Saturday, April 25, 2015

The Moment You Write Up a List, and the Bad Out Weighs the Good

On Monday Travis is handing over his two week notice at his job. I think since he's gotten his job we as a family have been more stressed out, since he got let go after working at the dental lab for 12 years.

When one writes up a list with more negatives then positives; it's time to do something about it.

My husband was hoping his job would be rewarding. He was hired as an art teacher for adults with special needs. There's a lot more to his title that he was never told about.
  1. He's had to work with one adult in particular that has to have his pockets checked for weapons every time he comes in the building. This adult has tried to hurt himself as well as goes up and hits others. He spit in my husband's face last week. My husband can't do anything about it.

  2. Another person is violent. She got mad that she was unable to sit on "her" seat in the van. She got out, and proceeded to beat my husband with her fists. He couldn't do anything other than block himself. 

  3. He can't go anywhere during his lunch break due to the fact that he has to stay with the adults he's responsible for. Therefore he never gets a break, while he's at work.

  4. He never knows when he'll get home. He has to chart, and drive a van at the end of the day, so timing at home gets difficult. 

  5. He had a pay cut from his last job, and the commute is further away.

  6. He has yet to be able to work with the adults on art projects because some are too low to function well enough to work on art, while others are physically able, but emotionally unable to function on art.

  7. We're having to pay into before and after care for our children - when before we didn't.

  8. He has to come home and research about his clients for the following day, and work on charting. 

  9. Other clients beat up on other clients, so the good clients end up leaving. :( 
He went to help with the clients art show last night. Travis is upset that the clients lack consistency. It's not like he doesn't care because he does. He's not a callous person.

He told them he is in fact leaving. The managers were upset. That's one more person they have to train.

We both think that this place should be hiring nurses and CNA's that understand what goes into the client's care. Let them know that art is part of the deal. Anyone can help someone slop paint on a canvas. Not everyone can be a caregiver.

So my husband was trying to give it a go. It just didn't work out.

His old boss called to tell him that the dental lab was sold to someone else. They are swamped. He is paying Travis double to come in to do some cases before the business sells. His old boss never had it out for Travis. His old boss just really made some bad business decisions. We'll see less of Dad for the next 2 weeks. He's working at the lab, and is finishing his job as an "Art" Instructor that never really was an Art Instructor.

After that we'll see what the future holds. One artist is looking for an assistant 20 hours a week, there's a non-profit that has art classes for kids during the summer, and he models. All those little things are opportunities.

Am I worried about the future? Yes that's a Mom's job to worry. I was worried about my husband's safety at his current job. I worried that he'd get majorly attacked. I worried that our kids would regress because he wasn't around as much. I worried that my husband would hate his life. I'm glad he's putting in writing that he's quitting. I only wish that he would have known what he was getting into prior to getting into it.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I'm sorry this is up later than usual. Travis worked last night for a special exhibit that his work was having, the boys were supposed to have friends over today, but I had to call to cancel them. Isaak went to the emergency room last night at 2:30 AM with Croup. Everything is ok. More has been going on, but Ill write more posts on that later.

Question: Do you like a music post each week like I've been doing? Or would you like to see music one week, and learn about a visual artist the next?

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

A student introduced me to Lindsey Stirling. Have you ever heard of here? I have not, but she has a lot of hits on YouTube.

She's a classically trained violinist from Gilbert, AZ. Lindsey entered a futurist world of electronic big beats and animation, leaping through the music industry. She's had over 675 million views on YouTube, Billboard chart-topping hits and sold out tours worldwide.

Lindsey was voted off 2010’s “America’s Got Talent” at the quarterfinals. It turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to her. Rejection has its way of making people work harder sometimes. 

“The same reasons I was told I wouldn’t succeed are the reasons people travel hundreds of miles to see me now. Because it’s different. Because it’s something you haven’t seen before…” Since the show, Lindsey has flourished as an artist.

Source

Roundtable Rival


Shadows



Take Flight


Check out Lindsey's website, visit her on facebook, follower her on twitter and Check out other cool videos on her YouTube Channel.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Random Tid Bits

  1. The main street outside my neighborhood is under construction again. It was like that in the fall to. It's all ok and dandy, except for the fact that I keep forgetting about it. I do avoid it once I see it by going down a side street, and taking the next street to the next main street. I just keep forgetting about it, and don't leave very much extra time in the morning. I want to slap myself. 

  2. I had a student drop out of my class this week. We only have 4 weeks left. He was a student that all the other students would call out. I would take roll (it's a small school), when I got to his name they would say, "He doesn't care." or "He's full of excuses." The crazy thing is that he stayed in the classes that are the core classes - not part of his major. What a waist of money! I know people go through things, but I can't imagine spending so much on school, just to throw it away.

  3. My husband sometimes complains about me reviewing this and that, "We have so much stuff!" As soon as I get something he wants he doesn't complain at all. :) I save so much on gifts. I review things, then set them in my closet for a birthday to come up. 

  4. I love my boys. Isaak has been such a slow poke lately. I go to pick them up at Kid's Club (their after school care), and he hides, acts like he doesn't hear the teacher when she calls him. He says, "I just want to keep playing!" Then it takes him forever to walk to get his backpack. While I'm glad he loves the after school care, I'm kind of annoyed that he's not excited to see me and happy to go home. I never thought we'd run into this. I thought we'd have the opposite problem of the boys hating Kid's Club. It's odd because the older one, Mica is happy to see me, and happy to go home. Isaak's always been a Momma's boy, and Mica's goes to me for somethings and Dad for others.

  5. Mica's in a club after school just on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a few weeks. It's all about learning about your body, and being healthy. At the club they gave him a pedometer. He's been really serious about getting his steps in. It's great!

Dancing Raisins


First off Mica used to have fights with his cousin when the Sun•Maid raisin commercials would come on, "That's my Momma." "No that's my Momma." This went on for a year. I think Evan started it. Silly boy!

My kids are busy this week figuring out their Science Fair projects.

Isaak is working on Dancing Raisins.


Clear Soda and Sparkling water both worked. The raisins were dancing up and down. They pick up the bubbles of the carbonation and float to the top, then sink back down. They keep doing this. It's fun to watch.  


I knew just plain H2O wouldn't work, but I wanted Isaak to try it out. The raisins just sank to the bottom. They just soaked up the water and laid there. 



If you let the raisins stay in each of the drinks for awhile they get fat, and look like grapes.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Label Daddy

Save 20% on Label Daddy labels


Label Daddy is the number one solution for labeling your belongings! Remember to label all clothing, sports equipment, electronics, and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports leagues, day care, vacation, and other places. Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others. 

Isaak loves the labels we got for him before! The boys like their labels on school supplies and things they take for summer camps.


These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! 


Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos:
  • Disney 
  • Marvel characters
  • MLB
  • NBA
  • NHL team logos
  • Other sport 
  • Other fun logos, and more
Their exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp! These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.  
 
Save 20% on your entire Label Daddy order - this is the best discount available anywhere. Use code USFAMILY20 at checkout. http://www.usfamily20.labeldaddy.com



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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using USFamilyGuide. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

New +LIFEGUARD Car Charger 2.1A Review

We lost our cell phone charger for our car. We were wanting 2 anyhow (1 for each vehicle). 

With Travis' newish job the workers communicate through texting. I would die at his job. I just don't text. He needs a cell phone that's charged at all times. I do like to have my cell phone charged to. 

When I got the new +LIFEGUARD Car Charger 2.1A to review I knew my husband would be stoked. It's really something he both needed and wanted.

 
I think for each of our birthdays this year we're getting new phones. I may become SMART and get a Smart Phone. Then I can get an Instagram account and dive into apps that people keep blogging about. :)

I like that this Car Charger can charge 2 devices at once. IQ Technology allows you to charge:
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Samsung
  • HTC
  • MP3 Players
  • Digital Cameras 
  • Other Cell phones
  • Tablets 
  • USB devices with high speed using the +IQ USB jack



Design: 

The +LIFEGUARD 2.1A Car Charger has an amazing design and color.

It comes in silver and black. I like both colors. I chose black.





Powerful and Fast: 

This dual USB Car Charger can quick charge your device when you most need it. My husband was surprised by +LIFEGUARD 2.1A Car Charger - how fast it really did charge.


Lifetime Warranty: 

The +LIFEGUARD 2.1A Car Charger has a LIFETIME warranty and it carries the trustworthy +LIFEGUARD brand. You can count on the +LIFEGUARD customer service crew anytime and anywhere. We'll use ours anytime, but if you don't think you'd use it think again. It's perfect for road trips. It seems like when we travel our cell phones would just run low with battery because we were always roaming here and there. 

I may go back and get another one for our other vehicle. They are only $16.00, and on sale for $10.97.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Mom Fail!

I'll tell you a little story about my Mom fail of the week. 

Isaak had a little problem with a slight bully issue last week. I blogged about it already, but just a quick recap a group of boys were doing something in the bathroom they were not supposed to be doing. Isaak told the teacher. At recess the same group of boys chased after him saying, "Its payback time!" He told an aid, but she was unaware of what had happened previously. She told Isaak to just ignore this group of kids that were after him.

I emailed his teacher because I thought she should know the other side to the story in case the silly situation, that got more serious got worse. This was only my 2nd email to her all year. It took her a few days to check her email. I was thinking she A) Never got the email. or B) Didn't care. 

She both emailed and called me on Friday to say that it would be resolved on Monday. 

Isaak came home Monday and said, "Mom three kids were brought into an office to apologize to me. Damarious didn't do anything wrong. It was Damarion." 

I got the wrong kid in trouble. 

Knowing my son he probably didn't say anything to the person in charge. Like, "He wasn't the one that was after me it was Damarion." 

Instead he told me. He said, "Mom you got Damarious in trouble. He didn't do anything to me."

I felt crappy. The situation was long since passed. I wanted to forget about it. I couldn't. At 4 AM I popped out of sleep, was wide awake, and decided to write his teacher a note. I know now that his teacher doesn't check her email every day. I hand wrote how I messed up, and told her the wrong kid's name.

In my own defense the teacher should have known the kids in on this. She knew the first part to this story. Travis was the one that gave me the names. Technically I'm not the only one that messed up. I should have asked Isaak the names one more time before hitting send on that email. 

I do take the blame. 

Who has a Damarious and a Damarion in the same freaking class? My son does.

I guess when I was little there was an Alicia, a Melissa, and me Alissa all in one class.

Damn that's confusing!

I saw his teacher at the Art and Music Festival and apologized once again. It didn't seem to bother her as much as it bothered me. 

My waking up at 4 AM in the morning really made me feel like a zombie that day.

I couldn't get it off my mind because I thought about this innocent kid getting in trouble not just in school, but possibly by his parents. Some parents are really hard on their kids, while others are not. 

The scene from The Christmas Story came to my mind where Ralphie rats on a friend that supposedly told him the f$@# word when really it was his own Dad. His friend beat by his Mom. My heart melted for him.
 
What's something you've messed up on?

Lingerie Bags - Set of 4 Review

I always put my bras and undies in a lingerie bag. It just so happens that my old one started to tear. I've had it for a long time. I'm glad I was sent a set of 4 Lingerie Bags from Fuse Essentials.


Cost:

$27.99 and on sale for $14.99. I think that's a pretty good cost considering that you get 4 bags - different sizes.

Included:
  • 1 Small Wash Bag: 8" x 12" - Great for Bras, Underwear, hosiery, scarves, mittens and Shoe Laces
  • 1 Medium Wash Bag: 12" x 16" - Great for Multiple Small Items, baby clothing, socks, Lacy Shirts and Skirts
  • 2 Large Wash Bags: 16" x 20" - Great for Stuffed Animals, and Large Clothing Items
I washed my undies in a small bag, and a lacy top in a medium sized bag.




About:

Made with an elastic zipper cover to ensure a quiet, snag-free wash. The zipper seemed sturdy. I have had problems with metal zippers catching on things in the past.

Keeps socks together and stops you from losing them to the mysterious "sock monster". I most certainly have a sock monster at my house.

Made with premium mesh that never rips or tears in the washer. The only lingerie bags you will need for the rest of your life!

Recently I made my own Laundry Detergent. I thought this was a great post to include the recipe my sister Terra gave to me:
  • 1 box of washing soda - Walmart
  • 3.5 cups of citric acid - Amazon
Source
  • 3.5 cups of baking soda - Costco
  • 1.75 cups of salt

  • 6 bars of Castile Soap - Grated - HyVee, Walmart's Website, or Amazon
Source
Isaak loved helping me grate the soap. I just kept telling him to watch his fingers. Mica on the other hand acted like it was the biggest chore he's ever gotten.
  • 120 drops of essential oils - I used lemon - You can get essential oils on Amazon, Whole Foods, or any other natural grocery store
Source
You use 3 Tablespoons per load! It made a ton! If you keep making it, it ends up being cheaper than buying detergent. I know I'll make it again because I have all the stuff. I put where to get the different things because I had to run around a bit to find this and that.

Isaak loved helping me make the detergent. I love knowing that my laundry has less chemicals in it, I know what's in it, and it will last a long time.

Between the Lingerie Bags and the detergent I've made - I feel like I've got the power with laundry. I'll do anything to help protect my clothes.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com