How to Stop Dog Nipping?

For Christmas we adopted a 1 & 1/2 year old dog. I was quite excited we found him.  We have been trying to rescue a dog for about six months.  When we brought him home we were so excited.  We have had a golden retriever before.  He was our first baby.  His life ended early due to cancer and it took us a long time to make the plunge again.  So we found a new golden retriever and thought that he would be the same.  He is not at all the same.  He has a dominance issue and likes to put our hands in his mouth!  I do not know how to stop it.

He has nipped the baby in the hand.  It was a little more than a nip.  We rushed to the hospital.  I was so upset over it.  He had been bad with adults but he has been wonderful with the kids.  I am pretty sure that she stuck her hand in his mouth to take his bone.  So this was not all the dogs fault… right?  Her hand was cut a little but was horribly bruised.  We really thought that it was broken.   Luckily it was not broken but I left just wondering what to do about it.    We have invested a ton of money into this dog and we have accepted him as a member of our family.  So I am left with what do I do…

YouTube Karaoke: My New Discovery

I know that I am often two minutes too late.  Last night I discovered that on YouTube has karaoke songs.  I am amazed and excited all at the same time.  It was incredible.  I do not know how else to describe it.

A few months ago a friend hooked me to karaoke.  I am not sure that I could go out into the world and try it but in her livingroom I am a STAR!  I cannot do songs that are too loud or too hard rock.  I am a soft rock type of girl.  The song I nailed is “eternal flame”.  I sing it like the pros.  The other night we discovered I can sing Pat Benatar.  I was told that I would have to prefect that too before we hit the road.

I should have started this by telling you that I have a decent voice and I LOVE to sing.  Even Abigail still wants me to sing her to sleep each night.  I sing songs from the Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music and Children’s songs best.  I CANNOT sing hard rock to save my life.  I can rock, “God Bless America”, but do not ask me to sing, “We Will Rock You”.

Back to where we started!  Abby and I have been karaoke QUEENS.  While I am singing classics she is singing, “I Kissed a Girl”.  I have sat wondering where it is that she has heard these songs.  Then I remembered Aunt Alli put them all on her iPod.  Thank goodness for that Aunt Alli!

Becca

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GoWear Fit: Is It Worth It?

I stumbled across the GoWear Fit and was completely lost.  I have never heard of it… Have you?  I am wondering if it is all worth it.  I did some research and discovered some very interesting things about it.

1. You wear a band on your arm and by measuring all different things going on in your body it can tell you how many calories you are actually burning all day and night.
2. It calculates the amount of calories you are taking in.
3. You down load all of the information onto your computer and you are on your way.

According to GoWear Fit there are 3,500 calories in a pound of body fat.  So in order to loose a pound you have to burn 3,500 calories more then you consume!  Although this sounds like a lot even writing this post is burning calories!  The GoWear Fit system is a little price.  The cheapest I found it for was $179.  I would love to try it and give a review.  Perhaps the GoWear Fit gods will read this and let me try one out.  I think that this would be a great tool for my weight loss journey.

Do any of you have a GoWear Fit?  I am interested in hearing how it all works.

GoWear Fit

Becca

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Laundry Tips From a Mom Who Knows

I would like you to all understand that this is not a practical tip entry.  This is an entry on all of the things that I hate about laundry and tips to make those things better.  I will not teach you how to remove stains or teach you how to avoid laundry from piling up.  To be quite frank with you…. I have no idea how to make there things happen.  Here is what I do know about laundry:

1. No matter what I do it will never be done.  I know some very nice people say if you do a load a day it will all be manageable.  Either way you still have to do a load a day.
2. For some reason my almost 3 year old still wears at least 3 outfits a day plus jammies.  This is a huge issue…  I could just let her be dirty all day.   I just do not think that is a good solution to my laundry woes.
3. My 9 year old is STINKY and CANNOT wear outfits more than once.  I just do not know what else to do about the stink her clothing is bringing to my laundry!  We already have deodorant, sprays and soap.  What else could there be.
4. Why is it that so few people in my house know how to wipe?  It AMAZES me.  I know it is a lesson we went over 1 billion times!  So why is it that it has not caught on.
5. There are times that I think that the pile is taller then I am.  I know that this is not too too hard being that I am only 4′11″ but still… this is not good.
6. I seem to be the only person capable of carrying the laundry up and down two flights to be washed.
7. God forbid you ask someone to help in any way.  It is like the sky has opened and we are all headed for eternal damnation.
8. Why is it that my clothing is never done?  I fold and wash and fold and wash and fold and wash but so few of the articles are mine.  How is this possible?
9. How hard could it be for one to open a drawer, stuff an already folded of clothing and and then shut the drawer be?  One would think that this is an easy task… right?  So why am I the only one who has mastered it?
10. WHY DOES EVERYONE LEAVE IT ALL UP TO ME?

I am seriously thinking about making disposable clothing.  I think that my tip for today is to quit trying and when they all find that there are no outfits to be had perhaps they will help more.

Becca

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Ask Becca: Becca’s Belly Busters

Hello all fans of askbecca.com!  I am excited to announce that I have started a new group on Facebook.  Because I am having such good success with my personal weight loss so far, I thought that it would be nice to have a place we can all go for support, weigh ins and even a bragging section.

Studies have found that groups of people who are attempting a weight loss goal together are more successful.  My entire family is on the move to a healthier lifestyle.  We would like all of you to join us.  So far we have lost a little more then 50 lbs together!  So come and join us… Complain, share your successes or just read what others need help with.  Together we can make this weight Watcher journey a pleasant and successful one!

If you are interested in joining Becca’s Belly Busters please click here.   The door is always open!

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Sketchers Shape-Ups: A Practical Review

I have been wearing my Sketchers Shape-ups for about two weeks now.   Please understand that Sketchers did not provide me shoes or money to write this article although I wish they would!  Either way I paid the full retail price of $99 plus tax for mine.  I know it is a lot but the reasons are simple.

1. I shattered my arch about one and a half years ago.  I have extreme pain and burning in my foot all of the time.  The Dr. said that a rocker bottom soled shoe would imobilize my foot.  This would reduce some of the nerve pain that was occuring.  Right away I went to the expensive shoe store and tried on shoes rangin from $250- $1,000.  No, that is not a typo, I said $1,000!  NONE of them fit.  Because of where my foot broke the in step of that foot is very high.  I walked away crying that I would never wear shoes again.  Then while Christmas shopping I stopped and tried on the Sketcher Shape-Ups and guess what… THEY FIT!
2. Another reason is that I am weight watching as many of you know.  In addition to a reduction in pain these shoes are supposed to help firm you butt and legs.
3. The third reason I plunged into a $99 pair of shoes was that they were more stylish then the $1,000 pair I could not afford.  I was also drawn to them because they make Sketchers Shape-Ups boots and Mary Janes.  This means that I can have a shoe that reduces the pain in my foot and it can be something other then a sneaker.

So back to the now!  I have been wearing these sneakers for two weeks now.  I am SO happy with them.  The nerve in my foot is feeling some better, my butt and legs are sore showing that they do something and they have enabled me to walk as a form of exercise.  I just do not know what I would do without my Sketchers Shape-Ups!  I am in love… I think I should stock poile them for when they are not cool anymore!

Becca

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Weight Loss: Day 6

Well I had an alright day.  All in all I am still doing well.  Today I am having various issues emotionally that are making eating well difficult.  The first issue is that I have bad for you food in the house for the first time.  It is hard for me not to eat it all.  I did well though and stayed away from it all.

The other issue is that I am having a stressful time with my daughter in school.  I have a meeting in the morning that I am stressed out about.  It is so hard to remain strong but I beat the overeating urge and came out of it on the other side.

Emotional eating has to be the biggest issue I face.  When I am stressed, pissed or upset about something I want to EAT!  It does’t even matter most days what I eat.  Just as long as there is something in my mouth.  Today I did none of that.  Rather then eat I kept myself busy.  I was able to clean the house, do some research and still have a good day.

I did have a meeting at my house tonight which meant I did not eat perfect.  I did control the amount that I ate.  This is HUGE for me.  I usually do not pay any attention.  Tonight I tried a little bit of everything.  I made sure that most of the things on the plate were healthy.  I used reduced fat sour cream and light mayo.  I think for the situation I did very well.

How do you all handle the emotional eating thing?

Becca

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Diagnosis Bipolar on HBO

Last night as I was flipping through the channels I stopped at a documentary titled, “Diagnosis: Bipolar” on HBO.  Being that I have a child who suffers from Bipolar disorder I watched about the last 10-15 minutes of it.  I certainly want to catch it in its entirety.  It was like seeing portions of what we go through everyday on the television.

Bipolar is a brain disorder that severe mood changes occur.  According to www.BPkids.com there are “bouts of extreme and impairing changes in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior.”  Many people are under the misconception that this is a strictly behavioral issue that is easily fixed by behavioral modification.  While behavior modifications are certainly important it is a brain disorder.  I  know that my daughter hits a point where she looses it and is no longer in control.  I do not know how to explain it.  You can see in her eyes when she is gone.  After an episode she immediately becomes very depressed.  She talks about not wanting to live and tells me she hates herself because of how she just acted.  She is unable to explain what is going on in her head at the time.  She clearly feels bad.

As my daughter continues to age it is becoming more difficult.  The fact that she is prepubescent has made her treatment difficult not only for her but also for her Doctor.  She is suffering socially because other children her age do not know what to make of her.  The trouble is that my daughter has a HUGE heart.  She will do anything to help others.  She can be extremely compassionate.  She is wonderfully excited about so many things and very inquisitive.

I certainly want to catch this documentary again.  I am sure that they picked some of the most severe cases to show.  That is what they always do.  I just want to see how these kids have been helped over the course of a year.  For now I will continue to muddle through.  Some days are wonderful and others not so much.  Either way she is my baby girl and all I can do is try and help her in anyway I can!

Becca

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Weight Watchers Honey-Mustard Chicken

Makes 4 servings:

1/4 cup Dijon-style mustard
2 Tbsp. + 2tsp. honey
2Tbsp. Apple Cider
Four 6-ounce Chicken Drum Sticks; Skinned
1/3 cup +2 tsp. plain dried bread crumbs
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground ginger

1. Preheat over to 375 F.  Line large baking sheet with foil; spray with non stick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl combine dijon mustard, honey and Cider, remove and set aside 1/4 cup of the mixture.  To remaining mixture, add chicken tossing well to coat thoroughly.
3. In gallon-sized sealable plastic bag , combine bread crumbs, dry mustard, salt and ginger; seal bag and shake to blend.  Add 1 drumstick; seal the bag and shake to coat.  repeat using remaining drumsticks.
4. Bake Chicken 20 minutes; turn carefully.  Bake 10-15 minutes longer, until cooked through and juices run clear.  Serve reserved mustard mixture for dip.

Each serving provides:  3 protein, 1/2 bread; 45 optional calories.

One the Weight Watcher Point System the calories, fat and fiber calculate to 6 points per serving.

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Big Love On HBO

I am so excited!  In just six short days my all time favorite show will be returning to HBO.  Yes it is that time again!  Big Love will premiere season four Sunday night.  This show is twisted but I just cannot help but to love it.  I often sit and wonder what it would be like to have more then one of me running around.  There are benefits to plural marriage!!

• You do not have to be the only one washing the dishes, cleaning, doing laundry and cleaning toilets.
• Your children could wine to someone else.  You know Bill does nothing with the kids but to have three mothers is the best.
• You do not have to be the one sleeping with your husband every night.  Come on ladies; I know that I am not alone when I say that I wish I had the entire bed to myself every now and then!
• There are two other people around to be friends with.  You never have to even leave home.
• Everyone has a job and it is clear.  Not like now where all of the jobs are all mine.  They share the responsibility.
• The kids all have one another to play with.  Yes this is true with my kids but I think to have like 8 kids and a huge shared yard would rock!
• My husbands sex drive may equal mine.  No man can keep up with three women every night of the week, can they?

So as silly as it sounds I would love to have a second wife.  I of course have to be the first wife.  You know the one who controls it all.  The head wife in charge!  Just imagine a world with three of you…  The possibilities are endless.

*Please understand that I know there are negatives to plural marriage as well.

Becca

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