I'm Zapped~the Zapien family saga

The Gym: The Horror

2010-03-15T09:18:00.017-05:00

First of all, I woke up early and was at the gym by 7:30am, one day following Day Light Savings so I still had heavily creased sleep lines when I showed up this morning WITH MY CAMERA. This was one step nuttier than taking pictures at Aldi. Just smile and act like you're supposed to be doing it.

Today, I'll show you my favorite piece of gym equipment the Elliptical. It's basic purpose is to offer a cardio workout machine that uses muscles that simulate running without the impact and stress on your joints. My gym only has four of these for some reason and they are normally being used. I guess I should add here that I am not a proffessional or a trainer, but neither are you. Most people at the gym aren't, so why are you still so nervous to walk in the door? But let's be honest we are all nervous at the gym to start with.

First just step on and start moving. It's so funny, most people don't want to look like they don't know what they're doing so they just get on and start pushing buttons. (GUILTY). Anyway the machine realizes this and it won't even do anything until you get on and start.

This machine gives you two options. You can choose a program or a "quick start" option.

If you want to do the program:

1. Press Enter

I chose the first program. 30 minutes

Here is me working hard! 2 calories burned. Let's move on.

This is my favorite

It's like having your very own personal Jillian!

Okay, but notice I am pressing, now the Quick Start option.

This is a simple option. You simply press and go. You can stay on for as long as you wish.

2. The Crossramp feature.

This feature may be unique to this machine. It's designed to alter the height of the elliptical path....whatever, it basically adjusts to work different muscle groups in your lower body. This machine is great because even during a "good" workout, your body doesn't feel the fatigue that you might feel on a treadmill. I actually enjoy working on this, especially with a good song on my iPod.

Next you can increase or decrease your resistance. I call it the "hill feature" If you were walking or jogging an outdoor course, you will inevitably encounter adjustments in terrain. You can make your hill higher or return to flatter ground.

Here is all that writing

and I guess I should show you what the dang thing look like, huh?

That poor girl. I 'm so sorry I took your picture while you were working diligently on a treadmill wihtout doing your hair and then post it forever on the internet. I hope we can be friends.

This is why you don't come to the gym isn't people! This is probably not a normal occurrence.

A FEW MORE TIPS:

Everyone at the gym is self-conscious...it's why they're there

The equipment is not perfectly adjusted to your weight, height, and ability, so no one will think you're weird if you take the time to adjust the machines. Feel free to read the diagrams and directions.

Show up with a friend and you both can laugh at each other.

Make sure you wipe down the equipment when you are done. While you're working out, look around and find the paper towels and cleaner....they're there. When you're done, go spray a couple towels with the cleaner and come back over and wipe down your machine.

When doing the weight machines (we'll cover those tomorrow), carry a towel around with you.

Also, don't be afraid to ask if you aren't sure. If you have specific questions or would like a machine covered, please leave a comment. I have some more gym posts coming, so check back.

Planting Seeds

2010-03-13T15:28:00.032-06:00

Gardener? No, not in the least. I thought I'd plant a garden this year and began by knowing nothing. If I can do it (and we don't know yet, so this should be interesting) anyone can. I will keep you updated on the process, but for today I am just starting some indoor seeds.

I did little research on what to buy at the store, but last Sunday I found myself at the hardware store and just started buying stuff. This is what I came up with while wrestling a crying three year old. Sigh...

I know there are cheaper ways to go about this, but I needed some motivation and ease to learn the basics. My further planting will use other methods.

Peat pots

Seed starting soil

seeds

gloves (I didn't use these, but they look cute in my picture).

Here is what we are planting so far.

Please don't poke fun, but I thought I could plant all these in the flat...not so much. But we're learning. So today is just Jalapenos & Tomatoes...Oh a salsa garden. Fun for a family of Mexicans

Speaking of Mexicans I think I'll include Eric in the fun.

What?

Continue it's alright.

I thought I'd make homemade labels.

Cute, this is fun.

Gather the kids. It will be worth it in the end. Really! It takes a little longer with kids, but (and this is nothing against my mom, but she never showed us how to do stuff. And now I have to consult Youtube). Anyway just let them help.

Start filling the peat pots with the soil. Don't press it down, just gently drop it in the pot.

~Dirty hands~

Filled

~Water the soil~

~It is very important to read the back of your seed packs. That is where you will get all of your information. When to plant? Where to plant (sun or shade)? How deep to plant?

Jalapenos 1/4 inch deep. Good job Sam!

Holy Cow, it looks like a Jalapeno seed! This is fun.

Now this is what happens when a three year old learns the Delayed Gratification lesson:

Poor thing thought we were going to plant a garden and immediately have flowers. First, we aren't planting flowers and two seeds are boring apparently.

This is what NOT to do, but when you're mad and you're three:

Our directions were to plant 2-3 seeds per pot, 1/4 inch down.

NEXT: Cherry Tomato Plants

Sahweet! They look like tomato seeds.

Plant 1/4 inch deep as well

Notice the kids are gone. Ah I tried.

~Water~

Put the greenhouse lid on it.

The directions say to keep the seeds in a warm environment around 70 degrees. You are also supposed to keep them under lights. I don't have a fancy set up here, so....

I put down a tub lid on top of my dresser (after clearing off my dresser).

Ta' Da! I did it.

Here are the further directions if you are.

This is the first of many flats. Soon I will be planning the outside garden. Many, many things to learn.

Order of Operations

2010-01-22T23:02:00.041-06:00

Today was a busy, busy day. We got up early and ran some errands. We were gone for a little over 3 hours and went to six places, including 3 grocery stores. After we came home we had a little lunch and violin practice. As the afternoon wore on, it became time for our chores. We don't want to look like we just sit around.

Here is the order of operations for some of my chores.

Step 1: Mopping the kitchen

Begin by getting your kiddos comfy.

Then remove the chairs (this is a quick weekly clean. For a deeper clean, remove everything from the floor-like the recycling tubs).

Sweep. Don't try using one of those lazy vacuums. You need a broom.

Please wear socks during this part.
Gather your supplies. This is my trusty mopping bucket. A mop. Goo Gone (just in case). AND Pine Sol.

****I just found this out tonight, but apparently if you have a dog you should NOT use Pine Sol because the dog will get confused and pee because of the ammonia. This explains a lot. Sooooo, I'll be looking for a new product. Please leave a suggestion.
Then go to your bathtub to fill your bucket. Just do it. Your kitchen sink is too small. Don't try to fill up your kitchen sink either instead of a bucket. Here's the thing, if this is your process you will mop your floor less often. You just will.

Hot Water and add your cleaner. I just pour some in until I can smell it.

Block yourself in the kitchen or your baby or your puppy will come running in.

Then go to the far end of your kitchen (farthest from the exit)

Ring out your mop and begin

Eww a tough spot. You have a few choices here.
1. pretend like it got there AFTER you mopped (so ignore it)
2. use the worthless scrubbing thing on the other end of your mop
3. Use a butter knife and scape it up.

Now mop yourself out of the door.

Go back to the bathtub and rinse out your mop until the water runs clear.

Rinse your mop bucket. Just dump it down the bathtub drain! Just do it.

Refill with COLD Water. Cold water gets rid of soap faster than hot or warm water. *one of my biggest pet peeves is cleaning up soap! Arg. It never cooperates. Cold water is your friend*

Return to the kitchen and "rinse" starting from the doorway. TAKE OFF YOUR SOCKS NOW

Almost done with step 1. Just return all the chairs.

Now you're all sad....your bathtub is dirty. What to do now?
Hmmm dirty bathtub...dirty dog.

Step 2 Doggy Bath Time

Luke Warm doggy water

Get yo' supplies

Check your hair in the mirror. This is dang dorky, but too bad.

Getcho Mary Puppins....this is where it gets funny folks.

Ugly Cute people. Come on. If this doesn't make you smile...never come here again! Okay you can come back, but lighten up. Life only gets more complicated.

It's okay Mary Puppins. Bath time is over.

Shake it off. *Please excuse my toes. It's winter. The ladies know what I'm talking about. I better get those done before the wedding tomorrow.*

Pretty spray and a treat.

STEP 3 (Calm down, you're almost done, but you have a filthy bathtub now)

Gather your supplies. I use comet. I always have. Oh and a scrubber.

Sprinkle all over. Scrub it in all over. You may have to add a drop of water, but only a little. You're trying to make a thin paste. Go up the sides and scrub the drain really good.

Leave it for 5 minutesish

Then rinse with COLD water. Use your hand at the end to make sure there is no
little granules left in the tub. It should be smooth

Yay! Now for
Step 4
Clean bathtub...Give your little one a bath. There are no pictures of this, but she had fun.

Spent the evening decorating the reception hall for my mom's wedding tomorrow. Long day.

F-ing Republicans and Democrats....yes, I said that.

2010-01-20T15:33:00.003-06:00

My heart is breaking today as I heard a story about a mother. We’ve all heard the stories of Haiti over the past few weeks and we are starting to desensitize ourselves to “those people’s” plight. But here is a story about a mother in pre-earthquake Haiti; the Haiti that sits just 681 miles from Miami as the Western hemisphere’s poorest nation and completely off most of our radars before it was catapulted to the top of the headline news and celebrity marathon circuit. 1

Mark Warner, a Vineyard pastor in Overland Park, KS relayed a story during his January 10th sermon (two days before the earthquake) about a Haitian mother who was 29 (my age) offered a complete stranger one of her five children. “Take one!” she said as she, “cradled a listless baby and motioning toward four rail thin toddlers.” None of them had eaten that day. “You pick!” she said…… “Just feed them.”

Upon hearing this I wept in the pair of jeans I was folding.

For so many months, I have been struggling over the “why” questions and wondering what I could do. It becomes overwhelming to know where to start. “Why can’t I save the world?” I have often wondered what the point was. I don’t know where to start, so I just don’t. One of the books that changed a lot of my thinking was by Shane Claiborne, called Irresistible Revolution. I recommend checking that out sometime because what it did was give me hope that one person can do something. This is not a plug for that book, nor a guilt trip to propel you towards some kind of action, but simply where my heart is for the world.

Dear World,
I love you and I am sorry that I have failed you.

So many of the choices that I’ve made…no the majority of the choices that I have made are for me. They make me feel good, they satisfy my wants, and when you cry into the TV with flies on your head and ribs protruding, I lean over and change the channel.

You don’t have clean water and I run my car through the carwash
You don’t have medicine and I complain about my premium
You don't have food and I exercise fervently to burn off my extra calories

My country and my advertisers have convinced me that there are luxuries that I deserve. I am assured that my country is noble and believes in Liberty and Justice, but your country doesn’t have oil, so we’ll never go there.

If my country stopped all fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq for ONE DAY, we (the Americans) could afford to buy EVERY PERSON suffering from malaria, throughout the WORLD the $20 medicine it takes to cure it. (2) But….we won’t.

Rather, we will debate it and talk about. We’ll come up with some philosophical explanation and blame it on the bureaucracy. We’ll say it’s the Republicans fault. They’ll blame the Democrats.
Meanwhile, you’ll still be living on less than $2 dollars a day, eating “mud patties” (consisting of mud, oil, and sugar). (3)

Edward Everett Hale once said, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” (4)
Jesus the Messiah once said, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40 (5)
Maybe that is where I’ll start.

1. Answers.com
2. Mark Warner, For Such a Time as This, January 10, 2010.
3. Mark Frauenfelder “Starving People in Haiti Eating Mud,” BoingBoing. April 18,2008. http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/18/starving-people-in-h.html (Accessed: January 19,2010).
4. Edward Everett Hale, The Literature Network, http://www.online-literature.com/edward-hale/ (Accessed: January 19, 2010).
5. Bible, Matthew 25:40

How to shop at Aldi

2010-01-18T17:36:00.064-06:00

You've driven by, you've heard the buzz, but you're still scared. Let me walk you through, "How to Shop at Aldi"

There are so many wonderful things about Aldi, but it does take some time to learn the ropes.
WHAT: A grocery store that is able to keep the costs low because you do a lot of the "work" and they don't concentrate on making the stores all fancy. This doesn't mean, however, that the food is inferior. In fact there are many specialty,gourmet items available on a daily basis.

Okay let's get started. Before you leave make sure you have your "green" shopping bags. Aldi's bags are NOT free. You will have the option to purchase bags at the check-out.
Also don't forget, what I like to call my "Aldi quarter"

Next, drive to Aldi. I went to the Lee's Summit, MO location on a Monday afternoon.

Yay we're here.

Okay, here is where people start to freak out. They walk up to the carts and pull. Nothing happens. The carts are linked together and they appear to be locked. Don't panic. You need your trusty Aldi Quarter (it's actually a real quarter, property of the United States mint, but shhhh).
Insert Quarter into the slot and release the link from the attached cart in front of you. Like so,

Now go inside. Really, it's okay. No one is looking at you. Except yeah there is a camera watching the door, but keep on coming in.
YOU ARE NOT BETTER THAN ALDI (quit telling yourself that).
Put your bags under the cart (personal opinion).

This doesn't look my regular store. Something is missing? Where is the pharmacy? The bakery? The Redbox? What happened to the Deli and the dry cleaners?
DO you want a deal or not people?

Doors coming in

You'll be able to find most of the products you came for, but a smaller selection and different names. Why are there no brand names? WELL there are some, but very few. This is another way that the costs are kept down. Try it and if you don't like it, bring it back and they will replace your item AND give you your money back! What? Seriously? Yes. It's called the Double Aldi Guarantee. *not on special buy items or alcohol.
Alcohol at Aldi?

Yep, that too. I am never afraid to try any of the brands, but to be honest, I haven't tried the alcohol. I'm sure it's fine.

Let's get some food.
I love their granola. We put it in yogurt. The Fit & Active brand is one of the Aldi labels and everything I've tried has been great.
Check out the prices, as we go.

See I wasn't making it up.

I love their milk. Again, just try it.

For my skinny babies

Don't be afraid of the pallets.

Oooh look, diapers. These diapers are fine. They are just like the Walmart or Target brand diapers. If you don't like them, return them and know that you might be just a wee bit picky.

Health and Beauty. I don't buy a lot from this section....please see the post on my inheritance and you'll understand why.

Now, as you are shopping you may notice some red tags. These items are further reduced. A lot of the items at Aldi are only there for a limited time. The purchasers are able to get lower prices by buying things that are in season or that can be purchased in bulk by Aldi at a low price.

Okay the produce section. I love everything here. Check the produce just as you would at any other grocer. Also, please ignore the girl in the background. I told her I wasn't taking a picture of her....she seemed skeptical. Why would I..oh nevermind.

Alright, now to the refrigerated section. So much yummyness. I really like their eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, tortillas, cookies (amazing)!!!

Ahh what do I do with this?

We really like the Strawberry banana & the blueberry yogurt. The raspberry is alright ( a little thick for us) Anywhoway, the point is, you can just pick what you'd like. I just rearrange the cardboard container and pack up my choices. Like so

Man, they have everything but the kitchen sink at this store.
Oh wait,

*Pretend it's for a kitchen sink. It will make my joke funnier. Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week.

Every week there are different specialty items that they carry. This week they had a bunch of bathroom accessories and hardware. They also had a memory foam mattress for $219.99

They also have lovely flowers. Seriously, they make me smile. $3.99

One thing that isn't always that great is the salad mixes. You really have to check. If they are on my list, I hardly ever count on them being good enough to buy. Today, though they were having a special. I bought the salad because we were going to eat it tonight for dinner. It was good.

It took me a while to try their meat. I was like you once and was nervous about Aldi, but finally I started trying things. I have not had a bad experience yet.

They have lean meats as well (you should really only be eating lean meats anyway.

Then I bought a 4lb bag of oranges for $2.29. This makes me smile.

They have half an isle for seafood too, if you're into that sort of thing.

Buncha good frozen stuff.

Like these. Try feeding yourself a meal for less than .39cents. It's like the 80's at Taco Bell and my mom would only let us get one .39 cent item and a water. (oy)

Here are your soups, gravy, and what not. If you look behind you can see the paper towels. These are great and if I didn't buy that sort of thing at Costco, I'd buy them here. Sometimes I do, so I can say that.

Then your dog/cat food supplies.

Cleaning supplies. I love the little disinfecting wipes and light bulbs.

Here is another place to look for discontinued and discounted items.

Oh yeah and if you are suddenly buying more than you had planned (always) and you don't think you have enough bags, you can get some of the boxes off the shelves to use. Really, that's what they use them for. If there are few items left, just nicely stack them up and take your box.
Make yourself at home at Aldi

CHECK OUT TIME!!!!
Sometimes the lines are longer than you might like. Expect that because the employees do everything! They unload the trucks, stock the store, check you out, and they go super fast. We've all been to the grocery store where the checker looks half asleep and slowly swipes your item, only to hear no beep. Then he confusingly shuffles the item around and beings swiping and swiping. Meanwhile your two year old is under the person behind you's cart making farting noises and screaming hysterically.
What? That doesn't happen to you? Hmm
But really watch how fast they slide your stuff into your cart.

OKAY HERE GOES.

Yes, they have gum and candy bars. Grab one and slide it between your pizza and cereal so your kids can't see.

Then if you forgot your green bags or you are just really nervous, grab a bag or two. I have bought bags twice.

At this point the person in front of you is checking out. All your items are up on the belt. Their groceries were put into the cart of the person in front of them. Your groceries are going into their cart, and the person behind you will have their stuff in your cart and so on. NO, you don't get their food.

It's all about efficiency people.
Kindly line your cart up behind the cart your groceries are being loaded into. (The person in front of you is now on their merry way).

The cashier will be ready to go and pull your empty cart up for the next in line.

PAY. This is a little 1999, but you have to use debit or Cash. This is yet another way that costs are kept down. If you go over your budgeted amount, simply hand some stuff back to the cashier. It happens all the time. Don't feel bad and try not to cry. (Also, if you see this happen to someone and you have an extra bit, why not offer to help. We've all been there at some point or another).
Then scooch on over to the counter to bag your OWN groceries (COST)

Sometimes nice people leave their extra bags.

These are new to our store. I'm pretty sure you have my kids to thank.

Pack up your groceries. Now, if they aren't done right, you only have yourself to blame :)

Ah she's back to work. They never stop moving, those Aldi employees.

load up the uh...car (minivan -shhh)

Then you need to take your cart back up and plug it in. Then guess what! You get your quarter back (well technically it's the quarter of the guy in front of you. Man, it took me a long time to figure that out).

TWO THINGS:
At Aldi we are all friends. If you are taking your cart back up and someone is just getting there you can give them your cart. They will smile and hand you their quarter. The world is at peace because we have a shared understanding. A little secret that we know the rest of the world will never understand. An Aldis bond.

2. If you forgot your Aldi quarter you can walk in before you start shopping and ask the cashier to borrow a quarter. Don't let not having a quarter stop you from shopping. Just return it to the register you borrowed it from. Again, the love.

Push your cart back in. Plug the link from the cart in front of you into your cart and remove "your" quarter.

Good bye Aldi

Here is what I bought today.

And here is my total:

If there is something I forgot or you have any other questions, please leave a comment so everyone can see.
PS. They have bathrooms and drinking fountains.

All is good in the world now.

* I do not work for, nor am I getting paid by Aldi*

Our Father Who Art....oh look a hang nail! Oh yeah Um in Heaven

2010-01-15T09:49:00.000-06:00

Our Father Who Art in Heaven
How’do I know what to say?

Through a thought provoking conversation with the young and younger alike the frustration was raised that prayer can be confusing and hard. Some were taken aback at this admission, but as walls fell down, we came to understand that prayer is not something necessarily inherent in us.
Do we learn how to pray? Are we taught how to pray? Is there a method we should know about? A posture we should take? If God knows us and what we are going to say, why should we pray?
This is what has been on my mind for the past couple of days. Luckily for us, there are answers tucked carefully away, waiting for centuries for anyone who stumbles upon them in need.
God tells us to pray:
1. For His name’s sake: Ask and it shall be given to you, to my Father’s glory. John 15:8
2. In order to avoid temptation: Matthew 26: 21
3. Because Jesus prayed
How do we pray? If we believe that we are to be followers of Christ then maybe we should follow the way that Jesus prayed. *Once again, I am not a theologian, nor will I fully develop my thoughts here. I know people just want to know what I’m having for dinner, but through my “investigation” I found something peculiar*
**No hate mail please, GO check your Bible, I’m just saying.
Luke 6: 12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Honesty Box* If you don’t fall asleep.
Mark 1: 35Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Luke 5:16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Matthew 14: 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there.
Mark 6: 46 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
Luke 22: 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,

There are many, many more instances when Jesus prayed, but I thought it was interesting that (it seems) more often than not, Jesus was praying alone. I’m not saying that this is the only way because it’s not, but I think, this points to the intimacy in prayer. Prayer can be a very intimate and powerful thing. I’m not going to reference this, so don’t turn me in, but I heard that couples that pray together have a 99% success rate. It is hard to hate someone when you are praying for them and asking to see them through God’s eyes.

One of my favorite scriptures on prayer has always been Matthew 6:7 (it’s a good reference). Okay so I’m a horrible person, but I think that prayer can be hard too . I’m just saying.
Okay I’m done. FOR NOW! Whaa ah ah. I doubt anyone even reads this, so if you happened to, then you are now my bestest most awesome blogrishioner. You win.
Ps. I haven’t had a more than a carb in 3 days. Not a fan. Stupid fat girl in the wedding!!!!!

On the External Hardrive Genius..You WILL laugh.

2010-01-12T20:42:00.028-06:00

I found some more...

UGLY HOUSES
Please note, that all these houses are in the Kansas City metro. If I post a picture of your house or your realatives house....well shoot.

This house is 360 sq. feet.

Aww sad!

Backyard Crematorium

But...Maury's on!!

Can you see me rolling my eyes?

PG-13 Comments only please.

Tyrone you make a better door than a window!

Bow chica wow wow

I don't even know

Ree Ree Ree. No seriously you go check it out.

Okay, look...nevermind. forget it you obviously wouldn't understand.

Oh these curtains?! Where can I get me some of these?

Not sure where this leads...

Plugged in to the neighbors

Deep Breath

I don't even know where to start.

Too much HGTV

Tow Mater

Trash Day

Wait, what.

The sad, sad little man cave.

Shnazzy

This grosses me out

Oh deer

OH DEER!!! DEERY ME.

Ha haha I freaked out when I ran across the deer house. Notice they even have a gun safe in the living room. Oh his poor poor wife. If you look in the first deer picture, there are children's toys in the background. A family lives here. AND to top it off they were trying to sell it this way. Whew that's all I have for today. Hope you got a good laugh. I know I did.

2010-01-11T22:11:00.004-06:00

I know that it is irritating when people continue to talk about their weight without doing anything about it. SO, I'll tell you one time. I am not happy with the current condition (MINE!!!).
So tomorrow, I will finally be back the regular schedule with everyone back to work and school after many weeks of Christmas, vacation, snow days, blah blah. Enough is enough.
Today is my 29th Birthday. My plan is to loose and keep off 15-20 by this time next year. I'll update you periodically on my progress.
PLAN: for the next 30 days my friend Ashley and I are going to do the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.

Ashley and I have been best friends since we were five. Growing up we always motivated and pushed each other. Now, she is in New York (and walks at least 2 miles a day on her way to work). Anyway we'll see how it goes.

Have you ever seen a picture of yourself and just couldn't believe that it was you. This is what happened to me when I saw this picture.

Yikes.

I collect ugly houses (well, pictures of ugly houses)

2010-01-08T14:23:00.019-06:00

I know I'm random, but I thought I'd share some things with you that make me laugh. You may not know this about me, but my hidden hobby is real estate. I could never sell it and to be honest have had some not so pleasant run ins with realtors. All that aside, I love looking at homes. This could be why my own house goes up for sale every couple of years.
Yes, I have issues. Here are some of my fave's from over the years.
Here Goes:
Okay well, I just checked my file and for some reason I am missing several of my pictures, including my all time favorite. ARG my computer! If I ever find them, I will show you, but here are some to tide you over

This one is just creepy because big dolls are weird.

Oh this one is good:

I tell ya what. Why don't you go check it out first!

This is after Tommy broke up with her. Poor thing just lost it.

Realtor: Oh you are going to love this place. It's so....

Love it!

Here are some cute house ideas. They are not as funny and you might hate my taste.

This is a sweet idea if you had cool ceilings like this. Sometimes people don't know what to do with them and end up wasting the space. Kind of makes me want to run out and have twin girls. Well that might be bad if I had to go out...my husband wouldn't stay with me at the point anyway though.

Yeah, I'll get right on that. Some updates are just not possible unless, you already have an awesome house.

All I can say is: FIREPLACE (ps. I haven't left my house in days! Huge snow storm that started Christmas Eve. -20)

I liked this, but my mom hated it. To each his own, I suppose.

This is the color I was thinking of for my living room and entry way.

And this is: Seriously the screen saver for my computer. It just calms me to look at it. What can I say, I'm human you guys.

Okay, random. Enjoy

Reread the Disclaimer

2010-01-07T21:15:00.001-06:00

*You might want to review the disclaimer mentioned January 2, 2009 entry before you continue*
There is a bunch going on the world, but I only know about Kansas City and I only know a little. Over the past few years, I have been witness to some pretty big changes taking place in the church. Little “c” church is becoming a thing of the past and it’s happening faster than I can believe. For those of you following the latest trends in ministry and the “way we do church” you have been introduced to a sling of new language, which I find both endearing, but overused. Many of these, I don’t know what to call them: words, jargon, lingo, (whathaveyou), are heavily packed with meaning and purpose. If only they had the same affect in action as they did the first time we heard them.
Some of my favorites: I am not making fun (really, I’m not). Also, these are my own definitions, the way that I understand (or misunderstand). I’m a stay-at-home mom people, not a theologian.
Live it out – be Christ like
Emerging – looking at the gospel in a whole new light
Holistic- (not your new age holistic, but in reference to bringing awareness of Christ-likeness in all areas of your life)
Postmodern – in reference to responding to social (and secular) norms in society, in the context of the Church
Relational-We’re more interested in building relationships with you than telling you you’re going to hell
Missional Living-intentionally caring and loving others for the sole purpose of exemplifying Christ
I wish these words had the same curious affect that they had the first time I heard them. When we continue to throw out words without action we will see these words and their meanings fail in the same way that “Evangelism” and “Born Again” helped our neighbors cringe at the ring of the doorbell.
OR the way the nineties overdid “Jesus Freak” and “WWJD”
The world is not interested in our theology, our religion, our legalism, or our God, if we continue to insist on ignoring the social injustices that plague our world.

This is just a real dinner on a real Tuesday night. Nothing more.

2010-01-06T20:54:00.019-06:00

Pepper & Sausage with Pasta = Good, easy, cheap, and pretty low fat

Cutcho peppers
& onions

I get out my largest skillet. Little olive oil (and butter...) Then slice and dice some sausage link. This particular day I used beef, but normally we prefer turkey because it's less fattening and I don't feel as bad with my pat of butter.
Turn your burner up to med-high to get a good browning.

oh an extra piece. Look down...further, around your feet. Yep there's your dog. Sit Mary Puppins.

Add it all to the pan.

*TIP* Did you know that if you cover your pot, your water will come to a boil faster? Did you further know that I could not find my pot's lid? Well here's what I came up with. It worked fine. Weird, but fine.

Okay here's where you need to watch. The peppers and onions don't need to stay in there all night. Just get them crisp tender. If you don't like raw onions (like my non-picky friend Jon) then I guess you can leave them out.

The recipe calls for chicken broth. I didn't have any (like I said real). I used a bouillon cube which has too much sodium for my liking, but it's better than water.
Also I normally use linguine, but I didn't have that much for I used the last of the box and the last of the thin spaghetti box too.

Okay, once the pasta is al dente (or done as we say in Kansas City) drain. I am weird and don't want my strainer to touch my sink so I put the chicken broth pan in the bottom first and then the strainer on top of it.

Add pepper and thyme (I took a picture, but my fingers looked chubbier than I remember so just imagine...not my chubby fingers but the pepper and thyme. Also make sure you crumble the thyme with your fingers to get the flavor to come out of the dried spice. Just do it.
Add your pasta

Grate Parmesan Cheese

Put it in a pretty dish. TADA dinner.

Now, here's the surprise. I bought all of this from ALDI. I am excited to tell you this. Everything, including my bouillon. As soon as the roads are cleared, I will be teaching you how to shop at ALDi. Stay with me.

16oz pasta, uncooked
1 smoked sausage ring
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 onion
1 tsp minced garlic (oops)
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese.

My Christmas gift to you.

2009-12-24T09:17:00.000-06:00

Now that I am done with school I have been hoping to find a hobby. My friend Cara introduced me to a new website that has officially sucked all my time away from me. I have literally done nothing productive ever since. http://www.stumbleupon.com/ This is my top 5 for this week.
http://picktheperp.com/ Let’s be real honest. This is discrimination, generalization, judgmental and super fun!!!!
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/naps/ If you’re going to do; do it right. (Don’t tell my friend Jodi because it’s her job to make sure I’m not napping too much.) I heart naps.
http://www.freeshiet.com/Dallas/Free-Stuff.aspx Pardon my French, but you’re welcome!
http://failblog.org/ This blog is so successful It has added a word to the dictionary in 2009. That is completely made up, but if you hang out with teenagers (which I do) you will hear FAIL regularly.
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ Too much fun. Keep your eyes on this one because I have several submissions I need to send in.
MERRY CHRISTMAS. GOOD LUCK GETTING ANYTHING DONE NOW!

In a Nutshell

2009-12-22T00:00:00.008-06:00

Graduation Success

I didn't realize Columbia was so far away. Luckily I grabbed my ipod on the way out the door and made everyone listen to my sermons.

Family day at Church = 1/2 Success
Example A: Who ever said Disney was the happiest place on Earth?

Example B:
This is our Gingerbread house. (it should be noted that instead of teaching our children to build the biggest and most grand of the gingerbread houses,our aim was to demonstrate the effects of world wide poverty....okay who are we kidding. We had bad morter! Nevermind that everyone else could do it.)

And finally: It is sickening how in love we are.

Yes we always look like this. Except for when we don't. And then we look like this.

I received my inheritance!!!

2009-12-18T14:05:00.001-06:00

As the year comes to a close in the coming weeks, I too am met with the closing of many chapters in my life. We were finally able to sell the “family” house in Lenexa that we each felt had been more of a curse than a blessing. I can only remember my dad there in a handful of memories. He killed himself less than six months after moving there. It was a place of hurt and anger on so many occasions and the affects of those things will be long lasting. But it is gone and I am grateful. I pray it will be a blessing to the family that has moved in.
My mom is getting married in a matter of weeks. I’m not sure how I feel about it, other than it is what it is. I pray that they will be happy.
And finally, I am graduating from college tomorrow. Gulp. Lump in my throat as I think back on how long this road has been. My degree will be a B.A. in History, which is anticlimactic, but the point is that I finished. Now I am in a state of confusion over what to do next and where to turn. In the upcoming weeks I will be in dialogue with myself over (and my favorite phrase…insert sarcasm) “what that looks like.” I am in an advantageous situation now where I am able to do pretty much whatever I want. I don’t have to work (although I will) and I don’t have anything I have to do. I must take advantage of this opportunity to explore some of the things that we dream of doing someday. This will be a space for you to watch me try.
Cooking
Cleaning
How to shop at Aldi
Random Acts of kindness
What I am wearing
How I fixed my hair and other thrilling tutorials.
What I think
What I am reading
Possibly violin lessons (for myself)
Exercise?
I may even try to tackle some household repairs (but I doubt it).
Maybe you can get a laugh in at least once a day as you stop by. My goal is to post every day. We’ll see.
I received my inheritance early. Please see pictures. No this is not a joke (although quite funny).

Let's be honest

2009-05-25T10:29:00.001-05:00

I don't even know where to begin...so I just don't

2009-04-20T15:44:00.001-05:00

We're going to try a new class tonight at the Vineyard in Overland Park called Love & Respect Marriage Class. Hope it works.

Don't get all emotional, but I'm back

2009-03-10T11:45:00.003-05:00

Hello fellow blogrisheners! Long time.

I just finished yet another semester at school. I took History of Christianity and Christianity in the Modern World. Just a tid bit of advice. Don't take classes that are so intertwined because I've never been so confused in my life. I couldn't figure out what books went with what class, what topic was for each class etc. But I turned out to be a genius in the end.

In other exciting news that I'm sure you've been following....My Carpet! It's ordered! Yahay.
Also, my mom is getting married. Which is great, shocking, scary, and most of all weird. All I know is that you never know how things are going to turn out.

Now to what's been on my mind:
I was reading Kansas City Parent magazine and there is an add in there for this company called Reproductive Resource Center of Greater Kansas City, P.A (http://www.rrc.com/) and basically the deal is that if you are between the ages of 21 and 33 and don't smoke, are healthy, etc. you can donate your eggs through their "egg donation program" AND you can receive $3000 for each cycle.
Now, in a world where no one says what they think anymore because you might offend I must tell you ahead of time...it is hard for me to fall into this category, but I do try to appreciate the time and place, where I have struggled with that in the past. And on my own blog in blog world, well I feel like I can let this out.

Pwschh! First I thought
Geez! Second I thought
Pfff. Third I thought
Hmm? I thought
Well? Hmm. I thought again
Yep, it's completely ridiculous. That is my final opinion and I just had to get that out. I thought you should know.

Love,
Breanne Zapien

Ps. I think you should know that when I did spell check....I spelled genius wrong! Hahahh

Quick Snipit of why I am the way I am

2009-02-11T22:52:00.003-06:00

I just remembered that as a kid I used to read Architectual Digest.
I had the strangest childhood, but didn't even realize it until my sister and started to compare notes.
We new ALL our neighbors for blocks. Our parent's house church decided to all build in the same neighborhood, so everyone knew everyone. I though it was weird the first time I moved and no one knew each other.
I went to Catholic school, a baptist church, and then when I was 13 my parents started going to synagogue. (Long story, I'm not going into it now).
My dad would buy my Guns N' Roses t-shirts and tapes from me instead of telling me I couldn't listen to it. Then he'd throw them away.
We also couldn't play with anything "evil" dragons, sheerah & heman (I don't even know how to spell it I was so deprived), trolls, witches, ghosts, garbage pail kids,
I couldn't watch: You Can't Do that on Television, Bewitched, Donahue, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, The Smurfs, etc.
We listened to classical music during dinner (hahah how weird is that? I mean come on. How am I even remotely normal?)
We had one dog. We got her when I was in 7th grade. Her name was Gertrude Allowishus Squaligee Beadle. We called her Gerty. A year later we gave her away. The new people renamed her Trixy. They gave her back a year after that. We renamed her Gerty. We moved a year after that and left her with our next door neighbors. She visited a few times on the weekends. We called her Gerty.
We had creamed tuna every week with shoe string potatoes on top.
We ate on old tv dinner plates. Speaking of TV, our TV sat on the floor in the corner of our living room. It wasn't in an entertainment center and it wasn't one of those console sets either.

Now as a Mom I find myself saying things my mom used to say and then stopping midway through the sentence once I realize that it made no sense to begin with. Why did she say "we don't do- blank blank blank" We never got an explanation as to why. We just don't do "that".
I restrict what my kids can watch and play with, but I try to explain the reasons why. For example: My kids cannot watch That's so Raven. And I explained to them that she is just too annoying to watch dear.
No Cailou: He whines. He's three forever and he whines.
No Jimmy Netron: basically if I hear three things I don't like in one episode the show is gone.
No teletubbies: Your mind will melt slowly away if you watch that.

Okay that's more than a snipit.

I've been thinking about Suicide

2009-02-04T12:20:00.003-06:00

I have been thinking a lot about Suicide for the past several weeks.

Don't panic, I'm not going to do it. I've just been studying it. It is something that I have put off in the back of my mind for several years now, because it is painful. I went downstairs and broke out my old notebooks. You may not know this and I forgot as well, but I used to write poetry. Not well, but I did. I even took a poetry class my senior year with some good friends of mine. I still have some of their poems too. It's interesting. Anyway,
I looked through some old stuff and it is hard to read and see the pain that I felt at the time. As a mother, I look back at myself and wish I could console me. (This is weird I see that now that I am writing it down, but bear with me).
I was never going to kill myself, but I do know what it is like to want to die. I think that this has been helpful for me in my life. When I was 17, my dad told me he was going to kill himself and one day he ran out in front of a train. It broke his neck and dragged him for 119 feet.
I picked out a poem that I wrote that had appropriate language. Apparently I was angry in a lot of them.

The Day

It rained the day you took your life

my heart it poured on to the track

your mind was gone I now explain

to take it all and have no shame

I didn't know enough to fight

was in my hands you had no right

terror pulled me along with you

then the track you must've knew

Whistle blows alarm me still

Everyday and always will

Left three little girls scared to say

is life that bad you'd end that way?

It's sad to me. I'm going to be talking to the youthgroup tonight about Depression.

Every 18 minutes someone in the U.S. commits suicide.

Major depression strikes about 1 in 12 adolescents

I only PRAY that I can convey the message of HOPE tonight. If you have time today, pray that God can speak through me as I nervously approach this tender topic.

Umbrella Time

2009-01-26T20:08:00.004-06:00

The good news is I think I finally figured out Sh---. I'm slow, I know, but I'm also intentional about who I choose to follow.
I read something amazing today and it went something like...what if we counted conversations rather than conversions
The person who said this wasn't the author of the book I was reading, but quoting from another book so I'll just leave it anonymous, but I thought it was an eye opening statement. The "we" is the Church
I grew up under the evangelical....I almost said movement, but that might be too generous (see previous posts on hate mail and the like) stance? Yes, stance is the word I'll use. I remember my dad would constantly be talking about evangelism and he was successful at it. He would reach out to anyone to share the gospel with them and made many friends and enemies in the process. I think that may have been effective at one time, but like much of church history, what works for one generation may not be as effective for the next. I would not, today walk up to a complete stranger and ask them if they've seen my friend. He's living and breathing among us, do you know him? Oh his name? He answers to so many....you may have heard of him as Jesus. It's not a personality problem, as many of you know, I will talk to anyone/anywhere/anytime and usually it's hard to shut me up. It is, however, a matter of the ineffectiveness of it.
I think one of the things that I've been hearing is that you have to start with the conversations. It is not just a conversation with other Christians about theology, denomination, politics, etc. It's a conversation with people, ALL people who are living in a fallen world as fallen people saved by grace. In doing so, we begin to build friendships based on love & mercy. The good news is loving people as Christ loves the Church. Christ is the head of that church and we are the body. This is not a stationary idea, it's a moving relationship.

Oh you guys I could go on and on for days. I have to be honest, really honest, and know that this is out there in blog space, but I was getting frustrated and scared that I made the wrong decision about where I was or am. The truth is though after much, much, much recollection I noticed something peculiar.
I kept getting drops. Little drips and looking at it with irritation! What is this? Is this it? No!!! This cannot be it. A drop here. A drop here. But what I noticed was that those drops (like Chinese water torture) got me so agitated that I vigorously turned to God, to conversation with friends, to scripture, to prayer, to research, to silence...
and then last night I realised that it sprinkles before the rain, folks. Whatever the plan is, or the intention, this could work.
Conversations = Relationships = Friends = Kingdom of God, not Kingdom of me.

Tuesday: Soup ( at the meeting)
Wednesday: hot dogs (don't worry they're Hebew National, hahhah)
Thursday: Pizza (we make our own)
Friday: Mexican Shredded Beef tacos (Cara & Ian)
Saturday: Out (Jeff & Kelly before the baby comes)
Sunday: Meatloaf (mother-in-law's recipe)

One more thing. I switched back to Secret Clinical deoderant, so I can hug people again!

No Hate Mail Please

2009-01-22T12:17:00.004-06:00

It's been a while; I know.
Sometimes it just takes me a while to process all the things that I'm trying to say.
#1. Sometimes it's easier to love non-Christians than it is to love Christians
you really need to ponder this one.
#2. What is going on with the Old Testament? I can't figure out what we are supposed to keep and not keep. Jesus didn't come to do away with the law, but to fulfill the law, right?
Hmmmm, still workin' on this one!
#3. Why does everyone at Quick Trip feel like my friend? Seriously, it's one of the few places where EVERYONE is polite, everyone holds the door while coming AND going, people patiently wait for you to fill your cup 3/4 full, etc. As soon as you drive away though, it's all gone...
Wierd
#4. I can't really go into detail just yet, but whoa!
Stay tuned
#5. Why is there no good music anymore? The last great thing was the Dixie Chicks who were completely awesome and now....nothin'.
By the way, can we listen to them on the radio now that Obama is in office? Someone do something about this abomination. Oh speaking of which, I was at the library this morning and there was a book called Obama Nation....well I just thought it was clever - Use your brain, no hate mail please
#6. I really want my tattoo soon. I've put it off for almost 29 years and now I'm ready.
Dilemma #1: Location! I wanted to get it in a great place, but in the process of making sure that I wanted it, it has become a very TRENDY location. Please comment on where you think I wanted it. If you guess it right, then my point is made.
#7. I really hope that Obama can do something. Regardless of who I voted for and why, I really want Obama to "change" things.
Bush sucked, okay, I totally get that, but I saw a magazine today with his sad little face on the cover and it made me feel bad for the guy. It's like he can't help it that he's special.
#8. I'm thinking now, about starting my own magazine. It will only be the cover. Nothing inside though. Would you buy it?
Again, comment down below.

Have a great day everyone!
Dinner tonight: Padang (thanks Sherry S)

Ps. Did I spell Dilemma correctly? Is the preceding sentance proper grammer? Is that one?

My neighbor built a metal shed in the middle of the night!!!

2009-01-13T15:50:00.002-06:00

I think that I may come across a lot angrier on this blog thing than I really am.
Also you might not be able to assume what you think I'm saying as it turns out.
So I just wanted to throw that out there because the whole writing with no audience in mind is kind of humanly impossible. I cannot SAY exactly what I'm thinking because what I think has had a lot of previous thinking that time does not allow to explain.
Case in point:

Suppose you're driving down the road and someone cuts you off, you nicely honk, but there is no real nice way to honk. The person gets offended and defensive and flips you off. Then you wish you could pull him over and explain the whole thing.

Sir, are you kidding me? You pulled out in front of me and NEVER looked. You drive like an old lady (offensive; I know) and as a defensive driver on the road I was just letting you know...HELLO I'M HERE, but you have to get all mad and crazy and use profanities against me. You don't even know ME. Or what kind of a day I've had. My kids are sick and I'm trying to drive them to the doctor, my pantyhose have a run in em', I have to be home by 12 because the cable company is going to be there between NOON and SEVEN PM!, I got no sleep last night because my neighbor decided to build a metal shed in the middle of the night....etc

My point is you don't have time and it's just plain silly to think that you can fully develop you're argument when people are speeding by. If you stop in, just know that I'm just telling you what I'm thinking and in turn giving you something to think about. You're welcome

Dang Haters

2009-01-12T22:14:00.004-06:00

Oh people, where to start?
I dropped Charlotte off at (daycare) today. I'm calling it Mother's Day Out (per Tricia) She'll be going there three days a week for half-days while I'm in school. As a stay at home mom for the past seven years, I must say, "AHHHHHHHHHH" I missed her terribly!
It turned out to be a great day all around actually. I got so much done. Eric and I just looked at eachother and wondered if this is what it is like for couples without children.
My birthday was Sunday, I'm officially almost 29. My parents in-law and husband, bless their hearts, got me a Wii Fit. It thinks I'm fat. I programmed my fitness goal to loose 10 pounds over the next 8 weeks (I'm not so ambitious).

One time on the way to a baseball game I saw a family four-pack yelling from the sidewalk on Blue Ridge Boulevard with a signs that read- jesus HATES Fags!, You're going to hell!, and then JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
This is where "THEY" always stop. But, keep reading. What does John 3:17 say? God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

Love because He first LOVED you.
You figure it out.

I'm sending Juan Mann to Gaza

2009-01-05T15:47:00.004-06:00

Weird things:
Today, in the mail I got a book: 101 Things To Do with Meatballs
____________
It's official, I'm enrolled in classes at my 4th college. Classes start next Monday.

History of Christianity: The Early Church
Christianity in the Modern World

MONDAY: baked ziti, if it ever defrosts
TUESDAY: Lasagna, another freezer meal.
WEDNESDAY: Fend for yourself night
THURSDAY: beef stroganoff
FRIDAY: PIZZA?
SATURDAY: Sam & Eric are going to Motor Cross for Sam's Birthday
SUNDAY: Sam's 7th Birthday Party (Menu?)

Cheesy Beef Stroganoff
1/2 pound ground beef 1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup diced onion 8 ounces shredded cheddar
1/2 cup diced green pepper 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups water 1 teaspoon worcheshire sauce
1 1/2 cups uncooked pasta

Brown ground beef with onion & green pepper. Drain. Return beef to the skillet and add water. Bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook about 8 minutes or until tender. As it cooks, you may need to add additional water to keep the pasta from sticking . Add cheese, soup, and spices, and cook until heated through.

SIDE NOTE!
Okay, here's my idea. Have you heard of that Australian guy who started the Free Hugs campaign?? He's cool. He donates like a day a week to stand in high pedestrian areas holding a sign that simply says "FREE HUGS" I mean just look it up on Youtube or something and you can watch a video.
&
You may or may not be aware of a tiny altercation by some budding enemies Israel and the Palestian Hamas (see definition for sarcasm).
Oh and Iran supporting the Palestians and continuing to increase nuclear capabilities...and Israel ready to invade IRAN with/without US support...
Like I said, minor news.
Anyway, so my point: If we could only send Mr. Mann to the Gaza strip one day a week

Pass the Abacus...I think He's Jesus

2009-01-02T10:37:00.008-06:00

Before we go any further, I think there needs to be a disclaimer: I have to write with no specific audience in mind. Simply what has been going through my head over the last 24 hours. Speak from my heart if you will. Will you always agree with me? Um...no. Will you always laugh? No. Will I offend you? Occasionally, this will happen. Am I cheesy? Why not! Should you continue to read? Uh yes!

Welcome to 2009! (there's the cheese)
It has become increasingly popular to NOT make New Year Resolutions. I'm sure you've heard the smugness of people shunning the practice. It makes since, but I'm going to jump off the beaten path as I often do and come up with at least one NYR that I can work towards.
I don't want to get too ambitious and fail, but at the same time I don't want to make it too easy. Life is long, I have time to change. Let me be as translucent as possible.
So without further adieu: My Resolution is two-fold:
#1. Continually seek the kingdom
You may be asking what in the world I'm talking about. For those of you who do not know: I'm a follower of Christ. Some people call this being a Christian. Some people are scared of the very mention of the word Christian/Christianity and for good reason. The secular reputation of Christians isn't the most glamorous representation. In my personal opinion I think that this is partly because of the laziness of the Church (this means Christians as a whole). If we Christians dutifully acted as Christ commands, there would be no confusion or bitterness.
Back to my point: As a Christian, I continue to seek the truth. I know plenty of people who aren't Christians because no one has answered their questions.
More than that I want to know what the questions are
#2. At your service
Please don't misunderstand. I am not naive enough or pretentious enough to believe that I will completely succeed in this point. You have to see me first, as I am. I am selfish and lazy on many levels. I sin. I fail. And sometimes....I roll my eyes. BUT...what I am saying is that I am done waiting for the perfect time in my life when I'll have time. When my kids are older, my house is clean, I'm out of college, when I am a good person (you have to see the humor here) when I have all the answers to all the questions, once I find out what the questions are.
So, I'd like to be more of a servant.

This is just something to leave you with. There is a mathematical impossibility that anyone else could have been the Messiah (this is the anticipated savior of the Jews and consequently the world).
Well maybe you weren't looking for the Messiah. That's fine, but it is interesting just the same. I think if have ever wondered, you should seek. If nothing more, than to prove lazy Christians wrong; to help them lay their crutch down. This is just a thought

Today:
shower
Hy-Vee
lunch with friends
laundry
find a babysitter for Saturday....is that tomorrow? Oh dear
make dinner
kids' baths
look at Eric

I'll get you the menu for next week tomorrow.
Happy 2009

Achem....I would like a bail out too!

2008-12-31T07:53:00.008-06:00

I need a bail out on the following items for the following reasons:

#1. MY HOUSE:
I think that the government should provide me with 25 years of mortgage payments. I'll pay the remaining 3 years on the condition that it's not demanded on the governments timetable. I'll just pay here and there throughout the decades.

I'm sure you want to know why the government should do this for me. Little ol' me.

The mere fact that I have a home, provides 10's of jobs for the American workforce. I provide jobs for the loan officers at Bank of America (a hurting institution in itself, do we really want to rock the boat by losing my mortgage as well? I think not).
I provide more trash on my block than any other neighbor every week. The Constable service must be thrilled by my loyalty and dedication to proper waste disposal. If I lost my house, 3
more jobs at Summit Disposal would be a risk.
I provide processing jobs for the employees at the water company. My water usage is stable and guaranteed income for the City of Lee's Summit.
I provide the same for the gas company. The fact that I use heat consistently in the winter and enjoy warm showers throughout the year can be considered nothing less than providing 4 more American jobs. An additional job is provided for the meter reader who walks through my yard once a month. You're welcome.
The phone company receives my loyal service as well. Granted I don't have all the bells and whistles (see previous post), but I have been a customer for the past 10 years and have never had a late payment. It's homeowners like me, who keep these companies near the black. In addition to my home phone, I also purchase high speed Internet (not to be confused with broadband or roadrunner- more like higher than dial up speed). Regardless, that's at least one more job that I help support.
My insurance agent is the happiest of all these folks. He gets 21% of our net income. Between car insurance, life insurance (okay this isn't that helpful), and of course HOMEOWNERS insurance. We might even have bike insurance, but I'm going to turn a blind eye to this.

Additionally, as a homeowner the purchases I make help countless jobs that we don't have time to mention.
For example: As a homeowner I have a lawn. Culturally this lawn must be maintained. JOBS I PROVIDE FOR HAVING A LAWN:
lawn mower (Lowes employee and Craftsman manufacturer), gas for my lawn mower: Phillips 66, City of Lee's Summit, State of Missouri, Dick Cheney, gas transportation, oil refiners, Crude oil, and Saudi princes.
If (and this is a big IF) I put down any fertilizer, chemicals, or additional lawn service....you get the point.
Don't get me started on home maintenance.

THE POINT: As a homeowner, I provide countless Americans with valuable occupation. If my home were to go into foreclosure, you can only imagine the devastation for this country. Clearly there are more jobs that I contribute to, that time doesn't allow me to mention. EX: IRS
I feel that the government "owes me" a bail out because it is for the better good. The economy is already tough, I just don't want to be responsible for its collapse (my mom would call this delusions of grandeur).
Additionally, I would like a bail out for my #2. CAR,#3. STUDENT LOANS (this one is obvious. Why would I pay these? Clearly, the government should bail me out from this oppression. I can't be a proper consumer or productive member of the workforce with this kind of pressure. I could have a stroke from the mere thought of having to make a Nelnet payment. I'll have to apply for disability anyway, so I may as well just get my bail out now.
I would also like a bail out & BONUS from my #4. Nebraska Furniture Mart card. I mean hello? I made that purchase on a whim. I realize that I should take responsibility for poor money management, but if the CEO's of GM and FORD can receive (according to the Free Press) anywhere from $200,000 - 1.89 BILLION for their poor managment of thier company, I should be entitled. I think my balance is somewhere like $800 bucks. Come on! Pay up USA.

Live like you believe

2008-12-28T19:33:00.003-06:00

You never know where you're going to end up. I learned a long time ago, that life doesn't go according to plan, so I rarely plan more than a semester at a time. An average semester last 16 weeks or 4 months. This is the perfect amount of plan ahead time. Any more than this and you're bound to be disappointed, surprised, or confused. So for the next 16 weeks I'm going to return to school and finish my degree.
Almost seven years ago, I started out trying to get my BA in Secondary Education Social Studies. From the time I was 5, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I kept notes throughout elementary, middle, high school, even college on things I liked or disliked that my teachers did. I thought that one day, I'd refer to my notes once I was a teacher. I've rehearsed my first day of school speech a million times. But the truth is, I don't want to be a teacher anymore. I'm not sure when I came to this realization, but it was a while ago. At first, I thought I was just afraid of failure. Of not being able to "reach" the kids. It occurred to me that this is all I really wanted to do. Reach the kids. I don't have a strong desire to "teach" them Social Studies. Since August of this year, I've been hanging out with the youthgroup at our Church and it's been an amazing awakening for me. I truly love teenagers. I love that they don't have everything figured out, but wish they did. They're really funny too.
I still don't know what my PLAN is.
Lead me; I'll go
I'm going to finish my BA in History and then see what the next semester brings.

Today:
Shower
Nursery duty (praise God that NO kids came!~ I know that sounds bad, but it's just not my thing)
Have Mercy
lunch with good people
shopping with the funny girl
wal-mart to get dinner/movie
facebook addiction recovery group
ponder
movie
sleep

I guess I didn't get Christmas right this year

2008-12-24T07:54:00.002-06:00

While everyone is probably settling in to their cozy holidayness I can't help but feel overwhelmed...still. I know I said I wasn't going to complain, but...well it just comes naturally.

Yesterday was something else. One of those days where you just go to bed at 7:30pm because there's no way to fix anything at that point. It started off alright. We got up, ready, and out of the house by 9:30 to head down to Crown Center to see Santa. Problem number 1: freezing rain! We made it a few miles before the highway shut down and we came back home. All the while the kids are screaming. Problem number 2: Eric was driving. It's not that he's a bad driver, but I am much more comfortable driving (I know, I know, another control issue). He doesn't want me to give any suggestions (hahaha) but when I don't we almost die. Just so you know, I hear how this sounds. I'll work on it.
After an hour or so, we loaded the whiny kids into the car for another try. We slowly made it downtown and eventually found a parking space in the miniature parking garage at Crown Center. Seriously, have you been in there? I guess this is the first time while driving a minivan. It is entirely different than an Echo. Anyway, we met my sister Elisabeth and her husband Kendon and ate at De'Bronx. Oh that place is great. We had latkas for Chanukah. Then problem number 3: The line. Now, this is not my first time so I knew we'd wait for a long time. I've been coming to Crown Center since I was a kid to see Santa. But my goodness. The wait was an hour and a half. Oh at nap time. We sent the kids to the Candy Store and pumped them full of candy. They sped through Crayola Land and another line for Santa. I kept Charlotte occupied while Eric and Sam waited in line. At the very last second I handed Charlotte to Eric and he set her down....she had no idea who's lap she was on. Problem number 4: She looked up. Hahhahah. Terror! She about dove off that guy. The shriek was unnerving. I got a great picture! It was a success. We then left Crown Center and made our way to Midtown to pick up Ashley. She was at my cousin Camille's house who coincidentally lives in the house next door to Elisabeth and Kendon. Anyway long story short. I fell...HARD on the ice. This is after a fight that Eric and I were having in the car by the way. So I get out mad and wipe out. Aww pride is a funny thing. So that hurt. I found out later that Sam asked daddy why mom was crawling around like a baby on the sidewalk. Again, motherhood is weird. I don't think you can have the full effect of this day because you have to remember that the whole time Charlotte is talking, screaming, crying, whining, demanding or something. And Eric and I who have hardly ever fought in the nine years we've been together, were fighting all day. It was exhausting. Ashley came over and played with Sam for a while before her parents picked her up. Charlotte went to bed for the night at 5:30! Eric balanced the checkbook....he does this daily....then he told me I HAVE to get a job. I've known this was coming, but I keep thinking things will just continue to work out on one income the way they always have, so I can be home with the kids. The past eight months have just been getting harder and harder and it's obviously not going to work out. So with no degree, work history, or skills, I will see what I can get. Do you think that foreclosure this that bad?
We watched Funniest Home Videos and the Grinch with Sam before I just went to bed.
I should have an entire discussion about the dreams I was having. Definitely have some things I'm trying to work on.
So this is Christmas Eve, I cannot help but panic. I am happy in so many areas of my life overall, but lately I feel the devil working overtime at my house. Get OUT! Stop ruining my perfect life. A few months ago, all I wanted was new carpet. And now, I dunno. I can work through any challenge. I'm confident about that, but now I have three other people to pull through with me. Again, I hear how that sounds...I'll work on that. I'm reading a book called Boundaries. I'm on Chapter 1. I don't have time to finish it (hahah).

Today: Dec 24th, Mom's Birthday

dishes
dinner in crockpot
go to grocery store: salad mixes, few veggies off salad bar, can of chili, 2 liters
ship Ebay packages at HyVee
Return snow suit to Wal-mart ($12)
Get gas in car
drop Christmas card off at Eric & Sara's
laundry (so we have something nice to wear) oh and (sam and Charlotte's matching pjs)
make cake for Mom
wrap presents & listen to Mark Warner's sermon on Christmas
get together white elephant gifts for tonight
start sticky buns
clean house up for tomorrow
kids' bath
showers
clean play room
breathe
get to Jacob's Well by 4:30
drive to Lenexa to prepare dinner for everyone
eat, have mom's birthday, switch over to Christmas, have Christmas, clean up, drive home, get Santa stuff done, get to bed, and up to Christmas morning.

Praying for deafness

2008-12-17T21:15:00.002-06:00

Of course I'm not really praying for deafness, but sometime my life seems so loud. Parenting is the most draining, exhausting, never ending wonderfullness the world has ever known. My morning always starts out the same (yes, like groundhog day). Charlotte yelling at me from her bed. It quickly turns into a crying scream "Mama...I....WANT....GET....UP!!!!"
Now I realize that as a mom, it is my "job" to gladly slide out of bed, slip into my slippers, wrap my robe tightly and greet her with all the sunshine my voice can hold.
But in reality folks; I don't own slippers, they make my feet sweat.
Why can't she just walk in, climb into bed with me, cuddle for 15 minutes, and then get her own breakfast while I sip my coffee and watch the news...hahahhaha.....bahhhhaha.

I think I may be coming down sick with something. I just pray that I can keep healthy over Christmas break. Coming up this week:

Ashley, my oldest bestest friend is coming to town. She is a stylist in New York. She'll be returning me to blond on Monday! Can't wait.

Menu:
Thursday: Fajitas (in the crock pot)
Friday: Sausage and Peppers w/pasta (Eric's favorite)
Saturday: Stroganoff
Sunday: Chili Mac
Monday: Pizza at an old friends' house
Tuesday: White chicken chili
Wednesday: BBQ beef sandwiches
Thursday: Merry Christmas sticky buns!!! (add 4 pounds)

Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-08T21:49:00.002-06:00

The four weeks before Christmas is called Advent. It is a time of preparation and celebration of Christmas, the celebration of Jesus's birth.
I had a conversation with a friend of mine today as we searched the store for Christmas gifts. Our family has never had a lot of money that is no secret, but it has never bothered me the way that it has bothered me this year. Four factors are responsible for this:

#1. We moved into a more expensive houes
#2. My husband took a day shift for the first time in our 9 years together (thus we lost the pay differential)
#3. The dang economy (groceries, gas, Everything)
#4. I'm envious and impatient

Okay maybe that's 5 things. But my point is that for some reason this year in particular money has been a huge part of our life. We have always only had a one income family and I've stayed home. We didn't have anything so there was no need to have two incomes and so I became a stay at home mom almost by default and the grace of God.

The same friend told me about a prayer she prays for herself. Instead of praying for money or riches, rather pray for contentment with the money you already have. Just a thought.

Have you heard of the Advent Conspiracy? It's actually pretty eye opening. I would encourage you to check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU
I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I......
want to stop wanting!!!
Challenge: To not mention MONEY for a wee...a day

Peace Out,
Breanne

I Live in 1995

2008-12-06T13:18:00.002-06:00

Some lady left me a message the other day saying, "I've been trying to get a hold of you for two days now..." She sounded annoyed. Well I haven't called her back yet because I live in 1995:

I do not have caller ID
I do not have call waiting
I still have a tube TV
I don't really even know what DVR or Tivo is
I've only seen HDTV at the store
I still have to Roll down the windows in one of my cars. *Side note: Did you know that our kids are not going to understand the universal signal for roll down your window? Do it...I'll wait. Little fist round and round...they're just going to look at us with an eyebrow raised..."Mom, what are you doing?"*

I do not have a cell phone That's right people-NO CELL PHONE
My husband and I occasionally have a pay as you go phone that work out pretty nicely, but we can't always buy the minutes and then we don't have a cell phone. I have a problem with the 2 year commitment. I refuse to do that. I don't even know where I'll be tomorrow, yet alone 2 years from now. I also can't comprehend spending $50+ a month (most of time much for if not double this) for a phone.
I'm not saying that a cell phone wouldn't be handy because more often than not I really wish I had one. You might not be aware of this because most of you, if not all, have a cell phone, but there are fewer and fewer pay phones now and the phone companies are actually doing away with them. A pay phone, for all you kids out there, is an actual phone on the side of a road or the side of a building, typically at convenience stations or grocery stores. You put .50 cents into the slot (it used to be .25- don't get me started) and then you push in the cold square buttons and hold the receiver as far from your face as possible, while still being able to hear the person you called through the crackle sound. It's really quite vintage.
So my point is, while I'm a minority and well aware of this: Do not assume that I have all the latest gadgets and will magically know that you've called if you have not left me a message or your phone number. I still live in 1995 lady.

Have a great Saturday. I finally got some peace and quiet through the wonderful invention of naptime. I'm going to try and finish Breaking Dawn so Tricia can have a turn.
Smiles,
Breanne

Wiggle, Wiggle, Blood

2008-12-05T09:08:00.003-06:00

2 down, 18 to go. Sam lost his second tooth this morning. The kid couldn't be more dramatic. He starts yelling from the bathroom and when I get in there he is spitting mouth fulls of blood into the sink and screaming. Hahah. I asked him how it came out and he said "Oatmeal" It must have been really ready. Anyway I taught him the word coagulated and we moved on.
I drove him to school this morning because we had to turn in his Reflections Contest story. It wasn't a requirement, but the kid never has homework so I thought I'd make him do it. The main reason we moved last year was to get into a good school district. I live in a little "cottage" now (that's code for shack). The school district has yet to live up to the hype in my opinion. I have worked with him at home a bit by having him read daily, giving him timed tests, and spelling words. The spelling words he gets at school are ridiculous. I understand that they have to reach all of the kids, but why not work with the kids who need to challenged as well. How about giving them an alternative. I'm not saying that Sam is some super smart genious or anything. I'm realistic, but the kid is board~
So, Sesame Street is on in the background and Telly is singing a song "Six penguins in my shirt" and sure enough he's wearing a shirt with 6 penguins sicking out singing. It is very strange.
Last night was great. Cara and Ian came over for dinner and then we went to see Christmas in the park which is a bunch of scenes made out of Christmas light. You drive through the park in your car with your light out. It is very fun. We laughed pretty much the entire time. At one point there is a fish (made out of lights) and it jumps up out of the "pond" up and over, then splashes back into the "pond" ~ Ian goes, "Wow, that looks so real" hahahhaha. Maybe you had to be there, but I lost it. Then Eric says to Cara in his best Cheech voice, "yeah man have you been to Christmas in the Park on Weeeeed?" Sam (my 6 year old) goes, "Yeah I would love Christmas in the park on Wii, that would be awesome." One track mind, that kid. It was very funny.
Today, I'm going to a playgroup that I created with some other stay at home moms from my church. This is our first outing. We'll see how it goes. I'm excited about it....Eww Charlotte just sneezed on me....!

Dinner tonight: Unknown
During naptime: Continue working through the book of Isaiah and the remnant Jew issue
If I get around to it: laundry

Smiles,
Breanne

Another day & No Dollars

2008-12-03T14:08:00.003-06:00

Good Afternoon,

I have to confess that starting the blog yesterday was really therapeutic actually. I was surprised. Sometimes I get tired of the sound of my own voice and it felt good to get everything down on "paper" without listening to myself complain.

So today, I decided that I'm going to weigh myself and post my weight. There are a few reasons for doing this.
#1. I have to exercise and I'm not going to without accountability.
#2. It's interesting to know how much people weigh
#3. And finally, last night I went out with some girlfriends to celebrate a weight loss accomplishment of a friend who has recently lost 100 pounds through diet and exercise! I met her once she was well on her way to this milestone (She wants to loose more) and so I never knew her at her starting weight. It's hard for me to picture her heavier. So from now on whoever she meets will meet her at this new weight. For some reason that was important to me. I don't always have to be the fat sister.

Okay it is 2:15, I've just eaten lunch and I've had two RC's (shut up they're good). I'm going to go weigh. I'll be right back...
Okay 146.6 lbs and I'm 5'2''
Weight loss goal = 130 by High School Reunion Summer 2009

*****************************Today, so far***********************************
Overslept 7:30 am
Sam's doctor appointment 7:50am
Rush and get myself and 2 kids out the door in 15 minutes (check)
Forget my license (have to go speed limit)
Flu Shot (nasal spray)
Take kids to Lamars for donuts
Come home & eat
Drive Sam to school
Ebay
Friend calls with sick kid, can I watch her baby (no problem)
Ebay, charlotte lunch, baby screaming, turn off computer,
Put baby & Charlotte down for a nap! (I'm awesome)

Tonight is Youthgoup and I can't wait.
Dinner: Spaghetti and meatballs (because I forgot to defrost what I'd planned)

Recipe:
Italian Meatballs

After baking, I divide these meatballs into three servings and freeze whatever I'm not going to use immediately. Thaw the meatballs and heat them in a saucepan with jarred spaghetti sauce to make a fast dinner of spaghetti and meatballs or meatball sandwiches.

3/4 pound lean ground beef 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
3/4 pound mild Italian sausage 1 teaspoon parsley
1 cup plain breadcrumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan 1 teaspoon thyme
2/3 cup catsup 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
3 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 425'F. Combine all ingredients. Form into meatballs slightly smaller than a golf ball (A cookie scoop works well for this). Place in a lightly oiled 9X13 or larger jelly roll pan. Pour 1/4 cup water in the pan. Bake for 25 minutes.

Oh to be Original

2008-12-02T09:14:00.001-06:00

Mornin' Folks,

I haven't officially done the research on how many American mothers have turned to the art of blogging, but I'm sure I'm not in the minority. Well here goes, my blog:

The Family: Eric (At work)
Sam (At School)
Charlotte (Sesame Street)
Breanne (trying to hold it all together and failing miserably)
Well that pretty much sums up this morning. But I'm not going to simply get on here and whine, although, I'd be pretty good at that. What I am going to do is be brutally honest about the world.

To Do List:
dishes
sweep/mop (kitchen, bathrooms, entry)
laundry (24 loads)
fold laundry
change sheets
clean toilets (2 :)
clean bathtub
dust
vacuum
pick up clutter (hahaha- as if)
mail out packages (i'll get back to this)
.....okay interruption one, Charlotte wants to play play doh....I'm back~she picked red & yellow
take a shower
return library book that they've assumed I've lost because I haven't made time to return it. My library fines are out of control)
Call Nelnet and defer Student Loans (indefinitely)
Create new listings and upload to Ebay
Pray ...I should have said this first, now I have guilt....
Make dinner
put up Christmas tree and decorate for the dang holidays
Make contact with at least one sister (sanity)
Finish book 4 of Twilight because Tricia is waiting
.....interruptions 2, Charlotte is done with play doh and wants up (which is actually down)....I'm back. She just trotted back to Sesame Street.
I think that this is enough for today.

Can I just say Thank you to my coffee. What would I do without you.

Wishes:
I wish I had at the very least one CD player in my house so I could listen to music. I have one on my laptop, but the volume doesn't go very high.

Oh one more thing, I do Ebay. And by that I mean I attempt to sell things on Ebay. I want to make this an at home business. Eric thinks I'm nuts and in his defense I'll spend 8+ hours on my auctions and make like $4. For those with little faith... I WILL DO THIS and do it WELL.

~Breanne