Getting Real With Parker Bruce

I have not been writing for a while. Last time I wrote I was reviewing movies. Recently, I watched the sci-fi action movie, The Matrix. The Matrix is about a guy named Neo living in this world controlled by machines. This other guy named Morpheus finds Neo and shows him the “real” world. Once Neo gets to this real world, he tries to fight the computerized world.

Keanu Reeves portrays Neo, or Mr. Anderson, as the agents like to call him. Neo is a man who is brought to the real world from another world run by machines. He hasn’t used his eyes, ears, or anything. The only thing he ever used was his mind. Neo learns a bunch of fighting moves so he can fight the agents or machines that run this computerized world.

Laurence Fishburne portrays Morpheus. Morpheus is a man who’s been in the real world for a while. His job was to recruit others until he finds the One. The One is the person who can defeat the machines that run the computerized world. Morpheus has a ship called the Nebuchadnezzar. The people he recruits end up being the crew on his ship and the people who help destroy the Matrix.

Carrie Anne Moss portrays Trinity. Trinity is one of the recruiters and one of the members on the Nebuchadnezzar. She, too, helps fighting the agents, but also falls in love with Neo.

Gloria Foster portrays the Oracle. The Oracle is the person who talks to Neo throughout the whole series about his future and all that. She was the one who told Neo, as Morpheus said, “exactly what Neo needed to hear.”

Hugo Weaving portrays Agent Smith. He is the machine who appears most in the series. He is the one who Neo has to defeat. He is the one who HATES Neo.

The Matrix is an awesome movie. It is rated R for action violence and language, although it might’ve been rated PG-13, had it been released today, which is why my parents let me watch it.

Getting Real With Anika Bruce, age 9

I read a book called Swine Not by Jimmy Buffet. It is my dad’s book, and he read it too. He liked it a lot and so did I.

The book is about a pig who is trying to find her brother. It is hard because she lives in Tennessee and he lives in NYC. The pigs’ names are Rumpy and Lukie. Lukie lives in NYC. Rumpy’s owners are Barley, Maple and Ellie. Rumpy likes to play soccer with them, but they need money, so Ellie got a job in NYC.

That made Rumpy very happy, because she thought that she would have a chance to find her brother. But that did not work out. When the man at the Five Star Hotel found out that Rumpy was living in the hotel with her owners, he banned exotic pets, so B had to hide Rumpy.

That made her upset because she would not be able to find Lukie.

Then she found pigeons that new Lukie and said he looked just like her. Now, for me, it is funny because Barley and Maple are twins and Rumpy and Lukie are twins.

Well, the pigeons said they would look for him, and weeks later, they found him.

So she got into the dog suit that Maple made and she went to the zoo. When she got there it was hard to get through because there were a lot of people. But then it started to rain. So when Rumpy found shelter she waited for the rain to stop. When the rain did stop, Rumpy went back on her search. But bad things happened. The suit shrunk and she ran into the butcher. The butcher cut her on the nose but she went on. But first she went into hiding.

But then she smelled smoke.

Rumpy went to see what it was and she saw a fire! But she also saw an old woman who didn’t know about the fire and was close to it. So Rumpy went up   and tugged on her skirt to warn her about the fire. After that Rumpy went home. The next day,  Rumpy was better. But that afternoon did not go well.

The butcher came and said he was going to kill Rumpy   with her favorite food. Chicken fingers. But she was not going to give up. Rumpy pretended that the butcher’s plan worked. But then she sprung into attack.

…if you want to know the rest of the story, you should read the book. Jimmy Buffet makes great music, but he writes awesome books too!

I’m donating our space here at MomsGetReal today to Caitlin Garlow from the End7 organization. Caitlin’s message is truly important, and I hope you’ll take a moment to read it, share it, and take action!

Getting Real With Caitlin Garlow and End7

Moms and dads around the world all want the same thing – healthy kids. But unfortunately that goal proves to be a major challenge for parents around the world whose kids have neglected tropical diseases – or NTDs.

Most people have never heard of the seven most common NTDs – ascariasis (roundworm), hookworm, lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis, trachoma and trichuriasis (whipworm) – but they are the stuff of nightmares.

These bacterial and parasitic diseases can be transmitted through worms in the soil or insect bites. Kids get them by doing things kids normally do- playing barefoot in the yard or swimming in nearby lakes and streams. These diseases have devastating effects.   Imagine how you would feel if your son’s belly was so filled with worms that he could no longer eat.  What if your daughter’s eyelids slowly turned inwards until they scratched her eyes and she became blind?

Sadly, this is the reality for one in six people in the world, including half a billion kids.

But the good news is that the solution is very simple. All seven diseases can be treated and prevented by providing a simple package of medications to those who live in affected areas.  Because pharmaceutical companies donate most of the medicine, the costs are limited to delivering the treatments and setting up education programs that communities can run themselves.

As a result, it only costs 50 cents per person per year to treat and protect someone from NTDs.

That’s why we started an important campaign this year called END7 to raise awareness about these seven diseases and explain to people what they can do to help.  We’re using social media to spread the word, so if you want to help us rid the world of these seven diseases, here’s what you can do:

• Join our Facebook and Twitter communities
• Watch our videos to learn more about NTDs
• Spread the word to your friends and family
• Donate a small amount to help kids with NTDs – a little goes a long way!

Support from parents like you is all that we need to help end these seven diseases and give kids everywhere the chance to live up to their fullest potential.  Together, we can see the end of these seven diseases!

Getting Real With Shadra Bruce

For the mom on the go who is looking for a quick and easy way to find new apps that are useful, Apps for Moms is a great tool. It collects relevant apps designed to make moms’ lives easier and includes some of the best, like WebMD, Epicurious, and Weatherbug.

Apps for Moms makes it easy to find apps you want by collecting the apps into categories: Categories include: Entertainment & Games, Light Reading, Higher Education, Essential Utilities, Breaking News, Social Networking, Photography, Productivity, and Style & Beauty.

You can recommend apps to be included; Apps for Moms is part of  “TheAppNetwork.” You can also find Apps for Girls, Apps for Boys and Apps for Execs.

We had Mama Posse member Kathy Winn try it out, and she said, “It’s a clearinghouse for multiple apps that might appeal to moms. So there are hundreds of thousands of apps and sometimes it’s hard to figure out what app you want/need based on the title or the keywords that they choose. This app compiles lots of apps that moms might find useful: health apps, recipes, etc. I wouldn’t use all the apps they suggest, but it does seem to help organize it some.  It’s a free app (which I like!), so you download their app and it suggests more apps for you – almost like an index sorted by items that would appeal to moms.”

App for Moms gets a thumbs up from MomsGetReal!

Getting Real With Sara Haley

My daughter just turned four, but has already been writing some of her letters.  She knows how to write her name, and my name, and a few random letters outside of these two.  So when I was asked review Kids ABC Trace for the iPhone and iPad, I was delighted to be able to share such an educational app with my daughter in hopes to expand her letter-writing abilities past that of the letters she already knew.

The key to Kids ABC Trace is simplicity.  It’s not super fancy, which is fine.  When it comes to apps for kids, they don’t always have to be flashy to be fun.  It’s easy to get started.  You choose from either uppercase or lowercase letters, and it gets you started from A to Z.  You’re able to “cheer” for the letter (“Everybody say D!”) in order to hear it in auditory form.  You are then shown the letter and the steps in how to write it properly.  Using your finger, you trace the letter, and you are provided with positive feedback from the app (“Good job!”).  The idea behind the app is simple and educational without too many bells and whistles.

However, there is one thing I noticed with this app: it is not designed for younger children, which is unfortunate, since they are the ones who would benefit from it.  My daughter would get extremely frustrated with app.  She’d trace the letter, but it wouldn’t acknowledge that she did it right.  Or, it wouldn’t follow her finger and would fail to leave the trail on the letter.  At first, I thought maybe she wasn’t touching the screen or had her finger somewhere else on the screen that was causing it to not reflect what she was writing, but when I tried it myself I had the same problem.

Without the proper positive reinforcement for writing the letter correctly, the idea behind the entire app is then null and void. While 99 cents is a small price to pay, it can disappointing if you receive an app that doesn’t quite meet your expectations.

I think the developer should consider offering the application for free until they are able to address the response issue.  Once fixed, this is well worth the dollar to help teach your child how to correctly write and create each of the letters of the alphabet.

Getting Real With Lisa Van De Graaff, LMT
(A special thank you to Mandie Gleason of Wellspring Naturals for the use of her feet!)

There are few things we can do for that special someone that are more relaxing than a foot massage. The gift of loving touch can certainly be given at any time, but there is something special about a Valentine’s Day foot massage. It is a truly generous devotion of our time and attention, focused on nurturing our lover. (Between you and me, it is also a free and readily available gift if you have forgotten to buy a card.)

In my work as a licensed massage therapist, I often find the foot massage portion of a bodywork session is the most soothing for my clients. It is when I hold their feet that they let go of their thoughts and worries and just be in their bodies.

To make the most of a gift of foot massage, here are a few basic techniques to try that will make him or her feel comfortable, loved, and relaxed.

In preparation…

Atmosphere
Creating a space for a foot massage will help to honor the time you will spend together. Lowering the lights will help put your loved one in that relaxing parasympathetic state of mind and remove some of the distractions of the home. Some music will provide a focal point for the mind, and a comfortable chair will cradle them.  The right atmosphere pulls them away from everyday worries and lets them focus on your touch.

Positioning
We often think of foot massage with the recipient’s feet in our lap, perpendicular to us. However, the work will be far more satisfying, more equitable for each foot, and easier on our hands, wrists, and thumbs if we face our lover and place the soles of their feet directly toward us. This can be done on the sofa, or better yet in a recliner. There is an added benefit of facing each other in that the moment becomes more intimate and attentive to one another.

Aroma
Whether your partner is a runner or an accountant, when dealing with feet, there is always the possibility of an unpleasant odor. I think the best approach to remedy the situation is to bathe their feet in soapy water or simply with a warm, moist washcloth. If you find you need something more cleansing, try some spritzes of witch hazel. A couple of drops of essential oil can also be nice. The go-to oil for relaxation in a spa is lavender, but I find it is often too astringent. If your lover is a man, I suggest sandalwood. For a woman, try rose or jasmine.

Oil and Cream
I don’t use much oil and cream on the feet, since I don’t want people to slip and fall when they get up from the massage table. However, for a gift massage at home, it can be a nurturing addition to the treatment. Cream is good for calloused feet and will absorb quickly, enabling deeper massage without slipping. Oil allows for more glide, it is generally warmer, and it has a more sensual feel. For absorption, natural oils and creams will always work better than petroleum products– I find grape seed, apricot kernel, and jojoba are particularly effective, and you can certainly add a couple of drops of essential oil to any of these.

The Massage
The most important thing in any massage is confidence. You must touch your partner with tender assertion so his or her body knows it is in good hands.

To start, rub a tiny bit of oil or cream (about the size of a nickel, no larger than a quarter) into your own hands and then hold their feet for a minute – just be with them. Take a deep breath for yourself and watch your lover take a breath.

Pick a foot and apply the oil or cream to their feet, ankles, and lower legs with that confident, loving touch. Feel all the curves and crevices and think about how much those feet do for the one you love. Be in the moment.

Starting just below the knee, use the thumb side of your palm to gently press the muscle (tibialis anterior for those interested in the anatomy) along the outer edge shin bone (aka the tibia). This is the area that needs work if your lover drives a lot, or is athletic. It feels good to everyone, so long as the pressure is gentle.

Staying on the same foot, begin working on the ankle. Use your fingertips to make tiny circles around the inner and outer ankle bones (malleoli) simultaneously. Continue down to the heel with circular and/or downward strokes. Linger.

Move back up to the top of the foot and use gentle (but confident) fingertip pressure between the bones of the foot. You can press and move and press again or glide four times from ankle to between each of the toes. This is a good place to ask your partner about pressure – Are you pressing hard enough or too hard? This massage is about relaxation, not fixing problems.

Now begin work on the bottom of the foot. There is a lot to do here, and thumbs wear out quickly, so make a loose fist and brace your thumb against your forefinger to press into the bottom of the foot. Massage with direct pressure, small circles, and downward or upward strokes. Be creative, curious, and playful (but no tickling). Remember to massage the toes and the heel.

After massaging the entire bottom surface of the foot, give the foot and calf a little stretch by lacing your fingers between the toes. Use the other hand to hold and stabilize the heel, and use the palm of your hand to press the ball of the foot back gently.

If your lover wears heels or runs, loosen their toes by mobilizing the joints. Place a hand on either side of the base of their toes and rub in a figure eight. You will undoubtedly hear a sigh from your partner.

Finish this foot with some squeezes and strokes all over the foot, ankle and lower leg. Kiss a toe if you are so inclined, and cover the foot with a warm blanket. Then continue on the other foot.

Foot massage for relaxation is about nurturing your sweetheart and being present with them. Take your time. Enjoy them. Love them.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Getting Real With Shadra Bruce

It’s almost Valentine’s Day – a day that, for most couples, is all about candy, kisses, and let’s admit it, sex.

A few years ago, at the tender age of 37, around the time most women are experiencing those “peak” moments, I had to have a hysterectomy. The hysterectomy was preceded by a couple of years of trouble – let’s call it a major plumbing issue – that left Valentines Day and several others a little less exciting than they should have been. Had I known what was coming, I’d have invested heavily in Always and OB.

Post-hysterectomy, all the plumbing leaks are fixed. All of them. I mean, that faucet is turned off so well you need a wrench to get it to move an inch.

It’s not that I don’t want the faucet to work, but with most of the hormone-producing organs efficiently removed from my body, it’s a little tougher that it was in my 20s.

But the most important sex organ is the mind, and my mind, at last check, was fairly intact. So all I need is a little magic to facilitate – and oh what a wonderful facilitator you’ll find in K-Y INTENSE.

K-Y INTENSE

is uniquely designed to enhance the experience.

Since I’ve already put you on TMI overload, I’ll just let you know that yes, it works.

Valentine’s Day is all about romance – the one day of the year set aside specifically so that we can let that special someone in our lives know just how much they mean to us. Does Valentine’s Day always live up to our expectations? Probably not. But that’s not what’s important. It’s all about making the effort.

MomsGetReal was provided a DATE NIGHT pack for review purposes.

FTC Disclosure

Getting Real With Veronica Ibarra

OK, so our 12 Days of Christmas theme with all handmade ornaments of the 364 items mentioned in the song didn’t actually get finished. We only got 256 items done by Christmas, but the tree was full and the kids and I had a blast. To carry on with the fun, we’ve decided to hand make just about every decoration this year for every holiday, including cards.

We’ve begun our February project with a Valentine’s banner. We began with the cutting out of an ample supply of hearts. To fancy them up we’ve been using craft scissors to give them different kinds of lace-like edges. To add to the creativity we’ve been using construction paper and scrapbooking paper with different designs on them. These hearts work for decoration and as Valentines to give out to classmates.

Once upon a time, before the commercialization of holidays and card giving, hand made was the only option. When printers began to manufacture cards some people were even snubbed for not taking the time to hand write their own messages. This Valentine’s Day we are bringing back that tradition of making our Valentine’s personal to the ones we give them to.

How this idea will play out for the rest of the year is anyone’s guess. My daughter has already been telling me all the things we can do for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Spring, birthdays and more. She loves the idea so much that I don’t see how we can do otherwise. Plus as I have been a collector of art supplies for years with requests from family members to give art supplies as gifts we are well stocked for the task. This is looking like a fun project and a way to be frugal at the same time while also making everything more personal. With a combination like that it seems like a win-win all around to me.

I would love more ideas, though to be honest even with planning sometimes the best things we do happen with us making it up as we go along. It’s the fun of the adventure.

Getting Real With Kathy Winn

Stop The Presses!! Paul Deen ate a cheeseburger. On a cruise.

A woman with diabetes is eating poorly on a cruise ship. It’s unbelievable!

My response? Who cares. Having grown up with a loved one who was diagnosed with Diabetes at an early age I am going to make a shocking statement: Diabetics Eat Cheeseburgers. They eat french fries. Sometimes they… gasp… eat birthday cake!

Diabetics need to pay close attention to their diets. They need to monitor the foods they eat much more closely than the rest of us do (although shouldn’t we ALL pay more attention to the foods we put into our bodies?) But they do occasionally eat food that is not considered Diabetic Diet friendly.

They are human and they will eat a cheeseburger. With french fries.

Is Paula Deen a great example of how Diabetics – or anyone – should eat?

No.

Has she ever been a good example in that category?

No.

So let’s let Ms. Deen make her own decisions on what she eats and we’ll make decisions on what we (and our families) eat. She’ll live with her consequences and we’ll live with ours. And where are the photos from every other meal from that cruise? Did she eat only lean protein and vegetables for all other meals? Probably not, but we’ll never know so we shouldn’t judge. Do you want someone taking a photo of what you ate on vacation? Me neither.

And if you are looking for an AMAZING recipe, I highly recommend Paula Deen’s Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake recipe.

Just don’t eat it with a cheeseburger.

Getting Real With Jennifer Poole

Every morning, when I drop my daughter off at the school daycare, I say I love you. She always responds “I love you too, Mommy.”

The other day another mother overheard our exchange. She asked me how I got my daughter to do that? I was caught by surprise. She said it must be because she is a girl because her boys will never say it.

As I drove to work I pondered her statement and realized that she was wrong. My boys tell me they love me everyday. Yes, it is a habit that has been ingrained in them since they were small and I am usually the one who starts the exchange but they still say it.

Every morning when my 17 year old and my 18 year old boys head out the door to school, I tell them “Have a good day! I love you!” They always respond that they love me too. Granted some days it is a grumble of a response, but it is still there. Every night when all of my kids come to say good night, they say they love me and their dad and give us hugs. Again some times it is half hearted but it is still there.

I know better then to try to make my kids hug me or say they love me in front of their friends, but because it is just something we do in our family it is something they rarely shy away from. I don’t know if it is because it is something we have done since the day they were born, or if it is that we have learned to make the most of every day because who knows what tomorrow brings.

Either way, I love that I get to hug my kids every day and tell them I love them several times a day and have them tell me they love me. What a great way to start and end each day!