IBS and Penicillin Don't Mix

Well I learned something new on Sunday... the hard way! After having one of the worst IBS attacks that I have ever had, I did some research and found out that penicillin can trigger the attacks. I was prescribed the penicillin after the wisdom teeth surgery last week and though the pain was getting better my belly still didn't feel right. I thought this was due to the pudding/jello diet that I was trying to adhere to but I was wrong wrong wrong. My IBS did not like the penicillin and let me know that. If you don't have IBS I will fill you in on what an attack feels like (to me at least). If feels like someone is wringing out my intestines like a towel while stabbing me. While this is going on, my entire body is sweating profusely and the pain is putting me into tears. Previous attacks lasted about an hour but this one was 3 hours of pain and tears. Today, I am glad the pain is gone but now I know for the future to stay away from Penicillin

Here are some funny cartoons about IBS:

Kid's First Bible Lessons Website

Our Church is a big part of our lives. I am teaching Lily that we need to give back in order to be good Christians just like the Bible teaches us in its many stories. So we volunteer for anything we possible can at Church like helping at the church dinners, baking for fellowship and much more. This week kicks off Vacation Bible School but in our house we set aside "Bible Time". This is where I try to find a nice lesson and/or activity that teaches a Bible lesson that I feel Lily needs to understand (in 6 year old terms). A few months ago I was doing research on the internet for children Bible lessons and came across My First Bible Lessons.

The lessons explain the different stories of the Bible in words that kids understand while incorporating Bible passages so that they can get used to reading and understanding the Bible. I will admit the stories are long and sometimes Lily does not want to sit through them. There is a Quiz at the end of the lesson to see how much kids learned from the lesson which I think is great. I was pretty shocked after the first lesson how much Lily did listen since she was fidgeting the whole time but she got almost all of the Quiz questions correct!

If you are looking to start or continue Bible Study at home with your kids this is a great website! (click any of the blue links or the picture to be directed to the website)

Christmas in July Sale

From now until July 31st, I am holding my Christmas in July Sale in my Etsy Shop! You will receive 25% off with coupon code JULY25 so don't miss the savings while they last! 

Don't forget to enter my 1000 fan giveaway! Click here for all the details to win over $100 worth of Red Shoe Affair creations!! 

1000 fan giveaway

It is Freebie Friday!!! Today I am giving away an extra special gift to thank all of my facebook fans because hit 1000 fans this week! This is an exciting day so here it is.....

The giveaway includes a Show Your Love Handbag (you pick a design from my shop) filled with soaps, jewelry, an apron and a few other special items. This giveaway is worth more then $100!

Here is what you have to do:

You can click on this link: Red Shoe Affair Facebook or the picture above. Like my facebook page (though I know you all already have!) and leave me a comment on what your favorite creation is that Red Shoe Affair creates! Browse my Etsy Shop to check out my wonderful creations! That is it! Simple, easy and you win a wonderful prize!! So go comment and share with your friends so they can enter to win! 

This giveaway ends on Thursday July 18th at midnight EST. I will announce the winner on Friday on my Freebie Friday blog post!

Pudding Kinda Week

After my not so great encounter with McDonalds on Tuesday, I have been sticking to pudding, jello (thanks to the lovely ladies at my church) and soft pasta (I need my salty intake). When I went shopping for pudding Monday morning before my appointment, I was excited to find Kozy Shack makes gluten free pudding! Tapioca pudding is my favorite so I doubled my purchase so that I can indulge and not feel so bad. The pudding comes in 6 packs or larger containers in tapioca, rice, chocolate(that is what I bought) and possibly more flavors. Just another great item to add to my gluten free list! I hope you all enjoy my Downtown Abbey  quote from the Dowager Countess (I love this show!)!!

When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens

When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens! This is something that I am a firm believer in after many years of ups and downs in my life. At the moment of defeat, I do not always see that open door. The open door is right there smacking me in the face but I want to focus on the door that just closed. Well  right now in my life, one door is about to close and I am trying to find my open door. Summer months are never very high for retail sales, which is costly on my home bills. Due to weather either being rain on the weekends or extreme high temps with high humidity, people haven't been in a shopping mood. So now we are facing eviction from our home. Now don't think that I am looking for sympathy because I am not. This is just showing people that the US economy is still in a place where people are secure in their finances but there is always light at the end of the dark tunnel. Life is never perfect but if we make it the best we can at this moment then we can be proud of our lives. So continue to look for your open doors because they are always there!

Here are some open doors that I like:

No McDonald's For Me

I made the ultimate mistake this morning, yes the morning after having my wisdom teeth removed, I ate McDonald's for breakfast. Since yesterday morning's not allowed to eat rule, I have been craving anything salty! I think it is the whole notion that you want what you are not allowed to have because I couldn't stop thinking about wanting to eat everything I wasn't allowed to consume. Well I finally caved this morning! I convinced my sister to go buy me a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit (my long time fav breakfast meal) and now I am paying for it in more ways then one. Trying to eat it was difficult mainly because my mouth didn't want to open wide enough to bite down. Eating the sandwich would have made a great You Tube video because I either was finding unique ways to shove it in my mouth or I had it falling apart around me. The biggest boo-boo was that after eating as healthy as I can for the past few months, I ate greasy fast food which killed my stomach. Fast food is the big no-no for people that live with IBS. Within in an hour I was regretting my decision to cave into my craving. The pain from the IBS attack (cramping, heat flashes, etc) is worse then the dental work because it feels like someone is ripping your insides out through a tiny hole while squeezing and twisting. Just horrible pain. So anyone that is living with IBS or just got diagnosed with IBS.... DO NOT EAT FAST FOOD! 

That is my rant for the day.... Have a Happy, Healthy Day everyone and eat some fruit and veggies today!

Cut it Out

This post is being written later in the evening because this morning I had my wisdom teeth pulled out... or cut out. I have been told that I have a very high threshold for pain that includes tattoos in sensitive areas, childbirth with no drugs to kill the pain, gallbladder removed and went shopping that evening but this pain is HORRIBLE! When I am comfortable enough to sleep it is great except when I move just the slightest bit and then the pain comes rushing back. I can't wait until this pain goes away but until then I have time to catch up on some sleep that I lost with working so hard lately. After not being able to eat anything this morning, I am stuck on a pudding and jello diet. Well ok I cheated already.... I ate spaghetti for dinner because I was just to hungry. I found some funny pictures to accompany this post that I hope you all enjoy!

needs to be renamed stupid, stupid tooth!

How I feel today!

4th of July Super Saturday Sale

This Saturday's Super Saver Sale is $10 off when you purchase $20 or more in my Etsy Shop! Use coupon code JULY4 for this amazing discount. That is up to 50% off!! This sale ends Sunday at Midnight EST! Click the picture or any link to be connected to my etsy shop and save today! 

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday to the county I live in! I know that around the world Americans get a bad wrap due to our government's decisions but the people of America are amazing. In times of need we band together to help each other. We celebrate the wonderful occasions as a whole because Americans are family.I know the 4th of July, like most holidays in America, have become huge shopping days, which I think is not right. For those of you that have to work, I hope that you make lots and lots of money. For those of you that are that get to play today, I hope you have a day of fun, family and friends!  So Happy 4th of July to the wonderful people of the USA!

Give A Little for the Animals

After seeing people come together and help the victims of the Oklahoma tornado disaster, I decided that each month I am going to find a charity (either local, national or worldwide) to donate 25% of my sales. I have always believed that people have something to give whether its money, time, skills, items and more so I try my part in giving back in whatever way I can in my life. I am teaching Lily the same beliefs so this charity is for my animal lover.  So for the month of July 25% of my sales and 25% of Lily's yard sale profits are being donated to Common Sense for Animals.

Common Sense for Animals is an organization in Warren County, New Jersey that helps to educate people on the welfare of animals. The organization has pet adoption programs, pet therapy programs, run a feral cat program to help stray cats, southern dog rescue program, and many other programs. For kids, the organization offers a  kid party where they can invite friends to have a party, play with the animals in the shelter and learn how more about animals. They hold different educational classes/seminars and visit local schools to educate people on the proper way to care for a pet. Throughout the year, Common Sense for Animals holds different fund raisers to finance the programs and animals they help like a marathon walk/run, golf tournament, tricky tray, bake sale and more. This is a great organization and if you would like to find out more details or to donate directly to them please click: Common Sense for Animals  If you would like to purchase something for my shop and 25% is donated to the organization please click: Red Shoe Affair Etsy Shop

When Lightening Strikes

Have you ever had lightening strike your house or close to it? It is one scary feeling! Last Thursday evening we had a tornado watch, severe thunderstorm watch and flood watch. Well the rain storms came fast and furious which we have gotten used to since the humidity is so high right now. Then all of a sudden there were a blue flash and a boom that shook the house and was felt through my body. Lily jumped out of her chair as the smoke alarms were screaming and we were trying to figure out what had gotten hit. Once the rain slowed down, everyone in the neighborhood walked around looking for where the lightening struck.... the huge Oak tree in our front yard!!! It struck about half way down the tree and is a scary site! Well things got crazier and crazier in my life since that lightening struck the tree and was felt through my body. Things went from good to bad and bad to good. Unexpected things happened in my life. Overall, that thunderstorm has taught me to dance in the rain rather then waiting for the storm to pass because you never know what moment can be your last!

Piece of the bark found across the yard!