5 reasons to NOT use the Coffee Drive Thru

So I’m not sure the traffic dynamics of why sometimes the coffee drive-thru line varies so greatly but some mornings being trapped in the procession of pre-coffee drudgery is just not a choice. On one of these days, I decided to walk in. I’m not sure why that doesn’t ever seem to be an option in the morning, most likely I’m just not thinking properly yet. Well on one of these mornings I walked in and ordered, face to face. And I realized we should try this more.
Top 5 reasons to not use the Starbucks drive through:
1. These people are already caffeinated (or don’t need it) they are well into their day and are lovely people to have as your first non-family member interaction of the day
2. They smile at you and ask your name.  That maybe the first smile you have seen all day and they are asking me questions about myself, they care (even if it’s just to write it on my cup)
3. More human interaction, in this technical day and age we communicate with each other more and more by texts and emails, phone calls and speakers in drive throughs. There are studies that show you live longer the more you interact with the other humans you interact with daily.
4. It takes less time (mostly). If someone’s egg bites are taking forever it doesn’t require them moving for you to get your venti caffeine bomb.
5.  Your saving the environment and your health. Whilst contemplating the vanity play in front of you, You aren’t smelling exhaust, idling, wasting gas, you can use a reusable cup, you aren't sitting more (true killer-more studies).
So next time walk into your coffee shop in the morning rush, see if you like it, it might be something you’re missing out on.

                                 

In case you are like me and actually, want to read one of the studies:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/well/live/having-friends-is-good-for-you.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005

-Lo

Moving My Pros and Cons

Who likes Moving? If you raise your hand right now I am going to have to assume you are insane-ha! I recently just moved and I am going to say that it was one of the not best days of my life. Who really likes to move? I don't want to lift heavy things on purpose! I did, however, try to make a good day out of it so I didn't go insane. I decided that I would unpack each box as it came into the house. So by the end of two days, I would have some semblance of a home. I was thankful for my boys for helping me. Thank goodness I have strong adult children.

There are definitely pros and cons of moving. Here are some of my pros. You get to go through all your stuff again. Find stuff that you haven't seen in it feels like a million years. Another Pro is you get to decorate again and in a different style as the time before. Hey, why not? Who loves to be the same each time. Gosh, I don't see THAT many pros on moving but I am trying here. I do love setting up stuff and finding places for things.

Cons of moving are ....you have to move. Man, I hate moving day. The con is also maybe you don't have a place for everything. I have 4 boxes that never got unpacked because they were things that really are storage for the future. I did, however, find some of my kids' baptismal outfits. I mean I am not gonna find a place for that until they are old enough and have their own homes and children.


I do love making an empty place a home. That is something that I enjoy. So PRO! I love being able to think about what should be wear to make me happy. This time if it didn't make me happy I didn't even put it in the house. Why bother right?  And because of that, I find that I have a home that is not cluttered with junk anymore. Man talk about tidying up with Marie Kondo. Oh, side note, the internet guy better come soon so I can watch her episodes and not have to hot spot from my phone to write this blog -ha.

I am thankful in the end that I was able to move to a place that had an amazing view. I love this perfect little home for me and my kids. It is somewhere I enjoy. I think my boys do too and certainly my dogs:)The reason I moved was probably a con but I am in a pro type of mood and happy I did it. Can't wait to write many more blogs from my little section of the world. See you soon guys.

                                                                                        Love, Ro

Escape Game (don't call CPS)

Played a new game with the kids today, I came up with it out of necessity. Mommy needed it.

My youngest named it “escape”

Now before you call CPS thinking I locked the kids in a room or a closet or ya know a little cupboard under the stairs...or outside ...

No...

I needed to go to Walmart on the way home from picking up the little darlings from school.  Now as any mother knows I was met with great consternation from the little darlings. So, I used my think smarter brain and said “ guys, I don’t wanna go either (and heck no I ’m not going all the way home to drop you off first then going back, I question how spoiled they are at that request) so we are gonna play a game! Can we get out of Walmart in let’s say 20 minutes?

The youngest actually named the game Escape Walmart (I think he will be a fine human being). There were many questions “but wait what if the line is too long?” Asked the youngest, “that’s the luck part” says the oldest. I’m raising fully aware adults here! Yes! We walk in, the clock starts on the first (not the second door). The kids run (together, once again don’t call CPS) for the bunny food, all 20 pounds of it. I rush for the food items. Both children come running towards me as I place the bottle of wine in the cart (so joking! It’s the last item for dinner of course) they cannot carry the bunny food alone, its pretty comical and I'm gonna say a sibling team building exercise. We rush to a check out stand (no self-checkout cause of the wine- I mean tortillas) and.... a lovely Walmart Employee approaches, “ I can check you our she says “ ....” oh we have alcohol (in the shape of a tortilla) I say... no problem she says And uses her handheld wand of all things good and lovely and checks us out! Even printing the receipt from her hip like a Walmart old west superstar! I thank her profusely as we are in a race (to-escape Walmart) and we run to those last doors making sure to not run over or hinder any other living creatures right to do the same and .... you cannot wait for our time?....take a guess....??

11 min 23 sec! I warned the children we may never be able to beat that!

And I guarantee when I need dinner and have two unwilling participants in grocery shopping we will try!

-Lo

Is a Step Mom a Real Mom?

Is a Step-Mom a Real Mom? To be honest I say YES! And if you feel you aren't and you are a stepmom then you have to STEP it up! In my early twenties, I had two children. I always wanted more. Four to be exact but my body thought otherwise and they had to tie my tubes. Through a lot of circumstances in my life, I met someone who had two more children after my divorce. These boys also became my whole heart and soul. They became mine as much as their biological parents to me. I loved them and helped them like I did my own. Soon after marriage, they were officially mine too but in reality, I thought they were also my boys before that ever even happened. I was a mother of 4. I was a true Step-Mom. I actually hated that word because it sounds like the wicked step-mom from Cinderella. I would like to be called the "my other mom" is just jives with me better.

So through the years, the four kids ended up being brothers. They thankfully never fought. We were very lucky for sure.  All the kids were treated the same, as same as you can with 4 different personalities. I didn't and still don't see them any different. I would give my life to any of them if need be. These are my children. I know that they each have other parents that are great parents to them but I feel like children can be loved more.

If you are a Stepparent. Please STEP up because that is what it is all about. I have seen far too many step parents treat those children worse. I feel that you are truly hurting that child. Is it their fault the parents are divorced and you are in the picture now....no! So do what's right for the kids. Be there through their birthdays and Graduations and every event and day in between. Be there when they cry or when they have the utmost happiest event in their life. Just BE THERE. That's all you have to do. A child or eventually an adult just needs to know you are there for them and that is what I plan on doing my whole life.

My original two before I was blessed with my next two are soon to have a Step-Mom. I am so thankful for her because she treats my/her kids with grace and helps their father be even a better father. Its those ppl we all should be grateful for. No one wants to say no to more love to their children.

So in ending. To me, I am not a Step-Mom. I am just a Mom to four capable, smart, funny, adventurous children/adults and I will forever love them no matter what happens in life. Its a love that is pure and a love that will never change. I love you boys! You four are my heart! When you look at the pictures you can't tell there are any "steps" in there because they are just brothers!
                                                                                                     Love, Ro

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DIY Easy Soy Essential Oil Candles

This year I really wanted to make some homemade gifts. The kind people would use though and not say "oh thanks" but then store it in their closets or regift. I love candles. Most people I know have candles or essential oils. I wanted to mix them together bec its a candle that's nontoxic and good for you. For those oilers like me. Other candles can be too toxic.

This was beyond easy! I bought containers and soy flakes that came with wicks from Amazon. At the end of the blog, I will put the websites if you want to use the same kind.

1. Put containers on cookie sheet. Just makes it easier.

2. On the stove in a pot, you don't really want or need I melted a full pot of soy flakes. It was the size of pot that you would do like a box of mac and cheese in lol. While listening to Christmas music I put 25 drops of Essential oils in. If didn't smell enough I would add another 10. Pick whichever one you want. Make sure it is a good brand to make sure it's pure. I love the Holiday scents from DoTERRA not only is it good for you but it smells AMAZING!  Melt on Medium until it turns in liquid.

3. Put the wicks in the containers and pour just a little bit of the wax in the container to hold the wick. Make sure its just a little so the wax turns white. The wick will now stay:) YEAH! Then you can pour the rest of the melted soy wax into the containers to the top. Make sure its all the way to the top bec as it firms it will go a little lower in the container.

4. Now its done and you can cut the wicks to the size you need to close the top. It smells great and its a great super easy gift. This actually took longer to write about than it did making it! Super easy. Smells soooo good. Again my favorite Essential Oils are doTERRA. Here is the link to the Holiday Scents! SO GOOD!  https://www.doterra.com/US/en/p/doterra-holiday-joy-essential-oil-blend 

Plus you can diffuse it for the rest of the holidays. There are 240 drops in one bottle. That's a lot of candles.

I love doing DIY stuff and we are going to have a lot more coming on this blog so make sure you subscribe by going to home page and putting in your email. You will receive an email.

Love, Ro

Sneak Peek!

Want a sneak peek? of what is in my purse at this very moment.....

my wallet
my keys (kinda amazing they are where they should be)
tic tac gum
an Epi-pen (generic)
a bottle of L-theanine
work keys
a loose bottle of lemon essential oil ( not sure if it didn't fit in my oil bag, or I was in a hurry?)
my oils bag (currently containing: past tense roller ball, holiday peace, bergamot, cedarwood, peppermint and lavender)
a box cutter (this actually made it into a large arena at the bottom of my purse--oops!--they guy checking purses was way more concerned about my oils)
burts bees chapstick
two loose dollars (score!)
two hair ties
15 cents, loose
an I- phone fan that plugs in
a child's tooth
floss
three lip glosses
two tampons
a marble


While I like to blame children for my purse being a mess I'd say less than a quarter is from them.....the random fun stuff that makes me smile is from them.  I choose to love I can pull out something someone may need, floss? sure....hoping to never need the Epi-pen but I have it.
My purse is actually pretty small so isn't that bad...did you notice what it's missing that would be helpful? I know I'm lacking this but never think of it until I need it again...a pen! lol     -Lo



I am going to be honest but I went to a small, small purse because with 4 kids and a husband that has sunglasses and a wallet everything was being put in my purse. Love, Ro

Lotto...This is what I would do

I know everyone at some point has been asked questions like "If you won a million dollars what would you do with it" Its funny because I met 3/4 or more of America has thought about what would they do if they won the lotto. Millions of dollars that of a sudden got placed into your bank acct. Well there was 1.6 billion lotto this week that would of been a 907 million pay out. If I won this is what I would would do. I so would love to know what you would do! So please comment below.

So I started out thinking of amazing houses, cars, having a chef and someone to clean my house. Heck maybe finding someone who would even exercise for me right ha! Then as I thought about it through the week I noticed that I really wanted to help my true friends and family out more. If I won 907 million dollars this is what I would do.

I would buy a 5 bedroom house that was not a mansion but a nice ranch house or house on the beach. I would want 5 bedrooms so all of my kids can come home for holidays and each have a room for their family. I would want acreage because we have already had acreage for our animals. I would also want a pool for my grandkids (which I dont have any but have to think ahead).

I would pay off my kids student loans and make sure they all had decent cars. Just something that they could keep for a long time. I would put some money for each of my four kids to have a starter home in the future. I would also put trust funds for each of my grandchildren to be for their college funds. Education is important.

I would pay off my sister, my husbands sister, my bff lo and our parents homes. Just so they don't have to have a mortgage.

I would also send my ex and my husbands ex 200,000 which most people are like WHAT! I would send it to them to get a nice small home or add it to their own money for a home. I want my children to be able to go to any parents house and have a nice home. Plus although I dont need to talk to the exs anymore because are kids are grown up. I want to have our kids parents taken care of too.

I would take our family on a yearly vacation to a different country each year. We dont have to stay at 5 star places. I just want like a month in a nice place all together for us to be immersed in the culture.

I would go on a vacation once a year with my bff Lo. We always dream of that each year and it would be a yearly fun to what you want month vacation . Best Friends always need something like that.

All the money would be my husbands and mine. We would do this together and talked about this too. He, of course, wants some more things! He would want a better car and wants us to get our pilot license.  Which we both have dreamed of doing since we flew a plane a couple times.

The rest we would invest. I would love to be able to invest in some sort of corporation that would give our kids and their families jobs if they wanted.

I would also always pay off my close families medical bills. Never want them to be drowning in debt.

There are so many people I would want to help. I would definitely give to the Ronald Mcdonald House who helped us out when my son was 6 months old and had scull surgery. We needed the place and I will always give to them.

So what would you do? Would you go crazy and spend it all? I would get a financial advisor to help us have it last for a long time for sure. I am sure we would splurge. It's funny that I would help all of my family first. All  I want is a nice home where my family can come for holidays. What would you do?I would love to know!
  Love, Ro

I would pay off my house as that is a huge bill that takes more than half my paycheck so it would just make me feel better.  I'd talk to 3 or more financial advisors and 3 or more rich people (if they'd talk to me).  I would actually give my ex money because it would be good for my kids for him to be less stressed and better off (not sure the amount though).  I would invest for long-term profit and go on a great vacation! -Lo