Time for a Change....But Not Too Much of a Change.

I am so happy to report that I've started working again.  It is a part time job at a local ice skating rink.  I am working 20-25 hours a week and I get to sort of set my own schedule.  My boss knew, up front, that I have a family and a strict weekly schedule of drop offs and pick ups so he is willing to work with me on that. 

The job is only about 5 minutes from my home so I have a very short commute and so far, I absolutely love my job!  I am an administrative assistant/personal assistant to the owner and general manager.  I have already learned a lot and I am enjoying everything thoroughly.  I have begun the process of learning the Quickbooks program and have created a filing system to better run the office. 

I am trying to create an efficient, quick system of processing and filing invoices, bills and payments. My boss owns a few businesses so I do some work for him other than just office work.  I'm really just so thankful that I came across this job. I really lucked out. 

Right now, I am working five days a week but as the system gets to a current state and I have a better handle on what I am doing, I hope to go down to four days a week so that I can still participate in school activities with the kids.  The hours will go down as the slow season at the rink is from April to August.  I am actually happy about that because that is summer vacation for the kids and I can spend more time with them. 

I work from 1pm until 5pm and so maybe in the summer I can change those hours to something earlier so that we can plan for fun days or trips. 

This is the first job like this for me so it is all exciting and new to me.  However, this is the type of job that I have always wanted.  I still get to work with the public a bit, I get to do office work and I get to use office supplies (if this sounds strange, sorry, I have a deep affection for office supplies heh!)

I hope to stay with this job for years to come as it allows flexibility and it is just so convenient.  My boss has already said that he hopes I don't have any plans of leaving the job and he constantly thanks me for the job that I am doing.  I appreciate the fact that I am appreciated.  A "thank you" goes a long way. 

So, if anyone is looking for an ice skating rink or a unique birthday party experience, let me know, I think I can get some information to you. ;)

MAMAVATION MONDAY: Running past my goal, The Skirt and Stepping it up

As I have talked about a few times, I am running (I know, I realize that it seems to be the only thing I am talking about these days) and I made it a goal to run 20 miles during the month of January.  I really thought this would be a pretty lofty goal but as of this morning, I am at 36 miles for the month!  I am now hoping to get in four more miles by Thursday so that I can say I doubled my goal! I am so excited about this because I have been one of those people who sets a goal and starts off strong and then forgets about it a few weeks later. I have to say that I enjoy running so I think I will be able to continue on this running trend for quite some time. 

A month ago, I tried on a skirt that I will be wearing in my brother's wedding in July.That is when I knew that I really needed to get in shape and slim down my waistline.  I ordered a size medium thinking that it wouldn't be too hard to fit nicely into it.  That was the size I tried on.  I now have the skirt in my closet to look at to make sure I stay on track and fit into it come July.  It does fit a little bit better than it did a few weeks ago but not good enough.  I clearly have more work to do to look good in the skirt! It is a good thing to have it in the closet where I can see it everyday though.  It's motivation. 

Along with running and trying to eat healthier, I am going to try to up my workouts and make sure I am working my abs and arms.  I need to tighten up those areas and get some definition.  A few years ago, I did just that and I was so happy with the results so I am striving for that again.  I received a prize pack from a giveaway and it is a DVD series of dance instruction from the Jabbawockeez.  They were a group from MTV's America's Best Dance Crew.  I saw them on the show and they were amazing.  I love to dance so this series is good for me and I might even be able to show off some of my new dance skills at the wedding in July. ;)

Run or Walk to Help Save Lives

There are quite a few charities that are close to my heart. There is one, in particular, that I strive to support each and every year, in every way I can. I participate in fundraisers, I walk/jog a 5K in the city and I donate money/products to help the team. That charity is the March of Dimes. We are a part of a family team called Team Kaydence. Kaydence is an angel baby born to Chuck's niece in 2005. She was born at 22 weeks gestational and weighed in at 1lb. and 10 3/4 inches. The doctors and nurses said that nothing could be done for her and so they put a tiny hat a dress on her, wrapped her up in blankets and allowed the family to spend time with her. She breathed on her own for 47 minutes before leaving this earth to be a butterfly. We raise funds in her memory and in honor of her younger brother, Jaxten, who was born premature and spent weeks in NICU until he could safely go home. They also have a younger brother, named Nolan, who was able to make it to full term! It is a sad story but out of it came this passion and drive to help so many other families that need our help. We are trying to help in the efforts to raise awareness, help fund research and funding to those who need it. We are helping to save babies' lives and help lessen the risk of birth defects. The team has several fundraisers but this year, I wanted to do more. I have become aware of the draw of virtual runs through a few of the groups I am in so I decided to start and host a virtual 5K in memory of Kaydence! I have setup an event on Active.com and so anyone can participate and help us save babies' lives and change millions of families across the nation. The run details can be found here. Please, consider running or walking to help us out or help spread the word so we can help as many people as possible!

It's a Crazy Thought

For years I said I wanted to be a runner and now I am starting to consider myself a runner.  I don't run every single day but I feel I do it regularly enough for it to be a habit and a hobby.  I know I will never break any speed records or time records but that's okay, that's not my goal.  I just fee proud when I finish a run in a respectable amount of time.

After I did a few 5K races, I said that I would love to one day run a half marathon but that seems like a really lofty goal.  I mean, that is 13.1 miles of running.  That's a lot of running. 

I have a friend that did a training program for half marathons and so far she has run two of them and she has said that I should train and do one too.  She says it is totally doable and if I want to do one, I just need to make the decision to be diligent and do it. 

I've started looking at training guides for half marathons, just in case I decide that the timing is right.  I have found a few different ones but they all seem to be about the same.  I like this one, it is very gradual:

Source: Uploaded by user via Alison on Pinterest

It seems to be attainable.  The only problem for me is, if I do a training program I need to make a goal date and begin at a time that coincides with the race date.  However, what if I register for a half marathon with every intent to run it and I injure myself or something happens and I can't run it? Do I just continue to run until I can find a half marathon that works for me?! 

A lot of this is still in my head and it is a lot to think about because it is a commitment I'd have to make to myself.  However, isn't my personal motto, "you are worth it!?"

MAMAVATION MONDAY: Feeling Proud of Myself, Birthday Weekend and Clothing

I mentioned last week that I wanted to continue running to try to reach my monthly goal of running 20 miles.  Since that one week has passed, I went from a total of 12 miles to now having a total of 26 miles!! I surpassed my monthly goal and then some!  I am so proud of myself for sticking with it and doing what I needed to do to reach it.

 I don't plan on quitting with the running sessions as I am feeling good and I am enjoying the running.  It is a great way to get in shape and clear my mind at the same time.  I am still having some struggles with my breathing but I think I may be starting to get the hang of the rhythm, at least while on the treadmill.  It has gotten colder here so I have resorted to running in my basement.  I don't enjoy it as much and I find that it is harder to keep going.  When I am outside, I get to tell myself to run to the next mailbox or telephone pole.  It isn't as boring.  I've tried listening to music and that does work well for me.  I've been using Pandora and listening to pop fitness station to help out with the beat.
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Yesterday was my birthday, I was sure to fit my run in so that I wouldn't feel as guilty about my eating or drinking alcohol.  I did 3 miles and I felt good.  I didn't eat too great this weekend.  My husband made me a breakfast sandwich with bacon, sausage, egg and cheese on wheat toast.  I had planned on having a fruit and yogurt smoothie but I couldn't hurt his feelings by saying I didn't want the sandwich.  He had good intentions of spoiling me so I obliged.  I did drink a lot of water. I also drank alcohol.  Hey, it was my birthday and we were celebrating!  Today's eating wasn't any better.  Well, I did have an egg, green pepper and onion sandwich on a whole grain sandwich skinny.  But, then we had Chinese food for dinner.  :/

I will be getting back on track tomorrow and I am looking forward to my smoothie for breakfast and a run in the morning!

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I'm sure there are people who are getting tired of my running posts on Facebook.  It seems like it is all I post about anymore these days but I am happy and proud of myself so I feel like shouting it from the rooftops. I also feel like buying all the running gear in the world. 

There are a few things that I would love to buy but honestly, I just don't have the extra money for it all right now.  However, when I do, look out!  I would love to get a FitBit to easily track my exercise daily.  It would be so nice to have that.  I also would love some running socks.  I have a pair and I love the way they hug my feet.  I really need to get more of those.  Also, the shirts, the tanks, the jackets!  I'd love to wear stuff that announces that I am running, love running, am a runner, etc.  Say it loud and proud and on your shirt!  I have a lot of workout tanks in my wardrobe but I feel like getting a running tank with a saying so that I feel more a part of the running community. 

I just want to make sure that this is really something that I am going to stick with.  The test will be these winter months when I am forced to be indoors.  It gets to be mundane and boring so I need to keep up the motivation for it.  I did sign up to do another Facebook group called "60 miles in 60 days for Pink" which is exactly what it says.  I will be running 60 miles within 60 days as a fundraiser for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I figure that if I am running anyway, why not do so and raise money for different charities in the process. 

Making Some Plans...Maybe....Sort of

When Chuck and I got married 13 years ago, I was pregnant.  It wasn't a secret and it wasn't the only reason we got married.  I am willing to be that most people believe that is the case.  Yes, we did not plan the pregnancy, yes we wanted to be married before our baby was born....would we have gotten married that soon had I not been pregnant, probably not.  However, we knew that we would be together forever.  We had been together for five years at that point. We were living together and we were both working full time so it's not like we had a shotgun to our heads. I don't even know if it was something that was important to our parents, for us to get married before the baby came, but it was what was important to us.  We are old fashioned in some ways. 

We always said that we would renew our vows someday and we always tend to say we would do it for our 15 year anniversary.  We want to do the whole shebang.  We went to the local justice of the peace when we got married and had a big reception with our family and friends.  I wore a clearance rack prom dress that was perfect for me.  I loved it and I don't regret what we did but don't most girls want that big, special day with everyone they care about there to help celebrate?  Chuck wants that for me.  He wants me to be that princess for my day.  He feels it is important for us to go through the nice ceremony.

We would really love to go to Hawaii as a honeymoon after a vow renewal ceremony.  He has an uncle that lives in Hawaii so we would have an excellent tour guide or at least someone to tell us the best places to go and see. 

Since our financial woes and our situation, I'm not sure we can swing the trip to Hawaii.  I still want to go and I will do what I can to try to save up for it and we even said we'd love to have some friends or family go too! Once we are financially stable, that is where our extra money will be going...to the trip to Hawaii.  Even if we have to wait until awhile after the vow renewal ceremony, we will go...one day.

So, aside from the honeymoon trip to Hawaii, there are other things that I think about and sort of plan for our ceremony.  Like the location, who we would invite, the color scheme, the decorations, etc.  All those fun and exciting details that every bride gets to plan.  I'm sort of embarassed to say that I have been looking online at wedding gowns.  It seems sort of silly to look at them if I don't know for sure if we are going to actually do it, but I love looking at them. There are so many choices, how in the world do you know if you are getting the right one?!  Is there really that whoa moment? I think I have asked this on Twitter before. 

Here is one that I really like, it is pretty and simple but not too plain. It's not too form-fitting that I wouldn't be able to walk.

Another one that I think I like, it is different, I haven't ever seen anyone, in person, with this style dress. Again, it's not too fancy and overboard.

This one is a bit different and I am not sure if this is something that would even look good on me.  For years, I thought I would want the ball gown style but I'm not so sure anymore.  I am older and this is a vow renewal so I somehow feel like I should have a more, simple style but then again, this is my first real wedding ceremony.

How did you decide what style you wanted?  Did you change your mind once you started trying on dresses? 

When Are You Available?

I have been on the search for a part time job for quite some time. I have sent my resume to several listing, filled out online applications but my schedule is so messed up that it is truly hard to find something that allows me to be available to my kids when I need to be. 

This is my week:

Mondays: Chuck leaves for work at 4:30am, Jada gets her bus at 7am, Chuckie gets his bus at 8am, I pick up a friend's son at 12:20pm, I drop off Lincoln and his buddy at school at 12:30pm, I get all the errands and stuff I need to get done, Jada home at 2:50pm, boys home at 3:50pm, I pick up girl I babysit 5 miles away at 4:15pm, home to make dinner, eat, clean up, spend some time with Chuck, take Jada to dance at 7:30pm where I meet girl's mom for her to pick her up.

Tuesdays: Everything the same up until the boys get home because Chuckie has running club and I don't babysit, I pick Chuckie up at 5pm from the school, home to cook dinner, clean up, relax and spend some time with the family.

Wednesdays:  (Perhaps my easiest day.) Same schedule as above but no pickup of fiiend's son & both boys come home today, no babysitting.  I take Jada to dance at 7:30pm for a 45-minute class.

Thursdays:  Everything the same as Mondays but add in a 5pm pickup of Chuckie from running club. Girl's mom picks her up from my house.

Fridays: Everything same as Wednesday but I babysit girl so add in pickup of her and no dance.  No extracurricular activities today.

So, basically, I have 2.5 hours on a daily basis for me to get done what needs done.  This explains why I am always tired and why I go through gas like water.  I have a 30 gallon tank on my SUV and I go through almost an entire tank of gas in one week.  This is insane. 

All of this to say........

When applying for jobs, when it asks me what days/times I am available, I feel like saying, "there is no time but I need to make money so I will figure this out!"

I babysit though, right?  Well, it is on a daily basis, nothing is written in stone.  I find out the day of, whether I have her or not so it is not money that I can depend on.  Some weeks I have her all three days, other weeks, maybe one day. It isn't consistent so I need something that is regular, is scheduled, is reliable.

I had an interview yesterday that I felt went really well.  It is for a part time office/personal assistant position that is 5 minutes away from my house.  It is at a skating rink!  I would be working 3-4 days a week from 1-5pm.  That would work. The few changes to my family schedule I would have to make is that I would no longer be babysitting and Jada would have to get Lincoln off of the bus and babysit him until I got home. So she would be in charge for one hour.  Not a huge deal. Chuck will be home at that time when he doesn't work overtime hours so it would be fine.  With this position I would be making phone calls to vendors, filing, helping with promotions and event planning, helping to set up and possibly be their snack bar manager (not what I was applying for but they have the need and my last job as an assistant general manager for a food service company helps!)

I don't want to get my hopes up too much but I will say that this would be a perfect fit for me and for my family.  I could still be home in the evenings with my family to spend time together, no weekends unless I needed to make up some time from during the week, less work in the summer months to spend more time with the kids! 

I did also get a call from a retail store, Childrens Place, to set up an interview!  I will be going for that on Sunday.  That position does offer a bit more flexibility as far as when I could work.  I could work more on weekends to get more hours and not disrupt our crazy weekday schedule but not really what I would want to do.  They offer evening hours so I could work and have Chuck take Jada to her dance classes. 

There's a lot to think about and figure out.  All I know is that life is changing and I want to work and bring in steady money that we can rely on and yet, not disrupt everything we have going on.  I do know that I won't be babysitting anymore and I still need to tell the mom, this is all going on as of yesterday so I will talk to her tonight to let her know that I have applied and interviewed for positions. 

How in the world do other people do this?  I thought life was busy when I was working full time and running the kids everywhere but now it seems that I am busier than ever!