Refresh+

Over the years I have not been mindful in consumption, at least not 100%.
I do shop online for everything. I forget that I'm usually feeding a corporate store, rather than just supporting a favorite product at it's core. Completely loose respect for corporations that try to be a monopoly. There is plenty of room for everyone and the sacrifice of community is not worth the system that is currently accepted.

If you really love a specific brand. Buy directly from their company website instead of buying from a big box chain. I don't believe stores should have to deal with RUDE customers and customers shouldn't have to deal with workers who don't want to be there.

If stores want to succeed, they need to become like gas stations/dollar stores, either with specialty items or with basic necessities. So much waste because so much is thrown away, stop making things that are heavily processed with man made chemicals. We can do without sweat shops, factory farms and child labor. We need clean air and less landfills.

So many people will complain about things but don't offer real, concrete, innovative solutions. Real solutions have a master plan that can be used to spark real change, most people don't take the time to problem solve and find ones that will work the best without chaos and war. They aren't interesting enough to come up with peaceful solutions.

In a world where everyone made minimum wage. There would still be people who can't budget their money, still wasteful, trying to outdo their neighbor. Proof that people don't try to create better solutions, they just complain and hope someone else fixes everything. It turns into a toxic "sibling rivalry" scenario that is a disgusting way to bring up the next generation who in turn will be taking care and looking out for you.

The next generation should be looked as treasures who's mind should be encouraged to share it's brilliance with the world, not as tax payers who line your pockets at the expense of the future's potential to create a more vibrant and harmonious world to live in.

Ramblings

So I feel refreshed this year!

I haven't been on here for a reason and that reason is because last year, I had a mid life crisis! Something about being in your thirties maybe? Nothing was "good" enough, that is how I came across. Which is surprising because I usually don't feel that way unless I'm preggo with one of my boys, I become a bit critical. 

Anyhoo, I got through it and feel great again! I revamped my routine with educating kids. I'm enthusiastic about it again which is good because it felt so grueling as in long and lengthy the days felt.  I pulled through mentally and we made strides in meeting my summer school goals!

So much progress personally and so much growth but didn't feel achievement until this year! I haven't heard of anyone else having a mid life crisis in real life so I felt isolated what I was going through. I'm just so happy the feelings have passed.

Spring is sprung and I LOVE spring cleaning! With as many kids as I have, I need to love it! I stopped using the dishwasher awhile back and am so glad! I hate doing dishes with a dishwasher!! I love having a machine for laundry but for dishes I don't feel they do a better job than when I hand wash them.

I am obsessed with shopping online. I love it because I LOVE to window shop and PLAN what I really want/need before I get it.Worst feeling is to buy something and realize you don't love it, I hate wasting time. Example: I will make a list online and buy a year's supply of bath and kitchen staples. 

Plus, I'm a homebody and a minimalist and I love to shop from home. Literally everything....kids living on their own....I will be sending them stuff for their living space, all the essentials!

This has been another thing that has kept me sane. I worry about finishing a task and it feels like I am procrastinating when I can't finish a future event, it's maddening really. So being able to pretend I am living it now by planning all the details, even though I like to EDIT a lot, it helps spare my nerves. It doesn't make sense to anyone else but I've had this compulsion my whole life! As a kid I'd get midnight cleaning urges, very random and in spurts!

So yay to all things happy!

Tis the Season to be Thankful!

Putting together a wish list for the holidays is like pulling teeth. My children are barely cooperating with giving me ideas. So I'll have to wing it, yet again this year...it wouldn't be so tough if it was like one or two kids, but so far the baby of the family is the only one I can think of what to put on his wish list.

They are like me, it's either super simple but requires lots of thought and planning or it's lotsa $$$ haha for like one item, so then I don't share what that is! Example is that my kids would totally choose a really expensive pet. I know they'd take good care of the pet but I'm not ready to do that this year. Luckily for me, the thing that is on my side is that they 100% loved the surprises that I planned in previous years.

I definitively enjoy giving gifts than receiving them. Food baskets or a stocking filled with goodies or homemade crafty stuff is what I like best! I really enjoy shopping for myself but I'd take practical stuff over things that will just clutter my house. Most of the stuff minus stuff made out of wood or fabric, I can make myself. Pretty much all the things I like I can make myself instead of buying. Super picky, eh, I wonder where my kids got it from ;)

What to do to while you are pregnant.

Play this game with your friends and see who can come up with a perfect name list. Great to do when you are "bored" or do at a baby shower party! It's nice to do when you have some quiet time.

Choosing a name for your child is the first choice you will make for them. So choose a name that you would think they would enjoy hearing, a pleasant name that sounds nice even when you are mad and say their name in a stern manner. The sound I believe is very important simply because they will hear it for the rest of their life.

They Were Horrified!

So on one occasion we decided to watch The Mask 2 for movie night. My children sat there in stunned silence as the mask baby cried his little eyes out. They had their mouths open in pure shock, they have the hardest time when other children cry. They are extremely sensitive to their surroundings and I swear they seem to die a little inside out of helplessness.

They don't understand temper tantrums they only understand getting hurt, so if I am at the grocery store and a child cries they look at me and tell me to help. When I tell them I can't go comfort another person's child they hold a grudge the entire shopping trip and give me the cold shoulder. They are convinced the baby/child's fingers must have got pinched in the grocery cart safety belt.

It is frustrating but so far even if I try to explain that the child is tired or hungry they would still hold a grudge because I didn't offer to hold or share a treat to make the child feel better. How do you possibly help a strangers child when they are throwing a tantrum without invading their privacy? My children don't understand this dilemma yet :( At least they are empathetic and compassionate. They never get jealous of me holding someone's baby. So there are major pros and tiny cons to dealing with the complexity of my children's minds.