Read. Write. Mom!

Tuesday 4- Blogging

Posted on July 6, 2021July 6, 2021 by Mandy

Welcome to Toni Taddeo’s Tuesday 4 kept up in her memory.

Thanks to Annie and Pamela for today’s questions! You can join in HERE.

Tuesday 4

This week the questions were supplied by Pamela Steiner… Here we go, let’s talk about Blogging!

1. Tell us about your blog. When did you start blogging?

I started blogging in 2008. At the time I was a stay-at-home mom to a two-year-old (who is now 16) and I read a lot of blogs. I thought it might be fun to try, so I jumped in! I started out on Blogger and my blog was just a “mom blog”. I blogged about our everyday life, funny things that happened, and really anything that crossed my mind without being controversial.

2. What prompted you to begin blogging?

I love to write. I used to write when I was younger and I missed that. Blogging seemed like the perfect way to get back into the practice of writing.

3. What was your first blog about and why did you choose that subject/title?

I wrote about one of my least favorite things…The Hi-Ho Cherry-O game ( you can read it here). Ha! It was part of a blogging carnival, like this post. My aunt and I were talking that day about how she couldn’t wait to buy my son some annoying toys because that’s what I used to give HER kids when they were younger. I guess I just took the idea and ran with it in a post.

4. How has your blog changed over time, and has it done for you what you hoped it would do in the first place?

Wow. When I think about my blog and how it has evolved, it amazes me. A few years ago I was making pretty much a part-time income with my blog and got to participate in some AMAZING blog campaigns for companies like Maytag, Keurig, Proctor & Gamble and so many more. I had an absolute blast doing those and my blog has exceeded my wildest expectations when I think back about it all.

But now? I no longer fit the “cool, young, beautiful, curated everything Instagram mom” demographic. I’m almost 47 years old and those opportunities have all but dried up. However, I still LOVE to blog and write. I’m now just writing about what I want to write about. It’s perfect for this season of my life.

Summer Slow Down- Catching Up

Posted on June 21, 2021June 21, 2021 by Mandy

If you read posts on how to blog most of them always tell you that if you haven’t posted in a while, never start a post out apologizing for having been away so long, and don’t mention not posting regularly. Well, I’m hard-headed, so while I probably don’t need to apologize (because seriously, it isn’t that serious), I have been away a while. Sometimes life just gets really busy.

Grandmothers Are a Blessing

The biggest chunk of my time away has dealt with my grandmother breaking her hip on Mother’s Day weekend. She did well through her surgery to repair this and even completed two weeks of rehab. However, when she came home to my mama’s house (where she lived for the past 6 years), things just didn’t improve any and the past three weeks have been emotionally tough to deal with. My mama eventually had to get help in the form of hospice and sitters and my precious 95-year-old grandmother passed away last Friday. Her funeral was beautiful and she was loved so much by so many.

My grandmother and I celebrating her birthday in February.

I was so blessed to have my grandmother for 46 years (I’m telling my age). She was my last living grandparent and when that realization hit me after her funeral, it really stung. She was so kind to everyone and just a walking, living example of what a Christian should strive to be. We are all grieving her in our own way, but I’m still a little in shock that this happened at all. It’s hard to picture future family gatherings without her. I still look around for her when I go over to my mama’s house.

School Is Finally Out

In the midst of all of that, this strange, weird, LONG and exhausting school year has come to an end. I’m still a little shell-shocked from all of that, too. I am grateful that our students were able to come back to school for the last couple of months. I loved teaching them online, but having them in the library is so much better. The last few days of school were a blur because of what was happening with Maw. I was called home early on the last day of school, so I didn’t get to tell the kids goodbye, but I’ll be seeing them the first week of August. Our school year ran later this time because we started later, so my summer will be much shorter.

Right now I’m in decompression mode. I’m trying to intentionally slow it down a little and try to just be. I’m sure by next week I will get into my summer groove better. I always do so much better with a routine and schedule, so that first week off work for summer feels a little strange. However, I have several projects I’d like to accomplish around our house and, of course, the housework never stops.

I do miss blogging regularly, so hopefully I can catch up on this as well.

The Librarian Reads and other Life Happenings

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Mandy

I have a lot to catch up on here. I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks, but life gets really demanding sometimes, especially toward the end of the school year. The week before last was spent on my feet a lot for days being a proctor while some classes took state tests. I always come home completely exhausted during testing. Last week was busy getting lots of lesson plans done and just trying to relax as much as possible. I finally feel pretty rested, so I decided it was time to update the old blog.

Mother’s Day & Teacher Appreciation Week

The week before last left me feeling pretty special. Our students really showed up and showed out for Teacher Appreciation Week. I received so many lovely little gifts, including this fun little plastic tote full of snacks and one student even sent me this gorgeous rose! It’s been such a weird, tough year for everyone. It was so nice to be recognized and appreciated.

Speaking of gorgeous flowers, hubby and the kid got me these beautiful pink roses for Mother’s Day. All I asked for was a salmon dinner from my favorite little restaurant near us and for hubby to clean the kitchen window on the outside for me. I’m happy to report I got both!

Hubby really outdid himself that weekend. A few days before, we had some REALLY high winds and bad storms to come through. Our pine tree near our driveway lost some really big limbs. The yard was absolutely wrecked. Our sweet neighbors across the street were clearing off the driveway and sawing limbs for us when I drove up last Tuesday afternoon from work. I was so grateful to them, because hubby wasn’t home and I don’t know HOW in the world I would have managed to do it myself. We also lost the mailbox, so hubby installed a new one for us. He worked so hard and I am so thankful for him.

Meals & Birthdays

I’m finally getting some appetite back after being so sick two weeks ago. I have backed down the doage of Ozempic I am taking and it has helped me as far as not being as nauseated, but I’ve also gained a few pounds back. I’m trying not to beat myself up over that. I see my endocrinologist in June and we will see what she suggests. But, we’ve had some good meals here lately. Hubby grilled some Butcher Box steaks and we had Hidden Valley Potatoes and Green Beans on Saturday night. This was his birthday meal since he won’t be here for the actual day.

I made some AMAZING french toast this morning. It was super easy and just delicious!

What I’ve Been Reading

I have been on an autobiography/tell-all kick here lately and have finished three books on Kindle. The first was The Most Beautiful by Mayte Garcia, an ex-wife of the singer Prince. I also read A Song For You by Robyn Crawford who was Whitney Houston’s best friend and touring partner. I finished up with The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Talley, former creative director and American editor-at-large for Vogue Magazine. As with all books like this, a couple of them were long-winded, but ultimately told good stories. I like to read about celebrities, but I am SO glad I am not one.

Everything Else

The Kid will be finishing up his freshman year of high school this week. We are so excited and thankful the end is near! He has been virtual all year. He has done beautifully, but I know he misses his friends and I will be happy for him to return to in-person school in the fall. We are getting him signed up for Driver’s Ed this week (*gulp!*). I still have four more weeks of work until my summer starts. I’m looking forward to lots of reading and organizing/deep cleaning.

Returning to the World

Posted on May 2, 2021 by Mandy

Let’s start with good things. The weather, aside from this rainy day, has been absolutely gorgeous here. It’s so wonderful to see the green returning to the trees and grass. Everything looks lush and beautiful, and for that I am thankful. I was growing so tired of the wintery grey sky and how everything looked so bare and dead. I’ve been sitting on our patio a lot after work watching the stray cats feed and bask in the sun. The squirrels and birds are returning. I’ve got my new ferns hanging out front.

I decided not to attempt another container garden this year. I put a lot of time and effort into it last year and the only thing we had to show for it was banana peppers. We started school late this past year, so I won’t have much of a summer to tend to a garden anyway. I’ll just support our farmer’s market when possible. Speaking of food, I did a thorough freezer inventory last weekend to organize what we have and see what we will be needing in the future. It took a good couple of hours to get through, but I think we will be all set for the summer and beyond soon. I’m also trying to meal plan so we can start using what’s in there.

Out and About

Hubby and I went to Walmart yesterday to grab a few things. I think I have only been in a grocery store twice so far this year, but it was good to get out and have a look around. I stocked up on some cans of soup and Gatorade. We also got a few weekly items we normally buy. I bought a new face cream to try. My skin has been super dry lately, even though I only drink tons of water now. I found a couple of cute, inexpensive dresses for work. I have a ton of winter clothing, but not very much at all for Spring and Summer. My last day to work for this school year will be June 15. I’m greatly looking forward to the summer break. It’s been an intense year and we all need a mental rest. Hubby went to another store later on yesterday and was able to find me a few cans of Lysol spray. I was so grateful because I am going through a can a week trying to keep my library disinfected now that our students are back full time. Lots of cleaning and disinfecting each day.

Recovering From Sickness

Speaking of that, I spent three days of this past week very sick. It all started Monday evening. I was having *bathroom issues* but slept fine that night. Woke up Tuesday and showered for work, but by 6 AM I was nauseous and just miserable. I got sick at my stomach at 8:30 and again that evening at 10:30. I was super weak and just felt dizzy and rough. I was no better (minus the vomiting) by Thursday, so I went on to our urgent care clinic. I was severely dehydrated, so they started an IV of fluids, gave me some Zofran and a prescription for potassium pills to take for a week. I started feeling a lot better and was able to return to work on Friday. They ran blood tests and didn’t see any signs of infection anywhere. I strongly believe it was because I had to increase the dosage of one of my diabetes medications and I don’t think my body tolerated it very well at all. It was absolutely horrible and I am still on the fence about whether or not I will continue to take it anymore. If I do, I will be backing down to my normal dosage. While I am very happy I have lost 15 pounds on this medication, I just can’t be sick like that anymore. It was AWFUL, and that is putting it VERY mildly.

My mom was a big help, as was the kid. He will be finished with school in a couple of weeks and although he will have to repeat Spanish next year, I am super proud of him because virtual schooling has not been easy. He says he is fine and has enjoyed it, but 16-year-old boys won’t REALLY tell you if it’s been rough. He has an outing planned with his classmates on Friday and I am so glad. I know he misses them and he needs something fun to do.

Back To Work

Friday was playing catch-up all day at work. We don’t have students on Friday. I had three different lesson plans and a full fixed assets inventory to do in my room. I worked all through lunch and finally finished everything close to 2:30. Then I dusted and disinfected everything the kids touch…tables, chairs, light switches, doorknobs, even the bottle of hand sanitizer! Haha! Nothing was safe from my cleaning.

This week starts state testing for our school. It’s not my favorite time. I’ll only be doing it Monday- Wednesday, so maybe it won’t be too awful. The house is pretty much clean. I was so sick last week nothing really got messed up. So today, I’m just relaxing and catching up on reading blogs. Enjoy your Sunday!

School Is Back In Session, ’80’s Movies & Keto Flu

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Mandy

School is back in session for me! The only class I have had in the building all year was Pre-K. I have taught virtual library lessons to kindergarten through fifth grade online. Monday, our kids came back to the building, and what a week it was! It was SO good to see my students. It’s hard to believe it has been a whole YEAR since I’ve seen them in person and I couldn’t believe my eyes….they had all grown a foot or more! The older ones seemed so much more mature. It was incredible. It was a busy week of getting settled in and going over library expectations. We only have nine weeks left of school, but having them back is so much more enjoyable than talking to a screen.

The Breakfast Club

I have a new duty assigned to me now that school is back in session face-to-face. Our kids are eating breakfast in their rooms and the cafeteria is short-staffed. I go to the cafeteria each morning and grab a loaded breakfast cart and push it down to the second and third-grade rooms. I’ve affectionately called my cart “The Breakfast Club”. It really needs the wheels greased and everyone knows I’m coming down the hall because the cart is so squeaky and loud. But it’s fun to see some of the kids first thing each morning. After that’s done, I head back to my room to get ready for library classes.

’80’s Movie Fest

Speaking of The Breakfast Club, when I came home Monday afternoon my son began asking me about old 80’s movies I watched growing up. He specifically asked about The Breakfast Club, so we found it on one of our streaming services and watched it. Then I insisted that he watch Pretty in Pink.

He’s in high school and I think he is really starting to relate to some of the themes of these movies…being a teenager, cliques, relationships. And, for the grand finale, we watched Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home, one of my absolute favorites starring Jon Cryer. It was fun hanging out and relaxing after a busy day. I also love that my kid is interested in what I enjoyed watching while growing up in the ’80s. But yeah, I cringe when he refers to the ’80s as “the olden days when you were growing up”. Ouch! Haha!

Good Eats

In low-carb news this week I attempted a Fat Head pizza, a low-carb version of pizza made with almond flour. Yes, it’s the most misshapen and ugly-looking pizza you have ever seen, but it was good. It definitely satisfied my pizza craving without sending me into a sugar spike

But my absolute favorite meal these days is this Bacon Wrapped Salmon with Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Roasted Vegetables. This thing of beauty comes from a local restaurant here and it has become my Friday treat! We always used to go out to eat on Friday evenings after work, but Covid ruined a lot of that and we prefer staying in anyway. We call in an order and hubby goes to pick it up.

I Gave Myself Keto Flu

I’ve mentioned before how my new medicines just kill my appetite now. I’ve avoided a whole lot of foods I used to eat. I am eating more meat and cheese now. I snack on pork rinds. I eat low-carb meal bowls for lunch at work. I don’t have a set number of carbs I strive for, and therein is where the problem began.

Last week I started getting extremely nauseated for no reason. I felt like I wanted to pass out. My shoulders felt heavy…my body was moving in slow motion and everything just felt like such an effort. I couldn’t sleep and kept waking throughout the nights for no reason. I was sore all over and honestly afraid I was coming down with THE virus. By chance (or maybe because my phone is spying on me) something popped up in my Facebook feed about Keto Flu. I guess because hubby and I talk a lot about carbs now. Anyway, I read the article and it hit me. I was going through keto flu! I realized I was probably not getting enough carbs last week, but never imagined I would experience any side effects like this from it. I promptly added in a few more carbs and began drinking sugar-free Gatorade to bring my electrolytes back up. It took until Saturday to really feel much better, but wow.

So, we had a pretty busy week. The weather has turned a little cooler again, but it’s been very pretty outside. Still looking forward to a few weeks off this summer.

A New Recipe To Try and Life Updates

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Mandy

All I have to share today is a new recipe to try and some life updates! Let’s dive in!

So, I mentioned in a previous post about how I was doing Keto without realizing it. The monotony of how I was eating finally settled in this past week and I was so tired of the same old things. So, I did what any girl wanting to eat low carb would do. I went searching on Pinterest for an easy, new recipe to try. Saturday night my husband told me to pick out something for supper and he would make it. I really don’t have much of an appetite, but I knew it needed to be something he would also enjoy eating. So I found this recipe for No-Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers. Honestly, Hubby wasn’t sold on the idea of using riced cauliflower instead of rice, but I convinced him to just try it.

People. When I tell you that this was one of THE best meals we ever made! And low carb? No way!! But yes…it was absolutely delicious AND low-carb. I was so full after eating just one, but I ate two. And my blood glucose levels were lower upon waking than they ever have been. If you are stuck in a dinner rut, PLEASE make this. It was absolutely amazing!

One thing that I have discovered when trying to go sugar-free or as close as possible in my diet is that Amazon has a wonderful source of sugar-free products. Although we have a couple of big box stores here in my small town, sometimes finding specialty items like these can be difficult. It’s great to be able to order a few things to make eating healthier possible.

Endocrinologist Appointment Update

I had my second endocrinologist appointment over a week ago and my doctor was SO excited and pleased with my 10-pound weight loss. She increased my dosage on both of my diabetes medications and I have just started the new dosage on one today. It took me a week to work up the nerve to do it. I kept reading about some possible side-effects that were very unpleasant- mainly nausea- but I decided to just go for it and try it today. I’m an hour in and so far so good. I’m praying it stays this way. I will go back for my next appointment in June.

School is Back In Session

In other exciting news, the first day of school is tomorrow! Well, technically not the very first day, but our students will be returning to the building tomorrow after a year of virtual learning. I am so excited to see them, but also a little flustered because….it’s going to be the first day! I gave my room a thorough dusting and disinfecting on Friday. The first few days will just be going over procedures and classroom rules. I won’t be checking out books since this is the last nine weeks, but our students have access to thousands of e-books through a platform called MackinVIA.

I will still have a few students who will remain virtual, so juggling both during a class session will be awkward at first, but I’m determined to help them all the best I can. I can remember being scared to death to teach online at the beginning of the school year, but I really found my groove doing it. Some people are “naturals” and comfortable in front of the camera. I’m just not. However, I think I got the hang of it.

Better Attitude

I’ve also noticed lately that the better my blood glucose levels are, the clearer my thinking and the better my attitude. I guess you don’t really know how bad it was until it’s good again. I always read where high glucose numbers could affect your mood, but I didn’t really buy into it. Now, I am a firm believer! My mood has lifted noticeably and I just feel better all over. Well, except for the neuropathy in my left foot. I am so glad to be feeling better all around.

Diabetes and Going Low-Carb Update

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Mandy

I thought I would give my diabetes and going low-carb update. It’s been a little over 2 weeks since I saw my endocrinologist and I’m happy to report that things are looking better.

Diabetes and Going Low-Carb Update

The Synjardy I was prescribed has definitely curbed my appetite. I started craving water, which is weird for me. I have had nothing but water with Crystal Light in it to drink for a week now. Going low-carb was something I had intended to do, but not to the extreme I am doing it. Carbs have always been my weak point. I love bread and pasta. However, I have had very little appetite and food just doesn’t seem all that appealing anymore. I was trying to watch my carb intake and started feeling pretty bad. It finally hit me that I was eating almost NO carbs at all. I am really having to stop and think about what I have eaten and make sure to get some carbs in. I’m just not hungry, but I have to eat to take my medicine. I have had a sweet craving every once in a while, so I bought myself a couple of different brands of chocolate-flavored low-carb protein shakes to try. I tried the Atkins, but as far as taste, I like the Premier Protein shakes better. I can’t even finish a whole shake in one sitting, so these go a long way.

Weight Loss

One good thing since starting the Synjardy has been that I have lost 9 pounds in two weeks. I am pretty sure most of this is just fluid, but it sure has been nice to see the numbers going down on the scale. I hope this trend will continue. I’ve also walked a little with my son in the afternoons. I can’t walk very long or far because of my left foot and the neuropathy, but I am making an effort.

Ozempic Injection

My husband also takes an Ozempic injection, so he showed me how to do this and so far I have felt OK taking it. I am on a very small dose right now, so I haven’t had any bad side effects. The shot doesn’t hurt and I inject it into my stomach. I’ve had to set myself reminders on my phone because I only take this shot once a week.

Neuropathy

I am not seeing a huge difference in my diabetic neuropathy in my left foot. This has been very disappointing. I am afraid the nerve damage there may be permanent. I’m still hopeful. I hate walking with a limp and my foot tires out very easily.

Continuous Glucose Monitor

The sensor for my continuous glucose monitor was only good for two weeks, so it quit on me last Wednesday. I do hope the doctor will prescribe me more sensors because I have absolutely loved the ease of use. I have read that insurance has some really strict guidelines about CGMs, but I would be willing to pay out of pocket for this.

So that’s my diabetes and going low-carb update so far. My next appointment is actually tomorrow. My son and I will make the trip there and back to see what the doctor thinks about my progress so far. We were supposed to go this past Thursday but the weather was very bad so I rescheduled. I hate driving in the pouring rain. I’m anxious to see if I am progressing well.

Why and How I’m Finally Setting Life Goals

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Mandy

Setting life goals has never been one of those things I enjoyed doing. Quite honestly, I avoid goals. I think I always used to set very unrealistic goals for myself. Naturally, I would always be disappointed when those goals weren’t met and figure what was the use in trying to set life goals anyway.

I need goals because I am now in a rut personally and professionally. It’s no secret this past year has been tough. I’ve even been through things that have made me take a long look at what I want the rest of my life to look like. I don’t want to spend it just settling for things and trudging my way through. I need joy. I need a fresh perspective. I need to let go of some people and things.

Information Diet

I have information fatigue. Even though I don’t watch the news or even TV for that matter, I still find myself bombarded on a daily basis with too much information. I open a search engine and there are the headlines, good and bad. I have a lengthy friends list on Facebook and everyone is constantly sharing everything. Then there is Instagram, Twitter, etc. As a blogger, I used to be expected to keep up with all of this in order to get ahead. I can’t do it all. I don’t want to do it all.

GOAL– Hide or unfollow everyone and everything that doesn’t make me happy on social media. Follow the people I want to see updates from. I have started hitting “unsubscribe” while checking emails. I have deleted news apps from my phone as well as Facebook messenger. My Facebook feed looks really sad now, but now I only see what matters to me (along with a few ads I won’t ever get away from) and that saves time.

Remove Toxic People

I am a nice person. I am also a TOO nice person and I often take on others’ problems. It takes me longer to figure out that some people are just users and actually love to wallow in their self-pity. They want to complain to me, ask for favors and take, take, take. When I need a favor or just a listening ear, these people are never around. I go out of my way to pour into everyone I consider a friend, but this is stopping now. I have slowly learned that some people really are in your life for a season or a reason. Unfortunately, I have identified too many of these toxic types that I need to let go of in my own life.

GOAL– Distance (and in some cases entirely cut off) from toxic people. I will only give my time to friends and family that put forth the same effort for me. These types of people stress me out and I don’t want any added stress in my life.

Take Care of Me-

This is the most important thing to me right now in setting life goals. It has often been said that you can’t pour from an empty vessel. I feel like the empty vessel right now. As women, we tend to always put our needs last, even if it means sacrificing our health and happiness. My health issues have now come home to roost. I am tired of feeling sick and tired. I can’t be the best version of myself when I don’t feel good. This affects every aspect of my life.

GOAL– I have made my health a priority and am seeing specialists now for my issues. I don’t care how many appointments I have to make, I will make the effort to get my health issues under control. I will make movement a part of my daily routine. I will make the effort to eat the most nutritious meals possible. I will take time to plan for these meals. I will give my body proper rest and not push myself. I will do only what I can without making myself feel bad. And also? I don’t care WHO that upsets.

Nourish the Mind

This ties in with the information diet, but feeding my brain positivity is another goal. I know life is NOT always sunshine and rainbows. However, I can choose to read uplifting books, listen to encouraging podcasts, read my Bible (the ultimate how-to book) and read blogs that I enjoy. I firmly believe in the old adage “garbage in, garbage out”. It’s time to take out the trash and focus on the good.

GOAL– Make sure my INPUT is what I want my OUPUT to be.

Be Creative

I love to read, blog, write, listen to very old music, and paint. The trouble is, I don’t always allow myself time to do these things because social media usually sucks up so much of my time. I need time to express my feelings.

GOAL– I have started writing three pages of crappy junk (thoughts, feelings, lists, etc) every morning and then promptly send it through my paper shredder. It helps get the bad emotions out. I have brainstormed things I want to write about here and in private. I am pulling out my paintbrushes and listening to old music while I paint.

Setting life goals is still a strange thing for me, but it has also been helpful to truly understand what I do like and what I don’t like about my life. I can change what I can, and let go of what I can’t. Why it has taken me forty-six years to suddenly realize this is beyond me. But, life is a journey of learning.

Image by gabrielle_cc from Pixabay