Friday, October 7, 2016
Product Rave: LG GizmoPal2
Monday, October 3, 2016
2014 was the last post?
I realize it's been a really long time since I've blogged. Sitting back I realized why. End of 2013 I started my new job. By 2014 it was in full swing, add volunteering for the kids classrooms/PTO board/etc, training for races and raising 3 kids, it's no wonder I barely have time on the computer.
So a quick catch up with me now.
I'll be starting a new job in the same field on Friday! Nervouscited (word my daughter taught me and I love it). I'm still very involved with volunteering at the school. My youngest just started kindergarten, my middle is in 2nd and my oldest is in 5th grade (middle school)! I'm still working out, note (not training). The last couple of years I've gotten numerous injuries, the latest being Jan 2016. So I've tried not to focus so much on racing and just keeping healthy. I do run or tri a couple times a year but it's far less than it used to be. My last tri was 2 weeks ago and I got 2nd in my age group, complete surprise considering it was my first race of the year! I'm still reading, trying to read more and more each year. I hope to be back up to my 50 books a year, it's a stretch but I'm at 31 books thus far.
We are also trying to start traveling more, the kids are getting to the age where we can be more mobile so over the last couple of years we are including traveling to our agenda. Next stop...New Zealand! My dad moved there this past April so we are planning on visiting him and checking out the country.
So a quick catch up with me now.
I'll be starting a new job in the same field on Friday! Nervouscited (word my daughter taught me and I love it). I'm still very involved with volunteering at the school. My youngest just started kindergarten, my middle is in 2nd and my oldest is in 5th grade (middle school)! I'm still working out, note (not training). The last couple of years I've gotten numerous injuries, the latest being Jan 2016. So I've tried not to focus so much on racing and just keeping healthy. I do run or tri a couple times a year but it's far less than it used to be. My last tri was 2 weeks ago and I got 2nd in my age group, complete surprise considering it was my first race of the year! I'm still reading, trying to read more and more each year. I hope to be back up to my 50 books a year, it's a stretch but I'm at 31 books thus far.
We are also trying to start traveling more, the kids are getting to the age where we can be more mobile so over the last couple of years we are including traveling to our agenda. Next stop...New Zealand! My dad moved there this past April so we are planning on visiting him and checking out the country.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Chore Chart
I'm horrible at doing chores. I do the bare necessity to get by. With 3 kids, working part time, volunteering many hours and constantly training for a race I just don't have the time. Enter chore chart. I've read many blogs about simplifying your cleaning, do a little every day etc. Yeah, yeah, that doesn't always work for me. Especially when one day a week I work all day, come home leave the kids with hubby and go to my spin class that I teach. I'm exhausted by the end of the day. I made a chart on excel with 5-6 items. 2-3 of them I have to do every day anyways. For example:
Monday:
1) 1 load laundry
2) Fold and put away laundry.
3) Dishes
4) Wipe counters/table/stove
5) Sweep kitchen and dining room
6) Swiffer kitchen and dining room
I put an empty box so I can check off it was done. I put it up on the fridge so husband can see it and check off chores too when he feels inclined. This is especially helpful when I work nights so I don't have to explain what needs to be done. I'm on week one, hopefully this will bring some organization to my house.
Monday:
1) 1 load laundry
2) Fold and put away laundry.
3) Dishes
4) Wipe counters/table/stove
5) Sweep kitchen and dining room
6) Swiffer kitchen and dining room
I put an empty box so I can check off it was done. I put it up on the fridge so husband can see it and check off chores too when he feels inclined. This is especially helpful when I work nights so I don't have to explain what needs to be done. I'm on week one, hopefully this will bring some organization to my house.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Half Ironman, 70.3
I stare at the title of my post and wonder do I dare post this?
Last year a friend of mine completed her first half ironman. She texted me immediately after and said "You HAVE to do this!" I also ran into a woman at my son's preschool who was training for her first half ironman and after she completed it she told me "You HAVE to do one!". Fall last year was filled with several injuries as well as work so I knew 2014 wouldn't be the year for me to do one. Did I even want to do one? 1.2 mile swim (not bad, not worried about that) 56-mile bike, totally doable, 13.1 mile run (I do a few a year so I can do that.). Put them altogether and do it in one day? I don't know. I can swim and bike those distances in one day, but adding a half marathon after that?! Seems very daunting to me.
So I've decided to make 2014 about doing more Olympic distance tri's. See if doing more triathlons inspire me to do the next jump. So 2014, 3 triathlons. First one in my sights. May 18th.
Last year a friend of mine completed her first half ironman. She texted me immediately after and said "You HAVE to do this!" I also ran into a woman at my son's preschool who was training for her first half ironman and after she completed it she told me "You HAVE to do one!". Fall last year was filled with several injuries as well as work so I knew 2014 wouldn't be the year for me to do one. Did I even want to do one? 1.2 mile swim (not bad, not worried about that) 56-mile bike, totally doable, 13.1 mile run (I do a few a year so I can do that.). Put them altogether and do it in one day? I don't know. I can swim and bike those distances in one day, but adding a half marathon after that?! Seems very daunting to me.
So I've decided to make 2014 about doing more Olympic distance tri's. See if doing more triathlons inspire me to do the next jump. So 2014, 3 triathlons. First one in my sights. May 18th.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Love 4 JLK
This is a subject near and dear to my heart. Libby is a close friend of mine. We are part of a group that started out when we were engaged/newly married and has evolved to a mom's group. We have been pregnant together for 2 of our pregnancies. Last October I was devastated to hear that her oldest Jennifer was diagnosed with DIPG, a terminal brain cancer. I had hopes that JLK could get on a clinical trial, that there would be a miracle and she would beat the odds. But unfortunately after three and a half very short months Jennifer passed in February 2014.
Libby is a very strong woman and while she is working through her grief she is already thinking ahead of what she can do to make a difference in pediatric cancer. It turns out only 4% of government funding for cancer research goes to pediatric cancer. DIPG has had no new treatments/drugs in over 30 years. Libby is working on creating a non-profit to fundraise for pediatric cancer research. You can follow her journey at www.love4jlk.org.
Libby is a very strong woman and while she is working through her grief she is already thinking ahead of what she can do to make a difference in pediatric cancer. It turns out only 4% of government funding for cancer research goes to pediatric cancer. DIPG has had no new treatments/drugs in over 30 years. Libby is working on creating a non-profit to fundraise for pediatric cancer research. You can follow her journey at www.love4jlk.org.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Resolutions: I keep on making them.
I know, it's 2014 but I want to recap on my 2013 resolutions.
Here they are:
1) Run 700 miles in 2013.
2) Complete 3 family photo albums on Blurb.
3) De-clutter a few times during the year. Thoroughly purge rooms/garage.
4) Host several dinners for friends. Especially BBQ's in the summer. (I got a bunch of hosting things for Christmas because after last year I realized I didn't have platters etc to host meals.)
5) Read 50 books. It's been a couple of years since I've reached this goal so I'm going to make an effort this year.
6) Try a new recipe a month. I think this is a good one, gives us variety in our diet. Plus I really need to learn how to make a good appetizer or side dish. Whenever there is a potluck I fail on this dish.
What I actually did:
1) Ran 565.18 miles. Not the 700 I intended. I was on track until end of October when I sprained my back and basically couldn't run/work out for November and December. :(
2) Completed no books on Blurb.
3) Was pretty good with decluttering, still have some more work but I have purged a ton of baby stuff.
4) Not so many BBQ's but I did have several dinners where I was able to use my hosting dishes.
5) Only 26, wow that was pretty dismal. I didn't read very many good books last year so I tend to drag when I'm not interested.
6) This one was just alright. I wasn't consistent each month but I do have a few new recipes under my belt.
No appetizer though. :(
Now for my 2014 Resolutions:
I make my resolutions like goals. Things I'd like to accomplish over the next year. If I don't accomplish them it's not like I beat myself up over it.
1) 700 miles run
2) Do 3 Olympic Distance Triathlons
3) Read 30 books (Down from 50 since having kid #3 I haven't reached that number.)
4) Get kitchen remodel done!
5) Read at least 1 book a month off my bookshelf. I'm notorious for checking books out from the library or on my kindle.
What I've done so far:
1) Ran 158 miles
2) Need to work on this, should actually sign up for my races. I've scoped them out for May/June/August
3) I've read 4 books so far.
4) Need to start calling contractors!
Here they are:
1) Run 700 miles in 2013.
2) Complete 3 family photo albums on Blurb.
3) De-clutter a few times during the year. Thoroughly purge rooms/garage.
4) Host several dinners for friends. Especially BBQ's in the summer. (I got a bunch of hosting things for Christmas because after last year I realized I didn't have platters etc to host meals.)
5) Read 50 books. It's been a couple of years since I've reached this goal so I'm going to make an effort this year.
6) Try a new recipe a month. I think this is a good one, gives us variety in our diet. Plus I really need to learn how to make a good appetizer or side dish. Whenever there is a potluck I fail on this dish.
What I actually did:
1) Ran 565.18 miles. Not the 700 I intended. I was on track until end of October when I sprained my back and basically couldn't run/work out for November and December. :(
2) Completed no books on Blurb.
3) Was pretty good with decluttering, still have some more work but I have purged a ton of baby stuff.
4) Not so many BBQ's but I did have several dinners where I was able to use my hosting dishes.
5) Only 26, wow that was pretty dismal. I didn't read very many good books last year so I tend to drag when I'm not interested.
6) This one was just alright. I wasn't consistent each month but I do have a few new recipes under my belt.
No appetizer though. :(
Now for my 2014 Resolutions:
I make my resolutions like goals. Things I'd like to accomplish over the next year. If I don't accomplish them it's not like I beat myself up over it.
1) 700 miles run
2) Do 3 Olympic Distance Triathlons
3) Read 30 books (Down from 50 since having kid #3 I haven't reached that number.)
4) Get kitchen remodel done!
5) Read at least 1 book a month off my bookshelf. I'm notorious for checking books out from the library or on my kindle.
What I've done so far:
1) Ran 158 miles
2) Need to work on this, should actually sign up for my races. I've scoped them out for May/June/August
3) I've read 4 books so far.
4) Need to start calling contractors!
Friday, March 21, 2014
Long time...but I'm back
Wow, it's been an insanely long time since I've blogged. I looked at the last entry date and ran through my mind all of the reasons why I haven't blogged since August last year.
Well, to summarize, I started back to work part time last June. I love this work-life balance. I work two days a week while the kids are in school. If for some reason I have to miss a work day I can make it up on an evening night. I'm back to work at a start up pharmaceutical. I was lucky in that I was a stay at home mom for almost 2 years. When my youngest was 15 months old I ran into an old coworker at Costco who told me they started up a company and would I be interested in coming to work for them. (We had worked in big pharma together and during an merger their group was laid off because they no longer wanted that drug.) I told them I'd think about it but keep me in mind. That was November 2012. December I sent them my resume. January I had an "interview" and told them I loved staying at home but wanted to help them out so lets make an arrangement that works for both of us. Didn't hear anything until May 2013, they wanted me to come in to meet with some other people and see the labs. Lo and behold I started in June. I'm almost a year in and I still find the work enjoyable and challenging. I work with very smart people and our cancer drug I feel will make a difference. So 14-17 hours a week go to my job.
What else has been taking up my time?
My other job. I'm teaching 2 spin classes and 1 BOSU/weight training class. There goes another 3 hours a week.
Youngest is in a co-op preschool on the days I'm not working so there goes another 4 hours a week.
I watch a little boy from my eldest's class 2 times a week after school (I swap afternoons for when I work 2 days a week.)
I'm the PTO board president for my middle/youngest's preschool.
Cancer hit my family/friends this winter which rocked our world pretty terribly.
And I'm still continuing to work out and train for numerous races throughout the year.
So if there are long gaps between posts, know that life got a little hectic for a stretch.
But hopefully I can get into the rhythm of things and check in every now and then.
Well, to summarize, I started back to work part time last June. I love this work-life balance. I work two days a week while the kids are in school. If for some reason I have to miss a work day I can make it up on an evening night. I'm back to work at a start up pharmaceutical. I was lucky in that I was a stay at home mom for almost 2 years. When my youngest was 15 months old I ran into an old coworker at Costco who told me they started up a company and would I be interested in coming to work for them. (We had worked in big pharma together and during an merger their group was laid off because they no longer wanted that drug.) I told them I'd think about it but keep me in mind. That was November 2012. December I sent them my resume. January I had an "interview" and told them I loved staying at home but wanted to help them out so lets make an arrangement that works for both of us. Didn't hear anything until May 2013, they wanted me to come in to meet with some other people and see the labs. Lo and behold I started in June. I'm almost a year in and I still find the work enjoyable and challenging. I work with very smart people and our cancer drug I feel will make a difference. So 14-17 hours a week go to my job.
What else has been taking up my time?
My other job. I'm teaching 2 spin classes and 1 BOSU/weight training class. There goes another 3 hours a week.
Youngest is in a co-op preschool on the days I'm not working so there goes another 4 hours a week.
I watch a little boy from my eldest's class 2 times a week after school (I swap afternoons for when I work 2 days a week.)
I'm the PTO board president for my middle/youngest's preschool.
Cancer hit my family/friends this winter which rocked our world pretty terribly.
And I'm still continuing to work out and train for numerous races throughout the year.
So if there are long gaps between posts, know that life got a little hectic for a stretch.
But hopefully I can get into the rhythm of things and check in every now and then.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Children Book Favorites
The New Arrival by Vanya Nastanlieva: Cute book about a hedgehog moving to a new part of the forest and attempting to make new friends.
The Police Cloud by Cristoph Niemann: Cloud really wants to be a policeman and wear the police hat. First day on the job didn't go so well...
Never Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson
The Police Cloud by Cristoph Niemann: Cloud really wants to be a policeman and wear the police hat. First day on the job didn't go so well...
Never Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson
Friday, June 7, 2013
More Children's book reviews
I haven't reviewed children's books in a while and we've been reading a ton of them. I let my kids pick whatever they want at the library and last week was the first week we reached the max limit for checking out books. 50! I guess when 4 of us are book lovers it was bound to happen.
Here is a list of some recent favorites: (The books in bold are highly recommended.)
I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black. Funny story about a girl who's bored. She runs into a potato who says kids are boring and she tries to tell the potato all the fun things that kids do. The potato is not impressed. Made me laugh, reminded me of all the times my kids claim "I'm Bored!".
The Library by Sarah Stewart. I may have loved this book more than the kids but just because I relate to the girl in the story. A girl loved books and kept buying books until her house was filled with books and she had no more room. So she turned her house into a library to loan out her books to share with everyone.
What the Ladybug Heard by Julia Donaldson. Clever book about a ladybug who overheard some robber's plan to steal the cow on the farm. Ladybug comes up with a plan to throw the robber's off. The book was pleasing to my kids and they liked the cunningness of the plan.
No Such Thing by Jackie French Koller OMG, my favorite book! Such a cute story about a boy who's afraid of monsters under his bed, and a monster who's afraid of a boy on top of his bed. My 6 year old and 3 year old LOVED this book. The ending leaves you hanging which left my 6 year old questioning why the author didn't write what happens next.
Little Cub by Olivier Dunrea. A great book that touches a little on adoption. It's about an old bear who's lonely and has no one to hang out with and teach stuff too. And a young bear who is scared and has no one to teach him how to do things. One day the two run into each other and the old bear takes the young bear in and he's not lonely anymore, the little cub is not scared and the old bear teaches the cub everything he wanted to learn.
The Frazzle Family Finds A Way by Ann Bonwill. Funny book about a family who is forgetful and how they come up with a way to remember things.
Anh's Anger by Gail Silver. My 6 year old still deals with tantrums, by recommendation I picked up this book. It has not helped her with her tantrums, BUT my 3 year old has taken to this story and quotes the book when she gets angry. He speaks of how anger is a monster and you need to calm yourself to get it to go away. I was really impressed how my 3 year old really understood this book.
Timothy and the Strong Pajamas by Viviane Schwarz. My 3 year old is into super heros and super powers, this book was a great read in that the boy in the book had super powers from his pajamas.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead. This was such a heartwarming story. This zookeeper took care of the animals day after day. One day he didn't show up because he was sick so all of the animals came to his house to take care of him. Such a great story, loved it!
Cloudette by Tim Lichtenheld. Cute story, this cloud was tiny and found ways to be happy in the world but she really wanted to do something more. One day she gets her chance. I thought it was such a creative story.
Chapter books:
I'm on the search for chapter books that are challenging enough for my 6 year old 1st grader (soon to be 2nd grader), but still easy enough for her to read on her own. She loves to read before going to sleep and will read into the night after we leave her room. The problem with finding challenging books is that the plot gets more complicated or not interesting to her age so I've gone through a lot of different books. Here are some favorites of my daughter's. (Her choices, not mine.)
Princess Posey series by Stephanie Greene
Daisy Dawson series by Steve Voake and Jessica Meserve
Roscoe Riley Rules series by Katherine Applegate and Brian Biggs
Gooney Bird Greene series by Lois Lowry (these books are a little bit harder so we take turns reading it.)
Uh-Oh Cleo books by Jessica Harper and Jon Berkeley. (Just finished book 1 and she seemed to enjoy it.)
We've tried: Cam Jansen series, Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series which she didn't like.
I have picked up a whole bunch of new books from the library to read this summer so more may be added to this list.
Here is a list of some recent favorites: (The books in bold are highly recommended.)
I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black. Funny story about a girl who's bored. She runs into a potato who says kids are boring and she tries to tell the potato all the fun things that kids do. The potato is not impressed. Made me laugh, reminded me of all the times my kids claim "I'm Bored!".
The Library by Sarah Stewart. I may have loved this book more than the kids but just because I relate to the girl in the story. A girl loved books and kept buying books until her house was filled with books and she had no more room. So she turned her house into a library to loan out her books to share with everyone.
What the Ladybug Heard by Julia Donaldson. Clever book about a ladybug who overheard some robber's plan to steal the cow on the farm. Ladybug comes up with a plan to throw the robber's off. The book was pleasing to my kids and they liked the cunningness of the plan.
No Such Thing by Jackie French Koller OMG, my favorite book! Such a cute story about a boy who's afraid of monsters under his bed, and a monster who's afraid of a boy on top of his bed. My 6 year old and 3 year old LOVED this book. The ending leaves you hanging which left my 6 year old questioning why the author didn't write what happens next.
Little Cub by Olivier Dunrea. A great book that touches a little on adoption. It's about an old bear who's lonely and has no one to hang out with and teach stuff too. And a young bear who is scared and has no one to teach him how to do things. One day the two run into each other and the old bear takes the young bear in and he's not lonely anymore, the little cub is not scared and the old bear teaches the cub everything he wanted to learn.
The Frazzle Family Finds A Way by Ann Bonwill. Funny book about a family who is forgetful and how they come up with a way to remember things.
Anh's Anger by Gail Silver. My 6 year old still deals with tantrums, by recommendation I picked up this book. It has not helped her with her tantrums, BUT my 3 year old has taken to this story and quotes the book when she gets angry. He speaks of how anger is a monster and you need to calm yourself to get it to go away. I was really impressed how my 3 year old really understood this book.
Timothy and the Strong Pajamas by Viviane Schwarz. My 3 year old is into super heros and super powers, this book was a great read in that the boy in the book had super powers from his pajamas.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead. This was such a heartwarming story. This zookeeper took care of the animals day after day. One day he didn't show up because he was sick so all of the animals came to his house to take care of him. Such a great story, loved it!
Cloudette by Tim Lichtenheld. Cute story, this cloud was tiny and found ways to be happy in the world but she really wanted to do something more. One day she gets her chance. I thought it was such a creative story.
Chapter books:
I'm on the search for chapter books that are challenging enough for my 6 year old 1st grader (soon to be 2nd grader), but still easy enough for her to read on her own. She loves to read before going to sleep and will read into the night after we leave her room. The problem with finding challenging books is that the plot gets more complicated or not interesting to her age so I've gone through a lot of different books. Here are some favorites of my daughter's. (Her choices, not mine.)
Princess Posey series by Stephanie Greene
Daisy Dawson series by Steve Voake and Jessica Meserve
Roscoe Riley Rules series by Katherine Applegate and Brian Biggs
Gooney Bird Greene series by Lois Lowry (these books are a little bit harder so we take turns reading it.)
Uh-Oh Cleo books by Jessica Harper and Jon Berkeley. (Just finished book 1 and she seemed to enjoy it.)
We've tried: Cam Jansen series, Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series which she didn't like.
I have picked up a whole bunch of new books from the library to read this summer so more may be added to this list.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Resolutions 2013 revisited
1) Run 700 miles in 2013.
2) Complete 3 family photo albums on Blurb.
3) De-clutter a few times during the year. Thoroughly purge rooms/garage.
4) Host several dinners for friends. Especially BBQ's in the summer. (I got a bunch of hosting things for Christmas because after last year I realized I didn't have platters etc to host meals.)
5) Read 50 books. It's been a couple of years since I've reached this goal so I'm going to make an effort this year.
6) Try a new recipe a month. I think this is a good one, gives us variety in our diet. Plus I really need to learn how to make a good appetizer or side dish. Whenever there is a potluck I fail on this dish.
Update May 2013
1) I'm at 263 miles so far.
2) Um, not even close to getting an album done.
3) Just took 4 boxes of stuff to Goodwill today! Have also been selling many old baby items online.
4) My neighbors and I have started a Friday dinner swap. Every Friday we can, one family hosts and prepares dinner, the other family brings wine/beer/drinks. Does that count?
5) I'm really behind on this...I've read 13 books so far this year.
6) Not so good on this one either...
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