2013 Christmas Giveaway Bash! Winner takes it all!!

 

Grand Prize Sponsored by: BuyDig 

Sponsors: HoodiePet  FunBites  Brobo  Little Pim   

Woolzies Dryer Balls

Host: Mom Blog Society  Budget Earth

Co Host: Geeky Gamer Mom  3 Sons Have I  She Informed  The Country Gal  Mew Review  Night Helper

There will be 1 (one) Grand Prize winner who will receive a Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 62z 18.5-Inch All-In-One PC - Intel Dual Core 2.9 GHz Processor

Sponsored by BuyDig.com

There will be 1 (one) First Place Winner who will receive the following prizes sponsored by both bloggers and brands!

About BuyDig.com "In the many years that we have been in business we have become a truly comprehensive source of camera, video, home entertainment and assorted consumer electronics equipment. We sell Digital Cameras, Lenses, External Hard Drives and Accessories, Camcorders, MP3 Players, Home Theater Components including LCD, LED and Plasma televisions, Blu-Ray & DVD players, GPS Navigators, Computers, Tablets, DJ Equipment & Pro Audio, Printers, Scanners, Binoculars, Housewares, Small Appliances, Sporting Goods, Optics and much more to consumers as well as the education, corporate and government markets."

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you’d like Mom Blog Society to feature your product 

in our next event 

please contact ladonna@momblogsociety.com for details.  

Official Sweepstakes Rules.  

Disclosure:Each blogger and sponsor listed above is responsible for prize shipment. Please contact them directly if you are the winner of this event or have questions. Please note that I do not endorse the use of all of the prizes here. Be aware that some may contain ingredients not deemed appropriate for green-minded and natural-living individuals.

 

Twitter Page 6

Here are some fun follows for you!

Follow @kissmykitty 

Follow @debbzs 

Follow @couponwahm1 

Follow @giveawaybandit  

Follow @route249 

Follow @NetworkingWitch  

Follow @krystlekouture 

Follow @familyliteracy

Relief from fibro and autumn allergies

October is one of my favorite months, but lately I'm wondering why. You see, the problem with October is it wreaks havoc on my body. The change in barometric pressure triggers pains in places I'd forgotten could hurt. My fibromyalgia and Epstein Barr Virus Syndrome flair and I'd much rather be in bed than sitting at my desk working. Except when even lying in bed causes pain on whatever body part touches the mattress. Let me tell you, fibro is no fun. Anyone else in the community suffering from it? Does it get worse in the fall and winter?

Another thing that's been happening lately, is my allergies are acting up -- sneezing, sore throat, itchy eyes. 

That's why I'm happy to face autumn with Hyland's. There are two products, in particular, that have won my heart this month. One is their Arnica, melt in your mouth, tabs. They truly equal relief. 

Here's what their website says about Hyland's Arnica 30x: 

Our new pain relief formula speeds your recovery from injuries and trauma. You can even take it before activity to minimize pain later. Arnica 30x relieves pain from joint & muscle soreness, bruising, swelling, stiffness, back ache, fatigue and inflammation.

Oh yeah. While my pain is not injury-related, I still find relief from my daily pain when I put one or two of these tablets under my tongue. They can be taken every 4 hours to help provide longer periods of reduced pain.

Then there's the problem with the allergies. At the first sign of itchy eyes, I reach for another new "friend" -- my Hyland's Seasonal Allergy Relief tablets. Perhaps more people need these in the spring, but since I can remember, my allergies always seemed to bother me more as fall drew near. As soon as the yellow jackets started swarming in late August, my nose would start running. 

With the decline in all sorts of bees, I haven't noticed the end of summer allergies too much, so I'm not sure if it was just all the pollen the bees brought with them or what it was that caused the reaction. I just know it's not as bad anymore. But as we progressed through October, with the leaves on the ground and the drier air, I've needed daily doses of the Allergy Relief tabs. Again, I just pop them under my tongue and within minutes, I'm good to go. 

What did I do before I discovered Hyland's? I don't know, but I'm sure glad I don't have to suffer without it anymore!

 

Hyland's has a fun fall/Halloween photo contest going on over on their FB page from now through Nov. 6, 2013. Three lucky winners will receive a basket of Hyland's products AND a $50 VISA Gift Card!! Value of prize is over $130! Check it out here.

It's National Cat Day!

Mau

In honor of National Cat Day, I thought I'd share some pics of some of the cats who were/are members of our family throughout the years.

Enjoy!

Vincent Van Gogh

Parker

Bella Notte, Vincent Van Gogh, and Theo Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh

Hadaash

Theo Van Gogh

Congo

 

Grandchildren, trains, and Christmas in October. Why not?

 My daughter, Bethany, stopped by last evening. Her husband was with her, as were Lincoln and Laura. Lincoln ran in with one thing and one thing only on his mind.

"Where are the trains, Pap Pap? Let's go see the trains!"

So the family descended into the basement to the bomb shelter (yes, we have an authentic bomb shelter in our house) to see Bill's train display. Rather than just telling you about it, I thought I'd just share it with you this morning, since we all need a little Christmas, right this very minute...

Enjoy!

Weekend Quote -- What do grandchildren really want?

What children expect from grandparents

is not to be understood

but to be loved.

 ~ Grandma Jan

Janet Lanese   

Grandmothers Are Like Snowflakes... No Two Are Alike 

VF -- a tastier way toward health with Apple Cider Vinegar

TGIVF!

How many of you take apple cider vinegar daily for your health? 

I do, but I must admit, I don't like it. If you're like me, you'd love to find a tastier method of consuming your ACV. Here's a Facebook post I received yesterday from Danielle. While I've not tried it yet, it just might be what you and I have been looking for:

Photo by George Hodan

Someone recommended to me a more palatable way of drinking acv and I thought of you. She drinks cold water with a splash of acv, and a few drops of liquid stevia. I added a squeeze of lemon juice as well, and it was really, really good! She said she drinks a few glasses a day instead of taking 1 horrible gulp in the morning. Hopefully this can help you, too.

Thanks, Danielle.

If you're new to the world of Apple Cider Vinegar, please check out some of my other posts about the hows and whys of taking ACV.

Sore Throat, Acid Reflux, Constipation, Hemorrhoids, IBS, Colds, Congestion, Cough, Earache, Flu

Cancer

Weight Loss and Detoxification

Angina, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Hot Flashes, Night Sweats

Potassium Deficiency

Cough

Weight Loss and Dr. Oz

Pregancy-related Anemia, Heartburn and Constipation

Mastitis

Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Liver Detoxification

Kidney Stones

I hope something in one of the above posts helps you reach your own health-related goals. Let me know if there's a tip you'd like to add.

Keeping it healthy with vinegar,

Disclaimer: All the above statements relating to ACV and health or weight loss are based on my own, or someone else's experiences. They are not based on medical fact. If you suffer from any of the above conditions, it is advisable that you seek medical help from a professional.

Lead poisoning -- could your kids be at risk?

 

Photo by Peter Griffin

Are you concerned about lead in your home, work, school, or playground? Do you think your kids could be at risk of lead poisoning? Most parents don't think it will happen to their children, but the sad fact is that more than 22,000,000 children under the age of 18 in the U.S. have had an unsafe level of lead in their blood at some point in their lives. Yes, you read that correctly -- 22 Million! Now do you think your kids could be at risk of lead poisoning?

As it says on the Lead Safe America Foundation's website: Lead poisoning does not discriminate.

According to Medicine.net, lead poisoning is an acute or chronic poisoning caused by the absorption of lead or any of its salts into the body. Lead poisoning is an environmental hazard that is capable of causing mental retardation, behavioral disturbance, and brain damage.

Since lead, even at minute amounts, is a potent neuro-toxin, experts agree there is no "safe" level in a child's blood. If a child is exposed, there is a chance for permanent damage. Levels as low as a blood lead level of 2.0 have adversely affected the health of children. Dangers exist to preborn children as well, when their mothers have been exposed during pregnancy.

The younger a child is when he or she is poisoned, the risks of more extensive damage increases. 

Due to some chemical similarities, when lead is present it is absorbed by the body and brain in the place of calcium. When a young child is poisoned and the neurons in their brain are at a stage of rapid growth and development, the damage to the brain can be especially significant, resulting in brain damage that leads to lifelong challenges -- including behavioral disorders, learning disorders, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum symptoms and more.  ~ www.leadsafeamerica.org 

The Mayo Clinic lists the following as symptoms of lead poisoning in children:

Photo by George Hodan

• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Learning difficulties

In infants exposed before birth, the signs of poisoning include slowed growth and learning difficulties. And in adults, the signs and symptoms include:

• High blood pressure
• Declines in mental functioning
• Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
• Muscular weakness
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Memory loss
• Mood disorders
• Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm
• Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women

This is scary stuff, folks, and like I mentioned earlier in this post, lead poisoning does not discriminate and even though lead is present in many of the places where children spend their time, routine testing for lead exposure is simply non-existent. Unfortunately, that means that during school years, symptoms are often treated pharmaceutically -- following misdiagnosis of a disorder rather than of lead poisoning that may have occurred many years earlier.

Lead Safe America Foundation recommends having children tested before they start to crawl, and then again 6 to 8 months later. Dependent on the findings, regular follow-up testing during annual well-visit check ups is advised. The hope is, by testing early, that the lead will be detected before a child is actually poisoned by it.

When a child tests positive for lead, it is essential that the parent finds the source and immediately removes the child from that environment. Often, the source comes from dust created from opening and closing the original windows and doors in a pre-1980s building (lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978 here in the U.S.). 

While your children should be tested, so should you (and me). Additionally, our homes, schools, daycare centers, playgrounds, etc. should be tested as well. 

3M offers Lead Check™ Swabs, available in retail stores and online. I recommend you purchase some and start testing your home and the other places you and children spend time. 

I'm going to be testing my home. I hope you'll be testing yours as well. 

 

An Unfinished Life

It's a beautiful Monday morning in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I'm starting the week refreshed. Why? Because I took my Sabbath Experiment/Experience seriously again yesterday. For those of you who are new to the community, I should explain. A few years ago, I started something I called "The Sabbath Experiment." Every Monday, I wrote about it. Eventually, I realized it was no longer an experiment and changed the name to "The Sabbath Experience." You can read about it here.

Lately, I've drifted away from my commitment to rest on the Sabbath. I've had a lot of excuses, including many that could have applied yesterday. But I decided to throw the excuses aside and I relished my Sabbath.

The day started the way it usually does with Sunday School, worship, and lunch with the kids and grandkids. I love the current sermon series on blessing our neighbors being presented by our minister, Tom Fodi. It's challenging me to act, which is always a good thing. 

After we got home, my husband headed to the hospital to visit a dear friend who is in really shape. I napped. When he returned, Bill found me in front of the television watching a Hallmark movie. Of course, since Hallmark movies are his favorite, he joined me. Aside from making something to eat, we did little else other than watching TV, something we rarely do. At 9:00, I turned on a movie I'd never heard of called, AN UNFINISHED LIFE. 

Before I watched the movie, I sat and pondered the title -- an unfinished life. Wow. That's something that fits so many I've known who have died unexpectedly, leaving behind incomplete projects and unpaid bills, cluttered closets and unspoken apologies, unreached dreams and I'll-get-around-to-it-someday relationship repairs. Unfinished lives. It happens all the time.
 
Not only did I love the title (I mean, really -- isn't that a great title?), but I was drawn to the cast which included, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Camryn Manheim, and Becca Gardner. 

Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I loved this movie. The chemistry between Redford and Freeman was fantastic and Lopez put in another amazing performance. With maybe one exception, I simply love Lopez as an actress. And my love of Redford goes back to the 70s. And then there's Freeman -- is he not an amazing actor? The movie scored 2 stars according to the description on Comcast. I couldn't help wondering who rated it. It received a solid 5 stars from me, and aside from some language I didn't appreciate, I found this movie to be exactly what I needed last night. It's a story of imperfect people struggling through this life of disappointments, bad choices, and grudges, catching a glimpse of grace and beauty and friendship along the way. In the end, it's a story of forgiveness and redemption. 

I went to bed last night feeling satisfied with my day . . . a Sabbath day intended for rest and renewal. But in the back of my mind, I was still pondering an unfinished life.

Monday -- bring it on. I'm ready for you.

A renewal of life

Grandchildren

are a renewal of life,

a little bit of us

going on into the future.

~Helene Schellenberg Barnhart

What's a kidney stone or two when you have ACV in your cupboard?

My ACV of choice

TGIVF!

For those of you who have been following my health saga, you know I had a kidney stone. Well, according to the latest round of x-rays, it's gone. Did I pass it? I don't think so, and from I hear, I'd know it if I had. So where is it?

When I first posted on Facebook that I had a kidney stone, Danielle, a friend, a community member, and a guest blogger here on GG, wrote and said her husband had stones twice and he dissolved them with apple cider vinegar. 

At the time, I was so sick from my kidney infection that I wasn't eating much of anything, so the thought of trying to take my daily dose of ACV did not appeal to me in the slightest. However, once I started feeling better, I resumed my tablespoon a day of organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I didn't increase the dose or take it more than once each day like Danielle's husband did, but it looks like it performed its magic anyway. No more kidney stone. It's gone. Vanished. Yippee. 

I must admit, I was dreading the movement and elimination of the stone and, thanks to good ol' vinegar, my fears were unnecessary (as most fear and worry is). 

So, that's my VF tip for today -- dealing with kidney stones? Break out the ACV. I can't guarantee it will work, but I'm guessing that's what did it for me. Of course, as I often say, I'm not a medical professional. Do not take my advice as well-researched fact. It's just my experience. When in doubt, consult your doctor or homeopathic professional.

Keeping it green and healthy with vinegar,

 

For more natural and eco-friendly tips, check out my book, VINEGAR FRIDAYS available here.

Seeds were planted five years ago today

October 17, 2008 was a momentous day. I labored through it with my daughter, Jessica, as she struggled through hours and hours until we heard that miraculous first cry -- my first grandchild was born. Let me tell you, I was exhausted! And sore. You see, every time my daughter pushed, I held on to her hand and right foot and I pushed along with her. I seriously think I did some internal damage that day! 


As a mother, I just wanted to take away some of the pain. I'm not sure what her husband was feeling as he coached her across the bed from me, but I imagine he wanted to take on some of the pain as well. 

I must admit, I didn't become an "instant grandmother" in my heart. Watching my daughter go through labor was one of the worst things I've experienced. I hurt for her and holding that newborn baby didn't take away the pain for me. 

I felt like a freak. Every other grandma I knew instantly bonded with their grandbabies; especially those who were present for their births. And then there was my husband who fell in love with this child the second he received her into his arms. 

Since my daughter had to return to work after six weeks to keep her benefits, I had the privilege of taking care of my granddaughter three to four days a week for the first year. During that time, the love grew between Laura and me that there is no longer any question of my ability to bond with her as a grandmother. She and I are tight.

So today, on her fifth birthday, I celebrate this precious child. She is a gift to our family and she is the reason Green Grandma exists. Five years ago today, the seeds were planted for this blog to sprout, blossom, and grow right alongside the lovely little Lady Laura, who is becoming more and more beautiful with each passing year.

Happy birthday, Laura! I love you more than the color orange.

 

Tomorrow is tax day... for those of us who procrastinate

Photo by Charles Rondeau

Well, it's Monday. And I have a huge task at hand, thanks to one of my defining faults -- procrastination. The extension I filed in April for my income tax return is looming. October 15th.

Here on the blog, I address issues related to common sense greener and healthier living. So why . . . gasp . . . am I writing about income tax returns? The answer is simple. It has to do with health. You see, when we procrastinate, we create unnecessary stress which often translates into issues with our health. 

Back in April, after I did a preliminary work up with my taxes and mailed in my checks to the federal and state governments, I packed away my receipts, worksheets, 1099s, etc. and forgot about it. As August flew by (don't all months seem to do that?), I started thinking about it again. I'll do it in September, I thought. By mid-September, I was sick in bed for over a week with a kidney infection that is still causing problems for me. I simply do not feel well.

The IRS does not care. The government may be shut down, but they're not about to give me a break. 

I had planned to dedicate last week to getting this done, but the opportunity for a large voice-over project which included working with my husband presented itself and I couldn't turn it down. It took up a lot of my time.

The weekend rolled around and I finally started tackling the dauntless task many of us, who are self-employed, dread. Yes, I could go to a CPA, but I'd still have to put together all my business expenses which, for me, is the most time-consuming and difficult of tasks. Maybe one of these years, I'll be more organized and hand the job over to someone else. Maybe. But that doesn't help me right now. 

I'm 75% done at this point, which is a good thing. I just have to work out the home office deduction and add up and enter all my business expenses (hotels, meals, supplies, equipment, etc.). It will be done and sent by tomorrow's due date, so I'm not really stressed at this point. I'm simply looking back over the last couple of months and thinking, Why didn't I do this before now? 

 You see, procrastination is something that eats away at your peace of mind. Whether it's about taxes, making appointments, school or work projects, paying bills, getting the house ready for company, meeting deadlines, etc., it has the same effect. And the effect is not healthy. 

So today I'm confessing this character flaw to you. For those of you who are not procrastinators, I applaud you, admire you, and envy you. I want to be you someday. But for now, I have to get back to the task at hand. 

Enjoy your Monday. Somehow, I'm going to try to enjoy mine.

Weekend Quote

The main dangers in this life 

are the people who want to change 

everything or nothing.

~Nancy Astor                        

     

My liver enzymes are up -- time to reach for the ACV

TGIVF!

While many of you are thrilled that Friday is finally here, I must admit this week went by a bit too quickly for me. You see, back in April, I sent in an extension for my 2012 taxes. Guess what? October 15th is the new deadline and I haven't finished them yet. I was going to dedicate this entire week to doing taxes, but then a big voice-over project landed in my inbox and it sucked up most of my time. Now it's Friday and I still haven't pulled out the paperwork I started in April. Yikes. 

But the real problem arose when I became so darn sick about a month ago. Honestly, I was never so sick in my entire life. It was diagnosed as a kidney infection at the time, and I hope they were right. But it was an infection that was resistant to antibiotics, so I ended up on three different rounds of them -- 5 days, 7 days, and 14 days. And I HATE being on antibiotics! But I was too sick to resist. I just wanted to be well. 

While I no longer have the high fever, chills, shaking, headache, lack of appetite, and extreme fatigue, I must admit that I still feel pretty lousy, especially at night. I do pretty well throughout the day, but when 8:00 rolls around, I start going downhill pretty darned fast. I've come to dread nighttime. Sleeping isn't a respite from it, either, as I'm not sleeping well at all. I wake up three to four times each night to go to the bathroom.

So I was surprised yesterday when I went back to the urologist for a follow-up appointment and she told me my urine was clear of any infection. I thought for sure I was going to be treated to a fourth round of antibiotics. And the x-ray showed that the kidney stone I had three weeks ago is no longer there. Phew. It either dissolved or I passed it without any knowledge of it. 

But then, why do I still feel so lousy? She didn't have an answer for me. Instead, she referred me to a gastroenterologist. Great. More tests. More doctors. Her main concern was my elevated liver enzymes. I must admit, that has me concerned. So I went home and Googled all things related to liver problems. While some things were worthy of concern, I'm leaning more toward the conclusion that all that blasted medication raised my numbers and that I just need to cleanse my liver of all the toxins. Of course, I want a quick solution because I happen to love wine and alcohol is obviously a no-no right now. 

Maybe I'm still feeling lousy because the antibiotics simply did a number on my digestive system and it will take awhile for me to rebound. What do you think?

I'm going to skip seeing another specialist right now and I'm going to try something I should have tried before now. I'm going to try to cleanse my liver of toxins by taking more raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. You wouldn't believe how many sites recommend this. Here I am, having written a book about vinegar, and I didn't think to do this! 

Truth be told, I hate taking ACV. I hate the taste of it and I really have to force myself to do it. So I skip a day or two here and there. And then I skip three days. Or four. When my ulcer pain starts flaring, I go back to taking it again so I don't have to go back on Nexium. But when I was so sick and not eating, the last thing I wanted was yucky-tasting ACV, so I didn't take any for a couple of weeks. All that changes today. Now that I've read what I've read about how apple cider vinegar detoxifies the liver, I'd be a fool not to try it. 

Eventually, I'll go back to the doctor and have my blood work repeated. And then I'll let you know what my enzyme levels are. I'm counting on the ACV to bring them back to normal. And that, my friends, is what this particular Vinegar Friday is all about.

Here's to our health -- yours and mine,