STOP "Always Doing Something!" and SMELL the ROSES

Hello, Everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been pretty busy.

Yes, BUSY!!!

I may currently be under-employed, but I'm still a mom of 3 and that means there's always something that needs to be done!

The other day, I went to bed exhausted and it was only 10 p.m.

I turned to my husband and said to him, "Why am I so tired when I didn't even work today?!?"

"That's 'coz you're always doing something!" was his simple but so accurate reply.

Always doing something.

I think that applies to most of us these days, don't you think?

When are we ever NOT doing anything anymore?  Why are we always so busy?!?

I thought I had gotten better at slowing down and simply enjoying life.  This past summer I've been able to relax more and do things like sit by the lake and listen to the waves or take a stroll along a nature trail.

But now with the kids back in school, I feel like there's always something that needs to be done again.  Gotta do the dishes or fold laundry or reorganize dresser drawers.  Gotta pick up the kids from school, feed them, make sure they get their homework done...  Call this person, email that one... Take care of this and that...

How did I ever manage to do all this while I had a full-time job?!?

Even my kids seem so busy all the time.

Girls on the Run. Volleyball.  Basketball.  Sleepovers.  Parties.  Play dates.  Let's not even mention HOMEWORK!!!

Can't we all... SLOOOOOOW...  down... a... little?

You know that old-school expression "Stop and smell the roses"?  There's value to that advice and we need to follow it.

We don't literally have to sniff some flowers, but we can certainly spend more time out in Nature - relaxing and appreciating the beauty around us.  When we do that, we take care of ourselves. We need to do that more.

We need to allow ourselves to rest and relax.

I know there's a sense of urgency for all our projects and to-do lists, but we also need to prioritize our health and personal well-being.  We need to do that in order to take care of all those projects and more importantly to take care of our loved ones.

We don't actually have to be out in Nature to "stop and smell the roses."  It really means to slow down and appreciate all the good things that Life is offering.  Being present in the moment.  Being aware of the little acts of kindness that people do. Being appreciative of what's around us.

But being out in Nature is, in my opinion, the best way to stop and smell the roses.  There's just that calming effect of being around the natural elements that makes us appreciate Life more.

So, fellow BUSY PEOPLE, will you please take some time this week to do something relaxing?  Sit by the lake (or ocean if you're so lucky!) and listen to the calming rhythm of the waves.  Take a stroll around the park. Or hike along a nature trail.

I have to do this, too.

You don't have to go anywhere; you can just sit on your couch quietly (but no electronic devices, of course!) and just relax.  Or cuddle with your kids and/or partner.

Wherever you are, just stop... Breathe... Smell the roses...

Life is short; let's slow down a little and enjoy it a lot more!

Pinoys Line Up - Again! - at the Grand Opening of Seafood City

Yes, we were at it again this morning! Waiting and waiting and waiting in line...

6 a.m. - that's what time I arrived at Seafood City at 5033 N. Elston in Chicago.  Forty-nine others were already there before me. (I know how many because we were later given numbered tickets.)

Supposedly some people started camping out at 2 in the morning.  I'm not sure if there's any truth in that or not.  But many of us were there so early in the morning.

Why?

Well... Most people were there, because they're already familiar with the California-based mega market chain. They knew this store would be filled with a variety of fresh seafood, meats, fruits and vegetables, as well as hard-to-find Filipino ingredients and other grocery items at a reasonable price.

Some were excited about the turo-turo (loosely translated to "point-point") restaurants like Grill City, Crispy Town, and Noodle Street where customers are able to view the different dishes and point out their choices like grilled tilapia or grilled pork belly, fried bangus (milkfish), or maybe pancit (noodles) and lumpia (eggrolls).

I was there for the special promo: a 25 pound bag of Jasmine rice for only $1.

This was only offered for the first 500 customers hence the early arrival.

And really, the wait was not bad at all!

At first, I was a little worried about the wait, because I had driven my husband's car over there and had forgotten to take one of our folding chairs out of my car.  Luckily, I remembered the banig (woven mat) that I had long ago stashed in the trunk of my husband's car.

Once I had that banig to sit on, I was totally fine! I had my water bottle, a banana for breakfast, two books to read, and my iPhone.  Good to go!

There really was not a dull moment for me.  I had my books and phone after all.  But what actually entertained me were my companions.

Just like at the Jollibee event in July, I witnessed a heart-warming camaraderie among strangers.  People chatting and joking with each other like they've been friends forever.

I think I've got it all figured out.  It's the kababayan spirit among Filipinos!  Kababayan translates into fellow Filipino or fellow countryman.  But I think the kababayan spirit is synonymous to kindred spirit.

Most Filipinos (especially those who were born in the Philippines and are recent immigrants or even those who've been away from the Philippines for so long) get excited to see their own kind, someone that they have cultural similarities with, being a minority in a gigantic sea of other cultures.  Not that we don't appreciate other cultures; I think it has more to do with feeling a sense of belonging.

One woman that I had shared my banig with told me that she's an employee of Seafood City and she described how training was so fun, because there was so much camaraderie among the mostly Filipino group of workers. They were almost always laughing she told me, talking and joking in Tagalog. She told me it felt like she was back in the Philippines.

And, I think, that's another reason why so many Filipinos are willing to wait in long lines for this place and for Jollibee.  It's because these places give them the feeling of being back home.

Even I felt nostalgic for the Philippines as I roamed the aisles of Seafood City.  So many things that are "so Filipino"!

My favorite banana ketchup was there... :)

All kinds of Pinoy ice cream like ube (purple yam), macapuno (coconut), langka (jackfruit), queso (cheese)...

 
A friend posted a picture on Facebook of different flavored Spam!

They even had all different kinds of shrimp paste (bagoong) which I never knew existed!

Then there were the stranger stuff like frog legs and pork blood...

Seafood City is really just a super market with seafoods, meats, veggies, fruits, and other grocery items.

But at the same time, to Filipinos, it's something a little bit more...

It's a little bit of home.

And that's worth standing in line for.

(The $1 sack of rice was definitely worth the wait as well!)

I wish our kids could play outside more!

Anyone else out there think that the current generation of kiddos do not spend enough time playing outside?

I don't mean playing Pokemon Go, either.

I mean playing. Outside. With friends. With neighbors.

Hide and seek. Pretending to be explorers or pirates. Building fairy houses. Climbing trees.  Rolling down hills. Digging in the dirt.

Soon it will be winter and my kids will be stuck indoors.  Ugh.

But even with the beautiful summer and now fall weather, I feel like they still haven't spent enough time playing outside.

I remember my childhood.  I grew up in the Philippines, in Iligan City.  And my siblings and I would spend our summer days running around with the other neighborhood kids.  We played hide and seek, hiding all over the neighborhood, not just in our backyard.  We even played on the streets.

Ah, patintero.  I wish my girls could experience playing patintero.  It's a Filipino game that we literally played on the street.  We would draw lines on the ground to form giant boxes.  Two teams would play against each other.  One team would start off as the guards, standing on or running along the lines.  Their objective would be to guard the lines and block the opposing team from crossing to the "finish" line.  The other team's objective would be to cross all the way to the opposite end without getting tagged.  At least one player from the team had to make it otherwise the other team would win that round.

Here's a picture from wyxiewonderland.wordpress.com to help with the visualization of this game.

Patintero was a lot of fun, especially when there were a lot of us playing.

My parents (and most likely yours, too) also spent a lot of time outdoors with friends when they were young.

My dad told us stories of how when he was little, he and his friends would often play by the river.  They would jump off trees and dive into the water.  Sometimes, they even went eel-hunting! They would stick their fists into holes, allowing the eels to clamp onto them, and then pull the eels out of their holes that way.

I wish my girls could experience stuff like that.

It's sad that these days, most of us don't even know our neighbors. Especially those of us who live in the city and have busy lives.

My girls never get to play with the neighborhood kids.  Part of the reason was that when I worked as a teacher, we spent most of our time at school.  By the time we got home, it was dinnertime and then bedtime.  My girls never had a chance to meet and get to know the neighborhood kids and play outdoor games with them.

At least, they've gotten to know some of the neighborhood kids at my parents' suburban neighborhood. Spending weekends and summer days there have afforded them that experience of playing with neighbors. Thank goodness they've also experienced block parties over there - watching movies on someone's driveway, making tie-dyed shirts with the neighborhood kids, and playing mini golf on home-made courses.

But it's still not the same as how it was in our childhood days, right?  The complete freedom to just go biking around all day or playing outside 'til it got dark.  Now we worry about child molesters and, in some neighborhoods, gun violence.

Oh well, I guess we'll have to make do.

That's why I try to schedule camping and fishing trips and beach days for my girls.  That way they can experience and enjoy The Great Outdoors.

As for playing with other kids, well... Play dates and sleepovers will have to do.

And there's always the playground after school.

I guess I'll let them dig in the dirt with their friends over there.

Banana Ketchup?!?

I decided to change my blog's name today.  I realized that the original name was a bit blah, so...

For the first time in history, I introduce to you... Drum roll, please...

Drum, drum, drum, drum...

BananaKetchupMomma!!!

(Crickets...
Oh, those are the crickets in our leopard gecko's tank.)

Why Banana Ketchup, you ask?

Well, for those not familiar with banana ketchup, it could be judged as strange, different, foreign...  But if you gave it a chance, you'll see that it's sweet and can even be spicy!

Kinda like me! :)

Actually, I chose the name, because it's unique and it's also a tie-in to my Filipino roots.

Banana ketchup (or sometimes it's called banana sauce) is a product of the Philippines.  It's a sauce very much like ketchup, but it's made from bananas and it's got a sweeter taste than the traditional tomato ketchup.

I luuuv this stuff! I try to make sure we always have a bottle of it in our fridge.

It goes well with pretty much anything fried (chicken, fish, pork chops) and also with eggs (especially sunny side up) and, of course, with rice!

My husband sometimes cooks this Filipino dish called giniling which is ground meat with potatoes and I think tomatoes as well.  And whenever he serves this dish, I gotta have banana ketchup with it.

Same thing with Spam.  Gotta have banana ketchup with it.  Of course, I can't really eat Spam anymore. Too much sodium!  But it's a Filipino thing...

So, yeah, that's what banana ketchup is.

It's starting to become more prevalent in grocery stores, in the ethnic aisles.

Maybe one day, if you haven't yet, you'll try some?

Dear Daddies of Little Ones...

Dear Daddies of Little Ones,

First off, let me say that YES, you are perfectly capable of caring for your children.

I am not going to try and change your ways.  Yes, you may do things differently and that is perfectly fine with me.

After thirteen years and three children, I've learned to let my husband do things his way.

Ok, I admit I may have complained about some things on occasion... But that's 'coz my little one couldn't sleep very well that night because of the SCARY movie she was allowed to watch!

I'm sorry, I digressed!

What was I saying?  Oh yes, I'm not going to try and change your ways...

But can I just please make a suggestion? I swear, it's not a big deal!  Just a teeny, tiny suggestion...

Band-aids!

 
Yes, Band-aids!  Can you please just keep one or two in your wallet and maybe some in the glove compartment of your car?

Because, I SWEAR, there is something MAGICAL about Band-aids!  Once that Band-aid is on your little one's boo-boo, all the BOO-HOO-ing will STOP!  Seriously!  I am a mom of three and have been a Kindergarten teacher.  I've witnessed the magic of Band-aids!

Now the reason I felt compelled to write this letter is because twice in one week I encountered a dad with a little one in need of a Band-aid.

The first time it happened, my girls and I were at the mall.  We happened to pass by a dad with his little boy and a couple of other little ones.  His boy was bleeding on the forehead and the poor frazzled dad was going through a whole bunch of napkins and his son's shirt was all bloodied. I couldn't just walk away without offering any help.  And, of course, I didn't have just Band-Aids in my purse; I also had Neosporin and hand wipes.

The boy had ran into a table corner and they were waiting for mall security to bring a first aid kit.  The poor boy was, of course, crying his eyes out.  But once he got some Band-aids, he calmed down.  Poor Daddy, too, felt better!

The second incident was only a few days later.  This happened at Supercuts, while my girls were waiting to get their back-to-school haircuts.  A dad and his son were seated at the bench near us.  Somehow, the boy (who may have been 7 or 8) got a cut on his leg.  Or maybe he had a scab that he accidentally scratched.

Anyway, the boy would not stop complaining to his dad about it.  But guess what happened after I offered him a Band-aid?  Yup, felt better instantly!

I'm telling you, Daddies... MAGIC!!!

Ok, so you might be one of those Daddies that want their kids to be tough.  That's cool!  But you can at least think of it as a sanitary issue.  You gotta keep germs out of your kids' wounds.  And you gotta keep your kids' blood and germs away from other people.

So, if you don't want to give your child a Band-Aid as a comfort, at least do it for sanitary purposes.

And it's so easy to do.  Just put one or two in your wallet.  That's it.  Easy, right?

Well, Daddies, thank you for letting me make my tiny suggestion.  Carry on...

Oh wait, one more thing...

YOU ROCK!!!  There is nothing sweeter - and sexier - than a Daddy taking care of his children!

So keep rockin' that Daddy hat!

My First Day of School... Away From School!

"HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!"

That was how I greeted my girls early that morning.  (Well, except for when I accidentally blurted out, "Happy Birthday!" to my middle child.)

Outwardly, I was very cheerful and peppy. And I actually was feeling cheerful and peppy!  I was excited for my girls who were starting 2nd, 6th, and 8th grade.

On the other hand, I was also heartbroken; because I was no longer going to school with them like I've always done their entire school lives.  It was a stark reminder that I am no longer a teacher.

I still don't regret my choice to leave.  My time as a teacher has ended.  I am at peace with that.

This Labor Day weekend, I felt incredibly relieved that I didn't have to go through all the stressful preparations teachers usually go through the weeks prior to and during the first days of school, getting the classroom ready and preparing lessons and materials.

For the first time in my daughters' entire lives, I was able to devote my complete attention to them and to their back-to-school preparations.  I was able to completely relax with them and enjoy the unofficial last days of summer - stress-free! We had fun at the beach, spent some trampoline-jumping time at Sky High, and even baked and decorated back-to-school cupcakes (after they made their veggie-laden healthy school lunches, of course!).

Prior to this year, the weeks before school started were always a highly stressful time for me.  I would almost always be preoccupied with and overwhelmed by a long to-do list.  Not so this year.

But I have to admit, I did miss getting my classroom ready and preparing all the activities for the first weeks of school.  

And on that first day of school, it felt strange driving up to school, knowing that only my girls were going in.  I was now an outsider.  I was now "just a parent," no longer a staff member of the school I had been a part of for 17 years!  I was no longer going to be able to work with the children that had grown up before my eyes.

Despite the sadness I felt, I remained outwardly cheerful.  Maybe a little too much.  My tween and teen were pretty embarrassed when I enthusiastically and loudly yelled, "Happy 1st day of school!!!" out the car window to a group of former 6th grade students.

Good thing my 2nd grader was more tolerant, because I continued with my "Happy 1st day of school!" greetings as we waited in the playground for the back-to-school parade to start.

Former Kindergarten students of mine came up to me and showered me with hugs.  Again, I was struck by the reality and sadness of no longer being a teacher at this school!

I know I'm still in the early stage of grief and that eventually the pain will ease as time goes on.

This break-up just needs some getting used to.  After all, this relationship lasted almost two decades!  A lot of history and a lot of love involved.

Lucky for me, I have a very supportive and caring husband who was able to distract me from my grief by taking me on a date immediately after we dropped our girls off at school.  

We went for a long walk by the lake and then feasted on crepes on the beach. Nutella, strawberries, and pecans... Comfort foods with my best friend! Just what I needed.

Around midday, I discovered that a former colleague had sent me a message. It reassured me that my girls would be okay at school even though I would no longer be with them.  And it also commended me for my courage and bravery for recognizing that I was in a situation that was no longer healthy for me.  It ended with, "Be at peace, my friend, and may your journey forward be filled with purpose and a renewed sense of self." I tried to read it out loud to my husband but was too choked up to finish.  It made me cry, but it was just what I needed to hear.

Later that afternoon, I attended a 2-hour workshop with acclaimed career coach and author Steven Steinfeld at the Harold Washington Library.  He imparted valuable advice and tips on how to have a successful job search.  That workshop was empowering for me.  It helped me realize what I needed to do next and gave me a renewed sense of purpose.  Again, just what I needed.

So, yes, I survived my first day of school away from school!  It was painful, but I survived because of the wonderful, helpful people that God put on this Earth.  I am incredibly grateful.

Back to School Shopping...OUCH!!!

Holy cow!!!  When did school supplies get so expensive?!?

A few days ago, I finally took my three girls shopping for their school supplies.

We went to Office Max, because my youngest daughter had seen a backpack there that she really liked.

At first I was really excited, because the backpacks were marked down - 50% off!!! Awesome!

My middle daughter found some cool notebooks that were also marked down. Fabulous!

Then my girls pulled out their school supplies list...

Slowly, the cart started filling up...  Binders, folders, notebooks, copy paper, post it pads, pens, Sharpies, dry erase markers, note cards, disinfectant wipes...

By the time we reached the cash register, the cart was overflowing with school supplies.

Finally, the moment of truth... The total damage... What?!? How did it reach triple digits?!? OUCH!!!

I seriously don't remember spending this much last year or in previous years.

Am I just more painfully aware of this now because I'm currently underemployed and on a budget?

Last weekend, when we went to mass downtown at Holy Name Cathedral, we passed by a couple seated on the sidewalk. In front of them were two large coolers, filled with bottles of water.

"Ice cold water, anyone?" they asked. "We're trying to raise money to buy our kids' school supplies."

I totally understand why they had to do that. 

Most people only make enough money for the basics like food, rent, utilities.  Things like new clothes for school and school supplies are extra expenses that just don't fit in the budget.

There are so many things we take for granted, while others are desperately trying to provide for themselves and their families.

We should be grateful.  That's the first thing.  Let's really appreciate all that we have. 

Next, let's take stock of what we can do for others.

Even if we're not wealthy, we can help...

Let's donate school supplies in those back-to-school supplies bins for needy children.

Let's donate to organizations that work with schools and help provide school supplies like Kids in Need Foundation, Operation Homefront, and Salvation Army.

Let's donate school supplies to teachers, too! They spend so much of their own money all throughout the year to provide great learning experiences for their classes. Yes, they ask for all those school supplies at the beginning of the school year, but they also buy lots more throughout the year. (Believe me, I know!)

If we are able to, why not help?!

And even if we can only offer a little bit, that's something!

"It's not how much we give,
but how much love
we put into giving."

               - Mother Teresa

Life is short; as long as we are able to and as much as we can, let's help others!

 

Intentional Acts of Mercy and Service

What have you intentionally done to be merciful to others?


That was the question the priest posed to the congregation at Holy Name Cathedral yesterday.


He went on to say that donating our used, unwanted clothes or the cans of lima beans that have been sitting in our pantry forever are not true acts of service.  We're just giving away stuff we don't want.


In order for our acts of service to be truly meaningful, they have to pose a certain sacrifice on our part.


The priest shared a story of a time when Mother Teresa was about to give a poor woman a bag of rice.  At the time, Mother Teresa was holding the last bag of rice.  She knew this woman was very poor and had a large family to feed.  However, there was another woman waiting for some food as well.  Instead of just walking away with the bag of rice, the woman asked Mother Teresa for an empty bag so she could share the rice she'd been given with the other poor woman. 


Mother Teresa's companion tried to tell her that there was another truck on its way with more bags of rice, but Mother Teresa stopped her.  Later asked about it, Mother Teresa said it was because she didn't want to deprive the generous woman of her intentional act of mercy.  Here was a woman who selflessly offered her share of food, knowing she and her family would be lacking, because she wanted to help someone else.


What have you intentionally done to be merciful to others?


This is a tough question to ask ourselves.  We're all busy and many of us have our share of problems.


But if we think about it, there really are many others worse off than us. 


We can all do something once in a while.


If you look up "acts of mercy," you'd most likely be shown "works of mercy" instead.  And those are: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, bury the dead, shelter the traveler, comfort the sick, and free the imprisoned.


Those are very ambitious goals.  And even if we don't solve all the world problems, we can all at least contribute. 


The easiest way, of course, is to donate.  But remember, we shouldn't just donate unwanted items.  Let's try to donate new clothes or school supplies.  We can donate money to organizations that aid the poor or homeless. 


Even if you're like me - unemployed and broke, we can still make a difference.


We can donate our time.  We can volunteer at Feed My Starving Children, by packing up food for the poor.  We can volunteer at a soup kitchen.  We can volunteer to help with religious education programs at our parish.


But really, our acts of mercy don't need to only be directed at the poor.


We also need to practice it within our own communities and at home.


I like to help others and try to be of service as much as I can, but I know I'm particularly guilty of being less merciful with my own kids and husband. 


This was especially true when I was teaching.  I tried to be patient and compassionate with my students, but by the time I got home I was out of patience when it came to my family. 


I know I need to work on being more patient and understanding when my tween is being moody or my 7-year-old is tired and cranky. 


We need to be merciful with others, but also with our own families and friends. 


The priest yesterday offered up a challenge.  He said that there are only 12 weeks left of this Jubilee Year of Mercy.  The challenge is to do as many intentional acts of mercy and service for the rest of the year.


Are you up for that challenge? 


I am.  This is my year of selective yeses, after all.  I say yes to acts of mercy and service.


Life is short; let's do the best we can to help others.

 


 








  

Family Fun at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort

Picture this... You're sitting in front of a campfire next to your significant other, gazing at the flames dancing in the dark, while your children sleep soundly in their tent, worn out by the whirlwind of fun activities from the day.  Ahhhh...

The morning is just as relaxing... With the quiet hours enforced until 8 a.m., you can sit back and listen to the birds chirping while your children groggily - but quietly -  lounge in their chairs or in the tent, waiting for breakfast to be grilled.  They're eager to comply with your wishes, because they know there's so many things they want to do today.  Ahh, so peaceful...


Yes, it's possible! 


I know, because this is how my weekend played out! 


Well, almost.  It wasn't peaceful the entire time; my children are not perfect little angels.  Nor do I expect them to be.  But, even with the occasional grumpiness and meltdown, we still had a "beary" fun and memorable time.

 

Jellystone Park Camp Resort in Caledonia, Wisconsin is a fun, family-friendly place! 

 

I overheard a lady say to one of the rangers this morning that out of all the Jellystone Park campgrounds she's been to with her family, this one was the best.  She said she likes how the staff here is so friendly and really caters to families and especially to children.


Now my family and I have never been to any other Jellystone Park campground, so we can't compare.  But we have been to other campsites and this one is, by far, our favorite!

 

One year, we visited Jellystone park about a month after visiting Disneyworld.  And guess what?!
Yep, my girls all agreed that they had more fun at Jellystone!  Seriously!


Maybe it's because our family really enjoys camping!  Yes, even roughin' it and sleeping in a tent! Well, personally, I prefer sleeping in a hotel or a cabin... But my girls really do enjoy sleeping in a tent.

 

The nice thing about Jellystone is that you're not completely roughin' it here.  This is the part where my Army brother-in-law shakes his head.  When he camps, it's out in the deep woods - with no outhouses, much less bathrooms or showers.


At Jellystone, there are bathrooms and showers!  Hallelujah!!!

 
They keep 'em clean, too! Yay!


They also have cabins with bathrooms for those of you who really do not care for any kind of "roughin' it".

 

Besides giving you and your family a healthy dose of the outdoors, Jellystone Park also provides a multitude of activities to keep your children entertained.


If you have little ones, they will enjoy waking Yogi Bear up.  My youngest, who is now 7, still enjoys this.  At 9:05, the children gather around Yogi Bear's cave (which is really more of a little house) and then they all yell as loudly as they can to rouse the bear.  Once he's awake, a staff member helps Yogi read his mail and then the kids get to take photos with him.

 

 

At night, the children can tuck him into bed and read him a bedtime story.

If you have older kids, those two activities might generate some eye-rolls.  My 11-year-old and 13-year-old are now too cool for the wake-up and bedtime fun.  But they are absolutely not too old for Candy Bar Bingo!!!

 
A regular-sized candy bar buys you a Bingo card.  And a Bingo wins you a stack of candy bars!  Woo hoo!  What makes it even more fun is the different versions that they play like Loser Bingo, Yogi Bingo, and Black-out.


My 7-year-old was lucky enough to be a "Loser!"  During Loser Bingo, the staff member calls out a number and if you have that number on your Bingo card, you have to sit down.  The last one to stay standing wins. 

 

(We later used my daughter's Bingo winnings at Georgie Porgie's in Oak Creek which is a less-than-ten minutes drive from the campsite.  We bought a quart of vanilla custard and then each of us chose a chocolate bar to use as topping for our custard.  Yummm!)

 

Another activity my girls unanimously agree on is jumping on the jumping pillow.  They could jump on it for hours!  I guess it's the same appeal as jumping on a bed.  Simply fun.

 

There's also the pool with water slides and a water balloon fight area.

 

There's a game room, mini-golf, archery, laser tag, giant chess, playgrounds... Like I said, a multitude of activities!

I almost forgot to mention the hay rides!  This weekend, there were two - a "Wet & Wild" one and a glow-in-the-dark one.  For the wet & wild hay ride, a select few rode around the campsite spraying campers.  We were told to feel free to "fight back" and luckily, my youngest happened to have her squirt gun in the car!

The other hay ride was after dark, but the kids wore glow sticks or brought their flashlights which was pretty cool.  Oh and Boo Boo the Bear rode with us.  Yay!


Cindy Bear also made appearances throughout the weekend.  My girls noticed that Cindy Bear usually was the one that showed up when there were sweets involved.  Cindy Bear was the one who delivered milk and cookies to the campers that signed up for them.  And she was the one who was there for the decorating of doughnuts and for the ice cream social. 


Speaking of food, there is a snack shack onsite as well as an ice cream shop. There's also a coffee shop for those of you who need that caffeine nudge in the morning.

 

 

There are also a bunch of restaurants in Oak Creek. (Less than 10 minutes away,  remember?) There's a Noodles & Company, Subway, Buffalo Wild Wings, Panera, Papa John's, and also a Starbucks.


Now if you're like me, you'd want to point out that part of the camping experience is grilling your own food.  True.  But hey, if you get tired of grilling, there's no law saying you can't leave the campsite to get some food!


If you decide you want to stick with grilling though but then run out of food to grill, no worries!  There is a full-service supermarket called Woodman's nearby.  They've got meat, veggies, fruits, candy bars for Bingo, and liquor...  Everything you need to get your camping party going!

 

Oh, while you're at Woodman's, might as well pick up some laundry detergent.  I don't know about you, but I hate re-using wet towels! I know, I know, we can hang our towels to dry on a make-shift clothesline tied to the trees, but Jellystone has washers and dryers!  Might as well use them, right?

Besides, those towels and blankets are starting to smell like wet dog.  Which reminds me...


Jellystone is a pet-friendly camp resort.  They even have a little doggie park where you can let your canine companions run around. 

 

What did I tell you?!  Fun for the whole family!!!

Jellystone Park is a wonderful place for families, because it mixes the right amount of camping/outdoor experience with modern amenities and enjoyable activities.  It may not be for die-hard, true-blue campers, but for those of us with little ones (and not-so-little ones), this is the ultimate place for family fun!

Life is short; enjoy it, enjoy your family, be a happy camper! :)

 
 

Went Back to Work Today...

No, I did not get a job yet.

I went back to my former workplace.


No, I was not offered my job back. 


I had to go back, because my former boss had texted me a few days ago, asking me if I left any personal belongings and I told him I would go back and double check. 


They've hired my replacement and understandably she needs to make my classroom - I mean my former classroom - into her own space.  So, of course, I had to go back and get whatever was mine out of there.


It actually wasn't so bad.


I ran into some former colleagues which was nice.  Got to catch up a little.


And meeting my replacement was nice.  She will be my daughter's teacher, so it was a treat for my daughter to get to meet her new teacher before anyone else.


What a lovely day today was!


Okay, okay, that's not exactly the truth... Well, 1st of all, it was rainy this morning and...


OKAY!!!


Honestly, I was heartbroken today.


Being there, sifting through the pile of unwanted things, tugged - no, YANKED - at my heartstrings.


If my girls had not been with me, I might have cried in the car after leaving the school.  But I kept my cool.  Inside, though... My heart was being ripped. Into pieces.  Again.


The thing is, I am at peace with my decision.  I don't regret leaving.  I really think it was the right choice for myself.


But it doesn't hurt any less.  Because I cared about that job.  A lot.


17 years!  For seventeen years,  I poured my heart and soul into that job.  I've watched many of my students grow up before my eyes.  My own girls grew up at that school.  Heck, they spent time there even before they were born, listening en-utero to the chatter of my students. 


We - my girls and I - spent so much time at that school.  We often joked that it was our second home.  And it pretty much was.  Most of our waking time was spent there. 


I cared - still care - about that school and, of course, the students. 


So, yes, being back there today broke my heart. 


But I guess that's how it's going to feel for a while, huh? 


Until the grieving ends.


When will that be?

 

Life Is Short!

 

Life is short!


I've been saying that a lot.  But really, if you think about it, Life IS short!


We are merely here on Earth for a lifetime.  For some it may be decades, for others a whole lot shorter.  Even if you live to be a 100 years old; in the grand scheme of things, that is a short amount of time.


If you love someone, truly love someone, you'd want to spend an eternity with that person, not merely 100 years.


If you want to make a difference in the world - perhaps help bring about peace and clean up the Earth, then 100 years wouldn't be enough.  There's so much to do and change takes time.


But really, life is short, because we are not meant to stay on Earth forever.  We are merely here temporarily - on a mission. 


Aren't we supposed to be preparing for our eternal life in Heaven?  And, of course, being human that's a pretty tough job.  We aren't perfect; we make many mistakes. So we need to continually strive to do better. Now. Today and everyday.


We need to realize that we do not have the luxury of making mistakes now to fix later.  We do not have the luxury of doing all the great things later.  We have to do our best now.


I think some people mistakenly think that because Life is short, that they should do whatever they want now.  Enjoy Life without a care in the world.


Not quite...


Yes, enjoy Life...  That part is fine.  Enjoy Life!  But we also need to remember to enjoy Life responsibly!


We have to remember our mission, our responsibilities, our duties.  To help others, to make a difference, to try our best to make the world a better place. 


And I'm saying this to myself just as much as to you all - actually maybe even more to myself.  I'm trying to motivate myself to find that job that will help me make a difference.  Trying to find a way for me to contribute to the world.  I'm also trying my best to fulfill my everyday roles well.  Trying to be a good mom, a good wife, a good friend...


I often make mistakes, but I try my best.


Because as much as I enjoy having fun and basking in the glow of Life, I also want my stay here on Earth to mean something.  Don't you?


Life IS short; let's enjoy it, but let's also strive to make it meaningful and productive!  

 

Facing the Daunting Task of Finding a Job...

 I have to start looking for a job.


I've been putting it off.


But I probably should start now. 


Sigh. 


The thing is, I don't want to yet.  Is that selfish of me?


Hey, I've been working since I was fourteen years old.  I can't retire yet; but I can take a break, can't I?


In my head, I've justified this long "break" this way: since this may very well be my last summer off, I ought to make the most of it. 


My girls have always spent summers with me.  Camp Mommy I call it.  We go to museums, parks, the beach. We visit different places.  We hang out at home. We clean. We get bored. We get on each others' nerves.  Sometimes we fight.  We make up. We make art. Sometimes we get silly. We laugh. We cuddle.  We have dance parties. We have fun.


I will miss all that.


I know, I know. We can still do those things even if I worked in the summertime.  But it won't be the same.


So I don't want to work yet until my girls go back to school.  I want to cherish this last summer off together.


But I also know I have to start finding a job.  The bills, the mortgage, the doctor and dentist appointments... They don't care that I no longer have a job. 


Sigh. 


I need to start looking for a job...


But I'm not ready yet!


I'm not finished tidying up and reorganizing our home! 


If I'm no longer going to have spring break and summers off to do my deep cleaning and de-cluttering, I have to do it all now! 


I recently re-organized our library.  I've de-cluttered my dresser and reorganized my drawers. I've already done most of the kitchen cabinets, but our pantry looks like it needs to be reorganized again...


Today, I tackled the bathroom drawers and my girls' toy bins.  But I still have to re-organize the office cabinets...


Wait...


Do you think I'm obsessing about tidying up as a way to procrastinate?!?


Is it possible that I'm tackling all these other tasks, because I'm subconsciously fearful of facing the real task?  The one that needs to be done soon... Finding a job!


Is that what's happening here?  


But I really do want to cherish my last summer off with my girls!  And I really do want to get my home all tidied up!


Sigh.  (I know, too much sighing!)


I really do need to start looking for a job.  What, was I thinking a job was just gonna fall from the sky and land on my lap?!  That would be cool! Ha!


Fine.


I'll start tonight. 


Well, maybe after I finish reading my book.  Oh yeah, that's another thing... I have all these books I still want to read...


Okay, okay!  I will start on applications as soon as I post this.  I promise.


Why can't a job just fall from the sky and land on my lap anyway?!?  


You're right!  It would hurt.  Probably kill me. 


Ugh!  I guess I need to work to get work, huh?


Alright!  Let me do this... 


This is my year of selective yeses and nos, isn't it? 


Yes to the challenge, no to procrastination. 


Here I go...

This Will Be My Year of Selective YESes and NOs

 Last night, I started to read this book called Not Working by DW Gibson which is a collection of stories about unemployed people finding their way in today's changing economy.  I thought maybe it could help prepare me for my journey of finding a new job.


Reading just the first chapter, though, was depressing! It made me anxious about where I was headed and all these negative what-ifs started popping up in my head.


I put the book aside and looked for a different book in my library bag.


Another book caught my eye.  It was a book written by Shonda Rhimes called Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person.


It sounded more uplifting than the first book, so I started to read that instead.


Shonda Rhimes, if you didn't know already, is a successful Hollywood writer.  She's the one who created the TV shows Grey's Anatomy and Scandal and she's executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder.


What you may not know is that she is a huge introvert who experienced panic attacks prior to press interviews or media appearances.  So she always tried to avoid any kind of publicity.


One day, her sister muttered six words to her: "You never say yes to anything."  Those words became Shonda's wake-up call and personal challenge.


Shonda decided to commit to a year of saying yes - especially to terrifying things like public speaking.  She started going to more publicity events. She even agreed to give a commencement address in front of thousands of graduates and their families!


This book really resonated with me.  For one, I myself am a gigantic introvert and I can totally relate to her terror.  Two, I feel like I myself unknowingly committed to a year of yes when I decided to resign from my job about 3 months ago.


Although, now as I write this and reflect a little bit more about what has happened and where I want my journey to take me, I think I've got a clearer picture.


I've decided that this year will be my year of selective yeses and nos.


I will say yes and be more brave about my choices in life.  I will say yes to things that I normally would shy away from.  I will say yes to going outside of my comfort zone and challenging myself.


But I don't want to say yes to just anything and everything.


Last week, I read another book called Spark Joy by Marie Kondo.  Kondo suggests getting rid of anything that doesn't give you joy. 


I really like that idea, but it seems to be counteractive to saying yes - especially about saying yes to challenging or terrifying things.  Doesn't it?


Well, that's why I'm saying it's going to be my year of selective yeses or nos.  Just because something is terrifying or challenging doesn't mean it won't bring me joy later.  And I think I now have a good idea of what I want and what I need, as well as what I don't want and don't need.


So... I will say no to things that bring me down.  I will say no to people who disrespect me and/or others.  I will say no to clutter in my home (except for the artistic stuff my children derive joy from).  I will say no to trash in my neighborhood.  I will say no to stressful things and unnecessary things.  I will say no to things and people and activities that do not bring me joy.


Yes to all that brings me joy, no to those that don't!


I realize now that this is my opportunity to steer my life in the direction I want it to go.  I still don't know exactly where that destination is, but now I know which stops I want to take and which I will pass up.  I'm sure I'll bump into some obstacles along the way and I'll probably experience some storms, but hey as long as they don't kill me, I'll be alright!


Life is short; I say yes to enjoying it as much as I can and I say no to all unnecessary unhappiness.

Our 1st Ever Metra Train Ride Takes Us To Highland Park

My girls and I have never ridden the Metra train ever.  Until today.

 

I don't know why it has taken us this long, but we have finally tried it.  Yay for 1sts!


Today was one of those spontaneous days.  We didn't have anything planned and we wanted to explore.


So explore we did - me, my three daughters, and my middle daughter's friend Josie.


We decided to ride the Metra train to wherever.  We randomly picked a city (Highland Park) from the list of stops on the train station's wall and then off we went. 

No expectations, no plans. 


My daughters didn't even want me to ask Siri about places nearby or look things up on my iPhone.  They wanted to just see what was around and discover things ourselves.


We lucked out.  The train station was right next to downtown Highland Park so we didn't have to walk too far. 


One of our first discoveries was a toy store.  How about that?!

It was a fun place called Beanstalk with beautiful dollhouses and playhouses and trains and all sorts of cool stuff.  My youngest daughter enjoyed the boathouse/ball pit and the different toys.  My middle daughter and her friend were immediately drawn to the giant stuffed animals.  And the oldest was content with lounging in a comfy bean bag while the other girls played. 

I, too, was content with lounging - especially since I needed to sit near an outlet and charge my phone!  But then I got called over for a tea party, so I had to abandon my nice cushy spot!


After we wore out our welcome at the toy store, we decided to explore some more.  We soon found ourselves in front of a shop called Highland Pop.  It's a popcorn shop with a slew of different flavored popcorn.  But what actually got our attention was the sign for Italian ice.  Today was a pretty hot and humid day; the perfect day for Italian ice!  Although, my two younger ones opted for frozen bananas instead.

 
After we finished our tasty treats, we kept on walking.  We passed by a gelato shop which my girls wanted to go into, but since we had already feasted on Italian ice and frozen bananas, we regretfully had to forego the gelato.  Maybe next time.

The girls' disappointment didn't last long though, because a shop had caught their eye and piqued their interest.  It was a store called Paper Source and this turned out to be my girls' favorite place for the day.

 
My girls are artists, so this was right up their alley.  I think we ended up staying in this store for a couple of hours.  The staff there was very accommodating and friendly.  A sweet lady named Kim taught them how to use an embossing heat tool and made sure they had enough materials to work with.  Later, another lady named Donna also helped the girls.


My youngest daughter told me that this was her favorite of all the places we visited in Highland Park.  Yes, she enjoyed this place even more than the toy store!


My middle daughter now wants to have part of her birthday celebration here.  And that's not even until spring!


Well, I'm just glad that our 1st Metra Train adventure turned out well.  Despite our lack of plans or even knowledge of our destination. 


Today's adventure reminds me of Life.  Sometimes we don't have a clue where we're heading, but we just have to enjoy the ride and when we get to our destination we just have to explore and try to find the things that give us joy.


Life is short; enjoy it!