08
Blog • Bid • Hope
After only a few short months of blogging, I’ve been introduced to a community of bloggers that supports one another, encourages one another, and helps each other out when needed. It’s an amazing community and I feel fortunate to even know the generosity and kindness that these bloggers give to one another.
Shortly before Thanksgiving, a blogger named Anissa Mayhew landed in the ICU after suffering from a stroke. Anissa is a 35 year old mother of 3 young children. Anissa is now out of ICU but she has a long journey to recovery. This is not the first tragedy for the Mayhew family. In 2005, Anissa suffered her first stroke and, in 2006, her daughter Peyton was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of two. Thankfully, Peyton has since recovered. Anissa has not yet recovered from her second stroke and is still in the hospital. Her family needs her and they need our help.
Another blogger needs our help, too. His name is Matt Logelin and he is the President of the Liz Logelin Foundation. In March 2008, Matt lost his wife Liz to a pulmonary embolism within hours after she gave birth to their daughter, Madeline. Matt has a profoundly sad and touching story to tell and he is helping others with similar stories. His foundation works to help other families with young children who lost a parent.
If you would like to help Anissa Mayhew and the Liz Logelin Foundation, there is a 3-day auction going on right now to help and support these two good causes. The auction is offering a variety of goods, from toys and gift certificates to accessories and art. Seven bloggers are running the auction through their websites and the items donated have been given by many participants. Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog has donated several Blue Hat Toy Company, Emerson, and Shift3 toys to be auctioned. Those items can be found on each auction website.
Make sure to visit the blogs below to access the auction and please make a bid to help support families that need our help.
07
Mental Monday: How Do You Define “Forsaking All Others?”
Here we go again.
Another celebrity with “indiscretions” is in the news and the chatter online and at the water-cooler is abuzz.
Scandalous! Exactly how many women were involved with him?!? His poor wife. He liked to do what? He did what where? He says he loves her?!? If that was my husband, I would….
We all hear about the (insert celebrities, pro-athletes, politicians) who cheat on their spouses. It makes front page news and fills the 24/7 news and gossip cycles. Their personal marital problems become subject to our opinion, judgment, and fodder. It’s also apparent that there are people who get some sort of sad satisfaction knowing that even the “perfect” people and couples among us are not so perfect after all. These stories humanize them. The reality is, they deal with the same problems that many of us will face in our own relationships. The only difference is that our relationships are not typically available for public scrutiny.
Extramarital affairs are a common occurrence. Why is that? People claim all sorts of reasons: biological urges and impulses, revenge, avoidance, to get attention, a need for independence, to feel special or desired, etc… There are varied reports, but studies indicate that about 60% of married men and 45% of married women report an extramarital affair (Glass & White, 1992). In a 2001 study, one researcher noted that 70% of marriages experience an affair (Brown, 2001). And in case your head isn’t spinning yet, here is another statistic out there – 90% of first divorces included some form of infidelity (Pittman and Wagers, 2005).
That is staggering. (continues…)
06
Want to Feel Great? Try Needles and Crack.
This feels much better than it looks
Being poked, prodded, and cracked is a great way to spend an hour or two.
As most parents or caretakers of small children know, nothing puts wear and tear on your muscles and joints like a kid. And, if you’ve been pregnant, you probably know that it starts in the womb. By the time I reached my 3rd trimester, I was regularly seeing a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and masseuse. And by regularly, I mean weekly. Sometimes multiple times a week. Yes, I clearly used to have both the time and the money to devote to myself.
Now that my pregnancy aches and pains have morphed into the ailments associated with lugging around a wiggly and arm-flailing 25-pounder who prefers to be carried, I still get tune-ups when the need arises.
A few months ago, I had the brilliant idea to show my Monkey some tricks on the monkey bars (tricks that have not been practiced in 20 years). I woke up with muscle spasms in my back so severe that I could barely walk, so I immediately called my doctor who is both an acupuncturist and chiropractor (find one of those!). I was back to normal within minutes after my session. I was good to go for a few months until just the other day when old neck and upper back injuries flared up again. After a session of electro-acupuncture and a quick adjustment, I was back to chasing my kid around without any problem.
Some people do not believe in the power of acupuncture or chiropractic care. I’m guessing they have either not tried it or haven’t gone to the right doctor. For me, there is nothing else that can compare. For aches, pains, and sore muscles, I much prefer alternative methods that are healing and restorative rather than rely on conventional medical methods, like prescription drugs. For the same price as a few prescription bottles of Flexiril or Vicodin, I would much rather be stuck with a few needles and have my spine cracked. The best part of all, the healing effects of treatment last much longer than the duration of any prescription drug.
Have you tried acupuncture or chiropractic care? If not, what’s stopping you?
03
Foodie Friday: No-Fail Brussels Sprouts
Winter is almost here, which means it’s the best time for Brussels sprouts!
Yay!!!
Uh…hello? Anyone else with me???
Hey, I was like any other kid growing up – I would push those Brussels sprouts away. I personally believe that boiled and steamed Brussels sprouts are terrible, yet they remain the most popular cooking method.
WHY?!?
The main problem with boiling and steaming Brussels sprouts is that they can easily overcook, which releases a horrible sulfur smell. Not appetizing. So, let me tell you the way that I love to cook those beautiful little cabbages – roast, roast, roast. And for extra flavor and a sure-bet method to get the kids to eat them, add bacon or toasted almonds. I make roasted Brussels sprouts at least once a week. I’m telling you, if you try this recipe out on your family, they will be begging for more.
I love buying the Brussels sprouts still intact on their stem (like this). I occasionally see them at places like Trader Joe’s, but your local farmers market might be your best bet. It’s really fun for kids to pick them off the stem. Actually, I really enjoy it, too. It’s almost as fun as popping bubble wrap. If you don’t find Brussels sprouts on the stem, just pick them out yourself. Look for bright green sprouts with no blemishes and squeeze them to make sure they are firm and compact.
Once you cleaned your Brussels sprouts, halve them with a sharp knife. Watch your fingers!
I know you know what cubed bacon looks like, but I just need to point out one thing: I use my vegetable cutting board for bacon because bacon is considered a vegetable in my home. (continues…)
30
Mental Monday: Teens and Parents as Friends? Only on Facebook.
I always cringe when I hear a parent refer to their teenager as their best friend.
Some parents may use that term loosely or merely as thoughtless hyperbole but, for just as many other parents, they really do believe it to be true. They do everything with their teenager. They confide in their child about adult-themed content. They joke about and discuss inappropriate subject matter. They gossip with their teenager about their teenage friends. And the rules, discipline, and structure that may have once been present in the home tends to wane significantly or end altogether.
Why do parents do that?
My guess is that some parents just really don’t know how to parent a teenager.
When your child gets older and enters the pre-teen and teenage years, it can be difficult for some parents to know what role to play. While some parents start tightening the reins on the increasing independence of their children, other parents loosen up and start behaving more like a friend. Many teenagers act like mini-adults and will start testing their parents as they explore their new world between childhood and adulthood. And, as I’m sure we all remember well enough, it’s a tough world to live in. You’re too old to act like a child, but you’re also too young to behave like an adult. It can be very frustrating for both the teenager and the parents.
There is no doubt that as your child grows into a teenager, your role as a parent will shift. Once a child enters the pre-teen years, they tend to seek more validity and approval from friends, rather than parents. The opinions and advice of their parents start to lose some of their power. Once a child begins the long journey of self-discovery and identity, they often turn to the people that help define their image: their peers. Many parents quickly realize that they have lost some influence over their teenager and will resort to treating their teenager as an equal. It could be out of desperation as they strive to keep their independence-seeking teenager close and connected and perhaps regain some approval and respect from their once-adoring child. (continues…)