Dec 29 2011

What is your car buying style?

I drive a compact car. I really enjoy the gas mileage. I really, really enjoy the gas mileage. On my trips back and forth to Cleveland I can easily get 33 or 34 miles per gallon.

I used to have a minivan. My then 4 year old had a nickname for it and everything. She doesn’t have a nickname for my current car. Oh, I loved it. It was so convenient for picking up larger things and for running around town with my kids’ friends in the car. It was great for longer trips since it had a built-in DVD player. The leather seats were nice when it came to spills, but was horrible in this hot, hot weather we have here in SC. But the gas mileage wasn’t great. I didn’t need to haul things or people in it too often, plus it was starting to break down. It was a 2005, didn’t have power sliding doors or 2nd row windows which opened. And it was starting to cost me a LOT of money in repairs.

Before kids I had an SUV. I enjoyed it. I liked sitting high, it wasn’t the soccer mom vehicle like the minivan was, and it had lots of space in the back. And it was nice to be seen in it. I’m not a car person, but I liked being able to drive around in that vehicle.

And right before I bought my compact car I actually test drove an SUV at a local Jeep dealership. I told the salesperson I wasn’t really looking for a new car, but had he simply asked me if I would consider buying a car, I would have let him talk me into it. The same way I got talked into buying my current car. I’m not really interested in the sales person at the car dealership being pushy, but at the same time I do want them to ask me for my business. I went to three different dealerships before someone asked for my business. And I gave it to him.

How do you shop for a car? Do you go in having done a lot of research and you already know what you want? Or do you wander in looking to see if there are any good financing deals?

Dec 27 2011

A virus is going around

and it ain’t pretty. Just over two weeks ago a few of my co-workers seemed to be passing around a stomach bug. Every day one or two people wouldn’t show up for work, and it was because they couldn’t stray too far from the bathroom. Obviously I was glad to know that they weren’t passing along their germs.

Except they were. Because two weeks ago I stayed home from work on a Monday for the same reason. A stomach bug. Gross, right? You know it’s really bad when you feel like you should just hang out in the bathroom, or get a hold of some type of conveyors system that will simply take me there real fast when I feel it coming on. Because it becomes an art of how to get to the bathroom in the shortest amount of time kinda thing after awhile.

And, then, because, while I can avoid work for a day or two, I can’t avoid my children’s activities or running errands while I’m feeling under the weather. At that point I just want my doc to call in a prescription (quickly) to make the symptoms go ahead (I get it – there is no medication for a virus), but again, I’d want some type of pharmacy automation system that will get me the prescription filled in a quick-fast-hurry, if you know what I mean. I’m not for having accidents in my vehicle. Because that is something I’d need a biohazard material handling system to clean up. As a mother, we clean up a lot of stuff, but that’s not something I’d want to touch with a 10-foot pole.

Just saying. And to think that another co-worker came in today and her story was that she didn’t have a pleasant holiday weekend because – her stomach was upset all weekend! Ugh!

Dec 27 2011

At what age should kids have chores?

My girls will be 5 and 7. Over the years I’ve made them responsible for certain things, but I haven’t been consistent about it. For example, Lulu is responsible for getting herself and Coco into the shower each evening and Coco is responsible for setting and cleaning up the kitchen table. But other than that, I haven’t set specific things for them to do each day. I’d like to start, though, since I think they’re old enough.

I would love to make them responsible for things like making up their beds each morning, putting their clothes in the laundry basket each evening, and folding their wet towels after their showers. And all of those are just basic things, not really “chores” in the way I think of chores.

But, at the same time, I’m not sure what other responsibilities to give them. I’d like to say that, if they complete their chores for the week, they’ll get an allowance – their age in dollars (so $5 for Coco and $7 for Lulu, which will increase by $1 for Coco next week and in 2 weeks for Lulu), but I don’t know what’s a fair amount of chores for them to do each day.

I think that requiring chores is a good way of establishing routines and expectations, but since I haven’t enforced them in so long, I’m having a hard time getting them started back up again.

What do your children do for chores? Do you give them an allowance that’s tied to their performance? Do you use a Chore Chart to keep track?

Dec 26 2011

2011 is winding down and 2012 is revving up

I’m ready! 2011 has been good to me, for the most part. I don’t think I have any complaints. My oldest niece graduated from high school (in Canada!) and her dad (my brother) became a father for the 3rd time a few months later. My youngest started kindergarten this summer and her big sister mastered riding a bike with no training wheels! My dad came down and stayed with us for about 3 weeks and we were able to make it to Cleveland for Thanksgiving. I was able to see friends who I hadn’t spoken to almost since Coco was born.

But I’m ready for 2012 and all it has in store for me and my girls. The girls will turn 6 and 8 in January and I’m planning on starting college classes as well. In February I’ll turn 40 and enter a new chapter in this book we call life.

My challenges for this year are:

1. Finding a church home. This is important.

2. Start programming classes. We’re never too old to learn, but my ability to retain what I’m taught may be nearing it’s expiration date.

3. Parenting 2 children with the same endocrine disorder. Although I’ve been fighting our pediatrician for over 2 years about this, the diagnosis isn’t what I was prepared to hear. My oldest will have her first visit with the endocrinologist, but we’ve been through this before with my youngest so there should be no surprises.

4. Losing weight. While I’ll never make my short-lived goal of “40 (pounds) by 40”, I am going to make it a point of doing better this year. Even if it’s just smaller portions, I’d like to be healthy enough to stay active in my daughters’ lives.

All the challenges above I think of as opportunities for learning, growing, sharing, and leaning on God. I’m excited about what’s coming around the corner!

What are you looking forward to most in 2012?

This reflection post is sponsored by Pro Dunk Hoops. Although I’m not a basketball player, I used to record basketball stats back in high school (does that count?). Before computers. I used a basic pencil and paper. I recorded where the player stood when he took his shot, and whether or not he made the basketball goal. Maybe if I joined in the game, I’d be thinner already.

Dec 26 2011

I’ve said t before, and I’ll say it again…

This post brought to you by Slim-Fast. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m fat. Seriously. Like 50 pounds overweight. I’ve lost weight before, and kept it of. But I was younger. Much younger. I’ve lost all the weight I gained while pregnant (although I didn’t gain all that much – 19 pounds the 1st time and 12 pounds the 2nd time). It was easier with the 2nd pregnancy because I gained less and because I breastfed much longer too. So I can’t blame it on my babies (who will be 6 and 8 within the next 2 weeks) either. Sigh…

But now I’m reaching that milestone – 40. And I have a long way to go to be healthy again. I think that it’s probably easier to lose weight when you have help – whether its a weight loss partner or a weight loss program. I just can’t see myself losing this 50 pounds on my own. It hasn’t happened so far.

So, I found that this Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan might be helpful. What’s this, you ask? Well, it’s 3 snacks, 2 shakes or meal bars, and 1500-calorie meal per day. You can buy the Slim-Fast products locally at Kroger, Safeway, Target, or Walmart, or you can buy them online at amazon.com or on facebook. Since I’m not a milkshake lover, I’d probably go for the meal bar instead, and I’d eat my 1 mearl per day at dinnertime with my girls.

Do you have a weight loss goal for 2012? If so, what are your plans for helping you to meat your goal? And don’t forget to Like Slim-Fast on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slimfast

Dec 25 2011

Merry Christmas

I just want to wish each and every one of you a very, Merry Christmas! I hope you’re able to spend time with your families and that you don’t forget the reason for the season – Jesus Christ!

Thanks for a great 2011 and I’m looking forward to a blessed 2012!

Be blessed!

Monique

Arms of a Sister

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