Friday, April 17, 2015

Crack for kids... hard to break addictions



"My fif"

"What are you saying?"

"My fif..."

"I don't understand you hunny."

"My fif!"

"Use your big girl words."

"My fif, my fif, my fif!!!!


This conversation is an all to familiar one in any home where a 2 year old inhabits.  The Fish. A toasty cheddar cheese cracker that resembles the shape of a cute little gold fish, with a catchy commercial jingle and innocent smile. But dont let that stuff fool ya! These little wave makers are up to no good with their addictive properties worse that crack! (Not that I've ever tried crack but I did live in the AV and that's almost the same)

From the moment those crusty little eyes peel open in the morning to the moment they get heavy at night, this kid has one thing on her mind...

How do I get more FISH!

Should I be worried about my daughters addiction?  Is there a 12 step fish recovery system? Fish rehab? Is this a lead way cracker? Will she become addicted to other more problematic crackers?

Animal cookies?
Teddy Grams?
Nutter butters!

The problem lies in that if I allow her to snack on them at all during the day, she won't eat lunch or dinner. We're a " eat what's in front of you or don't eat " kinda family. I don't mind a little snacking especially if it's healthy, but do these smiling little bottom dwellers even count as a healthy?

It's so hard to know now a days. Brands that advertise healthy foods for kids are usually loaded with crap and brands that have been around forever haven't killed us yet.  I mean I have gotten the annual report for "death by goldfish" or done research on goldfish causing worms but I still wonder how an addictive little cracker can be good for my kids.


They say sugar has the same effect on the brain as crack, which is the usual corporate in junk food but there is only 1 gram in the fish. Is it the salt? The dehydrated onion? There are a few questionable ingredient names I had to look up but I didn't see much research on those them. I'm I missing something?  Why is my child so obsessed with these slippery saltines?

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!
Stay safe, stay sane and stay absolutely splendid!
 
Twitter @ AliceKBlogs 
Pinterest @ AliceKBlogs 
Instagram @ AliceKBlogs 
YouTube @  AdventureDomesticLnd 

Like it? Love it? Share it with everyone!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Mom Code

One thing I have come to learn over the years of being a mother is there is a mom code. It's a code that mothers don't talk about they just do. Even if you're not that close with someone, but there a mom or your kids are friends, you respect the mom code. Heck even seeing a complete strangers with kids, you respect the mom code. What code is that? Some of you are already giggling at this point because you just know.


The unspoken code

Let's face it being a mom is tough work. There's no manual that comes with these things when they are born. It's not like a car or phone or complex atom, you really don't know what you're getting into until you have the kid. No matter how many books you read or people try to share their "tips" with you, you're never fully prepared for that melt down on isle 2, the poo smeared EVERY WHERE or controlled chaos that is know as raising children. So when you become friends with other women in this same predicament you have a unspoken agreement with them, no one ever shakes hands on it or even ever talks about it, it's just there.

Because you're a mom

Don't get me wrong dad's understand the agreement too, but mom's seem to live by it. It's part of us. Why? Because once you become a mom, (even if you just have one) you silently sit every night after said (child)ren go to sleep, wondering how you made it through another day without killing them! (purposely or accidentally) The funny thing is all mom's do it! This is the formula that gives life to the code.

The code

So what's the code? Plain and simple it's a few unspoken rules that all mom's live by (or should). Maybe you don't do all these things with every mom you know  but a chosen few should fall under all the rules.

The mom pledge

1.  I promise to do big and little favors for other moms involving their children because I know one day I will need to call on her or another mom to help me with my kids. AKA it takes a village.

2. I promise to judge your parenting... SILENTLY. Your not the perfect mom but more importantly neither am I.

3. I promise to give you my opinion and suggestions because that's what mom's do. BUT I also promise to NOT be pushy about my opinions, to NOT hold a grudge if you don't take them and especially to NOT say "I told you so" when I'm right.

4. I promise to treat your kids like my own, love them even if they're brats and care about them... really care.

5. Go to your kids events, support them, buy them gifts and cheer them on because I know you'll do the same for mine.

6. I promise to pamper you when I can. We mom's don't always get enough appreciation. If you need me I'm here. I'm a phone call away. I'll bring the wine when you're sad or super stressed out. Bring you flowers because your hubby is being a jerk, hate him with you when he's dumb and praise him when you're happy with him. Send you funny cards physically and virtually just cause.  Cook your family dinner or take you out because you need a break. Be your partner in crime when you need a mom weekend. (okay night, let's face it getting away for an entire weekend is impossible)

All because despite my being completely crazy you still love me. And mostly because you're a mom too.

This post is dedicated to the mom's that have supported me; thank you to the Red Queen,  Mother Oyster, White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat and my "group", my sister's, you know who you are. I love you gals.


❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!
Stay safe, stay sane and stay absolutely splendid!
 
Twitter @ AliceKBlogs 
Pinterest @ AliceKBlogs 
Instagram @ AliceKBlogs 
YouTube @  AdventureDomesticLnd 

Like it? Love it? Share it with everyone!

Friday, April 10, 2015

Review: NSSTAR Camping Lamp

When NSSTAR asked me to do a review for them, I though sure why not, what's there to lose. I didn't expect to receive such a powerful little lamp! Pleasant surprise! Great price, only $8.99 on Amazon and free shipping with Prime. Small lamp, bright light.

The handles fold up for carrying or down by the sides to keep compact. There is a compass on top that can be seen with the lamp on in the dark. There is a turn dial knob to adjust brightness and at its brightest this little lamp lights it up!
My daughter took it out back to play with and it stood up to the 5 year old test! Look forward to bring it camping and would definitely get more. One for everyone in the family!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!
Stay safe, stay sane and stay absolutely splendid!
 
Twitter @ AliceKBlogs 
Pinterest @ AliceKBlogs 
Instagram @ AliceKBlogs 
YouTube @  AdventureDomesticLnd 

Like it? Love it? Share it with everyone!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Some day you win, today I lost...

If your feeling down about yourself today or are thinking you're a terrible mother, I have a video, a short story that will having you feeling much better about yourself. You'll be saying in no time "I'm glad I'm not that lady."


I warn you, this is raw footage. 
A desperate mother, in a desperate hour.
In the morning, before coffee. 
No make-up, crazy hair, no fake boobs... 

and some pooping. 
 No holding back! No editing! 



Ok so maybe it's not so bad, but this is a typical morning for me.

Ladies with no children


If you are contemplating motherhood...
Please, please realize this will be your life too!
If you think your ever, ever, ever, ever going to pee alone again, your in for a reality check!
And if you think YOU will be THAT ONE that can keeps the door locked and creatures out...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha


Already Mom's


If there is one of you out there that pees alone...


PLEASE CONTACT ME! 

And inform the rest of us desperate mother's how you do it!

Because we would like to know!

And none of this my kids are in college or I'm just the perfect mother with perfect children crap.

NEWSFLASH

No mother likes hearing "Oh well my kids never did/do that."
Because guess what, they did other crap and your just not admitting defeat!

❤ I have been defeated... 

I had an epic fail this morning, my kids didn't make it to school. Anyone else ever had this happen? I have an excuse though, a darn good one too! I've had a migraine for 5 days, finally broke down and took meds for it last night so I could sleep.

No wakey wakey sunshine for me this morning.

Nope I get, wake up groggy and late. Don't judge me. I suck at being a mother.

Homeschooling is sounding better...

Have a great day! I'm gonna go suck some more, drink my coffee and watch tv on the couch with the kids. Maybe fold a load of laundry.



❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!
Stay safe, stay sane and stay absolutely splendid!

Facebook @ Alice Kingsleigh or Adventure Into Domesticland
Twitter @ AliceKBlogs
Pinterest @ AliceKBlogs
Instagram @ AliceKBlogs
YouTube @  AdventureDomesticLnd

Like it? Love it? Share it with everyone!


Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Thrive! What a joke Kaiser!

Have you heard these commercials that start off with 

fun funky tuba music and end with a woman's voice 

(brain washing you to believe)


 "Here at Kaiser we want you to live well and THRIVE!" 


Well ain't that just bunches of rainbows and butterflies their trying to shove up your butt?!?




Let me begin by saying this is not geared toward one particular person who works for Kaiser. If you work there and love your career, fantastic! This is a rant intended to express my feelings about health insurance as a whole and I just happened to have Kaiser.

Don't get me wrong there are some great aspects of Kaiser's philosophy, but the reality is, a butterfly can't thrive with holes in it's wings.

Good things about Kaiser. 

I love that when I had my third child it only cost me a co-payment to see my doctors; when my friends that have other insurance companies had to pay a deductible. Of course, when I had Medi-cal the bill was 100% paid. I do love that most things are in-house, like x-rays and the pharmacy. But I have a few complaints too and maybe others out there have the same?

If I had to categorize my complaints, I think I could group them into pills, psychologist and alternative medicine.

❤ ❤ ❤ So first pills ❤ ❤ ❤ 


In my short 30 years and 3 kids later, I have never been around so many doctors that push pills on you. They have a pill for everything! Or so they think! It's all trial and error until they get the right combination for you, but in the meantime you get crazy side effects that make whatever you had, seem insignificant now because the side effect is darn near killing you!

Oh your crazy in the head?

We have a pill for that!

You will have to try 30 different pills till we figure out which one quiets the crazy in your particular kind of head though.

But what they don't educate you on, is those darn side effects... 




It might calm the crazy, but it will also kills your liver, make you hallucinate, give you shakes, trigger headaches (or migraines in my case), cause premature menopause and you may become more crazy than you started off!

Oh but that's just what happened to me, others have had it way worse on this stuff! The stuff doctors give you and lord knows it's not just Kaiser, but doctors in general can't keep up with the amount of sickness in this world, so pills are the easiest, quickest and most profitable way to keep the public at bay.



Not to get all religious but isn't it funny that the Bible
(written 2000 years ago)
predicted that the world would be like this in the time of the end? 



I'm no dooms day nutcase or anything, I mean there is good news too! The Bible also tells us there will be a time when ALL of mankind's woes will be gone. At Revelation 21:3,4 we have a marvelous hope to hold out for!

But in the meantime while I'm waiting for that to happen, do you think you can try to get it together Kaiser?!?! I don't just what pills, I want care... Someone who genuinely cares that I will get well and/or if there is no cure, be able to manage my pain (and crazy) on a daily basis. Which leads me too my next point.











❤ ❤ ❤ Psychologist ❤ ❤ ❤

I live in Ventura Co. and although they do have ONE facility caring for my area (that consist of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and West Lake ) it's PACKED. I could drive 30 minutes to Woodland Hill for a therapist, but it's PACKED there too. The... world... has... gone... CRAZY!

So with such a high demand for psychologist, getting in to see one, sounds something like this: Oh you need to change your "crazy lady pills" that WE put you on because they're causing you to hallucinate? You can see the doctor next month! That is no joke, they actually told me that, minus the crazy lady part...

Although I liked the therapist they put me with the first time, she left and I had to tell my insane story to another person; I like her too, but I'm tired of telling a new person my story every 6 months. I've just started telling them go read my blog and you'll know everything about me! I have had psychologists that make me out to sound more crazy than I really am, made me cry and wanted to put me on a crazy amount of, you guessed it... pills!

That's not even the worse part! They only have a therapist for adults, who are alone. No family therapy and no marriage counseling. You want warm and fuzzy, actually help you mend your relationships and survive your mate/kids/parents/siblings/family? Go pay $150-300 a session out of pocket for a therapist like that because Kaiser only deals with single adults and only at this location.

You want your kids to go to therapy because they are bouncing off the walls from ADHD (like mine)? Well... they only see kids in Sherman Oaks (almost a 1 hour drive in traffic) and that particular facility is also the closest thing they have to a drug rehab. So, great, they put the kids with the druggies! I guess they figured after they're done drugging our kids they will need to come back later in life for drug rehab anyway! Added bonus they'll know where to find the facility!!! Now going to the therapist for your kid, has become an all day event and you now need to go to the nearest PACKED facility to see your own therapist!

Or you could just read your Bible, in your spear time, at night, once the kids are finally asleep and your husband is satisfied and the household chores are done and, and, and "Where's my wine?"

Does anyone else want to lose there mind yet?



❤ ❤ ❤ Alternative Medicine❤ ❤ ❤ 


Ok, where do I even start with this one??? After all that I have mentioned about taking pills and the adversities it has caused in my life, I turn to alternative medicine. What I'd like to know, is why is it called alternative when it's natures way of curing us? It came first! 

Let me tell you a story...


I think this say's it all about why "All Natural Medicine" is my preferred choice. 


But Kaiser hates alternative medicine. They say they don't, they even partner with an alternative medicine insurance company (ASH aka American Specialty Health) that is supposed to cover alternative medicine practices like acupuncture and chiropractic care. But what they don't tell you is that once you start using these types of care and they start working for you, they are going to give you the run around to keep using them.

What do I mean?

Well let me share what's been happening with me. I suffer from migraines. There is NO cure for migraines, only ways to take the edge off. Acupuncture does not cure migraines, but for me I have noticed that when I am getting treatments twice a week, the severity is not as bad and the amount I get is less.

I have never been able to go longer than 6 months of treatment though.

Why?

Well, the insurance company gives my acupuncturist the run around about 6 months into treatment. This is the FORTH acupuncturist I've had, that couldn't get paid from the insurance company and stopped seeing me. The one before this didn't speak English very well, so I called Kaiser and ASH to find out why he wasn't getting paid and they just point the finger at each other.

This to me is like...

Oh you have cancer? Well we can only approve you for 2 chemo therapies because we don't know if it's going to work and we don't want to shovel out the money to find out.

I'm a butterfly with a broken wing!


Borrowed from Hanson Photography

I can't THRIVE if I can't see my acupuncturist.

I can't THRIVE if you just shove pills at me.

I can't THRIVE if you tell me essential oils, herbs and natural remedies aren't doing anything for me.
(I actually had a doctor tell me they are pointless! Remind me again where your pills come from? Nature... reconstructed by man, oh that's right!)

I can't THRIVE if I have to drive all over God's green earth for care.

I can't THRIVE if you don't listen to me when I tell you what works for me.

I understand that doctors go to school a long time to learn the practice of medicine but the problem is doctors are human too and they make mistakes. My kids pediatrician had the gall to tell me something along these lines, when I questioned the need to vaccinate my youngest...

"I'm a scientist. I know what's best for your kids. You need to just listen to me." Needless to say, I switched pediatricians that day.

Can't we just get back to the basics?
God created things in nature to help us cope with this world, why do we keep trying to invent the wheel?

You want me to really believe the commercials when I hear Kaiser can help me THRIVE? 

Than take what I have to say into consideration, it's my health after all and I know my body.  



❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!
Stay safe, stay sane and stay absolutely splendid!

Facebook @ Alice Kingsleigh or Adventure Into Domesticland
Twitter @ AliceKBlogs
Pinterest @ AliceKBlogs
Instagram @ AliceKBlogs
YouTube @  AdventureDomesticLnd

Like it? Love it? Share it with everyone!


Thursday, February 12, 2015

Motherhood Woes

I know it been a few months since I have written a blog post, I've had a bit of writers block. I'm bored with what I was doing and nothing exciting has been happening. I don't want to just sit and complain about how crappy I feel with fibromyalgia and these crazy sever migraines, who wants to read about that?!?!

But that's all that has been happening. I know they say to be a good blog writer you have to make exciting things happen and I use to be a very funky fun person, but you know, then I started to blog!

Once there was I time when blogging took over my world, it became a passion that overstep all
boundaries. Then one day it just stopped. I didn't feel like trying to keep up. I realized this is a race you don't win or lose, you're just in. I was neglecting what really matter most in my life. Or maybe it was that blogging was such a great escape from reality that I become enthralled in it. I needed a place to go, but at the expense of my everything.


Things got a little rocky there for a minute.... A really long minute. I was just stabilizing into a new marriage with two kids and than added another. Then it hit me like a wrecking ball, things aren't so stable. I wasn't stable. My emotions had been fried from the wild ride I had been on. When I thought I was finally thinking straight, I had let the most important things slip thought the cracks. My husband, children and me. Who am I?

Where did that upbeat, fun loving girl go that I used to be. Now I look in the mirror and I see the
mean old Red Queen screaming at everyone " Always MY way!" Is motherhood just setting in? Did having 3 kids just sap me of every fun cell within my being? Is this it?

No it can't be! I have to be in there somewhere. I can be me and be a mom too... right? I tell myself if I just get out of these sweatpants and dress like a real person, I might have more exciting adventures. But then I remember none of my jeans fit me because I'm still not pre-baby body. To much work. When did going to the gym and getting outside to enjoy a little fresh air become such a chore? Am I just having a mid life motherhood crisis!?!

Don't get me wrong I love my kids. I love when they smile and laugh and play and sing, but lets be honest there is alot of crap that sucks about being a parent. I guess I am just coming to grips with that. When I had just one it was SO easy, now I see why they say you're not really a parent until you have at least 2! With 3 though my brain is mush, my pants are sweats and my house is a constant circus of complete chaos. I use to be up my son's butt about homework and manners, now I'm lucky if I can get him and the Dormouse to school on time! Homework, what homework?!

Am I the only mom that feels like motherhood swallowed them alive? Tell me it gets better...



❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!
Stay safe, stay sane and stay absolutely splendid!

Facebook @ Alice Kingsleigh or Adventure Into Domesticland
Twitter @ AliceKBlogs
Pinterest @ AliceKBlogs
Instagram @ AliceKBlogs
YouTube @  AdventureDomesticLnd

Like it? Love it? Share it with everyone!