Vapur water bottle giveaway

While all things baby is kind of me now, I'm also always looking for a way to do my part in helping the earth be healthy. I usually reuse plastic bottles that I might purchase with water or gatorade in them at first, until they aren't really usable any longer... but these things are even better and finiacially not to bad on the pocket book.

I'd love to win one, but will probably end up purchasing a few for the boy and I, since they are freezer proof as well..

Check out The Mom Reviews Vapur water bottle giveaway and see for yourself how great these "bottles" are!

Again, just trying to win some cool things for the baby!

Check out The Mom Reviews for lots of great giveaways, but this one is really really cute! Matching umbrella and raincoat. All the patterns are really adorable, but I am partial to the polka dots one.

Check it out! You'll love it!

More to come I'm sure - trying to get all I can for my granddaughter!

Tupperware anyone? Huh?

I'm considering selling Tupperware. I LOVE the product and believe in it, but I'm concerned with a few things.

I'm a crappy follow through kind of person. I invested money in making candles to sell, nice organic soy candles, but I haven't sold any. I make them once in a while and then I burn them here at home.

Will anyone WANT to purchase Tupperware? Follow through aside, I'm even a worse salesperson. I KNOW how to market things, yet I'm the worst salesperson in the world. Tupperware kind of sells itself I think, so perhaps the salesperson thing might not be a hindrance, however following through on things will be.

So, some questions... Would anyone here be interested in buying Tupperware, should I decide to become a seller of it? Would anyone blog about it? Maybe have an online party for me? Would you ask me for a catalog? Would you help me while helping you (cause Tupperware is really cool, I really DO like it and think it's better than Rubbermaid even and it's always great to have storage containers for left over food and other things to help you in the kitchen)?

I really need to find a way to make some extra money, which wouldn't be "extra" really, because my outgoing money each month is always more than my incoming money each month and I'm forever paying overdraft fees, so really extra isn't what it would be but it might save me from those overdraft fees.

Suggestions please... some ideas on how to get the word out (should I do this and IF I do it, it would not be till next month probably) Do I offer freebies for blogging about me selling Tupperware? Do I offer giveaways if someone online purchases something from me, because you blogged about it? And even better giveaway, if someone holds an online (or if in Vegas, real time) party because one of you blogged about it? (And I know I need to be way more disciplined and vigilant when it comes to following through with things, especially when it is hopefully making me money)

Send me your ideas, your suggestions, your thoughts... everything will be considered. Help me with coming up with new and innovated ways to hopefully make this venture into a successful one, should I decide to go forth with it.

Anyone, please?

Earthquakes and Tsunamis

This morning, there was an 8.3 earthquake in the Samoa Islands. Quickly following that, a Tsunami warning was sent out, for Hawaii. My mother and her husband are somewhere in Hawaii (I've no clue where and only knew she was there from 2 comments she left on her facebook comments)I was pretty worried and relieved few hours later to find out that the warning had gone to an advisory.

However...

As it turned out there was a Tsunami. On one of the Samoa Islands. You can read about it here. Tsunami While not so much damage was done as the one a few years ago, damage is apparent, loss of life has occurred and they are expecting another one, bigger than the first. Sad.

FUCKING BITCH

Man I am PISSED right now. Real pissed. Pissed enough to want to track someone down and punch her in the face.

I follow a lot of blogs and am on facebook as well. One of my favorite bloggers, mentioned something about being sent emails that say something to the effect of "freedom isn't free, someone has to pay for it" and being upset about having been sent this more than once... she mentioned it on her facebook page...

I commented, mentioned I had a tattoo that I designed on me, a peace sign with daisies, that under it says "freedom don't come free" which is a song lyric from one of my favorite Toby Keith songs, "the angry american"... and some bitch friend of this person writes:

(name deleted not to protect her, but because I didn't get her permission to repost this)LOL Maybe I *am* a snobby, bleeding-heart liberal, but why would anyone put something so glaringly grammatically incorrect (not to mention, um, dumb) in their skin? I'm sorry, honey, but that screams "hillbilly!"

Bitch. I grew up 2 blocks from Bel Air, Ca. In Encino, Ca surrounded by movie stars and wealthy people. HILLBILLY? My fucking ass. Farthest thing from it. After leaving a mostly nasty comment back, with sorry HONEY a few times in it and damn glad we live in a country where you can criticize what I do with my own body and not be persecuted for it... I had to go back and say "sorry but I cannot be friends here with someone who has someone else here that is closed minded and snobbish, as they are to me the same as someone who is racist and a bigot. Wonder what she would think/say if she knew I had a black niece adopted from Ethiopia and a DIL and grandbaby who are both half mexican and I adore all 3 of them!"

Closed minded dumb people really get under my skin, bad. So, I am removing myself from this persons facebook friends list, but I'll still follow her blog cause I LIKE her, I just don't like her "friend" lol

People. Just are stupid.

I'm all about baby right now!

I LOVE all things baby right now! Project Mommyhood is having a giveaway of these great burb towels. I love them and hope to win one to send to my DIL for my chewy, who still hasn't come, but any day! If I don't win, then I'll have to go to the etsy shop and order some!

Starting to feel more and more like myself, thankfully!! Still a bit more tired than I would like but coming around! No grand daughter yet, stubborn little chewy doesn't want to meet her mommy and daddy just yet LOL I think she'll show her beautiful face Oct 1st or 2nd. Someone tell that child her gamma is waiting impatiently for her arrival :) I can't WAIT till I get to kiss her and nibble on her little feet!

Speaking of my chewy. DIL mentioned GDiapers. Pretty cool things actually, rather expensive but possibly doable on my end to help out with the expense, if that is what she wants to use and they are cute/trendy to boot (not that I'm a big fashion/trendy person). Check them out and other great things at bumgenuis.com (thank you my friend for this site!) I love all the pink and green and other color ruffles on baby girls!

Peace.

Losing consciousness

Last night, I got up from bed and walked the 4 feet to the boys room to ask him a question. Next thing I knew I was on the floor, disorientated and hearing my boy screaming MOM MOM...

What happened? I'm not really sure. Often times at night I get dizzy when I get up from bed to go to the kitchen for some water or something else to drink....usually I stop, lean on the wall and take some deep breaths till it passes.

Last night though, I apparently grabbed the door handle and fell backwards hitting my head (or so the boy says, but no bumps or tenderness on my head so who knows). I literally blacked out. My oldest boy said I should have gone to the hospital, but I freaked the little one out so much, I couldn't leave him. He was near tears, asking if I was having a heart attack, should he call 911 - I assured him I was ok, after sitting there for a bit trying to piece together what actually happened.

Things are just not going well! Now I wonder if my blood sugar is down from being so dehydrated last week - I just don't know. I am going to find a primary doctor tomorrow and have them run lots of tests. Since the cardio doctor already ran tests n my liver and kidney functions and both came out clear, there's clearly something else going on with me.

Thankfully, since being able to rehydrate myself and today I finally ate, I've had no chest pains so while I'm concerned about my heart, the concern has subside a lot since last week I was having constant chest pains and nitro wasn't working at all. (too much stress on the heart being dehydrated and basically starving to death)

My granddaughter has not even attempted to make an appearance yet. Her mommy is very frustrated, but we had a long talk a bit ago and she understands that the longer Nova remains inside, the stronger she gets and that usually a first born child is give or take a few weeks from the proposed due date. Both my son and I think she will come Thursday or Friday. Mommy goes for a check up an Thursday and they will decide then if she should be induced or not. I don't think that will be necessary, I think Nova is just taking her sweet time to get here!

My DIL would like to use something called GDiapers or possibly cloth diapers. I've never heard of GDiapers, but told her to do some research, find out what they cost for a year and to also find some diaper services and get some prices on that too and I may be able to help them out with diaper service for a year or the GDiapers for a year. I used cloth diapers for both my oldest son and my daughter and I loved them. Plus they are easier on the enviornment.

That's it for now.

Peace.

I LOVE this blog..

I know my friend in NH will love this blog too, but I thought I would share it with everyone. As my strength seems to come back, I'm hungry too, but my stomach is still real sensitive and eating is still a bit of a struggle.... I began looking through my blog roll call last night and found this site again. I'd forgotten how much I really like it and hope as I get better I can make some of her recipes cause it all looks SO good!! I love her plate settings and tables and garden and well go check her out yourself.

Once in a blue moon

Just a quick check in..

I've been sick. Real sick. I went to the doctors today, I could barely speak and couldn't drive, my Aunt took me.

I had to have them let out my lap band. I lost 18 pounds in 8 days. I couldn't keep anything down, including water and was having chest pains that would not go away.

I am severely dehydrated, though I've been able to get 2 large ice waters down and a 32oz Gatorade and keep all of it down other than the first few sips of the Gatorade. I already feel better. But 18 pounds in 8 days is not good and was putting pressure on my heart which is what caused the severe chest pains this past week, which are now gone thankfully, because I was ready to call 911 last night and this morning, but I knew it had to be my band being too tight that was keeping me from keeping even water down (and the downside to all of that too is my heart meds and night meds were not dissolving and I was throwing them up too, not good)

I'm still really tired. But I'll catch up on that tonight and the rest of the weekend. I do have the fear of gaining weight now that my band is open all the way. In 2 weeks, I'll go have it tightened, but only half way. For now, I'm on a liquid diet for 24 hours and haven't had actual food since last Thursday, but I look forward to eating real food tomorrow. What I need to keep in mind is my portion sizes and how often I eat, but once I feel like I can move again without so much pain in my body, I'll begin exercising again and that should help keep my weight in check as well. I think by Monday I will feel more like myself again.

So that's it. Like I said, I'm really tired still so I'm going to get some ice water and head to bed.

Peace.

4 days

4 DAYS!! Till my grand daughter Nova is due! So, basically, any day now!! I suspect she may wait till Oct 1st or 2nd.

I'm VERY excited, though sad I won't be able to see her, probably till she's close to a month old, but still in the infant stage so all's good there.

My arbitration is Oct 8th and if all works out like I would like it to, I should have my settlement money before the end of Oct. The boy turns 14, Oct 26th, so I can't go see her than, but hopefully after that I can go for a short while to help out... plus, while I don't know what they need, I've got a ton of baby sites bookmarked so I can order some things for her, like these really cute leg warmers in various colors and patterns and other things. I also will find out what they need still... if nothing else, I plan on buying packages of diapers in different sizes, just to help out a bit since they are so very expensive.

So I'll spoil the little chewy, but also hope to help ease some of the expense for my son and daughter in law too.

I promised the boy a trip once I received the settlement, a short trip, a weekend one (though if his grades are good, I may let him miss a Monday so it can be a 3 day weekend) Not sure where yet, haven't even discussed it with him, only that because his sister got to go to Ca and stay with her brother, he asked if I would take him on a trip somewhere, so of course me always looking for a reason to get out of Vegas, said yes...

I'm always up for a trip to the beach, even have a favorite little motel Del Mar Hotel on the Beach, but being we've spent time there already, maybe I'll take him somewhere else. 3 days in NYC? I love NYC and he was real young last time we were there, catch a Broadway or off Broadway show, go to Serendipity for their famous hot chocolate.. or maybe NC, Myrtle Beach, neither of us have been there. We could leave right after school on Friday, maybe make it a 4 day trip if his grades are good, tie it in with his birthday... Any suggestions?

Then I'm putting money away for a tummy tuck and a move next year (after I catch up on my bills)and so the kids can have a Christmas though unlike a few years ago I'm not going to go overboard! (yeah, ok, shut up I'm good for going overboard when I have the money)

Writing workshop... If you give a Mom a moment

Found this great giveaway over at Mama's Losin' It but it's not so much those beautiful champagne flutes, or the much needed gift certificate to Target that got me to do this diddy... I needed a reminder for myself as to why I do the things I do and don't do most of what I want to do. My kids.

There were a few prompts I could have picked from, but this one seemed like a no brainer to me...

If you give a Mom a moment: You might see that while she is exhausted beyond words, the phrase "Mama can you do... " is followed by, "Of course I can, lets do it together"

If you give a Mom a moment: Knowing that there is no gasoline in the car and no money for the rest of the month to put gas in said car, she'll still drive you and pick you up from the mall which will use up the rest of her gas, causing her to reschedule a few doctor appointments and a playdate of her own, just so you can do what you want to do and not feel left out.

If you give a Mom a moment: You would see that the greatest gift of all was not store bought but rather a hug with a kiss and a "I love you mama".

If you give a Mom a moment: You'd see in her eyes as she watches you grow up to fast, that life has been too short and growing up has come to quickly.

If you give a Mom a moment: You might catch her wiping away a tear as you walk across the stage to receive that High School diploma, something she never did herself.

If you give a Mom a moment: You might catch a glimpse of humility as she chants to others how proud she is of all 3 of her children, who are all in different stages of their lives, wondering to herself as she says this, how did they become so wonderful of human beings despite the numerous mistakes she made with each of them.

If you give a Mom a moment: You'll see that she won't tell you, but she needs a break if only a moment, to breathe again and remember why she put all that other stuff away and focused only on you. Only to have her realize you are the reason and that reason is good enough for her.

If you give a Mom a moment: You might notice the gray hairs coming in, the wrinkles a bit deeper, her movements a bit slower, but her smile is always there for you for no other reason than you are the reason.

If you give a Mom a moment: You will see that she is both exhilarated and terrified at the same time when she heard the words "you're going to be a grandma". With love overflowing, the knowledge of being able to watch you be the mom or dad now, brings her the greatest joy, aside from the fact that if you give her a moment, she will tell you how she did it and how not to do it like her... all the while waiting to hold this new life and knowing she has another chance of watching another gift grow up hoping at the same time it won't be as fast this time.

Bio Oil, Migraine remedies, thinning hair... Anyone?

Bio Oil: Anyone out there try Bio Oil? I hear it works really well for diminishing stretch marks. It's rather expensive, but if I hear more good things about it, I'm likely to try it.

Migraine remedies: I've been trying to google migraine remedies that are liquid, the kind you sniff, like the one the church lady had. However, I seem to be having difficulty finding anything. I've looked it up as Holistic Migraine Remedies, Liquid Migraine Remedies and Homeopathic Remedies. I can't find ANYTHING. What am I missing here? What words should I use that I'm not using now? Help! (though I did ask church lady to contact her friend and find out how much that bottle was so I can get some next month if I have the money)

Thinning hair: Everyone I speak to tells me to use Nioxin. I bought a bottle of it at the first of the month, NOT cheap but not as expensive as I had been lead to believe. So far, I'm not noticing the difference, but I also don't wash my hair everyday (don't even go there, I wash it every other day, so shut up) I went on their website and did an assessment thing and I should be using #4 (I bought #1)but I only remember seeing #1 and #2 at the salon at Walmart (and have been told that what I paid for it was a better price than if I were to purchase it at a beauty supply store or a Salon)

Anyone ever use Nioxin or heard anything about it?

So do tell me the stories, so I know if I am wasting my money or before I waste my money! Or whatever.

Oh and while I'm at it...

How come people like the Kardashins get reality shows, but people like me who really live in reality, don't? Yeah I know, random stupid question thrown out there, shut up I really want to know.

What is Mochi?

First it's this: A Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. Mochi is also a prominent snack in Hawaii and Taiwan.

Then it's this, which is what I eat. Comes 6 to a package and usually I get one or two before the boy polishes them all off. Expensive but a nice treat for me since I can keep one down.

Small balls of ice cream are wrapped inside a mochi covering to make mochi ice cream. In Japan this is manufactured by the conglomerate Lotte under the name Yukimi Daifuku, "snow-viewing daifuku". In the United States the grocery chains Trader Joe's, H Mart, and Mollie Stone's sell mochi ice cream in flavors of chocolate, mango, green tea, coffee, vanilla, and strawberry. It is popular in California; Hawaii; Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; and Portland, Oregon. Mikawaya, a Japanese-owned company operating in Los Angeles, manufactures the variety that is sold by Trader Joe's and Mollie Stone's. The New Central Market in Anchorage Alaska provides a variety of mochi and mochi ice cream products throughout Alaska. The Pinkberry and Red Mango frozen yogurt chains also offer mochi as a "secret menu" (or in Red Mango's case, regular menu) topping on their desserts, available upon request from customers. The CeFiore frozen yogurt chain and Mr. Yogato and Cali Yogurt in Washington, DC also offer it as a regular topping.

It can also be used in soup and you can make dumplings with it... but the ice cream is to DIE for! I've never gotten to try the vanilla or coffee Mochi because for some reason my local Trader Joes does not carry those 2 flavors.

If you have the opportunity to try Mochi Ice Cream, do. Mochi is a pasty type substance even frozen around the ice cream and the two together are an odd combo, but it's yummy!!

Go on, you know you're dying to try some. Do it and leave me a comment, I'd love to read what you have to say about it!

Soda or Pop or Soda Pop and Mochi

Since my surgery I had to stop drinking soda. The carbonation stretches out your stomach, so they advise you not to drink it. I haven't missed my daily pepsi's which were of course more than one and probably a big reason for my weight gain, since I drank all my calories and didn't move and well OK you understand...

But every once in a while I get a craving for the bubbles. I have to be careful when I drink anything, since I tend to gulp stuff and a lot of burping goes on and yeah, real lady like that there belching stuff even when I drink water...

So, here's the deal. I tried to drink a pepsi one day and besides tasting like shit in a bottle, there was way to much carbonation for me to deal with.

And then I found...

Gourmet Soda. OMG this is the BEST soda I have EVER tasted. You can find it at Walgreens (though not on their website, I've already checked) It's rather pricey but well worth it. A hint of carbonation which works well for that craving and the flavors are really strong. My favorites are the Vanilla Creme Soda and the Black Cherry. But I've also had the Orange Cream which tastes like one of those Popsicles I use to love, those orange ones with white filling... and the Strawberry Cream is good too. The other flavor is Rootbeer and Diet Rootbeer, but I don't like Rootbeer so haven't tried it.

Seriously, the flavors are real strong, best I've ever had.

And at Trader Joes.. they also carry "lightly carbonated" soda. Comes in a four pack, 3 or 4 different flavors, I think one is Blueberry, the one I got was Pomegranate cause I like the taste and the antioxidants that come with pomegranates. It's pretty good too, less carbonation than the Gourmet Soda's, not quite a flavorful but good. While you're at Trader Joes, for your ice cream cravings, I suggest Mochi. Japanese ice cream comes in 3 flavors, green tea, mango and I think strawberry. I'm partial to the green tea one, but have tried all three that are available here. They also make vanilla and coffee Mochi, but for some reason my local Trader Joes doesn't carry it.

What is Mochi? Well, I'll tell you - next post... or you can look it up on Wikipedia, which is basically what I am going to cut and paste into my next post ;)

Peace