3 arrests made in fraudulent coupon ring

source: Help Make My Film

Finally!  The arrests that so many of us in couponing have been looking and hoping for.   How many of us have suspected this coupon fraud being done while we watched this being bragged about on a certain couponing show and are in awe of how these people get away with this in public!

Now the Phoenix police say they have seized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons and $2 million in other assets from the homes of three women linked to a widespread counterfeiting and forgery operation.

Officer James Holmes said officers served several warrants Tuesday morning at the Phoenix-area residences, and 40-year-old Robin Ramirez, 42-year-old Amiko Fountain and 54-year-old Marilyn Johnson were arrested after an eight-week investigation.

"We used undercover and covert operations to make purchases and to identify the three suspects," Holmes said.

Read the rest of the article HERE. Video found HERE.

The next photo is going to show a REAL coupon (on the top of the image) vs. a FAKE coupon (on the bottom of the image).

A counterfeit coupon for a free bag of Doritos chips up to $5 is still circulating, primarily through e-mail. It was not created, authorized or distributed by Frito-Lay. Frito-Lay says, "We have notified retailer customers of this fraud and are working with authorities to identify the source of the fraudulent coupon. You should not knowingly use a counterfeit coupon. We sincerely apologize for the disappointment and confusion this has caused. Please watch for valid coupons and sales in stores, magazines, Sunday newspaper ads, and on our credible websites."

So you ask, what is the difference between the two and how can I make sure that I have a REAL one?  Read all about real coupons, fake coupons, how to know the difference, how to keep from being taken in by fake ones and more information about appropriate couponing HERE, at the Coupon Information Corporation.  Follow them on TWITTER.

One thing that you as a fellow couponer may or may not know, is that you CANNOT buy coupons. It is illegal.  When I first started couponing and was using a major couponing website I was encouraged to buy coupons and told where to buy them and to this day, it is still posted there.  I refuse to have anything to do with this group or their activities online.

The Mommy Bloggers

Dear Mommy Blogger,
In as much as the blogging industry has turned to "All about Mommies and Mommy Issues," at 52 I still remain a woman waiting for grandchildren and interested in your blogging world but far enough removed from it to give a little holler to you and tell you that life will return to normal again.  In this picture it shows the child sitting there while the mommy is on the computer.  As a child I am glad that I didn't have to wait for the cell phone to not be in use, the computer to not be in use, the pinterest to not be capturing my mom's attention and the iPad to not be in use.  I also am not missing getting up from the sofa and turning down the commercials for my grandmother who didn't like listening to them.  Running to the rotary phone and  dialing instead of pushing buttons, shifting gears in my car on my first driver lesson from my parents, competing with kids for use of the tv, changing radio stations or putting cotton in my ears from different desires in music, using a cell phone to find out where my kid is, wondering why my kid is inside of the house instead of outside playing with friends, scanning the Internet for gluten-free products or vegan foods for my kids who refuse to eat or can't eat what the family eats, fighting the Dr's for vaccinating my kids and a whole lot more stress that you seem to blog about.  Granted, I use this blog for my own personal venting, joys, triumphs, product reviews, sharing about my family and friends, Avon products, talking about my dog, showing pictures of the foods my husband and I make together and so I have a whole different world from you.

But the fighting and competing about raising kids, working moms vs stay at home moms, coupon moms vs non coupon moms, single moms vs moms with partners and lifestyles and all the other arguments, problems with children exposed verbatim and pictures of kids who have done wrong at home exposed, whose blog is the best in this area and that area...  it gives me a headache!  There's some on the Internet about this:

The Rise of The Mommy Blogger [INFOGRAPHIC]
Mommy Wars
Watch Me Break Mommy Blogger Commandment #1


Two posts about this that I really love:
Mommy Monster
Momma’, Walk Humbly with Thy God

the rest you can "google" because this is a small point here.

We BABY BOOMERS are all grown up now and having grandchildren and offering a hand of help (if you will) to encourage you, soften the blows, listen, be enlightened, learn, share, grow with you, etc...  because your world is way different than the world in which we grew up.  Please try to get off that computer the next time you find that you feel all alone and helpless and bake something, take a kid or two with you in the bedroom and read together... real books not Kindles or Nooks, or make a cheap craft together, start writing a book together, record (oops, there are no more tape recorders), create a song together, do homework together, teach other make up tips, or look for some of us "empty nester bloggers" online and see how we came through your period of time and ask for our help if you can't ask your own mom or mother in law.  We are not so far removed from you that we can't understand what you are going through because we've been there!

Photoshop Abuse: When is enough, "enough?"

Above is the ad that was banned in the UK of Julia Roberts because of photoshop abuse.

While using post production techniques such as Photoshop image editing software is standard in the advertising industry, L'Oreal clocked some serious overtime on Julia Roberts' face in a Lancôme ad, and now that image has been pulled by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA declared that "the ad must not appear in its current form again" on the basis that it's "misleading."

"Misleading" isn't strong enough a word. Take a look at this image. Then take a look at another picture of Julia Roberts' face. I think the terms "ghostly" and "surreal" are more fitting.

L'Oreal also had another of its ads pulled by the ASA; this one for its Maybelline line of cosmetics and its use of otherworldly alteration on the model Christy Turlington.

See Related Slideshow: 10 Tech Company Photoshop Disasters
 


One blogger has spoken out against the abuse and shown some great examples of this abuse in, "5 Blantant Cases of Photoshop Abuse."

Rea teens: Julia Bluhm, 14, stood outside the magazine’s Midtown headquarters and led a protest against the industry’s fervent use of Photoshop, before hand delivering her petition with 25,000 signatures.

Miss Bluhm said during the protest: ‘I know much how much pictures in the media have an effect in the self esteem of girls and their body image.’


Please click to read Mashable's outstanding article about Julia's success, "Seventeen Agrees to Feature 'Real Girls' Following Online Petition."    Also, "Meet Julia Bluhm, feminist media activist."  And finally these are, "Posts tagged 'Julia Bluhm'.



I applaud all of today's men and women fighting the abuse of Photoshopping and more within the movement to present the real (girl) woman!

Giving Hope to Homeless Pets Giveaway

I have always loved animals. Since I could crawl I've been chasing them around and trying to save all the lost and hurt animals. I have been able to volunteer with different rescue organizations and it's really enjoyable to be able to help. I don't even mind mucking out stalls or cleaning up after dogs because these poor animals have been abandoned or abused.

Kitty Mattrazz shares the compassion... well for a young girls she has way more compassion and heart than many people. It warms my heart that she is willing to spend so much time helping others.

Well, this all started with Kitty! She started a page to raise money for the Arizona Humane Society, being a fellow Arizonian and knowing Kitty a bit, I offered to help out. So here we are setting up these great giveaways in which we've had some fantastic bloggers enter and some great companies sponsor!

If you are interested in donating to this great cause and Help Kitty reach her goal head over to her Donation Page every little bit helps.

If you are a business or company who would like to sponsor a Prize in our upcoming Giveaway, Please e-mail me at CouponsandFriends@Gmail.com

If you are a blogger and would like to join us Head over to the sign up page.

So Lo La' Deals has Sponsored a $15 Credit! If you haven't checked out their site yet, it's new but they're getting some great deals.

One winner will receive a Prize pack from Noxicare including a bottle of Noxicare cream and a t shirt.

This Giveaway will run from 7/12 12:01est am- 7/20 12:01est am

Enter on the Rafflecopter below.

Good Luck!

The Big "D" Word: Divorce

No one ever said it's easy.  My parents did it, I did it, my husband did it and I just hope that by my sons who have been holding out so long (into their late 30's now), that they will know for sure and not have to go through it.


Having been a child of divorce (but my dad did not leave until I was taking a 2 year break from college and moved on my own to the beach) because I couldn't handle all the fighting and "fake living" that our family lived.   Here we were a "Christian family" and I was pulled out of my perfect comfort in public school and thrown into Christian school (religious right one that practiced spanking, as we've read in my other blog entry, "Never lay your hand on a child, right?"  ) and so many children were there for "reform" school because the parents couldn't handle them anymore and we were living a lie.  My parents fought like convicts for as long as I can remember and because of it my sister and I fought the same way and to this day do not have a healthy relationship.   I would go on to describe my parents and sister and the relationships but I promised myself to never do that in depth in my blog because they are not here to defend themselves.   Needless to say that the "lie" only grew in nature as I went onto and through Christian college.  Kids that I went to school with had no idea that my dad was not sleeping with my mother, but rather in a cot in the cold basement.  After two years I had all I could handle of this situation and turned a summer job into a two year job and then went back to college and graduated.


I thought I was marrying one of the best Christian men in my church/school (where I attended and taught) because he was so giving to everyone and spoke highly of the Lord and he never put the moves on me before or after we were married.  That's because he's gay!  I had suspicions of his male friendship with another male at the church and why they met so early in the morning in the man's office at the church.  Alone and unreachable.  Up three flights of steps over the balcony of the church into the private office.  But I never dared asked.  I was too naive to believe that this church choir director with 4 children and a lovely wife was doing anything more than praying with my fiancee.  So they said.


After the third beating by this 7-month long marital man by me, I called my father in California and he had plane tickets in Albany NY for me and from that moment of sitting down in the airplane with nothing more than the clothes on my back and my new sewing machine and a small suitcase of what I could throw together in less than 15 minutes, I was about to start life over again.  This time in the care of my father and his new wife in their apartment in Southern California.   And no man would lay his hand on me again or verbally or emotionally or physically or spiritually abuse me again.  We never made love.  He would hardly look at me in less than a night gown.  What was I married to I would often ask myself?   And get this right, I "now" have nothing wrong to say about gays EXCEPT that they should come out of the closet and be honest with who they are SOONER than LATER and know that God loves them too and that they can go to Heaven by believing the same Lord that I accepted as my Savior.  Don't lie to anyone about who you are!

Thankfully I moved away from the finger shaking, stab you in the back and but pray for you on Sunday and talk about you on Sunday afternoon in their own home and heat up the phone lines with my name as a prayer request, religious right "Christians" who I knew my whole life.   And my mom tried to put us back together again (well meaning but totally lost on the fact that gay is gay and you can't "fix" them!).   While my dad cared only for my well being.   I've been happily married to my husband for 15 years and we will be together as long as what we have never changes.  And I don't ever see that happening.

Be sure to click on that image so that you read every word parents who are reading this and considering divorce!  Your children are the most important things in life.  God gave you a present to watch over for Him so long as you are living.  My son posted this today to FaceBook and I made sure I captured the image for this blog entry.


I'm not going to preach at you.  You can surely GOOGLE things such as "what does God say about divorce" and "Christian single parents"  and most of all you should be sure to get yourself and your children into counseling AS soon as you know the  marriage is going south or has any ripples.  Then you and your husband should be in counseling as well.   Apparently my Christian counseling wasn't working for my husband because no matter how many times that well meaning couple told my husband that he had to talk to me about things that upset him instead of beating me up, he thought he had license to rule over me and my mind and body.  We may have "become one" in the marriage ceremony but that's as far as it went.   I point to my life as an example of telling you that you need to know who you are dating, who you are engaged to BEFORE you get married.


I bring to you a very sad story told on the news today in Georgia.  Family of murdered Hephzibah woman have a message for others in abusive relationships.   Losing your life is not worth the words that well meaning friends and relatives try to share with your about your boyfriend or girlfriend. I don't have a list of traits other than what God's Word says through out the Bible to look for in a man.  Go to pre marriage counseling and have that person over to your friends and relative's homes for as many meals as they will feed s/he.  AND be sure you have no doubts when you come to those words, "I do!"


I want to share several blogs with you that vary on stance and experience about Christian marriage and divorce and I will not applaud them or rebuke them as this is your time to read and learn and make decisions for yourself:

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage?

Just Pray for Him: How the Christian Church Refuses to Hold Abusive Men Accountable


Common Positions on Divorce amongst Bible-believing, born-again Christians

Statement of Position onDivorce and Remarriage

Divorce and Remarriage

Now you do your homework and start reading as many quality Christian books as you can about dating, relationships, marriage, etc...  But be sure to google that book before you buy it to be sure that its teachings are in line with your beliefs because you don't want anyone to mess with your head when it comes to this very serious topic.

Above is a recent picture of my wonderful husband of 15 years!

The benefits of Coconut Oil for your Skin

Pure, organic, unrefined coconut oil is the ideal agent for skin care because it uses the healing properties of nature to improve our skin, rather than scientifically-engineered compounds like highly-refined vegetable oils, which are prone to free radical generation. As you know, free radicals cause permanent damage to skin tissues and prematurely age the skin. Furthermore, pure, organic, unrefined coconut oil does not evaporate immediately like water, but is able to penetrate into the cell structure to form a protective layer against damaging free radicals.
Here are some other benefits for your skin:

1. Coconut oil moisturizes. A 2004 study conducted by the Makati Medical Center’s Department of Dermatology in the Philippines concluded that “Coconut oil is as effective and safe as mineral oil when used as a moisturizer.” Coconut oil improves skin hydration and increases skin surface lipid levels.
2. Coconut oil fights acne and other skin conditions. The lauric acid found in coconut oil is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. A bioengineering grad student from UC San Diego confirms that the natural byproducts of coconuts fight acne when applied directly to the skin. People in the tropics have long used coconut oil to treat everything from eczema and diaper rash to psoriasis and fungal infections.
3. Coconut oil eradicates signs of aging like wrinkles and liver spots. Coconut oil reduces our need for Vitamin E, fights free radicals, strengthens the skin’s underlying connective tissues, helps prevent sun damage, and hasn’t been stripped of its natural components through the refining process, says Biochemist Dr. Ray Peat.

Coconut oil skin care is a mighty first line of defense against a wide range of diseases. It's so potent, bacteria and other illness-causing organisms are crying foul in the sidelines.
Using coconut oil for your skin is like shrinking Superman and the entire Justice League to microscopic sizes and have them scatter all over your skin. Those villainous microbes don't stand a chance. The secret of coconut oil? Well, there is no secret!

Medium Chain Fatty Acids

It has been common knowledge for several decades within the research community that it contains mostly Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) or Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA). These extraordinary fat molecules are the main reason why coconut oil is so healthy for you.

MCFAs such as Caprylic acid (C-8), Capric acid (C-10), and Lauric acid (C-12) hate harmful microorganisms. They destroy bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, yeast, etc. that cause minor skin irritation, all the way to the HIV virus (AIDS).

Your Skin First, THEN Your Entire Body

When you use coconut oil on your skin, the benefits are profound and long-term. Once it completely penetrates the pores of your skin, it will eventually end up in your bloodstream for more health-improving activities.

The skin is the largest single organ in your body. It is the only thing or covering that prevents air-born, water-born or whatever-born killers from dismantling every single cell in your body.

Fortifying your skin with "antimicrobial" MCFAs is one of the most effortless ways to guarding against infection. Coconut oil is nature's richest source of rare MCFAs.

Topical

• The rich tropical smell of coconut oil combined with its many topical skin benefits makes this oil an excellent daily face and body moisturizer. The small molecular structure of coconut oil allows it to easily penetrate the skin while preventing moisture from escaping. Coconut oil has been found to have sun-protective properties. It offers moderate sun protection and is soothing to the skin after too much sun. Coconut oil also makes a soothing and relaxing massage oil.

Problem Skin

• Coconut oil can help to cure and prevent acne by encouraging a pH balance that allows one's natural oils to combat infection. The lauric acid in coconut oil has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Thus, coconut oil can be used to help heal infections, such as athlete's foot and ringworm, according to Bruce Fife, CN, ND. Coconut oil also aids in healing cuts and minor burns.

Benefits

• Using coconut oil on the skin can help combat and prevent microbial and bacterial infections. Adding the oil to your diet also can have a similar affect on your skin, helping it to stay young, supple and strong. Signs of aging occur when free radicals cause the connective tissue in the skin to break down. Coconut oil's high antioxidant levels slow the harmful effects of free radicals in the body. This prevents the damaging actions that lead to signs of aging.

Considerations

• Coconut oil is great for the skin. It has as many benefits when taken as a dietary supplement as when applied directly to the skin. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, but not all saturated fats are bad and coconut oil is one of the healthy ones. Coconut oil can help to rebuild youthful, supple skin while combating the signs of aging. It can be used to help heal wounds, infections and burns. Coconut oil is not a cure-all, but it does offer wonderful moisturizing properties while healing and soothing the skin from the inside and out.

Suggested by the author:

• The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil
• How To Improve Your Health With Coconut Oil
•  The Extraordinary Health Benefits Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
• Frugal ways to use Coconut Oil

Private Selection Taste of Summer Campaign

This campaign was one of my favorites since the products were Private Selection and I do 3/4 of my food shopping at Kroger's (Ralphs) here in Southern Calif.

Private Selection has everything you need to prepare a great meal!  I received several free coupons and one bag of chips, so I decided to have a barbeque.  I used the Private Selection Angus ground beef for the burgers, which was awesome and full of flavor!  I received 2 apple pies and 2 cherry pies, they were delicious, with 4 pints of ice cream.  My family loves ice cream, YUM!  The chips were great!  I would definitely recommend the Private Selection brand!  Have you heard of BzzAgent?  BzzAgent is a word of mouth marketing company.  I signed up to do the Private Selection Campaign.  When my Bzz Kit arrived, I was excited to see what was in it!

Here is a list of items that was in my Bzz Kit:

• The Private Selection Taste of Summer BzzGuide
• A bag of Private Selection Salt and Pepper Kettle Chips
• A Coupon to try a Private Selection Six-Inch Pie totally FREE
• Coupons to Private Selection Angus Burgers and Ice Cream
• Pass-along coupons to share with friends and family

Private Selection Taste of Summer

Right about now, you're easing into heavenly weather, endless get togethers and prime grilling time.  Summer is here and having just celebrated the 4th of July you are so anxious to continue barbequing so why not grab a taste of summer at your local Kroger-owned store?  Bring the best to your table with artisan-inspired Private Selection offerings, and summer won't be the only thing inspiring smiles at your house.

Dive right into the season with new Private Selection Chips.  Enjoy them alongside Private Selection Angus Burgers, Ice Creams and Six-Inch Pies for the ultimate summer meal.

Carefully crafted with creativity and gourmet ingredients, the entire Private Selection line is perfect for elegant, yet understated entertaining in the summer and beyond.  Share the finer things in life with your family and friends — look for Private Selection exclusively at the Kroger family of stores.

Private Selection Chips

Ideal as a side dish for any summer meal or paired with Private Selection salsas, new Private Selection Chips are available in tons of premium flavors and four varieties: Tortilla, Kettle, Rice & Bean and Pita.

Private Selection Angus Burgers

Look for freshly ground 100% Angus Beef in the meat department of your local Kroger-owned store — use it to fuel your gourmet meal ideas and create tasty homemade burgers.

Private Selection Ice Cream

Richer and creamier than ever before, new Private Selection Ice Cream is available in pints, and special recipes like Sweet Honey Baklava and Cinnamon Chocolate include only the highest quality ingredients.

Private Selection Six-Inch Pies

These individual-sized pies – would have been great to try had they been available in any of the Ralphs (Kroger) stores here in the area but they were never in the market reported the grocer managers.




Disclaimer: As a member of BzzAgent I received coupons and a bag of potato chips in order to facilitate this review. As always all opinions expressed are my own.

Beth eyemodeling Avon

My friend, Beth, wearing her Avon eye make up!

My friend, Beth, agreed to be an eye make up model for me for this review of some of the Avon products that I sell.  The products that she's wearing in the above picture are:

1.  Emerald Glimmersticks Eye Liner

 Wears up to 12 hours. Smooth, glide-on color. Retractable, self-sharpening. Each, .01 oz. net wt.

2.  Blackest Black Glimmersticks Eye Liner

 Wears up to 12 hours. Smooth, glide-on color. Retractable, self-sharpening. Each, .01 oz. net wt.

3.  8 in 1 eye shadow palette paradise greens

Pocket size spectrums.  1 palette, 8 shades...endless possibilities! Versatile shades from dark to light. Each palette includes both matte and shimmer shades, and a mirrored compact with 2 dual-ended applicators. Mirrored compact includes see-through window on lid. .32 oz. total net wt.

4.  Black Super Shock Mascara

Available in Black only.
Get yourself some extreme volume! Thickening base coat and volumizing mascara in one. Up to 12X more volume. .35 oz. net wt. All AVON mascaras are hypoallergenic and opthalmologist-tested. 

It's summer time!  A great time to focus on your eyes!  You can contact me at  Carolyn to purchase some eye make up that is on sale now!  AVON make up is NEVER tested on animals.

Lamar Odom to play for The Clippers in 2012!

 Los Angeles Times

Lamar Odom returns to the Clippers

3:56 p.m. PDT

With Mo Williams deciding to exercise his contract option, the Clippers and Dallas Mavericks were able to agree to a four-team trade that will bring Odom back to the team that drafted him.

WELCOME BACK LAMAR!

Animal Awareness Week isn't just June 24-30, 2012

I'm not going to go into all the ugliness of Animal Abuse.  You can find that all over the Internet and develop your own opinion about it.  What I'm trying to present here is that parents need to share this information with their children and help them develop a healthy attitude towards animals from a very young age.

Five Activities to Teach Animal Appreciation

How young do you think you should be teaching animal appreciation to children? 

How to give your children an appreciation of animals and nature

Touch and Feel Tank

Have you ever taken your child to a touch and feel tank?  These are tremendous one on one experiences for children.  Allowing them to touch animals and listen to appreciation and educational messages teaches them healthy relationships with animals.

Touch Tanks for Children

A sea touch and feel tank at an aqaurium

How do we create a positive attitude for children to learn to protect animals and not abuse them?

Protecting Animals, Teaching Children

Kids Stay Safe Around Dogs

Free Resources for Parents and Educators

If you don't have resources at home, I would highly suggest getting the free resources for parents and educators in the above link.  It's so very important to teach your children at home this relationship with them and animals.  

Have you learned anything new?  Are you presently teaching or planning to teach your children about how to have an appreciation for animals.  Is your child presently caring for an animal(s)?

Peaceful Passages (book review intro)

Kim West / Peaceful Passage

ISBN-10: 0984052666  ISBN-13: 978-0984052660 | List Price: $16.99 | Format: Softcover | Page Count: 240

"When your loved one is dying at home you need emotional support and guidance, caregiving help and lessons, organization assistance, an expert adviser and a cherished friend. Peaceful Passage is all of this and more.

From first hearing the news to well beyond the funeral you will keep this resource close by you to give you answers at three in the morning, for encouragement every day and for detailed information on what to do, how to do it and when to do it. Here is guide for you to care well for yourself, your dying loved one, your family, marriage, career and in your spiritual life. 

This book is a labor of love from a professional counselor who cared for her own mother in her final days. One hospice described the book as, “An exceptional tool and resource for anyone assisting a loved one going through their final journey. A delightful, heartfelt, open discussion of processes, tips and things to ponder when traveling with them. Well done, and I applaud you. Thank you from all of us.”

About the Author:

Kim West holds a PhD in Clinical Pastoral Counseling and a M.Div. in Counseling and Family, but when her own mother became ill with terminal cancer she found that she had no hands-on knowledge of how to take care of her.

As a counselor she knew to journal her own experience to help her process her grief at losing her mother and she knew how to help her mother finish her life well and be prepared for the life to come. But the day-to-day of taking care of her mother as she died would require learning a whole new set of caring skills. And learn she did.

After completing her own journey with her mother she knew she had to help others who would travel this same path. Peaceful Passage is a merging of her years of counseling experience and the new skills she learned caring for her mother combined with her heart to help and to heal."

---

"Authors note: Peaceful Passage is not only for those under hospice care with a terminal illness or for those caregiving a loved one who is dying at home. It is also the essential resouce for coping with any long-term illness, whether it be grandma or grandpa, mother or father, a child, sister or brother or self.

With Peaceful Passage you have immediate help any time you need it right at home. Whether you want a quick answer or detailed instructions on handling the many physical, emotional, and spiritual issues that arise you can find answers immediately in this resource.
Doctors, nurses, caregivers, hospice workers, hospital and nursing home staff and family members alike will find this an indispensible guide to understanding what is needed in times of illness or palliative care and exactly how to help. Included is also extensive information on grief and the grieving process in order to cope with the losses that come along the way.
Peaceful Passage is a comforting and supportive expert friend when you need it most."

Personal Note:  My husband's mom is 89 years old and had colon cancer surgery a couple of years ago and we could not take care of her in our home (after she had one year of in-home care around the clock right after her surgery and my husband was still working and I cannot physically meet her needs).  So we made the decision with HOSPICE to have her cared for at a nursing home that is about 5 miles from our home.  She has been there for a year now and they are just wonderful with her care and needs.  We take homemade treats and beautiful homemade items and used to scrapbook and make cards when her hands were more steady.  We now read to her a Christian book that is very comforting with a daily reading for every day of the year.  A Hospice "friend" comes to visit her weekly and a Hospice volunteer musician comes once a week and they sing hymns and folk songs... things that she knows and makes her happy.  

In November she will be 90 and it's imperative that we prepare ourselves for losing her at any time.  We finally took a week off for vacation this year because they told us that we needed time to ourselves to have fun and we were only 1 1/2 hours from her and that they would call us if they needed anything.  Everything went well and we were energized.  I will read this book and do a review on it for a Christian review group that I'm in and then my husband will read it or we may read it together during the day or night.   

The nursing facility is just incredible and the Hospice people are the best.  We're so happy that we made this choice with her (we all talked about it before we did it) and even though I had feelings of guilt for not bringing her here (she's been my best friend and "mom" for 18 years now) I learned from Hospice that we just couldn't do for her what she needed.  I'm at peace now.  I haven't lost anyone in my family yet (since I was in high school and lost my grandparents) so this book will definitely prepare both of us as my parents are in their 80's.  Both are quite healthy, praise God! 

FOIE GRAS FINALLY ILLEGAL ON JULY 1, 2012 IN CALIF

From this atrocity

To this freedom!

On July 21, 2012 it will now be illegal to serve foie gras in California!  Yay!  California has become the first state to ban foie gras, the delicacy made from fatty duck or goose liver. As most of you probably know, the process for making foie gras involves grossly overfeeding geese through a funnel so their livers enlarge to such a degree they can’t even walk or breathe properly.


"Foie gras ( /fwɑːˈɡrɑː/; French: [fwa ɡʁɑ]); French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage (force-feeding corn), according to French law,^[1] though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding. A pastry containing pâté de foie gras and bacon, or pâté de foie gras tout court, was formerly known as "Strasbourg pie" (or "Strasburg pie"^[2]) in English on account of that city's being a major producer of foie gras.^[3]
Foie gras is a popular and well-known delicacy in French cuisine. Its flavor is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of an ordinary duck or goose liver. Foie gras is sold whole, or is prepared into mousse, parfait, or pâté (the lowest quality), and may also be served as an accompaniment to another food item, such as steak. French law states that "Foie gras belongs to the protected cultural and gastronomical heritage of France."^[4]
The technique of gavage dates as far back as 2500 BC, when the ancient Egyptians began keeping birds for food and deliberately fattened the birds through force-feeding.^[5] Today, France is by far the largest producer and consumer of foie gras, though it is produced and consumed worldwide, particularly in other European nations, the United States, and China.^[6]
Gavage-based foie gras production is controversial due to the force feeding procedure used. A number of countries and other jurisdictions have laws against force feeding or the sale of foie gras."
 (The above is from Wikipedia.)

I personally wrote an informative scrapbook with pictures and information for Chef Wolfgang Puck and he gave it up in his restaurants! 

This is a hot button issue here in California.  Here are some articles that you can read if you are interested in learning more about this topic.

California ban on foie gras begins July 1 

Five Ways To Get Your Foie Gras On (Legally) In California After July 1

 

Foie Gras Ban: California Chefs Speak Out

California Chefs Mount a Repeal of Foie Gras Ban Set for July 1

California Foie Gras Ban: Local Chefs And Activists Fight For Repeal

• 

  Foie gras lovers scrambling as California ban nears

  June 29, 2012 This weekend, foie gras ? fattened duck or goose liver ? will...has sent Sean Jordan on a one-man "foie gras bender." The Hollywood television... restaurant in Hollywood for a $25 foie gras appetizer. "The ban is sneaking...
  By Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times

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  With foie gras ban, chefs say state is force-feeding morality

  June 27, 2012 If you want to eat foie gras in California before July 1, especially at a...oddly subdued restaurant, between bites of foie gras-topped salmon and spoonfuls of foie gras mousse, diners at the benefit for the pro...
  By Jonathan Gold, Los Angeles Times Restaurant Critic

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  Farewell to foie gras

  June 27, 2012 ...will become the delicacy known as foie gras by force-feeding them several times...feeding of birds and the sale of foie gras produced by that method. (Any farmer who can replicate the "ethical" foie gras produced in Spain could do so here...
  

Have you ever heard about foie gras before now?  Have you ever tried it?  If you have, how was it?  I have not and will not ever it, not even the immitation foie gras that is made because it's just something that sounds so inhumane and disgusting in my personal and researched opinion.

The NEW Super Woman or Man on Adderall

This is not a new topic "Super Woman on drugs" but the new drug of choice...  Adderall.   Last night Nightline did a story on the SuperMoms (not the exact title of the piece) but it was about the mommy of today who needs to work outside of the home, take care of children, clean, cook, blog, outside activities, and still be a good wife, etc...  I did not want to single out "moms."

The mom topics are all over tv as being "Mommy's Little Helper" and such phrases and here are some reads online:

Dr. Oz: Adderall | New Weight Loss Drug Craze

(he may be covering weight loss but he clearly speaks out against this abuse of adderall for people who are not ADHD.)

"Mom's New Little Helper": Mothers Abusing Adderall
(my own local tv station did a story on it and I have never seen a woman or man to know that they are on it but I wonder where some of these super men and women get all their energy to do all that they do)

EXPERIENCES:  Is Binging on Adderall Noticeable?
 SWIM is a single Mom and in last year of nursing school. SWIM discovered the pleasure of Adderall a few months ago. SWIM has a child who has been on Adderall for 8 years and never thought about taking one. SWIM's friend in nursing school gave details about their experience binging on Adderall so SWIM took one to see what it was like. Took a few more and cleaned the house. Month later SWIM thought about trying it again but ended up taking the whole 30-day supply in one weekend (on semester break from school). Happened again the following month. SWIM told self that when back in school, this could not happen. A month ago SWIM started popping a few on Friday night but bought a bottle of wine to go with it. Thought this would help SWIM go to sleep since SWIM had clinical rotation at the hospital at 5:30 am Monday. SWIM binged all weekend and couldn't sleep at all Sunday night. SWIM was absolutely panicked about going to clinicals because of their appearance. Jaw clenching and moving side-to-side, constantly licking lips, very red eyes with dilated pupils. SWIM used tons of Visine but it didn't help. SWIM had to meet with the group at hospital with SWIM's instructor, who is a nurse. SWIM just knew that everyone knew because they are in the medical profession. First SWIM avoided looking instructor in the eye but then looked instructor in the eye but kept looking down. SWIM would have given anything to have called in sick but was told if a clinical day was missed, then the student is out of the program. No one ever said anything but SWIM went home and hugged their pillow. So SWIM's question is this, how obvious is it to others when someone has been binging? Any ways to hide it? SWIM is too afraid to try it again even though it enables SWIM to accomplish so much that wouldn't notmally get done because of nursing school and being single parent. SWIM's kids are with their grandmother on weekends when this happens.

Read more: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155698#ixzz1z7GBTIx1

Mother's New Little Helper - ADHD Pills?

 Meet Betsy Franco, Manic Pixie Dream Mom And/Or The Spirit Of Mother’s Day

Seeking Super Mom: More Mothers Are Becoming Addicted to Adderall

Are the demands of motherhood leading to even more addicted mothers?

Supermom's Secret Addiction: Stepping Out Of Adderall's Shadow  (this is the tv segment)

So this definitely went the way of Super Mom but that's what most of the topic is about.  I'm sorry to the Mom's who this might offend but this is information for women now who might need help:

Drugs.com
MedHelp

and most important:  See your medical doctor to discuss this and I would suggest a therapist to discuss the reasons that you are abusing adderall! 

Win a NAIL POLISH contest at AVON!

Here is where the contest is!  This week's winner is shown in the

above picture!  The rules are on the contest and you must use Avon nail polish.  Here is where you can order from me!

I have a group of gals from FaceBook who have joined my teaching group about how to do your nails at NailAthon by Conversations with Carolyn

We'd love to have you join today!  We're all learning with positive attitudes and helpfulness and encouragement!