Working Mommy Journal

My eldest son and I were sitting around last night chatting about life and what he wants to be when he grows up (pretty intense for an eight year old!!). He started to ask me about what I had wanted to be when I was little so I told him about my passion for art and how I had wanted to be an interior designer and then a chiropractor. And how hard it was to make a choice but now I get to be the best mommy in the world to him and his brother. I think he could tell I was a bit sad so he goes on to tell me that he thinks I would make the worlds greatest Power Ranger when I grow up! I laughed so hard I can not even begin to explain! Apparently I have some growing up to do according to my eight year old 🙂 I don’t mind the Power Ranger job, they rocked! As long as I get to be the Pink Ranger 🙂

I turned twenty eight this week and I decided to spoil myself with a facial. I am not big on spoiling myself so this was a big thing for me – I usually only ask for flowers for special occasions!!

I decided to go to for the aromatherapy herbal bliss facial at Caryl Baker – it was divine!! I loved every moment of it from the warm sack on my neck to the way she massaged the scrub into my temples and cheeks. I could have just fallen asleep in my chair! She wrapped it up with an eyebrow wax and light makeup (which turned into some pretty dramatic makeup – I told her I trusted her and to knock herself out!).

Made me realize that I need to do this more often so I have decided that once a month I am going to pamper myself with a facial and some much needed me time away from the kiddos 🙂 How many of you go for facials? Any one know any great spots in the GTA region?

I work in an amazing department that runs so many fundraisers throughout the year. Usually they are patient based and all money raised by staff is given to patients in need, more so at Christmas but through out the year as well if needed. For the month of October we raise funds strictly for breast cancer and turn the clinic pink, literally!!

We purchase pink exam gloves, breast cancer ribbons, pink scarves, pink calendars (I think you get the point!!). Just before Thanksgiving we decided to raffle off a Butterball turkey – the money raised was incredible for this draw! It actually surpassed all of our other fund raising activities throughout the year, and this included draws for bottles of booze (Who doesn’t like good turkey meat??). We are also doing a Jelly bean count, soup day and a chili day and raffling off a Coach purse.

The thing I love the most about our fund raising efforts is how involved everyone becomes at the clinic. Everyone likes to participate, donate prizes and are genuinely excited for each other. We were looking for new ideas if any one else has some great thoughts please throw them out there!!

We had a good and bad week last week. We ate out twice (once at a fast food restaurant that I instantly regretted) but I found that I was struggling with my husband being on evening shifts and our eldest needing to be driven to soccer try outs and preparing dinner and homework,etc!. Trying to figure out a way to organize myself better (any suggestions!!).

I did make one delicious Southwest chicken clean recipe that I found on the Gracious Pantry website and adjusted it to suit my family likes (will post the recipe and what I used in a bit). And it was a somewhat hit! My youngest and I loved it – my husband and eldest son not so much – my husband actually wanted to fry the meal up as he felt it was missing oil. Kind of frustrated me but c’est la vie!

My boys and I managed to get out every day this past week (mostly due to all the soccer tryouts!) but it was nice to spend thirty minutes with them not stressed out about work/dinner prep/housework, etc…I loved that!! And I plan on continuing this – I feel like I blinked and they have grown up so much already, I just want to hold on tight and not let them grow up anymore on me.

Hoping this week will go just as well. I froze the Southwest chicken meal (but looks like it will only be my baby and I eating that one!), figured out a meal plan for the week, purchased all necessary ingredients – feeling prepared and ready for the week! May not feel that way by Wednesday but keeping myself optimistic. I am trying to focus on all the positives and all the good that will come out of this!