Work at work, walking, and work to do at home

Happy Friday night! 

All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS IT IS FRIDAY!!! This past week I subbed 3 days at a school where there is a lot of drama going on with an employee and the head cook is caught in the crosshairs and is getting the short end of the stick. It was draining working there when the employee drama was going on. Today it wasn't too bad as it was just the head cook and myself. Enough said about that though... Being a substitute in the cafeterias is going well, I think. The work keeps me busy and really other than the drama, that I am not involved in but get to hear about, it is a pleasant enough job. I will say that I got my first paycheck/direct deposit today and I forgot how much the federal government takes out in taxes. LOL I am already scheduled for 2 days next week. 

What else has been going on? 

Monday I worked. 

Tuesday I worked. 

Wednesday I babysat my niece and nephew as they had a scheduled day off of school. After we took my kids to school, we went out to The Brown Family Environmental Center to walk. I told my niece that I NEEDED to get out side and get some fresh air. Since I was home, I also worked on laundry, and did some cleaning that had been neglected. 

Thursday, I didn't get called in to work so I had a free day. I took everything off of our bed, including the duvet cover and washed everything. Bill also had the day off so we took a nice long walk on the bike path--- we walked 2.83 miles, which is getting close to my average of 3 miles before all my heart issues started. We saw lots of slugs on the path during our walk. We also had a lunch date out at our local Mexican restaurant. 

Today, I worked. Came home and ate a quick lunch before I started pickup of kids. Then I came home and laid down flat on the couch as my back was killing me. Tonight Bill is covering a football game. Rebecca went to a choir tailgate party before her high school's football game and then is at the game with friends. The boys and I stayed home. I made air popped popcorn for them and we watched "Raya and the Last Dragon" which is Benjamin's favorite movie and we have literally seen it 6 times in the past month. LOL 

Tomorrow, I have a to-do list to complete that is a MILE long! I am sure there are more things to add to it as well. For tonight though I am going to relax and catch up on some blog reading! 

How was your week? Anything fun and exciting going on? Any good plans for the weekend? 

Shopping deals, new recipes and losing weight

Happy Saturday everyone! How's your day going? Mine is going well. I spent the morning running a couple of errands that resulted in great results. The kids and I went to Goodwill to look for a homecoming dress for Rebecca. Well she scored one for $2.49! I also found black dress shoes for Jacob that he needs for choir for $9.99; they look brand new! Then it was off to Walmart to see if they had black dress pants for Jacob and Rebecca that are needed for required choir clothes. Well, Rebecca found a black pair of dress pants on clearance for $9...but they rang up for $4! Even better. She also found a pair of black flats for her required choir concert attire for $9. So I will say that that was a successful shopping trip this morning.

What else has been going on around here? 

Well, on Labor Day, I spent the day doing things in the kitchen. Prepping food for the week and making banana bread. I did try 2 new crockpot recipes this week and 1 new casserole this week and only 1 was a keeper. I tried Taco Rice Casserole, which Linda had recommended. I don't think that I will make it again as it was just okay. It wasn't anything special and the kids and Bill said that if I made it they would eat it, but they wouldn't request it.

 

I tried Firecracker Chicken Pasta in the crockpot. Bill and I liked it. The kids really didn't as they thought it was too spicy even though I doubled the cream and did not use as much hot sauce. 

On Thursday night I made Crockpot Frito Chili Pie. This was a winner with everyone as the flavor was super yummy. It will give me another option for a chili type meal.  

I loved the convenience of having dinner ready this week as I ended up being called into work all 4 school days! 

I spent 3 days at the elementary school Benjamin goes to and 1 day at the high school being a substitute cook. I like the work, and so far I like everyone that I have worked with. It is tiring work but it is good. I will say that by 1PM on Friday though I was exhausted. One of the women that I worked on Friday even told me that I could go home as I looked exhausted. 4 days in a row may be pushing it just yet. Next week I am already scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at a different elementary. On Wednesday I will not be subbing as I have to babysit my niece and nephew as they do not have school. 

One bad thing about working the hours that I do (usually 9-1/1:30) is that I am too tired to work out at home. However, the job is physically demanding as such that I am still losing weight. In fact, I have lost almost 5 pounds in the last 2.5 weeks AND I am officially down a pant size! I had to wear a belt on Thursday as my jeans were very loose. On Friday, I put a pair on that was a size smaller and they fit! YAHOO! 

This morning I weighed myself and I am under 235lbs for the first time in a VERY LONG TIME! I weighed in at 234.4! When I started my health journey back at the end of March I weighed in at 262.6 at the doctor's office. That means I have lost 28 pounds in about 5 months! I will take it! 

Well, I think I am going to wrap this up here as this is getting pretty long. I need to go flip laundry too. 

What are you up to today? Anyone else finding any good deals at the thrift store or other stores? Anything fun going on? 

Have a great weekend! 

Rebecca's visit from "Jerry" and long weekend to-do list

Happy Saturday everyone! How's life where you are? Anything fun going on today? 

Here the sun is shining and it looks like it will be a good day! Thank you everyone for the suggestions for easy, crockpot meals yesterday. If anyone has any more to share please share in the comments!! 

Rebecca has had a couple of things happen since she came home from school yesterday. She got her first COVID vaccination shot late afternoon yesterday. Other than a sore arm, she hasn't had any side effects from it. 

She also had a very early morning visitor this morning. She said she awoke around 4AM to GusGus, the cat, chasing something around her room. She realized it was a huge praying mantis! She said she got the cat, went into the bathroom and contemplated her next step. She decided not to wake her dad or I and went back to bed trying to keep the cat from chasing it. This morning, she told me that it was in her room above her clock. I took an empty container and trapped it and took it outside to let it go. She nicknamed it "Jerry." LOL I told her next time, she could wake me up. We think it got in her room from where her window was opened because of the window air conditioner being there. (Her window pulls up and we think it crawled up through the opening). We have since plugged all holes with rolled up towels to help prevent "Jerry" from returning. I told her at least it wasn't a bat or something like that! There is always something going on around here! LOL 

Speaking of things going on, let's see what else is on my to-do list for this long weekend:

• Menu plan for this week
• Grocery list for Sunday
• Laundry
• Dinner with friends tonight (Yay for NOT having to cook!)
• Sweep downstairs, stairs, and upstairs
• Get boys to clean their room
• Get Rebecca to clean her room
• Pull weeds in back flowerbed
• Find time to do something relaxing--ie. coloring, art of some kind, etc. 
• Exercise 2 times including arm weight workout
• Mass on Sunday 

What's on your to-do list this weekend? Any easy, fast recipes to share? Any Crockpot recipes to share? Have you ever been awoken by a flying insect or anything else? 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! 

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! THANK GOODNESS IT IS FRIDAY!!! Wow, what a week...Craziness abounds! 

Monday morning I get a text to come train at the High School for my substitute kitchen job. So I worked from 9-1:30. Thankfully it was an easy lunch... Domino's Pizza... but it was intense feeding over 500 kids over 3 lunch periods. Tuesday I also worked at the high school. This time lunch was walking tacos (Doritos with taco meat and cheese added to the Doritos bag). It was insane speed to get the meals out for the kids. After each day I would come home, get a quick bite to eat and then go start school pickup of kids. When I finally got home for the day, I sat down and realized that I was exhausted. Tuesday, I fell asleep on the couch during dinner and was in bed by 8:30. Wednesday, I had breakfast with a friend at a local diner and then ran some errands...including going to Goodwill where I found a pair of capris to wear for work. Yesterday, I worked from 9:30-1:30 at the high school again. This day, I was on my own on one of the lines. We had chicken and cheese quesadillas and chicken sandwiches on a bun with green beans. CRAZINESS!!! 

Today, I am actually unable to work at the schools, as I have my niece and nephew. Their schools decided to close for today so that the kids could have a 4 day weekend, which they said will hopefully help slow the spread of COVID. However, the football game tonight can go on. Assinine decisions being made. Stupidity abounds. Needless to say since I have them, I can't go in to work today. 

Speaking of COVID affecting things, MY kids' school went back to mandatory masks as of yesterday. They had been sending home lots of kids for quarantining etc. however according to the health department if a student is wearing a mask and are contact traced with someone, then they do NOT have to leave school and quarantine. It is what it is.  

Also speaking of COVID, my brother tested positive for it yesterday. He was sent home from college to quarantine at home. He has had a headache, sore throat and fever. The kids and I were around him for a little bit on Sunday so I will keep an eye on us for symptoms. So many businesses in our area are working with half staff or are closed due to employees being out after testing positive. 

I am so thankful it is Friday. I am still dealing with tooth pain. I will finish the penicillin this weekend and we shall see. If it still throbs next week, I will call the dentist back. I am already scheduled to work Tuesday and Wednesday of next week so that is already on my calendar. I need to get some things done around the house this weekend. I need to find some crockpot recipes to make when I am working. Anyone have any good ones to share? 

Well, I need to go make my lunch! Hope everyone is having a good Friday and here's to a long weekend!