Retro-Girl: Surviving the Suburbs

Yummy Organic & Natural Candy - Surf Sweets (Review)

2012-01-23T16:20:00.001-06:00

If you've read my blog before or follow me on Twitter, you may recall that my son has SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder). As part of trying to help our son become self-regulated and to improve his overall wellness, we have really started watching his diet. We've been on a mission to remove all artificial food dyes and to eliminate harmful preservatives and chemicals that may cause not only behavioral issues, but also pose other health risks as well. We try to keep his sugar intake low and his chocolate intake as minimal as possible.

With these things in mind, I'm always on the lookout for healthy snacks and treats that I can give Isaac in moderation. He does like an occasional sweet treat - especially around holidays when he realizes others are having sweets.

I was really happy to hear about Surf Sweets recently. They're right here in IL - like us. They make gummy candies and jelly beans that are organically-sweetened that are drenched in fruit flavors and are full of vitamin C. Additionally, their products are free of corn syrup, artificial dyes and flavorings. The candies are gluten-free, and have no wheat, dairy, soy, egg, tree-nuts, peanuts, fish/shellfish sesame or sulfites --making them an allergy-friendly treat! They're made in a nut-free facility and are Casein-Free also! Surf Sweets are stage 2 Feingold diet - approved! They've been mentioned in Food Network Magazine, Women's Health, Gluten-Free Living and the Wall Street Journal, to name a few publications.

They offer fruity bears, gummy bears, sour berry bears, sour worms, gummy worms, and jelly beans. They come in 2.75 oz bags for about $1.99 and the gummy bears and jelly beans come in .9 oz snack packs as well. You can also buy Snack Pack Multi-packs of the gummy bears and sour berry bears.

Just in time for Valentines Day, they have fruity hearts with cherry & watermelon flavors!

We tried a sampling of their products - The fruity hearts, jelly beans, gummy bears and sour berry bears. I have been giving Isaac just a few here and there as reward treats, or a few in his lunch bag and he's really enjoyed them. I sampled them as well and find the flavors very tasty, the textures to be just right (not too hard, or too sticky). The sour berry bears are the perfect level of sweetly sour flavor (no super-pucker or teary eyes! LOL). I felt safe giving Isaac Surf Sweets because they are organic and free of all the chemicals and bad stuff other candies have. I like that we have some choices for our son and he doesn't have to feel deprived. I think Surf Sweets are yummy and safe for your family, great for holidays, to use in recipes or would be sweet party treats or stocking stuffers.

I was happy to find that you can buy Surf Sweets at Whole Foods, Buy Buy Baby, and other stores selling healthy foods and products. You can also buy Surf Sweets Online at places like Amazon.com and others.

Surf Sweets also has partnered with The OceanProject.org the largest network ever formed to focus on ocean conservation. The Ocean Project works with over 1,000 partner aquariums, zoos, science museums and other educational organizations to inform, educate and protect our planet's oceans. That means a lot to me - as I am passionate about protecting our planet's oceans and all of the creatures living in them.

I received a complimentary sampler pack of several varieties of Surf Sweets organic candies in exchange for an honest review/opinion. I received no monetary compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

It All Comes Out in the Wash.... {Review of Purex Triple Action Formula}

2012-01-23T14:41:00.003-06:00

My life is hectic...I work ~~"3/4 time"~~ part-time, am raising a super-active 3.5 year old preschooler who is struggling with Sensory Processing Disorder, and am always busy taking him to occupational therapy or doing OT & sensory activities at home or on the go. We go to church and attend small group each week, and take our son to Tae Kwon Do on Saturdays. We work hard, play hard and create mounds of laundry - the amount of which astounds me sometimes considering we're a family of three.

I feel like I am constantly doing laundry. I joke and say laundry is my hobby. This is where my love of Purex comes in. (I know...Lady get a life! ha ha! Well, it's the life I've got...might as well love it!) I have always liked Purex and with the amount of laundry I do that's great because they have a good product at such a great price. I was thrilled to become a Purex Insider not too long ago and try their Purex Crystals softener. I quickly became hooked on them too! :)

So anyway...Purex sent me a bottle of their new Triple Action formula liquid laundry detergent to try. Their R&D scientists have been busy over the last year creating an even better Purex formula - that will give you even better cleaning power for half the price of other leading brands and it has been specifically formulated to work in all washing machines (Including those fab & fancy high efficiency machines...stuff my laundry fantasies are made of lol. I have just the standard econo-model washer/dryer.) The new Purex is designed to improve brightening, too. They will be rolling this out soon across their entire line of liquid detergent products. Some of the other varieties include: Natural Elements, Linen & Lilies and Lilac & White Lavender as well as After the Rain, Lavender Fresh, Original Fresh and Free & Clear.

I tried the 33 load size of the Mountain Breeze scent. I like this scent because it is so fresh but not overpowering. At first, I thought this new formula wasn't that much different than the original Purex I'd been using...until I did a load of kid clothes. I washed a load of my son's preschool/daycare clothes. Woah - Moms, you've gotta try this. I had several items of my son's clothes that were really dirty that I set aside to try with this new Purex. They had finger paint, play-dough, dirt, and food stuck to them. EVERY SINGLE ITEM came out clean and bright. I thought the shirt covered in paint was trashed...or that there would be some oily-ghost stains from the food or play-dough....but nope. All clean and fresh smelling! I'm sold...I do not feel I need to spend a lot of money on high priced detergents. I get the job done easily, and quickly with Purex. With our crazy-busy life, that means a lot to me.

Check out Purex's website for coupons and other savings & promotions. They're currently giving away 10,000 coupons a day for 5 days! You can even download a Laundry Helper App for iPhone or App for Blackberry! How cool is that?! Connect with Purex on Facebook for other info/offers!

Keep your eye out for Purex New Improved Triple Action formula - it's coming to a store near you very soon!

I received a complimentary 33 load sized bottle of Purex Triple Action detergent in exchange for an honest review/opinion. I received no monetary compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

HEY Chicago - Win a Trip for 2 to New York City!!

2011-12-09T15:15:00.001-06:00

Hey Chicago - here's your chance to enter the "My City - My Music" Concert Sweepstakes. How fabulous is that?!

Fuse and XFINITY have come together to give you a chance to win a full day and night of enjoyment in New York City! One lucky winner will win a trip for two to New York City along with pair of tickets to the concert of their choice at a Madison Square Garden venue, a music prize pack including an MP3 player and headphones, a gift certificate to download your favorite music and a pair of tickets to enjoy a night on the town at any local New York City museum or attraction!

photo from city profile.com

To enter, simply head to http://fusemycity.com/ and fill out the quick registration form! This sweeps is only open to residents of Illinois and ends December 26th!

How's that for a Christmas present?!

SPD...OT...IEP...ABC-123: Entering the Acronym Jungle!

2011-11-15T21:33:00.000-06:00

It has been almost 2 months since our son Isaac was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). He began Occupational Therapy (OT) about 6 weeks ago, and I've been reading, researching, talking with other SPD moms through online support groups and to a friend at work who also has a "Sensational Kid" - just trying to learn as much as I can so that I can help Isaac in every way possible. I am learning my way through "Acronym Jungle" as well....

We've been making our home sensory friendly so that Isaac can get the sensory input he needs. We've purchased a weighted lap blanket, large yoga ball, porcupine balls, hand-fidget balls/toys, chewy necklace for his oral-motor issues, a mini-trampoline, sit/hop ball and exercise bands for the heavy work he craves.

He has been attending a Little Ninjas - Tae Kwon Do program that teaches balance, coordination, focus, memory, self-control, discipline, teamwork. He recently graduated up to a yellow belt. It's been a challenge for him to focus and follow directions but they feel he's making progress!

Our biggest issue so far is dealing with our daycare and Isaac's behaviors/reactions there due to his SPD. He often copes with a fight or flight reaction - he'll either throw things or do slobbery/spitty raspberries or just dash out of the classroom and into the hallway. This is not good. When he gets to a point of sensory overload or anxious because his sensory-seeking behaviors prevent him from being able to self-regulate and control his impulses. He sometimes reacts in ways that are silly and socially inappropriate. Some of it is because he's 3 years old but mostly due to SPD - not something he can control. He's not a bad kid - he just needs to learn coping and self-regulation strategies....thus the need for O.T.

It doesn't help that the main teacher for this class has a bit of an attitude and can be very negative. She claims she adores him and wants nothing but to help him, but then balks at any ideas, tools or strategies we have for trying to get him to calm down or self-regulate in class. She often rolls her eyes when talking to me and is just plain rude. It's exasperating and recently I kinda let her have it - told her I really didn't appreciate the negative snotty attitude and that I felt it caused Isaac to be stressed out. She's always very negative in front of him. The director, however, is so nice, she is trying to work with us to do whatever they can to help, and to work with Isaac and the teachers to help Isaac control himself and to keep him enrolled there, so I can keep my job. They have to operate at full capacity however, so they have limited resources to be able to give Isaac special attention or go the extra mile to use some of his special 'accoutrements'.

His therapist has said she's starting to think that the best thing for him at 3.5 years old, may be to go to preschool, to be in a more structured environment. A special needs preschool program. Maybe go to preschool for a few hours and to daycare a few hours each day. Maybe a different daycare? Maybe preschool only? We are not sure yet....something we need to figure out.

So, I took him for an evaluation at the school in our district this past week, so they could identify his areas of developmental need and for what programs he may qualify. The speech pathologist that screened Isaac was surprised and impressed that he actually scored high on many of their evaluations - she felt he was advanced in several areas.

We have an appointment to return to the school next week to review their evaluation and the services they can offer/feel that Isaac needs and their recommendation on what to do next. We will find out if/how he can get an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and begin to formulate a plan on where to go from here.

At first it was a bit difficult to let it sink in that my son is a special-needs child and will deal with SPD his whole life. This is not something that goes away, that he will grow out of or can be healed. (Sorry grandparents - this is not Isaac "just being a boy" and something he'll outgrow or that his teachers and parents just being too picky) There may be other issues that surface as we go forward with occupational therapy. His OT casually suggested that there is a small possibility he may have ADD or ADHD issues - but that this can not be properly/legitimately evaluated and diagnosed until a child is at least 4 or 5.

It's been a bit overwhelming dealing with all of this and thinking of the years ahead - the issues we may face, how we will have to advocate for him, try to protect him, guide him and help him, support him with positive reinforcement and encouragement. We love this precious boy with all our hearts and want the very best in life for him. I hope I can rise to these challenges and be the best mom I can be for him...my sensational, beautiful son.

Crunchy, Sweet & Healthy! Sante Nuts Review & Coupon Code

2011-10-11T20:48:00.002-05:00

If you've read my blog recently, you'll know I've been on a quest recently for healthy snacks for my family. We are always on the go and like handy, healthy snacks. I also like cooking meals that are quick, simple, healthy and tasty. The easier it is to prepare - the more we like it. That being said -- I was thrilled to get the opportunity to try Sante Nuts.

I received a sampler box that contained the Candied Pecans, Candied Walnuts, Garlic Almonds, and the Roasted Salted Pecans. These nuts are slow roasted in small batches in organic oils with a secret technique that minimizes the amount of oil the nuts absorb, leaving them very light, crisp and crunchy and lower in fat. The ingredients they use are all natural; they are gluten free and are kosher! I read this article at the Mayo Clinic website that says nuts are a heart healthy food.

The company owner, Sara Tidhar suddenly found herself as a single mom with no income and to provide for her children, she began roasting nuts in her kitchen and selling them. You can read her story here - Sara's Story.

Our Experience:
We tried all 4 varieties of Sante Nuts. We've eaten them right out of the bags by hand. I find them to be very light, crisp and crunchy as advertised They're tasty, with just a very light seasoning that is just right. The candied pecans and walnuts are not too sweet or sugary, and the roasted salted pecans are just right. The garlic almonds are very flavorful and are sweet but have a slight bite - they have a touch of cayenne and black pepper that gives a unique taste. Sante Nuts are full sized, large pecans halves, whole almonds and walnut halves - not crushed or broken in the bag. They were very fresh and the resealable bag has kept them fresh after repeated openings.

Besides eating them by hand - the following are ways I've tried Sante Nuts:

Broken into pieces and tossed into breakfast cereal (candied pecans & walnuts)
Broken tablespoon put with yogurt for snack or breakfast
Added to my own custom snack mix for my son (with organic cereal, dried fruit bits, organic pretzels
Salads - tossed candied pecans & walnuts with dried cranberries, salad greens - eaten with raspberry viniagrette (Photo Below). (Could add spiced pear halves for a pear & walnut salad!)

Haven't tried it yet - but thought of crushing the garlic almonds and trying to use as a coating for baking boneless chicken breasts or perhaps orange roughy fish. Check out these Recipes at the Sante Nuts website. There are so many different ways you could use these nuts for snacks, in baking and cooking. What are your favorite ways to incorporate walnuts, pecans and almonds into your cooking and snacking? Submit your own recipe to Sante....

You can buy Sante Nuts online - in 4 oz and 5 oz bags. The prices run between $3.29 and $4.29 per bag depending on variety - which I think is reasonable, compared to most other premium nuts.

COUPON CODE
Sante Nuts has offered a special coupon code for readers of Retro Girl: Surviving The Suburbs.
You can get a 25% discount on any order at SanteNuts.Com - Just enter the code below at checkout. This coupon is good for orders through December 16, 2011. Please feel free to share this code via Twitter, Facebook, email - however you wish. Just in time for your holiday entertaining & baking needs!
CODE: 2011-Blog-040

I received complimentary bags of Sante Nuts in exchange for my honest opinion and a review of my experience. I did not receive any other compensation or incentive nor was I required to write a positive review. Individual results or experiences may vary. You may obtain more detailed information, ingredients, allergy and/or nutritional data from the company's website. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Freschetta - Proud to Support Pink Prize Pack Winner!

2011-10-11T18:23:00.000-05:00

A Huge thank you to Freschetta for sponsoring the Proud to Support Pink giveaway!

Thanks to all who participated - tweeted, liked, followed, posted!! Thanks for helping spread the word about Proud to Support Pink - in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! (Don't forget those self-exams and mammograms, ladies!)

A random winner was drawn for the using Random.org, as shown below:

The randomly chosen winner is comment #36 - JEN

Winner notified via email - and has 48 hours to respond to claim her prize....or another random winner will be selected.

Thanks again to Freschetta for graciously sponsoring this giveaway and all you are doing to support breast cancer research!

CLICK HERE TO GET A FRESCHETTA COUPON !

Freschetta Pizza Prize Pack Giveaway!

2011-10-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

I have never been a big fan of frozen pizza. That was until I tasted Freschetta's Simply Inspired Bruschetta Pizza. It is light, crispy, and super delicious! I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh it really tasted! My family really enjoyed trying this pizza and will definitely buy it again.

Freschetta makes frozen pizza that doesn't taste frozen. They use real ingredients, and have a wide variety of pizzas to fit any taste. They have the classic Freschetta pizzas, Brick Oven Pizzas, Simply Inspired specialty pizza line, California Style, Naturally Rising to name a few. They even sell pizza crust so you can come up with your own pizza masterpiece. You can check out all their products HERE.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I am sure you are wondering--What does this have to do with Pizza?! (Well besides that almost all guys LOVE pizza and boobs?!) Well, now that I have your attention, let me tell you....

Freschetta is doing their part for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They're doing their part to support research by presenting the Freschetta Proud to Support Pink program. Until October 31st - when you purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta Pizzas and Artisan Pizza Crusts you will be helping reach Freschetta's goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Specially marked packages are printed with codes that you can enter at www.proudtosupportpink.com For each code entry - the makers of Freschetta products will donate a $1 to this center to support breast cancer research - up to $50k !

Freschetta's site also has a place for people to share their breast cancer journey or the journey of their friend or loved one. These stories will be displayed on the site and on Freschetta's Facebook page to inspire all who read them. They're also giving away 50 pink iPod Shuffles each week in October!!! Additionally, 50 pink iPod Shuffles will be donated each week in October to four cancer centers around America to be enjoyed by breast cancer patients during treatment. How cool is that?!

THE GIVEAWAY

One of my lucky readers will win a Freschetta A coupon to try a FREE Freschetta Pizza of your choice, and Two (2) pairs of Freschetta Proud to Support Pink earphones! One pair is for the winner to keep, and one pair is for the winner to share with their friend/family member as a reminder of proactive health!

HOW TO ENTER:

Mandatory Entry
**Please visit Freschetta's website and tell me what your favorite Freschetta Pizza is - or which one you'd like to try. - Please include your email address in your comment.

Bonus Entries: Leave a separate comment for each of the following:

Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect (1 Entry)
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/Retrogirl66 (1 Entry)
Follow Freschetta Pizza on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/freschettapizza (1 Entry)
Like Freschetta Pizza on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/freschettapizza (1 Entry)
Add my button on my right sidebar to your blog & give link to its location on your page (1 Entry)
Post a short blog post about this giveaway on your blog - and link to this post (5 Bonus Entries! - Leave 5 separate comments for this!)

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 11:59pm on Monday October 10th 2011. Winner will be drawn at random and notified via email. Winner has 48 hours to respond with physical mailing address to collect prize. Alternate winner will be drawn if no response. Open to USA Residents.

Disclosure: I received a coupon for a free Freschetta Pizza and 2 pairs of Proud to Support Pink earphones in exchange for my honest opinion and help in promoting the campaign to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. My thoughts, and opinions are solely my own. I received no other monetary compensation and was not required to provide a positive review. Please see product website for ingredients, allergy info and product nutrition info.

Nature's Hand Granola - A Healthy Handy Snack. (Review)

2011-09-16T21:23:00.000-05:00

As you saw in my recent video blog of my trip to Whole Foods, as always, I'm on a quest for healthy snacks for myself and my little guy Isaac. I look for tasty snacks that are low in sugar and fat and that are handy and easy when we're on the go.

We recently enjoyed trying Nature's Hand Granola for the first time. The company sent me a couple pouches to sample and Isaac can't seem to get enough. He really likes the crunch and the taste. We sampled the French Vanilla Almond and the Cinnamon Apple flavors. Nature's Hand Granola also offers these other flavors:

Original Vanilla Almond
Cranberry Delight
Raisin Hazelnut
Maple Pecan
Wild Blueberry

Nature's Hand Granola is great tasting and all natural. I love that the pouches are resealable so it stays fresh and crunchy. This granola features roasted oats, wheat, nuts and seeds and is lightly and delicately sweetened with caramelized brown sugar and honey. They also use soy oil which is healthy and full of fiber, protein and antioxidants. They contain only 140 calories per serving, 4.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fats, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 mg of sodium, and only 6 grams of sugar. That is much less fat and sugar than many other packaged granola bars and snack mixes. The pouch is 13 ounces. The suggested serving size is 1/4 cup. There are approximately 12 servings per package. The average retail price is $4.99 which makes this about 42 cents per serving which isn't bad for such a quality healthy product!

Nature's Hand Granola can be purchased on their website by the pouch or the case. You can also find it at Whole Foods Market or Jewel Osco or CubFoods. You can also check out Nature's Hand on Facebook and Twitter for more information, recipes and discounts. They

Our Experience:
We like the taste, texture and crunch of this granola. We tried French Vanilla Almond and Cinnamon Apple. I liked them both. Isaac loves them both too, but especially liked the dried apple pieces in Cinnamon Apple. I liked how they are lightly and naturally sweetened with brown sugar and honey. It doesn't taste overly sugary or sticky like some granola bars that I've tried before. We've eaten it as a small cereal snack with skim milk, we've mixed it in our oatmeal and yogurt, and just eaten out of a zipper bag, on the go. Isaac likes to take it in a small paper cup to eat on the way to school in the morning. There are many ways to enjoy this granola, including using it recipes. You can find several recipes on the Nature's Hand website. They have a couple recipes with the info for each flavor.

Why not try this recipe?
Chewy Granola Cookies
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ¾ cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1 ½ cups Nature’s Hand granola
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces
What to do:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Blend together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Blend in vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, soda and salt; stir until combined. Stir in oat, granola and chocolate pieces.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are brown and center is soft. Let cool a few minutes on pan. Remove from pan; cool completely. (About 48 cookies).

Something I learned about Nature's Hand - they are the official granola of Outward Bound USA and support their Youth Intercept Program. Additionally, Nature's Hand donates more than 10,000 lbs of granola annually to women's shelters. Now that is an admirable and awesome way to give back!

Disclosure: I received 2 packs of granola to try in exchange for sharing my honest opinion and experience. I received no monetary compensation. Your experience and results may vary - please see manufacturer website for full nutritional information. ALLERGY ALERT - Product contains/may contain nuts, seeds, wheat. Please read nutritional labels to be sure product meets your own personal health/safety needs.

SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) : Finally, It All Makes Sense

2011-09-08T08:48:00.001-05:00

Becoming a mom at 40-something can be a the most rewarding thing ever but it can also be a challenge for a variety of reasons. It can be such joy and a big adjustment for a mom of any age, really.

I became Isaac's mom at age 42 when we adopted him from South Korea in 2009. He was just 10 months old and so small. So precious and adorable. He was the perfect baby. I had a tough time adjusting to life as a new mom of an active 10 month old who hit the ground 'running'. From day one, he was pulling up on furniture, cruising, crawling like lightning and by 12 months he really was walking and practically running. He has always been physically agile and strong. (He breezed through the various class levels at Gymboree as a toddler!) It was a challenge after working hard as a childless career woman for 22 years to suddenly find myself as a stay at home mom, but it was a great time to bond with my baby, discovering the joys of being his mama and watching him with awe as he reached every milestone.

Like many later-in-life moms who've adopted internationally - I suffered a bit with Post Adoption Depression (PAD) for awhile but through the help of some friends, my husband, my faith and time, I got through it. Going back to work after a year off was a lifesaver for me, really. To some this may sound kind of cold - it's not that I wanted to "get away from my child" - I needed more adult interaction, to be productive and using my critical thinking skills, and to have a sense of self outside of being a mom. Although Isaac attended gymboree, library groups, play dates etc. - I felt he needed more. He exhibited signs of being very intelligent and I felt he needed a bit of structured stimulation and regular daily social interaction. This has proven to be very good for Isaac. He has thrived in his daycare with the sort of preschool prep cirriculum they provide - we are told he is one of the brightest kids in the class.

During the past 2 years since Isaac came into our lives, (especially the year I stayed home though) I struggled, often times questioning whether it was just me or if Isaac's behavior was a bit off...or different than other kids. Other kids to me, always seem fairly laid back, so easy to deal with. Other kids seem to just be more content, sitting and eating or playing. Isaac has always seemed to have moments of difficulty, to be unusually stubborn or unable to control his impulses, never stops touching everything around him, never stops moving, can't sit still for more than a couple minutes during a meal at home or when dining out. It's like he is constantly wired. His doctor has always said "he's a busy, curious boy", as has my husband, they both wrote it off to age, or stages of growth, intelligence and just being an energetic child. I have often thought there was more to it. Something wasn't quite right. I know from our pre-adoption classes that many internationally adopted kids have issues but we were always assured Isaac was healthy and had no problems, no known early issues.

Then I began reading about Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and recognizing some of Isaac's "quirks" as signs he may have some sensory issues. A big red flag is the continued, constant drooling - well beyond the stage of teething, as is the fact that he constantly has something in his mouth, still at age 3. He is overwhelmed when too many kids get up close into his personal space. There are times he can't sit in circle time and just relax or lay on his cot for a nap as the other kids do - he has to run around or keep moving around the room and sort of playing his own games. We are being called in for conferences at the daycare over Isaac's "behavior issues" that are now surfacing and growing more frequent. (Their recent turnover of teachers has alot to do with this and we are trying to make them realize this, too!) These are just a few things that may be signs of SPD.

I also have been talking with a friend at work who has a child going through Occupational Therapy (OT) for SPD. We've been comparing notes and many things I tell her about Isaac remind her of her son when he was 3 and just being diagnosed. In reading and learning more about SPD and discussing with my husband, he is now starting to understand and believe there is more to it than Isaac just being a super active kid, or me just being a sensitive new mom. I believe my mom's intuition has been correct, and Isaac is struggling and needs my help now more than ever. I read that kids with SPD can often be trapped in a world of sensory overload or on the flip side - in a world where they can't get enough sensory stimulation and are frequently misunderstood or misdiagnosed as having ADD, hyperactivity, or just being a 'bad kid'.

So after many debates, discussions and convincing our Ped Dr that we needed a referral and from many discussions with our daycare - we are going tomorrow afternoon to have Isaac evaluated for SPD at an Occupational Therapists' practice that specializes in sensory issues.

I'm experiencing a range of emotions about all of this. I feel some sense of relief - that there may be help on the way for Isaac. I feel a bit of sadness that this may be something that Isaac has to deal with for the rest of his life. I am nervous that this may be the beginning of issues throughout his school years - as we try to advocate for Isaac and help him deal with teachers, social issues and self-confidence, and his academic success. I feel protective of Isaac, hoping this isn't going to be another thing to make him feel different than other kids. I want the best for my son - I want everything in the world for him - happiness, joy, laughter, love, success and peace. I don't want him to suffer in silence--unable to adequately communicate what he is going through - so I know we are doing the right thing.

I am praying for my son and praying that everything works out for him. I fear having to remove him from daycare (or their deciding to discontinue his enrollment there) and seek care from a private nanny or caregiver - I am not so sure that is the best option for Isaac for social reasons. I really hope to be able to keep working, for financial reasons and my own well-being. So if you are spiritual, please say a prayer for Isaac.

Thank you for listening.

Easy Canvas Prints: Giveaway Winner!!

2011-09-07T07:41:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all who entered and participated in the Easy Canvas Prints Giveaway!!

The giveaway closed at 11:59pm CST last night 9/6/2011. Using the Random Number generator at Random.Org - a winner was drawn this morning 9/7/2011.

The Lucky Reader who wins (1) 8x10 Canvas from Easy Canvas Prints is:

Comment #14 - Zoe Hunter Lee !!

I guess persistence pays off - Zoe Tweeted her heart out! Winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond with shipping info to claim her prize.

A huge thank you to the folks at Easy Canvas Prints for sponsoring this giveaway! Please be sure to visit their website to check out how you can turn your life into art! It's a great time to start planning a beautiful canvas to give as a Christmas gift!

Light Up The Night: OXO Candela Glow Review

2011-09-05T15:05:00.002-05:00

When you have a sudden power outage - do you know where your flashlight or candles are? Does burning candles around small children and pets make you nervous? It makes me really nervous to burn candles with an overly active 3 year old, a big dog with a long powerful tail and now a rambunctious puppy. We've had several power outages over this past year - between sudden thunderstorms, to severe windstorms that destroyed trees, power lines and homes to the massive blizzard this past winter. I sure would've loved to have a rechargable light - instead of worrying over burning candles, and running out of flashlight batteries after 4 days of no power and finding the local hardware store wiped out of D-cells.

I am so glad to be a BzzAgent and be fortunate enough to be introduced to great products like OXO Candela Glow rechargeable lights. I wish I would've known about them when we had the Blizzard or this last power outage that lasted 3 days.

OXO Candela Glow lights are so cool. They stay glowing for a full 8 hours after being fully charged. They're portable, stay cool to the touch, safe around children and pets and safe to leave unattended. As soon as the power goes out - they illuminate right on the base so you can easily see them in the dark and enjoy their beautiful glow. They're great for indoor or outdoor use as well.

I received a set of 2 with the charging base to try, from BzzAgent. The directions say when you first receive them - charge for 14 hours. Next turn them on, and allow them to run down by themselves (says approx. 8 hours - mine stayed lit probably about 10 hrs!) and then to repeat this cycle once more and they're ready for use. They suggest to repeat this every 2 months to maximize battery life.

We love these lights! They give such a warm ambient glow to your space. We thought the amount of light was just right - not too bright, and not too dim. They go with any decor - they look perfect with our retro-modern style. We thought of all the ways you might want to use them:

Power Outages
Night Light for child
Guest Bathroom when overnight guests are visiting
Romantic Dinners
Low lighting for watching movies (scary movies included!)
Camping
Outdoors - dining or relaxing on the patio or front porch.
Relaxing lighting for bubble bath time (Please remember - do not use your Candela Glow near the tub to be safe!)
Ambient light as decor for a party
Meditation/Prayer time

You can buy OXO Candela Glow lights in sets of 2, 4, or 8. They also have demi glow (smaller sized candela) and childrens night lights. See all the Candela Products Here. You can buy them at OXO's website, at Amazon.com and some other retailers (Check stores selling OXO products HERE). The set of 2 retails for about $39.99. This may seem a bit pricey but for the quality, the fact that they are rechargeable and last 8 hours (or more, I have found) and can be used again and again - vs the cost of candles (as well as the risk!) and the cost of flashlight batteries and bulbs....it really isn't that much.

What ways would you use a Candela Glow rechargeable light?

Disclosure: I received a set of 2 OXO Candela Glow rechargeable lights to use and try in exchange for my honest opinion. We were not required to give a positive review and received no monetary compensation. I am a BzzAgent and with my membership often receive samples, products and coupons to share for my experience and opinions. You can become a BzzAgent too - by visiting www.bzzAgent.com

In Search of Healthy Snacks at Whole Foods Market - A Video Journey

2011-08-29T22:21:00.005-05:00

Can you believe it's back to school time again, already? Summertime always flies by way too fast! I'm sure many of you have been busy sending your little ones off to school, or packing up your older kids as they head off to college. This can be an exciting time of year and sometimes also a bit hectic and stressful. What we moms need are ways to make going back to school as easy and simple as possible.

Many moms are becoming more health conscious and like to offer their kids healthy alternatives for lunch and snacks. Sometimes this can be a real challenge in this world of fast food, and foods that are over-processed with too many chemicals. Whole Foods Market provides an array of organic, natural foods that can help moms send their kids back to school with confidence in what they're eating. They offer so many delicious healthy options for meals and snacks alike.

I went to our local Whole Foods Market, in search of some yummy snacks for Isaac that are handy and healthy. I like to make little snack bags to carry in the car and his backpack so that whether he needs something with his lunch or if we're on the go - he can always reach for something tasty and nutritious.

Come along with me on my recent trip to Whole Foods, in search of healthy snacks....Watch my video, which is featured on the Facebook Page for our local Whole Foods Market http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarketPalatine.

When you visit the Whole Foods Facebook Page on the "Back to School" Tab - Be sure to enter your email in the Weekly Special Sign-Up featured there - to be entered to win a $500 Whole Foods Gift Card!!

About the Whole Foods Market Store we Visited:
We found ample parking, a clean and well-lit store. Aisles are marked well and it was easy to find what we needed. We noticed many items on sale, a fabulous hot food bar, bakery and deli departments. They had miniature shopping carts for kids and staff was helpful and friendly. We are very impressed with the Whole Foods Palatine IL store!

More info on some of the snacks we found at Whole Foods & Featured in the video:

Annie's Organic Pretzel Bunnies - Certified organic, made with wheat flour - they're so delicious and cute!

Annie's Organic Spelt Pretzel Bunnies - Also cute & tasty with a blend of organic spelt & wheat flour for nutty flavor.

EnviroKidz Gorilla Munch Cereal - naturally sweet & crunchy. We like it for breakfast and to just eat dry as a snack!

Horizon Organic Colby Cheese Sticks - One of the best cheese sticks I've tasted. Wonderful texture and so flavorful. Love them!

Easy Canvas Prints - Review & GIVEAWAY {Giveaway Closed 9/6/11}

2011-08-27T21:04:00.001-05:00

Have you ever done a room makeover or decorated your home or office and then found yourself stuck when deciding on artwork for your walls? Have you ever taken a really great photo and wished you could have it blown up and printed so you could hang and display it? If so, you will want to check out Easy Canvas Prints.

At Easy Canvas Prints you can upload your own digital photograph and have it turned into ready to hang art for your wall. You can also choose from a huge gallery of stock images to create gallery-ready art for your home or office. How cool and easy is that? They offer so many finishing options, sizes and even retouching. The website is very easy to navigate, their Canvas Designer is super simple to use. It helps you check the quality of your photo, too, which is super helpful. Their pricing is reasonable and it appears that they offer some discounts as well.

I was given the opportunity to create an 8x10 canvas in exchange for reviewing their product. I chose a cute photo I snapped of our little guy sitting in a child's rocking chair on the porch at a southern restaurant we recently visited. It turned out so beautiful. I know his grandparents are going to beg for their own canvas photo of him. Check it out below. (You'll have to forgive me - I did block his face as I am not comfortable with showing full face photos of him online for safety/security reasons. I think you can still get a very good picture of this product and how great it turned out). Click To Enlarge the Photos

I chose to wrap the border and think it turned out beautiful. I love the canvas texture and the vivid color quality. I wanted to show you the side angle and the back to show how well it is wrapped around the frame, and that it comes ready to hang - complete with the sawtoothed hanger on the back. All you have to do is find the perfect spot and hang! I love my 8x10 canvas. I thought the entire process was super easy and fast. I really would recommend Easy Canvas Prints to anyone looking to create a beautiful piece of art for their home or to give as a gift!

GIVEAWAY
The folks at Easy Canvas Prints would like to give one lucky reader an 8x10 Canvas of their own! Here is your chance to win a customized work of art - designed by You - with your own photo of choice.

How To Enter
Each option below is a separate entry - Just leave a separate comment for each one that you have done. *** PLEASE PUT A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE BLOG POST FOR NOTIFICATION. Entries with no email address will be considered invalid.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Easycanvasprints.com and look around. Come back and leave a comment - Tell me what finishing options you like best. Also tell me about the favorite photo you would love to turn into a canvas - what's the story behind the photo?

EXTRA ENTRIES

Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect (Give your Google ID Name for verification)
Like Easy Canvas Prints on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/easycanvasprints
Follow Easy Canvas Prints on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/easycanvas
Tweet a link to this Giveaway & Include @Retrogirl66 in the tweet - You can do this 1x daily and leave a comment each time with link to tweet. (I verify these!)
Write a short blog post about this giveaway and link to this post. Give link to your post in comment.

Rules: Must be a resident of the Contiguous United States. Photos must meet Easy Canvas Prints' terms of service and not deemed inappropriate or copyrighted material (See Their FAQ Page).

Giveaway Ends at 11:59 PM - Tuesday Sept 6th 2011. Winners will be chosen by random drawing and notified by email and have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize!

Disclosure: I was given (1) 8x10 canvas in exchange for a review based upon my own honest opinion, which may differ from others. I did not receive any other compensation nor was I required to give a positive review. Information presented was obtained from viewing company's website.

Road Trip Weekend: Le Claire Iowa - Antique Archaelogy

2011-08-24T08:43:00.003-05:00

I love junk. I want to repurpose or reuse old junk and incorporate it into my world. I see beauty in old stuff that other people consider junk. A little wear and tear? That's ok. Dents, scratches, fading - that's alright too. Rusty junk? That's even better.

This summer I started my ~~Junk~~ Junque Garden...Garden of Junkin'...Just a little place where I could enjoy my junk and relax. No boys and no dogs allowed. Doesn't help that our new puppy Rocket can squeeze through the gate, and that Isaac lets himself in and out like he owns the place. Oh well. A gal can dream. Anyway, it's a work in progress. I'll eventually have all grass removed and it'll be just mulch and a butterfly garden and ornamental plants/grasses...oh and more junk of course. Below are some photos. Click to enlarge...

This past weekend my hubby surprised me with a short weekend excursion. He took me to lovely downtown Le Claire, Iowa. You're probably asking "Le Claire, Iowa? - of all places why Iowa?!" Well - If are a junker, or picker or a lover of old rusty things - chances are you too may be a fan of the show American Pickers on the History Channel. If not, you may not know that Le Claire, IA is home to Antique Archaeology - home base for Mike Wolfe's antique business and the show. You can read all about Mike's story here.

Le Claire, Iowa is a sleepy little Mississippi river town - the birthplace of Buffalo Bill. There are a few antique and artsy shops, a couple of riverboat cruises and the Buffalo Bill Museum along the main drag. Antique Archaelogy is on Davenport St. - which sits back on a side alley off that main street, Cody Road. We arrived about 11:00am on Saturday and found the crowd of fans growing. The shop itself is much smaller than it looks from TV. (Hey everything looks bigger on TV, right?)

Anyway, there seemed to be a few things for sale outside, as well as inside. But more than anything it appears that the store has sort of become staged mostly, for the parade of fans that come through. The main part of the store is basically show-merchandise-central, where they sell T-shirts, caps, gloves, posters, and a lot of other logo items. I figured we probably wouldn't see Mike or Frank, but hoped to perhaps see Danielle the store manager. No such luck. There were two other young gals working and very busy selling T-shirts, answering questions about the store and the show. I overheard one of them tell a fan that The Guys are on the road 90% of the year and rarely are in the shop.

Someone asked the dark-haired, tattooed gal if she was "the girl on the show" and she said no she wasn't (Sorry, but it was pretty obvious to me...perhaps it would to him if he really watched the show!). She did not elaborate on Danielle's whereabouts however. Another fan asked them if they would sign The Guys' names to a poster. One gal responded - "I don't sign their names well. She does though" and gestured to her co-worker. I was shocked and kind of disappointed that A) A fan would ask someone to forge a signature and B) That they'd actually consider doing it. Geez. Maybe this is the pitfall of putting their business on reality TV (one of the many).

Hubby bought a shirt. Disappointedly, I didn't buy anything. I had hopes of going and finding some rusty little trinket that they'd brought back from a pick or had in the shop but after being there about 20 minutes the store was literally like a can of sardines. There were so many people in the store and in the parking lot you couldn't move. They were all very pushy and some very rude. I don't know if the store gets this busy during the week - or only on Saturdays...I don't know how those gals can stand it. It's crazy. I don't see how they could sell anything other than Tshirts, posters and keychains.

I enjoyed exploring the shops along Cody Road in Le Claire that day. I was a little disappointed that I didn't wind up bringing home any rusty junk for my garden or office. However, I did score a few cool rings in an artsy store I found and my first Momiji doll - Poppet. I've been admiring Momiji from afar for awhile...now I'm starting a new collection. We had a good time and got away from home. So it wasn't a total loss.

Maybe I'll get lucky and be able to check out Mike's Nashville TN location sometime in the near future.

My Summer in Rewind...

2011-08-16T20:32:00.002-05:00

Hope everyone has been having a great summer! We sure have, between severe storms and power outages, crazy work schedules and getting that new puppy Rocket. I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger!
Highlights of our summer:

Isaac turns 3 and moves to the 3s room at daycare/school.
I have my birthday and refuse to believe this new strange-sounding number that is supposedly my age! I demand a re-count!
Isaac sees his first movie-theater movie - Gnomeo & Juliet. A Movie Junkie is born.
We went to Legoland and see our first 4-D movie. Love the snow flakes!
Isaac learns to brush his teeth with big boy toothpaste
We get a new puppy, Rocket
We spend Saturdays wandering IL and WI - Junkin' and I build my junk garden

Mr. Hottie trades his car and gets a new bright blue Nissan Juke
Took Isaac to see Cars 2 and Rio - both in 3D. He wore the glasses in Rio but not in Cars...which surprised me.
Again - we have NO summer vacation.
We visit Canada (my in-laws) and take Isaac to Marineland and Niagara Falls on our super rushed 3 day "psuedo-vacation".
I had a minor car accident - no one is hurt. Guy I bump into inflates claim & sorta frauds my insurance company and gets away with it. (Jerk!)
We visit the Milwaukee Zoo
Isaac's new phrase "Trust Me...." (Uh Oh... a little politician in the making?)
Puppy loses first baby tooth.
Lucie dog has a mystery lump on her head and a cancer scare. Turns out it was nothing serious.

We go to Touch a Truck event. Later my friend at work takes Isaac to his fire station for a private tour and to 'drive' all the trucks - he is in absolute heaven!
Work going strong...my hours increase (but still no official full time or PTO). I rarely get a day off and still have no vacation.
Visited the Klehm Arboretum for a relaxing Saturday
Visited the Illinois Railway Museum
My niece found out she is pregnant and is having a boy! What a blessing!! A great way for someone we love to make use of so many toddler clothes/items we had from Isaac!

It's been a fairly fun, busy summer all in all. It has definitely flown by that's for sure. Sadly we have not had a chance to get back to Kentucky to visit friends or my beloved Lexington. We haven't had time to go into Chicago for a day - we missed the Korean Street Festival, and haven't hit the water parks this summer. Bummer! But it's not over yet - so more to come.

Review: Fiber One - 80 Calorie Cereal....& 10 Tips to Get Your Daily Fiber

2011-07-16T17:53:00.002-05:00

Thanks to General Mills and Pssst for sending us a full sized sample box of the new
Fiber One 80 Calorie Honey Squares cereal! This new cereal is only 80 calories per serving, and contains 40% of your daily value of fiber (a whopping 10 grams!) and it is delicious!

I found this new cereal to be crispy, sweet (but not too sweet) and tasty. A serving was filling and kept me from being hungry. I do have to be honest and blunt....10 grams of fiber was a bit much right off the bat. So I have started mixing a bit of this cereal with another cereal I like and the fiber level seems about right. Everyone is different, so others may not have a problem. I think it is awesome tasting though.

You can get Fiber One recipes by clicking---> HERE. General Mills has some tasty fun ways to use their products to help you and your family enjoy eating healthy. They also offer coupons from time to time---check HERE for them or visit Fiber One Facebook Page for fun, ideas and conversation!

If you want to check out the Pssst program at General Mills - click HERE. You too can get samples to try & review!

For the skinny on all the benefits of Fiber - read THIS and THIS. it affects heart health, cholesterol, digestive health and more! You will be amazed by what you read! If you are unsure about how to get more fiber in your diet, General Mills has 10 great ideas to help you.

10 Tips to Get your Daily Fiber - from Fiber One & General Mills
Most Americans are not getting the recommended 25 grams of fiber each day. With Fiber One cereal, it's easier than ever to increase your daily fiber intake. Try using these 10 simple tips to help reach your fiber goals.

1) Scan for Bran Look for “bran,” “whole grain” and “whole wheat” on product packages and ingredient labels. These ingredients can help boost fiber intake. ¾ cup Fiber One® 80 Calories = 10g fiber
2) Grab the Whole Food Munch on a whole piece of fruit in place of drinking a glass of juice. You’ll get the nutrients and the fiber too.
1 medium apple = 3g fiber

3) Savor the Skins
Eat fruit and vegetables with the skin on. Eating the skin helps to bump up the fiber, plus it provides texture and a bonus of other nutrients. 1 medium baked potato with skin on = 4g fiber

4) Screen for Beans Replace your typical side dishes with high-fiber dried peas and beans, such as kidney, pinto, lentils or black-eyed peas. These fiber-packed legumes make it easier to meet daily fiber goals. ½ cup canned red kidney beans = 8g fiber

5) Go Nuts Jazz up salads, vegetables, snacks and desserts with almonds, sunflower seeds or soy nuts. Nuts and seeds add fiber and fun-to-chew crunch to foods. 1 ounce roasted almonds = 3g fiber

6) Be Berry Wild Choose raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries to add variety to your cereals. These berries have twice the fiber of many other fruit selections. ½ cup fresh raspberries = 4g fiber

7) Bring on the Brown Use brown rice instead of white. Switch to whole wheat pasta, whole wheat flour, whole wheat breads and whole grain crackers instead of regular white versions. 1 cup brown rice = 3g fiber

8) Skip the Chips Select snacks that are a good source of fiber. Instead of potato chips, go for low-fat popcorn, whole-grain pretzels or oven-crisped whole-wheat pita triangles. 3 cups popcorn = 4g fiber

9) Drink Up Water is a healthy beverage choice—especially as you up the fiber. Your body needs more water to help process the added fiber you eat. Aim for eight 8-oz glasses of water each day.

10) Sneak in Some Fiber One cereal Incorporate Fiber One cereal into your favorite side dishes or use to top yogurt, salads or oatmeal. ¼ cup Fiber One Original cereal for sprinkling = 7g fiber

I received a complimentary full sized box of Fiber One 80 Calorie Cereal in exchange for an honest review/opinion. I received no monetary compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sesame Street - Write on/Wipe Off Workbook (Twin Sisters Productions)

2011-07-15T21:29:00.001-05:00

My son Isaac recently turned 3 years old. I can hardly believe how time has flown since we brought him home from Korea! He is SO smart - his teachers at daycare/preschool say he's advanced for his age group. I have always tried to feed his hunger and constant craving for new input, activities and learning by doing flash cards, reading together, going to hands-on childrens museums and other things.

Recently we've really gotten into Preschool and Pre-K prep workbooks. We keep a backpack with crayons, small cars, books, stickers, and these workbooks so that we have them anytime we're traveling, or waiting at a restaurant or visiting grandparents. He loves doing the activities together and is so proud of himself when he masters the exercises.

The only thing is - we've bought just about every workbook our dollar store and drug store have to offer. We go through them all and then save them awhile before finally having to purge.

Thanks to Twin Sisters Productions - we found a really fun and smart solution to running out of workbooks. They were gracious enough to let us try one of their new products - the Sesame Street Write-on/Wipe-off workbook for "Writing & Words" for ages 3+. What a great idea for kids who love to learn!

The book is 16 pages long and is laminated so your child can enjoy lots of fun and wipe off the page to play and learn again. It comes with a special dry erase marker that can be stored in a compartment on the front of the book, which makes it highly portable. You can even use crayons in this book!

The activities inside teach:

Beginning & Ending word sounds
Long & short vowel sounds
Consonants
Rhyming words
Writing common words
Tracing & learning to write letters
Counting
Colors

The adorable Sesame Street characters make it fun and attractive to children. There's Elmo, Cookie Monster, The Count, Big Bird and others. There are also picture icons on the pages to help make activity directions easy for young learners to follow and understand.

Isaac was so excited to sit down and work on the activities in this book. He really enjoys them, and is happy to wipe the pages with a paper towel and start again. I think the activities are easy enough that he can understand most of the basic concepts covered but challenging enough as he is beginning to write letters, and understand rhyming and patterns, and letter sounds. I think it is great prep for kindergarten. I also love this book because it is something we can do together. We can have that special one-on-one time to build our relationship, helps him build self confidence and pride, and work on his focus and ability to follow instructions. Plus it's just plain fun! Elmo on the cover was a huge draw - as soon as he saw the cover - he wanted to sit right down and work on his new book!

I love Twin Sisters Website. They offer so many great products for children. They specialize in children's educational music but offer so many other great products as well. There are speech exercise CDs, math skills CDs, books, giant floor puzzles, home-school products, and more. They even offer wellness & relaxation CDs for mom and babies! Their website is very user friendly. Their prices are very reasonable too. We have purchased some of their CD collections and love the kids music. We also have their "5 Little Bunnies" Board Book & CD, which Isaac loves. Our daycare center even has several of their CD collections. The kids really enjoy the fun happy songs, and never seem to outgrow or tire of them.

I really recommend you check out Twin Sisters Productions website. They have great products that you and your child will love. Their products would make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas or even baby showers.

You can also check Twin Sisters out online at:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/twinsistersprod
Facebook www.facebook.com/twinsisters

Thanks Twin Sisters for allowing us to check out this awesome product!

I received a complimentary copy of this book to try with my child in exchange for an honest review/opinion. I received no monetary compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Parents Magazine - Subscription Deal - 1 year for $4 !!!

2011-07-13T21:04:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the folks at Purex and Parents Magazine - I have been provided with an awesome deal for my readers. Hurry! Get a 1-Year subscription to Parents Magazine for only $4 - Yes you read that right!! A whole year for FOUR DOLLARS!

Parents Magazine is an award winning magazine - Chock full of parenting advice, solutions, fun family stuff, recipes, funny stories, nutrition, the latest baby/kid product info...A must have for both new and experienced parents alike - Moms and Dadsboth ! My son even loves browsing the book to enjoy the photos of kids, and toys.

Please link to this post - Share with all your parent-friends, teachers, daycare providers, etc. Please Tweet, post to Facebook, any/all of your favorite social media sites!

To get this deal - you must visit this website link - and enter the code below:

URL: https://www.purex.com/parents-promo

DISCOUNT CODE: PX0481

This offer ends Midnight PST on July 22, 2011.

I received this code to share with my readers by being a member of PurexInsiders for bloggers. I will be entered in a drawing for a gift card by sharing this information with my readers.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T20:35:00.000-05:00

Ahhh Summer!

Exclusive Savings - Motts for Tots!

2011-07-06T20:25:00.001-05:00

If your little ones are like mine, they love apple juice but like me, you probably don't like filling them with sugar. Well, there is now a healthier alternative from the good folks at Mott's!

Mott's for Tots comes in five yummy flavors: Apple, Apple White Grape, NEW Immune Support Fruit Punch, NEW Bone Health Grape, and NEW Mixed Berry! Mott's has 40% less sugar than 100% apple juice and features include:

Delicious taste!
No artificial sweeteners
100% vitamin C
Conveniently pre-diluted with purified water
Available in 64 oz. multi-serve bottles or 6.75 oz. 8-pack juice boxes

Thanks to the folks at VocalPoint - you can get exclusive samples and savings by clicking this link: www.vocalpoint.com/mottsfortots (Please note - 1 sample per household)

HURRY - This offer is good until Friday 7/8/2011. Please share this with all your mom friends!

I received no compensation or award in exchange for this post. I am a member of VocalPoint and receive free samples periodically as well as information about exclusive savings and new products.

Another Adoption....

2011-06-30T08:24:00.000-05:00

I know, I know - it's been For-Ev-Er since I've blogged regularly. Life has just gotten...in the way. Been working so hard at my new position as a healthcare recruiter...trying to squeeze 40+ hours worth of work into 30 hours has been tough.

I can hardly believe my precious baby turned 3 years old on June 15th!!! Yes - can you believe it? Seems like just yesterday we were anxiously awaiting the call to fly to S. Korea, and here he is 3 years old. Time flies too fast! He's doing great, just moved up to the 3's room at his dayschool. He's quite a talker, has a fun sense of humor and loves cars, trains, water and animals.

I have been getting baby envy again lately....my friend who works remotely for my company brings her little baby girl in when she comes to the office for WeightWatchers at work each week, and I love playing with her. She's so adorable!! I'd love to have a daughter still, but unfortunately South Korea will not allow us to adopt there again - simply because I am 3 years older than their maximum age allowed for adoptive parents. Despite that we already passed a year long inquisition and successfully adopted a precious Korean boy, are financially sound, and healthy. I will never understand the political bullshit behind these stupid laws. You'd think they would want a Korean adoptee child to have a sibling of their same ethnicity/culture. Oh well....

When browsing the internet last week, I came across a picture that melted my heart. A 3 month old baby boy, waiting for a forever family. When I saw the picture, and the family resemblance, I was hooked - a total sucker. I had to meet this little guy. So this past Saturday we went to meet him and became his forever family! His name is Rocket.

He looks just like Big Lucie!! See the resemblance? See below:

At first Lucie didn't know what to make of him....She growled a few times. But over the last few days, she has really warmed up to him. She even let him have one of her toys, a ratty raccoon un-stuffed-animal toy. Now, they love herding each other and chasing each other through our big back yard. Isaac loves Rocket - says it is "my puppy only, mommy!". (Yeah ol' mom will remember that when she's up letting the puppy out in the middle of the night and cleaning up after him LOL)

I've been calling them Big & little .... or Thing 1 and Thing 2....heheh!

The other cool thing this summer, so far, is that my hubby is helping me build a little private garden area on the side of the house. He got some iron fencing to close it off, and we're slowly digging away the grass to make it all mulch. Then I'm going to plant hostas, ferns, and shade plants on the shady side, and plant butterfly attracting perennials on the other. I found a great peeling/rusty old 50's-ish metal garden chair as my inspiration. I'm gonna fill it with old rusty garden junque and lots of plants, maybe a little water feature and make it my little place to hide out and chill.

I've also turned my little covered porch into a cute little outdoor room, with a great outdoor rug, metal glider, chair, and garden-y decor...will have to post pictures soon of this and the garden when it gets done or closer to done.

The Melancholoy of Change...

2011-06-04T08:29:00.002-05:00

The Melancholy of Change: An Early Morning Revelation....

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to the one life before we can enter another." -Anatole France

I saw these words on Facebook this morning, and had to copy this quote posted by a friend, Michelle ....It blew me away. Really made me think...and I just had to put my thoughts into writing.

I read these words and realized this is SO true... and you don't realize it until after you've gone through a major change in life and are coming out of the other side of it.

You don't realize during the journey, or the process of growing, adapting and 'becoming', that it is a actually a grieving process--A dying to self...losing the old life or old You, or the comfortable old situation/environment you'd grown used to. During the process, you may think it is stress or maybe even depression you are experiencing. You may even feel anger, resentment, fear, or maybeyou feel none of these emotions. Maybe you just feel lost. Maybe you can't put a finger on or a name to any of your emotions. And you may not have a clue that you are grieving.

Others around you also may not recognize or understand --that even if your life change is a happy or positive one--that it IS still a grieving process you are going through. This can leave you feeling utterly alone, without support as you move through the phases of your journey or metamorphosis. The tough part is recognizing the melancholy for what it is, and that it is just part of the shedding/changing/growing process...and making the effort to reach out to effective support. This can be so hard to do. Especially if you don't even see the signs, or fully recognize it yourself.

While your journey has its ups and downs, it is fully worth it. As you emerge on the other end of the path, you may have an epiphany or finally be able to put your thoughts, feelings and experiences in perspective. But you will emerge stronger, having learned so much about yourself, and ultimately happier if you take from this process all of the positive, happy, good things...and finally give praise for the many blessings the journey has given you.

A journey of change can be tough. Especially when it is MAJOR. When it is bigger than you or anything you've ever seen or gone through...but you can do it. And you will. And life goes on....and on.

This quote brought to mind those experiencing Post Adoption Depression or Blues, and Post Partum Depression or even the pain of infertility...but these profound words spoken by Anatole France can be applicable also to anyone who has experienced something like divorce, death of a loved one... loss of a job, a friend, moving to a new state, or even graduating college.

Funny thing is....some people experience a couple of those things in their lifetime. However, Me? In the span of about 10 years - I experienced just about all of them! What a journey! But it is part of my life book...each one another chapter, each one another phase of change, joy, loss, and renewal...even reinvention maybe. But I finally realize the grieving process I've been through...now it is time to emerge. And FLY.....

I am a woman who moved 100 miles from home, married young, later graduated college at age 32, divorced from a 15 year marriage, survived the deaths of my grandmother and a few friends, the loss of two beloved dogs, then remarried...moved another 500 miles away, became a first-time mom through international adoption at age 42 and had a total 360* career change. Whew! What a wild ride it has been!

Here, Home, Hope - A story of Challenges, Changes & Inspiration. (Book Review)

2011-06-03T22:00:00.001-05:00

This book couldn't have arrived at a better time for me. I have really been feeling kind of overwhelmed lately as a working mom--sort of feeling lost and in a rut. This book was a breath of fresh air and a great kick off to summer reading for me. As a member of the One2OneNetwork I was fortunate to receive a complimentary review copy of Here, Home, Hope - by Kaira Rouda.

The main character, Kelly Johnson, is a 39 year old stay-at-home-mom and former PR professional who finds herself restless and in a rut. Married to a successful lawyer, mom to 2 teen boys and living in "Uppityville" as she calls it, she starts to feel like there might be more to life...something more she should be, or should be doing. She realizes she envies the seemingly successful perfect lives of her two friends, and makes a decision that she needs to stop feeling sorry for herself and make some major changes in her life. She begins with her "Things To Change" (T2C) List , using Post-it notes to record the changes she feels she needs to make to reach her goals.

Kelly's summer takes her through situations such as reaching out to the troubled anorexic teen daughter of her friend Kathryn, reconnecting with old friends and realizing they aren't so perfect as she copes with their infidelities, and her friends' loss through divorce, job loss and death. All the while she is also on a journey to self discovery and ultimately embarking upon a new career and owning her own business. Sounds like a lot to go through in just one summer, huh?

I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed Kelly's character, and how she uses humor to cope and navigate through life. The book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster with Kelly and the people in her life. It is a story of self discovery, women in crisis, friendship, family, and how a couple can remain strong and connected even when the marriages of their friends are falling apart all around them.

I also loved Kelly's list of "T2C" (Things to Change). A list of all of the T2C are in the back of the book for reference. I found a snippet from Kaira Rouda's Blog where she talks about Here, Home, Hope and the T2C List - She says 5 common components of reinventing yourself are:

1. Resilience. Stick to it. Go for it. Overcome the hurdles.
2. Flexibility. Go with the flow. Open up to change. Do one thing everyday that scares you.
3. Creativity. Find your passions. Ignite them. Creativity is intelligence having fun.
4. Put the Real You in your life. Be self focused for a change. If you aren’t happy, no one you love is happy.
5. Purpose. Have a higher calling. Give back. Lift someone else up and you lift yourself.

There were a few familiar references in the book from Ohio that I recognized. It seems Kaira Rouda spent most of her married life in Columbus Ohio. I grew up in Cincinnati Ohio...This made a connection for me, that added to my enjoyment of this book. I read that Kaira and family recently relocated to live on the beach in California. Now that's one T2C (Thing to Change) that I'd love to make! That has always been my dream, but with a snow-loving Canadian husband, doubt will ever become a reality. (Bummer!) Oh well, there's always vacation!

Kaira has recently been traveling, promoting Here, Home, Hope. You can find out about book signings HERE. Check out the book trailer video here. You can buy the book at These Places, connect with Kaira Rouda on Twitter or on Facebook.

My overall rating: Fabulous. Loved it. Great summer reading. Couldn't put it down. Would love to see this become a movie...Can't wait for more novels from Kaira Rouda!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from One2OneNetwork in exchange for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions and thoughts expressed in this post are my own, and others may have differening ideas/opinions/results. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Fab Vintage Finds...

2011-04-30T17:32:00.001-05:00

I love Saturdays where we do a little retro-vintage wandering. Had a chili-dog lunch at a nearby retro drive-in restaurant, and then visited a few antique shops.

I was looking for a few more odds-n-ends for my cubicle at work, which I've started decorating with a retro theme. I've got framed vintage magazine ads, a 50's inspired bubble lamp, and some smart Anne Taintor-style retro prints I made myself, using some cutouts from a few of my 1950's Woman's Day maganzines. (I'll have to post some pics of my cubicle soon...)

I didn't find anything for my cubicle today, however I did find a really fab little metal shelf for my kitchen. I've been wanting to add a few more vintage items to the kitchen (so I can junk up the house some more, according to Mr. Hottie). I've got it sitting on my 50's cracked-ice formica cabinet for now. It can be hung on the wall and actually has 2 hooks on the underside for pot holders.

I bought a few vintage spice containers and one reproduction (aka fake made in China...can you tell which one it is? Upper Left....) because I thought it was cute. I threw some of my mom's old cookie cutters on it for now...until I find something else I want to put on it.

Print on upper left is a Kerry Beary - my fave Artist!

I need to find a way to display my vintage aprons...I have several. I have heard of others sewing them together or pinning and using as a kitchen window valance. Not sure if I want to go that route. Any ideas for vintage aprons, ladies? Would love to see some links to pictures showing vintage apron collections and how they're displayed if anyone out there has them or has seen them.

Would also love to see a photo of your recent vintage finds...or how you display your collection of your fave things - share a link!

Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living (Review)

2011-04-08T17:53:00.001-05:00

Full Title: Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living - Cook it, Clean it, Fix it, Wash it. Available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

I was given a chance to preview a copy of this E-book, and read Chapter 20 - "Meal Planning - Not Just For the Control Freaks". This is a book by Heather Solos, author of the blog Home-Ec 101: Skills For Everyday Living

Chapter 20 - 'Meal Planning' gives common sense ideas and tips for those who are not used to planning out meals, cooking, or making grocery lists. Heather instructs the reader to clean off their tables and counters and ease into it - to worry about the nutrition side of it later, until you get the hang of making a simple basic meal plan. Then you can start working on more nutritional choices.

The author gives 3 weeks worth of helpful meal ideas, and even a couple of recipes in this chapter. Heather advises to cook in batches so that you'll have extra food to work into other dinners, to do Planned-Overs (planned left overs) to make your weekly meal planning easier and faster. She even suggests a weekly template or plan such as Taco Tuesdays, Soup & Sandwich Saturdays, Pasta Night to make it easier - you just choose a variety of dishes and sides that fit into the categorgies to keep it fresh and avoid a rut. Heather also reminds us that adding more color to your meals will mean you're getting more vegetables and eating healthier!

Most of what she offers in this chapter is pretty basic, is common sense and things that many of us already know but sometimes due to our busy lives just don't think about. This chapter puts it in perspective and is a quick easy informative read, with a dash of humor to make it fun.

I think this book would be great for younger moms or wives who are new at managing a household and family, the college set - new to living on their own, and also very busy families who are trying to get a little order and organization into their lives.

Love the fun, funky retro inspired graphics on the cover and in the pages - it adds to the fun, quirky sort of no-nonsense conversational-style of Heather's writing. Definitely worth a read. I was not familiar with her blog before hearing about this book - something to definitely check out! I am looking forward to reading the rest of this book and more of her blog! Wish the blog had the same colorful retro theme as the book's graphics - it really adds to the overall appeal of the book!

(I received a complimentary E-Copy of Chapter 20 of this book from One-2-One Network in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or asked/required to write a positive review or promotion. This is solely my opinion.)