Never to Busy to Post...

I have been in my home for over two years now.  My posts have slowed down because home-owning slowed down.  There have been no snake invasions, floods or other acts of God that have been worth writing about... so what do I do?

I have hesitated about writing a post like this, but why not...

My great-aunt Maggie died two weeks ago.  At any funeral, I end up thinking deep, and long term.  Hence, this post.

"How are you doing" or "How are you" is a standard American greeting that we all use daily.  I am going to guess that people traditionally answer, "Well" or "Good" and ask you the same in return.  How often do you ask it and mean it - and by mean it, expect an honest answer and are ready to listen?

I would speculate 2 things now:
1. You use it as a greeting, not expecting someone to unload their troubles on you.
2. The answer, either given by you or received, has more often been "busy" rather than anything else.

Can we stop saying we are busy?  Let me pause.  Let me admit.  I still use 'busy' as an answer but I am trying to quit.  Everyone is busy.  Acknowledged, and now let us try to move on - please, and thank you.  In our current age, we can do more, faster, and with less effort than anyone has ever done before - so we fit more in and and we still want more?  OR... do we maybe have our priorities out of line?

My personal battle - the gym.  If working out were really a priority for me, could I not cut out watching Big Bang Theory, surfing media sites, or doing other "activities" so that I could go to the gym?  Granted, some days, I really do work late, I need to wash clothes because clean underwear is a priority over any other... but most days, I just need to get honest with myself.

As a part of my battle of the "busy" - I am asking my friends to be honest with me.  I am okay if you turn down social plans if you need downtime or if you need to make them later so you can workout or work late or wash clothes... Missing dinner is not going to ruin our friendship or make us any less close.

In a society that expects us to be 100% engaged, 100% of the time - it can be overwhelming.  But if you were to step away and say what am I going to be remembered for... is it going to be your facebook/instgram/twitter posts, your blog views, the tv shows you loyally followed, or your overtime? I am going to guess no.

He who has been given much, much is expected.  Let's put on our big boy panties and get to 'work'.  Life has a lot to offer, lets enjoy it, take advantage of it, and be grateful for it... instead of seeing it as a burden.

I am not busy - my life is blessed and full!

#TBT

#TBT - (Throwback Thursday): This is another "holiday" Twitter and Instagram hashtag, which shows up every Thursday on both sites. The impetus behind this one is that it is an opportunity for people to share photos and info that is a "throwback" to an earlier time.

As my #TBT, I want to share about Dibora Getachew - or as I first knew her, Dotty.  Dotty was born on August 05, 1993 in Ethiopia.  Bethany Presbyterian Church's Youth Group started sponsoring her when I was in high school - so it has been over ten years that we have supporting Dibora.  At age 20, Dotty is still in school and is preforming above average.  Our $38 a month provides Dotty with Bible teaching, medical exams, hygiene supplies, recreational activities, tutoring, scholastic materials and nutritious meals. Dotty will be eligible for our continued sponsorship through August 2015 as long as she stays in the program. 

I am asking everyone that originally helped to sponsor Dibora to make a commitment to see her through the remainder of her sponsorship - 24 months.  If you can, please sign up with me to sponsor her for a month - if you cannot or do not want to sponsor a full month, any contribution will help.  So on #TBT, when you remember all that you have been blessed with in your past, pass the blessings forward and consider helping out Dotty!

Life Recently

It has been months since I have written.  I sometimes struggle of what to write - trying to separate what I find worthy of opening up to the world and I should keep to myself (or more likely what most people would find not noteworthy or just downright boring).

So what has been going on in my world between posts?  Well, life. 

Often I feel that media (facebook, television, etc) pushes us to believe that to lead a fulfilled life that every second as to be connected and maximized with fun and excitement. Well, life isn't facebook perfect.  Life is not always connected.  Life is filled with fails and downtime and time alone if you are lucky.

So what has been in my life recently?

Work - and lots of it.  I have been on project to Canada and most recently one closer to home.  I have learned that I don't like traveling to Canada - at least in the winter.  I drove through what I as a Southerner will call a blizzard, successfully.  I survived the cold.  They survived my accent.

Travel - I recently took at trip to Panama - and I mean the country - not Panama City Beach as many people first think.  The canal is amazing and the rainforest beautiful - it is a fun city to visit.  I think my favorite part was a rainforest hike to a waterfall/pool area where we could swim.  Don't tell my mother - but I did the walk barefoot as Toms plus mud equal a slip and slide - and me falling into mud repeatedly would not be cute.  I will have to post some pictures at some point.

Weddings - everyone is getting hitched, including my brother later this summer.  Two down and two to go so far this year.  This year, I was playing it thrifty and planning on wearing the same dress to at least 3 of the weddings.  I found it at TJMaxx and it just need a bit of altering.  The person who altered it, ruined it beyond wear or repair.  So, I went into panic mode as I got it back the day before I was headed out of town for the first wedding.  Luckily, I was able to run out and find two more options at TJMaxx that didn't require altering.  I have resolved never to get anything altered again or to learn how to do it myself.  We will see if I stick to that heated resolution.

Reading - I have been in a book reading frenzy. As I now commute nearly 2 hours a day to work, I am doing one book via audiobook and then reading others when I am not in the car.  What have I read so far last month and this month: Divergent, Insurgent, Life of Pi, several Jack Reacher books, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Beautiful Creatures, and currently In the Garden of Beasts.  I would recommend most of them.

Stuff - and this is the non-exciting stuff that really fills up life.  Taking pets to the vet, cleaning the house, weeding the front yard, laundry, more cleaning of the house, grocery shopping, cooking, and of course - more cleaning!  Mix that in with some TV, Front porch sitting, back porch lounging and long talks with friends and family  and you have my life this spring.

I am trying to appreciate the "in between" moments and enjoy the big moments.  Maybe do a little less posting on the internet and more connecting in real life.

Saving the Dough!

So there has been quite a bit of buzz on coupon-ing recently and I am late to join the coupon train.  But - I am on the wagon now and loving the savings.

I have considered couponing for a while, but could never justify it for several reasons.  For example, often you have to buy multiples for coupons and I don't have extra space for stuff as my house is very small (same issue for people who also live in apartments).

I am also fine with generic brands in most cases - and you rarely find coupons for generic brands.  I could not justify the time of seeking out coupons when it would not result in a lower price of the generic brand I could get a Wal-Mart or Kroger. Granted, when it comes to my Honey Nut Cheerios - I am going to need name brand - so there was some opportunity here - but it was not enough to really motivate me.

What was the tipping point for me? The Newspaper.  I wanted to keep up with more local events in Atlanta, so I decided to subscribe to the AJC.  They running a deal where the Thursday/Sunday print paper plus a full digital subscription was the same price as the digital subscription.  What is special about that?  The Sunday paper includes sales adds and LOTS of coupons.

So I decided that if I could coupon enough actual savings to pay for my AJC, I would do it.  Yesterday - I celebrated - I saved enough to pay for 2 months worth!  I saved over $20 at Target with coupons - a third of my total bill!  So how am I actually saving as I don't consider it saving to buy the more expensive item at the same cost as the generic.

I have 3 ways that I am really saving now.

Aldi.  I have one just as close to my house as the Kroger I normally shop at.  But I spend about a 1/3 to get random brands at the same quality.  I have actually started to prefer some of there stuff.  I got 3 bell peppers for the price of 1 at Kroger.  And 2 avocados for the price of 1 at Kroger.  No coupons - just go in and save. 

Drawbacks: you need to bring your own bags, you can only use cash or credit.  Limited selection.

Lessons Learned: Some stuff is great, but some not.  The milk I just bought from there - fail.  Overall, I like it and strive to do base shopping there every week and fill in the holes with other places.

Know your Sale/Store. I know that Wal-Mart and Target carry the Welch's Lite juice I like for a dollar cheaper than Kroger - without sales or coupons.  I have started looking at the prices of what I buy at Target, Wal-Mart, and Kroger.  This way, I know what the average price is for each of the regular items I buy so I recognize sales and deals.  Based on this weeks sales ad, I knew that Petco had my cat's dry food for $3 less than the normal price at Target - so I walked next door and saved $3 yesterday. 

Finally, Coupon! I had to learn not to "clip" a coupon because something looked cool or I may need it.  I look for what I really buy and cut out those coupons.  Then, I separate into store groups - if I know that something is consistently cheaper at a store or currently on sale at a store - I plan to buy it there to maximize savings.  I also try to use all of my coupons that are less than 50 cents at Kroger - as they will double the coupon. 

I recently had a friend over that saw my envelopes and baggies of coupons and asked me if this was as good as couponing got - and actually, no it is not.  Kroger now has electronic coupons that you can "load" onto your plus card.  No need to cut out any paper.  I just load them to my Kroger Plus Card, make my list, and shop.  The coupons are automatically used when I checkout.  These coupons don't double and you can't use other coupons - but there are usually more and a greater variety than what I find the the Sunday paper.

Like you may guess - it does take time and planning.  But with the cost of food going up and my salary not - you look for ways to maximize your budget.  I get excited to save and find that I am getting better at it over time.  I don't see myself ever being an extreme couponer - but I do see myself saving!

I am Suzy Homemaker - watch me save!

Screaming Reaction

I am still shaking from the adrenaline rush as I write this.

Currently working from home and with a teams across the globe, I have gotten in a habit of checking email as early as I can.  Afterwards I will do breakfast/getting ready stuff.

Today, today was different.  It is just after 7am.  I am reading through my first emails in my PJs - I haven't even brushed my teeth yet.  I hear tortured screams.  Horrible screams.  At first, I think maybe it is some wrong song choice my Pandora is kicking me off with.  So I mute my computer.  The screams keep coming.  I jump up and look out of my window to see what could be making the screams.

I see a boy laying face down on the ground by a crumpled bike, two houses down the hill from me.  And I ran.  No shoes.  In my PJs.  Hair everywhere.  I didn't think twice about it.  I was terrified of what I may find.  A lady was already stopping in her car on her way to work.

Luckily, the young boy was not seriously hurt.  No blood or broken bones.  There were scratches on his helmet.  He would not let us call his mom or take him back home - but he slowly started getting over the shock and pain of the crash so we just let him recover.  He and I talked about how lucky he was to have been wearing his helmet.

After a few more minutes, he got up and checked out his bike.  Finally, he got back on and rode the rest of the way to school.  I think he is going to be bruised up, but will be fine.

I am so relived that he is okay.  But what I am more excited about - people in my neighborhood all came out of their houses to check on the situation.  I am glad that I don't live in community that passes the buck, assuming someone else will help. 

When someone's car alarm goes off - we check.  When we see someone parked outside of a house, we ask or monitor the situation.  I love feeling safe beyond my house and into my community.  I am grateful for the good people who live near me.

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."- Edmund Burke

Are you doing something or nothing? Is your community doing something or nothing?

I'm Ballin'

Suzy Homemaker is officially ballin'!

UrbanDictionary.com offers these definitions for 'ballin':

Ebonics.
1.) To play basketball. (b-ball)
2.) Living in affluence/wealth.

I am 6' tall and get asked if I play(ed) basketball all of the time... No, I have not nor do I actively play basketball.  Thanks for asking.  Do you pay mini-golf?

I definitely don't consider myself living in wealth or affluence, though I feel very blessed. So, how is Suzy Homemaker ballin'? I am sitting on a ball.  Yup, I am ballin' at work.

Let me explain.  I have recently be able to work from home everyday instead of traveling everyday.  Hello yoga pants!  But I digress...  Working from home, I have been spending hours upon hours in the same chair. 

The chair.  It is a beautiful parson's chair.  Straight back, straight seat.  Horridly uncomfortable for long term sitting.  I have noticed that my posture was suffering more than it usually does and my legs were going to sleep on a regular basis.  No bueno.

So, Suzy Homemaker bought a ball.  And yes, I am bouncing/balancing/sitting on it right now.  And no, I haven't fallen off it - yet (I am sure it is going to happen).  Some sources claim that you will burn calories by sitting on it - and I would have to agree.  Now, I am not talking I am going to start skipping my yoga classes burning calories - but I am moving throughout the day, even it is tiny movements without thinking.  I have also noticed that I am correcting my posture and my legs have not fallen asleep once since I started ballin'!

Now this is not some magical or special ball, it is the same ball that you would used in the gym and I got it for less than $20 at my favorite store, Amazon!  It has been a game changer at "work".  Best part, when I am done for the day, I just roll it under my desk!

I may look like a fool sitting on this ball, bouncing as I work on my laptop and lead conference calls - but I feel better, and that is what counts in my book.

Are you ballin'?

Help Me Understand...

I am driving to my yoga class yesterday evening and as I pass through an intersection a young man is walking in the cross walk.  Help me understand this about him and the hundreds of other males I see doing this...

Your pants are SO big that you have to walk with one hand holding them up.  I can see your underwear and all of your butt.  You have a belt on - but it does nothing to hold up your pants as you are still walking with one hand holding them up.  Why? Help me understand this.

...

I often host parties and when I do I typically allow friends to bring their friends.  We are adults and I would never classify my parties as wild.  On New Years, one of my girlfriends came to me and told me, "You have a man hanging in your shower" - I immediately jumped to someone is in my house that should not be there.  Only to come to find out, no, someone had drawn a man hanging from a rope on my shower curtain.  My shower curtain is a large tree, so the man was hanging from the tree.  It was in pen.  It was about at the level where you can tell someone grabbed a pen while they were on my toilet and proceeded to deface my house.  Help me understand why an adult would draw on something in my house? 

...

I look around and I see so many things that don't make sense.  Why would anyone steal?  Why are kids bullying each other? Why would someone kill a stranger?  Why do people claim to be on diets and them post all of the unhealthy meals or liquid calories they eat on Facebook?  Why do people say they are trying to save money or have no money - yet they have cell phones, fake nails, name brand clothing, or they smoke and drink on a regular basis?

Now, I know that I do not always act logically - but I try.  I try to act with compassion and kindness.  Help me understand why it appears that I am living in a world were so many people aren't?

Can you tell that I have started reading more news lately?  Maybe I just need to cut that out...