Saturday, February 28, 2009

Freebies

No gimmics, no spam, scam or jumping through hoops. I've done the research already!

Free True Lemon Drink Mix

Free Splenda Sample

Free Betty Crocker Coupon Book (If you sign up for their Dinner made easy free program)

Free Emmerson House Coffee

Free Dunkin Donuts Dark Coffee

Free Minutemaid Juice Coupon

Free Gain Laundry


Free Tide Total Care

Free Bathroom Tissue

Free sample Dove Lotion

Please leave me a note to let me know if you took advantage of these. I just may post more often! Enjoy.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Speaking of Grandmothers

I was reading my email this morning and came across information about a contest that was being held by CVS pharmacy about Caregivers. I thought It would be appropriate to share my story here.

My Parents were good people. Very hard working, family oriented people. They made sure we had a good life and in many ways they dragged us up through middle class by their dedication and hard work. We went to private schools and had new clothes twice a year and also went on yearly vacations. My story, however, isn't about my Parents. It is about the woman who cared for my sisters and me every summer and weekend and sick day from school; My Grandmother.

As I said, my Parents were good, but they were alcoholics. Although my Grandmother was dirt poor, had very little in the way of material things, her home was like a haven. We loved going there. My Grandmother was loving and looking back it seems she was full of laughter and in her home and in her care we felt comfort and safety and love. We would be allowed to experiment with baking and cooking which my Mother wouldn't allow because she was afraid we would burn the house down or something. My Grandmother would play baseball with us in her backyard. My Parents sent us to Private School but my Grandmother took us to church.

My Parents home had air conditioning and yet partially by choice, we would spend every summer with Grandma, who had none. Oh, I can remember many nights by the open window praying for the slightest of breezes to come through-and not ONCE did I say I wanted to go home where there was air conditioning. Not once. It never even occurred to me. As poor as my Grandmother was, I never realized it. We ate well, we played often and we were safe and loved.

This continued throughout my life and luckily, my oldest Son got to know his Great-Ma (which is what we called her) and he grew to love her just as much. She absolutely adored my Son. I can remember she would sing to him (singing is not something our family is well known for) and he would just start bawling! She would laugh and start to sing again.

As my Grandmother got older, she was afflicted with Arthritis. We were aware of it but she never really made too big of a deal about it. Looking back, I realize how much pain she was in. I can honestly say that until her last day, Grandma put us first. At one point, she had had a stroke, a leg amputated, her diabetes was out of control and she was facing another surgery. We literally had to sit down beside her before surgery and tell her it was okay if she was tired and wanted to go home to be with the Lord. We told her she had done a wonderful job with us and she need not worry about us if she wanted or needed to leave. Grandma didn't leave us just then, but it was soon after. I honestly believe she was holding on for us. Her life had been a hard one and I know that in more ways than one she went through hell. Yet, when I remember her, I remember the smiles, the laughter, and the fun. My Grandmother was one of the greatest influences of my life and I hope my own Grandchildren think of me in somewhat the same light.

Thanks for reading.

By the way, if you post your story on the link I gave you, you have a chance to win $10,000 - 25,000. Thought I'd let you know.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Back to work!

I'm afraid I've bogged myself down so much these past few months I've neglected my blogs. I've been working on my other blog Thrifty Home and I've been working on my Pet Rescue Column on The Examiner. Now I need to concentrate on this blog.

I'm still loving being a Grandma, even though the kiddos live with me. They delight me in ways I never dreamed possible. Their smiles light up my life and give meaning to days that I'd rather stay in bed.

I'm going to be starting a newsletter for this blog soon, so I need your input. What sorts of things would you like to see here? General stories, information, recipes? I'd appreciate some of your thoughts on the subject.

Grandma's are no longer taking to their front porch rocking chairs (at least not without their laptops!) Many of us are on the go, internet savvy Grandma's who at least try to keep up with the times. We are still very productive in society in our own way, be it online, offline or both. We've learned from our past and still look forward to our future. We're the NEW AGE GRANDMA'S. Join me as we celebrate (and sometimes commiserate) with each other in this exciting time in our lives.

I have a website all ready to be hosted and set up for when this blog grows into what I hope will be an active Grandparent community. Maybe some Mom's will even stop by! I welcome your comments and suggestions, and thanks for hanging in there. I'll be putting up a new sign up box for newsletters, so even ifyou have signed up before, please do so again. It will say "NEW Newsletter sign up.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Grandma's gone Virtual!

Well, this may surprise a lot of you (I know it did me!) but THIS grandma is going virtual. I have so many things going on and I run out of hours in the day before I get anything completed!

I've hired a coach who should help me focus and I've also hired a Virtual Assistant to help with some things. I'm in the process of narrowing down which blogs/sites I can connect and what will have to go.

I have tons of recipes and I know that I will be putting them together in files and selling them CHEAP so stay tuned for that.