Update: ACV and other things I have learned!

Holy cow! (No there is actually not a holy cow anywhere in the vincity.. that I know of, its just a phrase people, just a phrase.) I have been pleasently surprised to learn that ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar, check out my last post if you need clarification to what on earth I am talking about!!) Really is a cure-all. That terriblely painful UTI that I had?  Completely gone. No more problems. I took it roughly 3 times a day in the V8 Mixture, adding a little lemon juice each time = no pain, and completely gone.  I am impressed.  So over the past week I have been doing tons of research on ACV and it's curing properties.

ACV has been around since 400BC. Originally found for curing different ailments in the body. Okay, great. History is awesome, it really is but what we really want to know is WHAT can vinegar do right? Here is a short list:

• Cure UTI's (I am proof to this!)
• help manage Diabetes
• weight loss
• Cures Acid Reflux
• helps in the beautify department: hair, nails, skin etc.
• helps to make warts disappear
• Helps with hot flashes
• gets rid of fleas, ticks on animals
• Helps animals skin conditions, 

ETC ETC ETC!!!


That's alot, but there is so much more, of course I am sure you know that you can clean with Vinegar right? If you didn't, you do now.  Right now, I have 2 spaghetti jars filled with Orange peels and White vinegar.  You're supposed to leave them for 10 days, which I have done, and its supposed to make an excellent cleaner... Which is does! It also smells so much better than the cleaners you get at the store, it's non toxic to children and pets but it is toxic to that nasty bacteria like E Coli and such.  Not to mention that it saves me a ton of money! I go through cleaners like crazy, usually I end up spending around 20 dollars a month on cleaners, But a big huge bottle of White Vinegar is only 3 dollars at walmart, and then you have the oranges, which I buy anyway for the kids. It works out perfectly!

I have been on a mission to find ways to save money. One of those ways is to make my own detergents, cleaners, etc. So in the next few blog posts I will be doing just that! Hope you all have a great week!  Enjoy!

Drugstore Diva's Giveaway

Drugstore Diva's is giving away a pretty awesome gift bag of Nimble Balance Bars for women and several other goodies!  Go check it out at...

http://drugstoredivas.net/2012/06/18/review-giveaway-balance-bar-nimblequickie-chick/

They sound yummy! So check it out- Also make sure you check out Drugstore Diva's site.  She is pretty awesome and has lots of great tips and tricks!  (Not to mention a great resource for couponers!)

Cure for UTI's? Can it be? A Cure all for just about anything???

The bane of my existence just happens to be Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). For anyone who has never had one, it is a terrible burning, need to pee feeling that doesn't go away.
Me: Outta my way! I gotta pee!  ahhhhhhhhhhh... ow ow ow damn't I have a UTI
Bladder: haha bitch!
Me: ok call doctor, get antibiotics and funky sulfur pills that turn my pee orange. Get up, start to walk out of bathroom and...
Bladder: Hey you! You gotta pee again, turn around and get back on that toilet, stay there all day!

That is the average argument I have with myself EVERY time this happens.  UTI's are dangerous. If you let an infection go without getting it taken care of- the bacteria will travel from your bladder to your kidneys, therein causing a mass infection of painfully epic proportions.  Okay enough of the anatomy lesson.  Needless to say that are very painful and make you pee a lot. Wait, correction make you feel like you have to pee a lot, because you actually don't have to pee very much when you have the infection.

Now a lot of people claim the best thing to do is go to the doctor, get antibiotics and sulfur pills, drink lots of cranberry juice to flush out your body... All that is great, really it is. Yet what about those people who do not have health insurance or are afraid that taking all these antibiotics are going to give way to super resistance bacteria. I prefer the more natural, saving money way.

About a month ago, I woke up with the need to urinate so bad that I thought I was going to pee my pants. Jumped up and ran to the bathroom. After the initial "ahhh" feeling, came the burning, ohmygod hold your breath the pain is unbearable feeling. I went to wipe and of the toilet paper was covered in blood. The toilet water was red from the amount of blood in my urine.  I went to Urgent care, they gave me antibiotics, and I started them immediately. The bad news is: it came back.

A couple weeks later I felt the burning sensation again. I almost started crying. Money is tight, and I cant afford these constant trips to the doctor for this. But I also didn't want to be running to the bathroom every five minutes either.  So I did what any other poor broke student and mother would do.. I got online and did my research.  More than once I ran into the miracle cure... Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).

Really?  Something I have always used in my laundry, is a miracle cure for just about everything from weight loss to UTIs?  hmmm. Alright, I'm desperate.  There are about a hundred different ways to take the ACV, from capsules to drinking mixed with water or for the very brave those who can slam it down straight! (Can we get those people a freaking medal please?) Most recipes called for mixing the ACV with water and honey and sipping throughout the day.  I decided to try something else.

2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
1 1/2 Tablespoons 100% Lemon juice
Mixed with a nice tall glass of V8 Splash Berry Blend

MMM, now that was good. It has just a tiny kick to it. but overall awesome.  Within 15 minutes the feeling of having to constantly urinate was GONE!!! It has been several hours now, and there has been no more pain.  Holy crap. The best thing to do is to keep drinking clear fluids, and that is what I intend on doing for the next few days, and taking this awesome ACV mix 3 times a day until all symptoms are gone. UTI's are usually around for a week once the antibiotic treatment starts, so I will continue the ACV mix that long! I will keep you all posted!

Did I mention that I have also been getting a stuffy nose and a cough? Since I took the ACV mix, my nose has cleared up and I can breathe now, as well as the incessant need to cough has diminished greatly! I am impressed.  How have I not heard about the curing properties of this before?  It is also supposed to help with weight loss, diabetes, high cholesterol, and blood pressure issues. Of course you should always talk to your doctor before starting any homeopathic remedy.  I will keep you all updated as to whether this "miracle cure" really works, and for the budget conscious and frugal person you can't beat the price!

I look forward to hearing other's points of view on the subject, and if anyone has any additional information. Also if you do try it for a medical condition, I would love to hear your results!

Dreams of Velcro, Potty Training, and Cooking

Ever thought about putting a ton of velcro on the wall, and the other part on your kids... and just stick them to the wall?  I believe I am at that point today. Alright, I will drop the act. I am at that point every single day. Some days it is not so bad, but then again, in retrospect it probably is just as bad but the following day makes me think not so much. Oh and don't forget the duct tape! I would give just about anything to be able to put all my kids on the wall... then duct tape their mouths! Can't talk, can't scream, can't fight, kick, or bite. YES!  Of course, I would do this if I wasn't so afraid of child protective services coming to take away my children... although they would probably just start paying me to take the kids back. Yes, they are that bad sometimes.

Take my youngest for example. He is 4 years old, has ADHD and has significant signs of Aspergers (Autism), He has a few developmental delays that impair his speech and bathroom functions. In other words he tends to shit his pants in the most messy way possible. Mind you he does this in secret so you don't realize it happened until it stinks so bad you need to have a perpetual gas mask glued to your face to see through the green haze following him around. It has become so tiresome to constantly drag out the wipes, and have him bend over to wipe around all those areas. Then the task of finding new clothes for him to wear, which you know is futile since they will be wet and or shitty again in a matter of hours.  He has been getting better going potty in the toilet, but number 2?  yeah, nope.  Please someone tell me I am not doomed to be wiping shitty ass for the rest of my life, that he grows out of this and my life will be so much more fulfilling!

Right this minute I am currently trying to cook a Spinach Quiche that my sister in law Jessica makes all the time. it is supposed to be simple and I know its yummy.  So, We shall see how well this turns out shall we? I have decided I will even take pictures as I go along!  Here is the recipe so you can follow along!

Jessica's Spinach Quiche

1 unbaked pie shell

3 T. margarine 
1/4 t. pepper 
2 eggs 
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed 
3/4 t. salt 
1 c. heavy cream 
1/2 c. sharp cheddar

Prick pie shell and back for 15 mins at 400 degrees.  In skillet, melt butter. Squeeze spinach to remove moisture. Mix spinach, salt, and pepper in skillet. Beat eggs with cream and stir into skillet. Pour into pie shell. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.



First we melt down the butter

Then we add the spinach, I didn't have frozen spinach, but I have plenty of fresh, so i am just going to let it cook down. I also added the salt and pepper.

Then we add the heavy cream and eggs!

Stir it around for a moment, then pour into the glass pie plate. Okay okay, by this time you have probably figured out that I don't have any pie crust. Your right, so sue me.  I was too lazy to run to the store today, so we are having Crust-less spinach quiche. Anyway!

I had a little fun with the spinach, making a design with it. I was bored.

And then we add the cheese and wallah! It is time to go into the oven! Wait a very long 30 minutes, and we come out with this!

Now, doesn't that look amazing?! I can promise it's going to taste even more amazing!!  Now, the question is what to cook for tomorrows dinner... I am leaning towards crab cakes... hmmm...

Some days are just Blah!

There are some days I just want to be locked in a padded sound proof room, and start screaming. Get all this anger, pain, and frustration gone. Somewhere I could punch and kick walls and not worry about damage and property values... Hmm, I wonder if I can get Kyle to build me my own little sound proof room... They may just think I am crazy though which if you think about it, they may actually be right.  I need a break- from everything.

So, my ex husband may have a job, so that will be good.  Child support will be a little easier on him hopefully. Its not that I hate him, I really don't. But I do not want to be around him. He has proven time and time again that he cannot handle the kids. I guess that is one thing that I can rely on though.

So I have been stuck watching Sons of Anarchy for the last few hours thanks to my cousin. lucky me. I know I have to get up nice and early in the morning with the kids, so I guess that me watching my show Supernatural is out of the question. No big deal I guess. I am going to be going to bed soon though, just so I can get some sleep.  My mind has been running constantly with things I need to do, things I want to do, and things that are in my prospective mind that I have no intention of doing. I can only hope that soon something will come my way.

I read that putting newspaper in your garden will keep weeds from growing, so I did that and finished up my planting today.  That was a load of fun! I actually made a mud pie, I really miss being a kid. It would have been a load of fun if the kids had been here. I think I will make a mud pit for them. Does that sound hickish? Is hickish even a word? I don't care, it would be fun! There is always something fun to do... Just have to find it :)

As soon as we get some money we will be working on the house, the things that need repairing, the things that don't need to be repaired, but that I want fixed anyway just to say that I can do it. I am a control freak, what can I say? I have this incessant need to control anything and everything around me.. Problem is, so is my cousin. It's a lovingly shitty family trait. Having two control freaks in the same house is never a good idea,   Just as it is never a good idea to have two alpha males in the house...... although equating Cj and Kyle to dogs is pretty amusing... at least I think it is.  Anyway- I am going to find something to eat and then go to sleep. Have a good night ya'll!

Until next time!

Destructive tendencies?

Sorry I haven't been around. The past week has been completely insane- and the fact that I am completely fed up with life. I cant stand the way my life is going right now. Since asking for the divorce, things were going great for awhile. But now, now I feel like I am falling apart, like I can't keep my head above water.  Slowly drowning out my happiness and waiting to see how long it will take.  Good things that have happened this week are: Kathryn has passed Kindergarten, so onto first grade. Dylan has passed Pre-K, so onto Kindergarten.  Caleb will hopefully be going into Pre-K.

My Cousin Cj, his wife Jonelle, and their amazing little baby Corbin have moved in with us.  Hopefully this will help with the money issue once they find jobs. But honestly, so far it hasnt been any different. Kyle has to go in monday to fill out an application and we are fairly certain he has this job. So that will be a huge help, except for the fact that he will be gone during the week, and home on weekends (which I cant stand, but oh well, at least its a paycheck).

Just informed my ex mother in law that I am going for child support, and if Jonathan doesn't pay that the state would go after him, possibly throwing him in Jail, she didn't like that very much, but honestly, I can't do this anymore. Obviously this "wait and see what will fall in my lap approach" to jobs that Jonathan has been doing for the past 4 years is not working. Sometimes I wish he would just get his head out of his ass. But we will see what happens.

The garden is coming along nicely, so that is a huge plus. Hopefully soon we will have some veggies and such that will cut down on the food bill. *I hope* My green thumb isnt so green, brown maybe, but not green- Haha!

Well, Going to clean house in a bit, and work in the garden, try to get things done.  Jonathan has the kids, so it is nice to be able to get things done the way I want to.  Hopefully soon things will start going the way I want them too. Maybe things will start looking up, and I wont have to worry so much.  But stress seems to be a constant right now, and I just want to beat something up, or someone. Taking aggrivation out on my garden does not help so much.  I just want it all to turn out okay. I just want to be happy and almost stress free. Totally stress free is impossible, so I will settle for almost.

Until later, gardening advice, life advice, and any advice is always accepted, always duplicated, and always appreciated!

Pure unadulterated Craziness!!!!

What a week this has been! For starters, lets see...

Got the results back from the doctor on the Biopsy. They found cancer cells, BUT the awesome doctor is pretty sure she got everything.  So, I am happy. No chemo, or anything else.  Fast forward a few days, and I come down with strep throat that turns into a nasty little chest cold. Lucky me. Hence why I have not been around to actually write in my blog. 

School is almost out here, and visions of sleep overs and fun dancing in their darling little heads.  Jonathan has turned into the perfect weekend dad- ie: Taking the kids to the fair, carnival, or whatever else he can to make me seem like that bad guy. But that is okay, because I know that in the end, at least they will be well rounded individuals.

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.

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Okay that's Bull shit. Let's face it, I hate being the mean parent, the one who always says "NO! You cannot build a sky scraper of scrapes and jump off of it!" or "I am not running you to the emergency room if you get hurt! Not this time!" Yeah.. of course I will, but they don't know that. I try to do little things to make life fun for them, but honestly, I feel like I am losing, terribly. But I am doing my best!

I have been working on my garden!  It has been driving me crazy, and yes- I am well aware that it is late in the planting season, but I DONT CARE! Going to do it anyway, and I am going to eat those veggies. so Nyah!  So I am actually going to add some pictures for you today, or try to anyway!  The first one is of the tilled dirt :) 

Behind the dirt you see those vines and bushes? Those are blackberry bushes that managed to find their way to my yard, lucky for me! I have many plans for those :) 

While I was doing all that lovely tilling, I had a nice little surprise jump out at me almost giving me a heart attack...  I actually managed to take a picture as well! 

I was absolutely shocked when I found out how fast my seedlings were sprouting. The second day was when the first shoots appeared. I am so excited! 

Fast forward to day 6... and wow!  I guess I need to start getting them in the ground very very soon huh!!!!

The big ones are pumpkin and Zuchinni!

So yes, I am quite proud of my newly acquired green thumb.. We shall see how well this goes throughout the season.  

Onto other news....

I love my family, I really do.  My cousin, his wife, and his new baby are coming to stay with me until they get up on their feet. This is going to be well, interesting.  Okay, maybe downright scary. They will apparently be here on Saturday, so I will be working on getting things planted in the garden, as well as trying to get this house cleaned. Putting Kathryn's bed and toys in the boys room, and trying to maintain a reasonable amount of composure.... ha. 

I am always on the lookout to make things easier for daily life.  Couponing is a must, but also...freezer meals?  Okay, I'll bite.  Found a great page from a fellow blogger who gives recipes and pretty detailed instructions on what to do!  I think I am going to try this! I will let you all know how it turns out, but to be honest, don't expect many pictures, my life is enough of a trainwreck as it is... But I will try. Check out her site Money Saving Mom, and hope you all enjoy! 

Until next time...

Hakuna Matata!