So, I know, I know...double blogging in one day, what am I thinking. I had to share thought...I did the most amazing thing this weekend. My blogs have been half-assed lately; in all actuality, everything I've been doing has been half-assed as of late. My marriage has been in shambles, my kids a basket-case because of it and the environment in my house has been so toxic that even my pets are acting out by peeing all over the house. We reached a breaking point where something had to give. Our marriage counselor recommended something called the Landmark Forum to us. I am the eternal skeptic...I don't give in to things easily but I jumped at it because I had no idea what else we could do. So, on Thursday evening we set out to my mother-in-law's house to drop our kids for a few days and head to the forum. There was an icy cold silence on the way down there and we snapped at each other the entire time we were there until we got in the car to head to the Forum, not knowing what was awaiting us there. I was literally silently crying the entire way down down there and I had no idea why. Our marriage was so bad that I couldn't talk to my husband at all and I couldn't stop tearing and crying at the drop of a hat. So, in we went...and the doors shut behind us and the 128 other members. I can't begin to describe the life-altering experience that went on in there. I won't begin to explain all the exercises and learning that we went through in the forum...and again, I'm a skeptic...I didn't buy it hook, line and sinker. I did the work they asked and went through the motions, doubting that anything could help. I went back to the hotel every night and cried myself to sleep feeling hopeless that, while things were falling into place in my personal life, things with my husband were never, ever going to come together. I felt amazing about my life....I put things right with my dad, made peace with my mother and finally said goodbye and felt powerful and effective about everything I am capable of, but, things just weren't right with my husband. We were avoiding talking to each other and every time we tried to have a small conversation we still weren't communicating. The forum ended...we came home knowing that we had to go back on Tuesday night and waiting to see what would happen with the new knowledge we had. We got home and got off to a rocky start...Monday started with a horrible bang; a bang in the form of me and my husband getting into a knock-down drag out fight...I finally got pissed enough to confront him about avoiding me...and then it happened...it REALLY happened....we started to talk...and HE started to talk from his heart, which he has NEVER done. I saw my husband in a new way. I can't even explain the new dynamic in our house! I didn't get my husband back...I got an entire new, wonderful man back and he got a whole new wife, in return. I'm peaceful...I'm not at war with everyone because of my past. My kids have picked up on it INSTANTLY and they're SO open and responsive to all of it. So, after all of this, I decided to try it out in other areas of my life. I've thrown my shoulders back, my head up and decided to remember things I loved at an earlier time in my life. I used to act, I used to sing, I used to dance, I used to be athletic. Taking baby-steps, I decided to remember singing and took a deep breath and let myself belt a song in my car with a new broad declaration to myself that I'm a singer...and wouldn't you know, my vocal cords, which have been tight and unwilling to let out a calculated note in years, did exactly what I was asking them to do. I sang...I sang on key, in tune and I had power in my voice! So, what to do first now...I feel like a kid in a candy store!!!! I feel like the world is at my finger-tips for the taking (I know, I know, I'm being quite dramatic), but it's TRUE! So, I'm going back to school. I need to take some prerequisites in order to apply to veterinary school, but dammit, I'm gonna do it. I'm not scared of it anymore! In the interim I started my own business to have some fun with and I'm getting that rolling as quickly as I can. And I'm going to start working out and playing tennis again (as soon as I find a partner).
That's really all for tonight...I just had to put that out into the world. I couldn't keep it in anymore. I had to share what an incredible, life-transforming, amazing thing The Landmark Forum was and how I cannot wait to get the rest of my life started!!!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
BEST iPhone app EVER
So, I signed up to review KinKast iPhone app and was SUPER excited to do so. With my two little boys, I am constantly video-taping things on my phone and passing them along via email or text. I saw this app and couldn't wait to get a hold of it...and WOW am I glad that I did! This app makes photo/video sharing a complete snap..two little screen touches and anything you upload is shared with whoever you want. Add to that, you can save a list of people that you frequently send these files to, it made sharing it sooooooo easy it was unbelievable. This was the perfect time of year to test it too...between the school picnics, Mother's day shows and baseball games, I had so many things to share that I really got to make excellent use of the app. It's as simple as it gets to use, completely self-explanatory and MY FAVORITE feature....it shares your files securely. With all the buzz out there about how unsafe file-sharing from a mobile device can be, particularly in that it opens you up to predators finding your location...to be able to share priceless memories of my kids with family and friends securely is awesome. Cannot recommend this app enough....what are you waiting for....get to the iTunes store and get it...ASAP!!!!! Happy file-sharing!!!!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
so, what's coming up...
I PROMISE a fun blog about baseball and my boy(s) coming up in the next day or so. I'm also working on some of the tags, etc...on my blog page...I know it looks like a dog's dinner right now. I just have to find/make time to fix it. That being said...there is also an awesome review that I'm super psyched about coming up in the next few days for KinKast, which is an iPhone app. More later from this bedraggled momma!
Organic Gardening tool review
So, I was chosen to review GroOrganic's online gardening tool and I was SUPER excited about it. This review couldn't have been more timely...I am in the process of planning/planting/creating my garden. I didn't have much luck the last time I did the garden and I wasn't sure what the deal was. I had AWESOME tomatoes, and the rest of my stuff did well too...until it got ravaged by groundhogs and/or birds. Well, aside from the stuff that didn't do well, like my purple tomatoes that rotted before they ripened, or my melons that rotted out on one side before they were big enough to pick...or my eggplant that never grew. Anyway, I'm digressing and I assume you've got the point...my novice experiment into gardening wasn't entirely a favorable one. So, this tool was one that I couldn't wait to get my hands on! First off, let me start with how much I LOVE THIS COMPANY! I could literally empty my bank account in their online store. From the outset with my garden I have started with composting, rain-water harvesting, etc...and my raised beds (which are a disaster, I HATE them and they're not nearly as great as what they have in their store here). I love that they actually have real gardening packages, where they will plant your garden, and check up on it for you. Which is ideally what I need, since, having MS, as much as I enjoy gardening, it is physically taxing for me to be out there in the hot sun doing it.
So, on to the garden planner. I LOVE This thing!!! They have two levels of membership available - the seedling membership, which is essentially just the garden planner, and then the premium. I have to say, while I'm usually one to say do your homework, try to save $$ as much as possible on things like this, and was half expecting to find this gimmicky...I'm gonna say, if you're going to do it, go for the $99 package...it's the most bang for your buck and, if you're like me, it's WORTH it! I'm a work part time, stay at home mom who also has a live-in, handicapped dad....that's not to say you all have similar circumstances, but, I'm sure most people are short on time. You don't have the time to troll the internet doing research on gardening, looking at all the organic gardening resources out there and spending hours compiling your information. Which is why I LOVE this tool...it's done it for you. There isn't a need to do that...you're time is sparse...and valuable! While it is a little pricey for, say, a stay-at-home mommy budget, it really is worth it if you're shy on time.
As far as using the tool...I found it cumbersome at first, but, I'll be honest; that was strictly because of my preconceived notions on how I thought I would have it work, etc... I'll also throw this in there: VERY well designed product. As a former software engineer, I seriously TRIED to kick this thing's a**, and I couldn't. I did what I was trained to do...not only did I use it, I TRIED to break it...I failed.
I'm getting wordy (shocking, I know), so I'll wrap this up. Here are the details on the two packages:
Choose from The Premium Harvest Membership. Each Membership gives you important tools to help you become the successful gardener you want to be!
Our most popular membership, The Premium Harvest Membership includes consulting and much more!
1. Access to our groOrganic Garden Planner while an Association Member. This online Garden Planner helps you grow fruit and vegetables to the best of their ability, whatever the size or shape of your garden or plot. With the groOrganic Garden Planner it is easy to draw out your garden plan and decide how best to plant it. The groOrganic Garden Planner software shows how much space plants require and how to group them for maximum success, removing the need to look up planting distances and crop families. Growing advice is just one click away as you select the plants that you wish to include, enabling you to solve problems and maximize your harvest from the space you have.
2. New and renewing Members receive 12 packets of groOrganic's Non-GMO Seeds with their annual membership card.
3. A groOrganic Gardening Instruction Manual full of useful information about growing your garden will be mailed to you as well!
4. You will receive Members Only online discounts and gifts.
5. AND you will benefit from Online Consulting and FREE online review of your Garden Plan by a Certified groOrganic Gardener! Just email us your questions and a certified groOrganic Gardener will answer your gardening questions FREE!
GREAT FOR SCHOOLS DEDICATED TO THEIR GARDENING PROGRAMS!
The Associate Membership is $99/year and, in my opinion, the best buy. The Seedling membership, I feel is best if you have a decent idea of what you're doing and just want a visual of planning your garden and basic research.
So, on to the garden planner. I LOVE This thing!!! They have two levels of membership available - the seedling membership, which is essentially just the garden planner, and then the premium. I have to say, while I'm usually one to say do your homework, try to save $$ as much as possible on things like this, and was half expecting to find this gimmicky...I'm gonna say, if you're going to do it, go for the $99 package...it's the most bang for your buck and, if you're like me, it's WORTH it! I'm a work part time, stay at home mom who also has a live-in, handicapped dad....that's not to say you all have similar circumstances, but, I'm sure most people are short on time. You don't have the time to troll the internet doing research on gardening, looking at all the organic gardening resources out there and spending hours compiling your information. Which is why I LOVE this tool...it's done it for you. There isn't a need to do that...you're time is sparse...and valuable! While it is a little pricey for, say, a stay-at-home mommy budget, it really is worth it if you're shy on time.
As far as using the tool...I found it cumbersome at first, but, I'll be honest; that was strictly because of my preconceived notions on how I thought I would have it work, etc... I'll also throw this in there: VERY well designed product. As a former software engineer, I seriously TRIED to kick this thing's a**, and I couldn't. I did what I was trained to do...not only did I use it, I TRIED to break it...I failed.
I'm getting wordy (shocking, I know), so I'll wrap this up. Here are the details on the two packages:
Choose from The Premium Harvest Membership. Each Membership gives you important tools to help you become the successful gardener you want to be!
Our most popular membership, The Premium Harvest Membership includes consulting and much more!
1. Access to our groOrganic Garden Planner while an Association Member. This online Garden Planner helps you grow fruit and vegetables to the best of their ability, whatever the size or shape of your garden or plot. With the groOrganic Garden Planner it is easy to draw out your garden plan and decide how best to plant it. The groOrganic Garden Planner software shows how much space plants require and how to group them for maximum success, removing the need to look up planting distances and crop families. Growing advice is just one click away as you select the plants that you wish to include, enabling you to solve problems and maximize your harvest from the space you have.
2. New and renewing Members receive 12 packets of groOrganic's Non-GMO Seeds with their annual membership card.
3. A groOrganic Gardening Instruction Manual full of useful information about growing your garden will be mailed to you as well!
4. You will receive Members Only online discounts and gifts.
5. AND you will benefit from Online Consulting and FREE online review of your Garden Plan by a Certified groOrganic Gardener! Just email us your questions and a certified groOrganic Gardener will answer your gardening questions FREE!
GREAT FOR SCHOOLS DEDICATED TO THEIR GARDENING PROGRAMS!
For only $99/year, you will receive over $300 worth of merchandise, discounts, consulting and the groOrganic Garden Planner
Or The Seedling Membership:
includes the groOrganic Garden Planner only.
You will receive access to our » groOrganic Garden Planner while a Seedling Association Member. This online Garden Planner helps you grow fruit and vegetables to the best of their ability, whatever the size or shape of your garden or plot. With the groOrganic Garden Planner it is easy to draw out your garden plan and decide how best to plant it. The groOrganic Garden Planner software shows how much space plants require and how to group them for maximum success, removing the need to look up planting distances and crop families. Growing advice is just one click away as you select the plants that you wish to include, enabling you to solve problems and maximize your harvest from the space you have.
The Associate Membership is $99/year and, in my opinion, the best buy. The Seedling membership, I feel is best if you have a decent idea of what you're doing and just want a visual of planning your garden and basic research.
You can find them and www.groorganic.com
HIGHLY RECOMMEND them for all wannabe organic gardeners out there...so, what are you waiting for....go....
www.groorganic.com
www.groorganic.com
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas a Minneapolis SEO and Web Design firm. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
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