Making adjustments

I'm not sure when it happened that I went from a daily writer to a once-a-month-er.  Full on ridiculous, I keep telling myself. There is so much I want to say, I want to write, and yet I come home and cannot seem to work up the motivation to do it.  What I find funny is how over the last nine months of working full time, all these little things you used to routinely do slowly slip away from you. Before I know it, I'm out of habit with many things and I look around and think, "What the hell happened?"

Some examples:
Writing (or blogging) on a regular basis
Reading often
Cooking everything

I can't figure out if I'm being lazy or if I'm truly realizing time constraints.  Last time I wrote was a month ago, I finally finished a book a few days ago, and just tonight was the first time in a while I really took time to make some food.

What I need to do is set up a schedule.  Perhaps if I mark on my calendar days to write, days to reading, day to plan my meals, days to exercise, then maybe I won't feel so overwhelmed with the idea of accomplishing ALL these tasks in one night?

Don't get me wrong, I love working. I enjoy my job and I love having full time hours.  It feels good to be part of the work force and to help my family. What I'm still learning is how to balance that time with all the other things I want to do.  One thing I will say, is I won't necessarily blame it on "no time."  That always feels like such a lame excuse. You can make time for anything if you really want, the trick is learning how to make time. Life is this constant balancing act and I'm just trying to find my place in it all!

That being said, I dedicated this afternoon to planning meals for the week. I don't just mean writing down a menu plan.  Believe me, I've tried that before and when I hit a day that I'm closing the store and know I won't be home until 9 o'clock, preparing dinner for the family is out of the question. The kids are already in bed! That idea flopped fast for my working-mom-self. In the past I preached about preparing meals in advance. Today was that day! I'm so proud I planned a weeks worth of meals.


Complete with date tags


And instructions for my hubby to cook the meal.

Everything is already made and ready to go. All he has to do is pop it in the oven/crockpot/stove, whatever.

I used the "Food Planner" app for my Android Tablet (you can find it in the Google Play Store, and iPhone users, they have plenty in the App Store as well).  I put the meal on the day of the week, put the recipe in there, and then added the items I needed to the grocery list. In case you are wondering, yes, I did carry around my tablet as my grocery list. Only me... I know. Haha.

Once I came home, I got to work and started going meal by meal, stored it, put a label on, badabing badaboom on to the next one.

And if you are curious, here's the menu plan for the next week:
Today: Homemade Pizza
Friday 5/11: Enchiladas
Saturday 5/12: Herb & Butter chicken
Sunday 5/13: Roast beef & gravy
Monday 5/14: My graduation party -- bbq in San Diego! woowoo!
Tuesday 5/15: Homemade spaghetti
Wednesday 5/16: Chicken Parmesan

If I get real savvy, I'll start posting the recipes and photos as well.  However, one step at a time, one step at at time. Remember "What About Bob?" -- baby steps!

At this point, I'm dedicating Thursdays to "meal day." Wednesday I'll plan the meal with my food planner app, then Thursday I'll actual prepare the meals.  As for the rest of the days... I'll somehow start working in there reading and writing.  Maybe I can take some mornings to sit back and read before work, and then evenings to write?  We'll see, we'll see!

Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to collapse into the couch with my feet propped up and enjoy that my meals are done for the next week!

Finally... an update

I can't tell you where March went or what I was doing that prevented me from keeping up. It was one of those months that time flew by and each night I thought, "I should write," yet, I didn't.  All well, it doesn't do any good to dwell on it!

Last month wasn't overly eventful.  On the 31st, Elijah and I went to Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge to see the Los Angeles Ballet perform Swan Lake. It was beautiful and we had so much fun. I took a PTO day so he and I could leave early enough for dinner and then to go see the show. We went to a very nice Italian restaurant. The food was delicious.  Elijah is incredibly picky, but he ordered spaghetti and inhaled the food! I had an amazing lasagna that was cooked to perfection.

Last week, Elijah had to have surgery to get ear tubes again.  I'm so proud of how brave he was.  I had to get up at 4:45 in the morning and he and I left around 5:15AM for his 6:30 check in time (the place is about an hour away).  Luckily, he was the first one for surgery.  The doctor is wonderful and the staff at the surgery center couldn't have been better.  The nurses made him feel very comfortable and so did the anesthesiologist.  After his sedation medicine, his anesthesiologist asked, "Are you drunk off chocolate milk?" It made me laugh!  Elijah didn't even cry when the rolled him back.  Of course the procedure is quick, barely 15 minutes, and they let me come back to see him before he even woke up from his anesthesia.  He was tired a lot of the day and rested a bit, but by the next day he was back to himself.

Finally, I got my hair styled last week.  The biggest change was some cute highlights, but I did trim it a bit and got side bangs and more layers. I've never done highlights and I've never done the side bang.  I LOVE it.  I didn't realize how much I can love my hair!

All that said, I'll post a few pictures, and update more about our Easter day later because I am exhausted.

Swan Lake













My diploma came!!!




























It was drizzling during the intermission, so what does a young dancer and a former dancer do? Go dancing in the rain of course!

Project 365; Feb 24 - Apr 7; Photo heavy

I'm behind sharing my photos from Project 365. You know what happens when you don't do things like post the photos on your blog to keep you on top of it...? You forget. Gah! Luckily, it was only a couple days I missed. I managed to still scrounge up a photo or two at least each day - all but three that is. I've replaced the photos I missed with "intermission" photos. Haha.

Edit: somehow the links became broken -- here is a link to the P365 album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/mlhweber/Project365?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKOOjM_529zRcQ&feat=directlink

People that inspire

Advanced warning: No proof reading was done here. It is an emotional spill. Proceed with caution.

Sometimes the world doesn't make sense. Do you ever question why things happen? Why do certain things happen to people? Why do people act the way they do? I suppose it is the question of our life and we'll only find out when it is all done.

I've been quiet the past couple weeks. Not only were things busy with work, but I suppose I just needed some quiet time.

I'm sure if we all had to think about it, we could come up with a few people that helped shape our lives. Those few people that, without them, you'd wonder where you'd be today? One of my favorite teachers, my Middle College High School English teacher, Susan Plesko, passed away. She was a total inspiration to me. Without her, I don't know if I would have pursued my degree in English. A few years ago we "reunited" over Facebook. It was wonderful. I got to tell her how much she meant to me and how she was a huge influence in pursuing in my degree in English. In the English program, I found my niche. I felt like I belonged. Over the couple years I adored swapping stories to read and catching up with Mrs. Plesko (you know, people like that will always be Mrs. Plesko). A couple weeks ago I went to share something on her Facebook wall that I knew she would like... all to discover her obituary posted by her son.

Me: Devastated.

When she was my MCHS teacher, she was battling breast cancer. Can you believe this amazing woman would go to her chemo treatments, then come to teach us? The whole time, she would show up to work. Her will power and passion was incredible. When I found out she was battling cancer again, I thought for sure she would beat it just like last time. It didn't seem possible that she was gone. Immediately I broke down. To be honest, after that day I haven't wanted to talk much about it, nor even write.

However, the time for mourning has passed... I keep having all these weird dreams that I know are dreams telling me I need to start writing again. Writing is my passion, and it is time to pick up the pen (er... or... keyboard? laptop? the modernized pen & paper?) and get on that "horse" again. After all, John Donne speaks it wonderfully with A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning (one of the poems Mrs. Plesko and I had the pleasure of discussing, as John Donne is by far one of my favorite authors)... even though the poem is about two lovers forbidding to mourn while he travels away on business -- Donne, the genius he is -- has a way of helping it relate to all our lives:

As virtuous men pass mildly away,

And whisper to their souls to go,

Whilst some of their sad friends do say,

"The breath goes now," and some say, "No,"

So let us melt, and make no noise,

No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move;

And I had a Gilgamesh moment where I questioned everything...

But Gilgamesh said to Siduri, the young woman,

'How can I be silent,

how can I rest,

when Enkidu whom I love is dust,

and I too shall die

and be laid in the earth for ever.'

Nevertheless, I must remember (from Donne):

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Meanwhile, as I'm still here (from Epic of Gilgamesh)...

'Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to?

You will never find the life for which you are looking.

When the gods created man

they alloted to him death,

but life they retained in their own keeping.

As for you, Gilgamesh,

fill your belly with good things;

day and night, night and day, dance and be merry,

feast and rejoice.

Let your clothes be fresh,

bathe yourself in water,

cherish the little child that holds your hand,

and make your wife happy in your embrace;

for this too is the lot of man.'

RIP Mrs. Susan Plesko 11/28/45 - 1/30/12

2002

cards, cards, cards

Just a few cards I've made recently. Enjoy!

Thank You card for my nephew's first birthday next months

and another for fun...

and another...

Project 365 catch up

My sister came to visit, along with my brother in law and adorable little nephew. Needless to say, I completely neglected everything and was totally absorbed in playing with my nephew every chance I had. Now they are heading back home, and I have to resume normal life. That being said, I'll catch up on my blog! Nothing too exciting has happened. I am so proud to say I am still going strong on Project 365 / Project Life. Whoohoo! Here's the latest since my last post...

Feb 6

I got my iPhone 4S! Yippee!

Feb 7

Poor Elijah was sick with a fever.

Feb 8

Two precious boys. My husband and my nephew, Stevie.

Feb 9

My coworker took a picture of all of us for a going away card for our other coworker. I liked the picture, so I had her send it to me and used it has my P365. :)

 

Feb 12
Oly's going away party

Feb 13
"I'm baaaaaaaaaaad!" (Not bad, but like a bad-ass) ;) That's what he tells me with his cowboy hat and sunglasses.

Feb 14

Valentine's Day treat from my knight!

Feb 15

It finally snowed!!!

Feb 16
We still had some lingering the next morning. Gorgeous!

Thank You card, round 2

Another Thank You card variation using the wonderful set from Fun Stampers Journey!

Pin It

Check out the subtle detail... I didn't have black ric rac. In fact, I didn't have any black ribbon (gasp! How is that possible?!) So, I improvised. I used a scallop border punch, then punched the other side slightly off center from the first row. Not bad for my first time improvising ric rac!

And don't you just love that feather?! Love!!

Project 365 - February 5

I posted recently with a photo of the boys' artwork when I came home from work. I thought, maybe I should use this as another photo because it may be redundant? Then, I realized, the beauty of Project 365 / Project Life is capturing what we may miss later. I'm amazed to see how much Elijah can grow artistically in just a month. He's such a creative little guy already. He must take after his Daddy and Mama. I love it!

Here's Elijah and Daddy's collaborative efforts. :)

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 5

Thank You card

A thank you card I created!

I used my wonderful new stamp sets from Fun Stampers Journey. Don't you just love them!? I'm completely giddy over this frames set.

Pin It

Catching up

I'm finally starting to feel better. I can't believe how much that sinus infection knocked me off my feet. Thank God for antibiotics! I'm still feeling a little tired, and can't hear diddly-squat out of my left year, but at least I'm not feeling miserable anymore.

Despite all this, I'm proud to say I've still managed to keep up my Project 365! I haven't posted in a few days because I was just focused on feeling better.. but I'm determined to keep going with Project 365! That said, here's my catching up for the last few days.

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 1

I took the boys to one of their favorite places: the children's consignment shop. Okay, okay, it is one of my favorite places as well. I love selling back my items we aren't using anymore then putting it to store credit. It gets my house cleared of unnecessary items, helps someone out who will need those items, and the kids are always happy because I let them pick out something, and Mama is happy because it is way cheaper than at other places! WIN all the way around! Here's what they picked out for the trip on this day; they each picked some sort of hot wheels/matchbox ramp set that folds into a carrying case. They love it, and it is adorable to see them play together.

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 2

I was a tad overdue to clean out our hamster's cage. I used to put her in the box she came home in while I cleaned it out. She's wising up to me and started gnawing a hole in the corner. I got her this ball instead. It is way more fun than I thought it would be. She knew what to do almost right away and roams all over the house. The boys love it, and the rest of our pets do too. I'm sure Ophelia (our hamster) loves it the most! Now she really feels like part of our family!

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 3

I've been searching for throw pillows for the sofa for a long time. I've never found anything that I've really liked or thought worth buying. This day, I found some on clearance at Target; a two pack for $14. I like the colors and the price was right! Whoohoo!

Project 365 / Project Life - Feb 4

Proud daughter moment. My dad was at a school function today where he got to wear his uniform. I'm always proud to be the daughter of a Retired Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps. I got some cute pictures of the boys with him (even though Elijah was being terribly obstinate about the whole photo shoot. However, I decided I'm proud of this picture and maybe I should take an opportunity to have me in the photo for Project 365 / Project Life as well. :)

I have some more adorable pictures to share. Except, I'm tired, so I will show them off tomorrow! (Yes, I give you permission to start singing Annie's version of Tomorrow now.)