Doing Harm By Doing Nothing. Denied Do To Mental Disablility

Almost 24 hours ago I caught a post on Facebook from a disability parent-advocate , that I follow, about a 3 year old child that was denied a kidney transplant because of her mental disability, "mental retardation" they called it.  I am nurse myself and I still have a hard time saying that word "retarded". It just seems so mean and final, almost like there is NOTHING that that person can do.

Here is the blog for you to read Amelia's story and the stomach churning moment that no parent want to live through when trying to fight for their child.

As I read the story my heart just broke and I cried.  I cried because my faith in the health care system was just shattered.  As a nurse I tried to see it how the doctors see it, but I couldn't.  I called medical friends and tried to have them explain it to me, they couldn't.  I was at a loss for words.  These parents were not being told, "There is nothing we CAN do for your child."  They were being told, "We are NOT going to do anything for your child.  We feel your child's live is not worth saving."
Can CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) really say, "we did everything we could to save your child"?  I would say no.

I guess what really bothers me is that they are playing Darwin's , survival of the fittest (even though Herbert Spencer is who coined the term).  We allow abortions and death penalty, what have we really shown in regards to the human life.  Now it just seems to many that life is a game and not a treasure.  The only value is how much money someone is willing to pay for that person to live and some cases die.

I don't know what the future may hold for Amelia, I don't know what Amelia thinks or feels, but I do know that she already has shown a purpose on this earth, and that is to show no matter how little or how much someone can do, all life is worth trying to save.

Here is a petition for you to sign that Sunday of Extreme Parenthood started through Change.org  (while there check out their many other petitions that have been started by this organization).

Here is the information to file a suggestion, complaint, or grievance by discussing with the clinic, unit, or department manager or any other supervisory person, by contacting The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Family Relations Office phone at 267-426-6983 (inside the Hospital dial ext. 6-6983), e-mail at FamilyRelations@email.chop.edu, fax at 267-426-6990, or by snail mail addressed to the Family Relations Office, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Plain & Fancy Pasta

Here is an easy pasta dish, that you and your kids will like.  This dish really lets the pasta be the showcase by  not overpowering it with a sauce.  

Ingredients
l lbs of pasta of your choice (I used basic spaghetti)
6 TBS of butter (unsalted)
1TBS of garlic powder (can use fresh)
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
6 oz of fresh spinach
Chunk of hard Italian Cheese
(I used Piave vecchio)
Start your pasta according to package instructions.

While pasta is cooking, get large saute pan on preheat on
medium. 
Melt your butter.

Add your spinach to the butter to start to wilt.
It should be about 2 1/2 minutes.
Get all Paula Dean on the spinach leaves.
Half way through add your garlic powder.
(if you want more then add more)

Your pasta should almost be done so turn up the heat to medium
high.  Add your can of tomato sauce and mix.
Drain your pasta (don't rinse) and quickly add to the pan.
Mix together and keep it moving to avoid pasta sticking to the pan.
After it is all mixed well remove from heat.

Plate your pasta and garnish with shreds of your Italian cheese.
Shred it over the plate.  Again you can add as little or as much
as you want.
Now ENJOY!!!
If you would like a little wine with your meal get a nice
dry Rose.

Square Up...WHAT?

Another $45 dollars down the drain (monthly), and I didn't even sell $45 worth of stuff that month.  Why because I signed up with a credit card (CC) processor that didn't tell me all about the little fees.  OH and also, you can NEVER, and I mean NEVER, have a free credit card processing machine.

Wait a min.... I think I might be wrong.  Have you ever heard of Square Inc? Square Inc. is a San Fransisco based company that has found a way for us little people to process credit cards with the small computers we carry around, called a smart phones.  iPhone? No Problem. iPad? No Problem.  Android (most)? NO PROBLEM?  Square has you covered.

Oh but how much does it cost? Reader? FREE. Phone application? FREE. What about the monthly fee? Here is the best part, get ready for it, if you don't use it then you don't have to pay for it that month.  It is just a 2.75% per swipe (3.5% + 15 cents if keyed in) and that is it.

I know I know it seems to good to be true.  I thought the same thing.  After being completely shammed by my old credit card processor I was a little skeptical at first. But then it hit me.  I could not be any worse than the situation I was already in.  So I waited and waited to get my square and why?  Because I needed to get me a smart phone first.  So when my upgrade time came I went to Square.com and picked a phone that was compatible with their reader and app. (my reader even came in before my phone did).  I have been with Square for almost a year now and I have not had any problems.   I love how someone can order a bow and pay me right then.  I can go to a craft show and not worry if there is electricity or WiFi (it even saves me on booth fees if I don't need the electricity). I love how fancy it makes my business look and the questions about my toy.  So now all I am waiting for from Square is two things.  Online processing and an app for the Kindle Fire.  For now, I will just use my Samsung phone.

So if you are looking to get out of the round and round circle of your CC processor then you need to just Square Up.

Love this Machine. Just Wish I Had One.

The Janome Sewing Machine Company is having a great giveaway.  They are calling it the Friend-To-Friend Facebook Challenge.  All they want to do is reach 20,000 Facebook Fans. 

Here is the easy part.

Just Two Steps To Enter To Win

1. Visit janome.com each day, read the article of the day, and leave us a comment about it.
2. Keep an eye on our Facebook friends and followers total, and help us boost that number to 20,000.

So go and enter.  Then if you win you can give the other one to me.

Almost Not Famous

So being a stay at home mom it doesn't take much for me to get that fancy shmacy feeling or to feel like I met someone important.  Also, being a stay-at-work-at-home-mom I might have a little more time for the Twitter, Facebook, YouTube stuff.  While playing around on YouTube one day looking for some Criminal Minds stuff I found this really cool web series called PRETTY the Series. With my background of making beauty pageant accessories and having a young girl child that has been in them, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the mockery of it.  Why would I not? See for yourself.  You can read more about them and see all the episodes from season 1 to season 3 here.
So how does this all make me almost not famous?  OK. I was playing around computer and if you know me I am a HUGE Criminal Minds fan and I am so inspired in my work by Kirsten Vangsness's character Penelope Garcia (and by KV herself).  While tweeting a few little tweets in desperation to get her attention to make her something for Criminal Minds the executive producer for PRETTY the Series caught my tweets and offered for me to make a hair piece for her for the series.  HELL YEAH!!  So a few e-mails later, making a total of 7 pieces (figured it upped my chances on one getting on KV's head), one lost package, remaking all 7 pieces again and shipping overnight and then finding said lost package, my hair pieces made it.  And the rest is just a PRETTY dream for me.
 No, not everyone is going to know that it was me that made the (what I call) famous cross headband, that the "recovering atheist" character wears in so far 2 episodes (or a few other pieces).  But I do. So in my mind I am "almost famous". To you....... who cares.

Welcome and HAPPY 2012

I have been trying to figure out some way to communicate with my customers, moms and crafty persons on some sort of regular basis. I have been doing Facebook, but feel this is starting to lose it appeal with all the people that have "liked" my page.  Also, Facebook has changed their policies on allowing giveaways on the business pages. With my small business (Plain & Fancy Bowtique), I rely on giveaways as a way to promote my business.

I also considered sending out a semi-regular e-mail blast. This certainly has its advantages.

However, after thinking about it for a few weeks and after consulting with a few of my friends and customers, I decided to set up a blog (short for “Web Log”). That’s what you are reading now.  Please be patient with me during the beginning as I will make changes till I find what feels right.

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After many years of lurking in the crafty blog world I've decided to start my own.  The allure of the crafting community is strong. I want to thank all you crafty bloggers for giving me entertainment, inspiration, and an overall energy boost, each very necessary to me after my 2011 crafting and life roller coaster.

2011 was a very crafty and emotional year for me. My youngest child (before the new addition came last Dec. ) was old enough to allow me to expand my crafting endeavors.  I made new crafty friends (mostly through Facebook), Christian moms, and Babywearing families. I felt like I had found people that understand me, not just as crafter, but as a mom and business woman. THANK YOU!!!

So, what do I want out of this blog?  Well I way to share what I make/made as a mom, crafter and business.  I will have giveaways from my business Plain & Fancy Bowtique.  Hopefully I will post new products and discounts.  Being a mom of 5, I will be posting many trials and errors of my life, because along with making stuff, I am sure I will be making mistakes.  I want to share about and from other great crafters and small businesses.

(Yes the is a repeat of me starting my 2010 Blog I Made This.....And That.  I feel like have have failed in that title and now just want a way to share about me and my business.  So please join me for my second attempt at blogging)

Tinted Moisturizer

Well as most of you know I am a mom of 5 kids, and getting myself ready can really be a challenge.  I have taken a challenge to not always look "frumpy" (word I use alot).  As beauty experts always say you need to use a moisturizer everyday with a SPF.  So to give me a refreshed look everyday (no matter what the day brings) I made my own tinted moisturizer. 

I was introduced to the stuff in HS.  I personally LOVED the kind that Avon had, but over the years they phased it out and it only comes around every now and then.  Having five kids we are on a strict budget and making my own is way more affordable.  Below I am going to tell you how to make your own.  

SUPPLIES:

Foundation or Mineral Make up (pick a color slightly darker than your normal shade)

Your favorite moisturizer with a SPF

A beauty spatula or thin popsicle stick

Empty lotion bottle or you can get the travel size kind.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Fill the empty bottle 3/4 of the way with your favorite moisturizer.

2. Start mixing in your liquid foundation or mineral make up (if using a powder mineral make up you will need to mix little bits with the lotion to cream it up then add it to the bottle)

3. Make sure you mix well and test it until you come up with the right shade.

Now you have a quick way to add light coverage.

I hope you enjoy this

Chaun V.