Set Backs in the Life of June Cleaver

Recently, my posts have been a bit more sporadic than I would like. This site is one of my greatest passions and I love to write on a daily basis. I love to write about happy things, funny things, interesting things-you get the idea! But, the time has come to pony up on a few things going on at the moment which has been affecting my ability to get on here as much as I want and I want to take the time to share this with you, especially since you take the time to come here to read my blog.

As you may remember, I had back surgery in June. Right after the surgery, I thought it was a great success because I did not have any more pain and was feeling great. Unfortunately, this summer things took a turn at some point and I have had more pain than I even want to get into. This past weekend, I was unable to walk due to some nerve problems in my legs. I have been confined to a bed for many days and have been struggling with just about everything. Simple things like picking up something on the floor, driving a car, doing laundry, playing with Tiny, to more significant things such as working, is all becoming problematic. I feel overwhelmed, sad and I am starting to get depressed by it all.

Its taken a toll on my family life. I am no longer able to run around or be so physically active with Tiny. I have missed out on family gatherings, picnics and parties. I have not been able to visit my grandmother who is not well.  When I do attend a function, I pay the consequences in the resultant pain for days on end. I miss being a part of everything and I miss being my old self. I feel guilty that my husband has to pitch in so much these days and give up a lot to help fill in the gaps where I am now unable to act, although he claims that it is no problem.

I am working with my doctors to try and resolve everything. I am looking at alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and physical therapy. I also have systemic lupus and diabetes, so I have to juggle these medical issues as well.

In the meantime, I am trying to keep my part time job and do as much as I can to live a "normal" life. I am thankful for this blog and my followers who keep me focused on other things and "in the game" so to speak! I am trying to focus on the positive, keep a positive mindset and try and stay as happy as possible. I am thankful to God for my husband and daughter and keep focusing on all of the things I have to be grateful for.

This week, I am going to be doing some write ups which are different from my prior ones; I hope you will enjoy them! I hope and pray to be back (no pun intended) on my toes soon and writing more frequently for you! Please feel free to email me if you are interested in guest blogging; I would love to have you! Thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my blog. I really appreciate your support!

Wednesday's Winner: Blog of the Week!

Today, I was going to be putting up one of my favorite blogs, and one that inspired me to start blogging myself. However, when I visited yesterday, I found that this blogger had finally revealed a big announcement which I have been waiting to receive for months now....and its REALLY amazing. SO-I am going to be awarding the Wednesday Winner Blog of the Week to her NEW site, which is her NEW project. Have I mentioned how AWESOME and AMAZING it is?????

It is Give Every Day, which is the new project from blogger Stephanie Schaeffer from Metropolitan Mama. Her and her family and going to sell their home and most of their belongings to travel the country in an RV in order to help the world and promote good causes.  Please stop by and check out this remarkable and inspiring blog. Congrats, Stephanie and good luck!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday Jam Session: Sour Cherry Jam + Winner of Target Giftcard!

Is it me, or did the summer fly by this year? I can't believe its already August! I have been busy in my kitchen, making lots of preserves before the summer comes to an end. I don't think there is anything better than having homemade jams in your pantry in the middle of a cold winter!  Today, I made sour cherry jam. I must say, the cherries were so sweet, though, I hesitate to call it "sour"!

First, I had to pit the cherries. I was careful to wear gloves or I would have been walking around with stained red hands all week long! That would not have been a good time. Next, I had to boil the cherries with a bit of apple juice.

Boiling the Cherries

 I then added one box of powdered pectin for unsweetened jams and jellies-I love it because it makes it possible to eliminate the sugar in any recipe, so you can use honey, sugar substitutes or just a bit of sugar if you want, provided that you are certain to add lemon juice, as it adds to the jellying process to firm up the preserves. I also added 1/2 tsp of unsalted butter to reduce foaming. Once it was at a full rolling boil, I was good to go. I fillled the pre-prepared jars using my funnel (a must have if you are canning!), cleaned the rims and then boiled them in my canning water bath.

Filling Up the Jars

Jars Filled with Hot Sour Cherry Jam-Yum!

Now, Tiny and I have been decorating our jars. We have been having fun with the fabrics but haven't figured out what labels to use just yet. That is the fun part for us! I hope we can figure that one out before we eat all of this awesome jam!

The Finished Product (Minus Labels!)

Ok-in other news, I reached my goal of 500 followers!  THANK YOU EVERYONE for following my blog! I really appreciate your support & readership! In accordance with my Target $25.00 giveaway, Tiny and I decided to put down numbers onto pieces of paper and then Tiny picked one randomly. The winner of the giftcard is NUMBER 24!!!! Pamelajane!!!! I have emailed you, so please get back to me to claim your prize and provide me with your shipping address so I can mail you your gift card! Thank you so much for entering this contest.  For all of my other followers---please be sure to keep following, as I have some great giveaways and more in store for everyone in the near future!!! Thank you!!!

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Create Your Own Tile Mural or Home Project with IdeaStix Plus a Giveaway!

Recently, I had the opportunity to try IdeaStix*, which are self-adhesive decor accents you can use to create many different types of projects-from tile murals, kitchen backsplashes, mirrors, glass, lamps and more. With IdeaStix, the sky is the limit!

I tried the IdeaStix Mural Style in "Fleurs" design in my bathroom. The design is really beautiful, and features multicolored flowers in a basket. The set came with easy to follow directions and simple, self-adhesive pieces which you just had to stick accordingly on the area you were using. The most difficult part was the measuring of the area and that was it. The result was pretty impressive, considering I did this on tile. It actually does look like its engraved in the tile, unless you get up really close and start to feel the tile itself. I love the result and it makes my bathroom look way better than it did before I used the IdeaStix!

Fleurs Design, Courtesy of IdeaStix

IdeaStix are also waterproof, removable and reusable, washable, heat resistant, stain resistant and steam resistant.  In addition, they are colorfast. They also do not leave behind a sticky residue when you remove them. They are great for renters since they can be removed so easily and are not permanent!

Want to Try out a Set of IdeaStix of your Own?

The good people from IdeaStix have provided a set of Tropical Fish accent designs for one of my followers to try out for themselves. If you want to get in on this giveaway, here is what you have to do:

1) Leave me a comment telling me where you will use your IdeaStix. Please be sure that your email is accessible so I can contact you if you win!

BONUS ENTRY:

 2) Become a follower of my blog! This will get you 3 extra entries!

This contest is open to US residents, 18 years of age and up only. Winner will be chosen by random on or about August 20, 2010. Thank you!

* I received a complimentary sample of IdeaStix for purposes of this product review. No other compensation was provided.

A Very Cool Kitchen Helper Which Also is GREAT for the Kids and a Great Spin n' Stor Giveaway!

I don't know about you, but I am always cognizant of thoroughly cleaning my produce, especially in light of recent salad recalls.  I recently tried a new kitchen product called the "Spin 'n Stor."*  This is an innovative bag which cleans your salad greens, removes water from them and then freshly stores your salad greens in the refrigerator.  This product makes me feel a bit better about the thoroughness of the cleanliness of the lettuce and greens I use in the kitchen.

Here is how it works: you put your washed salad into the bag, hold the top closed and then spin the bag in a round, circular motion. This part was actually really fun--my five year old, Tiny, enjoyed that part of it and was dancing around while hurling the bag in a big circle. Once you are done, the water goes into the bottom part of the bag in a special reservoir. You can then pour that part out. Afterwards, the bag is then closed with twistie-ties.

Images Courtesy of ArgeeCorp.com

The Spin n' Stor has been used by Rachael Ray, in Jaimie Oliver's "Cooking for Kids" segment on the Today Show, and has been featured in Woman's Day, Cooking with Paula Deen and Ladies Home Journal. Personally, I think these are fantastic for getting the kids involved in the kitchen! I can't tell you how much Tiny loved spinning our salad and then helping me make the salad afterwards. It was a great way to get her involved.

Want to Get Some Spin n' Stor Bags of Your Own?
The wonderful people from Spin n' Store have generously provided a set of four Spin n' Stor  bags as a giveaway for one of my followers. To get in on this giveaway, here's what you have to do:

1) Tell me how the Spin n' Stor will help you in your kitchen or make your life easier! Make sure your email is public or leave me your email in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Bonus Entries:
* Become a follower of my blog. This will get you 2 more entries!
* Blog about this contest and leave me the location so I can check it out. This will get you 3 more entries!
* Tweet this contest. This will get you 4 more entries!

This contest will end on or about August 15, 2010 and the winner will be selected by random and contacted via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim prize. Contest open to US residents 18 years of age and up only. Thank you!

* I received a complimentary Spin n' Stor bag for purposes of this product review; no compensation was provided.

Wednesday's Winner: Farmhouse Musings

Today's Wednesday's Winning Blog goes to one of my absolute favorites: Farmhouse Musings.  This amazing blog is the counterpart to its awesome online store, http://www.farmhousewares.com/.  Each one is fantastic-the blog features the best stories, pictures and more-its makes me feel like I am right there on the farm and am part of the extended family.  The store, on the other hand, makes it possible for one to bring the amazing goodies right home to your own doorstep to enjoy for yourself--amd wait until you see the treasures you can find. They are all seriously fantastic finds!!!!

Image from Farmhouse Musings Blog

The shop's great items have been featured in all sorts of magazines such as Brides, Martha Stewart Living, Romantic Homes and more.  The owner of the shop, Betsy, describes herself as "striving to surround my family with the values of sustainable living--without sacrificing style" and is dedicated to the green movement.  This past winter, I interviewed owner Betsy and she was just fascinating. To read more about her, her inspiration and shop, just click here.

Image from Farmhouse Musings Blog

I feel like I just want to pull up a chair to the farm table and visit with old friends whenever I read this blog and I am sure you will know what I mean when you stop by and visit Farmhouse Musing's blog! Enjoy this great Wednesday Winner!

Fan Friday- Winners & Losers of the Week

I planned to write up a list of the people and things I thought were worth mentioning this week; while I am definitely including this list and the links here, sadly, I have been hit hard this week with some big time "loser" stories that I can't seem to get over! I don't know if its my age or being a mom, or this week's heat wave, or what, but I have decided to include them here. Typically, I am an "up" type of person and don't dwell on the bad things in life. However, some of these "losers" are so shocking to me that I felt like I had to include a segment here called the "losers" of the week just to get this off my chest!!! So, today, I am featuring what I like to consider my winners AND losers of the week.

Let's start with the WINNERS! WOO HOO!!! These are the best people and things I have heard during the week so I am sharing them here. Thinking of these happy things make me feel good today....plus, its Friday!

1.Painting Stolen By Nazis Will FINALLY Be Returned to Rightful Owners in Austria

2. Superman Comic Book Saves a Family from Losing Their Home in Foreclosure

3. The First Black Woman To Apply to Missouri State University (and was denied due to racial segregation) receives an honorary degree

Ms. Mary Price Wells, Courtesy of ABC News

                            4. Man With a Rare Disease Won't Give Up on His Dreams

                            5. Firefighters Dismantle a Car to Rescue a Kitten 

                               (No Picture Anywhere of This Adorable Story!!! BOO! )

Ok, time for the LOSERS. Or, as Jim Carrey said in the film Dumb & Dumber, "Laaahhhoooouuuu---ssssaaa---herrrrzzzzz!!!" Seriously, people. What is up with all of this? Its all just disgusting and disturbing.

1. Scottish Pole Dancing Classes FOR CHILDREN  (Is this crazy or what? Am I the only person who does not think this is cute?)

2. 9 Year Old Boy Left Stranded for 8 Hours at a Chicago Airport, Forgotten by United Airlines  (Note to self: never entrust child with airline. EVER.)

3. Lawyer Robs & Vandalizes His OWN CLIENT'S Home (Seriously? SERIOUSLY????)

4. Amy Fisher/Long Island Lolita Will Produce & Star in Adult Films (Ok, I grew up on Long Island and currently live here-this girl gave LI a bad name back in the day and just continues to be a BAD example= to Long Islanders, to New Yorkers, to women, to mothers, etc.....................)

Well, I for one, will focus on the WINNERS above! How awesome are those winning stories and people. 

Do you have any thoughts on the losers? If so, please share your comments below-would love to hear your thoughts, comments, raves, etc....

 I wish you all a happy and healthy weekend. See you all on Monday!!!!!