Away For The Week

I'm off to Girl Guide Camp till Aug 6. I was originally going to make up some posts to go up while I was gone and such but I just got home from hospital with my oldest and I was there for almost 3 days so I got nothing done. If I can get some internet access, I'll check in.

Have a great week!

PS - My daughters' fine. She had a UTI that went undetected, but for a while they thought it was appedicitis!

GIVEAWAY: Rio DVD - Out Aug. 2nd (rafflecopter)

Have you heard? Rio is coming to DVD and Blu-ray August 2nd, 2011!

I have a giveaway for you, but first some additional information you may find interesting!

As of July 26, you can download the Rio coloring app from Android Market and iTunes App Stores with two characters and one background available for coloring. When the blu-ray is released on Aug 2nd, an insert will have a code to unlock an additional 10 characters and 4 backgrounds in the app. So in total that's 12 characters and 5 backgrounds OR 60 unique coloring pages.

For my US readers:

For those in the LA or NYC areas, a hands-on demonstration of the app will be available at Santa Monica Place in LA and Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island at a KIOSK with iPads, approximately 40-49” off the ground, easily reachable by children, to try the app.

Also, Rio is celebrating National Friendship Day (July 30) with beach takeovers and ecards. Also, mall takeovers are happening in the following areas, including "Friendship Rio style” a 2 - 3 hour event with the Rio trailer played, children engaging making a friendship bracelet, create your own mask, fun Rio activity sheets, write a friendship letter, take the friendship pledge, and watch scenes from the DVD! If you go, let me know how it is!

7000 Arundel Mills Circle	Hanover	MD
1065 Brea Mall	Brea	CA
3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway	Grapevine	TX
6301 N.W. Loop 410	San Antonio	TX
5000 Katy Mills Circle	Katy	TX
3333 Buford Dr., Ste 1000	Buford	GA
1201 Hooper Ave.	Toms River	NJ
One Mills Circle, Suite One	Ontario	CA
2700 Potomac Mills Circle	Prince William	VA
301 Mt. Hope Avenue, Ste. 1900	Rockaway	NJ
4502 S. Steele St, Ste 1177	Tacoma	WA
400 Ernest  Barrett Pkwy.	Kennesaw	GA
6901 22nd Ave. North	St. Petersburg	FL
6020 E. 82nd St.	Indianapolis	IN
8111 Concord Mills Blvd.	Concord	NC
3 Del Amo Fashion Center	Torrance	CA

GIVEAWAY

If you've never used rafflecopter before to enter giveaways, check out this rafflecopter guide. However note the guide says they will do a separate post for the winner and I don't do that. Winners will be contacted by email and will have 3 days to claim their prize. If you have any problems using the form, let me know in the comments and I'll see what I can do. If you come back to do the daily entries again and it won't let you without doing the mandatory entry, redo the mandatory entry and put DO NOT COUNT in the extra info section. Giveaway is open to US/Canada till Aug 7.

My Experiences With Elder Care

(c) 2007 Kathleen Garber. Do Not Reproduce.

I had never thought that I'd be doing elder care until I was much older myself. My parents are only just recently in their 50s and are doing fine. My father-in-law however was much older than my mother-in-law (by 30 years) and his health was not good. In 2005 my in-laws moved into our house and by end the end of 2006, his health kept getting worse. My mother-in-law passed away January 2006 and my father-in-law was dealing with multiple heart attacks (he had a pacemaker and defribillator in his chest), diabetes and by 2007 a stroke.

In 2007 my father-in-law was 71. He was at the hospital a lot, sometimes for weeks at a time. When he was home, I took care of him. My husband worked and since he was living with us, it fell to me to take care of him. I didn't mind though. As he got more and more sick, he was often confused. So I dolled out his medication, administered his insulin, made him the occasional meal or tea (he liked to do some things himself) and I even had to help him bathe once or twice. I'm the one who recognized that something was wrong when he had a stroke and I called 911 many, many times.

Taking care of my father-in-law was stressful. I constantly worried when he'd have another heart attack, stroke or extremely low blood sugar. We had a nurse visit him weekly. He was having more and more trouble walking because of what the diabetes had done to his legs. Our house now had a walker and one of those special seats for the shower in it. Sometime later we acquired an oxygen machine because he was often out of breath. Then we got a hospital bed. At one point he was even on an IV. Our house was looking more and more like a nursing home. I had a child at home and felt I was too young to be this responsible for someone's life but I did it anyways because I loved him. 

In April 2007, I gave birth to my second child. I couldn't possibly care for a new baby and my father-in-law so he moved in with one of his daughters. I felt relieved that someone else was taking over his care but also guilty that I wasn't taking care of him anymore when we had established a routine and I knew what to look for and such. I felt like I had decided my new daughter was more important than him and just threw him out. I visited him as much as possible and did what I could. In October 2007 his body had finally had it. He had been in hospital for weeks when it became apparent that he wasn't going to be coming home this time. His body was failing, one organ at a time and it was tired. October 12 was the day we said goodbye.

I still feel a little guilty for not taking care of him right till the end. I keep thinking I could have taken care of the baby and him. I now know that wouldn't have been possible as I was dealing with postpartum depression as well and I needed to take care of myself too. But I still feel bad.

*This is a sponsored post from Bucks2Blog and I was compensated, but everything in it is true and from the heart. I'm feeling quite sad from stirring up these memories.

REVIEW: Smart Mom Jewerly/Teething Bling

Liam playing with Bangle
(c) 2011 Kathleen Garber

I love this idea! How many babies grab on to your jewelry and try to chew on it? Now they can do that with special jewelry designed to be safe for babies to chew on, but still fashionable for mom.

I especially love the bangles. I'm not a big jewelry person but the bangles can safely be given to the baby as a toy as well. While the necklace is for mom to wear only and is not safe to just give to the baby on his or her own, the bangles are.

They are the right size for my 3 month old to grab onto and suck on and it wont fit over his head, or twist and catch his finger or hand.  It feels good on his gums and he likes to play with it.

Teething Bling Necklace

Although I'm not a big jewelry wearer, the necklaces are just the kind of jewelry I do wear occasionally. I'm not interested in chains or diamonds. I like cords and something simple. It's perfect for me.

The necklace has a breakaway clasp so that if by chance baby gets it wrapped around it's arm while playing with it (around your neck), the necklace should come apart so the baby's circulation isn't cut off.

I really love the idea of baby friendly jewelry.

I'd like to quote the FAQ for some important information you should know:

Teething Bling® is made from a commonly-used, medical-grade, food-safe silicone.  It's the same material found in many teething toys and other baby products, such as the 'coated' infant spoons we all use. 

Is it safe?
Yes. Teething Bling^® contains no harmful chemicals: no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex.  Our products are CPSIA compliant, carry the European CE mark for safety and are FDA approved.  Pendants also come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature. We remind users to never put a pendant ON a baby, and never leave your child unattended with jewelry of any kind. 

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Our Plumbing Is Going Down the Drain

(c) ziptrvia

I bought my house in 2005 when I was only 22. Needless to say I knew nothing about buying houses. However I wanted to do it myself, without my parents help.

I didn't have an inspector check out the house because it was an extra cost. I should have. The people who lived in this house before me tried to do redecorating and renovation by themselves and did it all wrong. Nothing is right in this house. We've had the electrical fixed the windows and roof done, but the plumbing is still messed up.

There is no trap between the bathtub and the toilet, the kitchen sink doesn't drain right, the bathroom sink doesn't drain right, the basement tub often overflows, the bathtub tap is broken and who knows what else. I'm so sick of something or another not working right.

It doesn't help that my children won't stop putting or dropping things down the bathroom drain. Q-tips, toilet paper, even goldfish crackers (why were they in the bathroom?) Kids do the strangest things.

I really need to get a plumber in here to redo everything!


What items have your children put or dropped down the drain?

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

GIVEAWAY: Pair of Tickets to an IMAX Movie at Cineplex Cinemas (rafflecopter!)

Are you Eligible?
Tickets are good till Aug 31, 2011 at any Cineplex IMAX [Ancaster (ON), Toronto (ON), Mississauga (ON), Vaughan (ON), Gloucester (ON), Windsor (ON), Edmonton (AB), Calgary (AB), Langley (BC), Riverport (BC), Montreal (QC) and Winnipeg (MB)]

You must be 18+ and Canadian and able to get to one of these cities for a show.

GIVEAWAY

If you are eligible, please enter!

NOTE: After you enter here, go on over to Maple Leaf Mommy for two other chances to win IMAX tickets including a twitter contest!

About IMAX:

The IMAX® Technology uses the largest commercial film format in motion
picture history to create images of incredible sharpness. IMAX® and
IMAX® 3D giant flat screens can soar up to eight stories high and the
sound system is comprised of 44 custom designed speakers that extract
12,000 watts of pure digital surround sound.

I have 3 pairs to give away! I am using Rafflecopter for the first time. If you are not familiar with how Rafflecopter works, it's pretty easy but it is in BETA so if you have ANY issues, comment here and I'll get it figured out.  Just click on "click for instructions" to find out more about what to do, do the requirment and then click "I did this" and provide name, email and sometimes extra info. If it's under "Once Per Day", you can come back and do it again each day!





*I was provided with a complimentary pair of tickets to the IMAX movie and offered more to giveaway. I accepted of course, to provide my lovely readers with a chance to win!

CLOSED: Win $500 CASH, a Kodak Easyshare M590 Camera and a Kobo eReader Touch!

The Social Picnic event is finally here, hosted by This Lil Piglet and Family Approve. To enter the giveaway, the Rafflecopter giveaway form will be located on the hosts blogs July 11th 12:01 EST - 18th 12:01 EST; please head over to either This Lil Piglet or Family Approve to complete your entries.

Over 30 Blogs are participating in The Social Picnic Event.  Follow each via Rafflecopter to increase your chances of winning. You will get an entry for each of the following ways you follow Callista's Ramblings: Subscribe via RSS, Subscribe via Email, Follow on GFC Fan on Facebook and Follow on Twitter.

Please Note:  You must follow on GFC be through widget on sidebar, not follow link at top of blog.

Enter to win...

$500 Cash via PayPal

Kodak Easyshare M590 Digital Camera - $199 Value

Breakfast at the diner with friends. A night out with the gang. Whatever the moment brings, sharing crisp, sharp pictures is simple with the KODAK EASYSHARE M590 Digital Camera. The world’s thinnest 5X optical zoom digital camera[1]boasts a fashionable and modern design that will attract attention from the moment you pull it out of your bag. And Kodak’s Share Button keeps you connected to family and friends long after the flash goes off. Tag pictures directly from your camera for e-mailing or uploading to KODAK Gallery, YouTube, FACEBOOK, FLICKR, and ORKUT sites. The real KODAK MOMENT happens when you share.

Kobo eReader Touch Edition - $139 Value

Smaller, lighter, faster than the original Kobo eReader. Infrared Touch Screen lets you turn pages, bookmark locations, adjust font size and type, and search for favorite books with the swipe of a finger. Touch with anything - the Kobo Touch is so sensitive you can even use a gloved hand. The new 6" E Ink Pearl screen offers higher contrast and faster refreshes compared to previous Kobo Readers. Built-in Wi Fi connects you directly to the Kobo bookstore to shop over 2.3 million eBooks, newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Get a preview or sample for any book, sync content and bookmarks and download books instantly. Virtual keyboard for easy typing and auto suggestions as you type keywords. The Kobo Touch is lightweight and compact, and fits easily into a purse or jacket pocket. The signature soft quilted back creates a book-like experience. Finally, discover a new dimension of reading, unlock awards and track your reading progress all with Kobo Reading Life, a built-in social sharing platform.

A big thank you goes out to our sponsors, Kodak and Indigo

Rules of the giveaway:

1. Each entry gains you one entry towards winning the prizes.  Follow as many as possible to increase your chance of winning.
2. The $500 Cash (CAD funds) prize is open Worldwide. The Kodak digital camera and Kobo eReader Touch edition is open to US and Canada residents only.  One winner will be chosen and will win ALL prizes.  If the chosen winner is located outside the US or Canada, they will win the cash prize only and a second winner will be chosen for the remainder of the prizes.  The winning entry will be checked to ensure they have complied with their entry.  If it is found that the winning entry has not completed the entry requirement, a different winner will be selected.

Tips:  If you've never used Rafflecopter before, it's an easy way to enter giveaway's.  Keep in mind that Rafflecopter is run using Javascript so you must enable javascript on your computer to use.  If you are having trouble, try a different browser or make sure you have updated your computer and browser.

Have fun hopping around following everyone and good luck!

Want to Sponsor a Girl Guide Camp?

I am a leader that helps run a camp for Girl Guides during the summer. We are camping July 31 - Aug 6 and our theme is All About Me. Here is what I'm looking for:

WHAT?

 - product samples for each child (not sure numbers yet)
 - products to raffle off or giveaway somehow to campers
 - Coupons for free services to hand out or raffle off
 - anything else of interest to girls ages 5-15 and women of all ages that fits in the theme

TOPIC/THEME?

 - sense of self
- achievements
 - relaxation
 - personal safety
 - outdoor skills
 - self esteem
 - yoga
 - spa day type things
 - summer camp type things


WHAT DO YOU GET?

 - exposure to the girls, parents and leaders of the camp. I will talk to them about your contribution and even those who don't go home with items will have you on their minds.
 - I will do up a post on this blog about your company and what you contributed.
 - If you include a full sized product for me too, I'll add a separate review on the blog. 
 - If it's a book, you will get a review on SMS Book Reviews too!
 - You get one month free advertising in my sidebar (below the fold)


I am open to any ideas, even if they are different than what is on here. Please contact me ASAP as I need any products before July 31.

The Wiggles Update

First of all, although I don't normally announce my winners on here, I am pleased to announce Pam won the 4 tickets to the show! It pays to enter at the last minute! Pam entered on the last day the giveaway was open with only 3 hours left and she won! I'm sending you an email Pam.

Also wanted to share the results of my mandatory question on which Wiggle was the favourite. Can you guess? It's Jeff!

Jeff - 58%
Anthony - 34%
Sam - 6%
Greg - 0% (Poor Greg!)
Murray - 0% (Poor Murray!)
(Doesn't quite add up to 100% because I rounded down)

Thanks All for Entering!

Lady Blogger's Social Online Conference

This is what I'm doing this weekend. During the day I'll be online learning more about blogging and connecting with other lady bloggers.

If you are stopping by from the conference, be sure to let me know!

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Also be sure to check back on Monday for your chance to win $500 just for being a follower of this blog or a subscriber. Follow and subscribe many other blogs for more chances, all thanks to The Social Picnic.

Nursing in Public

(c) Flickr User Tim & Selena Middleton

Do you/have you ever nursed in public or are you a private nurser?

I pride myself on being able to nurse anywhere without showing everything to everyone and without covering up my baby either. I've practiced a lot and can nurse, often without anyone knowing what I'm doing. I thought I'd make a list up of the places in public I've ever nursed.

This is mostly for my curiosity but I hope it also encourages other nursing moms to try breastfeeding wherever they are, instead of hiding in a corner or worse, a bathroom to feed their baby. Practice at home in front of a mirror to see how much you are showing.

After you check out the list, let me know if you've nursed in public somewhere I haven't.

Places I've Nursed:

1. Front Porch
2. Back Porch
3. Park
4. McDonalds
5. Tim Hortons
6. Burger King
7. Highway Rest Stop
8. By the Side of the Road
9. On the front steps of a church
10. Inside a church
11. At a Girl Guide meeting
12. At Girl Guide Camp
13. At family camping
14. At playgroup (which is in a school)
15. Library
16. On the bus
17. At the bus stop
18. At the beach
19. At Jungle Cat World 
20. The Mall (thanks Canadian Coupon Mom for reminding me) 
21. Windsor Water World (ADDED July 7)
22. ?? I'm sure I'm forgetting some

So have you nursed somewhere I haven't? Maybe you'll help me remember something I've forgotten. Leave a comment!

I'm the featured blog of July's Monthly Tailspin Blog and Social Media Hop

Are you sick of finding blog hops when they are almost over, linking up and then forgetting to go back and actually hop or not having enough time to go through all the blogs on the list?

Try a month long hop instead. Link up anytime this month and you have all month to get to everyone. You can link up one blog link and social media link per month.

You can find the hop at Tales from the Nursery!