Life More Simply

Win pizza for a YEAR with Freschetta's Rally For Real Pizza Contest!

2012-03-01T19:42:00.000-05:00

Win pizza for a year!

There is not much I love more in life than frozen pizza. And I am totally serious when I say that. For my entire life, my family has known that I will be making the frozen pizza, and will be eating 1/3 of the cheese off the top of the pizza while it's still frozen. I don't know why. It's just a thing I do and I love it. Yum. Lately, frozen pizza has taken on a whole new meaning to me...you see, I'm a single mom of two toddlers, work full time, believe in HEALTHY living, and am also taking a difficult medical college course load. Pizza is kind of like a lifesaver to me---my kids will eat extensive amounts of it, and I can incorporate lots of veggies into it! We absolutely LOVE the Schwann brands of frozen pizzas, and particularly Freschetta! This is one campaign that I can get behind purely for the fact that my mouth is watering right now. So enter this contest, people, and if you win, please invite me over for a pizza party!

Event Details:

Date -	February 27, 2012 - March 30, 2012
What -	Rally for Real Pizza
Where -	From the comfort of your own home
Details -	www.Facebook.com/Freschettapizza

The makers of FRESCHETTA® products are asking fans to take a stand for FRESCH® pizza! Fans are able to submit a photo to a Rally Mosaic on our Facebook Fan Page for a chance to win FRESCHETTA® pizza. Each week, we will select 100 winners to receive 5 FRESCHETTA® pizzas. On March 30, we will select 10 winners who will receive a year supply of FRESCHETTA® pizza. You can find all the delicious details surrounding this campaign on the message board in FreschettaFreshConnection.com.

I just uploaded my photo to the mosaic, and it literally took a few seconds. The neat thing is, you can enter every week that the contest is going on! On top of that, they have a Twitter #pizzarally event going on as well. Same opportunity to win pizza for a year or a pizza party pack! You can enter that contest by visiting their Facebook page and clicking on the "Twitter #pizzarally" link. All you have to do for that is change your Twitter badge to one of the options they give you, follow @Freschetta, and tweet "@Freschetta I’m Rallying for Real Pizza. Join the #PizzaRally (http://bit.ly/ziA7Vl) for a chance to win pizza for a year." They will be picking winners every day for this timeframe, and then giving away EVEN MORE during a live Twitter party on March 20th from 7-9p.m. EST.

Good luck and be blessed!

Disclaimer: I occasionally receive compensation in the form of products for posts. However, the opinions I share are solely my own. I have the possibility of winning prizes for posting this. And yes, I am hoping for the PIZZA prize. :)

Valentine Creations

2012-02-14T18:57:00.000-05:00

It's Valentine's Day in our home! Thanks to shopping throughout the year for all annual events (saves a lot of money to buy on sale and store in my cupboard!), I was able to whip up a few special things for the kids even at 1am after I'd forgotten to plan ahead of time. Thank God he gave me a creative spirit. ;-) Please don't mind the quality of the photos--they were taken on my phone.

My favorite creation of the night (morning?) was my heart garland. I saw a felt heart garland on Pinterest and just modified it to use paper and a stapler instead of fabric and a sewing machine. Quick and easy, and it's SUPER cute hanging from the dining room entry way!

At each child's place setting, a special surprise was waiting including a wrapped Valentine themed book, an educational magazine, and a decorated page that we filled out throughout the day with "things we love" about each child. A keepsake!

One thing I found recently while cleaning out the "everything" room was a box of business cards that was ordered online but never used. I was going to throw them in the recycling bin but decided I should hang onto them because they *may* have a brilliant future...and boy, am I glad I kept them! I created two games using the cards.

First, a numeral recognition/counting game by using glittery textured stickers one one card, and then using a marker to write the numeral on a subsequent card. I couldn't fit more than 8 stickers on a card so that's where I ended, but you could certainly get 10 or 12 if you were using small stickers.

The second game, and also the more popular one, is a matching game. Since all of the "business" sides of the cards are the same, they offer great memory game potential! I used felt stickers that have different layers and edge shapes which provide an added tactile element to the traditional visual memory games. Isn't the Valentine theme darling? Best yet, both of these games store in a small Ziploc bag which means easy clean up and great storage because you can see the contents of the bag!

And of course, a Valentine making station. :) Glitter glue, stickers, paper, heart hold punches, crayons, markers, pom poms...you name it, it was there! Not as big of a hit as I thought it was going to be, though. True to form, toddlers prefer playing outside in the mud as to sitting at a table doing something constructive. Who'da thought, right? ;-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

...and remember, regardless of your situation or circumstance, you are loved.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will never perish, but will have eternal life. John 3:16

40 Questions To Ask Your Child On Date Night

2012-01-25T22:23:00.000-05:00

I think it was daughter number five (I'm the second oldest of eight girls) who coined the term "Donut Date" to refer to when our Daddy would take one of us individually out on a "date" with him when I was young. It generally meant we were getting a donut or going to the grocery store for some root beer or another treat, which was a pretty big deal at the time. In fact, I still bug my Dad to take me on a date, except I hope it's to places like Disney World or a major music concert these days. ;-) Now, the tradition has moved on and I date my own three-year-old daughter. She gets terribly excited when I ask her if she wants to have a "mommy-daughter date". There are no arguments and she is on her best behavior while we go to the local coffee shop for a slice of carrot cake and juice! My favorite part, though? The conversation. My phone gets put away, no books are brought along, and we don't sit at a table with anyone else (though she has a way about her that attracts the elderly men to come over for a chat about her baby doll!). Instead, we chat. I ask questions, and we dream together over hot cocoa and cookies.

Dating your children is an easy and precious way to create beautiful moments for the two of you. Here are 40 Date Night questions to get you started:

1. What is the best dream you ever had, and why?

2. What is the worst dream you ever had, and why?

3. How do you like to be woken up in the morning?

4. What are the top five things you are good at doing?

5. What are the three occupations you would love to have when you grow up?

6. If you were to plan your own funeral, what would you want it to be like?

7. What are five activities you want to do within the next year?

8. Who is your best friend, and why?

9. What person can you not stand, and why?

10. What embarrasses you that I do?

11. What are you proud of that I do?

12. What makes you laugh?

13. What makes you cry?

14. What are the top three things I do that make you feel (not "know") loved?

15. What is the most important thing you have learned in life?

16. If you were to plan a sleepover, what would it include?

17. If you were to be one animal, what would you be and why?

18. What are your three favorite songs and why?

19. What one song can't you stand, and why?

20. What is your favorite movie, and why?

21. What are the top three reasons why you know you will be a good spouse/parent when you are grown?

22. What is your favorite physical feature about yourself and why?

23. What three things do you not like about yourself, and why?

24. When people compliment you, what is the top thing they say about you?

25. What are the top three compliments from others that you would like them to say about you?

26. What is your favorite Bible story and why?

27. What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

28. Who are your top two favorite historical characters and why?

29. In your life, what has been your proudest moment?

30. In your life, what has been your most embarrassing moment?

31. If you were to create your own job to earn money, what would you do and how would you do it?

32. If you were to create your own cake and own ice-cream sundae, what ingredients would you include?

33. What makes you feel safe?

34. What makes you feel scared?

35. What are two things that your friends or other people you know do that you don't like?

36. What are two things that your friends or other people you know do that you would also like to do?

37. Would you rather be a boy or a girl, and why?

38. If you could go anywhere in the world and do anything you wanted, where would you go and what would you do?

39. What school subject are you smartest in, and how do you know?

40. What school subject do you struggle the most in, and how do you know?

Love Happens Here

2012-01-16T22:54:00.000-05:00

I am the full time mama of a 3-year-old and 18-month-old. My children are 20 months apart. While I do work full time, I consider myself a stay-at-home mama just as much as I consider myself a working-outside-the-home mama. In fact, I find that the 40 hours a week that I spend at my "job" is easier and less stressful than the other 128 hours a week I spend with my kiddos. Sometimes, I think I'm going crazy, and I crave to go to work...the funny thing is, as soon as I'm at work, I miss my babies something fierce! It's a funny world, the blend between working motherhood and home motherhood.

Before anything else, I am a mother. Lately, I have been working 40-hours-straight every weekend so that I can be the one with my children during the week. I go in at 7pm Friday night, and stay until Sunday at 11am. Marvelous, it is, but it's also a schedule cut out for someone who belongs in a loony bin. Imagine the possibility of being awake for many hours straight and responsible for people's lives no matter how tired you are? Yes, I am a paramedic. And yes, your life will always come before my need for sleep and no matter how tired I am, you are going to get my absolute best care. Imagine packing three people up for three days, and getting your house in order before that so when you come back, you have something clean to wear.

Because I choose my children to come first (ok, after God!), I do things a little differently. I work ridiculous shifts so that I can be the one with them 5 days a week. The house is sometimes a mess because I don't park them in front of the TV so I can clean all of the time. I have no idea what current TV shows are playing. I haven't read anyone's blog in forever (I miss that!). Lately, I haven't even been able to work out (UGH). My sewing projects are still waiting, my bedroom still isn't arranged the way I want it to be, and sometimes, I get lonely being with no other adults sometimes for days on end. However...

There are a lot of things that we do. We do family. Lego creations get built. Magnificent make believe stories get told. Dancing in the living room happens. We do loud. Songs are sung. Pictures are painted. Baby dolls are rocked. Giggle erupt constantly. Tickle fights are a routine. Jumping on the bed (shhhhh!) sneaks in.We do discipline. Spankings, time out's, and "the look" may be given throughout the day---but they are overshadowed by hugs, attention, and the exchange of a thousand magical kisses. We do learning. Snowflakes are tasted. Letters are traced. Colors are mixed. Chores are done (even if they aren't real effective yet!). We do love.

Love happens here, and that is why those other things we don't do aren't really missed.

2012 Resolutions

2012-01-11T16:47:00.000-05:00

Resolutions for 2012. Yes, resolutions, not goals. These are not optional.

1) Blog. Regularly. This means on Life More Simply, October's Heart, and/or Diaper Swappers. Ohhhhh, boy!

2) Complete one project/month. This could be something small, like actually pressing my childrens' hands into clay so I have keepsake hand prints (that I make every year but then give away to Grandparents!), or something large like making that braided rug that is still in the form of white table cloths stacked in my closet.

3) Pass the Critical Care Transport class for Paramedics/Nurses/PA's. I start the first week in February. This is a two hour drive one way, every Saturday for eleven weeks! It's a big deal. If you live near Rochester, NY and want to take the class with me, let me know. :)

4) Lose 25 lbs. Yup. This means getting back on the Beach Body bandwagon (Insanity, Hip Hop Abs, and I would love to acquire Brazil Butt Lift!). This also means being extremely careful about what I eat. All. Of. The. Time.

5) Purposeful Time. Spent with God, my family, and bettering my home and self.

FREE credits, gift certificates, and more that you'll want to know about!

2011-12-05T16:03:00.000-05:00

As you know, sometimes I learn about things that are so phenomenal that I just HAVE to share it with you! So without further ado, here are somethings to know about for December 2011:

1) My gift to you! Use this link to receive a $5 credit at Plumb District: https://www.plumdistrict.com/?ref=u8d41d71a72e. I do believe that you have to use my referral (the link I posted) to get that credit. Not positive about that, but that's what I am interpreting from their website. After you do that, "like" them on Facebook (through their site) to get another $5 off. Combine that with their 40% off deals they often will give you, and you are well on your way to getting a LOT of free money to spend locally or on the Internet.

2) The Annual Mothering Handmade Christmas Gifts Idea Contest (wow! what a name!) is currently ongoing over at http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1337424/the-annual-mothering-handmade-gifts-ideas-contest. You post your idea for a handmade Christmas gift include a photo, and then whichever post gets the most "likes" by other readers will win a Boba 3g carrier. The deadline to enter is 12/10/11! While you're at it, be sure to send me your idea for a handmade Christmas gift so I can feature you on Life More Simply!

3) The Learning Tower is on Facebook. So am I. "like" them at http://Facebook.com/LearningTower. They hinted that they *might* give away something when they get 2,000 followers...and they got that number today! You can "like" me at http://Facebook.com/LifeMoreSimply while you're at it. ;-) PS--I would really enjoy having one of these, so feel free to order one and have it shipped to my house.

4) Restaurant.com is letting YOU give away free gift certificates! You can send up to 40 $10 gift certificates a day. Spread some love to people you know or even people you don't know! I do recommend that ya'll "friend" me on Facebook (Rachel East) so that you can easily send some my way, too. ;-) Want one but don't know anyone to send you one? Let me know in the comments section below and I'll hook you up! https://feeditforward.restaurant.com/

Sensory Christmas Basket Centerpiece (A Simple Christmas Project #3)

2011-12-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

With small children in the home comes small changes in decorating for the holidays. Glass ornaments get put up higher, trees get anchored to a wall, and good linen might be removed from the table during a particularly stainable meal. Instead of removing your dining table's centerpiece altogether, though, why not make it into something that is festive, interesting, kid friendly, and encourages exploration and development, too!

This year, I created a Sensory Christmas Basket Centerpiece for our dining room table. It's a white wicker basket lined with a red and green dish towel. Laid inside are a host of objects all signifying Christmas time. Cinnamon sticks and scented pinecones create the base for this piece, followed by a variety of other things with various textures, scents, sounds, shapes, and colors. Silver bells that twinkle and ding, soft felt red drums, velvety bows, a bendable wirey silver garland, a bumpy, hard Christmastime teddy bear figurine, and a smooth victorian santa/polar bear ornament round out the basket. It's not only engaging to the eye, but delightful for people of all ages to sort through as they experience all of the different contrasting sensory input!

Easy to create, a great educational spin on decorating, and affordable as all getout because you probably already have everything you need to create your own Sensory Christmas Basket Centerpiece. Remember to include different textures, colors, variations of pressure (hard to soft), reflections of light (like a shiny bell vs. a dull cinnamon stick), scents, and even pieces that the children can manipulate (like the garland I used). Have fun keeping your decorations simple so you can focus on the reason for the season!

Have an idea to create a Simple Christmas of your own? We'd love to feature it on LifeMoreSimply with a link back to your own blog and a little info about you! DIY projects, gift ideas, celebrations, food...anything that helps keep things simple and real for Christmas! Email your write up to: lifemoresimply@yahoo.com with "Simple Christmas Post" in the subject line.

Advent Ideas for Toddlers

2011-12-01T12:03:00.000-05:00

Twenty Five Ways to Celebrate Advent
~*~ Toddler Style ~*~

What better way could you celebrate Christmas than to do it all month long?! Here are twenty-five ideas that we're using in our home this December to help focus on what the season's all about. These ideas can be done in any order (unless otherwise specified or sequential). I put an astric (*) next to anything that I still need supplies for so that I can prepare ahead of time. Have fun with it, and remember to keep things simple so that you can make the activities intentional.

DAY ONE: Finish decorating for Christmas, start the Advent Calendar (we use a wooden train where each day, there is a box to open which will give instructions for that day’s Advent. If you don't already have something like that, create your own with a clothesline and 25 socks, stockings, or mittens!)
Scavenger Hunt to find a Christmas book
Craft trees out of newspapers, pompoms, and glitter glue
Sing and dance to Christmas Carols!
Make Applesauce Ornaments*
Go shopping for an AngelTree child
Watch a Christmas Movie
String popcorn and cranberries*
Visit the Library and read some Christmas books!
Tell the story of the Wisemen visiting Jesus, and receive/give one gift
Review the story of the Wisemen visiting Jesus, and receive/give one gift
Have the Children tell YOU the story of the Wisemen visitng Jesus, and receive/give one gift (wooden nativity set)
Bake and decorate cookies*
Give some cookies away
Build a "stable" (tent out of blankets and chairs, or whatever strikes your fancy!) and eat lunch with your stuffed animals in it.
Decorate a Gingerbread house or tree*
Write a letter to Santa
Make a Happy Birthday card for Jesus
Make Cupcakes and a special dinner to celebrate Jesus' birth (children choose menu)*
After dark, drive around to see the Christmas lights (wearing jammies, of course)
Make and hang bird feeders made with peanut butter and birdseed on pinecones
Visit Santa
Make a snowman (no snow? Popcorn balls or craft supplies!)
CHRISTMAS EVE! Wrap gifts for others, receive special jammies to wear, tell the Nativity story before bed
CHRISTMAS DAY! Traditions + finding Jesus in the manger of the nativity set

BEST Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deal To EcoMom ($70 for $15 or FREE)!

2011-11-25T15:08:00.001-05:00

Receive $70 worth or products for only $15 OR FOR FREE plus free shipping from http://www.ecomom.com/! Here's how:

1) Go to http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/22b56c51a7/click and buy a "$50 gift certificate to EcoMom for $25" BUT...ENTER THE DISCOUNT CODE ~~"ENJOY10" to receive $10 off~~ "SATURDAY40" to get $10 off (deal is good for four more days, but the ~~$10 off code is only good for today, Black Friday~~ code for 40% off is valid only on 11/26!). So now you are getting $50 for $15.

2) Order today through Monday from EcoMom. You will receive another $20 off of a purchase of $50 from their site (or $40 off of $100). So now you are getting $70 worth of products for $15!

3) Share this deal with all of your friends, using the code you will generate (you must purchase the deal first). After three of your friends also purchase the deal, you will get your deal for FREE! So now you have gotten $70 worth of products from EcoMom for FREE!

I hadn't been to EcoMom until I found this deal (and yes, I bought two gift certificates!). They have so much "green" stuff! Diapers, clothing, toys, food, skincare, bathing stuff, household things, etc.. This is an amazing deal and definitely the best one I have found, possibly EVER!

Yup, I know ya love me. ;-)

A Simple Christmas Project #1: FREE Christmas Cards from TinyPrints

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

I must either be behind or everyone else is ahead for Christmas this year! I started decorating for the Holiday before Thanksgiving, even, but when I went to find and sign up for Snapfish's free Christmas card blogger program, I found that it was already closed....WHAT?! No worries, though, because I found TinyPrint's is offering their own blogger card review program. Now, they have no closing date listed on their website, so I can't guarantee it's still open, but I still signed up for it. :)

TinyPrints offers super duper cute and professional looking cards that you can customize, so hopefully we'll all get a shot at it. The program is only open to bloggers who also have Facebook/Twitter pages (thus you must already be established). Here's the link: TinyPrints.

Happy card designing for your DIY Christmas!

Bloggers Needed For A Simple Christmas 2011!

2011-11-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

A Simple Christmas 2011

Beginning in three days, Life More Simply will be featuring ideas on how to create a simple holiday this Christmas season. We'll share thoughts and instructions for traditions, decorations, gifts, DIY projects, and money/time savers...plus whatever else strikes our fancy! If you have an idea or project that we could share with our readers, please send it to Rachel at lifemoresimply @ yahoo.com with the subject "Post for A Simple Christmas" (or something like that). Be sure to include the link to your own blog, website, or business if you have one! Submissions will be accepted until a few days before Christmas. :)

Blessings,
Rachel

$10 Credit to OneStepAhead

2011-11-21T16:57:00.000-05:00

Being a recreation therapist (ok, I work as a Paramedic right now, but that RT degree knowledge hasn't left me!), I have a few rules for toys in my house: they must inspire. This means that the object should encourage my child to imagine, manipulate, learn, and grow. It should challenge, but not overwhelm. Be interesting, but not be solely entertainment. I also generally throw in there that batteries are plastic aren't allowed, but somehow toys still make their way into our home that make noise with no participation from a human! :)

I have long coveted OneStepAhead products because as a rule they are good quality, imagination producing, age and developmentally appropriate toys and household necessities for little ones. I recently ordered a few Christmas gifts from them which came quickly and look awesome! Plus, it didn't break the bank because I hooked up with their deal programs. So without further commentary, here is how YOU can also take advantage of saving a lot of money on their quality products.

1) Sign up for their $10 credit. You will receive $10 off on your first order of $65 or more, PLUS, you will continue to receive a $10 credit for every friend whom you refer who does this. Click here: http://onestepahead.extole.com/a/clk/4fSjH

2) After you sign up for that and are on their website, sign up for their "Daily Deals" program. They don't actually send them every day (or else my SPAM picks up their emails), but you can get amazing discounts on one product at a time. The deals change every day, but I scored their Dyson Ball Vacuum for like 60% off a few weeks ago--Christmas for my boy!

Happy shopping and money saving!

International Beraved Father's Day

2011-09-24T22:03:00.000-04:00

Remembering the daddy's of lost babies and children today on International Beraved Father's Day.

You and your precious little ones are not forgotten!

http://carlymarieprojectheal.com/

Rachel's Creed

2011-09-19T14:32:00.000-04:00

I believe in healing and the full restoration of wounded people.
I claim that for myself and my family.

I believe in the provision of a propitiation --perfect substitute-- for desperate situations.
I trust that God will bring one about for myself and my children in His timing.

I believe the promise that God will heal the broken hearted, binding up their wounds.
I am comforted in knowing that I won't hurt forever.

I believe the promise that God will turn our mourning into dancing.
I am excited to know my life will be abundant.

I believe that past suffering can be used to bring about the survival of many people.
I will use my journey as a way to lift others up.

I believe that I do not have to be hurt in the same way again.
I will choose to be healthy and protect myself while loving extravagantly.

I believe that God is all I need, and He will lead me beside still waters.
I will not follow temptation to have anything replace what He can give me.

I believe that I am valuable.
I will live in a way that models for my children that one's value is not dependent upon what happens to her.

I believe that my future is beautiful.
I have peace and joy when I think about what is to come.

What are you claiming for yourself today?

I'm going to be a Music Together teacher!

2011-09-14T16:48:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow morning at 9am, I start training to be certified as a Music Together teacher. I'm really excited about this as it will bring early childhood music education classes to an area that doesn't have them, new income possibilities for my family, and I got a scholarship to attend the training on top of it which made it all possible (thanks, Music Together scholarship program!). My daughter is just as excited as I am, daily talking about how she can't wait to help mommy when I'm teaching the classes after I'm trained. :)

She was, in fact, one of the main reasons I chose Music Together over the other early ed music programs out there. After a lot of research, I had narrowed my decision down to Kindermusik or Music Together. One thing that I really liked about Music Together was that it's family oriented and thus more accessible for parents with multiple children, not to mention more affordable to them. My 2-year-old daughter verified this when I played both a Kindermusik album and a Music Together sample album for her...and we have been listening to the "Hello Song" from Music Together ever since! Yes, I really do think we know every word of every song on their "Family Favorites" album since it's the staple music in our minivan (don't knock the minivan, I have a story about it that I'll share sometime).

From their website:

Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the adults who love them. First offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.

Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning.

The training will last three days (whew!), then I'll drive straight to work for a 28-hour-minimum shift (whew! again). Yes, I will probably go crazy missing my little people, but I couldn't let my daughter down by not being able to teach these classes that she's so excited about, right?

What are your thoughts on music programs like Music Together?

Honoring and Remembering 9/11

2011-09-13T15:34:00.000-04:00

I wanted to be in NYC yesterday, on 9/11. It's been ten years, and I can still vividly remember being outside hanging laundry on the clothesline when my sister came out and told me that an explosion or something happened in on of the Twin Towers. My mom and most of my seven sisters and I sat around the radio and listened as the events rolled out and it was determined that a plane actually crashed into the building. Once the word "terrorist" was thrown out as a possibility, we got the TV out of the attic and set it up in the living room. School work didn't happen that day. Chores didn't happen that day. And the things I remember most? The moment when we watched live as the second plane approached the second tower. The people who jumped out of windows--alive as we watched them plummet through the air toward the ground...and we knew what was going to happen both times. And we couldn't stop it or look away.

Afterward, I watched as men from our town's fire department went down to the city to help. I later listened to the stories, saw the somber faces, and I continued to wait until the day when I was legally old enough to join the fire department myself. As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a firefighter.

Here we are now, a decade later. I had planned to be in NYC for the 9/11 ceremonies until I found out that first responders were not allowed to attend. So I changed my plans to a local 9/11 services at my church...until another paramedic had to leave his shift at our ambulance company because he was volunteering for disaster relief due to all of the devastating flooding that is occurring in my part of our country. I signed up for his shift, feeling a little grouchy because I thought I would just be sitting on my butt all day doing nothing at an International racetrack near us.

The day before on 9/10, I had missed the funeral procession of a local soldier killed in duty in Afghanistan because I was working. Again, I would be missing something important to me that signified remembering and honoring those lost and those who stand for life and freedom. I wondered if anyone at the racetrack would hold some sort of service or do anything to commemorate the day, and I was quite relieved when I was notified that in half an hour, there would be a service for the first responders. I got up to eat my lunch so that my partner and I could attend, and had just finished when our radio went off.

Someone had crashed their car--not even during a race. It was during a non-event that no one would ever suspect anyone to get hurt in. Not only was this patient hurt, but it was severe. Waiting for a helicopter to come and fly our unconscious patient to a trauma center, I spent the next 45 minutes stabilizing him along with another paramedic, a doctor, two nurses, and three EMT's. Instead of attending any service, we gave life back to a stranger.

While I was cleaning blood off of things, throwing out used equipment, and documenting the events, I thought to myself how disappointed I was that I hadn't been able to attend any service or even watch one on TV throughout the day. Then I realized--what better way to honor those killed in the terrorist attacks, the standing survivors, and those who are still fighting for life and freedom by their occupations or volunteer work in the US, or their service in the military overseas? Nothing could be more honoring to them than to continue the work, to continue to serve, and to continue to be there when someone needs you.

These words, taken from Fire Wife Katie and her Firefighter/Paramedic husband's blogs, sum it up well:

Potent feelings were awoken that day ten years ago. People who never voiced an opinion suddenly felt compelled to set things right. Our desire to stand up and say something was stirred.

I think the 9/11 generation will be remembered as the generation that cared. Deeply.

To my brothers and sisters that have gone on before me, I will carry on. To the public, when you need us, we will be there.

And we will be here, always ready to give and protect life.

To the 343 NYC firefighters, 15 EMT's, and 60 police officers killed that day, as well as the 2,000 first responders who were injured in the 9/11 attacks: you will never be forgotten, and your brothers and sisters will carry on.

Note: original post written on 9/12/11.

Smart Phone Apps for Toddlers

2011-09-12T11:55:00.000-04:00

I've finally done it; I have joined the world of people with "smart" phones. It's a long story, really, of how it came to be, but in a nutshell it goes like this: I had a Verizon contract that made me pay really high bills, have a really crappy phone (regardless of which one I got), and ZERO help from the Verizon employees that I came in contact with (not to mention a website that is almost impossible to navigate). In EMS, a smartphone is really handy for when you need to look something up on the fly, calculate difficult drug dosages, keep track of something, or navigate to a home or hospital that isn't on your map. It was a no-brainer, then, when my sister called me last week and asked if I wanted to switch from Verizon to Sprint and go on a plan with her and her family so we would all only have to pay around $60/month...and did I want a free (or very discounted) smart phone with that, plus a $125 credit to switch from Verizon (to cover the early cancellation fees)? Yes, yes, yes!

So now I have a smartphone. (A Motorola Photon 4g, to be exact). All I can say is that I.love.it. One of the things I love so much are apps. (Brilliant ideas, people! Brilliant!) Since I have a very active almost-three-year-old and a one-year-old who tries in every way to keep up with his big sister, I'm wanting to find some good apps for toddlers. They need to be free, kid friendly, age appropriate, preferably have lock features, and support good development and creativity. That's where you come in! I have lots of readers with small children, and I'm sure that many of you have excellent apps on your phone for those cute little ones.

Leave me some messages telling me what apps you use for your toddlers and why! Or, why do you choose to not use child-oriented applications on your smartphone? Thanks a bunch, my friends! :)

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers Review & Giveaway

2011-09-08T16:17:00.000-04:00

While my children have been primarily cloth diapered, I am finding that my son's skin actually does better in disposable diapers as of late. Clearly, the thought of those harsh chemicals and the non-biodegrading ingredients in most disposable diapers does NOT thrill this mother, so I was pretty interested when contacted about trying Seventh Generation's Free & Clear diaper line that they just revamped. Here's what I think:

1) One diaper fits a variety of sizes. I tested on both my toddler (overnight) and my baby (daytime/overnight) with no problem for each. The diapers hold up well and didn't leak.

2) They are not real attractive. No cute prints, and the color is a cream off-white, so it looks kinda gross when soaked with you-know-what. But then, who really looks at a used diaper, anyway?

3) No rashes! AND I didn't have to feel badly about putting them against my lovies' skin because they are so much gentler than regular disposable diapers. :) :) :)

Here's a little info from MyBlogSpark, who provided the sample for me to try and is also providing a package for one of my readers to try:

What Seventh Generation leaves out is just as important as what they put in. Free & Clear diapers do not include chlorine processing, fragrances, latex and petroleum based lotions. In an effort to contribute less overall landfill waste and continue to ensure a premium standard of absorbency, the new Free & Clear diapers have been redesigned with a lighter-weight core. With processed chlorine-free wood pulp in Free & Clear diapers, Seventh Generation also makes certain that no chlorine is released into the environment during the totally chlorine-free (TCF) whitening process of the diapers and training pants.

Seventh Generation has also reduced the size of the diapers’ plastic packaging, meaning that each pack now contributes even less overall landfill waste than before. In fact, Seventh Generation Free & Clear diaper packaging can now be recycled at local supermarkets where plastic bag recycling collection boxes are available.

My vote? YES! Please buy these diapers instead of regular disposables. Can't afford them? I'm not promising anything and I HAVE NOT talked to Seventh Generation, but overall, they seem to be a great company to work with and I wouldn't be surprised if they would send people coupons for the asking.

Win it! The first person to do the following two things will snag a FREE package of Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers:

1) Leave us your best (or worst?) diaper story below. It had better be worthy of winning diapers! Feel free to tell us why you do or don't use cloth, free & clear diapers, etc.. INCLUDE your email address.

2) EMAIL me your full name, phone number, and mailing address, plus what size diapers you want!

Good luck and be blessed!

Disclosure: MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation provided samples for this review and giveaway. I was not otherwise compensated for this post and the opinions expressed are all mine. :)

Like A Pearl

2011-08-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

I want this ring. Like, really, really badly. I am not much of a jewelry person, even. It's not that I don't like jewelry (I do); I'm just a pretty practical person and it doesn't always fit my lifestyle. However. I have a problem with stalking two shopping sites: www.Etsy.com and https://www.theveteranssite.com.

I first found The Veteran's Site Store because they periodically have music videos with military themes and I have a heart for that, so I've been watching their stuff since I discovered them about two years ago. Not only do they post videos, but they have this really cool store that's right up my ally with handcrafted "hippie" stuff, free trade items, and just all around neat stuff...and their prices are so reasonable! They are constantly having sales and the shipping is flat rate! The BEST part though, is that the proceeds from what you buy help to feed and house US veterans, to whom I am forever grateful for.

So the ring. I found it browsing their site today, and I'm pretty sure my heart skipped a beat when I saw it. I don't know why, exactly, because I've seen other beautiful rings before. This one in particular cries out to me. I love non-traditional beautiful rings. You know, diamonds that aren't like everyone else; pearls that are, well, blue in this case. :) Once I clicked on the link and read the description, though...WOW! That is my life right now!

Timeless as the night sky, our Midnight Freshwater Pearl & Sterling Ring is a beautiful testament to the beauty that can come from persevering through struggle.

Pearls are developed because of an irritant inside a clam--sand. Instead of up and dying, rejecting the hardship, or being forever damaged, the clam creates something beautiful out of something ugly, useless, and painful. Once the pearl is created, it can be removed from that clam without harm, giving something precious to the world and giving a normal life back to the clam. That is what I wish my life to be, and what I believe it is right now. Domestic violence destroyed my marriage, and almost destroyed me in the process. When people ask me how I can still believe in marriage and the love of God after what I went through, I simply explain it as it's said in the end of Exodus: that I am ok with the fact that I went through these things because it will bring about the survival of many people. Like a pearl, beauty can come from persevering through struggle.

I may just buy myself that ring. Not sure yet, since I'm not one to buy things for myself, but it's possible.

"Oh Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." (Psalm 30:2)

"The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow WILL end." (Isaiah 60:20b)

95% off Dave Ramsey Products!

2011-08-30T10:53:00.000-04:00

Tonight is my last class to complete Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. For anyone wanting to get out of debt, understand and become wise in handling money, or become a millionaire, take Financial Peace University. I only wish I had taken this at the age of 17-years-old and in high school! Needless to say, I have put this on the future schooling agenda for my children. :) He certainly is the financial guru of this time period, and entertaining to boot.

Here are his seven steps to financial freedom that all of his materials are based around (do these in order):

1) $1,000 in an emergency fund ($500 if your income is under $20k/year)

2) Pay off all debt except the house utilizing the debt snowball

3) Three to six months expenses in savings

4) Invest 15% of your household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans

5) College funding

6) Pay off your home early

7) Build wealth and give!

You can find out about local classes, register for his online class, or access all of his free forms and information through http://www.daveramsey.com. OR, pay $1 and get his "Cash Flow Planning" lesson on mp3 AND an mp3 copy of "The Super Red Racer" children's book by Dave Ramsey! This normally costs $21 but is 95% off for three more days over at Mamapedia. Take advantage of this with your one dollar!

Need Advertising Space?

2011-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

Are you a business owner? I love to support other people developing or running their own entrepreneurial endeavors--especially parents! If you want to get some extra PR, send me an email at with "Advertising on Life More Simply" as the title subject. You will need a banner and website, but not a ridiculous amount of money (today's now your favorite day, right?). :)

I offer very reasonable pricing for advertising space and am more than happy to work out something with you and what you can afford--even if it means a trade of your product for my space! Remember that I have over 1,000 readers/followers/subscribers, so you will have a pretty good data base to spread the word to about your service or products.

Space will be first come, first served, so contact me now and we'll start spreading the word about your business!

Love Exuberantly

2011-08-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

This is what I think...

You should hold your babies more, and never stop kissing them and telling them that you love them. You shouldn't be afraid to rock them to sleep, to let them get messy, or to let them snuggle you in the morning before you get out of bed. It doesn't matter if your floor isn't always spotless or the clean laundry always folded. It does matter that your children know they are loved unconditionally with an agape love. It does matter that you touch them and hold them and giggle with them and smile at them. Remember that the purest form of you is who you are when you're with your children. Let them know that they are the best thing in the whole wide world. Love those children, and make sure they know it. Don't ever hold back; love exuberantly.

This is what I think...

You should spend more time with that person who you are bound to. Whether it's a best friend, a girl friend, or a husband, be with them. You don't know when an accident will happen, cancer will strike, or something unforeseen takes them from you. Cherish your time. Love them. Stay up late talking, watching funny movies, and listening to the rain. Don't be afraid to experience everything possible that life offers with that person. Take every opportunity to love on that person, to fix every problem that hinders your relationship, and to serve that person with bounding joy. Learn to love better, and practice it. Do not take them for granted or take lightly the memories you have the opportunity to create together. Hold on to that person, the one that you can't live without, or at least that you don't ever, ever, ever want to live without. Love that person, and make sure they know it. Don't hold back; love exuberantly.

This is what I think...

I don't know what you felt when you got that phone call, and I won't pretend that I felt your fear. I do know, though, that I will hold your unconscious baby, sing to him, and love him for you when you can't do it yourself. I will do everything that is absolutely possible to give life to your baby, no matter what it costs me in the process. I will always be sure that I know what I'm doing, that everything is ready, and that your child comes first when my scanner goes off and I step into that ambulance. You don't need to fear, because when I get there, he becomes my baby too, and there is nothing stronger than a mama's heart. Know that if anything ever happens; if I can't get our baby to the place where he should be, or if things go wrong and something happens, I will be sobbing too. You may not see it, but I am breaking inside, too.

I won't pretend that I understand what it must be like to see your unresponsive husband lying on a backboard with blood pooling everywhere. I do know though, that I feel part of your pain when I want him to wake up and he doesn't. When I know that he may never open his eyes again. When I know that you are standing there watching him die while I try to give him life. It's not easy as I gently tell you to hold his hand and kiss him, to talk to him and reassure him. What I am really saying is that you need to tell him goodbye and hold on to him for these minutes that he is still here for. Know that I am doing everything I can, though. Part of a team, I am still watching everyone and everything. I will speak up on his behalf, and I will make sure he is treated correctly. I will talk to him by name as I push oxygen into his lungs, and I will be ready to do everything possible to get him home. But if that doesn't happen, know that I am standing behind you, and that I wanted him to live, too.

This is what I think.
Seize every opportunity possible to love exuberantly. Don't wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

-------

Originally posted at http://OctobersHeart.blogspot.com.

If you aren't already following my blog there, then head on over!

Four Things You'll Want To Know About

2011-08-22T13:40:00.000-04:00

There's some great stuff going on in the world right now! If you weren't having a fantastic day yet, check this stuff out and start yourself on turning your ordinary day into a fantastic day.

Like...

1) Free Quiznos food. http://quiznosqclub.com/?imm_cid=C1-9W&imm_kwd=v2:CD1816&flow=prte&imm_mid=4200&imm_hid=789153221&c1=v2:CD1816&c2=&c3=#/register

2) Benefit auction going on over at KumfyKozies with some pretty great looking diapers, mama stuff, toys, and more with excellent starting price bids. All of the money collected will be going to help a family who has experienced a major medical crisis! Check it out: http://hyenacart.com/kumfykozies/

3) Chaco Dirtiest Feet Contest. No, I don't want you to win, because I want myself to win...but if you're a Chaco lover, you know that I couldn't possibly hold this back from other Chaco lovers. :) http://www.chacos.com/US/en/Tan-Contest-2011-Dirtiest-Feet

4) FREE 8x8 photo book from Snapfish...expires this Wednesday! Use code RXV4-1ND8-DKPS-WKMJV9.

Beat Cancer & Get a Pair of Yurbuds Iron Man headphones for only $20!!!

2011-08-22T13:10:00.000-04:00

I just learned about a great event going on right now--a Beat Cancer Boot Camp Powered by Yurbuds. It's a two-day event and only costs $5 which will be donated to help fight cancer. Not only do I love the idea of that (and wish I lived close enough to go), but you can actually donate $20 to the Beat Cancer Boot Camp and get a pair of Yurbuds Iron Man Headphones for FREE (a $59.99 value)! I was about to go buy myself a pair (sounds like an excellent way to drown out Insanity while I'm jumping around like an idiot in my living room every day) when I found out that I *may* be able to win myself a pair by telling you about this great organization. So Here's the info, and a big thanks to MomSelect for letting me know about it!

WHAT: Yurbuds®, the leader in sports earphones designed by a triathlete and 23-time marathoner, has teamed up with Chris "Macca" McCormack, "World's Fittest Man" and two-time Ironman Champion to host the first-ever two-day Beat Cancer Boot Camp Powered by Yurbuds in NYC at the Sports Center at Chelsea Piers.

Free to the public, a suggested $5.00 donation will benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation's (EIF) Revlon Run/Walk for Women, which helps raise funds for multiple beneficiaries dedicated to cancer research, early detection, and support.

Each boot camp will be led by Anita "Sarge" Kellman, founder of the national Beat Cancer Boot Camp program, and hosted by a Yurbuds-sponsored athlete from the Ironman World Triathlon Corp., which endorses Yurbuds earphones, available at Apple stores, Best Buy, Sports Authority and more.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

11 a.m. to Noon Beat Cancer Boot Camp Workout

Yurbuds Host: Chris "Macca" McCormack, two-time Ironman World Champion, World's Fittest Man

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Beat Cancer Boot Camp Workout

Yurbuds Hosts: TJ Tollakson, 2011 Lake Placid Ironman Winner and Kyle "Epic" Mendoza, freerunning and parkour expert

WHERE: The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers

Pier 60 at the West 20th Street Crosswalk, New York, NY

Please use the entrance located at the East end of the Pier

By Cab: Enter at 23rd Street & West Side Highway (11th Avenue)

REGISTER: Sign up now at www.yurbuds.com/beatcancerbootcamp!

MORE: Donate $20 or more to receive a pair of Yurbuds Iron Man Series headphones ($59.99 value). For more information please visit www.yurbuds.com and http://www.facebook.com/sportscenteratchelseapiers.

Swimsuits I Want

2011-07-27T11:39:00.001-04:00

At some point, all of my extremely hard work is going to pay off (or so I tell myself). I am currently on day 21 of Insanity (check it the video below) and have yet to see any results. It's getting to be very, very depressing. I do actually think, though, that my thyroid is out of whack and affecting this weight problem as I have had symptoms for YEARS that have gotten worse since having my second baby. We're talking a body temp in the 96-97f range, water retention, adult acne, brittle nails, fatigue, etc.. Pretty much EVERY symptom of hypothyroidism. Why am I not on medication? Because I have never been able to test "positive" on the blood work scale. :-\ So I am left now to killing myself and not being able to lose a single pound (example: I did the full 10 day Lemonade Diet a few years ago and lost nothing. NOTHING after not eating for 10 days! Now, I am doing the most intense pure cardio workout that I could find and have lost NOTHING again!), being saddened by the fact that I'm 26 and still have problem skin, and can NOT get rid of extra fluid regardless of what I drink or eat. Boo.

Ok, I'm done with the pitty party. If you're a medical practitioner that would prescribe me some Synthroid based on symptoms rather than blood work though, please let me know ASAP! Or if you aren't, I'm open to all suggestions below. :)

Anyway, I randomly found Hapari Swimwear today online and I really want one of their swimsuits now. They claim to be a great brand for moms (we all know how that "mom" body is!), offering more support where you need it, coverage in the right places, but cute styles and prints to boot! My eyes are wide as I contemplate the possibility of looking good enough in a swimsuit that I can actually walk out into public while wearing it...

So once my body responds to my slave driving and I have the time to go tanning so you can't see through my pale skin, these are the styles that I like most:

My FAVORITE

The look of comfort:

Feminine AND flattering!

<3 the print and cleavage support (haha)