Amazon: Black Friday Sale

I'll be heading out with friends at 5 am tomorrow for some shopping, but guys, there are great Black Friday deals at Amazon....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Per CVS, I Am Old

Today I was wearing my favorite Office t-shirt (Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run For The Cure) and the couldn't-be-17-years-old cashier at CVS said, "Cool! I have that shirt too!"

Sasha: "That's probably my favorite episode." (smiling)

CVS baby cashier: "My favorite is Benihana Christmas. (pause) You know, I haven't met many people your age who like that show."

Sasha: (no longer smiling) "Well, I know a lot of people my age who like the show......."

Holiday Shopping: Don't Forget Ebates!

I was super excited to see that Sephora is doubling their cash back during the holidays! You know I am addicted to makeup and have to place an order pretty often or I'll explode. Gap is also doubled.... (those are just a few samples of the increased cash back for the holidays- there's more)

Now, if you still haven't signed up for ebates, or never used it after you signed up before, now's the time! If you sign up and purchase something by Dec 31 (and of course you'll be buying something before Dec 31, it's the holidays!) we'll both get $10!

Dear Santa,

2008 has worn me out.

Yes, I know I should count my blessings, and I do that every day, I promise.

But between The Politician boycotting haircuts and throwing up every time someone in a 5 mile radius eats an orange and The Wild Child, well, being wild, I am not sure I have any rope left. I'm defintely at the end.

I'm just trying to be a good mom. I want to give my kids whatever tools they need to succeed in life. Actually, even if they end up being slackers, I still want them to be able to be part of the orange-eating, haircut-getting society and live long, happy, healthy lives.

So Santa, all I ask for is to continue to be surrounded by supportive friends who ask questions, listen, and offer advice or even just an ear or a shoulder to cry on. I have made so many fabulous friends this year and I don't know what I would have done without them.

I may also need to increase my dose of Lexapro, but I realize you can't help with that.

We'll have some Peanut Butter Blossoms waiting for you on the fireplace when you stop by on the 24th. (Props to Hershey's for having the recipe on their site!) I'm sure you'll hear from P and WC between now and then. I believe their list is long, but I'm preparing them for a Wise Man Christmas, and I know they will understand why Santa is bringing three gifts. The Sashas are on a mission to help everyone remember The Reason For The Season.

Oh No, Japanese Women Are Idolizing Paris Hilton

Look at these nails? Craziness, I tell you. Katee at e-polishblog, what do you think? Shall we join in on the trend?

According to the Wall Street Journal, Japan's newest fashion craze has women imitating Paris Hilton.

The end of the world is near.

I Was Robbed

We shall speak no more of it.

I am crushed.

(Jenny, it WAS the best dessert in the contest, the judges were just smoking crack or something. Thanks for the recipe idea- I love it!)

Stay Tuned

for results of the Sasha's Work Dessert Contest.

If I do not win, or at least place, all is not right with the world.

Just look at that yumminess!

Of course there was typical Sasha drama in the baking of the cake. I got 8 oz of sour cream instead of 16, so I found another half-eaten 8 oz container in my fridge and added a splash of milk for good measure. Slim had scrounged around and found me some Kahlua to use, but when I measured it, it wasn't quite enough, so I made up for it with Amaretto. (The other choices in the Sasha Liquor Cabinet were Buttershots, Peach Schnapps or Hot Damn, none of which sounded like a good idea and were at least 15 years old.)

But it smells divine and looks sinful. And I scoped out the competition and saw nothing else worth of a prize.

Check back in a few hours..... I will either be celebrating or having the sadz. Will you give me a hug if I lose?

Christmas Present Idea- For Your Girlfriends

Oh, I love momAgenda! (click on graphic to check them out!)

I have the Kitchen Folio and it's just darling- I've printed out all the free downloads and filled them in with all the Sasha family info and have it by the phone in the kitchen- perfect for the babysitter, or for Mr. Sasha- who never seems to know where to find stuff.

Be sure and check out their new holiday downloads too- cards sent/received, gifts purchased, etc. Just what us busy moms need.

Dessert Contest: Final Decision

I gave Slim some power and let her help me decide what to make.

Her vote is for the Chocolate Cavity Maker Cake that Jenny suggested.

Now Slim, do you have a bundt pan I can borrow?

Dessert Contest Idea: Opinions Needed

The following recipe was posted on the bargain board today and with the crazy week I've got, this might be the easiest, as I have all the ingredients on hand. What do you think?

SUPER-DUPER APPLE CAKE

Cake:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce

Icing:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup of milk

For Cake: Mix white cake mix with applesauce until smooth. May take more or less applesauce. Use at own discretion.

Pour mixture into a 9X9 inch baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake at 350°F in a conventional oven for 30 to 45 minutes or until cake tests done.

For Icing: Melt butter in a sauce pan. Add the remaining ingredients for the icing, stirring rapidly with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over warm cake.

Here were some additional notes:

• The cake mix powder is mixed with applesauce ONLY, do not prepare the cake according to the directions on the box!
• Many people poked holes in the baked cake before adding the topping. It tastes a bit different, but is not necessary.
• The 'icing' is VERY runny, but don't worry, it's supposed to be!
• Some posters added cinnamon to the cake or the icing. Again, not necessary.
• The recipe calls for a 9x9 pan, but you can use an 8x8, 9x13 and 11x7 and it will worked fine every time.

Does this sound prize-winning? I love all the suggestions I've gotten, and remember I still have the Christmas dessert contest I can use them for. With WC's appointment tomorrow I'm going to be short on time this week and the contest is Thursday.

The Bandage is Off

Well, the bandage is off. Mr. Sasha found it on the floor in the living room on Saturday afternoon.

So we've gone from this:

To this:

I'm still not convinced that all her thrashing around in the recovery room didn't mess up the dermabond. But we're going to see the doctor tomorrow so we shall see what he says. Tomorrow we'll discuss scar care and I'm sure they have us do something to minimize scarring.

Either way, looks like we'll be doing another surgery to remove the remaining scar tissue. I can't imagine not finishing what we started.

It is amazing to me to see how much they removed.

I'll update tomorrow night!

C25K Button

Hey girlies! I know quite a few of you have the C25K button on your sidebar.

Would you switch it out with this code so it will link back to my original C25K post?

<br /><a href="http://www.sashasays.com/2008/01/run-like-wind.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g241/Sasha2599/button2.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Thanks so much!

If you do so, leave me a comment and let me know! I can add you to the C25K Blogroll!

A Little Background on WC's SPD/SID

You know, I'm often asked how I knew that WC's had a problem. How I knew that something was off.

When I picked up The Out-of-Sync Child from the library the other day, I flipped through it on my way out the door. After a few seconds of flipping, I felt my eyes fill up with tears and I moved towards the wall so I could lean against it for a second.

I found it. I found a paragraph that I should print out and give to everyone that knows WC.

From page 193:

A mother wrote me this letter: "By the time Rob was two, I felt he had a special need, but I couldn't figure out what it was. He required constant attention. Time-outs didn't work because I couldn't contain him. He was defiant, disobedient, disrespectful, and demanding. He was always busy, always talking (great verbal skills!), strong willed, contrary, and easily frustrated. I felt blessed to have Rob, and wouldn't trade him for the world, of course, but he constantly tested and rejected me."

And more on the next page.

"What was the reason for his behavior? How could I regain control? What method of discipline would get through to him? If his behavior was an attempt to get my attention, how could I supply it in a way that would satisfy him? How could I help a high-energy child channel his energy in a positive direction? I was desperate for answers."

If you replaced Rob's name with WC's and switched out them hes and hims for shes and hers, I could have written that, word for word.

You don't know how good it feels to know that you are not alone.

WC's Sensory Diet

My Mid Mid-Life Crisis writes: Sasha, I teach children who need some sensory stimulation to help cope with their disabilities. Any suggestions about things you use at home to give your child a "sensory diet"? I have some things I am currently using, but I'm always looking for more suggestions!

That's a great question! I'm currently reading this book and came upon a great section on Sensory Diets.

The Out-of-Sync Child

From page 229 "Just as the main food groups provide daily nutritional requirements, a daily sensory diet fulfills physical and emotional needs. The out-of-sync child needs an individualized diet of tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive nourishment more than most not doesn't know how to get it. So, we must and can help.

A sensory diet includes a combination of alerting, organizing, and calming activities."

Here are some of the things I've found help WC. Some of these came from our OT, and some WC was already seeking herself (smart little thing).

Alerting- benefit the underresponsive child, who needs a boost to become effectively aroused

• Crunchy food- she loves and asks for cereal, popcorn, chips, crackers, pretzels, and ice
• Jumping up and down on a mattress or trampoline- we got a mini tramp at the suggestion of the CDS and WC sometimes seeks it out on her own
• Drinking large amounts of Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade- WC practically begs for this, and the OT realized that she was "seeking" oral stimulation because this is pretty tart!
• She also loves lots of spicy food- Hot Mustard from McDonald's, salsa, spicy chips- the spicier the better

Organizing- help regulate the child's responses

• Chewy foods- including granola bars, fruit bars, chewy fruit snacks, cheese sticks
• Play dough and coloring
• At OT, she loves that yucky goo that has bugs in it- she loves getting the bugs out

Calming- help decrease sensory overload

• Getting massages- she'll say "I need a massage"- we concentrate on one body part at a time and do sort of a deep-tissue massage
• She insists on us rocking her in the rocking chair before bed- she knows she needs this transition time and rocking helps her relax
• Popsicles- the sucking activity is calming
• We use a white-noise machine in her room at night and she finds it calming

WC's main issue is "regulation" which means she has trouble modulating (adjusting) her mood and senses. Because of this, she needs a sensory diet that includes all of the above since she can go from being understimulated (sensory-seeking) to overstimulated in 60 seconds. Transitions are rough and she can basically be described as uneven. But we have seen great improvement from OT and from simply being more aware of how her system works.
If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to hear what items you include in the sensory diets of your students!

New Avon Limited Edition Pro-To-Go Lippies

Last week my favorite Avon consultant, Valeri, sent me one of the new PRO-TO-Go Limited Edition shades to try! She knows how much I love this highly pigmented lipstick that's sort of like a balm (it's very moisturizing!) and thought I might like to try Party Rouge.

Well, she was right! What a great color! And I love the silver case they are using for the limited edition colors. I just put in an order for Beaming Berry and Shimmering Red because I'm sure I'll like them just as much.

Valerie has offered up a free shipping code for Sasha Says readers to use! And of course, you'll need to go through ebates to get 5% back.

Follow these steps to ensure you get your free shipping AND your ebates rebates.

1. Visit Valerie's site to make her your default rep

2. Log into ebates to get 5% back and go through them to get to the Avon site

3. Once the Avon site pulls up again, you should see Valeri's name near the top of the site

4. Choose your products (don't forget about trying the Magix primer!- it's BOGO half off- so 2 for $15) and then use code FSANY to get free shipping

5. Post here and tell me what you ordered since I'm a makeup junkie and also quite nosy!

Happy Shopping!

Gap Coupon

Click here for a printable for 30% off at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy valid from Nov 13-16 (in stores only).

OPI Minis

Yesterday I finally got the chance to go to Ulta in an effort to pick up the holiday OPI minis for the bargain price of $5! I love these little bottles and get them every year.

Only I wasn't fast enough! Turns out they sold out on Sunday. Was it you? Did you clean them out? Did you pick up one for me?

If you are local, they said they would get more in Thursday, so I'll be calling to see when they have them out and I'll you know.

Cause it's just that good of a deal!

The Nurse Practitioner Responded

and said not too worry. I hate to quote her without her knowing it, but she basically said if it wasn't oozing, they weren't worried at all and we'd be amazing at how much better it will look with time. Something about if they made it perfect now, the skin would stretch as it heals and it wouldn't be perfect anymore. Now, with a small amount of bunching, it will have room to stretch as it heals. Or something like that.

So we will see them in person next Tuesday and get our scar management plan- I assume it will involve some vitamin E oil or Mederma or those scar sheets or something. I'm on board with whatever they say!

New MomAgenda printables!

New printables at Mom Agenda! Love this stuff! How very Monica!