Summaries
Foremost, I'd like to wish everyone a Prosperous, Happy New Year for 2009!
While blog hopping, I came across this Meme on a blog at Vanilla Domesticity, written by Katie, a Managing Editor at Blissfully Domestic.
All of the things in Bold, I have done, or tried at least once.
1. Started your own blog (several)
2. Slept under the stars (well, we camp & were boaters)
3. Played in a band (took piano lessons when I was about 12 & suffered through a recital, does that count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (and I've seen the Aurora Borealis over Greenland, too!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (Disney World, in Florida)
8. Climbed a mountain (no, but trekked up many lighthouses, which to me is the equivalent of climbing a mountain)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (No way in the world, I'm not good at extreme sports, I got hurt playing golf)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (Quilting)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (Thank you, Mickey D's)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (Multiple Times, including all the way to the arm when I was a child, before it was shut down)
18. Grown your own vegetables (had a garden when I was a kid, and planted tomatoes as an adult)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Prefer to call it a 'mental health day')
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (Close, but no cigar~sat in a dingy while my husband rowed ashore when we boated)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (both)
31. Hit a home run (again, Extreme Sports are Not.My.Thing)
32. Been on a cruise (This will probably never happen, as long as I stay married to the same guy I've been married to for 35 years)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (Multiple Times)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Chaperoned my DD26's 8th grade French class on a trip to Quebec City)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (I can speak enough Spanish to get by, since I'd studied it since 4th grade, but can read it better than I can speak it) See this post
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (Ha)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (Does climbing down to the beach from the road in Block Island, Rhode Island count? If so, then...yes)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (Um, no, but DH is known to blow off steam on occasion Disclaimer: See married for 35 years above)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (No, but paid for someone's purchases in a Thrift Shop as a RAOK)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (Not myself, but have ridden in one when several near & dear to me were being transported)
47. Had your portrait painted (In Charcoal, in NYC, when DH [then BF] and I were 20 & still spring chickens ~ luv it & it's in my dining room~in my mind I still look the same)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (in Bermuda, on our honeymoon)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (can't remember)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (currently have 3, my Shoppes site, eBay store, Virtual Assistant business, plus DH is self-employed)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (when I was a GS, plus what parent hasn't?)
62. Gone whale watching (from Provincetown, Massachusetts)
63. Got flowers for no reason (from the Hubster)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (never weighed enough, but I do now, but haven't, sorry to say)
65. Gone sky diving (see disclaimer re Extreme Sports)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (not on purpose, of course)
68. Flown in a helicopter (I don't have any death wishes)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (original 1960s Barbie Dolls & Tiny Tears)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (Do frogs legs count?)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (Many times, plus spent many a New Years Eve in NYC)
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (guess I wasn't cut out to work in a dry cleaners as a summer job when I was 16)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (Went solo to England when I was 17 to meet my pen pal in 1969)
77. Broken a bone(s) (Try wrist, in Bermuda ~ see this post)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (Crashed one into a tree while I was driving that was my brother-in-laws)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (outside the gates only)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (does fishing count?)
88. Had chickenpox (only measles as a kid)
89. Saved someone’s life (life, maybe not, but a**? Then, yes, I guess)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Carly Simon & James Taylor, on Martha's Vineyard, at "The Roof" when they were married)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one — (many dearly departed relatives)
94. Had a baby — (two, actually)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (and wasps, much worse)
To celebrate the New Year, here's the short-list of things I'd most like to add to my Bucket List of Resolutions (no particular order.) We can all wish, can't we?
- Visit Hawaii
- Visit Ireland
- Go on a Cruise
- Take a 2-week vacation and actually go somewhere, out-of-state (or the country)
- Purchase a Timeshare ~ someplace warm, with Palm Trees visible from my window
- Move out of the town I've lived in since I was 4
- Move into an in-law apartment with my DD26 and Charming Son-in-Law
- Be Debt Free
- Visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina
- Move to Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Visit the Wisconsin Dells
- Visit Mackinac Island
- Visit California
- Visit Disney World (again) with the whole family, including Grandkiddos
- Totally become a WAHM in 2009 & give up the day job
Any ideas of what you think I should add to my Bucket List? Leave me a comment if you decide to play too. And I'll come read yours!
I hope everyone enjoyed the Holidays surrounded by family and friends. We're not quite through the Holiday Season yet ~ at least in my family! Although we enjoyed Christmas Eve with family, Christmas Day was celebrated leisurely and quietly with just my husband and youngest daughter.
My oldest daughter, charming son-in-law and the grandkiddos were up visiting his family in Vermont. They'll be over for another full-course dinner and to open gifts tomorrow night. We've been taking care of the Grand Dog "Muttley" while they were away, so I'll be a little sad to see her go home. Although my 11-year old Fat House Cat will be able to reclaim his territory!
Needless to say, with all the various parties I've been happily attending, this Baby Boomer is a tad exhausted. If you follow me on Twitter, you know I'm usually a night-owl and up until the wee hours of the morning!
On a good day, I don’t want to rise with the chickens. My feet just don't hit the ground running like they used to. In the winter months, it gets even trickier. Sleeping all morning can become a habit really fast. But, it’s not because we're lazy.
Do you want to know why we want to sleep more when the weather turns cold?
This has less to do with being tired and more to do with our bodily rhythms and inner workings. It sounds ominous, but it’s actually quite simple. Our bodies know what’s good for it most of the time. There are automatic “cues” it follows to perform certain functions.
Here’s an example: When the sun streams through the window in the morning, it wakes us up. Even if we decide to cover our heads and go back to sleep, the initial reaction to the sun was to wake. Our circadian rhythms tell us that we wake with the light of the sun.
In the evening, as the sun goes down, we begin to prepare for a time of rest. Well, our bodies do. When darkness falls, everything shuts down for the night so the cells can recharge. We think it is our conscious self that is tired so we go to sleep. But, in fact, our internal clock says that the city called “us” is closing its borders for the night.
There is a set pattern to these things. Now, factor in the location in which we live. I live in New England, and it can get pretty dreary here, especially when snowed in. In winter, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. We see less sunlight. When the sky is darkening, the body prepares for rest. In the morning, the sun rises a little later and we want to also.
The body continues to sleep because it sees no light streaming through the window. Unfortunately we still have to rise at six o’clock in the morning for work. So, something has to get us up and out.
The science behind all of this involves serotonin and melatonin, two neurotransmitters in the brain. Melatonin is produced when we sleep. Sleeping too much produces abnormal levels of melatonin. The more we sleep, the more we want to sleep because of the increase in this neurotransmitter.
During the summer, we experience higher serotonin levels. Serotonin is responsible for our mood. One thing that increases serotonin levels is vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced by skin cells due to sunlight.
When sunlight is in short supply, our serotonin levels fall and we don’t have so much energy or so many good feelings. Some people use devices called dawn simulators to get moving in the morning. They go off on a timed schedule and increase the intensity of their light until it is time for you to wake. The light triggers the body to wake up even though it is still dark outside.
As you see being extra tired during the winter months is actually quite normal. We desire to sleep more in winter because we get less light and serotonin and more melatonin.
I've been doing quite a bit of reading up on the benefits of taking serotonin. If you or someone you know takes it ~ let me know what your experience has been. Of course, always consult your physician with any questions you may have.
Tonight my family celebrates Christmas Eve with our many Brothers and Sisters-in-Law, Nieces, Nephews & their extended families. It's a tradition that we've been celebrating ever since I first married 34 years ago.
Now that my oldest daughter is married, she and her husband alternate every Christmas with his family in Vermont. I will miss them both, along with 'Lil Moomette and her new brother Slugger, dearly.
My husband and I have custody of the Black Lab Granddog until they return.
From my family to yours ~ Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
You Are a Peanut Butter Kiss Cookie |
You are a social, friendly, caring person. You are good at helping people. You have a very giving heart. You are a natural teacher or counselor. You get value from making someone's life better. You are trustworthy, and a natural problem solver. |
TGIF ~ It's Friday! Actually, the start of a long weekend began yesterday for many school kids. Here in New England we're expecting at least a foot of snow in parts of many states. Virtually every school is closed in Connecticut, and not a flake of snow has dropped yet in my town.
If you're a Mom (or Grandmom) and had a baking day planned while the kiddos were in school and suddenly find that you have the pitter-patter of little feet running around, here's some cool ideas to keep everyone busy.
Who says that the cold weather means you stay indoors? There is no reason why the winter can’t be a fun time for family just like the summer. Here are some ideas for having fun in the winter air.
1. Go sledding. The big hill could be in your back yard or somewhere else in the neighborhood. Grab the sleds and head for the top. Sledding is one thing that adults can do and still feel like a kid. Everyone loves the feeling of their heart in their throat as they go speeding off towards the bottom of the hill. Hardware stores sell out of sleds so get yours early.
2. Have a snowball fight. But, don’t just hide behind a tree. Take the time to build a snow fort. The family can divide into teams and each take an hour or two to construct the snow place of safety. Once the forts are finished and the flags are flying, let the snow fly!
3. Make snow angels. Wear a warm coat, gloves, and hat before attempting this wonderful winter artwork. Find a clear clean place in the snow and allow yourself to fall backwards. The snow will break your fall. Once you’re down there start flapping those arms and legs.
4. That walkway isn’t going to get clean all by itself. Each person can take a shovel or a bucket and work together to get it cleared. Why pay someone else to do it when the family can get some physical activity together? Afterwards, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa together and warm up.
I actually enjoy eggnog & brandy, myself ~ a Baby Boomer New England special.
5. Try a new sport. The winter brings a new set of exercises to enjoy. Take up snowboarding, skiing, or ice skating. The point is not to become an expert but to have fun with your family.
6. Catch a snowflake on your tongue. This is an activity that has to wait until the snow is actually falling but when you live in New England like I do, that could be an everyday occurrence! Stand out on the front lawn and throw your head back. After catching a few, take a break. No one wants to get a sore throat.
Besides, the neighbors will wonder what is going on when they see everyone sticking their tongue out.
7. Build a snowman. By this time, you’ve tried everything else so a snowman is the last best thing to do in the snow. It’ll take everyone’s help to roll a really big base and lift the other body parts on top of each other. A sturdy snowman will take longer to melt in the sun.
We received the cutest little "Snowman in a Kit ~ Just Add Snow" as a Christmas gift one year. Inside an adorable red box was a Top-Hat, Gloves, Black-Button pegs, hearts and a pipe!
Don’t sit in the house longing for warmer weather. Get out and enjoy the possibilities of the winter season—together.
How will you be spending your days with the kids when they have snow days? Let me know!!
After leaving a comment, if you're still looking for more fun Kids Activities, Click HERE for an immediate download, Free e-Book!
December and January are such busy months for our family!
Of course, there's the Christmas holiday and all the associated partying going on. Next up is New Years Eve and New Years Day. My oldest daughter was supposed to be a tax deduction on December 30th, but arrived January 2nd. My birthday follows shortly thereafter.
When my daughters were much younger, I always took them to see classic live children's' summer stock venues. When they were older, we saw the touring productions of Phantom and The Nutcracker.
My girls treated me to an early birthday surprise recently. The Trans Siberian Orchestra came to Hartford and they got tickets for us to go enjoy a Girls Night Out! First stop was dinner at The Cheesecake Factory ~ one of our favorites.
We always enjoy TSO any time of the year, but especially at Christmas. My oldest is a young mom of 2, and on a budget, while my youngest is still a college student (even though she makes decent money part-time as a waitress). Our seats were in the nosebleed section, and I joked that rather than selling popcorn and peanuts up there ~ they sold hay!
Needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed the show and the associated pyrotechnics and light show. Even though we were above the lights....
Tonight we decorated the Christmas tree ~ we always have a live tree, it makes the house smell so good ~ the Yankee Candles 'Home for the Holidays' were burning; the lights were low for atmosphere and we listened to our favorite TSO CD's while doing so! Our 11-year old fat cat was taking in the whole scene ~ just waiting for his annual romp under the Christmas tree skirt!
The only thing missing here in Connecticut now is ~ Snow! (At least, just enough to set the scene.)
Here's a few pictures of my favorite ornaments.
This is a Sand Dollar that was hand made by friends of ours from our boating days when we navigated Long Island Sound.
Snoopy was always a favorite of my late Mother-In-Law, and she gave this to my oldest daughter when she was first born. When 'Lil Moomette was born, we gave her a 'Baby's First Christmas' ornament. This year we did the same for Slugger, who was born in August. Only thing is, I can't remember where I put it....
I always have fond memories of every ornament we place on our tree! Do tell & share your favorites with me!
Over the last year, I've written many product reviews for toys, home goods, childrens' clothing and food products for several companies on my Moomettesgram's Musings blog.
Contributing to Frugal WAHMs Product Reviews will enable me to review a variety of different products that I've discovered and which many of my readers use in their own homes on a daily basis!
Stop on by and say 'Hello' ~ gather some new ideas and leave a Comment! I love comments!
From where to shop and eat, to where the best places to live or work are, most people will freely share their ideas about these things with others. This can also translate to what the best products and services are out there and people talk about them with their friends and families via word-of-mouth. It’s what drives the market in many cases. This is called “reviewing” and it’s a popular way that many are cashing in via online blogs.
Blogging, which actually had its start in 1995 but has gained more popularity in recent years, is a way for people to spread the word about their opinions and first-hand reviews on things. Blogs are everywhere, thanks to the free services like Wordpress.com and Google’s blogger.com that allow anyone to build a blog in a matter of minutes from any computer. A blog is essentially an online journal where you can share a lot of opinions and reviews of things daily and this Just Add Sweat guide will show you exactly how to get yours set up.
If you love sharing your opinions and reviews about different things, then you have the skills needed to build a review blog and start earning money for your reviews. How? Companies know that consumer reviews are a powerful marketing tool to get the word out about their products and services.
Many are willing to pay big bucks to people who are willing to review their offerings. There are paid surveys that companies send out to carefully targeted consumers. They can offer anywhere from $1 to $10 or more per review and are mostly sent out via email to people who sign up to do them. Combine this with posting the questions and answers on your blog for more earnings.
There are also research studies and product reviews that may include trying an actual product for a period of time and then writing an honest review. Those can pay between $15-75 for each review and you get to keep the product afterwards.
You can also earn from reviews by selling advertising on your blog and earning commissions from companies who sell the products you review.
The potential to earn a good income from writing about products and services on your blog are endless. Just do a quick search online and you will find hundreds of ideas what to write about and where. Chances are something you just tried recently is available for you to write about on your blog.
I write product reviews on my Moomettesgram's Musings blog and am partnered with several companies. Eventually, as you become more proficient at writing reviews, individual companies will seek out your talents.
To learn the step-by-step details of how to set up your up your review blog, pick up your copy of the Just Add Sweat Guide to Start a Review Blog. You’ll not only learn the nuts and bolts of how to get started, but how to make money and enjoy your new business.
Just in time for the holidays!
Are you looking for that perfect present for your child? I know in the past when my kids were younger I struggled every year because my kids didn't "need" anything and they seem to have had everything they wanted and then some. Every year they got so many presents for Christmas that their eyes started to glaze over and they didn't know what to play with first.
Then it happened... about 5 days after Christmas they started complaining that they're bored and they had nothing to do. Does this sound familiar?
I've just had the opportunity to check out a digital product that can help keep kids entertained, is educational (but they don't realize it), is easy on your wallet, and can create some fun family times. It would be the perfect resource or gift for anyone who home schools!
It's an ebook by Cookin' Kids that incorporates cooking and fun. The ebook is in 6 sections or themes - The American Diner, Mexican Food, Russian Cooking, Picnics To Go, Native American Dishes, and Hip On Hawaii.
What's cool is that each theme has recipes, fun facts, safety tips, cooking terms, quotes, jokes, a game, and other website and book suggestions.
Sound good? It is! Visit Cookin' Kids for more information.
Give the child in your life a unique present this year.
Although I really enjoy this time of year, it's getting to be a challenge to decorate and undecorate ~ as I usually do it mostly by myself. Yes, we do go out and get the yultide tree, and it does get put on the car, brought into the house and set up. However, all the decorating has been done by me the last few years.
The girls are grown, one is married and the college student is in and out ~ that's how it goes with college students. Even the stringing of lights has fallen to me ~ which is really challenging and quite a trip, as I can only describe myself as a self-proclaimed ~ hobbit.
Whenever I window shop, I think of my inner Martha Stewart and try to place the ribbon 'round the tree just like the set designers do. Each year I forget how I've done it the previous year ~ if it came out right.
As we live in a historic town, and have an older home ~ we don't have those nice electrical outlets under each window. So each year I forget exactly how the extension cords were set up so that the nice little candles in the window continue to shine and beckon my guests. The beautiful wreath that I got from Grandma D's Tree and Wreath Farm looks lovely on my front door.
To show my holiday spirit I'd like to offer my readers an early present in their stockings! I'm sure you or someone you know will be taking many photos of the kids ~ plus all the holiday parties, cookie exchanges & family get-togethers with Grandma and Grandpa!
I'm hosting a Contest and Giving Away a New Create Cards & Calendars Book and CD set by Reader's Digest. You'll be able to create Gift Cards and Calendars using your own Digital Photos Retail Value $24.95
Now for extra entries (each task will get you 1 extra entry):
~Subscribe to my blog via e-Mail through my feedburner link (on the top of my left column).
~Add my button to your sidebar or add me to your blog roll.
~Blog about the contest on your blog, linking back to my blog and the URL to your post (the links must be active/clickable).
~Go favorite or fan me on Technorati, Digg, or Stumble leaving your user name (the link is on my left column if you scroll down) or both.
~Tweet about this contest, and leave your Twitter ID
Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.
This contest will run until December 10, 2008 at approximately 11:00 pm. EST. Winners to be chosen at random. USA residents only.
Here are your random numbers:
11
7
3
10
10
6
11
9
4
3
8
3
11
Timestamp: 2008-12-18 05:38:18 UTC
Living in New England is so wonderful ~ we get to experience the four seasons. I love especially love Fall and the holidays. When I walk outside the smell of wood-burning stoves waifing through the air greets me on many a cold morning, or early evening.
As a child, besides the return to a new school year, I always enjoyed the special smell in the house the first time the furnace turned on. As an adult and now paying for my own utility bills, I now shudder whenever I hear the click of the gas furnace, signaling that my hard-earned dollars are going up the chimney.
Here's some tips to help you get through the winter season:
Do you dread looking at your electric or gas bill every month seeing numbers that are larger and larger each time you see it? Do you wish there was something you could do about this dreaded monthly bill? Well, there is and it is easy to remedy. You just have to check your home to make sure that it is the most energy and cost efficient that it can possibly be.
It might be shocking to you that most people do not even know that because of lack of efficiency they are loosing 25 % or more of the energy used in their home.
Did you know that there are some common every day things that you can do to save energy and money around your home. Doing it yourself can save you both time and money that you might invest in someone else’s promises to save you money. I don’t know about you, but I trust myself more than someone else’s empty promise any day. All it takes is a few calculations, some common sense and you can be on the road to savings and increasing your home’s use of energy.
Some of these steps include:
1. Calculating your energy cost. Do you know how much fuel your home is taking to run and how much that cost you? You need to know this before you can determine if you can lower those costs.
2. What will it cost you to save. What things must you put into practice in order to save on your energy monthly? This is where you have to determine the balance.
3. Determine your largest needs. Some practices will save you far greater in the future than others. You must first determine your area of largest need and go from there.
4. Developing new habits. Many of us have habits that cost us energy every day. We must realize those bad habits and begin putting new habits in place in order to save energy, time and money.
These are only a few of the ways that you can begin to save money on your energy bill and have a more cost efficient home. There are many more ways to save and you will love how easy those savings come to you.
About the Author:
Cara Mirabella is a WAHM with one toddler from New Jersey. She owns and manages TheHouseholdHelper.com - a site dedicated to saving your time, money and sanity when managing your household. She has written several articles, reports and e-books including
Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and your family! We'll be enjoying the holiday with all our extended family.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who serve our country, as well as any law enforcement officers who keep us safe and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.
Please drive safely ~ if you'll be traveling to visit grandparents, family or friends with babies or toddlers ~ here's some travel tips I'd like to share to help make your trip a pleasant one!
Try these breakfast alternatives to do just that. Don't forget the pure New England maple syrup!
First introduced in 1971, the Crock-Pot revolutionized the way we cook meals. The word Crock-Pot is actually trademarked by Rival Industries, but is used in every day conversations instead of the term slow cooker. Many recipes for the crock-pot require little preparation. The slow cooker can then safely be left to run unattended, making it a convenient cooking method.
I got married in 1974, and had one of the latest crock-pots at that time. They didn't come with the nice removable inserts available now, and the only shape was round. As a new bride who worked full-time, I made every meal I could in the crock-pot. My DH often worked late hours, and it was perfect for keeping meals warm. Fast forward 34 years....
Now that my oldest daughter is a married mom, one of my gifts to her was a state-of-the-art crock-pot. Every Sunday she has us over for some of the most marvelous meals she's put together! We New Englander's love our comfort food!
Crock-pot meals can not only save you time in the kitchen, but they can also save you money as well. The reasons are as follows:
1. It keeps you out of the fast food line. If you had not loading up the crock-pot with the ingredients this morning you’d likely be in the drive through line at the local fast food restaurant this afternoon after work, grabbing a meal for your family. The average fast food meal for a family of four rings up over $20.
2. Stretches your dollar. Most crock-pot recipes and meals can truly stretch your food dollar. Because you can put a whole chicken in the crock-pot to cook then cut it up for several meals, you can stretch your budget with the use of your leftovers.
3. Cuts your grocery budget. You can save money at the butcher since the slow cooking process is especially useful to tenderize cheaper cuts of meat.
4. Saves on your energy bill. Instead of running a larger appliance like the stove you're running one small energy conservative appliance, the crock-pot, saving on your energy costs.
The convenience of the slow cooker not only saves you time, but will also save you money ~ $$
Don’t you think it’s time to take it out of your closet (or wherever you have it packed away collecting dust) and make a Crock-Pot meal today? Or maybe ask Santa for a new state-of-the art Crock-Pot?
Enjoy a taste of New England while you're cooking!
I was on Twitter last night when the topic came up alerting all moms to a public relations advertising campaign gone wrong.
My oldest daughter gave birth in August this year to my grandson, and is using a baby sling carrier to carry him (her second child) and singing the praises of her decision.
Apparently Motrin has a new advertising campaign that ended up making a mockery of all moms who use baby slings and carriers. I viewed the advertisement and couldn't believe what I saw or heard.
You can view the ad, which lives on at YouTube HERE.
As I'm a Baby Boomer Grandma ~ slings were up-and coming but not quite mainstream when my children were babies. I feel insulted for all the new young moms, and women in general who have all these wonderful healthy opportunities for parenting available today.
My daughter has a BS in Marketing ~ hopefully through viral marketing and the power of Twitter, academic professors will take note and instruct young students how NOT to market to women, and how NOT to underestimate the power of Twitter and the internet.
I may be a Grandmom, but having grown up in the 60's and 70's I still know how to make my voice heard.
My Twitter comment was among those featured in the Motrin Moms video. Follow the conversation and comments by using #motrinmoms and Follow me on Twitter User "Moomettesgram."
For more information and to see and "listen" to the voices of many of my Twitter mom friends speaking out against the Motrin ad, visit Here.
So far I've been lucky this year and avoided whatever maladies that have been going around. Today I went to Whole Foods and bought some Acai berry juice that I've been hearing quite a bit about. I'll let you all know how that's going.
The fall and winter season brings us Thanksgiving and Christmas. It also brings us runny noses and sore throats. Many people suffer from colds and flu symptoms during the winter. The flu can be more severe even life threatening. My great-grandfather died from the influenza in 1914, but his daughter, my grandmother ~ lived to be 101.
I hope through this article to help you learn to tell the difference between a cold and the flu.
The cause of the common cold is the rhino virus. And, like all other viruses, the rhino virus has no cure. A virus infiltrates a cell and rewrites the DNA to mimic the virus. From there it continues to replicate these viral cells.
The way to fight a virus is to fight the symptoms. There are over 200 types of rhino virus causing the common cold. The cold virus you get today may not be the same one you contract next year.
Cold viruses attack the respiratory system. We cough, sneeze, our noses run, our eyes run, we get a sore throat, and we generally feel really, really bad. People can function with a cold but often it takes all the strength we can muster.
When our immune system is compromised we are more susceptible to the viruses invading our bodies. The “compromise” can come from stress at work, lack of sleep, or other medical conditions. Whatever the cause, our body is ill prepared to fight the potential infection.
The flu on the other hand can keep us bound to the bed for several days. If you thought you felt bad with a stuffy nose, it will feel like a cake walk compared to the flu virus. Here are some facts about the flu.
The flu is caused by the influenza virus. It is also a respiratory condition but it is more severe than a cold and can cause death in some cases. The flu virus has identifiable strains that scientists have used to create vaccines. The vaccines try to cover all bases but it is possible to be vaccinated against one strain and still contract another.
Flu vaccines are recommended each year for several age groups. Children under five, the elderly, and anyone who is immune-compromised are advised to receive the vaccine. The newest way to administer the vaccine is through a spray.
Flu symptoms begin similar to cold symptoms. You get a stuffy nose, sneeze, or have a cough. One telltale sign is the achy muscles. It feels like your entire body hurts. After that, the nausea, vomiting and fever attack you.
Pretty soon, you are bedridden with something close to dehydration. The flu virus can cause complications that lead to death. It is best to see the doctor before deciding to self-medicate for the flu.
Both are spread by contact with infected people. Kissing, holding hands, sleeping next to someone with either one, and then touching your face can introduce the virus into mucous membranes. This year, protect the one you love and yourself by taking care of colds and flu at the first sign of symptoms.
Many of my Twitter friends know that I'm on a mission to lose some weight by February 2009.
After looking at the photos that were taken of me this past August with my new Grandson, Slugger ~ that was motivation enough to go on a diet. Some say that the camera adds 10 pounds, but really ~ the scales don't lie. I'll keep up updated on how things are going with Sparkpeople diet plans (it's Free!) and Weight Watchers.
While at a doctor's visit last week to get my flu shot, doc suggested that I increase my intake of Vitamin D. Doc knows full well that I don't enjoy taking pills of any kind, and even said I could take 2 Flintstones to meet the daily requirement of Vitamin D that I need.
The body needs vitamins and minerals for proper functioning. These essential nutrients can be obtained from the foods that we eat, but when we are not eating the way we should, supplements do the job for us. One of those vitamins our bodies need is vitamin D.
What is so great about vitamin D? Well, first of all, it aids the body in the absorption of calcium. Calcium, as we all know, is important for strong bones, teeth, and nails. Calcium is essential to the body at every age. Babies are building bones so calcium ensures they will form properly.
As we grow up and age calcium continues to keep bones strong. The effect of weak bones is seen in older people who are bent over as they walk. Osteoporosis is a fact of life for people with little calcium in their bones to strengthen them. As a Baby Boomer, Osteoporosis is something I am hoping to avoid.
Vitamin D is kind of unique. It can be synthesized by the sun. Who knew? Spending as little as an hour in the sun each day allows the skin to produce vitamin D in the form of a substance called calcitriol. This substance enters the body and triggers the release of calcium from the intestines into the bloodstream where it is needed.
When calcium is needed and nowhere to be found, the body removes it from the bones. As more calcium is ingested in our food or supplements, the calcium removed from the bones is replaced. This can only happen if enough vitamin D is present to trigger the release of calcium so it can reach the bones. When that doesn’t happen, we're susceptible to bone loss.
During the winter months, it can seem like the sun has gone on hiatus. The nights are longer and we experience more of the moonlight than the sunlight. A decrease in sunlight absorption can also increase one's chances of getting Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). As I live in New England, I'm finding that I occasionally have bouts of SAD if we have exceptionally snowy winters. How do we get our essential vitamin D then?
Vitamin D can be ingested in the form of supplements. Supplements contain vitamin D in the form needed to trigger the calcium release from the intestines. Supplements like multivitamins contain about fifty percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D. The rest comes from foods we ingest like milk that is fortified with vitamin D and green leafy veggies.
When the sun is supplying the vitamin D, the body determines how much we need. In the sun’s absence, we have to be careful, how much we consume. We get vitamin D from foods but we usually don’t eat enough of the right ones to get all of the vitamin D we need. Supplements are always in the same proportion and it is vitamin D in the needed form.
Vitamin D comes from the sun. To get it we don’t have to run, jump, or skip, just stand in the open and gaze heavenward. In its absence, supplements are the best substitute.
There's many reputable supplements available for women, men and children. Check with your pharmacist,or, you could be like me & get Flintstones!
