Change in workout needed

I feel like I need a change in workout.  While I love Turbo Fire, I need something less intense and with shorter workouts.  Today, I ended up doing Turbo Jam and pilates!  I would love to try a whole new workout program but I am still researching and looking at different ones.  In the meantime, I am saving up my Amazon gift cards to hopefully buy new workout DVDs. 

I am going to mix Turbo Jam and Pilates and rotate my current workout DVDs. 

Recent bus issues

Kyle rides the bus to and from school.  When we signed up for him to be a bus rider, we were told that he would have to ride the "regular" bus with all of the other kids.  We were given a harness for him to wear in the morning, that would "hold" him down on the bus seat.  The afternoon bus is a different bus, but they added a special booster seat with seat belts. 

Last week, there was a substitute bus driver and the bus she was driving did not have the hooks to strap his harness to, so I couldn't let him ride the bus.  The bus driver didn't even have it noted that there would be a child with special needs on her route either.  We ended up driving him to school that morning and let his teacher know and one of the assistant teacher's already knew what happened since she talked to the bus driver.  I asked his teacher if I should let the assistant principal know what happened and she agreed that I should.  That morning, I emailed the Assistant Principal (he's in charge of the buses) letting him know what happened.  He emailed me the next day (apologizing for the delay) and let me know that he had no idea this happened. 

Just this afternoon, our next door neighbor unbuckled Kyle from his seat which was odd since I usually do it.  When she got off the bus, she told me what happened.  She said just as they were pulling out of the school, Kyle unbuckled his seat belts (yes plural, he has one that goes around his chest and one that goes in his lap).  He then got up from his seat and stood up to turn around to look at her and give her a big smile!  The bus driver then had pull over and they both made sure he was buckled up again and I guess she had to sit next to him to make sure he stayed buckled up. 

Unfortunately, I don't think all of these issues are being brought to the Assistant Principal's attention.  I wish that the bus drivers would say something.  The school won't provide a bus for his special needs, nor have they offered to have someone ride with him.  For now, his "care and safety" is in the hands of a 9 year old and the bus driver.  Does that sound safe enough to you?  

Lately, Kyle's been misbehaving and testing the limits.  We think he's going through the terrible 2's or a little version of it.  He's purposely doing things we told him not to do.  If/when we try to discipline him or tell him no, he will laugh at us.  I don't think he quite understands, but he does understand when we yell, point our finger at him and get a serious look on our face. 

Paying it forward with food

We went grocery shopping on Monday and bought all of our groceries and other necessities.  On Tuesday evening, I realized I bought some pasta that is stuffed with herb chicken!  I accidentally grabbed the wrong pasta.  Since I don't eat chicken, I didn't want to just throw it away or hassle with trying to return/exchange it at the store.  Instead, I decided to give it to our neighbors across the street.  In the past, they have given us food from their dinner parties and he even brought over a loaf of bread and 2 grapefruits.  They have even invited us to their dinner parties but we always end up not going.  I don't know what kind of food they are serving and trying to take Kyle to someone else's house would be too much! 

I ended up giving our neighbors the pasta and an extra loaf of cinnamon swirl with raisins bread!  I bought 2 loaves but I realized I am not going to eat that much! 

The neighbor said that his daughter ended up eating 3 slices of bread and he said his son likes the bread too!  I'm glad to hear that. 

I wish Kyle liked to eat more food and not be so picky!  If the food isn't the right texture that he wants, he'll spit it out. 

Math. At my age?

Shannon is still in the middle of his Math class.  Last night, he was doing his homework for the week.  As he got up to take a little break, he made a comment about trying to solve the problems.  After he left, I got up and sat at his desk to try to solve the problem.  I admit, I wasn't able to solve it without help from an example problem.  The homework gives an option to ask for an example, to walk you through on how to solve an example problem.  With the example, I was able to solve at least 6 math problems.  While this class is College Algebra, I am proud of myself for doing math again -- at my age!

I am still without a college.  I found an online college that I like, but we'll see.  

Flowers indoors

Sometimes I wish I had my own little outdoor gardening area, just a small patch of area would suffice.  I would probably try to grow vegetables and flowers.  I would love some colorful plants indoors.  I want to try African Violets again!  I would like to start with one African Violet for now and see how it does. 

Feeling Lost

Once again, I have decided not to attend Ashworth College.  I am unable to find a proctor for when I need to take the final exams. 

The last few days, I've been searching for online colleges and universities.  When I click on a college website, I first check to see if they are regionally accredited and then I look at their programs.  I have found a few that I really like.  I may pursue an Associate of Arts degree and then pursue my Bachelor's Degree.  I am still interested in pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in  Sociology as the subject really interests me. 

Lately I am feeling lost.  If/when Shannon attends law school, I would love to be the one working to help support us.  I feel like I should be doing something, such as college! 

Enrolled

Last week, I've emailed the former college trying to let them know that I no longer want to attend their college.  I've been receiving conflicting emails from the Financial Aid department, and other departments about my start date, etc.  It's all very confusing and I keep replying back telling them the same thing.  I received another email from the Financial Aid department stating that I am unable to start because of some forms I didn't fill out, which is my whole point.  I do not want to attend their school and they just don't want to deal with it.  It's annoying. 

Today, I called Ashworth College to enroll.  She set me all up and gave me the URL to set up an account.  Hopefully I will be able to start my first class tomorrow!  I am pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in General Studies.  I am looking forward to starting college again! 

Shannon is currently taking a college match class.  He had a practice test to take and we were trying to figure out the math problems together.  The math problem was multiplying fractions.  I told him how I thought you solve it and he agreed and got an answer.  Before submitting his answer, I told him to look it up on how to solve it, just in case!  It turns out, we were wrong!  LOL  He found out how to solve it on youtube.  I wish we had youtube when I was in school!  Shannon had other match problems, such as dividing fractions too!  He was able to solve them with the help of youtube showing him how to solve them. 

It's mine, again

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted.  In late December, I started a virtual book tour company and soon after, I took on a partner to help.  Well, I quickly learned it turned into me answering to another person which I didn't like.  We decided to part ways and my blog and virtual book tour company is mine again!  I feel free! 

I can run my virtual book tour company the way I want to and build it the way I want to! 

This time around in the new year

Since I decided to start Turbo Fire again in the new year, I have realized that I can't keep up with the regular schedule.  I have to build up my endurance.  Instead, I started with the Prep schedule.  It seems to be more of my pace and I already know what to expect.  I am not obsessed with sticking with the workout schedule.  If I need an extra rest day, I'm going to take it. 

Turning Point

Yesterday we received some really great news which will really help us!  Shannon went to take care of that today.

This week, I have been reconsidering college and ultimately decided the college I was going to start this month is not for me.  I am going to pursue my Bachelor's Degree from the same college I received my Associate's Degree.  In doing so, all of my classes transfer over to the Bachelor's program.  I found out today that I only need four semesters to earn my Bachelor's Degree!  Ashworth College has also updated/revised their courses to include an Associate of Arts degree, which includes the core courses.  A Bachelor's Degree is what I really want and I am so glad I found one.  Ashworth College offers a Bachelor's in General Studies and you can customize your degree to your preference. 

I chose not to attend the other college because I wasn't ready to take out yet another a loan and go into debt for college, especially in our economy.  Not only that, it doesn't help that Shannon and I are both not working.  It's just not worth it to me to add another debt to my name. 

The other college courses are on a schedule and I just wasn't sure if I could do that, especially with Kyle.  Would I be able to turn in assignments on time?  I'm a mom now!  I'd rather stick with Ashworth College since I can study at my OWN pace!  It's perfect for me. 

Food poisoning or just nauseous?

Last night, I went to lay down at around 7pm because I wasn't feeling well.  I am not sure if I had food poisoning or just the bad case of nauseousness!  I was feeling dizzy, sick to the stomach, just really horrible.  I don't think it was the food I ate because Shannon ate the same food.  I think it may have been the chai tea I had.  I really don't know. 

Plus I've been sore for the last 2 days from my workout.  Today I am feeling much less sore.  I may be able to workout today.

Starting college

I'm starting college later this month.  I am nervous and excited.  Last week, I wanted to put it off but I was having second thoughts.  The economy is unstable and if Shannon and I both have higher college degrees, it would make us more valuable to employers. 

I am excited because I am still surprised I found a degree program that really caught my eye.  It sounds like an interesting subject and something that fits my personality.  When I was growing up, I wanted to be a teacher, then I thought about being a psychologist.  But to study cultures and people and how they interact is fascinating to me.  I always wonder why people do what they do, why they say what they say, etc. 

I'm nervous because I will need to learn to manage my time between being a mom and wife and add school to the mix!  Plus, the essays are a little scary to think about.  I remember how to write an essay, but to actually sit down and do it, it's scary! 

Nowadays, I am thankful that there are online colleges out there that allow busy parents to go back to college.  When it was time for me to attend college, they didn't have online college. 

Coupon savings at Walgreens

Today I went to Walgreens for the first time this year and the first time in months!  I haven't had to go to Walgreens in months because we had plenty of paper towels and toilet paper!  This time around, I wanted to stock up on deodorant, shampoo, diapers, soap, Q-tips, and other things.  I am trying to only buy things we use and need and not buy things that I can get for cheap with a coupon but don't really use or need.  Right now, I want to use my coupons for necessity since we don't have any money coming in.  I do make a little money here and there with my blog, but that's not steady income. 

After ringing everything up and the automatic savings from this week's Walgreens sales and Buy One Get One 50% deals, my total came to $101 and some change.  After my coupons, my total was $82 and some change!  Wow!  Plus I received $4 in Register Rewards, which are "dollars" I can use for future Walgreens purchases.  But these rewards expire in about a week.  I will go through the ad again to see what else I can save on. 

While my total was pretty high, I won't have to buy deodorant for several months.  I also bought the shampoo since it was on sale and I had coupons.  I bought the conditioner because it was only 99 cents with the sale and my coupon, I just couldn't pass that up.  We now have plenty of soap as well! 

Happy Birthday, birthday boy!

Happy 6th Birthday to my son!  I can't believe he is 6 years old.  Where has the time gone?

Yesterday, Shannon and I gave him a hair cut and he look so cute.  He wasn't as squirmy as in the past.  He was a little better with sitting still and not moving.  He seems used to it but still finds it ticklish. 

Today is also the first day of school of the new year and after the Christmas holiday! 

New Year, New Start, New Beginning

Welcome 2012!  It's a New Year, which means a new start!  I like to look at the New Year as a new beginning.  Last week, I decided to re-start Turbo Fire.  Since it's been a few weeks, I realized that I am unable to just jump back into the regular workout schedule, so I am starting with the PREP schedule. 

I hope to work on myself as well this year.  In addition to parenting, I am making health, college, and my blogs a priority in  my life!

Back to Couponing

For awhile there, I stopped buying the Sunday paper for the coupon inserts since I had bought so much toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo and conditioner.  Now, I am trying to rebuild our little "stock" of things we use.  I am looking forward to trying to save with coupons again.  This week in the Walgreens ad, there are several things that I want to get!