Every step, every dollar, every cute bag counts!

I can not imagine that moment. My heart breaks to even try to picture looking into my children’s eyes and telling them that I have breast cancer, and I don’t know if I will be there to meet my grandchildren. I can’t fathom hearing those words “they found a lump” coming from my own mom’s mouth. The word cancer brings feelings of fear, pain, and possibly the most devastating is helplessness. On the part of everyone involved; because there isn’t a cure that will guarantee that it goes away. And though there is no magic potion, all of us together can make a difference by helping out in the little ways that we can. One of the largest organizations in the fight against breast cancer is Susan G. Komen, and one of the largest fundraisers is the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. This isn’t just for women. It is for the men that are victims of breast cancer, too. It is for the families of the victims, for those that continue to fight, and for those that are survivors. And it is for the children in our lives that we love. Because maybe, just maybe, one day if they have to hear the words “we found a lump”, those words will be followed by “and this is how we are going to cure it.”


I have a very giving friend. About six months or so ago, I met Sarah after running into her all over town it seemed. She immediately invited me into her group of friends, she helped me when I had surgery, and she has continued to go above and beyond helping me in different ways and making my life easier and better. She will help anyone, anywhere at anytime and do it with a smile on her face. The thing with her is she doesn’t even realize that she is changing your whole day, putting a smile in your heart and helping you in ways she doesn’t even know. She thinks she is just going through another day. She is the type of person that makes you want to be a better friend. She is absolutely amazing. But she isn’t so comfortable in the asking for help area. Last year Sarah walked in the Denver 3 day for the Cure. This year Denver’s walk was cancelled, but that isn’t stopping her. She has decided to do the Atlanta 3 day for the Cure. In 3 days, she will walk sixty miles to help fight cancer. Some may think that is crazy….but she does it for her mom, who is a 12-year survivor. She does it for her aunt, who is a 2-year survivor. And she does it for her daughters so maybe one day they will never have to worry about this disease. She walks for my family and for yours, so that we may all live a cancer-free lifetime that we deserve.

Sarah has committed to raising $2,300 to her goal. I personally looked in my change jar and noticed that all those pennies have added up to quite a bit over the past month or so and all of them will be going to fight breast cancer. If you would like to donate as well, please help us reach Sarah’s goal by clicking here

In addition, Sarah has partnered with Mixed Bag Designs to help raise money to fight cancer! These supercute reusable bags are good for everything….believe me I have seen her use them. Groceries, pool toys, gifts, lunch bags, anything. They are made of polypropene to provide excellent strength and durability. They are easily wiped clean with a damp cloth and they carry up to fifty pounds (that is like two of my daughter!!) These bags are super cute(and they have some great ones for Easter!)…..

All you have to do is head over to http://www.mixedbagdesigns.com/ and choose your bag, or bags! The important part is that when you check out-in the review phase of the order, be sure you put fundraiser ID 39179 Walking for Warriors. You will have a cool new bag and Sarah will get 40% of the profits from the sale of your bag towards her pledge! It is a win win, and you can feel good that you joined the fight against breast cancer and your feet don’t have to look like this….

I have just made a donation (I wouldn’t ask you to do something I wouldn’t do myself), and this article is the least I could do, both to help give a small bit back to Sarah for all that she gives to me and others as well giving what I can for the survivors that I personally know of breast cancer, for my children, and for my grandchildren.

Don't always believe what you see!

Wow, talk about a lesson in frugality. This weekend I was both a vendor and a consignor for our local Just Between Friends Consignment sale. It was amazing seeing how many basically new items were there at unbelievable prices. It was my first time consigning, so I wasn't quite sure how to prices my items. One particular item I actually overpriced knowing that I was going to lower it on the half price day and I was hoping that it would sell either way, but preferably at full price. Well, there happened to be another item, the exact same one, there for $2 less than what mine was at half price. When half price day came along, they had put a tag on my item with the lesser price, saying it was 50% off. Yet, still it was more than the other item just like it. To my amazement, a woman actually said to the lady checking her out that she needed to "go grab the (item) that was marked down before someone else got that one".

I felt slightly guilty, but I didn't do it on purpose.....and lesson learned to the rest of us. A pretty sign doesn't always mean the better deal!

Review of Bausch + Lomb Biotrue

I'm blind. Like as a bat. If you take away my contacts and/or glasses I am terribly lost. I can't see anything in the morning. And each Christmas I actually take my contacts out just for the purpose of looking at my tree because the lights look so pretty all blurry.

I have actually gone to night and day type contacts because with the two little ones they are just so much more convenient. Unfortunately, though, they do tend to dry my eyes out more. Sometimes I even wake up in the morning and have to immediately stick drops in because I can tell my contacts are kind of folded up together. It was just a part of life. But I HATE all that goes with contacts. It has gotten better since they have the new no-rub solutions, but still none really keep my eyes feeling good all day long. Especially after a long night.

I was intrigued to see if there was really a difference with BioTrue. My husband was actually the first one that got to use them. He had been wearing his glasses for quite awhile and just went to put contacts back in and his eyes were really bothering him. I told him to try the Biotrue. He actually got all giddy. He claimed his eyes never felt so good in contacts. He was actually pretty cute.

Then it was my turn. I took my contacts out, left them soaking overnight in the Biotrue, woke up, and had nice and wet eyes all day long! I didn't even have to squint ten times before I could even move from the sink.

Some things to know about Bausch + Lomb’s new Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution.

• The lubricant it uses is naturally found in your eyes
• It has a dual disinfection system to keep contacts clean and free of germs

What we think:

• Our eyes have felt less irritated and "sandy"
• We use drops significantly less

So yes, I would recommend this to my many contact wearing friends. But, since it is a medical-type thing, you may want to check with your eye doctor to make sure this product is right for you!

I wrote this review while participating in a Mom Central Consulting blog tour on behalf of Bausch + Lomb Biotrue. I received a Biotrue sample and a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.






 

Wordless Wednesday

Those little leprechauns have been tricky at my house the past couple of days! They have stolen some real penny's and put chocolate one's in their place......but at least they haven't found my prepared frozen corned beef and cabbage. If they find that, there is going to be some trouble in this house!

MEGA Bloks Domino Build Game Review

Family game night is huge in my house. My daughter is still in the process of learning, but we are a bit lenient with her when she just plays by her own rules. My son gets so excited about game night that he talks about it all day long. Before we even had kids, my husband and I actually used to play games (although we tended to play domino's and gin rather than games with colorful pieces and instructions that say "youngest goes first"). Our game shelf is filled, but we have been looking for another game that all four of us can enjoy, and we have found the perfect one! MEGA Brands, Inc has introduced the Mega Bloks Domino Build Game! We had so much fun, all of us! It took a bit to get the kids used to waiting to put their pieces together, and it took some restraint on the part of my husband from screaming DOMINO! when his competitive nature kicked into high gear, but we laughed and had a great time. 


Even my youngest was able to understand the concept for the most part, and I loved seeing her match the animals without help from the rest of us. We let her build and take apart her blocks, but my son understood all the rules, and he cheered for my husband and I as we built up our blocks. This is definitely going to be on my "must recommend list" for my friends with younger kiddo's.

Domino Build Game Details:

• Children ages 3-6 years will have fun learning all about colors, numbers, matching and motor skills with the Mega Bloks Domino Build Game
• Game offers a variety of solid colors and basic shapes that will teach your child how to recognize them.
• Develops fine-motor skills (patience, practice, and determination) muscle movement and hand-to-eye coordination
• Great fun fun both boys and girls
• Retails for $10.99 and is available at Amazon.com, Fred Myers, Toys R Us Canada, and Wal-Mart Canada.

MEGA Brands, Inc., a trusted family of leading global brands in construction toys, games and puzzles, arts & crafts and stationary, is launching the Mega Bloks Family Club and Mega Bloks Mom search. For more information visit http://familyclub.megabloks.com.

MEGA Bloks Family Club members receive:

• A printable coupon for $5 off and $30 or more Mega Bloks purchase
• Other exclusive offers, contests, sweepstakes and promotions on Mega Bloks toys
• Information on new Mega Bloks toys for kids ages 1 to 6
• An educational and informative blog by a leading panel of mom bloggers with articles on the benefits of construction toys, product review, pictures and more
• A free email newsletter with great new building ideas, toys for kids and other helpful information.

MEGA Bloks Mom Search:

• MEGA Brands is looking for five MEGA Bloks Mom personalities to contribute to the MEGA Bloks Family Club
• If selected, each MEGA Bloks Mom blogger will receive compensation, along with a free MEGA Brands product
• For more information and to apply visit  http://familyclub.megabloks.com

I wrote this post for a blog tour with Team Mom and received a MEGA Bloks Domino Build game to help facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

First kisses

OMG!!! It happened, and I was there to witness it......my son's first kiss. At least I think it was first. I mean, it is TOTALLY possible that this child has a habit of kissing little girls in his preschool, but he seemed pretty darn shy about it afterwards. We were getting ready to leave and he walked over to give her a hug and started walking back to me....and then apparently realized that this just wasn't enough so he marched his little butt right back to her, put his hands on her shoulders, stood on his tiptoes (his first love is taller than him) and kissed her square on the lips. I had to kind of giggle because both of them wiped their mouths afterwards.He said he wanted to make her happy. Such a sweetie. I asked him how it made him feel to kiss her and he said good. Such innocence.

I remember my first kiss. His name was bo-bo. I really have no idea if that is really what his name was. That is what we all called him though, and that is what I remember. We were sitting under a tree at my babysitter's house. Her name was Peggy, and she had those old wagon wheel things in the backyard. Bo-bo used to catch grasshoppers and pull their legs off and stick them in the holes in the top of the wagon wheel. I didn't want to kiss him anymore after I saw that.

I wonder what my son will remember about the girl he first kissed.......

Remembering what is important.

In the past couple of weeks, I have mentioned two things. One is that I am selling my house. The other was a post about a sweetheart of a girl named Kate who has been fighting against brain cancer and just found out it is back. Tonight the conversation my husband and I had put it all in perspective.

In the post about Kate, I mentioned that when I read about Kate, I remember that my problems aren't really that important. The sadness I feel over certain things, the guilt and the shame. They don't amount to anything when you think about sick children.

We had heard that someone is considering putting an offer on our house. The waiting, the not knowing seem endless. They are frustrating, constantly in the back of our minds. And then we realized. This is how Kate's parent's feel every single minute, every single breath..........only about THEIR DAUGHTER. I am waiting to hear if an offer is extended. They are waiting on test results for the next action to take. I am waiting to see if we get an offer quick enough to avoid lowering the price of our house. They are waiting to hear if they caught the cancer quick enough to avoid losing years of their daughter's life. I am waiting to hear if the house I love will become someone elses'. They are waiting to hear if their daughter will once again go back and live with God.

Everyone has problems. Everyone has crosses they must bear. Everyone has something they worry about. And I am not really saying one person's worries are more than another's. But what I am saying, for me at least, is that home truly is where your heart is. Home is what you make it. Home is your family and friends. My walls, my beautiful kitchen and loft, the memories in this house. They would be nothing if not for the three people I shared them with. We should remember what, and who, is really important.........before we are wishing we did.