Anna & Essie

Help Kaitlyn Fight Hate and Bigotry

2013-05-18T08:18:00.000-04:00

Kaitlyn Hunt is a high school senior who should be getting ready to graduate. Instead, she just got arrested and expelled from school...for dating. Yes, dating. Something nearly every high school kid in this nation does. Except...you probably guessed it, Kaitlyn is gay. How can someone get arrested for gay dating? Kaitlyn started the relationship with another girl when she was 17 years old. This girl is younger. As soon as Kaitlyn turned 18, the parents of her 15 year old partner lashed out in hate and took every measure they could against Kate legally, plus petitioned to get her expelled from the school.

Look, I was a teenager once. When I was 18, I started dating my first ''official" boyfriend. Guess how old he was? 16. This could have just as easily happened to me! If the parents of the boy I dated at 18 had not liked the fact that he was my boyfriend, they could have had me arrested. I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of cases just like this. Teens meet at school and start dating. It is a time in their lives when they are curious and start to explore sexual avenues. One of them turns eighteen years old. No matter how mutual the feelings and consent are, after 18, it's illegal. Yet, in most cases, no legal claims are made because parents of the younger teen know that it has been an ongoing relationship of mutual consent.

Now, I'm not here to argue whether gay is right or wrong. I'm not standing up for homosexuality. I'm standing up for a person, Kaitlyn, whose sexuality is an issue between herself and God. I do not think this person should have a destroyed future, be labeled and identified as a sexual predator, not be able to graduate and have to take her GED, and a host of other things that are happening and could happen if someone doesn't do something. I signed the petition to stop the prosecution of this girl. If you believe that what is happening is wrong, please sign it too.

If you are a parent of a teen, I urge you to think of how this would impact you if Kaitlyn was your daughter. Thank you for your time.

Induction Phase Almost Complete- We hope!

2013-05-09T12:38:00.001-04:00

We have been at this cancer thing for a month now. I think I'm finally out of shock. That took a while, just realizing that it's really happening. Things have been pretty good this week. Anna has been up and about wanting to play, and we found out this week at chemo that she's almost finished with her induction phase.

When chemotherapy starts, depending on how far along the cancer has progressed, there is a period of intense treatment. I think people's initial treatments vary, but for Anna who has a very agressive type cancer, her treatments started on a weekly basis. If you or your child is diagnosed with cancer, you'll hear about a "stage". Anna was in stage three, which is pretty far along, actually. Phase one was when it was just in the lymph nodes in her neck and spread to her chest (so in one general area), phase two hit when the cancer went to the nodes in her abdomen (so it will jump to another part of the body but was still in her lymph nodes), phase three was when it presented in another organ (rash on her skin), and had she had it in the bone marrow it would have been stage four.

Staging can be so scary to hear about, but for lymphoma staging is not quite as scary as some other cancers. It tells you how far the cancer has progressed, and in some cancers the farther it progresses the harder it is to treat. Now, don't get me wrong, a high stage is scary no matter what, but for a lot of the lymphomas, it really just tells you how intense and how long the treatment will be, but they usually expect the same outcome. So, we tried not to freak at stage three cancer.

Anna has had 4 weekly chemo treatments and has one more before "re-staging". The goal at this point is for her to have a "complete response", which means that this more intense treatment in this induction period will have knocked out ALL of the cancer. Then will start the year (yes year) of maintenance, which requires less frequent chemo. So we're hoping for the best, believing for the best, and ready to get this last initial treatment done soon so we can see where we stand now.

Thanks for standing with us and praying for us!

Why You Should Treat Your Children's Teachers Very Well

2013-05-06T16:38:00.002-04:00

I have a guest post for you today by Sara. It's a great article, and as a former teacher I can tell you, she's right about this:

If your children are in daycare or school, they spend some 8 to 10 hours a day with a teacher--thousands of hours by the time they reach the age of 18. These relationships are extremely important and formative to our children. In his 2012 State of the Union Address, President Obama pointed to a recent study that found teachers not only impact our children’s academic success, but also their earning potential and even chances of becoming pregnant in high school.

Clearly, if we really care about our children, we must care about their teachers. Unfortunately, most teachers are under-appreciated and under-paid. As a society, we place very high expectations on our teachers, but give them very little in return. Sometimes we forget that teachers are people too. Just as we like some coworkers and dislike others—teachers like some students and dislike others. They like some parents and dislike others. We don’t want to think that about teachers, but it’s just human nature.

Of course, there are cases of abuse in daycares and schools—we’ve all heard those horror stories—but what I’m talking about is something much more subtle than that.

• It’s the difference between a nursery teacher who just loves cuddling and rocking your baby, and one who does it because it’s part of her job.

• It’s the different between the teacher who mediates fights when students tell, and the teacher who notices your child crying in the corner, being tease, or bullied and takes proactive action.

• It’s the difference between the teacher who offers required tutoring once a week, and the teacher who will email you back in the evening to explain how to multiply fractions so you can help your child with homework.

How we treat teachers has a direct correlation to how much they enjoy their job and the quality of their relationship with our children. This is why I believe parents should treat daycare and school teachers very, very well. After all, they care for our children when we are not watching.

I don’t know about you, but I want my children’s teachers to like them, look out for them, and enjoy spending time with them. Here are a number of very practical ways to show teachers how much you appreciate them.

Volunteer and bring in supplies. Teachers have very practical needs. Most take their job home with them at night and buy at least some of their own classroom supplies. Volunteering for field trips and other classroom tasks is always appreciated. Also, donating supplies to your child’s classroom are a tangible way to help the teacher.

Give nice Christmas gifts. I’ve always made it a practice to give my children’s teachers $50 gift cards for Christmas. This may seem extravagant to some, but for me it is money well spent. Of course, there are nice gifts at every price range. Throughout the year look for items on sale, or use coupons at NerdWallet. Sometimes the Parent Teacher Organization distributes information about what teachers like which can be helpful in finding the perfect gift.

Practice regular random acts of kindness. Everyone at my kids’ elementary school knows me as the mom who brings the teachers coffee. I try to bring a fresh, hot cup of gourmet coffee to each of my children’s teachers at least every couple of weeks. Giving teachers flowers, for no reason in particular, is another nice way to brighten their day and the classroom. If you use Proflowers coupons you can get high quality flowers year round.

Remember, building goodwill with teachers is not all about giving gifts. Perhaps the most important things we can do is parents is treat teachers with respect, especially in instances of conflict. Speak respectfully about teachers and support their classroom expectations. When issues come up, be diplomatic and follow the school’s escalation policies.

Teachers are so important to our children’s lives. Invest some time in getting to know them. Actively support them. Treat them very, very well.

Running out? Run In event at Publix May 15-22nd!

2013-05-03T20:04:00.001-04:00

From May 15th through May 22nd , look for the “Running Out? Run In.” event at Publix® to take advantage of great savings on some of your favorite brands from General Mills and Procter & Gamble, like Charmin, Crest, Totin's and Wheaties. In addition to this, if you purchase $30 of participating* items from 5/15 through 5/31, you can mail in to receive a $10 Publix® gift card to use on your next shopping trip! (For more details on this great rebate, please visit www.runningoutrunin.com)

*Participating products: Wheaties®, Cascadian Farm®, Honey Nut Cheerios® Medley Crunch and Total® Whole Grain Cereal (assorted varieties); Hamburger Helper® and Suddenly Salad® (assorted varieties); Totino’s® Party Pizza (assorted varieties); Totino’s® Pizza Rolls (40ct, assorted varieties); Yoplait® Light Yogurt with Granola (assorted varieties); Yoplait® Go-Gurt (8ct pkg 2.25oz, assorted varieties); Gain Laundry Detergent (100oz, assorted varieties); Dawn® Dish Detergent (20-24oz bottle, assorted varieties); Charmin® Basic Bathroom Tissue (12 double roll pkg, assorted varieties); Bounty® Dura Towel and Bounty® Paper Towels (1 King Roll, 1 Big Roll); Crest® Toothpaste (8.2 oz) + Oral-B Indicator & Complete Manual Brush (1ct) assorted varieties; Herbal Essences® (6.0 -10.7oz, assorted varieties) and Vidal Sassoon Shampoo/Conditioner (12oz, assorted varieties)

Losing Hair With Chemotherapy

2013-05-03T09:39:00.000-04:00

We are bald! It's been a tough week since the last update. Anna ended up back in the hospital with no white blood cell count. Thankfully (and we always try to look at the bright side) it was not from any infection. It was just the chemo that knocked her count out. It also marked the beginning of hair loss. We started to see it a few days ago and it started fast. The doctor explained to me that the reason you go bald is because the chemo meds attack all cells that grow rapidly (like hair). They can't just target the cancer cells (I wish they could!)

So, when we got home I was going to shorten her hair a little more. however, when I turned on the clippers she was afraid of the noise, so I thought...if we have to go through this let's just do it once and be done. It was a tough tough night. She literally cried for nearly two hours after we shaved her head. It was so traumatic and I tried and tried to explain to her why I had to do it and what was going on. She kept changing the subject...she just didn't want to talk about it. I told her right then I'd do it too, and I really wanted her to want me to, but she didn't. The next day after she'd gotten a little more used to it we put hats on Minnie and Daisy and I asked again, "Are you ready for me to cut my hair off now too?" and she said, "Yes and wear a hat like me!". I was so relieved and so happy she wanted me to. Silly as it seems, I felt guilty having hair after I had to shave hers off. I needed to do it for her, and I needed to do it for me.

I thought I'd have the same reaction about going bald, but after the night we'd had with hers, I was just so happy and excited to go bald. After weeks of saying she wouldn't take a picture she wanted to jump in the picture with me because she said she looks beautiful in her hat. Which, of course she does! She doesn't like seeing my bald head or hers, but she likes that we wear hats together and that we are in this together. We are told that hair can start to grow back when the chemo meds get milder, or may not grow back until three to ten months after treatment ends.

We have been getting to skype with precious Essie-Pooh and have some face time. Silly face time! She pulls on the sides of her mouth and sticks her tongue out at us. She's so cute and precious! Her "GiGi" sends us pictures of her in pretty clothes and having fun. We miss her dearly. We wrote her a letter through the mail yesterday so we hope that gets to her ok and that she has fun with the stickers we sent. We're just getting through one day at a time!

I still forgot the P.O. Box, but I will get to it soon. I did write a help page with prayer targets, a donation button, and an explanation of what we use funds for. Thanks to those who have asked me about it, it means so much to us that people care. God bless,

Laura

Life as a (Special Needs) Cancer Mom

2013-04-24T18:34:00.001-04:00

It's been a week since we came home from the hospital and I'm settling into life as a cancer mom. It's definitely a challenge, but so was being a special needs mom before the cancer.

The biggest change in my daily life is Essie's absence. I feel so sad without her but I know I could not handle taking care of her on top of giving my all to Anna and I know Anna can't handle her boisterous, loud, in-your-face ways. It makes me sad, but I know my limits.

Anna is definitely different. Some days she's up playing and others she wants to rest more. She's very clingy. If I even so much as leave the room at times she says, "You can't just leave me!" I'm in the next room...but she thinks I left her. She wants to do things but can't muster the energy to do them at times. She wants to color a picture, but it ends up that she would rather just watch me color a picture.

She thinks she wants food but when it comes to sitting down to eat it, she changes her mind. This requires a lot of patience on my part. One time of ...mom can you make me an egg or cereal, or a waffle, or whatever and then not eating it is one thing...but over and over it could get annoying if you let it. The Lord has given me a blanket of grace for her. I don't let it get to me.

Nothing tastes good to her, but I do get her to eat scrambled eggs, boiled chicken, and macaroni and cheese. Those are the three things she will eat just about daily. Anything else is a hit or miss. She's eating decently well, but still losing weight.

One of the most difficult things is giving medication. We both have started to dread that, and it's just never-ending. It's hard to see your kid drugged up all the time.

We do have wonderful news though...the biopsies from the surgery last week show no cancer in the spinal fluid or bone marrow. We are doing the happy dance on that one. We're dealing with lymph nodes in the neck, chest, abdomen, and cancer in the skin. Plus, the lymph nodes in the abdoen did not light up on the PET scan after the first chemo treatment, so we have response already! God is good, and we trust him through this very difficult time. I can't explain why any child would get cancer. I especially can't explain why a child with special needs already would get cancer, but I just can't get mad. We are not promised that we won't go through trials and tribulations, but we are promised God will be there for us and get us through them. Thank you, God. "If we've ever needed you, Lord it's now."

Large Cell Lymphoma

2013-04-20T14:06:00.002-04:00

I don't even know how to start this post. If you're a regular reader you may have noticed my absence in writing recently. We have gotten a shock this week and are dealing with it the best we can.

The short story:
On top of having MeCP2 Duplication syndrome, Anna has been diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. If you have ever felt like you wanted to do something to help a child with cancer, I'll be making a page with information on targets to pray about (if you are a praying person) and other ways you can assist us if you'd like to.

The long story:
Some people want to cut to the chase, so that's the reason for the long story short story deal here. This is the long story. About five weeks ago, Anna had started to be whiny and run a low-grade temp. I noticed it most on a Sunday afternoon. That following Monday I kept her home from school just to be sure fever wouldn't spike. She seemed fine and went back to school Tuesday.

Tuesday I got a call from the school nurse that Anna wouldn't turn her head or neck. I was concerned but thought she probably had a crick in her neck or something and just asked them to watch her close. She came home, was really whiny and uninterested in her normal activities, so we went to the E.R. At the E.R. they found a huge knot in her neck (she had hidden it well from me because of the way she was holding her head cocked to one side). They did a CT scan and told me they found several swollen lymph nodes that they thought was due to a sinusitus infection that had drained backwards instead of out. They gave her anti-biotics for two weeks. Anna started lifting her head, turning her neck, and feeling somewhat better. We were not very concerned, just ready for the knot to go away. I even took to calling her, "knotty neck" as a little joke.

After the initial round of anti-biotics she started running fever and the knot wasn't gone. She was in FL with her father, and all we knew to do was take her back to the Dr. They started a second anti-biotic which didn't seem to do well and she ran more fever. He took her back again and they started a third anti-biotic which made her stop running fever and seem ok. As soon as she got back I took her to her pediatrician to be seen for a follow-up. He felt her neck, and wanted to see what was going to happen after the anti-biotic and was getting ready to send her to an ENT.

So, she was going to school, seemed okay although whiny, but I thought the worst that would happen is they would have to go in and drain the nodes manually. She went to school on a Monday and that evening she played with Essie for a while. Then she got tired and lethargic. I touched her and noticed she was burning hot. Her temp after taking it was 103, and I was terrified. I ended up taking her to the E.R. an hour away at the Children's hospital. I expected them to say they needed to drain the nodes as I mentioned before. Instead they told me the CT scan showed that the lymph nodes had spread. The following day she was admitted into the hospital and then Wednesday she had a biopsy which confirmed large cell lymphoma.

We have started the treatment, and they expect it to last throughout a year. From this point on we have to become germ-o-phobic, we have to be ready to head to the hospital in a moment's notice if she runs fever, and much much more. We're staying positive, keeping the faith, and have every reason to believe that we will beat this thing. I'm going to get a P.O. box pretty soon and let anyone who would like to know it the address to send her cards/letters. She enjoys those a lot.

I'm going to also make a page to let people who pray to know what specific prayer needs are, if they want to donate by sending us money or things that we need they can do that as well. We have found that so many people want to offer their support, strangers or not.

Thanks for reading our story, and we hope you'll believe with us that we're gonna help Anna knock out cancer. God bless.

Javita Coffee For Weight Loss

2013-04-08T18:24:00.003-04:00

Wow, remember my Javita coffee weight loss test? I'm kinda bummed out because it didn't work for me quite like it does with so many other people. Check out that testimonial above. I keep hearing how people don't change their diet or exercise routine and lose the pounds anyway. I guess it's just a testament to how people's bodies are different and react to different things in different ways. The only thing I can say for sure is I did experience decrease in appetite. A woman I know personally lost 15 pounds in two months. I wish it had worked for me like that! I guess the only way to know if it will work for you is to try it.

I still drank it every day and finished up the box because I LOVE the taste of Javita! I've been going through a tough time with a breakup and with Anna's medical issues. When I first tried this product Anna had to go to the hospital because of a backed up sinusitis infection and four weeks later she is now being referred to an ENT because the knot in her neck that formed from swollen lymph nodes is still there. So, the stress level in my life may have been why it didn't have the same effect on me. I kept thinking (and saying in my daily posts) I need the energy + mind version. Well, it was so easy to change my auto-ship over to energy + mind, and change my shipping date to a later time because money was getting tight. The best part still to come is the 3 & free program which will enable me to get FREE coffee when I refer three people to the auto-ship program (and you can do that too)!

So, the energy and mind version arrived TODAY! I enjoyed my last cup of burn and control this evening and I'm so anxious to try the energy and mind tomorrow. I pray it gives me an energy boost I need to deal with my life right now. I need that so much more than shedding a few pounds. Plus, if I have the energy to get up and go...well, then that will promote shedding those pounds too!

Another testimony from someone I know personally is that after drinking this product for a few weeks she went to Starbucks and it actually made her sick! What about this instant gourmet coffee is so good for you? It's herb infused. Check it out:

I don't think I ever want to drink a regular cup o' joe again! I can really tell a difference in my level of calmness with it. Here's some more info:
*It's estate grown.
*One cup costs less than a cup from popular retailers like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or McDonalds.
*It's convenient to take anywhere
*It's really good when made as an iced coffee too!
So, I'll let you know how the energy + mind works for me. I hope it's going to be just the boost I need.

How To Make Footprint Butterflies

2013-04-08T14:48:00.001-04:00

A cute idea going around pinterest is to make butterflies from your kids' footprint. I used it to create a cute gift for my girls' dad last Christmas. I knew they would want something to give him, so I sent it with them for their two-week holiday vacation. Here's how I did it:

You need:
*A canvas (or poster board, cardboard piece, whatever you're going to paint on)
*acrylic craft paint
*large paint brush
*freezer paper or newspaper
* A large bowl with soap, water, and a washcloth
*kids feet!

I put some large pieces of paper down on the kitchen floor. I'm pretty sure I used freezer paper. It's so economical for art projects. You'll want this in a place where you can easily wipe up any paint that gets on the floor. Acrylic paints are usually good to come off of hard surfaces with soap and water.

I squirted out 4 different compatible colors of paint (yellow, orange, gold, dark pink/red) on the paper. I had the kids sit by me with their feet over the paper (an unused area). I brushed the paint on their feet. It's kind-of like quartering their feet off and doing one paint color for each section. It's okay if the paint mixes/runs, that's the idea. Then I asked them to stay still (which was next to impossible for them) while I brought the canvas up to their feet and made the impression. Then, I used the soap, water and cloth to wipe their feet off before they tracked paint all over the place.

To make the butterfly, put the right footprint on the left side and the left one on the right side. Try to leave a little space in the middle to draw the "bug" part of the butterfly. This was hard to do with Anna, so I was happy to get what I got. When it's dry, use a dark color (I used black) to make accents on the butterfly. I used my finger to do this. I had Anna-boo write her name under hers and I tried to guide Essie to write her name. Make any kind of border you would like. I could have done a better job with my border, but you learn with experience. I used a magic marker to draw in the bug head, body and antennae. I loved it so much I had to make one for myself too!

It's a wonderful keepsake. They both grew an inch over the last two months, so I'm sure their feet have grown since doing this project. I will always cherish mine! If you do this and put a photo online link to it in the comments, I'd love to see it!

Publix Breakfast Savings Event!

2013-04-05T13:03:00.001-04:00

Great news! I have another $25 Publix gift card to giveaway in honor of the breakfast savings event! Till April 10th, many General Mills brands like Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch will be on sale, then you can print these coupons to use to sweeten the deal. I was just there (using my $25 gift card) and nearly all varieties of Cheerios are on BOGO (buy one get one free). In most states (I think FL may be the only excluded one but you'll have to check) when you get a BOGO deal you can just buy one and it will ring up half price. So to give you an idea of the savings, a box of Cheerios at my Publix was $4.69 regular. Half price it rings up at $2.34, add a $.50 off coupon and it's $1.85. That's more like it, right?

So print your coupons and get on over there before April 10th. Be sure to enter the giveaway below. You won't have it in time for this event but there are new BOGO sales every week that you can match with coupons to get tremendous savings on all of your favorite General Mills products. The giveaway is open to contiguous U.S. only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary.
Contiguous US 18+ only.
Starts April 5, 2013 and ends April 12, 2013.
Sponsored by Publix and General Mills.
Prize: $25 Publix Gift Card. $25 value. Odds determined by number of entrants.
Winner will be contacted by email to obtain a physical U.S. mailing address, which will be submitted to sampleredemtion.com, and the prize pack will be sent from there. New winner will be chosen if the winner does not respond within three days after two email notifications.
Winner will be chosen at random by rafflecopter.
Winner will be listed on the winner's list page by April 13, 2013.

The information, products and gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark. Thank you, I am loving this spark like crazy! All opinions expressed are my own.

My Anti-Bullying Letter to Schools

2013-04-04T12:40:00.003-04:00

If you have read my post about my idea for the "Throw No Stones" anti cyber bullying campaign, I told you I was going to write a letter to schools and youth groups in my area about it. I just completed sending it to every middle and high school within the county and city school systems in my area. That's twenty-four schools. I've adapated it so that if you want to copy and paste it and enter the names of the faculty member and school you can do that:

Hello (Facutly Name):

I am a parent in the (Your county or school) School Community and I am contacting principals or counselors within the county and city school systems with an idea I have for anti-cyber bullying. I know there are all types of bullying and this idea may stream into other ways to counteract bullying in the future.

As you know, cyber bullying has taken it's toll nation wide claiming the lives of students driven to commit suicide over the hate. I want to try to help do anything I can to stop this. So this is the idea:

There is a new facebook page called, "Throw No Stones" which will be giving general information and updates on cyber-bullying. "Throw no stones" coming from the idea of stoning people to death in olden times. I would love it if someone from your school could create a "Throw No Stones Page" for your school (or you could name it something else). Make students aware of the page and encourage them to like it. It would be an anti-cyber bullying online school club of sorts. Post anti-bullying information on the page about how it affects kids, teen suicide, etc. Make it known that students who like the page are saying they will take a stand against cyber bullying. They can do this by taking these steps when they see someone being bullied online:

1. Write a message of encouragement on that persons page such as : "Hey, don't let other people's hate get you down, I'm glad to see you at school everyday."

2. Let other people in the group know (possibly by private message so that the victim won't be embarrassed) that the victim needs support on their page.

Obviously you know that students should be made aware that if they support a cyber-bullying victim the insults made by the perpetrator may be then directed toward them. They also have the anti-bullying group for support, plus it shows the original victim that they are not alone.

Maybe it will work, maybe not, but it's an idea I thought I'd run by you. I hope you'll share it with other school faculty and determine if you all think it will be a good way to help fight against teen suicide brought on by bullying.

If you do start a facebook page, please "like" the "Throw No Stones" page so we can all stand together against hate. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Throw-No-Stones/125845864271529 Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, (your name here)

Don't forget we can use email! I was getting all geared up to buy stamps and I remembered that the whole county school system in my area has a website that lists all schools in the county and email information for the principal or counselor. That way I can address each faculty or administration member by name because I'll know who they are.

God bless you all who are helping out with this and I hope we can make a difference.

Is It Worth This? Make a Pledge to Take a Stand. Stop The Hate. There's Something We Can Do.

2013-04-04T10:51:00.002-04:00

Please watch the short video above. My heart breaks over the stories of suicide of gay teens who have gone through cyber bullying (and other forms of hate). Join with me to do what we can do to stop this.

I'm no psychology expert but I've been a teenager in school. I've felt different, not accepted, and not liked before. I know that when you feel alone it's the worst. If you feel like there are people who accept you and care about you and that you can turn to them for support that it's easier to face the world when people are against you.

This next point is the most crucial. If you don't get anything else in this post, please get this. To accept someone for who they are does not mean that you think whatever they do is okay. I am a Christian, and I am sad and heartbroken over the bad name Christians have gotten for not loving others, including each other. Why has this happened? Because it's being taught in the churches and home groups that if we accept someone we are conceding that their sin is okay. This is hogwash! Listen, I know gay people, I have gay people in my family. I understand that they will say they don't think being gay is a sin. Let's don't squabble over this! Can you not see that it's a deception from Satan to turn us against each other?

It says in the Bible that homosexuality is a sin. It also says a lot of other things are sin. Gossip, lying, stealing, and jealousy are sins (just to name a few). Any of us struggle with any of those ever? Yes. Every day. Don't we know that a sin is a sin in the eyes of God? Their sin is not elevated above ours. It says in the Bible to pull the plank out of our own eyes before we show our brother the speck in his. Let's not make it our "job" to convice gay people that being gay is a sin. Let's just love everyone. There are ten commandments in the old testament. In the new testament Jesus "boils" it down to two. 1. Have no other gods before me. 2. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. If we can do that it covers the other ones. If you love your neighbor you're not going to gossip about them, steal from them, be jealous of them, or hate them. Note it does not say, "love your neighbor as you love yourself unless they are gay, not mentally retarded, another ethnicity than you, etc."

One more point before I move forward. Do you know that hate is the same thing in the eyes of God as murder?

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15 (KJV)

Now, for the people who have shown hate and maybe had a part in causing these suicides, let's remember it's important to forgive them too, and to pray for them, and to love them. So often people that show hate are trying to cover up their own shame and pain. If they can get the attention on another person, it's cast off of them. They have to live with these deaths on their conscience the rest of their lives.

LETS MAKE A CHANGE

Why don't we stand up for each other? Because if we do we fear that the hate and ridicule will come on us. Sometimes that's true. But only if we stand alone. If we stand together...we don't have to fear it, because we have others to lean on and support us.

What can we do? I want a group to form in every school in this nation that has students actively on the internet. Most of that will be high school, but I wouldn't count out middle schools and elementary schools. I would like us to call this group, "Throw No Stones". (But you can make up your own name if you like). One or two active students in each school could start a facebook page, twitter list, and/or other social media comunity. If it's a Christian group (I know a lot of schools do have Christian based clubs even though prayer is not allowed in schools) you can put the scripture, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone."John 8:7 (KJV) on your page. That way it will make you feel better about sending the message that we're not saying any sin is okay, but we are saying we all sin and we love and accept everybody. Come on Christians! Let's do something to show God's love and show who we are meant to be.

It doesn't have to be a Christian or religious group though. "Throw No Stones" can be a metaphorical stance against throwing any stones of hate at one another. You can come up with your own tagline. Something like, "We stand against hate and bullying."

Get everyone you can to join these groups. There are millions of kids who aren't bullies or being bullied and don't think it's right but don't know what to do. Join the group and send out messages of acceptance and love to each other. When you see that a person at your school is getting a hate message on their page, counteract it on their page. Take two steps.

1. Write on their wall and say something like, "Hey don't take other people's hate upon yourself, I accept you. I like seeing your smile every day at school." You'd be surprised to know how uplifting it is when you say something specifically positive about someone. Maybe you say something like this:
* I like your sense of style
*I look up to you because I think you're the smartest person in math class
* I like how nice you are to others
Or maybe you can't think of anything specific. Just say, "school would suck without you there."

2. Then go to the "Throw No Stones" group page for your school and let everyone know that this person needs some support. Then everyone on that page should be committed to going to that person's wall and doing the same. With messages of encouragement, we can counteract messages of hate. I have heard it takes ten positive things to counteract one negative thing, so let's get a lot of people involved here! Look for people in your school that you know may be different or not accepted for any reason and be sure to friend them online so you can see what's happening to them online.

Parents and teachers, we need you too! We need you to contact your school and let them know about this idea. Maybe the principal will hold an assembly about it, make an announcement, or some other way to get kids on board. Again, it doesn't have to be religious based...I just added all that information to hopefully show Christians like me it's okay and glorifies God to be on board. But, maybe a good way to spread the word is to get the youth group at each church aware and on board for their schools.

Will you stand with me? If you're on board and will take action add your name to the list below. It's a linky list, and you need to add a link. So, if you have a blog, blog about this. If not, just post this to facebook and or/twitter and leave your link to that. (To add a link just paste or write the url of the site you want to link to in the url box.) My name will be the first one on there. I plan to write a letter to send to all the schools and churches in my area about this idea. I can't cover every area. If you're a parent or teacher I need you to make a pledge to write a letter of information about this to the organizations in your area to help students get on board. We can stop the suicides caused by hate. Also you can like the Throw No Stones facebook page. The pledge is below:

OUR PLEDGE

Mother's Day Gift Idea

2013-04-04T07:24:00.001-04:00

Mother's day is coming up soon and I have an idea for a present you could give her. You could get either of the iron vases pictured above that are shaped to make a heart, add flowers, and you've got a lovely memento for your mom that she can use again and again. That's not all though! If you order it before April 30th, At Home is giving you a $10 gift certificate with your order! That's the vase, flowers, and a certificate to give her. (Or keep the certificate for yourself.)

The first amore iron bud vase pictured above is $12.99. The second amore iron bud vase pictured is $29.99. You can use those links to get to them quickly and easily. If these don't look quite right to you, be sure to browse our other selections of home decor...you may find something else simply perfect for dear ole' mom. I'm a mommy and I can tell you I'd love just about anything from my At Home site!

Purex Natural Elements Tropical Splash Review and Giveaway!

2013-04-03T10:04:00.001-04:00

Are you looking for a hypoallergenic laundry detergent with a nose-pleasing scent that won't break your wallet? You'll find it in Purex Natural Elements Tropical Splash. I have used it a few times and every time I open the bottle my mind is whisked away to an island paradise. I can really make out the pineapple scent the most but there are definite hints of coconut and flowers. I think summertime especially is going to be a wonderful time to use this product. Not all of us can go on a tropical vacation, but we can wear the scent while getting the same dirt fighting power we have come to expect from Purex.

As a Purex Insider I get to try all these fabulous products and give away coupons to try one FREE to you. I only have three so you'll have to enter the giveaway below for your chance to get one. Contiguous US States only. I added a lot more options to enter this time. Don't be overwhelmed by them. Remember, you only complete the options you want to.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary.
Contiguous US 18+ only.
Starts April 3, 2013 and ends April 10, 2013.
Sponsored by Purex.
Prize: Three coupons for a Free bottle of Purex Natural Elements Tropical Splash Detergent (1 winner each) $6.00 value. Odds determined by number of entrants.
Winners will be contacted by email to obtain a physical U.S. mailing address, coupons will be mailed within one week after giveaway end.. New winner will be chosen if the winner does not respond within three days after two email notifications.
Winner will be chosen at random by rafflecopter.
Winner will be listed on the winner's list page by April 11, 2013.

Purex brand provided me with a sample of Tropical Splash detergent and coupons to give away in exchange for an honest review. As always the opinions expressed are my own.

Southwest Cheesy Chicken

2013-04-02T19:38:00.002-04:00

When you're looking for recipes that are a quick fix, like when you still want fresh chicken but you want it to be fast and easy, this is a great one to try. It's adapted from a recipe that's much more complex. I'll post it sometime too as it's a family favorite.

The great thing about this recipe is how frugal it is. It's frugal because you use 2 chicken breasts to serve four people. Because you flatten out the chicken to make it all one thickness, it makes it larger and you cut it in half to make two servings. Restaurants do this all the time! So much of our serving portions are determined by sight. This looks "normal" but is only about half the portion we serve ourselves when we don't flatten it. Okay so here we go:

Ingredient list:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese (the kind that comes in the shaker and looks small and crumbly)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:
Put one chicken breast at a time on a piece of foil or large plastic. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to beat it out to about 1/4 inch thick. When you are beating the chicken don't just hit willy-nilly. Look for parts where the chicken is lumpy and even it out.

Cut the breast in half. Repeat with second breast. In a shallow dish mix cheese, garlic powder and chili powder. Melt the butter in the microwave. Moisten the chicken with butter and coat in the cheese mixture, season with salt and pepper on both sides. Lay flat in a baking pan. Pour any remaining butter in the baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees until center is done (not pink), which doesn't take long because you have made it all even and thinned it out. It usually takes about 15 minutes or less. With prep time the whole process is about 20 minutes, especially when you've had practice. The first time may take you a few minutes longer if you're not used to flattening the breasts.

Makes 4 servings.

Who Is God? What is The Trinity? Let's Take a Look:

2013-03-30T18:31:00.001-04:00

There's no better way to know who God is and what the Trinity is than by studying the Bible. I've been a Christian my whole life. But, I told you in the last few posts, I went through a rough period lately where my faith was damaged, and I "took a break" from all things "churchy". Now, I really desire to have a pure heart. So, I dug out a book I had had for over a year now but never cracked open called Lord, I Want to Know You: A Devotional Study on the Names of God. The idea is when you study his names, you can learn who He really is. I have wanted to study these names for a long time (which is why I've had this book for a year). I guess I just had to finally make up my mind to do it.

The first name that is mentioned in depth to study is "Elohim". El means "mighty" and "him" is a plural ending indicating more than one. See, a lot of people don't believe in the trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All the same divine being, yet all uniquely different.

Think about yourself. Do you have a body? Do you have a soul (your brain, your memories your emotions)? Do you have a spirit? Well, then you're three in one too aren't you? They're all you, and they're all separate from each other, but they all work together. It's no different with the trinity. Think of the Father like the brains of the operation, and the Son Jesus as the body, and the Spirit as well...the spirit. Three in one, just like we are.

The name Elohim shows us that plural meaning in our Bibles. It just says "God" when you look at the versions of the Bible we have today, but the original Hebrew language that the Bibles we read today were translated from reads "Elohim". What I loved learning was that if you look in scripture you'll see where all three of them, (Father, Son and Spirit) had a part in creation. We only think of it as the Father, but they all had a part. Let's look:

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:2 (KJV)

There's the mention of the spirit, that's one.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:3 (KJV)

There's the father, that's two.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:16 (KJV)

Now, you have to read this whole section to see that this is referring to the son, Jesus. I can write with full confidence that it is, but you might want to see that for yourself. Please, check it out. So, that's three. He had a part in creation too! Created by him and for him, even me and you.

That's just touching on this lesson in the book. If you want the full effect you should grab it at your local Christian bookstore or off of amazon.com. The Precept Ministries website may have it too. I started to have lots of questions for myself toward the end of this study about his sovereignty and what that means for my situation with Anna. The next name we study is El Elyon which means, "The most high" and also goes more into his sovereignty. So I hope to grasp it a little better then.

I'd love to tell you I do one lesson per day like I'm "suppose" to but I don't. Honestly it's been more like studying one per week, but hey, I'm just glad I'm still doing it. If you have questions about the Lord and who he is, maybe you'll study it with me? I'm full of questions, and like I told you I've considered myself a Christian my entire life. If you're a regular reader of my blog, don't worry...every post isn't going to be about my new quest for a pure heart. I know the last few have been. I'll be writing recipes and crafts and all kinds of other stuff in the mix just like usual. Have a great Easter Sunday tomorrow everyone!(If you celebrate Easter.)

Resisting Temptation

2013-03-30T10:50:00.001-04:00

Temptation can be so hard to resist. Not for the guy in the photo above, but in situations where you will be actually tempted. After making up my mind to let go of the past and change my heart, I was tested for the first time last night. My ex-boyfriend texted me, told me he was just a short drive away, and he'd like to come over. I'd love to say I looked in the Bible and made myself strong by the power of the word of God. I didn't do that...but I did say no, left my house, went to my sister's, and cried. After all my kids are gone. It was getting dark. No one would have known. It could have been one last chance to indulge in my past. To feel someone I loved holding me again, just for a little while. In the end I knew it would hurt me more than help.

Today I did look in the Bible for encouragement about this. What does it say?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matt 26:41 (KJV)

You can say that again! The flesh is weak. My flesh wanted to say yes, yes! Forget the consequences and just throw caution to the wind. But, my spirit is getting stronger. My heart longs to be healed and not bound. So I was able to say no, but it was not easy. I almost changed my mind many times. Here's another one:

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13 (KJV)

So according to that scripture, by the faithfulness of God we will not be tempted above what we are able to resist, and there will be a way out. I've actually heard that one before. Some well-meaning person "shoving" it in my face in the wrong way at the wrong time no doubt. But, seeing for myself I'm no so defensive about it. It does say that, and if I believe the word of God then I believe that's true.

That's a comforting thought, actually. Sometimes it doesn't feel like there's a way out. Maybe it's just because I don't want to take the way out so I ignore it and pretend like there wasn't one or that it was too hard to live up to. I hope the next time I'm tempted I think of that.

I think the difference about this time was I realized I wasn't taking the high road so that God would be pleased with me. God is already pleased with me. I didn't do it to keep my salvation, because I believe I'm saved no matter what. I did it to avoid the consequences I knew it would bring to myself and my new-found resolve to change my heart. I want happiness in the future. To pick the right guy for the first time in my life. To know what it's like to have a healthy loving relationship. I'm nearly 40 and I've not had that because I have not ever allowed myself time to not date and to just heal. Solitude is harder for some than others. But, I know I can do it. I know I can, and it will pay off.

Thank you God for helping me resist the temptation that would have undone all the positive things that I've started to do. I could've started over again, but I'm really glad I don't have to.

What Does it Mean to Be a Christian?

2013-03-28T10:50:00.001-04:00

What does it mean to be a Christian? This can be so confusing to many people. A lot of times when we don't have things clear in our heads we can hurt other people and damage their faith. That happened to me. To tell the truth I may have been the one who had it backwards in ways that damaged other people's faith, and I am just coming through a period where my faith was badly damaged. I didn't attend church for a year. I still prayed, I still believed in God, but I had very little faith in church or in people.

Now the "Christian-ese" talk as I like to call it (things you hear Christian people say over and over that are really just phrases that can mean very little) would have told me, "You can't look to man, you must look to God". I've even said that to other people. I could slap myself for that now. It's our human nature to put faith in people just like we do in God. Our pastors, our parents, our friends, and our significant others. All relationships require faith. When it's broken the relationship is damaged and we so often try to guard our hearts from broken faith again. So, that phrase means very little to me. I get what it's trying to say, but it doesn't mean people can't hurt your relationship with God. It may not should be that way, but it is.

So many people see being a Christian as a behavior modification program. They tell themselves, okay I want to be a good person so I'm going to go to church, stop getting drunk, quit all this damn cussing ( that was a joke), and I'm going to do right by God. They may even answer an alter call and accept Jesus. Yet, the Bible tells us that there will be those who think they are Christians and are not:

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt 7:21-23 (KJV)

This can happen because people are acting Godly, but inside their hearts are unclean. It's the reason many people are turned off by Christians and church. they think, "If that's what being a Christian is I don't want anything to do with it!" Or maybe they think "they want me to stop doing the things I enjoy and I'm a good person anyway; who are they to tell me what to do?" I've even heard people say organized religion is a way to control the masses. Seems a little far-fetched to me, but I guess I can see why they start to think that.

When we try to modify our behavior to be who we think God wants us to be, we become "moralists". We start to judge one another. We think, "Well I've cleaned up my act, why can't Sally Lou clean up hers? She's going to be one of those the Lord turns away and says I never knew you". I have to point the finger right at myself here. I've struggled with judging others and used scripture to back up why I did it. That's another whole post, so I won't go into it now.

So...what do we do? The Bible tells us that:
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt 5:8 (KJV)
I think it's about getting to know Jesus. Really know him. I think if we stop worrying about our behavior right now, and stop worrying about what others say and think about our behavior right now...as we strive to get closer and closer to God our behavior will change naturally as a result. I don't mean it will be effortless. We will have to make some decisions and choices and stick with them, but I think as the goal is to get closer to God, He inspires us to change. If you are a Christian or want to be, join me in my goal to start getting closer to God. I want to study his word, pray, and listen. Not one of those things where I carve out 20 minutes a day to get in my Bible reading time. If I make it like that it will start to feel like "works to please God" again. No. I mean, because I want to know him. So if I miss a day...so what? Do you really think God is like a Bible police officer? You missed today! I don't think so. I may spend 20 minutes or five minutes, or I may spend an hour or two.

I do understand that if you miss a day it's easier to miss the next day and so on and so forth, but I just don't want to get in that mentality. I want to study and learn and pray so I can clean up my heart. I want a pure heart. I want to see God. Clearly. Now.

I'm not going to focus on my behavior or my words or what others say. I'm going to focus on getting to know Him, and let my behavior and thoughts change as he inspires me to do that. I think that's what well-meaning people mean when they say, "You can't look to man you must look to God." But I think we have to understand that people are not always in the place to hear and grasp those Christian-ese sayings and instead of helping it's just frustrating and infuriating! I can say that cause I've already admitted I've done it. Probably because I heard someone else say it and thought it was the right thing to do. Ugh.

Anyway, I think that's what it means to be a Christian. What do you think?

My Top Five Favorite Items On This Week's "At Home" Flash Sale

2013-03-27T18:08:00.002-04:00

Every Week my "At Home" page offers a new line of home decor on flash sale! I think there are more products to choose from than on other sites, they have name brands, and all are deeply discounted! These are my top five picks for what's offered this week. These prices are only good till Tuesday April 9, 2013 (Meaning Monday is the last day, Tuesday starts the new deals):

More kitchen fun this week! I'm loving these products and prices!

This plastic ice cream scoop has a silicone handle. My kids would love the blue scooper. They'll be fighting to get to dip out their own ice cream with this. Was $8.99 now $3.99!

A kitchen timer is not just good for baking, it's great for child-raising too! Seriously. When you tell your kid that they have five more minutes to play until it's time to clean up, just set the timer and tell them when it dings it's time. Of course, it also rocks for baking. I can't tell you how many times I'd forget to get something out of the oven without a ding. Was $12.99 now $4.99!

You could use this silicone kitchen brush in the recipe I just posted for southwest cheesy chicken! Or you can use it for brushing oils and spices on breads or a host of other things. I'm so digging this week's selection of deals. This one was $3.99 now it's $1.99.

Check it out! A curved wisk. The sturdy mixer part is made of stainless steel. The handle has a fun color and the base is silicone. Nice! Was $9.99 now $3.99.

It was a tough choice between this and a skimmer, but I use these things so much more, so it made my top five. I mean, you almost can't have too many spatulas and slotted turners. Unless you're a clean freak and clean everything immediately. Mine sit in the dishwasher waiting for me to turn it on. Then I think, why don't I have a clean kitchen tool? Oh yeah, I need to start the dishwasher. Was $6.99 now $2.99.

Check back next week for my new top five faves. If your site is having a promotion you'd like to share and you'd want to see a linky on this post, comment about it. Maybe in the future we can linky it up!

Fiber One Bars Review & Giveaway!

2013-03-25T17:55:00.001-04:00

Yummy yummy yummy, I've got....fiber in my tummy. Okay that's not how the song goes but I'm not surprised considering that food that is rich in fiber usually is described as tasting like cardboard. Not any more! Thanks to Fiber One bars, now you can get a big chunk of your recommended daily amount in one delicious snack! That's something 9 out of 10 Americans should be pleased to hear since we don't get enough.

I have been giving these bars to Anna for a while now. If you read about her situation in my post, constipation in kids with MeCP2 ( I do apologize for talking about constipation but it's a part of life) you know that we specifically have to shop for food like this all the time. I was so stoked to find them, and they really do make a difference for her. I mean, I want to kiss the makers of this product due to the fact that its a type of food she likes to eat that doesn't bother her hypotonia, and gives her the good stuff she needs to help with her constipation issues.

That's why I was stoked to be a part of this "spark" from "My Blog Spark". What does that mean? It means Publix and General Mills teamed up and gave me a prize pack that included a $25 Publix gift card, and one each coconut almond, trail mix, oats and chocolate, and caramel nut Fiber One bars. I have purchased the coconut almond for myself before and I already know it's going to be my favorite! It's covered in chocolate and its chewy yet you get that crunch when you hit an almond, and the coconut flavor is just so yummy. You gotta try it!

What's even better? I get to give away that same prize pack to one of you! Again, I'm sorry that I can only offer this giveaway to the contiguous US states, but I hope in the future I'll be able to do some giveaways that include my readers from other nations.

Enter the giveaway below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary.
Contiguous US 18+ only.
Starts March 25, 2013 and ends April 1, 2013.
Sponsored by Publix and General Mills.
Prize: $25 Publix Gift Card plus one of each of the following Fiber One Bars: coconut almond, trail mix, oats and chocolate, and caramel nut. $27 value. Odds determined by number of entrants.
Winners will be contacted by email to obtain a physical U.S. mailing address, which will be submitted to sampleredemtion.com, and the prize pack will be sent from there. New winner will be chosen if the winner does not respond after two email notifications.
Winner will be chosen at random by rafflecopter.
Winner will be listed on the winner's list page by April 2, 2013.

The information, products and gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark. Thank you, I am loving this spark like crazy! All opinions expressed are my own.

Leaving The Past Behind

2013-03-24T16:01:00.000-04:00

If you've read any of my past posts about dating you may know that I don't have any valid advice about what you should do (except my online dating safety post, it was good info especially for women). That's because I'm not in a successful healthy relationship. I can tell you a few things that you should not do, from going through the experience. This is a tip for you men especially.

Okay, so first confession time. I was talking to my ex again. The one I told you about that we broke up and it was for the best for so many reasons. The one I told you I asked God for help and I got clarity to move on and leave this relationship in the past. That one. (I've never posted his name and I wouldn't do that.) I got weak. I was so tired of the pain and crying all the time and he was still wanting to talk. He sent me a beautiful arrangement of flowers. I thought...maybe things really can be different. We set up a date. I was so excited. It was going to be a dress-up date and I got to pick the restaurant.

Only, when we got there he wasn't dressed up. He forgot. I was decked out in a dress and high heels and he was wearing a t-shirt. He sat and complained about the prices on the menu. I felt bad. I felt like I wasn't worth spending the money on. I tried to start conversations about the kids, about my interview with best-selling author Peter Thomas Senese, about a lot of things. He didn't respond much. So we sat there...relieved only when the food came and we could stuff our faces. I almost cried right there.

To you girls the tip is obvious. We are worth a dinner. If a guy complains about the menu prices that's our first clue. Let it go. To you guys...be gentlemen. Pay for a lady's dinner without complaining. Give her the impression she's worth it. If the date is bad you don't have to take her out again, but show you're a good guy whose willing to put the dinner cost out there. Don't think of it as losing money if the date doesn't work out. Think of it as an opportunity to show some class. Even if a date doesn't work, women are paying attention. The ladies that see you being a great guy will take note! They'll recommend you even if you didn't click right with them.

Another tip for us ladies is not to take advantage. Don't pick the most expensive place and keep your order reasonable. I did that though, and it wasn't good enough for this guy. He says he wasn't complaining about my order or my choice but the restaurant itself. Still, not a good date impression.

Back to you guys..when a woman tells you something, act interested. Ask her questions about what she's telling you. Yes, she should be interested in you too...no doubt, but you have to do your part as well. And hey fellas, she doesn't owe you anything for dinner. This was your treat to have an opportunity to see if the two of you could click. If you don't agree do all of us single ladies a favor...don't date.

From me to you...tidbits of info from a girl who's been there. And no, I won't be rekindling the flame with my ex. My eyes have been opened.

An Aspirin Regimen Can Help Prevent Skin Cancer!

2013-03-22T14:32:00.002-04:00

I'm thinking of starting an aspirin regimen. I probably should have done so a long time ago, but the more I hear about the benefits of it the more seriously I think about it. For years I've heard how it can help in the prevention of a heart attack for both women and men, and how taking a dose during an episode can help lessen the damage.

Now, I've gotten news of a report that says this same over-the-counter medication can help prevent melanoma (skin cancer) for women (men were not included in the study). I don't know if you've heard, but if you even had one bad sunburn as a child it could develop into melanoma in adulthood. I honestly don't remember where I heard that or I'd cite it, but I believe it's true. I'm not a medical professional nor can I give you medical advice, but I can encourage you to read about this study and ask your doctor what dosage would be right for you if you want to start an aspirin regimen of your own. I know I plan to! I can't tell you how many bad sunburns I have had because there are too many to count.

Thanks Peter Thomas Senese, for letting me know about this study, and I appreciate Jean Y. Tang, MD PhD for her work in this research.

What is a Flash Sale?

2013-03-21T13:21:00.000-04:00

Regular $75.00 Now $33.99

When I signed up to be a consultant (free) for At Home, I heard the phrase "flash sale" for the first time. On the conference call I had to ask, "What is it?"

It's pretty cool actually...it's a big discount on brand name products that only lasts a short period of time. Like the tray by "rockpaperflower" above, that's only going to be at that price until I think Tuesday (3/26/13) and it started this past Monday. You get a $41.00 discount on that...I'd say that's a great savings. I think the name was coined from the fact that if you don't jump on the purchase quickly, it'll be "gone in a flash". Many different companies do this whether it's clothing, jewelry, shoes or home decor.

"At Home" does these every single week with different brand name products up for grabs at the deep discount. It's not just one or two things either, there's several pages of them to browse. Check it out by clicking on the photo or text link above, and let me know if you find anything awesome!

Free Online Business Opportunity!

2013-03-20T18:36:00.001-04:00

I'm really excited to learn about a new online business opportunity that I just signed up for FREE! It's funny because it's a company that bought out a multi-level marketing company I worked with years ago, which was "At-Home America". When I did At-Home America I had to buy a kit, have so many parties lined up to do just to get started, go early and set up and so much more. It was kinda fun but it was a hassle and I didn't do it long or make very much money from it. What I understand so far is that this is still beautiful home decor, but it's all sold over the internet. Some consultants want to do parties so they can, but you don't have to!

I did not buy a kit, I did not even give any payment info...all I did was sign up and I got a free website to direct customers to for sales! There's not even a monthly fee...this is 100% risk free. Plus, I'm able to offer beautiful brand name home decor products, which everyone shops for! I'm so excited! Even if I don't do well...I got to try with no risk. If I do make some money just by using social media to direct people to my website to buy...well, that's so awesome! I can use that. Who couldn't?

Want to sign up? Head over to the Join At Home section of my at home website and enter your info. You'll get a confirmation email and you'll be ready to go! Need more info first? Email me (laura@annaandessie.com) and I'll answer any questions you have.

Laundry Detergent Plus Fabric Softener

2013-03-19T18:40:00.002-04:00

A laundry detergent, a fabric softener...all in one. That's Purex with Crystals, and I love it. If you haven't tried the crystals you'll be amazed at how fresh your clothes really smell. It's not like those products that have a faint scent that goes away in a day...the freshness lasts. Now, with it added to the soap, it's an all in one process. I've used it a couple of times and I can say my clothes are clean and smell great. I can't use it on Anna's stuff because of her allergies, but on Essie's and my stuff I'm glad to have it.

One great thing about Purex that I really appreciate (besides that they send me freebies all the time as an insider) is that the brand is really cost effective. An average family could save $45 a year using it instead of the leading brand. It works great, so why not? That family could have a pizza night just on the detergent for laundry.

I know you want to try it. And as always with Purex, three lucky readers will get a coupon for a free bottle. I wish I could give a coupon to everyone, but since I only have three the only fair way is to do a giveaway and draw names. I have to mail these coupons myself, that's why I have to do contiguous US only. Sorry to those who live outside of that area. I know that's a big ole' bummer. But to those who can enter...enter away, and good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary.
Contiguous US 18+ only.
Starts March 19, 2013 and ends March 26, 2013.
Sponsored by Purex.
Prize: Three coupons (1 winner each) good for one free bottle of Purex With Crystals Fragrance ($6.00 value). Odds determined by number of entrants.
Winners will be contacted by email to obtain a mailing address. Coupons will be sent by mail to winners within one week after winner responds. New winner(s) will be chosen if the winner does not respond after within three days after two email notifications.
Winners will be chosen at random by rafflecopter.
Winners will be listed on the winner's list page by March 27, 2013.

Purex provided me with a sample of Purex Plus Crystals Fragrance in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.