My Sunday Photo

 

How Important is it… Really?

Soooo…. here it is.  4:17 am on a Monday morning.  What am I doing?  Trolling the internet looking for networking and business building ideas in and around town this week.  I always start with my notifications and then the things going on in the Events section of Facebook.  It never fails that I always find myself lost in some article that I found from clicking on a link somewhere on Facebook.  I have learned some pretty amazing things and added a billion things to my useless knowledge bank from these clickable links.  However, I have also wasted several…. hours (ahem) minutes, reading through these articles.  Today I was lucky enough to stumble upon a gem… I think.

The link that I saw said, “7 Surprising Signs You’re Not Getting Enough…”  So, I clicked on it to find out what I may or may not be getting enough of.  This took me to an article at healthissues.pw about not getting enough… WATER!  At this point, I figured I had taken the time to click the link so I might as well see if I had any of the signs.

One of the first things it states is that your body is mostly water and even goes so far as to give percentages of water that different body parts are.  Percentages like, Your brain and heart are 73% water and even, bones are 31% water.  I’m not sure where they got that information or if it is even true.  However, I did find several websites that stated the same facts like water.usgs.gov, factslides.com and reference.com.  I generally hate to read things on the internet that force me to click 72.3 billion pages to get all of the information, but this one only had a few pages and also had already grabbed my attention with the opening, so I was willing to click each page to read the full article.

Here are the 7 signs they list as common symptoms you may be suffering from but not associating them with dehydration:

1. Sleepiness. – WHAT?!  That’s like my middle name!  I have lengths of time where I only sleep 3 hours a night for weeks and then there are sometimes that I sleep an entire day away (and then hate myself for wasting such valuable time.)   It said that water allows your brain to focus and when it can’t it shuts down by inducing sleep.  That explains a lot!  Ok, now they really have my attention.  I definitely suffer from this symptom.
2. Hunger. – WHAT?!  Do you even know me?  Food is like my favorite thing ever!!  Especially if it rhymes with paco, saco, maco… you get the idea.  But seriously – I am ALWAYS hungry!  So things like hunger and cravings for sweets can mean your body is actually craving water.  Hmmm, interesting.
3. Blood Pressure Spikes. – Okay, so I don’t really struggle with this ailment, that I know of.  There have been times where I showed signs of high blood pressure and have checked it only to find I was normal.  Well… as normal as the kiosk in Walmart said I was.  Just incase though, I think I’ll try drinking a glass or two of water next time I have those symptoms.
4. Headaches. – Everyday since I was 18.  Seriously.  Except for that one year when I went to the chiropractor 3 times a week.  Which seriously helped the headaches go away.  However, I quit going because it was quite pricey and also I was honestly terrified he was going to snap my neck.  Seriously, it terrified me.  Maybe I’ve watched a little too many crime dramas with people getting their necks snapped, but still.  The “crack-a-lack-a-lack” in the neck region really scares the poo out of me!  So as soon as I stopped my appointments the headaches came back and I get at least 3-5 every week.
5. Constipation. – Maybe a little TMI, but my guess is everyone suffers from some type of bathroom issue from time to time.  So I can’t discount this as a possible symptom of not getting enough water.
6. Bad Breath. – According to this article, saliva has antibacterial properties and dehydration prevents your body from making enough for it.  This leads to a virtual playground in your mouth and according to my 5 year old, who doesn’t mean to be rude and just speaks the truth – I may have a little issue with bacteria causing bad breath.
7. Dry Skin. – Ok… well it is winter so I do suffer from dry skin a bit here and there, but I wouldn’t say it’s a chronic issue.  But, maybe it isn’t a winter ailment after all.  Maybe it’s because I’m not drinking enough water!

So after reading the entire article, identifying with most of the symptoms listed, and looking to see if the “facts” were listed on other websites – I’m self diagnosing myself with persistent dehydration.  As for the cure… water, of course.  So for the next 30 days I am going to drink nothing but water.  No sodas, no tea, and no…. sigh… Monster’s.  Starting today, Monday February 20th, 2017 and going through Wednesday March 22, 2017 – I will drink nothing but water.

On an average day I drink 1 glass or bottle (probably about 10-12 ounces) of water, one or two sodas or glasses of tea (usually Starbucks – because it is sooooooo yummy), 1-2 cans of Monster if I need the pick me up and every now and then a cup of hot tea from my trusty Kuerig.  But, for the next 30 days it will be only water.  The only exception I will make is to flavor the water from time to time with Kool-Aid Liquid Drink Mix, like these:

They offer a flavored water with zero calories, carbs or caffeine!  So I feel justified in adding this to my water while completing this challenge.

I would like to challenge YOU to play along!  Start today, start tomorrow – just give it a try.  Follow my journey on the Facebook page I created: 30 Day Water Challenge – Is H₂O the Answer? or type in http://fb.me/H2Ofor30days in your browser page.  I’ll be posting anything I notice – or don’t notice – changing over the next 30 days.  I’ll also include a few healthy recipe’s and exercises throughout the journey – please feel free to do the same.

Look forward to seeing you out there and seeing if I notice a difference in things when only drinking water.  Now I’m off to finish my Yeti full of ice water, go potty for the 3rd time since I began writing this post, finish this episode of Smallville and maybe getting a few hours of sleep.  I’m starting our kitchen makeover this week and need the rest!

BIG Texas hugs,

 

Day 7 – My Roof and Ravioli

Hi ya peeps!!  On this 7th day of my social media challenge, Wednesday December 3rd, I am thankful for #ARoofOverMyHead, #CrazyNationalHolidays and #Ravioli!!  How does that all tie in?

Today is National Roof Over Your Head Day!!  I love to celebrate fun and wacky holidays!!  For instance – National Bacon Day!!  Oh yes!! It does exist!!  Today, the spirit of things is a little more sobering.  Bottom line – there are too many homeless people out there (young and old) that don’t have a roof over their head or much anything at all really.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot actually.  Homelessness….is a very controversial subject.  Some people think we shouldn’t help homeless people because they put themselves in the situation they are in.  Some people would take the shirt off their backs to warm the body of a homeless person.  We all have the rights to our own thoughts and beliefs…. here are my thoughts:

Regardless of their situation or happenstance: homeless people are humans. Period.  However, I personally often get irritated when someone approaches me on the street and asks for money.  It isn’t because of who they are, how they dress or what they look like.  It’s usually because I feel like I can’t trust them.  I work very hard to provide for my family and I don’t want to hand out my hard earned money to someone that isn’t trying to make a life for themselves.  Or worse, someone who is just taking our money – as an income?!  Ugh… I just get so frustrated.

However, it is the holiday season and I really hate to think of anyone suffering.  So on this day, that I am telling you I am so incredibly thankful for the roof over my head.  So much so that I really should stay up all night and scour it from top to bottom! Ok…realistically that isn’t going to happen….the key word there was should.  Sleep is going to win tonight, but Sunday… Mr. Magic Eraser, Mr. Scuncci Steam Cleaner and I have a hot date!! 🙂

Today – I challenge you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I challenge you to follow these steps:

1. Take the $5 you were going to spend at Taco Bell on lunch tomorrow…
2. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a can of Ravioli…
3. Go to Dollar Tree and buy 4 pairs of socks with your left over change from the Ravioli…
4. Drop off the socks at a local Homeless Shelter or Women’s Shelter (They need kid socks too!)
5. Enjoy your steaming bowl of ravioli with the huge side of basically being awesome. 😀

Today was another easy day to pick what I am thankful for.  I am 7 days – a whole week – in to my challenge.  Are you playing along??

QUESTION OF THE DAY: When was the last time you donated money, products or your time to a homeless or women’s shelter near you?  (Hint: If your answer is never…today is the day! – You can even do it anonymously…)

I can’t wait to hear/read/see your posts!!  If you guys play along on any social media sites please use the hashtag: #365smc That way I can follow along all year and give you guys some shout outs!!

Here is the link to my YouTube channel: Cat’s YouTube Channel: Obliviously Awesome.

Here is the link to my Day 7 (My Roof and Ravioli) video!! 🙂  Check it out!

Here is where you can find me:

VLOG: www.youtube.com/user/OblivioislyAwesome
BLOG: www.WAHMcat.wordpress.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/wahmcat
INSTAGRAM: www.Instagram.com/ObliviouslyAwesome
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Obliviously-Awesome/311528022376074
PINTEREST: www.Pinterest.com/wahmcat

See ya’ll tomorrow! 😀

Love ya lots, like tator tots!!

Love, Cat

#365smc

Day 6 – Taco Tuesday Baby!

Hi ya’ll!!  Today was a very awesome day!  Why, you ask?  Because it’s TACO TUESDAY BABY!! On this 6th day of my social media challenge, Tuesday December 2nd, I am thankful for #TacoTuesdayBaby – also #yummy! 🙂

Every Tuesday for the last few years, my family has pretty much eaten the same thing every Tuesday.  Unless I was sick or tending to a sick kiddo or some other craziness happened, I went and picked up Taco Tuesday!!  It has become a ritual in my home that I really love.

It started with a few Tuesday’s here and there because it was inexpensive, tasty and easy.  Then it just became…a thing.  Then when I had little man it also became a ritual that the MIL (the Misters mommy) came over every Tuesday to visit her newest grandbaby.  I started picking up tacos for her too.  Now, I really look forward to Tuesday nights and here is why:

• TacoCat is spelled the same backwards. 🙂  Ok…so that isn’t one of the reasons, but it is still some useful useless knowledge that you may need some day! 😉
• Tacos are yummy and there are sooooooooo many options!!  Corn or flour tortillas?  Beef, chicken, carnitas, veggie…blah blah blah?  Lettuce? Tomato? Cheese? (duh.) Sour cream? Guacamole?  Or do you like street tacos with onions and cilantro?  #yummy!!
• All 3 of my kids sit around the table with the MIL and we always have good conversation.  Nothing can beat that. 🙂
• I am teaching my children the value of spending time together.
• Lots o’ food for NOT lots o’ money!

It’s a total #WinWin.

Today was an easy pick for what I’m thankful for!  I’ve known ever since I started my challenge what I would be thankful for the very first Tuesday. 🙂

I can’t wait to hear/read/see your posts!!  If you guys play along on any social media sites please use the hashtag: #365smc That way I can follow along all year and give you guys some shout outs!!

Here is the link to my YouTube channel: Cat’s YouTube Channel: Obliviously Awesome – Go find the Day 6 video and let me know what ya think!!! 🙂

Here is where you can find me:

VLOG: www.youtube.com/user/OblivioislyAwesome
BLOG: www.WAHMcat.wordpress.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/wahmcat
INSTAGRAM: www.Instagram.com/ObliviouslyAwesome
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Obliviously-Awesome/311528022376074
PINTEREST: www.Pinterest.com/wahmcat

See ya’ll tomorrow! 😀

Love ya lots, like tator tots!!

Love, Cat

#365smc

Day 5 – Rotisserie Chicken…most specifically from Albertsons

Hello, my friends!!  Today was a flippin cold in Texas yo!  On this 5th day of my social media challenge, Monday December 1st, I am thankful for #Rotisserie Chickens.  I use them to make chicken and rice for my family on a night when I need a break!!

Today was a tough day!  It started out pretty typical at 6:30 this morning, but when the little guy landed sick at school, mommy had to rescue him and was forced to take him home and cuddle…darn the luck.  Anyway, by the time his daddy was headed home, I was starving!!  Frozen pizza, pot pies, hot pockets, sandwiches…etc.  Nothing sounded good.  No meet thawing so I needed something quick and easy…

I decided I wanted to make the Chicken and Rice dish my kids love so much (and I love because it is so easy!)  So I called the Mister and asked him to pick up a few things.  When he got home I had gotten the little man sleepy enough I was able to slip away for about 20 minutes to whip up dinner.  Literally.  Less than 20 and I had a full meal on the table.  Enough for a family of 5 and leftovers for lunch tomorrow!!

With my new challenge, I wake up every morning, wondering what I will be thankful for that day.  I had a couple of ideas for today.  However, when I started deboning that chicken – I knew exactly what I am thankful for today.  Check out the recipe below and if you have ANY questions you can use any of the links below to touch base.

Cat’s Easy Peasy Chicken n Rice (you pick the theme/flavor!)

– 2 packs of Knorr Rice (Any flavor – we chose Cheddar Broccoli today)

– 1 #Rotisserie Chicken (Albertsons are $1 less than Walmart and about 20% bigger – and taste superb!)

Follow directions on rice for stovetop or microwave (microwave is easy – throw it all in a microwave safe bowl for 12 minutes – perfection.)  While rice is cooking – take skin off of chicken and debone.  Add chicken to cooked rice, add a little milk or water (2-3 tablespoons) and pop back in microwave for about a minute.  Whip up a few sides and Walla!  Dinner is served. 🙂  Thank you #Albertsons for making my life easier!!

I can’t wait to hear/read/see your posts!!  If you guys play along on any social media sites please use the hashtag: #365smc That way I can follow along all year and give you guys some shoutouts!!

Here is the link to my YouTube channel: Cat’s YouTube Channel: Obliviously Awesome – Go find the Day 5 video and take a peek and see how my kiddos approved of the meal!  Even the little guy who is not feeling his best today…

Here is a link to the actual video for Day 5: Rotisserie Chicken

Here is where you can find me:

VLOG: www.youtube.com/user/OblivioislyAwesome
BLOG: www.WAHMcat.wordpress.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/wahmcat
INSTAGRAM: www.Instagram.com/ObliviouslyAwesome
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Obliviously-Awesome/311528022376074
PINTEREST: www.Pinterest.com/wahmcat

See ya’ll tomorrow! 😀

Love ya lots, like tator tots!!

Love, Cat

#365smc

Day 4 – Chinese Restaurants Next to Laundromats

Hi guys!! This is Cat, back with day #4 of my Social Media Challenge!  For those of you that don’t know what I’m talking about check out this link:

Day 1 – You guys gonna play? – That is the intro post about my challenge. 🙂

So on day #4 of my challenge I am thankful for… #Laundromats and #ChineseRestaurantsNextToLaundromats

Here is why… I had planned to spend my entire Sunday doing laundry.  My older 2 kids are big enough to do their own, but I find it smells more fresh and just looks nicer when I do it.  So from time to time (and by that I mean most of the time) I do their laundry.  Yes, yes.  I know – this makes me an uber horrible mother.  I’m not teaching them any values by doing everything for them…yada, yada, yada. I KNOW!!  It’s just this control issue I have.  I just find it is easier to make sure things are done right when I do them myself.  THAT is exactly why there are mounds of laundry in my home that need to be done…. sigh.  I brought it on myself, I know.  The 3 year old cannot even reach the top of the washing machine – so that is obviously on me – for now.  (You know, until he’s old enough to do his own – so that I can do it for him then too…ugh.)

Then there are my clothes.  Oh. My. Gosh.  You see, I do medical billing full time so I have all my “scrubs and casual dress day – including office appropriate Tshirts and jeans” clothes.  Also, I am a bartender 2 times a week so I have the “sort of sexy but not too much because I’m still a mom” clothes.  In addition to that I’m a crafter and an acrylic canvas painter so I have my “craft and paint” clothes – which honestly are covered in glue/glitter/paint so they only need to be washed so I smell pretty while I’m creating.  Obviously, I’m a mom and wifey-ish.  So that means I have “Meet the Teacher” clothes, “Need to go grocery shopping” clothes, “Need to go to the mailbox at the end of the driveway” clothes, “Sitting around the house working on blog/vlog/work stuff” clothes, “Cleaning house” clothes, and “Do not mess with me – I’m sleeping in” clothes.  Not to mention all of the unmentionables… (hee hee, see what I did there – I crack myself up.)

Like I said…I had planned on spending the entire day doing laundry!!  I slept in a tiny bit and then got up ready to move laundry.  I was so prepared, I had even put in a load to wash before I went to bed, so I could start off the day with a full load washing and drying!  I potty, wash my face, slip on the fuzzy socks, step over the baby gate and pad into the laundry room.  Open the washing machine and…. What?  It was full of water.  So I immediately assumed one of my kids didn’t pull them knob to start the thing after I told them last night to throw a few school uniforms in.  Push. Click-click-click. Pull.  Silence. I repeated this sequence about 4 times – kind of simulating what I usually do with the snooze on my alarm clock/iPhone.  I just keep doing it until I am really awake and reality sets in.  Dammit.

Well, it was bound to happen.  I’ve had the set for 14 years – it’s been good to me and I suppose it was time to let go.  I tell the Mini Me we are headed to the Laundromat – she moans and groans – until I let her in on the secret of the #ChineseRestaurantNextToTheLaundromat. 😀  She and her laundry basket were ready in record time.  (She loves Chinese food.)  The Big Kid gets his laundry ready (and I’m pretty sure snuck back to bed when I left.) and I gathered all the Little Man’s clothes along with my own.  Luckily, the Mister spent 8 years in the Navy and prefers to do his own laundry. 🙂

Off we go to the Laundromat.  Here is how that went in a few words:

Unload. Wash. Go around the corner to get quarters because the $12 in quarters I brought only covered washing – apparently laundry prices have went up in the last 14 years. Dry. Eat Chinese.  Dry Again. Fold. Drive home. Put clothes away and force big kids to do the same.

The Mister asks what kind of new washer I want.  Although secretly I want a shiny red, front loading brand-spanking-new set, I say, “The kind that washes clothes, babe. I’m not picky. (smile)”.  He shops online for a while and I go to start scooping the water out of the washing machine.  After the first full bucket he says he Googled it and maybe it is just a clogged drain. What? Really?  He thinks he can syphon the water out.  (That’s pretty cool, I wasn’t looking forward to scooping 8 billion gallons of water out cup by cup.)  Then he sticks a plastic hanger in the hole that lets the washer know the door is shut – and the damn thing just started spinning.  So it turns out to be just a broken switch.  He can fix it.  Hopefully, he will have it all good to go by next Sunday… otherwise, it’s a trip back to the Laundromat and Chinese for lunch next Sunday. (Chicken fried rice and an egg roll for only $3.95 – you really can’t beat it.)  I imagine he will get it fixed – it’s about time for him to do his laundry.

If you’d like to see my video on the story, check out the speed video of our day, check out the funny and cute pics of the me and the MiniMe (there are a few below) and listen to our banter about One Direction, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and J14Magazine, you can hope over to my YouTube channel, Obliviously Awesome and check out THIS video. The video is about 7 1/2 minutes long so it would be a fun little break for ya. – Here is the YouTube Video that goes with this post.  Click on the “ObliviouslyAwesome” logo at the very bottom of this page to take you directly to my YouTube channel – Obliviously Awesome! 🙂

I look forward to your comments and questions below and on my YouTube video. Remember if you want to play along with my social medial challenge, use the hashtag: #365smc. See you guys tomorrow!

Love,

Cat

Here is a pic of me and the Mini Me when we were all done

This kid is crazy but the #fortunecookie was total #truth. 😉

Day 2 – Misters and Neosporin

Hi guys!! This is Cat, back with day #2 of my Social Media Challenge!  For those of you that don’t know what I’m talking about check out this link:

Day 1 – You guys gonna play?

That is the intro post for my challenge….or just keep reading… here are the basics…

Basically, I decided I wanted to remember everyday what I was thankful for and not so much about all the crappy things that had happened that day or that I had seen on the news…  So I created #365smc – that is the official hashtag for my challenge!  Here are the rules of the game: I challenge you to post 365 days in a row what you are thankful for and why on the social media platform of your choice.  When you post, make sure you use the hashtag #365smc so I can find all of your posts, videos, etc and give you a shout out!! 😀  I will be posting mine on Youtube and WordPress every single day and will be posting from time to time on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.  I will also be searching various sites for my hashtag to see who is playing along!! :o)

So on day #2 of my challenge I am thankful for… #MistersThatArentButtholes and #NeosporinWithPainRelief.

Here is why… On Thanksgiving Day – we had a FULL schedule.  I wanted to get up early and drive 45 minutes South to visit with my family at my aunts house and then drive about an hour Northeast of there to spend the rest of our holiday with the Mister’s dad and his wife.  They will be going on a 22 day trip to Cape Cod during Christmas, so we were celebrating both holidays on this day.  After we piled the 3 year old (in his car seat), the 12 (almost 13 year old diva) Mini Me and the 14 (almost 15 year old) big kid in the back seat, locked the front door and had all of the things we needed for the day in the trunk, I thought it would be a really awesome idea to put the keys to the car in my jacket pocket and then lock it in the trunk!!

NO joke.  #ImABigDummy So we unloaded all of the children, put them in the house to (fight and argue and drive me crazy-er) hang out and then dismantled – broke in – figured out a way to get the keys back. We looked for a “how to (not be a dummy) get into your locked trunk without the keys” video on Youtube.  However the one we found, basically said we would need to saw a hole into the side panel of the car…that isn’t really an option.  A locksmith on Thanksgiving day would have been astronomical…assuming we could find one willing.  So I finally got the #bright idea to stick my arm in between the seats with a long wire and pull my jacket to me to get the keys out.  It actually worked…after about an hour…and lots of scratches…and bruising….sigh.

I was mostly worried about the Mister giving me a hard time or making feel like a big idiot for not being more careful. I’ve had that car for 5 or 6 years and I’ve always been super careful with my key because I only have one! Because it has some kind of special chip in it, it would cost like $85 for a new one!! However, he was really sweet about the whole thing. Once it was all said and done the scratches on my arm were burning like crazy!! The Neosporin with Pain Relief worked like magic and soon my arm was only irritated when I touched it against something. So I’m definitely thankful for those 2 things!

Thanksgiving Day was a great day though.  I didn’t get to see my parents or family, we had to nix that because of time restraints.  However it was a great day!  I got to visit with the Mister’s family and we had Thanksgiving dinner and exchanged gifts with his family.

If you’d like to see my video on the story, check out the clip of my little man giggling like crazy in a giant jingle bells hat, and check out the scratches on my arm (honestly I’m being a big baby) you can hope over to my YouTube channel, Obliviously Awesome and check out the video with the same name as the post. The video is about 10 minutes long so it would be a fun little break for ya. – Here is the YouTube Video that goes with this post.

I look forward to your comments and questions below and on my YouTube video. Remember if you want to play along with my social medial challenge, use the hashtag: #365smc. See you guys tomorrow!

Love,

Cat

Day 1 – You Guys Gonna Play?

Hooray!! It’s finally here!! Thanksgiving Day and day 1 of my Social Media Challenge!! To those of you that do t know just yet… I am challenging all of my friends to post on the social media site of their choosing, something they are thankful for everyday!! For a whole year…from this Thanksgiving to next, using the hashtag #365SMC. I will be posting a blog and a vlog EVERYDAY! I will post on these media sites:

VLOG: http://www.youtube.com/user/OblivioislyAwesome
BLOG: http://www.WAHMcat.wordpress.com
TWITTER: @ObliviouslyAwesome
INSTAGRAM: http://www.Instagram.com/ObliviouslyAwesome
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Obliviously-Awesome/311528022376074
PINTEREST: http://www.Pinterest.com/wahmcat

So… without further ado, on the first day of my social media challenge, November 28, 2014… I am thankful for God. I don’t mean to be cliche, but when I am down and need a pick me up, nothing works better than a quick prayer. Anytime a friend is down it makes me feel good to say a prayer for them. I believe in the power of prayer and am thankful to have God on my side.

I know some of you may be non-believers or have your own religion/and I appreciate your own personal beliefs.

I can’t wait to hear/read/see your day #1 posts!! I am so excited to get started. If you guys play along on any social media sites please use the hashtag: #365SMC That way I can follow along all year and give you guys some shoutouts!!

Happy Thanksgiving my friends!
Love ya lots, like tator tots!!

Love,
Cat

#365smc