boobs.

i'll be honest. part of me did not want to write {what seems to be} an obligatory breast cancer awareness post. we all know that october is breast cancer awareness month. 

{source}

well, what about the other eleven months in the year? shouldn't every damn month be breast cancer awareness month? after all, november {back in 2006} was the month that changed my mother's life. she found out - on my sister's birthday, in fact - that she had breast cancer. thanksgiving that year was pretty solemn. thank goodness i was dealing with a stubborn {and very constipated} three year old at the time. aidan's poop issues took my family's minds off of my mother's condition. having to deal with suppositories & potty battles was certainly more entertaining than having to think or talk about the implication of my mother's fate.

yes, i said fate. 

you see, my mom's sister {an aunt that i barely knew} had breast cancer, too. she died. she was young, too, only in her 40s. 

let me back track a bit and say that my mom's diagnosis only came about because my mother insisted on a second opinion because her routine mammogram was not very clear. my mother's primary care physician agreed. a better mammogram was done. one that screamed, "you've got some funky cells infiltrating your boob, lady!"

my mother had options. it was detected early enough. the cancer had not spread. chemo? no. radiation? no. wait & see?* oh, hell no.

my mother had a single mastectomy three days after christmas. go big or go home, huh? clearly, my mother knew from the moment of her diagnosis that her left breast was a goner. sayonara, sucka! the first time i saw my mother's scar i pretty much lost it. it ran from the middle of her left armpit down across where her breast used to be and onto her chest. it was big. it was ugly. but, it was filled with hope. 

my mother eventually opted for reconstruction. {she had a prosthetic boob...that was pretty awesome. seriously, it was a detachable boob.}  her new left breast is pretty . . . and cancer-free. so is her right one and, well, so is the rest of her body. i'm very thankful that all the cancer took was her breast . . . it spared me her life.

{source}

so, in the spirit of all things pink & booby-related, please check your girls. raise awareness for the cause. get a mammogram. and, definitely don't think that you're immune because you're young, you have no family history or you're generally in great health. it's cancer, yo. it knows no boundaries. 

*there was no wait & see option for my mom...i just needed to add that for some dramatic effect. promise.

private property.

although malia & i talk about things, i bought this book for her:

{source}

as the mom of a soon-to-be ten year old, i was a little reluctant to purchase it.  i mean, when i picked up the book to look through it, the pages fell open to the section on how to insert a tampon.  i'm not ready for stuff like that.  i know my daughter isn't either.

but,

she is growing.  she is changing.  she has questions.  she will have more questions.

puberty is an awkward time.  so, maybe a book will make things easier...for the both of us.

maybe.

last weekend, as she was reading the book, she asked:

mom, why is it called a pub-ick area?  don't they mean public?

{she said pub-ick, not pew-bick}

oh.my.word.

my answer?

because it's most certainly NOT a public area.  no, no.  as a matter of fact, it's private property.

am i really ready for this?  am i?
i'm pretty sure six more gray hairs just sprouted on my head.

transforming.

i went to a yoga class this morning and, at the end of our session, the instructor read this passage from daily om:

the great transformer
loving what you hate

Hatred can be irrational, and it has a greater impact on the individual who hates than the person or object being hated. Yet overcoming hatred is difficult because hatred reinforces itself and causes greater enmity to come into being. The most powerful tool one can use to combat hatred is love. Deciding to love what you hate, whether this is a person, situation, or a part of yourself, can create a profound change in your feelings and your experience. There is little room for anger, dislike, bitterness, or resentment when you are busy loving what you hate. The practice of loving what you hate can transform and shift your emotions from hatred to love, because there is no room for hatred in a space occupied by love.

Granted, it is difficult to forgo judging someone, love your enemy, and seek the good in situations that seem orchestrated to cause you pain or anger. But in deciding to love what you hate, you become one less person adding negativity to the universe. On a simple level, loving what you hate can help you enjoy your life more. On a more complex level, loving what you hate sets you free because you disengage yourself from the hatred that can weigh down the soul. Responding with love to people radiating hatred transmutes their negative energy. You also empower yourself by not letting their negativity enter your personal space. Rather than lowering yourself to the level of their hatred, you give the other person an opportunity to rise above their feelings and meet you on the field of love.

Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Loving what you hate sends a positive, beautiful energy to people while spreading peace and harmony throughout the planet. Instead of reinforcing hatred, you become an advocate for love. Hatred responds to hate by causing anguish. But hatred responds to love by transforming into blissful peace.

{source}

eyes closed, muscles relaxed & in the corpse pose...i listened.  and listened.  i was nearly moved to tears.  was i already reaping the relaxation benefits of yoga?  or, was my mind simply open & receptive to such an intimate look at hate?  i think it was a little bit of both.  and, as i listened, i realized just how consumed i was with hate.  hatred has been building up within me for the last few years.  i know where it stems from.  i know what caused it.  one day, i'll be able to forgive.  one day, i'll be able to let it all go.  i'm slowly learning to release myself from such negative energy. 

one day, i'll find blissful peace.

{source}

feel your girls.

{photo credit} 

i think we all know that october is breast cancer awareness month.  but, if you ask me, every month should be breast cancer awareness month.

boobies.  ta-tas.  titties.  melons.  breasts.  knockers.  hooters.  jugs.  tits.  headlights.  bosoms.  girls.  

whatever you call them, take care of them.

feel them.  get to know them.

every month.  after your period. 

in the shower.  on your bed.  in the mirror.

just touch them.

{photo credit}

early detection is key.  it's a curable cancer if found soon enough.

unfortunately, it's still very much a killer.

and, it's not just a girl thing.  although it's rare, men can develop breast cancer, too.

{photo credit}

this month, think pink. 

i know i will.

breast cancer is near & dear to me. 

although i have not had any genetic testing done, i have gone to a genetic counseling session.  numerous cancers run in my family, but breast cancer hits closest to home. 

my mother battled breast cancer and won.  she hasn't hit the five year mark yet, but the anniversary is close.  her sister was not as fortunate.

{photo credit}

my mother's battle with breast cancer taught me that we are all vulnerable.

it also taught me that losing a breast doesn't make you any less of a woman.

seeing her mastectomy scar frightened me.  my father held me, encouraged me to go to my mother & ask to look at it.

my children got to live & learn first hand what it was like to know & love someone with cancer.

there were no secrets.  there was no sugar-coating the truth.

breast cancer is and always will be a part of my life.

---

on october 16th, lis & i are participating in race for the cure.  we've formed a {small} team.  please help support us as we run/walk our way through a 5k race.

twittering for ta-tas

please consider donating or even joining our team.

you don't have to be in our area to join our team - there is a "sleep in for the cure" option that counts towards team membership.

thank you.

self-medication.

if you've been reading the private blog shell said what?!, then you know what i am referring to.

i've been trying to take a more active, more holistic approach to my health & well-being.  i'm fortunate to have a friend & co-worker whose family believes in holistic care and i am very appreciative that he has shared some insight with me.

he knows a lot about what is going on with me personally {it's always nice to have someone unbiased to talk to} and yesterday i approached him & asked him to give me some alternatives to being a slave to a prescription pill.*

1. diet - he told me to take stock of my eating habits & to look for deficiencies.  i believe we are a relatively healthy family when it comes to cooking & eating.  we shop smart. we eat fresh veggies pretty much on a daily basis and, if fresh isn't an option, then the frozen veggies in our freezer come to our rescue.  we don't have soda in our home {much to adam's dismay}.  we drink lots of water.  we eat fruit.  but, when i get sad, i have a tendency to binge on sugars & carbs.  i've jokingly said in the past that i haven't met a carb i didn't like...it's my favorite food group.  according to my friend, acute depression is the result of a b-complex or cal-mag {calcium-magnesium} deficiency.
   i started taking a cal-mag supplement {with vitamin d} yesterday.  i plan on adding a b-complex supplement to my diet this weekend.
   
   
2. chamomile or mint tea - more than one person suggested a nice, warm cup of chamomile.  it's a natural soother.  duh.  my mother drinks {green} tea on the regular.
   
   
   
   
   {source}
   
   "there is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea." ~ bernard-paul heroux {1900's basque philosopher}
   
   
3. massage - my friend suggested that i get a deep tissue/stress relief massage.  the massage therapist he recommended to me offers relaxation massage, too.  relaxation: i definitely need some of that in my life.  the massage therapist is located in a chiropractor's office.  i should probably see the chiropractor, too {for other reasons}.
   
   
4. yoga - my friend hit the nail on the head when he said to me, "there's probably way too little quiet in your life."  there is.  yoga is something i've wanted to try.  i had every good intention of starting a class months ago; however, the financial commitment deterred me.  coincidentally, i was reading our local newspaper online yesterday and found out that a free class is offered at the oceanfront every sunday through august 22nd.  free yoga.  on the beach.  the class is at 6:45 a.m., but for the relaxation & peace of mind, i'll be there {any local friends want to join me??}.
   
   
   
   
   {source}

so far, i've only done points 1 & 2.  i started taking a cal-mag supplement yesterday at dinner and i ended my day with a cup of chamomile tea.  i hope to incorporate points 3 & 4 into my life this weekend.

we'll see how these four things help me along as i try to regain control of my inner self.

is there anything that you do to try and keep balance & sanity in your life?  suggestions?  words of wisdom?  prayers?

*i have not been to a doctor nor have i been clinically diagnosed with depression.  my friend is not a medical doctor.  his suggestions are merely that...suggestions.  this post isn't meant to knock modern medicine {please, my sister works in the medical field!}.  instead, this post serves as a reminder to me {and, hopefully to you} that there are other ways to finding your inner well-being than by collecting prescriptions.

I joined the movement...

The green monster movement, that is!

Read more about it here.

Have you tried one of these smoothies?
If so, what is your favorite recipe/blend?

For this morning's smoothie {I plan on having these for breakfast during the work week} I stuck with the Virgin Green Monster, but I did add a spoonful of peanut butter. It was - surprisingly - delicious and tasted nothing like spinach...the banana-peanut butter flavor totally came through! Tomorrow, I'm going to try a banana-papaya blend {because I gotta use that bag of Trader Joe's frozen papaya somehow!}. Oh, I did add some flax to it, but I think that maybe I should have just bought some flax seed and not the milled kind from the baking aisle.

We'll see how this all goes...I need to eat healthier & any way that I can get more fiber, veggies and overall goodness into my diet is KEY!

---

Oh, and on a side note {because I feel I deserve to brag just a wee bit}, I haven't had a soda in nearly two weeks. This is a MAJOR feat for me because I am, er, WAS, a Coke-aholic! Don't get me wrong, I'm still getting my fair share of caffeine {baby steps, baby steps!}, but at least it's not by way of sugar-laden, gut poppin' soda!

Summer Vacation Starts WHEN?

Here we are - three days away from the last day of school - and both children were home today thanks to the wretched vomit monster.

I'm happy to report that both children ate well today and nothing was regurgitated. Thank goodness.

However, now I'm listening to a very disgruntled SIX year old crying in his bedroom. Bedtime has always been 8:30pm (give or take a few minutes), but tonight he was just NOT interested in going to bed.

Honestly, I don't even know why he's crying. No fever. No tummy ache. No head ache. No sores, wounds or other bodily injuries. He's not hungry. He doesn't need to use the bathroom. He was kissed & hugged and tucked in. We all said good night. But the crying continues. Still.



Is it wrong of me to be looking forward to next week when both of my children will be away at my parents house? I don't think so.

Turn Your Head & Cough

I'm super, duper frustrated right now with a certain "special someone" in my life who is as stubborn as all get out - especially when it comes to issues concerning his health. No, I'm not griping about the hubs...he's actually on my good side for a change! But, it's someone close to him, too.

I just don't get why men don't take a more active role in their own health care. I mean, you only get ONE SHOT at life. Don't take that single shot for granted - who cares if YOU aren't worried about that nagging cough or that the tingly feeling down your left arm isn't really that bothersome...because it's nagging & bothering me and just about everyone else who cares! Seriously, MEN, take a hint from the ladies...it's OK to talk about what's going on with your health. It's OK to visit your doctor on the regular. It's OK to be "in tune" with your body.

Given how stressful my day has been because of the aforementioned "special someone" I made it my quest tonight to find out exactly WHY it is that men choose not to see a doctor (regularly). I am forever grateful to Google for helping me find this freaking hilarious list put together by Dr. Sharon Orrange over at DailyStrength. What's even more hilarious are the comments that follow her blog post.

*DISCLAIMER - if you're easily offended, a bit of a prude or just lacking in the sense of humor department, then please do not keep reading. I found this list to be funny, but, then again, I am not easily offended, I am far from being a prude and I have a sick (pun intended?) sense of humor. If you are OK with all of this, then continue reading, but you can't say that I didn't warn you!


Men die at higher rates than women for all of the leading causes of death. We know the reasons men give when surveyed about why they avoid the doctor: "I don't have the time; it's too expensive, I'm afraid of what I might find out, I'm fine." Here are the 10 reasons I think men stay away from the doctor. Correct me if I'm wrong.

1) You are afraid we will put our finger in your butt. We will, especially if you are over 40 or have any complaints related to your bowel movements. Yes, you get a rectal exam after the age of 40 once a year for a feel of your prostate and so we can check your stool for microscopic blood that you can't see.
2) You are afraid we will examine your balls. We will, if you are 40 or younger. The peak age for testicular cancer is 18-40 so guidelines recommend you get a once a year testicular exam. Don't worry it won't hurt at all.
3) I feel FINE. I am glad you feel fine, but you can feel FINE with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugars. Your mother or wife won't feel fine when they are taking care of you after you have a stroke. Don't wait until you feel awful to come see us.
4) Going to the Doctor is a chick thing. Many of you feel this way but remember we live longer than you. If doctor visits are a chick thing well, then, nursing homes are a guy thing. You have to get over this. It's true the waiting room magazines are not for guys but when you come see us you will see that many of the medical assistants, doctors, phlebotomists and medical records folks are men. Real men go to doctors.
5) You are embarrassed to talk about what's going on with you. The bright red blood on the toilet paper when you wipe, the red itchy rash in your groin and on your feet, the problems you have at times getting a boner, getting up at night a few times to pee, we hear it all the time. You are not alone and our job is to show you how common this is and help fix it for you.
6) You don't find the office hours convenient. I get this and urge you to find a doctor who is accessible and can work around your office hours. Seriously though, the average guy watches 16 hours of TV a week, you can come for a 30 minute visit once a year and maybe a couple follow up visits as needed.
7) Going to the Doctor is giving in to your nagging wife. I had a patient who gave his wife for her 20th anniversary a copy of his Lipitor prescription, thinking this was a GIFT to his wife that he was taking care of his medical issues. It is true, women rightly so nag their dads, brothers and husbands to go to the doctor because they are tired of square dancing with other women at the assisted living facilities.
8) You don't realize we are here for prevention. You don't have to be sick to come see us and if you establish a relationship with us you have easy access when you do get sick. Once a year we can touch base with you to discuss age appropriate screening which we KNOW helps you stay well.
9) You don't have a relationship with a physician. If you are not attached to a regular physician by the age of 40 you are more likely to get in trouble. Unlike women who need annual pap smears and contraception, you haven't had to see someone regularly from the age of 18-30. Find someone your friends use or enlist your partners help to find someone that might be a connection. You want someone accessible and younger physicians are much more likely to email so look until you find the right match.
10) You think we will pick on you for your habits. Drinking a 12 pack on the weekends, not exercising and eating bad foods, among other things. These things are not as uncommon as you might expect. We will put you on a long leash and let you pick and choose the habits to get rid of as needed.

(article source)

BRACE FACE - The Introduction

I think it’s safe to assume that all of us have had some sort of experience with braces. Did you wear them? Did your siblings or friends wear them? Did you wish you wore them? Do you have kids in braces currently? Will your child(ren) need braces? No matter what you answered to any of those questions, I think you will enjoy the series of discussions I have lined up for the next few days. I’ve teamed up with Rachel at American Pop – her company is working with the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) – and we are going to talk about any and all things braces (and oral care)!

Did you know?

• Early or late loss of baby teeth may indicate a child’s need for braces.


• The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontist by no later than age 7.


• Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align & straighten teeth.


• Mouth guard use is very low – 67% of parents surveyed said that their child does not wear a mouth guard – yet, 70% said that their biggest fear when their child plays organized sports is that they will get hurt.

I would love to hear about your thoughts on braces. After all, this is a discussion and part of the fun is sharing our stories & experiences with one another. As a parent, I know I am dreading that inevitable day when I have to put my own children in braces – trust me, I know it’s coming because our family dentist has already said so and a consult with an orthodontist will happen this year (at some point) for both of my children. I remember my days in braces – I think just about every other girl in junior high school wore them – some days were better than others, but what a feeling of joy & relief when I finally got them taken off!

As an incentive, I have decided to jazz things up a bit -- all comments made during the “Brace Face” discussion series will be entered to win a pretty sweet gift. I love cookbooks (and I am really thinking about adding these to my collection) and what a better gift to give away than a set of cookbooks specifically for those in braces, The Braces Cookbook & The Braces Cookbook 2. In a later discussion, I will be featuring some recipes from these books...and you don't need braces to enjoy them! In the meantime, participate…and you just might be the lucky winner of these two books!

Can I Get A Baseline?

Friday’s appointment with the genetic counselor went well. The most difficult part of the whole appointment was the homework I had to do PRIOR to my appointment. I was required to bring with me to my immediate family's medical history - more specifically, whether or not anyone has been diagnosed with cancer. A few phone calls later and after I had copied some of my mother's paperwork (she's been there, done that with this whole genetic counseling/testing thing), I knew more about my family’s health history than I ever thought I would want to know. I suppose it’s a good thing because it IS pretty damn important to know what types of illnesses have afflicted or are currently affecting your family.

Anyway, my mother & I went to the oncologist’s office…I normally go to the 2nd floor where the gynecologic oncologists hang out, but this time I stayed on the 1st floor where everyone else goes. It was pretty humbling sitting in the waiting room. There I was sitting with my mother while people are being brought in and out on wheelchairs, reading the newspaper wearing pretty scarves on their heads or walking in clutching the arm of a loved one. Some looked rather tough and others were quite frail looking. Being there made me thankful that I still had my mother sitting next to me and that her cancer was caught early enough that my mother fought back aggressively (I mean, a single mastectomy is pretty darned aggressive in my book).

When we met with the genetic counselor, we went over my family history starting with my children, then my parents & sister, then my parents’ parents & their children, cousins, nieces, nephews and so on. We even talked about members of my extended family. After about an hour of talking, asking questions and nodding heads, the genetic counselor entered my information into the computer and basically read me my cancer fortune, if you want to call it that. Based on my mom’s “no mutations found” result of her genetic test, it was determined that my mom’s breast cancer was sporadic and not hereditary and, therefore, I would not need any further genetic counseling/testing. The computer basically told me that I was right on track for any other normal female of my age and that my chances of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer were in the “normal” range…meaning, as I get older, my chances for developing the cancer becomes greater, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary. While these computer-generated results do offer me a sense of relief, I am still a bit skeptical because it’s just a statistical model. My mother’s sister passed away from breast cancer 12 years ago. That’s two out of five sisters from the same family who were affected. Could there be some hereditary significance? Maybe, but we’ll never REALLY know because my mom had genetic testing done that said there was nothing wrong and her sister passed away long before any tests could determine one's destiny with breast cancer.

At any rate, it was suggested to me to go ahead and start the screening process. I mean, monthly self-exams can only tell so much, right? (My mom's cancer was detected after two mammograms...a self-breast exam didn't detect the cancer...and it was only at the insistence of one of my mom's doctors that they re-did the mammograms and they actually found something...not everyone is lucky enough to have a doctor who will actually advocate for the patient.) The genetic counselor recommended that I get a baseline mammogram this year since I’m only 10 years younger than the age of my mother’s sister when she was diagnosed. If all goes well, a normal baseline will give my doctor’s a good gauge of what my "normal" is and I won’t have to get another one done for a couple years. The easy part is getting the mammogram scheduled. The prospect of smashing my itty, bitty girls between two cold slabs of metal is the part that stresses me out. Of course, the inconvenience and the temporary discomfort is just one of the necessary evils us women have to endure in order to make sure we’re staying healthy. Surely a digital picture of my boobs is much more comfortable than going to the va-jay-jay doctor for a well-woman exam, right?!

CHECKING ON THE GIRLS?

I'm going to see my oncologist tomorrow.

I haven't seen him in a couple years...I haven't had to. But, I'm going to visit him tomorrow to talk. To talk to him about what my options are and what he feels is best for me to do as an almost 32 year old woman who hails from a family with a history of breast cancer. My mom's sister died from it. My mom fought the battle with it just over two years ago. She lost a breast, but she won. I'm already playing with fire because I have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer than most women. Two surgeries by two (gynecological) oncologists in the last eight years might not seem like much to most, but seeing as how cancer - and not just breast cancer - has taken so many from my family, well, I feel like I need to do something.

For me personally, doing a monthly breast exam just doesn't seem reassuring enough. I don't know if genetic testing is in my future. My mother, oddly enough, doesn't think that I should do it and really doesn't think that it will be offered to me (her genetic testing was done AFTER her diagnosis of breast cancer and, wouldn't you know it, her test came back inconclusive). I've always said that you'll never know a thing if you don't ever ask...so that is what I'm going to do tomorrow. Ask. Ask questions. Ask many questions. I don't necessarily like the idea of having a way to find out my fate, but in a situation like this I'd rather not be blind-sided by my own body.


Update since the appointment:
I meet with a genetic counselor next month. My parents will be attending the appointment with me. Hopefully, we'll know more about what my options are once we meet with the counselor.

Must. Have. Some. Self. Control.

Ha!

Self-control...what in the hell is that?

I sure don't have any of it, especially when it comes to things like, oh, shopping, bitching and eating. Eating. It's been my downfall lately. Well, not so much eating, but snacking. I like to snack. Very much. I snack while working. I snack while fixing dinner. I snack at 9pm while watching television. I'm ashamed to admit that I've even snacked in bed.

I don't know if it's like a permanent PMS thing I've got going on -- ya know, hormone-related crap. I don't know if it's because I work in an office full of chocolate-addicted women -- could be. I don't know if it's the weather -- because this warm, cold, sunny, cloudy pattern sucks.

I just don't know!

What I do know is that my eating habits have turned to crap (and it's good to know I'm not alone...go read J-Ko's latest blog entry, "Sex and the Mommy"). I mean, just yesterday afternoon I was stuffing Thin Mints into my mouth as I'm sauteeing broccoli in olive oil and garlic (hey, at least I was fixing a healthy side for dinner, right?). Girl Scout cookies should be listed as the 8th deadly sin...am I the only one who thinks this? The other day I opened the freezer for a sweet treat and I totally bypassed the frozen strawberry popsicle things for an ice cream sammich. Oh, did I fail to mention that this was like around 9:30 at night? Yeah. Yesterday, for lunch, I rekindled my love affair with Taco Bell and gorged myself on soft taco supremes...I saved the bean burrito I bought for today's lunch. Earlier this week I had a #1 from Wendy's and today I totally devoured some waffle fries from Chick-Fil-A after I already had lunch. Shoot --this whole month has just been bad. I mean, a beer binge in Mexico, eating my weight in meat at the Brazilian restaurant in Atlanta, pizzas from Pizza Hut for dinner...no wonder my energy level is next to nothing and my muffin top is looking oh, so fab.

Something's gotta give...but not after we have ice cream cake tonight for my daughter's birthday. Tomorrow's another day, right? A new beginning. The perfect time to start working on that self-control. Maybe.

Today is just a cool day

A view of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as thousands

upon thousands await the inauguration of our 44th President,

Barack Obama.

I can't take credit for the photo posted above. It's from MSNBC's website. I've got some live video streaming right now on the computer. Today is quite an exciting day! What makes today even more exciting is the fact that my children, who are only 5 and 7 years of age, know what is going on and know who Barack Obama is. In fact, during their school's mock election, both kidlets voted for Obama. My daughter's reasoning was pretty straight forward -- she just liked him better than McCain. I think it was maybe because Obama's name is just cooler sounding. My son, however, was very honest and said that the ONLY reason he voted for Obama is because his wife's name is Michelle and his daughter's name is Malia -- just like Aidan's mom and sister. :)

Fresh World

So we ventured out on Saturday afternoon to a new grocery store that we had heard about from family & friends. It's a multicultural grocery store called Fresh World (googling them only gives reviews on the stores in the NoVa, D.C., Maryland area). The store is located in the old Kroger building at the shopping center at Princess Anne Road & Lynnhaven Parkway. You know...the one with the Super Wal-Mart and the parking lot so crazy retarded that they have a rent-a-cop directing traffic...yes, that shopping center. Don't worry, though, getting to and from the Fresh World store isn't nearly as stressful as heading to the Wally World on the opposite end of the shopping center.

Anyway, the grocery store isn't completely stocked yet and there are signs everywhere saying that beer & wine sales are coming soon (ABC licenses take time, people!), but there is just so much to look at! Their produce section was phenomenal. I don't know how many times we circled the produce. We sniffed the Durian fruit (phew!) and touched Indian Bittermelon (the thought of all those bumps still gives me the heebie jeebies). We got our usual staple of onions and potatoes, but this time we purchased Spanish onions and purple (Peruvian) potatoes. The kids are gonna like the purple taters. There was Kim Chee galore!! Needless to say, we bought a bag of it...yes, a bag...I think it was at least 2 pounds. We're splitting that with family.

There was a ton of fresh seafood...they had tanks of lobster and tilapia swimming around. They also had a ton of already caught fish that were ready for cleaning by the fishmongers. Beef, chicken and pork were plentiful along with any necessary parts that you enjoy. Their frozen foods section carried a lot of ethnic specific treats as did their dry goods section. You could also pick up your favorite "American staples," too. We did need milk and eggs and opted NOT to go to Wally World if we were already at the store so we settled for some brown eggs and a half-gallon of milk that did not have any of the growth hormone in it...it's a bit of a stretch for us since we buy our milk and eggs organic but it was a good compromise to avoid the chaos of the parking lot and a trip to Wal-Mart.

We have so much yummy food in our fridge right now. Adam has already marinated some thinly cut ribeye steaks in Bulgogi sauce. The Kim Chee has been divided. I've already devoured my two red bean mochi cakes (I had the pink ones). I am hoping that I'll head back to the store today for more...after all, my mom is on her way down for a visit and she's never been there. The only drawback was that they didn't take American Express...and we had an American Express gift card we wanted to use. Ah, well.

OH! It's not just Asian food...they have a big selection of Hispanic favorites as well as Peruvian foods, Jamaican foods, etc. I'm anxious to see their beer selection once it's up and running...I'll be a happy, happy girl if I can get Leon in the states...I'm not holding my breath, though.

You are aware of the cost, right?

No.

I wasn't.

Aidan had an appointment with the dermatologist on Wednesday to discuss the molluscum (or is it mollusca if it's more than one??) on his back. It's nothing nasty or gross...it's just something kids get. It's a viral thing and it's related to the wart family and it has just been a pain in our rear ends for quite some time now.

The Differin that our pediatrician gave us to use wasn't working...it was just irritating his already sensitive skin. So, after seeing my dermatologist, Aidan was given a prescription for Alavera...or is it Alevera...it's NOT Aloe Vera. Apparently it's a new cream and it's suppose to work like a charm.

I took the prescription to Wal-Mart last night on the way home from work and went back today to pick it up (our Wal-Mart pharmacy is swamped...'tis the season!). I was expecting to have maybe a $20 co-pay...$40 tops. Well, whenever anyone asks you if you are aware of the cost you know that the next sentence isn't going to be good.

No.

I wasn't aware of the cost...all $105 of it. Yes. One hundred and five dollars. One. Oh. Five. For some cream. Cream that is in single-use packets. Aidan's prescription is for double the usual dose of 12 "caplets." That's a lot of money for some cream. A lot.

I didn't get it. I called Adam and he said to go for it, but I opted to call our insurance company for a list of the different drug tiers (the pharmacist called it something else but I don't remember the actual term she used). I plan on calling our insurance tomorrow and then I'll call the dermatologists office to see if there is an alternate cream/medication Aidan can use that won't be so tough on the wallet. If all else fails, then we'll take a holistic approach (which maybe we should have in the first place) and head to the Heritage store for some natural remedy.

I've got that detached feeling...

MEDICINE HEAD!

This is what I get for swigging a couple teaspoons of Benadryl last night around midnight. I'm STILL feeling the effects of the meds. Crazy stuff!

Is there a method to my madness?

I am stoked. I just found a blog that is 100% about Method. I have been buying Method products off and on from Target for a while now. I love the products and love what they stand for. True, my house isn't 100% green or eco-friendly, but I'm on my way. If you're curious, really, give Method a try. They aren't just glass cleaners and laundry detergent....they're (as cliche as it sounds) so much more!

I'm being punished.

Along with everyone else who went to dinner last night. Well, almost everyone.

We went out to celebrate my FIL's birthday and we had dinner reservations at a very lovely restaurant near the water here in Virginia Beach. We had looked over the menu earlier in the afternoon (gotta love the Internet!). We knew what we wanted...even right down to our drinks.

Dinner came and went. The wine was a-flowin' and the warm, crusty bread was heavenly. (It's actually the only thing I don't regret eating last night.) The ice cream cake topped off the night.

This morning, I'm (un)happy to report that there were seven, yes, SEVEN of us (and there were only 12 of us at dinner) who all shared the same tummy woes. It wasn't the wine. It wasn't the other drinks. Nothing was done in excess (not in my eyes at least). Obviously, something did not set right or someone has the wretched tummy bug. No one can pin-point it -- we all ate different appetizers and entress. I guess for now we will all just have to deal with it. Unfortunately. But, this, too, shall pass. (Yes, the pun IS intended.)

This quitter is gonna win!

I smoke.

It's a shocking surprise for some and no secret for others. I don't smoke daily. Hardly ever while I am at home. HOWEVER, if I am at work, around another smoker or if I am indulging in an ice cold alcoholic beverage, well, I turn into a human chimney.

I don't want to do it anymore. I just don't want to. My lack of willpower scares me, though. And, of course, it does not help matters that I have a husband who smokes, too. But,

I WILL DO THIS!

I will. There are three cigarettes left in my pack and after that there will be no more.