Morning Girl

Hunger

2010-06-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

I was on the treadmill this morning (newsflash) and I thought about hunger. It's something that I guess has been the root of my "issues" with food. What am I hungry for? It's certainly not the popcorn, or the tortilla chips or the burger and fries, etc. How many times have I felt hungry when I wasn't? When did it start? What are millions of people hungry for? What is Oprah hungry for? Love? Are we all deprived of love? What are we feeding?

2010-06-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

I have decided to focus more on the blog thing again. Talk about my experiences as a parent, working mom, wife, sister and friend. My kids are 13 and 9. My daughter who is 13 just started high school (summer school). She seems to have taken to it pretty easily but this is only summer school, just a training session, not the real thing. I worry about the mean girls and how she will fit in. But she does have a good group of friends that seem to all be "nice" kids. Keeping my fingers crossed and toes.

My son is 9 1/2 and a pistol. He is full of energy, funny and also very moody. He is entering 4th grade in the fall and of course, I worry about him, too. I worry that he'll get the bully kids in his class and that he won't have a great learning experience.

My job is selling toys! I call on small toy stores, museums, gift shops, children's boutiques -- basically anywhere that they might have toys. I have been doing this for about 2 1/2 years now. Prior to this career move I was a stay at home Mom, doing occasional consulting. I enjoy working. It keeps me focused, keeps me busy and hopefully keeps me out of the malls! I am not one of those ladies that likes to lunch all the time or worry about which cleaning product is doing the best job in my bathroom. I really hate cleaning. I did start using Melaluca products and really like them. Anyway, a bit of digression. I like to be productive and this job gives me flexibility and lets me keep my own schedule.

My husband started a new job a few months back and is very busy, traveling a lot! He was just in NY for a week. I worry about him and his stress levels. He is working harder then I have ever seen him work. He is putting more hours in than ever. And, I feel that we are not in sync, not spending enough time together just to talk. I will work on getting better at that!

I have a lot of great friends and feel blessed. I guess the one thing that bothers me is most of my friends are wealthy and we are not. We live in a nice neighborhood but our house needs lots of work. My friends are always sporting the latest shoes, purses, clothes. I love to shop but can't afford the kinds of clothes these women are wearing. I love to find a good bargain and enjoy the hunt. I love Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, TJMaxx, etc. I also love Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and great boutiques. I do love clothes and shopping but just don't have a budget to compete.

I need to continue to work on being happy with my life and not wanting what others have. My biggest challenge, besides cellulite and thunder thighs!

Doing A Bat Mitzvah On A Budget

2009-03-01T13:48:00.001-08:00

That is my frustration right now or obsession. How do I do a great event and not spend $20,000! I am trying to please my daughter, my husband and my guests. And, not spend a fortune. Any ideas?

New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T14:50:00.000-08:00

It's the last day of 2008. A mellow day sort of. I spend the morning working in my pajamas. Then I drop off a catalog to a potential customer and went grocery shopping at Gelson's. I love that store but it's a rip off. I feel like I can get the same great stuff at Trader Joe's for a lot less. I really hate to feel cheated from a company.

Anyway, enough of that, time to reflect on a year that was pretty difficult. Nothing serious like life-threatening but nevertheless stressful. Let's see I started a new job in an industry that I really had no significant experience. Then my husband lost his job. Then his brother lost his job. Then my father-in-law found out his prostrate cancer had resurfaced. My son had a hard time adjusting to Mom being gone a lot. Although it was a blessing that my husband was around, because it eased the transition.

We did have some great travel trips over the year. Even though my husband was unemployed we went on a cruise to the Caribbean. Great trip but we all ended up getting sick. I was glad to see a different part of the world. Then I took the kids up to Seattle to visit my BFF Rayner. We had a blast. Then we did a great camping trip up in Santa Barbara at El Capitan Ranch for 5 days. It's really beautiful and peaceful up there. Finally, we just returned from Lake Tahoe for 6 days. It snowed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! We skiied for 3 days and enjoyed the majestic mountains and lots of yummy food and red wine.

I look forward to 2009! I look forward to more money in my pocket, more equity in my house, less fat on my tush and more peace in my heart. Here's to a great year.

Sick All Week

2008-12-07T06:39:00.000-08:00

Boy, this past week wasn't fun. I had the flu of the stomach variety and spent most of it feeling just plain crappy. I finally felt better on Friday so I took a Pilates class. I enjoy it. It really stretches you out. I was so stiff from laying around and I felt so much better after I took it.

I am not too happy to hear about giving the big three all this money. I think they need to stop taking corporate jets around and learn to fly with the rest of us.

I am off the Las Vegas today -- not for fun -- but for sales meetings. Though I do have fun when I go all the people I work with are great and we have always have a good time.

My sister, the blogger reminded me I hadn't blogged in a while which is true. There are days that I guess I don't have much to say.

Right now I am obssessed with finging after-ski boots. I don't want to spend more than $100. I will continue my search.

2008-11-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was nice and relaxing. I finally got off my butt and went for a little walk with my husband. Then we headed down to my other sister's house in Pacific Beach. My brother was there visiting from Tuscon. We played Garage Band, a game from Discovery Bay Games, that I represent. My brother was the clear winner so I gave him the game. Then we had dinner and boy did I eat...so what else is new? It was all terrific. After dinner we then played Apples to Apples, which is another game I rep...everyone really enjoyed that one, too. Finally, a friend brought Karioke and we all sang. That is something that I would never have done in the past always being shy and not comfortable speaking in front of crowds. Anyway, all was good for the holiday.

Thanksgiving in San Diego

2008-11-27T10:16:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving at my sister's house. It's 10 am the TV is on with the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. My son and husband are playing with his new toy: Blackberry Storm. It's a nice moment. I love just chilling out. Something I don't get to do as often as I would like. Life has been a bit crazy.