100 Ideas - Keri Smith Inspired Post #1

I'm participating and actually hosting a swap on Swap-bot called 100 Ideas - Keri Smith Inspired.  The idea of this swap is to pick 20 ideas from the list of 100 and complete the tasks in whichever way you interpret them and document it somehow. 

The first idea I picked was #2.  Write a letter to yourself in the future.  I actually used a site online called FutureMe.org and picked a date and it will email me the letter on that date in the future.  I don't remember all of what I wrote, but I took a screen capture so that I'd have a way to document that I did this.

So that plan of updating with various Mental Health related posts and facts didn't pan out either.  I think I'm just going to stop saying I'm going to write about something and hopefully I'll start having some true random things to post about again since it's suppose to be all about life's journeys and those are usually pretty random.

I've been trying to do a little more lately in terms of housework and also with getting out of the apartment more and spending less time on the computer.  Some days that works better then others though I'm chronically behind on housework.  I think because I used to be so depressed I couldn't do proper housework and so never really ever did.  Now that I'm trying I get a little bit done but I get overwhelmed easy and end up taking a lot of breaks.

My apartment isn't horrible dirty but it is very cluttered and I need to find places to put things and some organizational systems that work for me.  I'm getting better at keeping up with the dishes though it is so easy to get behind.  I try to make sure I do at least one load a day but it doesn't always happen.

I started selling Avon and that has been helping me and challenging me both at the same time.  I'm enjoying it though and overall it is good for me.  I need to learn to be a little more careful about spending though...it's so easy to lose track.  But it is pushing me to keep committed to something, be accountable to others, and face some fears and have new experiences.

There's been a lot of drama in the neighbourhood over the last few months but the property I live at they are really working hard to change that and make it a better and safer place to live.  Some times it can get scary so sometimes now I have a hard time leaving my apartment even to go put out the garbage or check the mail.  That reminds me I need to check the mail.  Things are getting better though so it's getting a bit easier to get out.

Anyway, that's just a little bit of what's been going on around here...nothing much but lots at the same time...just a lot of the same old stuff that everyone deals with on a daily basis...nothing really overly exciting or worth writing about.

Mental Health Awareness

I just wanted to take a minute and talk about something that isn't talked about enough.  It is an issue that 1 in 5 Canadians deal with, either personally or through a family member or a friend.  This issue is Mental Health.  There are many types of Mental Health issues. Depression, Bi-polar, Schizophrenia, Phobia's, Anxiety, Autism, Alzheimer's, Borderline Personality Disorder and other Personality Disorders, Factitious Disorders such as Munchhausen Syndrome, and many others.

I'm hoping throughout the month of May to help bring awareness to all types of Mental Health.  Personally, it has been a big part of my life although it is not the only part of my life.

Through it all though, I have learned I have strength, I have faith, I am a survivor, and I have hope.  I didn't always believe these things.  I'll probably have times again when I struggle to see them...but they are always things that will be a part of me now and forever.

Curiousity

Just questioning out loud:

Why is it when you are female and you tell someone you shaved your head, they assume you're mentally ill?!?!   Okay, so I do have a history of mental illness, and I did do a sorta botched job at shaving my head...awaiting some clippers to finished the job tomorrow... but I swear I'm fine.  This was not impulse, it was something I've wanted to do for 15 years...and just finally had the guts to do it.  I am a little bit thrilled and a little bit mortified... I'm sure I'll have a more solid reaction when I don't look like a patch-work quilt met with a weed whacker.  It's hair.  It'll grow back.  Still I'm nearly 30 and cannot bring myself to face the general public or my parents.  My mom would die.  And maybe, knowing that, a small part of me is dying too... or maybe I just did it to spite her.  I dunno.  I love my mom but really I think there's only so many things you can be told not to do before you start doing them anyway.

And no, don't ask for pictures... at least not yet...  I never liked putting pictures up before... that's not going to change now.  The one above will have to do.  LOL

Litter Locker II Review

*update 27/06/2012 - I can't imagine not having this now...it helps so much*

As mentioned in my previous post I purchased a Litter Locker II and said I planned to do a review on it.  Now that I've had time to use it and the Christmas holiday festivities have started to slow down I actually have a chance to write it.

Overall I am happy with the Litter Locker II.  I did find out that $10 is a pretty common sale price for this item so maybe the deal wasn't as good as I thought but either way for $10 it's not bad.  It's easy to assemble, the picture directions are very clear, and I had no trouble or confusion in that area.  I would like to see it offered in different colours as with a black cat I find that her fur static clings to it and is very noticeable.

There are a couple things I would change personally but it's more just cosmetic.  I would like if it had a foot step to open the lid instead of the lift top...but it's not really a big deal.  One thing I did notice though, is that if the litter box is particularly full there's not enough room in the compartment for all the litter clumps so if you have more then one kitty I'd recommend cleaning your litter at least twice a day.  I have one kitty and change litter usually every day and occasionally run into that issues.

Overall, I am happy with the product and it does keep things smelling better as I only smell the poop when it's in the litter box, not once it's in the locker (unless you lift the lid just after pulling out the handle).  

I just realized I don't have a picture of the Litter Locker II assembled, sorry about that.  In the picture above you can see everything that it comes with.  The instructions at the very bottom of the picture.  You can see the scoop on the left and beside that is a nifty little pocket that attaches to the Litter Locker II to put the scoop in.  You can put it on either side so whatever is more convenient for you.  On the top of the Litter Locker II is the one of the main parts of the device.  It contains the "bag" that the litter goes into.  I haven't had to buy a refill yet but they seem to be around the $10 mark as well.

Overall it is a good product and I am happy with it and if you live in a small apartment like me it is great.  I used to hate opening the garbage bin in the bathroom to put the stinky litter in because it always reminded me of a diaper pail full of dirty diapers and that smell would go through the apartment.  This eliminates that.  Now if only I could find a solution to the stinky fresh poo right after my cat goes to the litter and before it goes into the Litter Locker II I'd be all set.

In case you'd like to find out more about it, see more reviews, and pictures on how it actually works, here is a link to their website www.litterlocker.com

Shopping Surprises

I was out getting some errands done with mom and ended up doing a little shopping and a little browsing, mostly just checking prices of items to get an idea.  My main item in mind was cat claw clippers...but didn't have much luck finding a pair that I was happy with on any of the shelves at any of the places we went.  However, I did find a total deal that I was not expecting at all!

We stopped into Petcetera and I was meandering down each aisle as that is what I typically do there.  I love to look at everything for every critter...but now that I'm a cat momma I am a bit more focused on kitty items.  :)  I got to the cat section and saw these BIG yellow tags and the item they are by is the "Litter Locker II".  Eh, no big deal some of you might say...well honestly I don't know...I haven't used one before.  But not long after I got Ebby I mentioned to my sister half joking that I needed something like a Diaper Genie but for cat litter.  She said there is such a thing and we left it at that.  


Back to the BIG yellow tags!  On them had in big numbers $10!  I'm thinking...oh yeah...you probably save $10 off the regular price...but on closer look...that was the actually selling price!  Regular price....  $32.99!  So I grabbed one and carried it around because hello...I would SAVE $22.99!!!  How awesome is that!!!


One happy momma right here :D   Now to go test this thing out, haha, we shall see.  


Anyhow, I did take pictures but my computer isn't being too cooperative tonight and I'm kinda exhausted so I'll try to remember to post a pic and some links tomorrow.  After a couple weeks I plan to do a bit of a practice review because...to be honest... I'd really like to start doing some product reviews for reals.  I love to write, I love taking pictures, and I love giving my opinion and in blog land... that is something I can do!  


If you have any thoughts or suggestions or experiences with product reviews please let me know...I want to learn as much about the process as I can.  In a future post I'll be asking questions and possibly sending them to established review bloggers.

Slow

Okay, I admit it... till this point things have been a little...slow...errr....okay a lot slow here at this blog.  It's been one heck of a bumpy road but I'm hoping to turn that around and have some new and exciting things start happening.  One thing, I know there is going to be a whole lot more animal talk because with the fostering...and adopting (yes, I've adopted Ebony) animal rescue has become a huge passion of mine...even more then it was before!

I have such a big heart and big ideas and am stuck since I basically live on a low income.  No sob story, just it is what it is and one day that will change but for now it's all part of life and learning and coping.  

I want to come back to this blog and do some fun things with it and it still keep it my own.  This is about life's journey's and whatever that might entail.  There's going to up's and down's...times were I'm here frequently and times when life just has too many twists and turns that I just can't be here.  

And let me tell you...that kitty in the picture there.... Miss Ebony Rose (Ebby)....she sure has added a new and very interesting twist to the journey....and I wouldn't have it any other way.  :)