Some updates/same/shampoo/shopping

Well, we got back on Tuesday after spending the Holiday in MD with family and friends. I really miss MD. I am trying to find my husband a job back there now. Part of the reason I think I am over Jacksonville. Is I am tired of the same- Jacksonville is very same. Same weather (it was 82 yesterday and yes it was DEC. 1 but that could have had easily been May 1), most of the people you meet same, same routine, same sh**, different day.

I hate same. Anyone who knows me knows I love change...the essence of change, the excitement of change. I get bored easily. I think this is the longest time I have ever lived in the same place since becoming an adult. I used to change apartments every year when the lease was up. I guess some of the only things I have that are the same are my dear friends from home. I like that they are the same...I don't want that to change at all.

Enough on that- I don't want people here in Jacksonville to start sending hate mail or for my in-laws to think we are up and "stealing" their grand kids.

Shampoo- So the Suave is treating me good but...I still worry about all the stuff in it I can't pronounce so I for about a week I have been using Dr. Broner's all in one soap. Nothing too scary in it. And dude if you have ever read the label you can do almost everything with it and I mean everything- brush your teeth, wash cloth diapers, scrub your floor plus a whole lot more.

Shopping- Ahh! one of the joys of Christmas- So I have come to dislike shopping. I hate the MALL! Chandler says is muy MAL. His Spanish teacher would be so proud. But anyway I have really found some great stuff on line this year especially since I HATE PLASTIC TOYS THAT MAKE NOISE!!! The boys will be getting wooden trucks and cars, a hand made dolly (not hand made by me mind you ) and organic underwear. And honestly I have never been happier!

Check out http://www.greentaramama.com/ Michelle is the owner and she is wonderful.

PS Chris has been out of town W-F so he took the boys to the park so I am going to clean out more junk from the playroom now! I love purging things they don't play with and giving them to child who really need them!

10 Things You Can Do to Contribute to Internal, Interpersonal and
Organizational Peace.

1. Spend some time each day quietly reflecting on how you would
like to relate to yourself and others.
2. Remember that all human beings have the same needs.
3. Check your intention to see if you are as interested in others
getting their needs met as your own.
4. When asking someone to do something, check first to see if you
are making a request or a demand.
5. Instead of saying what you DON'T want someone to do, say what
you DO want the person to do.
6. Instead of saying what you want someone to BE, say what action
you'd like the person to take that you hope will help the person be
that way.
7. Before agreeing or disagreeing with anyone's opinions, try to
tune in to what the person is feeling and needing.
8. Instead of saying No, say what need of yours prevents you from
saying Yes.
9. If you are feeling upset, think about what need of yours is not
being met, and what you could do to meet it, instead of thinking
about what's wrong with others or yourself.
10. Instead of praising someone who did something you like, express
your gratitude by telling the person what need of yours that action
met.

The Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) would like there to
be a critical mass of people using Nonviolent Communication so all
people will get their needs met and resolve their conflicts
peacefully.

© 2001 Gary Baran & CNVC The right to freely duplicate this document
is hereby granted.

Is it really possible to be over Starbucks?

I have always favored the mom and pop coffee shop over the chain but recently with the addition of children to my life relaxing in a coffee shop and people watching has been far from possible. Most of the Starbucks in Jacksonville have a drive thru which makes dining easy with kids secure in the Britax in the back seat. But the past couple times I have been "thru"...I haven't even found anything to get excited about on the menu what is a coffee lover to do? I would never remotely balk at the price like other coffee lovers who can swear by certain gas stations $.99 cup of Joe... But come on Starbucks give me something here to work with...
While this is my favorite coffee time of the year- I love the Pumpkin Spice Latte but even that seems boring these days...Kim and I loved the Green Tea Frapps last summer but this summer they had to go an add blackberries to it...You could request it minus the blackberry whatever but really why would you have wanted that in there anyway...Yuck!

PS on a little side note...We don't eat fast food alot so my children don't really recognize McDonald's or Burger King signs while we are driving but my 2 year old can spot a Starbucks a mile away and is already asks for his own cup.... Could mean trouble is a brewing (pun intended)

Don't hate me but I have good hair- I mean really good HAIR!

I say this because I am scared.

First off, I am really still shocked that I have such good hair because I have always had pretty bad skin even now I suffer from adult acne But really I can't remember the last time I have had a bad hair day. And I live in an area with about the worst water quality and most humidity possible. Not to mention I have permed, highlighted, colored, frosted, low lighted, straightened, bleached my hair pretty much since about the age of 5. I got the "Annie" perm first.

(BTW, Hair naturally a light brown color and straight!)

I say I am scared because of the recent work status change I am forced to change hair products. See I think while good hair comes from good genes (Thanks MOM!) I also believe good hair comes from expensive hair care products. For as long as I can remember I used Aveda. LOVE IT! But then about 2 years ago I switched to something all organic b/c I read some horrible stuff about Sodium Laurel Sulfates (pardon the spelling) So all organic it was- Nothing I couldn't pronounce was going on this noggin. And Oh how I loved it but this organic shampoo and condition comes with a price about $16 a bottle. And the bottle is not gallon sized.

It just so happened I ran out of the shampoo and conditioner at approximately the same time I quit my job.... GASP! What is a girl to do!
Now I know Chris wouldn't even bat an eyelash if I went out and bought "my beloved shampoo"
But I can't for the life of me do it. So Hold your breath again- I have become a SUAVE GIRL!
all of $1.92 a bottle at Target. And mind you the bottle is bigger than the organic bottle.

I have been using the suave for about a month now- and no back lash yet- We have entered a less humid time here in Jacksonville if that is possible and I am really watching what I eat b/c of baby #3 but only time will tell if the girl who has always had good hair can keep her reputation....

Gavinism...

As many of you know I teach yoga and I have been reading lately about Eastern Religions and such. Well, recently I was talking to Chris about "chi"-- It has been described in western culture many ways as in the framework at which we look at things, ones life force, or general outlook or behavior. Well, sometimes as adults we need to "harness our chi"- regain control of our situation when it comes to dealing with our children- I try to remember this before I say something mean or hurtful to the boys that I really don't mean. We have also asked Chandler to start using it to when he gets mad at Gavin about taking his toys, knocking over a castle he just built etc etc. Tonight while we were all laying down to put the boys to sleep, they were particular hyper. After story telling and singing still no rest was coming to their little bodies- So Chris politely asked them to "Harness their Chi's" in which Brother's response was "mmm..Cheese" Needless to say we all started laughing and it took even more time for the boys to nod off.

ok SO I stole this from Kim who stole this from someone who stole it from someone

This is a fantastic meme that I borrowed from c., a blogger who's writing style I simply admire (pwp, so I can't provide link). I've always thought it would be quite an accomplishment to write a memoir, one about my immigrant family is on my life to-do list. It took me a while to answer these, perhaps I need to know more about myself and where I come from. Maybe I focus too much on the present and immediate future to reflect backwards. I hate having to retrace my steps, literally. If you have time to answer these, let me know in your comments. I pass this along to you, I'd love to hear what you are from.
I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)
I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).
I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).
From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).
I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).
From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).
I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).

I am going to think about my answers and post them later this week. This is should be good.

I could wait- Here is my response

I am from a bowl of spaghetti, from Lysol Spray and JC Penney.

I am from the all brick rancher that always had too many bedrooms and never enough people to fill them. With a basement that served as birthday party room, scout meeting room and playroom all within hours. On a street filled with friends and street lights that always seem to come on too early in the summer.

I am from an evergreen tree, the never ending idealist.

I am from talking too much and showing affection regardless, from Grandma and BaBa and Angela, Sam, & Andy and Chris, Gavin and Chandler.

I am from the lady who yelled the loudest at high school sports and the man who stood by the fence to give encouragement even if he didn’t have a kid playing.

From do what you think is best and either way, we will always love you.

I am from Catholic Parents. And believe in God and other people's right to their god who ever he or she may be.

I'm from Middletown MD, West Virginia, Ellis Island, Italy, the Czech Republic and some other places, pepperoni rolls and pigs in the blanket (made with cabbage leaves).

From the great grandmother who brought antique bedroom furniture from “the old country with her on the boat”, the grandfather who ran the best “store” in Morgantown, and the sister who I call “Mother Superior” but have learned so much.

I am from smiled filled photo albums of travel, vacations and family reunions on the coffee table, and hallways lined with framed photos of family with us and no longer.

Week One: Mission Completation

So My first week home with my Angels was okay. No it was better than OK. We had a great time. We kept extremely busy.
Monday: We went to Toddler Town with Heather, Wallace and Pierce.
Tuesday: We went to Lunch at Ruby Tuesdays with Miss Kim and checked out "The Little Gym".
Wednesday: We ran errands to the consignment store to drop some stuff off, to Library Story Time and to the grocery store.
Thursday: Chandler had Preschool and Gavin and I attended for about half the time and the other half he stayed by himself. That evening we attended the Dorothy the Dinosaur Show as part of Gavin's Birthday.
Friday: Chandler had Preschool and went almost the whole time by himself and Gavin and I went to his first class at the Little Gym.
Two evenings I did some CLC work with a client have breastfeeding issues after a c-section.
So it was quite a busy week. This week we are trying something a little different- I think we might try staying home more and see what happens.
My real question is when does a SAHM get a day off? Seems like my week just blended into my weekend. Hmmm... I need to talk to management about this. If I produce a happy, healthy product by week's end shouldn't I get some sort of flex time? Say on Sat. or Sunday?

On a side note, I have thought of some other things I want to blg about but shockingly haven't had the time- SO I am going to keep a list of possible interesting blog toopics- SO when I have time--- When?! I have some interesting fodder :)
Have a good one :)

This makes me sad

PRODUCT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: IT'S SCARY -- HALLOWEEN CHOCOLATE MADE WITH FORCED CHILD LABORThe scariest thing about Halloween this year won't be the costumes... it's the chocolate. Almost half of the world's cocoa is being produced on West African plantations where, according to the UN's International Labor Organization, 284,000 child laborers "are either involved in hazardous work, unprotected, or have been trafficked." Say no to the chocolate industry's ghoulish links to child slavery by buying Fair Trade and organic chocolate.* Help educate people about this important issue by sending a letter to the editor of your local newspaper here: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/pickMedia.jsp?letter_KEY=576* Host a slavery-free Halloween house party to distribute trick-or-treat sized Fair Trade chocolate minis to your friends and neighbors. Fair Trade trick-or-treat kits: http://store.gxonlinestore.org/trickortreatkit.html* Order Fair Trade chocolate minis for your Halloween party or trick-or-treaters: http://equalexchange.stores.yahoo.net/organiccocoa.html* Help us publicize the slavery-free Halloween campaign by letting us know about your house party. Contact: alexis@organicconsumers.orgWe rely on your donations to continue our work on these important issues!Donate Now!http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm

Reply from my Sister...thought you might enjoy

This is an email I got from my sister Angela. She and I have pretty much lived opposite lives. Her oldest daughter will graduate from college in May and her younger wil start next fall (2007). She put her career on hold as an attorney 20 years ago to stay at home. So I guess she knows a little about what she is talking about....

Francie,

I have to reply by email because I couldn't figure out how to reply to the blog. I hope that your days at home with the boys will bring you more satisfaction than you ever imagined possible. And I promise--if not way before they are 20 years old--you will be so thrilled that you have invested what it takes in their lives because they will be so much more fun to be around since they will have become your best friends. We can always hope that great parents will always love their kids, but it takes time and effort and a commitment of engagement to find parents who "like" their kids and would want to spend their time together rather than with someone else. Best of luck to you in your new world. I know it has all been worth it for me!!!

Love ya,Angela

PS It seems ironic to me, as you face coming home I am beginning to face returning to work and I think I am more scared than you. But I do still have at least 6 months to a year before I need to make anything real.

So I had another blog and I sucked at it...

So lucky for me you can just delete these sort of things and move on. Pretty easy. But it has come to my attention basically because I am surrounded by empty boxes in my office (should be packing) that I am entering the world of the Stay at Home MOM. (And I will have more time to create a not so sucky blog.) And at first and by most accounts this excites me. I have been working since about the age 16 up to three jobs at a time. I like to spend money so you need to work to spend money. Get it! Double edged Sword.... Being able to enjoy time with my 2 sons Chandler 3 and Gavin 2 and new baby #3 due in March.

No more pantyhose and suits in the summer in Florida.

No more boring business lunches.

No more following policy and procedures for no better reason then "that is just what we do"

No more deadlines to bosses (yes I currently report to 2 Bosses not just one)

See doesn't leaving all this behind sound great.

Well, I am now currently scared.

I have always contributed.................And I know I will be contributing even more now being at home with the kids but who will do my quarterly evalution? How will I earn my Merit Increase? Who will call me up and ask for opinions of their work/idea/project? Who will tell me I look nice in my new Ann Taylor Suit? Funny, I may never own another new Ann Taylor Suit. I don't think that is suitable playgroup attire. See I kind of always thought of my self as a working girl...No not that kind of working girl (heads out of the gutter) But it has come to my attention that to be that girl you can't really be the kind of Mom I want to be.

I want to be the Mom who sends the best homemade treats into school for birthdays, I want to be the Mom who is home after school, I want to be the Mom who my kids' friends think is cool, I want to be the Mom who doesn't have to worry about deadlines, bosses, goals, and paperwork. And these two people don't exist in one person at least not in this one person.

I love what I do as a career. I have a great title. I make decent money,more than some whole households make. But I love what I hope to do as a MOM even more. End of the day someone else will come sit at this desk and do this job maybe even better than I have- But at the end of the day no one will be able to do the job of mothering my children better than me.

Guess my decision is easier than I thought.
Wish me luck on the journey.
I promise to keep you posted :)