The baby!

My little "basketball" tummy is growing! I am finally past the stage where people don't just look at me and question if I am just letting myself go...instead strangers don't even hesitate and congratulate me! This guy today at this quilting fair said "Now we really got to get you on the light beer...." It was hilarious...cause it was obvious that he was joking. Only 3 more months to go ... and then I will have to start working out (blah...working out will never be a pleasurable thing).

Here is little miss Kiernan Grace:

Life is good.

Swap Tree

A friend told me about the next best thing in the world today. Not only is it awesome, it is practical and green. So everyone should check it out!

Yes, I am leaving you hanging on what exactly it is because it's more exciting that way.

:o)

http://www.swaptree.com/

Automatic Everything!

As mentioned in a previous post, we have moved into a brand new office building for work. Brand new cubes, chairs, phones etc....and it's amazing...love it! In fact, I feel more productive in my new space even though that is probably not supported at all, just feels that way.

Of course our bathrooms are very nice - complete with automatic flush, soap and faucet...yet not automatic paper towel dispenser...hmm. Our old building had the auto flush part and it gets to the point that I go the bathroom at home and have to remind myself that the toilet will not autoflush in the Riffel residence. Now I am happy to have all the automated equipment, don't get me wrong. But whoever designs these things should be smarter. The auto soap only dispenses enough soap for tiny hands. I have to fake out the soap dispenser and act like a new pair of hands to get the extra squirt in order to properly make the appropriate foam bubbles to get a good clean. They should design it to dispense the correct amount so I don't have to confuse the soap everyday.

The bottom line is I am in the wrong field - I should clearly be designing automated bathroom equipment!

New Music Searching

I love discovering unknown artists. In fact...I should have worked for like a record company because I enjoying listening to EP's from artists and becoming a fan before they hit the radio. So in doing my music search this quiet Saturday morning I stumbled upon Matt Simons...who was listed to be comparable to Joshua Radin - which I beg to differ. I would put him more in the Gavin Degraw category. Anyways - he's not bad. His EP is on iTunes or of course you can hear his music on myspace.

The Jason Mraz tickets have arrived!!! So I am officially counting down the days till May 6th!

The Big Move!

Monday I will be officially moving into our new building at work. Our cubes are going to be bigger and our new building is glamorous. So all in all - everyone is very excited. We now have a parking garage so for the ever changing crazy Kansas weather, I can park in a covered spot so no more ice to scrap off my car. And as I am slowly becoming the fat kid these days as my pregnant belly starts to pop - I won't have to feel guilty taking the elevator up to my 3rd floor window office...and by office I mean cube that is by a window. It's all in the way you look at it right? I will say I am as excited for work on Monday as I was the first day of my job.

This weekend was spent at home with my hubby! (Will May 1st ever get here?) We had some good friends over to grill out Saturday and even managed to do an "interview" of a potential daycare provider that is actually AFFORDABLE! It's a miracle. The rest of my day will be spent finishing the laundry, making some taco salad for dinner and enjoying some tv time.

Daycare

Everyone, even those who don't have kids and are no where near having kids, just know that it is EXPENSIVE! So of course, getting myself in this position I knew that there were going to be lots of extra costs like diapers and even more draining on the wallet...daycare ( and of course a million other things on the list that continues until your kid finally gets married and a job in the real world ). Not only that, a good in home day care for an infant is crazy hard to find. So where did I turn - craigslist. Which actually is about the only place I could find it easy and FREE to look and contact in home daycare providers. All you people who are now thinking, why would anyone look there....I hardly know anyone with kids in this area using daycare so word of mouth isn't working. And there is follow up contact, you contact references, you do an interview before baby even comes into the world so it's not like I am just handing baby over to some stranger....calm yourself. Are you ready to continue? Good. The crazy thing is in this area, more so Olathe, daycare is like another mortgage payment. And that's when it hit me....I am in the wrong line of work. However I love working with adults and going to my nice desk away from home. BUT I could bank like 5 mortgage payments a month if I was doing what these people do. So when all is said and done, I am hoping to find a nice care provider who is LESS than a mortgage payment a month and doesn't leave Baby Riffel and Ducky like this.

Best Job EVER!

After a long busy week of being overworked and still underpaid, and yes I think I will always be underpaid because that's just how the world works. If i told them I was happy with my pay, I would never get a raise again...so as I was saying, overworked and underpaid, I have finally discovered the best job EVER!

I would do this job for less than I make now even...granted the salary is WAY over what I make now...so that is a bonus. Check it out!

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/about-the-job/

The link on the page " About the job " shows the salary, responsibilities, etc. You will be joining me there for work on Monday I am sure.

Waffles...mmm!

Nothing beats some homemade waffles with butter and syrup to make your Saturday morning start off right. After a long busy week at work, I am looking forward to a weekend of just sitting around and relaxing! My netflix movie is in, my dvr has some Law and Order saved up and a good book is all I need to enjoy a couple days of down time.

Mark you calendars - February 3rd is the big day when The Fray's new cd is released! Borders, here I come!

Another new year...

Nothing like starting the new year out feeling lucky!

There was a drawing at work on Friday and I somehow managed to be the pick for $2000! I even told my supervisor I wasn't going to attend the drawing cause I had plenty of work to do yet for the afternoon. Then a huge bundle of balloons shows up at my desk and the rosatia was sure to follow. To top it off, I had no electricity Friday morning so I did my best getting ready in the dark and showed up with some ridiculous hair ( that's right, I can't live without my blow dryer and straightener...well I can live... I just won't make any public appearances ) and they so promptly took my photo to send out in a mass email to the whole company on Monday. But hey ... $2000 is worth it in the end. See ya soon Mr. Tax Man!


** If you click the link, the picture comes up easier to view.