It's Just Not Me

I wrote a blog about "why I don't want to make money from home" a few days ago.

I generally got some pretty good feedback from people who felt the same way I did.

I also got some "not-so-great feedback" from people who disagreed with me.

The negative feedback mainly came from friends who were making a living (or as a hobby) doing multilevel marketing.

Some of them felt I was bashing them, when in reality I don't feel like I did.

In fact, I buy several products from friends who sell products for these companies.

I mentioned in the post how much I LOVE my Scentsy products and my Younique 3D fiberlash mascara.

I will continue to buy these products as long as they keep selling them!

My problem was that as soon as I made a first purchase from one of my "friends", I already knew the Facebook message was coming.

 Something to the effect of...

"Hey! I hope you love your product as much as I do! In fact, I ended up loving it so much that I decided to start selling it! I know you're a busy mom that goes to school, and I think it'd be a great way for you to make some extra cash on the side! You get to make your own hours!"

I always politely decline.

I'm never rude about it because I know there are things people are passionate about doing.

I get rude when the same people constantly bombard me about joining their "teams". 

Why can't I just be a loyal customer?!

And I know that my friends that are part of these companies absolutely believe in what they are selling. 

It's just that I don't want to "sell" anything anymore.

Like I wrote in my blog, I spent a good chunk of my career as a recruiter in the Marine Corps.

I sold a lifestyle...a not so popular lifestyle...a lifestyle that could potentially put people in harm's way...a lifestyle that would define someone for the rest of their life....

It was one of the toughest billets I held in the Marine Corps, and because of that experience, I really never want to sell anything ever again.

So to all my friends who took a little offense to my post.

It was not intentional.

I love a lot of your products, and I will continue to be your loyal customer.

In fact, I buy my Scentsy and Younique from the same two people who first introduced me to the products.

To my friends who want to sell me Advocare or Beachbody, please just leave me alone.

It's awkward to tell you "no" more than once.

I like where I'm at with my health and fitness.

I eat healthier than the average person.

I don't need that extra "boost".

I'm happy with how my body looks, and Chalene Johnson is just not for me.  

I also don't like "at home" work outs....I enjoy the gym where I get two hours of free childcare. 

I don't do shakes or energy powders or pills or whatever....

I'm happy it works for you, and I totally see your amazing results on your Instagram and Facebook pages.

It makes me happy to see people make amazing transformations.

It's just not me.

Rodeo and John Legend

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world's largest livestock show and rodeo.

I wish I could put into words the magnitude of this event.

My parents used to take my sister and me year after year when we were kids.

Don't be judgin' me on my fanny pack!

I was hip...and cool...and we were probably the only Asian kids there in boots and cowboy hats...lol.

My parents totally embraced American culture and Texan culture when they immigrated here...what can I say?

Anyway, the rodeo always attracts some pretty big name country stars and pop stars to perform concerts.

As a child, I remember seeing Billy Ray Cyrus (circa Achy Breaky Heart), Trisha Yearwood, Selena, Reba McIntyre, and probably many others (since we used to go pretty often).

As our family's first rodeo season here in Texas, Nick surprised me with tickets to see John Legend this past weekend at the rodeo.

Lucky for us, my parents live in Houston, so they graciously offered to be grandparents and hang out with the grand kids so that Nick and I could have a fun date night. 

Before each concert, the rodeo always goes first.

I hadn't been to a rodeo in SO long, and it was really exciting to watch bull riding, barrel racing, and muttin bustin' (my 3 favorite rodeo events).

Here we are, all ready to go!

I got a lot of compliments on my boots.

When it comes to buying cowboy boots, it's very important to me that they are made in America.

Unfortunately, a lot of cowboy boots in popular places like Boot Barn and even Cavender's Boots sell boots made in China and overseas.

SO UNAMERICAN FOR THE MOST AMERICAN FOOTWEAR!!!!!!!

The ones I am wearing are Ariat brand boots.

They're the most comfy boots ever, and made in America!

The parade before the rodeo.

#Texaspride

I call this look "Chic Cowgirl".

Cute dress, statement necklace, leather jacket, Louis Vuitton speedy bag, Ariat boots, and of course a frozen strawberry marg.

Watching the rodeo!

And Mr. Legend himself...

The concert was pretty amazing, and I fell more in love with John Legend's music!

He's so talented on the piano, and his voice is just amazing!

Awesome concert. 

We are planning on hitting up Florida Georgia Line next week!

We had such an absolute blast on our date night.

After the concert, we headed to Morton's steakhouse in Houston.

It was late, and we stopped by for some appetizers and drinks.

The general manager there happened to be a former Navy sailor.

When he found out we were Marines he comp'ed our meal, and sat and chatted with us for an hour! 

We had amazing food and such great service!

It was awesome to just go out with my hubby, uninterrupted by little kids, and have adult conversation!

I'll blog about our day at the rodeo soon!

No, I Don't Want to Make Money From Home

I feel like we are in a fitness revolution.

Every time I log on to my Facebook or Instagram, my feed is bombarded with people's "gym selfies", work out motivation, crossfit photos, healthy food photos, marathon finish photos, shakes, and the list goes on.

It actually makes me smile knowing that more people are taking control of their health and fitness. 

I'm not one of those people who get annoyed with people's constant fitness motivation and "fitspiration".

It's motivating, and if it can motivate ONE person to make one healthy lifestyle change in their life that day, then you did your job. 

But can I tell you what really gets under my skin?

People who have absolutely no education and background in health and nutrition dishing out health and fitness advice like experts.

It also bothers me that multilevel marketing companies (not gonna name them, but you know 'em) can make someone instantly an "expert" by calling their independent sales consultants "coaches" and "nutrition experts".

It also bothers me when people buy into all this marketing.

"MAKE MONEY FROM HOME!"

"MAKE YOUR OWN HOURS!"

"JOIN MY TEAM!"

"GET FREE STUFF!"

Now, I'm just go ahead and say, I have lots of friends who do multilevel marketing that are making a pretty decent living for themselves.

I also like to buy certain products from them....like Scentsy and Younique mascara (just their mascara).

Other than that, I usually politely decline their offers to me to join their "teams" or I just start ignoring them.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I spent a good 3 years of my career as a Marine on recruiting duty.

I didn't sell mascara and candle melts.

I freaking sold the Marine Corps to young men and women up for the challenge and bettering themselves.

And it's a pretty dang stressful job.

I worked with a combat vet and purple heart recipient in my office, and he used to say all the time that recruiting was some days harder than combat, and that he'd rather get shot at again than be a recruiter again.

True. Story.

So as you can see, I am pretty much OVER "selling" anything.

I don't want to sell anything ever again for the rest of my life.

Well, I just went on a tangent there.

I guess my point is, I love that people have found their own way of losing weight and staying fit (that works for them).

But it doesn't mean it works for every one.

You'll never see me drinking an Advocare shake or drink, and you'll never see me doing some Chalene Johnson piyo video in my living room.

I have my own fitness routine and healthy eating habit that has worked for me for YEARS.

You're not going to change my mind on that, because it's been working for me.

I obviously never complain about losing weight on my own after having babies, nor have I ever complained about my fitness and my body....

It means I'm happy with what is working for me, and your shakes and drinks isn't what I'm looking for.

I love you friends, but please stop asking me to join your team to sell your stuff.

I admire you for doing what you gotta do to make money from home and make your own hours.

It's just not me. 

Oh, and I'm going to see John Legend tonight!!!

whoop whoop!!

Today's Been "Bleh"

Today's been "bleh".

I'm just getting over bronchitis, and now my husband is showing the beginning signs of it.

My daughter stayed home from school today because she woke up with a mild fever. 

My morning gym routine was disrupted because I kept her home today.

No productive school work got done today.

*You see, if I don't get my work out in at the beginning of the day, the rest of my day is shot. It's a good problem to have, but on days I can't make it to the gym first thing in the morning, I become a raging B word*

I had to wait till my husband got home from class to drag my butt to the gym.

Proof:

 I was really more excited to wear my new work out tank...the most badass work out shirt ever.

I'm pretty sure it gave me super powers at the gym.

The weather is super humid today...cloudy...warm....

Very "Texas" weather, but I won't complain about it.

After all the complaining I did every winter that we lived in New England, I made a vow to never complain about the weather here.

I also realized today is the anniversary of the death of a young man I knew before he even joined the Marine Corps.

He was an incredible young man.

You can read about him here.

He was killed in Afghanistan 4 years ago today.

He was recruited out of the recruiting office I worked at during my time as a recruiter. 

I went back and read that post, and I felt the same emotion I felt that day writing it.

I felt the same emotion I felt that day when I found out.

I don't know why my day's been "bleh", but these are all things I can think of off the top of my head that might have an effect on my day. 

Hopefully tomorrow will be better...

Two more days till the John Legend concert :)

That's definitely something to make me smile...

 Or this...

If you tell him to pretend to sleep, he does this...

Just a Veteran....

I read a friend's blog today and saw a pretty funny Terminal Lance comic strip.

*Terminal Lance is a Marine based comic strip that pokes fun at the Marine Corps...not for the easily offended*

Both the blog and comic strip referenced veterans and transitioning out of the Marine Corps.

If y'all remember my blog postings from my last year as a Marine, you know how ready I was to get out.

I was "so over" the Marine Corps, and I just wanted to get out, be a stay at home mom, and be a housewife. 

It was all fine and dandy for the first year or so, but then I realized that although I'm a freaking amazing wife (insert sarcastic laugh here), and an equally FANTASTIC mother (insert another sarcastic laugh here), I realized that I'm the type of girl that needed a little more purpose outside of the home.

I'm just gonna add, I am NOT knocking on stay at home moms and housewives...it's a thankless job, and my hat's off to any woman who chooses that lifestyle.

Which is why I decided that two years was a long enough "break" outside of the Marine Corps, and decided to use my veterans' benefits to get my edjumacation. 

Aaaannddd.....I finally feel purposeful....well purposeful to me.

I didn't quite get the fulfillment I was looking for as a stay at home mom and a housewife.

My transition out of the Marine Corps was tough on me mentally.

My ego was bruised really.

I went from being a Staff Sergeant of Marines to sitting at home with my kids waiting on my husband to get home from work.

I missed the crude and inappropriate conversations I had with Marines.

I missed being able to just yell at someone when they pissed me off (turns out you can't really give your 3 year old an "ass chewing" when they piss you off).

I was honestly pretty jealous of my husband that he got to live the life that I lived for ten years while I sat at home deciding on what new vegetable I was going to pureé to feed my son.

Marines have a lot of pride....let's be real...we all have big egos. 

Even the humblest of Marines has an ego bigger than the average civilian.

I think it's our ego that makes it a rough transition into civilian life. 

Marines are held to such an incredibly high standard, that when civilians fail to meet that standard, we tend to lose our minds a little bit.

"Why the hell are civilians so damn lazy?"

"Why are civilians so easily offended?!"

"Why do THEY drag their feet when they walk?!?!"

It's not that civilians are just plain "nasty" individuals ("nasty" is a term within the Marine Corps that we call civilians....lol....sorry y'all..).

But civilians aren't faced with the daunting job of protecting someone's life....let's face it...every single job in the Marine Corps is to support our infantry Marines, and every single Marine that performs those jobs to help our infantry guys "get the job done" must be done without mistake or hesitation.

One mistake can be life or death.

That's a lot of pressure!

I know for me, as a veteran, I tend to get angry easily at the littlest things.

I have a hard time keeping my big mouth shut when civilians talk bad about America and/or the military.

I cursed out a guy at my daughter's preschool field meet for laughing and talking during the National Anthem....and you bet your ass that whole bleacher section heard me.

I have a hard time taking the average college kid seriously.

I have a hard time taking some civilians seriously....to include my own family (mom, dad, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins).

"They"....just don't get it, and never will because "they" never served.

The whole "we support the troops" stickers sometimes bother me....because that little yellow ribbon sticker on your car doesn't mean crap if you haven't done anything to support the troops...like volunteering your time or your money to the thousands of organizations out there for troops....

 And I really do picture throat punching someone sometimes in my head while they are talking to me (Right, Nicole?).

I'm actually an optimist. 

I see life as the "glass is half full", and for the most part (as long as your mouth is shut during the National Anthem), I'm pretty tolerant of people that are not up to "Marine Corps standards".

There's no point to this post really...

It's just a rant.

Just some things I thought about today....

And just because this is my blog, and I don't feel like a post is complete without any photos...

Saturday was my late mother in law's (Sandy...or mum as we called her) birthday! 

She's actually a leap year baby, but we celebrate on the 28th.

Her favorite food was Chinese food, so on Saturday, our family went out to have lunch at a Chinese food place.

We also released yellow balloons into the sky with messages written to her!

Mother and son selfies....

Pinterest inspired entry way!

I had a 40% off coupon to Hobby Lobby and scored this awesome gigantic mirror!!

I took a bubble bath this weekend with a glass of wine while Nick did dishes and watched the kids.

It was divine...

Asian mom dream.....

Kids at the piano.

I have no words....

I found this photo while looking through my computer.

It put a smile on my face.

This was a photo from my maternity session when I was pregnant with Mattis.

A lot of people have complained about women wearing their husband's cammies for photos like this, but I just smile and say, "I actually earned these cammies, so I can wear them if I please."

 BTW, it DOES bother me when women who haven't earned the uniform think it's "cute" to put on their husband's uniform for photos similar to this...

Happy Tuesday, y'all!