Paper or Plastic... I Choose Plastic

So, today I am at the grocery store and the checker asks me if I would like paper or plastic.  I always choose plastic because let's face it the paper bags always tear at the bottom and they don't have handles so I can carry multiple bags at one time.  The girl bagging the groceries gives me a dirty look as if I committed a crime.  I guess we are supposed to choose paper now or buy a reusable bag that has plastic coating on it for $1.00 or more???  The plastic bags that the store provides are reusable to me anyway.  I use them as a lunch bag for myself, trash can liners, to hold items that are muddy/dirty, the list goes on and on.  I am a responsible citizen and recycle and reuse probably more than a lot of people.  We water the plants and the lawn only when we absolutely have too, time the kids showers.... well you get the picture.   We use all the energy saver light bulbs in the house and guess what they don't last as long as they advertise.  Over the years my energy bills have not gone down.  The energy companies have only found ways to raise their rates so I pay the same but use less product.  So YES, little bagger girl I will use the plastic bags ALL DAY LONG.  I refuse to completely buy into the Green Machine as I call it.  Global warming fear tactics to get us to conform to a certain way of life but still gouge us in the pocket book is on my last nerve today.

Thanks for reading my rant.....

In a previous post I talked about saving money instead of going out to eat.  My husband was craving dinner from one of our favorite Italian restaurants but instead we ate a home and I will move $40.00 to the savings account.  Each time we have a craving to eat out we will move the money we would have spent to savings.  I can't wait to see what we end up with at the end of the year.

Kids go back to school this week after being off for three weeks and I go back to work.  It's funny, work is just work for me know.   I always wanted to raise to the top at the company I work for.  My priorities have completely changed.  I still enjoy doing what I do but my personal life I enjoy so much more.

An Entire Week of NO Work

I had a full week off work this week.  I decided we are not going anywhere.   (I am in traffic on my way to work and my way home five days a week.)  I never let the kids eat anywhere in the house except the kitchen table but this week was an exception. This week the kids ate breakfast on the family room floor while watching cartoons.  Then proceeded to spill orange juice all over the floor.  I sat in my son's bedroom to find out about his Lego creations.  There was a story behind each Lego car, truck, and army looking thingy.  I sat with my daughter to create her Barbie outfits.  I listened to them fight with each other which is actually quite hilarious.  Just this morning I could hear the two of them arguing and I like to let them try to work it out before I intervene.  Then I heard the real cry like my daughter was really upset.  I went down stairs and she was upset because my son told her we were going to Costco and when she asked why, he would only say "because".  She said the word because was making her cry.  I could only laugh historically.  I actually got to see my husband for more than an hour a day :-).  We ate dinner at the dinner table as a family each night.  Everything was calm, no rush to be anywhere.
We had a car issue but it was fixed.  I get so nervous with car repairs because it generally costs a lot to repair vehicles.  You know what...  it cost some money but we will get through this and I need to move on from this anxiety.  Life is going to happen, stuff breaks, things get dirty and it all can be fixed and cleaned.  Most importantly it was fun to let the kids break from the normal house rules this week.  I want them to look back and have stories about "remember when mom did... remember when mom let us..."  This week not one dollar was spent on dining out, buying new clothes, buying things that we don't really need, or going to an amusement park... It was filled with happy greetings each morning, hugs all day, kisses constantly, dancing at times- The stuff money cannot buy.

I decided each time we want to go out to eat at a restaurant I am going to move that money to savings and we will see where we are in 2014.  It is so expensive to eat out for just a family of four.

I hope everyone is having a great start to this year.  If you aren't it will get better I promise.  Next week is back to work, back to the grind but I am armed with a some new organization tools that should keep working and getting kids ready for school each day that should help out.  After I put them to the test I will share with you.

HUMMM, Another Year.-

So I am not normally into the New Years Resolution thing.  Normally, it's just the beginning of a new year, big deal.  Maybe because I am getting closer to 40 and my views on life are changing.  I was kind of excited this new year to think of 2013 as a restart of projects and ideas I had started in 2012 and didn't finish or lost interest.
I am tossing around the idea of going back to church, say I, the self proclaimed atheist.  It would be nice once a week to have a place to be lifted up, motivated and a place to give back.  I have struggled with organized religion, even as a child.  I was raised Catholic and can honestly say I never believed in anything the church taught.  I only went because I would get in trouble if I didn't.  My views are slowly changing as I age.
There are many projects around the house and yard of ours to be started and completed.  Many things to work on with the kids.  My son is in the 4th grade and was invited to take the GATE test the end of this month.  If he passes the test and is accepted into the GATE program I think it's another way to teach him about hard work and knowledge.  Knowledge is POWER.  Our parenting style is not that you have to come home with straight A's, however, at the end of the day you have to be able to say that you worked hard.  It is a fight most nights to get him to complete his homework, so if gets in to GATE it will be even harder.
I want to reconnect with my girl friends.  Like really connect.. start doing things again with them.  Just having dinner or going to the park with the kids.  Sharing laughs, sharing some tears, or sharing whatever...
Make time for my husband.  You know how busy life gets and our husband's patiently sit on the back burner waiting for us women to pay attention to them.  I need to stop doing that, IMMEDIATELY!
Last but not least, take time for myself.  Ensure I am eating right and exercising for my health.  If I don't have my health I have nothing else.

I am not going to call any of these "resolutions" just some fun, interesting, educational, spiritual additions to my life.
As the days and months progress I will be sure to update my blog.

Lake Elsinore-- New boat launch at the La Laguna Resort.  Pretty!