If you are looking for classic baby gifts with a contemporary feel, then you will really love contemporarybaby.com. If you are like me, you want baby items that serve their function, without being a crime against fashion. These
gifts are perfect for anyone, especially those dads who do not want frilly baby items, but something more current and "neutral".

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Everyone at ButYouDontLookSick.com loves Spoons! Why not make these easy chocolate spoons as sweet gifts?

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Buying gifts for someone who is suffering with a chronic illness is never easy, especially when you are looking for the perfect, practical gift. Below is my top ten gift basket ideas for anyone suffering with a chronic illness. I will also give you tips on how to keep the costs of your baskets low and a special chocolate covered spoon recipe.

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The Top Peices of Advice I Have Been Given to Overcome My Undiagnosed Chronic Illness.

I am sure many of you have heard these "bits of loving advice". Here is my top ten to make you laugh and smile. You gotta keep your "sick" sense of humor!

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Looking for something truly unique to give this holiday season? Know a woman, girl or teen, who you just don't know what to get? Look no further then Bagettes.com. They have a huge selection of customized photo bags,
coin purses, cosmetics bags, purses and more.

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Do you have a unique sense of style and are looking for serving utensils for the holidays that aren't so boring and old fashioned? Then I have found the cutest servers!

Continue reading "Product Review: Beaded & wire wrapped cake knife / pie server" »

This is the time of year that inspires us to examine our lives with a closer look and make a checklist of what we are truly thankful for. No matter what your religion or your background, Thanksgiving has become a national holiday where we are reminded to take an inventory of the many blessings we often take for granted.

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Prepare the Perfect Holiday Dinner Ahead of time in One Month!

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Continue reading "Holiday Humor: Sometimes, Even a Magi Needs a Hand" »

I find it increasingly hard to perform simple tasks around the kitchen that require strength and dexterity in my fingers. They’re not very strong anymore, tend to hurt if pressure is applied and often go numb or tingly.

Continue reading "Product Review: The Culinare Magi Pull ring-pull opener" »

I recently discovered this amazing product for simplifying the whole process of doing the laundry. The Wash-It laundry ball is a re-useable ball filled with scientifically formulated pellets that 'activate' water molecules, producing electrolytic oxygen and hydrogen ions, which unleash their natural power to lift dirt from clothing fibers.

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It is rare when you find a book both young people and adults alike will want to read. It is also rare to find a book where the main character is dealing with cancer and instead of being the "pity" of the book, he is actually the
hero.

Continue reading "Book Review: The Lighthouse Land (Lighthouse Trilogy)" »

Continue reading "Book Review: Jennifer Lauck's Memoir, "Blackbird."" »

This holiday season, why not give something very special?

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I know many of you have seen the wrapped chocolates, or cute personalized gift bags, at weddings and birthday parties. They are really cute and add that extra special touch. I love them and to be honest have thought so many times... I bet I can do that! The fact is, that to do it well, you need to have the supplies, the graphic know how, and the attention to detail that I just don't have. Lately, I don't have the time, I don't have the energy, and I don't have the money for all the supplies, and details to make things the way I would want them. I would want them perfect! So, as I have said before... "If you can't do it yourself... find someone to do it for you!"!

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I wrote this poem when I was going through a really hard time physically. Shortly after writing this I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia on top of the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome I already had. This was a way for me to express how I felt at that time.

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It seems that if I don't have my 2 cups of coffee every morning I will have a "crash" sometime in the early afternoon. A couple of weeks ago when my electric drip coffeemaker gave up the ghost I started looking around for an alternative. It seems that coffeemakers in this area live for about a year and, probably due to the high mineral content, they "die". Yes, I cleaned with vinegar, and I have cleaned with different coffeemaker cleaners - a year is just life as I have always known it.

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Chances are, if you have one or more autoimmune conditions, you may have heard of celiac disease, or maybe you or someone you know has it. Celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction to eating foods containing wheat, rye or barley. The treatment for the disease is complete avoidance of these foods, also known as a gluten free diet. This is both easier and more complicated than it sounds. Many foods contain hidden gluten, such as restaurant French fries coated in wheat to make them crispier, or gluten free foods fried in the same basket as or cooked on the same grill as wheat containing food, which contaminates the gluten free food. How does one avoid hidden gluten without missing out on all their favorite foods? "Living Gluten Free for Dummies" tell you how.

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Got a small budget? Want to do something creative for family and friends' gifts but just can't think of nything "new?" Here's an idea - swirly ornaments! This is a gift that can go from simple to fancy and NO artistic ability is required! I was amazed at the idea of decorating the INSIDE of an ornament and at how beautiful they were! My nurse and I had a blast last December making these while I was getting an IV!

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This is a very basic, easy peanut butter cookie recipie that doesn't even require flour. They taste great and are quick to make.

One cup of peanut butter (crunchy or regular... doesn't matter)
One cup of sugar
One egg

Mix all ingredients together. Roll dough into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet, silpat or parchement paper. Using a fork, flatten the balls leaving a waffled pattern on them. Bake at 350 for about ten minutes. Check periodically to be sure they don't burn. Enjoy!

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Continue reading "Poetry: Borrowed Time" »

I learned a few lessons in the past few years about "adapting" and believe it or not I learned some of it from walking my dog. A very long story short-- my puppy broke his little leg when I first got him. Now you would look at him and never know the difference. He jumps, walks, licks and runs. He likes to be cuddled, and he loves beyond measure.

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You all know how I love kitchen gadgets and this is my newest favorite. The arthritis in my hands is really bad and gets worse as the weather gets colder, so being the wonderful husband that he is, Darren went and bought me this can opener. It is awesome. I don't have to do anything but put it on the can and it does the rest.

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There were several new prime time network television programs debuting this fall and I decided to view as many as caught my interest- a little comparison shopping if you will. I don't have the ability to tape shows, so if two good ones aired at the same time, I had to choose one. Here are the programs I ended up watching: "Heroes", "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", "Jericho", "30 Rock", "Twenty Good Years", "The Nine", "Six Degrees", "Men in Trees", "1 Versus 100", and "Brothers and Sisters". What follows is a mini-review of each.

Continue reading "TV Review: Prime Time Network New Fall Shows" »

My Aunt Judy made me one of these blankets last year when I wasn't feeling well. I just love it, since it is so warm, but best of all, my aunt made it, so it makes me think of her. She gave me the secret of how easy these are to make... so they are perfect to give as gifts.

Continue reading "Craft Project: Aunt Judy's No Sew Blankets" »

On September 30, my daughter Christine, aka "Spoon Lady," got married. The preparations took over a year in the making. Though Chris and Frank did most of the planning, it was fun to hear about each step along the way. I looked forward to food tastings, bridal dress shopping, mother-of-the-bride dress shopping, engagement dinner, dress fittings, planning for a bridal shower and so much more.

Continue reading "Personal Essay: The Let Down" »

I love chicken and I am always looking for ways to spice it up. I also like to try and keep it as healthy as I can. Here is a recipe that I was given a few years ago and it is wonderful. I serve it with a salad or rice and steamed eggies. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

Continue reading "Recipe: Oven Fried Paprika Chicken Cutlets" »

As I went about dusting and organizing my bookshelf, I noticed something that I've never paid much attention to before. I realized just how many self help books I had, with rows and rows of books offering promises of better days, better body, better memory, greater spiritual fulfillment, etc..

Continue reading "A Warning to Self Help Junkies" »