I’m transparent. My skin, that is.

We don’t get much sun in Seattle and I think it only visited us for about a month or two this year so there wasn’t even much opportunity to soak it in.  This is the time of year that I almost feel gross because I look like a ghost.  I never spend much time in the sun, anyway, because I don’t want wrinkles but I can’t stand being so pale.  I was thinking that maybe I should add a spray tan to my christmas list so I can try one out but I’m afraid I’ll mess up like Ross did on Friends.

I’m terrified of looking orange or being uneven which is why I can’t use lotion.  I don’t want to look like I live in California or anything…  just like I am alive.

Read Full Post »

Recession bites.

I think I am pretty lucky compared to a lot of other people in this country.  My house is valued higher than my loan (but I can’t sell it), we have health insurance (unfortunately expensive COBRA), my husband has a job (contract that can end at any moment), I have a healthy, beautiful baby boy (that I need to feed and clothe) and I live in a vibrant city (that is extremely expensive).  In Seattle, it felt like we weren’t going to be touched by the downturn in the economy but over the past few months, I am starting to feel it.  It is in the air.  I can’t stop worrying that bad luck is going to come knock at my door and everything that is held together by thin string will fall apart.  Maybe its the pessimist in me but I can’t seem to relax. I have been trying to find a job for almost 3 months now and no luck!  We are paying for J to be in daycare to save his spot, we can’t afford it but if we lose the spot, will be on a 6 to 9 month waiting list for an opening when I do get a job!!  We are a month or two away from being “out of money” and I feel so helpless.

I am trying to think about things in a calm, realistic way.  Would we really be out of money?  We would be able to pull money out of our 401(k) to pay the mortgage and actually be able to stay afloat for a while.  Is that smart to do? NO, but, neither is foreclosure if you can prevent it.  We are young and have plenty of time to recover.  I just wouldn’t be able to tell my financial planner.  She’d kill me.  We’ll be ok.  The economy will turn around.  I’ll find a job.  We’ll be able to pay the mortgage.  Yep.  Sure.  You betcha.

I have stopped reading articles and watching videos on how crappy our economy is.  Getting obsessively involved won’t help the situation.    There is a part of me that feels everyone really doesn’t get how bad we are and how bad it could get.  Are we in denial?  Most of us didn’t live during the Great Depression.  Tough times to many of my friends mean they can’t get a new purse and have to go out to dinner less.  Actually, many of my friends aren’t even that affected!!  It’s so bizarre.

I hope that we survive this storm and that citizens of our country will come out being smarter with money, appreciating the things we have and never taking anything for granted.  I don’t want to see what this place will look like if we don’t.

Read Full Post »

Real Change newspaper people are humans too

I’m sitting here in the grocery store parking lot waiting for my husband to come out with grub for dinner. Every time I come here, there is a lady from Real Change magazine trying to sell newspaper for a $1 donation. My ignorant knowledge of this company is that it is a newspaper run by homeless or other less fortunate people trying to work and make a change in their lives. I’ll look it up when i get home and post the info.

In any case, she is standing at the front door and no one wants to look at her when they walk by. They know she is asking for money and it is as if it is better to ignore hee as if she isn’t a human standing there than say, “No, thanks.”

I am compelled to go up to her and give her props for being out here every day and trying to make a difference. For taking action in her life when it can be so much easier to do nothing. Give a $5 donation. Something tells me it wouldn’t come off as I’d hope it would.

So next time when I see her, I’ll make sure I smile and say, “No, thanks have a great day.” maybe one day I’ll buy a copy. Please remember that we are all just people in this world trying to make our lives enjoyable.

Read Full Post »

Would you like a “kid’s fast track to obesity” menu for your baby?

Since Jayden was about a year old, he started shoving every type of food in his mouth. Its great for us because there is more freedom with food unless, of course, it is a vegetable. He used to love them but suddenly there is a ban on healthy food since he knows there is sweet fruit available. His favorite food is pasta and lots of it and he loves to get it everywhere!

Jayden's pasta mess

Usually when we go out, we bring food for him since he isn’t eating a full kids size meal and it is cheaper and healthier. Recently on our trip to Chicago and when we’ve had family visiting, it hasn’t been easy or convenient to bring his food so we’ve decided to just get him something to eat at a restaurant. All I have to say is NO WONDER THERE IS CHILD OBESITY IN THIS COUNTRY!!!!! The menu items are ridiculous! I struggle each and every time with what to order. Hmmm… do I choose the grilled cheese on white bread filled with processed American cheese and slathered in butter with fries? or do I choose the deep fried trans-fat filled fish and chips or chicken fingers? or do I choose the ever healthy corn dog?

THIS HAS GOT TO CHANGE!

I realize kid’s meals probably aren’t a big money maker and they want something easy to just cook up but come on. There are healthy options on the adult menu so why not just cut it down for kids? Maybe the cost? Maybe parents don’t want to make their kids eat healthy in restaurants and it is easier to serve fries and a cheeseburger so there isn’t the demand? Trust me, when I am at a restaurant, that is what I want to order even though I know I should get something less artery blocking.

We are trying to teach Jayden about healthy foods and if he has a grilled cheese, it is 2 slices of wheat bread and cheddar cheese with no butter. Of course, we aren’t perfect and no one else is. However, it would be nice to see at least 1 or 2 healthy items LIKE FRUIT on a menu instead of lard.

The one restaurant that just irks me is Duke’s. We love to go there because they have great food and everything is pretty much natural and high quality. That is until you get to the kid’s menu – I was so infuriated that he claims to offer great food but there wasn’t even a fruit bowl or veggie assortment available for kids. It’s ok to feed our kids crap? I brought the menu home with me and was going to email Duke about it but never did… like almost everything I get frustrated with. Except graffiti. I report it in my neighborhood to help prevent future damage as it has been a problem. Tangent, sorry…

I feel that raising our kids is a team effort. What they learn in school, at home, on the playground, on TV and in public affects their life. We should provide them with healthy and smart avenues to make it easier to make the right choice. I’m not saying that restaurants offering healthy foods will change childhood obesity but it may change perception and alter what kids and parents choose off the menu. Any little bit can make a difference.

Read Full Post »

Blue Angels and babies don’t mix unless shaken well.

This past weekend was SeaFair in Seattle where we have hydroplane races and an air show.  Technically, SeaFair lasts for about a month with a triathlon, marathon / run, parade, etc.  For me, all that really matters is when the Blue Angels come to town.  Yes, I may be even a little obsessed with them.  Every time they fly over head I scream like a little girl.  The speed, the closeness and the amazing stunts they pull are a joy to watch.

We live in Mt. Baker neighborhood which is super close to where they perform so usually we get some awesome flybys.  Until this year, I haven’t really worried about the noise and shaking the house.  Last year Jayden was only 1 month old so he wasn’t really phased.  He was knocked out in the sling.  This year was a little different being 13 months old.

It is understandable that he would be afraid of these fast flying jets since he hasn’t seen them before.  Plus, he was introduced to them while sleeping and proceeded to wake up and scream at the top of his lungs!  We took him outside and pointed up in the sky and said, “Airplane!”.  He would look around, see it and start to get the cry face.  Eventually cry face turned in to the head digging in my shoulder for a comfort hug.  On the 3rd day of air noise, we walked down to the lake to watch them and he was pointing and started clapping when they went by.  We only had a few shoulder hugs.  It was too cute.  On Sunday, we went down to Boeing field to watch them take off and fly back in and it was even louder down there and Jayden really enjoyed it!  Finally!  Maybe the blue flight suit helped him feel better.

Jayden in his flight suit

Since they have left, every time he hears a plane go by, he points up and says something that I’m sure means Mom, look at that cool airplane!

We hopefully haven’t screwed him up for life and he won’t have a complex towards big blue planes.

Read Full Post »

FiveHumans. Ignorance is a curable disease.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to introduce my business on my blog because I don’t want it to seem like advertising or like I am trying to promote my business. My blog is my journal and an outlet for my feelings and experiences. In thinking of that, how can I not share my experiences as an entrepreneur as it takes up most of my free time? I will include the occasional post about challenges, experiences, etc in running an online business and hope that this info may also encourage someone to start their own company. Many people dream of starting their own company and it takes a lot to make it a reality.

So, what do I do in my free time when my baby Jayden is napping? I work on a company I started along with 4 friends (hubby included) called FiveHumans. We are a Seattle based company with the self appointed task of curing ignorance through hip, fashionable clothing. Our t-shirts are created to raise awareness in bold style and provide all humans an opportunity to showcase their devotion towards spearheading change.

We have t-shirts dedicated to autism, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and asthma. Our t-shirts are intended to be fearless and thought provoking, so humans everywhere can spread knowledge and educate others. 10% of the sale price of each shirt sold will be donated to the related non-profit.

It has been amazing to donate money to charity and hope that in some way, I am making a difference. I can’t wait until we are more established and we are able to donate even more money!

Here is our most recent women’s and men’s autism t-shirt:

Autism t-shirt, men

Autism t-shirt, women

Read Full Post »

UPDATE: Sold out – didn’t get my iPhone. boo hoo

My wonderful husband went down to AT&T at Pacific Place in Seattle and the line was out the door, up the street and around the corner. Needless to say, he didn’t get the phone. Bummer. I guess they are getting more in tomorrow and will start the line at 6 am and they open at 9 am. That is crap. They do provide an option to order one at the store and have it shipped to them with your name on it but it takes about a week. A week!! Geez. Sniff, sniff.

Until then, I will be slumming with my basic Nokia phone. Not to offend anyone that has a basic phone… I have just grown to love my iPhone and everything I can do with it.

Read Full Post »

Best guacamole EVER

We were in Chicago this past week visiting my dear friend Claudia that I met while studying abroad in Spain.  She lives in the South Loop which is an up and coming area.  There are tons of new condos being built and a lot of new restaurants and bars opening.

One night we went to Zapatista, a Mexican restaurant and ordered the guacamole as an appetizer.  OMG.  THE BEST GUACAMOLE I HAVE EVER TASTED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!  I think we may have eaten more guacamole than dinner that night.  We even went back the next night and ordered some to go.  Now, that is not a good habit to start as it isn’t that great for you!  Although, my mom keeps reminding me that avocados have that ever important Omega-3 oils so they aren’t half bad.

So, if you are in Chicago, stop by and order the guacamole and you will be glad you did.

If you are in Seattle, the best guacamole I have found here is in Ballard at La Carta de Oaxaca.  They also have EXCELLENT food and a less desirable wait time to get in.  We’ve waited over an hour to squeeze in to the tight space.  If you give your host your cell number, they will call when your table is available so you can stroll around the neighborhood or grab a drink elsewhere.

Needless to say, we are going to try and copy the recipe at home.  I can guarantee you it won’t taste as good as nothing usually does.

Read Full Post »