Twilight Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

While I admit I have my beefs with the Twilight series, I do think Stephenie Meyer is a very engaging story teller and am looking forward to the latest book in the series. So, in honor of the upcoming release of Breaking Dawn, I’ve decided to have a giveaway. Thanks goes to Karlene for donation of the delicious smelling prize.

Karlene is an Urban Botanic fragrance designer and has designed her own line of Twilight inspired fragrances. I got to sample two of her fragrances - Jacob and Bitten both of which I loved!

In addition to Jacob and Bella she has 8 other divine sounding fragrances to choose from. Would you like to win your own bottle of Twilight inspired parfum spray? Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit Karlene’s Twilight Parfum Page and browse the selection of scents.
2. Come back here and leave a comment saying which one you think you’d like best.
3. Giveaway is open to both U.S. and International Residents
4. Giveaway ends Friday August 1, 2008 at midnight

Good luck!

July 29, 2008 | Filed Under Contests and Giveaways | 120 Comments 

Adjusting - Fateful Day Part III

Part I
Part II

Looking back, I don’t know why I didn’t end up going to the hospital. I know I wanted to at times but I had a vague idea that my body was going through some sort of panic disorder and I knew there wouldn’t be that much that could be done. Yes, they probably could have given me something to calm me down but the thought of taking any medication actually sent my body into a frenzy all over again, though I was still taking my thyroid medication. So I stayed in bed for close to two days, dealing with the shock waves pulsing through me. I never knew what would trigger the panic attacks. Sometimes it was a loud noise, sometimes it was the way the light filtered through the window, sometimes it was a simple thought. Every night the going down of the sun had triggered one. I would find myself feeling hopeful and positive one moment and the next I would feel warmth spreading through my body, fear seeping into my emotions and a heart racing in anticipation of some sort of supposed doom.

I called the doctor who had prescribed the medication and told her what had happened. She didn’t seem very concerned or informative. I asked her how long the medication would take to flush from my system and she told me 6 days. I decided I could survive that long and that once the medication flushed out of my system, everything would be normal again.

For 6 days I waited. The third day after the interaction, my husband went back to school. I was terrified of being alone with the children. What if it happened again? Could I even make a phone call this time? As the door closed I could feel myself starting to lose control. It knew it was battle of mind over matter, but I was new to fighting it and my bodies responses were so strong. I started shaking. I paced nervously around the room, my arms and legs trembling.

“I’m ok, there’s nothing wrong, I can do this.”

As the terror welled up in my throat I willed it to dissipate and I set to work. Distraction was what I needed. Everything I did seemed so new because now it was with such purpose. Unloading the dishes was done with forced vigor and a smile. I wanted to believe things would be ok, I hoped that acting the part might make it so. The whole day was a fight to control my body, to not get swept away by my emotions, to tell myself that though I felt one way, it wasn’t a reality. It was triumphant to make it through without calling my husband to come home. But then after he came home and as night fell it became too much. As the sun went down I could feel my body reacting once again as it had done every time darkness fell the past 3 night. The warmth, the spasming of every muscle in my body that no positive thought could control. I lay on the bed writhing in agony as my body spasmed and twitched, heat rushing through my limbs in waves, praying for it to end soon. Eventually it did and I tried to sleep, although hoping for peace in sleep was even beyond my expectations at this point.

I had barely slept at all in the past 3 days. I was beyond tired but my mind would not shut down. I would find myself drifting off and if my mind took hold of a thought for too long the panic would set in. I made due the night previous with a half conscious sleep, my body trying to slip into panic the entire time. I found that if I let a multitude of thoughts simply rush through my mind and not focus on any of them, I was ok. But I was on the brink of a full attack the entire time. That third night after my first day alone, sleep would not come at all.

I was angry, I was exhausted, I was scared and I was beaten. So I did the only thing that came to mind, I asked for another priesthood blessing. This time another brother from our church came over and assisted. The peace I felt was instantaneous, my body relaxed and soon I knew I was ready for sleep. And sleep, unmarred by nightmares or panic for the first time in three days, came to me. I needed as much undisturbed sleep as I could get for the battle to come…

To be continued…

July 28, 2008 | Filed Under Mental Health | 11 Comments 

Woman, behold thy downfall

It’s been a very good thing that I haven’t had Hostess Jelly Filled donuts available to me for 6 years. But now, they’re within my grasp and I. Don’t. Think. I. Can. Resist.

July 26, 2008 | Filed Under Humor | 11 Comments 

Rising Prices

alohafriday1.jpg

What are you doing to cut down on the cost of living in your household?

We’ve started shopping at Aldi, I’ve been learning how to play the Drugstore Game and couponing big time. And all of it is paying off.

July 25, 2008 | Filed Under Aloha Friday | 18 Comments 

Doodlebugz Crayola Crayon Toolbelt

Just recently, the Crayola company teamed up with Doodlebugz™ by Princess Linens, and I was asked to review a certain product. Granted I had never heard of Princess Linens prior to this but if they’ve been able to team up with a big name like Crayola they probably have something good going on.

They have some stinkin’ cute clothing collections (though definitely out of my price range) and they also offer cute doodle related gifts. The product I got to try out, or rather my boys got to try out is the Doodlebugz™ Crayola Crayon Tool Belt, just like the one featured below.

The toolbelt fastens with a velcro strap around the waist. it holds 10 Crayola Crayons and one mini notepad (crayons and notepad are included). While I probably wouldn’t have purchased this product of my own accord (we’re thinking necessities around here with prices on the rise), it’s been fun for the boys to use. They actually think it’s fun to put the crayons back in each little pocket, which means less crayon clutter on the table. It’s cute, functional, seems well made and could make a great gift for the little artist in your life.

Other products I saw that I loved are the Doodlebugz™ Crayola Crayon Keeper (best way I’ve seen yet to keep those crayons organized), the Doodlebugz™ Chalk Talk (how perfect would these be for keeping kids busy while eating out) and the Doodlebugz™ Chef Apron and Hat Sets.

Princess Linens is offering YOU 15% off your order when you use the coupon code SUMMER at checkout. (Isn’t that cool, a coupon code based on my name? I’m such a dweeb). So go take a peek and see if there’s anything you might like.

July 24, 2008 | Filed Under Reviews | 10 Comments 

How NOT to shop

1. Don’t forget to get a special cart meant to hold three children. You’ll need them tightly strapped in when you go looking for that new shirt. Otherwise you’ll find yourself scared half out of your wits by a head or two popping out through the clothing rack. Maniacal boyish laughter will ensue and you’ll try to track it from clothes rack to clothes rack.

2. Be prepared for an onslaught of “Please!” “Just one!” “Mom!” “But Mo-ooooooom!” “Only jus’ one okay?” “I’ll eat all my dinner!” “Hmph!” “You’re so mean!” and the like.

3. It is imperative that you remember, that the baby is getting bigger, her arms are getting longer, and therefore she can reach for things. That mangled and slobbered on deck of Old Fish cards that mysteriously presented itself at the bottom of the cart at check out time? All her doing.

4. It is also imperative that you remember your 6 year old is getting old enough to be very sneaky. Case in point - the transformers toy he shiftily grabbed out of the cart and stuck on the belt very first, hoping you wouldn’t notice.

5. Ack! What in the?!? Who put 7 snickers bars in here? The 5 year old was just following suit I suppose.

The moral of the story is - All of this could have been avoided by simply NOT shopping with the children. When will I ever learn?

July 23, 2008 | Filed Under Humor, Kids | 21 Comments 

Why do doctors offices do these things?

Obi Wan and Angel Girl were scheduled for check ups this morning but I realized yesterday I would have to reschedule. I called a few minutes ago hoping they wouldn’t inflict a monetary penalty for a late cancellation and was greeted by a receptionist who seemed more than happy to reschedule me.

“Thank goodness you cancelled!” she exclaimed happily.
“Oh, um, why?” I asked
“Our other receptionist triple booked the doctor for this morning,” she said, “We were gonna be real busy.”

Thanks goodness for her? Thanks goodness for me! There are few things worse than waiting with kids in a too small waiting room with other people’s sick kids for 2 hours or more.

July 21, 2008 | Filed Under Health | 18 Comments 

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