Safety First!!

My husband is constantly antagonizing me for things he knows get under my skin. It's kinda like a game for him, see how nuts I can make Christie. He just thinks it's the funniest thing he's ever seen to watch this Kraut (that's slang for German) go bat crap crazy. One of his favorites is to make fun of the fact that I'm a Lifeguard. Sure Lifeguard and Professional Rescuer don't sound like they belong together but rest assured they do. Lifeguards save lives all the time around the country and it's a job that MUST be taken seriously or people could die. If that's not serious I don't know what is. Never the less he likes to make fun of me for being hyper vigilant. I have been a lifeguard since I was 16 and when you have over a decade of experience doing something, you can't really turn it off. Kinda like how I'd like him to turn off his engineering but it's ALWAYS on!!

Take for example when we were in Aruba on our honeymoon, there were some European kids that were constantly running around the pool at our resort. I told my new husband every day those kids shouldn't run they're going to get hurt. What do you think happened?? Last day we were there, we're walking by the outdoor pool side bar and there is a huge crowd of people. One of those kids was running, slipped and skidded across one of the GIGANTIC bolts holding up the pillars for the awning on the bar. And I do mean GIGANTIC. This kid had a vicious gash up his leg and would most definitely have to go to a hospital in Aruba. There. Told ya so!!

One of the things that I am most hyper vigilant about is pool and water safety. Water safety had been ingrained in me even before I was a Lifeguard. One set of grandparents lived on a lake and the other set had an above ground pool. It was clear from day 1 we were to be careful. Needless to say when my dad became a Fireman and EMT things escalated to the next level of BE SAFE. I still remember our safety plan if the house I grew up in ever caught fire. At any rate, this is something that is especially important to me.

I recently went to a development pool with a few friends; moms with children the same age as my sweet cheeks. We got on the subject of pool/water safety and it broke my heart to say that there have been several child drownings I have heard about in the Cleveland/NE Ohio area. To do my best to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone I know, here is what you need to know to be water safe.

1. Get your kids into swim lessons ASAP. I am extremely passionate about the fact that every child should learn how to swim! Not just because I'm a swimmer, or a Lifeguard, or because I teach swim lessons, but because it could save their life and it's a life skill. My pumpkin and I practice in the bathtub. We practice lying on our back, kicking with straight knees, forward arm motion and blowing bubbles. You don't need a pool to practice the basics with your kids and get them comfortable with the idea of being in water.

2. From day 1 tell your kids to BE SAFE AROUND WATER. Some kids will listen better than others, I understand. But always tell your child to NEVER go around water without you. In swim lessons when I talk about safety I always have the kids repeat "NEVER SWIM ALONE." To promise me they'll always go swimming with a parent, adult or Lifeguard. Treat areas of water like a parking lot - same rules apply! Don't go running off, hold my hand, stay by me. That being said, if your child can't swim or can't swim well, YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE. I made a save on a little girl once at a pool party who got confused and thought she could go off the diving board like the other little girls. She got in line and unbeknownst to me, hadn't passed the swim test. She went off and couldn't get to the edge. Her mother was not there and by the time she got there was LIVID. By the way her daughter was 100% completely fine - until mommy came around screaming at her. Please know, that your child is YOUR responsibility. If they can't swim, you shouldn't leave them at a swim party. End. Of. Story. If you MUST leave your child, you need to leave explicit instructions with the other parents and Lifeguards on duty your child can't swim and should not leave the shallow end.

3. BE VIGILANT. Water is always something we adults want to relax around. If you  have children you should NOT EVER go to water expecting to relax. There was a headline I read this summer about a child who drowned because the babysitter was Facebooking. When you are around water with children BE THERE. It literally only takes a few seconds for a child to drown and only 2 inches of water. Know where your child is and if the water is knee deep or higher be within arms reach of your child (unless it's a baby, then it's obvious). Also know who you are leaving your children with and if there is a possibility they will be around water.

4. Just because your child is wearing a floatation device does NOT mean you don't have to pay attention anymore. The pool I started working at when I first became a Lifeguard had a rule, if your child has to wear a floatation device you MUST be within arms reach. I can't begin to tell you how many parents gave me attitude about this rule. News flash cocky parent, when your kid gets kicked in the head, or knocked out of their floaty ring and are in too deep of water to touch or unconscious, you're gonna feel really bad then. It happens, you need to be there! Lifeguards should be a last resort for preventable incidents!!

5. Know the signs of drowning. A Lifeguard recently had to save a little girl from drowning who was inches away from her father who was clueless she was in jeopardy. If your child is bobbing up and down and not making forward motion in the water while flailing arms - this is a sign they are in trouble!! Don't write everything off as play. Some drowning victims cannot call out for help so it is important to be aware and pay attention. Know how your child swims and how they play to know the difference between innocent bobs in the water and drowning. Remind your children not to call out for help unless they actually need it. I was on duty once and had to tell a little girl to please stop screaming help who clearly did not need it playing in the sand at waters edge. Lifeguards are trained to listen for cries for help and it is distracting when a child who is not in danger continues to do so.

6. Children should have fun in and around water. But it's important to do it safely. Don't encourage dangerous activities such as balancing on floatation devices like noodles or wake boards near pool edges or hard surfaces. Make sure to tell your children to NEVER run on pool decks. They are incredibly slippery and your child could fall and suffer head trauma. Make sure your kids don't participate in games where "dunking" or shoving under water is called for. This one sounds no fun but can be hard to determine when children need help or are playing. Just tell your kids no dunking!

7. If you have water at your house TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS. Have it fenced off with a LOCKING gate. Post a sign that the fence MUST ALWAYS BE LOCKED for guests or maintenance people. Have a Ring Buoy available. If you have children either put locks at the top of your doors and keep them locked or put alarms on the doors to know when children go out. If you are outside and so are your children DO NOT mow the lawn or other distracting activities. Even if other precautions are taken children disobey and can get into pools and other areas where they are not supposed to be. If you are not around you will not see or hear if they need help.

Lastly ... if you do ever see an emergency here is how to react. CALL FOR ADDITIONAL HELP! If you are alone call 911 FIRST - tell them what the emergency is, where you are and to send help. Leave the phone on, operators will not hang up for at least the first few minutes. Plus they can help trace where you are if that was not heard or understood. Next, if you cannot swim well DO NOT GO IN AFTER A DROWNING VICTIM!!! EVER!!! A drowning persons natural instinct is to push or pull themselves higher up. This means they will latch on to you and push you down under the water to get themselves up to safety. If you cannot swim well, or know what you're doing, going in the water will put your life in serious danger. NEVER underestimate what a human can do under such serious duress. You can't help someone if you too are drowning. If this is the case look for something to either throw out to them or reach to them. Items could be a Ring Buoy - the "lifesaver" commonly seen hanging around water areas. To use: Unravel the chord, step on the end, throw PAST the person in need, crouch down low to the ground, and pull in hand over hand slowly yelling to the victim to "GRAB ON!" If first attempt is unsuccessful, pull in quickly and try again. You can also use a noodle, a towel, a milk jug on a rope or a long stick. It's HIGHLY important if you are reaching out to someone that you are LOW to the ground. You'll do them no good if they pull you into the water as well. Pull the person into safety as quickly as possible. Try to wrap them in a dry towel or clothes and have them lie down. Be sure to tell them help is on the way. If you pull an unconscious person from water, perform CPR if you know it.

Please note this is NOT a professional rescuer class. I'm not a licensed instructor. DO NOT count this blog as a course in professional rescuing!! YOU ARE NOT NOW A PROFESSIONAL RESCUER! This is the bare essentials basics to helping you and your family stay safe around water! Merely tips and guidelines to help you in an emergency and hopefully prevent emergencies. I STRONGLY encourage you to take a CPR course at your local Fire Department, community center or Red Cross.

BE SAFE. BE SMART. BE VIGILANT! PROTECT YOUR KIDS!

Ned Flandersessesessses

"Ned Flanders: [surprised by the pink mutated multi-eyed squirrel] Well, this certainly seems odd, but, heh, who am I to question the work of the Almighty? Oh, we thank you Lord for this mighty fine intelligent design! Good job!" - IMDB. Some of you know the incredibly hilarious work of Matt Groening, the creator of the Simpsons. And if you don't, it's an animated show about a hyper dysfunctional family - The Simpsons. A main character of the show is the main families next door neighbor ... Ned Flanders. Ned is the epitome of a goody-two-shoes. He never curses, goes to church every Sunday, wears his mustache proudly and is absolutely devout. At times even more so than the town minister - Reverend Lovejoy. Naturally the main character Homer Simpson hates his neighbor, primarily because Ned is everything Homer isn't. 

So in all honesty, is Ned Flanders an accurate representation of a Christian? I have to say, partly, yeah. There are all kinds of stigma's out there about Christians. And to be fair, I'm really sick of being associated with "ignorant bigots."  I have been called that by people I don't know based solely on the fact that I am a follower of Jesus. Okay things just got real up in here people!  ... She said "Jesus" which is right up there with the F-Bomb!! Sweet Mercy! I'm embarrassed, is she gonna preach to me? What is this blog turning INTO?!?!

Okay woah ... take a breath .... iiiiinnnn and ooouuutt. Better? Great. No. I'm not going to preach, possibly teach, but definitely not preach. I'm also not going to throw Christianity down your throat. The SOLE purpose of this post is to hopefully shed some light on Christianity and religion, answer questions you MAY have and if nothing else, enlighten you. Even if Jesus isn't your thing, please finish this post. It's not too long, and you may just learn something!

There is a lot of talk about Christians and Christianity these days, especially with things like gay marriage on the ballot, it's turning into a bit of a he said she said all out war out there. Makes me sad. Sad to see so much hate back and forth. And in that battle (that I'm not really a part of) I end up being called names I don't deserve to be called which makes me very sad and a little angry to be frank. Now I can't go into everything with you today or this blog post would be about a thousand pages long and lets face facts, no one can tolerate that much of me. But here are some simple basics for those of you not "in the know."

First of all God loves everyone. Let's put that misnomer to bed right here and now. There are 2 kinds of Christians in the world, the minority of LOUD extremists who twist the truth to fit their ideals. THIS is the face of current Christianity and it's not right. They do NOT accurately reflect what and who God is. Then there is the MAJORITY of silent Christians. Those of us who believe in the Love, Peace, Joy, Grace, Mercy, Love, Power, Authority, Love, Kindness, Caring, Generosity, and Love of God. We believe these things, but because of the loud minority and those who do not want to know Christians as anything else, we are not heard. God's love cannot be heard above the noise. The noise of stigma, the noise of hatred, the noise of politics - too much noise. Or we do not speak up because we are too terrified of being persecuted based on the aforementioned stigma and being called an "ignorant fool" for saying that God loves everyone no exceptions. (That actually happened once, I'm not kidding.) So if you are gay, straight, single, married, happy, sad, divorced, lonely, devoted, lost, found, homeless, friendless, helpless, hopeless ... God loves you. He sees you no matter who you are, or where you are and He loves you beyond any love you could ever know in this life. The beauty of it is that there is probably no more IMPERFECT person that walks this earth than me. I mess up like it's my job ... pretty much literally. And the truth that I must face is that NO MATTER WHAT I DO ... God loves me. Doesn't matter if I don't like what I see in the mirror; hate my voice, hate my hair, hate my varicose veins before 30, hate my stomach, hate my ears, hate hate hate ...  God loves. He made me. He created everything about me JUST EXACTLY the way He wanted me. If nothing else that makes me take pause right there. To know I hate me and it makes my God sad. If I hate me and it makes Him sad, how do you think He feels when we hate each other????  God is Love. Even if you don't learn anything else in this post, know that.

Next. I've been told I'm an idiot because I told someone that Atheism is a religion. Well, I went to a Liberal Arts College and took 2 Religion classes there and learned a TON about many different religions, including my own. Hate to break it to you, but 2 Ph.D's of religion and apparently whomever wrote and published our text books agreed, Atheism is the belief in nothing - no God, no higher power, nothing. The definition of religion is the belief in something. Even if that belief is in nothing ... it's still a belief, thus making Atheism a religion. So if you denounce religion and consider yourself an Atheist ... know that you are still a religion. Just a fact. I didn't make the rules, I'm just followin em.

I may be the last man standing on this, but the Bible is a historical document. Yeah, I know, silly crazy Christie, there she goes again! So let's think this one through a little bit. There are sections of the current standard Bible - Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament is the section before Jesus, the NEW Testament tells about Jesus and what Christians believe - the Gospel or "Good News" about Jesus. (If you want to learn more about Jesus, I encourage you to pick up, borrow or download a Bible and skip on down to the New Testament and read about him. You can also use a new fangled thing called The Internets and Google you some Christ! Beware, that might not bring you the most accurate information, but if nothing else it's a start!) Now a lot of the Old Testament takes place - like it's a play or something - in or around Egypt. Mostly due to the fact that there was a time in history when the Egyptians used the Jews as slaves. Thanks to archeologists - The Indiana Jones's of the world we know that the Egyptians were master record keepers. They liked to write so much they invented paper - papyrus, processed palm leaves. They also had dudes called Scribes. Since not everyone in that day could write, it was considered a skill, there was a specific job just for people to walk around and write stuff down. No I'm not kidding. This was a time of the original tablet ... of stone. So they would go about and follow people around and write everything they said and did down, roll it up, and put it in storage. So back to the Bible, well we know that many of the passages of the Bible are accurate because we can compare them with official Egyptian records of the Pharaoh from the same time. They reflect the same dates, names and cities. Sometimes the actual event details can look a little different depending on who wrote it, but let's face facts, there are always 2 sides to every story - am I right? Needless to say, scholars have been able to verify much of the Bible  using other official documents from the Egyptians or the Romans who were ALSO amazing at writin stuff down. In fact, it's the Romans who killed Jesus, and they're the one's who wrote all that stuff down for us about the who, what, where, when, why etc. So thanks Romans! There are also sections of the Bible that are written in the form of a letter from one person to another or a set of people's. These letters were written down and saved, passed down for generations, collected and compiled. I will say that sometimes passages talk about our beliefs or personal stories or even prophecies - things that are less tangible, but never the less, the historical accuracy of the Bible shouldn't be discounted. Just somethin to think about and hopefully read about.

Lastly, if you are a skeptic, which many people are, I understand. If I'm honest and truthful with myself, which I'm often not - no Christie, that shirt does NOT accentuate your fupa! - I've had doubts about God myself. There are so many things that happen in this world and in our lives that sometimes it feels like God can't be real. If He was the world would be a perfect place. Our God is a loving and faithful God and made a promise to every one of us - believer or not - that He would always be there for us. Hurt with us, cry with us, comfort us, love us and never ever ever leave us. Even when we turn our back on Him, or have never known about Him, He is always there. Because He is our creator, our "Father", and He fulfills His promises. It has been proven in the past, and if we open our eyes to it, He does now too. The thing about belief is that it's tricky. God doesn't make Himself known in burning bushes that aren't consumed, or show up at the local watering hole in the form of a person like He did in the past. He's not that visible because He doesn't need to be. We need to be faithful without having seen or touched. And in an overstimulated society where if it doesn't look real we're unamused, that can be a hard thing. Which is why the reward is that much sweeter. I live my life with so much less stress, worry, hate, anger, fear, doubt, and anxiety because of my God.

Ned Flanders gets flack from Homer all the time about living such a tight life. Flanders lives in fear of going to hell so does everything including the impossible (it's a cartoon) to ensure that doesn't happen. But in doing so, he often DOES reflect a good Christian. He teaches his children about God and love, makes sure they are kind, treats Homer like he would want himself to be treated - even though Homer is consistent in his antagonizing, he is a community leader and is caring and compassionate toward others. These are the things that I wish more people could see. Instead of viewing all Christians as "do-gooder, ignorant, bigoted, fools" I wish we were considered the kindhearted, generous, caring, joyful, loving, voice of reason.

If you have more questions on Christianity, and I sincerely hope you do, here is a GREAT book for beginning your investigation: The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel. He was an Atheist who set out to completely disprove God, and during his quest became a Christian because of the undeniable evidence he found. This may not be the case for you, but it is an excellent resource for information and intellectual insights.

Lastly, please remember 2 things. First, God is Love. Second Christians aren't perfect - no one is. We try our imperfect best to put a little good into the world which is what God wants. And to be honest, we make mistakes. But that should not be a reason to write off an entire religion or lump a huge group of people (2.18 Billion Christians) into one little category. We are not all the same but true Christians should set somewhat of an example of how to live a joy filled, happy, loving life by caring for those around them. Doesn't mean they won't slip up, we're all human ... but it does mean if we have that happiness inside, we should try to spread it.

Hope this addressed at least SOME of the stigma associated with Christianity and that if you are not a follower of Christ, you would be open to educating yourself further on what that means - even if you never consider yourself a follower, it would be handy to have all the facts.

Thanks for listening ... er uh I mean reading and I sincerely hope this brought some light and insight into your life.

Leavin On A Jet Plane

Don't know when I'll be back again ... Sing it with me! Or not ... okay thanks for lettin me hang there!

My dad listens to the oldies station in Toledo, it's a great station, but it left me permanently scarred with hits from the 50's, 60's and 70's. When I was in college I used to lead the women's locker room in bouts of Build Me Up Buttercup. I think we all know I have an old soul okay?!

So wait now, what were we talking about? Oh Yes! Leaving on a plane, but definitely planning on returning! Right! Well, my family is in the midst of planning our first major family vacay. "Christie, where are you planning to go now that you've started this absolutely tremendous, life changing blog?!" - DISNEY! Oh yeah buddy, me, my husb, and my monkey are headin down to the sunshine state! Wow! Good for you Christie your family must be doing really well to afford a trip like that! Au contrare! We can afford it, but on the SUPER cheap.

Since my mom first called and told me about the opportunity (my mom, dad, brothers and their families are all going) I thought, no way Jay will go for this. To my shock and totally gladness he did! (Seriously hit me like a foul ball at an Astro's game --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQrJZ5ki-GY) But obviously I've been super pumped ever since. Now my family is on a super tight budget; squirming our way out of debt like a 300 pound man out of a wet speedo, so naturally the limitation on going is that we can only spend X amount. And it's a small amount. So I've been doing my darn best to google my way into the world's cheapest vacation.

Here's what I've found. Some interesting articles, but I've already planned a cheaper vacation than what I've read. Apparently, no one can out cheap the master. Either that, or no one wants to. So here's Christie's ultimate guide to the world's cheapest vacation.

First of all, we're traveling from Ohio to Florida. We have yet to decide mode of travel. It's by far the biggest decision, and one we are not at one about. My husband is a born driver. He's a mechanical engineer and LIVES, BREATHES, LOVES cars. Everything about em, including driving em. So naturally a 16-18 car drive couldn't be more up his alley. Me on the other hand, all I would be thinking about for nearly a day is being on a beach. Needless to say, I have absolutely ZERO desire to spend that long in a car with a 2 and a half year old. There isn't enough McDonald's or tablet apps on the PLANET to make that drive sane. So I want to fly. We've been looking into both options and here is the best way I've found to be cheap either way. The company my husband works for offers discounts on car rentals. If we drive we would have to rent a car. (Our current cars are not conducive for that kind of travel right now.) If we do rent a car, we would be looking to rent a vehicle with the best possible MPG to drive down spending the least amount on gas as possible. What my husband found was the Nisson Versa --> do a google search for Nisson Versa, the link was too long to post. Now, this car will get great gas mileage and be nearly new with regular maintenance thus making it a safe choice. Clean, dependable and cheap. Part of his logic for wanting to drive, besides his own demented desire to be seated for that long, is, we'll need something to drive while we're down there.  So ultimately, we could drive down to Florida for somewhere between $350-$400, overnight so as to let our little angel sleep as much as possible, stop 2-3 perhaps - gas, food, potty, and get to Florida sometime the next day. Flying is a whole other animal folks. It's tricky to coordinate, if you have a family you want a child friendly airline, and it's expensive. So here's what I know. My parents and brother's are leaving from Toledo, my fam leaving from Cleveland. They will most likely fly with Allegiant Air. A small but established airline that is by FAR the cheapest way to fly if you're leaving from and going to the right destinations. They have flights from $74 one way. That being said, they have a LOT of fees and it costs to check a bag - that's always where they getcha! So I've been digging and recently saw a post on a mom's Facebook page of a woman asking frequent travelers who they fly with. The OVERWHELMING response was Southwest. They already have a good reputation in my book, but that seals it. The comments were that they are the cheapest, 2 free bags per person, they are child friendly - YES!, and an overall good experience. Got on their site, they are currently having a $59 fly anywhere one way deal. Obviously this doesn't apply to anywhere anywhere. Select destinations, but I WAS able to find one way tickets to and from Florida from Flint, MI for $97 per person each way. Now, Flint is a little further than Magellan over here originally envisioned. So it would be better to Fly out of Detriot for $131 per person each way. Still the cheapest tickets I have found so far. Either way you choose the BEST thing you can do to ensure the cheapest mode possible, is for you to ask around. Post on Facebook, see who has discounts you can use, whom amongst your friends have unused frequent flyer miles, etc. Call individual locations rather than booking online, with some negotiation they may be able or willing to give you a better price than what is standard on the web. Also with Southwest child rates ARE available, just NOT on the website!

Second is where we will be staying. This is really what made us make the decision to go. Through friends of my parents, we are staying in a timeshare Villa for $200 for a week. It sleeps 8 and has a full kitchen and one heckofa pool. --> http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnclubvacations/hotels/us/en/kissimmee/discv/hoteldetail/photos-tours How did we get this deal? Friends who are generous. I'm not entirely sure, but my parents friends got the deal through the time share company and offered it to my parents. That being said, it is a Timeshare. There will be a schpiel. My parents have graciously offered to sit through it. They are going in knowing they cannot afford anything, and therefore won't be buying anything, and that sitting in a room for a few hours listening to a hard sell is worth their family having a good time. Thanks Grandma! What does this mean? My parents purchased the Villa. Their gift for all of us. Even if we did have to pay, you can't find accommodations like that cheaper anywhere ... ever. Our share would be $50 ... for a week. Did I mention the resort has a 12 acre water park? Finding a deal like this means several things. First of all we don't have to buy tickets to a water park. We also don't have to eat every meal  out. Now obviously, when you travel you're not always going to a place like this where such accommodations are available. So I'm going to give a tip I'm stealing from an article I read on cheap travel. Get a hotel with a mini fridge and a microwave. Google search recipe's you can make in a hotel room and save yourself some dough on eating out every meal. Also, rely on snack foods like granola bars, fruit snacks and peanut butter crackers to get you there, back and in between meals. They're easy to pack and if you do your homework, can be purchased pretty cheaply. Try not to buy all your snacks at one time. It will cost the same no matter how you split it, but it's more easily digested by your budget if you split it up. And remember, whenever possible, impose on friends! Staying with friends may almost ALWAYS be the cheapest option.

Lastly, Disney theme park tickets. Here are some things you need to know. Don't rely on a Facebook giveaway to get your tickets. Okay maybe that's just me and I'm not lucky, but it's never a guarantee and winning things can come with stipulations, like availability dates on the tickets. You may only be able to use the tickets during certain times which  might not coincide with your vacation dates. Also, children under 3 get in FREE at Disney parks. This was a hard decision for my husband, knowing that our peanut might not remember anything from this vacation. The way I see it, this is a most likely once in a lifetime opportunity to go with her cousins - we'll take plenty of pictures and video's, she can reminisce the rest of her life! (And me too) Plus, we don't have to pay for her to get in to the parks. Huge win. Another thing to remember, is most places offer military discounts. If you know someone in the military, chances are most of us do, contact them to see what they can do. Sometimes you must present a military ID with your ticket, so make sure that won't be necessary in advance. Otherwise, you'll get a nice discounted price on your tickets. It's sounds cheesy when you read it, I know, and if it's not something you're comfortable with then obviously don't do it. But for me my brothers are in the military, so it's a no brainer to ask them if they can help us. Sometimes they can, and sometimes they can't. For me it never hurts to ask.

Bottom line, it's not all about what you know when traveling but WHO you know. Much like in life the best way to get by is by contacting those you know for help. Seek advice on social networking sites and see what people come back with. Talk with people at your church, your work, your library moms group - you'll be surprised and the great ideas you'll be presented with. Things you may not have seen or even heard about! Also, keep checking various sites for good deals. Travel prices change FREQUENTLY so you never know from one day to the next what will be available. CALL rental car companies rather than accepting the online prices, a small bit of negotiating can mean a big difference on your bill. And THINK through your choices. Plan out a total budget ahead of time and STICK WITH IT. Not knowing how much you want to spend leaves the door wide open to haul home a trunk full of goofy dolls and mickey hats.

Good luck! And safe travels!

So It's Been Awhile

Yep. Back on the writing horse again. Good thing I don't have too many readers dependent on my witty musings awaiting posts! But seriously, thank you to all of you who do stick with me and read when I write - it's appreciated!

A good friend of mine reposted a blog article on Facebook - have to say I'm jealous I'm not at that level of getting reposted yet! She said this was exactly how she felt about parenting so naturally, I'm in. I have to say I loved the article. Because I agreed with 90% of what was said, but also because it was nearly written as if I wrote it. Minus the run on sentences. It was a short commentary not only on parenting but what our society has come to as a whole.

While we each have our own opinions on where this world is going, I'm going to have to agree with this particular blogger - that we are all too reliant on our blessings. Every one has all these emergency problems that really aren't problems at all. She reiterated the same commonly used phrase - First. World. Problems.

A bunch of people from my church are taking a mission trip to Ecuador in August to help serve at a church that was financially supported by our church, and visit with children they sponsor there. Which makes you think. These people have so little, they rely on financial support from people they will most likely never meet in another country to make life possible. Now that's a problem. Not that you left your iPhone charger at home and your phone is dead. Candy Crush Saga will have to wait.

Over the last couple of days my sink has piled up with dishes and things that went too long in the fridge. Today I started the tedious task of tackling that mountainous load of nasty. Well my kitchen sink is on the fritz and I'm getting frustrated, wanting to get things cleaned up but can't because the drains back up when I run water and the disposal pushes water into the other side of the sink ... NAS. But then, I reflect and think ... Garbage disposal, food, dishes, ... SINK. First world problems. I honestly couldn't agree more. Why do I let these things bother me? What does that attitude say to my daughter? Here Emma, please grow up completely ungrateful for all the amazing opportunities and blessings our family has because we don't have the right kind of tablet for you to play on. Or because you won't have a cell phone before you're 10 ... don't get your hopes up pumpkin, I'm tellin you now it ain't happenin!

One thing I focused on when I was pregnant was parents in public and how they interacted with their children. I was in the grocery one day and vowed to never name my kid Bella. Why? Because there was a mother traipsing around the entire store - seemingly following me - calling her pretty little Bella 987 billion times ... "Bella, come here Bella! Bella baby come here! Bella! Bella want a cookie! Bella Baby! Come here Bella!" I'll be honest, I LOVE children, but by the end of my trip I wanted to smack little Bella who wouldn't behave for more than 3 seconds with or with out a cookie bribe. I could be wrong, but I've seen children like this in my swim lessons before who get what they want. If I act like this and resist long enough, mom/dad/whomever will give me what I want. Discipline and take charge parental attitude is gone and is replaced with - here, take, it's yours, whatever you want - it's easier that way. But just because it's easier, does that make it right?

Now I understand, every parent is different and certainly every child is different, so I'm not judging, we do what we need to to get through the day. But we should make more conscience choices shouldn't we? Shouldn't we be striving to teach our children something more? I sometimes feel that gets lost in the shuffle.

Sure it's popular to joke and say that when we can't decide where to go for lunch, Chipotle or Panera, we have first world problems ... but we really DO have First World Problems. We are the richest people in the world and sometimes we forget that.

So here's a challenge to you - parent or not - don't have a "First World Problem" for a week. Now I don't mean don't let anything happen ... I mean, don't post about it on Facebook with the joke line attached. Things will go wrong, some bigger than others, but it doesn't have to bother us. It doesn't have to ruin the moment. When we get to the boiling point of - I can't freakin believe this is happening to me - we can go ahead and think about the people in Africa who are welcomed onto military bases for work and eat out of dumpsters. Desperation. Children who's mother was murdered in front of them and their father is in prison with AIDS and they are in an orphanage. Abandoned. Parents who have no choice but to give their children up because they can barely feed themselves let alone another mouth. Survival. Those are problems. Not you leaving your cell phone out in the rain ... yeah I'm an idiot, I know.

Challenge yourself to see the realities and handle it. I'm challenging myself.

I swear I won't cry when the last Klondike is gone ... SWEAR!

Mook

I'm going to begin by saying the speakers in my office aren't working so I cannot listen to Pandora ... thus, I have no idea how good this blog post is going to be.

On with the show! So I've had some GREAT news recently!! So many women are pregnant!! YAY!! Many of them first time mommies ... bout time ... and a few second time mommies!! These are all women I totally love and respect and am thrilled to death for them and their spouses.

This news has me and my mommy senses tingling. I'm looking and listening and just more aware of babies and baby stuff. Today - true story - I was doing a little Target therapy and as my lil monkey pointed out there were several babies there! Awww love babies! As we proceed to check out and go to the car I notice in several of the baby carts, cartons of formula. Now I literally do not judge ... I can't, I don't know these people at all. But it does make me sad. When I was taking my parenting classes SOOOO MANY women are deliberately choosing to formula feed over breastfeeding. Now if you're a guy reading this, you're like "aaaand I'm out" ... but I really truly implore you to keep reading. If you ever want to have children, are expecting children etc ... this is information that you really should know because it will ultimately help shape your child's life.

First of all ... lets all get it out ... Breastfeeding ... *awkward laughter* and we're done. I'm going to call it what it is, so let's all man up and read on. I'm not sure why so many people are reverting to formula over breastmilk. I'm a die hard firm believer in nursing and I'm going to tell you why.

When doing research when I was pregnant I found out a LOT of information on breastfeeding. I mean a lot. I even took a class on it. The nurse who lead the class was extremely informative and professional and gave pro's and con's to breastfeeding and formula feeding. To me the choice was completely obvious. The pro's for breastfed children vastly outweigh formula fed babies. Now I know what you're thinking right now ... Christie so you're condemning women or parents who choose to formula feed?! Like we're bad parents or something?!!! No. To each their own. I just want to tell you and especially the new parents and parents to be the extreme benefits to breastfeeding so that the consideration gets a fair shake.

Here are some facts about formula. It's convenient. No doubt about it you can milk shake up a bottle for your babe anywhere. It's extremely expensive. On average a container of formula will run you about $30 and last you approximately a week. Let's do some math ... $30/week x 4 weeks/month = $120/month x 12 months/year = $1,440/year. (That's what formula mommies have told me, I've read differently - it just depends on what formula you use, where you buy etc.) That's not including the other necessities of diapers, wipes, baby food etc. Advances in science have GREATLY improved formula. There is so much science and laboratory in each bottle it'll make your head spin. So babies who are formula fed certainly get nutrition. Typically babies who are formula fed are bigger than babies who are breastfed - not always!!! but usually. Also nutritional content depends upon proper preparation of each bottle. Anyone can feed the baby as well, so that gives mommy more free time.

Now here is my case for breastfeeding. Babies who are breastfed are less susceptible to everything from allergies to eczema, ear infections to cancer, SIDS, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes and on and on and on. As a matter of fact, studies show that babies who are breastfed are not only healthier as infants but also into childhood. Children who were breastfed as babies experience fewer dental cavities, less likely to be obese, and are less likely to have psychological or learning disabilities. There are many benefits to the mother's who breastfeed as well. Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop ovarian cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, and osteoporosis. Women who breastfeed are more likely to lose baby weight faster as lactation and nursing burns many calories. Mommies who nurse release hormones that protect you naturally from getting pregnant sooner postpartum. Not to mention the amazing bonding time you get to spend with your miracle each feeding. In all honesty, there are too many benefits for me to list here. Study upon study shows that breastfed babies and mommies are healthier than formula fed babies. Want some more math? *A study showed that formula babies accrued about $68,000 in health care costs during a 6 month period, while breastfed babies only had about $4,000 during the same time period. (*See website below)

In all complete honesty, you can put all the science you want in a bottle ... but nature does it best!

That being said ... circumstances sometimes get in the way.  I remember right after I had my pumpkin, I was in close contact with a friend of mine who had her baby shortly after mine. We would call each other or text to check in and I loved it! I love her, so it was great feeling so connected and being new mommies together! One day she called me and shortly into the conversation she lost it ... okay we're new mommies we're hormonal it happens. She was having trouble producing enough milk. Her doctors were very concerned which in turn made her more concerned ... and she was so totally distraught because she never thought she would be faced with this situation! The plan was to nurse gosh darn it!!! The doctors were pushing her to formula feed and it was a devastating decision for her. Her body just wasn't seeming to be making enough milk for what her baby needed. And she is a brilliant nurse who works with babies so she knows! Ultimately my goal during that call was to empathize and remind her that she was and is a fantastic mom!! Doing the best thing for her special bud. She ultimately ended up supplementing and let me tell you ... he's an AWESOME big boy! They are an amazing family and everything worked out!! So are you a bad parent if you struggle breastfeeding? No. Are you a bad parent if you supplement? No. Are you a bad parent if formula is just the right decision for you and your family? No. The fact remains that either way you are a good parent caring for your baby. I just STRONGLY urge parents to deeply consider breastfeeding before ruling it out. It's cheaper, healthier, and let's face it, more convenient! (Less bottles!)

So no matter what option you chose in the past, what option you're leaning toward in the future consider both sides!! KNOW what you are doing for yourself AND your baby. Remember your decisions don't just affect you!! Most importantly ... LOVE that baby with all you have. They are a special and amazing miracle the likes of which you cannot fathom. :)

Here's to mook!

** For additional information on the benefits of breastfeeding or to see where I got some of my information for this post visit: http://www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/benefits.asp ) **

Pfft ... Kids ... Who Needs Em?!

You know how people always say being a parent changes everything?? Well I can honestly say that statement is true ... but not necessarily in the way(s) you'd think. Having a kid has changed my sleep, they way I do dishes and the laundry, what I watch on TV, the words that come out of my mouth, when and if I get to take a shower and my level of availability. (Or I should say unavailability) If you ask me these are all relatively minor life changes. Simple things completely worth it to share my life and time with the splendid little miracle God saw fit to bless the bejeebers outta my life with.

The things I DIDN'T expect to change were how people look at me. Now I'm not necessarily a "Young Mommy" - like on the show 16 and Pregnant. I'm 28, so it shouldn't be a big deal. And yet ... here come the looks. Angry awkward looks in public. Not because I'm young no, but because I have a kid.

True story, my husband plays in a sand volleyball league at a low key, laid back, family bar nearby where we live. It's a fun time and we've been going to this bar for over 3 years and there have ALWAYS been babies and children of all ages there. So to think it would be any kind of big deal to take our 2 year old, never crossed our minds. Now my husband's team plays at all different times, so we can't always go together, but the last time we were there Emma was playing fine and dandy in the corn hole area. It was fine because she was content pushing her umbrella stroller back and forth down the alley not bothering anyone. Then out of nowhere a foursome of young adults - about my same age, walk onto the court with out so much as a how-do-ya-do put their beers and buckets down and expected me and my kiddo to vamanos. Okay, I totally understand that that area is for playing corn hole not toddlers. I'm not stupid, but you don't have to be rude about it either. A simple, hey sorry would it be okay if we played? Really too much to ask is it? Well needless to say, my kid has a problem with authority ... my authority when I tell her she can't do something or go somewhere. So when I had to usher her out of the spot she'd been playing in for the last half hour, it was confusing and ticked her little mind off to no end. The only sympathy I got was from 1 of the guys who hated to see a little girl in tears and offered to stop playing so she could continue her toddler romping. I appreciate that, but in the ensuing tantrum from hates I got the most vulgar looks of "What is that and get it away from me." Now in my defense, I was trying to get her to the parking lot and away from patrons as quickly as possible - and let me tell you a thrashing 25 pounder isn't as easy to wrangle as most people think. But the looks of pure unadulterated hate for me having a crying kid were just insane.

Since when has the public turned on children?? I know hearing a crying kid isn't fun when you're trying to have a good time, but is that any reason to throw death stares at the parent? We were outside, in a loud bar environment. Not like we were in the library of Congress or anything. So she cried for 10 minutes ... boo hoo to you. She's 2. She doesn't know what she's doing pisses you off. She only knows that she's mad and she's going to express it the way she knows how.

As I'm growing as a parent, I'm just trying to wrap my brain around the fact that people have to be so rude towards parents with children. Like having a kid is a death sentence? Children in public are like the plague ... everyone stands back in disgust and wishes it would go away. I personally think it's sad. Such a negativity towards children springing up amongst young people. I LOVED kids when I was younger and still do. I am failing to see the problem for others. Do I say anything when you're blowing your death smoke in my kids face? No. So why do you hate on me because I'm trying to have fun with my kid in public. She's no perfect pumpkin, but then who are we kidding neither are you.

One possibility is the growing generations of lax discipline from parents. Children being spanked less and coddled more. For screaming and acting up in a store they get candy ... only reinforcing that if the kid acts that way, they'll get what they want. "I've seen it a hundred times." So when those children go out in public they give a bad name to all children?

I'm not saying I'm a perfect parent, or that I have all the answers ... no. No one does. Parenting is an imperfect, mistake riddled, unscientific science. We try, we fail, we do the best we can with what we got. So I'm sorry that my TWO  year old had a tantrum in public. It's what two year olds do. Should I become a shut in until I'm SURE my kid won't cry anymore?? Uh no. News flash I'm 28 and almost cried in public last week. If we followed that logic we'd never leave, subsequently rendering me completely mentally insane.

The fact remains that there is a negative stigma attached to children and it makes me sad. Instead of embracing kids, loving them, and trying to show compassion or empathy for the mom who's well into her 5th fit of the day, it's only compounded with looks of disgust and appalling. I already feel bad, you don't need to make it any worse. I know I look like a parent who doesn't have a handle on their kid, but children are unpredictable at times. I can't say with any amount of certainty when she's gonna go all out tears to the wall!

So if you don't have children or don't like children ... I urge you to consider the circumstance and extend a little courtesy. And by that I mean, don't throw your death laser stare my way, it's not helping. Just make a joke about me to your friends and keep it in your circle. I'm embarrassed enough without you looking at me like I'm a leper.

Next you go out, if you are a parent - chin up, they'll grow out of it and  you're doing the best you can. If you're a bystander, just look the other way, give a glimpse of mercy and go about your business, they'll grow out of it - hopefully you will too.

Cheers to kids!

Luuuuke ... I am your Father

As many of us know that is and was one of the most classic movie lines from Star Wars. Where Darth Vader - the super villain, reveals to noble Luke Skywalker that he is in fact Luke's Father. A twist many didn't see coming mostly because Luke was there to kill Vader, but after this revelation Luke has second thoughts.

Now I know what you're thinking ... seriously ... we're goin with a Star Wars synopsis? Yeah well no, but kinda. It's more or less a really good quote for Fathers. But in all seriousness Fathers come every which kinda way. The great, the good, the bad and the ugly. Which should make each and every one of us that much more appreciative if we didn't have the latter.

My dad? My dad was great. He didn't really do the baby thing, and for that I have empathy for my mom. BUT he was extremely active in our little league and up years especially when it came to sports. He coached two of my softball teams, a basketball team and coached my brothers in soccer. He helped me learn how to pray and made me compassionate for others. He taught me about money, how to spot a scam and how to drive - God bless him for that.

My dad has his faults, as all dads do. But one thing I commend him for is always trying. He has always tried to do his best for us. Falling short sometimes as all parents must, but making the honest and true effort to mold and shape his children's lives for the better. Teaching respect, honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness, kindness, compassion, caring, empathy, sympathy, faithfulness and even good sportsmanship. Things I'm truly grateful for.

My dad smoked from the time he was 16 til ... well I'm not even entirely sure, 40's I think. But he hid it from us when we were little. He's 100% German so naturally he's more bull headed than an actual bull and nothing anyone would tell him made any kind of difference in his willingness to quit. He liked smoking and everyone has to die sometime right?! (Truly his standpoint ... not lying) Until one day my mom came to him and said what about the kids. Don't you want to be there for them? My dad quit smoking for me. Now I realize that's nothing to you, but to me that says a lot. He loves me more than he loves himself.

He also told me awhile ago that when my brothers and I were born, very close together I might add, he made a commitment that every Salvation Army bucket he passed he would give money to. And every single year since he has lived up to that commitment. One day he was on his way into a store that had the bell ringer out in front and he realized he had no cash. Not even a penny. He drove all the way home, got money and came back JUST so he wouldn't pass the bucket without giving. These are lessons I take serious mental note both as an adult and as a parent. Compassion for the homeless which I have seen  him give to. Making the effort to not donate food to food banks that he wouldn't eat himself. "Just because they have less than I do doesn't mean they have to eat that way." Awww dad.

Some other qualities I get from my dad, his looks - round face and mousy blond hair, I'm 28 and I look like I'm 16, I'll thank him in my later years. His temper and absolute bull stubbornness, his boisterous voice and extremely outgoing personality. My dad is the guy who talks to the high school basketball team like they know him. He's also the guy who knows someone LITERALLY everywhere we go - and I mean LITERALLY. My dad is the only voice I could ever hear when swimming. When you're in the water all voices sound the same and they're all blurred ... not my dad! He would yell as loud as he could - KICK IT UP CHRISTIE!!! GO GO GO!! And daggummit I would give it all I had when I could hear that. Even if I didn't actually go faster, it felt like I did.

I always loved him for his support for a sport he was neither familiar or fond of. My dad is a basketball, baseball, football guy ... there is not swimming in there. But he came, paid attention, cheered, kept track of times ... because he cared. I wasn't the best, I didn't go to states or anything extra special, but geez oh man if my dad didn't treat me like I did. I still have a little plaque he had made for me in high school that says - "You're #1 in my heart." Dang dad! Way to tug at the ole heart strings!! I made him proud even if I didn't win everything. Grateful.

I also got his corny sense of humor, not as grateful, and his love for classic cars. All things I hope to someday pass to my daughter. My dad loved, and laughed with us. Made up silly games for us. He's the reason I dry my hair the way I do, the reason I don't throw like a girl, and the reason I give my all in all I do.

So many of these qualities I see in my husband and it makes my heart sing to know he will be a great dad like my dad. Teaching her things like, how to turn a wrench, rub a little dirt on it, and to always think through the problem. Thankful.

I love my dad. He's always been there for me through the tough, the awesome, the rough, the great and the giggly. Thanks for helping to shape me into a good human being dad. I hope through it all, I make you proud.

Happy Father's Day to the good one's out there. You work hard, and trust me, it pays off. You're loved, you're appreciated, and here's to hoping that springs forth more good dads. CHEERS!

Memory

So ever since I got pregnant remembering ANYTHING is not in the cards for me. The old wives tale about "Baby Brain" remains true for me today almost 3 years later. Seriously one day I forgot the word Power Strip ... TWICE. At any rate, that's not to say that the long term memory is mostly in tact. I can usually remember how old I am, what my name is - on a good day, and who my parents are. I can also remember more often than not that my brothers are US Air Force Veterans (Iraqi War, one is currently serving in Africa). And not just them, but both my Grandfathers were US Army Veterans of World War II and the Korean War (Aka the forgotten war). My dad would have gladly been drafted during Vietnam but fortunately for me and my family he wasn't. The heart of the military lives in him though. My mom's brother was in the Army although not in combat. And I have many friends who are or were Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines. Kinda feel like I'm in good company with some good people!

So what does remembering who did or is what have anything to do with anything? So very glad you asked. Memorial Day is tomorrow. A time for cookouts, corn hole and good times. But Memorial Day did not start off with that intention in mind. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day but has always been to honor those past and present who have served their country. To honor and REMEMBER the fallen and their sacrifice for those they never met. The idea of Memorial Day has foggy beginnings, in fact over two dozen cities lay claim to the origins of Memorial Day. It appears that Southern Women were decorating graves of the fallen before the end of the Civil War. Which is where Decoration Day came from. To visit, decorate and commemorate the graves of fallen soldiers. To REMEMBER them and what they have done for us. Matter of fact, I think it bears repeating that over two dozen cities lay claim to this holiday's origins. Which means that with out prompting, hundreds of people in different places and at different times organized and gathered to honor the dead. It's human nature.

May 5, 1868 General John Logan officially commissioned his order: General Order No. 11 to declare Memorial Day and was first celebrated on May 30, 1868 by placing flowers on the graves of those who lost their lives during the Civil War at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. The idea of wearing Red Poppies for Memorial Day came from the poem "In Flanders Fields." That poem inspired Moina Michael to write the following:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She wore them and sold them to her friends and donated the money to servicemen in need. The idea took off in Europe and eventually made it's way back to the United States where presently the VFW sells artificial red poppies made by disabled veterans. (If you see them, buy one, it's for a good cause.)

Over the years several groups and organizations have dedicated themselves to REMEMBERING our fallen hero's. Every Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry place small American flags at EACH of the 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Then they patrol in 24 hour shifts to ensure that every flag remains standing and have done so every year since the late 1950's. Since 1951 the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis have placed flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual "Good Turn." In 2004 Washington held it's first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

But the fact remains that more Americans would rather spend their extra day off work lounging around the Barbeque enjoying a hot dog, than spending a few moments at the grave of someone who gave their all. Observance of this National Holiday has fallen from REMEMBERING status, to party status. Suffice it to say that enjoying yourself isn't a crime - no. It's just that it's not hard to take a moment, be silent, think, REMEMBER, google or any other method to honor men and women who gave their life for your burger. You are where you are today, enjoying the freedoms and liberties you are, because someone believed in that so much they sacrificed their life. That concept for me is so monumental that I typically get emotional thinking about it. I'm so important, someone else died so I could live ... Amazing.

Now I realize not every family is like mine. When you walk into my parents house it's like the 4th of July all year round. My dad makes a point that whenever he sees someone in uniform, wearing a VFW hat or driving a car with a veteran license plate, he goes out of his way to talk to them and say Thank You. Crazy to you, important to us. So many people don't, it feels like "if not me then who." The Vietnam War sullied our nations reputation for supporting our troops. When they were returning home they were welcomed with spit and spews of hate. We are now a nation who likes to think we "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS". And I'm sure many of you do. But how many of you stand up at your gathering and tell everyone a moment of silence should be observed before partaking in that pasta salad? How many of you go to cemetery services? How many of you use your Monday to personally Thank a Veteran - not just post it on Facebook? (If you don't know one, I can help you out.) These are the things that TRULY honor those who have and are serving. They are inconvenient and sometimes difficult, but they are what Memorial Day is about. Not just chips and beer.

So I will take tomorrow, and REMEMBER those who have given. Freedom isn't Free ... it comes at a cost. And some paid the debt for all.

In Flanders Fields

 In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. (John McCrae, 1915)

** Information used in this blog was obtained from: http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html - feel free to visit and learn more about the origins of Memorial Day. **

Consider My Carrots Cooked

I did  a post a little while ago about things that "Grind My Gears." And I just was reading through it and laughed out loud, at work. First things first, when people toot their own horn it really frosts my cookies. So I'm gonna stop, but it did make me think how much I liked that post, and am going to do it again.

So there's this hand soap pump from Lysol now. You seen these? No touch soap dispensers. I'm goin banana's tryin to figure out A. who came up with such a stupid idea, and Second, who's buying this??? You do realize that you are about to ... Ahem ... WASH your hands right? It doesn't matter if you touch the stinkin pump or not!! Whatever germs you may happen to aquire during said soap disppensal, you will subsequently wash off in 3 seconds. WHY?! Why. It just perpetuates the germaphobic society we have become. KNOCK IT OFF! Or we'll think ourselves into sepsis and never recover.

Speaking of germaphobes, it's time to stop worrying that you're going to catch a cold. I sneeze a hundred miles away from you, into my elbow and I get stared down like I just drop kicked a puppy. Sorry my nose hairs were full and needed emptying. My apologies your highness. Doesn't even count I covered! Being sick stinks, I get it, but really. Here's a neat fact! When you do get sick, your body builds up immunities so you will never get the same cold twice! There ya go. Get sick and stop lookin at me like I'm the Unibomber trying to infect you. It's not anthrax, it's just a sneeze. (Side fact: those handy hand sanitizers we're all using, is actually making the problem worse, because the germs it DOESN'T kill mutate and become bigger and badder ... so thanks for making ME sick! HA!)

People who throw plastic bottles in the trash can with a recycle bin 20 feet away. Really? You're just that lazy. Can't make the effort to hang on to the bottle while you're on your way out the door to drop it in it's appropriate recepticle? Huh. Neat. Thanks for ruining the weather ding dong. Pry the same jerk that likes to wear his flippie floppies and cut offs when it's negative 40 out. Consideration goes a long way, don't be dumb. Recylce your stuff!

The NBA. Stop Crying.

People who think the world literally revolves around them. You see these people? Yeah you know what I'm talkin about. The one's that stop in the exact middle of the grocery isle so that you cannot in anyway get around them. The grocery store is the worst for this. These folks sittin there with their gigantic cart full of Stouffer's goin, "Now what did I come down here for? I clearly know there is someone behind me, but I'm just going to stand here like an ignorant knucklehead and block the way so they have to turn the cart around, go down the next isle and come through the other side just to get those sponges. What a fun game this is!" Yeah, move. Get out of my way. I don't care if you lollygag. Just as long as you don't block me in the process. Pull your cart OVER and figure it out. It's groceries, not rocket science - which my husband says really isn't that hard, but we're not gonna go there. Most recently, true story by the way, I went into a local grocery for 3 gift cards. Two of them were the same, and two women were blocking one whole section of the gift cards. Not only with their bodies, but their carts as well. When I eventually got ticked and slithered my way between the cart and my coveted gift cards, I even said sorry and excuse me, my coat happened to knock ONE card off the wall, because SOMEONE wouldn't move her cart an INCH! And you'da thought I just kicked a kitten! Oh my heavens, it's raining gift cards! Sweet mercy someone should really stop that woman before she knocks one more off! Like I was a crazed gift card snatching lunatic on the loose. It happened, my husband is a witness.

People who drive below the posted speed limit. Safety first and all that, but either go the right speed or get off the road. Some people want to make it to their desired destination sometime this millenia. I got stuff to do, it's super you don't, but seriously, move.

People who don't know what they're doing when they work out. I work in a rec now and sit at a desk and get to watch people work out. When I was swimming in college, we did a lot out of the water too including lifting and cardio. I know the correct form and way to workout. Many people do not and it desperately makes want to go up to them and slap them upside the head. It's cool if you don't know what you're doing, but ask someone, don't look like an idiot. Although complete idiocy I suppose is your perogative, just don't think anyone is subsequently impressed.

Well that's all that's ticking me off currently. I'm sure I'll have more just give it another 6 months! Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it ... Stay giggly my friends!

If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say ...

... Don't say anything at all. I'm fairly certain most of of have heard that at some point in our lives. Most commonly from mom. Yes, I'm going to blog about mom's! So what?! Christie, seriously it's like almost a whole week after Mother's Day. Yeah well ... I'm unconventional. Anyway, mom's are worth so much more than just telling us to keep our stinkin mouth's shut. However, that is one of their best talents. After all, most mom's can shoot a death stare that can make their kids nearly pee their pants. I mean a look ... and small children are running.

I know this isn't in time for Mother's Day, my mom had shoulder surgery the Friday before Mother's Day and I spent the weekend and first part of this week with her trying to ease some of the excruciating pain she was and is feeling. Needless to say I didn't have much time to spend on a computer having nonsensical conversations with myself and typing it down. But I went because that's what you do. My mom spent the first 22 years of my life spending every waking and some non waking moments worried about every aspect of my life. Is she driving safe? Did she wear her seatbelt? Is she keeping her nose clean? Is she doing well in school? Did she remember her jacket? And that's just the first 3 seconds of the day. Now she just worries about me every hour or so.

Let me rewind a little for you. My mom had to have one ovary removed when she was just a teenager. So when she got pregnant with my oldest brother it was nearly a miracle. Then just 17 months later my middle brother was born. Another miracle - 2 babies one ovary short. Then 14 months later I hit the world ... sorry. But before I was born, and before amazing technological advances you didn't know what you were having til they made their appearance. My mom had two boys, and wanted a girl more than anything. She tells me she prayed so hard I was a girl and so much that she swears Jesus came to her one night and stood at the end of the bed and told her to stop worrying. Really Jesus or random hallucination from an overworked mother of 2 toddlers hormones raging? I'm not sure. Either way she stopped worrying and low and behold they had a girl. A bald not very cute baby girl, but a girl none the less! She's spent every day praising God since.

She's also spent every moment since being the very absolute best mother possible. Perfect? No. What? I'm just being honest in the fact that no human anywhere ever is perfect. But the best? Yes. Every Birthday growing up extremely special, all themed and all awesome. She worked exceptionally hard to make sure our childhood was both happy and memorable. She also spent an immense amount of time supporting each one of us in our endeavors. My oldest brother and I having the most radical. I wanted to do so many activities it's a wonder my mother didn't go completely insane. But never the less I was afforded everything from dance lessons, to piano lessons for almost 10 years, to swim team, to track, to girl scouts to to to ... I could go on for awhile. And guess what, my mom was there for nearly all of it.

Not only did she work hard, but she taught me a lot as well. She taught me good habits and bad. Responsibility, to love Jesus, pride, manners, perseverance, loyalty, friendship, humility, honesty, the value of hard work, and unconditional love. I was a little crap when I was a kid. I tattled - a lot. I whined - a lot. I suffered from LSS ... Little Sister Syndrome. It's no excuse, no, it's just that when I felt trapped in a corner by my bro's I'd do the only thing I could ... be a jerk. Run to mommy and tattle. Needless to say, sometimes I picked fights with my brothers, and I'm sure had a beating coming to me, but I always ran. Eventually my mom caught on and told me that I either needed to stay away from them, or learn to defend myself. I couldn't keep running to her all the time. But she loved me still. Imperfect, crappy, ugly little me.

Now when I say ugly, I'm not doing the skinny-girl-calling-herself-fat thing. No no. My 8th grade confirmation picture is up in the basement of my home church in Toledo, a dress up picture, and every time we go my husband likes to take time to admire the photo and tell me exactly how not-at-all pretty I was. Oh yes. My loving husband enjoys letting me know how awesomely unattractive I used to be from about age 5- ... well ... we're still counting. So proof positive that I had some desperately ugly years. My mom did her due diligence telling me I was the prettiest girl in school and tried desperately to make me feel special. Which if I'm honest, she succeeded in quite often.

I like to think about the biggest impact my mom had on me, but to be honest, there isn't just one. All of the things I listed earlier are HUGE parts of who I am. All parts that compose a good mommy. And when I was young, I desperately wanted to be my mommy. Pretty, successful, humble, God fearing, loving ... things I still strive to be. My mother has uncompromising faith, fierce love, and uncontested loyalty to her family and friends. At the end of the day, she is one mama bear you do NOT want to mess with. She is smart, strong, capable, and compassionate. Qualities she would never admit to having. Humble.

There are probably a thousand stories I could tell about my mom expressing each of these qualities, like the time I got sick my freshman year of college. Not just cough cough sick, like ferociously sick. She made the hour drive in 45 minutes to bring me medicine and love her little baby girl. There is nothing my mom wouldn't do for me, no question. And that's how I want my daughter to see me. An awesome example of how to love ... God, her family, and life.

As the years pass, I see a lot of my mom in me. Some good, some not my favorite, but I know I am unashamably imperfect. (There's your made up word for today, unashamably) But it's not about the imperfections, it's about what we strive to be. Always better, always with love, and always looking for the best in others.

Call your mom and tell her you love her today ... guarantee it'll make her day every time.

Love you mom. <3

Did You Know?

Hey! I know you missed me, I'd miss me too! I took a hiatus to finish the fundraiser I was helping to coordinate to raise money to fight Human Trafficking. Something that I'm so passionate about I've posted about before, and will again I'm quite sure.

Getting back to it. A big part of my blog is in regards to health and wellness. A part of that, is learning about new and different things. One of those things is Cystic Fibrosis. I've heard about it, I've swam for it - twice, but if I'm honest with myself and you, I know almost nothing about it. I know it's a bad disease, and life expectancy is not long. But really, what is CF??

I have dear friends at my church whom are some of the best people in the world. In fact, James Fruits is SO Awesome, the mayor of the city they live in named a day after him! ... Yeah ... And one of the MANY things that make them amazing, is their daughter Mylee. The only single word I can offer to describe miss Mylee is Firework. She's bold and beautiful, sparkly and bright. While her stature is not big, her heart and her personality MORE than make up for it. She has a twin brother Malachi but for some reason, Mylee was the chosen one to be born with CF. I don't know why, that's only for God to know, but I DO know that there is no prettier, spunkier, sparkly face to put on a disease. That's truly how I see it. Mylee has a disease, the disease does not have her. Wish I could say the same about some things in my life.

So get on with it Christie, get a grip and tell me what is this disease?! Right, sorry, I was caught up with imagines from YouTube video's of Mylee putting on dance parties in her hospital room! But I asked James and Christie, not me, James' wife - yes we spell it the same, there is more than 1 Christie in the world, get over it. I asked them if they could give me more info on this disease, so I could both educate myself AND you. Here is the breakdown. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a "chronic inherited disease that affects both the lungs and the digestive system." Basically what happens is when a person has a disease it can usually be linked to a defective gene and or proteins that fold incorrectly. (Yeah my tech geek hubby used to do what's called "Folding At Home" a computer program some super smart university people developed to fold proteins until one miss folds unlocking information about various diseases. Your computer sends that info back to the U and they collect and analyze the data. Comment below for more info!) And a person who has CF has a defective gene who's protein associated with that gene produces a super thick "sticky mucus that clogs the lungs" which can lead to many potentially life threatening infections and it "obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food." So even people with normal healthy hearty appetites can be small developmentally.

Basically people with this disease will make frequent trips to the hospital for various periods of time to fight and prevent infections that are so easily developed. To be honest, it sucks. Did you know that May is CF Awareness Month? Did you also know that there are nearly 1,000 new cases diagnosed each year and already 30,000 people living with CF currently in the United States? Did you know the estimated average life expectancy for a person with CF is late 30's? I didn't.

But I'm all about ending on a positive note. So even though this disease is a stupid dumb head, there's a little light at the end of the tunnel.  About 70% of those diagnosed are diagnosed around age 2. We all know that early diagnosis and seeing things early can help start treatments and early planning. Suffice it to say back in the 1950's babies diagnosed with CF never made it to elementary school. Now 45% of the current CF population is age 18 or older. And there are more and more people joining the fight to find a cure each day. Since 1955 The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been the dominate force in leading the way for a cure. They are HONESTLY getting closer every day. And by they I mean the smart people, not the one's like me who sit a computer and ramble on to themselves.

On Saturday May 18 my friends The Fruits 5 (James, Christie, Malachi, Mylee and Max) are doing their annual Mylee's Miles of Smiles walk athon to raise money AND awareness for CF. This is extremely vital in education and research to end this. I love Mylee. She's a Mylee-work, an effervescent Firework of personality and perseverance.

If you want to learn more about CF, how you can help, or the walk please visit: http://www.cff.org/great_strides/ ... Because late 30's is too early for this ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipUDskxgSTo

You're Not Dreaming

So it's been awhile since I've written anything and so those of you who think you may have gone to the wrong page, you haven't! It's still me! Just with some updating :)

I've had some feedback and responses from male readers and thought, maybe I should open up some doors. I can't promise that every post will be gender neutral, but hey, I'm a female writing, it's bound to happen!

So we changed the name and the look, give me some feedback and let me know whatcha think!!

It Seems So Silly

Usually my titles are a little bit more ... uh ... relavant. But I'm having "writers block." Or whatever you want to call me. (Crazy raving lunatic's block perhaps) What I'm referring to up there is The Thank You. Don't you always feel a little silly when you have to write a Thank You. Most people aren't as clever and witty as I ... badum chish! Sometimes it can be hard to find the right words, or know when the right time is to Thank someone.

This is something I wanted to write about because I've been doing my best to dole out some super heavy handed Thank You's recently. It seems ridiculous and not every one is like me, obviously, but I LOVE to Thank people. Mostly because I have a sincere and genuine appreciation for whatever it is they've done for me. And to be honest, I don't think people get Thanked enough. Whether it's at work, or volunteering, or by their "better portion." I know I don't Thank my husby enough. He works hard and is so talented and brilliant and really does so much for everyone he knows. I may be biased, but he is the best man in the world. There is nothing he can't do, or isn't willing to learn how. He is relentless in everything he does for others and makes me want to be better for it. He should be the most Thanked person on the planet, he and the kid who cures cancer.

So when's the right time to Thank someone. The real answer is anytime. But here are some good examples - don't laugh, or do, either way - after receiving a gift (At Christmas a strong hug and wow Thank You verbally should do), just because, after an interview for a job, etc. One of the things I have been working very hard on is sending out random Thank You notes. Sometimes it's not even on fancy stationary (for the young stationary is paper specifically for writing letters or notes, usually more professional than notebook paper.) Somtimes when I'm doing my Target Therapy, I peruse through the dollar bins and find some excellent Thank You cards for only a buck. They're super pretty and fun and well ... a buck! I haven't been awesome at it, but I've been TRYING to tell people how much they mean to me and that all the things they do for me haven't gone unnoticed or unappreciated. And sometimes that's all people need! A recognition that they are important and appreciated. That what they do or did matters.

So what do you say? Sometimes just Thank You. Other times, what's on your mind. "I can't begine to tell you how much (insert niceness here) meant to me. My life is so much better with you in it. Thanks a mill!" And there are millions more where that came from! I usually like to try to make people cry or get misty with mine. Because I don't want to generically Thank people. I want to mean it. Mostly because I DO mean it. I'm appreciative and I need them to know it. I've honed my skills a little bit in the Thank You writing department, and have had some Thank You's for the Thank You. But that's not what it's about. The point is, I want people to know that they put forth effort for me, so the least I can do is the same for them. A little effort. If you're truly a loss for words, like my all awesome husb usually is, google something. Google search inspirational quotes, or call me - $5.00 a card! But seriously, draw inspiration from others. Save good Thank You's you've received and look back on them. The words are there, you just have to find them sometimes. If it's a Thank You for an interview, Thank them genuinely for their time. Thank them for giving you the time of day. Because sometimes that doesn't happen, so when it does, it should feel good. It makes a good impression. It tells your potential emplyer that you care and are curteous and kind. Someone that they want to employ.

Bottom line, I don't think people are Thanked enough. A simple wave if I leave room for you to get out while driving. An "Oh! Thank you very much!" for holding a door open. A small note card in the mail, "I just wanted you to know how much I love being your friend. You are so kind and generous and you should know it's appreciated! Thank You." A facebook message - here's one I saw today "Thank you to whomever found my wallet on the floor of (Store) and turned it in to customer service! It makes me belive there is still good." The world needs more Thank You's. If people know that what they do matters and that others care, they'll be more inclined to do nice things in the future. (Suffice it to say, don't YOU do nice things just for the Thank You's, sometimes there are jobs that are Thankless ... that and it's not all about you.)

So Thank your parents, Thank your friends, Thank your coworkers or boss, Thank that random stranger that held a door for you. It'll make waves!

Put a Thanks in someone elses tank!

Money Money Money

Must be funny ... in a rich man's world. That my friends is a line from a song from arguably one of the greatest groups of all time - ABBA. But if you are anything like me, which you probably are a little or you wouldn't take the time out of your day to read my often incoherent ramblings; you like music, but you don't like numbers. Am I right? Can I get an AMEN! Numbers, are NOT our friends! Math has always been a sore spot for me. For some reason early on in life Math decided to hate me. I'm not sure what I ever did to it, but it has hated me ever since.

That being said, I do like money. Ever since my first babysitting take I've been hooked. Which is funny because there is a lot of math in money. So I guess you could say we have a love hate relationship. The love of working hard and earning a paycheck to do with what I choose, and the hate of having to calculate anything.

About a year ago, my husband, the brilliant mega-genius he is, decided to put us on a budget. That's kinda like putting my 30 pound overweight Great Dane on a diet. It's awesome on paper, but putting into action results in him eating countless boxes of just opened tissues and pooping Puff's for a week. It's been hard to say the least. Cutting spending on EVERYTHING to help get us out of the debt we're in. But ironically it's not from super over spending. Sure we bought things we pry didn't need when we didn't need them, but he has more regrets about that than I do. We've never been a couple to rack up 10 grand + in credit card debt. Nope. It's MY student loans. Awesome considering the fact that I don't have a job related to my degree. Well kinda, but now we're just arguing semantics and who cares. But isn't it ironic? You spend so much money to get the education everyone says you need to not get a job where you want and end up staying home taking care of a kid, then your husband puts you on a spending freeze so you can finally pay off all that money you thought was going toward the right things. It's not a run on if I say it's not. And I say it's not a run on!

So that brings us full circle. Okay it doesn't but I couldn't think of a better transition. Sue me. (Or don't because I don't have any money!) But many people, along with weight loss, include money in their New Year's Resolutions. So, here to help with that is None Other Than ME! *APPLAUSE APPLAUSE* I was at a Women's Conference many years ago and one of the speakers said something that to this day I have not forgotten. Probably because she made it easy to remember. Five things to do with your money. But before you learn those things, you must first know your money. Take a look at those pay stubs no one ever thinks they need, and study it. I really mean study it. Look it over, learn what each number on there means. What you make pre and post tax. It's painful sometimes, but it really will open our eyes. And if you don't know what it means, let me introduce you to a little something we like to call ... the Internets and Google! Look it up. If you have a spouse, make that commitment to sit down with them and go over the money together. Yeah for me I would rather get 72 cavities filled, or have Nathan - the kid who I was convinced would drown one day, as a private lesson again - I remember his name for a reason. But alas, my husb is the numbers guy - betcha didn't see that one comin. So it's a necessity - one I dread.

Next, divide your money into 5 categories. Save Some, Spend Some, Invest Some, Give Some Away and Tithe Some. It's so simple, but if you really pause and consider this, that's all you really need to do with money. Which is why you need to know your money.

Now the Tithe part, that may get some of you. If you're not Christian, or aren't into the church thing, this word means The First Tenth. God set forth back in the day a sort of agreement with people. As part of their obedience to Him and their acknowledgement that everything they have God blessed them with, they were supposed to give or sacrifice the first 10% of their earning to God. (In olden times that usually meant crops or animals, today it's money) This is probably the hardest for me to accept. I consider myself a relatively faithful Christian, but it's still hard for me to sit there and write that check. Especially since I know it's supposed to be 10% of my earning BEFORE tax! Yikes. But if it is one you can grasp, it is more than worth it. If you don't follow that kind of thing, then allocate this portion to other sections. But I highly recommend donating a portion to churches or other religious affiliations. Just, you know, throwin that out there.

The other areas are a lot less complex. Spend some. Obviously this will include bills. Know all of your monthly expenditures so that after you know what's coming in, you can know what's going out. Rent/Mortgage, car payment, utilities, cable, phone, insurance etc. Then look at what's left. After you decide on all the other categories there should be some left for you to spend on yourself. Going out to eat, movies, clothes, whatever your vice is! Save some. I don't think it can get more simple. Put some of your money into an account so it sits there. It can accrue interest or not, up to you, but put some away! Ever hear the saying saving it for a rainy day? Invest some. You might need some help in this area and that's okay. Put some of your money into something that will work for you. Invest it into something that will do something. And just so you know, some people consider investing in people, and that includes children. Give Some Away. Perhaps my favorite next to Spend Some - yeah I'm greedy! But at least I know it!!! Give some of your money to something worthy. Salvation Army. Girl Scouts. Not to toot my own horn, but once there were little Girl Scouts selling what was left of their cookie collection in the vestibule of a Giant Eagle. I walked in telling them I already bought some - which I had, but felt very guilty the whole store trip. On the way out I handed one of the mom volunteers the $2 I had with me, saying it's not enough for a whole box, but here you go. I can't help it, I was once a Girl Scout and I have the badges to prove it! Give some to a local charity. Just give to others. It's better than the best work out, meal, or shopping spree I've ever had. It feels right.

It may be shocking to you. So be prepared, but you shouldn't be spending or out putting more than you have coming in. That being said, in order to reach these 5 areas, you may have to make some cuts. My husband has officially cut everything in our house. We don't have TV, our phones are pre-paid, and if it isn't nailed down, it gets sold on ebay. But that's what helps make our house work, and gets my debt paid off before I retire.

I strongly encourage you to look into these. Even if they don't work for you, you don't like them, or you think I'm nuts. It's worth a shot to help get you where you want to be financially. And don't say rich, because that may not happen. Unless you win the lottery, which I've heard you have a better chance of getting hit by lightening than actually winning. But you know.

In the spirit of keeping Resolutions ... go forth and KNOW your MONEY!

"Lay Off Me I'm Starving!"

Some of you might recognize the title of this from an SNL skit with Adam Sandler, David Spade and the infamous Chris Farley. The 3 play women who work at The Gap and are on a lunch break sharing french fries. One of the actors tells Chris Farley to slow down on the fries to which, Farley replies the famous line - "LAY OFF ME I'M STARVING!" in a very deep baritone. Classic. But there is a lot of truth in that scenario.

Ever notice that when you go too long and get to the point where you're so hungry you want to order one of everything on the menu, plus dessert. It's sabotage! Weight loss is always hard, and it's a topic I'll frequent because I love health and fitness but I also struggle with my weight. I'm usually pretty upfront about my imperfectness. (Yes I think it's a new word, one of my many. Maybe after this blog I should make my own dictionary.) But since the beginning of the new year, I've been heeding my own awesome words of wisdom and workin the weight loss plan. *Insert self perpetuated pat on the back here! * I actually finally saw my pre-pregnancy weight on the scale the other day, for the first time, since, well I got pregnant! VICTORY IS MINE! I don't care if it IS 2 years overdue. Stop judging me! I said I wasn't perfect! Oh so now you're gonna stop reading my blog. Well fine!

Woah, what happened. Okay so I'm down a few pounds, awesome, but I've got a lot more to go! And one of the greatest things I'm learning this bout, is to not wait until I'm ravenous to eat. I have to eat before I'm hungry. Think of it this way, when you're post op (Post Operation for the lay) you're supposed to take your pain meds (medicine) every so many hours as per doctors instructions. It's not just to help with the current pain you feel, but to help PREVENT the pain. If you eat when you need to before you're hungry, you will eat what you need to, not what you want to.

I mean, we probably have all been there, whether we admit it or not! Goin out to eat and you didn't eat all day and you order apps, entree, dessert then get popcorn at the movie! Ugh, a good day wasted, when you could have eaten steadily all day and had a sensible dinner. Not only will your metabolism thank you, but well your metabolism will thank you. It's much easier to spend an entire day burning calories consumed at breakfast than it is to digest and burn those frosted flakes you had at 10:30 last night. If you wait, you'll eat like a monster.

Now we all have days where we forget to eat ... Oh wait that's just my husband and size-0-at-nine-months-pregnant sister in law. (Yeah my other sister in law and I want to punch her too ... just kiddin, she's beautiful and we love her!) But there are times where we avoid eating to save calories, or "don't have time" or any of the other excuses we tell ourselves. But the truth of the matter is, you need to find a way to eat. Unstable eating patterns tell your body "I don't know when we're getting fuel next pal, so start eating the fat where all the nutrition is." I don't have any clever analogies for this one, even though I thought about it.

But you should know that your body does attack your muscle supply first when you go with out eating. It's where the most nutrients are. So if you think your fat is melting off, it's not that easy. Look at it this way, people who suffer from anorexia tend to have severe heart problems. Why you say? Well your heart is a muscle and it gets very stressed when constantly being worked out with no fuel coming in. It's a matter of fact Jack! (Who's Jack? No one, don't interrupt me I'm on a roll over here!)

So here's my best advice. If you struggle keeping regular meal times, choose things that are easy to eat, any where any time. Suggestion: Nature Valley Protein bars. Oh mama these things are tasty and they do have a a bunch of protein and yes some fat to fuel the fire baby. Pair this with some veggies or fruit and you've got yourself an impromptu meal on the go my friend. Easy Peasy!

So next time you wait until you're stomach feels like it's eating itself, call yourself stupid in my voice, and try not to eat an entire village.

In the mean time, I'll be doing the same. It's really working for me so far. My portion control is MUCH more in balance, and I feel better. Mostly because I don't feel like I'm dieting, I'm just eating better and I'm not hungry!! WOOT ... I get grumpy when I get hungry. Well I'm always grumpy, but yeah you got it, okay.

Stay the course skinny you!!! This year ... Really IS the year!