Deals, Meals, Reels, Heels, & Spiels

Hey, there!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Did you wonder if I was coming back? Here I am!!

I had no intention of being gone for so long, but recovery from my surgery has been a lot tougher than I ever expected. There were a few problems with the surgery, as some of you are aware, so let me start there...

Surgery was on October 31, and the plan was to do a thoracic laminectomy at the T6-7 level, with rods & screws - and for me to just be in the hospital overnight. Unfortunately, I woke up over 24 hours later in neurosurgical ICU on a ventilator. Scary stuff. Apparently, the surgeon had problems getting the last screw in at the T7 level (probably due to my scoliosis below that level), so he moved down to the T8 level. Somehow, either my aorta or intercostal artery was nicked & there was a lot of bleeding. They had to call in a cardio-thoracic surgeon, and do an arteriogram, a venogram, 3 CT scans, & give me 4 units of blood before deciding that I could go to ICU. For obvious reasons, they wanted me to lie still for a time & also keep my blood pressure under control, so that's why they kept me in a medically-induced coma on the ventilator for 24 hours.

I remember seeing Gus's shadow & hearing his voice saying that I was okay and everything was going to be fine. I remember nodding & then starting to cry - and he told me not to cry, everything would be fine. When I finally "really" woke up the next day, I was still intubated - and let me tell you, it was horrible. It was really hard not to fight the tube. Even after they turned off the ventilator, they left the tube in for several hours to make sure I could breathe well enough on my own. I swear it was the longest few hours of my life. They kept me in the ICU for 2.5 days, and then finally moved me to a regular room on the neurosurgical floor. After another 2.5 days, I was allowed to go home. I was in a lot of pain, could only do a few things for myself, and I was as weak as a newborn kitten.

Those first few weeks, I relied on Gus for everything. I don't know what I would've done without him. I was supposed to shower 3-4 times/day (to help prevent muscle spasms in my back), but even with a shower chair, he had to help me. The first 4 weeks, I wasn't allowed to do much at all - which is good, because I probably wouldn't have been able to anyway. After 6 weeks, I was allowed to go back to physical therapy. After 8 weeks, I was doing better - less pain, getting a little stronger, doing more for myself.

Now it's been almost 12 weeks since the surgery. I'm still going to physical therapy twice per week, I still need pain meds, & I'm using Lidocaine topical patches for some of the nerve pain. I continue to have muscle pain as well as the nerve pain, but for the most part, the pain in my legs is gone. I have good days & bad days - and on the bad days, I tend to get discouraged. I still can't do much around the house, I can't do much work for my business, and I can't spend much time at the computer. It's difficult to deal with that.

I've seen the neurosurgeon a few times & he's pleased with my progress as well as being dedicated to helping me recover completely. I've also seen the cardio-thoracic surgeon, and my latest CT scan showed that the hematoma on my aorta has resolved, but I still have a pleural effusion on the left. He feels it's probably blood, which would be fibrous at this point & impossible to remove without opening up my lung. I've lost about 5% of my lung capacity on that side, but since I seem to be mostly asymptomatic, he doesn't plan to do anything. I'm supposed to have another CT scan in March & if it's okay, I won't have to see him again. I still can't cough very well and I can't sneeze, but they think it's due to muscle weakness & the fear of pain. Again, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have Gus to take care of me!

So that's what's been going on for the past 3 months! I have a ton of things I want to blog about, so I'm hoping that my tolerance for sitting at the computer will get better before I forget everything!!

I hope you've all been well & are having a great 2012!

Wish me luck...

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:41:00 +0000

My back surgery is tomorrow - I have to be at the hospital at 5:00 am. I should only have to stay overnight if everything goes well, but I don't know how long it will take me to get back to "normal". They tell me 4-6 weeks, but I hope it doesn't really take that long. So I'm not sure how long it will be before I'm able to post here. Keep checking, because I'll be back as soon as possible!!

Deals!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:28:00 +0000

One of the daily deals today (10/28) at target.com is on their long-sleeved tees - 2/$16 plus free shipping. For some reason, when I checked out, they also gave me a discount of some sort, so my total, with tax, was only $15.68. Hurry - the colors are selling out quickly (at least in size medium, LOL!)!!

It's time for Payless' BOGO deal! Oct. 27 - Nov. 22, buy any item in the store & get an item of equal or lesser value for 50% off. Online and in-store. Flat rate shipping of $5.95 or ship-to-store for free.

Something I just recently learned about JCPenney: If you are shopping for something in home goods and they're out of the size/color you need, but it's something they normally keep in stock, they will order it for you, apply any discounts/coupons and give you free shipping to the store. I was shopping for curtains and the salesperson told me about this - so I assume it's at all stores.

DVDs!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Since pretty much all I do these days is lay around the house, I've managed to watch a couple of DVDs. I'm a little behind the times, but hey - maybe some of you are, too. :-)

No Strings Attached - Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman, Kevin Kline
A lot like "Friends with Benefits" (which I haven't seen yet), but this one came out first, LOL. I liked it - it was fun, light-hearted, and pretty much what you would expect. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Source Code - Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
I'm not sure if this is sci-fi, thriller, drama - I guess I would call it an "action sci-fi thriller".
It was pretty good, although I had a little trouble following it in the beginning. Of course, that could be due to back pain & prescription pain meds. I liked it for the most part, but something about it bothered me a little. I can't put my finger on it. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.

And I almost forgot that I saw these a month or so ago!

Just Go With It - Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman
I'm not a big Adam Sandler fan - except when he does movies like this. When he tones down the obnoxious humor a bit, I find him extremely funny & likable. This is definitely a romantic comedy, but it's not a chick flick. I loved it & so did Gus. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars.

All About Steve - Bradley Cooper, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Haden Church, Ken Jeong
A little over the top, slightly goofy - but funny enough that I didn't feel like I wasted my time. There are some really funny parts, for sure. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Navarre Beach Day 7, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Our last few hours in Florida...

We decided to eat dinner at the Beach Monkey Bar & Grill, which is located just in front of the Navarre Pier. Apparently, this restaurant has changed hands a lot and the quality of food & service has been questionable in the past. But since there are new owners, we thought we'd give it a try.

I thought the Voodoo Juice sounded yummy, but I didn't expect it to arrive in a bucket! Well, it was yummy. And yes, I drank it all. :-)

Gus had the redfish (which is similar to mahi mahi) and I had the fish taco (which was more of a fish wrap - but that was great because it wasn't messy!) - both were delicious and we would definitely eat here again.

After dinner, we drove up Hwy. 399 to the Gulf Islands National Seashore at the Santa Rosa area/Opal Beach again. It was very peaceful and we were able to enjoy one last sunset here on the beach.

And that's it for our trip! I'm already planning our next vacation!

Navarre Beach Day 7, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

For our last day in Florida, we decided to go back to Baytowne Wharf since we love it so much. We had breakfast at Another Broken Egg Cafe again - and it was delicious as always. I wish there was one back home! After breakfast, we just wandered around the village, checking our rental possibilities, taking pictures, and just generally enjoying the day.

Later, we decided to stop at Destin Commons - the outdoor shopping complex. It's really beautiful, and they have a lot of fun shops & restaurants. The first picture is of the area outside Starbucks (of course, LOL!), and the second picture is of the fountain that is in the center of the commons.

Stay tuned for Day 7, part 2!

Navarre Beach Day 6

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:15:00 +0000

On Day 6, the weather was still gorgeous, but it was a bit windier - resulting in the surf being a little rougher.

Getting ready to head to Destin - we decided to go back to Harborwalk so that we could check it out during the day.

This is a 200 years old magnolia tree that sits at one of the entrances to Harborwalk. The picture doesn't do it justice!

Harry T's Restaurant at Harborwalk. This restaurant used to be at the Destin Yacht Club, and we ate there a few times in the past. The first couple of years we ate there, we loved it, but then the food/service/decor just went downhill, so we stopped going there. We decided to give it another try since they now have a new location.

We were so glad that we gave it another try! The entire atmosphere has changed (for the better) and the food was really good. I had tuna salad on a croissant and Gus had the fish & chips.

After we ate, we walked around Harborwalk. One shop sold painted wooden signs and I loved this one, LOL!

We decided to eat dinner at the condo, so we swung by Sarah K's to pick up dinner. Sarah K's sells gourmet food that you reheat at home - and it's fabulous! We had chicken with mushrooms, twice-baked cheesy potatoes, teriyaki green beans - and for dessert these very yummy caramel bars. (I don't know why I didn't take pictures of the food!) We paid about $28 for all of that food - it would've been at least twice that in a restaurant. Everything comes in foil pans that are marked with cooking instructions - and you never take them out of the pans. Yep, you can ever put them in the microwave! If you're ever in the Destin area & would like a great meal to enjoy at your condo/house - give Sarah K's a try!

Stay tuned for Day 7!

Navarre Beach Day 5, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:38:00 +0000

Later on Day 5, we drove to Harborwalk Village in Destin. This is a really interesting place that is located on the right just as you cross the bridge into Destin from Ft. Walton Beach. The first thing you see is the huge Emerald Grande condo complex. As you wander around, you'll find shops, restaurants, bars, and Harborwalk Marina where you can get info/sign up for sailing charters, sunset cruises, dolphin cruises, rent jet-skis, etc.

We decided to eat at Poppys's Crazy Lobster since it was right on the harbor and had a great view. We had the fried pickles for an appetizer. I think that's the first fried food I've had in several months, LOL! And honestly, I don't remember what we had as entrees other than that Gus had mahi mahi & I had grouper. It was pretty good. Not great - but pretty good.

The view from our table was incredible, and since it was sunset, we got to see all of the boats coming in to dock. We also saw a pod of dolphins playing in the harbor, incredibly close to the marina. There must've been at least 10-15 of them, maybe more.

I swear these are my most favorite shades of pink & purple!! Especially when viewed at the beach with a cold drink in my hand (and Gus by my side, of course!).

Stay tuned for Day 6!

Deals!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:49:00 +0000

A quick departure from all of the vacation posts to list a few deals!

KOHL'S - Now through Oct. 26, you can earn $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend. The Kohl's Cash will be redeemable Oct. 27 - Nov. 12. Valid online & in-store.
Exclusively online - take an extra 15% off selected Big & Tall Men's clothing already on sale with code BIGNTALL15.

OLD NAVY - Oct. 21 - Nov. 13, earn $10 in Super C-A-S-H for every $20 you spend (up to $30 Super Cash per transaction). In-store only! Super C-A-S-H can be redeemed 11/17 - 11/22. (Super C-A-S-H cannot be redeemed on purchases of jewelry, Gerber®, Susan G. Komen iPromise®, merchandise or gift cards. Limit one Super C-A-S-H coupon per transaction.)

On 10/22 only, in-store: women's racerback tanks $3 each! Limit 5 per person, while supplies last.

PAYLESS - Take 20% off, now through Oct. 31! This offer is valid both on-line and in-store, but to use it in-store, you have to print the email. If anyone would like to have this email forwarded to them, just send me your email addy & I will send it to you. To use it online, you enter the code 59130.

JC PENNEY - An extra 20% off plus free ship-to-store (or extra 15% off with any other payment method) when you use your JCP card & the code APPRECU now through Oct. 24. No exclusions on apparel for the family, shoes, accessories, jewelry and home. Discount does not apply to: Sephora, Services, Service Plans, Gift Cards, current orders, prior purchases and can't be combined with any other discount(s).

Free shipping on orders of $69 or more with code SHIP69.

DSW - $10 off $10 or more through Nov. 12. Use code 904.

Navarre Beach Day 5, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:26:00 +0000

The sunrise was so beautiful on Day 5, I just had to share it!

After a quick breakfast, we decided to go for a walk on the beach - and when we got back to the condo, we saw dolphins from our balcony!

We decided to have lunch at The Pier Bar & Grill, (the pier we could see from our balcony) and then after lunch, go for a walk out on the pier. The food wasn't bad (typical bar & grill fare), and the beer was cold and the view was wonderful.

Stay tuned for Day 5, part 2!!

Navarre Beach Day 4, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:23:00 +0000

After spending some time at Baytowne Wharf, we decided to go back to Crystal Beach for a few hours. It's so pretty there!

After a couple of hours, we were ready to go, so we stopped by Starbucks for cold drinks and sat outside on their porch for a bit before heading over to Harbor Docks for dinner. We had to wait until after 5pm, because I wanted sushi (they have the best!) and they don't serve it until after 5! LOL!

This is one of our favorite restaurants ever (I think it may be #1 on Gus' list!), so we always make sure to come here at least once every trip to Destin. The view is incredible, and the food is ever better. Gus always gets the filet mignon - he says it's the best he's ever had - anywhere. And I love their sushi. This time we tried the bread pudding for dessert and it was simply a little slice of heaven. Incredible! Hands down, the best bread pudding we've ever had - but we like a simple bread pudding.Those who like raisins, nuts, etc. in theirs may not like it - but I still recommend you try it!

Can't beat the view from Harbor Docks!!

Stay tuned for Day 5!

Navarre Beach Day 4, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:08:00 +0000

Day 4 - vacation is more than half over!! We packed up the car and headed back to Destin, planning to spend the entire day doing fun things! Our first stop was Baytowne Wharf, which is part of Sandestin. We've been here before & we love it! It's a fun little village with restaurants, shops, and a marina.

We had breakfast at Another Broken Egg Cafe, which is probably our favorite place for breakfast. The food is fabulous, the sweet tea is perfect, and the view (if you sit outside) is amazing.

After breakfast, we decided to just walk around the village a little. It's just so pretty and tranquil - and since it's October, there weren't any crowds.

Gus & I have decided that we could definitely live here - and hope to spend 4-6 months out of the year here once he retires (in about 10 years, if we're lucky).

Stay tuned for part 2 of Day 4!

Navarre Beach Day 3, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:52:00 +0000

So, after spending some time on the beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore, we headed to Pensacola Beach and Fort Pickens. It's a scenic drive to Pensacola Beach - we saw lots of pretty scenery (and homes). We also saw the new Margaritaville hotel - pretty impressive!!

Fort Pickens was built from 1829-1834 and was named after Major General Andrew Pickens of South Carolina. It was one of only four forts never held by the Confederates during the Civil War. According to the Fort Pickens website, "Ten concrete gun batteries, including one in the middle of the historic fort, were built from the 1890s through the 1940s, each a response to a particular threat. Atomic bombs, guided missiles, and long-range bombers made such forts obsolete by the end of World War II and the Army abandoned the forts. The fort became part of a popular Florida State Park until the creation of Gulf Islands National Seashore in 1971. Following extensive repairs by the National Park Service, the fort was reopened in 1976."

Apparently, Fort Pickens is supposed to be haunted. And after seeing some of the battlements & reading the stories of what happened there, I can understand why. It's creepy down inside those places!

This last picture was taken from Fort Pickens, and is the Pensacola Lighthouse, across Pensacola Bay. It's supposed to be the most haunted lighthouse in the US, a fact of which I was unaware until we got back to the condo. If I had known, I would've insisted upon taking a tour! I wanted to do the Ghost Tour of the Red-Light District, but unfortunately, it was only offered on Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29. I'll remember that for next year, LOL!

Stay tuned for Day 4!!

Navarre Beach Day 3, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:32:00 +0000

On our third day in Florida, I managed to catch another gorgeous sunrise from our balcony. I could definitely get used to seeing this every morning!

Then it was off to breakfast at a local place called the Sailors' Grill, Bakery, & Bar. This place is part of Juana's Pagoda's, which is right on the bay by the park. You can drive, walk, or arrive by boat. It never seemed to be crowded in the morning (and we were soon to figure out why), but it was always crowded in the evening. Well, the bar and the beach volleyball courts were crowded. It seemed to be very popular with the 20-something crowd. The decor was beach funky & I liked it a lot. Too bad the food was horrible. We ordered omelets & potatoes - how hard is it to make a decent omelet? These were the worst eggs I've ever tasted - they didn't even taste like eggs. The only thing that redeemed the entire breakfast was the homemade wheat toast & cinnamon roll. Oh. My. Goodness. We ended up going back a couple of times just to get cinnamon rolls to go!

After breakfast, we decided to drive down Gulf Blvd./Hwy. 399 toward Pensacola Beach. We stopped at the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Santa Rosa Island just to take in the beautiful scenery & enjoy the weather/beach.

After that, we headed further down the road to Pensacola Beach and Fort Pickens - and I'll tell you about that in Part 2!!

Navarre Beach Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:19:00 +0000

Since I went to bed early our first day in Navarre Beach, I woke up at 6:30am on Day 2 - just in time to catch the beginning of sunrise. Beautiful!!

Gus and I decided to head over to Destin for the day. We started by having breakfast at Callahan's Restaurant & Deli - one of our favorite places. When we first came to Destin in 1998, Callahan's was just a little hole-in-the-wall deli that had a few tables for indoor dining. It was always packed, but the food was delicious. Then a few years ago, they moved to a larger building (much needed!) just up Harbor Blvd. a bit. The inside of Callahan's reminds me of First Watch, just bigger. And I don't think I've ever had anything there that wasn't delicious - I highly recommend it!

After breakfast, we made a quick stop at Sunsations to pick up some t-shirts for Lulu & Buddy (and me, LOL!), then we headed to Crystal Beach to hang out for the day. The Crab Trap restaurant shares the beach with James Lee Park along Scenic Hwy. 98 - and the beach is wide, with restrooms, a changing house, and easy access. We ate at the Crab Trap every year until about 3-4 years ago when the service & food quality went down & the prices went up. So we skipped that again this year. But we really enjoyed the beach, and it wasn't crowded at all.

After several hours at the beach, we decided to just head back to the condo and enjoy a quiet dinner on the balcony.

And we also got to see three stingrays in the water in front of our balcony!

And later, a little stroll past the pool, down the walkway, & out to the beach...

Stay tuned for Day 3!!

Navarre Beach, Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:46:00 +0000

As I mentioned yesterday, my wonderful husband, Gus, recently took me to Florida for a week to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday. We love the Destin area, but this time we opted to stay in a penthouse condo on Navarre Beach (which is about halfway between Pensacola & Destin).

We stayed at the Beach Colony Resort (in the east building), which is on the east end of Navarre Beach, just a couple of doors down from the Navarre Pier and Navarre Beach Park. We were on the 17th floor, which afforded us a gorgeous view at all hours. Karen, the condo owner, was a dream to work with, and she has thought of just about everything to make her condo "like home".

I can't say enough about the view from the balcony. It was simply stunning - and so relaxing to just sit out there & soak it all in. You could literally feel the stress just float away.

Even the view from the 17th floor elevator lobby was gorgeous!

I happened to find a Groupon deal for a local restaurant, Guglielmo's, so we decided to give that a try our first night there. Fabulous!! With our Groupon deal, we paid $29 for an appetizer, two entrees (which included salad, bread, & dipping oil), and two glasses of the house wine. Great deal! For the appetizer, we had the fried mozzarella with homemade marinara - yummy! For the entree - I had the cappellini Toscana, and Gus had the veal piccata. Simply delicious! But the best thing of all was the bread with dipping oil. Oh. My. Gosh. The dipping oil had garlic, basil, & red pepper flakes and I swear, it was like crack. We ate 3 loaves of bread!! So if you ever make it to the Destin area, I highly recommend Guglielmo's (they have several locations).

We were pretty tired after getting up at 4am - and after stuffing ourselves with all of the carbs at Guglielmo's, LOL - so we called it a night pretty early. But not before enjoying the sunset from our balcony & the beach.

These next two pics are two of my favorites!!

Stay tuned for Day 2!!

Why no posts?

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0000

In case you've been wondering why there haven't been any recent bog posts from me - it's mostly because I was on vacation with Gus for a week!! I will be "celebrating" my 50th birthday this year, and my wonderful husband asked me if I would like a trip or a party. Really, was there any need to ask? Of course, I chose the trip - and we went to Navarre Beach, Florida.

We've been vacationing in the Destin area for about 13 years now, but we had never stayed in Navarre Beach (which is about halfway between Pensacola & Destin). The weather was absolutely perfect, the condo (and view) was amazing, and we had the best time ever. I took about 500 pictures, and once I edit those down to a manageable amount, I'll post some here.

The other reason I've been missing in action is more back problems. If you remember, I had surgery on a disc in my neck back in May. That surgery was completely successful, and all of my symptoms had disappeared. However, I continued to have pain & weakness in my legs. The MRI of my lumbar spine showed a couple of bulging discs, but nothing too bad. I kept going to physical therapy and finally started to get some relief. Then about 3 weeks ago, I started having pain in the middle of my back. Sometimes, it felt like my ribcage was in a vise - like someone was squeezing me - making it uncomfortable, painful, & difficult to breathe. I also started having increased weakness in my left leg - along with decreased reflexes (causing me to stumble at times). My neurosurgeon ordered a MRI of my thoracic spine, which showed a severely herniated disc at the T6-7 level. When the office called me to have me come in, they said it was to "discuss my options" - when I got there & saw the doctor, he said the disc was compressing my spinal cord & decreasing the blood flow - and if I didn't have surgery, I would become paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Hmmm - that doesn't sound like an option to me! LOL!

This surgery is a little riskier than the last one, and I admit I'm more than a little scared. I have absolute faith in my surgeon, but I'm still scared. He will be going in through my back, removing part of the vertebra to get to the disc, removing the disc, then inserting two rods & screws to stabilize my spine. Unfortunately, the spinal cord is right there (along with a lot of blood vessels), so he has to be very careful. He mentioned that there is a significant amount of post-op pain. Just what you want to hear, right? I'll be staying in the hospital overnight (assuming everything goes okay), and I shouldn't need to wear a brace. So those are good things.

Gus has been amazing, as usual. (Well, okay - he's pretty pesty, but his intentions are good!) He has pretty much taken over the household chores again & calls or texts me several times a day to make sure I haven't fallen down. See? Pesty, but good intentions.

Surgery is scheduled for October 31, so I'm just hanging in there until then. I can't sit up for very long, but I'm going to try to at least get my vacation posts done before I have surgery. I'm hoping that I don't have to postpone my birthday dinner at Buca di Beppo's - and I have to get back on my feet quickly because Gus has promised me a birthday shopping trip to the outlet mall!! What a guy!!

Being a mom...

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:49:00 +0000

I love those little "10 Things Never To Say..." articles in Redbook magazine. They always make me laugh, LOL. I'm going to share a couple more with you - and these are about something that can be a pretty touchy subject - working moms vs. stay-at-home moms.

I've been both and I've heard most of these at one time or another. We all do what we have to do in order to take care of our families & ourselves - whether it's out of choice or necessity. I've learned to just let comments like these roll right off my back - and I consider the source. :-)

Remember - these articles are meant to be humorous - they do not reflect my opinion on the subject.

10 Things Never To Say To A Working Mom

It must be very hard missing all those special moments every day.
I suppose it's smart that you're working. You know, in case your husband leaves you some day.
I'm surprised you went back to work. Your husband seems so successful.
It's cute when they call your nanny "Mama".
I just love my kids too much to leave them during the day.
Did you see "Dateline"? The one with the hidden camera in the daycare?
I could never let someone else raise my children. But that's just me!
I hated my mom because she was never home after school like everyone else's mom.
You must feel so guilty.
I wish I were as laid-back as you and could just let the housework go.

(Liz Gumbinner of Mom-101.com, with help from her blog readers)

10 Things Never To Say To A Stay-At-Home Mom

When the kids are older, do you think you'll get a real job?
How June Cleaver of you!
Oh, so you don't work?
Since you have extra time on your hands, could you whip up a few dozen brownies for the bake sale tomorrow?
All day with your kids? I can't even imagine.
I'm jealous. I wish my husband were rich so I wouldn't have to work either.
What do you do all day, anyway?
I'm sure you're not the only one who's ever wasted money on a college degree.
That explains why your son is so clingy!
Weird. I assumed your house would be super clean.

(Candy Kirby of thelaughingstork.com, with help from Twitter followers and friends)

Monday's Meal - The Marlboro Man Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:01:00 +0000

I was watching The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network a couple of weeks ago, and Gus happened to walk through the room as she was making her Marlboro Man Sandwich. Of course, he immediately started drooling & insisted that I make it for him. What is it with guys, butter, and a ton of meat sandwich?

I made it, he loved it. I tasted it - it was yummy - but because of all the butter, I didn't eat more than a bite. I took pictures, which I'll post, but they are nowhere near the quality of the pictures that Ree has posted on her website. So be sure to check out her pictures.

The Marlboro Man Sandwich

(see original recipe here)

1 whole large (or 2 Small) onions
2 sticks butter
2 pounds (to 3 pounds) cube steak
Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1/2 cup (approximately) Worcestershire sauce
Tabasco sauce, to taste
4 whole French/deli rolls

Directions:

Slice onions and cook in 1/4 stick butter until soft and light brown. Remove and set aside.
Slice cube steak against the grain. Season with Lawry’s.
Heat 2 tablespoons butter over high heat (in same skillet) until melted and beginning to brown. Add meat in single layer. Cook one side until brown, then flip and cook until brown, about a minute on both sides.
Add 1/2 cup (at least) Worcestershire sauce, 5 to 6 shakes Tabasco, and 2 tablespoons butter. Add cooked onions. Stir to combine.
Butter halved French rolls and brown in skillet.
To assemble, lay bottom half of French roll on plate. Place meat mixture, followed by a spoonful of juice from the pan. Top with other half of roll, cut in half, and devour!

Deals!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:19:00 +0000

JCrew - extra 30% off final sale prices (that's up to 50% off!) with code SHOPNOW. Good through 9/28/11. Free shipping with $175+ order. (online only)

Loft - 40% off select full-price items from the new fall collection! (online & in-store)

Cherry Culture - 25% off everything with code CC5Y!!Valid 9/26-9/30.

JCPenney - 25-40% off Liz Claiborne - plus free shipping on all Liz (no minimum purchase) with code LIZFREE (thru 10/1). Plus instore thru 10/1 - earn $10 JCP fastcash for every $50 spent on Liz.

AYU Celerity Sunless Tan...

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:06:00 +0000

I mentioned a few weeks ago in my review of the Vino Bronzing Mist that AYU had a couple of new products. Today, I'll be reviewing the other new product, Celerity Sunless Tan.

What's special about this product? Well, it contains rapid DHA, which develops more quickly (as you might have guessed from the name), so you only leave the product on for 2-4 hours, depending upon the depth of color you want.

This could be a great thing for someone like me who has with issues with sunless tanners containing dark colorguides (CG). In my case, the dark CG stains my skin & contributes to uneven fading. One way I have dealt with that issue is to shower the product off 4-6 hours after applying. Unfortunately, one of the "side effects" of doing that is sometimes, my tan will be lighter than I would like. So it stands to reason if the DHA is more rapidly absorbed, I should be able to obtain a darker final color while still showering early enough to prevent staining from the CG.

From the AYU website: "Our rapid tan will not dry out skin as it contains moisturizers and vitamins. Celerity Tan is a synergy of ingredients blended together which helps DHA to develop faster, also Rapid DHA that is a blend of DHA +Troxerutin helps a quick boost of color."

From the label: "Celerity Sunless Tan is formulated with rapid DHA which works faster and provides a smooth and even skin tone. Also provides anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, along with eco-certifed DHA and a proprietary blend of ingredients that help to achieve a gorgeous tan in half the time. Instant bronzer helps with a beautiful application and black walnut leaf extract insures the dark tone to the tan color, so if you only have two, three, or four hours of waiting time and need to shower before you head out the door this is your product. By leaving it on for a 2, 3, or 4 hour time period it will develop the equivalent strength of a 6%, 8%, or 10% concentration of DHA accordingly."

Key ingredients:
Rapid DHA (DHA + Troxerutin)
Eco-certified DHA
Black walnut leaf extract
Green tea extract
Palmitoyl tripeptide-5
Algae extract
Panthenol (B5)
Hyaluronic acid

Consistency & appearance:
This has a thinner consistency than the Vino Bronzing Mist. It's very easy to spray out of a fine-mist spray bottle. The color is a very dark neutral brown.

About my skin type & tanning: I am a Type I/II (I almost always burn, but I can get a very slight tan with a lot of patience.) I'm Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost white, with dark blonde hair and blue/green/gray eyes. My skin is pretty sensitive, so I have to be careful with certain ingredients - especially fragrance. When sunless tanning, my skin is atypical of a Type I/II in that I need at least 7.5-8% DHA to get decent color. Anything less than that usually gives me translucent color that tends to look orangish. I don't do well with drugstore products, and I prefer airbrush tanning solutions (ABS) to any other type of sunless tanner. Products with a dark CG can cause fading issues for me, so I usually counteract that by showering after 4-6 hours. This allows me to absorb the DHA without any staining from the CG.

Skin prep: I showered using Ulta's 3-in-1 Shower Smoothie (in Cocolada) and lightweight nylon exfoliating gloves (there are different types - these are very lightweight & minimally abrasive). After showering, I used Ulta's Shower Smoothie Hand & Body Cream (in Cocolada - and this is more like a thick lotion than a cream - it absorbs completely without any greasiness) to prep the areas that I know tend to "grab" the color - elbows, knees, ankles.

Application: After the lotion was absorbed, I began applying the AYU solution to one area at a time. I dampened the microfiber pad with a bit of water, then sprayed the solution onto the pad. I started with my left lower leg - skimming the pad over the surface of the skin - being careful not to apply too much pressure. I covered all areas evenly, but did not rub or blend too much. I continued with my left upper leg, then my right leg, arms, stomach, & chest. Gus helped me with my back. The consistency of this product allowed me to apply rather heavily, so I didn't need a second coat. Standing in front of a fan, I was completely dry within 2-3 minutes. For my feet, I put a pea-sized dollop of the Ulta lotion in my palm, added 3-4 sprays of the tanning solution - rubbed my hands together carefully to mix - applied to my left foot & repeated for the right foot. I carefully scrubbed my palms with soap & water to remove any traces of the tanner.

Next, I wiped my elbows, knees, & ankles with a damp washcloth to remove some of the tanning solution (since I know these areas tend to develop darker than the rest of my body). For my hands, I put a pea-sized dollop of the Ulta lotion in my palm, added 3-4 sprays of the tanning solution, and rubbed my hands together carefully to mix - then applied as if I was putting lotion all over my hands. When finished, I wiped my palms, nails & cuticles with a damp washcloth.

After 4 hours, I showered off all of the tanning solution, then applied Ulta lotion all over.

Results from first application: My final color (after 24 hours) was nice (and definitely darker than usual), but I was able to see some staining from the dark CG. After a couple of days, I had lizard skin. This wasn't the usual issue I have with dark CGs & my mature skin - this was real lizard skin from too much DHA & too dark of a CG. (I don't know why I didn't think to take a picture of the lizards so you could see!) I'll try again & leave on for less time.

Results from second application: I prepped & applied the usual way, but this time I only left the solution on for 3 hours before showering. The color was a bit lighter, but there seemed to be less staining from the CG. After a few days, I looked like I had lizard skin again, but it wasn't as bad. I'll try again using less solution.

Results from third application: This time, I let the color fade for almost a week so that i would be able to remove most of the uneven areas. Then I prepped & applied as usual, but this time, I used less solution (probably about an ounce total), and I only left it on for about 3 hours. Eureka!! I think this is the winning combo!! Nice color & no lizards with fading!

Notes:

I love that this product is fragrance-free & fast-drying! And I think I like it better than the Vino Bronzing Mist!
I love that I only need to use an ounce & leave on for 3 hours to get the same level of color that normally requires 2 oz. and 6 hours. So yes, it's more expensive, but I use less!
My color did continue to develop for 18-24 hours.
I received this complimentary product from AYU, but I was not asked to do a review in exchange for it.
I received no compensation for reviewing this product.
I also intend to try this product using the MaxiMist HVLP to apply. When I do, I will add an update & pictures.

Product info:
4 oz. - $10.50

8 oz. - $29.25

Other sizes also available: 32 oz., 1/2 gallon, 1 gallon

Repurchase? Yes!

Where's Patrick?

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Silly kitty. Just so you understand exactly how silly he is...

He's sleeping in Lulu's dresser. It's about 4.5 feet tall. He's in the second drawer from the top, which is about 3.5 feet off the ground - with no other furniture nearby. It's one of his hidey-holes. I think he's hiding from Xander (AKA Grumpyass). See how he's laying on the pink underwear? Patrick loves all things pink.

Monday's Meal - Mississippi Mug Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:12:00 +0000

Today I'm sharing another Hungry Girl recipe - and if you're a chocolate lover, this one's for you! It's full of ooey, gooey chocolatey goodness, and only 223 calories, 5g fat, 588mg sodium, 45.5g carbs, 2.75g fiber, 19g sugars, 6.5g protein (PointsPlus® value 7)!

Mississippi Mug Pie

(view original recipe here)

3 level tbsp. moist-style devil's food cake mix (not packed)

1 tbsp. fat-free liquid egg substitute

One 25-calorie packet hot cocoa mix

1 tsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

One 60-calorie sugar-free chocolate pudding snack, divided

Optional: Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:

Spray a large microwave-safe mug with nonstick spray. Add cake mix, egg substitute, cocoa mix, and 2 tbsp. water. Mix well.

Add chocolate chips and about one-third of the pudding to the mug, and stir gently to combine. Microwave for 1 minute.

Fluff with a fork, and then gently mix in the remaining pudding.

Microwave for 1 more minute.

Let cool slightly. Top with Reddi-wip, if you like, and dig in!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Doesn't that look tasty?? I really liked it - and it's a HUGE serving. Next time I make it, I'll either share with someone or refrigerate half, because it was just too much (and too rich!) for me to eat the whole thing!

(Note: I used a very, very large mug and that's why it looks like there's very little dessert! Next time, I'll use a smaller mug!)

Great magazine deals!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:09:00 +0000

I received this email from Publication Station & wanted to share. There are some really great deals, whether you're buying for yourself or as gift for someone else. You have to hurry though, because the deals are for this weekend only - and you must click through the link at the bottom of the post in order to receive these prices.

Only $1.50 per year (New or Renewal)

Family Fun 10 issues/yr

Motorcyclist 12 issues/yr

Latina 10 issues/yr

Inc Magazine 10 issues/yr

Fast Company 10 issues/yr

Ebony 11 issues/yr

Four Wheel & Off Road 12 issues/yr

Motor Trend 12 issues/yr

Taste of Home 7 issues/yr

Four Wheeler 12 issues/yr

Automobile 12 issues/yr

Garden and Gun 6 issues/yr

Shape 12 issues/yr

Jet 12 issues/yr

Playboy 12 issues/yr

Only $2.00 per year (New or Renewal)

Readers Digest 11 issues/yr

Parent and Child 9 issues/yr

FreeSkier 6 issues/yr

Snowboard 6 issues/yr

Muscle and Fitness 12 issues/yr

The Atlantic 10 issues/yr

Orange Coast Magazine 12 issues/yr

Budget Travel 10 issues/yr

Only $2.50 per year (New or Renewal)

Arthritis Today 6 issues/yr

Vibe 6 issues/yr

Parents 12 issues/yr

Ladies Home Journal 11 issues/yr

Only $3.00 per year (New or Renewal)

Working Mother 8 issues/yr

Snowboarder 7 issues/yr

Weight Watchers 6 issues/yr

Country 7 issues/yr

Entrepreneur 12 issues/yr

Surfer 12 issues/yr

Sport Rider 10 issues/yr

Dirt Rider 12 issues/yr

Slam 10 issues/yr

Los Angeles Magazine 12 issues/yr

Sound and Vision 8 issues/yr

Surfing 12 issues/yr

Super Chevy 12 issues/yr

Bridal Guide 6 issues/yr

Hot Bike 12 issues/yr

Boys Life 12 issues/yr

Only $3.50 per year (New or Renewal)

Cabelas Outfitter Journal 6 issues/yr

Field and Stream 12 issues/yr

Cruising World 12 issues/yr

Family Circle 15 issues/yr

Saveur 9 issues/yr

Tennis 10 issues/yr

American Photo 6 issues/yr

Popular Photography 12 issues/yr

Woman’s Day 15 issues/yr

Women’s Health 10 issues/yr

Ski 7 issues/yr

Texas Monthly 12 issues/yr

Transworld surf 12 issues/yr

Fitness 10 issues/yr

Only $4.00 per year (New or Renewal)

Elle 12 issues/yr

Discover 10 issues/yr

Midwest Living 6 issues/yr

Men’s Fitness 10 issues/yr

Nylon 10 issues/yr

Digital Photo 7 issues/yr

Martha Stewart Whole Living 10 issues/yr

Car and Driver 12 issues/yr

Cycle World 12 issues/yr

For these prices, you must use the following link:

http://publicationstation.net/items/subscriptions/end-of-summer-sale-2011/list.htm

Taking care of you...

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:04:00 +0000

If you're guilty of not exercising because you only have 15 minutes and you figure "what's the point, it's not enough to do any good" - think again. Last week, I found an article on msnbc.com entitled, "15 minutes of fitness a day can add 3 years to your life".

The article talks about a study in Taiwan where they tracked 416,000 people for 13 years, looking at their health records & reported physical activity. They took into account differences in age, weight, sex, & certain health issues, and discovered that 15 minutes of moderate exercise per day increased life expectancy by three years compared to the people who were inactive.

So while 30 minutes may be optimal, it seems that 15 minutes does have some benefits. I like this affirmation that even on the days when I can only fit in a 15-20 minute walk, I'm still doing something positive for my health.

We should give ourselves credit for even the little things. I know that the more things I do to be healthier, the better I feel. And the better I feel, the more I want to keep doing the healthy things. Do it for yourself - and do it so that you'll be around for your family.

I have what is referred to as familial combined hyperlipidemia. What that means is that I inherited the tendency to have both high triglycerides & high cholesterol. This greatly increases my risk of early heart disease. My grandmother had her first quadruple coronary bypass surgery when she was 57 - I will be 50 in November. My mom had a major heart attack when she was 60. My grandmother died of heart disease at age 74, and my uncle just passed away from heart disease at age 71. This is all really scary for me.

I started seeing a lipid specialist in February, when it was discovered that I cannot tolerate statin drugs (the drugs of choice to treat high cholesterol). She has changed my life. I have met with a dietitian also, and together, the three of us (well, four if you include Gus - and I have to include him because he cheers me on when I do well & gets me back on track when I slip a little) have managed to make great changes in my life - and my health. Since February, I've lost 10 lbs, and my labwork has improved significantly. My triglycerides were 481, now they're 241. That's still a bit high (they like them to be under 150), but it's a major drop that has a significant effect on my risk level. My cholesterol was 276, now it's 223. Again, a bit high still (they like it to be under 200), but a good drop. One thing my doctor tells me - don't look at the total cholesterol, pay attention to the HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) - those are more indicative of heart disease risk. My HDL was 34, now it's 37 (they like it to be over 50). But the big change - and the most important one - has been in my LDL. My LDL was 195, and now it's 138. They like your LDL to be under 130 - and my doctor says that clinically, my result is normal!!

How did I do this? Mostly a change in diet. I was already eating pretty healthy, but the dietitian helped me see that some of the choices that I thought were healthy, really weren't. And portions. Ignore the portions on the boxes/cans!! LOL! They're all much larger than they should be! For my particular health concerns, I am allowed to have per day: 3-5 oz. of lean meat (preferably closer to 3), 2 servings of fat-free dairy, 3-5 servings of "good" fat, 3 servings of fruit, 4 servings of non-starchy vegetables, 6 servings of starches (preferably "good" starches), & 2 servings of miscellaneous items (like sugar-free candy, etc). That comes out to about 1000-1100 cal/day - and I know that's less than what is recommended, but remember - I'm under a doctor's care. So please don't attempt to follow a diet like this without consulting a doctor.

Exercise is important for me, too. Not just to improve my cardiovascular health, but it seems to be the catalyst that kickstarts my weight loss & keeps it going. Unfortunately, with my back problems, I haven't been able to exercise as much as I'd like. Actually, some weeks, I haven't been able to exercise at all - not even walking. That part is frustrating, in addition to dealing with the pain. But thanks to a great physical therapist, I seem to be getting better, and I've been able to walk a bit. Walking a mile takes me about 20 minutes - but that's the speed & distance that doesn't irritate my back & legs. So I try to do that once or twice a day.

The only medication I take for my cholesterol is WelChol. It's basically a drug that you take with lunch & dinner (I take 3 huge horse pills with both meals), and it sits like a sponge in your gut and soaks up the cholesterol/fat that you eat. You don't absorb it systemically, so there are no bad side effects. Sounds great, huh? Well, it's okay. It really can only lower your cholesterol 15-18%, so while it helps, it's really the diet & exercise that are doing most of the work.

So take a walk, pop in a yoga DVD, or fire up Just Dance on the Wii - even if it's just for 15 minutes. It's a step in the right direction on the road to feeling better and quite possibly living a little longer.

Stay healthy & have a great weekend!!