Looking for a job

I am looking for a job. I would like something that has benefits and pays well. It can be part or full time. I have applied for 2 merchandising jobs, one for 7-up / Snapple Corporation and the other for Kellog's Corporation. Hopefully I will be able to hear something back from these places soon. One is a part time position from 10-2 in the day the other in an evening/night/weekend position. But we need money and I am willing to make it work. Plus either one of these times would work out with our schedules. Although, I may have to hire someone to watch Kaine during the daytime one. Not sure yet. Plus, one is in Gainesville (a plus) the other didn't say where it was, it looked like they were just trying to hire people. Maybe I have a shot? Hopefully I do. Well, just wanted to give you an update on what we have been up to!

How to Survive Thanksgiving Dinner with Your In-laws | eHow.com

I thought this was really funny and quite helpful. I think I will opt for laryngitis: How to Survive Thanksgiving Dinner with Your In-laws | eHow.com

Thanksgiving

Link to the picture above: http://positiverealestateprofessionals.com/ara/files/2009/11/wild_turkeyTOM.jpg via: "The Arkansas Realtor"

I have mixed feelings about this holiday. I love all of the food. I love to be with family (most of them, anyway). I hate having to choose between which family I spend it with, however. The plan, as it has worked out, this year is:

Cook our own Thanksgiving, for the day
Go to Matt's parent's house in the evening

This means that my family does not get any attention this year. For this, I am bothered. I love spending time with my family, all of the traditions and such. I hate having to choose who to spend the day with! 

Why have we come to such a compromise this year? Well, that is the question to ask! This year my grandmother is hosting Thanksgiving at her house. She lives in Fernandina, FL. The last time that I drove out there for the day, it took me 3 hours to get there. One way! This is how it would be if we went:

Get up at 7 am
Get in car by 8am
Drive 3 hours to arrive at 11am
Eat Thanksgiving lunch with my family

Leave at 1pm
Drive 4 hours to get to Ocala
Arrive at 5pm
Eat Thanksgiving dinner with Matt's family
Go home exhausted


This is not feasible! We would have to be in the car for a total of almost 8 hours of this day (we would have a 40 minute drive back home from Ocala). I could drive to Atlanta for the day! So this is the new plan:


Stay home
Get up whenever we want (the baby and Matt anyway!)
Cook some Thanksgiving food
Give Kaine a nap
Go to Matt's parents house when Kaine wakes up
40 minute drive
Eat and hang out
40 minute drive back
Not being exhausted from the day


This is a total of 80 minutes or 1 hour and 20 minutes of driving. This, as you can clearly see, is WAY better! 


But I did say I was having mixed feeling, didn't I? Well, part of me feels bad for having to choose and the other part of me is saying, "This could be good!". I may be able to set my own traditions and spend time with my little family and be truly thankful for what I have. So, I have decided to focus on this last part. We are not doing something all that extravagant for our meal. This is what we will be having:


Citrus-Stuffed Herb roasted Turkey
Roasted Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and broccoli with Toasted Hazelnuts
Holiday Waldorf Salad
Cranberry Orange Relish
Sweet potato Pie


Not the typical, but better for you! This is all from the cook book: "The Healthiest Meals on Earth" by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D, C.N.S.


Either way, should be good and looking forward to it!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, don't forget to think on what you are truly thankful for!!

Pictures and Hauntings

I would seriously like to be taking and posting pictures agian! I miss it. Why am I not, you ask? My camera has decided to crap-out on me. I have no idea what is wrong with it. I did leave it in the car during a heat wave, though. Could this be the problem? I am assured it is not. This does remind me of the times that I kept telling Matt that the car CD player in my trunk needed to go into the car before "heat damage" set in. Not realizing what I had said and being answered with laughter. Matt would then explain, "If it is already in your trunk and it is hot outside, then why would it matter if it is installed or not?". Then I would realize what just happened. This is a classic Loren move. But seriously, what is wrong with my camera?
Lately I feel as if I am missing something. I can't put my finger on it. I feel as if there might be some unresolved issue inside of me. But every time that I get close to what it might be, it runs away again. I do believe that it has something to do with Kaine's birth and how breastfeeding went with him. How I am longing to experience it all over again. Longing being the exact right word! I feel as if I want to correct my mistakes yet, am terrified (again, the exact right word) that my mistakes will happen again, continuing to haunt me. Maybe that is exactly it, I am being haunted by a failed experience. One that I felt was rightfully mine to have. Talking about it helps and even though I do not believe anyone reads this, hopefully God sees it and knows my heart.

Camping and Mother-in-Laws

The camping adventure was a success! It was much needed for Matt and I. We spend so little time together as a couple that we are going to have to do this more often. It is good that we both enjoy camping so much, after all it is technically how we met. The only annoying this was that the people we were with decided to bring a giant TV with them. They said it was for the Gator game, but ended up watching it the WHOLE time! Really annoying. Matt and I on Saturday night went over to our camp spot, just next to theirs and started a fire and laid on one of our sleeping bags and talked and played cards. It was so nice to just sit and be together, without distractions. We didn't have to worry about anything and didn't have to be anywhere. SO NICE! If you don't like camping you should try to go to a hotel and not use any of the electronic devices and just spend time with each other, guaranteed to improve your relationship!!!
On the down side, my mother-in-law hired a cleaning lady to clean my house (which is the silver lining in this story!). Then she stayed to watch Kaine here while we were gone and proceeded to rearrange my house! SERIOSLY!!! I was like, "what are you thinking!?". I could not find a darn thing when I got home and am really quiet annoyed with this whole thing. I would not go over to someones house and rearrange their cabinets and put things where I think they should go!!! (I must say too, logically, she has NO idea how to rearrange or even arrange a kitchen anyway, so why in the world she tried to "fix" mine, I will never know!) This may sound harsh, but seriosly, who puts coffee cups in with plates when you have a cabinet full of coffee cups (over the coffee pot, I might add) that is just for this specific use!? UGH ! >(

Cleaning and Camping agian!

OK, seriously, have you ever cleaned your house because a cleaning lady was coming to help you? This sounds rediculous to me, yet that is exactly what I did today! Plus, it doesn't help that my in-laws will be taking care of Kaine in my house this weekend while Matt and I go camping. So, clean, clean, clean....that is what I did today!

We are going camping at Goldhead State Park, which is nice. I have been there with Kaine and Jordan over the summer. If any of you remember the twisting ankle post, this is where it happened. Hopefully, that won't be this case this trip. I also hope that my cold does not rear it's ugly head again, I should probably wait to go camping until it is completely clear, but they have already paid for the spot. What is a girl to do? I am hoping that it will be a nice getaway for Matt and I, one with very little distraction! Either way, it should be an adventure!

Bottles and Improvement

I have replaced the bottles with a sippy cup. I thought I was going to be able to get rid of all of the night feedings by taking the bottle away but, that has not happened. I have been giving him milk in a cup at bedtime and then last night, probably because I wasn't feeling really well, I gave in and gave him some more in a cup. He only took enough for a few swallows but, it sent him to sleep. I was afraid that if I didn't give him anything, we would both be up at 4:30! He was in there talking to himself and acting like he wanted to play! So, tonight I will hopefully be able to get on without any use of a cup.

Matt and I are finally communicating again. I finally had enough and after talking to one of my girlfriends about the situation I was given a lot of good advice. I think I needed to talk it over with an outside party before we would have been able to solve our problems. It has only been a day or so and I know the begining always improves things, hopefully it will last. I have faith that we are on the mend and will be back to (or better than) our old selves.

The positive thoughts are working, keep sending them to me!! :)