Deleting Facebook

Yesterday while running 4 miles (woo hoo!) and listening to a This American Life podcast called "Beware the Jabberwock" (about conspiracy theorists), I made the decision to delete the Facebook app off my phone. In the past couple weeks I have been contemplating whether I should do it and I decided to take the plunge.

It seems like every day there is a story about Facebook and the terrible things that they do (or don't do). Whether it is allowing hate groups to fester on the site leading to 700,000 Rohingyans having to flee Myanmar, allowing the spread of anti- vaccination information in this country leading to outbreaks of diseases that should be dead, or just simply not protecting the privacy of users, I am no longer okay helping the site make money. 

The podcast mentioned above was about Lenny Pozner, one of the parents who had a child, Noah, killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. There are disgusting Facebook groups that have published the Pozner's personal information- phone number, address, etc. People in those groups feed off each other and some become stalkers and/or threaten the Sandy Hook families (this unfortunately happens after every tragedy). The Pozners have had to move 8 times already because of threats. This seems to happen a lot- Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford has had to move 4 times after testifying against Brett Kavanaugh.

My use of the site, my clicks, the things that I read, the ads that pop up, etc. all contribute towards the bottom line of Facebook and I no longer feel comfortable using the platform. I personally am not in any of the above-mentioned groups and I understand the slippery slope argument with policing content. However, I have a choice to make...I don't pay for Facebook because of course the site is free, but I don't have to help them make money either. I do have to keep my account active because I run the monthly Bunco group out of Facebook, but maybe I can find a better place to house that as well. Either way, I am looking forward to reclaiming some time by not mindlessly scrolling through Facebook every day. 

Do you still have Facebook? 

Job search update

The week after I got back from Mexico I had an introductory interview at a new company. It was my first interview in a VERY LONG TIME-  I have been at my job for over 10 years. I thought that it went well, but I came out of the call thinking that I could have prepared a bit better. I thought that I was a shoe-in for the job, but I was unsure whether that came across in my answers. 

A week later I received a call from the other manager to set up a second interview since she was unable to make the first interview. We ended up spending an hour and a half on the phone and got along great. I knew that I had impressed the first manager in the beginning of this second call because she kept saying how impressed they were with my experience. WOO HOO! The following day the two managers were going to get together to discuss the interviews and they were hoping to determine next steps sometime this week. Knowing that I had to get a thank you letter out quickly, I emailed one that night to both ladies thanking them.

Last Monday I was at a training when one of the manager's phone numbers popped up. With butterflies in my stomach, I dialed back about an hour later but got her voicemail. Later that night we ended up talking and she let me know that they were VERY interested but that my salary request was higher than they had projected for the position. I was honest and told her my current salary. She responded that she would work on it and that she would be in touch. I didn't hear back for a few days but then got a call asking me to fly out to DC for an in-person interview with one of the managers and the president of the company. At this point I figure that they have to be at least close on my salary and that they did a calculation that my experience could be worth the extra money (or others hired that came in at lower salary ranges didn't have enough experience). Either way, flying me out is a really good sign!

So next week I will fly out to DC for an in-person interview. I really, really, really want this job and know that I would kick ass at it. Keep your fingers crossed next Thursday for me!!

Mexico 2019

This will mostly be a picture post of our week long trip to Cancun, Mexico. Over a week later Wes is still asking "Why aren't we in Mexico?" I hear you buddy- I wish we were back in the sun as well.

Izzy just lost her first tooth about a week before our trip- at breakfast before we got on the plane I noticed that her other bottom front tooth was precariously hanging on....

Kids were pretty good on the plane. At 5, Izzy was easy to entertain with the Captain Underpants Netflix show and a movie. Wes was pretty good but didn't last all 3.5 hours.

Sure enough, we are in our van from the airport to the hotel after landing in Mexico and Izzy lost her tooth during the ride!

Our view for the week from the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun

Our view at night

Izzy living her best life in the pool

Iguana in the ruins next to our hotel

Gotta love the ridiculously big fruity alcoholic drinks!

Wes enjoying some beans

Boat ride out out to Isla Mujeres (Wes' first boat ride!)

For Christmas this year my MIL got all of us a "swimming with dolphins" experience which was awesome. Izzy was totally on board with no fear what-so-ever.

Wes on the other hand was scared of the fish in the water with us and was willing to pet the dolphin and kiss it, but not much else.

Cielo was a cute dolphin

We all got pulled two dolphins- Izzy lost a grip on one of the dolphins so she just got pulled by one

Getting pushed by two dolphins on the bottom of her feet and loving it!

Working on her duck face at lunch

Loving fresh coconut water

Wes in his early GQ photo shoot? LOL

That night the Westin had a Mexican-themed dinner with local food, dancing and a mariachi band. The kids LOVED it- both the show and the Mexican candy they got to eat afterwards.

Westin also had a pinata afterwards. Wes was the youngest kid to compete, Izzy was the second youngest.

Everyone discounted Izzy's strength because she was younger but she was hitting the pinata HARD. She got her own pinata "hat" from one of the "arms" of the pinata.

Izzy dancing in front of the colored fountain lights

This girl has no fear I tell you. She was super excited to pose with whoever this is supposed to be

Pretty sunset

Gelato!

Even Wes was willing to pose with the Transformers

One day we took a private van 2.5 hours out to Chichen Itza which was AMAZING. Our van driver was also our guide. The whole history is super fascinating.

Our lunch spot in Valladolid, a cute town on the way back to Cancun

Izzy was super excited to get her hair braided

First time playing mini golf. Wes lasted all of 3 holes and then just wanted to send his ball down a tunnel over and over again

One morning we had breakfast next to the aquarium and we had the best time watching the dolphins play beneath us while we ate! I might have enjoyed it more than the kids! :-)

The dolphins loved jumping on this raft and then sliding or rolling off and into the water

Enjoying the pool before the rain storm (of all of 5 minutes) came through. We hung out at the swim up pool bar. :-)

Wes loves the pool!

As we walked to dinner our final night we came across a sign about the alligators in the water below. We kept looking for alligators in the brush but instead found this huge alligator sunning itself in plain site! 

I could see us going back to Cancun in a couple of years when Wes would be old enough to handle swimming a cenote. If we tried to bring him into an underground cave to swim on this trip he would have left marks on our skin from gripping us too tight!

Gearing up for Mexico

We leave for Cancun, Mexico tomorrow and I can't wait for the warmer weather! 

CP and I contemplated cancelling the trip while I was furloughed but decided that even if I was still shutdown that we would go. The flights were made with points, the hotel is through a timeshare that my parents have, and my MIL was flying in from NH to join us on the trip. If I still hadn't been paid that just would have meant a lot of rice and beans for meals and probably just sticking to the pool instead of venturing out, but now we don't have to worry about that!

I had some birthday money and saw a few things that I thought would be super cute for our trip. The first was this swimsuit from Summersalt. I kept getting Instagram ads for the suits and they were intriguing but the suit is so cute! Thankfully when it arrived at my house and I tried it on I loved it!

I also saw this dress in a ModCloth Facebook ad and thought it was so pretty! Definitely something that I can also wear to work this summer. It's very flattering and I can't wait to wear it next week!

As you guys know I had plantar fasciitis for much of the year last year and as the weather gets warmer I plan on running outside more than I currently have been (3 times outside so far this year). Last fall I saw these flip flops on heavy sale at DSW and snatched them up. Are they the cutest flip flops I have ever seen? No, but the name (Cloudsteppers by Clark's) is correct- they are SO COMFORTABLE. Part of the problem with flip flops is that they have no support for your feet and these feel spongy and supportive.

Bring on the warmer weather!

As always I was not paid or asked to blog about these items. They are just cute things that I found and wanted to share with others.

Day in the Life- Winter 2019

Oh man I totally forgot to do a Fall DITL. :-(

Day in the Life- Winter 2019

Saturday, February 16th

CP is 42.5 years old

NSC is 40 years old

Izzy is 5 years old

Wes is 2.5 years old

Marshmallow is 6 years old

Cocoa is 3 years old

Friday night- Go to bed around 11pm after deciding with CP that we would start Game of Thrones from the very beginning before the last season starts in April. We make it through the first two episodes- it is interesting watching it for a second time. 

Wes starts crying at 12:45am for some unknown reason so I head into his room. He complains about his foot hurting but I can’t find anything wrong. I bring him to the glider and start to rock him back to sleep. After about 5 minutes of rocking he is back asleep so into the crib he goes and I head back to bed.

At 6am Wes is yelling for us. I was in the middle of a very vivid dream so I’m pretty groggy. I tell CP “your turn” and turn over. CP goes in to Wes’ room but Wes yells at him “Go away! I want Mommy!” CP comes back into room but soon after puts clothes on and heads downstairs. 

I fall back asleep until 6:30 when I hear Izzy singing. I stay in her room while she gets dressed for soccer class and then head downstairs with her. Izzy starts to watch Wild Kratts and I read some Washington Post articles online.

7:30- I go up upstairs to wake Wes up so that he can have breakfast. He is groggy and also wet. I change him into soccer clothes, he insists on being the person to turn off his bedroom light and we head downstairs.

Groggy Wes

 Izzy is eating an “egg burger”.

Izzy teaching Wesley how to spell his name at breakfast

Wes doesn't want his picture taken at breakfast

My breakfast- coffee with sugar free creamer and a broccoli and cheese omelette

8am- I run upstairs for a quick shower. We herd everyone in the car and are off to soccer class, talking about the clothes we need to bring for our upcoming trip to Mexico.

8:30- We arrive just as soccer class starts. Wes is not really into class and wants to put on his bear sweatshirt (only on his head) so that he can run around as Batman. Halfway through he wants to participate only with CP so we switch and I watch Izzy's class while talking with friends. Wes decides he wants me in class with him again towards the end. 

"Batman" Wes

9:20- The kids run races against each other after class. We also make a bathroom stop.

9:45- We are home. I grab two bananas for the kids and bring them out to the car. CP and kids head off for clothes shopping as Wes is moving into 4t clothes and I'm unsure of what Izzy can fit into for our trip. I check Wes’ closet for size 10 shoes & sandals and he doesn't have anything. I also check Izzy’s room for shorts for our trip- unfortunately most everything is size 5t (aka too small).

Going through Izzy's closet

10:05- I get in my car and head for a wax appointment. Afterwards, I call CP to gauge where he is and how shopping is going. I decide I don't have enough time to run errands so I head home and read my Kindle book (The Marriage Pact) until CP and kids get back.

11:45- Earlier in the day we decided that we would head out to lunch since we don't have a lot of food in the fridge, so CP picks me up from home. I suggested Asian for lunch; kids want pizza. We have a coupon for pizza so we decide to do that. I end up getting BBQ chicken pizza....it was so tasty but I should have gotten salad. Halfway through lunch Wes screams that he has poop so I change his diaper in the bathroom. Izzy eats her entire pizza (!), Wes only eats two small pieces. The restaurant has free gelato for the kids so Izzy gets birthday cake flavor and Wes gets salted caramel. I take a small bite of Wes' gelato.

On the way home CP pretends to drive crazy and the kids love it. Wes says “it’s so crazy” which makes CP and I laugh. He also screams “Frozen on!” because he wants us to turn the Frozen soundtrack on. We remind him that he has to ask politely.

1pm- We are home and I bring Wes in the door screaming, bringing him upstairs for a nap. I read him a quick Thomas story and put him in his crib.

Izzy meets me in her room and we have a "fashion show" where she tries on her new clothes for me and we also try a few shorts on to see which ones she could wear in Mexico.

I then head downstairs to the basement to start the washer for kid clothes and sheets.

I decide to make some chai tea from loose leaves and it is delicious. CP lays down on the couch while Izzy is on her bean bag watching her new favorite show, Planet Earth.

CP is sous vide-ing our dinner

1:30- I leave house and call my mom who is on her way to their house in Michigan. We discuss having them over for dinner since we won't see them for a bit. I confirm that dinner also works for my dad. I then call CP who informs me that I need to get more meat- now. *sigh* I turn around and head to the grocery store. The store has some sample tables set up and damn- they have a brownie sample. I taste it and decide to get some for dessert tonight. I end up buying wine, lettuce, bananas, beef, and brownies.

Marshmallow and Cocoa hanging out

One minute later it is time to play

2:15- I drop the food off at home and finally I am off to do some shopping- Old Navy first. I find 2 shirts & a pair of skinny jeans for myself. I also find Wes 6 pairs of 4t pants, all on sale. Usually we get clothes from a friend but only had 1 pair of 4t pants handed down to us because her son ripped through the knees of all of the other ones.

3:15- Thankfully there is a grocery store in the same plaza as Old Navy as I forgot to pick up a lemon at the grocery store!

3:30- I head over to DSW and quickly find Wes new shoes and sandals in size 10. I eat an apple in the car ride home.

4pm- Just as I arrive home, CP is heading up the stairs to get Wes up from his nap. I also head upstairs to show Wes his new stuff. He likes the dinosaur sandals, but loves his new Lightning McQueen shoes even more and wants to wear them (he had the same pair in size 9).

4:30- I put in another load of laundry.

4:45- The kids go downstairs to the basement to play while I run upstairs to get workout clothes on. I grab water on the way.

5pm- I decide to turn on A Little Obsessed, Total Body Cardio, the precursor to 80 Day Obsession. I alternate focusing on my workout and yelling at the kids as they fight over various toys. I have about 5 minutes left in the workout when my parents come downstairs, so I decide to turn off the workout and stretch while talking to my dad.

Wes on the Barbie phone

The doorbell rings and it is friends dropping off clothes for Wes and Valentine’s for the kids. We talk for a minute or two before they leave. 

I set the table while talking to my dad and at 5:45 run upstairs to quickly shower. Dinner is ready as I come downstairs. CP made steak with mushroom risotto and asparagus. Wes complains about the meat being “picy” (spicy) even though it is just salt and pepper on it. We cut off the sides of the meat and he eats a bit. Izzy manages to fall off her chair (second time today). I enjoy my glass of Rioja with my meal. After dinner we all split up a big brownie for dessert.

Wes fights eating tonight

My mom does the dishes and I package up the leftovers. 

7:15- Izzy plays a game where she runs around asking people what she put in a gift bag. We all make silly guesses. The adults sit down to talk about some issues at my parent’s business and the health issues my dad’s sister is having while the kids run around the house.

Izzy "directing" Wes as usual

8pm- Wes heads up to bed with CP while the rest of us play "pass" with Izzy.

At 8:25 I tell Izzy she is heading up to bed at 8:30 and we have to start to calm down. She requests flying airplane and my mom acquiesces just once. Izzy requests that my mom puts her to bed- yes I get out of putting the kids to bed tonight!

Flying airplane

9:15- My parents leave. CP and I watch Game of Thrones Season 1, episode 3 and turn the tv to SNL at 10:30.

11:15- I am falling asleep so head upstairs, leaving CP sleeping on the couch. I don't turn off the light until 11:40- way past bedtime.

8759 steps

Did not count my WW points today