Rubbermaid Trash Cans are the BEST!!

Check out my Winning Entry in the Rubbermaid Liner Lock Trash Can Giveaway - here is the link and also what I stated-

http://blog.rubbermaid.com/home/2010/07/no-more-trash-bag-macgyvering.html

**Warning this one is Gross** Read with Caution!
The worst trash can liner story I can think of is when my 5 year old was in the kitchen and suddenly felt like he was going to get sick. I stood him in front of the trash can just in case - well the just in case OF COURSE happened! I had just put the liner in the can so guess what - as soon as his stomach contents hit the liner it fell in and the vomit kept a coming - all over the inside of the trash can and the top of the liner. Least to say I took it all outside afterwards and hosed everything off. Boy I can still smell that terrible smell as I type this.

Retiring the old Rubbermaid 4 the NEW!

I was so excited to win and my son is "embarrassed".  He loves the new Trash Can but can't believe someone actually wanted to hear what happened when he got sick.  I love the Rubbermaid Lock Liner Trash Can - it is a God send - especially having 3 very active boys - the liner stays in place and the trash goes where it belongs without a mess.  My 2 year old is infactuated with it - He loves to open the pop up lid and throw things away - as he say "way, way". 

Thank you so much Rubbermaid - your products are wonderful - I should also say my Family Thanks you - your the best!

Who here LOVES Candy

Who here LOVES Candy??  I do!!!  I do!!!  Being a candy addict I am always on the search for the best candy at a great price.  I enjoy reliving my childhood through candy and all the memories it brings back.  My newest and best find has been Blaircandy.com.  The prices are excellent - the shipping is fast - and they have an outstanding selection.

Check out what I got for $15.00 - or should I say Me and my three boys received -

A great sand box bucket and pail - box of Swedish Fish - Jumbo Lollipop - 3 rolls of Smarties - box of Mike and Ike's - box of Tropical Chewy Lemonehead & Friends - rope of Laffy Taffy - package of Sour and Sweet Starburst - Charms Sweet & Sour sucker - a Cow Tail - Pop Rocks - 2 Ring Pops - package of Dubble Bubble Gum - Lightning Bugs Gummy Candy - Buggin Glow Pop w/ a push button that makes the jar glow + the jar can be used later to catch real bugs - and a great Blair Candy magnet

Now if all of the that hasn't gotten you into the mood to eat candy - I don't know what will - Check out Blaircandy.com - You won't be disappointed.  You can also follow them on twitter @BlairCandy and @candypam.

My most unique item on my Desk :)

I came across this question on the Coffee-mate Brew Crew (which I am a proud member) website and wanted to take the time to answer - What is the most unique personal item on your desk? Why do you have it? What does it say about you?

There is no doubt what is the most unique and personal item on my desk - My Pink Flamingo Pen with flowing Pink Feathers and the Flamingo body lights up when you write - see

Let me explain my four year old son gave this to me as a Birthday gift in March - He is a very fun and free spirited child.  So what does this say about me.  It reminds me to enjoy life and not take it so seriously all the time - I enjoy seeing life through the eyes of a child and love being a mother - Pink Flamingos and all.

Great Week

It has been a great week so far. Let me explain... 1st of all my hair continues to grow - everyday is getting me closer to donating to Locks of Love!!! Work has (I am scared to say this and jinx myself) leveled off. I actually have closed out two cases this week - Yah!

I continue to run, run, run - I have improved my 3.5 mile run by 4 minutes this week - my new shoes - have made a huge difference. My knees actually don't hurt - Thank you NIKE!! Work even allowed me to take my lunch at the end of my shift today - so I could get a wonderful and relaxing run in before picking up my boys. It is great when I get the opportunity to take a little me time - especially when the me time is productive but enjoyable.

And one of the best parts of the week and today is.... I was on twitter - like usual and one of my favorite companies - Blair Candy - CandyPam sent out a tweet -"Love candy, and have a website or blog? We'll send you a box, if you'd review us!" Of course I responded because one of my biggest down falls is I LOVE CANDY! I am an Candy-o-holic and proud of it. I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't at least have one piece. They are going to contact me in the morning to work out the details. I am so excited! I can't wait to see what I find out.

I had better get some much needed sleep. I am planning on taking my boys for a beauty detour tommorrow after I pick them up from daycare - a lake near by - that I ran by today is full of baby ducks. They will love the experience and so will I. It is fantastic to experience life through my children and help to make them well rounded. If you want to learn more about beauty detours check out FishfulThinking.com - excellent site to learn about positive parenting.

Coffee-mate Sticks packs are the best!

I am a Decafe coffee drinker - which at times limits the flavor choices - but Coffee-mate has solved that problem. With so many flavors to choose from - the possiblities are endless! I am able to relax at night with french vanilla and get my morning going with a traditional cup of orginal Coffee-mate. I love Coffee-mate :).

But the best part is Coffee-mate stick packs. They are awsome I always have them on hand along with my Nescafe Decafe stick pack - so no matter where I am at, all I need is a little hot water - and I have the perfect drink.

In the past when I would attend trainings I was always left out and couldn't enjoy a cup of coffee because it was always regular - but with the help of Nescafe and Coffee-mate I don't have to go with out - I always have the choice when I want a relaxing and enjoyable cup of coffee with Coffee-mate. I am even to the point I keep the Stick packs in my glove box that way if I run out - I always know where there is more. I can't imagine life as it was before the Coffee-mate stick packs.

The best part is I have been selected and just received today my Coffee-mate sampling kit to share with co-workers so they can become Coffee-mate stick pack addicts like me :) Coffee-mate you rock! Thank you for adding flavor to my life!

Locks of Love

I love reaching personal goals I have set - especially my goal of running again. It has been amazing seeing how excited my three boys are about "mommy" putting on her running shoes and actually going out for a run. My oldest was so proud of my participiation with the Cornhusker Torch Run, he even shared the news with his teacher (who passed it on to me).
It is wonderful seeing how my goal setting is making such a positive difference in my children's lives. It was a great way to reach a personal goal and spread the message of physical fitness across the state.

Well my newest goal is donating my hair to Locks of Love. Lately I have been so busy caring for my own illness, my husband illness, and our wonderful children I haven't had my hair cut. I was trying to find the time in our busy schedule to make an hair appointment - but then had a second thought. Since it was already growing out - why not let it continue and donate it to someone who needs hair. What a great way to pay back all the wonderful deeds that have been down to our family during our illnesses. Plus it is another goal to reach and teach first hand the importance of giving to my boys. We may not have a lot of money (especially right now - lots of Doctor bills to pay) but money is not necessary to make a positive impact on your family and others.

I have explained to my oldest that I am going to grow my hair out so someone who is sick and doesn't have any can have mine. He relates this to a young friend (now 7 years old) that had cancer and went through treatment - she lost all of her hair. He thought this was a great idea - he asked if they would cut off all my hair and make me bald. I told him no - we would measure it every two weeks and see how it is growing. I have to have 10 inches at min. to donate. He loves math so that is something he can watch and record on his calander in his room. I love teaching/leading by example - it is something I have built upon with the help of FishfulThinking.com - it is an excellent resource for positive parenting.

How Motherhood Has Changed Me

I would like to share with you all on How Motherhood has Changed Me since it is so close to Mother's Day.

I debated over many many different topics - including words you never thought you would ever say, that is until you became a mother. Which one of my favorites is "no that tree is not a bathroom, go inside and use the toliet". Boy you can't tell I am a mother of three very active boys! Then I thought I could share one of my very funny stories from parenthood. Like the day I went outside to check on my two older boys (at the time 3 and 4) because I had ran inside to start water boiling for lunch - it had been less then two minutes and to my suprise...they were both totally naked inside their playset playing bath.

But I think I have decided to share the most memorable moment as How Motherhood Has Changed Me. It was the evening of December 21, 2007 - I was 10 weeks along with my pregancy with our soon to be third son. I recieved a phone call from my doctor. He stated I had cervical cancer - it was a total shock as I had no recent history of abnormal pap smears. He stated I didn't have to make the decision right now - but it would have to be made if I wanted to continue the pregnancy or end it and start treatment for the cancer. In my mind there wasn't a decison that had to be made. I found out about my cancer due to this blessed pregnancy and I knew the only choice was to save my Guardian Angel I was carrying. I felt as a mother I needed give this angel a chance for life, which meant I was in turn risking my own life for the life of my unborn child - and the possiblity of not being around to rasie my other two boys and be there for my husband.

My children and family are my life and will continue to be until my last breath here on earth. I am so blessed to enjoy each and every new day - the experiences, struggles, challenges and rewards of being a mother. Happy Mother's Day to you all.

Make sure you take the time to enjoy the little things with your child this Mother's Day. Take a Beauty Detour with your children - At least once a week, take a 5-minute "beauty detour" with your child. The goal is to use the 5 minutes to notice something beautiful or inspiring or amazing or funny that you would not normally have noticed. For example, if you drive your child to school, leave 5 minutes earlier and drive down a street you don't normally take. Stop on the side of the road and notice something beautiful about the trees or the houses or the sky. Thank you fishfulthinking.com for this great activity.

Reaching A Goal

I am so exicted that I am finally able to reach one of my goals since my Cervical Cancer Diagnosis.

I just wanted to share how as a parent when you are able to reach one of your own goals - it can make a positive difference in your child's life and be a life lesson to them.

Here is my story - please share yours!

I am a busy mother of three boys - I was diagnosed with cervical cancer back in Dec. of 2007 while in my 1st trimester with my third son - I am a fighter and always will be! After giving birth in July of 2008 - I had to go through major surgeries - and was finally CANCER - FREE as of Oct. 2008 - but had a long healing road ahead of me -a Large mass was found Sept. 2009 during my 1st year cancer check up - I had to go back in for major surgery again Oct 2009 -- after a long road again of healing -

I was finally told I could start running again! That was a major goal in my life to be able to do that again. I love to run - it gives me time away to refocus and re-energize and make myself feel better physically! My boys are so excited to see my "running shoes" come out of retirement - like I always tell them if you put your mind to it you can make it happen. They think is a great that I am able to run once again and I don't have a "hurt tummy" anymore (and so do I).

I just found out today that I get to participate in the "Cornhusker State Games" Torch Run! I get to run a two mile streach with the torch as it makes its way across the State of Nebraska to the State Games - I am so excited and proud that I am physcially able to do this - what a great way to show my boys that anything is possible if you set a goal to take the steps to reach it - The sky is the limit!!! I love being able to teach my children by example - Today has been a great day in that respect!

Never take your children for Granted.

I has been awhile since I have posted an update to my Blog. Family and work has been keeping me busy. But I needed to share this important message with all. And i plan on making updates to my blog on a more regular basis.
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I just wanted to remind everyone NEVER take your children for granted! On 04-20-10 My family and I remembered KayLynn - it has been a year to the day since she passed away unexpectedly at the sweet age of 5 years old. She was just like part of our family and is missed so.

Take an extra moment of your day and give your children a hug and a kiss - enjoy and savor that momment - you never know when the Lord may call.

In memory -


KayLynn

We little knew that day,

God was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly,

In death, we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you.

You did not go alone.

For part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,

Your love is still our guide.

And although we cannot see you,

You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,

And nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one,

The chain will link again.

I believe that every minute you spend with your children makes a huge difference. The biggest thing is making it be a positive experience. As a parent we have opportunity to shape our children into productive memembers of society - we need to make sure to help instill the following ingredients in our children Optimism, Emotional Awareness, Goal Setting/Hope, Resilence and Empowerment. They learn these things from us by teaching them and from our own actions. Make an effort to be positive and Never, Never take a child for granted.

Color Things Activity

I found another great activity idea on the Fishful Thinking website to help my children with their Emotional Awareness. I am planning on making time this weekend to do this with my 4 and 6 year old.

This activity couldn't have come at a better time. As were are constantly dealing with emotions as our family deals with my husband's continued illness. It think it is going to help get some emotions out on the table and talked about.

I am either planning on using my children's lego blocks or the colored bag of Goldfish crackers I have in the pantry.

Here is the activity:

Find colorful objects around the house, such as Goldfish® Colors crackers, jelly beans, colored blocks or beads. Each color represents a feeling (gold = proud, green = jealous, red = angry, etc.). You and your child take turns picking an object from the bag and sharing a story about a time you felt the emotion represented by the color chosen.

For younger kids (3-5) encourage the child to say a sentence or two ("I felt mad when Jon knocked over my tower because it was really big and he's always breaking my stuff."). Resist the temptation to challenge the feeling or problem-solve (e.g. "What do you think you could do next time so that he doesn't knock it over?"). Instead, just empathize with the feeling by saying something like, "Yes, it would make me mad too." For this young age, keep the emotions simple: just happy, sad or mad and that the goal is for them to say a few words up to a few sentences. Just saying, "I felt sad yesterday and I cried" is a great use of the exercise. You might find it useful to first give brief explanations of the feeling such as, "sad is when you feel like crying like if you don't get something you want."

For older kids (6-12), the feelings can be more complex (like guilty, jealous, proud) and to encourage the child to talk about the experience for a minute or two. Again, don't challenge the experience ("Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that" or "I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose", etc.). Instead, empathize by briefly sharing a time when you were that age and felt similarly.