Who Am I?

I have been trying and in fact yearning to write this blog for about a week now and I am just taking the time to do it for my own sanity.  I have clothes that need washing, gifts that need wrapped, an office that needs cleaned and more.  I have to leave for my son's basketball tournament 45 minutes away in about an hour.  Those chores will just have to wait for now.  I may end up staying up way too late but they will get done.  Right now I focus on me and my sanity and getting out my thoughts and feelings.  I sit here in the office at our desktop computer listening to some of my unwind and relax songs such as "Old Blue Chair" by my Kenny Chesney while throwing in some Christmas with some "Hard Candy Christmas" by Dolly Parton.  I hope to find some of my sanity while I sit and write this while drinking some water and my Thrive smoothie with Boost.  You see I am lost!  I do not know who I am right now or maybe it is just that I don't like who I am.  I am obviously going through some type of breakdown or mental issue.  I continuously blame it on my forced surgical menopause and well that may very well be a huge part of it.

Let's go through my year.  Early this year I was still going through the motions of dealing with sciatica (pain radiating from above my butt down my leg to my foot) which caused me to become disabled last November after being the driver in a wreck where a rude little man ran a red light causing us to T-bone him.  I was on disability and in January was terminated due to my medical leave running out on me.  I have a lawyer and I have undergone chiropractic care, pain management with injections x 3, more injections in my SI joint, etc. I cannot sit for long periods of time so my job as a medical transcriptionist working at home where 100% of my job was sitting typing and running a foot pedal so I had to say goodbye to that after 10 years of doing it from home and another 2 doing it at a hospital or clinic.  It was a huge part of my identify.  That industry is dying and the pay has gotten terrible with no raises ever or anything but it was still how I supported myself and my son.  I was Michelle, the work from home mom and medical transcriptionist.  Well not anymore!

In February I had a total robotic hysterectomy due to continued issues with pain from endometriosis and fibroid cysts.  I was just ready to stop the pain and feel better.  I was a mess because knowing that I would not have my woman parts anymore and the finality of it all was emotionally hard for me.  I had always wanted a family and to be a mom.  I am lucky I know in that I have my son Dylan and I have 3 kids that I claim as my stepkids as they are my boyfriend's kids but still this was not what I pictured in losing my womanhood at the age of 39.  Not to mention I was still dealing with the side effects from having my gallbladder taken out at the end of last year.

In March or so Dave and I moved into a new bigger house which was a great move but it happened suddenly for reasons I would rather forget.  It was still stressful.  The good point of that is we now rent a home that used to belong to my great aunt and uncle so I feel a weird connection to it.

Bring on April when I turned 40.  Yes...my woman parts are gone, I am still dealing with pain from my sciatica, I lost my job and career, and more.  I am still trudging on but slowly I am getting so tired, so unmotivated, and so depressed.

As the summer came on I just felt like I could not get up and get moving.  I could not find the energy to do housework, plan anything with my son, or doing anything but sleep and lay around watching TV claiming and becoming a blob.

Around May and June I had been trying to figure out some type of product to help me out of my funk.  I did finally find a product that agreed with me and gave me great energy, helped with my joint discomfort, etc.  Well as I was readying to purchase and buy in as a promoter I got word my dad was in the hospital dying.  I was devasted.  He had been dealing with health issues off and on but hearing that rocked my world.  I awaited my disability check and asked for help from friends to afford the flight and stay out there to Vegas.  I spent 8 days there with him.  It was an emotional rollercoaster because the doctors were ready to pull the plug on him but he was not ready.  He could not talk for the tube being in but he knew who I was and everything.  I tried to tell him I loved him.  He was still alive when I left there in the beginning of July with my mom who went with me for support.  I left on that plane knowing that would most likely be the last time I would ever see him.  I had already lost my stepdad three years ago to cancer.  I hated leaving my stepmom there all alone.  My dad passed away in August after a few ups and downs.  I know that he is in a better place but it doesn't seem quite fair that I had two dads and lost them both at such young ages.  I dealt with his death as best I could but right now as the holidays are here it makes it a little tougher knowing I will never talk to him on the phone or get on Yahoo messenger and video chat with him.

My son did get to come and change schools over where we live like we wanted but her alternates between one week at dad's and one here.  Well he is here mostly which is fine.  I love my son but he is an ungrateful, unappreciative irresponsible teenager deluxe.  He has my anxiety mixed with his dad's anger and it is not always fun.  Sometimes in fact I want to cry or do cry.  Where is my little man who worshiped me?  I know he is in there somewhere and I see glimpses of him from time to time.  I know I am responsible for some of his spoiledness but sometimes it is just too much to bear.  Do not ever mistake me that I love that boy more than anything on this earth.  I just occasionally feel like the dad in "Sex Tape" when he says that sometimes there son is kind of a dick.  I feel that way sometimes.  Call me an awful mom or whatever but sometimes he just is.  If the world does not revolve around him or he does not get whatever it is he wanted he morphs into someone else.  This is really hard for me.  For so many years it was just he and I.  I was a single mom (yes he saw his dad but you know what I mean) raising him full time.  I was the mom at pretty much every game, working in the car while at practice, trying out boyscouts, at the school programs, etc.  He tries to manipulate me and even has tried to make me feel awful for missing one of his basketball games in a tournament and made a HUGE deal out of it.  One of his friends said they knew I went to almost all games as they always see me taking pictures.  Another told him to be lucky as his parents after three years had just started going to his games.  All of that goes right over his head. I ask him to do chores and then again ask him to do three things, two of which are putting up his own things, and he states that he did chores yesterday.  Well I guess then I only have to feed him, take him up to feed his goat, wash his clothes, fix his lunch, etc since I just did that yesterday.  "You are the mom that is your job".  Well needless to say I went off on him in front of his friends.  I really have been in a great mood until the last few weeks.  I think I am just stressed out and maybe my hormonal menopausal crap on top of the holiday stress has me at my wits end.  I feel on edge.  I feel like I could snap at any moment sometimes.  Last night after my girl's night out Christmas gathering I had enjoyed myself so much but my son had already been texting me (he values his time with friends but apparently does not value my time with my friends) I just sat in the driveway for a while.  I found myself not wanting to go in.  I wanted to back out and just leave.  My stress level is so high.  My boyfriend who I love so much has been working alot and I appreciate that as he takes care of us but it has had me dealing with everything from his ex and kids to groceries to Christmas shopping to bills, etc.  I usually do all of that but I took a part time job at Best Buy which I have really enjoyed as it has been my escape from my housewife and wahm life but with that and the added stress of Christmas I think it has tipped my sanity scale.  If I can get through the next two weeks I hope my stress and anxiety will even out for me.

Okay I have spent so much time on this I now have to get ready for the basketball game (even thought I just don't support my son, eyes rolling here).  My boyfriend's three boys are driving up tomorrow to spend some time with us so I have to get things ready for them, get ready to work in the morning, Christmas shop tomorrow, go to basketball again, stock show for my son Saturday and so on.  I think I need triple Thrive in my life right now.  Honestly, I think if it were not for Thrive I would be a bigger mess still.  The people at work just think I am so happy.  I really am.  I Thrive up, put on my customer service face and go.  I used to work retail and be a manager so I know how to fake it and get my job done.  My customers should not suffer because I am a beautiful, hot mess!

Kenny Chesney Changes His Tune and I Love It

So anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE and I mean HUGE Kenny Chesney fan.  I have seen him numerous times in concert and I have every album he has ever made.  I attended the rainy, storming show of his, the redo concert, the one where it rained and we got stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out and more!  I would not trade any of it!  His concerts transform you to another place and time.  No matter what you are going through in life he asks you to escape and he helps you do that without fail.  I have managed to transform my mom into a die hard fan.  After her first Kenny concert she was sold!  I cannot wait to attend his The Big Revival tour next year with my mom, brother and sister in law.  My brother is a huge skeptic of Kenny or at least he loves teasing me and making me fighting mad but his wife likes Kenny so haha!  Read this article and you will get a glimpse of this wonderful artist and man.  As I always say his music and talent soothes my soul.

“Over the last several years, it seems like anytime anybody sings about a woman, she’s in cutoff jeans, drinking and on a tailgate — they objectify the hell out of them."

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6319528/billboard-cover-kenny-chesney-on-the-big-revival-country-music-sexism?facebook_20141114

Rustic Shop special sign up

I would like to express my love for my rustic shop business.  I make great sales with this business AND I get 30% off of everything for myself.  I love my new boutique top I got.  I paired it with leggings and my black boots and it was so comfy and cute.  I also love my Montana West camo sunglasses.  We have brands like Realtree, Montana West, Muddy Girl, and more!  Get everything from purses and wallets, jewelry, clothing, hats, signs, men's items and more!  Now sign up to sell for only $10 from now through 11/19 and get your 30% commission/discount.  Find me on Facebook and I will add you to all of our groups for more information and graphics shares as well as coupon codes.  www.facebook.com/dyldylsmom is my name on there.

www.chellesrusticshop.com to sign up for $10

Worst Week Ever!

So I am normally a really easy going and happy person but this week has totally kicked my butt.

Last week like an idiot I had forgotten to pay our gas bill for the house so we have been out of gas since last Friday.  They have been out here to turn it back on three times and there have been issues with the heater in the bathroom.  Poor communication has resulted in repeated visits.  It still needs to be properly done so we expect a plumber again tomorrow or Friday.  The gas company is booked up so regardless of that it cannot be turned back on until Monday.  It is about 30 degrees here now so we are cold here in the house and we have no hot water to shower, do dishes, etc.  This has really worn me thin with all of the back and forth of plumbers and gas company workers.

Sunday while at a red light 20 miles away picking up my son from his dad's house my car died.  No power at all, not even for the hazard lights.  People were getting angry and honking and staring at me like I chose to sit in traffic like that.  A nice man finally pushed me backwards into the parking lot of the nearest gas station.  Dave picked me up and we got Dylan and then we got the car part way down the highway.  We had this problem with my car a few months ago where the alternator was draining the battery.  It was so busy so we only got it part way home.  Then as I ready to take Dave's truck to my training Monday night after taking him to work and picking him up the window in his truck fell down so we had to tape up the window.  This was also right as the cold front was coming through.  I rode with a coworker and her girlfriend to this training in Dallas and back like this with the plastic we put over it coming down so it was very loud and cold.  Dave has been working a lot so we have not been able to go and get my car for it to be fixed.  This has not been my week at all.  I really cannot take any more nonsense.  Hopefully tomorrow the plumber will get it all fixed so when they come Monday there are no issues.  I have another training in Dallas on Saturday so hopefully that will go well and Dave's window has been fixed where it is up again so at least there is that.

Raising a Teenager Is Tough Business

I am feeling quite distraught at this late hour.  My son turns 15 on Monday and I am having so many issues with him and with our relationship.  He always only wants to spend time with his friends.  He does not hold down his responsibilities here at home which are basically just picking up after himself and doing things like trash and such at times.  If I ask him to do something with me or family it is like asking him to let me tar and feather him.  I totally get that he wants to spend the majority of his time with friends but to me it is a bit excess.

As far as his responsibilities, he took four days to pick up the cups and trash out of his room which should have been done without my even having to ask him in the first place.  When I tell him he cannot do something he states how he picked it all up.  Picking it up after several days of my telling him does not count as doing it to me.  I try to pick my battles with him but it is so frustrating.  I cannot figure out where that sweet boy went most of the time.  He feels like I am always griping at him when in reality if he would do what he is told or should already know to do I would not have to gripe at him at all.  I do not want him feeling so frustrated and like that is all I do but he is at the age where he must learn some responsibility and stick to it.

Sciatica rants

I have seriously been neglecting my blog and I intend to change that.  Life has me so busy I forget to express myself sometimes.  I write blogs in my mind on a daily and even hourly basis.

Today I am getting ready to go find out my EMG results and see what type of muscle and nerve damage exists from my automobile wreck almost a year ago.  This has been such a long process for me.  I never would have thought a year later I would still be dealing with the pain I have from sitting long periods and still not have a definitive answer.  I know there is something going on with my sciatic nerve.  The pain from sitting long periods goes from my low back down to my foot.  That is the largest nerve in the body and it runs in that area.  Why I have endured chiropractic care, pain management, three injections in my lumbar area that were not really necessary, and finally a spine examination and EMG is beyond me.  If you ask me this probably should have happened first.  I did not know what to do and that I probably should have spoken up.  The lumbar injections were done based off my telling the pain management what my chiropractor told me in that I had a protruding disk.  Come to find out the disc only protruded a minute amount so not enough to cause my pain.  The pain management did not see an actual copy of my MRI until after I had endured three injections.  I went through three injections for basically no reason and that irritates me.  It was pain for no reason and it was money spent out of my settlement that could have been put toward possible new injections I may need.  I lost my job and can no longer do it right now due to that fact that it is sitting 8 hours a day typing (transcribing) and running a foot pedal.  Heck just the hour and a half drive to the doctor in Dallas today will leave me in pain.  I am so thankful to have found Thrive in my life so that a lot of the other health challenges I have are gone or greatly diminished because all of those issues AND this were just too much for me.  At the age of 40 I still have way too many things in my life to do including being healthy, being there for my son and more!  I can at least tackle sciatica now better than I could have 4 months ago but it does not take away from the frustration I feel that it has taken this long with still no relief.  I will update later as to what the study showed.

My Thrive Experience

My name is Michelle Hughes and this is my Thrive Experience.

In June I had decided that I was going to change my life for the better some way, somehow.  I decided to try three different product lines with Thrive being the last one I tried.  I was so unhappy with myself in so many ways.  I had totally forgotten who I was.  I knew I had to begin to make better choices in my life and I needed help in doing that.  I was having a hard time getting out of bed most days.  I was sleeping my life away.  I was having such discomfort and stress I just could not get up and live.  When I was up I was not doing anything very productive and my son was always commenting that all I did was sleep and lay around.  I was barely functioning in my life.  I was at the biggest weight I had ever been and I could not find the energy to get up and get moving.  I was making some horrible eating and drinking choices and I knew if something did not change in my life I would end up just like my dad.  My dad ate and did what he wanted to for many years and partly because of those decisions he was lying in a hospital bed most of this year so far and I had seen his health deteriorate over the last three years after his heart attack in 2011.  I did not and do not want to end up that way.  I have a son who is almost 15 and I knew I wanted to watch him grow up and have a family of his own someday.  I knew that I had way too many things left to do in this life including spend my life with my boyfriend who has been a supportive blessing to me over this last year.    

I got my trial pack in the mail from my friend and now upline Donna Marcotte.  I noticed the energy after a few hours.  I was feeling an extra pep in my step.  I was not as hungry and when I ate I was already making better choices.  I decided after my trial was complete that I was ready to sign up and purchase my Thrive Experience.  Well life kicked me a little when my dad took a turn for the worse.  I am in Texas and he lived in Vegas so I took off to spend 8 days visiting him at the hospital for what I thought were his last days.  My Thrive was put on hold.  I will say that the entire time I was there and my mom (who went with me for mental support) and I would walk around on the strip during our down time not at the hospital and I would keep telling her that I needed my Thrive.  I had no energy.  I was suffering all those discomforts at heightened levels from the mental and physical stress on my body.  I was continuing to make bad choices with food and drinking all those sodas.  I would get back to our room early because I just could not do anything else because I was exhausted and wake up each morning with discomfort and forcing myself to get ready to go. 

Well we flew back home and soon after that when my finances were back in line I ordered my Thrive and I was so excited.  I haunted the website for the company delivering my Thrive.  It only took two days but I was so ready to get this product back.  It arrived on a Friday so I started back up on that Saturday.  My boyfriend and I made a three hour trip back to his hometown to see his family and his kids.  I had not slept much but I was keeping him awake on the ride there.  I was dancing and singing in the car and I felt great.  I have been thriving ever since. 

This product has really changed my life in the 5 weeks I have been using it.  My energy has been so amazing and I feel more like myself than I have felt in a long time.  I am losing weight and even better than that is that I do not drink sodas anymore and I do not reach for sweets and bad foods like I used to.  I am making better choices in my life.  My boyfriend is now thriving with me and together we are both doing great.  We bring home leftovers when we go out to eat.  We do not even buy those unhealthy snacks anymore. 

Thrive has helped improve my mood and control my stress so much.  I used to really struggle with this and that was party of why I could not get out of bed sometimes.  Just this past week I was really having a rough time with some personal issues and then I got the news that my dad had passed away last Sunday.  I knew it was coming but the fact that I was not able to be there and the finality of it along with all of the other personal issues I had been going through made it hard for me.  Well I crawled up in my bed and pulled the covers over my head which was a typical way of my handling stressful situations such as this and after a few minutes I had to get up.  My body just would not let me do what I call “wallow in my own self-pity”.  I had to get up out of that bed and get moving.  I was still sad of course that my dad had passed but I was able to handle it differently than I normally would have. 

I am making better choices in my life physically and mentally and on top of that I am able to earn a great residual income and work with some amazing people with this amazing company and I am so thankful for that every day.  I know that my dad is probably looking down on me and smiling that I have made the decision to change my life for myself and for my son.  I have Thrive to thank for that and I am so grateful to this company and to Donna Marcotte for introducing me to this experience and opportunity as well as to my boyfriend, son and family and friends who are so supportive of me every day.  I got my thrive on and I do not intend to go without it EVER! 

Losing Another Parent

Well I have not blogged in a bit and now I come to blog with a heavy heart.  You see I lost my stepdad 3 years ago August 3 to cancer at the age of 56.  Later that same year my biological dad had a heart attack and he has had many medical issues since that time.  He really got worse this year when he started requiring dialysis and in June he also had pulmonary failure.  He had to get a breathing tube and we thought he would not make it then.  I gathered up every little bit of my disability and some friends and family donated to the cause and my mom with me I flew out to Vegas to see him.  He was not able to talk from the tube and being so sedated much of the time.  They wanted to pull the plug on him then but he was aware enough to state that was not what he wanted.  After our eight night stay he had a trach put in the day after we flew back.  He has since been transferred to a short stay hospital and that time is coming near as it only allows four weeks to stay.  Well it looks like his lungs are so bad he will never be able to come off of the ventilator.  They are wanting to put him into hospice and they will then want to turn off ventilator and stop his dialysis having him pass.  I understand this and knew it was coming but being so far away and not being there is killing me.  I had a long talk with myself tonight and I have to come to terms with the fact that I did see him in June and I knew this was coming so I have to just stay here and take care of my life here.  I cannot do anything for him now and I said what I had to say while I was there.  I really want to be there but sadly it is just not possible right now.  I pray for my stepmom as she has nobody out there for support or anything.  It is just her and that is it.  They moved out there in 1998 and it has just been them.  My heart is heavy and I will be sad for a while and probably always feel some guilt over not being there but it is what it is.  

I May Be Delusional

Ok so I have been a bit busy so I have neglected my blog.  I know...the horror!  Just have been busy working my businesses, fighting with my teenager and more!  I am so thankful for my THRIVE keeping my energy up because I easily could have crawled into my depression shell the last few days.

Now I get to the topic of this blog.  My boyfriend has been married twice already.  The first time was for I think 15 years and the last was not long and was a rushed thing.  The first one ended badly for sure and the second one was a mutual decision but still he has two failed marriages.  I love this man with all my heart and I am thankful for him every day.  We have NEVER fought in the 16 months we have been together.  We just get along great and are truly best friends which is what I had always prayed for.  He is a total smart ass but in a good and funny way.  If he is not being one of those I tend to think he is sick or extremely tired.  Well lately I keep finding myself thinking about marriage and looking at engagement rings and thinking of where we could get married.  I am pretty sure I am delusional because I really don't think he has any desire to get married again.  Sometimes when things go wrong in marriages we just lose our faith in them.  I get that.  I have been there off and on in the 12 years since my marriage ended.  I guess with him I just know that he is who I want to be with forever.  I want to carry his name proudly and wear his ring proudly and all of that jazz!  I am totally sentimental about it.  My first proposal he really did not even say anything to me.  At the advice of his aunt he put the ring on a beer can in the refrigerator.  Never even actually proposed after that.  I look back now and figure that may have been my sign he really did not want to marry me but anyway...

The other night I was looking at rings and just dreaming like a lunatic.  I bring it up now and then but I am just pretty sure he has no interest in that any time soon.  I am fine with it in that it is not a deal breaker but the dreamer and sentimental part of me wants that to happen because I just I just KNOW he is it for me.  I am afraid I guess that he is not sure of that like I am.  I know I should just be happy with what I have and believe me I am but I cannot help feeling and wanting what I feel and want.  I get angry at his exes for making him feel like he may not ever want that again because they made bad choices.

I lost 2.5 pounds!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness!  I was so busy being excited about my Thrive and the energy and pain relief that I did not even think to weigh myself.  I am realistic in that I know weight will fluctuate but I am so stinking happy to say I weighed myself and since Monday I have lost 2.5 pounds according to our new scales.  I think maybe Dave will agree that my bubbly crazy energy ridden self is super duper happy!  I will take it all!!!!!!  I cannot wait to see what comes of the future!  Woot woot!!

My son was suppose to watch our show Pretty Little Liars with me but my excitement and great mood benefited him and I said he could have a friend stay the night instead.  Teenagers!  He does not want me to watch it without him but I have a hard time hog tying him down to watch it with me.  I know he is growing but dang the selfishness sometimes is overwhelming to me.  I hope to survive his teenage years!

http://dyldylsmom.le-vel.com

Le-Vel | Premium Opportunity

I know that I keep blogging about this topic but I am just so excited about it and what it is doing for me in my life!  Last night I had my launch party and I also signed up my boyfriend to Thrive with me!  We are focused on living a healthier lifestyle and Thrive is helping to make that happen.



I am on day 2 of wearing my flip flops all day with no foot and heel pain.  I am ecstatic.  I still have great energy today and last night I stayed up late getting things done and I was up earlier this morning than normal after staying up so late.  I am still ticking away!



I was diagnosed with arthritis in my early 30s, now 40.  As I have had issues over the last couple of years that caused me to lose focus along with a back injury from a car accident I gained my weight back and more and that is NEVER good for my arthritis.  I was having leg pain pretty much every day upon wakening and some days it was worse than others.  My heels were really bad causing me to walk funny and I could only wear tennis shoes and my feet still hurt!  My full time job before my injury was as a medical transcriptionist so lots of typing and sitting at a computer.  Naturally I had arthritis and carpal tunnel and that pain is also less than it was before and really is not noticed at all even though I have spent quite a bit of time typing on the computer the last few days.



The energy is outstanding.  I was dragging my rear and could not get motivated to even clean the house.  I was spending many days just laying in bed for hours and sitting around watching television.  Housework suffered, my body suffered and my whole life was suffering.  I also have depression so I have to have the energy to help me get motivated.  I am thinking so much clearer and have been motivated to do so many things for my businesses and life that I have not done in a very long time.  I have been sharing my story all over social media and to anyone who will listen.  For me it is about helping others to live a better life just like I am.

I have also noticed the decrease in appetite too which is a great benefit to the weight management part of my life.  I have a hard time saying no to food.  I always have and this is something I pretty much got from my dad.  I am having better portion control and no longer eating out of boredom.  I only eat my meals and I only eat until I am full and not until I am sick and stuffed.  I am so excited to see what the future of my Thrive experience will bring me!!



http://dyldylsmom.le-vel.com

My Fried Squash try

Ok so my boyfriend really likes fried squash.  He also eats pork and beans mixed with it, which is strange to me but hey whatever floats his boat I guess!  Well the other week I was given some squash from a good friend so I looked up this recipe to try and after postponing this dinner a few times I finally made it last night. It is a Paula Dean recipe and I will tell you that my guy really enjoyed it.  He at first made this weird face and I thought to myself "oh crap he doesn't like it" but then he said he loved it!  Go me and go Paula Dean!  Here is the recipe for your cooking pleasure!

Total Time:
57 min
Prep:
15 min
Inactive:
30 min
Cook:
12 min
Yield:6 to 8 servings
Level:Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/deep-fried-squash-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients
Vegetable oil, for frying
1/2 cup whole buttermilk
3 large eggs
4 medium yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Cajun or Creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions
In a large Dutch oven, pour the oil to a depth of 2 inches; heat to 365 degrees F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and eggs until smooth. Add the squash, tossing gently to coat; let stand for 30 minutes. Drain the squash, discarding the buttermilk mixture.

In a shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, flour, Cajun or Creole seasoning, baking powder, salt, and pepper, to taste. Dredge the squash in the mixture to coat.

Fry the squash, in batches, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

Recipe credit to:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/deep-fried-squash-recipe.html

Day 4 on Thrive

Ok so today is day 4 of my Thrive experience since the trial I had and I feel fabulous!  My energy is through the roof!  I have been upbeat and talkative all day long.  The best thing is that I normally have awful foot pain and flip flops are a no-no!  Today I wore flip flops and they are still on my feet with no significant pain!  This may seem like something small and stupid to some but for me it is EXCITING!!  My boyfriend was smiling as I was telling him how excited I was to wear my flip flops today!  I am so ready to see what this Thrive experience has for my future.  My launch party is tonight and I could not be happier or more ready to share my experience!  Contact me to Thrive!

http://dyldylsmom.le-vel.com

Pink Zebra new catalog

My very first business venture was Pink Zebra and I am super excited to announce that the new Fall/Winter 2014 catalogs and scent samples are on their way so do not miss out.  There are some great things coming our way!  There are lots of great scents and decor items to decorate for your holiday season as well as the traditional items for year round.  Stay tuned for more information as it arrives.  The official launch date is July 24, 2014 so check my website on that date for the new products.

www.pinkzebrahome.com/dyldylsmom

If you are interested in joining this great company I invite you to get in on this great sign up special going on right now!  More news later this week as well as pictures of some of the new items!

Contact me for more information or for your catalog and sample now!!

New Shirts At My Rustic Shop....what?!

Just a quick share before bed.  I do not wear tank tops because I have a serious self esteem issue with my arms so I am excited to say some of the shirts we had at my rustic shop are now available in short sleeve and long sleeve....So excited!!!!

Just a few of my favorites so far!!!  Check them out here:

Chelle's Rustic Shop

My Vegas Slots Game

So now I will review and give you information on this game that I play and love and the BEST thing is that you can earn loyalty coins which you can turn around and use for REAL rewards at MGM owned casinos in Vegas.  I know it is hard to believe this concept but it is totally true.  If you plan to go to Vegas anytime in the future I HIGHLY recommend playing this game.  It is available on Facebook as well as on Apple iOS and Android phones via Google Play or Amazon.  I recommend downloading through Amazon apps if you have an android as you earn loyalty points on the challenges and I have heard that you do not on the Google Play version.  Loyalty points are what you need to earn real rewards so just making a note of that.

As far as the chips you use to play the games the Facebook app is totally separate from the app on your phone or tablet.  This means you can have 100,000 chips on your Facebook and only 100 on your phone.  Please take my advice and sync your game on your phone and/or tablet with Facebook.  This does not mean you have to interact with your friends and do requests, this is simply to sync your loyalty points between the two because just because the chips are separate the loyalty points are the same for you.  I stressed this to my boyfriend and sure enough he never synced to his Facebook, got a new phone and lost all of his loyalty points.  He is now synced of course after I practically MADE him!

The rewards are different based on your location.  For instance if you leave near Vegas you will not have the same rewards as someone like me living in Texas, far away from Vegas.  You generally only get to redeem three rewards within a 30-day period.  You can combine rewards with someone such as when it comes to rooms and such.  I have not tried this myself but it is what I have read and been told.  Redemption is for rooms, drinks, buffets, shows, and more.  All of this can be viewed within the app itself under REWARDS.

On the Facebook game you earn as you go which will build up your strip.  Once you get certain casinos and items built you can then go in and collect free chips to use on the game when you go back during the designated time such as 30 minutes, an hour, two hours, etc.  You can also earn chips by sending and receiving them via friends of MyVegas game.  The more you play the more loyalty coins you earn.  Each day you go in and get to spin to win either chips or loyalty coins and the more days you go in and play in a row it increases the chips you earn that day as does the number of friends you have.  You can also gain chips by clicking on your friend's posts so watch your MyVegas friend's timelines for those opportunities.

On the app for phone and/or tablet you also get to spin daily and you can collect chips hourly.  The amount you collect goes up as your level goes up.  There are challenges you can complete as well to earn chips and loyalty coins as well.  The bonus games on your app are different from the bonus games on your Facebook game.

I redeemed last year two tickets to see the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay and two tickets to see the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.  My dad lives in Henderson, near Vegas, and last time we went those were two things my son wanted to do and did not get to do.  This saved us on the trip and I really did not have a lot of points as I had not been playing that long.

Last month my dad fell very ill.  He has multiple medical problems and he was in the hospital and we did not think he would make it.  I had been playing the game, although not as much as I should have.  I had enough points to get THREE nights FREE at Circus Circus.  My mom went with  me for mental support and we stayed eight nights there.  We got the two most expensive nights FREE which were Friday and Saturday night free and got a weeknight free.  I paid less than $200 to stay 8 nights there.  It was over $100 for the two weekend nights so you can imagine my excitement!  This was an unexpected trip so I enjoyed saving the money.  I will also add that some people do not like Circus Circus but this is my second stay and I like it there.  It is not in the middle of the strip but it is very affordable!

The moral to this story is play, play and play and then play some more if you ever plan to go to Vegas.  I have several of my friends and family now playing after they saw that a REAL person they knew got FREE stuff!  Don't delay...just do it!!!!

Here is a site I found the other day where links are posted daily to go and collect some of the big amounts of coins!  Enjoy!!

http://myvegasfreechips.com/

Michelle's Thrive by Le-Vel launch party on Facebook

I would like to as my first blog post invite everyone to my launch party for my newest business and life-changing opportunity.  It is totally FREE to join as a customer or promoter.  This way you can follow the business until you are ready to invest in yourself.  You also get your product FREE after you sign up two auto ship customers.  It is so simple!

I first started my Thrive experience last month when my upline, who I met from another one of my businesses, sent me a 4-day sample.  I had been trying two other popular programs and I was trying this as my last choice.  I had already eliminated one VERY popular product line as it just did not work for me.  When I tried the Thrive I was AMAZED!  I had a great amount of energy and to top it off it seemed to curb my appetite AND made my joints hurt so much less than they had in a very long time.  You see I am a long time arthritis sufferer and due to gaining some weight and other life challenges I was really noticing my arthritis more and more every day.  I tried the shake mix first with ice and pineapple making a smoothie.  Let me tell you that I am a super picky eater and drinker but I really enjoyed the taste and it was definitely not too chalky or powdery like some of the popular shake mixes on the market.  I had two days of pineapple before I hit the store and got the Dole frozen strawberries and bananas.  I mixed that and ice with my shake mix and WOW it was great tasting!  There are so many great recipes out there and you can choose what flavor you like best and I myself intend to keep trying new mixtures.

Well my dad who lives states away was not in good shape and we thought he would pass away so I dropped everything, put my Thrive and other businesses and health choices for myself on hold while I jetted off to Vegas where he lives.  I, along with my mom, spent 8 days there.  He is doing better now even thought if one doctor had his way we would have just let him pass.  That is a whole other blog entirely!  I will tell you that several times while walking around on the strip in Vegas to kill some time I told my mom "Man I wish I had my Thrive!"

I just got my Thrive promoter pack in last week after getting my life somewhat back together and I am so happy I did.  I am feeling that increased energy and my arthritis aches are getting better every day.  I cannot express enough how much I believe in this product.  I invite you to join me for my launch party tomorrow night, Tuesday July 22 at 8:00 p.m. CST.  This will only last 30 minutes and you do it from the comfort of your own home.  There is a wealth of information available to you on my website and in some YouTube videos.  I will post some of that information here for you!  Listed below is my website where you can find basic information and sign up for FREE as a promoter or customer.  I assure you there is no obligation.  This just allows you to follow the business.  I signed up for Free back in May and nobody pressured me or bothered me at all but I was able to follow the news and growth of the company until I was ready to THRIVE!

Michelle's Thrive Website