Merydith's Travels

It is amazing what it takes to build a house, a bridge, and a building. It is also remarkable what it takes to put together a car. It requires skills and plenty of tools. My husband works in a manufacturing company for 7 years now. He likes what he does because it requires him to put together things to build for something big. They get their manufacturing supplies in many places. For those looking for hard to get or hard to find parts or products, reidsupply.com may have them. All you have to do is check their catalog to get started.

I started watching Supernatural about 7 years ago. I loved the show and how good-looking the actors are. Ryan and I used to watch it together, but I started missing its episode because it used to be aired every Thursday and every Thursday was my night to close. I super liked the show. In fact, I started watching it again recently when I saw seasons 1-3 DVDs in the library. Unfortunately, they do not have any, so I ended up buying seasons 4-6 on ebay. When I did free trial on Netflix again, I thought of watching Season 7 through it, so I do not have to buy. I also found shows that I have been meaning to watch for the longest time. For now, I am done watching Supernatural and I am hocked with Revenge. That show is awesome. Once a upon a time is surely in my list, Grimm among other shows.

People collect different things that spark their interest. I used to collect stamps growing up. The different designs on the stamps from different countries fascinated me. I used to ask our neighbors for stamps to add to my collection. My uncle, however, collected gold coins from places that they have visited with my Aunt. They have it neatly arranged in a frame beautifully decorated in the living room. I thought you have to travel far to get gold coins. I was wrong. Coin collectors can actually get gold coin at goldeneaglecoin.com. What I like about collecting coins is it is a great investment and the value will keep going up.

When Ryan decided that he is going to take us all to St. Louis for Mother’s day, I was so excited. Although we went somewhere on our 10th wedding anniversary, I wanted to see another state. Another state that I have not seen or been. I have so much hope for the Gateway Arch. Although I have not read any reviews about the place, I was just excited to see a piece of history. To be honest, I was expecting the Arch to be something fabulous. You know like Willis Tower that when you get up there is actually a big space where you can see the view.

The arch is located along the west bank of the Mississippi River and is 30-foot-tall. It has a beautiful breeze that day because we got there early on. There was already a line when we got there. Frankie was so excited to get up the observation deck to see the view of the city. We got into a tram capsule to get to the top.

Inside the Tram Capsule

When we got to the top, I was a little disappointed. I was expecting a bigger space up there. The space was so small that we decide to get off right away on the next capsule. It was a little hot there too. On a clear day, you can see up to 30 miles on a clear day. Located on the West, you’ll have a breathtaking view of downtown St. Louis and looking East is Mississippi River and Illinois.

In the ground level, there is the Museum of Westward Expansion with different interesting things in it. It is a journey into the past where we saw tools, guns, animals and wagons of the explorers, pioneers, cowboys and Native Americans who helped forge our nation and more. Over all it was alright. That would be one of the places that I would never go back.

I have used so many microphones in my lifetime. I love singing. I used to sing with my Dad when he still live with us, and I sang duet with my sisters growing up. Singing has been a part of my life. In fact, Ryan recently purchased a Magic Sing microphone for me as a present. It is a microphone that contains hundreds of songs in it. It has a couple of chips build into it that if one wants to sing, it is very easy to put the number of the song into the microphone and the lyrics will show on the TV screen. I find it really neat actually.

However, there is this one microphone that I would love to have. It is the classic mxl 990 at wwbw. I want to use it and connect it to the computer, so Frankie and I can browse at our favorite songs online. We like singing karaoke especially when we do not have the songs in our magic sing. I am sure Frankie would love to have one of these.

I did not believe my sister-in-law in the Philippines when she told me that she was so forgetful when she was pregnant with my first nephew. I haven’t experience being pregnant yet. I thought she became forgetful because she was so stressed from work. She teaches during the day and teaches night students too. I didn’t know that I will be in the same situation when I got pregnant.

My experiences with my two kids were different when I was pregnant with them. With Frankie, I was so forgetful during my pregnancy. I couldn’t even update my blog without having any issues. What bothered me most was I could be talking to someone and I usually lose it. Meaning I can’t remember what I was supposed to say or sometimes I can’t remember the topic at all. I have to ask the person I was conversing. Eventually it went away and I am glad it did.

My pregnancy with Branden was a different story. I did really well with regards to my memory. I was a little nervous when I knew I was pregnant and still have take my finals. I was afraid that I might forget what I studied. I surprised myself because I remembered every single thing I studied. I could write entries after entries in my blog and even paid entries at that. There were times when I write 10 entries a day and still think of what to write the next day. I felt great, but after I had Branden, I just couldn’t think straight. It becomes worse when I’ve been ask a question when I just got up. I feel so empty that I can’t even think.

As of this moment, I am still suffering from occasional forgetfulness. Sometimes I drive to church and I think of something and end up going to Frankie’s school. Hopefully I will be able to bounce back soon with this because it would be hard when I start going back to school. According to Babycenter.com, forgetfulness during pregnancy is common as long as I am not having trouble thinking or concentrating, and I am not losing any interest and not feeling down then it should only be momentary. I could be depressed if I am suffering from the symptoms above.

It has been over a month since I started running on the trail almost everyday. I try to have a rest day once or twice a week usually when I have work or school. One of the many things that keep me motivated is the result running did to me. I feel so energized and I have been losing weight. I actually went shopping again recently to get 4 more new outfit. Anyways, when I run, I have to have my iPod Nano along with a headphone. It contains songs that are worth two hours. I am usually out for only 1 hour and 30 minutes. I really need to buy more songs. The songs I have are getting old.

I recently purchased a new headphone, and it looks like one of those koss headphones at guitar center. I have a couple cheap ones before this and I ended up tossing them out because they started falling apart, and it wasn’t even a week yet since I bought them. Sometimes you have to spend to get the quality you want. I am very pleased with this purchase so far. It is also sweat resistant, and it gives me very clear sound.

I always look forward to Mother’s day because I love how Ryan can be so spontaneous. I do not like him getting flowers, but he knows that I would rather be surprised. Last Mother’s day, he took us to St. Louis, Missouri. I was so excited for this trip. First and foremost, I have never been there. Second, I wanted to take mama somewhere since she didn’t come with us to Iowa because it was still chilly outside. I also like that the drive was not that bad. It only took us 4 hours to get there. Frankie was overly excited for the hotel. He wanted to dive in the pool right away when we got there. It is a lot easier to take Branden on trips now. Leaving the kids behind was not our option especially when it is not cold outside anymore. We love our children, and wherever we go, they go. We dined in Applebees on our first night. Branden was a little restless because he wanted to run around but the waitresses kept him company. He was such a flirt giggling and saying hi to everyone.

After dinner, we head back to the hotel. Frankie was super anxious to get to the pool. The hotel where we stayed at had some good accommodation. There were two queen size bed and a pull over bed for Frankie. It has a little living room and one TV in it and another TV by the beds. Anyways, just look at my two boys having fun in the pool. Frankie loved our get away.

I always have a hard time looking for a gift for my husband and father-in-law for Father’s day. None of them drink nor smoke. It doesn’t even help that when I ask them what they want for father’s day and their reply is always “I do not need anything.” It would have been so much easier to get them something if they smoked cigars because I get each of them one of those cigar lighters. Well, I guess it is better that they do not smoke.

Ryan and I are members of Engagement Health through his job. I have to say that I love being a part of it. We do not only save, but with proper execution, it will help us lose the weight. Around February, they sent all the members an email about a contest and asking us to write an essay about how to stat active. They were quiet a few submissions and I am happy to say that my essay is one of the two essays that was picked, and I won the $100.00 visa gift card. I was also asked if they could release my essay. Dada said that he saw my essay by the engagement health kiosk, and he is very proud of me. I am so proud of myself too. I should join more of these contest. Here is it!

How do I stay active? 

It is no joke raising a family. My name is Merydith Neis. I am the wife of Ryan and the mother of two beautiful boys. Frankie is six and Branden just turned one. I go to school full-time and work part-time. At the end of the day, I find myself extremely exhausted with no “me-time” left. From running around doing errands, picking-up and dropping off my son to and from school, tutoring him at night, taking care of a year old baby, and studying among other things, I am left so worn out. Last semester, I used to catch myself about to fall asleep or asleep in class. I remember struggling to stay awake at 9:00 a.m. in my accounting class. I did not have the energy to do anything. I was always tired.

I desperately needed to change my lifestyle, but I do not know where to start. I cannot seem to find any time of the day that I can actually exercise. When I finally received my pedometer early January, I see hope. I told myself that if I can only make the goal of 10,000 steps a day, I will be happy. It was a struggle in the beginning because the most I can do in a day is 2,500 steps. I had to force myself to walk on the treadmill. I started with half of a mile a day. It took a lot of “self-convincing” for me to stay actually walking for 30 minutes.

So, how do I stay active these days? I walk three miles everyday on the treadmill regardless of how many steps I already have in my pedometer. I do not have to force myself, but instead, I make sure to fit “walking” in my schedule. I just put on my favorite DVD to keep me occupied, and before I know it, I have already walked three miles. When it is beautiful outside, I take my son at our favorite bike trail. He bikes and I walk along with him for three miles or so. Also, every Saturday morning, my friends and I do Zumba. Not only that, I also printed the recipes from the Engagement Health website, and I have been making healthy meals for my family.

Being active has always been very important to me, but with having a family and taking care of everyone else but myself, I seem to put it aside. Diabetes runs in my family and seeing what my mom goes through everyday is rough. With walking, I can lose the weight and hope to avoid diabetes. I also like the feeling of having so much energy, and how easy it is to finish the tasks I have for the day. To date, I have lost 12 lbs. and still walking for more.

Our trash can used to stay inside the kitchen. We had a little place where it was easy to find and it was out of the way. When Branden started walking, it became an issue. He would open the trash can and touch the stuff that are inside. I decided to move the trashcan in our utility room. It is such a hassle because we have to open the door if we want to throw something. I really would like to have one of those pull out trash cans in the kitchen. It goes underneath the cabinet and can easily be accessed. It also looked neat because it is nowhere in sight. It will also cut a lot of space. I can’t wait when Branden is no longer in the “going through everything” stage.

Ryan suggested that we should all go for a walk one Saturday morning , and when he meant all, it means all of us including Branden. He already put together the stroller, so we can start walking early on. Unfortunately, when we were ready to go, Branden started being crabby and wanted to sleep. I told Ryan to stay home, so Branden can sleep without interruption. Frankie checked his bike before we left. Ryan installed his bell, and he was very happy. He also got his helmet and was ready to go.

It was mama’s first time to go for a walk with me, and she didn’t expect that we are going to walk for 4 miles. It didn’t feel like 4 miles though because we were talking about just anything. Frankie was on his bike. We finally made it by the swamp and Frankie saw the turtles for the first time. We have been there so many times, and we always miss the turtles, but they were all out that morning. Too bad, I wasn’t able to bring the camera. Since I started walking, I have lost 10 lbs. I do not see it in my body, but I felt it. My body felt lighter, and I do not feel tired all the time. I do not watch I eat although I noticed that when I am able to walk, I do not eat much and I don’t feel hungry.

At home, it takes me 30 minutes to finish a mile on a treadmill. I find walking at home very boring. When I am outside, a mile takes me 15 minutes now with running and walking. I used to find this a chore before, but now I truly enjoy it.  I am glad I get to share it with my mama. Hopefully, we will have more of these mother and daughter moments.