Happy New Year's

Tonight is the last day of 2009! I hope things turn around for us in the New Year! Shannon has been unemployed for 10 1/2 months of 2009. I went back to work in August of this year, which has helped us financially. I am already ready to be a stay at home mom again!

Shannon finally saw things my way and is now going to pursue state, city, and county jobs! For years, I have tried to convince/steer him towards applying for state, city, and county jobs. He never wanted to listen to me. One day, I was browsing through the state jobs and he asked me, "is that all of the open positions?" I told him, "yes, and there are much more to see!" Our goal for the new year is to search and apply for any and all state, city, and county jobs that we can! Just tonight, I found one that is open in our county with the Judicial system.

Tomorrow is our 7th Wedding Anniversary! We don't have any special plans. We have been sick for the last 2 weeks now.

Kyle's 4th birthday is this Sunday! We still can't believe he'll be 4 years old! Our little boy...

Kyle goes back to school on the Monday after his birthday! I think he misses school. He knows we're supposed to go somewhere, he just doesn't know he's on winter break! Shannon is also on winter break from college. He starts back the same day as Kyle.

Christmas in a Nutshell

We have all been feeling sick for the last week or so. Kyle and Shannon seem to have it the worst. Thankfully we don't feel sick the entire day, it will come in waves. I have started feeling a little sick when I first wake up, but as the day progresses, I feel better.

Shannon has been smoke-free for about 3 or 4 weeks now! He stopped smoking a few days after Thanksgiving. He used the e-cigarettes to help him quit. After awhile, he didn't feel the need for the e-cigarette either. He's had withdrawl symptoms from not smoking, plus he's been sick.

I had to be at work on Christmas Eve for 9 1/2 hours! It was a long day but it went by pretty quickly. I was scheduled to be off at 8 PM, however, all cashiers had to keep working until the last customer was checked out. We all did very well and worked together. I am glad I didn't have to work until 8:30 PM because those workers had to stay until the store was clean!

Our store was closed on Christmas Day, so that meant everyone was off that day. I was also off the day after Christmas! We opened presents just after noon on Christmas Day. Kyle wasn't feeling all that well, so he was not in the mood for all the excitement. My MIL gave me a zip-up hoodie with faux fur lining the hood. My husband received a long sleeved shirt and pajama bottoms, he really needed both! We took some pictures and I hope to have some of them printed out, I plan on putting them in a frame (that holds several pictures) and hanging it up on our wall. Kyle also had a present for Shannon and myself. His teacher wrapped it for him, but he made it at preschool for us. It's a 2010 calendar, the pictures are made of Kyle's handprints! His handprints are in shapes to form a picture, for instance, for October, his handprints are in the shape of a ghost. It's really cute! I remember the day he came home with paint all over his clothes. As long as he had fun, I didn't mind the mess.

We gave my MIL a Dyson vacuum for Christmas. We bought her the Dyson ball so it will be easier for her to clean her house. She loves it! She used it all day yesterday. I think she was looking for things to vacuum! She realized how much dirt and dust is in her house and how fast it accumulates with her old vacuum.

Speaking of Dyson vacuums, my vacuum really needed to be emptied and Shannon finally did that for me yesterday. My vacuum now works much better! Since I was off the day after Christmas, I used that time to catch up on cleaning and laundry! I literally have not had time to do any cleaning in the last month. Shannon has had to do the laundry for me since I was barely home. I was able to clean our entire bathroom! I also did 3 loads of laundry!

Same Snow

I had to call in to work yesterday and today. It snowed like crazy yesterday, some of it melted, but not enough for us to risk going anywhere. The roads are slushy and wet and cars are sliding around. I happen to have tomorrow off! This coming week will be exhausting. I have a few days of long hours and on Christmas Eve, I have to work 9 1/2 hours that I am not looking forward to!

Shannon took Kyle outside in the snow for about a half hour! He seemed to enjoy it. He wasn't sure what to make of it. He walked around a bit in the backyard and then I saw him kicking the snow off his shoes. Meanwhile, Shannon shoveled the snow off the deck.

About an hour after Kyle and Shannon came in from outside, we all took a nap. Shannon said Kyle was burning up but I didn't really feel it, he was warm, not burning up. We woke up from our nap a few hours later and Kyle was burning up! He had a fever, so we gave him some medicine. He fell asleep and is still lethargic. His fever is gone, but his stomach seems to be upset. He may have a stomach bug.

I've been taking naps throughout the day. I am just so tired! I couldn't sleep last night, my cramps woke me up at least twice during the night. Plus I've been having headaches here and there, I am not sure if they are from the cold weather or not.

Snow Crazy

I am not scheduled until 5:30 PM tonight but it looks like I'll have to call in tonight due to snow. We're expecting several inches of snow tonight! We dropped Kyle off at preschool and the teacher took our phone number down just in case they decided to close early. Sure enough, she called us to say that they will be closing at 10 AM. He had a short day at school this morning.

Just before we picked him up, we went to Walmart to pick up supplies and some food. We're not sure if there will be a power outage or if we'll be stranded, so we just want to be prepared.

Kyle has the next two weeks off from school. He's on winter break until January 4, 2010. The teacher gave me two packages of things that Kyle made. One of them was in a big manilla envelope. It had his picture that is framed with a wreath. The wreath is made of his hand prints. It's really cute! He also made two tree ornaments! The other package is a present all wrapped up! I put it under the tree with the other presents. One of the things I like about Kyle going to school is being able to see his art projects! I can't wait to see more of them as time goes by!

Day of Recharge

Today was my day off from work! Kyle had school today, so we had to get up early. When we got home, I treated myself to a "spa day." I gave myself a homemade green tea mask and then I made some homemade bath salts and soaked my feet in the tub with bath salts for about 10-15 minutes. My feet felt so much better afterward. They weren't as tense and sore.

I am still looking to perfect my homemade bath salt recipes, I hope to use other ingredients in future batches. I am looking at using dead sea salt, instead of epsom salt. I am sticking with peppermint oil since I still have a bottle of it.

I pretty much had a lazy day today. I just wanted to relax and recharge my body. Shannon took a nap today while I caught up on surfing the internet.

After we picked up Kyle from school, he took his usual nap about an hour after we got home. He napped for about 2 hours. During that time, I took a bath using my bath salts. My body feels so much better and so relaxed!

Today was a great day off. I feel recharged and really enjoyed my at-home spa day!

3rd Long Day

Today is the third day in a row of 8-9 hour days! Today is a 9 hour day for me. Then, I am off tomorrow! I will be catching up on laundry tomorrow.

Yesterday, we went grocery shopping after I got off. This was a well needed trip since the last two times we went, were only mini-trips. Our mini-trips usually last us a few days to a week of food. I bought more snacks for work and also a few Tuna Helpers, not that I seem to have time to make them.

I am looking forward to the last week of December because I only have 26 1/2 hours, instead of the usual 33 hours. It will be a nice break from these long hours. These days I don't have time to do laundry or anything else on the days that I do work. My entire body is sore all over. I barely have time with Kyle and Shannon too.

First Week of Preschool

Kyle went to his second day of preschool today. We got there a little early and that gave me a chance to ask the teacher how he did the other day. It sounds like he did really well, except for nap/rest time. He didn't take a nap, instead he just sat on his cot. It sounded like he was nervous and not sure if he was in trouble. She also said she took him to the cafeteria with her to get the lunch for the class. She chooses one student to go with her to get the lunch each day.

As we were walking towards his classroom, I paused for a second and Kyle knew exactly where his classroom was and walked right in! The teacher said they will be painting! Of course, I thought, "oh no! mess!" She said she puts t-shirts over their clothes.

Also, on Fridays there is only one other student, so it's just Kyle and another student the entire day! I think the individual attention will really help him too! Kyle seems to like preschool! After getting home from his first day of preschool, Shannon said he ate so much, as if he were starving!

When I went to leave the classroom, Kyle didn't even flinch! He looked comfortable and happy where he was. I am glad he's okay with the classroom.

We also applied for free/low-cost school meals for Kyle.

9 Long Hours of Express Lane

I was stuck at work for 9 hours in the express lane! It was pretty steady but I just hate that people only seem to see my register and never avert their eyes to the other 10 or more registers that are open! My day went by fast, yet slow at the same time. I couldn't wait to get off of work. I am already tired of working there.

I am really excited about the county job that I found and hope to at least get an interview. I filled out the application tonight and it's ready to be mailed out tomorrow!

Apparently, our store decided they were going to stay open until 8 PM on Christmas Eve (instead of 6 PM). With that change, they had to take down the current schedule and re-do it to cover the entire time we are open on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, I have to work 9 1/2 hours on Christmas Eve. I have 10:30 AM til 8 PM!!! I heard a few people in the break room complaining and talking about leaving at 6 PM on Christmas Eve. They were also saying that a lot of people are going to be upset since they may already have plans with family, etc. I try not to complain at work, instead I wait til I get home and complain and whine to Shannon! I am not really upset, just annoyed since I seem to get so many hours each week.

First Day of Preschool

Today was Kyle's first day of preschool!!!

Luckily he got dressed without much fight. He's usually really picky with what he wears. He did fuss a bit about his new clothes but he quickly realized we were getting ready to go somewhere. He also put on his brand new jacket without incident! He looked really cute in his new clothes!

I walked him in to his classroom. He was a little nervous and unsure of what was going on. I had to sneak out of the classroom as he was having breakfast with the other kids. I didn't get to be there to pick him up so I had Shannon tell me all about how well Kyle did!

A county job to apply for

Tonight I found a county job that I want to apply for! I am so excited that I told Shannon about it and what the job entails and he said I would definitely qualify for it! So I am going to apply for it. I have 10 days left to turn in my application. Since I don't have access to my old computer, I no longer have a resume on this computer. Luckily I went through some of my old emails and found a copy that I had emailed out to someone. I did have to update it a bit, but it's better than starting from scratch.

The job pays much more than I am making now working part time. Right now, I am making about $8000-$9500 a year! LOL There is talk going around work that after Christmas, our schedules could result with even less hours. There was also another rumor that I heard that they plan on laying off the recent part time cashiers that were hired (which includes me and 2 other people). Right now there are full time cashiers getting LESS hours than me, and I am a part time worker! I just don't get it!

Starting tomorrow

Kyle starts his first day of preschool tomorrow!!!!

We had to go back to the mall today to return his jacket and get one in his size. We found one that was exactly his size and one that Shannon approved of. After we picked out his jacket, I went over to Sears to return his jacket that I bought for him yesterday. Then I went over to JC Penney's and bought another pair of corduroy pants for work. They are khaki/sand color. Meanwhile, Shannon went to Sears and bought a blanket for Kyle. He needs a blanket for preschool during rest time. I am so glad Shannon found and bought a blanket for Kyle, all of the ones we do have are still packed away somewhere.

I am making sure Kyle's school clothes are washed and ready for his first day tomorrow. I am also washing my work clothes to get ready for a new week of work.

I am making sure Kyle's backpack is packed and ready for us to leave tomorrow. If I leave that up to Shannon, it would get done about 2 minutes before we had to leave.

Long days ahead

It's been raining for most of the day today. It started out overcast and then it started raining in the afternoon.

I am not looking forward to this week of work. I have 4 days of 7 - 9 hour work days, one of the days I only have a 5 1/2 hour day. I don't have much time to do any laundry, so I am trying to do all our laundry tonight. If we have any laundry to do during my work week, I will have Shannon do it.

Stopped by the Classroom

We got up early hoping to have Kyle start preschool today. The weather was freezing cold, the car had ice on it and Kyle was shivering by the time we got out of the car to go into the school. We met the teacher and saw the classroom. She went over the main points of what he needed to have. We're going to have him go Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The school has a uniform dress code and we're also going to apply for free or low cost meals for him. We gave his teacher his paperwork as well.

My MIL and I ended up going shopping today for his clothes. First, we tried Goodwill and found a pair of pants and a shirt. We then we to Big Lots and Walmart. I didn't find anything at Big Lots but I did find his pants and shirts at Walmart. I bought long sleeved shirts since it's cold outside. We then went to the "mall" that they have out here. I went to JC Penney's and found a jacket and a beanie and glove set. We also looked at Sears and found a jacket for much less and ended up getting the jacket there and returning the jacket I bought from JC Penney's.

I tried on some of the clothes on Kyle and unfortunately the jacket is WAY TOO big for him. It's more of a size for an older boy of at least 7 or 8. It's not a toddler size jacket. Plus, Shannon wants to get a thicker jacket for him. The pants that I bought for him were marked for 4T but they are too big, hopefully after a wash or two, they will fit better. I am going to take the clothes back to the Goodwill that I bought from there since they are too big for him. The shirts look big on him, but they will do for now.

Kyle also needed a backpack and he will need a towel or blanket (for rest time) as well. I found a backpack at the goodwill for only $3! We're probably going to have him use a towel because his blankets are still packed away.

Kyle will start his first day of preschool on Wednesday! Shannon and I are excited for him and want to make sure he is ready. At least we know where his school is. It's a beautiful and clean looking school. All of the classrooms are inside a big building. When we got home from taking Kyle to the school, he starting crying when we got home and we think it's because he didn't want to leave! Hopefully he'll like playing with other kids.

When we got home, we all ended up eating tuna sandwiches and other things we could find. We were all hungry! Shannon, Kyle, and myself ended up taking a nap after eating! I think we slept for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. When I woke up, I took a shower and Shannon was up by the time I was done.

Called the Teacher

I ended up calling Kyle's preschool teacher today, since I had the free time and it had been a few days since the school district office emailed her. She said she would have called but they didn't include a phone number for us in the email! She sounds REALLY nice and excited to have him join the class. She said she has all boys and one girl and they range from age 3 to 5 years old. She wasn't sure about the paperwork, so she said she would call us back tomorrow. Hopefully he can start on Monday! How exciting!

Long Lost Email Address

I am so surprised and excited! In 2007, I inadvertently deleted a beloved email address that I have had since 1998! Since then, I have tried to get it by signing up with the same email ID. Finally, I tried contacting yahoo directly and they were able to reinstate it! They did have to verify my information with my secret question.

I have my email account back! Unfortunately, it had about 5000 emails to go through and delete!

Preschool News and Work Clothes

Shannon shaved Kyle's head today! He looks adorable! Immediately after, I gave Kyle a bath since there was hair everywhere! Kyle went nuts because he's scared of the noise of the razor. By the time he got in the bath, he was fine.

We had a meeting at the main offices for the local school district for Kyle today. The whole meeting lasted 1 hour. This was the final meeting to discuss whether or not Kyle would qualify for special education and discuss what they (the school psychologist, speech therapist, audiologist, and preschool teachers) came up with. In this meeting, it was just the preschool teachers. They discussed the entire report written by everyone above and it was determined that Kyle qualifies for special education with the school district! They already have a school and class picked out for him. He would attend from 7 AM til 2 PM for 3 days a week and have speech therapy for 2 (of the 3) days a week! They also asked if we wanted Kyle to be picked up by a school bus. My 3 (almost 4) year old...on a school bus!? Shannon and I opted to take Kyle to school for now. I am also going to put in to have my availability at work changed. I don't even know if it would be approved or not, but it doesn't hurt to put in for it. Kyle's preschool teacher will call us, otherwise we can call her to set up the days for Kyle to come in. This particular class has about 6 kids, but they all don't attend everyday. So the days we choose, there may be less kids there. This class has a teacher and a teacher's aide.

The two pairs of jeans that I bought from Walmart on Black Friday fit much better after I washed them! I am so glad that they fit me! Before they were washed, they were really big on me. I decided to keep them because they were only $9 and plus they hadn't been washed yet.

I received my order from JC Penney's!! I ordered black Reebok shoes, dark brown corduroy pants, and a zip hoodie for work. They all fit really well! The shoes seem comfortable, I haven't tried them on with my WalkFit insoles yet. Surprisingly, the pants fit around the waist. I never know what my sizes are anymore. I bought corduroy because I have always wanted a pair to wear for work. I haven't had a pair of corduroy pants in several years. Hopefully after a wash, they will fit better! My hoodie fits just perfect too, really soft. It's starting to get cold at work so it will be nice to have something to keep me warm. I am trying to pull away from buying my clothes at Walmart as much as I can since clothes from there don't seem to last me that long. All of my work pants are from Walmart and they are labeled a size 4 and they literally feel like a size 10 because they are so big on me!

Two Treats for Myself

I got my haircut after work yesterday! I had about 8 or 9 inches cut off! My hair is now shoulder length. I love how short it is, my long hair was getting on nerves and in my way. Shannon said he likes the length too.

I also had enough gift cards saved up to buy myself something through Amazon! I heard a news story from one of our local news stations about a product called Pro X by Oil of Olay. Our local news station wanted to know if this product worked or not, so they did a story about it. It's nice to know that this product does work. So I found the product on Amazon and "bought" it for $0!

This weekend was busy at work. I am so glad to have the next two days off! I am ready for a break! Last night, I went to bed early. I was off by 4 PM and went to bed around 8:30 PM.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

I had to work both Thanksgiving and Black Friday. I had to work all day on Thanksgiving and was off by 7 PM. We weren't too busy, but steady for most of the day. We did slow down by the end of my shift. I did have a little to eat at home. At work, they had chicken strips, potato salad, and potato wedges for the employees, which was really nice of them.

Yesterday was Black Friday and we were still busy by the time I got there for my shift. They had me in the Garden Center with another cashier. It was pretty fun working so close to another cashier that I could talk to! We just helped each other out whenever we could. We were pretty busy at times! Since I wasn't up at 5 AM shopping to see all the deals and specials, I saw what other customers were buying and that gave me ideas of what I could get. We had DVDs for $2 and $9. I also saw people buying pajama sets, jeans and t-shirt sets for men and women!

Shannon and I needed to get groceries so he met me after my shift. Kyle was so well behaved in the store. He didn't make a peep, he just looked around at everything. Shannon looked around a bit in the electronics section and I went to look at what was left of the DVDs and clothing sets on sale. I found 2 pairs of jeans and t-shirt sets for Shannon and myself and they were only $9 each! The brands were also ones that I have heard of: Jordache, l.e.i. and Wranglers for Shannon's jeans. I was surprised to find our sizes still available, especially after an entire day of shoppers going through the store!

We did a mini-grocery trip this time around. We only needed a few things. At the checkout, I used my discount card and we ended up saving over $12, it's great being able to save 10% on EVERYTHING in the store. The other employees also love the discount during the holidays.

New Laptop!

I am back online with a new laptop! Today was my day off from work. My laptop screen was destroyed by Kyle yesterday. Unfortunately, Shannon didn't want to go shopping until today for a new laptop! We went to Best Buy and the closest one is in another city about 40 minutes away. I found a laptop that I really liked and it's the same brand as the one I had before. The keyboard is shaped differently so now my hands need to get used to the feel of it. My laptop also has a webcam and mic!

I am currently working on getting all my settings set to my liking. I probably won't have my computer fully set up until later this week. I have to work full days for the next two days!

For Christmas, Shannon ended up getting the e-cigarettes for himself. He's been reading the reviews of users of e-cigarettes so he's wanted to try them. A few days ago, I bought Kyle two pairs of slippers. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to like them. He put them on and took them off. I think he was unsure about them being so soft inside. They are both really cute, one is of Lightning McQueen from Disney's Cars and the other is camouflage. Yesterday, I bought myself new shoes, pants, and zippered hoodie all for work. I can't wait to get my order!

Feeling Better

I was off yesterday and spent it relaxing! I treated myself to a homemade facial using green tea leaves, honey, and rice bran powder! I can't wait to do that again for myself.

Kyle spent most of the day outside playing. I also spent a little bit of time outside with him.

I decided to stop taking the over the counter cold medicine and I felt better, still sick without the foggy feeling. I am feeling much better today! I am just glad I didn't have to call in this time.

I have a full work day today of 8 1/2 hours! This week is the most hours I have ever had since I started, I have 33 hours! I do have to work Thanksgiving and the day after, which I don't mind. I do have to work a full day on Thanksgiving and I don't have to work til the afternoon the day after. By the time I get to work on Friday, the morning sales and craziness will be over!

I have a few loads of laundry to do, but I am going to have Shannon do that for me. Since he's home, he has the time.

I was also chosen as the Cashier of the Month by my managers!! It was quite a surprise! They took my picture and it is now hanging in the employee area across from the break room, plus they gave me a $10 gift card from Walmart!

Around Christmas, Walmart offers a little special for employees. This year, they are giving us a discount on regular food products too. Normally, we get a discount on general merchandise and fresh vegetables and fruits. But during the holidays, we get a discount on the entire store!

I'm SICK Again!

UGH! I am SICK yet again this year! This is the second time I have been sick in ONE year, which is very uncommon for me. I normally get sick but once every other year, if that. I bought some name brand cold medicine for day and night time and it doesn't seem to be helping, but it's only been a short time. I just hope I can sleep tonight. This cold started just like the last one I had about 2 months ago.

This time around, I thought if I bought the "name brand" that it would work! Last time when I got sick, I bought the generic brand of medicine. Shannon also had to take the generic/store brand last time we got sick and he said it really knocked him out and didn't make him feel better. I thought the same thing, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the cold or the medicine.

Or maybe these store bought medicines aren't working that well because my cold/flu is much worse!?

I just hope I get better soon! I have a full work day tomorrow and I am not looking forward to it! I worked tonight and felt "out of it" for most of my shift!

I had a chance to spend most of the day with Kyle. He was very playful and in a good mood. He was very interactive with us and just wanted to play and be silly! I definitely miss spending time with him and hate being away from home for so long!

Day off with family

Today was my day off! We had a nice day as a family. We went to BJs, which is about 40 to 45 minutes away in another city. We ended up getting my MIL's vacuum! We found what we planned on getting for my FIL but it doesn't come with an iPod! So Shannon didn't get it. Shannon said he'll think of other things to get for him and keep looking. Since we were there, we walked around the rest of the store. I bought a few more things for my breaks at work. I also bought soap - 16 bars to be exact! That should last us at least a year or two! LOL I also bought liquid hand soap that comes in a foam dispenser for the bathroom! It came with 4 soap dispensers.

Since I had to work so many days in a row, I ended up doing laundry. I had to wash my work shirts and pants. I didn't do any cleaning today except a quick vacuuming. I cleaned the bathroom yesterday before work.

I have to work the next 3 days and then I am off again.

The 6th day

Today is my 6th day of working without a day off. I only have a 4 hour shift tonight. I definitely enjoy working in the evenings, it's so much more laid back!

I am off tomorrow. Shannon and I may get my in-law's Christmas gifts. Instead of getting his Dad a camera, his Mom suggested we get him a stereo system that he wants. She was worried about us spending so much on a camera, which ranges from $500 - $1100, depending on what accessories you want to get with it. We can get both of their gifts at BJs. Thankfully I still have my membership card. I asked Shannon if we're going to wrap their gifts and he said we could, which actually means I would be the one to wrap them! I am not sure how I am going to wrap a vacuum box! That should be a challenge! I am not sure how big the stereo is.

I have seen a few little gifts I could get for Kyle and wrap them for Christmas! They have a lot of little gifts out for people to buy!

His birthday

Today is Shannon's birthday!

My MIL and I went to get him an ice cream cake yesterday afternoon. First, we went to Food Lion (local grocery store) and they had ice cream cake, but the cakes didn't have the "cake" part, just ice cream with a thin layer of frosting as the border. It was basically ice cream with frosting. So we went to Baskin Robbins/Dunkin' Donuts to get an ice cream cake and thankfully they had some pre-made! We ended up getting one with oreos on top with cookies and cream ice cream inside. Since we were there, we both got a small ice latte! It was really good!

This afternoon, I ended up making an ice latte at home. It was pretty easy! All it takes is ice, milk (I use soy milk), coffee, sugar, a bit of vanilla extract (optional), and whip cream (optional)!

Only 5 hours

Yesterday at work I realized that I was exhausted from working so much. I was on my lunch break and I finally had a chance to sit down to breathe and relax. I just really wanted to go home. I was so tired!

We were pretty busy yesterday! I didn't have a chance to breathe until my break and lunch times. It is always good when it's busy but I am in the middle of a 6 day work week, so I guess I am just exhausted!

I only have a 5 hour day tonight. It's a little bit of a relief after the last two days of working so much. When I am home, I don't have the energy to do any cleaning.

Friday the 13th

I had a full day at work yesterday, I was stuck at work for 9 hours! The day went by pretty fast since it was busy! I have been wearing my Walkfit insoles for the last few days. They seem to be helping my body overall, the only part that hurts are my feet but they don't hurt after I take my shoes off at night. My legs feel stiff while at work, so I try to stretch them out throughout the day.

Shannon did a load of laundry for me yesterday. It does help that he takes care of that part for me. It gives me one less thing to worry about on my days off.

I ended up buying some bath towels that were on clearance. I bought them after I got off of work since I knew they wouldn't fit in my locker. It will be nice to have more than one set of bath towels to use! I also bought two new bras and hair conditioner.

I have another full day today, except I only have an 8 hour day. I hate being away from home for so long.

Every now and then I hear co-workers complaining because we are on a hiring freeze, yet we are short staffed. All that means that we have more hours and they expect us to work harder, yet they don't help us out with hiring more people! I am surprised that they haven't hired seasonal workers since the holidays are here!

Almost confusing

Yesterday I went to work a little early so I could do some quick shopping before I started my shift. I needed to buy more feminine products. It's been at least 4 or 5 years since I've had to buy any for myself because I had a ton given to me, plus I received samples here and there. There are so many to choose from! I had coupons for 3 different brands but I ended up getting the Walmart brand just because I am not too picky on the brand name. I also bought some Suave body lotion with a coupon and some chocolate. At checkout, I finally was able to use my discount card!

Shannon did some shopping last night too. When he does, he usually arrives about a half hour before I get off of work to go shopping and then he meets me outside. He bought everything on the list that we needed! I was very proud of him!

Shannon and I have been thinking about getting my in-laws something for Christmas. He knew his Dad wants a brand new camera, his Dad enjoys taking pictures as a hobby. So Shannon had to "fish" for information on what type of camera he wanted. Shannon was able to find out what camera his Dad wants and last night, I figured out what we're going to get his Mom for Christmas! His Mom wants a Dyson vacuum, the same brand we have, she loves the suction power on it. But she wants the lighter version, the "ball" version, since it's easier to maneuver.

I wore my Walkfit insoles last night for my 5 hour shift. My feet did hurt, but the rest of my body wasn't sore. When I took my shoes off, my feet didn't hurt nor are they hurting the next morning!

Quiet day off

I was off of work today. The weather was nice enough for Kyle to play outside. He stayed outside for most of the day. I did two more loads of laundry today as well.

I made the homemade toothpaste. It didn't take long to mix the ingredients. The time consuming part was pouring the mixture in my squeeze bottles! Luckily I had a funnel to use. It definitely has a different texture. It looks the same as regular "gel" toothpastes, but it doesn't foam and bubble up when you brush your teeth. I am not sure what to think of this toothpaste yet. I want to give it a try and see how it goes. I do like that it's all natural ingredients without the harsh chemicals.

Shannon ended up emailing both managers back about the management jobs they contacted him about. Since they are the same company, he said that he was interested in either position. Hopefully something will pan out from either property!

I received my order of roll on perfume/premium body oil from one of my home businesses. I used my discount and another coupon code that I had from commissions that I earned earlier this year. I only ended up paying for the shipping costs. I ended up getting a perfume that smells just like Mariah Carey's Luscious Pink. At first sniff, it smelled a little manly! After wearing it for a bit, I got used to the smell and now I like it! It does have a sweet side to it's smell. I also like that it comes in a roll on container, so I could carry it in my purse if I wanted to.

All in a days work

Yesterday was my Saturday from work. I ended up doing two loads of laundry. I didn't really do any cleaning, I just wanted to relax. My body was sore from work. I have been too worried about wearing my WalkFits to work since my feet are still getting used to them. I did wear them once for a 4 hour shift and my feet hurt so bad. I may wear them for another 4 hour shift to see how it goes. I have realized that the pain that I get in my feet and legs is not normal, especially since I have no arches in my feet.

Kyle and I ended up taking a nap yesterday. He and I started feeling tired around the same time. We both crawled into bed and he fell right asleep. I fell asleep soon after. I slept for about an hour and a half or so and Kyle slept a full 2 hours! Thankfully he woke up in a good mood. I gave him a bath after he woke up. He was just fine for the rest of the night.

I did some job searching online for Shannon last night. I checked craigslist again and found a few to apply for. When I checked Shannon's email this morning, he already received a response from one of the jobs I applied for. It's for a management job in Virginia. Then a few hours later, the [same] corporate company emailed him saying they received his email from their HR department. They are looking for a General Manager for a brand new property in Virginia!

My Friday

Today was essentially my Friday from work! I have the next two days off! It was a busy day too!

I received my schedule for the week of Thanksgiving. Someone asked me if I had Thanksgiving off and I didn't even realize or notice if I did or not. I am working that day, but that doesn't matter. Also, that week I have 33 hours! That's the most hours I have ever had since starting there. Recently the assistant managers rotated departments, they are now in charge of a different area (Walmart does this every so often). Anyway, if I had 34 hours, that would be considered "full time" under Walmart policy. Since the switch of assistant managers, I have noticed that this new manager gives me more hours! I am not sure if it's because of the holidays or because we are short staffed. Hopefully my work schedule will settle down a bit. I AM getting two days off in a row, which is a nice change!

I was invited by SheSpeaks to try a new toothpaste, so I signed up and just received my full size product of toothpaste to try! It's brand new, here's a commercial for the product:



I was planning on making my homemade toothpaste tomorrow, but now I have a full size toothpaste to try! I will probably still make my own toothpaste and try both!

Kyle Approved

The last two days, Kyle has "helped" me choose what to wear for work. I am not sure if you would call it "helped," or rather he insisted on what I should wear! Yesterday, I choose a shirt and pair of pants to wear to work. He quickly pulled the shirt off the bed and pulled me towards the closet. I wasn't sure what he meant so I kept resisting, finally I grabbed another shade of blue shirt and he was okay with that color.

This morning, I chose a pair of pants and top and he didn't like either. I gave him a choice of another pair of pants and another top and he approved both of them!

Last night was pretty busy at work! When I walked in, there were long lines! I didn't get out of there until almost 15 minutes after I was supposed to. The lady that was supposed to relieve me, didn't show up until then!

I also overheard that we are on a "hiring freeze," which is too bad since the holidays are quickly approaching. Hopefully they will hire extra people for the holidays!? The Christmas merchandise is already out on the floor! It's so crazy!

I did find two very local management jobs and applied for both for Shannon. These jobs are both located in a neighboring city that's about 20 minutes away! So, we're hoping he gets a call for either or both of them.

Bits of good news!

We still haven't heard the news we were waiting for but we did receive three bits of good news! First, we found out that Obama signed a bill to extend unemployment benefits! Lucky for us, our state is included.

According to the article: The law provides another 14 weeks of benefits to all out-of-work people who have exhausted their benefits or will do so by the end of the year, estimated at nearly 2 million. Those in states where the jobless rate is 8.5 percent or above get an additional six weeks.

Our second bit of good news is that I received my employee discount card for Walmart today!! This is exciting since it will help us save a bit every time we shop there! Since I am married, Shannon also receives his own discount card to use!

The third bit of good news is that I received a check for $35+ from one of my money making sites! Every little bit helps!

Two Days to Relax

I had yesterday and today off from work and it is great! Yesterday, I did laundry and today I vacuumed and cleaned the bathroom. This time I cleaned the bathroom with tea tree oil. I used tea tree oil to clean the shower liner. I just scrubbed the liner with a sponge and a few drops of tea tree oil. It really seemed to work better and easier than baking soda. I also scrubbed the sink and tub with baking soda.

I am not looking forward to my upcoming 6 days straight without a day off. These days off have been a great way for me to re-charge!

Update on a news story

I just saw an update to a headline of a news story that I wrote a blog about!

Here is the article: La. Justice resigns after interracial wed flap

My favorite quote in the article: "We are better off without him in public service."

~~~> I should post the entire quote: "By resigning ... and ending his embarrassing tenure in office, Justice Bardwell has finally consented to the will of the vast majority of Louisiana citizens and nearly every governmental official in Louisiana ... We are better off without him in public service."

All I have to say is, "it's about damn time." You can quote me on that one!

Gathering supplies

I have been gathering the supplies I need to start making homemade toothpaste! A few weeks ago, I bought 2 of the ingredients online because they were so affordable. I need just one more ingredient but I can find that at the store.

Today, during my lunch break, I bought the containers to use to keep our homemade toothpaste in. I thought about using old toothpaste tubes, but it seems like such a hassle to cut them open and wash them on the inside, etc. So instead, we're using travel size shampoo/conditioner bottles that have the flip top. They were less than a dollar at Walmart. I ended up getting two of them, one blue and one purple. One would be for me to use and the other for Shannon.

A bit of relief!

During my shift, I asked another cashier (who has worked there for awhile) if it's normal for cashiers to work 6 days straight without a day off. She said, "yes it is, and sometimes even 8 days straight." I then told her that I have two sets of 6 days straight with no days off. I told her that I would love to pass them on to anyone who wants my hours. She then said she knew of someone who wants hours, this person is full time, yet they are only giving her about 15 hours a week! She said she would ask this person if she's interested in my hours and she came back with what days/hours she can work. During my break, I went over to talk to the gal and gave her my hours for the next two days. She basically said she would take them. The next step, was to ask a manager.

The end result... the manager approved the switch. He just said that we shouldn't do that in the future... give my hours to a person who is off. Doesn't make sense, but I understand. She's full time, has more seniority than me, etc. I don't mind, she can have more of my hours if it was okay. I just don't understand why they are giving me so many days of work! I would prefer more days off and/or less hours a week!

So, I have the next 2 days off! I am excited!

It was busy today! The good thing about it was that the time went by pretty fast! I have no idea why today of all days was busy, but it was good!

Shannon and I went shopping for groceries after my shift! I worked until 7 PM tonight so it wasn't too late for us to shop. Kyle was good in the store, he was busy looking at everything and observing. I bought snacks and lunch friendly drinks to bring to work. I bought some drink mix and vitamin enhanced mix to add to my water. I also bought V8 and V8 Fusion Juice for work. Shannon picked some Kyle-friendly food. I also bought some waffles for Kyle since he seems to like those now.

What are they thinking?!

I have my new schedule for the weeks ahead. This week, I am working 6 days straight without a day off and then I have 2 days off. Then I have another round of 6 days straight with one day off! What the heck are they thinking? Is this going to be every week now? I don't think any other cashier has this type of schedule. I am part time. Why am I working so many days straight?

4 Stores Before Work

My MIL and I went shopping before I had to go to work tonight. She wanted to take me to a place called Shoe Rack Room. It's a discount shoe store. I found 2 pairs of shoes that I liked but when I put them on, they felt really tight around my toes, like they were too small for me. I even tried a half of a size smaller and it was the same feel. I am not sure if it was the shoes or me. It was two different NAME brands too. I ended up not getting them because the store had a "no returns" policy.

In the same shopping center, they also had a store called JR Cigar. In addition to cigars and cigarretes, they also had toys, perfumes, lotions, towels, etc. It was a knick knack place, plus a discount store all in one. They had so much to look at. We didn't buy anything there. Then we went into Dollar General, which is like a Dollar Tree but not everything is a dollar. Dollar General also carries NAME brand products or at least product brands you have heard of. I ended up getting two makeup brushes by e.l.f. (for $1 each), which is a really good brand. I bought an eye shadow brush and an all over makeup brush.




I also bought a pack of 10 black pens. I needed new pens for work as well as writing letters. The pens were only $2!

Then we went to the grocery store, called Food Lion. My MIL needed a few things and I also picked up soy milk, milk for Kyle, and bread! While we were there, I saw a display of candles by Nature's Finest, they are made of palm wax oil! I love palm wax oil candles because they have a crystallized appearance! Plus they are just as good as soy wax candles! It's good to know that we can get these candles at a nearby store. We didn't buy any since we still have our soy candles that we bought a few months ago.

Happy Halloween and Happy November

Yesterday was Halloween! It rained all day and evening! The rain didn't stop the kids, we saw some parents drive their kids down each street! We didn't hand out any candy, my in-laws decided long ago not to since their dog goes bonkers every time the door bell rings or he sees someone coming up to the door. Like last year, my in-laws ended up going out to see a movie. Last night they went to see Couples Retreat. When they got back, they said it was the "worst movie [they] have ever seen." I guess the only "funny" parts were in the trailer. I don't like Vince Vaughn nor would I care to see his movies, he's not that funny.



Instead of handing out candy or going out, we ordered Chinese food and enjoyed it at home. Shannon came home with a heavy bag of food, he kept saying I ordered too much. I wasn't sure what sizes to get, so I got the bigger of the two sizes they offered. Plus, leftovers aren't so bad!

I can't believe it's November already. Shannon's birthday is in 14 days. We're thinking about getting him a vanilla ice cream cake, probably from Baskin Robbins.

Today I watched two movies. The first was Mr. & Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It was pretty good. I also saw Premonition with Sandra Bullock. I remember seeing the trailer for it a few years ago and wanting to see it. It reminded me of the movie The Butterfly Effect because it kept switching to the past and the present.

He's Home

Shannon arrived at the hotel yesterday about 2 hours before his interview. I gave him the cell phone to take with him so I could get ahold of him or vice versa. We were just glad that he got there okay and with plenty of time. I told him to call me after the interview, which he did. The interview was 1 1/2 hours long. He said he was staying overnight at the hotel and the General Manager comped his room, in "hotel speak"that means the room was free. Since Shannon didn't pack an overnight bag, he went shopping and bought a pair of jeans, a shirt, and some new shoes. He needed new shoes anyway!

I tried calling him at the hotel about 2 hours after I spoke to him (after his interview). Since he wasn't answering, I called on the cell phone and he was at the beach! LOL The beach was only 6 miles away! I had to tell him about the two call backs for job interviews he received!

Shannon got home around 1:30 PM. He ended up having breakfast at the hotel and the General Manager came to sit down with him. I thought it was a nice gesture to want to talk to him a little more, although it was on a personal level.

We're both thinking positive and our hopes are already up there! We'll see what happens. The General Manager said he hopes to have a decision by November 6th.

Interview Day

Shannon has his job interview this afternoon. It turns out that according to mapquest, the hotel is only 4 1/2 hours away. Shannon still left early this morning. He wasn't sure if he would hit the morning commute on the way there. He may not have to stay overnight if it's only 4 1/2 hours away.

Work was steady. There were several people buying last minute Halloween costumes. I also heard a little tidbit going around. There were a few cashiers who requested Halloween off so they could take their kids trick or treating and they were all DENIED the day off! Yet here I am with the day off! I actually have that weekend off!

Another Long Day

Yesterday went by pretty quickly, we were busy! I was also on the grocery side of the store, so that helped. My body is aching and sore from having to stand for so long in one spot.

Shannon received a call back for a position I applied for on craigslist. The General Manager emailed him last week and Shannon called last Friday and left a message. The General Manager called back yesterday morning. Shannon returned his call in the afternoon. He has a job interview on Wednesday. The hotel property is about 6 1/2 hours away. Since the interview is so far away, he's probably going to stay the night.

I asked Shannon to wash our bed sheets and he ended up doing all of the laundry for me! He did at least 3 loads of laundry yesterday! I am off tomorrow, so I plan on doing some cleaning and washing my work clothes.

I have another long day at work today. I have an 8 hour shift, with an hour lunch. I am definitely looking forward to my day off tomorrow.

9 Hours

I have a long day today, I have a 9 hour day at work today with a one hour lunch. I plan on writing a letter on my lunch hour since I don't take an hour to eat lunch. I usually end up walking around the store after I eat. I am back to pen palling. I miss receiving letters in the mail.

We bought Kyle new shoes. They are Toy Story velcro shoes and they light up when he walks. He loves them and loves walking around in them. They make a different sound when he walks and he loves the new feel of them.

Kyle recently learned how to jump! He also started dancing. I usually start dancing and he starts dancing too. He loves it! Shannon also taught him to look through binoculars outside. He loves looking all around with them.

Exhaustion Catching Up

Yesterday was my day off. I ended up doing a couple of loads of laundry and took a nap. The night before, I went to bed really early, so I felt a little more rested. The 6 days straight of working really took a toll on me. In the coming weeks, I have a few days of 8 1/2 and 9 hour days at work. I am not looking forward to them. I am really feeling exhausted. When I am at home, I have to do the cleaning and other chores that need to be done. I also do the job hunting online for Shannon. I wish I had more days off.

I am working tonight 5 PM to 9 PM and then I am off again. I plan on doing more laundry and cleaning.

I need to call Kyle's speech therapist to schedule a session but I have been too tired from working.

I haven't been able to watch any of my favorite shows on TV so I try to catch up on them online when I can. Either that or I am unable to stay up late enough to watch them.

Two More Days of Working

The weekend was pretty busy at work. Yesterday I had an 8 1/2 hour day at work and was stuck on the express lane! It was annoying, but overall, it made my day go by fast.

I am disappointed to hear that the "balloon boy" story was a hoax all along. I believed the father when he said they had nothing to gain from all of this, but he was playing us! Crazy!

The next two days of work are short shifts for me. I love the 4 hour shifts! I plan on doing some chores when I get home today. My in-laws are out of town on a vacation. They said they were going to Charleston, SC. If they don't like it there, they would drive up to Myrtle Beach instead.

Day 2 of 7 Days Straight

Well, it's now Day 2 of working 7 days straight at work. I only have to work 4 hours tonight, so it's not that bad. I woke up pretty early this morning. I turned on the morning news and they were all talking about "balloon boy" and the family. It's too bad that the media focuses on how the parents decide to raise their kids and how they live their life. I wish I could email the family and let them know that we believe them and support them! I don't think they did this as a publicity stunt or attention.

We're getting ready for Kyle's evaluation this afternoon. Of course, we have no idea what to expect. I am not sure if he's going to be evaluated (yet again) or if we're meeting with everyone who has evaluated him so far. We just hope he can get enrolled into this preschool!

Fuck You, Keith Bardwell

I read a news headline this morning and couldn't believe my eyes. It caught my attention because my husband and I are what you would call an "interracial couple." My husband is white and I am asian. We aren't the type of people to put labels on our life, but we do fit into that category.

Here is the headline I saw: Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.

After I read this story, I do have to stress the following: FUCK YOU, Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish.

You claim you are NOT a racist, but your words say that you are. The way that you think, say that you are. Stop trying to SAY you aren't something, when your actions speak much louder.

You also state, "[in your] experience that most interracial marriages do not last long." Who said it was your job to determine how long a marriage should last? I've been married for almost 7 years.

The story also says the following, "He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society." It sounds like YOU don't accept offspring of "such relationships," not society. I think our society has accepted mixed race children, YOU are the one stuck in the past. How do you know how the black society feels? Do you suddenly think like "most of black society?"

Here is something I laugh at, "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else." So, do you treat all your friends this way? Deny them a marriage to the person they love? You sound like such a treat...you "let" them use your bathroom? How thoughtful. If you treated them like everyone else, you would let EVERYONE get married, no matter their color.

I just don't understand where you get off telling people who can and cannot marry. Again, FUCK YOU, Keith Bardwell.

Cleaning Mission

This afternoon I had plenty of time before I had to be at work, so I started cleaning again. I ended up cleaning Kyle's playroom where his toys are kept and there's a TV in there for him. We also keep his little reclining chair in there for him to sit in. Just as I was starting to clean, the big news story of the day was the 6 year old boy thought to be in the weather balloon was on TV. Shannon couldn't take his eyes off the screen.

I cleaned up Kyle's toys off the floor and picked up the trash that was all over. I even sprinkled baking soda on the carpet and vacuumed the playroom. I asked Shannon to clean that room a few days before and he never did it. It was bothering me that it hadn't been cleaned yet, so I ended up doing it.

When I finished my cleaning, the story was still playing on TV. When they finally showed the picture of the family, Shannon immediately recognized the family from the show Wife Swap! He had just seen a repeat episode the other day.

The Start of 7 Days Straight

Yesterday was my day off from work. I ended up doing laundry since I needed clean clothes for work. I didn't do any cleaning since I did that earlier in the week. We also went grocery shopping and bought a whole bunch of food. I also bought some "vitamin enhanced" drink mix for my water. I bought two flavors and they are both really good. It's a great addition to my water, and the vitamins are a great bonus too.

Tomorrow is Kyle's evaluation. I just hope I won't forget. I have so much on my mind.

I am not looking forward to having so many days of work in a row without a day off. I wish they would give us consecutive days off. These split days off are tiring, and more days off would be nice too.

Long Day Followed by a Day Off

Kyle and I had a late start this morning. We both woke up around 10 AM. I didn't have to work until 2 PM, so I am glad I slept in a bit. I had breakfast and lunch with him as always, just later than we normally do. My work day went by really fast. I started out at the express lane where we sell tobacco products and then I was moved to a register with a conveyor belt (which I prefer).

I came home to find out that Kyle was approved for Medicaid...finally!!!! I think we had to wait almost 2 months for this! Now we can get him back on speech therapy! I will be calling his speech therapist tomorrow to set something up. Kyle also has his full evaluation for the preschool this Friday.

I am off tomorrow. I plan on doing laundry since I am scheduled to work 7 days straight without a day off. We also have to go grocery shopping, we are out of food and I am also needing food to bring to work. I am also planning on making different things for breakfast for Kyle. He's so picky with what he eats but when we find something he likes, we like to make it for him.

Cleaning Frenzy

Today is my day off from work and I am feeling accomplished! Right after I ate breakfast, I called the school district and rescheduled Kyle's full evaluation on Friday to 1:30 PM.

This afternoon, I ended up doing some much needed cleaning. Since my cleaning supplies were running low, I had to refill our soap dispenser, [green] cleaning spray bottle, and baking soda. I use baking soda to clean the bathtub, toilet, and sink. I also did some vacuuming and sprinkled baking soda on the carpets to freshen them up. I haven't had time or energy to clean since I started working again.

Waiting for my Day Off

Not much has been going on here. The last few days have been 4 hour shifts at work. Yesterday I didn't have to work until 6 PM! I did laundry since I had so much time to kill! I also ended up taking a nap a few hours before I had to go in. I do like working in the evening but our day just drags on when I have to wait that long until I have to go in. I am off tomorrow and I am looking forward to it.

The last two nights, Kyle has gone to bed all by himself. He just crawls in bed and covers himself with the covers and goes to sleep. It's so cute. We're just glad he knows he can do that.

The school district called last week to schedule Kyle's full evaluation for this coming Friday at 8:15 AM. Unfortunately it's a bit too early for us, so I am going to call them to see if we can get a later time, if not, we'll just have to drag ourselves in. I also want to ask them if this will be an all day thing or at least find out how long it will be. I am not sure if I need to bring snacks in for Kyle or not.

Full Day

I have a full work day today. My schedule seems to have one day a week of a full work day and the rest of the days are 4 or 5 hour shifts. I prefer the short shifts. I just hope it's busy today.

Last night I had a 4 1/2 hour shift. It went by pretty quick. I wore my Walkfit insoles and my feet were hurting like crazy. I have to work my feet into them and start slow. For now, I will stick with my arch supports.

Shannon's phone interview was really short but it sounded like they had trouble hearing him. It is really hard to read what they are thinking but we're thinking positive.

Sluggish Days Off

Yesterday and today were my days off from work. I have been feeling exhausted and sluggish from my period. I am surprised at how much it's slowed me down.

Shannon has a phone interview on Wednesday! It's the same place that called him last week. We're both excited, but at the same time, we're not getting our hopes up too high. We're still thinking positive.

I finally received my Walkfit Platinum insoles that I bought on ebay! I know it took a little while longer than I thought, but it was being shipped from China. When I did contact the seller a few days ago, he wrote back within minutes.

It's My Friday

Today is my Friday from work. I work a 4 hour shift and then I am off for the next two days.

Last night I worked 4 hours as well. I walked into a busy night! It was great. It was busy non-stop for my entire shift! The time went by so fast.

The meeting with the school district went okay. It was a meeting with two preschool teachers. Luckily they had toys for Kyle to play with. He explored the little room while they asked questions about him. They also asked what school district we live in, which we had no idea so we told them where we live and they guessed our district. So, he wouldn't attend preschool at this particular location where we met the teachers, it's in a really run down area.

Short Busy Shift

Today was my short shift at work of only 4 hours! It was great! Not only was it a short shift, but we were busy! There are rumors going around that they plan to cut our hours even more, it makes a lot of people uneasy because we are obviously busy and always seem to need more cashiers.

I received a phone call on my cell phone this morning at around 10:30 AM, from a Sacramento area phone number. What's even more weird is that it was 7:30 AM on the West Coast. I don't recognize the number and I haven't give my number out to anyone other than a few people.

Since I got off of work pretty early, Shannon and I did a mini-grocery trip. We also bought Kyle 4 new matching outfits and a hooded sweatshirt. Kyle is really picky with what clothes he wears, he prefers matching clothes. Kyle was very well behaved in the store, as always.

Tomorrow is the meeting at the school district regarding Kyle's preschool. I am not sure what to expect, but I know that they want to schedule further screenings and evaluations.

Shannon received a call back for a manager position, the hotel is on the east side of North Carolina. We're not getting our hopes up. But I am a little glad that he did get a call back.

My new tops that I bought from Old Navy arrived today! They are cute and can't wait to wear them! One of them is practically see-through, so I will have to wear a tank top underneath, which is not a big deal.

Long Busy Day

Today was a long day, but it went by pretty quick. We were pretty busy! There were a few times when the lines got pretty long. I bought some omega vitamins for Kyle and something for myself on my lunch hour. Tomorrow will be a short shift for me and I am looking forward to it.

I was also told by the assistant manager of my department that she wants me to cross-train in the cash office! That way, if someone goes on vacation or there's an opening in the future, I can easily fill in or transfer there. Any chance to cross-train in another area makes me even more valuable. I am excited for the opportunity and also thankful that the assistant manager approached me in the first place about cross-training.

Friday Night Busy!

Last night at work went pretty fast. It helped that there were 3 other cashiers who had the same shift as me. We were all watching the clock and waiting for it to be 10 PM! It was much busier than the last two nights, and then I realized it was Friday night! I was surprised we were busy, even though it was raining all day yesterday. I was glad that it was pretty steady, it made the time fly by.

I work tonight from 6 PM to 10 PM and then I am off tomorrow! This Wednesday, we have an appointment at the local school district. They want to discuss Kyle and hopefully place him in their preschool. I believe there will be more "screenings" after this meeting. I just hope he will get in. We think that he will love being around other kids his age.

Slow at Night

It's been slow at night at work. I've been on the "general merchandise" side of the store for the past two nights. I'd rather be on the grocery side because it seems busy or least steady with customers. I have to work tonight and I am hoping to be on the grocery side!

Last night I had to work 5 and a half hours. They had me work the grocery side doors as a "people greeter." I had to cover that person's lunch break. It was a little getaway from being a cashier. Some of the little kids that come through ask for a sticker and it's so adorable to see how excited they are when they get their sticker.

Evening Shift/Swing Shift

Earlier this month, I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of working in the evening. But now that I have looked over my schedule this week, I am looking forward to it. I have thought it over and I really prefer to work in the evenings. For the rest of this week and mostly next week, I am working 4:30 PM to 9 PM or 5 PM to 10 PM. Last week I worked one evening of 4:30 PM to 9 PM and I really liked it! It was a short shift and it was so laid back! There are less SUITS around, meaning there are less upper management around. If they are around, they are laid back as well.

This day is definitely day a day to remember. We all woke up before 8 AM (Kyle and I usually do), even Shannon. Plus, Shannon had GREEN TEA instead of coffee! Shannon has been laying off the coffee since he's been sick. He says it makes him feel worse. I don't have to work until 4:30 PM, so I've been relaxing all day. I am going to do laundry either tomorrow before work or in a few days.

We are all still sick but we're at the tail end of being sick. Kyle is still coughing and we're giving him cough medicine. He also has a runny nose. Shannon and I are coughing, but not as much. Hopefully we'll be in tip-top shape soon!

The Art of Communication

We only have one cell phone and we only have the cell phone because we qualify as a low income family. We are probably one of the few families left without everyone in our household with a cell phone.

Since I was off Tuesday, I decided to surprise Shannon with Subway after my shift on Monday. So, right after I clocked out, I hurried over to Subway to stand in line. Little did I know, it would take 20 minutes to get out of there. While Shannon was waiting for me, he decided to get McDonald's for the both of us! So, when he came to pick me up, I saw the McDonald's in the car and I showed him the Subway I bought! It was pretty funny that we were thinking the same thing!

Just as we pulled down our street, Shannon made a comment saying, "watch, my parents probably brought food home too." I said, "no way!" Well, my MIL ended up getting frozen pizzas! She went to the grocery store and bought some groceries and was making pizzas!

I guess this is what happens when we don't communicated! But then again, we ALL don't have cell phones.

The Smalls Go Fast

One of the frustrating things about shopping for work clothes at work is that the "small" sizes go fast! I bought my latest top on the day I saw them putting them on the racks...literally! It is also frustrating because everyone else is shopping for blue, so there is very little or no selection at all.

I spent some time looking online for some new tops for work. I tried Kmart, Target, Sears, and JC Penney's. Either their "blues" were too light, they didn't have my size, or they just weren't my style.

I finally tried Old Navy and found 3 tops that I ended up purchasing. I prefer NOT to shop at Old Navy, but they have updated & hip styles as opposed to Sears or Kmart. Target and JC Penney's are a little too pricey for my budget. I don't really like Old Navy because their clothes are [as I refer to as] tissue paper thin, but I have recently noticed that a lot of Walmart clothes are very similar in quality.

Getting Better

I was feeling better yesterday so I was able to go in to work for my 4 1/2 hour shift. It was so busy! It was literally busy non-stop for the first 4 hours of my shift! Busy was good and it made my shift go by really fast.

I had today off and I am feeling much better. Kyle started showing signs of the cold/flu, he was miserable all day yesterday. Kyle wasn't feeling well earlier today, he even took a nap this afternoon. However, tonight he is looking better. He's even running and playing. He still has a runny nose, but that seems to be it. It looks like he got over the cold/flu much faster than I did! So far, Shannon has not gotten sick!

Called In

I ended up having to call in sick at work today. I woke up so many times last night, but I did sleep a little better than the night before. I bought some over-the-counter cold/flu medicine, but it doesn't seem to be strong enough for what I have. But I am still taking it just to help with my symptoms. My whole body aches and feels like jello. I am unable to concentrate and focus. I feel guilty about calling in sick, but I can't go in to work like this. According to company policy, my "call in" is still considered unexcused (even if I have a doctor's note), which really sucks.

I got off of work yesterday at 3 PM, so we did a mini grocery trip. Except it didn't end up like that, Shannon ended up going a little crazy and bought a lot of things. He didn't eat before picking me up, so he was hungry!

Thankfully, Shannon and Kyle are not sick. Hopefully it just sticks with me.

I'm Sick!

I'm sick! I first felt it two nights ago. Yesterday, my throat was hurting and sore. Last night, my nose started feeling stuffed up. I found out yesterday that there is something "going around" at work among the cashiers! So, I caught it!

So Ready

I am so ready for my day off tomorrow! The last two days I had 8 1/2 hour shifts! I couldn't wait for this day to be over.

My MIL and her friend brought home a toy jeep for Kyle, it's a power wheels toy that is big enough for him to sit in. They saw it on the side of the road and since it had been sitting there for days, they brought it home. It doesn't have a motor, so Kyle can push it around if he wants. He isn't ready to sit in it yet.

I bought arch supports about 2 weeks ago and they are already starting to wear down. I wasn't expecting much, I bought the least expensive pair and it wasn't a name brand either. I finally looked into a product I saw and heard about on an info-mercial called walkfit. I have a bid going on ebay for now. In the meantime, I will continue to use the ones I have.

The next few weeks I have less hours than before, I have less than 30 hours or so. I am not complaining, I need the break. Just glad to have a job.

Shannon also received news that his unemployment will be extended! He's covered for the next 6 months or more! After that, I don't know what we'll do.

Two Days Off

I had the last two days off, which was a relief and a way to recharge. I did my usual chores yesterday and was lazy for today! I also took a nap both days.

I have an 8 1/2 day tomorrow, not only that, I have to work til 10 PM! Then I have to be back at work at 10 AM the next day! UGH! I hate long work days! The only good thing about having a long day tomorrow is that I get paid an extra $1 each hour, just for working on Sunday. It's usually busy on Sundays, so I hope I get a busy register, that way the day will go by semi-fast!

Day off of Shopping

I ended up going shopping with my MIL. First we stopped by the local Honda dealership, she received a notice in the mail regarding her car needing a certain part. When we walked in, we were greeted by a saleswoman, my MIL said she had to go to the Service Center and that I was "just looking." So of course, the lady went into her whole sales pitch and started showing me a pamphlet and talking about their cars! LOL It really got me thinking about getting a new car, although this is not the best time for us. But it's nice to dream, right?! We do need a new(er)/used car, our car is literally falling apart! Plus, I know [from personal experience that] Honda is a reliable brand.

We went to Dollar Tree and I bought some peppermint candy and a brush. My MIL bought a few things as well. She did buy some sidewalk chalk for Kyle. It's so much fun shopping at the Dollar Tree, so many things to see! Then we walked over to the grocery store (located in the same shopping center) called Bi-Lo.

I have to work tomorrow, but only for 4 hours! LOL I love that shift! After that, I am off for the next two days!

Labor Day

Today was a short shift, but it felt like a long day! I am tired and exhausted. My body is sore but that's because I am working out whenever I have the energy after work. I have another short shift tomorrow and then I have a day off!

I bought a new shirt for work today! I've been trying to find a new shirt for work for awhile now, since I only have 3 that I use. I had to grab one when I can, because the small sizes go quick. I saw them put them on the rack today during my shift! So they are brand new.

I also had to buy a new fan the other day. Kyle broke my other one. It gets hot at the registers, so the fan really helps keep me cool.

All Work and No Play

I've been busy with work the last few days. My body isn't hurting as much since I started using arch supports. My legs and feet are just sore now. Yesterday, I was so tired, I didn't stay up as late. Even Kyle went to bed early. I had a 9 hour day yesterday!

Today was busy day. I had a nice 4 hour shift! I did get paid last week. The company is making everyone go on direct deposit. They will no longer hand out pay stubs either. We can check our stubs online. I wanted to go on direct deposit anyway, so I took care of that today. I still have my last 2 checks to deposit.

We think Kyle is missing me during the day. He's realizing that I am not home as much. When we got home last night, he just wanted to be next to me. It's hard being away from him for so long each day, I do miss him and think about him. But I know that he is taken care of by his daddy.

Lunch Tote

My new lunch tote arrived today! I am really surprised how fast it was ready to ship. It's the perfect size to carry my lunch at work. I am actually glad I didn't get the bigger size lunch tote they had because it would have been too big for me.

My lunch tote has my name embroidered on it, so I know it's mine. It's pretty unique looking too! I plan on keeping it in my locker when I am working.

I can't wait to use it tomorrow!

9 Hours in the Express Lane

My 9 hour day went by slow, even though I was working in the express lane. It was busy, but there were slow times too. I am just glad it's over.

I bought a belt at work yesterday! I was getting tired of pulling up my pants every few minutes! It's a cute purple belt with little silver stars that sparkle.

Kyle has been having tantrums here and there for the last 3 days! His screening at the preschool went well. Thankfully he wasn't having a tantrum during the screening. From what Shannon said, the lady was really nice with Kyle, so I like that. They want to do more screenings and from there, they will decide where to place him in the preschool.

My jojoba oil arrived in the mail yesterday! I added it to my hair conditioner bottle, so I can use it every time I wash my hair. I used a little in my hair after my shower and with my body lotion. I also used it on my face! My hair and skin are soft! Jojoba oil is safe to use everyday, which I will probably be doing!

Slow Day

I had an 8 1/2 long day at work today. It was pretty slow, but then again, I was on the "general merchandise" side, which is the pharmacy side of the store. The "GM" side of the store is usually slow because most people are shopping for groceries and their eyes don't drift that far of the store when they are ready to check out. I am not looking forward to tomorrow because I have a 9 hour day!!!! UGH!

Kyle had an all day tantrum! We don't know why he cries and whines. I felt bad for Shannon since he had to deal with him all day. I asked Shannon if I should change my availability at work to where I request Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off. But he says we need the money, so as long as he doesn't mind me working so much, then I don't either.

My tea tree oil arrived today! I was so excited! I added a few drops to our shampoo. I also used some tea tree oil on my face (diluted with water). This weekend, I will be looking for more ways to use my oil! I am still waiting on my jojoba oil to get here! I can't wait to start using that as well!

I checked my email tonight and I just received a notification email that my lunch tote is on the way! I should receive it by Thursday! I can't wait to see it and start using it for work!

New Pajamas

One of the pajama sets we bought for Kyle yesterday is Disney's Cars themed set. It has a picture of Lightning McQueen and Mater on the shirt and cute pictures of them on the pants. When it was time to get changed for bedtime, I brought the Cars pajamas over to Kyle and showed him and told him it was Cars! His daddy and I made it all exciting and kept saying "wow" and "ooh-ing and ahhh-ing." Kyle recognized the Cars pictures and he reached out for his new pajamas and that's when I said "it's time to get changed!" He ran over to the bedroom and couldn't wait to put them on!

The other set of pajamas are Thomas the Tank Engine and the other is basketball jersey themed.

My MIL's dryer is working again. Apparently it needed to be unplugged for 3 minutes and then turned back on! So, now it works again. I am doing a small load of laundry since I am home!

Arch Supports Work!

I wore my arch supports at work today. My shoes literally felt brand new and I felt like I was walking on clouds! My feet are sore, but I think they need to get accustomed to the arch supports.

I really enjoyed my 4 hour shift! It was so easy! I wish I had more shifts like that.

Food, Snacks, and Arch Supports

I had a nice short day at work today! I also have a short day tomorrow too! After work, I met up with Shannon in the store, he had Kyle in the shopping cart all buckled in. Kyle is always so good in the store, sits so quietly and looks all around at everything. He doesn't complain either.

I ended up getting arch supports for my shoes. Hopefully they will help with the pain, especially after working so many hours each day. I haven't had a pair of arch supports in years. The arch supports have a soft "massaging gel" on the bottom and feel very soft and cushion-y.

We bought some groceries and Shannon picked up a ton of snack foods! I guess they will help with my work lunches too. I could tell he didn't eat before he came to pick me up, he picked up so much junk food! LOL I also bought Kyle little containers of corn, peas, and green beans. They are packaged like pudding, in those little container cups. The veggies are microwavable, and very convenient. Kyle loves his veggies and this is perfect for us, we won't have to open a big can of veggies. They didn't have very much clothes in Kyle's size, so we ended up buying him 3 pairs of pajamas.

My MIL's dryer is not working for some reason, so we have to hang dry our clothes. She is trying to get someone to come out and check it out. It seems they always have something breaking down or needing to get fixed. I am doing a small load work clothes and some of Kyle's clothes and they will need to hang dry! LOL

Great Days Off

The last two days have been really relaxing! I have really enjoyed my days off. I was able to take a nap on both days, I can't believe I am tired by the middle of the day. I bought a few things online this weekend, all of which I really wanted to try or needed.

I have to go back to work tomorrow and am looking forward to this week's schedule. I have my part time hours. Although, there is one day this week where I have a 9 hour day! I have a 4 1/2 hour day tomorrow and we're going to go grocery shopping after my shift. We are also going to look at clothes for Kyle. There is a rack of toddler boys clothes for $3-$5 for shirts and shorts. Kyle only wants to wear shorts these days, and since we only have 3 pairs for him, we want to get a few more pairs.

Kyle has his screening at the preschool this week. I am not sure what it entails. I wish I could go, but I do have to work. Shannon can tell me how it goes. I just hope they have a spot open for him to attend, it sounds like they have a waiting list for this school.

Lunch Tote

I finally bought a lunch tote! I ended up buying one through a direct sales/home business. They offer really cute products and they even personalize them with your name or initials! You can see the one I bought below (it's circled in red). I am also having my name embroidered on it.

Can't Sleep

I woke up this morning around 3 AM and haven't been able to go back to sleep. I already treated myself to a green tea face mask! In addition to purchasing tea tree oil a few days ago, I also purchased some pure jojoba oil to use on my hair, nails, and skin! Jojoba oil has many uses and is beneficial for softer skin, shinier hair, and healthy nails. I can't wait to start using both products. I am turning to natural beauty products, rather than store bought things. I could spend a fortune buying many different products, instead, I am choosing to go natural and end up buying less.

I read about the following story last night about a girl who was kidnapped when she was 11! What is so crazy is that she and I are the same age! It's so sad to hear, but at least she can reunited with her mother after all of these years. Her story is so heartbreaking. I hope we can eventually hear her side of the story.

Mailed Out

Kyle's speech therapist called today, she realized that we never received a copy of her report from his initial therapy session. She went over it briefly with me, just explaining the main points and once we receive it, she will go over it with either of us. I also told her that Kyle has a screening next week with the preschool!

She also asked about the Medicaid and it reminded me to get the application filled out and sent out. I spent this morning getting it filled out and making sure I had everything included. It's been mailed out, they will probably contact me for more info though, since the application came with a huge packet to fill out. I wasn't sure what needed to be filled out. I was procrastinating with the Medicaid application!

I am enjoying my second day off in a row!! I also took a nap yesterday afternoon! LOL I work tomorrow and then I have another two days off!

The last two days I have treated myself to a homemade green tea mask. Lately I have had problems with pimples! So, I finally bought some tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has many uses, so I can't wait to try them! I was going to purchase tea tree oil through one of my home businesses but it was $24+! Instead, I found the same size bottle for about $8 on another site. I am trying tea tree oil for my pimples because I have tried the "store bought facial cleanser" products but they really didn't work for me. I really like that tea tree oil is all natural. I also love products that have multiple uses, like tea tree oil.

Screening

I received a call back from the Preschool. Kyle is scheduled to have a screening next Wednesday afternoon. I am not sure what their process is, but I think they said it was a 3 month thing! Shannon was the person who talked to them yesterday and then they called today and I was home to take the call and make the appointment.

I am assuming that after their screening they will have a better understanding of where he should be assigned within their preschool.

We were referred to this place by Kyle's speech therapist. I still haven't mailed in the Medicaid application. I am a little confused since they are asking for a "certified" birth certificate. I am not about to send Kyle's original birth certificate in the mail!

My Odd Day

Today I had to work at one of the two registers where customers can buy cigarettes and chewing tobacco. As a non-smoker, I have no idea what the difference is of cigarettes, nor am I familiar with the brands or types. Whenever a customer asked for certain cigarettes or chewing tobacco, I asked them what color it was and where it was located. LOL Luckily they were all understanding. I made light of my "not knowing" the differences of cigarettes. Whenever they did ask for a certain cigarette, I literally heard, "blah blah blah." Then I would ask them what color was it!

I made it pretty clear (in a friendly and joking way) that I do not like working in that area! One of the managers moved me to another register for the last hour of my shift since it was getting busy and backed up! She's a smoker and she knew I didn't smoke. So I was thankful for that.

I had Subway for lunch! It was good. I ended up buying some envelopes and batteries on my lunch break. I now have a working portable fan that I can bring to work!

Today is my Friday

Today is my Friday, since I have two consecutive days off! Yesterday was a long day but it seemed to go by fast since there were times when we were really busy. You could tell when church let out because that's when it started to get busy. I only have an 8 hour day at work today. I also bought a portable fan after work. The other cashiers use a fan at their register because it gets warm. Anyway, the fan was on clearance for only $3! I still need to buy batteries for it.

I've been bringing my lunch to work everyday for about two weeks and Shannon reminded me yesterday that I can get lunch at Subway. I decided to do that today since it's my Friday. I am still going to bring a few snacks to have on my breaks. I am looking at getting a lunch tote so I don't have to carry a big ziploc bag to bring my lunch in. LOL

I played Kyle his leap frog DVD last night and he loved it. He smiled throughout the whole movie. After it was over, I turned it off and we went to sleep.

My MIL took home a stray dog on Friday night. The dog has been seen around the neighborhood for at least 3 days. This dog has been in their backyard for the last few days. She tried calling the Humane Society, hopefully they will call her soon. It's a male golden retriever. Since they already have a dog, they take their dog out front to potty.

Saturday

Yesterday was my day off. I had a chance to relax and even take a nap in the afternoon. I did some cleaning and a few loads of laundry.

Shannon did a load of laundry for me today as well. I had an 8 hour day with an hour lunch. I have a 9 hour day tomorrow that I am not looking forward to it. Although, I am glad that I have 3 days off this week. As for pain, I am still feeling it after working so long. I did find that if I take an ibuprofen before work, I don't feel as much pain after work. Sad, but true!

I had to buy some things after work today. I needed more snack foods for my lunches that I bring to work. I also bought a few other things. I still don't have a lunch bag, many people use an insulated lunch tote. I haven't found one that I like. They has some out for "back to school" but they all have kiddie stuff on them.

Kyle's leap frog DVD arrived today! I've been playing it for him ever since I got home. I didn't pay a dime for this DVD, since I had enough amazon gift cards to get it. It was well worth it. He seems to like it. We don't have a DVD player, so I've been playing it on my laptop.

Kyle also has some new toys from his Grandma. This past week, she bought some race cars and a little race track and today Kyle had some new toy trucks.

As for his speech therapy, it's on hold for now. It turns out we have to reapply for Medicaid! UGH! Medicaid is also changing their policies that all applicants must submit a birth certificate, which is good I guess. I am confused with the application process because she included an application plus a big packet of other papers to fill out. So I may have Shannon go in with the paper to apply. In the meantime, Kyle's speech therapist called yesterday and gave me a number to a preschool with the school distract to get him a full evaluation. She said to keep on them because they get many referrals. His speech therapist also said she would call again and go over her report with us.

5 Hour Day

I was looking forward to today! I only have a 5 hour shift. I am off at 3:30 PM today, so I will still have time and energy to do whatever after I get home. I am going to try to squeeze in a workout after work. These days, I am only able to workout once or twice a week.

I am off tomorrow, which is even better!

I ended up buying two more pairs of pants at work during my lunch break. I bought a khaki color and a brown pair of pants. They were the same price as my other two pairs but they seem like they are made of better quality. I actually saw them on the rack while I was working, so that gave me the idea to take a closer look at them. I had to buy more pants because both of my other pairs need to be washed! I only have time to do laundry on my days off.

Yesterday was a long day, it was slower too. When it's slow, they want us to clean and make sure our work area is kept up. Other cashiers helped each other out when they don't have customers. They will help bag or load bags into carts if needed, which is really nice! I do the same if I don't have anyone.