- Good food, good company, good advice from Grandma

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This post is brought to you by Eli’s Cheesecake

When you want to give a friend or family member a cheesecake gift, you know you are giving the BEST cheesecake if it is from Eli’s. I received a Holiday Sampler Cheesecake from them. It included Gingerbread Cheesecake, Cinnamon Streusel Cheesecake, and Red Velvet Cheesecake. All three flavors were so good! (Unfortunately this sampler is NOT gluten free, but the do carry gluten free cheesecake.)

holoday sampler cheesecake — The Holiday Sampler Cheesecake

This large sampler has 14 slices of cheesecake, so there is enough to share, or to save for later. The Eli’s Cheesecake arrives frozen, so you can take as much or as little as you need to thaw out, and keep the rest in the freezer until you want another taste.

gingerbread cheesecake — Gingerbread Cheesecake from Eli’s

BUY IT: You can purchase Eli’s Cheesecake on their website.

WIN IT: One lucky Fabgrandma reader will win an Eli’s Cheesecake of their choice!

Enter to win using the Giveaway Tools entry widget below. Get up to 20 extra entries by doing the Refer Friends For Entries option! This will send out a unique link to the giveaway for you when you tweet, share on facebook, or email your friends. What an easy way to get more entries!

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Home Remodeling: The Kitchen Cart

Karen · 20 Comments

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The Home Styles Savannah Kitchen Cart

The last time I wrote about the kitchen remodel, I included photos of four kitchen carts we were thinking about buying. I also included a poll, and asked y’all what you thought of them. The overwhelming response to the poll was for this one, the Oak cabinet with wood top and wine rack:

I liked that kitchen cart at first, too, and would have had a place to put wine for sure, but…It has a wood top. And I was looking for something to put next to the stove so that I could put hot pans on it when they needed to come off the stove. So, the kitchen cart we we wound up buying is the white one shown above. It has a stainless steel top, which can take the wear of putting hot pots and pans on it. The white one also matches the stove and refrigerator that are both on that side of the room. I felt that if we tried to get a wood, it would never match the existing cabinets, and would make the room too dark.

savannah kitchen cabinet — The new cabinet matches the stove

About The Home Styles Kitchen Cart and Assembly

The Home Styles Savanna Kitchen Cart has wheels so we can move it easily. It also has two open shelves that are made so that they have spaces between the boards. That will make a good place to store potatoes and onions in baskets. It also has two big drawers, something we needed more of in the kitchen. I like the way it looks there. And if we decide on a different cabinet later on, we can easily use this one in the bathroom for towels and other things.

Home Styles Savannah Kitchen Cart White With Stainless Steel Top — This cabinet adds counter space and work space.

The description of the kitchen cart on Amazon did not say that it had to be assembled. It was delivered in a HUGE box, that sat in our living room for over a week until we felt like putting it together. I wasn’t at home when Fabgrandpa took it out of the box. He said it was packed better than any other thing we have ever bought, with styrofoam sheets between pieces, and some pieces wrapped in bubble wrap. They also sent more screws than we needed. It did take several hours to put together, but we only needed a Phillips head screwdriver, a hammer, and the hex key that came with the kit. It weighs in at 125 pounds, but it can be easily moved on the casters. And, it has a brake on the casters so if you move it around or to another location for a party, it can’t be moved until you take the brake off.

I am already loving the piece, and I think it will last years. Next, I have to put up a new spice rack and a pot rack. It is slowly coming together.

Broan Nutone Range Hood — The cooking area is coming together very nicely.

The Road To Reversal

Karen · 4 Comments

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photo credit: Meadville Medical Services

The next step towards getting my colostomy reversed was to get a Barium enema. The doctor wants to see if I have enough tissue to reconnect. Is so, then I can have surgery to reverse the colostomy. This part really started yesterday, when I had to drink all that disqusting GoLytely stuff. It seemed like it was a gallon of it, and it tasted nasty. I was wondering if I could have put some Tang in it to make it taste better, but I didn’t have any so it didn’t matter. I just finally told myself that it was Alka Seltzer Cold Plus and chugged a glass every ten minutes like they told me to.

After a little while, it started to work. This where it got fun. I had to figure out a way to hold the end of the bag while I took the clip off, and only had one little mishap. And for those of you who have a colostomy and are going through the process to get a reversal, if you do have to have a prep, there is a little while there that it just goes and goes and goes. I had to take a chair into the bathroom so I could sit at the toilet and just let ‘er run.

I finally got all the prep done. We got up early this morning and went over the the radiology department of the hospital. The doctor had told me and my orders stated that I was to have an “air controlled barium enema in rectum and stoma”, but when I got in there, they decided to use gastrografen instead. That was a good thing, because they could use less of it, and it would be less of a problem to clean up afterwards.

I had to get completely undressed and put on two hospital gowns, one on opening in the front, and one on opening in the back, so I was fully covered. Then, up on the stainless steel table that was so cold! But, the lab tech brought me a warmed blanket and that was awesome. Then the fun began. I have to say, I cried like a little girl, tears and boo hooing and all, because that rectal thing hurt so bad. The radiologist said, “Well, you haven’t used that in two and a half years, so it’s going to hurt.” Yeah, but they could have been a little more gentle, and used a bit more KY. That was one of the most painful lab tests I have had done ever, and I hope I don’t have to do it again soon.

When they finished, they put an adult diaper on me, and just so you know, I was glad they did. I did not want to have that stuff all over me to clean up later. Next, they went for the stoma. I was expecting it to hurt like the dickens as well, but it did not hurt at all. I didn’t even feel it. The assistant had to stand next to me and hold the cone in my stoma while they moved the table and the x-ray machine, but we got it all done. I asked the radiologist if I had any guts left, and he laughed and said, “You have plenty. Enjoy your surgery.”

The next appointment is on December 22, with the gastroenterologist, to discuss the surgery options I have. That will hopefully mean that I can have the reversal done, and that it will be done at Emory Hospital, just like the surgeon told me. We’ll see.

Would you go through all of this voluntarily to have surgery to reverse a colostomy if you had one?

New From O-Cedar: Pro Mist Spray Mop Makes Clean Up Easier

Karen · 2 Comments

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CleanForTheHolidays #CollectiveBias

For me, one of the main things I want when having company over for the holidays, is that my house be clean from the floors to the ceiling. If the floor is not clean, grownups notice right away, and babies can’t get down there to play. So, to make it a happy visit for everyone, the first thing I do, before the decorations come out of the closet, is sweep and mop the floors.

Ever since my surgery two years ago, I have not been able to use a traditional mop, the kind that has the yarn head on it, because I can’t perform the actions or movements necessary. The side to side movements are the worst for me. So, I went to Wal-Mart to look for an O’Cedar Pro Mist Mop. The movements used for this one are from front to back, and are a lot easier for an old lady like me. This makes it the best mop for me.

You might think that the O-Cedar mops would be found over in housewares, near the vacuum cleaners, but that is not the case. I found mine in the grocery department, on the aisle where they have cleaning products. That does seem to be the most logical place for it after all! I bought an extra reusable, washable microfiber head and several disposable ones as well. Sometimes I just don’t want to have to deal with a dirty mop.

I found the O-Cedar Pro Mist on Aisle 11 with Bath Tissue and Dish Soap.

When I got home with my O-Cedar Pro Mist spray mop, I was impressed with how easy it was to get ready for use. All I had to do was remove the container from the handle, fill it with water from the tap, then place it back on the handle. The Pro Mist is very lightweight, even when it is full of water. You can add your cleaning products right in the container, too.

I was so excited to have a new mop that I could actually use, that I filled it up with water as soon as I got home, and tried it out in my bathroom. It worked so well, getting all the dirt and leaving only a clean floor.

The O-Cedar Pro Mist Spray Mop, with Reusable or Disposable heads.

When company arrived, my floors were clean and sparkly! It was so fun to have a visit where I did not have to worry about my floors. My little Grandson, Parker, could play all day!

How do you get your house #CleanForTheHolidays ? #CollectiveBias

Charmin and Roto-Rooter: A Great Team To Guarantee No Clogs! #TweetFromTheSeat

Karen · 1 Comment

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I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Charmin. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Have you ever been to a party where it didn’t seem to be safe to flush? Or worse yet, has your own plumbing let you down when you had a party at your house? If so, then you can relate to the embarrassment or fear of flushing. I have a colostomy, and there are times when I just have to use the bathroom, can’t avoid it one minute longer, and if it doesn’t flush, well, it is a major disaster even if if it just for me. I can remember a couple of times, one quite recently, where I have had to go to the owner or clerk of store to tell them that my, uh, well, the uh, toilet didn’t flush. I’m sure they really did appreciate that I told them about it, but I have marked at least two places off my list of places to “go” just so I don’t have to see the people who work there ever again. It is soooo embarrassing to empty that bag, and then have it not flush because the toilet paper clogged the drain!

Well, if you use Charmin Ultrasoft or Charmin Ultrastrong, you won’t ever have to worry about a clogged toilet again. Charmin has teamed up with Roto-Rooter, America’s largest provider of plumbing & drain services, again this year to remind consumers of the clog-free and septic-safe guarantee that only comes with Charmin. Roto-Rooter plumbers recommend Charmin more than any other brand. I never knew that! And, if your toilet clogs from Charmin toilet tissue you can get your money back. I never knew that either, and that is a great guarantee, don’t you think?

With Charmin Ultra Soft and Ultra Strong toilet papers, you can use up to 4X less toilet tissue! That means you buy less, and don’t have to worry about running out so quickly. AND, using less tissue helps with clogging issues as well. How long does your toilet paper last? When was the last time YOU had a clogged toilet? Tell us more at Charmin on Facebook.

Capitol One 360 Black Friday Sale: Give The Gift Of Finacial Peace

Karen · 19 Comments

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For many years, I spent so much on Christmas gifts that I maxed out my credit cards. I may have given everyone on my list a gift, but I only gave myself financial stress. It took all year long to pay all that money back. It was a vicious cycle of debt!

Because of out of control spending, I couldn’t meet my payment dates, and because I missed those payments, late fees were added on to what I owed. It seemed like I would never get out of debt.

Finally, I decided that it was worth more to me to be debt free, and happy, and have money to use every month to spend a little bit on my children than to give them so many gifts during the holiday season. By cutting back on gift giving, and tightening the financial belt in other ways, I was finally able to crawl out of that debt hole.

By making a written record every month, I was able to track bill payments better and get out of debt.

One of the things that I did that helped me get a handle on my debt was to write it all down in a little notebook. I made a page for every account I had that included the name of the account, the address, telephone number, and account number, the due date, and the balance due on the day I started the book. Then, every month, I made a page to record the payments I made for each account, the amount, the date I paid it, any confirmation numbers from paying online, and any other notes such as if I talked to someone at that company to make a payment arrangement, or if I paid more than what was due that month.

By doing this one simple thing, I was able to get in control of my debts, and get all of my accounts up to date, and stop paying late fees. Eventually, I was able to get out of debt completely. This has been such a #FinancialPeace of Mind for me. I still keep track of monthly payments in a little notebook, because it still gives me a good feeling to be able to see at a glance that all the bills have been paid, and paid on time.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and lose sight of the goals we’ve set to help us achieve financial peace of mind. While you may have gifts, greetings and get-togethers on the brain, it’s important not to lose sight of your financial goals. All of Capital One 360’s Black Friday Sale deals are designed to encourage consumers to keep their finances top of mind. In addition to taking advantage of deals on banking, brokerage and mortgage products yourself, you can give your friends and family the gift of financial peace of mind by encouraging them to take advantage of the deals and refer them to the sale. If they sign up, you may be eligible for a $40 referral bonus.

Capital One 360 products are designed to save consumers time and money. From online to our mobile app, Capital One 360 is with customers 24/7.
Capital One 360 Checking and 360 Savings are fee-free and earn interest.
Capital One 360 offers remote deposit capture with Capital One 360’s CheckMate tool and make savings a snap with the Automatic Savings Plan.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Holiday Gift Guide: VTech® Switch & Go Dinos® Turbo Bronco the RC Triceratops™

Karen · 60 Comments

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V-Tech provided product and information for this post.

If your little one is between the ages of 3 and 8 (or even 80) they are going to love this VTech® Switch & Go Dinos® Turbo Bronco the RC Triceratops™. It is a remote control car that changes from a car to a Dino using the remote control! It used 6 AAA batteries (which were not included so I could not make this one switch). If you decide to buy one, DON’T FORGET THE BATTERIES!

The car itself is pretty neat, sort of a combination of a race car with a super-hero look. It switches from a Triceratops into a car, and back again.

Bronco is a 2-in-1 electronic toy that fuses dinosaurs and vehicles into one awesome play experience. With the push of a button on his remote control, Bronco transforms from a fierce triceratops to a sleek race car. Use the remote control to move forward, backward, left and right in both vehicle and dino modes. You can even use the turbo charge lever to charge his turbo boosters. Then, press the turbo boost button to give him a burst of speed! Press the buttons on the remote to turn on his headlights, hear realistic sound effects and learn cool dino facts. Bronco’s LCD screen displays cool customizable dinosaur eyes and driver animations.

Your child can customize the screen display on the remote control to show cool dinosaur eyes and driver animations. And, the vehicle/dinosaur “talks”, giving fun dino facts and wild sounds.

VTech® Switch & Go Dinos® Turbo Bronco the RC Triceratops™ has a suggested retail price of $44.99. You can find it Amazon.com for less.

One lucky Fabgrandma reader will win one. Just use the Giveaway Tools form to enter. Good Luck!

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New For The Holidays From Glutino!

Karen · 10 Comments

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Have y’all seen what Glutino has done for us Gluten Free people for the holidays? If you haven’t then you are going to be all YUM! and Where Can I Get Those? I have to say, that the bag of Holiday Peppermint Yogurt Covered Pretzels never made it into the photo! Those babies were gone about ten minutes after the delivery guy left. So, here’s the line up:

NEW! Glutino Gluten Free Pantry Gooey Chocolate Merry-Mint Brownie Mix.

NEW! Glutino Gluten Free Pantry Snowflake Pancake Mix.

NEW! Glutino Gluten Free Pantry Snowman Buttons. Warm chewey sugar coolies with red and white sugar toppings.

NEW! Glutino Gluten Free Pantry Twinkle Sprinkle Cakes: Fluffy cupcakes with holiday sprinkles.

Glutino Gluten Free Pantry Sugar Cookie Mix.

Glutino Peppermint Yogurt Pretzels. OH are you gonna love em!

Glutino Corn Bread Stuffing. Use it straight from the box, or add your own goodness to it for your own special stuffing. Either way, it is some good eating in that box.

Where to get them:

The Glutino Online Store. Order now before they run out.

You can find some at Amazon.com

Or, go to the Where To Find section of Glutino’s website, and find a retailer in your area. If they don’t have these holiday products, ask them to get them for you.

I’m gonna be busy baking now. Which of these products do you think you would like the best?