My good friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. It was quite aggressive making it necessary to have a double mastectomy right away. After the shock of the news subsided a bit I thought what can I do to help her through this tough time. I live in California and she lives in Arizona making it nearly impossible to be present on a regular basis.

I know she will not ask me for anything. I need to think of things on my own. The chemotherapy will start soon and so will her journey to recovery. I know there are going to be tough times ahead. Friends are so important during this time. I want to be a good friend.

I wasn’t sure what I could send to cheer her up so I tried to think about what the days would be like when she got her chemo.
I came up with this

I don’t even know all the details of the chemo yet (place, time spent getting it, etc.) I do know from others that it can cause her to get cold and she could be sitting at the  medical facility for several hours. So I decided to get her a tote bag, cozy lap blanket, some cozy slipper socks, and a number of magazines that she can flip through.

I started to get a little crazy as I wrapped the packages. I was wanting the tags and such to be perfect, but time was limited. I finally got a hold of myself and remembered what was really important, and it wasn’t a perfect bow or gift tag. What’s important is,  she has a friend thinking about her and trying to make her day a bit brighter.

Things you might do for a friend with breast cancer or any other illness

• Send handwritten notes
• Make some frozen meals with instructions so they don’t have to cook
• Be there in person
• Make arrangements for babysitting
• Offer to drive to doctor’s appointments
• Send a good movie you think they will like
• Send some good music (next package will be a meditation CD)
• Arrange for housekeeping

Some people shy away and don’t say or do anything because of the fear of doing it wrong. Or, they feel uncomfortable and don’t know what to say. You can never go wrong with a short little note letting them know you care about them.

Share Your Story

I would love to hear your stories about what someone did for you as you went through chemo that really helped.

I would also love if you would share things you have done for a friend going through this. Together, we can help each other make someone’s life a bit brighter. If you have never left a comment on a blog don’t be shy. Just start typing in the reply box and then hit submit.

Sincerely,

Tamara

Billy Gorilly Podcast For Kids

episode 18

Are you trying to teach a child the colors in a rainbow

or

Letter sounds

or maybe the concept of

Big, Small, or Hardly There At All

Billy Gorilly just released his podcast episode 18

• COLORS OF THE RAINBOW
• BIG, SMALL, OR HARDLY THERE AT ALL
• LETTER SOUNDS (J-R)

Listen on your computer right from Billy’s website or download the podcast to your iPod. You can let your child listen any time they want. Play it in the car and you have a rolling schoolhouse. No boring sleepy songs here.

Billy Gorilly also offers downloadable worksheets to go along with each segment of the podcast.

In very simple terms a podcast is an audio file that is transferred over the internet for your listening pleasure.

Billy’s podcasts are FREE, less than 15 minutes long, and feature 3-4 songs and or stories. You may even hear some of Billy Gorilly’s pals from the Candy Appletree Woods on the podcast.

Click Here to Go To Billy’s Podcast episode 18 and listen now. This is also where you can download the activity sheets.

I would love to hear how you use music or this podcast to help educate your kids.

Please feel free to leave me a comment or share this post.

Warm Regards,

Tamara Maellaro

Flying Kitten Music

Wordless Wednesday

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you do the work.
~Author Unknown. …

© 2009 Carol Ann Thomas

Billy Gorilly’s podcast for Kids

I just wanted to send out a little reminder about Billy’s Podcast 17. If you have not listened yet come on over and check it out. This podcast will teach children the  letters sounds of (A-I)  as they sing along with Billy and his pals from the Candy Appletree Woods. Kids will also learn the parts of a house as they make a list. The kidlets will be sure to have a smile as they learn to count by fives. You can also get free printable worksheets to go along with each segment. You can listen right on you computer or download to your iPod. If you subscribe on iTunes you will get updates automatically. It doesn’t cost a thing so you have nothing to lose.

We are currently working on Podcast 18. We will have it ready for you to enjoy around Sept. 5. Maybe a little sooner.

Until next time…

Keep Smiling, Singing, and Learning
and you can make everyday
Simply Splendiferous!

Don’t be shy and leave a comment. If you have a great way you use the podcast to entertain and teach your child or class tell us about it. We would love to hear.

I thought this plant was dead and gone. After nine years it popped up and produced 2 beautiful flowers.

Nelly Moser Clematis

What is a preventative Laser Iridotomy

I recently had my 3rd iridotomy, no I don’t have 3 eyes. Apparently the first hole in my right eye closed, so back to the eye Dr. I went to have it opened back up. Or maybe they just put another hole next to the first, I should of asked. I do know that having blue eyes helps the Dr. see the blood vessels. My Doc says that it makes it easier not to hit a blood vessel when he uses the laser. Yippy! A real bonus for having blue eyes.

If you read my post glaucoma ~ just poke me in the eye or the update then you know that I have glaucoma. To treat my glaucoma I get a procedure called SLT or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. I don’t have to use expensive and irritating eye drops, at least not yet, hopefully never.

About 6 months ago my Dr. told me my angles are narrow and I should have an iridotomy. My first thought was great another eye surgery. Then I thought, why do I need this. My eye pressure was with-in normal limits for me. Did my angles just get narrow? Or have they always been narrow. Is he (my Dr.) making this stuff up. Is this a new theory put out by the laser companies so they could make more money? I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to have this preventative procedure done. Is it really going to make a difference in my long term eye health and vision?

I  researched everything I could find, and decided  it was probably a good idea (for me) to have the iridotomy done. Remember you should do your own research to see if it is right for you. I may never know for sure if I really needed to have it done, but I didn’t really want to find out the hard way. I also had to remember that with every surgery there can be bad side effects, and in this case the worse thing is I would be blind. I have faith and trust in my Doctors knowledge and skills so I trusted his recommendation.

Having an iridotomy when you have “narrow angles” is a procedure to help prevent a sudden increase in eye pressure. I think of “narrow angles” kind of like a hose being bent so the water can’t get through. The rapid increase in pressure causes severe pain, and can make you go blind in a matter of hours if not treated.

Laser iridotomy uses a very focused beam of light to create a hole on the outer edge, or rim, of the iris, the colored part of the eye.

My Personal Experience

I’m sitting in the hallway of the laser surgery suite at my eye doctor. My eye has been numbed and I am trying to stay calm. Boy that numbing  medicine burns at first. There are 4 other people waiting as well. We’re all looking at each other making quiet nervous chit chat. All of us seemed to have glaucoma. All of us had been to this room before.

The first person goes in and the door shuts. About 7 minutes later they walk out with a Kleenex in hand. Oh boy, it’s my turn now. I go in and another drop is put into my eye. Then the CONTACT, at least that is what they call it. They put this thing in your eye to hold the lid open and make the part of your eye they need visible. The only reason the contact weirds me out  a little is because I have seen it used on other people in the past. It makes your eye nice and big. You can feel the DR. moving the contact around but it doesn’t really hurt it just feels funny (at least that is my experience).

The next thing you do is put your chin on a chin rest and your forehead against a forehead rest. The assistant holds the back of your head so you don’t pull away or move. I’m always worried I’m going to move my eye in the wrong way and they will zap the wrong part. Thank goodness that has never happened to me yet.

Now my heart starts to pick up speed and I’m thinking let’s just get this thing over with. I stare at the red or was it green light and zap, zap, zap. It’s over.

My Doc puts in another drop, this time a steroid to help with inflammation. I will continue this for 5 days 3 times a day. I stand up and take a deep breath. I’m handed a tissue for my tearing eye and I walk out the door with my post-op instructions.

I suggest having someone drive you. It feels good right after just to close and rest your eyes. I had no trouble with my vision and no real pain just a slight uncomfortable sensation.

To this day, oh gosh, it has been around 3 months since the repeat iridotomy and I’ve had no problems that I’m aware of. My pressure remained the same or lower. My eyes have always been very sensitive to light and glare so I can’t tell if it’s any worse or it’s just normal for me.

My words for you

Always do your own research to find out more about any surgical procedure. Ask your Doctor as many questions as you want and need answered. It’s their job to answer your questions.

Risks

The greatest risk of laser iridotomy is an increase in intraocular pressure. Usually, the IOP spike is transient and of concern to the surgeon only during the first 24 hours after surgery. Encyclopedia of Surgery “iridotomy“

Your physical health can be a factor with how well you will respond to the surgery. Especially if you have diabetes, hypertension, bleeding disorders etc.

Other iridotomy surgery risks include:
Double Vision
Trouble with Glare
Bleeding
Blurred vision
horizontal lines in your vision
loss of vision

I hope this blog and my experience will help you or someone you love be more informed so you can make a better decision. Remember this is my personal experience and your experience can be much different. This surgery in a way is very quick and easy, but can have some very negative outcomes if not done correctly or your body reacts badly.

Feel free to leave a comment about your experience, the good and the bad. I would personally like to know how others responded to their  iridotomy. Your experience may help others make their decision about having this procedure.

Sincerely,

Tamara

I’m not very good at being quiet but… for today silence. It’s Wordless Wednesday. Weird creature in my yard. Anyone know what it’s called?

Why I Love My Levenger Laprador Lap Desk

About a week or two ago I was on Twitter and @officesupplygee tweeted about something from Levenger. I smiled as I read the tweet because I was using my new Lap Desk that was a gift from my husband. I am also a big fan of Levenger products and use them everyday. I love their Circa system, briefcases, pens, and well, just about everything. See what Steve Leveen, CEO of Levenger thinks about Twitter read here.

I sent out a little tweet about my love of my lap desk and kind of forgot about it. After an hour of work while sitting on the couch using my new desk I got up and set it on my coffee table.

This is where the review comes in. When I walked back into my living room I looked at my desk on the table and it looked like I staged it for photos. I had the wings out, I had my laptop sitting on top, my cell phone was next to the computer and the mouse was on the right pull out drawer.

I thought I have to take a picture of this and write a blog. I am always looking for something to write about. So, I grabbed my digital camera and took photos ( the only thing I did was open the left drawer lid, pens and paper were in there)

I then realized the desk did not show because it was sitting on a dark coffee table so I closed the lid of my computer to see if it would show better and I had to laugh again. If you look very close the magazine under my desk is a levenger catalog. I promise I did not put it there for the picture.

I still was not happy with the images so I picked up the desk and moved it to the area where I sit on the couch. Sorry I could not take a picture of myself using the desk. You can also see my circa notebook. I really do use all these things.

I am getting to what I love about this desk but I still have more to tell you. When I received this gift I loved it, but thought it was a bit expensive at $159.00. I was thinking like a girl and thought if I get a cheaper desk then I will use the leftover money to buy some clothing item. I gently asked my hubby if we could go to the office supply store and look at other lap desks. Off to the store we went. I came home with 3 different lap desks. I tried each and every one of them. None of the cheaper desks came even close to the Laprador. We took all of the desks back and I was happy not to get the new clothes.

This is what I love about the desk
• First it looks sleek and sexy (if a desk can look sexy)
• I love the rich leather top
• It sits comfortably on my lap and doesn’t feel like my laptop is going to fall off
• The padded wrist area adds comfort and helps with hand fatigue
• The elastic straps on each side hold my papers in place even when I carry it by the handle
• Easy to carry
• Very lightweight (this is a big important bonus for comfort)
• The drawers give you a bit of storage for pens and some paper
• A mouse can be used on the pullout drawer
*note I do wish the drawers felt a bit more sturdy when pulled out. More support when using mouse.

I feel more creative when I am able to move around
When I am writing, designing, or working on my website I need to move around. Sitting at one desk or chair for to long gets uncomfortable. I like to change positions to prevent hand and neck fatigue. This desk lets me do that. Sometimes I sit with it on my lap, sometimes it sits on the couch and I sit crossed legged and lean over to it. the bonus is I have options. Yes, and sometimes I sit at my table desk.

If you are considering a lap desk
you might want to give the Laprador a try. It is pricey, but I think well worth it. I have always been happy with my Levenger products, wait I take that back I did have one issue with a circa disc. I let the company know and the next week I had a nice note and a replacement. Wow, I didn’t even ask for a replacement. Now that is excellent customer service.

Find out more at Levenger.com

PS
I am not a professional reviewer nor do I receive any compensation. I am just a satisfied customer

How Do You Like to Be Creative?

I’m going to keep this post short and sweet. I know everyone is really busy getting everything ready for this years Summer Library Program.

Let the kids color as they gear up for the summer library reading program Be Creative @ Your Library with a free coloring page from Billy Gorilly. “How Do You Like to be Creative?” The file also contains a template for two different bookmarks

Be Creative @ Your Library Free resource coloring page

Listen to Billy Gorilly’s Podcast episode 16. The first segment features Billy Gorilly and Mrs. Flicker Fireflybrarian promoting the summer reading program. They want to get the kids excited about going to the library. There are 3 other sections of the podcast where kids will learn how to count backwards, listen to the story of the “Oxen and The Lion” told Billy Gorilly style, and the song Do You Know What Time it is? This podcast is perfect for children 3-6.

Listen to Billy Gorilly Podcast for Kids  episode 16  click here

The Best Corn Chowder I’ve Ever Made

I have been extra busy latley getting everything ready for the release of the New Billy Gorilly CD so dinners have to be quick and easy. Here is a recipe I made 2 nights ago that my husband loved.

Ingredients for 6-8 servings:
2-14 3/4oz. cans Del Monte sweet creamed corn
2 cups Organic low sodium vegetable broth
1 cup 1/2 & 1/2
1 medium onion chopped
10 slices bacon cooked and crumbled (I used Trader Joes fully cooked apple smoked bacon).
2 Lbs. Organic klamath pearl potatoes cut into bite-size chunks (skin on) I also got these at TJ’s
Pinch of red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Chop and dice the potatoes and onions. In a large stock pot cook bacon. (This only took a minute with the pre-cooked bacon). Remove bacon and set on paper towels. Leave a tsp. of bacon grease in the pot. I did not have to drain any. Add the onions and potatoes. Saute for two minutes. Add the cream corn and vegetable broth. Cook on simmer for approximately 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so. When the potatoes are tender add the crumbled bacon, 1/2 & 1/2, pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. Gently simmer for another 10 minutes. Oh boy I almost forgot. I used a potato masher inside the pot to make the soup thick and chunky. I did not want it pureed.

I think this was so tasty because… The potatoes did not get mushy. Leaving the peel on made it easier. Using pre-cooked bacon was a big time saver. The ingredient list was short. It was done in less than 30 minutes, and my husband raved about it.

It is not low-cal, but I did not care it was too good. Add a simple green salad and you are set with a delicious lunch or dinner. Enjoy!

What is your favorite soup recipe?

Warm Regards,
Tamara