19 years...

WELP ... today marks our 19yr anniversary... I want to be all witty with this, but can't seem to go there LOL!

I will say there have been a lot of different journeys filled with adventures... and ya, some of those adventures still bring heartache, others I still laugh at and yyeess I even get teary eyed too... BUT with aaalll the different paths that have led us to where we are now, with each one I have been taught a great deal! AND OOOOOO LET ME TELL YA... MY HUBBY IS NOT BORING, SOMETHINGS HAPPENIN' ALL THE TIME WITH HIM LOL!!! So, I speak the truth 100% with I say life is an unexpected journey! LOL! ... But,  if you haven't ever thought about it, or experienced it, then that probably sounds weird. I am sure though many of you have had journey's similar to mine, and other journeys I have yet or may never experience. (now wait... with my hubby there is NO tellin'!) No matter, we can all learn from one another. Looking back on our years together, leaves me to wonder about the years to come... what will they be filled with? OR do I REALLY want to go there???? I am sure it will be interesting, cause HA... this past 19yrs sure has been!!! ROFL! Not a dull moment there WOW! :-) But that is just a part of what makes life interestingly ADVENTUROUS!!

Something to make me think "HMM.."

Well, I did some studying today and now my head is spinning... with a slight headache weaved in there. Numbers, and history are what throb through my thoughts, leaving me to unscramble them in my sleep. I am already ready for bed... but ya know, I do feel good about what I studied up on today... kinda gave me a boost really... now to go the next step...

I studied up on the history of technology and the cycle it has repeated over and over and over again. WOW, kinda weird how that happens... leaving us that true phrase everyone has heard on many occasion... History repeats itself over and over again... and yes it has and seems to still do that and we are now in the "change" portion of the repeated cycle. Change is scary... but can be good... you just gotta jump on that wagon and hold on with an open mind and you won't find yourself drowning, only to be eaten by "Wal-Mart" sharks of the world.

I have been studying different marketing strategies... and I don't just mean "how" to "advertise". That is nothing, I mean how to market in a new way, one that is quickly around the corner from where and what we are used to today... and you know, I find it interesting :-) Most of it seems like common since to me... but it is nice to know my thinking, is actually on the right track...

I know, this isn't the "catch up" moment I promised earlier... this is a just got home from work moment and guess what... if that makes since. Anyway, I am leaving this thought as is... maybe to continue it later... but I just wanted to share a few words... and so I did :-)

Day in the Life :-)

Well, the morning started as usual... "Mom, whats for breakfast?" ... "Mom, I can't find my socks" ... "Mom, I need money for lunch" ... "Mom, breakfast done yet?" ... LOL... MOM... MOM... MOM ... Oh my children ... what would they do without MOM ;-) Well... I know I can proudly say I am loved, because between those repeated questions "Mom, I love you" screams out, and I wouldn't trade that for anything!

Okay, now to catch everyone up on all thats happening... where do I even begin?? I guess I will start with my new job, I love it here!! I did work for a grocery chain, and am I glad I am no longer there. I now work with the intellectually disabled and I believe this is where I am suppose to be. They warned me during my training to NOT get attached, well I can't help it, I love them all! I am the manager of the Village Store with 3 staff members under me, and 6 clients. I job coach them, teaching them and showing them what skills are needed to obtain a job in other places. Here we sell purses, home decor, accessories along with items they make themselves (greating cards, jewelry... etc)  ... and my clients help greet the customers, they help with cleaning and we have a blast! I told them this morning during our morning meeting next week is "hat" week. We are having a sale on all hats and hair accessories so we needed to wear something in our hair or on our heads to make it fun... if they wanted to. I told them find funny hats, put all your clips in your hair for a day... they laughed and thought that was fun :-) and ya know, I am excited to have fun with my hair or hat next week :-)

Well now you are caught up on that... I have to go for the moment, and will catch you up on my book "The Secret Within" and the progress there and also fill you in on the other happenings :-)

Talk soon!!

OMGSH!

I must say it has been a while... so much going on and as I write this I glance at the ticking hands on the clock ONLY to realize I have run out of time AGAIN!! This actually makes my... (okay I quit counting) blog I have started ... the others I deleted cause I couldn't finish... but I feel guilty for not at least typing something, so here I am typing something :-)
I will have to catch everyone up on so much.. I will do my best to get here tomorrow...

At least I have a life I am living huh? and yes... Life is Happening... and Life is GOOD! :-)

Hang with me...

Closing the door...

Well, I must say, the door slammed as I walked away from my job the other day... regret, I have NONE! I worked there  as an assistant for a little over three years. What did I learn?? Well, I learned what it was like to actually work in a hostile environment... Do any of you truly know the meaning of Hostile Work Environment? Here let me tell ya, cause I did... but didn't really so here... OH... and this is copied from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostile_work_environment  Anyway... here...

A hostile work environment exists when an employee experiences workplace harassment and fears going to work because of the offensive, intimidating, or oppressive atmosphere generated by the harasser.

A hostile work environment may also be defined as when a boss or manager begins to engage in a manner designed to make you quit in retaliation for your actions. Suppose you report safety violations at work, get injured at work, attempt to join a union, complain to upper level management about a problem at work, or act as a whistleblower in any respect. Then, the company’s response is to do all manner of things to make you quit, like writing you up for work rules you didn’t break, reducing your hours, scheduling you for hours that are in total conflict with what you can do, or reducing your salary. The company’s reaction can be viewed as creating a hostile work environment, one that makes it impossible to work and is an attempt to make you quit so that the employer does not have to pay unemployment benefits.

I stayed with this company for the time I did why?? Well, I know, what I am about to say is NO excuse, and it actually embarrasses me... but I stayed because in this area of the US, the pay was awesome! During my management hours I was payed right at $17 per hour... my husband is disabled, we have 3 kids... and the checks were awesome! So ya, I stayed for the money... while doing so, my boss tells me I would soon start training to have my own store... this pay is $6-7,000 PER MONTH! Yip, you read that right... dang that's crazy huh?! Well, how would that NOT excite?? So I did what anyone else would do and I told my family and friends... hey I WAS EXCITED ...but only 3 days after this... I was told the position wasn't available, WHAT??T they gave my promised position to someone hired off the street... WOW-REALLY?! Okay, so what did I do? HA... nothing. I got mad, upset sure... again who wouldn't? My lesson there, listen to what someone says will happen, and but blow it off, this way when it doesn't happen there is no embarrassment... and yes, I was embarrassed! 

Okay so our boss sits everyone down one at a time, documents in hand and shows us our bonus for the year... COOL! That stinkin checks gonna be enough for the kids Christmas and extra.. how awesome is that or what right?? LOL... get this... After the day the check was suppose to be in the back leaves and is gone for a week, I called and asked my boss.. .where's it at? Here is the excuse given to EVERY ONE in the entire STATE of OK  was simply "Oh, sorry that was a lack of communication" WHATEVER!  ... any way, the lesson I was taught there was, don't spend it until you got it... this I already knew. My reasoning was seeing the exact amount on paper... and because of that, I of course, went on a Christmas shopping spree... I am FINALLY caught up from that...FINALLY! 

I guess I should tell you, the boss is the DM... he/she of the company dictates the happenings that goes on, whether approved or not, he/she has the last word...

So, here I am bustin my rear for this company, picken up the slack of others, and yip they were given all credit... all the while squeezed out like a pimple. The manager and assistant that was under me...there are best of friends...need I say more?? My manager hours dropped... on paper (the schedule) looked as though they were still there, but when I would go to work, I would find that I was pushed back while the friend took the hours and was the charge manager... WOW really.. So I did what I was suppose to do, according to their guidelines and order of operations, and mentioned it to the DM, practicably begging him to NOT let on the I said anything about anything, if he did, things would get worse for me, in a devious way... I was assured nothing would be said, so he calls me a couple of days later and says... I talked to her about what we talked about... and didn't mention you... he must have cause they got WORSE! 

I was taught growing up to respect my elders, and the ones in authority, maybe I let to much happen... I don't know... maybe I didn't speak my mind as most would... there are a lot of maybe's that I am sure I should have done and didn't. In my mind, I was respecting the decisions and wishes of the manager. I was shocked when I gave my two weeks notice because as soon as word got around everyone except the two friends said to me... "If your leavin, I am too, I will not stay here if your not here" Okay, that made me feel good, and bad at the same time. This company runs each store with only a handful of employees... with everyone but the two gone, I actually felt bad knowing their stress lvls were going to be heavy. I kinda think its funny... I think... but really it's sad because the two friends will have to come face to face with their ways... and when they do, they'll have no one... with all said, and all that has been done... and I haven't even skimmed the surface...this may sound crazy... when it happens,and they find themselves alone,  I will still be praying for them, and if they ever needed anything at all... yes, I would be there for them too... 

What I will miss... the people I met through the years... Mr. Ed, he comes in every other day and will buy 8 grape fruits, or 3 bundles of oranges... Clara, I have several of her recipes... Bob and Mary, she has systemic Lupus and Bob would give updates on her progress... I can't name them all, there are way too many, but as I told them I was leaving, many tears were shared... That truly touched my heart, that was something I didn't know would happen... I feel blessed to have met the ones I did, I will miss them, but hope to see them again someday...

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes!

Yield: 4 servings
prep time: 25min

PANCAKES:

1c. all-purpose flour
2tsp. baking powder
1/2tsp. salt
1c. milk
1tbs. canola oil
1 large egg

Prepare pancake batter in a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in milk, oil and egg, just until batter is moistened (a few small lumps are fine)

CINNAMON FILLING:

1/2c. butter, melted
3/4c. brown sugar, packed
1tbs. ground cinnamon

In a medium bowl, mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a small zip  baggie and set aside. You don't want this to remain super-liquidy, it's best if it becomes a consistency similar to toothpaste.

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE:

4tbs. butter
2 ounces cream cheese
3/4c. powdered sugar
1/2tsp vanilla extract

In a medium microwave safe bowl heat butter and cream cheese until melted. Whisk together until smooth, whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract... set aside.

-Heat large skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick spray. Scoop about 3/4c batter onto skillet. Snip the corner of your baggie of filling and squeeze a spiral of the filling onto the top of the pancake. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter and keep in a warm oven until ready to serve. When ready to serve, spoon warmed glaze onto the top of each pancake.

ENJOY!!!!

What is UP with Melaleuca???

First there are some of you that may not know what Melaleuca is.. okay let me put it to you this way... MELALEUCA IS SAFE. Okay now ya know... LOL!! Seriously, Melaleuca is a company that has been around for years, way before the whole "eco-friendly" "go green" stuff started. Why is that? Because it was the right thing then, and it is the right thing now. I can by their spring cleaning special all for only 29 bucks, of course there is that shipping and tax thing... but it is all concentrated and lasts forever!

My daughter likes to "drink" water from a spray bottle, so yes I have several spray bottles around. My son saw a spray bottle sitting on the counter and not paying much attention to its contents took a drink from it...spraying it into his mouth... only to realize -hey that wasn't water!- So he then grabs the other spray bottle not paying attention again and takes another "drink"... LOL!! OMGSH! He tasted the glass cleaner, and the tub and tile cleaner I was using to clean the bathroom... but you know what is awesome about his experience... he did not feel sick at all, his stomach did not bother him and I wasn't worried. Of course I laughed at him cause WOW he did that TWICE with in a few seconds of one another!!! LOL!!! Now on the other hand if he would have done that with Windex, or any other cleaner bought from the local stores... I would have made him drink a ton of water to flush him out along with calling the poison control. I would have freaked!

Well, I guess what I want to say... you should really try this stuff, it is awesome! Check out my links (located to the right)... and your on your way to a much safer home along with wonderful opportunities offered each month. For example, just for joining they are offering $100 in loyalty dollars... which means you receive $100 in free products, and that is just one of the offers among many.