Finally, Finally, Finally!!!!

We finally got through our 1st of 3 (or 4) appointments necessary for my son to get his adaptive stroller & adaptive seating.  My son has cerebral palsy & I feel like we have been trying to get this equipment for him forever.  We successfully got through proving that the equipment is medically necessary.  I understand where they are coming from but from a mother's standpoint I just feel like saying, "Really?  You think I want my son to need all these extras so he can sit upright?  You think I want him to have to get a pediatric wheelchair?  Really?"

And then I take a deep breath and remind myself that this is her job, to not take it personally.  I remind myself that it is easy to let that knot of anxiety and fear for your child take over your emotions.  At the end of the half hour session, it was clear that my son did need everything we had requested, that is was all necessary and reasonable.  I was pleased she even recommended and will order seating for the bath.  My son loves his bath & this will make life much easier.  (Plus, as an added bonus, she told us it also makes for great seating for the beach!!)  We will be ready for summer!

 So we are on are way..  we should have all the equipment in about 3 months.  We are very excited as this is going to be such a huge help for my son & help him really take the next step in his continuing development.  Not to mention improved comfort and quality of life.  Life is good :)

Here is a pic of what his adaptive seating chair should look like (his has a couple of more "extras") It goes up & down as well as tilts:

Gorilla's Upright Walk

This is great~ I love the last shot at the end when you see him walking away.  I thought it was unusual, funny, & worth sharing! Hope you are all having a great day :)

Riding Ocean Currents

Sophie The Giraffe: Perfect Teether or Overpriced Nonsense?

Ok, my 9 month old is hitting teething time.  She is shoving everything into her mouth.  Here is my question.  What do you all think of Sophie the Giraffe???  I keep hearing rave reviews on it. People have said it has been a lifesaver for their teething baby & that if they lost theirs they would replace it immediately..

 My only real hesitation on buying it is the price.  At nearly $17, this is not a cheap teether.  On the other hand, I am getting tired of chasing her around & taking things away from her.  It does look like something that would appeal to her, I am just wavering on the price..

Have any of you had any experience with Sophie the Giraffe?  What do you think~ is it the perfect teether or a bunch of overpriced nonsense?

Surfer Girl!

Am so thrilled I was included in such a fun Treasury list :)

A Late Post

Wow, talk about a hectic day!   I was determined to get a post in today, though, so here it goes~ better late than never!  These are 2 pics of my kids during snack time.  In the 1st pic, they are both enjoying a pretzel. In the 2nd pic, my daughter appears to be busted eating not only her pretzel, but her brother's as well.  Hope you all had a great day.  I am looking forward to a more tranquil tomorrow!!

Meet Julie & Her Gorgeous Creations!!

I am so excited to introduce you all to Julie, owner of the Julry Shop on Etsy.  She creates one of a kind bracelets using an eclectic combination of glass beads, vintage buttons, & safety pins.  The combination creates beautiful bracelets with an edge.  Here are a few of my personal favorites:

I love the combination of pale blues & seafoam greens..

These rich reds are a perfect accessory for this upcoming Valentine's Day..

And let us not forget the little ones~ how cool is this bracelet for the little fashionista?

I love to know how people started on their road to creativity and inspiration.  Here is a little bit of what Julie graciously shared with me:

"I received a button bracelet as a gift from a coworker. Although it was made with basic plastic beads, I marveled at the beautiful buttons. It inspired me to create something unique, with my own designs. I remain inspired by vintage and antique buttons, and I always incorporate quality glass beads. And I love that each and every bracelet is different from the last. They are also a great accessory to any casual or fancy outfit.

Now that I have been creating these bracelets, I think it has been my "calling" for quite some time. It is funny to think back to when I was a very young child and I used to make crafts and wood creations at my little workbench. I would hold "store hours" to sell my pieces, even though it was only my parents and siblings that would come into my cellar to shop. In so many words, I think the act of making my bracelets and having my own shop has fulfilled the businesswoman in me that has been brewing since I was a child. "

I hope you all take the time to check out Julie's lovely Etsy shop!!  Thank you Julie for sharing your story & beautiful bracelets with us :)

Cobalt & Canary Dreams...

"Law Breaker" Saves Lives

This past Saturday a gentleman by the name of Russel Ord took his PWC (personal watercraft) out in the waves of the Monteray Bay Marine Sanctuary.  PWC's have been banned there, so technically, Ord was breaking the law.  He went to photograph the surfers in the huge swell.

A lot of surfers had been lured closer in by a consistent break.  They were caught off guard when an enormous 25 foot+ set came through.  They scrambled to clear the swell and get out of the impact zone.  In the center of the photograph above, you can see a man on a green surfboard.  His name is Jacob Trette.  He did not make it over the wave.  Rather he was sucked down the falls.  When he resurfaced, he faced a second monstrous wave.

Luckily, Ord was safe from the impact zone an went into action.  He was in the process of rescuing another surfer when he saw Trette's lifeless body floating in the foamy aftermath of the huge waves.  They raced him to shore where CPR was immediately started.  Trette remains in critical condition & what (if any) damage to his brain from lack of oxygen is still unknown.

I am so tired of ridiculous rules & regulations that are meant to "protect" us, when in reality, we are just being treated like children & over-policed.  I see it again & again.  Whether it is the arbitrary policing of the Etsy website or some politician who has no water experience deciding what is right & what is wrong, it is just plain annoying.  I am glad there was a "renegade" like Ord out in th water that day.  We should all be so lucky to have such a law breaker nearby.

Words of Wisdom From Names You Know

I love a good quote.  For me, they are gems to take out & admire when you need a lift.  Some people collect shoes, other collect figurines, I collect great quotes.  I have a ton, but am always looking for that next special saying to add to my collection.

 Do you have a quote you love???  Help me add to my collection!!!

Here are a few from names that should be easily recognizable~ I hope you enjoy them :)


"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." (Said by Christopher Robin to Pooh)

"No one can make you feel inferior without your permission"
Elenore Roosevelt


"The people who mind, don't matter. The people who matter, don't mind" Dr. Zeuss


"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway" -John Wayne


"But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep." Robert Frost


Hope you are all having a great day!  Thank you for all the wells wishes~ my son is doing much better (most important) and I am on my way to being well again :)

Oh No~ The Flu :(

Yes, I had many great things planned for my Sunday.  One of them was NOT the flu.  My poor little (nearly) 3 year old woke up vomiting throughout the night.  Needless to say, I got almost no sleep.  I didn't feel great, but when I woke up this morning, I felt like I had been run over by a fleet of trucks.  We both have aches & high fevers.. luckily I was spared the "up-chucking."  I am grateful for that much.

I am looking forward to seeing how my Berry Naturals Health Shot will effect how I feel.  I took some about an hour ago.. if it works half as well as their Berry Balm, I will be all set.  I have never tried their Health Shot before, but I am glad to have an all natural alternative to take, especially with all the recalls out there over the last year.  I will let you know how it works~ I am actually hoping to be able to carry more of their products soon :)  I will keep you posted.


In the meantime, this sums up how we have been feeling today:

Saturday Surprise!

I received a nice surprise when I found out I have been included in four different Treasury lists on Etsy~ how nice!  Since most of us in the U.S are in a deep freeze, I figured I would add the one called "Stay Warm".  Hope you are all staying bundled up & thinking warm thoughts!

A Good Bloke ;)

This pic was sent via a friend of a friend.  It was taken during the recent flooding and resulting evacuation of Theodore, Australia.  Not a sight you will see often~ wild roos happy to hitch a ride to dry land...

How Do You Eat An Elephant??

Before anyone calls PETA, give me a chance to explain.  ( I love elephants & am passionate about animal welfare :) )  I was talking to a very close friend recently about all of the projects I needed to complete, the organizing I needed to do, etc.., & how overwhelming it all was.. and she said to me "How do you eat an elephant?"  I, of course, gave her an eloquent "Huh?" and my friend then said "One bite at a time."  The initial question was surprising enough that it stuck with me, and upon thinking about it, the message has really resonated with me.

So, in that spirit, I have completed another bite or two of my enormous elephant by finally getting a couple of our coffee cup cozies online.  And remember, the next time you become overwhelmed, just ask yourself "How do you eat an elephant?"  I hope you are all having a great day!!

Hope Eating Sweet Potatoes for the 1st Time :)

She cracks me up!!

Best Zucchini Bread Recipe

I LOVE this zucchini bread!  It is simple to make and you can feel good about eating it because it is made with fresh zucchini :)

Here it is:

Preheat oven to 325

A note on the zucchini:  the smaller zucchini are better for this.  I use 2 zucchini to make this recipe.  To shred, use the larger holes of a hand shredder.  Cut off either end of the zucchini & shred the entire thing- this is what gives the bread its moistness and flavor!!

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour                                          
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups white sugar
1 cup walnuts
2 cups- 2 1/3 cups zucchini (measuring depends on how much you pack down the shredded zucchini- I just use 2 zucchini for this recipe..)

1. Use a fork to mix the four, baking powder, baking soda, salt, & cinnamon in a bowl.
2. Beat the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar in a mixing bowl (by hand is fine- if using a mixing bowl, use the lowest setting to mix.)
3. Add the flour mixture into the mixing bowl, adding about a third at a time until well blended.
4. Add chopped walnuts and zucchini and stir until just mixed throughout.

Pour into a lightly greased baking pan (I prefer a cast iron bread pan, I think it adds the most flavor and cooks the best..)  If you have a small bread pan, you can divide the mixture by 2 and make 2 loaves.  I prefer to make 1 larger loaf- my bread pan is an average size..

Cook for about 60 minutes, or until tester (fork or toothpick) inserted in the center comes out clean.

ENJOY!!!

Thank You!!

Thank you so much to Kamila from Basket of Dreams for giving me the "Stylish Blogger" award.  There are a few rules to follow when you get the award:


*Thank and link back to the person that awarded you this award
*Share 7 things about yourself

*Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers

*Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award


Hmm 7 things?

1. Tomorrow, January 17, is my birthday :)
2. I am ambidextrous.
3. I have never had a favorite color- I love them all!
4. I only drive barefoot in the warm weather months.
5. I am passionate about animal welfare.
6. I was painfully shy as a child.
7. I could stare at the ocean (& have) for hours and be entertained.

Ok, so the last part is to give this award to 15 people and let them know.  I will eventually, but for now, I  am still trying to get to know so many great blogs out there.  I don't want to short change anyone.  However, I would like to pass this on to one blog that I have gotten to know pretty well.  It is a blog I enjoy, written by a person who has clearly enjoyed & experienced life, a person who is filled with kindness and integrity.  So here you go Thisisme at Southhamsdarling~ I pass my 1st Stylish blogger award to you :)  You deserve it and thank you for sharing your kindness, humor and wisdom with the blogging world! 

Bald Eagles Return

I so love the fact that the population of bald eagles is growing in this area.  They are simply majestic!

Photos by Kathleen Spivey

A Little Saturday Hopping..

I found a fun new hop for Saturday :)  Looking forward to getting to know some new blogs!

If you have time, I would love it if you voted for me- just click on the "fence" button & your done. Thanks!!! (I am so close to getting in the top 100...)
          T

Homage To The Classics

It cracks me up how sophisticated toys for babies & toddlers are nowadays- they even sell baby computers!  What I find most amusing, is that while some toys have every bell and whistle modern technology can offer, it is often the simple, classic toys that are the favorites among little ones.  (Or in the case of my daughter lately, she finds her tube of diaper cream only slightly less fascinating than the dog's water bowl.. sigh ;) )




My 2 and a half year olds favorite toy is a slinky. I love it.  I remember spending hours watching my slinky walking down the stairs (I can still here the tune to the commercial "slinky, slinky,.. makes a wonderful toy for a girl or a boy!)



And who among us did not have the good old fisher price ring stacker?  It is still a favorite with my daughter.  I am looking forward to when she can walk so I can get her the ball popper push toy- another toy I remember pushing around and having a blast with.  So, while I appreciate technology, here is to those classic toys that are still around for good reason- babies and kids still love them!!!

Winter Landscape

I had to post these amazing picture take by an amazing photographer, Kathleen Spivey.  She captures the island I live on & its surrounding area in such an amazing way!  To view more of her photography, visit her on Flickr :)

Male Cardinal

Male Goldfinch

Snow Covered Crab Apples

A Reluctant Hero

This story was posted on the news several days ago and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since.   It is a story about kindness, gratitude, and the enduring human spirit.  As many of you may already know, I have a child with CP and CVI, so this story touched me in a profound way.  It is the story of how a young football player is lending his strength to a family who needs help with their special needs child.  I hope you will take time to watch it and I hope you will find it as inspirational and moving as I did.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO AND ARTICLE

To Kindle Or Not To Kindle....

So I have heard a lot of great things about the kindle but have yet to try it.  Some of the features that appeal to me are the fact that you can look up words with it, you can highlight passages, and of course, it opens right back up to where you left off.  Perhaps best of all, the version I have posted here is that it can be used globally for downloads.  This is great news, because when traveling, you can have dozens of books on your little kindle without all the bulk. Finally, I like the fact that there are actually free downloads for the kindle- including quite a few classics.

What do you think?  Does anyone have one or do you prefer the old school paper books?

Traditional Lace Knit With A Modern Twist

I love this golden yellow color.  I have been seeing it a lot lately & I understand why it is popular now- a sunny color in cold weather!  This is my latest listing using this color~ a traditional lace knit patterned scarf in a modern color and length.  (I need to get better pictures, but with the little ones running around, I had to settle with these for today!!)

On A Happy Note

 On a happier not from my last posting, I wanted to add a couple of cute pics of real life Bambi & Thumper~ I hope they make you smile :)

Cyberspace, Real People

I recently visited a blog today, called McMamma's Blog , & was upset by some of the comments that I read.  While I respect & am well aware that there are many opinions in the world, I am also certain that there is too much meanness in this world.  I wish people would remember that there is a difference between having a difference of opinion & lashing out at someone who feels differently on a topic than you.  I think that we would all be better served if we remembered that while we are sitting here typing our posts & commenting on other people's blogs, that there are REAL people with REAL feelings behind all those words, blogs & posts.

It may sound a little dramatic, but remember, you have no idea what kind of devastating effect your angry or hurtful words may have on others.  How many young shooters have expressed later that they couldn't take being picked on & no one was nice to them?  This is something that each and everyone of us can affect here.  Before you post something, think about how the post would make you feel. If you can't say something constructive or kind, just walk away~ or in the case of the internet, just move on to another website.

I hope you are all having an amazing weekend!

HAPPY PENGUIN

We could all learn something from this happy guy :)  Since it is snowing like crazy here again, I figured this was a perfect day to post this.  This little guy makes me smile every time I watch it..  Enjoy!



If you like this, click the button below :)

T

TGIF~ It has been a Looooooooong Week!

The World's Dumbest Thief~ TRUE STORY

I was watching the news last night when I heard this true report on the local news...  A guy broke into a home while the family on vacation.  Instead of leaving, he decided to hang out a couple of days & enjoy himself.  He proceeded to drink so much alcohol & get so drunk that he could not figure how to get OUT of the house.  So, logically (notice the sarcasm ;) ), he called 911 in desperation.  Luckily, the police had no problems finding their way in the house and arresting the overly intoxicated burglar.  Hope you all have a great Friday night!

New Beer Cozy Listings

I love the colors in this new yarn I picked up~ the blues & cream are soft and nautical.  I listed a new beer bottle cozy in the yarn as well as now offering s special price on a cozy 6 pack :)  To visit the Surf Studio Store,  CLICK HERE :)

Great Music & Sensory Toys For Baby & Toddler

This is an excerpt from my most recent article:

Three Top Musical Toy Picks

I wanted to share a couple of great multi function sensory toys that are great for a baby or toddler. It can be very difficult to find toys that are of high sound quality, not to sound or too low, & that are stimulating. These toys are also excellent for children who have a visual impairment and/or are overwhelmed easily as all the toys light up and are of a high quality sound without being too "busy". After much trial and error, I have listed three of my favorites here:

Neurosmith Sunshine Symphony

While this toy is on the pricier side, it is well worth it.  This soft sun plays the highest quality of sound of any toy I have found on the market.  It plays beautiful classical music & lights up while playing.  Each "sun ray" has a different tactile experience for your little one.  One of the rays has a nubby teetheron the end, another ray has a squeeker, one has small stimulating beads inside, and the fourth has crinkly paper inside.  Three of the rays also have visually stimulating patches. This toy is also great because it is stimulating without being overwhelming. I highly recommend this product as it has plenty of stimulating multi-sensory input for all types of children.

To view the complete article, CLICK HERE :)

Take Time To Workout Today!

Let's try & stick to those New Year's resolutions!!!

Tuesday Hop

If you have time to vote for me too, that would be awesome :)  Just one click of the "fence" button & it is automatically registered!! Thank You Thank you!!

T

My Son & Daughter

My son took some of his 1st steps today.  Appropriately, he had a little help from his sister, Hope.  This is also Hope's 1st steps with no help :)  The song playing, Universal Child by Annie Lennox, is our song..

Take Time To Have a Bath Today!

Photo by Cesar Badilla

P

Book Review

I just finished the 2nd book in the series.  Now, in fairness, I had heard a lot of hype about this book.  I had several people even tell me that they thought this book was better than the 1st, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.  Maybe my expectations were a little high.  Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the book & would highly recommend it.  My biggest criticism would be that it seemed that it took to about page 169 before the main plot really took off.  It still a very good read & suspenseful.  I really enjoy the Lisbeth Salander character- although I can't help but think she made a very foolish, out of character move towards the end of the book.  I look forward to reading the last book in the series to see how the loose ends are tied up.  I say go out and read the series before the american version of the movies come out!!