Everything by Susan Claire Anderson

 

The 411:

I loved this short story about Bradley a cook at  a mine site. After a cave in he is left alone to get himself back down the steep hill alone. After slipping he finds a geode and cracks it open. Inside is a small Geo Sprite that grants him a wish. Bradley is no fool so he wishes for EVERYTHING.  Thankfully Bradley is can carve things out of wood and everything he carves becomes REAL. 

Soon Bradley is carving out things he thinks he wants. A dog, a house, fruit, farming equipment and more.  Having EVERYTHING Isn't all it's cracked up to be and eventually Bradley sets out for the easier life where he feels fulfilled and happy. Can we ever really be happy or should we wish for more? It is a question many of us never really answer but this little book definitely tries. 

I loved the quick read. This 6x9 book is only 52 pages and perfect for reluctant readers. Did Bradley make the right wish? Is asking for everything what you would wish for if granted a wish? It is a wonderful question to ponder and readers will find themselves doing so. 

Perfect quick read and a good story for a discussion. 

My Siamese Looking Cat Is A What Now? Cat DNA Kit From Baspaws

One of the biggest pop culture moments of 2020 was the Tiger King era of quarantine, which perhaps resonated most with cat parents and lovers around the world. On the heels of this phenomenon, I wanted to reach out on behalf of my client Basepaws, the world’s only at-home cat  DNA test kit (think 23andMe but for cats), which can help cat owners find out if their feline has tiger, lion or cheetah relatives. 

You may already be familiar with the product from Shark Tank and Ellen’s List - Basepaws offers two cat DNA testing products. The first test kit listed here offers insight on ancestry and health, while the second product listed is a bit more affordable and just offers ancestry insights. The testing process is simple and east  – quickly swab your kitty’s mouth and send the test kit back to the Basepaws laboratory. From there, customers will receive their pet’s full report in 4-6 weeks with personalized updates throughout their pet’s lifetime.

So we have three rescue cats.  Luna is a Turkish Van as per her markings. We had her 2 years prior to the other two who we adopted as a bonded pair of kittens from the shelter we volunteer at. They came in very sick with a young mama. She wanted nothing to do with them and was eventually spayed and returned to the place she was captured as part of the Capture and Release program run in certain areas. These two babies never made it to the adoption room. They both had respiratory illnesses and Jinxy didn't have the use of his back legs. More on his horror story here.   We adopted them at about 6 weeks of age through our volunteer shelter and at the time we were told they were sisters. Jinxy is very much a boy which we heard when he was about 2 months old. He is my first boy cat! 

We decided to use the test on him. It is pretty easy to do. The bag the swab comes in has all the instructions. You basically swab the inside cheek area and send it out after you start an account on the Basepaws website. It was easy and took no time. They ask for some information and pictures. I was happy to fill it out and send it all in. We were so excited to read the report from Baspaws which has so much information and is pages long.  Basepaws also checks your cat for any genetic disorders or health markers. I was happy to see he is in peak health with no genetic disabilities especially considering his first year of life. 

We plan on testing the other two cats over the next few months just so we have their reports and highly recommend this product to cat lovers. It was very interesting.

To see our video visit my You Tube page

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

Tips For Successfully Growing Your Own Vegetables

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a great thing to do. You get satisfaction from knowing where they have been grown and in what conditions, and you get to save a little bit of money along the way, but what do you really need to know to successfully grow vegetables? Is it simply just a case of throwing a few seeds in some tubs and waiting for them to grow? Well, in short, no, just throwing seeds in a pot with some compost might work OK, but if you are looking to feed a family with your produce you will need to be a lot more organized.

Decide What To Grow

There is so much choice around of seeds to get you started with, from tomatoes to zucchinis, but which ones are right for you. It all comes down to two things, the first being taste and preference, so what do you enjoy eating? Grow what you enjoy eating to ensure when it comes time to harvest that none gets wasted. Secondly, it all comes down to space. How much space do you have, and how much can you spare. If you only have a balcony, you will most likely be restricted to growing in pots, however, if you have a garden, you could create your own vegetable plot if you wish.

Get The Right Equipment

You will need good quality gardening equipment to get you started, including compost gardening gloves, a spade, trowel, and pots for your seeds. Even though you will be investing a small amount at the beginning, think about the potential savings you could make. Over time the savings could be enough to treat yourself to a Maui family resorts vacation due to spending less on grocieries. Having the right equipment, including everything from tomato feed to forks, will ensure you have everything to get you started when growing your own vegetables.

To Plug or To Seed

Once you have decided what to grow, you now need to decide how you will grow it. This might sound silly, but do you want to try and grow vegetables from seed, or would you feel more comfortable growing them from plug plants, which are already little tiny plants. The difference between the two price-wise is quite a bit, mainly due to the fact that the plug plant has been cared for longer than a packet of seeds. Using plug plants or seeds is your choice; just remember to always follow the care and growth guidance for each vegetable to ensure the best results possible. Limit the use of pesticides where possible and try and grow using peat-free compost to ensure your product is as organic as possible.

Know Your Seasons

Knowing when to plant is just as important as what to plant. It might be worth joining a local gardening group either virtually or physically to find out what grows and when, as growing times can vary depending on where you live. A few weeks difference between sowing seeds could mean the difference between the seeds growing or not.

Stomach Issues Are Never Good For My Psyche

 

In 2010 my intestine ruptured. No issues prior then weeks in the hospital and over the next two years, two more surgeries. I was VERY SICK. To read more go here where I talk about my medical drama but that is not what this is about. 

Last night I was SO SICK. Crippling stomach cramps that made me pray for death. They came on sudden and they were fierce. My headspace gets really messed up with anything to do with my stomach. Spent an hour laying in the bed moaning then an hour in the bathroom dying. Bowl and garbage can needed. This morning I woke feeling okay but concerned. WHY? I mean WHY?!!!! 

I am an intermittent faster which means I do not eat very much or many meals. I do an 8/16 fast which means I eat all my meals in an 8 hour window. Yesterday, for lunch and dinner I ate rice and the meat that was left over from our Empanada filling the previous night. It hadn't hurt me the day before so why would it have hurt me yesterday? The only thing I added to the night time meal was three bites of broccoli mashed up really fine. I love green vegetables but anything that is going to cause gas I need to eat in moderation. My intestine cannot deal with gas. 

Whenever I have stomach problems I worry that I will end up with big issues that I will not recover from and leave my kids. 

Thankfully we had a snow day today so I was able to recover and feeling fine. God help me!

Oh well...guess it is time for another colonoscopy!

Why It’s Worth Decluttering Your Home

 

Throughout our lives, we can often accumulate a huge amount of stuff, both meaningful and trivial. It can be hard to see where to start and know what is worth keeping, but it can soon start to feel messy and overwhelming.

 

If that sounds familiar, then it might be time to declutter your home! This may sound a little daunting but read on for some useful tips and insight into the process, and you can soon start enjoying a clearer and calmer space.

 

Why should you declutter?

 

Decluttering is a process of taking out anything that you no longer need in your daily life. This includes the many items you may have used in the past, in previous jobs, itemsaccumulated across different lifestyle changes, or things you may have fallen out of love with. While we often hold onto them for sentimental reasons, these can sometimes become unwanted reminders of the past that stop us from moving forward. 

 

By going through your possessions with a focused mind and deciding only to keep the most useful and meaningful objects, you can start to open up to new opportunities and changes in your life.

 

How to go about decluttering

 

There are all kinds of guides and approaches to decluttering out there to choose from, but the easiest method is to tackle one area at a time, such as a room, or if that is overwhelming, a section of a room, and then move on to another section, before you know it, you’ll have the whole room finished. If you have a lot of unwanted items gathering dust in a garage or spare room, you may need to enlist some extra help to get rid of things - check out Jordan Disposal here.

 

Many other items that no longer serve a purpose to you may still be useful to others, so it can be worth selling or donating these to thrift stores or community spaces. You may even want to host a sale with other friends or neighbors to clear out your items. This can be a great way of making some extra money, as well as enjoying more space in your home.

 

What to do next?

 

After you declutter, you may find that your home feels emptier, as if something is missing. It can take some time to get used to having a clear space, especially if you have gotten accustomed to living surrounded by all kinds of clutter over the years. 

 

However, in the future, you can ensure that you prevent things from accumulating once again. Having a thoughtful and considered approach to what you bring in can help you make sure that you only purchase items that are truly useful or important to you, helping you to keep your home in a better condition, as well as preventing you from spending money on items thatyou no longer want or need in your life. Over time, you can start to experience the benefits of this by enjoying the greater feeling of calm and tranquility at home.

Source 

Tips for choosing the perfect chocolate gift box

 

When it comes to picking a present, you can’t go wrong with chocolate. It’s delicious, easy to get hold of, and comes in so many varieties that there’s a flavor to suit pretty much everyone. Of course, the huge range of chocolate available also makes it a bit more difficult to settle on exactly which chocolate box to buy for your friend or loved one, because there’s just so much to choose from! To make it easier the next time you’re looking for the perfect chocolatey gift, here are some tips for how to make your mind up.

 

Budget

It’s best to get this one out of the way first. Knowing your budget for the particular gift in question will be a great starting point for narrowing down your options, and help you decide between getting a larger present such as a hamper, or a smaller option such as miniature selection box.

 

Occasion

What is the reason behind the gift? This will make a difference as to the type of chocolate gift boxes you choose from. For example, if the occasion is a celebration such as an anniversary or graduation present then champagne truffles are great at capturing that feeling.

 

Allergies or dietary requirements

Before buying anything it’s important to make sure that the person you’re buying for can actually eat it! Check whether they have any allergies, for example to nuts or dairy, or whether they have any dietary requirements such as being vegan, gluten free, sugar free, or alcohol free. There are chocolate gifts to suit all diets these days, so whatever needs your recipient has you’ll be able to find a suitable gift for them.

 

Type of chocolate

This is where it gets interesting! There are three main varieties of chocolate: dark chocolate (which has a more bitter, less sweet taste), milk chocolate (mellow and sweet), and white chocolate (delicate and creamy). If you know which type your friend prefers, you can choose a box that only contains that variety, or opt for a mixed box instead to cover your bases. Alternatively, if your friend likes to try new trends you could look for a chocolate gift using ruby chocolate—a fruity pink variety that was introduced in 2017.

 

Texture

Another aspect to think about is texture. Chocolates come in so many different styles, including smooth and velvety truffles, those with a caramel or fondant center, those containing crunchy nuts or chewy dried fruits, and solid slabs that make a satisfying snap when you bite into them. If you know which your friend prefers, it will make your choice much easier!

 

Flavors

Finally, and perhaps most obviously, there’s flavor. This is probably the most important part to get right, so be sure to spend some time thinking about it. Does your friend prefer the pure taste of chocolate on its own? Traditional flavors such as mint, coffee, or ginger? How about fruity flavors such as strawberry or raspberry? Or perhaps a more modern variety like salted caramel, spiced rum, chili or peanut butter? If they have a favorite flavor then go for that one, but there’s always the option to go for a mixed box if you’re unsure! 

 

 

 

 

Snowpiercer Isn’t a Disappointment

 

The World Outside Is Frozen Solid. The World Inside Is Heating Up. 

The 411:

My husband and I are huge fans of apocalyptic type shows. This is one we hadn’t watched yet so we were excited to see it. We needed a new show to binge watch and Snowpiercer has become a fast favorite.

The world is frozen so the earths last remaining 3000 people who were lucky ticket holders or snuck on the 1,001 car train now circle the earth dodging avalanches and each other. 

Starring Jennifer Connolly and Daveed Diggs. On episode 5 we are interested to see where it goes but wish it had a little more of the movie. The tallies are a ragtag group working together to survive while the first class passengers are a snobbish bunch. So far we love it and cannot wait to watch the rebellion get a fair and balanced life aboard the train. Why wouldn’t the passengers be interested in meeting new people after dealing with the same 3000 people for all these years?

I know season 2 just started and I need to get moving so I can be up to speed and my Daveed crush is in full effect.

Check it out and if you want to watch the movie Snowpiercer with Chris Evan’s it is on Netflix so you can compare the movie to the show. 

See it on Prime and the Season 2 on TNT

The Girl From The Attic by Marie Prins

 

The 411:

I loved this book that was nothing like Coraline but reminded me of it because our main character Maddy travels between two worlds through an attic door thanks to the help of a black cat.  After moving into a new home with her very pregnant mother and stepdad Dan. Maddy is feeling all kinds of emotions about her parents not being together, her father left her and her own feelings about her stepfather.  She is an angry tween and when she finds a door that leads her to the very house she is living on except 100 years ago, she learns a thing or two about how difficult life could really be. 

While Dan is working he leaves Maddy in charge of taking care of her mom but she forgoes all chores or any assistance to her mom to venture into the past and meet a boy named Clare who spends his life helping his family because that is what you do! It is what he knows and he cannot understand why Maddy wouldn't want to help and she doesn't understand why he spends all his time helping out. Clare has a sick sister who is dying of consumption (Tuberculosis). Maddy has an idea to help him make money to help his sister.  

I found it very interesting that she was so helpful in the past but in her own life where she is needed ran off constantly instead of helping her mom but she would never have come received the lessons necessary to grow as a person and come to terms with why she feels as she does when it comes to her stepfather. 

Good story and I think this would be a great read for a middle school English class to dissect and learn from. Who are we really? Who do we want the world to see us as?  What lessons or experiences will help us better understand the world around us and why things may be a certain way.  Sometimes it is not about us, there are reasons for everything and communication helps us understand. If Maddy had spoke to her mother or even her stepdad about how she was feeling maybe she would have had a better understanding of things but I think sometimes we need to go through a difficult time for us to open our eyes.  

Well written and very interesting. I loved the ending and found it very sweet!  Would definitely recommend.

How to Improve the Welfare of Your Livestock

 

Throughout the last several decades, the livestock and agricultural industries have seen their fair share of changes and development. With technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs in research, farmers and livestock producers have more information at their disposal than ever before. That being said, sifting through such information to find the right practices that you should be implementing with your own livestock can be a challenge.

 

Essentially, every farmer and producer of livestock should be making the best decisions for their personal situation. Those decisions should ultimately be based on how improvements in the welfare of livestock can be made. With healthier, happier livestock, you can hope to bring about higher production levels and better overall products.

 

If you are currently looking for ways to improve your livestock's welfare, here are a few things that you should consider doing.

 

Evaluate Your Feed

 

The health and welfare of your livestock will be heavily affected by the type of feed you opt for. While it had been common practice to go with feed options that contain synthetic elements in the past, more modern insights have demonstrated that such synthetic products can have negative long-term effects on the health and wellbeing of livestock.

 

With that in mind, if it has been a while since you have evaluated the feed that you supply to your livestock, now is the time to do so. By making a switch from harmful synthetic feed to feed that is made from purely natural ingredients and components, you can greatly improve the welfare of your livestock.

 

Another benefit to going this route involves the costs associated with the feed that you provide your livestock. While synthetic products have long been touted as the more cost-effective option for livestock producers, there are now some excellent options on the market that are just as cost-effective as they are healthy for your livestock.

 

Adopt More Humane Methods

 

There is a great deal of scientific research to back up the claim that the more humanely livestock is treated, the better your resulting products will be in the end. With this in mind, you could stand to benefit a great deal from consulting with a livestock welfare expert to uncover new ways in which you can promote the humane care of your livestock.

 

By implementing certain ethical farming practices, you can vastly improve the welfare of your animals. For instance, reducing the amount of time that your livestock is in close confinement and providing conditions that are more conducive to your animals behaving more naturally can go a long way to improving their overall wellbeing. 

 

It is also important to note that such changes while costing a bit upfront, can end up reducing the costs of managing and maintaining your livestock in the long run. With happier livestock and reduced costs, you can find yourself in a much better position in the future. Hopefully these tips have helped to give you some ideas on improving the welfare of your livestock.

Horror Fans! You Better Not Shout, You Better Not Cry! Toys of Terror NOW on Digital & My Review

The 411:

I base all movie reviews I watch with my husband on whether or not he takes his eyes off his laptop and while watching Toys Of Terror he totally watched this movie never getting to his homework and that says a lot. Usually the TV is on as background noise while he does his homework and he has to get it done! He works all day and goes to college at night. He does not have time to watch TV but I received a copy and was dying to watch Toys of Terror.

OK...let's jump in. Toys of Terror wasn't award winning, there was a ton of loop holes for me. A blended family are going away for Christmas to a home they bought so they can flip it. It is literally a mansion and so much better then the house they are currently living in so flip the other house and move into this one. We also never see them working on flipping anything and only know this because when they arrive at the house. all the family including the nanny, are standing in a row staring at the house while the camera takes a long shot of their profiles as they discuss the house and we learn more.

The house is huge and their is a caretaker staying their as well. The mom knows this home was once a children's hospital and her step daughter and nanny research the home to find out the history. 

The smaller children find a chest of old toys which eventually come to life and have an agenda of their own. A fuzzy bee, a flying dragon with a rider, a car, a monkey, a mask and more.  The toys seem to be changing the children or are they? t

There was so much to find hocky about the movie. 

The flying bee who suffocates the caretaker

The scene where the kids wake for Christmas and the toys teach them that crappy presents like clothing should be thrown in the fireplace. 

The dance sequence! 

The caregiver who thinks the kids have gone up to the 3rd floor and are hiding under the tinniest piece of paper and so many other instances 

The scene where the toys try to toss the nanny of the railing. 

The little sock the nanny find and the bassinette. This scene made no sense to me. Apparently the nanny lost a baby. Is the sock to remind her? Is her baby there? Is someone trying to drive her mad? I have no idea.  There were so many moments I was scratching my head but in the end people die and one is left there to take care of the kids forever with them reading to the children of the hospital in the lit living room while the camera pulls out past the outside of the home, the living room light goes out. 

All in all I love this movie and would totally watch it again and plan on it!

My Life In Pictures - Sept 1 - Sept 7, 2020

September 1 - My girl and I went glamping with some friends who were kind enough to invite us to go with her and her kids. It was a nice time away doing something different with my daughter. We had a great time being unplugged and hanging with her and her kids.

September 2 - My girl and I hanging in our bedroom of the cabin! Small but cosy!

September 3 - NADA

September 4 -  My deck lanterns are some of my favorite things to take photos of.

September 4 -Sometimes I need to take photos of myself. I do not like this photo. My hair is strange. My eyebrows so need help and my skin looks so dry and aged but I like my eye color so  photo was necessary. Sometimes we are so hard on ourselves. Always find something you like about yourself. It is important for your soul and we are our own worst critic. 

September 6 - NADA

September 7 - This skeleton looks so weird. Not even sure why we took this photo. 

How I Handle Stress In My Life And How It Can Help You Too

 

I am not so self important to think this is the only way there is to handle anything. I know only what works for me and maybe it will be what works for you too!

Today I was extremely angry at work. Something happened that made me angry! So angry! I am not someone who gets angry so if I am pissed, it has to be something big! I was down right pissed feeling completely disrespected and confused. Unsure as to why someone would go out of their way to make things difficult.  Instead of being pissed and talking or spreading the gossip around I went straight to my boss to discuss it openly and honestly in a very, I hope,  relaxed manner.  I am a firm believer in talking to the person who can fix things or can make a difference. Whenever a co-worker complains to me over work, I always tell them to talk to the boss. I cannot help, if you want real changes go to your boss or in other cases the source that can help you, sometimes that would be the person causing your stress. 

As I have got older I try to handle things that bother me head on. I see no reason to not discuss the unsaid. I do not want to waste time focusing on things I have no control over NOR do I want to try to make everyone happy. 

Stressors will always be there. Some big, some small.  Most of the time I can let stuff roll of my back, today was not one of those days. 

Feeling so angry that I couldn't even sit down while I ate lunch I decided that if I waited I would burst and it wouldn't be good, I decided to walk into my bosses office and just let it out. 

Thankfully she said all the things I needed to hear at that moment. She was calm, collected, understanding and made me feel like what I was saying mattered and was just. This doesn't mean she truly believes I am 100 percent right but she balanced my emotions enough that I could get through my day without feeling stressed or ready to confront the person who had a problem with me. 

When you are feeling stress. Make sure you understand why you are feeling it. Are you feeling it because you are embarrassed, guilty, disrespected? Does the other person fight fair? What is the agenda? Make sure you are not fighting back to belittle or be a step up. Try to understand where the other person is coming from, talk to the person, the source of your stress.  If you are not feeling better after talking to someone, anyone, regroup and figure out if you truly know why you are stressed. We are too old to say, I don't know why I am sad, upset, depressed or whatever. Deep down we all truly know. We may not be able to say it or sometimes even put it into words for others but we know! 

Do not allow yourself to be consumed by stress, you are worth peace and finding the outlet that allows you to release your negative thoughts is the most important thing you can do for yourself when feeling stress. 

Stress or anxiety effects us in so many ways. It not only makes us exhausted but also can contribute to help problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, headaches, insomnia and so much more. 

With everything we are all dealing with these days the last thing you need is more stress. Do not go it alone. I have always found that talking it over is truly the best thing and today confirms this! 

If you need to talk, talk. There will always be someone willing to listen and if you can't I am here too! I may not be able to help but sometimes just getting it off your chest makes all the difference.

Peace be with you!

My Life In Pictures Aug 23 - Aug 31

 August 23 - My teens room. We painted this room when I was pregnant with my son 18 years ago now. IT was sponge painted to go with the border my husband picked out after I mentioned I wanted to do sun, moon and stars mixed with Noah's Ark. When my daughter turned 13 I figured she would want to repaint. When given the option she told me no, that she could never paint over this paint, this is her childhood and knowing we had painted it made her happy. She embraced our theme and loved it. Her room is tiny and has a ton of things in it but she manages to make it work. 

August 24 - We cat sit for friends and this year they brought us back some salt water taffy which was delicious. This little box had so much taffy I was able to share it with my coworkers

August 25 - NADA

August 26- My daughter's friend Tony has been in her grade since Kindergarten. They become friends in the 4th or 5th grade and she considers him one of her best. What I love about their relationship is that they are real friends. Neither has an interest in the other and they can be very much themselves with each other. She is not shy or awkward around him. He is one of the funniest people I know and if I could have him hang out with us everyday I would be okay with that. Whenever I think she needs to hang with a friend I offer to pick up Tony! 

August 26- 27 - NADA

August 28 - My daughter took this because she said it was the first time she was waiting on a train to pass by. I am sure it has happened before this but she insists. It is however the only photo I have to share for this day.

August 29 - NADA

August 30 -  Window shopping with my girl. She does love her Jack!

August 31 - Jinxy!