Eating... or not.

So I did it. I did what I said months ago I wouldn't do.

I watched Food, Inc.

I learned things I wish I wouldn't have... but even more that I am so glad that I did.

And I made a few choices.

The first is that my family won't buy any more factory-processed beef from a grocery. I finished watching the film, got online, and found a local rancher that has only grass-fed beef that are raised locally and butchered humanely. And I bought 1/4 of beef that will be delivered this weekend to my house. Vacuum packed. Ready to freeze.

I also am strongly debating my use of coupons. I love saving the money. I love helping others to save money. But after watching the documentary, I am feeling like I am promoting companies that don't really have me or my family in mind. They have their pockets (and rightly so) in the front and center. I just am having a hard time figuring out why I would want those products anymore, no matter how cheap I can get them for.

This week, I am also having a garden guru stop by and help me make some changes for my fall/winter planting. I really want to make the most of my garden this season, harvesting carrots, potatoes, spinach... and feeling good about what I choose.

And although I know that I won't be perfect, I do like to think that this experience is making me more aware of what I am doing for myself, my family and my future. I might still drink Coke... but I am going to buy free-range chicken eggs (and am still entertaining the thought of my own chickens). I am going to think locally, sustainably, healthy.

And I will giggle when Katie takes away my voter registration card.. because there is no way my Republican is showing... ;o)

Wanna make God Laugh??

I always joke that the fastest way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans. And I don't meant that God doesn't want us to do what we want to do, quite the contrary! But I do think that sometimes we want to control every facet of life. We want to do what we want to do. End of Story.

I am no exception... I wanted to go back to work. I organized my daycare. I got the boys registered. I got the rules down, I got them excited. I squared away a job. A paycheck. I got my husband on board. I was ready for Monday.

And then God laughed.

His laughter sounded an awful lot like my son's wailing at 2am on Saturday. And it lasted all weekend. I thought Corbin had an ear infection... or maybe herpangina again. But the Urgent Care and After Hours doctors said it was nothing.... "just teething".

I hate "just teething".

But fast forward to today. Wednesday. And I am not at work. I am at home... caring for a baby with Hand Foot and Mouth disease... and an ear infection. And he can't go back to daycare until Monday... at the earliest.

I am not mad or anything... but I feel like I am being tested. Like I need to make sure this is what I am ready for. Like this is where I belong. In a month, when I am no longer a contractor, I won't have the luxury (?) or being able to call out and just say "Sorry... gotta stay home with the kids today. Call me if you need me." Is that what I want? And if it is... why am I still questioning it?

Life Happens

I was asked if I was abandoning my family blog... and the short answer is no. I am not purposely abandoning this blog. I have just been super busy.

First, I have decided to go back to work full time. For the past 3 months or so, I have been working part time as a consultant, doing what I do best. And I guess they like me because I have been asked to work full time. And as an employee. I am not sure yet if it's really what I want to do. I am torn... but I am thinking that if I just do 1 year.. it will make a world of a difference in my families lifestyles and our debt crunching.

I like that.

This also means that my children will need full time care. And their current sitter (that I love) can't do full time. So they need to go to a daycare and private preschool. They did a trial day and seemed to really like it. They will be going there 5 days a week... up to 10 hours a day...

I am not sure I like that.

And then there is my hubs... who is trying hard to make his dreams come true. I am so happy with what his plans are and where he is headed. But it's stressful, too. We lose some of the comforts we have loved and we gain new freedoms.

And I both love that and don't love that.

But, even in the shadows of doubt and the beauty of the unknown... my little family has been blooming into something amazing. The tensions are dropping, the smiles are all but permanent, and the love is so strong it's sickening.

And I am seriously loving this.

Sometimes people say "Life Happens" and they mean it in a way that means that they are going through a crappy period of time... or that things are out of their hands... or that there is no explanation other than it's just the cards they were dealt with.

But for me... I think that sometimes "Life Happens" because we need to grow. I think it means that things are changing, growing, adapting... and sometimes... it's for the better.

Thrifty Decor

I have never been one to have a Martha Stewart home. I love pretty things, decorations and all that... but I suffer from a disease I call "I-can-do-that-itis". I refuse to buy things I can do myself. And combine that with the lack of real wall space in my house... it's easy to see why I don't have anything really on my walls.

No curtains. No pictures. Nothing.

But I am trying to make that change. And we all know I am just a little bit cheap :cough cough: I am trying to do this all while spending as little as possible.

This weekend, I tried my hand at these Book Wreaths over at Living with Lindsay!

I am pretty happy with the end result! And best yet, it only cost me $2! I got my book and wreath form at the Dollar Tree... I had the glue gun and gray paint already.

I am not sure where I will keep it, but for now, it feels at home above this shelf.

An Internal Reveal

So last night was a spontaneous date night for me and the hubs... I had been over to my moms house earlier and she said, "Hey, I'll watch the boys if you and Dustin want to do something." Done and done!

The original plan was to catch a movie, but we decided instead to grab dinner on a patio somewhere and just chitchat... something that we rarely do anymore. And I was determined not to let this wonderful opportunity get spoiled by something like talking about the kids or what bills needed to be paid.

We headed to the local brewery... ordered some tapas... and started in!

Earlier in the day, some of my internet friends and I played a little game in which we disclosed 5 things that everyone didn't already know about us. I mentioned it to Dustin... and he probably thought that when I said "Today on the 'Tini..." my statement was going to be a mix of rants, laughs, or boring (to him) subject matter.

But instead, I said "Why don't we try this... what don't I already know about you?"


And with those words came a mix of laughs and smiles and thoughts that neither of us had thunk before. I found out some interesting things about him that I didn't know, but more importantly, I found out stuff about me that I didn't know.

For example, I know that I need a lot going on. I know that I dabble in too many projects. I know that I am weird like that. I didn't know that the reason I do it is likely because I just really want to be good at something. Not good as in you get an A+ on your paper and mom puts it on the fridge.. I had too many of those... they lost their appeal a long time ago. More like really good as in it's "MY thing"... the thing I do. The thing I am known for. And since nothing I do is over the top awesome (yet)... I don't have a thing... and instead I'll try another thing. Until I find something that clicks for me.

I am learning more about myself and who I need to be.... nay, who I want to be! I still have a lot of time before I am all grown up... and I know that I don't have to be super great at anything.... but I plan on taking the next few years to figure out who I am and what I want to do with my life. I don't mind being a jack of all trades, but I'd much rather be totally awesome at one.

Round 2

You will never guess that I am blogging away from a stationary bike at my gym right now. But I am. Ahhhh gotta love technology!

It's been quite a while since I've been to the gym. And sadly a few of those pounds have started to creep right back on. So I am being proactive and keeping my tail in the gym.

I also have signed up for a.competition in November called Fight for Air Climb. All proceeds go to find a cure for lung cancer. Come that cool November morning I will have to climb 53 stories. Nearly 1300 steps. Yikes!

You can find out more by going to www.climbphoenix.com. Also, you can join my jean ny searching for ClimbGenius. Or feel free to sponsor me instead!

Tell me what you are doing to stay ahead of those pounds!

Oh! I almost forgot! Be sure to check out http://youarewhatyoukeep.blogspot.com on Thursday for some awesome news!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.7

Tour de Thrift!

Whew... I've had one of those weeks... but I have to come back and tell you about the amazing event that I was able to go to on Saturday.... the first ever... hopefully annual... Arizona Tour de Thrift!

We met at Mimi's for breakfast, and there were so many beautiful women there ready to share their great ideas! I had the pleasure of sitting near Hanna of Rubies and Pearls, Sharla of My Little Gems , and Steph from Somewhat Simple and Crazy Domestic... check 'em out!

Ashley from Cute as a Fox and Jax from Aly & Ash did such a great job putting this event together! Check out these swag bags (and I am borrowing the picture... thanks!)

I can't wait to show you the projects that these items will all be a part of.... and although the rest of the group went out to Goodwill for 50% off day, I had to bow out (with my sister who came with me) to attend a family wedding... but let me assure you... it won't keep me from going later to spend the $5 giftcard that we got!

I was also lucky enough to win not one, but 2 prizes! (I paid for 2 tickets, but my guest backed out at the last minute... but she was still in the drawing) I won two beautiful ribbon flowers from Simply Memzelle. They are gorgeous... I just don't have my card for my camera right now to share! I also one a gift card to The Vintage Pearl! I was sooo excited about this since it was the one thing I was praying to win! I need to pick out something beautiful!


Thanks so much, Ladies for such an awesome event! I can't wait to get creative!