Twenty One Days

As you all may have heard, Glymm has declared themselves goners. Unfortunately, their business model just couldn’t hold up any longer and they weren’t making money on these boxes.

Much like the case with my attempt at Butin Box. While working on the business plan, there just was no viable way to make the boxes affordable to customers while breaking even or making a profit. Shipping costs are slightly ridiculous and some companies are money grabbers.

If Glymm had charged $15.00 a month, I wonder if that would have made a difference. Regardless, I’m pretty sad to see them close their virtual doors. They were one of my favourite boxes to receive every month. Lots of goodies!

I’m still receiving TopBox which isn’t too bad. There was a box filled with Benefit goodies the other month and I loved each and every one of the products in it, especially their “They’re Real” mascara. If only it weren’t $30.00 a tube! I’m almost out of the sample. Boo!

I hope everyone is having a good Spring so far. The weather keeps changing rapidly, but the conditions are always mild.

I’ve spent the past week making as many friends as possible. Between trips to the lake courtesy of a friend with a cabin up there; baseball tournaments, warm, summer-like weather, I’ve run into a number of really nice people. This area has a lot of very decent, friendly people in it.

Since I’ve moved more north on the Island, I’ve noticed one thing: All of the men my age that are bachelors, established with careers, and kid-friendly… Work in Alberta! What the heck!? That or they aren’t looking for a relationship. Not that I am really seeking one (I have way too much on the go to be able to establish a decent relationship). It’s just something I’ve noticed. This area seems to be a targeted area for external job offers haha

Oh and I chopped off about 14 inches of hair. It was lipping me off… What an I say?

I was going to sit down and write a long post while my kids ate their lunch, but apparently me sitting down is permission for them to play twenty questions, so I can’t think enough to write out a decent post. Consider this one a pointless filler.

This morning, a friend and I went down to the sandy volleyball court, complete with dead, partially decomposed seagull. It was a blast! I haven’t played volleyball in years, so my forearms are pretty sore.

After trying out the interesting eggs benedict at Ohhh So Yummy… Café and drinking a few coffees, we headed to the volleyball court. I had never played volleyball in sand before and it was fun. Diving and jumping around the court trying to get the ball… And missing. Lots.

Best part of it all was that the sun was out, though the temperature was cool.

After I pooped myself out there, I went out and checked out the small climbing wall in Cumberland with a new friend. Good times!

My arms are throbbing and I am exhausted in the best way posible.

Did… Did I just receive my February Glymm box? I just received a Glymm box but it’s way too early for March and I can’t recall receiving a February one… I received a sucker, eye shadow, a giant thing of lip gloss, nail polish (gel), and… That’s it.  I think I was supposed to get a specialty soap sample as well.

I’ve started preparing for nursing discussion videos. They’re ramblings at this point as I find my footing and plan out the lessons better. They are linked from here.

In November, managed to land a temporary line at a long term care facility. I had an amazing time there. Learned a lot and met a great assortment of coworkers. Out of the four places I have worked, this place has been the best. Really friendly coworkers, patient-centred care (rather than task oriented), clean, and bright. I was really sad last week when I worked my last shift of the line.

In case you’re wondering, a line is essentially a rotation or a set schedule. I was covering someone else’s schedule temporarily.

I found it hard to find appropriate daycare in the Comox Valley for myself. It seems that there aren’t any licensed providers that open before 7 and as my shift started at 7, I needed care prior to then. Especially considering that my commute was anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes long (depending on the weather and traffic… Apparently, there are a lot of “Wide Loads” at night and early AM!)

I had to rely on my mom which is really the last thing I want to do. She is sick with Lyme’s first off, and secondly it doesn’t take long for the give and take to be tipped in my favour. Whether I want it to be or not. I’m stuck in a hard position without many options. I could always hire someone out of home but then I would hardly break even when it comes to bills and costs.

Kids will grow. There will be a time when I won’t need care for them. It will be a bitter-sweet relief since I will have to come to terms with them growing up and not needing me as much. My role in their life wil evolve as will their own roles in their life.

One by one, they will reach their 18th birthday and I will be left alone. No partner. No one to cherish at the end of a day’s work. Just me, myself, and I. Eventually, I will come to terms with this. And at that point, I will be humble and at peace. I’m getting there.

Until then, I am filled with empty apathy.

Been a while since I’ve posted one of these, but October’s box inspired me a little bit. I received my first TopBox and was a little disappointed in its contents, but maybe I just had high expectations.

In All its Glory

I’m really enjoying how they keep changing up the actual bag that they use. So far, I have an orange, a pink, a black, a white, and now a shiny pink bag. I’ve been using them to organize items. I have one that I use as my “Nurse” bag — I keep my nursing license, CPR certificate, eye glass cleaner, pens, and so forth in it. Another is used to house my many facial moisturizers and samples; another for my earrings, and so forth.

Hot Pink! Breast Cancer Awareness

As you all probably know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Glymm showed its support by packing this month’s box inside of a hot pink shiny faux snake skin pouch.

Included in the October’s box includes two tubes of special facial moisturizer, baby oil, Baby buttercream, lash cards, and mascara. Oh and a breast cancer awareness ribbon.

Cyber Derm ~ The Sunscreen Company

There were two small sized moisturizers included in this month’s Glymm box. They are made by Cyber Derm, which is a sunscreen company.

Every Morning Sun Whip :: SPF 25 with 15% zinc oxide allows for a transparent application of sun protection that is acne-friendly. This sample was enough for about 2 weeks.

H2O Hydration :: Provides a calming hydration to help relieve your face of daily stressors. Perfect for application underneath/before Every Morning Sun Whip.

These moisturizers have a light, non-perfumed scent, and an easy application. Not bad, especially for the Every Morning Sun Whip one. It’s hard to find good sun protection for this Irish-skinned lady girl. This is a good redemption for that other sun screen product Glymm sent out during the summer… The cocoa something that claimed to have a transparent application yet actually painted your face white. Aye.

Baby Buttercreme

A medium-sized pot of Baby Buttercreme; a hair product that you rub through wet hair to avoid the frizzies.

I’m not too sure if I like this product or not. I’m having issues with my hair lately, but it sure smells good. Smells fresh!

This product is made by Miss Jessie’s.

Lash cards.

I give these a hearty “Meh.” I didn’t find these at all helpful. In fact, I made a bigger mess of my eye than had I not used them.

Lightening Lash Mascara. This stuff takes forever to dry and flakes off relatively easy, but I like the application of it and how it seemingly lengthens and fills lashes. Would maybe buy… haha

Yessss! It’s back! The product card. Thank god. I seriously hated the online version. Added bonus:

Glymm Mama

A glymm box catered to moms and moms-to-be. Ooo, this looks like a gooder. As a way to promote this, we received…

Baby Oil

The world’s best eye makeup remover. Slather this on your wet body to moisturize the ever-loving heck out of your skin.

Did that sound dirty?

I can’t believe we are half-way through the month already! I have been amazingly busy between a broken washing machine, baseball season coming to an end, birthday parties, swimming lessons, trips to the lakes, oh my!

I haven’t been sticking to a budget terribly well, though I’m certainly not going over… That said, I will definitely be over budget this month for groceries simply because I haven’t taken the time to plan things out as I should have and I haven’t been spending enough time at home so as to prepare meals, snacks, and so forth. Bad me! Bad!

I’ve been outside of the house more than I have been in it.

Onto other things… I am just getting ready now to sleep train Keagan. I’m dreading it like crazy, but our Storkcraft replacement part and converstion kit has come in the mail earlier this week. With my return to work looming closely, it’s about time for he and I to get ready for a proper bed time schedule. He’s been a complete dream so far, but he’s too wiggly for my big, tall bed, and I’m sick of using the futon!

Any suggestions for books, please suggest away! I will be looking at the no-cry sleep solution first.

Last month, I received a tax return since I overpaid my taxes in 2010. June was a month of redemption, but I didn’t go too crazy. I probably spent around $500 on groceries last month, mind you a lot of that was stocking up on staple items that I had’t yet acquired for the new place.

July will be a strict budget month as I try to save on money for August. Since I’m not receiving any outstanding government support yet and my ex has run into hard times financially so child maintenance is in limbo, I am definitely going to tighten up the budget this month.

This month is my last month of leave. Oh my gosh. I’m sad! But more than that, I’m grateful for being able to spend almost an entire year with my new son and my daughter. I love this country

I’m out of milk and cream, but I’m not sure if I’m going to run off to the store to buy some more. I might just invest in some nut milk bags and create my own milk from oats, almonds, or whatever else I might have in abundance in my cupboards.

I have enough oats to hopefully last the month. Wheat gluton to make about two more logs of seitan/wheat meat. Enough whole wheat flour to make plenty of noodles should I need to. Four jars of tomato sauce. Black beans, split peas, bread, eggs, lettuce, rice, lots of walnuts, nutritional yeast flakes… Eek. We’ll see how long I can go without a trip to the grocery store!