Penny's Tomatoes and Pepper Joe's

Today on facebook I discovered, thanks to a friend, a business that specializes in what I've been wanting for a while, seeds for my garden. My husband and I purchased a new house last year and I've been wanting to plant a garden of my very own for a long time now. Penny's Tomatoes and Pepper Joe's on facebook is offering an amazing deal! A chance to win some seeds! All varieties! So this is something I hope I win because it seems that not only to I often enter in contests, but I rarely ever win. Last time I won a contest that I was really excited about, it was for soap and washer liquid by the company Earth Friendly Products. I noticed that each place has their own personal website page. Penny's specializes in tomatoes of course, and Joe's is all peppers! At Penny's you can see how to get free seeds and even get their newsletter and information sent to you via email. When you order from Penny's you get 3 free packs of tomato seeds every order! At Pepper Joe's you can sign up for their newsletter as well and get all the latest information via email, and with every order you get 2 free seed packs of peppers!

I decided to share the information about the companies and hope to win some seeds and start my first garden at our new house! Make sure to check out their facebook page, websites and enter in their contest to win some seeds and while you're there visiting, buy some seeds to start your garden, I know that I will!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

So today is the day I was born thirty years ago, hard to imagine but here it is finally after years of waiting for this day to arrive. At exactly 3:13pm today I will be turning 30, so until then I declare that I am still 29! LOL!

I have had a little bit of a cold since Sunday, felt ill Saturday night late after spending about five hours with family for a new years day party, who knows if I picked up an illness but all I know is that I was fine before then. Oh well. At least no fever this entire time, just tired, sleepy, have gotten lots of rest, taken plenty medicine and just when I thought I was beginning to feel better I canceled an appointment to see the doctor.
Now after a very long day with a new symptom but almost finished runny nose and actually feeling better, I worry that I've made myself worse by going out for hours on Thursday doing all the grocery shopping for the huge party I have planned for this Saturday. I just don't want to cancel the party all due that I'm sick. If I begin to run a fever, I don't care how badly I want my party to be this weekend, I'll have to postpone it till I'm feeling better. So hopefully with lots of rest tonight I'll feel better by morning because I have lots to accomplish, cleaning, organizing, putting up photos, cooking some food, but only if I'm better, don't worry I don't plan on making my guests sick.

My husband has been going around in circles trying to find a great deal on the gift he wants to get me for my birthday. This will be the most expensive gift he's ever gotten me, so hopefully it'll last for a very long time. I talked about the Sony SLR camera in a prior post, so that is what the gift I'm talking about is referring to.

Just trying my best not to stress out though there is so much that needs to be done before guests begin to arrive this weekend for the party. Hopefully my health improves fully and I won't have to cancel. Just remembered I have to make a phone call tomorrow or at least try to remember otherwise will have to call on Monday. At least decorations are out of my hands and being taken care of by a new company called LessThanThree Designs. A friend of mine who I've known since high school started the company and she is amazingly crafty! I'm super excited about the decorations and can't wait to see what everything will look like once it's all put together.

After a day of very slow internet and trying to upload photos all day long, I long to sleep and rest! I went to two different stores today to attempt to print out new photos for the birthday party but have to use some older ones from this past year. Which is fine with me due to the time I have to finish everything.

Just want everything to work out, that I feel better, everything comes together, I'm able to make myself beautiful for the party come the weekend and more people than rsvp'd actually end up showing up to celebrate and heaven forbid,.. that I actually get a few gifts to open on my birthday. Is it bad to ask for things on your birthday? And also if people are coming to a birthday party, isn't it a normal nice thing to bring something for the birthday girl/boy? I was asked about what I wanted so then I listed a few ideas and have no idea if I'll get a single gift for my own birthday party. But that's not the big part I'm concerned about. I just want people to come, celebrate my birthday with me and make my 30th one of the best birthday's ever!

Here is to hoping that everything works out well! :)

Happy 1-1-11 !!!

Happy New Year Everyone! Isn't it exciting that it is January 1st, 2011?! It is 1-1-11. Ok, perhaps I'm one of the few that find it very neat that it's numbered that way. Perhaps it will be more exciting when it's 1-11-11? Who knows. Had an alright new years eve with my hubby and our two kitties. Was planning on going out but that didn't end up working out well so we ended up just driving home and relaxing at home. Today for new years day we went over to my hubby's aunt's house where we were able to visit with family for quite a long while, almost five hours. Enjoyed some tasty food, good company and even played a game I've never played before that was lots of fun, Catchphrase. After our visit with family we went to Kohls where I got myself even more clothing and used my gift certificates. Went to Kohls two days ago and made some great purchases and only have about 15 dollars left on my gift card now after today's purchase. Then picked up some pretty napkins at Walmart and some stuff at Target. Just happy to be relaxing at home now where I can look at the new years eve photos, new years day photos and have fun posting things on facebook. Hope that everyone has a wonderful year and my new years resolution is to drop the remaining 26 pounds to reach my overall weight loss goal! :)

Winter Break

This has been a busy, and somewhat stressful winter break but nice cause I've been able to spend almost every moment of it together with my husband. Have a few days left and then it'll be the end of my husband's winter break and also the end of 2010. Can hardly believe the year went by so quickly but it did. Thirty years old here I come! Almost one week away and lots of house cleaning, organizing, and decorating to do. Which reminds me. I need to set up an online photo account tonight and attempt to get some photos up on it before I fall asleep tonight. Giving my decorator a week to do everything isn't really fair of me but I also understand my venue isn't the only thing they have right now. Well, off to do more work..

Christmas

My Christmas was nice this year. The eve of spent it together with my family at my mom's house. My grandma wasn't able to go out of town so she stayed here, like with Thanksgiving and we were able to spend the holiday together. My brother and his fiancee was there, my husband and I. We all exchanged gifts that night and then the next morning, the day of Christmas, my husband and I exchanged our gifts to each other. Then we went to his mother's house where we ate breakfast with his mom, two brothers, we opened gifts and visited. Then to top the day off we had family from both sides come to our house and we all ate dinner together. It was a wonderful end to a great holiday, for the most part. Just a few things here and there that I wish could have been avoided, but it wouldn't be family I guess if something didn't end up happening. Hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and here is to hoping that 2011 is a great year!

Unawareness

Here are some texts that I sent earlier.

Hours away now & wish my stomach wasn't growling. Hope today's lumbar sacral injection helps! Very tired & can't wait to get back home & rest. Maybe sleep... 9hours ago

Still waiting to get injection. My dr didn't send info to the office so they have to read his notes before giving me the injection. 6hours ago

Hopefully not much longer now. My dr is looking at my ct myelogram results and then will call the Dr I'm seeing today with reccommendation for injection. 6hours ago

I'll have this be the last text till after the injection and then I'll say how it went. I just want to feel better and avoid a third back surgery! 6hours ago

This is the moast amazing trippy feeling, I got sadation and ddin't feel a thing. Almost fell down agfter getting up. Having pronlems seeing and ina whelechair. 5hours ago

More awareness now, in the car ready to go, hubby is driving me home, back hurts but otherwise I didn't feel a thing. Just hope that the injection helps. 4hours ago

Feel sick to my stomach! Finally get to eat, taco bell burrito had a huge cheese glob in it. Ate some cheese but then shopped. Yuck! Supposed to all be fresco. 2hours ago

In pain, relaxing, need more ice. Hope that this injection helps. Won't really be able to tell until 24 - 48 hours from now. 12minutes ago

The Nerves Are Setting In..

The nerves are setting in, in less than 10 hours I will be getting my third lumbar spinal injection in my sacral lumbar. The needle will have to travel up the tail bone and then will inject the numbing medicine then the medicine itself around my lumbar spine and hopefully reducing the inflammation enough to relieve the area around the nerves to help bring back feeling to my leg and helping with the constant back pain that I've been having.

Actually now that I think about it saying the nerves are setting it doesn't even touch it. I've been stressing out all week long getting everything done before the injection and now the final day is here! No eating or drinking ANYTHING until after the injection is finished. Just in case I were to get sick or have a bad reaction to the nice numbing relaxing medicine they will be giving me through an IV to help me while I get this injection.

The first injection was HORRIBLE! Worse than my CT Myelogram and those are NOT a walk in the park! After the first injection I had difficulty walking, sitting, standing, laying, about anything you could think of and continued to have numbness, 100% sudden numbness in my legs along with lots of pain! I didn't begin to feel better till after about a week and a half passed, then finally after about two weeks I began to finally feel like myself again. Feeling like myself meaning that I had constant pain but wasn't in horrible pain all the time, just most of the time.

The second injection wasn't as bad. The doctor gave me more local medicine and the only time I really felt it was when the medicine went into the right side of my lumbar spine. The first injection it was between my L2 and L3 lumbar vertebrae. The second injection was between the last lumbar vertebrae and my sacrum. First above my spinal lumbar back fusion, second below the fusion. The second injection had me resting for the 24 hours afterward and I was still and had a little pain. But after the rest I was able to be up on my feet with some soreness but able to cook, clean and do some shopping days after.

This third injection I'm bringing a driver so I can get the good stuff to knock me out so I don't feel the experience so much, I'm sure hoping that the medicine they'll give me in the IV helps enough and that I'm not in horrible amount of pain afterward. If I am in pain after this injection it'll make for a very interesting Christmas. Oh yes I'll be happy to be with family but there will be a big part of me that will just wish to be away from all the world and by myself. I just hope that since the first injection made my pain worse as well as the symptoms worse, and the second injection didn't make a difference at all, that the third injection will not only help but I'll feel so much better. Who knows and here is to hoping.

The first injection I ever had ever was back in January 2003, right around my birthday if I recall correctly. I wasn't allowed to have any IV to relax me and the doctor used the xray machine to guide the needle up my tail bone to the lumbar sacral area to do the injection. Working his way up bit by bit with numbing medicine that didn't numb me and then finally the medicine. It was the first horrible pain that I ever had experienced in my life and I was only 22 at the time. Now almost 30 years old, almost eight years later here I am having to continue to get these injections in my spine to help with the pain. I shouldn't have to go through this this young!

All it took was falling UP a concrete stairwell and getting an instant disc herniation in my back to start the domino effect of a lifetime! I also injured my left knee at the time and my back and knee have never been the same! It was just a few weeks after my husband and my wedding and "through sickness and health" was already being put to the test as my husband had to help support me and take care of me right away!

After my first surgery which I thought was a success but turns out I healed to quickly, I lost my job! The place of employment says that I, quote, "quit!" but I did not! I was put on call and never called back! I was a liability all because I was healing from a back surgery and had injured myself at my place of work. Big sigh!

Years later the workers comp case was solved after I had to go through my second back surgery. This back surgery left me to be disabled after a multi level back fusion. I haven't been able to get back to work since then. This year it will of been 5 years since last working and 4 technical years since I've been employed. 4 years due that I was on long term disability and that status changed after I was 100% unable to return to work.

Now years later after that I continue to have problems, now worse than ever! I have stenosis above and below my back fusion, more bulging discs and I'm sure as well degenerating discs. My back fusion surgery caused me to have lots of nerve damage that has resulted to be 100% permanent! I don't see my feeling returning any time soon and if anything the numbness has only gotten worse over these years, not better. The nerve damage resulted in my right foot being a drop foot, which means I can't lift it or move it and have to wear a medical brace in order to walk. The use of my cane also helps when I'm out walking. I have had problems now since last February with foot soars that have been turning into blisters and ulcers. The foot problems are all thanks to the ped egg that I will never recommend or use ever again! Was gentle but it didn't matter, skin got all dry, flaked, I remove the dead skin, the area rubbed to much, developed a blister, became infected, spread like wildfire and then took over half a year to heal! Now continue to have problems with my foot and have been having to stay off of it and not do as much on my feet.

Staying off my feet has prevented me from being able to do all my work outs and it's frustrating as I have 25 pounds left to drop to reach my weight loss goal. I've lost well over 130 pounds since I was my heaviest, about three and a half years ago now. Had to imagine that back then I was well over 300 pounds, very unhappy, very depressed, very overweight and unhealthy and into size 26/28 jean sizes. Now into 8, 10's and 12's I'm a whole different person.

Every time I have to visit the doctor now it's a sad reminder that I will never have an easy life and that I am reminded to cherish everything else I have left. I have the function of my left leg for the most part all the time, except for the few times that I have had complete numbness from my left leg; that has only happened a handful of times over these past few months. I have the function of the upper part of my back, my legs when they cooperate, my arms, my hands, my fingers to be able to type and write, my neck, my head, my mouth, eyes, ears.. to be able to wiggle my left toes. I'm thankful to be able to do all of that. I am still able to get up and walk, though it may not be easy I'm still able to do it!

Hopefully my story can help others be thankful for what they have and remind them as what I go through reminds me.. just cause you think you have a hard life, there is always someone else that has it harder off than you do. Be thankful for what you have while you have it.

Most importantly, I'm thankful to have the ability to still speak, have a sound mind and to be able to still enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Hopefully someday soon I'll be a mother and be able to teach my child all these important lessons about life and how we should be thankful. <3

Finished the Holiday Shopping

I have finally finished my holiday shopping. I have purchased all the gifts for family and now it's just up to finishing my gift wrapping. Hope that everyone likes their gifts and the only thing I wish is that I could have gotten them more. Always have needed to go on a budget for gifts but this year was the first where we couldn't buy as much for gifts no matter what. Thankful for our house but wish I could have spent more on gifts.

Many Thoughts

Many thoughts running through my mind right now. Trying to let my stomach settle. Going to write out cards and hopefully get to the post office to send them off in time for Christmas. Going to try to finish my shopping today. Just want to be able to give all my family nice gifts this year but don't have the money to spend. I plan on enter in Ellen's 12 Days of Watch and WINter Contest every day, hopefully I can win some nice gifts for my family, my husband and I.

My Busy Week and it's only Monday

A few days away from my third back injection and so much that needs to get done. Foot already bothering me but I'll have to tough it out. I think I'll work on the basement first. Then organize the gifts, then work on the kitchen, then head out. Maybe I'll stop by the bank tomorrow and then get home, write out the bills, balance the check book, make my phone calls, and clean up the house. Have to do everything I can before the injection in case I feel horrible afterward and am not able to do a thing. Thinking about my mom in law today too as she is getting her first radiation treatment. She is cancer free now but still has to go through treatment. I have family on both sides of my family that has had to struggle with cancer. I never was able to meet one of my grandmothers as she passed away when my mother was still young, my other grandmother also had breast cancer and even had to have a breast removed but lived to be an old woman, she passed away a few years ago. I even believe that ovarian cancer has been a problem in my family but not any current generations. If I have that wrong then it's cysts or something else. Either way it seems like I am not lucky when it comes to potential future and current health problems, the cards have been dealt and I'm working with that I can handle. I just hope that my mom in law will be ok, I know that going through treatments can be difficult. Fortunately for people now these days the chemicals they use in radiation and chemotherapy are more mild and less harsh than what they used to be. Honestly I've been so worried about getting everything ready for my birthday this next month that my mind has been more focused on this next year than in the current moment. Today however I am in the current moment as there is still lots to do in the current calendar year. Hope I am able to finish everything in time.

Snow Day

Today is a snow day for my husband due to the icy roads and highways. The roads look like they are better now but I'm sure that they will re-freeze overnight. Been nice to spend the day together so far.

Vegan Sugar Cookies

Vegan Sugar Cookies

Ingredients: 1 cup smart balance light or earth balance, 1 cup vegetable or canola oil, 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar, 2 ener G eggs (follow directions on box), 1 cup white vegan sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cream of tartar.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter (smart balance or earth balance), oil, confectioners sugar and white sugar in mixer. Beat in energ G egg replacer and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients, stir into wet. Prepare baking sheets with cooking spray or just place aluminum foil on sheets. Roll 1" balls of cookie dough into extra confectioners sugar. Place on cookie sheets. Can leave as balls or flatten with fork. Bake 8-10 minutes (may need to cook longer depending on your oven make), remove from oven, let cool and enjoy!

Picture featured is of Sugar Cookies

Vegan Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegan Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients: 5/8 cup canola oil, 3/4 cup white vegan sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 4 tsp flax seeds, 1/2 cup soy milk, 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup chocolate chips.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grind flax seeds in blender till powdery, add soy milk, blend 30 more seconds. Sift cocoa, flour, baking soda, salt. Cream sugar and oil in mixer. Add flax, milk, vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients. Mix in chocolate chips. Prepare baking sheets with cooking spray or just place aluminum foil on sheets. Place 1" balls of cookie mix onto baking sheet, then flatten. Bake 10 minutes (may need to cook more depending on oven make, also will make a different if gas or electric), remove, let cool, enjoy!

Picture featured is of the Chocolate chocolate chip cookies.

Vegan Blondies

Vegan Blondies

Ingredients: 1/4 pound soy margarine, 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour (plus a little extra for your pan), 3/4 cup chopped cashews, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 2/3 cup vegan sugar or you can use unbleached or raw sugar, Ener-G egg replacer for 3 eggs (follow the box directions), 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 cup vegan chocolate chips.

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray or grease a 9 inch square brownie pan with some margarine or Earth Balance. Sprinkle with flour, and tap it around to coat the pan. Dump any excess into the sink. Cream together the margarine and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the Ener-G eggs and the vanilla and beat until well combined. Add in the flour, baking powder and salt and beat until just combined. Stir in the nuts and chocolate chips. Spread the dough out evenly into the pan. Bake until golden on top and a cake cleaner comes out barely clean, around 40-50 minutes. Depending on your oven may need to cook for a little less or more time. Once finished set aside and cool. Cut into squares and enjoy! :)

Picture featured is of a blondie with a little cocoa in it topped with a little vanilla frosting and powdered sugar.

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients and Crust Directions:

1/2 cup quick oats (may use gluten free), 1/2 cup sorghum flour (whole wheat flour or unbleached and whole wheat mixed together may be used), 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons raw sugar, 1/4 cup natural apple sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray a 9 inch pie pan with non stick cooking spray. Process the oats in a blender or food processor until finely ground. Blend in the flour,baking soda, brown sugar, raw sugar and salt. Pour the blended dry ingredients into a bowl and add the vanilla and applesauce until well combined. Press the mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of pie pan.Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes until slightly crisp. Set aside to cool.

Filling Ingredients and Directions:

8 ounces Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese, 12 ounces light firm (or extra firm) silken tofu, 1/2 cup agave nectar or sugar, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix), 3 tablespoons brown sugar or raw sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg

Decrease oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Puree the 1/2 cup sugar, tofu, lemon juice, vanilla and cream cheese in a food processor until smooth and no longer lumpy. Pour one cup of this mixture into the baked crust. Add the pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and brown sugar to the mixture remaining in the food processor and process until well blended. Pour this over over the first layer in the crust. Bake at 350 degrees until the center is almost set about 50-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or until chilled before serving. Enjoy!

Picture of slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake. Can also mix layers for a marble look.

The Sony A33

This is the Sony A33 digital single lens translucent camera for sale at Creve Coeur Camera.

I love all the features and hopefully I'll find a great deal somewhere on the A33.

Basic price looks like it comes in at about $749.99 but is on sale currently at $699.99

The A55 comes in at about $849.99

Sears Rewards

Nothing new to report. Just trying to stay off my feet today. Worried about the darn blister that keeps trying to come back on the bottom of my foot. Got some of the information from the Sears purchases my husband and I made months back when we first moved into our new house. Supposed to have points on our rewards card from our purchases but none of the points are there of course. About three thousand dollars and no points. So I contacted Sears today, requested some old statements and hope that they answer my email.

Anxiously Awaiting

I am anxiously awaiting the moment when I have my new camera in my hands so I can get back to taking beautiful and amazing pictures like this!

Another Late Night

Another late night but just not as late as I do actually plan to go to bed soon! I want to get a haircut. I feel so shaggy right now. My hair is at that, let it grow out or trim it stage. It's been since the beginning of September since I had it cut and it's grow out at least two inches. I'm considering taking off two inches all over, well, maybe not all over. Perhaps I'll see what I can do tomorrow. Have a big day ahead of me. Need to find account info, call a rewards place and get them to put the points on the card from our appliances purchases. Looked into it recently where we got the card and the points aren't there, of course, so now we have to call customer service. Yet another inconvenience but if we want the credit it has to get done. I wish I had everything paid off so we could spoil our family with more gifts but this year we're on a tight budget for family. Hopefully next year we'll be able to do more.

Holidays Happenings

With one a little over a week and a half left till Christmas I find myself wanting to take a lazy day. Yesterday was a bit day of camera research for me and I finally discovered which digital SLR camera I like best. Quite a list that I compared for cameras. First family Christmas was a success, now have a few more ahead of me.