Crazy Busy

Oh my gosh! So... the second half of this month has been crazy busy.

The short story:
 I started my first challenge & support group as a Health & Fitness Coach, the kids went back to school, I am going back to school, We finally got our house listed for sale and I'm currently working with 5 clients that are looking to buy houses.



The long story:

Interested in getting healthy and fit? Contact me! I will help you transform your life and your body through good nutrition, fun fitness programs and a challenge & support group.








The kids are back at school and because things aren't crazy enough around here they are in 3 different schools and I will have 6 teachers to buy Christmas gifts for.

Ryan is in 3rd grade this year at the local public school (teacher#1). He goes to a 4th grade class for math & reading (teacher#2). He also goes to another school 1 day per week for gifted instruction (teacher#3).

Luke is in Kindergarten this year at a nearby charter school (teacher #4). He has been having a hard time in this transition. School is all day and he is the first on the bus and the last off, so he is gone from 7am-4pm. He has been having a lot of anxiety, trouble sleeping and begs to stay home with tears in his eyes. He is breaking this mama's heart. 

Henry is in preschool again this year and has moved up to the 4 year old class (teachers #5&#6). He goes 4 days a week in the afternoon. So far, this year has gone much more smoothly than last year when I couldn't even get a first day picture because Brad had to carry him to the car kicking and screaming.

And of course, I can't leave out a recent pic of Josiah & Anneliese because they would be sad.

I am going back to school to get a BS in Accounting.

Say what?? I know, I know... I already have a ton of stuff going on and I just became a Realtor, but it is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I've been researching and soul searching for two years. I really think that my depression the past few years has been partially caused by my brain craving some type of mental stimulation. It was basically saying "Ok, if you aren't going to use me then I will just shut down." Accounting wasn't my first choice in programs, but it was in the top five. The doors to the other programs kept being slammed shut repeatedly, so I took it as a sign that this must be the right path for me. It certainly is a more flexible degree program and will fit into my life easier. The other degrees would have been more compatible if I had pursued them right out of high school. No use dwelling on it though, as I wouldn't have all these gorgeous kiddos. If you are looking for an affordable, accredited, accelerated college degree click on the logo!

                                                

The remodeling of our old house was finally completed and we listed it for sale mid August. If you know of anyone looking for a move-in ready house, completely updated and remodeled with land in my area send them my way.

After a slight lull in real estate activity in the beginning of August, my business is back in full swing. I'm working with 5 clients right now, helping them to buy their dream homes. I love getting to look at all the houses and research the market. Know anyone looking to buy or sell? Have them contact me!

And it is bittersweet. I love the quiet and the time alone that school brings me, but it always creates an internal struggle. It reminds me that I'm not the person I wish I was. It reminds me of my inner failings.

Electromagnetic Radiation

I've decided that I must emit some sort of high frequency wavelength that is only detected by babies and dogs.

Strangely, my dog, Toby is super attached to me. I say strangely, because I'm not exactly sure why. I don't pet him very often or feed him treats. Mostly, he is ignored since I constantly have a child attached to me. Maybe it is because we both have anxiety issues and that creates some sort of unspoken bond. He seems to think I will protect him from the chaotic children and yelling husband.




He is my constant shadow. When I leave he usually runs around looking for me and then once he calms down he proceeds to nervously lick the carpet.

This carpet licking drives Brad crazy. I'm not sure why, since it doesn't really make noise and he is just calmly laying in one place. It is not nearly as annoying as the kids that are climbing the walls and hanging from the ceiling fans.

Back to the emitting some sort of weird radio frequency. Brad says that he can tell that I'm almost home, because even before I pull in the driveway, Toby starts going crazy; running and jumping around.

I could understand if it was as I pulled up to the house, but before I even pull in the driveway?



 The other indicator is the way that Anneliese reacts to me either getting closer to her OR leaving the house when she is sleeping. She will be sleeping soundly and it never fails that within 5 minutes of me getting in bed, to ya know, sleep myself, or leaving the house she wakes up.

Apparently my wavelength has to be within a certain radius of her and if it gets too near or far away it sounds some type of internal alarm.

How about you guys? Can your dogs and babies sense you being near or far?

Perspective

per·spec·tive 

n.

1.

a. A view or vista.

b. A mental view or outlook: "It is useful occasionally to look at the past to gain a perspective on the present" (Fabian Linden).

2. The appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision.

3.

a. The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective.

b. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker.

c. The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis.

4. The technique of representing three-dimensional objects and depth relationships on a two-dimensional surface.

adj.

Of, relating to, seen, or represented in perspective.

Not that long ago I was taking two different clients to see houses on the same day. The first client was a husband and wife, in their early to mid 30s looking at a $330,000 house. We will call them Matt and Sarah. The second client was an eighty year old lady looking at houses less than $10,000. We'll call her Hazel, because although it sounds like an old lady name I love it. I was super excited to show Matt and Sarah this giant, newly built home. I was really only meeting Hazel out of obligation and kind of wishing I didn't have to go. Obviously, God had a lesson for me.

I pull up to the giant 5,000+ sq ft house and Matt and Sarah are there waiting with Sarah's parents checking out the outside. The owner of the home was still there doing some last minute vacuuming. I knock on the door and let her know that we are there. She gets everything put away and leaves. I engage in some small talk as we wait. Matt is very friendly. Sarah has a little bit of an uppity attitude, but she is chatting about what color she would paint the door and shutters and is upbeat. As they walked through the home I felt like I should have been on an episode of HGTV. "Oh! this would be a great setup for entertaining" "I would have to really change that backsplash" "Uh, what were they thinking here?" "Where did they buy this tile? At the discount bin?" "Did they even bother to clean?" Now, this was a very nice house 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms with granite countertops, a wine cooler, finished theater room in the basement, inground pool etc. I felt bad for the husband and parents as they tried to apologize and reign her in. I don't think she will ever be satisfied or pleased.

Next, I go to meet Hazel. I pull in front of a $9,000 home and wait and wait and wait. She finally pulls up about 15-20 minutes late. She apologizes profusely as her power had been out and she couldn't use her phone to call or get directions. We go inside and not surprisingly the house needs A LOT of work. Windows were broken, the ceiling was falling in and there was nothing left of the kitchen but pipes. Most people would have walked right back out. She just jokes that it doesn't look as good as the pictures showed. She can see there is potential, but she thinks that it is probably more work than she is looking for. We drive to the next house that is only $6,000. The porch is about to cave in. What is left of the kitchen looks like something from the 1960s. But, the house as a whole is standing and seems structurally okay.  She raves the whole time about how nice the house is and how it could be really nice with just a little bit of decorating work. She is unsteady on her feet so I go down into the basement to take pictures of the furnace. I helped her back to her car and reprogrammed her GPS, that her son had bought her and she didn't know how to use, to go home. I gave her a hug (anyone that knows me, knows I don't do hugs) and made sure she drove away safely. She was so genuinely happy to just have a house it made my heart hurt.


After the first showing I just shook my head in disbelief. And then I had to check myself. Am I becoming that person? I tend towards liking nice things. I pin beautiful things on Pinterest way too often. I feel like I'm rarely satisfied with what I have. I always want something bigger or better. I don't think I'm materialistic. Most of what we have is old hand me downs or bought from Craigslist, but I can start to feel like what I have isn't good enough. I had a remodeling bug earlier this year. Most of the things have needed done since we moved here two years ago, but as we went along I felt myself being pulled into the luxury side. A series of unplanned events stalled the renovations and looking back I'm glad they did. We still have a few things that need done (like our bath that is plywood floors and a gaping hole where the shower should be) but I no longer feel the need for ceramic floors and quartz countertops. It would have put a large strain on our budget and not really necessary just for the pretty factor.





            I want to be Hazel. 
       I choose to be Hazel.

Enemy #1

I love trees! There is something so soothing about them. I feel the way about trees that Kristen Bell feels about sloths.

I'm actually considering moving (yes again!) to find a house in the middle of the woods somewhere.
I recently found out that there is an EVIL bug out there - The Asian Longhorned Beetle looking to destroy our trees here in Ohio. What you can do to help:

August is Tree Check Month

This is the best month to spot the adult beetle

Take 10 minutes and check the trees around you

Report sightings and get more info

 at AsianLonghornedBeetle.com

A Season of Change

I started out this post upbeat and positive about change, because the thought of change always gives me happy feelings inside. I was going to tell you about all the changes that are happening in my life right now. Then as I began to write all these things about change I realized that this was just a cover up. Change is a way for me to continuously not actually do anything different. It is a cop out and I need to be real with you and with myself if I want to make a difference. What changes are taking place are really not as important as me analyzing why change makes me temporarily happy. I can update you on them later. Here is the real scoop on change in my life.

It usually starts with me feeling unhappy with life. I feel overwhelmed and I'm certain that nothing is ever going to be any different. I have two choices. Either put on my big girl panties and actually make a difference or continue wallowing in my self loathing. I usually flop back and forth for awhile between thinking I'm changing and falling back into the same old traps. This phase involves endless research, planning and little real action. This actually sends me into a deeper depression, because it reinforces the thought that "NOTHING will ever change!" I then usually make some type of impulsive decision out of desperation. And for a little while that works. The change brings newness and excitement. It feels like there has been a substantial accomplishment. And then over time that fades away again and I'm back where I started. I feel like I'm on a perpetual roller coaster. I am either super high, motivated and ready to conquer the world or deep down low convinced that life sucks and I'd rather be anywhere but here. I'm fairly good at hiding how I really feel and functioning as if life is normal for the most part, but those inner thoughts are telling a different story.

I'm constantly convinced if only "this" was different or "that" was different then things would be better; life would be better. But, those things change and life is the same. The change needs to be in my brain and that is the real challenge. 

The key to REAL change is remembering:

Say What?

Some people will probably think "Don't Touch Me With Your Nose" is a weird title for a blog. I think it is a weird title for a blog. So then, why use it? There is a story behind it. I told my husband that I was starting a blog and needed a name for it. I expected him to not have any input per his norm, but he immediately spit back out at me "Don't Touch Me With Your Nose." My first reaction was no way! That is a terrible name. Then I thought about it for a few more minutes and it started growing on me. This phrase sums up my oddities so succinctly, that it has become a bit of a catch phrase at our house for you are acting weird again. Sooo... I have a thing with noses, particularly my husband's nose. I don't like for it to touch me. It freaks me out. Just thinking about it gives me a visceral reaction to run away. Whenever he gets close or leans in for a kiss I can't help but blurt out "Don't Touch Me With Your Nose!"  It seems to only be adult noses though. My kids' noses don't particularly weird me out and I'm fine with dog, cat and cow noses too.