Blog Candy, Blog Candy, Blog Candy

I think this is my first piece of real blog candy! I got it from my dear friend Heidi.  She blogs about various things in her life, her home improvement projects, and posts some great photos!  Check out her blog here! 

I feel like blog candy is somewhat of a legend, like the legend for this nifty prize is that the receiver is suppose to mention the blog they got it from and tell 7 things about themselves before passing it on.

Here are seven things about me...

1.) My heart really breaks a little when I read the news or see sad stories on TV.  In fact, a fire is burning near one of our favorite fishing holes and it has made me kind of sad all day.  It's such a beautiful area and I worry about the people who have been evacuated or lost their homes. It sort of reminds me of one of the characters in the Secret Life of Bees.

2.) I get asked 1-2x a week if I dyed my hair. It looks a distinctly different color depending on whether I'm wearing it up or down and what products I used.  This apparently confuses people.

3.) Little House on the Prairie was the first book I remember reading cover to cover that was not a picture book. 

4.) When I was in around 3rd grade, if my family took trips through the middle of Montana, I would try to not think about anything.  I knew that aliens looked for artificial intelligence.  I didn't want the aliens to think I was intelligent, so I tried not to think for extended periods of time.  Especially, because I knew there was nothing around for miles, so they would easily be able to spot someone who was intelligent aka thinking.  I am amused as an adult thinking about this insane fear.

5.) I make a face when I am deep in thought that various people have confused for me being upset. Very few people actually can tell the difference between when I am thinking really hard about something and when I am genuinely upset.

6.) I have a six degree curve in my spine. I rarely sit straight when I am the passenger in a car, I almost always sit at an angle. Somehow it's more comfortable, especially if my back hurts.

7.) I named my cat Piper because she is grey like a pipe. I previously named a cat Marshmallow because it was white, you get the trend.

To cap off my award acceptance, I will now tag 15 people? Okay, I really don't share this with 15 people. Let's get real. So here are the 5 people I tag.

WM from the Space Between Silence

KS from the Sikorski Saga

KG from One Small Step One Big Change

J from Jenna and Zach Siple

N from My Not So Secret Thoughts

My Review of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred

I attempted to go through the 30 Day Shred Workout 1 yesterday.  Usually, I can breeze through work out videos, bike riding, and most walking without my inhaler.  This workout was tough enough that I actually had to stop 7 minutes in for my inhaler.  I sat out the rest of the workout.  All day I felt a little soreness through my thighs, despite the fact I cut my workout super short! 

Today, I used my inhaler appropriately and started the work out with vigor.  I am happy to report I made it through the whole work out and actually felt like I had put in a full day at the gym!  The work out moves you through circuits.  You do 3 minutes of cardio, 2 minutes of strength, and 1 minute of abs.  The cardio includes jumping jacks, air jump rope, punches, butt kicks, etc.  The strength training requires someone to use weights.  Fortunately, I have a set of three weights. Yesterday I started with my 5 lb. weights.  I could not keep up with that much weight.  Today I used the 1 lb. weights.  I was able to at least keep up and expect I can move to 3 lbs. within the week. There are chest flys, dumb bell rows, and dumb bell extensions.  The abs are worked out with a series of crunches, side crunches, bicycle crunches, push ups, etc. 

There are a lot of pros to this work out. I love that it keeps me moving through circuits.  Just when I think I can't do anything else, Jillian will say just 5 more or something to signal you are nearing the end.  This gives me the last oomph I need to keep pushing.  Unlike the usual depictions of Jillian, she does NOT yell. In fact she is even sort of cheerleader! You could probably use my next pro as a con, but I think the first part of the work out is actually more difficult than the last half.  I like this though, because I know if I make it through the first few minutes, I can definitely do what's coming up next.  In addition, this whole work out is only 20 minutes! When I priced it at Target it was just under $10.  I borrowed my copy from the local library.  In addition to the workout you need something to use as weights and I suggest a yoga mat, but that is not required.  I am using muscles that I didn't realize I had or have not used in a long time. That feels good!

As far as cons go, I am not sure what I will do after the 30 days! The workout is intense enough that I can see where if you were able to do 30 days, you might be ready for something more intense?  There are three levels. I am working out on level 1. 

Overall, I think this is an excellent work out.  I have been frustrated with other DVD's or workout games where I don't even break a sweat.  I sweat and really feel like I get a lot of bang for my buck. In fact, according to my BodyBugg I got up to burning 8.9 calories per minute! When I look at the time frame I was working out, I burned 193-222 calories. To put this in perspective, when I am sleeping I burn around 1.6 calories per minute. Casual walking burns about 1.8-3.6 calories per minute.  Getting up to 8.9 calories per minutes is pretty serious then!

I plan to review some other work out DVD's, but like this one so much that I will be sticking with it for a while.  I actually think it will produce some serious results!  So, if you are looking for something fantastic, check it out!

Food for thought...

This morning I woke up in such a haze. I just felt so foggy, even driving in to work. When I got here I had a bite to eat and started working on organizing some boxes. After a few hours it was time to go to my weekly Weight Watcher meeting. I am not really sure what was so inspiring about it, but I left feeling like I could conquer the world. I came back to work, ate my lunch, and am still in awe over how refreshed I feel. I didn’t lose weight; in fact I gained this week. I am quite fine with that, I was nearly positive I would. I am proud of myself for going, weighing, and participating even though I knew the scale was going to be up. At the meeting they talked about how many million people go to bed hungry compared to the billion who are overweight. It actually made me think of a Bible verse!
Luke 3:11 says, "…The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." I have thought about this verse on numerous occasions. Every time I go through my closet to donate clothes, I think about it. I suppose I should clarify, I think about the first part of the verse. I didn’t realize there was another part of the verse until I looked it up! I know that we are instructed to treat our bodies as temples and there are other verses about food. I had no idea this little gem was hanging out in the Bible. It really makes me conscious of using only what I need, not too much and not too little. I know I can apply this concept to most areas of my life, use only as much water, plastic, electricity, etc. as I need and be a general good steward. Before we left the meeting our lovely presenter suggested we pick a goal for the week. I think my goal will be centered around being a good steward of food. I will try to prepare what we will eat, that way little should go to waste. I can also be more conscious when dinning out. I can split a plate, order a kids meal, or take half of my food home.
Weight Watchers launched a Lose For Good Campaign. For every pound we lost between now and the next seven weeks, they will donate a dollar, up to a million dollars to Share our Strength and Action Against Hunger to help feed children and families in need! We are also encouraged as participants to donate food for every pound we lose. I feel like I should pledge/make a goal now for what I will attempt to accomplish in the next 7 weeks. I think I will try to lose 11 pounds. For every pound I lose, I will donate a pound of food to our local food pantry. Anybody with me? Even if you don’t lose weight, how about making a donation to your local food pantry or trying to be a better steward of the food you have? I think it’s a fun little challenge!

Just what the doctor ordered

Last night our dear friend T and T/O came to visit! They got here shortly after we got home from J's softball game.  We stayed up and visited while the boys played We Fish on the Wii.  This morning we had breakfast burritos, then went for our manicures and pedicures! We went shopping and had lunch too! At one point we swung past the house and my Pampered Chef was delivered!

After my friends left town I ran up town to get groceries.  I feel like we've been so out of rhythm lately.  Between parties, my doctor appointment, and other celebrations, we haven't really been in the kitchen for almost two weeks! I was so eager to get groceries with my menu plan! The hubby and I made manicotti for dinner.  I poured myself up a salty dog and just relaxed.  I think a day without work, a day with friends, and just taking care of me was exactly what I needed after a long week!

We don't have huge plans for the weekend, but I am so looking forward to relaxing! I am going to try some new recipes too!Should be fabulous. What about you? Big plans?

Is there a hidden camera?

Okay, so I was getting ready to leave work to go work somewhere else.  Another staff motioned me over.  Remember how I said I went to work in a good mood.  I walked into the kitchen to slice my peach. When I went to my bowl in the dishwasher, I realized it was full of clean dishes.  Usually the administrative staff ends up emptying the dishwasher.  I know that I obviously help add to the dishes inside, so thought I'd be nice and put away the clean dishes.  I really do believe the dishwasher is a shared task.  If you put dishes in, you should do your part and occasionally take dishes out. Anyway, fast forward through my day.  I am not standing in front of the staff who just motioned me over.  She proceeds to tell me that the same staff who has been giving me grief wanted to know who put the dishes away.  She started to reprimand the administrative assistant (who is telling me this) for putting the mugs in upside down. The administrative staff politely said, actually N put the dishes away.  At this point the staff was frustrated because we have a difference in opinion about how the dishes should be handled.  Seriously. I am not a fortune teller, but I am pretty good at guessing what people will do next sometimes. Mark my words, the staff who is upset about the garbage and now dishes will discuss the dishes with me next time she sees me. For real. 

I remembered that the Bible verse she quoted she said was that if something boils down to personal preference you should be yielding.  We are talking about putting away clean dishes people.  In my own home I put the mugs, right side up.  Honestly, I was just trying to be helpful and put the mugs in quickly, which meant they went in right side down.  Guess what, it does not matter in the grand scheme of things.  I also put her personal dishes together for her, I'm guessing she won't say thank you at all.

Okay, so whichever one of you suggested I be pranked all week for a reality TV show, I haven't found the hidden camera yet.  I just hope that by not losing my temper, I will win like a million dollars. 

The tampon saga continues...

Today I went to work in a fairly good mood. I came in and got situated for the day. Feeling productive I started to get busy. I realized that I hadn’t had my yogurt and should probably put it in the fridge. As I walked past very offices that now were filled with co-workers, I said, “hello”. At the office of the co-worker who I had issues with earlier in the week, I asked how she was doing. This is not out of the normal; I ask everyone how they are. I think it’s a courtesy. Anyway, she said she was okay and bust into tears. Yesterday, she brought a cup of soup. I took this as a peace offering and figured we had moved on. Really, why would you bring someone lunch, talk to them about it, etc. if you had not moved on? Well, apparently I was the reason she burst into tears today. She said the past few days had been really difficult because two of us had yelled at her. Now, I would hope all of you know me well enough to know I don’t yell at people. Sure, growing up I had a few screaming matches with my mom and probably my dear sisters. I have since grown up. In fact, all morning I have tried to remember the last time I actually yelled at someone or even something. I don’t even yell at our cats. If I were going to yell, it would be over something more meaningful than garbage cans. Bottom line, I didn’t yell. I held my ground and voiced my opinion. I was not timid and I did not back down.
She explained that she has a difficult time with people yelling because she grew up in an abusive household. Her father yelled at her growing up and now stressful situations physically have an effect on her. Again, I DID NOT YELL. In fact, I don’t have a door on my office. My office is between the Executive Director and District Executive Director. I am sure if I were being out of line; one of them would’ve walked in or approached me later. In fact, I informed the Executive Director of the conversation and he didn’t know we had even been talking. Our walls are paper thin. Had I even been talking in a loud tone of voice, he would’ve known. Sometimes we are having conversations in normal tones of voice and my supervisor will even pipe in with a joke! I apologized that this request had caused her so much grief and explained my intention was never to cause strife. I reminded her that this had been discussed at a previous staff meeting and approved by both Executive Directors and staff. She responded by telling me her job was extremely difficult. I am not sure how ordering a garbage can became extremely difficult, but none the less I acknowledged that she has a different perspective than I do by simply nodding my head in agreement.  I was told that the only people who needed a garbage can were people who used pads, tampons are meant to be flushed.  She also informed me that despite the fact she told all of us the Roto Rooter man came because of the women's bathroom being clogged with feminine hygiene products, it was actually because of something else.  This statement is a direct contradiction of what she said at the staff meeting this was discussed at, so basically she lied.  When I reminded her that we discussed garbage cans at the staff meeting, she said she remembered the discussion, but didn't act on it because she thought there was an under current.  Read between the lines, that because she had a personal issue with it, she didn't respond to 10 other people who wanted a flipping garbage can in the bathroom.  In the end we had to discontinue our conversation, because she was crying so hard she needed to compose herself. I just sat there and didn’t say anything! If normal tones of voice are considered yelling, I didn’t want to give her any ammunition. After all, I have said I was done discussing this 3-4 times now. I am done dealing with her about this issue.
Oh, one more side note about this. She brought up scripture in our conversation. I am a Christian. I read the Bible. I go to work and try to walk the walk. However, she stated, “In the New Testament there is a verse in (wish I could remember the book) that talks about the head of household. Did you know in Greek the word r____ (can’t think of the r word, but it was like reasonable…only some word that is actually in the New Testament) translates to yielding.” To sum it up, she said she was trying to use this philosophy in dealing with me. I told her that I felt like I was being reasonable. Later I realized that this made me incredibly uncomfortable. Who is she to come in to the work place and suggest that she is doing God’s word and I’m not?! This on top of the original topic being a personal, hygienic request that was ignored, really makes me think this goes beyond just day to day work politics.
So what now…do I go to my supervisor? Do I talk to HR? Do I drop it? This is so uncharacteristic of me. A garbage can is NOT a big deal and I don’t like being in a situation where it’s made out to be such a big deal. That’s not in my personality and this whole stupid series of events has really taken away from my productivity.

A lovely day and a revelation about "home"

I had a wonderful day with my husband.  We met for lunch and I had one of my all time favorite foods...sushi! After lunch we both went back to work.  We came home with gifts for each other.  My husband brought me a dozen roses, another beautiful bouquet of flowers, a card, and some markers! I have been playing with these special markers for stamping, they are called Copic markers and are not the easiest or least expensive things to buy! After exchanging gifts we out to dinner at Olive Garden. Mom had sent us a gift card, so that was really nice! We enjoyed dinner, then went to Hastings to rent a movie.  We rented Date Night.  There was a line that made it a perfect choice for our evening and won't ruin the movie for any of you.  Someone says, "If I had to do it all over again, I would...and I'd choose you every time".  Since we finished our movie, we decided to watch some Ghost Hunters.

They were talking about how sometimes when electrical wires are not quite right, it can cause a super magnetic field.  This magnetic field can leave a person with a sense of uneasiness or a bad feeling. It occurred to me that the house I grew up in and have for a very long time thought was haunted, had really bad electrical wiring.  I'm not ready to say there isn't something else going on there, but I did find it very interesting that there may be some sort of reason why we felt such a strong feeling while we were in that house. That was just a brief epiphany I had this evening and thought I needed to share. There were certainly other strange things that happen that there are no explanations for.  Electrical wiring would have no bearing on some of the things I remember happening. The wiring thing makes sense though, a lot of old building probably have some kind of wiring that could cause a magnetic field and make a person feel uncomfortable. Food for thought.