Winners of Giveaways

Christina won on the Moore Unique Skin Care $50 of products.  Congrats!
Christina F. said...
My issues are finding facial products that keep my face clean, moistured, but don't make me get pimples. I also have eczema, so finding the right lotions that help my eczema and don't make it hurt is a big challenge.

Gabriele won on the Half-Made World book.  Congrats!
Gabriele Agustini said...
Love this post.
Thanks for sharing.
That drawing of the family is adorable! :)
Best,
gabriele

A Puzzle of a Good Time-Giveaway

I love having Dear at home in the evenings now. It is so nice to be able to sit back and relax with him more.  And no I am not getting tired of having him around.  It is wonderful.  But we both still have our down time alone.  You know that part of the day.  You may be checking email and he is balancing his check book.  Or your folding that last load of laundry while he is reading the paper.  Well we have been finding ourselves curled up on opposite ends of the couch (playing footsie) while each of us have our puzzle books. 

His are those logic puzzles.  Oh they baffle me but he loves them.  I recently received a new one Puzzle Baron's Logic Puzzles.  There are 200 puzzles in this one so maybe it will keep him for a little while.  Unlike other logic puzzle books, every puzzle includes statistics-such as the average completion time, the record completion time, and the percentage of people to complete the puzzle-to bring out the competitor in each puzzler and better inform them on how easy or dif­ficult each puzzle is.   Dear can sit and figure these out while I look like a monkey doing math problems.  I think I am missing a gene that helps put these in order.  But I am quite logical.  Actually I love to download them and print them out to send to my brother.  Dear grabbed up this newest logic puzzle book like it was the holy grail.  Dashed off and put it in his lunch box.  He carries puzzle books with him to work everyday for his down time filler.   Now I can do Sudoku and Granny M loves the  Word Finds.  But another of my favorites are Mazes. 

I curl up on the other end of the couch with my maze books.  I have a new one that is so much fun.  It is Mummy Mazes: A Monumental Book.  And that is so true.  These mazes are two pages in size and I use a TV tray to set the book on to work them out.   Mummy Mazes is designed to open up to 28 poster-size pages.  Once all the mazes are completed, there’s a hieroglyphic puzzle to solve at the end—and then the whole doubles as a coloring book.  I also like that I can learn more about that time period too.  Interesting lil facts and trivia.  Then  I can try to stump Dear on trivia facts.  But this can keep me going for a good time.  I feel this is a great way for both of us to keep our mind sharp too.  As we age we need to remember to exercise our mind to.  This has been said to really help to fight off dementia. 

I am lucky enough to have two more of these puzzle books to giveaway.  Would you like to win one of them?  Well it is always easy to do.  Just leave a comment on how you keep working your brain.  What is your favorite game or brain teaser?  Make sure you leave your email in the comment too.  Extra entry if you follow me on Google Friend Connect too!

I wish to thank the publishers for sending me both of these books.  There are greatly appreciated.  And I would highly recommend them for your gifts this holiday season.  I know that these are great ways to sharpen your brain, but also your kiddos too!

Conquering Hero

What all do you do online? Well of course most of us reading this are bloggers. And that takes more time than some people understand. And of course we have to check in on Twitter and Facebook. Now my email would fill up if I did not check in a few times a day. Oh, I have to have down time too. So I play a few different games online. I look up maps, phone numbers and information online. I use SwagBucks so I can get paid for my searches. (College Girl loves the Starbucks gift cards I earn that way.) I can check my bank account, write my brother, log in the number of miles I walk a day. (You wonder how I have time to do that?) There are other blogs to read, NetFliks to order and bills to keep track of.  I am not quite sure how my life ran before the internet.

Actually there are days I want to run away from the computer.  Days I do not feel like blogging.  Days I am tired of checking in and being checked out.  It seems that we can get so involved online that we forget offline life.  And I can not even imagine the lives of those that also do all of this on their cell phones too!  I know that it not just my life but all of those around me that suffer and wish to Conquer CyberOverload.  That is the book that was sent to me by Joanne Cantor, Ph.D.  She sees that this is becoming an addiction, a disease of the brain.  It eats up our time, our memory and increases stress.  We become less creative and I know I get very irritable when I am suffering from way too much online work to do.   I loved some of the tips and have started using them.

• Be the master of your interruptions.  Simple, just turn off our gadgets so we are not bothered by them when we are busy with our life.  IE. Dinner time with the family.  

• Manage that email monsoon.  Oh that I did do!  Blocked spam, unsubscribed from mailing list, and filtered emails into folders.  I love the spam button on the top of my mail list.  If it is spam I click it.  Soon a lot of that was off my inbox and in my trash!

• Know when to take a break.  Yeah there are times we have to back away from the computer.  And get up and enjoy the beauty and day around us.  And  do you agree that our eyes start swimming around when we have had way too much time online.

Legos with out the Mess!

Image via Wikipedia

This last week I had so much fun playing with my Legos. What? You don't play with Legos anymore? Why not? Well, I am not too thrilled with them all over the floor and the lil pieces getting lost. But I found a solution to all of that. Yeah, smart lil lady here can play and still not have a mess. Ha Ha, my kinda fun. I was happy invited to play the LEGO Universe Massively Multiplayer Online Game. There was an online launch party that I was able to join in on. So Legos and no mess or fuss. Instead it was so much fun to build my own lil world or I could also go to battle with all the people online. A wonderful fun interactive game that I felt was quite safe for kiddos ten and older to enjoy. Now the initial game and first month subscription is $39.99 and you have to continue with the subscription to play online. They have one month at $9.99, 6 months at $49.99 and a year is $89.99. For a year it is under $8.00 a month. That is a pretty good deal to keep you and your kid busy with a wholesome game to play. Check it out and see what you think about it.  I do want to let you know I was so lucky to have the game sent to me to check out.  But the rest was my joy and fun to get to learn about and enjoy.

Sad Tale to Tell

Image via WikipediaThe other day I had a message passed to me to call a lady out of state. I was not sure who or why, but I dialed anyway. I was greeted by the sweetest voice. Birgitte had my name and phone number to contact me about how I wish to lose weight. She shared with me about the TAIslim Solution. I had heard a lil in passing about this product but really did not know too much about it. Well, Birgitte said she would send me some information and samples to tell me more about the program. You know how I have been fighting my weight for years now.
Not too long later I had a big ol package arrive full of flyers, magazines, CD's and a few samples. There was a lot of information on the Goji berry. Yeah, that super fruit that is hitting the health food stores everywhere. It is one of the secret ingredients behind the TAIslim program. First did you know that the Goji berry was orginally known as the Wolfberry? What a great name. Well I went online to learn more about the Goji berry. Sad to find that there are not enough studies to show that it helps with weight loss. It may help with some other health issues but all that I see says that more studies are needed. Dang it.
I have a few samples here that I could try but not enough to see if they would make any difference. There was Reverse! which is suppose to be an anti-aging formula.  I don't know as none of the ingredients are listed on the packages.  The same for Fired Up!...What it does?  How?  With what?  I don't know.  There was the TAIslim SKINNY which is suppose to help 'fill you up' and curb your appetite.  They are sugar free chocolate chews that you take between meals with 8 ounces of water.  I am guessing they are filled with fiber which would help do just that.  But again, I do not know as none of the ingredients are listed.  There was also some of the TAIslim Shake that you mix with water and blend.  But the package had already been opened so I could not try it. 
I hate to tell you all of this but what can a person do?  Without the complete information or proper samples I would be too worried to tell you to try it.  Gosh, I did not even try it.  So...have you had an experience like that before?  Helping out doing reviews it saddens me when I can not tell you to go for it.  And more so that I am not going to be able to make Birgitte happy at all.  Well that just goes to show you we can not make everyone happy all the time.

CSftS: Think Positive Giveaway

Today I am focusing on Positive Thoughts.  This in in conjunction with my Dear.  Again, I told you he is down to one job now.  (I know I keep saying this...but after 6 years of two jobs this is an amazing time for us.)  But since he stopped the second job we have had several lil things happen.  I messed up the checking account (hey it does happen), two cars broke down (they are back up and running somewhat), the washing machine would not drain (a stuck cloth napkin) and the such.  Well, Dear looked at these things and felt guilty that he stopped job #2.  Thinking the money was what was important.  I looked at them and thanked God and Dear for all the fixes.  He had the money in his pocket to fix my major checking mess up.  He had the ability to fix the cars and the washer himself.  It took time and work but Dear was available to help get things up and going.  Dear was getting so depressed and mad, where I was trying to remind him to see the good and the way things are working out.

We have to look at the positive of life.  Photographs are positive prints not the negative or black n' white.  I have been reading Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Think Positive a lot this last week too.  Seeing how others are looking at the good in life.  Loving that I am counting my blessings.  Thrilled that I have Dear at home with me in the evenings and weekends.  This last weekend he was here to see his Grandbabes when they visited.  Like so many will say, it is that you have food on your plate not that the food is not the richest there is.  A blessing is just that, blessed.  A gift from a friend, family member, stranger even,  A gift that has made your life richer.  It may be that you take the time to see those beautiful leaves swirling around you showing off the beautiful colors of the changing season.  Or that you have the ability to take time to rest with your family around you.  Of course we all want the windfall blessings.  But if we remember to think positive then we will start seeing all that is in our lives making us 'richer' and happier.

Here is the blessing I get to share.  Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive has 3 copies of the book just to share.  Yes, give away to 3 of my readers.  All I ask is that you leave me a Positive comment.  Any thing you wish to share.  I am willing to let you share all the positive thoughts you want to share.  Unlimited!  Each one is an entry.  Make sure I have your email too so I can contact the winners.  I will announce the winners in two weeks by email.  And as always, thanks so so so much for the Chicken Soup for the Soul/Shelton Interactive for sharing with me and you!  

Sneak Peek with a Kick

 Happy Holidays....well almost.  I wanted to let you know I am going to have a 2010 Holiday Gift Guide this year.  Yeah, did my first last year and had a blast doing so.  Now the official kick off is 11-1-10.  But I wanted to do a lil sneak peek.

The beginning of our Fall we have a local festival called the Pow Wow. I so love going every year. Of course I eat my way through it as Carnival food is so indulgent. But, more so, I start getting all of my Holiday Gifts at this time. Sorta like my official kick off for Holiday Shopping.

Well this year I loved finding a great Texas product that I can share with so many of my friends and family. That is the Ranch Hand Jellies Jalapeno Jelly.  Now this is down home goodness.  Not only sweet as can be but has a nice lil kick.  If your looking to share a lil taste of Texas with your friends then consider getting your hands on a jar of this.

I was quite taken with the owner of this jelly company.  Linda and her husband are running a lil ranch company of their own.  All the jelly is made in small batches at home and processed in a great country kitchen.  They make all kinds of jelly but are small and are starting out.  You can call Linda at 817-703-1278 or email her at ranchhand01@suddenlink.net. They only charge $5.00 for a jar plus shipping and handling.  It is approximately 8 ounces in size.   I want to thank her for letting me try the Jalapeno Jelly.  It sure is Kick *** , well, GREAT!  She can help you find your right Jalapeno jelly or one of their other flavors.  

The flavors are as follows:

Jalapeno

Blackberry Jalapeno

Cherry Jalapeno
Cranberry Jalapeno (Just in time for  a Texas Holiday)
Honey Jalapeno
Lucifer Jalapeno (caution very hot)
Mango Jalapeno
Peach Jalapeno
Pineapple Jalapeno
Raspberry Jalapeno
They also have sweet fruits without jalapeno.

Apple Spice
Blueberry  (College Girl loves this)
Cactus Berry
Lemon  (My all time favorite)
Peach
Wild Plum  (Granny M's Favorite)

And ask her for her secret rib sauce...hint it has a kick to it!  Here is how I do it.
 

Texas Rib Topper
 

You can do this in your oven as well as on the smoker. Take a rack of spare ribs and rub with BBQ Rub of your choice or making and put on the smoker. Smoke the ribs at 225 for about 3 hours. Take about 6 oz of Ranch Hand Jalapeno Jelly and liberally coat the ribs. Wrap in foil and cook for approx 1 hour at same temperature. Then pull ribs and remove foil and let stand for about 45 minutes on smoker to firm up. Cut and serve.
And Ranch Hand Jellies is giving away one jar of the flavor of your choice to a lucky reader.  All you have to do is first off comment on your favorite flavor of jelly.  Look at the list of the ones they have above.  Next, well a extra if your a GFC with me!  I will give 5 extra entries for each jar of jelly you purchase from Ranch Hand Jellies (aka call Linda).  Make sure she knows you are ordering from Crazed Mind so she can tell me how many jars you ordered.  Then we can get the correct count for your entries.  You can also come back and leave 5 comments for each jar you purchase too.  I will match up your comments to Linda's sales.  Make sure I have your email so I can let the lucky winner know too!  Good Luck!

Heart on Breast Cancer Awareness

Just a fun lil thing to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And to show off Princess Emma as usual. I Heart Faces is hosting their weekly photo contest. This week it is Pink Week. I think the photo below will work quite nicely. What do you think?

Grand Babe Weekend

 At the Friday night football game.

 Look Ma, no hands.

Girls can be tough too.

 Growl!  I am a wild tiger.
 It was so much fun when my Granddaughter told me she was a wild tiger.  So we pulled out the make up bag and made that statement true.  With just a few lines and swipes we made her  up to be her imagined strength.  That with her amazing eyes and our hearts were off to stalk the jungle (aka the house).  With a roar and a jump here and there we managed to catch quite a few other wild beast.
This last photo is a contest entry to the “Spook-A-Look Halloween Photo Contest” at Giveaway Blogs.  This site is sponsored by UPrinting and has some of the best giveaways listed there.  I add mine to the free forums so others can find them.  But at least one day a week I sit and go through them to find what I wish to enter too.  Love that! 

Time Outs Giveaway

We have the Grandbabes this weekend again. I love it. But why do we have them? Well because as the book says "Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too". It is even touted on Mommy Needs a Time Out blog.  And I completely agree, don't you.  This weekend the Other Daughter is taking her Object of her Affection to a Star Trek Convention.  What a trip that will be.

In the meantime we are enjoying the kiddos.  Last night was the Friday Night Lights.  It was so much fun to see the kiddos enjoying the excitement of the game.  And I loved the concession stand food, who is with me there?  Today will be games with the kids and hopefully a hot dog/s'mores cookout tonight.  Oh and the local school fall carnival too!  What are your plans?
 But I also want touch on ways to take a time out.  No you do not have to go and sit in the corner.  I use to love my 3 pm bubble baths.  It was perfect timing.  I would slip into the tub with a good book and music and soak for 30 minutes.  Then when I popped out, dry and dressed I was ready for anything.  That was just when the kids came in from school.  A time out really helps an overworked overwrought woman get refocused.  And yes if your a mom, wife and caretaker your overworked daily.  When you take time for just you then you can recharge those batteries.  One of my favorite ways to recharge is by doing a mini me time.  I can load up, run away from home and then find a great secluded area.  Now I can walk around, enjoy the heavens and the earth while letting all of my stress just flow away.  This helps us become better moms, better wives and just better.

I loved hearing this same idea applied to couples to this last week.  That if mom and dad  do not get to be a couple then they can not be the best of parents.  Remember it was by being a couple that you 'became' parents.  Dear and I are also making time for us as a couple.  Weather it be time to cuddle and review the day or each of us rubbing lotion on each others feet.  But that is not our time together passion....nope....you may laugh.  But we love COFFEE.  You should know it.  So we make a pot of delicious coffee (our fav is Folgers), set up all the goodies.  I take mine with sugar and cream (again fav is Land O Lakes Half & Half).  Then sit out on our big ol front porch reviewing the day.  It makes  you feel like you are the king and queen of your own lil domain.  Especially with the birds singing (make sure to have feeders and water out for them this fall/winter) and knowing you have time for just you too.
I am also having a ladies afternoon coffee today.  A group of my friends and prayer group.  We are going to gather on the porch and share our coffee and our prayers for each other.  I can't wait to get out all of our fun coffee cups, the Folgers Special Roast, sweeteners and our Land O Lakes Half & Half on a tray.  I am setting the table on the porch with bright colors and using bible verses printed on colored paper to make conversation starters.  The ladies prayer group is going to be treated to some home baked goodies too.  We are having Pumpkin Dessert Cake.  It so goes with the holiday season.  Fall is wonderful.  A time to review and renew.  A time for....time outs.

 Pumpkin Dessert Cake

2 Cups sugar

3 eggs

1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin

1 stick of melted butter

2 Cups flour

2 Tsp baking powder

1 Tsp baking soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp cinnamon

1/2 Cup chopped nuts (optional, College Girl does not like them)

Mix and pour into 11 x 17 pan and bake at 350 for 35 minutes. 

I do wish to thank House Party for the Folgers and Land O Lakes goodies and party.  I want to thank the publishers for "Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too" book.  As always no one pays me, they just share goodies.  How lucky is that?  But I can share with you.  We have a copy of "Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too" for one lucky winner.  Just leave a comment for me below.  (Remember to leave your email.)  Extra entries are for following on GFC, twitter and facebook.  Comment for each on so I know. 

The Name Tag is Gone

Dear stopped working his second job this last week.  He has had 6 whole days now that he was not required to dash off to work once he got off work.  And it is a bit of a change....a welcome change.

The first is that he wears a work uniform with his name on the shirt all day long.  He did also wear a uniform and name tag at his 2nd job too.  We so laughed that for once he would get to have clothes that do not have his name on them all the time.  But Sunday when he was working on College Girls car (with an ol work shirt on) I just had to have a bit of fun.  I took a bright PINK (my signature color) marker and wrote his name on the upper left hand side of his shirt. Told him I felt he would be lost without his name on it.  He giggled and told me I was just WRONG!  But it is a milestone for us.  It has been 7 years now.  The first year he traveled for work.  Then next 6 he worked two jobs.  Now finally he is mine for a good portion of each day.  I love it.

Now there is someone else who can relate to wearing a name tag.  That would be Scott Ginsberg, he’s been wearing a name tag for ten years in a row. He has never taken it off.  That’s right, ten years = three thousand, six hundred and fifty days = 87,600 hours = 5 million two hundred fifty six thousand minutes = 31 million 531 thousand seconds and counting. He’s the world record holder. He has even tattooed his name tag on his chest and is the only person in the world who has made a career out of wearing a name tag.

“-able”, is the title of his newest book.  Scott Ginsberg is a human dynamo and what he’s is trying to do is sell you on his theory of the universe, which is this:

The only thing in life that you have control over is yourself, and that you can’t make anything happen- but you can greatly increase the probability of that thing happening … by making yourself more –able.

I like this idea.  Why?  Well because I believe we all hold ourselves back but not thinking we are able to do what we need and wish to do.  More so we stop dreaming as we become older.  When Mom's and Dad's think of what they really want to achieve at home it is not much different than what they want at work.  To be respected and heard.  We want our children to follow our directions .  And more so that we hear our children too!  I am often reminded that the so call self help books for the workplace can also help me at home.  I just have to remember this is my work....my career....my goals.  

In –able, Scott Ginsberg offers up a collection of life learned practices. Here’s a sample of some and how they can pertain to your family as your workplace. 

1.     Ideas are free; execution is priceless. Anybody can wear a name tag everybody. But not anyone can keep up with you. Refuse to slow down long enough for anyone to catch up. Take action quickly: Take action consistently. Are you an idea person or an execution person?

2.     Never be stopped by not knowing how. Accept that the planets will never be aligned. Don’t wait until everything’s perfect. Don’t wait until you’re experienced enough. Don’t wait until you know what you’re doing. Don’t wait for overwhelming evidence to trust yourself. Otherwise procrastination – the redneck second cousin of patience – will rob you of the motivation you need to carry in the cavalry charge. Finished is the new perfect.  

3.     Ambition without focus is bankruptcy. How you spend your day – literally, hour by hour – will determine how much of an impact you make, how happy you are, how healthy you are and how successful you and your children become. You almost have to force yourself to create a typical day. Otherwise you get cabin fever and your time not only manages you, it drives you insane. I’m not suggesting you choreograph every waking hour of your life. The challenge is designing a typical day for you, which enforces (some) structure and predictability, while still leaving room for spontaneity and playfulness.  Have you pictured your ideal day yet?

4.     Anonymity is biggest barrier to success. I wear a nametag 24-7. I’m not suggesting you do the same. In fact, I strongly suggest you do not wear a nametag 24-7. About a fourth of the time, it’s a flat-out pain in the ass.  But in a name we know what we are striving to do.  So as a mom and a dad we have to think what we choose to create in our children.  Because it’s whose life is significantly better because they know you. How are you making people aware of you?

5.     Beware of the over-commitment trap. It’s like owning a truck: The week you buy it, everyone and their mother needs help moving. And you don’t want to feel like a bad friend, so you allow yourself become entangled in other people’s pointless wars. You haven’t learned to be respectfully discerning about whom you give permission participate in your life. Ask these filtering questions:  Is the level of help this person is asking me to offer commensurate with the type of relationship I have with them? If you don’t set healthy boundaries for yourself, other people will set them for you. And then they will violate them.  Are you sacrificing your life by spending too much time being everybody else’s dream machine?

6.     Consistency is far better than rare moments of greatness. Every day. That’s the two-word secret to executing anything. And it shouldn’t even have to be a secret, but I guess not everyone has grasped this concept yet. What action have you taken on your idea, today?

7.     Strike a passionate pose.  Passion without purpose is pointless. We are passionate about our children.  We want them to succeed in life.  To be happy and healthy, but how are we teaching them this with passion?  Are you currently operating out of your passion in the most healthy way?

8.     Get comfortable with the risk of failure. If you screw up early enough, quickly enough and quietly enough – then make a conscious effort to extract lessons learned from those biffs – only a few people will notice. That’s why mistake is the mentor of man. The challenge is attending to your failures with a mindset of personal growth, life-long learning and never-ending improvement. Do this, and disappointment will slowly dissipate. Do this, and discomfort will become less threatening. Then, all you have to do is ask the two big questions: Why did the universe want me to make this mistake? What would I have to learn about this mistake to make it no longer a mistake? Remember: Humans aren’t averse to risk – they’re averse to loss, which is the result of risk. What can you lose today?

9.  Make a public and purposeful choice to play big.  When you publicize your willingness to commit with both feet – that is, to commit enough so you can’t turn back – providence will move to orchestrate the perfect conditions. At that point, executing what matters will be an unavoidable result. Look at what you want your family and children to achieve.  Plot how to do this.  And then step out and do just that.  Is your commitment unquestionable?

The Crazy Cat Lady

Image via WikipediaI have an adorable friend that was ever so kind as to "adopt" me as her home away from home mom.  You know what an honor that is don't you.  She is 19 going on 67 if you ask me.  Why?  Well at 19 she has moved 1/2 way across this big ol country all by herself...has her own apartment...works full time and begs for more and more hours way past what she should be doing...and is mature beyond her years.  Ok that only makes her 19 going on 40 right? But no that is not all.  She is also the Crazy Cat Lady.   Yeah that is the extra 27 years right there.  Wants all the kitties she can handle.  And currently I think the count is 4 in a one bedroom apartment.  Oh wait, I did not tell you this is in the one and only 'high rise' there is in this town.  So the sweet Meowers do not get to go outside at all.  Only perch on the windows and watch the pigeons on the window sills.  (Oh how hard is that one!)

Image via Wikipedia
Now they have their litter box and it is cleaned daily.  Not a issue.  But The Crazy Cat Lady (CCL) had some very ill kittens for a short time being.  Short...well they were really sick and just did not make it.  Had come from a litter that was never healthy to begin with.  And these lil kittens messed up the place pretty bad.  Yeah you can imagine.  The carpet was awful.  CCL cleaned it with soap and water.  Nope.  She tried vinegar and baking soda.  Nope  She did the pet cleaners from the store.  Nope.  All a lil better but not good enough.  So she came to Mom (aka Me) and asked what to do.  I passed on my Resolve Deep Clean Powder and Resolve Pet Stain Cleaner.  I have found it to be one of the better products out there.  Oh and I gave her a scrub brush!  LOL
Well I waited a week to give her time to get to work.  She told me that she started off with the spray.  And with some of the spots she was down on her hands and knees making sure to get the spot scrubbed up.  Next she blotted the place with a white towel (they bleach out).  This way she could see the stain coming up and out of the carpet.  Blot, turn towel, blot, turn, blot.  Till all of the stain is gone.  Granny M said she would use a low heat iron on the towel to help lift a stain too.  After it was all dry then she used the wet powder to clean the complete floor.  Vacumn it all up and then she was done.Image via Wikipedia

I waited a week so she would have time to do it all.  Then popped by for a visit.  You know what she was so excited.  Told me she was the CCL with a beautiful apartment!  And no odor either.  The cats where happy to have another lap to sit on too.  So now she is dropping in age...we all know that CCL tend to have smelly apartments.  I think my new 'daughter' is now in her 20's again!

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary bottles of Resolve to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

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Health Gifts

Today I am reminded of how important it is to take care of ourselves.  I know that I am so thrilled Dear is now home in the evenings.  But he has done so much wear and tear on his body.  It is important for us to take good care of him now.  And not just him but also Granny M and myself.  In doing so we can teach College Girl to do preventative care too.
Image via WikipediaWe have added a few new items to our daily care.  One of them is eye drops for Dear.  He works with chemical fertilizer all day.  And it flies in the air no matter what, getting a fine film all over him.  Well I realized it was getting in his eyes too.  Now he washes his eyes out a few times a day (normally at lunch and when he gets off).  We found ROHTO Cooling Eye Drops that are safe for him to  use regular.  And they give a great sensation of relief to him, or so he has told me.  I also love the lil slim bottle that fits right in his shirt pocket.  Now there is no excuse from him that he can not carry some bulky bottle.  I slipped ROHTO Ice eye drops in his lunch box too.  These are good for helping with that horrid red eyes from irritation.  It is great to have for him just in case too many of those chemicals are floating around.
It is also coming up on flu season.  YUCK!  I am so lucky that I get a flu shot every year.  So does Dear.  Granny M refuses to do so and last year College Girl got hers on campus.  But we can have a lil help.  AHCC (active hexose correlated compound) is suppose to help boost immunity against flu and should help with the defenses of the flu shot.  We started adding this to our daily vitamins so we have a lil extra to fight the flu.  I know that last year we had complete school districts closed down due to flu breakouts being so horrid.  Our lil town would take just a lil to close us down if it really became bad around here.
I am having to now take medication because I am a 'pipe' lady.  You know those commercials of people made from copper pipes that have a "leakage" issue.  Mine is more that I feel like a puppy dog having to go mark my spot all over the place.  I am a lil worried that with all of this I have a higher chance of UTIs.  I like drinking cranberry juice but not in large quantity.   It tends to tear up my tummy when I do.  So instead I am taking Cstex Liquid Cranberry Complex every day.  I actually use it to take my morning meds with.  And no more upset tummy from too much acid in the juice.

Image via Wikipedia

Image by Nicholaus Haskins via FlickrI am also eating Yoplait yogurt every morning.  It is packed with great benifits along with a way to help raise money for Breast Cancer awareness.  With every pink lid collected and turned in they will donate ten cents.  Now this adds up really fast.  You can do it too.    I have a great package from Yoplait and MyGetTogether.  We have set up a party at Curves.  We are collecting lids and recording who brings in the most.  The winner will get all of the goodies we have collected.  Yoplait gave us a $15 gift card, a pink bookmark, a shower self exam hanger, and coupons to share, Promise Me, a book authored by Nancy G. Brinker, the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  We also have a pink tote and a pink wine bottle opener from Sutter Home Wines.  And remember, if you haven't already done so, visit the Hope Overlay tab on Sutter Home's Facebook page  and see how we'll donate a dollar to breast cancer when you add a Sutter Home capsule to your Facebook profile picture. As always, check in with the Sutter Home for Hope website  to keep up with their programs and events. Because until there's a cure, there's hope.
Oh remember I told you that College Girl was looking at a Special Someone.  Well, it seems they have noticed that she is looking.  Whew!  This is so much fun to see her sprout into a woman this way.  She was never one to date in her teens.  But thankfully she has added Certain Dri to her morning routine.  The deodorant she was using did not work all day.  She would have to reapply.  Now Certain Dri works and she is not having to worry.  This is helping her become much more confident while trying to get to know her Special Someone.
Well those are our daily updates on taking care of ourselves.  Have you added anything to your routine for the fall?  Is there something that really works great that you want to share with us?  Let me know!  I do have to say I am so lucky to have had these items sent to me.  They are greatly appreciated.  But alas, as usual, no one sends money too.  Ha Ha!  You know I just want to add....life is really good today.
So why don't we just share....let's give you some of these ways to take care of yourself too.  Yes your going to get one of each of the new items we added to our lifestyle here.  So you can get the

• Certain Dri,
• Crystex Liquid Cranberry Complex, 
• AHCC, 
• ROTHO eye drops. 

It is easy to enter.  And make sure you leave your email so we can reach you if your the winner. 

• Just leave a comment first of all. 
• Add a comment if you follow me on GFC
• Add a comment if you follow me on Twitter

Related articles

• Kroger and Yoplait's 10-Year Partnership in the Fight Against Breast Cancer (prweb.com)
• Flu Shot Season? (fitnesstipsforlife.com)

It's a Monster Mash

Ready to carve the pumpkin? I know I want all the innards to cook so I am more than ready. But if you need a lil artistic help the use the scary looking guides that are on BHG.  I know that I am not very artistic so I have to use the lil cheats to make things look really good.

And I love this idea.  I was thinking it would be great for the theater group that my College Girl is with. One of them dresses like the celebrity, all ready for the red carpet. And the others follow the celebrity around, snapping photos and yelling "Over here!" and "Look to the right!"   Of course they would all want to be the celeb while CG would be the only paparazzi. 

Of course it is time for bake sales too.  Always happens in the fall.  Those are some easy cupcakes to decorate.  Even I can do that.  Some white icing and red drops.  Mummies for all.  You can find more of these ideas at BHG too.

I even carved a virtual pumpkin.  But I did miss the goodies inside that could have become pumpkin bread.  But he is a nice ol pumpkin in my thought.  If your having a party for the kids and grown ups, then you might want a drink bar just for the kiddos.  I love the thought of a mad scientist lab for mixing juice drinks.  A few interesting glasses and beakers if you can get them.  A lil dry ice for atmosphere and voila' you have the makings of a lab.  The kids could really get into mixing up different flavors.  But here are some more ideas for drinks that are fit for the whole family.

I know that the kiddos here are looking forward to some of the specials on TV.  Now I know there are the ol time favorites.  But for the littlest ones I am looking forward to showing Timmy Time.  It is on Playhouse Disney where I can be real sure that it is age appropriate for them.  And Timmy Gets Spooked is just scary enough for a 2 year old, I promise.  You can check show times to see when it is on in your area.  A good way to monitor TV time too!

So what are some of your plans for this season.  Make sure you don't just run into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays without having time to enjoy fall.  It seems that they try to make things happen just way too fast now.  Halloween items were in the stores next to back to school.  And they already have Christmas decorations going up.  I just do not get that at all.  Do you?  I think that is why I am often a Scrooge by the time Christmas does roll around.  

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Potty Emergency

                                      Image via WikipediaHave you ever been too embarrassed to leave a bathroom? Honestly...come on folks. We all have to go. And sometimes we really have to go. And sometimes it is even worse than that.  I know this last weekend I was so embarrassed at a lil cafe.  Ok yes, I am going to tell a potty story.  But then you tell me what would you do when I finish.  OK?

Well I took Princess Emma to go potty....and well I really had to go to.  There was a mom and lil 4 yr old ahead of us.  And we heard them in there (a one seater).  The lil lady just gabbing away with her mommy.  She popped out to say hi to us and the such.  When it became our turn I noticed it was not quite all the way flushed.....but really did not think much of  it.  And since the Princess was dancing and so was I, I just popped her up on the seat.  She finished and I plopped down and reached around to flush the toilet.  Well......let's just say I really was glad to be there.  But I heard the sound of others in the hall waiting.  This was one busy cafe.  Princess Emma gabbed just like the last 4 year old did.  I knew they could hear her talking to me.  Finally done, I reached and flushed again.  Helping Princess Emma wash her hands and mine, I looked over. 

OH NO!  I was not flushing.   Oh no.  There are people in the hall.  Knocking on the door.  And I checked, no plunger.  This was smelly and looked worse.  What to do.  Flushed again....to no avail.  So here....What would you do?  Huh?  Gotta get past them to go to table.  Not leaving the cafe so they will all look at me the offender.  Of the one and only girls bathroom.  I opened the door, peaking out.  There are 4 people in line including one is a cafe worker.  I am so embarrassed.  I bend over and whisper to the next in line that they may not want to go in.  It is stopped up and there is not a plunger.  Gosh she was a trooper.  Turned and motioned to an employee and told them to get it fixed!  I slinked off, quickly.

I do wish I had one thing with me but it was at home in Granny M's bathroom.  That would be our lil travel bottle of Poo-Pourri.  Honestly!  It would not have flushed the toilet, but it would have made it smell a whole lot nicer in there.  It is made to spray in the toilet and it eliminates those nasty odors.  Well it may have not cleared the air 100% but it would have made a difference.  I know that we are using it in Granny M's bathroom.  Now she is in her late 70's and has to use 'aids'.  We keep a diaper genie like we use to use for the babies in there.  It is a great gadget, but there is still odor.  Now she pops one in and gives it a lil squirt of Poo-Pourri.  No more nasty odor.  That makes it nicer for Granny M and no embarrassment for her.  I love that.  And it is citrus scented too!  Yeah.  I have to say thanks so for them to send it to me to try out.  I really wish I had it with me when I was in that cafe though!

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Wishing for Cool Breeze

I am sitting here on a beautiful fall day. Yes, I said fall...but it feels like summer. When it is in the high 80's in the late afternoon, I can promise you it has not been a cool crisp day at all. More like too warm and balmy. But I am dreaming of some nice cool air whipping around me. Well, since I can't get it I decided to sit with the kiddos and dream some up. We did this with the help of Madeline. You remember this lovely lil lady in her yellow dress and yellow hat. Madeline is up to good things in her Madeline's Christmas & Other Wintery Tales.
It is so nice to curl up with the girls and giggle with them. Of course Madeline can be quite the adventurer with her dog Genevieve and her friends from Miss Clavel's class. Now let's not forget her next door neighbor Pepito either. Princess Emma is asking for snow now and I am dreaming of just the coolness of a crisp fall day. But the Great-Niece was more interested in pretending to be Madeline herself.
Image via WikipediaI am glad that there were 5 shows on here.  We can do a mini-marathon or a show a day if we wish this way.  I am really hoping that Dear will bring me a home a pumpkin pie blizzard from Dairy Queen to help set this dream of cool weather up in my head.  Heck if nothing else it will be good to have the ice cream alone.  Now I know I am jumping the gun here a little.  You could watch Madeline's Halloween & Other Spooky Adventures instead.  It is more in with the season right now.   But I am going to go back and see Santa, the North Pole and Mr. Grump with the girls.  Come join us by curling up on the couch.  There's room.  Oh and btw....thanks so much to Shout for sending me this DVD.  It is greatly appreciated. 

Related articles

• Review: Madeline's Halloween & Other Spooky Tales (momblognetwork.com)

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