Saturday, November 26, 2022

Thanksgiving

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Last year this time I was still in the hospital not being able to eat anything due to having and NG tube in from complications after my surgery to remove my Cancer in my colon. 

Since I finished my Chemotherapy back in July I have been getting really excited for the Holidays. My oncologist office adopted our family for Thanksgiving which was really nice they provided pretty much everything we could need for dinner. With prices they way they are on food I also got a free turkey from our local Shop Rite from spending so much money on food during a set period of time. I tried to gift the turkey but no one ever responded so we ended up cooking 2 turkeys. 

Cooking the turkeys was a nightmare. When we moved here my Turkey roaster never made it so we bought one of those counter top roasters that everyone raves about. Well ours never cooked the turkey so when we should have been eating we were just putting it into our oven. I think we just got a damaged turkey roaster and I am not sure when we bought it so I couldn't return it to the store so we just had to throw it away. 

Once the turkey was done the feast was ready to be eaten, and boy did we eat. I had a little bit of everything and enjoyed every bite. So very different from last year. When we were done, and getting ready for dessert my daughter Nesie came with her boyfriend Paul to drop Bean off for the weekend. I get Bean (our nickname for my granddaughter Lillyann) most vacations and holidays so they can work without worrying about her. 

They had thanksgiving with Paul's parents this year and his mom decided to just do a turkey breast. Nesie's favorite part of the turkey is the drumstick and oddly enough it is also Paul's favorite too. Since we made two turkeys they took three legs and left one here for Dorothy to pick at since it is her favorite part too. It was awesome to see the joy on their faces when they were wrapping up their turkey legs to enjoy later at their home. 

I was so excited to have most of my girls home at some point during thanksgiving and just overly thankful to be alive and enjoying time with my family. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 


Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Stepping it up in the world

 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here



Shopping for exercise equipment can be really hard when you are trying to stay within a budget, making sure it will fit in your home, will be low impact, can be moved or stored easily, as well as finding something that fits your weight range. I have fought with weight since I was 11 years old and became very ill. At my highest weight, I was 460 something pounds and at my lowest when I met my husband I was 190 pounds. Last year I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer and had several surgeries, and chemotherapy treatments after having gotten more ill over the past few years to the point that I was sleeping pretty much the whole day away. 

I am now done with treatments, my first set of tests as well as scans have come back and I am getting stronger every day. Instead of using a wheelchair pretty much all of the time I am now using my rollator much more often. I had a physical therapist for a while after each operation and then again after everything because I have Neuropathy (for me that is nonstop pins and needles in both my hands, feet, and legs). I am considered a high risk to fall so I have to be really careful. Between the Neuropathy and other health issues, I have to stick to a low-impact exercise routine. 

I have exercises I do most days for my legs, I added in arm, shoulder, and neck exercises as well once my abdomen was healed. Being in bed I wanted to make sure my muscles did not atrophy, so I have been doing bed exercises since day 2 after the first operation. Most days I am still upset with where I am but if I honestly look back I am in much better shape than I was at the beginning, so I am moving forward. 

I have been wanting to add an elliptical to my routine but sticking to an exercise routine has always been really hard for me. I found that most ellipticals would take up way too much real estate in my home.  Then I found out about desk exercise equipment and my choices greatly expanded. The Cubii is what I decided on. To be honest I have been looking at this particular under-dek elliptical for a while and had it on my wishlist. I was recently contacted by a company to give it a whirl and I almost literally jumped at the chance since it was on the top of my desk exercise equipment list. 

The only pieces of exercise equipment that we had before were a set of aerobic steps (which I can't use presently), one-pound weights, exercise bands (which have gone missing), an exercise ball, a pilates ring, and a recumbent exercise bike which I have yet to get back on to. I have added a Summers Gym MagicFITNATION Rock N Fit, and now an under-desk elliptical. 

When you get to the Cubii Site you can take a Quiz to see which Cubii is right for you. My Quiz results said that the Cubii Go would be best for me. The Cubii Go has a retractable handle so you can move it and store it easily. Our couches are raised because we are tall so we keep the Cubii right under our couch so it is easy to pull out and use. For me, if it is easy to move and store I am more apt to use it and keep using it. There are blue tooth models but mine is not so I have to manually add my workouts into the app which is free with your Cubii. 



This is how your box will come so if it is a gift make sure you are able to get it wrapped or put it away for later gift-giving. I am very happy with the way it was shipped and packed.



When you take all of the pieces out of the box this is what you should have. Instructions were clear to understand and made it super easy to assemble the Cubii Go. It took under 5 minutes total to put together although my husband said it was more like 2 minutes. It took me longer to download the app and set my profile up than it did to unbox and put the Cubii Go together. The app is included with the purchase. 







Once I was set up with my profile I noticed they have a Gratitude is the Attitude November Wellness Journi which I joined right away. Today's challenge was pretty easy. I had to use the Cubii for 20 minutes while reading, watching, or listening to something informative. After 20 minutes I added in my time and my first workout was logged in graph form and I got an achievement. Tomorrow's challenge is to drink 80oz of water. I am always struggling with getting enough water in. With challenges, I am more apt to keep doing things because it is more like a game. 



Before getting this I was a little skeptical about the foot surface size but as you can see in my picture at the top of this post, there is plenty of room for your feet both bare or with shoes on. I wear a size 9.5 women's USA and there is plenty of room for a much larger foot to fit onto it comfortably.




If you are in your office and are using this under-desk elliptical you can stick your chair wheel into this pull-out slot which is also the expandable handle so that you aren't rolling backward while trying to those steps in for the day. 








Cubii even has free classes that will step up your workout routine. I will be trying these in the next few days. I am so excited to find something that is so easy to use and fits into our home as well as something I can use that my body is actually capable of doing. I love that the Cubii Go comes with a retractable handle and wheels for easy portability, an easy-to-read digital display, and 8 resistance settings. At the Cubii website, you can even order other accessories like weights, mats, foot straps, etc. If you are interested you can get 30.00 off your first order here.

Our family can use this under-desk elliptical at a desk, on the couch, on the edge of a bed, or even on the porch while enjoying nice weather outside. I am so excited to start this new journey with Cubii and my readers. Here is to stepping up in the world. 

Thursday, October 27, 2022

National Geographic Kids STEM Spectacular Prize Pack Giveaway

 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here



November 8th is National STEM Day!

Celebrate National STEM Day with National Geographic Kids Books! 

Welcome to the

National Geographic Kids STEM Spectacular Prize Pack Giveaways

Hosted by MarksvilleandMe

Sponsored by

National Geographic Kids Books


We are giving away all seven books listed below to one winner. The giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only. The pack has an ARV value of  $96.00


Brain Games: Experiments (ages 8-12, paperback) - Based on the hit National Geographic TV show Brain Games!

Discover what makes your mind tick. Explore the secrets behind smell, taste, touch, and vision. Find out how to trick your friends into thinking they taste something they don’t. Then turn the tables as you try to outsmart your own brain. Put your own mental powers to the test with tricky quizzes, optical illusions, and more. Learn about phantom sensations as you make your brain think your nose is six feet long! Each kid-friendly experiment is paired with step-by-step instructions, vibrant photography, and intriguing explanations of the neuroscience at work. Mind-blowing topics include:
* Senses: Test your powers of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.
* Brain and Body: Explore how your mind knows where your body is, how to play brain games with your friends, and secrets behind superhero super poses.
* Thinking: Challenge your memory, strength of the hive mind, puzzle power, mind-reading abilities, and concentration.
* Reactions: Put your reflexes to work to catch, dodge, check snap judgments, and more.

Just Joking Science (ages 8-12, paperback)

Who says science can't be silly? Just Joking Science features 300 science-themed jokes that are scientifically proven to leave kids laughing. Jokes about all kinds of science stuff―kooky chemistry, funny physics, dinosaurs, space, and more―is combined with fast STEM-centric facts and 10 stories of real-life scientific experiments that are almost too wild to believe. Sized just right for Christmas stockings, back packs and back seat/holiday travel boredom                                busting.  

  

    
Can't Get Enough Space Stuff (ages 7-10, paperback) 

Featuring more than 200 extraordinary illustrations and photographs, detailed diagrams and infographics and a winning combination of comprehensive articles that do a deep dive into outer space research, fast facts and first-hand accounts from experts, Can't Get Enough Space Stuff is the ultimate book for space enthusiasts.  This book covers it all -- get the scoop on space food, space junk, space volcanoes and NASA's future plans for reaching Mars and Europa.  Learn about how scientists are looking for life on other planets, cutting edge space technology, mind-blowing black holes and the International Space Station.  Hands-on activities you can try at home are a terrific resource for STEM studies and science fair projects.  


Break Down
Explosions, Implosions, Crashes, Crunches, Cracks, and More ... a How Things Work Look at How Things Break (ages 8-12, hardcover)

This book explores how things break down, crack, explode, crumple, and shatter. This fun, unique take on a how-things-work book explores the world through the lens of what it takes for things to, well, not work. In these vibrantly illustrated pages, you’ll peer through the smoke and rubble of controlled demolitions to discover the properties of building materials. Then get a glimpse of the inner workings of a cracked cell phone screen, peek carefully at mega-avalanches and sinkholes, and hold on tight as wrecking balls swing and car crushers crunch metal. Buckle up with crash-test dummies and travel back in time to explore the world’s most famous failures (looking at you, Leaning Tower of Pisa).  Featuring hands-on activities that walk kids through their own experiments in destruction, Break Down! will change the way you look at the world.

         

Izzy Newtown and the S.M.A.R.T Squad Series (ages 8-12, hardcover) by                              Valerie Tripp
           Join Izzy Newton and her five brainy buddies in this fun three-book FICTION series,      where science and tech reign supreme!

"Written by girl-power expert Valerie Tripp---the author behind some of your favorite American Girl stories---the Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad series features five brainy friends inspired by iconic scientists---Izzy Newton, Allie Einstein, Charlie Darwin, Marie Curie, and Gina Carver---as they go through the wild time that is middle school, with stories on friendship, growing up, and of course, solving mishaps with science and the scientific method. ... It's one thing to have children's books about scientists or podcasts or stories about strong women in STEM, but it's another world entirely when your children get to feel represented by the characters they're reading about. The characters in the Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad series are diverse, smart, and sure of themselves the way all middle school girls are---through their dreams and newly acquired skills they're still getting used to." ― Romper


It’s not easy making the jump from elementary school to a middle school with 900 students. but for the S.M.A.R.T. (Solving Mysteries And Revealing Truths) Squad, it’s all about relying on the value of friendship and the power of science to help them think their way through all kinds of sticky situations. And when middle-school mishaps happen, the Izzy and her five friends (the S.M.A.R.T. Squad!) use their collective skills and the power of STEM to bring order to their school.


Check out all three titles in the series here:


National Geographic Kids STEM Spectacular Prize Pack Giveaway  


Giveaway Dates ~ 10/27/22 12:00AM EST through 11/27/22 11:59PM EST
Open To US entrants and must be 18+ to enter


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This giveaway/sweepstake is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 11/27/22. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to marksvilleandme@gmail.com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase is necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the RaffleCopter Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping the above prizes. No blog associated with this contest is responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Pamela Marks at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

Monday, October 24, 2022

Homeschooling for the second year

 



We aren't new to homeschooling (we homeschooled my nephew who we have had since he was a baby) and wish we really did it with our first child and continued with all of them. With that being said on July 27,2021 we made the decision to homeschool our youngest child. Between Covid -19, remote learning, and the public school system doing a great disservice in teaching my children (at least the last two) we felt we needed to take the reigns so our youngest child would be better prepared for what the future may hold for her.

Little did we know I would find out that soon after that I had cancer and then find out it was Stage 3 Colon Cancer. My immune system was horrible, to begin with, Chemotherapy didn't make it any better so it was the right move at the right time. Even though last year threw us curve balls we made it through, seeing our child start to blossom, and finding out what she really enjoyed and what she hated in school was worth it. 

We are of course better prepared than we were last year and so far the school year is going well. 

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Where I am today

 I thought I would update everyone on how everything is going. One thing I want to reflect on is my fight for disability. I was told when I was 11 years old that I should never work. Did I listen? No, I held down several jobs on farms, babysitting, and working in mom & pop stores as a teenager. Once I was married I worked in a grocery store, mom & pop store, ran my own child care for many years, worked with mentally and physically handicapped children and adults, worked for a movie theater, and did several freelance jobs. 

 When I was pregnant with our 6th biological child my Dr. made me promise once I had her I would not work anymore. I still tried to do freelance jobs which only caused me to get more sick until I just couldn't even do those anymore. 

 As you can see I have tried to make something of my blog but to be honest I don't make very much not enough to pay the bills but enough to get gifts for my family, but that isn't from what I write. That comes from doing surveys which takes time and you don't get rich from that, at least I haven't found a way to. 

 Then I do product reviews which is fun. I get to try out lots of products and introduce my family, friends, and readers to what is available and how I like it. Along with that, I am able to do giveaways for some of the companies as well as work with a whole assortment of bloggers in helping them with their giveaways. Again no payment just free items but it keeps me busy and I can work it around my being ill so often. 

 So back to my disability fight. It took me getting cancer for them to finally put it through. I am considered disabled for the rest of my life. We thought it would be the answer to our financial needs, and I would feel like I was contributing to our family's income. Sadly I was a wee bit short of the points to get SSI on my own. I know I may mess up the different programs up so I apologize, they are confusing enough. So they tried getting me money from another source and they say my husband already brings home too much in his own disability so I am not eligible. I am also not eligible for Medicare so I have to keep applying for Medicaid. 

 It certainly was not the answer we wanted, but it is what it is and has changed our future plans quite a bit, but we are going with it as the path we are supposed to be on and will keep plugging along. The worse part is my lawyer worked for over 7 years on my case and doesn't understand it all either. These are the only cases she does and has never seen one turn out like mine. She was only to get paid if I got money and I didn't so she literally spent years on my case for nothing in return. 

 I had planned to go see the Ocean which I have never seen when I made it through my treatments. We planned to make a big trip next Spring, but I don't think it will happen quite like we wanted it to. We wanted to stop at different places along the way to visit friends, family, and destinations. I know I'll make it to the ocean someday even if that is my children putting my ashes in the Ocean after I am gone. 

Today I awoke so my time here is not done. Thank you to those who stayed long enough to read and hope you will come back again. Hugs.