Birthday Weekend

Well, I'm back selling my Scentsy (took a break for a bit--too much going on in my life).  There are SO MANY things going on with this company that it is just too good for just words!  1) Bring Back My Bar scents are only going to be around through Tuesday! Order here: https://aprilnosescents.scentsy.us/Buy/Collection/846  2) February is 10% off month to make room for the new Spring/Summer collection.  So, stock up on your favorite scents now!!!  The following will be gone:
Autumn Stroll
Autumn Sunset
Black Ruby
Central Park Pralines
Christmas Cottage
Cinnamon Bear
Cinnamon Vanilla
Clove & Cinnamon
Coco Clementine
Comfort & Joy
Cozy Fireside
Embers
Eskimo Kiss
Festival of Trees
Flutter
Honey Pear Cider
Pima Cotton
Pumpkin Marshmallow
Pumpkin Roll
Sentimental Cider
Shades of Green
Silver Bells
Snowberry
Spice Bazaar
Whiteout
3) Scentsy will no longer be making "bricks".  Bricks are about 5-6 Scentsy bars so, if you REALLY like a scent, stock up on those bricks!!
4) Launching soon is Layers by Scentsy.  This will be hand lotions, body washes AND scents for your LAUNDRY!!!
5) A new company will be branching out as of May 1 so keep your eyes open and
6) a final company will be launching this august. 
This is a GREAT time to be involved with Scentsy in any way whether it's as a customer OR a consultant!  If you are interested in joining please look here: https://aprilnosescents.scentsy.us/Join or you can contact me: https://aprilnosescents.scentsy.us/contact

Went to a frozen yogurt shop for a pre-birthday chow down heh.  The one thing I've found out with having a 3yr old is that I can hardly focus on myself when it comes to eating.  At the yogurt shop, I'm trying to satisfy my daughter's wants while also my own but everytime I reach for something she's grabbing something she shouldn't be. It sounds pretty simple but when you are in this situation it can drive you CRAZY! 

On the other hand, my daughter and I ran down what she knew as far as sounds go.  She knows 21 out of 26 sounds!!  The ones she is unsure of are o, u, w, x, and y.  She also played a computer game tonight in which she chooses the correct beginning letter of words. Yea, she scored 100% multiple times on that!

Tomorrow is my birthday = ( blech.  I'm getting too old but my family and I are going to Applebee's to celebrate!  I LOOOOOVE Applebee's.  Leaving my "calling card" there too! 

Day 3 of Conference

Monday, day 3 of conferences. 
Woke up early...yea it sucks not being able to sleep in but oh well.  Had some excellent sessions today.  Keynote Speaker was kind of depressing but...he was kind of hot lol  I like them dark and handsome...wasn't sure how tall he was but the dark Muslim/Mexican look was apparently what I yearn for? lol 

Getting clock hours for our time here!  Yea!  Because I moved from one state to another I now have to get 150 clock hours in 2 years.  I am now down to about 103 after this conference  yessss lol  I want my Teaching Certificate back in this state (mine expired July 2011)

Tomorrow is the screening Waiting For Superman.  Should be interesting.  I haven't seen the movie before but I know it can create a lot of..well...let's say "passion" in people? lol  There is going to be a "lively" discussion afterward but we are going to leave early and go to.................THE AQUARIUM woo hoo.  yes my collegue and I are nerds.  Hell, we are teachers.  That's how it goes. Oh well!

Took one last trip to the Cheesecake Factory.  This time, my bill was $10 less than before. woo hoo ha ha  I called my daughter to say goodnight and told her I got her present today.  She sounded so excited.  I got her a bear with a raincoat and hat that says "Seattle" on it.  It was perfect.

Hopefully the pass will be clear for us tomorrow as well as throughout the rest of the trip.  Can't wait to get back home to my beautiful daughter!!!

Day 2 of Conference

Woke up early again.  Didn't have a keynote speaker this morning but I had a session to go to.  The coolest thing about heading over to the convention center was that we walked underground, inside all the way there!  Didn't have to worry about traffic or weird people downtown.  There were shops and cafe places inside as well.

Had some great classes again.  Learned more.  Visited even more vendors but this time I had so much free stuff that my arm felt like it was going to fall off!  Either that or I may have to see a chiropractor again LOL

Tonight my Aunt and Cousin picked me up at the hotel and we went to dinner with my Uncle and my "new" Aunt.  I've been so out of the loop with this side of the family that my Uncle I know has been married now for many years but I have never met her until now.

We went to a Chinese place on the waterfront.  It was quiet there but the food was soooo good.  My Uncle's wife seems really nice.  She is a trustee for University of Oregon and has her own business.  When I mentioned that my brother was thinking of starting his own business in the future, both their ears perked up.  They are enterpreneuers (sp?) that's for sure lol

Got back a little late.  My co-worker came over to stay in my hotel room as her Grandma has been without power for days.  Her Grandma was staying in my co-workers room with her mom.  It was nice to have a little company.

Called my daughter today and she asked "Where are you at now Mommy?"  I told her "Seattle"  "Oh" she says.  I told her I would be coming home in a few days.  She wanted me to come home now = (  I'm glad I have been quite busy so as not to miss her too much but then again, my practical side is telling me there is nothing I can do about it.  I'm here, she's there.  You can cry and mope over it and be miserable or do what you need to do, enjoy your time by yourself and move on.

I got to see the Space Needle up close tonight.  Got a picture.  Wished I would have been able to go up it.  Maybe the next time I get over here.  I told my Aunts, Uncle, and Cousin that I will be bringing Sydney with me next time so we can go to the Aquarium and such.  Let's hope that my financial situation continues as well or better than it has been = D

Day 1 of Conference

Up bright and early Saturday morning!  First day of Title I conference.  It was strange to go to bed without saying goodnight to my daughter or tucking her in or reading a story to her.  It was nice, however, to be getting ready in the morning without interruption!  I called my daughter last night and spoke with her for a short time.  She told me she missed me.  I about cried. 

The parade of schools was amazing!  We had a great keynote speaker, too!  Went off to my first session then the next then the next, etc.  Learned a lot.  I LOVED visiting the vendors too.  There were about 1000 of them alllll wanting to speak with us and giving us free stuff.  My hands were FULL today.

The most amusing part was getting our conference bag full of goodies including our name tag.  Inside was....an umbrella!  Coincidence?  NOPE  It rains here.

We went to The Cheesecake Factory.  I had never been and was the first time I had EVER spent $50 on dinner that didn't include drinks! wowza but...excellent service and great food.  Besides, it wasn't my money I was spending lol

Called my daughter that night and said goodnight to her.  Sounded like her and my mom have been having fun.

Off I Go!

Side note:  Doing some catch up from over the weekend.  Meant to do my blog while I was out of town but forgot.

Friday, Jan. 20.  Left for Seattle at 1:30pm today.  Title 1 conference for 4 days and I will be leaving my 3 yr old with my mom.  My daughter and I have not been away from each other for longer than 18 hours so this will be quite the feat.

Have to go over Snoqualmie Pass.  I laugh because when I was living in Yuma, AZ I was traveling to San Diego and everyone told me "the mountains will suck up your gas.  They are steep."  Yea....um.....if those were mountains then Snoqualmie Pass doesn't get snow LOL 

Travel was decent.  Roads were bare and wet.  Got to the pass before dark and everything was fine....until.....the summit.  This is where it began snowing harder and the roads were covered with more and more snow.  Fortunately, a few snow-plows were ahead of us.  We went 20 mph but, were safe.  But then.....all of a sudden...the snow-plows exited off to the ski area and it was dark and we could hardly see what with all the snowflakes!  eek!!!  We made it though!  Teeth were clenched and hands were sore that's for sure!

Checked into the Hilton.  It is very nice.  Saturday is first day of conference!

Turkey Taco Tuesday

Wind.  Wind sucks when you are a teacher.  Laugh if you must but wind makes every child's behavior go crazy.  Even my well-behaved students were off their rocker today.  I was off my rocker today lol 
We are due to have a snow storm come in today.  First, local weatherman said last night so I had my alarm go off extra early.  No snow.  Never listen to a local weatherman.  Instead, I rely on weather.com.  This morning, snow was expected at 3pm and 4-8 inches.  Checked again at 3 since I didn't see any snow and not expected until midnight, 3-6 inches.  Looked again after dinner tonight and not until 1am, 3-6 inches.  OK really...make up your minds.  I'm crossing my fingers for a 2 hour school delay = D
 I DO care about my pretty much one shot at a vacation by myself.  I have never been without my daughter for longer than 24 hours.  I know I will miss her like crazy but at the same time I'm curious to see if I'm truly missing out on anything by being a parent 24/7.  Has that worn off by now or do I still crave something I'm missing?
Thoughts wander through my head about "what ifs".  What if....I had decided to have an abortion?  What if......I gave her up for adoption?  What if....I had her then gave her up for adoption later?  What if.....I became irresponsible and gave her up?  The last thought I can't get through the 5th word before a shudder goes down my back.  I could NEVER do that.  But, what if.....what if things weren't like this?  I wonder though I'll never know the answers.  I don't want to be in a situation where I know the answers.
So happy that I am not living paycheck to paycheck.  Yesterday I went SHOPPING.  Shopping where I didn't have to worry about a spending limit.  It was nice.  I got things that I have needed for at least a year.  I'm also on a math curriculum committee which I get paid curriculum rate for this work I am to be doing.  It will be a minimum of 10 hours.  Curriculum rate in Arizona was a measly $22 ....lol laughable now.  Curriculum rate here is $36 an hour!  Yep, I got it made as a teacher up here.

Lesson learned: DO NOT EVER TEACH IN ARIZONA

Day Off

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day....no work.  My daughter is in Preschool most of the day today.  I think she needs to learn more about this holiday.  Friday evening as we had our weekly "sleepover" she was looking through a dog book and was pointing to creme colored dogs saying "he can go on the bus" and then dogs that were other colors and patterns saying "he can't go on the bus" lol  Her grandpa asked her last night if Duke, his dog, could go on the bus and she said no.  We asked about our other animals in the family to which she all said they couldn't go on the bus.  I asked if I could and she said no.  I asked if Grammy and Grandpa could and she said no.  Apparently, no one can go on the bus lol  Talked with her teachers today and I think she was saying no to all of us because we had dark hair.  Oh the mouths and thoughts of a 3 yr old.  Very entertaining.

I joined Curves a few months ago and I am addicted.  So easy, so painless and so fun and quick.  I now burn an average of 600 calories a workout.  Today, I burned 1300 because I forgot there was Zumba and instead of 30 second rotations, it was a minute.  I went out twice so that was like going around the circuit 3 times on a normal time.  Oh well.  I won't be able to attend on Friday since I will be leaving for Seattle for 4 days for a National Title I conference.

It was so nice today to be able to go out and shop for things I have needed for years.  Dress boots, picture frames, baker's rack, towels for the bathroom..... so nice to not have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck.  So far, so good with life however, I'm hesitant thinking something "bad" is going to happen = (  because, that's what usually happens!  Things are going well and then BAM! something breaks or there is some sort of major stress going on. 

Lesson learned: work hard, it will pay off.

Hmmm

Got a wake up call today. One I didn't like but, unfortunately, didn't surprise me.  People that publicly point negative things out to a person and accuse them of something they are not is just not a wise move on their part.  First, it makes them look really stupid because we all know it could have been said in a private message IF this person was really concerned about this other person.  Amazes me these are the same people that throw out "stop judging" and are so gray in anything that they don't even have their own opinions it seems AND these are the people that when you have your own opinion, you are bashed for it because you don't think like they do.  It's disgusting.  I'd call them liberals but, when thinking about it, I have some very nice friends who are liberals who do NOT act like this so, I'm at a loss as to how to classify them.

Secondly, it backs me into a corner because now they are trying to start drama and are now forcing me to defend myself.  When I'm backed into a corner and INSULTED as much as what they did then yes, the *itch WILL come out.  When I am not supported and instead again insulted publicly so all can see, rather than a private message explaining their position, the *itch in me WILL come out.  So yes, I called someone a name after over 20 years of never calling people names because I definitely do NOT support it.  heh...it felt good though because that's how this person was acting....like an utterly total *itch and not in a good way.  I am now DONE with these people.  I'm too old and all most of these people do is talk about others behind their backs as I'm sure they are doing tonight.  It's really sad....

And....I lost a friend over this.  But, I guess it just shows who truly understands and who doesn't.  I'm not crying, I'm not heated, I'm not hurt, I'm not upset about any of this.  Just glad it's done and over with.  If they were in front of me, I would have said the same things to them as I said online.  That's one thing I've learned.  Don't say anything on the internet unless you are prepared to say it in person or would say it in person.

Lesson learned:  Don't insult others and they won't insult you.  Problem solved.

My First Shot

Well, here is my first shot at a blog.  I talk enough so this should be the perfect setting for me.  I have lots to say, now people can read if they want to and stop complaining if I jumble up Facebook too much.  We shall see how much I dedicate to this.

I am a single mom completely and fully.  By single mom, I don't mean my husband is away on trips or a deployment.  I also don't mean I am divorced nor do I mean I have a boyfriend and I also don't mean that my daughter's father is involved.  By single mom, I mean that in every sense of the word.  Not married, never have been, no boyfriend, and the father is not involved.  I have my daughter 24/7.  I am not asking for a "poor me" statement but rather this was just to make it clear as to what I really meant.  Situations like mine are HARD and are nothing like someone who shares custody or who's husband is away temporarily.

This began in 2008 and I have fought long and hard to regain child support.  I have emails upon emails, fought with the United States Marine Corps over and over again.  I even got Senator John McCain and (former) Senator Amanda Aguirre involved.  It worked and now my daughter is getting the support she deserves and is needed.

I was a full-time elementary teacher living in Arizona.  This sucked.  Don't EVER go down there to teach.  I was making LESS than $30K when I left.  Mind you, I taught there for FOUR years.  I took the chance and moved back up to Washington, my home state.  It took a few months but I finally found a teaching job and I LOVE it!  I am now making more than what a teacher with a Master's would get in the part of Arizona where I worked!  I am not living the "high life" by any means but, I am not living paycheck to paycheck anymore.  My daughter and I might be able to take our very first vacation together as mother and daughter this summer and I am excited!  

My blog may be crass.  It may be black and white.  It may shock you with my harshness and opinions but this is me.  I am not rude, a bad person or not empathetic.  I am not politically correct and I pride myself on that part.  Yes, I belong to a teacher's union but I am not a democrat.  I am independent with NON-liberal views.

Sit back, relax, pass the popcorn and enjoy my crazy never boring life of a single mom!