her Mom's to pick her up and pick up Nora's mom and drive the mom to work then driving out to pick up kids and handling the home front while babysitting until 10pm every Monday - Friday. It kept me pretty busy trying to look after a little one especially when I was trying to do the holiday shopping and decorating by myself. I was about to murder people by hanging them by their toes!
Anyways, January 2nd was my last day babysitting because Nora's mom went to a first shift and of course I work so I couldn't babysit at that point. 

Starting that first full week of January I had to work that Monday because our time sheets were due and I was on vacation for the two weeks prior (but like I said I was a mad woman trying to keep up) so I had to go in and get that filled out. I did take a shorter day but had walked into a lot of work on my desk. I also started going back to the gym that day. That feels like so long ago! Wow I just looked at where we are on the calendar and it seems like that was weeks ago.

Work had been so stressful though that I started 'running' on the treadmill there for several days because all sorts of stuff hit my desk. By Thursday I had shin splints. So Thursday no exercise just hot tub and sauna time. Friday I didn't try (plus the shin splints still hurt) but I took Brielle, Katherine and Katherine's friend Sarah to the Y to go swimming. We ended up making it a sleepover party and I took the kids to the grocery store and let them pick out breakfast and let them pick out some cookies.
The kids stayed up real late not sure how late but I passed out before they did... I actually passed out before Peter did because I was so exhausted.

Saturday we had Katherine's friend over until around lunch time. Then some friends of ours called and wanted to have lunch together so they asked Brielle to babysit Baby Nora and Brielle was excited to say yes. Brielle really does love Nora and was sad when I stopped babysitting.
Just us adults went out but we had a long wait because they picked a sports place and UK was playing. We eventually had a good meal and then my friend Johanna (Nora's mom) stayed out with me and we went to Hancock Fabric because I had never been there and they've been in town for well... since before I moved here but I have an issue with entering new places by myself if I've never been in that chain before. We were amazed at some of the prices and selection so we have a new favorite fabric store. 

Sunday, I found out from Brielle that Homecoming Dance was coming up on Friday (yes, today!) which meant I went into total scramble mode because I didn't know how we were going to find a dress in time. A put a post out on Facebook and Sarah's mom, Jessica, replied back that she had a dress we could borrow that almost fit Sarah so should fit Brielle. It was worth the gamble. This was Tuesday that I found this out so we drove over there Tuesday night and Brielle tried it on and it fit. 
Also, Sunday we had Bitch 'N Stitch. That's where a bunch of us ladies get together with our sewing, knitting, crocheting or whatever craft or project it is and work on them while talking. It is a lot of fun to get out with some ladies and be able to talk and relax.

... Monday, We had a PTO event to go to they do a Homework Diner it's where they offer a free meal and you and your children work on their homework and there are teachers there to help with any questions.  -- Oh and due to a meeting early Tuesday that I wasn't going to be at I went to work that day, got groceries for the week, had lunch with Peter, went to the hospital for my B-12 shot and I went to the gym... yes I fit all that in. It was nuts! 

... Back to Wednesday. So Brielle had a dress that Jessica bought for $1 that had a price tag of $150 still attached to it. She found it at a consignment shop and it needed some love and care. So after work I went to Jo-Ann Fabric and to Hancock and then back to Jo-Ann's because I had to figure out the best price and items. I had to replace the ribbon or cord or whatever was in the back originally to tie the dress together and the straps were the jewel studded links and it had lost some jewels so I had to replace those too. Using coupons I got the price for making the adjustments down to $20 which isn't bad since the original price for the new strapping was $27.99! That pretty much took up my evening. 

Thursday, I went to work but was working so much that I completely worked through lunch which gave me a horrible headache. I came home and laid down. The kids were home for a snow day. The roads were crazy in the morning because there wasn't any warning so no salt was put on the roads and sadly there was a fatality on one of the parkways just outside of town not to mention the multiple accidents in town. By the afternoon the snow had melted off. So that evening (last night) I got my head to calm down enough for me to work on making the changes to the dress. Beads had been lost, loose threads, needing to change the straps... It's ready though.

 Tonight is the dance!

I'm going to go into work today which is going to be hell of it's own and then come home and start working on trying to catch up the house some before it is time to start focusing on getting Brielle ready for her dance.

Speaking of which tonight is Crockpot Chicken Tacos I had planned this out thinking that if I could throw something in the crock pot then Brielle could eat early and then we could focus on getting her ready while Peter could grab something to eat before he goes out to play cards and then Kat could be Kat and do what she wants during all this hustle and bustle.


I've been pretty stressed out.... Like be thankful if you aren't on my Facebook personal feed! Wednesday night I got a phone call from the school... well a couple phone calls. #1 That Brielle owed a book fine that I didn't know about but she did. #2 That report cards went out Monday and she never gave it to me and then come to find out one of her grades slipped BAD and I looked it up and she never bothered doing 2! assignments! During this message I also found out Parent-Teacher Conference was Thursday! Yeah not even 24 hr notice!! Thankfully that got canceled due to it being a snow day. Oh and Wednesday I found out Brielle had a huge assignment due today where she had to make a 3-D model yeah wasn't happening I gave her some cardboard to cut out and printed some stuff and it is what it is. I could have made what she did within 20 minutes it took her ALL day! But it's her work. *grumbles and rubs face* I really try not to make my blog my vent area.

Anyways, I hope people forgive me for not posting more. I really am wanting to at least get back to my Monday post. I also have a few recipes I would love to post at some point.

My focus for 2015 is my health again. I'm trying to get back into the habit of going to the gym. Not every day like I was last week I was doing that out of sheer stress but 2-3 times a week. I stopped back in August and I just never got back to it. I have some friends also trying hard to work on their weight so hoping we can be supportive of each other. The holidays really wrecked my diet as in so many carbs I put on the pounds plus I was eating so much that my stomach stretched out and is now like FEED ME! even though I should be eating enough. Perhaps it sounds silly that every year these days seems to be my health but it is an on going process. February I have all of my doctors appointments so I should have some clue on where I stand other than just my weight.

Hope this explains my absence. Now time to get ready for work. Hope everyone is having a great 2015 thus far.