Thursday, April 14, 2016

Imagine if this was you......


Imagine if you will for a moment, for one reason or another you need to use a sperm donor in order to start your family….You sign the contracts & do everything right. You and your wife are blessed with an amazing, beautiful , intelligent, sweet baby girl…..You & your wife make amazing parents! Your daughter is amazingly happy beyond your wildest imaginations when this whole process started…….She takes after both you and your wife. She loves music, she loves to dance, she loves to sing , she loves you and she loves your wife!….Some time passes & now she’s three & going to preschool & having play dates with her friends. She Knows she can do anything she sets her mind to because her parents taught her that! 
Out of the blue, you get a phone call. Who could it possibly be and what could they want???Well, it’s your sperm donor! Apparently, he had an arrangement with another couple that he was a part of that baby’s life…..And now, three years later, he has decided that he wants to be the father to your daughter. The answer is no, no ty but have a nice day! 
But OMG, that is not the end of it! The sperm donor is now taking you to court to fight for parental rights & visitation with YOUR daughter! 
The New York family court could not possibly grant him this, RIGHT????Well, As of the time of this writing, you would be wrong!!!! The judge even goes so far as to order that you are removed off of the birth certificate to make room for the sperm donor being added!!
How could this be?? There are contracts in place! He is a DONOR with a capital D! 
This is the true story of what is happening right now to two wonderful amazing parents right here in Orange County, NY! 
Please share this message, donate if you can, get the word out! They need our help! No one should ever have to go through this! 
https://de.gofund.me/barbourfamily&rcid=f6d48d24e67d11e5834ebc764e05901c
#spermdonornightmare #saveourfamily

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Ok So I lied.....

Happy Hump Day Everyone!   Ok.  So I lied, I'm going to talk about grocery savings now instead of what I said I would.  I'll get there eventually!  Lol


As a lot of you know I have recently started using different apps to get money back when I go grocery shopping. One of those app is called Ibotta. What it does is when you go grocery shopping  you check the app to see what items that you have purchased on the list. You can either do it while you're shopping, before or after. If there is an item that you're purchasing, for example milk (there is usually a rebate for bananas or apples or milk generic any doesn't matter), you click on it and you watch a short little video 30 seconds or so or answer a question, and then you scan the item(or if it's something like bananas you skip this step) and take a picture of your receipt with the app ,uploading it, and they give you money back. Think of it like extra coupons. I currently have over $20 in my account that I can get deposit it into my PayPal account or put into a gift card basically of my choice. If this sounds interesting to you, click the link and check it out. I do believe for this app, you have to have a smart phone.  https://ibotta.com/r/ovwwlqw

Another way to save money with Ibotta is by having your friends join and link their accounts through Facebook account. They don't even need to click a link. If your friends link their accounts to Facebook and you are friends on Facebook, they automatically become a part of the team. So when your friends use the app and you use the app you get bonus dollars for reaching certain milestones. For example, the first bonus in April is as follows:   1. You redeem 10 separate rebates 2 your team redeems $15 in rebates(collectively not individual) You receive an additional $1.   
At that point, another milestone will become available.  

Most of the apps that I use you can also get money back from different types of stores, like clothing or online retailers. 

Some months I get more back then others but truth be told, I do my shopping as I normally would and if there is a rebate great, if not, I don't sweat it.  

Ibotta is one of the first ones that I started using but then I had discovered the KrazyCouponLady website.   At that point had never thought of using more than one app but it makes sense. Some of them you just scan your receipt and no matter what it is, you get money back. Others are just like Ibotta.  Now before I go shopping I check out my apps to see what it is that I need that's in the app. I also go to coupons.com and print out coupons for items that I need. My last shopping order I saved over $40 between the apps, the coupons & the digital coupons directly from the store! My body wash alone I saved $4.50 on by stacking all of these together. Three dollars came off at the register because there was a digital coupon, I had a physical coupon and there was also an additional digital coupon that I upload it onto my price plus card from one of my apps. 

I don't have a car at this moment so I only go to the one store because they deliver. I know my cousin takes advantage of coupons , stacking coupons and going to specific stores. She actually sometimes comes back with cashback on items. The Krazycouponlady website and newsletter will actually alert you as to what items you can do this with,where to get the coupons and what store is it works in. I can't take it that far at this point but I definitely get a lot of money back just by taking a couple of minutes before and after shopping and getting rebates.  . At this time I use: Ibotta,  Shopmium, Mobisave, Checkout 51, Receipt Hog ,Yaarlo & last but certainly not least, Ebates(another fantastic one!) 

Something to think about and consider; You are already buying food(we all do, nothing to be ashamed of) why not get some of that money back? 

Most of these have apps for both Android & IPhone.  Ebates can be used directly from your computer also!  They even have an extension to remind you when it's available to use :) 

Ibotta : https://ibotta.com/r/ovwwlqw

Shopmium (You get a free Lindt Chocolate bar by using my code): 
http://shopmium.com/en/app 
my referral code during sign up: KMGEUKKE 

Mobisave: www.mobisave.com

Checkout51:  www.checkout51.com

Receipt Hog: www.receipthog.com

Yaarlo: Earn more if you join with my code: CATHERIN332  Www.Yaarlo.com

Ebates: 
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=aB3%2FE8PpBCNEQLnviZFZ%2BQ%3D%3D&eeid=29773

Good luck & happy shopping! 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Once in a Blue Moon

Bare with me here a few moments.   I know the article posted below is a long one but there is a very good reason for me sharing it! 


Via on Jul 26, 2015




“Once in a blue moon someone comes along that you’ll never forget.” ~ Unknown 

On Friday, July 31st we will have a Full Blue Moon in the sign of Aquarius.

A blue moon is the term for the second full moon in the same month. The first full moon of the month was in Capricorn on July 1st, and now we are saying good-bye to this month of change with a special blue moon.

These full moons have been the bookends to the important lessons learned over the past month.

One of the most special aspects of this moon is that we won’t have another blue moon month until 2018. For many of us, we will be receiving our last bits of a long awaited wake-up call that actually began back in 2012, far before most of us were aware of the changes that were developing.

The energies of this moon are only being magnified by Venus turning retrograde on the 25th, which is just one of seven planets slowing and turning retrograde the week prior to this lunar event.

This cosmic event is unprecedented—it’s truly a month of transitions.

The skies have collided to physically slow all of us down. It seems that it is so easy for most of us to get caught up in our daily lives that we often feel we can push aside issues or decisions because it seems like there will always be more time—more chances.

This moon we are being asked to stop, look around and to see the bigger picture.

We are being asked to notice where in our lives we have been neglecting the truth, or what situations we have been putting off. It’s not easy to deal with life head on—but this moon isn’t only encouraging it, it is making it a requirement.

There is so much happening around this moon in terms of once-in-a-lifetime type chances. It’s as if we are all on the edge of something so big and we have to make the decision to take the path we’ve always taken—or to jump into the territory of new possibilities.

Because of Venus, the planet of love, going retrograde a week prior to this moon, there will be a heavy connection to romantic relationships. This isn’t about just any sort of love though—it’s about the kind of love that comes around only once in a blue moon.

The full moon will be shining a decadent light of truth deep within our hearts.

This will give us the opportunity to get  a good grasp on what is in our heart of hearts—if we don’t have our soulmate or twin flame as our lover, then there is a good chance we are aware of who they are, or may start to recognize them around this time.

Sometimes the most wonderful aspects of our lives can be the most terrifying—and that is okay, no one ever said greatness and easiness were one and the same. The thing we all have to remember, though, is that if it doesn’t scare us even a little bit, then it lacks the ability to be that once in a lifetime opportunity to change our lives for the better.

Nothing amazing ever comes from us staying in our comfort zones.

This is about opening our eyes to what is right in front of us—and knowing that some chances don’t come around every day.

Sometimes situations come down to now or never—this blue moon is showing us exactly what we are afraid of losing the most, and it’s challenging us to make the big moves necessary now.

While it is true that those people that are meant for us, that they won’t ever leave us—sometimes humans make the wrong decisions. We make choices based on fear, or try to do what we think is right instead of listening to our hearts.

It seems that so many of us the past few years have been making as many wrong decisions as possible, and while it has seemed difficult, and even painful at times—know that it was necessary, and all part of the divine plan.

Sometimes we really do need to experience everything that is wrong to know what is right.

As amazing as this moon will be, and necessary—it’s going to be one that challenges us on every single level. In the build up to this lunar event we may have been feeling restless, or have had an excess of nervous energy. Our pulses may have been racing, and it may have been harder for us to relax or fall asleep at night.

Our souls can sense that we are on the verge of something big—but it’s up to us to initiate change.We are on the threshold of having massive pieces of the puzzle collide. There may be big changes or upsets in the status quo during the next several weeks. We may find ourselves acting in ways that only a few weeks ago we never thought possible, but Aquarius is lighting a fire inside of our hearts and daring us to break the boundaries that have held us back for far too long.

We can only deny ourselves of what we want the most for so long.

While we may feel anxious at all of the possible changes being presented to ourselves—know that the universe won’t bring us anything we aren’t ready for.

The truth of it is there is no such thing as the perfect time—so now is as good a time as any.

Everything that we have been going through the past year has been leading up to this moon. It’s the time of infinite possibilities, of desires bubbling over and manifesting themselves in our lives in ways we never thought possible.

No matter what has come in or out of our lives in the past few years, once in a while we are given the chance to have everything we’ve always wanted—we just have to make the choice now to not let it go.

Because certain chances only come around once in a blue moon.

 


I shared this article with Greg on July 27, 2015. It was our 8 year anniversary since our first date.   I shared it for several reasons : 1. I thought it was extremely interesting and cool. 2. We are in the midst of some very big changes and he tends to shy away from changes.   My hope was to encourage him that we are on the right path with our plans for our home & lift his spirits about annupcoming change in employment that has now become a necessity not just something we want. 

Unbeknownst to me, he had plans of his own.   We were going to go out to dinner but neither one of us felt very well for a couple of nights.  As it turned out, we went on the night of the blue moon.  Seeing as it was our anniversary, I had bought a new dress at a great price($10) that is a little sexier than I've worn in a while.  I put on a little makeup and some jewelry.    During dinner my ring began to hurt me as my hands have been swelling lately.   I gave him my ring to hold till we got home.   Upon arriving home, we walked in as usual and I went to let the dogs out when I realized that the alarm hadn't been shut off and was still beeping.  He had put in the wrong code and when he tried to fix it, he put the wrong one in again.   Well I have to tell you that the noise that system emits is ear drum shattering.   I took the dogs out while he tried to sort it out.    As it turns out, he had changed not only the alarm code but the pw so when he spoke to the alarm company they couldn't do anything other than dispatch the police.   We sat on the stoop waiting for them laughing so hard tears rolled down our faces.   We joked about the response time and how if we really needed help we would be dead before they arrived as it took almost 25 minutes for their arrival(turns out they were short handed that night and the responding officer was across town).  After he left, we headed inside and as I walked away Greg handed me my ring "before he forgets".   It took a moment for me to realize that the ring he gave me was not the ring I gave him.   The first thing I noticed was the weight.   Then I realized that it was THE ring!   The one I picked out of a magazine over 10 years ago.   I literally said to him "This isn't the ring Ingave you".  He told me later he purposely didn't say anything and he will always cherish watching the realization was over my face.    He hugged me and said"Will you marry me?"  


Well........



Once in a blue moon, someone comes along who means the world to you & if you are very blessed, you mean the world to them! We are so very blessed! 



Thursday, May 14, 2015

This Day In History. AKA Why I've been quiet this last year

Warning : Explicit Descriptions of Medical Issues Will be discussed here .....




On May 10, 2015,  I discovered that I had a bloody discharge coming from one of my nipples. With my medical background, I knew immediately that since I was not breastfeeding & hadn't given birth in just over 18 years at this point, it was very likely some form of cancer.  I handled all that came from that point forward very clinically.  Knowledge is power when it comes to your health.  In order to make an intelligent decision about your choices, you have to know everything!  
I had put off my mammogram 4 years as I was dealing with my fibromyalgia and diagnosis of it, not to mention the discovery of a benign brain tumor.   The ironic thing was not even 2 weeks before I had told one of my best friends that I felt stable enough and the weather was improving so I was ready to go for my mammogram.   Monday morning arrived and I called the hospital to schedule my mammogram since my gyno had already given me a prescription.   The scheduler was very nice and handled everything like a consummate professional.   I explained the situation and she explained to me that I would need a diagnostic mammogram but she could call my doctors office and get the necessary prescription.   Unfortunately, my doctors staff was anything other than professional.  It seemed as though they were angry that I was knowledgable and they refused to issue the prescription.   The hospital would have done my mammogram that day at noon and then I would have had the results to take with me to the doctor that afternoon.  The scheduler went ahead and put me in for the next day and the staff member got very nasty telling us that should the doctor decide that I needed an ultrasound that the hospital wasn't going to be able to accommodate.   To which the scheduler responded telling her that if I need if they will make sure I get it because they understand his important this all is.   It was crazy!     So, it was pushed back a day so I could go in to the office and have the doctor tell me that I needed a diagnostic mammogram. 
I went in to have the mammogram and we discovered that I have dense breasts and needed an ultrasound.  The hospital called the doctors office and got a prescription to perform it from another doctor in the practice since my doctor was off that day.  At this point, the results came in of my testing. They were inconclusive.   Basically, they said if I kept bleeding that they recommended further testing.  
I tried to get a hold of my doctors office to discuss what the next step was & I couldn't get anyone to call me back.   I tried for a couple of days when she finally returned my call.  She responded by asking me why I was calling her since she had called in the prescription for an ultrasound the day before.   I quickly explained to her that I had had the ultrasound 3 days before.   Immediately, her tone changed. She hadn't been informed and had only been given part of the results by her staff.   I explained the results and asked her what the next step would be, she said she would find the results and call me back but get most likely, she would be referring me to a specialist.   
While she looked for my results, I called Sloan-Kettering and was scheduled with a high risk breast specialist that took my insurance got the following Monday.  
The lesson of this story, which will be repeated several times as I tell it, is be your own advocate,  even good doctors can have bad staff, listen to your body, normal results or inconclusive results do not always guarantee that everything is fine......To Be Continued .....


Words of Advice
Listen to your body, be your own advocate, doctors don't know everything, seek out all the information you can from reliable sources so you can make educated decisions! 

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Miss me? Yea I did too!



Hey faithful readers,

I know it's been a very long time since my last post.   I am just writing today to let you know that I will be back shortly & I promise all will be explained....then it will be up to you to forgive or hold a grudge.    C u soon!

Keep it Kind ,

Cat

Monday, May 12, 2014

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day! What the heck is that???

Today is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.  

For those of you that don't know what it is & are interested in learning a little about it...Here I go to the best of my ability

 Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disease that affects the nervous system.  The best way I have found to describe it is that basically your entire nervous system goes into overdrive and becomes hypersensitive.  So much so that even the touch of fabric upon the skin can cause great pain.  It is not fully understood nor is there a cure at this time.   It can present differently in each individual person but most people that have fibro have had some sort of physical trauma in the past, be it a  car accident, chemotherapy or abuse to name a few.  

There are numerous symptoms that are associated with fibromyalgia. . Its characteristics include widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue, as well as other symptoms. Fibromyalgia can lead to depression and social isolation.Some patients with fibromyalgia have pain and achiness around the joints in the neck, shoulder, back, and hips. This makes it difficult for them to sleep or exercise. Other fibromyalgia symptoms include:

Abdominal pain
Chronic headaches
Dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
Hypersensitivity to cold and/or heat
Inability to concentrate (called "fibro fog")
Incontinence
Irritable bowel syndrome
Numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
Stiffness


The disease can range from mild to severe and everything in between.  Some people are fine most of the time unless they are having a flare while others(like me) find that the symptoms never go away but sometimes are a little less than others.  

Treatment for the disease can include one or any combination of all of the following:  Medication, lifestyle changes, medical marijuana, gentle exercise, alternative therapies, massage therapy and/or physical therapy.

Results vary by patient just as the disease varies by each patient.  

People don't always know what to say or what they can do if they know someone and/or are friends with someone who has fibromyalgia.  The best advice I can give is to treat them as you would want to be treated(as you should always anyway throughout life).  Don't judge. Be kind.  Be a true friend.  Be open to the information that is readily available to learn more about the disease.  Don't forget that they are still the same person you always knew....they just may not be able to do the things they did before.  Be patient with them, in most cases, their entire lives have changed and their bodies have betrayed them. And last but not least, ask them what they need or want.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about a not fully understood disease.   Please share this ...you never know who you may be helping.  A little awareness can go a long way!  :)