Goodbye, 2008

Another year has come and gone. Every year, at this time, as I start to reflect, I stop and think, "Where the hell did the year go?" Where did the time go?

All the plans I had made, then didn't "plan out". I started blaming Cancer for all of it. Cancer became an excuse, a crutch. Everyday things that I enjoy, suddenly came to a halt due to health constraints. I was either too tired or too sick to join a friend for coffee. I missed several of my daughter's school functions due to Cancer.

Just recently, I missed my oldest daughter's Christmas Concert because I had just underwent a chemo cycle the day before. She plays clarinet. If she doesn't continue band next year, in high school, it was the last opportunity for me to see her Christmas performance. I did, however, attend her Jr. Beta induction in October. I was so proud of her achievements. That was something, no matter what it took, I was going to be there and relish in her moment.

I missed out on my youngest daughter's 3 day, 2 night field trip. Something that her grade does every year for the students. They travel to a nearby national park and spend three days and two nights in cabins. I was able to attend with my oldest daughter when she was that age. It was a memorable trip. The children have a great time hiking, crafting, ghost stories, making 'smores, and spending time with their friends and classmates while learning about wildlife, conservation and nature.

I became guilt ridden because I could not attend. It did not seem fair to me that I was able to enjoy this with one daughter, but not the other. My youngest daughter, quite more mature than I at times, told me "You have cancer, Mom. I understand that you can't go, but you will be with me in my heart." I cried the entire time she was gone. She brought her camera with her and took a lot of pictures to share with me.

After she returned home, she connected the camera to my laptop and shared with me a slide show of everything she and her friends did. She told me story after story of the happenings and it seemed as if each picture had its own story. She later told me she did it so that I could feel as if I was there, to have memories of my own. Children amaze me at times. When you think they possibly can't understand, sometimes, they understand better than you, yourself.

Even though we have enjoyed all the holidays since my diagnosis this year, they have not been as elaborate as I have made them in the past. After I got past the guilt, I discovered that sometimes, less is more. Simple is better.

At my youngest daughter's 12th birthday party, she opted for a birthday cake "from scratch". She told me, however, if I didn't feel like making it, I could get a store bought cake, as we normally do. Something about the fact that she asked for a homemade cake made me more determined to make her one. Not one ounce of pain was going to stop me from making it.

The morning of her birthday, which fell on a Sunday this year, I made her favorite breakfast of waffles and fruit and sausage. Later that morning, she asked if she could help in making the cake. We both had a fun time making her birthday cake and spending that amount of time together. It was more important to her than just buying one at the store. (and it tasted wonderful as well...)

As time went by,I learned to gain a greater appreciation for small things in life. Everyday things that may easily go unnoticed in our fast paced, hectic life. Things I know that I had not been so aware of daily, at times. Health. Energy. Strength. Pride.

In 2009, I am going to say goodbye to my guilt. I pray to say goodbye to my cancer. Nonetheless, I am bound and determined to have the energy, no matter how much or how little, to spend with my children. To bake a dessert, make dinner, watch a movie together or play a game, and know that I did all I can do. As long as I am with them and spending quality time with them, I have succeeded. I want them to continue to be my positive, my will to beat this cancer. I did it once, I can do it again.

I want to be around for my children a long time.

This time, the fight is personal.

Welcome Back! I'm Up and Blogging....

A preview of what's been going on.......

Although the original postings up to July/August are over on the original blog, now named, SpoiledMom: Happiness Is Not Material, We Interrupt This Blog For The Casey Anthony Saga.


I have finally gotten my personal blog back up and running. However, there are not many posts, due to my time at Casey Anthony Saga Blog.

I have lots of pictures to add, not to mention what has been going on in our lives during the Casey interruption. Cancer has progressed, girls have grown (and grown). They are both taller than I am...yikes! Oldest made Jr. Beta (hooray), youngest is still "all A Honor Roll", and they are doing a lot of changing....oy!

(Hi Supermum! Yes, I'm still alive LOL ! Missed chatting with you!)

Everyone is invited to follow both blogs. Please be patient, however, as I get "Seasons of Motherhood" up to date.



I am excited to be able to get back to "writing". I have been doing original writing over at the Casey blog, but it is not the same as what those who read the blog before. I enjoy writing about the goings on in life and having the exchange with others and incorporating it into the posts.

On the Casey blog, I tried mainly to report the breaking news, facts and findings, mixed in with my personal opinions, but not as much as on "SpoiledMom"...heh

Thank you for your patience and I hope I continue to have my old readers, as well as new readers from the Casey blog. It's like the best of both. Look for new additions to this blog, as well. I plan to add a lot of my southern recipes, teen parenting topics, as well as a few surprises! I am very excited about it!

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas! Relish the remainder of the season and wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

A new year full of health, prosperity, and love.

~spoiledmom

Deceptive Downsizing at the Supermarket

Please see video at end of post that includes more information on this topic.

It's cold and flu season again. Oh, joy! Seems just a short while ago my pantry was stocked to the brim with tissues.

It's also the holiday season, and that means extra snacks, juice, and well, "extras" for all the parties, dinners, and friends stopping by.

Next time you grab for that box of tissues, bottle of juice, peanut butter, or even your child's morning cereal, make sure you check the packaging. Look for smaller packaging, width size is being manipulated more than height.

Homeowners are not the only ones downsizing these days.

Food manufacturers, paper product companies, along with a plethora of other major brand companies out there are downsizing their products. They have basically decided to research either how sneaky they can be, or how misinformed we, as consumers, are.

For example, Lays Brand potato chips has recently downsized their 16oz "Family Size" package of chips to 14oz, with no change in price. Skippy brand peanut butter has taken the equivalent of two (2) tablespoons out of their product. By looking at the jar, you would not notice. You also wouldn't notice unless you knew exactly what the previous ounce of Skippy was. How did Skippy get around this? The same jar is used, except the very bottom of the jar has been altered to "not" accommodate the two tablespoons, by taking out an indentation that was previously there. However, again, the price has stayed the same.

Paper product manufacturers are making tissues not as wide, but the packaging is the same. Toilet tissue paper has less sheets to allow for the more "wider" roll. Again, without this knowledge, shoppers would not notice a difference. The product packaging is reaming very close to same. Therefore, less bang for our hard earned buck.

Remember the better-buy shopping mantra: "Be aware; always compare".

A survey of shoppers felt more "cheated" or "deceived" when told of the manufacturers' changes. Those same shoppers said they would be willing to pay a nominal increase in price to keep the same product amount than to feel deceived by manufacturers' tactics.

To learn more on this topic, please view the following video from NBCs Today Show featuring Janice Lieberman, Consumer Advocate.

Would like to hear your thoughts on this matter.

(if you experience audio problems at the start of video, (i.e. out of sync, garbled sound)when the video has finished loading/buffering, the audio will be corrected..promise!) :) Feel free to contact me or leave a comment and I will help you.
It is a Truveo tech situation.

video courtesy: NBC Today Show : 12/9/08, 2nd hour; via MSNBC Truveo

random pics

Thrifty Tuesday

Website of the day: Printable Grocery Lists

Excellent site to organize your grocery lists as well as other shopping lists.

Also great to use for planning Christmas gift shopping. Can also be used for dinner menu planning as it can combine recipe and grocery lists. Plan your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner menus then add grocery list. Print out and have on hand while at the supermarket.

There are endless uses for the items on the site. There are several different templates to print out, or you can create your own custom lists.

Hope you enjoy!

Wonderful time saver.