Back in the Saddle

The couponing saddle.  I took a couple of weeks off...and we paid for it.  So, I went back to Publix with my coupons and deal list in hand and got the following items for $9.43.

4 Ronzoni Pasta
1 Publix Greenwise Toilet Paper (4 pack)
1 half gallon Simply Smart milk
2 Sargento Shredded cheese
2 Knorr Rice Sides
1 loaf of Sara Lee Bread

The bill should have been $27.  So - I paid 1/3...not so bad.  The sale at Publix went "live" today, and there were so many things "sold out."  I guess that's par for the course when you are a full-time working mama.  What I should do is get my hubby to take "Lucky" to daycare while I shop first thing Wednesday mornings when the sale starts.  Not a bad idea if I do say so myself!

It's been a while!

Things have been very busy with the new job!  It's a welcome change from my days in the bathroom office. I have a very nice office with a window, a conference table and two chairs, a nice L-shaped desk and sufficient filing space.  I am thankful for my new job and everyone I work with!  I am surrounded by a slew of Type-A personalities, and I am in heaven!  On top of that - everyone is super-nice.  I get the opportunity to use my data management skills, writing skills, and teamwork.

The leader of this organization is truly a dynamic leader.  She has based her meetings and teamwork on the book, Death by Meeting, by Patrick Lencioni.  I finished this book last night and loved it.  The book is a fable that follows a start-up business as it flounders after being incorporated into a larger corporation.  The strategy the company eventually employs (at the encouragement of a recent film school graduate suggests) of meeting planning, preparation, and schema/schedule is fascinating.  I love being a part of this team!

The other day, I went shopping at Publix as Daniel was napping and Welles was working.  I had a few coupons, but didn't prepare as I should have.  I chose a short line to check out after filling my cart, and low and behold, there was an extreme couponer in front of me.  She was buying 12 or so Axe Deodorants, snacks, etc (I came in on the end of the purchase).  The check-out clerk joked that it was the most that he had ever seen her pay, $12 and change.  She giggled and walked out with her buggy FULL of items.  I asked the clerk if she was one of those crazy couponers (one that someday I aspire to be), and he remarked that she "runs one of those websites."  Which one?  www.iheartpublix.com.  He said that she contributes to that site along with a couple of ladies from Atlanta.  A celebrity here in the south was at MY PUBLIX!!!  I took a picture of another clerk helping to put things in her car...didn't want to be too obvious, you know.

Here's a closer look:

I am humbled and embarrassed that I only saved $2.50 on a $75 purchase that day.  I vow to be prepared for every future shopping trip!  You never know when you might run into coupon royalty and get some advice from the very best.

More soon on the new job and my latest escapades!

A new job and a sick baby

I didn't want a whole month to go by without a blog post!  A friend of mine reminded me that I have been neglecting this blog.  It's not that I haven't had anything to write about; more that life has been pretty busy lately. 

"Lucky" has been sick since April 7 - the day I left for that "mom's getaway" in Panama City Beach.  He has had two ear infections, a fever virus, a stomach virus, and now a cold.  Thankfully, I have been able to take some time off to take care of him. 

The day the fever virus hit

In other news, I got a new job!  I will be working in a different department, but for the same employer. The new Department is so excited that I am coming to work for them.  Their excitement has made all the difference in my attitude.  I am so thankful for a change in work status and cannot wait to say "siyanara" to the lovely bathroom office!

More to come - including an update of how we are learning to live with a wild and crazy toddler and getting acclimated to a new job.  Thanks for reading!

A Mom's Weekend - Part II

Sure enough, there was a party going on just outside our hotel...MTV style.

Mind you, we were on the 11th floor.  After staring in disbelief and wondering what in the world we had gotten ourselves into, we unloaded the cart and made a decision to go to the grocery store.  Every elevator that came by was full of screaming teens and we would have to wave them on.  Just as before, the door would open and chanting, hollering, and yelling ensued.  When we were finally ready to give up and abandon the cart, an empty elevator appeared.  We took it back to the lobby and made our way to the car.  The car would prove to be the only peace and quiet we would have on our trip. 

After the grocery store, we had a nice dinner and even discussed, "this isn't so bad."  But our restful dinner was replaced with mass mayhem when we came within 1/4 mile of our hotel.  The hotel was humming and students were stumbling around and yelling all over the place.  We made a mad dash for the elevator and caught one to our floor.  Safe in the hotel room, we got ready for bed.  As predicted, the party was in full swing.  Kids were screaming from their balconies, beating on the railings, and chanting, "Party at the Pool! Party at the Pool!"  or "U-S-A! U-S-A!"  At least they were patriotic. 

The first night, this madness went on until 2:30 in the morning.  It was like a dream, except that we were not asleep - we could not sleep!  We would rest for about ten minutes at a time when the air conditioning unit would turn on and drown out the outside noise.  As soon as it cycled off, we were awake again - running to the window to see what crazy antics these teens were trying to accomplish. 

Where are the parents?  Who in their right mind would allow their teenager to go to spring break in Panama City?  It was the wildest party I have ever seen, and I have been in this world for more than 34 years!  I later found out that at one point - around 2:30 AM, the security guards jumped into the pool after 5 teens, the police arrived, and carted them off to jail.  I have no idea what their offense was, but I was thankful.  Soon after that incident, we were able to get some sleep.

The next morning, I walked onto the balcony and looked in the direction of the pool.  I could not believe that this serene picture was the sight of complete chaos just 5 hours earlier.  Security guards were walking around the pool area.  Someone had picked up a huge pile of soaking wet clothes, flip flops, and swim suits and put it all on a large bench near the pool.  The entire property seemed to be asleep! 

My friend went to the work out room while I made my way to the beach.  It was overcast, but the sounds of the ocean were so peaceful compared to the maddness we had experienced the night before. 

Later, we devised a game-plan for battling the drunkards.  We drove to Target, bought a box fan (white noise), ear plugs, and benadryl.  We then went to a spa and had mani- and pedicures.  The hotel was unusually quiet when we returned around lunchtime.  The teens were still asleep.  We were able to lay out on the beach and relax for about 2 hours before the hoodlums returned to the beach. 

Later, we had an early dinner and came back to the hotel just in time for the party to begin at the pool deck.  We, of course, retreated to our room on the 11th floor.

I am happy to report that the white noise from the fan (on setting 3), Benadryl, and ear plugs sufficiently blocked out the noise from the wild party happening all around us.  The next time we plan a "mom's weekend away," we will research thoroughly the spring break schedules, choose another gulf coast location, and take our party aversion remedies just in case!

A Mom's Weekend - Part I

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine called and asked if I would be interested in going to the beach for a much-needed "girl's weekend."  With work and life as busy as ever, the answer was easy, "Of course!"  So, her husband booked us a room in sunny Panama City Beach, FL using his hotel points.

Early last Thursday morning, we packed up my car and left for our much-awaited trip.  The sun was shining, and for the first time in about 4 years, my friend and I had the perfect opportunity to chat and catch up on each other's lives--without the interference of begging or screaming children.

About 2.5 hours into our drive, my cell phone rang...CDC popped up on my screen.  I'm not referring to the "Centers for Disease Control," but rather, "Child Development Center."  My heart sank, and I got the same pit in my stomach as if it were the Center for Disease Control. 

"Hello, is this 'Lucky's' mom?"
"Yes it is..."
"He has a 102 fever and is walking around like a zombie.  Please come and pick him up."
"I will have someone there to pick him up.  You see, well, I am on my way out of town...maybe I should turn around?  Oh no...thank you for calling."

I was a mess.  While travelling on a country road and in and out of phone service, I called my husband and mom and "Lucky's" pediatrician.  My mother was at a luncheon, but really came through for us.  She picked up my little buddy and took him to his pediatrician's appointment.  The verdict: a sore throat virus and double ear infections.  My mom said he just wanted to be held. 

So, my friend and I continued on our way to the sunny coast, but a little piece of my heart was wishing I could turn around and hold my sick baby.  However, we trudged forward--intent on having the best time we could possibly have.

We never could have predicted what would happen over the next 72 hours.  As we drove closer to the resort parking lot, there were teenagers everywhere.  Greasy, dirty, tattooed and rowdy teenagers lined the streets, walked boldly (and stupidly) in front of cars, and yelled out at passersby.  The thought that this might be a spring break weekend briefly entered my mind several weeks ago, but I never thought it would last into the first week of April.  Our city's own spring break was early in March.  Boy was I wrong.  As it turned out, this was Georgia's spring break.  Several colleges also had their break that week.

We walked into the lobby of the hotel to see several security guards checking wristbands and herding drunk teenagers into and out of elevators.  We were funneled to the check-in area.  The manager of the hotel was not too friendly...

"We are here to check in, the name is Smith," my friend said.
"Yes, I have you down as staying 3 nights.  Now, you know this is spring break, right?"
"Well, yes - obviously."
"It is going to get very rowdy and very loud.  This is not going to be a relaxing situation for you and your friend.  Are you sure you want to stay?"
I said, "We just drove 5 hours to get here.  We are not going home!"
"Well, I am just warning you.  It is going to get very bad."

At this point, we felt like we were being encouraged to go home.  My friend had a look of fear in her eyes and scanned the lobby.  There were teenagers everywhere.  Some teen girls, scantily dressed, made eye contact with her and said, "Ma'am.  I don't think you understand.  This is spring break!  It's a party!  It's going to be loud all night long."

I don't know if we were trying to prove our toughness or what, but we "agreed to stay."  Our reasoning, 1) we could find ways to avoid the stinky teens; 2) we did not want to drive home 5 hours; 3) her husband had donated his hotel points to us, and we didn't want to waste them; and 4) we were by golly going to have a fun girl's weekend!

We unloaded my car and with the help of a security guard, we were shuttled onto an elevator and somehow made it to the 11th floor.  By the way, all weekend long, every time an elevator came to the lobby and the doors opened, a herd of about 20 teens would scream, hoot and holler and stumble out of the compartment.  EVERY TIME! 

The room was nice enough.  My friend went to the window as soon as we walked into what would be our room for the next 3 nights and said, "Oh....my....heavens!" 

View from our 11th floor balcony

...to be continued

It's a Mom Thing

What is it about having a baby that makes a person speech impaired and forgetful?  Lately, especially lately, I have noticed that I cannot speak properly.  I can’t find the right words for the things I am trying to say.  It is so frustrating!  Sometimes I will ask my husband, “can you get me the, um, well, the THING over there???”  He exasperates me by saying, “thing...what thing?  What are you trying to ask me for?”

It’s almost like there is a disconnect between my mind, what I want to say, and actually spitting it out.  I have noticed this verbalization problem since the day I gave birth to Lucky.  At first, I thought it was a focus issue.  I was so focused on maintaining the life of our pride and joy that I was using all of my brain power on him.  Communicating wasn’t a priority in my head.  Therefore, finding the right words to use at the right time just didn’t happen.

Now that he is 1 and is a big ball of energy, it takes even more brain power to keep up with him.  Working full time adds to the suction of brain cells from my head.  Keeping up with work, doctor’s appointments, a headstrong toddler, getting him to daycare, teaching a Sunday School class, paying bills, preparing taxes, etc... etc... etc...   

Forgetfulness also plays a huge role in my recent “is it a mom thing” symptoms.  Memory loss.  Today is the perfect example.  I took my son to daycare, without his backpack.   I remember seeing the cute little blue Mickey Mouse backpack in the backseat of my car just yesterday afternoon.  How can it disappear overnight?  I don’t remember bringing it inside.  Normally, since it only has a change of clothes in it, I leave it in the car.  After dropping Lucky off this morning, I called hubby to ask him to look around for it at home .  Here is our conversation:

Me: “Honey...”

Him: “Yes...”

Me:  “Lucky doesn’t have his backpack.  I don’t know where it could be.  It wasn’t in my car or at school.”

Him: “Well, where is it?”

Me: “Well, I don’t know. I don’t remember taking it out of the car.  There is no logical reason why I would have taken it out...Will you try to find it at home?”

Him: “Yes, Honey.”

........Thirty minutes pass........

Me: “Honey...”

Him: “Yes...”

Me: “Did you find the backpack?”

Him: “Yes.”

Me: “Great! Where was it?”

Him: “Outside hanging on an azalea!”

Me: “WHAT?  I don’t remember taking it outside!”

Him: “Did you have it with you when you got the mail?”

Me: “No.  It was cold and rainy outside!   We didn’t go outside.”

Him: “Hmmmm.  So you don’t remember where you left it? 

Me: pause...thinking...trying to remember..." no..."


Him: "So you don’t know if I am just messing with you.  This is fun!”

Me: “Yes. You are right.  I don't remember. Well, wherever you found it, could you please take it to Lucky?  He needs a change of clothes at school.”

You see?  My husband aggravates me just for the fun of it.  So today, because of my forgetfulness, little Lucky is at daycare without an extra change of clothes until his Daddy can find time to take it to him.  Poor buddy!

The truth of the matter is, this kind of thing happens all the time.  These conversations happen all the time.  Come to think of it, I am hoping that someone will speak up and say, “Yes! It’s a Mom Thing!” 

Coupon Crazy

I know I can do better, but I got all of the items in the picture below for $20.43. 

I know I can do better because as soon as I got in the car, I realized that I could have saved about $4-5 more dollars if I had been more careful with product selection.  Still, I am excited that I got $66 worth of groceries for $20!

8 cartons of Voskos Yogurt
2 cartons of YoPlus Yogurt
1 jar of salad dressing
1 Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats
6 bags of Bird's Eye Frozen Veggies
1 bottle of Suave Shampoo
3 Bars of Dial soap
1 bottle of worscestire sauce
1 Box of Minute Rice
3 bags of dog treats for Missy (Publix paid me to take them out of the store!)
2 bottles of Pantene Shampoo (I meant to get one shampoo and one conditioner--blame it on the baby distractor)

If you are interested, check out the Polka Dot Pantry.  For every person that clicks that link and signs up ($6/month) my fee will be waived for one month).  My friend Kristen (http://www.thesolomonstory.blogspot.com/) posted on Facebook the deals she got last week.  I was so intrigued that I signed up.  Like she said in her Facebook post, the best part of this website is that they only show you the "Free," "Ridiculously Cheap" and "Better than Free" items for sale.  You can sort by the store you want to go to (we mainly shop at CVS and Publix).  So far, I am really excited!  I have been couponing and playing the CVS drugstore game for a year now.  I save about $20-30 per grocery trip, but this site has made me realize the bigger savings.  Thanks Kristin and Polka Dot Pantry!

I won an award...

... and am so honored.  I won the award for the work I used to do--before our office was transitioned.  My boss (and friend) also won an award.  I got a call in mid-January that I had been nominated and won the "Outstanding Woman Staff ," award.  I was in complete shock--me?  I listened as she told me the date of the event and the names of the people who had nominated me.  And then, she told me that my boss had won the, "Outstanding Woman Administrator."  Tears started to fall.  I was so very proud at that moment, and so much more happy for her than for me. 

The truth is that I love the university where I work.  I love so many of the people and have made lifelong friends there.  It just stinks that I am now in a time of transition.  This transition has been very hard, and at times I am crushed and feel useless.  I could do so much more with my time.

In some ways, this transition makes me focus on family, friendships and some of the more important things in life.  I have always been so proud of my career and have loved my job.  Maybe I am in a phase of life where I need to be focused on other things instead of putting so much focus on work. 

The outlook is good!  Opportunities abound, and I am certain that everything happens for a reason.  I know that things will get better and a new career will become available in His timing.

My dad told a story tonight about me as a little girl.  He told someone that when I was 5 years old, I was already using an alarm clock.  I would wake up every morning and get myself ready for school.  My husband laughed and said, "Sounds like she has been a "go-getter" all her life!"

I married a funny man.  When he walked into the reception tonight, he said, "You know...behind every great woman is a good man."  Very true, honey.  Thanks for your support and for making me laugh every day.

Interviewing - Ten Tips

Life has been busy the last two weeks.  I have been interviewing for a new job.  The bathroom got new, nice-smelling furniture...see below.

Still, I am looking for new challenges and ways to further my career.  So...I have been interviewing quite a bit lately.  I actually look forward to interviews, believe it or not.  Last week, I had 3 interviews. 

It's all about having the right attitude, asking the right questions, and being positive.  Below are tips for doing well in interviews (from my perspective.)

1.  Be presentable - dress the part.  I was taught to wear a suit or business attire no matter the position you are interviewing for.  I think this is so important! In college, my mom MADE me wear a dress to interview for a lifeguard position.  I remember feeling so ridiculous!  But, I got the Head Lifeguard job, and later in the summer was awarded Assistant Manager of the Swim/Tennis Shop.  Last year, I was interviewing for a student assistant position.  One student came to interview in a polished gray suit.  His shoes were shined, and his mannerisms and demeanor were also polished.  He got the job on the spot.  Being in administrative offices in the same building of the President of our entity, it is important to always look your best.  In the past we had students show up to an interview in baggy jeans, miniskirts and flip-flops, and jeans with rips/holes.  You can imagine the impression those students had on our "big boss," not to mention if they had been asked to deliver something to the President's office.

2.  Be prepared - know your stuff.  Do a little research on the company before you go to the interview.  Have an idea of ways that you could incorporate your past work experience into the new role.  Ask questions about your role and what is expected.  You can ask the interviewer to elaborate on the skills necessary to be successful and then discuss your expertise with those requirements - or your willingness to learn new skills.

3. Look the interviewer(s) in the eye when you speak to them.  This is a sign of respect. 

4.  Nerves can get the best of anyone.  Take a deep breath and think of the interviewer as a close friend.  Focus on the conversation and talk about your successes in past careers.  Think calmly and ensure that the person recognizes your grace under pressure.

5.  Talk up your strengths and highlight those strengths on your resume when you are speaking to the interviewer.  Key phrases that make a difference include, "determined," "decisive," "intuitive," and "strong work ethic." 

6.  Be honest - no matter what.  During the interview, if you don't feel like this is the best fit for you, the interviewer will respect your truthfulness.

7.  Don't appear to be desperate for a job.  State why you think you would be a good candidate, be friendly, and let the interviewer make the decision that is best for his/her company.

8.  Always write a thank-you note.  I try to do this the same day as the interview.  If you interview with multiple people, write multiple letters and make sure that you make each one unique.  Write something personal - as you would write to a friend.  Mention that you appreciate the time that the person took to interview you.   Write a sentence or two reminding them of your skills.  If you want the job, mention that you would like to hear back from them soon about the next step the company will take.  If you decide that you are not a good fit, say so.  In one of my interviews in January, I knew that the job was not for me.  In the thank-you note, I said, "I sincerely hope that you find the perfect fit for the job."  :-)  It's a nice way to say, "Thanks, but no thanks!"

9.  Be yourself.  This goes along with being honest.  Just be yourself!

10. Don't get discouraged.  In the end, things always work out for the best.  My former boss said something to me the other day as I was telling her my frustrations with not having a new job yet.  She said, "As you move higher up in your career, it takes longer to find the perfect fit in a new position.  Be patient."  Trust me, I am earning my Patience Degree right now!

Achieving a Balance

Last week, my work roomie and I went to a seminar.  Honestly, I was not expecting too much from this session.  I thought the presenter would tell me a bunch of things that I already knew.  However, in the last 5 days, I have come to realize that the seminar made me think quite a bit about how I am using my time. I think that just about anyone can relate to the following tips that I learned, so here it goes:

First exercise: Write 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 on a piece of paper.  Write down the five most important things in your life.  These could be people, possessions, concepts.  Just think, "what is important to me?"  Now, prioritize this list, 1 is the highest priority.  Take your time - consider carefully. 

Now, realistically think about the amount of time each day that you spend on those things.  If these are truly your priorities, you should be giving more of yourself to each thing.  The rating that you gave each item is irrelevant if you are not making these true priorities.  In fact, you could make a second list that has the 5 things that you spend the majority of your day on and then compare the two lists.

So, in this exercise, we define what is most important to us and develop a plan that helps prioritize and balance these things.  If you included a priority to spend more time reading your Bible, wake up 30 minutes earlier and devote that time to studying God's word or in prayer.  After dinner, instead of replying to that e-mail to your boss right away, spend time working with your 1-year old as he learns to take his first steps.  Make time for the things that are most important to you.

We also learned the requirements to having a balanced life:

Learn to value rest, relaxation, and meditation - build down-time into your schedule.  Last night, I turned on one of my favorite channels and just zoned out for 30 minutes.  It was worth it to forget about the stresses of the day.  The presenter also encouraged us to take a 15 minute break from work each afternoon and walk, sit on a bench and people watch, read a book, or whatever is relaxing to you.  15 minutes could be the boost that helps you get through the rest of your day. 

Do not work through your lunch break.  I am so guilty of this one.  Take the hour  to run errands, eat lunch, or take a walk; just be sure you take the whole hour!

Drop activities that zap your time and energy.  For example, instead of trying to figure out how I can fix our washer/dryer, I should spend the extra money towards labor and hire someone to fix it.  I love fixing things.  I have replaced all lighting fixtures in our home over the last 3 years.  I would have made a great electrician!  I would probably enjoy taking the washing machine apart.  But, it might take me 4 hours to fix.  That four hours would certainly be more useful doing something on my priority list.  Key point: Sometimes it is worth it to pay an expert to do the tasks.

Good nutrition matters.  I will say that I feel better than I have in a long time - now that I am concentrating on eating healthy.  Dropping 25 pounds has made a difference in how I feel each day.  My clothes fit better, and I feel better about myself.  I am eating foods that give me energy.  I used to have knee pain.  My knees feel so much better now that I am not carrying around that extra weight.  If you feel good, you will have a better attitude when struggles come along.

Regular exercise is important.  One of my favorite things about the spring is walking after work.  It is the one time when we can catch up on the day and visit with neighbors.  Exercise and good nutrition help give you the energy you need to manage your day to day priorities.

Good Support Systems are essential.   Spend time with your friends and family; don't be afraid to lean on them for help. 

Meaningful Work.  Are you in the right job?  Are you being challenged?  Do you enjoy waking up every morning and heading off to work?  If the answer is no, you may want to consider a career change. 

Find time for Humor, Laughter and Play. Proverbs 17:22 reads, "A merry heart does good, like medicine..."  One suggestion is to put "fun" things on your calendar.  Whether it is a date night or Pizza night at home, having something to look forward to in the days and weeks to come makes a big difference.


See the excerpt below from The Mayo Clinic:

Short-term benefits
A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

I challenge you - not just working parents - to evaluate your goals and priorities.  Come up with family goals.  Where do you want to be in 5 years, 10 years, etc.  Evaluate the time you are spending with the things you consider to be your priorities.  If you feel like you are well-adjusted, then good for you.  If not, incorporate some of the balanced life suggestions listed above.  Make time for the things that really matter.

The other day, in response to my complaining about the "bathroom office," my husband said, "If you don't like something, change it.  If you can't change it; change the way you think about it."  So, I purchased the outhouses calendar.  It adds a little humor to the office.  The quote for February reads, "Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world; until the world will be sorry that you retire." - Samuel Johnson.

Empowered, Accomplished and Helpless...

Yesterday must have been opposite day.  There were so many times I felt accomplished and empowered.  At other times, I felt helpless. 

It all started when my husband left at 8:15 AM Sunday for a business trip.  My foundation is leaving? For the first time in our marriage, he will be away for 6 full days and five nights.  I have mentioned that I was once a nanny and have spent multiple nights/days caring for little ones.  In my nannying days, I cared for 2 year old triplets one summer, and for a newborn, a four-year-old, and a 9 year old my senior year in college.  For some reason, the thought of "going it alone" with my little one frightened me.  As soon as dear husband's car left the driveway, I glanced at the clock and had an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach...how am I going to do everything that needs to be done without his help?

feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED:  I took "Lucky" to church and enjoyed an hour with my eighth grade class. They are finally coming out of their shells! 
 
feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED: We enjoyed a lovely lunch of Kraft  Macaroni and Cheese, mixed fruit cups, and turkey slices.
feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED: He took a 3 hour nap while I straightened the house and baked a loaf of banana bread.  I even got a 30 minute nap!

feeling HELPLESS: He woke up fussy.  Where's Silly Daddy when you need him?

feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED: We took a 30 minute walk and he practiced walking in the driveway.

feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED: We stocked up at the grocery store. Saved $20 by using coupons.

feeling HELPLESS: Put a load of wash into the washing machine.  Hear a loud "CLICKING" noise at a time when it should be spinning, spinning, spinning....enough to put me over the edge.  I seriously contemplate buying a new washer to replace this 10 year old one.  I even go so far as to look in the Sunday circulars for a "good deal." 

feeling HELPLESS: Don't even want to "think outside the box." Tell husband when he calls that I'm planning to get a new washer.  He reasons me into seeing how much the part/labor will cost to fix it.

feeling HELPLESS: Baby is fussy - throws a major temper tantrum.  Kicks, screams, and pounds his fists on the playmat in his playyard.  I can't figure out what he wants.

feeling HELPLESS: My sister isn't coming to help out.  She's facing personal challenges of her own.  Insert frowny face with big crocodile tears here! :-(

feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED: Give baby a bath.  He's happy for 10 mintues.  Dry his hair and give him a bottle.  My eye is on the clock...it's only 6:15.  Bedtime is at 7:00 PM.  I take a chance and put him in his crib.  Within 30 seconds, he is sound asleep.

feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED: Finish taxes and file them. 

Thankfully, I ended the day feeling EMPOWERED and ACCOMPLISHED.  Still, this week is not going to be easy.  I'm going to try looking on the bright side of things. Updates coming soon!

My little valentine

I stopped by daycare today in the middle of the day.  Honestly, I do not know how the teachers at the center do it.  8 out of 10 children were sitting quietly on their cots.  The other two were still sleeping.  "Lucky" was awake and was so excited to see me.  But, oh! He really wanted to come off of the mat to see me.  His teacher, Ms. Kristie, said, "Lucky, you need to stay on the mat until 2:30." And he straightened up, looked her in the eye, and...get this...he listened to her!  I am not kidding.  He even let me take this picture:

My little valentine turned 14 months last week.  Most of the children in his class are at least a year, but there are a few in the class around 10 months of age.  Every single child was sitting nicely on their cot until 2:30. How do they do it?

He minds so well at daycare.  We hear, "He's always happy," or "he rarely cries."  Um, hmmmm.  How should I put this?  To us, "Lucky" is a fussy baby.  He has very good moments - don't get me wrong.  His best times are first thing in the morning and just before he goes to bed.  We see our share of tantrums, yells and fusses.  So, are we spoiling him?  Are we strict enough?  What are we doing wrong?

Naturally, I want the times that he is with us to be the very best.  I know that things will not be rosy and happy all of the time.  But I have to wonder, is there a right way and a wrong way to parent a 14 month old?

I asked the pediatrician at our 1 year visit, and he told me to read the James Dobson books.  I asked another pediatrician a couple of weeks later at a sick appointment, and he said, "Please do not read the James Dobson books."  The second pediatrician said, "The parents who seem to have all the answers are the ones we worry about.  The ones who ask us for advice tend to be the ones who are doing a great job."  Really? 

The second pediatrician also said that "Lucky's" Terrible Two's were not going to be as terrible since he is a Terrible One.  Anyone else ever heard that one?

Do any of you out there in internet land have any suggestions, book reviews, or even books to share?  We are up for anything and welcome your thoughts!

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

Fish is very easy for a working mom because it really takes no time at all to bake or grill.  I usually cook rice or new potatoes and mixed vegetables with fish .  I get home from work around 5:15, and I can easily have the above meal cooked and ready to eat by 5:45.  My husband found the following recipe and cooked it last week.  Our 14 month old loved it and ate an entire fillet by himself!

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
2 Tb Butter, melted
1 Tb plus 2 tsp. Mayo
1 Tb lemon juice
dash of dried basil
dash of ground black pepper
dash of onion powder
dash of celery salt
4 fillets of Tilapia

• Preheat the oven broiler and line your baking dish with aluminum foil.  Spray with Olive Oil Spray (or Pam)
• Mix together all ingredients (except the tilapia). Set aside.
• Arrange fillets in a single layer.  Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 -3 minutes on each side.  Remove from the oven and cover with the Parmesan cheese mixture. Broil for 2 more minutes until the topping is browned and the fish flakes with a fork.

Just lovely!

I sit in the bathroom office.

I sit in the bathroom office.  My job still feels like it is in a state of transition.  Now that I am “working” in the bathroom office, it feels even more unreal.

What is a bathroom office?  Quite frankly, until about 3 weeks ago, this “office” was a bathroom.  There was a toilet, a sink, tile floor, and a counter top.  I think that there were two or three people in the suite that used it as their primary restroom.  With the office staff growing, the upper management decided to transform (with the help of a construction team) it into a working office.  It’s small, y’all!

About the same time, upper management decided to put a wall up in my former window suite – the one I shared with a sweet and friendly roommate – and create two separate spaces.  For that construction to happen, we had to be relocated.  As luck would have it, I ended up moving into the “bathroom office” temporarily – or so I thought.  This is starting to sound like the movie “Office Space.”  You know, the movie where the guy who loves his stapler keeps getting moved around from one crappy cubicle to another.  I think he finally ends up in the nasty damp basement.  Poor thing!

Construction came and went and my old window office is now sitting empty.  I am still here in the “bathroom office.”  It wouldn’t be so bad, except that everyone refers to it as the “bathroom office.”  Another part of the issue is that my job is still evolving. 

To cope, I have decided that I will find some pictures of toilets or bathrooms and frame them to decorate this office.  I found a great calendar that I could deconstruct and use for the pictures here or here.  Additionally, a friend down the hall plans to bring me a “sense and spray” air freshener.  The same friend gave me the flowers you see in the picture. 

For now, I will continue to dwell in my bathroom office...until I move again.  Thankfully, I don't think this building doesn’t have a nasty damp basement!

Valentine's Day.....Schmalentine's Day!

DISCLAIMER: This blog entry has absolutely, positively nothing to do with being a working mom...it's just one of those stories I thought I would share.

I have never had a particularly good Valentine's Day.  I remember that February 14th my freshman year in college was a very drab day.  I walked into the dorm (good 'ole Tut, for those of you who attended UA) from my morning class, and there were bouquets of flowers EVERYWHERE!  This dorm had 13 stories with about 50-75 girls on each floor, so you can only imagine the chaos of looking through the mountains of bouquets to see if you were special enough to receive flowers.  I remember thinking how nice it would have been to walk over to a nice arrangement of gerber daisies and see my name on the tag.  However, I was not dating anyone at the time.  My best friend received not one, not two, not three....but four bouquets of flowers from four different guys that year.  I was in her room when the third and fourth bouquets were delivered, and like a good friend, I walked downstairs with her to pick both up.  You would think that she would have offered to let me take care of one of those arrangements.  But, no such luck.

I was dating someone my sophomore year.  Neither of us were interested in going out for dinner--he was the shy type and I don't like crowds.  We decided to keep gifts under $10 and I cooked dinner for him at our apartment.  I got him a goldfish and cooked a lovely meal (Chicken with a Lemon Cream Sauce, rice pilaf and green beans).  He got me a t-shirt.  Hmmmmm.  Boring

My junior and senior years, I hosted parties for friends who were "dateless."  This was actually a novel idea, and both guys and girls attended.  I cooked the famous Chicken with Lemon Cream Sauce and the group would usually go to a movie afterwards.  There were no expectations--just a regular old evening with friends.

As I got older, I disliked Valentine's Day more and more.

Until, I met him...you know...the man who is now my husband.  We met in August, met again two months later, and then started dating in November.  We spent time together at Christmas and on New Year's Eve/Day, and it all seemed so magical that we collectively decided to go all out with celebrating Valentine's Day. 

on the front porch in a swing...Winter 2000-01

After all, we owed a lot to "Cupid" for bringing us together.  I wore my cute red skirt, tall black boots and a flowery shirt to work that day.  I was so ready to have a REAL date for Valentine's Day!  I floated through the day, counting the minutes until 5:00 PM. 

Sometime around 3:00, I was paged over the intercom system.  My stomach flipped over at least twice!  Several of my coworkers had received floral arrangements that day.  Every time it was the same...they received a page over the intercom system, would walk upstairs, and then return with a huge smile and a bouquet of pretty red roses.  Could "he" have sent me flowers??? 

I strutted up the stairs, hoping for the first time that I would get a flower delivery.  The receptionist greeted me with a smile.  "Sherry, you have received a delivery..."  I looked around the reception area, but didn't see any flowers.  What kind of delivery?  "...but it was sent to one of our satellite offices."   Da da da da da........

I almost didn't hear what she was saying. It turns out that even though he had given the florist one of my business cards WITH MY WORK ADDRESS ON THE CARD, mind you, the delivery was made 17 miles away from my office.  Sorry for shouting.  I still wonder why things like this happen to me.  I think that the Good Lord above is desperately trying to make sure my life is adventursome.

Thankfully, my sweet boyfriend picked me up after work and drove me all the way to the satellite office to pick up the roses.  They were beautiful - the prettiest roses I had seen.  They were pink with dark pink on the edge of the petals.  I have a picture somewhere.

After picking up the roses, we decided to go to dinner.  I guess since neither of us had experienced a good Valentine's Day to that point, we didn't realize that you had to make reservations.  We probably stopped at 6 different locations only to hear, "there's a 3 hour wait..." or, "what do you mean you don't have a reservation on Valentine's Day?"    We ended up having a very lovely meal at a Japanese restaurant at a table with about 4 other couples we did not know who had apparently struggled with long waits and no reservations at other restaurants. 

All in all, it was still the best Valentine's Day either of us had ever had. 

Nowadays, we go out to dinner several days before or after V-day.  I usually buy him a pair of shoes, and he usually buys me donuts and a flower or two.  He's never tried to send me flowers again.  And I completely understand why.  It's just funny how things work out.  And it all seems to be perfectly fine...with or without a Valentine's Day bouquet or fancy date.

Valentine's Day 2010

Thanks for reading my horrible and sometimes very boring and pitiful Valentine's Day stories.

Good night.

Sleep Training

I never thought a child would have to be trained to sleep.  I remember babysitting one family in particular.  I kept their child when he was almost a year old.  Putting him to sleep was easy--I gave him a bottle, laid him in his bed...and he went to sleep and never cried. 

"Lucky" was fairly easy to get to sleep until the age of 11 months.  Then, something changed.  It might have been the fact that 6 of his teeth (including four 1-year molars) came in during the month of December.  Or it could have been the illnesses.  Whatever the reason, the process of getting him to sleep took well over an hour each night.  After a day of working, driving home, and cooking, I was mentally and physically exhausted each night by the time I put him in bed. 

A handful of times, "Lucky" would wake up in the middle of the night.  This happened most when he had an ear infection.  Not often, but on occasion, I would put him in the bed with us.  I would place a boppy on the bed between us, and "Lucky" would peacefully go back to sleep.  

But those occasions were so rare.  Why, suddenly, was it nearly impossible to get him to sleep?  What were we doing wrong?  We were following the same routine that we had since he was just months old. 

After asking co-workers for advice, I decided to do some research on the internet for the best advice.  I went to one of my favorite online stores, amazon.com,  and used the "look inside the book" feature to find the books that I thought matched our parenting style.  I finally settled on two, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, and The SleepEasy Solution by Jenniver Waldburger and Jill Spivack. 

I gave one book to my husband and I took the other. Mind you, the problem wasn't sleeping through the night; once we got him to sleep, he usually slept about 10 hours.  The issue was with getting him to sleep.  We decided to read a few chapters before actually starting the process.  What we found (both books agreed on several items), is that we were putting Lucky to bed too late.  We weren't recognizing his "tired signs," and it was causing major problems.  According to The SleepEasy Solution, when your body becomes overtired, it produces a hormone called cortisol which acts as a stimlant.  Think coffee or adrenaline.  We were keeping Lucky up too late, and he was catching his second wind.  When we were ready to put him to sleep, he was wired.  No wonder it took us so long!

Finally!  We knew what we had to do.  It wasn't going to be easy, and both books agreed on that fact. The keys to it all...1) put him to sleep an hour earlier (7PM), 2) follow a strict routine before bedtime and keep that routine, 3) always put your child to bed drowsy - not completely asleep, and 4) ensure he gets 11 hours of sleep.  Honestly, I was suspicious and didn't think any of it would work.

We decided to try the recommended practices in the book and see how it went.  We had already been using a white noise machine and kept his room dark.  We gave him a bath, put on his pajamas, read a book, and gave him a bottle.  While he was not quite asleep, I laid him in his crib.  At first he didn't cry.  And, he was fine for the first check-in (sporadic check-ins make a big difference).  After the first check-in, however...he fell completely apart.  I pretended to walk out of his room, but just as I pulled the door open, I "hit the deck" and crawled back below his bed where he couldn't see me.  This time I would have to wait double the time for the second check-in.  I watched the clock and watched him as he cried standing up in the crib.  He was heartbroken...and I was too.  I really wanted to stand up and cuddle him in my arms and say to heck with the whole thing.  I wanted to rock him to sleep - not caring that it might take another hour. 

But something inside said, "wait it out." So, I listened to the little voice.  Lo and behold...before the next check-in time...he was sound asleep!  I was completely shocked.  How could this happen?

The second night, I was confident.  We started the routine at 6:30.  He got a bath, we put on his pajamas, read a book, and he drank a bottle.  Then, he did something strange.  He climbed on my shoulder and turned his head to the side.  He was putting himself to sleep!  After a few short minutes, I decided that I should put him in the crib.  He only cried for 2 minutes--if that.  And voila--he was asleep! 

The wonderful thing about this process is that twice he has been put to sleep by other family members, and it works for them too!  We can go out on dates now!  As long as the sitter knows the routine, we are golden. 

After 5 weeks, I can honestly say that things are so much better.  We have had one set-back this week.  "Lucky" has been waking at 4:58 for the last 5 days.  Thankfully, the books we have address "early wakers."  The experts say to continue your check-ins as if it were night-time.  We plan to attempt that strategy tomorrow morning, and I will let you all know how it goes.

My point is that if your child is getting enough sleep (both books agree that 11 hours is average and needed for young children), you should be getting sleep too.  It's worth giving sleep training a try if you are experiencing any issues with your little one.

Monday

Mondays aren't my favorite...especially rainy Mondays.  But, if I needed a smile today, I just listened to this link of my sweet baby laughing himself silly...



I went to the doctor today and got some meds for a sinus infection.  I am already feeling much better!  Thank goodness for modern medicine!

Not the best weekend of record

As a working mom, I truly live for the weekend.  I like my job, but right now it is in a state of transition, and I don't love it like I used to.  I love having 2 days at home with my family.  Things usually fall into place, and we make the most of every minute. 

Friday - oh Friday started off pretty bad.  I have been battling the same cold for almost 3 weeks, so that sets the stage.  I had to be at work at 7:00 to help with registration for a conference.  We all woke up at 5:00 AM and started the day.  Lucky was dropped off at daycare at 6:45, and I think he might have been the first child to arrive.  After dealing with ornery conference attendees (one lady was upset because her nametag read N-a-n-c-y.  Mind you, that spelling came from her check.  However, she goes by J-e-n-c-y.  Drama ensued), I walked back to the office and hit the ground running with one request after another.  My new boss called with a list of things to do.  It wouldn't have been so bad if I had felt better and had everything I needed to get the job done.  I am in a temporary office and didn't have access to everything I needed.  I have a sweet suitemate who let me use her temporary office for a while (they are building a wall in our former suite to make two separate offices for us.)  Long story short, as the day went on, I felt worse and worse.  I left at 4 only to pick up a baby who had fallen and bumped his two front teeth.  Everything seems to be OK, but it's pretty scary to pick up your child and see that his gums are bleeding above his two top teeth. After a dose of tylenol (for both of us) and a dinner of leftovers, I was able to get him to sleep without too much trouble and got in bed at 7:30 or so. 

Saturday - Still not feeling up to snuff and blowing yellowish-green out of my nose. Lucky wakes us up at 4:49. AM.   Hubby goes for a morning run and I entertain baby with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while I nurse a cup of Theraflu.  I don't even remember the number of fits that Lucky threw.  Maybe he is getting the sickness all over again, too?  To distract ourselves from the frustrating circumstances, we decide to go out to lunch, to Target, and to a birthday party for 4-year-old twins.  Honestly, the bouncy-house birthday party was the highlight of the day.  Lucky fed off the energy of the older kids and had a great time. We went home, ate a frozen pizza and went back to bed for 11 hours or so.

Sunday - still sick.  When will it end?  I am thinking of swiping the humidifier from Lucky's room! Oh - we ignored all advice in every baby book and placed a warm mist humidifier in his room.  I am sidetracking here - we had a cool mist humidifier and used it whenever he was congested for the first 9 months.  Then he got the croup.  The cool mist did nothing to help.  The only relief we got for the 6-or-so days with the croup was from steaming up the bathroom and giving warm juice - all recommendations from a nurse at our pediatrician's office.  After that illness, we ditched the cool mist and bought a warm mist humidifier.  I clean it after each use, and it actually helps.

Back to Sunday...I would have loved to stay home and sent Hubby to church with the baby. BUT - I had to teach Sunday School this morning.  I am teaching 8th grade girls, and after 4 months, they are finally opening up.  For a while there, I was the only one who did any talking.  Anyway...we went to church, came home, put Lucky to sleep and just as I was lying down to nap, he woke up...Dang!  I truly understand and relate to the phrase, "No rest for the weary!"  Last, but certainly not least, Lucky peed all over my shirt and pants just as I was putting him into the tub.  It wouldn't have been so bad if i didn't have my cell phone in the pocket he peed on.  It didn't turn on for a while, but seems to be working after a couple of hours of drying out.
So now, I am here typing and counting the minutes till I can go to bed.  I don't feel rested, and would love to call in sick tomorrow.  But - I can't selfishly use up any more sick days.  I will go to work, start a new week, and pray that things are better next weekend.

Am I the only one who lives for the weekend?

How I lost 20 pounds in 4 months

I have never liked the word, "diet." It stresses me out, and makes me want to eat more.  I have never been completely happy with my body.  In high school, I had what could be termed as an eating disorder.  I went off to college and didn't think much about food, but didn't obsess over thinness.  After graduating, I developed a love for cooking.  Thankfully I married a man who also liked to cook--even though he was in the restaurant business.  Six years later, we had a baby.

I was back to my pre-maternity weight about 6 months after "Lucky" was born, but I was still overweight.  Spanks were my best friend. About that time, my husband went to see his primary doctor and she encouraged both of us to go to the Diabetes Nutrition class.  Honestly, we dreaded going to that class as much as we dreaded the birth classes we had to take the year before!  But - something finally clicked for us both after going to that class.

We first met with a nurse.  She explained the way your body acts and reacts to food.  She spent the first hour and a half helping us understand the disease and how differently it affects different people.  I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia (basically the opposite of diabetes) about 10 years ago, and the nurse suggested that I follow the nutritional plan as well.  We had read the book New Glucose Revolution, and knew the difference between eating the good kinds of carbs and the carbs that are bad for you. What we didn't know is that serving size makes an even bigger difference than the types of carbs you are eating.  For the next three hours, we met with a nutritionist.  She taught us how to count carbohydrates and helped us with a special formula to determine how many servings we needed each day.

The most interesting thing I learned is that the portions we were eating were entirely too big.  I wasn't eating the wrong foods--and this was very nice to hear--I was eating the wrong amount of those foods.   We were taught how to read the labels on the back of food packages and determine how to add those into our daily totals.  Since I love math and statistics, I turned it all into a game. 

I do not claim to be an expert on anything, but I feel like I have mastered this meal plan.  One "carb choice" equals 15 grams of carbohydrates.  Some examples of 1 carb choice would be a small (very small) apple, 1/2 cup of pasta, 1 granola bar, and 1 slice of bread. I started out eating 3 carb choices at breakfast, 1 snack around 10AM, 3 carb choices at lunch, 1 snack around 2, and 4 carb choices at dinner.  I think this was equivalent to about 1400 calories a day.  I did not go to bed hungry!  The snacks throughout the day really helped.  And the best part is, after about 3 weeks of following the plan, I got to the point where I felt full after eating the right amounts.  If we went to a restaurant and there was a huge portion, my stomach told me when to stop eating. 

In the class, we learned that it is so important not to deprive yourself anything - especially if it is something you are craving.  It can be very easy to incorporate a craved food into the plan--1/2 cup of ice cream after dinner, for example, equals one carb serving.  I also went to CVS and bought dark chocolate morsels.  3 of those made up one carb choice, and many afternoons, that snack allowed me to make it through to dinner.

We started this meal plan in mid-July.  Several nights each week after work, we would walk 2-3 miles.  It was harder to do that once the weather changed and the time change occurred.  I will say that it was a great way to catch up on the day and just visit with each other.  Our walks were a nice reatreat from work and stress.

About 2 months later, people started noticing that I had lost some weight.  3 months later, I would get comments like, "you look great!"  Those comments and the fact that none of my pants fit were the fuel that motivated me to stick to the plan.  I am at the point now where I feel like I need to tone the typical problem areas.  If I can add 10 minutes to the day, I want to start crunches, arm weights, and lunges.  In the meantime, I take the stairs at work, walk 6 blocks to meet a friend for lunch instead of driving, and continue to follow the plan.

If you are interested in this system, I can send you the formula for determining the nubmer of carb servings you should eat each day.  It's not rocket science, and it's not a diet.  It's a nutritional meal plan that is very easy to follow.  I would be happy to help you with explaining the meal plan as well.  I don't have before pictures, but I will try to upload some current photos soon.

Little things that really make a difference

Since I leave the house just before 7 AM, I have found that it is important to plan ahead.  It's no easy feat, but I will say that getting to work by 7:30 is do-able.  Below are some little things that I do to be sure I make it to work on time.

1. As soon as "Lucky" wakes up, usually around 5:45 AM, I change his diaper and put his school clothes on.  He drinks milk and watches Disney while I get ready.
2. Drink a cup of coffee.
3. Before he switched to sippy cups, I would make 3 bottles every night and put them in the fridge.  We would grab them just as we were walking out the door.  Now, we don't make meals or take milk/juice because it is part of the childcare program.
4. Similarly, I would pack his bag every night.  Since he spit-up often, we would pack 3-4 changes of clothes.  When he was eating baby food, I would pack that in his bag as well.
5. Keep a roll of paper towels in the car.  I keep mine hidden under the seat--they have really come in handy.  Additionally, keep some diapers and wipes in the back pocket of your car seat. It almost sounds like I am preparing for battle.  In a way, I am!
6. Whenever I look over Lucky's take-home note and see that he is low on diapers/wipes, I put those in the car as soon as I get home. (We have a good stockpile of diapers and wipes thanks to the Amazon.com Mom's program.  I get a 3-pack of the wipes listed for 15% off just for being a mom.  Then, for using subscribe and save, I get an additional 15% off...a total of about 12 shipped!  Amazon Mom's get a free 2-day shipping (Amazon Prime) for one year---you get 1 month's credit for every $25 you spend in the baby/child section.  Even with a coupon, one pack would cost about $7 at CVS or your local grocery store.  This is a great deal! You can get a similar deal with diapers.  We buy Luvs Size 5 and use the extra 20% off coupon in Parenting magazine each month.  In all, we pay about $17 shipped for 150 diapers.)

7.  I accidentally cut my hair very short.  I didn't mean to do this.  See that short haircut in the right sidebar?  Just before she started cutting, my hairdresser said, "now you like it short, don't you?"  I said, "yes..." and before I knew it my hair was on the ground.  It worked out well, though, because I can wash, dry, and straighten my hair in no time. 

8.  This one is a strange thing--I think about what I am going to wear as I am trying to go to sleep the night before.  I usually fold laundry at night, so I know what I have to choose from for the following day(s).  If I already know that I am going to wear a certain dress, I am not changing clothes a million times before getting ready for work.

9. Since I lose my keys so frequently, I have to be sure that I put them in the same place time after time.  They belong in my purse, so when I turn off the car, and before I get out of the car, I place them in the front pocket of my purse.  If I forget and they end up in the pocket of my jacket, well, I have just wasted 3 minutes the following morning looking for my keys.  One friend told me to verbalize where I am putting things and it helps remember where you have put them.  "I am putting my keys in my purse."  I haven't tried this--I will let you know if it works.

10.  I try to think about what I will take for lunch the following day the night before.  The easiest option is lean cuisine.  I can grab this out of our freezer as I am heading out the door.  Sometimes I will use leftovers, but if I don't have a container handy, this is not the fastest option. Side note: I don't know where all the lids to those containers go--does the dishwasher eat them?  I guess the most reasonable thing to do would be to fill containers with leftovers in lunch-sized portions after dinner each night..  I am not that organized...yet!

Getting all of your ducks in a row makes the biggest difference in getting to school/work on time.  Please leave a comment and let me know your suggestions.