Mashed Potatoes!

This blog is mash up of just about everything going on right now -- briefly.

Whew! Life has been flying right on by! I have so many fun things going on and coming up, I can hardly keep track of the family to-do’s. (Maybe that’s why I forgot to sub out Reggie Bush from my starting line up in fantasy this week…. major failure.) Anywho, Mack is doing great at preschool. He’s making some friends now, mainly his girl friend Madison (a sign?), he also has some guy friends (all with really odd names like Keiondre and such -- I can’t figure them out) which is good. His teacher has told me that he is very compassionate towards the other kids. When a little girl was crying after her mom had dropped her off, Mack went over and gave her a hug and told her “she will be back, they always come back.” So sweet.

Having Mack at preschool has meant several changes around the house as well. For one, the house stays clean! He’s not home pulling out toy after toy all day. Furthermore, Mack comes home with all these new songs and dances that he wants us to sit down in “circle time” with him so that he can “teach us something.” I love it! I figure, the best way to really learn something is to teach it, so he must really be grasping these new concepts he is learning at school. I am very proud of him.

Nick and I have been busy too! Nick’s work continues to keep him working long hours, which secretly -- I think he loves. Nick really thrives off of working hard and being successful in his job, a characteristic I’m not about to knock him for. Love you Nick! Thanks for all you provide for our little family!

Things at my work have been busy as well. It has been busy for a while but I have a whole new plate of responsibilities as tax time approaches. I have been meeting with our CPA a few times over the past couple weeks for hours on end. It really makes me want to pull my hair out. The lady who did my job before me pretty much gave up on getting work done circa 2007. In turn, the books are a mess and there have been a lot of journal entries to correct misposted (or never posted) items. Fun. I am learning a ton though and I have to say that I feel so very accomplished after each little battle I’m able to sit down and tackle. In that sense, I’m loving it. In the continual numbers crunch sense, I’m hating it. The good news is October 1st is just around the corner and my anticipation is to be completely done with all of this come mid October.

Enough about work let’s get to the fun stuff! I’ve been doing fairly good about working out these days. I go home everyday on my lunch break to walk the dogs. I try to do at least one mile but push for 1.5. I know that it’s not a lot, but hey! I have to eat on my lunch break too ya know!
I also started taking Zumba which is just about the most fun thing I have ever done. I don’t always get to make it to the classes but I really love it when I do! I just wish there was more time in the day for all the stuff I want to squeeze in.

Tomorrow is the last day of the six week Ayurveda coffee give up. Granted, there is a lot more to Ayurveda than not drinking coffee, but that is really the most I’ve managed to do. I still want to learn more about this and be better about following the guidelines. I truly appreciate that Ayurveda offers a meat eating option and is very sincere about its approach to the personal choice to become vegetarian. I have to appreciate that there is no slap in the face for eating the foods which in my own personal opinion, I believe we were meant to eat. Had there been some contingency to cut out all meat products I would have thrown away the idea from the start.

And, although I have not been great about eating the ginger mixture before every meal, I have certainly consumed a lot more ginger in the past six weeks than any other point in my life. A little grated into my smoothie each morning, ginger chews in place of chocolate or some other treat I might indulge in, ginger tea in place of coffee. Lots and lots of ginger. I’ve also been more aware of the foods that I am eating. Instead of having cheese and crackers as a snack at work, I’ve cut out the crackers to have just cheese and sliced deli meat (protein!). For dinner, we’ve been including way more vegetables than ever before -- thanks in part to H Mart which sells more vegetables than any story I’ve ever been to before and at great prices.

So what has Ayurveda, the little bit that I’ve committed to, done for me? Lots of things. I am sleeping better at night, my complexion is much clearer, I feel more focused and determined -- more enduring in my tasks. And overall, I feel BETTER. I can’t put it any way other than that. But, I have the energy and joy to be a better mom, a better wife, a better employee. I’m sure that all of these things are not just reliant on Ayurveda or cutting out coffee, but I’m positive that it has been a big part and the introducing factor to the other positive changes in my life. Can’t complain about that!

Things I was excited about last week: MNF at our house, happy hour with Erin (yay for girl time), the Hall of Fame Inaugural Induction Banquet, watching the Newsies with Nick, taking Mack to the Puyallup Fair, and spending the day with my mom on Sunday (shopping and PF Changs)

Things I’m looking forward to this week: MNF at Jersey’s, haircut tomorrow night (finally!), Zumba on Wednesday, the end of the 3rd quarter and being done with taxes!, Kennis being in town!, dinner with our new friends from SCYPN, AND mostly TAKING MONDAY OFF WORK TO SPEND THE DAY IN SEATTLE WITH KENNIS!!! Like pee my pants excited!

Much love guys! I better get to work!