Holiday Happenings: Merry-Happy Hallo-Thanks Chrismakwanzaikkah

Ohhhh, the war on Christmas (big c), makes me think of something I recently heard about Native
American-ally named football teams by a comedian, whose name I cannot remember, but it goes something like this, more or less........ insert any other racial or inappropriate word to your favorite sports cheer. For example: Let's GO___________! In Kansas City, it would be, Let's GO Chiefs! But insert burrito, or rice-eater, or cracker, or.... you get the point yet? Sometimes it's just not okay to shout things at people, even if it is exciting or fun, or naive, yet well meaning.

Here's the deal-
  if someone is wearing a button that says, "Birthday Boy", or the person says, "Today is my birthday", chances are good that it's okay to wish them a very happy birthday.
  If you see a friend coming out of a funeral home, wearing black, and looking sad, it would be nice of you to offer your condolences.
  if you attend a christian oriented church, it would be okay to wish a fellow go-er a merry christrmas.


In the grand scheme of things, however, today is not my birthday. Blessedly no one I know has recently perished. And, I am not a christian.
taking that into consideration, you could wish me a happy birthday, or say you are sorry for my sadness, and you could even wish me a merry christmas. As an American with the right to free speech, you are entitled to say pretty well anything you want- it's just not always right, correct or applicable.


So, why can't we just say Happy Holidays? Why can't we just wish everyone equal happiness in their chosen holiday falling between November and January, without excluding anyone? Why must we be so specific? Why can't we remember that America is the great melting pot, built on the notion of tolerance of religious freedom?

 I’m hoping for a deeper understanding that including everyone does not mean diminishing anyone. Saying “Happy Holidays” is a way of wishing someone whose practices you may not know a joyful time of year regardless of whichever holiday they will or won’t be celebrating. It is not said to replace Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa – but to make room for them all.   ~Beth Kander  

(www.kveller.com)

So, the next time someone wishes you a Happy Holiday, just say Thanks. Unlike sports teams, it's not a personal or derogatory attack on your religion, heritage, ancestry or choice of shrubbery. 

Healthy Home: beating the winter crud part 1

Well, it seems Winter has hit. Did anyone else miss fall? And, with this new weather pattern, it seems everyone is sick, sick, sick, and antibiotics are flying around like monkey's in OZ.
Not that antibiotics are bad, really, but as a society we seem to pop them like pez candy, and that is what's no good.

Take it from me, the worlds most chronically ill child, who chugged the amoxicillian like it was water, less really is more- sometimes you just have to look for it! My problems turned out to be most likely allergies combined with living in a cold & dry climate, plus a highly processed diet, and repeated doses of antibiotics at high levels, thereby inviting other infections of resistant bacteria & virus' to set up shop.

There are several, so simple things that you can do in your home to boost your immune system---->

* Turn of the humidifier, no seriously. Unless you religiously scrub it and your house on a daily basis, as it emits the vapor it also blows dust and mold spores all over, aggravating allergies and asthma.
   -instead, put out several, pretty bowls filled with water around the house to increase humidity

* Stop with all the perfume & air fresheners. They can be very irritating to dry noses and make it worse, then it won't matter because your nose is so inflamed you can't smell anything anyway!
     -instead, place out half of an onion on a plate or in a jar or mug. The onion will naturally attract all odor causing muck and release a slightly oniony aroma. As an added bonus, it will also suck up any floating germies. Seriously, put one by your bed or the kids bed next time there is illness, and watch how quickly the onion turns funky. Change the onion when it looks nasty and put a in a fresh one, watch how much longer it will last in a healthy house!

* Just stop with the antibacterial everything. All it is, is a low dose antibiotic that you are smearing on the largest organ of your body!
      -instead, rely on the naturally occurring products found in nature with antibacterial properties!
       tee tree oil, coconut oil, raw honey, garlic...... cheap & easy!

*Clean out the fridge and pantry! If you can't pronounce the ingredients, it contains more than 5 or 6 ingredients, or doesn't look like anything found naturally, get rid of it!

and then, read this:    what really causes heart disease

** I am not a doctor and this should not be taken as medical advice. I do encourage you to talk to your chosen medical professional and research what you think is right for yourself. These are just some of the changes we have made in our home to make it healthier***

Read it: Raising my Rainbow

Raising my Rainbow is an adventure following the family of a uniquely, unique little boy, who happens to like pink, ruffles & glitter. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat ( and decisions and mean kids), and such that go along with trying to parent a child, who is so more than average. 

Raising my Rainbow has been voted one of the best books of 2013!

To follow-up and follow along on the journey, you can read the families blog---->

http://raisingmyrainbow.com/

On a personal level, it was nice to read a book about a family dealing with an un-average child- and I use average(typical) very loosely, because what is average anyway?

We have a rainbow in our house, more of a camouflaged, mud covered one, really more of a themed rainbow, on a day-by-day basis..... we went through a heavy costume phase, everyday.......sometimes it was the fancy dress pajamas that resemble characters, put on clean, first thing in the morning, certainly not to be confused with the dirty ones from sleeping..... or just flat out costumes, straight from the dress-up box.

I would lie if I said it didn't bother me, because it did, but only when other people would stare or make comments.... especially the day he wore his full, zip-up cow suit to preschool- we never did really fit in..... But, it made him so happy, and it made me so happy to see him so happy.

So happy isn't something we see a whole bunch...... He knew he was happy, but he also started to pick up that he was different, and that doesn't make so happy happen.

 Both the boys have themed dress days now, usually army, or space ranger, sometimes Batman and Robin- which we can do. Since we started to learn at home, we only have one clothing rule- clean undies everyday, everything else is open for interpretation of the weather.

And, the hopeful message of Raising my Rainbow, that there is a pot of gold on the horizon of a more tolerant future.

Let's learn: Teach your child to tie his shoes..... in 60 seconds or less

My 2 boys, each have some degree of a fine motor delay. No matter how much play-dough we squeeze, stickers we stick, beads we string or cards we lace, those fingers just don't cooperate. That, along with the low frustration tolerance has made learning to tie shoes agony for everyone.

Now That H is growing and getting bigger, it is getting harder and harder to find velcro shoes he can do himself- independence is key!

One day in my Pinterest scrolling I found, a shoe tying kit containing little, rubber, bead thingys, with a video on how to use the product. It's really very clever! 

The child starts out making an 'x' like normal and pulling through. Then you make a 'bunny ear' and use a bead thing to hold it, leaving two hands to do the same for other side. Then, taking both ears and repeating 'X' process over again. So quick and easy! 

But, I'm a penny squeezer, which is much more serious than just a pincher! Frugality is so important anymore. I figured that there was a way to make it cheap & easy, just the way we like it around here.

Light bulb!

Husband had to stop at the hardware store on his way home from work anyway, so I asked him to pick up a small bag of flat washers, with holes big enough to pass a doubled shoe lace through, in a good size for fingers to pick up. For the bargain price of $1.88, he purchased a bag if 12, 1/4 inch washers. 

After demonstrating the washer assisted technique, 2 of the 3 could tie their shoes, independently- 1 even graduated to no washers pretty quickly.  

H, still couldn't get his fingers to cooperate. But, gosh, did this make it all the more easier, and he said that he would be okay continuing to practice.

Read it: Tuesdays with Morrie

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing the things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things.They way to get meaning in your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to the community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

Tuesdays with Morrie, is a thought provoking final collaboration between a student and his dying professor. It is a look at a lived life, and is everything you wish you knew before you needed to know it.

Feeling good: Like a Warrior

Hey, Friends-
  I wish this was happier than it's going to start out.......Things have been pretty sad here lately :(
I have unfortunately been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh words, by someone that should be one of my biggest fans & cheerleaders. And, of all weeks this person picked THIS week.
My family doesn't really talk about the hard parts, & all our various illnesses- the private stuff. This week has been one of those, 'we have stuff going on, and it's none of your business, but thanks for your happy thoughts' weeks.


I sincerely thank everyone that has hung in there with us and not made it any harder than it had to be. And, I am certainly grateful for a family that can come together to support each other, N-O-M-A-T-T-E-R-W-H-A-T!
      *Family----> those people, who might or might not be related, who love & support you, in the good times and the bad, no matter what.


I found this song this morning, and felt like it just spoke to me about this crappy situation I seem to be dumped in, and wanted to share it-



(an abridged version.......)

Live Like a Warrior, by Matisyahu


~Today you feel, as if everyone hates
Some things you should let go, there only gonna pull you down,  
We want to brave, Don't be afraid
Your heart is too heavy from things you carry a long time, 
You been up you been down, tired and you don't know why, 
But you're never gonna go back, you only live one life 
Let go, let go, let goooooo, Let go, let go, let goooooo, 
Today, today, live like you wanna, 
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire, 
Live like a Warrior


Or watch it here:

Happy Halloween?

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, ever. You can get away with being who or whatever you want to be for an entire day, and chances are good no one is going to judge you for that. It was always a relief, for me, someone who has spent a good deal of time dancing to my own music. That hallowed one day.
Not to mention the free candy. Who doesn't enjoy free candy? We never had many sweets in the house growing up, and candy was strictly rationed to 1 piece, to only be consumed after a nutritiously balanced supper. Then teeth thoroughly scrubbed.

Halloween should be filled with happy memories, assuming of course Halloween is celebrated in your house. If you don't celebrate, then it should just be happy family memories of the day, not specifically Halloween memories. But, that is not the point of this.

A North Dakota woman has publicly announced that she will be handing out 'fat letters' to the children she decides are overweight, in lieu of candy.
'Fat letters', seem to be a new trend, where-in a letter is handed to the child to return to the parents, stating the child is over weight based on a growth chart(or a crazy lady's opinion). Don't even get me started on Dr.'s and their growth charts- they are absolute malarkey! But that is another day.

Let's back up for a bit.....chances are good if the child if fat, that parents probably are aware of it. Chances are even better the parents are fat, too. Sometimes not, in a fluke of genetics, etc. but, that is another day, too.

The point being, what kind of crazy lady is this? What on earth has possessed her to do this? If she doesn't want to hand out candy to fat kids, why is she handing out candy to other kids? Clearly she missed the class on compassion and the sharing food fairly rule - if you don't have enough to share with everyone, then don't share with anyone!

Fine, be disappointed! But, consider another way to help your community besides shaming, embarrassing and ruining this for the kids- you know those people that this holiday is for.

Do I think communities need to do a better job of making nutritious, locally produced, whole(some) foods available & affordably so- yep
Do I think communities need to do a better job of making sure they are safe places so kids can run around outside until the streetlights come on-yep
Do I think parents, no matter how perpetually exhausted, need to encourage their kids to be active, to the best of everyone's abilities- yep

Do I think this letter or any of the others are going to solve any problems, or shed light on our nations obesity problems- not at all

Shaming fat kids even more will accomplish absolutely nothing, besides making some already sad & embarrassed kids sadder & more embarrassed.

Sewing Shenanigans: Of Sewing machines & shotguns

Like most of my good ideas(at the time), this one can be blamed on boys. If ever there was a boy crazy girl, it was me.

    For my 21st birthday, I wanted a gun. Yep, a real live, shooting, bang-bang gun. If there was a boy that caught my eye, chances are good he had guns, lots of guns. My dearly departed Gege, rest her soul, taught us girls early on, that to catch a boy it was imperative to share an interest. Preferably one that he can share his knowledge about to aid you (a helpless female). So, I needed a gun. PRONTO!
I had said boy escort me on a very romantic outing to the local Wal*Mart gun counter, where we discussed in length the pro's and con's of all the choices, in very close proximity to each other, of course. Nothing was actually purchased that day, my birthday was coming up, providing the opportunity for all my admirer's the chance to shower me with firearms. And I was not let down! Oh, the stories that will follow that little squirrel gun for all it's days ;)

Alas, no matter how I begged and pleaded my parents for a gun- it was not meant to be. Growing up there were 3 rules pounded into our heads to be strictly followed once launched out into he world:
1.Don't be a Policeman
2. Don't ride a motorcycle
3.Don't watch the Simpsons

One can only assume that gun slinging must be loosely related to rule #1 in some way.


 I ended up with a Sears Sewing machine, complete with button hole attachment.

My sewing shenanigans up to this point included home-ec adventures; decoupaging a wicker basket in the 6th grade and sewing a tote in 7th grade.
When I was 5, Mom decided she was going to get a sewing machine and sew all our clothes. Dad ended up sewing some bow ties to wear to work. There was no immediate family history of sewing, or sewing ability.


How Dad decided this was a good idea, was beyond me, but, like most things, The sewing machine has turned out to be a pretty good one.

I have never adjusted the seam length, and never tried more then a straight stitch, owing to the fact that the dog ate the owners manual pretty quickly. But, it is handy to mend things quickly, if not necessarily in a neat manner (crazy driver!), and fun to put together quick, little fun projects.
 It's still a good bet I won't be getting a PBS special anytime soon.

In the beginning

In the beginning- Goodness, setting up a blog is like an all day thing! 
  First, all the titles and address you have been thinking about for months are all taken, and your 18th choice is actually copyrighted. Man, talk about being late to a party.

Originally, this was going to be called 'A good idea', but Martha must have that one. It was primarily going to be a response & opinion blog, with every post ending with the judgement of if it was/is a good idea (at the time!) Hindsight is 20/20, no?
My G, who you will meet later once had a shirt that said, 'it seemed like a good idea at the time'. He would wear it as soon as it came out of the wash, and then for days. Until I peeled it off.
So, the 23rd choice would like to welcome you to the Bedazzled Pineapple!
I have always been drawn to sparkly things, and have a tendency to cover anything I can in glitter- less so the older I get,and I might even grow out of it one day (hope not!).
I also, really love pineapples:
1. a Pineapple tree is in the center of my family crest 
2.it's really yummy 
and I'm sure the list could go on and on....... but those are the high points!

And now, some pineapple history (let's learn)

The Significance of the Pineapple

For centuries the pineapple has symbolized hospitality and a welcoming spirit. Originating in Brazil, the pineapple was first cultivated by natives in

the Caribbean Islands. Christopher Columbus first brought this exotic delicacy back to Europe in 1493 after his second voyage to America.

In colonial America the pineapple was quite rare and expensive, and hosts who provided pineapples to their guests were indeed treating them to a special honor.

 One popular legend contends that sailing captains placed a pineapple at their door or signpost to indicate their arrival home from a long voyage and that friends were welcome to visit. 

Highly prized as a centerpiece for feasts and celebrations, the pineapple signified generosity

and friendship among the early Americans.

Today the pineapple remains an enduring universal symbol of welcome. 

Thanks Dad, for putting that together! 

There you have it, sequins are awesome & pineapple is yummy = let's mash them together and have some fun!