Pencil Thin

Last year my neighbors decided to join a local gym. Before joining they didn’t really do any research to guarantee that they were getting the best buy possible for the needs of their family. They assumed that all gyms offer the same type of services and classes as for example our local YMCA does. After actually spending time at the gym they began to realize that this gym has sold many more memberships that they have staff or equipment to adequately handle. Many times they have arrived at the gym to find long lines to use equipment or classes that have extensive waiting lists. They paid for a year of membership at this gym in advance and really haven’t been able to use many of the services at all. It really makes me think twice of using those free trial memberships before I ever join another gym. I am just sorry they can’t get their money back.

It seems like every week I am getting an invitation so some type of home sales party. One week it is makeup and another week it is Tupperware or stamping products. Usually I graciously decline because for the most part I think these products just not something I need to spend a great deal of money on. Finally after receiving endless invitations to different parties hosted by the same friend I relented and attended a jewelry party. On looking at the different products offered I could not believe the prices being charged. For the price of just one or two of these costume jewelry items I could have purchased an entire wholesale fashion jewelry lot online. The items were certainly pretty and seemed to be well crafted but there are only so many places a work at home mom is going to wear this type of product. I just couldn’t justify spending that much money on a pair of earrings or a necklace that no one was going to see but me. I would much rather buy online and save a ton of money and the aggravation of attending one of these silly parties.

My skin has always been sensitive and prone to breaking out quite easily. For about 20 years I have used just one type of make-up because everything else I tried turned my face into a disaster zone. Recently, I decided to venture out into the world of makeup and purchased some mineral makeup. Several of my friends have tried this type of make-up and couldn’t say enough good things about it. I was skeptical but decided to give it a try. I have to say that I really like these types of products. The products really last and so far my skin is not breaking out like it does with other products. Applying it took a little practice but now that I have the hang of it I really like how natural it looks.

Yesterday my new office chair arrived. I am quite literally having a ball with it. My husband thought I was crazy for ordering a piece of exercise equipment to use as an office chair. After just a few minutes of sitting on my new “chair” he was eating his words. You see I ordered one of those physio balls and a stabilizer base for it instead of a traditional office chair. My back had been hurting so much from my traditional chair that this seemed like a good investment. Sitting on the ball is not only comfortable but fun. When I get tired or bored all I need to do is bounce around a bit and I am instantly feeling more alert. It also forces you to maintain good posture while working. I am not getting hints that someone would like one of these balls for his work office.

For quite a while I have been trying to do my part to “go green”. I have purchased energy efficient light bulbs for our entire home as well as reusable grocery bags. We try to conserve energy and recycle whenever possible. A couple weeks ago I installed one of those energy efficient shower faucets. I can’t say for sure yet that our water consumption has decreased but it is absolutely the best feeling shower I have had in a long time. The faucet somehow uses less water but creates a more water pressure which feels lovely. Hopefully, it not only feels good but saves on our water and gas bill in the process. I will keep you posted as to what I conclude.

It is funny when you loose weight how quickly you forget how big you once were. My body has slowly been shrinking over the last couple of years. This isn’t to say you need one of those magnifiers to see me by any stretch of the imagination but I am definitely thinner. I really can’t appreciate the difference most of the time simply because the change has been so gradual. The other day I decided to take a chance and try on a pair of my husband’s jeans. My husband is not a large or big man. In fact he is just about the same height as I am. The difference is that for many years I have always weighed more than him. Now, I am thrilled to report we weigh the same. I am also thrilled to report his jeans which are also the non-stretchy kind fit comfortably on my body. So, I guess these means we both wear the pants in the family huh?

For a while it seemed like we were getting a new fitness center on just about every corner. The idea of having a workout franchise in virtually every area of town made the idea of joining a gym appealing. Now that I finally am serious about joining one of these workout centers for women I can’t seem to find a single one on my side of town. It is a good thing we are moving across town in the next year because that eliminates my excuses for not joining.

You know I heard of places that offer computer rental and construction equipment but I have never heard of anyone offering fitness equipment rental. This would be a really great way to try a piece of equipment in your own home before shelling out hundreds of dollars. When I think of the number of items I have bought that ended up in garage sales it makes think of how much money I could have saved by renting these items first. Maybe this is the business I need to go into?

I mentioned it a long time ago but by profession I am a Doctor of Audiology. Having left my formal career about two years ago I haven’t really had the opportunity to use many of my skills. A couple days ago my littlest son was pointing to his ears and making an “ouchy” face. I decided it was time to pull out my tool kit and see what was going on in those little ears. What I saw astounded me. He little ears were so clogged up it was as if they could use a good colon cleanse or something similar for ears. The short version of the story is that after 4 days of Debrox and a couple dozen time of flushing them the poor little guy now has clear ear canals. How on earth the nurse practitioner could have declared them “clear and healthy” a couple weeks ago is beyond me. I truly think this may be the first time he can really hear in a long time.