So I’m packing my son in our little, white Prius soon and taking her back to Monterey Park. Mom called and said she’s coming over with my aunt and going along with us so we can go out and do some shopping.  Sounds like a good plan to me, except that I don’t want to spend too much money.  Buuuuut, it is after all nearing the holidays.  I’ve also been wanting a Karaoke system for some time now.  The kind where all the songs are already preset into the Karaoke box and it comes with a song menu in leather bound three ring binder.  I guess even if I don't buy it, it's still fun to go check it out.  We’ll see. 

Caleb slept with us last night and woke up around 6:30 this morning.  Of course the 1^st thing he wanted to do was play.  But I still wanted to sleep.  I tried to make him snooze, like the alarm clock.  But that didn’t go very well.  I think he got louder.  I brought the bottle upstairs with me last night along with his formula.  That way I can just give it to him and steal another oh 3 minutes?  Eh. 

We got out of bed around 7:00, dressed Caleb, dressed myself.  Mornings are chilly now, so I turned on the heat for a bit.  Caleb was still hungry, so I made him some french toast, healthy style.  Used one egg, added a little milk, dipped my homemade bread in it on both sides, sprayed the pan with some PAM (olive oil spray), grilled up the french toast, sprinkled a tiny bit of white sugar on it, and cut it into little squares for the little boy.  His favorite.  My favorite too.  My mom used to make this for me when I was little.  I used to add a TON of sugar on it, and just lick off the sugar.  LOL.          I love how little things here and there with Caleb brings back so many memories from my own childhood.  Then followed with a little bit of sadness how fast time passes.  In a way I kind of feel like this is my second chance to enjoy the things I took for granted in my earlier years.

I have decided to start a new project; thanks to fortheloveofblogging.  She has inspired me to start my own control journal.  With a plan, our home divided into zones, and a little time each day, I can start taking care of clutter and other things that we often forget about. 

Most of the time I’m overwhelmed with everything that NEEDS to be done everyday, there’s no way I have time for things that can definitely wait.  But I know, for the rest of my life, I’m always going to feel like I never have time for everything.  Between work, taking care of myself, family, baby & kids stuff, making sure we have everything we need in the house, grocery shopping, bills, baby stuff shopping, household stuff shopping, and the list goes on. 

So…. Fortheloveofblogging has given me some pointers and inspired me to start my plan.  I created my control journal last night, and today was the first day of putting a little bit of it into action.  And I’m happy to report I’m enjoying my first day's work, I’ve discovered quite a bit of clutter/trash that has been taken out to the trash bin, and I’ve also cleared out most of the clutter that doesn’t belong in the formal dining room.  I’ve found a place for the boxes of baby wipes and diapers that’s always just sitting along the wall till they're all used up.  So refreshing to see everything gone from this space. 

I have to head out now to get my car from the dealership.  On my way back I just have to stop by 99 Ranch to pick up some groceries and I’ll be home.  This evening I just need to spend another 15 minutes in Zone 2, aka kitchen, and start decluttering.  And one last 5 minute room rescue in the room that no one ever gets to see!  Well, I have 2 of those rooms, I’ll start with the one I use the most often.

Today is our 2-year wedding anniversary!  And 6 six years of being together.   Doesn’t seem that long, but we all know how fast time flies.  So I cherish every second I have with the people I love.

We’ve had so much fun together over the last six, and so much has grown from our relationship; our understanding, patience, love, and the most amazing thing of all is our little family.  Corny.  I know.  But I’m just amazed we’ve become parents.  Parents(!), people who are responsible for another life being; to love them, take care them, and make sure they flourish in life.  I love and treasure all of it.

To celebrate how far we’ve come, here are some pictures...  Six years…. and many, many more.

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie.

Seb and I finally took Caleb to the Tustin USPS on Saturday to get his photo taken and turn in the application for his passport.  It’s almost time to take my little man back to Taiwan for the first time.  I’m so excited.  Can’t wait. 

Seb and I also had a really nice Saturday evening for our 2 year wedding anniversary that’s coming up on the 8th.  We were going to go to Vegas for the weekend, but ended up deciding to stay in town.  So Seb got us tickets to watch Peter Pan; really cute, really enjoyed it.  Afterwards, we had a nice little dinner at Charlie Palmer in the South Coast Mall. 

Growing up I always thought I would only be happy if my future husband spoiled me with surprises and romantic evenings for every special occasion.  Sure I still love a nice surprise every so often, or plan for romantic getaways.  But now I know being content around each other and just happy to be together is another kind of delight, the kind where at this moment, you want nothing more.  I like this feeling.

I’m working on paperwork for a client, it’s called the Accelerated Death Benefit.  It is a rider that is added onto a life insurance policy at the time of issue.  Different riders have different requirements that need to be satisfied in order to be exercised.  For this particular one, the insured needs to be terminally ill and their doctor has advised them they have less than 12 months to live.  If they meet those 2 requirements, the insurance company will accelerate their life insurance money and issue them a check while they are still alive.

It makes me sad one must bear this kind of news; how it must feel.  I keep thinking about it a lot recently, how most of us take our life and health for granted.  We “expect” to live until we’re 80+.  Most act as if it is our right not have bad news fall upon us.

But I feel everyday we are healthy, happy, and free from sickness and pain, …is a blessing.

Caleb and I are eating scrambled eggs and watching reruns of Beverly Hill 90210 right now.  Man, this show is old.  How the heck did I watch this show for 10 seasons?  Was it even 10 seasons?  It just felt like a really long time.

Gym twice today.  Once in the morning and once on the way home from work.  On the way home from work I only stepped in for 45 minutes, so I didn’t feel like it took all evening.

I’m new to the whole organic movement, so I’m still learning where to shop, how to shop, and what to buy that’s in season in order to really make my $ stretch.

I decided to check out the Henry’s Market in Chino Hills after gym to pick up some produce.  I know different stores carry different things.  I was rather surprised by the selection of organic produce there.  I think when I need to restock I will start going to the Chino Hills store from now on.

Contrary to what people believe, (my opinion), eating as organically as you can isn’t outrageously expensive (Eating out costs way more.  Buying junk food is just about the same). Sure, it may be a little more expensive, but I think health is equally important if not more.  I think if we were told, “you keep eating that you’ll get cancer in 30 more years”, then we all might actually think twice what goes in our mouth.  But the fact is, most people feel, “that won’t happen to me”.  Well, fuck, it sure is happening to people out there.  I can’t say every person out there diagnosed with cancer is because of their diet.  But the number of cancer patients has grown over the years, and are also starting at an earlier age.  Sorry, I work in the insurance industry and what I see is kind of scaring me.

I haven’t always eaten organically.  Actually, it’s pretty new to me; since I started making baby food for Caleb.  It wasn’t until I started researching how fruits and vegetables are grown in the US, then I decided it might be worth it to try to at least get certain fruits and veggies organic, and some other stuff.  For instance, I learned our poultry are fed arsenic, and so are pork.  Wtf?  And rice in the US has double the amount of arsenic and other chemicals than other countries.  I don’t know about other people, but I think feeding my kid poison kind of bothers me.  All studies have shown, there’s no obvious short term affects.  However, in the long run, it causes problems.  I’m not saying I won’t go out and eat food in a restaurant just because it’s not organic.  But I think it makes a big difference to make most of the meals at home as clean and fresh as possible.

Certain things I really try to get organic are:

 Peaches

All berries (strawberry, blueberry, etc…)

Bell peppers

Potatos (are among the worst)

Milk

Eggs

And if I really stick with what’s in the season, the price isn’t all that bad….

I have a Zojirushi bread maker that I got a while back and haven’t had the time to really use.  And Seb is always making fun of me saying I only used it once and never touched it again.  But over the last week, I’ve made 4 loaves already.  Right now I’m making a onion-garlic-cheddar-cheese-bread.  It’s so yummy toasted with a little spray butter.  But since that’s not part of my meal plan right now, I can’t have any!  Wraaaah!

It take about 3 ½ hours to complete a bread cycle.  I probably won’t be up when this loaf is done.  I’m just waiting for the beep in the middle, and then I can add my garlic, onion, and cheese.

My bread maker makes a 1 pound loaf, which is perfect for a small size family of 2 to 4 people.  That way we can have a fresh loaf every couple of days without the additives and preservatives.

Worked out, and came into the office.

Day 16    -10.80 pounds.

Seb’s friend is helping me get back into shape.  It’s been fun, hard, and interesting.. all at the same time.

I started going to a new 24 Hour Fitness closer to home.  It is a Super Sport vs. Sport.  So the amenities are much nicer.  Some of the treadmills also have their own TV.  But who can watch TV if they’re really working out?  I need music.  Good music with a good beat.  I do like their free towel service and the separate room for Yoga.  There’s also not a lot of people crowding this gym.  AND it's sort of on the way to work.

Okay, gonna eat lunch.

My favorite season.  Well, it’s been my favorite season for the last couple years I think.  I like that feeling of anticipating the holidays, like we are almost there but not quite yet.  The last few months of the year always fly by.  One major holiday per month and it’s the New Year.  I know Halloween isn’t a major holiday, but it seems like it.  And it’s made a big deal; parties, costumes, decorated houses, amusement parks.... little kids ringing the doorbell.  Then there’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 2011.

2011.

hm.