Things I've learned...

from daytime television.

1. Need to find a great white women's t-shirt and don't want to spend a ridiculous amount. Buy small men's Hanes v-necks. Wash in warm water to get a nice fit and don't worry about it when you get a stain! It was 4.99 for a package.
2. A potato masher is helpful in breaking up ground meat while you cook it on the stove top. I tried this one out and found out that my type of masher didn't work real well, but this suggestion sent me rooting through my utensils drawer. It turns out that our pastry blender works well.
3. Supposed there are great affordable Lee jeans at JCPenney that are supposed to fit any body type. This is still to be confirmed.

I know there were other little suggestions that I picked up from the myriad of talk shows that I've had on in the background, but these were the ones that stuck with me. I'm back to work tomorrow and my daytime viewing will become few and far between.

Recent tidbits

Here are a few random tidbits that have been on my mind in the past few days.

I heard a recommendation that if you haven't worn something in a year you should get rid of it. Keeping in mind that some things weren't worn simply because I was pregnant, I am sorting through my clothes and passing along to others/donating things that I really don't or shouldn't wear.

Kudos to Target! I recently learned that if you don't have a receipt for something you want to return but bought it on a credit card, you can get it refunded to your card simply by providing the card! YEAH! This was a big help in exchanging the Dreft High Efficiency that I accidently bought for the regular kind.

Pooh on Toys 'R' Us/Babies R Us! I've recently had several negative experiences there in regards to customer service! They lost several of the points they received prior to Christmas when I noted that they had a nice nursing room.

We've relocated my desk to the living room to give Andrew a room. I'm looking forward to working in the space with a big window that lets in sunlight. Of risky concern is that my desk in the living room has a line of sight to the TV in the family room. Oh, this will require discipline. : )

Being Present

With 2010 well underway I have finally found the motivation I needed to set some goals, or more precisely address my desired mindset for the New Year. I will be working very hard to BE PRESENT! I need to be where I am in body, mind and spirit. My mind is often drifting towards worry about the future and loss of the past. That is why it will take a great deal of discipline to really stay present, but I hope that it will bring me greater contentment in the new year. There’s some one else that has my future figured out and the past should be memories that I cherish, not to be mourned.

In addition to my focus on being present, I have a few habits, not so much resolutions, that I want to employ.

1. No e-mail between 6 and 9 p.m. (I hope this keeps me more engaged with family and keeps me from being sucked in.)
2. Getting back to my cleaning schedule and possibly hiring a cleaning lady again.
3. Monthly date night
4. Keep a gratitude journal – making note of the incredible blessings in my everyday life.
5. Not working on nights or weekends unless deadlines are eminent!
6. In the same theme, keeping weekends FUN!

Farewell 2009

So, I'm a little late but still wanted to reflect on the past year. I found this to be especially important after writing my Christmas letter and completely forgetting events that in a year with a tad bit less drama would have been major milestones, but instead faded into the not-so-important category. I wanted to be sure to look back on the year and the numerous things that happened.

Tribute to 2009
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Moved with a family
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Just took a look at these and some of them I did OK on and others went by the way-side. That was just kind of the year we had.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I gave birth. I would say that was pretty close. K&T also welcomed Claire.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Said difficult good-byes to my grandmother and brother-in-law
5. What countries did you visit? stayed on US soil this year
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? contentment
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Oct. 31, 2009 - Andrew's birth; Feb. 14 - the day grandma passed; July 2 - the date Boots passed
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Growing a person!
Managing to work full time, be a mom, a wife, be a single mom during the weeks for a few months; pulling myself together after the move - I guess that was more than one but I think they are big
9. What was your biggest failure? not speaking up at a time when I should have
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? just another c-section
11. What was the best thing you bought? didn't really make any major purchases this year
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? my friends for being so supportive over the past year
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Appalled and depressed are pretty strong words. I don't think I was that mad at anyone - unless maybe myself
14. Where did most of your money go? rent(on top of a mortgage), gas
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? welcoming Andrew, finishing my master's degree, Jeremiah's milestones
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? don't know
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer? Sadder, but i'm working on it; Fatter because I gave birth 2 months ago, poorer because we haven't sold our house and are paying rent
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? enjoying my kids, spending time with friends when we could have, taking it easy on myself
20. How will you be spending Christmas? went to the parents and in-laws
21. Did you fall in love in 2009? possibly all over again
22. How many one-night stands? nope
23. What was your favorite TV program? Sunday nights - DH, and Brothers and Sisters and now Modern Family
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? nope, I don't think so; I tell my son we don't hate things, we just dislike
25. What was the best book you read? didn't read too many but liked the Jennifer Weiner book I read
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? the children's CDs that keep Jer entertained in the car
27. What did you want and get? a happy, healthy baby
28. What was your favorite film of this year? didn't see alot of movies, but I liked UP
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 29. my parents came to town to pick up my kid for the week, we went for lunch, then I cleaned my house for most of the night to get it ready to sell...looking back on this question from over the year's - I've had some sad birthdays lately
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? finding peace with myself
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? maternity!
32. What kept you sane? good friends, support of family, and a therapist!
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? don't know
34. What political issue stirred you the most? can't say I got too worried about politics this year, although it would be nice if the state of IL could find some money
35. Who did you miss? our family and friends in central IL
36. Who was the best new person you met? no idea
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. sometimes it takes a major life change to realize how much you appreciated the life you had
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. This one sums up my life. "Life's a dance you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow."