Fabulous Friday Finds!

Although I live in Phoenix and have for the last 17 years, I have a soft spot for the Plains states.  Having grown up with fields of wheat, fields of corn, soybeans, etc. and feed lots all over, I do appreciate the farmers and all they offer to our society.  Whenever I see photos of combines in the field, pictures of the great wide open skies, I get a tug in my heart and a flutter in my belly and realize how dearly I want to retire to the country.  That is my ultimate plan.  With that being said, the movie "Nebraska" is officially out on DVD and Blu-Ray!  I haven't seen it yet but I did make sure to purchase it when it came out.  Have you seen it yet? I have loved the previews and the reviews are glowing.  This movie is right up my alley!

Hump Day Music: Good bye, Harold Ramis

As I am sure you have heard, Harold Ramis passed away on Monday.  He was a well known and loved comedy actor who was best known for his role as the uber hot and nerdy, Egon Spengler on Ghostbusters.

Lee Lee's Oriental Market and a Random Act of Kindness

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Growing up in Kansas, I was exposed to multiple cultures due to my hometown of Dodge City being the home of a few large slaughter houses and many immigrants came there to toil and live in a town with a relatively low cost of living.  My closest friends were Hispanic, Laotian, Vietnamese and Indian. Of course, I also had African American and Caucasion friends, too.  My Laotian friend introduced me the flavors of Asia and since then, I have been hooked.  HOOKED.  I ate so much Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, etc. and I still can't get enough of it.  Sadly, due to an allergy to fish and shellfish, I rarely eat at most Asian restaurants.  Indian is usually fine but the rest tend to use fish sauce, oyster sauce, shrimp paste, etc. in their cooking and I can't risk cross contamination.   Therefore, I make my own!   I have definitely become a fairly decent cook in my own right but I am learning to expand and grow.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly link up hosted by the wonderful Sheila at Book Journey.  Each week, we share what we read and what we are reading! I totally think you should join in on the fun!

Depression, You're A Nasty Wench

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This week I have been in a bit of a funk.  Literally, my mood has teetered between anger and apathy- literally not feeling anything at all.  Not sadness.  Not happiness.  Just angry or nothing at all.  It's worse when I get to work.

I don't hate my job.  Not at all.  I have a fairly heavy workload but I can handle it.  I read an article the boss not the workload/job itself is the source of workplace depression.  I actually like my boss.  As a person only.  I am frustrated with her as a supervisor, though.  She's very inconsistent and will tell you to do one thing but then you get "talked" to over doing the thing she told you to do by asking you why you are doing that.  Um.  You told me to.  When I went into this position, I literally had ZERO experience and I was transparent about that when I transferred into it so I had a lot of learning to do and I found that I had to teach myself.  Again, she's not a bad boss nor is she micromanaging/rude/condescending/etc., just inconsistent.

Sorry.  I didn't mean to rant about my job.  I really do like the work that I do and I like the company but since I do suffer from major depression, it's been rearing it's ugly head this past week and it's come down very heavily and that means- I have been inconsistent with my posting and visiting.  I feel like I have nothing to say on my blog or on yours.  I am a Debbie-Downer right now.  I have to fight against the tidal wive of depression extremely hard.  It doesn't help that I am extremely introverted and right now, people are exhausting.  I don't think it helps that this last weekend we (my sister, Emma and I) went all over Phoenix shopping and it was crazy packed.  I think the over-stimulation of the throngs of people caused me to really shut down plus I was sick last week.  Nasty recipe, if you ask me.

What's really terrible? Poor Emma is such an extrovert and she's stuck with an introverted mom.  Ha.  I try.  I try.  I try to get her out and about to stimulate her socially and her personality is so large, bubbly and strong- she needs people.  Most times.

On a side note, I ordered a K-Cup brewer along with some Gloria Jean's coffee k-cups and a bread machine.  I have been wanting these for so long.  Woot.  Also, I preordered Beck's new album.

I will "see" you on Monday!

 Ha ha.  I realized this reads like a diary excerpt.

Hump Day Music: Ellie Goulding

Woot! Welcome Wednesday.  I welcome you with open arms.  Haha.  I have to tell you, getting back to the groove of blogging after being knocked down a few days is HARD! Yesterday was one of those weird days- I was super tired, grumpy and hated the world and wasn't exactly sure WHY.  You know what I mean? It was craptastic for no reason at all.  Ha ha.  Or maybe it's because I walked in to see that my workload had grown immensely.  That is the one thing that blows about taking the day off in my job - your work GROWS and you're spending the week playing catch up.  Well, with that said... It's HUMP DAY, Y'ALL!!!! 

I have been on a serious Ellie Goulding kick lately.  I have to admit, I did google her like mad when it was announced that Ellie Goulding was playing for Will and Kate's wedding party.  What? Yeah, I love that fairytale and besides, I think they're adorable and I am ridiculously nosy.  Ha ha.  Either ways, I like Ellie's style.  It's different and I like it.  

What are you listening to? 

How is your week going? 

Have a great day! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly link up hosted by the wonderful Sheila at Book Journey.  Each week, we share what we read and what we are reading! I totally think you should join in on the fun!

Hump Day Music: Modest Mouse

Happy Hump Day, y'all!!!  Half way through the week and almost to Friday! Yay!  I am so done with this week already but some Modest Mouse always makes me happy!  Isaac Brock's voice is amazing and I really, really, really wish they'd release a new album! 

Ways to Save on Time and Healthcare Costs for Busy Moms

I am a member of the #CollectiveBias ®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser

I get asked quite a bit about how I am able to juggle being not only a single mother, but a single, working mom of a special needs child.  Generally my answer is "You do what you have to do!" and that's true! We all live such busy lives that we all learn to juggle our tasks and frankly we are masters at it.  One of the things that I do struggle with is finding time to take care of MY health care needs.  With all of Emma's medical needs, I run out of PTO (personal time off) rather quickly or I need to bank it for upcoming days off from school for her (no caregiver available) or upcoming procedures.   Let's not forget her super packed schedule of therapies, ballet, and adaptive fitness I can't take time off for my needs so I use the Walgreens Healthcare Clinic Phoenix for my minor illnesses and  healthcare needs.  

Here are some ways that I utilize the Walgreens #HealthcareClinic to save on time and health care costs for me, a busy mom! 

It's Monday! What are YOU Reading?

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly link up hosted by the wonderful Sheila at Book Journey.  Each week, we share what we read and what we are reading! I totally think you should join in on the fun!

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Happy Saturday!

My Top Five Favorite Shows From the 1990s

Happy Friday! Oh yeah, time to do the Friday Dance.  For me? It's the Roger Rabbit:

GIFSoup

Get down. 

Hump Day Music: Jack Johnson

It's here! That's right- HUMP DAY! It's almost Friday!

Today, I would like to feature one Mr. Jack Johnson.  *the audience applauses*

13 Years Later- the Death of a Baby Still Haunts!

I did something stupid today.

I looked at my old medical records.

My daughter's funeral in 2000

Save Money With Cheap Wireless Plans

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. 

One of my 2014 goals is to get out of debt and to get my credit good enough that I can qualify to purchase either a small house or a nice condo.  I have looked at many ways that I can save money and where am I hemorrhaging at.  I have already cut the ties to cable by using streaming services (Oh yes, we shall talk about that another day!).  One of the areas where I feel I am spending WAY too much money is on my cell phone bill.  I needed to find cheap wireless plans that still have unlimited talk, text and data that I currently have with my current provider.  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly link up hosted by the wonderful Sheila at Book Journey.  Each week, we share what we read and what we are reading! I totally think you should join in on the fun!

La Romanella Hawaiian-Style Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Bowl Recipe

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. 

I am a super happy girl.  SUPER happy.  Why, you ask? Fine.  I will tell you.  I have learned about the magic that is Smart & Final.  Do you have a Smart & Final near you?  Have you ever been in? I went to the location that is, literally, a little more than a mile from my apartment for the first time Friday evening.  Now, of course, I am scratching my head wondering why in the world I had never gone in before.  I always get the ads and I always tell myself I will go in and shop and I never do! No particular reason why but now that I have gone in, I will be going in more often! Seriously!!! 

Facebook Cover

Happy Saturday!

I am up working on projects but... I am easily distracted and watched Despicable Me 2 (Awesome! Loved it!).

I also made a banner for my Facebook page (If you don't follow me, you really should. Imjustsayin'...).

What do you think of it?