Self Esteem Struggles

We all go through it as some point in life. We all have different ways of dealing with it. We all struggle with self-esteem at times in our lives. I struggled in school with it. Was I pretty enough to get a date? No because I didn't get asked to the dance. Am I smart enough? No because everyone else got an A on the test and I got a B. I have no talent because I didn't make the show choir. A few years later I struggled as a new wife. Is the house clean enough? No there is a spot on the kitchen window that my best friend pointed out. Is my laundry sparkling white and clean? No there is a hole is my husbands sock. Does dinner taste okay? No there is to much salt in the potato's. And then again I struggled with self esteem as a new mother. Can I lose the baby fat fast enough? No I never did. Is the baby sleeping through the night right away? No because I really have no idea what I am doing. Is the baby healthy? No because I'm not breast feeding. We all go through it in life. Maybe once, maybe twice, maybe several times. .or all the time. Self doubting ourselves or do we doubt ourselves because of what someone said to us?

Right now I'm in self doubting self esteem low spot. I know it won't last forever because I've been through it before. I'm questioning if I am smart enough for my job or not. Some of this comes from suddenly become one of the oldest members of the team and not the youngest. I am not getting respect with my seniority. It's aggravating. I'm constantly being shoved here or there and things being questioned. Starts working on your self esteem eventually. I know I am good at my job. Not great but good. I love my job but it gets harder and harder to deal with every day. The tears and frustration come daily instead of occasionally.

I'm feeling low self esteem in the friend department. So many friends that I thought were very close friends are no long friends. Not because something has happened. I've just realized that I am the one putting in all the work to the relationship. I backed off and found out just how good of friends I thought these people were. Another low blow to the self esteem. Guess they really weren't my friends. They only contact me when they need something from me. Not to just be my friend.

There is always the self image in the mirror self esteem. yeah so I'm pushing 50. . .I'm over weight but I eat healthy and work out. So I can't wear size 6 jeans like some of my friends. Wait? Friends? What friends? (see above paragraph) I don't feel like I need to wear the latest trends or be dressing like my 23 year old daughter. I feel I dress okay for my age. Not 23 or 73. But there is always that question when you look in the mirror? Do I look okay? No. . this doesn't match this or my shoes are scuffy or I wore this last week will anyone notice? Is my hair okay? No it's not. It's not straight like everyone is wearing it. I still rock the 80's poof. Why? Because I have cowlick and that makes my hair stand up. .might as well go with it instead of fighting it. Much easier. I think I'm aging pretty good. Not many wrinkles. A few fine lines forming here and there but not as  clean looking as other people I know. Why can't have their skin?

I am rereading my list of self esteem issues. Can I do something about them? Sure I can. I can keep doing what I am doing because I am me! I'm not everyone else. I can ignore the mirror. I can do my job the best that I know how. I can make new friends. I can continue to eat healthy and work out. I am reminded of the video that circulated a few months ago of the little girl in the mirror in the morning. Jessica's Daily Affirmation. I LIKE ME!


http://youtu.be/qR3rK0kZFkg

BzzAgent Reporting In Sir!

Bzz Agent Arthur reporting in on Cure'l Intensive Healing Lotion! I was pretty excited to get ask to review this product. I have a horrible dry cracked feet and are always looking for something to try on them to make them less lizardy looking. Lizardy? Is that a real word? I guess it is in my vocabulary!

Bzz Agent sent me some sample jars of this lotion and I've used 3 so far. Now I'm not a big lotion person. I don't like to use lotions because it takes forever to soak in and who has time for that when getting ready for work? So since I was going to try using this on my feet I decided I'd do the white cotton sock with the lotion at bedtime routine. Slather my feet in the Curel, pull on some white cotton socks and head off to snoozeville and let it do it's magic!

So far I'm not extremely impressed it. It's doing an okay job. About like other lotions I've used. My feet are not soaking the lotion up and it's staying on my feet all night. My feet are a little softer but nothing to major. Now I have also put one of the jars on my desk at work. My hands are constantly dry from handling so much paper and using the keyboard all day. I'm not super impressed with it here either. It's a bit thick for hand lotion and an hour later I'm still rubbing my hands together to get it to soak in. e

I'm going to continue using the product and see how it goes for a few more weeks. I'll report back in with a final evaluation!

This is Bzz Agent Arthur signing out!

Up Up and Away!

Wow! I went to my first Hot Air Balloon Festival last weekend! I don't think there has ever been one locally but I am sure it will now become a tradition. The event was held at our local fairgrounds along with live music, food and a few vendor's. 

The evening was perfect! The weather was not to hot and not to cold and a perfect evening to throw out a blanket or lawn chairs and take some snacks. 

We were able to watch them unload and assembly the balloons and several lifted off into the evening the sky and then returned. All evening you could walk around and go right up to the balloons and the owners. Ask questions, look inside and touch. It was really amazing how polite this crowd was and how it was a such a family event with many families with young children just enjoying an evening out. It was a fun date night for us!

The highlight of the evening was after dark! The balloons lite up the night with their amazing colors! So spectacular! They called it a "balloon glow" and was suppose to be set to music but I never noticed the music. .I was to involved of the simple beauty of glowing colors in the darkness!

Hello out there? Is anyone there? I am seriously debating changing my blog to a new location. I'm frustrated that I never get comments or that  nobody follows me anymore. I may not be the best writer in the world but I do enjoy sharing with other people what is going on in this adventure of life. Am I THAT boring? 

Another Funny Road Picture!

Here we go again! These funny things seem to always "pop" up when I am out and and about. We were on our way to Shipshewana this week when I found this mobile toaster with giant Pop Tarts in the parking lot! So cute and funny!

Want it FREE?

Free!!! Who doesn't like FREE? Especially when it is products we use every day! I suggest you sign up for to be a Buzz Agent! Fill out some surveys and wait on your FREE products to arrive. All you have to do is review them and submit the reviews! It's pretty simple! I was asked to review Kroger's Private Selection Brand of products. I received coupons to get purchase all these products FREE! I received panko bread crumbs, fresh loaf of whole garlic bread, maple syrup, a super sweet rub and jam! A total of $25 and I walked out of the store not paying a single shiny penny! I am also currently review Dr. Scholls insoles, Nature Valley Soft Oatmeal Squares, Wine and Prevacide. My daughter is reviewing Special K Bars and Venus Razors. We receive all of this in boxes in the mail! I highly suggest you check out being a Bzz Agent! Let me know if you sign up!

Highway Oddities!

Have you ever thought about the things you see while out on America's highways and byways?  You use to be have to try to explain things to people but now with all of us having Smart Phones everything is a quick click away from sharing! The above photo I took on 465 in Indianapolis! It sure caught my attention! Don't Drive Naked!!! Pretty sexy looking ad! It's for a company that does car wraps! In other words. .don't drive a naked car! Wrap it! Mostly used by companies for advertising but either way I thought this was pretty bold advertising! Try explaining that one to your 5 year old in the backseat!

Of course another trip this summer going thru the country we came around a corner and came bumper to snout with a pig who was out wondering the road.Thankfully his owner was close by tending a garden and came to the rescue. Other wise we would have had bacon for dinner! We really laughed hard at this one!

and another one. . parking! Why do so many people have problems with parking? I know this guy was probably trying to be a smart ass or just couldn't read! This was at the Indianapolis Airport. The sign t clearly states "compact car" but this guy shoves a super sized SUV in the parking spot! Now if the parking garage had been full I might understand a better but there were plenty of empty spots.

I can't wait to see what I find next! Keep those cell phone camera's handy America!!

So as many of you know I am a Bzz Agent! I love being a Bzz Agent! Lots of cool free stuff to try. I was pretty excited to see these Dr. Scholl's Gel Insoles arrive in my mailbox a few weeks ago. I have never tried insoles before. One because I always wondered if they really worked or not and the cost of them. I checked at Walmart and these were around $11.00 Not extremely expensive but not sure I wanted to sink money into something I might only use one time. 

I opened the package and found that you have to trim the toe end of the insole to your shoe size. That was pretty simple since they have markings on them. Simple to do with a pair of scissors. I was a bit concerned about using them in the summer due to the fact that I wear sandals the majority of the summer. I decided to fit them for my current pair of tennis shoes.

The next day we were schedule to move our college age daughter from one apartment to another. This meant lots of lifting and several flights of stairs. A good time to put these new insoles to the test. I have to say after a day of trudging boxes and furniture around two places that my feet felt pretty good! At the end of the day they weren't swollen or hurting! I was pretty impressed! 

The only major issue I have had with them is during my workout. They must have put a bit more lift in the front of my shoe because after my first run I had blisters on the top of my toes! I have worn these sames shoes for 2 years so the only thing I could figure was the insoles made the toes a big snugger than usual and that made my shoes rub in some new spots. I now take them out to workout which is disappointing as I was hoping they would make my workout feel better.

Overall I will definitely be using insoles in my dress shoes for work and maybe find a better fitting pair for my workout shoes.

I also want to recommend that you look into being a BzzAgent! It is amazing the free products I am receiving just for reviewing them! 

Well. .here it is. .June 3, 2013. .the last day of school. I'm always a bag of mixed emotions on the last day of school but this year seems a little  more off than usual. I have nobody to celebrate the last day of school with at my house! This is a first! My baby graduated last year but since I am employed by the school corporation I still get to celebrate the last day of school. It's been fun today to see all the little faces bringing in gifts of flowers and cookies and such for the staff and how excited they are. I look at these young mothers and want to tell them to soak every single minute in. Don't let the hustle and bustle of every day life get in the way of these precious memories. I know everyone tells you when you are a parent that it will fly by and you just kind of say "yeah" and forget about it. But it really does fly by! I could swear my kids were just starting school last week and now they are both in college and starting careers. It's going to be a different type of summer vacation at my house. .quieter. .and more time for me. . .and craft projects. .and book reading. ..sun soaking. . wine. . .no water gun fights, trips with a car load of kids to the pool. .library reading programs. . . . . .poison ivy (hopefully). . .so all you young mother's out there. .soak it all in .. and enjoy the warm summer days! They FLY by!!!

Dorito Cheesy Chicken Casserole

Dorito Cheesy Chicken Casserole

Here is another recipe I found on Pinterest! Sounded good and easy. . not extremely healthy but things could be switched out to lower fat item to make it somewhat better for you. The first time I make a recipe I always go by the directions and then play around with it after that. 

So here is the picture from Pinterest:

and here is the recipe:

3 cups cooked chicken

8 ounces sour cream

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 1/2 cups of salsa

1 can of corn, drained

2 cups of mexican shredded cheese

1 bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

The original recipe stated that she bought a rotisserie chicken and used. I decided to just buy some tenderloins, boil and chop.

so here is my one plug for an item. .the utility kitchen scissors from Pampered Chef are so wonderful! I use them on a daily basis and not sure how I survived without them. I used them to quickly cut up the chicken. You really need to invest in these!

So the one thing that was not stated in the recipe was what size of bag of  Doritos to use. Obviously I knew it wasn't one of the individual lunch sizes. I had already passed that isle at the store so I sent hubby back to get the chips. He returned with the PARTY size of Doritos. He swore it was the only size in Nacho Cheese flavor. Okay. . .so I threw it in the cart. Thinking I can figure out how much when I start cooking. Well the recipe states to crush the bag. So yeah. .. I crushed the entire party bag of chips!

Sprayed my 9X13 pan and dumped all the chips in.

At this point you want to measure out one cup of cheese and set it to the side. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. Pour over the chips. It was more like spooning it and arranging on the chips than really pouring.

Bake for 20 minutes and then sprinkle 1 cup of remaining cheese on top and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Here is the finished casserole right out of the oven.

It smelled wonderful and the family really liked it. Except we did decide we should not use a PARTY size bag of chips! :) We did try reheating it for leftovers and even though the chips were a little chewy at that point it was still pretty good! Add a salad and you have a quick dinner!

Oh my!!! These are heaven!!! I've always been a fan of the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches but these. . these are. . .so yummy!!!! and so much easier to carry with you that ice cream sandwiches to say the least. I'm not a big fan of dark chocolate even though I know they say it is better for you so I am thankful that these come in milk chocolate because it is my favorite! They do come in dark chocolate for those of you who prefer the "healthy" side of chocolate. They are full of caramel and these little crunchy crispy things .. .sort of like rice krispies.. These taste like 100 grand bars in comparison. Which are my favorite. . yum! But these only have 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. If you are the Weight Watchers program they are 4 points! I've not seen them sold in individual packages but you can buy them by the box at Walmart. There are 6 packages in the box. 

It's here!!! My first Buzz Kit is here! I signed up to be a BzzAgent and finally got chosen! As a BzzAgent you answer surveys and are chosen to try products and review them! and it is FREE!! I signed up about 2 months ago and had given up being chosen even though they say it takes a while but I finally got a box full of Bed Head products! A full bottle of their straightening shampoo and samples of some other shampoo's! Now I don't straighten my hair so I'll have to let my daughter use it and review it but the other samples are items I will give a try! I suggest you sign up to be a Bzzagent! 

 I sometimes struggle with what to write about and that is another reason my blog doesn't get updated. Several years ago I found a blog called "The Simple Womans Daybook" (http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/). It a wonderful blog! You use the same writing prompts all the time and I've found it's a good way to start the juicing flowing on days I'm blank! It's also wonderful to see what other people are writing about and sharing part of their day. So here goes for today!

For today. .April 29, 2013

Outside my windows. . .the weather is annoying! It's cold one day. . 50 degree's and the next it is 75 and stunning! Spring in Indiana! So unpredictable! My closet is a mess from watching the the thermometer be a yo-yo! 

I am thinking.  . .that I'm ready for the work day to be done! It's Monday and I just want to be home.

I am thankful. . .for the work day that I am complaining about! LOL! I'm thankful to have a job and a good one at that and one that I enjoy!

In the Kitchen. . I am hoping to try a new recipe for Dorito Chicken tonight that I discovered on Pinterest. Hopefully that will be a new blog entry as well.

I am wearing. . capris and sandals despite the weather! and a bright pink short sleeve sweater to try to cheer myself. A Christopher and Banks sweater that I scored at Goodwill last year!

I am creating. . .not much at the moment. Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week so I need to get busy on gifts for the staff. Idea's are in my head. .thanks again to Pinterest. .but nothing has been done.

I am going. . .to hopefully start those Teacher Gifts this week!

I am wondering. .  .why it's my responsibility to organize Teacher Appreciation Week at work! They are wonderful ladies but  not my teachers! But seems to fall to me every year!

I am reading. . nothing at the moment. I just finished "Bared to You" on Friday and haven't started Book #2 yet.

I am hoping. . that the weather break soon!

I am looking forward to. . Friday! Miranda moves back from Butler on Friday and I'll not be the only female in the house for the summer!

I'm learning. . .to keep my mouth shut.

Around the house. . .things are pretty tiddy. .except for the upstairs. Lots of major home improvements on the horizon though!

I am pondering. .about Teacher AppreciationWeek!

A favorite Quote for today. . Once you learn to be happy, you won't tolerate being around people that make you feel anything less!

One of my favorite things. .thinking back about this pink sweater I have on and getting it at Goodwill! Nothing like a good fine at a thrift store!

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .work, working out, pinning, blogging and swinging into May!

  

Spring?

Hey Everyone! It sure has been awhile but I'm still here! I have about another month of work until I m off for the summer and I can blog until my hearts content and work on trying out more Pinterest things and give you updates! I've done several since my last posting and will get them posted very soon! I keep forgetting to take pictures as I do things so that isn't much help to you.

Spring is finally coming to Indiana. .I think! One day it's 40 degrees and the next it is 70. . but the grass is green, flowers are blooming and everyone is dealing with allergies. Personally I'm dealing with a busted ear drum! Not fun at all and it has slowed me down.

I promise more postings are on the way!!!