Take a Flying Leap

That's pretty much what I did today as I somehow lost my footing on our front porch steps and came crashing to the ground. We have a very low rock wall in our front yard and by some miracle, my head fell right in the spot where a few rocks are missing. I am so blessed these rocks were gone, as my face would've been all busted up. As it was I only suffered scrapes and bruises on the hand I tried to catch myself with, both knees, banged my elbow up bad, twisted my calf, and skinned up a foot really bad. Tonight I am so incredibly sore. Dan says my nickname should be Grace. He is now actively trying to find me a big protective bubble to live in.

I spent my afternoon escaping Podunk by accompanying Lynette and her hubby to Abilene. It was a fun drive and I had a great time visiting with them both. Thanks y'all for letting me tag along!

Hope you all had a great Monday!

People Pleaser

I am a people pleaser. I am such a people pleaser that the thought of making anyone less than happy with me can worry me to death. I don't know if this goes along with my depression or what, but it's a problem that has gotten worse the past few years. Now, I'm not saying that it's always a bad thing, but when it starts stressing you out, then that isn't good. I think my people pleasing is what has made me so afraid of conflict. I hate conflict and will bend over backwards to avoid it. Does that make me a big baby? Possibly. But, if there is conflict, in my mind I haven't done my job of keeping everyone happy. Rationally I know this is an impossible task, but still I try and then worry when I fail. It really sucks at times.

The biggest problem with being this way is that you are always focused on someone else. We need to think of ourselves and do what's best for us, but it's hard when you are too busy trying to keep everyone else happy. I think many mamas know exactly what I'm talking about. So, when do we put the needs of others aside and do what's best for us? I have no idea what the answer to this one is, but I know we all need to do right by us or we will be no good to anyone else.

So, that's what I'm trying to work on right now, taking care of me. I've had a bad case of the blues lately and I think giving myself a break will help. I am giving myself permission to not be perfect and make everyone happy. Of course I am still going to be a good wife and mama, but I'm also going to focus some energy on things I want to do. I am going to try to let go of this idea that I need to make every single soul I know blissfully happy. I mean, we don't live in a Disney movie here! Ultimately, I cannot make other people be happy, I can only do that for myself. And I really feel that I deserve it. So, I start the process of letting this strange character flaw of mine go and embracing the idea that I am worthy of some happiness too. Maybe I've been trying to please the wrong people all along.

Spa Saturday: More HBA Bang for Your Buck

I think many of us are looking for ways to stretch our money these days. I know that at our house, I am suddenly finding lots of products that do double duty. Why buy multiple items when I can buy one product that does multiple things? I have found that health and beauty items are one thing the family can quite easily share, which leads to savings. Baby Magic products are a great example of one product with multiple uses.
For example, my new favorite facial cleanser/make up remover is Baby Magic's Gentle Hair and Body wash. Baby Magic has always been my favorite brand of baby bath products and it's Ashley's favorite bodywash. So, we always have it on hand it it does a great job of cleaning my face. I love how mild it is, as I have sensitive skin.

"This gentle hair and body wash, which doubles as a mild facial cleanser, replenishes natural moisture as it removes excess dirt and oil. The easy-rinsing, tear-free formula is also mild enough to use as a makeup remover, including on the eye area."

Another great Baby Magic product is their Creamy Baby Oil. This is one of my favorites, as I love it's light scent and how soft it will leave baby's skin. But, it also makes a great make up remover and moisturizer for mom!

"Enriched with vitamins and aloe, this unique blend of lotion and oil helps to soften and seal in the natural moisture that can be lacking in adult skin after prolonged exposure to the sun. Gentle emollients help remove makeup and offering all day moisture. The hypoallergenic formula is mild enough for sensitive skin, making it perfect."

Baby powder has been a staple in our house for 13 years now. We've used it on baby bottoms and then progressed to it being our go to foot powder. The scent is not overwhelming, but it does a great job of keeping you dry and fresh!

"Specially formulated to absorb moisture and wetness, this powder helps reduce irritation and prevent chaffing as it reduces odor. The hypoallergenic formula is mild enough for daily use and the Fresh Baby Scent leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and smelling wonderful all day."

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Feeding the Furbabies

Our dogs are like our children. We would be lost without our furbabies. And just like our kids, their nutritional needs are a huge concern to us. I've spent countless hours researching the best diet for each if them. I've looked into feeding them raw, buying dog food from the vet, what supplements they need, etc. There is a lot information on dog nutrition out there, it can be quite daunting.

My main concern has always been Shelby. When we adopted her she was recovering from a battle with heart worms. She had been abused as well, so she had to fight to make it and become an adoptable dog. She was underweight when we got her, so I tried desperately to get weight on her. As she got stronger, she would gain weight, but is such an active dog that keeping her in top shape was a challenge. Then our vet told us we needed to be feeding her dog food with a ratio of at least 30% protein and 20% fat. I soon discovered this wasn't an easy combination to find.

Then I was given the opportunity to review K9 Cuisine. Finally I could easily find dog food that met up to the standards my vet suggested! No matter what you are looking for, K9 Cuisine probably has it. I found dry dog food kibble, canned food, dehydrated dog food, organic, vegetarian, holistic, and more! I was quite pleased with their selection of grain free pet foods. They also offer one of the best selections of pet treats I've ever seen. They have all these goodies for cats as well.

K9 Cuisine has a very helpful, easy to navigate website. As you browse, you can find all sorts of product information from feeding guidelines to analysis. They also offer free samples which are a great way to try new products. Ordering from them is very simply and best of all, they offer free shipping! So, if you are looking for a great place to buy pet food, I highly recommend K9 Cuisine. They offer excellent quality products and great service! Plus, our furbabies love their products!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Terrified

That is the word of the day. It is my job to wake everyone up in the morning. I wake them up they get dressed, they kiss me goodbye and are of to school and work. This morning, I apparently hit the off button instead of snooze at 5am. I shot out of bed at 7:03. For the kids this was no big deal. But, this simple mistake on my part probably just cost my husband his job. The big orange store he works at is not very forgiving about tardiness, as they are schedule "variances" and a big no no. The fact that I've probably just cost our family their one source of income and my husband a job he's been at for years is nothing less than terrifying.

Friends, I am so upset. How could I have been so careless? It's an awful mistake that there is noway for me to fix. I don't know what we will do. I feel like an idiot.

Please pray for us. It means more than you could know.

Dull

That's what I think my life is like lately and the reason I've not been posting much. It seems I'm still struggling to get over the chaos of the holidays. My days are a blur of alarm clocks, getting kids to school, husband to work, laundry, dishes, laundry, cleaning up after everyone from kids to kittens, laundry, and laundry. There is not much exciting stuff to write about. Granted, I know I'm not the the only blogger whose life is.. well.. ordinary. I think a lot of us are in the same boat.

So, that's what I've been up to lately. Just being wife and mom. It's not exciting, but it's my life.

Guest Post: Making School A Sensational Place by Chynna Laird

As the parent of a child with special needs, I find that dealing with the school can be quite frustrating. Today author Chynna Laird shares with us some tips to help make school not so bad. Thanks for sharing with us Chynna! Learn more about Chynna on her site or blog. And don't forget to check out her book, Not Just Spirited: A Mom's Sensational Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

Making School A Sensational Place

Starting school should be an exciting time. For most children, the excitement of meeting new friends and learning new things ease any initial uneasiness. But for some children, their nervousness lingers long after the first day not because they miss home but more due to the fact that their needs aren’t being met properly. And if their needs weren’t known about, or even understood, ahead of time, school can become a source of tremendous stress.

When my daughter, Jaimie, was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder almost five years ago, one of my main concerns was how she’d function in school. Jaimie was barely able to handle the stimulation of a short grocery trip or sit in her carseat for longer than ten minutes or deal with her siblings being too close to her. How on earth, I thought, was she going to be able to deal with the extremely busy, over-stimulating environment of a public school? I did think about homeschooling, and haven’t ruled it out, but we decided to give school a shot.

In our case, Jaimie’s SPD made her so sensitive that she actually became fearful of the outside world. Her psychiatrist and play therapist both felt that by allowing her to be at home for play, fun and school wouldn’t have been the best choice for a girl with Jaimie’s sensitivities. To a certain point, I agreed but I also knew that in order to make sure the experience was the best it could be for Jaimie, I had to make sure all her needs were understood, met and properly addressed. That combination is so important.

Now, your child’s needs are unique and only you know whether she would be able to cope with a public school atmosphere. But if you’d like to give it a shot, here are some things to set in place:

Research The first step is to check out the schools in your area. Are they open to having children with special needs in their school? Do they have connections with solid community funding programs? Do the teachers and other administrators have experience with teaching children with your child’s needs? Would they be willing to learn about her needs? These are all very important questions to have answered. Choose the schools you’re most interested in: visit them, speak to teachers and staff, bring your child there for a visit and then select the place that can most effectively assist your child in reaching his educational goals and who is most willing to work with you to advocate for him.

Initial Meeting. After choosing the right school, request an initial meeting with the school administrators (usually the principal and/or curriculum coordinator, your child’s teacher and, if possible, a representative from the resource who’ll be providing funding for your child’s needs). This meeting isn’t designed to discuss only what’s ‘wrong’ with your child but also topics such as updates on her therapy, what works/doesn’t currently work in terms of assistance or in-class tools he’ll need and other things. For us, I was armed to the armpits with information about SPD because we’d learned from past experiences that a lot of teachers didn’t yet understand SPD or how to cope with it. But, to our surprise, the representative from the funding place knew about SPD so we simply had to discuss strategies, what Jaimie’s specific SPD needs were and what she needed in the classroom to ease her anxiety.

Continued communication. After the initial meeting there should be regular meetings set up—weekly to biweekly with teachers and monthly with school administrators—to keep the line of communication open between the school and home. The school shouldn’t be left to deal with your child alone because things might be unintentionally overlooked. As well, the school should know about any changes in routine, home life, nutrition, medication (if any) and other similar issues to understand the child’s behavior at school and parents should understand anything unusual or different in the usual school routine to understand any behaviors at home. This reduces a tremendous amount of stress for everyone involved, especially the child, as well as eliminates the possibility of miscommunication or misunderstanding.

Speak up. Parents should never feel they need to be quiet and follow along with how the school ‘has always done things’ if that isn’t working for their child. When Jaimie was to start Grade One, there was nothing in place for her. There is no assistance ‘code’ for SPD—not for funding assistance, not for insurance coverage and not in most schools. Jaimie has severe anxiety that stems from her SPD so the school focused on that to get her funding (There is a ‘code’ for anxiety.) She was covered for some assistance in the classroom and her teacher got to purchase items like special pen/pencil grips, an IKEA egg, textured chair cushions and other items specific to sensory sensitive children. When things weren’t working, her teacher and I discussed things that worked at home (eg: stress balls, fidgets, headphones, etc.) and Jaimie was allowed to bring these extra items to use in the classroom. Speak up when things aren’t working but be willing to work with the teachers and school staff too. As my wise grandmother used to say, “You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.” Stand up but know when to give in a little and when to stay strong.

Understand the whole role of advocacy. The most important thing to remember about helping our children in school is to understand what your role is as an advocate. As mentioned earlier, advocacy is more than just telling people what your child’s struggles are. She has a lot of things that are phenomenal about her too so be sure to include those things in your meetings. Jaimie has SPD, Dyspraxia and anxiety but she reads far beyond her grade level, she’s an amazing artist and loves crafts. Advocacy means LEARNING everything you can about your child’s condition so you feel confident enough TEACHING others about it and INFORMING them of her needs. Once others have knowledge about something, they’ll understand it. And that’s how we spread awareness—the very heart of advocacy.

Every person’s situation is different so the avenues you go down will be different. We’ve had a few hurdles but, in general, we’ve been fortunate enough having kind, empathetic and understanding people around us who truly have Jaimie’s best interests at heart. No school environment is perfect but having that sort of support from the get-go means everyone will be on the same page, or try to be. And that’s the best way to keep your child on the path to educational success.

Coffee With Tristen

Image by Andreanna via Flickr

I woke up this morning to Tristen bringing a cup of coffee to me in bed. I was struck by how sweet and child like my teenager can still be. My heart was full to the top as he smiled and handed me a cup of coffee. What a sweet kid! He had gotten out of bed early, just to be good to his mama!

It was then that I noticed how pale the coffee was. But, he had made it just for me and I didn't want to make him think I didn't appreciate it. He had put half a small bottle of Peppermint Mocha creamer in a six ounce coffee mug. It was, um, very different. I thanked him and proceeded to choke the liquid down.

Before he walked out the door, he asked me how it was. I told him I appreciated the gesture and thanked him. Then he smiled, squeezed my hand, and said I think from now on I'll let you add the cream and sugar. I was thinking at this point he was wise beyond his years, until I found the coffee mug he had fixed himself. Lesson learned.

But I know this is one of those memories I'll always treasure. soon he won't be here to make me my morning cup of joe. It's these little things that I'll miss, yes even things like a bit of coffee with my creamer. I cannot believe how fast my children are growing up!

Make Your Own Skunk Odor Remover

Image by Petroglyph via Flickr

My neighbor's dogs seem to just adore those striped kitties. After one particularly nasty run in with a skunk, we had to abandon their house and let it air out. There is nothing quite like the aroma of a skunk! So, today my grandmother gave me this recipe. I am posting it here so it will be handy the next time Lynette's doggies get all stinky.

1 quart Hydrogen Peroxide

1/2 cup Baking Soda

1 Tablespoon liquid dish soap

Mix all ingredients well in a large, clean bucket. Take a large sponge, soak it, and thoroughly saturate your pet with the mixture. Keep the solution away from your pet's eyes, mouth, and nose.

After you've covered your pet with the solution, being sure to really work it down into his coat and skin, then rinse with warm water.

According to grandma, this will do the trick!

It Doesn’t Cost A Million Bucks to Smile in 2010: Tips for Finding Affordable and Even FREE Dental Care For the New Year

Happy New Year Texas Housewife readers! I’m Dr. Catrise Austin, “Dentist to the Stars” and author of a new dental consumer book called “5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile: How the stars get that perfect smile and how you can too!” As we enter into a New Year, a new decade even, could it be time for a time for a New You? As a cosmetic dentist, I love this time of the year as many people tend to renew their vows to take charge of their dental health and even put a dazzle to a fizzled smile. I truly believe that one of the first things that people will notice about you is your smile. It’s your greeting card, your business card, your resume and your facial “mood ring” all in one. Hey, I realize that for many, going to the dentist may not seem fun, but in these tough economic times a healthy mouth can not only save you money in future dental bills, but can keep you in good overall health.

The #1 concern that I’m hearing from many of my clients, personal friends, and even those who follow me on my social media networks is “I can’t afford dentistry right now”. One of the key messages that I’m sharing is: “It doesn’t take a million bucks to have a great smile and quite frankly, you can’t afford to NOT care for your smile”. It’s true. Despite this tough economy, maintaining good oral health and visiting a dentist regularly is still a must. Studies now show however, that poor oral health can not only cause gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and tooth loss, but is also linked to other serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and preterm or low birth weight babies in pregnant women. Now more than ever, with a spiraling economy and increased competition for jobs, a healthy, confident smile can be your calling card to success and play a key role in your overall well being. But where can you start if you lack dental insurance or have limited cash to pay for dental care?

Consider these tips:

1. Start Practicing At Home- Just stroll down the toothpaste isle of your local grocery store or pharmacy and you’ll be amazed with the tools and products available to keep your teeth cavity-free and make your gums strong and healthy. Follow my daily “smile workout” at home which includes brushing, flossing, and rinsing, along with avoiding habits or activities that can harm your teeth (such as ice chewing, opening items with your teeth, grinding your teeth, or not wearing a sports mouth guard if you participate in contact or high risk sports) and you’ll save tons of money in dental bills.

2. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for A Discount: Some dentists offer a standard 5% discount if you pay in full with cash or check before you start all of your dental work. Ask your dentist if they offer any special discounts.

3. Smile Now and Pay For It Later With Care Credit- Care Credit is a healthcare financing plan that is available at most dental offices nationwide. Care Credit offers no interest payment plans up to 12 months or low interest rate payment plans up to 5 years for dental services. The great thing is that you can also use Care Credit for other medical needs such as vision, medical visits, and even medical care for pets.

4. Go To School: Dental schools in each state offer reduced fees for dental care. The dental work is performed by junior and senior year dental students under the strict supervision of a trained/licensed dentist to ensure that you receive quality dental care.

5. Don’t Underestimate Your Ability To Strike A Deal With Your Dentist: Negotiate! If you have a special skill or service that your dentist could use, ask if you can barter/exchange services. I’ve personally considered this option with a few clients so it doesn’t hurt to ask.

6. Pre-pay For Your Smile: When I was growing up, most department stores had what was called a “lay away plan” where you could identify items that you wanted or needed, put a down payment on your items, then make installment payments on your order. When your items were paid in full, you could take home your items. Ask if you can pre-pay for your smile! Consider sending advanced payments for your treatment and begin only once you’ve paid in full.

Remember, ignoring your smile today will only lead to costly dental problems tomorrow. In 2010 I challenge you to take charge of your dental health and make it a priority. Nothing else in this world matters if you don’t have your health, which includes your oral health. It’s true! So, if you've been guilty of putting off your next dental exam and professional cleaning, consider making an appointment ASAP. For more smile tips and your VIP pass to dental resources, pick up or click to order my new book “5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile: How the stars get that perfect smile and how you can too!” today.

Make Your Own All Purpose Cleaner

I've seen several ideas on how to make your own all purpose/multi-surface cleaner, so I decided to experiment until I found a mixture that suited my needs. I came up with a very effective, incredibly thrifty mixture that I adore.

Take a clean spray bottle and add:

1 Tablespoon Borax
4 Tablespoons White Vinegar
10 drops of your favorite essential oil

Add 32 ounces of hot water, then shake liberally. This is a fantastic cleaner that does the job without a lot of harsh chemicals. Plus, it's very easy on the pocket book. I really like how well it cleans.

Spa Saturday: Homemade Oatmeal Facial Mask

Image via Wikipedia

One thing I intend to make a priority this year is treating myself to more pampering time. I spend so much time taking care of everyone else, I seem to be my last priority. That really needs to change! So, that is what has inspired Spa Saturday. Every Saturday I'll share a simple way to pamper yourself at home, without breaking the bank.

The oatmeal Facial Mask is a trick I learned from my home economics teacher. The recipe is very simple.

Oatmeal Facial Mask

1/2 cup oatmeal, either quick cooking or regular

1/4 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt, I usually use buttermilk as it's what I have on hand most often

2 Tablespoons honey

Toss the oatmeal in the blender or food processor and process until it's a finely ground powder.

Combine wet ingredients and mix.

Add oatmeal to wet mixture and mix until you have a wet paste.

To use, simply moisten your face with warm water. Smooth oatmeal mask all over your face and even your neck if you desire. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. This will leave your skin soft and glowing!

Happy 2010!

Image by berk2804 via Flickr

Wow! I cannot believe it's the start of a new decade! I so enjoy the first day of the new year, to me it is so fresh and clean, ready to make of it what we will. I want to say a huge Thank You to all my wonderful readers and sponsors. Thanks so much for being a part of my ramblings! The past year has been full of many ups and downs for us. In 2010, we are hoping for more ups than downs. Things are changing for us this year and I pray these will be positive changes.

My goals for 2009 didn't exactly get met. I've struggled with family life, finances, motherhood, you name it. There have been highs and lows, unexpected events, and lots of surprises. This year, we are trying to be better about making plans and sticking to them.

First of all, my children are growing up so fast. My number one priority this year is to spend more quality time together. I hope this will be a whole family event, but I can't control others. All I know is that I am vowing to spend quality, one on one time with my kids each and everyday. I feel like they are growing up so quickly that my time with them is flying by. I want to cease the moment while I can. This may seem like a crazy goal for some, I think being a great mom comes easier to some than it does me. But, I didn't exactly learn parenting from my parents. So, my kids and the whole family will be my first priority. I hope we will all grow closer this year.

Dan and I've made some big decisions about finances this year. The biggest choice we've made is to give up the van. The van payment is the difference between us being able to make it financially and not. This is big for us, as the van was our first real "new" car. We were so excited about being able to pay off a car and have something nice for a change. Two years later, we've sunk thousands of dollars into repairs, plus been struggling to make a car payment we truly cannot afford. Lesson learned, putting yourself in an impossible debt situation is not exciting. So, who cares if everyone else has a nicer car than us? We plan to pay cash for the best late model used car we can find. It makes a lot more sense to us than continuing to make large payments we cannot afford. As a friend of mine said about it, Dave Ramsey would be proud!

On a financial note, we are not frivolous people. We have no credit cards, do not go on vacations, and rarely spend money on anything other than paying bills, buying gas, and groceries. Even so, on one income in a small Texas town, financial survival can be tough. So, we are recommitting ourselves to tracking every penny we spend. We want to know where our money is going, so we can easier track what is necessary and what is not. We are not going to try to set ourselves to a strict fixed amount like we attempted last year, but we are going to be more careful.

As for food, it has become very clear that most of our grocery shopping needs to be done out of town. I have local friends who argue that you spend more money driving out of town, but I've done the math and, for us anyway, completely disagree. The gas we spend driving 70 miles round trip to the neighboring town still doesn't add up to what we spend on groceries here. We have one grocery store here, so they are naturally very high. Driving out of town adds about $10 to the cost of a grocery store trip. What it comes down to is that I can buy a months worth of groceries in the neighboring town for what I'd spend on two weeks worth here. Even when you throw in that ten bucks in gas money, making that drive is definitely worth it!

We are also learing to make do with what we have and make things ourselves. I call it creative frugality, even though it isn't all that creative. No more buying laundry soap, all purpose cleaners, etc. If I can find a way to make my own, I will.

So, these are just a few of the things I hope to work on this year. Writing them down and sharing them with you tends to make me more accountable.

What are some of your goals for the new year? Please share them with us. I look forward to supporting you in your goals and wish you a fabulous New Year!