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!

Awesome.

I don't take a whole lot of stock in horoscopes but I'll take this one. :) This last year has been a tough one, I'm ready for some good!

Year 2011 Overview

Just when you thought that life couldn't possibly throw any more twists or turns along life's once tedious path, along comes the unpredictable but exhilarating energy of 2011 (operative word being 'exhilarating'). Partnerships continue to confront you with your deepest needs and fears but your career shows incredible promise and renewal. You receive the lucky touch of Jupiter from January to June. Expect major expansion and recognition on all fronts.

Promotions, opportunities to expand your social world and work-related travel are all potential gifts when the wheel of fortune spins in your favor for the first half of the year. The second half of 2011 brings a spectacular slew of new friends, alliances and networking opportunities when Jupiter moves into your house of dreams, goals and community. Venus showers you with extra doses of love and cash for the month of July, just in time for your birthday. And Mars brings the action, energy and work in August and early September.

Get ready to jet set this spring and/or summer when the planet of glamour enters your long-distance travel sector this April. Your homebody instincts give way to the lure of travel and adventure in 2011. Fall and winter bring the return of dreamy Neptune to your sector of transformation for one last jaunt between August and 2012.


Sushi's horoscope, another good one. lol. ;)


Year 2011 Overview

Your legendary tenacity and patience is truly about to pay off in spades this year Taurus. After a long and arduous 12 years, your luck is returning with a fabulous vengeance. Jupiter, the planet of large-scale fortune enters your sturdy stars this June for an extended stint taking you right into 2012 in excellent standing. Never has it felt so easy to let go of comfort zones and move into unknown territory with such confidence and gusto. Even the most cautious and conservative of bulls can easily see that the rewards far outweigh the risk this year. Push the envelope, raise the bar and go for the biggest stakes your loyal heart can fathom.

You're a florid channel of original ideas this spring when six planets line up in your unconscious sector of dreams and inspiration right around your birthday. Ready yourself for what becomes a turbo-charged imagination to keep you up at night with more genius schemes than there is time to humanly handle. Your brain will feel like a non-stop idea factory that refuses to rest, so you'll need extra time in nature or at the gym to remain relatively grounded.

Unexpected social encounters and fabulous new friendships flourish throughout the year with special highlights occurring in March and April when Mars powers up your friendship sector. May and June are stellar months for dating and mating with all around good times to be had in general compliments of Venus in Taurus. You've got your mind on your money and your money on your mind all summer with Venus and Mars emphasizing your financial sector. Make your money in June and July while the getting is good and save the leisure rewards for August when you can kick back guilt-free.

Terrible nightmare.

It's 4:45am. I just woke up from a terrible, vivid nightmare. My kids and I were on our way home from a visit to Mexico, Sushi wasn't with us. We stopped at the border, there was a terrible border agent who was ripping my car apart and generally causing problems. I was forced to go inside the agents building and when I came out, my van and my kids were gone. Gone. From there on out it just got more terrifying. The kidnappers kept taunting me with 2 dozen red roses and notes where they were obviously tracking down the rest of my family. The local help wouldn't do anything and I was stuck on the mexico side because now I didn't have any of my paperwork. I couldn't even get to the US side to ask for their help. It was horrible. It was vivid. I remember the buildings, the freeway, the color of the red, red roses, the green grass. I now know two things. One, I will never, ever go to mexico and Two, I never should have read that terrible article about Juarez Mexico and how it is a dying town.

Merry Christmas!!!

Well, this is probably it. The next few days are madness. Madness I tell ya! So, from the sushiboy household to yours, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! And safe travels for you all. :)