Before & After Organizing Project (Part 1)
BEFORE
Disney Store Rip-Off
Reese is *obsessed* with Princesses right now – Rapunzel, Cindarella, Belle, “Awore-a” – and greatly into being a princess herself. So of course, when Christmas comes up I’m going to Disney Store (or at least Disney Store online because you should all know by now how much I don’t like shopping).
I went to DisneyStore.com and saw this banner (left), which you’ll note says that free shipping will be given on your order of $75 or more. On Black Friday it also was giving 20% off. Of course, I assume this means on the subtotal, like every other online (or brick & mortar) retailer.
I placed my order – at a subtotal of $79. The coupon took off the 20% amount, but the shipping fee remained. 
I contacted “customer service” asking for my shipping refund, as based on their coupon text an order of $75 would get 20% off AND free shipping. First I was sent an auto reply that they could not assist me with licensing Disney products. (???)
I submitted my request again. I was this time sent an email that my subtotal did not reach $75 and that’s why the coupon did not work. I replied with my info a third time, including the screenshots. Again I was replied to with the statement that my subtotal was $63 not $79. They said that the 20% off lowered my subtotal – but as you can see by their own system (right) and my receipt (below) my subtotal was STILL $79.
Like every other store in the world, they show the coupons AFTER the subtotal…yet they don’t honor their own subtotal only the non-existent line below the subtotal and coupon amount apparently.
I’m on my 8th request / reply to Disney Store Online’s “customer service.” I can’t seem to get them to review my actual case, in lieu of canned auto-reply messages from representatives (Tristan, Shauna (who called ME Tristan), and Demiyer) who continue to claim my subtotal was not $75+ and that the coupon would only work if my order was over $75.
I also wish to note how the coupon doesn’t say “order $75 and get 20% off then add another $15 and THEN get free shipping.” Apparently this is what they MEANT to say….?
Children who are encouraged to be active and use their minds to create and imagine are happier, more relaxed and overall better adjusted than those who do not get ample opportunities to play. It can be difficult, however, to create enough opportunities or offer enough interesting activities to keep our kids occupied. However, “it’s important to keep children’s minds active, but it doesn’t take an expensive activity or big vacation to capture their attention,” said Dr. Mary Zurn, Vice President of Education for Primrose. “After all, imagination is free.”
Primrose, the Leader in Educational Day Care, suggests parents encourage imaginative play to avoid boredom throughout the year. Despite the best planning however, even the most prepared parents find themselves occasionally faced with those two terrifying words, “I’m bored!” There will be times when the usual fun activities fail to elicit the same excitement and joy they normally do. Obstacles tend to get in the way of plans, especially when you have children.
When the weather does not allow outdoor play, or when circumstances change a busy day to one with lots of unstructured time, it helps to have a list of activities planned out to fall back on. You do not need to spend a lot of money to have fun with your kids. In fact, some of the best memories have been made without spending a dime.
Here are 10 ways to beat boredom without breaking the bank:
1. Boredom Buster Jar
Sit your entire family down together to brainstorm ideas for fun activities. Involving the whole family helps each child feel a personal connection to the project, which will make them more excited when it is time to use the jar. Each person can create an activity they would enjoy doing, and each activity is written down on a slip of paper. Decide as a family which activities make it into the jar. Anyone can take a slip from the jar later when ideas for fun come up short.
2. Act Out A Favorite Story
If your family reads together, you probably have certain stories you all enjoy. Your whole family can get into a reenactment of a favorite scene in a story, or play out the entire book. Have fun going through closets to make up costumes, and use household items as fun props. If you have a video camera, you can create a lasting epic drama or fall-over-laughing comedy to watch over and over through the years.
3. Have a Campout
Rain or shine, indoors or out, there is nothing like a campout for the whole family. You can set up a tent in the living room or out in the yard. A fort made of couch cushions, chairs and blankets is fun to make and a perfect substitute when a tent will not fit indoors. If the weather is nice, build a campfire and roast marshmallows while telling ghost stories.
4. Go On a Nature Walk
Parents and kids alike can find interesting things on a nature walk. Encourage your kids to look all around them to find special things like a unique rock, pretty caterpillar, or interesting rock formation. There is no end to the discoveries your kids can make when taking a walk through the woods. You can bring a camera along and let your kids take turns photographing the things that interest them. It is very fascinating to be able to see the world through a child’s eyes.
5. Draw On The Walls
What could be more fun than being allowed to do something you are always told not to do? A stapler and a few pieces of poster board open up limitless possibilities. Set out watercolors, crayons or colored pencils and let your children practice their artistic talents in a new way. You could expand on this to allow them to decorate an entire wall of their bedroom in their own unique way. When they tire of the look, they can simply remove the poster board and be back to where they started.
6. Tell a Round Robin Story
If your children can write, you can write out a story, with each family member writing one part and passing it on to the next. Let each person write a paragraph, then send it to the next person. Some really funny stories are written this way. Another option is to assign each person a part of the story and let everyone write independently. Put them all together and have a laugh trying to make sense of it all! For smaller children, speaking and acting out the story aloud can be a fun and hilarious adventure.
7. Make Photo Paper Dolls
Make a copy of full body photos for every person, then create clothes and accessories from construction paper to decorate the photo people. Goofy glasses, huge wigs and ridiculous outfits give this project a ton of laughs while your kids get to draw and create to their hearts’ content.
8. Learn a Craft
If you know how to do a craft such as knitting, crocheting or jewelry making, spend an afternoon teaching your children how to do it too. Kids really enjoy learning how to do those types of things and the lessons can stay with them for a lifetime, setting the foundation for their own crafty skills later on.
9. Make a Bird Treat
Watching wild birds gobble up a treat they made can be a very satisfying experience for kids. Tie a piece of string on a pine cone so it can be hung on a tree, then smear peanut butter all over it and dip it in wild bird seed. Birds will love this treat and your kids will enjoy feeding the birds.
10. Make Greeting Cards
If Christmas is coming up, kids can create a touching gift for friends and family by making homemade Christmas cards. You can make cards for birthdays and other occasions too. Construction paper, glittery pens and stickers can make some unique, colorful cards to give out. You can also encourage your kids to make their own Valentine’s day cards for school.
Finding a cure for boredom does not have to mean spending a lot of money or time. Using simple supplies many of us have on hand, you can provide your children with hours of creative play that does not rely on the weather or any special accommodations.
Gather supplies for these activities before you have need of them and you will always have something for kids to do, avoiding the dreaded, “I’m bored!”
–By Dan Gilbert
Snail Mail an Email! What a Great Idea…
Snail Mail My Email is a month-long project that aims to bring back the uplifting feeling of receiving an actual hand-written letter. They’re literally transcribing your emails to deliver handwritten notes to the recipient – and hopefully that happy feeling of finding a personal letter in your analogue mailbox amongst the junk and bills.
Want to say hi to your mom? Encourage your 3rd grader’s teacher? Brighten your boss (or assistant’s) day? The president of your favorite organization? The sky (and 100 words) is the limit. Once you’ve finished, just send off your email to snailmailmyemail@gmail.com and their international network of 180 volunteers will transcribe and send your message, all free of charge.
And what letter would be complete without a little something extra? You can request a doodle, a flower petal, a spray of perfume or cologne, or even a lip stick kiss. I’m pretty sure trying any of those over email will result in a very broken hard drive.
(Thanks to Netted by the Webbys for today’s post….)
Stress-Free Work (Repost)
Stress is a poison in today’s society.
The negative effects of stress are numerous. It weakens our immune system, which causes sickness. Because of stress, people produce less. When stressed people are less creative. The list goes on and on.
Problems caused by stress cost our society billions of dollars every year.
On the flip side, this means that anyone who can lower their stress levels and produce at a high level is at an advantage in the workplace. Those people will quickly become the most valued assets in any organization.
Looking to the Future
For many, there doesn’t seem to be any end to the stress. Companies and organizations keep expecting more for less which means we have to work harder, produce more, and get better results.
This means that if we are to solve the situation we cannot look to the outer world. We have to look inside ourselves and make a change.
When I Learned the 80/20 Rule
Most of us get caught up in tasks that really don’t have much of an impact on our future.
I started to think about it this way: 20 percent of the activities we do stand for 80% of the results we produce.
Another way of putting it is that if you have a list of 10 actions, 2 of those actions will have a greater effect on your future than the other 8 put together.
When I looked at my own work schedule this was really obvious.
When I first started thinking about the 80/20 rule, I was working as a sales manager with 5 sales people under me. My task list was as follows:
1. Making sales calls
2. Coach sales people
3. Sitting in meetings with my bosses
4. Prepare marketing and sales campaigns
5. Answer and reply to emails
6. Write standardized offers
7. Create campaign banners
And a few other unimportant things.
When I looked through this list, I realized that 80 percent of the value I created for my company came from coaching sales people and making my own sales calls. Most of the others were unimportant or easy to delegate.
Once I started focusing on those 2 tasks, my numbers and value skyrocketed…which quickly got me a promotion.
How to Focus Your Efforts
A few years ago I was taught a great method for decreasing stress. This guide will help you by getting thoughts, deals and commitments out of your head and on to paper, someplace you know you will be able to go back and review it regularly and that you know you will not forget it.
By not having to keep everything in your mind, you will be able to review it and decide which are activities comprise that crucial 20%, and you will be able to focus single-mindedly on those tasks without having to remember lots of other thoughts and ideas.
Step 1 – What is taking up a lot of your focus and energy?
Write down a list of everything you are thinking about and stressing about.
Step 2 – What would be a successful outcome to this situation?
To each point on the list, visualize what a perfect solution would be and then write it down.
Step 3 – How important is it that this task is done?
By answering this question, you learn if this task is something you need and should do or if it really isn’t that important and can be eliminated.
Step 4 – What action could you take to move the project towards that goal?
Once you know that the idea is an important one, write down what the next action you can take to move the goal towards its perfect solution.
Step 5 – Decide when you are going to do the action
Write it down in your calendar.
Let Go and Relax
Do you feel how much more relaxed you are now that you don’t have to remember all your ideas? Now that you know that they will be done?
This exercise has helped people all over the world get their ideas in writing, find actionable steps to take on their workloads, and start moving towards their major goals. It is a great cure to procrastination and a great way to increase your productivity start living a stress-free life.
Reposted from Stepcase Lifehack – author: Daniel M. Wood is the founder of Looking To Business.com. He writes about Motivation, Success and Time Management. Join his free email course “Your Path to Your Dreams” and receive his ebook “How to Make Selling Easy” for free.
$450 Mothers Day Giveaway!
Hurry, you must enter by the 8th!
Econobusters (Molly Green) is one of my favorite blogs and she is doing a fantastic Mother’s Day Giveaway. Earrings, books, CD, Crocheted Hotpad, Dietary Supplements, Notecards, a solid Birch Bank, AND MUCH MORE…. There’s some really fun stuff here that I’ll be looking into even if I didn’t win! (The Busy Homeschooling Mom’s Guide to Romance?!!)
750 Words a Day
I’ve kept a consistent journal for over 10 years. Granted, with the arrival of children, my writing is more sporadic, time lapses can be several weeks and posts can end in mid sentence – presumably with a vocalized “No! Agh!”
Many tout the wisdom of consistent and honest journaling. Not only can it help you think more clearly (builds focus, flushes out the noise), keep you more popular with coworkers and family (getting things off your chest on paper is better than face-to-face, trust me), and help you write and speak better (you don’t um and uh your way through journals).
Journaling gives you an outlet to think, dream, vent, idealize, and invent. To-dos, schedules, ideas, positive moments, negative moments, who cares but me moments….journaling is not a diary by the bedside necessarily. It’s more of a by your side at all times record of your life. I think more clearly after writing. I get things off my mind and “wrassle” my thoughts to a quieter hum. 30 words, 3000 words. It shouldn’t matter. But writing does improve creativity and clarity. Daily is preferable, if you can.
Enter 750words.com - Counts your words, can send you a daily reminder to write, all online. If you’re like me, you’ll probably never stray from the smooth pen gliding on the lined (college ruled, thank you) sheets encased in a leather covered journal. However, it’s been recommended that many (like me) CAN type faster than they write. And this tool will not only remind you to write your important daily sentiments, it also tracks your overall mood. Pretty cool….
Some great posts on Journaling in general:
From Live to Write, Write to Live
From Stepcase Lifehack
From Life Optimizer
Handmade Body Moisturizer Recipe
Handmade Body Moisturizer Recipe – thanks to ReadyMade.com for this great (and easy) recipe!
Like fresh food, this will go bad after a certain period of time. If you don’t think you’ll use it within three months, store it in the refrigerator. Makes approximately 2 cups.
1 cup filtered water, cold brewed tea, orange blossom water, or rose water
¾ cup oil such as olive, almond, unrefined coconut, or avocado
3 tablespoons grated beeswax
A few drops of essential oil of your choice, for fragrance
1. Set up a blender and pour in the water. Prepare clean, dry glass jars for packaging and have them nearby.
2. Put the oil and the beeswax in a Pyrex (glass) measuring cup. Place the Pyrex cup in a pan or small pot and pour in water to reach about halfway up the cup. Bring the water to a gentle boil, and heat the oil and beeswax until the beeswax melts. You’ll know when the wax is melted because you won’t see it anymore. As soon as the wax is melted, remove the cup from the water and let the oil cool for 2 minutes.
3. Turn on the blender and start blending the water at medium speed. Remove the stopper in the blender lid so you can pour the oil through the top while blending. Slowly pour in the oil and the mixture will begin to emulsify. If there is still some water on the surface, turn up the blender and blend the mixture 30 seconds to a minute longer. If you’re using essential oil, blend it in now.
4. With a clean rubber spatula, transfer the cream to the glass jars. Cover the jars with cheesecloth for an hour, or until they’ve reached room temperature. Placing the lid on the jar when this is warm will cause condensation to form under the lid, which will water down the lotion and form bacteria. When the lotion is cool, screw on the jar lids. Store at room temperature for up to 3 months, or in the refrigerator for 6 months.
Farewell, Baseboard Hugging Orange Cord!
Would you not agree with me that there are either not enough electrical outlets in a room OR they’re in all the wrong places, like behind the couch, behind the entertainment center, or behind the 20 pound mixer?
I’m NOT a fan of long ugly cords winding around furniture and hugging baseboards though.
Need I say more on this?
Here are some cures to ugly extension cord blues….
Necktie Luggage Tag
ReadyMade Magazine (one of my Coke Rewards rewards) has a great website, even better than Real Simple, in my opinion. One of my favorite little DIY projects they featured is a necktie repurposed into a luggage tag.
Lay tie flat. Starting at the narrow end, measure 16 inches down the length of the tie and cut with scissors. The wide end will be the body of the luggage tag, and the narrow end of the tie will serve as the luggage attachment.
Pass the cut end of the narrow tie piece through the slide buckle. Make a 2-inch loop, and stitch the loop securely.
On the wide tie piece, measure 8 inches from the tip and cut the end off with scissors. Discard non-pointed end. Center a vinyl rectangle right side up on front of tie.
Stitch around three sides of the vinyl (leaving one short end open) with either a needle or a sewing machine to form a pocket for your address card.
Fold the cut end of the wide tie piece ¼ inch toward the backside of the tie, and then fold that over another ½ inch to form your seam. Topstitch to make a ¼-inch seam. Align the stitched part of the looped piece with the seam you just made, and topstitch in place.
Loop the narrow end of the tie point around your luggage handle and thread it back through the buckle to secure. Now you’re ready for takeoff.11 Tricks to Improving Your Memory
My mother always said she lost her brain when she had me – and I thought (until Baby #1) that was a total cop-out. Of course, when Baby #1 started growing my muffin top into a frontal watermelon, I learned otherwise. There would be moments when I would point at something and moan “What is that called?!” My husband was very patient: “That’s the checkbook, dear….”
Right. I know there are herbs (Gingko, etc.) that can assist with brain boosting, but even herbs only go so far. Working full-time as a non-profit organization’s Director of Operations, I have to keep on my toes and can’t use the excuse nearly as readily that “I’ve had 2 children.”
1. Exercise – Not only does this make one feel better physically, help you sleep better, and de-stress your day, exercise also increases the flow of your blood that pump blood and thus oxygen to your brain. Suffocated blood cells in the brain cause cell death. When your blood doesn’t flow properly to your brain, it reduced the amount of oxygen that can flow; even if it’s just a brisk walk around your office building, getting your heart rate up and your blood pumping will help to keep your brain healthy.
2. Eliminate Stress – Anything that causes you anxiety, anger, or worry will eat away at the memory parts of your brain. Depression causes a higher level of cortisol in your bloodstream, which carry up to your brain, and high levels of cortisol will particularly damage your short-term memory sections. As cliche as it sounds – focus on the positive, give the rest up, and seek help if you’re struggling with maintaining a depression-free lifestyle.
3. Sleep – Getting a good night’s sleep (7-8 hours of uninterrupted rest are vital to many aspects of health) consistently allows your brain to firm recently acquired information in storage. If you’ve just learned something new (say, been in a class or read online a long and thorough article), take a short (20 minutes is optimal) nap.
4. Music – Research shows that music is helpful in recalling memories. Particularly assigning a specific song or collection to a memory can assist in re-recalling that memory later on. We’ve all heard how playing Mozart improves the brain – can’t hurt to play background music when trying to learn, eh?
5. Write it down – Writing a particle of thought oxygenates blood flow to your brain responsible for remembering, and actually exercises that area. Reading what you’ve written also improves the ability to recollec later. Journaling is a great way to keep your long-term memory intact, and creating lists for short-term To-Do’s does the trick.
6. Visualize – Pay attention to charts, photographs, diagrams and other graphics when learning something. Assign an item, animal or action in your mind to a particular fact to remind you later. There’s a whole book on Memory Mechanics such as these available.
7. Crossword Puzzles – Reading, crosswords, word and card games not only keep you sharp, studies show they also delay memory loss and can be very helpful in pausing the onset of dementia.
8. Eat breakfast - We’ve all heard it’s best to eat breakfast for both weight loss/maintenance, but it’s also shown to improve performance for the rest of the day. The best breakfast contains eggs, lean proteins and fruit. Avoid processed foods and high fructose corn syrup (goodbye, Aunt Jemima Toaster Waffles and Artificial Syrup). Omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and antioxidants that keep cells firing at optimal speed, burn glucose and protect neurons are all found in eggs: the superfood. Of course, cage free, fertile, (and preferably farm fresh) eggs are the best.
9. Teach – Reading and working through material out loud significantly improves the ability to retain the information. It also increases understanding and recall prowess to teach new concepts to someone else.
10. Feed your brain fat – That’s right. Skim milk, fat-free yogurt, low-fat, non-fat, 2% fat, -2% fat, fat-less, no-fat diets are actually detrimental to your brain’s functionality, not to mention tastebuds. 50-60% of the brain’s overall weight is pure fat, which insulates billions of nerve cells. Skimming on fats is devastating, as the better a cell is insulated by fat, the faster it sends messages and the quicker you’ll think. Of course, avoid bad fatty foods like deep-fried twinkies, but do seek out dark, leafy greens (*see below*) and fish for optimal good nutritional brain-feeding fat.
11. Drink water – And enough water. The average height/weight person should drink 7-8 glasses of water per day. Not only does this help regulate your weight, keep you hydrated, help your skin and energy, and boost your immune system and sleep cycles, enough water flushes sodium out of your kidneys. Too much sodium build-up in your kidneys, your blood becomes thick and succumbs to high pressure. High pressure in your bloodstream chokes out the oxygen that flows to your brain. What kills brain cells? Suffocated cells (no oxygen). Water is invaluable.
*Dark Green Leafy Vegetables*
Kale typically brings a wrinkled nose, but it is absolutely one of the best gifts to your body you can get. There are more nutrients in a bowl of Kale than in 12 bowls of oatmeal. A friend sautes Kale in a saucepan with garlic, olive oil, and onion, then adds kalamata olives and feta cheese.
Betterfly Yourself
Awesome site alert! Betterfly allows you to not only list your goals and find someone to help you fulfill them, but you can also advertise YOUR skills and your rates to help others. Marketing and pay (Betterfly takes a 5% cut) are easily done online, and you can offer assistance in a myriad of ways: Quickbooks How-To, Social Marketing, Basic Computer Skills, French, Christianity, Algebra, you name it. Basically think a Facebook/Etsy site for people who have or want to gain new skills.
For example: Personally tailored French lessons or translations completed for $48-80 an hour. Or a French tutor for $30 an hour. Basic computer education for $10 an hour. Web Design How To for $25-100 an hour. There’s some great stuff on here!
Life After College is (again) one of my favorite blogs. One of my favorite aspects of the site are the templates, including a budget, exercise tracking, and job interview checklist. #1 goes to the Life Checklist – to list your dreams and goals. Equally cool is the Professional Development Checklist…
I love these bottles! In 13, 20 or 33 ounces, these BPA free stainless steel bottles are affordable ($16-$21) and come in a variety of cool designs/colors, including:
Nottley River Cabin – NC Mountain Bliss
Scenic views, rustic décor, comfortable necessities and a hot tub – can you ask for anything more? This Murphy cabin is perched on a quiet ridge just a few minutes from the downtown area (and a Walmart), boasting 180 degree views of the Nottley River.
This great place for 4-5 guests features a Queen bedroom and bathroom, a Twin duo and 2nd bathroom and a large comfy L-shaped leather couch and a 42+/- flat screen. The large back deck with picnic table, rustic bar and a great view of the river also opens to the smaller hot tub deck. A firepit and lawn chairs gave us quiet the relaxing evening under the stars, with dozens of frogs adding their voices to the moonlit night. 
The cabin is very cozy, and the owners have gone out of their way to provide the necessities and niceties: robes, binoculars, flashlight, lighter, etc.
The gas log fireplace and garage were also appreciated. From start to finish, the owners were accommodating and friendly and we definitely recommend this cabin for a few days or weeks retreat into the mountains. It was very peaceful – we could see another cabin from the left but there was no one there the whole time we were there, so it was as if we had the mountain to ourselves.
Just a few miles away, there’s a river-side boardwalk, a great home décor shop (Moose Hollow Trading Company) 
and a cute downtown with great shops. About a 2.5 hour drive from Asheville and the Biltmore, this is a great stopping place for all the great stuff the NC mountains offer: whitewater rafting, hiking, Blue Ridge Parkway, rivers and lakes and … the Biltmore. 
Highly recommend this cabin to anyone wanting a quiet place to enjoy some country air, quiet and yet still have all the amenities. With tax and the cleaning fee, nightly stays rounded to about $105; weekly and monthly rentals available as well.
Nearby we enjoyed (for a second time) the Daily Grind, complete with a handcarved imported-from-Ireland bar and delicious sandwiches and salads. After we stuffed ourselves there, we headed for a walk on the Murphy River Boardwalk (a 3.2 round trip river edge gravel/boardwalk path) at the “Old L&H Depot.”
Overall, if you’re looking for a quiet but convenient place in the NC foothills, just a short trip from a dozen sight-seeing “musts,” we definitely recommend looking no further than this charming cabin. Be sure to bring hot dogs and s’mores materials! 
The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want (Life After College Blog Author’s NEWLY RELEASED Book!)
One of my favorite blog authors (Jenny Blake, of Life After College) has just launched the release of her book (available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.)
Jenny is my hero – a blog author propelled into a published book…. I can’t wait to read it!
About the book:
Jenny describes her book as a portable life coach for every area of your life. In her words, “There is no need for a highlighter, this book IS the highlights: it’s a compilation of tips, quotes and exercises trimmed to the essence, divided into chapters for every major life area. Chapter categories include life (values, goals), work, money, organization, home, friends & family, dating & relationships, health, fun & relaxation, and personal growth. While geared toward college graduates, the rapid-fire tips, quotes and interactive coaching exercises would serve anyone looking to find some clarity and direction.”
Word on the street:
There are already a bunch of reviews on Amazon if you want to learn more about the format & content. From one reviewer, Sarah P: “This isn’t a book or a manual – it’s a friend in your pocket. Jenny’s heart and soul – and intricately connected network around the world – is layered in bite-sized information that’s enriching, captivating, and more importantly, eminently approachable. Jenny pulls you into her book by virtually sitting down at a cafe with you, chatting with you and making you feel right at home within the first few pages. The book weaves her stories and anecdotes with powerful (but beguilingly simple) worksheets, tips, tricks and tools for you to use to start changing your life – right now.”
Learn more:
I’m helping Jenny spread the word by forwarding this email — check out her book when you get a chance! To learn more about the book, vist LACBook.com or purchase your copy on Amazon (a steal — currently selling for under $9!). You can also read more about Jenny on her blog at LifeAfterCollege.org.
How a Doomed Dog Started Walking Again…
Before there was a Baby #1 and a Baby #2, there was a Dog #1. A friend asked us if she could be a wedding present – and my dear fiance informed me “absolutely not. We’re not ready for a dog.”
Then one day I came by our new house to deposit a few boxes of my worldly goods and was greeted at the door by the dearest little doggy face peering out of the cupped hands of m’love. 
Of course, you know how it goes: agony over what to name the puppy. Must be dog enough to not sound humanoid (Mary, Billy) but not so dog as to sound like a Barbie-version of mutt-hood (Butch, Spike). I decided it simply had to be something Scotland-esque. I finally settled on Aberdeen. (A few months prior I had traced my ancestor William Carnahan to Robert the Bruce’s neighborhood.)
Aberdeen was doted upon (a little too much). She got quite fat, which if you know Dachshunds is a bad thing. We kept trying to get her thinned again, but even on tight portion control and a small amount of exercise (yes, I know, I know, but I work and Baby #1 and Baby #2 had arrived by this time!), she still was a good few pounds overweight.
Then the worst happened. One day Aberdeen seemed to have an issue walking, had a hard time getting in and out from the step up to our house, squealing in pain when we tried to help her. After 2-3 weeks, it wasn’t getting better – it was getting worse. I finally knew we had to go to the vet.
Disc injury. One of her vertebrae was putting pressure on her spinal column, causing pain and worse: neurological damage. If she started to drag her legs behind her, it was a sign that (supposedly) only a $5,000+ surgery would allow her to walk again. I was sent home with pain medication and sure enough, the next day she started to drag her back legs behind her.
Because I am a Martin by birth – and the daughter of a Clapper by birth (descendant of afore mentioned SCOTCH Carnahans) – there was no way I was going to spend $5,000 on a dog’s surgery. It was that, or put her down. Being 4 years old by just a week, I was not quite ready to think about losing my (let’s face it), First Baby.
I did some research.
- Solution 1: $5,000 surgery.
- Solution 2: $100-160 Death Warrant.
- Solution #3: $400 dog wheelchair (doesn’t fix the problem).
The final solution was a dog chiropractor, acupuncture and/or hydrotherapy…. a friend even posted a web article on my Facebook wall about success using these methods.
Ok, so fat chance of finding THAT near me … and how much could a dog chiropractor COST? Enter Google.
Literally a month before, Dr. Evelyn Orenbuch opened GA Veterinary Rehabilitation in East Cobb (about an hour from me). I emailed … and received an email in reply from the doctor herself within hours! (What a great first impression!) $107-$175 for the first visit – ok, definitely doable since online research shows 2-3 visits has proven to render exceptional results. We’ll try it.
On a Monday evening we went for Aberdeen’s first visit. I had to carry her in because she could not even pull her back end behind her. Her back legs would not function at all, and she looked so pitiful trying to pull herself up and then flopping over on her side. She could not stand, walk or even hold up her back end when I propped her up on her back legs….I’m in tears again just thinking about my poor dog. I truly believed there was nothing to be done. I’m not a Paris Hilton carting my dog around with me in my purse, but I’m not ashamed to admit I LOVE MY DOG.
That day she got an electro-acupuncture treatment and I was given some exercises to do with her at home, as well as a cold laser kit and some Chinese herbs.
Folks – I’m not kidding. Tuesday she rested. Wednesday she walked. Wobbly – but on her own back legs, she walked around, didn’t need help to go potty, she walked to her food – she was WALKING. Between a Wednesday visit and a visit the following Monday, she had twice daily the cold laser for 15 minutes, the Chinese herbs, an acupuncture treatment, and 2 hydrotherapy (underwater treadmill) sessions.
Today, not 2 weeks after she could not even stand, Aberdeen is TROTTING with her tail wagging away. She’ll probably never stop being wobbly, and she’ll have a difficult time with steps and stairs, but she’s walking, trotting, and by all appearances, nearly as good as ever.
I am amazed – truly. I believe in chiropractic care for humans, I’ve seen the effect of GOOD chiropractic care/treatment. When my wrist broke, I saved $200 a visit by going to my chiropractor instead of the physical therapist; when we get sick we go to the chiropractor and get better within hours. But I really would have laughed about dog chiropractic care in the past.
But I’m now a believer. I can’t believe the improvement only 3 visits has made on my Aberdeen. Oh, by the way – she’s lost a couple pounds already on a new food. Working her down to her pre-baby (siblings) weight! 
Read more about Dr. Orenbuch and the Rehab center from the Marietta Daily. I cannot recommend Dr. 
Orenbuch or the GA Vet Rehab Center highly enough. Not only is the environment comfortable and contemporary (no 80′s fluorescent-lit dingy vet waiting room), each staff member was several notches above the standard veterinary office. Dr. Orenbuch is forthright and empathetic, encouraging and calming both for her patients and their owners. I’m impressed by the facility, the level of professionalism and their obvious skill and acumen in not only treating, but successfully improving the health of their patients. Thank you, Dr. Orenbuch and staff!!
Aberdeen – Walking just 3 weeks after being told she would not be able to again!
FoodPress
I’m a foodie. You know, the kind that wants to eat anything exotic, all the time. I’m also a bit granola (urban derivative of 80′s term: healthnut). This blog, FoodPress, was a great find for me and I hope you’ll enjoy as well.
Thoughtful and Unique Gifts
I do not have the skill of perfect-gift-picking. I like gift cards. I like to give gift cards. Have 20 Starbucks drinks on me…enjoy your meal out…pick out what you want the most. Realizing over time that I apparently am a rare breed (most people, statistics show, do not enjoy “the gift card” and many don’t even use them…what?!) and that most people prefer the hand-selected thoughtful and unique gift chosen specifically for their personality, likes and enjoyment by the giver.
That’s when sites like PersonalCreations and RedEnvelope come into my life. Another gem: WishWrap – Pick your holiday, recipient, or occasion (or by price/product) and then pick your wish (harmony, peace, happiness, love, etc.). The free personalized card and giftwrap is not only unique, but being made of jute a reusable and green (literally) alternative to a generic gift bag. For the lady, ThirtyOneGifts have some cute, affordable ideas as well as home party/catalog show opportunities to earn free products.
If you have time, and a crafty nature (which I sadly possess not), a handmade gift is always appreciated. Instructables is a great place to start on ideas and how-to. 
Experiences are the greatest gift I can imagine. There’s too much STUFF in our lives as it is – stuff doesn’t make happiness as much as memories can. Give a wine tasting, a helicopter tour, a guitar lesson, an off-road adventure and the warmness of a gift will last more than just a few days!
Last but not least, beyond personalization, homemade treats, or an experience there is the simple unusual gift: UncommonGoods is my go-to place, but a close second for the movie buff/computer nerd is ThinkGeek.
Canadian poet Henry Drummond said it well: There is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving.
The Year of the Baby
It seems like everyone I know is pregnant – I’m at the stage in life where all the people I know practically are getting married, having babies, having second babies…. It’s likely we’re going to be hosting or helping to host a baby shower in the next few months and as always, the goal of “being the coolest, best, funnest shower EVER” comes immediately to my mind. I am, as I will admit, competitive and extremely desirous of being popular/liked. It makes me pander to anything I can think of to have an awesome time planned for the guests of honor.
These unique and fun ideas came up during my perusal:
Coed Showers – They don’t have to be giggly, girly events where the guys awkwardly stand around listening to seasoned moms talk about breastfeeding or wear silly bonnets in diaper pin counting contests. Some more clever ideas I found were bottle-chugging contests, stroller derby, diaper changing races and baby food guessing.To avoid the inevitable “tell-all” from any pro moms on anything related to breastfeeding, childbirth or postpartum discomfort, try a “taboo words” game throughout the event: say anything about taboo topics and $1.00 goes in the jar (IOU’s if necessary) for baby’s first piggy bank!
Picturesque Party - In the old days, once baby arrived all the ladies would gather for tea and “crumpets” (scones, pastries, cucumber sandwiches, you get the picture) and admire the newest addition while also gifting delicate treasures to the new mother. Think how much fun it will be to present a smiling, cooing baby to guests rather than waddling about trying to pick up packages with a watermelon between! Especially if your crowd will be mostly relatives, this will alleviate a lot of pressure to “meet baby” (IE drop-by’s for weeks!).
Virtual Visit - Relatives and friends far out of state? With webcams and video chat through Google and iChat, there’s no reason you can’t have a virtual shower! Have “guests” ship packages to you and then at a specific time, link in together to enjoy a virtual visit!
Meal Magic - If this is a 3rd or 4th child, typically a shower isn’t given because it is presumed the family has everything they need for the newest arrival. Can you think of what they DO need? HELP! With a new baby in the house, especially if the siblings are younger, mom in recovery and dad in helper mode are going to be stressed trying to get groceries, meals and laundry dealt with. A group of people can easily help by organizing a meal or two each day and dropping by for an hour’s worth of laundry, cleaning, child bathing, baby sitting, mom-helping, etc. The possibilities are endless – if you’ve ever had a new baby (and even a new baby with other children already), you know how much you can use some help those first 2-3 weeks, especially after dad’s gone back to work!
