Firmoo Glasses Review

A few weeks back I was contacted by Firmoo and asked to review a pair of glasses.  It was perfect timing!  Just days before I had an eye exam and do indeed need glasses.

Firmoo is an online company that sells frames and lenses for men and women, in prescription and non-prescription, and sunglasses as well. They have a wide variety of frames, colors and sizes to choose from.  I couldn't imagine trying to figure out how to pick glasses online, but that really was not a problem. They have a virtual try-on tool where you upload a picture and are able to see what you look like with those glasses on.  I loved that part!

From Firmoo:

The old opinion that glasses are only necessities for people with vision problems has already gone. Glasses are increasingly becoming a fad and must-have accessories for celebs and fashionistas. Everyday we can spot millions of non prescription glasses wearers and we are constantly fascinated by many noted film stars’ signature non prescription glasses.They instantly upgrade your look of modern,sexy, vintage or geek by wearing different styles of frames.

Any hot glasses/sunglasses /goggles frames you want can be found on Firmoo, and all are available for both prescription lenses and non-prescription lenses. Are you desperate to have a new look? Now here is the chance, Firmoo has launched a First Pair Free Program to people worldwide. You will absolutely fall in love with the excellent quality, affordable prices, fashionable designs, fast delivery and the good service after trying them with paying shipping only! You even can get a refund/exchange if you are not satisfied with them. It's totally Risk free, so why not have a try?

So here is what I ended up choosing.  A nerdy chic type that has a black front with dark brown tortoise shell sides.  

Nerdy

Chic

Firmoo.com

I received my glasses with some goodies in about two weeks.  A hard case, soft case, cleaning cloth and tool for adjusting.

What I think about my glasses? 

I really love them!  But too bad they are not bifocals.
When I found out I needed glasses I had intended on getting bifocals.  My current readers are on and off my face throughout the day.  To me it would be just be easier to have glasses on all the time.  These will be a great backup for reading and teaching school to the boys. 

And my favorite thing about my new Firmoo glasses........they make me look so chic nerdy in the kitchen baking up granola in a lovely flannel shirt with a ponytail.

This is real life folks.

All in all I was very impressed.  It was easy ordering online and they were delivered within about the time I would have waited on glasses locally.  And the glasses seem to be a good sturdy pair of frames.

Are you interested in purchasing a pair of glasses, prescription or not, from Firmoo, you should head on over there and check out their First Pair Free Program! You can order any single vision glasses, or non-prescription “fashion glasses”, and receive them for free! All you have to do is pay for the shipping.

Disclaimer:  I was sent a pair of glasses for the purpose of a review. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

Wacky Wednesday-Guest Post

Happy hUMp Day!!!  Happy Wacky Wednesday.

We are crazy with Dr. Seuss around here this week!  I had high hopes of getting up rearranging the furniture and putting shoes on the ceiling, but things got wacky before I ever had a chance. 

Actually I am not really even posting on my blog today.  I am over at....................

Inspiration Cafe


I am sharing a project I recently shared with you here. 



If you missed it on my blog here is another chance to see how a good marriage and mistakes can go hand in hand.  Check out my guest post HERE .

And watch out for those Sutherland sisters (Dr. Seuss Wacky Wednesday book reference if you do not have a clue).

Dr. Seuss-Oh the Thinks You Can Think! Cookies

Happy Tuesday to you one and all,
The skinny, the pudgy, the short and the tall!
Pull up a seat, come on, stay a while,
I'll do my best to make you smile!
See I told you the books make me rhyme,
I seem to be doing it all the time!
I try to stop I really do. 
I try to talk normal in a sentence or two. 
The rhymes just keep coming without a fuss,
So much so they are putting me on the bus.
To go away and find a quiet place,
Before they all throw a pie in my face!!!!


We are counting down to Dr. Seuss's birthday this coming Saturday, March 2nd.  Not as big of a countdown as last year, but I am throwing in bits of fun each day.

You too can have fun with Dr. Seuss.  Need some ideas?  Check out my post from last week! It has all the links from our Dr. Seuss week last year.  It was SO much fun!  Go HERE for the links.

Now for the cookies.  Thanks to Pinterest I was inspired by cookies for a special Dr. Seuss treat.  Well at least for me they looked Dr. Seussish.  They made me think of a certain Dr. Seuss book, Oh the Thinks You Can Think.......yes, you will hear more of my made up rhymes.

Unfortunately they did not turn out like the great picture I found on Pinterest. Nothing ever turns out like pictures for me.

You can think up some cookies. That's what you can do.
You can think them in colors of green, purple and blue.
You can think them in red.
You can think them in pink.
You can think them in black.
Oh the THINKS you can think!

So what do YOU think?  I think they look more like cRaZy psychedelic cookies. Ryan thought they would be great for St Patty's Day too.  They are just plain sugar cookie dough (store bought) colored with food dye and rolled in sprinkles. 

It really does not matter what they look like when they are gone in less than two minutes.  Enjoy your Dr. Seuss FUN this week!

Super easy recipe for the rainbow pinwheel cookies . 
 
                                                                             

A Week {in an Instagram}

Illness won this past week!  Boo-hiss!!! Colds, coughs, lots of tissue and plenty of down time.  Not much in this week's Instagrams. Enjoy a few pictures while we get back on our feet for a new week.

Happy Monday to you all!



1. Oh, yes it is that time.  Easter candy is out and this is my very favorite!!!  This is actually a little bag....I think it says 2 oz.  Perfect purse or pocket size---no sharing on this bag! {{insert evil grin}}


2. It was one of those days.  Slippers and black beauty (that's my robe) all day long. Ahhhh, the beauty of homeschooling.


3. Sick, tired little boys need an afternoon pick me up too.  The boys enjoying their coffee milk.
Coffee milk-mainly milk with coffee to color and 2 teaspoons of sugar.


4. Being stuck in the house all weekend with sickies made me bored.  SPRING has SPRUNG in our home.  And there is more to find in boxes and put out soon!


5. It's nice to be thought of. Even if they really are just weeds!  My sweet boys always bring me "flowers".



Do you use Instagram?    I have had questions about it before and requests to share how it works.
Here is a little about Instagram. 

It’s a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your photos with friends and family.
Snap a picture, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post to Instagram. Share to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr too – it's as easy as pie. It's photo sharing, reinvented. I just email my pictures to myself and share here. And BTW it's a FREE app on your phone!

More on Instagram next week!

Sun and Being Sick



Oh how the sun cheers me up.  It makes me feel happy.  And it feels good on my skin. 

It does something to us to make us want more of it. 

 And that all natural vitamin D is such a blessing. 

 

As I sit indoors this morning, missing worship service, I am coming down with what the boys have had for a week or so. 

Nose stopped up, headache, scratchy throat....just not feeling good. The sickies have got me sick.

But I see the sun shining bright on the front porch giving light to the azaleas and pansies. 

They are feeling happy too.

 

I sit dreaming of gardening days ahead out in the sun.  Of the boys playing outdoors free from a nasty cold. Days spent outdoors fiddling around with flowers and plants. I dream of my hands in the dirt!

 

 

~In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt.~

 

 

I dream of sunny days......just like today.

I think later when it warms up a dose of all natural vitamin D is just what the doctor ordered. 

Thank God for the sun.

 

Happy Sunday morning to you.  I hope the sun is shining where you are.

Enjoy it.

Let us dance in the sun, wearing flowers (or weeds) in our hair....

FUN Friday-Oh it WILL Be FUN!

 
This was #1 all day yesterday and most of the night.  I was up with him 3 different times before we finally ended up on the cough, I mean couch, around 2am.  He had the better spot laying down while I sat up on one end and fell asleep. 

Head hurts.

Neck aches.

Which could explain why I look like this morning.



And want to do this!

I just love this face!!!

After I do this it will be a FUN Friday indeed.



Oh wait, that is me dreaming I am taking a nap on the beach.  My nap will actually be on the couch where I got the head/neck ache.  And this time I will have the whole couch!  Thank you very much.

My sweet #1 seems to be fine during the day.  Running, laughing, playing, etc. so don't think I am taking the couch from him.

FUN Friday will happen!  It just will!  It might be hard, but I'll push through!!! I so badly want to go crawl back in bed after last night!! But these little boys are counting on this momma to show them a FUN day! And that is what I plan to do.

So what will our FUN Friday consists of ?  Nothing major.

Well as I sit here drinking LOTS of coffee and watch #1 sleeping on the couch, I am thinking of our day.
-Park/nature walk
-More coffee at 3pm
-Supper-ribs my amazing husband will smoke later today. YUM!
-A lovely much needed IPA.
-And to finish the day a delicious much needed yummy dessert!

Yep, I am certain we will have FUN today!!!!

Regardless of last night's events or how your morning goes make a point of having FUN with your family today!!!!  Get outside and enjoy nature!! 

Make it a FUN Friday!!!!!!!

Dr. Seuss

Good Thursday morning to you.  It is a cool, rainy day here.  #1 is fighting to get over a nasty cold and cough.  #2 is fighting his way out the door from his sick brother trying to keep him indoors.  And this momma is fighting to stay calm and carry on.  But all is good and life goes on.

So someone has a birthday next Saturday, March 2nd.  And that person is Dr. Seuss!!!! 

Do you remember our BIG Dr. Seuss week last year?  If not I am sharing all the links below.  And since his birthday is right around the corner I thought I would share it early so you have time to plan.  You too can have a FUN week leading up to his birthday next Saturday. 

We'll stick to our normal routine this year for school, but reading will strictly be Dr. Seuss books for the week.  Oh the FUN we will have reading!!!  And the FUN I will have making up silly rhymes!!!
Then on Saturday, his birthday, we'll celebrate with Truffula Tree cupcakes. 

I confessed last year I was not originally a big fan of Dr. Seuss and his amazing books.  BUT after our FUN week last year I learned more about this man and have grown to love him.  And love so many of his quotes.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

        


   

So if you are looking for some fun ideas to add to your school week check out the links below.  Or just for FUN!  Below are four days of FUN with Dr. Seuss.  I left Friday open last year to go see The Lorax on that opening day.  It worked out great.  But you could always rent or buy the movie to watch at home.  Hmmmm, that might be a great idea for us!


Day 1 
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

It's all about learning and that is always FUN.
Indoors on the couch or out under the SUN!
Get out of your normal with Dr. Seuss
And you too can be as happy as a goose!
I'll share any fun we have next week.
And you can bet I'll be rhyming and making the boys freak!



...........or next week!  Have FuN planning your Dr. Seuss week!

Wordless Wednesday-Easter Plans Are Brewing

 

 

Pinterest Recipes

I know how to use Pinterest now! 

Over the past couple of weeks I have discovered how to use Pinterest.  No, I was not living under a rock and yes I still think it is an enormous waste of time.

BUT, big BUT, I have been having FUN!  And just last night made two recipes I found on Pinterest.  The first one was a Cheesy Tortellini recipe that I am planning to rewrite because it lacked some direction.  I liked it though.  Brant liked it and the boys ate it. We will be trying it again for sure and this time I'll remember to add the baby spinach.

The other recipe was for banana and peanut butter ice cream.  Banana and peanut butter ice cream ONLY using bananas and peanut butter!  When I saw it I knew I wanted to try it so I pinned it.

Instead of peanut butter I decided I would use Nutella. And I am very glad I did.  So are Matthew and Ryan!  This was the perfect dessert today after lunch.


Now, nothing compares to real ice cream, but this is a sweet, semi-healthy treat for me and the boys to enjoy.  And super easy.

And you can't beat a recipe with only two ingredients!! 
-Very ripe bananas
-Nutella

I sliced 5 bananas and placed them in the freezer for 2 hours. Next place frozen bananas in blender and puree until smooth. That is the setting I used on my blender that worked for me.  I also used a rubber spatula to scrape the sides at first to get the bananas going....moving around.  It took a little bit to get the "ice cream" texture. Once it is smooth and creamy add  2-3 tablespoons of Nutella.   If it is too soft place back in freezer to harden up a bit.

Enjoy!  This is a perfect way to use up those almost black bananas.  Those ripe bananas are the sweetest!



*Adapted from HERE

Infantile Scoliosis-The Ride Continues

The Free Dictionary describes a roller coaster as such......

a roller coaster-

a situation which changes suddenly and often between being good and being bad.

nervous, thrilling, excited, scared, joy, anxious, invigorating, mind-boggling-a never ending sweet dream turns nightmare every 6-9 months!!!!

Good and bad....the feelings I have felt through this journey with Ryan as he has had to deal with Progressive Infantile Scoliosis since January 2006. 

I will not go into all the background of Ryan's journey, but if you are interesting just click on the "Infantile Scoliosis" tab above.

His appointment last week was not what we were praying for.  After a long while out of a brace his spine had been measuring between 11-15 degrees. The xrays taken were from 6-9 months apart and were consistent enough for his doctor to allow him to stay of out the brace.

But last week there was a change. 

The numbers really do not matter when you can see the change on the xray.  And that is what I saw.  A slight change, but a change none the less. A sign any mom who has a child with scoliosis does not want to see.

His doctor was not too terribly alarmed, but wants to proceed with caution.  He wants to see Ryan back in 6 months instead of 9-12 months.  He commented this could be nothing, maybe Ryan's new normal.  But only the xray in 6 months will truly tell us that. 

So for now we continue life as usual.

Doing nothing?  I feel so helpless, but there really is nothing we can do. 

Well there is......we can pray.  He can play and be a normal (almost eight years old) little boy.  He can go to bed with nothing but a tshirt on and wake up with just that tshirt on.

When and if he does have to go back into a brace it would more than likely be a night time brace.  I try not to think about crossing that nasty bridge right now.  I just can't!!!!  I know the look in his eyes when he hears the word brace.  I know the feeling he had for that hated brace before.  And I am pretty sure it would be the same now.  I can't think about the begging and pleading to take it off or the cries to not put it on yet.  I just can't think about it.  NOT! RIGHT! NOW! 

I was angry and hurt for Ryan last week.  But this week I am over it because I know it is in God's hands.  I will not sit and fret over it.  I will not be angry because of this almost defeating news. 

I will not let Scoliosis define our lives!

If you are here researching Infantile Scoliosis ACT NOW!!!!  Research! Research! Research!  Dig, ask questions and keep digging and asking questions. If you don't get an answer, ask someone else!  If you have a gut feeling about your child's spine get it checked on NOW!!!

And make sure to visit The Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program .  Join the support group too!!!
If you have any questions please feel free to send me an email or leave me a comment.

AWARENESS IS KEY FOR EARLY TREATMENT!!!!!!!

A week {in a Instagram}

1. Boudin balls. For those wondering.....boudin is a sausage made of meat combined with spices and rice, unique among American sausages, and the recipe comes to us directly from the Cajuns who settled so much of Louisiana. Both the French and the Belgians have “boudin” but it is made differently from the version we see in Louisiana, as neither of those cultures include rice in the mixture. In addition, our local boudin is what would be called boudin blanc, as it does not include pig’s blood in the recipe. Most of the color actually comes from the spices in the mixture.
Ground pork is combined with seasonings, then with the rice, and it is then stuffed into the sausage casings. Boudin balls however have no casing and are coated in a batter and deep fired.


2. First ever homemade chocolate cake. It was a super easy recipe, but it was not so great. Must try another recipe!  Or stick to a box mix.


3. My love of Mason jars means an excess of lids. All my extra lids have a home now.


4. How do you entertain your children when you are trying to pack for a trip?  Simply throw blankets and pillows on the floor and let them FLIP.  Continue flipping until they can't flip anymore.


5. My Honey remembered!!!  He has been buying these for me since right before the boys were born (almost EIGHT years!).  I can remember having a bag of these to take with me to the hospital when I went on bedrest.  Bedrest started two days after Valentine's Day....February 16, 2005.  I had a "sweet drawer" right next to my bed.


6. Well hello Sam, nice to see you again.  This was while traveling to Ryan's appointment.  The boys love seeing Sam Houston.


7. At the hotel while traveling...this was the boys' bed. Picture caption is this, "We travel in packs".
8 dogs, 1 parrot, 1 possum and 1 raccoon.


8. Appointment day.  Up at 5:30am, appt. at 1:15, left hospital at 4pm.  One. tired. little. boy! 
I'll post soon about the appointment.  Right now I am still trying to wrap my head around it all and make it a post worth reading.  Not a mad rant about Infantile Scoliosis.


9. While in Fort Worth the boys wanted to go to The Historic Fort Worth Stockyards. We love the stockyards!  Always have and always will. The Fort Worth Herd is the world’s only twice daily cattle drive. People line the streets to see the cowboys walk the herd from one end of Exchange Avenue to the other. The boys have been going since they were old enough to say COW. It's a favorite for them.  And me too!


10. Having a niece who works at Starbucks has it's perks.  Perfect Valentine present for me and my Momma to share.