My Daughter's Adjustment to Life Abroad

As a teenager, it is hard to leave friends and family behind and start over in a new place. Especially when you are in high school. I thought it would be easier for my daughter if she went someplace warm, with lots of family, somewhere she had been before-so in July of 2017 she went to live in Guatemala. At first, there were lots of tears, arguments as to WHY, and negative thoughts. She had just finished her Freshman year in Maine, and was in the top 10 percent of her class-and here I was, sending her to a place she visited every Summer vacation but had no real firsthand knowledge about. Granted, she is a dual citizen of the US and Guatemala, due to my being American and her dad being Guatemalan. I explained the positives, warm weather year round, a different school experience, additional fluency in the Spanish language, new friends, and a closer proximity to her dad's side of the family. The negatives of course were leaving home, her grandmother, her Dad, her friends, teachers, brother and nephews and a whole lot of things that only she understood. She was worried about her grades, school in a foreign country and how well she would do. To make matters worse, the Guatemalan school year for Guatemalan schools is January to October. I planned on making her start school in July, halfway through the year and to make matters worse, repeat her Freshman year. Basically that was a trial run for her, and while the first month or so there were plenty of tears and frustrations, she eventually found and made new friends, joined the school band and began playing a new instrument called the Lira which took the place of her beloved flute she played in band back home. Her grades were decent, and she actually graduated from Basicos, 7-8-9 grade education, got a class ring for it, and took entrance exams to get into the private school she is currently in now. Due to the Guatemalan system, the Ministry of Education made her learn some new classes and took her US transcripts and applied them to equivalent Guatemalan classes. As a 10th grader now, her new school assisted with this so she would be current and up to date. Amazingly, she finds school harder in Guatemala than back in Maine, due to the number of classes and the strict grading. Perhaps not all schools are like that, since I know the public system is not very good unfortunately. For years, she wanted to be a teacher and had advanced classes back home, which actually help her out math-wise here. While in Guatemala she discovered a new career, that of graphic design and architecture which is what she is pursuing. Back in Maine, a 4 year teaching degree would have left her in debt as the costs ran about $25,000 yearly not including room and board. In Guatemala the University of San Carlos is low cost or free, although you will need to pay for materials and other incidentals. There are also some expensive schools there, for expats and their families, so it all depends on where and what you want to study. It makes me sad to know that her friends back home are studying but also doing drills to protect themselves from a shooter situation in the school. You don't see that in Guatemala, and schools are pretty much locked down with security guards or huge metal doors. Yes, there are dangers from gang members, robbery and other things you will find in a large city in any place in the world. And the traffic accidents with both vehicles and pedestrians are on a daily basis, which is scary. But she can study and concentrate on her studies, not on whether someone will come in to shoot her during class. After the Florida incident, there were 3 students, all known to her, who were arrested for threatening/terrorizing the school. And that is just in her school, other reports throughout Central Maine and Maine in general showed a rise in bomb threats, shooting threats etc... which is sad because schools were evacuated or closed. So, I'd say after some tears and pretty decent arguments she has adjusted okay, and looks forward to going back to visit friends this November. She also knew that if she wanted to return she could at any time. But she gave it a shot, and found out that she likes it and wants to continue where she is. I am happy that she has adjusted nicely and fit in with other students and is doing well in school despite the challenges. Moving from a small city in Central Maine to a huge city like Guatemala City also has its own set of challenges and advantages and disadvantages but I'll leave that for another post.

Life Changes-The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It seems like forever-or at least a long, long time ago that I last wrote in my blog. It's one of those things that you say, you'll get around to doing it but you keep putting it off until finally the day comes and you realize that so much time has gone by that you don't really know where to begin. These days I spend my time between the US and Guatemala, I wanted to retire here eventually and due to health issues gave up my full time job last year. Trust me, getting old is NOT fun. But the writing was on the wall, I couldn't continue doing what I loved due to changes in the workplace, more demands, and my body refusing to keep up with it all. Rather than get the pink slip, I left gracefully. My way, the way I needed to do it so I could at least feel that the time I was there meant something. At home, I can pace myself, take a break, sit, stand, or lie down and not have to worry about completing the daily workload. Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome along with arthritis really make things difficult sometimes, and I often have to take a break not just when my aches and pains are unbearable but also when my brain gets a bit foggy. There are good days, not so good days, and days I feel like a truck hit me and I will lie in bed all day and wallow in self pity. Days I let the housework go because I couldn't do it AND work. I had to make choices, which went on for years until I realized I needed help with housework, day to day activities, and dealing with the depression from all of this crap. You can only hide behind a smile for so long until you crack, and eventually I did. But it's all good, because I know eventually it will make me stronger in the long run. Right now Easter week is upon us in Guatemala, and while much of the country is still rooted in Catholic traditions, there are processions in the city center and in Antigua, Guatemala. Yesterday the church in my colonia (aka neighborhood) had a procession around the streets carrying a Saint while singing hymns. This is also vacation week for many here in Guatemala and the schools are closed (kind of like April Spring Break) and everyone heads to the beaches. My 16 year old studies here in a private school (which is why I am here so often!) and is glad for the week off. So, as time goes by life changes. Things happen, some of which we have control over, others we don't. We have to go with the flow, take things as they come and see what the future holds for us. My daughter certainly never imagined that her Freshman year in Maine would be her last at her high school. But, given the violence that has been happening in schools back home it was important that she be able to study without worrying about getting killed at school. You're probably laughing and thinking but Guatemala? Isn't that one of the dangerous countries? And I have to admit, yes it is-but any place can be dangerous in the world today. The key is being aware of your surroundings, avoiding dangerous areas and situations. School violence is a common occurrence in the States, here it is not. Just a few weeks ago after the Florida shootings 3 students were arrested from her old high school in Central Maine for threats made, and others in surrounding towns as well. Teachers are showing her former classmates how to do lockdowns and defend themselves in an active shooter situation, something no child should ever have to learn in school. Life here, life there-things change, people change, attitudes change. But in all situations, life goes on and we make the best of what is given to us. Or we become a leader, and change things to make life better for everyone. Here's to a great day, new beginnings and new challenges ahead!

She's Growing Up Too Fast!

My almost 13 year old daughter went to the first dance of the year last night... it is amazing how quickly she is growing up. Fashionista that she is, she wore black skinny jeans from JCP, a Braiden top from prAna in terracotta and ankle boots she found online last year from Barefoot Tess (she wears size 9 or 10 shoes already, a far cry from the size 5 I wore when I graduated!) Sigh... time is flying by way too fast, soon she will be a TEENAGER. I can't wait to see what that brings! (I remember my teenage years, and shudder to think I'm now the mom, lol!)

Review: Pong Rugged iPhone Case

I absolutely love my iPhone 5s... I've had smartphones before, but this is the first time I've had an iPhone and while I am still getting used to it, I'm really having fun downloading apps for shopping sites and fast food restaurants, and all that other stuff that helps me save money! I've had my iPhone since May, and while everyone is going crazy for the iPhone 6 and I've checked it out at my local Verizon Wireless store (hubby wants one and is waiting NOT so patiently lol) I am pretty happy with the size and width of my iPhone 5S.

Speaking of my phone, when I purchased it I got a rather cheap plastic case (in addition to getting the Applecare insurance of course!) and while the case was cute and all, it just didn't give my phone the protection it needed. Since I am always on my cell phone, I have to say that I worry a bit about radiation and have seen studies stating that cell phones emit a lot of radiation which can be dangerous.

I recently received a really cool case from Pong Research which was designed to withstand a 4' fall AND to also deflect radiation away from me while not interfering with my phone signal. I got a really cool orchid color, which looks great with my phone-and it also comes with a screen protector (which I haven't used yet, since my existing one is still good I'm going to save this one as an extra!)

The neat thing about these Pong cases is that they deflect the radiation the phone emits away from your head and body while still giving you a strong mobile connection. I've been trying mine out for a couple weeks now, and can tell you that my connection has been constant and hasn't changed a bit since I started using the Pong case.

On the back of the Pong case, there is a thin gold antenna, which works with the phone to re-direct the radiation away from you while keeping your signal strong. I also really liked the fact that this case has that rubbery feel, my last case was smooth and I have to say a bit slippery-I almost dropped it a couple of times due to that, but with this case I have had a good grip on my phone at all times. The cheaper plastic case I had cost me $15, and there was virtually NO protection at all. While the Pong case does cost a bit more, it offered me peace of mind that my iPhone would be protected should I drop it, and it would keep harmful radiation away from me. We all know the price a new phone costs if we have to replace it, even with insurance there is usually some sort of a co-pay!

My daughter doesn't have a cell phone yet, but she is hoping to get her dad's cell phone once he upgrades to a new one. Because she is young, and I worry about the effects that radiation from the phone may have on her, I'm thinking of getting her a Pong case just like mine.

The neat thing is they have cases for quite a few popular phones today, in addition to iPads-her school recently assigned her an iPad for use in class and at home as part of a program our Dept. of Education has here in Maine for junior high school students. The cases they give them unfortunately are flimsy and don't do any justice in protecting the iPad from damages if dropped nor the student from radiation. I'd love to see the students have Pong cases on their iPads!

My daughter really likes my case, but also loves designer cases too-so her wish is to see Pong come out with some cases with cool designs too. Who knows? Maybe they will.. ;) But in the meantime, I know I'm doing what I can to keep radiation away from me when using my iPhone and that suits me just fine!

Disclosure: I received a Pong iPhone case for free as winner in a blog giveaway, but it did not affect my opinion of the product. The above thoughts are mine alone and I was not required to write in my blog or do a review for receiving this iPhone case.

First Girl's Night Out!

Sigh... I often wonder what I get myself into at times. But it's all good, I assure you. I'd won a blog giveaway over at Rita Reviews for a Dolphin Tales 2 prize pack a few weeks ago. This past week, the package showed up and I was pleased to see all the swag they'd included, buttons, dogtag necklaces, a small swim shirt for my grandson, a tee which was a bit small for my daughter but ended up fitting one of her BFF's, sunglasses which were claimed by my daughter, an awesome beach towel (also claimed by the tween queen as I call her), mini posters, a bigger poster, and of course 4 Hollywood Movie money vouchers to go see the show at the local theater. Lucky for us, the package arrived in time as the tickets expired Oct. 9th, and lucky for ME that the local Flagship Cinemas accepted the free passes AND was still having a couple of showings of the movie this past weekend. My daughter quickly got in touch with 3 of her BFF's and decided it would be a Girl's Night Out. After hitting Daddy up for $20 for the concessions, off to the movies they went. (I was of course the chauffeur!) Being Mom, I was not allowed to enter the theater and see if all was well with redeeming the free passes. After all, there were BOYS and other people they knew from school there. So I waited right in front of the theater and watched from the window... lol. After getting a thumbs up from my daughter that all was cool, she quickly came out to tell me to pick them up at 8:45 when the show ended. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about leaving all 4 of them there alone but my daughter is quite mature for her age and had asked the usher if that would be a problem since it was a PG movie, and he'd said no, it was just fine. Plus, this was to be their night out, I'm sure the first of many to come. When I got to the theater they were waiting outside, and lucky for me had just gotten there. Immediately when they got in the car, I know they'd had a great time. Sugar soda pop and candy overload...combined with massive amounts of buttered popcorn= 4 very hyper tweens. My daughter is a chatterbox to begin with, but once she got into the car she was a full blown motormouth. The other 3 girls in the backseat were pretty much the same, lol. I drove cautiously since it was raining but I couldn't help but laugh as they started taking selfies with my iPhone. I'm still recovering from the drive home last night, and still smiling when I look at the selfies on my phone. But I'm also glad the girls got to enjoy a fun Saturday night together, time flies by way too fast, and it's great when they can enjoy the little things and still act like kids. So, I leave you all with a photo of the girls, taken with my iPhone... after their first Girl's Night Out.

McDonald's Winner!

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 4 Powered by RANDOM.ORG Out of 5 valid comments, the winner is #4 which is Rhonda Martin, or @exotic1 as she is known on Twitter! Thanks for playing along, and congratulations :) Please send me an email with your address to micaela6955 at msn dot com so that I can forward it to the McDonald's PR Reps and they can send you your prize. I certainly love their new #baconclubhouse and I know you will too! We've tried the crispy chicken, which was good, the grilled chicken which is also good, and the burger which we LOVE! Once you get your prize pack, let me know and try them out for yourself and let @McD_Maine know your favorite!

Hungry? Check out McDonald's NEW Bacon Clubhouse Sandwich! (and local giveaway for ME/Eastern NH residents!)

As most of my friends and family know, I enjoy eating out alot. One of my favorite places to visit is my local McDonald's restaurant. I love the great value, and great tasting items on the menu. And they are always coming out with something new as well, this time around it's the New Bacon Clubhouse sandwich, which looks as great as it tastes!

They started off with a new, Artisan roll, added applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, white cheddar cheese and a special sauce and added it to a quarter pound of 100% beef, grilled chicken, or crispy chicken to make it a simply delicious meal choice. If watching calories, the grilled chicken sandwich would be the best bet-with the beef burger and crispy chicken burger following. I was very surprised to find out that the special sauce on this sandwich is the same as they have on the Big Mac-how cool is that?

Lucky for me, I had the chance to try this courtesy of the Maine McD's team-be sure to check them out on twitter at @McD_Maine and follow them for local contests and giveaways too! Oh, and if you decide to try one of these yummy new #BaconClubhouse sandwiches, be sure to tweet them your opinion! Make sure you use the hashtag #BaconClubhouse too! Disclosure: I was provided with an Arch card and other promotional materials to give my honest opinion on the product. Please note that all opinions are mine based on the product I have tried.

The first two sandwiches hubby and I decided to try were the grilled chicken Bacon ClubHouse sandwich, and the beef quarter pounder Bacon ClubHouse sandwich. Both were delicious, but if we had to pick a favorite, we'd go with the 100% beef Bacon ClubHouse-my husband says that is actually his new favorite sandwich at McDonald's now because it tasted that good! We've yet to try the crispy chicken Bacon ClubHouse sandwich, but that is next on our list for lunch tomorrow or the next day. The sandwiches are pretty filling themselves, and when combined into a Value Meal it is a satisfying (and filling!)combo, so be sure to bring your appetite along when you try them out.

Still need help deciding what to have for lunch or dinner tonight? Check out the photos below and see if they help you make up your mind:

Like I said, DELICIOUS! I liked that the new rolls weren't soggy and that the toppings were plentiful, especially on the beef burger. My hubby loves tomatoes and lettuce on his burger, and it did not disappoint. The special sauce was a great added touch, and it went well with the sandwiches too. Have any of you tried one yet? And if so, do you have a favorite? I'd love to hear about your experience with the new Bacon ClubHouse sandwich at McDonald's. In the meantime, my local McDonald's team has offered a giveaway to ME/Eastern NH residents. Please note, in order to participate in the giveaway you will need to have an address in the area, since you will receive coupons for use at your local McD's restaurant. I will make entry simple, just a comment or two (a mandatory entry and an optional one) and choose the winner using Random.org on April 15th. The prize ($15 McDonald's Arch card, Bacon ClubHouse sandwich coupons for use in the local area, and other goodies/brand items) will be fulfilled by the promotional agency once winner has been chosen.

Ok, for the first MANDATORY entry- Please follow @McD_Maine on twitter and leave me your twitter name and email (you can leave your email in this format micaela6955 at msn dot com to avoid spammers getting it if you'd like. So, be sure to connect with them on Twitter for the first mandatory entry, this will be checked! Your second optional entry is to let me know in a comment below your favorite McDonald's item. Or, when was the last time you had something to eat at McDonald's? that's it! Be sure to leave an email address in your comment so I can contact you-I'll be choosing 1 winner on 4/15. Good luck!

When Your Pet Is Sick

This is my cat Stubby-he's about 6 years old now and a very important member of the family. Of course, HE knows this, but asked me to let you all know as well :)

Sometimes pets get sick. And when your pet is sick, it's just like any other member of the family-it needs to be taken care of and this usually means a visit to your local vet. But vet bills are no fun, and usually you have to pay what you owe at the end of your visit. And sometimes, it is quite a bit of money. I've been seriously thinking about pet insurance for things like that-there are several plans out there I've been wondering about, and wondering if it would be worth it to get the insurance and have piece of mind should my cat get sick again.

In my case, my four legged friend came down with a raspy cough. After lab work, x-rays, pet hospital admission for the morning, and medicines it was close to $350.00. Ouch! Not to mention the 2 week follow up, another $31.00 just to check him out and make sure his breathing was better. We still don't know what caused it and while he has gotten better he's still had a few episodes since he got his follow-up. Asthma could be an issue, but it usually only happens when he is deep asleep and then wakes up suddenly gasping for air. Granted, he snores, but it's almost like sleep apnea or something. Crazy or what?! It was also mentioned that sprays, candles, or forced hot air heating (which we have) could be the culprit. Considering there are mold spores in my basement from a previously leaky basement which made me super sick for 3-4 years and considering he likes to sleep in front of the registers for the warmth... it could be that. It's been a horrible winter from HELL and the furnace has been working nonstop so with the house being so closed up I think he is just as sensitive as I am when it comes to mold.

So of course, this incident has me thinking about what I would have paid if I had a pet insurance plan. What is covered and what isn't. Do any of you have pet insurance and if so, how do you like it? Right now, I am crossing my fingers that my cat stays healthy for many more years with no surprises other than routine checks and shots yearly. But of course, I like to be prepared too...just in case. So I will continue to research different plans/providers and see what they have to offer. If any of you have any ideas, know a good plan or just have some helpful advice feel free to leave me a comment below!

Touching Base...and Living with a Tween.

Sigh... what have I created? My 12 year old is addicted to Fashion, Facebook and currently, Minecraft as well. I suppose I could have it worse, so these are actually the least of my worries. Junior High is a challenging time, with puberty, boys and wanting to fit in. My daughter has inherited my gift of gab AKA "Motormouth" so that she chatters non stop from morning to night. I now realize what my own mother had to put up with, lol. I'm proud to say that she's in band and has made high honors each quarter so far this year, which is wonderful news. I've asked her to do some posts on my blog, since I am still working full time right now and trying to not use my right arm all that much except for work. My house at times looks like an episode of Hoarders as I sift through things I need to toss, donate or keep...and find a place for. I've made some progress, but it seems my Spring cleaning has evolved into an all year cleaning since my arm was injured last March. The Winter here has been brutal, cold, icy and snowy, then repeat the cycle all over again. It hasn't let up since the end of December, when I was without power for 3 days and celebrated Christmas away from home due to no heat. (ice storm damage, my whole street had no power!) But it looks like the whole country has been pretty crazy with weather this Winter, and I can only imagine what the summer will be like. So, as I write this, I'm hoping to have my daughter post a few things-if I can convince (aka as BRIBE) her to do it. Wishing you all the best for the weekend... I leave you all with a photo of my daughter hard at work on her tablet, with her buddy (Stubby the cat) enjoying a nap on her. :)

#FossilStyle for the Holidays...and Beyond! Deja's new Fossil watch for her 12th Birthday!

Disclaimer: I was recently invited to participate in a #FossilStyle campaign as a #FossilPartner. I was provided with, free of charge, a Fossil watch-however, all opinions on this post are mine alone, based on the product received. Thank you Fossil for providing me with the opportunity to share my experience with all of my readers!

My almost 12 year old daughter has been asking for a watch, since the one she previously had broke earlier this year. Let me tell you, once you are in Junior High, it's important to keep track of the time (according to her) because you only have so much time to get from point A to point B and without a watch you could be late. And then, if you are late, everyone notices you. For a 6th grader in her first year of Junior High, I guess that is a little too embarrassing-so the request for a new watch was an important one.

According to my daughter, the budding Fashionista that she is, proper accessories are also important. Something that is classic, goes with everything, and has just the right bit of bling to it is a must in my daughter's eyes. Considering that Saturday is her 12th birthday, I knew I needed to come up with something special. Awhile back, I'd been offered the opportunity to participate in a campaign for the Fossil brand, which as we all know has lots of amazing items that would make anyone happy during the holidays. (or during any time of the year to be honest!) When she saw the selections of watches I could choose from, her eyes lit up immediately. She pointed to the Fossil ES3379 Decker Chronograph Stainless steel watch and said THAT was the one. Little did she know that she'd be the recipient of this good looking watch! ;)

So I waited, and waited. I have to admit, I was getting a little nervous. But today, it came. Hubby and I had to sneak a peek... before she got home from school. When my husband saw the Fossil name on the sides of the gift tin it comes with, he started to get excited. "Geez, this feels heavy-could it be something for me?" were the first words out of his mouth. I told him not to get his hopes up, Santa hadn't come yet as far as HE was concerned.

When he handed the tin to me, I was even a little surprised. It WAS heavy. Which meant that it would be durable and last a long time, with proper care. My daughter's last watch cost half of what this one cost, I will admit, but lasted less than a year. To me, that is simply not a good investment. When hubby and I opened it up, we were both really surprised. You know how sometimes something will look really good online and then when you get it, you are like, "Uh, is this the same thing I saw?" Well in this case, it was even better! This looks just as nice online as it does in person-I am in love with the durable stainless steel band and the watch face being a different color-it really makes the crystal dial and crystals on the face stand out. Also, it could be worn with silver or gold jewelry and go very well with either. Keep in mind that this is a large watch, similar to what my husband wears in size, however it has a feminine twist, with the crystals providing just the right amount of bling. I can see this watch lasting for many years with the proper care, and it's a perfect choice for school, the office, or even an evening out.

When my daughter came home from school she settled in on the sofa and her Dad & I couldn't contain our excitement. Dad handed her the watch in the tin and said it was an early birthday gift. As you can see by the photos below she was very surprised and happy! The colors look great on her and she said it was awesome and she loved it. The only thing is the band is a little big for her wrist, so I may have to take it to the local jeweler to get some links removed so it will fit her right now. Other than that, I don't think it will be any problem fitting an adult wrist since it fits mine just fine. What would you like from Fossil.com for your holiday wish list? Right now I am loving their Fossil Polka Dot mini tablet easel for my new tablet!

I've had better days... and my husband is to blame. Not that I blame him completely, since he was a victim as well. A victim of what, you ask? A virus. You know the kind of virus I am talking about. The nasty, coughing, filled up with mucus I feel-like-I-just-got-run-over-by-a-truck virus you get maybe once or twice a year if you are NOT so lucky. I blame his boss. And I hope he is reading this. I mean, seriously, what responsible adult will cough and hack up a lung all over your co-worker and their lunch and not cover their mouth? Did he feel the need to share the love? Maybe he will feel the need to dig into his pocket to cover the week of work hubby missed without pay? Not like that is going to happen...lol... So after a week of feeling like crap, missing Thanksgiving dinner at a friend's house, trying not to infect my coworkers or clients I ended up at the Dr. office today where I asked for and received (after some convincing) cough medicine with codeine. You know, like back in the day-the kind that was easy enough to get with a quick prescription or to sign for at the pharmacy counter. I miss those days. Nowadays you have to show a drivers license, and sign some paperwork, and are limited on how much you can get. God forbid I need a refill. As the week comes to an end... hoping you all have a great upcoming weekend (not too many days left before Christmas-yikes!) Mine will be busy at my daughter's birthday party on Saturday at the local bowling alley. (both my children are December babies so I have it super busy during the holidays) Hopefully will have some pics up of the party this weekend soon!

I've Got Writer's Cramp

Sigh... Yes I know, I haven't been around in awhile. It's not that I didn't want to stop writing, but it's just that while I have tons to say I wonder if people will understand me. No, I don't write in a foreign language (well, not on THIS blog anyways, but I can write in Spanish for those wondering) and I don't write gibberish. It is just that it is hard for me to write things that are "easy".

Case in point: Where I work I often have to write letters to clients. My co-workers write them letters that are direct and to the point. Me? I like to write a detailed letter that can often take up two pages. (heck, at least with my letter, they know what they have to provide, even though it can be as confusing as Hell to read in the beginning). I admit, I'm just anal like that. And sometimes I get calls from the clients who ask me to explain to them what I meant. See, not everyone I deal with is a college professor and people have different ways of processing things. I get frustrated a bit, because everyone should know what they need. I mean, I explained it point blank, in a typed letter step by step. But if everyone followed directions in the first place, the world would be a much happier place. Or would it?

So... I started wondering about my blog. I've seen lots of blogs out there, from the very good to the very bad. I began to realize everyone has their unique own style of writing, and they attract different readers for different reasons. I began wondering what focus my blog should take. Should it continue with the family life posts, opinions and even some reviews on some products that I have won in various blog giveaways or purchased on my own that I thought my readers should know about...? I mean, I do love entering blog giveaways, and have found so many neat products through them (even ones I have not won) that I've made my own little wish list and try to get a couple of them every now and then if I have some extra money to spare. Lol...it's not an every day event, but in case I hit the lottery I know where my wish list is ;)

I am going to try to set a goal for myself. To write in the blog at least once a week. And see where it goes from there. Maybe I will even write about a few local businesses here as well. I do love writing, unfortunately my hands and arms can only do so much-all of that of course got worse when I was diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome this summer due to some trauma I had suffered on my right arm, shoulder and side this past March. I have good days, and bad days. We all know how that is.

So there, you have it. My lofty goal to write in this blog at least once a week. I've got tons of posts I started but never finished, so some of it will be easy at first. But I feel it's best for me to continue to write in this blog, it's a stress reliever and great to know people are actually reading stuff you write. For now, it's off to a day at the office-it's a cold day here in Maine, and our office provides a great service to those in need. (fuel assistance/LIHEAP) Enjoy your day folks :)

I Had A Dream...

No, I am NOT going to be talking about THAT speech. What I AM going to tell you is about the dream I had last night. See, first let me explain that I am a zombie fanatic. As in, if it has starred the Living Dead in any way, shape, or form, I have probably seen it. I've even asked my family to cremate me...puhleez! So I won't come back hoping to take a bite out of some fresh brains should a meteor fall from the sky or someone open up Pandora's Box of nasty chemicals that cause acid rain to fall from the sky.

This dream, I have to admit was bizarre. A total cross between something gone horribly wrong with The Walking Dead and Miley Cyrus, huge stuffed animals, a foam finger, and of course, twerking. I'm a child of the 80's folks-so it was a little nutty, kind of like Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Only these zombies twerked. And when they did, limbs fell off. It was kind of funny, in a horrific way. Miley of course was in the dream too, getting too darn close to the Living Dead for her own good... sticking her tongue out at them didn't make matters any better. And Miley, never, ever point a foam finger at one of the Living Dead, it's just plain disrespectful. Plus they think it's food.

At any minute I was half expecting Sheriff Rick Grimes to come to her rescue, as she darted in and out of rows of huge overstuffed animals, keeping the zombies at bay. Poor Miley, she's definitely a goner if she keeps this up, I thought to myself. But she continued on, smiling, grinding and twerking while trying to outrun those zombies. A light bulb soon went off in my head uh, dream. This would make a great video game... I thought to myself as I watched Miley get too darn close to a zombie in a black and white striped suit.

Then, the alarm woke me up. Ah, the power of social media. I remembered vaguely the fact that I'd been awake until well after 2 am and had been reading about my favorite TV show, The Living Dead, and had been seeing the performance fiasco AKA Miley at the VMA Awards right before I went to sleep for the night. These two things I'd seen right before going to bed influenced my dream. Interesting. As I get ready to go to bed again tonight, once again I am reveling in the power of social media and the influence it has over me. Only this time, the subjects of interest have changed a little bit. I've been staring intently at the Mega Millions and Powerball websites for the last half hour. Let's see what tonight's dream will bring. But rest assured, if a bunch of numbers randomly pop into my head saying "Play Me for the next drawing!" I won't be sharing that info ;) lol.

New Shoes And A Visit to Great Grandmas...

Oh my... they are growing up WAY too fast! My grandson Bentley (the little blonde dude with the spiky hair-just like his Dad's mind you...) is now 3 and his older brother Demetrio (aka Junior) is now 4! I can't believe I have been a grandmother for that long, let alone a grandmother at all-I mean my son hasn't turned 21. Yep, do the math folks, he was 15 and she was 13. Kids themselves. While they have had their ups and downs, and separations for a short time, I gotta give them credit in the fact that they raised 2 cute little boys.

At first, I was shocked to learn I was going to be a grandmother. I mean, my kid was a freshman in high school. He should be enjoying school dances, sports, and all of the fun that goes along with that. Instead, they were in an alternative program for teen parents and learning how to feed and care for an infant in addition to their regular studies. Not something I had envisioned for myself back when I was their age. But, things happen. Life happens. I always say stuff happens for a reason, even though we may not yet know WHAT exactly that reason is. Before ya'll judge me and say I was too permissive-and let 2 kids of that age sleep together, I must say that I had no idea. I mean, my son's first girlfriend was another girl in our neighborhood who was best friends with the mother of my grandkids. My son could not stand her at the time, so I never even thought they'd be an item-much less have children together. And when the kids came to my house, it was supervised, in the living room watching TV. But alas, other parents are more permissive apparently and allowed things to happen that I would not have allowed in my home. But that is the past, moving on, it is now the future.

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago, when they stopped by my mother's house so I could give them their new shoes for school. They were all too happy to pose for photos and even with their dirty little faces and clothing (they'd been outside playing before the photos were taken and were heading home to take a bath once they'd gotten their shoes) they are still cute little guys. Bentley looks like a blonde, blue eyed version of my son, while Demetrio looks like his mom more. Demetrio is outgoing and friendly, Bentley, reserved and shy.

Both love preschool, and are doing great. They keep their parents busy, I can say that for sure! They love playing with cars, out in the dirt, making a mess, and of course eating is a fave thing for them to do as well. It's been a blast watching them grow up these past 3 and 4 years, with their own personalities, quirks, and attitudes... and there are SOME attitudes! Wow!

So here are the two little boys in my life, that are growing up way too quickly for words! Enjoy the week everyone...

It's been awhile...

I've been super busy here cleaning house and trying to get organized. Now for those that have an immaculate house, you certainly have my respects. I have a serious case of jealousy when I see blogs photos or magazine photo shoots and the interiors are clean, perfect, and look great. My house on the other hand, looks like 20 kids live in it and has a bit of hoarders on the side. Seriously. No matter how hard I try to catch up, something else always comes along and takes over. I will be the first to admit I like to hang on to things... but sometimes, you just have to let that stuff go. I mean, maybe one day I will fit into those pants I wore when I was 20. But I highly doubt it. Plus, if I did-I would probably celebrate by going out and getting new clothing. Age appropriate clothing, not clothing I wore as a 20 year old. Between the trash and the Goodwill Store donations of good, used items I am making pretty good progress. I did manage to get a few plastic tubs as well, to put those items I am undecided about in. It will get them out of the way, and I can work on that stuff when I have more time. My 11 year old is happily finding out lots about me, through photos, clothing I wore in the 80's, old school yearbooks and even notes we passed back in class (yes! I saved a few of them lol) when I was her age, talking about our latest crushes. We are having a blast laughing at Mom's middle school and high school days and I've been telling her stories of what life was back then. Things were so different back then-and I know I am not alone when I say I wish we could go back to those times when everything seemed so carefree and we didn't have to worry much about anything. (But I bet my own Mom who graduated in 1961 probably felt the same way when she had me too!) In the evenings, I try to relax-work is starting up next month and I can't wait to get back. It's been a rough Spring and Summer, I've had some arm and shoulder pain and am working on doing exercises at home to feel better-with no insurance for therapy I need, I have to do things on my own unfortunately. I'd take a photo of my cleaning progress, but in the craziness I can't find the camera! Really. So... back to getting some organizing done in a little while. Hoping you all have a great weekend!

Middle Aged Men and Little Red Sports Cars

I honestly don't have to write too much about this one... I think the photo says it all! Lol...

Do I see a middle aged crisis coming on? Maybe... (and no, it's not pick on hubby day) His birthday is coming up July 4th and I think he is feeling his age, but even though I looked in the mirror and cried when 30 years came along, and then cried again when I hit 40, I realize there is no fountain of youth that will magically bring me to a nice age (as in 21 and thin and youthful again) so I just live life for each day and appreciate the wisdom I have gathered over the years. ;) But-if anyone of you finds that Fountain of Youth, be sure to let me know so I can be one of the first in line! Happy Sunday everyone, enjoy the upcoming week!

McDonald's Egg White Delight McMuffin Review

I will be honest. I don't like eating healthy or low calorie food. To me, it just doesn't taste good. However, when I noticed even fast food restaurants such as McDonald's (where I love to eat!) are also coming out with healthier options... well, let's just say I decided it was time to take the taste test and find out for myself if I'd be sacrificing taste by eating a healthier option on the menu. Breakfast is one of my favorite meals at McDonald's-especially when I am working (which is about 9 months out of the year). My co-workers know that I usually arrive at work McDonald's breakfast in hand so the first thing I wanted to try was their new Egg White Delight that I'd seen advertised while going through the drive-thru earlier in the week.

I am going to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the taste-it was not at all like I was expecting. It tasted great, AND was only 250 calories! It is definitely something that I would order again and again-for the great taste AND the lower calorie count. My husband even tried one (I didn't tell him anything about it until he had already eaten it.) and before he was done, he asked me what kind of sandwich this was since he'd never had it before and it was pretty good. I also liked the fact that this sandwich didn't have any trans fats. One thing I didn't know was that the egg whites are grilled right in the restaurant, and that other egg and cheese sandwiches can also be made with egg whites and white cheddar, saving 50 calories per sandwich or even your Breakfast platter can be customized adding the egg whites instead of scrambled eggs, saving you 100 calories. Since I order those items often, I think I am going to customize my sandwiches and platters to include the egg whites since they tasted so good.

Hey, if you live in Maine leave me a comment below with your email... I was lucky enough to get a few coupons via the Maine McDonald's PR team to share with you all. (one free Egg White Delight McMuffin with ANY purchase!) I also received FREE coupons for myself so that we could try the product as well and give our opinion on it. Even though I received free coupons, the opinion given above is mine based on my own experience with the McDonald's Egg White Delight McMuffin. (and believe me, I probably would have tried it even without the coupons!) Thanks to the Maine McDonald's PR team for giving me the opportunity to review this and offer my opinion-head on over to McDonald's and get one yourself, I'd be interested in knowing what YOU think about it!

Lisa's End of the World Party

Earlier this year, a co-worker of mine who is really into freebies (as in she goes home on break to look for freebies and coupons etc...) entered a sweepstakes on a Pepsi site as a whim, never thinking she'd win anything. She forgot about the sweepstakes and got the freebie associated with Pepsi and just went on with life until she happened to get an email. Now as you all know with emails, we've all got some rich relative or unknown person willing to send us money for free or we've won the Nigerian lottery even though we never really entered it. The email said something about Pepsi End of the World and we all wondered what it could be. She called the toll free number associated with the email after we'd googled it to find out if it was legit or not and they told her pending confirmation she was a grand prize winner and would receive paperwork in a few days. She was shocked I think and forgot to ask what the prize was... it drove us all nuts until she got the paperwork via Fedex a few days later. She had won some cash (always helpful since layoff was coming) and an End of the World Party hosted by Pepsi for her and 10 people. We were all happy for her and anxious to hear about the party-we kept in touch after layoff and with a week to go till the party someone had decided they did not want to go and she called me to ask if I wanted to go in their place. Wow! She didn't have to ask me twice. Apparently she was going to be picked up at her home, taken to a local bowling center for some bowling, fun and games, and then we'd head back to town for an awesome dinner. I got to her house shortly before the bus came, and once everyone got on board off we went to have some fun. While I would have liked to bowl, my shoulder problem wouldn't let me do so-and rather than attempt anything like that I sat back, chatted, and watched everyone else. The Pepsi rep was fantastic and let us order whatever we wanted for refreshments ;) and he also ordered some pizza. Everyone took off, either bowling, playing arcade games or playing pool. We stayed there for a few hours and then it was time to head back to town for dinner. Since the place we'd be going to dinner was a public establishment, hubby decided to meet me there. We were pleasantly surprised when the Pepsi rep also ordered him a meal as well. The table was LOADED with food, there were so many appetizers going around and everyone was enjoying each other's company. When the food came out, I couldn't believe it... I'd asked for chicken and steak tips and it was two whole meals (one of which I took home for the next day) hubby had lobsters which he had to eat there, and steak tips to take home. Lisa had boxes and boxes of appetizers left over as well... and the Pepsi rep gave us each a Pepsi insulated cup (which I love!) and a Pepsi End of the World t-shirt (which hubby loves and everyone wants!) I can tell you if it was truly the End of the World, we were going in style courtesy of Pepsi. Tons of food, great company, and lots of fun too. Finally, it was the end of the night and the bus brought everyone home (except for hubby and I since he met me up there we drove home in our own car). The world may not have ended, but I don't think we would have cared very much if it did, we were so stuffed and happy after a great day altogether. Big thanks to my co-worker Lisa for inviting me, and to Pepsi for sponsoring such a fun event!

Review-Out of the Box Sampler

I love sample boxes-I don't know what it is about them... I just find it super fun to open up a box filled with surprises and maybe even find a new vendor or two that I really love. I love buying handmade items and discovering new vendors as well. A couple of years ago I ordered a couple of the Out of the Box Sampler boxes for myself and my daughter as a treat. I immediately fell in love with all the awesome products I found in my boxes, but it had been awhile since I last ordered and was thrilled when I was lucky enough to win a blog giveaway featuring their May box! One thing I love about this box is that there is a sheet enclosed that has the vendors that are in the boxes (mine was the regular box, which had some samples from some vendors, but not ALL vendors-rest assured, they DO have a few of those super big boxes too that have something from every vendor but they go quick!) I was able to compare the vendors I had in the boxes along with the sheet enclosed and see if the vendor was offering any specials on the products. Often times along with the sample you also get a business card stating who the vendor is, and they might even have other offers or coupon codes for future purchases there too. As you can see, the box comes loaded with samples and goodies-lots of surprises for everyone. From full sized votive candles to earrings, magnets, bottle cap necklaces, generous sample sized portions of soap, cards, and other fun items (candy and lollipops too!) there is something in the box to make everyone happy. I was glad to see that although I hadn't ordered myself in a while the quality of the boxes was the same as I knew from before, and although there are always a few samples you may not like or enjoy, someone else may so you can always give them to someone who may enjoy them. The good thing is that you can review the items you received in your box and get in the running for a contest to win a free box the next month. Sometimes even the vendors graciously donate additional items as part of their blog giveaways too. You can actually find their website here which will give you more information about their boxes. You should be aware that the boxes usually come out around the first week of the month and go quickly, so if you sign up for their emails (which I already receive) you get a heads up about when they are up for sale and also any contests they may have going on. Disclosure: I received a free May 2013 Out of the Box Sampler as a blog giveaway prize. In the past, I have also ordered from them personally and enjoyed my experience/products received.

It's time for Maine Seafood! Local Business Post-Belanger's Drive-In

Maine and fresh seafood go together. I mean, who doesn't know about Maine lobster, right? (tidbit about me... I am from Maine and have never eaten a lobster! Yikes!) Earlier this week I finally got a chance to go to Belanger's Drive In, which is a local family owned business that usually closes up in the Winter months and opens up right around Memorial Day. In addition to selling seafood baskets, they also sell chicken baskets, burgers, fries, hot dogs and ice cream-so something for the whole family. (you can find them on facebook here) While I love to eat there, I had to hurry home for an appointment-so brought my whole fried clam basket back with me and took a photo for you all :) This clam basket usually goes for around $11 or so... with fries and a dinner roll, it is the perfect size and although that might seem pricey for a basket, it really isn't-if you go to those fancy restaurants on the coast you will easily pay double. (tourist fees I call them!) Did you know Maine also has native shrimp? Usually when you buy a shrimp basket at a seafood place here in Maine you will get the Native shrimp, not the other types of shrimp the big chains use. Native shrimp are smaller and have a sweeter flavor. My two favorite things at Belanger's are the Native shrimp basket and the Fried Clams (whole bellies) or fried clam strips baskets. Pair it with one of their delicious milk shakes and you are good to go! So folks, if you are ever in Maine and want to head inland a bit, you might just find a few local gems waiting for you to try out.