I was asked to come back to work...

(They had a gal walk out yesterday so they are needing to shuffle some people around to cover the appropriate duties. They text me and asked me if I could come into work. Here is the email that I ALMOST sent them- but decided to talk to them instead (one-on-one.) Talking in person was the best idea for the situation, but I kept this email just in case I wanted to look back on it someday.)

Hi there,

I got your text message this morning, as well as Jade’s and Leslie’s email- my only issue is that it costs me too much to come into work.

If it made sense financially, I would jump to the opportunity- but after paying a sitter and filling up on gas at $3.45 a gallon- To work again for the same amount makes it very hard to come back. So even for a temporary offer, I simply can’t afford it.

If I come back for a short time and the bridge is open for a full time position, I feel HomeLovers might not ever find a position for me to grow into.

Perhaps it’s because I have not shown my ‘true’ value to the company, or maybe HomeLovers doesn’t have the budget to pay for quality employees themselves.

How can I ask for more money per hour without making it sound like I’m trying to be ‘better’ than anyone else?

I apologize if it sounds ugly, it wasn’t my intent.

Thank you so much for considering me anyway.

-Crystal

(so, I ended up going back to work today- even though I didn't arrive until 1:30, I worked until 5. They agreed to give me a temporary $2 an hour raise. This was so exciting to approach, ask and receive my wish!)

I've agreed to work until next Wednesday (the 22nd of June.) Jim isn't so crazy about the idea because 1. I'm not packin and cleanin all day like I 'should' be and 2. the gas is still expensive no matter HOW you cut it. Besides, at least we'll be makin a little bit of cash.

Here are his replies below. . .

From: Wells, Jim
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 10:58 AM
To: 'Crystal'
Subject: RE: I don't want to burn any bridges

Maybe you could also say until you move that it will just be to costly and that move should be done before the end of July.

From: Crystal
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 11:00 AM
To: Wells, Jim
Subject: RE: I don't want to burn any bridges

So you agree that I should NOT go into work today at all?

Or should I just ‘go’ and then tell them all this later?

From: Wells, Jim
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 11:10 AM
To: 'Crystal'
Subject: RE: I don't want to burn any bridges

I think it should be there choice along with yours

Junk Galore!

Sorry I haven't been writing- you may not have noticed, nor have cared- but packin daily has literally kicked my butt. I don't have much energy to type... or think for that matter. :o/

So today is Day 10 of this '21 days to move' thing.

Yup, that's right. Jim thinks we're moving INTO our new house on the 21st of June. Why? He's not sure why he thinks that- he says it's 'hunch', a 'feeling', he can just "SEE IT" happening on that day for some reason.

???

Anyhoo- in effort to appease my husband, I truck on as if it were so. I have been packing something everyday.

Day 1 (June 1st) I packed away all the kids toys, separating into categories. There must have been AT LEAST 6 boxes worth of toys. 6 boxes? YIKES!!!

Day 2 (June 2nd) I packed up my winter clothes and other clothes I'm not really wearing at the moment. I also packed away some books and some picture frames too.

Day 3- (June 3rd) I went through all of my scrapbooking drawers (YES! ALL 9 of them!) and managed to pack them up into 2 very big boxes. Poor guys- they'll be having hernias once they're done carrying my stuff to the new house! lol

Day 4- (June 4th) Packed up all the glass dishes and other breakable kitchen items. 2 cupboards full took up 4 plastic bins! These babies are heavy too! {Happy Birthday MOM!}

Day 5- (June 5th) Went through my scrapbooking corner and found more stickers, photos and other doo-dads to pack away... aren't I finished with this stuff YET?!?!?

Day 6- (June 6th) Backed up all the board games and started putting all the blankets into a separate box. Jim is starting to get on my nerves... he disagrees with how I'm packing stuff- yet, he wanted me to quit my job to do this whole packing thing, he best quit his whining. I'll do it my way- thank you very much! :oP

Day 7- (June 7th) Put all my photograph containers into a GIANT box that I made by combining two large boxes together. Then also fit every single DVD case in a box- boy those two are going to be heavy! lol

Day 8- (June 8th) Jim finally brought some small PC boxes home for me to pack the 'smaller' stuff. So I put all the rarely used kitchen utensils and a few glass baking items in a couple of small boxes. "Watch out! Sharp KNIVES under this paper!"

Day 9- (June 9th) Packed up all the bathroom sundries (except for a few small things that we currently use on a daily basis) This turned out to be 5 small boxes!

1 for all the medicine. Over-the-counter AND Rx pills we are not using anymore. ???
2nd one for all the cologne and other breakable items.

3rd one for all my 'beauty items' like makeup, nail polish, body sprays and hair stuff.

4th one for all of Jim's stuff and all the lotions/creams/misc items.

5th one for all the dental products (plus Brooklyn's breathing treatment machine.)

Crazy isn't it? Now- take a look at the SIZE of our bathrooms and tell me how we're suppose to fit all this UNUSED JUNK in these bathrooms?!?!? omg. we are such hoarders!!!

I'm actually REALLY glad we're downsizing, I always thought we 'needed' a big house for the space. But truth be told, you just end up collecting more and becoming more disorganized with a big house. I like that this small house will help us force to get rid of things we don't use and eventually become so good at organizing and STAYING organized!

So today, being day 10- it also happens to be our 5 year anniversary so I'm not so sure what the plan is but I'm liking the whole 'not having a plan' thing 'cause it gives me complete control over how much I get done without the added pressure that I HAVE to get a certain amount done.

I would LOVE to get my computer desk packed up. Leave only my monitors, keyboard and pc tower. Pack up the scanner, papers and junk. Get it looking ALL clean and organized so that when Jim comes home today he will maybe, just possibly be inspired to clean up HIS desk area which is 10x worse than mine!

Anyhoo- that's it for today!

TTFN, ta ta for now!

Give me my Caffeine!

So this morning I started off with my 3 rules.

1. Do not leave the room before getting 'ready' for the day.

So- Brooklyn woke me up, asking me to take her downstairs to get something to eat. Normally, I would crawl out of bed and drag myself into the pantry and pour her a bowl of cereal. She wasn't so happy with me when I told her that mommy wants to take a shower first. She eventually gave in and decided to stand in the shower with me.

It felt so good to have myself 'ready' before leaving the room. 1st thing I did, I made her some breakfast and then started on a load of dishes. (My 1st and foremost goal.)

2. Do NOT get on the computer, Do NOT sit & watch TV and Do NOT eat breakfast until 1st goal of the day is completed.

This rule helps me TONS. Because if I allow myself to 'stall' on my 1st goal, I will stall all day long. But because I am a woman of comfort and I LOVE MY FOOD- I hurry and get my 1st goal done so that I can EAT!

But, I'm thinking of adding in an amendment to that 2nd rule- "EAT WHILE STANDING" at least for me, to sit on the couch and eat- can get a little too comfortable. Often I want to just relax and let my body sink into the couch as I listen the kids shows behind my eyelids. However, you'll be so proud of me that I DIDN'T! As soon as I started to feel even a LITTLE bit of tired, I popped open a diet dr pepper and wallah... I'm UP and ready to go!

3. Do NOT over CHALLENGE my Skill level/ under CHALLENGE my Skill level.

Each day is different for me (I'm starting to realize) and the more I stick to these 3 rules, the easier it is for me to just 'stay busy' rather than follow a list. Today, I was proud with myself for
a. getting my closet clothes packed

b. getting jim's drawers packed

c. getting our bedroom frames packed

d. doing a couple loads of laundry

e. designed a few logos for a client

If I would've put the above things on a 'to-do list', chances are- my BRAIN would've thought they were too challenging and therefore, I would've felt OVERWHELMED and then been lazy all day. But I just 'did as I felt' (for the most part) and felt I did pretty good for having a relaxed yet productive day.

Tomorrow is French Toast stick day... I'm setting my alarm as we speak. Trevor is here, so I might have him stay home with 'whomever isn't up yet' ;o)

3 NEW RULES

Ok, so here is my BIG accomplishment today.

I didn’t make a ‘list’ like I have done recently these last few days- I just told myself 3 simple rules

1. Do NOT leave my bedroom until I’m fully dressed with brushed teeth, combed hair, deodorant and EVERYTHING. (just like I normally did before going to work.)

2. Do NOT pass go, do not collect $200.

a. No computer

b. No TV

c. No breakfast until I have completed the 1^st thing on my to do list

3. Do NOT mismatch the challenge to the skill. Too much expectation on myself will only result in the feeling of failure if I do not reach my goal. And not ENOUGH challenge will only leave me feeling bored and unmotivated completely. To live in ‘the flow’ I need to do like Nike commercials say and “JUST DO IT”. If I wrote out a goal sheet for me today, I might feel like failed in some way- but when I just met my goals head on as I approached them it didn’t seem like such an uphill battle.

So- as a ‘reward’ to myself, I allowed to get on facebook. I know, I know, I’m addicted- but I made it a whole 24 hours and I’m VERY proud at all I was able to accomplish in that time frame. J yippee!

Anyhoo- that’s all for tonight- I will talk to you later gator!

Goals vs Results 5/31/2011

GOALS:

1. Get UP off my butt and go make my TV cube

2. Go to the kitchen and do a load of dishes

3. Pick up ALL the trash in the house

4. Do a load of kid laundry

5. Clean up the front room

6. Then I have to leave the house by 5- we're going to look at my DREAM HOUSE again! :oD

RESULTS:

1. Got up (after much stalling) and made my TV cube

2. Went to the kitchen and did a load of dishes

3. Picked up ALL the trash in the house

4. Did a load of kid laundry

5. Cleaned up the front room

6. Left the house by 4:40pm, looked at my DREAM HOUSE again, not so sure everyone else is as excited as I am

Tues. May 31st- Goodbye Facebook

OK, so I did it- I sat at my computer to do ONE THING and 2 hours later, I found myself distracted by Facebook, my email, you name it.

I need to get OUT OF THIS Habit!

I need to go back to a time where Facebook was something I checked on every couple of days- not every couple of hours!

I told myself, as well as my life coach -Jade; that I would write a book about becoming a s.a.h.m.
I also mentioned that I would use this BOOK (along with this BLOG) as my new addiction. The best way for me to do that obviously is to say goodbye.

not cold turkey- but for a few days at least. I need to get in the habit of doing MORE than JUST Facebooking all day. grrrr. (i know my husband would be nodding his head right now if he could read this!)

So- here I go... my goals for today:

Matt's birthday is today- so even tho we celebrated it yesterday, we went to the park and had professional (but free) pictures taken. :o) Afterwards, we stopped by the grocery store and then went to McDonald's for lunch. (I call it his birthday lunch.)

Now that I'm home and kids are napping, I wanted to do soooo much more today but my headache from yesterday has not completely left yet. So I sat here to relax and NOW look at the time. ugh.

OK, here I go- GOALS FOR TODAY!

1. Get UP off my butt and go make my TV cube. (I printed out 6 pictures and I will tape them to a little cardboard cube and place it on top of the TV. Each picture represents whose TURN it is to watch TV. This should help Matt & Brook understand that they don't have sole rights to the TV channels and everyone gets a turn.) No Jade, I will not be watching TV right now- besides, Trevor's playing Xbox on it right now so I can't. :o(

2. I WILL Go to the kitchen and do a load of dishes

3. I WILL Pick up ALL the trash in the house, including the boxes/paper from Matt's presents.

4. AND I WILL Do a load of kid laundry. I bought detergent finally and I can start a load

5. IF time permits- I will also Clean up the front room and put all of the kids' toys in a big box

6. Then I have to leave the house by 5- we're going to look at my DREAM HOUSE again! :oD

“When I Grow up- I wanna-be a SAHM!”

I want to brag to you about my NEW GREAT IDEA!

I’m gonna write a book! Whether it be for me, or for other women around the world- I’m gonna have it be my new addiction (like facebook) and I’m honestly considering putting facebook on-hold for this short time.

The name of my book is going to be called “When I Grow up- I wanna-be a SAHM!”

Brilliant Right?

I’m gonna basically write each chapter as I go, following my own ‘tips’ for becoming a s.a.h.m. and reference back to the tips I’m learning from others (websites, books and my personal life coach JADE!)

It’s like a journal as I ‘grow up’ or rather ‘grow into the woman I want to become.' :o) What I like the most about it is that it can be my own 'practice what i preach' guide so that I can start thinking with CONFIDENCE, come from a place of KNOWING and PRACTICE success rather than of insecurity/fear/failure.

I’m so excited. This will help me tons (I FEEL) and can’t wait to write the 1st chapter! BYE!

-Crystal