Since I have taken any pictures of Chase :-( I feel like SUCH a bad mommy, but it is so hard to take pictures of him these days. He's all over the place!!
Chase is now 16 months old and growing into such a little man.
This weekend was LOTS of fun for him. I had an open house here yesterday to introduce the new fall 31 line to everyone and one of my friends brought her little boy who is 2. I was a little apprehensive about how Chase would do with all of the people and with the other kids since he's not around kids much, but he did GREAT. He had an awesome time playing with Jayden! And then later in the day Vada came over and he got to play with her for a while, so it was a really exciting day for him!
Chase has also learned to climb onto the couch all by himself now. Hard to believe that this time last year he wasn't even able to crawl! My how things change in a year!
Now if we could only get him talking a bit more. He does say "kit-kit" now (yay! I actually taught him something!), and understands SOOOOO much it's almost unbelievable. He just isn't quite there with the verbalization.
Showing posts with label ThirtyOne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ThirtyOne. Show all posts
Aug 2, 2010
Jul 2, 2010
Stressed
So I just finished paying bills for the month. UGH!! How depressing! I had really hoped that the extra $ I am making from 31 would give us a little more breathing room financially and allow me to start paying my mom some for keeping Chase. For reasons that I don't quite understand yet, even with the extra money coming in I/we are ALWAYS broke!! I hate feeling such financial stress. And I know that we are in a much better situation that a lot of people, so I really have no room to complain. But complain I am. It is so hard and so stressful to always be worried about money.
And on top of the financial stress I am also stressing myself out about 31. I am not the type of person who does things half way - it's either all or nothing. Up to this point I have done pretty well with 31 - making my personal goal (or there abouts) 3 out of 5 months. Unless something changes quickly though July is definately going to be a disappointing month. So far I only have 1 party booked. :-( And I've tried almost everything I can think of to find additional hostesses to no avail.
I keep trying to tell myself that everything happens the way its supposed to, and that it's not the end of the world if July is not a good month. I already have 2 parties scheduled for August, and hope to get a couple more between now and then. And not having parties on the weekends will allow me time to spend with Chase, mama, Kelly, Jamie, Kristi, and Holden at the pool. I know it won't be the end of the world if July is slow, but I feel so disappointed in myself becuase I feel like I am failing. And the worry wart in me worries that the rest of the year (Aug, Sep, Oct, etc.) are going to be slow because of 1 slow month.
I really wish that I weren't so hard on myself and didn't have such high expectations for myself, but it's the only way I know. Ever since I can remember I have always set my goals high and worked my butt off to achieve them. I have always strived to be the best at everything I do and don't like coming in second place. While these are in general good qualities to have (I think/hope) they also cause me a LOT of self-imposed stress.
So I am going to try to remind myself that things are what they are and will work out they way they are meant to. And I will try to enjoy my July no matter what it brings my way, starting with this weekend. I am hoping to get in some pool time with Chase and the gang. He (Chase) did much better last weekend in the water, so hopefully we can continue the pattern this weekend. And if he doesn't, maybe Grandpa will want to babysit so mommy can enjoy the pool. :-)
Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone! (And if you are interested in hosting a 31 party in July, please, please let me know!)
And on top of the financial stress I am also stressing myself out about 31. I am not the type of person who does things half way - it's either all or nothing. Up to this point I have done pretty well with 31 - making my personal goal (or there abouts) 3 out of 5 months. Unless something changes quickly though July is definately going to be a disappointing month. So far I only have 1 party booked. :-( And I've tried almost everything I can think of to find additional hostesses to no avail.
I keep trying to tell myself that everything happens the way its supposed to, and that it's not the end of the world if July is not a good month. I already have 2 parties scheduled for August, and hope to get a couple more between now and then. And not having parties on the weekends will allow me time to spend with Chase, mama, Kelly, Jamie, Kristi, and Holden at the pool. I know it won't be the end of the world if July is slow, but I feel so disappointed in myself becuase I feel like I am failing. And the worry wart in me worries that the rest of the year (Aug, Sep, Oct, etc.) are going to be slow because of 1 slow month.
I really wish that I weren't so hard on myself and didn't have such high expectations for myself, but it's the only way I know. Ever since I can remember I have always set my goals high and worked my butt off to achieve them. I have always strived to be the best at everything I do and don't like coming in second place. While these are in general good qualities to have (I think/hope) they also cause me a LOT of self-imposed stress.
So I am going to try to remind myself that things are what they are and will work out they way they are meant to. And I will try to enjoy my July no matter what it brings my way, starting with this weekend. I am hoping to get in some pool time with Chase and the gang. He (Chase) did much better last weekend in the water, so hopefully we can continue the pattern this weekend. And if he doesn't, maybe Grandpa will want to babysit so mommy can enjoy the pool. :-)
Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone! (And if you are interested in hosting a 31 party in July, please, please let me know!)
Jun 6, 2010
Goodbye Busy Weekend. Hello Busy Week.
This has been a very, very busy weekend!!
Saturday I had the pleasure of doing a 31 party for Ellyn, the sister of my should be sister's boyfriend. Ellyn lives in Grifton, NC so I had a bit of a drive to get to her house. Luckily it was an easy (though longish) drive. I had a great time meeting all of her friends and family and am thankful for the opportunity to introduce them all to the great products 31 has to offer. While mommy was "at work" daddy and Chase spent the day together.
Today I had another 31 party, this time in Louisburg, so Chase and daddy got to spend a few hours together again this afternoon.
Both days after I got home Chase and I played outside for a while with (but not in) his little inflatable pool. For some reason he wouldn't get in the pool this weekend, though he has in the past. Not sure what all that is about.
Overall it was a good weekend. As is the norm these days there were several meltdowns/tantrums from Chase. I wish I felt better equipped to deal with him when he starts throwing his tantrums. Hopefully that is something I will quickly learn with time. :-(
Since Chase missed his afternoon nap both Saturday and Sunday he went to bed early both nights which meant I had a little more time than usual to do some stuff for myself. Saturday was spent working on 31 follow-up stuff from Ellyn's party. After I finished with all of that I watched "Dear John". I had read the book when it first came out and was really looking forward to the movie. I don't remember crying when I read the book, but I sure did last night. For like half the movie I was teary eyed. All in all I enjoyed the movie, though it wasn't as good as the book (in my opinion).
Tonight I've watched 2 episodes of The Tudors (LOVE that show!) and now am watching Army Wives (another of my favs!). Anyone out there watch either? I have a feeling it might be a 2 tissue night for Army Wives, I already feel myself tearing up.
(For the record, I was NEVER, EVER this emotional about TV before I had Chase.)
I have a busy week ahead at work, and should be mentally preparing, but I'm not. Why does Monday morning always have to come so quickly??
Saturday I had the pleasure of doing a 31 party for Ellyn, the sister of my should be sister's boyfriend. Ellyn lives in Grifton, NC so I had a bit of a drive to get to her house. Luckily it was an easy (though longish) drive. I had a great time meeting all of her friends and family and am thankful for the opportunity to introduce them all to the great products 31 has to offer. While mommy was "at work" daddy and Chase spent the day together.
Today I had another 31 party, this time in Louisburg, so Chase and daddy got to spend a few hours together again this afternoon.
Both days after I got home Chase and I played outside for a while with (but not in) his little inflatable pool. For some reason he wouldn't get in the pool this weekend, though he has in the past. Not sure what all that is about.
Overall it was a good weekend. As is the norm these days there were several meltdowns/tantrums from Chase. I wish I felt better equipped to deal with him when he starts throwing his tantrums. Hopefully that is something I will quickly learn with time. :-(
Since Chase missed his afternoon nap both Saturday and Sunday he went to bed early both nights which meant I had a little more time than usual to do some stuff for myself. Saturday was spent working on 31 follow-up stuff from Ellyn's party. After I finished with all of that I watched "Dear John". I had read the book when it first came out and was really looking forward to the movie. I don't remember crying when I read the book, but I sure did last night. For like half the movie I was teary eyed. All in all I enjoyed the movie, though it wasn't as good as the book (in my opinion).
Tonight I've watched 2 episodes of The Tudors (LOVE that show!) and now am watching Army Wives (another of my favs!). Anyone out there watch either? I have a feeling it might be a 2 tissue night for Army Wives, I already feel myself tearing up.
(For the record, I was NEVER, EVER this emotional about TV before I had Chase.)
I have a busy week ahead at work, and should be mentally preparing, but I'm not. Why does Monday morning always have to come so quickly??
Jun 3, 2010
An Introduction to Me
After much consideration and internal debate I have decided to start my own blog. Since the birth of my son last year I have found a great deal of support online via various discussion groups, message boards, and blogs. Even after the daily need for new mothering advice passed I have found myself more and more following others' online journeys and taking comfort in the fact that I am not alone in my struggles as a mother, wife, friend, sister, etc. So, here I am. I felt it only fair that if I am going to eavesdrop on others' online lives I should put mine out there for everyone else.
Chances are that if you are reading this blog you already know who I am and what my life is about, but in case you have stumbled upon this site (as I have so many times myself stumbled upon other's) let me tell you a little bit about myself.
First of all, "Confessions of a TV Junkie" - where on earth did this title come from? I thought long and hard about what I would call my blog. I wanted something flashier than just "Jenni's Life", but couldn't really come up with anything that I deemed unique/cool enough. A friend suggested "I Survived Bus 110" and while I liked the idea (and the memories) I didn't feel it accurately described me. (Sorry Gina!)
So what to call my blog?? I am a self professed entertainment and TV junkie. Prior to having my wonderful son I watched upwards of 40 TV shows a week and was considered by all of my co-workers to be a walking TV Guide. We have 2 DVRs in my house and at any given time both are over 70% full. I read TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly more frequently and with more concentration than most people read the newspaper. Yes, I know TV will rot your brain, but isn't everything bad for you in some way or another?? So "Confessions of a TV Junkie" it is.
What else is there to know about me? I am a small town girl who is trying ever so hard to find the perfect balance between family, work, and everything else. My husband (Kip) and I have been together for 13 years this fall and have been married for a little over 6 years. I live in the same small town that I grew up in and am within 20 minutes of most of my family. I talk to my mom, dad, and sister almost every day and wouldn't have it any other way. Almost every Friday I eat at the local Mexican resturaunt with my sister, her boyfriend, and my cousin/almost sister Amy. These Friday night Mexican dinners have been a tradition for over 2 years now and are the highlight of my week. My favorite person in the whole wide world outside of my immediate family is my Aunt Kelly. She has always been there for me and is like a second mom. I don't get to see her or talk to her as much now as I once did and I miss the time that we used to spend together.
While my family is important to me, my work is also important. I have a wonderful job working as a research analyst for a local bank. I have often said that it is my dream job as it combines my interests in finance, marketing, and research. While I love the work I do, I love the people I do it with even more. My co-workers are my second family. They know when I'm happy, sad, and everything in-between.
I am a self confessed OCD, controlfreak, nerd. I was never part of the popular crowd growing up, though I yearned to be one of the cool kids. I have never been one to have a large group of friends, instead I have always felt like I was on the outside looking in. While I have come out of my shell some over the last few years, I still have a long way to go.
I have recently taken on a side venture, acting as an independant sales consultant for Thirty-One Gifts. While I am still fairly new at this I have found that I really enjoy having an additional outlet for my OCD, nerdy, goal oriented tendancies. If you have never heard of Thirty-One I can promise you that you will learn lots about it here! (In the meantime, you can check out my website, www.mythirtyone.com/JenniChampion).
Above all else I am a mother to the most wonderful son in the world, Chase. Chase is 14 months old and while I love him to death I will be the first to admit that he is at times a handful. Being a mother has totally transformed my life. It is so rewarding, but also SO hard at times. I have never questioned myself as much in my entire life as I have in the last 14 months. Am I a good enough mother? Am I cheating my son by working? Am I an awful mother because I actually LIKE my job and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that I feel when completing a project at work?
While I have questioned myself a lot over the last 14 months I have also learned a great deal about myself. I see in Chase many of the qualities I wish I could change about myself: I am impatient, I want things done my way, and I want them done when I want them done. I am very reserved around big groups though I want so badly to be accepted. I get cranky when I am tired and even more cranky when I am hungry. I get frustrated very easily when I can't make things work the way I want them to work. I am NOT a morning person.
Well, I guess that is enough for now. Be sure to check back from time to time and see what's going on with me.
Chances are that if you are reading this blog you already know who I am and what my life is about, but in case you have stumbled upon this site (as I have so many times myself stumbled upon other's) let me tell you a little bit about myself.
First of all, "Confessions of a TV Junkie" - where on earth did this title come from? I thought long and hard about what I would call my blog. I wanted something flashier than just "Jenni's Life", but couldn't really come up with anything that I deemed unique/cool enough. A friend suggested "I Survived Bus 110" and while I liked the idea (and the memories) I didn't feel it accurately described me. (Sorry Gina!)
So what to call my blog?? I am a self professed entertainment and TV junkie. Prior to having my wonderful son I watched upwards of 40 TV shows a week and was considered by all of my co-workers to be a walking TV Guide. We have 2 DVRs in my house and at any given time both are over 70% full. I read TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly more frequently and with more concentration than most people read the newspaper. Yes, I know TV will rot your brain, but isn't everything bad for you in some way or another?? So "Confessions of a TV Junkie" it is.
What else is there to know about me? I am a small town girl who is trying ever so hard to find the perfect balance between family, work, and everything else. My husband (Kip) and I have been together for 13 years this fall and have been married for a little over 6 years. I live in the same small town that I grew up in and am within 20 minutes of most of my family. I talk to my mom, dad, and sister almost every day and wouldn't have it any other way. Almost every Friday I eat at the local Mexican resturaunt with my sister, her boyfriend, and my cousin/almost sister Amy. These Friday night Mexican dinners have been a tradition for over 2 years now and are the highlight of my week. My favorite person in the whole wide world outside of my immediate family is my Aunt Kelly. She has always been there for me and is like a second mom. I don't get to see her or talk to her as much now as I once did and I miss the time that we used to spend together.
While my family is important to me, my work is also important. I have a wonderful job working as a research analyst for a local bank. I have often said that it is my dream job as it combines my interests in finance, marketing, and research. While I love the work I do, I love the people I do it with even more. My co-workers are my second family. They know when I'm happy, sad, and everything in-between.
I am a self confessed OCD, controlfreak, nerd. I was never part of the popular crowd growing up, though I yearned to be one of the cool kids. I have never been one to have a large group of friends, instead I have always felt like I was on the outside looking in. While I have come out of my shell some over the last few years, I still have a long way to go.
I have recently taken on a side venture, acting as an independant sales consultant for Thirty-One Gifts. While I am still fairly new at this I have found that I really enjoy having an additional outlet for my OCD, nerdy, goal oriented tendancies. If you have never heard of Thirty-One I can promise you that you will learn lots about it here! (In the meantime, you can check out my website, www.mythirtyone.com/JenniChampion).
Above all else I am a mother to the most wonderful son in the world, Chase. Chase is 14 months old and while I love him to death I will be the first to admit that he is at times a handful. Being a mother has totally transformed my life. It is so rewarding, but also SO hard at times. I have never questioned myself as much in my entire life as I have in the last 14 months. Am I a good enough mother? Am I cheating my son by working? Am I an awful mother because I actually LIKE my job and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that I feel when completing a project at work?
While I have questioned myself a lot over the last 14 months I have also learned a great deal about myself. I see in Chase many of the qualities I wish I could change about myself: I am impatient, I want things done my way, and I want them done when I want them done. I am very reserved around big groups though I want so badly to be accepted. I get cranky when I am tired and even more cranky when I am hungry. I get frustrated very easily when I can't make things work the way I want them to work. I am NOT a morning person.
Well, I guess that is enough for now. Be sure to check back from time to time and see what's going on with me.
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