After Surgery Pics

Good Morning. 

There have been some people curious about the surgery that DH had, and also there's someone that needs to see the pictures.  Sooooo...here's the pictures of the scars that DH will have. 

(Yep we're calling him zipperhead right now!)

You can see that it was quite a surgery and he is healing well.  I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support.

Who gets new flip-flops?

Wow.  I figured I would have more people enter for these AWESOME flip-flops...but since there were only two entrants and there's TWO prizes...Congrats Martha and John.

Email me your shipping info and I will forward it so you can get your prize.

Mai Pehn Rai : FeelGoodz Flip-Flops Review and Giveaway

Last summer I had the good fortune to win a pair of FeelGoodz from Always Looking ForThat Shaker of Salt. They were so nice, I got in touch with the fine folks over there, and now I have my own review and giveaway.

When I found out I won, of course the desired color was PURPLE!! I got my flip-flops super fast and couldn't wait to try them out. Now, I live and work on a farm, so I can't wear the flip-flops that often, but when I do, I'm in love.

First, I have to say that FeelGoodz is a company that I thoroughly respect. Their flip flops are recyclable. You don't have to throw them away, you can bury them or use them in compost bins. They're not sitting in a landfill taking up room. FeelGoodz also has a program to Recycle your used flip flops.

The first thing I noticed about these flip flops was the bag that came with them so that you can store them when you're not wearing them every day (like me).

When I put them on I noticed that they were incredibly soft. Totally different from any flip flop I've worn before.

So, since it was summer and a lot of people wear flip-flops, I started wearing them often. With my jeans, with shorts (the two times I wore shorts) and always at night. I don't go anywhere in my house barefoot so I got to wear these comfy flip-flops every night.

I can honestly say that these are built well. I am really hard on my shoes because I trip often, and with most flip-flops, it tends to break them within a couple months of wearing. I can gladly say that these show NO signs of wearing out.

These flip flops also conformed to my feet, making them even more comfortable to wear. And after a couple months of wearing them at least a couple of hours EVERY DAY, I can say that they show no signs of wearing out. And, if it's possible, they're even more soft and comfortable than the day I got them!!

So, now that I've raved about these most comfortable flip flops, you're probably wondering how you can get a pair? Well...

1. You can buy them from the FeelGoodz site for approximately $25.00 a pair

OR

2. You can win a pair from me and FeelGoodz (link)

Yep, that's right. The wonderful people over at FeelGoodz are going to set TWO lucky people up with their own pair of wonderfully comfy flip flops! (I wish I could enter this giveaway so that I can get another pair for variety *hint hint* LOL)

So, how do you win a pair, you ask?

Easy! Just follow the directions below for entries, and on December 20, 2010 I will use random.org to pick two lucky comments.

Entries:

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me the three aspects of FeelGoodz triple bottom line business model (hint: you can find it by reading about the company) *yes this one is supposed to make you look at the site really well!* (1 entry)

Extra Entries:

Follow TheMarciFactor via Google Friend Connect (2 entries)

Follow @TheMarciFactor on twitter and tweet :

#Win a pair of flip flops from @TheMarciFactor and @FeelGoodz http://bit.ly/gFnuPP ends Dec 20 (1 entry) *and may be tweeted 1X daily for 1 entry*

Subscribe to TheMarciFactor via email (1 entry)

"Like" TheMarciFactor on Facebook (1 entry)

Follow @FeelGoodz on Twitter (1 entry)

"Like" FeelGoodz on Facebook (1 entry)

"Like" this page : http://www.facebook.com/NewYearsEve

and then "Like" my comment http://www.facebook.com/popchips?ref=ts&v=wall#!/NewYearsEve/posts/460211977306 (3 entries)

Disclosure: The opinions contained in this blog are 100% my own. I may or may not have received some products for the purpose of this review.

This contest is open to the US only and will end on December 20, 2010 at 11:59 PM Central. The winner(s) will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours after I send the email to respond, or new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thank you for supporting TheMarciFactor!

And the Winner is:

Sorry guys for the very late announcement of the Legacy Deluxe.  I've been kinda knocked on my butt with a really bad asthma attack.  So, the winner is ...
                       JoeyfromSC
Congrats and I hope you have as much fun with it as I'm having.

Legacy Family Tree Review and Giveaway

I'm incredibly lucky! I got a chance to review the Legacy Family Tree program to track my family history. I have always wondered about my grandmother's family. Where are they from, who are they, did she have a middle name and if so, why wasn't it know to even her children? I'm very proud of my Mexican background, and I'm proud to say that I'm a Gonzalez and my maternal grandmother is Acevedo. But not much is known about either side. I know that my grandparents originated in Mexico, and I know that my grandfather served in the Air Force during the Korean War. But, it seems like there was this big hole because I didn't know much about them. Grandma used to tell stories about how she would pick cotton in her early life. These are the stories I want to know. This is the information that I want to pass on to my children. So, when I got this chance, I jumped on it.

When I got the email with the download information, I went to work right away! I'm always curious about things, and I want to know the how, why, when, where of things. I want to know if someone had a little baby that died, and how s/he died. I think this is important to know. What if somewhere way back in the family tree, lies the clue to why something is happening today? Not to mention, knowing your family history is important for medical information.

On downloading the Legacy Family Tree, it right away asked me to set it up, which was incredibly easy and you were walked right through all the basic steps. I will tell you from experience...watch the beginners video. There are so many tools in this program that help you, but you won't use them if you don't know about them. This program provides everything to get you started on mapping your family. You can even include pictures!!

You can even go online and do research for your family. I've been working on my family history a little every day, and it's incredibly easy and well laid out. You can set up a to do list, and print it out. You also start with the basic family information that you have and can go from there.

You can also create more than one family tree if you're wanting to do one for someone else, or like me, trying to get the history of my ex-husband's family. I would like to make that information available to my son when he gets older.

So, how do you go about putting in this information that you have? And, how do you go about finding more information? That's a great question? First, you click on your family file that you created when you downloaded the program. Then, you can click on Family or Pedigree and go from there. It's incredibly easy to add family members, and it allows you to go on what information you do have, whether it's a little or a lot. For me, it's very little.

This program also allows you to input general information that you may have, and notes as to what research you have done. It's great from Beginners to Advanced levels of research, and it walks you through most of the activities. You are also given the opportunity to search the internet for the people, and get the information to help you on your quest for the family tree. But, please be careful because some of the sites do charge for information while others are free.

So, how can you get your hands on a copy of this program? Well, you could buy it online for $29.95 at Legacy Family Tree or you could win a copy! Yes, one luck reader of my blog gets a free copy of this wonderful research tool, and it's worth every penny!!

So, how do you enter you ask? Well here's how:

*Please leave an email address (you can use name at site dot com format) so I can contact you if you win

AND

Leave a separate comment for each entry (if an entry is worth 2 then leave 2 comments)*

Mandatory entry: Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND go to Legacy Family  and tell me which bundle or product you would want most. (2 entries)

Extra entries:

"Like" The Marci Factor on facebook (one entry)

Follow TheMarciFactor  on twitter (one entry)

follow Legacy Family on twitter (one entry)

"like" Legacy Family on FB (one entry)

Grab my button and put it on your blog, you must leave a link to your blog ( two entries)

subscribe to TheMarciFactor via email (two entries)

Tweet (you must leave a link to the tweet):

Win a copy of Legacy Family Tree from @LegacyFamily and @TheMarciFactor http://bit.ly/9k6UR7  ends Nov 30, 2010 (one entry daily)

Disclosure: The opinions contained in this blog are 100% my own. I may or may not have received some products for the purpose of this review.

This contest is open worldwide and will end on November 30, 2010 at 11:59 PM Central. The winner(s) will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours after I send the email to respond, or new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thank you for supporting TheMarciFactor!

We have a Winner for ErgoBaby Carrier!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Please contact me within 48 hours at marcimallow at yahoo dot com to claim your prize!

Health Benefits-Is it time for your makeover?

Every year at this time of year, we get something in the mail or something through work saying we need to look at our benefits package and make changes if you would like to. What exactly does that mean?

For most of us, it means trying to get health care while we can. Trying to fit those benefits in our budget. Reading as to what is the best health care plan for us.

Being a military wife, we never had to worry about health insurance. It was a given. In our house, it's an advantage to be able to go to the doctor when we need to. When I was single, I knew what it was like to make a decision as to how badly I needed to go to the doctor. How exactly do you make the decision for your healthcare?

Some people exercise daily, some eat healthy, some avoid smoking and drinking. I try to do all of those. A big part of staying healthy is also getting the right health plan for you and your family. It doesn't take forever and it doesn't take a lot of research. Sometimes, with the right tips, you can make an informed decision in an hour or less. Here are five tips on how to make that decision easier.

1. You want to calculate about how much you are going to need to spend. Make sure you can afford the premiums. For some plans, there's a lower monthly cost, but a higher cost when you go to the doctor etc. You may want to look at your previous years health costs to make adjustments.

2. Predict what routine exams you're going to need. You need to get the preventive care that is recommended to prevent bigger costs in the future. Also along with the prediction, think about whether or not you have some finances in savings for those emergencies. If not, and you live an active lifestyle, you may want to opt for the plan that has more benefits. Also, look for discounts for not smoking or drinking, for gym memberships, and for being a healthy weight.

3. Compare the health plan options that you can get. If you don't have any options, then use the benefits that you are paying for. If your plan comes with a free eye exam every year, what is it going to hurt to get one? You're paying for it anyway!

4. Enroll when it's open enrollment, don't procrastinate. If you wait until the last day possible to register, something may come up that prevents you from registering. Then you would have to wait a whole year to get your benefits. Do it right away!

5. Look for cheaper alternatives to some health benefits. The local planned parenthood offers birth control based on income. The local health district offers shots and goes on a sliding scale. There are usually free health screenings everywhere. Also, use a mail order pharmacy if your insurance covers it, they are usually much cheaper than going to the pharmacy, and you don't have to wait in line.

With this family, we don't have to worry about health care, like most. We're automatically covered. Our premium is taken out of the retirement check before we even think about it. I really don't even know how much we pay for our health insurance (bad I know). Most people aren't this lucky though. So, pay attention to that "useless" paperwork that comes to your house. there could be big time money saving information there!!!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Aetna blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

I Can See!

A couple months back, I did a back to school blog that included Airwear lenses. Then I got an email asking if I would like to review these wonderful lenses. I was ecstatic, how did they know that I needed to get new glasses. So, I answered the email and bought the new frames and sent them in. About a week and a half later, I got my glasses back with Airwear lenses in them.

At first, because I wear contacts often, it was a big effort to wear glasses again. The main reason I have glasses is for first thing in the morning and at night because I LOVE TO READ! So, I purposefully went without contacts for a couple of days to try the glasses, and I have been wearing the glasses more than the contacts since then.

Let me give you a little bit of background as to WHY I wanted these lenses so much. (Most of the following is taken from the Airwear website)

1. They're ECO FRIENDLY!!! 100% of the production waste from Airwear lenses are recycled. They use 100% recycled water during manufacture. They're packaging is also 100% recycled.

2. They're lighter and more durable than regular lenses and protect your eyes from the harmful UVA and UVB rays.

3. The Essilor Junior lenses are 12x stronger and 45% lighter than regular lenses AND come with a 1 year unlimited warranty from Essilor.

I have to say, I'm hard on my glasses. My old glasses had numerous scratches on them, even though they were the photo gray type that is supposed to resist scratches. Also, I have one eye that is nearsighted and one eye that is farsighted, so my lenses look kinda funny. When I wear my new glasses, they are amazingly light. The only reason I can usually remember that I'm wearing them is I have excellent peripheral vision and can actually see the frames, which is why I usually prefer to wear contacts.

These new glasses have already survived Monster also. There was one time he was playing on our bed, and crawled up to the headboard super fast and grabbed them, and then proceeded to throw them on the floor. Not a scratch...and we have hardwood floors in our house. They has also survived being put in my purse without the case at the last minute because when I wear my ERGObaby baby carrier, Monster likes to grab things within reach-hair, Bluetooth, GLASSES!!! And then there's the wow factor that I got from my eye doctor, who happens to be a family friend also. I told him that I was just buying frames after my last exam because I'm getting the lenses for the review. He was surprised that I actually knew about the different lenses!

So, when we buy TheDHCaveman's next glasses, we're getting him Airwear lenses. And, since I caught Monster's eye problem early, he doesn't currently need glasses anymore, but, if he needs them in the future, he's most definitely getting Airwear lenses in them. And, I'm now recommending these to all of my friends that happen to tell me they need new glasses. I love the fact that they're eco-friendly. If you know our family, you know that we even recycle chicken poop for fertilizer for our garden!!! They're stronger than normal lenses for kids, which is a big plus when you have a little boy! All I have to say is I LOVE AIRWEAR LENSES! And I hope you will try them now!

You can always follow Airwear on twitter

and

you can follow Airwear on facebook

Book Review: The Glamour of Grammar

What do you do about grammar? If you're like most people, you were assaulted with nouns, verbs, pronouns, adverbs, and adjectives amongst others in elementary school. Me, I would never have survived the standardized tests without multiple choice. Even School House Rock never helped me. The way that our teachers taught it was boring and confusing. Until high school, I always guessed at anything more than a noun and a verb. In high school, it only got a little better, VERY LITTLE. And then there was diagramming sentences...we won't even go there!

 

When I was given the opportunity to review "The Glamour of Grammar" by Roy Peter Clark, I jumped on it. I enjoy reading with a passion. I always have a book with me, even in my iPhone. I also wanted to brush up on my grammar skills for when Monster starts school.

 

The day I got the book in the mail, I was excited. Who can be excited about a grammar book? Yep, that would be me, I'm a nerd! I started reading it that day, not knowing what to expect. What I found was a huge sense of humor combining the classical grammar rules. This was grammar like I've never seen it. There was comedy, wit, and sarcasm all combined in a book about grammar. There were many times I found myself laughing out loud, literally, reading this book.

 

Mr. Clark brings a whole new life to a subject usually approached with a groan by people. I found myself opening the book at every opportunity, if even for a couple of paragraphs.

Mr. Clark outlines the proper use of certain words, for example the difference between lie and lay. He also outlines the proper use of punctuation, "Use the semicolon as a 'swinging gate'." He also suggested something that I used to do when I was younger, read the dictionary for fun and learning. During the summer months, my parents never took me to the library, so we had to settle for reading what was in the house. Since I was the only one that read a lot, I ran out of books quite fast. The encyclopedias were quite interesting at times.

 

Overall, I LOVED this book. It's also a great point of reference if you need to go back and research a certain point. I've bought a copy for my Kindle so that I can have it for reference, and also it became a favorite quite fast. I would recommend this book to anyone that has a child struggling with grammar, and also the college student wanting to write better papers. Heck, I would recommend this book to any avid reader as you will enjoy the wit that comes with learning something new. I bet you there's something in this book that you did NOT know yet!!!

*This book was provided free of charge for this review, it in no way affected my views on the review*



It's Flu Season...Have you gotten your vaccination yet?

Because my husband is a Vet, and my doctor doesn't see infants, we have three different doctors. The one thing that we always coordinate is our flu shots. With DH going to the VA Clinic, he is the hardest to coordinate. But as soon as he gets the appointment for his shot, Monster and I usually get ours within a day or two. Why are we so vigilant about the flu shots in this family? Well, when you have a preemie, their health is the most important thing. And because they are preemies, their immune systems aren't all the way developed.

Now, why is it so important for people to get the flu vaccine every year? That is because, there are different viruses every year. Yes, it is always called the flu, but there are different viruses that go under the term "flu". The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us of simple steps we as family and friends can take to help protect ourselves from the flu.

1. Always get your flu vaccine. Just because you got one last year, does not mean that you're protected this year!!

2. Always wash your hands! We don't always have a sink available, so we use hand sanitizer. While it's not the preferred way of keeping clean (it also kills the good germs) it's what we use when there's no other way available.

3. Children as young as 6 months can be vaccinated from the flu. I went to the doctor the day my son turned 6 months old for this one!

4. The flu vaccine is available in mist form for those that don't like shots. You can get more information on the mist form from your doctor or visit www.cdc.gov/flu

5. Even if you got the 2009 H1N1 Flu vaccine, you still need to get the 2010-11 flu vaccine for this season.

The most important thing in my life is my family! I do what I can to protect my husband and my son, and if that means causing a little discomfort for the sake of giving Monster a vaccine, I do it. Monster's doctor doesn't have the flu vaccine in yet, but we're on the list as soon as they get it, which means we will get an appointment that day! My doctor usually calls me, or sticks me when I have an appointment for something else, yes that has happened, "oh while you're here, you're getting the flu shot" has been said to me a couple of times. But that is also because I have Asthma and it's recommended for people who have Asthma to get the flu vaccine every year. And then all DH usually has to do is walk in and get his shot from the VA Clinic. So, we're all prepared and waiting on Monster's doctor, which should be in the next week or so.

I wrote this blog post while participating in a TwitterMoms blogging program for which I may receive a small thank you (valued at less than $20).  For more information on how you can participate click here.

You Have a Baby on Your Back

When DH and I found out that I was pregnant in October of 2008, it was kind of unexpected, but also planned. We had talked about having a baby, but didn’t think that I would get pregnant so soon after we had made the decision to start our family.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I started doing research on what baby stuff I had wanted to get. For the first time, I was in a position to be able to afford some of the things I wanted, instead of only getting the necessities.

I spent weeks researching what stroller I wanted, what car seat I wanted and other baby items. DH and I had planned on going to baseball games with the baby, and I knew that a stroller or infant car seat was not allowed in the stands. Therefore, we decided to look at baby carriers. I wanted something that was easy on my back and easy on the baby also. I had planned on breastfeeding, so I also wanted something that I could easily take off. I also did not want a baby carrier that I had to wrestle with to get the baby in and out of it.

One big consideration and reason we had wanted a baby carrier was because of the farm. I was the one that dealt with customers, and most of the time sold the chickens. I had to be able to have a carrier that could hold the baby and also allow me to still catch and handle chickens.

All of these things had to be considered.  I was not going to buy something that could only be used for a couple of months.  I wanted something that would grow with the baby.  And, I found the ERGObaby Carrier. 

With the ERGObaby, not only could I have something that would grow with the baby, but I could use it when he was newborn.  I could breastfeed in it.  I could convert it to be worn on the hip, and it could also be used on my back.  I thought this was perfect. 

When Monster was born, he was early so all of our plans had been thrown out the window. I was unsure of using the baby carrier with a baby so young, so I did yet more research. That’s when I found that there was an Infant Insert that would cradle Monster when he was so little.

It wasn’t long after Monster came home from the NICU that I was back to selling chickens. There were times that I could arrange for customers to come and get the chickens during Monster’s naps, but there were also those unexpected customers that just dropped by.

When that happened, it was very easy for me to put Monster in the ERGObaby, and take care of business.  There were also times, when he was just fussy and colicky.  Nothing would soothe Monster.  He developed the like for me walking with him real early.  Boy, am I glad that I bought this thing.  There were many nights when he just wouldn’t go to sleep, and I would put him in the ERGObaby and walk around with him.

Now, as he has gotten older, Monster doesn’t like me to be out of his sight. This makes for a very had time doing housework. When he gets in those moods where he wants to be held, I just pull out the ERGObaby and strap him to my back. I NEVER leave him alone in the house, so when I have work to do on the farm, he gets strapped onto my back and we both work on the farm together.

This ERGObaby carrier has not only made my life easier, but it has also made me closer to Monster. He gets the advantage of being with mommy and having cuddle time, and I have the advantage of knowing he’s not getting into mischief while I’m cleaning or cooking.

I take it everywhere we go. Usually when we go to the store, I put him in the ERGObaby instead of the baby cart because I know that he’s safest on my back. He likes being able to look at adults at our level instead of being down low like in most shopping carts.

Recently, we took a trip to Houston for a mini family holiday. When we got to the hotel, I had forgotten to ask the front clerk something, so I needed to head back up there. DH wasn’t feeling well, so I took Monster with me to the front desk, of course on my back in the ERGObaby. I had passed someone in the lobby and in the most startled tone he said, “You have a baby on your back!” I had said, that yes, I have my little one with me all the time and he’s quite spoiled.

The next day, we went to Johnson Space Center and of course had the stroller and the ERGObaby.  Needless to say, we didn’t use the stroller much.  Monster was getting tired and wanted a nap, but he will not go to sleep in the stroller…he’s too nosey!  This is when the ERGObaby carrier comes in really handy.  Not only was I able to cuddle him, but I was able to pull the sun cover up over his head and block out most of the distractions that normally keep him awake.  With the sun cover out, I also covered him with his blankie.  He was able to fall asleep listening to my heart and feeling totally relaxed.

But, I don’t see having Monster with me all the time as spoiling him.  I see it as nurturing him and giving him the security that all babies should have.  It doesn’t bother me to put him in the carrier and do the dishes, or walk around the store, or catch chickens.  It doesn’t bother me that he’s used to being with mommy all the time, because I know that I’m not only keeping my son safe, but I’m also building a relationship with him. 

ERGObaby is going to give one of their carriers to one lucky reader of my blog!!!

How to enter :

**Important--you must leave a separate comment for each entry**

MANDATORY

You must follow "TheMarciFactor" on Google Friend Connect

and

"Like" ERGObaby  on Facebook (two entries)

EXTRA ENTRIES

"Like" TheMarciFactor on Facebook  (one entry)

Follow TheMarciFactor on twitter (one entry)

Follow ERGObaby on twitter (one entry)
Tweet "Win a Free ERGObaby carrier from @TheMarciFactor and @ergobaby http://bit.ly/babycarrier" (once daily, leave link, one entry)

Subscribe to "TheMarciFactor" via feedburner (one entry)

Grab my button and add it to your blog (two entries)

Contest will end on October 28, 2010 at midnight Central time. 
I will pick one person using random.org and contact that person by email, they will have 48 hours to respond, or I will choose another winner.

And the winners are...

I just want to thank everyone for their support so far, and Random.org has picked the winners for me!  So, without further Adieu, the winners are:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

and emails are going out today to both of you! 

This Makes Life Worthwhile

Today is an example of what makes me happy! This week, a friend of mine on twitter told me it was his daughters birthday, and asked me if I could bake a cake. I can bake cakes, but I SUCK at decorating, so I suggested getting one from the store. He was very pleased with that suggestion.

So, we connived and strategized and were able to get the cake to her at the start of her French Class today at SFA. I had never met her, or him even in person. When you have friends and am able to do something for them, you do it without asking anything in return. The cost never came up, though he did ask me for my paypal address..

So, this morning I went to Brookshire Brother's here in Lufkin and got the cake. Then I drove to Nacogdoches and delivered the cake. The following tweets are what happened!

Tweet #1

Tweet #2

I'm happy that I got to help someone new in town, because she's here for school. And I'm EXTREMELY HAPPY that I was able to make her feel her family's love from so far away--they live in South Texas.

And this is why I LOVE SOCIAL MEDIA!

Spouses Guide: How to survive while your spouse is at a Social Media Conference

I know that there are many self sufficient spouses that are married to people active in social media. But, for those that aren’t quite self sufficient here is a survival guide on how to get through one day while the significant other is at a social media conference.

First off, we spouses that go to these conferences are aware that you need help…that’s why we send the neighbor over every day to check on you!!!

In preparation for the conference, we make extra meals and freeze them, though we know that you will just go out to eat. We make sure there are clean clothes, even if it makes laundry day sooner. We make sure the day care is paid for so that all you have to do is drop little one off. So, here’s what to do from the start of the normal day without the spouse who usually runs the house.

You set your alarm, though you also have the poor spouse call at the time it goes off even though they don’t have to be awake for several hours. We call several times until you actually wake up and ANSWER THE PHONE!

Next, there is a big box type thing usually at the end of the bed, sometimes beside the bed, it’s called a dresser and it holds clothes. Go to the top drawer on the right. That’s the underwear drawer and you will find plenty of clean underwear there. Then right under that is the sock drawer, again…clean socks. Next you need to get dressed and you usually know where the jeans and shirts are, but just in case, they’re hung up in the closet.

Next, you need to go make your coffee. Now, like most spouses, you need coffee to wake up. So you need to head to the kitchen and get the coffee made. While the coffee is brewing you need to take care of the morning hygiene. That way you can drink coffee while doing the rest of the things you need to get done before you leave for the day.

After you drink your first cup of coffee, you should get the little one’s stuff ready for day care. You will need to pack some bottles for the day, an extra outfit, and formula/milk. Once you have the diaper bag packed, put it in the car BEFORE you wake little one up. Next, you should get your stuff ready to go, whether it’s your backpack for school or stuff for your job. It’s always good to get this packed and in the care BEFORE little one even enters the picture for the day.

Then, it’s time to wake little one up…but first, you have to make a bottle for little one so that it’s ready for crabby little one. Don’t take it in with you when you wake them up, instead, have it in the living room for after you change the diaper. Now, gently wake little one up. This can be accomplished usually by just picking them up and holding them to you. Little one will be wet from diaper overnight, so you need to change the diaper immediately. Then you need to get little one dressed. Again, spouse has made sure that there are clean clothes and you should choose an outfit for the day.

Don’t worry about feeding little one, the day care takes care of breakfast, lunch and snacks. You just need to remember where the daycare is. Take little one to the day care. Yes, they’re expecting him, and yes, we’ve taken care of everything in advance.

Now, you’re ready to go face your day. You should know what to do when you get to work/school. Now, daycare is paid up until 6PM so you have time for a nap after school also.

Now, if by some unlucky chance you need to make a doctors appointment while we’re gone, here’s what you need to do. By now, you know how to operate a phone. Go to the contacts list and look for the name of the doctor, we’ve programmed it in just for you, yes we’re sneaky!!! Call the doctor and identify yourself. Don’t worry, we’ve called the doctors office before we left also and they know that you may be calling. Tell the secretary that you need to come in/bring little one in. Then they will ask you what’s going on and you should tell them exactly what’s going on, like little one has a fever, or you need an adjustment on your back, etc. They will then ask you if you can come in at a certain time, and usually, they can make it when you are available to come in, or the next day. If you are unable to manage this, just text us, and we can make the appointment for you real quick and we will text you the time to be there.

For the next day/days, you should repeat these instructions. This is step by step so that you will know what to do each day that the spouse is gone. When we get back, we are aware that there will be a bunch of stuff to take care of. If we’re lucky, we only have a house to clean when we get home. If we’re unlucky, we have other minor emergencies to tend to when we get home.

**Note: this is based on some of what happened to me this past week, though some of it can be fiction…and some of it is learned for the next conference I go to.**

Fancy Nails and Pretty Eyelashes!

 How many of you played dress up as little ones? Did you always want the pretty nails and eyes? I know the only way that I was ever able to get my nails to look nice, was to go and pay $25.00 every two weeks for a manicurist. It got to be pretty expensive, and as I wasn’t working, I rarely got my nails done. But, I always liked getting my nails done. And, I’ve only one time in my life had a facial done. With that being said, I rarely wear nail polish and little more than the basic makeup.

Recently, I had the opportunity to review some products from Revlon. I was sent some false eyelashes and glue on nail tips. Now, I have to admit, I’m normally a Plain Jane and never really spent much time with makeup and nails. The most experience I ever had with false eyelashes was watching Barbara Harris in Freaky Friday. My mother never wore them, and I never felt I had a need for them as I had long eyelashes. But, when I put them on, I was amazed. They were incredibly easy to apply and very comfortable to wear. The first day, I wore the self-adhesive eyelashes. I was impressed as to how natural they looked. My brother-in-law came by the house, and I asked him if he could tell a difference and he couldn’t. Next, it was the big step and the eyelashes that you needed to apply the adhesive. I was a bit nervous about this as I’m a tad on the clumsy side.

Again, they were incredibly easy to apply. In fact, I liked the glue on lashes better than the self adhesive. They were nicer and more natural looking to me. I am a new fan of the false eyelashes. I won’t think that they are for pageants or for extra special occasions anymore. I’ve been wearing them around 2-3 times a week since I got them and love them!!!

My take on the false eyelashes? Well, I prefer the glue on more than the self adhesive. They look completely natural and are extremely comfortable. They’re easy to apply and easy to take off. They’re re-usable as long as you take care of them. The drawback, since I’m a big fan now, I’m gonna have to start buying more.

Then it was the glue on fingertips. First I tried the Mauve glue on nails from Revlon. I loved them. They were fairly easy to apply. Remember, I’m a klutz and did end up with glue on my fingertips. It was recommended to only wear them for a week, but I was able to stretch it out to ten days until they started to show wear. They fit comfortable and the length was perfect. So, I took them off. The directions stated to soak them in acetone to take them off, but I was able to just pull them off with a little pulling. The glue was strong enough to handle me unhooking the car seat and washing dishes, yet, after 10 days it was easy enough to just pull them off without having to soak them.

Next, it was the French Manicure tips from Nailene. When I put them on and asked my DH what he thought of them, he was a bigger fan of the French Manicure. (You learn something new everyday!) So, this is also something else that I will buy every month. I like the nails so much that I’m going to continue to wear them. I was sent a set of tips with a zebra pattern on them, and I’m saving those for my trip to Chicago later this month.

I was also sent a paint on French Manicure set, and honestly I did try it….but I warned you guys I’m not good with painting nails. It was a NIGHTMARE for me! I can’t even use clear nail polish, but for normal people, it’s fairly easy as there are “stickers” you can put on your nails to make the French Manicure look more professional. I think I managed to get one nail actually looking good! I just have no luck EVER with painting my nails. I never seem to let it dry long enough, no matter how long I’m gentle with my nails.

So, where can you find these fabulous eye lashes and glue on nails? Just about any department store that sells make-up like Wal-Mart or Target. You can also find them at drugstores like Walgreen’s or CVS. You can also stick with the old standby and order them online.

Or, by being a reader of my blog, not one but TWO lucky people with get gift packs provided by Revlon. The rules for entering are below.  This contest will end at 11:59 Central Time on September 30, 2010.

How to Enter:

Please leave an email address (you can use name at site dot com format) so I can contact you if you win

AND

Leave a separate comment for each entry (if an entry is worth 2 then leave 2 comments)

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Follow TheMarciFactor publicly on Google Friend Connect

and

Go to Revlon and tell me what you would like to try, leave a link to the item in the comment

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"LIKE" MarciMallow on facebook OR Friend TheMarciFactor on facebook (one entry)

Subscribe to TheMarciFactor via email (one entry)
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Tweet : "Win a goody pack from @TheMarciFactor and Revlon  http://bit.ly/95B5Qd" (one entry daily)
***Plz leave link to tweet in comment***

Vote for any contest I am currently in, links in another post (one entry per contest per day up to 6)

***Please check back often for the current contests***

Disclosure: The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge, the opinions contained are 100% my own.

This contest is open only to U.S. Residents right now.  Sorry friends overseas!  There will be others!

The winner(s) will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours after I send the email to respond, or new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thank you for supporting TheMarciFactor!

dreaming that stupid dream again

 I'm not talking about dreams, where you want something someday, I'm talking about the sleeping and hope you remember dreams. Today, I had a dream that, I do hold on to that someday will happen.

 

Monster woke up this morning at 0330 with teething pain and I ended up rocking him back to sleep. Of course that left me WIDE awake. So, I decided to get some work done and figured I would take a nap when he does around 0900ish. Yes, I got a lot of work done in the hours before anyone else woke up, including the kitten. And, Yes, I did take a nap at around 0945ish. I was exhausted by then because, after all, I went to bed at 0100!

 

Now, there's things in my past that I'm not proud of, and I'm sure everyone has those ghosts. Me, I tend to dwell on those coulda, shoulda, woulda moments. Today, while napping, I dreamed of Carol again. This is one of those mistakes that I regret.

BIG.
TIME.

 

She was like a second mother to me, and when I was divorcing my ex-husband, I did everything in my power to push everyone that had anything to do with him away, including the woman that I respected greatly. It's a defense mechanism of mine...if I push you away, then you can't hurt me like so many people have done while I was growing up. (I've had both of my parents say that they didn't want me.)

 

I dreamed today that Carol had invited me to her house, and I could see my daughter, and Leon. But, mostly, it was Carol. AND, she hugged me. I have yearned for that hug for over six years, and I'm still waiting in reality. But, oh it felt so good in my dreams. My own foster mom, Dandi, died last year, so I don't have a mother figure anymore.

 

When she hugged me, it was like everything was OK again between us and we could pick up where we left off. In my dream, it didn't matter so much that she let me see my daughter again, what mattered most was her forgiveness.

 

I make it a point to forgive people for wrongs that they've done to me and other people. I'm a forgiving person. I've forgiven the man that molested me, my father for beating me, both of my parents for using us kids as pawns in their nasty divorce game that is going on 20+ years later. Yes, I do tend to hold grudges and rarely forget and just a tiny bit of that trust that was there is gone...but I ALWAYS forgive. It's not up to me to judge, I leave that to God. It's up to me to make the best of a situation and learn from it.

 

So, I'm going to go to bed tonight with the hope that I hold on to for the future. That one day Carol will forgive me, and one day my daughter will know who I am.

Do you forgive?
I'm curious...

Beautiful Creatures Review and Giveaway

 From the time he was born, I knew Monster was addicted to music. He has constantly had to have some sort of music to fall asleep to, and he "sings" in his own way to the music on the radio when we're in the car. I've always introduced my kids to different kinds of music, when PJ was small, he was a big fan of Andrew Lloyd Weber and could even tell you which songs were what at age 4, his favorite song was "Memory." So, when I got the opportunity to review Beautiful Creatures, I was ecstatic! I've always believed in introducing my kids to different cultures and different music.

I was contacted by Paul from Beautiful Creatures and was instantly hooked from my first listen of Imvubu The Happiest Hippo. Of course, I wanted to do a review and listen to the rest of the great music. So, I got my copy of the CD and listened to it, THREE times!! This was after Monster went to bed of course, it's when I do all my work. So, the next morning, I played it again with Monster here...he LOVED it! You can tell because he was smiling the whole time. Monster's daddy liked it too, you can tell this because he didn't ask me to turn it off like he does with all my other music. How two people with such different tastes gets along so well is beyond me...LOL!

I have to say that the song Monster sings to the most is "Lucas the Lazy Lion" ROARRRRR!! And, I really can't say I have one favorite because they're all great songs, but I do like "Mafutha", because I LOVE ELEPHANTS! Also, I must mention "Beautiful Creatures" song, it's a great song with a message to "share this planet" and preserve our planet for "future generations."

My take on "Beautiful Creatures"

• 
  
  I love the variety of music
• 
  
  The songs are quite catchy, not sure if that's a good thing because I have woken up with the songs in my head!!
• 
  
  The songs teach about nature and the wild animals of Africa
• 
  
  The songs have just the right amount of education to them!
• 
  
  I'm going to have to buy more of the CD's to build Monster's music library!

How you can get your own copy of "Beautiful Creatures"?

You can buy it from iTunes

OR

THREE lucky readers will win a digital version via download!

How to enter:

Please leave an email address (you can use name at site dot com format) so I can contact you if you win

AND

Leave a separate comment for each entry (if an entry is worth 2 then leave 2 comments)

Mandatory entries (worth 1 entry each):

• 
  
  Go to the Beautiful Creatures website and tell me which item you like, leave a link to item in comment

AND

• 
  
  Follow TheMarciFactor publicly on Google Friend Connect

Extra Entries:

• 
  
  Follow Beautiful Creatures on twitter (1 entry)
• 
  
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• 
  
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• 
  
  "Like" MarciMallow on FaceBook OR Friend TheMarciFactor on Facebook (1 entry)
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• 
  
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Disclosure: The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge, the opinions contained are 100% my own.

This contest is open worldwide and will end on August 20, 2010 at 11:59 PM Central. The winner(s) will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours after I send the email to respond, or new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thank you for supporting TheMarciFactor!

How to Get your Kids Ready for Back-to-School

 If you're like most moms I know, you probably let your kids sleep in every day until they woke up.  While this is good for the summer, it's horrible to get them on a schedule for back to school.  Not to mention, that by the end of summer, both you and kids are usually ready to go back to school.  So, how exactly do you get the kiddos ready to abandon those lazy days of summer?  Well, let's look at several different things you can do:

1. First, you need to start getting kiddo back on a sleeping schedule.  The night before back to school IS NOT the best time to start this schedule!  I started about a month before school started.The reason I say this is because, you can't just say to your kid, "OK time to get back on a sleeping schedule you're going to bed at 8:00."  Yeah, that just doesn't work, because the kid has probably slept in late and won't be tired.  The best way is to start with a bedtime 2 hours after "school" bedtime.  That way, as each week progresses, they will be more tired. 
2. Second, you want to start waking little one up on a schedule.  Along with the going to bed early, comes the getting up early.  Again, start with 2 hours after "school" wake up time.  Yeah, that first week is gonna be really hard, as all of you will want to go to bed after you wake up.  Then, you have the problem that brings us to number 3.
3. You have to now figure out what to do with kiddo, now that they're up early and crabby from no sleep.   Well, you need to feed them a healthy breakfast and get them used to breakfast again.  Because, if your kids are anything like I was growing up in the summer time, I didn't eat breakfast...I always woke up too late for it.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
4. Next, (and this is especially true if it's a first time at a new school) you need to start getting kiddo ready to "get ready" for school in the mornings.  That means, no more lounging around in PJ's until noon and showers at 3:00 PM.  Just like a sleep schedule, you need to have a "getting ready" routine. 
5. Now, this brings me to getting to school.  About a week before school starts, it's always a good idea to pick a route to go to school.  If you drive kiddo to school, map out the route you're gonna take and start making the trip daily so you know what kind of traffic and roads you're dealing with.  It's a bad idea to just say, "I will take this route" and then there's construction on a certain street or road.  Not to mention, the horror that kiddo will feel at being late on the first day of school. 
6. This one ties in with the getting to school routine.  You should make sure that kiddo knows WHAT they need to take with them every day so that they can get used to carrying it out the door with them.  There's nothing more embarrassing than getting to school only to realize that you forgot your lunch or homework.
7. Some school districts have a meet and greet before school starts, so that you and little can meet the teacher, etc.  I would definitely go meet the teacher, especially if little doesn't like strangers, like Monster. 

So, here's some big tips for getting you (and little one) ready for back to school.  Do you have any other ideas that I've forgotten?  If so, I would love to hear them!!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get a HarperCollins book set. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Ten Tips for Ensuring a Healthy, Safe and Successful School Year

Yep, it's that time!  School is right around the corner.  The stores have put school supplies on sale, school supply lists are at the front of said stores and, if your child needs booster shots, the school has already sent you a notice!  But, there is one thing that many parents don't think about until there's a note sent home from the teacher or school nurse...your child's eyes!  It is important to get your child's eyes checked every year, sometimes even twice a year.  Children do most of their learning for the first 12 years through their eyes, and if they can't see well, they aren't learning well. 

Now, because my son was a preemie, I know that he is susceptible to eye problems, and was on the lookout for Strabismus, or lazy eye when he was younger.  I noticed that he was having one eye turn in and IMMEDIATELY took him to the eye doctor, and yes, eye doctors can tell if your child needs glasses at such a young age.  We caught Monster's eye problem early enough, that with glasses it was corrected.  But can you imagine the frustration, and the learning delays if we hadn't caught it.  Here's a picture of little one shortly after he got his glasses:

You can see he was cross-eyed in this picture.  Since I caught it early enough, he no longer needs glasses! And I'm grateful. 

So, now that you know that children as young as six months can get glasses, what kind would you get?  Well, there's a type of lenses called Airware, and you can learn about them here.  And, luckily enough, they are having an essay contest right now!  You can write an essay on how you are going to provide a healthy, safe, and successful school year.  But, here's my tips:

1. Of course, get your child's eyes examined. 
2. Start each day with a good breakfast, a child won't pay attention to the teacher if they're hungry.
3. Make sure you know your child's friends and parents.
4. If you live close enough, walk your little one to school, or watch them walk to school, or to the bus stop.  What some people have even done is start a "walk to school" coop where one parent does it for one day a week.
5. If your child rides a bike to school, please make sure they wear safety equipment!
6. Make sure your little one gets plenty of sleep.
7. Have a routine, it avoids being late and it's less stressful for you and your child/ren.
8. Make sure homework is done, sit down with your child, or spend time with them while they're doing homework.
9. Give your children some "ALONE" time, most often you're worrying about your child so much that you don't realize, they need time to themselves just like you do.
10. Always encourage your child.  If they want to be a soldier one week and a doctor the next, there's NOTHING wrong with that.  It's the process of learning that they're exploring. 

These are just a few of the many, many tips that are out there.  Please, connect with other parents.  And, always pay attention to your child. 

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about

AgChat Foundation Agvocacy Training Conference

 This week I got some fantastic news via email.

I mean FANTASTIC!

I had applied to the AgChat Foundation 2.0 Agvocacy Training Conference a couple weeks ago.  I didn't really think I would get accepted because:

1.) We are a very small farm.

2.) It was a day after the deadline to apply.

3.) I just didn't think I would qualify.

Well, not only did they accept my application, but I was accepted for the Training Conference.

So, now I have a problem.  I need to have the money for this conference by August 1, 2010.  Yep, that's two weeks for me to come up with approximately $1000 for registration, air fare, hotel, and child care for Monster while his dad is in school. 

So, this is what I'm asking.  I'm asking for donations to help a farmer get to Chicago for a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I'm not going to just sit here and wait for someone to sponsor me either.  Starting tomorrow (I had to wait for a business day) I'm going to all of the area stores and shops and asking for sponsorships.  In return for those sponsorships, I'm willing to provide these businesses with a social media campaign using the tool that I learn at this conference. 

And.

I.

AM.

PRAYING.

FOR.

A.

MIRACLE!

How can you help, you ask.  Well, it's very easy.  I'm putting up a donate button on the side of this blog and you can just click there to donate.  I will account for every penny that is donated and I will report to you guys, my friends and readers, with what I have learned.

P.S. If you are willing to donate at least $100, I will run a social media campaign for you for a month.

How To Get Your Kids To Embrace Summer Reading

When I was growing up, the schools did not really suggest summer reading.  But, reading has never been a problem for me.  I LOVE to read!  So much so, that I used to beg my parents to take me to the library all the time.  Of course, I didn't really have supportive parents, and they never did.  Still, I found other ways to enjoy summer reading.  My parents had a set of encyclopedias, and I would inevitably get bored enough during the summer that I would start on any given letter and start flipping through the book and reading what interested me.  Needless to say, now I know a bunch of useless facts..hehehe. 

When I was pregnant with my first son, who will be sixteen next week, I promised myself that I would listen to him and read to him as often as I could.  I started young, and by the time he was five, I couldn't get away with reading less than four books to him every night.  This was good, because he learned to read at an early age, by following along.  Back then, we did not have the Internet, and blogs and groups like Twitter Moms to give us ideas, and to support us. 

So, how do you get your kids to embrace summer reading even when there's so many more other things to do, especially video games.  The biggest thing is to make a game out of it.  You can do it during the hottest part of the day, when all the kids want to do is sit around anyway. (And here in TEXAS, that happens every year!)  You can challenge your child to read so many pages in a certain amount of time and of course being kids, they love challenges...which is why video games are so important. 

There are many, many programs that encourage summer reading now.  Harper Collins has one that I especially like for beginning readers called "I Can Read".  It has five different levels for every reader, and I found out about this wonderful set through this post from Twitter Moms.  This post wanted us to share with you, our readers, tips on how to get your child to read during the summer.

Another thing, is to reward them for what reading they do.  Say every five or ten pages equals a dime or some other reward that they look forward to.  Then at the end of the week or month, you can plan a special day, where you can take them out to eat and go to the store to buy something with the money they earn from reading.  Yes, this may sound like bribery...but soon it will get to the point where the books are more interesting and the reward is secondary. 

Last of all, make sure you spend time with your child while reading.  To send them to their room to read may feel like a punishment, and we certainly don't want that.  You can make it you and them time, or especially cuddle time.  How many kiddos would turn down special time with their parents during the day?  But, you should make sure that it is something that the child wants...if they don't exactly want to spend time with because they are daddy's little one, then encourage daddy to have that special time. 

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get an "I Can Read!" book. For more information on how you can participate, click here. 

Happy Independence Day!

I just wanted to take a moment and say

"Happy Independence Day"

We didn't do much today, nope not at all.

Went to the store and got some ice cream for DH because he likes his ice cream every night.

Then was going to McDonald's to get some dinner, when the belt of my car broke.  Not all the way mind you, but enough that it was making a lot of noise.  Soooo, I called my roadside assistance and got the car towed home where I will call the shop in the morning. 

We stayed at home today mainly because DH was working on school work.  You see, with his brain injury, school is a lot harder, and he has to work twice as hard to pass.  I'm learning everyday, that this is our normal.  The DH that I knew 20 years ago doesn't exist, there's only today.  There's the limitations in our lives on just about everything. 

I learned in 2001, what it was like to be the mom of a special needs child, but there's no support groups here for husbands that get injured in Iraq.  I'm using some of the things I learned way back so long ago, with DH, but he get so frustrated because he knows he is having problems.

So, that was our day.  How was your day? 

Independence Day Weekend

So, it's Independence Day weekend.  The Fourth of July has special meaning for this family.  My DH is retired Army and has served in two wars, the Gulf War and Iraq.  And we don't take any freedoms for granted here.  There are certain days throughout the year that I know to leave DH alone because he is still battling his demons from the wars.  But then, there are days that I need to pay more attention to him, and it takes practice to walk that fine line and know the difference. 

Yesterday, even though he was really tired, he had to get up early because of the headache from the hydrocephalus.  Until they put another shunt in, the fluid builds up.  The only way to relieve the pressure is for him to sit up and let the fluid "drain".  So, poor DH had to wake up early to get rid of a headache.  Thank you Army and Iraq. 

So, what are we going to do this weekend.  Probably not much as it's rainy here in East Texas.  We practice safety here, so we're not even going to risk going to the lake.  We might bar-b-que!  Of course,  since this is Monster's "first" (we don't count last year because he was so little we didn't take him anywhere) Fourth of July, I am going to go get some fireworks.  Just a few to set off here in the yard, and since the ground is wet, we don't have to worry about dry grass.  I will probably craft this weekend and DH will most likely work on homework and extra credit for his classes.

Well, so now I've told you what I'm doing for the Fourth of July, what are your plans? Please leave a comment if you would like!

HUGZ

Rayovac Powers your Summer Promotion!

So, it's officially SUMMER!  Not my favorite season, but great for fishing and camping!  So, with that in mind, what are you going to do this Summer?  Me...Well, since Monster is over one year old now, we definitely have fishing and camping on the list.  And with the fishing and camping comes....BATTERIES!! Yep, you should always take some spare, you never know when that flashlight will accidentally be left on (has happened to me.)  So, now I found this great contest from Rayovac Batteries.  Yep, I've entered!  Even though we have a tent, it was bought when we were still childless and now need a bigger one.  So, from June 21 to July 20, all you have to do is go and answer the daily question.  Not that bad, huh? 

Also, you guys know I'm a fan of Twitter parties, and guess what??? There's a Twitter party coming up!  Here's the details: 
Rayovac Powers Your Vacation Summer Promotion Twitter Event
Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST

Location: #rayovac

Follow: @Rayovac_Battery, @5minutesformom, @CirclePRMary
 
This twitter party is hosted by @5minutesformom and @Rayovac_Battery so come join in the fun for some great prizes ranging from a Summer supply of batteries from Rayovac Batteries to $50 Target Gift Cards.  I hope to see you there!
 
Marci

**The first 99 bloggers to promote the Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion won a prize package from Rayovac.