The Stomach Bug

The stomach bug/flu is back and it isn’t pretty! One of the worst things about living with this vomit and diarrhea inducing bug/flu, believe it or not, is not suffering through it myself but having to have watched my loved ones go through it, then accidently (thinking we no longer carried the bug) passing it on to others. If you get it, please stay hydrated. We accidently passed it on outside our home and someone ended up in the hospital from dehydration.

Despite this terrible 2 day bug going around our home these past two weeks, this weekend was very nice, but I’m too exhausted to talk about it. To sum it up though my husband and I went on a date for the first time in two years. We discovered it was a much needed and well wanted date. Then we discovered that movies aren’t made for adults anymore, unless you like cartoons, chick flicks or what I like to call ^^%&flicks. We aren’t into movies like these, so we looked for other things to do and ended up at a bookstore for several hours. We discovered it is nice to go to a bookstore without kids. It’s very relaxing. We then discovered the fact that we like bookstores and went to one on a date makes us geeks. I’m okay with that. So was he.

The next day we took the kids out for some fun with grandpa and their uncle (who happens to be  our kids age) to the kids science museum. It is amazing how much energy kids have. Why doesn’t someone like the kids science museum harness this energy to power the museum or something else? The museum already has solar panels. Why not just take it to the next step?

Paper Culture Product Review: Very Cute

via Paper Culture

Sometime last month Paper Culture thanks to Momfluence sent me a sample of their stationery products for review. I was pleasantly surprised to open the little brown mailing envelope and see a handful of colorful stationery. I was given 4 samples invitations and 4 personal stationery with envelopes to use for myself. In a lump sum these are the words that describe how I feel about my Paper Cultures samples: modern, high quality, beautiful, crisp, planet-friendly, brightly colored, cute, variety, affordable and simple. Simply put, I really really like this stationery. The one with the monkey hanging from the tree branch is my favorite. I struggle with keeping this one to myself or sending it to my brother. I will be sending the other 3 to my sisters.

Of course I can’t give a full review about a product without looking at the company as a whole. So, I logged onto the Paper Culture website to look at prices, categories and services and I have to say I’m still impressed. They have a Mail & Message service where they “will address and mail your cards AND print a different personal message on every card if you choose. Mail & Message service is free until Jan 1, 2010.” If only they would expand the time for a while longer. In addition all of “Paper Culture cards are printed on FSC certified 100% post-consumer recycled paper and are Green-e certified or Green Seal certified”.

These are durable cards too, like postcards. They are not flimsy or messy (ex. jagged edges, patchy) like some recycled stationery can be made. Paper Culture even has a card for almost every occasion: baby announcements, birthday invitations, thank you cards. Unfortunately, they are missing events like: weddings, bridal showers and anniversaries, but it does look like they are in the process of expanding their selection.  They can also be customized.

The business itself is a certified 100% CarbonFree business and it “maintains its commitment to “green” living by working to reduce office waste and purchasing carbon offsets”.

If you don’t believe me when I say how cute they are take a look for yourself here.

General Info:

Website: www.paperculture.com Email: contact@paperculture.com
Phone: (877) 77-CULTURE (877-772-8588)

Paper Culture Location: California (Northern, Bay Area)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paperculture Twitter: http://twitter.com/paperculture
About Us Page: http://www.paperculture.com/about-us.html

Have You Read My Husband Is Annoying?

I’m a gather member and on a daily visit to the site I came across a posting that lead me to this interesting blog. I have to say, what a great find! I will have to blogroll this blog. It’s a blog about a woman’s annoying husband. I haven’t come across a post yet that hasn’t made me laugh or at least smile. The muskrat posting…..that is just too funny. I also enjoyed her husband’s post. I think he should write a posting every other week or so.Unfortunately some people see this blog as a taboo. Why?

Recyling and Trash Turns Into Cash

I came across these links Greenbang and Trenshunter and There I Fixed It earlier this month and found a few innovations I really liked. Of course these sites always have something great to read about. There I Fixed it just makes me smile.  It remind me of what some of us will do to save money and or for the environment.

I need to remember to add these to my blog roll.

On another note have I mentioned yet that my husband and I are putting together a list of resale shops, so we can declutter our home and make a bit of money doing so. I don’t want to be a pack rat.   We found a place that consigns women’s clothing, a place for children and baby items including children’s clothing, and we found a place that consigns thing you would have put in a garage sale if you would have the time to have one. It is even called garage sale drop off. It’s a clever idea. The first two resale shops are right next to each other….so far so good. I have already begun to accumulate money in my account. The second one we just began using. Unfortunately about two weeks after our first drop off at the garage sale drop off I read a review online that they don’t give you the money you earn. I’m a little nervous now. I’ve consigned in the past. Both times have been bad. I’m giving it another shot and hoping and praying not everyone is dishonest.

Cancer Has A Way of Waking Us Up

I knew cancer ran in my family. My aunt has had it for years. I still feel guilty that I wasn’t there for her like family should be. When I was little I was close to her daughter, my favorite cousin. When I grew up and as I lived my life and moved here and there I hardly saw my favorite cousin, much less my aunt. It didn’t change when she was diagnosed with and treated for cancer. Now, cancer has hit even closer to home…I knew it would one day…I just wasn’t sure who it would capture…

She says it could be benign or just an infection in her left breast. She wont know for sure until two more appointments. It scares me to think she has been sitting on this scary cancerous thought for two month by herself.

I want to call her and hug her and tell her I love her, but she said she wasn’t ready to talk about it out loud just yet. I believe in giving people space, respecting their wishes, giving them the time they need to be ready to talk about what they want to say or do what they need to do. I did however send her an email, she mentioned these were okay, one simple line, to let her know I can be there at the appointments with her if she needs.

In the mean time she waits, we all wait, wide awake, to find out one way or another. There is no denying we are all thinking worst case scenario. It’s hard not to, but my hope and my prayer is that everything will alright and she will live a long healthy life with her son and her husband and with us. We will all grow old together.

Caught The Conrner Of My Eye At The Park

Caught The Corner Of My Eye is a new category. Here I will paste pictures I’ve taken of something that has caught the corner of my eye. Yes, I believe I have finally figured out how to post personal pictures on this blog site.

Saturday Was a Long Rewarding Day

The day began early in the morning. We should have prepared the night before, but as always we didn’t. Instead our morning began in chaos. I kept telling my kids to hurry and my husband and I were too tired to know what we were doing. Still we made it on time to the pool and registered for the swim meet. It was as busy and as crowded and as hot as we were told it would be. Had it not been for a few nice parents and their wonderful tent we would not have had any shade. Despite the heat (yes we used sunblock lotion banana Boat Kids for my girls and Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby for my baby) and the long day, my husband and I came home super proud parents.

We told both our girls it was up to them if they wanted to compete. My youngest wasn’t sure, but at the last minute she decided yes. The registration person wrote 18 on her arm and my daughter smiled at me. My other daughter wasn’t on the list. After some time the problem was fixed and she was registered by the coach for 3 races. I was surprised as well as nervous.

I think we waited about 2 hours before my youngest finally had her turn. I stood nervously near by.  I didn’t think she would jump, but she did. In fact she jumped ahead of time. She and my husband had a disagreement. I previously told her she didn’t have to stand on the step. This was allowed for young nonswimmers. She could stand beside and jump. He didn’t know I had told her this so when I moved around to take the picture he told her she had to stand on the step. I waved to help him understand, but before he could she jumped in. One of her swim instructors pulled her out and helped her back up next to the step. Then when the bell rang she jumped in again and swam, held on to the rope, swam, rope, swam, rope, rope and kick, rope and kick and so on. When she got about half way she turned towards where my husband stood earlier (before he walked to the other side of the pool to meet her). When she didn’t see him she began to cry and held on to the rope as tight as she could.

The coach asked me if I wanted him to pull her out. I said, “Yes please!” So he motioned to the other instructor that pulled her out the first time and he went in after her again, but instead of pulling her out, he helped her swim the rest of the way. At the end she was given a ribbon.

Everyone was so nice and cheered. They told her what a great job she did. My husband and I did the same, but we couldn’t help but feel guilty for letting her race so soon. Soon after my youngest was helped out it was my oldest daughter’s turn to go. I was nervous again. I could tell she was nervous too. The bell rang and she went in. Wow! I was shocked. She did great! She was so happy to make 4th place too. Her biggest concern the whole week was that she would be last. We just kept telling her it didn’t matter if she was. All that mattered was that she did her best. She definitely did.

Soon after we had a snack and then we waited again for her second race. It was a hot wait on concrete floor. Her second race was breaststroke. I found it odd that the coaches would sign her up for this when she hadn’t learned this style. Still she jumped in and did her best. Again she did well. She was amazing by her third race. The joy that shined on her face was wonderful. She loved this and I loved that she loved it. By 1pm we were finally done.

We came home tired, but had a birthday party to attend. It was my daughter’s friend’s party who just happened to be our neighbor two house down as well as her classmate. The party was enjoyable. These people were just like us, but a few years older. To think we’ve lived next to each other all these years and this was the first time we had visited their house. All we have shared was an occasional hello or a front yard conversation here and there. They did help me during Ike and came to meet my baby when he was born. Our children have also played together many times before….

We decided later to go out and eat dinner with them. We were the last at the party. We ate Chinese and our kids combined made a mess any restaurant would fear. It isn’t easy eating out with kids, but it was nice to eat out with nice people.

Subway Takes a Greener Step

Subway Goes rBGH-Free

Monsanto may have gotten out of the business, but many consumers are still very concerned about artificial growth hormones in milk products. More

The Humanity Family Bed

I like the idea of this product because it is multipurpose. During pregnancy the roll can be used as a body pillow. When the baby is born it can be rolled out and slept on top of. The roll keeps the baby from rolling of the bed allowing mom and baby to cosleep if desired.

http://www.inhabitots.com/2008/08/16/easy-co-sleeping-with-the-humanity-family-bed/