Simple Mom is having another giveaway!!! Here are the details from her blog. She has an amazing gift basket and all you have to do is follow her directions to enter to win.
Remember you have to respond to HER blog not mine!
This gift basket has prizes that represent each of the topics discussed here on Simple Mom - so the one winner will receive all of these things:
1. Green and Frugal Living
This is a set of six reusable produce bags. They are weightless nylon bags with a drawing closure that come in their own pouch for easy storage. Just clip the storage bag to your purse, and you’re good to go! AMK Designs makes and sells eco-friendly, affordable produce bags, helping us cut down the use of plastic bags, which hurts both the environment and the clutter-free ambience in our homes.
2. Making Your Home a Haven
Bliss Candles is adding to the gift basket a premium 10-ounce soy candle in your choice of Harvest, Pumpkin Souffle, or Cinnamon Buns. Fall scents are my absolute favorite, so these each sound heavenly. Best of all, Bliss Candles exclusively makes soybean candles - there’s not an inch of wax to be found. They burn cleaner and smell stronger than traditional candles, and they’re better for the environment.
3. Cooking
Marie-Madeline Studio is generously giving away one of their gorgeous hand-stitched aprons. The Frilly Fandango apron is so delightfully feminine without being cutesy - your mood would brighten just tying it on! This shop is run by four sisters, and I love browsing their goods - everything is made with such lovely fabric. Aprons are making a comeback, and I think that’s wonderful - they’re great uniforms for home managers.
4. Productivity & Organization
The next prize is a set of Organizing Bags from the Lazy Organizer. I’ve had my eyes on these bags for about a year now, and to me, they scream “clutter-free, organized, and productive!” I love them. They’re see-through, sturdy, and easy to use with a simple zipper. The bags come in all sizes, for a variety of organizing needs - puzzle pieces, art supplies, receipts, even picnic supplies.
5. Taking Care of Yourself
You know I’m a believer in the importance of a mama taking care of her own needs, and not just her family’s. For many women, that means getting time outside the house and having friendships with other moms. Busy Nest is giving away a set of customized calling cards, a brilliant productivity tool for moms. Similar to business cards, calling cards provide all your contact info for other moms at the park with hands full of kid stuff. The back side of these cards provide a place to scribble down the details of your next mommy meet-up.
6. Kids and Parenting
My daughter doesn’t know it yet, but she is getting this next giveaway prize for Christmas. Plum Pear Apple is adding to the gift basket a personalized superhero cape for your pint-sized wonderkid! I love the simplicity behind these well-made capes, and that they’re not embellished with TV characters or trendy themes. The capes come in all sorts of colors and patterns, and you can choose your child’s emblem and initial. These capes are a genius toy.
7. Money Management
Finally, the winner of this giveaway will receive a lifetime subscription to Pear Budget, my budeting tool of choice. You may remember Pear Budget from a giveaway a few months ago, and it went so well, I wanted to bless another reader with a chance to win this. You’ll get lifetime access to this beautifully simple budgeting tool, which is so helpful when you’re in charge of the family finances. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of zero-based budgets and an envelope system, and Pear Budget allows our family to do both as simply as possible. This prize is a gem.
The Whole Kit and Kaboodle
This gift basket is valued at over $200 - at the very least, seeing as the Pear Budget subscription is for life! Please take time to visit all these generous shops, and peruse their handmade quality wares.
How to Win
To enter the contest, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. In your comment, tell me - what is your most favorite thing about the fall season?
To enter a second time, subscribe to Simple Mom and email me the secret code at simplemomblog [at] gmail [dot] com (not the contact form above, like we’ve done in previous contests). All you have to do is mention the code in the email’s subject line - no need to write anything in the email’s body. You’ll see the code in the footer of any post, whether you subscribe via email or through an RSS reader. For more information about any of this, please read a recent post I wrote called Subscribing to Blogs 101.
Update: The code is there, and most of you are now sending it in. Please read the link above if you’re not sure what I’m talking about. The code will always be a normal word in English. Heck, here’s another hint - it’s below the phrase “print free coupons anytime.” Hope you find it!
To get a third entry, mention this giveaway on your blog, and make sure I get word of it!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
32 Years Old!
What?! Where did the year go? Oh well I am now 32 years old and it does not feel any different and I am totally indifferent about this birthday. So to celebrate I ran 7 miles this morning with my friend Elyse and burned 1050 calories!! I love it. I felt so good and I realized that my stomach is in need of sun so bad compared to the rest of my brown almost black body. The best is that I run in the morning around eight or nine o'clock and you would think there is not that much sun but apparently there is, as my short and sock tan line will tell you.
Anyways Happy Birthday to me and a very Happy Unbirthday to you!
Anyways Happy Birthday to me and a very Happy Unbirthday to you!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Has it really been that long since I blogged? Wow time has slipped away from me. We have been just going day by day, enjoying the summer. I have been training for my half marathon in October. I have been running almost everyday. I just the Garmin 301 Forerunner watch last Friday and I love it. It has a heart rate monitor, pace and GPS. Best of all I got it on Craigslist brand new for a fraction of the price. I have been able to run and see if I should slow down or speed up. I am totaly hooked on running right now and I am seeing a difference in my speed since I have been running tempo and speed work runs.
Kira, Enzo and I have been gluten free for a month now and we feel great. Enzo has gained a pound and a half. Both of their appetites have totally increased. The bumps on Kira's body have lessened quite a bit and I know it will take probably a while for them to totally clear up.
We are all doing well and I am still trying to be organized but it is a daily battle as I am always wanting to rest rather than work. :)
Kira, Enzo and I have been gluten free for a month now and we feel great. Enzo has gained a pound and a half. Both of their appetites have totally increased. The bumps on Kira's body have lessened quite a bit and I know it will take probably a while for them to totally clear up.
We are all doing well and I am still trying to be organized but it is a daily battle as I am always wanting to rest rather than work. :)
Monday, July 28, 2008
I Was Running
Today I ran with the kids from North beach to Calafia and back which is 4.52 miles. This is the first long run I have done with the kids. I did it in 55.24 minutes, just about a 12 minute mile. Pushing the kids, I am very happy about that time. Just last Thursday I ran 4.45 miles in 48.54 minutes. My goal is to run the Long Beach Half Marathon in October, that is 13.1 miles. I figure if I train by running and pushing the kids at a 11-12 minute mile then when I run without the kids I should be able to run about 9-10 minute mile. I would be stoked to run the half marathon under 2 1/2 hours and that would be my best time.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Like a Hamster on a Wheel
I feel like a hamster and I am running and running and going nowhere. In this process of becoming debt free, I know we are paying things off but I still feel like we are in the same place. Does that make any sense? I guess I feel as though I can not see the end of the tunnel, I can't even see the light at the end tunnel. I see a a tiny weeny speck of light in a far, far distance. Now I know that is better than nothing but it is still a little frustrating. I guess I am so excited to move that I want to be there already. I know patience needs to be on the for front of my heart but still I am a bit discouraged. I think it is because I see a purpose in our lives but I feel as though it is unattainable.
I do not like feeling this way but I know it happens and I need to cling to God's promises and hope for the future while living His will today....easier said than done! But isn't that what we all need to do? I guess I just needed to write it out in order to see it and make sense of it. Thanks for letting me ramble. :)
I do not like feeling this way but I know it happens and I need to cling to God's promises and hope for the future while living His will today....easier said than done! But isn't that what we all need to do? I guess I just needed to write it out in order to see it and make sense of it. Thanks for letting me ramble. :)
Monday, July 21, 2008
AIM products
I have talked a little about these great products, but I thought I would explain why I have chosen to take their products and what they done for me and my family.
First off The AIM Companies is a Christian based company and it is not a pyramid deal. The best thing is that all you have to do is become a member and you get the wholesale prices. If you refer anyone you get a referral bonus which nice and helps pay for your product. The idea of taking vitamins and supplements has always been hard for me when I know you just pee it out. Then I found out that you actually only absorb 10% of the vitamins and pee out 90%. When you are paying so much for vitamins wouldn't you like to absorb and use more of it.
The Barley Life, Just Carrots and RediBeets are all 100% dried barley grass, carrots and beets. All you do is add water and you've got juice as if you just juiced it yourself. Now you can juice if you want and I do juice occasionally but I would have to grow my own barley grass and that would be pretty time consuming, instead I decided to buy it already done. I also take the Fiberblend. This helps me get extra fiber, natural fiber, not some kind artificial supplement that will effect how I get rid of waste naturally. I also take AIMega, which is a capsule filled with essential fatty acids. Since I am nursing I need all the extra help getting enough fatty acids for me and for bub. The last thing that I take is the AIM Peak Endurance.
I drink this instead of drinking sports drinks because it has only one gram of sugar whereas Gatorade has 28 grams and Powerade has 30 grams of sugar!
Now that you know what we take as a family, I will tell you how we take it. I blend the Fiberblend with orange juice and drink it first thing in the morning. At least a half hour later I take the Garden Trio. The Garden Trio (Barley Life Xtra, Just Carrots and Redibeets) I blend with two cups of water and about five cubes of ice. It is so good and refreshing. When I drink my smoothie I take anywhere from three to six AIMega capsules. I take more because I am nursing. The AIM Peak Endurance I use before I run or after instead of Gatorade. For the kids I usually put the Barley Life, Just Carrots and Fiberblend in the smoothies in the morning and they can't even tell it is in . The Fiberblend is supposed to be taken on an empty stomach and you should wait for thirty minutes until eating anything. However I figure that the kids won't take it by itself so I put it in their smoothies. I cut a slit in the AIMega capsules and squeeze two in the kids mouths at breakfast with their smoothies.
Since I have been taking all of these wonderful products I have noticed such a difference in everything. My hair and nails are growing like weeds. I have energy and I want to eat healthy. I notice that when I run out and miss a couple days I start eating bad and feel sluggish. For the kids I know both of them have been more regular since I started giving them the Fiberblend. The Fiberblend even helped Enzo when his BM's were super loose. The natural fiber helps by making it binding when you have loose BM's. I like that the kids are getting extra veggies in their diet.
They already eat so good, before each cooked meal they have at least the size of their hand amount of raw fruit or veggies. Enzo from day one loved veggies, he will eat raw mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, avocado and black olives. Kira has taken a little more time to like all of those veggies but she will eat all of those veggies too now. The fruit smoothies that they have each morning has pineapple, strawberries, raw cashews, berries and orange juice. So I know that they are getting in their five fruits and veggies at least and if not more each day plus the Barley Life and Just Carrots add to the mix. I am so thankful that my kids eat healthy. It just amazes me how people feed their kids and wonder why they are a discipline problem, but that is a whole other topic for another day!
Anyways that is what we do and I love the AIM products and throughly believe in them. If you want to become a member go to The AIM Companies and fill in all the info and use my member number 663452 to start. If you have questions leave a comment.
First off The AIM Companies is a Christian based company and it is not a pyramid deal. The best thing is that all you have to do is become a member and you get the wholesale prices. If you refer anyone you get a referral bonus which nice and helps pay for your product. The idea of taking vitamins and supplements has always been hard for me when I know you just pee it out. Then I found out that you actually only absorb 10% of the vitamins and pee out 90%. When you are paying so much for vitamins wouldn't you like to absorb and use more of it.
The Barley Life, Just Carrots and RediBeets are all 100% dried barley grass, carrots and beets. All you do is add water and you've got juice as if you just juiced it yourself. Now you can juice if you want and I do juice occasionally but I would have to grow my own barley grass and that would be pretty time consuming, instead I decided to buy it already done. I also take the Fiberblend. This helps me get extra fiber, natural fiber, not some kind artificial supplement that will effect how I get rid of waste naturally. I also take AIMega, which is a capsule filled with essential fatty acids. Since I am nursing I need all the extra help getting enough fatty acids for me and for bub. The last thing that I take is the AIM Peak Endurance.
I drink this instead of drinking sports drinks because it has only one gram of sugar whereas Gatorade has 28 grams and Powerade has 30 grams of sugar!
Now that you know what we take as a family, I will tell you how we take it. I blend the Fiberblend with orange juice and drink it first thing in the morning. At least a half hour later I take the Garden Trio. The Garden Trio (Barley Life Xtra, Just Carrots and Redibeets) I blend with two cups of water and about five cubes of ice. It is so good and refreshing. When I drink my smoothie I take anywhere from three to six AIMega capsules. I take more because I am nursing. The AIM Peak Endurance I use before I run or after instead of Gatorade. For the kids I usually put the Barley Life, Just Carrots and Fiberblend in the smoothies in the morning and they can't even tell it is in . The Fiberblend is supposed to be taken on an empty stomach and you should wait for thirty minutes until eating anything. However I figure that the kids won't take it by itself so I put it in their smoothies. I cut a slit in the AIMega capsules and squeeze two in the kids mouths at breakfast with their smoothies.
Since I have been taking all of these wonderful products I have noticed such a difference in everything. My hair and nails are growing like weeds. I have energy and I want to eat healthy. I notice that when I run out and miss a couple days I start eating bad and feel sluggish. For the kids I know both of them have been more regular since I started giving them the Fiberblend. The Fiberblend even helped Enzo when his BM's were super loose. The natural fiber helps by making it binding when you have loose BM's. I like that the kids are getting extra veggies in their diet.
They already eat so good, before each cooked meal they have at least the size of their hand amount of raw fruit or veggies. Enzo from day one loved veggies, he will eat raw mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, avocado and black olives. Kira has taken a little more time to like all of those veggies but she will eat all of those veggies too now. The fruit smoothies that they have each morning has pineapple, strawberries, raw cashews, berries and orange juice. So I know that they are getting in their five fruits and veggies at least and if not more each day plus the Barley Life and Just Carrots add to the mix. I am so thankful that my kids eat healthy. It just amazes me how people feed their kids and wonder why they are a discipline problem, but that is a whole other topic for another day!
Anyways that is what we do and I love the AIM products and throughly believe in them. If you want to become a member go to The AIM Companies and fill in all the info and use my member number 663452 to start. If you have questions leave a comment.
Seeing Results
Today for the first time in over two weeks Enzo had a normal BM!!! It was not full of mucous and stinky beyond belief, but a normal BM. Praise the Lord. We have been gluten free for four days since the Wahoo's incident.
That night Enzo had a 103 degree temperature and I gave him the AIM's Garden trio (barley grass, beet and carrot juice) and avocado and about ten rice noodles. He slept through the night with getting up only once to nurse. The next morning he was fine, however Saturday Kira had the 103.5 degree temperature and I did the same thing as I did with Enzo. I gave her smoothie consisting of pineapple, strawberries, raw cashews and orange juice with the barley grass and carrots in it too. I usually sneak it in her smoothie because she is still not totally hip to drinking it straight. Her temperature went down by midnight that night. In both cases I did not give them any Tylenol or fever reducer.
The more I read about fevers the more I do not want to give them anything. It is okay for the body to get hot, it is it's natural way of defending itself. Now do not get me wrong if they were throwing up continuously or having extreme diarrhea then I would take then to the doctor. But when I am constantly monitoring their temperatures and hydration, I would rather let their bodies heal themselves. Mary-Ann Shearers talks about how to deal with childhood sickness in her book Healthy Kids; The Natural Way. In this book she talks about pregnancy, birth control, immunizations, feeding a baby, toddler, elementary, junior high and high school kids. It is an encyclopedia of sorts for raising kids. I refer to it often.
So back to the fever issue, I was wondering maybe this was a bug of some kind and he does not have Celiac disease. I googled fevers and CD and from what I read it is very common for someone with CD to have a high fever after eating gluten when they are on a gluten free diet. Which totally explains Enzo and Kira's temperatures. Plus last night Kira had the biggest BM I have ever seen come out of a little girl. But it was a healthy BM, a healthy BM should be the diameter of your finger and should be a "S" shape. You should not strain or be in any pain while having your BM. I never knew that and most people I do not think do either. So being off gluten has totally helped Kira too.
I know I feel better, I am not craving foods as much. We went to breakfast with the WHOLE family (fourteen of us!) Sunday and everyone was ordering pancakes and sticky buns and all of these rich dishes and it just did not sound good to me. I honestly did not want to go out for breakfast at all. I really enjoy my morning smoothie for breakfast. So I ordered eggs and bacon with home fries. My eggs were cold, which for me is the worst, and the bacon was so greasy it made my stomach hurt. Needless to say I was not impressed with going out to eat, but that is an entire blog in itself for another day.
That night Enzo had a 103 degree temperature and I gave him the AIM's Garden trio (barley grass, beet and carrot juice) and avocado and about ten rice noodles. He slept through the night with getting up only once to nurse. The next morning he was fine, however Saturday Kira had the 103.5 degree temperature and I did the same thing as I did with Enzo. I gave her smoothie consisting of pineapple, strawberries, raw cashews and orange juice with the barley grass and carrots in it too. I usually sneak it in her smoothie because she is still not totally hip to drinking it straight. Her temperature went down by midnight that night. In both cases I did not give them any Tylenol or fever reducer.
The more I read about fevers the more I do not want to give them anything. It is okay for the body to get hot, it is it's natural way of defending itself. Now do not get me wrong if they were throwing up continuously or having extreme diarrhea then I would take then to the doctor. But when I am constantly monitoring their temperatures and hydration, I would rather let their bodies heal themselves. Mary-Ann Shearers talks about how to deal with childhood sickness in her book Healthy Kids; The Natural Way. In this book she talks about pregnancy, birth control, immunizations, feeding a baby, toddler, elementary, junior high and high school kids. It is an encyclopedia of sorts for raising kids. I refer to it often.
So back to the fever issue, I was wondering maybe this was a bug of some kind and he does not have Celiac disease. I googled fevers and CD and from what I read it is very common for someone with CD to have a high fever after eating gluten when they are on a gluten free diet. Which totally explains Enzo and Kira's temperatures. Plus last night Kira had the biggest BM I have ever seen come out of a little girl. But it was a healthy BM, a healthy BM should be the diameter of your finger and should be a "S" shape. You should not strain or be in any pain while having your BM. I never knew that and most people I do not think do either. So being off gluten has totally helped Kira too.
I know I feel better, I am not craving foods as much. We went to breakfast with the WHOLE family (fourteen of us!) Sunday and everyone was ordering pancakes and sticky buns and all of these rich dishes and it just did not sound good to me. I honestly did not want to go out for breakfast at all. I really enjoy my morning smoothie for breakfast. So I ordered eggs and bacon with home fries. My eggs were cold, which for me is the worst, and the bacon was so greasy it made my stomach hurt. Needless to say I was not impressed with going out to eat, but that is an entire blog in itself for another day.
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