Lately, I've been talking to Ben about different goals that I have and business ideas and you know what he said? DO it! SO you know what that means, don't you? Yep. Now it's up to me.
It can be an easy out when everyone around you is telling you the reasons why you can't do something or asking you to hold off on your ideas for a while. Well, drat, I have not found myself in that situation. I find that I'm one of those lucky people who has a growing support group and I guess that leaves me with only one thing to do. Follow through.
Some of my goals include:
- Writing and publishing a children's book
- Starting my own business (most likely in event planning)
My strategy is to take these ideas (which I do have set, but have decided to omit from here for the time being), and research, plan, work out details to, and follow through. Hopefully, I accomplish them.
Anyway, I just happen to have a woman in my ward who has some contacts with the Deseret Book Publishing company and I recently looked on their site for what was needed in order to submit work. Two nights ago I started the brainstorming for the outline of the book and have a general idea of the layout.
Wish me luck that I stay motivated.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
the cart
There seems to be no common trait in the dempgrpahic of shopping cart leavers. Based upon my own research, people from all walks of life leave their shopping cart in odd and inconvenient places. I sometimes think about asking some random cart offender why it is that they can not take their cart at the most a few cars down to the shopping cart return or back in the store, but think the answer may be something about providing job security to supermarket employees. If it isn't already apparent, this abandonment of carts in random places through out the parking lot is a definite pet peeve of mine.
At a time of year when a common new year's resolution is to get into shape, be healthy, lose weight, etc., I am even more surprised at the laziness that is visible by a lot full of grazing shopping carts. Even more herendous are the carts blocking a parking stall where not one, two, but three and four carts are piled into a makeshift return because apparantly it is too hard to walk a few more feet. I think that attitude extends beyond the cart. Someday maybe I will do shopping cart research and compare it to other aspects of people's lives.
So fellow shopping cart users, this is my plea. PUT AWAY YOUR CART!
By doing this, you will gain needed exercise, help those around you, assist in lowering the shopping cart/car accident ratio, and make me a happier person. Thank you.
At a time of year when a common new year's resolution is to get into shape, be healthy, lose weight, etc., I am even more surprised at the laziness that is visible by a lot full of grazing shopping carts. Even more herendous are the carts blocking a parking stall where not one, two, but three and four carts are piled into a makeshift return because apparantly it is too hard to walk a few more feet. I think that attitude extends beyond the cart. Someday maybe I will do shopping cart research and compare it to other aspects of people's lives.
So fellow shopping cart users, this is my plea. PUT AWAY YOUR CART!
By doing this, you will gain needed exercise, help those around you, assist in lowering the shopping cart/car accident ratio, and make me a happier person. Thank you.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Am I the only one out there who took Driver's ED?!
This past week has made me wonder if they started handing out driver's licenses without the need of taking a class to LEARN how to drive. For those of you who haven't here are a couple of pointers and for those of you who have, let this be a refresher course.
1. Turning signals have been around for a while, all you have to do is push it up or down to signal which way you are going when changing lanes or turning.
2. Following one foot behind my car is NOT going to make me go any faster. I'm sorry but many of us choose to follow traffic laws, especially when traveling with a 4 month old baby in the car. If you would like to go faster you may go around me in the other lane.
3. Learn what the right of way is. This week I was driving one a two way street and a car was turning onto the street to go in the opposite direction than I, he was on a side road with a yield. Luckily, I saw this car in my peripheral vision and felt I should slow down a little, no sooner did I do that but the car cut in front of me, missing me by a foot and crossing me perpendicular into the other lane. SERIOUSLY?!
4. If the light is going from yellow to red for the car in front of you, you don't get to go...can we say accident?
These are just a few of the highlights to my week of driving with thousands of 20-70 year old novices. I don't like the Utah stereotype for bad driving, so PLEASE don't make it true.
1. Turning signals have been around for a while, all you have to do is push it up or down to signal which way you are going when changing lanes or turning.
2. Following one foot behind my car is NOT going to make me go any faster. I'm sorry but many of us choose to follow traffic laws, especially when traveling with a 4 month old baby in the car. If you would like to go faster you may go around me in the other lane.
3. Learn what the right of way is. This week I was driving one a two way street and a car was turning onto the street to go in the opposite direction than I, he was on a side road with a yield. Luckily, I saw this car in my peripheral vision and felt I should slow down a little, no sooner did I do that but the car cut in front of me, missing me by a foot and crossing me perpendicular into the other lane. SERIOUSLY?!
4. If the light is going from yellow to red for the car in front of you, you don't get to go...can we say accident?
These are just a few of the highlights to my week of driving with thousands of 20-70 year old novices. I don't like the Utah stereotype for bad driving, so PLEASE don't make it true.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
All that glitters isn't gold
So now my wonderful america is on a spend trend. It's happened once again....someone has gone and made debt look enticing.
Cash for clunkers, and now cash for clunky appliances, and for kids??? cash/discounts for clunky kid stuff. Come on America!
CAUTION!!! I think we should all take a moment to remember the generation who lived or were born during the Great Depression. Many of us still know or knew someone from that Era. One of the characteristics of this generation of people is the need to keep what has been accumulated over the years. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE. While it is good to be frugal I worry that now, this new recession generation will be caught in a bargain trap. The words "sale", "clearance", and other low price jargon catch our attention as many of us allow the fear of not getting this "deal" again rule our wallets. BEWARE this hazardous habit and think twice, or three, or five times if you have to about what you are about to do. Remember, spending money that you don't have, even if it's a good deal, is still putting you in debt.
Cash for clunkers, and now cash for clunky appliances, and for kids??? cash/discounts for clunky kid stuff. Come on America!
CAUTION!!! I think we should all take a moment to remember the generation who lived or were born during the Great Depression. Many of us still know or knew someone from that Era. One of the characteristics of this generation of people is the need to keep what has been accumulated over the years. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE. While it is good to be frugal I worry that now, this new recession generation will be caught in a bargain trap. The words "sale", "clearance", and other low price jargon catch our attention as many of us allow the fear of not getting this "deal" again rule our wallets. BEWARE this hazardous habit and think twice, or three, or five times if you have to about what you are about to do. Remember, spending money that you don't have, even if it's a good deal, is still putting you in debt.
Back to the drawing board
It's been a long time since I've been back to the blogging world, but really I'm still new to this whole thing, so I am assuming that it didnt miss me so much.
This return is a part of my "mid year" crisis.
I sometimes like to think of the year as a representation of our lives. The first few months, like the first years of our lives are full of hopes and goals, new life, and excitement. And for myself, sometimes a lot of goofing around. Indeed, we have the whole year ahead and plenty of time to get done what is needed, or start anew should we get off track of those new year's resolutions.
There are springs and summers and falls and winters in our lives. They might be quite literal to the time we have left, or they might represent a frame of mind/point of view in regards to certain aspects of those lives which we lead. Just as there is something wonderful in every season of the year, there is also something wonderful in every season of our lives. Once, while holding my son, an older woman looked at me and said, "You know, this time as a grandmother is the best time of my life. Don't get me wrong, I have such great memories as a mother, young as you are, but I love where I am right now." What an attitude to have!
It can be so easy to see the bad things that come upon us through each phase of life. Just as some people complain about the snow, or the heat, or the rain, or the cold, so too come the complaints of the things we are alotted in life.
So, I've decided that what I'm going to do is take the advice that this wise woman gave me and enjoy where I'm at. I look back with fondness on my young single adult/girlhood and now I enjoy my young, married, mother, adulthood. Right now is the best time of my life. Right now is the time to love with the precious moments as well as the frustrating. Later, it will also be another time to look back upon as I graduate through the seasons of my life.
In the meantime, I've still got the blog:)
This return is a part of my "mid year" crisis.
I sometimes like to think of the year as a representation of our lives. The first few months, like the first years of our lives are full of hopes and goals, new life, and excitement. And for myself, sometimes a lot of goofing around. Indeed, we have the whole year ahead and plenty of time to get done what is needed, or start anew should we get off track of those new year's resolutions.
There are springs and summers and falls and winters in our lives. They might be quite literal to the time we have left, or they might represent a frame of mind/point of view in regards to certain aspects of those lives which we lead. Just as there is something wonderful in every season of the year, there is also something wonderful in every season of our lives. Once, while holding my son, an older woman looked at me and said, "You know, this time as a grandmother is the best time of my life. Don't get me wrong, I have such great memories as a mother, young as you are, but I love where I am right now." What an attitude to have!
It can be so easy to see the bad things that come upon us through each phase of life. Just as some people complain about the snow, or the heat, or the rain, or the cold, so too come the complaints of the things we are alotted in life.
So, I've decided that what I'm going to do is take the advice that this wise woman gave me and enjoy where I'm at. I look back with fondness on my young single adult/girlhood and now I enjoy my young, married, mother, adulthood. Right now is the best time of my life. Right now is the time to love with the precious moments as well as the frustrating. Later, it will also be another time to look back upon as I graduate through the seasons of my life.
In the meantime, I've still got the blog:)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The secret society of pregnant women
My husband and I recently discovered that we were expecting our first child. Like most couples, this has been a very exciting time for the both of us। As we have announced the news to our family and friends we have recieved the customary congratulatory reactions and enthusiasm that one would expect from news such as ours। Nothing was so interesting;however, as was my recent induction into the unrecorded secret society of those women who have experienced the joy of motherhood.
They say there's a glow in your eye, the pregnant woman's dead give away which opens the door to magical remedies of how to tell what sex your child is, how many children you'll have, and so on. Indeed you hear the tales of gruesome first trimesters and labor pains, such things they would never dream of telling you till it was too late. In fact, these unscientific, unapproved by americas surgeon general, and definitely not chicken soup for the mother's soul pieces of advice actually are quite helpful, insightful, and interesting.
I'd like to share them with you....but you must be inducted yourself. So rest assured ladies when you see that double line, like a scene out of the hulk or spiderman or xmen or something you'll have entered that society. And don't be surprised if, as you've seen in one of those crazy horror films, you hear a knock at the door or the phone ring...it has begun.
They say there's a glow in your eye, the pregnant woman's dead give away which opens the door to magical remedies of how to tell what sex your child is, how many children you'll have, and so on. Indeed you hear the tales of gruesome first trimesters and labor pains, such things they would never dream of telling you till it was too late. In fact, these unscientific, unapproved by americas surgeon general, and definitely not chicken soup for the mother's soul pieces of advice actually are quite helpful, insightful, and interesting.
I'd like to share them with you....but you must be inducted yourself. So rest assured ladies when you see that double line, like a scene out of the hulk or spiderman or xmen or something you'll have entered that society. And don't be surprised if, as you've seen in one of those crazy horror films, you hear a knock at the door or the phone ring...it has begun.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten
There's a gameshow on the Fox Network right now called "Are you smarter than a 5th grader" and in thinking about that question it reminded me of a t-shirt phrase I once saw and have displayed in my title. I wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to put many people back into kindergarten so that they can learn a couple of basic rules, such as:
1- sharing: As I see the turmoil in the world over imaginary borders it reminds me of a time when my sister and I used to share a room. I remember once we were so mad at each other for the other person's things entering our space that we decided to divide up the room. That was soon remedied by my mom coming in and telling us how ridiculous we were acting and telling us to share. It's remarkable how when told to share children will often throw a tantrum and then ten minutes later be done and having forgotten the whole thing resume their play. It seems to me that maybe someone should just march up to these people and tell them how ridiculous they're acting. Unfortunately age sometimes brings a loss of wisdom for some and their tantrum would probably never end.
2- be kind to others: Parents spend a lot of time trying to teach their children with words what the right things to do our, but then unteach them sometimes in the way they act. The other day I saw a woman alone with three young children trying to get them all in the car and take back her shopping cart and so I asked if she would like me to take it back for her. She was very grateful. Doing little acts of kindness make the world a better place. No matter how small, it's one less stress we have to worry about. Acts of kindness can come when we speak to waiters, sales reps, customer service agents, etc. Just as you wouldn't want your child to be disrespectful to an adult who was helping them, so we too should be an example of understanding to those whom we interact with.
3- if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all: Ah, the of speaking one's mind. This blog is a good example of the ability we each have to say what we want. However, I wonder if sometimes it isn't better to just stay silent. Knowing when to let the "little things" go and save an argument for another day is a great talent. This does not meant that when things our unjust we should stand by and watch, but taking the extra time to think things through before speaking can save us from future problems in our homes, relationships, work, and other venues. Backbiting and gossip can have a kharmic reaction and is best avoided.
4-clean up after yourself: Sometimes I think it is so funny that "going green" had to become trendy in order for everyone to want to do it. It's quite possible that since the beginning of time parents have been trying to tell the children to pick up what they were playing with, throw things away in the right place, don't take more food than you can eat, do your chores, etc. Yet, as many reach adulthood they find new ways to pollute the earth and destroy the creations upon it.
5-It's ok to play! People seem to have forgotten what fun is. Being outside, running around, laughing, following down and getting back up again and again, and just enjoying the moment you are in.
And finally and maybe most importantly Learn to say "I'm sorry." How many problems in the world today could be avoided or solved if we just said we were sorry. Letting our own need to be right or waiting too long has brought broken families, broken people, failed companies, warring countries, and so much more into the world.
There are surely many more things that could be thought of which we learned in our childhood and perhaps the next time we make a big decision in our lives we can compare it to that of a child and ask ourselves, "what would I tell a kindergartner to do?" We'd probably find the right answer.
1- sharing: As I see the turmoil in the world over imaginary borders it reminds me of a time when my sister and I used to share a room. I remember once we were so mad at each other for the other person's things entering our space that we decided to divide up the room. That was soon remedied by my mom coming in and telling us how ridiculous we were acting and telling us to share. It's remarkable how when told to share children will often throw a tantrum and then ten minutes later be done and having forgotten the whole thing resume their play. It seems to me that maybe someone should just march up to these people and tell them how ridiculous they're acting. Unfortunately age sometimes brings a loss of wisdom for some and their tantrum would probably never end.
2- be kind to others: Parents spend a lot of time trying to teach their children with words what the right things to do our, but then unteach them sometimes in the way they act. The other day I saw a woman alone with three young children trying to get them all in the car and take back her shopping cart and so I asked if she would like me to take it back for her. She was very grateful. Doing little acts of kindness make the world a better place. No matter how small, it's one less stress we have to worry about. Acts of kindness can come when we speak to waiters, sales reps, customer service agents, etc. Just as you wouldn't want your child to be disrespectful to an adult who was helping them, so we too should be an example of understanding to those whom we interact with.
3- if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all: Ah, the of speaking one's mind. This blog is a good example of the ability we each have to say what we want. However, I wonder if sometimes it isn't better to just stay silent. Knowing when to let the "little things" go and save an argument for another day is a great talent. This does not meant that when things our unjust we should stand by and watch, but taking the extra time to think things through before speaking can save us from future problems in our homes, relationships, work, and other venues. Backbiting and gossip can have a kharmic reaction and is best avoided.
4-clean up after yourself: Sometimes I think it is so funny that "going green" had to become trendy in order for everyone to want to do it. It's quite possible that since the beginning of time parents have been trying to tell the children to pick up what they were playing with, throw things away in the right place, don't take more food than you can eat, do your chores, etc. Yet, as many reach adulthood they find new ways to pollute the earth and destroy the creations upon it.
5-It's ok to play! People seem to have forgotten what fun is. Being outside, running around, laughing, following down and getting back up again and again, and just enjoying the moment you are in.
And finally and maybe most importantly Learn to say "I'm sorry." How many problems in the world today could be avoided or solved if we just said we were sorry. Letting our own need to be right or waiting too long has brought broken families, broken people, failed companies, warring countries, and so much more into the world.
There are surely many more things that could be thought of which we learned in our childhood and perhaps the next time we make a big decision in our lives we can compare it to that of a child and ask ourselves, "what would I tell a kindergartner to do?" We'd probably find the right answer.
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