Smoke Relief - Electronic Cigarette Review

My husband has been a smoker for nearly 30 years. It's as much a part of his French culture as food, wine and poodles. A vocal non-smoker myself, our relationship continued from a first date only after his promise to quit. Love happened quickly between us and 13 years later he's still trying to change his ways.

Enter Smoke Relief, America's Number 1 Electronic Cigarette, now available in the UK. I had the opportunity to review this product in cooperation with my husband. Even though eCigarettes are not marketed as a smoking cessation product, we hoped it just might be the perfect way to help him take a giant leap into the non-smoking community. 

He has tried other e-cigarettes in the past, but none come close to this one. Even I was impressed with the package: 

The Deluxe Rechargeable eCigarette kit was presented in a very nice box, inclusive of the electronic cigarette, a box of 5 cartomisers containing 18m of tobacco each, the battery (which looks like the white end of a cigarette), a charger box, AC Adapter and USB Charger. Pretty impressive!  

Plus, for the review they threw in a few more cartomisers and a mixed box of flavoured "cigarettes" that I was almost tempted to try, but I resisted.

The eCigarette looks very much like a real cigarette and even produces a little odorless vapor upon exhalation, which resembles smoke. For smokers who are just as attached to the process and mannerisms of smoking as they are the nicotine, this will make for an easier transition. 

The pros, according to The French Guy (my man) were the nice presentation, the convenience of being able to smoke almost anywhere anytime, the flavor options (though he preferred the basic) and the sheer volume of what was included in the kit. It was the equivalent of at least 10 packs. 

The cons, he said, were that the taste of nicotine was more present and it was harsher on the throat than a real cigarette. For one who truly wants to minimize the effects and cost of smoking, these small issues wouldn't take much getting used to. 

You can find out for yourself by visiting www.smokerelief.co.uk and utilizing the discount code: SHIPMYKIT

For me, I think the eCigarette is a brilliant alternative to the real thing. He's hasn't been allowed to smoke indoors since our second date, but the smell of a cigarette lingers even after hand-washing  So, the pros in my opinion are the elimination of the smell, the reduction of any chance of passive smoking by the children or me and the savings! Huge savings. 

Finally, and forgive me for stepping up on a soapbox for just a moment, since we've been in England, I've been shocked to see so many mums on the way to school smoking while pushing their babies in buggies (strollers) or holding the hands of their school children. If you aren't ready to quit, I think this product is the perfect alternative to ensure that you don't harm your children while engaging in your favorite habit. Plus, since smoke is bad for your skin, you'll look younger longer! ;) 

*** We received a complementary Deluxe Rechargeable eCigarette Kit for review purposes only. No other compensation was provided. Our opinions are our own. 

Head Lice, Husbands and Harry Potter World!

Yes, it is true! I love alliteration!

See that spec? That's a nit! Go read all about it. 

Head Lice
It's also true that we have recently faced and conquered head lice. No, my husband didn't have it. I wrote all about facing my fears here on Parent Society and then took you through the eradication process step by step here. I'd love for you to read all about it and leave me a comment or two on the site. Have you ever had to deal with it?

Husbands
I survived two weeks without my husband! I have to say that dinner got a bit boring without my personal French chef, but it was a calming and restful time. Since he returned on Saturday, I have realized that my daily fatigue is no longer due to the children, but to poor quality sleep due to his snoring! Yikes!

I slept so well while he was away - deep, restful, solid sleep. I felt good during the day and far less grumpy. For the past 3 nights I've been waking up constantly, trying to sleep with headphones in to block the noise and it just isn't working for me. I'm exhausted! Any tips? Believe me, ear plugs won't do the trick!

Plus, tell me truly: Do you like to cuddle at night or do you sleep better out of the arms of your love? My next bed seriously needs to be King sized.

Harry Potter World
Finally, my little Nature Girl is on her way to Harry Potter World RIGHT NOW! I so wish I could go with her!!! She's going to have butter-beer in the Great Hall, step into Dumbledore's office and walk the cobbled stones of Diagon Alley. How cool is that?!

Later this week I'll be reviewing a couple of cute books, electronic cigarettes and reminiscing on 8 years of parenthood in preparation for my first-born's birthday!!! See you then! Have a beautiful week.

Introducing... and Saying Goodbye to... Milo

This is Milo. He was my baby long before I had children. He was 5 weeks old when I brought him home.

A kitten I had inherited had died a few days before, at just 8-days old, before he'd even opened his eyes. When my friend told me about a box of kittens that had been left on a veterinarian's doorstep, I thought I would just swing by and take a look.

I already had one cat, Meena. I didn't need another. But there was an ache in my heart and as soon as I saw Milo, I knew he was mine.

He was the biggest of 5 in a litter and he never stopped eating. Or peeing (on my bed) or pooing (then tromping through it - he had a lot of baths that first week home). He had a crooked tail, what they called a "Singapore Tail" with a bend about an inch before the tip. He slept on my shoulder, fit into my husband's bathrobe pocket and had the weirdest meow I'd ever heard. It was instant love.


Nearly five years later when Nature Girl was born, Milo fell in love with her. And her car seat. And her stroller.

He was the very best cat for children you could imagine. So gentle, so sweet. No matter how much any of them pulled on him, chased after him or even sat on him, he was completely tolerant.

We called him a dog-cat. He would come when called, take walks with us through the woods, cuddle up whenever possible. He would literally jump up into your arms for attention and some loving, resting his head on a soft shoulder just like a child.

He stayed my baby through all my babies.

In August of last year, we prepared both cats to fly with us to England. It wasn't easy. The logistics were a challenge. Nevertheless, we worked with our vet to get all the shots, microchips and papers in order. We loaded them up and drove them to my parent's in Detroit to reunite with the kids and hang for a few days before the flight.

I didn't want to leave them pent up in little cat cages for those three days. Milo needs space, room to move. He's always been an indoor/outdoor cat; an explorer. So, after thinking about it, I decided the cats would be best in my mom's greenhouse. It was closed for the season. The cats would feel like they were outside, yet they'd be sheltered, captive and they wouldn't be tortured by my parents' dog or be stepping on the territory of their cats. I thought they would be happier in there.

I should have left him in the cage for a day to let him get used to it. Instead, I let the cats out. Meena hid behind a water tank and Milo slipped through the wall into a vent of some sort between the store and the greenhouse, which are connected. It took a whole day and a lot of coaxing to get him out.

The next day when I went to visit him, he was gone. Somehow he had gotten out. Maybe slipped through an open door too quickly to see or out a vented window when they opened to cool the greenhouse. He was gone.

My parent's live on acres and acres of land. There are woods, sheds, ponds... plenty of wonderful places for an adventurous cat to explore. But Milo was also scared. He was nervous around strangers. He was away from home, the smells, sounds and sights were different. Too different.

I searched and called for him several times a day. I hoped he would just wander up to the house... I put out a missing pet alert. Our flight was two days away. We decided that if Milo didn't return in time, we would leave Meena with my parents. They had the gecko and the fish, plus two cats and a dog of their own, why not one more? I love Meena, but without Milo it didn't seem worth the trouble when I knew she'd be safe and happy in Zonerland. It's pet heaven.

On the morning of our flight, my mom and dad departed for California for a week. If Milo came back after we left, there would be no one to see him, greet him... love him. Just hours before we were to leave for the airport I got a call from the lost pet people saying someone had spotted a cat with a similar description to Milo about a 10 minutes drive from the house.

With doubt tinged with great hope, I drove like a madwoman through an area I hadn't lived in for 20 years. I found the location thanks to the GPS. Neighborhoods, businesses and a vast green with roads all around. Why would he be there? Could he have gotten so far in just a day? I couldn't imagine, but cats can travel fast..

I ran around, I called for him. I wandered to where an animal might hide. From a football field distance I spotted a cat. A glimmer of white, a spot of brown. I called, "Milo!" I made his funny meow sound and the kissy noises I used to call him. I managed to get close enough to get a good look without scaring the cat away.

It wasn't him. I sobbed my way back to my childhood home.

It's funny how you can love an animal so much. Strange how they can break your heart as easily as any human love. Sad to realize how much guilt I carry for losing him. Imagining him lost and lonely and scared.

I don't know what happened to him and that's the hardest part. There's no closure. All I can do is try to let go of wishing that I had done it differently and imagine him happily chasing birds, bunnies and butterflies in the outdoors that he loved so much.

But I miss my baby cat. I'll always love you, Milo.

*** I've been avoiding this post for months. I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop. Thanks for the therapy prompt, Mama Kat.

Silent All These Years - Vlog!

Is there a song that holds special meaning to you?  I've loved Tori Amos since Spring Break my senior year of high school (thank you, Laura). Little Earthquakes touched my core and for years I was a huge fan; collecting every album, hunting down rare imports, going to every concert when she came to town - I even have an autographed concert ticket!

After I grew up a little, got married and had kids, I didn't need her music anymore. My angst had resolved! I listened to her now and again because she's fun to sing to and her music (at least her first 4 or 5 albums) holds a special place in my heart, but the words held little meaning for me.

Recently, after listening to Little Earthquakes for the first time in years, I reconnected with one particular song: Silent All These Years.

Motherhood is one of the greatest gifts of my life. It changes you forever, sometimes leaving bits of you behind. That woman you are, the essence of you, falls silent for awhile as your life, your world is taken over by all things baby. The purest expression of womanhood - childbirth - can actually strip you of your feminine power.

That's what I'm talking about today on the vlog! I'd love to hear your thoughts.


So, what song holds special meaning in your heart?

I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Practically World Famous Vlogging Prompts!
Thanks for the inspiration, Mama Kat!

A Mother Matters

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day and that your children gave you plenty of love and hugs or cards and calls!

I saw a video on You Tube the other day with Jim Carrey that touched my mother-heart. He was talking about how his path of comedy served a higher purpose - to relieve suffering. He spoke about his mother, whom apparently suffered from depression and he said that he wanted her to believe that, "Her life was worth something because she gave birth to someone who was worth something..."

I saw her from his eyes in that moment and tears stung mine. Imagine, being that child... he must have had an incredible sense of self-worth from a very young age. Imagine your own child feeling that way? If you've ever been depressed and wondered if anything really mattered... Everything matters about you to your children no matter how young or old they are.

Motherhood and the domesticity of it can be overwhelming. To maintain balance is our goal. To keep our eyes on our higher purpose as mothers is vital to our own well-being. We're raising real people here, hopefully great ones! So vent once in a while if it helps (it did help me - read Domesticity Sucks!) and then let your heart fill up with love for your children.

One of those moments that makes it all worth it!
Sweet Rose discovered my nose! (2006)

When your heart is full of love and light, it makes those challenging moments and even the boring, redundant moments and tasks, so much easier to bear. Take care of yourself, moms!

(FYI: Self-care includes avoiding the pile of laundry on your bed so that you can blog instead ;)

Have a happy week!