The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

Wordless Wednesday

Love

 

Save in Your City: This Week's Savvy Savings and Scholarships Offers

Savvy Savings offers very cool deals in a bunch of cities across the US and best of all, 5% of your purchase goes to the preschool of your choice and 5% to a preschool scholarship fund for children in need. 

This week's deals are:

 

Dallas:

$70 for: a Family 4-Pack of Tickets to Symphonic Spooktacular

($140 value)

 

Philadelphia:
$16 for: A family pack of tickets to Penn Museum   ($20 Value)                                                             

San Francisco Bay Area:
$50 for: A Basic Membership to MOCHA ($100 value)

NATIONAL:

$20 for: an Award Winning, Eco-Friendly, Castle Tower ($39 value)

Affiliate Link

The Worst Day

On yesterday's Oprah (which I DVR daily and watch only when the topic interests me), the topic was how to survive when the unthinkable happens.  The guests, Lori and Chris Coble, lost their three children on May 4th, 2007, when a big rig tractor trailer carrying 40,000 pounds of electronics crashed into the back of their minivan. 

Their kids were 5, 4, and 2.

OHMYGOD.

The unthinkable.  Truly.  How could this happen.  How could the Cobles survive this.  How could they wake up each morning and go to bed each night living in a world that dealt them the cruelest hand I've ever heard of.  How did they... how do they do it?

During the show, the couple admitted that they made a no-suicide pact with one another.  No matter how intense the pain, they committed to not leave the other alone. 

Wow.

They shut the windows of their home to drown out the noise of children playing.  At Halloween, they went away.  But how far could they go?  I would imagine that you could never get away from yourself, and the source of the crazy heartache.

Then Oprah said this: in talking to others who have endured crazy loss, she is told that you have to walk through the pain.  This penetrated for me.  As no stranger to pain, who doesn't seek ways to dull it?  Alcohol, prescription meds...  But you can't.  You have to feel it.  Feel it, move through it.   And while I've never known indescribable pain like that of the Cobles, everyone has, at some point, felt some intense pain relative to their own life.

And if the Cobles could survive this, surely any of us could survive anything.

From Oprah's website:

Chris [the dad] urges people going through the worst days of their lives to not give up the fight to go on, even when things seem unbearable. "For me, [grief] was like a bucket was filling up, and every once in a while the bucket had to dump," he says. "The bucket dumping is you falling apart and being a complete mess for some period of time. And then trying to pick yourself back up."

Life is NOT fair.  Life gives us challenges that seem, that are unbearable.  The Cobles, by the way, are now blessed with triplets, born just about a year after their horrible tragedy.  And while their kids could never replace the children they lost, they have a reason to keep going.  They seem to have hope for the future. 

Dark days affect us all.  But after seeing this show and being introduced to the faces who endured pain that goes beyond any earthly comprehension, I packed up my darkness for a minute, entered the rooms of my sleeping children, kissed them, touched their hair, and told them I love them.

Then, I went to bed.  And everything was ok.

To read the Cobles' story, click here.

Why us bloggers should think about PR firms (sometimes)

I've been blogging for several years.  Working with PR firms and brands has become part of my daily routine to the point that I now realize that I've started taking this whole gig a bit for granted.  After all, who cares if I actually get around to reviewing that new toy sitting on my office floor or that kitchen appliance that's gathering dust?

Clients do.  They care.  They really, really care. And now, I do too.

Read my thoughts on blogger etiquette in my post at Blogger University, called Social media, clients, and bloggers, oh my!

Come back here and let me know your thoughts!

Save in Your City: This Week's Savvy Savings and Scholarships Offers

Savvy Savings offers very cool deals in a bunch of cities across the US and best of all, 5% of your purchase goes to the preschool of your choice and 5% to a preschool scholarship fund for children in need. 

This week's deals are:

Atlanta: 

$25 for: Coupon to the Little House of Art
($50 value)

 

Charlotte:

$10 for: Three Drop-in Classes at Funkytown Parties

($20 value)

 

Dallas:

$22 for: a Family 4-Pack of Tickets to Dinosaur World

($45 value)

 

Houston:
$25 for: a Pop-in Playtime Bounce Card (10 visits) to Pump It Up

($50 value)

 

Indianopolis:

$12 for: a Hayrides and Pumpkin Package at Piney Acres Farm

($24 value)

 

Minneapolis:

$26.50 for: an "I Get Around" Journal Kit and Open Studio 2 Experience at Kiddywampus

($53 value) 

New York:
$42 for: A Pioneer Membership to Brooklyn Children's Museum 
($85 value)

Philadelphia:
$10 for: A coupon to Paint Your Own Pottery at the Mud Room                                                      ($20 value)

San Francisco Bay Area:
$50 for: Family and Caregiver Membership to the Aquarium of the Bay 
($100 value)

Seattle:
$25 for:  A Coupon for Eco-Friendly Toys and Crafts at Planet Happy Kids                                          ($50 value)

NATIONAL:

$22 for: a 9-Month Subscription to Cricket Magazine

($44.50 value)

Affiliate Link

Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony Turns 10!

In March of 2009, I traveled across state lines and away from my family for several days to be with a friend, one of my oldest friends, after she underwent a double mastectomy.  Yes, you read that right - one of my best friends had a double mastectomy after it was determined that she had inherited the BRCA1.  When we were 13-years-old, my friend's mother died of breast cancer.

She was 44.

So you see, I have a very direct, very close-to-home, real-life example of why Breast Cancer Awareness Month is SO VERY IMPORTANT and why, over the course of the next few weeks, you may see more than one post about this special month and ways in which you and I can help further research in fun ways.

Ralph Lauren has been promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month through its Pink Pony initiative for  10 years (!), which supports programs for early diagnosis, education, treatment and research and is dedicated to bringing patient navigation and quality cancer care to medically underserved communities.  

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their involvement, on top of donating 10% of all proceeds from the sale of Pink Pony products, Ralph Lauren has partnered with chairtybuzz to auction over 200 unique items and experiences from now through October 21st. 

The auction items are AMAZING.  Opportunities like a chance to ride with Lance Armstrong, to meet LeBron James, to be styled and have a family portrait done by a RL photographer, to have your child appear in a RL ad, incredible trips, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and other items that are unbelievable.  Get your wallet out for these cool things don't come cheap, but if you've got it, your money will certainly go to an amazing cause.

While breast cancer is the cause that is particularly close to my heart, I know no one who hasn't been touched by this awful disease in one way or another.  If you can help, do.  And stay tuned for other ways you can contribute this month, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.

I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and have received various Ralph Lauren products as part of my participation. 

Save in Your City: This Week's Savvy Savings and Scholarships Offers

Savvy Savings offers very cool deals in a bunch of cities across the US and best of all, 5% of your purchase goes to the preschool of your choice and 5% to a preschool scholarship fund for children in need. 

This week's deals are:

Boston:
$21 for: Family 4 pack of tickets to the Discovery Museums
($42 value)

Atlanta: 

$10 for: Tickets to an improv show at Dad's Garage Theatre

($20 value)

Denver:

$40 for: Family premium membership to the Colorado Railroad Musem 

($80 value)

Houston:
$42.50 for: 10 passes for open playtime at Wonderwild
($85 value)

New York:
$25 for: A coupon to Steiner's Last Licks plus a FREE Sundae!
($50 value)

Philadelphia:
$25 for: A coupon to Kids on 12th - Philadelphia Kids Club
($50 value)

San Francisco Bay Area:
$47 for: Family membership to the Oakland Zoo
($95 value)

Seattle:
$30 for:  Family Membership to the Burke Natural History Museum
($55 value)

Affiliate Link

Overcoming Anxiety

I woke up super-early this morning and was channel-surfing before the pitter-patter of little feet hit the floor.  As I got higher up and infomercials became more prevalent, I noticed a show called Overcoming Anxiety and suddenly, I was brought back five to ten years.  As I watched the "real people" talk about their experiences with anxiety, I was reminded of my past condition.  I continued watching, probably to remember where I used to be and where I have gotten to, and there was my old friend, Lucinda Bassett, author of the first book I read when I first started feeling this really strange way, which started after moving from Montreal to Boston.  I couldn't name it, because I'd never experienced anything like it, and nobody that I knew (to my knowledge) had had this unfamiliar affliction either.  Bassett helped me put a name to it with her book, From Panic to Power.  What I was having were panic attacks, and anxiety to an extreme. 

I don't think I've ever talked about this on my blog, but I used to be a grade 'a' anxiety sufferer.  And I survived.  So this post is dedicated to all you people who wake up in the middle of the night shaking from an unknown cause, or have to leave the restaurant because you can't turn off the tears, or sacrifice friendships because no one can possibly understand.

I understand.  Better than you know.  Because for years, literally years, I was afflicted.  And I suffered silently, and sometimes not so silently, and I told myself I would trade anything for my "old self" again.  I pleaded with God, figured it would be better to suffer from a physical disease since at least that wasn't so weird and could be treated in a hospital with doctors and nurses.  I had no idea what to do.

Slowly, I found people, friends, who had had what I suddenly had.  It helped, to talk.  It helped to know that I was not nuts, not going insane.  That if these people could get their lives back, then so could I.

So I set out on a mission.  Sure I ordered Lucinda Bassett's program for hundreds of dollars.  After all, I definitely was comforted by the stories in her book, but what I learned was this: most people are so desperate to treat the symptoms of the condition - the sweating, the emotion imbalance, the irrational fears and scary thoughts - that they look for a quick fix.  While this, and any program or book like this, might arm the sufferer with some tools to help you get through a panic attack, they don't really address the true cause of the anxiety - YOU.

That's right - you are the cause of your own anxiety - and this is great news!  Why?  Because if you are the cause, then you can be the remedy as well!  All it takes is a crapload of hard work and a ton of dedication.  So off I went in search of a therapist for the first time in my life.  Since my symptoms were literally paralyzing, I chose to couple my therapy with medication.  An anti-anxiety that would help take the edge off, aid in helping me to sleep, and allow me the inner space I needed to wade through my issues.

Medication helped.  I stayed on it for a few years until I felt confident that I could continue down my path without the extra help.  That was about six years ago and I've been med-free ever since.

I've continued with therapy off and on since all those years ago, and can honestly say that by figuring out the problems that I didn't even know I had, I relieved myself of the condition of anxiety.  Now you might be thinking, if you didn't even know you had these issues, why bother?  Here's why - clearly my body knew I had things to work out because it was talking to me in the way of insomnia, stress, strange thoughts and panic attacks.  I had no clue what was causing them until I went into therapy and figured it all out.

I'm not going to lie - it was REALLY HARD WORK.  Sure, I could have stayed on medication indefinitely, as it did help to mask the symptoms.  But now, as I travel through my life, I'm able to handle the unexpected shots that everyone encounters at one point or another with out the help of medication.  I'm a solid, emotionally stable person who does not panic, does not become anxious at the mere thought of a problem, and I am able to stand firmly against the crap life inevitably tosses my way.

Life has thrown some of that unexpected crap my way of late.  And even with that, I'm proud to say that I'm anxiety and panic-free, and I owe it to no one but myself.  No one.  And even while I travel down a less-than-perfect path, I'm grounded, present, and anxiety-free.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from anxiety, please don't hesitate to contact me.  Maybe I can offer some help, some direction, or even just an ear.  I get it.  I was once there too.

 
 

Cleaner

A few weeks ago I wrote about the Crest Mouthwash test drive I was participating in.  It's come to an end, so it's time for an update.  Here it is: three weeks after introducing the mouthwash into my daily dental routine, I am hooked.

I can't say whether my teeth are necessarily in better shape than they were before I started using the product as I haven't been to the dentist, but I can say that I love using it.  It makes my mouth feel cleaner, my already rosy-smelling breath just rosier, and all-in-all, I feel like I'm doing a little something good for myself.  Full disclosure: to date, I've had really good luck with my teeth.  Maybe it's the floride the city put in our water as kids, but I've had one teeny, tiny cavity in my 35 years.  So it's not like my teeth were all jacked up to begin with.

But still.  Cleanliness is king. 

I don't always remember to use it, but I'd say I use it about 85% of the time.  And I've never been a mouthwash person, so that is saying something.  If you are a mouthwash person, or just someone who is interested in adding another step to their dental hygiene, try Crest's new Pro-Health Complete Rinse.  I bet you'll really like it.

 
 

I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Crest and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Movie Review: Life As We Know It

I went to see a pre-screening of Katherine Heigl's new flick last week, Life As We Know It, also starring the yummy Josh Duhamel.  It was really good.  Seriously.

I'll admit that it wasn't on my list of must-sees.  The trailor didn't necessarily do it for me enough to go through the motions of planning out the time, finding a movie date, and securing a babysitter.  But I have to say, after seeing the movie, I was pleasantly surprised.

Disclaimer: I'm very mad at Izzie Katherine Heigl for being so above it all that she had to quit Grey's Anatomy, my Thursday night boyfriend.  I love/hate her for taking her stethoscope and high-tailing out of Seattle Grace faster than you can say Ibeatcanceragainsteverypossibleodd. 

That said, she was really good in this movie.

And Josh D. was, well, I wanted to eat him up with a cherry on top but that's neither here nor there.

In short, the story revolves around the two, Holly and "Messer", after they are named the legal guardians of their friends baby, when the friends die in an accident.  Holly and Messer aren't what you'd call soul-mates.  In fact they don't care for each other much at all.

Take one single female + one womanizing hotty + a really cute ORPHAN and what you get is an emotionally touching story that just about anyone could relate to.  Single girl?  Check.  Cute guy with no intentions of settling down past the final moan?  Check.  Mom?  Dad?  Check, check.

It's cute, funny, heart-wrenching, easy-to-watch and hard-to-swallow all-in-one.  It's a good girls-night-out flick.  It's a cute On Demand movie-night in.  Just believe me, it was worth two hours of escaping the drama that is my own life.  Just see it.

I attended a complimentary screening of this movie to facilitate my review and received a gift card from Mom Central as a thank you for my time.