This was outside of NHL’s classroom on Open House night. We had to figure out which was NHL and we were right.
We guessed our first grader
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Monthly Archives October 2009
Disclosure statements and blogging with integrity
The Angel Forever has changed over the two and a half years that I have been blogging. These days, I not only write about my life, our family, places that we go, and things that we do, I also write product reviews and run some giveaways. Some of the reviews that I write are items that we have bought with our own money and I want to share my views about them. I often do this with books, movies and music. Other times, I am contacted by PR representatives, or am asked to participate in a campaign with one of the groups that I belong to (see side bar on right). When these take place, I am sent items to keep for my review. The companies value our opinion and know that it will not be swayed by a free product. If something does not work quite right, I tell it like it is (did this about the Temporal Scanner after my son’s febrile seizure).
Disclosure and transparency is key these days. Even before the FTC officially published their guide for endorsements/testimonials of bloggers, the word was out to change habits. Over the last few months, I have made sure to not only mention what items I received to review within my post, but have also added a disclosure statement at the end of any review/giveaway. This allows my readers to be fully aware of what relationship I have with the product. Again, please note that I form my own opinions and will never be swayed to give anything but my honest feelings about a product that I receive for free.
Thanks to making changes over the last few months, I feel no major pressure with the new rules that are being placed on bloggers beginning December 1, 2009. I feel that I can proudly say that I Blog With Integrity and can live by the words that are stated on this resourceful website. Please head over there to read the powerful words that go along with the Blog With Integrity pledge and I encourage you to sign on if you have not already done so.
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Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The sad truth is that most of us probably know someone that has breast cancer. Last June, someone I knew was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went for her yearly mammogram and something did not look right. Her doctors called her back in for a biopsy. The result was surgery and yet another at the end of June. During this time, I knitted this cloth for the new breast cancer warrior.
When we parted ways, I gave her a big hug and wished her luck on her surgery. Fast forward to September when I saw her again at school. She looked amazing, strong and was proudly sporting her pink bracelet.
Last October, I wrote about a hero of mine. My Aunt S is now a six year breast cancer survivor. I know this because she was diagnosed just before I gave birth to NHL. Thank goodness Aunt S caught her cancer early, fought it aggressively and is with us today adding lots of precious memories with our family. She is a huge part of our family and see her often since we live close. The boys are especially love to see and play Aunt S. Aunt S is special because she will toss on snow pants to play and make snow angels, build sandcastles at the lake, and take time to talk. This summer, they spent some time at the lake with Aunt S and the rest of our family. Each of the boys loved their time sitting with Aunt S on the boat with the wind in their hair. Here is Aunt S with each of my boys.
Please remember not only this October, but every month to check your breasts. Don’t put off having your yearly mammogram and be sure to have a baseline done when your doctor recommends it if you have never had one before. Early detection is crucial so be sure to…
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Food storage with Ziploc – Review & Giveaway
Storing food to keep it fresh has taken on new meaning in our house in recent weeks. Thanks to pantry pests that came in with something, we now take everything out of cardboard boxes and plastic bags to put into food storage containers. Some items like chocolate chips are opened, put into Ziploc bags and then stored into larger containers. Other items like barley, that we use a lot, is stored in Ziploc Twist’n Loc containers.
When I was asked by Family Review Network to try out some Ziploc Sandwich Bags and Containers, I immediately signed up. Even before this review our family used Ziploc products. Ziploc is a brand that we trust. We also like that they participate in the Box Tops for Education Program.
Ziploc sent my family a box of Ziploc Sandwich bags. When we purchase sandwich bags, we buy these. They zip up, stay sealed and hold the contents inside well. When we travel everything and anything that can fit in a Ziploc bag is game for one. In addition to this, we have some extras in our diaper bag. They come in quite handy to store wet toddler clothing. Another secret, I love to put dirty diapers in them when visiting friends/family. You know something is sealed well when you can not smell what is hidden inside the Ziploc bag. It is a much more friendly way to get rid of diaper when visiting people. Of course, with a son in first grade we use Ziploc bags to store craft items, school supplies and more.
We also received a package of the Ziploc Twist’n Loc Fresh Shield containers. Although they have a new package, we have been using these for a while already. Something I noticed immediately was the big bold "BPA Free" on the front. When you go to the back of the package it states the following:
- Ziploc brand containers is committed to toughness and sealing performance without compromising safety
- Ziploc brand containers is proud to have always been BPA free
- Microwave and reuse Ziploc containers without worry
This is huge for our family. We have gotten rid of items that contain BPA in them and now know these are safe.
As I mentioned, we have been using the Twist’n Loc containers for quite some time. Here are a few of the ways:
- Freeze fresh made strawberry preserves that still tastes fabulous after being thawed
- Store fresh veggies that remain crisp since air is blocked out
- Carry soup and other foods without spills to work for TechyDad to reheat
- Keep leftovers fresh and smells inside the container and not in the refrigerator
- Son takes grapes, yogurt, crackers and more to school with no mess or worry if lost in transit
- Store craft items like beads, google eyes and yarn scaps
I may also buy some of them to have the boys decorate to use as holiday gifts this year. They would be perfect to store baked goods in for gift giving.
Giveaway:
Thanks to Ziploc, one lucky reader will be able to have a box of the Ziploc Sandwich Bags and Twist’n Loc Containers sent to you.
Rules for Giveaway:
- MAIN RULE – Answer the following question: What will you use the Twist’n Loc containers to store/hold?
- 1 Bonus Entry – Follow me on Twitter @TheAngelForever and Tweet about the giveaway. Be sure to include @TheAngelForever and Ziploc in the Tweet. Please leave a direct link to your Tweet in a separate comment for each daily entry. Example Tweet (feel free to use): Chance to win some Ziploc products from @TheAngelForever http://bit.ly/uMYEo
- 1 Bonus Entry – Head over to the Ziploc website and let me know one other item that you would like to try.
- 1 Bonus Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
- 1 Bonus Entry – Look around my blog and leave me a comment on another post. Please let me know which post you went to here so you get the bonus entry.
- 3 Bonus Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog about the Ziploc giveaway. Be sure to leave 3 comments about this to get credit for all of your extra entries
To enter, please follow the rules above within the comment section. Contest starts today October 4th and ends at 10:59 EST on October 12, 2009. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you for mailing address once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents only (will check on that with the sponsor).
Disclosure: This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and SC Johnson, who provided the item for review.
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Name that virus
Last Sunday I had a headache during the day. I took medicine, napped some and then took NHL to a birthday party. When we got home I really felt lousy and took my temperature. It was elevated for me. I took some ibuprofen and went to bed. During the night I woke up with chills, body aches and the headache was still there. I knew this was not a good sign. Needless to say since I was sick, I drank and ate a little over Yom Kippur. The boys stayed home with me as my temperature started to climb and JL went to temple.
Tuesday I felt a lot better. I did laundry (sheets had to be washed from fever breaking several times) and in the afternoon took NHL to the dentist. That night I had a mild headache, but nothing too bad. My temperature was down quite a bit. Wednesday I took it easy in the morning. In the afternoon, I brought JSL to my Aunt’s house to stay with her and my grandmother. NHL had an eye doctor’s appointment that would take at least an hour and a half and I did not want to have the little guy tag along. I made a large mistake before going to that appointment. I did not take iboprofen. By the time I was home that night I felt wiped.
Thursday morning I took it easy again and that night felt well enough to go to open house at NHL’s school. We did not stay long and I kept my distance from everyone. Friday was not a good day at all. My fever kept climbing to 101 when it is normally just about 98 on our thermometer. I had chills, aches and to add to the mix a cough joined the party.
When I talked to my doctor’s office earlier in the week about the flu shot for JSL, I asked the nurse about my symptoms. She said so many people were sick right and it was likely a virus. She agreed that there was no need to be seen. During the night I tossed and turned. At 4:00 I woke up with a horrible coughing fit. I could feel a slight trickle down the back of my throat and it was driving me batty. I took something to try to help it and sat on the couch watching Roku for three hours. By the time the boys woke up I had a pounding headache. The coughing, fever and lack of sleep caught up with me.
I tried to nap as much as I could today, but it did not come easily with the noisy boys, cough and headache. Tonight, the cough is back and although I feel like all of the energy in my body is zapped…the fever has not spiked YET.
My theory is that I picked something up in the ER when we were there last Friday. Everyone looked like I feel and they were coughing, wheezing and some had masks on while others did not. My family guesses that this may be the Flu, possibly H1N1, but we are not sure. Now my biggest fear is passing it along to the rest of our family no matter what it is. Fevers scare me with the febrile seizure history.
So, please excuse me if I am not here as much for a little while. I will be taking a little more me time this weekend to try to mend a very sick me. If I am not much improved, or the coughing get worse I will be taking myself to the doctor on Monday to get check since it will be a week with whatever virus has taken over my body.
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