Confessions of a Sick Mommy....

Still feeling sick today.  Hopefully I can rest today because the kids have school.

Today's confession has to do with a day like today, I felt like crap. The difference was that I decided to haul tail to work even though I was sick.  On this occasion I went into the office and since I was sick, I must admit I didn't look my best.  Infact if I'm totally honest I looked like crud!

I went through the usual questions when I go in sick, "hey you feel ok?", "are you sick", "You don't look welll" blah, blah, blah! No I don't feel well OK!?! But I'm never rude, that reply only happens in my head. One of my staff comes into my office to ask me  a few work related questions and then it happens, she says "Londi, are you ok?" and I say "I'm sick" and then she goes on to say, "No offense, but you look  ugly today".  Ugly? Wow, I had never actually been told that.  I didn't feel offended, but I did feel like I was slapped figuratively speaking.  It just took me by shock, that word ugly.

I think this is what I looked like!

I must say that I really, really appreciated her brutal honesty.  It helped me reflect on myself.  The next day I did not feel my best, but I made sure that I went out the door looking as best I could.  From that day forward, I have made it my business to make sure that when I go out the door to work that I am happy with the way I look.

The next day, she came to the office apologizing because she went home and thought about what she said.  I told her that there was no need to apologize and that I honestly wasn't offended.  I will not mention her name in this blog, but if she reads which I know she does sometimes.  I want to THANK you for that comment.  Because from that day, you made me realize that I need to make sure that I go out to the world as the best me I can be (even though I may not feel like it!)

Thanks missy.

Until next time.

Ciao,

Londi
xoxoxo

Sick Day...

This is not Gio and this is not me either!
We sleep on opposite sides!

I'm trying to write about things that are helpful on Tuesdays.  But I don't know if I can do that today...I'm sick (AS USUALL!!) I'm just trying to unwind and relax so that hopefully I can get some rest and it always seems that if I'm trying to rest or if I'm not feeling well, my kids want to hang out in my room ON MY BED.  Why??  Do you know something? I never take naps.  The only time I get the luxury to take a nap is if I'm on vacation.  Do you know something else? Gio (my husband) takes naps quite frequently.  GRRRR...

Anyway, enough whining. Who is ready for Thanksgiving?  I'm not, I have to totally plan my menu and figure out who's coming for dinner.  Last year we went to the Thanksgiving Jets game so I cooked but it was small.  I will be including the usuals, but I usually like to add or switch up a few things from time to time.  This will be the first big Thanksgiving dinner in my new house.  Not to mention getting my house beautiful.

I usually have a love/hate relationship with the holidays.  I do have a confession to make, people offer me help all the time when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner.  But I always decline and insist on making everything myself.  Then I'm dead tired, but I feel some sort of sick satisfaction of having done it all myself.

Anyway, so what have I done today, I've whined, I've confessed and I've rambled.  That is all.

Until next time,

Ciao,

Londi
xoxoxo

ME....

Being a MOM is not my entire identity.  I'm a woman.  There are many parts of my life and experiences that have made me who I am and that is Londi.  I've been reading blogs, and since I'm trying to find a niche here in the blogging community, I've been reading all sorts of what they call "Mommy" blogs.  What I've noticed is that so many women lose themselves and their identities of who they ARE and their lives revolve around well, just being a mom.  Well guess what....I don't feel that because I'm a mom that my entire existence and identity revolves around being a mom.  Yes, it's a HUGE part of my life and of my identity but it's not the only thing that makes me ME. I'm not sorry for it either.

Why should I lose myself because I have children.  Ladies, your husband/significant other didn't meet a mom when he met you and decided he wanted to marry you and have children.  He met you the woman. Don't lose that because you have children.  It's not to say that I don't make crazy sacrifices (like my sleep) to be at Lacrosse at 8 am on Saturday morning. Or do anything to make these kids happy.  Not to mention, the whole moving to suburbia.  I'm also not implying that having children doesn't or shouldn't change you. I'm just saying.... The last thing you want is for your kids to grow up and leave, and you and your husband have nothing to say to each other because your entire existence revolved around your kids.  Yes I'm imperfect, yes I am a Mom, and most importantly I'm me, I'm a woman who has a full, fun, mostly crazy, but blessed life.


Anyway, that's what was on my mind.  Have a fantastic day.

Ciao,

Londi
xoxoxo

It's that time of year again....

It's  EATING season!! I'm not happy about that right now.  First of all, I'm not ready for the holidays, but I'm also not at what I consider a comfortable weight FOR ME (I've gained over 15 pounds since last year).  I'm a little heavier than I'd like right now.....how to come out of holiday season without gaining too much?   There was one holiday season 2 years ago where I was really obsessed with diet and fitness and I actually lost 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years. Well, I'm not in that mode this year! What am I going to do?  I think I'm going to go on an extreme diet until Thanksgiving.

The other problem is that the office parties and "pot-lucks" will be starting really soon.  Oh well, maybe I can keep my mouth shut and will power up.  Not to mention that I need to take my behind to the gym. I am paying for a family membership and have gone maybe 3 times since I joined.  I used to be a work-out junkie.

If I do a little soul searching I think I need to be a little more organized and planful with my food and schedule. Ahhh!

Ok, well enough whining, time for action....Let's see I'll keep you posted.



How will you keep from going over the deep end this EATING season??


Until next time....

Ciao,

Londi
xoxoxo

Mad Mommy Style Fashion Blogging

Every season I have my favorite pair of shoes, my "go-to" for almost any occasion.  This fall, those go-to's are my Type Z Arcadias suede boots. I ABSOLUTELY love them.  These boots can be worn with just about anything.  I've worn them with leggings, skinny jeans, dresses, skirts, everything.  They are extremely comfortable.  I wore them when I went trick-or-treating with the kids.  These bad boys will be coming with me to Vegas.  If you've ever been to Vegas you know how much walking you do!

I found these fabulous boots on one of my favorite websites 6pm.com.  The original retail price of these boots were $115.  I was able to scoop these up for a whopping......Wait for it....wait for it.....$35!!  

Unfortunately for YOU, they are no longer available, but you can still browse 6pm.com for amazing deals on great boots, shoes, bags, and even sunglasses.  

Happy Shopping.

Ciao,

Londi

                                                                   xoxoxoxo

Confession Time....

OK.  Today's confession is  a little embarrassing, but oh well here goes.  I AM A MAIL PILER!! I pile up the mail and pile up the mail, until it's everywhere and I have to start doing something about it.  What do I actually do about it you ask?  I start going through it and throw stuff out, I sort it, and then I put it in another pile to never get looked at again until I have to clean it up again.  It's really, really sick.  When I have to find mail that I really need, I have to sift through a ton of letters until I can actually get to the one that I need.  Sometimes when the mail pile gets too unsightly and I can't stand to see it, I put it in a bag and then it goes somewhere out of sight. And you know what they say, out of sight, out of mind! Well then it goes from a mail pile to a mail stash.

I beg my husband to go paperless for all of the bills, but for some reason, he LOVES his paper. Funny thing is that he pays them all online.   I have opted out of receiving paper for all of my bills. Ah well, the life of a mail piler.  (maybe the real term should be hoarder, but that sounds scarier)

Do we have any other secret mail pilers? What do you do with your mail?  Any tips for me? Is there a such thing as Mail Pilers Anonymous with a 12 step program?   I think I've just admitted to the world that I have a problem.  Don't be afraid, come clean.  It's therapeutic.

By the way, this image is my actual current mail pile!

Oh well, we can't be perfect.

Ciao 'til next time,

Londi
xoxoxo

Happy day AFTER Halloween! My 3 year old is holding out on breakfast in hopes that we'll actually let him have candy instead! It ain't happening buddy. My kids had a great time trick-or-treating and I thoroughly enjoyed taking them.
(In the photo from LtoR Jonah-6, Elijah-9, Julian-3, & Giovanni-16) Jonah and Julian were champs. Elijah who is 9 couldn't keep up with them (he's lazy). I loved seeing all of the kids out in their costumes. Ok, enough about Halloween! Lol





I wanted to talk about this really cool app that I started using called GeoQpons. It is available for Free for Android and iPhones. This app, has  moved to the top of the list as one of my favorites! Why I love this app, when you don't have a coupon for a retail store, you can check the app and see if there are any coupons available.  When there is, you go to the check out counter and present them the coupon straight from your phone and voila you end up saving when you probably didn't even anticipate it.  Let me explain.  The app uses your geographic location to find nearby retailers. You can look up by brands, look for local small businesses, or you can search for the retailer you're looking for.  There are some pretty cool Shopping tools, you can create a shopping list, wish list, there is a savings calculator and price checker...which uses the barcode app from your phone.  There are probably many more neat little features or tools that you can explore yourself.  I'll give you one little testimonial today, I went to buy the Halloween costumes at Party City.  I didn't have any coupons and when I got home checked GeoQpons out of curiosity.  I found a $30 off coupon!! You know I went back to Party City, returned the costumes and repurchased using the $30 off coupon.  Now if $30 didn't convince you to download a FREE app, then I don't know what can.

Have a great day!

Ciao,

Londi
xoxoxo