And the saga continues

The washer. Wow. I have learned more than I ever wanted to learn about washers. There is one more part that I ordered this morning that should hopefully fix the darn thing. We've spent about $120.00 on parts for the silly thing. I'm trying to take a positive attitude and be thankful for the knowledge I've gained. Sigh. I wish we had about $1000, there is a super cool super capacity, super energy efficient washer from LG that I want. Oh well. Hopefully my knowledge will help our washer work for another 5-10 more years. I AM grateful for the self sufficiency I have gained. I can do something most people don't know how to do. :) It's amazing what necessity will create. Oh, the picture above? The washer I want, but can not get. :(

Long, rough week

Whew, what a week. Sushi was sick all last week. Because he is working with a contractor he doesn't get sick days. He was sick all week. I think he went to work one day. What does this mean to us? Basically no paycheck this week. NOT GOOD. To top things off, my washer finally stopped working yesterday. AWESOME. NO money and a broken washer. A washer is not something we can go without at this house. I do 10-12 loads a week. It's insanity. And I have the super capacity washer. I did some research, we went to the clearance outlet. yipes! The last time I bought a washer was about 13 years ago when I was single. They are so expensive! We know we don't want a front loader so that isn't a problem, but even a top loader is a lot. The best price we could find for a new one that has a large capacity was $318 and it is a brand we've never heard of. An estate. I looked it up, it's basically a whirlpool, just not called a whirlpool. There was a Whirlpool at the clearance center with a big scratch on the lid for $369. Before we jumped into a new one I thought I would give fixing it a try. Thank goodness for videos on the internet! I was able to fix the two most likely reasons for the washer not spinning. That cost about $48. I went to reassemble the washer and looks like I am missing a c-clamp that holds the brake cam driver in place. Kind of an essential part. I had to special order it. That was another $7. Now I have to wait until friday to get the c-clamp and then I can reassemble the washer and hopefully it'll be fixed. I really hope we didn't just spend $60 we don't really have on something that didn't fix the washer. I guess if the $60 doesn't fix it we'll buy a new washer. Our local store has a 90 days no interest program that we'll use. I should be able to pay it off with Pampered Chef by then. Sigh. I can't wait until we are doing better financially. I hate the constant worry. :(

Pampered Chef

Sorry about my extended absence. I have been busy! I am so excited about this year with Pampered Chef. I mentioned in my last post that Pampered Chef had changed their requirements for directorship. Woot! They are requirements I already meet most of the time. This makes me happy.
I am so excited about the incentive trip they announced this year though. For the first time, they are making it so that not only can I go on a cruise in April 2012, I also get a chance to earn a trip to New Orleans this coming November! Woot! So, needless to say I am motivated, Sushi and I haven't been on a real vacation for years. We are long overdue. I jokingly said to my friend that it would be awesome to earn this trip because then Sushi and I could spend some time together and pretend to be married again. She cracked me up, she told me to be careful or "I might end up pregnant." Little does she know we would be fine with that. Tank is two now, another baby would be great. We feel like there is at least one more to come to our family. So, I have been working hard to get at least 8-10 shows a month because I need a vacation! And a free vacation is even better. :)

Resolutions. . . . . .

Well, it's that time of year again. I don't even want to think about my resolutions from last year. It's just too dang depressing. NOT ONE ACCOMPLISHED. sigh. . . .

To be fair it was a rather stinky, difficult year here at the Sushiboy household. We had high plans and hopes for the year that were quickly dashed by Sushi's layoff around the beginning of January. It was rough but I think we handled things the right way. The first thing we did was take all our credit cards and put them in a sealed envelope. The next thing we did was call all said card companies and applied for financial hardship. We did NOT give up on Sushi going to school. For that I am particularly proud. Now we're down to 16 weeks this coming friday until he graduates. woot! :) We also contacted our Bishop and let him know what had happened and that we were going to need some financial help for a little while. I don't know what we would have done without the help of our ward. Food orders, help with utilities even help with our mortgage one month. I am so so greatful for the blessings of the Church welfare system. And I have gained such a testimony of the fast offerings and how they help so many people. Thankfully we only needed their help for a few months and then Sushi found a job that worked around his school schedule and paid basically the same as his last job. The good news is he is in such a better place. He is appreciated and liked at this job and that is priceless. When Sushi was layed off we asked my Father to give him a blessing. In the blessing we were told we had just been handed a great blessing. Looking back on this last year I can see how it was a great blessing. I have gained an even greater testimony of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. I know that our lives are watched over and guided by a loving, kind Father in Heaven. Our needs were met. What a blessing. Sushi and I are finally on the same page as to what needs to happen with our finances. That is a great blessing as well. So my resolutions this year are going to be a little less rigid and a little more spiritual. I hope those of you who are not religious who read my blog will forgive me.

1- Read my scriptures every day. Not only as a family but individually as well. This is something I have struggled with for a while. I know I should do it, I just seem to let other things in my life get in the way. I need to make the time for this. I make time for everything else.

2- along the same token, say my prayers morning AND night and say family prayers. I'm awesome about the night time thing, not so great about the morning thing. My children can wait a few minutes while I say my prayers. :) I'm sure I'll be a much more patient, kind mother if I do this.

3- go to they gym at least 3 times a week. I'm done trying to put a number that I will lose. Apparently my body has decided that it will be impossible to lose weight so I'm just going for healthy. If I happen to lose a few lb's along the way that would be awesome.

4- Promote to director with Pampered Chef. I KNOW this will happen this year. Pampered Chef changed their career plan putting the control back in my hands and I am stoked. I CAN do this. The things that were stopping me before were things that were out of my hands I'm already meeting the guidelines that will be coming out so I know it's possible.

5-continue to not use those cards and pay those suckers off. The sooner they're gone, the better off we'll be.

I think that is it. That's enough I think! I hope you have some awesome resolutions for yourself! Tell me what they are!