I'm OBSESSED!

I’m not that person that goes home after work and jumps on the computer to surf the net.  I use a computer so much for work that the last thing I want to do is strain my pretty, blue eyes after I get home.  With that being said, I’m very out of touch with all the “cool” websites out there.  However, all that has recently changed as my dear friend and fellow blogger, Katie, introduced me to Pintrest.  Have you been to this site yet?!  Most of you reading this are probably shaking your heads yes and thinking to yourself “jeez, this girl isn’t kidding…she really is out of touch with the Internet” but, I don’t mind, I know I’m behind the times. Needless to say, I’ve become OBSESSED with Pintrest.  I’m on it all the time and it’s really sparked my creative juices and I’m finally getting some things accomplished around my house.

Here’s a brief description about some of my fun Pintrest projects that I have going on.

·         I’ve have had two old windows sitting in my dining room for the last four years.  I really like them but I just haven’t been able to figure out what the heck to do with them.  So there they sit.  They have no purpose and no home.  I literally look at them every day and I question whether or not I should keep them because they are just taking up space but, thanks to Pintrest, I now have the perfect idea for them.  I’m using them to create a family photo wall.  I’ve already selected the photos and I’m waiting for just a couple more from my mother-in-law and up they will go.  FINALLY, these fabulous old windows have a purpose!  Can I just tell you how excited I am?!

·         The next project that I’m working on is an arts and crafts project for above my bed.  My husband and I have been living in our house for seven years and for seven years; we’ve looked for something to hang above our bed.  It’s a giant wall and things that we’ve found that we have liked are either the wrong colors or too small.  Now, thanks to ideas on Pintrest, I’m creating my own art piece with canvas boards from Michael's, scrapbook paper, paint and glue.  What’s so great about this is it is allowing me to pick the exact size that we want and the exact colors and honestly, the project couldn’t be easier!  These should be finished up this week and after seven years; we’ll finally have something hanging above our bed! 

·         The last Pintrest project that I’m working on is actually out in my garden.  It seems weird to be talking about gardening when it’s February in Pittsburgh but, with all of the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having, I’ve been able to get outside and do some serious clean-up in the yard.  I’m currently collecting empty liquor bottles from our bar and I’m using them to line the edge of my flower beds.  This is not only a great way to recycle the bottles but it looks neat and the bottles really catch the sunlight.

So what I’m trying to say is that if you haven’t been to this incredibly amazing site called Pintrest, you are missing out!  It really will give you amazing ideas for your home and garden.  It will give you great recipe ideas and places to travel too.  It will even give you fashion ideas, book ideas and paint colors.  It’s just an amazing site and I’ll be anxious to finish up my projects and show you pictures of them.  Hopefully they will inspire you to get creative! 

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Since the Dawn of Time...

I grew up as an only child and being an “only” definitely had its advantages and disadvantages but one thing it didn’t do…was make me your typical spoiled brat.  My parents never had a ton of money and they both worked extremely hard so that they could provide for me but, they also taught me how important it is for me to work and be responsible.  I started working when I was 11 years old for my dad who owned his own handyman business.  When I was 18, I got my first “big girl” job as an admin for an advertising agency which helped pay for my college education.  I worked full-time and went to school part-time.  I’m now 33 and still working my ass off.  I still have a “big girl” job (part-time) and my husband and I own our own bar/restaurant.  I’m not complaining, I actually like working hard…it gives me something to do and keeps me out of trouble but, what really bugs me, especially in an economy such as this, is when people just take having a job for granted.  And I feel like a lot of people coming up in the workforce now just don’t get it.  To me they come across as feeling entitled and they are somewhat lazy and inconsiderate.  Does anyone else feel that way?  Or, is it just because now I’m in my 30’s and the reality of it is, I was the same way in my 20’s?  I don’t know…all I do know is that yesterday I got screwed and I’m pissed!

Thursday’s are my longest day of the week.  I typically work for my “big girl” job about 3 to 3.5 hours.  Then I jump in the shower, grab a bite to eat and I’m off to the bar.  I open the bar on Thursdays so I have to stock beer, do roll-ups, portions, clean and get the place open for business by 3 p.m.  Then I bar tend till about 9:30 p.m.  My relief comes in at 9 p.m. but has to restock beer etc. before she comes on.  Last night turned out quite differently though, as my relief decided to call off work ten minutes before she was supposed to walk through the door.  At that point, it was too late to try and find someone to fill in for so I just said fine, I’ll work it!  I ended up working the shift.  Thankfully, the girl that comes in it 7 p.m. to wait tables, till about 9 p.m., decided to stay on with me and we just toughed it out together.  I mean who calls off ten minutes before your supposed to show up for work.  You can’t really do that in the service industry because the hours are weird and most people in this industry have other jobs.  Not to mention the fact that she called off because of her period!  WHAT?!  I just couldn’t believe it. 

In the end, myself and my faithful side-kicked, pushed through the night will smiles on our faces, made some great money and had some giggles.  But, I’m still really upset and I can’t figure out if I’m upset with her because I’m her boss and I feel like what she did was inconsiderate and disrespectful or, if I’m upset because she’s my friend and it was inconsiderate and disrespectful.  Either way, I have to say something to her and I’m just not looking forward to it.  I mean, I can appreciate the girl calling off because she didn’t think she could work her entire shift, but I didn’t appreciate her doing it ten minutes before she arrived.  I don’t know…I just feel like all of these younger kids pull this crap all the time and it’s frustrating to me because they make more money working 20 hours per week then most people twice their age, not to mention the fact that so many people are without work right now and really struggling.  Calling off because you have your period doesn’t seem to me like you appreciate your job….the one that I gave you and can take away from you anytime.  I’m baffled… I just can’t imagine calling off work (any work) because I have my period.  Women have been working with their periods since the dawn of time.

UGH!

I apologize for the rambling and complaining etc. but I’m frustrated.  Sometimes, this is when I wish that we never opened our own business! 

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The Doctor Will See You Now

It is so easy to put off going to the doctor. Trust me. I'm the queen of "too busy." My kids get there. I make my husband go for aches, pains, illness. And when I'm really sick, I'll go mainly because I need to get over whatever it is as fast as possible because I'm too busy to be sick! It's the preventative maintenance that us chicks usually aren't so good at. Our OBGYNs make us come in once a year otherwise we can't get our birth control filled. We typically go to the dentist because our teeth are something we can see. Same with the dermatologist. It is our regular PCP that we struggle with. It's so easy to put off. We feel fine, so we are fine. And while that is typically the case, it is still good to check in, get annual blood work and set a baseline.

I starts to get scary the older you get. Though I'm not terribly older than the other Working Wives & Bachelorettes, I am starting to see friends get sick with cancer. It's scary. I don't remember my parents friends getting sick or seriously ill when I was growing up. A few friends lost their parents, but I never gave it much thought. The older I get, the more it is in my face, especially when you see people your own age struggling with their health.

In our teens and twenties, we are invincible. Nothing can harm us. We can stay up all night and still function during the day. As we climb into our thirties, our bodies start to slow. I read once that the human body was never meant to live past 40. Through modern medicine, better food and better living conditions, clearly that number has raised, almost doubled. We are lucky, but you have to do your part.

Go to the doctor. Get your annual physical. If you don't have regular health insurance, check out a walk-in clinic, such as MedExpress or Minute Clinic. The prices are reasonable and well worth it. If you need to see a dentist and don't have dental insurance, find a dental school. Many times, they offer free dental exams from students. Visit your OBGYN. Any Planned Parenthood offers services on a sliding scale or, if you live in a city like Pittsburgh, UPMC is forever doing studies. I have a friend who is in grad school full-time and over 26 so insurance is a real issue for her. She participates in a study for birth control and, with minimal participation, she gets free birth control.

There are no excuses. Too busy. No money. Make the time. Find the solution. Stay healthy. We want you around...not just for the next 20 years, but at least 60 or more!

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