- Good food, good company, good advice from Grandma

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I received a Restaurant.com gift card for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

Are you still trying to decide on what the best gift for your Mother will be for this Mother’s Day? Well, then, just in time for the big day, Restaurant.com has put together their Mother’s Day Gift Guide. Simply pair any Restaurant.com Gift Card with one of these gift ideas for the ultimate dining experience and Mother’s Day treat:

1. The Blooming Role Model: “Mom always taught us that beauty is all around us, and she is our favorite example.”

Vibrant blooms are the perfect way to say “Happy Mother’s Day” to your very specialmom. Surprise mom with a whimsical bouquet of flowers and a Restaurant.com Gift Card.
2. The Spa Lover: “For the one who always pampers others, now is the time for mom to pamper herself!”
Help mom discover the serenity and relaxation she needs with a spa treatment, followed by
lunch at a tasty new restaurant using her Restaurant.com Gift Card.

3. The Wine Enthusiast: “For the mom who deserves her own time out!”
Pair her favorite bottle of wine with a Restaurant.com Gift Card! Treat mom to the ultimate
Mom’s Night Out.

Restaurant.com Mother's Day Gift Guide — Restaurant.com Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Oh! and look at this: Restaurant.com will be running Specials by Restaurant.com Dinner & A Movie starting Wednesday, May 7 – http://rst.cm/w8rOo – You’ll have to hurry though as this show stopping deal is only available for a limited amount of time!

And, there is even MORE! Restaurant.com is running a fantastic sweepstakes from April 28 thru Sunday May 11 on Pinterest. The “WHAT DOES MOM MEAN TO YOU” PINTEREST SWEEPSTAKES:
Five (5) winners will be randomly selected to win a $500 Mom’s Night Out Package.

Restaurant.com is the trusted and valued source connecting diners, restaurants, businesses and communities since 1999. The company offers savings at thousands of restaurants nationwide with nearly 50,000 gift certificate options. The Restaurant.com Independent Consultant program offers thousands of self-employment opportunities to individuals that want to earn money while helping Restaurant.com to expand to more restaurants, businesses and communities nationwide. To date, Restaurant.com customers have saved more than $1 billion through the gift certificate program filling more than 3.5 million tables annually. Restaurant.com is a pioneer in the restaurant deal space and is headquartered in Arlington Heights, IL.

I received a Restaurant.com gift card for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

Get Help For Addictions At A Rehab Center

Karen · 3 Comments

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Do you ever say things like “I’m addicted to chocolate” or “My my worst addiction is coffee”? We all seem to use that word to describe the things we like, and never think about what an addiction really is. While we make jokes and laugh about being addicted to everyday things, there are many people in the United States who really are addicted to substances that are harmful to them, and it is not a laughing matter.

There are many things that are not good for you that you can get addicted to if you start using them: cocaine, heroin, meth, and other scary drugs. But, you can also be addicted to cigarettes and alcohol. And, if you are addicted to cigarettes and alcohol, those two things are accepted in our society, even though they are destructive to a person’s health. Alcohol addiction can even ruin a person’s life.

Alcohol addiction can be a problem for every age group and every socio-economic group. When I was the manager of a large RV resort in south Texas, the residents there were all over 65 years old. They went across the border on a regular basis to Mexico to shop, get dental work done, and to buy their liquor at the duty free shop on the way home. Social drinking after 4:00 in the afternoon went on until way late at night. There were many times that I saw these elder residents stumbling home from the activities building after a night of drinking “cocktails” with their friends.

I know without a doubt that these happy go lucky retired people would deny that they had a drinking problem, but many the signs of an alcohol problem were there. Here are some of the signs of alcohol addiction from WebMD:

You cannot quit drinking or control how much you drink.
You need to drink more to get the same effect.
You have withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. These include feeling sick to your stomach, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety.
You spend a lot of time drinking and recovering.
You have given up other activities so you can drink.
You keep drinking even though it harms your relationships and causes health problems.
You drink in the morning, are often drunk for long periods of time, or drink alone.
You change what you drink, such as switching from beer to wine because you think that doing this will help you drink less or keep you from getting drunk.
You feel guilty after drinking.
You make excuses for your drinking or do things to hide your drinking, such as buying alcohol at different stores.
You worry that you won’t get enough alcohol for an evening or weekend.

If you have a friend or family member who is addicted to alcohol, you can help them start to get treatment for alcoholism by telling them about drug rehab centers such as Advanced Health and Education in New Jersey. Advanced Health and Educationa drug and alcohol addiction counseling center located in Eatontown, New Jersey. They have been in business for over 40 years, and help guide you through the recovery process, from intervention through treatment and aftercare.

Wilton Armetale Review and a Giveaway!

Karen · 12 Comments

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I received a Flutes & Pearls Heart Dish from Wilton Armetale as compensation for this post.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, these beautiful and versatile serving dishes also function as pans for cooking in the oven. As a matter of fact, they can go from freezer to fridge to oven, and even on the grill. The only place they won’t work is in the dishwasher, but just plain soap and water cleans it up very quickly. Cold foods served in them stay cold longer, and I tried that out with my delicious home made potato salad, a recipe that was passed down to me from my mother. To learn more about how to use Wilton Armetale serving pieces, check out their website.

OH! and you can get a Flute & Pearl Heart Dish for 30% off during the month of May!

Mom’s Home Made Potato Salad

10 medium red skin potatoes

1 handful of salt

5 boiled eggs

1 bunch of green onions

4 ounces sweet pickle relish

3 tablespoons brown spicy mustard

1/2 cup mayonaise

Wash the potatoes (do not peel them) and put them in a large pot, like a dutch oven. Fill the pot with water to an inch or two above the potatoes. Add the handful of salt to the water. Bring to a boil, cover the pot with a lid, reduce heat to medium, and boil until potatoes are tender, about 40 minutes. Turn off heat. Drain the hot water off. Add ice cold water to cover the potatoes, and let them sit for about 10 minutes.

Pull the skins off the potatoes and cut out any bad spots. Dice the potatoes into a very large bowl. Peel and dice the eggs and add to the bowl with the potatoes. Add chopped green onions, and the rest of the ingredients, and mix well. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Wilton Armetale is giving away a prize pack of their Flutes and Pearls collection worth over $300. These are the products in the prize pack:

WiltonArmetale Prize Pack — Wilton Armetale Prize Pack

Heart Dish $57.25
Large Round Tray $114.25
Square Bowl $85.75
Small Chip & Dip .MSRP $71.50

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Good Luck! The giveaway is open to US residents only, and ends on May 18.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aflac #Duckprints To Fight Childhood Cancer and A Giveaway!

Karen · 2 Comments

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This giveaway was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Aflac. I was compensated to participate in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Did you know that in 2007, approximately 10,400 children age 15 or younger were diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Cancer remains the leading cause of death by illness in the U.S. for people age 15 or younger. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rates for all childhood cancers combined
increased from 58.1 percent in 1977 to 79.6 percent in 2003, which is a wonderful statistic. Wouldn’t it be great, though, if that number could reach near 100 percent? Cancer is such an ugly disease, and for a child die from it is just too sad. Now you have a chance to help in the fight.

The Aflac Cancer Center is committed to providing childhood cancer patients a brighter future through
advanced medical treatment, family-centered care, a child-friendly environment and innovative research. Aflac has been fighting against childhood cancer for nearly 20 years. During that time, the company has been fortunate to meet many unsung heroes who have made a real difference in the fight. To honor these individuals, Aflac has created the Duckprints award. Duckprints champions these heroes through ceremonies at childhood cancer hospitals, user-generated nominations on www.duckprints.aflac.com and in social media. Aflac Duckprints is committed in its mission to eradicate childhood cancer. Thanks to donations made to the
research and treatment of this disease, 75 percent of childhood cancers can now be cured.

Trisha Henry Gaffney was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive tumor usually found in the head, neck, hands or feet of young children when she was 19 years old in 1996. Trisha’s was the first reported case to occur in the right ureter, the tube connecting the kidney and bladder. After going through surgery to remove her right kidney, ureter and a portion of her bladder, Trisha spent a year at the Aflac Cancer Center undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Following her treatment for this rare form of cancer, Trisha Henry Gaffney was eager to put her health problems behind her. The last thing she wanted to do was dwell on the effects of her illness.

She went back to school in Illinois, where she was a scholarship swimmer. Her treatment ended in April 1997, and she was ready to put her focus on all of the positive forces in her life. During her treatment at the Aflac Cancer Center, Trisha had started dating Andrew Gaffney, a fellow swimmer from high school. She had a big group of friends in Champaign, Ill. she looked forward to seeing again. In addition, she became a journalism major with the goal of focusing her energy on telling others’ inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles.

Trisha had heard about the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center. The Aflac Cancer Center provides specialized, long-term follow-up care and helps identify and treat problems associated with the effects
of cancer treatment to help survivors lead a full life, including school, work and a family of their own. After several years of going to general doctors for check-ups, Trisha finally made an appointment with the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center.

During her first appointment at the Cancer Survivor Program, Trisha received her health records. She was able to gain a broad understanding of her entire health history, including her treatments and the issues they could cause. From the information she received in that health history, she and her husband decided to go to a fertility specialist, where she discovered that the chemotherapy and radiation she had received had rendered her unable to carry a child. She had her eggs harvested and frozen, and eventually had a surrogate mother carry a child for her. She says “If I hadn’t had my friend telling me to go to the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center, I wouldn’t have my daughter.”

Now through Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11), Aflac will donate $2 to the Aflac Cancer Center for every tweet/retweet, or post/share on Twitter or Facebook using the #Duckprints hashtag. Find out more about #Duckprints here.

Aflac is sponsoring a giveaway here at Fabgrandma.com. One reader will win a $50 Restaurant.com Gift Card. To enter, use the Giveaway Tools entry form:

Entry -Form

May Report On Me

Karen · 8 Comments

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I went back all the way to January 1, and could not find a post where I have talked about myself much this whole year. So, because May is my birthday month, I think I will take a little time to tell you what’s been going on with me in 2014.

In January, I went to the doctor for a checkup. Everything was fine, well at least as fine as it can get for me, except that my pain meds didn’t seem to be working as well as they had been when I first started taking them. My doctor decided to change my pain meds from hydrocodone to Percocet. She prescribed them for me to take one 10mg/375 tablet 4 times a day.

I took them as prescribed for exactly one day. The next day, I had to go to an appointment at another doctor, and while I was driving on the way home, I felt like I was floating away into the clouds. I have never been on a medication that made me afraid to drive before, and it really scared me. When I got home, I called the doctor and we discussed either cutting down the dosage or changing something so that I could be pain free while not being so high.

We decided that I would take 1/2 of a tablet 6 times a day, or every 4 hours. This is working out fine for me as far as keeping me pain free.

While I was at the first doctor appointment she also said to me “Karen, you are just too fat.” Now, I have had doctors tell me I needed to lose weight, they have said “You need to lose a few pounds” or “you need to try to lose weight”, but never has a doctor said it just like that to me. So, that day, I assessed my eating habits, and decided that maybe I did not need to eat a bowl of ice cream AND a bowl of cereal each night after dinner. I switched to eating a whole grapefruit every night, and I am proud to say that I have lost 31 pounds since January. Oh, and I also have been drinking a ton of water, at least 10 glasses a day, too.

In February, my psychiatrist (yes, I have one, but I mostly call her my shrink doctor or my crazy doctor), changed the dosage of my Cymbalta from 30 mg a day to 60 mg a day. When this is combined with my pain meds, it makes me sleep. A lot. I spend a good part of every day sleeping in my recliner. That is why some days you do not see a new post from me. This change has helped me a lot. I had been crying some days just for nothing, and having little private pity parties for myself, but since I am taking more of the anti-depressant I don’t have those things happen any more. I also have not had the thoughts about taking the whole bottle of pain medication at one time just so I could be pain free for day. (Which I was thinking about quite often before). So, just for the record, I do feel better in my head than I did before.

March went by quite quickly for me. There was really nothing going on, except that I decided to start a raised bed garden. That has taken a bit more time that I thought it would, mostly because I am so slow doing what I do, which is sitting on the front porch steps, using a kitchen spoon to put composted cow manure from the bag into pots so I can transplant the pretty plants I bought. I do a few a day, then rest for a couple of days. If these plants produce anything in the way of a crop for harvest it will be amazing, but it is giving me something entertaining to do, and a reason to go outside for a while, both of which are good for me.

Then April seemed like it was excessively busy, with something on the calendar almost every week day. Between my doctors appointments, Fabgrandpa’s appointments, an appointment for me at the Social Security office to apply for my retirement benefits, going to see an attorney to file bankruptcy, Easter at my Mother’s, and a party for my niece who was deployed to Afghanistan, we were going somewhere all the time. Even though we have known for some time that we would have to do the bankruptcy, it was still sad and generally disheartening to do it. The day the bank came to get the RV was the worst. I had not been in the trailer at all since we moved into the house, we no longer have a truck to pull it with, and I knew we would never be going anywhere in it again. But watching it being towed away by the bank was just so final. A sad day indeed.

So there ya go. To wrap it all up, I have lost weight, surrendered the trailer to the bank, filed bankruptcy, and planted a little garden. Some good things, some bad things. I really thought that losing weight would lessen my pain, but it hasn’t. It just seems to be worse, and in some new and different places along with the old places. But life goes on, doesn’t it? How has your year been?

Some Gift Ideas For Mother's Day

Karen · 5 Comments

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This post contains affiliate links. If you shop using these links I will make a commission. Thank you for your support.

If your Mom loves to cook, a new apron from Flirty Aprons would make a nice gift:

For Mom’s who love to get pictures of the kids or grandkids, a nice book of favorite photos from Tiny Prints is perfect!

Maybe she is a jewelry fan. Is so, a pretty music box to stash her trinkets is is the thing to give.

For the Moms who love coffee, Nespresso is the answer. She can have her favorite coffee beverage without leaving home!

And if steamed crabs are her favorite thing in the whole wide world, you can be her favorite child by sending her a dozen from the new season of Steamed Maryland Blue Crabs from The Crab Place!

Minecraft Creeper T-Shirts from Crazy 8

Karen · 3 Comments

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FTC Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Do you have a child who is crazy for Minecraft? Minecraft is just the hottest kids game out there, and now, you can get one (or two or three) of the much anticipated tees at Crazy 8 only $14.88! ! These tees are sure to be a favorite and on the top of our kid’s summer wardrobe list. Make your Minecraft kid happy with one of these T-shirt today!

My Dream List To See In Puerto Rico

Karen · 3 Comments

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puerto Rico, The All-Star Island. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of the places on my list to see is Puerto Rico. In case you didn’t know, Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Because of that, there is no need to have a passport to visit from the US. And, because it is an island, there is plenty of beach to squish your toes in. Some of the things I want to do in Puerto Rico are

Go to the beach: with 270 miles of beach, and is featured in the Top 10 beaches from the Travel Channel
I want to see the Bioluminescent bays, Puerto Rico’s key tourist destinations. The water luminescence is triggered by dinoflagellates, oceanic plankton which is able to generate an emerald green and ultramarine illumination when water is physically disturbed. I have never seen glow in the dark water before!
Another must see place is El Yunque National Forest–the only United States National Forest located in a rain forest.
San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. It was established in the 1500’s. Can you imagine the antiqueing possibilities there? Oh, and thrift shops too! I will need to take an extra bag for sure.
Camuy Caverns. I love caves and this one is on the 3rd largest subterranean river in the world.
The FOOD! Who can go to Puerto Rico and not taste all the food, from all the cuisines? From taquitos to pastales to Pina Coladas to flan to Cuchifritos to what ever else I can taste while I am there. OH! and the rum. Can’t forget the rum.

Puerto Rico is filled with world-class attractions that will turn any trip into a wonder filled, awesome trip. Live your own 5-star vacation story in Puerto Rico.

Like SeePuertoRico.com on Facebook

Follow @PRTourismCo on Twitter