Maria's Space: July 2021

Saturday, July 31, 2021

There's No Place Like Home

There’s No Place Like Home

December 29, 2007

We have lived in this house for about 9 years now and it is still very basic. The curtains that we bought for the house are still gracing our windows, the dining room table used to be a Staples banquet table and now it is a beautiful hand-me-down from our friends the Oz’s. The living room furniture used to be two chairs from our deck and now we have a couch but really not much else has been added in the way of furniture until now….

Rewind…………….
My husband asked me to sell something for him on EBay last week. I sold it for $350.00 and he was nice enough to tell me I could use the money for anything I want. Originally I was going to apply it to my credit card. Whose doesn’t go up around the holidays? Then I decided that perhaps I should get a new comforter for our bed. It has been 10 years since we had a new one but what could I do with the reminder?

But then…. I spotted this on JC Penny’s site and fell in love with the beachy look of it. The best part was that I had money, it is on sale and they are offering free shipping over $99.00. Could the moons be any more aligned? It is meant to be I just knew it.

I told myself that I would sleep on it and if I still wanted it in the morning I would order it. The next morning I measured again to make sure it was possible for my no wall living space. Where would I put it?

My sister-in-law was over with my nieces and I showed her. She loved it and told me I should order it. I told her that I was thinking about it but where would I put it and her brother/my Teach would probably have a fit because I was bringing more stuff into our house. He has a thing about too much stuff. Not much here but he hates stuff. Mostly he hates my stuff but that is for another post. Because this is supposed to be a nice post.

Today I emailed a picture to Bek  who also liked it.  The Teach came home early and I really wanted to know what he thought. I needed his opinion. He lives here too and he should have some say into what I bring in right? (To T, D, SR, I already know what you would say here).
I showed him a picture and he said without looking; “go ahead it’s your money get whatever you want”.

Ok, typical but I need to know if he likes it. So I leave the screen of my computer up and walk away thinking and also knowing him I know that he will eventually want to look at it but not show me that he cares. I see him look, he walks over to the wall in the kitchen, looks at it, looks at the dining room wall, then says, “go ahead order it and we’ll figure it out when it gets here. Wooot! I am psyched and can’t wait for it to get here. I am so excited to have something beside a couch, rocking chair, TV and dining room table and chairs in these rooms. It will finally look like a grown up home and not like a dorm room.

Thanks for the money honey and for the go ahead! You rock!

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Types of Lung Cancer Treatments

 



Lung cancer is one of the risky cancer types which any person may suffer from. There are several types of cancers, and the choice of cancer treatments is also many. However, treatment options can be applied only when the disease is detected at an early stage. Then, an oncologist can evaluate the current state of the disease and recommend the best treatment plan. Therefore, it is vital to know that the condition of the patient and the stage of the disease are vital aspects in determining actual treatment.

Identifying at an early stage

Any form of cancer has an available treatment to help during the situation. For example, lung cancer is associated with high pain levels that can cause discomfort; suitable treatment can relieve the condition to a significant level. Therefore, it is essential and crucial to identify the status before cancer spreads past the lungs. This brings relief to patients since the treatment is available and effective in curing lung cancer.

Enhancing survival condition

In the majority of cases, when lung cancer is detected, it may have spread to a significant extent. For such cases, the treatment options given to patients are not meant to cure cancer: the plans are meant to relieve the patients from pain, suffering, and discomfort. On top of this, the treatment options guarantee an increased survival chance for a cancer patient. Services from a reputable lung cancer treatment Newport Beach facility prove to be helpful to patients. Some of the popular options for lung cancer treatment comprise lung surgery, chemotherapy, clinical trials, radiation, and varying targeted therapies.

 Lung cancer is a chronic disease: it occurs due to uncontrolled growth of cells considered abnormal in the body. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. The right lung cancer specialists in suitable hospitals are the key to effective treatment.


Source

Fire Safety Priorities In Apartment Buildings

 



All apartment buildings need to make fire safety one of their biggest managerial properties. Here are some of the most important things that apartment buildings need to do to have effective fire safeguards.

Test the Alarm System Regularly

The location of a building as well as its size and number of occupants may determine how frequently it has to undergo a testing of its alarm system as a matter of code compliance. Tests should include an evaluation of whether smoke alarms are loud enough to alert residents in their units.

Assure That There Is Sufficient Sprinkler Coverage

If any areas of a building are lacking sprinkler coverage, the company operating it should confirm whether it is in compliance with both code requirements and does not offer less protection than newer buildings. While some installations in older buildings are problematic, this is not always the case. For the most part newer buildings need to be fully sprinklered as a matter of law. For help with the installation of fire sprinklers California, work with a company that has experience working on projects of various sizes.

Test Sprinklers as Needed

Buildings must assure that their sprinkler systems are functioning properly. It will likely be necessary to test sprinklers one floor and a time, and fire protection companies typically need to drain tanks before testing them. The building alarm may sound as a building tests sprinklers. However, it may be possible to coordinate with the alarm company so as to avoid having the alarm sound as you work through every floor.

In addition to the main priority of protecting residents, apartment buildings have to be vigilant about fire safety in order to protect the property itself and avoid major liability issues. Failing to follow best practices with regards to life and safety plans could be the cause of a serious fire, extensive injuries, and considerable damage.


Source

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

9 Ways of Raising Awareness on Drugs and Substance Addiction

 In the U.S, almost 20 million people live with addiction. Therefore, it is essential to have drug and substance awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of addiction and stop stigmatization. The national governments and aid organizations are at the forefront in fighting the rising drug pandemic. However, members of the community should also join the fight since they are on the ground.

How To Sensitize The Public About Drugs and Alcohol Use

Getting Knowledge of Drugs and Substance Use

It's best to learn about addiction before raising awareness. Look on the internet, books, or interact with professionals who know about addiction. Get knowledge of signs and symptoms of addiction, treatment options, and prevention measures. You can share that information with drug users on the streets or through social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Share a True Story

If you are a reformed addict, or you know of a friend or a relative who overcame addiction, you can share that story with a person struggling with addiction. People like listening to true stories since they give them hope. Open up to them and answer every question about addiction. Refer them to http://oceansrecovery.com/ for the best drug and substance treatment and counseling services.

Get Involved in Your Community

People who live together know each other best. So, reach out to your neighbors or workmates who may be struggling with addiction. Most people fear seeking treatment due to stigmatization. Be kind to them and assure them of discretion, and they will likely open up and accept treatment. A problem shared is half solved, and that is the start of the healing process.

Join Campus Awareness Events

Most people start abusing drugs while in colleges and universities. Take part in awareness events, help young people stop taking drugs and alcohol, and tell them of the dangers of addiction.

Donate To Organizations Dealing with Addiction

Most organizations depend on charity to fund their campaigns and other types of assistance. One of the common places you can donate any time is the National Council on Alcohol and Drugs Dependence and support its mission.

Become a Professional

If you feel the push to continue helping people out of addiction, you can turn your passion into a career. You can either enroll as a drug counselor or any other related profession. Through that, you will use most of your time assisting patients and earning a livelihood.

Learn Treatments Methods

Some cases of mild addiction can be treated at home without the help of a professional. On the other hand, severe cases require inpatient or outpatient treatment. By learning various treatment options, you can help an addict through their detox programs.

Inform the Authorities of Drug Cartels

Drug dealers are the major hindrance to the fight against addiction. These people are after making money without considering the effects of their actions. It's essential to report them to local authorities and face the law.

Participate in Recovery Month

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration set September as a recovery month to create awareness about drugs and substances. Join the campaign and help spread the message to the community. In most cases, these messages emphasize drug prevention measures and treatment.

The use of drugs and alcohol is on the rise, especially among the youths. It's therefore essential to join hands in the fight against drugs and alcohol to help save the next generation. An area with a drug prevalence experiences increased insecurity, deaths, and school dropout cases. Addiction is a sickness like any other, and addicts shouldn't be stigmatized in the community. Instead, society should embrace them and assist them in getting treatment.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Omg! We Both Saw it! Paranormal Experiences. Work Edition




So I’ve decided to start documenting all my paranormal experiences. I’ve had quite a few at my job, a preschool that I’ve been at for 6 years. Yesterday was probably the strangest.

It all happened in a second. My boss was about to bring in a child and I saw a child run past her. To say it was a child is a stretch because I saw something of child like size but couldn’t see it because it was a fast blur. It never ran past her so I assumed it was behind her And asked her who ran out? I looked behind her and then down the opposite hallway and saw a disembodied foot going around the corner of the hall, my daughter walked up behind me and my boss asked quietly, “did you see the thing in the hallway?” I was still processing what I thought I had seen and immediately said, “yes, I did.” Just then my daughter said, “ I was hoping to see something and I got to see the door close.”

If my boss had not said, “did you see….” I would have thought my mind was playing tricks on me as I have told myself every time I’ve seen something there. The fact that we both saw something without discussing it freaks me out a little.

I am not afraid at my job. I don’t have any strange feelings or nervousness but I have seen things a few times now as have others but never a shared experience. 

I’ve seen someone run behind my changing table only for no one to be there. Someone ran behind my co-teacher, into the bathroom but when I asked her who just ran in, there was no one there.

It is so strange that many of us have had experiences where we’ve seen something or a child has said something to us and while I am interested and find it all fascinating it seems so far fetched, 

Yesterday’s incident was shared which holds more weight than the past experiences. 

Have you ever had any experiences like this? Did you believe it or did you chalk it up to your imagination? 



Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Playing Johnny The Skull Pirate Cove Game With Teens In The Dark

 


The 411

This was an easy set up. Just a few pieces 

Once all pieces were snapped together we were ready to play. 

There are different levels to play start with easy and move up from there. Once we were in a dark room, we were able to easily see the pirate ghosts on the wall which the ship projects from the various cannons. 


Just take the telescope and start blasting. There are different sounds if you get the ghosts and if you don't they laugh at you. BUT if you do, you get all the Gold and you will hear that as well. 

It was really a fun game and the girls play it often when they get together.  Nothing scary about this game and while we no long store it in the box (it is hard to get back in), once together there are only two pieces so we just keep it on a shelf in my laundry room which is usually where they play. 

I must admit, I love that these two teens are still into playing these games. They are so funny!

OUR Video

  

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Playing Dino Crunch With Teens - Lesson Take Away - Could Be A Scary Game!


I'm back with my teen reviewers and this time they are trying to rescue eggs from a T-Rex.  The game features a very loud, aggressive, hungry dino who is keeping a careful eye on her nest of stolen eggs.  Each time you roll the dice you you have to carefully reach in and grab one of the corresponding eggs but BE CAREFUL... you don’t want to cause an upROAR with this T-Rex. Your fingers could be her lunch and it might just happen when you least eggspect. 

The 411:

We thought the set up was really easy.

The game is a cute idea and weren't expecting our guest to be nervous when she grabbed an egg but consider that a bonus.

The tweezers that you use to grab the eggs do require some skill making it great to define those fine motor skills.

Set up was really easy, just attach the dino to the base. I did see some reviews that say the dino was hard to set up and even that it stopped working after initially working but we have played numerous times and have not had this situation. 

We also saw people commenting that storage was a problem and that once the dino is on the base it won't fit back in the box. I had trouble but my 16 year old is able to remove the dino each time and get it all back in the box. It is a really cool dinosaur so dino lovers could use it as decoration on their shelves without putting it away.


Monday, July 12, 2021

Good Morning My Friends


Having one of those days where I feel my thoughts are too loud. Trying to keep them quiet as for me thinking too much is never productive to my day. These thoughts , and problem will always be here and I am not looking to wallow on my day off so I will cut them off with an hour of housework and emails, wake my kids and enjoy this beautiful day.


How are you spending your Monday?


Monday, July 05, 2021

My Life In Pictures - March 23 - March 31

 March 23 - Took a photo of my dinner. I must have thought it was amazing.


March 24 - I love this little Shabby Chic dresser a friend gave me. I put it in my daughter's room to replace the old microwave stand she was using. It was old and ugly


March 25 - Jinxy in a harness. Is there anything cuter?


March 26 - Stormy passed away. It was horrible. We came home from school and I went to open the sliders. My daughter keeps her door shut so the cat's don't bother Stormy during the day. She opened her door, I opened the sliders and I heard. "MOMMY!" I told her to hold one second and she again said, "MOM! Mommy" As I walked down the hall, I knew. She had her hand over her mouth and was pointing to the cage. I saw the door open to the cage and thought for a second. Oh ok, she accidently left the door open and Stormy is in the room. The door was closed and we will just get her and all will be fine. I said, "Where is she?" She pointed to behind the igloo and I saw her laying on her side. I turned and hugged my daughter telling her how sorry I was. I asked her which blanket she wanted me to wrap her in. She kept saying I don't know but went through the motions. I picked Stormy up thinking the whole time how I was the adult and I HAD to take her from the cage. My daughter who was so sad shouldn't have to look at her. I wrapped her and held her for so long, too long. I didn't want to put her down. I felt so bad. I felt bad for Stormy and my daughter. \

I hold her for about 35 minutes walking around not knowing what to do. We had a Pawpod which we knew would be for her eventually. My daughter ran downstairs and together we prepared her final home. Poor Stormy. We loved you so much!


March 27 - The four of us went out to lay Stormy to rest. It was perfect and I will forever remember it.


March 28 - Watching TV above the fireplace for the first time ever. It seems high up but I will get use to it.


March 29 - she hates this photo but I love it! My girl is always smiling. She use to tell me spending time with me makes her face hurt as she tried to push her smiling cheeks down. She no longer says it but I know it!


March 30 - Took Goddess to work with me. We were waiting for the kids to start coming to school and she grabbed this photo of me.


March 31 - She is so round!





Sunday, July 04, 2021

My Life In Pictures - March 15 - March 22

 March 15 - Luna judging my paint job


March 16 - These butterflies were hot glued onto some thin metal sticks to be added to the window boxes. 


March 17 - green painted hands say St. Patrick's Day


March 18 - Cookies!!


March 19 - ME!


March 20 - My Easter decorations are minimal but I like them.


March 21 - More me because I have nothing else. 



March 22 - My husband's 50th!





Saturday, July 03, 2021

My Life In Pictures - March 1 - March 14

March 1 - March 4

March 5 -  Mask Face! This is my daily face. I am so over the mask.


March 6 - My husband made a slop/utility sink for between our washer and dryer. It is a very small section so the sink measurements had to be exact. I love it! 


March 7 - Skittle art!


March 8 - NADA

March 9 - Just a little orb art.


March 10 - This is Sage. Sage is round. Don't be like Sage


March 11 - More of me with a mask. It makes me hot and gives me a headache. Can we be done with the masks yet? 


March 12 -  Luna and Stormy


March 13 - My girl has complained about her eyebrows for the past 4 years. She never wanted to do her brows because her rational which makes sense was that they are such a big part of her face and if they are screwed up, it would mess up her whole face and also if too much was taken off. people woudl notice. Being noticed, is NOT something my daughter wants. 

I took her to a place and talked her into just getting a trim. It was a baby step and today after going 2 times since this day she has asked for me to make another appointment. 


March 14 - I painted a bunch of Dollar Tree bird houses for our flower boxes. They are so cute. 






Friday, July 02, 2021

My Life In Pictures - February 25 - February 28

February 25 - The sun looked amazing coming up over the mountain. It was such a warm golden glow that even on this frigid day warmed my heart. 


February 26 - Luna is the cutest when she sleeps.


February 27 - Goddess in a puddle. 


February 28 - Sage always looks so surprised. 








My Life In Pictures - February 13 - February 24

February 13 - I made the fabulous Feta and Tomato Pasta everyone was making. It was delicious.


February 14 - My girl and I 


February 15 - Been making God's Eye since learning how this month. A little obsessed. 


February 16 - 

February 17 - Science with my toddlers. I was showing them how we get rain.


February 18 - I was feeling cold and decided it was a good day to get under a comforter and watch a favorite. Anyone else love this movie? 


February 19 - I hoped this mask would be what I needed for my toddler class to see my face. The only problem was that it would get condensation all over it so much so it would drip down to my chin. Who knew I was so damn moist?


February 20 - Luna helping Goddess do homework.


February 21 -  This was the first day my daughter did volunteer work without me at her side. I took this photo as she and her bestie headed into the building alone looking like big girls. Be still my heart, she has to grow up some day.


February 22 - More snow. It was a very snowy month.


February 23 -  The winter sky has me pulling over every morning on my way to work. I love all the colors against the monochrome foreground.


February 24 - There were so many great photos to share for this day but I promised myself I would post only one per day. This was A for Alligator. My class  loved playing in the brown water (just water with a drop of brown paint.  





Thursday, July 01, 2021

My Life In Pictures - February 1 - 12

 February 1 - We were so covered in snow. It was a beautiful sight and everything looked pretty. I love the snow when we are all home and safe. 


February 2 - My kids and I went out multiple times to shovel so that we were always on top of it and my husband would be able to get into the driveaway when he got home. It was freezing. I was soaked but figured I needed a photo of myself once in a while.


February 3 - Does anyone else eat the bottom of the popcorn with a spoon? I hate getting butter and salt under my nails. 



February 4 - V is for Vegetables! Preschool art is so cute. 



February 5 -  I seriously love this Dollar Tree glass. It is so cute.


February 6 - I gave a friend one of my many homemade gnomes and she sent me a pic of the gnome on your sill. She put it where she does her dishes so she could look at it all the time. 



February 7 - One of my Leprechaun Gnomes. I love making them.



February 8 - Toddler artwork is usually messy.

February 9 - Even when sticking her tongue out, Luna is beautiful. 


February 10 - My favorite preschooler gave me a Valentine gift.



February 11- NADA

February 12 - My class was so generous for Valentine's Day. I love all these heart filled fun. I love my kids and their families. It is so sweet to be appreciated.