Glee Fans - Grab Season 2 on DVD and Blu-Ray September 13, 2011

THE #1 TV ON DVD & BLU-RAY…IS BACK!

THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON ARRIVES ON BLU-RAY AND DVD SEPTEMBER 13

FEATURING NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN BONUS FOOTAGE AND THE POPULAR “GLEE MUSIC JUKEBOX”

GLEE: Season 2, Volume 1 Also Available on DVD

TV's musical sensation, “GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON comes to Blu-ray and DVD September 13^th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment packed with all 22 episodes and never-before-seen bonus features sure to incite fans everywhere to “Gleek Out.”

GLEE is a biting musical comedy about a group of eager and ambitious students who strive to outshine their singing competition to win Nationals while navigating the cruel halls of McKinley High. A pop-culture phenomenon, GLEE boasts critical acclaim, a loyal fan base of “GLEEks,” two Platinum and two Gold albums, more than 29 million song downloads, the record for the most titles on the Billboard Hot 100 by a non-solo act (beating out Elvis Presley, James Brown and The Beatles), an incredible 19 Emmy nominations – earning it the distinction of being the most-nominated series of the year – and four Emmy Awards. To top it off, the genre-defying, award-winning series has been picked up through its third season.

“GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON Blu-ray and DVD is bursting with exclusive bonus materials including the fan-favorite Glee Music Jukebox, a behind-the-scenes look at the epic Season 2 finale shot in New York City, a featurette showcasing the GLEE guest stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Carol Burnett and more, additional featurettes highlighting sensational cast performances and much more. “GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON will be available for an average retail price of $44.99 Blu-ray and $39.98 DVD respectively. Pre-book date is August 3, 2011.

Based on the smash North American concert tour, GLEE LIVE: The 3D Concert Movie will be released in theaters nationwide, for a special limited two-week engagement, on August 12, 2011.

“GLEE” THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON Blu-ray & DVD Features:

·         Glee Music Jukebox

·         Guesting on Glee

·         Stevie Nick Goes Glee

·         A Day in The Life of Brittany

·         Shooting Glee in New York City

·         Sue’s Quips

·         Santana Slams

·         Building Glee’s Auditorium with Cory Monteith

·         The Making of the Rocky Horror Glee Show

·         Exclsuive Bonus Song – “Planet, Schmanet, Janet”

·         Getting Waxed with Jane Lynch

·         The Wit of Brittany

·         Glee at Comic-Con 2010

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

# # # 

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt  

Hasbro Game Night, Trade In's and Organization Tips

Is your game of Sorry! looking, well, a little sorry? Or maybe the Cavity Sam in your game of Operation looks like he needs to take a trip to the ER. Whether you’re missing some money in your Monopoly game or letter tiles from the Scrabble game, it may be time to replace that worn and well-loved game with a brand new one. Luckily for you and your family, the Great Games Trade-In is here to make recycling and upgrading games as easy as can be! Throughout the month of September, visit FamilyGameNight.com to print up to $83 in coupons, as well as prepaid shipping labels to easily recycle your old games. You’ll learn how to recycle your old, worn-out games with Recyclebank to make plenty of room in your freshly cleaned game closet for brand spankin’ new games! The 22 Great Games Trade-In coupon offers can be redeemed at mass merchandise retailers nationwide through October 9. And with all of these savings, you’ll even have extra spending money for treats and decorations for your big National Family Game Night celebration!

NATIONAL FAMILY GAME NIGHT
Want to put those brand new games from the Great Games Trade-In to use? National Family Game Night is the perfect occasion! On September 28, we invite you to join families across the nation to unplug and unwind as you spend quality time together playing a new game. Between the pressures and demands of work, school and activities, it can be hard to find time to reconnect as a family. Hasbro wants to help everyone in America create this special and important time, and is supplying great savings on new games to ensure this year’s National Family Game Night is a success in every home!

GAME CLOSET ORGANIZATION TIPS
All you really need for a successful Family Game Night are good friends and family and your favorite games! But if getting to your games or finding the one everyone is dying to play is derailing the fun in your house, it might be time for a game closet makeover. Alison Deyette, a lifestyle expert and author of the blog “Ali on the Go,” shares a few tips to ensure you’re prepared for Family Game Night fun time and time again.

1.     Store Games in an Easily Accessible Location: Keep all your games in one place, such as a closet or storage ottoman. If you don’t have the closet space for a designated area for family games, consider storing your games near the TV in an ottoman with a lift-off top, or in a large trunk or storage bin. That way, it’s easy to get to a game when the family is looking for something to do together, or when your favorite show is over.

2.     Assign Shelves in the Game Closet: Designate each shelf in the family game closet for a particular game category. With separate shelves for word games, party games and active games without a box, everyone knows where each game goes and clean up is quick and easy! Consider keeping games for the little ones on lower shelves so they can grab them on their own for spontaneous play at any time.

3.     Store Games Side by Side: To ensure games are easy to see and grab from the shelf, store board game boxes side by side vertically, similarly to books on a bookshelf. This way, every game is easily accessible and you don’t have to worry about trying to pry one game from the middle or bottom of a stack.

4.     Find a Place for Small Game Pieces: Want to ensure you never lose those Scrabble tiles or Monopoly houses again? Use plastic tote boxes to store smaller playing items like these, as well as dice, timers and pawns. You can also use a fishing tackle box to keep all the tiny pieces separated and safe between Family Game Nights.

5.     Create a Binder to Store Game Directions: Place the directions from each game in a clear sheet protector. Alphabetize the sheets by the name of the game so directions are easy to find when you need a reminder about who goes first in The Game of Life or how much money each player starts with in Monopoly.

6.     Find Time in Your Busy Schedule for Family Game Night: Plan ahead to make sure you’re completely organized before everyone sits down at the table for Family Game Night. Make all of the treats the day before and place everything in personalized goodie bags to ensure each guest is accounted for. Also, determine which games you’re going to play ahead of time and set everything out the night before to increase everyone’s excitement for the big night!

RECYCLEBANK
Cleaning out your game closet is sure to unearth some games that are ready to be replaced, such as the Candy Land game that Mom and Dad played growing up, or the Monopoly game missing the racecar and shoe tokens. The Great Games Trade-In is a great way for families to adopt green habits by sending in old games to be recycled. By teaming up with Recyclebank, the company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from local businesses and national brands, Hasbro makes it easy for families to get a fresh, new board game for National Family Game Night while keeping their wallets full and their environmental footprints small.

Most board games include components that are easy to recycle, like cardboard and plastic. By printing a prepaid shipping label from FamilyGameNight.com during the Great Games Trade-In and pledging to recycle your old game, you can earn points with Recyclebank and eventually cash in these green points for retail rewards. Recyclebank has partnered with a materials recovery center to ensure everything received will be disposed of in a professional manner by qualified personnel and in accordance with industry standards. If it’s recyclable, Recyclebank will do right by it.
For more information on recycling and how you can make it an everyday part of your family’s life, please visit www.Recyclebank.com.

VISIT FAMILY GAME NIGHT ON FACEBOOK
For more details about the Great Games Trade-In, information about new games and a daily dose of Facebook-style game play, “Like” them on Facebook and check in often to stay up to speed on all things Family Game Night. During the month of September, in addition to game play they will be your number one and nonstop source for information about the Great Games Trade-In, tips on preparing for National Family Game Night and game recommendations for the big night. Let the countdown for National Family Game Night begin!


Family Game Night: www.facebook.com/familygamenight
Scrabble: www.facebook.com/officialscrabble
Monopoly: www.facebook.com/monopoly
Trivial Pursuit: www.facebook.com/trivialpursuit
Cranium: www.facebook.com/cranium
Twitter

FamilyGameNight: www.twitter.com/familygamenight
Trivial Pursuit: www.twitter.com/trivialpursuit_
Cranium: www.twitter.com/playcranium

Zhu Zhu Puppies Are Our Newest Favorite Toys

We are big Zhu Zhu Pet Fans, especially Goddess. She loves her amazing collection of Hamsters and now she has a new love. The Zhu Zhu Puppies collection which she has been seeing commercials and begging for made a stop at our house in the form of a Pup, an outfit and a accessory.

It was torture for her to wait for me to take a photo of the three boxes for this post. A whole day she would come over and ask, "did you take the picture for your blog yet?" The very next day, I allowed her to open the boxes and she couldn't have been happier. My 6  year old sat on the floor and put the Puppy Car and Meter together, dressed her puppy and attached it to the Zhu Zhu Pets Princess Castle and Ice Cream Shop.  This is something I really appreciate. Thanks Zhu Zhu for making all the pieces attach. It is nice to be able to expand on the line without having to purchased each line separately. The Zhu Zhu Pets and the Zhu Zhu Puppies, played very nice together in the car, ice cream shop and Princess Castle.

The Puppy is definitely her favorite Zhu Zhu and I can't say I blame her. While the hamsters all look the same other than color and style, the puppies, like real ones have their very own personality and it shows all over their sweet faces. Just look at that face!

We really love the puppy and she is asking for more. These are definitely going on her Christmas list. Who could resist this sweet, little pup and look at those wings. Her costume has little wings on the back which had Goddess squealing, "isn't she cute?" over and over.

Thanks to Zhu Zhu Pets and Mom Select, I have been given permission to host a Giveaway on my blog.

Red Lobster Has Revamped And Looks Amazing

Oh I had a blast last week at Red Lobster. Love seafood and family dinner, plus the NEW Red Lobster looks amazing.

The Beach Is Full Of Amazing Things

It's not the beautiful beach, the calming water, the sunset or the rainbows in her ears. It is the inner light that shines from her whenever she is around.

An Uplifting Story of One Family’s Faith

Arrives on DVD September 20

 

A young man loses his way but through the power of his family’s prayers finds the path to redemption and rediscovers the love of his father in BREAKING THE PRESS, going for the gold on DVD September 20 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

A recent recipient of the Dove Foundation’s ‘Family-Approved’ seal for all audiences over the age of twelve, this inspiring Biblical parable stars Drew Waters (“Friday Night Lights”) as Joe Conahey, a small-town high school basketball coach whose Christian faith is tested by an unsuccessful season and the intense pressure that results. The family’s two star sons—the older, diligently hardworking brother Matt (Chad Halbrook, Brotherhood) and the younger, naturally-gifted Josh (Tom Maden, “According to Jim”)—are separated when Josh selfishly transfers to a powerhouse school hundreds of miles away. His previous team’s top player, Josh finds difficulty adjusting to the big-city program, tempted as he is by girls, drugs, alcohol and stardom – and is subsequently expelled. Only through the power of prayer and forgiveness can the troubled ”Prodigal Son” make his way back into the arms of his loving father and find redemption for his family and his team.

BREAKING THE PRESS includes a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the film and will be available on single-disc DVD in the U.S. and Canada. Pre-book is August 10.

The soundtrack will be available on CURB Records featuring Jamie Slocum and other known contemporary Christian Artists.

BREAKING THE PRESS Special Features
	The Making of BREAKING THE PRESS

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world

Are Your KooKoo Birds The Craziest?

Totally KooKoo™ is having a very special KooKoo Bird Sighting Photo Contest on Facebook! 

For a chance to win awesome prizes, simply upload a photo of a KooKoo Bird – or a KooKoo Bird creative original interpretation (a drawing, collage, picture, etc.) in the kookiest place possible! Get creative and show us your kookoo side! Who will win? You decide! ENTER HERE

Voting is open to the public so be sure to get your friends and family involved and check it out at Facebook/TotallyKooKoo!

One Grand Prize Winner will receive a $100 Toys“R”Us Gift Card and a Totally KooKoo prizepack and two runners-up will each receive a $50 Toys“R”Us Gift Card!

The sky’s the limit, so get sighting, snapping and posting! We can’t wait to see those KooKoo Bird pics!

Back To School Lunch Safety Tips

Packing Bag Lunches Safely

Pack Nonperishable Foods
The USDA now recommends that half of a meal be fruits and vegetables, which is convenient because most produce does not spoil at room temperature. Consider packing more foods that are nonperishable and don’t require refrigeration like whole apples, cherry tomatoes, grapes or carrot sticks.

Keep Cold Foods Cold and Hot Foods Hot

If you do pack perishable foods such as luncheon meats or prepackaged cheese & crackers, include a frozen gel pack or a frozen juice carton with the food in an insulated lunch bag or box.

If you’re packing hot foods such as soups or stews, re-heat the hot food on the stove to at least 165 F. To help keep it hot until lunch, pre-heat a thermos with hot water, let it stand for a minute or two, empty the thermos, then fill it with the hot food and close it quickly.

Throw Out the Leftovers

Pack only the amount of perishable food that your child can eat at lunch and advise them to throw out any leftovers. 

Additionally, don't reuse packaging materials such as paper or plastic bags, aluminum foil, etc. as bacteria can grow on these wrappings, contaminate other foods and cause foodborne illness. Have your child discard all used food packaging and paper bags after lunch. Wash lunchboxes, thermoses and reusable food storage containers daily with soap and hot water.

Minimize The Time Food Spends At Room Temperature
Prepare lunches the night before and store them in the refrigerator overnight to help keep food cold longer the next day. 

Keep it Clean
According to a NSF International germ study, the kitchen contains more germs than any other place in the home - including staph and coliform bacteria.  Avoid introducing bacteria into a lunch when packing it by regularly cleaning and sanitizing your kitchen counter, dish sponge and kitchen sink. 

Perform a lunchbox safety test
If you plan to send a hot or cold lunch to school with your child, perform a lunchbox safety test to make sure the food will stay safe. Pack and store a lunch exactly the way you would if your child was off to school. At the designated lunchtime, check the temperature of the foods with a food thermometer. Cold foods should be less than 40 F, while hot foods need to be above 140 F.

Don’t forget to always wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before preparing any meal and remind your child to do the same before he/she sits down for lunch. Handwashing is one of the best ways kids and parents can protect health and stop the spread of germs.

Courtesy of NSF International

Hot Wheels Nitro Speeders - The Perfect Little Car

Are you searching for that perfect pocket-size toy to keep your children entertained while on the run?

We know it can be hard to find small and entertaining toys to take along on family vacations or a day of errands and that's why we're excited to tell you about this fun new toy we've found for young boys.

Hot Wheels' newest generation of micro RC vehicle, Nitro Speeders, helps fuel thrilling vehicle experiences on the go:

•Measuring fewer than two inches in length and less than one-half inch wide, Nitro Speeders is THE portable toy for your boy on the go

•Nitro Speeders fly around corners at a scaled 600 mph, making it one of the fastest small RC cars on the market today

•Nitro Speeders are operated by a pocket sized remote control that doubles as a charger and handy carrying case so it's always ready when you're on the move

•For added fun, they work with all standard Hot Wheels track sets - including ones with loops

What I Can Tell You:
Awesome! Hot Wheels has taken chargeable toys to a whole new level and I am hoping other companies take notice. We love the idea of the car being charged in the remote control. It is truly genius.

The car is small. It is super fast and easy to use. Simply put batteries in the remote control, open the remote door, take the little do dad and insert it into the car. Car is charged when the light is green. Disconnect the car and race it using the remote. Awesome. I can't say enough about this item. Easy to take with you. Great for traveling.

Photos and video coming. The storm preparation has but a hold on a lot of things here but I didn't want to wait to get this up.

Color Carnival #105

Happy Saturday everyone.  Hold onto your bloomers East Coast, it's going to be a crazy couple of hours.
The last few days we have been planning for this crazy storm. The kids are already enjoying the bunker (downstairs) while we have been preparing the deck item and the gazebo for the 80 mile an hour winds and massive about of rain we are expecting.

I hope everyone is ready and have prepared for the worst but praying for the best. Stay safe everyone.

The pictures from this week are beautiful and so needed for this crazy, hectic week.

Love the flowers, the summer toys and everything in between. Really cheerful photos! Keep up the good work everyone.

Sweet Shots

My daughter and niece together really make me smile. They are so cute and similar. Watching the comfort they have with each other even though they only see each other once or twice a year makes me feel good. Before my daughter, my niece was my baby. I used to take her to my house to spend the summer. She has a very special soul and a huge heart. I adore her to pieces. Hopefully we see her more this year but at least we had three days with her and that was worth so much!

Pointing and Spotting

I took Goddess and my niece out on a "photo shoot". I love taking pictures of people and capturing interaction between them. They were so sweet together. My niece has two little sisters so you would think she has little or no time for her baby cousin but being the special soul she is...she is makes Goddess feel very special.

While watching them, I spotted them pointing at something. It was so cute that they were doing it together, I had to grab the shot. Then I spanned to see what it was....

Beautiful Flowers

Beautiful flowers, gifts from my nieces on my 45th birthday last week.  I love the softness of the petals.

Gazillion Bubble Show Tour!

Gazillion Bubble Show Launches 70-City North American Tour

New York, NY – August 9, 2011 – Five-time Tony Award®-winning producer, Jon B. Platt (Wicked, The Book of Mormon), announces the first ever North American tour of Gazillion Bubble Show, starring its creator and international sensation Fan Yang.  This world renowned, brilliant and unique theatrical experience will delight audiences of all ages, transforming a multitude of beautiful bubbles into a thrilling, interactive, multi-million dollar spectacular.  Audiences and critics will be wowed by bouncing bubbles, floating bubbles, misty, tiny and massive bubbles as they experience the world’s first live “snow globe” when millions of tiny bubbles fill the stage.  Absolutely nothing compares to the feeling of standing inside a Fan Yang giant bubble creation.   Fan Yang’s extraordinary bubble masterpieces illuminated by his spellbinding laser magic will dazzle theatre-goers aged 2 to102.

        

“We are excited to bring the extraordinary talent of Fan Yang to audiences across the country,” said producer Jon B. Platt. “Fan’s talent is unmatched and his beautiful and brilliant creations for all audiences are unlike anything that has ever been seen before. The future of live entertainment is here, and it’s Fan Yang!”

Gazillion Bubble Show was conceived by its star and international phenomenon, Fan Yang.  Over the past two decades he has sold out performances and earned critical and audience acclaim in Germany, France, Spain, Vietnam, Singapore and many other countries around the globe.  Fan’s ingenious creations and dedication to the pursuit of his craft have brought to life an utterly unique art form.  Fan Yang currently holds 17 Guinness World Records; most recently for having put 108 people inside a single bubble.   His performances have been broadcast worldwide on television, including “Oprah,’ “Ellen,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The View,” and many more.

For more info on Gazillion Bubble Show, go to www.gazillionbubbleshow.com. 

For updates and more, follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bubbleshow

Gazillion Bubble Show 2011 Tour Dates will include the following:

(Additional 2011 and 2012 dates will be announced this fall)

Sept. 30-Oct 2                    Providence, RI                   Providence Performing Arts Center

Oct. 5                                    Orono, ME                          Collins Center for the Arts

Oct. 6                                    Portland, ME                      Merrill Auditorium

Oct. 7 - 8                              Schenectady, NY              Proctor’s Theatre

Oct. 9                                    Hartford, CT                       Bushnell Performing Arts Center

Oct. 14-16                            Detroit, MI                          Fisher Theatre

Oct. 21-22                            Hershey, PA                       Hershey Theatre

Nov. 5-6                               Philadelphia, PA               Merriam Theatre

Nov. 18-19                          Spartanburg, SC                                Memorial Auditorium

Nov. 20                                 Morganton, NC                 Municipal Auditorium

Dec. 3-4                                Tampa, FL                            Morsani Hall

Dec. 7-11                             Boston, MA                        Wang Theatre

Dec. 28-31                           Toronto, ONT                    Canon Theatre 

Jan. 17, 2012                       Macon, GA                         Grand Opera House

Jan. 21, 2012                       Toledo, OH                         Stranahan Theatre

Jan. 29, 2012                       Merrillville, IN                    Star Plaza Theatre

Feb. 3-4, 2012                    Denver, CO                         Buell Theatre

Feb. 10-12, 2012               Seattle, WA                        Moore Theatre

Feb. 29, 2012                      Thousand Oaks, CA         Fred Kavli Theatre

March 2-3, 2012                Mesa, AZ                             Mesa Arts Center

April 1, 2012                        Charlotte, NC                     Belk Theatre

Producer Jon B. Platt is the winner of 5 Tony Awards® for Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Perestroika, Copenhagen, God of Carnage, and most recently The Book Of Mormon, winner of nine 2011 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical, which The New York Times called “The Best Musical of the Decade!”  He has earned fourteen Tony Award® nominations including Wicked, Damn Yankees, Peter Pan, Hello, Dolly!, The Diary of Anne Frank, Man of La Mancha, Will Ferrell’s You’re Welcome America and A View From The Bridge (Scarlett Johansson, Liev Schreiber).  Mr. Platt’s achievements have also been acknowledged by twelve New York Drama Desk Awards.  His national productions include The Sound of Music, Hair, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line and Blue Man Group “Tubes,” now in its 15^th year in Boston.  Mr. Platt’s recent Broadway credits include:  Cyrano de Bergerac (Jennifer Garner, Kevin Kline), Exit the King (Best Actor Tony Award® - Geoffrey Rush), Tony Award® Winner Best Play God of Carnage (James Gandolfini, Tony Award® Best Actress Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis), Jerusalem (Tony Award® Best Actor - Mark Rylance), and The Mother with a Hat (Chris Rock).  Mr. Platt is currently represented by 7 productions of Wicked worldwide, and the London production of Driving Miss Daisy (James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave).  This coming season, he will present, in association with Manhattan Theatre Club the acclaimed Venus in Fur, written by David Ives and directed by Walter Bobbie.

Gazillion Bubble Show is director by Sam Scalamoni. Mr. Scalamoni was Associate Director of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and supervised the US national tour, the UK international tour and companies in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Seoul, Korea.  Most recently, Mr. Scalamoni directed Storytime Live! for Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America, Broadway in the Berkshires for Shakespeare and Company and a concert staging of The Pirates of Penzance for Skyline Theatre Company.   He is also the Co-Book writer of his newest project in development, Get Happy!, based on the MGM Judy Garland Gene Kelly film Summer Stock.

Jumping For Joy!

This weekend I took Goddess and my first Goddess, my niece Sam on a photo shoot. It was so much fun watching them interact. Here are some of my favorite shots. They were jumping of the bench at a gazebo, having a blast and laughing. It was a great time. Sam was my first "daughter" she used to spend weeks with me in the summer before I had my own children. I love watching her interact with my kids. They adore her.

Konsyl For Healthy Digestive Health & My Health

We’ve all heard about the digestive and other health benefits of having enough fiber, but in addition to helping promote regularity and good digestive health adequate soluble fiber intake offers an abundance of health benefits, ranging from a reduced risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol, to reducing blood sugar absorption, thereby assisting in the management of Type-2 Diabetes. Fiber can also aid in weight loss by making you feel fuller longer.

Psyllium fiber, such as the fiber found in Konsyl Fiber Supplements, is a bulk-forming soluble fiber derived from the outer coating, or "husk" of the psyllium plant's seeds. Because psyllium does not come from wheat it is therefore gluten free and safe for celiac patients. Konsyl products are also safe for pregnant and nursing women. Just one serving of Konsyl Original Formula 450g provides 6 grams of psyllium fiber (equal to 3 grams of soluble fiber), 75% more than the leading brands.


What I Can Tell You:
After my hospital stay and eventually surgery last year, taking care of my intestine is something I now know to be extremely important but I also know if it isn't easy to do, or doesn't taste good, you won't do it. Usually I balance all meals with a nice dose of fiber. Beside it being good for you, the body needs it in order for things to move smoothly. Since my surgery, I have realized that my intestine will never be the same. I know when something is passing through that area and have many different twinges and the occasional discomfort. Most of this may have to do with a protruding intestine which decided to pop out last month. Staying on top of my fiber game has become a full time job. Pushing the intestine back is is also a full time job.

When I first started the Konsyl I only used water and the orange flavor balance one. You can take it three times a day. Simply take a teaspoon, put it in the Konsyl shaker cup and shake. The first day, I wasn't loving the grainy texture but by the end of the second day, I didn't mind it. Eventually I started mixing the the original and Balance by using a half of each on a teaspoon and mixing with orange juice or apple juice. Honestly, it isn't bad. I did have some gas pains one day but don't contribute this to the Konsyl. There are many things that cause me discomfort when it comes to my intestines. I don't treat them very well all the time. These pains sidelined me for 24 hours but eventually they were gone and all was well. It took me a day to go back to the Konsyl but haven't had those pains again.

The Swans

Last week the kids and I went for a drive. We stopped to look at the water and spotted a slew of swans. Is it called a slew when we talk about swans? I honestly have no idea but anywhooo

I Spy With My Little Eye, Red, Red and More Red

So much red at the Renaissance Faire last week, I have to spread them out over the next few weeks. Here are just a few.

What Constitutes A Bad House Environment? Touchy Subject

While talking to a 15 year old this week who is going through a hard time at home, I wondered, when does the world step in? When did the world check out?

There are many forms of child abuse. Some consider only hitting abuse. Is it abuse when children are sad, hurt, crying, scared, confused, angry? In my eyes, there are fine lines but in some instances, if a behavior at home is changing a child's personality or making them scared, sad, or any of the words above, it is abusive. Children shouldn't have to close themselves off just to survive their home life.

My heart breaks for any child who wonders if they are loved. Who cries because of their parents mistakes. Who feels unimportant or unheard. Who longs for the moment they can "get out". Who stays because they have no choice. Who suffers because parents are selfish! Children should be loved. They should feel safe! They should know how important they are. They need to know they can trust someone. They long to be held for as long as possible and they deserve a soft place to land when the world seems crazy.

Is that too much to ask of for someone who counts on adults for their well being and survival? I think not! There is no room for selfishness when you are a PARENT.

Cousins

The Hat Prop

My niece was over for a few days and since I had taken pictures of the kids wearing my summer hat, I just had to use it on her during our photo shoot! I love that they all wore the hat this summer.Thinking of getting this done for my wall.

Teacher Letters Received. Hold On Folks, It's Going To Be A Bumpy Ride

This week we received packages from the school for each kid containing letters from their new teachers. While Handsome already knew who his teacher would be this year (IEP Meetings), Goddess has no idea and it was going to be a surprise for me as well.

She has a lot of work to do this year to be ready for 2nd grade and we both wanted her to have a certain teacher. Handsome's Kindergarten teacher is now teaching 1st grade and Goddess was praying for her.

Their packages came in, I gave them each their own to open. Handsome ripped his open and sat down to read his letter from his teacher and all the forms, I will have to sit and fill out. Goddess, took her envelope and repeated as she opened, "please be Ms. Quick. please be Ms. Quick." She handed me the letter and just before I read it, I told her don't be upset if it isn't her. It wasn't! She wanted nothing to do with hearing who it was. She covered her ears refusing to hear anything. I am hoping some of her friends will be in her class. So far, only one other person we know will be there. She is completely disinterested in talking about school. Hopefully she will love her new teacher and all will be well, but I am ready for a fight on the first day of school.  Wish me well.

Did you find out who your child is getting yet?

Camera Critters - Piglet and Fern

Well, really I don't know what the girl's name was but Fern works. No!?

How Do You Teach Good Sportsmanship

Teaching children to be good winners is as important as teaching them to be good losers! With that said, I have two questions, how do you teach them to do their best even if that means not always winning? And, how do you teach them to be good winners and supportive instead of their own cheerleaders when they win?

My son loves his Wii. He lives for the moments he can play and would play all day if I allowed it. Teaching him to share his games, be supportive and not yell at others while he plays against them has been an uphill battle.

Since he plays so often, he is very good at the game. He often shouts at others who are slower at getting the game or God forbid they are better than him and beat him, there will be tears! When he wins, he laughs and calls others loser. It has been awful to listen to because while I think within a family, this kind of teasing and ribbing could be good fun, it can hurt feelings, especially with a peer. So, teaching him to win and lose nicely has become a full time job.

Any suggestions, on how to teach good sportmanship?

I believe there should be no trash talk but I am not sure how to handle when it happens.

We would prefer if our son spoke kinder to people.

We believe in setting by example so encourage "nice" talk but feel we are micro managing our son's conversation.

If any one has any suggestions on how to foster good sportsmanship, I would love
to hear about it.